《This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable》


 Chapter 1: The Descent

    <h4>Chapter 1: The Descent</h4>


    "You have received self-destruct damage from the Blood Demon Lord, you are dead."


    "You have killed the Blood Demon Lord,pleted the mission, received the final mission reward, drawing for Legendary Talent..."


    When Lu Qingshan woke up, the system notification from that intense battle still echoed in his mind.


    Unconsciously, a smug smile curled at the corners of Lu Qingshan''s mouth¡ª


    No matter how high the reputations of the major guilds among yers, no matter if their power overshadowed everything, still, I, a lone yer, managed to sneakily seed and obtained the final mission reward.


    This intense battle, named the Godyer Battle, was an official event by "Nine Heavens" to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the game''sunch.


    On that day, the game issued a server-wide announcement, one of the Great Demon Lords from the Demon Race, the Blood Demon Lord, was trapped in the ck Abyss for a special mission and couldn''t leave for a short while.


    It called for all yers to quickly head to the ck Abyss, besiege the Blood Demon Lord, and fight for the cultivators of the Human Race. The yer who ultimately killed the Blood Demon Lord would gain the final mission reward, the "Legendary Talent."


    As soon as the announcement was made, it created a sensation across the server, and all yers went mad.


    The Demon Lord is one of those NPCs with the highestbat power in the game.


    "Nine Heavens" had been running for ten years now, and although the main storyline of the game had reached the middle stages, the Demon Lord still remained an invincible, highly lethal boss in the eyes of the yers.


    While for yers, as long as it had health points, they could just recklessly charge at it.


    But even if yers could use their numerical advantage to forcibly win against a Demon Lord, killing one was something utterly impossible at this stage.


    The reason was simple, the Demon Lord wasn''t a fool; with his cultivation, the moment he sensed danger and decided to flee, the yers genuinely had no means to stop him.


    This was also why this battle, although a besiege against a Demon Lord, was named the Godyer Battle¡ªbecause for the yers at this stage, killing the Demon Lord was as difficult as ying a god.


    Now, the Demon Lord was restricted by the officials to the ck Abyss, meaning yers could essentially wear down the Blood Demon Lord by sheer numbers. Such an opportunity to y a god was ced right before the yers by the officials. Who could not be excited?


    Moreover, the final reward for the mission was "Legendary Talent"!


    The importance of talent in "Nine Heavens" is beyond question.


    Since the game had started, yers, in the eyes of NPCs, often yed the role of cannon fodder, those whose cultivation was decent but whosebat power was hardly mentionable.


    At the same cultivation realm, those well-known NPCs could kill yers of the same level as easily as ughtering dogs, and there were even some NPCs with heaven-defying abilities who could kill yers from a higher realm.


    Why?


    Isn''t it because these "protagonist temte" NPCs possessed heaven-defying talents?


    For example, a certain genius Sword Cultivator NPC, equipped with the Legendary Talent "One Sword Frost Cold": Sword Technique damage increased by 100%.


    Yes, Legendary Talents are just that brutally simple!


    When every strike deals double damage, isn''t fighting such an opponent like chopping vegetables?


    How can one y like that?


    I can''t deal with this, I just can''t.


    Heck, yers generally assume they''re the protagonist when ying a game, but then they log in to find out that they''re just an extra, only there to highlight how awesome the main character is; in front of NPCs, aside from Infinite Resurrection, they''re left with no sense of superiority.


    That just shatters your spirit, right?


    Now, the officials put an opportunity to be the protagonist right in front of all the yers. Who wouldn''t be thrilled?


    Finally, this damn nner turned human!


    The way the mission''s rewards were allocated made the yers'' blood rush¡ªThe yer who dealt the final blow to the Blood Demon Lord would receive the final mission reward.


    Normally, the final reward for such a server-wide event would be allocated based on contribution rate, and the yer with the highest contribution rate would receive the final mission reward.


    Although this method is theoretically the fairest, it also means that the final reward tends to go to those top-tier yers, leaving ordinary yers with no chance topete for the final mission reward.


    Usually, trying to win this so-called jackpot at each event is like gods fighting; ordinary yers in such events mainly just add to the crowd and scrape up the most basic participation reward.


    But this radically different reward allocation method for the tenth anniversary celebration caught the fancy of countless ordinary yers: Hmm... isn''t this the officials encouraging us to steal the show?


    Stealing the show, there''s a strategy for that.


    Yes, the top yers are formidable.


    But in such arge-scale server-wide event, where things are chaotic and every moment countless skills are being thrown at the Blood Demon Lord, who can keep track of the damage?


    Even if you''re a top yer, you can''t be sure you can deliver the final blow to the great boss. It alles down to luck tond that finishing hit.


    Hehe.


    Given the poprity of "Nine Heavens", possessing an ount with a "Legendary Talent" could sell for a fortune, easily making more money than winning the lottery and enough to splurge for a lifetime.


    Now, even the typically indifferent Buddhist-like yers couldn''t help but get involved, all making their way to the ck Abyss.


    Who can''t indulge in a daydream?


    Lu Qingshan was among this vast group of yers dreaming of sneaking a victory, but he was slightly different from the average yer; he was somewhat famous, ranking in the top ten of Sword Cultivators without belonging to any guild.


    As a top ten Great Sword Cultivator among yers, Lu Qingshan naturally had some ace skills unlike the average yer.


    "Heaven and Earth Sword": At the cost of dropping a major realm in cultivation, the yer''s next damage skill carries special effects: true damage, killing effect, ignores death immunity.


    Each of these effects alone would be considered to have Legendary Talent.


    Not to mention thebination of three effects, whose intensity can only be described with one word.


    Terrifying indeed!


    Naturally, the cost of such great power is immense, and the penalty of falling a major realm made it so that Lu Qingshan had this skill for a long time but had never used it.


    Especially as his Cultivation Realm grew higher, the cost of falling a major realm became even more burdensome.


    He thought he would never use this skill.


    But now, an opportunity for a huge gamble was before him.


    Even with the "Heaven and Earth Sword" effects, he couldn''t be sure he would make the final strike, but the odds were significantly higher, and he was willing to take that chance.


    If he didn''t get the ultimate reward, at worst, he would just need to intenselymit to his cultivation for a while to recover. But if he seeded? Legendary Talent, and moreover the first ever yer-owned Legendary Talent in "Nine Heavens", falling even to the Foundation Establishment Stage was still hugely profitable.


    So, when the Health Points of the massive Blood Demon Lord plummeted under the yers'' siege, preparing to self-destruct, Lu Qingshan used his Heaven and Earth Sword and unleashed his strongest Sword Technique.


    What followed was a dazzling red light and two system notification sounds.


    Upon hearing the first system notification, Lu Qingshan thought he had failed.


    Fortunately, the second notification arrived shortly after.


    He had seeded after all.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan felt his body stiff and somewhat cold, as if soaked in some liquid.


    He frowned involuntarily; resurrection wasn''t supposed to feel like this.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Could it be the side effects of using "Heaven and Earth Sword"?


    Lu Qingshan''s first response was to curse in his mind, Damn nners, what are you messing with now? Even dropping a major realm in cultivation isn''t enough, and you still have to mess with the resurrection process.


    Subconsciously, Lu Qingshan sensed the Spiritual Power within his body.


    Empty, just as expected...


    Wait, empty?!


    As a seasoned yer of "Nine Heavens", I had already reached the current version cap ¨C the Body Integration Realm. Even using "Heaven and Earth Sword" to drop a major realm shouldn''t leave my Dantianpletely void of Spiritual Power.


    Could this be a bug?


    Although many thoughts floated through his mind, in reality, only a very brief moment had passed since he awoke.


    Lu Qingshan, puzzled, slowly opened his eyes.


    It was a dark, damp cave; the cave walls were embedded with Luminous Pearls, emitting a faint white glow, allowing Lu Qingshan to clearly see his current situation.


    It wasn''t just a feeling; he was indeed soaking in a liquid.


    A small pool filled with dark liquid, and he was in it, like soaking in a hot spring with only his head above the surface.


    ncing around, besides himself in the small pool, there were dozens of cute little heads above the water surface, aligned neatly.


    ???????

 Chapter 2 - 2 Legendary Talent

    <h4>Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Legendary Talent</h4>


    What the hell?


    Logically speaking, I should have respawned at the previously bound respawn point, not appeared in this somewhat mysterious cave.


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but be stunned for a moment.


    He carefully observed the liquid he was soaked in, dark as ink, with faint silver strands floating in it. Lu Qingshan sniffed, and a slight musty acidic smell entered his nostrils.


    As a veteran yer who entered the game during the beta phase of "Nine Heavens," Lu Qingshan quickly made his judgment.


    This seems to be the lowest grade of Corpse Puppet Liquid, a Spiritual Liquid used by Demon Cultivators to refine Corpse Puppets.


    Corpse Puppets, how long ago was that memory?


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but feel dazed.


    The Corpse Puppet Chaos, that was the main storyline during the beta phase of "Nine Heavens." If he hadn''t participated in the beta, he might not have known about it.


    By the time "Nine Heavens" officiallyunched for public testing, the Corpse Puppet Chaos, as a prequel, had already ended. As a new yer entering the game then, his involvement in this main storyline from the beta version was minimal; he merely experienced it passively.


    In fact, not just the Corpse Puppet Chaos, but yers with low power, in the main storylines of the first few versions, were never truly qualified to participate. They could only follow behind NPCs and watch the excitement.


    "Wait a minute..."


    "Wasn''t this thing globally banned by Human Cultivators after the end of the Corpse Puppet Chaos?"


    "No, that''s not important. What''s important is, where''s my cultivation? And why am I here, where is this?"


    Lu Qingshan felt his mind wasn''t functioning well enough.


    Suddenly, countless images exploded in his mind like an atomic bomb, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.


    Lu Qingshan''s breathing became rapid, his pupils constricted, as if he had lost his senses.


    He remembered.


    He remembered.


    His name is Lu Qingshan, born in Qing State, a member of the Lu Family, a cultivating family in Qing State.


    But he did not be a cultivator due to the family''s cultivating bloodline because his mother was an ordinary mortal, a random woman whom his cultivator father dallied with for amusement.


    In the cultivating world, where the strong prey on the weak and the mighty are revered, his flirtatious cultivator father obviously didn''t ce much value on so-called familial ties. In fact, his father had left too many seeds behind and couldn''t manage them all.


    With little talent for cultivation, he became a middle manager of the family''s secr ventures. During a delivery trip, he was attacked by cultivators and when he woke up again, he found himself in this bizarre cave.


    Wrong!


    Lu Qingshan''s body shuddered as he continuously reminded himself in his mind.


    It''s not like this. I am Lu Qingshan, but I am not the Lu Qingshan of Qing State''s Lu Family, I am a citizen of a country called Huaxia from another space-time.


    But the memories in his mind kept telling him.


    "You are Lu Qingshan, whether it''s Qing State''s Lu Qingshan or Huaxia''s Lu Qingshan, that''s who you are."


    Lu Qingshan felt utterly confused.


    He had figured everything out.


    Yes, he had traveled through time, into "Nine Heavens," the game he had striven for ten years.


    "Nine Heavens" is the hottest holographic virtual reality game of the Interster Era, dominating the star game charts for ten years with its peak concurrent users breaking the billion mark and registered yers reaching an astonishing three billion.


    The backdrop of the game is a world of immortals and martial arts so vast that even up until the time Lu Qingshan crossed over, yers had not fully explored it. The story was so rich that even after ten years of operation, the game had only reached its middle stages.


    Lu Qingshan, as a professional yer reliant on "Nine Heavens" for his livelihood, had experienced major changes through various game versions and had a bit of fame among the yers. Typically, his streams easily reached over a million viewers.


    "The Corpse Puppet Chaos, that means the current time must still be the Chang''an Years."


    Lu Qingshan''s expression grew solemn, Chang''an, Chang''an; this era was meant to signifysting peace, but who could have imagined, this world''s most chaotic period began during thest years of this hopeful era.


    The Corpse Puppet Chaos was merely a precursor to an upheaval that would span unknowable years in this world.


    At this realization, a wave of fatigue overwhelmed Lu Qingshan, understanding that this uing tumult, sweeping across all of Sky Dome Heaven, would spare neither cultivators nor mortals from the omnipresent chaos and ughter.


    Ultimately, Lu Qingshan exhaled deeply, gradually calming down, not because he had a n in mind but because of a fine traditional concept inherent to Huaxia people:


    Since I''m here, what else can I do?


    If it is to be, then so be it.


    Fortunately, he had traveled to the game''s public testing phase, just before the end of thest years of Chang''an, with the turmoil still brewing. With his knowledge of the plot, there was still some room to maneuver through theing chaos.


    If he transmigrated directly into the storyline following the battle with the Blood Demon Lord as amon man with no cultivation whatsoever, he was truly leftpletely in the dark, awaiting death.


    "Thest years of Chang''an, thest years of Chang''an..."


    It struck him like lightning through the night sky. Lu Qingshan suddenly realized something, his heart clenched tightly, and he instinctively looked around.


    As a game that had remained popr for ten years, "Nine Heavens" was known not just for its highly bnced and engagingbat system, but also for its grand storyline and NPCs, who were as intelligent as real people.


    As a yer who had experienced that grand storyline, he had many regrets he wished to address, yet he had no chance to do so.


    But now, he had returned to the beginning of it all, bing a prophet in this world.


    He was sure no one understood what was about to happen better than he did.


    Perhaps, if given another chance, those regrets might be addressed?


    Lu Qingshan''s heart pounded uncontrobly; it was as if something had ignited within him.


    ...


    "However..." Lu Qingshan shook his head and nced at the small heads scattered around him: "The most urgent task right now is to figure out how to escape."


    Currently, he was just an ordinary person. Surviving from a Demon Cultivator''s hands was no simple matter.


    Soaking himself in the lowest grade of Corpse Puppet Liquid indicated that this Demon Cultivator was merely a Qi Refining Cultivator, the lowest stratum among cultivators.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But regardless, a cultivator was still a cultivator, by no means someone an ordinary person could easily contend with.


    Suddenly, Lu Qingshan froze.


    An unexpected glow appeared before his eyes.


    It was a waterfall of data streaming past, with countless numbers of zeros and ones shuttling through his retina, turning into streaks of blue light.


    Finally, the data stream stabilized.


    A message appeared before his eyes.


    "You have been soaked in ''Corpse Puppet Liquid'' (First-Grade) for three months and have acquired the talent ''Thick-skinned''."


    This was?! ¡ª


    Lu Qingshan''s mind buzzed. As a seasoned Netizen of the Interster Era, there was no way he didn''t understand what this was.


    Lu Qingshan quickly reacted.


    "Attribute Panel, Attribute Panel!"


    He kept chanting in his mind.


    A pale blue light screen subsequently emerged in Lu Qingshan''s mind:


    Lu Qingshan (Human Race)


    upation: None


    Cultivation Technique: None


    Rank: None


    Experience Points: 0


    Free Attribute Points: 0


    Personal Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Mana 1, Divine Soul 1, Charm 1, Stamina 1


    Health Points: 20/20


    Spiritual Power Value: 0/0


    Talents: "Innate Swordseed" (Legendary): Your natural talent in the Sword Dao far exceeds that of ordinary people. Being innately versed in the Sword Dao, you permanently reduce the experience points needed for any Sword Technique by 30%, and you can unrestrictedly use any Sword Artifact and learn any Sword Technique.


    "Thick-skinned": Prolonged soaking in Corpse Puppet Liquid has withered your Divine Soul but greatly improved your physical constitution, granting you an additional Health Points +10 and reducing damage from First-Grade Spells by 20%.


    Skills: "Heavenly Eye Technique" (Universal): Detect personal information. The greater the Cultivation disparity, the less information obtained.


    --------------


    This was the character attribute panel for "Nine Heavens".


    Looking at the virtual data projected in his mind, Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but lift the corners of his mouth.


    As a seasoned yer of "Nine Heavens", possessing this attribute panel, along with knowledge of the world''s storyline, taking control of his own destiny, and...changing the destinies of others seemed, perhaps, not so difficult after all.

 Chapter 3 - 2: Cultivation Technique (Part 1)

    <h4>Chapter 3: Chapter 2: Cultivation Technique (Part 1)</h4>


    Although he was immersed in the joy of just having received his "Golden Finger," Lu Qingshan soon noticed an anomaly on his attribute panel.


    His attribute panel was a very ordinary one, the kind a yer sees when they first enter the game, with all six basic attributes at 1,monly referred to as a "nk te." Yet, there was something very special in his talent slot.


    Legendary Talent "Innate Swordseed".


    Legendary talents were something that, up to the point of his transmigration, no yer had ever possessed.


    Obviously, the only reason such a thing would appear on his attribute panel was that he had brought along the final reward from the Godyer Battle when he transmigrated.


    Could this be termed as a "Golden Finger (Supercharged)"?


    ...


    Lu Qingshan furrowed his brows and fell into deep thought.


    ording to the game settings of "Nine Heavens," the six basic attributes are:


    Strength determines the explosive power of physical functions and significantly impacts physical attack power.


    Agility affects the character''s reaction speed, attack speed, movement speed, and the speed of initiating actions.


    Mana affects the power of the spells cast by the character. Unlike in other games, the mana attribute does not determine the upper limit of the character''s Spiritual Power Value; in "Nine Heavens," the upper limit of Spiritual Power is wholly dependent on the Cultivation Technique practiced.


    Divine Soul affects the character''s sense perception, soul strength, willpower,mon-sense judgment, and intuition, the biggest difference from the mana attribute being that Divine Soul is more about awareness and understanding of the surroundings.


    Charm affects how positively characters and factions perceive one another. In addition, certain professions strictly require specific charm values, and charm provides additional bonuses to these professions.


    Stamina determines the character''s resistance to physical attacks and also their Health Points limit and recovery rate. Increasing stamina can raise Health Points, thus making it a crucial attribute for any profession.


    Free Attribute Points can be used to enhance the six basic attributes: strength, agility, mana, Divine Soul, charm, and stamina.


    When yers reach the Qi Refining Realm, they may choose their cultivation system, or so-called profession.


    "Nine Heavens" is a world for cultivators.


    The Human Cultivator''s cultivation system includes six paths, known as the Six Dao cultivation systems, each corresponding to one of the six basic attributes:


    Body Cultivation, whose primary attribute is stamina.


    Beast Cultivation, whose primary attribute is charm.


    Dharma Cultivation, whose primary attribute is mana.


    Spiritual Cultivation, whose primary attribute is Divine Soul.


    Nether Cultivation, whose primary attribute is agility.


    And Sword Cultivation, whose primary attribute is strength.


    Each profession has its uniquebat style and focus. To put it inly, Body Cultivators are warriors; Beast Cultivators are summoners; Dharma Cultivators are mages; Spiritual Cultivators are priests; Nether Cultivators are naturally assassins, and Sword Cultivators, due to their unique aspect, have never had a proper analog.


    In his previous life, Lu Qingshan was a yer who specialized in Sword Cultivation. He devoted ten years of his youth to this profession, and without a doubt, having been reborn and transmigrated into this game, he would choose Sword Cultivation again without hesitation, the profession he knew so well.


    Not to mention, the Legendary Talent "Innate Swordseed" he had drawn was undoubtedly tailor-made for the profession of Sword Cultivation; he had no reason to abandon such a perfect start to pursue something unconventional.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ...


    Shasha¡ª


    Amid the silence of the cave, footsteps approached from afar.


    Someone wasing!


    Lu Qingshan''s whole body tensed, entering a state of high alert.


    Lu Qingshan held his breath.


    Two teens dressed in ck robes, around the ages of fourteen or fifteen, entered the cave.


    ncing at the neatly arranged dozens of bodies in the Corpse Pool, one of the teens said, "Master warned that the bodies used for Corpse Puppet fabrication should not be soaked in a potent corpse solution for more than three months, or the Divine Soul remnants in the bodies will bepletely decayed by the solution, rendering them unusable for Corpse Puppet crafting.


    This batch of bodies has been in the Corpse Pool for three months now; why hasn''t Master returned? I''m worried that if we dy further, this batch of materials will be wasted."


    "Yeah, Master has been out sincest month and hasn''t returned yet. Normally, he woulde back before the materials for the Corpse Puppets mature. Could something have happened?"


    "Stop worrying aimlessly. Master has crafted so many Corpse Puppets recently; there are few people in this ce who pose a threat to him. Let''s move these bodies out of the Corpse Pool, so we don''t waste them. Otherwise, we''ll definitely be scolded by Master."


    "You''re right, let''s get moving then."


    ...


    Holding his breath in the Corpse Pool, posing as a dead body, Lu Qingshan listened to the two''s conversation and felt a surge of relief.


    In the brief exchange between the two, he obtained a very important piece of information.


    Their master, the most powerful cultivator at this corpse refining site, was currently not within the cave.


    Simply put, the dungeon''s boss was out and had not returned yet.


    This was undoubtedly his best chance to escape.


    As long as he could clear out the remaining "minions," he would be able to get through this dungeon.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan threw a Heavenly Eye Technique at the two in front of him.


    Although the Heavenly Eye Technique is amon skill freely given when yers create an ount, its practicality canrgely be considered a divine technique in many respects.


    The Heavenly Eye Technique''s ability to detect attributes is not perceivable by any awareness, even if the target has high Divine Soul attributes, at most the information detected would be question marks.


    You see, in NPCs'' ability to detect, if the opponent''s Divine Soul attribute is high enough, your detection action can be perceived, and recklessly using detection techniques on other cultivators has always been a major taboo in the cultivation realm.


    A detection skill like the Heavenly Eye Technique, which has no negative impact, is absolutely unique ¡ª akin to a small yet significant cheat given by the game officials to yers.


    The two individuals in front didn''t possess high power, so under the effect of the Heavenly Eye Technique, Lu Qingshan received very detailed character panel information:


    Song Qing (Human Race)


    upation: Dharma Cultivator (Primary) / Talisman Scribe [First Grade] (Secondary)


    Cultivation Technique: [Qi Drawing Technique] Lv2 (151/200)


    Rank: Qi Refinement


    Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Mana 2, Divine Soul 1, Charm 1, Stamina 1


    Health Points: 11/11


    Spiritual Power Value: 20/20


    Skills: Fireball Technique lv1, Swift Movement Talisman lv1, Fireball Talisman lv1


    Talent: None


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Jie Shi (Human Race)


    upation: Dharma Cultivator (Primary)


    Cultivation Technique: [Qi Drawing Technique] Lv3 (127/300)


    Rank: Qi Refinement


    Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Mana 2, Divine Soul 1, Charm 1, Stamina 1


    Health Points: 11/11


    Spiritual Power Value: 30/30


    Skills: Fireball Technique lv2, Wind Control Skill lv1


    Talent: None


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Both were low-level cultivators in the second and third level of Qi Refinement, and their upation was Dharma Cultivation.


    In fact, in terms of attributes, Lu Qingshan wasn''t much different from these two men.


    In the Qi Refining Realm, every two levels increased only provides one free attribute point, and with Lu Qingshan''s additional 10 points in health from being thick-skinned, he was on par with the two in overall attributes.


    However, in the world of Nine Heavens, a person''sbat power obviously cannot be measured by attributes alone.


    These two were cultivators who had practiced cultivation techniques, had generated spiritual power and mastered one to two spells.


    The gap between Lu Qingshan and these two,pared to reality, is like two ordinary people with simr physical fitness engaging in a face-to-face fight¡ªone unarmed, the other holding a handgun.


    Who would win?


    Obviously, the one with the handgun.


    Thus, the only way for Lu Qingshan to defeat these two was to prevent them from firing their handguns.

 Chapter 4: Cultivation Technique (Part 2)

    <h4>Chapter 4: Cultivation Technique (Part 2)</h4>


    With the tactical advantage of a prepared mind against the unprepared, Lu Qingshan could have easily taken care of two lower-grade cultivators caught off guard.


    But the prerequisite was having a handy weapon¡ªor at least a sharp de, if not a handy one.


    To knock down two cultivators in an instant with bare hands? What do you think he is, Tyson?


    Now, the problem arose¡ªLu Qingshan''s situation was that he was not just unarmed but, judging from the chilly sensation all over his skin, apparently also unclothed.


    True¡¤bare-start.


    Not to mention anything else, but this corpse fluid is damn cold.


    Lu Qingshan grumbled to himself.


    ...


    In such a situation, Lu Qingshan needed to carefully n his mode of attack.


    Obviously, Lu Qingshan could not afford to take too long to think; he had to act quickly.


    Qi refining cultivators had not yet mastered the "Divine Sense Perception," so Lu Qingshan could still pretend to be a corpse. However, he could not hide his heartbeat and body temperature.


    As soon as the two cultivators made contact with his body, even if they werepletely unguarded, they would discover that Lu Qingshan was no longer a dead body.


    ...


    Song Qing and Jie Shi started moving, carrying corpses one by one out of the Corpse Pool and toward the cave entrance.


    They had no idea that in the pool, an old schemer was eyeing them both covetously.


    The two were transporting bodies at different times, creating intervals where only one person was inside the cave with the pool.


    Lu Qingshan understood that this was his opportunity to strike.


    Taking them on one-by-one would certainly be easier than facing both at once.


    The first target Lu Qingshan nned to attack, in his mind, was Song Qing.


    The reason was simple.


    Under the skill effects of the Heavenly Eye Technique, Lu Qingshan noticed Song Qing''s profession: Talisman Mage[First Grade](Sub).


    In the cultivation world, there are a hundred arts, and in "Nine Heavens," besides the six main battle professions, there is also an extremely rich setting of sub-professions.


    Such as Alchemist, Array Master, Artifact Refiner, among others, and Talisman Mage is one of these many professions.


    Talisman Mages can engrave spells onto spirit talismans to swiftly throw out various spells tobat enemies when needed.


    In the previous life, some wealthy yers used to buy a bunch of high-level spirit talismans from Talisman Mages to kill monsters above their level.


    As long as they spent money, their leveling speed was incredibly fast.


    Hence, it was crucial to eliminate this unknown variable as soon as possible should Song Qing have enough talismans saved up. His threat could even exceed that of Jie Shi, a Qi Refinement third stage cultivator.


    ...


    After simting several approaches mentally and confirming the feasibility, Lu Qingshan calmed down and waited for the moment to strike.


    As the corpses were moved one by one from the pool by the two, their transport task brought them gradually closer to the area where Lu Qingshan was located.


    Song Qing bent down and strained to move a body next to Lu Qingshan out of the pool.


    At that moment, Jie Shi had just left the cave with another corpse.


    Although Lu Qingshan did not know where they were moving these bodies, he had observed that it would take at least thirty breaths for Jie Shi to return.


    This was the moment!


    Without hesitation, two somewhat pale hands emerged from the dark water like specters, seizing Song Qing''s head and yanking him into the pool.


    "Down you go!"


    Song Qing, who was in the middle of moving a body within the pool andpletely unguarded, was taken by surprise by Lu Qingshan''s sudden attack, causing him to plunge headlong into the pool.


    A Qi refining cultivator hadn''t yet exited the category of mortals and couldn''t even fast from grain.


    A mortal''s first instinct after suddenly submerging in water was to il around and pop their head back above water, even though a momentaryck of air wouldn''t affect them much.


    Song Qing was no exception.


    He quickly realized he was under attack, reaching for the storage bag at his waist to fetch a spirit talisman for a counter-attack.


    But it was already toote.


    Ten years of gaming experience, countless battles, and countless deaths had enriched Lu Qingshan''sbat experience to levels unimaginable to others.


    After pulling Song Qing into the pool, Lu Qingshan quickly found the right position to apply force. cing his hands on both sides of Song Qing''s head, he twisted clockwise sharply. With a crack, Song Qing''s neck was abruptly broken by Lu Qingshan.


    Swift, decisive!


    A series of data appeared before Lu Qingshan:


    "A fatal attack wasunched¡ªyou inflicted 11 damage on Song Qing (Lv2)!"


    "Target is dead; you have killed Song Qing (Lv2), killing beyond your level, earning XP reward. Total of 20 (Base Experience) x 2 (Multiplier) = 40 points of experience!"


    ...


    For someone with Lu Qingshan''s novice attributes, normally killing Song Qing with 11 health points would take a considerable amount of time.


    But Lu Qingshan''s expert move targeted Song Qing''s vital spot directly, and the fatal attack damage equaled the target''s maximum health.


    Thus, Song Qing fell instantly, not even managing to utter a cry for help.


    And Lu Qingshan, a level 0 mortal with no rank, gained significant experience rewards by killing a second stage Qi refining cultivator, also considered beyond his current level.


    The experience reward mechanism in "Nine Heavens" is calcted like this: first, the base experience coefficient is 1, then for every rank gap with the opponent, the experience coefficient doubles infinitely.


    Although Song Qing''s Qi refining rank was the lowest among cultivators, regrettably, Lu Qingshan was just a mortal, so the experience coefficient was x2 when killing Song Qing.


    If at this moment he had killed a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, that would be considered killing across two ranks, and thus the experience coefficient would be 1x2x2=4, and so on.


    ...


    A momentter.


    Jie Shi finished his task and returned to the cave at the Corpse Pool.


    As soon as he entered the cave, Jie Shi saw Song Qing lying unmoving at the entrance, stunned.


    "Song Qing?! What happened?!"


    Jie Shi''s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately crouched down to check if there were any signs of life in Song Qing.


    At the same time, Jie Shi was highly alert, his gaze scanning around cautiously for any movement in the surroundings.


    It was very likely that his junior brother had been attacked, although he had no idea how the enemy had managed to bypass their master''s formations to infiltrate the area.


    Jie Shi was extremely cautious.


    Suddenly, a chilling touch came from his neck.


    Jie Shi''s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the short de pressed against his neck.


    ...


    A very old trick, but still very effective, as people often let down their guards around dead bodies.


    With the short de still against Jie Shi''s neck, Lu Qingshan slowly rose from the ground.


    After killing Song Qing, Lu Qingshan had quickly stripped off Song Qing''s clothes and put them on himself.


    Then, he threw Song Qing''s body into the Corpse Pool, hiding it and quickly lying down at the cave entrance with his back up to hide his face, creating the illusion that Song Qing had been attacked at the entrance.


    In fact, Lu Qingshan''s disguise was quite crude and had many ws.


    Firstly, due to the urgency of time, Lu Qingshan had only stripped off Song Qing''s robe and casually put it on himself.


    If Jie Shi had been observant, it would have been easy for him to realize that something was off with Lu Qingshan''s attire.


    Moreover, Lu Qingshan''s build was quite different from Song Qing''s.


    Song Qing was slim, while Lu Qingshan was also lean but stood at a tall six foot two inches (about 1.88 meters), making him significantly taller than Song Qing.


    Unfortunately, Jie Shi was not a very attentive person.


    "Who are you? Where is my junior brother?" Jie Shi''s teeth were somewhat trembling.


    "Hand over the ''Qi Drawing Technique'' Cultivation Method." Lu Qingshan, holding the short de he had taken from Song Qing, rubbed it back and forth across Jie Shi''s neck.


    The chill from the de made Jie Shi''s face twitch involuntarily.


    As if realizing something, Jie Shi gritted his teeth and said deliberately, "You are not a cultivator, you are just a mortal!"


    The ''Qi Drawing Technique'' is merely the most basic Qi Refinement stage cultivation method,monly avable, yet this man in front wanted it, making it highly unlikely for him to be a cultivator.


    "What does it matter if I am a mortal? You still fell into the hands of this mortal, didn''t you?" Lu Qingshan''s tone was calm.


    "How did you bypass the Mist Formation and get in here?" Jie Shi did not understand how a mortal could have bypassed the Mist Formation and silently entered their Corpse Refining Cave.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Obviously, Jie Shi could not possibly imagine that the man before him had emerged from a dead body in the Corpse Pool.


    Lu Qingshan did not answer Jie Shi''s question but lightly exerted pressure with his wrist.


    The sharp short de easily cut through the superficial skin of Jie Shi''s neck, with a few drops of blood beginning to seep out.


    "Don''t test my patience," Lu Qingshan said sternly.


    Jie Shi''s eyes flickered slightly as he pleaded tremulously, "Stop, stop, I''ll give you the technique."


    Jie Shi''s right hand moved to the storage bag at his waist.


    Lu Qingshan''s gaze intently followed Jie Shi''s right hand.


    "Even an instant Spirit Talisman requires a brief moment to inject Spiritual Power for activation; if you pull out a Spirit Talisman, I will sever your neck with the de in my hand immediately.


    I don''t know if I will die, but you certainly will, so I advise you not to make such a dangerous attempt," Lu Qingshan said coldly.


    Jie Shi''s expression slightly changed; he had not expected Lu Qingshan to be so knowledgeable about a cultivator''s methods.


    Helplessly, Jie Shi had no choice but to obediently retrieve a Jade Slip from his storage bag.


    Only cultivators can use storage bags, which is why Lu Qingshan had not killed Jie Shi immediately but had instead risked holding him hostage to force him to hand over the cultivation method.


    Lu Qingshan was unclear howrge the cave was or how many people were inside.


    Only by acquiring the cultivation method and bing a cultivator would Lu Qingshan feel confident enough to escape from the cave.


    Normally in game startups, the first thing every neer does is to find a cultivation method, cultivate to be a cultivator, and then choose their main profession.


    This process is not too difficult since it is part of the newbie task phase, primarily focusing on familiarizing yers with the game and not meant to be hard on yers.


    Unfortunately, Lu Qingshan''s situation was clearly not a normal startup, but rather seemed like a random storyline startup, so obtaining the cultivation method proved to be a significant challenge.


    Fortunately, such a test could not confuse someone who had stood out amongst hundreds of millions of yers like Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan took the Cultivation Technique Jade Slip from Jie Shi''s hand.


    "Detected Qi Refinement Cultivation Method ''Qi Drawing Technique.'' Would you like to spend 10 experience points to learn it?"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ''Qi Drawing Technique'' (Qi Refinement)


    Level: Mortal Level


    Learning Conditions: None


    Description: Exhale three inches to the heels, densely sealed as if in a bottle, allowing the Qi mechanism to sweep through the organs, and open the pores to connect with the heavens. A basic Qi Refinement technique, maximum 10 levels.


    Cultivation Effect: Each level increase raises the Spiritual Power Value limit by 10 points, with a special effect upon reaching max level: +50 to the Spiritual Power Value limit.


    Remarks: Though quitemon, it is nheless very practical.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    In the ''Nine Heavens,'' cultivation method levels are divided into four categories, from low to high: Mortal Level, Spirit Level, Heavenly Level, Taoist Level.


    The higher the level of the cultivation method, the more powerful its apanying effects naturally are.


    Qi Drawing Technique is only the lowest Mortal Level technique, but given the current situation, Lu Qingshan had no way to look for a higher-level technique; Qi Drawing Technique was his only option.


    Fortunately, it''s only a newbie stage Qi Refinement technique, so the impact is minimal.


    As long as he could smoothly escape the current crisis, Lu Qingshan was confident that, with his knowledge of ''Nine Heavens,'' the cultivation methods he would practice at every rank in the future would definitely be superior.

 Chapter 5: Becoming a Sword Cultivator

    <h4>Chapter 5: Bing a Sword Cultivator</h4>


    "Yes!" Lu Qingshan did not hesitate and chose to learn the Cultivation Technique. The freshly earned 40 experience points instantly decreased by 10.


    "Experience -10, currently learning [Qi Drawing Technique]!"


    A torrent of data flooded into Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    Unlike the simple act of selecting skills in a game, this data transformed into rted knowledge of the Cultivation Technique once it entered Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    How to sense the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth, how to draw in Qi, the cirction paths of Spiritual Power within the body...


    It was as if he had been spiritually initiated, allowing Lu Qingshan to truly andpletely grasp this Cultivation Technique in an instant.


    Meanwhile, in his own empty Dantian, Lu Qingshan once again felt a faint, mist-like Spiritual Power (+10 Spiritual Power).


    "Learning sess! You have mastered [Qi Drawing Technique], your Rank has been raised to Qi Refinement!"


    "Advancement sessful, conditions for ss selection met, please choose one of the following six sses as your main profession: Sword Cultivator, Body Cultivation, Beast Cultivator, Spiritual Cultivator, Dharma Cultivation, Nether Cultivator. Note, once the main profession is determined, it cannot be changed!"


    "Choose Sword Cultivator!"


    "ss transfer sessful, you have obtained the main profession [Sword Cultivator]!"


    "You have gained the professional talent [Specialization]: Without specialization, one cannot seed. Sword Cultivators who specialize in the Sword Dao cannot transfer to any secondary profession!"


    "You have gained the professional talent [Trapped in Formation]: The resolve to be trapped in formation is to face death without surrender. All damage dealt by Sword Cultivators is increased by: Rank x5%. As a bnce, Sword Cultivators will not receive any bonus to Stamina attribute!"


    "You have gained the professional talent [Sword Technique Affinity] (Primary Level): The experience required for Sword Cultivators to learn and upgrade sword techniques is reduced by 10%, and the experience required to learn and upgrade skills other than sword techniques is increased by 10%; sword technique damage is increased by 5%!"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    That is the Sword Cultivator, one of the most distinctive sses in Nine Heavens.


    In the eyes of Sword Cultivators, everything in the world hinges on a single sword.


    Immortal Cultivation Techniques, or the various arts of cultivation, are not what Sword Cultivators pursue. In their view, what problems cannot be solved by a straightforward sword strike? Why bother with other techniques?


    Sword Cultivators have the thinnest health and the most fragile bodies among the main professions in Nine Heavens.


    They are the only one of the six main professions that do not receive Stamina attribute bonuses as their Rank increases.


    Before ss transfer, the conversion ratio between Stamina and Health Points for every yer is fixed: 1 Stamina = 10 Health Points.


    But, except for Sword Cultivators, after ss transfer, other professions receive a 1 point increase in the Stamina to Health Points ratio for every Rank advancement (1 Stamina = 11 Health Points).


    For Body Cultivators, who regard Stamina as their main attribute, this increase is even 2 points. It might not seem like much in the beginning, but as the Rank goes up, the bonuses be increasingly significant.


    If one reaches the Fifth Rank of Void Refinement in Nine Heavens, at that point, for Body Cultivators, 1 Stamina = 20 (10+2¡Á5) Health Points, while the same Rank Sword Cultivator would still be at 1 Stamina = 10 Health Points, which is double the difference.


    That means starting from the Void Refining Realm, each point of Stamina for Body Cultivators is equivalent to two points for Sword Cultivators.


    Of course, aspensation for their meager HP, Sword Cultivators receive a significant buff to their attack power.


    Sword Cultivators are an extreme ss that trades high health for explosive damage, and under the bonus of [Trapped in Formation], they possess unmatched damage output in Nine Heavens. Even the most resilient Body Cultivators cannot withstand the continuous attacks of a Sword Cultivator.


    This is a ss with very apparent strengths and weaknesses.


    Sword Cultivator yers are colloquially known as "brutes" or "mad dogs" in Nine Heavens.


    The officials of Nine Heavens once conducted a survey to vote for the most popr ss in the game; Sword Cultivators won by a wide margin with fifty percent of the vote.


    However, it is worth noting that in a survey of the most disliked ss by yers, Sword Cultivators again imed the top spot with an overwhelming ny percent of the vote.


    The mechanics of the Sword Cultivator ss are very popr among yers, simply put, they stand for "shiness." However, the reason for the dislike by many yers is often due to this "shiness," which can often leave themselves and their teammates utterly frustrated.


    Anemic and explosive in damage, these twobelsbined on the same ss lead to the consequence that in every battle, Sword Cultivators seem to operate under a max-level taunt aura, always bing the primary target for the enemies¡ªno one dares let a Sword Cultivator freely deal damage.


    Sword Cultivators are a ss with an incredibly high ceiling but terrifyingly low floor. The gap between high-skill and average yers is enormous.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In the hands of a skilled yer, a Sword Cultivator often moves through a crowd of enemies untouched, their sword striking fear into gods and men alike, and they are hailed as Sword Immortals!


    In the hands of a novice, a Sword Cultivator is like death blowing in the wind, an ever-presentpanion, a one-way journey from which there is no return. Once they step onto the battlefield, they vanish without a trace¡ªtrue death without the possibility of life, earning them the nickname "The Orphans."


    But whether they are called Sword Immortals or Orphans, Sword Cultivator yers can all enjoy the unique joys thate with their path.


    What do yers seek in a game?


    Is it not simply to find joy?


    ...


    After changing his ss to Sword Cultivator, Lu Qingshan saw significant changes in his previously empty personal attribute panel:


    Lu Qingshan (Human Race)


    Profession: Sword Cultivator


    Cultivation Technique: [Qi Drawing Technique] Lv1 (0/100) ¡ª¡ª [Spiritual Power +10]


    Rank: Qi Refinement


    Experience Points: 30


    Free Attribute Points: 0


    Personal Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Mana 1, Divine Soul 1, Charm 1, Stamina 1


    Health Points: 20/20


    Spiritual Power Value: 10/10


    Talents: [Innate Swordseed] (Legendary), [Thick-skinned], [Specialist], [Trapped in Formation], [Sword Technique Affinity] (Primary Level)


    Skills: [Heavenly Eye Technique]


    __________


    In just an instant, Lu Qingshan went from an ordinary person to a Qi Refining Cultivator.


    However, to Jie Shi standing nearby, there was no sign of any anomaly; all the changes had urred in utter silence.


    Having be a Qi Refining Cultivator and acquired spiritual power, Lu Qingshan could now use a storage bag.


    "What exactly is the situation in the Corpse Refining Cave, how many people are there, and what are their cultivation levels? Give me all the details," Lu Qingshan asked Jie Shi for specific information about the Corpse Refining Cave while ying with Jie Shi''s storage bag taken from his waist.


    Jie Shi watched Lu Qingshan fiddle with his own storage bag, a shadow flickering in the depths of his eyes, although he answered Lu Qingshan''s questions very cooperatively.


    ording to Jie Shi''s ount, the scale of the Corpse Refining Cave was much greater than what Lu Qingshan had anticipated.


    The master of the Corpse Refining Cave, the [Blood Corpse True Man], who was also the master of Jie Shi and Song Qing, was not the Qi Refining Cultivator that Lu Qingshan had previously imagined, but was instead a veteran Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    The reason why the Corpse Pool where Lu Qingshan was located used First Grade strengthening corpse fluid was that the Corpse Refining Cave had a total of three Corpse Pools.


    Two were for refining First Grade Corpse Puppets, of which Lu Qingshan''s was one, and there was another one for refining Second Grade Corpse Puppets.


    A Second Grade Corpse Puppet corresponds to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and only Foundation Establishment Cultivators can refine them.


    Knowing the specifics of the Corpse Refining Cave, a sense of relief couldn''t help but arise in Lu Qingshan''s heart.


    Fortunately, the [Blood Corpse True Man] was not at home; otherwise, the chances of escaping from this ce would have been slim to none.


    To arge extent, Qi Refining Cultivators still belong to the category of mortals; if well-nned, it is not impossible for mortals to kill Qi Refining Cultivators. However, Foundation Establishment Cultivators are apletely different story.


    In the world of cultivators, oveing gaps between ranks is as difficult as climbing to the heavens. The skills that Foundation Establishment Cultivators master, both in number and level, far exceed those of Qi Refining Cultivators.


    Furthermore, with the ability to sense others with their [Divine Sense], a Foundation Establishment Cultivator can easily overpower a Qi Refining Cultivator in terms ofbat power.

 Chapter 6: Villains Usually Die Talking Too Much

    <h4>Chapter 6: Viins Usually Die Talking Too Much</h4>


    ```


    Blood Corpse True Person had a total of five disciples, all of whom were Qi Refining Cultivators. Jie Shi and Song Qing were disciples that Blood Corpse True Person took on just two years ago, ranked fourth andst among the five disciples, respectively, and were also the ones with the lowest cultivation levels.


    However, it wasn''t hard to guess that those assigned to do the grueling work of transporting corpses, how high could their status be?


    ording to Jie Shi, after Blood Corpse True Person left for a few days, their eldest senior brother, who had already reached the eighthyer of Qi Refinement, also departed, and he was currently not in the Corpse Refining Cave.


    Alright, it didn''t matter that the boss was out, the elite monster had slipped away too.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyebrows twitched in satisfaction.


    That is to say, at this moment, there were only four Qi Refining Cultivators left in the Corpse Refining Cave, and the two most worthlessckeys had already been taken down by him.


    The remaining two Qi Refining Cultivators, one was at the sixthyer of Qi Refinement, and the other at the fourthyer, all of them being Dharma Cultivators.


    ...


    "Do you know what viins usually die of?" Jie Shi, who had been cooperating very well in answering Lu Qingshan''s questions, suddenly spoke. His voice carried a venomous intention, "Viins usually die because they talk too much!"


    A jade pendant hanging under the garments around Jie Shi''s waist suddenly emitted a brownish-yellow light. The light instantly spread over Jie Shi''s entire body, and on the skin exposed by Jie Shi, there was a thinyer of light gray-yellow mud.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Stone Skin Technique]


    Level: First Grade Earth System Spell


    Mana consumption: 5 Spiritual Power Value/minute


    Description: Covers the skin with ayer of rock, enhancing defensive power,mon mortal weapons will not be able to prate your stone skin.


    Spell effect: defensive power +1


    Remark: Solid as a rock!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    A very practical defensive spell.


    The short de that Lu Qingshan had confiscated from Song Qing was not a Magic Artifact used by cultivators but a very ordinary mortal weapon, which could not break through Jie Shi''s skin after heunched the Stone Skin Technique.


    "Do you know why I have been so cooperative in answering your questions, telling you everything about Corpse Refining Cave?" Jie Shi looked at Lu Qingshan with a sneer of pride, "You wouldn''t really think I am begging for my life out of fear of death, right? I''m not stupid. After you''ve found out what you want to know, how could you possibly let me go? My behavior was just to buy time, waiting for the Earth Spirit Pendant to recharge.


    If it weren''t for using up the Stone Skin Technique of my Earth Spirit Pendant during the magicalbat with my senior brother two days ago, do you think you could threaten me?"


    I must say, for a mortal, it''s quite remarkable that you''ve managed to push me this far, but unfortunately, you''re too greedy. You didn''t immediately kill me the first chance you got, and how could you possibly imagine the means of a cultivator?"


    Lu Qingshan appeared to smile but didn''t as he looked at the triumphantly smirking Jie Shi, remaining silent.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan did not respond, Jie Shi''s eyelid twitched, sensing that something might be amiss.


    A cold gleam shed, mixed with a hint of golden light, as the short de that Lu Qingshan had kept pressed close to Jie Shi''s neck swiftly shed across his throat.


    A huge gash appeared on Jie Shi''s neck, and blood gushed forth.


    A cut to the throat!


    Clutching his bloody neck, Jie Shi stared at the Spirit Talisman that had appeared in Lu Qingshan''s left hand and was gradually turning to ash from use. His face showed an expression of disbelief as he fell straight back,nding on the ground like a lump of mud, silent and still.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Sharp de Talisman](First Grade): Engraved with the First Grade Spell, Sharp de Technique.


    [Sharp de Technique]


    Level: First Grade Metal System Spell


    ```


    Spellcasting consumption: 5 Spiritual Power Value/minute


    Description: Temporarily enchants a weapon, greatly enhancing its sharpness.


    Magic Effect: Weapon Sharpness +1


    Note: As solid as a rock?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    "Youunched a fatal attack and dealt 11 points of damage to Jie Shi (lv3)!"


    "Target deceased, you have killed Jie Shi (lv3) and gained 30 experience points!"


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ...


    Looking at Jie Shi''s body on the floor, Lu Qingshan nodded and said to himself, "Indeed, viins tend to die because they talk too much."


    The Sharp de Talisman came from Song Qing''s storage bag. The moment he became a cultivator, Lu Qingshan quickly inventoried Song Qing''s storage bag that he had carried in his embrace. True to his reputation as a talisman master, Song Qing''s storage bag was filled to the brim with over a dozen talismans.


    The instant Jie Shi activated the Stone Skin Technique, Lu Qingshan stealthily took out a Sharp de Talisman from the captured Song Qing''s storage bag and swiftly applied the Sharp de Technique to his own short de.


    Jie Shi, full of smug satisfaction, clearly did not notice this detail, and in his heart, he always considered Lu Qingshan to be nothing more than a mortal. He would not have imagined that Lu Qingshan could open Song Qing''s storage bag.


    Groping over Jie Shi''s body (looting), Lu Qingshan quickly found a cream-colored jade pendant at his waist.


    [Earth Spirit Pendant]


    Level: Low Grade Mortal Artifact


    Magic Artifact Effect: Automatically absorbs the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth to recharge; every three days, it can actively cast a spell without consumption: Stone Skin Technique. (Time remaining for recharging: 72 hours)


    Note: It might just save your life in a critical moment, or not.


    In "Nine Heavens," the ranking of magic artifacts was set up like Cultivation Techniques, divided into Mortal, Spirit, Heaven, and Taoist levels. Unlike Cultivation Techniques, each level of a magic artifact is further divided into four ranks: Low Grade, Middle Grade, High Grade, and Supreme Quality.


    The Earth Spirit Pendant was only the lowest rank of magic artifacts, but at least it was a magic artifact. Lu Qingshan was satisfied as he hung the Earth Spirit Pendant around his waist; then, he quickly inventoried the rest of his gains in haste.


    The belongings of two Lower Grade cultivators were not particrly wealthy. Lu Qingshan carefully counted the contents of both storage bags.


    Two spell jade slips for Qi Refinement, one jade slip for aption of First Grade magic talismans, and two jade slips for First Grade Five Elements Magic.


    These jade slips were all very basic and not of much use to Lu Qingshan.


    In addition, there were twenty First Grade Spirit Stones, two bottles of Fasting Pills, each containing twelve pills. Lastly, there were several First Grade Spirit Talismans of various kinds. To break free from his current predicament, the Spirit Talismans were undoubtedly very useful.


    Spirit Stones are the currency of cultivators, stones filled with Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth with multiple uses.


    For instance, one could absorb the Spiritual Energy from a Spirit Stone to cultivate faster, or consume it to set up Formations; duringbat, to cast high-level spells, replenishing one''s Spiritual Power by absorbing the Spiritual Energy from within Spirit Stones if greatly diminished, greatly enhancing the endurance in battle, among other various roles not discussed here.


    Spirit Stones are divided into nine grades based on the amount of Spiritual Power they contain and their purity, corresponding perfectly with the nine ranks of a cultivator''s progression. Each high-grade Spirit Stone can be exchanged for ten of a lower grade.


    Actually, the nine-grade system is quitemon in "Nine Heavens," as is the case with the levels of cultivators'' spells, ranks of secondary upations, or the grading of talismans and pills¡ªall employing a nine-grade division.


    Fasting Pills are First Grade pills, specifically refined for Qi Refining Cultivators who are not yet capable of fasting, with the effect of sustaining a person for one month without food per pill. A bottle of twelve was enough tost a year.


    Unfortunately, no Sword Techniques were found, but that was not surprising. It would have been strange to discover Sword Techniques in the storage bags of two Lower Grade Dharma Cultivators.


    Next, he had to deal with the remaining two Qi Refining Cultivators in the Corpse Refining Cave, and then leave this ce.


    Lu Qingshan stroked his chin, pondering this.


    He had to act quickly; if he dyed and happened to run into the real Blood Corpse returning, he would truly be left crying without tears.

 Chapter 7 - 7 Si Xuesong

    <h4>Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Si Xuesong</h4>


    Lu Qingshan took a new set of clothes out of his storage bag and put them on.


    While changing clothes, Lu Qingshan kept a mindful eye and did not rece the outer robe he had stripped off from Song Qing.


    These were the clothes Song Qing had worn today, and perhaps there would be opportunities to make use of themter in the operation.


    After changing, Lu Qingshan left the cave he was in.


    The Corpse Refining Cave wasrge; Lu Qingshan estimated that it must have originally been a natural underground cavern, which had been transformed into the current Corpse Refining Cave by the Blood Corpse Grandmaster.


    The three Corpse Pools'' caves were connected and located at the deepest part of the Corpse Refining Cave, so escaping from here inevitably involved confrontation with the remaining Qi Refining Cultivators.


    Although confrontation was unavoidable, the methods could still be debated.


    Even with his extensive experience, Lu Qingshan was currently a first level Qi Refining Sword Cultivator without any sword techniques or sword artifacts in hand.


    Frankly speaking, his directbat power was a mere 5.


    If he rushed headlong without regard,


    well, within a few seconds, he would likely face an attack from two cultivators. If the two cultivators were lenient, perhaps he could return to his birthce¡ªthe Corpse Pool, to experience the sensation of soaking in hot springs again.


    If those two cultivators were a bit harsher, he probably wouldn''t even leave aplete corpse behind.


    It looked brave, but was inadvisable, strike that option!


    The world he had traversed to was indeed a gaming world, but Lu Qingshan understood that he was no longer ying a game, having lost the most important yer''s perk of "Infinite Resurrection." With only one life, all actions had to be as prudent as possible.


    Lu Qingshan''s n was to break them one by one.


    It would be best if he could first take care of the fourth level Qi Refining cultivator, plus with the 60 experience points he currently had, making a total of 100 points, he would level up first.


    However, things never went as smoothly as imagined.


    Lu Qingshan slowly approached the exit of the Corpse Refining Cave, careful not to make a sound.


    He had just gone a short distance when a shadow appeared in front of Lu Qingshan.


    Without a word, Lu Qingshan cast a Heavenly Eye Technique.


    Let''s see what kind of little demon you are.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Si Xuesong (Human Race)


    upation: Dharma Cultivation (Primary)


    Cultivation Technique: [Qi Drawing Technique]Lv6 (235/600)


    Rank: Qi Refining


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Attribute: Strength 1, Agility 1, Mana 4, Divine Soul 1, Charm 1, Stamina 1


    Health Points: 11/11


    Spiritual Power Value: 70/70


    Skills: Fireball Technique lv3, Fireball Technique lv1, ???, ...


    Talent: None


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Lu Qingshan''s heart sank, cursing his bad luck; it was bad enough to encounter someone, but it turned out to be the second senior brother, a sixth level Qi Refiner.


    Damn nners! Pah!


    "Little junior brother, why are you sneaking around like a thief, what''s up?" Si Xuesong asked with a puzzled face.


    The illumination inside the Corpse Refining Cave depended entirely on luminous pearls embedded in the walls, which actually did not provide strong lighting. From a bit of a distance, one could only see a vague shadow.


    From afar, seeing Lu Qingshan dressed in Song Qing''s clothes, Si Xuesong subconsciously mistook Lu Qingshan for his own little junior brother.


    Lu Qingshan slightly bowed his head to shade his face in the shadows, continuing his steps toward Si Xuesong without changing his pace.


    But his left hand had already quietly reached into his chest.


    There, he had all the attack talismans he had seized from Song Qing''s storage bag.


    "I just heard some noises from the direction of the Corpse Pool, so I went over to check," Lu Qingshan exined.


    Si Xuesong frowned, feeling that something was slightly off, "Junior brother, why is your voice so deep today?"


    Trusting in the Mist Formation set by the Blood Corpse Grandmaster, Si Xuesong had not considered the possibility of outsiders sneaking inside the Corpse Refining Cave.


    Thus, even when he sensed something amiss, he did not be suspicious at first.


    "Wait a minute, junior brother, why do I feel like you''ve grown taller today..."


    As he spoke, Lu Qingshan had alreadye much closer to Si Xuesong, who was just then realizing something was truly wrong; upon closer inspection, he saw an unfamiliar face.


    Si Xuesong thought to himself it was bad news.


    But it was toote, as in the blink of an eye during Si Xuesong''s astonishment, Lu Qingshan''s left hand, filled with Spirit Talismans, flung them towards Si Xuesong!


    [Fireball Talisman]*5!


    [Golden de Talisman]*3!


    [Earth Spear Talisman]*2!


    This was not a time to conserve items, and Lu Qingshan, in one breath, activated all of Song Qing''s stored attack talismans and hurled them at Si Xuesong.


    The distance between them was incredibly close now, so much so that it was unsuitable for deploying Spirit Talismans.


    Because at the distance between Lu Qingshan and Si Xuesong, even the Fireball Technique released by the Fireball Talisman could affect Lu Qingshan.


    This could already be considered a case of killing a thousand enemies while self-injuring eight hundred... well, not that many, let''s say five hundred.


    But it was only at this distance that Si Xuesong had absolutely no chance to react with a Defensive Spell!


    Boom¡ª


    Boom¡ª


    Boom¡ª


    A massive booming sound erupted.


    "You take 1 point of magic damage!"


    "You take 1 point of magic damage!"


    "You take 1 point of magic damage!"


    ...


    Five identical messages shed by.


    Even though Lu Qingshan was merely affected by the aftermath of the Fireball Technique, plus he had a 20% magic damage reduction from being "thick-skinned," he still dropped by a full quarter of his Health Points!


    Aside from facing five Fireball Techniques, Si Xuesong also had to withstand three Golden de Techniques and two Earth Spear Techniques.


    Under such an attack, Si Xuesong, with only 11 Health Points, would have been instantly killed if he hadn''t deployed a Defensive Spell.


    However, Lu Qingshan''s eyes narrowed, because at the moment when the magic from the activated Spirit Talismans was about to hit Si Xuesong, a golden light shield appeared around him.


    Metal System Spell, Golden Light Shield!


    Si Xuesong possessed an automatically triggered Defensive Artifact; this golden light shield must have been released automatically by the artifact.


    Though it onlysted for an instant before dissipating under the multiple spells, the severely weakened spells that subsequently hit Si Xuesong were no longer enough to kill him.


    No good, I must not let Si Xuesong regain hisposure and cast a spell!


    In this desperate life-or-death moment, Lu Qingshan grew exceptionally calm.


    Without hesitation, Lu Qingshan charged directly at Si Xuesong.


    Rampaging Bull Charge!


    Si Xuesong''s Strength attribute was not higher than Lu Qingshan''s. With Lu Qingshan''s powerful and hefty charge, Si Xuesong, just as he was gathering Spiritual Power to pinch out a Spiritual Decree to cast a spell, was abruptly interrupted.


    Die!


    Lu Qingshan''s hands tightly locked around Si Xuesong''s body while he tilted his head back, then jolted it forward, smashing viciously into Si Xuesong''s head.


    A wave of dizziness swept through Lu Qingshan''s mind, stars shed before his eyes, and a great pain surged from his forehead ¡ª he didn''t need to look to know it was bruised badly.


    However, Si Xuesong''s situation wasn''t any better. With the impact, his head was bloody and broken.


    I don''t believe you can still cast a spell with your head spinning like this!


    Lu Qingshan was ruthless in his heart.


    "The loud noise from activating the attack talismans just now couldn''t possibly have gone unnoticed by the fourth-level Qi Refining third brother... Probably in a few seconds, he''lle to check on the situation..."


    Lu Qingshan knew he didn''t have much time left.


    If he couldn''t deal with Si Xuesong before reinforcements arrived, being 1v2 would definitely leave him without a sliver of a chance.


    Thinking of this.


    A sharp gleam burst from Lu Qingshan''s eyes and, upon a sudden impulse, he harshly drove his knee into the space between Si Xuesong''s legs.


    ...


    It was as if he heard the sound of egg-shaped objects breaking.


    Forget about a Qi Refining Cultivator, even if Si Xuesong was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he definitely couldn''t withstand such a close-range hit.


    Si Xuesong''s expression twisted, his entire body instantly crumpled.


    Strike down your enemy when he is ill.


    Lu Qingshan swiftly pulled out a short de from Song Qing''s storage bag at his waist and plunged it directly into Si Xuesong''s chest, piercing his heart.


    Hmm¡ª


    Si Xuesong''s pupils dted sharply, his body bent like a shrimp, he struggled unwillingly for a moment, and then there was no more movement.


    "Target deceased, you have killed Si Xuesong (lv6), and gained 60 experience points!"


    Si Xuesong died without casting a single spell; such is the fate of a lower-grade Dharma Cultivator when entered into closebat, unless hisst name is Gan.

 Chapter 8: Escape from the Corpse Refining Cave

    <h4>Chapter 8: Escape from the Corpse Refining Cave</h4>


    With the addition of these 60 Experience Points, Lu Qingshan had already umted 120 Experience Points.


    Lu Qingshan invested 100 Experience Points into the Qi Refinement Technique.


    At this time, any increase in strength was good!


    "[Qi Refinement Technique]has been upgraded to lv2, gaining 1 Free Attribute Point!"


    In the Qi Refinement stage, one gains 1 Attribute Point for every two levels of advancement.


    Lu Qingshan did not hesitate and immediately allocated the Attribute Points to Strength.


    Sword Cultivators always fully invest in their Strength.


    Hurried footsteps sounded.


    They wereing!


    Lu Qingshan held his breath.


    This was thest monster. As long as he dealt with this Qi Refinement Fourth Grade creature, he would have cleared the [Corpse Refining Cave]dungeon.


    A somewhat lean shadow appeared within Lu Qingshan''s line of sight.


    That physique, if it got close, wouldn''t I knock them down one punch at a time?


    Lu Qingshan was determined. He took out a Swift Movement Talisman from his hand, gave himself a Swift Movement buff, and prepared to charge.


    He wanted to y it safe, but the turn of events forced him to rush in recklessly.


    Before charging, Lu Qingshan first cast Heavenly Eye Technique.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Wu Yi (Human Race)


    upation: Dharma Cultivator (Main)


    Cultivation Technique: [Qi Refinement Technique]Lv4 (335/400)


    Rank: Qi Refinement


    Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Mana 3, Divine Soul 1, Charm 1, Stamina 1


    Health Points: 11/11


    Spiritual Power Value: 40/40


    Skills: Qi Concealing Technique lv1, ???, ...


    Talents: None


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    "Brother Si?" An uncertain voice sounded beside him, and to Lu Qingshan''s surprise, it seemed to be a woman''s voice?


    In such a creepy, eerie ce, full of corpses and only frequented by men, could there really be a female cultivator?!


    Jie Shi had not specifically mentioned when introducing the Corpse Refining Cave to Lu Qingshan that among the five disciples taken by the True Blood Corpse, there was a woman.


    Si Xuesong had died and naturally couldn''t respond to this Wu Yi.


    Seeing this scene, Wu Yi''s eyes flickered for a moment, and after hesitating briefly on the spot, she decisively turned around and fled, a faint cyan light glinting on her body.


    [Wind Control Skill]!


    This woman?! Lu Qingshan was bbergasted.


    "Lucky I reacted quickly," Wu Yi thought to herself as she fled, "otherwise I might have died here today."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The Mist Formation is a Second Grade Illusion Array. Anyone who can break through the illusory effects of the Mist Formation and enter the Corpse Refining Cave must not have low Cultivation.


    Not to mention she had immediately rushed here upon hearing the noises. Yet, in just such a brief moment, the Second Brother¡ªwho was at the Sixth Grade of Qi Refinement¡ªwas already lying beside, alive or dead unknown.


    It was terrifying, truly terrifying!


    Wu Yi was both shocked and scared, and didn''t dare look back to see if her imagined formidable enemy was chasing her. Instead, relying on her familiarity with the terrain, she darted left and right through theplexwork of caves and quickly disappeared.


    The cunning rabbit has three burrows. The True Blood Corpse also knew the consequences if his actions were discovered and feared being besieged one day, so he had quietly arranged several secret escape passages within the Corpse Refining Cave.


    Of course, aside from Wu Yi, the other disciples of the True Blood Corpse did not know about these escape routes.


    As for how Wu Yi knew, cough cough, female disciple.avi, you know what I mean.


    Well, the boss was out, the elite monsters were not present, and now even the minions had slipped away, the guardianship awareness of the monsters in this dungeon was not up to par.


    Looking at the now empty, eerily silent Corpse Refining Cave, Lu Qingshan could not help but sigh inwardly.


    Lu Qingshan also did not dare to rx. He quickly gathered Si Xuesong''s storage bag, searched Si Xuesong''s body for a moment, and after finding Si Xuesong''s Defensive Artifact, he also quickly headed for the cave entrance.


    The Mist Formation, a Formation specifically set up to protect dens, differed from those formations specially designed to kill enemies.


    It was shielded against external intrusion but offered no resistance to those inside who wished to leave, making it difficult for outsiders to prate the formation and enter, while those inside could exit without obstruction.


    Lu Qingshan walked straight through the Mist Formation and into a clearing.


    He made it out.


    Lu Qingshan let out a breath, his nerves had been taut since the moment he entered, and now, he could finally rx a bit.


    Inside the Corpse Refining Cave, three rounds of confrontation and scheming seemed smooth, but the peril involved was known only to him. A slight oversight or an unexpected event could have easily cost him his life in the cave.


    If he crossed over and ended up typing "gg" without even seeing the sun of this world, he would surely be kicked from the group chat by the group admin.


    At this thought, Lu Qingshan looked up at the sky.


    What the hell?


    Where is my sun?


    The deep blue sky was exceptionally clear, with stars scattered densely across, like shattered gold.


    It turned out to be deep into the night.


    Looking back at the Corpse Refining Cave that seemed so close yet had disappeared from view (effect of the Mist Formation), Lu Qingshan felt a myriad of emotions.


    How does that saying go?


    Right, this is the beginning of a legend.


    ...


    The location of the Corpse Refining Cave was in a deste mountain deep in the wilderness.


    Lu Qingshan looked around and saw nothing but trees, unable to discern his location.


    Lu Qingshan understood that escaping the Corpse Refining Cave didn''t mean he was safe.


    Who knows if that escaped woman had gathered reinforcements for a sudden counterattack to trouble him.


    It was imperative to leave this ce. Lu Qingshan randomly chose a direction and, taking advantage of the remaining effect of the Swift Movement Talisman, quickly vanished into the forest.


    ...


    Wu Yi, looking at the entrance now concealed by dense vines, patted her still-heaving chest, let out a breath, looked at the stars above, found the North Star, and started walking rapidly in its direction, also quickly disappearing into the quiet mountain.


    A few dozen miles to the north was Yuanshan City, where her senior brother and master were located. First, she would go there, tell them what had happened, and see what her master would say.


    Wu Yi bit her lip, making this n in her heart.


    ...


    The sky gradually turned white.


    Lu Qingshan had been on the run all night.


    Inhale¡ªExhale¡ª


    Lu Qingshan was breathing heavily.


    To think a Sword Cultivator would be fleeing not by flying with his sword but running on his own two feet.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes welled up with tears.


    This feeling of running on feet, perhaps I should avoid reliving it.


    Whoosh¡ª


    The faint sound of water could be heard not far away.


    Lu Qingshan''s heart stirred, and he hurried his steps toward the direction of the noise.


    Sure enough, a river appeared in front of Lu Qingshan after a short while.


    A look of joy appeared on Lu Qingshan''s face. He went to the riverbank, scooped up some water, first washed his face, and invigorated his spirit which was slightlynguid from traveling all night.


    By following the river, he presumed he would soone across a vige or town, where he could then ascertain exactly where he was.


    Moreover, the Blood Corpse Real Man had never seen his face, nor could he possibly guess that the one who killed his three treasured disciples came from a corpse in the Corpse Pool. As long as Lu Qingshan blended into the crowd, they would meet but not recognize each other.


    But speaking of which, not only did the Blood Corpse Real Man not know, Lu Qingshan himself didn''t know what his currently face looked like either.


    With this thought, Lu Qingshan could not help but also feel a bit of curiosity. He leaned over the riverbank.


    The unpolluted and clear-as-a-mirror water surface crisply reflected his face back at him.


    Well-defined eyebrows, attractive eyes, a straight and prominent nose, and lips of moderate thickness, his facial contours were sharp and clear.


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but touch his own face, nodding in satisfaction.


    Hot damn, quite handsome?


    As expected of me!

 Chapter 9 - 9 The Ghost Shadow in the Small Village

    <h4>Chapter 9: Chapter 9 The Ghost Shadow in the Small Vige</h4>


    Having escaped the dangerous situation for the moment, Lu Qingshan took the opportunity to tally his loot.


    As the second senior brother of the Corpse Refining Cave, Si Xuesong only had one defensive magic artifact on him, which was a crystal clear, snow-white bracelet.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Golden Essence Ring]


    Level: Middle Grade Mortal Artifact


    Description: This magic artifact is forged from golden essence stone.


    Magic Artifact Effect: When damaged, it can automatically trigger a First Grade spell, the Golden Light Shield (time remaining until recharge isplete: 11 hours).


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    As a Middle Grade Mortal Artifact, it is indeed much stronger than the Earth Spirit Pendant. Firstly, the spell is automatically triggered and does not require manual activation.


    Magic artifacts that trigger defensive spells automatically are highly practical inbat. Additionally, the spell''s recharging time is a big factor, the Earth Spirit Pendant takes three days, while the Golden Essence Ring only needs one day.


    Lu Qingshan deftly put the Golden Essence Ring onto his own wrist.


    Next, he proceeded to check Si Xuesong''s storage bag.


    The contents of Si Xuesong''s storage bag were clearly much more abundant than those of his two junior brothers.


    However, that''s only inparison to his junior brothers. To Lu Qingshan''s eyes, the Corpse Refining Cave was nothing more than a den of paupers.


    Luckily for him, since the whole lot were impoverished, there wasn''t a single attack magic artifact among them, and that''s how he was able to muscle his way out.


    Within Si Xuesong''s storage bag, there were more than sixty First Grade spirit stones, which was more than three times the entire wealth of his two unfortunate junior brothersbined.


    There were also several Spell Jade Slips and Cultivation Technique Jade Slips, all of which belonged to Dharma Cultivation items that Lu Qingshan, a Sword Cultivator, had no use for.


    As for pills, besides the same bottle of Fasting Pills, there was surprisingly also a bottle of Qi Condensing Pills, which should count as the biggest gain of the day.


    A bottle of Qi Condensing Pills (12 pills) is worth one hundred and twenty First Grade spirit stones. Qi Condensing Pills are only suitable for Qi Refining Cultivators to consume, and once one''s Cultivation exceeds Qi Refinement, the pill''s efficacy greatly diminishes.


    Lu Qingshan opened the bottle and nced inside; there were still eight round Qi Condensing Pills remaining.


    Qi Condensing Pills can aid cultivators in their cultivation, elerating their cultivation speed, and they are also beneficial for yers.


    In "Nine Heavens," yers, like NPCs, can also meditate to refine their cultivation methods and gain experience points (by leaving the game running).


    The role of Qi Condensing Pills in elerating cultivation trantes to an increase in the experience points gained from leaving the game running for yers.


    Lu Qingshan estimated that with the aptitude of his current body, if he cultivated his method for four hours a day, it would take about two days to gain 1 experience point.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Qi Condensing Pill]


    Level: First Grade Pill


    Description: After ingesting the pill, operate the cultivation technique to absorb the spiritual power within the pill, which can rapidly improve Cultivation. The efficacy is halved after consuming more than 10 pills, and after 20 pills, no further effect will be produced.


    Pill Effect: Experience Points +10


    Note: As long as one chews enough pills, even a mortal can be an immortal.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Qi Condensing Pills don''t take effect immediately upon ingestion; one must spend time operating the cultivation technique to fully absorb the spiritual power contained within the pill before gaining experience points.


    Butpared to the dry and dull practice of pure meditation, the efficiency is certainly more than a little bit higher.


    Lu Qingshan put the pills back into the storage bag and tied the bag to the inside of his robe. At this moment, there were already three storage bags inside his robe.


    This inevitably reminded him of a widely circted saying among yers.


    Storage bags are just the lowest-grade storage artifacts with limited space. But since yers can''t afford high-level storage artifacts in the early stages of the game, they often choose to carry multiple storage bags to meet their storage needs.


    yers, who are endowed with the so-called Ah Q spirit, sarcastically dubbed themselves members of the Beggars'' Sect, ranking their seniority by the number of storage bags they carried.


    In Lu Qingshan''s current situation, he would be considered a ''Three Bags Elder''.


    What impressed Lu Qingshan was that in his previous life, there was a fierce yer from a certain ''Three'' country who exploited his racial talents and equipped a hundred storage bags on his body, calling himself the ''Hundred Bags Elder'' and ''Leader of the Beggars'' Sect''.


    ...


    Following the flow of the river, Lu Qingshan walked for a few more hours and finally, when his legs started to feel a bit wobbly, he saw a few vige womenundering clothes by the river ahead.


    The vige women ced the clothes on rocks, using crushed soapberries formed into balls as detergent, constantly beating the clothes with wooden mallets. Their hands were busy at work, and their mouths did not rest, chatting about this and that of household gossip.


    "Did you see the Taoist priest the vige chief invited from the city the other day? All sharp-chinned and monkey-cheeked, I don''t think he has a bit of the aura of an immortal Taoist priest."


    "Eh, looks can be deceiving. That Taoist Priest Bai Piao is quite well-known even in Yuanshan City.


    A few years ago, the neighboring vige seemed to have offended some filthy thing, with several people bing possessed. It was after they invited Taoist Priest Bai Piao to perform an exorcism that, on the very same day, those possessed vigers were said to have returned to normal!"


    "If that''s the case, this priest must be able to get rid of the evil spirit in our vige, that would be such a relief. My child has been scared by this ghost for several days now, not having had a good night''s sleep, it''s been so distressing."


    "Shh, that''s not necessarily true. I heard from my husband that the evil spirit that appeared in our vige is likely a big one.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Li Laoer got up in the middle of the night once and caught a glimpse of a ghostly shadow in his backyard, all fangs and ws, even iming to be the West Chu Overlord, scared him out of his wits."


    The oldest-looking among the women suddenly interjected, immediately causing a few gasps of shock.


    "West Chu Overlord?!"


    "Right, our vige is very likely the ce where this West Chu Overlord fell.


    Since this overlord''s ambitions were unachieved and he fell, he naturally held onto resentment. Over the years, this resentment umted and turned into a Resentful Spirit that now causes trouble!"


    "Hiss¡ª¡ª"


    ...


    Of course, Lu Qingshan did not believe the vige women''s words. A ghost that could call itself the West Chu Overlord was an entity capable of bringing suffering to every living being within a domain.


    If it were really the West Chu Overlord, you vige women would have been long gone, how could you still be here washing clothes?


    However, there''s never smoke without fire, and the appearance of a ghost was probably true eight or nine times out of ten.


    Moreover, to be able to im the name West Chu Overlord implied that it had developed intelligence, which meant it should be a Yin Spirit rather than a Resentful Spirit.


    Resentful Spirits were fierce ghosts that lingered in the mortal realm because they harbored resentment before death and refused to enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Their consciousness gone, they retained only an instinct for ughter akin to that of wild beasts, a herald of great cmity.


    Yet, Resentful Spirits were also top-notch material for refining magic artifacts by evil cultivators. If a Resentful Spirit was integrated as an artifact spirit within a magic artifact, it could boost the artifact''s power by at least thirty percent.


    Therefore, most cultivators were quite willing to subdue Resentful Spirits when encountered, as it served both to rid the people of harm and to gain a substantial profit when sold to evil cultivators.


    If Resentful Spirits were considered valuable, then Yin Spirits were truly priceless treasures.


    Different from Resentful Spirits, Yin Spirits were spiritual beings with opened intellect. If they obtained a suitable Cultivation Technique, they could cultivate like Human Cultivators, constantly enhancing their own power. After reaching Foundation Establishment, they could even recondense their bodies.


    If one could subdue a Yin Spirit to be their ghost pet and nurture it well, it would undoubtedly be a powerful assistant for the cultivator, one that could continually upgrade.


    A Yin Spirit appearing in a small vige, and the fact that the vigers who saw it were still alive, suggested that this Yin Spirit was probably newly born and had not yet obtained a suitable Cultivation Method for spirit cultivation, only able to use its innate abilities to y some minor tricks.


    An idea shed through Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    "Auntie, I just overheard you talking about the West Chu Overlord, Taoist Priest Bai Piao. May I know exactly what the situation is?" Lu Qingshan stepped forward and asked with a shy smile.


    The vige women, seeing that the visitor was a seemingly harmless young man, were quite enthusiastic and did not hide much, chattering away: "It wasn''t long ago that our days were going just fine, but about half a month ago, domestic animals started disappearing frequently in the vige.


    At first, we didn''t think much of it, figuring it must be some dog''s son of a thief getting greedy, stealing our chickens and ducks to feast on.


    So, we sent a few people to stealthily watch around the chicken coop, hoping to catch this petty thief.


    But who could have known, not a single shadow was seen, yet two chickens still went missing from the coop, night after night, for several nights.


    We began to suspect it was the work of a ghost, and it wasn''t until a few days ago that Li Laoer himself witnessed the ghost shadow; then we were sure that there truly was a ghost in the vige. So, we hurriedly asked the vige chief to go to the city and invite a Taoist priest to exorcise the spirit."


    A ghost stealing chickens?


    Lu Qingshan felt there was something slightly amiss.


    "May I ask when the Taoist priest is performing the exorcism? I am rather interested in these exorcism rituals; may I observe it?"


    The eldest vige woman looked at Lu Qingshan in surprise, "You''re quite bold for someone so young. The priest said he would start the ritual at the time of You (5-7 pm).


    If you''re interested, just wait here a moment. Once we finish washing the clothes, you cane back to the vige with us."


    Lu Qingshan bowed his hands in thanks, "Alright, then I''ll thank the auntie first."

 Chapter 10 - 10 Peach Wood Sword

    <h4>Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Peach Wood Sword</h4>


    The vigers in this world are mostly simple, and a few vige girls, seeing that Lu Qingshan was a handsome young man, did not ask much about his background.


    After the vige women washed their family''s clothes, they tidied up a bit, picked up their wooden basins, and stood up to take Lu Qingshan, who had been waiting for a long time, back to the vige.


    As soon as he entered the vige, Lu Qingshan saw a crowd of people gathering and heading in the same direction.


    Seeing this scene, the vige girls were also puzzled. The eldest among them happened to see old man Wang from next door passing by and casually stopped him to ask what was happening, "Old man Wang, where are you all rushing to?"


    "What else? We''re going to watch Taoist Priest Bai Piao perform an exorcism!"


    In this world of immortals and demons, where supernatural creatures truly exist, ordinary people have always deeply believed in the legendary Taoist practices.


    An exorcism performed by a Taoist Priest was an event not seen in many years, naturally, everyone wanted to join in the excitement.


    "Isn''t it not even the hour of shen yet? Didn''t the Taoist Priest say he would begin the ceremony at the hour of you?"


    "It was originally nned for the hour of you, but just now, old Li''s son saw a ghostly figure in his backyard again and scurried out in a panic to find the Taoist Priest.


    The Taoist Priest immediately decided to go to old Li''s son''s house to perform an exorcism and rid the people of this evil. I must hurry over now, or I''ll miss everything," old man Wang exined quickly, then hurriedly stepped toward old Li''s son''s house.


    Standing aside, Lu Qingshan''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    A ghost appearing during the day?


    The situation seemed to be getting more interesting.


    An untrained soul body, if exposed directly to the harsh light of day, would get hurt.


    So, let alone a yin spirit with cognitive awareness, even a resentful spirit driven by mere instinct would avoid appearing during the daytime.


    ...


    The vige girls still needed to take the clothes back home, so Lu Qingshan bid farewell to a few of the aunts and headed alone to old Li''s son''s house.


    Although he did not know the way, he just needed to follow the vigers who were going to watch the excitement.


    Old Li''s son was a wine brewer and ran the only tavern in the vige, making him one of the wealthier families in the vige.


    When Lu Qingshan arrived, there was already a crowd gathered outside old Li''s son''s house, but the door was tightly closed.


    "What''s the situation now?" Lu Qingshan saw old man Wang and walked over to ask him.


    Old man Wang turned around, recognized the handsome young man who had been following the elder vige girl, and without suspicion replied, "Taoist Priest Bai Piao said the spirit is extremely dangerous and should not be approached lightly, so he locked the door and went in alone to perform the exorcism."


    At hearing this, Lu Qingshan''s eyes flickered, and he stepped back from the crowd and walked around old Li''s son''s house, eventually stopping beneath the wall of the backyard.


    With a slight effort in his legs, Lu Qingshan jumped straight up onto the wall.


    The vigers, ignorant and swayed by the Taoist''s words, dared not enter, but Lu Qingshan was not afraid.


    Lu Qingshan sat astride the wall, looking into the courtyard.


    In the courtyard, there was a wooden table with an incense burner ced on it and three sticks of incense lit, the white smoke billowing.


    A middle-aged Taoist in a green robe, petite in stature, stood in front of the table holding a peach wood sword, muttering something under his breath.


    His appearance truly matched what the vige girls had described, pointy mouth and monkey cheeks.


    "With no audience to watch, you still perform seriously, putting on quite the act. You''re really quite dedicated, aren''t you?" Lu Qingshan called out teasingly.


    "Who''s there?" Taoist Priest Bai Piao''s gaze shifted towards the direction of the voice, spotted Lu Qingshan sitting on the wall, and frowned, calling out, "You young brat, spewing nonsense. What are you talking about?


    You''re quite bold. Didn''t I warn everyone to stay away from this courtyard to prevent the spirit from possessing someone and escaping?"


    Lu Qingshan jumped down from the wall into the courtyard, looked at the peach wood sword in Taoist Priest Bai Piao''s hand, and said, "This sword, well, it indeed looks quite mystical. As for you, you''re clearly putting on an act."


    This world might have Taoist practices, but the person in front of him was not a cultivator capable of casting spells, just an ordinary man.


    However, the peach wood sword in the Taoist''s hand was indeed not a mere mortal artifact, if Lu Qingshan was not mistaken, it was definitely a magic artifact.


    "With the help of this peach wood sword, you''ve indeed scared away quite a few spirits, so you''re not entirely a fraud.


    But today''s situation is something your peach wood sword can''t resolve.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    If you give me this peach wood sword as a fee, I will help you solve this trouble, saving your life as well. How about it?" Lu Qingshan proposed.


    Bai Piao Taoist''s expression changed, "Who are you?"


    Someone like Bai Piao Taoist, who had long mingled in the marketces, was extremely slick and cautious.


    From the few words Lu Qingshan had uttered, he had immediately sensed something and no longer underestimated him due to his youthful appearance.


    Lu Qingshan did not reply directly, but channeled the Spiritual Power within his body.


    One of the incense sticks in the censer on the long table unexpectedly flew up into the air.


    Object Control, this was the most basic application of Spiritual Power.


    With Lu Qingshan''s Qi Refinement second level of Cultivation, he could only just barely manipte such light objects and was still unable to move them significantly.


    Although it had no practical use, it was enough to intimidate ordinary people.


    "A Cultivator?!" Bai Piao Taoist, looking at the incense suspended in the air, eximed in shock.


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly, "It''s good that you recognize the status of a Cultivator."


    Seeing Lu Qingshan acknowledging his identity as a Cultivator, the expression on Bai Piao Taoist''s face changed rapidly, and quite quickly he put on a smiling face.


    Holding the Peach Wood Sword with both hands, Bai Piao Taoist walked up to Lu Qingshan and spoke respectfully, "This Peach Wood Sword is an heirloom of my family. It is an honor for it to catch your eye."


    A smile covered Bai Piao Taoist''s face, but inside his heart was bleeding.


    Bai Piao Taoist wasn''t exaggerating, the Peach Wood Sword really was his family heirloom, passed down from his ancestors.


    In his youth, he had beenzy and unskilled, incapable of earning a living, and in times of difficulty, an idea struck him; taking his family''s Peach Wood Sword, he stole a Taoist robe from a Taoist temple and pretended to be a Taoist capable of casting spells to make a living.


    He knew his own limitations and initially approached it with a mindset of deceiving anyone he could.


    But, unexpectedly, heter found that in ces where he had pretended to perform rituals, no malevolent phenomena urred ever again.


    He naturally didn''t believe it was due to his rituals. After much deliberation, he finally concluded that it must be the ancestral Peach Wood Sword that indeed had some paranormal aspects.


    Leveraging this Peach Wood Sword, Bai Piao Taoist gradually earned quite a reputation.


    It could be said that the Peach Wood Sword was his tool for making a living.


    Could he not feel heartbroken about giving away his means of livelihood?


    But the young man before him was a legendary Cultivator capable of wielding Taoist magic; what if he showed resistance, and the Cultivator turned him to ashes with a burst of Spiritual Fire?


    Fortunately, over the years he had umted some savings. It seemed he should use these savings to start a business after returning home; without the Peach Wood Sword, he felt uneasy dealing with spirits.


    Lu Qingshan took the Peach Wood Sword from Bai Piao Taoist''s hands and looked at him with a half-smile, his face full of ingratiating intent, "Do you think I am using my power to forcefully take your Peach Wood Sword?"


    "This Peach Wood Sword is clearly my tribute to a true master like you, given voluntarily. How could it be said that you snatched it from me!" Bai Piao Taoist argued righteously.


    "Well, Bai Piao, you are indeed shrewd, but you need not harbor any resentment because if I hadn''te today, you would most likely have lost your life here.


    Getting a life for a Peach Wood Sword, you are actually not at a loss."


    Without waiting for Bai Piao Taoist to respond, Lu Qingshan, holding the Peach Wood Sword, swiped it towards a corner of the yard, and a purple-green Sword Light suddenly shot out from the Peach Wood Sword.


    The moment he touched the Peach Wood Sword, Lu Qingshan had obtained all the information about the sword.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Peach Wood Sword]


    Level: High-grade Mortal Artifact


    Description: Peach wood, the essence of the five types of wood, thus it suppresses evil spirits. This sword is crafted from the heartwood of a hundred-year-old peach tree and has many supernatural aspects.


    Magic Artifact Effect: Exorcism +1


    Active Effects: [Thunder Force]


    The heartwood of a hundred-year-old peach tree can slowly absorb the Thunder Force of Heaven and Earth stored within the sword''s core; you can discharge the Thunder Force stored in the sword''s core to release a Thunder Sword Light, effective attack range of 30 meters.


    Thunder Force (20/20)


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 11: The Hegemon King of Western Chu?

    <h4>Chapter 11: The Hegemon King of Western Chu?</h4>


    The essence of the peach wood, born at the Ghost Gate, can control hundreds of ghosts and is an excellent material for cutting down evil and controlling ghosts.


    This Peach Wood Sword was made from a hundred-year-old peach tree.


    Its attached effect of Exorcism +1 means that wherever this Peach Wood Sword is located,mon malevolent beings must stay away, otherwise, it wouldn''t be long before their souls dissipate.


    Taoist Priest Bai Piao, carrying the Peach Wood Sword, set up altars all around to perform rituals. Although all of them were tricks to fool people, the exorcism effect of the Peach Wood Sword genuinely yed its role. Thus, it was that Bai Piao managed to gain quite a bit of fame.


    However, the ghostly shadow that Li Lao Er saw was actually not a real ghost.


    A purple-green Sword Light shot towards a corner of the courtyard.


    To Bai Piao, this corner looked perfectly normal,pletely empty.


    But at the very moment when Lu Qingshan''s Sword Light flew towards it,


    Waves of ripples appeared in the void, spreading rapidly, like ripples on a cid surface of water.


    Then, a huge ck rat appeared out of thin air in the courtyard.


    Boom¡ª


    The Sword Light struck directly towards this huge ck rat.


    A loud booming sound erupted.


    The ck rat clearly had not expected this to happen.


    Caught off guard, it was hard-hit by the Thunder Force of the Sword Light, standing petrified on the spot with its ck fur sticking out, and a smell of scorched leather wafted through the air.


    Yes, the so-called ghostly shadows in the vige were not Yin Spirits, but rather this huge ck rat causing mischief.


    Lu Qingshan had sensed something was amiss quite early. He had never heard of a Yin Spirit that would steal chickens.


    Likewise, after arriving in the vige and learning that the so-called "Overlord of Western Chu" had appeared again in broad daylight, he was certain that the strange phenomena in the vige were not caused by Yin Spirits.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    So, right after he climbed over the courtyard wall, he paid special attention to any abnormalities in the yard and quickly discovered an Illusion Technique set up in the corner of the courtyard.


    With the Heavenly Eye Technique deployed, Lu Qingshan could see a wealth of information before his eyes.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Rat Demon (Demon n)


    Rank: First Grade (lv1)


    Attribute: Strength 1, Agility 2, Mana 1, Divine Soul 3, Charm 1, Stamina 1


    Health Points: 15/20 (Injured)


    Spiritual Power Value: 10/10


    Skills: Soul Loss Technique lv1, Blinding Spell lv1


    Gifts: [Sparse Illusion Rat Bloodline]: The Illusion Rat n naturally possesses the ability to cast illusions. Rat Demons with a sparse Illusion Rat Bloodline thereby have the ability to cast some low-grade illusions.


    [Primary Level Strength]: The Demon n''s physical body is exceptionally strong. Gain Stamina Value modification: 1 Stamina = 20 Health Points


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    That''s right, the one stealing chickens and dogs in the vige was a rat that had somehow be a spirit, or in other words, a Demon Beast.


    If it had been evil spirits causing trouble, Bai Piao might have been unbeatable with the Peach Wood Sword. But against Demon Beasts, the Exorcism effect of the Peach Wood Sword would be of no use at all.


    He was a scamming Taoist Priest, charging straight at a Demon Beast ¨C wasn''t that just asking for death?


    So, Lu Qingshan felt entirely justified in taking this Peach Wood Sword: I''m solving a problem for you that you couldn''t solve yourself. Aspensation, I take the Peach Wood Sword as my reward, nothing wrong with that.


    ```


    Having gained the upper hand, Lu Qingshan didn''t wait for the rat demon to counterattack and swung his sword again, unleashing a bolt of Thunder Force infused Sword Light.


    This Sword Light contained 10 points of Thunder Force.


    The rat demon had just regained its senses when another streak of purple-glowing Sword Light shed before its eyes.


    Boom¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Another loud boom resounded.


    ...


    The vigers gathered outside Li Lao Er''s home couldn''t help but click their tongues when they heard the noise from the courtyard, "That must be the Taoist Priest fighting the ghost, good heavens, with all thismotion, that Western Chu Overlord must be one formidable ghost."


    Some showed concern, "I just wonder, can Taoist Priest Bai Piao overtake this Western Chu Overlord?"


    "No need to worry, Taoist Priest Bai Piao is a renowned figure in Yuanshan City with extensive experience in exorcism. No matter how fierce the Western Chu Overlord might be, he can only meekly submit before the Taoist Priest."


    ....


    Inside the courtyard.


    Purple light once again red upon the Peach Wood Sword in Lu Qingshan''s hand.


    "Stop, stop, if you hit me again, the rat here is done for, real person, please spare my life!" Suddenly, the rat demon, already charred ck by the Thunder Force Sword Light, let out a wretched plea for mercy.


    Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and indeed retracted the Thunder Force from his Peach Wood Sword, looking curiously at the rat demon, "You have not transformed, yet you can speak humannguage. It seems you''ve had quite the opportunity to have refined your marrow ahead of time."


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan had truly retracted the Thunder Force from his sword, the rat demon rather humanly patted its chest with its small paw, still shaken as it began, "Real person, you indeed have an insightful eye. I was just an ordinary rat, barely surviving on the food I stole from this family''s storage.


    Not long ago, by chance, I swallowed a red Spiritual Pearl and somehow gained consciousness and the ability to speak. I, too, was scared witless by the transformation from an ordinary rat into this!


    But I swear, I have never harmed a soul in the vige during this period. I am a good demon, please show mercy, real person, and spare my life!"


    Lu Qingshan walked up to the rat demon, using the Peach Wood Sword like a mallet, harshly knocking on the rat demon''s head, as he spoke, "A good demon? A good demon that steals chickens, scares vigers while pretending to be a ghost, and even calls itself the Western Chu Overlord, look at how capable you are."


    The rat demon, while clutching its head and not daring to resist, softly exined, "Who can resist the deliciousness of chicken, I just couldn''t help myself.


    Moreover, I didn''t intend to scare people; it was just a vague feeling that I might have some special ability (Blinding Spell), and I attempted to use it.


    Who knew that the homeowner would suddenlye out and just happened to see me? As for the Western Chu Overlord..."


    The rat demon, feeling wronged, said, "I didn''t say that. When he asked me what ghost I was, don''t all you humans have names?


    I was born in the hole at the west wall, so I just named myself West Rat King. He somehow misheard it as Western Chu Overlord."


    "It''s so unfair to me!"


    Lu Qingshan: "..."


    Taoist Priest Bai Piao, witnessing this scene from the side, was already bbergasted. Today, he had seen both a real Cultivator and a rat demon capable of human speech. He was filled with myriad emotions, both amazed and fearful.


    ...


    "Where did you get the red Spiritual Pearl you swallowed? What exactly does it look like? Tell me in detail, and then I''ll consider whether or not to let you off," Lu Qingshan asked calmly, but a wisp of purple light red up again on the Peach Wood Sword.


    The West Rat King, upon seeing the Sword Light, shivered involuntarily, the psychological shadow of the previous two Sword Lights obviously having left a deep imprint.


    The West Rat King immediately pounced on Lu Qingshan''s legs, clutching his pant legs tightly with its small paws, its voice inconsble, "Real person, spare me, as the saying goes, ''Heaven values all life,'' I am a good demon. If you, real person, strike me down, how could you bear it in your heart?"


    Lu Qingshan kicked the West Rat King away, the purple light on the Peach Wood Sword growing even stronger, "Stop that nonsense with me. If you''re not willing to answer my question, then I won''t be polite."


    The West Rat King, somewhat fearing Lu Qingshan''s gaze, hesitated before saying, "Real person, it''s not that I don''t want to tell you, it''s just that I really don''t know what happened."


    "Hmm?" Lu Qingshan frowned slightly.


    "s, I don''t even know how to exin it. If I take the real person to see it, you''ll understand," said the rat demon.


    ```

 Chapter 12 - 12 Blood Pool Reincarnation

    <h4>Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Blood Pool Reincarnation</h4>


    ```


    Seeing the hesitant demeanor of the Great King of Western Rats, Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but be stirred by a trace of curiosity.


    He turned his head to look at the uneasily standing Taoist Priest Bai Piao beside him and said, "I will settle this matter for you, and in return, you will give me a Peach Wood Sword as remuneration, and we will be even."


    Taoist Priest Bai Piao nodded hurriedly.


    Lu Qingshan was satisfied as he caressed his sword. A Sword Cultivator needed a sword to cultivate, and atst, he had acquired his very first Sword Artifact.


    After giving instructions to Bai Piao, Lu Qingshan turned to the Great King of Western Rats and said, "Lead the way, for I must see what peculiar thing has made it so difficult for you to describe."


    The Great King of Western Rats, having been thoroughly subdued by Lu Qingshan''s treatment, obediently got up upon hismand. Ignoring the wounds he had just received from Lu Qingshan, he sprang up onto the courtyard wall with a push of his legs.


    Lu Qingshan followed closely behind.


    The rat and the man quickly disappeared within the courtyard.


    Watching Lu Qingshan''s figure vanish, Taoist Priest Bai Piao finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Having just witnessed Lu Qingshan summon a bolt of thunder with a swing of his sword, Bai Piao was so frightened that he hardly dared to breathe, fearing that the young Cultivator might turn around and strike him with his sword without a moment''s pleasure.


    Unlike the rat demon, Bai Piao wouldn''t be able to hop around alive after taking two sword shes.


    "Without the Peach Wood Sword, I suppose I can''t continue this exorcism business. No, I must make a big score this time topensate for my loss."


    Bai Piao looked at the slightly disordered scene before him, his thoughts stirring as his gaze wandered. After a brief contemtion, a n formed in his mind.


    Bai Piao took some ash from the incense burner and ced it on the corner of the wall that had been shed by Lu Qingshan''s thunderous sword light, then he took out cinnabar used for drawing talismans from his bosom and smeared it at the corner of his mouth.


    Having feigned an injured appearance, Taoist Priest Bai Piao then opened the tightly closed gate and stumbled out, pale-faced and weakly said to the gathered vigers, "The mighty King of Western Chu was ferocious indeed! Poor Taoist I almost got devoured by the ghost instead of vanquishing it."


    Hearing the noises from the courtyard and feeling uneasy, the vigers rushed forward to support Taoist Priest Bai Piao upon seeing his frail state.


    The homeowner, Second Li, was particrly uneasy, rubbing his hands nervously, he stepped forward and tentatively asked, "Taoist Priest, may I ask what has be of the King of Western Chu?"


    Bai Piao looked at Second Li and disyed a tragic expression on his face, "This King of Western Chu is nomon fierce ghost, extremely cunning, beyond control by ordinary means.


    Left with no choice, this poor Taoist had to sacrifice his lifespan to employ the forbidden Thunder Technique of our sect and only then was I able to y it!


    This time, my Essence Blood has been greatly drained, and I need a thorough rest. From this day forth, I will ept no more matters of exorcism!"


    Bai Piao looked up at the vigers and added, "Although it was a costly endeavor, ridding demons is an innate duty of those who practice cultivation. This poor Taoist is fortunate to have fulfilled his mission.


    The King of Western Chu has been reduced to ashes, and his spirit dissipated. You may go inside and gather the ghost''s ashes, seal them in a jar, and all will be well.


    From now forth, you shall encounter no more trouble from evil spirits; you have my assurance."


    Hearing the Taoist''s words, the curious vigers could no longer hold back and squeezed into Second Li''s house, eager to witness the ashes of the formidable King of Western Chu.


    Hiss¡ª


    Upon entering the backyard and seeing the charred ground beneath the courtyard wall, the vigers couldn''t help but gasp in shock.


    Goodness, this Taoist Priest''s methods are impressively fierce; even the ground has been split like this. The King of Western Chu, no matter how savage, surely couldn''t have withstood this.


    Seeing the vigers'' astonished expressions, a sense of pride swelled in Bai Piao''s heart.


    That young man tricked me out of my family''s inherited Peach Wood Sword, but Taoist Priest Bai Piao is no fool; I shall siphon off his glory for myself.


    The vigers were both afraid and amazed.


    Upon seeing this scene, Second Li hesitated for a moment but finally stood out and loudly suggested to the vigers, "The Taoist Priest sacrificed so much to help our vige rid itself of the ghost. We have received such a great kindness and have little with which to repay it. I propose each household contributes a little more silver taels as remuneration for the Taoist Priest''s ritual, to express our gratitude. What do you say?"


    The onlooking vigers echoed their agreement.


    The "weakened" Bai Piao, upon witnessing this scene, then contentedly nodded his head.


    Second Li, not bad, you catch on quick. I haven''t misjudged you!


    ```


    ...


    Lu Qingshan followed the Western Rat King along the mountain path that led into the city for nearly an hour.


    Finally, at the base of a small hill, the Western Rat King stopped, turning and taking Lu Qingshan with him inside.


    They walked for a while longer.


    An open area filled with a forest of chaotic stones appeared before them.


    Lu Qingshan looked at the Western Rat King, waiting for it to exin.


    "That Li Lao''er has business dealings with a tavern in Yuanshan City, so every now and then, he transports a cart of wine there."


    "One day, I couldn''t resist my craving and sneaked some of the wine. I was so drunk that I ended up on the cart.


    Following the cart halfway, I suddenly smelled a strange fragrance. Instinctively, I jumped off and followed the scent until I stumbled upon this ce.


    Back then, there was a blood pool here, filled with crimson blood."


    Upon closer inspection, I found the blood in the pool thick and rank, with many red bead-like things tumbling around in it.


    Strangely, the fragrance wasing from these red beads, and I couldn''t help but eat one.


    Oddly, the bead didn''t look big, but after eating one, I felt incredibly full.


    After that, I left in a daze, and slowly I started to develop intelligence and the ability to speak humannguage, transforming into what I am now."


    "Later, I tried to follow my memory back to find the blood pool again, but it had turned into the Chaotic Stone Forest that we see now.


    It''s as if everything was a dream, but the changes that urred to me clearly tell me that what happened was not an illusion."


    The Western Rat King cautiously nced at Lu Qingshan, afraid that he wouldn''t believe its story.


    Lu Qingshan stood motionless, his expression as still as water while looking at the Chaotic Stone Forest before him.


    The scene described by the Western Rat King was not only familiar to him, but he understood it all too well.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Blood Pool Reincarnation!


    Collecting countless human essence blood and pooling it into a blood pool, then using the blood pool to reincarnate demons with demon bloodlines!


    This was also the ultimate goal of Demon Cultivatorsunching the Corpse Puppet Chaos.


    But wasn''t this something that only appeared after the stirrings of the Corpse Puppet Chaos?


    Lu Qingshan''s heart sank.


    What was going on?


    Lu Qingshan understood that the current Chaotic Stone Forest was actually an illusion manifested by a high-grade Illusion Array.


    However, with his current level of cultivation, he was unable to see through the formation and enter it.


    That day, the illusion array must have encountered some problem, temporarily losing its effect, which allowed the Western Rat King to discover the blood pool and even steal a Blood Spirit Bead, awakening the phantom mouse bloodline within it.


    "Let''s leave here first," Lu Qingshan said to the Western Rat King.


    Although he didn''t know why such an important thing as a blood pool would suddenly be left unguarded, allowing a giant rat toe and go without losing a single hair,


    Nobody could predict if a Demon Cultivator would suddenly return.


    With Lu Qingshan''s current cultivation, if he were to encounter the Demon Cultivator who established the blood pool, it would be certain death.


    Not willing to take the risk, he dared not linger here any longer.

 Chapter 13: Hidden Plot

    <h4>Chapter 13: Hidden Plot</h4>


    Lu Qingshan, apanied by the King of the ck Rats, swiftly left the Chaotic Stone Forest.


    "Where are we headed?"


    Observing Lu Qingshan, who had been silent ever since they left the Chaotic Stone Forest, the King of the ck Rats hesitated for a long time before finally asking.


    "Yuanshan City!"


    The King of the ck Rats actually wanted to ask Lu Qingshan if it could leave since it had already confessed everything.


    Being around Lu Qingshan made it terribly afraid.


    However, seeing Lu Qingshan''s solemn expression, it ultimately did not dare to voice its question.


    Being a rat is truly challenging!


    ...


    After walking for some time, a towering and majestic city appeared before Lu Qingshan.


    Yuanshan City, one of the one hundred and eight prefectural cities under themand of Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    As a prefectural city, Yuanshan City was home to dozens ofrge and small cultivator families and three First Grade sects.


    Standing outside Yuanshan City, Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but be evoked into a trace of reminiscence.


    The one hundred and eight prefectural cities of Zhenjiang Prefecture were the starting locations for "Nine Heavens" yers, in other words, the beginner viges.


    His former beginner vige was not Yuanshan City, but another prefectural city. Still, seeing this familiar scene, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of affinity.


    Lu Qingshan entered the city directly, and at the city gate, he was neither questioned nor charged any so-called entry fee, though the ck Rat on his shoulder greatly intrigued the city guards.


    Who keeps rats these days?


    The city''s roads were paved with blue stone bs, clean and orderly. Countless pedestrians, travelers, and snack vendors crowded the already spacious streets, making them bustling with activity.


    In a world filled with demons and ghosts, and where Taoist magic existed, human towns flourished economically and in many other regards far beyond the ancient worlds that were dominated by science.


    Lu Qingshan randomly picked an inn, got a top-floor room, ordered some wine and dishes, and began to drink alone in his room.


    The King of the ck Rats looked around for a moment and finally couldn''t help but jump onto the table to join him.


    Lu Qingshan nced at the King of the ck Rats but said nothing.


    He needed to calm down now, put aside all distractions, and organize his thoughts thoroughly.


    The Blood Pool, which appeared prematurely but was never mentioned in the storyline records, made Lu Qingshan feel that something was amiss.


    He could sense that ayer of fog enveloped the history just before the outbreak of the Corpse Puppet Chaos.


    And his task was to break through this fog with the vast information he possessed.


    First of all, the existence of the Blood Pool must have its significance. Demon Cultivators would not build a Blood Pool without a purpose.


    Since there was a purpose, whether sessful or not, there must be a result.


    The onset and process of an event could be very well hidden, but the result cannot be concealed. No matter what the oue, it would inevitably have a significant impact.


    Just like in ancient times, when princes conspired to seize power¡ªif nned meticulously, everything might be silent before the oue, but once the dust settled, whether a failure or sess, it would be recorded borately in the annals of history.


    Yet, recalling the historical storyline, indeed, there was no discovery of any events rted to this Blood Pool far from Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    Thus, there was only one possibility¡ªit existed in the records in a rather obscure way.


    One must deduce from the result which incident was rted to the Blood Pool!


    Lu Qingshan dipped his finger in the wine and gestured on the table.


    He needed to review the major events that had urred near Yuanshan City that year.


    When he had just checked into the inn, he had inquired about the current time with the innkeeper.


    The 20,000th year of Chang''an.


    It was also thest year of this era. In a few months, the Corpse Puppet Chaos would begin.


    After the end of the Corpse Puppet Chaos, the master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion used the Heavenly Secret Mirror to probe the heavenly secrets.


    In an instant, his hair turned white, and having reached the Mahayana stage, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master''s lifespan was exhausted almost instantly. Before dying, he left hisst words: "The Abyss has arrived; from now on, the Sky Dome shall descend into turmoil."


    In the second year, the Great Xia Imperial n changed the era name to Immortal Martial.


    That year, everyone''s attention was drawn to the Corpse Puppet Chaos and the demise of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, so many minor details went unnoticed and were drowned in the river of history.


    However, Lu Qingshan was different; he had deeply researched the plot of "Nine Heavens."


    Names flickered rapidly through Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He was filtering useful information.


    Suddenly, a seemingly insignificant record in the vast ocean of historical records quietly emerged before Lu Qingshan.


    The historical record, in the middle of the 20,000th year in Chang''an, on July fifteenth, one of the seven great Taoist Sects, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, lost a branch of the Heavenly Secret Mirror near Yuanshan City while stationed in Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    Due to the Pavilion Master''s demise at the end of the same year, the entire Heavenly Secrets Pavilion was in mourning.


    By the Immortal Martial Year, one significant event after another had urred, so this matter was dragged out and eventually forgotten.


    The missing branch of the Heavenly Secret Mirror thus became an unresolved case.


    The Heavenly Secret Mirror, the sect-guarding Taoist Artifact of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, could probe the mysteries of Heaven and Earth, and discern the causality of the human world, possessing the ability to detect fate and avoid disasters.


    Besides, the Heavenly Secret Mirror had another important ability: it could be split into numerous branches, each retaining a small portion of the main mirror''s power.


    Due to the magic of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, the Great Xia Imperial n had reserved a guarding position in every prefecture, entrusting a disciple of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion carrying a branch of the Heavenly Secret Mirror to oversee the area.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion monitors the world!


    Lu Qingshan had always been puzzled by this segment of historical record.


    The Zhenjiang Prefectural Guard, a Fourth Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, how could he appear inexplicably in the small Prefecture City of Yuanshan and lose such an important branch of the Heavenly Secret Mirror there?


    Something is not right!


    Linking this with the Blood Pool that appeared near Yuanshan City, Lu Qingshan could already smell the scent of a conspiracy.


    A segment of the plot... hidden away?


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes gradually brightened, his thoughts bing clearer and clearer.


    The Heavenly Secret Mirror, with its mysterious and unpredictable abilities, actually had many limitations; for instance, often the fate detected by the mirror was just an ambiguous image.


    This required cultivators to interpret these images, deciphering their meanings.


    And this aspect could often be exploited by schemers, who might deliberately create false appearances to mislead those using the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    That''s it.


    Such an important thing as the Blood Pool, how could the Illusion Array concealing it suddenly fail, and even without any guards present?


    It was clearly the Demon Cultivators intentionally removing the Formation, allowing the Blood Pool to appear in the Heavenly Secret Mirror, drawing the Zhenjiang Prefectural Guard to this ce.


    To avoid exposing their identities in the Heavenly Secret Mirror, the Demon Cultivators needed to stay away from the location of the Blood Pool.


    Even though the situation seemed incredibly strange, the disciples of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, as world overseers, would indeede to investigate.


    The purpose was simple: whatever the Zhenjiang Prefectural Guard lost, that was what the Demon Cultivators aimed for.


    The branch of the Heavenly Secret Mirror!


    If the branch of the Heavenly Secret Mirror were still there, how could the city of Zhenjiang Prefecture be left unguarded, allowing the Demon Cultivators to massacre the city!


    Upon realizing this, Lu Qingshan''s gaze deepened, and he recalled another matter.


    After losing the branch of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, Zhenjiang Prefecture dispatched many cultivators to reside in various major Prefecture Cities.


    Thus, when the Corpse Puppet Chaos began, although the Corpse Puppets'' attacks on various major Prefecture Cities were extensive, the actual carnage caused was not terrifying.


    But the city of Zhenjiang Prefecture was filled with skeletons!


    Now, Lu Qingshan understood why such a result urred.


    The Zhenjiang Prefectural Guard very likely was misled by the Blood Pool near Yuanshan City.


    He believed that the Demon Cultivators'' target was just these smaller prefecture cities.


    However, he hadn''t anticipated that the Demon Cultivators'' ambitions were vast enough to target the prefectural city itself, and they even seeded.

 Chapter 14: How to Break the Game?

    <h4>Chapter 14: How to Break the Game?</h4>


    If he could disrupt the demon cultivators'' ns this time, would the tragedy of Zhenjiang Prefectural City not ur again?


    Lu Qingshan was uncertain.


    But he wanted to try.


    The tragedy of Zhenjiang Prefectural City was a tragedy for the entire Human Race.


    "Qi Yuan!"


    With alcohol, Lu Qingshan finally wrote down this name on the table.


    The custodian of the Heavenly Secret Mirror from Zhenjiang, Qi Yuan!


    Knock¡ª


    Knock¡ª


    Knock¡ª


    Lu Qingshan''s fingers kept lightly tapping the table, his eyebrows tightly furrowed.


    It was now July 13.


    There were only two days left until Qi Yuan lost the fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    Time was pressing.


    He needed to quickly find a way to break the situation!


    For him, there were three key issues to resolve.


    First, he needed to understand how these demon cultivators managed to snatch the Heavenly Secret Mirror fragment from Qi Yuan.


    Only by knowing the method of the snatch could he counter their moves.


    Second, he needed to find a way to meet with Qi Yuan.


    But as a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator and a prefectural custodian, Qi Yuan was not someone a minor Qi Refining secondyer cultivator like himself could easily meet.


    Third, after meeting Qi Yuan, he still needed to find a way to gain his trust.


    ...


    Time was slowly ticking away.


    Suddenly, Lu Qingshan remembered something.


    In his previous life, a professional yer named Tian Lingzi, who was ranked seventh on the Spiritual Cultivator leaderboard,pleted a hidden quest and was epted as a disciple by the Heavenly Secret Pavillion.


    After a bout of intense effort, Tian Lingzi quickly umted enough contribution value within the sect, and after gaining the attention of the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, he was granted a Heavenly Secret Mirror fragment.


    Tian Lingzi once shared a screenshot of the attributes of the Heavenly Secret Mirror fragment on a yer forum, creating quite a buzz for himself.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Heavenly Secret Mirror¡¤Fragment]


    Level: Taoist Artifact (pseudo)


    Description: Heavenly secrets must not be revealed


    Magic Artifact Effect: Divination +4


    Divine Skills: [Observing Heaven]


    Passive: Within the current area, if there is impending grave danger, the owner of the magic artifact will have a vague sense of it.


    Active: At the cost of lifespan, observe heavenly secrets. Cooldown Time: 15 days.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The Heavenly Secret Mirror is a special magic artifact that offers no enhancement to one''sbat abilities, but, regardless, the level row denotes it as a Taoist Artifact.


    It was the first Taoist Artifact owned by a yer, even if there was a pseudo in the description afterward.


    Thus, even after a long time had passed, Lu Qingshan still remembered its attributes clearly.


    Lu Qingshan''s gaze became intense.


    An idea emerged.


    Could it be?


    Lu Qingshan nced at the Great Rat King on the table, who was sipping wine and devouring meat with great pleasure, and suddenly asked, "Do you remember how long ago it was since youst saw that blood pool?"


    The Great Rat King, engrossed in human delicacies, looked up somewhat nkly.


    After pondering for a moment, he began counting on his fingers, then shook his head, and simply sat down on the table, fiddling with his toes.


    "It should have been thirteen days ago," the Great Rat King finally figured it out and provided the answer.


    Thirteen days ago.


    That means it was on the first of July that the demon cultivators released the signal of the blood pool, attracting Qi Yuan''s attention.


    On July 15, Qi Yuan lost the Heavenly Secret Mirror fragment in Yuanshan City.


    Fifteen days in between.


    Lu Qingshan seemed thoughtful.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Given the style of the disciples from the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, they definitely rushed to Yuanshan City on the day they discovered the Blood Pool.


    The Demon Cultivator could have acted at this time, yet there were so many days in between. Why did they still drag it out for a whole half month, waiting until July 15th to act?


    Unless, for their n, July 15th was the opportune moment to act.


    What kind of n requires such strict timing?


    Recalling the properties of the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    The answer was nearly bursting forth.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan stood up.


    Next, he needed to find a way to meet Qi Yuan in person.


    As for how to do that, he still hadn''t figured it out.


    But sitting idly here wouldn''t garner any ideas; better to stroll around the city first. It might even inspire some thoughts.


    He could also handle his gains and see if he could purchase a couple of suitable Sword Techniques.


    ....


    Lu Qingshan looked up at the enormous loft in front of him. Carved on the loft''s signboard, in bold, gold-painted characters, were the words "Great Xia Commercial Firm."


    The Great Xia Commercial Firm was not only thergestmercial firm in Yuanshan City but also thergest across all Human Race cities.


    It had branches in all the cities of the Human Race, a long history and had amassed untold wealth over countless years.


    In this world of cultivators and immortals, such a wealthymercial firm could not have existed for so many years without a substantial backing.


    Naturally, the Great Xia Commercial Firm had support, and it was from the highest peak of the Human Race.


    The Great Xia Imperial n!


    Indeed, the Great Xia Commercial Firm was under the Great Xia Imperial n.


    The Great Xia Imperial n ruled over all, supporting the Spirit Formations of Human Race cities and the armies of cultivators, bearing the duty to protect and flourish the Human Race. They even rated the levels of the cultivation sects. Their influence and status were self-evident.


    As a part of the Great Xia Imperial n, it was no surprise that the Great Xia Commercial Firm became thergestmercial firm among the Human Race.


    "Behave yourself inside," Lu Qingshan admonished the King of Western Rats sitting on his shoulder.


    The King of Western Rats vigorously nodded its tiny head.


    Considering the importance of this ce, the security was extremely strict. If Lu Qingshan remembered correctly, the county level Great Xia Commercial Firm was not only equipped with high-grade formations but also had Golden Core Cultivators stationed within all year round.


    Causing trouble in the Great Xia Commercial Firm was courting death.


    The Great Xia Commercial Firm had three floors; the first was for Qi Refining Cultivators, the second for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the third was intended for true individuals from the Golden Core Realm.


    With his current cultivation, Lu Qingshan naturally could only wander about on the first floor.


    Lu Qingshan stepped into therge entrance of the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    The spacious hall that could amodate dozens of people, the counters made of precious zitan wood, and several attendants dressed in unified light green clothes, all these elements highlighted the grandeur of the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    A few customers were going back and forth; Lu Qingshan, at a nce, saw that all were cultivators above the third level of Qi Refinement.


    Several light green-d attendants were exining something to a few cultivators.


    At that moment, an attendant d in light green came forward with a smiling face, "Do you wish to sell items, or would you like to buy something?"


    "I wish to sell some items and also see if there are any suitable Sword Techniques," said Lu Qingshan.


    Upon hearing Lu Qingshan say this, the attendant''s smile remained unchanged, and he respectfully said, "If the honored guest wishes to sell some items, pleasee this way. I can''t make decisions regarding the purchase price evaluation of a cultivator''s items on my own; a real person from our firm needs to handle that."


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "Naturally."


    The light green-d attendant led Lu Qingshan to a counter on one side.


    At the counter sat an old man with a white beard and hair, who looked somewhat extraordinary.


    "Old Qin, this client here wants to sell some items," introduced the light green-d attendant.


    The old man nodded, indicating he understood, and briefly nced at Lu Qingshan. In a gentle tone, he said, "I am the head of the first floor of the Great Xia Commercial Firm. May I know what items you wish to sell? I will offer you the most reasonable price."


    Lu Qingshan took out several Cultivation Technique Jade Slips and Spell Jade Slips he had captured from his storage bag. After thinking for a moment, he also unhooked his Earth Spirit Pendant from his waist and ced it on the counter.


    Old Qin picked up the Jade Slips, sensed the contents with his Spiritual Sense, quickly put them down, then picked up the Earth Spirit Pendant and examined it for a while.


    "The items you wish to sell, these Cultivation Technique Jade Slips and Spell Jade Slips, are all verymon. We at the Great Xia Commercial Firm will still buy them, but the price won''t be high. For these Jade Slips, I can offer you twenty First Grade Spirit Stones. As for this Magic Artifact pendant..."


    Old Qin paused, then spoke again, "Its associated spell is just a very low-grade First Grade Stone Skin Technique, nothing remarkable. However, the material of the pendant is Lengcao jade, which is somewhat valuable. Although our usual buying price for low-grade Mortal Artifacts doesn''t exceed twenty First Grade Spirit Stones, I can make an exception and offer you twenty-five First Grade Spirit Stones. Does that sound agreeable to you, sir?"


    Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan slightly nodded.


    As thergestmercial firm of the Human Race, it was indeed generous, and the prices offered were very fair.


    Lu Qingshan had estimated the value to be around forty First Grade Spirit Stones, and he did not expect the old man, Old Qin, to offer even more. Naturally, he had no reason to be dissatisfied.

 Chapter 15 - 15 Falling Bright Sword Technique

    <h4>Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Falling Bright Sword Technique</h4>


    Upon seeing Lu Qingshan nod, Old Qin signaled to a young servant in green who was standing by, and the servant quickly retreated.


    Shortly after,


    The young servant in green appeared again in front of Lu Qingshan, holding a tray.


    On the tray, neatly ced, were forty-five First Grade Spirit Stones and a teal Jade Slip.


    "These are forty-five First Grade Spirit Stones, you may count them, sir. Additionally, I heard that you are interested in purchasing one or two Sword Techniques. This Jade Slip contains a list and detailed descriptions of the Sword Techniques avable on this floor of our firm; please feel free to take a look," Old Qin said.


    Whether it''s Cultivation Technique, Techniques, or Skills like Sword Techniques, when ites to selling, it''s not possible to directly present the original scripts for the cultivators to examine; only brief introductions are provided.


    After the cultivators have selected a suitable Cultivation Technique or Sword Technique, the transaction follows¡ªa handover of money for the chosen items.


    This is the long-standing trade practice in the Cultivation World.


    Lu Qingshan collected the Spirit Stones into his storage bag.


    His total assets finally achieved a qualitative leap from double to triple digits.


    He then picked up the teal Jade Slip from the tray and released his Divine Sense to sense the information within.


    Green Spirit Sword Technique, a Wood Attribute Sword Technique, renowned for its continuously linking Sword Techniques. When deploying the technique, a flickering green light can be seen on the Sword Artifact, capable of affecting the enemy''s judgment; priced at fifty First Grade Spirit Stones!


    Extreme Cold Sword Technique, a powerful close-range attack Sword Technique. Each strike conceals a trace of cold, not to be underestimated, costing sixty First Grade Spirit Stones!


    Thousand Cranes Sword Technique, created by Master Thousand Cranes, famed for its elegant swordy. During execution, a crane shape is faintly visible, stunning the opponent; priced at sixty-five First Grade Spirit Stones!


    Pale me Sword Technique, a Fire Attribute Sword Technique, fierce as mes, and includes burning damage. Ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators find it difficult to withstand its power; priced at seventy First Grade Spirit Stones!


    Falling Bright Sword Technique, a functional type of Sword Technique. While its lethality is not obvious, it possesses the ability to slow and bind enemies; priced at one hundred First Grade Spirit Stones!


    Nine Fury Sword Technique...


    ...


    An eye-catching multitude!


    For a Qi Refining Sword Cultivator, any of the Sword Techniques introduced in the Jade Slip are good choices.


    The products that the Great Xia Commercial Firm can produce are indeed not subpar.


    However, with Lu Qingshan''s finances and experience points, he currently ns to choose only one Sword Technique to learn.


    After briefly pondering, Lu Qingshan set down the Jade Slip and said, "Manager Qin, I would like to purchase the Falling Bright Sword Technique."


    Falling Bright Sword Technique, among the few control abilities that low-level Sword Cultivators can learn, maintains its usefulness even at higher cultivator levels.


    The powerful damage inflicted by Sword Cultivators means often just a basic attack is more than regr cultivators can endure, thus for Sword Cultivators, the problem is more often about reaching their target, not inadequate damage.


    A control skill, therefore, often provides more benefits to Sword Cultivatorspared to many damage-oriented Sword Techniques.


    Thus, in his previous life, the Falling Bright Sword Technique was also recognized by swordyer cultivators as an early "Divine Technique."


    Old Qin smiled and said, "Sir, please wait a moment."


    He then turned around and once again gestured to the young servant in green.


    The young servant in green turned and walked towards a side room within.


    That was the Inner Vault.


    It didn''t take long before the young servant in green came back holding the Jade Slip for the Falling Bright Sword Technique that Lu Qingshan wanted.


    Lu Qingshan paid a hundred First Grade Spirit Stones, and the Falling Bright Sword Technique became his possession, although his newly reached triple-digit assets quickly diminished back to double digits.


    But Lu Qingshan was very satisfied.


    "Sword Technique ''Falling Bright Sword Technique'' detected. Would you like to spend 20 experience points to learn it?"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Falling Bright Sword Technique]


    Learning requirements: None


    Description: A functional Sword Technique, maximum level 10.


    Skill effects: Damage equals Strength x 1.1 (1 + 0.1*Skill Level), and each swordyes with ayer of Power of Dark Erosion, eachyer slowing the speed by 1. The Power of Dark Erosion can stack up to threeyers, reached at threeyers, can actively detonate the Dark Erosion to briefly bind the enemy.


    Every sword technique consumes 2 Spiritual Power, and detonating the Power of Dark Erosion consumes 5 Spiritual Power.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The expenditure of executing the Falling Bright Sword Technique was immense. With Lu Qingshan''s current cultivation, he could only perform a few moves of the Falling Bright Sword Technique, and even one detonation of the Power of Dark Erosion would consume one-quarter of his Spiritual Power!


    For him at this moment, he would only use the Falling Bright Sword Technique at critical moments.


    "Yes!"


    The remaining 30 experience points of Lu Qingshan rapidly decreased by 12 ([Innate Swordseed]-30% experience cost, [Primary Level Sword Technique Affinity]-10% experience cost).


    Mysterious and profound information inexplicably emerged in Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    It was just a momentter.


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but nce at his hands.


    For in that brief moment, the Falling Bright Sword Technique had be second nature in his heart. He was certain that as long as he drew his Peach Wood Sword now, he would be able to execute skillfully the Falling Bright Sword Technique.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    A moment''s time and the sword technique slightly mastered.


    This is a yer''s advantage. As long as they have enough experience points, yers can instantly learn a profound sword technique.


    Lu Qingshan gathered his belongings and prepared to leave.


    Old Qin slightly squinted his eyes and suddenly spoke while watching the Western Rat King, who had been sitting very well-behaved on Lu Qingshan''s shoulder ever since entering the firm, "I wonder if you would consider selling this spirit pet of yours? I can offer twenty second-grade Spirit Stones."


    Upon hearing Old Qin''s abrupt question, Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but feel astonished.


    Having the role of the manager at Great Xia Commercial Firm, his insight was indeed not simple.


    The Illusion Rat Bloodline is a Sixth Grade Demon Beast Bloodline.


    Although the Illusion Rat Bloodline in Western Rat King was quite thin, that was still very extraordinary.


    It was clear that Old Qin had noticed the mystique of the Western Rat King, but to say that Old Qin could discern the Sixth Grade Demon Beast Bloodline in Western Rat King was definitely impossible.


    The Western Rat King hadn''t expected to inadvertently be the target.


    Upon hearing the manager''s words, the rat became anxious, tightly clutching Lu Qingshan''s cor with its small ws.


    Seeing the Western Rat King acting as if it feared being sold, Lu Qingshan chose not to scare it further and bowed his hands towards Old Qin, refusing, "Manager, I''m sorry, but this spirit rat is not for sale."


    Seeing this, Old Qin seemed slightly disappointed but did not persist, "A gentleman does not seize what others love. Since you have no intention of selling your spirit pet, our Great Xia Commercial Firm naturally won''t coerce a sale."


    ...


    Lu Qingshan was about to leave the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    Just then, two cultivators, a man and a woman, walked down the stairs, acting very intimate.


    The woman was quite young, with a graceful figure and a certain charm that was astonishing. Surprisingly, the male cultivator appeared rather old, presenting the likeness of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.


    It appeared to be a May-December couple.


    However, suchbinations are quitemon in the Cultivation World.


    Because, irrespective of their cultivation level, female cultivators have more or less mastered the skills of maintaining their youth.


    But male cultivators often focus solely on enhancing their cultivation and do not spend time and resources researching things that do not aid in their power enhancement.


    Moreover, for many male cultivators, an overly young appearance can often invite disdain.


    Thus, this leads to the situation where female cultivators in the Cultivation World look young while male cultivators generally appear mature.


    But beware, in the Cultivation World, a female cultivator who looks like a young maiden could very well be old enough to be your great-grandmother.


    Bing noticeable from ascending the stairs, they must be at least at the Foundation Establishment level. Lu Qingshan spared them a nce but did not continue to look, preparing to leave the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    Some hot-tempered cultivators, if you look at them twice, might consider it a provocation and gratuitously bring trouble.


    Wait?!


    Lu Qingshan suddenly halted in his steps.


    The woman''s figure seemed somewhat familiar?


    As if he had seen her somewhere before.

 Chapter 16 - 16 The Opportunity Has Arrived

    <h4>Chapter 16: Chapter 16 The Opportunity Has Arrived</h4>


    Lu Qingshan did not say a second word, pretending to identally turn around, and silently cast the Heavenly Eye Technique towards the woman.


    ¡ªIf there''s a cheat that can be used, why overthink it?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Wu Yi (Human Race)


    upation: Dharma Cultivation (Main)


    Cultivation Technique: [Qi Drawing Technique] Lv4 (336/400)


    Rank: Qi Refinement


    Attribute: Strength 1, Agility 1, Mana 3, Divine Soul 1, Charm 1, Stamina 1


    Health Points: 11/11


    Spiritual Power Value: 40/40


    Skills: Qi Concealing Technique Lv1, ???, ???, ???...


    Talent: None


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Such a familiar panel, and... such a familiar name.


    A slight smile rose on Lu Qingshan''s lips.


    Although the information gathered by using Heavenly Eye Technique on the middle-aged male cultivator next to Wu Yi only disyed a row of neat question marks:


    ??? (Human Race)


    upation: ???


    Rank: ??? (Extremely Lethal)


    Attribute: ???


    ...


    But Lu Qingshan was quite sure that this middle-aged male cultivator next to Wu Yi was most likely that Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the boss of the Corpse Refining Cave instance, [Real Blood Corpse].


    Wasn''t this the opportunity to break the game?


    Lu Qingshan''s steps didn''t change, maintaining an unaffected demeanor, he left the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    The Divine Sense perception ability of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is very sensitive to anyone spying around.


    To avoid attracting the attention of [Real Blood Corpse], Lu Qingshan did not look further at the two people.


    ¡ªMoreover, even though Wu Yi had never seen his face, since he could roughly recognize her by her figure, what guaranteed that Wu Yi couldn''t recognize him by his figure as well?


    So, it was best to avoid appearing in front of this woman as much as possible.


    ...


    A massive storm was quietly brewing behind the seemingly calm Yuanshan City.


    Walking on the streets of Yuanshan City.


    Lu Qingshan was in a good mood.


    Demon Cultivators nned to capture Qi Yuan''s share of the Heavenly Secret Mirror in two days.


    At the same time, Real Blood Corpse, whoseir had been raided once, appeared in Yuanshan City.


    The identity of Real Blood Corpse, refining Corpse Puppets in his ownir, was undoubtedly another long-standing Demon Cultivator.


    Once could be a coincidence, twice could still be considered a coincidence, but these three coincidences must have an internal connection.


    With the information Lu Qingshan had, he easily arrived at the answer.


    ¡ªThis Real Blood Corpse was one of the members involved in the operation to capture Qi Yuan''s share of the Heavenly Secret Mirror in two days.


    All points had already connected into a line.


    And Lu Qingshan, having grasped this line, did not need to cut it, but simply needed to make the line veer off the path originally nned by the Demon Cultivators.


    ...


    Myriad Treasures Tower in Yuanshan City.


    A very famous firm within Yuanshan City.


    At this time, within the hidden basement of Myriad Treasures Tower.


    Two rows of chairs were neatly arranged, with nearly ten cultivators sitting densely.


    If Lu Qingshan were there, he would have recognized one of the cultivators as the Blood Corpse True Man he had encountered at the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    The atmosphere inside the room was eerie and grave.


    Seated at the head was an old man, white-haired and gaunt as deadwood.


    The elder at the head scanned the cultivators present and asked, "The time to act is in two days, have the tasks I assigned you been fulfilled without any slips?"


    "I have no issues here, Asura Lord; several days ago, someone had already sent over the War Beast."


    "Same here, the formation gs are all prepared."


    "As for my side..."


    ....


    The cultivators below responded one after another.


    "However, Rakshasa Lord, Qi Yuan is a Nascent Soul Spiritual Cultivator from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, with unmatched divination skills especially adept at seeking fortune and avoiding disaster. Why are you so sure he will risking to Yuanshan City because of the Blood Pool?" a burly cultivator suddenly asked.


    The other cultivators in the room, upon hearing this question, also turned their gazes to the elder, clearly perplexed as well.


    "Heh, the divination skills of Heavenly Secret Pavilion''s Spiritual Cultivators are indeed unparalleled in the world, but often these unparalleled skills can be an impediment to those very cultivators," the elder said with a hint of mockery in his tone.


    "How so?"


    "Heavenly Secret Pavilion''s cultivators often rely too heavily on their divination skills, so their first response to any situation is divination. Many times, they lose their ability to judge for themselves."


    "When Qi Yuan detects something wrong with the Blood Pool through the Heavenly Secret Mirror and prepares to head to Yuanshan City, he will surely employ divination to ascertain if his journey carries any risks."


    "If the divination shows danger, he naturally will not hastily proceed to Yuanshan City."


    "But firstly, our current n targets the Heavenly Secret Mirror, with no arrangements against Qi Yuan himself. Secondly, as all of us here are at most at the Golden Core stage, we pose no threat to Qi Yuan."


    "Therefore, the divination Qi Yuan receives will surely indicate safety. Even if the Blood Pool matter is fraught with errors, the misleading divinationbined with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion disciples''passionate Bodhisattva hearts means Qi Yuan has a ny percent chance ofing to Yuanshan City to investigate the Blood Pool."


    "Techniques are rigid, people are adaptable," the elder coldly chuckled, his voice frosty, "even the most exquisite skills of the heavenly secret cannot ount for theplexities of the human heart."


    "What an excellent strategy, Rakshasa Lord!"


    A chorus of amazed voices.


    The elder known as Rakshasa, with an unchanged expression, looked toward Blood Corpse True Man sitting in the corner and suddenly furrowed his brow, "Blood Corpse, I heard that yesterday your disciple suddenly came to Yuanshan City looking for you, did something happen?"


    Blood Corpse True Man''s pupils constricted as he respectfully replied, "Rest assured, Rakshasa Lord, there is no significant issue."


    The elder nodded and said, "That''s good to hear. With the impending Corpse Puppet Chaos and the birth of a Demon Child, you all must act cautiously and avoid any slip-ups.


    If we seed, our Qing State branch will have aplished an unprecedented feat, and all of your ranks in the Netherworld will rise rapidly!"


    "You may return and prepare well. In two days, when Qi Yuan uses the Heavenly Secret Mirror, that will be our moment to act. Once we seed, immediately abandon the years of arrangements in Yuanshan City and flee."


    "Understood, Elder!"


    The elder waved his hand, and all the cultivators quickly rose and scattered through the underground passage of Myriad Treasures Tower, disappearing into various ces in Yuanshan City.


    Blood Corpse True Man''s face was grim, harboring unspeakable thoughts, silently walking in the underground passage.


    "Blood Corpse, please wait a moment," someone called out to Blood Corpse True Man.


    Blood Corpse True Man turned back to see who it was and frowned, "Kuhun, what do you want?"


    Real Person Kuhun looked at Blood Corpse True Man and smiled, "I heard that your Corpse Refining Cave was raided by some unidentified cultivator?"


    Blood Corpse True Man''s expression tightened as he stared intently at Kuhun, speaking deliberately, "What do you mean by that?"


    Kuhun shook his head and exined, "I mean no harm. If I had wanted to trouble you, I would have exposed you when Rakshasa Lord asked you just now."


    "However...." Kuhun paused for a moment and lecherously smiled, "Your female disciple, if I''m not mistaken, is a top-notch Furnace Cauldron. As you know, I''ve been recently practicing the Technique of Harvesting Qi and am in need of superior female cultivators as Furnace Cauldrons, how about lending me your female disciple?"


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Blood Corpse True Man was silent for a while before replying, "After this matter is concluded, I will lend her to you."


    "Then let me thank Blood Corpse True Man in advance for your generous offer," Kuhun said contentedly, nodding his head before turning to leave.


    Watching Kuhun''s departing figure, a hint of darkness shed in the depths of Blood Corpse True Man''s eyes. Lending was one thing, but the Technique of Harvesting Qi involved taking a woman''s Yin Qi. With Wu Yi merely at the fourth stage of Qi Refinement, how could she survive after being harvested by Kuhun?


    Anger filled Blood Corpse True Man''s heart, coupled with a trace of worry.


    He was always cautious; even the raw materials for refining corpse puppets were painstakingly brought from ces far from the Corpse Refining Cave.


    Moreover, his Corpse Refining Cave was located deep in the mountains and concealed by a Second Grade formation.


    Yet still, his Corpse Refining Cave was raided by some unidentified person. He vaguely felt something ominous, as if someone was secretly targeting him.

 Chapter 17: Knowledge Guard Tower

    <h4>Chapter 17: Knowledge Guard Tower</h4>


    This was an independent small building hidden in an alleyway.


    The building was notrge, merely two stories high, with its entrance wide open, but a ck curtain at the doorway blocked the sight of passersby, preventing them from peering inside easily.


    The building bore no sign and one simply could not tell what it was used for.


    Lu Qingshan stood in front of the small building, his gaze flickering slightly.


    Since the starting vige of his previous life was not in Yuanshan City, he had traversed many alleys in search of this building.


    Familiar with the plot of "Nine Heavens," he knew very well that the unremarkable building before him was actually thergest faction that yers coulde into contact with in the entire Yuanshan City.


    Yuanshan Tower, a branch of the Zhishou Tower stationed in Yuanshan City!


    Zhishou Tower was the only power among the Human Race that could rival the Seven Great Taoist Sects.


    Moreover, Zhishou Tower was also one of the oldest forces of the Human Race, having existed even before the emergence of the Great Xia Imperial n.


    After the unification of the Human Race by the Great Xia Imperial n, Zhishou Tower pledged allegiance to the Imperial n and concealed its influence underground.


    For twenty thousand years in Chang''an, the shadow of Zhishou Tower gradually faded within the Human Race.


    But Lu Qingshan knew that instead of weakening over these twenty thousand years, Zhishou Tower had grown stronger with the full support of the Great Xia Imperial n.


    The branches of Zhishou Tower were like the Great Xia Commercial Firm, scattered throughout every human city, only Great Xia Commercial Firm was in the open while Zhishou Tower operated in secret.


    Zhishou Tower was a faction and alliance that only surfaced during the "Netherworld Demon Shadow" version of the game and formally became open to yers.


    But in his previous life, there were some fortunate yers blessed by luck who, due to various fortuitous encounters, had unlocked the Zhishou Tower faction prematurely.


    Because Zhishou Tower was not well-known and acted discreetly, those yers who had unlocked the faction had always thought Zhishou Tower was just a minor sect of no significance.


    Who would have known, with the arrival of the "Netherworld Demon Shadow" version, Zhishou Tower suddenly became the current version''s leader of the Human Race.


    Damn, hit the jackpot and drew an SSR!


    Soon, yers who couldn''t suppress their desire to show off shared on yer forums their methods for unlocking the Zhishou Tower faction.


    Everyone had a different path to unlocking the faction, ranging from the bizarre to the varied, but they all shared onemonality, which was being enemies with Demon Cultivators.


    Because Zhishou Tower was established specifically to suppress and eradicate the Demon Race''s influence within Great Xia.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan never intended to be a Loose Cultivator.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In the increasingly turbulent and chaotic "Nine Heavens," without the protection of a Sect, choosing to be a Loose Cultivator meant a very high mortality rate.


    In the main storyline of each version, the number of Loose Cultivator NPCs who died inexplicably due to the plot was incalcble.


    Every time a major version update urred and Lu Qingshan logged back in to read the update records, he would find a sentence like this in the log: Countless Loose Cultivators became the victims of this disaster...


    Moreover, Cultivators in need of rapid growth require a lot of resources.


    Techniques, Dao Companions, Wealth, Land!


    The four essential elements of Cultivation.


    First of all, high-level Cultivation Techniques and Sword Techniques are of great value and are not easily taught; often, even if one has the money, these things are hard to buy.


    Therefore, the Cultivation Methods practiced by Loose Cultivators are usuallymon and their studied Techniques are of average power.


    If one could attach themselves to a powerful Sect, simply by umting enough Sect contribution points, they could exchange for various high-level Taoist teachings needed for Cultivation.


    Dao Companion does not merely refer to a dual cultivation partner, but also includes fellow Sect brothers, Masters; withoutpanionship in learning, one will inevitably have limited knowledge and perspective.


    If one could join an Immortal Cultivation Sect, they would not only have fellow Sect brothers to cultivate with but also the guidance and protection of experienced elders, which naturally allows for faster growth than that of Loose Cultivators.


    Wealth refers to various Cultivation resources and materials needed by Cultivators, such as Spirit Pills, Magic Artifacts, Spirit Stones, and so on.


    Loose Cultivators, for the most part, spend their time looking for Cultivation resources, leaving them without sufficient time to practice Cultivation Methods or study Techniques.


    Cultivation Sects, on the other hand, regrly provide disciples with certain training resources for nurturing.


    Moreover, many precious Pill Furnaces can be obtained by Sect disciples at an extremely favorable price.


    This gap in resources often quickly trantes into a difference in strength.


    Land refers to the ces of Cultivation, as Sects are established upon Spirit Veins, where the concentration of Spiritual Energy far surpasses other ces, a veritable feng shui treasure for Cultivation.


    In these ces, one day of cultivation was equivalent to two days, or even more, in ordinary ces.


    As for loose cultivators, they roamed the four seas as their home. In today''s Cultivation Realm, how many suitable ces for cultivation remain undiscovered?


    Not to mention finding a geomantic treasure spot to cultivate, many loose cultivators often find themselves in danger when discovered during secluded cultivation, then be targets of murder and robbery. However, within a sect, these problems need never be a concern.


    In the Cultivation Realm, ny-nine percent of cultivators at the pinnacle of powere from famous andrge sects. The rarity of powerful cultivators from a loose cultivator background shows the importance of being part of a sect.


    Although Lu Qingshan had great confidence in his ability to grow, with chaos on the horizon and his limited power, he would undoubtedly be extremely vulnerable in the troubled times.


    He needed the protection of arge force.


    Zhi Shou Tower was not therge force he had in mind, but it had an advantage.


    Zhi Shou Tower was not a sect but simr to an official organization, so it did not impose many restrictions on the freedom of its members.


    The members of Zhi Shou Tower could still join other sects without viting any regtions of the tower.


    Without a doubt, Zhi Shou Tower was an excellent secondary lineup.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan lifted the ck curtain at the entrance and walked into the small building.


    The first floor of the small building was a hall where several wooden supporting columns divided the space into segments. The windows of the small building were tightly closed. Coupled with the dark alley at the back of the building, the entire interior space appeared very dark and somber.


    "Who is it, and what do you want?" a somewhat deep male voice asked.


    Looking inside, Lu Qingshan saw a brown sandalwood staircase with intricate carvings leading to the second floor, and next to the staircase, there was a counter,


    where a middle-aged male cultivator with messy hair and a rough beard, looking rather slovenly, was seated.


    The question just now had been posed by this middle-aged male cultivator.


    "I''m looking for the Tower Master of Yuanshan Tower."


    A gleam of sharpness shed in the eyes of the middle-aged cultivator.


    Lu Qingshan subtly felt as if he were being scrutinized.


    Lu Qingshan knew that the middle-aged man was scanning him with Divine Sense.


    "A mere Qi Refinement secondyer cultivator, the Tower Master is not someone you can meet just because you want to."


    "Netherworld," Lu Qingshan said sinctly, not offering any further exnation.


    The pupils of the middle-aged cultivator contracted, "What have you discovered?!"


    "I can only discuss this matter with the Tower Master."


    After a brief silence,


    the deep voice of the middle-aged cultivator rose again, "Fine, wait here."


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    The middle-aged cultivator left the counter and headed straight for the second floor.


    Shortly after,


    "Come upstairs," called a pleasant female voice from above.


    Unexpectedly, the Tower Master of Yuanshan Tower was a female cultivator.


    Lu Qingshan found this interesting.


    Without hesitation, Lu Qingshan quickly ascended the stairs.


    At the top of the staircase, he was met with a very long corridor, nked by individual rooms on both sides.


    "The one at the very end."


    The voice was heard, but the person remained unseen.


    Lu Qingshan walked unhurriedly to the end of the corridor and pushed open the room''s door.


    Lu Qingshan was instantly struck by the brightness before him.


    Unlike the gloominess of other areas in the building, the room was very well-lit, filled with a nice yet subtle fragrance. Furthermore, inside the room, there was a woman... a very beautiful woman.

 Chapter 18: Dantai Qingrun

    <h4>Chapter 18: Dantai Qingrun</h4>


    A horizontal case was ced in the room, and atop the case was an incense burner from which delicate plumes of sandalwood incense rose.


    Behind the case, a woman sat cross-legged, while the middle-aged man who had just entered stood behind her very respectfully.


    Lu Qingshan took a light breath of the faint sandalwood permeating the air, and felt a cool sensation rushing into his mind.


    His mind felt refreshed, and the various random thoughts inside began to gradually dissipate.


    This was "Tranquil Spirit Incense"!


    An exceptional treasure for aiding cultivation, it could help a cultivator enter the state of cultivation faster and also improve the efficiency of their cultivation.


    A single ordinary stick of Tranquil Spirit Incense started at the market price of one Third Grade Spirit Stone, the users who utilized Tranquil Spirit Incense to aid their cultivation were either rich or noble.


    However, given the woman''s status, it was quite normal for her to use Tranquil Spirit Incense to aid in her cultivation.


    The Tower Master of the Prefecture City branch of Yuanshan Tower was a Golden Core Cultivator.


    For cultivators, the first four realms¡ªQi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul¡ªeach level up represented a qualitative leap in power.


    Golden Core Cultivators in Yuanshan City were considered the highest level ofbat power.


    Yuanshan Tower''s Tower Master was a woman who looked to be about twenty-four or twenty-five years old.


    Dressed in white surpassing the snow, her eyebrows sharp yet her features incredibly delicate, she was very pleasant to look at.


    However, since she was a Golden Core Cultivator, her age could not be simply inferred from her appearance.


    She might as well be a person from the same generation as his own great-grandmother.


    Lu Qingshan pondered inwardly in his mind.


    Because if he remembered correctly, his current body was only fifteen years old, absolutely a fresh young cultivator.


    The woman sized up Lu Qingshan, who had just entered; her face was as calm as water, and her voice indifferent, "Where did you hear about the Netherworld?"


    Lu Qingshan answered neither servilely nor overbearingly, "By a fortunate coincidence."


    "By a fortunate coincidence?" her tone slightly rose.


    "My name is Lu Qingshan, a descendent of the Lu Family from Zhenjiang Prefecture of Qing State," Lu Qingshan did not directly answer the woman''s question, but spoke again, "May I have the honor of knowing the Tower Master''s name?"


    The Lu Family was one of the thirty-six major cultivation families in Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    Although this scale of power might not be regarded by Yuanshan Tower, Lu Qingshan still did not mind establishing his background.


    "Dantai Qingrun." The woman frowned slightly, but still cleanly and without any pretentiousness or hesitation, she reported her name.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Tower Master Dantai." Lu Qingshan nodded and said, "The Netherworld, a Demon Race organization lurking within the Human Race, has its influence spread across the Seven Domains and is enormously vast.


    The Netherworld was initially formed by some Demon Cultivators with the ability to disguise and infiltrate, who entered the Seven Domains of Human Race and attracted arge number of cultivators through enticement or coercion.


    Under the nourishment of interests and desires, the power of the Netherworld grew stronger; they held human lives cheap andmitted every imaginable atrocity.


    In the great war twenty thousand years ago, though Ancestral Taoist Xia led the Human Cultivators to repel the Demon Race and severely weaken the Netherworld''s power, and subsequently established the Great Xia Imperial n to protect the Human Race, the Netherworld never vanished but stubbornly continued on.


    The Netherworld silently lurked within the Human Race, regrowing its forces like a malignant tumor wantonly expanding within the territories of the Human Race."


    Lu Qingshan expounded his understanding of the Netherworld calmly.


    The world of "Nine Heavens" was vast, extremely vast.


    The term "Nine Heavens" came into use because this world consists of nine different realms.


    Yet, even before his transmigration, Lu Qingshan only knew the names of two of these realms.


    One is the realm where yers are born, which is also the current world controlled by the Human Race, Sky Dome!


    Another one is the world where the Demon Race resides, the Abyss!


    The Abyss and the Sky Dome are adjacent worlds. In their struggle for resources and to strengthen their own races, the demons of the Abyss have always attempted to conquer the Sky Dome and turn the Human Race into vassals and ves of the Demon Race.


    Twenty thousand years ago, during the full-scale holy warunched by the Demon Race, the cultivation realm of humans had been fighting individually due to the sect system and the division between right and wrong. They were utterly defeated by the Demon Race, causing living beings across the Seven Domains of the Sky Dome to suffer immensely.


    Just as the Sky Dome was about to fall and humans were about to be ves to the demons, Ancestral Daoist Xia transcended the Nine Layers of Heavenly Tribtion, attained the status of an Ancestral Taoist, and with the power of an Ancestral Taoist, turned the tide, stabilized the crumbling edifice, and repelled the Demon Race.


    After driving the Demon Race back to the Abyss and rebuilding the Human Race, Ancestral Daoist Xia learned from the experience. While preserving the independence of the sects, he established the Great Xia Imperial n to unify the Human Race and protect them.


    This is also why there are so-called imperial ns existing in the world of cultivation.


    For no other reason than that the bloodline of an Ancestral Taoist is regal, demanding respect!


    After repelling the Demon Race, Ancestral Daoist Xia built a grand human city on the border between the Sky Dome and the Abyss, Heavenly River City.


    Using Heavenly River City as a frontline battlefield base, humans have since blocked the Demon Race outside the Sky Dome. Coupled with the deterrent force of the Ancestral Taoist, in these twenty thousand years, the Human Race has been able to rest and recuperate, gradually bing stronger.


    However, as the Netherworld is an influence of the Demon Race, it has been hiding within the human territories like a bomb, never knowing when it might explode.


    Hence, eradicating Netherworld forces has always been a very unified goal among the major powers of the Human Race.


    ....


    Dantai Qingrun slightly raised his delicate eyebrows, "You speak rightly, but these are not things a Qi Refinement second level cultivator should know, let alone being able to find our Yuanshan Tower."


    Dantai Qingrun''s expression turned cold.


    Suddenly, a heavy oppressive force descended upon Lu Qingshan.


    [Divine Sense Exertion]!


    The oppressive force released by a Golden Core cultivator''s divine sense alone was enough to immobilize Qi Refinement second level Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan struggled to twitch the corners of his mouth, "The purpose of Yuanshan Tower is to counter the Netherworld, are you sure.... you won''t let me finish speaking?"


    "Tower Master." The middle-aged cultivator standing to the side, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up persuading, "Perhaps we should listen to what he has to say."


    Dantai Qingrun frowned for a moment, then finally nodded and said, "Continue."


    Lu Qingshan felt his whole body rx.


    The suffocating oppressive force had dissipated.


    One ying the bad cop, another the good cop¡ª a ssic old trick, used so much it''s be clich¨¦.


    Lu Qingshan chuckled softly and suddenly said, "A Demon Cultivator, Blood Corpse True Person, current location, within Yuanshan City, strength, Foundation Establishment Realm, appears as a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, apanied by a female disciple who is a Qi Refinement fourth level."


    Dantai Qingrun fell silent for a moment.


    "What do you mean by this?"


    "First a little gift for you, then we can talk about whates next."


    "Matters concerning the Netherworld are of great importance. Better to believe they are true than not," the middle-aged cultivator said to Dantai Qingrun.


    A glint shed in Dantai Qingrun''s eyes, and he nodded, saying, "Then it would trouble Uncle Rong to make a trip."


    The middle-aged cultivator looked meaningfully at Lu Qingshan and left the room.


    ...


    After the middle-aged cultivator left, only Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun remained in the room.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned somewhat eerie.


    "Tower Master Dantai is a Sword Cultivator, right?"

 Chapter 19: Heavenly Spirit Root

    <h4>Chapter 19: Heavenly Spirit Root</h4>


    Lu Qingshan broke the silence with an intentional remark.


    Dantai Qingrun swept her bright eyes over Lu Qingshan, "You seem to know quite a lot?"


    This sentence was an acknowledgment of the sword cultivator''s im.


    Lu Qingshan chuckled lightly, "As the Dantai Tower Master, you are so young yet you''ve already assumed the position of Yuanshan Tower Master, it''s very likely that youe from a powerful n.


    By coincidence, there happens to be a Dantai Family in Qing State, and the surname Dantai is quite umon, so the probability that Dantai Tower Master has no connection to this Dantai household is not high.


    Moreover, the Dantai Family is a well-known sword cultivator n in Qing State, so..."


    Dantai Qingrun''s gaze measured Lu Qingshan from head to toe for a moment, then she said no more.


    Seeing that Dantai Qingrun had no desire to continue the conversation, Lu Qingshan simply maintained his silence, but in his mind, he was rapidly specting about something.


    In his previous life, within the game, he had never heard of the name Dantai Qingrun.


    There were two possibilities for this situation.


    The first possibility was that Dantai Qingrun was just a regr, insignificant NPC that served as a brief interlude.


    But right after Lu Qingshan entered the room, the first thing he did was to cast the Heavenly Eye Technique on Dantai Qingrun.


    --------------------------


    ????? (Human Race)


    upation: ???


    Rank: ??? (Extremely Lethal)


    Attribute: ???


    Skills: ???


    Talent: [Heavenly Spirit Root]: ???


    ?????


    ...


    --------------------------


    Due to the vast gap in strength, the information he obtained was a series of question marks, the only useful piece of information being the [Heavenly Spirit Root] in the talent column.


    [Heavenly Spirit Root]: Gains a 100% increase in Experience Points when cultivating a cultivation method.


    A very rare but not very popr talent among yers.


    ¡ªyers were always passionate about leveling up through fighting monsters, and there were only a few who would honestly level up by cultivating methods.


    Therefore, an attribute that increased the Experience Points gained from cultivating methods seemed quite superfluous to yers.


    But for NPCs, this talent was proof of genius.


    NPCs cannot level up by fighting monsters; they always increase their cultivation by cultivating methods.


    Having the Heavenly Spirit Root was akin to having a Golden Finger.


    In other words, it meant, this root could potentially produce a Nascent Soul!


    With such a talent, Dantai Qingrun, under normal development, would surely not have a low achievement.


    Furthermore, with Dantai Qingrun''s approach-me-not aura, and Lu Qingshan''s understanding of those thrill-seeking yers, Dantai Qingrun was bound to be a very popr NPC among yers!


    Clearly, Dantai Qingrun could not just be some ordinary transition NPC.


    Yet she was utterly unknown.


    That left only the second possibility.


    Dantai Qingrun met with an early misfortune in the game, and when the yers entered "Nine Heavens" on arge scale, the NPC Dantai Qingrun no longer existed in "Nine Heavens".


    With this in mind, Lu Qingshan looked at Dantai Qingrun, his eyes inevitably filled with a bit more sympathy.


    Girl, do you know that despite how fierce you appear now, your future isn''t actually that great?


    ...


    In the northern part of Yuanshan City, on a bustling street, there was a sizeable residence with tightly closed vermillion gates that bore no signboard.


    Not far from this residence, diagonally across the street, there was a two-story tavern that appeared to be doing good business, bustling with patronsing and going.


    A somewhat sloppy-looking middle-aged male cultivator was sitting by a window on the second floor of the tavern, with an array of fine food and two small pots of wine on his table.


    Looking at the chaotic array of dishes and cups on the table, it appeared that the meal had gone on for quite some time.


    Jiang Rong, the deputy Tower Master of Yuanshan Tower, despite his sloppy appearance, had substantial seniority under his belt.


    He had stayed in Yuanshan Tower for nearly a hundred years, responsible for assisting the Tower Master with various tasks, having experienced the changeover of three Tower Masters; Dantai Qingrun was his fourth.


    The Tower Masterse and go like flowing water, but the deputy Tower Master is constant as iron.


    With a century''s buildup of authority, Jiang Rong''s influence in Yuanshan City was deeply ingrained.


    Although within Yuanshan Tower, the Tower Master was supreme, due to respect for the elder, Dantai Qingrun would normally refer to Jiang Rong as a junior.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    His authority and status were not to be underestimated.


    Jiang Rong gazed down from the window at the nearby residence, idly fiddling with a half-filled wine cup, lost in thought.


    Eventually, a jade pendant hanging at Jiang Rong''s waist flickered with a ripple of green light.


    Jiang Rong was slightly distracted as he received the message riding on the green wave.


    Soon after reading the message from his subordinate, the normallynguid Jiang Rong''s eyes shone with a sharp light. He lifted his head, drained the cup of wine in one gulp, and then set the cup down on the table.


    "Shopkeeper, the bill!" he called.


    At that moment, a faint aura of decisiveness emanated from Jiang Rong.


    With the intelligence provided by Lu Qingshan and Yuanshan Tower''s control over Yuanshan City, in just half an hour, they had pinpointed the location of the "Blood Corpse Real Person" within the city.


    And in an extremely short span of time, they had organized a sufficient number of people.


    At this moment, the small residence was quietly surrounded by the cultivators of Yuanshan Tower.


    ...


    Jiang Rong didn''t make a big show of force by breaking down the door.


    ¡ª¡ªYuanshan Tower always kept a low profile in its affairs.


    After circling the residence, Jiang Rong transformed into a wisp of light smoke and directly entered the backyard.


    Smoke Luo Technique!


    One of the signature abilities of a Nether Cultivator.


    After employing the Smoke Luo Technique, Jiang Rong searched the small residence unhindered.


    The residence wasn''trge, and Jiang Rong was extremely fast; in just a short moment, the light smoke that Jiang Rong had transformed into had circted around the residence.


    "Not here..." Jiang Rong frowned slightly, "Impossible, ording to the intelligence, just a few hours ago, the Blood Corpse Real Person was surely seen entering this residence. How can there be no one here, unless...."


    At that thought, Jiang Rong no longer cared about the possibility of startling the quarry. A vast Divine Sense surged from between his eyebrows, and quickly spread throughout the entire residence.


    As expected.


    Somewhere beneath the ground of the eastern room in the residence, something was blocking the pration of his Divine Sense.


    Jiang Rong rushed to the eastern room, surveyed the space, and finally, his gazended on a bookshelf in the corner of the room.


    Jiang Rong extended his left hand and swung it; a ball of ck mist-like Spiritual Power shot out from his hand and mmed directly into the bookshelf.


    Bang¡ª¡ª


    Following the thunderous crash, the bookshelf was shattered, its fragments scattering everywhere.


    Jiang Rong''s gaze sharpened.


    Behind the bookshelf was an entrance to an underground passage, a person-high opening, dark and forbidding, leading to an unknown destination.


    Without hesitation, Jiang Rong entered it.


    Walking down this underground passage for a short distance, the tight confines suddenly opened up; Jiang Rong found himself in a dark chamber dozens of square meters in size.


    On the floor of the chambery several dozen Spirit Stones, still glowing faintly white, connected by hidden wires.


    Hidden Spirit Formation: It conceals the fluctuations of spiritual power within the formation and can shield against cultivators'' Divine Sense probing.


    However, there was no one inside the dark chamber.


    Looking around.


    There were a total of five passages in the dark chamber, all leading to unknown destinations.


    A cautious rabbit has three burrows; the Blood Corpse Real Person had prepared no fewer than five escape routes for himself.


    The cautious and cunning Blood Corpse Real Person, upon sensing the probing of an unfamiliar Divine Sense in the residence, had swiftly escaped through one of these five passages.

 Chapter 20 - 20 Cooperation

    <h4>Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Cooperation</h4>


    The destinations led to by the five passages were vastly different.


    If one could not urately determine which passage the Blood Corpse actually used to escape in the first moment, even a slight dy,


    would allow the cunning Demon Cultivator, with just this short amount of time, to switch identities and blend into the vast Yuanshan City.


    By then, searching for him would not be as easy as it is now.


    However, facing this situation, Jiang Rong''s face showed not a hint of nervousness.


    Instead, he stood in ce, waiting for something.


    Before long, a wave of green light shed over the jade pendant at Jiang Rong''s waist.


    Jiang Rong read the information in the green wave.


    "Target has been captured."


    A slight smile yed upon Jiang Rong''s lips.


    Demon Cultivators are cunning and would not fail to prepare several escape routes at their hide-outs.


    He had known the location of the Blood Corpse for some time, so why had he not acted at once, and instead, had a casual drink in a nearby tavern?


    It was to allow time to thoroughly investigate all potential escape routes of the Blood Corpse.


    It was not easy to deduce the exits of the escape routes, but clearly, they could not be too far from this small residence, or they would easily be discovered.


    Moreover, something as crucial as an escape route would certainly be personally scouted by the Blood Corpse.


    Combining these two points, Jiang Rong had his men gather all the locations where the Blood Corpse had appeared near the small residence.


    And at those locations, he set a dra to ensure that the Blood Corpse would have no escape, and his capture would be wless.


    Jiang Rong had served as the deputy master of Yuanshan Tower for nearly a hundred years,bating the Demon Cultivators of the Netherworld for nearly a century.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    His methods had long be shrewd and ruthless.


    If Demon Cultivators were cunning, he was even more so.


    ....


    This was a dpidated courtyard located just two miles from the small residence.


    Within the overgrown backyard, once abandoned, now gathered many Cultivators d in ck robes.


    "The deputy Tower Master has arrived,"


    said someone within the crowd.


    The lined-up crowd quickly parted, forming a path and revealing the Blood Corpse, who was tightly bound with golden ropes at the back.


    The Supreme Quality Mortal Artifact grade Spirit Binding Rope.


    Spirit Binding Rope is one of the standard Magic Artifacts assigned to all members of the Dantai Tower.


    It can stretch indefinitely when a Cultivator infuses it with Spiritual Power, its purpose being to trap enemies and prevent them from circting Spiritual Power within their body.


    Spirit Binding Rope is an essential Magic Artifact for capturing Demon Cultivators.


    Because Demon Cultivators would never willingly allow themselves to be taken alive, often choosing to incite their internal Spiritual Power tomit suicide when there truly is no escape.


    For Lower Grade Demon Cultivators, if they choose suicide, at worst it prevents Dantai Tower from interrogating them for intelligence.


    But if a Nascent Soul Realm Demon Cultivator chooses to explode their Nascent Soul, even though they will undoubtedly be dead, the damage caused by the explosion can lead to the sacrifice of many Dantai Tower members, resulting in heavy losses for the tower.


    To cope with this situation, the Spirit Binding Rope was researched and created.


    Jiang Rong moved through the crowd, looking down at the Blood Corpse lying on the ground, struggling weakly, his gaze indifferent and even carrying a trace of murderous intent.


    But Jiang Rong was very calm; the greatest value of a Demon Cultivator taken alive lies not in his life but in the information he possesses.


    So, now was not the time to kill him.


    Jiang Rong waved his hand: "Take him back to the tower and interrogate him thoroughly."


    "Yes, deputy Tower Master," replied the ck-robed Cultivators.


    Then, the ck-robed Cultivators, escorting the Blood Corpse ensnared by the Spirit Binding Rope, quickly departed.


    In less than a moment, the courtyard was empty once more.


    Action swift and precise, this is Yuanshan Tower, an organization starkly different from the many Sects.


    .....


    Within Yuanshan Tower.


    Dantai Qingrun and Lu Qingshan faced each other without a word.


    Jiang Rong opened the door and walked in.


    Dantai Qingrun looked toward Jiang Rong, who nodded.


    Dantai Qingrun''s tone was cool as he began, "State your purpose."


    Indeed, Yuanshan Tower lived up to its reputation. Within less than two hours of receiving his intelligence, they had located their of the Blood Corpse Real Person and captured him.


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but inwardly praise the efficiency of Yuanshan Tower.


    Afterposing himself, Lu Qingshan slowly said, "Cooperation."


    "Cooperation? You mean you want us at Yuanshan Tower to cooperate with you, a second level Qi Refinement Cultivator?"


    Lu Qingshan shook his finger, speaking softly, "Tower Master Dantai, that''s not the way to calcte it.


    My Cultivation may indeed be low, but what I''m offering is not myself, but intelligence."


    Pausing for a moment, Lu Qingshan spoke again, "I have a lot of ssified intelligence. With my help, you can precisely strike at the hidden forces of the Netherworld.


    Even if you do not feel such a deep sense of duty to strike against the Netherworld, the merits of eradicating their forces could at least help you rise rapidly within Yuanshan Tower."


    Dantai Qingrun and Jiang Rong exchanged nces.


    "We need to consider this," Jiang Rong said to Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan nodded and replied, "Of course."


    Lu Qingshan turned and left the room, giving the two space.


    Watching Lu Qingshan leave the room, Jiang Rong flicked his sleeve, and a puff of grey mist flew out, quickly spreading and filling the room.


    This was a silencing enchantment used to prevent eavesdropping.


    "How about that Blood Corpse Real Person, is the information urate?" Dantai Qingrun asked with a frown.


    Jiang Rong nodded, "We''re arranging for personnel to interrogate him for intelligence. Although he hasn''t confessed anything yet, his identity as a Demon Cultivator is certain."


    "This Blood Corpse Real Person has been lurking in Yuanshan City for over a decade, outwardly posing as a Loose Cultivator. With years of careful operation, there wasn''t a single slip-up. If it wasn''t for this Lu Qingshan, our intelligence system would have found it very difficult to uncover his real identity."


    "This Lu Qingshan is no simple character."


    Dantai Qingrun tapped the desk lightly with his finger and asked, "Have we rified Lu Qingshan''s identity?"


    "All cleared up. Just as he imed, he is indeed a member of the Lu Family. However, what''s strange is that three months ago, he was just an ordinary mortal taking care of the Lu Family''s secr business. On his way transporting goods, their caravan was attacked, and he vanished without a trace."


    "When he reappeared, he was already in Yuanshan City and had suddenly be a second level Qi Refinement Cultivator," Jiang Rong said gravely.


    "Three months... second level Qi Refinement, interesting..." Dantai Qingrun murmured thoughtfully.


    Jiang Rong pondered before adding, "The key point is, Lu Qingshan has no reason to know so much. The intelligence on the Netherworld that even our Yuanshan Tower''s system finds hard to rify, how did hee by it?"


    "But he seems to be quite sincere. Before proposing a coboration, he gave us a piece of intelligence."


    Jiang Rong nodded, "That''s true."


    "I think we can try a preliminary cooperation with him." Dantai Qingrun offered his thoughts.


    Jiang Rong was silent for a moment before asking, "What if this Lu Qingshan is actually from the Netherworld, feigning cooperation with us, and subsequently provides false intelligence to mislead our actions?"


    "The chances of that are very slim. The Netherworld wouldn''t send a second level Qi Refinement Cultivator for such a task, nor would they make it so suspicious. They have many more reasonable ways to send us false intelligence."


    Jiang Rong''s tone turned frosty, "An unlikely chance still means it could happen.


    We could choose to control Lu Qingshan, make him divulge what he knows.


    If he''s uncooperative, we could even employ the Soul Search Technique to pry out intelligence."


    Dantai Qingrun looked at Jiang Rong and exined, "But if we do that, it will inevitably cause his fierce resistance, and we might cause some unforeseen idents because of these harsh measures.


    Even if we could get intelligence through the Soul Search Technique, as you know, the information obtained would only be fragmented and uncontroble, possibly even useless, with all key intelligence missing.


    Lu Qingshan seems to be quite sincere in his apparent desire to cooperate with us. It wouldn''t be wise to push aside an aid that should belong to us because of his unpredictability."

 Chapter 21: The Faction Opens

    <h4>Chapter 21: The Faction Opens</h4>


    ```


    Jiang Rong looked at Dantai Qingrun, who was speaking his mind with ease, and suddenly felt a sense of relief, "I remember when you first took up your post, you were particrly rash, nothing like the clear-headed and patient person you are now."


    Dantai Qingrun was startled, then he realized what was being said and replied with some helplessness, "Uncle Rong, you''re starting again."


    Jiang Rong had actually been prepared to agree to Lu Qingshan''s request for cooperation from the beginning.


    If Dantai Qingrun could think of it, how could he not have considered it?


    The reason he raised so many points was, in fact, to guide Dantai Qingrun to make the decision to cooperate with Lu Qingshan on his own.


    ¡ª¡ªEven though he was older in years, the Tower Master of Yuanshan Tower was Dantai Qingrun, not Jiang Rong.


    The only person who could make decisions was Dantai Qingrun.


    Jiang Rong did not want, nor would he, upstage the master.


    "Should I let that young man in now?"


    Dantai Qingrun nodded.


    With a flick of Jiang Rong''s sleeve, the ck mist that filled the room instantly dissipated.


    After lifting the soundproofing seal.


    "You maye in," said Jiang Rong, opening the door and speaking to Lu Qingshan, who stood outside.


    Lu Qingshan followed Jiang Rong back into the room.


    "How do you want to cooperate?" Dantai Qingrun raised an eyebrow and got straight to the point, "What do you want?"


    Lu Qingshan thought for a moment before asking, "The Blood Corpse True Man, you''ve caught him, haven''t you?"


    Jiang Rong''s voice was heavy, "Based on the information you provided, we apprehended him quickly, and he is currently imprisoned in the Prison Warden Office of Yuanshan Tower."


    "I want the Blood Corpse True Man," Lu Qingshan said in a methodical tone, looking at Dantai Qingrun''s cool face.


    "We are still interrogating the Blood Corpse True Man. He has yet to say anything. Once he discloses the information he knows, we can hand him over to you," Jiang Rong interjected.


    "I want him now," Lu Qingshan''s tone was firm, unmoved by Jiang Rong''s words.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Dantai Qingrun''s eyes shimmered, watching Lu Qingshan, wondering what was on his mind.


    Under Dantai Qingrun''s gaze, Lu Qingshan remainedposed.


    Finally, a gleam of insight shed in Dantai Qingrun''s eyes, and he lightly tapped the table with his fingertip, "The Blood Corpse True Man was captured through the information you provided. If you want him, he''s yours!"


    "However..." Dantai Qingrun''s brows furrowed slightly as he spoke indifferently, "I want to know, why are you so eager to have this Demon Cultivator? What are you nning to do with him?"


    Lu Qingshan replied nonchntly, "I merely want his life."


    Dantai Qingrun gave Lu Qingshan a meaningful look but did not dwell on the matter of the Blood Corpse True Man any further.


    Lu Qingshan pondered and then said, "As I said at the beginning, the information on the Blood Corpse True Man was a gift for our first meeting, given to you. Now that I am asking you for the Blood Corpse True Man again, I naturally wouldn''t let you suffer a loss for nothing. I will give you another piece of information as an exchange."


    Hearing Lu Qingshan''s words, a sparkle of light shone in Dantai Qingrun''s eyes.


    "Qi Yuan, the Qi Supervisor of Zhenjiang Prefecture, is currently in Yuanshan City as well, isn''t he?" Lu Qingshan inquired.


    "The Qi Supervisor is a Spirit Cultivator of Heavenly Secret Pavillion, his methods reach the skies, and his movements are always secretive, beyond the knowledge of ordinary people. I''m beginning to believe that you know much more than we have imagined," Jiang Rong said, every word deliberate, as he looked at Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan didn''t confirm or deny, "Heavenly Secret Pavillion is one of the seven great Taoist sects, and it has the closest rtionship with the Great Xia Imperial n. Likewise, as an organization under the Great Xia Imperial n, the Mountain Tower maintains regr cooperative exchanges with Heavenly Secret Pavillion. If someone in Yuanshan City would know of the Qi Supervisor''s whereabouts, I believe that only you, Dantai Tower Master, would."


    Dantai Qingrun did not deny, "Indeed, half a month ago, the Qi Supervisor discovered an ominous Blood Pool near Yuanshan City through the sub-mirror of the Heavenly Secret Mirror. Feeling uneasy about it, he came personally to Yuanshan City to investigate. He also approached us at Yuanshan Tower, asking us to assist him fully in the investigation around Yuanshan City, but so far, nothing has been found.


    The Qi Supervisor used the Heavenly Secret Mirror to locate the Blood Pool near Yuanshan City, and with the extensive manpower of Yuanshan Tower, we searched but didn''t find a trace. This matter is extremely peculiar.


    We are all very concerned that the Netherworld is nning some grand scheme against Yuanshan City."


    Looking at Lu Qingshan''s calm expression, a trace ofplexity crossed Dantai Qingrun''s face, "Do you know something?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded and said frankly, "Yes, I not only know the location of the Blood Pool you are searching for.


    But, I also know that the real target of the Netherworld''s schemes is not Yuanshan City, as you suspect, but rather Qi Yuan, the Qi Supervisor... or more precisely, the sub-mirror of his Heavenly Secret Mirror."


    ```


    Dantai Qingrun''s face shed with a trace of shock and bewilderment as he said, "What do you mean by that?"


    "The Netherworld is nning to design a plot to seize the Heavenly Secret Mirror''s shard from Qi Yuan''s possession, and the time should be the fifteenth of July, when Qi Yuan once again uses the Heavenly Secret Mirror to ''Observe Heaven,''" Lu Qingshan stated with certainty.


    Why would the Netherworld wait until the fifteenth of July to act, to snatch the Heavenly Secret Mirror''s shard from Qi Yuan''s hands?


    Recalling the features of the Heavenly Secret Mirror''s shard, Lu Qingshan understood these critical points.


    The Heavenly Secret Mirror''s shard must have already been refined by Qi Yuan into his personal Magic Artifact, and most of the time, it resides within Qi Yuan''s Dantian.


    To want to snatch the Heavenly Secret Mirror''s shard, there were only two methods.


    One, kill Qi Yuan and then take the mirror.


    Two, wait for Qi Yuan to use the Heavenly Secret Mirror''s shard actively and then take the opportunity to snatch it.


    In the historical records, Qi Yuan only lost the Heavenly Secret Mirror on the fifteenth of July; he was still very much alive.


    Clearly, the Netherworld must have chosen the second method.


    Since the Heavenly Secret Mirror''s shard provides no enhancement tobat, Qi Yuan would not use it unless employing the skill of Observing Heaven under normal circumstances.


    When Qi Yuan first discovered the existence of the Blood Pool on the first of July, he utilized Observing Heaven to investigate the Blood Pool.


    If he fails to find the Blood Pool in Yuanshan City all the way through, Qi Yuan would inevitably use Observing Heaven again to search for the Blood Pool''s location.


    The cooldown period for the Observing Heaven skill is fifteen natural days.


    The time Qi Yuan could use Observing Heaven again would be the fifteenth of July!


    Therefore, it is quite evident that the Netherworld nned to snatch the mirror right when Qi Yuan used Observing Heaven for the second time.


    Jiang Rong, standing aside, could hardly believe it, "How could you possibly know this?"


    Given their understanding of the Netherworld, such significant plotting would most definitely not be leaked easily.


    Yet, not only did Lu Qingshan know the inner workings of the n, but he could even pinpoint the exact timing of the action as if he were a participant. This filled Jiang Rong with doubts and suspicion as well.


    Lu Qingshanughed lightly, "My only responsibility is to provide the intelligence. As for the source of the intelligence, I''d rather not disclose that.


    Whether you believe it or not is entirely up to you."


    After a moment of hesitation,


    "Where is the location of the Blood Pool?" Dantai Qingrun''s cold gaze fixed on Lu Qingshan as he asked sharply.


    "Do you have a map of Yuanshan City?" Lu Qingshan inquired.


    Dantai Qingrun nodded, and a piece of silk cloth appeared in his hand out of nowhere, on which all the terrain and locations around Yuanshan City were detailedly depicted.


    A very detailed map.


    Lu Qingshan took the map from Dantai Qingrun''s hand, spread it out on the table, and lightly pointed to a particr spot on the map.


    "This is the location of the Blood Pool," Lu Qingshan revealed without concealment, directly indicating the Blood Pool''s location: "The Blood Pool is concealed by a high-quality Illusion Array, which is why you couldn''t find it. The reason Qi Yuan could easily discover the Blood Pool initially was that the Blood Pool was merely bait¡ªa bait intentionally exposed by the Netherworld to lure Qi Yuan to Yuanshan City. The Netherworld''s real target was Qi Yuan''s Heavenly Secret Mirror''s shard."


    "I have already provided the information in exchange for the Blood Corpse''s intel so...."


    After a moment of silence, Jiang Rong finally nodded, "I will have my people take you to where the Blood Corpse is confined."


    ...


    "You have officially initiated the alliance with Zhenjiang Tower."


    "You have now established a cooperative rtionship with Yuanshan Tower (a division of Zhenjiang Tower)."


    "Yuanshan Tower organization favorability increased by 50."


    "Zhenjiang Tower organization favorability increased by 5."


    "Yuanshan Tower: Amiable (50) ¡ª¡ª [Initial Cooperation]."


    "Zhenjiang Tower: Amiable (5) ¡ª¡ª [Yuanshan Tower Coborator]."


    In "Nine Heavens," there are eight levels of faction favorability.


    From highest to lowest, they are as follows: Worship (above 2000), Reverence (500 to 2000), Enthusiasm (200 to 499), Amiable (0 to 199), Indifferent (-1 to -199), Aversion (-200 to -499), Loathing (-500 to -2000), Hatred (below -2000).

 Chapter 22: The True Blood Corpse

    <h4>Chapter 22: The True Blood Corpse</h4>


    Seeing the system prompt that popped up, Lu Qingshan knew he had initiated his first factional camp.


    ording to his memory, before the game entered the "Netherworld Shadow" version, there were already quite a few yers who had opened the faction camp of the Tower of Guarding.


    The Tower of Guarding was not only a camp with great potential for development, deserving of his efforts to invest a certain amount of energy, to curry favor, and to improve his status within it.


    Moreover, in most situations, the Tower of Guarding was also a very trustworthy faction.


    ¡ª¡ªIn the battles against the Netherworld, many cultivators from the Tower of Guarding had, for the sake of defending the Human Race, courageously sacrificed their very lives without any second thoughts.


    Lu Qingshan bowed to Jiang Rong and Dantai Qingrun and said with a cold voice, "Then, esteemed ones, I will take my leave first and go... pay a visit to that Blood Corpse True Person!"


    He had done all he could do; the matters that were to follow were not something a Qi Refining Cultivator like himself could be involved in.


    However, he believed that the Tower of Guarding, having been able to carry the banner for the Human Race and stand against the Netherworld throughout an entire version in the Netherworld Shadow, would certainly not disappoint him with its capabilities.


    The Tower of Guarding was no ce for mediocrity.


    With such detailed intelligence provided by him, the Netherworld would likely suffer a significant setback this time.


    Lu Qingshan took his leave, turned around, and left the room. When he reached the first floor, a cultivator dressed in a ck robe was already standing at the staircase.


    "The deputy tower master has asked me to take you to the Prison Warden Office to see the Blood Corpse True Person," the cultivator in the ck robe said tly, without any hint of emotion.


    "Thank you for showing the way," Lu Qingshan nodded.


    ...


    Jiang Rong and Dantai Qingrun exchanged nces and, after a few seconds of silence, Jiang Rong spoke, "Do we need to contact Warden Qi immediately now?"


    Dantai Qingrun shook his head, "There''s no rush; we still have time. Uncle Rong, you are a Nether Cultivator with exquisite escape skills. You go first to the location of the Blood Pool mentioned by Lu Qingshan to scout and verify whether what Lu Qingshan has said is true or false."


    Jiang Rong agreed, "Alright."


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After hesitating for a few seconds, Jiang Rong asked, "What do you think is Lu Qingshan''s purpose in asking us for this Blood Corpse True Person?"


    Dantai Qingrun''s eyes remained clear and calm as he slowly said, "Maybe Lu Qingshan and Uncle Rong are the same kind of person. I can feel it; Lu Qingshan had a heavy intent to kill when he mentioned the Blood Corpse True Person."


    Sword Cultivators are best at ughtering, and as a Golden Core Sword Cultivator, Dantai Qingrun''s perception of killing intent was particrly sharp.


    Since Dantai Qingrun said so, the im that Lu Qingshan desired the Blood Corpse True Person''s life was likely undeniably true.


    "Between his words, I can also feel his hatred for the Netherworld, but... He is not like me," Jiang Rong fell silent for a while, rejecting Dantai Qingrun''s statement, "He and I are not the same kind of person. My hatred for the Netherworld runs deep, mainly due to the demon beast turmoil they instigated, which led to the annihtion of my n¡ªa feud that cannot share the same sky. However, with Lu Qingshan, I didn''t feel this kind of personal emotion mixed with killing intent.


    His hatred for the Netherworld seems to be a straightforward abhorrence."


    A century ago, the Netherworld had caused a demon beast disturbance in Qing State.


    Demon Beasts, controlled by Demon Cultivators, rampaged through human cities without restraint.


    During that turmoil, two prefecture cities were wiped from the map of the Human Race.


    One of those prefecture cities was Northwater City, where Jiang Rong was from.


    At that time, since Jiang Rong was not in Northwater City, he fortuitously avoided this massacre, but all his family members perished in this catastrophe, with no survivors.


    It was for this reason that Jiang Rong chose to join the Tower of Guarding, dedicating his life to taking revenge against the Netherworld.


    Jiang Rong furrowed his brows, "His desire to kill the Netherworld must have another reason, but ording to the data we have gathered, Lu Qingshan is merely fifteen this year, and all his life experiences are clear and traceable.


    In his past fifteen years, there has been no sign that he ever had any contact with the Netherworld. I cannot fathom where his grudge towards the Netherworldes from, nor where he obtained such confidential information."


    Dantai Qingrun replied unhurriedly, "Uncle Rong, as far as I know, not all of Lu Qingshan''s experiences are traceable."


    Jiang Rong seemed to recall something, "Are you referring to the three months when Lu Qingshan went missing due to an attack?"


    What exactly happened during those three months of Lu Qingshan''s disappearance was also unknown to the Tower of Guarding.


    "Since in the traceable fifteen years, Lu Qingshan has always been just an ordinary mortal, then all his strangeness should be attributed to those three months after his disappearance. It''s just unknown what exactly happened during those three months that could change a person so drastically," Dantai Qingrun calmly stated, "I even wonder whether he is still the same Lu Qingshan."


    "Spirit Possession?" Jiang Rong immediately understood Dantai Qingrun''s implication.


    Only Spirit Possession could bring such aplete change to a person.


    "His way of speaking doesn''t at all resemble that of a fifteen-year-old youth. Moreover, he knows too many secrets," Jiang Rong added.


    "Spirit Possession, that''s a technique only Nascent Soul Cultivators can use, which means this Lu Qingshan might be a Nascent Soul great cultivator?"


    Dantai Qingrun nodded, "It''s highly likely, but our current priority is the conspiracy that Lu Qingshan mentioned, the one about the Netherworld''s operations against Qi Prefecture''s defenses. As for Lu Qingshan''s identity, we''ll investigate thoroughly once this matter is settled."


    Jiang Rong of course understood this, "Okay, then I''ll take action immediately and check out the area where the Blood Pool is located."


    Once the n was set, Jiang Rong didn''t dy any further, casting the Smoke Luo Technique and transforming into a wisp of light smoke that quickly flew away.


    ...


    The Prison Warden Office was the ce where Demon Cultivators were detained.


    Such a crucial location wouldn''t be disyed in the open.


    In fact, the Prison Warden Office was hidden deep underground, beneath Yuanshan Tower.


    The ck-robed cultivator led Lu Qingshan a few more steps inward, finally stopping in front of a wall.


    The ck-robed cultivator formed several hand seals with his fingers, then a dark and square spirit seal made of spiritual power emerged from his hands and flew forward, merging into the wall.


    A hazy light and shadow appeared on the wall, which then gradually became clear, revealing a long descending corridor.


    The ck-robed cultivator stepped into it.


    Lu Qingshan, having no reason to doubt, closely followed the ck-robed cultivator''s footsteps.


    The walls lining the corridor were made of bluestone and emitted a dim, faint glow.


    After walking downwards for a short while, the originally dim environment suddenly brightened.


    This was a massive underground facility constructed by the strength of cultivators.


    The Yuanshan Tower above ground was like the small portion of an iceberg visible above the water''s surface.


    The truly colossal entity was always hidden underground.


    This was also consistent with the unobtrusive operations principle of the Prison Warden Office.


    Lu Qingshan was already aware of this situation, so he wasn''t particrly surprised.


    He also knew that the Prison Warden Office should be situated at the deepest part of this underground facility.


    "Follow me, and don''t look around," the ck-robed cultivator said coldly.


    Under the guidance of the ck-robed cultivator, Lu Qingshan proceeded towards the depths of the underground facility. They passed by several dark chambers at regr intervals and along the way, they encountered many other cultivators also d in ck robes.


    Although the information obtained through the Heavenly Eye Technique was just question marks, Lu Qingshan clearly understood that each of these ck-robed cultivators was at least a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, the air became slightly murky, and finally, two iron doors made of cold iron appeared in Lu Qingshan''s sight.


    "What business do you have here?"


    A Prison Warden Office cultivator with somewhat cloudy eyes stopped the two of them.


    The ck-robed cultivator showed a deep respect for the Prison Warden Office cultivator in front of him, handing over a piece of jade, "The deputy tower master ordered me to bring this man to see the Demon Cultivator ''Blood Corpse True Man'' that we captured today. He also instructed that the Blood Corpse True Man be handed over to this man for him to deal with as he pleases."


    The Prison Warden Office cultivator epted the jade, probing it with his divine sense, verifying the information contained within.


    Before long, the Prison Warden Office cultivator handed back the jade to the ck-robed cultivator and stepped aside slightly to make way, "Go ahead."


    The two iron doors silently opened, entirelycking the sinister grinding soundmon to worldly prison doors.


    Under the lead of the ck-robed cultivator, Lu Qingshan quickly found the cell where the Blood Corpse True Man was imprisoned.


    Through the bars of the cell, Lu Qingshan gazed at the pale-faced Blood Corpse True Man inside.


    A cold smile emerged in Lu Qingshan''s heart.


    Just one day ago, he was merely material for the Blood Corpse True Man to refine corpse puppets.


    One dayter, the Blood Corpse True Man''s life was in his control.


    Such is the ever-changing nature of the world''s vicissitudes.

 Chapter 23: Massive Experience Points

    <h4>Chapter 23: Massive Experience Points</h4>


    The Blood Corpse Real Person had already noticed someone wasing.


    Ever since he had been captured, there had already been two groups of people who came to interrogate him, but it was all in vain.


    He hadn''t expected that it would be less than half an hour before someone came again?


    It seemed they truly ced great importance on him.


    The Blood Corpse Real Person thought bitterly in his heart.


    Facing the many interrogation techniques of the Tower of Guardians, he had not said a word.


    What puzzled him was how his identity had been exposed in the first ce.


    The Blood Corpse Real Person slightly lifted his eyelids to look outside the bars.


    His pupils suddenly contracted.


    ¡ª¡ªOutside the bars was not the Prison Warden Office cultivator he had expected, but an extremely young-looking teenager!


    It was impossible for outsiders to be present within the heavily guarded precincts of the Prison Warden Office.


    This teenager was an important figure.


    The ck-robed cultivator silently opened the iron gate on the bars and said softly to Lu Qingshan, "We''ve ced dozens of restrictions on him, he has no strength left to struggle or resist, please proceed as you wish."


    Lu Qingshan nodded and entered the cell.


    The Blood Corpse Real Person''s face was pale without a trace of blood, yet his body bore no injuries.


    It was clear that the previous interrogation had been conducted on the level of the divine soul.


    But it seemed that the Blood Corpse Real Person was indeed quite tight-lipped.


    That was also within expectations.


    If the Netherworld could exist within the Human Race for so long, how could it be an ordinary organization?


    How could the mouths of the members of the Netherworld organization be so easily pried open?


    "Who are you?" The Blood Corpse Real Person, gritting his teeth, asked word by word.


    Lu Qingshan did not answer the Blood Corpse Real Person''s question, but instead squatted in front of him, looking at his eyes full of dark shadows.


    "Do you recognize me now?"


    The memory of a cultivator was inherently outstanding, not to mention theirst encounter had been not so long ago.


    "Great Xia Commercial Firm...." The Blood Corpse Real Person quickly realized and recognized Lu Qingshan''s face, "It''s you?!"


    "It''s me," Lu Qingshan acknowledged.


    The Blood Corpse Real Person was silent for a while, then suddenly let out a dry chuckle, "I just can''t understand, we''ve never crossed paths before, just met once at Great Xia Commercial Firm, how did you find out I was from the Netherworld?"


    Lu Qingshan looked at the Blood Corpse Real Person indifferently, "Does it matter?"


    "It may not be important to you, but it''s very important to me," the Blood Corpse Real Person looked at Lu Qingshan''s delicate face and drylyughed, "If you''re willing to give me an exnation, I might reveal some information about the Netherworld to you."


    "Apart from this, you won''t get any information from me by any means," said the Blood Corpse Real Person resentfully, "because from the moment I was captured, I held no hope for survival, I just want to know the answer now."


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, unmoved, "I didn''te to extract information from you."


    The Blood Corpse Real Person faintly guessed something and swallowed with some difficulty, "Impossible, you went through so much effort to capture me alive, how could you easily give up extracting information from me..."


    "The Tower of Guardians indeed would not easily kill you, but I''m not one of the Tower of Guardians," Lu Qingshan said calmly to the Blood Corpse Real Person.


    He requested the Blood Corpse Real Person from the Tower of Guardians as a reward for exchanging information for three reasons.


    First, the body of Lu Qingshan had died by the hands of the Blood Corpse Real Person, and if this vengeance was not avenged, he would not feel at ease.


    Second, the cultivators of the Tower of Guardians were cautious by nature; no one gets pie falling from the sky, and anything given for free always tends to raise suspicions.


    Therefore, even though Lu Qingshan''s intent was to divulge information to Yuanshan Tower to stop the Netherworld''s plot, he chose to cooperate in the form of a deal to provide the information, rather than give it for free.


    This, in fact, lessened the suspicion of the two Tower Masters of Yuanshan on Lu Qingshan.


    Because in their view, Lu Qingshan had requests to make when he disclosed the Netherworld''s information to them.


    Third, and most importantly, Lu Qingshan urgently needed Experience Points to enhance his own strength.


    Strength is the foundation of everything.


    With the impending chaos in Chang''an, he urgently needed a certain level of strength to protect himself in the times of turmoil.


    And the Experience Points earned from killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator of a higher rank were generous enough to significantly increase Lu Qingshan''s strength.


    Without any further idle talk with the Blood Corpse Real Person, under the resentful gaze of the Blood Corpse Real Person, Lu Qingshan gently ced his palm on the forehead of the Blood Corpse Real Person, and spiritual power surged out from his palm.


    Under the control of Lu Qingshan, this spiritual power aimed directly at the divine soul inside the Blood Corpse Real Person''s forehead.


    The Blood Corpse Real Person, restrained by numerous restrictions, had no way to block this spiritual power, which he would normally deem negligible.


    The spiritual power tore apart the fragile divine soul of the Blood Corpse Real Person.


    In an instant, the soul extinguished and the person perished.


    ...


    "Youunched a fatal attack; you inflicted 60 points of damage to the Blood Corpse Real Person (Lv27)!"


    "Target deceased, you have in the Blood Corpse Real Person (Lv27), a kill above your rank, granting experience reward, you gained a total of 2100 (Base Experience) x2 (multiplier) = 4200 Experience Points!"


    ...


    Base Experience Points 2100, and double the reward for ying a rank higher, just this once, gave Lu Qingshan a whopping 4200 Experience Points.


    This was enough for Lu Qingshan to soar directly to the ninth level of Qi Refinement.


    Even the whaling leveling speed of gaming tycoons in the game cannotpare to this.


    Lu Qingshan was very satisfied.


    Looking at the Blood Corpse whoy on the ground, silent in death, Lu Qingshan felt no psychological fluctuations as he left the cell.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan left Yuanshan Tower and returned to the inn where he was temporarily staying.


    Next up was the yers'' favorite activity, the spending spree.


    After a brief calction in his mind, Lu Qingshan had a n.


    First, he invested experience points into the [Qi Refinement Technique], starting his level grind.


    "[Qi Refinement Technique]leveled up to lv3, Spiritual Power Value +10!"


    ...


    "[Qi Refinement Technique]leveled up to lv8, Spiritual Power Value +10, gained 1 Free Attribute Point!"


    Spending a total of 2700 Experience Points, he leveled up his [Qi Refinement Technique]from lv2 to lv8, increasing his Spiritual Power Value cap by 60 points and gaining 3 Free Attribute Points.


    Without much hesitation, Lu Qingshan added all 3 points to his Strength.


    Just two more levels, and he would reach the max level cap for the Qi Refinement stage, ready to advance to Foundation Establishment.


    Checking his panel, he still had 1518 Experience Points remaining. Then, spending another 1350 Experience Points {2250*0.6 ([Innate Swordseed] -30% Experience Cost, [Primary Level Sword Technique Affinity] -10% Experience Cost)}, he leveled up his Falling Bright Sword Technique to max Level lv10.


    The level of one''s Cultivation is important, but the level of one''s Skills is equally important.


    If one focuses only on increasing Cultivation while neglecting to level up Skills, it leads to a scenario where, despite having a very high level, thebat power isn''t as strong¡ªthese yers are called ''baby giants'' with high level yet lowbat power.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    A significant drawback for baby giant yers is that their leveling speed can be greatly slowed down.


    With only Cultivation and no Skill Levels, normally, they are no match for NPCs of the same level, and thus they can only bully lower-level lesser creatures. However, in "Nine Heavens", besides the over-level kill experience rewards, there is also an experience penalty mechanism.


    Bullying lesser creatures of a lower level means that the Experience Points gained will be pitifully low.


    But even if one deliberately doesn''t increase their Cultivation level and focuses solely on boostingbat power, it''s not necessarily a guaranteed win-win situation.


    After all, Attribute Values are the foundation of allbat power. Even if you are a Qi Refining Cultivator with all Skills at max level, you can''t win against a Golden Core Cultivator who has all Skill Levels at 1.


    It''s about finding a bnce between the two.


    But with plenty of experience, none of that is a problem.


    Why overthink it?


    Just max everything out.


    However, after his transmigration, Lu Qingshan was no longer constrained by version limitations on his level cap.


    ¡ªFor instance, during the Chaos of Chang''an version, the yer''s level cap was 30 (Foundation Establishment).


    Speaking of maxing out was naturally out of the question.


    As the seemingly vast amount of Experience Points quickly dwindled, Lu Qingshan felt a pang of distress.


    The little base Experience that was left was Lu Qingshan''s reserve for learning new Skills in the future.


    But the expenditure was worth it, as Lu Qingshan''sbat power soared.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Lu Qingshan (Human Race)


    ss: Sword Cultivator


    Cultivation Technique: [Qi Refinement Technique]Lv8 (0/800) ¡ª¡ª [Spiritual Power +80]


    Rank: Qi Refinement


    Experience Points: 168


    Free Attribute Points: 0


    Personal Attributes: Strength 5, Agility 1, Mana 1, Divine Soul 1, Charm 1, Stamina 1


    Health Points: 20/20


    Spiritual Power Value: 80/80


    Talents: [Innate Swordseed] (Legendary): As someone with a natural talent far above ordinary people in swordsmanship, you need 30% less Experience Points to learn and level up any Sword Technique. Moreover, you can use any Sword Artifact and learn any Sword Technique without limitations.


    [Thick-skinned]: After soaking in the strong liquid of corpses for a long time, it has rotted your Divine Soul but has also greatly enhanced your physical constitution, giving you an extra +10 Health Points and reducing the damage received from First Grade Spells by 20%.


    [Specialization]: Without specialization, one cannot be adept. Sword Cultivators who specialize in Sword Dao cannot switch to any secondary profession!


    [Trapped in Formation]: With the resolve to infiltrate formations, facing death without fear, the damage dealt by sword cultivators increases: Rank x 5%. To bnce this, Sword Cultivators will not receive any additional bonuses to their Stamina Attribute!


    [Sword Technique Affinity] (Primary Level): As a Sword Cultivator, you need 10% less Experience Points to learn and upgrade Sword Techniques. However, you need 10% more experience to learn and upgrade Skills that are not Sword Techniques, and your Sword Technique damage increases by 5%!


    Skills: [Heavenly Eye Technique] (Universal): Detect character information; the greater the Cultivation disparity, the less information is obtainable.


    [Falling Bright Sword Technique]lv10 (max): Damage is Strength x2 (1+0.1*Skill Level), and each Sword Technique carries ayer of Power of Dark Erosion, which can slow the target by 1 peryer; Power of Dark Erosion can stack up to threeyers, and upon reaching threeyers, it can be actively detonated to briefly Bind the enemy.


    Each Sword Technique costs 2 Spiritual Power to execute, detonating Power of Dark Erosion costs 5 Spiritual Power.


    Faction: [Yuanshan Tower]: Friendly (50)


    [Chizhou Tower]: Friendly (5)


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    With his current Strength at 5, that means Lu Qingshan''s Falling Bright Sword Technique, without taking into ount defense mitigation and Defensive Spells, theoretically deals 11 points of damage (5*2*110% ([Trapped in Formation] 5% + [Sword Technique Affinity] 5%)).


    It''s worth noting that, apart from Body Cultivators, the typical Health Points cap for Qi Refining Cultivators is also 11 points.


    That is the essence of Sword Cultivators.

 Chapter 24 - 24 Turmoil Begins

    <h4>Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Turmoil Begins</h4>


    Myriad Treasures Tower, within the basement.


    All the Demon Cultivators, except for the Blood Corpse True Person, gathered together.


    The Netherworld acted very cautiously; such meetings, even when carried out as secretly as possible, could hardly avoid leaving some traces.


    Therefore, they usuallymunicated through secret messages. Unless it was a major event, they tried to avoid gathering for discussions.


    "It''s been only one day since thest meeting, and Rakshasa has summoned us again; could it be that something major has happened?" the Demon Cultivators whispered among themselves.


    "Eh, but why isn''t Blood Corpse here?" someone noticed something amiss.


    ...


    Knock¡ª¡ª


    The leading elder tapped the table lightly, interrupting everyone''s discussion.


    Everyone turned their gaze toward the elder known as Rakshasa.


    Rakshasa swept his gaze over everyone in the room and said coldly, "Blood Corpse''s identity has been exposed. This afternoon, he was captured alive in the city by the Human Cultivators of the Watch Guard Tower and is now being held in the Prison Warden Office."


    The crowd looked at each other with disbelief, but only Crying Soul True Person''s face turned extremely unsightly. Seeing this, Rakshasa''s eyes flickered, but he said no more.


    The room fell into silence until finally, someone spoke up to break the stalemate, "Blood Corpse has always been cautious, and he has been operating in Yuanshan City for decades, with a wless disguise. How was he discovered?"


    Rakshasa''s eyes were frosty, "You''re right. If the intelligence system of the Watch Guard Tower is so tight that it could see through Blood Corpse''s disguise, then everyone here should have been executed. How could it be possible for us to gather here?


    Therefore, the probability is high that there is more to the exposure of Blood Corpse''s identity."


    "Do you mean to say... there is a traitor among us?" a Cultivator asked softly.


    Instantly, the room erupted into an uproar.


    The meaning of these words cast a shadow of suspicion over everyone present.


    People of the Netherworld acted independently, betraying the Human Race for personal gain, banded together only by coercion, with not a shred of trust among them.


    Upon hearing that there might be a traitor, the look in everyone''s eyes became guarded as they turned to their fellow conspirators.


    Rakshasa spoke slowly, "When the people of the Netherworld join, they all have the Heart Demon Gu nted in their divine souls. Should anyone harbor thoughts of betrayal, the demon gu consumes the soul, causing agonizing pain. Thus, I still trust the loyalty of those present to the Netherworld."


    The Heart Demon, one of the eight Eighth Grade Holy Demon Bloodlines of the Demon Race, possesses the unique ability to induce the Heart Demon Gu.


    Once imnted in the cultivator''s divine soul, the Heart Demon Gu grows continuously as the Cultivator''s power increases.


    The Heart Demon Gu, with simple intelligence, will instantly unleash soul-devouring power at the first sign of betrayal from its host, cruelly consuming the host''s divine soul.


    Until the host''s soul perishes.


    The agony of soul devouring is one of the most painful things in the world.


    Compared to soul devouring, even the sophisticated interrogation techniques of the Watch Guard Tower are nothing.


    Therefore, members of the Netherworld captured by the Watch Guard Tower seldom betray the Netherworld due to torture.


    Since the Heart Demon Gu merges with its host''s divine soul, it is difficult for anyone besides the one who imnted the gu to remove it,


    For the divine soul is the cultivator''s most vulnerable part!


    Without this gu, the Netherworld could not have grown powerful.


    ¡ª¡ªMost members of the Netherworld are treacherous humans pursuing personal gain.


    These individuals, who for their self-interest would betray their own races, who can guarantee they wouldn''t betray the Netherworld again for gain?


    For these malefactors, only by resorting to coercive measures like the Heart Demon Gu, can they be controlled by fighting fire with fire.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "However...." The cold light in Rakshasa''s eyes red, "I believe you wouldn''t dare betray the Netherworld, but it''s not guaranteed that some fools haven''t done something stupid that implicated Blood Corpse."


    "Crying Soul, when I mentioned the capture of Blood Corpse, you looked troubled. Do you know something?" Rakshasa''s expression was as dark as water as he turned his gaze to Crying Soul True Person.


    Facing Rakshasa''s questioning, Crying Soul True Person also tensed up, clearly feeling the weight of Rakshasa''s authority.


    "Rakshasa, I do know something." At this point, Crying Soul True Person dared not withhold any longer. "Blood Corpse True Person''s Corpse Refining Cave, hidden away in the mountains, was raided a few days ago by Cultivators of unknown identity, and it was for this reason that his female disciple came to Yuanshan City seeking Blood Corpse."


    "I didn''t think much of it at first, since aside from a few Corpse Pools, there was nothing else in Blood Corpse True Person''s Corpse Refining Cave."


    Although the refining of Corpse Puppets was explicitly forbidden by Great Xia, there have been those among the Evil Cultivators who secretly engaged in such practices over the years, so the reveal of a Blood Corpse did not necessarily lead to exposure.


    None of his several disciples were aware of the identity of the Blood Corpse as a Demon Cultivator, simply thinking of him as an Evil Cultivator.


    Therefore, I did not treat this matter as a big deal. When my lord inquired about the Blood Corpse and saw that he did not give a straight answer, I also chose not to expose him.


    Now that I think about it, the exposure of the Blood Corpse''s identity must be somewhat rted to his Corpse Refining Cave being destroyed.


    After all, it''s impossible for such a coincidence to happen¡ªthe destruction of hisir followed by his scandal erupting the very next day."


    "Utterly foolish!" Rakshasa raged, "This Blood Corpse, I regarded his activities as meticulous, and I valued him highly on a day-to-day basis. I did not expect him to dare to conceal such a matter!"


    Suddenly, something wriggled in Rakshasa''s heart, sending out a message that reached directly to the divine soul between his eyebrows. Rakshasa slightly closed his eyes, lowered his divine soul''s defenses, and received the message.


    The gathered Demon Cultivators were silent as the grave, not daring to speak a word.


    A few momentster.


    Rakshasa opened his eyes, his voice cold as he dered, "The Heart Demon Gu in the Blood Corpse has perished."


    The Heart Demon Gu lived symbiotically with its host.


    If the Heart Demon Gu of the Blood Corpse was dead, it meant that, unquestionably, the true personage of the Blood Corpse had also met his demise.


    "Something is amiss," cried the real person with a deep frown of confusion, "The Prison Warden Office, when capturing someone from the Netherworld, tends to imprison them for an extremely long time. During this period, numerous means are employed to extract some intelligence.


    It has only been a few hours since the Blood Corpse was captured; why would the Prison Warden Office act against the Blood Corpse so swiftly?"


    "This matter is very strange, and it happens to ur at such a time."


    The words of the real person plunged all the gathered Demon Cultivators into deep thought.


    "Then, Lord Rakshasa, should our ns proceed as usual?" finally, someone ventured to ask.


    The gaze of Rakshasa drifted, contemting something unknown.


    The Demon Cultivators present all fell silent, awaiting Rakshasa''s decision.


    After a long while.


    A cold light burst forth in Rakshasa''s eyes, "Proceed as usual. We of the Qing State branch have been nning the Corpse Puppet Chaos for many years.


    If this matter seeds, amongst the various state branches in the Southern Territory, it will be our Qing State that will lead.


    The scheme of taking the Heavenly Secret Mirror in Yuanshan City is an extremely important part of the Corpse Puppet Chaos n; there is no reason for us to give up on it.


    With the Heart Demon Gu, the true personage of the Blood Corpse would certainly not reveal our actions this time to the Prison Warden Office.


    On the other hand, Qi Yuan might be even more determined to use the subsidiary Heavenly Secret Mirror to investigate the core of the Blood Pool because of the exposure of the Blood Corpse.


    No matter what, for the great cause of the Netherworld, I would face death without regret!"


    "Let this matter be put aside for now. The priority is to seize the mirror. You all go back and double-check the tasks assigned to you. If there is another mistake, heh, I will not be lenient."


    A hint of blood-red light flickered in Rakshasa''s eyes, his demonic qi overflowing.


    The members of the Netherworld were of an extremelyplexposition, with a great majority being Human Cultivators controlled by the Heart Demon Gu, as well as many actual members of the Demon Race and those of mixed heritage born of the Demon Race''s bloodline through the Blood Pool Reincarnation.


    Rakshasa, he was a demon.


    Unlike those Human Cultivators, within the Blood Pool Reincarnation of the Netherworld, he had acquired the bloodline of the Demon Race, and he could already be considered one of the Demon Race.


    ...


    The many Demon Cultivators withdrew one after another.


    Looking at the now empty underground chamber, Rakshasa rubbed his brow, feeling an ominous premonition.


    This won''t do.


    This matter is of great significance and cannot be left to chance. There are many suspicious aspects concerning the capture of the Blood Corpse, and further precautions must be taken.


    With that thought, Rakshasa focused his divine sense into the wriggling thing in his heart.


    A divine sense imbued with information passed through the wriggling object.

 Chapter 25 - 25 War Beast

    <h4>Chapter 25: Chapter 25 War Beast</h4>


    ```


    Sigh¡ª¡ª


    Lu Qingshan rose from the bed, stretchingzily.


    Having transmigrated just two short days ago, one event followed another, leaving him utterly exhausted.


    To arge extent, Qi Refining Cultivators are still just slightly more powerful mortals.


    Only after the Foundation Establishment can one truly be considered a genuine Cultivator.


    Foundation Establishment Cultivators have the ability to fast, maintaining their vigor without the need for rest. It really is quite carefree.


    Finally, when the current matters came to a temporary close, Lu Qingshan quickly took the opportunity to rest.


    That sleepsted an entire day.


    ...


    Upon awakening, it was July 15th.


    Lu Qingshan''s gaze became solemn.


    The plot was about to begin.


    It was uncertain whether his interference would create any change in history, or if the powerful inertia of history would correct everything back to its original course.


    Lu Qingshan pondered, lost in thought.


    tter¡ª¡ª


    An unusual noise arose in the quiet room, instantly drawing Lu Qingshan''s attention.


    Lu Qingshan turned his head toward the source of the noise.


    The woodentticed window in the room was opened slightly at the corner.


    A sneaky-looking head cautiously peeked in.


    ¡ªIndeed, sneaky-looking, because it was none other than the West Mouse Great King.


    Lu Qingshan expressed surprise, "Why have youe back?"


    From the beginning, Lu Qingshan had no intention of making things difficult for the West Mouse Great King.


    In his eyes, it did not matter whether one was a demon or a human; what mattered was their actions.


    Some people may appear human, but are far more malevolent than any demon.


    If the West Mouse Great King had never killed indiscriminately, then what harm was there in being a demon?


    The reason Lu Qingshan kept the West Mouse Great King with him was that he believed the Great King might still be of use.


    After all, the West Mouse Great King was the only one who had witnessed the Blood Pool at Yuanshan City... uh, the only demon that did.


    He was an extremely important witness.


    However, after encountering the Blood Corpse Cultivator at the Great Xia Commercial Firm, Lu Qingshan made up his mind, no longer in need of the West Mouse Great King.


    Thus, upon leaving the firm, Lu Qingshan kept his word and let the West Mouse Great King go.


    But now, for some reason, the West Mouse Great King had unexpectedly returned.


    Upon seeing Lu Qingshan''s figure, the West Mouse Great King patted its chest and exhaled with relief, "It''s good that you''re still here."


    Lu Qingshan''s eyebrows furrowed, "What happened?"


    With a push from its stubby legs, the West Mouse Great King turned into a shadow to leap from the window to the table.


    "Big discovery, big discovery!" whispered the West Mouse Great King mysteriously, "The other day in the Great Xia Commercial Firm, I saw you paying special attention to that female Cultivator, and after running into thedy, as soon as we left the Great Xia Commercial Firm, you suddenly agreed to let me go, so I kept a little eye on that female Cultivator."


    The West Mouse Great King was likely referring to Wu Yi.


    True to its sly nickname, despite seeming slow-witted, this demon rat was actually quite sharp.


    Even such subtle changes in his own expression were noticed by the West Mouse Great King.


    Lu Qingshan sighed inwardly but remained silent, waiting for the West Mouse Great King to continue.


    The West Mouse Great King rambled on about its experiences over the past two days.


    It turns out that after following Lu Qingshan to Yuanshan City and witnessing the prosperity of the human Prefecture City, it had unexpectedly be somewhat reluctant to return to its modest dwelling.


    After Lu Qingshan let it go, it didn''t choose to return to the vige, but mustered the courage to stay in Yuanshan City.


    The city was, after all, big enough to amodate one demon rat.


    ```


    As it happened, just as the West Rat King was wandering aimlessly around the city, savoring his new-found freedom, he coincidentally bumped into Wu Yi, whose movements were secretive, and whose destination was unknown.


    Out of curiosity, the West Rat King followed Wu Yi from a distance for some time.


    Fearing discovery, the West Rat King did not dare to follow too closely.


    He trailed her until he saw Wu Yi enter a mansion and then she never reemerged.


    "Mansion?"


    The West Rat King scratched his head, "It seemed to be called the Mansion of Suffering; I can''t recognize your Human Race''s writing, but that''s what people call it."


    The West Rat King waved his little paw, "Let''s not talk about that for now. Guess what I found?"


    The West Rat King was smug.


    Lu Qingshan, without any courtesy, tapped hard on the West Rat King''s head, "Don''t beat around the bush with me."


    The West Rat King held his head, looking at Lu Qingshan with an aggrieved expression, "I mustered up the courage to sneak into the Mansion of Suffering. Strangely enough, although I clearly saw her enter the mansion, after I roamed around for quite a few turns, I just couldn''t find that female cultivator; it was as if she had vanished into thin air.


    Just when I was about to give up searching, I suddenly smelled a familiar scent."


    "A familiar scent?"


    The West Rat King exined, "It was exactly like the strange fragrance emanating from the Blood Pool, albeit extremely faint and almost dissipated. But the impression that scent made on me was so profound that I managed to pick it up."


    "Following that scent, I found my way to the depths of the mansion and, unexpectedly, came across an underground chamber.


    And in that chamber, there was another Blood Pool! Though this one was much smallerpared to the one I had seen before."


    The West Rat King, gesturing excitedly, said, "The key point is that inside the Blood Pool, there was a ferocious-looking Demon Beast resembling a lion but without a single hair on its body, with blood-red eyes, and three protruding bones on its spine, those three bones are also quite peculiar, looking like... uh..."


    The West Rat King couldn''t find the appropriate words and suddenly got stuck.


    "Is it like there are long swords sticking out of its spine?" Lu Qingshan interjected.


    "Yes! Yes! Yes! Isn''t that odd? I''ve never seen such a creature before," the West Rat King nodded vigorously in agreement.


    Then, the West Rat King quickly came to his senses and looked at Lu Qingshan suspiciously, "You haven''t seen it, so how do you know what this Demon Beast looks like?"


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, "That''s not a Demon Beast, but a War Beast."


    "War Beast?"


    Lu Qingshan did not exin much to the West Rat King.


    The term ''War Beast'' would only be widespread among the Human Race after several more iterations.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    A War Beast, as the name implies, is a beast of the Demon Race, with a variety of Divine Skills.


    The creature encountered by the West Rat King was likely a War Beast.


    [War Beast]: A beast that contains a diluted essence of the Bing Bloodline (Eighth Grade Holy Demon Bloodline).


    The sword-like bones on the spine of the War Beast are its Divine Skills.


    yers refer to them as Sword Bones, which, when deployed, can sever the connection between a cultivator and their Magic Artifact.


    The Sword Bone is a one-time Divine Skill; once it leaves the body, it cannot be retracted¡ªuse it once, and it''s gone.


    Three Sword Bones mean that it can use its Divine Skills three times.


    Lu Qingshan fell into deep thought.


    Had War Beasts appeared so early?


    What a big ordeal¡ªto seize a shard of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, even a War Beast had been employed.


    Even in the Abyss, the numbers of War Beasts were not great, let alone the ones specially brought by the Demon Race to the territory of the Human Race, which were even rarer.


    ...


    Yuanshan Tower had failed to find Wu Yi during their hunt for the Blood Corpse True Person.


    Lu Qingshan had thought that the Blood Corpse True Person must have sent Wu Yi away.


    Moreover, since Wu Yi was simply an apprentice taken in by the Blood Corpse True Person under the identity of an Evil Cultivator and was not a person of the Netherworld, she knew nothing of Netherworld affairs. Therefore, neither Lu Qingshan nor Yuanshan Tower took Wu Yi''s disappearance seriously.


    Unexpectedly, Wu Yi was connected to such important intelligence.


    The Divine Skills of a War Beast are unpredictable and profound. Qi Yuan and Yuanshan Tower, even if they were well-prepared, could very likely fail and fall to the Divine Skills of the War Beast, resulting in the theft of a Heavenly Secret Mirror shard.


    The question now was whether they could detain the peoples of the Netherworld.

 Chapter 26: Sword Slash Foundation Establishment 1

    <h4>Chapter 26: Sword sh Foundation Establishment 1</h4>


    King ck Rat, noticing that Lu Qingshan was ignoring him, swallowed nervously and continued, "I saw that the demon beast looked fierce and terrifying, which really scared me. I was about to flee when someone came in.


    The neer was an extremely sleazy-looking male cultivator, holding a Spirit Beast Bag. He actually took away the demon beast from the Blood Pool.


    Since the beast was taken by the cultivator, I nned to sneak into the Blood Pool to steal some red Spiritual Pearls. Last time I ate a pearl, I turned out like this. This time, eating more might allow me to transform."


    But to my surprise, there was a transparent thin shield around the Blood Pool, not only blocking the scent from escaping but also preventing me from entering. So, I had no choice but toe back and look for you."


    It seems he came back to seek help only because he failed to steal as he had hoped.


    Lu Qingshan understood the situation.


    "You are quite bold for a little demon who hasn''t cultivated any Cultivation Technique. You dare to sneak into a cultivator''s home without fear of being caught?" Lu Qingshan clicked his tongue in amazement.


    King ck Rat had always seemed timid.


    King ck Rat, feeling somewhat embarrassed, hesitantly said, "Ever since I swallowed the Spiritual Pearl from the Blood Pool, I''ve felt as if something dormant inside me is waking up.


    Since then, I have been continually acquiring new abilities. Just the other day, I seem to have awakened a new one, which made me dare..."


    "Oh?" Lu Qingshan became somewhat interested.


    He had assumed that King ck Rat''s Illusive Rat Bloodline had fully awakened.


    But ording to King ck Rat, it was still mastering new abilities, indicating that its Illusive Rat Bloodline hadn''t fully revived and still had great potential.


    Lu Qingshan used the Heavenly Eye Technique on King ck Rat once again.


    Indeed, he discovered a brand new skill on its Attribute Panel.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Sneaky]: Innate skill.


    Sneaky entry, silent and traceless. Once this skill is activated, unless he attacks, all his scents will vanish, making him difficult to detect.


    Cool down: 3 days.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Sneaky, one of the most mysterious innate skills that the Illusive Rats can master.


    It is also a highly practical skill.


    With the[Sneaky]innate skill, an Illusive Rat, being secretive, excels in tracking assassinations as well as stealing confidential information.


    Unexpectedly, King ck Rat had awakened this skill.


    It seems to be quite the European rat, Lu Qingshan muttered.


    "Are there other cultivators in that house?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    He was indeed curious to explore the secrets of the dwelling, which might yield some unexpected gains.


    "Other than that sleazy-looking male cultivator, only some ordinary humans remain." King ck Rat seemed to remember something, speaking in a strange tone, "However, the male cultivator left the house with the demon beastst night and has not yet returned."


    Lu Qingshan pondered for a long time and then spoke, "Lead me to that house."


    Today is July 15.


    The Underworld Cultivators should have all moved out to initiate a long-nned operation.


    The fact that the sleazy-looking male cultivator had left and not returned was evidence of this.


    Seize the opportunity when the boss is not home to steal a chicken.


    Stealing chickens is something yers are particrly good at.


    As an elite yer, Lu Qingshan was no exception¡ªhis "Innate Swordseed" was acquired through such a theft.


    It could even be considered the most sessful chicken theft in the history of the Nine Heavens game.


    Unfortunately, before he had the chance to unt it on the forums, he had arrived in the game world.


    This would have certainly made those unlucky yers green with envy.


    Lu Qingshan felt a bit of regret.


    ...


    Led by King ck Rat, Lu Qingshan soon arrived at the mansion.


    It was a huge estate covering several acres.


    Over the ckcquered gate of the courtyard hung a signboard with the words "Mansion of Suffering."


    Beneath the signboard, two muscr men stood on either side, apparently the guards of the mansion.


    Lu Qingshan''s face twitched slightly.


    This Demon Cultivator was indeed very bold; most people from the Netherworld preferred to keep a low profile whenever possible.


    For example, Real Blood Corpse arranged his yard in a very remote location and the huge house was upied by him alone.


    Yet, the owner of this Mansion of Suffering had acquired such arge property in the busiest area of Yuanshan city.


    Yet, on reflection, there was also a bit of reverse thinking involved.


    Lu Qingshan circled to the back of the mansion, channeled his Spiritual Power, and directly scaled the wall to enter the back garden of the Mansion of Suffering.


    The backyard of the Bitter Mansion was a sizable garden, filled with many exotic flowers, nts, and herbs.


    A refreshing fragrance hit them.


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but take a deep breath.


    "Eh?!" Lu Qingshan involuntarily let out a soft exmation.


    "What''s wrong?" ck Rat, extremely cautious, asked.


    Lu Qingshan''s expression turned strange, and he shook his head to indicate, "It''s nothing."


    The flowers and herbs grown here actually had an aphrodisiac effect.


    Merely sniffing the fragrance temporarily, he had felt his body grow slightly hot.


    Fortunately, these were just mundane items.


    Lu Qingshan stirred the spiritual power within his body, a cooling sensation surged from his dantian, then circted through his body''s meridians.


    The feeling of heat instantly dissipated.


    Lu Qingshan held his breath, not daring to dy any longer, and following ck Rat''s directions, he infiltrated deeper into the mansion.


    The Bitter Mansion was quite interesting; it even had many mortal sentries arranged around, appearing extremely vignt, but to a cultivator, they were undoubtedly just for show.


    Lu Qingshan easily bypassed the numerous sentries.


    Stopping in front of a three-story building, Lu Qingshan paused.


    This building was guarded by at least a dozen people nearby.


    With such heavy security, could there be something important inside the building?


    "What''s inside here?" Lu Qingshan asked ck Rat.


    ck Rat hesitated, unsure of how to start.


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan did not inquire further, and with a movement swift as lightning, he was at the base of the building in a sh, and silently leapt to the second floor.


    Lu Qingshan stationed himself against the wall of the second floor''s room and peered inside.


    He could see smoke filling the room inside, and Lu Qingshan, sniffing slightly, recognized the scent as simr to the aphrodisiac herbs grown in the backyard, likely made from an aphrodisiac herbal concoction.


    In the room''s center was arge sandalwood bed covered by a sheer curtain, through which one could faintly see several women lying on the bed, unclothed, their pale thighs and arms highly alluring.


    However, Lu Qingshan frowned.


    Because the women on the bed had extremely weak breathing, terribly frail.


    ¡ª They had been harvested for their Yin Qi by the Technique of Harvesting Qi; these mortal women''s lives were near their end.


    No wonder the backyard was nted with aphrodisiac herbs, no wonder ck Rat looked hesitant to speak, so this was the reason.


    The demon cultivator here practiced the Technique of Harvesting Qi.


    These women in the building were all his furnace cauldrons.


    Shaking his head, Lu Qingshan headed to the third floor.


    He had roughly guessed why Wu Yi hade here.


    Inside the third floor, there was also arge bed, but there was only one woman on it.


    Lying on her side, her back and buttocks towards Lu Qingshan, her voluptuous and slender curves undted like a mountainousndscape.


    It seemed as though she heard something, the woman slightly shifted her body, turning around in a somewhatzy posture, her body uncovered.


    It was indeed Wu Yi.


    Apparently, ck Rat had discovered that this building contained women harvested for Qi and hadn''t thoroughly checked the third floor before moving elsewhere.


    That''s why Wu Yi hadn''t been found within the Bitter Mansion.


    The moment Wu Yi turned around, Lu Qingshan had already taken the Peach Wood Sword from his spirit beast bag, pointing its tip directly at Wu Yi''s throat.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Wu Yi, who had been enchanting just the day before, was now utterly pale, with a deathly hue to herplexion.


    ¡ª Women who had been harvested for their Yin Qi would age rapidly.


    Facing the sword tip at her throat, Wu Yi was quite calm, not minding her revealed body, and slightly sat up, "Who are you?"


    "I''ve seen you before." Wu Yi, spotting ck Rat on Lu Qingshan''s shoulder, didn''t wait for Lu Qingshan to respond, and suddenly chuckled, "At that time in the Great Xia Commercial Firm, you also had this ck Rat with you. I thought it was odd then, that a cultivator would carry a ck rat around, so I actually remember you quite well."


    "Who is the master here, you weren''t following the Blood Corpse Sage, why have you be a furnace cauldron harvested by others?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    Hearing Lu Qingshan''s inquiry, a ripple suddenly surfaced in Wu Yi''s otherwise calm expression.


    "Are you here to kill Cry Soul Sage?"


    "Yes, it must be so, I haven''t heard any noises, and yet you appeared here, surely having bypassed the guards. Your movements are so sneaky, either you''re a thief or a bandit.


    If you were a thief, you would certainly avoid me and not expose yourself easily."


    Lu Qingshan neither confirmed nor denied, "What if I am a lecher?"


    Wu Yi shook her head, "Hehe, impossible. Your eyes don''t have any lust when you look at me. Being a woman like me, I can feel even the slightest desire in a man''s gaze, you can''t hide it from me."


    Women''s intuition is sometimes more urate than a cultivator''s spiritual sense, especially in matters between men and women.

 Chapter 27 - 27 Sword Slash Foundation Establishment 2

    <h4>Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Sword sh Foundation Establishment 2</h4>


    "I''m merely a Qi Refining Cultivist; the Crying Soul you speak of must be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. How could I possibly kill him?" Lu Qingshan very much knew his limitations.


    His current achievements weren''t sufficient; the gap in rank between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement was a barrier he was unable to cross.


    Wu Yi naturally understood this as well, but at this moment, she was like a person drowning, desperately clutching at any strand of hope within reach.


    Now, with Lu Qingshan directly bursting the bubble of hope she had held, the faint glimmer in Wu Yi''s eyes slowly dissipated, gradually turning into a deste void.


    There is nothing more sorrowful than a heart that has given up hope.


    Looking at Wu Yi, whose life seemed to have been drained from her, Lu Qingshan inwardly sighed.


    Shaking his head, Lu Qingshan prepared to turn around and leave.


    "The Crying Soul is a Sword Cultivator, infamous for his Life-bound Sword: the Crying Soul Sword," Wu Yi suddenly spoke up. "If you ever face the Crying Soul, remember to protect your Divine Soul. The Crying Soul Sword possesses the ability to shock the soul - one wrong move, and a Sword Cultivator''s blow can kill in an instant."


    Lu Qingshan looked at Wu Yi calmly, "The Crying Soul excels in the Flying Sword Technique?"


    Wu Yi nodded her head.


    "Why tell me this all of a sudden?"


    Wu Yi smiled bleakly, "Though I don''t know what you''re nning, your demeanor suggests that you don''t get along with the Crying Soul. Even if this information can''t help you defeat him, what if it could?"


    "A few days ago, the Blood Corpse had mee to stay in the Bitter Residence, iming that its master, the Crying Soul, was an old friend of his. But when I arrived, I discovered that the Blood Corpse had actually handed me over to the Crying Soul, to be used as a Cultivator Furnace for his Technique of Harvesting Qi."


    "I''ve served him for years, even if I was confined to the gloomy and terrifying Corpse Refining Cave, without anyints. Yet, to him, I was merely an object to be given away without a second thought," Wu Yi sneered at herself, "Men truly are the most unreliable creatures in the world."


    Lu Qingshan had no response.


    The only thing you can truly rely on in this world is yourself.


    Wu Yi, gritting her teeth with venom in her voice, said, "If we''re talking about hate, my hatred for the Blood Corpse exceeds that for the Crying Soul by hundreds, thousands of times. I wish for him to be hacked to pieces and suffer a terrible death."


    "You might be disappointed then; the Blood Corpse is already dead, he died quite swiftly," Lu Qingshan said gravely.


    "How is that possible? Who killed him?" Wu Yi asked incredulously.


    It had only been two days, and the Blood Corpse was dead?


    "I killed him," Lu Qingshan said undisturbed.


    Wu Yi was startled.


    Then, as if possessed, she burst into hystericalughter, "Ridiculous, ridiculous! A Qi Refining Cultivator ys a Foundation Establishment - haha, the Blood Corpse, ever so cautious and valuing his life, to die at the hands of a Qi Refining Cultivator... ha ha ha."


    Despite her disbelief, Wu Yi thoroughly trusted Lu Qingshan''s im that he had killed the Blood Corpse.


    No particr reason - just an instinct.


    An instinct that told her the young man before her was not deceiving her.


    Wu Yiughed andughed until herughter no longer made a sound, until herughter turned into tears.


    Eventually, she slowly closed her eyes, her breath faded away, and shey down on the bed.


    Perhaps the death of the Blood Corpse was thest straw that broke the camel''s back.


    Wu Yi died by severing her own heart meridian.


    Lu Qingshan took out a piece of clothing from his storage bag and draped it over Wu Yi''s naked corpse.


    The silent West Mouse King, looking at the serene-faced Lu Qingshan, suddenly asked, "Why didn''t you stop her just now?"


    The flux of Spiritual Power emitted from Wu Yi severing her heart meridian was quite evident; Lu Qingshan could have stopped her if he wanted to.


    "She had long harbored the will to die, what purpose would stopping her serve?" Pausing, Lu Qingshan muttered, "Besides, at this point, it was her choice to make, and the consequences are naturally hers to bear. That is simply the natural order of things."


    No more was said.


    Lu Qingshan quickly left the small building, heading straight for the Blood Pool mentioned by the West Mouse King.


    The basement.


    Lu Qingshan looked at the Blood Pool that was close at hand but protected by a transparent thin barrier.


    The Silver Frost Formation!


    A Second Grade defensive formation.


    Normally, as a Qi Refining Cultivator, even a Sword Cultivator known for their offensive capabilities would be unable to break a Second Grade defensive formation in a short amount of time.


    However, the Crying Soul was also a Sword Cultivator.


    Sword Cultivators generallyck the time to study formations.


    The Crying Soul was no exception.


    He knew nothing about formations.


    This formation was merely set up by the Crying Soul using a set of formation gs he had purchased.


    Without someone to control the formation, destroying the formation gs would copse the formation itself.


    Of course, since formation gs are so crucial, the Cultivators who make them also consider protecting the gs.


    Looking with the naked eye, Lu Qingshan could not see the so-called formation gs.


    The formation gse with an Illusion Technique that hides them within the formation, making them hard to trace and continually changing positions.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But such ready-made formation gs, whenpared to those personally arranged by an Array Master, have a substantial weakness, besides reduced power.


    They are inflexible.


    The formation gs are tidily ced in the most standard manner.


    The positions of the changing formation gs also follow a pattern.


    The Silver Frost Formation, within the Nine Heavens, is one of the verymon Second Grade formations.


    As a top yer who stood out among billions of yers...


    Lu Qingshan had mastery over the cement of most of the formation gs within the game.


    ¡ª¡ªThe gap between a top-tier yer and an average yer is muchrger than most yers imagine.


    These disparities are not only evident in skills, levels, and operations, but the gap in the knowledge they possess is even more pronounced.


    Anything that bes professional will be far moreplex than ordinary people think, even with games, this is true.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked around at the surrounding environment.


    This is it!


    Lu Qingshan had found one of the many formation points of the Silver Frost Formation.


    A formation point is where a formation g will appear.


    Holding the Peach Wood Sword, Lu Qingshan shed at the light shield before him.


    A huge ripple surged upon the shield.


    Aside from that, there were no other anomalies.


    The formation g was not in that position.


    ¡ª¡ªBrute force was not such a simple way to break a formation.


    Unperturbed, Lu Qingshan changed positions and shed with his sword once more.


    Simrly, the spot where Lu Qingshan attacked with his sword only produced arge ripple.


    Lu Qingshan tirelessly switched positions, attacking all possible formation points of the Silver Frost Formation with sh after sh.


    Finally.


    After dozens of sword strikes.


    A formation g emitting silver light emerged within the light shield, then quickly vanished.


    Found it, so it was here.


    Having located the position of the formation g, Lu Qingshan did not hold back any longer.


    After dozens more sword strikes.


    Ka-cha¡ª¡ª


    Just like the shattering of ss.


    The light shield copsed and disintegrated.


    The glow from the formation g had already dissipatedpletely, falling to the ground.


    Without the protection of the Silver Frost Formation.


    A strange fragrance wafted towards him.


    The blood pool, scarlet and viscous, looking extremely terrifying, emitted an enticing aroma.


    Exceedingly eerie.


    Lu Qingshan stepped closer to take a look.


    Within the blood pool, there were dozens of red spiritual pearls rolling around.


    The blood pool was notrge; it was just a Second Grade blood pool, probably built specifically as a temporary habitat for war beasts.


    As pure-blooded creatures of the Demon Race, war beasts had a distinguished status.


    At least definitely higher than that of the Crying Soul Sage.


    Lu Qingshan picked up a spiritual pearl from the blood pool.


    A data prompt appeared before his eyes.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Blood Spirit Bead]


    Level: Second Grade


    Description: Formed by concentrating the power of essence blood gathered by the blood pool.


    Effect: Consuming it can enhance physical constitution, with a slight chance to strengthen the bloodline power within the body.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Thebat power of members of the Demon Racergely depends on the bloodline within their bodies.


    Blood Spirit Beads have a chance to enhance the bloodlines of the Demon Race, making them precious to the race.


    For demon beasts, consuming Blood Spirit Beads has a chance to awaken the bloodline within them; the higher the rank, the better the effect. If Lu Qingshan wasn''t mistaken, the Blood Spirit Bead that the Rat King had consumedst time should be a Third Grade Blood Spirit Bead.


    Because of its unique effect of enhancing the quality of demon beasts, several versionster, Blood Spirit Beads would be a highly coveted treasure for Beast Cultivator yers.


    However, only the Demon Race knew how to create blood pools, so before the forces of the Netherworld revealed their fangs officially, Blood Spirit Beads were extremely rare.


    Lu Qingshan was not shy.


    He collected all the Second Grade Blood Spirit Beads from the blood pool.


    A total of fifty Second Grade Blood Spirit Beads.


    A significant haul.


    The Rat King watched Lu Qingshan wistfully, looking pitiable.


    "The blood pool was your discovery, but I broke the formation. We''ll split these Blood Spirit Beads seventy-thirty; I take seventy and you take thirty percent," Lu Qingshan said.


    The Rat King was very satisfied with Lu Qingshan''s distribution and did not object.


    ¡ª¡ªHe didn''t dare to object.

 Chapter 28: Sword Slash Foundation Establishment 3

    <h4>Chapter 28: Sword sh Foundation Establishment 3</h4>


    At the City Lord''s Mansion in Yuanshan City, within the bright and spacious hall.


    "City Lord Qi Yuan, in ordance with your instructions, I have dispatched underling cultivators to search the area around Yuanshan City vigorously, but to no avail," City Lord Luo Yan looked helplessly at Qi Yuan.


    Qi Yuan waved his hand and said, "On that day, the Heavenly Secret Mirror alerted me that a cmitous event would ur within Zhenjiang Prefecture. I immediately used ''Observing Heaven'' to detect the Heavenly Secrets.


    In the Heavenly Secret Mirror, I saw a blood red Blood Pool and the scenery of Yuanshan City. It is beyond doubt that the Underworld has some ns within the region of Yuanshan City."


    Luo Yan''s face became solemn, "The ability of the Heavenly Secret Mirror to detect the Heavenly Secrets is known to all in Great Xia; of course, I wouldn''t doubt what City Lord Qi Yuan has said."


    "It''s just..." Luo Yan ventured cautiously, "Being such a significant object, the Blood Pool would surely be protected by stringent defenses from the Underworld. So it is indeed difficult for us to achieve any findings. Didn''t even the Yuanshan Tower fail to detect the slightest clue?"


    Qi Yuan pondered for a few seconds, agreeing, "I believe the same. The area of Yuanshan City is so vast; if the Underworld cultivators set up a concealed Formation to hide the Blood Pool, making you look for it by manpower is undoubtedly like looking for a needle in the ocean.


    Therefore, today I am prepared to use ''Observing Heaven'' again in an attempt to locate the Blood Pool."


    Luo Yan''s face revealed a hint of joy, "The Heavenly Secret Mirror possesses the ability to reach the heavens; I suppose the Underworld can''t escape its scrutiny, no matter how secretive they are."


    Qi Yuan nodded slightly, his thoughts turning into action.


    A sh of golden light passed.


    An ancient mirror floated in front of Qi Yuan.


    It was the splinter mirror of the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    The Heavenly Secret Mirror was divided into two sides, Yin and Yang. The back side appeared as if cast from ancient bronze, engraved with mysterious patterns.


    The front was a ze mirror surface, free of any dust; one look and it was hazy, nothing in sight.


    This mirror doesn''t reflect people, but it can observe the heavens.


    The scenes shown on the ze mirror surface can only be seen by the owner of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, Qi Yuan.


    Qi Yuan sped his hands into a strange hand seal.


    In the void, a faintly discernible line appeared, starting from Qi Yuan''s hand and connecting to the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    This was the line of Qi Yuan''s life force.


    A greenish light flowed along that line, continuously surging out from Qi Yuan''s hands before pouring into the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    ''Observing Heaven'', trading lifespan for Heavenly Secrets.


    The greenish light was none other than Qi Yuan''s lifespan.


    The art of ''Observing Heaven'' had many restrictions.


    The stronger the object you wanted to investigate and the more precise the information was, the greater the price you had to pay ordingly.


    The Blood Pool Qi Yuan wanted to investigate could only be considered a Low Grade Blood Pool, but to pinpoint its exact location, even as a Nascent Soul cultivator, he had to sacrifice a portion of his lifespan.


    It was visible during the process of the greenish light flowing towards the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    A few strands of Qi Yuan''s ck hair were quickly fading in color, gradually turning gray, and finally bing white.


    Qi Yuan seemed unaware.


    ¡ªFrom the moment he took charge of the splinter mirror of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, he was already prepared mentally.


    To protect the peace of the Human Race, none in the Heavenly Secret Pavillion who guarded the mirror were reluctant to give their lives.


    A haze of white light gradually covered Qi Yuan''s pupils.


    Through this white light, Qi Yuan gazed at the ze mirror of the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    To onlookers, the mirror surface seemed shrouded in fog, but in Qi Yuan''s eyes, the mist was slowly dissipating.


    Clearing the mist to see the light.


    Just as Qi Yuan was about to see the scene hidden behind the fog¡ª


    Boom¡ª


    An immensely loud roaring sound.


    A ck Spirit Light soared into the sky.


    Directly breaking through the roof.


    Once the Spirit Light reached a certain height, it instantly transformed into a vast curtain, enveloping the entire City Lord''s Mansion within it.


    At the same time.


    Numerous streams of ck mist appeared out of thin air, twisting and merging together in midair, coiling into three exceptionallyrge ck serpents.


    The ck serpents, tens of meters long, their bodies overflowing with ck mist, constantly rolling.


    Third Grade Formation: ''Three Spirits Demon Formation''.


    The Demon Formation could transform into three Spirit Snakes.


    The Spirit Snakes possessed three abilities: to form a Barrier, to Attack, and to Confine the enemy.


    These are the Three Spirits.


    Unbeknownst to when, within the ck mist, three figures in ck robes emerged, their faces simrly shrouded in swirling mist.


    All three ck-robed cultivators held a small ck g in hand.


    In the blink of an eye, the three ck-robed cultivators manipted the ck gs in their hands.


    ¡ª¡ªThis is the banner that controls the three ck snakes.


    Hiss¡ª¡ª


    Hiss¡ª¡ª


    Hiss¡ª¡ª


    Driven by the ck banner, the ck snakes simultaneously raised their heads and let out piercing hisses.


    Qi Yuan''s face turned pale.


    Embedded within the hisses of the ck snakes was a sonic attack that targeted the divine soul.


    Qi Yuan, who was using the "Observing Heaven" divine skill without any guard up, was caught off guard and was momentarily stunned.


    The Underworld Cultivators naturally would not miss such an opportunity.


    Under their maniption, the three ck snakes swiftly lunged towards Qi Yuan, tightly binding him.


    As the three ck snakes, each several tens of meters thick, coiled around Qi Yuan, his entire figure was engulfed by the ck mist, making himpletely invisible from the outside. The only thing visible was the golden light of the Heavenly Secret Mirror shimmering dazzlingly within the ck fog.


    Upon witnessing this scene, Luo Yan let out a sinisterugh.


    His big n had seeded.


    Even the Mirror Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, who had ess to the heavenly secrets, couldn''t escape my schemes.


    Right then!


    ng¡ª¡ª


    The clear ringing of a sword reverberated through the air.


    Dozens of refreshing cyan sword lights surged forth.


    Like an army bearing down.


    They glowed faintly within the ck curtain.


    The sword lights charged directly at the three ck-robed Cultivators holding the banners amidst the ck fog.


    Their presence was domineering.


    All three ck-robed Cultivators'' faces changed.


    They each promptly activated secret techniques, either defensive artifacts or defensive spells, in an attempt to block the overwhelming sword lights.


    However, all their efforts were in vain.


    Under the cyan sword lights, the three ck-robed Cultivators, along with their defensive spells and spiritual artifacts,


    Melted away like ice and snow.


    They disintegrated in an instant.


    The might of the sword lights was evident for all to see!


    With the death of the three ck-robed Cultivators, the ck snakes that were binding Qi Yuan could no longer hold him.


    "Golden Core Sword Cultivator, Sword Light Differentiation, Dantai Qingrun!" Luo Yan''s eyes bulged with anger.


    These dozens of cyan sword lights belonged to the unique Sword Technique of the Dantai House, the "Crescent Moon Sword Technique"!


    Within Yuanshan City, the only one capable of executing the "Crescent Moon Sword Technique" was the Tower Master of Yuanshan Tower, Dantai Qingrun.


    Indeed, beneath the ck curtain, high in the sky.


    It was as if a door had been opened.


    A mystic golden square aura spread out, and a woman in white appeared, floating in midair.


    It was the Tower Master of Yuanshan Tower, Dantai Qingrun herself!


    Dantai Qingrun''s pair of cold eyes scanned the City Lord''s Mansion engulfed in ck fog.


    "Rakshasa, your methods are indeed grand," said Dantai Qingrun, her voice serene and chilling.


    No wonder since she took over Yuanshan Tower, she always felt as if an invisible hand was blocking their efforts to probe the Underworld, causing them all kinds of misfortune.


    Who would have thought that a Rakshasa from the Underworld would turn out to be Luo Yan, a City Lord of Yuanshan City!


    Dantai Qingrun''s murderous intent soared, tinged with a bit of worry.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Has the Underworld''s infiltration within the Human Race reached this extent?


    The Rakshasa''s face changed.


    Originally bound by the ck snakes, Qi Yuan had already quietly escaped after Dantai Qingrun had in the three Underworld Cultivators controlling the snakes.


    Outside the ck curtain, many Cultivators from Yuanshan Tower had already gathered, assaulting the Three Spirits Demon Formation.


    Even though the Three Spirits Demon Formation was a Third Grade formation, it couldn''t possibly withstand thebined attack of so many Cultivators for too long.


    Inside the formation were Nascent Soul Spiritual Cultivators and a Golden Core Sword Cultivator skilled in killing. Meanwhile, these Underworld Cultivators and their allies at best had reached the Golden Core stage.


    They could neither fight nor escape.


    A situation with no chance of survival!

 Chapter 29 - 29 Sword Slash Foundation Establishment 4

    <h4>Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Sword sh Foundation Establishment 4</h4>


    Two days ago.


    Inside Yuanshan Tower.


    "Tower Master, I have already investigated the matter, and what Lu Qingshan said is true. There indeed is a high-grade Illusion Array set up there. Although I''m not certain if the Blood Pool is within the Illusion Array, the probability is extremely high," Jiang Rong reported the specifics of his investigation to Dantai Qingrun.


    Dantai Qingrun''s eyebrows raised, and after pondering for a long time, she finally decided, "Contact Qi Yuan, leave that high-grade Illusion Array alone for now, lest we startle the snake by hitting the grass."


    Jiang Rong agreed, "Good, I will contact Qi Yuan right away."


    ...


    "That''s exactly it." Dantai Qingrun described the situation to Qi Yuan withposure and thoroughness.


    Qi Yuan, who had been summoned by Dantai Qingrun, seemed to have an epiphany after listening to her narration.


    "The Netherworld and our Heavenly Secret Pavilion have been age-old adversaries, and they are well aware of the various techniques Heavenly Secret Pavilion uses. No wonder they have been so careless this time, allowing me to detect a trace of their plot so easily."


    "So it seems the real intent of the drunkard isn''t the wine."


    "What are your ns to deal with this situation, Qi Yuan?" Dantai Qingrun asked with concern.


    Qi Yuan pondered thoughtfully, "There is a doubt in this matter; how could the Netherworld know exactly when I would use the Heavenly Secret Mirror? Unless..."


    "Unless there is an insider," Dantai Qingrun provided a definite answer.


    She had already figured this out.


    If the Netherworld wanted to seize the fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror while Qi Yuan was using it, they must ensure that someone from the Netherworld would also be present at the moment Qi Yuan utilized the mirror.


    Taking the Heavenly Secret Mirror from Qi Yuan, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, would be no easy task.


    With the manpower and strength of the Netherworld in Yuanshan City, they would undoubtedly need to prepare extensively.


    If one''s own strength is not enough, external forces must be sought.


    A Formation would be the first choice, and only the power of a Formation could allow a Low Rank Cultivator topete with a High Level Cultivator in a short span of time.


    But setting up a Formation takes time, and it''s clearly impractical to wait until after pinpointing Qi Yuan''s location.


    Therefore, the most practical approach is to set up the Formation in advance at a certain location and somehow manage to have Qi Yuan use the Heavenly Secret Mirror within the area covered by the Formation.


    This would facilitate the implementation of the Netherworld''s subsequent ns.


    With all these considerations.


    "This insider, their status is not low, and they will also find a way to encourage you to use ''Observing Heaven''!" Dantai Qingrun dered with certainty.


    Qi Yuan naturally agreed with Dantai Qingrun''s assessment, "This time when I came to Yuanshan City, I only informed you guys at Yuanshan Tower and... the City Lord of Yuanshan City, Luo Yan!"


    A chill shed through Dantai Qingrun''s clear eyes, "Could it be?"


    "It''s not yet time for a final judgment," Qi Yuan said gravely, "Let''s wait and watch for the changes. As long as the Netherworld makes a move, they are bound to slip up."


    The Netherworld thought they hadid out bait, and Qi Yuan was the plump fish lured by it.


    But little did they know, at this moment, both Qi Yuan and Dantai Qingrun were also ying the willing bait.


    ...


    As expected.


    As anticipated, the City Lord''s Mansion had already been covered by a pre-arranged Formation.


    And Qi Yuan cooperated by deploying the ''Observing Heaven'' Technique within the City Lord''s Mansion.


    They nned to lure all the Netherworld''s forces in Yuanshan City into appearance, then capture them all at once.


    Under the effect of Qi Yuan''s ''Xuantian Spiritual Technique,'' Dantai Qingrun had been following Qi Yuan in an extremely covert manner.


    The moment the Netherworld made their move, she would do so as well.


    Dantai Qingrun was confident of her approach.


    Seeing the current situation unfold, Rakshasa felt a chill in his heart.


    Despite not knowing how their n had been exposed, a crucial setback was now inevitable.


    "What are we waiting for? Act now!" Without the luxury of time to ponder further, Rakshasa, driven by the urgency of the moment, was determined to fulfill the mission.


    Under the urging of Rakshasa.


    Out of the swirls of ck mist, a ferocious behemoth suddenly appeared, its back having three protruding spines that looked terrifying.


    Beneath the behemoth stood a Cultivator.


    It was none other than the Crying Soul master.


    Following the n, he unleashed the War Beast from his Spirit Beast Bag.


    Whoosh!


    One of the spines on the behemoth''s back detached and flew out.


    Darker than night, and shaped like a long sword, the spine flew swiftly towards Qi Yuan, and with a slight sh in the void...


    Countless streaks of ck radiance sttered, and within the void, a line of gold appeared.


    Then, under the power of the Sword Bone, the line broke.


    Qi Yuan''splexion changed.


    ¡ªHis connection with the fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror had been severed at that moment.


    He could no longer recall the Heavenly Secret Mirror as easily as before.


    Qi Yuan reacted quickly.


    He immediately spurred the Spiritual Power within, ready to forcefully reim the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    But it was toote; the instant the Sword Bone had severed the golden thread, the fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror had already vanished into thin air.


    At the spot where the fragment had disappeared, a nebulous shadow emerged.


    ¡ª¡ªThe Golden Core Realm Nether Cultivator from the Underworld had been lurking in the dark for a long time.


    Waiting for so long was for this moment, once the War Beast severed Qi Yuan''s connection with the subsidiary Heavenly Secret Mirror, he would make his move and snatch the mirror.


    "It''s mine!" Seeing the subsidiary Heavenly Secret Mirror being taken into the Nether Cultivator''s Storage Ring, Rakshasa''s face finally showed a hint of joy.


    "Do you really think you can still get away?" There was a tinge of rage in Qi Yuan''s voice.


    Qi Yuan stretched out his hands forward and pressed down forcefully.


    In an instant, winds rose and clouds churned, the sea of fog tumbled!


    Within the void, the ck mist that originally belonged to the Three Spirits Demon Formation formed two ck palms, which under Qi Yuan''s control, pressed down towards the Golden Core Realm Nether Cultivator and the War Beast.


    Though Spiritual Cultivators are not skilled in offense and defense, Qi Yuan was after all a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and his techniques were not something these Underworld Cultivators, who at most were of Golden Core level, could withstand.


    This palm strike possessed immense pressure; the Golden Core Realm Nether Cultivator was directly shaken, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood and copsed on the ground, powerless to move anymore.


    However, facing the giant ck palm, the ck skin of the War Beast lit up with a line of golden patterns.


    The moment the golden patterns lit up, the already huge body of the War Beast grew evenrger.


    At this moment, the War Beast looked fierce and colossal like a prehistoric behemoth.


    Roar¡ª¡ª


    With an angry roar, the War Beast pushed up with its ws.


    Soil and stones flew everywhere.


    Arge pit formed at the spot where the War Beast stood, under the force of its tremendous power.


    The War Beast actually endured the palm strike by sheer force.


    For a moment, the War Beast and the ck palm were locked in a stalemate.


    Hm?


    A hint of surprise shed in Qi Yuan''s eyes as he let out a light hum.


    The beast before him was merely Third Grade, equivalent to a Golden Core Cultivator of the Human Race, and yet it withstood his technique.


    Qi Yuan felt a blow to his pride.


    Qi Yuan''s left hand executed a spell, and a crimson Fire Ring manifested in response to the spell, quickly moving towards the War Beast under his control.


    This was his Magic Artifact, the Vermilion Bird Ring.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    As the War Beast watched the Vermilion Bird Ring approaching, its pitch-dark eyes were filled with violent intent.


    Swoosh!


    All that remained on the spine of the War Beast, the two Sword Bones, flew out.


    One Sword Bone shed towards the Vermilion Bird Ring, and the other towards Dantai Qingrun''s Life-bound Sword.


    Because, at the same time as Qi Yuan made his move, Dantai Qingrun also showed no weakness, and his Spirit Hidden Sword''s blue light surged, moving in the stance of a Flying Sword towards Rakshasa.


    Having been caught off guard once, Qi Yuan and Dantai Qingrun naturally wouldn''t fall for the same trick easily again.


    The Vermilion Bird Ring faced the iing Sword Bone.


    Crimson light soared into the sky.


    Sparks scattered everywhere.


    At this moment, the Vermilion Bird Ring was like a fiery ball.


    Under Qi Yuan''s mentalmand, in an unstoppable manner, it directly and proactively met the two Sword Bones head-on.


    Qi Yuan also intercepted the Sword Bone that was originally aimed at Dantai Qingrun.


    With no disruptions, Dantai Qingrun''s Spirit Hidden Sword finally hit Rakshasa with the intention of a thunderous st.


    As the Spirit Hidden Sword was about to strike, a burst of blood-red light erupted from Rakshasa''s eyes.


    Horrifying blood-red patterns appeared on his face.


    Hiss¡ª¡ª


    In that instant, Rakshasa''s whole body burst into mes, shooting mes in all directions.


    [Refined Demon Bloodline], a Third Grade bloodline of the Demon Race.


    Rakshasa activated his Refined Demon Bloodline, transforming into a demon form¡ªthe Demon Refiner.


    With the Refined Demon Bloodline enhancing him, Rakshasa''s physical body withstood Dantai Qingrun''s Flying Sword attack.


    The mes swirling around Rakshasa''s body, under the pressure of the sword momentum, scattered in all directions, and sparks mixed within the ck mist, looking like a volcanic eruption.


    Bang!


    A huge gash appeared in Rakshasa''s chest under the attack of the Spirit Hidden Sword.


    ¡ª¡ªEven with the activation of his Demon Race bloodline, an attack from a Golden Core Realm Sword Cultivator was not something he could easily bear.


    Rakshasa''s original n was to take the subsidiary Heavenly Secret Mirror and, with the power of the Three Spirits Demon Formation, briefly trap Qi Yuan, and then they would immediately escape.


    But at this moment, there were many Yuanshan Tower Cultivators outside the Three Spirits Demon Formation, and to leave the formation was to walk straight into a trap.


    That n was no longer viable.


    Rakshasa cast his gaze around.


    He saw that the True Person of Crying Soul had already used his Crying Soul Sword to directly sh off the fingertip of the Golden Core Nether Cultivator, who was unconscious on the ground.


    The Golden Core Nether Cultivator''s right hand index finger was wearing a Storage Ring.


    ¡ª¡ªThe Storage Ring containing the subsidiary Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    True Person of Crying Soul took the Storage Ring into his hand.


    Rakshasa''s heart steadied.

 Chapter 30 - 30 Sword Slash Foundation Establishment 5

    <h4>Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Sword sh Foundation Establishment 5</h4>


    "The Heavenly Secret Mirror is in our hands, yet we''ve been ambushed and can''t break free."


    The Rakshasa sent out a divine sense message, directly transmitted to the writhing entity in his heart.


    He had made additional preparations!


    Ever since the death of the Blood Corpse True Person, the Rakshasa had felt restless in heart and mind.


    After a long period of careful consideration, disregarding everything else, he contacted the leader of the Netherworld forces in Zhenjiang Prefecture ¡ª the [Asura].


    Upon being informed of the specifics, the Asura arranged a contingency n for Rakshasa.


    It was simply to be safe rather than sorry.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Now, it seemed to be a lifesaving straw.


    In the instant the message was sent,


    Above the City Lord''s Mansion, within the depths of the obscure void, a single eye abruptly opened.


    With deep purple eyelids and an eye that was cold within.


    As if a holy demon was watching over all creatures on earth.


    Qi Yuan inwardly felt that something was terribly wrong.


    Disregarding the War Beast that was still struggling, he manipted the spell in his right hand once again.


    The ck palm dispersed, the mist reformed, transforming into a sharp spear that flew towards the Crying Soul True Person.


    But it was toote.


    In the instant just as the ck mist spear neared,


    Ayer of purple radiance enveloped the Crying Soul True Person and Rakshasa.


    Suddenly, along with the purple radiance, the Crying Soul True Person and Rakshasa vanished into thin air.


    What remained were only the War Beast within the Array and several Underworld Cultivators on different assignments.


    Only the Rakshasa and the Crying Soul True Person managed to escape; all others were abandoned.


    Dantai Qingrunnded before Qi Yuan.


    "Void Demon Child!" Dantai Qingrun said with a grave expression.


    Qi Yuan nodded, "I didn''t expect the Netherworld to risk awakening the Void Demon Child to snatch the piece of my Heavenly Secret Mirror."


    The Demon Race reveres bloodline above all.


    And [Void] is one of the eight most esteemed Holy Demon bloodlines of the Demon Race.


    The bearers of the [Void] bloodline need not cultivate nor perceive; they are inherently able to grasp the Space True Intention, and as they grow stronger, their mastery over Space True Intention continuously increases.


    It is an exceedingly heaven-defying bloodline ability!


    The purple radiance that covered Rakshasa and Crying Soul True Person was the unique space teleportation ability of the [Void].


    In the Netherworld of Qing State, the Void Demon Child leads.


    To avoid detection by the Heavenly Secret Pavillion,


    The Void Demon Child has always been in a dormant state to conceal his aura.


    But with the Void Demon Child acting so rashly, even if the aftermath is managed well, the traces of his intervention cannot bepletely erased.


    Through these traces, perhaps the Human Race will find a way to locate the Void Demon Child.


    Though a piece of the Heavenly Secret Mirror was lost, theypelled the Void Demon Child to act.


    Who has the upper hand in the end is still hard to say.


    ...


    In a secluded ce within Yuanshan City,


    A ball of purple radiance suddenly appeared.


    Then the purple radiance gradually dissipated, revealing the people within.


    It was the Crying Soul True Person who had managed to escape thanks to the ability of the Void Demon Child.


    Spurting¡ª


    The Crying Soul True Person felt a sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out.


    Although at thest moment, he had sessfully used the Teleportation Technique to escape,


    Qi Yuan''s final strike still slightly affected him.


    The attack of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, even if it was just a slight brush, was not something that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him could withstand.


    He was seriously injured.


    But that was not important; what mattered was that in this mission, only he and the Rakshasa managed to escape.


    Thinking of this, the Crying Soul True Person revealed a self-satisfied smile.


    The instant they were ambushed, he understood one thing.


    If the Rakshasa had no contingency n, they were certain to be utterly devastated in the Array.


    If the Rakshasa did have a contingency n, it could not possibly allow everyone to escape safely.


    Therefore, upon noticing the fall of the Golden Core Nether Cultivator, Crying Soul True Person decisively acted, seizing the Storage Ring that contained the piece of the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    The ultimate goal of the mission was in his hands.


    Then no matter what, he would be the most worthy to be saved among all the Underworld Cultivators present.


    Indeed.


    Even the War Beast was abandoned, but he was not.


    The Crying Soul True Person checked his current location.


    He was still within Yuanshan City.


    The Void Demon Child, acting from an unknown vast distance, naturally had his divine power substantially weakened.


    This Teleportation Technique, not only was the distance exceedingly short, it also couldn''t precisely control thending location.


    Therefore, although he and Rakshasa were teleported at the same time, they ended up in different ces.


    But it didn''t matter, all that mattered was getting out of the encirclement.


    The Netherworld had long prepared a Teleportation Array in the city.


    With this thought, the Crying Soul True Person did not dare to dy any longer, and he hurried to the location of the Teleportation Array.


    ...


    After Lu Qingshan and the King of the Western Rats had thoroughly looted the Bitter Mansion, they left contentedly.


    Just as they exited the Bitter Mansion, a ck spiritual light shot up into the sky, catching Lu Qingshan''s attention.


    "That''s the location of the City Lord''s Mansion," Lu Qingshan murmured.


    Lu Qingshan understood that the Netherworld must have begun their action.


    After pondering for a moment, Lu Qingshan shook his head.


    In this battle, with his Qi Refining Cultivation, there was no ce for him to intervene.


    Perhaps it''s better not to concern myself with these matters and just wait for the oue.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    "Lu Qingshan, the person ahead... seems somewhat familiar?!" The voice of King Xishu resounded in his ear.


    Lu Qingshan looked ahead and saw a man dressed in a dark purple brocade robe, appearing to hasten with urgency, seemingly preupied with some matter.


    This person, Lu Qingshan had not seen before.


    "You are here for the first time from Yuanshan City, how could you possibly know anyone in Yuanshan City?" Lu Qingshan said with a lightugh.


    Suddenly, both Lu Qingshan and King Xishu came to a realization.


    "Could it be?"


    King Xishu vigorously nodded his mouse head, "That''s him, the sleazy cultivator from the Mansion of Sufferings, Real Person Crying Soul."


    Indeed, apart from this Real Person Crying Soul, King Xishu had no other acquaintances in Yuanshan City.


    A thought crossed Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    Why would this person be here at this time?


    Without a second thought, Lu Qingshan first cast the Heavenly Eye Technique.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Real Person Crying Soul (Human Race)


    upation: Sword Cultivator


    Cultivation Technique: [Qi Drawing Technique]Lv10 (max!) / [Soul Leaving Sutra]Lv16 (2000/4600)


    Rank: Foundation Establishment


    Attribute: Strength 22, ???, ???


    Health Points: ? (Severely Injured)


    Spiritual Power Value: ??


    Skills: ????, ???, ???...


    Talent: ???


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    This is a Total Level 26 Sword Cultivator whose Cultivation has reached thete stage of Foundation Establishment.


    The moment Lu Qingshan saw Real Person Crying Soul''s attribute panel, he made up his mind.


    He was going to kill Real Person Crying Soul.


    Firstly, for the massive amount of experience given by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    Second, at this particr moment, Real Person Crying Soul''s presence here made Lu Qingshan believe that if he spared Crying Soul, there would definitely be extraordinary gains.


    Third, and most importantly,


    He wanted to kill!


    Since witnessing the numerous female Furnace Cauldrons kept by Real Person Crying Soul in that small building within the Mansion of Sufferings, he had harbored a killing intent for Crying Soul.


    Lu Qingshan gave King Xishu a word of caution.


    At the same time, he pretended to be an ordinary passerby and casually approached Real Person Crying Soul.


    Now within attack range,


    Lu Qingshan took out his Peach Wood Sword from his storage bag.


    He vigorously channeled all the Thunder Force stored in the Peach Wood Sword.


    A thick purple-blue Sword Light shot towards Real Person Crying Soul.


    Real Person Crying Soul hurriedly changed his clothes and disguised himself as an ordinary cultivator, preparing to stealthily head to a secret stronghold of the Netherworld in Yuanshan City.


    Unexpectedly, while walking calmly on the road, he suddenly came under a mysterious attack.


    A chill ran through Crying Soul''s heart, thinking he had been discovered.


    Still, his muscle memory kicked in as he controlled his Life-bound Sword from his Dantian, shing towards the iing Sword Light.


    Without any effort, the purple-blue Sword Light crumbled under Real Person Crying Soul''s Flying Sword in an instant.


    Only then did Real Person Crying Soul notice the attacker, just a very youngd.


    A Qi Refining eighth-level cultivator?


    Real Person Crying Soul was baffled.


    But seeing Lu Qingshan wielding the Peach Wood Sword as if he was about to recklessly strike Crying Soul''s face,


    He found it quite ludicrous andughable¡ªwhere did you get the courage?


    But there wasn''t time to ponder further. With a thought, after his Flying Sword shattered the Thunder Sword Light, it continued its attack towards Lu Qingshan.


    Against a Qi Refining Cultivator, a mere ordinary attack with a Flying Sword would easily kill with a single strike.


    Light flickered across Lu Qingshan''s body.


    The [Golden Essence Ring]''s Magic Artifact [Golden Light Shield] activated!


    "Now is the time!" Lu Qingshan shouted.


    King Xishu understood the cue.


    [Soul Loss Technique]!


    Even though the [Soul Loss Technique] was only Lv1 and even though Real Person Crying Soul was caught off guard, the effect was still weak.


    Under the effect of the Soul Loss Technique, Real Person Crying Soul was only briefly stunned for less than a moment.


    But for Lu Qingshan, that was enough time.


    He released the Peach Wood Sword from his hand, gathered Spiritual Power in his palm, and then grabbed the Crying Soul Sword that was about to strike his face!


    Real Person Crying Soul recovered from the trance and found the situation to be quite absurd.


    The Crying Soul Sword was his Life-bound Sword. If Lu Qingshan thought he could disarm him so easily, then what was the point of being a Sword Cultivator!


    Jun Bujian, didn''t the Netherworld have to use War Beasts to sever the connection between Qi Yuan and the shard of the Heavenly Secret Mirror to snatch the mirror?


    And for Sword Cultivators, the connection between themselves and their sword was much closer, countless times more so.


    Real Person Crying Soul intended to control the Crying Soul Sword to directly sh Lu Qingshan.


    But!


    Real Person Crying Soul involuntarily froze for a moment.


    The normally smooth-controlled Crying Soul Sword now felt as if it was stuck in a bog, proving incredibly difficult to maneuver!


    Real Person Crying Soul was about to exert more force.


    But it was toote.


    The sword edge was fierce.


    A bright, cold gleam flitted before Real Person Crying Soul''s eyes.


    Lu Qingshan, holding the Crying Soul Sword, had already shed at Real Person Crying Soul''s face.


    Falling Bright Sword Technique!

 Chapter 31 - 31 Accidental Gain

    Rows of data emerged before Lu Qingshan:


    "You have acquired the attribute of the Crying Soul Sword!"


    "The true master of Crying Soul is manipting the Crying Soul Sword... ¡¯Innate Swordseed¡¯ is activated, judgment in progress, judgment passed, the true master of Crying Soul has failed to manipte!"


    "The true master of Crying Soul is manipting the Crying Soul Sword..."


    "You have activated the Sword Artifact Skill ¡¯Soul Shock¡¯."


    "¡¯Soul Shock¡¯ sessfully hits the target, causing the target to fall into a brief Soul Loss State..."


    "The true master of Crying Soul¡¯s ¡¯Flying Sword Technique¡¯ gets interrupted!"


    "You use the Falling Bright Sword Technique against the target, Falling Bright Sword Technique hits... inflicting 10 points of damage, with an additional bonus of 5 (10*0.5) points of critical damage, causing a total of 15 points of damage to the target!"


    "Target has been killed, you have in the true master of Crying Soul (Lv26), achieving an over-level kill and earning experience rewards, receiving a total of 2000 (Base Experience) x2 (Multiplier) = 4000 Experience Points!"


    ...


    Sword shes through Foundation Establishment!


    With this strike, a huge gash appeared on the face of the true master of Crying Soul, with blood gushing out profusely, looking extremely grisly.


    Until the moment of his death, the eyes of the true master of Crying Soul were still filled with doubt and confusion.


    ¡ªWhy had he died by the hand of a Qi Refining Cultivator, and why was it that he was killed by his own Life-bound Sword?


    For Sword Cultivators, their Life-bound Sword is tied to them; except for the Sword Cultivator themselves, no one else could use it, a well-known iron rule within the Nine Heavens.


    However, today, Lu Qingshan had broken that iron rule.


    ¡¯Innate Swordseed¡¯: You can use any Sword Artifact without restriction.


    Any Sword Artifact, naturally including the Life-bound Swords of Sword Cultivators.


    Legendary Talent, truly living up to its legendary name.


    ...


    From engagement to the killing of the true master of Crying Soul, it was only a matter of a few moments.


    It appeared extremely dangerous and even somewhat reckless.


    But everything was within Lu Qingshan¡¯s expectations.


    Sword Cultivators inherently have low health pools, even those in the Foundation Establishment Realm cannot change this fact of being inherently frail.


    Although due to the rank difference, the Heavenly Eye Technique was unable to urately ascertain the true master of Crying Soul¡¯s health.


    But on the Attribute Panel full of question marks.


    There was one very important piece of information.


    ¡ªBehind the health bar of the true master of Crying Soul, there was an additional status: (Severely Injured).


    A Sword Cultivator with a low health pool, especially one in a severe injury state, likely had health around just ten points.


    In Lu Qingshan¡¯s current state, the output of one Falling Bright Sword Technique was 11 points.


    But that still wasn¡¯t enough.


    This was only theoretical damage, not taking any Defensive Spells or Defensive Artifacts into consideration.


    Luckily, Lu Qingshan remembered what Wu Yi had said, that the Crying Soul Sword possessed the ability of ¡¯Soul Shock¡¯.


    This was also the true master of Crying Soul¡¯s signature skill.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Crying Soul Sword (Life-bound Sword¡¤Water)


    Description: A sword crafted from Soul Stone.


    Sword Master: True Master of Crying Soul


    Level: Lv2 (131/2000)


    Sword Artifact Effects: Flying Sword Speed +5%, Sharpness +1, Sword Light Differentiation +1


    Sword Artifact Skill: ¡¯Soul Shock¡¯


    Launches a Soul Shock Technique towards the target, with a chance to put the target into a brief Soul Loss State.


    Note: This sword is restricted to the Sword Master¡¯s use only.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The moment Lu Qingshan took control of the Crying Soul Sword, he used the ¡¯Soul Shock¡¯ skill against the true master of Crying Soul.


    Secret techniques at the level of the Divine Soul, whether defensive or offensive, are all considered an extremely precious category.


    Lower grade cultivators, for the most part, could not possibly possess such skills.


    This was also why the true master of Crying Soul, with the Soul Shock Skill of the Crying Soul Sword, was almost invincible in magicalbat with peers of the same level and had made a name for himself.


    And the true master of Crying Soul, being a lower grade Sword Cultivator in Foundation Establishment, simrly had not cultivated any Divine Soul Defense Secret Art.


    Naturally, he couldn¡¯t resist the Soul Shock Skill of his own Life-bound Sword.


    In a state of Soul Loss, he was unable to make any response to Lu Qingshan¡¯s attacks.


    In fact, most of the skills of a Sword Cultivator relied on the Sword Artifact for execution.


    This was precisely the most seamless and sharp attack routine used by Crying Soul¡ªthe control using Soul Shock to ensure the uracy of the Flying Sword.


    Lu Qingshan gave him a taste of his own medicine.


    Worried that this strike was not harmful enough, Lu Qingshan aimed his attack at Crying Soul¡¯s head.


    Before reaching the Nascent Soul Realm,


    The head of a Cultivator was considered a vital part.


    Attacking a vital part would result in a 1.5 times damage bonus.


    With multiple assurances in ce, Crying Soul couldn¡¯t be more dead beneath this strike.


    Looking at the body of Crying Soul lying in a pool of blood,


    Lu Qingshan was filled with disdain.


    Seizing the sword seemed easy, but the risk involved was actually quite high.


    Even with the "Innate Swordseed" as powerful as it was, he was only a Qi Refining Cultivator.


    It was highly likely that Lu Qingshan, being a rank below, wouldn¡¯t pass the assessment when seizing the sword from a Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator.


    If he failed the assessment, directly holding the opponent¡¯s Life-bound Sword would be giving it away for nothing.


    But then, how much effort would a Sword Cultivator who delved into the lowly Technique of Harvesting Qi put into nourishing their sword?


    Moreover, he had earlier asked Wu Yi and learned that Crying Soul was skilled in the Flying Sword Technique.


    Flying Sword, one of the signature skills of a Sword Cultivator, naturally wasn¡¯t easy to master.


    Since Crying Soul wasn¡¯t a yer, he couldn¡¯t use Experience Points to quickly level up his skills. If he wanted to be proficient in the Flying Sword Technique, it would require immense time and effort dedicated to arduous practice.


    In that case, it was even less likely that Crying Soul had any time left to nourish his sword.


    "Sword Cultivation" suggests that one must cultivate their Life-bound Sword.


    Once a Sword Cultivator has chosen their Life-bound Sword, they must spend a great deal of time and effort on its nourishment.


    The sword would be progressively stronger through such care, the connection with the Sword Master tighter, and the power wielded correspondingly mightier.


    If tranted into game terminology, the Life-bound Sword would be the Sword Cultivator¡¯s growable equipment.


    The importance of sword nourishment to Sword Cultivators can¡¯t be overstated.


    Considering all these factors, Lu Qingshan was sure that Crying Soul¡¯s mastery over his Life-bound Sword wouldn¡¯t be very strong.


    Lu Qingshan was ny percent confident that during the sword seizure, he could at least pass the first assessment.


    That was why he chose to take action.


    The moment he gained the attributes of the Crying Soul Sword, Lu Qingshan knew he had seeded.


    A Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator of level 26, yet with a Life-bound Sword of only Lv2¡ªCrying Soul¡¯s neglect of sword nourishment was even more severe than Lu Qingshan had imagined!


    One must know that in the "Nine Heavens" game, an average Sword Cultivator of level 26 would have their Life-bound Sword at least above Lv4.


    ...


    For a Sword Cultivator to die under their own Life-bound Sword is a rather ridiculous matter.


    But for a Sword Cultivator like Crying Soul, such a death doesn¡¯t seem strange at all.


    Lu Qingshan no longer pondered the matter and shook his head, beginning to take stock of his spoils of war.


    In addition to a substantial amount of Experience Points added to his ount, the wealth of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was also a bountiful harvest.


    Lu Qingshan bent down to loot the corpse.


    A momentter.


    Huh?


    Lu Qingshan looked at the two Storage Rings he found on Crying Soul¡¯s body and let out a light exmation.


    A Storage Ring, unlike a storage pouch, already had a spacious storage space inside.


    Therefore, the saying about the Beggars¡¯ Sect elders and their several pouches didn¡¯t apply to Storage Rings.


    ¡ª¡ªThe storage space of a single Storage Ring could already meet the storage needs of most yers.


    So why would Crying Soul have two Storage Rings on him?


    Two possibilities: one is that Crying Soul was exceedingly wealthy.


    The other possibility is...


    With this thought in mind, Lu Qingshan examined the two Storage Rings in his hands.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Afterward, a slight smile crept across Lu Qingshan¡¯s lips.

 Chapter 32: The Nascent Soul Old Monster, Lu Qingshan

    The West Rat King looked at Cry Soul Real Person, who was now dead beyond any possibility of resurrection.


    His eyes were zed over.


    Everything had happened too quickly.


    Lu Qingshan had merely issued him one instruction¡ªto unleash the Soul Loss Technique in coordination with him when needed¡ªand he had charged towards Cry Soul Real Person without a second thought.


    ¡ª¡ªHe hadn¡¯t even had time to react, instinctively casting the Soul Loss Technique alongside Lu Qingshan.


    By the time he realized what had happened, Cry Soul Real Person was already a corpse.


    ???


    This was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, yet he had been in with a single sword strike.


    The West Rat King began to question his entire existence as a rat.


    At the same time, relief washed over him.


    It was a good thing that he had cowered quickly; otherwise, he reckoned he¡¯d be a dead rat by now.


    "Let¡¯s go," Lu Qingshan called out to the stunned West Rat King.


    The West Rat King snapped back to reality and hastily leapt onto Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder, appearing obedient.


    With a sh, Lu Qingshan swiftly left the area.


    ...


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Inside the inn where Lu Qingshan had temporarily settled.


    "What are we doing here now?" The West Rat King looked at Lu Qingshan, who had been quietly drinking tea since returning to the inn, and puzzled.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan in this state, there must be something afoot.


    "Waiting for someone," Lu Qingshan exined.


    "Waiting for whom?" The West Rat King¡¯s confusion deepened.


    "Don¡¯t worry, they should be arriving soon," Lu Qingshan said, pouring himself another cup of tea.


    Knock¡ª¡ª


    There was a knock at the door.


    The West Rat King was startled, could it be that someone had reallye?


    "Is Lu Qingshan there?" The voice was cool but incredibly mellifluous.


    "Come in."


    The door to the room was pushed open from the outside.


    It hadn¡¯t been locked at all.


    The visitors were a man and a woman, both Cultivators. The female cultivator was d in white, her beauty unparalleled, her demeanor icy as if she were a snow lotus from the Heavenly Mountain¡ªnone other than Dantai Qingrun.


    As for the male Cultivator, he appeared middle-aged, but his hair was a mix of ck and white, as if it had been highlighted intentionally.


    Dantai Qingrun, who had also noticed the door had been left unlocked, cast a meaningful nce at Lu Qingshan: "You¡¯ve been waiting for us for quite some time, haven¡¯t you?"


    Lu Qingshan shook his head: "Not long, not long. You¡¯ve been quite swift."


    "Not only did you not conceal anything, but you also purposefully left Cry Soul Real Person¡¯s corpse. If we still couldn¡¯t quickly deduce what transpired and trace it back to you, Yuanshan Tower would be no better than garbage." Dantai Qingrun was unimpressed with Lu Qingshan¡¯s praise.


    The destructive power wrought by Cultivators during magicalbat was far too terrible, often causing coteral damage to the innocent.


    Hence, the Great Xia Imperial n had strictly forbidden Cultivators from engaging in battle within the cities of the Human Race, and they were not allowed to kill at will within the city limits.


    After killing Cry Soul Real Person, Lu Qingshan did not deal with the corpse but left it at the scene. Wasn¡¯t it so that Yuanshan Tower could find their way here through this clue?


    Lu Qingshan did not agree or disagree with what Dantai Qingrun said. He took out an item from his storage ring and ced it on the table and then turned to the middle-aged Cultivator and said, "Qi Yuan, you came all this way for this item, didn¡¯t you?"


    Because each use of the "Observing Heaven" required a certain reduction in lifespan as a price, the Mirror Masters of Heavenly Secret Pavillion all had to contend with premature graying.


    With such a striking feature,bined with the fact that he was apanying Dantai Qingrun, guessing the identity of the middle-aged Cultivator was not difficult.


    Of course, it was not by these features that Lu Qingshan had discerned Qi Yuan¡¯s identity.


    Qi Yuan was an important NPC in the Corps Puppet Chaos version, and as an experienced yer, how could Lu Qingshan not recognize him?


    Qi Yuan looked at the object Lu Qingshan had casually ced on the table, and a barely perceptible glimmer of joy flickered in his eyes.


    The item Lu Qingshan had taken out was indeed a fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    Among the two storage rings taken from Cry Soul Real Person, one of them startlingly contained a fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    "What do you want?" Qi Yuan asked in a deep voice, "Spirit Stones, a Cultivation Technique, or a Magic Artifact?"


    Lu Qingshan replied calmly, "I need no reward. It¡¯s just a matter of returning something to its rightful owner."


    epting the fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, Qi Yuan looked at the extremely young face in front of him and fell silent for a moment before speaking again, "Consider it a favor I owe you this time. If you ever need something in the future, I¡¯ll do my best to help you once."


    The implication was that he owed Lu Qingshan a favor.


    Exchanging a fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, which was useless to a Sword Cultivator, for a favor from the Mirror Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, the guardian of a mansion.


    It was naturally a profitable deal.


    Lu Qingshan did not stand on ceremony with Qi Yuan and nodded his eptance.


    The reason he didn¡¯t ept anypensation from Qi Yuan was partly because he intended to gain more by seeming to decline.


    Of course, aside from this, there was another very important reason.


    He was not short of Spirit Stones.


    The Storage Ring containing the fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror had far more treasures than he had expected.


    Such a hoard in a Storage Ring could not possibly belong to a Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator.


    If he hadn¡¯t guessed wrong, the Storage Ring should have originally belonged to a Golden Core Cultivator.


    ...


    Qi Yuan stowed away the Heavenly Secret Mirror and turned to leave.


    His sole purpose ining here was simply to retrieve the fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    Once Qi Yuan had left, only Lu Qingshan, Dantai Qingrun, and a trembling ck rat, whose teeth wouldn¡¯t stop chattering, remained in the room.


    ¡ªMy heavens, who are these people?


    The incredible instincts of the demon beast allowed the Rat King from the west to sense a deep and terrifying aura emanating from both Dantai Qingrun and Qi Yuan.


    I dare not move, I dare not move.


    Dantai Qingrun didn¡¯t speak either, silently watching the Rat King from the west.


    The Rat King from the west shuddered all over.


    "I just remembered that I have a date with Afang in the kitchen, so I¡¯ll head there first," said the Rat King from the west with augh before hastily making its escape, even thoughtfully closing the door behind it.


    Lu Qingshan looked at Dantai Qingrun with a slight smile, "Tower Master Dantai, could it be that you have some pressing matter?"


    "Who are you?" Dantai Qingrun asked coldly.


    "Have I not already said? I am Lu Qingshan of the Lu Family. With the capabilities of Yuanshan Tower, it shouldn¡¯t be hard to verify my identity, right? Why does Tower Master Dantai ask such a question?" Lu Qingshan¡¯s smile faded as he replied seriously.


    "Qi Refinement Eighth Layer, just two days ago, you were but a Qi Refinement Second Layer Cultivator. How would you exin this?" Dantai Qingrun shook her head then pressed further, "Moreover, setting aside your explosive increase in cultivation in just two days, Real Man Crying Soul was a Foundation Establishmentte-stage Cultivator.


    How did you, a mere Qi Refinement Eighth Layer Cultivator, manage to kill him unscathed?"


    Lu Qingshan waved his hand and raised his eyebrows slightly, "It was just luck, not worth mentioning."


    Dantai Qingrun, seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s indifferent demeanor, scrutinized him with a probing gaze.


    The atmosphere momentarily turned somewhat eerie.


    "Before the Spirit Possession, were you at the Nascent Soul Realm or even higher?" Dantai Qingrun changed the subject and suddenly asked such a question.


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback before finally understanding that Dantai Qingrun regarded him as a Nascent Soul old monster who had performed Spirit Possession.


    Lu Qingshan chuckled, "What Spirit Possession? I am merely Lu Qingshan."


    "If you¡¯re not willing to speak, I won¡¯t force you. This cooperation was rather pleasant, though. Should you have any more information, feel free to seek out Yuanshan Tower," Dantai Qingrun left these words behind before turning to leave.


    No matter what Lu Qingshan¡¯s origins were, at least for now, Lu Qingshan was on the side of Yuanshan Tower. The benefits that could be obtained from him were tangible and visible.


    She had no reason to refuse cooperation with Lu Qingshan, nor any reason to offend him rashly.


    ...


    "Yuanshan Tower organization goodwill increased by 150."


    "Zhishou Tower organization goodwill increased by 15."


    "Heavenly Secret Pavillion faction unlocked."


    "Heavenly Secret Pavillion goodwill increased by 10."


    "Yuanshan Tower: Enthusiastic (200)."


    "Zhishou Tower: Friendly (20)."


    "Heavenly Secret Pavillion: Friendly (10)."

 Chapter 33: Reactions from All Parties

    An hour ago.


    In a hidden location within Yuanshan City.


    Rakshasa¡¯s expression was grave.


    The surrounding Underworld Cultivators were silent as cicadas in winter, fearing that they might invoke the ire of Lord Rakshasa.


    With the true soul of Kuhun carrying a shard of the Heavenly Secret Mirror still not returned, they had begun to feel a sense of foreboding.


    ...


    "Evacuate all personnel from Yuanshan City. Abandon all arrangements made within the city," Rakshasa suddenly stood up and ordered.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The hearts of the Underworld Cultivators on the scene plummeted.


    ¡ªWith the true soul of Kuhun carrying a shard of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, they could not possibly leave without waiting for Kuhun¡¯s return, unless....


    Rakshasa¡¯s face was as dark as still water.


    Because, just moments ago, he had sensed that the Heart Demon Gu within the true soul of Kuhun had died.


    After years of nning, at the cost of exposing his identity as the City Lord of Yuanshan City, which he had long cultivated in secrecy, and even deploying war beasts and risking an appearance of the Void Demon Child, they had achieved nothing.


    A dismal failure!


    He could already imagine how the other members of the Underworld would view them¡ªthe Underworld faction of Yuanshan City¡ªafter this fiasco.


    Everything was supposed to be within the n.


    Yet the oue turned out to be this.


    It seemed that ever since the true soul of the Blood Corpse was captured, things began to go awry.


    Could it be that the Zhengshou Tower had really extracted some intelligence from the Blood Corpse?


    Rakshasa found it hard to believe.


    But now was not the time to ponder these matters.


    The immediate priority was damage control; he had to evacuate the remaining Underworld members from Yuanshan City.


    ¡ªThis operation had been too great in scale; the traces that had been left behind were too difficult to conceal. Not to evacuate would be to court death.


    At Rakshasa¡¯smand, one Underworld Cultivator hurriedly sent out spirit messages, informing the rest of the Underworld members.


    An Underworld Cultivator took out a circr disc made entirely of dark metal.


    This was an array te, used to activate arrays.


    The Underworld Cultivator ced spirit stones into the array te.


    Soon, patterns lit up on the ground where they stood, extending and interweaving to form a hexagram array.


    [Small Teleportation Array].


    "Go!" All the Underworld Cultivators on the field, including Rakshasa, stepped into the hexagram array.


    Soon, the light surged.


    After the light had dissipated, all the people within the array had vanished.


    ...


    Zhenjiang City.


    Within a secluded residence.


    The Teleportation Array burst into light.


    The Underworld Cultivators who were just in Yuanshan City appeared within the array.


    Through the Teleportation Array, Rakshasa and his group instantly traveled from Yuanshan City to Zhenjiang City, thousands of miles away.


    "Dismantle the Teleportation Formation," Rakshasa instructed.


    Soon, an Underworld Cultivator stepped forward to dismantle the Teleportation Array.


    In this way, even if Yuanshan Tower traced the Teleportation Array located in Yuanshan City, they would have no way of knowing the destination it connected to.


    ...


    Within Yuanshan Tower.


    Jiang Rong found it extremely amusing to see Dantai Qingrun, who had maintained a frosty expression ever since returning from Lu Qingshan¡¯s ce, "Could it be that little Lu Qingshan has offended our Tower Master Dantai?"


    ncing contemptuously at Jiang Rong, Dantai Qingrun replied impatiently, "Uncle Rong seems to be quite idle, to have the leisure to tease me."


    Jiang Rong replied calmly, "I am indeed very idle at the moment. In this battle, the Underworld¡¯s influence in Yuanshan City has been decimated, a grand victory the likes of which Yuanshan Tower has never seen before.


    If the Underworld isn¡¯t foolish, they should already be fully withdrawn from Yuanshan City by now. Given the situation, not only am I free now, but I expect I¡¯ll have nothing to do for quite a long time toe."


    Feeling helpless with what Jiang Rong said, Dantai Qingrun decided toy her cards on the table, "You still refer to Lu Qingshan as a ¡¯little guy,¡¯ but from what I see, calling him an ¡¯old monster¡¯ would be too kind. Two days ago, Lu Qingshan was merely a Qi Refinement second level Cultivator. Do you know what realm he reached when I saw him today?"


    Pausing for a moment, Dantai Qingrun¡¯s voice slightly heightened, "Qi Refinement eighth level. In just two days, his Cultivation soared so much. I dare to assert that this Lu Qingshan must be someone who has undergone Spirit Possession; otherwise, how could such an absurd thing happen in this world?"


    Jiang Rong was also startled by these words and pondered, "We had suspected this before, and now it seems it must be confirmed."


    Dantai Qingrun spoke with indignation, "Yet, when I questioned him, he prevaricated in every possible way, insisting he is Lu Qingshan from the Lu Family."


    Spitting contemptuously, Dantai Qingrun added, "Who knows how old this old creature is, yet he has the audacity to be so shameless."


    "Perhaps there¡¯s more to it?" Jiang Rong contemted for a while, his wordsden with deeper meaning.


    "More to it?"


    Jiang Rong nodded and exined, "Think about it, after Spirit Possession, one must start all over again. Even with prior experience, returning to one¡¯s previous level of Cultivation is no easy task. Unless there is no other choice, which Cultivator would willingly opt for Spirit Possession?"


    Although Spirit Possession might seem to have many advantages, in reality, it¡¯s rife with limitations.


    There are two iron rules that must be followed with Spirit Possession.


    First, there is a limitation on Cultivation. Only Cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul Realm or higher can initiate Spirit Possession. And regardless of their level of Cultivation, a Cultivator can undergo Spirit Possession only once in their lifetime, as decreed by the Heavenly Dao.


    If this iron rule weren¡¯t in ce, then wouldn¡¯t High-Rank Cultivators be able to escape the limitations of lifespan by repeatedly undergoing Spirit Possession and Cultivating anew? The world would fall into chaos.


    Second, only when a Cultivator of higher Cultivation level possesses someone of a lower level is there a chance of sess, and the greater the gap in Cultivation, the safer it is.


    Indeed, Spirit Possession is not guaranteed to seed, and the chances of failing are actually quite high.


    In order to sessfully possess another, Cultivators generally need to prepare the corresponding support Array and Pills to increase the chances of sess.


    Because if Spirit Possession fails, it means both body and soul are destroyed, the spirit dissipated without entering the Netherworld.


    Therefore, many Cultivators would rather choose to die a natural death and seek a chance for reincarnation, rather than gamble on the so-called art of Spirit Possession.


    Dantai Qingrun quickly understood, "What you mean to say is, Lu Qingshan was forced by an opposing Cultivator to resort to Spirit Possession and is reluctant to admit it for fear of exposing his identity and attracting his enemies."


    Jiang Rong nodded, "Moreover, his enemies are very likely to be Underworld Demon Cultivators!"


    "First, he knew so many details about the Underworld that even we in the Tower were unaware of.


    Secondly, the contempt he holds for the Underworld Cultivators was evident to us both, and yet for such important intelligence rted to the Underworld¡¯s surveince ns, he only asked us for a Blood Corpse real person and made no further demands. Isn¡¯t that almost the same as giving it away for free?


    If he didn¡¯t bear a deep and bitter hatred towards the Underworld, why would he be so generous?"


    Dantai Qingrun agreed, "Well said. Although we do not know the true identity of this ¡¯Lu Qingshan,¡¯ the enemy of our enemy is our friend.


    Therefore, we should try to maintain good rtions with ¡¯Lu Qingshan.¡¯ Putting everything else aside, befriending a Nascent Soul Cultivator, even if he has lost all his Cultivation, would definitely not be a loss for us!"


    Jiang Rongughed heartily, "Tower Master Dantai, what you should be most concerned about now is what reward the Tower will grant you.


    This time, by virtually uprooting the Underworld¡¯s arrangement in Yuanshan City, you¡¯ve achieved such a monumental victory that you might not have much longer to stay in Yuanshan City."


    The Tower has never been an organization that prioritizes seniority.


    Within the Tower, promotion is entirely dependent on one¡¯s abilities.


    Although Dantai Qingrun had only assumed the position of Yuanshan Tower Master for three years, given such a dazzling triumph, it seemed the time until her next promotion might not be far off."

 Chapter 34 - 34 Before Leaving

    Lu Qingshan naturally had no idea that after an exquisite analysis, the two Tower Masters of Yuanshan Tower had alreadybeled him as a Nascent Soul Cultivator with a deep hatred for the Netherworld.


    Of course, even if he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have admitted it, but he wouldn¡¯t have denied it either.


    ...


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan was located in the busiest street of Yuanshan City.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Across the street, Lu Qingshan gazed at the building bearing the Demon Hunter¡¯s League sign.


    The Demon Hunter¡¯s League, an organization both vast and loosely structured.


    Its vastnessy in the fact that, simr to Great Xia Commercial Firm and Zhi Shou Tower, it was present in nearly every major city of the Human Race.


    The loose structure was reflected in the fact that Scattered Cultivators Tower did not belong to any single power. Its administrators were formed through negotiations among multiple forces.


    The Demon Hunter¡¯s League was initially founded by several powerful Loose Cultivators, with the aim of integrating the numerous Loose Cultivators together.


    Indeed, among Human Cultivators, Loose Cultivators made up thergest proportion of individuals, and yet they were the least conspicuous.


    Without the support of Sect powers, Loose Cultivators often risked their lives to obtain cultivation resources, sometimes in vain.


    Hunting Demon Beasts has always been an extremely important way for Loose Cultivators to acquire cultivation resources.


    However, due to theck of resources, Loose Cultivators generally have lowerbat power.


    And Demon Beasts, relying on their powerful physical bodies and various innate divine abilities, can match several Loose Cultivators of the same level.


    This results in many Loose Cultivators falling victim to Demon Beasts during hunts, meeting their end on the spot.


    A significant part of the high death rate among Loose Cultivators can be attributed to Demon Beasts.


    Yet despite this, Loose Cultivators continue to charge at Demon Beasts, one after another.


    The reason is simple, without taking risks, where would resourceless Loose Cultivators find the means for cultivation?


    In such a situation, Loose Cultivators forming teams to hunt Demons became a very good method.


    But then the problem arises, how do previously unacquainted Loose Cultivators form teams?


    And how can they ensure that the Loose Cultivators they team up with are trustworthy, and won¡¯t stab them in the back?


    It¡¯s well-known that in the world of Cultivators, oftentimes humans can be more terrifying than demons and monsters.


    Those few powerful Loose Cultivators deeply understood the hardship of Loose Cultivators¡¯ lives, so they came together and established the Demon Hunter¡¯s League.


    Cultivators could issue team formation tasks through the Demon Hunter¡¯s League to find suitable Loose Cultivators and hunt Demon Beasts together.


    For everypleted Demon Hunt task, a certain number of contribution points would be rewarded, and thepleted tasks would be recorded in one¡¯s history.


    When Cultivators look for teammates, all they need to do is nce through someone¡¯s history to know if they can be trusted.


    Every day, tens of thousands of Cultivators use the Demon Hunter¡¯s League to find tasks suitable for them.


    The Demon Hunter¡¯s League is open to all Cultivators of the Human Race, whether Loose Cultivators or Sect disciples, and they can all issue and ept tasks through the league.


    For these reasons, the Demon Hunter¡¯s League gradually grew stronger.


    What led to a qualitative change for the Scattered Cultivators Alliance was that the Great Xia Imperial n felt that the Demon Hunter¡¯s League¡¯s model greatly benefited the overallbat power level of Human Cultivators, so they intervened and vigorously supported the development of the Demon Hunter¡¯s League.


    With the support of the Great Xia Imperial n, the Demon Hunter¡¯s League rapidly branched out in the cities of the Human Race, quickly bing a colossal entity.


    Until now, the Demon Hunter¡¯s League has expanded beyond just issuing team hunting tasks; it now epasses tasks rted to all aspects of a Cultivator¡¯s life.


    Whether it¡¯s searching for Spiritual Medicines, Spirit Materials, or wanting to form a team to explore ruins, all such tasks can be issued within the Demon Hunter¡¯s League.


    Of course, having developed to this extent, the Demon Hunter¡¯s League could no longer belong to just a few Cultivators.


    Today, the Demon Hunter¡¯s League is controlled jointly by influential Loose Cultivators, local Cultivator families, and Sects, each checking and bncing the other.


    The Great Xia Imperial n, as the highest ruler of the Demon Hunter¡¯s League, does not participate in its management.


    ...


    Amidst a whirlwind of thoughts, Lu Qingshan had already crossed the street and entered the hall of the Demon Hunters League opposite.


    There weren¡¯t many people in the hall at the moment.


    That was normal.


    Cultivators had exceptionally long lifespans, so their concept of time was also stretched out over longer spans.


    A month¡¯s time, to a cultivator, often felt no different from a day to ordinary people.


    Therefore, most of the time, the Demon Hunters League in a small prefecture city like Yuanshan was quite deserted.


    Lu Qingshan needed to first register an identity as a demon hunter.


    To be a demon hunter, one didn¡¯t need to meet any requirements or undergo any sort of strength evaluation.


    ¡ªCultivators were the most insecure and suspicious group, so how could they be willing to casually reveal their strengths to others?


    Bing a demon hunter required only the payment of ten First Grade Spirit Stones.


    The wealthy Lu Qingshan naturally didn¡¯t care about this small amount of money.


    After honestly paying the ten First Grade Spirit Stones and registering his basic information, Lu Qingshan took a Spirit Seal representing the identity of a demon hunter from the hands of the young female cultivator at the reception.


    This was a Spirit Seal made out of Spirit Jade, which would record all of Lu Qingshan¡¯s history within the Demon Hunters League.


    Lu Qingshan probed into it with his Divine Sense.


    Lu Qingshan (First Grade Demon Hunter)


    Points: Zero


    History: None


    A First Grade Demon Hunter was the lowest level in the Demon Hunters League.


    The level of demon hunters was determined entirely by the number and quality of the tasks theypleted, unrted to the hunter¡¯s strength.


    Afterpleting each task, hunters would receive a certain amount of points based on the difficulty of the task.


    After umting a certain number of points, demon hunters could advance to the next level.


    For example, to advance to a Second Grade Demon Hunter, one needed one hundred points.


    Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were diligent could be Second Grade Demon Hunters without much difficulty.


    Even Qi Refining Realm cultivators who had gathered enough points for promotion to Second Grade were numerous.


    The higher the level of the demon hunter, the higher the corresponding privileges.


    The higher-paying tasks often had requirements for the demon hunter¡¯s level.


    "Do you have any tasks avable that I can take, with a destination in Zhenjiang City?" Lu Qingshan inquired.


    The beautiful receptionist was quite polite and, following Lu Qingshan¡¯s request, started searching through theplex array of task Jade Slips for one that met his criteria.


    "Found one!" The receptionist let out a light exmation, picked up a Jade Slip, and handed it to Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan felt a surge of joy in his heart.


    Zhenjiang City was a thousand miles away from Yuanshan City, and tasks with Zhenjiang City as the destination generally had a higher ranking, not something that he, a First Grade Demon Hunter, would normally be able to take on.


    He didn¡¯t have the time to raise his demon hunter level to Second Grade.


    He was only trying his luck with the inquiry, not expecting to actually find one.


    Lu Qingshan took the Jade Slip.


    "Task details: The Lin Family needs to transport a batch of goods to Zhenjiang City to ensure safety on the road. Ten demon hunters are now needed to assist in the escort.


    Reward: Thirty First Grade Spirit Stones.


    Rating: Simple (Completing will earn ten points reward)."

 Chapter 35 - 35 Departure

    ```


    The remuneration wasn¡¯t high, and the points given were not plentiful, but the task¡¯s simplicity was its winning feature.


    Lu Qingshan wasn¡¯t here at the Demon Hunter Alliance to take on tasks for the sake of earning rewards.


    After killing the Crying Soul Sage and seizing those two Storage Rings, Lu Qingshan¡¯s assets now roughly equaled the entire wealth of a small Cultivator family.


    The reason he registered as a Demon Hunter was solely to findpanions who could take him to Zhenjiang City.


    Yes, Lu Qingshan was preparing to leave Yuanshan City.


    After all, Yuanshan City was just a novice vige, too small for him.


    Moreover, he had already gained enough benefits in Yuanshan City.


    If not now, when would he leave?


    He certainly couldn¡¯t be the Shili Slope Sword God and only leave the novice vige after reaching max level.


    His next destination was Zhenjiang City.


    That¡¯s right, the very Prefectural City of Zhenjiang that would suffer a massacre five monthster.


    However, the problem facing Lu Qingshan was that there was no Teleportation Array set up within Yuanshan City.


    Not only are Teleportation Arrays incredibly expensive to build, but the Spirit Stones needed for a single use are also beyond what amon Cultivator can afford.


    Thus, you won¡¯t find Teleportation Arrays in County Level cities of the Human Race.


    ¡ª¡ªIf a Teleportation Array were built within a Prefecture City, it would seldom be used throughout the year,cking practical value.


    Between Yuanshan City and Zhenjiang City, the distance spanned over a thousand miles.


    To go to Zhenjiang City, one obviously couldn¡¯t just close their eyes and walk outward blindly.


    yers have the big map to check, can always know their exact coordinates, and can also infinitely resurrect, so they can fearlessly ze through directly.


    Lu Qingshan nowcked these auxiliary functions and his life was singr; he needed to be extremely cautious.


    If he were a Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, it wouldn¡¯t be an issue, as he could ignore various terrains and fly straight to Zhenjiang City using Sword Control.


    If someone took a straight line and still got lost, then there was nothing Lu Qingshan could do.


    But he was currently only a Qi Refining Cultivator, and had to rely on his own two legs to travel.


    Rushing off without caution, not to mention getting lost inplex terrains, the mere idents that could happen on the way might cost him his life.


    Therefore, he needed to find a squad of Cultivators or a merchant convoy that was extremely familiar with the route between the two cities to follow to Zhenjiang City.


    At least they could look out for each other and not identally stumble into a nest of Demon Beasts.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan fiddled with the Jade Slip for the task in his hand for a while before finally deciding, "I¡¯ll take this task."


    "Okay, I¡¯ll register you for it right away. This task is quite popr, and you¡¯ve just taken thest spot," the receptionist female Cultivator said as she recorded, then looked up to remind, "The task is rather urgent. You are to gather at the East City Gate tomorrow at noon, remember not to bete."


    Lu Qingshan nodded to indicate he understood.


    Departing tomorrow afternoon?


    The timing is indeed urgent.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Before leaving Yuanshan City, he still had some things to do and some items to prepare.


    After leaving the Demon Hunter Alliance, Lu Qingshan quickly disappeared into the crowd.


    ...


    By the time Lu Qingshan returned to the inn.


    The King of Western Rats was in the room, looking groggy as if he hadn¡¯t woken up yet.


    Ever since eating the two Blood Spirit Beads, the King of Western Rats had been in this state.


    Lu Qingshan knew that this was because the effects of the Blood Spirit Beads enhancing the Bloodline Power had been triggered again.


    ```


    ¡ª¡ªThe bloodline talent of the King of Western Mice was much higher than he had imagined.


    "I¡¯m ready to leave Yuanshan City," Lu Qingshan bluntly told the King of Western Mice.


    "Where are you going?" The King of Western Mice was startled and asked eagerly.


    "Zhenjiang City."


    "Where is that?" A trace of confusion shed in the King of Western Mice¡¯s eyes.


    "It¡¯s the prefectural city of Zhenjiang Prefecture, a very distant ce, thousands of miles away from Yuanshan City," Lu Qingshan exined.


    "The prefectural city of Zhenjiang Prefecture," the King of Western Mice¡¯s eyes gleamed: "I will follow you there; you can¡¯t leave me behind!"


    "Are you sure you want to go with me? It could be very dangerous to apany me," Lu Qingshan wasn¡¯t trying to scare the King of Western Mice.


    The things he was going to do in Zhenjiang City indeed posed a great risk.


    "Anyway, I must follow you, Lu Qingshan, you can¡¯t just abandon me! I¡¯ve fought side by side with you against a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, we share a bond of life and death!" The King of Western Mice looked at Lu Qingshan with an aggrieved expression, as if Lu Qingshan was about to abandon his wife and children like a heartless scoundrel.


    Lu Qingshan looked at the King of Western Mice with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile: "That¡¯s true, thene with me when it¡¯s time to leave."


    The King of Western Mice, seeing that Lu Qingshan agreed to his request to apany him, had a glint of slyness sh through the befuddled eyes he had been disying.


    You really think you can fool your King, eh? Who you are, Lu Qingshan, I might not have understood before, but how can I not be clear about it now?


    And you, a Qi Refining Cultivator, managed to y a genuine Foundation Establishment expert with your sword, not to mention speaking calmly with those two terrifying cultivators.


    Which Qi Refining Cultivator could do as you do?


    Though I don¡¯t know your background, you¡¯re undeniably a big thick thigh to cling to, and I must hold on tightly, even if it¡¯s just to rub a few leg hairs.


    Besides, you¡¯ve got so many Blood Spirit Beads in your hand; I have to figure out a way to get them; the torment in my heart is real!


    The King of Western Mice felt pleased with himself.


    ...


    The King of Western Mice¡¯s little tricks were, of course, all seen by Lu Qingshan.


    The reason he didn¡¯t expose them, letting the King of Western Mice y his part, was because Lu Qingshan also had his eyes on the King of Western Mice.


    Having awakened the "Sneaky" ability and considering the situation, after consuming a few more Blood Spirit Beads, the bloodline of the phantom mouse inside him was likely to level up.


    A stock with true potential, and very naive to boot, incredibly easy to deceive.


    And now, having tricked him into following him to Zhenjiang City, this den of tigers and wolves, the King of Western Mice still thought he¡¯d struck it big.


    Isn¡¯t this the very embodiment of someone being sold and still happily counting the money for you?


    ...


    The next day.


    Lu Qingshan, after several turns, arrived near the eastern city gate of Yuanshan City.


    There, at least a dozenrge carts were parked, with quite a number of people gathered around.


    There were family cultivators from the Lin Family as well as Demon Hunters who had taken up tasks from the guild.


    "You must be Lu Qingshan," a dark-skinned middle-aged male cultivator approached.


    Lu Qingshan nodded and handed over his Spirit Seal, which represented his identity as a Demon Hunter.


    The middle-aged cultivator took the Spirit Seal, inspected it, then returned it to Lu Qingshan and introduced himself: "My name is Lin He, I am in charge of this caravan. If you have any problems along the way, you cane to me. Now hurry up and join the group; we¡¯re about to set off."


    Lu Qingshan pocketed the Spirit Seal and blended into the crowd with the caravan.


    Meanwhile, on one of the carriages of the caravan.


    Lin He stepped forward and whispered through the curtain of the carriage door, "Miss, everyone has arrived."


    "Then let¡¯s not dy; prepare to depart!" a voice with a hint of allure came from within.

 Chapter 36 - 36 Strange Discoveries

    Yuanshan City, Yuanshan Tower.


    An old man d in a grey Daoist robe walked into the tower.


    "Senior Fengxing Zi," Dantai Qingrun came forward to greet him with respect, "we¡¯re going to need your expertise with the Illusion Array."


    Fengxing Zi was a Fourth Grade Array Master with an esteemed position in the tower, not just for her as the Tower Master of Yuanshan, but even the Tower Master of Zhenjiang Tower would have to treat Fengxing Zi with courtesy.


    Fengxing Zi waved his hand casually, "No need for formalities, I just happened to be passing through your Yuanshan City. The higher-ups heard that you were having trouble with a high-rank Illusion Array here and sent me a Spirit Message, asking me to lend a hand."


    "Hurry and take me to the site of the Illusion Array. I want to see for myself what kind of Illusion Array those Demon Cultivators from the Netherworld have managed to set up!" Fengxing Zi didn¡¯t bother with more pleasantries with Dantai Qingrun. His eyes were filled with fighting spirit as he urged her on.


    Dantai Qingrun naturally did not take Fengxing Zi¡¯s impatience amiss.


    It wasmon for Array Masters of Fengxing Zi¡¯s temperament to be consumed with joy upon encountering arrays. If they weren¡¯t, they wouldn¡¯t devote themselves to the dry andplex study of formations.


    Dantai Qingrun nodded in agreement, ready to lead Fengxing Zi to the location of the Blood Pool outside Yuanshan City.


    Just at that moment, a jade pendant at Dantai Qingrun¡¯s waist shed with a ripple of aqua light.


    A Spirit Message from Jiang Rong.


    Dantai Qingrun immersed her Divine Sense in it, reading the contents of the message.


    Afterward, Dantai Qingrun¡¯s expression turned a few shades colder.


    "Tower Master Dantai, is there an emergency?" Fengxing Zi, despite being obsessed with formations, was not oblivious to the ways of the world. Seeing Dantai Qingrun¡¯s reaction, he said, "If there¡¯s something urgent, you can just order a subordinate to lead me to the Illusion Array. Your matters are more important."


    Dantai Qingrun¡¯s expression returned to calm, "It¡¯s nothing urgent, Senior Fengxing Zi. You¡¯re willing to assist our Yuanshan Tower, I wouldn¡¯t dare to show any negligence."


    ¡­


    "Lu Qingshan left the city with the Lin Family caravan at noon today, destination: Zhenjiang City."


    That was the message conveyed in Jiang Rong¡¯s Spirit Message.


    Zhenjiang City, do you think you can escape the palm of my hand?


    Dantai Qingrun chuckled silently to herself, a flicker of smugness in her eyes.


    ¡­


    Outside Yuanshan City.


    Three hours had passed since Lu Qingshan left, and the Lin Family caravan truly left without dy, not wasting a single moment on the road.


    The beasts pulling the caravan¡¯s carts were not horses but ck rhinoceroses with a faint Demon Beast bloodline.


    These ck rhinoceroses were entirely ck, with incredibly thick and strong limbs that radiated sheer power.


    On the forehead of each ck rhino was a single horn, which glinted with a dark luster under the sunlight.


    Despite their imposing appearance, these ck rhinoceroses were actually quite docile, showing not the slightest hint of ferocity.


    Thanks to their weak Demon Beast bloodline, not only were the ck rhinoceroses tremendously strong, but they also had remarkable stamina and speed.


    In merely three hours, the caravan had already covered a good distance.


    The road had changed from the wide avenue with a width of over ten meters when they left the city to a bumpy mountain trail.


    Lu Qingshan sat leisurely at the front of one of the cargo carts in the caravan, his eyes slightly squinted, appearing quite rxed and content.


    After receiving his mission, Lu Qingshan had cautiously gathered information about his employer.


    The Lin Family, a small cultivator family in Yuanshan City, controlled a vein of qingguang stone.


    Qingguang stone, a First Grade ore, wasn¡¯t overly precious, but it wasmonly used in the creation of Magic Artifacts, making it a popr material.


    So, with this vein of qingguang stone, the Lin Family had managed to flourish decently well.


    The head of the Lin Family was a Foundation Establishment Mage at the initial stage, but his time was nearly up.


    If the Lin Family couldn¡¯t produce a second Foundation Establishment Cultivator before the Family Head passed away, the decline of the family would be inevitable.


    -- Without a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, they couldn¡¯t hold onto the qingguang stone vein.


    The Ma Family, not far from the Lin Family, had been coveting the qingguang stone vein for a long time.


    As for why the Lin Family needed to transport such arge shipment all the way to Zhenjiang City a thousand miles away, one must mention the origins of the Lin Family.


    The Lin Family of Yuanshan City had broken away from the main Lin Family of Zhenjiang City many years ago.


    Although they separated from the main family, the two have maintained some faint connections over the years.


    For instance, every three years, the Yuanshan City Lin Family would tribute arge quantity of qingguang stone to the main family in Zhenjiang City in exchange for some support.


    These dozen or so carts full of goods were all qingguang stones meant for tribute to the main Lin Family in Zhenjiang City.


    Due to therge amount but low individual value of the qingguang stones, they had to resort to this mundane mode of transportation for goods to Zhenjiang City instead of using Storage Artifacts.


    The reason was simple, the worth of a Storage Artifact capable of holding so much qingguang stone far exceeded the value of the stones themselves.


    In previous years, the Lin Family could escort these qingguang stones to Zhenjiang City using their own people.


    But with the Family Head¡¯s time drawing to a close and the family urgently needing to cultivate a second Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the Family Head along with several elders from the family had recently set out to y a Second Grade Demon Beast in exchange for a few Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Although they ultimately seeded in killing the Second Grade Demon Beast, several elders, as well as the Family Head, were seriously injured and now had to recuperate quietly in their caves.


    With the tribute matter being of such importance and with no other option avable, Lin Yao, the Family Head¡¯s daughter who rarely made public appearances, had to lead the team personally to escort the qingguang stones to Zhenjiang City.


    Due to insufficient manpower, coupled with the urgency of time, they had no choice but to post a hiring mission with the Demon Hunter Alliance.


    The rise and fall of such small families are verymon, trivial matters in the cultivator¡¯s world.


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t care.


    As long as they could take him to Zhenjiang City, that would be fine.


    ...


    The caravan had been traveling for a day.


    The journey had been extremely peaceful, so peaceful that Lu Qingshan began to feel somewhat idle.


    Considering the situation, these thirty First Grade spirit stones were going to be an easy gain.


    Perhaps because of this reason, the mood of the other demon hunters apanying the caravan also seemed to improve, and they started to chat andugh.


    Lu Qingshan nced back.


    There was a carriage there, inside of which was the mysterious daughter of the Family Head of the Lin Family, Lin Yao.


    Throughout the day, Lin Yao hadn¡¯t shown herself, leaving all the affairs to be handled by Lin He.


    Lu Qingshan would asionally see Lin He, through the curtains of the carriage door, quietly reporting something to Lin Yao.


    Thump¡ª


    Someone knocked on the side of the cargo truck where Lu Qingshan was located.


    Lu Qingshan looked in the direction of the noise and saw it was a middle-aged demon hunter named Mu Shan.


    "What is it?" Lu Qingshan frowned and asked.


    With such a bold gesture, this Mu Shan obviously came with a provocative intent.


    But why?


    "Kid, I see you¡¯ve kept silent all the way here, looked pretty suffocated!" Mu Shan¡¯s voice was rough, and his tone was very unrestrained.


    Both being Qi Refining cultivators, instead of addressing each other as fellow daoists, calling Lu Qingshan ¡¯kid¡¯ contained a certain disdain.


    Lu Qingshan bowed his hands towards Mu Shan: "This ¡¯kid¡¯ myself is reserved by nature. If I have disturbed the fellow daoist in any way, I hope you can be amodating."


    While the words sounded extremely polite, the actual trantion meant something like, "None of your business if I don¡¯t talk, right?"


    Being countered by Lu Qingshan in such a manner, Mu Shan didn¡¯t know how to respond for a moment. Upon noticing the cultivators from the Lin Family snickering, he felt he had lost face: "You little brat, you think you¡¯re worthy to be on par with me? You probably just started cultivating and reached the firstyer of Qi refinement, oblivious to how high the sky and how deep the earth is."


    Lu Qingshan smiled without a word, watching Mu Shan with a calm expression.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan was impervious, and not wanting to actually start a fight, Mu Shan could only skulk away in defeat.


    Watching Mu Shan¡¯s retreating figure, a hint of suspicion shed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    If he were a spoiled scion from a major family it might make sense, but Mu Shan appeared to be just a demon hunter, evidently a loose cultivator.


    Loose cultivators are always characterized by being cautious and painstaking.


    What sort of loose cultivator would provoke a stranger over some inexplicable reason like Mu Shan?


    How could a loose cultivator with Mu Shan¡¯s disposition have survived until now?


    Something was off.


    With this thought, Lu Qingshan subconsciously cast a Heavenly Eye Technique towards Mu Shan.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Mu Shan (Human Race)


    Profession: Body Cultivation


    Cultivation Technique: [Evesting Spring Art]Lv7 (345/700) ¡ª¡ª [Spiritual Power +70, Health Recovery +1]


    Rank: Qi Refinement


    Personal Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Mana 1, Divine Soul 1, Charm 1, Stamina 4


    Health Points: 48/48


    Spiritual Power Value: 70/70


    Skills: Segment Intent lv3 (single-target attack skill), Eight Extremes Copse lv1 (single-target attack skill with control effect), ???, ...


    ...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Looking at the data information in front of him, Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    It seemed he had discovered something strange.


    A thought surfaced in his mind.


    Could it be?


    Lu Qingshan cast Heavenly Eye Technique on several other demon hunters in the caravan to verify his guess.


    Afterward, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly.


    Indeed, these thirty First Grade spirit stones were not going to be easy to earn.

 Chapter 37 - 37 Green Vine Gu

    ```


    After Mu Shan made an embarrassed retreat from Lu Qingshan¡¯s side, he pretended to be nonchnt and casually approached another Demon Hunter.


    "Big brother, that kid is slick as an eel. I did as you instructed and provoked him, hoping to force his hand, but not only did he not expose any weaknesses, he also made me lose face," Mu Shanined bitterly in a low voice to the cultivator beside him.


    Anyone overhearing their conversation would be extremely surprised.


    For the cultivator Mu Shan called "big brother" was also a Demon Hunter, by the name of Wu Xinyuan.


    From their conversation, it was clear that the two shared a deep connection.


    Yet until then, Wu Xinyuan and Mu Shan had always pretended to be strangers who had never met before.


    Wu Xinyuan¡¯s brow furrowed, and a contemtive look appeared in his eyes.


    Mu Shan, grinding his teeth in resentment, said, "Big brother, I know you are cautious, but he¡¯s just a greenhorn. How capable could he be?


    At most seventeen or eighteen years old, he might not even possess the cultivation of the fourth or fifthyer of Qi Refinement¡ªan overestimation on our part. Why fret over him, as if he could really stir up any trouble!"


    Mu Shan, feeling that he had lost face in front of Lu Qingshan, was now filled with hatred towards him. He wished he could y and debone Lu Qingshan right then and there. Seeing Wu Xinyuan still hesitant, he hurriedly urged him on.


    After hearing Mu Shan¡¯s words, Wu Xinyuan thought carefully and felt that perhaps he was being overly cautious.


    While cultivators have techniques to preserve their youth and thus their age cannot be judged by appearance...


    That usually applies to high-level cultivators.


    For Qi Refining Cultivators, their apparent age is typically their actual age.


    A youth who looked as if he barely had a beard could not be very formidable. He probably just had some luck and found a Cultivation Technique to practice, barely achieving the cultivation of the first or secondyer of Qi Refinement before daring to venture out.


    Years of walking on thin ice had made him somewhat jumpy.


    Wu Xinyuan chided himself inwardly.


    "Big brother, when do we n to make our move?"


    Wu Xinyuan hesitated for a moment, then decided, "Let¡¯s do it tonight, lest we leave things to chance."


    Throughout the day, he had already gathered all the necessary details.


    The Lin Family¡¯s apanying cultivators totaled eleven. Besides Lin He, who possessed the cultivation of the eighthyer of Qi Refinement, the rest were minor cultivators below the fifthyer of Qi Refinement.


    Then there was the Lin Family¡¯s young miss, Lin Yao, who had always stayed inside the carriage and never once showed her face.


    Though Lin Yao had never appeared in public and was quite mysterious, Wu Xinyuan knew her age¡ªbarely eighteen.


    At eighteen, how high could her cultivation be?


    On the Demon Hunters¡¯ side, there were ten in total¡ªeight of whom were his own men.


    The lowest among these eight had the cultivation of the sixthyer of Qi Refinement, and he himself, with the tenthyer, was more than enough to overpower everyone present.


    Of the remaining two Demon Hunters, one had been thoroughly investigated, a mere fifthyer Qi Refining Cultivator, of no concern. The other was that young cultivator whose background was unknown.


    With such a huge disparity in strength and the element of surprise on their side, the victory would surely be theirs with a swift attack.


    Wu Xinyuan felt assured in his heart, confident of his sess.


    ...


    Although to cultivators, the difference between day and night was not significant...


    The ck rhino still needed to rest after pulling a cart full of ore.


    Lin He carefully surveyed the terrain and chose a wind-sheltered slope without signs of Demon Beast habitation as their campsite.


    Calling it a campsite was really just forming a circle with the carts.


    ```


    Soon, under Lin He¡¯s orders, Lin Family cultivators held formation gs and began to set up a Guardian Formation around.


    Once any Demon Beasts invaded, the Guardian Formation would instantly emit a warning.


    After setting up the formation, the cultivators leaned against the carts to catch some sleep.


    The route chosen by the caravan had been traveled by others before, and even if there were Demon Beasts, they had been cleared out, so it should have been very safe in theory.


    However, if one were to embrace this thought and act recklessly in the Wilderness, such people often ended up dying horribly.


    Low Grade Demon Beasts didn¡¯t have a strong sense of territory, often wandering in search of prey.


    So even if a ce waspletely safe yesterday, there¡¯s no telling if one or two Demon Beasts might appear today.


    So this journey might seem calm, but everyone was on edge, always on high alert for the slightest rustle of wind or grass.


    Not just the ck Rhinos needed rest; in fact, the cultivators themselves were mentally drained and needed rest as well.


    Wu Xinyuan, holding a pouch of Spiritual Wine, approached Lin He and greeted cheerfully, "Manager Lin, I have a jar of Spiritual Wine here, it has a revitalizing effect. Would you like to take a few sips?"


    Lin He, with a smile, waved his hand to politely refuse, "No, thank you, Spiritual Wine isn¡¯t cheap. Fellow Daoist, you should keep it for your own enjoyment."


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    It was only proper to be wary of cultivators who were not familiar.


    Lin He dared not drink the wine carelessly.


    Wu Xinyuan didn¡¯t seem to mind Lin He¡¯s polite refusal and turned to leave.


    At that moment, Mu Shan came over from the side, pped Wu Xinyuan on the back, and shouted, "Look at you, Wu Xinyuan, that¡¯s not very nice, just asking Manager Lin and not us. What, do you look down on us Loose Cultivators?"


    Perhaps because the action was too sudden, it startled Wu Xinyuan.


    The water pouch in Wu Xinyuan¡¯s hand slipped and fell to the ground.


    The Spiritual Wine spilled from the pouch, filling the air with a fragrant aroma.


    Wu Xinyuan, looking at the spilled Spiritual Wine, felt a pang of heartache andined to Mu Shan, "This pouch of Spiritual Wine costs five First Grade Spirit Stones, and now it¡¯s all wasted."


    Mu Shan promptly offered an apology with a gesture of courtesy.


    Lin He sniffed the air filled with the scent of the wine and expressed surprise, "What kind of Spiritual Wine is this? Such a rich fragrance."


    A vicious gleam flickered in Wu Xinyuan¡¯s eyes, "This wine is called ¡¯Meng Po Soup.¡¯ When the old fool reaches the Netherworld below, he can drink to his heart¡¯s content!"


    Lin He¡¯s expression changed dramatically upon hearing this, "You..."


    Wu Xinyuanughed coldly, "Realizing it only now? Then it¡¯s toote!"


    As he spoke, Lin He suddenly stiffened, and a shimmering green light shed across his face.


    [Green Vine Gu]: A First Grade Gu Insect that emits a strange and unmistakable scent of wine.


    Special Effect: Once it parasitizes a cultivator, it can release the poison of the Green Vine, rendering the parasitized cultivator unable to use their Spiritual Power for a period of time.


    Among First Grade Gu Insects, the Green Vine Gu is considered quite powerful. The Spirit Banning effect is essentially lethal to Lower Grade cultivators who have limited means at their disposal.


    But the w of this Gu is also quite obvious; Green Vine Gu naturally carries a strong scent of wine, which makes it difficult to use except in special circumstances.


    With the slightest caution, a fragile poison Gu like the Green Vine Gu, which cannot approach a cultivator, would be ineffective.


    But Wu Xinyuan, using the aroma of the Spiritual Wine, covered up the Green Vine Gu¡¯s own scent, catching Lin He entirely off guard.


    Wu Xinyuan was a Gu Cultivator.


    A Gu Cultivator is a branch of Beast Cultivators. Due to the devious nature of Gu Insects, Gu Cultivators¡¯ methods are particrly insidious and hard to guard against.

 Chapter 38 - 38 Phantom Sound

    ```


    Boom¡ª


    Just as Lin He was hit, Mu Shan had already unleashed Segment Intent, his fist enveloped in a fine green glow, carrying a fierce punch wind, with a formidable momentum, and unexpectedly mmed towards a Qi Refinement Fourth Grade Cultivator from the Lin Family nearby.


    The Lin Family Cultivator never expected the Demon Hunter beside him to suddenly attack, unprepared, he was blown to the side, a spray of fresh blood gushing out, having suffered severe injuries!


    It was like a chain reaction.


    The moment Mu Shan made his move, the other six Demon Hunters also almost simultaneously struck at the Lin Family Cultivators beside them.


    It turned out that these Demon Hunters had somehow already positioned themselves at intervals, so naturally, each one stood right next to a Lin Family Cultivator.


    These Demon Hunters were originally of higher Cultivation than the Lin Family Cultivators, and with the added element of surprise, it was only a moment before most of the Lin Family Cultivators had already sustained considerable injuries.


    "Lin He has been captured by me. If you surrender, you can avoid death!" Wu Xinyuan shouted across the field, pping his Spirit Beast Bag.


    Buzz buzz buzz¡ª


    Apanied by an annoying buzzing sound, a swarm of yellow-brown Gu Insects appeared beside Wu Xinyuan.


    These Gu Insects were shaped like wasps, their bodies covered in dense fuzz, with two pairs of jet-ck wings, the forewingsrger than the hindwings, and an ¡¯eight¡¯ shaped waist, but what drew the most attention was their sharp mouthparts. Under the light¡¯s reflection, they shone with a dark golden glow.


    The Dark Gold Wasp Gu!


    Unlike the Green Vine Gu, the Dark Gold Wasp Gu was an offensive Gu Insect. Its sharp mouthparts were like Silver Needle Magic Artifacts, capable of easily breaking through a Cultivator¡¯s Defensive Spells.


    Hearing Wu Xinyuan¡¯s threat, the Demon Hunters also stopped the spells they were casting and did not continue to attack the Lin Family Cultivators.


    The Lin Family Cultivators looked at each other.


    ¡ªThe most powerful among them, Lin He, had been hit by the Green Vine Gu and was powerless to resist.


    And each one of these Demon Hunters possessed no small amount of Cultivation; none present could withstand the Dark Gold Wasp Gu.


    Perhaps surrender was indeed the best choice?


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Some began to waver.


    "I surrender, I don¡¯t know anything, I have no rtion to the Lin Family whatsoever," someone pleaded as the Cultivators remained silent at the scene.


    It was none other than Liu Ai, the only Demon Hunter present who was not affiliated with Wu Xinyuan aside from Lu Qingshan.


    "Fellow Wu, I just wanted to earn thirty First Grade Spirit Stones. Let me leave, and I¡¯ll immediately travel far away, never to step back in Yuanshan City; I absolutely will not leak anything about today," Liu Ai said with a fawning face.


    He wasn¡¯t stupid, swiftly making a promise never to return to Yuanshan City,


    ¡ªOnly by staying away from Yuanshan City could he ensure not to divulge secrets to the Lin Family.


    "Do you think that by giving up without a fight, Wu Xinyuan will let you go?" suddenly the curtain of the carriage was lifted.


    A female figure emerged, graceful and enveloped in an indescribable aura.


    The woman was dressed in a Tian Qing long dress, the slim hem just containing her long and slender legs. The curves of her graceful and voluptuous body were hidden by the dress, but their charm was still evident with every movement.


    Moving the gaze up, there was a light veil covering the woman¡¯s face, revealing only eyes filled with a watery autumn gleam.


    It was the mysterious daughter of the Lin Family Head, Lin Yao.


    At this moment, the Cultivators on the field, including those from the Lin Family, all felt a spell of dizziness and fascination.


    It wasn¡¯t because of Lin Yao¡¯s beauty.


    ```


    It¡¯s too exaggerated and ridiculous to say that a mere appearance can stun and silence people. In reality, no matter how beautiful a woman is, how could there be such a ludicrous situation where people be so dazzled and mesmerized that they can¡¯t speak?


    The cultivators were struck dumb not because of Lin Yao¡¯s looks, but because of her voice.


    That voice clearly came from Lin Yao on top of the carriage, but it sounded ethereal, as ifing from all directions, and it carried a strange magic that made people lose themselves.


    Even the Dark Assassination Gold Bee Gu, which had been buzzing nonstop, fell silent for a moment due to its trance.


    But it was just a brief moment, Wu Xinyuan quickly snapped out of it and looked at Lin Yao with a guarded expression, "What kind of technique is this? A sonic attack?"


    "Wu Xinyuan, or should I call you Ma Yuan?" Lin Yao said quietly as she looked at Wu Xinyuan.


    "Ma Yuan is skilled in Gu Art, that¡¯s right, it must be you, you actually came back!" Hearing his miss say this, Lin He finally remembered something and eximed in shock.


    Ma Yuan looked at Lin Yao¡¯s veiled face, his expression ferocious, "I didn¡¯t expect you to know so much, yes, it¡¯s me, you probably didn¡¯t expect me to dare to appear."


    "Back then, you vited Great Xia¡¯s bans, concocted Evil Gu, and were cast out from the Ma Family, and since then you disappeared without a trace, everyone thought you had fled far away.


    Who would have thought that over the years you didn¡¯t actually leave, but rather quietly changed your identity and stayed in Yuanshan City, and have been in touch with the Ma Family all along." The distant voice came from Lin Yao.


    Afterward, Lin Yao¡¯s eyes flickered with a watery light as she looked at the surrounding cultivators, "Ma Yuan concocted the Evil Gu, which Great Xia cannot condone, to avoid his identity being exposed, how could he let us go easily?"


    Ma Yuan¡¯s face went through a series of changes.


    Indeed, he had never intended to let these people go.


    The reason he urged them to surrender was merely to have the Lin Family cultivators give up resisting, in order to minimize losses.


    The Lin Family cultivators were not fools, after being awakened by Lin Yao¡¯s words, they one by one brought out their magic artifacts, ready to fight to the death.


    People are all made of flesh and blood¡ªif there was a chance for them to live by cowering, that would be one thing, but knowing that death was certain, it instead made the Lin Family cultivators determined to fight.


    ¡ªThey would at least have to tear off ayer of your skin.


    "Fellow Daoist Wu, I¡¯ll lend you a helping hand, and we will surely capture all these Lin Family cultivators!" Liu Ai, who had been begging for mercy, struggled internally for a moment before finally making a choice.


    The gap in strength between the two sides was obvious, and choosing the Lin Family¡¯s side meant certain death.


    If he chose to side with Ma Yuan, however, there was still a glimmer of hope for survival.


    ¡ªIf he also took part in the action to strike down the Lin Family cultivators, it was almost the same as having submitted his allegiance, bing one of the crew on the ship of thieves. Perhaps then Ma Yuan would spare him.


    "Good, Fellow Daoist Liu, you truly are a smart person!" Seeing this, Ma Yuanughed wildly.


    "Miss Lin has quite the way with words, but unfortunately, in the face of absolute power, all these struggles are in vain!" Ma Yuan turned back and said to Lin Yao with smug pride.


    No sooner had he spoken than Ma Yuan, with a thought, ordered the Dark Assassination Gold Bee Gu, nurtured with his essence blood, to charge at Lin Family cultivators and Lin He, who was temporarily unable to mobilize his spiritual power.


    He would kill this old man first to avoid any moreplications.


    Just then, red light burst forth, and a fiery red Fire Serpent appeared out of nowhere, flicking its tongue and, with a sh of its form, shot towards Ma Yuan¡¯s Dark Assassination Gold Bee Gu.


    Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle¡ª


    A piercing burning sound arose.


    Though the Dark Assassination Gold Bee Gu was an offensive Gu Insect with some defensive capabilities, they were no match for the Fire Serpent¡¯s terrifyingly powerful attacks.


    Most of Ma Yuan¡¯s carefully nurtured Dark Assassination Gold Bee Gu, umted over many years, was roasted in an instant, turned ck all over, like charred coal, and fell to the ground.


    "How is this possible?!" Ma Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank, filled with a look of disbelief.

 Chapter 39: The Beginning and the End

    Time rewound three hours earlier.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze hardened as he looked at Mu Shan¡¯s attribute panel.


    He noticed a small detail.


    In the NPC name column, the demon hunter called Mu Shan was disyed as Ma Shan.


    Falsifying one¡¯s name was not unusual.


    When you¡¯re adrift in the jianghu, who doesn¡¯t prepare a few aliases for protection?


    But the issue lies with the surname.


    Mu Shan¡¯s real surname was Ma.


    It was a curious coincidence that the Lin Family¡¯s longtime nemesis in Yuanshan City happened to be the Ma Family.


    Just a coincidence?


    Lu Qingshan was not very convinced.


    Experiences from the game "Nine Heavens" taught him one thing: any incident that looks like a coincidence is usually a trapid by the game designers for the yers!


    Therefore, to confirm his suspicions, Lu Qingshan used his Heavenly Eye Technique to probe each of the remaining demon hunters one by one.


    Strangely enough, with the exception of a demon hunter called Liu Ai, the cultivation of all the other demon hunters was above the sixth level of Qi Refinement.


    During Lin He¡¯s routine questioning earlier, the highest cultivation level anyone imed to have was the sixth level of Qi Refinement.


    ¡ªIncluding Lu Qingshan, who also concealed his true cultivation level from Lin He.


    Among these cultivators who lied about their cultivation levels, the one who called himself Wu Xinyuan but was actually Ma Yuan, the Gu Cultivator, was the most striking.


    Qi Refinement tenth level.


    How could a Qi Refining Cultivator at the tenth level still be interested in a mere task offering thirty first-grade spirit stones as a reward?


    With suspicions aroused, Lu Qingshan, after a brief observation, easily discovered that these demon hunters who reported false cultivation levels had some private exchanges and movements that revealed one piece of information.


    They were acquainted with each other before this, and even seemed to implicitly regard Ma Yuan as their leader.


    This situation was clear at a nce.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes flickered.


    ...


    An hour ago.


    When Lin He was preparing to survey the terrain to find a suitable encampment spot,


    Lu Qingshan unintentionally walked up to Lin He.


    Catching sight of Lu Qingshan out of the corner of his eye, Lin He politely asked, "Is there something you need, fellow Daoist?"


    "Steward Lin, I have a question. Has the Lin Family recently offended someone?" Lu Qingshan asked with a smile, yet his words were incredibly startling.


    Lin He felt a jolt in his heart as he perceived the deeper meaning behind Lu Qingshan¡¯s question, "Why do you ask, fellow Daoist?"


    Lu Qingshan responded cheerfully, "It¡¯s nothing serious, I just feel that hiring these high-cultivation demon hunters for a reward of thirty first-grade spirit stones doesn¡¯t seem realistic."


    Lin He frowned.


    Qi Refining Cultivators haven¡¯t yet mastered the ability of "External Divine Sense", so unless they cultivate a special spell, it¡¯s impossible to know the level of a cultivator¡¯s cultivation.


    "What do you mean?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "I possess a detection spell that can roughly gauge the fluctuation of spiritual power on a cultivator, thereby determining their level of cultivation.


    With nothing better to do, I tried the spell on the demon hunters and found their cultivation to be quite high. The spiritual power fluctuation from Wu Xinyuan was even significantly stronger than that of Steward Lin."


    Lin He¡¯splexion changed.


    With Lu Qingshan hinting so heavily, if he still couldn¡¯t realize the gravity of the situation, he would have lived his years in vain.


    Lin He gave Lu Qingshan a slight bow of his hands, "Thank you for the warning, fellow Daoist."


    Lu Qingshan nced at Ma Shan and Ma Yuan, who were sneaking around not far away, and said nonchntly, "Manager Lin, you¡¯re too kind."


    Lu Qingshan turned and left.


    After pondering for a moment, Lin He, appearing as if nothing had happened, walked over to the carriage and whispered something to someone inside.


    To the onlookers, this seemed normal, probably reporting something to Miss Lin of the Lin family.


    Suddenly, Miss Lin handed a storage bag out of the carriage.


    Lin He took the storage bag, took out several formation gs from it, and ordered the Lin family cultivators to set the gs up.


    It was just an ungraded Guardian Formation.


    Ma Yuan, who had been closely observing Lin He¡¯s movements, somewhat rxed his vignt gaze upon seeing this.


    ...


    ...


    Lin He, who was supposed to bepletely defenseless, was now holding a formation g, controlling the Fire Serpents, and relentlessly ravaging his covert Golden Bee Gu.


    Bright red glows shot up from all around.


    They were from a First Grade Formation, the Fire Serpent Formation, that had beenid out in advance.


    Ma Yuan couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.


    He had no idea when Lin He had set up the Fire Serpent Formation.


    Suddenly, Ma Yuan, as if realizing something, shuddered violently and came to a realization, "The formation gs you had your cultivators set up earlier were not some Guardian Formation at all, but the formation gs for this formation!"


    Lin He nodded, "You¡¯re right. The Ma Family indeed has deep schemes. If it weren¡¯t for Daoist Lu¡¯s prior warning, which made me take precautions, I¡¯m afraid I would have fallen into your trap by now."


    At that thought, a chill shed through Lin He¡¯s heart.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The Ma Family had long coveted the Lin Family¡¯s Green Light Stone veins, and this was, of course, crystal clear to the Lin family.


    Although the Ma Family was overall much stronger than the Lin Family, they only had one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, just like the Lin Family, so they did not dare to act rashly.


    After all, fighting between Foundation Establishment Cultivators was unpredictable. If both sides were injured in the conflict, it would only benefit other families, akin to ¡¯trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it¡¯.


    Moreover, there was also the deterrence of the Lin Family in Zhenjiang City.


    Therefore, the Ma Family had suppressed their restless hearts for years.


    But now with the impending demise of the Lin Family Head, if the connection between the Lin Family of Zhenjiang City and Yuanshan City could be severed, then the Green Light Stone vein would almost certainly fall into the hands of the Ma Family.


    The Lin Family of Zhenjiang City, with dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators and several Golden Core Cultivators, was definitely a behemoth for the Ma Family.


    If the Lin Family of Yuanshan City truly held tight to this powerful support, the Ma Family wouldn¡¯t dare to make any reckless moves even if they had a hundred times the guts.


    Unfortunately, the Lin Family of Yuanshan City couldn¡¯t even be considered a branch of the Lin Family in Zhenjiang City.


    Their Family Head, Lin Qitian, was originally the son of a Foundation Establishment elder from the Lin Family in Zhenjiang City.


    Lin Qitian hadmitted some mistakes and vited family rules, resulting in his expulsion from the family.


    After his exile to Yuanshan City, Lin Qitian, through years of hard work, had actually flourished, establishing a not-so-small base of operations rtive to Yuanshan City.


    Once he had established a small base, Lin Qitian thought of returning to his roots, so he took Green Light Stone as a knocking brick and went back to Zhenjiang City, reconnecting with the Lin Family there.


    The Lin Family in Zhenjiang City, wealthy and powerful as they were, wouldn¡¯t exactly covet Green Light Stone, but they certainly wouldn¡¯t p their own face and readmit Lin Qitian just for some Green Light Stone.


    However, with his elder father¡¯s persuasion, even though Lin Qitian¡¯s status was not acknowledged in the end, the Lin Family of Zhenjiang City grudgingly epted the contributions from the Lin Family of Yuanshan City.


    Every three years, Lin Qitian contributed arge batch of Green Light Stone to the Lin Family in Zhenjiang City, and in return, the Lin Family would provide the Lin Family in Yuanshan City with some pills and magic artifacts that were difficult to acquire on the market as resource support.


    And that was that.


    Lin Qitian¡¯s elder father had passed away many years ago, and there were no longer any influential voices in the Lin Family of Zhenjiang City who could speak for them.


    If their contribution was disturbed again this time, the already tenuous link between the Lin Family of Yuanshan City and the Lin Family of Zhenjiang City, based on Green Light Stone, would probably break.


    At this thought, Lin He couldn¡¯t help feeling a trace of fear and a sense of relief.


    Fortunately, it was Lu Qingshan who discovered the oddity with these demon hunters; otherwise, they might have really been doomed this time.

 Chapter 40 - 40 Killing Ma Yuan

    "Lu Dao You?" Ma Yuan was momentarily stunned, not immediately recognizing who Lu Dao You referred to as mentioned by Lin He.


    "Big brother, it¡¯s that yellow-haired brat!" Ma Shan said indignantly from the side.


    After that, Ma Shan looked around at the many cultivators on the scene and noticed a detail that he had previously overlooked.


    "Where is Lu Qingshan?!" Ma Shan asked in astonishment and uncertainty.


    Indeed, it was conspicuous that among the cultivators present, Lu Qingshan was the only one missing.


    Triggered by Ma Shan¡¯s remark, Lin He also realized that at some point, Lu Qingshan had disappeared into the crowd.


    However, the pressing matter at hand was still to deal with Ma Yuan and hispanions.


    Lin He waved the g in his hand,manding the Fire Serpent to spew out a ze, finally capturing all of Ma Yuan¡¯s Dark Stinger Gold Bee Gu insects without sparing a single one.


    Seeing the corpses of the Dark Stinger Gold Bee Gu insects all over the ground, Ma Yuan felt a pang in his heart, and a ruthless intent gradually emerged on his face.


    Watching Lin He manipte the Fire Serpent to split and charge towards his own party,


    Ma Yuan could no longer contain his anger.


    "Old fool, you¡¯re pushing me too far!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Ma Yuan¡¯s body suddenly radiated a thick blood light.


    Pop¡ª


    Pop¡ª


    Pop¡ª


    A session of sounds of clothes bursting echoed.


    Ma Yuan¡¯s body inted like a balloon, his clothing tearing apart in an instant to reveal his muscr body.


    Menacing blood-colored patterns emerged on Ma Yuan¡¯s naked body, like magma coursing over a cracked earth.


    Facing Ma Yuan¡¯s sudden transformation, Lin He¡¯s face shed with shock, "Blood Frenzy Gu, you¡¯ve actually managed to cultivate it!"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Blood Frenzy Gu]: First Grade Gu Insect.


    Description: Requires human children as the main material for cultivation, taking years to slowly refine. Once sessful, its power is unstoppable.


    Refining Requirements: Charm Attribute Points greater than 5


    Gu Insect Effect: Upon activation of the Blood Frenzy Gu, the cultivator enters a berserk state, immune to most First Grade spell damage, Strength +n (n = Charm Attribute Points), Health Points +30.


    Duration: Three minutes


    Cooldown: Sixty days


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    This Gu Insect, once refined within the Qi Refining Realm, was nearly invincible.


    The process of refining the Blood Frenzy Gu was extremely cruel, taking one human child as the raw material, paired with a hundred poisonous insects as auxiliary materials, sealed within a closed container for years of refinement.


    During this period, not only was it necessary to ensure the survival of the child, but the Gu cultivator also had to continuously nourish it with their own essence blood.


    Back then, Ma Yuan was discovered during the process of refining this Gu, and under the pressure from Great Xia, the Ma Family had no choice but to cleanse their household.


    Who could have expected that Ma Yuan, pretending to escape, changed his identity andy low in Yuanshan City.


    After lying low, Ma Yuan did not give up on refining the Blood Frenzy Gu but instead continued his previous work and eventually seeded in cultivating it!


    ¡ªThe failure rate of refining Blood Frenzy Gu is very high.


    Hiss¡ª


    Having activated the Blood Frenzy Gu, Ma Yuan became ferociously vigorous, facing an oing Fire Serpent head-on without dodging. He stretched out his swollen hands and forcefully grasped the Fire Serpent made of spiritual power.


    Ma Yuan gave Lin He a sinisterugh as he looked at him, the light shing fiercely on the blood-colored patterns in his hands, and brutally tore the Fire Serpent in two in front of everyone.


    Sparks scattered everywhere,nding on Ma Yuan¡¯s body.


    Ma Yuan remained unaffected.


    To know, a First Grade formation controlled by someone would normally leave a Qi Refining Cultivator utterly powerless to resist.


    But at this moment, under the enhancement of the Blood Frenzy Gu, Ma Yuan was not at all afraid of the power of the Fire Serpent Formation.


    The terror of the Blood Frenzy Gu was such!


    "Miss, you must flee; I¡¯ll stop him! Since the Ma Family has harbored Ma Yuan in cultivating the Evil Gu, we just need to report it to Great Xia, and the Ma Family won¡¯t escape inquiry!" Seeing this turn of events, Lin He realized that there was probably no chance of surviving under the hands of Ma Yuan, now that he had seeded in cultivating the Blood Frenzy Gu.


    All he could think of now was using the power of the Fire Serpent Formation to hold Ma Yuan back for a while, to allow Lin Yao a chance to escape.


    Lin Yao bit her lip, unsure of what to do.


    In a trance,


    Ma Yuan¡¯s figure shed as he charged toward Lin He.


    Once Lin He was killed and the formation g seized, with no Fire Serpent Formation for cover, the remaining Lin Family cultivators would be no more thanmbs to the ughter!


    "Miss Lin, use your Phantom Sound to control Ma Yuan for a breaths¡¯ time; I can kill him."


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    A strange man¡¯s voice suddenly came to Lin Yao¡¯s ear.


    His tone was calm, but the content of the message left Lin Yao in disbelief.


    At this moment, under such conditions, Ma Yuan could be called an invincible existence among Qi Refining Cultivators.


    Who would dare to im they could kill him!


    Yet the firmness in the man¡¯s voice made Lin Yao unconsciously follow hismands.


    "Imperial!" Lin Yao whispered, her lips parting slightly.


    Imperial Soul Sound Wave Secret Technique!


    Even in his frenzied state, Ma Yuan might be immune to most of the damage from First Grade Spells, but that was limited to those that attacked the physical body.


    His divine soul protection had not been strengthened at all by the Blood Frenzy Gu.


    And the Imperial Soul Sound Wave that Lin Yao cast targeted his divine soul directly.


    Ma Yuan felt only a shock to his divine soul and briefly lost consciousness.


    Upon seeing this, Lin Yao sighed internally.


    Divine Soul Attack Secret Techniques were too precious and not something a minor Lin family could possess.


    The Imperial Soul Sound Wave she emitted, though aimed at the divine soul, was actually not considered a Divine Soul Attack Technique.


    Because the Imperial Soul Sound Wave had no lethality, it only momentarily stunned the divine soul, causing Ma Yuan to lose concentration momentarily.


    But even the non-lethal Imperial Soul Sound Wave Secret Technique was something her father had sought from the Lin Family in Zhenjiang City.


    Such techniques were not avable in Yuanshan City.


    In the very moment Lin Yao released the Imperial Soul Sound Wave, a shadow shed by.


    It was Lu Qingshan!


    The strange man giving orders to Lin Yao was none other than Lu Qingshan, who had vanished from the crowd at some unknown time.


    He had disappeared without a trace, only to suddenly reappear.


    As Ma Yuan was just recovering from Lin Yao¡¯s Imperial Soul Sound Wave attack, he saw a sh of cold light in front of him.


    Then his divine soul shook again.


    Again?!


    In the moment before losing consciousness, this thought crossed Ma Yuan¡¯s mind.


    Crying Soul Sword, "Soul Shock"!


    The Soul Shock Technique, difficult for even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to withstand, was obviously something Ma Yuan had no chance of resisting.


    Falling Bright Sword Technique!


    Crying Soul Sword: Sharpness +1.


    Just enough to break defense.


    Lu Qingshan moved extremely fast, his swordy swift as the wind, his figure elusive as a ghost. Within the duration of the Soul Shock effect, two cold shes had already passed by.


    Lu Qingshan struck with two swords.


    By the time Ma Yuan regained his senses, his entire body was already in severe, burning pain.


    Ma Yuan felt intimidated.


    Years of battle experience allowed Ma Yuan to subconsciously sidestep as Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword descended once more, trying to evade the de¡¯s edge.


    Even in a frenzied state, he could not ignore the damage from Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword techniques.


    However, what he expected to be a swift sidestep, evading the attack, did not go as nned.


    It was as if he were trapped in a swamp, his movements inexplicably slowed.


    Falling Bright Sword Technique: Each sword strike carries ayer of the Power of Dark Erosion, eachyer slowing the speed by 1, stackable.


    Twoyers of the Power of Dark Erosion had been stacked on Ma Yuan, reducing his speed by 2.


    Not adjusting in time, he was as if dyed, and was struck by another one of Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword techniques.


    Explode!


    With a thought, Lu Qingshan detonated the threeyers of Dark Erosion Power umted on Ma Yuan¡¯s body.


    Ma Yuan fell into a "Bind" state!


    Without any mercy, Lu Qingshan delivered another sword strike right at the head.


    A series of data information appeared:


    "You have activated the Sword Artifact Skill ¡¯Soul Shock¡¯."


    "¡¯Soul Shock¡¯ has sessfully hit. The target will enter a temporary Soul Loss State..."


    "You have used Falling Bright Sword Technique on the target, Falling Bright Sword Technique hit... causing 10 points of damage!" (x3)


    "You detonated Dark Erosion, the target is temporarily bound!"


    "You have used Falling Bright Sword Technique on the target, Falling Bright Sword Technique hit... causing 10 points of damage, and an additional 5 (10*0.5) points of vital damage, inflicting a total of 15 points of damage on the target!"


    ...


    "The target has died, you have killed Ma Yuan (Lv10), and gained a total of 100 experience points!"


    ...

 Chapter 41 - 41 Phantom Body Divine Vein (Part 1)

    Sword Light shed and Ma Yuan¡¯s head was already severed.


    In just a blink of an eye, the once invincible Ma Yuan was headless on the ground, leaving Lin Yao feeling utterly shocked.


    "Is this the Falling Bright Sword Technique? Why is it so powerful!"


    The Falling Bright Sword Technique was not an umon sword technique, and Lin Yao had seen many Sword Cultivators use it before.


    But like Lu Qingshan, to execute this sword technique to such a degree, as if reaching the pinnacle of perfection, she had never seen before.


    "Such a strong Sword Cultivator!"


    On the other side, Lin He felt even more amazed than Lin Yao, muttering somewhat dazedly.


    Having lived to his age, a Cultivator naturally has more experience than Lin Yao.


    He could better appreciate the profound mastery of the sword technique Lu Qingshan had disyed.


    Falling Bright Sword Technique Lv10 (max!)!


    To others, the max level Falling Bright Sword Technique was mysterious and profound, each sh being incredibly exquisite and ultimate swordsmanship.


    How could a youth of such an age have researched swordsmanship to this extent?


    Lin He was greatly perturbed.


    "How is this possible..." Seeing his older brother killed in an instant by the young brat he had always scorned, Ma Shan felt bewildered, his lips trembling, unable to believe it.


    "I¡¯ll leave the rest up to you, Steward Lin," Lu Qingshan nced at the dispirited Ma Shan without rushing to make another move, letting Lin He handle the cleanup.


    After killing Ma Yuan, among the remaining Demon Hunters at the scene, none could withstand the power of the Fire Serpent Formation set up by Lin He.


    It was naturally no problem for Lin He to take down these Demon Hunters.


    Though Lu Qingshan could have personally killed these Demon Hunters and gained a batch of Experience Points,


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    he still handed over the disposal rights of these Demon Hunters to the Lin Family.


    After all, it was a dispute between two families, and keeping these people was clearly more useful for the Lin Family.


    Besides, he currently had over four thousand Experience Points umted and did not care much for these points.


    Upon this reminder from Lu Qingshan, Lin He came back to his senses, reactivated the Fire Serpent, and swiftly moved to attack all the remaining Demon Hunters, including the defector Liu Ai.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan walked leisurely to Lin Yao¡¯s side.


    Waves surged in Lin Yao¡¯s crystalline eyes as she slightly bowed toward Lu Qingshan, "I am greatly indebted to Young Master Lu for your assistance this time. The Lin Family will definitely not forget the help you have provided.


    Please do say if you need anything, Young Master Lu. If it is within our capabilities, the Lin Family will do our utmost to meet your needs."


    Lin Yao¡¯s voice was soft, her words exceedingly polite, but they subtly conveyed an undertone of inquiry.


    Ma Yuan and these Demon Hunters concealed their strengths and epted the task published by the Lin Family in the Demon Hunter Alliance.


    It was not for the so-called reward but with ulterior motives, trying to intercept the tribute and eyeing the Lin Family¡¯s Qing Light Stone mine.


    And you, Lu Qingshan, also concealed your strength and epted the Lin Family¡¯s task, obviously not for the so-called three first-grade Spirit Stones reward.


    So, what is your purpose?


    Please speak your intentions. If it¡¯s within our means, we are naturally willing to offer, as a way to repay Young Master Lu for your assistance."


    Lu Qingshan, understanding the hidden meaning in Lin Yao¡¯s words, smiled serenely and said, "Miss Lin might be mistaken; I was initially just taking advantage of your family¡¯s convenience to travel to Zhenjiang City. Your Lin Family has nothing that I desire."


    Hearing this, Lin Yao was neither annoyed nor angry, she chuckled lightly, "Young Master Lu, for someone of your age to have such cultivation, you muste from a distinguished lineage. My humble Lin Family indeed has nothing that could catch your eye."


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, his gaze sizing up Lin Yao¡¯s graceful figure, and said leisurely, "However... now there is."


    Lin Yao saw Lu Qingshan¡¯s odd expression and seemed to think of something, her brows slightly furrowing as she said, "Young Master Lu, what do you mean by that?"


    Seeing Lin Yao¡¯s hedgehog-like defensive stance, Lu Qingshan realized she must have misunderstood something. Finding it somewhat amusing, he exined, "You¡¯re overthinking it. I¡¯m not interested in your beauty."


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s words made Lin Yao feel somewhat embarrassed, but it also relieved her slightly.


    Her face showed no signs of her thoughts as she dignifiedly responded, "I was being presumptuous. How could Young Master Lu, a young and outstanding figure, be a cultivator who indulges in frivolous pleasures?"


    Lu Qingshan saw that Lin Yao¡¯s words and demeanor were very natural, and her reaction calm, he nodded inwardly.


    Though still quite naive, she was a clever woman. With proper guidance, her potential could be unearthed, not letting her talent go to waste.


    Lu Qingshan chuckled lightly, "However, I am indeed interested in you.


    Phantom Body Divine Vein, that is a remarkable talent."


    Although her face was veiled with a light scarf, obscuring any detailed expression changes, Lu Qingshan could still feel from her eyes that Lin Yao¡¯s emotions were greatly fluctuating.


    "Phantom Body Divine Vein?" Lin Yao murmured. "What do you mean by that?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "Your unique physique is the Phantom Body Divine Vein."


    "What is the Phantom Body Divine Vein?" asked Lin Yao, her eyes rippling like water.


    This peculiar physical condition had troubled her for a long time. Her father had even consulted many high-level cultivators and looked through numerous records, all to no avail.


    Yet today, she finally heard news about her own constitution from the mouth of this young man before her.


    "The Phantom Body Divine Vein is divided into fouryers; Phantom Sound, Phantom Pupil, Phantom Face, and the highest realm, Phantom Body. Currently, you are in the firstyer of the Phantom Body Divine Vein, called Phantom Sound."


    After a brief pause, Lu Qingshan continued, "Phantom Sound can greatly enhance the power of your sound-based techniques. Moreover, it possesses a very important ability. You can transform your voice into any sound you have heard before, seamlessly."


    Lin Yao was momentarily startled.


    She had just demonstrated the first ability of Phantom Sound, but she had never used the voice-changing ability of Phantom Sound in front of others.


    Yet Lu Qingshan spoke of it outright.


    Undoubtedly, Lu Qingshan was not deceiving her. He truly knew the specifics of her condition.


    Lin Yao pursed her lips and then asked, "Then how should I awaken higher realms of the Phantom Body Divine Vein? What other mysteries will the Phantom Body Divine Vein reveal atter stages?"


    Lu Qingshan did not directly answer Lin Yao¡¯s question, but instead asked, "At the beginning, were you unable to control your voice well?"


    Lin Yao slightly nodded her head, affirming what Lu Qingshan said.


    In her early years, she could not control her Phantom Sound ability, often emitting voices of other family members, which quite frightened her father, making him think she was bewitched.


    That was why her father prevented her from appearing in public.


    After all, if a young girl suddenly spoke with the voice of a seventy or eighty-year-old male cultivator, anyone would find the scene unsettling.


    "Since you started cultivating, as your cultivation improved, were you gradually able to control your abilities?"


    Lin Yao nodded again.


    Her eyes then shed with understanding.


    She quickly grasped the implication in Lu Qingshan¡¯s words.


    "You mean, as my cultivation improves, the next realm of the Phantom Body Divine Vein will awaken automatically!" Lin Yao opened her mouth slightly, expressing her conjecture.


    She had already noticed that as her cultivation improved, her mastery over the Phantom Sound also became more proficient.


    She just hadn¡¯t expected there to be higher realms following Phantom Sound.


    Phantom Pupil, Phantom Face, and Phantom Body!

 Chapter 42 - 42 Phantom Body Divine Vein (Part 2)

    [Phantom Body Divine Vein] (Legendary Talent)


    Description: A growth-type legendary talent that automatically awakens new talent effects as the Cultivation level increases.


    Talent effects:


    Divided into fouryers.


    First Layer: Phantom Sound (Qi Refining Realm): 1. Soundwave-ss Techniques skill level +5.


    2. Can transform one¡¯s own voice into any sound.


    Note: The transformed sound cannot be a figment of the imagination, it must be a sound that one has heard before.


    Second Layer: Phantom Pupil (Foundation Establishment Realm): 1. Pupil Skill level +5.


    2. Can transform one¡¯s own pupils into those of any creature.


    Note: The transformed pupils cannot be a figment of the imagination, they must be pupils that one has personally seen before.


    Third Layer: Phantom Face (Golden Core Realm): Can transform one¡¯s facial appearance into that of any creature.


    Note: The transformed facial appearance cannot be a figment of the imagination, it must be a face that one has seen before.


    Fourth Layer: Phantom Body (Nascent Soul Realm): Can transform one¡¯s body shape into that of any creature.


    Note: Must obtain the true essence of the creature one wishes to transform into in order to execute the Phantom Body.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The Phantom Body Divine Vein is a special talent that is not well-known, so it is within reason that Lin Yao¡¯s father had always been unable to ascertain the specific circumstances of Lin Yao¡¯s constitution.


    In a previous life, a yer had organized all the known legendary talents in "Nine Heavens" and made a detailed introductory video about them in the game.


    Lu Qingshan had naturally watched it, and after doing so, he had most of the attributes of the legendary talents in "Nine Heavens" etched in his memory.


    An outstanding memory was one of the reasons why Lu Qingshan managed to stand out from the many yers.


    In the game, he had a nickname: "The Encyclopedia of Nine Heavens."


    This was also why Lu Qingshan knew so much about the Phantom Body Divine Vein.


    ...


    The Phantom Body Divine Vein is a growth-type legendary talent.


    The value of legendary talents, Lu Qingshan was naturally aware of.


    Lu Qingshan knew even more that at any other point in time, it would have been utterly impossible to casually encounter a miss from the lesser-known Lin family who possessed a legendary talent, as was the case now.


    However, in the game design process of "Nine Heavens," there was a very important design philosophy.


    Chaotic times breed heroes.


    Great Xia was about to face an unprecedented era of chaos.


    This point in time should also be an era where heroes emerge inrge numbers.


    Therefore, the game designers significantly increased the chance that NPCs would have legendary talents.


    Hence, from the Corpse Puppet Chaos version onward, NPCs of the Human Race with legendary talents would spring up endlessly.


    ...


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lu Qingshan did not hide anything about the abilities of the Phantom Body Divine Vein from Lin Yao, sharing all that he knew in detail with her.


    Lin Yao had a faraway look in her eyes, as if lost in thought.


    A momentter.


    Lin Yao came back to her senses and murmured to Lu Qingshan, "Only at the Nascent Soul Realm can the Fourth Layer: Phantom Body be awakened..."


    Unlike Lu Qingshan¡¯s [Innate Swordseed], not all the talent effects of [Phantom Body Divine Vein] are activated right from the start.


    The talent effects of [Phantom Body Divine Vein] will gradually unlockyer byyer as Lin Yao¡¯s level (Cultivation) increases.


    Only when the Phantom Body effect is activated, can the Phantom Body Divine Vein truly be considered a legendary talent.


    To unlock the Fourth Layer: Phantom Body, one needs the Cultivation of the Nascent Soul Realm.


    Nascent Soul Cultivators are few and far between even in the vast Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    For Lin Yao herself to be a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    It¡¯s very difficult!


    The abilities of the Phantom Body Divine Vein are functional.


    While it does offer a slight boost to Lin Yao¡¯sbat power, it is not strong and is merely reflected in the so-called +5 to Soundwave-ss Techniques skill level and +5 to Pupil Skill level.


    And it offers no advantage in terms of enhancing Lin Yao¡¯s Cultivation level.


    The Phantom Body Divine Vein doesn¡¯t provide much help for Lin Yao to be a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    Lu Qingshan said indifferently, "At your age, with just the fifthyer of Qi Refinement, you can say your cultivation talent is quite ordinary, and without external assistance, bing a Nascent Soul Cultivator is impossible!"


    Lu Qingshan had long used the Heavenly Eye Technique to investigate Lin Yao¡¯s attributes, and knew of her current Cultivation Realm.


    Lu Qingshan did not speak recklessly.


    He had never heard of the name Lin Yao.


    This meant that ording to the original historical trajectory, Lin Yao had not be a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    Otherwise, with a fully awakened Phantom Body Divine Vein, Lin Yao could not possibly be unknown.


    The fact is supposed to be like this, good talent only makes it easier for a cultivator to rise, but it does not guarantee that a cultivator will definitely grow.


    There are many factors that determine the achievements of a cultivator, and talent is just one of them.


    Seeing that Lin Yao did not refute, Lu Qingshan continued, "And I, can help you touch upon the Nascent Soul Realm, and even reach higher realms."


    "In return, when I need you, you will have to serve me," Lu Qingshan stated bluntly.


    He was not lusting after Lin Yao¡¯s body.


    In Lu Qingshan¡¯s n, he was definitely going to need to build his ownwork of influence in the future.


    In a chaotic world, wanting to change some things is impossible if you are powerless and alone.


    And Lin Yao, with her Legendary Talent, was undoubtedly the biggest potential stock he hade across so far.


    To not try to bring her under his wing would indeed be a waste of heavenly gifts.


    Lin Yao was stunned for a moment and then fell silent for a long time.


    In the end, Lin Yao¡¯s eyebrows slightly knit as she looked at Lu Qingshan¡¯s face, shook her head, and said with a lightugh, "Young Master Lu has extended his help this time, and I am deeply moved by your kindness, but for you to think that a few words could persuade me to sell myself, I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not very appropriate.


    "I¡¯m well aware of my own talent for cultivation, and even a Nascent Soul Real person would not dare guarantee that I could be a Nascent Soul.


    "Although Young Master Lu¡¯s swordsmanship is extraordinary, he is still just a Qi Refining Cultivator..."


    For a cultivator to cultivate to the Nascent Soul Realm, it is determined by abination of chance, talent, and mentality, among many other unknowns.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s im to help Lin Yao cultivate to the Nascent Soul seemed utterly preposterous to anyone.


    You¡¯re merely a Qi Refining Cultivator yourself, how dare you make such a bold im?


    Naturally, Lin Yao didn¡¯t believe it either, but regardless, Lu Qingshan was her lifesaver, so Lin Yao refused very tactfully.


    Lu Qingshan was also clear in his mind.


    Mere verbal promises were not enough to subjugate a cultivator with Legendary Talent ¨C such a bargain simply didn¡¯t exist in the world.


    In the game ¡¯Nine Heavens,¡¯ to bring a Legendary NPC¡¯s favor to an admiring level, one would also need toplete a hundred or so continuous missions, right?


    Lin Yao¡¯s disbelief was only logical.


    But Lu Qingshan was not in a hurry.


    There was plenty of time, and Lin Yao couldn¡¯t escape from his grasp.


    So, for Lin Yao¡¯s polite refusal, Lu Qingshan was not annoyed but instead agreed, "Miss Lin speaks the truth."


    Lin Yao offered a charming smile, "If Young Master Lu can indeed do as he says, then wouldn¡¯t it be fine for me to sell myself to Young Master Lu?"


    Lin Yao¡¯s meaning was simple, if Lu Qingshan could prove to her his ims, she would be willing to follow him.


    Who among cultivators could resist the temptation of bing a Nascent Soul Cultivator?


    If Lu Qingshan really could assist her in cultivating to the Nascent Soul, what were his conditions inparison?


    ...


    Lin Yao was someone Lu Qingshan was determined to have.


    If the abilities of the Phantom Body Divine Vein were used well, in some situations, it would surpass any other power!


    And to bring out the abilities of the Phantom Body Divine Vein.


    The foremost and most basic step was to make Lin Yao a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    Next, Lin Yao needed enough wisdom to make good use of the Phantom Body Divine Vein¡¯s powers.


    The specificity of the Phantom Body Divine Vein meant that its potential ceiling and floor were highly disparate.


    It all depended on how its possessor used it.


    In the world of the game ¡¯Nine Heavens,¡¯ there was always this saying.


    There is no useless skill, only useless yers.


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t quite agree with this saying, as it did have some truth but on the whole, it was too extreme.


    But if the saying were reversed, Lu Qingshan found it quite agreeable.


    There was no strongest skill, only the strongest yer.


    So whether the Phantom Body Divine Vein was strong or not still depended on how Lin Yao used it.


    Fortunately, so far Lin Yao had made a very good impression on Lu Qingshan.


    ...

 Chapter 43 - 43 Zhenjiang City

    While Lu Qingshan was conversing with Lin Yao,


    under the enhancement of the Formation¡¯s power, Lin He had already captured all of the remaining eight Demon Hunters.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan and his young mistress in conversation, Lin He tactfully stood by in silence.


    "Cultivator Lu." Finally, after Lu Qingshan and Lin Yao finished talking, Lin He came forward to interject.


    Lin He handed over a box made of sandalwood.


    Lu Qingshan took it, opened it, and saw inside five Third Grade Spirit Stones.


    Lin He exined, "Cultivator Lu, please don¡¯t misunderstand, these mere five Third Grade Spirit Stones naturally can¡¯t properly thank you for saving our lives. They are intended as your remuneration for escorting the Lin Family convoy to Zhenjiang City."


    After the recent battle, Lin He was quite clear about Lu Qingshan¡¯s strength.


    There was still a long journey ahead, and if they encountered Demon Beasts on the way, they would likely rely on Lu Qingshan.


    And given Lu Qingshan¡¯s cultivation, a remuneration of thirty First Grade Spirit Stones would seem rather meager.


    Lu Qingshan understood and refused Lin He¡¯s kind gesture, returning the sandalwood box, "Since I have epted the task from the Demon Hunter League, escorting the convoy to Zhenjiang City is already my duty, there¡¯s no need for additional remuneration."


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan wouldn¡¯t ept the Spirit Stones, Lin He didn¡¯t dare press the matter and could only take the sandalwood box back into his storage bag.


    Lu Qingshan swept his gaze over the scene.


    Considering the severe shortage of personnel in the convoy, it would be impossible to manage too many captives.


    Therefore, Lin He showed no mercy, and among the eight captured Demon Hunters, only Ma Shan and Liu Ai were spared. The rest were turned to ashes under the Fire Serpent Formation.


    Ma Shan and Liu Ai were left as living evidence.


    If the collusion between Ma Yuan, who secretly concocted Evil Gu, and the Ma Family were confirmed, the Ma Family would surely be finished.


    The night quickly passed.


    Although this incident had halved the number of cultivators in the Lin Family convoy and most of the remaining ones were injured,


    they still had to continue their journey to Zhenjiang City.


    Luckily, there was that Sword Cultivator.


    Thinking of this, the Lin Family¡¯s cultivators cautiously nced at Lu Qingshan, who was sitting on arge cart carrying goods.


    They immediately felt much more at ease.


    Lu Qingshan leaned against the cart, pretending to doze with half-closed eyes.


    Seeing this, the entire convoy consciously quieted down, fearing they might disturb Lu Qingshan.


    This was a form of respect for the strong.


    ...


    Yuanshan Tower.


    Tower Master Dantai Qingrun, Vice Tower Master Jiang Rong, and the management of various departments at Yuanshan Tower were all gathered together.


    Two days had passed since the battle at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    Given Yuanshan Tower¡¯s efficiency and influence in Yuanshan City, two days was enough for them to clear all involved forces of the Netherworld within the incident.


    "Myriad Treasures Tower, Pavilion of Suffering, Earth Fiend Pavilion, ... as well as the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, these are all forces of the Netherworld in Yuanshan City," Jiang Rong reported to Dantai Qingrun, who sat at the head of the table.


    Jiang Rong¡¯s gaze was stern, "We have dispatched cultivators to take down these forces.


    The heads of these affairs are now imprisoned in the Prison Warden Office, being thoroughly interrogated by its cultivators.


    In one or two more days, we should have results. None who are colluding with the Netherworld will escape."


    "To think the Netherworld has infiltrated so deeply, involving nearly one-third of Yuanshan City¡¯s cultivator forces!" Dantai Qingrun scoffed.


    The cultivators of Yuanshan Tower in the room fell silent, not daring to speak.


    Within the region of Zhenjiang Prefecture, among the one hundred and eight Prefecture Cities, Yuanshan City must be the one into which the Netherworld invested the most resources.


    Otherwise, the Netherworld wouldn¡¯t have chosen Yuanshan City as the location for their operation, leading Qi Yuan to the city.


    "How¡¯s the situation with the Blood Pool?" Dantai Qingrun raised an eyebrow and inquired.


    Soon, a middle-aged male cultivator responsible for the matter stood up to respond, "Tower Master, rest assured, once Fengxing Zi broke the Illusion Array, wepletely destroyed the Blood Pool."


    Dantai Qingrun nodded and turned to Jiang Rong, "Jiang Rong, expedite the interrogation of these implicated cultivators, and don¡¯t spare a single guilty person."


    "Yes, Tower Master!"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Good, we¡¯ll stop here for today."


    "Yes," replied the Yuanshan Tower cultivators.


    Soon, the Yuanshan Tower cultivators on the field dispersed one after another.


    Only Dantai Qingrun remained.


    Dantai Qingrun took out a nk jade slip and, after inserting her divine sense to ponder for a while, finally recorded the beginning and end of the battle at Yuanshan City¡¯s City Lord¡¯s Mansion within the jade slip.


    However, Lu Qingshan¡¯s name did not appear anywhere in the record.


    After finishing the recording, Dantai Qingrun seemed to remember something else. She hesitated for a moment, then added a small section to the jade slip: "The City Lord of Yuanshan City is a person from the Netherworld. The Netherworld¡¯s infiltration into our Human Race is evident enough.


    I suggest a screening of high-level personnel in all cities of the Human Race to prevent such absurd incidents from happening again."


    Having added this section, Dantai Qingrun nodded in satisfaction, summoned a cultivator in ck robe waiting outside the door, and handed over the jade slip to him.


    "Send it to Zhenjiang Tower as soon as possible," Dantai Qingrun instructed.


    Just as Zhenjiang City governed one hundred and eight Prefecture Cities, Zhenjiang Tower was their superior, overseeing these Prefecture Towers.


    Such an important matter as the battle of Yuanshan City must be reported to Zhenjiang Tower in detail.


    "Wait..." Just as the ck-robed cultivator turned to leave with the jade slip, Dantai Qingrun had a thought and called him back.


    "Jiang Rong is exceptionally capable and loyal to the Human Race. He¡¯s suited for heavy responsibilities!" Taking back the jade slip from the ck-robed cultivator¡¯s hands, Dantai Qingrun added this sentence to the slip.


    With such great contributions this time, Dantai Qingrun naturally understood that she would definitely be promoted afterwards.


    If she received a promotion, then the position of Tower Master of Yuanshan Tower would be vacant.


    Although she had worked with Jiang Rong for only three years, Dantai Qingrun was well aware of Jiang Rong¡¯s abilities and character. She also believed that Jiang Rong could maintain the current favorable situation in Yuanshan City.


    Thus, she wanted to give Jiang Rong a push as much as possible.


    With her rmendation, the likelihood of Jiang Rong ascending to the position of Tower Master of Yuanshan Tower was not one hundred percent, but it seemed very likely, almost a certainty.


    As for herself.


    Dantai Qingrun smiled slightly.


    She was already the Tower Master of Yuanshan Tower, so what could be her next promotion be other than a transfer to Zhenjiang Tower, or some other assignment?


    ...


    Above the wilderness, the Lin Family caravan.


    In the following days, everything was extremely calm.


    For the Lin Family cultivators, no news was good news.


    Because sudden incidents in the wilderness were too unpredictable, not only troublesome but potentially life-threatening.


    Therefore, once the Lin Family caravan reached near Zhenjiang City, everyone couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief.


    This was where Lu Qingshan would part ways with the Lin Family caravan.


    The Lin Family caravan was heading to Fire Cloud Peak, a hundred miles away from Zhenjiang City.


    Fire Cloud Peak was where the Lin Family of Zhenjiang City resided.


    However, Lu Qingshan¡¯s destination was Zhenjiang City.


    "This is the proof. Young Master Lu can use this to settle the mission at the Demon Hunter¡¯s Guild," Lin Yao handed a jade slip to Lu Qingshan.


    After that, Lin Yao hesitated for a moment and pursed her lips before saying, "Although my Lin Family is small, we have been taught to be grateful. Young Master Lu¡¯s life-saving grace is beyond repaying. If there is anything you need in the future, please feel free to instruct us."


    Lu Qingshan chuckled in response, "Naturally."


    "Miss Lin, if you ever find yourself in trouble, you can alsoe to Zhenjiang City to find me. I will be in Zhenjiang City for a while," Lu Qingshan said to Lin Yao as they were parting.


    Watching the figure of Lu Qingshan departing,


    Lin Yao¡¯s brows were tightly knitted.


    What Lu Qingshan said seemed like the typicalmonce courtesy.


    But for some reason, remembering the look in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes when he spoke those words, she had a feeling there was a deeper meaning behind them.


    It was as though Lu Qingshan was certain she would encounter trouble.

 Chapter 44 - 44 Hidden Task

    Zhenjiang City.


    As the prefectural city of Zhenjiang Prefecture, its majesty was naturally iparable to that of Yuanshan City.


    Even at a distance that was not too far away, Lu Qingshan could already catch a glimpse of Zhenjiang City.


    The city walls were majestic, like towering mountain ridges blocking the way ahead.


    Constructed from Xuan Gang rock, the walls were pitch-ck, emitting a metallic and austere sheen.


    A familiar feeling welled up in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    Zhenjiang City, memories from a long time ago.


    Unfortunately, even such a grand city was still unable to stop the Netherworld.


    Lu Qingshan strode quickly into the city.


    After entering the city, the first thing he did was to settle the task at the Demon Subjugation Alliance within Zhenjiang City.


    If he didn¡¯t settle the task, his task record would always disy this unfinished mission.


    ...


    A huge mansion in the west of Zhenjiang City.


    It had countless pavilions and terraces, and groups of ves and maidservants.


    As a prefectural city where every inch ofnd was worth its weight in gold, the owner of such a grand mansion within Zhenjiang City was clearly not of ordinary status.


    Indeed that was the case.


    The master of this mansion was none other than Cai Heng, a steward of Zhenjiang City, and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    "Family Head," a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance hurried to the study and stood at the door, calling respectfully.


    "Hmm, what is it?" a male voice came from inside the study.


    "Reporting to the Family Head, there¡¯s a young cultivator outside asking for an audience," the middle-aged man tentatively probed.


    The Family Head seemed to have been troubled by something recently and had be rather unpredictable.


    Therefore, these servants had been extremely cautious in their actionstely, fearing they might provoke his displeasure.


    "Hmm? Who is the visitor?" Curiosity tinged the voice of the person inside the room.


    A young cultivator?


    "The cultivator didn¡¯t reveal his name..."


    "However, he said he could resolve the current troubles of the Family Head. I dared not make a decision, so I hurried here to ask for instructions..."


    The person inside the room did not respond immediately, remaining silent for a long while.


    Finally, the person inside made a decision.


    "Invite him in. Bring him to the study to see me."


    "Yes, your subordinate understands."


    ...


    The middle-aged man went to the front gate.


    Outside, a young cultivator was waiting.


    It was Lu Qingshan.


    "Young Master, please follow me."


    Under the lead of the middle-aged man, Lu Qingshan stepped into the Cai residence.


    The middle-aged man led Lu Qingshan to the outside of the study and respectfully reported, "Family Head, the person has been brought here."


    "Come in."


    Lu Qingshan pushed open the door and entered.


    Inside the study, there was a tongwood desk with a pile of jade slips on it, which suggested that the master of the room was dealing with official duties.


    Sitting there was an elderly cultivator with white hair, his gray-white long hair neatly groomed, not a strand out of ce. He sat upright, like a pine tree.


    The elderly cultivator sized up Lu Qingshan for a moment, before finally saying, "You im you can resolve my current troubles?"


    Lu Qingshan looked at Steward Cai, who was nearing the end of his lifespan, nodded, and said slowly, "Yes, Steward Cai, I believe you are looking for your only child who has been lost outside."


    In a few months, Zhenjiang City would turn into a living hell.


    It was imaginable how many demon cultivators from the Netherworld were hidden within the city at this very moment.


    Why then was Lu Qingshan taking the risk toe to such a dangerous ce?


    Knowing the mountain has tigers, yet still walking towards Tiger Mountain?


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s head wasn¡¯t made of iron.


    He had two reasons he had toe to Zhenjiang City.


    Firstly, he had already umted enough experience points and could break through to Foundation Establishment at any moment.


    However, bing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator also required a Foundation Establishment Technique.


    During the Qi Refining Realm, in a dire situation, he had no choice but to choose themon "Guiding Qi Technique" as his Qi Refinement Cultivation Technique.


    Fortunately, the impact of the Qi Refinement Technique wasn¡¯t very significant.


    But for the Foundation Establishment Technique, he couldn¡¯t be so casual.


    For the current him, only in Zhenjiang City could he find a high-level Foundation Establishment Technique that suited his wishes.


    Another very important point was,


    Lu Qingshan needed to build a specializedbat system.


    He needed to learn some new skills to enrich his methods.


    "Nine Heavens" didn¡¯t limit the number of skills yers could learn.


    But yers¡¯ experience points were limited, experience points were needed not only to increase levels but also to upgrade skills, and Sword Cultivators even needed them to nurture their Life-bound Swords.


    Master of none is better than being jack of all trades.


    So, normally, yers need to control the number of skills they learn and strive to improve their Skill Levels.


    The skills avable in those small Prefecture Cities like Yuanshan City simply couldn¡¯t meet his requirements.


    Only in a major Human Race city like Zhenjiang could he learn some powerful skills.


    And the steward Cai Heng in front of him was rted to a hidden quest, the reward for which was a Secret Sword Technique!


    In his previous life, he had only heard about this quest and hadn¡¯t received this opportunity.


    Now, without anypetitors, the quest reward naturally seemed tailor-made for Lu Qingshan.


    The background of the quest wasn¡¯tplicated:


    Steward Cai¡¯s lifespan was nearly depleted, but on the surface, he didn¡¯t have a Dao Companion, nor did he have any children.


    But Lu Qingshan knew that in reality, this Steward Cai did have a romantic entanglement when he was young.


    At that time, Steward Cai became Dao Companions with a girl from a small family, which should have been a joyous asion.


    Latter, an Evil Cultivator vited the Great Xia¡¯s edicts, senselessly ughtering innocent people to craft demonic Magic Artifacts.


    Steward Cai, as a member of Great Xia¡¯s Pacification Commissioners, led Cultivators to encircle and exterminate the Evil Cultivator.


    Unfortunately, due to carelessness, they allowed the Evil Cultivator to escape.


    After fleeing, the resentful Evil Cultivator found an opportunity to ughter Steward Cai¡¯s Dao Companion¡¯s entire family to extinction.


    His pregnant Dao Companion, who hade to the city to find Steward Cai, narrowly escaped the family tragedy.


    His Dao Companion, grieving for the loss of her family due to Steward Cai¡¯s actions, couldn¡¯t ept what had happened or face Steward Cai and eventually disappeared after choosing to live incognito.


    Latter, although Steward Cai personally killed that Evil Cultivator, the reality of his wife scattered and child lost could not be changed.


    Now, Steward Cai was over 170 years old.


    Qi Refining Cultivators have a lifespan of one hundred years, Foundation Establishment Cultivators two hundred.


    In recent times, Steward Cai felt his days were numbered.


    As death approached, his greatest wish was to see his estranged Dao Companion and child once again.


    In his previous life, this quest involved a Sword Cultivator yer who went through dozens ofplex quests before finally finding Steward Cai¡¯s child.


    Of course, such a high-difficulty quest had extraordinary rewards.


    The Secret Sword Technique awarded by the quest was nothing short of a Divine Technique.


    With this Secret Sword Technique, that Sword Cultivator yer also enjoyed a brief period of glory.


    However, unlike that Sword Cultivating yer, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t need to go through those extremely cumbersome and time-consuming serial quests.


    ¡ª He knew from the beginning who Steward Cai¡¯s child was and where they were currently located.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Steward Cai¡¯s hidden quest was apetitive one although it didn¡¯t restrict the number of participants, only one person could acquire the quest reward.


    Once someonepleted the quest, it would permanently disappear.


    So, after that Sword Cultivating yer in his previous lifepleted the quest, he generously shared his quest process on the forums.


    The specific details of the quest process, after so long, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t remember very clearly.


    But the answer to the quest, Lu Qingshan remembered distinctly.

 Chapter 45: The Search for a Wife

    The map of "Nine Heavens" is enormously vast, reflecting the setting where the human territory is boundless, with endless sprawling mountain ranges, yet many are inhabited by fierce demon beasts.


    Apart from the many cities established by Great Xia that gather numerous humans, there are also many cultivation families and sect powers that have set up their gates and human gathering ces in the wilderness, wherever spirit veins are found.


    Zi Yang Mountain Range, a mountain range that is not veryrge. Continue reading at §Þ??


    It is located more than a hundred miles north of Zhenjiang City.


    Within the Zi Yang Mountain Range are many small-scale spirit veins, which make the concentration of spiritual energy nearby denser than usual, and thus it provides a slight benefit to cultivators¡¯ cultivation.


    Nourished by these small-scale spirit veins, there are also many unharvested spiritual medicines within the Zi Yang Mountain Range.


    These small-scale spirit veins are disregarded byrge sects with significant resources, but for loose cultivators and some small cultivation families, the Zi Yang Mountain Range is like a geomantic treasurend.


    Therefore, many lower grade Qi Refining Cultivators have gradually gathered around the Zi Yang Mountain Range.


    And Ziyang Town is a small town established with the support of the Zi Yang Mountain Range.


    Since it is built in the midst of ancient mountains and the mountain roads that connect it to the outside world are full of wild beasts and birds of prey...


    Ziyang Town does not have arge poption, just three or four thousand people, and most of them are cultivators; there are very few ordinary people.


    Today, the peace of Ziyang Town was disturbed.


    A cry rang through the sky, a terrifyingly prating sound that made the ears of the people of Ziyang Town ache.


    The cultivators of Ziyang Town all looked up.


    High in the sky, where the wind howled, a giant bird appeared in everyone¡¯s line of sight.


    Five or six meters long, with wings that stretched eleven or twelve meters when unfolded, its body covered in ck feathers that shone with a metallic luster, and its hooked beak, ck and sharp, was intimidating to behold.


    "Ah... No!"


    Someone eximed in terror.


    Because after circling in the sky, the giant bird dove straight towards Ziyang Town.


    Its momentum was frightening!


    Although Ziyang Town had many cultivators, they were all lower grade cultivators. Among the thousands, there was not even one Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    And the aura emitted by this demon beast was definitely that of a Second Grade demon beast.


    A Second Grade demon beast - that was the equivalent of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator among the human race.


    With the demon beast¡¯s strong body, if this giant bird targeted Ziyang Town, no cultivator would have the power to resist.


    What¡¯s more terrifying was that this demon beast was a giant avian.


    If it saw the situation turning unfavorable, it could just spread its massive wings and leave.


    Flight through the air - that was an ability only Foundation Establishment Cultivators could master.


    That is to say, even if the entire town¡¯s cultivators joined forces, they might have no way to deal with this demon beast.


    "How could such a terrifying demon beast appear in the Zi Yang Mountain Range?" the people of Ziyang Town all felt a chill in their hearts.


    Boom¡ª


    A loud booming sound, like a meteorite crashing, the giant bird violentlynded in the middle of Ziyang Town, stirring up a whirlwind and raising a cloud of dust.


    As the dust settled and the specific scene became visible...


    The people of Ziyang Town couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh of relief.


    For atop the giant bird¡¯s immense body sat an aged cultivator with a head full of white hair and a young man.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    This giant bird was not a ferocious demon beast but a tamed demonic pet!


    The people of Ziyang Town were bewildered.


    Although the resources within the Ziyang Mountain Range were still considered abundant, they were only low-grade spiritual medicines, which were treasured only by destitute loose cultivators like them. Any cultivator with a bit of background would not deign to pay attention to such trifles.


    And yet, the person before them had tamed a Second Grade demon beast, which meant he must be at least at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Why would hee to a small ce like Ziyang Town?


    "Is this the ce?" the elderly cultivator asked.


    It was none other than Cai Heng, the steward, and the youth apanying him was naturally Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan took a look around the surroundings and nodded.


    Ziyang Town was where the steward¡¯s Dao Companion had chosen to seclude herself.


    Only such a remote ce could have eluded the steward¡¯s search for so many years without result.


    An urgent look in the steward¡¯s eyes, Cai Heng nced at the cultivators of Ziyang Town, who were as silent as cicadas in winter, and asked in a deep voice, "Is there someone named Cai Xingchao in your town?"


    ¡ª Ziyang Town, Cai Xingchao. That was the final result of the mission posted by that Sword Cultivator yer on the forum in his previous life.


    The cultivators of Ziyang Town looked at each other, and no one dared to respond.


    The steward¡¯s brow furrowed, seeing the fear on the faces of Ziyang Town¡¯s cultivators, he understood something. Cai Heng thought for a moment, then took out a Third Grade spirit stone from his storage ring and said loudly.


    "Whoever provides me with information first will get this Third Grade spirit stone."


    To these loose cultivators, a Third Grade spirit stone was equivalent to their entire worth.


    And now, they only needed to provide a piece of information to get a Third Grade spirit stone.


    Wealth moves the heart.


    So even though they feared attracting trouble, a bold loose cultivator in yellow clothing quickly stepped forward and said, "Senior, I know there is a small cultivator named Cai Xingchao in the town, but I¡¯m not sure if he is the person you are looking for?"


    The steward¡¯s gaze turned sharp: "Lead the way!"


    ...


    Under the guidance of the loose cultivator in yellow clothing, a dpidated small courtyard came into view.


    "This is Cai Xingchao¡¯s home," the yellow-clothed loose cultivator said cautiously.


    Cai Heng looked at the small courtyard shrouded in gloom and felt a sense of heaviness in his heart.


    "Tell me more about the master of this ce," Cai Heng said in a low voice.


    The yellow-clothed loose cultivator nced at Cai Heng, unable to grasp the exact rtionship between the steward and the owner of the ce. He had to carefullypose his words: "The master of this ce is quite a tragic figure. The residence was originally inhabited by a couple and their son, a family of three, all cultivators..."


    Upon hearing "a family of three," Cai Heng¡¯s eyes twitched slightly.


    "But three years ago, the couple ventured deep into the Ziyang Mountains to gather spiritual medicines, where they encountered the demon beast, Vermilion Bead Snake. Although they managed to y the Vermilion Bead Snake in the end, both husband and wife were seriously injured.


    Upon returning, the husband died from his grave injuries after just two days, while his wife was poisoned by the snake and has been bedridden for three years, relying on their Qi Refinement thirdyer son, Cai Xingchao, who repeatedly risks his life to venture deep into the Ziyang Mountains to collect spiritual medicines in exchange for the medicine to sustain his mother¡¯s life..."


    The voice of the yellow-clothed loose cultivator grew quieter.


    That was because he noticed that as he narrated, the expression of the powerful cultivator in front of him gradually turned pale, his lips quivering uncontrobly.


    Seeing that Cai Heng¡¯splexion was off, the yellow-clothed loose cultivator was worried that he might have misspoken and panicked, not daring to say more.


    "Yun¡¯er, why did you need to endure so much!" Cai Heng nearly burst into tears, and finally unable to hold back, he pushed open the gates of the courtyard and went inside.


    The yellow-clothed loose cultivator stood there dumbfounded, unsure of what to do.


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan took out a Third Grade spirit stone from his storage ring and handed it to the yellow-clothed loose cultivator.


    "This is your reward. There¡¯s nothing here for you now; you may leave."


    The eyes of the yellow-clothed loose cultivator lit up, and he excitedly took the Third Grade spirit stone, repeatedly expressing his thanks: "Thank you, noble sir! Thank you, noble sir!"

 Chapter 46: 46ç«  This is your grandson

    Steward Cai, filled with grief and anger, pushed open the door and entered, casting his eyes about.


    On the ancient bedy a woman, her face as pale as golden paper, her breath thin as a thread, with the light in her eyes dim and faint.


    Standing beside her, taking care of the woman, was an extremely young man, who appeared to be no more than twenty.


    At that moment, seeing their own door suddenly pushed open and a strange old man walk in, both were equally surprised and wary as they looked at Steward Cai.


    "Who are you? Why have you barged into my home!" The youth demanded.


    Steward Cai¡¯s face stiffened.


    Because the woman lying on the bed, pale and etched with worry, was not his Dao Companion Si Jun.


    Steward Cai turned his head to look at Lu Qingshan, who had just sent off the yellow-d Loose Cultivator and had followed him in.


    His eyes were filled with questions.


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t fully understand the detailed situation either.


    But after ncing at the appearances of the woman and the young man on the bed, Lu Qingshan roughly guessed the specifics.


    Thus, faced with the questioning look in Steward Cai¡¯s eyes, Lu Qingshan wasn¡¯t in a hurry to exin.


    Lu Qingshan politely asked the woman on the bed, pointing to Steward Cai, "I apologize for the intrusion; this man is a member of Si Jun¡¯s family. I wonder if the two of you might recognize Si Jun..."


    Upon hearing these words, the woman on the bed struggled to sit up.


    Cai Xingchao hurriedly supported his mother, "Mother, be careful!"


    "My name is Shi Youling. I don¡¯t know what rtion this senior has with my mother-inw?"


    "Mother-inw?" Steward Cai was startled.


    Lu Qingshan understood and pointed to the bewildered Cai Xingchao, telling Steward Cai, "This is your grandson."


    ...


    Foundation Establishment Cultivators have a lifespan of two hundred years, and Steward Cai, who had established his Foundation, was already nearing his end. His Dao Companion had not established her Foundation, so how could she possibly still be alive at this time?


    Many years ago, Si Jun had already passed away, her lifespan exhausted.


    And the child Si Jun had carried while living in seclusion in Ziyang Town was the father of Cai Xingchao.


    So much time had passed since those days, and Steward Cai¡¯s son had long since grown up, established a household, married, and had children.


    This Shi Youling was Steward Cai¡¯s son¡¯s Dao Companion, hence his daughter-inw.


    It¡¯s easy to lose rity when one is involved.


    Steward Cai, anxious at heart, temporarily failed to realize this.


    But he was a shrewd man, and after Lu Qingshan¡¯s exnation, it didn¡¯t take long for him to figure out the connection of events.


    "This is the Dao Companion of your mother-inw," Lu Qingshan exined, looking at Shi Youling.


    Shi Youling was startled, though she had already vaguely guessed as much, her heart still began to surge with emotion now that it was confirmed.


    Her mother-inw hade to Ziyang Town pregnant, andter painstakingly raised her own husband.


    Shi Youling had always harbored a measure of respect for her mother-inw.


    But as her husband had told her, whenever he asked about his father, his mother would say that his father had long since died at the jaws of Demon Beasts.


    Now, the "father-inw" who was supposed to have died at the jaws of Demon Beasts as per her mother-inw¡¯s words had suddenly reappeared, and Shi Youling couldn¡¯t help but be shocked.


    But she believed what Lu Qingshan said.


    To restrain the Jiaozhu Snake Poison within her, their family was now poor and destitute; what benefit would there be for someone to impersonate her father-inw?


    "Do you have any keepsakes that could prove your identity?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    To recognize one¡¯s rtive, even if one is already seventy to eighty percent convinced, how could one skip the most important step of recognition ¨C exchanging keepsakes?


    Apprentice You Ling reacted swiftly, immediately grabbing Cai Xingchao¡¯s hand and pulling up his sleeve.


    On Cai Xingchao¡¯s wrist was a translucent, moist, and exquisitely deep jade bracelet. "This is the magic artifact bracelet left by Grandma..."


    Steward Cai¡¯s eyes turned red. "Yun¡¯er..."


    Steward Cai slowly extended his left hand and rolled up his sleeve, revealing a dried wrist that also bore a bracelet identical to the one on Cai Xingchao¡¯s wrist. Stay updated with §Þ??


    It was their token of love from the past.


    All became clear.


    Apprentice You Ling hastily struggled to give Steward Cai a kowtow. "Father-inw..."


    Seeing Cai Xingchao standing gape-mouthed like a wooden chicken, Apprentice You Ling tugged at his sleeve and said, "This is your grandfather... aren¡¯t you going to greet your grandfather?"


    Cai Xingchao looked stunned, and under You Ling¡¯s urging, he moved like a marite, managing to squeeze out the word "Grandfather" with difficulty.


    Steward Cai looked at Cai Xingchao, seeing a face that resembled his younger self; he raised his arm, reached out with trembling hands, and it took several attempts before he finally touched Cai Xingchao¡¯s hand.


    "Good child, good child... it¡¯s my fault, I have wronged you..." The elderly Steward Cai, with his rough palms, held onto Cai Xingchao¡¯s hand tightly, tears finally streaming from his eyes.


    He, Cai Heng, served in Zhenjiang City¡¯s Pacification Commissioner¡¯s office, overseeing and suppressing cultivators who vited the edicts of Great Xia with an iron fist.


    But because of his duties, he had caused the annihtion of his Daopanion¡¯s family.


    It was a painful memory that he could never erase from his heart.


    Looking at Cai Xingchao before him, his eyes filled with love and guilt; he opened his mouth as if to say something, but his chest heaved, and he found himself unable to speak.


    "Grandfather, can you save my mother?" Cai Xingchao suddenly thought of something, his eyes brimming with pleading and hope as he looked at Steward Cai.


    "The mere poison of a little Red Pearl Snake, what¡¯s so difficult to cure!" At that moment, Steward Cai¡¯s tone carried a hint of his old confidence, "Youe with me back to Zhenjiang City. I¡¯ll make sure your mother is cured of her poison."


    The Red Pearl Snake was a First Grade demon beast, its venom extremely potent.


    A Qi Refining Cultivator who got poisoned by a Red Pearl Snake could only rely on Spirit Pills to barely suppress the venom;pletely cleansing the toxin was very difficult!


    But for Steward Cai, with his present cultivation and status, although it wasn¡¯t effortless, curing this poison certainly wasn¡¯t a difficult task for him.


    ...


    Treating You Ling¡¯s poisoning and injuries was the urgent task at hand, and Steward Cai moved swiftly.


    "What is this?!" With a look of rm, Cai Xingchao supported his mother and stared at the immense beast in front of him with a fierce aura.


    "This is Grandfather¡¯s demon pet, the ck Feather Eagle. Help your mother onto it, and we¡¯ll rush back to Zhenjiang City to treat your mother¡¯s poisoning and injuries right away."


    The ck Feather Eagle was massive in size, yet carrying four people did not hinder its flight speed in the slightest.


    Without any dy, the group quickly rushed back to Zhenjiang City.


    ...


    Inside the study.


    "How did youe to know about me, and also find Xiao Chao and his mother, when even I couldn¡¯t find a trace of them? How did you manage to locate them?"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I naturally have my ways." Lu Qingshan remainedposed, not wishing to borate on this point.


    ¡ªHow to exin having a cheat?


    Steward Cai was silent for a long while before speaking again, "If you are unwilling to talk, naturally I won¡¯t force you, but regardless, Xiao Chao¡¯s mother¡¯s life was saved by you."


    The venom of the Red Pearl Snake in You Ling was extremely severe, and after a short dy, once the venom reached the heart, even a Golden Core Cultivator would be helpless to save her.


    Perhaps the sword cultivator yer from his past life hadpleted the task toote, so by the time he found Cai Xingchao, You Ling had already died from the snake venom reaching her heart. He could only bring back Cai Xingchao.


    Now, with Lu Qingshan intervening, the time-consuming running around tasks were bypassed, saving crucial time and finding them before the venom progressed to You Ling¡¯s heart.


    Thus, You Ling¡¯s life was saved.

 Chapter 47: Secret Sword: Wind Slash

    This could be considered another slight change in history under his influence.


    Although it was not as profound as the impact of the battle at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion in Yuanshan.


    But seeing things take a turn for the better with his own involvement.


    It also brought Lu Qingshan considerable joy.


    ...


    As the Steward of the Pacification Commissioner, Cai Heng was incorruptible and iron-blooded throughout his life.


    His duty made him different from ordinary cultivators.


    Most cultivators prioritize personal gain above all else.


    But for cultivators like Cai Heng, often times they would choose to die for their convictions in lieu of personal interest.


    Such individuals also have the hardest time epting favors from others.


    Cai Heng now felt deeply indebted to Lu Qingshan and consequently found himself lost in thought.


    He was considering how to repay the great favor he owed to Lu Qingshan.


    "Before I reach the end of my life, finding my daughter-inw and grandson has resolved a great concern of mine, that¡¯s good enough..."


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Finally, Cai Heng made up his mind, took out a jade slip from his storage ring, ced it on the tung-wood desk, and gently pushed it in Lu Qingshan¡¯s direction.


    Steward Cai said in a deep voice, "Although this item is of no use to me, it is the most valuable thing I possess."


    Lu Qingshan knew that this was the reward for the quest.


    "This is a technique of Secret Sword, a dharma that sword cultivators find most coveted."


    "My ancestor was an extremely powerful sword cultivator, and this is the dharma he passed down.


    Unfortunately, with each passing generation, the Cai family¡¯s influence has faded, and by my generation, I am the only one left.


    Moreover, I have no talent for swordsmanship, having learned the ways of Beast Cultivation, so this Secret Sword Technique hasin dormant with me."


    "Though the Secret Sword Technique is extremely difficult to practice, once mastered, its power is unparalleled.


    Thus, all sword cultivators regard it as a precious treasure, whether you keep it or decide to sell it, both are fine, consider it your reward for finding my son and daughter-inw."


    There was a hint of reluctance and regret in Cai Heng¡¯s eyes.


    It was a pity he would not have the chance to witness this ancestral Secret Sword Technique shine once again.


    The Secret Sword is a divine skill belonging to sword cultivators.


    Simply put, it is an ultimate move.


    The Heaven and Earth Sword that Lu Qingshan mastered in his previous life was one such Secret Sword Technique.


    Lu Qingshan reached out to ept the jade slip and probed into it with his divine sense.


    Soon a series of data emerged before his eyes:


    [Secret Sword: Wind sh]


    Learning conditions: Agility greater than 20, possession of a faint [Sword Intent].


    Casting conditions: Can only be cast through a Sword Artifact


    Skill effects: Consumes up to 10% of maximum Spiritual Power, the next attack will cause two additional attacks, the second attack causing damage at 60% of the original damage value, and the third at 30%.


    Additional effects: Both additional attacks will carry the attack¡¯s active effects.


    Cooldown time: 3 minutes.


    Additional notes: Learning this Secret Sword requires spending 1000 Experience Points.


    ...


    "Detection of Sword Technique [Secret Sword: Wind sh], do you want to spend 1000 Experience Points to learn it?"


    "Learn!"


    "You do not meet the learning conditions for [Secret Sword: Wind sh], unable to learn the skill!"


    "Detection of innate talent [Innate Swordseed], learning [Secret Sword: Wind sh]... Learning progress 15%...50%...99%..."


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s head suddenly swelled as a wealth of knowledge flooded in in an instant.


    Explore more adventures at §Þ??


    After a moment, the casting techniques for [Secret Sword: Wind sh] were already imprinted deep within his mind.


    "Spending 600 experience points, you have mastered the Secret Sword: Wind sh lv1 (0/2000)!"


    ...


    The powerful burst from Secret Sword: Wind sh had brought Lu Qingshan a direct benefit: his damage per second had now surpassed the Health Points upper limit of a Qi Refining Realm cultivator.


    In other words, Lu Qingshan could now kill most cultivators of the same level in an instant with the Secret Sword: Wind sh.


    Moreover, its skill effects could bebined with many other skills.


    For example, under the effect of casting Secret Sword: Wind sh, Lu Qingshan could instantly stack threeyers of the Power of Dark Erosion from the Falling Bright Sword Technique on his enemy, thereby triggering the Bind effect of the Falling Bright Sword Technique.


    This was a sword technique that Lu Qingshan could continue to use from the Qi Refining Realm to much higher levels.


    "Sess!"


    Lu Qingshan felt much more ted.


    His first target in Zhenjiang City could be said to have gone exceptionally smoothly.


    Lu Qingshan put away the Jade Slip that recorded the Secret Sword Technique: "Being a Sword Cultivator myself, this Secret Sword Technique is extremely precious to me, and I naturally would not sell away this technique.


    I assure Steward Cai that I will diligently practice this Secret Sword Technique and will not let down the trust you have ced in me!"


    Lu Qingshan assured with resonating certainty.


    Cai Heng was momentarily startled upon hearing this, then smiled with relief: "Though you keep your origins mysterious, and I do not know where youe from, for someone so young to have reached the eighth level of Qi Refinement, you must indeed be a person of exceptional talent.


    Perhaps, you really will be able to master this Secret Sword Technique and restore the glory of my Cai Family¡¯s Wind sh Technique.


    Regrettably, my time is running short, and I¡¯m afraid I may not have the chance to witness this."


    Cai Heng was quite carefree, not at all avoiding talking about his own life and death.


    ...


    Upon leaving the study, Lu Qingshan prepared to depart from the Cai residence.


    "Young Master Lu, please wait!"


    As he was about to reach the door, an urgent call came from behind.


    Lu Qingshan stopped in his tracks and turned to look.


    Cai Xingchao hurriedly approached.


    "My mother asked me to give this to you," Cai Xingchao said as he handed over a lustrous jade bracelet to Lu Qingshan.


    It was none other than the Magic Artifact Jade Bracelet left by Steward Cai¡¯s Dao Companion, Si Jun!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s brow furrowed, and he pushed back the Magic Artifact Jade Bracelet, refusing: "Steward Cai has already given me a reward as thanks.


    Besides, this was left by your grandmother, and even in the most difficult times, you and your mother have never sold it.


    How could I rightly im what you hold dear?"


    Cai Xingchao scratched his head, looking anxious: "My mother said that although grandfather would certainly reward you to express gratitude, that is from him and it has nothing to do with us.


    You saved my mother¡¯s life, and we cannot go without showing our gratitude.


    We have nothing else of value, and this Magic Artifact Jade Bracelet is the only thing we can offer. Please, I beg you, do not refuse." (Taskpletion: Excellent, received additional rewards)


    All he did was provide a piece of information, allowing them to recognize each other, and he had done nothing else.


    Yet whether it be Cai Heng, the Steward of the Pacification Commissioner, or the mother and child of the lowly cultivator Shi Youling, they all offered their most precious possessions as thanks.


    Lu Qingshan found himself at a loss for words and could only silently take the Magic Artifact Jade Bracelet that Cai Xingchao handed over.


    Azure Water Bracelet


    Level: Supreme Quality Mortal Artifact


    Description: As the valley benefits the stomach, it is then conveyed to the lungs.


    Active Effects of the Magic Artifact: [Azure Water Boundless]


    You can store a certain amount of Spiritual Power within the Azure Water Bracelet, and when necessary, release the stored Spiritual Power Value to rapidly restore your own Spiritual Power Value.


    Stored Spiritual Power Value: 100/100


    ...


    An incredibly practical Magic Artifact for sustainability; a restoration amount of 100 Spiritual Power Value had already exceeded the current upper limit of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Spiritual Power Value.


    In front of Cai Xingchao, Lu Qingshan solemnly wore the Azure Water Bracelet on his left wrist, then bid farewell and left.

 Chapter 48: Comprehensive Enhancement

    Even in Zhenjiang City, the Great Xia Commercial Firm still stood out as the city¡¯s most conspicuous shop.


    It upied a vast area with four stories, one more than its counterpart in Yuanshan City.


    The fourth floor catered to Nascent Soul Cultivators.


    After leaving the Cai residence, Lu Qingshan headed straight for the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    Upon entering the store, he found the facade stretched nearly a hundred meters, with dozens of clerks in green robes and many customers inside.


    It was indeed thergest and most trustworthy merchant in the entire Zhenjiang City.


    After killing Crying Soul True Man and seizing two Storage Rings, Lu Qingshan¡¯s assets reached unimaginable levels.


    He currently had over twenty Fourth Grade Spirit Stones and more than a hundred Third Grade Spirit Stones on him alone.


    As for the remaining handful of First and Second Grade Spirit Stones, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t even bother to consider them anymore.


    Keeping the Spirit Stones was not meaningful; instead, Lu Qingshan needed to convert these stones intobat power.


    Since Yuanshan City was ultimately just a Prefecture City, he couldn¡¯t acquire top-quality Magic Artifacts, Pills, or Talismans there.


    Thus, Lu Qingshan had been waiting until he arrived in Zhenjiang City to indulge in a shopping spree.


    After entering the Great Xia Commercial Firm, Lu Qingshan did not linger on the first floor but proceeded directly to the second floor.


    The items on the first floor were no longer meaningful for him at this point.


    Compared to the first floor, the second floor was noticeably less crowded.


    The second floor catered to Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Even in Zhenjiang City, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were not amon sight.


    Yet as a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, Lu Qingshan quickly drew the sideways attention of some customers upon reaching the second floor.


    Could he be a young master from some major family?


    A cultivator mumbled to himself.


    It wasmonly assumed that Qi Refining Cultivators shopping on the second floor must be wealthy scions of major families.


    "Young Master, may I know what you need?" A Qi Refining Level 5 clerk in a green robe approached respectfully.


    Lu Qingshan nced at the clerk and said indifferently, "I need to purchase some Magic Artifacts as well as some Talismans and Pills, but I want the best items avable on this floor!"


    The green-robed clerk was slightly taken aback but after carefully sizing up Lu Qingshan and confirming that he was not joking, his face immediately broke into a wide smile.


    They had caught a big spender¡ªit was just unclear which family¡¯s young master he was.


    "Young Master, this way please. Have a seat inside, and I will call the manager to discuss the details with you," the green-robed clerk hastily led Lu Qingshan into one of the elegant private rooms on the second floor.


    Many customers on the second floor had already noticed Lu Qingshan¡¯s presence.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan being led into a private room reserved for valued clients, some quietly discussed among themselves while others¡¯ eyes flickered craftily, wondering what was being plotted.


    Inside the private room.


    The furniture was antique and elegant, arranged in afortable and pleasant manner.


    There was also an incense burner in one corner of the room, slowly burning a stick of sandalwood incense, filling the room with a faint sandalwood fragrance.


    Soon after Lu Qingshan had taken his seat, a genteel middle-aged man apanied by a maid entered.


    The maid carried a teapot and several cups.


    "I am the manager of the second floor of the Great Xia Commercial Firm, may I know how to address you, Young Master?" the middle-aged man asked with a smile.


    "Lu Qingshan."


    "So you are Young Master Lu," the middle-aged man turned and instructed the maid, "Quickly pour some tea for Young Master Lu."


    After the maid had poured the tea, Lu Qingshan, without any hesitation, picked up the cup, took a light sip, and politelymented, "Excellent tea!"


    The middle-aged man smiled and said, "I heard Young Master Lu is looking for the best Magic Artifacts and Talismans on the second floor. I have already instructed the clerks to bring out a few treasures from our vault that have been in collection for a long time. I assure you that you will not be disappointed, Young Master Lu. Please wait a moment."


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.


    After a while, six or seven clerks entered, each carrying a tray. On each tray was an antique brocade box.


    The middle-aged man ced the boxes on the table and opened each one, introducing them to Lu Qingshan one by one.


    "Acupoint Sealing King Needle, Low Grade Spiritual Artifact, made from Frost Soul Cold Iron...."


    "Skip this; I am not interested in this artifact," Lu Qingshan quickly swept over the needle-like artifact that glistened coldly in the box and said indifferently.


    He already had the Crying Soul Sword and did not need another attack artifact.


    Moreover, what kind of Sword Cultivator would use needle-like artifacts? Isn¡¯t that embarrassing?


    The middle-aged man¡¯s expression remained the same, and he opened another brocade box, revealing yet another Talisman inside.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes lit up.


    Because he recognized this talisman¡ªit was a Beast Talisman!


    Lu Qingshan picked up the Beast Talisman.


    [Beast Talisman: Spirit Leaf Ape]


    Level: Second Grade Beast Talisman


    Description: Crafted by a Talisman Master by sealing the spirit soul of a demon beast into the talisman.


    Talisman Effect: Can summon the spirit soul of the Second Grade demon beast, Spirit Leaf Ape.


    Duration: 30 minutes


    Usage: 1/1


    Basic Attributes of Spirit Leaf Ape: Strength 20, Agility 5,...


    Talents: [Exceptionally Strong](Health Points +100), [Spirit Soul Body](Physical damage reduction 20%, increased magic damage taken by 20%), ...


    Skills: ... (omitted)


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Beast Talismans are among the most practical and precious talismans. Once used to summon the beast spirit, the spirit will instinctively attack under the cultivator¡¯smand.


    It¡¯s essentially a budget version of a demon pet.


    That¡¯s why even though it was only a Second Grade Talisman, the Great Xia Commercial Firm took great care to keep it in a brocade box.


    Without waiting for the middle-aged man to exin, Lu Qingshan immediately said, "I¡¯ll take this Beast Talisman."


    The middle-aged man¡¯s face twitched slightly: "Young Master Lu is truly generous..."


    The middle-aged man then opened another brocade box, which contained yet another Talisman.


    "This is the Concealment Talisman, one of the few Third Grade Talismans we have on the second floor..."


    [Concealment Talisman]


    Grade: Third Grade


    Talisman Effect: Can conceal one¡¯s aura, making oneself less detectable. It also greatly shields against the Divine Sense of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    ...


    With this talisman, even the Divine Sense of Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find it difficult to detect oneself.


    ¡ªA life-saving talisman.


    Lu Qingshan silently nodded her head.


    "I¡¯ll take this Concealment Talisman too!"


    ...


    After a long while, Lu Qingshan emerged from the Great Xia Commercial Firm fully loaded.


    This time, he could say he had armored himself with spirit stones from head to toe, inside and out.


    He felt that at this moment, his whole body was exuding the fragrance of a whaling tycoon.


    ...


    Besides the "Beast Talisman: Spirit Leaf Ape" and the "Concealment Talisman," he also purchased many attack talismans inscribed with Second Grade Five Elements Magic from the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    As for pills, he didn¡¯t buy many. Somemon healing pills or pills that restore spiritual power were already present in the Storage Ring of True Master Crying Soul, so there was no need for him to stock up on those.


    The only pill he bought was the "Snow Lotus Pill."


    "Snow Lotus Pill"


    Level: Second Grade Pill


    Description: Crafted using snow lotus that can heal damage to the Divine Soul, thus it provides certain enhancements to the cultivator¡¯s Divine Soul.


    Pill Effects: After consumption, for the next three hours, the Divine Soul will gain ayer of protection, providing some resistance against Divine Soul attack techniques.


    ...


    Anything rted to the Divine Soul could multiply its value many times over.


    This bottle of "Snow Lotus Pill" was no exception. Although it was just a Second Grade pill, Lu Qingshan spent five times the usual price of a Second Grade pill to acquire it.


    But it was worth it.


    Though at the Lower Grade, few cultivators possess the technique of Divine Soul attacks, the "Snow Lotus Pill" might end up being unnecessary.


    But Lu Qingshan never relied on luck.


    This was his way of preparing a defense against Divine Soul attacks.


    Before learning the Divine Soul Secret Art, he could only rely on these external aids to cope with some cultivators¡¯ Divine Soul attacks.


    He only purchased one magic artifact.


    "Water Cloud Eight Gates Shield"


    Level: Low Grade Spiritual Artifact


    Description: Crafted by cutting a whole piece of water cloud stone into eight refined pieces, it is extremely sturdy and indestructible.


    This magic artifactprises eight water cloud shields that can surround the body for defense once driven by a spell.


    Magic Artifact Effects: Durability +4


    Active Effects: "Eight Gates Shield Armor"


    Driving the eight pieces of water cloud shield to assemble into a piece of shield armor, which has a durability value.


    Durability: 100/100


    Additional Information: Once the durability value is exhausted, the "Eight Gates Shield Armor" can no longer be used, and the magic artifact effect will also be invalid.


    ...


    With the Water Cloud Eight Gates Shield, Lu Qingshan¡¯s meager health points finally gained a bit more security.


    With +4 durability, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would find it quite tough.


    The skill effect of the "Eight Gates Shield Armor", if tranted in in terms, is equivalent to giving Lu Qingshan an extra hundred armor.


    Last of all, Lu Qingshan spent a vast sum to buy thirteen pill-sized purple Thunder Beads.


    "Thunder Bead"


    Description: A consumable item, condensed from heaven and earth¡¯s thunder and lightning by Dharma Cultivators using a special technique, it possesses tremendous power.


    Effects: Releasespressed Thunder Force, bursting out with immense damage.


    ...


    The power of the Thunder Bead is extremely tremendous; even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, if not careful to strongly resist a Thunder Bead, will instantly be obliterated.


    Additionally, the Thunder Beads are simple to use, requiring only a slight activation of spiritual power to detonate, practically zero consumption.


    Of course, they are not without drawbacks; while the Thunder Bead¡¯s power is great, there is a brief three-second dy from activation to explosion.


    To ordinary people, three seconds may not seem like much.


    But for cultivators, these three seconds of dy are enough for them to escape the st radius of the Thunder Bead.


    A single Thunder Bead costs five Third Grade spirit stones.


    The wealthy Lu Qingshan did not hesitate to buy all thirteen Thunder Beads.


    These thirteen Thunder Beads could be saved for use as a trump card.


    ...


    The gains were not small, but the cost was not small either.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s massive amount of spirit stone assets was almost entirely depleted.


    After organizing his gains, Lu Qingshan turned his gaze to the Attribute Panel.


    Without hesitation, he spent all his umted experience points.


    "[Qi Drawing Technique] upgraded to lv9, Spiritual Power Value +10!"


    "[Qi Drawing Technique] upgraded to lv10 (0/1000), Spiritual Power Value +10!"


    "[Qi Drawing Technique] upgraded to lv10 (1000/1000) max! This Cultivation Technique has been upgraded to its maximum level, gaining a special effect: Spiritual Power Value +50!"


    "Detectionpleted, you have reached the level cap for your current rank, obtained advancement mission [Foundation Establishment]!"


    "[Foundation Establishment]: Learn a Foundation Establishment Technique."


    After half a month, it was finally time to make a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm.


    Lu Qingshan felt a flood of emotions.


    It was not easy.


    Lu Qingshan (Human Race)


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    upation: Sword Cultivator


    Cultivation Technique: "[Qi Drawing Technique]Lv10 (max!) ¡ª[Spiritual Power +150]"


    Rank: Qi Refinement


    Experience Points: 968


    Spiritual Power Value: 150/150


    Talent: "[Innate Swordseed]" (Legendary Talent), "[Expertise]," "[Trapped in Formation]," "[Sword Technique Affinity] (Primary Level)," "[Thick-skinned]"


    Skills: "[Heavenly Eye Technique]" (Universal), "[Falling Bright Sword Technique] Lv10 (max), "[Secret Sword: Wind sh] Lv1 (0/2000)"


    Faction:


    Yuanshan Tower: Enthusiastic (200)


    Guardian Tower: Friendly (20)


    Heavenly Secret Pavillion: Friendly (10)


    Next, he needed to obtain a Foundation Establishment Technique, then prepare for advancement to Foundation Establishment.

 Chapter 49 - 49 Mihe Town

    Surrounding Zhenjiang City are hundreds of minor and major Qi Refinement families.


    However, only thirty-six of these families possess a Golden Core Cultivator and are known as the ¡¯Great Thirty-Six Qi Refinement Families of Zhenjiang.¡¯


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s former household, the Lu Family, was one of these thirty-six esteemed families.


    The Lu Family was situated atop Mihe Peak, the main peak of the Qianzhou mountain range.


    Even a Qi Refinement family always requires secr forces.


    Positioned at the foot of Mihe Peak, Mihe Town was a small, secr town that belonged to the Lu Family.


    Due to his responsibility for the family business back then, he frequently traveled between Mihe Town and Zhenjiang City, and he became extremely familiar with the roads in between.


    Relying on his memory, Lu Qingshan made his way familiarly and arrived at Mihe Town after a day¡¯s journey.


    Having upied Mihe Peak for many years, Mihe Town was in fact quite prosperous after years of development.


    The streets in the city were all paved with bluestone, and they were not only clean and neat but also wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. They were bustling with crowds, and the atmosphere was extraordinarily lively.


    Houses along the road mostly consisted of two- or three-story buildings, with many structures adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding opulence.


    In the western district of Mihe Town, a plethora of businesses was distributed, with good public order and an elegant environment.


    In one location of the western district, a clothier¡¯s shop owned by the Lu Family.


    "I¡¯ve only tasked you with a little assignment, yet you¡¯re dragging your feet. How can I trust you with the shop in the future!" From a distance, the scolding voice was heard, and a faint smile appeared on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face.


    Peering through the door.


    Inside the shop, an elderly man with grey hair was seen standing with his back turned, holding a duster, and berating a teenager who appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old.


    The boy hung his head as if dutifully epting the scolding, but his eyes were rolling constantly, clearly paying no mind to the elder¡¯s reprimand.


    Suddenly, the boy¡¯s wandering eyes caught sight of Lu Qingshan at the doorway, his pupils dted dramatically, and he pointed finger trembling, his voice quivering, "Lu... Lu..."


    "Lu what, Lu!" Seeing the boy distracted even while being scolded, the old man puffed his beard and red harder, his tone rising a few notches, "Lu Xun, you scoundrel, you dare to be inattentive?"


    "Grandfather, it¡¯s Lu Qingshan!" Lu Xun finally managed to catch his breath.


    "What Lu Qingshan..." the elder reflexively turned in the direction pointed by Lu Xun¡¯s hand, and uponying eyes on Lu Qingshan standing at the doorway with a smile, he was taken aback.


    Bang¡ª


    The elder¡¯s hand loosened, and the duster in his hand dropped to the floor.


    The elder, named Lu Zhi, was a coteral member of the Lu Family with a Cultivation of the sixth stage of Qi Refinement. After aging, he retired down the mountain and took charge of this clothier¡¯s shop.


    Lu Xun was his grandson, only a mundane person without any Cultivation.


    Lu Qingshan used to work in this clothier¡¯s shop before.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s father, Lu Bei, was one of the mere three Golden Core Cultivators in the Lu Family.


    Therefore, even though Lu Qingshan had no talent for cultivation and was but an ordinary person, he still held a not-so-low status in this vast clothier¡¯s shop, securing a mid-level managerial position.


    ...


    Inside a secluded room in the back courtyard of the clothier¡¯s shop.


    "What happened, what exactly happened four months ago? We all thought you had died, and that boy, Lu Xun, grieved for quite a while..." Lu Zhi looked at Lu Qingshan¡¯s face, unable to believe his eyes.


    Four months earlier, Lu Qingshan took three shop assistants with him, escorting arge batch of fabrics on the way to Zhenjiang City, only to mysteriously vanish on the road.


    He immediately reported the matter to the family, and the family dispatched people from the Service Hall to investigate, but they found nothing.


    All these days had passed, and they hade to ept that Lu Qingshan must have met with an unfortunate mishap.


    Yet now, here was Lu Qingshan, alive and well once more.


    "Grandpa, you¡¯re one to talk, who was it that spent all that time hidden away in his room, drinking sulkily by himself?" Lu Xun said with disdain, exposing the truth.


    "You little rascal, thinking you¡¯re smart, huh? When your grandpa and Qingshan are talking, mind your own business!" Lu Zhi rebuked, pping the back of Lu Xun¡¯s head.


    The familiar people and objects around him stirred an inexplicable emotion in Lu Qingshan¡¯s chest.


    It was an emotion belonging to the Lu Qingshan of this world.


    His father had many affairs and many children; he himself was insignificant among them and had never seen his father since he was born.


    His mother had passed away from illness when he was only five years old.


    Therefore, he didn¡¯t have much of an impression of his parents.


    Ever since he was a child, he had grown up in this ready-made garment workshop; although Lu Zhi had no blood rtion to him, he treated him as his own grandson, and Lu Xun respected him as a big brother.


    They were the closest people in the memories of the Lu Qingshan from this world.


    "Big brother Qingshan, that¡¯s right, why did you disappear for so long, and what about Ah Long and the others, why did youe back alone?" Lu Xun scratched his head and asked with concern.


    Ah Long and the others were workers from the workshop who had escorted goods with Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan chuckled and said, "It¡¯s a long story... We were attacked by evil cultivators, those evil cultivators defied the prohibitions of Great Xia, capturing civilians everywhere to craft corpse puppets."


    "Corpse puppets!" Lu Zhi¡¯s face changed dramatically.


    As a cultivator, he was well aware of the infamy of corpse puppets.


    "What are corpse puppets?" Lu Xun waspletely clueless.


    "Don¡¯t interrupt." Lu Zhi scolded, then looked towards Lu Qingshan, "So how did you¡­"


    The methods of evil cultivators were harsh and ruthless, and he couldn¡¯t imagine how Lu Qingshan, having fallen into the hands of an evil cultivator, managed to escape.


    "That evil cultivator was active near Yuanshan City. Somehow, an organization called the Guardianship Tower discovered him, and a cultivator from the Guardianship Tower wiped out the evil ones, also rescuing me in the process.


    However, Ah Long and the others didn¡¯t make it until then. I was also seriously injured and had to recuperate in Yuanshan City for a long time. It was only a few days ago that I returned to Zhenjiang City with a merchant convoy..."


    This was also the exnation Lu Qingshan had prepared for when he had to confront the family¡¯s cultivatorster.


    Lu Xun was left dumbfounded.


    Lu Zhi, being a cultivator, could better grasp the peril of the situation and was greatly relieved, "Thank goodness, if that cultivator from Guardianship Tower hade anyter, it would have been unimaginable..."


    ....


    "Big brother Qingshan, grandpa insisted that you weren¡¯t dead because he never saw your corpse, so he kept your position as a steward for you!" Lu Xun suddenly remembered this and mentioned it proudly.


    Lu Qingshan looked at Lu Zhi.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Lu Zhi affirmed Lu Qingshan with a nod, "What Lu Xun said is right, I¡¯ve kept your steward position avable; you should rest for a few days, and then take up your previous work again."


    Lu Zhi was nning to have Lu Qingshan and Lu Xun jointly manage the ready-made garment workshop in the future.


    Lu Qingshan shook his head slightly, "Grandpa Lu, I may not be able to continue working at the ready-made garment workshop."


    Lu Zhi was taken aback, "What do you mean by that?"


    Lu Qingshan extended his right hand and activated the spiritual power within his body. Soon, a misty white light surfaced on his hand.


    Lu Zhi, as a cultivator, naturally recognized what it was.


    "Spiritual power?! Qingshan, have you be a cultivator?"


    Lu Qingshan pursed his lips, "Yes, I was fortunate to have cultivated spiritual power."


    "Great! Great! Great!" eximed Lu Zhi excitedly, three times in a row, "A person who survives a great disaster is bound to have good fortune thereafter!"


    Lu Xun¡¯s face was also filled with excitement, "Big brother Qingshan, you¡¯ve be a cultivator!"


    The status of a cultivator,pared to that of ordinary people, was as different as heaven and earth.


    After bing a cultivator, Lu Qingshan would be able to enter the family¡¯s blessednd to cultivate.


    If his cultivation was sessful and he earned a position as a family steward, he would be a highly respected figure in Mihe Town.


    Even if he couldn¡¯t be a high-level cultivator, someone like Lu Zhi, who had no ambition in cultivation, would still be designated to take charge of the family¡¯s assets. Discover hidden stories at NovelBin.C?m

 Chapter 50 - 50 Service Hall

    "You have traveled far and are weary; rest well tonight.


    Tomorrow, you shall apany me up the mountain to report in detail the incident of your attack, and then you shall register your cultivator identity at the Outer Hall," Lu Zhi pondered slightly before arranging so.


    A quiet night passed, and the next morning dawned.


    The Lu family¡¯s blessednd was situated atop Mihe Peak.


    Lu Qingshan followed Lu Zhi along the mountain path, ascending for half an hour until they could no longer see the path through the swirling mists, and only then did they stop.


    Lu Qingshan knew that these mists were the Lu family¡¯s Gatekeeping Illusion Formation.


    Lu Zhi withdrew a bronze-colored token from his chest, magnificently engraved with the character "Lu."


    This was the Lu family¡¯s Communication Token.


    Lu Zhi tossed the token into the mist.


    Under the influence of Lu Zhi¡¯s spiritual power, the token turned into a stream of radiance and flew into the mists.


    Hardly a momentter,


    a young cultivator emerged from the mist.


    Presumably, he was the one responsible for guarding the Gatekeeping Illusion Formation,monly known as the gatekeeper.


    "Who approaches and what is your business?" the young cultivator asked, holding the token that Lu Zhi had just thrown.


    "Outer Hall Lu Zhi, I have a matter to report to the Service Hall."


    The young cultivator nodded and turned his gaze to Lu Qingshan standing beside him.


    "And him?"


    "His name is Lu Qingshan. He recently cultivated spiritual power, and I am bringing him to register at the Outer Hall,"


    The young cultivator¡¯s eyes sparkled, and he couldn¡¯t help but take a few more looks at Lu Qingshan.


    He appeared to be fifteen or sixteen, and although he had only just be a cultivator, it seemed slightlyte.


    However, as long as one could cultivate spiritual power before the age of eighteen, one could enter the Outer Hall of the Lu family.


    This would be his colleague in the future.


    With this thought, the young cultivator¡¯s tone became somewhat more polite, "Very well, pleasee in."


    With a wave of his hand, the young cultivator instantly dispelled the mists, revealing a narrow path.


    The young cultivator stepped aside, making way for Lu Zhi and Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Zhi thanked the young cultivator and then led Lu Qingshan inside.


    At first, the path was very narrow, barely wide enough for a person, but after walking several dozen steps, it suddenly opened up.


    Above, auspicious clouds floated, encircled by lush greenery, and the air was much fresher than outside.


    Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, feeling much refreshed.


    This was because the spiritual power here was incredibly abundant.


    The Lu family¡¯s blessednd was established on a Third-Grade Spirit Vein.


    The spiritual power output of a Third-Grade Spirit Vein was limited, so to avoid over-extraction, the Lu family had always controlled the number of people within the blessednd.


    Many cultivators like Lu Zhi, who were older and had little chance of advancing to the next stage of cultivation, would be assigned by the Lu family to manage family affairs in Mihe Town to prevent wastage of the blessednd¡¯s spiritual power.


    It was Lu Qingshan¡¯s second visit to the Lu family¡¯s blessednd.


    The first visit had been to test his Spirit Root.


    All offspring of the Lu family, at the age of five, would undergo a test conducted by the family.


    The test concerned the Spirit Root within their bodies.


    If the test revealed good Spirit Root qualities and excellent cultivation talents, the children would be valued by the family and allowed to cultivate within the blessednd.


    If the test showed poor Spirit Root qualities, they could not stay in the blessednd.


    However, this did not mean that they werepletely disconnected from cultivation thereafter.


    While talent is an extremely important part of cultivation, it is by no means everything.


    "Jun Bujian, how many cultivators with average Spirit Root aptitude eventually became powerful cultivators?"


    The Lu Family naturally wouldn¡¯t be so short-sighted and was willing to give the family¡¯s descendants a chance to prove themselves through their own efforts.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Descendants with inferior cultivation talents could take home a Cultivation Technique and practice on their own at home on normal days.


    If they refined their Spiritual Energy and became a cultivator before the age of eighteen, they would be able to enter the Outer Hall of the family.


    It was Lu Qingshan¡¯s first time testing his Spirit Root, and the result was not ideal, so he did not stay in the blessednd of the Lu Family.


    Although Lu Qingshan made time to practice the Cultivation Technique asionally, he was ultimately unable to sessfully refine the energy, so he never re-entered the Lu Family¡¯s blessednd.


    ...


    The entire architecturalplex within the blessednd was built from west to east along the mountainside, following the natural contours.


    The surrounding mountains curved around like a jade dragon, in a terraced formation.


    A river shimmering with silver light twisted down from the mountain top; this was the so-called Mihe River.


    Lu Zhi led Lu Qingshan along the Mihe River and soon, a three-story building came into view.


    "This is the Service Hall. Go inside, and report the details of your attack to the Service Hall cultivator for record, and then you can leave," Lu Zhi instructed.


    Lu Qingshan naturally had no objections.


    As soon as he entered the Service Hall, a ck-clothed cultivator with a stern expression approached them and asked, "What is the matter?"


    He was a Qi Refining Cultivator of the eighth level.


    Even in the Lu Family, where Foundation Establishment Cultivators hold an exceedingly revered status, most of the operatives in various halls are still Qi Refining Cultivators.


    Lu Zhi stated their purpose.


    The ck-clothed cultivator understood immediately, and without further words, led Lu Zhi and Lu Qingshan into a side room.


    Inside the side room, all four walls were fitted withrge cabs divided into numerous smallpartments.


    Eachpartment contained a Jade Slip.


    All the tasks of the Service Hall were recorded in these Jade Slips.


    "What date did the attack ur?" the ck-clothed cultivator asked.


    "April 13," Lu Zhi recalled and replied respectfully.


    "April 13..." the ck-clothed cultivator¡¯s gaze swept over the cabs, his fingertips continuously touching one Jade Slip after another.


    "Here!" Soon, the ck-clothed cultivator took out a Jade Slip from one of thepartments.


    "Chang¡¯an, twenty thousand years April 13 ¡ª Lu Qingshan (son of Lu Bei) of the Lu family garment workshop mysteriously disappeared while transporting goods. Reported to the family in hopes of investigating the cause of the incident.


    Reporter: Lu Zhi of the Outer Hall


    Date of Report: April 17


    Processing Result: Unsolved. The Service Hall dispatched personnel on April 18 to investigate but found nothing and no eyewitnesses. Case remains unsolved," the ck-clothed cultivator read slowly from the content of the Jade Slip.


    Seeing the note about being the son of Lu Bei, the ck-clothed cultivator couldn¡¯t help but look up at Lu Qingshan for a moment longer.


    ¡ª It was precisely because Lu Qingshan¡¯s identity was that of the son of the Golden Core Cultivator Lu Bei that the Service Hall went to great lengths to investigate the circumstances of Lu Qingshan¡¯s attack.


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    Otherwise, if an ordinary mortal from the Lu Family was attacked and went missing, would the Service Hall even be able to manage?


    "Is this the one?"


    Lu Zhi nodded, "Yes, sir."


    "Alright, now tell me all the details."


    Lu Zhi looked at Lu Qingshan, and Lu Qingshan, without much hesitation, recounted his exnation to Lu Zhi once again.


    The ck-clothed cultivator, following Lu Qingshan¡¯s ount, first changed the case status from unsolved to solved, then added many more details to the Jade Slip.


    "Alright, I have recorded it. With that, this matter is now concluded." After Lu Qingshan finished recounting the incident, the ck-clothed cultivatorpleted the registration and returned the Jade Slip to thepartment, then looked up at the two and said.


    Clearly, the ck-clothed cultivator didn¡¯tprehend the significance of the name ¡¯Zhishou Tower;¡¯ otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have so easily glossed over the matter.

 Chapter 51: The Son of Lu Bei

    The Service Hall, responsible for the many misceneous affairs within the family, had a rather ordinary status within the Lu Family, thus its location was at the lowest part of the Lu Family¡¯s blessednd.


    After concluding the matter, Lu Zhi led Lu Qingshan out of the Service Hall and continued walking up along the Mihe River.


    A momentter, they entered the core buildings of the Lu Family.


    The surrounding houses with their carved beams and jade pirs were much more exquisite than the previous buildings.


    Most importantly, the Spiritual Energy around them became increasingly abundant and rich.


    All the descendants of the Lu Family who hadn¡¯t passed the Spirit Root test but had seeded in perceiving and cultivating Spiritual Power on their own were assigned to the Outer Hall.


    The number of people in the Outer Hall was immense, as one could imagine.


    Therefore, the status of the Outer Hall within the Lu Family was considerably significant.


    Lu Zhi originated from the Outer Hall.


    Lu Zhi, leading Lu Qingshan, entered the architecturalplex of the Outer Hall, and their passage was unobstructed.


    Until they reached a grand hall with a family hall name te hung up, Lu Zhi stopped.


    "I¡¯ll wait outside for you. Just go in and follow the instructions of Elder Lu. Once everything is concluded, you¡¯ll be a member of the Lu Family¡¯s Outer Hall," Lu Zhi instructed in detail.


    Lu Qingshan nodded and stepped into the family hall.


    Inside the family hall, Lu Qingshan met the elder who was responsible for guiding the Lu Family descendants into the Lu Family¡¯s blessednd.


    He was an old man in a blue robe with a white beard.


    Lu Zhi had already introduced him to Lu Qingshan in advance.


    The elder was named Lu Yong¡¯an, at the Golden Core Middle Stage, and was already over one hundred and ny years old, making him exceedingly long-lived among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    After asking about Lu Qingshan¡¯s purpose, Lu Yong¡¯an handed over a roster for Lu Qingshan to fill out his personal information.


    It included detailed information such as name, background, Spirit Root aptitude, and time of perceiving.


    Lu Qingshan carefullypleted his information on the roster and then returned it to Lu Yong¡¯an.


    Lu Yong¡¯an took the roster and casually began to check the information Lu Qingshan had filled out.


    When he saw the entry for background where Lu Qingshan had written that he was the son of Lu Bei, a trace of surprise shed through Lu Yong¡¯an¡¯s murky eyes.


    It¡¯s no wonder he¡¯s Qing Ling the real person. There are already three of his progeny in the Outer Hall, and now another one arrives," Lu Yong¡¯an muttered to himself.


    Lu Bei, one of the three Golden Core Cultivators in the Lu Family, known as Qing Ling the Real Person.


    Lu Bei was the most talented and powerful cultivator among all the descendants of this generation in the Lu Family.


    Among the three Golden Core Cultivators in the Lu Family, Lu Bei was the youngest, just over sixty years old, yet his Cultivation had already reached the Golden Core Middle Stage.


    The other two Golden Core Cultivators, the Family Head who was at the Golden Core Early Stage, was over two hundred and fifty years old.


    The Great Elder was also at the Golden Core Early Stage, and was nearly four hundred years old now.


    From this, one can see that at least in Zhenjiang Prefecture, it¡¯s not an exaggeration to describe Lu Bei as a prodigy.


    Golden Core life span is five hundred years, and a Golden Core Cultivator in their sixties is indeed very young.


    The people of the Lu Family considered Lu Bei the hope for the rejuvenation of the Lu Family, feeling that Lu Bei had the potential to reach Nascent Soul.


    But what surprised everyone was,


    High-rank cultivators, logically, mostly focused deeply on cultivation, with their minds solely on Cultivation.


    ¡ªIf one didn¡¯t have such a Dao heart, how could they achieve sess in cultivation?


    However, Lu Bei, such a favored son of heaven, with such cultivation, inexplicably had a great fondness for women, naturally flirtatious.


    Yet the oddityy in the fact that although Lu Bei fancied women, he never indulged in taking supplements or practiced dual cultivation, nor did he unscrupulously indulge in pleasures using his strength.


    "Food and sex are also nature; thus, a gentleman loves beauty but in a principled way."


    This was the principle upheld by Lu Bei.


    If others were to behave in such a way, they would naturally be disliked.


    However, as Lu Bei was the strongest cultivator in the Lu Family and the future Family Head, his status and power were apparent.


    Furthermore, Lu Bei didn¡¯t ce much importance on so-called blood rtions.


    Thus, the family didn¡¯t need to bias resources towards his progeny, and so Lu Bei¡¯s mboyant actions didn¡¯t interfere with the family¡¯s interests.


    Without any conflict of interest, Lu Bei¡¯s behavior became a remarkable tale in the eyes of others.


    ...


    Putting these thoughts aside, Lu Yong¡¯an continued reading.


    There was nothing much problematic.


    Finally, after verifying the information, Lu Yong¡¯an released a Divine Sense towards Lu Qingshan.


    Although the possibility of deceit in this matter was very low, the necessary procedures still had to be followed.


    Lu Yong¡¯an needed to confirm that Lu Qingshan had indeed sessfully sensed the Spiritual Energy, cultivated Spiritual Power, and be a cultivator.


    Snap¡ª


    Suddenly, Lu Yong¡¯an¡¯s hand involuntarily loosened, and the registry in his hand fell onto the table, making a crisp sound.


    "Qi Refinement tenth level?!" Lu Yong¡¯an eximed.


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    For someone of his age, who was usually veryposed, such behavior showed the extent of his astonishment.


    Lu Qingshan seemed to have anticipated Lu Yong¡¯an¡¯s reaction and remained calm andposed.


    Lu Yong¡¯an released his Divine Sense again and scanned Lu Qingshan several more times, but the result remained unchanged.


    He hurriedly picked up the registry Lu Qingshan had filled out.


    In the section where it asked when he first sensed the Spiritual Energy, it clearly stated "three months ago."


    Three months, Qi Refinement tenth level?


    How was that possible.


    Lu Yong¡¯an had never heard of such an absurdity.


    Even Lu Bei, who was recognized by the Lu Family as the most likely to achieve the Nascent Soul, had taken five years to progress from sensing Spiritual Energy to the tenth level of Qi Refinement.


    "You im you sensed the Spiritual Energy just before March?" Lu Yong¡¯an asked incredulously.


    "Yes," Lu Qingshan nodded in confirmation.


    Lu Yong¡¯an¡¯s expression darkened, "Do you realize the consequences if you are deceiving me?


    At your age, having the cultivation of Qi Refinement tenth level, no matter how much time it took, you would receive the family¡¯s favor and a tilt in resources toward you¡ªdon¡¯t mislead yourself."


    Lu Qingshan spread his hands, "Elder Lu, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can go and investigate. My experiences in Mihe Town are clear for all to see, and they all leave tracks."


    Lu Yong¡¯an, facing Lu Qingshan¡¯s calm andposed demeanor, remained silent for a long time before slowly standing up.


    "Stay seated here, and wait for a moment," he said.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    This matter was of great importance, and he had to report to the true decision-makers in the family.


    The best scenario would be that everything was true, with no tricks involved. That would mean the Lu Family might very likely have another member with better qualifications than Lu Bei.


    That would also be a top-priority event for the Lu Family.


    But if there was deceit involved, then it would even more necessitate a decision from a Golden Core Cultivator.


    Without further dy, Lu Yong¡¯an immediately left the Hall of Names, activated his Flying Spell, and headed straight up the mountain.


    Inside the Hall of Names, only Lu Qingshan remained.


    Lu Qingshan, however, remained unhurried and calm.


    He had anticipated such a scenario might arise.


    Indeed, if Lu Yong¡¯an had not noticed his Qi Refinement tenth level cultivation, he would have found a way to reveal it.

 Chapter 52: Summoning 52

    Lu Qingshan had waited for a long time in the Ancestral Hall, and finally, Lu Yong''an reappeared in the hall.


    "Come with me, the Family Head and the others are waiting for you at Qingping Hall," Lu Yong''an said as soon as he saw Lu Qingshan.


    Qingping Hall was one of the Lu Family''s three main halls, located at the core of the Lu Family, right at the top of Mihe Peak, the origin of the Spirit Vein.


    In the past, it was the ce where the three Golden Core Cultivators discussed matters.


    Now, they were about to summon Lu Qingshan in Qingping Hall.


    This showed how muchmotion Lu Qingshan had caused within the family.


    "The Family Head and the others?" Lu Qingshan noticed how Lu Yong''an phrased his words.


    To Lu Qingshan''s inquiry, Lu Yong''an did not hide anything: "The Family Head, the Great Elder, and... your father are currently waiting for you in Qingping Hall."


    "You should know that small tricks arepletely visible in front of the three Golden Core Cultivators," Lu Yong''an added meaningfully.


    What arge-scale arrangement, having three Golden Core Cultivators involved.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself, smiling but not speaking.


    After leaving the Ancestral Hall, Lu Zhi, who was waiting anxiously at the doorway, saw Lu Qingshane out and showed a look of joy, ready to greet him, but then he noticed Lu Yong''an beside Lu Qingshan.


    His steps faltered.


    "Elder Lu, please wait for a moment," Lu Qingshan said to Lu Yong''an beside him.


    Lu Yong''an nodded, "Be quick."


    If Lu Qingshan were indeed the so-called favored child of heaven, then in a few decades, Lu Qingshan would be the pir of rejuvenation for the Lu Family.


    Thus, giving Lu Qingshan a little bit of privilege was within reason.


    Normally, if summoned by the three Golden Core Cultivators, which member of the Lu Family would not hurry there immediately?


    Seeing Lu Qingshan approaching, Lu Zhi, looking anxious, grabbed Lu Qingshan''s sleeve: "Qingshan, what''s going on? Why is Elder Luing out with you? Where are you going?"


    He had been waiting outside the Ancestral Hall for a long time, first seeing Lu Yong''an rushing out alone from the hall, casting a Flying Spell, and then heading up the mountain.


    And Lu Qingshan, who had entered earlier in the morning, had note out, which had already made him feel very uneasy.


    After a while, when Lu Yong''an finally returned and soon after brought Lu Qingshan out, it seemed they were heading somewhere.


    This made Lu Zhi even more uneasy with spection.


    Could it be that Qingshan hadmitted some kind of mistake?


    Lu Qingshan patted Lu Zhi''s hand reassuringly, "It''s nothing serious, don''t worry. Father wants to talk to me about something; you go back first, and I''ll exin everything to youter."


    "Qing Ling the Real one?" Lu Zhi was stunned.


    Although Lu Qingshan was the son of Lu Bei, who did not know of Lu Bei''s reputation in the Lu Family?


    In his mind, it was very doubtful whether Lu Bei even knew he had a son named Lu Qingshan.


    He had never imagined it would be Lu Bei who wanted to speak with Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan smiled, "It''s him."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Really nothing wrong?" Lu Zhi clearly couldn''t set his mind at ease.


    "Really nothing wrong. If there were, why would Elder Lu be so polite to me?"


    Indeed, if Qingshan had really done something wrong, why would Lu Yong''an let Qingshane to exin it to himself?


    Thinking of this, Lu Zhi''s anxious heart finally settled down a bit.


    "After you''ve spoken with your father, send me a message as soon as possible," Lu Zhi reminded him: "That''s all for now, you better hurry, don''t keep your father waiting."


    Lu Qingshan nodded and turned back to walk towards Lu Yong''an: "Elder Lu, let''s go."


    Lu Yong''an looked at Lu Qingshan meaningfully but said nothing else.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan had finished exining the matter, Lu Yong''an didn''t dy any further. He raised his left hand and waved it, and a gust of green wind surrounded Lu Qingshan, howling as it carried both of them toward the summit of Mihe Peak.


    Lu Zhi watched as Lu Yong''an took Lu Qingshan away, a hint of daze in his eyes.


    He always felt that Lu Qingshan, upon returning after a three-month disappearance, seemed somewhat different from before.


    ¡ªHe had acquired a very special, indescribable demeanor.


    ...


    Lu Yong''an''s Flying Spell was very fast; in just a moment, they had alreadynded on a huge Qing stone za at the mountain''s summit.


    This za, known as Xuan Yue za, was the ce where the Lu Family gathered its members for npetitions or to announce major events.


    npetitions were always famously grandiose asions.


    A sense of mischief rose in Lu Qingshan''s mind at the thought.


    Directly to the north of the za was Qingping Hall.


    Lu Yong''an led Lu Qingshan to the front of Qingping Hall.


    The hall''s great doors, at least thirty feet high, were made of ancient bronze and were quite imposing. At the top of the door, threerge characters read "Qingping Hall."


    But at this time, the bronze doors of Qingping Hall were tightly closed.


    "Family Head, Lu Qingshan has been brought here,"


    Lu Yong''an respectfully said toward the inside of the bronze doors.


    No sooner had his voice faded than the bronze doors silently opened, yet no one could be seen opening them.


    "Come in." A faint, ethereal voice came from inside.


    "Then I''m going in," Lu Qingshan said to Lu Yong''an, who clearly was not prepared to go inside with him.


    "Go ahead," Lu Yong''an nced at Lu Qingshan and unconsciously added another piece of advice, "When speaking with the Family Head, pay extra attention to your words and avoid any taboos."


    The conversation between Lu Qingshan and Lu Zhi had not been purposely kept from him, and as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Lu Yong''an had naturally heard everything with his enhanced senses.


    Anyway, Lu Qingshan had always shown such respect for his elders.


    This was enough to make Lu Yong''an favorably inclined toward Lu Qingshan, so his attitude softened a lot and he subconsciously gave another piece of advice to Lu Qingshan.


    After Lu Qingshan entered Qingping Hall, the grand doors closed silently once more.


    Therge, bright main hall.


    It was constructed of ck Xuan stones, and a solemn, steady aura hit them in the face.


    On the high tform, three Golden Core Cultivators were seated.


    As soon as Lu Qingshan entered, his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the cultivator seated on the left side of the main seat.


    This was a cultivator wearing a dark purple robe, with a stone blue Panli patterned brocade belt tied around his waist.


    His hair, long as flowing water, was casually spread out, and he had a pair of charming peach blossom eyes, a tall stature, appearing truly strikingly handsome.


    At the moment, this cultivator was using his extraordinarily beautiful peach blossom eyes to look at Lu Qingshan with evident interest.


    Lu Qingshan understood in his heart that this must be his father rted by blood¡ªLu Bei.


    His mother, being a mortal, must have been extraordinarily beautiful to have caught the eye of Lu Bei, who was in the Golden Core Realm.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Bei, despite being a Golden Core Cultivator, turned out to be such a dashing and youthful handsome man.


    No wonder he was so pleased with his own face; it turned out his genes were so favorable.


    Lu Qingshan found this amusing.


    While Lu Qingshan was sizing up his father, the air around him suddenly condensed.


    This was the Golden Core Cultivators on the tform releasing their Divine Sense to scrutinize him.

 Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Ruin Realm Quota

    "Lu Qingshan pays his respects to the Family Head, the Great Elder... Real Person Qing Ling," Lu Qingshan said, disregarding the Divine Sense that continued to scan his body, as he greeted each of the three Golden Core Cultivators in turn.


    It was only when calling out to Lu Bei that he hesitated slightly, eventually opting to use Lu Bei''s Taoist title.


    The cultivator at the main seat was the Lu Family''s current Family Head, Lu Yuan.


    For a very long time, Lu Yuan had been the first among the Lu Family, until Lu Bei appeared, and only then did the situation change.


    "Hmm, Lu Qingshan, you are only fifteen this year and during the Spirit Root test at the age of five, you were found to have only an ordinary Mortal Spirit Root.


    You have never seeded in Qi Refinement all these years.


    However, before disappearing three months ago and upon your return to the Lu Family, you had already be a cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refinement."


    Lu Yuan''s gaze was like a sharp knife, seemingly capable of seeing through Lu Qingshan.


    "Among all the descendants of our Lu Family over the past few hundred years, your record is indeed unique.


    What, is it that the feng shui of our Lu Family is not good?


    Did it cause you, a prodigy who could attain Qi Refinement Perfection in just three months, to be an obscured gem all along?


    Was it only after leaving the Lu Family that you shed all the dust and shone through, illuminating mountains and rivers alike?"


    Though there was no direct interrogation, the questioning tone was unmistakable.


    Lu Qingshan remained unruffled and answered calmly, "The Family Head should not jest with me; it was just some fortune during the time I was missing.


    The reason I couldn''t Refine Qi before was surely due to my ownck of talent, how dare I me the Lu Family''s feng shui, and even less dare I im the title of a prodigy that you mentioned."


    "Heh, just some fortune?" Lu Yuan sneered coldly, "The opportunity that allowed you, a mere mortal, to achieve Qi Refinement Perfection in just three months is no trivial matter."


    "I am indeed very curious, and would like to hear about it.


    Perhaps there''s something worth emting, so that the younger generation of our Lu Family can also make significant progress in their Cultivation.


    If that is the case, I will certainly credit you with a great merit."


    "Opportunity is something thates by chance, not by seeking. I was fortunate to encounter this opportunity; it was both timing and fate. To experience it again, I''m afraid, is highly unlikely," Lu Qingshan replied, unfazed by Lu Yuan''s sarcasm, "Since it cannot be replicated, then what good would there be in listening to it, Family Head?"


    "Don''t take on such a nonchnt demeanour! When the Family Head asks you something, you answer honestly. Do you think you can muddle through by evading the question and ying little tricks?" the elder sitting to the right of the main seat suddenly said in a raised voice, his color changing.


    This was the Lu Family''s Great Elder, Lu Zhou, also the eldest person in the Lu Family currently.


    In terms of seniority, it might even trace back to several of Lu Qingshan''s great grandfathers.


    Lu Qingshan''s expression turned serious, and he looked steadily at the Great Elder Lu Zhou, retorting, "Could it be that within the Lu Family, if a junior encounters some opportunity, they must report it?


    I seem to recall that there is no such rule in the family''s regtions?


    If that were the case, if the opportunity turned out to be useful to the Great Elder, should I then offer it up with both hands to you?"


    Lu Qingshan''s words were sharp, and he showed no fear of the Golden Core Cultivator Lu Zhou, with no intention of backing down.


    With such a rebuttal from Lu Qingshan, Lu Zhou''s face grew somewhat unsightly.


    An eerie atmosphere began to brew in the hall.


    Suddenly, a gentleugh sounded.


    Lu Bei, having observed Lu Qingshan facing three Golden Core Cultivators yet remainingposed, chuckled lightly and said, "He''s not wrong, are we of the Lu Family so devoid of generosity?


    If a prominent n like ours cannot tolerate a youngster''s fortune, then what is the point of that family''s existence, what about the sense of unity?"


    Afterward, he turned his head towards Lu Zhou, who was ring fiercely, and said, "Great Elder, in my opinion, we should let this matter rest."


    Lu Bei''s tone was gentle, without any hint of authority or sense of overbearing presence.


    However, Lu Zhou, who had been furious, underwent several changes of expression upon Lu Bei''s words, eventually giving up his interrogation.


    Family Head Lu Yuan nced at Lu Bei but ultimately chose not to say much more.


    It seems that my father holds a rather high position, the Family Head and the Great Elder are both reluctant to oppose him.


    Lu Qingshan took all this in, his understanding crystal clear in his heart.


    Suddenly, a Jade Slip appeared out of nowhere in Lu Yuan''s hand.


    At the same time, a misty Spiritual Light appeared on Lu Yuan''s hand, and he lightly touched the top of the Jade Slip with his fingertip.


    Instantly, the information within the Jade Slip began to appear in the air.


    This Jade Slip was the one recorded by the ck-robed Cultivator at the Service Hall, documenting the information narrated by Lu Qingshan.


    After disying the information from the Jade Slip to Lu Qingshan, Lu Yuan lifted his robe sleeve and the characters in the air vanished in an instant.


    "ording to you, your disappearance was because you were attacked by an evil cultivator, and thereafter your life was saved by Yuanshan Tower?" Lu Yuan asked slowly.


    "Indeed that is the case," Lu Qingshan naturally wouldn''t contradict his own words.


    "Do you know what Yuanshan Tower is?" Lu Yuan''s gaze hardened as he pressed for an answer.


    Given Lu Yuan''s status and position, he naturally understood the existence of Yuanshan Tower and was even more aware of its terrifying aspects.


    Therefore, after learning of Lu Qingshan''s contact with Yuanshan Tower, it was certain that he would inquire about the specifics.


    "I didn''t know before, butter I came to understand, it''s an immense entity," said Lu Qingshan with a light chuckle.


    All this information was deliberately revealed by him.


    The questions asked by Lu Yuan were all within his expectations.


    Lu Yuan''s eyes flickered with sharp light before he suddenly posed the question, "Is the opportunity you spoke of rted to Yuanshan Tower?"


    "You could say that," Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment before answering in a deep voice.


    ¡ªIndeed, without Yuanshan Tower, he wouldn''t have been able to gain the colossal Experience Points from the Blood Corpse True Person and the Weeping Soul True Person.


    If rted to Yuanshan Tower, creating a Qi Refinement level ten cultivator in three months surely isn''t a difficult feat.


    Hearing Lu Qingshan''s response, Lu Yuan became thoughtful, his gaze shifting back and forth, scanning Lu Qingshan, and for the moment couldn''t grasp the nature of their rtionship.


    If Lu Qingshan indeed had some connection to Yuanshan Tower, they would definitely not want to offend Lu Qingshan; in fact, they would consider him a cornerstone for the family.


    Lu Qingshan, observing the Family Head lost in thought, took the initiative to say, "Family Head, I understand your concerns, but no matter what, I, Lu Qingshan, will always be a member of the Lu Family, there''s no doubt about that."


    His statement carried an underlying message signaling his stance to Lu Yuan.


    As a member of the Lu family, no matter how he turned from an ordinary person into a Qi Refinement level ten cultivator in three months, it was a good thing for the Lu family in any case.


    In terms of bloodline, the Lu Family was his, and that couldn''t change.


    Moreover, this world''s Lu Qingshan had lived in the Lu family for fifteen years, and there had never been any melodramatic incidents where anyone in the Lu family humiliated him for his mediocre talent.


    Thus, barring special reasons, Lu Qingshan had no desire to have conflicts or disputes with the Lu family.


    "You haven''t sensed Qi for many years, and ording to you, you fortuitously encountered some opportunity that allowed you to traverse in just three months what would take ordinary people ten or even more years of cultivation.


    But how do we ascertain how long this opportunity of yours canst, and to what extent it might go?" Lu Yuan asked the most critical question.


    Logically speaking, given Lu Qingshan''s age and his Cultivation of Qi Refinement level ten, and considering he had reached the Perfection stage in just three months, the Lu family should spare no resources in nurturing him.


    But the issue was, if Lu Qingshan was like Lu Bei, naturally gifted and cultivated rapidly since childhood, then the family would''nt hesitate to tilt a wealth of resources to nurture him.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan had merely been an ordinary person before, bing a cultivator only due to some opportunity.


    This raises a possibility:


    What if this is as far as Lu Qingshan''s opportunity goes?


    What if they invest a massive amount of family resources into Lu Qingshan, but he is unable to continue this astonishing performance and break through to Foundation Establishment and then to Golden Core?


    Even saying, what if reaching Foundation Establishment isn''t of much use for Lu Qingshan?


    Because for the Lu family, although Foundation Establishment cultivators are the backbone of the family, it''s the high-rank Golden Core cultivators who truly determine the family''s status.


    Family resources are always limited.


    If arge amount of resources is poured into Lu Qingshan, and he can''t bring the value expected, then the Lu family would enter a prolonged period of decline.


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan needed to prove himself worthy of the family''s resource investment.


    Only then would they proceed to nurture Lu Qingshan vigorously.


    Regarding this, Lu Qingshan simply waved his hand indifferently, "My cultivation doesn''t require the support of family resources, I only have one request, I want a spot in this year''s Ruin Realm."


    The Lu family''s resources weren''t what he sought or needed.


    His return to the Lu family was initiated not only to visit Lu Zhi and Lu Xun but also primarily for the Ruin Realm quota.


    He currently needed a Foundation Establishment Technique to advance to Foundation Establishment.


    And this Ruin Realm was directly rted to a Foundation Establishment Technique.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    A Foundation Establishment Technique of Taoist Level!

 Chapter 54: 54th Chapter: Yuanshan Tower Token

    The space currently inhabited by the Human Race is vast,plete with Heavenly Dao and all Five Elements, and thus it is known as "world."


    But within the world of the Human Race, there are innumerablerge and small spaces that coexist.


    These spaces,ckingplete Heavenly Dao, are called minor realms.


    Despite their limitations, minor realms are independent spaces, extremely suitable for magicalbat, testing disciples, or cultivating Spirit nts and Spirit Beasts in Spirit nt Gardens or Spirit Beast Gardens.


    In summary, the function of minor realms is quite extensive.


    When cultivators reach higher realms, possessing the ability to change heaven and earth, they can even create a minor realm with their own strength.


    This is why many powerful Sects possess minor realms exclusive to their own members.


    In the Sacred War that took ce twenty thousand years ago, the Demon Race fully invaded the Sky Dome.


    In that battle, countless ancient, powerful Sects were obliterated overnight, severing their lineages.


    These powerful Sects all owned one or more minor realms.


    Some of these minor realms were plundered by the Demon Race, but others were hidden by the mighty powers of those Sects, who did not want to let the Demon Race benefit, using formations or forbidden spells.


    However, as time passed, these methods used to hide the Minor Realms either through formations or restrictions gradually became ineffective, revealing these minor realms once again to the public.


    Ruin Realm is such a minor realm.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    It originally belonged to an ancient Sect called the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    In that battle, Mountain and Sea Pavilion became one of the many Sects that was destroyed overnight.


    However, before it was destroyed, the Sect Master of Mountain and Sea Pavilion, hoping to preserve a legacy for the Sect, secretly hid the Ruin Realm, which was used to test lower-grade disciples and bestow inheritance.


    Until three years ago, when the high-grade invisibility barrier used to hide the Ruin Realm depleted its Spiritual Power and the Ruin Realm reappeared to the world, within Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    Once the Ruin Realm appeared, it drew a crowd.


    The thirty-six major cultivation families of Zhenjiang City discussed and formed a Ruin Realm Alliance, forcefully taking control of the Ruin Realm.


    ¡ª¡ªAn extremely domineering and tyrannical act.


    All cultivators not part of the Ruin Realm Alliance voiced their dissatisfaction with this action by Zhenjiang City''s thirty-six major cultivation families.


    But what could they do about it?


    Just a few inconsequential outcries¡ªthese cultivation families wouldn''t care about such things.


    The Cultivation World has always been a ce where survival of the fittest reigns supreme.


    To strengthen oneself and suppress others has always been the unwritten rule of survival.


    Everyone is well aware that these cultivators, who verbally condemn the actions of the Ruin Realm Alliance, are only able to express moral condemnation privately because their strength is insufficient.


    If they were strong enough, you''d see them doing the same as the Ruin Realm Alliance, monopolizing the Ruin Realm.


    Big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp¡ªthis has always been the nature of things.


    Ruin Realm is a secret minor realm used by the Mountain and Sea Pavilion to test its disciples.


    It is divided into twoyers.


    Oneyer only allows Qi Refining Cultivators to enter, while the other permits only Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Yes, within the major cultivation families, Foundation Establishment Cultivators, who hold a significant status, are considered just lower-grade disciples to the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    The strength of Mountain and Sea Pavilion is reflected in this.


    Ruin Realm opens once a year, each time allowing one hundred and eighty Qi Refining Cultivators and forty-eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators to enter.


    The quotas are then divided up amongst the thirty-six major cultivation families.


    ...


    "Are you saying that you don''t need any family resources for support and only require a slot for the Ruin Realm?" Lu Yuan was somewhat surprised.


    "You must understand that although the inheritance of the Ruin Realm is precious, it is only attainable if you perform exceptionally within the Ruin Realm."


    "Mountain and Sea Pavilion is indeed a great sect from ancient times, and their demands on their disciples are extremely high.


    Based on the performance of disciples who have entered the Ruin Realm over the past two years, even cultivators who seem outstanding in our eyes often end up receiving only a mediocre evaluation in the Ruin Realm."


    Lu Yuan kindly reminded, "Moreover, besides inheriting Cultivation Techniques, resources like Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones are also indispensable. I advise you to think it over carefully before making a decision."


    Although Lu Qingshan felt the goodwill in Lu Yuan''s words, he remained unmoved. "This is the decision I have made after much deliberation."


    Lu Yuan clearly hadn''t expected Lu Qingshan to make such a decision and was at a loss for how to react momentarily.


    His gaze caught Lu Bei, who had been leisurely and seemingly watching a y from the beginning to the end.


    A sh of anger crossed his heart.


    "Qing Ling, what do you think we should do about this?" Lu Yuan simply threw the question at Lu Bei.


    ¡ªIt''s your son, you handle it.


    Lu Bei, unafraid to avoid responsibility, saw that Lu Yuan wanted him to decide. Looking towards Lu Qingshan, he said indifferently, "Since he wants only the Ruin Realm slot, just give it to him."


    "You''re all hesitant to provide him resources for fear of this and that, but now that he wants to give up the family''s resources, you start to hesitate? What, is this like a young girl in love, ying hard to get?" Lu Bei even teased Lu Yuan a bit.


    Lu Yuan''s face stiffened, then he waved his hand dismissively.


    "Fine then, that''s settled. You want the Ruin Realm token, I will give you one, but as for the family resources, you''ve chosen to give them up yourself. Don''t me the Lu Family for being stingy towards you in the future!"


    Lu Qingshan bowed respectfully towards the three Golden Core cultivators, "Of course."


    "Alright then, you may leave now, we''ll consider the matter handled for now." Lu Yuan nodded and began to shoo him away.


    Lu Qingshan bowed again to the three Golden Core cultivators, then turned and left.


    After exiting Qingping Hall, Lu Qingshan stood still, as if he thought of something. From his storage ring, he took out an object and examined it in his hand.


    It was a token shaped like dew droplets, round on top and square at the bottom.


    The back of the token was engraved with a dragon coiled around a sword, surrounded by thunder rune clouds.


    The front was inscribed with two simple, bold characters ¡ª "Yuanshan."


    This was a Yuanshan Tower token.


    When leaving Yuanshan City, Lu Qingshan had already decided that his Foundation Establishment Technique would be obtained from the Ruin Realm.


    And the Ruin Realm could not be entered by anyone other than those from the Ruin Realm Alliance.


    Fortunately, he still had an identity within the Lu Family.


    However, even for the Lu Family, the slots to enter the Ruin Realm were limited, so without demonstrating certain value, how could he possibly obtain this precious Ruin Realm slot?


    A tenth level in Qi Refinement was his key to the door.


    He understood, even though he could extend the tenth level of Qi Refinement from half-month to three-months, in reality the difference wasn''t significant; both were exceedingly remarkable.


    He had to consider that the Lu Family might force him to reveal how he went from a mortal to the tenth level of Qi Refinement in just three months.


    He would not entrust his safety to the conscience of the Lu Family''s Golden Core cultivators, nor would he believe that merely by his own words, he could persuade the decision-makers of the Lu Family.


    Therefore, afterpleting the tasks from the Demon Hunting Alliance and leaving, the thing Lu Qingshan had prepared was to go to Yuanshan Tower to get this Yuanshan Tower token from Dantai Qingrun.


    [Yuanshan Tower Token]


    Description: This token symbolizes the holder''s identity as a member of the Yuanshan Tower.


    If Lu Zhou had insisted on pressing Lu Qingshan, he would have presented this Yuanshan Tower token.


    The identity of a Yuanshan Tower member was sufficient for Lu Qingshan''s protection.


    It was not that there weren''t forces that could disregard Yuanshan Tower''s power, but clearly, the Lu Family was not among them.


    Unexpectedly, with Lu Bei''s intervention, the matter had passed so smoothly.


    As a result, the token that Lu Qingshan had prepared ended up being unnecessary.


    Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan put away the token in his hand, turned to look back at the majestic Qingping Hall, and felt a touch of unexined joy.

 Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Opening of the Ruin Realm (Part 1)

    Inside Qingping Hall.


    After Lu Qingshan left, Lu Zhou, who had been serious-faced, now transformed like a man changing his face, his eyes filled with teasing amusement as he addressed Lu Bei.


    "Qing Ling, your son really takes after you. This unyielding spirit is exactly the same as yours back in the day."


    Lu Bei''s expression remained unchanged as he retorted, "I wonder if the Great Elder ying the viin is feeling gratified?"


    "Back in the day, you failed to intimidate me; now, my son isn''t scared either. All these years and yet, Great Elder, you really haven''t made any progress."


    Three or four decades ago, his talent had just be apparent, but he was extremely indifferent to cultivation; he too was summoned to Qingping Hall for a talk by Lu Yuan and Lu Zhou.


    The scene that day was just like today: the Great Elder yed the viin, scolding and threatening him while the Family Head Lu Yuan tried to soothe and yed good cop.


    Unfortunately, he wasn''t the least bit afraid, putting the two Golden Core Cultivators in a rather awkward position.


    The Great Elder Lu Zhou''s face stiffened: "You are in your sixties now, yet you still act so flippantly, with a punchable demeanor that annoys people."


    ...


    Lu Yuan, seeing the verbal spar between the two ending with a minor victory for Lu Bei, promptly interjected to ask, "What do you think this young man meant by saying that he does not need any resources from the family for support?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lu Zhou pondered for a moment before saying, "Perhaps, someone will provide him with the necessary cultivation resources?"


    Lu Yuan quickly caught on: "You mean... Zhi Shou Building?"


    Lu Zhou nodded: "If Zhi Shou Building provides cultivation resources, he naturally wouldn''t value the Lu Family''s resources."


    Lu Yuan hesitated, then asked, "But why would Zhi Shou Building take an interest in this kid?"


    Why would Zhi Shou Building, such a powerful force, take an interest in an ordinary mortal with average talent?


    He couldn''t understand.


    "The three of us, Golden Core Cultivators, stand above him; yet this junior can still speak confidently and respectfully, remainingposed in the face of my anger. With such demeanor, why wouldn''t Zhi Shou Building take notice of him?"


    "Lu Yuan, don''t let the fact he is a junior lead you to subconsciously overlook his merits. If you lead the Lu Family with such an attitude, you''ll eventually pay a heavy price for it." Lu Zhou said sternly.


    Lu Yuan fell silent for a long while before slowly nodding: "Great Elder''s lesson is well taken; my mindset hasn''t been properly adjusted."


    After some thought, Lu Zhou then instructed, "Although this little rascal ims he doesn''t need family resources, there''s no reason for our Lu Family to let down our own. Have someone send him the resources he deservester. The amount should be distributed as per a regr Qi Refining Tenth Layer disciple, no need for special treatment."


    ...


    Lu Qingshan was timing his return to the Lu Family with the opening of the Ruin Realm.


    Therefore, after the discussion in Qingping Hall, he only rested for two days at the garment workshop before receiving a message instructing him to gather at Xuan Yue Square within the family''s blessednd in preparation for the journey to the Ruin Realm.


    After leaving behind a storage bag filled with Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones, Lu Qingshan bid farewell to Lu Zhi and Lu Xun.


    For a lengthy period, he wouldn''t return.


    Xuan Yue Square.


    By the time Lu Qingshan arrived, there were already seven Lu Family cultivators gathered.


    Among them were six Qi Refining Cultivators and one Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    With the arrival of Lu Qingshan, there were a total of eight.


    These were all the people the Lu Family was sending to the Ruin Realm this time.


    Each time the Ruin Realm opened, it could amodate one hundred eighty Qi Refining Cultivators and forty-eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Meanwhile, the Ruin Realm Alliance consisted of thirty-six cultivator families.


    There was no way to distribute the spots evenly.


    Even if it was possible to distribute evenly, it wouldn''t be done that way.


    Although all referred to as the thirty-six great cultivator families, there are still rankings ording to strength within each family.


    If you were to give the same number of spots to the first-ranked cultivator family and thest-ranked, do you think the top family would be pleased?


    The number of spots each family receives for the Ruin Realm is determined by the strength of the family.


    The Lu Family is a mid-ranking family among the thirty-six and receives seven spots for Qi Refining Cultivators and one spot for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    Very much in line with the norm, very close to an average share.


    As soon as Lu Qingshan arrived, the other cultivators nced his way.


    The Lu Family''s own Ruin Realm spots were allocated well in advance.


    Lu Qingshan suddenly jumping the queue two days before the Ruin Realm opening meant that one of the Qi Refining Cultivators who originally had a spot was bumped.


    It was natural for everyone to be curious as to who could make the family pull strings for him this way.


    Human nature.


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan paid no mind to the stares of the others.


    ...


    The wait was not long.


    In less than half an hour, a beam of spiritual light shed, and then Great Elder Lu Zhounded in front of the crowd.


    He was the one leading the team this time.


    Lu Zhou looked around at the people present, and seeing that everyone had arrived,


    "The time hase, let''s go," said Lu Zhou, casting an extremely subtle nce at Lu Qingshan with an indifferent tone.


    As he spoke, Lu Zhou took out a very mini boat-shaped mold from his Storage Ring, stretched out his hand, and with a flick of Spiritual Power,


    the boat-shaped mold grew out of thin air, eventually turning into a giant wooden boat before the crowd.


    [Qingxia Wooden Boat], a specialized multi-person Flying Artifact.


    Lu Zhou flew onto the boat.


    "Everyone,e aboard."


    Following Lu Zhou''smand, the other cultivators present leapt onto the boat.


    Once everyone was on board, the wooden boat took off into the sky under Lu Zhou''s control, speeding away towards the distant horizon.


    The entrance to the Ruin Realm was still quite a distance from the Qianzhou mountain range where the Lu Family was located.


    After flying for about two hours, a majestic mountain range came into view.


    Dayan mountain range.


    The location of the entrance to the Ruin Realm.


    Lu Zhou steered the Qingxia Wooden Boat tond before a huge, misty pit.


    Once everyone had disembarked, the Qingxia Wooden Boat reverted to a mini wooden boat and was taken back into Lu Zhou''s Storage Ring.


    To dominate the Ruin Realm, every family in the Ruin Realm Alliance sent several family cultivators to station here, preventing outsiders from entering.


    A Lu Family cultivator stationed here had received news long ago and had been waiting for quite some time for Lu Zhou to lead the team.


    When the waiting Lu Family cultivator saw Lu Zhou, he immediately greeted him respectfully, "Great Elder."


    "No need for formalities. How many families have arrived now?" inquired Lu Zhou.


    "Reporting to the Great Elder, a total of twenty-three families have already arrived; we are the twenty-fourth," replied the cultivator.


    Lu Zhou nodded, "Not too early, not toote, just right. Let''s go in then."


    Lu Zhou stretched out his finger and gently tapped towards the mist in the front.


    Quickly, the mist dispersed to both sides, revealing a small path.


    Lu Zhou led the way and was the first to walk in.


    Lu Qingshan and the others hastily followed suit.


    Once they had entered the pit and saw the scene inside, the Lu Family cultivators beside Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but let out a soft exmation.


    The sight before them was indeed a bit mystical.


    A giant dark passage, seemingly rotating, stood tall before them.


    At this moment, the open space in front of the passage was already bustling, with over a hundred cultivators gathered.


    Only Lu Qingshan still maintained an unperturbed demeanor.


    Not without reason¡ªas he was very familiar with the ce.


    At present, this ce was called the entrance to the Ruin Realm.


    But in the game "Nine Heavens," the full name of the Ruin Realm was [Ruin Realm Instance] (Normal/Elite).


    The normal difficulty allowed only Qi Refining Realm yers to enter, while the elite difficulty was exclusive to Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    And this [Ruin Realm Instance], he had entered at least a dozen times.


    If the story unfolded as expected, the Ruin Realm Alliance''s dominance over the Ruin Realm wouldst only three years.


    Which meant that this time would be thest asion the Ruin Realm Alliance monopolized the quotas for the Ruin Realm.


    By the end of the year, when the Corpse Puppet Chaos erupted, the major cultivator families would be too preupied to fend for themselves.


    Some families with bad luck would suffer heavy losses, with several high-rank Golden Core cultivators dead, leaving them unable to continue dominating the mountain range blessed with high-grade Spirit Veins.


    There would also be some families who would annex those who had suffered heavy losses, seizing the opportunity to rise to power.


    Then, it would be time for all the major forces to reshuffle, with therge families busy vying for resources such as Spirit Veins and undermining each other. Naturally, the Ruin Realm Alliance would crumble and cease to exist.

 Chapter 55 - 55 Opening of the Ruin Realm (Part 1)

    Inside Qingping Hall.


    After Lu Qingshan left, Lu Zhou, who had been serious-faced, now transformed like a man changing his face, his eyes filled with teasing amusement as he addressed Lu Bei.


    "Qing Ling, your son really takes after you. This unyielding spirit is exactly the same as yours back in the day."


    Lu Bei''s expression remained unchanged as he retorted, "I wonder if the Great Elder ying the viin is feeling gratified?"


    "Back in the day, you failed to intimidate me; now, my son isn''t scared either. All these years and yet, Great Elder, you really haven''t made any progress."


    Three or four decades ago, his talent had just be apparent, but he was extremely indifferent to cultivation; he too was summoned to Qingping Hall for a talk by Lu Yuan and Lu Zhou.


    The scene that day was just like today: the Great Elder yed the viin, scolding and threatening him while the Family Head Lu Yuan tried to soothe and yed good cop.


    Unfortunately, he wasn''t the least bit afraid, putting the two Golden Core Cultivators in a rather awkward position.


    The Great Elder Lu Zhou''s face stiffened: "You are in your sixties now, yet you still act so flippantly, with a punchable demeanor that annoys people."


    ...


    Lu Yuan, seeing the verbal spar between the two ending with a minor victory for Lu Bei, promptly interjected to ask, "What do you think this young man meant by saying that he does not need any resources from the family for support?"


    Lu Zhou pondered for a moment before saying, "Perhaps, someone will provide him with the necessary cultivation resources?"


    Lu Yuan quickly caught on: "You mean... Zhi Shou Building?"


    Lu Zhou nodded: "If Zhi Shou Building provides cultivation resources, he naturally wouldn''t value the Lu Family''s resources."


    Lu Yuan hesitated, then asked, "But why would Zhi Shou Building take an interest in this kid?"


    Why would Zhi Shou Building, such a powerful force, take an interest in an ordinary mortal with average talent?


    He couldn''t understand.


    "The three of us, Golden Core Cultivators, stand above him; yet this junior can still speak confidently and respectfully, remainingposed in the face of my anger. With such demeanor, why wouldn''t Zhi Shou Building take notice of him?"


    "Lu Yuan, don''t let the fact he is a junior lead you to subconsciously overlook his merits. If you lead the Lu Family with such an attitude, you''ll eventually pay a heavy price for it." Lu Zhou said sternly.


    Lu Yuan fell silent for a long while before slowly nodding: "Great Elder''s lesson is well taken; my mindset hasn''t been properly adjusted."


    After some thought, Lu Zhou then instructed, "Although this little rascal ims he doesn''t need family resources, there''s no reason for our Lu Family to let down our own. Have someone send him the resources he deservester. The amount should be distributed as per a regr Qi Refining Tenth Layer disciple, no need for special treatment."


    ...


    Lu Qingshan was timing his return to the Lu Family with the opening of the Ruin Realm.


    Therefore, after the discussion in Qingping Hall, he only rested for two days at the garment workshop before receiving a message instructing him to gather at Xuan Yue Square within the family''s blessednd in preparation for the journey to the Ruin Realm.


    After leaving behind a storage bag filled with Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones, Lu Qingshan bid farewell to Lu Zhi and Lu Xun.


    For a lengthy period, he wouldn''t return.


    Xuan Yue Square.


    By the time Lu Qingshan arrived, there were already seven Lu Family cultivators gathered.


    Among them were six Qi Refining Cultivators and one Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    With the arrival of Lu Qingshan, there were a total of eight.


    These were all the people the Lu Family was sending to the Ruin Realm this time.


    Each time the Ruin Realm opened, it could amodate one hundred eighty Qi Refining Cultivators and forty-eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Meanwhile, the Ruin Realm Alliance consisted of thirty-six cultivator families.


    There was no way to distribute the spots evenly.


    Even if it was possible to distribute evenly, it wouldn''t be done that way.


    Although all referred to as the thirty-six great cultivator families, there are still rankings ording to strength within each family.


    If you were to give the same number of spots to the first-ranked cultivator family and thest-ranked, do you think the top family would be pleased?


    The number of spots each family receives for the Ruin Realm is determined by the strength of the family.


    The Lu Family is a mid-ranking family among the thirty-six and receives seven spots for Qi Refining Cultivators and one spot for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    Very much in line with the norm, very close to an average share.


    As soon as Lu Qingshan arrived, the other cultivators nced his way.


    The Lu Family''s own Ruin Realm spots were allocated well in advance.


    Lu Qingshan suddenly jumping the queue two days before the Ruin Realm opening meant that one of the Qi Refining Cultivators who originally had a spot was bumped.


    It was natural for everyone to be curious as to who could make the family pull strings for him this way.


    Human nature.


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan paid no mind to the stares of the others.


    ...


    The wait was not long.


    In less than half an hour, a beam of spiritual light shed, and then Great Elder Lu Zhounded in front of the crowd.


    He was the one leading the team this time.


    Lu Zhou looked around at the people present, and seeing that everyone had arrived,


    "The time hase, let''s go," said Lu Zhou, casting an extremely subtle nce at Lu Qingshan with an indifferent tone.


    As he spoke, Lu Zhou took out a very mini boat-shaped mold from his Storage Ring, stretched out his hand, and with a flick of Spiritual Power,


    the boat-shaped mold grew out of thin air, eventually turning into a giant wooden boat before the crowd.


    [Qingxia Wooden Boat], a specialized multi-person Flying Artifact.


    Lu Zhou flew onto the boat.


    "Everyone,e aboard."


    Following Lu Zhou''smand, the other cultivators present leapt onto the boat.


    Once everyone was on board, the wooden boat took off into the sky under Lu Zhou''s control, speeding away towards the distant horizon.


    The entrance to the Ruin Realm was still quite a distance from the Qianzhou mountain range where the Lu Family was located.


    After flying for about two hours, a majestic mountain range came into view.


    Dayan mountain range.


    The location of the entrance to the Ruin Realm.


    Lu Zhou steered the Qingxia Wooden Boat tond before a huge, misty pit.


    Once everyone had disembarked, the Qingxia Wooden Boat reverted to a mini wooden boat and was taken back into Lu Zhou''s Storage Ring.


    To dominate the Ruin Realm, every family in the Ruin Realm Alliance sent several family cultivators to station here, preventing outsiders from entering.


    A Lu Family cultivator stationed here had received news long ago and had been waiting for quite some time for Lu Zhou to lead the team.


    When the waiting Lu Family cultivator saw Lu Zhou, he immediately greeted him respectfully, "Great Elder."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "No need for formalities. How many families have arrived now?" inquired Lu Zhou.


    "Reporting to the Great Elder, a total of twenty-three families have already arrived; we are the twenty-fourth," replied the cultivator.


    Lu Zhou nodded, "Not too early, not toote, just right. Let''s go in then."


    Lu Zhou stretched out his finger and gently tapped towards the mist in the front.


    Quickly, the mist dispersed to both sides, revealing a small path.


    Lu Zhou led the way and was the first to walk in.


    Lu Qingshan and the others hastily followed suit.


    Once they had entered the pit and saw the scene inside, the Lu Family cultivators beside Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but let out a soft exmation.


    The sight before them was indeed a bit mystical.


    A giant dark passage, seemingly rotating, stood tall before them.


    At this moment, the open space in front of the passage was already bustling, with over a hundred cultivators gathered.


    Only Lu Qingshan still maintained an unperturbed demeanor.


    Not without reason¡ªas he was very familiar with the ce.


    At present, this ce was called the entrance to the Ruin Realm.


    But in the game "Nine Heavens," the full name of the Ruin Realm was [Ruin Realm Instance] (Normal/Elite).


    The normal difficulty allowed only Qi Refining Realm yers to enter, while the elite difficulty was exclusive to Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    And this [Ruin Realm Instance], he had entered at least a dozen times.


    If the story unfolded as expected, the Ruin Realm Alliance''s dominance over the Ruin Realm wouldst only three years.


    Read thetest on NovelBin.C?m


    Which meant that this time would be thest asion the Ruin Realm Alliance monopolized the quotas for the Ruin Realm.


    By the end of the year, when the Corpse Puppet Chaos erupted, the major cultivator families would be too preupied to fend for themselves.


    Some families with bad luck would suffer heavy losses, with several high-rank Golden Core cultivators dead, leaving them unable to continue dominating the mountain range blessed with high-grade Spirit Veins.


    There would also be some families who would annex those who had suffered heavy losses, seizing the opportunity to rise to power.


    Then, it would be time for all the major forces to reshuffle, with therge families busy vying for resources such as Spirit Veins and undermining each other. Naturally, the Ruin Realm Alliance would crumble and cease to exist.

 Chapter 56 The Opening of the Ruin Realm (Part 2)

    "Real person Lu Zhou, are these the young members of the Lu Family who will be entering the Ruin Realm this time?"


    No sooner had Lu Qingshan and his party entered the area than a thin, withered old man also arrived with several cultivators to greet them.


    Lu Zhou nodded and introduced to Lu Qingshan and the others, "This is real person Liu Neng of the Liu Family."


    Everyone hurried over to pay their respects.


    "We''ve seen real person Liu Neng."


    "No need for such formalities," Liu Neng waved his hand to signal.


    The Liu Family and the Lu Family had been allies for many years, so upon seeing Lu Zhou leading the team here, real person Liu Neng came over to greet them immediately.


    ...


    Liu Neng nced at Lu Qingshan, a hint of surprise shing in his eyes, "Who is this? I don''t recall ever seeing him.


    "So young and already at the tenthyer of Qi Refinement, don''t tell me your Lu Family is going to produce another Qing Ling real person."


    Lu Zhou''s face bloomed into a smile like a chrysanthemum, but he humbly replied, "Him? His name is Lu Qingshan, a descendant of Qing Ling.


    "However, I wouldn''t darepare him to Qing Ling. For our Lu Family to produce a real person like Qing Ling is already incredibly rare.


    "To produce another, our Lu Family isn''t that fortunate!"


    Lu Zhou, who usually appeared to disapprove of Lu Bei, was in fact proud of his straightforwardness.


    Deep down, he was immensely proud that the Lu Family had produced a real person like Qing Ling.


    At this moment, Liu Neng and Lu Zhou chatted idly on the sidelines.


    On the other side, the younger members of the two families were naturally striking up conversations as well.


    As allied ns, the Liu Family cultivators and Lu Family cultivators often had private interactions, so it was not strange for them to recognize each other.


    "Who is that? He looks a bit unfamiliar. I don''t believe I''ve seen him in your Lu Family before?" asked a Qi Refining Cultivator from the Liu Family by the name of Liu Yongnian.


    Liu Yongnian eyed Lu Qingshan and quietly asked Lu Xin.


    Lu Xin was the only female cultivator among the Lu Family''s group traveling this time.


    Both were at the tenthyer of Qi Refinement.


    The tests in the Ruin Realm are extremely difficult, thus the younger members brought by each family mostly possess Qi Refinement Perfection.


    Lu Xin shook her head and murmured softly, "We''re actually not very clear ourselves, as this is also our first time seeing this person.


    "Originally, it wasn''t himing, but Brother Liren. However, just two days ago, the Family Head suddenly sent a message to have him rece Brother Liren''s spot."


    "It seems his name is Lu Qingshan, said to be a descendant of Qing Ling real person. I''m not sure if it was Qing Ling real person who asked for this Ruin Realm spot for him."


    "That''s unlikely, isn''t it? Isn''t your Qing Ling real person known for not meddling with his many offspring and never taking care of his own descendants? Why would he do such a thing?"


    "But he is a cultivator at the tenthyer of Qi Refinement, and so young too. Surely, Qing Ling real person must have some expectations for him."


    Suddenly, Lu Qingshan became the focus of conversation among the people from both families.


    ...


    The surrounding mist dispersed once again.


    Afterward, arge group of cultivators entered from outside.


    Upon counting carefully, there were no fewer than seventeen individuals from just one n, more than twice the number from the Lu Family.


    With so many Ruin Realm slots, it was without doubt that this was one of the most powerful ns within the Ruin Realm Alliance.


    And indeed, it was so.


    "These are the cultivators from the Ke Family," Liu Yongnian muttered softly, "What a grand entrance, I wonder how the Ke Family managed to rise so rapidly in just a few decades."


    "Indeed, the Ye Family has upied the top spot among the thirty-six major cultivation ns for who knows how long, and the statuses and influences of the Xiao Family, the Qin Family, and the Su Family have also been deeply rooted.


    "The Ke Family was just a very inconspicuous small n before, not even as good as our Lu Family!


    "Who would have thought that once they rose, they would be unstoppable.


    "Not only did they surpass the Xiao Family, the Qin Family, and the Su Family, but they even pushed the Ye Family from the top spot," Lu Xin couldn''t help but chime in.


    ...


    As time passed, more and more cultivators gathered in the area.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lots of cultivators, lots of chatter, the ce was abuzz with excitement.


    Just then.


    "The Ruin Realm is open!" someone shouted from within the crowd.


    Lu Qingshan looked toward the passageway.


    The once pitch-ck passage began to glow with specks of silver light, with ripples undting within.


    This was the sign that the Ruin Realm was opening.


    The leader of the Ke Family''s cultivators stepped forward and sent a probe of spiritual power into it.


    A momentter.


    "The spatial passage is very stable, you all may enter," the Ke Family''s leading cultivator flung his sleeves and spoke with a heavy voice.


    The spatial passage into a minor realm can be unstable over time, eventually even copsing outright.


    Therefore, each time the Ruin Realm opens, high-rank cultivators will first investigate the stability of the spatial passage and, after ensuring safety, allow the various ns'' youth to enter the Ruin Realm for their trials.


    This precaution was also first proposed by the Ke Family.


    ```


    ¡ª¡ªThe people of the Ke Family have always been known for their meticulous thoughts and extreme caution.


    Soon, the cultivators from the major families entered the Ruin Realm one after another in an orderly fashion through the passage.


    Once all the cultivators of the families had entered the Ruin Realm, the silver light inside the passage slowly dissipated.


    The rippling waves also stilled.


    This signaled that the Ruin Realm had reached its maximum capacity for people, and so the entrance was closed.


    With the lower grade cultivators from each family having entered the Ruin Realm, the once bustling scene quieted down significantly.


    Only the thirty-six Golden Core cultivators from various families, who led their respective teams, remained on the field.


    Golden Core cultivators generally maintain their dignity and are not as noisy and boisterous as lower grade cultivators.


    But there are always exceptions.


    It was at this moment that Fang Qian, the leading Golden Core cultivator of the Fang Family, stood out and shouted, "The betting starts now, anyone wants to ce their bets?"


    ...


    Upon seeing Fang Qian''s behavior, Lu Zhou felt somewhat helpless: "This old guy, at such an age, yet still acts like this."


    Liu Nengughed and said, "Isn''t this just the Fang Family''s style? The reputation of ''Fang the Bluffer'' isn''t unjustified."


    Fang Qian kept shouting loudly on the side: "The old rules, the old rules! In the Qi Refining Realm, odds are five to one for the Xiao Family to win, six to one for the Qin Family to win..."


    Sure enough, quite a few Golden Core cultivators gathered around to join in.


    "I''m going to bet on the Ke Family for fun, do you want to join?" Liu Neng asked with interest.


    It was boring to wait idly, so it might be fun to join the crowd.


    Lu Zhou instinctively wanted to shake his head and refuse, but just as he was about to speak, the scene above the Qingping Hall suddenly shed across his mind.


    Lu Qingshan had calmly asked for a spot in the Ruin Realm from the three Golden Core cultivators.


    Could this kid be serious?


    A thought stirred in Lu Zhou''s heart.


    "Then let''s go have a look."


    "I knew you wouldn''t¡ªhuh." Liu Neng paused, surprised as he looked at Lu Zhou.


    In the previous two openings of the Ruin Realm, Fang Qian had also set up a betting pool, but each time Lu Zhou had been reluctant to participate.


    This time, Liu Neng had asked just casually, not really thinking that Lu Zhou would agree, yet Lu Zhou had unexpectedly decided to join.


    "Let''s go, then." said Lu Zhou, his expression calm as he walked toward Fang Qian.


    Liu Neng was taken aback for a moment before hastily following.


    Once they approached Fang Qian, Liu Neng asked, "Fang Qian, what are the odds for this betting pool?"


    Fang Qian cried out, "Isn''t this the real Liu Neng? Same asst time, odds for the Qi Refining Realm, two to one for the Ke Family to win, three to one for the Ye Family to win..."


    In the previous two trials of the Ruin Realm, the cultivator with the highest evaluation hade from the Ke Family, so it was natural for the Ke Family to have the lowest odds.


    Fang Qian took out two fourth-grade spirit stones from his storage ring: "Qi Refining Realm Ke Family to win, two fourth-grade spirit stones."


    For a Golden Core cultivator, two fourth-grade spirit stones weren''t particrly valuable, but they also weren''t something one could easily obtain.


    They were just right for a bit of entertainment.


    "Alright!" Fang Qian smiled and took the two fourth-grade spirit stones, "I''ll note that down for you. Do you want to bet on the Foundation Establishment Realm as well..."


    "What are the odds for my Lu Family to win the Qi Refining Realm trial?" Lu Zhou suddenly interjected.


    Fang Qian was taken aback.


    He clearly hadn''t expected anyone to bet on the Lu Family''s victory and had only prepared the odds for a few popr families. Caught off guard by Lu Zhou''s question, he was momentarily at a loss for an answer.


    "What, there is no betting pool for my Lu Family?" Lu Zhou frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of discontent.


    Fang Qian''s face was all smiles: "How could that be? The Lu Family... eh, twenty to one..."


    Fang Qian had originally intended to casually offer fifty to one.


    After all, it seemed impossible for the Lu Family toe out on top, so setting a high betting ratio didn''t matter.


    But subconsciously, Fang Qian felt a pang of caution.


    When things deviate from the norm, there must be a demon at work.


    Lu Zhou was asking about his own family''s odds, could it be that he had too many spirit stones and wanted to give some away?


    That''s unlikely.


    He wasn''t that naive.


    So in the end, he lowered the odds for the Lu Family to twenty to one.


    It was almost the lowest possible ratio.


    Any lower would be unreasonable.


    Because in thest Ruin Realm test, the results of the Lu Family were very mediocre, ranking around the twentieth ce among the thirty-six families.


    Lu Zhou nodded and likewise took out two fourth-grade spirit stones: "Two fourth-grade spirit stones on my Lu Family to win the Qi Refining Realm trial!"


    This old fellow couldn''t be about to pull off some big move, could he? There hadn''t been any news of any Qi Refining cultivator genius emerging from the Lu Family recently.


    Fang Qian took the two fourth-grade spirit stones from Lu Zhou, feeling a foreboding premonition.


    ```

 Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Mountain and Sea Pavilion

    The night was cool as water.


    It was like the tranquil world before a storm,pletely silent, brewing the final tempest.


    Countless giant mountains stood tall, densely packed like ancient behemoths slumbering in their sleep.


    Clouds and fog enveloped everything, the thick mist resembling a sea of fog.


    This was the location of the ancient Mountain and Sea Pavilion Sect.


    Atop one of the giant mountains.


    There was an exceedingly vast tform on the mountain summit.


    Tens of thousands of cultivators were gathered in dense crowds.


    Yet strangely, the eyes of these cultivators all seemed somewhat vacant.


    As if they were no more than the walking dead.


    Suddenly, at a certain moment.


    Over a hundred streaks of luminescence shed across the sky.


    Following that, a sharp gleam flickered through the eyes of some cultivators on the tform, restoring rity to their gaze.


    It was as if souls had been injected into walking corpses, reviving them.


    The trial of the Ruin Realm had officially begun.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan came back to his senses and slowly opened his eyes.


    He first checked his current state; although now he wore the uniform Taoist robe of a Mountain and Sea Pavilion disciple, and had a different appearance and physique,


    his cultivation and magic artifacts remained unchanged from when he had entered.


    Lu Qingshan nced around, surrounded by Mountain and Sea Pavilion Qi Refining Cultivators in blue Taoist robes just like himself.


    He understood that amongst these tens of thousands of Mountain and Sea Pavilion Qi Refining Cultivators, only one hundred seventy-nine were truly alive.


    The rest were merely illusions of the Ruin Realm.


    ...


    The crowd was silent, as if waiting for something.


    Lu Qingshan was doing the same.


    A momentter.


    In the misty distance,


    a dazzling blue radiance shed.


    In the darkness of night, it was like a shooting star.


    And this shooting star was now heading straight for the giant mountain where Lu Qingshan was.


    Soon.


    The radiance paused above the heads of the cultivators, revealing the figure within.


    A middle-aged male cultivator in a white robe, his face weary.


    He had an aura as deep as an abyss.


    "Sect Master!" all the disciples of Mountain and Sea Pavilion called out respectfully in unison.


    The white-robed cultivator addressed as Sect Master nced over all the cultivators present.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He let out a long sigh, and then slowly spoke.


    "I presume you all are aware by now,"


    "that Mountain and Sea Pavilion is currently surrounded by forces led by the Demon Lord of Myriad Poisons."


    "The Demon Lord has sent emissaries to negotiate with our Mountain and Sea Pavilion, demanding our submission to the Demon Race."


    "He has given us one night to consider the matter."


    "But there is no need to consider it, for cultivators of Mountain and Sea Pavilion can only die standing, not live on our knees in disgrace."


    "The legacy of Mountain and Sea Pavilion for ten thousand years may not endure after tonight. As thest Sect Master of Mountain and Sea Pavilion, the only thing I can do now is to lead the cultivators of Mountain and Sea Pavilion in a desperate fight against the Demon Race, to maintain the honor of our name."


    "I only hope that the ancestors of Mountain and Sea Pavilion do not me this unworthy descendant."


    The Sect Master of Mountain and Sea Pavilion fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.


    The cultivators below were all silent as well.


    Eventually, some very faint sounds of weeping emerged.


    It was like the fuse that ignites a keg of gunpowder.


    The sobbing slowly spread.


    They had grown up in Mountain and Sea Pavilion and regarded it as their home.


    Now, this home was in peril.


    How could they not feel heartache?


    The Sect Master of Mountain and Sea Pavilion looked at his disciples, weeping increasingly, his eyes filled with profound sadness.


    "You disciples are but Qi Refiners; Mountain and Sea Pavilion should have nurtured and protected you for a hundred, a thousand years, until you grew into great cultivators who could support our Mountain and Sea Pavilion."


    "Now, you have not yet matured, and the Mountain and Sea Pavilion has not provided you with too many resources, yet you must face such a catastrophe."


    "You have a choice now."


    "Leave or stay here to die with the Mountain and Sea Pavilion."


    "If you stay, given the Demon Race''s cruel methods, there is no possibility of survival; death is almost certain."


    "If you decide to leave, the Demon Race has already amassed countless forces outside our Mountain and Sea Pavilion, sealing the space, and ordinary Teleportation Arrays are utterly useless."


    "Only the ''Heavenly Transfer Formation'' can still function, but the destination of the ''Heavenly Transfer Formation'' ispletely out of control, it''s random teleportation. The elders are currently constructing the ''Heavenly Transfer Formation'' at Flying Peak."


    "So far, the Demon Race hasn''t gained knowledge of this method; the ''Heavenly Transfer Formation'' can still wield the power to teleport, but it''s highly likely to experience mishaps."


    "Moreover, within ten thousand miles, the Demon Race is ubiquitous, so even if you manage to escape through the Teleportation Formation, you might leap out of the wolf''s den and directly into the tiger''sir."


    "Therefore, even if you choose to escape through the ''Heavenly Transfer Formation,'' it is a situation of escaping death by a hair''s breadth, but it is still better than the certain death of staying behind."


    "You need not feel ashamed for choosing to flee; as Qi Refining Cultivators, even if you stay, your significance to the Mountain and Sea Pavilion is not that great."


    "However, if you choose to flee and actually manage to survive, you might still leave a sliver of hope for the continuation of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion''s legacy."


    "If that is to be the case, you would be the heroes of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion."


    "Take your time to think about it, to leave or to stay."


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion flourished his robes.


    A deep blue radiance pattern emerged above the group of cultivators, lingering for a long time.


    "Those who choose to stay stand to the right of this blue light; those who choose to flee stand to the left of this blue light...," the voice of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion Sect Master began to tremble, growing lower and lower until it finally fell silent.


    For as he finished speaking about choosing to stay on the right side of the blue light,


    The dense crowd, as if controlled by something,


    Without any discussion, without any hesitation,


    All moved to the right side of the blue light at that moment.


    In the darkness of the night, thousands of lower-grade Qi Refining cultivators gathered together, some of whom were still sobbing softly.


    Their faces in the shadows were not very clear to the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    An inexplicable, strange feeling battered back and forth in his heart.


    "Cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, all willing to die with the Mountain and Sea!"


    In the crowd, someone shouted out first.


    Then, the voices rose one after another, gradually bing orderly.


    The voices soared into the sky.


    "Die with the Mountain and Sea!"


    "Die with the Mountain and Sea!"


    "Die with the Mountain and Sea!"


    ...


    Flying Peak.


    Several Mountain and Sea Pavilion Formation Masters, along with the disciples skilled in arrays, were here constantly tracing Formation Patterns, constructing the ''Heavenly Transfer Formation''.


    Suddenly, one of the Formation Masters lifted his head.


    "Is there a sound?"


    "What sound...,"


    "Shh, listen!"


    Faint and intermittent voices floated through the mist.


    Atst, the sound became increasingly clear.


    "Die with the Mountain... and Sea!"


    The eyes of the Formation Master lit up as they looked in the direction of the sound.


    "That is..."


    The Formation Master quickly took out the Mountain and Sea Pavilion Token from his Storage Ring.


    The Token was constantly glowing.


    The Formation Master plunged his Divine Sense into it.


    The serene voice of the Sect Master came through.


    After receiving the message from the Sect Master, the Formation Master''s spirit was roused.


    "Everyone, stop for a moment!"


    All the people looked up at the Formation Master.


    "Take down these Formation Patterns," the Formation Master ordered.


    "But we are about toplete the construction..." someone eximed with shock and doubt.


    "Take down these Formation Patterns and use the materials to set up a killing array; ughter a few more of the Demon Race!"


    "This time, we of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, the whole sect, shall meet our end together and fight these demon beasts to the death!"

 Chapter 58 Great Expansion Formation

    ```


    As all this happened, every cultivator who entered the Ruin Realm from the outside world seemed to have their souls controlled.


    Like marites on strings, consciousness was sealed within the bodies of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion''s Qi Refining Cultivators.


    They could only be spectators, watching the plot unfold with wide eyes, unable to choose.


    In game terminology, this would be called a dungeon''s cutscene, meant to borate the dungeon''s storyline background.


    During the time Lu Qingshan couldn''t control his current body, he went over the relevant information of the Ruin Realm dungeon again in his mind.


    After all, it was a game experience from a very long time ago.


    The trial of the Ruin Realm was to reenact the entire process of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion''s annihtion battle from those years.


    And the role of the cultivators undergoing the trial was that of the Qi Refining Cultivators from the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Their goal was to perform as well as possible from the beginning of this battle until their own death.


    Once dead within the Ruin Realm, the trial would end.


    After the trial ended, the Ruin Realm would give an evaluation based on each person''s performance and assign inheritance rewards ordingly.


    The evaluations from highest to lowest were Grade A, Grade B, Grade C, and Grade D.


    The highest, Grade A evaluation, granted the inheritance reward of a Taoist Level Foundation Establishment Technique from the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    This reward was unique.


    If someone obtained this unique reward, those who cameter, no matter how well they performed, could at most receive a Grade B evaluation and could never obtain a Grade A again.


    In his previous life, this Taoist Level Foundation Establishment Technique reward did not belong to any yer.


    ¡ª¡ªIt was taken by an NPC.


    Because an NPC obtained this unique reward, no yer knew the exact steps to achieve the highest evaluation.


    What the NPC did within the Ruin Realm was also unknown to Lu Qingshan.


    However, as a top yer, Lu Qingshan was different from those newbie yers who could only follow guides or average yers imitating expert strategies.


    Often, he was the one writing the guides, the so-called expert.


    Even by himself, he had the ability to perfectly clear a dungeon.


    In his previous life, Lu Qingshan had entered the Ruin Realm dungeon more than a dozen times.


    He had alsoe up with his own set of strategies for perfectly clearing this trial.


    However, ultimately he was one step too slow to verify the viability of his own strategy.


    This had always been something he greatly regretted.


    But now, the highest evaluation in the Ruin Realm was still up for grabs.


    He finally had the chance to test the ideas from his previous life.


    See if following his own strategy could indeed earn the highest Grade A evaluation.


    In Lu Qingshan''s strategy,


    to gain the highest evaluation possible,


    one thing was very important.


    Find a way to surpass the threshold of the Qi Refining Realm rank.


    In this battle of annihtion, Qi Refining Cultivators weren''t even cannon fodder.


    Only Foundation Establishment Cultivators were fit to be called cannon fodder.


    For these disciples of the Qi Refining Realm in the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, once the Demon Race broke into the pavilion, no ce was safe.


    Lu Qingshan was well aware that with thebat power of a Qi Refining Cultivator, no matter how well he did, the evaluation wouldn''t be high.


    He had to possess a higherbat power.


    For a cultivator, the fastest shortcut to demonstrating strength far beyond one''s own in a short period was inevitably...


    Formation!


    ...


    Finally, Lu Qingshan was in control of his body once again.


    Looking up, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion still stood hovering above the crowd.


    Standing silently in the sky, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion then raised his robe''s long sleeves.


    Spirit Stones appeared in the sky, matched by countless Array tes and Array gs.


    The Sect Master swung his hand, and the Spirit Stones along with the Array gs and Array tes dispersed, flying towards all the Qi Refining Cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion on the field.


    "This is our Mountain and Sea Pavilion''s ''Great Expansion Formation'' Array g. Each person should take one, and thirty-six people can form one Great Expansion Formation. You may form your own teams."


    "Under the power of the Great Expansion Formation, you''ll be able to fight against low-rank demons."


    An Array g and several dozen high-rank Spirit Stones flew towards Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan reached out to receive them, and the information about the Array g appeared before his eyes:


    ```


    [Great Expansion Formation]Formation g (1/36)


    Description: Holding this formation g, at least thirty-six people can form a Great Expansion Formation.


    Formation Effect: The Great Expansion Formation can condense the spiritual power of all thirty-six cultivators into one force, and any damage sustained will be evenly distributed among these thirty-six cultivators.


    This is a very strong battle formation.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Battle formations are special formations created specifically forbat.


    Ordinary formations require a certain amount of time to be set up in advance.


    Moreover, once a formation is established, its effective range is fixed and cannot be moved, which is extremely rigid.


    But battle formations are different from those ordinary formations.


    Cultivators only need to hold the formation g to establish a formation at any time.


    Furthermore, battle formations can move and are infinitely variable.


    Even during ancient times, battle formations were extremely rare.


    And only an ancient sect like the Mountain and Sea Pavilion could master such powerful formations.


    Under the effect of this formation, thirty-six Qi Refining Cultivators will possess thebat power of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    They can barely fight against lower-grade members of the Demon Race rather than beingpletely at their mercy.


    However, if things continue this way, it is impossible to receive a high evaluation.


    Because the Great Expansion Formation only qualifies Qi Refining Cultivators as cannon fodder, and that''s all.


    And if it''s just cannon fodder, no matter how well they perform, it''s obviously impossible to receive a high evaluation.


    Lu Qingshan shook his head as he looked at the formation g in his hand.


    The formation he was relying on in his heart was not the Great Expansion Formation.


    His target was the Sect Protection Array of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    The Eighth Grade Formation [Mountains and Seas Formation].


    The problem is that the controllers of the Mountains and Seas Formation are all Formation Masters of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion and high-rank cultivators.


    How could he, a Qi Refining Cultivator, participate in it?


    ...


    After the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion issued the formation gs and Spirit Stones to all the Qi Refining Cultivators, his figure transformed into a blue radiance and swiftly moved to the next peak.


    As the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, he needed to visit every peak of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion and see all its cultivators in one night.


    Then he would resolutely meet his death.


    The Qi Refining Cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion took the formation gs and quickly began to look for acquaintances to form teams.


    And after seeing the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion leave, a sharp light shed in Lu Qingshan''s eyes as he quietly disappeared into the crowd.


    ...


    The Mountains and Seas Formation, as an Eighth Grade Formation, nearly possesses the great power to reach the heavens.


    Such a powerful formation cannot be simply established using so-called formation gs and Spirit Stones.


    The Mountains and Seas Formation uses countless Spirit Mountains of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion as formation points, the boundless sea of mist as formation patterns, powered by the Spiritual Power provided by the Spirit Veins of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Once the Mountains and Seas Formation is activated, it will call upon the full Power of the Mountains and Seas.


    The giant peak where Lu Qingshan currently was, is known as Endless Peak.


    The Spirit Vein of Endless Peak is a Fourth Grade Spirit Vein.


    It is considered one of the middle to lower-grade Spirit Veins within the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    It''s not surprising, after all, Endless Peak is just a cultivation ground for Qi Refining disciples of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Although it is only a Fourth Grade Spirit Vein, when the Mountains and Seas Formation is fully activated, it will also be one of the sources of strength for the Mountains and Seas Formation.


    Chapter Explore:


    The Demon Race are not fools, they are even quite cunning.


    In fact, the Spirit Veins will be the primary targets of the Demon Race''s attacks.


    The space of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion has been sealed by the Demon Race.


    Without the ability to use the Teleportation Formation, all Qi Refining Cultivators on Endless Peak will not be able to leave the peak without the guidance of a powerful cultivator.


    And on Endless Peak, the most important thing, obviously, is this Fourth Grade Spirit Vein that can provide Spiritual Power for the Mountains and Seas Formation.


    So, to get a Grade A evaluation, in Lu Qingshan''s view, depends on this Spirit Vein.


    ...


    By the time Lu Qingshan arrived at the Spirit Vein point on Endless Peak.


    The barrier that had sealed the Spirit Vein was already opened, and now a Void Refining Cultivator was leading many Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators, guarding the spot.


    Void Refining is the realm just above Nascent Soul, the fifth rank of cultivation.

 Chapter 59 Soul-Departing Miasma

    "Who goes there!"


    As Lu Qingshan approached the area, he was immediately stopped by a Golden Core Cultivator.


    The importance of the Spirit Vein was well understood by both the Mountain and Sea Pavilion and the Demon Race.


    Therefore, although Lu Qingshan was a disciple of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, he was stopped before he got too close to the Spirit Vein.


    "Qi Refining disciple Lu Qingshan, here to support the uncles in guarding the Spirit Vein."


    The Golden Core Cultivator frowned, about to refuse, but before the cultivator could speak, Lu Qingshan quickly added.


    "Although my cultivation is modest, I have some knowledge of the methods of the Demon Race, which might provide some assistance in guarding the Spirit Vein."


    The Golden Core Cultivator hesitated, scrutinizing Lu Qingshan, "You know something about the methods of the Demon Race?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    "How can you prove it?" The methods of the Demon Race were not even clear to the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion; he had no reason to believe a Qi Refining Cultivator making such bold ims without proof.


    Chapter Discover:


    "Uncle, please introspect your Divine Soul, and you will see that what I say is true."


    The Golden Core Cultivator was startled.


    Instinctively following Lu Qingshan''s instructions, he quickly examined the Divine Soul within the Divine Pce at the center of his forehead.


    "What is this?!"


    The Golden Core Cultivator eximed in shock.


    It turned out that his seemingly unharmed Divine Soul was now enveloped in a thinyer of ck mist that could not be dispelled.


    "The method of the Poisonous Demon Lord, Soul-Departing Miasma," Lu Qingshan spoke gravely.


    "What is the Soul-Departing Miasma?" The Golden Core Cultivator''s expression turned solemn as he looked at Lu Qingshan. "What else do you know?"


    "I suspect that not only you, uncle, but also the other uncles guarding the Spirit Vein have been affected by this miasma," Lu Qingshan warned.


    The Golden Core Cultivator''s expression darkened, realizing the gravity of the situation, "Wait here for a moment."


    Immediately, the Golden Core Cultivator turned and hurried inside.


    He needed to report this information to the lead Void Refining Cultivator.


    Lu Qingshan stood still, quietly waiting for news.


    Without surprise, with this, he was definitely going to join the team guarding the Spirit Vein at Wuya Peak.


    In a previous life''s Ruin Realm instance, he had verified the feasibility of this method several times.


    As for the ck mist in the Golden Core Cultivator''s Divine Soul, it was indeed the Soul-Departing Miasma of the Poisonous Demon Lord, just as he had imed.


    How did he know this?


    It was not difficult; when the Ruin Realm instance was first opened, "Nine Heavens" had also released the background information of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion on their official website.


    Among these materials were detailed ounts of the event where the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was destroyed.


    "In the battle where the sect was destroyed, not a single cultivator of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion chose to flee; the entire sect perished together."


    "At its peak, the Mountain and Sea Pavilion fell in less than a day under the Poisonous Demon Lord, not only because of the strength of the Demon Race but also because of their treacherous methods."


    "The Poisonous Demon Lord was cunning, superficially offering the Mountain and Sea Pavilion one night to consider surrendering, seemingly giving them ample time to organize forces for a final resistance."


    "In actuality, the Poisonous Demon Lord never believed that the Mountain and Sea Pavilion would surrender to the Demon Race; this move was only to buy enough time for his Soul-Departing Miasma to infiltrate the entire Mountain and Sea Pavilion."


    "The Soul-Departing Miasma is colorless, odorless, and non-poisonous, with an extremely wide range of transmission. The Mountain and Sea Pavilion was almostpletely unaware of the methods of the Poisonous Demon Lord, nearly all of them were infected."


    "¡­"


    To Lu Qingshan, this was akin to an official guide disclosed by the game designers of "Nine Heavens" to the yers.


    It wasn''t very straightforward; yers had to analyze and extract useful information on their own before they could use it.


    Unfortunately, most yers didn''t have the inclination to read the dull, dry textual background provided by the official sources.


    Even those who did, wouldn''t think about these deeper issues.


    At most, they would skim through quickly, and people like Lu Qingshan who would study and think through deeply were rare indeed.


    For ny percent of the yers,


    when running dungeons, brute force was the answer.


    Without experiencing a thorough thrashing, they wouldn''t learn to y the game with their brains.


    ...


    Due to the special non-toxic effects of the Soul-Departing Miasma and theck of preparedness for it, even the high-level cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion had not noticed that the Soul-Departing Miasma had silently infiltrated all the cultivators of the sect.


    The function of the Soul-Departing Miasma was to increase the damage from demonic attributes received by the cultivators by 20%.


    This was one of the signature skills of the Demon Lord of All Poisons.


    It was also one of the reasons why the Mountain and Sea Pavilion quickly fell into disarray.


    As one of the ancient major sects that first confronted the invasion of the Demon Race, the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was, due to ignorance of the Demon Race''s tactics, manipted by the Demon Race from start to finish.


    .....


    "Come in with me," the Golden Core Cultivator said, his face already darkened and looking quite grim when he reappeared in front of Lu Qingshan.


    Clearly, he had verified the truth of what Lu Qingshan had said.


    Under the guidance of the Golden Core Cultivator, Lu Qingshan passed many high-level cultivators and headed deep into the Spirit Vein.


    Until in Lu Qingshan''s attribute panel, a new status appeared, "Spiritual Power Abundance" - Practicing cultivation techniques here would greatly increase the experience points gained.


    "Are you Lu Qingshan?" A middle-aged male cultivator with brows full of worry looked at Lu Qingshan and asked.


    This was the Void Refining Cultivator guarding the Fourth Grade Spirit Vein at Wuya Peak, True Venerable Yuan Yang.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan nod, True Venerable Yuan Yang asked again, "What exactly is this Soul-Departing Miasma you speak of?"


    Lu Qingshan honestly told True Venerable Yuan Yang about the effects of the Soul-Departing Miasma.


    "Is there any way to get rid of this Soul-Departing Miasma?"


    "The Soul-Departing Miasma itself is not toxic, so cultivators only need to slowly erase this miasma using the power of their Divine Souls.


    The strength of the Soul-Departing Miasma lies in its stealth and widespread transmission; I estimate that at this moment, most of the cultivators in our Mountain and Sea Pavilion have been affected by it. Please inform the Sect Master as soon as possible, Uncle Master Yuan Yang.


    Moreover, the Soul-Departing Miasma is not dominant; if one is vignt, it can easily prevent the invasion of the Divine Soul."


    With time pressing, Lu Qingshan did not wait for True Venerable Yuan Yang to ask further and introduced him in detail to the situation of the Soul-Departing Miasma.


    Upon hearing this, True Venerable Yuan Yang also understood the urgency of the situation, without further ado, he took out a sect token from his storage ring.


    The token shed with light.


    A divine sense emitted from it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He needed to transmit this information swiftly.


    His status did not allow him to contact the Sect Master directly.


    Therefore, he could only ry the message through intermediaries,yer byyer, which required more time and allowed no dys.


    "Send the order down, tell everyone to act quickly to expel the Soul-Departing Miasma," True Venerable Yuan Yangmanded in a low voice, regaining hisposure.


    True Venerable Yuan Yang gave Lu Qingshan a meaningful look, finally adding without further questions, "Since you have some understanding of the methods of the Demon Race, stay here for now; you might still be of useter."


    ¡ª The situation was urgent, he had no time to waste.

 Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Power of the Mountains and Seas (Part 1)

    Under themand of Yuan Yang True Venerable, cultivators guarding the Spirit Vein sat cross-legged and began to use the power of their Divine Souls to drive out the Soul-Departing Miasma that lingered around their spirits.


    This was also purposefully done by Lu Qingshan.


    As he hurried towards this Spirit Vein, he slightly slowed down his pace to allow enough time for the Mountain and Sea Pavilion cultivators to dispel the Soul-Departing Miasma, but not enough for them to ask more questions.


    Thus, without anyplications, he sessfully managed to stay at the location of the Spirit Vein.


    The area fell silent, filled with a tense atmosphere.


    All the cultivators were striving hard to expel the Soul-Departing Miasma within them.


    Eventually, individuals began opening their eyes and standing up one after another.


    After everyone had gotten up, Lu Qingshan looked towards the horizon.


    There, a hint of dawn''s light was already appearing.


    Dawn was breaking.


    ...


    Atop Endless Peak.


    Lu Xin nced at her teammates around her.


    In such circumstances, she quickly found her teammates for setting up the formation.


    "Set up the formation!" someone yelled, holding an Array te in the center.


    Lu Xin hurriedly took out her array gs and channeled her Spiritual Power into them.


    A white Spiritual Light spread out from the array gs in her hands.


    Simultaneously, the array gs held by the Mountain and Sea Pavilion Qi Refining disciples beside her also emitted a white Spiritual Light.


    These white lights quickly connected together, converging towards the cultivator with the Array te in the middle.


    Thirty-five white lights convergedpletely and then slowly faded away.


    But Lu Xin had already felt an inexplicable connection forming between her and her teammates.


    The Great Expansion Formation was sessfully assembled.


    "Is this the Great Expansion Formation? What a marvelous formation," Lu Xin couldn''t help but click her tongue in wonder.


    Although Lu family cultivators who had entered the Ruin Realm for trials in the past two years had already shared details about the trials,


    hearing about it and experiencing it firsthand were ultimately different.


    ...


    Meanwhile, a Qi Refining Cultivator from Ye Family, Ye Yu, looking at his own Array te and the thirty-five Mountain and Sea Pavilion Qi Refining disciples surrounding him, felt immensely proud.


    This time, the Qi Refining Realm trial in the Ruin Realm would definitely be won by the Ye Family!


    A total of thirty-six people are needed to assemble the Great Expansion Formation, where thirty-five hold array gs and one holds the Array te, positioned at the central strategic spot.


    The strategic spot is the core of the Great Expansion Formation; once the cultivator at this spot perishes, the Great Expansion Formation will naturally fall apart.


    Therefore, the cultivator holding the Array te is also the one who will be targeted most duringbat.


    At the same time,


    Thebined Spiritual Power of the thirty-six people requires a suprememander to coordinate it.


    And the cultivator at the strategic spot is the one responsible for directing the Spiritual Power of the Great Expansion Formation.


    The heavy responsibility resting on the person at the strategic spot is evident.


    This holding the Array te must necessarily be the one among the thirty-six who has the most abundantbat experience.


    Although he originally received only an array g, after finding his teammates, he volunteered to take the Array te and position himself at the strategic spot.


    The result was just as he expected.


    At this moment of collective grief and unity of spirit, when he dered his extensivebat experience and desire to upy the strategic spot, the original holder of the Array te hesitated only for a moment before handing it over to him.


    ¡ªAt such a time, surely no one would fail to understand the greater good and choose to show off, right?


    Since someone volunteered, it must be with some level of confidence.


    Ye Yu, holding the Array te, felt a surge of excitement.


    After the Qi Refining Cultivators from the Ye Family who participated in the Ruin Realm assessment two years ago reported in detail about the trials,


    he noticed a very important point.


    Although these were only the illusions of the Ruin Realm, their actions were not rigid but instead felt like real people with whom interaction was possible.


    At that moment, this idea subtly arose in his mind.


    Upon entering, he decided to give it a try and, to his surprise, it actually seeded.


    The other cultivators participating in the assessment were just ordinary members of the Great Expansion Formation, while he was at its core.


    In terms of the final performance ranking, they couldn''t possiblypare with him.


    In this test, the importance of one''s intellect was to surpass that of one''s strength!


    Thinking this, Ye Yu felt full of confidence.


    ...


    What was that?!


    Lu Xin''s pupils contracted as he watched ayer of grey-ck fog rolling in from not far away, instantly engulfing the sea of fog that seemed like a fairnd on earth.


    The sky was filled with grey-ck fog!


    Dense crowds of the Demon Race continuously pushed out from within the fog.


    "They''re here! The Demon Race!"


    Countless members of the Demon Race surged towards the peaks of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion like a nket covering the sky.


    "Since the Mountain and Sea Pavilion refuses to surrender, then let them all die!" a malicious voice spread throughout the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Then, in the distance, countless spiritual lights soared into the sky.


    Those were the powerful cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion confronting the high-rank demons.


    Lu Xin could not afford to observe the battle scene in the distance.


    Because by now, many of the lower-grade demons had reached their Endless Peak.


    The high-rank demons had been blocked by the High Level Cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion with all their effort.


    But with a huge disparity in strength, it was not possible to hold them off for long.


    ording to the cultivators who had participated in the previous two assessments,


    this was the time to strive for a high evaluation because the demons they were facing were still the lower-grade ones, manageable in battle.


    In just a little while, as the high-ranking cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion failedyer byyer, they would no longer be able to hold back all the high-rank demons.


    At that time, just letting one high-rank demon slip through would easily spell instant death for them.


    And this gap would only growrger!


    "Kill!" The one holding the Array te in the Great Expansion Formation where Lu Xin was located roared with rage, leading everyone to charge at a fierce spider-like demon.


    This was a Second Grade spider demon, and the six spider spears on its back were its weapons.


    ...


    At the Spirit Vein of Endless Peak.


    The battle here was even fiercer.


    Rain of fire continually fell from the sky, surrounding the area with sparks everywhere.


    Numerous demon refiners wereunching an attack on the Spirit Vein of Endless Peak.


    These demon refiners, covered in ming, steaming fur and sporting horns like a bull''s on their heads, had eyes that burned with fire.


    With hulking bodies, streaks of fiery red that looked like flowing magma shone red on their surfaces.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Lu Qingshan was concealing himself deep within the Spirit Vein, his gaze directed towards the location of Yuan Yang True Venerable.


    At that moment, green and blue lights were continuously intersecting around Yuan Yang True Venerable, who was surrounded by seven Fifth Grade demon refiners.


    Seven against one.


    The situation looked extremely perilous.


    Yet the reality was not so.


    Because at that moment, the aura on Yuan Yang True Venerable far exceeded that of a Void Refining Cultivator.


    He was currently manipting part of the Power of the Mountains and Seas from the Mountains and Seas Formation to augment himself.


    At that moment, although hisbat power had not reached the level of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, it had far surpassed the limits of a Void Refining Cultivator''sbat power.


    Using this small part of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, he was single-handedly contending against seven Fifth Grade demon refiners without falling behind.


    Suddenly, during a sh, Yuan Yang True Venerable seized an opportunity, activating his Magic Artifact, a crystalline jade fan made of an unknown substance, and directed a Taoist Spell at two of the demon refiners he had just repelled.


    A grey-yellow Spiritual Light shot out from the jade fan, swiftly splitting into two and striking the two demon refiners.


    The demon refiners, their bodies aze, suddenly turned into stone statues under the Taoist Spell of Yuan Yang True Venerable, motionless.


    With his richbat experience, Yuan Yang True Venerable naturally did not miss such an opportunity. Despite enduring the attacks from the other five demon refiners, he strained to cast another Spell on the two temporarily petrified demon refiners.


    Crack¡ª


    Under Yuan Yang True Venerable''s Spell, the two petrified demon refiners disintegrated into dust, scattering in the air as if weathered by the wind.


    And Yuan Yang True Venerable, having borne an attack from the five demon refiners, although his glow faded somewhat and he spat out a mouthful of blood, was forcibly pushed back several meters.


    But it was clear that he was not seriously injured.


    This was the terrifying aspect of the Eighth Grade Mountains and Seas Formation; merely an extremely small part of its force could grant Yuan Yang True Venerable such fearsomebat power.

 Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Power of the Mountains and Seas (Part 2)

    Atop Endless Peak.


    "sh!"


    A giant sword, formed by Spiritual Power under the control of the cultivator holding the Array te, shed towards a Second Grade spider demon in front of him.


    A deafeningly loud crash echoed.


    The ferocious Second Grade spider demon was instantly split in half by the strike from the Spiritual Power sword, and its severed remains were forcefully rolled backwards by the immense force.


    Lu Xin gasped for breath, feeling the Spiritual Power remaining within her body, even though she kept replenishing it with Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones since the battle began.


    But this amount of recovery was undoubtedly like trying to douse a carriage with a cup of water in such fiercebat.


    At this moment, the Spiritual Power in her dantian was also nearly depleted to the breaking point.


    Although the Great Expansion Formation endowed them with thebat power of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the amount of Spiritual Power in their dantians was still only at the level of Qi Refining Cultivators.


    This was something even the Great Expansion Formation couldn''t change.


    Therefore, their effectivebat time was only this brief moment.


    She looked around her surroundings.


    The numbers of the Demon Race, instead of decreasing under their desperate offenses, were continually increasing.


    A sense of powerlessness couldn''t help but rise in Lu Xin''s heart.


    She seemed to feel the utter despair once experienced by the Mountain and Sea Pavilion when confronting the Demon Race.


    "Harness the residual Spiritual Power inside you, let us kill one more Demon Race!" A decisive voice from a Mountain and Sea Pavilion cultivator came to her ears.


    Lu Xin quickly followed themand, mobilizing the scarce Spiritual Power within her.


    The cultivators participating in the trial could die in the Ruin Realm, but it was not real death.


    However, as sheunched this final charge against the Demon Race with her teammates, illusions from the Ruin Realm,


    a sense of sadness and sorrow inexplicably rose in her heart.


    This was the tragic honor of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Yet, in this short trial of the Ruin Realm,sting less than a day,


    she felt a certain empathy.


    ...


    Elsewhere.


    Seven!


    Ye Yu felt the dwindling Spiritual Power inside him, but his heart was filled with intense excitement.


    No venture, no gain.


    As he said, he truly excelled in battle.


    Thus under hismand and leadership, and before the Spiritual Power of the Qi Refining disciples forming the formation was exhausted, they had already in seven Second Grade demons.


    This was indeed an exceptional performance.


    Not to mention that he was the one holding the Array te, which was sure to give extra points in the final evaluation.


    He was already eagerly anticipating what reward he would receive this time.


    Suddenly!


    Ye Yu''s expression changed.


    Because in his line of sight appeared a humanoid demon with arms like sickles and enveloped in dark ckness.


    This was the Saber Demon.


    The aura it emitted far surpassed the previous demons.


    Third Grade Demon!


    Ye Yu was shocked.


    He realized that the front line of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion''s high-level cultivators had been breached!


    Looking around, he saw one after another, Third Grade demons continuously emerging.


    Under these circumstances,


    their Ruin Realm trial was almost considered over.


    Moreover, there was hardly any Spiritual Power left in him.


    Even if these high-rank demons hadn''t attacked, they couldn''t have fought much longer.


    Sure enough.


    One of the Saber Demons, in a flicker, transformed into a faint afterimage, charging straight at them.


    Using its arms as weapons.


    A glint of cold light shed.


    Although Ye Yu immediately conjured a Spiritual Power Light Shield,


    under the charge of the Third Grade Saber Demon''s arms, the light shield crumbled instantaneously, like it was made of paper.


    Subsequently, Ye Yu was severed into two at the waist.


    With Ye Yu''s death, the Great Expansion Formation also copsed.


    The Saber Demon, dismissing the remaining thirty-five Qi Refining cultivators, charged towards another group.


    Without the Great Expansion Formation, these Qi Refining cultivators could easily handle a Second Grade demon.


    The mission of the Saber Demon was to decapitate the core cultivators of the Great Expansion Formation and break their formation.


    ...


    When Ye Yu regained his senses, he found himself in a pavilion.


    Cabs stood on all sides, one after another.


    Above these cabs, a transparent light shield enveloped each one.


    Countless Jade Slips were ced on top of the cabs.


    Ye Yu, still frightened, touched his waist to make sure it was still intact, then he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Although he knew it was just an illusion, the illusion was so realistic that he felt terrified when facing being cut in half.


    Then, images suddenly appeared in the air in front of him.


    They were all his experiences within the Ruin Realm.


    The scenes yed back quickly, and in a moment, they reached the scene where he was shed at the waist.


    Subsequently, the image paused.


    Lines ofrge characters emerged.


    "Final Rating: Third Grade Lower!"


    "Reward: Choice of one Mortal Level Technique."


    ...


    Ye Yu''s face turned extremely unsightly.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Third Grade Lower.


    How could it be Third Grade Lower?


    If he remembered correctly, thest time a member of the Ye Family participated in the Ruin Realm trial and received a Third Grade Middle rating, they had only killed six Second Grade demons.


    This time, not only had he killed seven Second Grade demons, but he had also done so as the core cultivator of the Great Expansion Formation.


    Why didn''t he receive at least a Third Grade Middle rating, and why was his final rating even lower than that!


    "Could there be some mistake?"


    "Give me an exnation!"


    Ye Yu''s face was as dark as water, and he roared angrily.


    However, he received no response.


    Finally, after venting his frustration, Ye Yu calmed down and looked at the surrounding cabs.


    A few cabs no longer had their light shields.


    This indicated that the Jade Slips on these cabs were avable for him to choose.


    Although reluctant, Ye Yu gritted his teeth and walked over to these cabs to start his selection.


    ...


    In the same loft.


    Lu Xin appeared out of thin air.


    She couldn''t help but wipe her eyes, looking at the moisture on her hands.


    Apparently, her eyes had be wet without her noticing.


    "It''s just an illusion," Lu Xin mocked herself, "and yet I took it seriously."


    But it felt so real, that feeling.


    Although it represented a tragedy thousands of years old, her heart was still engulfed by those emotions.


    If one day, her own Lu Family faced such a situation,


    she thought she would likely act as these Mountain and Sea Pavilion cultivators had.


    ...


    Simrly, all of Lu Xin''s experiences in the Ruin Realm also appeared in front of her.


    The scenes rapidly yed.


    Thest scene froze at the final moment.


    The Saber Demon, known for his speed and attack power, shed the head of their Array te handler, who was the core of their Great Expansion Formation.


    Without the core cultivator, their Great Expansion Formation naturally ceased to exist.


    Even though the remaining thirty-five cultivators immediately reorganized and fought back with all their might,


    without the boost of the Great Expansion Formation, they were quickly killed one by one by the Second Grade demons.


    Four Second Grade demons.


    That was her finalbat aplishment.


    Two lines ofrge characters emerged.


    "Final Rating: Third Grade Upper!"


    "Reward: Choice of one Spirit Level Technique."


    ...


    As Ye Yu and Lu Xin''s Ruin Realm trials came to an end, more and more Cultivators participating in the Ruin Realm assessment were also concluding their assessments.


    ...


    At the Spirit Vein of the Endless Peak.


    The seven Fifth Grade Demon Refining who were besieging the True Venerable Yuan Yang were now reduced to three.


    Correspondingly, the High Level Cultivators defending this Spirit Vein had also suffered heavy losses.


    Lu Qingshan had been hidden in the depths of the Spirit Vein for quite some time.


    As the Qi Refining Cultivators participating in the Ruin Realm assessment gradually finished their trials,


    hisbat record remained at zero.

 Chapter 60 - 60 Power of the Mountains and Seas (Part 1)

    Under themand of Yuan Yang True Venerable, cultivators guarding the Spirit Vein sat cross-legged and began to use the power of their Divine Souls to drive out the Soul-Departing Miasma that lingered around their spirits.


    This was also purposefully done by Lu Qingshan.


    As he hurried towards this Spirit Vein, he slightly slowed down his pace to allow enough time for the Mountain and Sea Pavilion cultivators to dispel the Soul-Departing Miasma, but not enough for them to ask more questions.


    Thus, without anyplications, he sessfully managed to stay at the location of the Spirit Vein.


    The area fell silent, filled with a tense atmosphere.


    All the cultivators were striving hard to expel the Soul-Departing Miasma within them.


    Eventually, individuals began opening their eyes and standing up one after another.


    After everyone had gotten up, Lu Qingshan looked towards the horizon.


    There, a hint of dawn''s light was already appearing.


    Dawn was breaking.


    ...


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Atop Endless Peak.


    Lu Xin nced at her teammates around her.


    In such circumstances, she quickly found her teammates for setting up the formation.


    "Set up the formation!" someone yelled, holding an Array te in the center.


    Lu Xin hurriedly took out her array gs and channeled her Spiritual Power into them.


    A white Spiritual Light spread out from the array gs in her hands.


    Simultaneously, the array gs held by the Mountain and Sea Pavilion Qi Refining disciples beside her also emitted a white Spiritual Light.


    These white lights quickly connected together, converging towards the cultivator with the Array te in the middle.


    Thirty-five white lights convergedpletely and then slowly faded away.


    But Lu Xin had already felt an inexplicable connection forming between her and her teammates.


    Stay connected with NovelBin.C?m


    The Great Expansion Formation was sessfully assembled.


    "Is this the Great Expansion Formation? What a marvelous formation," Lu Xin couldn''t help but click her tongue in wonder.


    Although Lu family cultivators who had entered the Ruin Realm for trials in the past two years had already shared details about the trials,


    hearing about it and experiencing it firsthand were ultimately different.


    ...


    Meanwhile, a Qi Refining Cultivator from Ye Family, Ye Yu, looking at his own Array te and the thirty-five Mountain and Sea Pavilion Qi Refining disciples surrounding him, felt immensely proud.


    This time, the Qi Refining Realm trial in the Ruin Realm would definitely be won by the Ye Family!


    A total of thirty-six people are needed to assemble the Great Expansion Formation, where thirty-five hold array gs and one holds the Array te, positioned at the central strategic spot.


    The strategic spot is the core of the Great Expansion Formation; once the cultivator at this spot perishes, the Great Expansion Formation will naturally fall apart.


    Therefore, the cultivator holding the Array te is also the one who will be targeted most duringbat.


    At the same time,


    Thebined Spiritual Power of the thirty-six people requires a suprememander to coordinate it.


    And the cultivator at the strategic spot is the one responsible for directing the Spiritual Power of the Great Expansion Formation.


    The heavy responsibility resting on the person at the strategic spot is evident.


    This holding the Array te must necessarily be the one among the thirty-six who has the most abundantbat experience.


    Although he originally received only an array g, after finding his teammates, he volunteered to take the Array te and position himself at the strategic spot.


    The result was just as he expected.


    At this moment of collective grief and unity of spirit, when he dered his extensivebat experience and desire to upy the strategic spot, the original holder of the Array te hesitated only for a moment before handing it over to him.


    ¡ªAt such a time, surely no one would fail to understand the greater good and choose to show off, right?


    Since someone volunteered, it must be with some level of confidence.


    Ye Yu, holding the Array te, felt a surge of excitement.


    After the Qi Refining Cultivators from the Ye Family who participated in the Ruin Realm assessment two years ago reported in detail about the trials,


    he noticed a very important point.


    Although these were only the illusions of the Ruin Realm, their actions were not rigid but instead felt like real people with whom interaction was possible.


    At that moment, this idea subtly arose in his mind.


    Upon entering, he decided to give it a try and, to his surprise, it actually seeded.


    The other cultivators participating in the assessment were just ordinary members of the Great Expansion Formation, while he was at its core.


    In terms of the final performance ranking, they couldn''t possiblypare with him.


    In this test, the importance of one''s intellect was to surpass that of one''s strength!


    Thinking this, Ye Yu felt full of confidence.


    ...


    What was that?!


    Lu Xin''s pupils contracted as he watched ayer of grey-ck fog rolling in from not far away, instantly engulfing the sea of fog that seemed like a fairnd on earth.


    The sky was filled with grey-ck fog!


    Dense crowds of the Demon Race continuously pushed out from within the fog.


    "They''re here! The Demon Race!"


    Countless members of the Demon Race surged towards the peaks of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion like a nket covering the sky.


    "Since the Mountain and Sea Pavilion refuses to surrender, then let them all die!" a malicious voice spread throughout the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Then, in the distance, countless spiritual lights soared into the sky.


    Those were the powerful cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion confronting the high-rank demons.


    Lu Xin could not afford to observe the battle scene in the distance.


    Because by now, many of the lower-grade demons had reached their Endless Peak.


    The high-rank demons had been blocked by the High Level Cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion with all their effort.


    But with a huge disparity in strength, it was not possible to hold them off for long.


    ording to the cultivators who had participated in the previous two assessments,


    this was the time to strive for a high evaluation because the demons they were facing were still the lower-grade ones, manageable in battle.


    In just a little while, as the high-ranking cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion failedyer byyer, they would no longer be able to hold back all the high-rank demons.


    At that time, just letting one high-rank demon slip through would easily spell instant death for them.


    And this gap would only growrger!


    "Kill!" The one holding the Array te in the Great Expansion Formation where Lu Xin was located roared with rage, leading everyone to charge at a fierce spider-like demon.


    This was a Second Grade spider demon, and the six spider spears on its back were its weapons.


    ...


    At the Spirit Vein of Endless Peak.


    The battle here was even fiercer.


    Rain of fire continually fell from the sky, surrounding the area with sparks everywhere.


    Numerous demon refiners wereunching an attack on the Spirit Vein of Endless Peak.


    These demon refiners, covered in ming, steaming fur and sporting horns like a bull''s on their heads, had eyes that burned with fire.


    With hulking bodies, streaks of fiery red that looked like flowing magma shone red on their surfaces.


    Lu Qingshan was concealing himself deep within the Spirit Vein, his gaze directed towards the location of Yuan Yang True Venerable.


    At that moment, green and blue lights were continuously intersecting around Yuan Yang True Venerable, who was surrounded by seven Fifth Grade demon refiners.


    Seven against one.


    The situation looked extremely perilous.


    Yet the reality was not so.


    Because at that moment, the aura on Yuan Yang True Venerable far exceeded that of a Void Refining Cultivator.


    He was currently manipting part of the Power of the Mountains and Seas from the Mountains and Seas Formation to augment himself.


    At that moment, although hisbat power had not reached the level of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, it had far surpassed the limits of a Void Refining Cultivator''sbat power.


    Using this small part of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, he was single-handedly contending against seven Fifth Grade demon refiners without falling behind.


    Suddenly, during a sh, Yuan Yang True Venerable seized an opportunity, activating his Magic Artifact, a crystalline jade fan made of an unknown substance, and directed a Taoist Spell at two of the demon refiners he had just repelled.


    A grey-yellow Spiritual Light shot out from the jade fan, swiftly splitting into two and striking the two demon refiners.


    The demon refiners, their bodies aze, suddenly turned into stone statues under the Taoist Spell of Yuan Yang True Venerable, motionless.


    With his richbat experience, Yuan Yang True Venerable naturally did not miss such an opportunity. Despite enduring the attacks from the other five demon refiners, he strained to cast another Spell on the two temporarily petrified demon refiners.


    Crack¡ª


    Under Yuan Yang True Venerable''s Spell, the two petrified demon refiners disintegrated into dust, scattering in the air as if weathered by the wind.


    And Yuan Yang True Venerable, having borne an attack from the five demon refiners, although his glow faded somewhat and he spat out a mouthful of blood, was forcibly pushed back several meters.


    But it was clear that he was not seriously injured.


    This was the terrifying aspect of the Eighth Grade Mountains and Seas Formation; merely an extremely small part of its force could grant Yuan Yang True Venerable such fearsomebat power.

 Chapter 61 - 61 Power of the Mountains and Seas (Part 2)

    Discover exclusive tales at NovelBin.C?m


    Atop Endless Peak.


    "sh!"


    A giant sword, formed by Spiritual Power under the control of the cultivator holding the Array te, shed towards a Second Grade spider demon in front of him.


    A deafeningly loud crash echoed.


    The ferocious Second Grade spider demon was instantly split in half by the strike from the Spiritual Power sword, and its severed remains were forcefully rolled backwards by the immense force.


    Lu Xin gasped for breath, feeling the Spiritual Power remaining within her body, even though she kept replenishing it with Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones since the battle began.


    But this amount of recovery was undoubtedly like trying to douse a carriage with a cup of water in such fiercebat.


    At this moment, the Spiritual Power in her dantian was also nearly depleted to the breaking point.


    Although the Great Expansion Formation endowed them with thebat power of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the amount of Spiritual Power in their dantians was still only at the level of Qi Refining Cultivators.


    This was something even the Great Expansion Formation couldn''t change.


    Therefore, their effectivebat time was only this brief moment.


    She looked around her surroundings.


    The numbers of the Demon Race, instead of decreasing under their desperate offenses, were continually increasing.


    A sense of powerlessness couldn''t help but rise in Lu Xin''s heart.


    She seemed to feel the utter despair once experienced by the Mountain and Sea Pavilion when confronting the Demon Race.


    "Harness the residual Spiritual Power inside you, let us kill one more Demon Race!" A decisive voice from a Mountain and Sea Pavilion cultivator came to her ears.


    Lu Xin quickly followed themand, mobilizing the scarce Spiritual Power within her.


    The cultivators participating in the trial could die in the Ruin Realm, but it was not real death.


    However, as sheunched this final charge against the Demon Race with her teammates, illusions from the Ruin Realm,


    a sense of sadness and sorrow inexplicably rose in her heart.


    This was the tragic honor of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Yet, in this short trial of the Ruin Realm,sting less than a day,


    she felt a certain empathy.


    ...


    Elsewhere.


    Seven!


    Ye Yu felt the dwindling Spiritual Power inside him, but his heart was filled with intense excitement.


    No venture, no gain.


    As he said, he truly excelled in battle.


    Thus under hismand and leadership, and before the Spiritual Power of the Qi Refining disciples forming the formation was exhausted, they had already in seven Second Grade demons.


    This was indeed an exceptional performance.


    Not to mention that he was the one holding the Array te, which was sure to give extra points in the final evaluation.


    He was already eagerly anticipating what reward he would receive this time.


    Suddenly!


    Ye Yu''s expression changed.


    Because in his line of sight appeared a humanoid demon with arms like sickles and enveloped in dark ckness.


    This was the Saber Demon.


    The aura it emitted far surpassed the previous demons.


    Third Grade Demon!


    Ye Yu was shocked.


    He realized that the front line of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion''s high-level cultivators had been breached!


    Looking around, he saw one after another, Third Grade demons continuously emerging.


    Under these circumstances,


    their Ruin Realm trial was almost considered over.


    Moreover, there was hardly any Spiritual Power left in him.


    Even if these high-rank demons hadn''t attacked, they couldn''t have fought much longer.


    Sure enough.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    One of the Saber Demons, in a flicker, transformed into a faint afterimage, charging straight at them.


    Using its arms as weapons.


    A glint of cold light shed.


    Although Ye Yu immediately conjured a Spiritual Power Light Shield,


    under the charge of the Third Grade Saber Demon''s arms, the light shield crumbled instantaneously, like it was made of paper.


    Subsequently, Ye Yu was severed into two at the waist.


    With Ye Yu''s death, the Great Expansion Formation also copsed.


    The Saber Demon, dismissing the remaining thirty-five Qi Refining cultivators, charged towards another group.


    Without the Great Expansion Formation, these Qi Refining cultivators could easily handle a Second Grade demon.


    The mission of the Saber Demon was to decapitate the core cultivators of the Great Expansion Formation and break their formation.


    ...


    When Ye Yu regained his senses, he found himself in a pavilion.


    Cabs stood on all sides, one after another.


    Above these cabs, a transparent light shield enveloped each one.


    Countless Jade Slips were ced on top of the cabs.


    Ye Yu, still frightened, touched his waist to make sure it was still intact, then he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Although he knew it was just an illusion, the illusion was so realistic that he felt terrified when facing being cut in half.


    Then, images suddenly appeared in the air in front of him.


    They were all his experiences within the Ruin Realm.


    The scenes yed back quickly, and in a moment, they reached the scene where he was shed at the waist.


    Subsequently, the image paused.


    Lines ofrge characters emerged.


    "Final Rating: Third Grade Lower!"


    "Reward: Choice of one Mortal Level Technique."


    ...


    Ye Yu''s face turned extremely unsightly.


    Third Grade Lower.


    How could it be Third Grade Lower?


    If he remembered correctly, thest time a member of the Ye Family participated in the Ruin Realm trial and received a Third Grade Middle rating, they had only killed six Second Grade demons.


    This time, not only had he killed seven Second Grade demons, but he had also done so as the core cultivator of the Great Expansion Formation.


    Why didn''t he receive at least a Third Grade Middle rating, and why was his final rating even lower than that!


    "Could there be some mistake?"


    "Give me an exnation!"


    Ye Yu''s face was as dark as water, and he roared angrily.


    However, he received no response.


    Finally, after venting his frustration, Ye Yu calmed down and looked at the surrounding cabs.


    A few cabs no longer had their light shields.


    This indicated that the Jade Slips on these cabs were avable for him to choose.


    Although reluctant, Ye Yu gritted his teeth and walked over to these cabs to start his selection.


    ...


    In the same loft.


    Lu Xin appeared out of thin air.


    She couldn''t help but wipe her eyes, looking at the moisture on her hands.


    Apparently, her eyes had be wet without her noticing.


    "It''s just an illusion," Lu Xin mocked herself, "and yet I took it seriously."


    But it felt so real, that feeling.


    Although it represented a tragedy thousands of years old, her heart was still engulfed by those emotions.


    If one day, her own Lu Family faced such a situation,


    she thought she would likely act as these Mountain and Sea Pavilion cultivators had.


    ...


    Simrly, all of Lu Xin''s experiences in the Ruin Realm also appeared in front of her.


    The scenes rapidly yed.


    Thest scene froze at the final moment.


    The Saber Demon, known for his speed and attack power, shed the head of their Array te handler, who was the core of their Great Expansion Formation.


    Without the core cultivator, their Great Expansion Formation naturally ceased to exist.


    Even though the remaining thirty-five cultivators immediately reorganized and fought back with all their might,


    without the boost of the Great Expansion Formation, they were quickly killed one by one by the Second Grade demons.


    Four Second Grade demons.


    That was her finalbat aplishment.


    Two lines ofrge characters emerged.


    "Final Rating: Third Grade Upper!"


    "Reward: Choice of one Spirit Level Technique."


    ...


    As Ye Yu and Lu Xin''s Ruin Realm trials came to an end, more and more Cultivators participating in the Ruin Realm assessment were also concluding their assessments.


    ...


    At the Spirit Vein of the Endless Peak.


    The seven Fifth Grade Demon Refining who were besieging the True Venerable Yuan Yang were now reduced to three.


    Correspondingly, the High Level Cultivators defending this Spirit Vein had also suffered heavy losses.


    Lu Qingshan had been hidden in the depths of the Spirit Vein for quite some time.


    As the Qi Refining Cultivators participating in the Ruin Realm assessment gradually finished their trials,


    hisbat record remained at zero.

 Chapter 62 - 62 Power of the Mountains and Seas (Part 3)

    ```


    But Lu Qingshan seemed not the least bit hurried.


    Instead, it was as if he was waiting for something, his gaze wandering as he continuously observed and paid attention to something.


    ng!


    A sharp sound rang out.


    A white barrier appeared not far in front of Lu Qingshan, bursting forth with a blinding white light that flickered intensely.


    At the same time, a faint shadow emerged outside the barrier.


    The shadow held a weapon resembling a long spear, which, like its form, was also somewhat indistinct.


    The sharp sound just now was the collision of the long spear attacking the defense formation protecting the Spirit Vein.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze hardened.


    It¡¯s here!


    This was a Shadow Demon from the Demon Race.


    Expert in stealth, with a powerful burst attack.


    ...


    With the aid of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, thebat power of True Monarch Yuan Yang could be described as top-notch in the Void Refinement Realm.


    If the Demon Race wasn¡¯t foolish, they would not choose to engage True Monarch Yuan Yang, augmented by the Power of the Mountains and Seas, in a fight to the death.


    In a change of perspective, the optimal choice would undoubtedly be to find a way for one to keep True Monarch Yuan Yang upied at the front, while another effort was made to destroy the power source of the Mountains and Seas Formation¡ªthe Spirit Vein.


    Lu Qingshan had also considered this point, which was why from the start, he had always concealed his form deep within the Spirit Vein, within the defensive formation.


    Aside from the fact that the intensity of the current battle far exceeded his cultivation, and even the mere spillover effects were more than he could bear, forcing him to hide within the Spirit Vein¡¯s defensive formation, another important reason was to wait for the members of the Demon Race preparing to shift the battle to the Spirit Vein.


    True Monarch Yuan Yang, who was far away, saw the defensive formation of the Spirit Vein shaking on the verge of copse under the Shadow Demon¡¯s attack.


    Feeling that the situation was not good, he hurriedly prepared toe to the rescue.


    The Demon Race, of course, would not let True Monarch Yuan Yang have his way.


    The remaining three fifth-grade Demon Refiners, who had been dodging True Monarch Yuan Yang¡¯s attacks, now burst into mes, as if they were ready toy down their lives, and surrounded him.


    They just needed to dy for a moment!


    The Power of the Mountains and Seas on True Monarch Yuan Yang relied on the Spirit Vein to supply Spiritual Power; if the Shadow Demon destroyed the Spirit Vein, the Power of the Mountains and Seas on True Monarch Yuan Yang would naturally dissipate.


    Without the grandeur of the Mountain and Sea¡¯s augmentation, True Monarch Yuan Yang would surely not be their match.


    The Demon Refiners were very clear on this point.


    True Monarch Yuan Yang looked around, looking for someone who could stop the Shadow Demon.


    But their power disparity with the Demon Race was already quite stark to begin with, and the other cultivators were already too preupied with their own survival to be of any help at the Spirit Vein.


    Is this the end?


    This thought shed through True Monarch Yuan Yang¡¯s mind.


    If the Spirit Vein was destroyed, their annihtion would not be far off.


    He sighed inwardly, preparing to use a secret technique to burst out and attempt to kill all three of the fifth-grade Demon Refiners in front of him before the Spirit Vein was broken.


    "Uncle Master Yuan Yang, lend me a part of the Power of the Mountains and Seas!"


    Just as True Monarch Yuan Yang was channeling his Spiritual Power, preparing for his final burst of effort, the voice of Lu Qingshan came from the direction of the Spirit Vein.


    True Monarch Yuan Yang¡¯s eyes paused.


    He had almost forgotten about Lu Qingshan within the formation at the Spirit Vein.


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan was the cultivator closest to the Shadow Demon and the only one who could feasibly stop the Shadow Demon in time.


    However, True Monarch Yuan Yang hesitated.


    While the Power of the Mountains and Seas could greatly enhance a cultivator¡¯sbat power, the question was whether Lu Qingshan could control this power.


    Allowing a Qi Refining Cultivator to suddenly possess power far exceeding his own might be too much; it was very possible he wouldn¡¯t be able to exert even a tenth of it.


    If Yuan Yang shared a portion of the Power of the Mountains and Seas with Lu Qingshan, his ownbat strength would be greatly diminished, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to kill the three fifth-grade Demon Refiners in this brief interval.


    If Lu Qingshan failed to use the Power of the Mountains and Seas to stop the Shadow Demon, it would be a terrible loss.


    But if Lu Qingshan really managed to stop the Shadow Demon, then drawing on the continuous supply of the Power of the Mountains and Seas from the Spirit Vein, he would be able to kill even more of the Demon Race.


    Much more than just the three fifth-grade Demon Refiners in front of him.


    Should he take the gamble?


    True Monarch Yuan Yang was somewhat indecisive.


    "Uncle Master Yuan Yang, trust me!"


    Lu Qingshan seemed to understand True Monarch Yuan Yang¡¯s concerns and shouted again.


    Well then, since he is a disciple of my Mountain and Sea Pavilion, I will trust him this once¡ªif we die, we die together!


    True Monarch Yuan Yang steeled his heart, his Divine Sense stirring as he transferred half of the Power of the Mountains and Seas that the Endless Peak¡¯s Spirit Vein could provide to Lu Qingshan.


    Instantly, the glow surrounding True Monarch Yuan Yang dimmed significantly.


    Simultaneously, ayer of green and blue light appeared around Lu Qingshan.


    "You have been augmented with the Power of the Mountains and Seas!"


    "During the duration of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, your Rank will be raised to [Void Refining]."


    "Your primary Attribute has been increased: Strength+500."


    "Your Health Points upper limit has been increased: Health Points+2000."


    "During the duration of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, any damage you take will be reduced by 80% (this amount of damage must not exceed the upper limit of Health Points, otherwise the effect is nullified)."


    ```


    "During the Power of the Mountains and Seas¡¯ duration, your Spiritual Power Value will depend on the reserves of the Spirit Vein¡¯s Spiritual Power. As long as the Spirit Vein isn¡¯t exhausted, neither will your Spiritual Power cease."


    "..."


    "..."


    ...


    Innumerable streams of data cascaded down like a waterfall, rushing swiftly.


    An endless array of enhancement effects swiped across the screen so rapidly that Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t possibly read them all.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He didn¡¯t have the time to look closely at this information either.


    Lu Qingshan took out the Crying Soul Sword from his Storage Ring, holding it in his hand and gently swinging it to familiarize himself with the strength he possessed at the moment.


    ng!


    ng!


    ng!


    Lu Qingshan slightly raised his eyelids, ncing at the Shadow Demon still attacking the Spirit Vein Formation, and sighed softly.


    "Although I haven¡¯t reached my full strength, it¡¯s enough to kill you!"


    With sword in hand, Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure shed, darting out of the Formation.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan emerge from the Formation, a trace of disdain appeared on the Shadow Demon¡¯s face.


    If he thought that with the aid of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, he could defeat him, that would be far too naive.


    The reason why Yuan Yang True Venerable was so unstoppable under the aid of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, aside from the strength of the Mountains and Seas Formation, was another very important factor.


    Yuan Yang True Venerable was inherently strong!


    And a Qi Refining Cultivator, even with the augmentation of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, was nothing in his eyes!


    The Shadow Demon¡¯s heart stirred, and its body, originally revealed in its true form, faded away in an instant and mysteriously vanished from the air.


    This was the racial talent of the Shadow Demon: "Shadow Escape".


    In the face of this situation, Lu Qingshan was utterly unflustered.


    He tilted his body to one side, holding the sword in both hands, closing his eyes as if sensing something.


    Whoosh¡ª


    An extremely faint fluctuation.


    I¡¯ve found you!


    Lu Qingshan whispered softly.


    Secret Sword: Wind sh!


    Falling Bright Sword Technique!


    In an instant, the Power of the Mountains and Seas enveloping him surged forth, converging at the tip of Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword.


    In just a moment, the momentum at Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword tip had escted to its peak.


    Surging Spiritual Power roiled around the long sword.


    Lu Qingshan gripped his sword and shed towards his left side.


    There, emptiness prevailed; nothing existed.


    But the moment Lu Qingshan¡¯s Crying Soul Sword swept down, a faint shadow squeezed out from the Void as if revealing its form; its expression full of shock as it looked at the sword bearing down on it.


    Boom¡ª


    The moment the sword struck the Shadow Demon, Spiritual Power exploded wildly.


    In an exceedingly brief sh, two sword shadows could be seen erupting simultaneously upon the Shadow Demon.


    This was the additional attack effect of Wind sh.


    Burst!


    Lu Qingshan roared mightily!


    Under the effect of Secret Sword: Wind sh, Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword had already stacked threeyers of the Power of Dark Erosion effect on the Shadow Demon.


    With the aid of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, the Power of Dark Erosion within Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword at this moment was no doubt many times more potent than it had been in the Qi Refining Realm.


    The Shadow Demon was bound in ce.


    Spiritual Power quickly umted on Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword, and he thrust forward, piercing directly through the head of the Shadow Demon, now unable to move.


    Subsequently, rich Spiritual Power coursed through the Shadow Demon¡¯s body and then detonated.


    As if blown apart, the Shadow Demon¡¯s body emitted white light and, following a deafening boom, dispersed into ash and vanished.


    Such might was the hallmark of a Sword Cultivator!


    ...


    An ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator suddenly endowed with such incredible power would normally be unable to control it.


    Simr to a normal person whose strength increased a hundredfold or a thousandfold, they might simply step forward and crack the ground, creating a deep pit, rendering them unable to move an inch.


    ording to Lu Qingshan¡¯s expectation, if he wanted to obtain a Grade A evaluation in the Ruin Realm dungeon in his previous life, the biggest challenge would be how to swiftly acquaint himself with and master this suddenly augmented power within a short time.


    This would require an extremely high level of skill.


    Even he could not guarantee he would be able to do so.


    But now, this issue had be the easiest to solve.


    ¡ªIn his previous life, at the peak of his strength, he was a Great Sword Cultivator withplete Integration Perfection.


    Merely the Power of the Mountains and Seas at the Void Refinement Realm was naturally a trifle to him.

 Chapter 63 - 63 Foundation Establishment (Part 1)

    Ignoring the astonishment of the Demon Race and Yuan Yang True Venerable, Lu Qingshan leaned forward, hurrying forward to meet those Third Grade and Fourth Grade demons that were currently surrounding and attacking the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Taking advantage of the Shadow Demon¡¯s carelessness, Lu Qingshan seized the opportunity and instantly killed the Shadow Demon.


    However, Lu Qingshan did not be arrogant. He was very aware of his own shorings.


    Although he could perfectly control his own strength, this did not change the fact that his foundation was that of a Qi Refining Cultivator.


    The skills such as "Sword Control," "Flying Sword," "Sword Intent," "Sword Light Differentiation," and so on, that high-rank Sword Cultivators could master, were all skills that he neither knew at the moment nor had learned.


    At this point, if he were to directly confront a Fifth Grade of the Demon Race, he truly would not be a match.


    This was not a gap in strength, but a difference in skill and realm.


    But when fighting these Third and Fourth Grade demons, under the powerful strength augmented by the Power of the Mountains and Seas, he could entirely achieve victory through brute force, pushing through destructively.


    Yuan Yang True Venerable, under the enhancement of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, fighting three Fifth Grade Demon Refiners, was evidently not a problem.


    Thus, supporting Yuan Yang True Venerable didn¡¯t require immediate urgency.


    ...


    Sword Lights constantly shed.


    Lu Qingshan, holding a sword in the Demon Sea, kept weaving through, lunging left and then charging right.


    At this moment, he was like a ghost reaping lives¡ªcruel, resolute, with a killing intent that soared to the skies!


    His movements were clean and efficient, without a trace of superfluity. Every thrust of his sword was aimed toward vital spots like the demons¡¯ necks and heads.


    Wherever the long sword reached, flesh and blood flew.


    The damage inflicted by a Void Refining Sword Cultivator, even if it was just a in sh, was not something these Third and Fourth Grade demons could withstand.


    Exhrating!


    The scent of blood on Lu Qingshan had already be so dense that it couldn¡¯t be waved away.


    His killing intent grew stronger, and his pupils turned even redder, yet his mind became clearer and clearer.


    This was a true Sword Cultivator, a cold-blooded killing machine.


    The stronger his killing intent, the calmer his heart became.


    ...


    Soon, what seemed like an endless number of demons, began to show signs of not having enough sessors under Lu Qingshan¡¯s rapid clearance.


    Lu Qingshan did not stop as he saw the situation was temporarily under control.


    His form surged explosively.


    With a fierce momentum and soaring killing intent, he charged towards where Yuan Yang True Venerable was.


    There were still three Fifth Grade Demon Refiners there.


    "You¡ª" Seeing Lu Qingshan, who carried the unique piercing aura of a Sword Cultivator, joining his battlefield, Yuan Yang True Venerable didn¡¯t know what reaction was appropriate.


    It was really because Lu Qingshan¡¯s performance far exceeded his expectations.


    Even he was not confident that he could do better than Lu Qingshan had done.


    But now was not the time to express astonishment.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan supporting him, Yuan Yang True Venerable, who was rich inbat experience, immediately reacted and coordinated with Lu Qingshan.


    Originally evenly matched despite being outnumbered three to one, Yuan Yang True Venerable, upon Lu Qingshan joining the battle, quickly turned the fight one-sided.


    ...


    After about ten breaths of time, a massive head flew off, and a rain of blood sprayed through the air.


    Three Fifth Grade Demon Refiners, dead!


    Lu Qingshan stood quietly in the same spot, scanning the surroundings.


    The area, as far as the eye could see, was surprisingly empty.


    Although Yuan Yang True Venerable looked thoroughly exhausted, a smile couldn¡¯t help but surface on his face as he was just about to step forward and say something to Lu Qingshan, when¡ª


    A thunderous booming sound came from far away.


    Lu Qingshan and Yuan Yang True Venerable simultaneously turned their gaze towards where the booming sound wasing from.


    In the distance, atop a sky-piercing mountain that was originally shrouded in ck mist, an intensely bright and dazzling light burst through, breaking the mist.


    In that moment, the entire world between heaven and earth was filled with dazzling spiritual light.


    Immediately following, there was a disturbance in the spiritual mechanisms of heaven and earth, and a ck, mile-high tornado cyclone arose out of nowhere!


    Afterward, the tornado released sky-covering spiritual energy, and although the energy was incredibly vibrant, it was unattainable and impossible to absorb, quickly dispersing into the environment and blending with this world.


    Magnificent yet tragic.


    This was a Heavenly Dao phenomenon.


    Only when a tremendously powerful Cultivator died, such a scene would appear.


    These Cultivators had grown so powerful by devouring countless amounts of Spiritual Power from the world.


    If not returned, over time, the Spiritual Mechanisms within the world would gradually fade away and eventually turn into a barren wastnd.


    Thus, upon their death, powerful Cultivators would return the Spiritual Power to the world in the form of a Dao-vanishing celestial phenomenon.


    This was thew of Heavenly Dao.


    Only the death of one person from the Mountain and Sea Pavilion could create such an astonishing Dao-vanishing celestial phenomenon.


    Lu Qingshan and Yuan Yang True Venerable both understood what it signified.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion had died in battle!


    "Your Sect Master is dead!" A sinister and dull voice came from between the Giant Peak and Spirit Mountain, "You disciples of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion should stop struggling in vain."


    This was meant to dissolve the remaining will to fight of the Cultivators from the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Lu Qingshan looked nearby.


    Wave after wave of the Demon Race was rushing toward them.


    Lu Qingshan and Yuan Yang True Venerable exchanged a nce.


    Their will to fight did not diminish with the passing of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion; instead, it grew even more intense.


    Facing the surging Demon Race, Lu Qingshan and True Venerable Yuan Yang did not retreat but advanced instead.


    Following closely behind them were all the surviving Cultivators defending the Spirit Vein.


    ...


    ...


    When Lu Qingshan came back to his senses.


    He had already moved from the Wuya Peak Spirit Vein battlefield filled with the Demon Race to an attic.


    The surroundings were empty.


    Lu Qingshan was startled.


    This was different from the scene he remembered.


    This final instance settlement scene should have been surrounded by cabs filled with Cultivation Techniques and Techniques jade slips.


    As Lu Qingshan looked around uncertainly.


    A figure of a middle-aged man in a white robe quietly appeared before Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan looked at the man¡¯s face, as if understanding something, and slightly bowed to the middle-aged Cultivator.


    "Sect Master."


    Indeed, the figure in front of him was the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion Lu Qingshan had seen from a distance at the Wuya Peak summit.


    "The Mountain and Sea Pavilion has long been destroyed, what kind of Sect Master am I now?" came a very gentle voice.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lu Qingshan remained silent.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was unconcerned about Lu Qingshan¡¯s silence.


    He stretched out his hand, and with a light touch in the air.


    Images that had never appeared in the Ruin Realm floated in the air.


    ...


    That night, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion had traversed all the mountains of the Pavilion and met all its disciples.


    The sky was still dark as he stood motionless in the air, his mind wandering beyond the heavens.


    After a long, long time, when the day was about to dawn.


    He finally came back to his senses, as if having decided on something, he slightly grasped at the void, and a ck orb of light appeared in his hand.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion looked at the ck orb in his hand, pondered for a moment.


    Finally, he confirmed his thoughts, and gently swiped over his brow, a shallow Soul Body appearing in front of him.


    At the same time, the face of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion turned deathly pale in that instant.


    He had split off a small part of his Divine Soul.


    The separated Soul Body, looking at the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, humanly nodded its head, and then plunged into the ck orb of light in the hands of the Sect Master.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion saw this scene, and slightly nodded his head.


    Afterward, he suspended the ck orb in mid-air, and with both hands made Seal Gestures, casting one spell after another onto the ck orb.


    At the break of dawn, he waved the ck orb, sending it shooting straight down below the grounds of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, where it instantaneously vanished any trace of its presence.

 Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Power of the Mountains and Seas (Part 3)

    ```


    But Lu Qingshan seemed not the least bit hurried.


    Instead, it was as if he was waiting for something, his gaze wandering as he continuously observed and paid attention to something.


    ng!


    A sharp sound rang out.


    A white barrier appeared not far in front of Lu Qingshan, bursting forth with a blinding white light that flickered intensely.


    At the same time, a faint shadow emerged outside the barrier.


    The shadow held a weapon resembling a long spear, which, like its form, was also somewhat indistinct.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The sharp sound just now was the collision of the long spear attacking the defense formation protecting the Spirit Vein.


    Lu Qingshan''s gaze hardened.


    It''s here!


    This was a Shadow Demon from the Demon Race.


    Expert in stealth, with a powerful burst attack.


    ...


    With the aid of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, thebat power of True Monarch Yuan Yang could be described as top-notch in the Void Refinement Realm.


    If the Demon Race wasn''t foolish, they would not choose to engage True Monarch Yuan Yang, augmented by the Power of the Mountains and Seas, in a fight to the death.


    In a change of perspective, the optimal choice would undoubtedly be to find a way for one to keep True Monarch Yuan Yang upied at the front, while another effort was made to destroy the power source of the Mountains and Seas Formation¡ªthe Spirit Vein.


    Lu Qingshan had also considered this point, which was why from the start, he had always concealed his form deep within the Spirit Vein, within the defensive formation.


    Aside from the fact that the intensity of the current battle far exceeded his cultivation, and even the mere spillover effects were more than he could bear, forcing him to hide within the Spirit Vein''s defensive formation, another important reason was to wait for the members of the Demon Race preparing to shift the battle to the Spirit Vein.


    True Monarch Yuan Yang, who was far away, saw the defensive formation of the Spirit Vein shaking on the verge of copse under the Shadow Demon''s attack.


    Feeling that the situation was not good, he hurriedly prepared toe to the rescue.


    The Demon Race, of course, would not let True Monarch Yuan Yang have his way.


    The remaining three fifth-grade Demon Refiners, who had been dodging True Monarch Yuan Yang''s attacks, now burst into mes, as if they were ready toy down their lives, and surrounded him.


    They just needed to dy for a moment!


    The Power of the Mountains and Seas on True Monarch Yuan Yang relied on the Spirit Vein to supply Spiritual Power; if the Shadow Demon destroyed the Spirit Vein, the Power of the Mountains and Seas on True Monarch Yuan Yang would naturally dissipate.


    Without the grandeur of the Mountain and Sea''s augmentation, True Monarch Yuan Yang would surely not be their match.


    The Demon Refiners were very clear on this point.


    True Monarch Yuan Yang looked around, looking for someone who could stop the Shadow Demon.


    But their power disparity with the Demon Race was already quite stark to begin with, and the other cultivators were already too preupied with their own survival to be of any help at the Spirit Vein.


    Is this the end?


    This thought shed through True Monarch Yuan Yang''s mind.


    If the Spirit Vein was destroyed, their annihtion would not be far off.


    He sighed inwardly, preparing to use a secret technique to burst out and attempt to kill all three of the fifth-grade Demon Refiners in front of him before the Spirit Vein was broken.


    "Uncle Master Yuan Yang, lend me a part of the Power of the Mountains and Seas!"


    Just as True Monarch Yuan Yang was channeling his Spiritual Power, preparing for his final burst of effort, the voice of Lu Qingshan came from the direction of the Spirit Vein.


    True Monarch Yuan Yang''s eyes paused.


    He had almost forgotten about Lu Qingshan within the formation at the Spirit Vein.


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan was the cultivator closest to the Shadow Demon and the only one who could feasibly stop the Shadow Demon in time.


    However, True Monarch Yuan Yang hesitated.


    While the Power of the Mountains and Seas could greatly enhance a cultivator''sbat power, the question was whether Lu Qingshan could control this power.


    Allowing a Qi Refining Cultivator to suddenly possess power far exceeding his own might be too much; it was very possible he wouldn''t be able to exert even a tenth of it.


    If Yuan Yang shared a portion of the Power of the Mountains and Seas with Lu Qingshan, his ownbat strength would be greatly diminished, and he wouldn''t be able to kill the three fifth-grade Demon Refiners in this brief interval.


    If Lu Qingshan failed to use the Power of the Mountains and Seas to stop the Shadow Demon, it would be a terrible loss.


    But if Lu Qingshan really managed to stop the Shadow Demon, then drawing on the continuous supply of the Power of the Mountains and Seas from the Spirit Vein, he would be able to kill even more of the Demon Race.


    Much more than just the three fifth-grade Demon Refiners in front of him.


    Should he take the gamble?


    True Monarch Yuan Yang was somewhat indecisive.


    "Uncle Master Yuan Yang, trust me!"


    Lu Qingshan seemed to understand True Monarch Yuan Yang''s concerns and shouted again.


    Well then, since he is a disciple of my Mountain and Sea Pavilion, I will trust him this once¡ªif we die, we die together!


    True Monarch Yuan Yang steeled his heart, his Divine Sense stirring as he transferred half of the Power of the Mountains and Seas that the Endless Peak''s Spirit Vein could provide to Lu Qingshan.


    Instantly, the glow surrounding True Monarch Yuan Yang dimmed significantly.


    Simultaneously, ayer of green and blue light appeared around Lu Qingshan.


    "You have been augmented with the Power of the Mountains and Seas!"


    "During the duration of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, your Rank will be raised to [Void Refining]."


    "Your primary Attribute has been increased: Strength+500."


    "Your Health Points upper limit has been increased: Health Points+2000."


    "During the duration of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, any damage you take will be reduced by 80% (this amount of damage must not exceed the upper limit of Health Points, otherwise the effect is nullified)."


    ```


    "During the Power of the Mountains and Seas'' duration, your Spiritual Power Value will depend on the reserves of the Spirit Vein''s Spiritual Power. As long as the Spirit Vein isn''t exhausted, neither will your Spiritual Power cease."


    "..."


    "..."


    ...


    Innumerable streams of data cascaded down like a waterfall, rushing swiftly.


    An endless array of enhancement effects swiped across the screen so rapidly that Lu Qingshan couldn''t possibly read them all.


    He didn''t have the time to look closely at this information either.


    Lu Qingshan took out the Crying Soul Sword from his Storage Ring, holding it in his hand and gently swinging it to familiarize himself with the strength he possessed at the moment.


    ng!


    ng!


    ng!


    Lu Qingshan slightly raised his eyelids, ncing at the Shadow Demon still attacking the Spirit Vein Formation, and sighed softly.


    "Although I haven''t reached my full strength, it''s enough to kill you!"


    With sword in hand, Lu Qingshan''s figure shed, darting out of the Formation.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan emerge from the Formation, a trace of disdain appeared on the Shadow Demon''s face.


    If he thought that with the aid of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, he could defeat him, that would be far too naive.


    The reason why Yuan Yang True Venerable was so unstoppable under the aid of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, aside from the strength of the Mountains and Seas Formation, was another very important factor.


    Yuan Yang True Venerable was inherently strong!


    And a Qi Refining Cultivator, even with the augmentation of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, was nothing in his eyes!


    The Shadow Demon''s heart stirred, and its body, originally revealed in its true form, faded away in an instant and mysteriously vanished from the air.


    This was the racial talent of the Shadow Demon: "Shadow Escape".


    In the face of this situation, Lu Qingshan was utterly unflustered.


    He tilted his body to one side, holding the sword in both hands, closing his eyes as if sensing something.


    Whoosh¡ª


    An extremely faint fluctuation.


    I''ve found you!


    Lu Qingshan whispered softly.


    Secret Sword: Wind sh!


    Falling Bright Sword Technique!


    In an instant, the Power of the Mountains and Seas enveloping him surged forth, converging at the tip of Lu Qingshan''s sword.


    In just a moment, the momentum at Lu Qingshan''s sword tip had escted to its peak.


    Surging Spiritual Power roiled around the long sword.


    Lu Qingshan gripped his sword and shed towards his left side.


    There, emptiness prevailed; nothing existed.


    But the moment Lu Qingshan''s Crying Soul Sword swept down, a faint shadow squeezed out from the Void as if revealing its form; its expression full of shock as it looked at the sword bearing down on it.


    Boom¡ª


    The moment the sword struck the Shadow Demon, Spiritual Power exploded wildly.


    In an exceedingly brief sh, two sword shadows could be seen erupting simultaneously upon the Shadow Demon.


    This was the additional attack effect of Wind sh.


    Burst!


    Lu Qingshan roared mightily!


    Under the effect of Secret Sword: Wind sh, Lu Qingshan''s sword had already stacked threeyers of the Power of Dark Erosion effect on the Shadow Demon.


    With the aid of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, the Power of Dark Erosion within Lu Qingshan''s sword at this moment was no doubt many times more potent than it had been in the Qi Refining Realm.


    The Shadow Demon was bound in ce.


    Spiritual Power quickly umted on Lu Qingshan''s sword, and he thrust forward, piercing directly through the head of the Shadow Demon, now unable to move.


    Subsequently, rich Spiritual Power coursed through the Shadow Demon''s body and then detonated.


    As if blown apart, the Shadow Demon''s body emitted white light and, following a deafening boom, dispersed into ash and vanished.


    Such might was the hallmark of a Sword Cultivator!


    ...


    An ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator suddenly endowed with such incredible power would normally be unable to control it.


    Simr to a normal person whose strength increased a hundredfold or a thousandfold, they might simply step forward and crack the ground, creating a deep pit, rendering them unable to move an inch.


    ording to Lu Qingshan''s expectation, if he wanted to obtain a Grade A evaluation in the Ruin Realm dungeon in his previous life, the biggest challenge would be how to swiftly acquaint himself with and master this suddenly augmented power within a short time.


    This would require an extremely high level of skill.


    Even he could not guarantee he would be able to do so.


    But now, this issue had be the easiest to solve.


    ¡ªIn his previous life, at the peak of his strength, he was a Great Sword Cultivator withplete Integration Perfection.


    Merely the Power of the Mountains and Seas at the Void Refinement Realm was naturally a trifle to him.

 Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Foundation Establishment (Part 1)

    Ignoring the astonishment of the Demon Race and Yuan Yang True Venerable, Lu Qingshan leaned forward, hurrying forward to meet those Third Grade and Fourth Grade demons that were currently surrounding and attacking the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Taking advantage of the Shadow Demon''s carelessness, Lu Qingshan seized the opportunity and instantly killed the Shadow Demon.


    However, Lu Qingshan did not be arrogant. He was very aware of his own shorings.


    Although he could perfectly control his own strength, this did not change the fact that his foundation was that of a Qi Refining Cultivator.


    The skills such as "Sword Control," "Flying Sword," "Sword Intent," "Sword Light Differentiation," and so on, that high-rank Sword Cultivators could master, were all skills that he neither knew at the moment nor had learned.


    At this point, if he were to directly confront a Fifth Grade of the Demon Race, he truly would not be a match.


    This was not a gap in strength, but a difference in skill and realm.


    But when fighting these Third and Fourth Grade demons, under the powerful strength augmented by the Power of the Mountains and Seas, he could entirely achieve victory through brute force, pushing through destructively.


    Yuan Yang True Venerable, under the enhancement of the Power of the Mountains and Seas, fighting three Fifth Grade Demon Refiners, was evidently not a problem.


    Thus, supporting Yuan Yang True Venerable didn''t require immediate urgency.


    ...


    Sword Lights constantly shed.


    Lu Qingshan, holding a sword in the Demon Sea, kept weaving through, lunging left and then charging right.


    At this moment, he was like a ghost reaping lives¡ªcruel, resolute, with a killing intent that soared to the skies!


    His movements were clean and efficient, without a trace of superfluity. Every thrust of his sword was aimed toward vital spots like the demons'' necks and heads.


    Wherever the long sword reached, flesh and blood flew.


    The damage inflicted by a Void Refining Sword Cultivator, even if it was just a in sh, was not something these Third and Fourth Grade demons could withstand.


    Exhrating!


    The scent of blood on Lu Qingshan had already be so dense that it couldn''t be waved away.


    His killing intent grew stronger, and his pupils turned even redder, yet his mind became clearer and clearer.


    This was a true Sword Cultivator, a cold-blooded killing machine.


    The stronger his killing intent, the calmer his heart became.


    ...


    Soon, what seemed like an endless number of demons, began to show signs of not having enough sessors under Lu Qingshan''s rapid clearance.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lu Qingshan did not stop as he saw the situation was temporarily under control.


    His form surged explosively.


    With a fierce momentum and soaring killing intent, he charged towards where Yuan Yang True Venerable was.


    There were still three Fifth Grade Demon Refiners there.


    "You¡ª" Seeing Lu Qingshan, who carried the unique piercing aura of a Sword Cultivator, joining his battlefield, Yuan Yang True Venerable didn''t know what reaction was appropriate.


    It was really because Lu Qingshan''s performance far exceeded his expectations.


    Even he was not confident that he could do better than Lu Qingshan had done.


    But now was not the time to express astonishment.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan supporting him, Yuan Yang True Venerable, who was rich inbat experience, immediately reacted and coordinated with Lu Qingshan.


    Originally evenly matched despite being outnumbered three to one, Yuan Yang True Venerable, upon Lu Qingshan joining the battle, quickly turned the fight one-sided.


    ...


    After about ten breaths of time, a massive head flew off, and a rain of blood sprayed through the air.


    Three Fifth Grade Demon Refiners, dead!


    Lu Qingshan stood quietly in the same spot, scanning the surroundings.


    The area, as far as the eye could see, was surprisingly empty.


    Although Yuan Yang True Venerable looked thoroughly exhausted, a smile couldn''t help but surface on his face as he was just about to step forward and say something to Lu Qingshan, when¡ª


    A thunderous booming sound came from far away.


    Lu Qingshan and Yuan Yang True Venerable simultaneously turned their gaze towards where the booming sound wasing from.


    In the distance, atop a sky-piercing mountain that was originally shrouded in ck mist, an intensely bright and dazzling light burst through, breaking the mist.


    In that moment, the entire world between heaven and earth was filled with dazzling spiritual light.


    Immediately following, there was a disturbance in the spiritual mechanisms of heaven and earth, and a ck, mile-high tornado cyclone arose out of nowhere!


    Afterward, the tornado released sky-covering spiritual energy, and although the energy was incredibly vibrant, it was unattainable and impossible to absorb, quickly dispersing into the environment and blending with this world.


    Magnificent yet tragic.


    This was a Heavenly Dao phenomenon.


    Only when a tremendously powerful Cultivator died, such a scene would appear.


    These Cultivators had grown so powerful by devouring countless amounts of Spiritual Power from the world.


    If not returned, over time, the Spiritual Mechanisms within the world would gradually fade away and eventually turn into a barren wastnd.


    Thus, upon their death, powerful Cultivators would return the Spiritual Power to the world in the form of a Dao-vanishing celestial phenomenon.


    This was thew of Heavenly Dao.


    Only the death of one person from the Mountain and Sea Pavilion could create such an astonishing Dao-vanishing celestial phenomenon.


    Lu Qingshan and Yuan Yang True Venerable both understood what it signified.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion had died in battle!


    "Your Sect Master is dead!" A sinister and dull voice came from between the Giant Peak and Spirit Mountain, "You disciples of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion should stop struggling in vain."


    This was meant to dissolve the remaining will to fight of the Cultivators from the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    Lu Qingshan looked nearby.


    Wave after wave of the Demon Race was rushing toward them.


    Lu Qingshan and Yuan Yang True Venerable exchanged a nce.


    Their will to fight did not diminish with the passing of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion; instead, it grew even more intense.


    Facing the surging Demon Race, Lu Qingshan and True Venerable Yuan Yang did not retreat but advanced instead.


    Following closely behind them were all the surviving Cultivators defending the Spirit Vein.


    ...


    ...


    When Lu Qingshan came back to his senses.


    He had already moved from the Wuya Peak Spirit Vein battlefield filled with the Demon Race to an attic.


    The surroundings were empty.


    Lu Qingshan was startled.


    This was different from the scene he remembered.


    This final instance settlement scene should have been surrounded by cabs filled with Cultivation Techniques and Techniques jade slips.


    As Lu Qingshan looked around uncertainly.


    A figure of a middle-aged man in a white robe quietly appeared before Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan looked at the man''s face, as if understanding something, and slightly bowed to the middle-aged Cultivator.


    "Sect Master."


    Indeed, the figure in front of him was the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion Lu Qingshan had seen from a distance at the Wuya Peak summit.


    "The Mountain and Sea Pavilion has long been destroyed, what kind of Sect Master am I now?" came a very gentle voice.


    Lu Qingshan remained silent.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was unconcerned about Lu Qingshan''s silence.


    He stretched out his hand, and with a light touch in the air.


    Images that had never appeared in the Ruin Realm floated in the air.


    ...


    That night, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion had traversed all the mountains of the Pavilion and met all its disciples.


    The sky was still dark as he stood motionless in the air, his mind wandering beyond the heavens.


    After a long, long time, when the day was about to dawn.


    He finally came back to his senses, as if having decided on something, he slightly grasped at the void, and a ck orb of light appeared in his hand.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion looked at the ck orb in his hand, pondered for a moment.


    Finally, he confirmed his thoughts, and gently swiped over his brow, a shallow Soul Body appearing in front of him.


    At the same time, the face of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion turned deathly pale in that instant.


    He had split off a small part of his Divine Soul.


    The separated Soul Body, looking at the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, humanly nodded its head, and then plunged into the ck orb of light in the hands of the Sect Master.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion saw this scene, and slightly nodded his head.


    Afterward, he suspended the ck orb in mid-air, and with both hands made Seal Gestures, casting one spell after another onto the ck orb.


    At the break of dawn, he waved the ck orb, sending it shooting straight down below the grounds of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, where it instantaneously vanished any trace of its presence.

 Chapter 64 - 64 Foundation Establishment (Part 2)

    Lu Qingshan remained silent.


    If he hadn¡¯t guessed wrong, the ck sphere hidden by the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was the Ruin Realm.


    This segment of the image must be the story of how the Ruin Realm continually exists. Find exclusive content at NovelBin.C?m


    As for the remnant soul of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion before him, it could be considered as the Sect Master himself from another perspective without any problems.


    Because the remnant soul of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, split by secret technique ten thousand years ago, possesses all the memories and thoughts of the Sect Master, along with an independent consciousness.


    The doubts in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart finally got rified.


    It¡¯s no wonder that a mere replica illusion could feel so real, and the storyline of the Ruin Realm could vary so much.


    It turns out the development of the Ruin Realm¡¯s plot does not rigidly follow a preset direction, but is controlled by a soul split with independent consciousness.


    The existence of the soul split of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion allowed for slight variances in the Ruin Realm¡¯s storyline, based on the different actions of the cultivators participating in the trial.


    "The only reason why this remnant soul has managed to survive until now is the obsession lingering in my heart."


    The soul split of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion spoke faintly, "The inheritance of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was ruined overnight, and my heart couldn¡¯t ept this.


    So that night, I concealed the Ruin Realm with a hidden barrier and split a soul part, which is now standing in front of you, to oversee the Ruin Realm.


    I hoped that if the Human Race were not annihted by the Demon Race, after ten thousand years, once the Ruin Realm reappeared in the world, it could continue the legacy of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion through the trials of the Ruin Realm."


    Even at the level of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, a normal soul split was still a considerable harm to him.


    Let alone splitting off a soul with its own thought and intelligence.


    This soul split required him to recover for decades before he could fully recuperate.


    Yet, on the eve of the great war, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion chose to split a conscious soul part.


    Merely to leave a glimmer of hope for the legacy of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    It showed how deep his attachment to the inheritance of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was.


    ...


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion had a gentle smile on his face as he extended his left hand and slightly lifted it.


    All of Lu Qingshan¡¯s experiences in the Ruin Realm turned into flickering lights and shadows, continuously manifesting in the air.


    The scene paused at Lu Qingshan¡¯sst stand, outnumbered and overwhelmed by the numerous Demon Race.


    After watching Lu Qingshan¡¯s performance in the Ruin Realm together,


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion eximed, "I have never seen a Qi Refining Cultivator like you."


    "The Sect Master overpraises me," responded Lu Qingshan, taking themendation in stride.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion looked intently at Lu Qingshan¡¯s face and said solemnly, "Among the ancient sects, what our Mountain and Sea Pavilion is most famous for is our Taoist-Level Foundation Establishment Technique, the ¡¯Returning Ruins Scripture.¡¯


    "The Taoist arts are not to be imparted lightly, so even though I urgently wish to pass on the Returning Ruins Scripture,


    if I cannot find the right person, I would rather the Returning Ruins Scripture be buried in obscurity, than to impart it carelessly to others."


    "I have seen all of your performances within the Ruin Realm, and I think even across the Seven Domains of the Human Race, there are few Qi Refining Cultivators who could surpass you."


    "Based on this, if you were to practice the Returning Ruins Scripture, it would certainly not be wasted."


    "But that is not enough because the Returning Ruins Scripture is a very special cultivation technique.


    If the person who masters it does not exercise restraint, and misuses its abilities, it would cause extremely severe damage to the world of heaven and earth."


    "Therefore, in my trial of the Ruin Realm, besides the performance within the Ruin Realm, there¡¯s also a hidden criterion for the final evaluation, which is the participant¡¯s willpower."


    "If you acted in the Ruin Realm merely to obtain a high evaluation, regardless of how well you performed, you would not receive a Grade A evaluation from me."


    "Only when you truly put yourself in the shoes of a disciple of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, and I confirm that you possess this empathy, then you would be the qualified person in my heart to ept the legacy."


    "Because only such a person would understand the value of cherishing the mountains, rivers, andkes."


    "And you, whether in terms of performance or willpower, have met my requirements. Therefore, I would like to ask you, are you willing to practice the ¡¯Returning Ruins Scripture¡¯ of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion?"


    ...


    The purpose of Lu Qingshan¡¯s journey to the Ruin Realm was precisely for this, so naturally, he had no reason to object.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan nodding, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion showed a slight smile and gently touched Lu Qingshan¡¯s forehead with his finger.


    A multitude of information surged into Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    In what was initially an empty space, at that moment, vigorous spiritual energy emerged, ferociously rushing into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    The force was fierce, yet its nature was exceedingly gentle, not causing the slightest harm to Lu Qingshan.


    "Foundation Establishment Technique ¡¯Returning Ruins Scripture¡¯ detected!"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Returning Ruins Scripture] (Foundation Establishment)


    Level: Taoist Level


    Description: Truly an abyss without a bottom, so deep that it has no bottom, named the Returning Ruins. Ancient great sect Mountain and Sea Pavilion¡¯s Foundation Establishment Technique, with a maximum of 20 levels.


    Technique Effect 1: Each increase by 1 level, Spiritual Power Value ceiling increases by 100 points.


    Technique Effect 2: Spiritual Power Recovery Speed +100%


    Technique Effect 3: The Spiritual Power Quality cultivated by Returning Ruins Scripture is extremely high, and when it collides with any attribute Spiritual Energy, it will not be inferior in terms of quality.


    Technique Effect 4: Upon achieving Returning Ruins Scripture to level 20, additionally obtain a Spiritual Power Value ceiling boost of +1000.


    Technique Effect 5: Upon achieving Returning Ruins Scripture to level 20, you will master the Divine Skill [Power of the Mountains and Seas].


    [Power of the Mountains and Seas]


    Description: Seize and devour the Mountain/Sea Strength within a ten miles radius, augmenting oneself. However, as a price, the Mountain/Sea from which the strength is taken will lose all vitality, turning into a wastnd.


    Supplementary Description: The range of Power of the Mountains and Seas¡¯ seizure will increase along with the Cultivator¡¯s Rank advancement.


    Spell Consumption: None


    Cool Down Time: 1 day


    Technique Effect 6: The experience points needed to upgrade Returning Ruins Scripture increase by +100%.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    "Now epting [Returning Ruins Scripture] inheritance... Learning progress 15%... 40%... 99%..."


    "For this process, outside source Spiritual Energy provides experience points, there is no need to consume any of your own experience points!"


    "Learning sessful! You have mastered [Returning Ruins Scripture]!"


    "Detection of advancement task [Foundation Establishment] has beenpleted, your rank has been upgraded to Foundation Establishment!"


    "Due to the presence of the talent [Trapped in Formation], your Stamina addition will not be increased!"


    "You receive the [Foundation Establishment] rank bonus: Health Points limit +50."


    "Youprehend the skill [Divine Sense Perception]!"


    "You open a new Attribute row: Divine Sense!"


    "You gain the talent [Leakproof Body]!"


    "Your Spiritual Power Value limit exceeds 200, you acquire the talent [Spiritual Power Control] (Primary Level)!"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "You obtain a Life-bound Sword slot! Please confirm your Life-bound Sword as soon as possible."


    ......


    Lu Qingshan (Human Race)


    upation: Sword Cultivator


    Techniques: [Qi Refinement Technique] Lv10¡ª[Spiritual Power +150]/[Returning Ruins Scripture] Lv1 (0/4000)¡ª[Spiritual Power +100, Spiritual Power Recovery Speed +100%]


    Rank: Foundation Establishment


    Experience Points: 968


    Health Points: 70/70


    Spiritual Power Value: 250/250


    Divine Sense: 10/10


    Talents: [Innate Swordseed] (Legendary Talent), [Specialization], [Trapped in Formation], [Sword Technique Affinity] (Primary Level), [Thick-skinned]


    [Leakproof Body]: Having built your Foundation Establishment, you have stepped out of the realm of mortals, your Lifespan is extended (to 200 years), and at the same time, you will have the ability to Fast.


    [Spiritual Power Control] (Primary Level): With the advancement of your Cultivation, your control over Spiritual Power will no longer be limited to the most superficial Object Control but will develop into a more refined level. Your use of Spiritual Power is elevated by one level.


    Skills: [Heavenly Eye Technique] (Universal), [Falling Bright Sword Technique] Lv10 (max), [Secret Sword: Wind sh] Lv1 (0/2000)


    [Divine Sense Perception]: You can project your Divine Sense outward, perceiving the surroundings through Divine Sense.


    Life-bound Sword Slot: Empty (You can add a Life-bound Sword to this slot).


    Faction:


    Yuanshan Tower: Enthusiastic (200)


    Guardian Tower: Friendly (20)


    Heavenly Secret Pavillion: Friendly (10)


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 65 - 65 Life Forbidden Zone

    A powerful force spontaneously emerged within his body.


    Lu Qingshan introspectively examined his Dantian.


    At the moment of his advancement to the Foundation Establishment, the fog-like Spiritual Power within his Dantian had transformed into a higher quality liquid form of Spiritual Power.


    At the same time, a wealth of knowledge and experience about the application of Spiritual Power was infused into his mind. ([Spiritual Power Control])


    Under the effect of the innate Spiritual Power Control (Primary Level), his use of Spiritual Power had transcended mere Object Control, and it was no longer limited to monotonously consuming Spiritual Power to cast Skills.


    He could now flexibly use Spiritual Power in battle.


    Lu Qingshan shifted his gaze to the Attribute Panel, looking at the detailed description of the Returning Ruins Scripture in the Cultivation Technique section.


    He finally understood what the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion meant when he said that the Returning Ruins Scripture was a very special Cultivation Technique.


    ¡ªThe Divine Skills obtainable after fully cultivating the Returning Ruins Scripture, the Power of the Mountains and Seas, was indeed a Divine Skill contrary to the natural order.


    For Cultivators to engage in Magical Combat, overturning mountains and seas was nothing out of the ordinary.


    However, such actions only superficially damaged the continents and waters¡¯ topography; they did not actually cause real damage to this world.


    But the Power of the Mountains and Seas was different, as any mountains and seas whose strength was consumed by the Power of the Mountains and Seas would lose all of their vitality, truly dying.


    In other words, Magical Combat among Cultivators was akin to the bombing raids of his previous life; although they caused significant destruction, life would still grow from the ruins after some time.


    However, mountains and seas whose power was consumed by the Power of the Mountains and Seas were like those that had endured a nuclear st; the resulting damage was irreversible, and for years nothing would grow there.


    Since passing the Returning Ruins Scripture to Lu Qingshan, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion¡¯s soul fragment began to fade increasingly.


    Taoist knowledge should not be passed on lightly; he had transmitted the Returning Ruins Scripture to Lu Qingshan with a simple gesture, but it had cost a significant amount of spiritual power from this soul fragment of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    After consuming a great amount of his own origin power, the Sect Master¡¯s soul fragment was also in an extremely weakened state now.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan standing up, the air around him also changed to that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion silently praised Lu Qingshan¡¯s talent once again in his heart before slowly speaking to Lu Qingshan.


    "Any powerful bursting spell will have a corresponding immense casting cost, and the Power of the Mountains and Seas is no different,"


    "But unlike other bursting spells, which have casting costs that affect the caster themselves,


    usually, under normal circumstances, no one would use bursting spells recklessly unless necessary.


    Yet the casting cost of this Divine Skill of the Power of the Mountains and Seas is borne by the mountains and seas themselves."


    "This is a terrifying thing."


    "The world of the Human Race is vast, and it might be manageable at a low realm, but once a Cultivator¡¯s Cultivation is high, the range of devastation caused by the Power of the Mountains and Seas also increases significantly.


    If Cultivators who practice the Returning Ruins Scripture do not know moderation, sooner orter, this world will turn into a wastnd because of it."


    "Therefore, even in my Mountain and Sea Pavilion, only a few Cultivators are qualified to learn the Returning Ruins Scripture.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Even if you are outstanding, if you do not meet the required disposition, my Mountain and Sea Pavilion will never pass on the Returning Ruins Scripture to you."


    "Returning Ruins signifies the destination and end of all things; once the power of the Returning Ruins Scripture is misused, then this world will be barren and meet its end."


    "So I have one request for you, once you harness the Power of the Mountains and Seas, do not misuse this power unless it is a matter of life and death."


    The voice of the Sect Master¡¯s soul fragment was very serious.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression grew solemn as he earnestly promised, "I assure the Sect Master that unless it is absolutely necessary, I will never use the Power of the Mountains and Seas."


    Sword Cultivators never make promises lightly; once they do, they swear to follow through to the death.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion gave Lu Qingshan a slight nod.


    Looking at the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, a hint of hesitation flickered in Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression, but he eventually tentatively spoke up, "Sect Master, may I inquire where the Returning Ruins Scripture came from?"


    It was no wonder Lu Qingshan was curious; indeed, the capabilities of the Returning Ruins Scripture were too sinister.


    He initially knew only that the highest reward in the Ruin Realm would be a Taoist Level Foundation Establishment Technique, but he had not expected it to be such an evil technique capable of plundering the power of mountains and seas.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion did not answer Lu Qingshan¡¯s question immediately.


    Only when his figure began to flicker, like the dying light of a templemp, did he sigh and speak, "Ites from the Divine Forsaken Land."


    "The Divine Forsaken Land?"


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s brows furrowed.


    He searched through his own memories, but came up empty-handed.


    This was a term that had never appeared in his ten years of gaming experience.


    His innate sensitivity to game narratives made him realize that he might be encountering a monumental secret at this moment.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion nodded slightly, as if the term was taboo and chose not to name it directly, "That is a Life Forbidden Zone, a ce I dared not explore even at my peak..."


    After adding this, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion dared not say more.


    ...


    At the entrance to the Ruin Realm in the Great Words Mountain Range.


    The scene, quiet for a long time, started bustling again as the cultivators participating in the test returned one by one.


    Lu Zhou checked the scores of his family members, his face filled with joy.


    "Seeing your expression, it seems your Lu Family has achieved quite a bit this time, hasn¡¯t it?" Liu Neng, not far away, saw Lu Zhou¡¯s expression and hurriedly came over to ask.


    Lu Zhou pointed at Lu Xin andughed, "This is Lu Xin. She was the best performer in our Lu Family this time. She received a Grade C Plus in the Ruin Realm."


    Liu Neng looked at Lu Xin in surprise.


    Among the group of cultivators from the Lu Family who took part in the test of the Ruin Realm, Lu Xin was not the most outstanding, yet she ended up with the highest score.


    "How about your Liu Family?" Lu Zhou asked caringly.


    Liu Neng waved his hand, "We¡¯re far behind your Lu Family this time. The best score among our cultivators who took part in the test was just a Grade C Middle."


    After a pause, Liu Neng suddenly realized something, his voice filled with shock and suspicion, "If I remember correctly, thest time there was a test in the Ruin Realm, the highest rating was just a Grade C Plus from the Ke Family.


    "Could it be that this time, it¡¯s your Lu Family¡¯s turn to take the lead?"


    Lu Zhou smiled modestly, "It¡¯s not that simple. Everyone is still exploring the Ruin Realm tests, and each year our experience grows richer and our scores improve. If the Lu Family is making progress, how could the Ke Family remain stagnant this year?"


    No sooner had he spoken than


    "Grade B Minus!"


    Amotion erupted not far away.


    Lu Zhou and Liu Neng both turned their gazes in that direction. Experience more tales on NovelBin.C?m


    It turned out that a Qi Refining Cultivator from the Ke Family, who had just emerged from the Ruin Realm, had achieved a Grade B Minus in the test, stirring up excitement at the scene.


    Lu Zhou and Liu Neng exchanged nces and couldn¡¯t help but exim, "Indeed the Ke Family..."


    This was their Ruin Realm Alliance¡¯s first time achieving a Grade B in the Ruin Realm tests.


    An achievementpleted by the Ke Family.


    Lu Zhou looked around at the various major families whose cultivators had alreadye out from the Ruin Realm.


    Some families, after gathering their members, were even ready to start their return journey.


    A hint of confusion flickered in Lu Zhou¡¯s eyes.


    ¡ªLu Qingshan had not yet emerged from the Ruin Realm.


    What was thisd doing in the Ruin Realm that took him so long and still hadn¡¯t finished?


    Lu Zhou pondered silently.


    ...


    "Fang Qian, the results of this Ruin Realm trial have settled. You should close this betting pool," said a Golden Core Cultivator who had participated in the betting pool initiated by Fang Qian. "I previously bet two Fourth Grade Spirit Stones on the Ke Family to win."


    Fang Qian, beaming, replied, "Excellent, excellent. This time in the Ruin Realm trial, at the level of Qi Refinement, the Ke Family achieved a Grade B Minus and took the crown, while at the Foundation Establishment level, it was the Ye Family with a Grade C Plus who eclipsed the others.


    All the honored masters who ced their bets with me shoulde and settle their ounts now! If you miss this moment, don¡¯t me me for turning my back on you, I won¡¯t acknowledge the bets anymore!"


    Lu Zhou frowned, ncing at the entrance to the Ruin Realm where there was still no movement, and interrupted Fang Qian¡¯s calling out, "Real Man Fang Qian, we still have cultivators from the Lu Family taking the test in the Ruin Realm who haven¡¯te out yet.


    How can you conclude so definitively that the Ke Family has won in the Qi Refinement level?"

 Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Foundation Establishment (Part 2)

    Lu Qingshan remained silent.


    If he hadn''t guessed wrong, the ck sphere hidden by the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was the Ruin Realm.


    This segment of the image must be the story of how the Ruin Realm continually exists.


    As for the remnant soul of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion before him, it could be considered as the Sect Master himself from another perspective without any problems.


    Because the remnant soul of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, split by secret technique ten thousand years ago, possesses all the memories and thoughts of the Sect Master, along with an independent consciousness.


    The doubts in Lu Qingshan''s heart finally got rified.


    It''s no wonder that a mere replica illusion could feel so real, and the storyline of the Ruin Realm could vary so much.


    It turns out the development of the Ruin Realm''s plot does not rigidly follow a preset direction, but is controlled by a soul split with independent consciousness.


    The existence of the soul split of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion allowed for slight variances in the Ruin Realm''s storyline, based on the different actions of the cultivators participating in the trial.


    "The only reason why this remnant soul has managed to survive until now is the obsession lingering in my heart."


    The soul split of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion spoke faintly, "The inheritance of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was ruined overnight, and my heart couldn''t ept this.


    So that night, I concealed the Ruin Realm with a hidden barrier and split a soul part, which is now standing in front of you, to oversee the Ruin Realm.


    I hoped that if the Human Race were not annihted by the Demon Race, after ten thousand years, once the Ruin Realm reappeared in the world, it could continue the legacy of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion through the trials of the Ruin Realm."


    Even at the level of the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, a normal soul split was still a considerable harm to him.


    Let alone splitting off a soul with its own thought and intelligence.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    This soul split required him to recover for decades before he could fully recuperate.


    Yet, on the eve of the great war, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion chose to split a conscious soul part.


    Merely to leave a glimmer of hope for the legacy of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion.


    It showed how deep his attachment to the inheritance of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion was.


    ...


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion had a gentle smile on his face as he extended his left hand and slightly lifted it.


    All of Lu Qingshan''s experiences in the Ruin Realm turned into flickering lights and shadows, continuously manifesting in the air.


    The scene paused at Lu Qingshan''sst stand, outnumbered and overwhelmed by the numerous Demon Race.


    After watching Lu Qingshan''s performance in the Ruin Realm together,


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion eximed, "I have never seen a Qi Refining Cultivator like you."


    "The Sect Master overpraises me," responded Lu Qingshan, taking themendation in stride.


    The Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion looked intently at Lu Qingshan''s face and said solemnly, "Among the ancient sects, what our Mountain and Sea Pavilion is most famous for is our Taoist-Level Foundation Establishment Technique, the ''Returning Ruins Scripture.''


    "The Taoist arts are not to be imparted lightly, so even though I urgently wish to pass on the Returning Ruins Scripture,


    if I cannot find the right person, I would rather the Returning Ruins Scripture be buried in obscurity, than to impart it carelessly to others."


    "I have seen all of your performances within the Ruin Realm, and I think even across the Seven Domains of the Human Race, there are few Qi Refining Cultivators who could surpass you."


    "Based on this, if you were to practice the Returning Ruins Scripture, it would certainly not be wasted."


    "But that is not enough because the Returning Ruins Scripture is a very special cultivation technique.


    If the person who masters it does not exercise restraint, and misuses its abilities, it would cause extremely severe damage to the world of heaven and earth."


    "Therefore, in my trial of the Ruin Realm, besides the performance within the Ruin Realm, there''s also a hidden criterion for the final evaluation, which is the participant''s willpower."


    "If you acted in the Ruin Realm merely to obtain a high evaluation, regardless of how well you performed, you would not receive a Grade A evaluation from me."


    "Only when you truly put yourself in the shoes of a disciple of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, and I confirm that you possess this empathy, then you would be the qualified person in my heart to ept the legacy."


    "Because only such a person would understand the value of cherishing the mountains, rivers, andkes."


    "And you, whether in terms of performance or willpower, have met my requirements. Therefore, I would like to ask you, are you willing to practice the ''Returning Ruins Scripture'' of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion?"


    ...


    The purpose of Lu Qingshan''s journey to the Ruin Realm was precisely for this, so naturally, he had no reason to object.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan nodding, the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion showed a slight smile and gently touched Lu Qingshan''s forehead with his finger.


    A multitude of information surged into Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    In what was initially an empty space, at that moment, vigorous spiritual energy emerged, ferociously rushing into Lu Qingshan''s body.


    The force was fierce, yet its nature was exceedingly gentle, not causing the slightest harm to Lu Qingshan.


    "Foundation Establishment Technique ''Returning Ruins Scripture'' detected!"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Returning Ruins Scripture] (Foundation Establishment)


    Level: Taoist Level


    Description: Truly an abyss without a bottom, so deep that it has no bottom, named the Returning Ruins. Ancient great sect Mountain and Sea Pavilion''s Foundation Establishment Technique, with a maximum of 20 levels.


    Technique Effect 1: Each increase by 1 level, Spiritual Power Value ceiling increases by 100 points.


    Technique Effect 2: Spiritual Power Recovery Speed +100%


    Technique Effect 3: The Spiritual Power Quality cultivated by Returning Ruins Scripture is extremely high, and when it collides with any attribute Spiritual Energy, it will not be inferior in terms of quality.


    Technique Effect 4: Upon achieving Returning Ruins Scripture to level 20, additionally obtain a Spiritual Power Value ceiling boost of +1000.


    Technique Effect 5: Upon achieving Returning Ruins Scripture to level 20, you will master the Divine Skill [Power of the Mountains and Seas].


    [Power of the Mountains and Seas]


    Description: Seize and devour the Mountain/Sea Strength within a ten miles radius, augmenting oneself. However, as a price, the Mountain/Sea from which the strength is taken will lose all vitality, turning into a wastnd.


    Supplementary Description: The range of Power of the Mountains and Seas'' seizure will increase along with the Cultivator''s Rank advancement.


    Spell Consumption: None


    Cool Down Time: 1 day


    Technique Effect 6: The experience points needed to upgrade Returning Ruins Scripture increase by +100%.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    "Now epting [Returning Ruins Scripture] inheritance... Learning progress 15%... 40%... 99%..."


    "For this process, outside source Spiritual Energy provides experience points, there is no need to consume any of your own experience points!"


    "Learning sessful! You have mastered [Returning Ruins Scripture]!"


    "Detection of advancement task [Foundation Establishment] has beenpleted, your rank has been upgraded to Foundation Establishment!"


    "Due to the presence of the talent [Trapped in Formation], your Stamina addition will not be increased!"


    "You receive the [Foundation Establishment] rank bonus: Health Points limit +50."


    "Youprehend the skill [Divine Sense Perception]!"


    "You open a new Attribute row: Divine Sense!"


    "You gain the talent [Leakproof Body]!"


    "Your Spiritual Power Value limit exceeds 200, you acquire the talent [Spiritual Power Control] (Primary Level)!"


    "You obtain a Life-bound Sword slot! Please confirm your Life-bound Sword as soon as possible."


    ......


    Lu Qingshan (Human Race)


    upation: Sword Cultivator


    Techniques: [Qi Refinement Technique] Lv10¡ª[Spiritual Power +150]/[Returning Ruins Scripture] Lv1 (0/4000)¡ª[Spiritual Power +100, Spiritual Power Recovery Speed +100%]


    Rank: Foundation Establishment


    Experience Points: 968


    Health Points: 70/70


    Spiritual Power Value: 250/250


    Divine Sense: 10/10


    Talents: [Innate Swordseed] (Legendary Talent), [Specialization], [Trapped in Formation], [Sword Technique Affinity] (Primary Level), [Thick-skinned]


    [Leakproof Body]: Having built your Foundation Establishment, you have stepped out of the realm of mortals, your Lifespan is extended (to 200 years), and at the same time, you will have the ability to Fast.


    [Spiritual Power Control] (Primary Level): With the advancement of your Cultivation, your control over Spiritual Power will no longer be limited to the most superficial Object Control but will develop into a more refined level. Your use of Spiritual Power is elevated by one level.


    Skills: [Heavenly Eye Technique] (Universal), [Falling Bright Sword Technique] Lv10 (max), [Secret Sword: Wind sh] Lv1 (0/2000)


    [Divine Sense Perception]: You can project your Divine Sense outward, perceiving the surroundings through Divine Sense.


    Life-bound Sword Slot: Empty (You can add a Life-bound Sword to this slot).


    Faction:


    Yuanshan Tower: Enthusiastic (200)


    Guardian Tower: Friendly (20)


    Heavenly Secret Pavillion: Friendly (10)


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 66 Gaining Fame

    Fang Qian was taken aback, "Even at this time, are there still people from the Lu Family who haven''te out of the Ruin Realm?"


    The Lu Family, being a middle-ranking family in the Ruin Realm Alliance, was unassuming and usually did not attract attention.


    If it hadn''t been for Lu Zhou''s mention, no one would have even realized that there were still members of the Lu Family in the Ruin Realm.


    Suddenly, the Lu Family became the focus of everyone present.


    Upon closer inspection, the Lu Family was indeed still missing one person.


    The Ruin Realm was a realm where life was not in danger.


    So, Lu Qingshan couldn''t have died in the Ruin Realm.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The only possibility was that this member of the Lu Family was indeed still in the Ruin Realm, having notpleted the Ruin Realm trial.


    Cultivators who had participated in the Ruin Realm trial immediately began to discuss fervently.


    When they had died in the Ruin Realm, the scenario in the realm had progressed to where the high-level cultivators werepletely overwhelmed, and countless high-ranking demons were ughtering these lower-grade cultivators.


    It was a massacre.


    So much time had passed, and they couldn''t imagine how Lu Qingshan, who had not yete out, managed to not yet finish his trial under such circumstances.


    Hearing the fervent discussions among the surrounding cultivators, Fang Qian''s heart skipped a beat.


    He thought of Lu Zhou''s earlier, uncharacteristically bold move of betting on the Lu Family to take the lead at his ce.


    If he still couldn''t realize what was happening now, then he truly was living his years in vain.


    That old bastard nearly fooled him; fortunately, he was cautious enough, or else he would have lost everything this time.


    Fang Qian''s teeth were clenched in hatred.


    ...


    Time dripped away moment by moment.


    Initially, some people doubted that Lu Qingshan''s final rank would surpass the Ke Family''s Grade B.


    After all, the Ruin Realm trial was not determined by the length of time one survived within it.


    But the length of time Lu Qingshan had spent in the Ruin Realm had already far exceeded anyone''s imagination.


    Surviving in the Ruin Realm for so long, regardless of how he managed it, there was no doubt that the rank Lu Qingshan would eventually receive would surpass all others.


    The cultivators present were filled with curiosity in addition to being shocked.


    All were Qi Refining Cultivators; there was no reason for Lu Qingshan to be so much stronger than anyone else.


    Clearly, Lu Qingshan must have discovered something special in the Ruin Realm.


    And such a discovery was very likely replicable.


    Golden Core Cultivators, who were leaders of the major families, suddenly became very thoughtful.


    In their minds, they wondered how to negotiate with the Lu Family in exchange for firsthand information about the Ruin Realm.


    Ancient high-grade Cultivation Techniques and Methods were extremely tempting for them.


    Thinking this, a few Golden Core Cultivators who had this thought looked meaningfully at the Lu Family''s group.


    A lot more time passed, so much so that the cultivators at the scene began to wonder if there was another way out of the Ruin Realm.


    The entrance channel to the Ruin Realm finally stirred once again.


    Everyone quickly directed their gaze toward the entrance.


    A ripple appeared, followed by a figure stepping out from the dark channel.


    It was Lu Qingshan.


    All eyes were on Lu Qingshan as he emerged, causing the hearts of the leading Golden Core Cultivators to tremble intensely.


    Lu Zhou''s pupils also sharply constricted.


    Because as he instinctively extended his Divine Sense onto Lu Qingshan.


    He had already discerned Lu Qingshan''s current realm.


    Foundation Establishment Cultivator!


    Before entering the Ruin Realm, Lu Qingshan was only at the tenth level of Qi Refinement.


    But upon emerging, he was now at the Foundation Establishment Realm.


    The leading cultivators of the families in the Ruin Realm Alliance all shed a hint of surprise.


    Weren''t the rewards of the Ruin Realm only Cultivation Techniques and Methods?


    No one had ever heard that the Ruin Realm could also aid in advancing a cultivator''s Cultivation.


    Could it be that there was something about the Ruin Realm they hadn''t grasped?


    But at present, that was secondary.


    The most important thing was, they were now looking at a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was exceedingly young.


    Not even twenty?


    Some wondered internally.


    ...


    The Lu Family might be on the rise.


    The same thought shed through everyone''s hearts.


    Already, waves of shock had swept through Lu Zhou''s heart.


    Others might not know, but Lu Qingshan was a member of his family. How could he not understand Lu Qingshan''s age?


    This was a fifteen-year-old Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    Moreover, if he remembered correctly, had it only been three months from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment for Lu Qingshan?


    He couldn''t begin to imagine the significance of this.


    Perhaps in another decade or so, the Lu Family would produce another Golden Core Cultivator?


    And even a Nascent Soul Cultivator was highly probable?


    ...


    Qi Refining tenth level and Foundation Establishment might seem only a tiny realm apart, but the difference between them was like heaven and earth.


    Even Lu Bei, previously considered the most talented in the Lu Family, had been stalled at this threshold for two years before crossing it.


    As for why he said "previously."


    A slight smile rose unconsciously at the corners of Lu Zhou''s mouth.


    Qing Ling, this time the title of the Lu Family''s number one genius cultivator, I''m afraid you must hand it over to your son.


    Perhaps, it wasn''t just within the Lu Family. Even if the scope was widened to include Zhenjiang Prefecture, wouldn''t it still hold?


    The same thought surfaced in Lu Zhou''s mind again.


    Because, upon reflection, it seemed that he had never heard of a fifteen-year-old Foundation Establishment Cultivator within Zhenjiang Prefecture before Lu Qingshan?


    ...


    "Master Lu Zhou, it seems that in this Ruin Realm trial, the Qi Refining Realm champion should be from your Lu Family," Fang Qian said, his eyes gleaming as he stepped forward to greet him. "It''s fortunate that Master Lu Zhou showed restraint, betting only two fourth grade Spirit Stones; otherwise, my family''s fortune might have been emptied by you."


    After saying this, Fang Qian turned his gaze to Lu Qingshan and smiled. "I wonder what grade this young friend achieved in the Ruin Realm trial? Could you share it with me so I could settle the bets with your Great Elder?"


    It was a greeting in appearance but a probe in reality.


    Fang Qian appeared all smiles, exceedingly polite, but his intentions were anything but benevolent, voicing the question that all other families'' cultivators present were most concerned about.


    Old fox!


    Lu Zhou cursed silently in his heart, feeling a slight regret.


    Why had he, greedy for a few Spirit Stones, approached Fang Qian to ce a bet on his own family?


    And at the moment when everyone was preparing to leave, had he not opened his mouth to stop them?


    But he couldn''t really me himself.


    After all, he hadn''t anticipated such a performance from Lu Qingshan in the end.


    Being a little better than others was eptable, but being too much better might make you a target in others'' eyes.


    The Cultivation World had always been like this, filled with thew of the survival of the fittest.


    "Master," Lu Qingshan''s expression remained calm as he politely addressed Fang Qian, smiling. "What''s there to hide? My final evaluation in the Ruin Realm was Grade A, so please settle the bets with our Great Elder as soon as possible."


    The surrounding cultivators were all shaken by these words.


    Although many had already spected, hearing the result spoken by Lu Qingshan himself still left them immensely surprised.


    Fang Qian, still smiling, clicked his tongue in admiration. "Grade A, this is indeed significant.


    But words alone are not proof. As the initiator of the bets, I need evidence to ascertain the final oue, right?


    While I naturally wouldn''t doubt the Lu Family, if there''s no evidence, and I dere your family as the winner, others might not ept this oue willingly.


    I wonder if this young friend could show us the reward they received in the Ruin Realm?"


    Fang Qian naturally did not doubt what Lu Qingshan had said, knowing that Lu Qingshan, having stayed so long within the Ruin Realm before returning, must have achieved the highest final grade.


    His manner of speaking was purposeful, merely a ploy to learn what rewards Lu Qingshan had gained within the Ruin Realm.


    Especially if it was rted to his advancement to Foundation Establishment.


    The reasoning he provided was perfectly justified, as the legacy Jade Slips awarded by the Ruin Realm could be identified by their exterior colors to indicate their grade.


    The Jade Slips of those who attained Grade D were white.


    Grade C was green.


    Grade B was blue.


    As for Grade A, they were not yet sure.


    This was also the previous criterion they used to determine which family had won.


    Aside from Fang Qian''s spontaneous betting, the winning family in each Ruin Realm trial would also receive extra slot rewards for the next trial.


    And the family that performed the worst would have their slots correspondingly reduced.


    So in every Ruin Realm trial, no family would hold back, all striving for a higher ranking.

 Chapter 67 She Arrived (Part 1)

    Lu Qingshan smiled and said, "Master Fang Qian, it''s not that I''m unwilling to prove it to you, but the Grade A reward isn''t a Cultivation Technique Jade Slip..."


    Upon hearing this, a gleam shed in Fang Qian''s eyes, but he continued to probe, "If it is not a Cultivation Technique Jade Slip, then could it be?"


    Lu Qingshan understood the underlying meaning in Fang Qian''s words and nodded, "Just as you have discerned, before entering the Ruin Realm I was merely in the Qi Refining Realm. Within less than a day in the Ruin Realm, I had advanced to Foundation Establishment.


    This is the reward for the Grade A evaluation in the Ruin Realm. As for the specifics of what it is, I am not at liberty to disclose."


    He was not willing to reveal the existence of the "Returning Ruins Scripture".


    But he didn''t mind trying to secure an extra Ruin Realm spot for the Lu Family.


    Fortunately, no one knew the exact process of Foundation Establishment within the Ruin Realm.


    Thus, advancing to Foundation Establishment became his best pretext.


    He was not afraid of being exposed, because the rule in the Ruin Realm was that only one Grade A would emerge.


    Once he secured Grade A and received the inheritance of the "Returning Ruins Scripture," no matter how well the cultivators performed afterward, at most they would achieve just below Grade A.


    If no one else could receive Grade A evaluation thereafter, then no one would be able to verify what he had imed.


    That is to say, there was no possibility of his pretext being debunked.


    ...


    All the cultivators who were paying attention to Lu Qingshan were moved by his words.


    The highest rating reward in the Ruin Realm, which could help a Qi Refining Cultivator break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, carried a significance that caused great upheaval in their minds.


    At any time, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were the backbone of their respective families.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Moreover, the more Foundation Establishment Cultivators in a family, the higher the probability of producing a Golden Core Cultivator.


    Golden Core Cultivators were the crucial criteria for determining a family''s strength.


    The reward for Grade A evaluation in the Ruin Realm trial could directly influence the rise and fall of a family.


    "Young friend, your words are indeed true, at least in my view, without a doubt, this Qi Refining Realm trial in the Ruin Realm is dominated by your Lu Family. and I think no one here disagrees," Fang Qian, quick-witted, seeing his concern addressed, was the first to speak up in favor of the Lu Family.


    He nned in his heart to seek the Lu Family privately and ensure a thorough deal to extract the key information about the Grade A evaluation from the Lu Family''s hands.


    So he was also willing to show some favors toward the Lu Family.


    ¡ªIn his heart, Lu Qingshan''s attaining the Grade A evaluation must be due to some shortcut he discovered.


    Otherwise, how could this youngd overpower so many cultivators from thirty-six families by such a margin?


    He certainly didn''t believe it.


    The leading Golden Core Cultivators from each family were also astute, reacting quickly and echoing in agreement.


    Their thoughts were aligned with Fang Qian''s.


    After all, they couldn''t win the championship anyway, so letting the Lu Family take the crown wouldn''t hurt their interests¡ªthe Ke Family would be the losers.


    Since it wouldn''t be their turn anyway, they might as well curry favor with the Lu Family now and thenter approach them to discuss the Ruin Realm, which would also make it easier.


    The leading Golden Core Cultivator from the Ke Family, regarding the Ruin Realm spot slipping through their fingers, showed no irritation or urgency, but rather smiled, "If a cultivator from the Lu Family could survive so long within the Ruin Realm, let alone breakthrough to Foundation Establishment with the help of the Ruin Realm''s reward, even if there was no breakthrough, my Ke Family would have no objections to the Lu Family iming victory."


    It''s hard to fight against public anger, and even the powerful Ke Family did not want to go against so many families present at that moment.


    Besides, the Ke Family also had ns to negotiate with the Lu Family regarding the Ruin Realm, and giving up a few Ruin Realm spots to the Lu Family was hardly a concern.


    Even the Ke Family, the only one with conflicting interests, stating that the Lu Family won the Qi Refining Realm trial in the Ruin Realm meant that the matter was settled.


    ...


    Fang Qian cheerfully took out forty Fourth Grade Spirit Stones and handed them to Lu Zhou, "Master Lu Zhou, this is your winning bet."


    With a pay-out of twenty to one, as Lu Zhou had bet two Fourth Grade Spirit Stones, naturally, he ended up winning these forty Fourth Grade Spirit Stones.


    Under normal circumstances, Fang Qian would certainly be sore at heart.


    But now, not only did he give up the forty Fourth Grade Spirit Stones readily, but he even felt somewhat pleased.


    Lu Zhou, that old fellow, had profited from this transaction of Spirit Stones and, with this connection, he would have more confidence when privately dealing with the Lu Familypared to others.


    ...


    After confirming the Lu Family''s victory, everyone seemed to leave nonchntly.


    As for the subsequent petty squabbling, only the respective families were clear.


    The Qingsha Wood Boat.


    Lu Qingshan stood outside Lu Zhou''s room.


    "Great Elder?"


    "Come in," came the muffled voice from inside the room.


    Lu Qingshan gently pushed the door open and realized it wasn''t locked at all, understanding dawned on him.


    The Great Elder was intentionally waiting for him.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan enter, Lu Zhou didn''t speak. He looked left and right, then finally spoke sarcastically, "No wonder you dared to im you didn''t need the Lu Family''s resources to support you. It''s because your capabilities are quite significant.


    Grade A, dominating over all Qi Refining Cultivators of the thirty-six great families. No, not just dominating, more than just a rank above.


    To advance to Foundation Establishment at the age of fifteen, a hundred days to establish foundation, impressive indeed.


    Could it be that in a little while, you will advance to Golden Core?"


    In response to Lu Zhou''s mockery, Lu Qingshan was not embarrassed, "Great Elder, you tter me too much. Such praise might not be appropriate."


    Lu Zhou looked frustrated and exasperatedly said, "Not appropriate, you also know it''s not appropriate!


    I can understand a young man''s desire to stand out, but do you realize that a tree that stands out in the forest might be easily blown down by the wind?


    Once the families return and investigate, finding out you''ve reached Foundation Establishment at just fifteen, then you will be a thorn in their eyes.


    Although on the surface, the thirty-six Cultivator families of the Ruin Realm Alliance appear united, the dirty tricks behind the scenes are inevitable, do you understand?


    There''s only so much resource in Zhenjiang Prefecture; if the Lu Family bes stronger, then it will upy more resources, naturally other families will have to give up some of theirs.


    This is a battle of interests, in the face of such conflicts, no one would want to sit by and watch your rise, even the Liu Family, who has good rtions with our Lu Family, would feel the same.


    The wolves circle, and themb has long been devoured. In the Cultivation World, no powerful force is truly benevolent.


    Your brilliance is too pronounced, soon enough, various schemes from different families both overt and covert might target you!"


    Lu Zhou furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment then said, "For the following period, I think it''s best for you to stay and cultivate in seclusion within our Lu Family''s blessednd, and momentarily refrain from leaving the Lu Family.


    Let the situation calm down a bit before we discuss further matters."


    Although Lu Zhou appeared to be chastising him, Lu Qingshan understood the concern in his words.


    However, he couldn''tply with Lu Zhou''s words, so he could only apologetically say, "Great Elder, I came here to tell you that I will not be returning with you to the Lu Family this time."


    Lu Zhou''s face stiffened, "What do you mean by this? Do you understand how dangerous your situation is now, if not returning to the Lu Family, where will you go?"


    Lu Qingshan smiled slightly, "Great Elder, I''m fully aware, as you said. However, I do have my own reliance, and not returning to the Lu Family because I have important matters to attend to in Zhenjiang City."


    "Zhenjiang City?" Lu Zhou frowned, examining Lu Qingshan, "Have your own reliance?"


    Lu Qingshan with a mysterious face, "Great Elder, could it be that you forgot what I mentioned earlier about the Knowledge Guard Pavilion..."


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhou was visibly shaken and murmured, "If it''s the Knowledge Guard Pavilion... no wonder you, normally so calm, would disy such sharpness this time..."


    Lu Zhou was very aware of the strength of the Knowledge Guard Pavilion, if Lu Qingshan had their protection, then there indeed wasn''t much to worry about.


    Seeing Lu Zhou thinking along the lines he had intentionally suggested, Lu Qingshan nodded in satisfaction within his heart.


    "Alright, since you have your own ns, I won''t say more. I will take it upon myself to deliver you to Zhenjiang City on my way," Lu Zhou finally decided very straightforwardly.


    On the journey back to the Lu Family from the Grand Speech Mountains, where would it possibly pass by Zhenjiang City?


    Lu Qingshan knew Lu Zhou was worried, fearing something might go wrong on the way, and thus made a detour to send him to Zhenjiang City himself.


    As for Lu Zhou''s kindness, Lu Qingshan did not refuse.

 Chapter 68 She Arrives (Part 2)

    Upon seeing Dharma Cultivation''s agreement, Lu Zhou steered the flying ship on a detour toward Zhenjiang City.


    The flying ship was incredibly fast, and in no time, they had already arrived outside Zhenjiang City.


    Dharma Cultivation cupped his fist, ready to bid farewell to Lu Zhou.


    Lu Zhou nced at Dharma Cultivation and casually tossed a storage bag toward him.


    Dharma Cultivation caught the storage bag and probed it with his Divine Sense.


    Inside the storage bag were forty Fourth Grade Spirit Stones and several Pill bottles.


    For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, this was definitely considered a substantial amount of money.


    Dharma Cultivation raised his head, his gaze shifting toward Lu Zhou.


    "Take it, these Spirit Stones were won from Fang Qian based on your performance in the Ruin Realm," said Lu Zhou, shrugging his shoulders casually. "Don''t overthink it, I just don''t want to take advantage of the younger generation."


    Without exposing Lu Zhou''s tsundere demeanor, Dharma Cultivation tucked away the storage bag and smiled. "Then, I thank the Great Elder.


    Lu Zhou took another look at Dharma Cultivation, and then added, "Although you are young, you are not a shallow person, so there is no need for me to exin some things; you understand them yourself.


    But no matter what, you, Dharma Cultivation, are a member of the Lu Family. If you really encounter any difficulties, just return to the Lu Family; for now, the family can still shelter you."


    Upon hearing this, Dharma Cultivation realized that Lu Zhou had seen through his intention not to return to the Lu Family.


    However, Lu Zhou did not try to stop him¡ªthose Spirit Stones were provided out of concern for his expenses when he was alone outside, as a special subsidy.


    He truly was rather endearing, this old man.


    "Aren''t you going to ask how I managed to secure a Grade A evaluation in the Ruin Realm?" Dharma Cultivation asked with interest.


    Lu Zhou''s expression was very calm: "If you wish to tell me, you will do so. If it''s inconvenient to reveal, my asking will be useless and only serve to increase conflict."


    Although Lu Zhou''s response seemed rxed, Dharma Cultivation understood that the matter was not as simple as Lu Zhou made it seem.


    At the entrance to the Ruin Realm, the envy in the eyes of other family cultivators was not lost on Dharma Cultivation.


    If the Lu Family itself did not know how Dharma Cultivation obtained the Grade A rating in the Ruin Realm, then in dealing with other families seeking to trade, the Lu Family would have no choice but to withstand the pressure passively.


    Even so, Lu Zhou still did not intend to coerce Dharma Cultivation into revealing his experiences in the Ruin Realm using force or temptation.


    Even for someone as dispassionate as Dharma Cultivation, this warmed his heart.


    Yet, he had never intended to hide these details from Lu Zhou from the start.


    Thus, he straightforwardly shared everything about his experiences in the Ruin Realm with Lu Zhou.


    As for what the next steps in the family''s strategy and the alliances and pressures between the different powers would be, that was for the three Golden Core Cultivators to worry about.


    Considering the current situation and both Lu Zhou''s and Lu Yuan''s meticulous minds, the Lu Family should not end up at a disadvantage.


    ...


    Nearly ten days had passed, and Dharma Cultivation finally returned to Zhenjiang City once again.


    In less than ten days, he had crossed from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment.


    As he told Lu Zhou, the reason he dared to be so striking in the Ruin Realm trial was because he had a reliance.


    However, his reliance was not what Lu Zhou thought¡ªthe Scripture Pavilion, but himself.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    A month ago, he was merely a mortal without any mana in the Corpse Refining Cave, and a monthter, he had be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    This was his confidence.


    Others y the pig to eat the tiger.


    Facing the Netherworld, this giant tiger, one indeed needs to keep a low profile; but in Dharma Cultivation''s eyes, how could the major families of the Ruin Realm Alliance be considered as tigers?


    Thus, he naturally saw no need to keep a low profile.


    Sword Cultivators are by nature spirited and unreserved, following their own desires.


    He was not willing to endure the aggravation, trotting on eggshells everywhere.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan had always been adept at strategic nning.


    This time returning to Zhenjiang City, he naturally had his ns.


    The strength of a Sword Cultivator lies in a single sword.


    Once a Sword Cultivator advances to Foundation Establishment, a qualitative transformation follows.


    There are two reasons.


    First, a Sword Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm will unlock their first life-bound sword slot.


    This life-bound sword slot allows a Sword Cultivator to possess a top-grade attack magic artifact that can be upgraded and wielded as an extension of their arm.


    The importance of a magic artifact to a cultivator is self-evident, and the life-bound sword to a Sword Cultivator is as vital as water is to fish.


    With a life-bound sword, thebat power of a Sword Cultivator immediately doubles.


    Secondly, Sword Cultivators at Foundation Establishment Realm can begin training in the two most important and iconic skills:


    "Sword Control Technique" and "Flying Sword Technique".


    ...


    As for the life-bound sword, Lu Qingshan currently didn''t give it much thought.


    It''s not that he wasn''t in a hurry, but once a life-bound sword is chosen, it cannot be changed, and considering its great importance to Sword Cultivators, he preferred tock than to make do.


    And in the Zhenjiang jurisdiction, based on the information he had, there were no sword artifacts enticing enough for him, so he had to temporarily put aside the matter of the life-bound sword.


    Fortunately, for now, the Crying Soul Sword was sufficient for his use.


    However, learning the "Sword Control Technique" and "Flying Sword Technique" couldn''t be dyed any longer.


    Before mastering these two skills, one couldn''t really be considered a true Sword Cultivator.


    The Lu Family was a lineage of Dharma Cultivators, so their family''s Scripture Pavilion did not have the manuals for the "Sword Control Technique" and "Flying Sword Technique".


    Nevertheless, Lu Qingshan had already figured out where he would learn these two skills.


    After returning to Zhenjiang City, Lu Qingshan, through a broker, rented a quaint little courtyard where he temporarily settled down.


    In addition, he also paid some extra spirit stones and instructed the broker on some matters.


    After temporarily settling in Zhenjiang City, Lu Qingshan did not allow himself to idle, roaming around Zhenjiang City''s various shops selling spiritual medicines and materials.


    If his predictions were correct, it wouldn''t be long before someone would deliver the manuscripts of the two skills he required.


    Exchange of favors required preparations for some gifts in return, to rightfully ept the two skill manuscripts, didn''t it?


    The third day after returning to Zhenjiang City.


    Lu Qingshan left the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, which specialized in spirit materials, and returned to his temporary residence.


    Pushing open the house door and entering the hall, Lu Qingshan saw a familiar tall figure inside the hall.


    They finally arrived.


    A hint of a smile curved the corners of Lu Qingshan''s mouth.


    Although the person in the hall was facing away from Lu Qingshan, clothed in snow-white robes, with a chilly demeanor, who else could it be but Dantai Qingrun?


    "It''s been a while since west met, Dantai Tower Master still carries such a spirited demeanor," Lu Qingshan said with a smile.


    Dantai Qingrun replied coldly, "Howe, it seems you''re not at all surprised to see me, Lu Qingshan?"


    "Surprised perhaps not, but delighted somewhat," Lu Qingshan said nonchntly.


    Dantai Qingrun turned around, her gaze falling on Lu Qingshan, as if discovering something, her brows sharply raised: "Before you left Yuanshan City, you were only at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, and now, not even half a monthter, you have already be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?"

 Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Clues

    "It''s just a minor fortune, hardly worth mentioning, hardly worth mentioning," Lu Qingshan said with a chuckle.


    Regarding Lu Qingshan''s dismissive response, Dantai Qingrun couldn''t be bothered to argue and instead changed the subject, "Were you waiting for me toe find you?"


    Dantai Qingrun''s expression was as cold as frost, contrasting sharply with Lu Qingshan''s grinning facade.


    Lu Qingshan took out his Yuanshan Tower Token and tossed it back to Dantai Qingrun, shrugging his shoulders, "I''m now under themand of you, the Dantai Tower Master, so shouldn''t I be at the ready for your call at any time?"


    Dantai Qingrun caught the Yuanshan Tower Token that Lu Qingshan threw over and put it away.


    At Lu Qingshan''s jest, Dantai Qingrun''s eyelid twitched, then she said coldly, "You also know you are my person now, so how dare you leave Yuanshan City without saying a word on your own ord?"


    "I was negligent, my apologies to the Dantai Tower Master, I hope for your leniency," Lu Qingshan replied with ease to Dantai Qingrun''s countering move.


    He quickly found an excuse to return, "However, even though I''m now serving under Dantai Tower Master, this doesn''t seem to justify the Tower Master''s intrusion into someone else''s residence, does it?"


    ...


    Seeing the aura of rejection from Dantai Qingrun intensifying, Lu Qingshan tactfully refrained from further provoking the Tower Master.


    Even though teasing a stoic NPC felt really good.


    Lu Qingshan''s expression turned serious as he asked, "What matter brings the Dantai Tower Master to my doorstep this time?"


    Dantai Qingrun nced sideways, "Aren''t you, Lu Qingshan, supposed to be prophetically knowledgeable?


    Then why don''t you divine for yourself why I am looking for you, there''s no need to ask me, is there?"


    Lu Qingshan didn''t get annoyed and chuckled lightly, "The Tower Master tters me too much. I''m not the Qi Guard; how could I possibly foresee everything?"


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan was acquiescing, Dantai Qingrun stopped being mysterious, "After the battle at Yuanshan City''s City Lord''s Mansion, the arrangements of the Netherworld in Yuanshan City have mostly been removed.


    Three days ago, I was reassigned to the position of Zhenjiang Tower''s Deputy Tower Master at the Zhenjiang branch of the Guard Tower."


    Lu Qingshan congratted her with a bow, "Then here I wish the Dantai Tower Master a promotion!"


    Dantai Qingrun nced at Lu Qingshan with an expressionless face, then continued, "On the very first day I arrived at Zhenjiang Tower, I received an order from the Tower Master.


    He instructed all levels of personnel in the Guard Tower to pay extra attention to the movements of the Netherworld during this period.


    The reason was that the Qi Guard had conveyed to us at Zhenjiang Tower that he vaguely sensed through the fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror that there may be an ominous event happening in Zhenjiang City''s region.


    He suspected that the Netherworld was plotting another scheme targeting Zhenjiang City."


    "Afterward, I reviewed all the intelligence reports consolidated by Zhenjiang Tower over this period.


    On the surface, these reports seemed to have no abnormalities, but I couldn''t shake the feeling that there were hidden undercurrents I was overlooking.


    Haven''t you imed to have many secrets of the Netherworld, and if I needed, I could seek you out for cooperation?"


    Lu Qingshan was nomittal, producing a Jade Slip from his Storage Ring and handing it to Dantai Qingrun.


    Dantai Qingrun epted the Jade Slip with surprise and probed it with her Divine Sense, discovering that it contained records of price changes over the past twenty years for three First Grade Spirit Materials:


    Silver Bone Flower, which had remained stable at five First Grade Spirit Stones per nt for the past hundred years.


    Yet, in the recent short span of twenty years, its price had shot up by twenty percent, the current market price reaching six First Grade Spirit Stones per nt.


    Soul Vanishing Sulphur had remained stable at six First Grade Spirit Stones per nt from Chang''an year 19920 to Chang''an year 19980, a full sixty years.


    But in thesest twenty years, the price had risen to seven First Grade Spirit Stones per nt.


    Ghostly Spirit Grass, which had a stable price of four First Grade Spirit Stones per nt for nearly a hundred years before Chang''an year 19980.


    Also, within this short span of just twenty years, the same price point started to rise, and now the market price is at five First Grade Spirit Stones per nt.


    Dantai Qingrun''s brows furrowed as she looked at Lu Qingshan with questioning eyes.


    Lu Qingshan began to exin, "These three Spirit Materials¡ªthe Silver Bone Flower is the main ingredient for crafting the Silver Bone Pill, the Soul-Harrowing Sulfur is the primary material for making Soul Driving Pills, and the Ghost Grass is used for concocting the Ghostly Spirit Pill.


    The Silver Bone Pill is a Body Cultivation aidmonly taken by Qi Refinement cultivators during their Body Refinement, the Soul Driving Pill is a pill used by Beast Cultivators to nurture Spirit Beasts, and the Ghostly Spirit Pill aids Nether Cultivators in practicing their Cultivation Methods.


    Making these three types of pills is the primary use for these three Spirit Materials.


    Although they can be used to craft other pills,pared to the consumption for these three, those other uses are not worth mentioning.


    All three pills are First Grade pills of low price yet extremely high demand.


    Correspondingly, the main Spirit Materials for making them are also produced in veryrge quantities.


    Many Sects or Spirit nt Masters rely on cultivating these three Spirit Materials for their livelihood.


    Therefore, with such arge base, the prices of these three Spirit Materials have always been very stable.


    However, what''s odd is that within these short twenty years, the prices of these three Spirit Materials have all increased substantially."


    Upon hearing this, Dantai Qingrun felt a premonition but couldn''t immediately grasp the point, "What do you mean by this?"


    Lu Qingshan spread his hands, continuing, "The increase in the price of Spiritual Medicines, generally speaking, has two reasons:


    One is a decrease in production, and the other possibility is an increase in demand."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "I have inquired at nearly all the shops selling Spirit Materials in the city, and found that there hasn''t been a noticeable decrease in the production of these three types of Spiritual Medicine over the past twenty years."


    "So, that leaves only one possibility, which is that over these past twenty years, the demand for these three types of Spiritual Medicine among the Cultivators within the Zhenjiang City region has increased."


    "What''s strange is that there hasn''t been anything particrly notable happening in the Zhenjiang City region over these twenty years.


    As such, the demand for Silver Bone Pills, Soul Driving Pills, and Ghostly Spirit Pills hasn''t increased by a great margin."


    "Not to mention, these three pills each cater to a different faction¡ªBody Cultivation, Beast Cultivation, and Nether Cultivation."


    Dantai Qingrun''s expression turned contemtive, and after a moment she spoke, "Are you suggesting that these three Spirit Materials aren''t used for concocting these three pills but have been directed elsewhere instead?"


    Lu Qingshan pped his hands, praising, "Tower Master Dantai is indeed sharp as ice. That''s what I thought too.


    So, I made a special effort to look into other uses for these three Spirit Materials and found a very interesting point."


    Hearing the praise of being sharp as ice, Dantai Qingrun''s eyes twitched imperceptibly, but she was too preupied to dwell on it further with Lu Qingshan and pressed for answers, "What did you find?"


    "All three Spirit Materials have one use inmon¡ªthey are all primary ingredients for crafting Strong Corpse Liquid," Lu Qingshan revealed the answer.


    A shock went through Dantai Qingrun''s heart.


    Although as a Sword Cultivator, she didn''t have extensive knowledge about secondary professions like Spirit Materials and Pills.


    Yet how could she, a Golden Core Cultivator, not know the name of Strong Corpse Liquid?


    It was a Spiritual Liquid used by Evil Cultivators to enhance their Corpse Puppets.


    "Tower Master Dantai, when you captured the Blood Corpse Daoist, you must have found something on him, right?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    Dantai Qingrun nodded, "Indeed, we found a Spirit Beast Bag on him that contained many First and Second Grade Corpse Puppets.


    But Underworld Cultivators are already known to be depraved. Having such methods from Evil Cultivators wasn''t that surprising, so we didn''t think much of it at the time."

 Chapter 70 Guard Awareness

    Lu Qingshan smiled faintly, and said slowly, "The three main ingredients of the strong corpse liquid have coincidentally seen a surge in demand over these past twenty years.


    Interestingly, the strong corpse liquid is an auxiliary spiritual liquid used in the refinement of corpse puppets.


    At the same time, Dantai Tower Master, you have coincidentally seized a corpse puppet from an Underworld Cultivator.


    A single coincidence can happen to anyone, and two is still within the realm of normalcy.


    But when it happens three times, Dantai Tower Master, do you think there might be some underlying factor at y here?"


    Facing Lu Qingshan''s question, Dantai Qingrun remained silent for a moment before finally nodding to Lu Qingshan, "I see."


    Then, Dantai Qingrun scrutinized Lu Qingshan with an inspecting gaze and said calmly, "Given that you have prepared so thoroughly, it seems you not only predicted my visit and its purpose, but you even guessed that I woulde to you."


    Lu Qingshan smiled sheepishly and denied, "Not at all, I just prepared well in advance to avoid disappointing the Tower Master if you came for nothing."


    Dantai Qingrun chuckled, "Since we''re talking about cooperation, there''s no need for sweet talk between us, let''s just say we each take what we need.


    You''ve given me such crucial information, I wouldn''t take advantage of you. So tell me, what do you want this time?"


    Lu Qingshan no longer held back and replied honestly, "Tower Master, as you have seen, I have just advanced to Foundation Establishment.


    As a Sword Cultivator, after advancing to Foundation Establishment, one needs to start practicing Sword Control Technique and Flying Sword Technique.


    Thus, I urgently require the Dharma for Sword Control Technique and Flying Sword Technique.


    The techniques avable for purchase within themercial sectors are all very basic, and none too impressive for my taste."


    Dantai Tower Master,ing from a Sword Cultivator background, and with the Dantai Family being a lineage of Sword Cultivators, I presume the techniques you could provide must surely far exceed thosemonly found."


    A flicker of suspicion crossed Dantai Qingrun''s mind.


    In her heart, she had assumed Lu Qingshan to be a cultivator who had undergone spirit possession.


    Such a person,cking anything might be possible, but notcking cultivation techniques.


    After all, bing a powerful cultivator means already having a set technique system for cultivating; to cultivate anew, one would simply follow the previous path.


    While there might be improvements to be made, how could a powerful cultivatorck fundamental techniques like Sword Control and Flying Sword Secret Technique, ande to ask for them?"


    Subconsciously, Dantai Qingrun''s suspicion towards Lu Qingshan''s identity and background surfaced once again.


    ...


    Without thinking too long, Dantai Qingrun took out two jade slips from her storage ring and threw them to Lu Qingshan.


    "The family''s inherited Sword Control and Flying Sword techniques are secret and not to be privately shared with outsiders.


    Even I dare not break this rule.


    These are the Liuyan Sword Control Technique and Flying Sword Technique, and although they cannotpare to our family''s secret techniques, these are also exceptional techniques I have gathered over the years, and there is much to learn from them.


    I often refer to these two methods when practicing my sword and flying sword skills, to reflect on my own deficiencies," Dantai Qingrun exined softly.


    Lu Qingshan received the jade slips, but did not rush to learn the skills.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    After storing the jade slips in his storage ring, Lu Qingshan spoke to Dantai Qingrun again, "I would like to ask the Tower Master for something else."


    Dantai Qingrun frowned slightly, "Go ahead."


    "The Zhenjiang Tower token," Lu Qingshan said with a smile. "Moreover, I would like to be involved in Zhenjiang Tower''s uing operations."


    Dantai Qingrun seemed to have realized something, suddenly understanding everything, and eximed, "The moment we met, you returned the Yuanshan Tower Token to me, and I thought you no longer needed it.


    Now it seems that from the beginning, you were intent on switching to the Zhenjiang Tower Token.


    In that case, it appears that you even anticipated my transfer to Zhenjiang Tower."


    Lu Qingshan exined calmly, "It''s not hard to guess, after you cleared the Netherworld forces from Yuanshan City with such an aplishment, a promotion was undeniable.


    At that time, you were in the position of Yuanshan Tower Master, and in a county-level Tower where you could rise no further. Where else could you go, if not a transfer to the Prefectural City?"


    At this, Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but add, "Look, I left Yuanshan City without saying a word.


    But wasn''t that also out of a desire to scout out Zhenjiang City for the Tower Master Dantai? My intention is clear!"


    Already bing ustomed to Lu Qingshan''s temperament, Dantai Qingrun ignored hisst sentence and turned to ask, "Are you saying you want to participate in the uing operations of Zhenjiang Tower?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "Yes, and I hope you can ce me with the Guards."


    The Tower oversees four agencies.


    The Prison Warden Office, which manages prison affairs.


    The ck Ice tform, which gathers and organizes intelligence.


    The Guards, responsible for capturing, the most dangerous of tasks, but where cultivators have the strongestbat power.


    And the Spiritual Supplies Department, dedicated to forging Spiritual Artifacts, Spirit Pills, and other logistics services for the Tower''s cultivators.


    "Why?" Dantai Qingrun squinted at Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan had previously obtained a Yuanshan Tower Token from her to gain the identity of a member of Yuanshan Tower, but that was it.


    He never truly joined the Yuanshan Tower, had no tasks as a member to perform, nor could he enjoy the monthly supplies and benefits of the tower''s members.


    It was merely obtaining a title.


    Yet now, Lu Qingshan was, uncharacteristically, asking to formally join Zhenjiang Tower, which was no wonder Dantai Qingrun felt surprised.


    Lu Qingshan smiled and said, "There is no particr reason. I am a man of Tower Master Dantai, naturally following in Tower Master Dantai''s steps and vigorously fighting against the Netherworld forces."


    Though he said this, Lu Qingshan''s actual motive was of course not as such¡ªhe simply wanted to join Zhenjiang Tower to fight monsters and gain experience.


    Once he joined the Guards, he could team up with other cultivators from the Tower to hunt down Underworld Cultivators.


    Wouldn''t the experience points soar?


    "With my authority, cing you in any of the other three agencies wouldn''t be a problem,


    but the Guards are different, crowned with the duty of Guarding, they are the most important duty within our Tower.


    The tasks undertaken by the Guards are always extremely dangerous, and the rate of sacrifice is very high.


    The Guards usually operate in small, highly coordinated teams, each a group that can trust each other implicitly.


    Even if a team needs to recruit a new member, the team members themselves carry out the assessment.


    Only if they are satisfied can you join their team.


    After all, choosing arade to fight alongside in life and death is a matter of vital importance. Naturally, they must vet it themselves and not just be assigned arbitrarily by us in the higher-ups.


    If your strength is not adequate, even I cannot justifiably ce you in the Guards, neither inpassion nor in reason," said Dantai Qingrun, frowning lightly as she exined.

 Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Sword Control Technique and Flying Sword Technique

    "You only need to rmend me, and everything else will proceed ording to the rules. I am quite confident in my own strength," Lu Qingshan said leisurely.


    Dantai Qingrun looked at Lu Qingshan with skepticism.


    ¡ªA Sword Cultivator who hasn''t mastered the Sword Control Technique and the Flying Sword Technique, where does this confidencee from? Don''t you have a realistic assessment of your own abilities?


    "Fine, I''ll arrange it as soon as possible. Prepare yourself, and once it''s ready, I''ll notify you." Dantai Qingrun flicked out a token, which flew towards Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan took a look at it as he caught it, and it was indeed the Zhenjiang Tower token.


    Saying it was one thing, but Dantai Qingrun was very keen to keep Lu Qingshan at Zhenjiang Tower, so she was quite straightforward in giving the token.


    After all, as far as she was concerned, Lu Qingshan was like a never-ending treasure trove in her eyes.


    Having achieved her purpose in seeking Lu Qingshan, Dantai Qingrun naturally did not engage in idle chatter with him.


    With amand of the Spirit Concealment Sword, she leapt into the air and transformed into a streak of cyan sword light, disappearing in a sh.


    ...


    Seeing Dantai Qingrun leave, Lu Qingshan took out the jade slip given by Dantai Qingrun from his storage ring.


    A row of data information appeared before his eyes.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Liuyan Sword Control Technique]


    Casting Requirement: Can only be executed using a Sword Artifact


    Description: An Escape Skill for Sword Cultivators, maximum level 20


    Skill Effect: Sword Control flight, extremely fast, at a certain speed, it will appear as a streak of Liuyan.


    Additional Description: The more spiritual power consumed, the faster the Sword Control speed.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Indeed, the Sword Control Technique is not an attack spell.


    In the traditional sense, the Sword Control Technique should be referred to as an Escape Skill, reserved for Sword Cultivators.


    In fact, Cultivators from different sects master different types of escape skills.


    Each Escape Skill also has its own characteristics.


    For example, Dharma Cultivators'' Five Elements Escape Technique is versatile and adaptable to various terrains.


    Nether Cultivators'' Shadow Escape Technique and Smoke Escape Technique are hidden and unpredictable, difficult to guard against.


    Spiritual Cultivators'' Teleportation Technique is connected to the spirituality of heaven and earth, profound and unfathomable.


    Each has its own strengths.


    As an Escape Skill for Sword Cultivators, the Sword Control Technique, like the Sword Cultivator profession itself, is extremely unique.


    Its biggest and sole advantage is "speed"!


    The ultimate in speed,pared to other escape skills, there is no contest in how much faster Sword Control Technique is.


    Beyond that, the Sword Control Technique doesn''t have any additional functions.


    However, this also aligns with the upational traits of Sword Cultivators.


    Sword Cultivators typically have twomon attack strategies.


    One is to stay within the effective range of the Flying Sword and continuously harass the enemy with attacks.


    The other is to charge in explosively and use Sword Techniques to swiftly y the enemy.


    Both of these attack strategies rely heavily on speed.


    Speed is the Sword Cultivator''s tool for traversing the battlefield sessfully.


    Naturally, the importance of the Sword Control Technique to Sword Cultivators, being on par with the Flying Sword Secret Technique,es as no surprise.


    In Lu Qingshan''s memory from his previous life in the game, there were some Sword Cultivator yers who took an unconventional approach, focusing mainly on mastering the Sword Control Technique. Among the brutish Sword Cultivators, they pioneered a "guerri warfare" ystyle.


    The essence of guerri warfare is retreating when the enemy advances, harassing when the enemy is stationary, striking when the enemy is exhausted, and pursuing when the enemy retreats.


    These Sword Cultivator yers fully embraced the profound mysteries of "retreat when the enemy advances, pursue when the enemy retreats."


    In every battle, they would approach the enemy using the Sword Control Technique, and when within range for the Flying Sword attack, they would activate their Flying Swords to strike.


    As soon as the enemy countered and the situation turned unfavorable, they would immediately use the Sword Control Technique to flee.


    After the enemy pursued for a while and gave up, these Sword Cultivators would shamelessly turn around and continue provoking with their Flying Swords.


    ...


    In truth, Sword Cultivators who specialized in the Sword Control Technique didn''t deal much damage with their Flying Swords.


    But these yers didn''t care about that¡ªwhile they might not kill you, they could certainly annoy you to death!


    For some "mentally twisted" yers, irritating others was the ultimate pleasure.


    Although these yers glorified their style of y as "guerri warfare," there was another name that was more widely known and better captured the essence of their approach¡ª"Sneaky Style."


    In the subsequent versions, "Sneaky Style" Sword Cultivators also became a trend in "Nine Heavens" for a while.


    This also made the disdain that "Nine Heavens" yers had for Sword Cultivators rise another notch.


    The Sword Control Technique was thus listed as one of the most cancerous skills in "Nine Heavens".


    Although its reputation wasn''t very pleasant, this also reflected the speed and power of the Sword Control Technique from another perspective.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan''s Divine Sense prated the Jade Slip, and the various Dharma and techniques of the Liuyan Sword Control Technique were imprinted in his mind.


    "Skill detected: [Liuyan Sword Control Technique], would you like to spend 500 Experience Points to learn?"


    "Learn!"


    The not-so-abundant Experience Points that Lu Qingshan had quickly decreased by another 300 points.


    "Learning in progress, please do not interrupt...1%...55%...¡­99%"


    "Learning sessful! You have mastered [Liuyan Sword Control Technique]!"


    After mastering the Sword Control Technique, Lu Qingshan took out another Jade Slip.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Flying Sword Technique]


    Activation condition: Can only be executed through a Sword Artifact


    Description: A Sword Cultivator''s offensive technique, maximum Level 20


    Skill effect: Command the Flying Sword to attack the enemy from thousands of miles away.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The name of this Flying Sword secret technique wasn''t as shy as the Liuyan Sword Control Technique, even appearing somewhat in.


    However, the tier of this Flying Sword secret technique wasn''t high, which matched its straightforward name.


    As signature skills of the Sword Cultivator, the Experience Points of Sword Control Technique and Flying Sword Secret Technique could be inherited.


    This meant that if Lu Qingshan learned higher-tier Sword Control Techniques and Flying Sword Techniques afterwards, the newly learned techniques would override the old ones and inherit all the Experience Points of the previous ones.


    And not open a new skill altogether.


    This also made perfect sense.


    For instance, if you have already practiced a Sword Control Technique to a high level, there is no reason you''d have to start from scratch like a beginner if you were to learn a more advanced Sword Control Technique. Naturally, you would be able to pick it up much faster than a Cultivator who has never learned Sword Control Technique.


    It was for this reason that Lu Qingshan could, at this stage, invest arge number of Experience Points into low-grade Sword Control Techniques and Flying Sword Secret Techniques without any concerns.


    Lu Qingshan then allowed his Divine Sense to explore the contents of the Jade Slip, and with a boom, the techniques for operating the Flying Sword emerged as images before his eyes.


    Spiritual Power flowed from the Dantian, swirling within the body, charging toward the Niwan Pce at the center of the forehead with an imposing momentum, blending into a strand of Divine Sense within the Niwan Pce, then attaching to the Flying Sword and charging at the enemy.


    This move gathered the Spiritual Power from within the Sword Cultivator''s Dantian, the power of the Divine Soul between the eyebrows, and the inherent strength of the Flying Sword itself.


    Once the Flying Sword is deployed, it''s an invincible force.


    "Skill detected: [Flying Sword Technique], would you like to spend 500 Experience Points to learn?"


    "Learn!"


    "Experience Points -300, learning in progress, [Flying Sword Technique], please do not interrupt...1%...55%..."


    "Learning sessful! You have mastered [Flying Sword Technique]!"


    The killing ability of the Flying Sword, apart from the level and tier of the Flying Sword Technique itself, depends on three fundamental values.


    The quality of the Flying Sword itself, the Spiritual Power of the Sword Cultivator, and the Sword Cultivator''s Divine Sense.


    Only when the Spiritual Power attached to the Flying Sword is sufficiently pure and profound will its power and speed be sufficient to deter others.


    And the Flying Sword, unless guided by Divine Sense, can only make rigid and straightforward movements without the ability for nuanced control or change.


    The effective attack range of a Flying Sword is determined by Divine Sense.


    The Flying Sword is an animated weapon of ughter only within the range of the Cultivator''s Divine Sense.


    Divine Sense is an attribute column that Cultivators start to develop from the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    Whether in the arena of Magical Combat or in the myriad arts of Cultivation, Divine Sense ys a vital role.


    In the Cultivation World, Divine Sense is considered an important attribute on par with Spiritual Power when measuring the strength of a Cultivator.


    To strengthen Divine Sense, there are two approaches.


    The first is to wait for your own advancement in Cultivation. Whenever a Cultivator''s Spiritual Power Value reaches a certain fixed level, Divine Sense will naturally strengthen with the improvement of the Cultivator''s power.


    This method is too passive though, as the rate of enhancement is slow and the degree of improvement is very limited.


    The other pathway to strengthen Divine Sense is to practice spells that can train Divine Sense.


    While Cultivation Techniques that train Spiritual Power are easy to find, spells for training Divine Sense are exceedingly rare and only possessed by some powerful forces.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Hence, most Cultivators have no way to acquire systematic Divine Sense training spells.


    For Cultivators, although strengthening Divine Sense is just as important as cultivating Spiritual Power, most Cultivators can only rely on advancing their Cultivation to enhance and strengthen their Divine Sense.

 Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Test

    With Lu Qingshan''s extensive gaming experience, he naturally knew several methods to train his Divine Sense.


    However, those methods were time-consuming and some distance away from Zhenjiang Prefecture, and at the moment, he simply couldn''t spare the time for them.


    After all, one must eat one bite at a time, and such matters could not be rushed; he still had many more important things to do.


    Lu Qingshan turned his gaze to the two new skills in the skill bar.


    [Liuyan Sword Control Technique]lv1£¨0/600£©


    [Flying Sword Technique]lv1£¨0/600£©


    Although he had initially mastered these two skills using experience points and various casting techniques had lingered in his mind, it was still not enough.


    There were many details that Lu Qingshan needed to test and understand.


    For example, at what height Flying Sword Technique was mostfortable to fly.


    For instance, with his current cultivation level, how high he could fly using Sword Control Technique, how long he could maintain it, or which angle was most energy-efficient to ascend, among other things.


    He needed to constantly explore and familiarize himself with these aspects, as the system could not teach him that.


    If a critical moment came and he found himself ignorant of these abilities, it would be toote.


    Lu Qingshan naturally would not let such confusion happen to him.


    The difference between a high yer and a regr yerrgelyid in these details.


    ...


    The boundless mountains stretched as far as the eye could see, a lush green expanse like an endless ocean.


    This was a mountain range outside Zhenjiang City.


    Lu Qingshan, having left Zhenjiang City, flew directly to this mountain range with his Sword Control Technique.


    This mountain range was deste, and after being scoured by cultivators from Zhenjiang City in recent years, no ferocious demon beasts lingered, making it ideal for Lu Qingshan to test his Sword Control and Flying Sword Techniques.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan first ascended in spirals at a forty-five degree angle, which was the mostmon ascent angle for sword cultivators.


    Looking up at a ny-degree angle and ascending vertically was quick but challenging and extremely draining on spiritual power. At his current level of spiritual robustness, he was not yet capable of it.


    Lu Qingshan slowly increased his altitude to about four thousand zhang, at which point the rapid depletion of his spiritual power became unbearable for him.


    He promptly reduced his altitude.


    At a height of four thousand zhang, if his spiritual power was depleted and could no longer support his Sword Control Technique, falling from such a great height would surely turn him into a pile of mush.


    In the earlier stages of the "Nine Heavens" game, incidents where sword cultivators fell to their deaths had urred.


    Some sword cultivator yers, who had just mastered the Sword Control Technique, took too much risk without testing their limit, recklessly soaring thousands of zhang high, also not monitoring their spiritual power consumption, calling themselves Ghost Fire Sword Cultivators.


    It was thrilling, but once their spiritual power depleted, they exited the Sword Control state, resulting in a free fall from thousands of zhang high.


    Generally speaking, when sword cultivators used the Sword Control Technique for travel, maintaining a height of a thousand zhang was most appropriate.


    Firstly, the viewpoint was sufficiently broad and unobstructed, avoiding the awkward situation of crashing head-on into a mountain peak without time to react.


    Secondly, this height allowed for a consumption of spiritual power that was in an optimal state.


    Lastly, at this height, they remained unseen by ordinary people on the ground, avoiding some troubles.


    Additionally, given his current level of Sword Control Technique and cultivation, a speed of thirty meters per second was the optimal speed for travel.


    This speed tranted to one hundred and eight kilometers per hour, not too slow for travel.


    Most importantly, the rate of spiritual power consumption at this speed, offset by Lu Qingshan''s own spiritual power recovery rate, could allow him to fly smoothly for ten hours without needing to take a pill to replenish his spiritual power.


    For a cultivator who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Realm, this was considered quite enduring.


    It also owed thanks to the Returning Ruins Scripture effect of +100% Spiritual Power Recovery Speed, which significantly enhanced Lu Qingshan''s endurancepared to other cultivators of the same level.


    At this stage, Lu Qingshan also tested the limit speed of the Liuyan Sword Control Technique, which was about one fifth the speed of sound.


    However, if he controlled the sword at this speed, his spiritual power would be quickly depleted.


    With his current maximum spiritual power value, he could support his sword control technique at its limit speed for about the duration of half a cup of tea.


    It was only in the most intense battles that one would use the Liuyan Sword Control Technique at its limit speed, it was certainly not feasible to use such speed for regr travel.


    Given the current skill level, the performance of the Liuyan Sword Control Technique was enough to show that Dantai Qingrun had not treated him perfunctorily, the technique was indeed a decent Sword Control Technique.


    As for the Liuyan effects that appeared when the Liuyan Sword Control Technique reached a certain speed, they were just shy without any additional effects, not worth mentioning.


    ...


    After testing the Sword Control Technique, Lu Qingshan switched to the Peach Wood Sword to support his own sword control state and used the Crying Soul Sword to test his own Flying Sword Technique.


    This was also a characteristic of a Sword Cultivator.


    Any high-rank Sword Cultivator would start with at least two swords.


    One to maintain the Sword Control Technique, and another to employ the Flying Sword.


    If there was a Sword Cultivator who had learned the Cloning Soul Technique, then the number of Flying Swords they could control was innumerable.


    With a single thought, dense swarms of Flying Swords would emerge like a gue of locusts, capable of forming various sword arrays, unpredictable and mystifying.


    Of course, these were considerations forter stages, Lu Qingshan didn''t need to think about that just yet.


    Lu Qingshan slowly descended, maintaining himself at a low altitude, his gaze fixed on an ancient sky-reaching tree not far away.


    The robust trunk was as thick as three people could encircle, shooting straight into the sky, with enormous nt roots intertwined on the ground.


    With a thought, Lu Qingshan divided a stream of spiritual power from his Dantian toward the Niwan Pce in his brow, carrying a hint of Divine Sense, quickly attaching it to the Crying Soul Sword.


    A misty blue light flickered over the Crying Soul Sword, and with a whoosh, it shot out, heading straight for the ancient sky-reaching tree.


    Boom¡ª


    Wood chips flew everywhere.


    An opening the size of a fist appeared on the trunk of the ancient sky-reaching tree.


    The trunk, thick enough to require three people to encircle, was prated instantaneously.


    And the Crying Soul Sword still had power to spare.


    If this sword were to be used on a human body, one could imagine its power.


    Lu Qingshan didn''t stop the testing, his fingers remotely directed the Crying Soul Sword as it rampaged back and forth through the forest.


    Boom¡ª


    Boom¡ª


    Boom¡ª


    After a series of ferocious attacks ravaging a small area in the Primordial Ancient Forest, Lu Qingshan finally understood the upper limits of his current Flying Sword Technique.


    The effective attack range was forty Zhang, beyond that distance, he could not precisely control the Flying Sword.


    When fully activated, the speed of the Flying Sword could reach up to one-third the speed of sound, far surpassing any projectile spell from the same level of Dharma Cultivator.


    This was while he had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage and his Flying Sword Technique was only at level 1.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    One could imagine, if the skill level of the Flying Sword Technique increased, the speed of the Flying Sword would reach astonishing levels, easily breaking the sound barrier.


    But this was normal, speed was inherently a feature of the Flying Sword.


    Lu Qingshan nced at his own depletion, his spiritual power consumption was still bearable, but the consumption of Divine Sense was quite substantial.


    With his current 10 points of Divine Sense, even in his best condition, if he fully activated the Flying Sword, he could onlyunch ten Flying Swords before running out of energy.


    ...


    Havingpleted the tests for both the Sword Control Technique and the Flying Sword Technique, Lu Qingshan finally withdrew contentedly.


    A typical Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator, after advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage, would at least need one to two years to practice the Sword Control Technique and the Flying Sword Technique before initially obtaining thebat power of a Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator.


    However, with experience points, Lu Qingshan couldplete in one day the journey that would normally take a conventional Sword Cultivator one to two years.

 Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Tiger Squad

    Lu Qingshan waited two days in the small courtyard he had rented temporarily.


    On the third day, the token given by Dantai Qingrun vibrated.


    It had finallye.


    Lu Qingshan''s gaze shed as he took out the token, probed into it with his Divine Sense, and received the message from Dantai Qingrun.


    The message was very brief, just like Dantai Qingrun''s personality¡ªsimple and clear.


    "The matter entrusted to you has been arranged;e to Zhenjiang Tower."


    Just this short sentence, not even mentioning the specific location of Zhenjiang Tower to Lu Qingshan.


    As if it were certain that Lu Qingshan certainly knew where Zhenjiang Tower was located.


    However, Dantai Qingrun had not guessed wrong; Lu Qingshan did indeed know the specific address of Zhenjiang Tower.


    ...


    This was a tower entirely d in ck.


    The tower was four stories tall, with each higher floor being narrower than the one below, with ovepping rooftops of various sizes and upturned corners soaring up as if they were the wings of a crane poised for flight.


    At the top of the tower, there was also something very strange¡ªit was without any hanging signs or markers.


    Lu Qingshan stood outside thecquered doors of the tower.


    A young male cultivator had already been waiting there and immediately greeted Lu Qingshan upon seeing him: "You must be Lu Qingshan, right?"


    "Yes, that''s me." Lu Qingshan understood that this person must be the guide arranged for him by Dantai Qingrun.


    "I''m Fei Wa, the Deputy Tower Master asked me to wait here for you, to take you inside once you arrive," Fei Wa introduced himself.


    "Alright, thank you, Brother Fei," Lu Qingshan said with gratitude.


    "There''s no need for formalities,e with me." Fei Wa turned and walked toward the tower, with Lu Qingshan following closely behind.


    ...


    So young?


    Fei Wa muttered to himself internally.


    ording to Dantai Qingrun''s instructions, he was to take Lu Qingshan to the guard and have Lu Qingshan undergo the Tiger Squad''s recruitment assessment.


    The guard duty was different from other responsibilities in Zhenjiang Tower. To join the guard, one had to rely on actual robustbat power.


    It was not that he was underestimating Lu Qingshan, but with such a young face, even if he were a genius, how muchbat power could he really have at this time?


    However, even though Fei Wa had many doubts about Lu Qingshan, he was very courteous to him on the surface.


    ¡ª¡ªRegardless of whether Lu Qingshan had the strength or not, he was someone specially looked after by the Deputy Tower Master. Just for that reason alone, Lu Qingshan was someone he couldn''t afford to offend.


    ...


    Like Yuanshan Tower, the real core of Zhenjiang Tower was located underground; the four-story building above was just a facade.


    Fei Wa stopped in front of a thoroughly ck wall inside the tower, took out a token from Zhenjiang Tower, and swiped it across the wall, much like how one would use a key card.


    The wall suddenly rippled, and a passage appeared.


    Lu Qingshan followed Fei Wa into the passage.


    Not long after, a spacious area opened up before their eyes.


    They were greeted by a bustling wide hall, bright with light, showing no signs of the gloomy atmosphere that one would expect from being underground.


    The headquarters of Zhenjiang Tower, hanging upside down underground, had, just like the tower above, a total of four floors.


    The guard, as the premier division of the four divisions of Zhenjiang Tower, upied a separate underground floor.


    The third underground floor.


    Fei Wa brought Lu Qingshan to an extremely spacious underground za.


    Five cultivators had been waiting there for a while.


    Four men and one woman.


    "This is Lu Qingshan, the team member rmended to you by Deputy Tower Master Dantai," Fei Wa introduced to the five cultivators.


    He then turned to Lu Qingshan and continued, "This is the Tiger Squad you will be joining. They just lost a Sword Cultivator in theirst mission, so..."


    Lu Qingshan understood that it was precisely because the Tiger Squad was short of a Sword Cultivator that he got the opportunity to enlist.


    It''s a bit sad to say, but Sword Cultivators, being among the six main professions with the highest aggro, are often the first target enemies wish to eliminate.


    Therefore, during these team missions, the mortality rate of Sword Cultivators is typically the highest.


    After the introductions, Fei Wa stepped back into the shadows.


    The matter was now left for them to decide.


    ...


    A tall and slim female cultivator stood up and circled around Lu Qingshan, clicking her tongue in astonishment.


    "So you''re the sword cultivator specially rmended by the Deputy Tower Master? Aren''t you a bit too young? But I won''t say anything about anything else, you do look pretty handsome."


    "Just afraid that it''s all for show and no substance," a male cultivator, d in Daoist robes, muttered softly to the side.


    "Su Shu!" The most robust male cultivator among the five frowned and chided lightly.


    Called by name, Su Shu rolled her eyes at the towering man, "I know, I know, the important thing is important."


    Regaining a serious expression and shedding the frivolous look on her face, Su Shu addressed Lu Qingshan, "Although you have been rmended by Deputy Tower Master Dantai, everything still needs to go by the rules. You must undergo our test.


    "Only if you pass can you join our team; otherwise, we can only apologize to Tower Master Dantai."


    Lu Qingshan''s expression remained calm, "Naturally, what kind of test do you have in mind?"


    "Fight me. If I think you''re good enough, then you''re in," the brawny male cultivator stood up and cracked his knuckles.


    Great, it''s really just as simple and brutish as it gets.


    Lu Qingshan criticized in his mind but outwardly agreed, "Then let''s begin."


    .....


    Despite the spaciousness of the za, it was still underground and had a very limited area.


    For a sword cultivator like Lu Qingshan, who had just entered Foundation Establishment, his flying sword could reach as far as forty yards.


    Adding to that his sword control technique, which could reach one-fifth the speed of sound, he would need a muchrger area for a proper fight - this za, no matter how big, wouldn''t suffice.


    Therefore, the fight suggested by the muscr man was, indeed, a bit informal.


    Thisbat restricted the use of flying spells, ensuring that the entirety of the fight took ce on the ground, without aerial maneuvers.


    The limitation was obviously greater for Lu Qingshan than for the brawny man.


    After all, speed is a sword cultivator''s forte. With no sufficient space to leverage their speed advantage, the sword cultivator''sbat power would naturally be reduced by a considerable margin.


    On the za, Lu Qingshan and the muscr cultivator distanced themselves, taking positions at diagonally opposite ends.


    "My name is Xu Hao, Body Cultivation!" the hulking man introduced himself to Lu Qingshan.


    "Lu Qingshan, Sword Cultivation."


    Before the fight began, Lu Qingshan used the Heavenly Eye Technique on Xu Hao.


    A total level 26 cultivator in Body Cultivation, he was the strongest member of the Tiger Squad.


    This was an opponent Lu Qingshan could not possibly defeat at present.


    Fortunately, he didn''t have to beat Xu Hao to meet the Tiger Squad''s requirements.


    After all, no one in the Tiger Squad could best Xu Hao in a head-on battle.


    Lu Qingshan just needed to make a satisfactory impression.


    "Here Ie!" Xu Hao bellowed.


    Immediately, Xu Hao charged towards Lu Qingshan like a ferocious tiger, with a wild and intense momentum.


    Facing the fiercely aggressive Xu Hao, Lu Qingshan kept his calm, swiftly shifted towards another corner of the za, and with a thought, his Crying Soul Sword shot out.


    Body cultivation, especially at the lower grade,cked long-range attack capabilities.


    Increasing the distance and using the Flying Sword Technique to whittle down Xu Hao''s Spiritual Power was undoubtedly a wise choice.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan''s flying swordunch.


    "Thisd, at least in terms of the speed of the flying sword, he''s got some skills."


    "But the problem is, for the captain, this mere flying sword is nothing to be concerned about," said a skinny, tall male cultivator who had been watching with lightughter.


    Just as the tall, skinny man had said,


    Facing the flying sword that came straight at him, Xu Hao didn''t bother dodging. Spiritual Power surged, and his whole body quickly lit up with golden radiance.


    Layers uponyers of phantom scale-like armor attached to Xu Hao''s body, as if he was d in a set of golden armor.


    ng!


    The flying sword, fast as lightning, struck Xu Hao''s golden armor, creating an ear-grinding metallic friction sound.


    "The captain''s ''Golden Scales Body'' is unparalleled in defense. How could a flying sword from an initial stage Foundation Establishment sword cultivator possibly harm the captain?" said the tall, skinny male cultivator animatedly, "If this Lu Qingshan wants to be our teammate, just this flying sword technique is far from enough."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    A man with a somewhat round face beside him nodded in agreement, "It''s quite impressive for such a young one to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    "But we in the defense need more than just a genius; we needrades who can fight together. If he doesn''t show us something more convincing, no matter how young he is, it won''t cut it."

 Chapter 74 Joining

    Having blocked Lu Qingshan''s flying sword, Xu Hao remainedpletely unharmed.


    Xu Hao continued to advance without slowing down, his momentum unabated, grinding towards Lu Qingshan.


    ng!


    ng!


    ng!


    Even though the flying swords did not harm Xu Hao, Lu Qingshan never stopped attacking from the beginning until the end.


    As he kept moving, he stubbornlyunched continuous attacks at the scale armor on Xu Hao''s chest with the flying sword.


    Without using sword control techniques, Lu Qingshan''s speed was obviously no match for Xu Hao.


    Even as he kept moving in the opposite direction to open up the distance, the gap between the two was getting smaller.


    Seeing that Xu Hao was within thirty feet of Lu Qingshan, Su Shu shook her head and sighed softly, "He is going to lose."


    If Xu Hao seeded in closing up the distance to this extent, from her understanding of him, Lu Qingshan would stand no chance of fighting back.


    Although sword cultivators have melee sword techniques besides flying sword technique and are among the best in closebat abilities of the six major professions,


    it all depends on who theparison is with.


    Body cultivators are the kings of closebat among the six major professions.


    Not to mention Xu Hao''s cultivation was far superior to Lu Qingshan''s.


    The disparity was clear at a nce.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan was now almost within reach, Xu Hao''s slightly surprised heart settled.


    Earlier, facing several of Lu Qingshan''s flying swords, he seemed unharmed, but the astonishment in his heart was known only to him.


    ¡ª Each of Lu Qingshan''s flying sword attacks was precisely targeting the same spot on the scale armor on his body under his control.


    The damage was cumtive; had Lu Qingshan''s cultivation not been shallow, by this moment, the scale armor protecting his chest would have already been broken.


    Of course, this was also why Xu Hao did not pay much attention to Lu Qingshan''s attacks.


    He estimated that before he could get to Lu Qingshan, thetter''s attack would never be able to break through his defense.


    Therefore, he did not bother to defend or dodge Lu Qingshan''s flying sword and instead chose to relentlessly barrel through.


    This was also giving Lu Qingshan a chance.


    If he had any real ability, he might as well show it.


    "Fierce Tiger Seal!" Noticing the distance was right, Xu Hao roared inwardly.


    A burst of me suddenly surged up on his right fist, and the fiery mes leaping and dancing made it look as if a fierce tiger made of mes appeared on Xu Hao''s right fist.


    Xu Hao did not hesitate, his right fist with violent force, pounded towards Lu Qingshan''s face.


    Roar¡ª


    The me tiger seemed as if it couldn''t wait to devour its prey, roaring as it charged towards Lu Qingshan.


    "It''s over!"


    The other four cultivators watching the battle saw Lu Qingshan confronting Xu Hao''s overwhelmingly powerful punch by simply thrusting out the Crying Soul Sword dryly at Xu Hao, all thinking this thought.


    In their eyes, Lu Qingshan''s sword strike seemed like a futile struggle.


    In a head-on collision, how could Lu Qingshan''s sword possibly stand a chance against Xu Hao''s punch?


    On the field.


    Lu Qingshan''s gaze intensified, fixed on the fist that was already bearing down on his face.


    I''ve been waiting for you!


    A divine light imperceptibly shed across the Crying Soul Sword as he swung it out.


    "Soul Shock!"


    In the eyes of the astonished crowd, the me tiger that Xu Hao''s fist was about to unleash suddenly halted, then like a me being extinguished, turned into a few sparks and disappeared into nothing.


    This was because Xu Hao had been affected by Soul Shock, his skill disrupted.


    Secret Sword: Wind sh!


    Falling Bright Sword Technique!


    After obtaining the talent of Spiritual Power Control, Lu Qingshan''s skills were no longer limited to simple numerical damage calctions.


    The ability granted to him by Spiritual Power Control was to enhance the power of his sword techniques by using spiritual power in his sword moves.


    That is, increasing spiritual power consumption to deal additional damage.


    Spiritual power burst out from within Lu Qingshan''s body, and instantly two-tenths was gone.


    This 20 percent of Spiritual Power was all attached to his sword, enhancing its damage.


    It was the most powerful burst damage that the primary level "Spiritual Power Control" could confer at present.


    ¡ªHe could instantaneously use a burst of 20 percent of his inner Spiritual Power.


    In a split second.


    Just when everyone thought Xu Hao was about to easily take down Lu Qingshan and the battle was about to end, the situation on the field took a surprising turn.


    Xu Hao''s Fierce Tiger Seal was inexplicably interrupted, and then, in what they thought was a futile struggle by Lu Qingshan, a sword shed towards Xu Hao''s chest.


    This sword was not only unpredictable but also produced two phantom afterimages at the same time it reached Xu Hao''s chest, extremely mysteriously.


    It was as if Lu Qingshan had shed three swords in an instant.


    Everyone''s pupils shrank sharply.


    What kind of sword technique was this?


    They quickly began to search their memories, but Lu Qingshan''s sword move did not match any swordsmanship they knew?


    ...


    The golden scale armor on Xu Hao''s chest, under this sword, turned into specks of golden light and dissipated.


    Xu Hao, who should have reacted immediately, stood eerily still in his original ce.


    This was because Lu Qingshan had detonated the Power of Dark Erosion that had already umted threeyers on Xu Hao''s body.


    The Crying Soul Sword once more flickered with a thick blue light.


    Lu Qingshan thrust out his sword, piercing directly into Xu Hao''s chest, now unprotected without the golden scale armor.


    Bang!


    Xu Hao was sent flying backward,nding on the ground with a loud noise.


    "How is this possible?!" Su Shu eximed in surprise, her mouth agape.


    Just a moment ago, Lu Qingshan seemed about to be taken down, but in an instant, he had sent the captain, whom they believed held the winning ticket, flying out.


    Xu Hao climbed up from the ground somewhat embarrassedly.


    With his strong physique from Body Cultivation,bined with his vast difference in cultivation level from Lu Qingshan, even Lu Qingshan''s fierce attack only inflicted a minor injury on him.


    "Secret Sword?!" Xu Hao, his tiger eyes fixed on the buzzing Crying Soul Sword in Lu Qingshan''s hand, spoke in a halting manner.


    "That''s right, it''s a Secret Sword, he actually knows a Secret Sword Technique!" At Xu Hao''s words, the tall, thin male cultivator immediately realized and eximed softly.


    Upon hearing this, everyone at the scene was shocked.


    The power of Lu Qingshan''s previous sword technique had been clearly perceived by everyone, but they had never imagined it to be a Secret Sword Technique.


    The art of the Secret Sword, a divine skill exclusive to Sword Cultivators, was not something any ordinary person could master.


    Lu Qingshan, so young and already possessing a Foundation Establishment Cultivation, had already astounded them immensely.


    Yet they had not realized that Lu Qingshan''s talent in swordsmanship even surpassed his cultivation talent.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    It''s known that even among Golden Core Sword Cultivators, the Secret Sword Technique is rare.


    And Lu Qingshan, merely a Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator, had mastered a Secret Sword Technique, which was understandably shocking to them all.


    Without saying a word, Lu Qingshan watched Xu Hao slowly get up and prepared to unleash his Flying Sword for another attack.


    Xu Hao, looking at the trembling Crying Soul Sword, waved his hand and said gruffly, "No more fighting."


    Lu Qingshan''s inquiring gaze turned to Xu Hao.


    Although he currently had a slight upper hand in the situation, he also understood that the actual circumstances were not as advantageous as they appeared on the surface.


    After his sessive attacks, it was like Cheng Yaojin''s three-pronged axe tactic, with all means exhausted.


    He had used close to fifty percent of his inner Spiritual Power, while Xu Hao had only suffered a minor injury, hisbat powerpletely intact.


    "If a Sword Cultivator who has mastered the Secret Sword Technique cannot pass our test, then if the Deputy Tower Master learns of it, he might personallye to settle ounts with us."


    Xu Hao walked up to Lu Qingshan, patted his shoulder, and extended his hand, "Let me introduce myself again. Xu Hao, Body Cultivator, and also the captain of Tiger Squad. Wee to the Tiger Squad."


    "I''m Su Shu, a Spiritual Cultivator." Su Shu stepped forward, casually hooking Lu Qingshan''s shoulder and said with a lightugh.


    The thin and tall male cultivator smiled broadly, "Zhong Jing, a Nether Cultivator, and your swordsmanship is quite remarkable!"


    "I''m from the Li Zu, and I''m the Dharma Cultivator of Tiger Squad." The male cultivator in the Taoist robe, who initially had a slight animosity towards Lu Qingshan, now finally smiled warmly.


    Dharma Cultivation and Sword Cultivation have always been the two professions with the highest damage output.


    "Just call me Xiao Zhi, I''m a Beast Cultivator." The round-faced male cultivator was sparing with his words.


    Lu Qingshan shook hands with Xu Hao and introduced himself to everyone, "Lu Qingshan, as you''ve seen, a Sword Cultivator."

 Chapter 75 The First Task

    The structure of the guards is such that teams are formed, generally consisting of six cultivators, and the six cultivatorse from the six major sects.


    Fei Wa, hiding in the shadows nearby, saw that the test matters were settled and stepped out with a smile, "Captain Xu, congrattions to your Tiger Squad for gaining another able member."


    After a pause, Fei Wa flung a jade slip from his hand towards Xu Hao, "This is the task assigned by the deputy tower master."


    "I have now briefed you on everything, so I will take my leave first."


    Xu Hao caught the jade slip and greeted Fei Wa, "Then, thank you, Daoist Fei."


    "Don''t mention it, I''m just following orders." Fei Wa couldn''t resist taking another look at Lu Qingshan before turning to leave.


    He remembered what Dantai Qingrun had said when entrusting the jade slip to him.


    ¡ªAfter Lu Qingshan passes the Tiger Squad''s assessment, hand over this task to the Tiger Squad.


    He had found it odd then; Dantai Qingrun hadn''t exined what to do if Lu Qingshan failed the assessment.


    Now, it all made sense.


    How could a sword cultivator, who had mastered the Secret Sword Technique during the Foundation Establishment stage, possibly fail the Tiger Squad''s assessment?


    Surely, he was someone specially looked after by the deputy tower master, truly remarkable indeed.


    Fei Wa marveled inwardly.


    ...


    Xu Hao held the jade slip and motioned to everyone, "Let''s get spirited, work hase."


    Su Shuzily stretched and exined to Lu Qingshan, "This must be the deputy tower master''s arrangement, to allow us to consolidate the new team through this mission."


    Lu Qingshan understood.


    ¡ªSince it was just to consolidate the team, surely the task would not be too difficult.


    Xu Hao explored the content of the jade slip with his divine sense.


    "The tower has discovered that the high ranks of the Feiyun Sect and the Netherworld have been secretly colluding. They''ve been covering for the Netherworld, and we''re to eradicate the Feiyun Sect to set an example.


    Orders are to kill the high ranks of the Feiyun Sect without negotiation, and if the lower-grade disciples dare to interfere, there is no need to spare them either."


    Zhenjiang Tower is not a charity organization; although not typically bloodthirsty, it does not condone leniency during missions.


    If the lower-grade disciples of the Feiyun Sect dare resist them and hinder the mission,


    even if these disciples are unrted to the Netherworld and merely uninformed, they may still strike them down. Killing these disciples will not bring about any penalties from Zhenjiang Tower afterward.


    Nether Cultivator Zhong Jing said indifferently, "The Feiyun Sect is merely a weak Second Grade sect.


    If I remember correctly, the entire sect only has four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, except for the Sect Leader who is in the mid-stage, the others are all in the initial stage.


    I don''t know what gave them the audacity to defy the Great Xia decree and collude with the Netherworld."


    Li Zu rubbed his hands together eagerly, "When do we depart?"


    Xu Hao put away the jade slip, and spoke sinctly, "We''ll leave after Lu Qingshan has recovered to his prime condition. We''ll make it quick and decisive!"


    Xu Hao might appear rugged, but he was actually a man of meticulous thoughts, and he instantly considered Lu Qingshan''s condition.


    After all, being able to be the captain of the Tiger Squad wasn''t just because of his high cultivation level.


    ...


    After Lu Qingshan meditated and restored his Spiritual Power to its optimal state, the Tiger Squad officially set out, ready to embark on their first mission.


    They left the tower of Zhenjiang Tower.


    The group paused and turned their gazes toward the team''s Beast Cultivator, Xiao Zhi.


    Xiao Zhi released a giant avian from his Spirit Beast Bag.


    The beast was seven to eight meters long with a wingspan of twenty meters when they were spread, its red beak flickered with mes, and white feathers inteced with tinges of brownish-yellow light.


    "This is the Red Rock Goose, Xiao Zhi''s flying demon pet," Su Shu introduced to Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan''s heart stirred.


    The strength of a Beast Cultivator can be glimpsed from his demon pets.


    Red Rock Goose, a Second Grade demon beast with dual Earth and Fire attributes.


    Dual-attributed beasts were already considered to have great potential among Second Grade demon beasts, not to mention it being avian, enhancing its rating even more.


    The Red Rock Goose was definitely a supreme quality Spirit Beast for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    To have tamed such a supreme quality beast, Xiao Zhi''s strength was evident.


    Indeed, there are no weak cultivators in Zhenjiang Tower.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    With a sh, Xiao Zhi appeared on the back of the Red Rock Goose and called out to everyone below, "Come on up."


    Everyone leaped onto the back of the Red Rock Goose, and seeing this, Lu Qingshan did not hesitate and followed suit.


    "Little Red, off we go!" Xiao Zhi patted the neck of the Red Rock Goose.


    The red rocks beneath the slender legs of the crane tensed and forcefully leaped up, its wings suddenly pping and stirring up a big wind from the t ground.


    Some of the dust on the ground was swept up, creating a gray storm.


    Carrying six people, the red rock crane charged directly into the clouds, and even though it was carrying a heavy load, its flying speed was not affected at all. Under Xiao Zhi''smand, it flew towards the outskirts of the city.


    Lu Qingshan stood on the back of the red rock crane, squinting as he watched the buildings of Zhenjiang City gradually turn into ck dots as they ascended.


    Naturally, the speed of the red rock crane was no match for his Liuyan Sword Control Technique, but its advantagey in carrying multiple people without expending his own Spiritual Power.


    This was also the advantage of a Beast Cultivator; they had demon pets for transport when flying or traveling, sparing them from the hardships of travel.


    Interestingly, in the "Nine Heavens" game, Beast Cultivators were always heavily affected by whaling.


    A demon pet for transport was like a luxury car in reality; tycoons were especially willing to spend big on such vanity projects.


    The requirements for flying demon pets were extremely high; they needed to be fast, strong inbat, and have an eye-catching appearance.


    Wouldn''t it be delightful to ride a high-grade demon pet with a cool appearance, pulling one or two cultivator sisters into the high skies for a ride?


    .....


    "We''re here. Up ahead is the Feiyun Sect," Xiao Zhi said after flying for a long time, controlling the gradually descending red rock crane onto a low mountain peak, and pointing to a towering peak not far ahead.


    That peak was Feiyun Peak, where the Feiyun Sect was based.


    Though the Feiyun Sect had only been established for a hundred years and, unlike other Second Grade sects that upied Second Grade Spirit Veins, the Feiyun Peak they upied did not contain a Second Grade Spirit Vein, but rather had three First Grade Spirit Veins.


    The purity of the Spiritual Energy produced by First Grade Spirit Veins was far inferior to that of Second Grade Spirit Veins.


    Even though there were three First Grade Spirit Veins, the quantity could not make up for the quality.


    Thus, the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Feiyun Sect had always progressed very slowly in their cultivation.


    For this reason, the upper echelons of the Feiyun Sect, blinded by greed, had ndestine dealings with the Netherworld to exchange for rare cultivation resources.


    Xu Hao nced at Feiyun Peak, his brows furrowing: "Although the Feiyun Sect is not strong, we should still proceed with caution and make sure not to let anyone escape."


    Xiao Zhi nodded, pped the Spirit Beast Bag, and a small, slender mongoose with extremely short limbs appeared in front of him.


    The mongoose had a brownish back and a snowy white belly, but what was most striking were its emerald eyes, deep as jewels.


    "Emerald Mongoose," Xiao Zhi introduced to Lu Qingshan, "A Second Grade demon beast. It doesn''t have much attack capability, but it''s very agile and adept at the Earth Escape Skill, making it a great hand for scouting enemy camps."


    After introducing his demon pet to Lu Qingshan, Xiao Zhi pointed at the Feiyun Sect in the distance and waved his hand, "Little Green, off you go!"


    Lu Qingshan''s mouth twitched a little.


    Little Red, Little Green ¨C so, is this the Rainbow Squad or what?


    ...


    The Emerald Mongoose, receiving its master''smand, saw a sh of light in its green eyes, and then it merged eerily into the ground beneath it, disappearing on the spot.


    This was the Earth Escape Skill.


    "Wait a moment," Xu Hao turned to Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan nodded; he understood that this was an old member of the Tiger Squad showing him the team''sbat method.


    After about half an hour.


    A small mound formed on the soil in front of Lu Qingshan.


    Suddenly, the Emerald Mongoose emerged, constantly calling out to Xiao Zhi and incessantly scratching something on the ground with its toes.


    "You''ve worked hard, return now," Xiao Zhi said after listening for a while and nodding.


    After feeding an Qi-Consuming Pill to the Emerald Mongoose from his Storage Ring, he then put it back into the Spirit Beast Bag.


    This was another characteristic of Beast Cultivators¡ªdragging the family along, with a whole family''s stomachs depending on the Beast Cultivator to be filled.


    Unlike other branches of Cultivators, if a Beast Cultivator wished, they could be an army unto themselves.


    If there were no certain restrictions on Beast Cultivators, the profession would be so strong as to be seriously unbnced.


    Therefore, firstly, Beast Cultivators could not tame demon beasts of a higher rank than their own cultivation.


    For example, as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Xiao Zhi could currently only tame First and Second Grade demon beasts, and to tame a Third Grade demon beast, he could only do so after advancing to the Golden Core Stage.


    Furthermore, Beast Cultivators need to spend a lot of resources on training and feeding their demon pets.


    If a Beast Cultivator recklessly tamed arge number of demon pets, even a wealthy person could be bankrupted by these big appetites.


    Not to mention, if a lot of resources were spent on demon pets, that would greatly hinder the progress of the Beast Cultivator''s own cultivation.


    This was all about trade-offs.


    Therefore, while it seemed wonderful for a Beast Cultivator to be an army unto themselves, it was actually a huge trap, not for the frugal.


    ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Little Green says that there are currently four Foundation Establishment Cultivators inside the Feiyun Sect, which means all the higher-ups of the Feiyun Sect are present and none are absent; we can capture them all at once," Xiao Zhi said while pointing at the sketch drawn on the ground by the Emerald Mongoose, which also marked four big dots: "This is a roughyout of the Feiyun Sect''s buildings, and these four points are the current locations of the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

 Chapter 76 Instant Kill

    "The only Foundation Establishment mid-stage Cultivator in Feiyun Sect is here," Xiao Zhi pointed to the westernmost point on theyout sketch drawn by the green-eyed weasel.


    "The other three points are where the remaining three Foundation Establishment Cultivators are located."


    Xu Hao rubbed his index finger over the stubble on his chin, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This mission is very simple, the only slightly troublesome aspect is that there are four targets, each at a somewhat distant point from one another.


    Once we take action, if the other three Foundation Establishment Cultivators see themotion and choose to run, it will also be quite troublesome for us to chase them down.


    However, resolving this problem is not difficult, as ourbat power far surpasses these four Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    In that case, we will split into four groups and act simultaneously. This way, we will certainly be foolproof.


    I''ll take on the mid-stage Cultivator, Su Shu, you and Lu Qingshan will team up to deal with the initial-stage Cultivator to the north, Zhong Ming will handle the target to the south, and Li Zu, you and Xiao Zhi will take care of the target to the east."


    "No problem."


    "Received."


    "Alright."


    Everyone agreed with Xu Hao''s judgment and decisions, responding in turn.


    With the strength of Tiger Squad, they could easily crush the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Feiyun Sect, even blindfolded.


    ...


    The entire Feiyun Sect was protected by twoyers of arrays.


    The first arraybined the functions of sensory perception and early warning, defending against Cultivators with ulterior motives.


    The second array was the real deal, protecting the Sect''s entrance. If activated, it would take considerable effort and time to breach.


    Although strong, the second array also required a substantial amount of spirit stones to operate.


    Feiyun Sect, being a small sect, had to split a spirit stone in two to make ends meet, unlike the wealthyrge ns and businesses that could disregard such expenses.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Therefore, most of the time, Feiyun Sect would only activate the firstyer of the array, with the secondyer remaining idle for most of the year.


    Only when the firstyer of the array issued a warning, would the secondyer be activated to repel enemies.


    Xiao Zhi''s green-eyed weasel roamed around the Feiyun Sect unnoticed by the array.


    This made it clear that, in reality, the sensory and warning capabilities of the firstyer were not very strong.


    The higher-ups of the Feiyun Sect were also aware of this fact, but some things could not be changed merely by knowing.


    ¡ªThe Feiyun Sect could scarcely afford the extravagance of always having the secondyer of the array active, which is why things stayed as they were.


    ...


    The Tiger Squad found a secluded area outside the Feiyun Sect.


    Su Shu formed a Dharma Seal with her fingers, silently channeling her mana, and a point of spiritual light condensed in the palm of her hand.


    She then projected this point of spiritual light forward.


    The Forbidden Breaking Technique, one of the signature support Skills of Spiritual Cultivators, could prate various barriers and arrays, allowing Cultivators to stealthily infiltrate many well-defended locations.


    Just as the Flying Sword Technique is to a Sword Cultivator, the Forbidden Breaking Technique is one of the essential Skills for Spiritual Cultivators.


    A swirl of ethereal Spiritual Power flickered and twisted.


    The Feiyun Sect''s already unimpressive firstyer array, like melting winter snow, was breached without causing the slightest disturbance by Su Shu''s efforts.


    Seeing a passage wide enough for one person to pass through, Lu Qingshan nodded inwardly.


    This is the advantage of team operations.


    Among the six major schools of Cultivators, each has its strengths.


    For example, Spiritual Cultivators are mysterious, with a myriad of peculiar Skills that have infinite uses, but their directbat capabilities are slightly inferior to those of other professions.


    If fighting alone, this disadvantage can be fatal, but in teambat, Spiritual Cultivators can inherently y to their strengths and better utilize their abilities.


    Many tasks that seemplicated can be easily aplished when Cultivators from different schools leverage their strengths and coordinate effectively.


    For instance, if Xu Hao were to undertake this mission alone, hisbat power would certainly be more than enough to face the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Feiyun Sect.


    The problem is, the mission cannot bepleted so easily by one person.


    First off, Xu Hao wouldn''t be able to ovee Feiyun Sect''s Sect Protection Formation.


    If the Feiyun Sect''s higher-ups detected Xu Hao, and the secondyer of the defensive array was activated, that alone would be a major headache for Xu Hao.


    Moreover, it isn''t as if the higher-ups of the Feiyun Sect are just bosses waiting to be defeated.


    If they decided to escape after activating the defense array, Xu Hao would find it difficult to manage both fronts.


    Now, with Tiger Squad, Xiao Zhi dispatched a Spirit Beast to ascertain the locations of the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, then Su Shu broke through the array, and everyone infiltrated quietly.


    Once in position and ready to strike, their assault would be as swift and unstoppable as thunder.


    ...


    The six Cultivators from Tiger Squad quickly entered through the opening Su Shu had breached in the array.


    "Head to the targets'' locations in their respective caves, and we will act together in a moment''s time!" Xu Haomanded decisively.


    The others nodded, then scattered in different directions toward their respective targets.


    ```


    Lu Qingshan and Su Shu''s team included the time-honored practice of veterans leading neers, yet it was also considered a ssicbination.


    The main offensive Sword Cultivator paired with a supportive Spiritual Cultivator was a ssic pairing that had stood the test of time and was prevalent in many games.


    The two made their way up the mountain. Though there were many Qi Refinement disciples from the Feiyun Sect along the way, with the ability of Foundation Establishment Cultivators to project their Divine Sense, Su Shu and Lu Qingshan detected these low-rank disciples early and easily avoided them.


    The Feiyun Sect was notrge, and Lu Qingshan and Su Shu quickly reached the cave dwelling of their target.


    The two hid outside, waiting quietly for the time agreed upon with Xu Hao.


    ...


    A momentter, the time hade.


    Su Shu lightly pursed her lips, "Let''s move!"


    As her words fell, Su Shu pointed a finger, and a light of spiritual energy lightly touched the air in front of her.


    Forbidden Breaking Technique!


    The cave dwelling of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would certainly be guarded with a Barrier.


    But Su Shu''s Forbidden Breaking Technique could silently solve even the Sect Protection Formation of the Feiyun Sect.


    How could a Barrier set up by an initial-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation be stronger than the Formation established by their own sect at great expense?


    The Barrier protecting the cave dwelling crumbled in an instant.


    In that same moment, Lu Qingshan, sword in hand, burst forth and rushed into the cave dwelling.


    At the same time, Su Shu''s hands didn''t stop forming spells, and two streaks of spiritual light, one red and one yellow, almost instantly attached to both Lu Qingshan and his sword.


    [Fire Copse]: Temporarily endows the target''s attacks with extra fire attribute magic damage.


    [Hardness-Breaking]: Temporarily grants a magic artifact with sharpness +2.


    These were two Supportive Spiritual Arts that could increase the damage for Lu Qingshan.


    Inside the cave dwelling.


    The violent fluctuation of spiritual power jolted Zhu Quan, who was cultivating his technique inside, causing him to be immediately rmed.


    He instinctively projected his Divine Sense to investigate the situation but found this action somewhat redundant.


    For in his line of sight, a figure had already appeared.


    Following it was a glint of cold light.


    This was the Crying Soul Sword''s Soul Shock Skill, which had never failed to this day.


    This time was no exception.


    In the brief moment before he lost consciousness, Zhu Quan quickly cast a Defensive Spell.


    A door-shaped shield made of thick rock appeared between Lu Qingshan and Zhu Quan.


    This was the Rock Shield Technique of Dharma Cultivation.


    Given its thickness, the Skill Level was definitely not low.


    Lu Qingshan''s expression did not change.


    The Crying Soul Sword did not hesitate; it struck the rock shield.


    A line of frost appeared at the midpoint of the shield, and then the Rock Shield was cleaved cleanly in two, its edges neat and devoid of serration.


    The inherent sharpness of the Crying Soul Sword, +1,bined with the +2 sharpness from the Hardness-Breaking Spiritual Art.


    The thick Rock Shield, like paper mache, was utterly defenseless against the might of Lu Qingshan''s Crying Soul Sword.


    Breaking through the Rock Shield, and seeing a glimmer of rity return to Zhu Quan''s eyes, Lu Qingshan did not hold back, gathering his spiritual power and swinging the Crying Soul Sword across Zhu Quan''s neck at an angle.


    Secret Sword: Wind sh!


    Even though Zhu Quan had quickly mobilized his internal spiritual power, forming ayer of spiritual shield to block Lu Qingshan''s attack, it was already toote.


    The spiritual power flowing in Lu Qingshan''s Crying Soul Sword shed with the spiritual shield at Zhu Quan''s neck.


    Without causing even a ripple, Zhu Quan''s spiritual shield dissipated quickly.


    This was not only a gap in the quantity of spiritual power but also a crushing qualitative difference.


    The spiritual power cultivated from the Returning Ruins Scripture was not something that could be contested by the spiritual power produced by ordinary Cultivation Methods.


    Two afterimages of sword techniques appeared.


    The sh of cold light that passed by decapitated Zhu Quan.


    By the time Su Shu followed Lu Qingshan into the cave dwelling, all she saw was Zhu Quan''s head shing through the air.


    The head rested for a moment before dropping right in front of Su Shu, rolling a few times by her feet beforeing to a halt.


    Su Shu''s lips parted slightly.


    This... was it over?


    ```

 Chapter 77 Changes

    Sword Cultivators'' capability inbat was esteemed as the best among the six cultivations, and Su Shu had no objections to this.


    Lu Qingshan, a genius Sword Cultivator who mastered the Secret Sword Technique at the Foundation Establishment Stage, had defeated Zhu Quan. Su Shu was not surprised by this.


    But was it not too fast?


    From the moment Lu Qingshan made his move to Zhu Quan''s beheading, the interval might have been just a few breaths.


    Su Shu''s astonishment was beyond words.


    Lu Qingshan sheathed his Crying Soul Sword and seeing Su Shu standing dazed beside him, he chuckled, "What''s the matter?"


    He naturally knew the reason behind Su Shu''s distraction, but it was nothing to boast about.


    The prowess of the Secret Sword Technique, along with the boost from a Taoist-level Cultivation Technique and the augmentation of Su Shu''s two Spirit Arts.


    His ability to instantly kill a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Cultivator within a few breaths seemed like a remarkable feat, but it actually fell within expectations.


    However, he could only use this burst ability once in a while.


    After all, the Secret Sword: Wind sh had a cooldown period.


    Coming back to her senses, Su Shu smiled wryly, "It seems our Tiger Squad really picked up a treasure this time."


    Lu Qingshan''s mouth twitched.


    Su Shu moved gracefully and walked over to Zhu Quan''s headless body.


    The thick scent of blood filled the air.


    Su Shu did not even frown at this; instead, she bent down and plucked a Storage Ring from Zhu Quan''s finger, tossing it to Lu Qingshan.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Here, your loot."


    As guards on a mission, they did not need to turn over the possessions of the Cultivators they had killed and could dispose of them freely.


    Therefore, these type of extermination missions that were not too challenging were always favorites of the guards.


    ¡ªAn officially sanctioned opportunity to make a quick profit.


    Lu Qingshan received the Storage Ring and sent his Divine Sense into it to check Zhu Quan''s collection.


    The Storage Ring containedmon Magic Artifacts, Pills, and a small portion of Spirit Stones; beyond that, there were no other special items.


    Lu Qingshan took out two-thirds of the Spirit Stones and then handed the Storage Ring back to Su Shu.


    "These Magic Artifacts and Pills are of little use to me, and they are rather troublesome to deal with. I''ll just take some Spirit Stones," Lu Qingshan said calmly.


    The value of the remaining one-third of the Spirit Stones and other items would definitely exceed the two-thirds of the Spirit Stones he had taken.


    But Lu Qingshan was not concerned about that.


    The forty Fourth-Grade Spirit Stones that the Great Elder Lu Zhou had given him were enough for him to squander for quite a long time; he really did not care about these few Spirit Stones.


    Su Shu received the Storage Ring, her eyes gleaming as she chuckled, "Qingshan, you really are generous."


    "Since we finished here so quickly, why don''t we go and support our captain?" Ignoring Su Shu''s tease, Lu Qingshan suggested proactively.


    This was also the reason why he had gone all out from the start.


    His strategy was quick resolution, hoping to scoop up a few more kills.


    "Target is deceased, you have killed Zhu Quan (lv16), earning a total of 1000 Experience Points!"


    This was the data disyed on the panel following Zhu Quan''s death.


    Zhu Quan, who seemed easy to defeat, had given him a whopping 1000 Experience Points; the Experience Points had indeede quickly.


    But then, who would everin about having too many Experience Points?


    Interestingly, in the game "Nine Heavens," the mechanism for distributing Experience Points was very detailed.


    Normally, if they were teaming up to fight monsters, even if Lu Qingshan killed Zhu Quan, the Experience Points would have to be shared with his teammate, the Spirit Cultivator Su Shu.


    But now, the situation was that in this world, only Lu Qingshan had a yer''s Attribute Panel.


    This meant that no one else in this world could take any of Lu Qingshan''s Experience Points.


    As long as the target was killed by Lu Qingshan, he would receive the full amount of Experience Points.


    This was almost like a bug, wasn''t it?


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    But regardless, it was undoubtedly a good thing for him.


    Su Shu''s face showed a thoughtful expression, then she decisively said, "Alright, let''s head over and have a look."


    ...


    Having made their decision, the two did not dy and moved very quickly. They left the cave abode, preparing to rush to the cave abode of a Mid Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator of the Feiyun Sect.


    Upon stepping out of Zhu Quan''s cave abode,


    they could see that the originally calm Feiyun Sect was now plunged into chaos.


    There were three locations within Feiyun Peak where the sounds of fierce Magical Combat continuously emerged.


    But no low-ranking disciples approached to check the situation.


    After all, themotion caused by the Tiger Squad''s Cultivators was quite significant, and these Feiyun Sect disciples had also realized that these battles all originated from the cave abodes of their Sect''s four Foundation Establishment True Cultivators.


    Although their cultivation wasn''t high, their minds were certainly not dull.


    Since it was an operation targeting Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the attacking cultivators of unknown origins must also be at the Foundation Establishment Realm.


    Wouldn''t they be courting death if they participated in such a level of battle?


    So, it was wise for them to hide aside and watch the situation from a distance.


    If their side was at a disadvantage, it was about time to pack up and prepare to flee, to avoid getting involved.


    As for whether there were one or two bold and meticulous disciples who, before fleeing, would sneak something from the sect''s treasury to seize a chance for a journey of cultivation from mortal to immortal, that remained unknown.


    ...


    Hissss!


    A sharp roar came from the west, deafening to the ears.


    The roar was full of brutality and eeriness.


    Su Shu''s expression tightened upon hearing this sound.


    "What is that?!"


    The moment the roar ended, Lu Qingshan had already deployed the Liuyan Sword Control Technique, flying towards the direction of the sound.


    "The captain is in danger; I must hurry over to support him!"


    Watching Lu Qingshan, who had already turned into a streak of afterimage speeding into the distance, Su Shu reacted quickly, immediately deploying a flying Spirit Art and following closely behind.


    But in the blink of an eye, she was left a significant distance behind by Lu Qingshan.


    Su Shu bit her lip lightly, somewhat annoyed.


    This damn Sword Cultivator, his Sword Control Technique is unreasonably fast!


    ...


    Lu Qingshan was anxious in his heart.


    He was all too familiar with that roar.


    Thus, he could guess what situation Xu Hao was in at the moment.


    Worried, Lu Qingshan did not care about the consumption of his Spiritual Power and pushed the Liuyan Sword Control Technique to its fastest speed.


    Feiyun Peak wasn''trge, and under extreme conditions, the Liuyan Sword Control Technique was incredibly fast, so in just a moment, Lu Qingshan had already arrived above the battlefield.


    Fortunately, he had arrived in time.


    Lu Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief.


    He looked around.


    Xu Hao''s body, covered in the Golden Scales Body golden armor, was supposed to look majestic, but at that moment, he was in extreme pain, curled up on the ground, continuously twisting his body.


    Upon closer observation, one could see an extremely eerieyer of ck mist entwining his face.


    This ck mist, like floating threads, moved continuously across Xu Hao''s face and quickly spread towards his entire body.


    Even more bizarre was that sharp, piercing screams were continuously emanating from inside Xu Hao''s body.


    The scream reached deep into the soul, causing severe headaches to anyone who heard it, and the closer one got, the more intense the headache.


    One could imagine the torment Xu Hao must be enduring as the source of the sound.


    Not far from Xu Hao stood the only mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Feiyun Sect.


    Lu Qingshan cast the Heavenly Eye Technique on him.


    "Wen Guang [Demonic Transformation: Crimson me Demon] (lv21)."


    ....


    At that moment, Wen Guang was surrounded by fire and mist, his eyes blood-red, barely resembling a human; calling him a demon would be more apt.


    But for some reason, he seemed to have lost consciousness, ignoring the debilitated Xu Hao, instead continuously shaking his head looking for something, while repeatedly emitting beast-like roars.


    The sound that Lu Qingshan and Su Shu had just heard hade from him.


    This Sect Leader of the Feiyun Sect had not just been covertly dealing with the Netherworld to exchange resources for cultivation but had even joined the Netherworld and be a Demon Cultivator.


    However, his current state clearly showed that he had yet to fully control the Demonic Qi in his body and had recklessly performed the Demonic Transformation, causing the Demonic Qi to go berserk and lose his mind.


    Wen Guang was so unfamiliar with the power of Demonic Transformation, he must have recently joined the Netherworld and be a Demon Cultivator.


    This also led to a certain dy in the intelligence from the Tower of Knowledge.


    What was supposed to be an easy task for the Tiger Squad had now turned into the current situation.


    Lu Qingshan''s expression was solemn.


    The situation was more severe than he had anticipated!


    He quickly took out a Snow Lotus Pill from the Storage Ring and swallowed it, a cooling sensation spreading throughout his body.


    The difort from the piercing screams, under the effect of the Snow Lotus Pill, finally dispersed.


    First deal with Wen Guang, then save Xu Hao.


    Lu Qingshan immediately decided!

 Chapter 78 Slaying Demons (Part 1)

    At the first moment, Lu Qingshan had invested the newly acquired experience points into the Flying Sword Technique.


    "Experience Points -360 (600*0.6), Flying Sword Technique upgraded to lv2!"


    "Experience Points -600 (1000*0.6), Flying Sword Technique upgraded to lv3!"


    Although the Flying Sword Technique had only been raised by two levels, the improvement was already significant enough.


    If lv1 Flying Sword Technique was something that Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators could master after a year or two of study.


    Then the lv3 Flying Sword Technique was already at a standard that Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators would reach after five or six years of practice.


    Looking at Wen Guang, who was still roaring in the distance, a cold light shed in Lu Qingshan''s eyes.


    The Crimson me Demon, is one of the mostmon Demonic Transformations among Netherworld Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage and the Golden Core Stage.


    In the ten-year gaming experience of "Nine Heavens", the number of Crimson me Demons that had died by Lu Qingshan''s hand was definitely in the thousands if not tens of thousands.


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan was extremely familiar with the tactics of the Crimson me Demon.


    With a thought, Lu Qingshan mobilized the overwhelming Spiritual Power from within his body, channeling it onto the Crying Soul Sword.


    Whoosh!


    Under Lu Qingshan''s control, the Crying Soul Sword, like a bolt of lightning, whistled with a fierce wind, and shot towards Wen Guang''s forehead.


    Bang!


    It was as if something had exploded.


    The moment the Flying Sword was about to hit, the fire mist enveloping Wen Guang''s body gathered quickly at his forehead.


    Fire Mist Bodyguard!


    The Crying Soul Sword collided with this dense cloud of fire mist.


    The fire mist exploded instantaneously, scattering sparks all over the sky.


    The Flying Sword, having pierced through the fire mist, had lost most of its potency, its Spiritual Light dimmed.


    The tip of the Crying Soul Sword touched Wen Guang''s forehead, leaving only a shallow white mark.


    Although he had lost his senses, Wen Guang, driven purely by instinct, was more powerful inbat because all his responses were instinctive, bypassing any need for judgment or thought.


    Lu Qingshan summoned back the howling Crying Soul Sword.


    Another Spirit-powered Flying Sword wasunched again towards Wen Guang''s forehead.


    Roar¡ª


    The incarnation of the Crimson me Demon, feeling the pain in his forehead, issued a ferocious roar like that of a provoked beast.


    ¡­n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In the distance, Su Shu, who was hastening to the battlefield using her Flying Spirit Art, heard this sound from the mountain peak and unconsciously frowned.


    Although she didn''t know the specifics, the urgency of Lu Qingshan''s departure made her realize that the situation at Xu Hao''s side must not be ideal.


    Now that the sound was so loud, it only added to her worries. She gritted her teeth and sped up even more.


    I must catch up!


    Su Shu shouted in her heart.


    ....


    The sparks scattered in the sky quickly gathered back onto Wen Guang''s body.


    Then, a more vigorous and scorching me burst forth from Wen Guang''s body.


    Wen Guang seemed to be donned in a suit of ming armor.


    With a wave of his right hand, a small cluster of fire mist shot out from his body, rapidly expanding in the air into a huge spherical mass, confronting the iing Flying Sword.


    Boom!


    Another deafening explosion ensued.


    The Crying Soul Sword shed fiercely with the fireball.


    Under the force of the Flying Sword, the fireball was quickly extinguished, but the momentum of the Crying Soul Sword was also depleted.


    Lu Qingshan''s expression remained unchanged.


    The Flying Sword swung again, charging towards Wen Guang.


    This time, as the Flying Sword faced the fireball attack conjured by Wen Guang, it chose not to meet it head-on but instead moved agilely to the left just before colliding with the fireball.


    Boom!


    The fireball missed its target and hit the ground not far away.


    Under the immense force of the fireball, a deep pit instantly formed on the ground, its center already scorched into barren earth.


    Seeing that the fireball hadn''t stopped the Flying Sword, the me Demon waved his left hand again, and another huge fireball flew towards it.


    Lu Qingshan kept controlling the Flying Sword, constantly moving and dodging Wen Guang''s fireballs.


    Strangely though, Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword seemed to always threaten the me Demon but never actually struck him.


    Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Sessive explosions reverberated, stirring up clouds of dust, with dozens of deep pits from the fireballs surrounding Wen Guang.


    Roar!


    Seeing the Flying Sword still moving unrestrainedly and his fireballs achieving nothing, Wen Guang let out a roar of impotent fury.


    Though it seems a long time, in reality, only a few moments had passed.


    The dust in the air might have hindered visibility, but cultivators don''t rely solely on their eyes; they also have Divine Sense.


    Lu Qingshan''s Divine Sense prated the dust and reached the Crimson me Demon incarnated by Wen Guang.


    He could feel that the fiery mist surrounding him had thinned considerably, hardly enough to cover Wen Guang''s body.


    The me Demon naturally has extremely high fire control abilities, but the fireballs he had released all depended on this fiery mist.


    Releasing so many fireballs in such a short time indeed showed terrifying explosive power, but it also pushed him near his limits.


    This was the drawback of losing consciousness.


    If Wen Guang were not in an uncontroble state and had his normal judgment, he would definitely not keep meaninglessly casting fireballs to block Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword, which would put him into a weakened state.


    Lu Qingshan knew this, which is why he was not afraid at all of Wen Guang, even though Wen was of much higher level and enhanced by demonic transformation.


    Just like taming a beast, first hitting Wen Guang with a solid attack to let him feel the lethality of the Flying Sword, then facing Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword, Wen would instinctively do his utmost to prevent the Flying Sword from striking him.


    Such a simple trick was all it took.


    This battle was even easier for Lu Qingshan than the previous one against Zhu Quan.


    ...


    Noticing that the protective fiery mist around Wen Guang''s body was extremely thin.


    Lu Qingshan did not dy any longer because he could feel that Xu Hao''s presence was getting weaker.


    Twisting his body, Lu Qingshan rushed towards Wen Guang with a whooshing sound.


    Before his Flying Sword Technique reached level ten, his strongest damage capability still came from his sword techniques.


    The Crying Soul Sword, twisting left and right in the air, suddenly flew towards Lu Qingshan.


    Running at full speed, Lu Qingshan did not slow down; as the Flying Sword approached, he reached out his right hand and grabbed the Crying Soul Sword.


    Azure Water Tidal Wave!


    At the same time, Lu Qingshan activated the active effects of the Azure Water Bracelet.


    The abundant Spiritual Power he had previously stored in the Azure Water Bracelet surged into his body.


    In his Dantian, the Spiritual Power, which was nearly depleted from a previous battle and executing the Liuyan Sword Control Technique, was finally replenished.


    The moment his Spiritual Power was replenished, Lu Qingshan piloted the Spiritual Power onto the Crying Soul Sword without hesitation.


    A dense blue glow gathered at the tip of the sword.


    The sword''s edge thrust forward, stirring up a roaring wind.


    Lu Qingshan''s figure pierced through the swirling dust, charging headfirst at Wen Guang.


    The de transformed into a streak of frost, aiming squarely at the center of Wen Guang''s forehead and cleaving downwards.


    Lu Qingshan''s speed was unimaginably fast, Wen Guang had no escape; with just a thinyer of fiery mist to protect him, he could not block Lu Qingshan''s sword.


    A cloud of blood mist filled the air.


    "Target deceased. You have killed Wen Guang [Demonic Transformation: Crimson me Demon] (lv21), earning a total of 1500 Experience Points!"

 Chapter 79: Killing Demons (Part 2)

    Rushing desperately, Su Shu finally arrived at the battlefield only to see the vicious-looking Wen Guang sliced neatly into two halves.


    But she had no time to concern herself with this scene, for her attention was drawn to Xu Hao, whoy on the ground, writhing in agony.


    Xu Hao had lost consciousness due to the pain, and his Golden Armor had faded away quietly without notice.


    "Big Brother Xu?!" The Xu Hao who had always been invincible in her heart was now curled up like a shrimp, continuously letting out low, hoarse groans, and Su Shu couldn¡¯t believe it.


    Piercing shrieks emanated from Xu Hao¡¯s body.


    As this high-pitched squeal entered her ears, an indescribable piercing pain spawned in Su Shu¡¯s mind.


    Su Shu quickly sealed her ears with Spiritual Power in pain, but found the action utterly useless.


    The shrill squeal did not weaken at all, still attacking her Divine Soul relentlessly.


    Ah¡ª


    Xu Hao¡¯s pained and muffled cries rose again.


    Su Shu¡¯s expression changed, and she could no longer heed the prickling pain in her Divine Soul, flying straight to Xu Hao¡¯s side.


    Under the influence of the shrieking sound, Su Shu¡¯splexion turned deathly pale, but her eyes were filled with defiance.


    Struggling to rally her spirits, Su Shu joined her hands in front of her chest to form a strange seal with great difficulty; Spiritual Power erupted from within her body.


    The next moment, a peculiar six-petaled flower appeared before her, formed of green Spiritual Power, flickering with Spiritual Light, looking incredibly extraordinary!


    [Rejuvenation Spirit Art]!


    This was a healing Spirit Art for Spiritual Cultivators, aimed at treating the injuries suffered by cultivators and also had a detoxifying effect.


    The six petals indicated that Su Shu¡¯s Rejuvenation Spirit Art had reached level 6.


    "Go!" Su Shu murmured.


    The green Spirit Flower flew straight towards Xu Hao and merged into his body.


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    The originally dark mists enveloping Xu Hao suddenly shed with green Spiritual Light, which quickly suppressed the dark mists.


    A glimmer of joy appeared on Su Shu¡¯s pale face.


    But this joy did notst long because the next second, a denser ck mist burst from Xu Hao¡¯s body and swallowed the green Spiritual Lightpletely in a single breath.


    What is this?!


    Noticing that Xu Hao¡¯s breath had weakened further after this event, a fine cold sweat involuntarily appeared on Su Shu¡¯s forehead.


    It was due to the pain brought by the shrieking sound, as well as the panic in her heart.


    Tiger Squad had gone through many changes in membership due to sacrifices since its very beginning.


    Of the six cultivators who were with it at the start, only two are still alive to this day.


    ¡ªHer and Xu Hao.


    With the many years of life-and-death experiences, the tacit understanding and feelings between her and Xu Hao needed no expression.


    Now, with Xu Hao in mortal danger and her Rejuvenation Spirit Art ineffective, how could she not panic?


    With trembling hands, Su Shu took out a variety of Healing Pills from her Storage Ring, hoping to feed them to Xu Hao.


    "The pills are useless."


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s voice rang out.


    Su Shu turned to see Lu Qingshan, who had arrived by her side without her knowing when; she froze for a moment, then quickly came to her senses.


    "Do you know what¡¯s wrong with Big Brother Xu? You must save him!" Su Shu pleaded uncontrobly.


    Ever since they had met, while often teasing Lu Qingshan, Su Shu had also taken care of him during their missions, adopting an elder sister¡¯s attitude. Now, finally, due to Xu Hao¡¯s condition, she revealed a vulnerable side.


    Seeing Su Shu looking as pale as death from the impact of the shrieking sound, Lu Qingshan furrowed his brows, took out a Snow Lotus Pill, and ced it in Su Shu¡¯s mouth.


    Under the effect of the Snow Lotus Pill, Su Shu¡¯splexion finally improved slightly, but the urgency and helplessness in her eyes did not lessen in the slightest.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I will do my utmost to save the captain," Lu Qingshan assured Su Shu.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s voice was not loud, but his tone was very determined, as if carrying some strength that unconsciously steadied Su Shu¡¯s frantic heart slightly.


    ...


    Bang!


    Dust flew in all directions.


    The massive Red Rock Goosended nearby, and Xiao Zhi and Li Zu leaped down from the beast¡¯s back.


    They, too, had heard themotion here; without any dy, they swiftly dealt with their targets and rushed over immediately.


    "It¡¯s a Divine Soul Attack!" Li Zu¡¯s face changed as he felt the impact of the sonic attack and dared not approach any closer.


    "Su Shu, what¡¯s happened to the team leader?" Xiao Zhi asked anxiously.


    Lu Qingshan paid no attention to Li Zu and Xiao Zhi who were following behind, silently bowing his head as he scanned Xu Hao¡¯s body with his Divine Sense.


    Through the ck fog, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Divine Sense probed into Xu Hao¡¯s body, heading straight for Xu Hao¡¯s heart.


    Hiss¡ª


    Lu Qingshan winced in pain.


    Just as his Divine Sense was about to touch Xu Hao¡¯s heart, something out of nowhere devoured his Divine Sense.


    Although his Divine Sense had suffered a heavy blow, Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression did not change.


    So it¡¯s in the heart after all.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    Having confirmed the situation, Lu Qingshan drew the Crying Soul Sword, its sharp tip aimed at Xu Hao¡¯s chest, poised to stab down.


    Su Shu¡¯s face changed instantly.


    "What are you doing?!" Li Zu, who had been deterred by the screeching sound and hadn¡¯t dared to approach earlier, saw the scene and shouted angrily.


    Instinctively, an Ice Arrow shot out in an instant, aiming directly at Lu Qingshan.


    He was trying to stop Lu Qingshan!


    A shield of Spiritual Light appeared, deflecting the Ice Arrow sent by Li Zu.


    It was a Spirit Art cast by Su Shu.


    "Su Shu, why? This kid is going to kill the team leader, and instead of stopping him, why are you blocking me?" Li Zu¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, unable toprehend Su Shu¡¯s actions.


    Given that Lu Qingshan had only joined the team for half a day, it was not very realistic for a usually cautious and suspicious Cultivator to develop trust in Lu Qingshan in such a short time.


    Therefore, it was not unreasonable for Li Zu to believe that Lu Qingshan¡¯s actions were an intent to harm the team leader.


    Su Shu shook her head at Li Zu, "Lu Qingshan is trying to save the team leader, don¡¯t make trouble."


    "But this¡­" Li Zu tried to argue further.


    Xiao Zhi raised his hand to stop Li Zu and advised, "No one here is more concerned about the team leader¡¯s safety than Su Shu. So if Su Shu didn¡¯t stop Lu Qingshan, there must be a reason for it... let¡¯s just watch and see what happens."


    Persuaded by Xiao Zhi¡¯s words, Li Zu gradually calmed down.


    This little hup had no effect on Lu Qingshan¡¯s movements.


    The tip of the Crying Soul Sword pierced into Xu Hao¡¯s chest.


    The body of a Body Cultivator is extremely strong. Even with Xu Hao unconscious and offering no resistance, Lu Qingshan still had to use a bit of strength to drive the Crying Soul Sword in.


    Like a skilled surgeon, Lu Qingshan opened Xu Hao¡¯s chest with a few movements of the Crying Soul Sword.


    Ah!


    Su Shu couldn¡¯t help eximing in shock.


    It turned out not just the surface of the body but Xu Hao¡¯s insides were already filled with ck fog. As soon as Lu Qingshan cut open Xu Hao¡¯s chest, the ck fog, as if finding an outlet, began to spill out continuously.


    Once the ck fog dissipated, Lu Qingshan could see Xu Hao¡¯s still faintly beating heart.


    A Body Cultivator¡¯s heart should beat strong and forcefully, but now it could only flutter weakly as seen, indicating just how dire Xu Hao¡¯s condition had be.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression was stern, a cold light shing in his eyes. An outpouring of Spiritual Power surged, pressing towards Xu Hao¡¯s heart.


    That¡¯s when a pitch-ck imp, no bigger than a fingertip but hideously grotesque, crawled out from Xu Hao¡¯s heart, opening its densely fanged mouth and emitting a screech that was sharper than any before.


    Even with the protection of the Snow Lotus Pill safeguarding his Divine Soul, under this piercing screech, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Divine Soul still suddenly felt a burst of sharp pain.


    This pain was far greater than the earlier devouring of his Divine Sense.


    Under this sonic attack, Li Zu and Xiao Zhi, who had not taken the Snow Lotus Pill and were not far away, cked out for a moment, losing consciousness and slumping to the ground.


    Lu Qingshan, gritting his teeth, endured the pain in his Divine Soul as he flicked the Crying Soul Sword.


    With a sizzling sound.


    The imp was skewered like a candied haw on a stick on the tip of Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword.


    The imp struggled fiercely, opening its mouth to bite the Crying Soul Sword, creating a series of metallic nging sounds.


    Lu Qingshan shook his head.


    Having caught it, there was no reason to let it go.


    Lu Qingshan twisted the sword, churning within the imp¡¯s body. The imp screamed miserably and finally fell silent.


    "Target has been in. You have killed the Ghostly Scream Imp (lv15) and gained 900 experience points!"

 Chapter 80: The Woman Entering the City

    "This is a Ghost Sound Demon, a demon pet bred by the Demon Race, capable of constantly emitting sonic attacks that target a cultivator¡¯s Divine Soul," Lu Qingshan exined to Su Shu.


    The mode of action of the Ghost Sound Demon was usually to release an extremely powerful Ghost Sound Wave attack, and while the cultivator was stunned, it would turn into a clump of ck mist, enter through the cultivator¡¯s ears, and burrow into the cultivator¡¯s heart.


    After that, it would reside inside the cultivator¡¯s heart, continuing its relentless Ghost Sound attacks until itpletely crushed the cultivator¡¯s Divine Soul.


    Then, the Ghost Sound Demon would upy the cultivator¡¯s heart and naturally take control of the cultivator¡¯s Physical Body, turning the cultivator into a Puppet under itsmand.


    This was a demon pet with extremely strange abilities, but if one knew how to deal with it, it was not difficult to eliminate.


    Generally, these types of demons that parasitize someone else¡¯s body all share onemon characteristic: they are extremely fragile by themselves.


    It is precisely because of their fragility that they need a sturdy shell.


    ...


    If it were anyter and the Ghost Sound Demon had fully taken over Xu Hao¡¯s body, the situation would have been different.


    With non-stop sonic attacks coupled with Xu Hao¡¯s strong Physical Body, this Ghost Sound Demon, despite only being level 15, would be exceedingly troublesome and difficult to deal with.


    Fortunately, Xu Hao was still struggling fiercely, so the Ghost Sound Demon couldn¡¯t manipte Xu Hao¡¯s body to mount an effective resistance.


    In such a state, the Ghost Sound Demon was practically a pushover, so Lu Qingshan dealt with the Ghost Sound Demon with rtive ease.


    Once the Ghost Sound Demon died, the piercing scream that caused headaches and shortness of breath also dissipated.


    Xu Hao, who had just been gasping for air and whose chest had been opened by Lu Qingshan, also stabilized his breathing very quickly.


    This was not surprising.


    Foundation Establishment Cultivators were already beyond the realm of ordinary people, with a Recovery Power far exceeding that of normal people, let alone Xu Hao, who was renowned among the six cultivators for his powerful Physical Body.


    Li Zu and Xiao Zhi also hurried over.


    "Is Big Brother Xu alright?" Su Shu¡¯s eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Lu Qingshan with hopeful eyes.


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    Su Shu¡¯s chest heaved dramatically; the heart that had been hanging finally settled down.


    Lu Qingshan nced at Xu Hao and then said, "Now we can treat our captain¡¯s injuries."


    The external injuries suffered by Xu Hao were actually not severe, and they were not inflicted by the enemy.


    ¡ªThey were all caused by Lu Qingshan¡¯s chest-opening surgery.


    Su Shu hurriedly made a Seal Gesture with her hands, and another blue six-petal lotus appeared.


    With the Ghost Sound Demon no longer obstructing, the effects of the Rejuvenation Spirit Art were extremely significant.


    The wound on Xu Hao¡¯s chest was visibly healing at a rapid pace.


    A trace of color also gradually returned to Xu Hao¡¯s pallid face.


    After sweeping his Divine Sense over Xu Hao to check his condition, Lu Qingshan said, "The captain should wake up soon."


    Indeed, just a momentter,


    Xu Hao¡¯s fingers twitched slightly, followed by his eyes slowly opening.


    Xu Hao, who had just awakened, was still a bit confused and wasn¡¯t clear about the situation when he felt a fragrant breeze and was then tightly embraced by a soft body.


    Noticing that Xu Hao had awakened, Su Shu could no longer suppress her emotions and threw herself onto Xu Hao, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, sobbing softly in grievance.


    Xu Hao, who had just narrowly escaped death¡¯s door, was taken aback and stiffened.


    The face that had just regained a flush of color as if rejuvenated, now turned red as a monkey¡¯s buttocks in an instant.


    It seems that the healing effect of a woman¡¯s embrace far surpasses that of High Level Spirit Arts.


    Seeing this scene, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue.


    After a brief stiffness, Xu Hao came back to his senses, hesitated a bit, and then tentatively extended his hand, gently patting Su Shu¡¯s back.


    "I¡¯m fine, aren¡¯t I? No need to cry and whine like a woman..." Xu Hao said, his voice awkward and cautious as heforted her.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    Cough¡ª


    Li Zu, too, couldn¡¯t control himself and let out an awkward cough.


    Then Li Zu felt a chill down his spine.


    He saw Xu Hao with eyes wide open, ring fiercely at Li Zu.


    Li Zu touched his nose awkwardly and quickly changed the subject, "It¡¯s been so long, and we haven¡¯t seen Zhong Ming. He might not have solved it yet, should Xiao Zhi and I go and check?"


    Xiao Zhi quickly nodded in agreement, "That makes sense. I¡¯ll go with you then."


    The two reached an understanding and turned to leave.


    "Wait!" Lu Qingshan called out to them, and they turned back, looking at him with questioning eyes.


    "I¡¯ll go with you and take a look as well," Lu Qingshan said earnestly.


    ...


    He still had enough sense to realize that now was the time to leave the captain and Su Shu alone; he shouldn¡¯t stick around and spoil the mood.


    ...


    The trio, apanied by others, had just flown towards the south for a short while when they saw a ck light shoot towards them rapidly.


    The ck light stopped in front of the three and revealed its figure¡ªit was Zhong Ming.


    Looking puzzled, Zhong Ming gazed at them, "Where are you heading? I just heard several strange howls; did something happen?"


    "Seeing that you were taking so long, we feared you might have encountered some trouble, so we were just about to look for you," Xiao Zhi exined.


    Waving his hand in annoyance, Zhong Ming said, "No need to talk about it. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator I was supposed to kill was very well-equipped, with several defensive artifacts, tough as a turtle shell¡ªit took me quite an effort."


    "Luckily, I finally dealt with him. Now that the mission isplete, how about we find the captain to report back, and then prepare to return?" Zhong Ming suggested.


    Li Zu, Xiao Zhi, and Lu Qingshan exchanged nces. Finally, Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow, smiling lightly, "I think we should linger around Feiyun Peak a bit longer."


    "What¡¯s there to see on this run-down mountain range¡­" Zhong Ming was clueless, but before he could finish, Xiao Zhi pulled him away.


    "If we say we¡¯re going for a stroll, you¡¯ll go for a stroll. We three will apany you, so quit your useless chatter."


    The trio took Zhong Ming, who was unaware of the situation, and flew off into the distance.


    ...


    The fournded halfway up the mountain.


    From there, they could clearly see the lower-grade disciples cleaning up and continuously fleeing because of the recent turmoil.


    "Feiyun Sect is finished," sighed Xiao Zhi upon seeing this scene.


    "All brought upon themselves. When they chose to betray the Human Race and secretlymunicate with the Netherworld, they should have foreseen this consequence," Zhong Ming said coldly.


    "Only those four Foundation Establishment Cultivators colluded with the Netherworld. These disciples knew nothing and are innocent.


    Because of the higher-ups¡¯ wrong decisions, the sect has been destroyed. Without the protection of the sect, the life of a Loose Cultivator is not easy," said Xiao Zhi with some emotion.


    The group fell silent.


    Such is the way of the world; there is no absolute right or wrong.


    Although Xiao Zhi felt emotional, he did not harbor any thoughts of changing the situation.


    ¡­


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I was rash just now." Li Zu, wrestling with his thoughts for a long time, was somewhat embarrassed but eventually approached Lu Qingshan, offering a sincere apology.


    Lu Qingshan had already noticed Li Zu¡¯s difort and, seeing himing to make amends, merely waved his hand indifferently, saying calmly, "It was nothing major, and besides, you acted out of concern for the captain. I didn¡¯t mind at all."


    Li Zu observed Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression and, reassured that Lu Qingshan genuinely didn¡¯t take the earlier Ice Arrow attack to heart, finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    In the future, he and Lu Qingshan were to fight together on the same team, so it was best to address and resolve any conflicts directly to prevent small grievances from festering and leading to greater disasters.


    He understood this principle.


    ...


    After wandering around Feiyun Peak for quite some time and noticing that it was gettingte, the four finally returned.


    Back with Xu Hao, Zhong Ming was stunned by the sight of the devastated battlefield.


    Was the fight on the captain¡¯s side really that intense?


    Xu Hao had regained some of his Element Qi by now and seemed unperturbed, while Su Shu stood beside him, her face yful as ever, revealing no signs of the ordeal.


    Yet, somehow, the atmosphere felt different from when they arrived.


    What was different?


    Perhaps the air held a hint of strangeness.


    Zhong Ming felt confused, wondering to himself.


    ¡­


    Despite some twists and turns, the first mission had been perfectly executed, and Lu Qingshan managed to establish a modicum of trust with the other team members.


    After gathering and tallying the spoils of war, the group rode on Xiao Zhi¡¯s Red Rock Goose back to Zhenjiang City.


    The demise of the Feiyun Sect, which had upied Feiyun Peak, and the ensuing scramble of small families and sects for the territory, were now beyond their knowledge.


    Once in Zhenjiang City, everyone exchanged addresses, made ns to visit one another when free, and after bidding farewell, they went their separate ways.


    Lu Qingshan returned to his own small courtyard.


    As for Xu Hao, he needed to return to Zhenjiang Tower first to hand in the mission.


    ¡­ and also to settle ounts with ck Ice tform, the department responsible for intelligence.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Lu Qingshan, he might have capsized in the gutter, all because of ck Ice tform¡¯s dyed intelligence.


    For such a massive blunder from ck Ice tform, thinking they could get away without paying any price was wishful thinking!


    .....


    A woman with a veil covering her face and a graceful demeanor looked up at the iron-hooked silver writing of the "Zhenjiang City" sign on the city wall.


    She fondly recalled the profound words the young man had said to her not long ago, "If you ever run into trouble, feel free to find me in Zhenjiang City."


    Biting her snow-white teeth against her lower lip, she made up her mind and stepped into the city.


    She hoped that the young man would truly be able to solve her troubles as he promised.

 Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Lu Qingshans Foresight

    As soon as the woman entered the city, her first priority was to find thergest broker organization in Zhenjiang City.


    Seeking an individual in the vast expanse of Zhenjiang City by herself would be akin to finding a needle in the ocean, thus she needed some external help.


    The brokers'' business spanned the entire city, offering a variety of services, including the asional task of locating people.


    Of course, locating those with secretive whereabouts through the broker organization was hardly feasible.


    However, since Lu Qingshan had told her that should she encounter any trouble, she coulde to find him in Zhenjiang City, he obviously wouldn''t be hiding his whereabouts much.


    Therefore, ording to her expectations, she should quickly locate Lu Qingshan through the broker organization.


    What she didn''t expect was that after she exined her purpose and provided information about Lu Qingshan to the middle-aged broker responsible for reception, the broker looked her up and down and suddenly asked, "Are you Miss Lin Yao?"


    Yes, the woman who entered the city was none other than Lin Yao, who had parted ways with Lu Qingshan a month ago.


    Seeing the unfamiliar broker call out her name, a sh of surprise crossed Lin Yao''s face, hidden behind the light veil, "How do you know my name?"


    The middle-aged broker exined, "The Young Master Lu you''re looking for had passed through our organization when he first entered the city and found a good courtyard to rent.


    At that time, he also paid a significant sum of money, specifically instructing us that if a young and beautifuldy named Lin Yao came looking for him, we were to guide Miss Lin to him.


    He even promised additional payment for this, and given Young Master Lu''s generous spending, everyone has been looking forward to Miss Lin''s arrival. It seems my luck is quite good today."


    Pausing briefly, the middle-aged brokerughed heartily and praised Lin Yao without leaving any trace, "I''ve been in this line for many years, and while I may not see through people as if by fire, I do have some insights.


    Though thedy covers her face with a veil and her specific features are unknown, judging by your demeanor, I dare say you must be extraordinarily beautiful¡ªwho else could you be if not Lin Yao as Young Master Lu described?"


    Lin Yao was stunned, and then, remembering the always confident appearance of that handsome youth, she also came to terms with the situation.


    Considering the young man''s way of doing things, this was indeed typical of him.


    "Then please lead the way," said Lin Yao politely.


    The middle-aged broker stood up, leading Lin Yao to the courtyard where Lu Qingshan was temporarily staying.


    ...


    Zhenjiang Tower.


    Dantai Qingrun extended her Divine Sense into the Jade Slip in her hand.


    It was the mission report submitted by Xu Hao.


    After fully understanding the details of Tiger Squad''s Feiyun Sect mission, Dantai Qingrun put down the Jade Slip and unconsciously fell into deep thought.


    Xu Hao had not concealed the mission process, so Lu Qingshan''s crucial role in the affair was clear at a nce.


    Connecting this to what Fei Wa had reported about Lu Qingshan''s impressive performance during the Tiger Squad assessment,


    Dantai Qingrun''s slender jade fingers lightly tapped on the desk, furrowing her brows slightly.


    There were too many suspicious points.


    Just entering the Foundation Establishment and mastering a Secret Sword Technique that even a Golden Core Sword Cultivator might not be able to grasp,


    clearly matched her previous suspicion that Lu Qingshan was a major cultivator undergoing Spirit Possession.


    Yet, in a strangely contradictory manner, Lu Qingshan had also previously sought from her the Dharma of Sword Control Technique and Flying Sword Technique.


    This conflicted irreconcbly with her conjecture.


    Furthermore,


    Zhenjiang warred against the Netherworld for years, documenting the methods of Demon Cultivators extensively.


    Forms like the Crimson me Demon weremon transformations, recorded and memorized by every guardian cultivator.


    Yet the ghostly demon pet was a being she had never heard of before.


    Lu Qingshan, however, was highly knowledgeable about this ghostly demon''s techniques.


    Remembering the secret information about the Netherworld that Lu Qingshan had previously provided,


    it seemed as if countless tumultuous secrets were hidden within this youth.


    Lu Qingshan, just how many secrets are you still hiding?


    Dantai Qingrun''s eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint flickering in her pupils.


    Coming to her senses, Dantai Qingrun looked towards Xu Hao, standing upright like a pine tree in front of the desk.


    "You have worked hard on this mission. I will pursue thepse at ck Ice tform for you and ensure a satisfactory resolution for your Tiger Squad," despite Dantai Qingrun''s calm expression, her tone carried a hint of coldness.


    Xu Hao respectfully bowed to Dantai Qingrun, "Thank you, Vice Tower Master."


    ...


    Lin Yao, following the middle-aged broker, arrived at a serene courtyard.


    "This is where Young Master Lu is currently residing."


    The middle-aged broker introduced Lin Yao and then walked forward, lightly knocking on the courtyard gate and calling softly, "Is Young Master Lu here?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It was only a moment before the gate was opened from the inside.


    Lu Qingshan looked at Lin Yao outside the door, his face showing no surprise, but rather a smile emerged, "Miss Lin has arrived."


    This attitude and tone were as if he was greeting an old friend who had informed him of their visit in advance.


    Lin Yao greeted Lu Qingshan with a slight bow, her face smiling slightly, "It''s been a long time, Young Master Lu."


    Lu Qingshan took out a few spiritual stones from his Storage Ring and handed them to the middle-aged broker, politely saying, "Thank you for your efforts."


    The middle-aged broker joyfully epted the spiritual stones, showing keen judgment, and immediately took his leave, saying, "Thank you, Young Master Lu. I will take my leave and not disturb you and Miss Lin from catching up."


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    After the middle-aged broker had left, Lu Qingshan stepped aside, making way for Lin Yao, "Come in and let''s talk."


    ...


    Inside the room.


    Lu Qingshan calmly brewed a cup of spiritual tea for Lin Yao,


    Lin Yao took the teacup, hesitated for a moment, and then gently lifted her veil she had worn since childhood.


    Below the veil was a face of stunning beauty.


    This was expected, for anyone discerning enough could guess from Lin Yao''s graceful figure and beautiful eyes that beneath the veil was a striking beauty.


    However, Lu Qingshan''s expression was still, like a monk detached from desires.


    ¡ªIn the game, female NPCs who hold any significance, unless they have a specific design, are generally beauties beyondpare, which seems to have be amon urrence.


    After all, ny-nine percent of yers are visual creatures.


    And catering to the consumer market has always been an iron rule to be followed in game production.


    Even a blockbuster like "Nine Heavens" is no exception.


    Thus, in the game of his previous life, seeing women NPCs with extraordinary beauty like Lin Yao was nothing unusual for Lu Qingshan.


    Having been influenced over many years, Lu Qingshan found Lin Yao''s beauty astonishing, but to say it caused any emotional disturbance, was in fact hardly significant.


    Lin Yao''s beautiful eyes flickered as she picked up the teacup and sipped the spiritual tea, then slowly began, "Young Master Lu, you previously mentioned that I could seek your help if I faced any troubles. I wonder if that offer still stands?"


    Lu Qingshan also took a small sip of the tea and calmly responded, "It certainly stands. Just, how big is this trouble?"


    "If it involves a Golden Core Cultivator, I wonder if Young Master Lu can handle it?" Lin Yao put down her teacup, her gaze intensively fixed on Lu Qingshan''s face, as if trying to see any change in his expression.


    "Oh?" Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow slightly, "Is it Daoist Qianhe from the Qianhe Sect or True Person Xing Yu from the Xing Family?"


    Lin Yao looked somewhat bewildered, "Young Master Lu truly anticipated this."


    Lu Qingshan kept his expression unchanged but did not borate to Lin Yao how he had foreseen the trouble she would encounter.


    Since he wanted Lin Yao to serve him, maintaining a certain air of mystery in front of her was necessary.


    As for the specific cause, it was not particrly clever.


    Being one of the key strategists behind the scenes at the City Lord''s Mansion of Yuanshan City, he was naturally clear about the multitude of sects in the vicinity of Yuanshan City involved with the Netherworld.


    These sects that had once connected with the Netherworld would inevitably not escape the purge by Zhenjiang Tower.


    With so many sects and families falling, correspondingly, a batch of new sect powers would rise immediately.


    The turnover of power in the Cultivation World is just so cruel and swift.


    Under the previously stable situation in Yuanshan City, some powers, although always harboring ambitions, ultimately did not dare act recklessly to break the bnce.


    ¡ªOnce they became the target of public criticism, without absolute strength, it would definitely not bode well.


    Thus, the Lin Family was still able to live safely in their own corner, managing their Blue Light ore mine.


    But now, with all the major blessednds around Yuanshan City facing redistribution and a reshuffling of powers,


    In such chaos, a small family like the Lin Family with only one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, hoping to still live peacefully was absolutely impossible.


    Not to mention, the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Lin Family was nearing his end.


    The Lin Family then undoubtedly became a tempting piece of fat meat, something everyone wanted to bite into.


    Given Lu Qingshan''s understanding of the Cultivation World, it was without doubt that the Lin Family was facing a great disaster.


    This was why he had left such words for Lin Yao initially.


    As for being precise about Daoist Qianhe and True Person Xing Yu, there was really nothing more to say about that.


    Apart from the Myriad Treasures Tower and Earth Fiend Pavilion involved with the Netherworld, only Qianhe Sect and the Xing Family each had a Golden Core Cultivator around Yuanshan City.


    Daoist Qianhe and True Person Xing Yu were the only two surviving Golden Core Cultivators amongst the overt sect powers in Yuanshan City.

 Chapter 82: Chapter 82 Lu Family Makes a Move

    Lu Qingshan set down his teacup and said to Lin Yao, "Let''s discuss the details."


    Lin Yao gritted her teeth with hatred, "It''s Xing Yu of the Xing Family..."


    It wasn''t much different from what Lu Qingshan had expected.


    As many sect powers in Yuanshan City toppled, the surrounding area has been in a state of chaos for some time, with various forces vying for resources and spirit vein blessednds.


    With a Golden Core Cultivator each, Qianhe Sect and Xing Family naturally became the two titans of Yuanshan City.


    These two giants devoured a massive amount of resources from the fallen sect powers, growing rapidly in strength.


    Ordinarily, the Lin Family''s modest assets shouldn''t be coveted by these two great powers.


    But human greed knows no bounds.


    Besides, both the Xing Family and Qianhe Sect were well aware that if they missed this opportunity to expand their power without restraint, they might have to wait indefinitely for another such chance.


    Therefore, both powers would definitely want to take full advantage of this golden opportunity to make a fortune.


    ¡ªWhether they could digest these resources was another matter; securing them was certainly the right move.


    And in the Cultivation World, if one wanted to annex other weaker families, resorting to force was always the most basic approach.


    Apart from overwhelming military strength, there were many ways to take over without shedding blood.


    Consequently, the Xing Family sent a marriage proposal to the Lin Family, expressing Xing Yu''s desire to take Lin Yao as his concubine.


    "They say they want to take me as a concubine, but their true intentions are elsewhere.


    Once our Lin Family agrees to this marriage proposal, then the Xing Family will naturally take over our nest and seize control of our assets," Lin Yao said, clearly understanding the hidden implication of the proposal, and added indignantly, "Besides, that Xing Yu is already an old Golden Core of more than four hundred years¡ª who would want to be his concubine!"


    "But the Xing Family is much more powerful than the Lin Family, so we dare not refuse them, and that''s why..." Lin Yao''s moist eyes turned to Lu Qingshan.


    "They want to reap both people and wealth; the Xing Family sure is ying a good game.


    But they''re just a small family with a single Golden Core after all," Lu Qingshan said indifferently, "It''s not hard to resolve; just leave it to me."


    The Xing family might be one of the two titans in Yuanshan City, but in his eyes, they were truly not worth much.


    At present, he had at least three strategies in mind to deal with Lin Yao''s problem.


    After a brief consideration in his mind, Lu Qingshan quickly settled on a n.


    ...


    At the Lu Family on Mihe Peak.


    Inside Qingping Hall.


    "What disaster has the Great Elder brought upon us this time?" Lu Bei entered the hallst, his brow furrowing upon seeing Lu Yuan and Lu Zhou already seated.


    Lu Zhou raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a hint of dissatisfaction, and with a wave of his hand, he sent a Jade Slip toward Lu Bei as a streak of green light.


    "It''s your son''s handy work!" Lu Zhou said.


    Surprised by Lu Zhou''s words, Lu Bei caught the Jade Slip casually and probed it with his Divine Sense.


    It turned out to be a message from Lu Qingshan, sent from Zhenjiang City, seeking help.


    Lu Qingshan was asking the Lu Family to intervene and subdue the Xing Family of Yuanshan City in order to make Xing Yu retract his marriage proposal.


    Lu Yuan exined in a solemn voice, "We inquired about the details. Lin Yao, the daughter of the Lin Family head, arrived in Zhenjiang City from Yuanshan City yesterday to find Lu Qingshan.


    After meeting with Lu Qingshan, he sent us this message requesting help, and then Lin Yao stayed at Lu Qingshan''s ce."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Lu Qingshan had spent a brief period in Yuanshan City; that must be when he formed some bonds with the Lin Family."


    Lu Bei''s gaze flickered.


    "So your son really is your flesh and blood, eh? Ready to have our family face off against a Golden Core Cultivator over a woman¡ªyour roguish streak seems to have been inherited by him," Lu Zhou said with a sneer.


    Lu Beiughed nonchntly, "So, are you going to help or not?"


    After a moment of silence, Lu Yuan spoke up, "Real Person Xing Yu is nothing but a weak Golden Core. If our Lu Family steps in, I doubt he would dare not to give us face."


    Lu Zhou snorted coldly and continued, "Since it''s just a simple effort to lift a finger to help him, it''s not a bad idea to do so.


    It also will serve as a lesson to that young man who doesn''t know the immensity of heaven and earth, and make him realize not to look down on his own family just because he has some skills.


    He was so arrogant in front of us the other day, iming that he didn''t need the resources of the Lu Family. Now that he''s in trouble, he still needs to ask for help from the family, doesn''t he?"


    Lu Bei showed a knowing expression, "Since you''ve already made your decision, why did you even call me here?"


    Naturally, Lu Bei knew Lu Yuan and Lu Zhou''s temperament quite well.


    With Lu Qingshan''s performance, although it wasn''t openly acknowledged, they surely regarded Lu Qingshan as the future cornerstone of the Lu Family.


    But facing Lu Qingshan, who seemed even harder to handle than himself, Lu Yuan and Lu Zhou were indeed very worried in their hearts.


    To make a future great Cultivator willingly wield his power for the family, it couldn''t be achieved through force but rather had to be done by granting favors like this, tying him to the family through bonds of affection, so Lu Qingshan would volunteer his strength for the Lu Family in the future.


    This rare opportunity for Lu Qingshan to actively seek their help¡ªhow could they not extend a hand?


    Seeing Lu Bei growing somewhat impatient, Lu Yuan chuckled, "The reason we called you is, of course, that we have a task for you. Since it involves your son, you, Qing Ling, might as well make a trip to Yuanshan City."


    With that, Lu Yuan, without waiting for Lu Bei to react, waved his long sleeve and left along with Lu Zhou.


    Watching the quickly departing figures of the pair, Lu Bei felt somewhat helpless.


    Those two old foxes sure had a lot of sly thoughts.


    Fiddling with the Jade Slip in his hand, Lu Bei''s gaze drifted, lost in thought.


    After a while, Lu Bei chuckled to himself, "Well then, I might as well take this trip. This bottleneck at the Golden Core Middle Stage has held me back for quite some time now.


    Meditating in seclusion probably won''t solve the issue, so perhaps a walk about could lead to some fortuitous opportunity that might just break through this bottleneck."


    Lu Bei''s hands radiated Spiritual Light, clearly indicating he had already reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core Middle Stage.


    ...


    The day after Lu Qingshan reached out for help from the Lu Family, he received a reply from them.


    "Real Person Qing Ling has already set out for Yuanshan City."


    Lu Qingshan smiled slightly.


    This was the method he felt most at ease with for resolving his problem.


    If the Lu Family could tolerate a flirtatious person like Real Person Qing Ling, Lu Bei, they could certainly tolerate Lu Qingshan.


    There was no likelihood that the Lu Family would refuse to stand up for Lu Qingshan.


    Besides, while the Xing Family in Yuanshan City was a giant entity, it truly wasn''t much in the eyes of the long-established Lu Family.


    The Golden Core Cultivators of the Lu Family have never ceased for nearly a thousand years; they''re a family with profound capabilities to nurture Golden Core Cultivators.


    In contrast, the Xing Family had to rely on immense luck to asionally produce one or two Golden Core Cultivators.


    The two were not even in the same league.


    Given the nature of that old fox Lu Zhou, he would definitely not turn away an affair that was just a simple effort to make yet would owe the Lu Family a big favor.


    .....


    The next day.


    Lin Yao left Lu Qingshan''s courtyard and went to the Great Xia Commercial Firm in Zhenjiang City.


    She nned to use the firm''s channels to rapidly send a message back to Yuanshan City, informing her father that she had found powerful support in Zhenjiang City and that he need not worry.


    But before she could send her message, the Great Xia Commercial Firm presented her with thetestmunication from the Lin Family in Yuanshan City.


    Immediately, Lin Yao''s heart skipped a beat.


    Nothing has happened to the family during these few days of her absence, has it?

 Chapter 83: Chapter 83 New Skills

    Lin Yao''s heart was uneasy, fearing it might be bad news. With an anxious expression, she took the jade slip that contained the message from an attendant of the Great Xia Commercial Firm and read the information inside.


    Afterward, an extremelyplex expression appeared on Lin Yao''s face, which contained joy, surprise, and other indescribable special meanings.


    Regaining herposure, Lin Yao quickly paid a sum of Spirit Stones and left a message, entrusting it to the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    The Great Xia Commercial Firm would use its own channels to quickly send this message back to Zhenjiang City.


    Later, personnel from the Great Xia Commercial Firm in Zhenjiang City would personally deliver Lin Yao''s message to the Lin Family.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ...


    Shortly after Lin Yao had left, Lu Qingshan''s courtyard weed a new group of visitors.


    It was Tiger Squad''s Su Shu and Xu Hao.


    Lu Qingshan looked meaningfully at the man and woman in front of him, whose hands were intertwined in what seemed like an excessively intimate gesture.


    Under Lu Qingshan''s scrutinizing gaze, Su Shu still maintained herposure with a smile.


    On the other hand, the tall and burly Xu Hao felt very ufortable under Lu Qingshan''s intense gaze, and his face even stiffened a bit.


    Nevertheless, Xu Hao didn''t dare to withdraw his hand, which was being held, and he just awkwardly touched his nose.


    Su Shu rolled her eyes at Xu Hao and exined to Lu Qingshan, "Xu Big Brother and I specially came here to thank you for saving our livesst time."


    Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow nonchntly and teased, "Apart from being your captain, he is also my captain."


    "When the captain is in trouble, helping out is just part of being a team member. There''s nothing to thank me for."


    Xu Hao, who was straightforward by nature, didn''t bother with formalities with Lu Qingshan and took out a green jade slip from his storage ring, handing it to Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan was somewhat surprised, "What is this?"


    Xu Hao said in a grave voice, "After I reported the details to the Tower, the vice Tower Master personally stepped in to support us and confronted the ck Ice tform for ountability."


    "Under pressure, the ck Ice tform had to bleed heavily this time to settle things down. This is one of the costs they had to pay."


    "It''s a technique that I think you will like."


    "Oh?!"


    A thought crossed Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    Currently, his sword technique system, at least in his own view, was extremely rudimentary and simplistic.


    As of now, what he could boast about the most was his explosive power, which far surpasses that of cultivators of the same cultivation level.


    The Crying Soul Sword''s ability of Soul Shock, coupled with the instant binding effect produced by the Secret Sword: Wind sh and the Falling Bright Sword Technique, formed a series of chain control that would allow Lu Qingshan to instantly kill most cultivators at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Powerful as such!


    This set of explosive techniques for ying could already be considered an independent system of offensive techniques.


    However, Lu Qingshan also knew that although his sword technique system seemed invincible for now, he still had many major issues to resolve when facing cultivators with different approaches.


    His battles during this period seemed very smooth, but that was only because he had not encountered any cultivators who could exploit his weaknesses.


    In fact, even in his best area of offense, there were still many deficiencies.


    Firstly, all his skills were single-target attacks, making him extremely fearful of being ganged up on.


    In the Cultivation World, not to mention others, just speaking of Beast Cultivators, they werergely considered his natural nemesis.


    If it were like Xiao Zhi from the Tiger Squad, who followed a route of having fewer but stronger beast pets, he was not particrly afraid; at worst, he would just end it with one strike.


    But once he encountered a Beast Cultivator who used the swarm approach, with strange tactics like swarms of bees, insects, or simr creatures overwhelming by their numbers, Lu Qingshan would really be at a loss.


    ¡ªNo matter how strong his sword techniques were, or how fast his Flying Swords were, he simply could not sh through swarms thatrge.


    Therefore, learning a group attack technique to deal with this kind of situation was an essential requirement for a Sword Cultivator.


    The best and mostmon mass attack skills for Sword Cultivators totaled two.


    Sword Light Differentiation, and Sword Qi into Threads.


    The issue was that to reach such a level with Sword Light and Sword Qi, the Sword Cultivator''s Divine Soul must not be weak, nearly needing to meet the standard of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    Before obtaining the spell to train one''s Divine Sense, or reaching Golden Core, researching Sword Light and Sword Qi would be extremely inefficient and the gains would notpensate for the losses.


    Thus, he could only put aside these two skills for the time being.


    Beyond this, he alsocked an Escape Technique.


    Although he already possessed the Sword Control Technique, an Escape Technique, it was mainly used for kitingbined with Flying Sword Technique.


    What he needed was a specialized close-range Escape Technique to fulfill the mobility requirements when executing closebat sword techniques.


    Last and most importantly, he needed a set of Defensive Sword Technique.


    If anyone believed that as a Sword Cultivator, the best at fighting among the six types of Cultivators, one could neglect defense and devote oneself entirely to offense, they certainly hadn''t been brutalized by the real world yet.


    In his past life, Lu Qingshan had seen plenty of such people.


    At the start of the game''s public test, there was a considerable number of Sword Cultivator yers who advocated one view: as a Sword Cultivator, even if it means death, one should not learn defensive skills, as it went against a Sword Cultivator''s faith.


    The result was that these yers, after dying dozens of times, finally admitted, "Ah, it''s really necessary for a Sword Cultivator to learn a defensive skill."


    ...


    Generally speaking, professions with low health, like Dharma Cultivation and Spiritual Cultivation, have one thing inmon: during Magical Combat, they need to control the distance, attacking from afar with Techniques and Spirit Arts to avoid damage.


    But Sword Cultivators are different.


    In "Nine Heavens", Sword Cultivators are seen as a major trap for rookie yers because, as frail as they arepared to Dharma and Spiritual Cultivators, they often need to recklessly engage enemies up close to deal damage.


    Moreover, unlike assassins who sneak up silently behind their target and strike, sessful or not, to then quickly escape thousands of miles, Sword Cultivators tended to dive headlong into throngs of enemies.


    As long as the target isn''t dead, there is no talk of retreating.


    The difficulty of these operations goes without saying.


    Sword Cultivators, with their low health and often dancing on the edge of a knife, has made them one of the most highlighted and skilled sses in "Nine Heavens".


    But, for this reason, defensive swordsmanship became critically important for Sword Cultivators.


    If you want to show off, first get your Defensive Sword Technique to max level.


    It might be manageable in singlebat, but once ites to massive battles,cking a refined Defensive Sword Technique would only describe a Sword Cultivator''s participation with two words:


    Aplete waste!


    So it''s strangely enough that, as a profession known for high damage output, the depth of defensive skills paradoxically became a crucial yardstick to differentiate rookies from advanced yers.


    Merely attempting to initially build a swordsmanship system showed just how many Techniques needed to be learned.


    Moreover, considerable time was required daily to practice Cultivation Techniques, enhance Cultivation level, and also to spend time nurturing one''s Life-bound Sword.


    Thus, most Sword Cultivators faced a severe issue¡ªthere simply wasn''t enough energy to go around.


    And for yers, the problem transformed into¡ªnot having enough Experience Points.


    To cover all aspects and strengthen oneself in every area, one needed too many Experience Points; thus, yers generally had to make sacrifices among these various skills.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan received the Jade Slip and sent his Divine Sense into it.


    A row of data information came into view.

 Chapter 84 Formless Sword Escape

    "Formless Sword Escape"


    Activation Condition: Can only be activated through a Sword Artifact.


    Description: A Sword Cultivator''s escape technique, a dash skill, with a maximum level of 20.


    Pre-requisite for learning: Cultivation must reach Foundation Establishment, must have mastered Flying Sword Technique.


    Skill Effect: After activating this skill, the Sword Cultivator can briefly fly a short distance alongside the flying sword.


    Additional Exnation: The speed of Formless Sword Escape depends on the Sword Cultivator''s own flying sword speed; the skill level only affects the distance of flight apanying the flying sword.


    ...


    This was a close-range escape technique, an essential skill for Lu Qingshan as he sought to build aplete system of swordsmanship.


    As Xu Hao had said, Lu Qingshan indeed liked this skill a lot.


    Formless Sword Escape was also somewhat renowned in his previous life.


    Once this escape technique was deployed, a cultivator could fly closely adherent to the sword under the cover of sword light, giving this skill another nickname¡ªthe budget version of ''Unity of Body and Sword.''


    The might of Unity of Body and Sword naturally went without saying.


    The Formless Sword Escape could momentarily elevate a Sword Cultivator''s speed to the same level as the speed of the flying sword.


    What was this concept?


    With Lu Qingshan''s current cultivation, even if he deployed the renowned Sword Control Technique for speed, the limit of his speed was only one-fifth the speed of sound.


    Yet his flying sword''s speed had already achieved a third of the speed of sound.


    That meant, under the effect of Formless Sword Escape, his speed would reach the terrifying realm of sixty percent of the speed of sound.


    Even if it was only moving a short distance, it was still extremely practical.


    To surge forward at a speed faster than any technique to close in on an opponent, among his peers, only an extraordinary cultivator could have measures to cope.


    After mastering this skill, his system for instant kills would also be more perfect.


    Of course, if this speed were used to suddenly break away from closebat and then to employ Sword Control Technique to flee, it would also certainly be incredibly sharp.


    Xu Haoughed, "The ck Ice tform, to suppress this matter, not onlypensated me with many Spirit Stones but also allowed me to select a technique from the Tower''s treasury. I just happened to see this Dharma."


    "For a cultivator practicing this Dharma, the more profound their Flying Sword Technique, the stronger this Dharma bes. We have all seen your flying sword''s speed; you are definitely extremely suitable for this technique.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Furthermore, considering that your Secret Sword Technique also requires closebat to deploy, if you master this close-range escape technique, it will certainly add wings to the tiger, so I conveniently secured it for you."


    As a top force within the Human Race, the Tower''s treasury had an extremely rich storage of Cultivation Techniques and techniques.


    But Dharma is not lightly bestowed; only Tower cultivators who have established great achievements or umted enough contributions were allowed to choose one or two divine techniques from the treasury.


    "Then, thank you, Captain," Lu Qingshan formally expressed his gratitude to Xu Hao.


    Such a fitting Dharma was clearly not as Xu Hao had said, just conveniently obtained.


    It was definitely specially chosen by Xu Hao for him.


    To select a divine ability technique from the Tower''s precious treasury, Xu Hao did not choose a desired Dharma for himself but used the opportunity for him, choosing this "Formless Sword Escape" for him.


    This was already a very great gesture.


    "What''s there to thank me for, it''s just a trivial matter. It''s nothingpared to your life-saving grace." Xu Hao casually waved his hand.


    ...


    Lin Yao left the Great Xia Commercial Firm with a heavy heart and made her way back to Lu Qingshan''s courtyard.


    She lingered outside the gate of the courtyard for a long time and, finally making up her mind, she gritted her teeth and pushed the door open.


    All eyes in the room simultaneously turned towards her.


    Lin Yao was taken aback.


    She hadn''t expected there to be others present.


    Apart from Lu Qingshan, there was unexpectedly another man and woman in the room.


    The three were sitting at the table, sipping Spiritual Tea, looking as if they were enjoying a pleasant conversation.


    From the looks of it, this man and woman were likely friends of Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan was receiving visitors.


    Lin Yao felt somewhat embarrassed about her abrupt intrusion.


    The three of them hadn''t deliberately concealed their voices or movements. With the senses of a Qi Refining Cultivator, she should have realized at the door that there was more than one person inside.


    However, preupied with concerns, she had failed to notice this situation and had recklessly barged in.


    Su Shu nced at Lin Yao and silently praised her appearance, then with a teasing look toward Lu Qingshan, she joked, "Is this Qingshan, your Dao Companion? She''s really pretty, indeed a good match for you, Qingshan."


    Upon hearing Su Shu say this, Lin Yao, who had intended to leave, blushed and hurriedly exined, "I''m not his Dao Companion..."


    Lu Qingshan''s expression remained unchanged as he calmly took a sip of Spiritual Tea and asked, "Captain, when do you and Su Shu n to announce your Dao Companion ceremony? I need to prepare a gift."


    Exining things to Su Shu would provoke her more.


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan, sparing no feelings, dealt a finishing blow.


    Hearing Lu Qingshan''s question, Su Shu was stunned, and she stole a nce at Xu Hao, who was as expressionless as a piece of wood. Biting her lip, she stuttered unusually, "It''s not what you think between the Captain and me..."


    ¡ªAlmost identical to Lin Yao''s terrible line.


    Seeing Su Shu looking so carefully nervous, Xu Hao stroked his chin and took the initiative to reply in a gentle voice, "It will be a while yet. There''s a major operationing up soon in the Tower; it seems there will be a big action soon.


    Once this is over, I will formally establish the Dao Companion bond with Su Shu."


    "Don''t worry, your congrattory gift won''t be overlooked."


    Xu Hao and Su Shu had harbored feelings for each other for a long time.


    Previously, Xu Hao had hesitated to act, uncertain of Su Shu''s feelings toward him.


    Although Su Shu appeared bold, in reality, she was like an ostrich regarding her own emotions.


    Thus, these two lovers had been interacting as teammates and friends for so long.


    It was not until a life-and-death crisis a few days ago, when Su Shu inadvertently revealed her feelings, that the thin barrier between them was finally pierced.


    After this incident, Xu Hao realized the importance of cherishing those close to him.


    As a Cultivator, one faced countless dangers. Lu Qingshan had saved him thest time, but would there be another Lu Qingshan to save him next time?


    If there was something he wanted to do, he should not hesitate, lest he regret itter.


    And now, what he wanted most was to establish a Dao Companion bond with Su Shu.


    Without hesitation, Xu Hao gave a formal promise.


    Hearing Xu Hao''s promise, Su Shu remained silent for a long time.


    Xu Hao looked at Su Shu in confusion and noticed that her eyes had inexplicably reddened at some point


    Xu Hao immediately became flustered, unsure of what to do.


    ...


    "Oh right, the Captain and I came to see you also to talk about this," Sniffing her nose, Su Shu finally exined to Lu Qingshan, "The Dantai Tower Master said we will have a new mission in a few days.


    Though we don''t know the specific details of the mission, it''s a group task involving all the watch guards.


    Such arge-scale mission must be something significant. Prepare well and be ready to move at any moment."


    Lu Qingshan''s mind stirred, and he nodded in response, "I understand."


    Although the two of them didn''t know the specifics of the mission, Lu Qingshan was fully aware.


    ¡ªHe had been passing on information to Qingrun Dantai for so long about the price increase of the three First Grade Spirit Materials needed for refining the strong corpse liquid. With the power of the Dantai Tower, they should have looked into the matter thoroughly by now. It was time to prepare for the roundup.


    Having exined what needed to be addressed, Su Shu stood up with Xu Hao and took their leave, "Then the Captain and I will leave now and not disturb you."


    Lu Qingshan nodded in agreement.


    As they were leaving, Xu Hao nced at Lin Yao and unexpectedly added, "Seeing how things are, I seem to need to prepare a gift for you too, Qingshan."


    With the shrewdness of Xu Hao and Su Shu, they could naturally see that Lin Yao and Lu Qingshan did not have that kind of rtionship.


    The reason they teased Lin Yao and Lu Qingshan was...


    Su Shu did it merely because she found it amusing and wanted to tease Lu Qingshan.


    As for Xu Hao, he was clearly doing it to vent on behalf of Su Shu.


    Lu Qingshan smirked and didn''t take the matter further with Xu Hao.

 Chapter 85 Seeing Qi Yuan Again

    Su Shu and Xu Hao left, leaving only Lu Qingshan and Lin Yao, who was visibly uneasy due to Xu Hao''s words, in the room.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned somewhat eerie.


    Still too young, ah, not mentally tough enough.


    Lu Qingshan silently shook his head, assessing in his mind.


    As the possessor of the Phantom Body Divine Vein, Lu Qingshan had high expectations for Lin Yao: the acting skills of an Oscar-winning actor and the mental fortitude to remain unfazed even if Mount Tai were to copse in front of her.


    Lin Yao currently possessed neither of these qualities.


    ...


    "I was distracted just now¡­ that''s why I didn''t notice the situation and barged in," Lin Yao''s exnation carried a trace of panic.


    "What happened?" Lu Qingshan asked intently, staring at Lin Yao''s face.


    A troubled look like Lin Yao''s was a clear sign to anyone that something was amiss.


    But, wearing one''s heart on one''s face like that simply wouldn''t do.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    Given his expectations for Lin Yao, she was currently far too naive.


    Lin Yao bit her lower lip gently, "My father sent word to tell me that the trouble at home has been resolved.


    He said that a Golden Core Cultivator from the Lu Family of Zhenjiang City, Qing Ling, paid a visit to the Xing Family yesterday, and afterwards, Real Person Xing Yu retracted the marriage proposal."


    Retracting the proposal meant the Xing Family had abandoned their n to merge with the Lin Family.


    Moreover, once word spread about the Lu Family''s backing of the Lin Family, even if the power re-shuffling within Yuanshan City turned chaotic again, the Lin Family would remain unscathed.


    Even utilizing the tiger''s skin that was the Lu Family, it was not impossible for the Lin Family to reap some benefits from the situation.


    Lu Family, Lu Family, and Lu Qingshan, who also bore the surname Lu¡ªthe connection between them was self-evident.


    Lin Yao simply hadn''t expected Lu Qingshan''s standing within the Lu Family to be so high?


    That he couldmand the intervention of a family Golden Core Cultivator without even showing up in person.


    And the Lu Family''s response was so swift; she had reached out to Lu Qingshan for help in Zhenjiang City the day before yesterday.


    And just one dayter, the Lin Family''s crisis was effortlessly averted.


    Lu Qingshan was reassured in his heart.


    The Lu Family''s actions were indeed efficient.


    After a long silence, the spiritual light in Lin Yao''s eyes finally focused, and she bowed gently to Lu Qingshan, softly saying, "Young Master Lu''s intervention this time will be forever remembered by the Lin Family.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    If Young Master Lu does not despise me for my low cultivation, I am willing to serve Young Master Lu to repay the kindness of saving me twice."


    Some things don''t need to be spelled out too explicitly.


    There is no free lunch in the world, and Lu Qingshan is no saint; he wouldn''t exhaust his personal connections for Lin Yao for nothing.


    Since Lin Yao sought Lu Qingshan''s help, she naturally had to pay a price.


    With Lu Qingshan''s wealth, apart from Lin Yao, who possesses the Phantom Body Divine Vein, what else could make Lu Qingshan interested?


    Not to mention that Lu Qingshan had already revealed his intention to recruit Lin Yao to his service earlier that morning.


    Lin Yao also understood this principle, so she had been prepared for this from the beginning.


    Watching Lin Yao bowing, Lu Qingshan nodded slightly and smiled lightly, "In my eyes, even a Golden Core Cultivator is far less valuable than you."


    Lin Yao pursed her lips, unsure how to respond to Lu Qingshan''s affirmation.


    Lu Qingshan tapped his fingers on the table, pondered for a moment, and then spoke, "Come with me to meet someone tomorrow."


    Lin Yao nodded in agreement without inquiring who they were going to meet.


    Having submitted to Lu Qingshan, she needed to maintain the proper attitude; whatever Lu Qingshan arranged would be epted without question.


    After arranging what needed to be instructed, Lin Yao withdrew.


    Lu Qingshan did not linger in the room for long but shed into the backyard and took out the Jade Slip given by Xu Hao from his Storage Ring.


    "Skill detected [Formless Sword Escape], would you like to spend 500 Experience Points to learn it?"


    "Learn!"


    "Experience Points -500, learning [Formless Sword Escape]... Progress 15%...50%...99%..."


    In an instant, he mastered the Formless Sword Escape.


    With a thought from Lu Qingshan, the Crying Soul Sword emerged from the Storage Ring, his finger flicking slightly.


    Whoosh!


    The Flying Sword shot out, with the Spiritual Light flickering.


    What was astonishing was that the moment the Flying Sword was released, Lu Qingshan, standing in the courtyard, instantly vanished without a trace.


    After a breath''s time, in the mid-air where the Flying Sword had reached, Lu Qingshan''s figure then appeared.


    This was the effect of the Formless Sword Escape, unseen and swift!


    Twenty zhang?


    Lu Qingshan murmured.


    After a brief test, he had obtained urate information.


    The Level 1 Formless Sword Escape allowed him to move along with the Flying Sword for a distance of twenty zhang.


    A distance that was neither long nor short but decidedly significant.


    Although he was keen on improving the Flying Sword Technique and the Formless Sword Escape Skill Level further, he restrained the thought after ncing at the remaining 2,500 Experience Points in the experience bar.


    Compared to Skill Level, what he needed more at the moment was to enhance his Cultivation.


    The reason was simple: as his Skills increased, his Spiritual Power was no longer sufficient; he needed to level up to increase his Spiritual Power.


    With every level advanced in the Foundation Establishment Stage, one could increase the maximum Spiritual Power Value by 100 points, which was almost equivalent to the total Spiritual Power Value provided by the entire Qi Refinement Realm.


    This was also the strength of the Returning Ruins Scripture as a Taoist Level Cultivation Technique.


    One should know that with ordinary Cultivation Techniques, advancing a level in the Foundation Establishment Stage would only increase the maximum Spiritual Power Value by about 50 points at most.


    Of course, as a trade-off, the Experience Points required for Lu Qingshan to level up also doubled. Merely to advance the Returning Ruins Scripture from Level 1 to Level 2 required a full 4,000 Experience Points.


    ...


    This was a high building constructed in an ancient and unique style, facing east with its foundation encircled by elongated stones and the whole building made of pure wood. The entire structure used not a single nail or rivet but relied solely on interlocking woodenponents.


    The roof eaves stretched out far, supported by square wooden blocks.


    These square blocks, known as Dou Gong, had aplex structure and exquisite craftsmanship, almost beyond human capabilities.


    Lu Qingshan looked up at the que hanging high on the top of the building.


    Zhenjiang Guardian, four mboyantly written gilded characters were engraved upon it.


    This was the Heavenly Secret Tower unique to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, a distinctive architectural integration of Formations and ingenious designs, and also Qi Yuan''s Daoist site in Zhenjiang City.


    The Heavenly Secret Tower provided a significant boost not only to cultivation but also to divination.


    Lin Yao, who stood half a step behind Lu Qingshan, gazed at the Heavenly Secret Tower before her, her red lips slightly parted, utterly stunned in her heart.


    Lu Qingshan had said he would take her to meet someone, and she hadn''t thought much of it, just followed Lu Qingshan as he set out.


    Who could have imagined, after numerous twists and turns, that Lu Qingshan would eventually bring her here?


    The Zhenjiang Guardian was among the very top echelons in all of Zhenjiang City in terms of both status and Cultivation!


    She had thought that the Lu Family backing was the most conspicuous aspect of Lu Qingshan, but now it seemed that might just be the tip of the iceberg?


    "Is it Lu Qingshan?" A young Cultivator in a green Taoist robe came out from the tower.


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "It is I."


    The young Cultivator nced at Lin Yao, a hint of surprise in his heart.


    Given Lin Yao''s position, she was obviously in the role of a maidservant or something simr to Lu Qingshan.


    Just the looks of a mere maidservant were already amongst the rarest beauties he hade across in his life.


    To have such a follower, Lu Qingshan''s background seemed to rise another level in the young man''s mind.


    Though his heart fluttered with many thoughts in an instant, the young Cultivator''s hands did not cease his duties: "Come inside with me, the True Person has been waiting."


    Without any doubt, Lu Qingshan called out to Lin Yao, "Come, let''s go in and meet Guardian Qi."


    Lin Yao hurriedly followed.


    After traversing through theplexyer of cloisters, the young Cultivator led Lu Qingshan and Lin Yao to the western hall.


    In the hall, a middle-aged male Cultivator with a unique presence sat quietly.


    It was none other than Qi Yuan, the Mirror Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.


    "You''ve arrived?" Qi Yuan''s deep voice sounded.


    The young Cultivator respectfully saluted Qi Yuan and then silently withdrew.


    Lu Qingshan looked at Qi Yuan, who sat in the main seat of the great hall, and remained silent for a long time.


    Thest time they met, Qi Yuan had just been a figure of minor concern, but now he was a man with a full head of white hair!


    A heavy, inescapable sense of twilight enveloped Qi Yuan.

 Chapter 86: 86 chapters The human feelings of Qi Yuan

    My time is nearing its end!


    Qi Yuan must have used the split-mirror ability "Observing Heaven" of the Heavenly Secret Mirror at all costs, causing his lifespan to slip awaypletely.


    Coming to his senses, Lu Qingshan sighed and respectfully said, "When I saw Qi Yuan guarding the city of Yuanshan, he was still full of vigor, but in just over half a month, Qi Yuan has be like this, as if three thousand troubles have suddenly arisen out of nowhere!"


    Qi Yuan spoke indifferently, "The moment I took the Mirror Master''s mantle, I had already anticipated this day, this is both the Mirror Master''s destiny and responsibility."


    After pausing, Qi Yuan looked at Lu Qingshan with a gentle gaze andmented, "Yet when I saw you back in Yuanshan City, you were merely an eighth level Qi Refinement cultivator, who would have thought that in just over half a month of not seeing each other, you would have already established your Foundation?"


    Lin Yao, who stood behind Lu Qingshan, silent and head bowed, was shaken by these words and nced at Lu Qingshan out of the corner of her eye.


    Her own father had barely managed to advance to Foundation Establishment when he was almost a hundred years old.


    Young Master Lu is still so young, and he has already be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?


    Qi Yuan''s eyes were intense as he scrutinized Lu Qingshan, "Thest time in Yuanshan City''s Netherworld scheme, it was you who returned the Heavenly Secret Mirror''s split-mirror to me.


    This time, it was also you who discovered the inklings of the Netherworld''s plot, providing us with the opportunity to break the situation.


    You certainly don''tck secrets!"


    Lu Qingshan did not reply.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan did not continue the conversation, Qi Yuan did not pursue the matter further.


    No matter where Lu Qingshan got his information from, at least everything he had done indicated that he was standing on the opposite side of the Netherworld.


    Qi Yuan nced at Lin Yao standing behind Lu Qingshan and asked, "Have youe to me this time for her?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded and replied, "Yes."


    Lin Yao looked up in astonishment, puzzled.


    For me?


    Lu Qingshan made his request, "I hope Qi Yuan can help me arrange for her to be ced in a sect far away from Zhenjiang Prefecture."


    Back in Yuanshan City, due to the Heavenly Secret Mirror''s split-mirror, Qi Yuan owed Lu Qingshan a favor.


    It was for this reason that Lu Qingshan could easily meet Qi Yuan, who was a city guardian, and put forward his request.


    Qi Yuan was surprised and asked back, "Are you sure you want to use the favor I owe you on her?"


    As the Mirror Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, although he dared not boast too much, Qi Yuan believed his favor held a certain value.


    If it were not for Lu Qingshan''s overly important retrieval of the Heavenly Secret Mirror''s split-mirror, he would not have easily promised to owe Lu Qingshan a favor.


    But he never imagined that what Lu Qingshan would ultimately ask for would be such a request.


    Requesting him to ce a woman into a high-ranking sect?


    Lu Qingshan did not hesitate, affirming again, "That''s my request."


    "Why?" Qi Yuan, by nature, would not usually pry, but he was indeed intrigued.


    If it was for a Dao Companion, it could be understood, Lu Qingshan seemed young and vigorous, and doing something youthful for the sake of a beauty was not impossible.


    But with his insight, he could clearly see that Lu Qingshan had no romantic feelings towards Lin Yao.


    In this case, Lu Qingshan''s request became very intriguing.


    Lu Qingshan chuckled without further exnation and called to Lin Yao, "Show your Phantom Sound ability to Qi Yuan."


    "Ah?!" Still in shock from the conversation between Lu Qingshan and Qi Yuan, Lin Yao finally snapped back to reality.


    Without doubting Lu Qingshan''smand, Lin Yao turned her eyes, respectfully addressing Qi Yuan, "Junior Lin Yao, greets Qi Yuan."


    Qi Yuan looked at Lin Yao with an astonished gaze.


    There was nothing wrong with the lines she spoke, yet the voice that emanated from Lin Yao was identical to Lu Qingshan''s?


    Thinking back to what Lu Qingshan had said.


    This was Phantom Sound?


    While Qi Yuan was pondering uncertainly in his heart, Lin Yao continued, "The Phantom Sound ability that Young Master Lu spoke of is just like what I''m doing now..."


    Lin Yao''s voice then changed to that of the young male Cultivator who had guided them in.


    "As long as I have heard a voice before, I can easily imitate it," Lin Yao exined, her voice now warm and rich, which caused a stir in Qi Yuan''s heart.


    ¡ªThat was his voice.


    From the beautiful Lin Yao''s mouth emerged the voices of three different male Cultivators of different ages and Cultivations, an intensely eerie scene.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After disying her Phantom Sound ability, Lin Yao silently stepped back to stand behind Lu Qingshan.


    "If she bes a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, she will master the Phantom Pupil ability, at Golden Core she will develop Phantom Face, and at the Nascent Soul stage, it will be Phantom Body. By then, she can transform into anything, an ability with endless variations," Lu Qingshan exined to Qi Yuan.


    Lu Qingshan knew that with Qi Yuan''s character, he would not do a perfunctory job in what he had been entrusted with.


    But he also understood that only by making Qi Yuan aware of Lin Yao''s value would Qi Yuan truly leverage his utmost capabilities to arrange a good cement for her.


    And only in this way could Lin Yao be advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage as soon as possible.


    That was why Lu Qingshan hade to find Qi Yuan.


    Given Lin Yao''s current level of Qi Refinement, she would never catch up to Lu Qingshan in her lifetime; instead, Lu Qingshan would continue to leave her further behind.


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan never expected Lin Yao to be of help to him in battle.


    But Lin Yao''s Phantom Body Divine Vein was a unique talent that could transcend Cultivation levels.


    However, although Lin Yao was willing to serve him, her usefulness would indeed be limited until her Phantom Body Divine Vein abilities fully awakened.


    So, to quickly realize Lin Yao''s value, the immediate priority was to help her fully awaken the Phantom Body Divine Vein.


    After hearing Lu Qingshan''s introduction, Qi Yuan''s expression turned solemn.


    With his experience, he almost instantly recognized Lin Yao''s worth.


    "I understand. Rest assured, I will send a Spirit Message to the Heavenly Secret Pavillion to have Miss Lin inducted into Heavenly Secret Pavillion," Qi Yuan said gravely.


    A hint of a smile crept onto Lu Qingshan''s lips.


    Things were progressing even smoother than he had expected.


    The Heavenly Secret Pavillion, one of the seven great Taoist Sects¡ªif Lin Yao could enter the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, there could be no better arrangement.


    "Then I will trouble you, Qi Protector," said Lu Qingshan.


    "For now, Miss Lin will stay in my Heavenly Secret Tower while waiting for news. With her unique talent, I expect she will receive a response from the Pavillion very soon."


    Lu Qingshan naturally had no objections: "You may arrange it as you see fit, Qi Protector."


    Qi Yuan waved his hand, summoning the young male Cultivator who had retired earlier, and instructed him, "You take Miss Lin down first, treat her well and do not neglect her."


    The young male Cultivator respectfullyplied, and while Lin Yao had many questions for Lu Qingshan in her heart, she didn''t say more and withdrew very tactfully.


    Clearly, Qi Yuan had something to discuss privately with Lu Qingshan, and that was why he had dismissed her.


    Lin Yao was astute enough to understand this.

 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Lu Qingshans Divine Skills

    "The Netherworld has made an extremelyrge move this time, targeting our Zhenjiang Prefectural City." As soon as Lin Yao left the hall, Qi Yuan spoke to Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan remained silent.


    The Corpse Puppet Chaos was the main plot of the first game version of "Nine Heavens", naturally it was considered a big move.


    "For this operation, they first nned for a long time, aiming to snatch my Heavenly Secret Mirror''s sub-mirror.


    Although the mirror-snatching n in Yuanshan City failed, from that time on, I felt uneasy.


    The Netherworld never acts without purpose. Since they wanted to snatch my Heavenly Secret Mirror''s sub-mirror, they must have had some special reason, fearing that the ''Observing Heaven'' from the Heavenly Secret Mirror would detect something, and that''s why they took such action.


    So aftering back, I pondered for a long time and finally used the ''Observing Heaven'' ability of the Heavenly Secret Mirror again.


    At first, all I saw was a mass of fog."


    This must have been the scene caused by the Netherworld paying some price to cover the heavenly secrets.


    "This mass of fog made me realize that the matter was not simple. Then, regardless of the cost, I fully stimted the ability of Observing Heaven. Do you know what I saw?" Qi Yuan asked.


    Qi Yuan spoke lightly, but the implications behind his words were far from being so light.


    His disregard for cost had consumed almost all of his lifespan.


    Lu Qingshan sighed inwardly but asked aloud, "What?"


    "Throughout the entire region of Zhenjiang Prefectural City, from the Prefecture City to the Prefectural City, all was enveloped in an unbreakable shroud of ck fog and blood light."


    Qi Yuan''s tone was indifferent, but the words he spoke were earth-shattering.


    Lu Qingshan was moved.


    The development of the situation had changed.


    This time, Qi Yuan did not lose the sub-mirror of the Heavenly Secret Mirror and through ''Observing Heaven,'' having spent nearly all his lifespan, he had obtained information he had not noticed in his past life.


    This was a turning point.


    Lu Qingshan frowned, intentionally leading the conversation, "Does this mean the Netherworld''s operation will sweep through the entire Zhenjiang Prefectural region?"


    Qi Yuan nodded, "That''s what I think too, but we still can''t know what means the Netherworld will prepare to use.


    The Netherworld has nned this operation for who knows how long; we simply have no starting point."


    The secrets of heaven cannot be revealed; being able to see even a hint through ''Observing Heaven'' is already snatching a glimpse from heaven. To truly unravel the Netherworld''s plot?


    It can only be man conquers heaven.


    Qi Yuan continued, "It wasn''t until you reported to us the information about the surge in prices of three types of Spirit Materials used in strong corpse liquid that we found a breakthrough."


    Qi Yuan and the Heavenly Secret Tower''s capabilities were not weak, the reason Lu Qingshan often noticed information they were unaware of was simply that Lu Qingshan knew the direction of the plot.


    Making predictions after the event is not difficult.


    Your adventure continues at empire


    He could deduce the Netherworld''s operation process through the event results he already knew.


    The Corpse Puppet Chaos, the Netherworld deployed an incalcble number of corpse puppets.


    And to refine such a massive quantity of corpse puppets, the raw materials used would also be incalcble.


    Thus with a bit of thought, it could be guessed that in recent decades, in the Zhenjiang Prefectural region, the raw materials for refining corpse puppets would surely rise in price.


    This was trivial in the eyes of Lu Qingshan.


    But to Qi Yuan and the Heavenly Secret Tower, not knowing that the Netherworld would stir up such a huge disturbance by deploying corpse puppets, who would notice the price changes of a few First Grade Spirit Materials in the vast Spirit Material market?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Therefore, to Qi Yuan and Dantai Qingrun, Lu Qingshan discovering this was astonishing, and they inevitably raised their appraisal of Lu Qingshan to a certain level in their hearts.


    "During this period, we investigated cultivators who had purchased the main materials for strong corpse liquid inrge batches over the past twenty years, and then through these cultivators, followed the vine to find the people behind them.


    As expected, though well-hidden, traces linking them to the Netherworld were found on these people.


    We have already spread this, just in case, and Zhenjiang Tower has also applied for reinforcements from Qing State''s main tower. Once reinforcements arrive, it will be time to close the."


    Qi Yuan sighed deeply, "But although we guessed that the Netherworld''s pration in Zhenjiang Prefectural City was very deep, we never imagined that just the tip of the iceberg that was revealed would already be so immense."


    ...


    After finishing the conversation, Lu Qingshan slowly exhaled, feeling somewhat puzzled.


    ¡ªHe wondered for what purpose Qi Yuan had detailed the specific proceedings and ns of this operation to him.


    As Lu Qingshan mulled this over, he prepared to leave the Heavenly Secret Tower.


    As he stepped out of the western hall, it took only a few steps before he saw Lin Yao, who had been waiting for him for an unknown amount of time.


    "Young Master Lu." Lin Yao, upon seeing Lu Qingshan approach, quickly came forward and called out to him.


    "Hmm?"


    Lin Yao met Lu Qingshan''s gaze, which were peach blossom eyes inherited from the true cultivator Lu Bei. Her eyelids grew heavy; she pursed her lips and asked, "Why did you use the favor Qi Yuan owed you on me?"


    Lin Yao felt somewhat apprehensive inside.


    Since they had met, Lu Qingshan had already helped her twice. Now, Lu Qingshan had given her such a great opportunity.


    Lu Qingshan casually said, "It was merely to fulfill a promise I had made."


    Lin Yao was taken aback; she remembered.


    Originally, Lu Qingshan had told her that he would help her be a Nascent Soul Cultivator. In return, she would have to serve him when he needed her.


    At the time, she didn''t take it seriously, and the matter was glossed over.


    Later, as a price for Lu Qingshan''s help to the Lin Family, she had willingly pledged allegiance to Lu Qingshan, but did he still remember that?


    Seeing the confusion in Lin Yao''s heart, Lu Qingshan chuckled softly and exined, "Moreover, you are only useful to me after you fully awaken your Phantom Body Divine Vein, I don''t need just a decoration."


    Lin Yao was silent for a while before finally promising with a firm tone, "I will definitely cultivate diligently to repay Young Master Lu''s kindness as soon as possible."


    Lu Qingshan epted Lin Yao''s promise with a nod, without any formalities.


    Cultivators must strive.


    This was the greatest opportunity Lin Yao had ever encountered since her birth; so, despite feeling a bit fearful, she wouldn''t reject this chance.


    Suddenly remembering something, Lu Qingshan took out a jade slip from his storage ring and handed it to Lin Yao.


    Lin Yao was startled, took the jade slip and asked, "What is this?"


    Lu Qingshan''s face bore a mysterious smile, "This is a Divine Skill I have specificallypiled for you.


    It will maximize the potential of your Phantom Body Divine Vein. Remember to practice it frequently."


    Lin Yao''s expression turned solemn, "I dare not take the Divine Skills gifted by Young Master Lu lightly."


    ...


    Lu Qingshan left the Heavenly Secret Tower.


    Lin Yao was currently a piece that might not be very useful, but in the future, she could be a cunning move to y as a general.


    To enable her to be effective, he needed to let her develop peacefully for some time.


    He had already done everything he could at the moment.


    The Heavenly Secret Pavillion, there was no sect in the entire Human Race that could surpass it. As long as it values someone, even if it has to pile up vast resources, the Heavenly Secret Pavillion can promote Lin Yao to the Nascent Soul Stage.


    Moreover, by avoiding Zhenjiang Prefecture, she could also steer clear of the end-of-year Corpse Puppet Chaos.


    That Lin Yao, who was most likely killed during the Corpse Puppet Chaos in his previous life leaving no trace, could now change her fate.


    The current time waste August, and there were only three to four months left until the end-of-year Corpse Puppet Chaos.


    Ultimately, the time was too short.


    Lu Qingshan sighed deeply in his heart.


    If he could have shifted his time travel a few decades earlier, giving him time to develop, he was confident and capable of easily stopping this chaos with his own abilities.


    Now, he could only take one step at a time and do his best when the timees.


    However, no matter how things progressed, Lu Qingshan had already set a bottom line for himself.


    He must leave Zhenjiang City before November to avoid the ughter of the Corpse Puppet Chaos by the Netherworld.


    ...


    After Lu Qingshan had left, Lin Yao quickly checked the content of the jade slip.


    She was very curious about the Divine Skills Lu Qingshan had left for her.


    What could it be?


    Seven big characters appeared in her mind.


    "The Self-Cultivation of an Actor?"

 Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Trouble Brewing

    After the matter with Lin Yao had settled, Lu Qingshan finally experienced a brief period of peace thatsted about seven or eight days.


    During this short span of time, Lu Qingshan had be more familiar with his own strength.


    Based on his vast experience in gaming from a previous life, Lu Qingshan rapidly integrated his own skill system.


    It is worth mentioning that, just five days after meeting Qi Yuan, Lu Qingshan received a Spirit Message from Lin Yao.


    Under Qi Yuan''s introduction, she had already passed through the Teleportation Array to leave Zhenjiang Prefecture, ready to head to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion located in the Central Heavenly Realm.


    ¡ªThe Heavenly Secret Pavilion was very interested in Lin Yao''s abilities and had already prepared to admit her into their sect.


    Even in his previous life''s experiences in "Nine Heavens," such mysterious abilities as the Phantom Body Divine Vein were something he had only heard about, never witnessed personally.


    Lu Qingshan was very much looking forward to the day Lin Yao would fully awaken her Phantom Body Divine Vein.


    ...


    Just as Lu Qingshan felt he could no longer stay idle and was preparing to get involved in something, he finally received a Spirit Message from Xu Hao.


    "There''s a major operation at the tower, gathering everyone. Come to the Zhenjiang Tower immediately, no dys,"


    Lu Qingshan''s pupils constricted.


    The winds of change were blowing!


    ...N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lu Qingshan made his familiar way to the underground headquarters of the Zhenjiang Tower.


    On the square.


    By the time he arrived, the ce had already gathered many cultivators.


    What was strange, however, was that it was clearly discernable that the cultivators on the field were divided into two distinct groups of unequal numbers.


    In situations where cultivators gathered like this, casually using Divine Sense to probe others was considered a reckless behavior that could offend people.


    Hence, Lu Qingshan could only scan the entire venue with his eyes, searching for the Tiger Squad.


    Your journey continues with empire


    "Lu Qingshan, over here!" Before Lu Qingshan saw the Tiger Squad, it was Su Shu, who had been paying attention to the neers, who spotted him first and called out to him from a distance.


    Lu Qingshan quickly rejoined his team.


    ncing at the other group of cultivators on the opposite side, who were significantly fewer in number than his own, Lu Qingshan had an idea.


    These people must be the reinforcements from Qing State''s main tower, as Qi Yuan had mentioned.


    It was evident that the aura of these cultivators was far superior to those on his own side.


    With a casual sweep of his Heavenly Eye Technique, Lu Qingshan instantly confirmed his spection.


    All these cultivators from Qing State''s main tower were at the Golden Core Stage.


    Most were in the early stages of Golden Core, but there were also five cultivators in the Golden Core middle stage.


    ...


    After a while, as everyone waited and more cultivators gradually arrived, the three directors of Zhenjiang Tower finally showed upte.


    The Tower Master of Zhenjiang Tower was an old cultivator with white hair and a frame as skinny as dead wood.


    But if someone underestimated him based on his old and frail appearance, they would surely experience the terrifying explosive power contained within his withered body.


    With a brief probe using the Heavenly Eye Technique, although Lu Qingshan could not obtain much useful information due to the difference in cultivation levels, he at least understood that the elder before him was a Nascent Soul stage Body Cultivator!


    This was a prime example of appearances being deceptive.


    Who would have thought that this seemingly fragile old man was in fact a powerful Body Cultivator?


    As for the two deputy tower masters of Zhenjiang Tower, one was Lu Qingshan''s old acquaintance, Dantai Qingrun, a Golden Corete stage Sword Cultivator, a young female cultivator with a slender figure and a frosty expression.


    The other deputy tower master was a middle-aged male cultivator dressed in a ck Taoist robe, a Golden Core Dharma Cultivator who could arrange for Nascent Soul formation at any time.


    Chu He, the Tower Master of Zhenjiang, surveyed all the cultivators present with an eagle-like gaze. Under his scruitinising eyes, everyone felt a chill in their hearts and quickly fell silent.


    "This operation mobilized all cultivators from our Zhenjiang Tower, as well as five guard squads dispatched from the main tower of Qing State, and this time it will be personally led by me and two vice tower masters,"


    This scale of mission, for Zhenjiang Tower, is the first of its kind in a century!


    The importance of this mission, you should also be able to glimpse a part of it," Chu He said gravely.


    At this point, everyone''s expression turned serious.


    "Although we are acting simultaneously, each squad has different tasks, and the targets are also far apart.


    The details will be distributed to you by the leading tower masters; I won''t go into it further."


    "Now let''s proceed with personnel assignment, Zi Rat Squad, Chen Dragon Squad, ..." Chu He listed seven squad names from the Zhenjiang Tower guards, then gestured toward three cultivator teams from the main tower of Qing State: "Additionally you, led by me,"


    "Yes!" The named squad cultivators responded respectfully and quickly gathered in front of Chu He.


    Next, the two vice tower masters each took a portion of the cultivator squads.


    Lu Qingshan''s Tiger Squad naturally fell under Dantai Qingrun''smand.


    ...


    As the captain, Xu Hao took the mission Jade Slip from Dantai Qingrun, inserted his Divine Sense into it to retrieve the information, then coughed lightly and began, "Our mission this time is to assist in capturing alive two Golden Core Cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley, as for our partners."


    Xu Hao nced at the only squad from the main tower of Qing State under Dantai Qingrun''smand, he said, "It''s them, Jiazi Squad, and...Vice Tower Master Dantai."


    This was indeed a stroke of great fortune.


    Everyone thought this to themselves.


    Dantai Qingrun personally took to the field, along with six Golden Core Cultivators from the main tower of Qing State.


    With such a lineup, the task they were in charge of was surely the most arduous and important among the cultivator squads under Dantai Qingrun.


    "ording to the intelligence from ck Ice tform, the reason for taking action against Xuan Ming Valley is that hidden within the valley is arge Corpse Pool used for refining Corpse Puppets.


    Xuan Ming Valley, a Third Grade sect, is considered quite powerful within the Zhenjiang Prefecture district, home to two Golden Core Cultivators."


    Xu Hao passed the Jade Slip around, while sinctly introducing, "First is Sect Master Xuan Ming, a Golden Core Late Stage Nether Cultivator with extremely mysterious methods.


    Sect Master Xuan Ming rarely makes moves in public, or rather, whenever he does make a move, it is certain to be lethal, thus there isn''t much information about him.


    This person will be handled by Vice Tower Master Dantai, so we only need to understand a little about him."


    The cultivators of Tiger Squad nodded silently, memorizing the specific details of Sect Master Xuan Ming.


    Although it was unlikely they would act against Sect Master Xuan Ming, nothing was absolute. Inbat, who knew what could happen, so keeping his information in mind was absolutely beneficial.


    "The other is Sect Master Xuan You, Golden Core Late Stage Body Cultivator, known for his killings and notorious reputation, also the openly public figure in charge in Xuan Ming Valley.


    Sect Master Xuan You will be handled by Jiazi Squad."


    The image of Sect Master Xuan You shown in the Jade Slip depicted a bald, burly cultivator, his face expressionless yet overall emitting a stern aura.


    "Besides these two Golden Core Late Stage cultivators, there is a significant talent gap among the cultivators of Xuan Ming Valley.


    The remaining cultivators rank no higher than Foundation Establishment Stage. Our task is to block all these other cultivators, supporting Vice Tower Master Dantai and Jiazi Squad, preventing interference from these lesser cultivators."


    Xu Hao also instructed on some precautionary measures, then changed the topic, adding, "Our mission this time seems very challenging..."


    ¡ªindeed, having only six of them block dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley was indeed a daunting task.


    "But there is good news, these Foundation Establishment Cultivators, unlike the two Golden Core Cultivators, do not need to be captured alive, so we can fight without restraint."


    In battles between cultivators, killing is much easier than capturing alive.


    If being able to kill only requires being slightly stronger than the opponent,


    then capturing alive requires one to be a whole level stronger than the enemy.


    Lu Qingshan even breathed a sigh of relief.


    Only with killing could he gain experience, for him, capturing cultivators alive was truly a thankless task.

 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Xuan Ming Valley

    After integrating all the cultivator teams, following themand of Tower Master Chu He, all cultivators surged out of Zhenjiang Tower like a mighty torrent, rushing towards their respective destinations.


    Tiger Squad followed the Golden Core Cultivators, and even though they merely dealt with misceneous tasks, the pressure was still immense.


    Thus, even Su Shu, who was usually the most vivacious, remained silent at this moment, silently following behind Dantai Qingrun and the Tiger Squad.


    Upon exiting Zhenjiang Tower, a sh of blue light appeared, followed by the clear sound of a sword cry, and a flying sword materialized in front of Dantai Qingrun.


    This was Dantai Qingrun''s life-bound sword, Spirit Concealment.


    "Depart. Head for Xuan Ming Valley!" Dantai Qingrun said in a cold voice.


    After issuing themand, Dantai Qingrun rode the Spirit Concealment Sword, turning into a streak of blue sword light, and flew towards the direction of Xuan Ming Valley.


    From Tiger Squad, a Beast Cultivator quickly summoned a hawk with twin wings from his Spirit Beast Bag.


    The six cultivators of Tiger Squad promptly leaped onto the back of the hawk, and under themand of the Beast Cultivator, as the hawk spread its wings, a surge of wind arose.


    Tiger Squad also boarded the Red Rock Goose summoned by Xiao Zhi, closely following the sword light transformed by Dantai Qingrun.


    .........


    For a long time, cultivators have been divided into righteous and evil, with both sides standing in opposition to each other.


    Evil Cultivators are those who practice forbidden cultivation techniques.


    Evil Cultivators are known for being ruthless and indifferent to right and wrong, focusing only on one''s cultivation level. This has been their longstanding principle.


    Therefore, the techniques of the Evil Path generally focus on practicalbat ability and are extremely efficient in advancement. However, in order to enhance the power of their techniques, the cultivation of the Evil Path is generally cruel and devoid of taboos.


    For instance, Corpse Puppets are a product of Evil Cultivators, refined from living humans.


    There is also the infamous magical artifact of the Evil Path¡ªthe Soul Banner, which requires souls for its refining process.


    Even the simplest Hundred Souls Banner requires at least a hundred souls, which means that behind every sessfully refined Soul Banner, at least a hundred people have lost their lives.


    For these reasons, before the invasion of the Demon Race, Evil Cultivators had always been themon enemy of the Human Race.


    It was only after the great war twenty thousand years ago, that Ancestral Daoist Xia single-handedly saved the Heavens and established the Great Xia Dynasty.


    To establish order, Ancestral Daoist Xia unified the Human Race and also set forth rules for all major sects.


    While holding the belief that people can be good or bad and techniques neither righteous nor evil, Ancestral Daoist Xia did notpletely exterminate all Evil Cultivators, but he personally executed several tyrants of the Evil Path to set an example and established extremely strict regtions for all Evil Cultivators.


    The core point of these regtions is that Evil Cultivators must not harm innocent civilians to practice techniques or refine Evil Path magical artifacts. Anyone found doing so would be pursued and killed.


    The Great Xia does not forbid the life-and-death struggles between cultivators, nor can it.


    However, ordinary civilians, being the foundation of the Human Race, are strictly protected by the Great Xia from indiscriminate killing by cultivators.


    While the Evil Cultivators were reluctant, in the Cultivation World, the mightiest fist dictates the rules; thus, they had no choice but to ept thews of the Great Xia.


    Of course, the reason the Evil Cultivators were willing topromise is because practicing their techniques did not necessarily require the ughter of ordinary people; there were other alternative methods.


    Like the refining of Soul Banners, besides using human souls, using beast souls was also possible, although the power would be slightly inferior to those refined with human souls.


    They could make do with this, and life could still go on, so the Evil Cultivators continued to survive in this way.


    Of course, although the Great Xia explicitly prohibited it, there were definitely Evil Cultivators who secretly vited the regtions.


    Some Evil Cultivators held firm, unwilling topromise.


    This came down to individual power; those petty and low acts, as long as they weren''t discovered by the Great Xia, these Evil Cultivators would appear honorable in public.


    If found, however, don''t me the Great Xia for their ruthless and merciless methods.


    ...


    Although they weren''tpletely exterminated, the lives of Evil Cultivators were definitely not easy.


    Twenty thousand years ago, the Evil Cultivators, who could once stand toe-to-toe with the orthodox Taoism sects, had gradually declined, bing a minor lineage that could no longer stir up significant turbulence.


    One could deduce from the fact that the Xuan Ming Valley, a well-known Evil Cultivator sect within the boundaries of Zhenjiang Prefecture, had its sect''s blessednd established in an extremely remote and spirit-vein-impoverished valley.


    When a group of people rushed to the outside of Xuan Ming Valley, it was alreadyte, and the bright moon hung high.


    Xuan Ming Valley was vast, endlessly deep at a nce.


    The cold moonlight spilled over the valley, shrouded in ayer of grey mist, making it appear extremely eerie.


    Dantai Qingrun nced at the unimpressive Mountain Protection Array of the valley''s sect gate and felt a stir in his heart, standing high above on the Spirit Hidden Sword, and coldly said, "Prepare to break the formation!"


    Attacking a sect''s Mountain Protection Array, which took a vast amount of resources and effort to establish, was by no means an easy task.


    For Dantai Qingrun and his group, though breaking this sect gate''s Great Formation wasn''t difficult, it inevitably could trap them in a prolonged tug-of-war.


    And knowing the actions of Zhenjiang Tower, they often valued efficiency very highly, well aware of the principle that lengthy dys breed risks.


    Thus, Zhenjiang Tower typically adopted more flexible approaches such as sneak attacks and covert infiltration when carrying out gate-assault missions.


    This time was no exception.


    Following Dantai Qingrun''smand, a cultivator flew out from the Jiazi Squad.


    It was the captain of the Jiazi Squad, Liu Xuan, a middle-stage Golden Core Spiritual Cultivator.


    Liu Xuan brought out a small Array te, which had been refined in advance, pinched a technique with his left hand, and swiftly activated the array.


    Numerous spiritual lights, fine as fments, shot out from the array te, swarmed forward, and attached themselves atop the Mountain Protection Array of Xuan Ming Valley.


    For a moment, undting ripples continuously appeared on the array.


    "Forbidden Breaking Disc!" Su Shu murmured as she watched the small array te in Liu Xuan''s hand.


    The Forbidden Breaking Disc, an essential auxiliary magical artifact for high-rank Spiritual Cultivators, greatly enhanced the effectiveness of their inherent "Forbidden Breaking Technique."


    This was an extremely costly and difficult-to-craft magical artifact.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    As a fellow Spiritual Cultivator, Su Shu neither had the capital nor the confidence to acquire a Forbidden Breaking Disc for herself.


    So, upon first sight of the coveted Forbidden Breaking Disc, Su Shu couldn''t help but feel a bit jealous.


    However, even with the aid of the Forbidden Breaking Disc, breaking the Mountain Protection Array of Xuan Ming Valley was by no means an easy task.


    Under the constant dissipation of the spiritual lights, a barely audible fine crack slowly appeared on the array.


    Dantai Qingrun squinted slightly, watching the crack on the formation, a cold light shed through his eyes.


    He didn''t want to waste any more time here!


    With a flick of his slender finger in the void, the Spirit Hidden Sword beneath his feet instantly shot out, and simultaneously, hundreds of minute sword lights suddenly emerged on the Spirit Hidden Sword.


    Crescent Moon Sword Technique!


    The signature sword technique of the Dantai House, renowned among many Sword Cultivator families for its unique apanying sword lights.


    Boom!


    The Spirit Hidden Sword, carrying a hundred sword lights, struck the crack opened by Liu Xuan.


    In an instant, the ground shook and the mountains trembled.


    Under this assault, following the crack on the Mountain Protection Array of Xuan Ming Valley, an enormous breachrge enough for a person to pass through, suddenly broke open!


    Without hesitation, Dantai Qingrun dashed in first, his figure swift as lightning.


    Jiazi Squad and Yin Hu Squad followed closely without any hesitation.

 Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Stone Giant Dharma Aspect

    After entering the array, Lu Qingshan turned to look back.


    The gap in the grand formation of Xuan Ming Valley''s gate had already closed silently.


    How could the Sect Protection Array be fully deciphered so easily?


    The reason Dantai Qingrun could break the formation with a single sword strike was not only because her cultivation was astonishing, but also because no formation is without its ws.


    Just now, she had taken advantage of a moment when this incredibly sturdy formation revealed a w under Liu Xuan''s Forbidden Breaking Technique, seizing the opportunity to widen the gap and thus making her way inside.


    The formation had only faltered for an instant before it returned to its original state.


    However, now that she was inside the valley, Dantai Qingrun had achieved her goal.


    This happened exactly as Dantai Qingrun violently disrupted the formation using the Crescent Moon Sword Technique.


    In two of the most spiritually enriched caves within Xuan Ming Valley, the Golden Core Cultivators, Xuan Ming and Xuan You, who were deeply engrossed in cultivation, almost simultaneously opened their eyes.


    With such amotion, it was impossible for the two Golden Core Cultivators not to notice.


    The instant they opened their eyes, an aggressive and piercing Divine Sense swept over them recklessly.


    This was Dantai Qingrun''s Divine Sense.


    So arrogant!


    Both Evil Cultivators snorted coldly in their minds and likewise released their Divine Sense to probe the outside situation.


    People from the Guardian Tower?


    Once their Divine Sense caught sight of the intruders'' formation, they quickly guessed the identities of the neers.


    In the Cultivation World, although there isn''t a visible hierarchy of strength among the six paths of cultivation, there is always a significant difference in their numbers.


    For example, Dharma Cultivation, being the mostmon among the six paths, easily ounts for half of all cultivators.


    Yet, the attackers were an equally sized group from all six paths, a configuration that only the Guardian Tower would employ, defying norms but maximizingbat power.


    But why were they discovered?


    Xuan Ming Valley was in a remote location, barely interacting with the outside world, thus making exposure unlikely.


    Moreover, he was well aware that the activities performed here were not tolerated by Great Xia, so he was always cautious and low-profile.


    Even the disciples of his own sect were not fully trusted by him; the vast Xuan Ming Valley secretly housed a Corpse Pool and the creation of Corpse Puppets, known only to Xuan You.


    Xuan Ming''s brow furrowed, instinctively harboring a trace of suspicion in his mind.


    Could it be Xuan You?


    While Xuan Ming''s suspicions suddenly surged, on the other hand, Xuan You''s heart was filled with a brutal desire to kill.


    They thought they could provoke my Xuan Ming Valley just because they are at thete stage of the Golden Core?


    As an Evil Cultivator, practicing techniques that are significantly lethal and vicious, Xuan You had always had some confidence in hisbat power.


    Add to this that in recent years, Xuan Ming rarely took action personally; he was generally in charge when dealing with external cultivators.


    Having had the upper hand in numerous encounters with cultivators from the outside world, his confidence had only grown.


    Golden Core Late Stage cultivators? I''ve killed them before!


    This was what Xuan You thought, dismissing the twelve cultivators from the Jiazi Squad and Tiger Squad as something he hardly took seriously.


    Without any hesitation, Xuan You''s legs generated wind as he stepped out of his cave dwelling, leaping up, standing in the air without any Spiritual Light or the aid of an auxiliary magical artifact.


    [Air-walking Skill]!


    This was the ability of Body Cultivation reaching the Golden Core Stage.


    Relying solely on his own Qi-Blood and physical body, he could fly through the air.


    Xuan You''s figure turned into an afterimage and arrived in an instant, surging with roiling Qi-Blood, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Lu Qingshan and his group.


    "Who dares to trespass against my Xuan Ming Valley unprovoked?" Xuan You''s presence was overwhelming, his voice booming like a great bell.


    Dantai Qingrun''s brow slightly furrowed.


    Although Xuan You''s real person appeared reckless and highly arrogant, he was actually very astute, seeking to dy the conversation by a little.


    In Dantai Qingrun''s Divine Sense, she had already seen that the lower grade cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley were rapidly heading towards various positions in the sect''s Great Formation, preparing to activate it to confront them.


    The majority of the sect''s main gate Great Formation''s abilities were to iste and defend from outside, but once the formations were truly activated, they generally possessed a certain lethality to the cultivators within the formation as well.


    If they allowed these Foundation Establishment cultivators to take their positions and fully stimte the formation, although it wouldn''t be too difficult to handle, it would definitely create some disturbances for them.


    "Tiger Squad, stop the lower grade cultivators of Xuan Ming Valley from activating the formation. Jiazi Squad, deal with Xuan You," instructed Dantai Qingrun swiftly, without engaging in a war of words with the real person Xuan You.


    Immediately after, Dantai Qingrun turned towards the direction of Xuan Ming''s real person, not even ncing at Xuan You as she flew away with her sword control.


    Lu Qingshan, seeing Dantai Qingrun''s actions, couldn''t help but marvel in his heart.


    Look at this mockery, as light as the breeze and the clouds, seamless; this is truly high-level mockery.


    As expected, upon seeing his shouts ignored in such a manner by Dantai Qingrun, Xuan You''s real person''s face turned from blue to red as he ultimately let out an angry roar.


    "You insolent woman, you are too arrogant!"


    As this roar echoed, Xuan You''s body began to increase rapidly in size, transforming into a giant several times the height of a normal person in the blink of an eye.


    While increasing in size, his body also transformed into blocky, green steel rock-like substances, with his skin turning to a stone-like brown color.


    Just from the appearance alone, it was clearly very tough.


    "Stone Giant Dharma Aspect!" Xu Hao evidently recognized the quality, immediately identifying the state of Xuan You''s real person.


    Body cultivation schools can be broadly categorized into three types.


    One type is the purest form of martial technique type body cultivation.


    They train and master Divine Martial Techniques, coupled with a robust physical body, their skills are extraordinary, truly unparalleled.


    Xu Hao was a cultivator of this kind.


    Another type was Dharma Aspect type body cultivation.


    This type of body cultivator practiced various Dharma Aspects, such as Buddhist Vajra or other Dharma Aspects like Azure Dragon, Fierce Lion, and other mythical creatures.


    Once their Dharma Aspect was aplished, and bestowed upon themselves, they would receive immense attribute enhancements and could even master various powers of Dharma Aspects, using strength to break all techniques.


    As for Xuan You''s real person right now, with the Stone Giant Dharma Aspect, not only was his strength attribute greatly enhanced, but he also acquired remarkable resistance, immune to most spells and physical attacks.


    This was also why Dantai Qingrun did not want to confront Xuan You''s real person directly.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Facing this turtle shell, even if she could defeat it, it would take a very long time to wear down this old turtle.


    Annoying!


    Thest type of body cultivation was more mysterious, known as Divine Ability type body cultivation.


    This type of body cultivator practiced specific Cultivation Techniques, and each time their cultivation increased, there was a certain chance of awakening divine body abilities.


    If a powerful divine ability was awakened, they would be extraordinarily brilliant, overpowering cultivators of the same level.


    If no divine ability was awakened or if the awakened divine ability was quite useless, then they could easily be weak cultivators, not matching up to the other two types of body cultivation.


    Due to the uncertainties and randomness in awakening divine abilities, and in controlling which type might be awakened, Divine Ability type body cultivation was known in the "Nine Heavens" as ''the gambler''s path'', not for the faint-hearted.


    Of course, these categories are so divided, but there aren''t strict barriers between the three, and they are interchangeable.


    That is to say, if willing, you can cultivate martial techniques, Dharma Aspects, and divine abilities all at once.


    The advantage is that the more skills mastered, the stronger thebat power.


    The disadvantage is that it will dy a lot of energy and time, likely leading to neglecting some aspects, causing cultivation tog, and eventually failing to advance beyond a lower grade.


    The choices among the paths depend entirely on the cultivator''s own decision.

 Chapter 91 Snatching the Kill

    Transformed into a Stone Giant, the true person Xuan You swelled immensely, let out a viciousugh, and leaped high into the air, his mountain-like figure charging straight towards Dantai Qingrun in the sky.


    Dantai Qingrun nced indifferently at the approaching true person Xuan You, his expression unwavering.


    A serene blue light shed by, and suddenly, a three-foot-long sword radiating a chilling light appeared in Dantai Qingrun''s hand.


    With the long sword in hand, Dantai Qingrun simply waved it lightly through the void.


    A wave of piercing cold sword Qi materialized out of thin air, stretching dozens of feet and shot out rapidly, apanied by a hissing wind noise, directly towards the true person Xuan You.


    Bang!


    The mountain-like Stone Giant turned into a mere afterimage as Dantai Qingrun''s sword Qi struck him from midair, creating a thunderous noise.


    Dust filled the air, and a deep pit appeared on the ground.


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but let out a soft chuckle.


    Since Dantai Qingrun held the position of vice tower master of Zhenjiang Tower, it was not to say that he was invincible amongst his peers, but at least hisbat power was formidable, beyond the reach of ordinary people.


    To think you, the true person Xuan You, with such a sturdy shell, wouldn''t be proactively shaving you down, you would even feel secretly relieved, and instead, you turn around to provoke Dantai Qingrun, who holds the top inheritance of the Zhenjiang Tower.


    What gave you the courage, the Stone Giant?


    As for the long sword with the chilling glow in Dantai Qingrun''s hands, Lu Qingshan understood it must be Dantai Qingrun''s second life-bound sword.


    Sword cultivators, from the moment they establish their foundation, open up a life-bound sword slot with each rank advancement.


    Thus, Dantai Qingrun, at the Golden Core stage, naturally possessed two life-bound swords.


    ...


    Having dispatched true person Xuan You with a single sword stroke, Dantai Qingrun stopped paying him any attention, and went straight for true person Xuan Ming.


    The true person Xuan You struggled out of the deep pit in utter disarray. With his astonishing resistance, he was actually not very injured, and hisbat power was almostpletely unscathed.


    However, upon ncing at the afterimage left by Dantai Qingrun in midair, true person Xuan You''s eyes filled with shock.


    [Stone Giant Dharma Aspect: Strength +50, reduction of spell and physical damage by 50% (damage cannot exceed 50% of the health points limit, otherwise this effect is nullified)]


    His cultivated Stone Giant Dharma Aspect was well-known for its boundless strength and durability, but Dantai Qingrun had just used a single sword Qi to crush his strongest aspect head-on.


    It''s no wonder he was extremely shocked.


    But he had no time to think further, as the six cultivators of Tiger Squad quickly took over and entangled him.


    Xuan You hastily gathered his spirits to face the six cultivators of Tiger Squad.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    I can''t handle Dantai Qingrun at the Golden Core Late Stage, but surely I can defeat a few of you at the Golden Core Early Stage?


    ...


    "Action!" Seeing everyone engaging in battle, Xu Hao also issued an order, and all members of Tiger Squad immediately followed suit, attacking the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley who were gathering at the battle positions.


    The quickest to react was Su Shu.


    As a Spiritual Cultivator, Su Shu was the first to form seals and cast spells, her fingers moving so quickly that afterimages appeared.


    Various colors of spiritual light flickered continuously from Su Shu''s hands, as spectacr as fireworks.


    These were the supportive spiritual arts mastered by Su Shu.


    In an instant, five supportive spiritual arts rapidly clung to the other five cultivators of Tiger Squad.


    [Fire Copse]: Endows the target''s attacks with temporary additional fire attribute spell damage.


    [Prate]: Temporarily enhances the sharpness of the target''s magic artifact by +2.


    [Spirit Wind]: Greatly increases the target''s speed.


    [Blood Fury]: Blood Qi goes berserk, temporarily enhancing both damage capability and speed.


    Explore stories at empire


    [Nourish Qi]: Slightly elerates the target''s speed of mobilizing spiritual power (speeds up the casting of spells).


    The green Nourish Qi spiritual art was first bestowed upon the Dharma Cultivation member of the Li Zu.


    "Ice Wind Snow Field!" Under the enhancement of [Nourish Qi], Li Zu''s left hand formed seals, and his right hand executed seal gestures, casting arge-scale control spell quickly in front of him.


    The rich water attribute spiritual power rapidly gathered and transformed, crystallizing into icy snowkes while bone-chilling wind appeared out of nowhere.


    Any cultivator within this field of Ice Wind Snow would experience a decrease in both agility and the speed of circting spiritual power.


    Four Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley were caught in this technique.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes lit up.


    This kind ofrge-scale control spell has always been extremely difficult to master.


    The fact that Li Zu could cast such a spell was enough to prove his worth as a guardian cultivator.


    On the other side, [Blood Fury] attached itself to Xu Hao.


    The crimson glow filled the air, instantly steaming upwards.


    Enveloped in the Blood Qi, Xu Hao felt his body had grown significantly stronger and charged at a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Xuan Ming Valley with astonishing speed and momentum, as ayer of golden scale armor appeared on his body where his Spiritual Power surged.


    What boosted Lu Qingshan was the [Fire Copse] and [Piercing Solidity] he was all too familiar with.


    Lu Qingshan advanced with his sword, shooting forward like a streak of lightning toward a mid-Foundation Establishment Cultivator affected by the icy wind snow technique of Li Zu.


    A look of slight resentment crossed Zhong Ming''s face, as he had been granted a [Spirit Wind], his form transforming into a faint shadow that silently vanished.


    As for why the resentment?


    Su Shu has had a change of heart¡ªthe [Fire Copse] Spirit Art used to be mine!


    A touch of sourness lingered in Zhong Ming''s heart.


    Xiao Zhi, however, remained tranquil as he had already begun directing Red Rock Goose to support the assault, indifferent to Zhong Ming''s decline in status, with no desire to care.


    ¡ªNo matter what, you at least have [Spirit Wind] as a base. As for me, I didn''t get a taste of any Spirit Art!


    The Red Rock Goose spread its wings and circled in mid-air.


    Its beak quivered, and its entire body immediately radiated red waves. Opening its beak, the Red Rock Goose shot a fiery missile at the Foundation Establishment Cultivator Xu Hao was attacking.


    By coordinating, they created situations where the strong strike at the weak and the many attack the few, allowing them to swiftly reduce the enemy''s numbers¡ªan unbeatable strategy when facing greater numbers with fewer forces.


    That''s exactly what they were doing.


    The targets of Lu Qingshan and Zhong Ming were both Foundation Establishment Cultivators affected by Li Zu''s spell, plus each received the enhancement of Su Shu''s Spirit Arts; it was almost like three against one in that instant.


    With Zhong Ming''s already rapid speed, plus the buff from [Spirit Wind], it took but a moment for him to appear beside his target.


    [Nether w]!


    Zhong Ming inwardly shouted, his right hand violently reaching out to strike at the chest of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator in front of him; a misty giant w swept across the void.


    This was a spell he had mastered by collecting Nether Qi in the Netherworld, and its lethality was self-evident.


    The cultivator under his attack was also a Dharma Cultivation.


    Impacted by the icy winds and snow, the Dharma Cultivator from Xuan Ming Valley found his Inner Spiritual Power obstructed and murky, barely managing to cast a Low Grade [Golden Light Shield] to fend off Zhong Ming''s attack.


    How could a hastily cast Low Grade spell withstand the meticulously cultivated spell of Zhong Ming?


    Crack! The [Golden Light Shield] shattered instantly under the misty giant w, with a sound like breaking porcin.


    The Nether w''s momentum did not lessen, striking directly at the Dharma Cultivator''s chest.


    In a sh, the Dharma Cultivator flew backward like a kite with a broken string, a streak of blood spurting from his mouth, severely injured!


    Zhong Ming was quite pleased with his performance, his heart swelling with pride.


    Su Shu, now you see who truly deserves the [Fire Copse] Spirit Art boost, right?


    Just as Zhong Ming was about to supplement his attack with another move,


    Whoosh!


    All he saw was a sh of cold light.


    The head of the Xuan Ming Valley Dharma Cultivator, still in midair yet to hit the ground, had suddenly flown off, spurting blood gruesomely into the air.


    What''s this?!


    Humming¡ª


    Apanied by a clear sound of a sword''s cry, Lu Qingshan''s Crying Soul Sword stood in the void.


    Zhong Ming turned his head to look.


    He saw Lu Qingshan shing his pearly white teeth at him, his face full of a smile, "You''re wee!"


    The Foundation Establishment Cultivator targeted by Lu Qingshan had been beheaded before anyone knew it.


    And it was precisely because of this that Lu Qingshan had the spare strength to help him with an additional strike.


    Do you have to be that fast?!


    Zhong Ming''s heart was shaken to its core.

 Chapter 92 Myriad Ghost Robe

    Witnessing the entire process, the Li Zu''s shock surpassed even that of Zhong Ming.


    At the moment when Zhong Ming and Lu Qingshan simultaneouslyunched attacks toward the cultivators of Xuan Ming Valley.


    Considering that Lu Qingshan was still a neer, the Li Zu instinctively wanted to take care of him and thus directed his first spell toward the Xuan Ming Valley cultivator that Lu Qingshan was facing.


    It was an ice sword formed from concentrated Water Attribute Spiritual Power, emitting a bone-chilling coldness.


    Under his control, the ice sword shot straight at Lu Qingshan''s opponent, much like a Sword Cultivator''s flying sword.


    Although its speed wasn''t quite on par with the flying sword.


    But Li Zu was confident that its power was no less than that of a Sword Cultivator''s flying sword.


    However, what he hadn''t anticipated was that in an instant, Lu Qingshan''s flying sword burst out like a streak of lightning, and Lu Qingshan''s figure mysteriously vanished.


    When Lu Qingshan appeared again, he had already confronted the Xuan Ming Valley Dharma Cultivation right in the face with his sword.


    Immediately afterward, the Xuan Ming Valley Dharma Cultivator copsed.


    Upon closer inspection, his forehead had been split open by one of Lu Qingshan''s shes, with fresh blood continuously streaming out.


    It was at this moment when the Xuan Ming Valley Dharma Cultivator fell that his ice sword finally whooshed through the air and horizontal impaled itself into the chest of the now-dead Xuan Ming Valley cultivator.


    This ice sword appeared quite superfluous, just like his own interference.


    Lu Qingshan''s escape speed had already surpassed the velocity of his own spell''s trajectory?


    Li Zu found it hard to believe in his heart.


    With such incredible speed, the Dharma Cultivation in the icy, snowy terrain had no time to react and couldn''t even cast a defensive spell before falling to Lu Qingshan''s sword.


    ...


    The Formless Sword Escape was indeed useful!


    Lu Qingshan, looking at the freshly gained two thousand experience points on his attribute panel, felt thoroughly satisfied.


    Using the Formless Sword Escape, he not only killed his opponent instantly but even managed to steal a kill from Zhong Ming using his Flying Sword Technique.


    Taking advantage of the momentarypse of the Xuan Ming Valley cultivators, he had already taken down two of them in an instant!


    But such good fortune was only once.


    Because at this moment, the remaining two cultivators within the icy, snowy terrain, witnessing the tragic state of their fellow sect member, had already deployed multipleyers of Defensive Artifacts and cast various Defensive Spells around themselves.


    The task of killing these cultivators wasn''t going to be as easy as before and would require actual contact.


    Lu Qingshan scanned the area.


    On the left, Xu Hao, relying on his thick skin, was single-handedly engaging four Foundation Establishment cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley inbat.


    Xiao Zhi''s beast pet, the Red Rock Goose, was assisting Xu Hao in the battle.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Zhi summoned his third beast pet.


    The Green Scaled Leopard!


    An exotic leopard demon covered in green scales.


    Fast and with amazing defensive power.


    Its agile form immediately leaped out, lunging at a Xuan Ming Valley cultivator. Its ws, sharp as des, gleamed with a metallic luster, continuously shing at the critical areas of the Xuan Ming Valley cultivator.


    Su Shu and Xiao Zhi took positions in a V-formation, supporting each other while casting Spirit Techniques to aid the cultivators of Tiger Squad in their offense and defense.


    Coming back to their senses, Lu Qingshan and Zhong Ming exchanged nces, and with a shared look, they assigned their targets and, with a flicker of their forms, charged into action.


    Li Zu was supporting them from a distance, at the same time controlling the battlefield.


    ...


    Not far from the battlefield at another location.


    Dantai Qingrun had already approached the Xuan Ming Master.


    "The Cultivator of the Tower of Guarding...." Seeing Dantai Qingrun''s proud stance appear before him, Xuan Ming Master cackled and was about to utter some harsh words.


    But before he could finish his trash talk, a burst of azure light erupted within Xuan Ming Master''s line of sight, sending out an astonishing wave of energy.


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    Sword light flickered, and the Spirit Hidden Sword, in its Flying Sword pose, surged forward, tracing a cyan trail as it shot towards the location of his dantian''s Golden Core.


    Pop! Pop! Pop!


    A deafening st resonated by Xuan Ming Master''s ear.


    This was the sound of a sonic boom created by Dantai Qingrun''s Flying Sword Speed, which had already exceeded supersonic speed.


    On the supersonic Flying Spirit Hidden Sword, hundreds of fine strands of sword light attached themselves.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Within Xuan Ming Master''s pupils, a hint of sword light coiling around the Spirit Hidden Sword quickly split in two, which then split into four, and in the blink of an eye, turned into one hundred twenty-eight sword lights.


    Those shards of sword light immediately merged into this vast river of sword light.


    In the differentiation of sword light, they integrated Dantai House''s unique Crescent Moon Sword Light.


    This was Dantai Qingrun''s secret Flying Sword Technique.


    With just this technique of Sword Light Differentiation, it was enough to make most Golden Core Sword Cultivators feel inferior.


    With the speed of the Flying Sword, if one wants to block the attack through Defensive Techniques, aside from deploying Defensive Techniques in advance, there was no other way.


    For Cultivators, casting a sufficiently high-level Defensive Technique in the brief moment between the Flying Swordunching an attack and reaching the targets was virtually impossible.


    And those instantly castable lower-grade Defensive Tactics obviously could not withstand the Flying Sword of a Sword Cultivator.


    However, although Xuan Ming Master''s expression was unsightly, he did not show much panic, seemingly having some confidence.


    Sure enough, more than a hundred ferocious-faced resentful spirits suddenly scattered from Xuan Ming Master''s robe.


    These resentful spirits, emitting piercing screams, viciously met the long river of sword light.


    Sizzle!


    The two collided, and the resentful spirits melted away under the sword light, immediately burning and disintegrating, leaving only wisps of light smoke floating in the air.


    Dantai Qingrun''s eyes were deep and intense as he stared fixedly at the ck Taoist robe on Xuan Ming Master.


    Vaguely visible on the robe were numerous ghostly faces, all ferocious and tormented.


    "With the Myriad Ghosts Robe protecting my body, what can you do to me!" Scared by Dantai Qingrun''s sudden attack, Xuan Ming Master regained hisposure, his voiceing out hoarse and unpleasant.


    The Myriad Ghosts Robe, an infamous defensive artifact within the Evil Cultivation Faction, yet also quite rare.


    Because in addition to the extremely precious materials required to forge it, it also required the incorporation of human spirits during the forging process.


    The more human spirits merged into the robe, the higher the quality of the souls, the stronger the Myriad Ghosts Robe.


    Oncepleted, the robe protected one from myriad evils, impervious to all malevolent forces.


    This was Xuan Ming Master''s confidence.


    But at this moment, a chill suddenly rose in Xuan Ming Master''s heart.


    Having taken Dantai Qingrun''s Flying Sword, the encounter seemed effortless, but the truth was¡ªhe was in considerable pain.


    In just that instant, more than a hundred of the resentful spirits in his Myriad Ghosts Robe had been annihted.


    Although called the Myriad Ghosts Robe, through years of umtion, he had barely managed to gather about three thousand souls, far from ten thousand.


    In a situation where the surveince in Great Xia was so strict, the effort he had taken nearly a hundred years to carefully umte the number of resentful spirits on his robe to what it was today¡ªto not let his massacre ofmon people for forging evil artifacts be discovered.


    Just this one encounter had cost him one-thirtieth of his effort, equating to several years of arduous work gone up in mes; how could he not feel heartache!


    "Myriad Ghosts Robe." Dantai Qingrun muttered quietly, then a murderous intent surged in his eyes: "You deserve to die!"


    Dantai Qingrun was well aware that given the number of resentful spirits on Xuan Ming Master''s Myriad Ghosts Robe, Xuan Ming Master''s hands must be covered in blood, having ughtered countless innocentmoners.

 Chapter 93 Autumn Pool

    Xuan Ming, upon hearing Dantai Qingrun''s words, was filled with contempt and disgust, "You so-called Righteous Cultivators, who exactly are you putting on this sorrowful andpassionate act for?


    Should I die? Very well, let''s see who dies this time!"


    "Three Thousand Soul Kill!" Xuan Ming''s voice screeched like that of a Resentful Spirit, harsh and unpleasant to hear.


    At the moment his words fell, Xuan Ming raised his hand mightily. As he waved his robe sleeve, the Resentful Spirits from within the Myriad Ghost Robe immediately howled out, lunging ferociously towards Dantai Qingrun with bared teeth and ws.


    Dantai Qingrun frowned.


    At the very moment the Resentful Spirits appeared, Xuan Ming transformed into a streak of ck smoke, blending in with the three thousand spirits in the blink of an eye, making his trace difficult to discern.


    Nether Cultivators are inherently adept at concealment, not to mention now with so many Resentful Spirits as cover.


    Trying to quickly locate Xuan Ming among these ubiquitous spirits was extremely difficult.


    If Dantai Qingrun did not know where Xuan Ming was, she not only had to deal with the three thousand Resentful Spirits, but also be always ready for Xuan Ming''s sudden assaults.


    Nheless, block these Resentful Spirits first.


    This was what Dantai Qingrun thought.


    ng! ng! ng!


    Apanied by an intense, metallic nging, ayer of Golden Thread Apparel mixed with Sword Qi and Golden Essence appeared around Dantai Qingrun''s body.


    [Golden Sword Apparel]!


    An extremely unique Technique.


    To practice this Technique, one must first refine metalic Spirit Material and extract the Golden Essence within them, storing it in the 360 acupuncture points around the body.


    Then, it would take a great amount of time to continuously route the Life-bound Sword through these 360 points, allowing the Golden Essence to gradually imbibe the essence of the Life-bound Sword. During this process, the refinement of Sword Qi merges into the Golden Essence.


    Sword Qi and Golden Essence differ, with Sword Qi being an energy by nature, transformed by Sword Cultivators using Spiritual Power, and not a material substance.


    However, the art of Golden Sword Apparel partially materializes the Sword Qi through Golden Essence, thus forming unique Golden Essence Sword Qi.


    Since this Golden Essence Sword Qi also retains some properties of Sword Qi, and Sword Cultivators manipte Sword Qi as naturally as moving their own limbs, it is extraordinarily effective.


    Once mastered, the Sword Cultivator can freely mobilize the Golden Essence Sword Qi to form an impregnable attire of swords, its defensive power being exceptionally astonishing.


    The higher the quality of the Golden Essence and the stronger the Sword Qi, the more impressive the protective ability of the formed Sword Apparel.


    Once the Golden Sword Apparel ispleted, it can also be enhanced by integrating higher quality Golden Essence over time, or as one''s Cultivation increases, by infusing more powerful Sword Qi, thus strengthening the protective capability of the Golden Sword Apparel¡ªa truly peerless defensive Subtle Technique rarely seen even among Sword Cultivators.


    Such a Subtle Technique, not even the Dantai Family with a thousand years of inheritance in Sword Cultivation possessed it.


    This was a heritage from the Knowledge Tower, given to Dantai Qingrun who was highly esteemed by the Knowledge Tower, indeed a top-tier secret technique for Sword Cultivators.


    ...


    Three thousand Resentful Spirits charged towards Dantai Qingrun in waves.


    Yet against this continually swirling Golden Sword Apparel on the surface of Dantai Qingrun''s body, these ferocious spirits were like facing a curled-up hedgehog,pletely unable to find a point of attack.


    Clink!


    At that moment, a grating sound of metal colliding arose.


    It turned out that Xuan Ming, hidden among these many spirits, could no longer restrain himself andunched an attack.


    This was apletely dark dagger, a Magic Artifact with blood-red patterns all over it.


    Xuan Ming gripped the dagger, and Spiritual Power surged explosively from within him.


    The dagger, concentrated with Spiritual Power, targeted Dantai Qingrun''s slender neck and stabbed fiercely.


    This dagger was named Soul-Shocking Dagger, and like the Myriad Ghost Robe, it was a famously known Magic Artifact within the Evil Cultivation Faction.


    This was another major trump card of Xuan Ming aside from Myriad Ghost Robe.


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    However, the usually invincible Soul-Shocking Dagger finally met its match this time.


    Against Xuan Ming''s painstakingly refined Soul-Shocking Dagger, the Golden Sword Apparel demonstrated its power as a top-tier defensive Technique.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Under this stab, the apparel only indented slightly for a moment, then quickly returned to its original form and repelled the Soul-Shocking Dagger.


    Dantai Qingrun was unscathed, with the Golden Sword Apparel also remainingpletely intact.


    Dantai Qingrun gave a coldugh.


    It was not easy to find Xuan Ming, and now that she had witnessed Xuan Ming revealing himself voluntarily, how could she possibly let go of this opportunity for battle?


    With a slight movement of her mind, the Spirit Hidden Sword once again flew out, carrying a vast expanse of sword light, and attacked Xuan Ming.


    Xuan Ming''s expression changed, and the resentful spirits surrounding him hurriedly met the flying sword.


    Once again, more than a hundred resentful spirits turned to ash.


    Ignoring the pain, Xuan Ming transformed into a wisp of ck smoke and merged back into the crowd of resentful spirits, then, under the astonished gaze of Dantai Qingrun, the hoard of resentful spirits turned around and fled in the opposite direction.


    Though it had only been two moves, Xuan Ming had already realized that he was no match for this Sword Cultivator.


    A real man knows when to fold and when to hold; facing an undeniable defeat, why wouldn''t he flee quickly rather than wait for death?


    His head was not made of iron.


    Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west; never underestimate the poverty of a youth!


    Xuan Ming was running away while roaring inwardly in his mind.


    Once my cultivation technique is fully refined, I must avenge today''s humiliation!


    Watching Xuan Ming flee with a sky full of resentful spirits, a look of disdain appeared on Dantai Qingrun''s frost-like cold face.


    In her right hand, the second Life-bound Sword suddenly appeared.


    Dantai Qingrun held the sword and gently swung it forward, a seemingly careless and nonchnt stroke.


    Yet this seemingly carefree stroke seemed to trigger something, as countless dazzling specks of light burst forth from the de.


    These specks of light floated weightlessly, flickering dimly and brightly, shining in red, blue, green, and purple colors.


    The specks of light coalesced into lines, the lines formed light, and the light gathered into a sparkling river of stars.


    This magnificent and captivating spectacle left all onlookers dazzled and mesmerized.


    No one could have imagined that such a beautiful scene could be a hidden, cunning sword technique.


    This river of light surged forth with a tremendous momentum, and in an instant, a torrential wave overwhelmed Xuan Ming''s crowd of resentful spirits.


    Under the river of light, the resentful spirits slowly vaporized, and instinctively, they hurried back into the Myriad Ghost Robe to seek refuge.


    With no cover from the resentful spirits, Xuan Ming hiding within them was inevitably exposed and could not escape.


    The tide receded.


    Xuan Ming, pale-faced, fell from the sky, faintly shrouded in a thin mist around his body.


    Dantai Qingrunnded in front of Xuan Ming, facing the now powerless Xuan Ming, she pulled out a golden rope from her Storage Ring: "Spirit Binding Rope"!


    With a motion of her spiritual power, the rope shone brightly with golden light, quickly extending and winding around Xuan Ming, executing rope techniques to tightly bind him, preventing him from mobilizing any spiritual power.


    "What sword technique was that?" Xuan Ming stared intently at the sword in Dantai Qingrun''s hand, his words clipped and teeth gritted as he asked.


    The extremely dazzling sword stroke by Dantai Qingrun had left him with a profound shock that lingered on, and even though he was now captured, he was still preupied.


    "The sword is named Qiuhong, the technique is ''Gathering the Starry River,''" Dantai Qingrun''s cherry lips lightly parted.


    [Qiuhong] (Water Attribute ¡¤ Life-bound Sword)


    Level: High-grade Spiritual Artifact


    Description: In what year did this coiled dragon, thus became the autumn water profound


    Magic Artifact Effect 1: Attacks carry an additional frost effect


    Magic Artifact Effect 2: Power of water attribute sword techniques cast using this sword is increased by 20%


    Magic Artifact Effect 3: Sword Qi damage +20%


    Active Effects: [Gathering the Starry River]: Holding autumn water to gather the starry river. Waving the sword of Qiuhong summons the power of the starry radiance to aid oneself. The higher the level of the Qiuhong Sword and the stronger the cultivation of the Sword Master, the more powerful the starry radiance that can be summoned.


    Cool down time: 3 days.

 Chapter 94 Thoughts

    After effortlessly capturing Real Man Xuan Ming with the Artifact Skill of the Qiuhong Sword, Dantai Qingrun turned his attention to the other two battlefields.


    The Jiazi Squad, which served as reinforcements from the main tower of Qing State, although the highest cultivation among the six Cultivators was only at the Golden Core Middle Stage, they were all strong Cultivators within their realm, and the coordination among the squad members was exceptionally tacit.


    Under the orderly and exquisite cooperation of the six Cultivators, Real Man Xuan You, who was at the Golden Core Late Stage, appeared as if stuck in a swamp, unable to exert his power effectively and was firmly restrained.


    As one of the strongest Golden Core Cultivators, Dantai Qingrun''s perspective was naturally extraordinary.


    With just a nce at the overall situation on the field, Dantai Qingrun hade to a conclusion.


    ¡ª¡ªThe Jiazi Squad only needed to grind it out for another hour or two, and Real Man Xuan You would fall due to insufficient Spiritual Power.


    After confirming that there was no problem on the Jiazi Squad''s side, Dantai Qingrun shifted his focus to the battle situation of the Tiger Squad.


    More precisely, he directed his attention to Lu Qingshan.


    ...


    In such a meticulously prepared operation, following the style of Zhi Shou Tower, they naturally would send an absolutely assured lineup to secure the mission target with a fail-safe stance, rather than engage in equal or even underdog battles.


    That''s not called bravery, it''s called stupidity.


    Yet they had sent out the Jiazi Squad, consisting of five Golden Core Early Stage Cultivators and one Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator, along with the entirely Foundation Establishment Tiger Squad, to meet the luxurious lineup of two Golden Core Late Stage Cultivators, more than twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and hundreds of Qi Refining Cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley.


    It seemed highly irrational and contradicted the philosophy of Zhi Shou Tower.


    But in reality, theparison of strength between the two sides presented a typical crushing force.


    All because of one person.


    ¡ª¡ªDantai Qingrun.


    Yes, with just Dantai Qingrun alone, the Zhi Shou Tower, which appeared weaker on paper, could easily crush Xuan Ming Valley.


    Within the same Golden Core Realm, the gap between the strength of strong Golden Core Cultivators and that of average Golden Core Cultivators can stretch into a chasm insurmountable!


    Dantai Qingrun was such a Sword Cultivator at the pinnacle ofbat power among Golden Core Cultivators.


    The task in Xuan Ming Valley was initially assigned only to require the participation of Dantai Qingrun and the Jiazi Squad.


    The Jiazi Squad was even just sent to assist Dantai Qingrun, in case the two Golden Core Late Stage Cultivators had some tricks up their sleeves, and to prevent them from slipping away one by one.


    As for the Tiger Squad, they were ast-minute addition by Dantai Qingrun on a whim.


    As for the purpose?


    Dantai Qingrun''s gaze was profound as he looked at the figure on the other side that had gradually be the focus of Tiger Squad''s attention.


    Lu Qingshan''s expression was solemn.


    Although the Cultivators of the Tiger Squad were all strong Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Cultivators of Xuan Ming Valley were numerically superior, making it difficult for them to address all fronts.


    So, after the initial explosive phase passed, it wasn''t long before a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley sessfully entered their formations and began to mobilize the Formation''s power to attack them.


    "Activate the Formation!" shouted a Foundation Establishment Cultivator at the stage of Perfection from Xuan Ming Valley as he entered the key position.


    Immediately, the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the formation echoed in unison.


    The previously ignored Qi Refining disciples on the outermostyer of Xuan Ming Valley had already taken their positions at the outer formation, waiting for a High Level Cultivator to enter the core position and activate the Formation.


    Upon hearing the shouting voice of their fellow Sect Uncles echoing throughout the valley, these Qi Refining disciples closed their eyes in unison.


    In just a moment, the Spiritual Power within them seeped out and surged into the Formation.


    Though their Spiritual Power was not strong, the sheer number of them umted a terrifying Spiritual Tide.


    A light shield covering the entire Xuan Ming Valley gradually emerged.


    The Xuan Ming Valley Cultivator who first gave themand naturally became the leader of the Formation.


    A trace of ruthlessness shed in his eyes, and he quickly made a decision. Find more chapters on empire


    First, eliminate the Tiger Squad, then assist Uncle Xuan You in defeating the enemy!


    He raised his right palm and pressed down.


    A ball of Spiritual Power, gathered from a fraction of power from all the Xuan Ming Valley disciples, hurtled with terrifying speed towards Lu Qingshan, who was constantly moving and dodging.


    Yes, this indeed was the Sword Cultivator with a built-in max level taunting aura, predictably bing the first target the Xuan Ming Valley Cultivators wanted to kill!


    The speed of the Spiritual Power orb was extraordinarily terrifying, and its might even more astounding.


    Wherever the Spiritual Power orb passed, it left behind an obvious trail over ten feet long.


    This was because the air had beenpressed and annihted, forming a brief vacuum.


    "Lu Qingshan, be careful!" The moment the Spiritual Power orb appeared, Xu Hao sensed the danger and shouted nervously to warn.


    With the prowess of the Spiritual Power orb, even his thick-skinned self would have to lie in state for quite some time if he were to take the hit.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    A Sword Cultivator, fragile as a sheet of paper, had no reason to withstand such an attack!


    He couldn''t even begin to imagine the sorry state Lu Qingshan would be in if he were hit.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes fixated on the iing Spiritual Power orb, but his expression grew increasingly calm as he made up his mind.


    Eight palm-sized jade stones flew out instantly, emitting a serene blue light, and in the blink of an eye, they expanded several times in size, transforming into shields.


    ng!


    That wasn''t all; the eight shields were different in shape, with twisted patterns along their edges.


    But despite their odd shapes, the patterns on the shields matched up perfectly and assembled together at high speed, forming an airtight barrier around Lu Qingshan.


    Water Cloud Shield Artifact Skill "Eight Gates Shield Armor"!


    It was precisely at the moment the Water Cloud Shield appeared that Dantai Qingrun, who had been ready to intercept the Spiritual Power orb, quietly withdrew her hand.


    Boom!


    The Spiritual Power orb crashed against the Eight Gates Shield Armor, producing a thunderous sound that echoed in the ears!


    Under the watchful eyes of all, the remnants of the Spiritual Power dissipated, revealing the unharmed Lu Qingshan within.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyelids grew heavy.


    With that single strike, the durability of the Eight Gates Shield Armor decreased by half!


    As for Dantai Qingrun''s demeanor towards Lu Qingshan''s situation, she remainedpletely nonchnt.


    With her discerning eye, she immediately noticed that with the Water Cloud Shield artifact protecting him, the Spiritual Power orb couldn''t harm Lu Qingshan, which is why she had held back.


    Dantai Qingrun''s eyes shone brightly, her curiosity about the ever-mysterious Lu Qingshan piqued tremendously.


    She had specifically brought the Tiger Squad this time, partly hoping to probe into Lu Qingshan''s motives through this opportunity.


    She also had ample confidence and strength to control the scene.


    Should Lu Qingshan encounter a situation he couldn''t resolve, she would step in immediately to take charge of the situation.


    Lu Qingshan, let me see what tricks you have up your sleeve.


    Dantai Qingrun murmured in her heart.


    And as for now...


    While keeping an eye on Lu Qingshan''s condition, Dantai Qingrun also diverted part of her attention to face True Person Xuan You.


    A hundred beams of Sword Light burst forth from the Spirit Hidden Sword, loaded with lethal intent, and suddenly shed down towards True Person Xuan You.


    Dantai Qingrun was prepared to settle scores with this True Person Xuan You, who had dared to provoke her earlier.


    Given that True Person Xuan Ming had been dealt with and she wasn''t one to idly stand by, she decisivelyunched a fierce attack on True Person Xuan You.


    The hundred beams of Sword Light swept past True Person Xuan You''s body, and in an instant, his rocky skin was marked with a densework of fine white lines.


    In pain, True Person Xuan You''s face suddenly changed, and a sense of ominous foreboding shed through his mind.


    Dantai Qingrun had clearly gone after True Person Xuan Ming just moments ago, so why now...?


    Could it be that True Person Xuan Ming had been dealt with by her in such a short span of time?


    He was somewhat familiar with the strength of True Person Xuan Ming, who was several magnitudes stronger than himself.


    Is this Sword Cultivator from the Zhi-Zhi Pavilion this powerful?


    With many thoughts racing through his mind, True Person Xuan You felt both shocked and fearful.

 Chapter 95 Timing

    Xuan You''s various psychological activities will not be mentioned here.


    On the other hand, Lu Qingshan had fallen into the most troublesome situation he had encountered so far.


    The Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Xuan Ming Valley, who was in charge of the formation, looked at the Eight Gates Shield Armor continuously circling around Lu Qingshan''s body and sneered.


    "No matter how strong this magic artifact is, how many times can it withstand the attacks of the great formation?"


    With a wave of hisrge hand, a spiritual power ball, both more powerful andrger than before, instantly condensed.


    The surface of the spiritual power ball was overflowing with spirit, emitting terrifying fluctuations.


    "Go!"


    The Xuan Ming Valley Cultivator sneered viciously, and with a fierce push of his palms, the spiritual power ball, apanied by an irresistible thunderous roar, shot towards Lu Qingshan.


    Xu Hao, who had just rxed, immediately felt his heart leap to his throat again.


    Without hesitating, Xu Hao burst forth, lunging at the Xuan Ming Valley Cultivator positioned within the formation.


    It was essential to disrupt the Xuan Ming Valley Cultivator from manipting the formation; otherwise, under the power of the formation, each and every one of them from the Tiger Squad would have to fall here today.


    Xu Hao immediately made the most correct judgment.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingshan, facing the attack of the formation, clenched his teeth and stared intently at the spiritual power ball that kept erging in his pupils.


    The spiritual power ball was rapidly approaching Lu Qingshan.


    "Not enough, even closer!" Lu Qingshan''s heart grew colder.


    Until the spiritual power ball was almost upon him, and Lu Qingshan could even feel the violently surging spirit on its surface.


    A streak of sword light whistled out.


    Formless Sword Escape!


    Apanying the sword light, Lu Qingshan instantly disappeared from the spot.


    But under the spiritual light of the spiritual power ball, no one noticed this scene.


    Except for Dantai Qingrun, who was remotely using his Divine Sense to keep an eye on the situation here.


    Seeing this, Dantai Qingrun quietly suppressed the Qiuhong Sword that was circling overhead, ready to strike over Lu Qingshan.


    The Xuan Ming Valley Cultivator, seeing that the spiritual power ball had enveloped Lu Qingshan, did not hesitate any longer, and the spiritual power ball suddenly exploded, releasing a massive burst of spiritual power.


    The dazzling spiritual light instantly submerged the location where Lu Qingshan was, also reflecting the terrified faces of the Tiger Squad Cultivators.


    "Could Lu Qingshan have fallen just like that?" Everyone''s mind was upied with this thought.


    ...


    Time turned back a moment before.


    The instant the spiritual power ball wasunched, Lu Qingshan immediately made a judgment.


    The Eight Gates Shield Armor absolutely could not withstand this attack!


    So, he couldn''t resist head-on; dodging was the only way to respond.


    But dodging, though easy to say, was not easy to execute.


    The difficultyy in grasping the timing.


    If he moved too early, the Xuan Ming Valley Cultivator could manipte the spiritual power ball to follow Lu Qingshan''s form, continuing the previous attack with uninterrupted force.


    If he moved toote, given the power of the spiritual power ball, once he failed to escape its range of attack, he would suffer severe injuries if not death.


    Thus, only by using the Formless Sword Escape in the instant before the spiritual power ball exploded could he ensure the ball released its inherent power fruitlessly, while he himself remained unscathed.


    Even in Dantai Qingrun''s view, this was an operation of extremely high difficulty.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan calmly seized that practically fleeting moment, executed the Formless Sword Escape, moved away, and emerged without a single injury.


    Only leaving behind a mess of a site to demonstrate the ferocity of the spiritual power ball.


    Several thoughts of admiration arose in Dantai Qingrun''s mind, and he gradually became more certain of his previous conjecture.


    Such precise timing, along withposure and calmness even as Mount Tai crumbles before him.


    This was something that could not be exined by talent alone but had to be honed through countless life-and-death battles.


    How could a Cultivator of such a young age have such extensive battle experience?


    It could only be exined by a great Cultivator performing a spirit possession.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan, of course, was not what one would call a grand cultivator engaged in spirit possession.


    Ten years of experience in "Nine Heavens" not only endowed Lu Qingshan with prescient abilities but also provided him with a wealth of battle experience, which was his most critical asset.


    Generally speaking, cultivators wouldn''t easily ce themselves in a life-or-death battle.


    While it''s true that such battles can stimte one''s potential and refinebat skills, the problem is that one only has one life, and death means the end of everything.


    So, apart from a few madmen, who would willingly risk their lives like this?


    However, for yers, none of these problems exist.


    ¡ªAlthough there are penalties, yers can, after all, resurrect infinitely.


    In any game where resurrection is possible, yers are always particrly eager to court death.


    Not to mention that in "Nine Heavens," there''s a saying: without a sufficient number of deaths, one cannot be a top yer.


    As one of the top yers at the pinnacle of the yer pyramid, Lu Qingshan had his share of innate talent, yet the hundreds to thousands of deaths were also inevitable.


    Ten years of gaming experience, not to mention leveling up and defeating monsters, but just the thousands of PVP battles in the arena against yers of all sses had granted Lu Qingshan a near-unparalleled battle experience among the human cultivators.


    Moreover, with the possibility of resurrection, Lu Qingshan also had many foolhardy experiences.


    Defeating monsters above his level had be a routine affair, and although it often resulted in more losses than gains, with leveling down and resurrection, it also cultivated in him a big heart unfazed by life-and-death situations.


    This was an enviable and precious experience that many cultivators would covet.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


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    ...


    He dodged another attack from the violent ball of Spiritual Power.


    Lu Qingshan watched as Tiger Squad began to move, preparing to interfere with the Xuan Ming Valley cultivators conducting the Formation, his eyes slightly narrowing.


    If merely Tiger Squad could prevent the power of the great Formation in Xuan Ming Valley,


    it would indeed be underestimating Xuan Ming Valley significantly.


    Lu Qingshan felt the fleeting sword aura in the air.


    That familiar aura, if not Dantai Qingrun''s second life-bound sword previously used to defeat Xuan You, then what could it be?


    Dantai Qingrun might have hidden well,


    but with the boost from "Innate Swordseed," Lu Qingshan''s perception of and affinity for all types of Sword Artifacts had reached a level unimaginable to the average person.


    Hence, Lu Qingshan instantly recognized the Qiuhong Sword hovering in the air.


    Did he think he could just watch the y?


    Lu Qingshan snorted displeasedly.


    Using the Formless Sword Escape, Lu Qingshan, controlling the Crying Soul Sword, soared with undiminished speed towards Qiuhong.


    ng!


    The crisp sound of jade colliding.


    The Sword Momentum swirling around Qiuhong repelled the Crying Soul Sword.


    Was he discovered?!


    A thought shed through Dantai Qingrun''s mind.


    Since Lu Qingshan had noticed her, she could no longer keep hiding.


    Whoosh!


    The dawn''s light twinkled, and Qiuhong, like a meteor, broke through the sky, trailing a tail, and with a vast sword light that lit up the sky, it shed towards the Xuan Ming Valley cultivator heading the Great Formation.


    The Xuan Ming Valley cultivator''s face changed, he concentrated the Spiritual Power of the formation, struggling to resist.


    The brilliant beams of Spiritual Power burst forth incessantly, fiercely shing with the sword light, resembling two armies battling at the front lines.


    Apanied by a series of metallic sounds, the Spiritual Power beams were finally extinguished, unable to continue.


    Pfft!


    The face of the Xuan Ming Valley cultivator still wore disbelief, but Qiuhong had already prated his Dantian, bursting his body with a surge of overwhelming Spirit Power in an instant.


    Blood rained down.


    It was as effortless as lifting a feather.


    For Dantai Qingrun, killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even with the boost of a Great Formation, was like flipping her hand.


    This sword not only crushed the body of the Foundation Establishment cultivator who was controlling the Formation but also shattered the will of the Xuan Ming Valley cultivators to resist.

 Chapter 96 Harvest

    ```


    Under the strike of Dantai Qingrun, the resistance of the Xuan Ming Valley cultivators seemed utterly meaningless.


    Even Xuan You Zhenren, who had been desperately holding on with the Stone Giant Dharma Aspect, felt a touch of despair in his heart.


    He knew that regardless of whether Xuan Ming Zhenren was defeated or fled, he could not change one fact¡ªhe was already caught in an isted and embarrassing situation.


    Merely facing the encirclement of the Jiazi squad''s cultivators had left him overwhelmed.


    And now, with Dantai Qingrun boosting the formation on the side, his fierce flying sword assault rendered Xuan You Zhenren utterly defenseless.


    His defeat was just inches away.


    Although the Stone Giant Dharma Aspect gave him high resistance, to withstand Dantai Qingrun''s flying sword attacks, the consumption of Spiritual Power every moment was immense.


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    Moreover, judging by Dantai Qingrun''s rxed and effortless manner, it was clear that he had not yet gone all out.


    Like a blunt knife cutting through flesh, Dantai Qingrun was slowly but surely eroding hisbat power.


    A resolute glint shed in Xuan You Zhenren''s eyes.


    He knew that with the actions he had taken, he had already vited the edicts of Great Xia and there was no possibility of being spared; even if he gave up resistance, death would be inevitable.


    Considering the current situation, if things were dragged out further until his Spiritual Power ran dry, he would truly have no choice but to surrender.


    He might as well take advantage of the little strength he had left and make a desperate attempt¡ªthere might still be a tiny chance of escaping this cmity.


    Thinking this, Xuan You Zhenren finally made up his mind.


    In an instant, as if triggering something, Xuan You Zhenren''s eyes emitted a faint red glow, and his body abruptly erupted in a wave of fiery, blood-colored mes.


    His already mountainous figure grew several sizes in an instant.


    At this moment, the aura of Xuan You Zhenren reached an unprecedented peak.


    Blood Burning Technique!


    A secret technique that Xuan You Zhenren possessed and would not use unless he faced a life-or-death situation¡ªan explosive technique.


    By burning his own Essence Blood, he exchanged it for a brief surge in power.


    Once the duration of the Blood Burning Technique ended, Xuan You Zhenren would fall into a state of unparalleled weakness.


    This was a do-or-die attempt that would result in either sess or martyrdom.


    Experienced cultivators facing such a situation would generally not choose to confront Xuan You Zhenren in his bursting state head-on but would engage in a battle of attrition to wait out his explosive phase.


    The six members of the Jiazi squad, seasoned and cunning, immediately took the most correct countermeasures.


    The defensive power of Xuan You Zhenren, now enhanced by the Stone Giant Dharma Aspect, had reached a new level, making ordinary attacks ineffective against him.


    The Dharma Cultivation members of the Jiazi squad understood this as well and ceased casting Attack Spells, instead switching to Earth-based gravity spells to disrupt Xuan You Zhenren''s movements.


    The Body Cultivation cultivators also avoided head-on confrontation with Xuan You Zhenren, instead shifting to his side.


    "Shake!" Spiritual Cultivator Liu Xuan let out a soft chant, his left hand forming seals and his right forming a gesture, as he sent out a semi-circr arc of visible sonic waves from his mouth, shaking towards Xuan You Zhenren.


    This was the sonic attack of the Spiritual Cultivator.


    Although the Spirit Arts of Spiritual Cultivators were mostly auxiliary in nature, it didn''t mean theycked offensive capabilities.


    Indeed, a cultivation path without the ability to attack could not have existed so long in the survival-of-the-fittest Cultivation World, continuously growing and developing for so long.


    The Attack Spirit Spells of Spiritual Cultivators were known for being unpredictable and came in various forms and abilities.


    Dharma Cultivation''s Spells might be nothing but a nuisance to Xuan You Zhenren, bolstered by the Stone Giant Dharma Aspect.


    But Liu Xuan''s sonic attack, upon touching Xuan You Zhenren''s body, silently pierced through his rock-hard skin and infiltrated the inside of his body.


    A strange vibrating sound emanated from within Xuan You Zhenren''s body.


    This Spirit Art targeted directly at Xuan You Zhenren''s internal organs.


    Puff!


    Xuan You Zhenren felt a surge in his Qi-Blood, a sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out from his mouth.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    An attack with a significant effect!


    Xuan You Zhenren, seriously injured, tried to suppress the faint chaos in his Qi-Blood, his eyes the size of copper bells scanning the six members of the Jiazi squad who were scattered around him, maintaining a certain distance.


    He needed to break through; he had to choose a direction as his breakout point.


    Without much consideration, Xuan You Zhenren made his decision.


    Mobilizing the boiling Spiritual Power within his body at full force under the effect of the Blood Burning Technique, Xuan You Zhenren''s legs pushed hard, and he leaped towards the position of the Sword Cultivator within the Jiazi squad.


    As he soared into the air, Xuan You Zhenren swung his massive right fist.


    On his right fist suddenly appeared a ck gauntlet with sharp spikes.


    This was his magic artifact, a Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifact!


    Xuan You Zhenren seemed prepared to take on everyone''s attacks head-on, exchanging blows with the Sword Cultivator at the cost of injury.


    How could the fragile Sword Cultivator dare to trade blows with him?


    Faced with his punch, the Sword Cultivator would surely choose to dodge aside.


    Just as he expected, Xuan You Zhenren saw the Sword Cultivator from the Jiazi squad shifting to the side to evade.


    ```


    An opening had thus emerged.


    This was the opportunity!


    Real Master Xuan You''s eyes lit up!


    Hiss¡ª


    Just as he was overjoyed in his heart, a somewhat familiar voice reached Real Master Xuan You''s ears.


    What was that?


    Before Real Master Xuan You could react,


    an irresistible force came from his back.


    Under this formidable strength, he fell from midair in a vertical drop and crashed to the ground.


    Bang!


    A loud impact resounded, stirring up clouds of dust everywhere.


    Real Master Xuan You struggled to his feet, watching the graceful figure standing in midair.


    "Still trying to flee?"


    Dantai Qingrun held the Spirit Hidden Sword and snorted coldly.


    It was her who had just released a sh of Sword Qi that knocked Real Master Xuan You out of the sky.


    This scene felt strangely familiar.


    Not long ago, Real Master Xuan You had been smashed to the ground by Dantai Qingrun''s sword in exactly the same way.


    Real Master Xuan You had never imagined that even after using the Blood Burning Technique, he still couldn''t withstand Dantai Qingrun''s Sword Qi.


    He had greatly overestimated Dantai Qingrun, but her strength still far exceeded his expectations.


    With such a powerful Dantai Qingrun suppressing him from the side, he saw no hope at all.


    The Jiazi Squad adjusted their positions swiftly like sticky candy, quickly enclosing him once more.


    The duration of the Blood Burning Technique was rapidly fading.


    At this moment, Real Master Xuan You felt overwhelmed by despair.


    ...


    A momentter,


    without the slightest suspense, the bloody mes on Real Master Xuan You gradually extinguished, and his momentum weakened.


    The effect of the Blood Burning Technique had worn off, leaving Real Master Xuan You in a weakened state.


    Liu Xuan brought out the Spirit Binding Rope, tying up the powerless Real Master Xuan You securely.


    With this, the mission was easily aplished.


    ¡­


    On Lu Qingshan''s side, with Dantai Qingrun''s support using the Flying Sword Technique, it took just an instant to y seven or eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley.


    The remaining cultivators lost their courage, and as soon as Real Master Xuan You started to resist, they quickly gave up.


    Although several Xuan Ming Valley cultivators perished on the spot under Dantai Qingrun''s flying sword,


    Dantai Qingrun was mainly focused on Real Master Xuan You, and her attacks on these Foundation Establishment Cultivators were casual.


    So, some of the Xuan Ming Valley cultivators managed to cling onto half a life thanks to the power of their formations, surviving under Dantai Qingrun''s flying sword.


    Lu Qingshan was more than happy with such situations.


    Without any hesitation, he sent the Crying Soul Sword shooting out.


    The severely injured Xuan Ming Valley cultivators, who had already been half-killed by Dantai Qingrun''s flying sword, were all finished off by Lu Qingshan one by one, sent on the road to the Netherworld.


    Once all these Xuan Ming Valley cultivators stopped resisting, Lu Qingshan ceased his harvesting momentum.


    He opened the data panel to check his gains from this expedition.


    "...Target is dead!"


    "You have in the target!"


    "...You have gained 1100 Experience Points!"


    ...


    Rows of data neatly lined up on the panel.


    This expedition was basically monopolized by Dantai Qingrun in battle.


    Yet, merely following along and picking off what was left, Lu Qingshan still obtained a substantial amount of Experience Points.


    His total Experience Points had now reached 9500.


    Is this what it feels like to ride on coattails?


    Lu Qingshan felt quitefortable.

 Chapter 97 Undercurrents Surge

    Dantai Qingrun controlled her sword in midair, her divine sense released, enveloping the entire valley.


    "We are here only for the two Golden Core Cultivators, Xuan You and Xuan Ming; it has nothing to do with the rest of you.


    The Pacification Commissioner willeter to take charge of you. As long as it is determined that you have notmitted any transgressions against thews of Great Xia or the ughter of mortals, you will be safe and sound,"


    Dantai Qingrun''s frosty voice spread throughout the valley.


    Hearing these words, the expressions of the Xuan Ming Valley cultivators who chose to give up resistance varied.


    Some breathed a sigh of relief as if a great burden had been lifted, some looked worried, already thinking about how to pursue their cultivation after their sect had fallen.


    Among them were a few cultivators whose faces showed panic.


    These were the unclean-handed evil cultivators.


    Hearing that the cultivators from the Pacification Commissioner would take charge of them naturally made them extremely nervous.


    Yet these cultivators carefully nced at Dantai Qingrun, who hovered in midair, and dare not make any slight movements.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Facing the scrutiny of the Pacification Commissioner, there was still a slim chance to deceive, to gamble for a glimmer of survival.


    But if they tried to make any small movements under the watch of this female sword cultivator, their heads would likely fall immediately.


    Not to mention, there were six Golden Core Cultivators from Tiger Squad watching them closely.


    So even though they were anxious, they did not dare to act rashly.


    ¡­


    Dantai Qingrun''s brows suddenly twitched, a thought crossing her mind.


    Found it!


    Dantai Qingrun''s figure flickered as she dashed toward the location her divine sense had detected.


    There was a barrier set up there, blocking the pration of her divine sense.


    With one sword thrust, she broke the barrier, and a pitch-dark cave entrance appeared in front of Dantai Qingrun.


    Dantai Qingrun stepped in.


    The damp air carried an almost imperceptible scent of decay.


    A chill and viscid breath met her face.


    Dantai Qingrun surveyed the dim cave.


    What caught her eye were the distinctly separate Corpse Pools.


    In the Corpse Pools, there were numerous Corpse Puppets.


    The reason she had released her divine sense over the Xuan Ming Valley was to search for these Corpse Pools, essential for the making of Corpse Puppets.


    Now the evidence was crystal clear, the two Golden Core Cultivators of Xuan Ming Valley were indeed refining Corpse Puppets in secret.


    It is the responsibility of the Pacification Commissioner to capture and kill the evil cultivators who break thew.


    Zhenjiang Tower would naturally not go to such lengths just to help the Pacification Commissioner eradicate evil.


    It is not strange for evil cultivators to engage in forbidden acts, but if arge number of cultivators were secretly refining Corpse Puppets within the entire region of Zhenjiang Prefecture, the machinations behind it would be undeniable.


    The goal of Zhenjiang Tower was to capture those cultivators with ties to the Underworld.


    Of course, in the process, by also helping the Pacification Commissioner root out the evil cultivators whomitted transgressions in Zhenjiang Prefecture, it was hitting two birds with one stone, an added bonus.


    Yet at the sight of the Corpse Pool, a chill ran through Dantai Qingrun''s heart.


    For just one Xuan Ming Valley, the production of Corpse Puppets was already at an rming number.


    Over the past twenty years, what would be the terrifying number of Corpse Puppets refined across the whole prefecture?


    The thought alone was chilling.


    After wandering in the cave for a while, a sh of spiritual light crossed Dantai Qingrun''s eyes¡ªher divine sense picked up a vast and lively spirit from the outside.


    They''vee?


    ...


    A colossal wooden boat stopped above Xuan Ming Valley.


    The moment the wooden boat stopped, hundreds of spiritual lights leapt out and materialized into over a hundred cultivators after they revealed their forms.


    Lu Qingshan nced at these suddenly appearing cultivators.


    The cultivators were uniformly dressed.


    Those were the garments of the Pacification Commissioner''s cultivators.


    ¡­


    Dantai Qingrun walked out from the underground cave, showing no surprise at the sight of the hundred-plus cultivators from the Pacification Commissioner.


    Because these cultivators from the Pacification Commissioner were precisely the ones she had personally notified to be dispatched by the Pacification Commissioner to take over and wrap things up before she took action.


    The Cultivator leading the Pacification Commissionernded in front of Dantai Qingrun and greeted him with a bow, "Dantai Tower Master."


    Dantai Qingrun nodded in acknowledgment, "No need for formalities. Xuan Ming Valley has vited the Great Xia''s prohibition, refining Corpse Puppets, and the Corpse Pool is right here within this underground cavern; the evidence is conclusive.


    These lower-grade Cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley will be handed over to your Pacification Commissioner for your own investigation and handling."


    The Cultivators from the Pacification Commissioner naturally had no objections, "Understood, your intervention was much appreciated this time, Dantai Tower Master."


    The conspiracy of the Netherworld is of great significance and, given that many mouths make light work, to maintain secrecy, it''s natural that the lower-grade Cultivators of Xuan Ming Valley are unaware of their Sect''s collusion with the Netherworld.


    As for the Corpse Pool, hidden by the efforts of Xuan Ming Zhenren, these lowly Cultivators are even more oblivious.


    Zhishoulou''s mission this time was clear and concise, focused solely on the two Golden Core Cultivators from Xuan Ming Valley.


    But it''s certain that these lower-grade Cultivators of Xuan Ming Valley couldn''t just be let off the hook.


    As the Sect''s high-ranking Xuan Ming Zhenren and Xuan You Zhenren are so cruel and bloodthirsty, it''s unreasonable to expect that all the lower-grade Cultivators of the Sect would remain untainted.


    Among these people, there must be Cultivators who have disregarded thews of the Great Xia.


    But such matters should be handled by the Pacification Commissioner.


    Zhishoulou has never been one to meddle in unnecessary affairs.


    ...


    The many wicked Magic Artifacts of Xuan Ming Zhenren could not have been crafted in a short period of time.


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    This shows that Xuan Ming Zhenren didn''t start ughtering mortals only aftering into contact with the Underworld Cultivators.


    It is a cause, not an effect.


    The Underworld valued Xuan Ming Zhenren''s method of crafting wicked Magic Artifacts without detection over the years, despite being drenched in blood. That''s why they contacted Xuan Ming Zhenren and coborated with him,missioning the crafting of Corpse Puppets.


    In fact, the coborators sought out by the Netherworld are all simrly evil Cultivators, filled to the brim with wicked deeds.


    The reasons are simple and two-fold:


    First, these evil Cultivators, with their hands stained in blood, once discovered by Great Xia, are beyond redemption.


    Therefore, there''s no possibility for these practicers of the dark arts to betray¡ªthey would only harm themselves and benefit others.


    Why would such Cultivators possess the nobility to sacrifice their own wealth and lives to expose Underworld Cultivators?


    Furthermore, the creation of Corpse Puppets requires the physical bodies of the Human Race.


    This means that a significant number of mortals need to be abducted.


    With so many mortals going missing, if the ends are not tied up neatly, it could attract the attention of Great Xia and risk exposure.


    These evil Cultivators, who have long operated in the gray areas, ughtering innocents to refine wicked Spells or Magic Artifacts without being detected by Great Xia, must have their ways and means.


    To the Netherworld, these practitioners are undoubtedly excellent partners.


    In fact, in the Corpse Puppet Chaos unleashed by the Netherworld in Zhenjiang Prefecture, most of the Corpse Puppets were crafted by the hands of these evil Cultivators. Only a very small portion were actually made by Underworld Cultivators themselves.


    Having handed over the lower-grade Cultivators of Xuan Ming Valley to the Pacification Commissioner, Dantai Qingrun was no longer concerned with the matter at hand.


    Taking the Xuan You Zhenren and Xuan Ming Zhenren, both bound by Spirit Binding Ropes, Dantai Qingrun returned to the Tower swiftly with the Jiazi Squad and Tiger Squad in tow.


    ...


    Although they had set out almost simultaneously, under the guidance of Dantai Qingrun, Lu Qingshan and his group were the first among the Zhishou Guards toplete their mission.


    After returning to the Tower and handing over Xuan You Zhenren and Xuan Ming Zhenren to the Prison Warden Office, Lu Qingshan''s mission was consideredplete.


    Even so, Lu Qingshan and his group were not allowed to leave but had to gather in the Tower, waiting for the nextmand.


    ¡ª While the capture mission at Xuan Ming Valley hase to an end, the assignment of Zhenjiang Tower has actually just begun.


    The captured evil Cultivators are not considered members of the Netherworld, and they are not the true targets of Zhishoulou.


    The reason for taking action against these individuals is simply because the Underworld Cultivators have hidden themselves too well, out of reach.


    But with these evil Cultivators apprehended, it bes possible to interrogate them and extract information about the Underworld Cultivators with whom they''ve been in contact.


    Then by tracking down these leads, they can uncover the actual Underworld Cultivators.


    ...


    As time passed, the dispersed Zhishou Guards gradually returned, one team after another.


    Each returning team of Cultivators brought with them a few Cultivators they had personally captured and handed them over to the Prison Warden Office.


    Given the distribution of personnel on this mission, it was feasible for the Cultivators dispatched by Zhishoulou toplete their respective tasks.


    But there are no guarantees of 100% sess in this world.


    So, inevitably, one or two teams of Cultivators failed to capture their targets or could not apprehend them alive, bringing back only a corpse instead.


    But this didn''t affect the bigger picture.


    Overall, the surprise capture missionunched by the full force of Zhenjiang Tower''s Zhishou Guards went exceedingly smoothly.


    What remains is to await news from the Prison Warden Office.

 Chapter 98 Chess

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    Cultivators'' time is precious, yet not so precious.


    Cultivators'' cultivation contends with heaven for fate.


    Foundation Establishment has two hundred years, Golden Core has five hundred years.


    For Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they must break through to the Golden Core Stage within two hundred years to gain the additional three hundred years of life, which naturally means they cannot afford to waste a single second.


    However, whether cultivators are practicing Cultivation Techniques or refining Magic Artifacts, it is often measured in months and years.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Thus, in a sufficiently long span, cultivators are also the ones whock the concept of time the most.


    Just like now.


    All the guards in the tower are gathered here, quietly waiting for the interrogation results from the Prison Warden Office, oblivious to the passage of time.


    ...


    Prison Warden Office.


    Unlike the gloomy secr cells one might imagine, this ce is clean and bright, untouched by dust.


    Today''s Prison Warden Office is more bustling than ever.


    In one of the scattered rooms equipped with Spirit-restricting Formations, at this very moment, cultivators captured by the guards are imprisoned.


    Inside one of the prison rooms, smoke fills the air, and the oddly scented sandalwood continues to burn.


    This is the Soul-bewitching Incense, which has a significantly enhancing effect on the Soul-bewitching Technique used on cultivators.


    Members of the Prison Warden Office have many varied methods of extracting information from cultivators.


    The mostmon is to use some unique Techniques to torture the captured cultivators, who naturally confess everything when they can no longer endure the pain.


    Yet among cultivators, many have firm wills and often endure pains that ordinary people cannot withstand.


    At this time, more advanced methods are needed, such as Illusion Techniques, Soul-bewitching Techniques, and Soul Searching Techniques among others.


    Liu Mi is a Spiritual Cultivator within the Prison Warden Office skilled in the Soul-bewitching Technique.


    Liu Mi quietly sized up Xuan Ming, whose face was covered with terrifying blood spots.


    Being familiar with his colleagues'' methods, he immediately recognized these as traces left by bloodthirsty ants.


    The bloodthirsty ants are exceptionally small and enter the cultivator''s body through every pore, moving continuously inside, consuming blood until the cultivator is drained dry, turning into a mummified corpse.


    During this process, the affected cultivator not only feels intense itching all over but also unbearable pain, certainly qualifying as a form of torture.


    Yet, Xuan Ming faced such brutal torture and still did not speak up, so they had handed Xuan Ming over to him.


    Thinking this, Liu Mi sighed, "To have such resolve, why then engage in such forbidden acts."


    Xuan Ming looked at Liu Mi expressionlessly, "The Evil Cultivation Faction has always been this way; this is a natural and justified act, where does the talk of prohibitione from?"


    Liu Mi shook his head, no longer speaking to Xuan Ming.


    Arguing over whose beliefs are correct has always been a meaningless endeavor.


    Mentally stirring, Liu Mi''s immense Divine Soul power poured out from his forehead, surging towards Xuan Ming.


    Xuan Ming''s cold eyes gradually lost their light, his pupils moving upward, leaving only the whites visible.


    This was the sign that the Soul-bewitching Technique was taking effect.


    Suddenly, Liu Mi''s expression changed, and then his steps faltered, nearly causing him to stumble and fall.


    "You!" Stabilizing himself, Liu Mi pointed at Xuan Ming, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    Just when the Soul-bewitching Technique took effect, Xuan Ming, disregarding the restrictions of the Spirit-restricting Formation, employed some peculiar spell to dissolve his own Divine Soul.


    The fluctuation from the copse of his Divine Soul also gave Liu Mi, who had sent his Divine Soul power into Xuan Ming''s Divine Soul, a harsh blow.


    Yet Xuan Ming''s situation was worse, as blood continuously seeped from all seven apertures of his head.


    Once the Divine Soul copses, it truly means the soul is scattered and there is no chance for reincarnation.


    Xuan Ming''s resolute action caught Liu Mi off guard.


    "You so-called righteous people think you can get the information you want from me? Dream on!"


    Seeing Liu Mi''s gloomy expression, Xuan Ming chuckled darkly and then slowly closed his eyes.


    His body, showing no signs of life, could no longer support him standing; it fell directly to the ground like a pool of mud.


    ck!


    A chess piece heavilynded on the board.


    The yer, a burly man looking about thirty years old, wore a gray robe; his high nose and broad mouth underlined by arge, square face that showed signs of weathering.


    "Have you still not found the reason for the failed plot to seize the mirror in Yuanshan City?"


    Two cold, electric-like gazes swiftly circled the face of the man opposite him.


    Sitting across from the burly man was an old man with white hair and beard.


    If Dantai Qingrun were here, he would certainly recognize that this old man was Luo Yan, the former City Lord of Yuanshan City, who had vanished without a trace after the battle there.


    Luo Yan looked at the two cannons that had crossed the river on the chessboard, his expression darkened as he lightly moved a piece, positioning a knight defensively.


    "Lord Asura, I have thoroughly investigated all those involved in the Yuanshan City operation and found no clues.


    However, having strategized in Yuanshan City for many years, meticulously nning every detail, I can find no other reason for the failure of the mirror-snatching n aside from there being a traitor within."


    It turned out the burly middle-aged man was indeed Asura, who supervised the Zhenjiang region for the Prison Warden Office.


    "If you have yed chess for an hour and still don''t know who the lousy yer is," Asura responded indifferently, advancing his chariot into the camp, the pieces on the board¨Dchariot, horse, cannon¨Daligned to the edge in a three-piece retreating movement.


    "Then you are that lousy yer!"


    Luo Yan fell silent for a long while, his voice hoarse: "Your subordinate understands."


    Asura made a killing move, capturing Luo Yan''s flying horse in one bite.


    "News just came in, it''s unknown where the leak happened, but Zhenjiang Tower mobilized all its guarding cultivators, rounding up those evil cultivators who coborated with us and were involved in crafting corpse puppets for us."


    Luo Yan''s hand, which was lifting a piece, trembled slightly but eventually steadied as he ced a bishop in the diagonal to thwart Asura''s continuous attacks.


    "Our people, in contact with those evil cultivators, never revealed their true identities nor their faces.


    Even if Zhenjiang Tower goes to great lengths, forcing those evil cultivators to open up, they shouldn''t be able to obtain any meaningful information, right?"


    Asura, expressionless, moved his chariot across, capturing the bishop: "Among all the Hall Masters, you are the most cautious and thorough in your actions, meticulously nning everything. I had the greatest respect for you.


    But doesn''t the current situation look familiar to you?


    In Yuanshan City, you were just as self-deceptive, neglecting the signs even though you found them, stubbornly sticking to the original n and causing years of arrangements in Yuanshan City to go to waste.


    Is that not enough, having gone through that battle, for you not to learn your lesson?"


    Feeling the dissatisfaction in Asura''s words, Luo Yan broke out in a slight cold sweat on his back, hurriedly moving his chariot back in defense: "You''re right in your reprimand, sir. So now?"


    Asura made a cannon jump, capturing the chariot Luo Yan had pulled back: "Do you know what is most taboo in ying chess?"


    Without waiting for Luo Yan to answer, Asura spoke with a cold tone: "The most feared thing in chess is falling into the opponent''s rhythm.


    Just like you are now, being passive, continually moving pieces in defense against my attacks, yet every step you take is within my expectations.


    ying chess like this, there''s no chance of winning."


    Luo Yan, taken aback as if enlightened, gradually changed his movements, isting a pawn: "So, what we need to do now is to disrupt the rhythm of Zhenjiang Tower''s actions."


    Asura nced at the direction of Luo Yan''s pieces, chuckling coldly: "Good understanding, but by the time you realized this and decided to take the initiative to disrupt my arrangement, I see it as merely futile struggling."


    Luo Yan''s expression became somewhat embarrassed, mixed with a bit of confusion: "Then... what should we do?"


    Asura reached out, crossed the boundary of Chu and Han, gently picked up Luo Yan''s general piece, then suddenly flipped the chessboard.


    Pieces scattered, rolling onto the ground.


    Asura tightly held onto the general in his hand, his tone full of murderous intent: "Paying respect to the gods relies on incense; ying Chinese chess relies on the general!


    As long as the general is still in y, no matter how poor the game, it''s not considered a loss yet.


    Since facing off directly has already put us at a disadvantage, why not just flip the chessboard!"

 Chapter 99 Calling for Help

    Beneath Zhenjiang Cityy a bizarre, unknowable area of distortion.


    A massive assembly of cultivators gathered, each emanating a distinct aura, but all mixed with a chilling air.


    If any outsider had witnessed this scene, they would have been utterly terrified.


    Because the gathered crowd of over a hundred were all Golden Core Stage cultivators.


    What a horrifying concept!


    Just to illustrate, the Lu Family, with merely three Golden Core cultivators, could rank among the middle tier of Zhenjiang''s thirty-six major cultivator families.


    All these Golden Core cultivators were respectfully gazing at the burly cultivator leading them.


    Thisrge-framed cultivator was none other than the ''Asura'', whomanded all Underworld members in the prefectural region of Zhenjiang City ¡ª under hismand were a hundred Golden Core Stage Hall Masters, thousands of Underworld Demon Cultivators, always a thorn in the side of Zhenjiang Tower.


    Rakshasa respectfully approached Asura, "Reporting to Lord Asura, all 108 Hall Masters of Zhenjiang Underworld, four Yaksha Lords, and two Lords of the Impermanence have arrived, not a single absence."


    "Good!" the imposing Asura began, his voice thundering, "I have summoned you here today to have you immediately prepare and enterbat readiness, awaiting further instructions.


    Soon, we will initiate the Corpse Puppet Chaos, establish the Asura Blood Formation, and wee the birth of the Demon Child."


    Instantly, the eyes of the surrounding cultivators lit up with fervor.


    "After years of keeping a low profile, perhaps Zhenjiang Tower thinks we Underworld will only back down continuously. It''s time to show them what we''re made of!"


    To wee the Demon Child, they had been nning for too long.


    Over the years, for the sake of their grand n, they had made countless concessions, avoiding conflict with Zhenjiang Tower as much as possible, causing the naturally violent Underworld Demon Cultivators to fume with repressed anger.


    Now that Asura was preparing to unleash the Corpse Puppet Chaos and ughter throughout Zhenjiang, they felt like warriors who finally see the clearing skies after persistent gloom.


    "But, Lord Asura, isn''t the originally scheduled time still three months away?"


    Among the fervent stares, a gray-robed cultivator stepped forward, hesitantly asking, "Why start earlier...."


    "Hm?" Asura''s gaze was electric as he swept over the gray-robed cultivator.


    "Your subordinate obeys." Under Asura''s hawk-like, sharp gaze, the gray-robed cultivator felt a chill in his heart, no longer daring to question, he respectfully responded.


    "Move out!"


    With Asura''smand,


    all the Hall Masters quickly shed into the distorted area, which immediately began to show enigmatic Formation Patterns.


    Spiritual Light radiated, and those who entered the distorted area turned into shadows, gradually disappearing.


    Meanwhile, all 107 prefecture cities under the jurisdiction of Zhenjiang, excluding Yuanshan City, contained unknown secret ces.


    The figures of the Underworld cultivators who had vanished beneath Zhenjiang City began to reappear gradually.


    The distorted area was actually a high-level Teleportation Array set up long ago, connecting Zhenjiang City to its 108 subordinate prefecture cities.


    The Underworld Hall Masters, upon returning to their respective halls within each prefecture city, did not dy. They swiftly sent out Spirit Messages, mobilizing and organizing their forces.


    Undercurrents surged, a storm was silently brewing.


    Rakshasa watched as the Hall Masters disappeared into the Teleportation Array, but his mind was reying his earlier conversation with Lord Asura.


    ...


    Tap! Tap!


    Chess pieces scattered across the ground, rolling about.


    Rakshasa felt his heart leap, "Is the master preparing?"


    The light in Asura''s eyes burst forth fiercely, his tone grim, "Zhenjiang Tower is nning to swallow our pieces one by one.


    So far, their moves in Yuanshan City have resulted in ourplete loss of those pieces.


    This time, they seem to have subtly touched upon the secret of the Corpse Puppets.


    But it''s toote, 20 years toote, as we have already set up our killing game."


    And for him to devour our pieces, he needed time.


    "Then I''ll simply flip the chessboard and not give him that time. What use are the talents of Zhenjiang Tower if it can''t defend against this?"


    "But hasn''t Lord Wuchang''s arrangements on his side still not been fully prepared?" Rakshasa spoke cautiously.


    "We can''t wait any longer!"


    Asura spoke firmly, "Where in the world is there a sure-win strategy in chess? As long as the odds of winning exceed fifty percent, it is enough to make a move.


    Moreover, even we are not fully prepared yet, so what preparations could Zhenjiang Tower have?


    With years of nning, even if Iunch the Corpse Puppet Chaos prematurely, how could the odds of winning be just fifty percent?


    You go and send out the Spirit Message, summon all the Hall Masters!"


    Since Asura had already made a decision, how could Rakshasa dare to question? He respectfully said, "Understood, my lord!"


    ...


    Zhenjiang Tower.


    The interrogation work by the Prison Warden Office cultivators was proceeding smoothly.


    The cultivators captured by the Zhenjiang guards were different from the Underworld cultivators.


    Underworld cultivators have the Heart Demon Gu imnted in their Divine Souls, limited by the Heart Demon Gu, it was extremely difficult to extract any useful information from them.


    But with these cultivators, just a few techniques were needed. Apart from extremely rare cases like True Person Xuan Ming, usually, it wasn''t hard to obtain the required intelligence.


    Chu He, the Tower Master of Zhenjiang Tower, looked at the intelligence reported by the Prison Warden Office, furrowed his brows lightly, and asked a steward cultivator in charge of the ck Ice tform below.


    "Are you saying that the identities used by these Evil Cultivators tomunicate with the Underworld cultivators were all fake, so currently we still can''t trace these people''s origins?"


    The steward of the ck Ice tform exined, "The Underworld Office is meticulous in its actions; they always use disguise before making contact with the Evil Cultivators.


    Thus, the portraits of Underworld cultivators drawn based on the descriptions from the Evil Cultivators do not match any of the cultivators in Zhenjiang City.


    However, even if these Underworld cultivators have disguised themselves, there are still traces to follow; we just need some time to investigate."


    Chu He tapped the desk lightly with his finger, "How much time is needed?"


    The steward cultivator stretched out his right palm and said emphatically, "Five days! Within five days, we will definitely have some leads."


    The wrinkles on Chu He''s aged face were clearly visible. After pondering for a moment, he finally said decisively, "Alright, then give you five days!"


    "Then, I shall take my leave first!" The steward cultivator bowed respectfully and then exited the room.


    "What are your thoughts?" Chu He turned his head and asked the two deputy tower masters standing beside him.


    As the more senior deputy tower master, Gao Tian spoke first, "Underworld cultivators are definitely disguised in various identities, infiltrating Zhenjiang City.


    With the caution of the Underworld, once they receive news of our actions against these Evil Cultivators, they might very likely withdraw silently from Prefectural City.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    So I have already sent a message to City Lord Lin, asking him to send cultivators to strictly inspect any cultivator leaving the city."


    Chu He nodded, saying approvingly, "That is appropriate."


    Dantai Qingrun furrowed his brow tightly, "From the current situation, the Underworld has spent huge resources over the years, creating countless Corpse Puppets.


    Combined with what Supervisor Qi reported, he saw blood light spread from Prefecture City to the entire Prefectural City in the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    The primary purpose of these Corpse Puppets is most likely topensate for theirck of manpower and to make a move against our Prefectural City.


    Such grand movements from the Underworld suggest a well-thought-out n with great confidence.


    Although we have made some gains, I still have a bad feeling. To be on the safe side, I propose we send a Spirit Message again to the Qing State main tower, asking them to dispatch arge number of elite cultivators to aid us in Prefectural City."


    Dantai Qingrun''s words plunged Chu He and Gao Tian into deep thought.


    After a moment, Chu He rubbed the bridge of his nose and said decisively, "Indeed, we must not take Supervisor Qi''s words lightly.


    Let''s follow Deputy Tower Master Dantai Qingrun''s suggestion and request assistance from the Qing State main tower again!"

 Chapter 100 Corpse Puppet Chaos

    Great Capital City.


    One of the prefecture cities under the jurisdiction of Zhenjiang.


    This month, the duty to guard the northern district fell to Qin Tianhan, a cultivator at the Perfection of Foundation Establishment.


    Hemanded a City Guard Army squad consisting of twenty men.


    Every city established by Great Xia was protected by the presence of the City Guard Army.


    The City Guard Army recruited from all cultivators of good standing, regardless of whether they were loose cultivators or came from family backgrounds. All were eligible to join the City Guard Army.


    After joining the City Guard Army, as long as one fulfilled their responsibilities and took turns on duty, they could enjoy a fixed quota of cultivation resources such as Spirit Stones and Pills distributed by Great Xia.


    The duty of the City Guard Army was to protect the humans within the city.


    They had to guard against demon beast attacks from the wilderness outside the city as well as oversee the disputes among cultivators within the city.


    As on any other day, Qin Tianhan stood atop the city wall, gazing into the dark wilderness beyond.


    All was calm and quiet.


    To such circumstances, Qin Tianhan had grown ustomed.


    He had been part of the Great Capital City Guard Army for sixty years and had yet to encounter any major chaos. He''d never even seen a demon beast attack the city.


    At most, he encountered cultivators taking action within the city, requiring his intervention for discipline.


    If not for specific reasons, Great Xia strictly forbade cultivators from engaging in magicalbat within the city.


    But cultivators, as a group, were known to be unrestrained by rules.


    Thus, incidences of cultivators fighting within the city urred every couple of days.


    As long as no ordinary people were identally harmed, a stern reprimand from them and a fine of some Spirit Stones would usually settle the matter.


    The job was much easier than one might imagine.


    Involuntarily, Qin Tianhan''s gaze wandered as he began to calcte in his mind.


    After his fortuitous advance to Foundation Establishment as a loose cultivator, the resources required for a Foundation Establishment cultivator''s practice were beyond what he, as a loose cultivator, could afford.


    Feeling the difficulty of cultivation for loose cultivators, he pondered deeply before ultimately deciding to enlist in the Great Capital City Guard Army.


    Although the rules of the City Guard Army were strict and did not allow for the same freedom as a loose cultivator, the benefits were good.


    Not to mention the fixed supply of resources, only four months out of the year required active duty, leaving the remaining time for him to allocate freely.


    Under these conditions, he had steadily cultivated to the realm of Perfection in Foundation Establishment.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He was now just over a hundred thirty years old. With careful nning for another decade or two, there was a chance to attempt the breakthrough to Golden Core.


    Once one became a Golden Core cultivator, that was like leaping over the Dragon Gate, making one a significant figure within the Great Capital City.


    For a loose cultivator to achieve this was exceedingly rare.


    Thinking of this future prospect, Qin Tianhan''s face couldn''t help but reveal a bit of smugness.


    "Hm? What''s this? Has something gone bad?" the absent-minded Qin Tianhan''s nose twitched subconsciously.


    A faint stench of decay and putrescence mixed into the air, and he caught its scent.


    Humans possess six senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and Divine Sense.


    Each sense has its wonder, but the most important, the Divine Sense, requires exceedingly precious Spells to practice, beyond the reach of ordinary people.


    Aside from Divine Sense, practicing the other five senses takes an inordinate amount of time and does not provide as direct a boost tobat power as Spells do.


    Generally, cultivators would prefer to spend their time practicing Cultivation Techniques to umte Spiritual Power or learning Spells to increase theirbat abilities.


    Very few people would choose to cultivate the Five Senses Technique.


    However, Qin Tianhan was an exception.


    The reason he was able to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage as a loose cultivator was due to the fact that he had practiced a supplemental Technique that strengthened his sense of smell.


    After practicing this Technique, although hisbat power did not increase, his sense of smell was far superior to that of ordinary cultivators. In the wilderness, he frequently could detect the scents of demon beasts, allowing him to avoid danger.


    He could even locate deeply hidden Spiritual Medicine through their unique scents.


    This was how he managed to gather enough resources on his own to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    Realizing the extraordinary use of his sense of smell, he continued to cultivate it even after bing a Foundation Establishment cultivator and gaining the ability to project his Divine Sense.


    This choice proved to be correct.


    Because the reach of Divine Sense was limited, often things that his Divine Sense could not detect, his sense of smell could.


    Like now.


    "This isn''t right!" Qin Tianhan''s expression darkened.


    Because this scent of decay wasn''t like the usual smell of things rotting¡ªit was more like... the stench of a corpse!


    Qin Tianhan''s background as a loose cultivator made him exceedingly cautious in his actions.


    Perhaps others would not take this scent seriously, as in a vast city, the emergence of the smell of corpses was not particrly strange, right?


    But Qin Tianhan would not let it go.


    "Follow me," Qin Tianhan said with a stern face, leading his subordinates in the direction from which the stench of decay was emanating.


    The City Guard Army cultivators, although somewhat perplexed, would not defy orders and hurriedly followed along.


    As he searched for the source of the putrid smell, Qin Tianhan was taken aback.


    The decay he was tracking had be increasingly intense, indicating he was nearing its origin.


    But, Qin Tianhan sniffed lightly.


    At this moment, the air was permeated with the same noxious odor of decaying from all directions.


    In just a short while, it seemed the entire city was engulfed with this pungent stench of rot.


    What rattled him even more was the faint scent of blood mingling with the heavy odor of decay.


    A foreboding feeling surfaced in his heart.


    They didn''t stop their pace, continuing to rush toward the initial source of the rot,


    What kind of evil spirit was causing this mischief!


    "What is...that?!" A cultivator, his teeth chattering, pointed to something not far off and said.


    In the darkness of the night.


    A monstrous, human-shaped figure stood in the distance, its face smeared with blood, theplexion a ghastly pale and twisted.


    The eyes atop its head were emitting an incredibly ferocious, blood-red light, its mouth full of sharp fangs gleaming with a metallic luster.


    Its skin resembled ayer of pure ck carapace, looking exceptionally tough.


    Even from a distance, not just Qin Tianhan, but other cultivators could smell the thick stench of rot and the foul odor of blood emanating from it.


    This colossus was clutching a mortal, its fangs pierced into the mortal''s throat, guzzling and sucking the blood within.


    The mortal withered at a visible rate, turning into a dried-up corpse.


    "Blood...Blood Stiff!" A City Guard Army cultivator, who came from a family skilled in cultivation and with a broader view, answered with a trembling voice.


    One Blood Stiff naturally wouldn''t frighten him so much.


    ¡ªBehind the Blood Stiff, there were countless shadows, which although smaller in sizepared to the leading Blood Stiff,


    the number was simply too great.


    The houses in this area had already copsed, shattered, turning the ce into ruins, the ground littered with desated corpses of mortals.


    The reason there had been no noise before was that, at some unknown time, a rough soundproof barrier had been cast over the area.


    The scene before him was like hell on earth, chilling and shocking Qin Tianhan to the core.


    Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators seemed rather insignificant in front of such a multitude of Corpse Puppets.


    At that moment, when the Corpse Puppets saw the squad of the City Guard Army led by Qin Tianhan, they instantly swarmed over in a frenzied tide.


    Their instincts drove them towards the cultivators, drawn by the stronger and more enticing blood that flowed through their bodies.


    The essence blood of the cultivators would have an even more pronounced effect on their evolution.


    For Qin Tianhan, the sight of countless Corpse Puppets lunging at him was like being plunged into an ice cave, a moment he would never forget for the rest of his life.


    "Light the beacon smoke!" Faced with the horrifying scene before him, Qin Tianhan''s face contorted violently as he bellowed.


    Immediately, Qin Tianhan quickly retreated, while pulling out a Spirit Talisman from his Storage Ring, channeling his Spiritual Power to toss it into the air.


    The Spirit Talisman burst into light, transforming into a surge of red smoke shooting into the sky.


    Despite the cloak of night, the brilliance of the red smoke could not be concealed.


    Beacon Smoke Talisman!


    A Talisman used to send warning signals.


    Upon joining the City Guard Army, Qin Tianhan had received this Talisman.


    It would only be used in grave situations like a massive demon beast attack on the city.


    For many years, this Talisman had not been used, but tonight, for the first time, the Beacon Smoke Talisman was activated!


    Reacting to Qin Tianhan''s roar, the City Guard Army cultivators finally snapped to attention, also taking out their Beacon Smoke Talismans, sending out warning signals.


    Before long, beacon smoke rose in all directions.


    ...


    Corpse Puppet attack on the city!


    An uncountable number of Corpse Puppets attacking the city!


    This was chaos; this was a disaster!


    Apanying the night were thousands upon thousands of Corpse Puppets of unknown origin.


    Among them were First Grade Corpse Puppets, equivalent to Qi Refining Cultivators: Iron Stiffs and White Stiffs, as well as Second Grade Corpse Puppets, equivalent to Foundation Establishment Cultivators: Roaming Corpses and Flying Stiffs, and there were even Third Grade Corpse Puppets¡ªBlood Stiffs and Indestructible Bones¡ªwhich could contend with Golden Core Cultivators!


    While they varied in rank and kind, these Corpse Puppets all possessed pairs of red, ferocious eyes.


    In the veil of night, they were like red stars, but the sight would send shivers down one''s spine and make one''s scalp tingle.


    The Corpse Puppets swept over like a tide, covering the city and mortal dwellings.


    Corpse Puppets drew strength from blood and could even evolve and increase their own strength by consuming a certain amount of it.


    Ruthlessly, they rolled over each human being, heedless of their struggles and screams, biting through their throats and voraciously devouring the essence blood within their flesh.

 Chapter 101 Miscalculation

    "True Monarch, within the one hundred and eight Prefecture Cities of Zhenjiang, a total of ny-seven Prefecture Cities have sent Spirit Messages.


    The content of the Spirit Messages is consistent, all informing us that they have encountered a ughter by Corpse Puppets, with countless lives lost, and they are requesting us to dispatch Cultivators to pacify the chaos!"


    In the ancient and elegant hall, a Cultivator reported the current situation to the assembly with a grave tone.


    At this moment, the hall was filled with dozens of Cultivators, all with extremely solemn expressions.


    The Cultivators present were all high-ranking members of Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    Sitting at the highest seat, the Prefectural City Master of Zhenjiang, True Monarch Yuanming Lin Lang, had a gloomy expression like still water.


    "After receiving the Spirit Messages, I immediately had someone contact the remaining eleven Prefecture Cities that had not sent out a call for help to inquire about their specific situations.


    Apart from Yuanshan City, which replied that they were safe and sound, the other ten Prefecture Cities have not yet responded at all up to now.


    Under such circumstances, it''s clear that these ten Prefecture Cities are not unscathed by the attack of Corpse Puppets, but rather, the situation has deteriorated to the point where they are unable to send out a call for help to us!"


    The already heavy atmosphere in the room became even more oppressive.


    "This move is too big, to target so many Prefecture Cities at the same time!" someone eximed with a gasp, utterly shocked.


    "Now is not the time toment over these things!


    True Monarch, we cannot dy any further, as with every moment we waste, countless more lives are lost!


    We must dispatch Cultivators to provide support immediately," a Cultivator stood up and said.


    Lin Lang nodded and issued a decisivemand, "Indeed, support is of the utmost urgency!


    True Monarch Qi Sha, I entrust you to lead the team and immediately take all of Zhenjiang''s military Cultivators to support all the Prefecture Cities except Yuanshan City!"


    "Yes!" The Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator Qi Sha True Monarch, who was in charge of Zhenjiang''s military, answered.


    "Tie Guan True Person, you must immediately send out Spirit Messages to the various prefectures of Qing State, informing them of our situation and asking them to dispatch Cultivators to support Zhenjiang City," Lin Lang continued giving orders.


    The Golden Core Cultivator Tie Guan True Person, dressed in a ck robe, quickly epted themand.


    "All remaining members, temporarily suspend your personal cultivation practices, focusing your attention on Zhenjiang City. Patrol the city constantly without interruption, and stay alert for any unusual incidents urring within the city!" Lin Lang spoke with a deadly serious tone.


    "We obey!" All the remaining Cultivators responded in unison.


    In the one hundred and eight Prefecture Cities, only Yuanshan City remained unscathed.


    Who else could be orchestrating this Corpse Puppet Chaos besides the Netherworld?


    The influence of the Netherworld in Yuanshan City had been eradicated not long before by the Heavenly Secret Tower, which is why they were spared from the chaos that enveloped all the Prefecture Cities of Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    Qi Yuan had previously given him a prophecy: a great turmoil would arise in the entire Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    Now the prophecy had alreadye true by half.


    As the Prefectural City, Zhenjiang City might currently be calm, but there was no reason it would escape the chaos.


    Indeed, the more peaceful Zhenjiang City is now, the more terrifying the brewing disturbance will be.


    Although Zhenjiang City is strong and powerful, to support the Prefecture Cities within the prefecture after dispatching Zhenjiang''s military, it inevitably falls into a vulnerable state internally.


    Under these circumstances, Lin Lang should not have been deploying the main force of Cultivators from Zhenjiang City.


    However, with his Prefecture Cities undergoing ughter by Corpse Puppets, he truly had no choice but to act.


    This was the Netherworld''s open strategy.


    Either he did nothing and let the lives within Zhenjiang Prefecture suffer,


    or he risked leaving Zhenjiang City vulnerable to an ambush by dispatching Cultivators to quell the Corpse Puppet Chaos outside.


    As the master of Zhenjiang Prefecture, ruling over the whole prefecture, his choice was obvious.


    Even knowing that the Netherworld was likely setting a trap to lure them out, they had to steadfastly follow the path set by the enemy.


    The only hope was that reinforcements from the other prefectures could arrive swiftly.


    With this thought, Lin Lang sent out two more Spirit Messages.


    One to Zhenjiang Tower and the other to the Heavenly Secret Tower where Qi Yuan was.


    ¡­


    Zhenjiang Tower.


    Inside the cultivation secret chambers built specifically for Sword Cultivators.


    The ck Ice tform still required five more days to gather intelligence, and it was not viable for the guarding Cultivators to just wait.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Zhenjiang Tower''s facilities for various Cultivators'' practices were highlyprehensive.


    With nothing else to do, everyone entered their respective cultivation secret chambers to practice their Techniques.


    The Sword Cultivator''s training chamber was exceedingly vast, filled with a multitude of low-level puppets that were constantly shifting and dodging.


    These puppets were specially prepared for Sword Cultivators to practice their Flying Sword Technique.


    Lu Qingshan concentrated his mind, controlling the Crying Soul Sword to weave in and out among the continuously moving puppets.


    Through the myriad flowers he passed, not a leaf sticking to his clothes.


    As soon as the mana on the Crying Soul Sword neared depletion, he would recall it, then strike forth anew.


    He repeated this process over and again, a hundred times, a thousand times, until his Spiritual Power and Divine Sense were exhausted.


    This long and tedious process was actually the correct posture for a Sword Cultivator''s practice of the Flying Sword Technique.


    Not just for Flying Sword, by practicing countless times, enhancing one''s Skills, that is the universal way for all Cultivators to increase the power of their Techniques.


    Lu Qingshan''s method of advancing Skill Levels through Experience Points, like an epiphany, instantlyprehending, was a truly unique and cheat-like experience.


    In the current situation where tasks could arise at any moment, Lu Qingshan naturally would not deplete all his Spiritual Power and Divine Sense for the sake of practicing the Flying Sword Technique.


    He practiced merely for half an hour, and when major part of his internal Spiritual Power was consumed, he somewhat reluctantly ceased his practice.


    Subconsciously, Lu Qingshan nced at the Skills column.


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but be startled.


    The experience bar for the Flying Sword Technique, originally at Level 3, had increased by one percent simply through half an hour of practice.


    If he remembered correctly, under normal circumstances, it would take a Sword Cultivator two to three years of diligent practice to advance the Flying Sword Technique from Level 3 to Level 4.


    But at his current pace, he only needed to practice the Flying Sword Technique for two to three hours each day.


    In less than half a month, the Flying Sword Technique could advance to the next level.


    What''s going on?!


    Lu Qingshan quickly came to his senses, then turned his gaze to the Innate Swordseed in the Talent column.


    There were two lines of introduction above that he had not taken seriously before.


    "As an Innate Swordseed, your talent for the Sword Dao far surpasses that of ordinary people!"


    "Being a born knower of the Sword Dao!"


    Is this what a Legendary Talent is?


    Lu Qingshan murmured to himself.


    The overt benefits of the Innate Swordseed had already proven to be of immense value to him.


    But he had not expected the real strength of a Legendary Talent to be encapsted in those two seemingly inconsequential lines of introduction.


    Regarding the intrinsic benefits of the Innate Swordseed, he had actually felt them indistinctly before.


    Back in Xuan Ming Valley, Dantai Qingrun had concealed the Qiuhong Sword amidst the clouds.


    Normally, as one of the few Strong Cultivators among Golden Core Cultivators, with Dantai Qingrun''s skills, there was no reason for Lu Qingshan to discover the Qiuhong Sword.


    But discover it he did


    What he relied on was not his Divine Sense or Spiritual Sense but that innate perception and affinity for Sword Artifacts in the void.


    Within a certain range, no Sword Artifact could escape his detection.


    And now, Lu Qingshan discovered another significant enhancement from the Innate Swordseed.


    With the boon of a Legendary Talent, he seemed to have be a true Seed of the Sword Dao.


    His mastery speed for Sword Techniques had reached the terrifying realm of advancing a thousand miles in a single day.


    It meant that, apart from using Experience Points to level up his Skills, relying on his own Cultivation to advance Skill Levels would also be an effective method for him.


    ... Find exclusive stories on empire


    Hum hum hum¡ª¡ª


    Suddenly, a dense and abrupt humming sound echoed throughout the chamber.


    Sitting cross-legged while quietly circting his Cultivation Technique, having already restored his Spiritual Power and Divine Sense to the optimal state, Lu Qingshan quickly stood up.


    This sound was from a device set up outside to call Cultivators from within the chamber.


    A thought shed through Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    It must be that the ck Ice tform had found some useful information, hence they notified him.


    The efficiency was quite high, having arrived two days earlier than the expected five days.

 Chapter 102 Mutation

    Vessels gleaming with blue radiance, massive in size, materialized above the skies of Zhenjiang City.


    The appearance of the flying vessels resembled whales from the deep sea, indeed a sight of profound mystery.


    These were the Giant Whale Skyships, the standard-issue flying artifacts of the Zhenjiang military.


    Not only were they incredibly fast, but the interior of these ships also had powerful attack arrays inscribed within.


    Once Spirit Stones were ced into these arrays, they could harness the Spiritual Power within the stones to unleash terrifying Water Attribute Spiritual Power waves.


    The Giant Whale Skyships had always been the ultimate weapons of the Zhenjiang military for expeditions to annihte the enemy!


    Of course, powering such mighty artifacts required a massive number of Spirit Stones, too.


    Therefore, unless necessary, Zhenjiang City would not easily deploy the Giant Whale Skyships.


    But now, Zhenjiang City did not hesitate in the slightest to use up Spirit Stones, summoning all of the Giant Whale Skyships at the military''s disposal.


    With an aura of grim solemnity, the uniformly robed Zhenjiang military cultivators entered the various vessels in an orderly manner.


    Not a sound was made through the process.


    For cultivators who were by nature untamed, one could imagine how extraordinary this was.


    Only the Great Xia Imperial n could nurture and afford an army of cultivators like this.


    In just a moment, every Giant Whale Skyship was brimming with cultivators.


    "Depart at once!"manded the Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, Seven Kills True Monarch, his voice booming like thunder.


    At the order of Seven Kills True Monarch, the Giant Whale Skyships instantly transformed into streaks of blue Radiance, sweeping out of Zhenjiang City and flying toward various Prefecture Cities in different directions.


    ....


    Inside Zhenjiang City.


    Gazing at the fading blue Radiance of the Giant Whale Skyships, Rakshasa spoke, "Asura lord, the Zhenjiang army has boarded the Giant Whale Skyships and haspletely left Zhenjiang City."


    Asura merely nodded, his voice ferocious, "Good! Good!


    Issue themand, and after an hour when the Zhenjiang army is sufficiently far away, immediatelymence the operation!"


    "Yes, subordinate will prepare now!" Rakshasa said with fervent eyes, respectfully responding.


    ...


    Among the urgent humming alert tones, Lu Qingshan rose and walked toward the chamber''s sealed door.


    But before he could manually open the door to the chamber, the heavily warded door had already slowly begun to open outward.


    This was someone activating the gate from the outside world, using mechanisms set up earlier.


    "What''s the hurry?" Lu Qingshan was taken aback.


    The purpose of such a mechanism was solely for emergencies during cultivation when someone might need assistance at greatest speed.


    Disturbance during cultivation was greatly taboo for cultivators, so unless it was an urgent matter, this mechanism would not be triggered.


    If it were merely the ck Ice tform identifying the true identities of the Underworld Cultivators, requiring their intervention to capture the enemy, while urgent, it wouldn''t be to this extent.


    Could it be that some major incident has urred?!


    A sense of foreboding shed through Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    The door opened, and what came into Lu Qingshan''s view was the face of Xu Hao, except his expression was filled with urgency.


    Behind Xu Hao stood all four members of Tiger Squad.


    "Captain, what has happened?"


    "The Netherworld has incited the Corpse Puppet Chaos in the major Prefecture Cities within Zhenjiang Prefecture. While the Mansion Master dispatched the Zhenjiang army to quell the chaos in the various Prefecture Cities, the Netherworld seized the opportunity tounch an attack on Zhenjiang Prefecture!"


    Xu Hao sinctly exined the current situation.


    Corpse Puppet Chaos?!


    His wordsnded like a boulder in Lu Qingshan''s heart, stirring up a storm of shock.


    ording to the course of history, the Corpse Puppet Chaos was not due to happen until the end of the year.


    Now it was only September, and the Corpse Puppet Chaos had already erupted?


    This timing was a full three months earlier than the original trajectory!


    ```


    This sudden change instantly disrupted all of Lu Qingshan''s original arrangements.


    He had intended to use his foreknowledge of future events to eliminate the Netherworld''s arrangements and weaken its influence in Zhenjiang City by leveraging Zhenjiang Tower during thest period before the outbreak of the Corpse Puppet Chaos.


    As the timing of the Corpse Puppet Chaos approached, no matter the situation, he would have left Zhenjiang City, the ce of trouble, to safeguard his own wellbeing.


    But now, everything had changed.


    The premature outbreak of the Corpse Puppet Chaos also meant that he, who thought the chaos wouldn''t ur until the end of the year, had not left Zhenjiang Prefecture and thus failed to avoid this significant plot event.


    "Stop dazing, the Tower Master has ordered us to assemble and protect the evacuation of the citizens from Zhenjiang City!" Seeing Lu Qingshan lost in thought, not knowing what he was pondering, Xu Hao called out to him.


    Evacuate?


    Hearing Xu Hao''s words, Lu Qingshan''s mouth twisted into a bitter smile.


    Having already experienced the Corpse Puppet Chaos once in his previous life, Lu Qingshan knew all too well that the Netherworld''s plot against Zhenjiang City this time far exceeded what anyone else could imagine, both in scale and means.


    Evacuation was just a naive thought at the start of the chaos.


    The entire Zhenjiang City was enveloped by the Asura Blood Fiend Formation, a demon formation the Netherworld had set up at an unknown time and presumably for quite a while.


    Under the huge barrier, not a single person could escape from Zhenjiang City.


    It wasn''t until a dayter when the cultivators from Qing State rushed to Zhenjiang City after learning about the situation, that the chaos finally came to an end.


    But it was already toote.


    Zhenjiang City had turned into scorched earth.


    If he remembered correctly, after this great chaos, the number of humans who survived in Zhenjiang City, including yers, was less than one-tenth of the number before the chaos began.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    It was a devastation, a blood-soaked massacre, a painful disaster!


    Zhenjiang City would flow with rivers of blood, and all of this was just for the birth of a demon child.


    Even as someone with a firm will like Lu Qingshan, facing such a prospect, his heart couldn''t help but feel somewhat disheartened.


    ...


    Putting aside theplex feelings in his heart for the moment, Lu Qingshan realized the urgency of the situation and did not dare to hesitate, following Xu Hao and the others immediately to head outside.


    He quickly forced himself to adjust his mindset.


    Let''s first assess the current situation!


    As that thought crossed his mind, Lu Qingshan also harbored another thought.


    ¡ª¡ªWith the change in the timing of the Corpse Puppet Chaos, could the situation within Zhenjiang City also have changed ordingly?


    Perhaps, things are not as bad as they were in his previous life?


    Following the crowd, Lu Qingshan, who still couldn''t quite believe the situation, arrived above ground.


    By this time, this ce was already brimming with guards and cultivators.


    This was also somewhat of good news. Explore more stories with empire


    If it weren''t for this mission, normally, the guards would be scattered in different ces and would not have gathered in Zhenjiang Tower like they were now.


    If it were thetter case, let alone thinking about reasonably allocating guards for various actions, even getting the six cultivators of the small teams to meet up would not be an easy feat.


    A single cultivator acting alone is always less secure than several people looking out for each other.


    The first thing Lu Qingshan did aftering up from the underground headquarters of Zhenjiang Tower to the surface was to quickly survey the current situation.


    Under a dark and unclear sky, a gloomy firmament enveloped Zhenjiang City, beneath which swirled a denseyer of blood-red fog, constantly rolling and flowing.


    Looking further into the distance, there once stood a district of densely-packed buildings.


    But at this moment, those pavilions and buildings had turned into ruins, aplete mess.


    Among the debrisy the bodies of dozens of fierce-looking beasts with blood-red pupils scattered haphazardly.


    Blood-pupiled Demon Wolf, Eight-eyed Demon Spider, Twin-winged Demon Mantis...


    With just a nce, Lu Qingshan recognized the names of these monsters.


    All were demonic beasts raised by the Underworld Cultivators using Fiendish Demonic Qi!


    But even though they were demonic beasts filled with malevolent energy, daring to wreak havoc around Zhenjiang Tower, a ce crowded with strong cultivators, being beheaded was a just fate.


    ```

 Chapter 103 Selection

    Next to the group of guardian cultivators, who had already gradually assembled, were thousands of ordinary people dressed in different clothes but with expressions of panic on their faces, cautiously observing them.


    These were ordinary people saved by the cultivators of the guard tower after they had in the demonic beasts.


    Undoubtedly, in the eyes of these survivors of the cmity, the cultivators of the guard tower had be their protective deities.


    The sobbing of these ordinary people, their soft whispers, mixed with the constant violent fluctuations of magicalbat from all over the city and the intermittent roars of demon beasts,posed a scene of apocalypse.


    In just such a brief moment, the atmosphere of destion and silence pervaded this once thriving prefectural city.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    His entire attention was on the ruins.


    In the ruins, one could see the crimson blood flowing out from beneath the bodies of the demonic beasts, already forming rivulets and incessantly trickling across the ground.


    It seemed nothing out of the ordinary.


    However, Lu Qingshan, who was well aware of the sequence of this great chaos, was staring intently at those pools of blood.


    Upon closer observation, one could see a faint, barely perceptible red gleam shimmering on the surfaces of the blood.


    It was eerily strange.


    The flowing blood then seemed to be absorbed, slowly seeping into the earth below and gradually vanishing without a trace.


    Lu Qingshan looked up at the sky, where theyer of blood-red mist under the canopy of heaven grew thicker.


    It was the same tactic as in the previous life!


    The Asura Blood Fiend Formation, the terror-inducing demon formation of the Demon Race.


    Formations were originally a high art exclusive to human cultivators.


    But who could have imagined that the Demon Race, while building the Netherworld forces within the Human Race, hadin hidden for ten thousand years, causing trouble and chaos everywhere with the creation of killings, was also continually absorbing and learning the strengths of the Human Race!


    Formation techniques were one such strength that the Demon Race had absorbed from the Human Race.


    After learning and mastering the art of formations, the great monarchs and demon lords of the Demon Race integrated their own race''s cultivation system into the basic framework of human formations and thus created many powerful demon formations.


    The Asura Blood Fiend Formation was the first of the demon formations toe into the view of the Human Race.


    Aside from its conventional function of constructing barriers and sealing space, it also has an incredibly bizarre divine skill.


    Combined with the Demon Race''s unique Blood Pool Reincarnation Technique, the demon formation achieved a unique ability that no human formation had ever possessed.


    The demon formation could absorb all the essence blood within the formation and transform it into the blood mist above the sky.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Once it absorbed enough essence blood, the blood mist could transform into a blood river hanging inverted in the sky, thereby enacting the Blood Pool Reincarnation Technique.


    That was also the ultimate goal of the Demon Race this time.


    To use the essence blood of the entire city''s Human Race to resurrect the Asura Demon Child.


    Thus, the Netherworld did not spare its own losses at all; after triggering the Asura Blood Fiend Formation to seal Zhenjiang City, it released the demonic beasts it had umted over the years, ughtering wildly within Zhenjiang City without any scruples.


    The Netherworld didn''t worry about the loss of demonic beasts.


    Even if all these demonic beasts died, the Underworld Cultivators wouldn''t be distressed because the essence blood of the demonic beasts, just like that of the Human Race, would be nourishment for the Asura Blood Fiend Formation and part of the Blood River.


    The Netherworld had nned for so many years, and the Demon Formation they deployed was not something that could be broken in a short time.


    Guarding the city and evacuating the citizens from Zhenjiang City was an utterly impractical idea.


    With this thought, Lu Qingshan nced at Dantai Qingrun and Gao Tian, who were standing in front of the city guards, and a thought struck him. Silently, he took out the token that Dantai Qingrun had given him from his Storage Ring, his Divine Sense stirred, and a Spirit Message was sent.


    He hoped that after the numerous coborations over time, Dantai Qingrun would have a certain level of trust in his words.


    ...


    Dantai Qingrun and Gao Tian, as they observed the situation unfold, both frowned deeply.


    The Tower Master, Chu He, had received a Spirit Message from True Monarch Lin Lang not long ago, and had immediately gone to meet Lin Lang. He was not in the tower at present, which made the two deputy Tower Masters the acting heads of Zhenjiang Tower.


    Although they had already agreed that the safety of the human race within the city was the most urgent matter and that the citizens needed to be evacuated from Zhenjiang City as soon as possible,


    how to evacuate them was a huge problem facing them.


    Suddenly, Dantai Qingrun seemed to sense something, his eyebrows slightly raised, he took the token out from his Storage Ring, on which waves of light shimmered.


    "Is it a Spirit Message from the Tower Master?" Gao Tian asked eagerly upon seeing the misty green light on the token.


    After realizing the situation in the city, they had immediately sent a Spirit Message to Chu He, asking for specific countermeasures.


    However, after the Spirit Message was sent, there had been no response.


    It was unclear whether the Spirit Message could not be delivered to Chu He or whether Chu He could not reply to them.


    Dantai Qingrun shook his head and looked over the gathered city guard cultivators, quickly locating Lu Qingshan within the crowd.


    With the situation being so urgent, Dantai Qingrun didn''t bother with propriety and, not worried about shocking or appalling anyone, directly flew up andnded in front of Lu Qingshan.


    The cultivators surrounding Lu Qingshan immediately stepped back a few paces, including those from the Tiger Squad.


    "Is what you said true?" Dantai Qingrun asked in a cold voice, with a grave expression.


    "The Demon Formation set by the Netherworld is indestructible; evacuation is not feasible.


    The only n now is to find the Underworld Cultivators lurking within the city, kill them, and only then can we break the Formation!" This was the Spirit Message that Lu Qingshan had sent to Dantai Qingrun.


    Lu Qingshan firmly nodded his head: "This Demon Formation simply cannot be broken in a short period of time!"


    Gao Tian, who saw Dantai Qingrun unexpectedly seeking out a city guard Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was extremely astonished, but immediately followed to find out the specifics.


    Hearing what Lu Qingshan had to say, Gao Tian instinctively questioned, "With so many Spiritual Cultivators skilled in Forbidden Breaking Techniques gathered here in Zhenjiang Tower, along with the rest of the cultivators taking action together, would we really not be able to break through this Barrier?"


    Lu Qingshan knew he had to stop their evacuation n.


    Just as he had said, with their current arrangement of cultivators, violently breaking the Formation was not feasible. The correct choice was to seek out and kill the Underworld Cultivators who maintained the Formation.


    The Demon Formation required the maintenance of the Underworld Cultivators, and with their deaths, the Demon Formation would naturally fall apart on its own.


    If they wasted a lot of time and effort escorting the citizens to the edge of the Barrier, only to find out after attempting that they couldn''t break the Formation and then have to react and adjust their strategy to search for and kill Underworld Cultivators within Zhenjiang City, it would be toote.


    Finding Underworld Cultivators hidden within the vastness of Zhenjiang City was not an easy task and would take a lot of time.


    Perhaps by the time they found the Underworld Cultivators, the Asura Blood Fiend Formation would have already absorbed the necessary Essence Blood.


    We must search for and kill the Underworld Cultivators with all our might from the get-go, that''s the only way we have even a slight chance of preventing this descent of the Demon!

 Chapter 104 Black Impermanence

    Lu Qingshan looked up at the roiling blood-red fog beneath the sky and did not directly answer Gao Tian''s retort, "Deputy Tower Master Gao, are you aware of the origin and function of this blood Qi?"


    Without waiting for Gao Tian to reply, Lu Qingshan pointed at the blood on the ground nearby that was disappearing.


    "That blood Qi is transformed from the essence blood within the range of the Great Formation, whether ites from the Human Race or demons. As for the function of the blood Qi..."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He paused, then counterquestioned, "Do the two Tower Masters not find this process eerily familiar?"


    "Ah, could this be... Blood Pool Reincarnation!" Dantai Qingrun was the first to realize.


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    "All this blood Qi covering the entire city''s sky is actually being used for the Blood Pool Reincarnation Great Technique?!" Gao Tian was utterly horrified.


    This was an incredibly horrifying matter.


    A Blood River running through the entire Zhenjiang City, suspended in the sky - any person with clear vision could imagine what kind of tremendous demons it would reincarnate.


    Because Dantai Qingrun and Gao Tian had arrived, surrounding guards who had made room for them, now all inhaled sharply.


    If what Lu Qingshan said was true, it was indeed too terrifying.


    "We must stop the Netherworld from using Zhenjiang City as a sacrifice for the Blood Pool Reincarnation, or else the consequences would be unthinkable," Dantai Qingrun dered resolutely.


    Gao Tian, looking at the bloodstains on the ground disappearing in a very eerie manner, finally began to believe some of what Lu Qingshan had said.


    After a moment of silence, Gao Tian suddenly asked, "Tower Master Dantai, is what he says... reliable?"


    Given the gravity of the situation, Gao Tian did not understand why a Foundation Establishment Cultivator knew so much, but seeing the familiarity between Dantai Qingrun and Lu Qingshan, he could only seek confirmation from Dantai Qingrun to solidify his own thoughts.


    Dantai Qingrun hesitated, his gaze moving over Lu Qingshan''s face for a moment before he finally nodded and said, "Yes, it''s reliable!"


    With Dantai Qingrun''s affirmation, Gao Tian''s mind was set, and he no longer hesitated.


    With the situation being so urgent, the most precious thing now was time.


    "Command the Spiritual Supplies Department to bring out the set of Positive and Negative Nine Pces Formation gs and use Zhenjiang Tower as the center to turn the surrounding area into a safe zone, gathering the city''s refugees," Gao Tian ordered.


    The Positive and Negative Nine Pces Formation was a set of formation gs treasured by Zhenjiang Tower, a Fourth Grade defensive formation. If presided over by a cultivator, even a Nascent Soul Cultivator would need to spend a fair amount of time to break through.


    Although there were ns to abandon the city and evacuate, with the chaos inside the city, Gao Tian could not neglect themon people. Therefore, the temporary measure was to set up a Great Formation to protect the civilians as much as possible.


    "Yes!" A guard immediately responded to themand.


    "Have ck Ice tform bring up the intelligence investigated these past two days for us," Dantai Qingrun also rapidly issued orders.


    It was impossible to find the Underworld Cultivators lurking in Zhenjiang City by hard work alone ¨C it was like finding a needle in a haystack.


    They needed to rely on some intelligence information to trace their steps.


    ck Ice tform had previously made a military decree iming that within five days, they would definitely find some clues by using information provided by evil cultivators.


    Although only two days had passed in terms of time, due to the current chaos, the investigation could no longer continue.


    But in the past two days, ck Ice tform had still gained some results.


    These were now their breakthrough points.


    Soon, a cultivator from ck Ice tform presented the jade slip containing the collected information, and Gao Tian and Dantai Qingrun immediately started to review the contents within the jade slip.


    As they read the detailed contents of the jade slip, both of their expressions grew more unsightly.


    The investigative method of the ck Ice tform starts with a rough collection of arge number of suspected cultivators, then, by elimination, excludes those who are unrted, one by one, until only the most suspicious cultivators remain.


    However, over these two days, the work of ck Ice tform had only reached the first step.


    Therefore, in the current intelligence documents, the list of cultivators provided by ck Ice tform, who might be Netherworld personnel, is surprisingly lengthy.


    With their manpower, it is definitely impossible to investigate the whereabouts of all these individuals in a short period of time.


    This called for a difficult decision.


    But what should be the basis of this choice?


    By character? Or by intuition?


    ¡­


    Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Dantai Qingrun''s cold eyes swept over Lu Qingshan and then passed the jade slip to him.


    Gao Tian saw Dantai Qingrun''s action and pondered thoughtfully, his gaze toward Lu Qingshan acquiring a more meaningful nuance.


    Lu Qingshan was initially taken aback by the jade slip handed over by Dantai Qingrun but quickly grasped Dantai Qingrun''s intention.


    He didn''t decline, and quickly epted the jade slip, immediately probing it with his divine sense to read the information inside.


    Images of cultivators and their detailed data from the open surfaced in Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    Lu Qingshan skimmed over these profiles as if browsing, and eventually, his attention settled on one particr cultivator.


    This cultivator had an extremely tall and lean figure, like a bamboo pole, with a slightly sunken forehead resembling a dish.


    This man was known as Five Thunder Child, a loose cultivator of foundation establishment cultivation, who was somewhat famous in Zhenjiang City for practicing thunder spells, known to be the most powerful among all Dharma cultivation spells.


    For Lu Qingshan, the Corpse Puppet Chaos was a story he had experienced a very long time ago.


    Furthermore, in this version, the yers'' role in the main storyline was only as cannon fodder, so regarding this plotline, Lu Qingshan had no strong recollection aside from a few core characters.


    But this Five Thunder Child happened to make an unexpectedly deep impression on him.


    His real identity was one of the two ck Impermanences of Zhenjiang Netherworld.


    As for why he had such a strong memory of this ck Impermanence.


    The reason was quite peculiar.


    For yers, the more special and annoying the boss, the more memorable it bes, and as such, the easier it is to deal with,


    These troublesome bosses often have countless counter-strategies developed by yers.


    On the other hand, the low-profile, inconspicuous bosses often cause yers to meet unexpected failures.


    This ck Impermanence was just such a boss in the Corpse Puppet Chaos version, with disgustingly irritating skills.


    ck Impermanence, a Netherworld cultivator with golden core perfection in Dharma cultivation, was an expert in thunder spells just like his surface identity indicated.


    His trademark thunder spell was named Earth Yin Thunder.


    It was a crafty thunder spell forged from the gloomy and resentful qi gathered from the heart of the earth, with extremely strong corrosive properties.


    Be it a Vajra body or stone, upon encountering Earth Yin Thunder, both would be instantly corroded, and what''s more, Earth Yin Thunder specialized in contaminating flying sword magical artifacts, effectively making it the bane of sword cultivators.


    As a sword cultivator, it was no wonder that Lu Qingshan deeply remembered ck Impermanence, a sword cultivator''s nemesis who mastered Earth Yin Thunder.

 Chapter 105: Blood-pupiled Demon Wolf

    "The true identity of Wu Lei Zi is ck Impermanence from the Underworld, and we can use him as a breakthrough point!" Lu Qingshan asserted confidently.


    If it were a normal day, his behavior of identifying the identity of an Underworld Cultivator without being able to exin the source of his information would be extremely reckless and would certainly be met with a lot of questioning.


    But given the urgency of the situation, he could not afford to care too much.


    Aside from other factors, just for the sake of his own life and property, there was no need to keep hiding what he knew.


    As expected, Dantai Qingrun did not inquire much about how Lu Qingshan knew of Wu Lei Zi¡¯s identity, but instead turned around and swiftly ordered, "Organize all the information rted to the Cultivators associated with Wu Lei Zi in the Jade Slip immediately."


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    With such a high status as ck Impermanence, it is enough to rely on him to extend and reach out to other Underworld Cultivators.


    The Steward Cultivators of ck Ice tform were ordered and quickly busied themselves within the vast intelligence library of the ck Ice tform.


    Meanwhile, the Cultivators of the Spiritual Supplies Department had already taken out the formation gs, using them to set up the Defensive and Offensive Nine Pces Great Formation.


    After cing the formation gs at the designated Nine Pces Formation points, the Steward Cultivator of the Spiritual Supplies Department pointed with both hands, lightly pinching the spell.


    A faint line of Spiritual Power shot out rapidly from each formation g, these lines interweaving into aplexwork.


    Continue your adventure at empire


    The moment thiswork took shape, a wall-like light barrier slowly rose and then slowly closed up like an overturned bowl, enveloping the entire area around the Zhenjiang Tower within it.


    The Defensive and Offensive Nine Pces Great Formation was set.


    ...


    "Vice Tower Master, this is the information we havepiled!" An hourter, the Steward Cultivator of ck Ice tform presented a Jade Slip once again.


    "However, the true strengths of these Cultivators are unknown.


    The information we provided only shows the strengths they disy publicly, which are unreliable," the Steward Cultivator of ck Ice tform solemnly cautioned.


    The identities of the Underworld Cultivators on the surface are a mix of truth and deception, not to be trusted.


    Just like ck Impermanence, whose public identity is just a Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivator, who would have thought he was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator?


    If we were to confront ck Impermanence with the standard for dealing with Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it would definitely be like sending themb into the tiger¡¯s maw,pletely devoured.


    Dantai Qingrun nodded to indicate his understanding, took the Jade Slip, examined the intelligence within, then passed the Jade Slip to Gao Tian, and fell into deep thought.


    The many suspicious Cultivators pointed out in the Jade Slip were scattered throughout various ces in Zhenjiang City.


    At this time, Zhenjiang City was filled with groups of ferocious beasts, and a slight inattention might lead to attack; it was not as free of obstacles as usual.


    Small teams maneuver fluidly and are highly agile, and if they encounter groups of beasts, they can choose to avoid them. However, if it is arge troop, encountering a group of beasts does not afford them the luxury of avoidance.


    Therefore, acting separately became the most suitable approach.


    Dantai Qingrun and Gao Tian quickly reached a consensus.


    "Guarding Cultivators, each team should act independently, and Vice Tower Master Gao, you coordinate the distribution of tasks for each team!"


    "Cultivators of the Spiritual Supplies Department are responsible for overseeing the formations, protecting the civilians, and gather the city¡¯s civilians as much as possible!"


    "Leave ck Impermanence to me!" Dantai Qingrun said coldly.


    As we must anticipate the possibility that Underworld Cultivators conceal their true strengths, those dispatched must automatically be considered a level higher.


    That is, if the data shows a Cultivator is at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment, then we must treat them as a powerful Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and those shown asplete in Foundation Establishment should be treated as Golden Core Cultivators.


    Furthermore, even though a screening has been done, among these suspicious Cultivators, there will definitely still be a number unrted to the Underworld, which inevitably leads to a waste of manpower.


    Thus, they are now severely understaffed.


    Dantai Qingrun simply took on the task of dealing with ck Impermanence himself, which was due not only to theck of manpower but also to Dantai Qingrun¡¯s extreme confidence in his own abilities.


    Watching Dantai Qingrun, who was about to set off after giving the orders, Lu Qingshan called out to her, "Dantai Tower Master."


    "Hmm?"


    "ck Impermanence is proficient in Earth Yin Thunder, a type of Thunder Spell that can corrupt Flying Swords. When battling him, be sure to guard against his Earth Yin Thunder!"


    Dantai Qingrun nced at Lu Qingshan and nodded slightly, "I understand."


    As soon as her words fell, Dantai Qingrun moved, utilized the Sword Control Technique, transformed into a beam of Sword Light, and in the blink of an eye, charged out of the light barrier of the Defensive and Offensive Nine Pces Great Formation, quickly disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight.


    Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue in his heart.


    What a fierce Sword Cultivator!


    At this moment, the sky above Zhenjiang City was swirling with flocks of demon birds.


    Which ordinary cultivator would dare to fly in the sky at such a time?


    Flying so conspicuously in the sky would instantly make one a target for the flocks of demon birds, leading to a brutal encirclement and attack, even a Body Cultivator might not withstand it.


    Yet for a Sword Cultivator, as fragile as they are, only the extremely confident and powerful Dantai Qingrun would dare to navigate through the air under such conditions, unafraid of the demon beasts¡¯ siege.


    The mission assigned to Lu Qingshan¡¯s Tiger Squad was to investigate three suspicious cultivators in the western part of the city.


    "Are youing with us?" Su Shu hesitantly asked after just witnessing Lu Qingshan directly interacting with the two Vice Tower Masters.


    "Without me, wouldn¡¯t the Tiger Squad be missing a Sword Cultivator?" Lu Qingshan spread his hands.


    Su Shu¡¯s eyes lit up, and she said no more.


    Hearing this, Xu Hao nodded vigorously, "Then let¡¯s prepare to move out immediately!"


    "Understood, Captain!" the cultivators of the Tiger Squad responded in unison.


    Before the team set off, Lu Qingshan enhanced himself once again.


    In such a situation, any increase inbat power was valuable, and he was no longer saving his experience points.


    "[Returning Ruins Scripture] upgraded to lv2, Spiritual Power Value +100!"


    "[Returning Ruins Scripture] upgraded to lv3, Spiritual Power Value +100!"


    "Flying Sword Technique upgraded to lv4!"


    The recently umted 9500 experience points were instantly depleted.


    But the enhancement it brought was tremendous; although the Returning Ruins Scripture had only advanced by two levels, his Spiritual Power Value limit had almost doubled.


    Feeling the surging Spiritual Power in his Dantian, Lu Qingshan felt more confident.


    ....


    Unlike the skillful and daring Dantai Qingrun, they had to opt for walking on the ground to reach their target location.


    Passing through the light shield of the Nine Pces Great Formation, beyond guarding cultivators on simr missions, there were hardly any people or demon beasts near Zhenjiang Tower, only ruins everywhere.


    Dantai Qingrun had already cleared the nearby area in no time, resulting in such a scene.


    Xiao Zhi pped his Spirit Beast Bag, releasing a green-eyed weasel to scout the path ahead.


    The six followed the route checked by the green-eyed weasel, which appeared rtively safe, and moved continuously forward.


    As they moved farther from Zhenjiang Tower, the scenes they encountered grew increasingly horrifying.


    Mortal remains and dismembered limbs were everywhere, a heavy scent of blood lingered in the air, the roads were stained with fresh blood, and ferocious demon beasts asionally prowled the streets.


    Demon birds circled and cawed in the sky.


    Everyone was careful not to make too much noise, and the atmosphere turned somewhat oppressive.


    Suddenly, Xiao Zhi, who was leading the way, stopped.


    Xu Hao furrowed his brows tightly, "What¡¯s the matter?"


    "Little Green says all paths ahead are swarming with demon beasts; we can¡¯t circumvent them anymore."


    "If we can¡¯t find a way around, then we¡¯ll fight through!" Xu Hao decisively dered.


    The Guarding Cultivators never shied away from battle; they simply chose to avoid demon beasts along the way to save time and preserve theirbat strength.


    Blocking their path was a group of about seven or eight Blood-pupiled Demon Wolves, Second Grade demon beasts.


    "Quick battle, quick decision, otherwise the noise might attract other demon beasts, and we won¡¯t be able to escape easily," Xu Hao said in a grave voice.

 Chapter 106 Peril

    Everyone understood this principle and nodded in agreement.


    The road ahead was still long, and no one knew what might happen.


    Therefore, they not only tried to avoid meaningless battles but also made efforts to conserve their Spiritual Power as much as possible, ensuring there were no idents.


    Su Shu formed her Dharma Seal with a light gesture, swiftly bestowing two Spirit Arts upon Xu Hao and Lu Qingshan, while the others did not receive this privilege.


    Among the six cultivators, Body Cultivation who were responsible for closebat and attracting attacks, and Sword Cultivation who were the main offensive force, were always the primary targets for the Spiritual Cultivator¡¯s Supportive Spiritual Art.


    With Spirit Arts preemptively bestowed upon them, Tiger Squad continued to move forward, slightly rounding a corner.


    As they walked on, they saw a pack of Demon Wolves in the center of the street, six of them in total, each with a massive frame, feasting on the corpse of a child.


    The scene was drenched in blood and unspeakably horrifying.


    "Howe... there are only six?" Xiao Zhi furrowed his brows, his gaze scanning the wide, gstone-paved street, "Little Green clearly said there were seven beasts in this pack..."


    A sense of dread flickered in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    This is bad!


    "Hiss!"


    From the ruins of a copsed tavern beside them, a figure with ck, sharp fur suddenly sprang out.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s pupils constricted, an image rapidly erging in his sight.


    It was a colossal head with a pair of green eyes filled with ferocity, his gaping jaws slightly open, four intimidating fangs glinting coldly, and a blood-tainted tongue dripping with blood, evidently from the feeding earlier.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    This was the alpha of the Blood-pupiled Demon Wolves, the Green Scaled Wolf!


    A terrifying creature that only appeared in Demon Wolf packs of thirty or more!


    The Green Scaled Wolf¡¯s sharp fangs gleamed with a green light as it lunged towards Lu Qingshan¡¯s neck.


    If it mped down, Lu Qingshan would undoubtedly be killed on the spot.


    The Green Scaled Wolf, with intelligence of its own, not only understood the tactics of stealth and ambush but also knew to target the most dangerous Sword Cultivator first.


    This scene unfolded so suddenly, and the Green Scaled Wolf¡¯s speed was shockingly fast!


    None of the cultivators present could react in time.


    Except for Lu Qingshan himself!


    The moment Xiao Zhi mentioned a missing Demon Wolf, Lu Qingshan had realized something was amiss.


    Years of gaming experience, coupled with a measure of caution, saved Lu Qingshan¡¯s life.


    At the instant of the sudden change, his body also simultaneously emitted a sudden burst of quiet blue light.


    Eight Gates Shield Armor activated!


    ng, ng, ng!


    The sound of metal colliding rang out, as the ferocious attack of the Green Scaled Wolf was blocked by the Eight Gates Shield Armor.


    Sparks flew in all directions.


    The Green Scaled Wolf¡¯s onrushing form violently collided with the Water Cloud Shield.


    Under the force of the impact, Lu Qingshan staggered, his form wavering as he stumbled several steps backward.


    The Green Scaled Wolf fared no better, having bitten down on the extremely hard Water Cloud Shield and suffering pain even with its sturdy fangs.


    Its body was flung aside.


    But in midair, the Green Scaled Wolf immediately regained its poise, adjusted, andnded firmly on the ground.


    The Green Scaled Wolf¡¯s eerie green eyes were fixed intently on the Tiger Squad cultivators.


    Its body bristled with murderous intent, its gaze piercing like darts, akin to an unsheathed treasured sword, and its massive form took up a high-and-mighty stance as if an arrow nocked on a bowstring.


    Ao¡ª¡ª


    Seeing its sneak attack fail to achieve sess, the Green Scaled Wolf let out a dissatisfied howl.


    The six Demon Wolves that had pretentiously been busy eating on the street, meant to bewilder the Tiger Squad, received their alpha¡¯smand and immediately pounced into action.


    Instead of gaining an advantage by striking first, the Tiger Squad found themselves in a rather awkward predicament.


    But after all, the Tiger Squad wasposed of cultivators who were adept at battling.


    Facing such peril, everyone reacted without dy.


    "I¡¯ll hold off the alpha wolf. You guys quickly take out the remaining six Demon Wolves, then we¡¯ll join forces to deal with this alpha wolf!"


    Xu Haoid out the strategy, his body swiftly covered in ayer of Golden Scale Armor as he entangled himself with the Green Scaled Wolf.


    "Ice Sculpture Technique!" Li Zu uttered lightly, and a cascade of ice-blue spiritual light shot out from his hands!


    Zhong Ming, on the other hand, transformed into a wisp of ck smoke and vanished on the spot.


    Crack!


    Li Zu¡¯s technique struck a Blood-pupiled Demon Wolf that was lunging straight for him. Enjoy new tales from empire


    A thinyer of frost instantly formed on the entire body of the Blood-pupiled Demon Wolf.


    The moment the frost appeared, the wolf¡¯s figure hesitated, awkwardly pausing in ce.


    Zhong Ming, now converted into ck smoke, had silently appeared beside the Demon Wolf.


    A ghostly w, condensed from the ck mist, instantly tore through the wolf¡¯s abdomen, which was covered by soft fur.


    Blood sprayed out.


    With that strike, the Blood-pupiled Demon Wolf stood no chance of survival.


    Through seamless cooperation, the two who swiftly killed a Second-Grade magical beast were ready to address the other Demon Wolves.


    ncing over, they noticed two more Demon Wolves had already fallen to the ground.


    The mastermind behind this carnage was none other than Lu Qingshan.


    After leveling up the Returning Ruins Scripture to Lv3, thanks to the substantial enhancement from the Taoist-level "Returning Ruins Scripture," his Spiritual Power had be nearly indistinguishable from that of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, thus hisbat power had also climbed a notch.


    While a Demon Wolf was temporarily held at bay by Su Shu¡¯s controlling Spirit Art, with the additional power from the Hardness-Breaking Spiritual Technique, a simple Heart Piercing Sword from him was enough to dispatch one wolf.


    Then, utilizing the Soul Shock effect of the Crying Soul Sword, he controlled another Demon Wolf that had drawn close and swiftly eliminated it with a sh across the throat.


    Xiao Zhi¡¯s summoned Green Scaled Leopard was busily engaging the remaining wolves.


    After Lu Qingshan, Li Zu, and Zhong Ming swiftly dispatched three Demon Wolves, dealing with the remaining three proved to be not much of a challenge.


    Momentster,


    The corpses of the six Blood-pupiled Demon Wolvesy sprawled across the ground.


    Four out of the six had been finished off by Lu Qingshan.


    In just this short time, Lu Qingshan had gained close to four thousand Experience Points.


    In his previous life during the Corpse Puppet Chaos in Zhenjiang City, the yers virtually went through a round of mass death.


    An incident that was not yer-friendly did not lead to their protest, but why?


    That was because, at that time, Zhenjiang City was teeming with beasts of all levels.


    As long as the yers were diligent and formed parties to hunt beasts amidst the chaos in the city, they could reap a bountiful harvest of Experience Points. Even death did not dampen their spirits.


    To the NPCs, this scenario was a terrifying ordeal, a living hell on earth.


    But for the yers, as long as they didn¡¯t empathize too deeply, it was simply a typical instance for farming Experience Points.


    This time, however, Lu Qingshan was no longer a yer.


    Even though his identity had changed, the abundance of Experience Points provided by the monsters during the great turmoil remained the same.


    Looking at the steadily increasing bnce of Experience Points, Lu Qingshan chose not to hoard them¡ªnow was not the time to save Experience Points.


    Lu Qingshan invested all the freshly acquired Experience Points into his Flying Sword Technique, bringing it up to Lv7.


    At Lv7, the Flying Sword Technique reached a level of proficiency that sword cultivators would typically achieve only after decades of dedication.

 Chapter 107 Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (Part 1)

    As he watched the blood of the Blood Maned Demon Wolves seep into the soil below and vanish, Lu Qingshan''s mood grew heavier.


    Killing six Blood Maned Demon Wolves seemed like a significant victory on the surface.


    But in reality, the essence blood of these wolves was elerating the formation of the Blood River above the sky.


    They had to speed up.


    After dealing with these six Demon Wolves, Lu Qingshan and his group prepared to turn around and rush to Xu Hao''s aid.


    Roar¡ª


    The Green Savage Wolf, seeing its subordinates ughtered in moments, let out a frustrated roar of impotence.


    This human cultivator in front of it clung to it like a stubborn candy, refusing to let go.


    The Golden Scale Armor on its body was extremely hard, impervious even to its sharp fangs and ws for the time being. Discover more content at empire


    Its fierce wolf eyes saw Lu Qingshan and the othersing towards it after dealing with its wolf underlings.


    The Green Savage Wolf, having developed a certain level of intelligence, suddenly shed a eerie green light in its pupils.


    Aware of the Green Savage Wolf''s skills and habits, Lu Qingshan, seeing this, cursed inwardly, "Captain, be careful of its attack!"


    As soon as he spoke, a sinister green magical light surged from the wide-open mouth of the Green Savage Wolf.


    The intense light caused Lu Qingshan''s eyes to sting unbearably.


    Lu Qingshan quickly closed his eyes.


    A meteor-sized, emerald green fireball burst from the mouth of the Green Savage Wolf and shot directly towards Xu Hao.


    Bang!


    The st sounded thunderous.


    When Lu Qingshan opened his eyes again, there was already a huge deep pit on the stone floor, with green mes flickering around its edge.


    Xu Haoy beside it, quite embarrassingly, the glow of his Golden Scale Armor somewhat dimmed.


    If it weren''t for hearing Lu Qingshan''s warning, he would have moved aside in time, avoiding the direct hit from the fireball, fearing that it would have cost him half of his life.


    Thinking about this still gave Xu Hao the shivers.


    "Captain, where''s that Demon Wolf?" Li Zu, on high alert, noticed that the terrifying attacking Green Savage Wolf had vanished and feared that it might be lurking in some corner, waiting to ambush them.


    "Seems like it ran away?" Xu Hao struggled to stand up, unsure.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "It did run." Lu Qingshan nodded, "This beast, having developed a certain intelligence, knew it couldn''t withstand ourbined strength of six, so fleeing in panic isn''t surprising."


    Su Shu, full of worry, rushed to Xu Hao''s side to check his injuries, and once she confirmed that Xu Hao was alright, she let out a sigh of relief.


    "It''s good that it ran away. Otherwise, even if we managed to defeat the beast, we would definitely have expended a lot of Spiritual Power.


    Right now, our Spiritual Power is more precious than water in the desert; it''s always good to avoid pointless battles."


    Lu Qingshan''s heart was not rxed, "It''s not that simple. Demon Wolves are naturally vindictive and are good at tracking. We''ve ughtered all of its underlings; it''s unlikely to let this go so easily.


    If I''m not wrong, it will continue to follow us and look for a chance to exact revenge!"


    Xiao Zhi''s expression changed, and he quickly scanned the surroundings, but he could not find any trace of the Green Savage Wolf.


    "Should we take the initiative to find this beast and deal with it first?


    If this beast keeps lurking in the shadows, eyeing us menacingly, it''ll also be a great psychological burden for us."


    Xu Hao shook his head, dismissing Xiao Zhi''s suggestion, "There''s no need. You must remember what our mission here is!"


    What''s most important now is to find the Underworld Cultivator hosting the Asura Blood Formation, destroy the formation, and thwart the grand schemes of the Netherworld.


    This beast is so cunning, not to mention whether we can find it, but even if we can, it will certainly waste a lot of time, and our mission cannot afford any dys."


    "The captain is right," Lu Qingshan agreed with a nod.


    "We must leave this ce quickly. With such amotion, I''m afraid it will attract other demon beasts. If we''re surrounded by them, it will be difficult for us to escape!" Zhong Ming warned aloud.


    "Zhong Ming is right. Let''s leave here quickly!"


    ...


    After leaving the street where the fierce battle had just urred, everyone reverted to their previous cautious progression.


    However, the thought that a green savage wolf might still be lurking in the shadows, eyeing them ominously,


    made everyone''s heart shroud in ayer of gloom, knowing that any slip could lead to a sudden attack from the green savage wolf.


    "Lu Qingshan, since you have a deep understanding of the Netherworld and these demon beasts'' tactics, you will be in charge of leading andmanding us from now on." After pondering for a long time, Xu Hao walked up to Lu Qingshan and said earnestly.


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback, then he looked into Xu Hao''s serious eyes and slowly nodded in agreement, "Alright."


    The other four cultivators of the Tiger Squad, although their expressions flickered, wondering what was on each other''s minds, none voiced any objections.


    Whether it was the battle at the Feiyun Sect or the recent brief encounter with the Demon Wolf, Lu Qingshan had demonstrated his profound understanding of the demon beasts'' tactics.


    Not to mention, not long before, Lu Qingshan had engaged in a thorough discussion with Dantai, the Deputy Tower Master, that had guided their course of action.


    With Lu Qingshan in charge ofmanding their movements, naturally, none could have any objections.


    ...


    The sky grew increasingly dark, resembling the dense clouds that gather before a storm, making it impossible for the city''s residents to discern day from night.


    The air was thick with a nauseating scent of blood, oppressive and stifling as if blocking one''s breath.


    In a once luxurious estate in the western part of Zhenjiang,


    hundreds ofpletely ck avian creatures with monkey faces and dual wings on their backs circled endlessly around the estate, emitting harsh and hoarse sounds.


    These were Monkey-faced Demon Crows, First Grade demon beasts.


    Inside the estate, hundreds of ordinary citizens trembled as they looked up at the avian demons, sobbing quietly.


    These hideously ugly Monkey-faced Demon Crows eyed the humans inside the estate with their malicious and bloodthirsty gaze.


    The reason they continually circled above the estate without taking action was that they were being confronted by a significantlyrger bird with an imposing presence.


    The astounding aura of the giant bird restrained the natural ferocity of the Monkey-faced Demon Crows.


    "Grandfather, the number of these demon birds is increasing, and soon, even the ck Feather Eagle might not be able to deter them!" Cai Xingchao expressed his concerns with a worried look.


    Cai Heng looked troubled as well, his usually spotless white robe now stained with dark blood patches.


    Clearly, Cai Heng had already been through a fierce battle.


    A ck silhouette stood quietly beside Cai Heng.


    This was an ape beast, just over two meters tall, covered in half a foot of ck fur, terrifying to behold, with white fangs and standing upright like a human. In its fur-covered hand, it held a dark iron rod.


    This was another of Cai Heng''s beast pets, a Second Grade violent ape demon, naturally strong and powerful inbat.


    Cai Heng looked around at the many citizens sheltered within his family''s estate and sighed helplessly.

 Chapter 108 Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (Part 2)

    Since the Netherworld broke into chaos, and demon beasts started to rampage within the city, he had immediately started sheltering and protecting themoners around him who had been ughtered by the demon beasts.


    To rescue thesemoners from the ferocious demon beasts, he had already fought a fierce battle with arge number of them earlier.


    However, no one knew exactly how many demon beasts were actually in the city.


    Even though he had just cleared the surrounding demon beasts momentarily, more kept continuously gathering around.


    With his strength, if he were only protecting Cai Xingchao and his mother, he might have had a chance to save their lives and survive.


    But to protect so manymoners on his own was nothing but a fool''s dream.


    Yet, to abandon thesemoners and ignore them was something he simply could not bring himself to do.


    Just the thought of Teacher Youling and Cai Xingchao filled him with guilt.


    He had gone through so much effort to find them both, intending to make amends, but he hadn''t expected that they would encounter such a predicament so soon.


    Had he not found them, perhaps Xingchao might have been able to avoid this disaster and live?


    "I''m sorry to you both," Cai Heng said, looking at Teacher Youling standing behind him, his tall figure finally stooping slightly.


    "The emperor guards the national gates, the monarch dies for his state.


    As a Pacification Commissioner of Great Xia, and for protecting the citizens of Great Xia without cherishing my own life, it''s both my duty and righteousness. What fault is there in that?


    Neither my wife nor Xingchao me you; on the contrary, we are full of admiration and share in the honor.


    Since we both belong to the Cai Family, dying with the Cai Family is our rightful duty!"


    Teacher Youling, who had just recovered from the red pearl snake''s venom and was still somewhat weak, spoke in a soft but incredibly firm voice, her words ringing with conviction.


    "Mother is right! How can we stand by and watch as these ferocious beasts ughter our own kind?" Cai Xingchao clenched his fist, his young face resolute.


    Such good children of the Cai Family they are!


    Seeing the resolute expressions on Teacher Youling and Cai Xingchao''s faces, Cai Heng felt a surge of warmth, his eyes reddening.


    ...


    The sounds ofmoners being bitten and screamed by demon beasts echoed intermittently by his ears.


    In a building within sight, a demon hyena was gnawing on a man''s arm.


    Bloody.


    Lu Qingshan, silent, led the Tiger Squad cultivators forward.


    Along their journey, they had witnessed numerous scenes like this, and it could be said that nearly every corner of Zhenjiang City was disying these kinds of scenes.


    Yet, the Tiger Squad had not made a move even once during their journey.


    Too many.


    Explore stories on empire


    Just the six cultivators of the Tiger Squad couldn''t possibly take care of all of them.


    Moreover, they needed to preserve their spiritual power for dealing with Underworld Cultivators.


    And they were distinctly aware that even if they managed to save thesemoners temporarily, given the city was swarming with all kinds of demon beasts, thesemoners would inevitably encounter another demon beast attack.


    So, they could only choose to ignore these scenes.


    ¡ª


    ¡ª


    Sounds of hoarse cries, carrying from far anding closer together, came from the sky.


    Hearing this sound, Lu Qingshan''s expression changed, and he called out to his team, "Quick, hide!"


    Immediately after, Lu Qingshan''s figure darted into a nearby standalone building in a sh.


    Without any doubt, the members of the Tiger Squad followed Lu Qingshan and hid inside the building.


    After concealing themselves and facing the puzzled looks of his team, Lu Qingshan with a grave expression said, "That was the cry of a Ghostly Specter."


    "Ghostly Specter?"


    Lu Qingshan exined, "A type of demon beast that is exceedingly cunning and generally moves in groups in dark environments, a group of Ghostly Specters numbers at least a thousand.


    Although individually weak, they act purely on their bloodthirsty instincts. If they discover us, they will swarm.


    With their numbers, handling them would certainly not be quiet.


    However, aside from their sight, their other senses have degenerated. Thus, if we just hide here in the building for a while and wait for this flock of Ghostly Specters to pass, we should be okay."


    Xu Hao suddenly understood and couldn''t help but feel a bit relieved.


    Xiao Zhi''s green ferret could only detect conditions on the ground; they had no good way to defend against these airborne demon birds.


    Lucky for them, the Tiger Squad had Lu Qingshan, a unique cultivator who could discern detailed information about the arrivals just from hearing their cries.


    Yet, who exactly was this Lu Qingshan, and why did he know so much about these demon beasts?


    This question rose in the minds of the Tiger Squad cultivators almost simultaneously.


    "Why is there a smell of blood?" Xiao Zhi suddenly eximed.


    Su Shu sniffled and said, "It seems to being from inside."


    Lu Qingshan nced around.


    The small building they had hurried into wasn''trge, just a single story.


    It appeared to be a small business selling low-grade talismans, with the front serving as the business area and the backprising of what were supposedly the storage and living quarters, separated by a curtain.


    However, the counters that should have disyed various talismans were insteadpletely empty.


    Recalling the faint scent of blood drifting in the air, Lu Qingshan furrowed his brows, lifted the curtain, and looked inside.


    He saw the body of an elderly man, pierced through the chest, sprawled on the floor, with a little girl who appeared to be no more than seven or eight years old lying beside him.


    The little girl''s features were delicate, but her eyes were closed, and her face was frozen in an expression of shock and pain, with blood continuously flowing from the back of her head, her life force already extinguished.


    The blood was rapidly being absorbed by the Asura Blood Formation, yet the blood scent it released into the air was not so easily dispelled.


    Beside these two bodies, two young male cultivators were rummaging through the storage, their cultivation not high, one at the Qi Refinement fifth level, and the other at the fourth level.


    "Big brother, what''s that sound?" the Qi Refinement fifth-level man in ck clothes asked, hearing the ghostly bats'' squeakinging from outside, looking slightly panicked.


    It was this intermittent sound that had masked the noises made by the Tiger Squad as they entered the shop.


    "Probably just some ferocious beast, forget about it, let''s quickly gather these materials, and once this chaos is over, we can sell them off discreetly.


    With these resources, it''s not impossible for us both to attempt the Foundation Establishment."


    "Big brother, is it really okay for us to do this?"


    "What could go wrong? The city is in such chaos, people are dying every moment, who can tell if these two died from beast attacks or were murdered?"


    "But Mr. Li used to take care of us too, purchasing our demon beast blood at prices ten percent higher than others, and Xiuxiu is still so young..."


    The leading man''s eyes filled with ferocity as he smacked the back of the head of the man in ck, "Are you regretting this now?"


    The man in ck stumbled verbally when faced with the leading man''s questioning, "I..."


    The leading man''s tone turned sinister and venomous, "A cultivator must strive for these so-called resources.


    We, as loose cultivators, are battling with our lives, yet we can hardly ever earn enough resources in an entire lifetime to make progress. If this continues, how can we ever hope to achieve Foundation Establishment?


    Now, with the city in chaos, opportuning in these muddy waters can grant us the cultivation resources we wouldn''t earn in our lifetimes; this is the greatest chance we have ever encountered!"


    The man in ck muttered, "But why did we have to strike Mr. Li and Xiuxiu? It would have been better to target someone else..."


    "You only have the Qi Refinement fourth-level cultivation, and I am only on the fifth level. If it truly came to a fight, what chances would we have?


    It was only because Mr. Li, a foolish Qi Refinement ninth-level cultivator, had no defenses against us in such times, was willing to shelter us, and allowed me to strike him down easily.


    As for Xiuxiu, I didn''t want to kill her either, but you should know, if we didn''t, our act against Mr. Li could have been exposed.


    I had to eliminate all evidence!


    ..."


    Thud!


    An ice de pierced through the throat of the leading man, cutting off his words.


    The leading man clutched his bleeding neck, eyes widening, staring at the six cultivators of the Tiger Squad who had appeared at the curtain without notice.


    Li Zu''s expression was icy cold.


    Unable to endure the beastlike justification of the leading man any longer, he had decisively struck.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ncing at the ck-clothed man who was still lost, unable toprehend the situation, a look of disgust filled Li Zu''s eyes.


    "Though you did not act directly, knowing your brother wasmitting evil without intervening also makes you deserving of death!"


    Li Zu waved his left hand, another ice de, emitting chills, shot forth, slicing through the ck-clothed man''s neck.


    Even being a simple spell from a Foundation Establishment cultivator, how could two minor Qi Refinement cultivators withstand it? They died instantly.


    Looking at the two men''s bodies next to the corpses of the old man and the girl, though he had anticipated such an event, witnessing it firsthand still stirred aplex emotion in Lu Qingshan''s chest.


    In the midst of great chaos, some fought desperately to save the city, while others unleashed the monsters within their hearts, no different from Underworld Cultivators, perhaps even more frightening.


    Lu Qingshan peeked outside from the shop.


    Beneath the gloomy sky, countless pitch-ck ghostly bats swarmed, their round heads only featuring tworge ears, their fine, sharp teeth revealing a thirst for blood, their hairless wings like thin membranes through which their bone structures were clearly visible.


    The ghostly bats'' crimson eyes were strikingly conspicuous against the dark canopy, densely packed, utterly horrifying.


    They formed a dark tide covering the sky.


    Their raspy screeching, their frenzied search for food, painted this city as a human hell.


    The scene resembled a night parade of a hundred ghosts.


    Lu Qingshan turned back to look at the bodies inside the shop, his heart chilling.


    A myriad of ghosts and specters took the stage.


    Yet the most terrifying were not these beasts, but rather the ghostly specters of human nature.


    Look at that night parade of a hundred ghosts; there are people among them, happier than the ghosts themselves.

 Chapter 109 Butterfly

    ```


    Mute¡ª


    The ghost bats that were hunting in the sky fluttered their wings and gradually drifted away.


    "Let''s go," Lu Qingshan said softly after confirming the situation.


    The members of the Tiger Squad nodded and quickly followed Lu Qingshan out of the small trading post.


    The scene they had just witnessed was but a minuscule reflection of the disaster unfolding.


    If the cultivators within Zhenjiang City had been willing to protect the civilians, then even without the Zhenjiang military, the Netherworld would never have been able to gather enough essence blood to perform Blood Pool Reincarnation in less than a day.


    Zhenjiang City was, after all, a prefectural city of Great Xia, located deep within the territory of the Human Race.


    As long as they could dy the Netherworld''s progress for a little while, there would soon be powerful cultivators of the Human Race receiving the news anding to the rescue, thus foiling the Netherworld''s scheme.


    But such a simple condition proved to be a mission impossible.


    Cultivators were the most selfish of people, sparing no thought for the unrted civilians of the Human Race, even if they were kin and kind. But how many would truly bother?


    The Netherworld knew this well and used the Corpse Puppet Chaos to draw away the Zhenjiang military.


    Then, by using the Asura Blood Formation to create a barrier, they sealed off Zhenjiang City''s contact with the outside world, turning it into an isted stronghold.


    By creating this short time discrepancy, they picked chestnuts out of the fire within the territory of the Human Race.


    And ording to the original course of history, the Netherworld''s actions were sessful.


    Even if one couldn''t agree with the Netherworld''s stance, or even detested it intensely, Lu Qingshan had to admit that in terms of both means and nning, the Netherworld was inscrutable andmendable.


    And yet...


    Lu Qingshan raised his head to look at the sky.


    Though the Netherworld had acted more decisively than he had expected,unching their assault as soon as they sensed something was amiss, thus disrupting his ns.


    But after arriving in this world, he had after all fluttered his wings a few times. It remained to be seen if this energy was enough to stir a tornado capable of shattering the Netherworld''s schemes.


    ...


    Outside Zhenjiang City.


    Three Golden Core cultivators of the Lu Family gathered, suspended in midair, intensely observing the iron curtain-like barrier that enveloped the entire city.


    "What did the other families say?" Lu Zhou asked, massaging his brow.


    Lu Yuan replied with a look of indignation, "Aside from the Ke Family, who expressed willingness to send aid the moment they were informed, the rest are adopting a wait-and-see attitude. It seems they intend to stand by and watch."


    "Only the Ke Family?" Lu Zhou''s expression darkened.


    Lu Bei paid no heed to the two family elders'' resentment, his hands quickly forming seal gestures.


    He wanted to test the power of this barrier!


    In Lu Bei''s hands, a flowing luminescence moved, and a profound blue light gradually enveloped his body. Enjoy more content from empire


    Behind him, a ferocious blue giant serpent was slowly taking shape.


    The giant serpent finally formed, and with a sweeping nce, its figure slowly broke free from Lu Bei''s back.


    After breaking free, the giant serpent rapidly swelled, instantly growing to a thickness of ten feet and a length of over a hundred feet, turning into an enormous creature.


    Wrapped in a cloud of blue mist, its body was covered with mysterious and intricate Taoist runes that shimmered with light.


    Lu Yuan and Lu Zhou both felt their hearts skip a beat.


    ```


    This was the Qing Ling True Monarch''s signature Spell, the Qing Jiao technique, which they naturally recognized.


    However, the power of this Qing Jiao technique had increased significantlypared to before.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    They had no idea when Lu Bei had made such progress in his Cultivation.


    Is this what a genius looks like? So terrifyingly powerful!


    "Go!" Lu Beimanded in a low shout.


    The giant Jiao roared, its howl like thunder, and under Lu Bei''s control, it dove toward the iron curtain in front of them, shaking the Spiritual Light flickering around it.


    The vast body of the Jiao covered a wide expanse of the sky, whipping up a great gust of wind as it crashed against the barrier as if it were an eggshell.


    Bang!


    The tremendous sound echoed like thunder throughout Heaven and Earth, causing a painful ringing in the ears. The Qing Jiao''s light shattered, turning into a dense rain of light.


    Once the light dissipated, the expressions of the three of them grew even graver.


    The iron curtain was emitting a faint halo of light, effortlessly blocking the astonishing strike from the Qing Jiao formed of Spiritual Power summoned by Lu Bei.


    Lu Bei had anticipated this, so he wasn''t overly disheartened, but he made a judgment, "The power of this Barrier has surpassed the realm of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    If all the ns were willing to send reinforcements to join forces, there might be a slight chance of breaking through the Barrier. Relying solely on the power of the Lu Family and the Ke Family, it is beyond our capabilities."


    Lu Yuan''s voice was hoarse as he eximed, "How can these fools be so shortsighted? When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. If Zhenjiang City falls into great disaster, how can we, the ns that depend on Zhenjiang City, not decline?"


    Lu Bei, on the other hand, was more philosophical, "As long as it doesn''t happen to them personally, most people choose silence. It''s just human nature."


    "Lu Qingshan is still in the city. He is the foundation of our Lu Family''s resurgence. I should not have agreed so readily to let the boy leave the Lu Family!" Lu Zhou sighed deeply.


    "How about the reinforcements?" Lu Bei didn''t pick up on Lu Zhou''sment, instead, he turned to ask.


    Lu Yuan exined the current situation, "Although we sent a Spirit Message to the Zhenjiang forces at the first opportunity to report the current state of Zhenjiang City, the Corpse Puppet Chaos in the various Prefecture Cities has not yet been quelled, and the Zhenjiang forces cannot abandon these Prefecture Cities and rush back to Zhenjiang City immediately."


    Lu Zhou fell silent upon hearing this.


    The logic was simple.


    The lives of the Xia n people in Zhenjiang City mattered, but did the ordinary people in the various Prefecture Cities not?


    Since the Zhenjiang forces had already arrived at these Prefecture Cities, they could hardly be faulted for not abandoning the safety of the Human Race in those Prefecture Cities to rush back to aid Zhenjiang, could they?


    This was the Netherworld''s open strategem.


    Once the bow was drawn, there was no turning back; as long as the Zhenjiang forces were in the Prefecture Cities, they had no excuse to return and support Zhenjiang City before the chaos was quelled.


    "As for the cultivator reinforcements sent by the other Prefectural Cities, since the Teleportation Array leading to Zhenjiang City has been sealed, they were unable to teleport directly and had to rely on flight to hurriedly make their way here," Lu Yuan added.


    After pausing for a moment, he continued, "However, there is some good news. True Monarch Yuanming seems to have anticipated this situation and sent out requests for support to the Prefectural Cities of Qing State quite early.


    Unfortunately, it took too much time for the other Prefectural Cities to receive the Spirit Messages, make decisions, and dispatch cultivators, which resulted in them not arriving at Zhenjiang Prefecture before the Teleportation Array was sealed.


    The early dispatch of the request for aid Spirit Messages did save us about half a day, though. The first batch of powerful cultivators is estimated to arrive at Zhenjiang City in about half a day."


    "This Barrier is not only powerful but even prevents the pration of Divine Sense. Right now, no one can know the exact situation inside the city, which is truly frustrating!"


    Lu Yuan intensely despised the this Barrier forged by the Asura Blood Formation, yet he was helpless against it.


    "But Zhenjiang City is such a prosperous ce, with many cultivators. It shouldn''t be so weak as to not withstand half a day, right?" Lu Zhou tentativelyforted.


    "That''s the logic." Lu Yuan nodded.

 Chapter 110 Ximen Zi

    "We''re almost there." Xu Hao sighed deeply, his expression showing some exhaustion from the continuous battles they had fought.


    Having Lu Qingshan lead the team was undoubtedly the right decision.


    Despite their efforts to avoid conflicts along the way, some battles were simply unavoidable in the presence of demon beasts.


    Luckily, Lu Qingshan, an expert in handling these beasts, was with them.


    Under Lu Qingshan''s guidance, they handled the demon beasts with surprising ease.


    However, what amazed Xu Hao was that he felt Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword Technique seemed to be growing stronger as they proceeded.


    He shook his head, dismissing the thought.


    How could there be such an absurd phenomenon? It must be an illusion.


    "There is onest stretch to go. Let''s not drop our guard," Lu Qingshan warned the seemingly relieved members of the Tiger Squad. "Our task has only just begun. Stay sharp and don''t skimp on the Pills."


    While speaking, Lu Qingshan took out a Qi-Recovery Pill that helped restore Spiritual Power and consumed it.


    They had fought nearly ten battles, big and small, along the way. Even with the Returning Ruins Scripture doubling his Spiritual Power Recovery Speed, he still needed to consume Healing Pills continuously to maintain his condition.


    Despite the hardships, the gains were significant. Lu Qingshan looked at his skills panel, now showing his Flying Sword Technique at level 10, and could not help feeling astonished.


    Not counting the losses, Zhenjiang City was truly a once-in-a-century prime spot for getting experience.


    Such a high skill level had advanced his mastery of the Flying Sword Technique to perfection.


    The power he now unleashed with just a third of his strength wasparable to the full power of his Flying Sword Technique back when it was still at level 3.


    "What is that?!"


    Suddenly, Su Shu''s eyes widened, pointing at a spot far in the sky and eximing.


    The others followed the direction Su Shu was pointing.


    There was a massive vortex appearing in the distant blood-colored river in the sky.


    The edges of the vortex had a gigantic belt of Blood Qi emitting a faint red light, resembling a funnel, with other Blood Qi crazily rushing into this terrifyinglyrge funnel.


    The giant funnel was spinning rapidly, its speed making it dizzying to watch.


    Moreover, the previously indestructible sky suddenly rippled like water, turning into a glistening ck jade water wall.


    Your next chapter awaits on empire


    A massive ck hole eerily opened on the water wall, and a breakthrough appeared in the originally solid Barrier, with Blood Qi gushing out through this opening.


    But this was only a momentary vista; the next second, the ck hole quietly closed back up, the Barrier reverted to its original state, and the massive vortex instantly dissipated.


    As for the Blood Qi that had leaked out, although it was a significant loss to the river of Blood Qi, it was still bearable.


    That direction was where Qingrun Dantai had headed.


    Lu Qingshan was certain and said softly, "It must be Dantai Tower Master who has seeded, killing ck Impermanence and destroying the Formation Point controlled by ck Impermanence, thus causing substantial damage to the Asura Blood Formation.


    However, that is not enough. Such a Great Formation cannot be broken by destroying just one Formation Point. Only by destroying many can the Asura Blood Formation bepletely shattered.


    We also need to speed up now. Such a powerful Cultivator as ck Impermanence has already been killed by Dantai Tower Master, and we have yet to find a single Underworld Cultivator!"


    "You''re right, let''s pick up the pace!" Xu Hao said gravely.


    ...


    "It seems this first target is the right one," Xu Hao stared at the intact courtyard before him and said word by word.


    Zhong Ming nodded, "All the surrounding houses have turned into ruins, clearly ravaged by demon beasts.


    Yet, this cluster of buildings so close by remains untouched, without any trace of magicalbat."


    This sort of vition ofmon sense could only make sense if an Underworld Cultivator were hidden here.


    And this ce happens to be Ximen Zi''s Dao field, what a coincidence!"


    Ximen Zi was one of the three cultivators they were investigating, ostensibly a Loose Cultivator at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment.


    When inspecting through the breakthrough point of the ck Ice tform using Hei Wu''s incarnation, the Five Thunders, they discovered that although Ximen Zi and Five Thunders seemingly had no connection on the surface, there was a very peculiar point.


    The two of them had been purchasing their medicines from the same Spirit Medicine Pavilion for over a decade.


    Not only that, but five years ago, when Five Thunders switched to a different Spirit Medicine Pavilion to buy his pills, coincidentally, in the same year, Ximen Zi also abandoned his usual Pavilion and switched to the new one that Five Thunders was using.


    Of course, this connection is not too significant on its own, and suspecting Ximen Zi solely based on this would seem rather far-fetched.


    However, unfortunately, ording to the confession of an Evil Cultivator they captured, the first Jade Slip provided by the ck Ice tform also prominently listed Ximen Zi''s name.


    Taken together, the possibility that Ximen Zi was an Underworld Cultivator had be significantly substantial.


    Not worrying about rming their suspect, Su Shu released her Divine Sense, sweeping through the courtyard where Ximen Zi resided.


    "No one is around, nor is there anything abnormal!" Su Shu spoke solemnly.


    "As a Formation Point of the Asura Blood Formation, it would be hard to escape discovery over so many years without some means of concealment."


    Xu Hao was unsurprised, "We''llb through this courtyard, and whether there is any ghost will soon be crystal clear. Xiao Zhi, have Xiaolu perform a thorough check!"


    "Understood!" Xiao Zhi responded, pulling out a Qi-Consuming Pill and feeding it to the green-eyed weasel after petting its soft fur on its small head, "You will have to work hard today."


    The green-eyed weasel was not a powerful Demon Beast by any means, and its Earth Escape Technique was entirely reliant on its innate abilities, which also consumed a significant amount of energy.


    Along the way, the Tiger Squad had depended solely on the green-eyed weasel using its Earth Escape Technique to scout ahead, which had already pushed it to its limits.


    Asking the green-eyed weasel to perform the Earth Escape Technique again would indeed cause substantial damage to its foundation.


    On regr days, Xiao Zhi was exceedingly caring towards his Beast Pet, treating it almost like a Dao Companion.


    But given the current circumstances, Xiao Zhi could no longer afford to worry about his beloved pet.


    The green-eyed weasel quickly devoured the Qi-Consuming Pill and squeaked, merging with the earth in the next moment.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    It was only a little whileter.


    Thud, thud, thud!


    An extremely eerie sound suddenly transmitted to everyone''s ears.


    Bang!


    Subsequently, the ground in the courtyard suddenly swelled, forming a small mound from which a small brown object shot out.


    Xiao Zhi''s figure shed as he rushed forward to catch the small object, his expression agitated, "Xiaolu!"


    This object that had shot out was none other than the green-eyed weasel, but at this moment, its fur was scorched ck, and its breath was faint, clearly having sustained serious injuries.


    The green-eyed weasely in Xiao Zhi''s hands, its emerald-like eyes looking at Xiao Zhi as it weakly squeaked twice.


    Xiao Zhi''s expression changed, and he immediately activated his Defensive Artifact, enveloping his entire body in a red-glowing Protective Light Shield.


    Almost simultaneously, a strangely shaped Golden Wheel Magical Artifact, carrying a dense ck halo, fiercely struck Xiao Zhi''s Protective Light Shield.


    Crack!


    The shield emitted a sound of porcin shattering.


    Under the tremendous impact, Xiao Zhi''s body was sent flying back several steps, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from his mouth.


    Upon steadying himself, Xiao Zhi, disregarding his own injuries, immediately took out Healing Pills and quickly administered them to the green-eyed weasel, then stored it safely into his Spirit Beast Bag. Only then did he collect his senses and fix his gaze on the green-robed cultivator who hadunched a sneak attack with the Golden Wheel Magical Artifact.

 Chapter 111 The Sword Slashes the Spring Mud

    This was a male cultivator with a scar on his face, surrounded by five golden wheels. These wheels varied in size and weight, spinning unevenly, some upright and some askew, whirling as if they were flying.


    "Foundation Establishment Perfection!" Xiao Zhi''s expression turned solemn.


    The cultivator who appeared was none other than Ximen Zi, but his cultivation level was not at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment as the data suggested.


    However, everyone had anticipated this, so they remained quite indifferent.


    As long as it was still a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, he was not an opponent they couldn''t handle.


    ¡­


    Ximen Zi''s decisiveness far exceeded everyone''s expectations. He immediately chose tounch a surprise attack on the distracted Xiao Zhi, whose beast pet had been injured.


    If it weren''t for the green-eyed ferret warning Xiao Zhi, Ximen Zi''s surprise attack would have most likely seeded. Even though Xiao Zhi used his defensive artifact in haste, he still sustained considerable injury.


    Seeing that his surprise attack had not seeded, Ximen Zi did not show any signs of frustration, nor did he waste words with the cultivators from the Tiger Squad. Instead, heunched another attack.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    The five golden wheels aligned in a line, dragging a long ck tail me, shining with a dazzling ck light, like a python with sharp fangs, aiming a bite at Lu Qingshan.


    In mostbat situations, targeting a Sword Cultivator first was never the wrong choice.


    Thus, Ximen Zi immediately shifted from the now-alert Xiao Zhi to attack Lu Qingshan instead.


    Against the imposing Golden Wheel Magical Artifact charging towards him, Lu Qingshan remainedposed.


    Hey!


    A flicker of glowing light shed and shot forward¡ªit was Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword.


    Ximen Zi''s eyes sparkled with amazement, thinking to himself, "What a fast Flying Sword! This Sword Cultivator is no ordinary one."


    The speed of a Flying Sword has always been an important measure of its power.


    However, if a cultivator at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment thinks he can block my magical artifact with his Flying Sword, he is sorely underestimating me!


    Ximen Zi sneered inwardly, confident as his Golden Wheel Magical Artifact surged forward with the momentum of cavalry charging into battle toward Lu Qingshan.


    "Where is he?" Suddenly, Ximen Zi showed a look of shock and his eyes began shifting.


    It was then that he realized that at the moment the Flying Sword surged, the figure of Lu Qingshan had also disappeared.


    Whoosh!


    Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword was already close by, its sharp aura striking forth.


    "Trivial tricks!" No longer bothering to look for the now-missing Lu Qingshan, Ximen Zi summoned a round, brownish-yellow, crystal-clear bead above his head.


    The bead shone gloriously, emitting a ring of light, and instantly produced an earth-yellow zed shield, protecting Ximen Zi.


    This was his Defensive Artifact, the Spring Mud Bead! Your next read awaits at empire


    Made from various rare materials and refined over nearly ten years, he had repeatedly refined it, and now, when activated, it operated smoothly.


    Not to mention the attack from a mere initial-stage Sword Cultivator''s Flying Sword, even if a Sword Cultivator at the perfection of Foundation Establishment tried, it likely couldn''t break through his Spring Mud Bead in a single strike.


    What is this?!


    Ximen Zi''s pupils suddenly dted.


    He realized that the fierce Flying Sword was not acting as he had imagined; instead of attacking him directly, it stopped abruptly in front of him.


    Shortly thereafter, a young man with a stern face appeared.


    Formless Sword Escape!


    A close-range escape technique incredibly sharp for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    Especially since Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword Technique had already advanced to lv10, the terrifying power of the Formless Sword Escape was fully apparent.


    Lu Qingshan, holding the Crying Soul Sword, flicked his wrist, and the sword de reflected Ximen Zi''s profile, invoking a trace of chill in his heart.


    The next moment, a cold sh burst from the Crying Soul Sword, and Ximen Zi felt as though he fell into an abyss, his sea of consciousness sank, and he was dazed and disoriented.


    Soul Shock!


    The cultivators from the Tiger Squad, who had coordinated with Lu Qingshan in many battles, were definitely familiar with his technique of Soul Shock.


    Seizing the opportunity created by Lu Qingshan, those adept atbat weren''t going to easily miss it.


    By the time Ximen Zi recovered from his brief Soul Loss State, he was already confronted with several unavoidable Spirit Techniques shining upon him.


    Chii!


    The glow on the Spring Mud Bead intensified.


    But as the Protective Light Shield flickered continuously under the spell attack, it didn''t shatter.


    Good artifact!


    Lu Qingshan inwardly praised.


    Ximen Zi looked at Lu Qingshan with a slightly wary gaze.


    "A Divine Soul Attack, huh? Indeed, very hard to defend against, but sadly, my Spring Mud Bead is not so easily broken!" Ximen Zi''s voice dripped with mockery, aiming to agitate Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan paid him no heed.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Ximen Zi swiftly recalled the Golden Wheel Magical Artifact that had missed its mark.


    The five golden wheels spun rapidly, creating a halo-like effect; three targeted Lu Qingshan, while the other two were aimed at Xiao Zhi''s summoned demon beast and Xu Hao, who was preparing to close in.


    The first profound mystery of dealing with multiple attackers is always to focus one''s efforts on a single person, seeking to diminish their numbers in the shortest time.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ximen Zi was well-versed in this principle.


    His strategy was also crystal clear, focusing his power on Lu Qingshan.


    A Sword Cultivator, with only an Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, although his recent tactics were somewhat unexpected, they were odd but ultimately caused no significant harm to himself.


    Lu Qingshan stimted the vast Spiritual Power within his body.


    Under his control, the Spiritual Power surged toward the Crying Soul Sword in his hand like a tidal wave.


    And on the Crying Soul Sword, twoyers of dense rosy light had unknowingly formed.


    That was Su Shu''s Spirit Art.


    [Piercing Solidity]and [Fire Copse]!


    But these two Spirit Arts were not the most crucial.


    Lu Qingshan gazed deeply at the fleeting green light above the Spring Mud Pearl.


    In the recent multiple Techniques assaults, Su Shu had quietly deployed her own Magic Artifact, subtly adhering it to Ximen Zi''s protective shield.


    Using other people''s Spells for cover,bined with Su Shu''s Magic Artifact being just a fine Silver Needle, so small and subtle, Ximen Zi did not notice it.


    "Deploy the strongest attack, I have a way to briefly reduce the power of his Magic Artifact significantly!" This was a message sent by Su Shu.


    After transmitting the message to Lu Qingshan, Su Shu then focused on the sword in Lu Qingshan''s hand.


    She vividly remembered Lu Qingshan''s stunning disy of the Secret Sword Technique!


    Upon receiving the message from Su Shu, without any doubt, Lu Qingshan thrust out a sword strike, aiming it at the Spring Mud Pearl hovering above Ximen Zi''s head.


    The moment of close quarter shes, a small Silver Needle radiated a bright light, instantly permeating with a green glow, even the previously solid protective shield was tinged with green light and suddenly thinned into a membrane.


    Intense sparks sprang from the collision between the Crying Soul Sword and the protective shield, splendidly radiant.


    Two remnants of sword movements shed.


    Secret Sword: Wind sh!


    His most powerful burst technique at the moment.


    This time, the protective shield could no longer maintain its former might, crumbling like paper mache under Lu Qingshan''s sword.


    The Sword Momentum continued downward.


    Crrrack!


    A frosty line appeared on the Spring Mud Pearl.


    The sword split the Spring Mud.


    The once spherical Spring Mud Pearl was cut into two neat halves.


    The Crying Soul Sword, undiminished in its course, struck downward from above.


    Ximen Zi, like the Spring Mud Pearl, could not withstand a single blow, his frontal bone cleaved, blood sttering.


    The five howling Golden Wheels, due to their master''s death,nded vertically on the ground, making nging sounds.


    Ximen Zi, dead!


    Looking at the panel and seeing another two thousand Experience Points in hand, Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but feel, the guardian Cultivators indeed were Strong Cultivators.


    If it were a one-on-one fight, a Foundation Establishment Perfection Cultivator like Ximen Zi, he surely wouldn''t be able to defeat, and even breaking through Ximen Zi''s Defensive Artifact would be highly challenging.


    But with the assistance of the Tiger Squad Cultivators, Ximen Zi had be easily defeated.


    Seeing Ximen Zi''s unresigned death, it was clear how reluctant his heart was.


    But he couldn''t me him, as Su Shu''s trick of using fake for real was brilliantly yed.


    Blending her own Silver Needle Magic Artifact among several offensive Techniques, mixing the false with the real, Ximen Zi, in a state of Soul Loss, failed to see Su Shu activating the Magic Artifact and unless one was incredibly meticulous, it indeed was hard to detect Su Shu''s subtle action.


    Coupled with Lu Qingshan''s close proximity and powerful Explosive Power, it culminated in a remarkably sudden lethal attack.


    Of course, for Lu Qingshan, what was more important was that, although it was a coborative kill, the Experience alone was his to keep. Was there anything more opportunistic than this in the world?


    Seeing Ximen Zi''s bowed head, Su Shu couldn''t help but marvel in her heart.


    Her surprise had umted too much.


    "Thisd, too much, isn''t it? If I remember correctly, it was just about ten days ago that we taught him the Formless Sword Escape Technique."


    How long had it been, and he could master this technique to such an extent?


    Isn''t that beyond genius?"


    No wonder Su Shu was so astonished; Lu Qingshan''s speed in learning and mastering new Techniques was unimaginable. Before this, she had not only never seen such speed, she hadn''t even heard of it.


    Su Shu seemed to recall something else, "And when did his mastery of the Flying Sword Technique be so profound?


    Compared to when he joined the Tiger Squad a month ago, it is simply like heaven and earth.


    It couldn''t possibly be that he made such progress in this short time, could it? Perhaps he was hiding his real strength all along?"


    Biting her silver teeth, Su Shu felt indignant, "But however it might be, having Foundation Establishment Cultivation at such a young age, in addition to the Secret Sword and such adept Flying Sword skills, learning Techniques so rapidly, isn''t that a bit too exaggerated, making one feel utterly inferior?"


    "Only, thisd, although he has a smart mind and great potential, seems to have a bit of a heavy killing intent?" Remembering Lu Qingshan''s behavior during previous battles with Demon Beasts, where he often seemed to intentionally steal kills, such a thought surfaced in Su Shu''s mind.


    Lu Qingshan, unaware of the various thoughts in Su Shu''s mind, crisply sheathed his sword and walked over to where Ximen Zi had suddenly appeared.


    That was a dark entrance, leading to the underground.


    Lu Qingshan unconsciously clicked his tongue.


    Nothing original, always the underground for misdeeds, like a rat.


    Lu Qingshan automatically ignored the fact that the Knowledge Protector Tower was also hidden underground.


    Xu Hao, d in Golden Scale Armor, took the lead and entered.


    Given the caution of the Underworld Cultivators, such an important Formation Point wouldn''t be without arrangements.


    And exploring the rough and exhausting path naturally fell to the cultivators practicing Body Cultivation.

 Chapter 112 Awakening

    Xu Hao led the way, and everyone closely followed, walking nearly seventy feet through the dim underground passage.


    On both sides of the passage, the walls were engraved with profound and mysterious Taoist patterns.


    Lu Qingshan nced briefly and understood that these patterns were used to conceal Spiritual Power, no wonder Su Shu had swept the area several times with her Divine Sense and hadn''t discovered anything.


    However, now that they were inside the passage, these patterns naturally could no longer obstruct their Divine Sense.


    Lu Qingshan sent his Divine Sense downward and discovered that the passage had reached its end; the long-sought Formation Point was right in front of them.


    Readtest stories on empire


    As they were so close to their goal, Tiger Squad became even more cautious.


    They all understood that it was often at the moment of sess and rxation that one was most likely to fail and lose everything.


    Su Shu, feeling uneasy, added another Defensive Spirit Technique to Xu Hao.


    A massive stone door stood before everyone.


    This was a specially arranged stone door, which could have been easily opened with just a Dharma Seal if Ximen Zi were here.


    Their only option now was to forcefully break through the door.


    Li Zu activated his Spiritual Power, transforming it into arge hand, and pushed hard.


    The stone door did not budge.


    Xu Hao frowned, stepped forward without another care, took a deep breath, his muscles bulged and veins popped as he ced his palms on the stone door, channeling his Spiritual Power and pushed hard.


    Although Xu Hao''s arms were trembling, apanied by creaking noises, the stone door finally began to move under his immense strength, revealing a slight gap.


    Once the gap in the stone door was wide enough for a person to pass through, Xu Hao withdrew his hands and cautiously leaned in to probe.


    Before he could get a clear look at the situation inside, everyone heard an extremely piercing sound.


    Sizzling¡ª¡ª


    A shing purple light burst forth, and before Xu Hao could react, it struck him.


    Boom!


    Under the attack of the purple light, Xu Hao''s figure flew backward and crashed into the wall of the passage, where he finally came to a stop.


    Dust rose, and everyone felt a violent tremor in the passage.


    Xu Hao clutched his chest, supported himself on the floor, and struggled to get up.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "The people from the Netherworld are indeed cunning. If it weren''t for Su Shu''s Spirit Art, that attack would have certainly shattered my Golden Scales Body!" Xu Hao extended his right hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.


    Seeing that Xu Hao was not severely injured, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Let''s not move yet, I''ll try again to make sure there''s no further danger," Xu Hao stopped Zhong Ming who was about to act.


    Hearing this, Zhong Ming immediately halted.


    Xu Hao stood up, adjusted the somewhat boiling Qi-Blood inside him, and then resolutely stepped into the stone chamber again.


    This time, they encountered no further attacks.


    Seeing it was safe, Lu Qingshan and the others followed Xu Hao inside too.


    The interior space of the stone chamber was notrge and extremely simple, with not much inside; more precisely, there was only one thing.


    In the center of the stone chamber stood a stele surrounded by ck mist, engraved with numerous Taoist patterns, all of which glowed with a crimson blood light, like flowing blood, terrifying and shocking.


    In the center of the stele, where the mysterious Taoist patterns converged, a blood-red hexagonal crystal was embedded.


    Thump, thump, thump!


    The eerie sound they had heard earlier was emanating from this crystal.


    The sound felt very strange, like the beating of a heart at the junction of blood vessels, oppressive and unsettling.


    "This is one of the Formation Points of the Asura Blood Formation," Lu Qingshan murmured.


    "Shouldn''t we destroy it now?" Li Zu was eager to act but also apprehensive about proceeding rashly.


    "Hmm," Lu Qingshan nodded. This object was foreign even to him, and whether it possessed other mysteries, only time would tell.


    With Lu Qingshan''s consent, Li Zu had no more reservations, and a powerful Ice Arrow was shot towards the crimson crystal in the center of the stele.


    ¡ªUnknowingly, Lu Qingshan''s influence within this squad had be equivalent to that of Xu Hao.


    Clink¡ª


    The sound of shattering jade echoed.


    The blood-red crystal was exceedingly fragile; under the attack of Li Zu''s Ice Arrow Spell, it immediately shattered into pieces.


    The debris scattered on the ground, emitting a strange and unique fragrance.


    Lu Qingshan sniffed, feeling somewhat familiar.


    The scent seemed identical to the smell of the Blood Pool.


    And just as the crystal shattered, the mysterious thudding sound disappeared, and all the patterns on the stele instantly lost their luminescence, dimming down, surely not disying the marvels from before.


    Meanwhile, outside Zhenjiang City.


    A surge of ck light rose upon the Heavenly Curtain Barrier, rippling once before fading.


    "Here ites again," Lu Zhou said, unable to help himself at the sight, "This happens from time to time; I wonder what the issue is."


    "Great Elder," Lu Bei suddenly spoke.


    "Hmm?"


    "Have you noticed, this Barrier seems considerably weaker than before," Lu Bei carefully surveyed the Barrier before him, speaking slowly.


    "Hmm?!" Lu Zhou quickly projected his Divine Sense, roaming over the Barrier.


    "It really has weakened considerably from before!"


    Lu Bei spoke solemnly, "I noticed before, every time the ck light shes over the Barrier, it weakens a bit, though it wasn''t very apparent, so I wasn''t quite sure.


    Now, after several urrences, the gap in the power of the Heavenly Curtain Barrier from its initial state is visibly apparent."


    "Could it be?" Lu Zhou thought aloud.


    Lu Bei nodded, "Perhaps, someone inside the city is deciphering this Formation!"


    A hint of joy appeared on Lu Zhou''s face, "In that case, the situation inside the city might be much better than we anticipated!"


    Lu Bei was not as optimistic, "Perhaps, but regardless, the weakening of the Barrier''s power is always a good thing¡ªthe weaker the Barrier, the easier it is for those of us outside to break through it!"


    ...


    Li Zu''s mouth hung open in utter astonishment.


    "Is that it?"


    After much trouble, they had found a Formation Point, only to discover its unexpected fragility, leaving Li Zu somewhat incredulous.


    Clearly, Li Zu had entirely overlooked the effort spent in locating this Formation Point.


    Swoosh¡ª


    An eerie sound, akin to a rat scurrying, suddenly echoed in the quiet Stone Chamber.


    Everyone''s hairs stood on end as their alertness reached its peak.


    I knew it wouldn''t be that simple!


    While everyone was on high alert, Lu Qingshan was somewhat astonished as he nced toward his waist.


    That sound, could it havee from here?


    There, attached was a Spirit Beast Bag.


    "What a wonderful scent, what is this? Oh, it smells a bit familiar... Huh? Lu Qingshan, you haven''t found another Blood Pool, have you?" a mischievous voice rang out.

 Chapter 113 Shortsighted

    "Is this... the Great King of the Western Rats?"


    Hearing this familiar voice, Lu Qingshan was also startled.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The night before leaving Yuanshan City, the Great King of the Western Rats had taken the Blood Spirit Bead and stimted the bloodline power within it, falling into a state of awakening his bloodline.


    Seeing that the Great King of the Western Rats was continuously in a dazed state, Lu Qingshan simply ced him inside the Spirit Beast Bag.


    After arriving in Zhenjiang City, within just over a month''s time, many things had happened. Amidst the busy schedule, Lu Qingshan had even forgotten about the Great King of the Western Rats, who unexpectedly awoke at this time.


    Under the astonished gazes of everyone, a burst of silver light leaped from the Spirit Beast Bag at Lu Qingshan''s waist.


    When the silver light dispersed, everyone finally saw what was inside.


    It was a quite extraordinary-looking Demon Beast, but still vaguely resembled a giant rat.


    After the Great King of the Western Ratsnded on the ground, it squinted its eyes and twitched its nose, exhibiting an extremely human-like expression of delight.


    "What kind of Demon Beast is this?!" Xiao Zhi, who was knowledgeable about various Demon Beasts, was dumbstruck.


    Even Lu Qingshan felt extremely surprised.


    For the Great King of the Western Rats in front of them truly looked somewhat divine.


    Its fur had changed from the previous ck to an extremely striking silver-gray, and on the top of its head grew a tuft of blood-red mane that was drastically different from its other fur.


    Just by its appearance alone, the Great King of the Western Rats no longer retained the dark and sly demeanor typical of rodent Demon Beasts but had a spiritual aura that made it seem extraordinary and transcendent.


    Of course, from its appearance alone, the transformation of the Great King of the Western Rats was indeed drastic.


    But the moment it opened its mouth, its true nature was revealed, as a thievish aura hit them square in the face.


    "Eh? Where is this?" The Great King of the Western Rats nced around with its simrly silver-gray eyes, realizing that it was in a closed stone chamber and not the Blood Pool it had deeply desired.


    However, with just a quick flick of its eyes, the Great King of the Western Rats immediately spotted the Crystal Fragments scattered on the ground.


    In an instant, its eyes lit up, and with a quick dash of its legs, it excitedly scurried around the stone chamber and quickly collected all the Crystal Fragments.


    With a bountiful haul, the Great King of the Western Rats contentedly tossed a fragment into its mouth and chewed it with relish as if it were munching on nuts.


    After crunching noisily through a piece of the blood-red crystal remains, the Great King of the Western Rats sashayed its buttocks and forcefully shook its head, flinging around that tuft of blood-red mane, then arrogantly said, "Lu Qingshan, who are all these people, won''t you introduce them to your Great King?"


    Xiao Zhi twitched the corner of his mouth, "Lu Qingshan, your Demon Pet is quite unique..."


    Hearing Xiao Zhi''s words, the Great King of the Western Rats, who did not recognize its own kin, immediately burst into fury, "You''re a Demon Pet, your whole family is Demon Pets! Where do I, Lord Rat, look like a Demon Pet?"


    Lu Qingshan looked at the hopping mad Great King of the Western Rats with a half-smile, "Oh, getting bolder, aren''t we?"


    Lu Qingshan''s lingering authority made the Great King of the Western Rats instinctively stiffen its neck.


    No way, I''m now a Second Grade Demon Beast and have awakened new powers, it''s time to be the master, I must not be timid!


    The Great King of the Western Rats cheered itself up inwardly, and the next second, it boldly straightened its neck.


    "A lot can happen in three days, look at me with new eyes!


    Lu Qingshan, times have changed; I''m no longer the little demon I once was, please treat me with some respect!"


    Knock!


    A crisp explosion sounded.


    King West Mouse clutched his head, looking very wronged.


    The Crying Soul Sword, like a slithering snake, wandered around Lu Qingshan, causing the stone chamber to flicker brightly and darkly with its spiritual light.


    Lu Qingshan had just wielded the flying sword, tapping the tip of the Crying Soul Sword on King West Mouse''s head.


    This casual lesson for King West Mouse had amazed the cultivators of the Tiger Squad.


    Disciplining King West Mouse with a flying sword without causing substantial harm demonstrated Lu Qingshan''s precise control over his own strength and his mastery in handling the flying sword.


    Such skill in flying sword techniques was generally seen only among veteran Sword Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment level, and who would have thought that such a young man could possess such a skill?


    "Flying Sword!" King West Mouse couldn''t believe it, staring at the Crying Soul Sword that flicked like a Spirit Snake''s tongue, finally snapping out of his inted state.


    Once he calmed down, King West Mouse finally noticed something that he had overlooked.


    "You''ve reached Foundation Establishment too..."


    King West Mouse''s small eyes bulged, his fingers trembling as they pointed at Lu Qingshan.


    He clearly remembered that before he fell asleep, Lu Qingshan was still a Qi Refining Cultivator.


    Thanks to the awakening of his Bloodline Power, he had advanced to a Second Grade Demon Beast as if cheating, without needing any cultivation. He had nned to make a grand disy of power to make up for the humiliation he had felt in front of Lu Qingshan.


    But who would have thought that Lu Qingshan had also be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?


    How could this be possible? Lu Qingshan wasn''t like him, able to enhance his Cultivation Realm through Bloodline Power. How could he advance to Foundation Establishment in such a short time?


    I don''t ept this!


    "Master, I have missed you so much; it''s been a long time!" King West Mouse eximed as he leaped forward and hugged Lu Qingshan''s left leg, his face full of fawning.


    Thirty years pass as the river flows east, then west; don''t bully the poor because they''re young. Once I advance to Third Grade, I''ll reim my honor. It''s not being cowardly, it''s that a true man knows when to bend and when to stretch!


    King West Mouseforted himself inwardly, instantly moved by his own impassioned thoughts, his mouse eyes slightly moist.


    Lu Qingshan kicked away King West Mouse, who clung like an ornament, and asked, "What are those crystal fragments for?"


    He had seen King West Mouse collecting the crystal fragments as if they were treasures.


    King West Mouse became wary, his eyes flitting as he muttered, "They... they''re not of much use..."


    Experience tales at empire


    Lu Qingshan saw right through King West Mouse''s hesitation. "Spill it, I won''t take them from you, otherwise, hehe."


    With Lu Qingshan''s assurance, King West Mouse rxed and hastily exined, "I don''t know exactly what they are, but I felt a substance simr to the Blood Spirit Bead, which is extremely helpful for awakening the bloodline inside me.


    However, the energy contained in these fragments is far superior to that of the Blood Spirit Bead, so I only dare to consume a small piece at a time."


    After a moment''s thought, King West Mouse pointed to the blood-red mane on its head and sneaked in, "But, probably only I can consume these fragments. It''s my special ability."


    "Oh?" Lu Qingshan looked King West Mouse up and down several times.


    Advancing from First Grade to Second Grade, an entire rank''s promotion, even the appearance had undergone such a radical change; naturally, King West Mouse had also awakened some new abilities.

 Chapter 114 The Deluge

    ```


    ...


    A silvery-gray light flickered, and the ethereal figure of the Western Rat King appeared before everyone in the Tiger Squad.


    "Lu Qingshan, your demon pet is quite extraordinary, indeed. Not only can it speak the humannguage without having transformed, but it also moves through the monster-infested Zhenjiang City as if it were t ground..." Xiao Zhi couldn''t help but click his tongue in wonder.


    Lu Qingshan let out a lightugh, neither confirming nor denying.


    After advancing to a Second Grade demon beast, the Western Rat King not only awakened new talents, but its existing abilities also enhanced.


    And once it used its enhanced Sneaky Talent, unless the Western Rat Kingunched an attack, it would almost remain undetected by the demon beasts of Zhenjiang City.


    Most importantly, one of the newly awakened talents of the Western Rat King allowed it to sensitively perceive spiritual objects that were beneficial to its own bloodline evolution nearby.


    This perception couldn''t be blocked by formations or runes, because it was an instinct emanating from its bloodline.


    And the blood-red crystals in the Formation Points of the Asura Blood Formation just happened to be such spiritual objects.


    For the Tiger Squad, this was undoubtedly terrific news.


    As a matter of course, relying on its unique abilities, the Western Rat King became an essential member of the Tiger Squad''s mission.


    The Western Rat King nced at Lu Qingshan and shook its little head at the crowd, saying, "No."


    It did not sense the presence of the Asura Blood Formation Points nearby.


    Lu Qingshan''s brow furrowed, "It seems our second target is not an Underworld Cultivator."


    "After all, the intelligence was gathered in haste; it is inevitable to miss something. Let''s not dy any further and quickly head to the third target''s location!"


    Xu Hao looked up at the barrier, which appeared to have weakened a fraction, and said, "It seems that the other squads are also making smooth progress."


    Lu Qingshan didn''t respond; he had a nagging feeling that things would not be so simple.


    If the Underworld had started the Corpse Puppet Chaos in advance, then how could they not adjust ordingly in the face of the continuous destruction of the Asura Blood Formation Points?


    "Why are there so many demon birds gathering over there?" Li Zu suddenly spoke up, interrupting Lu Qingshan''s thoughts.


    Lu Qingshan looked up to see a swarm of demon birds gathered in the sky not far away.


    "What ce is that?!" Lu Qingshan''s heart jolted.


    He had been to the ce where the demon birds were gathering before.


    ...


    ...


    Pfft!


    The ck Feather Eagle''s ws, shining with a metallic luster, like sharp iron hooks, easily pierced through the flesh and bones of the monkey-faced demon crow, turning its heart into mush.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Hiss!


    Another p of its wings, like the sh of a knife, immediately split several demon crows surrounding it into pieces.


    One after another, demon crows fell from the sky.


    Already, the ground was littered with the mangled corpses of monkey-faced demon crows.


    Yet, despite having killed so many demon crows, their number in the sky showed no signs of diminishing.


    More terrifying was that the ughter by the ck Feather Eagle seemed to have triggered the ferocity of the crows.


    Facing the death of theirpanions, these monkey-faced demon crows became even more desperate, fearlessly diving towards the ck Feather Eagle.


    Streaks of Hei Mang shot out from the mouths of these demon crows, striking against the ck feathers of the ck Feather Eagle.


    ng! ng! ng! Find your next read on empire


    ```


    The nging of metal was ear-piercing, with sparks flying in every direction.


    Protected by their ck feathers, the ck Feather Eagles were not significantly harmed by the attacks of these First Grade demon beasts.


    But these demonic crows had grown cunning, and many ck shes targeted the unprotected vital areas of the ck Feather Eagles, such as their eyes.


    Faced with this overwhelming assault of ck shes, the ck Feather Eagles inevitably found themselves stretched too thin to defend every attack.


    One such ck sh struck the pupil of a ck Feather Eagle, which started bleeding profusely from the corner of its eye¡ªa conspicuous sight.


    Birds are inherently fierce, and even though they had been tamed as demon pets, it couldn''t change the nature of their bloodline.


    The injury,bined with the gradually umting wounds on its body, incited the beast''s ferocity.


    The ck Feather Eagle raised its head and let out a piercing cry, madness flickering in its blood-soaked eyes. With a single beat of its wings, it whipped up a violent gale and threw itself into the throng of Monkey-faced Demon Crows.


    On the ground, there was an equallyrge and diverse assembly of demon beasts.


    their eyes brimmed with bloodlust and insanity.


    Cai Heng''s other demon pet, the Rampaging Ape, held a ck iron rod and fought like a skilled Body Cultivator among the horde of demon beasts, charging left and right unpredictably.


    The iron rod was incredibly forceful, leaving behind a trail of blood and gore.


    Bang!


    With a swing of his iron rod, the Rampaging Ape smashed it into the skull of a Demon Wolf, which instantly burst open, spraying a mixture of brain matter and blood¡ªthe nauseating sight of white and red intertwined.


    Although the Rampaging Ape was dominantly fierce, his body was already covered in wounds, and the situation was grim.


    "Grandfather, the number of these ferocious beasts is increasing..." Cai Xingchao said, supporting the pale-faced Cai Heng who was bleeding continuously from the mouth, his voice tinged with panic.


    Shiyu Ling controlled a Fragrant Handkerchief Magic Artifact, vigntly scanning her surroundings, fearing that a demon beast might suddenly leap out from an unexpected quarter.


    Cai Heng had just suffered a severe injury from an ambush by a demon beast that was adept at hiding.


    Most of a Beast Cultivator''sbat poweres from carefully nurtured beast pets, making their personalbat power seem somewhatcking inparison.


    Cai Heng looked at his two demon pets struggling in battle amidst the beasts and felt a sense of helplessness.


    At this moment, Cai Manor was like a small boat, and these demon beasts were like tides, relentlessly pounding against this tiny vessel, threatening to overturn it at any moment.


    The numerousmoners sheltered within the manor could also see the direness of the situation, their faces filled with despair, and some couldn''t contain their fear and broke down crying.


    "We can''t hold out any longer, cough cough..." Cai Heng barely got two words out before he couldn''t help but cover his mouth and cough lightly. When he lowered his hand, his palm was stained with a bright red patch of blood.


    Cai Xingchao''s eyes were red, and he gritted his teeth, "Grandfather, why can they be so heartless, so cowardly, watching their kin being ughtered without lifting a finger to help..."


    As the Pacification Commissioner''s Steward, Cai Heng used to maintain numerous Cultivators and servants in the manor, a force not to be underestimated.


    But as soon as Cai Heng decided to shelter manymoners, attracting arge number of demon beasts to surround the manor, some Cultivators within began to stealthily flee.


    Discovering this situation, Cai Heng did not try to keep these Cultivators, allowing them to choose their own fate freely.


    Who would have thought that in the end, only a meager handful of three or four Cultivators chose to stay behind in the manor.


    If everyone was willing to stay and work together, perhaps there could''ve been a chance to hold back these demon beasts, given Grandfather''s ability to withstand them for so long on his own.


    Thinking this, Cai Xingchao involuntarily clenched his fists.


    Cai Heng seemed to sense Cai Xingchao''s resentment and patted his hand, softening his voice tofort him, "Xingchao, in the midst of a deluge, some choose to stand up while others are overwhelmed by the fear of oing waves.


    There''s no need to ridicule the passionate as foolish or castigate those who flee in fear as cowards. In the end, we''re all just droplets in the flood."


    "But..." Cai Heng, nearing the end of his life, had a drifting gaze, as if he had thought of something but ultimately let out a sigh, "When the whole city is submerged, where will they have left to flee to?"


    Cai Heng was unaware of the Asura Blood Formation''s existence, nor did he know that his act of sheltering themon people was dying the formation of the Blood River, a genuinely correct choice that could save the city.


    All he knew was that when the flood surged forward, if everyone chose to flee and no one stood up to build the levee, then there would inevitablye a day when there would be no ce left in the world to call home.

 Chapter 115 Chapter Wind Slash

    The cries of mortals, their sobs, their wails, the sounds of demon beasts chewing, tearing flesh, a cacophony of noises melded into a scene of purgatory.


    Even the mighty Violent Ape and the ck Feather Eagle could not withstand a horde of such immense size and fearless ferocity.


    In the end, they couldn''t stop these frenzied demon beasts.


    Once the bloodthirsty demon beasts entered the Cai residence, they rampaged like wolves among sheep, savagely preying and gnawing on the mortals, leaving the ground strewn with fresh blood and dismembered corpses.


    Cai Heng could only look on at this hellish scene on earth, feeling powerless despite his desire to help.


    Cai Xingchao and his teacher Yu Ling were closely guarding Cai Heng.


    Many demon beasts around them were eyeing them greedily.


    Their bloodthirsty instincts, deriving from their bloodlines, allowed them to sense that the flesh of these three seemed even more sulent.


    However, Cai Heng''s earlier disy of divine might still left them with some trepidation.


    Whoosh!


    Finally, unable to restrain itself any longer, one demon beast, its body shing with ck light, was the first to pounce.


    Cai Heng summoned his magic artifact, a fan emitting a crimson glow.


    With a gentle wave of the fan, a burst of mes sprang forth from within it and shot towards the oing Demon Wolf.


    Boom!


    Under the assault of the mes, the Demon Wolf''s fur caught fire instantly, its form crashing to the ground, emitting agonized howls as it writhed and struggled on the earth.


    Even though he was severely injured, Cai Heng found it easy to deal with these First Grade demon beasts.


    Howl!


    Though the Demon Wolf had fallen instantly, its act seemed to have blown the charge for the others; the next moment, countless shadows pounced, engulfing the three of them.


    ...


    "What?!" Su Shu eximed in shock at the sight of the residence now a den of demon beasts.


    Lu Qingshan''s expression was as dark as still waters.


    It was as if a grand banquet was being held, with these various demon beasts gleefully sharing in the feast of mortals, irrespective of gender, age, or status.


    Screech!


    A mournful cry came from the sky, followed by arge flying creature plummeting down.


    With just a nce, Lu Qingshan recognized the origin of the fallen bird.


    The ck Feather Eagle, Cai Heng''s powerful Beast Pet.


    Under the relentless attack of the Monkey-faced Demon Crows, even the imposing ck Feather Eagle was exhausted and fell from the sky.


    Witnessing the ck Feather Eagle lose its ability to resist, the Monkey-faced Demon Crows emitted a cacophony of unpleasant screeching sounds the next moment, swarming over andpletely overwhelming the ck Feather Eagle.


    Screech! Screech!


    The ck Feather Eagle made itsst stand, pping its wings, knocking several Demon Crows off itself.


    But merely in a moment, the ck Feather Eagle''s angry screeches grew weaker and weaker until finally, there was no sound at all.


    As Lu Qingshan witnessed this, he remained silent.


    Stay connected through empire


    Su Shu nced at Lu Qingshan and carefully probed, "Qingshan, do you know someone here?"


    Lu Qingshan looked at the Azure Water Bracelet magic artifact on his wrist, a gift from Yu Ling and her son, and the memory of that somewhat stubborn old man, Cai Heng, surfaced in his mind; he nodded slowly.


    Even though his encounter with Cai Heng and Yu Ling could only be described as a brief encounter, Lu Qingshan always had a favorable impression of them.


    But faced with such a massive horde of demon beasts, even if he wanted to help, there was no way he could.


    After all, he was merely a Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator.


    Heaving a deep sigh, Lu Qingshan said, "Let''s go, don''t bother with other matters now, the mission is what''s important."


    "Lu Qingshan, it looks like there are people trying to make their way over here," the eagle-eyed Rat King suddenly spoke out.


    Among the demon beast horde, four individuals were cutting through the tide-like swarm of beasts, making a breakout towards their direction.


    Two men, one woman, and a ck ape.


    The ck ape, wielding an iron rod magic artifact, led the way, with the two men and the woman close behind.


    The ck ape was covered in wounds, its whole body drenched in blood, some from its own injuries, some from the demon beasts.


    Blood pooled into rivulets, continually dripping down from the ape''s fur.


    "It''s Cai Heng and Yu Ling with her son," Lu Qingshan recognized the identity of the arrivals quickly.


    "Wait!" Xu Hao also called out to stop those ready to leave, ncing at Lu Qingshan before saying, "Let''s wait a moment to see the situation. If they can make it through, we''ll go and save them."


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback.


    "A cultivator willing to help mortals is someone I would also like to rescue if possible," Xu Hao exined.


    ...


    Cai Heng drove his magic artifact, defending against beast attacks from both sides, while the Violent Ape led the charge at the front, as the three of them steadily fought their way out.


    Although the fierce beasts were fearless, they ultimately acted on instinct.


    They didn''t organize to besiege Cai Heng''s trio; only the demon beasts around them would pounce to hinder their escape.


    Cai Heng''s eyes were as somber as dead ash, despair overwhelming him as the ck Feather Eagle met its end at the jaws of the fierce beasts, and the mortals he protected failed to escape the ughter¡ªall these events left him utterly hopeless.


    ```


    He never imagined that these fierce beasts would gather in such growing numbers.


    Feeling his spiritual power nearly depleted, Cai Heng bit his teeth and took out a pill to consume.


    The Blood Coagtion Pill, which exchanged a burst of immense strength for the burning of one''s essence blood.


    Already of advanced age and nearing the end of his life, his essence blood was nearly spent.


    For an average cultivator, recovering from the effects of a Blood Coagtion Pill would require a long period of rest, but for him, it demanded his life.


    Once the effects of the pill subsided, he knew he would likely die right there.


    However, by burning his essence blood, Cai Heng seemed to be revitalized, hisbat power surged, and he sped up his breakout attempt once again.


    ...


    The Violent Ape at the forefront let out a feeble whimper, suddenly stumbled, and fell to the ground.


    It was too tired.


    Ever since the demon beasts began their assault, it hadn''t stopped fighting, and even for a beast of great physical strength, this exceeded its limits.


    Long before, its hands had already started to tremble, hardly able to grip its iron rod, relying solely on willpower and determination to keep going until now.


    Now, it was so exhausted that it could hardly stand.


    Leaning on its iron staff, the Violent Ape gasped for air, struggling to keep its body from copsing, but facing the demon beasts that lunged at it with gaping maws, it no longer had the energy to resist.


    All it could do was look at Cai Heng with bloodshot eyes, filled with a violent gaze that brimmed with reluctance.


    In the next instant, the frenzied demon beasts overwhelmed and devoured it.


    Cai Heng''s eyes were about to burst from their sockets, filled with murky tears of sorrow.


    The Violent Ape had been a beast pet given to him by his father when he was but a child.


    At that time, the Violent Ape was a newborn cub his father had taken from a beastir.


    They grew up together.


    He had gone from a carefree child to a Foundation Establishment cultivator with the weight of years upon him.


    And it had grown from a demon beast cub to a top Second Grade demon beast.


    Theirpanionship over so many years was so profound it even surpassed that of kin by ordinary standards.


    Now, as the Violent Ape died in battle for him, he couldn''t even preserve its entire body, which left Cai Heng with an unbearable grief in his heart.


    But under these circumstances, Cai Heng could only suppress his immense pain to protect Su Shu and her son as they continued their escape.


    They were almost safe!


    Seeing that the number of surrounding demon beasts had significantly decreased, Cai Heng felt a slight sense of relief.


    Aooo!


    Suddenly, apanied by a howl, an enormous Demon Wolf emerged from nowhere and pounced toward them.


    Cai Heng''s breathing hitched.


    The approaching Demon Wolf was a Second Grade Rank beast!


    Already on hisst legs, Cai Heng had lost the ability to contend with a Second Grade demon beast after the deaths of his two beast pets.


    And Xu Hao and Cai Xingchao, being mere Qi Refining Cultivators, had even less capability to stop this Second Grade Demon Wolf.


    The oue seemed all but certain.


    ...


    Whoosh!


    A sh of sword light apanied by a clear ringing of a sword from emerged.


    What is this?!


    In the throes of despair, Cai Heng had no time to react before seeing the figure of a youth appear where the sword light hadnded.


    The youth held his sword, its spiritual essence rampaging, as it cleaved toward the Demon Wolf''s head.


    Cai Heng''s eyes widened, a spark of life shing through their otherwise stagnant depths.


    As the youth''s sword struck the Demon Wolf''s jawbone, in the brief moment of their sh, he distinctly saw two shadowy figures mysteriously emerge on the sword.


    This sword technique, this scene, he had heard of it from his father when he was young.


    It was a family secret sword technique from the Cai Family that hadn''t been mastered in many generations.


    Secret Sword: Wind sh!


    Under the might of this sword technique, the Demon Wolf''s jaws were severely deformed, and at the same time, the enormous spiritual power on the sword invaded the Demon Wolf''s mouth with a domineering force, shredding through its internal organs.


    The Demon Wolf perished instantly.


    The youth turned around.


    "Lu Brother!" Cai Xingchao eximed in shock.


    The unexpected savior who had rescued them from the maw of the Demon Wolf was none other than Lu Qingshan, who had arrived using the Formless Sword Escape technique.


    Lu Qingshan nodded at the three of them but had no time for further exnation. "Go!"


    They had not yet made a sessful escape.


    "Protect Lu Qingshan!" Not far away, Xu Hao saw this and maintained a calm expression,manding sternly.


    ```N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 116 Change Formation

    ....


    Originally close to a sessful breakthrough, the trio led by Cai Heng, with the cover from Tiger Squad and the protection of Lu Qingshan, managed to shake off the crazed Demon Beasts and moved to a ce of safety.


    The three, having escaped from danger, all felt as though they had survived a disaster. However, the loss of essence blood caused by Cai Heng''s consumption of the Blood Coagtion Pills was irreversible.


    Their steadfast belief in protecting themoners was destroyed by the Demon Beasts, and their deeply cherished Beast Pets had all been killed in action, while the young mother and child had only just managed to escape the peril.


    Cai Heng, weak of breath, had not much left to hold onto, and only one thought remained in his heart.


    His clouded eyes, filled with hope, looked towards Lu Qingshan, "The sword technique you used just now, was it Wind sh?"


    His initial reason for passing the Wind sh technique to Lu Qingshan was not only to show his gratitude but also because he saw Lu Qingshan''s extraordinary talent and hoped that the technique would shine even brighter in his hands.


    But ording to his thinking, even if Lu Qingshan were to truly master Wind sh, it would be something that would happen many yearster, something he was certain he would not live to see.


    Yet, he could never have imagined that in less than a month, he would actually witness the Wind sh technique from Lu Qingshan''s own hands.


    Lu Qingshan gave a gentle nod to Cai Heng, who was already at the end of his life.


    "Good! Very good! I never expected to witness the Wind sh technique of my family right before I die... I die without regrets... die without regrets..." Cai Heng couldn''t help but let out a heartyugh.


    What concept is a Sword Cultivator who can master a secret sword technique within a month?


    Cai Heng already had a clear answer in his heart.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Sword Dao True Seed!


    In Lu Qingshan''s hands, the family''s Wind sh technique would surely bloom with even more splendid radiance, and that was the true reason for his joy.


    Cai Heng''sughter grew weaker and weaker until finally, there was no sound at all.


    His dry and frail hand fell limply, and the weak breath fadedpletely.


    "Grandfather..." Cai Xingchao held onto Cai Heng''s gradually cooling hand, unable to utter a single word.


    ....


    "Big brother Lu, how did these fierce beastse about?" Cai Xingchao bit his lip tightly, his eyes filled with towering hatred.


    The bashful youth from before, that very young face, was now covered with a resolute expression.


    This was the growth brought about by hardship.


    "The Netherworld," Lu Qingshan uttered slowly.


    "The Netherworld... The Netherworld..." Cai Xingchao kept repeating these two words, as if trying to deeply engrave this name into his mind.


    To save them, Tiger Squad had already dyed much time.


    Although Xu Hao and the others did not urge them, Lu Qingshan was aware of the urgency of the situation and dared not dy any longer.


    He sighed softly and took out two Talismans from the Storage Ring to hand to the equally red-eyed young mother.


    "These are Concealment Talismans. If you''re careful, they should be able to keep you safe. Hide well, do not engage directly with these Demon Beasts. If all goes well, it won''t be long before Zhenjiang City returns to how it was."


    Patted Cai Xingchao''s hand gently, Lu Qingshan said softly, "Take good care of your mother."


    ...


    In a hidden location within Zhenjiang City.


    Complicated lines inteced into an extremely mysterious formation map, with hundreds of dark crystals embedded at various nodal points throughout the map.


    Standing within the formation map was a burly middle-aged male cultivator.


    "Lord Asura, six more auxiliary formation points have been damaged," Rakshasa reported incredulously to the middle-aged male cultivator. "The Asura Blood Formation consists of twelve main formation points, and one has already been destroyed, out of the three hundred and sixty auxiliary formation points, thirty-seven have been sabotaged.


    But with the city in such chaos at this moment, how exactly did the cultivators of the defensive tower manage to find the locations of the Asura Blood Formation''s formation points?"


    Asura''s expression was gloomy, "Had we not made a decisive move and acted immediately, our century-long n would have already been a wasted effort by now, wouldn''t it?"


    Rakshasa''s withered face looked extremely ugly, and he expressed his shame, "Lord Asura is astute, it is my fault for underestimating the defensive tower." Experience new stories on empire


    The Netherworld had spent an unimaginable amount of effort nning for this rebirth of the Demon Race''s scion.


    Not to mention the century spent infiltrating a prefecture, or the suppressed grievances during that time, just the demon beasts all over the city alone were the result of countless resources they had spent to cultivate.


    These demon beasts were originally just ordinary demon beasts native to the territories of the Human Race.


    They exhausted all efforts, either through subjugation or purchase, to amass such arge number of demon beasts.


    At the activation of the Asura Blood Formation, they used the unique methods of the Demon Race to stir the inherent instincts for ughter and wildness within these demon beasts, turning them into monstrous beasts.


    As these monstrous beasts fell into a state of irrational frenzy, they were stealthily released throughout the city, madly attacking and devouring any humans in sight, creating one bloodbath after another.


    Asura brushed his sleeve, "How the defensive tower found the formation points is no longer important, and we don''t have the luxury of time to delve into such meaningless matters.


    What''s crucial now is how to stop the defensive tower''s formation-breaking efforts."


    "Lord Asura, at least forty percent of the formation points of the Asura Blood Formation must be destroyed for the Great Formation to copse.


    And now, the Blood Qi we have gathered has already reached the pre-determined fifty percent. At this rate, we will certainly be able toplete the rebirth of the Demon Race''s scion before the Asura Blood Formation is broken, so there seems to be no need for excessive worry," Rakshasa interjected.


    Asura gave Rakshasa a scornful look, his tone chilling, "Only fools would harbor such wishful thinking. The closer we are to sess, the more cautious we must be.


    I will not allow a momentary oversight to result in a total loss at the veryst step."


    If this operation fails, the Human Race, now forewarned, would never stumble in the same ce twice, and the difficulty of making a move then would be exponentially harder.


    Thus, for the Netherworld, this n could only seed, not fail.


    "Issue themand to have the cultivators at the main formation points withdraw from those points and move to the auxiliary formation points," Asura said, his eyes shadowed with darkness.


    Rakshasa''s heart skipped a beat, intimidated by Asura''s boldness, "Won''t the main formation points then be left in an unguarded state of vulnerability?"


    The significance of the main formation points far exceeded the auxiliary ones; if their number of damages surpassed half, even if all auxiliary formation points remained intact, the Asura Blood Formation would copse.


    Asura''s face was expressionless as he said in a deep voice, "Throughout this period, more auxiliary formation points have been continuously destroyed by the defensive tower.


    Yet the main formation points have not suffered any attacks since the first one was breached early on.


    What does this signify? It indicates that aside from the first main formation point, the defensive tower''s intelligence does not cover the remaining main formation points!"


    "If that''s the case, then simply leave the main formation points empty and concentrate our forces on the auxiliary formation points, to catch the defensive tower byplete surprise."


    "Yes!" Even though Rakshasa internally felt that Asura''s idea was overly risky, he dared not defy Asura''s orders, and could only respond respectfully.

 Chapter 117 Golden Core Cultivator

    The once bustling streets are now dyed with fresh blood, and from time to time, one can still see ghastly white bones and reddish chunks of flesh.


    It''s an image that will suffocate anyone at a nce.


    Even Cultivators used to grand scenes, upon seeing such a horror, felt endless dread and sorrow in their hearts.


    "These beasts!" Xiao Zhi couldn''t help but curse softly.


    ...


    The Tiger Squad moved very quickly.


    After bidding farewell to Master You Ling''s mother and son, they took nearly an hour to pass through three massive areas of ruins that had been reduced to rubble.


    The final target location finally came into view.


    Before them was a courtyard whose houses had long been destroyed by monstrous beasts, leaving behind only debris and severely damaged broken walls.


    Seeing this, Li Zu frowned, "It looks like we''re going toe up empty-handed, just like before."


    The monsters pervading the city were all from the hands of the Underworld Cultivators; although these beasts had fallen into a state of frenzied insanity. The members of the Tiger Squad had a good idea¡ªthe Underworld Cultivators must have some means of avoiding the beasts'' attacks.


    This could be deduced from the fact that the courtyard under Ximen Zi''s responsible Formation Point was leftpletely intact.


    For others, moving around in Zhenjiang City at this time meant proceeding with extreme caution, but for Underworld Cultivators, it was like fighting on home ground, where they moved unimpeded.


    "Not necessarily. We''ve made such big moves, and our victories have been quite remarkable.


    Given the cunning of Underworld Cultivators, after realizing that we are seeking to destroy the Great Formation Points, they would certainly not reveal such obvious ws as before.


    They might even deliberately destroy their own courtyards to mislead us, after all, the Formation Points are hidden away in stone chambers underground," Xu Hao spoke up.


    Lu Qingshan nodded in agreement with Xu Hao''s opinion.


    If it was as Xu Hao said, and the Cartographer Cultivators chose to change their tactics in time, creating illusory appearances to conceal themselves, then the difficulty of investigation by Zhi Shou Lou would undoubtedly increase significantly.


    However, for the Tiger Squad, this didn''t have much impact.


    Because, at this time, their teamposition contained an additional unexpected element.


    Lu Qingshan''s gaze shifted to the Rat King of the West.


    With one cold nce from Lu Qingshan, the Rat King of the West shuddered, and very consciously, his figure shed, quickly scurrying through the ruins filled with broken walls and wreckage.


    Suddenly, the Rat King of the West stopped, shook its head on the spot as if confirming something, and quickly ran back, nodding its little head at everyone, "There''s a situation!"


    The Cultivators of the Tiger Squad looked at each other and found that the eyes of the others also twinkled with a bit of excitement.


    "Let''s hit them with a surprise attack when they least expect it!" Lu Qingshan made the decision.


    ....


    Within the secretive stone chamber underground.


    A stele enveloped in ck mist stood at the center of the Formation Map, with blood-red Taoist Patterns flickering on it.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Almost sixty percentplete, the Blood River was about to take form!


    Daoist Jian Mu watched the blood-red crystal at the center of the stele, his eyes filled with fanaticism. However, for some reason, he kept subconsciously ncing at the dark corners of the stone chamber.


    Boom!


    An immense explosion awakened Daoist Jian Mu from his frenzy.


    The stone door of the stone chamber, extremely thick, had turned into dozens of pieces of rubble, flying in all directions and striking the walls, creating a continuous tter.


    Daoist Jian Mu was shocked to his core, his eyes wide as he looked at where the stone door had once been.


    Five Cultivators, each with a distinctive presence, appeared in his field of vision.


    It was the Tiger Squad.


    Using the Rat King of the West''s ability to sense the blood-red crystal, they had silently approached the location of the Formation Point outside the stone chamber without making any noise.


    Li Zu, as a Dharma Cultivation, wielded his own Magic Artifact and took the lead inunching an attack that broke through the stone door.


    In the instant the door was breached, before Daoist Jian Mu could make sense of the situation, a Flying Sword shot out from Lu Qingshan.


    A dazzling Sword Light appeared in the pupils of Daoist Jian Mu.


    Daoist Jian Mu reacted swiftly, summoning a round shield that appeared to be made of interwoven vines to meet the assaulting Flying Sword.


    Hmm!


    Lu Qingshan''s normally unstoppable Flying Sword, upon hitting this Vine Shield, was as if a fist had been thrust into cotton, causing not even a ripple.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes held a subtle expression, as with his experience, a single collision was enough for him to understand the profound mystery of the Vine Shield.


    It was a method that diffused the force, distributing the attack of the Flying Sword across the entire shield.


    Unless the power of the Flying Sword was great enough to instantly destroy the Vine Shield, with this magic artifact, Dharma Cultivation could easily handle Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword.


    This Vine Shield magic artifact was extremely effective against Sword Cultivators who excelled in singling out a target.


    The best way to deal with such a magic artifact would be the wide-area spell attacks of Dharma Cultivation.


    Despite his attacks making no headway, Lu Qingshan revealed no hint of discouragement.


    Seeing a sudden swirl of ck mist appearing beside Dharma Cultivation, Lu Qingshan''s heart settled.


    This killing move was not his, but that of Zhong Ming, who was skilled in concealing his presence!


    That was why from the beginning, Dharma Cultivation could only see five people.


    The moment the stone door shattered, Zhong Ming had taken advantage of the immense noise from the flying stones to silently transform into a wisp of light smoke and drift towards Dharma Cultivation.


    And Lu Qingshan, seizing the initiative,unched his Flying Sword at the first opportunity.


    Faced with such a swift Flying Sword attack, how could Dharma Cultivation have any attention left to spare for other matters?


    Stay updated through empire


    Using the great noise of the broken stone door to cover Zhong Ming''s entry into stealth, and distracting Dharma Cultivation with Lu Qingshan''s lightning-fast Flying Sword, this series of underlying moves could be said to be interlinked perfectly.


    And what these arrangements brought about was this one attack from Zhong Ming.


    A dagger made of ck mist appeared in Zhong Ming''s hands, piercing straight toward Dharma Cultivation''s brow.


    There was no blood, nor any visible wound.


    The Mist de, the moment it touched Dharma Cultivation''s brow, wentpletely inside from the eyebrow, disappearing without a trace.


    The next moment, Dharma Cultivation''s entire face turned pitch ck instantly, and merely after a single breath, he toppled backward.


    This Mist de was crafted by Zhong Ming using the Yin Qi from the Land of Extreme Yin, a half-Techniques, half-magic artifact entity, which diminished with every use¡ªa killer move of his.


    He would not resort to using this fatal maneuver unless absolutely necessary, but under the current circumstances, he had no choice but to indulge.


    However, the sacrifice brought rewards.


    To instantly kill a Foundation Establishmentte-stage Cultivator, even under the protection of hisrades, could be regarded as an extremely astonishing feat.


    Previously, in many battles, Lu Qingshan had indeed stood out, and though as a teammate, he was happy for Lu Qingshan''s strength, he inherently had apetitive spirit.


    This time, surely Lu Qingshan would feel inferior, right?


    Thinking thus, Zhong Ming couldn''t help but reveal a smug expression on his face, turning his head to look in Lu Qingshan''s direction.


    What is that?!


    The moment he turned, Zhong Ming''s eyes widened in horror.


    "Li Zu, be careful!" Zhong Ming bellowed out, trying to warn Li Zu.


    But it was already toote.


    Dozens of slender ck needles, appearing out of nowhere, shot towards thepletely unguarded Li Zu.


    Everything happened in the blink of an eye, and Li Zu, who had just utilized his magic artifact to break open the stone door, was caught between the old force fading and the new force yet to emerge.


    Moreover, he could never have expected that another person was concealed within the stone chamber, leaving him utterly defenseless with numerous vulnerabilities exposed.


    Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!


    ck needles pierced through the body, puncturing Li Zu into a sieve in an instant, with blood spraying from the tiny needle holes.


    Xiao Zhi, standing next to Li Zu, had no time to react as Li Zu''s blood already sttered onto his face.


    Li Zu had fallen!


    In the moment of the sudden change, Lu Qingshan immediately activated the Eight Gates Shield Armor state of the Water Cloud Shield while also turning his gaze towards the shadow that had abruptly appeared.


    It was a short male Cultivator.


    With malicious intent flickering in Rainstone''s narrowed, triangr eyes, he looked at the remaining five members of Tiger Squad and cackled, "A Foundation Establishmentte-stage Cultivator has been killed in one round by several Cultivators of the same Foundation Establishment Realm. Worthy of the Cultivators of the Guardian Tower, truly cunning means.


    But whether your tricks will work on me, that remains to be seen."


    Lu Qingshan paid no mind to the male Cultivator''s mockery; his expression, however, became extremely solemn.


    This Cultivator, who suddenly appeared and killed Li Zu in an instant, was actually in the Golden Core Early Stage!

 Chapter 118 Sword Collapse (Part 1)

    How can this be?


    For a small auxiliary formation point like this, having ate-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator was already considered to be a top-tier setup, so how could there be a Golden Core Cultivator appearing?


    Oveing a tier is like ascending to the heavens.


    The Tiger Squad had been unstoppable against Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but to think about defeating a Golden Core Cultivator, that was undoubtedly a fantasy!


    Lu Qingshan felt a chill in his heart.


    Realman Yushi, on the other hand, nced at the members of the Tiger Squad, and murderous intent surged in his heart.


    The Asura Blood Formation consisted of twelve main formation points, and he was one of the two Golden Core Cultivators responsible for the ninth main formation point.


    However, not long ago, he had suddenly received a Spirit Message from Lord Rakshasa, stating that Cultivators from the Knowledge Guarding Pavilion were sabotaging the Asura Blood Formation, and he was to immediately go to support the auxiliary formation point and ambush the Knowledge Guarding Pavilion Cultivators.


    Keep in mind, he had been in hiding in Zhenjiang City for nearly a hundred years, all in the hopes that upon the sess of their grand n, he would tower straight up into the high clouds.


    When the time came for rewarding contributions, whether it was power or various cultivation resources, he would certainly not becking.


    But all of this was based on the sess of the grand n.


    If it failed, then his hundred years would have been utterly wasted.


    The Knowledge Guarding Pavilion Cultivators'' actions to break the formation were tantamount to ruining his path to power, so how could he not be furious?N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "You could have taken action just now to save him, but you chose to attack us instead," Lu Qingshan said, his voice filled with a trace of coldness.


    As he spoke, Lu Qingshan had his hands behind his back, quietly taking an item out of the Storage Ring and handing it over to the King of the West Mice, who had gone unnoticed all along due to his bloodline talent. Stay updated through empire


    "A mere waste, why would he be worth my effort to save?" Realman Yushi said with disdain.


    Underworld Cultivators were mostly extremely vicious and ruthless; they could even turn their backs on their own blood kin, so naturally, they would be even colder toward their colleagues.


    As a Golden Core Cultivator, Realman Yushi could have intercepted Zhong Ming''s attack to save Daoist Jianmu, and then teamed up with Jianmu to fight them head-on. Having an extra Foundation Establishment Cultivator for assistance would undoubtedly have been more prudent. Yet, he chose to stand idly by instead.


    His intentions were exceptionally malevolent.


    If the Demon Child''s reincarnation seeded, then during the subsequent reward distribution, one fewer participant in this grand scheme meant more benefits for himself.


    Dealing with six Foundation Establishment Cultivators was a piece of cake for him, so it would be better if Daoist Jianmu died!


    This was an Underworld Cultivator.


    But often, it was these kinds of Cultivators who were the hardest to deal with because such people didn''t have normal weaknesses. Their principle of action was to put self-interest above all else.


    The brief standoff between Lu Qingshan and Realman Yushi gave those immersed in the sorrow of the Li Zu''s death a bit of a respite.


    Xu Hao was the quickest toe around, taking a pill out of his Storage Ring and swallowing it.


    In the next moment, a violent aura erupted from Xu Hao.


    Disaster Averting Elixir, it burned thirty years of one''s lifespan to gain incredibly powerful explosive strength for a short time.


    This was a Third Grade Spirit Pill that Xu Hao had exchanged for a considerable amount of Contribution Value from the Knowledge Guarding Pavilion''s treasury, and today it was finally put to use.


    Feeling Xu Hao''s action, everyone else snapped out of it and began to bring out their own Spiritual Artifacts.


    Their hearts were resolute.


    Even if they weren''t a match for the Golden Core Cultivator before them, they were determined to fight with all their might regardless.


    This was especially true for Xiao Zhi, who had the deepest ties with the Li Zu. In just a blink of an eye, the Li Zu had been killed right beside him.


    Xiao Zhi''s eyes were bloodshot.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    The true master Rain Stone did not wait for everyone to fully arrange their formation, he waved his hand mightily, and the flying needle magic artifact that had just killed Li Zu''s men shot towards Lu Qingshan instantly, dense as pouring rain, and airtight.


    After dealing with the Cultivators from the Defense Tower at hand, he still needed to hurry to the next auxiliary formation point to continue ambushing other Cultivators from the Defense Tower.


    Therefore, he did not want to dy too much time on Tiger Squad.


    ng ng ng ng ng!


    The continuous sound of metal shing rang out.


    The ck needle artifacts that the true master Rain Stone had unleashed were all blocked by the Water Cloud Shield summoned by Lu Qingshan, and they had not caused any real harm to Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan quickly retreated.


    Although this attack had beenpletely blocked by the Water Cloud Shield, just this collision alone had depleted three and a half tenths of the Eight Gates Shield Armor''s durability!


    The attack of a Golden Core Cultivator was simply not something he could withstand head-on at this moment.


    The moment Lu Qingshan retreated, Xu Hao stepped forward to fill the gap left by Lu Qingshan''s withdrawal.


    It was impossible not to feel intimidated by a Golden Core Cultivator, but as a Body Cultivator, he needed to stand his ground, to resist the direct attack of true master Rain Stone, and thereby buy time for his teammates.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes narrowed slightly, his right hand waved gently, and a Dharma Seal emitting a blue-green glow ignited in midair.


    Beast Talisman: Spirit Leaf Ape!


    The image of a massive shadowy ape several meters tall emerged and quickly solidified.


    Roar!


    As soon as the Spirit Leaf Ape appeared, its roar, like thunder, echoed non-stop within the confines of the stone chamber.


    Under the drive of Lu Qingshan''s Divine Sense, the Spirit Leaf Ape fiercely pounced towards the true master Rain Stone.


    With the Spirit Leaf Ape''s spirit present, it should be able to relieve a lot of pressure for Xu Hao.


    Seeing that his strike had missed, the true master Rain Stone looked at the Water Cloud Shield circling around Lu Qingshan with interest, his eyes shining, "A mere Foundation Establishment initial stage Cultivator actually possesses such a high-grade Defensive Artifact!"


    Lu Qingshan''s assets had always far exceeded those of his peers. The Water Cloud Shield was a Defensive Artifact he had acquired at a great expense, a Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact, which even made the true master Rain Stone, a Golden Core Cultivator, a bit envious.


    Only a Defensive Artifact of such a grade could fend off the attack of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    Although his desire to kill Lu Qingshan in an instant was unsessful, the true master Rain Stone did not take it to heart. With a wave of his hand, the ck needle artifact split into two groups, one tangled with Xu Hao, and the other went after the spirit of the Spirit Leaf Ape.


    Everyone was ying theirst cards.


    The space of the stone chamber severely limited the effectiveness of the massive Demon Beasts, so Xiao Zhi was unable to summon his Red Rock Goose to battle.


    Although Beast Cultivators often rely on their Beast Pets for a major part of theirbat power, they still possess a certain level of strength.


    Xiao Zhi then summoned his own magic artifact, a total of thirty-six Fire Attribute Spirit Pearls.


    These Spirit Pearls, like pearls, strung together and flew towards the true master Rain Stone.


    Each Spirit Pearl erupted with a surge of fierce me, intertwining midair, forming a zing serpent.


    Zhong Ming concentrated all the Yin Qi he had left into a Short Sword, turned into a wisp of ck smoke, and vanished from sight again.


    Su Shu gave Lu Qingshan a meaningful nce, and her hands formed aplex Dharma Seal. At her fingertips, a stunningly beautiful red flower appeared.


    Su Shu tossed it into the air and the flower spun around once. The next moment, numerous petals detached and each petal, like a sharp de, sliced towards the true master Rain Stone. Amidst the brilliant flurry of petal des, a barely noticeable green light shed by.


    Whoosh!


    Lu Qingshan immediately caught on, and in the next moment, the Crying Soul Sword turned into a shadow streak, rubbing against the air with a piercing sound, and shot towards the true master Rain Stone.


    Even in the midst of battle, the Flying Sword unleashed by Lu Qingshan still managed to draw a sidelong nce from the true master Rain Stone.

 Chapter 119 The Collapse of the Sword (Part 2)

    The first realm of the Flying Sword is supersonic speed.


    When the speed of the Flying Sword exceeds the speed of sound, its power undergoes a qualitative transformation, increasing exponentially.


    Generally speaking, only a Golden Core Sword Cultivator can train the Flying Sword to surpass the sound barrier.


    At this moment, the speed of Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword had already reached eighty percent of the speed of sound.


    Though it gets increasingly difficult to improve as one approaches the speed of sound, one must realize that Lu Qingshan is still just a Cultivator at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment.


    "To possess such a level of Cultivation at this age is impressive enough, but to master such a terrifying Flying Sword Technique is truly enviable.


    However, such a genius is destined to die by my hand today, which is quite a delightful thought!" A malevolent smile appeared on Rain Stone''s face.


    The assault from Tiger Squad''s Cultivators swept out like a torrential storm.


    "Trivial trickery!"


    In the next moment, a dense ck light emerged around Rain Stone.


    No matter if it was a Magic Artifact attack or a spell attack, once it struck this ck light, it would dissolve as if snowkes meeting boiling hot water, all melted away.


    For the Tiger Squad, just breaking through the defenses had be an insurmountable challenge.


    Su Shu had been psychologically prepared for this, knowing that they were facing a Golden Core Cultivator.


    But she still had another trick up her sleeve!


    Sizzle!


    Upon Su Shu''s mentalmand, ayer of azure light abruptly burst forth within the ck light protecting Rain Stone.


    A slender silver needle appeared within the ck light.


    This was a Silver Needle Magic Artifact secretly released by Su Shu under the cover of the de Rain, meant to weaken the defense of a Defensive Artifact or a Spiritual Power Light Shield.


    Not long ago, Su Shu used this Magic Artifact in conjunction with Lu Qingshan to y Ximen Zi with a single strike.


    Under the impregnation of the azure light, the ck light instantly diminished to a thin film.


    "Die!"


    Zhong Ming, who was already in close proximity, had bloodshot eyes, seized the opportunity when the azure light surged and stabbed out with the short sword formed from Yin Qi.


    Thud!


    The short sword prated the protective ck light around Rain Stone, then aimed straight for the center of his forehead.


    Not good!


    As the short sword was about to touch Rain Stone, Zhong Ming felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, a chill spreading up his spine.


    Because there was not a trace of panic on Rain Stone''s face, but rather a hint of a sessful plot.


    Thud thud thud thud thud...


    Dozens of ck needles appeared out of nowhere, and small, dense puncture wounds appeared on Zhong Ming''s face.


    His head was thoroughly pierced by these ck needles!


    Where did these ck needlese from?


    Even in his dying moments, Zhong Ming was filled with this doubt.


    "Zhong Ming!" Su Shu eximed in horror.


    In just an instant, the Tiger Squad, which hadunched the swift attack, had its numbers reduced once more.


    "Did you think those were all my ck needles?" Looking at the lifeless body of Zhong Ming falling to the ground, Rain Stone sneered disdainfully.


    The reason why he was called Rain Stone was precisely because of these ck needle Magic Artifacts.


    The ck needles were named Rain Stone Needles, a set of three hundred and sixty in total; he had only released three hundred to face the enemy.


    These hidden sixty Rain Stone Needles were specifically reserved for Zhong Ming.


    He had even noticed the silver needle Magic Artifact that Su Shu had hidden among the various spells from the very beginning. The reason he had not revealed it was because he had deliberately left a gap, aiming to attract Zhong Ming into close quarters and strike him down in one fell swoop.


    Otherwise, with Zhong Ming always lurking in the shadows, he indeed wasn''t that easy to kill.


    But something seemed off, as if something was missing?


    The real person Yushi, who had just in Zhong Ming, was notcent but rather furrowed his brow, feeling something was amiss.


    In the next moment, real person Yushi abruptly realized what was wrong.


    It was that sword cultivator''s flying sword!


    Among the numerous attacks he had blocked, there was no presence of the flying sword.


    Given the speed of the flying sword, it should have been the first to arrive.


    Where did this flying sword go?


    Hiss!


    The sudden whooshing sound by his ear made real person Yushi, who had finally remembered what he had neglected, feel a chill in his heart.


    Lu Qingshan, who had feigned a flying sword attack and actually approached Yushi''s rear using the Formless Sword Escape, held his sword in both hands, channeling his entire momentum into it; the spiritual power within him surged out like a flood breaching its banks, converging on his sword.


    Blood oozed from the corners of Lu Qingshan''s mouth.


    This was due to the overexertion of maneuvering spiritual power, causing damage to his body''s meridians.


    Lu Qingshan unleashed his strongest sh yet. Read new chapters at empire


    Real person Yushi, who had deliberately exposed a w to lure out Zhong Ming, had never anticipated that this very vulnerability would be his death curse.


    Caughtpletely off guard, real person Yushi could only manipte the sixty Rain Stone Needles that had in Zhong Ming to block in front of Lu Qingshan''s Crying Soul Sword, while frantically forming spell gestures, attempting to use a defensive spell.


    At that very moment, in a corner of the stone chamber, the Rat King Ximen Zi, whose Sneaky Talent had kept him unnoticed by real person Yushi, had a silver-grey light sh within his eyes, staring straight at real person Yushi.


    A direct attack on the divine soul with an illusion technique!


    The Rat King Ximen Zi''s bloodline originated from the Illusionary Mouse, which excelled at illusion techniques.


    For the Rat King Ximen Zi, who was merely at the Second Grade level, to plunge real person Yushi into a world of illusions was not realistic, but there was no problem in interrupting Yushi''s defensive spell in this moment of haste.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Distracted by the Rat King Ximen Zi''s illusion technique, real person Yushi''s Dharma Seal formation slowed by a beat, and it was this slight dy that prevented him from casting his defensive spell when Lu Qingshan''s Crying Soul Sword came shing down.


    Boom!


    The Crying Soul Sword, like a massive hammer, struck down upon the Rain Stone Needles.


    In the midst of the fierce collision sounds, sparks flew and a continuous crackling echoed in the air.


    The Crying Soul Sword broke through theyers of Rain Stone Needles and struck Yushi''s chest with immense difficulty.


    ng!


    A dazzling spiritual light shed again from real person Yushi''s waist, gathering at his chest, warding off Lu Qingshan''s onught.


    Lu Qingshan was not surprised that real person Yushi had an automatically-triggered defensive artifact.


    Wind sh!


    Lu Qingshan let out a low shout, spiritual power erupting recklessly from the sword, as two ethereal afterimages emerged.


    The Returning Ruins Scripture, a Taoist Level Cultivation Technique, provided spiritual power of extremely pure quality; that was the confidence behind Lu Qingshan''s sword.


    With the blessing of Returning Ruins spiritual power, the Crying Soul Sword once again broke through Yushi''s finalyer of defense, shing onto his chest.


    Under this one strike, real person Yushi flew backwards like a kite with its string cut.


    For this attack, Lu Qingshan had also paid a hefty price.


    Numerous cracks crept along the de of the Crying Soul Sword, which had endured the fierce collision, emitting sounds like ice breaking.


    The Crying Soul Sword, crafted from soul stone, though capable of Soul Shock, was somewhat more fragilepared to other sword artifacts.


    This intense collision had indeed exceeded the limits of the Crying Soul Sword.


    Crack!


    With a intive light snap, the Crying Soul Sword shattered into hundreds of fine fragments, scattering everywhere.


    The sword, destroyed!


    Even though the Crying Soul Sword was not his life-bound sword, seeing the sword he had used for so long turn into fragments, with only the hilt left in his hand, Lu Qingshan still felt a pang of loss.

 Chapter 120 Breaking the Forbidden Disk

    "Leave the Stone Chamber, quick!" The moment True Master Rain Stone was sted away, Lu Qingshan shouted loudly to the people around him.


    The advantage of Xu Hao surrenderingmand to Lu Qingshan was manifested at that moment.


    Even though they hadn''t figured out the specifics yet, Su Shu and Xiao Zhi, who had grown ustomed to Lu Qingshan''smands along the way, subconsciously obeyed and deployed their escape techniques to flee quickly.


    Lu Qingshan''s figure was also in a frenzied retreat, and at the same time, his mindmanded the Spirit Leaf Ape''s soul to entangle the already rising True Master Rain Stone.


    "Damn it!" Caught off guard and sent flying by Lu Qingshan''s sword, True Master Rain Stone was furious, his anger mixed with a hint of dread.


    A Foundation Establishment Cultivator was pushing him to this point; this Sword Cultivator must not be left alive!


    In the moment of his staggering rise, True Master Rain Stone used three hundred and sixty Rain Stone Needles. They filled the sky, shooting towards Lu Qingshan with a massive ck glow.


    Formless Sword Escape.


    As the ck needles neared him, Lu Qingshan took out his Peach Wood Sword and disappeared from the spot along with the sword light.


    Phut phut phut phut phut phut!


    All the Rain Stone Needles struck a rock on the chamber''s wall. The hard rock, under the attack of the Rain Stone Needles, instantly turned to powdered dust, scattering with the wind.


    Lu Qingshan was certain in his heart.


    The indignation in True Master Rain Stone''s subconscious reaction caused him to miss the chance to escape the Stone Chamber initially.


    Lu Qingshan looked back. Unlike Su Shu and Xiao Zhi, who stood back and attacked with magic artifacts, Xu Hao, as a Body Cultivator, was naturally positioned at the forefront from the start.


    While retreating, Su Shu and Xiao Zhi had already left the Stone Chamber without any problems, but because of his position, Xu Hao was naturally thest to leave.


    Hurry!


    Lu Qingshan was frantic, finally losing his usual calm at this life-or-death moment.


    Initially clouded by rage, but after the attack of the Rain Stone Needles missed, True Master Rain Stone finally realized something was off as he noticed Lu Qingshan and the others withdrawing.


    "Scram!" True Master Rain Stone roared. His Rain Stone Needles shattered the Spirit Leaf Ape''s soul into a shower of Spirit Power light, like a pear blossom storm.


    After dispatching the obstructive Spirit Leaf Ape soul, True Master Rain Stone didn''t hesitate. Tremendous dark mes emitted from his body as he deployed his escape technique and immediately moved to escape outside.


    Just as True Master Rain Stone was about to escape, a corner inside the Stone Chamber suddenly burst forth with misty purple light, and several arcs of lightning crackled loudly, exceptionally dazzling and striking in the dim chamber.


    The Lightning Orbs, thirteen in total, which Lu Qingshan had spent a great deal of money on.


    Just the explosion of a single Lightning Orb could annihte a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, let alone thirteen stacked together?, the sheer terror was unimaginable, a force even a Golden Core Cultivator could hardly withstand!


    This was truly Lu Qingshan''s trump card.


    Lu Qingshan, whose cultivation had once reached the Integration Realm, knew all too well the strength of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    With theirbined strength, attempting to ovee a Golden Core Cultivator through conventional means was a fool''s dream.


    From the beginning, he had understood that to kill True Master Rain Stone, they must rely on these thirteen Lightning Orbs.


    And his devastating strike that even shattered the Crying Soul Sword was from the start only meant to buy the three breaths'' time needed to trigger and detonate the Lightning Orbs, not aimed at killing.


    The thirteen Lightning Orbs were quietly handed over to King West Rat when he was verbally sparring with True Master Rain Stone.


    As theyunched their attack on True Master Rain Stone, King West Rat took the opportunity to set up the Lightning Orbs; indeed, among them, only King West Rat could set up the Lightning Orbs silently without the Golden Core Cultivator noticing.


    As Lu Qingshan sted True Master Rain Stone away with a sword, King West Rat immediately triggered the Lightning Orbs, thus creating the current situation.


    The building surge of the Lightning Orbs grew increasingly fierce, causing even True Master Rain Stone to feel frightened.


    Not good!


    He silently cursed in his heart, quickly stirring the Spirit Power inside his body, and his dark mes surged upward, elerating his speed slightly, actually overtaking Xu Hao.


    Xu Hao shifted his gaze forward. He saw the anxious look on Lu Qingshan''s face, and then saw Su Shu who had already escaped to the exit.


    A veryplex expression shed through his eyes, filled with guilt, attachment, and helplessness.


    In the end, all other emotions dispersed, leaving only a resolute determination in his eyes.


    The next moment, Xu Hao resolutely turned around, his golden light reflecting off his body, like a sacred Golden Armor General.


    "Stop right there!" Xu Hao roared as he positioned himself in front of the ck-me-transformed True Master Rain Stone and spread his arms wide as if wrestling with a bull, blocking True Master Rain Stone, "Let''s die together!"


    His eyes were full of resolve.


    Understanding Xu Hao''s intent, Lu Qingshan gritted his teeth and didn''t waste Xu Hao''s sacrifice. Withstanding the searing pain in his meridians, he deployed the Formless Sword Escape again, quickly leaving the area.


    "Damn it! Damn it!" True Master Rain Stone panicked, the dark mes bursting forth, trying to shake off Xu Hao.


    But Xu Hao''s resolve far exceeded his expectations.


    Ignoring the scorching dark mes, Xu Hao''s robust hands, veins bulging, actually locked him tightly.


    Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!


    A continuous series of loud booms echoed, carrying a sensation of the heavens splitting and the earth shattering, reverberating within the cramped Stone Chamber.


    Lightning intermingled, the Purple Thunder surged, and the Stone Chamber copsed instantly. Rocks turned to dust, scattering into the air.


    A wave of powerful Spirit Power rippled outward.


    Thump!


    Even though they were far from the center of the explosion, Lu Qingshan, Su Shu, and Xiao Zhi, affected by the Spirit Power wave, all felt a massive shock, stumbled back several steps, and each spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    The mere shockwaves alone were this terrifying, what kind of damage then must True Person Rain Stone and Xu Hao, who were at the center of the explosion, have sustained!


    Su Shu, barely aware of her own injuries, stared at the copsed underground stone passage in front of her, lips trembling, her face pale, "Brother Xu, he..."


    Lu Qingshan didn''t know what to say, he could only sigh softly.


    The dust gradually dispersed, and Su Shu still stood motionless.


    Xiao Zhi''s eyes flickered, hesitated for a moment, wanting to step forward and say something.


    Just then, Su Shu suddenly moved.


    Bang! Bang!


    Su Shu summoned her Spiritual Power, moving one massive stone after another, throwing them aside, almost crazed.


    "Alive, I must see the person, dead, I must see the body..." Su Shu murmured incessantly, her eyes red.


    Lu Qingshan stayed silent for a while, then without saying a word, began searching through the ruins with Su Shu.


    Xiao Zhi, as if waking from a dream, hurriedly joined their effort.


    A momentter.


    Whoosh¡ª


    Lu Qingshan heard an extremely faint breath.


    His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly sped up.


    After carefully clearing away arge pile of scattered boulders, the barely breathing form of True Person Rain Stone appeared in front of Lu Qingshan.


    The bloodied face, muddled with flesh, was filled with hatred.


    As expected of a Golden Core Cultivator, his life was indeed tenacious, having not perished directly under such a massive explosion.


    Whiz!


    A cold glint shed in Lu Qingshan''s eyes, not giving True Person Rain Stone a chance to speak, the Peach Wood Sword turned into a sh of Sword Light, shing through the air.


    St!


    The sword was incredibly sharp, and True Person Rain Stone''s round head immediately rolled aside, eyes wide with reluctance.


    As a True Person of the Golden Core, to die at the hands of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, how could he be willing?


    ...


    A momentter.


    "Found him!" Xiao Zhi called out softly, then fell silent again.


    In front of them, Xu Hao''s body was gray-ck, like charred wood, clearly devoid of any sign of life.


    Under the Thunder Bead''s wrath, even Golden Core Cultivators were left clinging to theirst breath, how could Xu Hao, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, possibly still be alive?


    Su Shu staggered, stumbling over, and embraced Xu Hao''s corpse, her eyes losing their sparkle, utterly gloomy.


    "What''s this?"


    The sharp-eyed Lu Qingshan noticed an Array te scattered next to Xu Hao''s body and bent down to pick it up.


    The tremendous force of the Thunder Bead explosion had even damaged Xu Hao''s Storage Ring.


    Once a Storage Ring is damaged, most of the items inside usually vanish into spatial cracks, with only the rare asional item being left intact.


    This Array te must be one of the rare items fortuitously preserved from Xu Hao''s Storage Ring.


    "Array Breaking te!" Lu Qingshan''s eyes narrowed, recognizing the item.


    But, why would there be an item used by Spiritual Cultivators in the Storage Ring of a Body Cultivator like Xu Hao?


    Could it be?


    Lu Qingshan suddenly realized, his Divine Sense reached upwards and touched ayer of restriction.


    A light curtain of Spiritual Power flickered into existence, hovering above the Array Breaking te.


    A record restriction that could capture a brief clip and y it back once triggered.


    The image of Xu Hao appeared on the light curtain, his rugged face filled with a gentle smile, "Su Shu, the Array Breaking te is one of the most important Magic Artifacts for Spiritual Cultivators. You''ve had your eye on it for a long time, but couldn''t quite save enough Spirit Stones. So I thought I''d just quietly buy one to give you, making your first Array Breaking te a gift from me.


    But let''s be clear, it took all my savings to get this Array Breaking te, so now I''m broke, and you can''t resent me for that.


    Su Shu, after thatst brush with death, I''ve been thinking, it would be such a regret if I died without expressing my feelings for you.


    Su Shu, you always say I''m not romantic, let''s see what you say this time.


    Su Shu, ¡­


    ...


    Su Shu, it''s really wonderful to have met you.


    Su Shu, let''s be Dao Companions!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Su Shu''s body trembled uncontrobly as she took the Array Breaking te which Xu Hao hadn''t been able to give her personally from Lu Qingshan''s hands.


    Crying uncontrobly.

 Chapter 121 Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage

    Reflecting back on that day, the normally straightforward Xu Hao made a clear and firm promise in front of him, dering that after this matter was settled, he would take Su Shu as his Dao Companion.


    This rugged man showed rare delicacy, purchasing the Restriction Breaker that Su Shu had been longing for without her knowledge.


    He even went so far as to record the words he was too shy to say in person, using a Sound Sealing Spell, waiting for the day he and Su Shu would be Dao Companions to give it along with the Restriction Breaker to her.


    But now, they were separated by life and death.


    Looking at the dispirited Su Shu, Lu Qingshan could only sigh softly in his heart.


    Xu Hao''s body, when he chose to sacrifice himself to block the strike from True Person Yushi, was burned to char by the furious True Person Yushi''s ck me, unrecognizable in its features.


    Yet on his charred skin, one could still see the fresh crimson flesh underneath, wounds caused by the explosion of the lightning beads.


    Droplets of blood continued to seep from the wounds, scattering on the ground, then swiftly being devoured by the Asura Blood Formation, disappearing without a trace, much like Xu Hao''s life.


    Xu Hao''s burly body, due to the devouring of his essence blood, gradually withered away.


    ...


    Cough, cough!


    Lu Qingshan covered his mouth and gave a light cough twice, unfolding his hand to reveal a crimson palm.


    Severe burning pain was being transmitted from within his body''s meridians, causing Lu Qingshan''splexion to turn quite unsightly; he hurriedly took out a Healing Pill to consume, and only then did the pure potency of the medicine provide some relief.


    This time, in order to kill this mysteriously appearing Golden Core Cultivator, the losses were heavy indeed.


    Firstly, the Crying Soul Sword that Lu Qingshan used as a convenient tool shattered; furthermore, his meridians had incurred great damage from the overload of channeling Spiritual Power, and it would require a long period of rest to recover.


    And the lightning beads, which Lu Qingshan had reserved for a long time hoping to use as his most powerful trump card, were alsopletely consumed in one go.


    The most painful loss of all, however, was that half of the Tiger Squad members perished here after this battle.


    But even after paying such a heavy price, Lu Qingshan still felt a little lucky in his heart for being able to kill a Golden Core Cultivator.


    Had it not been for everyone being in a tight, enclosed stone chamber, which allowed them to fully exploit the power of the lightning beads.


    Had it not been for the King of West Mice just happening to awaken today, the sneakiness of its ability setting up the lightning beads silently.


    Had it not been for True Person Yushi showing a slightpse in concentration due to overconfidence, giving him a chance to seize the opportunity and to gain the time needed for the detonation of the lightning beads.


    If any of these three conditions had been missing, even if he had a hundred more lightning beads, the one dying would not have been True Person Yushi, but them.


    That is the might of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    Stillcking in strength.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lu Qingshan, having survived the cmity, was filled with mixed feelings, knowing that only with substantial strength could there be a margin for error, unlike now, where any unforeseen event could mean a difference between life and death.


    Xiao Zhi was still moving rubble in the ruins, searching for something over and over.


    He was looking for the bodies of Li Zu and Zhong Ming.


    As for the Formation Point, after the bombardment of the lightning beads, it was already reduced to dust, much to the King of West Mice''s chagrin.


    "You go and scout around, if there''s any situation, notify me immediately," Lu Qingshan instructed the King of West Mice.


    Although he knew that staying here was not wise at this time, Lu Qingshan did not stop Xiao Zhi''s actions.


    If he were the one to die today, Xiao Zhi would definitely do the same as now, striving to retrieve his body.


    Therefore, he had no reason to stop him.


    However, at this moment, neither of the three were in good condition; he himself felt a suffocating anger in his chest, so the task of staying alert naturally had to be handed over to the King of West Mice, the one without any emotional fluctuations.


    The joys and sorrows of people are inherently isted from each other. Apart from Lu Qingshan, the King of West Mice was not close with the others; therefore, the death of Xu Hao and the two others indeed had no reason to be sad for it.


    Let alone considering the racial differences, as a Demon Beast, the King of West Mice had seen the horrifying scenes of various monsters devouring humans in Zhenjiang City, and unlike the heavy hearts of the Tiger Squad cultivators, it had always felt nothing.


    The King of West Mice nodded obediently, about to move, when suddenly, a fierce roar pierced through the air.


    Hiss!


    A dark figure, apanied by a massive emerald fireball, shot towards the soul-lost Su Shu.


    The air was thick with a murderous aura.


    Green Cang Wolf!


    It had trailed them for a long time, not daring to draw close, but upon hearing the booming noise from the thunder bead explosion, the Green Cang Wolf cautiously approached and witnessed the scene before it.


    For some unknown reason, Tiger Squad, which initially had six members, was now down to three.


    One stood still as if he''d lost his soul, another was frantically busy among the ruins, his mind unsettled, and the sword cultivator, who failed to ambush them, had disordered breathing, clearly suffering significant injuries.


    Realizing the situation, the Green Cang Wolf immediatelyshed out.


    Wolves, vengeful by nature, have great patience. It finally had its chance for revenge.


    Whoosh!


    Like slicing through a breeze, a flying sword shot through the air at lightning speed, unleashing a chilling might that dominated the sky and earth.


    Pop!


    The flying sword cleaved straight through the exploding green fireball, scattering it apart.


    The momentum of the flying sword, unfazed by the fireball, sliced into the body of the Green Cang Wolf as it leapt into mid-air, sending a massive shock from the sword and flinging the beast away.


    Arge gash appeared on the neck of the Green Cang Wolf, from which fresh red blood gushed out.


    The fatally attacked Green Cang Wolf tried to unleash an angry roar but couldn''t. The severe pain from deep within its throat mercilessly stifled its cries.


    The Green Cang Wolf red at Lu Qingshan, who managed the flying sword by harnessing spiritual power, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth, its ferocious eyes filled with confusion and unwillingness to concede.


    It hadn''t been wrong; the sword cultivator was indeed seriously injured. But how could he stillunch such a fierce attack?


    The Green Cang Wolf couldn''t figure it out.


    But it no longer had the chance to ponder, for blood gushed from its neck wound ceaselessly. The massive loss of blood made its vision darken, its body convulsed once, its legs gave way, and it fell lifeless onto the ground.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    The dawn''s light flickered as the Peach Wood Sword danced in the air, leaving trailing shadows, its presence astonishing.


    "A beast trying to ambush like a human? Merely adds to the ridicule." Watching the massive form of the Green Cang Wolf fall, Lu Qingshan let out a cold snort and retracted the Peach Wood Sword.


    ¡­


    "[Returning Ruins Scripture] upgraded to lv4, spiritual power value +100!"


    ...


    "[Returning Ruins Scripture] upgraded to lv7, spiritual power value +100!"


    "Your rank has been raised to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, divine sense +10!"


    The moment the Green Cang Wolf sprang into action, Lu Qingshan allocated all the substantial experience gained from killing the Golden Core Cultivator into the Returning Ruins Scripture, instantly raising the level of the cultivation technique by four.


    The Foundation Establishment stage cultivation technique has a total of twenty levels, aligning with the four sub-stages of Foundation Establishment: the initial stage, mid-stage,te stage, and perfection.


    With the perfection as the final two levels, each sub-stage is marked by six levels. Lv7 in Returning Ruins Scripture allowed Lu Qingshan to advance his rank to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.


    The promotion of rank first brought about an increase in divine sense, doubling his initial ten points immediately.


    Beyond that, as his cultivation steadily improved, the power of his Taoist-level cultivation technique began to unfold.


    For each level the Returning Ruins Scripture ascended, the increment of spiritual power was almost double that of ordinary cultivation techniques.


    Though Lu Qingshan had only just broken through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, the depth of his spiritual power was alreadyparable to ate-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    In terms of divine sense, Lu Qingshan was weaker than ate-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, in the purity of spiritual power, due to the Returning Ruins Scripture, Lu Qingshan was even more superior.


    Overall, merely discussing cultivation, he who had just entered the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment was now no different from ate-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    In such a situation, the potency of the Flying Sword Technique at lv10, when unleashed by him, goes without saying.


    That a sword strike would fell the unguarded Green Cang Wolf came as no surprise.

 Chapter 122 Blood Qi River

    Heavenly Secret Tower, "Protector of Zhenjiang".


    The city was riddled with savage magical beasts, and pavilions and decorated columns were all reduced to ruins, with mes bursting forth in most areas.


    In such chaos, only this ce remained a sanctuary of cleanliness.


    A faint golden light enveloped the entire tower, and all the magical beasts felt the terrifying aura emanating from inside the tower and retreated.


    Inside the tower, in Qi Yuan''s Taoist field.


    Numerous Taoist runes tumbled and drifted, weaving together to form eight massive rays of divine light. Arranged ording to the eight points of apass, each performed its duty, creating an extremely mysterious formation.


    At the center of the formation stood a cultivator with a head full of white hair.


    An ancient yin-yang mirror floated in front of the cultivator, its body emitting a ze-gold light, mysterious beyondpare.


    A blue-green line emerged from Qi Yuan, connecting with the body of the mirror. The blue-green light flowed like water, continuously streaming from Qi Yuan into the yin-yang mirror.


    However, the originally vibrant blue-green light now appeared very dim.


    "Qi Yuan, he..." Tower Master Chu He, seeing the blue light fade and Qi Yuan''s vitality transitioning to deathliness, felt indescribable emotions.


    Mansion Master Lin Lang also could not bear to watch this scene any longer.


    But this was indeed the most reasonable n they could conceive of at present. Discover stories with empire


    In the past, the Asura had lurked in the shadows, hidden and unmanifested. Even though the Heavenly Secret Mirror possessed the ability to connect to heaven, it could not conjure up the Asura out of thin air.


    It was now, with the Asura actively causing ughter and even managing the Demon Formation personally.


    And while everyone was in the Demon Formation, suppressed by its power, locating the Asura''s position had be a viable option, though the cost was very heavy.


    Crack!


    A sudden strange noise from the formation caused Chu He and Lin Lang to immediately focus their gaze on Qi Yuan.


    The brilliantly shining eight divine lights suddenly dispersed.


    Qi Yuan looked at the two calmly and whispered, "I have found the Asura''s location."


    Chu He and Lin Lang both felt their hearts skip, a hint of joy appearing on their faces, "Where is it?"


    Qi Yuan waved his left hand, and a beam of golden light shot out from a divided portion of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, disying a painting scroll before the two men.


    The scenery on the painting scroll was lifelike, with detailed carvings and painted columns of various buildings. However, upon closer inspection, it would be found extremely familiar.


    The painting disyed the original scene of Zhenjiang City, downsized thousands of times, but it was Zhenjiang before the chaos started.


    Qi Yuan stretched out his right finger and lightly tapped a small corner of the painting, "Here."


    Lin Lang carefully confirmed the location mentioned by Qi Yuan, then nodded, his eyes filled with murderous intent, "Tower Master Chu, please apany me on this journey.


    ording to Protector Qi, the ce where the Asura resides is the heart of the Demon Formation. It seems that if we destroy this heart, the Demon Formation will naturally copse, and Zhenjiang City can once again see daylight."


    Chu He nodded firmly, "Let''s go then. I''m eager to see what kind of demon or monster this Asura, who has been our rival for a century, really is!"


    As the chaos in the city began, Lin Lang had tried to test the power of the barrier, and found that even with the strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator, it was not possible to break the Demon Formation''s barrier in a short period of time.


    He and Chu He had immediately sought out Qi Yuan.


    In the current confusing situation, only Qi Yuan among the city''s cultivators had the ability to prate the fog and propose a n to end this turmoil.


    The result had not disappointed them.


    Fully aware that each moment''s dy meant countless more of the Human Race would die, the two decided on their course of action and immediately prepared to move.


    "Wait!" Qi Yuan called to the two Nascent Soul Cultivators who were about to set off.


    "Does Supervisor Qi have any further instructions?" Lin Lang was very attentive to Qi Yuan''s words.


    "I''ll go with you," Qi Yuan said evenly.


    "Supervisor Qi, in your current state..." Chu He hesitated slightly.


    Once they found the Asura, a fierce battle was inevitable.


    Already cloaked in a somber aura of death, Qi Yuan had disregarded his own condition and overdrawn his lifespan by once again using the Observing Heaven Divine Skill. Now, the presence of death was visibly imminent, and he was on the verge of falling at any moment.


    In such a state, whatbat power could Qi Yuan possibly have? They couldn''t bear to see him join the intense battle in such condition.


    A flicker of light passed through Qi Yuan''s inscrutable eyes as he softly said, "I will assist you from the side. After all, I am a disciple of the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, and my techniques might help you somewhat."


    Upon hearing this, Lin Lang''s expression flickered, and he replied, "If Supervisor Qi insists, then let''s go together."


    The Heavenly Secret Pavilion, one of the only seven Taoist Sects of the Human Race, was renowned for its strength.


    No one doubted the methods of the Spiritual Cultivators from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.


    Since Qi Yuan had said so, despite their concerns for his health, Lin Lang found no reason to decline any further.


    ...


    Having just dealt with the Green Vast Wolf, Lu Qingshan was about to speak when he suddenly frowned, his expression turning grave.


    The river of Blood Qi hanging in the sky had been growing increasingly dense with the passage of time, constantly umting, which kept Lu Qingshan on edge.


    At this moment, the river of Blood Qi suddenly surged, raising monstrous waves.


    The entire river of Blood Qi glowed as the dense Blood Qi gathered towards one spot, continuouslypressing and transforming into a liquid state.


    This was the prelude to initiating the Blood Pool Reincarnation!


    How could this be? The umtion in the river of Blood Qi was still some distance away from that of the past incarnation, and the Barrier had not yet been broken. Why would the Netherworld initiate the Blood Pool Reincarnation prematurely?


    There must have been some major change, forcing the Netherworld to make such a decision.


    Lu Qingshan quickly made a reasonable guess.


    "I''ll go over there and see what''s happening; you all be careful," Lu Qingshan decided, turning to Xiao Zhi who was about to speak, "You are responsible for taking care of Sister Su Shu and for the burial of the bodies of the Li Family and Zhong Ming."


    Xiao Zhi was taken aback, looked at Su Shu who was barely recovering next to him, and held back his desire to apany Lu Qingshan.


    Indeed, someone needed to stay here.


    "Youe with me," Lu Qingshan brought along the King of Western Rats.


    His meridians were severely damaged, and hisbat power was less than thirty percent of its peak.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Making this journey, he did not know what dangers he might encounter; at this time, he could only rely on the abilities of the King of Western Rats to avoid demons as much as possible.


    "You need to use all your skills; after this matter is over, all the remaining Blood Spirit Beads in my possession will be yours," Lu Qingshan said, eyeing the cunning-looking Western Rat King, adding this line.


    The formerly reluctant Western Rat King immediately lit up, vigorously nodded his small head, and patted his chest, promising, "No problem, leave it to your King of Western Rats."


    Lu Qingshan was aware that making such a choice in his current state was very reckless, and even if he reached the scene, his strength would likely be insufficient to make a difference.


    But still, he set off resolutely and determinedly toward the source of the umting Blood Qi, bearing severe injuries.


    The reason was simple: the river of Blood Qi was tied to the lives of all the Human Race in Zhenjiang City, including his own, Lu Qingshan''s.


    In Lu Qingshan''s eyes, there was never a reason to sit around and wait for death.

 Chapter 123 Reinforcements

    Within a mysterious formation map, an imposing Asura stood silently.


    ck radiance continually flowed, shielding both the formation map and the Asura within.


    Read exclusive content at empire


    Boom!


    A small mountain, shing with arcs of lightning, crashed onto the ck radiance ahead, producing loud booms of thunder.


    In the fierce collision, arcs of lightning overflowed from the mountain, but the ck radiance remained utterly unmoved.


    Lin Lang''s anger boiled over, yet his heart sank even further, "Damn it, the Asura is in the heart of the formation, able tomand the power of the formation. We simply cannot break through this ck light to confront him!"


    Chu He also looked gloomy. Qi Yuan had overdrawn his own lifespan to find out where the Asura was. However, upon arriving, they faced such a dilemma.


    They had tried various methods, but the ck radiance was like a tortoise shell, indestructible and immovable.


    Sizzle¡ª


    Qi Yuan held a ze array te in his hand, his breaking panel.


    Spiritual light emerged from within the breaking panel, striking the ck radiance.


    It too was dissolved and neutralized by the ck radiance.


    Qi Yuan shook his head helplessly, "The power of this demon formation is too powerful. Even my forbidden breaking technique is utterly ineffective."


    "Your Human Race''s formations are indeed exquisitely unmatched." The Asura looked at Lin Lang and Chu He, who were fuming with rage, and chuckled sinisetrly, "You''re right, this demon formation, by your Human Race''s ssification, is as powerful as a Fifth Grade Formation. Who in Zhenjiang City has the capability to break this formation? Just the three of you, Nascent Soul Cultivators?"


    "Tower Master Chu, you have swallowed insults and borne heavy burdens these years. You don''t really think I was afraid of you, do you?" the Asura mocked.


    A century of endurance finally turned into a moment of exhale and pride.


    Chu He''s face was grim, and he did not respond to the Asura''s ridicule.


    This time, they had indeed lost to the Asura, but the cost seemed too harsh.


    "Asura, in your wholesale ughter of innocent mortals, what exactly are you trying to achieve? Once the powerful cultivators of our Human Race arrive, where will you flee?" Lin Lang, frantic, demanded angrily.


    Protected by the ck radiance within the heart of the formation, the Asura was confident and fearless. He sneered disdainfully at Lin Lang, and even though he was sure of his victory, he did not reveal his ns carelessly.


    He merely looked up at the river of blood qi in the sky, murmuring to himself, "Soon, soon. A hundred years of nning is finallying to fruition!"


    ¡­


    Outside Zhenjiang City.


    The number of people had slightly increased from before, but the atmosphere was very tense.


    "How long has it been?" Lu Zhou''s voice was low.


    "Almost an hour," Lu Yuan replied.


    "Previously, almost every quarter hour, ck light would sh on the barrier, weakening it each time. But now, it''s been nearly an hour without any activity."


    Lu Zhou''s expression was as still as water, "I don''t know what has happened that caused the city''s cultivators to be interrupted in breaking the formation."


    "The situation is worsening," Lu Bei nodded, agreeing with Lu Zhou''s statement.


    "Even with twenty percent of its power weakened, this barrier is still indestructible to us.


    Seeing such a grand structure of the formationid out, the person behind it certainly has no trivial motive.


    We need to be mentally prepared. Perhaps this cmity that has befallen Zhenjiang City is more severe than we had anticipated!" Lu Zhou remarked.


    The two Golden Core Cultivators from the Ke Family, Ke En and Ke Lai, also sighed on hearing this.


    Despite knowing the logic that when a nest is overturned, no eggs remain unbroken, the situation before them was still beyond their capacity, and they could only leave it to fate.


    "Someone ising!" Amidst the silence, Lu Bei''s face showed a trace of surprise as he whispered.


    Ke Lai frowned, "What person? I didn''t perceive..."


    Before he could finish, a mist of rosy light, the Spirit Cloud, suddenly appeared within his divine sense.


    Ke Lai, surprised, nced at Lu Bei, feeling somewhat wary.


    Sure enough, the renowned Qing Ling, although only at the Golden Core Middle Stage, had a divine sense stronger than his own, a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The Spirit Cloud moved quickly. Initially very distant, within a few moments, it had already shimmered before them.


    The Spirit Cloud dispersed, transforming into a ze bracelet, which a cultivator dressed in a ck robe caught on his wrist.


    Behind the ck-robed cultivator, stood a dozen grey-robed cultivators.


    "Senior!" The Golden Core cultivators present all shivered and respectfully saluted the ck-robed cultivator.


    These dozen grey-robed cultivators, having the lowest cultivation at Golden Core Late Stage, even included three Nascent Soul True Monarchs.


    The most terrifying was the leading ck-robed cultivator, whose aura was deep as an abyss, and his exact cultivation level was beyond their ability to sense.


    But being able tomand so many Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators, they all had a suspicion in their hearts¡ªcould this ck-robed cultivator possibly be a....Fifth Realm Great Cultivator?


    "Just call me Beiming," he addressed the crowd as he nced at the barrier enveloping them like a dome, "What is the current situation?"


    Reinforcements? Weren''t they supposed to take half a day to arrive? How could they have arrived so much earlier?


    Although Lu Zhou was surprised, he quickly stepped forward and briefed him on the current situation with great speed.


    During Lu Zhou''s ount, Beiming learned the specifics and, with a thoughtful look,manded, "Fengxing Zi."


    Among the group of grey-robed cultivators behind him, a middle-aged male cultivator stepped out immediately.


    Fengxing Zi, holding an array te, flew above the Heavenly Curtain Barrier, continuously forming hand seals and calcting something. From the array te, streaks of spiritual light shot toward the barrier intermittently, quickly disappearing afterward.


    After a moment.


    "Beiming True Venerable, this barrier''s power isparable to a Fifth Grade Spirit Formation," Fengxing Zi reported solemnly as he returned to Beiming True Venerable''s side.


    Upon hearing Fengxing Zi''s address, the cultivators from both the Lu Family and Ke Family were visibly shaken.


    Their suspicions were confirmed.


    In the Cultivation Realm, Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Golden Core Cultivators could be addressed as True Person, Nascent Soul Cultivators as True Monarch, and True Venerable referred to a Void Refining Cultivator!


    This mysterious Beiming cultivator was indeed a mighty being from the Void Refining Realm.


    Beiming True Venerable furrowed his brow and murmured, "A Fifth Grade Spirit Formation, huh? That''s indeed problematic."


    "However, after numerous weakenings, this barrier''s power has fallen to Fourth Grade," Fengxing Zi added. "I have identified several weaker points in the barrier. If True Venerable and the rest strike together, perhaps we can break through within an hour!"


    At this, a sharp light shed in Beiming True Venerable''s eyes, "There''s no time to waste; let''s act immediately!"


    "Yes!" the other grey-robed cultivators responded in unison.


    ...


    With Fengxing Zi forming hand seals, five spots pulsating with spiritual light immediately appeared on the ck barrier.


    The grey-robed cultivators each took their positions, exhibiting their divine skills, whether by controlling swords, activating magic artifacts, or casting exquisite spirit arts and mysterious techniques on those light-marked spots, bombarding them wildly.


    Layers of light waves rippled across the barrier.


    Beiming True Venerable also gave a shout and stretched out his left hand; inside his palm, the crackling sound of thunder resounded.


    With a loud thunderp, an arc of electric light flew out, transforming into a zing purple lightning serpent in the sky, surrounded by fearsome, destructive light. The energy fluctuations disrupted the natural order of heaven and earth.


    Boom!


    The purple lightning danced, unleashing the grand might of thunder as it struck the barrier.


    In that moment, the previously immovable Heavenly Curtain Barrier finally trembled under the strike of the lightning serpent, even emitting a faint crackling sound.


    The barrier was shaken!


    "It''s merely this," Beiming True Venerable''s eyes shed with pride.


    Among the myriad Taoist practices and Seven Attribute Spells, the Thunder Spell reigns supreme in terms of offensive power!


    And he was a master of Thunder Spells, a Dharma Cultivator.


    Now that he had seen its effect, Beiming True Venerable no longer hesitated to use his power, sending out dense, sweeping bolts of lightning that shook the heavens and earth.


    ...


    Watching the sky like admiring a piece of artwork, filled with fanatic devotion, the expression of the Asura suddenly changed.


    The ck Radiance that shielded him began to flicker mysteriously, bright then dim, like a me in a wild wind.


    "The barrier of the Asura Blood Fiend Formation faces a tremendously powerful attack!" The Asura''s heart sank to the depths, furious beyond measure. "How could this be? How could their reinforcements have arrived so quickly? It defies logic!"


    The human territories were vast, and after the Teleportation Array was sealed, it was estimated that it would take a day for reinforcements from other regions to gather and arrive upon receiving the message.


    The speed at which the reinforcements appeared far exceeded his expectations!


    But no matter how unbelievable he found it, the damage to the barrier steadily continued, showing irreversible progress.


    Lin Lang and Chu He also felt the intense fluctuations from the barrier; exchanging nces, their faces were full of joy.


    Feeling immensely relieved, Chu He dered, "Asura, I''d like to see if you still have the audacity to be arrogant before the great cultivators of my human race!"


    "One hour¡ªto proceed at this rate, in another hour, the barrier will be breached!" Ignoring Chu He, the Asura began to analyze the current situation internally.


    "And within one hour, there''s no way to gather sufficient Blood Qi," facing this dire situation, the Asura cooled down from his fury, "there''s only one option left."


    As soon as he made up his mind, hundreds of shadowy crystals within the formation map immediately released ck mist, enveloping the Asura.


    With the swirling ck fog, the Asura''s long hair flew wildly, as if mad, "Then let''s begin."


    The next moment, the River of Blood Qi surged dramatically.


    He decided to initiate the Blood Pool Reincarnation early, before the barrier could be breached, to facilitate the birth of the Demon Child.

 Chapter 124 Flaw

    ...


    Lu Qingshan executed a nimble sidestep, dodging a massive bear paw that shimmered with ck light.


    Bang!


    The bear paw struck a thick column behind Lu Qingshan, instantly severing the two-person girth beam and scattering wood chips everywhere.


    This enormous demon bear.


    Lu Qingshan inwardly groaned.


    His injuries were severe. Using the Flying Sword to its full extent would only worsen them. Yet, the demon bear''s robust body meant that holding back would fail to prate its defenses.


    For the moment, he was entangled by the demon bear and unable to break free.


    "King Rat of the West, why don''t you show some of your famous skills?" Lu Qingshan, somewhat annoyed, shouted at King Rat of the West, who stood aloof to the side.


    "Damn it, it''s probably because it has no brain. My Illusion Technique has no effect on this creature," King Rat of the Westined with a look of grievances. "My signature skill is this Illusion Technique. I haven''t learned any other Divine Skills."


    King Rat of the West really was unreliable.


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t helpining in his heart.


    Whoosh!


    Themotion in the Blood Qi River above the sky grew louder, with the sound of surging Blood Qi continuouslying through.


    There wasn''t much time left!


    Lu Qingshan gritted his teeth and decided to deal with the demon bear quickly, even at the cost of aggravating his injuries.


    Crack!


    Just as Lu Qingshan was about to make his move, a whistling bang sounded, and a streak of blue light shed, charging towards the demon bear.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    In the blink of an eye, where the chest of the previously arrogant demon bear used to be, there was now a fist-sized hole from which blood spurted. Weakened by the strike, the demon bear fell backward powerless.


    "To be put in such a sorry state by a demon beast? That doesn''t seem like something that would happen to you, Lu Qingshan," a young woman, riding on her sword in midair, said with a cold face and slightly curved lips, disying a faintly discernible mocking smile.


    The Spirit Hidden Sword that had just turned into a blue streak to kill the demon bear swiftly shed back and joyously circled around her.


    "Is the Tower Master also drawn here by the changes in the Blood Qi River?" Lu Qingshan pulled at the corner of his mouth and asked the young woman softly.


    Dantai Qingrun nodded, her expression bing more serious and with a hint of inquiry, "This situation doesn''t look very good, does it?"


    Cough, cough, cough!


    Lu Qingshan felt a sweetness in his throat and coughed twice, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.


    This was due to the revival of old wounds suppressed by the Pill as he made his way towards the source of the Blood Qi amid multiple battles and exertions of his Spiritual Power.


    Dantai Qingrun frowned, "How did you get such severe injuries?"


    Lu Qingshan waved his hand, "Let''s not talk about that now. Are you heading to the source of the Blood Qi, Tower Master?


    I might be useful. Take me with you to have a look at the situation."


    Dantai Qingrun paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "Get on."


    With Dantai Qingrun''s consent, Lu Qingshan, without any hesitation, leapt up and stood on the Qiuhong Sword, just behind Dantai Qingrun.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan was steady, Dantai Qingrun did not bother with idle chatter. Her Spiritual Power stirred, and the sword turned into a cold light, whizzing towards the source of the Blood Qi with Lu Qingshan.


    The fierce momentum made the many demonic birds hovering in the sky recoil in fear.


    ...


    Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    The Blood Qi River that engulfed the entirety of Zhenjiang City had gradually shrunk in size, condensing from a vast, sprawling blood river into the size of a Blood Pool, while simultaneously, its concentration had grown richer.


    Within the dense blood mist, several traces of water vapor faintly appeared.


    Drip.


    A sound, which should have been barely audible, eerily spread throughout the entire city.


    Within the dense blood qi, the first droplet of liquid Blood Bead finally formed.


    Like the first drop of spring rain, following this dripping sound, the rustle of something beginning started intermittently.


    Having once again activated the Yuanming Mountain Magic Artifact to m against the protective dark light of Asura, yet turning out futile, Lin Lang watched the gradually liquefying blood qi in the sky, a sh of rity appearing in his eyes.


    At this moment, he had finally understood the purpose behind the Netherworld''s scheme.


    "I want to see if this Blood River can stop me!"


    Lin Lang roared, the Yuanming Mountain Magic Artifact surged in size, transforming into a Giant Mountain that blotted out the Sun. Threads of lightning fell from it, their fierce might shaking the surroundingnds.


    With a thunderous boom, the Yuanming Mountain, like the Thunder God making a strike, rapidly traversed directly toward the center of the Blood River where the Blood Bead was forming.


    Bang!


    At the moment of collision, the Blood River shot out countless scarlet beams of light, the Yuanming Mountain Magic Artifact was immediately catapulted backward, the surrounding lightning turning into light smoke and quickly dispersing.


    "Heh heh heh, after so many years of nning, did you really think I''d leave such aughable w?" Asura scoffed ceaselessly at Lin Lang''s attempts.


    Throughout the numerous trials by Lin Lang and Chu He, Asura constantly exhibited a demeanor as stable as Mount Tai.


    The Blood Pool, suspended in the sky, took shape gradually, forming a terrifying vortex that spun rapidly, and alongside it, a strange fragrance began to drift throughout Zhenjiang City.


    Under the influence of this strange fragrance, the demonic beasts in Zhenjiang City became even more frenzied.


    Whoosh!


    Under the leadership of Dantai Qingrun, Lu Qingshan, who had just arrived at this turbulent scene with unimaginable speed, personally witnessed the scene of Lin Lang''s Magic Artifact being thrown back.


    "Qi Guardian..." Seeing Lin Lang''s effortse to naught, Chu He gasped for breath, not paying attention to Dantai Qingrun''s arrival but instead looked toward Qi Yuan with a hint of pleading in his eyes.


    Qi Yuan, however, shook his head slightly at Chu He and sighed, showing his helplessness. "This time, we''ve lostpletely..."


    Hearing Qi Yuan say this, the glimmer in everyone''s eyes dimmed, overwhelmed by despair.


    However, contrary to everyone else''s despair, Lu Qingshan''s eyes flickered persistently, quickly contemting something.


    Of all the people present, aside from Asura, only he knew a fact:


    ording to the original historical course, the Corpse Puppet Chaos by the Netherworld was not supposed to be triggered until the end of the year.


    The reason for waiting until the end of the year wasn''t to choose an auspicious day; there was only one reason¡ªonly by the end of the year had the Netherworld prepared everything needed to trigger the Corpse Puppets'' uprising and the reincarnation of the demon child.


    Now, the Corpse Puppet Chaos had been moved up by three months.


    This revealed a piece of information.


    In this hastily initiated Corpse Puppet Chaos, there must be some aspects that the Netherworld still needed time to prepare, yet due to the early initiation, there were still some minor oversights.


    But where exactly was this w?


    Lu Qingshan was frantic, rapidly searching his mind for all the information he knew regarding the plot of the Corpse Puppet Chaos.


    But this plot was too long ago.


    Moreover, he never imagined that he would experience this plotline again, so he hadn''t paid too much attention to it.


    This resulted in even his familiarity with the plot; recalling this first main plotline at this time, many of the nodes were vague, and he couldn''t recall any details.

 Chapter 125 Luohu Incarnation

    A vast and iparable Blood Pool appeared before everyone''s eyes.


    Gurgling, gurgling, gurgling¡­


    With the rotation of the vortex, the blood, like flowing sludge, continuously churned, and a crimson blood light lingered, brewing something ominous.


    After a while,


    a bizarre bulge emerged from the Blood Pool.


    It was an exceedingly ugly flesh egg, closely resembling a centa, with thick blood incessantly dripping down from it.


    Since the appearance of the flesh egg, the blood in the Blood Pool had been rapidly decreasing at a rate visible to the naked eye, all of it absorbed by the flesh egg.


    Simultaneously, a bright red glow intensified atop the flesh egg.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Thud!


    A suffocating heartbeat rhythmically emanated from within the flesh egg.


    The heartbeat, brimming with a majestic life force, yet caused the cultivators present to feel a sinking feeling in their hearts.


    Thud, thud, thud¡­


    But after only a few tremors, the deafening heartbeat gradually subsided.


    "Cursed! Cursed!" Seeing this scene, the Asura''s face was filled with unwillingness and annoyance.


    The premature arrival of the Human Race reinforcements forced him to initiate the Blood Pool Reincarnation before he had gathered sufficient Blood Qi.


    The drawback became apparent at this moment, as the Blood Pool could not provide the Essence Blood needed for the Demon Egg to form.


    The heartbeat emanating from the flesh egg grew weaker and weaker.


    Finally, a sinister look shed in the Asura''s eyes, as if he had made a difficult decision.


    "Sacrifice the blood of my Underworld Cultivators to wee the descent of the Luohu Demon Child," the Asura silently recited in his heart.


    A pure white Gu Insect, no longer than a finger, appeared in his hand.


    This was the Heart Demon''s mother Gu, entwining the Soul Split Gu within all the Underworld Cultivators in Zhenjiang Prefecture.


    The Gu Insect, held between the Asura''s fingers, writhed continuously.


    The Asura pinched the Gu Insect between his fingers, revealing a ferocious smile, then squeezed it forcefully.


    The pure white Gu Insect instantly transformed into a mist of blood and vanished into the air.


    With the death of the mother Gu, the child Gu too must die.


    But before dying, the child Gu would frenziedly devour its host''s Divine Soul, dragging the host down to death with it.


    ¡­


    At the moment the Asura crushed the Heart Demon mother Gu,


    Inside Zhenjiang City,


    Mu Ke, filled with despair, stared at the cultivator d in ck robes before her.


    At her side, five corpsesy scattered in disarray.


    As a Guard of the Tower, she and her teammates were responsible for checking four suspected Underworld Cultivators in the southern part of the city and had sessfully disrupted a Formation Point of the Demon Formation.


    But she could never have expected that during their investigation of the third cultivator, they would encounter a Golden Core Stage Underworld Cultivator.


    Even though all six of them were strong Foundation Establishment Cultivators and coborated exquisitely,


    the gap between a Golden Core Cultivator and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was still an insurmountable chasm.


    The Underworld''s Golden Core Cultivator, with devastating ease, had promptly in them one by one.


    And now, out of the six, only she was left.


    Once again, a ck me rose in the hands of the ck-robed Golden Core Cultivator.


    "Such is the prowess of a Tower Guard cultivator¡­" the ck-robed Golden Core Cultivator sneered, waving his left hand, readying to direct the ck me towards Mu Ke.


    Ahh!!!


    The Golden Core Cultivator in ck suddenly let out a scream like that of a ghastly demon, the ck mes in his palm dissipating instantly. He clutched his head with both hands and copsed to the ground, his body convulsing ceaselessly.


    Each scream was more miserable than thest; one could feel the immense pain he was enduring.


    However, in a moment, the screams subsided and the body of the Golden Core Cultivator in ck no longer twitched.


    Mu Ke, who had been prepared for death, was taken aback and tentatively extended his Divine Sense towards the body of the Golden Core Cultivator.


    There were no wounds on the physical body; however, his facial expression was so distorted and convulsive it was grotesque.


    There was no sign of life left.


    Dead.


    A moment before, this Golden Core Stage Underworld Cultivator''s demeanor was incredibly ferocious and his aura imperious, but in the blink of an eye, he had be a corpse.


    Quite bizarre.


    What happened?


    Surviving the ordeal, Mu Ke was utterly baffled.


    ...


    In every corner of Zhenjiang City and even across the distant 107 Prefecture Cities under its jurisdiction, the same scene was ying out simultaneously.


    Many cultivators, after inexplicably letting out agonized screams, turned quite bizarrely into corpses.


    ...


    The Asura watched the blood pool in the sky that had nearly dried up, and his face twisted into a ferocious expression as ayer of crimson blood began to appear again.


    This is what you forced me to do.


    The Asura muttered repeatedly in his mind.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The Heart Demon Gu, of which each Heart Demon can only birth one in a lifetime, is a strategic resource.


    He willingly killed the Heart Demon Gu, even at the cost of the lives of all Underworld Cultivators affiliated with the Zhenjiang Prefecture region, employing such grandiosity and insane methods, solely to replenish the nearly dried blood pool.


    Experience more content on empire


    The number of Underworld Cultivators in Zhenjiang City wasn''trge, but each possessed profound cultivation. The Essence Blood they could provide was potent enough that a single individual could equal thebined essence of thousands, even tens of thousands, of mortals.


    Thump, thump, thump!


    Under the influence of the Underworld Cultivators'' Essence Blood, the heartbeats from within the demon egg, which had almost stopped, once again began to pulsate.


    Finally, after absorbing enough Essence Blood,


    Thump!


    A blue-ck giant hand pierced through the outer flesh membrane of the meat egg and stretched out.


    Thump! Thump! Thump!


    One after another, the sounds of the flesh membrane being pierced echoed as three more blue-ck giant hands followed, making a total of four arms visible to the spectators.


    Once the flesh membrane was breached, it deted swiftly like a burst balloon, revealing the entity incubated inside.


    Four arms, a fierce and ugly head with four tightly shut blue eyes, and rather than legs, several tail-like structures resembling snake tails.


    Luohu Incarnation.


    Viewing the demonic creature causing goosebumps to rise on his skin, Lu Qingshan murmured.


    The Demon Race, unlike the Human Race, holds their Bloodline in the highest regard, with the strongest being the Eighth Grade Bloodline, also known as the Holy Demon Bloodline.


    The leader of the Qing State Underworld, the Void Demon Child, possesses one of the eight great Holy Demon Bloodlines of the Demon Race, the Void Bloodline.


    The Heart Demon capable of birthing the Heart Demon Gu also possesses one of these Holy Demon Bloodlines.


    The eight great Holy Demon Bloodlines of the Demon Race, besides the Void and Heart Demon, include one known as Asura.


    Unlike the Void Bloodline, which masters the True Intent of Space, Asura boasts extreme strength as its bloodline talent; all Asuras possess supernatural strength beyond mortals.


    The battle-hardened and valiant Asuras have always been among the most warlike and skilled fighters in the Demon Race.


    Among the Asura lineage, there have been four Asura Kings, namely Po Zhi Asura King, Luo Qiantuo Asura King, Vimozhiduoluo Asura King, and Luohu Asura King.


    Luohu, meaning ''covering barrier'', is so named because of his ability to cover the light of the sun and moon with his giant hands, a show of power that inspires awe and fear.


    The Luohu Incarnation is shaped by the power of the Blood Pool, forming a Physical Body that contains a trace of the Luohu Bloodline, allowing it to amodate the possession of a Luohu Soul Split.

 Chapter 126 Volume 1 Summary and Shelving Remarks

    Yes, the first volume of Chang''an Chaos has only a few chapters left before it ends.


    Personally, I''m not very satisfied with the first volume.


    First off, I fell into themon pitfall of newbie authors by throwing out a bunch of unappealing settings right from the start.


    Then there''s the issue of writing. Some readers feel that there''s too much pointless chatter, too verbose. I admit to this, have reflected upon it, and am actively trying to streamline my writing.


    Actually, this problem arises because when I write, I always want to exin everything clearly to everyone, fearing that readers might have doubts. For example, I feelpelled to justify every decision made by the characters, but in reality, most of the time, you would understand without my exnation, and sometimes my boration even spoils the experience.


    This has given me a significant insight: an author shouldn''t write down everything. In fact, for both readers and authors, having the readers imagine and ponder some of the plot themselves is often more interesting than covering every single aspect as an author.


    Thest major issue is with the settings.


    The settings were all prepared in advance, but what often happens is, some of those settings that I thought would be fine turn out to be inappropriate after dozens of chapters have been written.


    For instance, the Heavenly Eye Technique skill¡ªsome might have noticed that I barely mention it anymore, not because I''ve forgotten but because this skill is just too overpowered.


    When I first designed this skill, it was meant to be a trump card. As long as Lu Qingshan had this skill, it meant that any disguise by Underworld Cultivators would be futile in front of him¡ªno more writer''s block, and a bonus of a pretty long word count on the information panel.


    As I continued writing, I realized that while it was easy to write, it also made the story less interesting.


    I still want Lu Qingshan to use his brains to solve problems, not to rely on such a brainless skill, so I had to subtly phase out this skill in theter parts of the story. (Just pretend the designer has deleted this overly powerful skill...)


    I''d also like to take this opportunity to rify some controversial aspects of the book.


    First is Lu Qingshan''s Legendary Talent "Innate Swordseed." Many people feel it''s too weak to be considered a Legendary Talent.


    In my setting, this talent is truly powerful, but its strength lies more in its hidden aspects than in the data, and I can only exin this much for now because going further would lead to spoilers.


    The power of "Innate Swordseed" will start to be apparent in the uing second volume.


    Regarding the main plot of the second volume, attentive readers should be able to guess what it is, after all, there are quite a few hints, to the point that the Crying Soul Sword was killed off by the plot. Enjoy new stories from empire


    Then there''s the matter of Attributes. In a nutshell, Attributes aren''t that important. They were only ever meant to differentiate between the six careers, so let''s not get hung up on why Sword Cultivators have the Strength attribute.


    Some readers also feel that there are too many female characters? There''s no need to worry about that¡ªthese female characters aren''t the main heroines, they''re just characters who happen to be female. Why does it matter? Nobodyins about there being too many male characters, so why the fuss when a few extra female characters appear?


    After all, this is my first book, and admittedly, there are quite a few issues, but I won''t borate on them all for now.


    Looking back at earlier chapters now, it''s clearly evident that there are many areas in need of improvement, from word choice and sentence construction to plot design.


    But to me, this is a good thing, as being able to see past shorings at least shows I''m making progress.


    ...¡­


    ...¡­


    ...¡­


    Now, about the book getting published. It''s going live on Labor Day, which is tomorrow. Following tradition, I want to first thank my editor for agreeing to sign this book.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Then, I hope those of you who can will support the subscription. For those who are students or tight on funds, I understand if you can''tmit to a full subscription; try to at least support with an initial subscription, after all, it''s only ten cents for a chapter.


    Last of all, about the updates, I admit I don''t update often. Apart from my ownziness and procrastination, there are indeed some objective difficulties.


    First, this is my initial foray into writing, with no previous experience, and I''m not yet ustomed to the rhythm of web novel writing. I tend to overthink when writing, often wasting a lot of time revising word choice, sentence orders, and tones.


    Second, being a graduate, I''m dealing with things like thesis papers and job hunting, which make it hard to focus solely on writing. With the defense and other errandsing up in May and June, updates may still not speed up for a while. I apologize for that in advance, but I promise to increase my update rate once this period is over!


    Last but not least, though there are still many issues, I will continue to correct and improve. Thank you all for your patience and support, bowing!

 Chapter 126 Primordial Spirit Possession (Part 1)

    A single Void Demon Child was enough to wreak havoc in Qing State, stirring the winds and clouds¡ªshould another Luohu Demon Child emerge, what then would be of not just Qing State, but beyond?


    Merely thinking about such consequences sent chills down one''s spine.


    The birth of Luohu''s Incarnation began to cause even Asuras to tremble faintly; half of this was due to an uncontroble frenzy within their hearts, while the other half stemmed from the suppression of their bloodlines.


    Asuras were called as such because they belonged to the Asura n.


    Now, facing the pressure of the supreme King''s Bloodline within the Asura n was unimaginable for ordinary people.


    ...


    The four eyes of Luohu''s Incarnation remained tightly shut.


    At this moment, it was nothing more than a powerful physical body without consciousness.


    Following the birth of Luohu''s Incarnation, the Asura''s demeanor became increasingly insane, "I beseech the Asura King Luohu to descend and split his soul!"


    Such meticulous nning to create an incarnation with Luohu''s bloodline was all for this moment.


    Using the unique methods of the Demon Race, the Asura King Luohu''s Soul Split would transcend spatial limits and descend upon the Human Race''s domain, then make use of Luohu''s Incarnation to resurrect the Asura King Luohu in the form of a Demon Child.


    ck ck ck ck ck ck!


    As the Asura''s thoughts moved, consecutive sounds of crystal shattering arose.


    At this moment, all the ck crystals within the Formation Map beneath him shattered violently, releasing a thick ck fog that was nearly solidified.


    All the ck fog, once emerged, scrambled frantically to burrow into the Asura''s body.


    As if under immense pressure, the Asura''s clothes burst open on the spot, revealing his upper body with cyan-ck skin.


    Terrifying blood vessels bulged on his body, snaking over the Asura''s entire body like earthworms; densely packed, twisting Demonic Patterns appeared on the Asura''s flesh, emitting a sinister ck radiance.


    The next instant, the Asura''s entire form began to swell and mutate at a rapid pace, and his back bulged with four tumor-like protrusions, from which four misshapen arms grew out abruptly.


    Ahhhhhh...


    Even in his true form, the Asura could not suppress the deep, oppressive wails he emitted, as if he were an evil spirit being tortured on a mountain of knives and a sea of fire in hell, filled with immense pain. Along with the wails, streams of crimson fire spray continuously from his mouth.


    Despite such pain, the Asura''s expression was weirdly filled with a sickly joy, and in the end, it seemed as though he reached a euphoric climax, trembling incessantly.


    Trembling.


    The Asura''s body trembled slightly and continuously.


    Bang!


    Finally, one of the many protruding blood vessels on the Asura''s body burst open.


    Drops of ck blood fell to the ground.


    An extremely demonic and strange light began to flicker.


    In those flickers, within the indistinct shadows behind the Asura, a twisted Soul Shadow gradually solidified.


    It was a Soul Shadow that resembled the mold of Luohu''s Incarnation, with a blue-ckplexion that was extremely ugly, having four eyes, four arms, and eight intertwining snake tails.


    The moment the Soul Shadow appeared, the insolent and sinister Asura immediately knelt deeply on the ground, uttering respectfully, "King Luohu."


    "Is this the Human Race''s domain?" Luohu opened his four eyes, his gaze cold and haughty, treating the Asura as if he were nothing. He looked up at the sky, at Luohu''s Incarnation in the Blood Pool, revealing a sinister smile, "Is this the physical body I am to use? How weak this bloodline power is."


    Luohu''s voice was very cold, chilling to the bone.


    Luohu, one of the Demon Race''s many kings.


    Such a terrifying existence, in such a manner, crossing over the iron wall barrier of Heavenly River City to descend into the Human Race''s territory¡ªwhat a horrifying event!


    "Come!" A voice filled with demonic power issued from the mouth of Luohu, his blue-ck pupils emanating a faint light.


    The next moment, Luohu''s Soul Shadow burst forth from the ck Radiance, shooting straight toward Luohu''s Incarnation in the sky.


    Whoosh!


    A sharp and insubstantial ck needle abruptly appeared at this moment, shooting towards the soul shadow of Luohu.


    This was the Soul Devouring Needle, a high-rank Spirit Art designed specifically to target the divine soul. Attacking the soul split of Luohu, whocked the protection of a physical body, should have been quite effective.


    However, under the attack of the Soul Devouring Needle, Luohu''s soul shadow merely flickered slightly, with no significant fluctuations urring, while the ck needle disintegrated as if hitting a stone with an egg. Enjoy more content from empire


    The momentum of Luohu''s soul shadow was undiminished, utterly unaffected by this attack, and it merged at great speed into the incarnation of Luohu within the Blood Pool.


    "Sigh..." Qi Yuan, who had unleashed the Soul Devouring Needle Spirit Art to intercept Luohu''s soul shadow, saw the light fade from his face.


    His timing had been extremely clever, yet it still had no effect whatsoever.


    At this moment, it seemed the overall situation was settled, and even Lu Qingshan felt an overwhelming sense of despair.


    This isn''t right!


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes widened in frustration as he stared at the sky, where Luohu''s incarnation was on the verge of revival.


    Everything went too smoothly, far too smoothly.


    The Netherworld had initiated the Corpse Puppet Chaos three months ahead of schedule, so why did everything proceed so smoothly without a single hup?


    Could it be that his own arrival had a negative butterfly effect, causing the Netherworld to have everything prepared three months in advance, perfectly set up?


    "Die!" Lin Lang refused to give up so easily and burst forth once again. The Spiritual Power within his body poured out generously. The Magic Artifact of Yuanming Mountain immediately shed with dazzling thunder, and the vast strength spread out in ripples, filling arge area of space with the eerie aura of thunder.


    The Yuanming Mountain Magic Artifact rolled with might towards the incarnation of Luohu in the Blood Pool.


    This time, a dense blood light erupted from the incarnation of Luohu, once again sending the Yuanming Mountain Magic Artifact flying away.


    The oue remained unchanged.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Lin Lang still wouldn''t give up, repeatedly urging the Yuanming Mountain to bombard the incarnation of Luohu, shielded by blood light.


    Chu He clenched his teeth and also activated his Magic Artifact,unching an attack at Luohu.


    Around the Luohu incarnation, ck qi swirled, his face etched with many dense and sinister marks, while strange patterns climbed up his four arms. His four eyes were tightly closed as Demonic Qi surged to the skies.


    Lu Qingshan stared unblinkingly at the Luohu incarnation sitting still beneath the blood light shield, like an old monk in meditation, unmoved by everyone''s attacks. Yet, a thought suddenly rose in his heart.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Could it be?


    After eliminating all the wrong answers, the remaining possibility had to be the correct one.


    Since all the steps required for Luohu''s reincarnation had been carried out smoothly and urately, it meant that all the prior phases were wless.


    The expected error, then, could only possibly ur in thisst remaining step.


    The fusion of Luohu''s soul split with Luohu''s incarnation!


    It must be so.


    Luohu''s intention to descend into the Human Race realm through Blood Pool Reincarnation essentially entailed the technique of creating an incarnation.


    The art of creating an incarnation has always been one of the top and extremely difficult Divine Skills to master.


    For Luohu to have an incarnation of his own could not be that easy.


    From shaping a suitable physical body, to creating a soul split, and then allowing the soul split to traverse unimaginable distances to descend here and merge with the crafted body¡ªthe series of processes involved were all extremely challenging, requiring stringent conditions and thorough preparation.


    The Netherworld had been preparing for a full century before taking action.


    However, in the final step of the soul body merger, Lu Qingshan had not witnessed any auxiliary measures provided by the Netherworld.


    And indeed, the fusion of Luohu''s soul split with his incarnation had been unsessful for a long time.


    Recalling how Luohu''s soul split faced Qi Yuan''s Soul Devouring Needle attack without summoning any protective measures, and merely relied on the strength of the soul body to withstand that blow,


    Lu Qingshan became slightly more certain of his spection.

 Chapter 127 Primordial Spirit Possession (Part 2)

    "Tower Master Dantai, do you have any means to attack the Divine Soul?" Lu Qingshan turned to ask Dantai Qingrun, who was levitating beside him, in a soft voice.


    Whether his conjecture was correct, he would know after trying!


    Dantai Qingrun was momentarily stunned, not quite understanding Lu Qingshan''s intention, but seeing his serious expression, she subconsciously nodded, "There are some means, but they are rtively ordinary."


    "Please then, Tower Master Dantai, try using your method to attack Luohu''s incarnation," Lu Qingshan said.


    The trust they had established through numerous coborations prevented Dantai Qingrun from hesitating any longer.


    "Release!"


    With a soft cry from Dantai Qingrun, a tiny Sword Light shot forth from between her brows.


    Unlike the ordinary Sword Light that shimmered with special effects at full strength, this Sword Light was in and colorless, almost imperceptible.


    The Soul Hosting Sword Light attaches the Sword Light to the Divine Soul after prolonged refining, endowing it with the properties to attack the Divine Soul.


    The Soul Hosting Sword Light flew towards Luohu''s incarnation, passing silently without any disturbance or ripple, hidden amidst the fierce attacks of the two Nascent Soul True Monarchs, appearing very inconspicuous.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Yet, this attackunched by a Golden Core Cultivator, uponing into contact with Luohu''s incarnation, ignored the protective Blood Light shimmering on its body and entered into Luohu''s incarnation.


    Though the attack didn''t make much noise, Lu Qingshan, who had been focusing intently on Luohu''s incarnation, immediately noticed a mark on the incarnation''s arm flickering once, half disappearing in that instant.


    "Lu Qingshan, Luohu''s Soul Split fluctuated just now; that attack affected it!" said the King of the Western Rats, who had remained silent since arriving and realizing that there were formidable opponents on the field.


    The Illusion Rat''s innate ability to sense fluctuations in the Divine Soul was incredibly keen, and the words of the King of the Western Rats confirmed Lu Qingshan''s suspicion.


    Indeed!


    "Tower Master Dantai, the w in Luohu''s incarnation lies within its Divine Soul; his protective Blood Light can''t block the Divine Soul Attacks!" Lu Qingshan stated firmly.


    Upon hearing his words, a divine light shed in Dantai Qingrun''s eyes, and she immediately raised her voice to alert the others, "Qi Yuan, Tower Master, True Monarch Yuanming, attack Luohu''s Divine Soul!"


    Qi Yuan was the first one to respond to Dantai Qingrun''s words.


    Oblivious to the call, Qi Yuan''s eyes shut slightly as he formed a Seal Gesture, and the Soul Devouring Needle Spirit Art made its move again, hurtling towards Luohu''s incarnation.


    The methods of a Nascent Soul Cultivator were naturally notparable to those of Dantai Qingrun.


    Futhermore, specializing in a field, unlike Dantai Qingrun who regarded the Soul Hosting Sword Light as an additional method, Divine Soul Attack Spells were one of the primary disciplines of high-rank Spiritual Cultivators. Qi Yuan''s research on Divine Soul Attack Spells was many times more advanced than Dantai Qingrun''s.


    Under the onught of Qi Yuan''s Soul Devouring Needle, the marks on Luohu''s incarnation''s arm, including the one that had already faded by half, instantaneously vanished into several others.


    Seeing such effectiveness, Chu He and Lin Lang immediately switched tactics.


    As Cultivators who had reached the Nascent Soul Realm, their spell systems were alreadyplete; naturally, they would notck Divine Soul Attack Spells.


    With a Taoist Sword Gesture by Chu He, a glittering radiance emerged in his palm,plex and mysterious patterns manifesting. His arm trembling lightly, he uttered a softmand, and a streak of zing light moved forth, entering Luohu''s incarnation''s body with a hiss.


    Several intricate marks disappeared, and the dark aura enveloping Luohu''s incarnation thinned slightly.


    Chu He was extremely excited, "It''s really working; this demon can''t defend against Divine Soul Attacks!"


    The Asura within the formation''s core, witnessing this scene, had their expression change dramatically, their eyes ring fiercely.


    Yes, the only loophole in the entire process was there.


    In the original n, during the Blood Pool Reincarnation, there should have been auxiliary Spiritual Liquid, the Souls'' Ghost Lotus Liquid, to help Luohu''s Soul Split quickly take over the incarnation.


    The Ghost Lotus Liquid could form a lotus membrane to protect the Soul Body, and besides, it also had a beneficial effect on the fusion of Soul Body and Physical Body.


    Ghost Lotus Liquid was refined using Ghost Lotus as the main material; the problem was that Ghost Lotus grows in the Demon Abyss and matures only once every thousand years, having matured just a few days ago.


    And bringing the Ghost Lotus from the Demon Abyss to the Human Race territory would take some time.


    Not to mention that refining the Ghost Lotus Liquid was an extremely time-consuming task.


    In his estimation, preparing the Ghost Lotus Liquid would take close to three months.


    The aggressive actions of the Zhenjiang Tower forced the Asura tounch the Corpse Puppet Chaos prematurely, and as such, the Ghost Lotus Liquid naturally wasn''t ready.


    While the Asura found an alternative quickly, an alternative was just that, an alternative; its effectiveness was much weaker than the Ghost Lotus Liquid, and itcked the defensive capability against Divine Soul Attacks.


    He thought that such a minor loophole would be very difficult to detect in a short time.


    Yet the oue was contrary to his wishes.


    The Asura''s eyes emitted a bloody red light, his palms in front of him shing together while the four arms behind him each held a dark Magic Wheel, leaping out from the core of the formation, directly assaulting Chu He, Qi Yuan, and Lin Lang.


    Without the protection of the Formation''s power, taking the initiative to provoke the three Nascent Soul Cultivators was undoubtedly a suicidal move.


    But he could no longer care about that; he had to interfere with the three of them.


    If he could just dy for a little while until Luohu could control the Physical Body, what would three Nascent Soul Cultivators matter then?


    Qi Yuan could naturally tell what Asura was thinking.


    "You all continue, leave Asura to me!" Lin Lang took action in an instant, summoning Yuanming Mountain and crashing it down towards Asura with a rolling thunderous sound.


    "Hidden within the formation, I was unable to reach you, but now you''ve voluntarily left its protection. Let''s see what tricks you have left." Lin Lang''s voice was ice-cold, clearly having been irritated earlier, and he immediately dashed, seeking out Asura.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Lin Lang and Asura tangled in battle, with the sound of thunder and lightning explosion, the ng of magic artifacts colliding continuously emanating, and waves of mana dispersing all around.


    On the other side.


    Sssss¡ª


    Under Chu He and Qi Yuan''s relentless attacks, the dense web of marks covering Luohu''s incarnation had faded by twenty percent.


    Just then.


    Thump!


    An intensely strong heartbeat sounded.


    Engaged in a prolonged struggle with Lin Lang and unable to extricate himself, Asura''s face unexpectedly revealed a hint of joy upon hearing this sound.


    The uppermost eye of Luohu''s tightly closed four eyes suddenly opened abruptly.


    It was a blood-red pupil, a vicious aura lurking within it.


    Luohu''s incarnation surveyed the Human Cultivators with its single eye, as though looking down on ants, filled with brutality and coldness.


    Qi Yuan and the others'' continuous attacks had thoroughly enraged the quick-tempered Asura King, Luohu.


    "Once Luohu opens all four eyes, it means he haspletely taken control of this physical body. If we don''t hurry to stop him, it will be toote!" Lu Qingshan was burning with anxiety.


    Qi Yuan and Chu He also understood the urgency of the situation and quickly intensified their offensive. Dantai Qingrun alsounched all of the dozens of Soul Hosting Sword Lights he had painstakingly refined after long cultivation.


    It was only a moment before the marks on Luohu''s body had been reduced by another ten percent, yet his second pupil struggled to open under such dire circumstances.


    At this pace, it would be toote.


    Lu Qingshan drew this conclusion in an instant.


    A sense of powerlessness surged in his heart.


    After all that had been done, was the oue still unchangeable?


    The demonic nature and ferocity of Luohu were unimaginable; once he revived, not a single cultivator on the field would be able to escape a demise.


    In the past life''s storyline, after Luohu''s resurrection, he wiped out Zhenjiang Citypletely with a wave of his hand.


    Luohu''s third eye had also begun to crack open a slim gap.


    "Qi Yuan, there''s no more time. Do you have any other methods left..." Chu He''s aged face wrinkled into a tight bunch, anxious as ever.


    Qi Yuan ceased his Spirit Art and, looking at the extremely anxious Chu He, suddenly spoke, "I have onest method, though I don''t know if it will be sessful."


    Upon hearing this, Chu He''s face immediately showed a glimmer of joy, "Whether it seeds or not, let''s try first. If we dy any further, we won''t even have a chance to try!"


    Qi Yuan nodded, replying, "You''re right."


    In the midst of this turbulent battlefield, Qi Yuan eerily closed his eyes, calming his spirit and steadying his mind.


    A phantom Soul Shadow flew out from the crown of Qi Yuan''s head.


    Then, Qi Yuan''s body, suspended in mid-air, began to fall straight down.


    Dantai Qingrun quickly moved, catching Qi Yuan''s falling physical body.


    Chu He''splexion changed, "Qi Yuan, you...!"


    He never imagined that Qi Yuan''s so-called final method would actually be this.


    Primordial Spirit Possession!


    A secret technique that a cultivator could use only once in their lifetime.


    The second irond rule of Possession: Only those with higher cultivation can possess those with lower cultivation.


    And Luohu''s split soul was clearly stronger than Qi Yuan''s.


    This meant that Qi Yuan''s attempt at possession was doomed to fail from the start.


    Qi Yuan surely understood this principle as well.


    But Qi Yuan''s purpose in using Spirit Possession was to sacrifice his life, bearing the price of his spirit dissipating and not entering the cycle of reincarnation, tounch a suicidal Divine Soul Attack on Luohu!

 Chapter 128 Breaking Boundaries

    Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit moved with extreme speed, carrying a resolute momentum, and charged straight into Luohu''s incarnation.


    For cultivators, the Primordial Spirit is the most vulnerable part, regardless of how advanced their cultivation might be.


    Normally, cultivators would never dare to expose their Primordial Spirits this way, for even a slight attack could lead to the destruction of both body and spirit.


    However, in this battlefield, Luohu''s Soul Split was restrained by the physical body and couldn''t make a move, and the Asura was entangled by Lin Lang.


    With no one able to intervene, in the blink of an eye, Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit entered Luohu''s incarnation.


    The eyes of Luohu''s incarnation, already opened, suddenly distorted and immediately lost focus, then disyed a vast expanse of pale whiteness.


    At this moment, Luohu''s Soul Split was too weak to control his incarnation. He needed to deal with the intruder first.


    Inside Luohu''s body, a fierce battle of Primordial Spirits had already begun.


    ...


    As soon as Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit entered Luohu''s incarnation, what he saw was a vast Blood Sea.


    This was the Sea of Consciousness of Luohu''s incarnation.


    In the crimson blood of the Blood Sea, there were countless distorted human faces, wailing, raging, and seeking life.


    Qi Yuan looked around, and a chill instantly hit him.


    Before him stood a terrifying and daunting specter.


    It was Luohu''s Soul Split.


    Before Qi Yuan could react, Luohu''s Soul Split already let out a grimugh and pounced on him. The next moment, Qi Yuan felt an overwhelming pressure engulfing him like a tide.


    Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit immediately entered a flickering state, greatly weakened.


    Luohu, the Asura King, is one of the most terrifying and powerful rulers of the Demon Race. Even being just a Soul Split, he was still too much for Qi Yuan to handle.


    "Bound by this physical body, I can''t make a move and let you attack at will. Yet you can''t do anything to me. In a direct confrontation, your weak Primordial Spirit is no different to me than an ant," said Luohu''s Soul Split in a cold voice full of mockery.


    Uh...


    Qi Yuan groaned, with his fluttering Primordial Spirit almost dissipating.


    Read exclusive chapters at empire


    "Die!" Qi Yuan bellowed desperately.


    Defeat was inevitable, but he refused to be defeated so easily.


    Numerous zing mes burst forth from Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit, immediately turning it into a fiery sphere.


    This was the burning of the Primordial Spirit Fire.


    Ahhhhh!


    The most extreme pain in the world always stems from the level of the Primordial Spirit.


    Even with Qi Yuan''s resilience, faced with the torment of burning the Primordial Spirit, he couldn''t help but shout and howl in pain.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But Luohu''s Soul Split was also suffering. He tried to quickly annihte Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit with an overwhelming attack, intending to devour Qi Yuan''s spirit with his powerful soul body.


    In this forceful approach, the soul bodies of both intertwined almostpletely, so the mes on Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit spread to Luohu''s Soul Split in an instant.


    "Damn!" Luohu''s Soul Split seemed quite agitated and furious, having not expected Qi Yuan to be so decisive. Mere moments into their closebat, Qi Yuan had chosen the most ruthless method.


    His soul body might be extremely powerful, and the onught of the Primordial Spirit Fire wasn''t fatal to him, but he needed time to extinguish it.


    ...


    After Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit entered Luohu''s incarnation, Chu He stoppedunching Divine Soul Attacks against Luohu''s incarnation.


    Because in such a situation, an attack might not ensure whether it hit Luohu''s Soul Split or Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit.


    With hands free, Chu He immediately turned his attention towards the Asura by his side.


    Zhenjiang Tower and the Asura''s controlled Netherworld of Zhenjiang had been rivals for hundreds of years, harboring countless new and old grudges. This was a rare opportunity for Chu He to settle past conflicts with the Asura!


    "True Monarch Yuanming, I am here to aid you!" Chu He cried out, as countless wooden spikes burst from his hands like torrential rain, shooting towards the Asura who was continuously shing with Lin Lang from Yuanming Mountain.


    The Asura''s expression changed, his heart secretlymenting.


    The title of True Monarch Yuanming originated from his Magic Artifact, the Yuanming Mountain.


    This artifact, which he''d created by spending most of his fortune and gathering various rare materials, was eitherrge or small, astonishingly heavy, and contained a rare and powerful Yuanming Lei seed within the mountain. Under the force of Spiritual Power, it could continuously emit Yuanming Divine Thunder.


    The power of thunder-attributed spells had always been top-notch.


    If not for the Asura''s equally formidable physical prowess, he would have likely been defeated long ago.


    He was already struggling to fend off just the magic artifact from Yuanming Mountain; now, with Chu He adding pressure from the side, how could he not suffer?


    The four arms emerging from the Asura''s back each held a magic wheel, two of which flew out immediately towards the cluster of wooden spikes.


    Seeing the Asura distracted, Lin Lang instantly surged forward, and the might of Yuanming Mountain rose tremendously.


    Bang!


    Under the bombardment of Yuanming Mountain, the Asura staggered backwards several steps, spewing out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    The battle of Nascent Soul cultivators was not something ordinary people could partake in; even Dantai Qingrun, a powerful Golden Core cultivator, could only spectate, and Lu Qingshan was even less likely to get involved.


    He remained focused on the incarnation of Luohu within the Blood Pool.


    How long Qi Yuan could persist was the real concern; the life or death of the Asura was actually trivial.


    ...


    Boom!


    Mu Ke shot out a beam of Spiritual Light from her hand, shattering the blood-red crystal on the stele.


    The survivor, after gathering her teammates'' bodies, immediately proceeded with their squad''s mission alone.


    After a thorough search, she discovered this new Formation Point.


    With the Asura killing the Heart Demon''s mother gu, leading to the death of all the Underworld cultivators in Zhenjiang City, destroying the Formation Points had be easier.


    And simr scenes were happening consecutively in other parts of Zhenjiang City.


    With no Underworld cultivators to hinder them, the speed at which the cultivators of Zhenjiang Tower destroyed the Formation Points increased greatly.


    ...


    Outside Zhenjiang City.


    Countless cracks spread across the iron curtain above, making the barrier appear on the verge of copse.


    This was just over an hour after they started breaking the barrier.


    "Apart from us working hard to break the barrier, there are also people inside the city continuously destroying the Formation Points,"


    "As a result, the power of the barrier is weakening, and our speed in breaking this barrier has significantly increased with the inside-out cooperation," Fengxing Zi exined to Beiming True Venerable, "The copse of this barrier is now within reach!"


    Beiming True Venerable nodded to show he understood.


    "Since it''s within reach, let''s speed up the process a bit more," Beiming True Venerable said softly.


    "Break!"


    Beiming True Venerable bellowed. Purple light shed through both hands as he unleashed two bolts of lightning that flew forward. In midair, they quickly grew into lightning serpents over ten meters long, collided, merged rapidly, and then smashed fiercely against the weak point of the barrier specified by Fengxing Zi.


    ...


    An extremely brilliant light shed into Lu Qingshan''s eyes.


    What''s this?


    Since the Asura Blood Fiend Formation began, a dark sky had enveloped Zhenjiang City.


    The entire city had hence been shrouded in darkness and blood-red hues.


    This unusual sunlight left Lu Qingshan somewhat baffled,


    like the sky after a torrential rain, with heavy clouds dispersing under the rising sun.


    He saw above the once gloomy sky, the dark sky quietly disappearing, and countless streams of sunlight finally unobstructed by the barrier, began to sprinkle over Zhenjiang City again.


    The barrier was broken!


    Lu Qingshan finally realized, and in the next moment, he couldn''t help but be moved.


    Because, from the direction of the rising sun, he saw dozens of cultivators with powerful auras.


    "Beiming True Venerable..." Dantai Qingrun, spotting the leader among the cultivators, uttered with a hint of excitement, "It''s reinforcement from Qing State''s main tower, they''re here!"


    It was reinforcement; the reinforcements had finally arrived!

 Chapter 129 Quelling the Rebellion

    The disaster that struck Zhenjiang City was entirely unexpected. Moreover, the preparations by the Netherworld were so meticulous that they had considered nearly every detail. Therefore, it would take quite some time for other prefectural factions in Qing State to send reinforcements.


    The variable arose when the three Tower Masters of Zhenjiang Tower made the decision to send a Spirit Message to the main tower of Qing State again, just in case, requesting reinforcements once more.


    Zhenjiang Tower had sought help from the main tower twice, and shortly after the second Spirit Message was sent, the teleportation array in Zhenjiang City became inoperative.


    Such a peculiar situation made the tower defense immediately realize the urgency of the matter and dispatch reinforcements right away.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Beiming True Venerable, the vice Tower Master of the main tower in Qing State, personally led the team, a testament to the resoluteness of the tower defenses.


    Under thebined efforts of Chu He and Lin Lang, the Asura, already nearing the end of his strength, found his expression dark as water the moment he realized the barrier was broken, and reinforcements for the Human Race had arrived.


    He still couldn''t understand why his n, which he had believed to be foolproof after a century of preparation, was now unexpectedly filled with setbacks, ending up in such a dire situation?


    On further reflection, it seemed that all these turning points originated from the failure of the Rakshasa''s mirror-stealing n.


    This useless individual, who was only good at ruining things, really had been a misjudgment on his part to entrust him with such a critical task!


    Asura was filled with hatred and gloom.


    If he didn''t leave now, it would be toote.


    Asura looked at the still unconscious incarnation of Luohu, thinking this very thought.


    The Primordial Spirit Possession by Qi Yuan indeed worked wonders and bought a lot of time. Even now, it seemed that Luohu''s Soul Split had not yet eradicated Qi Yuan''s Primordial Spirit.


    sh!


    Suddenly, a towering me of blood erupted from Asura''s body, his fierce might astonishingly overwhelming.


    It seemed that Asura was about to utilize some explosive technique.


    The two experienced Nascent Soul True Monarchs immediately became more cautious and slightly shifted from offense to defense.


    But in the blink of an eye, the expressions of Lin Lang and Chu He abruptly changed.


    Ayer of purple Radiance appeared mysteriously, enveloping Asura along with the demonic mes surging around him.


    Whoosh!


    The next moment, Asura vanished into thin air.


    Simrly, the incarnation of Luohu, shrouded in swirling ck mist within the Blood Pool, was also enveloped by ayer of purple Radiance and disappeared from the Blood Pool.


    "Void Demon!" Chu He spat out these words through gritted teeth.


    This was the Space Shifting Divine Skill of the Void Demon.


    Only the Void Demon had the ability, under the watchful eyes of many, to make someone disappear into thin air.


    This was the terrifying aspect of the Holy Demon Bloodline.


    Space True Intention was a supreme domain that only powerful cultivators could touch upon, but for the Void Demon n, it was an innate ability.


    With this move executed, not a single cultivator in the entire Zhenjiang Prefecture had any countermeasures.


    Whoosh.


    Beiming True Venerable, who was flying at high speed, halted his movement.


    "We will have to drag him out sooner orter!" Having witnessed the Void Demon personally rescuing Luohu''s incarnation and Asura, Beiming True Venerable dered coldly.


    The traces left by the Void Demon''s two interventions were the key to finding the leader of the Qing State branch of the Netherworld.


    Seeing that Asura and Luohu''s incarnation had escaped and the reinforcements for the Human Race had already arrived, Lu Qingshan knew that the turmoil in Zhenjiang Prefecture was nearing its end.


    ...


    ...


    Half a dayter, personnel from other prefectures in Qing State also arrived in Zhenjiang City.


    With the Asura Blood Fiend Formation broken and the barrier gone, Beiming True Venerable organized the cultivators quickly and soon led the mortals out of Zhenjiang City.


    Once Zhenjiang City was cleared, the cultivators formed small teams and began an organized hunt for the vast and uncountable demonic beasts wandering through the city.


    By the third day, the Zhenjiang forces dispatched from Zhenjiang City had finally seeded inpletely suppressing the Corpse Puppet Chaos within the various prefecture cities.


    Without any dy, the Zhenjiang army hurried back to Zhenjiang City at the fastest speed to join the ranks sweeping the demon beasts.


    The demon beasts in the city were cultivated by the Netherworld using unimaginable resources. Although there were many, they were ultimately a finite resource, diminishing one by one, so the cleanup proceeded very smoothly.


    All the cultivators, with great patience and care, plowed through Zhenjiang City back and forth several times to ensure that no stragglers were missed.


    The continuous sounds of bombing and fighting echoed from every corner of Zhenjiang City and persisted for ten days before the city finally calmed down.


    However, though the demon beasts were dead, this once bustling prefectural city had died as well, never again to see its former glory, utterly transformed, full of scars.


    All buildings were destroyed, broken walls and ruins everywhere, debris scattered all around.


    Countless bodies and remains were hidden under copsed buildings, yet to be discovered and cleaned up.


    Streaks of dry, dark red blood stains turned Zhenjiang City into a red city, where countless people had buried their lives forever.


    Lu Qingshan stood midair on his sword looking down on Zhenjiang, his eyes met with a bleak scene.


    "You are seriously injured; why still insist on joining in the cleanup of demon beasts in Zhenjiang City? Aren''t you afraid that your injuries will re up again?" a sh of Sword Light passed, and Dantai Qingrun, riding the Spirit Concealment Sword, stopped beside Lu Qingshan, softly asked.


    Dantai Qingrun''s voice was unusually soft.


    "It''s just a minor injury," Lu Qingshan shook his head, offered no further exnation, and sighed, "How are the casualties?"


    "Of the more than four million people in Zhenjiang City who faced this cmity, only a little over one million survived. Sixty percent of our deployed guards sacrificed their lives, including Qi Yuan..."


    Lu Qingshan remained silent. In reality, although the loss was shocking,pared to his past life, the situation was already much better.


    In his past life, Luohu faced little resistance and very smoothly took over the incarnation of Luohu.


    Once awakened, Luohu, before the human cultivators'' reinforcements could arrive, ruthlessly ughtered his way through Zhenjiang City. Nearly no high-level cultivators survived, and ultimately only about two hundred thousandmon people survived. Discover exclusive tales on empire


    "Great Xia intends to relocate the people of Zhenjiang City to various ces in Qing State. However, it is not mandatory; they can voluntarily choose to stay or leave," Dantai Qingrun said.


    "What are their decisions?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    "Many people''s rtives and friends died in this city; for these people, this ce is and of heartache, so most have chosen to leave Zhenjiang Prefecture, hoping to start anew.


    However, a small number of people feel that fallen leaves should return to their roots and do not wish to leave their homnd amid upheaval; they choose to stay and rebuild Zhenjiang and their homes," answered Dantai Qingrun.


    Lu Qingshan nodded; the situation was much as he had anticipated.


    "Are you preparing to leave without saying goodbye again?" Dantai Qingrun stared intently at Lu Qingshan''s face, suddenly throwing out this question.


    "Is it that obvious?" Lu Qingshan was startled, then spread his hands, somewhat helplessly.


    Dantai Qingrun gave no reply, her eyes sparkling with an unusual light.


    Lu Qingshan nodded then shook his head, exining, "I am leaving, but not without saying goodbye. I was nning to exin the situation before I left."


    After a pause, Lu Qingshan smiled and said, "After all, I now belong to Zhenjiang Tower, and just leaving without a word wouldn''t be right."


    Dantai Qingrun''s eyes lingered on Lu Qingshan''s face for a moment before she inexplicably chuckled, holding out a storage bag that she tossed to Lu Qingshan.


    "What is this?" Lu Qingshan asked, puzzled.


    "In quelling the chaos in Zhenjiang, you yed a vital role. The Tower always rewards based on contributions; naturally, you won''t be shortchanged. This is your reward," calmly said Dantai Qingrun. "As for leaving, I''ll handle the details in the Tower."


    Before Lu Qingshan could express his gratitude, Dantai Qingrun had transformed into a beam of blue light and left on her sword.


    Watching Dantai Qingrun''s departing figure, Lu Qingshan touched his nose.


    This woman truly knows how to handle things cleanly.


    No longer dwelling on it, Lu Qingshan started to examine the contents of the storage bag.


    Oh?


    Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but exim softly.


    The reward from Zhenjiang Tower was indeed substantial.

 Chapter 130 Sword Cultivator

    ---


    ...


    Outside the city, a temporary camp had been set up for the citizens of Zhenjiang City.


    Tent after tent, each very rudimentary, lined up. From above, they looked like numerous small mounds scattered across the ground.


    On an open space, a row of wooden tables was set up, with a bustling crowd of people forming neat lines in front of the tables, monitored by cultivators in charge of maintaining order.


    After a few simple questions from the cultivators, everyone received a small wooden token.


    This was an initiative by Great Xia, where the cultivators organized the data, distinguishing those citizens who wished to leave Zhenjiang for other prefectures from those who wanted to stay.


    Only the cultivators, with their strength alone, could maintain order among such arge gathering of ordinary people without chaos ensuing.


    Reverence for the cultivators was deeply ingrained in the blood of themon folk.


    Apart from the number of ordinary people who had survived being much greater, everything else was almost exactly the same as it had been in the past.


    In the past life after the Corpse Puppet Chaos, it was through this plotline that yers from Zhenjiang Prefecture were able to ess therger map of Qing State and spread out into its thirty-six prefectures.


    Back then, Lu Qingshan had gone to Taiyuan Prefecture in Qing State with a group of yers.


    From the end of the main storyline of the Corpse Puppet Chaos to the beginning of the next main storyline, there would be an extraordinarily long buffer period.


    This period was specifically designed to give yers time to discover andplete various side quests to enhance their strengths.


    ...


    Cai Xingchao was seriously recording information, distributing wooden tokens to the people of Zhenjiang.


    Zhenjiang City had survived with a poption of a million; categorizing such a massive number of humans was a huge project.


    Therefore, Great Xia had temporarily summoned many cultivators from Zhenjiang City to assist, and quite a few members of the Lu Family were also involved.


    Cai Xingchao was one of the many cultivators called upon from Zhenjiang City.


    After being busy for a long time, a somewhat weary Cai Xingchao twisted his neck and looked up slightly, catching a glimpse of a tall, exceptionally handsome man standing to the side out of the corner of his eye.


    "I need to leave for a bit, please can you watch over things for me?" Cai Xingchao quickly requested the cultivator beside him.


    The cultivator next to him nodded, "Go ahead,e back as quickly as you can."


    "Lu Brother, how long have you been here?" After handing over his tasks, Cai Xingchao approached apologetically.


    Lu Qingshan smiled and said, "I''ve also just arrived not long ago. How is your mother doing?"


    "She''s not too bad, it''s just that she had only recently recovered from the venom of the Red Pearl Snake, and then this incident happened. After all the ordeals, she''s still weak and needs to rest and recuperate for a while before she can recover."


    "What are your ns next, to go to another prefecture, or...?"


    Cai Xingchao shook his head, smiled shyly, and said firmly, "I want to stay in Zhenjiang. Grandfather died for this city, and I think he would be happy to see Zhenjiang rebuilt if he could witness it from the Netherworld."


    Lu Qingshan looked at the young man before him and approvingly said, "That''s good."


    "Lu Brother, are you leaving then?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    "I guessed as much. My mother told me that for someone like Lu Brother, Zhenjiang Prefecture is too small." Cai Xingchao said with understanding, a hint of longing in his eyes, "The world outside must be fascinating..."


    ...


    Atop a low hill outside Zhenjiang City stood three fresh mounds of earth.


    When Lu Qingshan arrived, two people were already standing in front of the graves.


    Xiao Zhi and Su Shu.


    Both appeared calm, but Lu Qingshan knew that as the deaths of Xu Hao, Zhong Ming, and Li Zu had only urred ten days ago, their sorrow could not possibly have faded so quickly. They simply kept their emotions buried deep inside.


    Lu Qingshan stood quietly with them in front of the graves for a long time.


    "Su Shu Sister decided to leave the Knowledge Guard Tower, and you''re leaving Zhenjiang, too. In the end, only I will be left from the Tiger Squad..." Xiao Zhi said wistfully.


    ---


    "Do a good job," Lu Qingshan patted Xiao Zhi on the shoulder with encouragement.


    The once lively Su Shu of the Tiger Squad was now silently staring at Lu Qingshan.


    This disaster had changed too much.


    Lu Qingshan sighed, walked over, and gave Su Shu a slight hug before whispering to her with somewhat moist eyes, "Sister Su Shu, you must understand that life is not the way we''ve lived it, but rather, the way we remember it."


    Su Shu was stunned for a long time, staring straight into Lu Qingshan''s handsome but youthful face.


    At that moment, the youngster''s eyes seemed to hold deep ravines.


    ...


    At the Lu family of Mihe Peak, the clothing workshop.


    In the battle with the Golden Core Cultivators from the Netherworld, Lu Qingshan had been seriously internally wounded, and to recuperate, he returned to the Lu Family to rest for half a month.


    At this time, the atmosphere inside the clothing workshop was quite tense and edgy.


    "Do you really have to go?" Lu Zhou said with indignation.


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    "For what reason?"


    Lu Qingshan candidly replied, "To increase my cultivation."


    This experience had made it all the clearer to Lu Qingshan how important strength was in the Nine Heavens.


    If one''s own strength wasn''t enough, even if they knew how things would unfold, they still couldn''t change anything.


    "Can''t your strength be increased by staying with the Lu family? With your talents, we could give you all of the Lu family''s resources without reservation," Lu Zhou said in a deep voice.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lu Qingshan shook his head calmly and said softly, "Great Elder, I am a Sword Cultivator."


    Lu Zhou was taken aback and didn''t speak for a long time. After a while, he sighed lightly and took out a storage bag, handing it to Lu Qingshan.


    "If you are determined to leave, I can''t stop you. However, venturing out there without the protection of the family means you have to be very careful. Consider these for your expenses outside."


    Lu Qingshan silently epted the storage bag, cupped his hands towards Lu Zhou, and said, "I thank the Great Elder in advance, then. Qingshan will take his leave first."


    Lu Zhou waved his hand, "Go on, go on, just don''t forget toe back and visit."


    ...


    At the summit of Mihe Peak, two Golden Core Cultivators watched as a sword light dashed from the foot of Mihe Peak, quickly soared, and then vanished into the horizon.


    "Did you already guess that the Great Elder couldn''t keep him here?" Lu Yuan asked the stunningly handsome male Cultivator beside him.


    "Sword Cultivators are naturally free-spirited; how could they ever be confined to one ce?" Lu Bei responded calmly.


    "Indeed, other Cultivators might be able to advance through seclusion and hard training, but Sword Cultivators can''t achieve that through mere diligence," Lu Yuan nodded in agreement, then said, "That''s your son, and with his departure, who knows when he''ll return. Don''t you n to see him off?"


    Lu Bei shook his head, his figure shed, and he became a streak of blue light that sped away, "I''m on the verge of a breakthrough and nning to go into seclusion. During this time, don''t disturb me."


    Watching the blue light fade away, Lu Yuan shook his head and chuckled bitterly, "This father and son pair..."


    ...


    Under the sky as blue and clear as water, a streak of elegant sword light passed by, leaving a very faint trail in its wake.


    "Lu Qingshan, where are we heading?" a sly voice rang out among the clouds.


    "The South Sea."


    "I hate the sea. Can we go somewhere else?"


    "No."


    "Then what are we going to do there?"


    "Search for a sword!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 131 - 130 Sword Cultivator

    ---


    ...


    Outside the city, a temporary camp had been set up for the citizens of Zhenjiang City.


    Tent after tent, each very rudimentary, lined up. From above, they looked like numerous small mounds scattered across the ground.


    On an open space, a row of wooden tables was set up, with a bustling crowd of people forming neat lines in front of the tables, monitored by cultivators in charge of maintaining order.


    After a few simple questions from the cultivators, everyone received a small wooden token.


    This was an initiative by Great Xia, where the cultivators organized the data, distinguishing those citizens who wished to leave Zhenjiang for other prefectures from those who wanted to stay.


    Only the cultivators, with their strength alone, could maintain order among such arge gathering of ordinary people without chaos ensuing.


    Reverence for the cultivators was deeply ingrained in the blood of themon folk.


    Apart from the number of ordinary people who had survived being much greater, everything else was almost exactly the same as it had been in the past.


    In the past life after the Corpse Puppet Chaos, it was through this plotline that yers from Zhenjiang Prefecture were able to ess therger map of Qing State and spread out into its thirty-six prefectures.


    Back then, Lu Qingshan had gone to Taiyuan Prefecture in Qing State with a group of yers.


    From the end of the main storyline of the Corpse Puppet Chaos to the beginning of the next main storyline, there would be an extraordinarily long buffer period.


    This period was specifically designed to give yers time to discover andplete various side quests to enhance their strengths.


    ...


    Cai Xingchao was seriously recording information, distributing wooden tokens to the people of Zhenjiang.


    Zhenjiang City had survived with a poption of a million; categorizing such a massive number of humans was a huge project.


    Therefore, Great Xia had temporarily summoned many cultivators from Zhenjiang City to assist, and quite a few members of the Lu Family were also involved.


    Cai Xingchao was one of the many cultivators called upon from Zhenjiang City.


    After being busy for a long time, a somewhat weary Cai Xingchao twisted his neck and looked up slightly, catching a glimpse of a tall, exceptionally handsome man standing to the side out of the corner of his eye.


    "I need to leave for a bit, please can you watch over things for me?" Cai Xingchao quickly requested the cultivator beside him.


    The cultivator next to him nodded, "Go ahead,e back as quickly as you can."


    "Lu Brother, how long have you been here?" After handing over his tasks, Cai Xingchao approached apologetically.


    Lu Qingshan smiled and said, "I¡¯ve also just arrived not long ago. How is your mother doing?"


    "She¡¯s not too bad, it¡¯s just that she had only recently recovered from the venom of the Red Pearl Snake, and then this incident happened. After all the ordeals, she¡¯s still weak and needs to rest and recuperate for a while before she can recover."


    "What are your ns next, to go to another prefecture, or...?"


    Cai Xingchao shook his head, smiled shyly, and said firmly, "I want to stay in Zhenjiang. Grandfather died for this city, and I think he would be happy to see Zhenjiang rebuilt if he could witness it from the Netherworld."


    Lu Qingshan looked at the young man before him and approvingly said, "That¡¯s good."


    "Lu Brother, are you leaving then?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    "I guessed as much. My mother told me that for someone like Lu Brother, Zhenjiang Prefecture is too small." Cai Xingchao said with understanding, a hint of longing in his eyes, "The world outside must be fascinating..."


    ...


    Atop a low hill outside Zhenjiang City stood three fresh mounds of earth.


    When Lu Qingshan arrived, two people were already standing in front of the graves.


    Xiao Zhi and Su Shu.


    Both appeared calm, but Lu Qingshan knew that as the deaths of Xu Hao, Zhong Ming, and Li Zu had only urred ten days ago, their sorrow could not possibly have faded so quickly. They simply kept their emotions buried deep inside.


    Lu Qingshan stood quietly with them in front of the graves for a long time.


    "Su Shu Sister decided to leave the Knowledge Guard Tower, and you¡¯re leaving Zhenjiang, too. In the end, only I will be left from the Tiger Squad..." Xiao Zhi said wistfully.


    ---


    "Do a good job," Lu Qingshan patted Xiao Zhi on the shoulder with encouragement.


    The once lively Su Shu of the Tiger Squad was now silently staring at Lu Qingshan.


    This disaster had changed too much.


    Lu Qingshan sighed, walked over, and gave Su Shu a slight hug before whispering to her with somewhat moist eyes, "Sister Su Shu, you must understand that life is not the way we¡¯ve lived it, but rather, the way we remember it."


    Su Shu was stunned for a long time, staring straight into Lu Qingshan¡¯s handsome but youthful face.


    At that moment, the youngster¡¯s eyes seemed to hold deep ravines.


    ...


    At the Lu family of Mihe Peak, the clothing workshop.


    In the battle with the Golden Core Cultivators from the Netherworld, Lu Qingshan had been seriously internally wounded, and to recuperate, he returned to the Lu Family to rest for half a month.


    At this time, the atmosphere inside the clothing workshop was quite tense and edgy.


    "Do you really have to go?" Lu Zhou said with indignation.


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    "For what reason?"


    Lu Qingshan candidly replied, "To increase my cultivation."


    This experience had made it all the clearer to Lu Qingshan how important strength was in the Nine Heavens.


    If one¡¯s own strength wasn¡¯t enough, even if they knew how things would unfold, they still couldn¡¯t change anything.


    "Can¡¯t your strength be increased by staying with the Lu family? With your talents, we could give you all of the Lu family¡¯s resources without reservation," Lu Zhou said in a deep voice.


    Lu Qingshan shook his head calmly and said softly, "Great Elder, I am a Sword Cultivator."


    Lu Zhou was taken aback and didn¡¯t speak for a long time. After a while, he sighed lightly and took out a storage bag, handing it to Lu Qingshan.


    "If you are determined to leave, I can¡¯t stop you. However, venturing out there without the protection of the family means you have to be very careful. Consider these for your expenses outside."


    Lu Qingshan silently epted the storage bag, cupped his hands towards Lu Zhou, and said, "I thank the Great Elder in advance, then. Qingshan will take his leave first."


    Lu Zhou waved his hand, "Go on, go on, just don¡¯t forget toe back and visit."


    ...


    At the summit of Mihe Peak, two Golden Core Cultivators watched as a sword light dashed from the foot of Mihe Peak, quickly soared, and then vanished into the horizon.


    "Did you already guess that the Great Elder couldn¡¯t keep him here?" Lu Yuan asked the stunningly handsome male Cultivator beside him.


    "Sword Cultivators are naturally free-spirited; how could they ever be confined to one ce?" Lu Bei responded calmly.


    "Indeed, other Cultivators might be able to advance through seclusion and hard training, but Sword Cultivators can¡¯t achieve that through mere diligence," Lu Yuan nodded in agreement, then said, "That¡¯s your son, and with his departure, who knows when he¡¯ll return. Don¡¯t you n to see him off?"


    Lu Bei shook his head, his figure shed, and he became a streak of blue light that sped away, "I¡¯m on the verge of a breakthrough and nning to go into seclusion. During this time, don¡¯t disturb me."


    Watching the blue light fade away, Lu Yuan shook his head and chuckled bitterly, "This father and son pair..."


    ...


    Under the sky as blue and clear as water, a streak of elegant sword light passed by, leaving a very faint trail in its wake.


    "Lu Qingshan, where are we heading?" a sly voice rang out among the clouds.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "The South Sea."


    "I hate the sea. Can we go somewhere else?"


    "No."


    "Then what are we going to do there?"


    "Search for a sword!"

 Chapter 132 - 1 Tianyuan

    "Above the archipgo of the South Sea, the most illustrious sword-casting family is none other than the Dragon Spring¡¯s Mo Family.


    The swords forged by the Mo Family, each one capable of matching the Sword Qi with Fighting Bulls, are thus widely sought after by Sword Cultivators throughout the world.


    For a millennium, the Mo Family had crafted countless famous swords, but thirty years ago, the current Family Head cast a Treasured Sword that even attracted Heavenly Punishment, aiming to destroy this sword.


    The day the Treasured Sword came into existence, lightning zigzagged across the sky, and thunder rumbled. A single gesture scattered spirits and specters; thunder and lightning roared moving Heaven and Earth, with hundreds of meters long lightning serpents slithering through the air.


    That could truly be described as the Heavenly Thunder lighting up the Qingming in the Nine Heavens, its brilliance shining over the South Sea. The Mo Family exerted all their strength and only managed to preserve this Treasured Sword amidst the vast Heavenly Thunder Tribtion.


    Since then, the name of the Mo Family echoed even louder across the South Sea, with their reputation unmatched for a time.


    But the world is unpredictable, and thus a sword-casting noble family that had reached its zenith was obliterated overnight twenty years ago! Do you know why?"


    Inside an ancient and elegant tea house, tea patrons gathered, and an old storyteller spoke with humor and grace, but he stopped right at the climax, sitting up straight, taking a subtle sip of tea, and teasing the audience with a cliffhanger.


    Ahem.


    Suddenly, an object shing with silver light was thrown onto the table in front of the storytelling old man, who, upon closer inspection, was startled to see a full ingot of silver.


    "What¡¯s this for? Old mister, do tell the tale properly, and if it¡¯s good, there¡¯s more where that came from," came a gentle voice from a corner of the tea house.


    The old storyteller¡¯s dim eyes sparkled uncontrobly with joy as he quickly pocketed the silver, while his gaze turned towards the generous patron.


    What a handsome young man; from which noble family might this master be!


    The storyteller wondered in his heart.


    Catching his eye was a tall and elegant youth, umonly handsome, with piercing, clear eyes full of spirit, sitting in one corner of the tea house, a smile ying on his lips.


    It was none other than Lu Qingshan who had left Zhenjiang Prefectural City!


    "Many thanks to the young master for the reward," the storyteller hastened to continue, "Sess because of the Treasured Sword, downfall also because of the Treasured Sword."


    "The Mo Family once reached the pinnacle because they forged this sword that drew down Heavenly Punishment, but peak inevitably leads to decline, and the Mo Family¡¯s downfall was precisely due to this sword as well."


    "This sword is called the Three-feet Edge, with a poem saying, ¡¯With the Three-feet Edge in the scabbard on his back, wherever Jiaolong dwells, it shall sh the Jiaolong,¡¯ describing the might of this sword, iming it could drink the blood of the Jiaolong n. Though the Mo Family kept silent about it, such rumors still widely circted."


    "But one must know that the sea has always been the domain of Water Demons.


    Among the Water Demon n, the Jiaolong n is the most powerful. When the tale that the Three-feet Edge could sh the Jiaolong spread far and wide, how could the fierce and stubborn Jiaolong n tolerate the Mo Family?


    Overnight, a thousand Jiaolong stirred the sea, rising waves of horror, and in the blink of an eye, the millennium-old sword-casting family was wiped out, along with the ind they inhabited, which sank into the sea."


    The storyteller, with ups and downs in his voice, finished this part of the tale in one breath, his eager eyes returning to Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t disappoint him and, with a flick of his wrist, another ingot of silver was thrown out.


    Seeing the storyteller receive two hefty ingots of silver in the blink of an eye, other patrons in the tea house felt envious. Immediately, someone tapped their wooden chopstick against their tea bowl, grumbling discontentedly, "Storyteller, do you have anything new? You¡¯ve told this sword-casting family tale who knows how many times.


    This handsome young master is new and finds it fresh, but we regrs won¡¯t be so easily amused."


    "Indeed, bring on something new; this is getting dull..." theints gathered and soon many other tea patrons joined in the grumbling.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The storyteller joyously pocketed the silver and, with a clever spin of his eyes and a smile stered on his face, addressed the crowd, "Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush, I¡¯ve got a fresh one for you."


    He wasn¡¯t a fool; such lucrative generosity from patrons was clearly a rare urrence, and he still relied on these regrs in the tea house for his livelihood--he couldn¡¯t afford to offend them.


    After a bit of thought, the storyteller gently waved his fan and began to narrate anew, "They say that within the Boundless Sea Area, there exists an Eternal Whale Species, of massive size and a fondness for slumber, floating on the sea¡¯s surface, where a single sleep couldst an age. Unmoved by wind or rain, it gradually evolved into an ind..."


    "Whale turned ind? Storyteller, we asked for something fresh, and if you don¡¯t have any substance, stop babbling and pulling the wool over our eyes!" the patron who spoke up earlier immediately expressed dissatisfaction.


    The storyteller¡¯s eyes widened, "How can you so groundlessly tarnish someone¡¯s reputation..."


    "Reputation? The Eternal Whale bing an ind¡ªjust how enormous must that whale be? Go on, tell me. If you do a good job, I might not be asvish as this young master here, but I can still reward you with a bit of money, even if it means getting a scolding from the wife back home," the tea drinker said loudly.


    The storyteller hemmed and hawed for a long time but failed toe up with an estimate.


    The tea drinker seized on the storyteller¡¯s words, "As expected, it¡¯s all nonsense. You can¡¯t even make it sound usible before being exposed!"


    The storyteller¡¯s face instantly turned red, with veins popping out on his forehead as he argued, "Artistic embellishment can¡¯t be considered fabrication... embellishing! Can the tales of a storyteller be considered nonsense?"


    The crowd couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter, and the teahouse was suddenly filled with a merry atmosphere.


    After a while, theughter of the tea drinkers quieted down, and the storyteller¡¯splexion gradually returned to normal. He waved his hand, "Enough, enough. This time I¡¯ll tell you all something absolutely fresh."


    Another round ofughter erupted in the teahouse.


    "Have you heard about the events at Zhenjiang Prefectural City in Qing State?" the storyteller asked with a solemn face.


    "I¡¯ve heard a bit of news. It seems that about three months ago, a major upheaval happened there. The casualties throughout the prefecture were severe, and Zhenjiang City itself was reduced to ruins..." said a well-informed tea drinker.


    Gasps!


    At those words, the other tea drinkers all sucked in a breath of cold air.


    "The Prefectural City turned to ruins?"


    "How is that possible? How many people must have died?"


    "..."


    Onement stirred up thousands of waves.


    Lu Qingshan hadn¡¯t expected that so far from Zhenjiang Prefectural City, he would still hear news of it.


    The storyteller was clearly very pleased with the reaction of the tea drinkers, shaking his paper fan proudly as he said, "You heard right. Over three months ago, Zhenjiang experienced an unprecedented upheaval. Of the more than four million people in Zhenjiang City, only about one million survived after the catastrophe."


    "What¡¯s more important is the aftermath that this incident brought about." The storyteller paused, took a sip of tea to catch his breath, and then continued with animation, "Great Xia has held on to the era name of Chang¡¯an for a whole twenty thousand years.


    However, after the turmoil in Zhenjiang Prefectural City, the Grand State Preceptor, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, performed a heaven-defying act and stole a glimpse of the heavenly secrets.


    It is said that this glimpse of the heavenly secrets predicted that our Great Xia would fall into an unprecedented turmoil, with Zhenjiang Prefectural City being just the beginning.


    And thus, after twenty thousand years of Chang¡¯an, Great Xia changed the era name to ¡¯Tianyuan¡¯!"


    At the end of his story, the storyteller gently struck the pper.


    "Tianyuan? Old sir, are you saying the new era name is Tianyuan?!" Surprised by the storyteller¡¯s tone, the generous young gentleman stood up and asked in amazement.


    The storyteller was somewhat puzzled, but he nodded, "Yes, young master. Three days ago, Great Xia already announced to the world that the new era is named Tianyuan."


    Tianyuan!


    Lu Qingshan was extremely shocked in his heart.


    ording to the original plot development, the new era name should be Immortal Martial.


    How did it change to Tianyuan?!

 Chapter 133 - 2 Bibo City

    It was only the era name that changed from Immortal Martial to Tianyuan, a seemingly trivial alteration in name that appeared to be no big deal.


    But one must understand, the range of impact thates with a change in the era name epasses the entire Human Race.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Given such a broad scope of influence, even the smallest change is enough to stir up a storm, let alone the change of something as deeply significant as the era name.


    How could such a phenomenon be merely summed up by the so-called ¡¯butterfly effect¡¯?


    After receiving confirmation, Lu Qingshan was quite astonished as he sat back down on the wooden chair.


    This interlude did not interrupt the leisurely mood of the patrons, nor did they take seriously the storyteller¡¯s im that the world would fall into chaos.


    Setting aside whether it was true or false, simply the daily concerns of firewood, rice, oil, and salt were already enough for themon folk to worry about; the turmoil of the world seemed too distant, seemingly of little relevance to them.


    The storyteller continued to delve into his repertoire, speaking until his mouth was dry and his tongue parched, but he persisted in his enthusiastic narration. During this, he asionally cast furtive nces at Lu Qingshan.


    He was still hoping to receive another tip or two from Lu Qingshan.


    But to his disappointment, that handsome young lord had been motionless ever since sitting down, as if deep in thought.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s emotions were somewhatplex, containing both surprise and worry.


    The joy stemmed from the fact that if history could undergo such a major shift, it indicated that his desire to alter the predetermined course of the storyline was entirely feasible.


    The so-called predestined force that would correct history back to its original track was nothing but baseless talk, a non-existent notion.


    The worry was because he had only been in this world for half a year, and his own strength was still very weak, which meant he was unable to stop the destruction of Zhenjiang City or the revival of Luohu, despite numerous attempts during the Corpse Puppet Chaos.


    The only thing worth mentioning was that the number of survivors from Zhenjiang City was over eight hundred thousand more than in the original history.


    Yet such an insignificant change had already caused history to veer so greatly off course.


    Continuing like this, unless he did nothing at all, the course of history would inevitably develop into a situationpletely different from his previous life.


    This meant that he would lose his most important reliance.


    Indeed, in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart, his greatest Golden Finger had always been his thorough familiarity with the storyline.


    After a long period of contemtion, Lu Qingshan finally snapped back to reality, picked up the teacup, and drank all the tea in a single gulp.


    Why bother with so much fuss? Just get it done first. Isn¡¯t what he wanted just to change the predestined development of the storyline?


    Having thought it through, Lu Qingshan was no longer troubled. He called out to West Rat King, who was using Illusion Technique to obscure mortal vision, and unabashedly eating and drinking at the table, and stood up to leave.


    ...


    Upon exiting the teahouse, what greeted him was a street far wider and brighter than those of Zhenjiang City, with the salty scent of the sea wafting through the air.


    This was Bibo City, the Prefectural City of Jian State¡¯s Jianan Prefecture, and also thergest seaport city in the Southern Territory. It served as the transport hub connecting the Southern Territory with the inds of the South Sea, and its prosperity ranked first among all the prefectural cities in the entire Southern Territory.


    "Lu Qingshan, what sword are you really looking for?" West Rat King asked from its perch on Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder, tirelessly repeating the question it had asked for the past three months.


    "Didn¡¯t you hear just now in the teahouse?" For once, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t keep West Rat King in suspense and answered frankly.


    "What?" The Western Mouse King was taken aback and hurriedly began to search through his memories. He quickly came to a realization, "Are you talking about the Three-feet Edge?!"


    "Yes." Lu Qingshan nodded.


    "Wasn¡¯t it said that the Mo Family was annihted twenty years ago?" The Western Mouse King was very puzzled.


    "The Mo Family was indeed annihted, but the Mo Family Head survived, and he has the Three-feet Edge in his hands," Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes shed with a strange light.


    This was the purpose of his journey all the way to the South Sea.


    For a Sword Cultivator to choose a Life-bound Sword, it is often more cautious than choosing a Dao Companion.


    After all, a Dao Companion may not apany you for a lifetime, but a Life-bound Sword can.


    With Lu Qingshan¡¯s discernment, he naturally wouldn¡¯t settle for an ordinary Sword Artifact.


    But the mystery of the Three-feet Edge had even him, deeply moved, because the Three-feet Edge was a Heaven Rank Sword Artifact!


    "Do you know where the Mo Family Head is staying now?!" The Western Mouse King was quite astute, immediately making the most reasonable guess.


    Lu Qingshan slightly shook his head, "He¡¯s disguised and his whereabouts are elusive, how would I know where he is?"


    The Western Mouse King¡¯s voice rose a few notches, "You don¡¯t know where he is? Then how are you going to find the sword? You can¡¯t possibly be searching for a needle in a haystack, can you?!"


    Hearing this, Lu Qingshanughed and nodded earnestly, "You guessed right. I¡¯m indeed looking for a needle in a haystack."


    "..."


    "We¡¯ve arrived," Lu Qingshan said softly as he looked at the enormous port in front of him.


    The port of Bibo City, Bibow Port.


    Huge merchant ships, cargo ships, and passenger ships crammed the port space, bustling with people.


    The daily throughput of ships at Bibow Port was an astonishing number, virtually every hour there were numerous fleets either setting sail from Bibow Port or returning.


    In a world where Cultivators existed, the shipbuilding industry was far more advanced than in ancient Huaxia, as evidenced by the fact that thergest merchant ship in the port could reach up to one or two thousand zhang in size. Of course, such merchant ships couldn¡¯t possibly have been built by mere mortals alone; they must contain more or less Cultivation techniques.


    Over the South Sea, inds were scattered like stars across the sky. Except for truly powerful Cultivators or those whose minds had gone astray, no one would choose flying as a means of travel.


    Because the distance between each ind in the South Sea was vast, and unlike onnd where one couldnd at any time to replenish Spiritual Power, once a Cultivator¡¯s Spiritual Power was exhausted mid-flight, it would mean falling into the sea.


    And even for Cultivators, it was impossible to stay soaked in the sea for too long, not to mention that there were often bloodthirsty Water Demons lurking, presenting immense danger.


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan, preparing to go to sea to find the sword, had to travel by ship.


    Lu Qingshan roamed around Bibow Port and found a medium-sized fleet that was about to set out to the Poseidon Archipgo among the fleets nning to head there.


    It was originally a merchant fleet and didn¡¯t take passengers. But as the saying goes, ¡¯Money makes the mare go.¡¯ As long as the price is right, these merchants would haul a ship of monkeys if asked to, let alone people.


    Lu Qingshan offered a good price, negotiated the time with the ship¡¯s captain, and thus set his schedule.


    The Poseidon Archipgo was a good eight or nine thousand kilometers away from Bibo City, thergest archipgo within ten thousand kilometers outside the city.

 Chapter 134 - 3 The Five Elements Sword Armor

    One day remained before the fleet was scheduled to set sail, and Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t just wait around, he began to tour Bibo City with the King of Western Rats.


    Before leaving Zhenjiang Prefecture, Dantai Qingrun and Lu Zhou each gave him a storage bag.


    Lu Zhou was very straightforward and simple; aside from Spirit Stones, there was nothing else in the storage bag, though the quantity was indeed sizable.


    As for Dantai Qingrun, he was quite particr, having stored two Jade Slips in the given storage bag.


    One of the Jade Slips was for the "Five Elements Sword Armor" Dharma.


    Men¡¯s armor and women¡¯s clothing.


    The Five Elements Sword Armor and the Golden Sword Apparel that Dantai Qingrun cultivated were actually top-notch defense techniques inherited from the same lineage.


    Unlike the Golden Sword Apparel, the Five Elements Sword Armor epassed the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, making it moreplete and more powerful, but also more difficult to sessfully cultivate.


    Because the Five Elements Sword Armor should actually be considered as five separate Techniques.


    The Sword Garment also involved five elements, but the materials required for cultivating the Sword Garment were so expensive, the energy consumed so immense, and the Contribution Value needed to exchange for aplete Five Elements Sword Garment Dharma so high, that Dantai Qingrun could only choose to first cultivate the Golden Sword Apparel, the most widely applicable Technique of the Five Elements Sword Garment.


    Lu Qingshan had made significant contributions during the Corpse Puppet Chaos, allowing the Knowledge Defense Tower to directly bestow upon him theplete Five Elements Sword Armor Dharma, something even Golden Core Cultivators found hard to possess.


    For such a top-notch defense technique, there was no reason for Lu Qingshan not to cultivate it.


    However, unlike ordinary Techniques, its cultivation also required the additional help of Spirit Materials.


    After leaving Zhenjiang Prefecture, Lu Qingshan traveled far and wide, first passing through various prefectures in Qing State, and then using a Teleportation Array to cross over Jian State, finally reaching Bibo City.


    Along the way, he entered every new city to search for and purchase the Spirit Materials needed for the Five Elements Sword Armor.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He had spent nearly all the Spirit Stones given by Lu Zhou, but in the end, he still hadn¡¯t managed to gather any of the Spirit Materials required for any Attribute of Sword Armor.


    As a coastal city, Bibo City naturally had a far superior Water Element affinitypared to other attributes, and ordingly, the variety, quality, and price of Water Attribute Spirit Materials also surpassed those of the ind areas.


    Lu Qingshan was hoping to gather all the Spirit Materials required for the Water Walking Sword Armor in such a ce.


    Even just to initially form the Water Walking Sword Armor, it required a total of eighteen kinds of Third Grade Water Element Spirit Materials and one Fourth Grade Water Element Spirit Material.


    Of the eighteen Third Grade Spirit Materials, Lu Qingshan had already collected sixteen. He nowcked only the remaining two Third Grade and that single Fourth Grade Spirit Material.


    Usually, Fourth Grade Spirit Materials are the main materials used by Nascent Soul Cultivators in refining Magical Artifacts.


    Considering the cultivation cost, the Five Elements Sword Armor should indeed be a Technique suitable for Golden Core Sword Cultivators to learn.


    Fortunately, Lu Qingshan was quite wealthy, even more so than ordinary Golden Core Cultivators, which allowed him to start cultivating the Five Elements Sword Armor during the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    ...


    The Great Xia Commercial Firm in Bibo City, whenpared to other Commercial Firms in prefectural cities, could only be described as extraordinarilyvish; the high-rise building was tens of meters tall and grandly decorated.


    Lu Qingshan casually walked into the grand entrance of the Great Xia Commercial Firm and was immediately greeted by a beautiful blue-robed maid with a smile.


    "I need a standard lot of Third Grade Water Element Spirit Material Xuan Water Jade, over three taels of Cang Wave Root, and more than one tael of Fourth Grade Water Element Spirit Material Sea Blue Marrow," Lu Qingshan stated straightforwardly.


    "Spirit Materials above Third Grade are on the third floor, please follow me," the maid led Lu Qingshan to the third floor.


    As he stepped onto the third floor, Lu Qingshan immediately sensed waves of inexplicable Spiritual Power fluctuations in the air.


    This ce was littered with various formations, and once someone dared to act wildly here, the formations would immediately activate with the force of thunder, killing the offender on the spot.


    The maid walked over to an old man on the third floor and whispered a few words to him.


    The elderly man nodded, rose, and said to Lu Qingshan, "Young master, please wait a moment."


    Lu Qingshan gestured his understanding.


    The elderly man walked deeper into the third floor, and soon returned with three jade boxes, which he handed to Lu Qingshan, exining, "Xuan Water Jade and Canng Root are not rare in Bibo City and are even a tenth cheaper than in other ces.


    However, this Sea Blue Marrow is different; it has always been an excellent spirit material for refining Water Element Magical Artifacts.


    Even here, it is perpetually out of stock. You are in luck, young master, as our firm just recently acquired a batch of Sea Blue Marrow; otherwise, we really wouldn¡¯t have been able to satisfy your needs.


    However, as such a sought-after spirit material, I¡¯m afraid we cannot offer any discount on the Sea Blue Marrow."


    Lu Qingshan opened the jade box, and a rich Water Element spiritual essence burst forth, making one feel as though they were amidst the ocean waves. The translucent, liquid-like, magnificent crystals caught his eye.


    This was the Sea Blue Marrow.


    A thought crossed Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    He hadn¡¯t expected things to go so smoothly; he had visited the Great Xia Commercial Firm and managed to gather thest three spirit materials needed for the Water Walking Sword Armor.


    This meant he could begin the refining ritual for the Water Walking Sword Armor.


    Lu Qingshan joyfully said, "It should indeed be so. The price is not an issue; I¡¯ll take all three spirit materials."


    After nearly depleting his remaining savings and paying an amount of Spirit Stones that even a Golden Core Cultivator would find painful, Lu Qingshan left the Great Xia Commercial Firm, satisfied with the three spirit materials.


    ...


    The fleet Lu Qingshan boarded set sail the next morning. Composed of ninerge ten-thousand-material ships, these merchant ships had very deep drafts because most of their cargo was food, with only a small portion being tea,cquerware, spices, and other rare items.


    Due to his generous spending, Lu Qingshan was allotted the most luxurious cabin, which was not only spacious and bright but also came with meticulous service.


    The wind direction on the sea often changed. There were favourable winds, but headwinds were not umon, yet for wooden sailboats still reliant on wind power, the fear wasn¡¯t a headwind but rather no wind at all.


    During headwinds, by steering the ship in a zigzag pattern, the headwind could be turned into a sidewind, and the stronger the wind, the faster they would travel.


    ording to the seasoned captain¡¯s years of sailing experience, it would take more than a month to reach Poseidon Archipgo from the day they set sail.


    This length of time was not long for Lu Qingshan, especially since he had tasks to attend to.


    Refining the Water Walking Sword Armor.


    The Five Elements Sword Armor was quite special, being both a magical artifact and a technique. Lu Qingshan could not simply master this technique by consuming Experience Points; he had to earnestly devote himself to the slow and arduous refining process.


    It is worth mentioning that in the course of over three months of travel, mostly by using the Sword Control Technique, this high-frequency usage had naturally enhanced his originally level 1 Sword Control Technique to level 5.


    The speed of this skill level upgrade might seem exaggerated, but it wasn¡¯t because the Sword Control Technique was too simplistic; rather, it was due to the innate Sword Dao talent bestowed upon Lu Qingshan by the Innate Swordseed, far surpassing ordinary people.


    For a regr Sword Cultivator to elevate their Sword Control from level 1 to level 5 normally required seven to eight years of continuous effort.


    With the enhancement from the Innate Swordseed, Lu Qingshan¡¯s mastery speed of sword techniques had reached an extremely exaggerated level.


    In the realm of the Sword Dao, the importance of innate talent far outweighs diligent effort.

 Chapter 135 - 4: Sword Qi

    gurgle... gurgle... gurgle...


    Groups of seagulls flew through the sky, issuing high and clear cries.


    The merchant ship sailed smoothly with the wind, the waves pped against the bow, raising heaps of white foam, making a sshing sound.


    At the rear of the fleet, the azure sea was dragged into nine long, rolling silver ribbons.


    What a beautiful sight to behold... if it weren¡¯t the same every day.


    This was the eleventh day the merchant ship had been at sea, and they hadpleted less than a third of their journey.


    Knock knock knock!


    The door to the cabin where Lu Qingshan was located was knocked.


    "Come in." Lu Qingshan responded.


    The person who entered was a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, holding a food container.


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    He was assigned by the ship to deliver meals specifically to Lu Qingshan, their important guest.


    "Young Master Lu, here is your lunch for today," the old man called out.


    Lu Qingshan nodded to indicate acknowledgment, and the old man, knowing his ce, set down the food container and quietly exited.


    "Sigh!" Once the old man had left, the Rat King lying on Lu Qingshan¡¯s bed sighed listlessly.


    Lu Qingshan teased somewhat mischievously, "What now, aren¡¯t you always greedy? Why thismenting when it is time to eat?"


    The Rat King rolled his eyes and sniffed, and mumbled discontentedly: "Steamed baby squid, mixed steamed shells, steamed pomfret, steamed Japanese sea bass, steamed...."


    "The moment I smell it, I know it¡¯s these few kinds,ing and going since we got on board, all steamed, my mouth is bing tasteless."


    It was no surprise, since seafood was the mostmon staple at sea, and due to the cost of spices, steaming naturally became the chef¡¯s preferred cooking method.


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t tease the Rat King any further; after a couple more quips, he took a jade slip and quickly sat down again beside the table.


    The Rat King nced at Lu Qingshan who was engrossed in the jade slip, feeling extremely wronged as it muttered, "Here I am, doing nothing on this ship every day, almost dying of boredom, while you, on the other hand, are happily engrossed in that jade slip."


    Demon beasts actually need to cultivate too; although Lu Qingshan had intended to find a cultivation technique for the Rat King, demon cultivation techniques were not easily obtained, and so far, he had found nothing.


    This had caused the Rat King¡¯s strength to grow solely dependent on the awakening of its own bloodline to date.


    Basically, it was a "demon second-generation."


    Unable to cultivate and naturally detesting water, it, now trapped on the ship with nowhere to go, found it understandably boring.


    At those words, Lu Qingshan actually chuckled and shook the jade slip in his hand at the Rat King, teasing, "As they say, ¡¯Read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles.¡¯ There¡¯s nothing wrong with reading some books when you¡¯re idle.


    Look at you, this appearance of yours does seem somewhat mystical, but it¡¯s justcking a bit in temperament.


    ¡¯Knowledge renders the spirit sublime;¡¯ read more books, make up for thatcking part, and I think no one would disagree if you were called a spirit beast."


    Hearing Lu Qingshan say that, the Rat King immediately got so angry it started hopping, and exploded, "What¡¯s wrong with my temperament, isn¡¯t it majestic?


    Spirit beast, pfft, I don¡¯t care about that title, let whoever wants it have it! Forget it, I won¡¯t waste more words with you, I¡¯m going for a stroll."


    The Rat King¡¯s figure shed, turning into a grey shadow and left the cabin.


    But the moment it stepped out of the cabin, a trace of peculiar light flickered in the Rat King¡¯s pupils, and it mused thoughtfully, "Spirit Beast, huh? Is what Lu Qingshan said about reading more really useful..."


    Clearly, the Rat King was just being stubborn in front of Lu Qingshan.


    In fact, it was not only not dismissive of the title of spirit beast as it appeared, but it even harbored some anticipation for it.


    "However, the problem is, I can¡¯t read human script," it thought, feeling a bit troubled.


    ......


    Seeing that the King of the Western Rats had left, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t say much.


    Although the King of the Western Rats had no means of attack, his natural talents granted him strong self-preservation capabilities, so there was nothing to worry about.


    Shaking his head, Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind once again submerged into the jade slip in his hand.


    Sword Qi True Understanding¡ªthat was the jade slip in his hand, and also the second jade slip in his storage bag.


    This was not a reward from Zhi Shou Tower, but rather something Dantai Qingrun had prepared from his own experiences and understanding of the Sword Qi Condensation and Strike Technique, and then gifted to Lu Qingshan.


    Sword Qi is not a spell; it is merely a high-level method of utilizing Spiritual Power exclusive to Sword Cultivators.


    Sword Cultivators channel Spiritual Power onto their swords and use a unique technique to transform it into a more solid form, incorporating sharp traits of sword artifacts, resulting in more powerful specialized Spiritual Power.


    After mastering the technique of Sword Qi Condensation and Strike, a Sword Cultivator¡¯s closebat abilities would leap significantly.


    However, to evoke Sword Qi, Sword Cultivators need to make countless attempts and continuously explore.


    The understanding Dantai Qingrun had provided as a Golden Core Sword Cultivator could undeniably spare Lu Qingshan from many detours.


    The most important aspect was that the cultivation of the Five Elements Sword Armor required Sword Cultivators to master the technique of Sword Qi.


    ...


    Unlike Sword Techniques, which require both enlightenment and practice, releasing Sword Qi solely depends on enlightenment.


    Coincidentally, for Lu Qingshan, enlightenment on the Sword Dao was as natural and easy as eating and drinking.


    Just on the fourth day of his journey at sea, he already could evoke a strand of Sword Qi using a Peach Wood Sword.


    To ensure that the Sword Armor could be manipted as easily as one¡¯s own limbs, the mostmon and effective method was to refine the Sword Armor using the Sword Qi generated from one¡¯s Life-bound Sword.


    However, at this moment, Lu Qingshan did not have a Life-bound Sword, and the Sword Qi stimted through other sword artifacts could not flow from the body as naturally as from a Life-bound Sword, making it wed for training in the Five Elements Sword Armor.


    There was still a solution, though.


    Lu Qingshan extended his palm, a strand of tangible yet intangible gray-white air de appeared at the tip of his index finger, flickering briefly before dissolving into the air again.


    Although he could already solidify it, he was still unable to maintain its form.


    Lu Qingshan was not very satisfied with this.


    This was the Sword Qi condensed out of thin air without relying on a sword artifact.


    In terms of power, although it differed from Sword Qi stimted through a Life-bound Sword, since it was Sword Qi condensed using his own body as a sword, it waspletely feasible for refining Five Elements Sword Armor.


    The problem was that condensing Sword Qi out of thin air was many times more difficult than stimting Sword Qi with the aid of a sword artifact.


    Even with Lu Qingshan¡¯s insight, he had been stuck on this step for nearly a week.


    But if other Sword Cultivators were to know about Lu Qingshan¡¯s progress in exploring the technique of Sword Qi, they would definitely be green with envy.


    ¡ªFor ordinary Sword Cultivators, even with Dantai Qingrun sharing Sword Qi striking techniques, a quick learner still required one to two years of continuous practice and trying to sessfully stimte the first strand of Sword Qi.


    The slow ones might need to grind for about seven or eight years, and there were not a few dim-witted Sword Cultivators who were stuck at this step for several decades.


    ......


    Although innate talent is extremely important in the cultivation of truth, there is no insurmountable barrier set by heaven, and cultivators can ovee the hurdles of talent through effort and opportunities to be great cultivators of ordinary human stature.


    But Sword Cultivation is different; it is extremely harsh.


    Sword Cultivation is the only one among the six paths of cultivation where without absolute talent, one simply cannot continue.


    Because some swords, if you are not born able to wield them, you will never be able to for the rest of your life.

 Chapter 136 - 5 Zang Xiaojian

    After idly wandering around the ship for a long while, the King Rat, touched his little belly and felt peckish once again.


    "I refuse to believe such arge ship doesn¡¯t have any decent food aboard. These crew members must be hiding something!"


    Thinking this, King Rat¡¯s eyes rolled around swiftly, and he immediately began to search each cabin on the ship.


    Uh?


    Once againing up empty, King Rat was about to leave this exceptionally tidy cabin when out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly spotted a few books carelessly ced next to the pillow on the bed, and Lu Qingshan¡¯s words involuntarily came to his mind, sparking a little idea.


    Without further hesitation, King Rat immediately hopped onto the bed and flipped through the documents.


    The cover of the first ancient book had a few curved characters written in tiny script.


    Although he did not specifically study the Human Race¡¯s script, having loitered in human cities for a while after his intelligence awakened, he had picked up a few simple characters from what he heard and saw.


    "Uh,... Swordsman¡¯s Tale? I don¡¯t recognize the first two characters, but it looks like some kind of ranger biography.


    I don¡¯t know what these humans are thinking; why do they love swords so much? Even writing a ranger¡¯s biography has to involve swords.


    Swords are cold, utterly boring, I thought only Lu Qingshan would be interested in them."


    King Rat muttered a few words, then ignored it, tossing aside the ¡¯Swordsman¡¯s Tale¡¯ and picked up another slightly thinner ancient book.


    "South... Sea... Spirit... Beast Diagram!" This time, he recognized all five big characters on the cover.


    Spirit Beast!?


    After stumbling through the title word by word, King Rat¡¯s eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement, and he began to flip through it as if he had found a treasure.


    As soon as he turned the first page, a detailed drawing of a grey-white Longevity Whale filled his view.


    This whale was mountain-sized, with a blowhole on top of its head that opened like a volcanic crater; its tail fins were heart-shaped, broad and t, emitting an ancient and vicarious aura.


    Below the image was a detailed description; King Rat, mixing guesswork with his poor reading skills, read haltingly, "Longevity Whale...the oldest Spirit Beast in the South Sea...lifespan...almost unlimited... size boundless...always in slumber...inside the whale is a small world..."


    Uh? Could this be the transforming ind whale that the storyteller spoke of?


    So such things really exist? Is this what a Spirit Beast is?


    King Rat pondered for a moment, shook his little head, licked his paw, and eagerly turned the next page.


    A picture of a dragon d in scale armor, with whiskers, horns, and five ws, looking majestic and fierce, appeared on the page.


    King Rat was instantly immersed in this bizarre and curious world, oblivious to his surroundings.


    After a long while, as he carefully turned thest page of the thin ancient book, he still felt somewhat unsatisfied.


    "I¡¯ll take it back with me, to savor it slowly!"


    In a sh, King Rat made up his mind, grabbed the book with his paw, and prepared to make a run for it.


    "You¡¯re done reading, but are you nning to take it away too?"


    The sudden voice gave King Rat a fright.


    Bing too engrossed in the Spirit Beast Diagram, King Rat had failed to notice that at some point, a young girl had appeared in the cabin.


    The girl¡¯s clear eyes revealed curiosity as she sized up King Rat and clicked her tongue, "That¡¯s quite rare, a book-loving giant rat?"


    How careless!


    King Rat inwardly cursed in dismay.


    If it had been amon human, it would have been fine, being discovered wouldn¡¯t have mattered much.


    But the girl before him was indeed a Cultivator, and though she appeared very young, her Cultivation had already reached thetter stages of Foundation Establishment, surpassing Lu Qingshan.


    As for himself, the King of the Western Rats had a clear understanding. Even though he was a Second Grade Demon Beast, he actually had no decent means of attack and hisbat capability was basically nil. This girl, she was an existence he couldn¡¯t afford to provoke!


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    In the midst of his panic, an idea suddenly shed through the mind of the King of the Western Rats.


    Squeak¡ª


    The King of the Western Rats lifted his tiny head, gazing at the girl with a look of confusion in his eyes, emitting a series of squeaks.


    Watching the King of the Western Rats squeaking at her, the girl couldn¡¯t help but pause, a curious expression shing across her eyes, and she said, "You can¡¯t understand what I¡¯m saying?"


    The King of the Western Rats had just thought about nodding his tiny head vigorously when, in a sh of inspiration, he hurriedly began to shake his head chaotically, continuing to squeak incessantly.


    "Maybe I¡¯m overthinking it. How could there be a Demon Beast aboard the ship? And one that can read?" Seeing the behavior of the King of the Western Rats, the girl seriously nodded her head.


    Seeing that the girl no longer doubted him, the nerves of the King of the Western Rats finally rxed.


    That was a close call. Good thing I¡¯m sharp and quick-witted.


    The King of the Western Rats thought to himself.


    "It seems you¡¯re just an ordinaryrge rat. Since that¡¯s the case, you may leave," said the girl, her tone revealing a hint of cunning.


    Granted permission by the girl, the King of the Western Rats forcefully suppressed the joy in his heart, hopped on his legs, and left the cabin with the calm demeanor of an ordinaryrge rat, not showing any slip as he inwardly gave himself a thumbs-up for his quick thinking.


    Close to vermilion, one gets stained; close to ink, one is dyed. After being with Lu Qingshan for so long, my intelligence clearly has grown!


    But something feels a bit off?


    Before he could figure out what was wrong, the King of the Western Rats had just slipped to the cabin door only to find a shadow engulfing him.


    Looking up, there stood the girl, blocking the cabin entrance, tilting her head, with a look that was somewhere between smiling and not smiling, "Oh?"


    It was only then that the King of the Western Rats realized, and his face turned pale as chalk.


    Humans are too cunning!!!


    .....


    Knock, knock, knock¡ª


    Inside the cabin, Lu Qingshan, who was engrossed in studying Sword Qi, was interrupted by a knocking sound.


    "Come in," said Lu Qingshan as he regained hisposure and put away the Jade Slip.


    The cabin door was gently pushed open, and a girl in a light green dress entered.


    The girl looked to be around fifteen or sixteen years old, with curved eyebrows, a slightly upturned nose, dimples asionally appearing on her cheeks, and ck, lively eyes.


    In the girl¡¯s hands, she carried the King of the Western Rats, who wore a sullen face.


    "Um, Lu Qingshan, I¡¯m back," said the King of the Western Rats, hanging in mid-air by the neck, awkwardly waving a small paw at Lu Qingshan, "and I also brought back a fellow Daoist."


    Seeing Lu Qingshan, the girl then released her grip on the King of the Western Rats.


    Free from captivity, the King of the Western Rats instantly dashed, frantically scampering back to Lu Qingshan¡¯s side, and started toin pitifully, "Lu Qingshan, she is a bad woman, she tricked me¡­"


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily.


    "My name is Zang Xiaojian," said the girl, cutting straight to the point, her voice extremely clear and sweet.


    "Lu Qingshan."

 Chapter 137 - 6: Water Walking Sword Armor (Part 1)

    "Your Beast Pet snuck into my room when I was away and I caught it," Zang Xiaojian pointed at the Western Mouse King hiding behind Lu Qingshan.


    "I¡¯m not a Beast Pet..." the Western Mouse King murmured subconsciously.


    "Right, I forgot to ask you, what¡¯s your name?" Zang Xiaojian heard the Western Mouse King¡¯sint.


    Seeing Zang Xiaojian asking about himself, the Western Mouse King immediately stood up straight from behind Lu Qingshan, straightened his back, and thumped his chest with his tiny paws, "I am the mighty Western Mouse King!"


    Zang Xiaojian nodded seriously and, wrinkling her nose, said to Lu Qingshan, "Since it says it¡¯s not your Beast Pet, sorry, I must have misunderstood. I¡¯ll take it away and settle our scores properly, shall I?"


    As she spoke, Zang Xiaojian winked at Lu Qingshan subtly.


    Lu Qingshan caught on and decided to scare the increasingly troublesome Western Mouse King, cooperating by saying, "Sure, take it away. Do whatever you want, kill or cut."


    Zang Xiaojian made a throat-slitting gesture toward the Western Mouse King and chirpily said, "Western Mouse King, huh? Come, let¡¯s settle our ounts properly."


    Just a moment ago, the once ferocious Western Mouse King turned into a defeated eggnt, his spirits deted, and heined bitterly, "Lu Qingshan, you heartless man!"


    After teasing the Western Mouse King, Lu Qingshan then seriously turned to Zang Xiaojian and apologized, "It¡¯s my negligence for not keeping it under control. I canpensate you with some Spirit Stones to show my sincerity. What do you think?"


    Eager to resolve any trouble, as stirring up conflicts wasn¡¯t Lu Qingshan¡¯s way, he was very polite.


    Zang Xiaojian waved her hand generously, "I lost nothing, no need for anypensation.


    Actually, I never intended to do anything to it. It tried to fool me by pretending to be a normal giant mouse when I caught it, so I decided to teach it a lesson. That¡¯s why I came looking for it."


    This foolish mouse, not only did it try to be sly but getting caught in the act was a grave mistake.


    Lu Qingshan red at the Western Mouse King, annoyed.


    "Are you a Sword Cultivator?" Zang Xiaojian tilted her head, looked deeply into Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, and suddenly asked.


    Before Lu Qingshan could ask, Zang Xiaojian went on to exin, "Just now outside, I felt the presence of Sword Qi in the room."


    Lu Qingshan was startled and finally began to take the young girl seriously.


    For Zang Xiaojian to possess such advanced Cultivation at her young age was no small feat.


    But being someone who had witnessed many greater events in the game¡¯ster stages¡ªwhere talented NPCs in the Nine Heavens sprang up like bamboo shoots after a rain¡ªZang Xiaojian¡¯s talent only slightly surprised him.


    However, he had tried to condense Sword Qi inside the cabin earlier and had only mobilized a minimal part of his Spiritual Power, which was barely detectable. Under such circumstances, Zang Xiaojian was still able to sense the Sword Qi inside the room from a distance, which was truly astonishing.


    There could be two possibilities for this, one being that Zang Xiaojian¡¯s Divine Soul was far stronger than ordinary people, giving her superior perception abilities.


    The other possibility was that Zang Xiaojian was extraordinarily talented.


    The next second, Lu Qingshan knew it must be thetter.


    Because Zang Xiaojian extended her right hand toward Lu Qingshan, and a strand of sharp Sword Qi suddenly burst forth from her fingertips.


    The delicate fingers of the girl flicked, and the strand of Sword Qi shot straight toward the Western Mouse King, dissipating abruptly three inches in front of him.


    Zang Xiaojian looked at the startled Western Mouse King, smileced with mischief, her eyebrows curved, "I am a Sword Cultivator too!"


    Not to mention anything else, just being at the advanced stage of Foundation Establishment and being able to emit detached Sword Qi without relying on a Sword Artifact indicated an exceptional talent for the Sword Dao, something Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t exin otherwise.


    "Yes," the identity of a Sword Cultivator wasn¡¯t something secretive. Lu Qingshan readily nodded in acknowledgment. Simultaneously, a simr strand of Sword Qi appeared on his fingertip, which flickered a few times before dispersing quickly. Shaking his head, Lu Qingshan said, "Still no good, I¡¯m far behind you."


    Zang Xiaojian looked at the dissipating Sword Qi at the tip of Lu Qingshan¡¯s finger and said seriously, "The reason your Sword Qi can¡¯t maintain its form for a long time is not because there¡¯s a problem with your skills."


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    One of the challenges he faced after his rebirth to the Nine Heavens was that, although this world was like a game world, it was not actually a game, so there were many differences in reality.


    For instance, Sword Qi ¡ª he had mastered the Sword Qi Silk Transformation in the game, but the problem was that, in the game, it was only a set of data, a buff effect he obtained after passing the Sword Dao tutor¡¯s test.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After crossing over, he could only inherit how to match and apply these skills at a tactical level, but how to cast the skills must be learned from scratch.


    This was also why, even though he had been a Great Sword Cultivator who could sh with overwhelming Sword Qi in the game, after his rebirth, he had to consult and research the true essence of Sword Qi provided by Dantai Qingrun and try to condense Sword Qi.


    In such circumstances, if it were not for the unmatched Sword Dao talent bestowed by the Innate Swordseed, he couldn¡¯t imagine spending decades mastering theunch of Sword Qi.


    Perhaps by then, he would have already advanced his Cultivation to the Golden Core Stage using Experience Points?


    A Golden Core Sword Cultivator who couldn¡¯t release Sword Qi?


    That would be quite ridiculous.


    Lu Qingshan sped his hands together and said, "Please enlighten me, fellow Daoist."


    "My mother once said, ¡¯There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in this world,¡¯" Zang Xiaojian paused, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face, and finally, as if making a big decision, he giggled, revealing a row of shiny white teeth, "But since you are the first Sword Cultivator I¡¯ve met since I... came out, this time, consider it a freebie."


    Came out? The first Sword Cultivator?


    Lu Qingshan noticed the peculiar words in Zang Xiaojian¡¯s speech and subconsciously matched them with a suitable family or sect in his mind.


    A surname Zang with a powerful Sword Cultivator family was unheard of, so they must be from a sect.


    Sword Sect, Nascent Soul could leave the sect, Sword Cleansing Pool...


    The information revealed by Zang Xiaojian was too scarce; Lu Qingshan searched his mind but couldn¡¯t immediately determine Zang Xiaojian¡¯s origins.


    "Your problem is that your Cultivation is not enough, and your control over Spiritual Power is insufficient, so you cannot maintain the form of Sword Qi.


    Even I could only achieve this in thete stages of Foundation Establishment without relying on a Sword Artifact to condense Sword Qi!" Zang Xiaojian said cheerfully, with a bright tone.


    Is it because my Cultivation is not enough?


    Hearing Zang Xiaojian say this, Lu Qingshan was taken aback.


    The Jade Slip with "True Essence of Sword Qi" given by Dantai Qingrun only detailed the experiences with condensing Sword Qi using Sword Artifacts and did not mention anything about condensing Sword Qi out of thin air, so he had no choice but to bury himself in research.


    Actually, this was not Dantai Qingrun¡¯s fault.


    For, the Sword Qi formed out of thin air, in terms of power, is much inferior to the Sword Qi emitted by a Sword Artifact.


    Besides being a shy skill, it was not very useful; instead of spending time on this, one might as well nurture one¡¯s Life-bound Sword and practice Sword Techniques. Lu Qingshan wouldn¡¯t have spent his effort researching this if not for the desire to practice the Five Elements Sword Armor.


    Normally, which Sword Cultivator would specifically research condensing Sword Qi out of thin air? Most often, this skill was mastered naturally as one¡¯s understanding of the Sword Dao increased.


    But usually, it was only Sword Cultivators in the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Stage who could achieve this realm.


    When the Sword Qi he condensed out of thin air couldn¡¯t maintain its form, Lu Qingshan had always thought there were some special tricks he hadn¡¯t grasped, but he never expected the reason to stem from his own level of Cultivation.

 Chapter 138 - 7: Water Walking Sword Armor (Continued)

    After Zang Xiaojian left, Lu Qingshan opened the Attribute Panel.


    In the Experience Points section, there was a storage of nearly sixty thousand.


    Dantai Qingrun didn¡¯t understand why, despite his severe injuries, he still insisted on participating in the monster hunt and cleanup in Zhenjiang City; this was his reason.


    Such a rare opportunity to gain experience points, how could he afford to miss it?


    Let¡¯s give it a try and see if the problem really lies in the level of cultivation.


    Thinking this, Lu Qingshan then invested more than thirty thousand experience points into the Returning Ruins Scripture.


    "Returning Ruins Scripture upgraded to lv8, Spiritual Power Value +100!"


    ...


    "Returning Ruins Scripture upgraded to lv10, Spiritual Power Value +100!"


    "Your Spiritual Power Value has exceeded 1000, Talent ¡¯Spiritual Power Control¡¯ (Primary Level) upgraded to ¡¯Spiritual Power Control¡¯ (Intermediate Level)!"


    ¡¯Spiritual Power Control¡¯ (Intermediate Level): With another increase in your cultivation, your control over Spiritual Power will be even more precise. Spiritual Power Control +2.


    ...


    After the Returning Ruins Scripture was upgraded to lv10, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Spiritual Power Value limit sessfully broke through 1000.


    Ordinary cultivators generally only have such robust Spiritual Power when their cultivation reaches the Perfection of Foundation Establishment, but with the bonus from the Taoist Level Cultivation Technique, Lu Qingshan at the mid stage of Foundation Establishment already possessed the Intermediate level talent of Spiritual Power Control.


    As for the High Level Spiritual Power Control talent, it requires the Spiritual Power Value limit to break through 3000. Generally speaking, unless there is a special opportunity, a cultivator needs to break through to the Golden Core Stage to advance this talent to the High Level.


    ording to what Zang Xiaojian said, he should now be able to maintain the Solidifying Form of Sword Qi for a long period.


    Feeling his control over Spiritual Power had climbed another step, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately began a new attempt.


    He once again mobilized the Spiritual Power within his body.


    With a swish, just like usual, a wisp of Sword Qi appeared at his fingertip.


    He was already very skilled at this step.


    However, different from before, this time the Sword Qi was unexpectedly dense and no longer flickering.


    It was a sess, what Zang Xiaojian had said was true!


    Lu Qingshan rejoiced in his heart.


    ...


    Now that the issue with the Sword Qi was resolved, there was no reason to dy.


    Lu Qingshan immediately took out a Jade Box from the Storage Ring, opened the lid, and a block of deep blue jade came into view.


    Blue Sea Jade, one of the eighteen Third Grade Spirit Materials required for practicing the Water Walking Sword Armor.


    Lu Qingshan clenched the Blue Sea Jade tightly, and the Spiritual Power in his body surged out, enveloping and slowly infiltrating into the Blue Sea Jade.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Divine Sense closely followed, observing the situation inside the Blue Sea Jade.


    Among the vast patches of grey mottled energy, strands of blue-green Water Elemental Qi swam about.


    What he needed to do was to extract these pure strands of Water Elemental Qi.


    Lu Qingshan focused his mind, controlling the Spiritual Power, which converged into arge hand and hastily reached for a moving strand of Water Elemental Qi.


    This movement was extremely fast, yet the strand of Water Elemental Qi slipped away like a fish, easily dodging Lu Qingshan¡¯s capture.


    Again!


    Lu Qingshan was not discouraged at all. Highly concentrated, he aimed at the strand of Water Elemental Qi and chased it persistently.


    ....


    After countless attempts, Lu Qingshan had gradually figured out the habits of the Water Elemental Qi inside the Blue Sea Jade and got used to its swimming rhythm.


    His Spiritual Power hand was as quick as lightning, covering a strand of Water Elemental Qi once more. This time, he did not miss.


    But before Lu Qingshan could rejoice, the Water Elemental Qi that he had caught unexpectedly dissipated into specks of starlight and then slowly reassembled into Water Elemental Qi.


    This was because the force was too great, so he dispersed the Water Elemental Qi.


    Lu Qingshan was not discouraged.


    Training the Sword Armor was indeed a meticulous task, and he had been mentally prepared for it.


    He quickly regrouped and once again headed towards another wisp of Water Elemental Qi within the Blue Sea Jade.


    ...


    Hu¡ª


    Finally, Lu Qingshan sessfully captured the first wisp of Water Elemental Qi. He focused his mind on this wisp of Water Elemental Qi, pulling it outward, carefully controlling the force, afraid of dispersing it again.


    Under Lu Qingshan¡¯s gentle offensive, this wisp of Water Elemental Qi slowly separated from the Blue Sea Jade.


    With a "pop".


    Lu Qingshan exerted a flick, pulling this wisp of Water Elemental Qi away from the Blue Sea Jade.


    This wisp of Water Elemental Qi was very fine, shing with a dazzling, brilliant azure light.


    And on the tips of Lu Qingshan¡¯s left hand fingers, a fine stream of Sword Qi suddenly surged out.


    "Go," Lu Qingshanmanded the wisp of Water Elemental Qi to entwine around the Sword Qi. The originally tangible yet formless fine Sword Qi, after a moment, transformed into a wisp of azure-colored Water Elemental Sword Qi.


    Lu Qingshan nodded in satisfaction, as the wisp of Water Elemental Sword Qi swiftly darted into one of his acupoints.


    The beginning is always the hardest.


    With the sessful experience of the first time, the following steps became much quicker.


    ....


    In the following days, Lu Qingshan devoted himself to the cultivation of the Water Walking Sword Armor.


    It is worth mentioning that the Rat King, for some unknown reason, initially quite fearful of Zang Xiaojian, seemed to have taken a liking to him or something, as after a few days, he started visiting Zang Xiaojian every day, shrouded in mystery without exining why.


    Lu Qingshan, busy extracting Spirit Materials, did not bother to delve deeper.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ...


    Inside the cabin.


    Whoosh!


    A wisp of azure Water Elemental Sword Qi formed at the tip of Lu Qingshan¡¯s finger.


    In his palmy a gray-white crystal, faintly visible¡ªit was the Fourth Grade Spirit Material Sea Blue Marrow he had purchased at great expense in Bibo City, now looking faded.


    This was because all the Water Elemental Qi from the Sea Blue Marrow had been extracted, leaving behind only useless impurities.


    Spending twenty days, Lu Qingshan had finally extracted all the Spirit Materials needed to form the Water Walking Sword Armor.


    He also drew this fine wisp of Water Elemental Sword Qi into one of his acupoints.


    Then, Lu Qingshan introspected his own acupoints.


    One could see, in each acupoint, a wisp of azure Water Elemental Sword Qi intertwined.


    No longer hesitating, Lu Qingshan drove all the Water Elemental Sword Qi flowing throughout his body from the acupoints. These wisps of Water Elemental Sword Qi quickly mingled and merged with one another.


    Even though they all belonged to Water Elemental Qi, the characteristics and strength of the Water Elemental Qi extracted from different Spirit Materials varied.


    Water Elemental Qi from the Sea Blue Marrow was naturally the purest, but the characteristic of the Sea Blue Marrow was its great expansiveness, meant to allow the Sword Armor to cover the whole body, but it was not sufficient to support the formation of aplete Sword Armor.


    The formation of the Water Walking Sword Armor required neen different Water Attribute Spirit Materials, each with its own role, indispensable.


    Among them, the Blue Sea Jade was highly inclusive, able to harmonize the merging of various Water Elemental Qi; the Billow Root excelled in recovery; the Mysterious Water Jade for its hardness; the Sky Wave Crystal had a strong weakening effect on spell attacks...


    Such variations,bined with the Sword Qi driven by the Sword Cultivator as if it were an extension of his arm, perfectly formed a piece of Protective Sword Armor.


    Once the different characteristic Water Elemental Sword Qi within each acupoint mingled together, forming a river, Lu Qingshan¡¯s thoughts stirred, and the river churned up, circting around his body harmoniously andfortably.


    "Out!"


    Under themand of Lu Qingshan¡¯s mental focus, all the Water Elemental Sword Qi flowed out from the acupoints, constantly moving around his body.


    Rippling blue waves, with a slight glow intertwining.


    Water Walking Sword Armor,plete!

 Chapter 139 - 8 Jiaolong Island

    ```


    After sailing at sea for over thirty days, Lu Qingshan left his cabin for the first time.


    With some rare leisure time, Lu Qingshan remembered the mysterious West Mouse King who had been secretive during this period.


    She was not in her room early in the morning, and nine times out of ten, she had run off to find Zang Xiaojian again¡ªit was time to see what she had been up totely.


    Lu Qingshan stopped a passing crew member and asked, "Is there a girl about fifteen or sixteen on the ship?"


    "You mean Miss Zang?" the sailor blurted out without much thought, evidently leaving a deep impression of Zang Xiaojian.


    "Do you know where shees from?"


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The sailor shook his head, "All I know is that she, like you, paid a hefty price to take this ship to the Poseidon Archipgo."


    He didn¡¯t learn much, but that was normal. Lu Qingshan got the location of Zang Xiaojian¡¯s cabin, thanked the sailor, and went looking for it.


    "...Thunder faintly rumbling, fog all around. Under the sun, opposing the sky..." As soon as he arrived at the door of the cabin, Lu Qingshan faintly heard the West Mouse King muttering inside.


    ???


    Lu Qingshan knocked on the door.


    "Come in," came the crisp voice of Zang Xiaojian.


    Pushing open the door, Lu Qingshan was met with an extremely odd scene.


    The West Mouse King, with its paws holding a bookrger than its body, looked like an absent-minded schr, shaking his head and continuously reading something.


    Lu Qingshan nced at it, and the cover of the book read "Lisao Consonance" in bold letters.


    "What are you doing..." Lu Qingshan rubbed his forehead, unable toprehend the West Mouse King¡¯s behavior.


    "The West Mouse King likes to read, but doesn¡¯t recognize the characters of the Human Race, so seeing its eagerness to learn, I thought I¡¯d teach it," Zang Xiaojian exined on behalf of the West Mouse King, her spirits high and tone cheerful. "This was the book my dad used when he was teaching me to read. I brought it along, and believe it or not, it¡¯s learning quite fast.


    It¡¯s only been a little while, and it¡¯s already got to phics and prosody."


    Praised by Zang Xiaojian, the West Mouse King immediately set down the book it was holding, hands on hips and dered proudly, "The mere characters of the Human Race are nothing to this lord."


    Lu Qingshan tentatively guessed why the West Mouse King had suddenly be studious but decided not to point it out directly and said to the West Mouse King, "Alright, then continue your studies."


    He then turned to Zang Xiaojian and said, "I appreciate the trouble you¡¯re taking."


    Zang Xiaojian waved her hand at Lu Qingshan dismissively, indicating it was no bother, and turned her head to watch the West Mouse King that had resumed its shaking and swaying study session.


    She found it amusing!


    ...


    Three dayster, at the hottest part of the day, the vast silhouette of Jiaolong Ind appeared on the horizon within everyone¡¯s view.


    Jiaolong Ind, the main ind of the Poseidon Archipgo, was asrge as a mid-sized prefecture in Great Xia. Its contour resembled that of an imposing, winding mountain ridge; it was extremely long, with its mid and head parts being quite wide. But as one traveled eastward, it became increasingly narrow, especially toward the tail end of the ind, where it was particrly cramped.


    The journey thus far had been very calm; they hadn¡¯t encountered demon beasts, pirates, or storms.


    This was not surprising; after all, the fleet had been sailing this route for over a decade and had always been safe. There was no reason for trouble to start just because Lu Qingshan was aboard.


    If anything was to be considered unusual, it was the encounter with the young girl Zang Xiaojian, who seemed to have an extraordinary background, and under her guidance, sessfully performed a Refining Ritual for the Water Walking Sword Armor.


    Mountains seem close when viewed from a distance. Jiaolong Ind, seemingly near, required the fleet to sail for nearly another hour before they entered the broad and straight waterway of Jiaolong Ind.


    After traveling about two or three miles further, the docks of Jiaolong Ind, stretching a kilometer long, came into view.


    Once the fleet docked at the pier, three Qi Refining Cultivators d in green gowns with Jiaolong w prints approached them.


    The fleet¡¯s captain immediately went up to them with a big smile on his face. He exchanged words with the three cultivators, who asionally swept their nces back and forth over the fleet.


    After some muttering, the captain slipped a small bag of silver taels to them, and the three green-gowned cultivators finally departed.


    This was probably what was referred to as customs duty in ancient times.


    ```


    Lu Qingshan pondered inwardly.


    However, Great Xia¡¯s influence didn¡¯t extend to the inds of the South Sea, and Jiaolong Ind wasn¡¯t under Great Xia¡¯s jurisdiction, so who was the power responsible for collecting tariffs?


    With that thought, Lu Qingshan began to inquire with a dark-skinned, stout sailor standing beside him.


    "On Jiaolong Ind, aside from the Sea God Sect, who else has the strength to monopolize Jiaolong Port, this gold mine?" The stout sailor nced at the dock to make sure the three cultivators in blue robes had gone far away, then spit a mouthful of saliva contemptuously, "These beasts that betray their own kind to please demon beasts, of all the inds in the South Sea, their tariffs are the highest.


    I don¡¯t know why the boss is so set on doing business here."


    "Betray their own kind?" Lu Qingshan frowned.


    The stout sailor hurriedly made a silencing gesture to Lu Qingshan, "I only dare to say this much here. Young master must remember, these words cannot be carelessly spoken on the ind.


    On Jiaolong Ind, the Sea God Sect covers the sky with one hand. If someone with intentions overhears this, young master, you may lose ayer of skin at least, and if your luck is poor, you might not keep your life!"


    Seeing the stout sailor¡¯s cautious demeanor, Lu Qingshan also tactfully refrained from asking more questions.


    After all, as long as he set foot on the ind, he would sooner orter learn this information.


    After the ship¡¯s captain had managed the rtions, everyone began to disembark and unload the goods.


    Lu Qingshan walked leisurely away from the merchant ship, and at the same time, was calcting something in his mind.


    ...


    To acquire Three-feet Edge, he must find the incognito Family Head of the Mo Family.


    This was a straightforward causality.


    Lu Qingshan hadn¡¯t lied to the King Rat; he truly didn¡¯t know where the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head might be, and even before arriving at Bibo City, he was oblivious to the Heaven Rank Sword Artifact named Three-feet Edge.


    But to say it was like looking for a needle in a haystack wasn¡¯t entirely true either.


    He did have a piece of information rted to the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head.


    It was during the game¡¯s closed beta test, while reviewing the update logs, he briefly came across an interesting entry in the historical narrative records:


    In the first year of Immortal Martial, in the third month, on Jiaolong Ind of the South Sea, the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head, who should have perished on Dragon Spring Ind twenty years earlier, reappeared. Wielding a Heaven Rank Sword Artifact, he fought against the Jiaolong Demon King, died on the ind, and with his death, the Heaven Rank Sword Artifact disappeared, never to be seen again.


    Immortal Martial had turned into Tianyuan, and Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t be certain whether the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head would appear on Jiaolong Ind as scheduled in Tianyuan¡¯s first year in March.


    He guessed that the probability was high that the Family Head would still appear, perhaps the timing might change by a few days, earlier orter?


    However, he didn¡¯t n to just wait for the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head to show up.


    Because at the time of his appearance, it would be an earth-shattering struggle. In that situation, the chances of acquiring Three-feet Edge were slim.


    His n was to find the reclusive Mo Family¡¯s Family Head before the intense battle with the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Of course, even if he found the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head, acquiring Three-feet Edge would still be extremely difficult.


    But it was definitely more practical than waiting for the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head to appear.


    Moreover, in Lu Qingshan¡¯s view, how to obtain Three-feet Edge from the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head was a matter to consider after finding him.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan had checked the nautical charts; the Poseidon Archipgo was the closest cluster of inds to Dragon Spring Ind, where the Mo Family was situated.


    Following the destruction of Dragon Spring Ind, the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head, who had fortunately escaped, would have first stopped at the Poseidon Archipgo.


    Furthermore, people all have a sense of attachment to their homnd. Living in seclusion on the Poseidon Archipgo, which was nearest to Dragon Spring Ind, was likely for the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head.


    Additionally, three monthster, the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head would appear on Jiaolong Ind to fight against the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Taking these two points together, at this moment in time, the likelihood of the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head being on the Poseidon Archipgo was not a hundred percent but at least seventy to eighty percent.


    So, the next step was to figure out how to find traces of the Mo Family¡¯s Family Head on the Poseidon Archipgo.

 Chapter 140 - 9 Sea God Sect

    Among the mundane, inn waiters are inevitably the most well-informed group of people. As long as you¡¯re willing to spend a little money, there is nothing you can¡¯t find out.


    So the moment he set foot on Jiaolong Ind, Lu Qingshan headed straight for the harbor tavern in Jiaolong Port.


    In a ce like Jiaolong Port, bustling with such arge flow of people, the taverns were naturally doing very brisk business. Therge three-story tavern was already near full capacity even before mealtime.


    Lu Qingshan found a private seat by the window on the third floor and, after ordering avish spread of food and drink, stopped the waiter who was serving him and slipped him a small piece of silver. "Little brother, I¡¯d like to enquire about something."


    Instead of immediately epting the silver, the waiter politely asked, "What would you like to know, young master?"


    "I¡¯m new to the ind and would like to understand a bit about the local situation. Could you enlighten me?" Lu Qingshan said with a smile.


    Once he understood what Lu Qingshan was seeking, the waiter dly epted the silver, carefully wiped it clean with his sleeve, and tucked it into his pocket. With a lifting and falling intonation, he said, "You¡¯ve asked the right person, young master. I¡¯ve been working at this tavern for five or six years.


    I might not know everything down to thest detail, but I know eight or nine out of ten things about the ind..."


    Although Jiaolong Ind isrge, because of its unique topography, ny-nine percent of the poption actually resides in the southern coastal areas around Jiaolong Port; the further north you go, the sparser the poption.


    "Moreover, curiously enough, there is an active volcano crater in arge portion of the southern ind that erupts periodically..." said the waiter with a suspenseful tone.


    Lu Qingshan calmly waited for more, "What¡¯s so strange about a volcano crater?"


    Seeing Lu Qingshan take the bait, the waiter excitedly continued, "The strange thing is that what this volcano spews is not magma, but a sky full of mist."


    "Oh?"


    "Even more bizarre is that this volcano crater is dark and bottomless, without visible edges, and it possesses an incredibly strong absorption force, like an abyss that devours everything.


    It is said that even cultivators, who have the ability to fly through the sky and escape through the earth, would have no ability to resist if they identally fell into this volcano, immediately being sucked deep inside and vanishing!" the waiter added.


    This piqued Lu Qingshan¡¯s interest; a volcano crater that could devour even cultivators was indeed worth noting.


    After talking about the ind¡¯s geography and customs, the waiter introduced the power dynamics on the ind to Lu Qingshan.


    Above Jiaolong Ind, thergest force was the Sea God Sect, which could be described as all-powerful, controlling the only city on Jiaolong Ind, Jiaolong City.


    And Sea God Sect got their name because of the "Sea God" who stands behind them.


    "Sea God?" Lu Qingshan frowned.


    The waiter exined, "That refers to the Jiaolong n. The waters near the Poseidon Archipgo are inhabited by the Jiaolong n. Their king ims to be the Sea God, and the whole Poseidon Archipgo is under their rule. The Sea God Sect is a sect supported by the Jiaolong King¡¯s favor."


    "I¡¯ve just heard a saying that the Sea God Sect betrays their brethren to please demon beasts..."


    The waiter looked as if struck by lightning, his whole body shook, but he didn¡¯t reply.


    The influence of the Sea God Sect on Jiaolong Ind was indeed very formidable.


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan secretly noted it and discretely handed over a whole ingot of silver.


    Hesitation shed in the waiter¡¯s eyes. He struggled for a while, but ultimately couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of the silver.


    Gritting his teeth, he took the silver from Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand and lowered his voice a few notches, saying, "On the surface, the Sea God Sect is a sect supported by the Jiaolong n, but in fact, they are nothing but the Jiaolong Demon Race¡¯spdogs, the executioners over our human race!


    The Jiaolong Demon King, self-styled as the Sea God, is cruel by nature. Every year, they hold a grand ritual in which ny-nine pairs of boys and girls are sacrificed.


    This task is carried out by the Sea God Sect, and this tradition has continued for hundreds of years. Countless families on the ind have been destroyed because of it."


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression grew grim. "Has no one tried to resist?"


    "Dare they?


    Not to mention the Jiaolong n¡¯s ability to turn rivers and seas upside down in their own waters, just the sheer power of the Sea God Sect alone is not something an ordinary person would dare to challenge." Just as the waiter finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something, "However, it seems that in recent decades, there have been cultivators on the ind who disapprove of the Sea God Sect¡¯s tyranny.


    They¡¯ve secretly organized a force in an attempt to overthrow the rule of the Sea God Sect. It¡¯s just unknown whether they will be sessful..."


    Lu Qingshan thoughtfully asked onest question, "When does this year¡¯s ritual take ce?"


    "Young master, you¡¯re in luck. In five days, it will be the day of this year¡¯s grand ritual."


    ...


    After asking about the specific situation of the ind, Lu Qingshan gradually fell into deep thought. When he came back to his senses, wanting to eat some food and wine, he discovered the table was already a mess.


    It wasn¡¯t all down to the Great King of Western Mice because, this time, Lu Qingshan had an additionalpanion by his side¡ªZang Xiaojian, who had suggested they travel together after disembarking.


    Lu Qingshan looked helplessly at the young girl sitting in front of him, who was digging into the food with eyes shining as bright as the Great King of Western Mice.


    "On the boat, it was nothing but seafood. This, now, is what people are supposed to eat!" Zang Xiaojian, realizing Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze, exined.


    The Great King of Western Mice nodded hard a few times, deeply rting to her words and feeling a kinship with Zang Xiaojian.


    Lu Qingshan thought for a moment and then asked Zang Xiaojian, who was busily munching away, "What brings you to Jiaolong Ind? Visiting rtives? Friends?"


    Zang Xiaojian had been of some assistance to him, and it seemed she would be apanying him for a while. He couldn¡¯t really refuse her, but it was important to rify her intentions.


    Zang Xiaojian shook her head and said vaguely, "No... um, wait for me a moment."


    She was stuffing arge meat bun into her mouth with her chopsticks, having only taken a small bite, exposing the steamy, oily filling; the girl clearly didn¡¯t n to give up the bun yet, but was eager to answer Lu Qingshan. So, she put down her chopsticks, disregarding the heat and manners, and shoved the rest of the bun into her mouth, puffing her cheeks out like a steamed dumpling.


    After struggling to swallow the meat bun, Zang Xiaojian quickly picked up a teacup, gulping down a mouthful of tea, then patted her chest and caught her breath, "I almost choked..."


    Then, the girl¡¯s piercing ck eyes stared straight at Lu Qingshan, and she said candidly, "I¡¯m here for the same reason as you, to find my Life-bound Sword!"


    Lu Qingshan was startled and nced at the Great King of Western Mice, who was busily eating at the table, oblivious to the world outside.


    Zang Xiaojian immediately understood Lu Qingshan¡¯s thoughts and waved her hand to rify for the Great King of Western Mice, "The Great King didn¡¯t tell me.


    I was born with an ability to extraordinarily sense Sword Artifacts.


    In your Dantian, I didn¡¯t sense the presence of a Life-bound Sword."


    "Later, I asked the Great King where you came from and learned that you and the Great King are from Qing State¡¯s Zhenjiang Prefecture."


    "My father once told me that seven years ago, near the South Sea, he sensed an extremely powerful Sword Artifact. I just happen to need a Life-bound Sword, so my father let me try my luck in the South Sea."


    Zang Xiaojian didn¡¯t tell the whole story, but her meaning was clear: A Sword Cultivator without a Life-bound Sword had traveled thousands of miles across two states to the South Sea, where a powerful Sword Artifact had once appeared. What else could she be seeking but this powerful Sword Artifact?


    The deduction was very reasonable.


    The Great King of Western Mice, hearing its name, looked up with a puzzled face at the two of them.


    Lu Qingshan said irritably, "Just eat."


    He wasn¡¯t surprised by Zang Xiaojian¡¯s actions. Just as he had tried to figure out Zang Xiaojian¡¯s background, it was only natural for her to casually inquire about his own circumstances.


    Just that he didn¡¯t expect Zang Xiaojian to have such a special ability to easily deduce his purpose.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    However, the girl was very candid about her purpose for seeking a sword, which undoubtedly prevented any resentment from arising in Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    Such a clever girl!


    The extraordinary sensory ability for Sword Artifacts was indeed a peculiar talent, albeit one that didn¡¯t seem to be very useful. Even with Lu Qingshan¡¯s knowledge of the Nine Heavens, it was something unheard of.


    Since Zang Xiaojian was so forthright, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t hold back either and nodded, "Yes, I am here to find my Life-bound Sword."


    Zang Xiaojian said with a giggle, "I saw you head straight for the tavern to gather information as soon as you arrived on the ind, so you definitely don¡¯t have a confirmed direction either.


    Like you, I¡¯m in the same situation. Maybe we can exchange the information we have and find the location of this Sword Artifact."


    "As for who gets the Sword Artifact¡­" Zang Xiaojian cocked her head and looked at Lu Qingshan, her tone rising yfully, "Let¡¯s see who has the better ability when the timees, what do you think?"

 Chapter 141 - 10 Worldly Trends

    The girl looked at Lu Qingshan with big, clear, and limpid eyes that resembled two clear springs, her gaze filled with sincerity.


    Facing Zang Xiaojian¡¯s request, Lu Qingshan thought briefly before agreeing to it.


    Currently, the information he possessed about the Three-Feet Edge was too scarce, and he was not very confident about finding the Mo Family Head before March.


    If he could add the information known by Zang Xiaojian, the likelihood of finding the Mo Family Head would indeed increase, and he had no reason to refuse Zang Xiaojian¡¯s suggestion.


    As for the issue of the ownership of the Three-Feet Edge by then,


    the same phrase applied¡ªif they could not find the Mo Family Head, everything was void, and thinking more was useless.


    "I¡¯ll go first," seeing that Lu Qingshan agreed to exchange information, the young girl generously began, "My dad told me that this Sword Artifact has appeared more than once. He sensed it seven years ago when he left, and again five years ago on his way back, while passing through the South Sea, he sensed this Sword Artifact once more.


    Moreover, the locations where the Sword Artifact was sensed both times were on this Jiaolong Ind."


    Lu Qingshan was shocked. If what Zang Xiaojian said was true,bined with the information he already knew, it was easy to deduce that the Mo Family Head had not just arrived at Jiaolong Ind during the Tianyuan Year, but had always been in hiding there!


    Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment and then fully disclosed his deductions about the Mo Family Head and the Three-Feet Edge.


    "Even knowing that he is hidden on the ind, Jiaolong Ind is vast, and with just the two of us, it¡¯s hard to begin searching; we need the help of local powers," Lu Qingshan said solemnly.


    "ording to what the innkeeper said, the Sea God Sect dominates the ind and is thergest cultivator force, so should we seek help from the Sea God Sect?" Zang Xiaojian asked.


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, "Not the Sea God Sect. With their overwhelming power, how would they care about two outsiders like us?"


    "Then?"


    "Didn¡¯t the innkeeper also mention that there might be a second force of cultivators on the ind?"


    "You mean the one trying to overthrow the Sea God Sect¡­" Zang Xiaojian hesitated.


    "Exactly, that¡¯s the one," Lu Qingshan confirmed, "Moreover, if this force intends to overthrow the Sea God Sect, they surely need resources desperately. We might only need to spend some Spirit Stones to get them to help."


    "But if this force is hidden in the shadows and even the Sea God Sect, a local strong force, hasn¡¯t been able to find and eliminate them, how can we, who are unfamiliar with this ce, find them?"


    "There are things the Sea God Sect can¡¯t do, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t," Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze deepened, he lightly tapped his fingertips on the table, deciding, "Next, we will go to Dragon City to see what this sacrificial ceremony is all about and...look for this mysterious force that stands against the Sea God Sect!"


    "Alright, then I¡¯ll listen to you!" Zang Xiaojian had no objections.


    ¡­


    The sky was clear and bright, and two rainbows created by Flying Swords swept across the sky.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    It was Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian, leaving the port and heading to Dragon City using Sword Control.


    However, as they traveled, Lu Qingshan suddenly stopped, frowning as he looked down at the ground, where a chase was taking ce.


    More than a dozen men in cloth shirts were chasing a woman who was desperately running along a path while carrying a child.


    The woman, naturally weaker than the men and burdened with the not-so-light weight of a child, was significantly slowed down.


    Soon, the woman was caught.


    The woman looked at the men surrounding her with fearful eyes.


    "Erniu¡¯s mom, you took Erniu and ran, this is breaking the rules."


    The woman, holding her child, knelt down and kept kowtowing to the crowd, "Please, spare my child, I beg of you, please..."


    The crowd, faced with the woman¡¯s pleas, all remained silent.


    Momentster, an old man riding a mule caught up from behind.


    "Vige chief," the crowd called out.


    The old man known as the vige chief jumped down from the mule¡¯s back and walked into the circle formed by the men.


    Upon seeing the vige chief appear, the woman hurriedly crawled over from the ground, clutching at the hem of the vige chief¡¯s trousers while desperately pleading, "Vige chief, my child¡¯s father died early, and Erniu is thest of our family¡¯s bloodline. Vige chief, please spare us¡­"


    The vige chief¡¯s aged face wrinkled deeply as he looked at the woman kneeling on the ground, a trace of pity shing in his eyes.


    Human hearts are made of flesh. In the past two years, since Erniu¡¯s father died by the jaws of wild beasts, leaving behind only the mother and her orphaned child dependent on each other. Now another priceless possession of a mother is about to be taken away, how could he not feel a pain in his heart!


    Some spotted the vige chief¡¯s hesitation and stepped forward, shouting at the woman, "Erniu¡¯s mother, the Sea God Sect requires our vige to sacrifice a child each year to worship the Sea God. These are the rules, and we cannot defy them. If we do not offer up Erniu, the entire vige will suffer.


    It¡¯s a matter of trading the life of one for the lives of all the vigers ¨C understand what¡¯s more important."


    With tears streaming down her face, the woman didn¡¯t know what to say, and kept bowing her head, begging, "I just want my child¡­ I just want my child¡­"


    Soon, the woman¡¯s forehead was already covered in blood.


    "Vige chief!" Another person began to urge the vige chief.


    The vige chief hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, gritted his teeth and helplessly waved his hand, "Take Erniu away!"


    Upon receiving the order, a dozen strong men immediately surged forward.


    The woman hurriedly clung tightly to her child, but how could a woman withstand the strength of a dozen men? Soon, her hands holding her child were pried apart, and the child was snatched away from her.


    "No¡ªmy child¡ª" the woman cried heart-wrenchingly.


    The child was also extremely scared, crying out for his mother.


    With a cry of anguish, the woman was so heartbroken that she fainted on the spot.


    "It truly is a sin¡­" murmurs of sigh filled the crowd.


    Looking at the woman who had fainted, the vige chief sighed, "Put Erniu¡¯s mother on the mule and take her back."


    Immediately, vigers came forward and carried the woman onto the mule the vige chief had ridden.


    "For over two hundred years, this cannibalistic world, when will it ever end!" the vige chief eximed, his tone both frustrated and deste.


    ...


    Although Lu Qingshan had already heard about this matter from the innkeeper, witnessing it firsthand had a far greater impact than merely hearing about it.


    Even though Lu Qingshan was usually calm, at this moment, he felt a surge of nameless anger rise in his heart.


    Zang Xiaojian, who usually had a smile on his face, now looked as if ayer of frost had covered it; he gritted his teeth and cursed, "This damn Sea God!"


    "Damn, am I starting to think of myself as human?" standing on Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder, the Great King of the Western Rats couldn¡¯t help but mutter, quickly shaking his little head to cast off the thought.


    As a member of the Demon n, he was supposed to be devoid of empathy for such a scene, but for some reason, he felt somewhat depressed involuntarily.


    ...


    "Let¡¯s go." After a moment of silence, Lu Qingshan sighed softly and then moved forward through Sword Control.


    He was trying hard to stop remembering this incident.


    With his ability, it would have been easy to save a child from the hands of those dozen or so mortals, but the consequence would be that all the vigers would have to pay with their lives.


    These actions of the vigers, seemingly cruel and merciless, were in fact the best choice for them.


    While it was pitiful to think of the children, saving these children wasn¡¯t something he could achieve with just his passionate blood and a sword.


    Because his sword was not sharp enough yet.

 Chapter 142 - 11 Testing the Waters

    As dusk approached, Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian finally arrived outside Jiaolong City.


    In cities controlled by a sect, flying directly into the city was a very reckless act, so the two of them descended slowly, nning to enter through the city gate in a proper manner.


    Lu Qingshan stored his Peach Wood Sword into his Storage Ring, and Zang Xiaojian also put away the Sword Artifact she was temporarily using.


    A Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact Sword Artifact.


    For a Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator, having a Life-bound Sword of Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact quality as a starting point was already considered a stroke of incredible luck.


    Yet, for Zang Xiaojian, such a Spiritual Artifact was merely a temporary substitute.


    The origins of Zang Xiaojian were evident.


    Upon entering the city, Lu Qingshan once again felt the greed and tyranny of the Sea God Sect.


    Because at the city gates, there were actually City Guards affiliated with the Sea God Sect, collecting a hefty entrance fee from people entering the city.


    This was unthinkable in the cities under the jurisdiction of Great Xia.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Yet, even with such an oppressive policy, as the only city on Jiaolong Ind, it was still bustling with people, and the shops along the roads on both sides were lined up, no less prosperous than the prefecture cities of Great Xia.


    This was a monopoly.


    ...


    After entering the city, Zang Xiaojian¡¯s big eyes were rolling around, scanning the environment inside the city while she asked, "Where shall we go next?"


    "How about we go to eat first? We¡¯ve been on the road for so long, aren¡¯t you all hungry?!" The Rat King was the first to stand up and propose, while showing off with a shake of his head, "As the saying goes, the most basic desires are food and sex... "


    Zang Xiaojian couldn¡¯t help but smile, her eyes filled with amusement, and she gave the Rat King a thumbs up, "That was quite a schrly quote!"


    Praised by Zang Xiaojian, the Rat King became even morecent, the red mane on his head nearly standing on end.


    "Let¡¯s attend to important matters first, see if we can find any traces of that underground force." Lu Qingshan, however, chose to ignore the Rat King¡¯s words.


    ...


    This was a square located at the most central and bustling area of Jiaolong City.


    "Isn¡¯t this a bit too showy?" As soon as they arrived, the Rat King couldn¡¯t help but exim.


    Because at the center of the square stood a colossal iron Jiaolong statue, a hundred zhang tall, cast from molten iron, its entire body a deep ck, shimmering with a dark light.


    The Jiaolong statue had sharp ws that exuded a faint coldness, two very short horns were cast above its head, and its eyes featured prominently fierce bulges.


    This was the Jiaolong Demon King who ruled over the Poseidon Archipgo, known as the ¡¯Sea God¡¯.


    Lu Qingshan looked up and gazed for a long time at this ferocious iron Jiaolong statue.


    "This is where the sacrifice ceremony will be held. Sea God Sect cultivators will offer young children before the Jiaolong statue to show their respect to the Sea God," Zang Xiaojian said.


    "Lu Qingshan, weren¡¯t you looking for that underground force? What are we doing here?" asked the Rat King, puzzled.


    "Getting a feel for the ce," Lu Qingshan replied.


    "Testing the waters?" King Xi Rat became even more puzzled.


    Lu Qingshan withdrew his gaze that had been fixating on the Jiaolong statue and looked around before exining, "If you have an enemy, you would always be paying attention and bearing them in mind."


    "It¡¯s a subconscious human behavior that won¡¯t change no matter what."


    King Xi Rat¡¯s mind was filled with confusion; its small brain couldn¡¯tprehend the meaning of Lu Qingshan¡¯s words.


    "So if there really is an underground force wanting to overturn the Sea God Sect, then they would definitelye to secretly watch the ceremony on the day of the ritual that has stirred up public resentment¡ªeven if they don¡¯t n to make a move then," Zang Xiaojian instantly grasped the implications of Lu Qingshan¡¯s words.


    "Yes, and if it were just an individual, they might be able to suppress the urge to attend in person, but if it¡¯s arge organization with many members, it would be impossible to keep everyone away from the scene of the ceremony," Lu Qingshan nodded and added.


    After carefully observing the surrounding buildings, Lu Qingshan finally fixed his gaze on a four-story restaurant at a diagonal angle and said to King Xi Rat, "Aren¡¯t you hungry? Let¡¯s go eat!"


    King Xi Rat was stunned, not quite able to keep up with the rapid pace of Lu Qingshan¡¯s thoughts, but upon hearing that they were going to eat, it abandoned all else.


    ...


    In a private room on the fourth floor of the restaurant, the table was in disarray with dishes and cups.


    However, this time Zang Xiaojian wasn¡¯t carefree like King Xi Rat. Instead, he looked out the window and said softly, "Although the location of this restaurant is out of the way, the view from the rooftop here gives one a clear view of the entire square. But because it is tucked in a corner, it isn¡¯t conspicuous."


    ¡ªFor the underground forces¡¯ cultivators, this ce is undoubtedly one of the best spots to observe the ritual on the day of the ceremony.


    King Xi Rat looked up at the two, feeling that their conversation had some deeper meaning, but it couldn¡¯t understand and, shaking its little head, went back to focusing on its food.


    Zang Xiaojian showed a contemtive expression, "Moreover, even if they are not here at the time but instead mingling in the crowd watching the ritual on the square, this vantage point is still the most convenient ce for observation."


    Working with someone smart certainly saves a lot of worries. Lu Qingshan nced at Zang Xiaojian with approval and nodded, "Indeed."


    Lu Qingshan called over the waiter and handed over a hefty amount of silver pieces, making an advance reservation for a table on the fourth floor for the day of the ritual.


    ...


    In the following three days, Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian roamed around the city, blending in at various restaurants, picking up a multitude of information and interesting anecdotes.


    For example, the most talented family head of the Mo Family from Dragon Spring¡ªknown for their genius once every millennium¡ªhad inexplicably developed a drinking addiction a hundred years ago and couldn¡¯t be happy without alcohol.


    There were also rumors about the Jiaolong n, iming their king, after lying dormant for a thousand years, was nearing the transformation of its fifth w.


    The Jiaolong n¡¯s name for themselves was just a boast; without five ws, they weren¡¯t considered dragons.


    With four ws they were Jiao, and only upon the transformation of the fifth w would they truly be termed Jiaolong.


    The demon n naturally had extremely long lifespans, and once the Jiaolong Demon King sessfully grew its fifth w, its lifespan would extend even further, leaving the people of the Poseidon Archipgo with truly endless days of hardship.


    Then there was the volcanic crater that even cultivators could not withstand, named the Spiritual Abyss by the inders, located fifty li north of Jiaolong City.


    When it erupted and the sky was filled with mist, a spectacr rainbow could be seen from within Jiaolong City itself, truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight.


    But the more beautiful something is, the more dangerous it tends to be¡ªthe air above the Spiritual Abyss is a no-fly zone for birds; getting close to the airspace above the abyss would subject one to the enormous suction force emanating from the Spiritual Abyss.


    And in thousands of years, no one who has fallen into the Spiritual Abyss was known to have escaped from it unscathed.


    With these rumors, true or false, Lu Qingshan finally acquired a systematic understanding of the situation on this ind.

 Chapter 143 - 12 The Grand Sacrificial Ceremony

    The sacrificial ceremony was today.


    In the early morning, before the sun had fully risen, themoners of Jiaolong City were already sshing water and sweeping the streets, leaving them sparkling clean.


    Under the rule of the Sea God Sect, the sacrificial ceremony was the most important day of the year for Jiaolong City. Even though themoners held resentment in their hearts, they only dared to be silently indignant, carefullyplying with the demands set forth by the Upper Sect¡¯s cultivators.


    A solemn and spectacr harmony of music emanated from the za where the Jiaolong statue stood, produced by dozens of different instruments such as tuned stone chimes and bronze bells.


    An hour before the sacrificial ceremony was due to begin, Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian had already arrived at a tavern, having reserved their ces in advance.


    Having ordered some of the tavern¡¯s signature dishes, the two savored their meal and conversed quietly, appearing to be ordinary diners.


    From their current position, looking toward the za, one could see that in front of the giant Jiaolong statue, a circr altar had already been set up for sacrifice, with Heaven Lanterns hanging in the southwest quadrant, burning incense amidst a misty haze.


    In the center of the circr altar, instead of a divine seat or ques, there was a massive deep pit that dipped downward, with many pieces of fragrant sandalwood, which when burned emitted a peculiar scent. On top of the sandalwood, a dazzling array of precious jewels, pearls, and silks were umted.


    On both sides under the altar, the City Guards of Jiaolong City stood quietly, maintaining order.


    In the southeast corner of the altar, many ritual instruments were ced, with musicians skilled in their art ying continuously, and it was from here that the ceaseless bell tones originated.


    The viewing area on the za was by then packed with onlookers, easily numbering in the thousands. Each had a mysterious symbol painted on their face, and around their left arm, they all wore a white and blue intertwined ribbon. Despite the immense gathering ofmoners, the za was devoid of any noise, highly solemn.


    These were the citizens whom the Sea God Sect had forcibly required to attend the sacrificial ceremony, and as ordinary mortals, who would dare defy themands of the Upper Sect? Intimidated by the authority of the cultivators, they naturally did not dare to make a fuss.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan sipped his tea lightly, his gaze wandering across the various tables.


    At a window seat, an elderly man with a bright spirit had already been seated before Lu Qingshan¡¯s arrival. Numerous Spirit Beast Bags hung from the elder¡¯s waist, suggesting he was a Beast Cultivator with no low level of cultivation.


    The elder drank alone, his gaze unfocused, his attention obviously on the sacrificial ceremony in the za. Yet after Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian¡¯s arrival, he asionally nced towards Lu Qingshan¡¯s table.


    In the southeast corner sat two burly men, who had ordered a table full of hearty dishes, drinking heartily fromrge bowls; they seemed thoroughly enjoying themselves.


    Next to Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian sat a family of three, a young husband and wife; a boy about three or four years of age was sitting beside his mother, quite well-behaved.


    The wife spooned steaming meat porridge, feeding her child with eyes full of tenderness.


    ...


    After some time,


    "They¡¯re here," Zang Xiaojian whispered.


    In the distant sky, three shes of blue light streaked by.


    The blue lights gradually approached the altar, finallynding in front of it, revealing the figures within.


    Three cultivators from the Sea God Sect dressed in blue robes, a Golden Core Cultivator and two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they were the ones tasked with presiding over this sacrificial ceremony.


    Hiss¡ªBoom!


    As the three cultivators descended, the bell sounds abruptly stopped, and the sound of drums surged. The sacrificial ceremony officially began.


    As soon as the real Golden Core of the Sea God Sect arrived on the scene, he raised a me in his left hand and flung it towards the pile of firewood in the center of the pit. Following a sharpmand, "Summon the God!"


    sh!


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Inside the deep pit in the very center of the altar, the firewood immediately sent up towering mes and smoke.


    A sacrificer, who had been waiting on the side, cradled the sacrificial text in both hands and approached in a quick stride, respectfully bowing down before the Golden Core Cultivator.


    The Golden Core Cultivator received the sacrificial text, and with Spiritual Power umting in his voice, he loudly chanted it, his voice resonating in all directions.


    After the chant waspleted, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Sea God Sect had already led ny-nine boys and girls each up to the altar from both sides.


    Bound by Techniques, these children were motionless, like puppets on strings,pletely under others¡¯ control. Yet, in their eyes was filled with fear and panic.


    The Golden Core Cultivator¡¯s expression was serene as he quietly uttered three words, "Sacrifice the children!"


    Upon receiving the order, the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Sea God Sect formed hand seals and the children involuntarily and orderly stepped onto the altar.


    Above the smoking and ming altar, the children did not hesitate or pause. They jumped straight into the fire pit, one after another, without looking back.


    The firewood burned with fierce mes. As the children entered it, they were instantly engulfed by the ze, twisting in agony. However, the children whose movements were sealed by the Cultivators¡¯ Spells couldn¡¯t even let out a cry of pain.


    Their tender faces flickered within the mes and gradually turned to charred remains and disappeared.


    Beneath the stage, amongst the watching crowd, some wore looks of outrage, some held sadness in their hearts, and some had eyes red with tears, but most appeared numb.


    The sacrificial ceremony continued.


    ...


    Atop the tavern.


    Lu Qingshan gently tapped the head of King Xishu and whispered to a family of three who had just settled their bill and were about to leave, "Follow them, see where they settle down, but don¡¯t get noticed."


    King Xishu, still relishing the grease on its paws, appeared reluctant to move, seemingly still wanting to enjoy the moment.


    "Do it well, and you get two Blood Spirit Beads," Lu Qingshan said nonchntly.


    Immediately, King Xishu perked up, patting its chest and promising, "Just following some humans, right? For Tiger, it¡¯s as easy as eating bean sprouts, leave it to me!"


    With a leap, King Xishu quickly vanished inside the tavern.


    King Xishu wasn¡¯t boasting. Though itcked offensive means, its ability to conceal its presence was indeed extraordinary, making tracking others a forte.


    "Why them?" Zang Xiaojian asked, puzzled, "That cultivator who was constantly paying attention to us and the sacrificial ceremony seems more suspicious, right?"


    Lu Qingshan shook his head and exined, "Due to the regional characteristics of Jiaolong Ind, the locals have a distinct ent, speaking in a clipped tone, as if talking with pursed lips. However, that elder¡¯s ent when speaking to the server was heavy, clearly not a local but like us, from elsewhere.


    This organization intending to overthrow the Sea God Sect is clearly a local power; the likelihood of foreign Cultivators is not high.


    Moreover, see how the elder carries a total of four Spirit Beast Bags at his waist, indicating he is a Beast Cultivator with no low Cultivation. It¡¯s no wonder then that he could see through King Xishu¡¯s rather clumsy Illusion Technique.


    Being a foreigner and a Beast Cultivator, it is understandable that he¡¯d show some curiosity towards the sacrificial ceremony and King Xishu."


    "As for this family of three," Lu Qingshan chuckled lightly, "have you ever seen a mother who feeds her child scalding porridge? And which child can eat hot porridge straight from the stove without flinching?


    Also, you might not have noticed, but from start to finish, the husband only once voluntarily looked at his wife, and there was virtually no real eye contact with the child. With such an absence of affinity, does that resemble a family of three?"


    "If the husband and wife are fake, and the child is also fake, then the only truth left is ghosts."

 Chapter 144 - 13 Contact

    Inside a separate courtyard in the southeast of Dragon City, three Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat in defined positions, discussing matters with grave expressions.


    These three Cultivators were unmistakably the family of three who had just been in the restaurant.


    "Fa Shui, are you sure no cultivator has followed us?" asked Fa Shui Zhenren, who yed the role of the husband among the three.


    The cultivator addressed as Fa Shui was the one who had previously impersonated a child.


    He was a dwarf, naturally suited for the role due to his stature, making his impersonation of a child wless.


    Confident, Fa Shui Zhenren said, "Rest assured, I have checked repeatedly, no cultivator is tailing us.


    Besides, why be so cautious? Over the years, you and I have always been responsible for overseeing the ritual ceremonies, and nothing has ever gone wrong.


    With our art of concealing our aura and disguises, not to mention the pliant cultivators of the Sea God Sect, I believe even if it were Master Mo himself, he might not see through us!"


    Meanwhile, on the streets outside the courtyard,


    Lu Qingshan stood shoulder to shoulder with Zang Xiaojian, as King West Mouse pointed towards the courtyard and said, "This is it; I saw all three of them enter this courtyard."


    "Those three acted like thieves, extremely cautious, using little spells and sweeping Divine Sense around, but before King Mouse here, it¡¯s all child¡¯s y; they couldn¡¯t even detect a single hair of mine!" boasted King West Mouse with grandiosity.


    Lu Qingshan patted King West Mouse on the forehead, "Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be short of your Blood Spirit Bead."


    ¡­


    "Fa Shui, the Cultivator the Sea God Sect deployed for this year¡¯s ritual ceremony is Han Lang Zhenren, who just broke through to the Golden Core a year ago," said the young female Cultivator ying the role of the wife, New Moon Zhenren, with a grave face.


    "Yes, normally, it is customary for a Cultivator to seclude themselves to stabilize their cultivation after breaking through to the Golden Core and not appear in public easily.


    The fact that Han Lang Zhenren has been put forward by the Sea God Sect so soon after his breakthrough implies they must be short on personnel; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t let him make an appearance. It seems likely the high-rank cultivators of the Sea God Sect are preupied with the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s transformation into a dragon," Fa Shui Zhenren added.


    With a hint of hesitation and worry, Fa Shui Zhenren said, "If the Jiaolong Demon King seeds in transforming into a dragon, we will never have another chance to turn the tides. We must strike before its transformation, and judging by the circumstances, the final battle seems imminent."


    Fa Shui Zhenren was also very uneasy, "It¡¯s just uncertain how well-prepared the senior cultivators are; after preparing for so many years, I hope it won¡¯t all be in vain and that we can bring daylight to our Human Race again¡­"


    Knock¡ª


    Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted their conversation.


    "Why would someone knock on our door? Could it be someone from the Sea God Sect?!" eximed New Moon, particrly cautious.


    Shaking his head, Fa Shui Zhenren said, "It¡¯s unlikely. If it were someone from the Sea God Sect, they wouldn¡¯t knock so gently."


    Nodding in agreement, Fa Shui Zhenren responded, "What Fa Shui said is right; since it¡¯s a knock, it suggests no hostility. Let¡¯s go see who it is."


    The three got up, approached the door together, and released their Divine Senses to scan the person outside. After a brief exchange of looks, theymented, "One mid-Foundation Establishment, e-Foundation Establishment; the Sea God Sect wouldn¡¯t send such personnel to trouble us, but it¡¯s hard to say who else it could be."


    New Moon Zhenren abruptly opened the door.


    Standing at the doorstep were an extraordinarily young man and woman. Upon recognizing their faces, all three¡¯s expressions darkened.


    The man and woman were the same individuals who had been sitting at the next table in the restaurant. Their sudden appearance here could hardly be a coincidence,


    On Jiaolong Ind, who else but the Sea God Sect could be responsible for this?


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Not willing to risk any chance, Fa Shui Zhenren, without giving it much thought on how they were discovered, immediately decided, "We¡¯ve been exposed, let¡¯s escape!"


    Hiss!


    The moment after Fa Shui Zhenren¡¯s words had fallen, he felt a chill on his head.


    A sharp Sword Qi swept past above his hair, causing a strand of hair to silently fall.


    Too fast!


    It was so fast that he didn¡¯t even have time to react, and one could imagine the consequences if the Sword Qi had targeted his neck.


    At this thought, Fa Shui Zhenren¡¯s body trembled involuntarily, and cold sweat seeped out on his back.


    Zang Xiaojian retracted her right hand and looked at Fa Shui Zhenren with a smile, "There¡¯s no need to panic so much, why don¡¯t we first listen to our purpose here, how about that?"


    Whenever Zang Xiaojian smiled, two attractive dimples appeared on her cheeks, which looked very cute, but in Fa Shui Zhenren¡¯s eyes, Zang Xiaojian¡¯s smile at that moment seemed exceedingly creepy.


    Because the Sword Qi that had instantly shed at the top of his head had burst forth from the index finger of the right hand of the smiling girl before him.


    Not only were the three men extremely shocked in their hearts, even Lu Qingshan, standing by, felt a hint of admiration.


    Using her finger as a sword to emit Sword Qi with such speed was astonishing; what would the power be like if the Sword Qi had been emitted from a sword?


    This Zang Xiaojian, not only was her cultivation outstanding, but herbat power could also be considered top-notch.


    Intimidated by Zang Xiaojian, the three men who had initially nned to flee, saw that Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian did not make another move. After hesitating for a moment, they stopped.


    "What do you seek?" Wu Ai Zhenren asked with a wary look at Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian.


    Lu Qingshan pointed inside the house, "Shall we not talk inside?"


    The three men were silent for a moment, and Fa Shui Zhenren made a decision the quickest. He gestured invitingly, "Please inside!"


    Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian casually stepped inside the courtyard, Wu Ai quickly closed the door, and Xin Yue Zhenren weed them into the hall.


    "We are cultivators from outside the area," Lu Qingshan stated straightforwardly as he found a seat in the hall alongside Zang Xiaojian, "We havee to Jiaolong Ind with the aim of finding someone. However, being unfamiliar with the ce, we would like to ask for your help, and we can negotiate the reward."


    Wu Ai and Xin Yue looked to Fa Shui Zhenren with questioning eyes.


    Upon hearing this, Fa Shui Zhenren scanned Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian back and forth for a long time before slowly nodding to Wu Ai and Xin Yue, "Poseidon Archipgo isn¡¯trge, and there aren¡¯t many cultivators here. I am fairly familiar with the local cultivators¡¯ appearances and backgrounds, and I have indeed never seen you two before.


    If you were from Poseidon Archipgo, I would definitely not have no impression of you."


    Upon hearing Fa Shui Zhenren say this, Wu Ai and Xin Yue rxed slightly, relieved that their identity hadn¡¯t been exposed to the Sea God Sect.


    "If it¡¯s about finding someone, we might be able to offer some minor help. However, this isn¡¯t something we three can decide on alone; we need to consult with higher authorities," Wu Ai Zhenren said hesitantly.


    Lu Qingshan was nomittal, "I understand; you may go ahead and consult."


    Lu Qingshan was not afraid that the three men were merely pretending to consult, only to actually call for reinforcements to ambush them.


    Because they were in Dragon City, right on the territory of the Sea God Sect, in such a ce, even a slightmotion would attract the attention of the Sea God Sect.


    And given their rtionship with the Sea God Sect, how could they dare cause trouble in the city?


    As for this so-called consultation, Lu Qingshan understood that it was not just about consulting but likely also involved verifying his and Zang Xiaojian¡¯s backgrounds.


    How could such a covert organization trust them just from their few words?

 Chapter 145 - 14 Master Mo

    Having obtained permission, Xinyue Zhenren quickly withdrew, leaving only Wuai Zhenren and Fashui Zhenren forpany.


    The four sat facing each other, and as for King Xishu, he had already consumed a Blood Spirit Bead and was hiding in the Spirit Beast Bag to digest the energy of the Blood Spirit Bead.


    "What is the name of your organization?" Lu Qingshan, looking at the slightly uneasy duo, asked curiously, "Of course, if it¡¯s something you can¡¯t disclose, feel free to not answer. I¡¯m just a bit curious."


    Fashui and Wuai hesitated for a moment, but eventually, Fashui took the initiative to speak up, "It¡¯s just a name and hardly a secret, so naturally, there¡¯s no need to hide it."


    Wuai continued, "We cultivators call ourselves the Dragon ying Saber, symbolizing the intention to y the Jiaolong Demon King."


    "Ahem¡ª" Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but cough lightly twice, praising, "Not bad, the name is quite cool."


    Fashui looked a bit puzzled and didn¡¯t understand the meaning of ¡¯cool¡¯, but judging from Lu Qingshan¡¯s tone and expression, he guessed it was apliment and thus modestly responded with a smile, "It¡¯s just averagely cool, an overstatement, really."


    Wuai struggled internally for a while, his face showing hesitation, but eventually, he couldn¡¯t resist asking, "Can I ask how exactly you managed to find us?"


    "We, the Dragon ying Saber cultivators, always act with discretion and caution, maintaining seemingly reasonable facades. The cultivators of the Sea God Sect are aware of our existence, engaging in various investigations that ultimately lead to nothing.


    I really can¡¯t understand how two strangers, unfamiliar with the ce, managed to aplish what even the local toughs of the Sea God Sect could not?"


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze shifted to Zang Xiaojian, who immediately understood and cheekily replied, "Secret, can¡¯t tell."


    Having Zang Xiaojian y the bad guy naturally helped prevent Wuai from feeling too dissatisfied.


    "Since arriving on the ind, what we have seen and heard about the Sea God Sect has given us some understanding of its absurdity. Can you borate more on the Sea God Sect for us?" Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t give Wuai much time to ponder and steered the conversation in a new direction.


    In fact, Lu Qingshan was more interested in the so-called Dragon ying Saber; however, asking about the specifics of their own organization would neither be appropriate nor would they be willing to disclose that.


    However, inquiring about the situation of the Sea God Sect was not a major issue, so Lu Qingshan opted for the next best thing.


    Furthermore, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t mind slightly expressing his distaste for the Sea God Sect just after Zang Xiaojian had yed the bad guy.


    Although it was unlikely that this alone would make Fashui and the otherspletely trust him, getting somewhat closer to them was feasible.


    "The Sea God Sect has stood atop Jiaolong Ind for hundreds of years, growing continuously powerful with the backing of the Jiaolong Demon Race.


    Today, the Sea God Sect boasts eleven Golden Core Cultivators, hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and over a thousand Qi Refinement disciples. The Sect¡¯s Great Elder is even a Golden Core Perfection Great Cultivator, truly a dominant force on Jiaolong Ind." Speaking of the Sea God Sect, Fashui did not hold back, detailing the situation of the Sea God Sect.


    Zang Xiaojian appeared thoughtful, "Eleven Golden Core Cultivators, no wonder they hold such dominance on Jiaolong Ind."


    Zang Xiaojian¡¯s remark seemed to open the floodgates for Wuai Zhenren, who immediately said indignantly, "What¡¯s so great about eleven Golden Core Cultivators? At its peak, our Jiaolong Ind had sixty Golden Core Cultivators.


    Back then, the Sea God Sect was just a minor sect on Jiaolong Ind, not even called the Sea God Sect then, but the Spirit Snake Sect.


    Later, when the Jiaolong n wanted to take over the Poseidon Archipgo, how could our Human Race¡¯s ind tolerate the coveting of the Demon n?


    Therefore, the major powerful sects of the Poseidon Archipgo organized to resist harshly. Unexpectedly, these small mudfish were the first to capitte to the Jiaolong n for power.


    As a result, due to the formidable strength of the Jiaolong Demon King, the sects that chose resistance were sessively defeated, with the Jiaolong n ultimately triumphing and taking control of the Poseidon Archipgo."


    Because of this, the Spirit Snake Sect naturally received their support to be the strongest and only cultivator¡¯s sect on the ind, subsequently renamed the Sea God Sect, governed by the Jiaolong n over the Human Race."


    "The most malicious part is, to ensure that the Sea God Sect wouldn¡¯t harbor any thoughts of rebellion and secretly defy them, the Jiaolong n made the Sea God Sect responsible for organizing an annual sacrificial ceremony, during which ny-nine pairs of boys and girls were sacrificed to show respect to the Jiaolong Demon King," Wu Ai gnashed his teeth and said.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan finally understood the true purpose of this so-called sacrificial ceremony¡ªit was secondary to establishing their own authority, the real aim was to divide the Sea God Sect from the rest of the Human Race on the ind.


    The consequence of the Sea God Sect managing the sacrificial ceremony was that it ced thempletely at odds with the ind¡¯s Human Race, with no possibility of reconciliation.


    And with the ind¡¯s Human Race hating the Sea God Sect to the bone, the Sect had no choice but to cling tightly to the Jiaolong n.


    This Jiaolong Demon King indeed had deep and cunning ns¡ªwhat a well-yed strategy!


    Lu Qingshanmented in his heart.


    Fa Shui pointed at Wu Ai, exining his righteous indignation: "Wu Ai, because he was small and looked just like a child, was selected at the age of twelve when his vige had no eligible boys. After deliberations, they decided to use him to make up the numbers.


    Had Wu Ai not heard the news early and fled the vige, he would have been sacrificed to the mes that year, so his hatred for the Sea God Sect is even greater than ours."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Wu Ai gave a bitter smile and said, "I don¡¯t me those vigers; they were also forced into a corner. Moreover, had it not been for that incident, I wouldn¡¯t have met my master and wouldn¡¯t have be a cultivator."


    "Still," Wu Ai paused, his expressionplex, "I and the Sea God Sect are irreconcble. If I could tten the Sea God Sect, my life would be without regrets."


    ...


    After chatting with Fa Shui and Wu Ai for about an hour, Real Person Xinyue walked in from the main gate with a somewhat solemn expression.


    "What¡¯s the situation?" Fa Shui, seeing the gravity on Xinyue¡¯s face, quickly asked.


    Xinyue said gravely, "Master Mo hase in person."


    "What?!" Both Fa Shui and Wu Ai were shocked upon hearing this.


    Seeing the trio¡¯s reaction, Lu Qingshan grew curious about this yet unseen Master Mo.


    It seemed he must be a Great Cultivator of the Dragon ying Saber, but who exactly was he?


    Soon, the answer was revealed.


    Real Person Xinyue stepped aside, and another person walked in from outside.


    This was a lean young man, not particrly handsome, but enveloped in a very special aura, like a smooth and polished gemstone. However, he was not a Great Cultivator but just had Foundation Establishment Cultivation like Fa Shui and the others.


    "Master Mo." Upon seeing the young mane in, Wu Ai and Fa Shui quickly stood up and respectfully greeted him.


    Zang Xiaojian rolled her big eyes, sizing up the young man who came in, finding him quite peculiar.


    Master Mo. Hearing this title, an image of a very old, white-haired elder had always lingered in her mind¡ªwho would have thought that this Master Mo would be a young man?

 Chapter 146 - 15 Cold Spirit Fire

    "Greetings Lu Daoist, Zang Daoist," the youth known as Master Mo greeted both parties as he entered.


    Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian stood up and returned the gesture, "Greetings, Master Mo."


    Master Mo waved his hand, speaking amiably, "You tter me too much. Just call me Mo Yan."


    Lu Qingshan nodded without saying much.


    Mo Yan then continued, "I¡¯ve heard from Xinyue that you seek our help in locating someone?"


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Zang Xiaojian nodded, "Indeed, as long as you¡¯re willing to help, the reward is negotiable."


    Mo Yan spread his hands with a light chuckle, "Our Dragon ying Saber faction isn¡¯t currently in need of spirit stones."


    A trace of surprise flickered through Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    What Mo Yan had said was at odds with his expectations.


    In his mind, given the pressure from the Sea God Sect, all actions taken by the Dragon ying Saber faction had to remain ndestine, making it impossible for them to own overt assets like spirit ore mines or spirit medicine gardens.


    Moreover, considering they were plotting to overthrow the mighty Sea God Sect, an endeavor that would surely drain resources, they should be in great need of spirit stones.


    Unless the Master Mo before him was lying, it meant that the Dragon ying Saber faction had a very special means of generating wealth.


    Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t be certain which case it was just yet, but either possibility suggested the situation was less than ideal.


    "If there¡¯s anything you need, Master Mo, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask. If it¡¯s within our capabilities, we will try our utmost to assist," Lu Qingshan replied politely, showing no signs of discouragement.


    For he understood that if the Dragon ying Saber had no intention of helping, they would have outright refused his request rather than dragging their feet. And Master Mo certainly wouldn¡¯t havee to meet them in person.


    This could only mean that Master Mo must have an ulterior motive.


    Mo Yan said with a smile, "Actually, there is a small favor I¡¯d like to ask of you two for assistance."


    Lu Qingshan gave the impression of being all ears.


    Mo Yan carefully articted his words, "The Sea God Sect has opened a market in Jiaolong City, catering to cultivators, which naturally includes their own shops.


    Within one of these shops, they sell an item that I happen to need.


    However, as you know, given our adversarial rtionship with the Sea God Sect, having someone from our side attempt to purchase from them would be exceedingly risky.


    I was hesitating over what to do when you arrived. Since you are cultivators from afar..."


    "So, you want us to step in and buy this item for you?"


    "Exactly, and don¡¯t worry about the reward. I will not only have the organization assist you in your search, but I will also offer you a substantial payment."


    Great, originally you nned to give them spirit stones, but now they don¡¯t want them and instead want to give some to you.


    Lu Qingshan found the situation somewhat amusing.


    "What do you think?" Lu Qingshan looked toward Zang Xiaojian, for they were travelpanions, and it would be best if both agreed on any decision.


    Zang Xiaojian replied unconcernedly, "I¡¯ll follow your lead."


    "Then we agree to this task," Lu Qingshan said without further hesitation, epting Mo Yan¡¯s proposal.


    The smile on Mo Yan¡¯s face became warmer, "Let me exin the details to you¡­"


    What Mo Yan wished to acquire was a fire seed named Cold Spirit Fire, a Netherfire seed that originated from the depths of the sea. Its power was arcane and if refined, one could wield the Cold Spirit Fire itself, a true treasure for those who practice fire attribute Dharma Cultivation.


    "An item like a Netherfire seed is rare, and conventionally, no sect would offer it for sale, typically keeping it for internal use.


    Continue reading stories on empire


    But as you know, due to regional constraints, the local cultivators on the inds are mostly practitioners of the water element essence, and the Sea God Sect is no different."


    In the Five Elements, the many ovee the few, thus the Water Element trumps the Fire Element. On the ind, most cultivators practice Water Attribute Techniques, so even if there are cultivators who practice other attributes, none would be foolish enough to choose the Fire Element.


    As such, this Cold Spirit Fire Seed became something tasteless to eat, yet too wasteful to discard, a true chicken rib. The Sea God Sect simply put it away in the attic and decided to sell it in their own shop."


    "So, why would you take an interest in this Fire Seed?" Zang Xiaojian asked bluntly, seemingly without any ulterior motives.


    Mo Yan wasn¡¯t in a hurry and replied slowly, "It just so happens that I am one of those who would be foolish enough to choose to cultivate a Fire Element Technique."


    ...


    "Qingshan, that Mo Yan has especially strong Divine Soul Power, far surpassing ordinary people." After leaving the other courtyard, the Western Rat King immediately slinked out of the Spirit Beast Bag and leaped onto Zang Xiaojian¡¯s shoulder, looking at Qingshan with amazement.


    "Is that so?" Qingshan pondered thoughtfully, piecing together all the information, and seemed to find an answer to a particr doubt in his mind.


    "What do you think of what Master Mo said? How much truth is in it?" Zang Xiaojian asked.


    After thinking for a moment, Qingshan answered frankly, "Nine parts true, one part false, I suppose. Their reluctance to purchase this Fire Seed themselves must not be as simple as he described.


    If I¡¯m not mistaken, it¡¯s very likely a trap deliberately set by the Sea God Sect, designed to lure in Master Mo, and he understands this, which is why he doesn¡¯t dare to act hastily."


    "A trap?"


    "Master Mo must be a top-notch Artifact Refiner, and which Artifact Refiner could resist the temptation of a Netherfire Seed?"


    "Why do you say that?" Zang Xiaojian widened her eyes upon hearing this.


    She was very curious, as to how Qingshan derived information she didn¡¯t know from the same conversation.


    "Firstly, as he said himself, on the ind where most cultivators practice Water Attribute Techniques, only those who have lost their minds would choose to cultivate a Fire Attribute Technique which is countered by Water." Qingshan looked at Zang Xiaojian, who was listening to his analysis intently, and counter-questioned, "Do you think that Master Mo is one of those who have lost his mind?"


    Zang Xiaojian shook her head, "No, he seems very shrewd to me."


    "If he¡¯s not one who has lost his mind, then he must have somepelling reasons to cultivate a Fire Attribute Technique." Qingshan paused for a moment before voicing his own thoughts, "And Artifact Refiners are precisely the type of cultivators who must practice Fire Attribute Techniques."


    "Moreover, you must have noticed how the Foundation Establishment cultivators Fa Shui, Five Dwarfs, and New Moon¡¯s reverence toward Mo Yan was genuine, with no sign of pretense, indicating that Mo Yan¡¯s status within the Dragon ying Saber is probably quite high.


    However, his cultivation is only at Foundation Establishment, and with that alone, he shouldn¡¯t have such a high status, which leaves one possibility: in other areas, this Mo Yan must possess an exceptional talent."


    "Also, the three of them address him as ¡¯Master Mo,¡¯ a title generally reserved for cultivators who have certain achievements in Formations, Alchemy, or Artifact Refining."


    "Furthermore, as the Western Rat King said, Mo Yan¡¯s Divine Soul Power is extraordinarily strong, which is also a characteristic of a top-notch Artifact Refiner."


    "Most importantly, Mo Yan has disyed the demeanor of someone from the Dragon ying Saber who is not short of Spirit Stones, suggesting they must have some means of acquiring arge influx of Spirit Stones to sustain their organization¡¯s operations.


    With strategic resources like Spirit Stone mines and Spirit Ores monopolized by the Sea God Sect, Artifact Refining, which values skill, is undoubtedly the most likely way for them to generate wealth."


    Zang Xiaojian¡¯s face lit up with sudden understanding, "Going by what you said, this Mo Yan seems to be up to no good, wanting us to bite the baitid by the Sea God Sect to hook him."


    "You can¡¯t say he¡¯spletely ill-intentioned. His goal is to obtain the Fire Seed, not to entrap us.


    In fact, it¡¯s quite unlikely that the Sea God Sect would target the two of us foreigners for purchasing the Fire Seed." Qingshan said calmly, "That¡¯s also why I agreed to help him."


    Zang Xiaojian clenched her little fist and bared her teeth grimly, "That¡¯s good then, otherwise, I, Zang Xiaojian, would have made sure he regretted it!"


    After listening to Qingshan¡¯s analysis, the Western Rat King struck a thoughtful pose, looked at Qingshan with a serious expression, and said, "I think that Master Mo and you are quite alike."


    "How so?" Zang Xiaojian couldn¡¯t help but interrupt and ask.


    The Western Rat King nodded solemnly, "He¡¯s like Qingshan, always giving me the impression of being scheming, with a calm and collected facade, but in reality, he¡¯s full of cunning ns."


    Qingshan smacked the Western Rat King¡¯s head with annoyance, "Watch your words."


    The Western Rat King, holding his little head and feeling indignant, sought support from Zang Xiaojian, tugging at the strands of her hair that fell over her shoulders, and asked defiantly, "What do you think?"


    "Not at all," Zang Xiaojian decisively shook her head, her bright and spirited eyes carefully observing Qingshan¡¯s face for several moments, her lips pursed with a faint smile, eyes curved, "He¡¯s not nearly as good-looking as Qingshan."

 Chapter 147 - 16: Killing Move

    "Master Mo, do you really trust these two people so readily? To hand over such a massive amount of spirit stones to them just like that? Aren¡¯t you afraid they might be tempted by the wealth, take off in hiding, or even betray us?" asked Fa Shui inside the courtyard, puzzled.


    The other two also harbored simr doubts.


    Master Mo¡¯s expression remained calm, and he spoke in an even tone, "These two appear young, yet possess such cultivation and carry themselves with an extraordinary demeanor, clearly they are the outstanding disciples of some prestigious sects.


    You must have noticed their attitude that they are notcking in spirit stones. The huge amount of spirit stones you are thinking of, in their eyes, might not be insignificant, but it definitely isn¡¯t to the extent that they wouldmit acts of treachery for it.


    Moreover, they have expressed their intention to seek our help to find someone. They haven¡¯t found the person yet, so how could they possibly take off? As for betraying us, we haven¡¯t revealed too much information. If he wanted to betray us, he could have done so when he discovered you three, rather than waiting until now."


    A glint of firmness shed in Mo Yan¡¯s eyes as he spoke in a deep voice, "What¡¯s most important is, obtaining this Cold Spirit Fire Seed is akin to a gamble.


    Having members of the Dragon ying Saber go out to shop might mean gambling with our brothers¡¯ lives. Aspared to that, entrusting them to help with the purchase is merely risking a batch of spirit stones at most. What¡¯s there to hesitate about? For me, earning spirit stones is no difficult task!"


    ...


    In the marketce of Jiaolong City, inside Myriad Treasures Tower.


    Myriad Treasures Tower is a shop set up by the Sea God Sect and is also the most prestigious shop in this market.


    However.


    "That¡¯s it?" Western Rat King looked somewhat disinterested at the two-story wooden building in front of him andined, "This is way too inferiorpared to the Great Xia Commercial Firm."


    "The Great Xia Commercial Firm is thergestmercial firm within the territories of the Human Race. This is just a small sect¡¯s shop; how could itpare?" Lu Qingshan wasn¡¯t surprised and stepped into the building.


    But Zang Xiaojian, standing next to a human and a mouse, contrasted notably with their calm and disdain; as soon as she entered Myriad Treasures Tower, she began to look around at the items and decorations inside the shop, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and wonder.


    Was this youngdy confined in some deep mountain or dense forest before this?


    Lu Qingshan recalled when they first entered Jiaolong City, Zang Xiaojian also had the same first-time-in-the-city look, her gaze sweeping everywhere, and he couldn¡¯t help but specte.


    Compared to the Great Xia Commercial Firm, Myriad Treasures Tower wasn¡¯t just less imposing in stature, but also far behind in terms of hospitality.


    It was a long while after Lu Qingshan entered before an attendant btedly came to greet him.


    "I heard that there is a Cold Spirit Fire Seed avable in your store. I wonder if it¡¯s still here, and if it is, may I take a look?" Lu Qingshan asked straightforwardly.


    The attendant, upon hearing this, instantly turned serious from a somewhat ck expression, "Esteemed guest, the Cold Spirit Fire Seed is still in our shop and has not been sold.


    However, the Cold Spirit Fire Seed is one of our shop¡¯s treasures. If you want to purchase it, I can¡¯t make that decision myself¡ªI need to ask the manager, so please wait a moment."


    Lu Qingshan smiled and said, "Understood."


    The attendant hurriedly walked into the back of the shop.


    "Could there be a trick?" Zang Xiaojian tugged at Lu Qingshan¡¯s sleeve, somewhat doubtful.


    "Let¡¯s see how it goes," Lu Qingshan said gravely.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s confident demeanor, Zang Xiaojian, unconsciously, also felt a sense of security.


    It took a long while.


    The manager of Myriad Treasures Tower finally appeared leisurely, holding a jade box made of mysterious ice, with a talisman attached to it.


    "Is it this young master who wishes to see the Cold Spirit Fire Seed?" asked the manager.


    "Yes," Lu Qingshan smiled.


    The manager of Myriad Treasures Tower approached Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian, removed the talisman from the jade box, and opened it before them to show the contents.


    A faint blue light shed.


    Inside the jade boxy a deep blue seed that looked profoundly mystical, its surface rippling with ripples like clear sea water. The aura was immensely gentle¡ªwho could imagine that this seed could provoke a wildly violent Netherfire?


    Lu Qingshan was not unfamiliar with the Cold Spirit Fire Seed. In the game, Netherfire Seeds had always been a major cost center for "Fire Attribute" Dharma Cultivation, and he had seen many different kinds of Netherfire Seeds.


    Because Cold Spirit Fire belonged to the lower end of Netherfires, there were many yers who owned this fire seed.


    Lu Qingshan released his Divine Sense, probing towards the Cold Spirit Fire Seed.


    Just a yard away from the seed, he felt an extremely suffocating heat, as if it could turn his Divine Sense to ashes.


    Lu Qingshan quickly withdrew his Divine Sense and, after verifying the authenticity of the Cold Spirit Fire Seed, inquired, "How is this Cold Spirit Fire Seed priced?"


    The eyes of the manager shed oddly as he exined, "As the young master surely knows, Netherfire Seeds are precious. So, even though the Cold Spirit Netherfire doesn¡¯t appear on the list of Netherfires, the price, as a Netherfire, will certainly not be low."


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly, "Naturally."


    "Fifty fifth-grade Spirit Stones, and I will not ept low-grade Spirit Stones for payment. You can only pay with fifth-grade Spirit Stones," said the manager of Myriad Treasures Tower, stating a startling amount.


    This was a sum that not even a medium or small Cultivation family could afford without exhausting all their resources.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression remained unchanged; he casually handed over a storage bag containing the Spirit Stones given by Master Mo, "Please verify these, manager."


    The Myriad Treasures Tower manager took the storage bag, confirmed the number of Spirit Stones, nodded slightly, and handed Lu Qingshan the jade box and the talisman that had been removed, "This is a Fire Suppression Talisman.


    The Cold Spirit Fire Seed appears gentle, but it is extremely unstable; therefore, it needs to be kept in a jade box made of cial ice and suppressed with a Spirit Talisman to contain its violent strength. Both of these are given as extras, at no additional cost to you for the Spirit Stones."


    Lu Qingshan took the jade box and Fire Suppression Talisman, "Thank you, manager."


    ...


    After Lu Qingshan left the Myriad Treasures Tower with the Cold Spirit Fire Seed, the manager, who had beenposed, immediately straightened up, hurriedly pulled out a paper kite from his storage ring, attached a message to it, and threw it out.


    The paper kite came to life in the air, turning into a stream of light that faintly flickered and quickly flew away, heading straight for the Sea God Sect.


    ...


    Three Cultivators turned into streaks of blue light shing across the sky. Suddenly, one of the zes of blue light seemed to sense something and let out a voice of astonishment, "What is this?"


    The blue light paused and came to a stop, revealing the figures within.


    It was none other than the Golden Core Cultivator Han Lang, who had just finished presiding over a sacrificial ceremony and was on his way back to the sect. He used his Spiritual Power to form arge hand and reached out into the void, capturing a streak of radiance.


    It was a paper kite.


    "It¡¯s an urgent Spirit Message from the Myriad Treasures Tower to the sect. Could something have happened?" a flicker of doubt crossed Han Lang¡¯s mind as he received the message from the paper kite.


    "The Cold Spirit Fire Seed has been sold; the buyers were two foreign cultivators who arrived on the ind just five days ago." A single sentence, sinct yet rming, made a dangerous glint sh through Han Lang¡¯s eyes. Continue reading on empire


    He recalled the day he was promoted to Golden Core, the moment when the Sect Master had shared some of the sect¡¯s secrets with him.


    ...


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Do you know that, for the past few decades, there have been cultivators on the ind secretly organizing a force against our sect, known as ¡¯Dragon ying Saber¡¯?" the Sect Master said with a chilling expression.


    "I¡¯ve heard of it." It wasn¡¯t a big secret; even ordinary people had heard of it, and it was impossible for Han Lang not to know, "Why hasn¡¯t the sect found them and eliminated them?"


    "Their actions are very secretive. Although we are trying hard to investigate their identities, we haven¡¯t had much sess yet. However, we have discovered some news," said the Sect Master grimly. "Within Dragon ying Saber, there is a top Artifact Refiner known as ¡¯Master Mo,¡¯ who provides a tremendous amount of Spirit Stones for Dragon ying Saber."


    "A top Artifact Refiner?" Han Lang eximed softly.


    A top Artifact Refiner was always greatly respected and weed by Cultivators, holding a prestigious status and being amongst the wealthiest.


    "Yes," the Sect Master nodded, "Eliminating this Master Mo would undoubtedly be cutting off one of Dragon ying Saber¡¯s arms.


    Therefore, we specifically ced the Cold Spirit Fire Seed, considered a treasure for Artifact Refiners, for sale in the Myriad Treasures Tower to lure Master Mo into buying it."


    "Are you nning to capture him when Master Mo buys the Fire Seed?" Han Lang asked.


    "No," the Sect Master shook his head, "Dragon ying Saber acts cautiously and would not be so rash.


    Given Master Mo¡¯s esteemed status, it is highly unlikely he would personally appear to buy the Fire Seed. It is too presumptuous to try capturing him this way; acting rashly could either alert our target or catch only small fish.


    That¡¯s why, during the sale of the Cold Spirit Fire Seed, we did not set any traps."


    "Then?" Han Lang seemed to guess something.


    "However, I can assert that given an Artifact Refiner¡¯s interest in unusual Fire Seeds, Master Mo will, by all means, attempt to secure this Cold Spirit Fire Seed.


    As for the process, I¡¯m not concerned about the specifics, as long as the Cold Spirit Fire Seed ultimately ends up in Master Mo¡¯s hands, because the real deadly strike is concealed within this very Cold Spirit Fire Seed!" the Sect Master¡¯s intent to kill was palpable.


    ...


    "It went smoother than expected," Zang Xiaojian wrinkled his nose, raising a doubt, "Isn¡¯t it a bit too smooth?"


    "Indeed," Lu Qingshan agreed, "Even if the Myriad Treasures Tower verified our backgrounds as foreign Cultivators without suspecting our identities, logically, the Cold Spirit Fire Seed should have been bait left by the Sea God Sect for ¡¯Master Mo¡¯; how could they have let other small fry get it so easily?"


    "Unless my guess is wrong and the Cold Spirit Fire Seed is not intended as bait for Master Mo, or perhaps...."


    "Or perhaps the measures set by the Sea God Sect aren¡¯t located within the Myriad Treasures Tower, but somewhere else!" Zang Xiaojian hit the nail on the head, instantly grasping Lu Qingshan¡¯s meaning.


    "Where would that be?" West Rat King indicated that he understood but was still very puzzled.


    Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian looked at each other and simultaneously said, "The Cold Spirit Fire Seed."

 Chapter 148 - 17: Turning the Tables

    Inside the inn.


    Zang Xiaojian, utterly bored, tossed the jade box containing the Cold Spirit Fire Seed up and down, back and forth, making the Western Rat King beside him twitch nervously.


    It clearly remembered being cautioned by the shopkeeper of Myriad Treasures Tower that the Cold Spirit Fire Seed was extremely unstable and could erupt at any moment.


    It quickly turned its small eyes toward Lu Qingshan, its gaze full of pleading, hoping that Lu Qingshan would speak up and stop Zang Xiaojian¡¯s dangerous behavior.


    Lu Qingshan nced at the anxious Western Rat King and remained indifferent.


    "Why didn¡¯t this Master Mo arrange a meeting ce earlier? Instead, he has us waiting here indefinitely," grumbled Zang Xiaojian irritably.


    "It¡¯s quite normal. If he had told us the time and ce in advance, if we had second thoughts, we might have made arrangements against him.


    But if he says nothing, then the initiative is in their hands. They can appear to meet us after ensuring everything is safe," Lu Qingshan spoke reassuringly.


    Zang Xiaojian wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction and muttered softly, "He¡¯s full of tricks."


    Lu Qingshan heard Zang Xiaojian¡¯sint, chuckled lightly, and said nothing more.


    The girl was not stupid, quite the opposite, she was very clever, understanding many things at a point.


    She justcked some experience, after all, many things in life can only be understood through experience.


    Suddenly, the Western Rat King¡¯s eyes lit up, showing a relieved expression, and he called out, "Someone¡¯sing!"


    The next moment, a shadow shed, and a very short cultivator appeared in the room.


    Real Person Wu Dwarfy.


    "Greetings to Lu Daoist friend, Zang Daoist friend," as soon as Real Person Wu Dwarfy appeared, he first greeted the two, then asked, "Has the Cold Spirit Fire Seed been obtained?"


    Zang Xiaojian waved the jade box in hand toward Real Person Wu Dwarfy, "Here it is!"


    "Since the Cold Spirit Fire Seed has been obtained, Master Mo should havee in person to find you. However, his circumstances are special, and it¡¯s not convenient for him to show himself," Real Person Wu Dwarfy said gravely, "You¡¯ll both have toe with me to meet Master Mo."


    Lu Qingshan waved his hand, "No problem, just lead the way."


    ¡­


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    In a quiet courtyard south of the city.


    Under the lead of Real Person Wu Dwarfy, Zang Xiaojian and Lu Qingshan arrived at the courtyard¡¯s main entrance.


    Knock¡ªknock knock¡ª


    Real Person Wu Dwarfy stepped forward to knock on the door. His knocking rhythm was meticulous, clearly some specific code.


    The courtyard door opened silently.


    "Master Mo is waiting for you inside," said the person who opened the door, Real Person Xin Yue.


    Wu Dwarfy led Lu Qingshan and the others directly into the hall.


    "Daoist friends Lu, Zang," Mo Yan, who had been waiting in the hall, immediately stood up, greeted them respectfully yet confidently.


    Zang Xiaojian, without much ado, took out the jade box containing the Cold Spirit Fire Seed from the Storage Ring, removed the Fire Suppression Talisman from the top, opened the jade box, and showed the Cold Spirit Fire Seed to Mo Yan.


    "This is what you asked for." After giving Mo Yan a quick look, Zang Xiaojian promptly closed the jade box and put it away, "What about our demands?"


    Mo Yan, clearly understanding Zang Xiaojian¡¯s intention, gestured, and Fa Shui hastily stepped forward a few steps, "Master Mo."


    Mo Yan turned to Zang Xiaojian and asked, "Who are you looking for?"


    Zang Xiaojian looked at Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan had prepared in advance, "The specific name and appearance are also unclear to us."


    Upon hearing this, Fa Shui¡¯s face instantly revealed a troubled expression, "If we have no information at all, I don¡¯t know where to start..."


    Discover more content at empire


    Lu Qingshan said calmly, "It¡¯s naturally impossible to have no information at all. You just need to help me find out who, in thest twenty years, has purchasedrge quantities of Sangluo wine or has frequently bought Sangluo wine on Jiaolong Ind."


    He and Zang Xiaojian had learned an extremely interesting tidbit while scouting in Jiaolong City.


    The Family Head of the Mo Family of Dragon Spring, had been addicted to alcohol for a century now.


    After all, an addiction to alcohol is extremely hard to quit once acquired.


    Not to mention the Mo Family Head had also faced the cmity of his n¡¯s overthrow. In such cases, even those who normally wouldn¡¯t drink might very likely start drinking to drown their sorrows. So, how could someone who was already deeply addicted to alcohol possibly quit?


    During his inquiries, he had also learned that the most famous type of alcohol on Dragon Spring Ind was Sangluo wine.


    From the information avable so far, it was easy to conjecture that if the Mo Family Head really was hiding on Jiaolong Ind, there would likely be traces of him buying Sangluo wine.


    "Moreover, this person would have appeared on Jiaolong Ind very abruptly during these twenty years," Lu Qingshan added.


    "Did you hear clearly?" Mo Yan said solemnly, showing his authoritative side for the first time in front of Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian.


    Fa Shui replied respectfully, "Understood, I will begin investigating immediately."


    Mo Yan nodded, "Good, go ahead. Find out as soon as possible, and do not make the two cultivators wait too long."


    Fa Shui hurriedly left.


    "There should be some results within a day," Mo Yan told Lu Qingshan.


    Even though Lu Qingshan¡¯s request was unusual, Mo Yan did not ask any further questions.


    Lu Qingshan bowed as a sign of gratitude, "Thank you for your efforts."


    After thinking for a moment, Mo Yan turned to Zang Xiaojian, who was holding the jade box, and said, "Friend Zang, now that I have given the order, may I have the Cold Spirit Fire Seed?"


    After a pause, Mo Yan exined, "It¡¯s not that I am in a hurry, but having the Cold Spirit Fire Seed in your possession might bring danger upon you."


    "It would be most dangerous in your hands..."


    Zang Xiaojian was about to retort when Lu Qingshan stopped him from saying any more. Observing Mo Yan¡¯s calm demeanor as though understanding something, he asked, "Did Master Mo already know there was an issue with this Fire Seed?"


    Mo Yan candidly replied, "After you took away the Cold Spirit Fire Seed from Myriad Treasures Tower, I had someone closely watch and found that not a single cultivator from the Sea God Sect paid any further attention or followed up in any way."


    "I didn¡¯t tell you before, but indeed, this Fire Seed was probably a trap set by the Sea God Sect to lure me into action.


    Since the Sea God Sect wanted to use the Cold Spirit Fire Seed to plot against me, yet they showed no concern for the two who bought the Fire Seed, it only implies that the Cold Spirit Fire Seed is not as simple as it seems," Mo Yan stated profoundly, also attempting to persuade Zang Xiaojian to hand over the Fire Seed.


    "If everyone now knows that this Cold Spirit Fire Seed is not straightforward, why would you still want it?" Lu Qingshan asked meaningfully.


    "If the Sea God Sect intends to ensnare me, why don¡¯t I use their n against them and turn the tables?" Mo Yan said with a sparkling look of strategy. "I desire the Cold Spirit Fire Seed, and the lives of the Sea God Sect¡¯s cultivators as well. I want to make them lose both their schemes and their forces."


    "Lu Friend and Zang Friend, are you interested in staying to watch a good show?" Mo Yan invited.


    Lu Qingshan was initially taken aback. Facing Mo Yan¡¯s confidence, he indeed developed a fair amount of interest, "That¡¯s possible. We also need to wait for the news."


    Seeing Lu Qingshan agree, excitement shed in Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes, and she appeared eager to see what was toe.


    The girl¡¯s curiosity was always strong.

 Chapter 149 - 18: Incinerate Body

    "Here." Zang Xiaojian casually tossed it, nonchntly throwing the jade box to Mo Yan.


    Mo Yan caught the jade box and immediately took out a storage bag from his bosom, handing it to Lu Qingshan, "As we agreed earlier, for helping me acquire this Cold Spirit Fire Seed, I will pay you an additional amount of Spirit Stones as a reward."


    Lu Qingshan, in order to gather materials for the Five Elements Sword Armor, had spent most of his fortune, and was quite strapped for cash, so he did not bother with further pleasantries, casually epting the storage bag. He reached in with his Divine Sense, finding it packed with many Third Grade Spirit Stones. After counting, there were a total of two hundred.


    Indeed, this was quite generous.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself, swiftly pocketing half of the Spirit Stones into his own storage ring, then threw the remaining one hundred Third Grade Spirit Stones along with the storage bag to Zang Xiaojian.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyebrows raised in delight, and he chuckled gleefully as he took it.


    Mo Yan gestured invitingly, drawing aside a curtain, ushering the two men into the inner hall, "Please, this way."


    Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian stepped leisurely into the inner hall, and upon seeing the scene within, both could not help but feel a touch of surprise.


    Inside the room sat three middle-aged male cultivators, with profound aura, clearly Golden Core Middle Stage cultivators.


    What was even more peculiar was that the three men¡¯s physiques and appearances were exactly the same, as if cast from the same mold.


    Triplets, perhaps?


    For triplets to both cultivate to the Golden Core Stage was indeed a rare urrence in the Cultivation World.


    After all, cultivation is a matter with too many variables and no fixed oues.


    Moreover, though these three Golden Core cultivators were merely separated by a curtain from them, both he and Zang Xiaojian had failed to notice their presence, not to mention the West Mouse King, who was exceptionally sensitive, had also not detected anyone inside the hall.


    With this thought, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but turn around to take another look at the curtain which seemed ordinary at first nce, only to discover a faint shimmer flowing over it.


    This curtain turned out to be a high-quality Magic Artifact capable of isting aura and the five senses!


    Using a Magic Artifact as a curtain, such spending was indeed extravagant.


    Lu Qingshan eximed.


    "Master Mo." The three Golden Core cultivators saw Mo Yan enter and quickly stood up to greet him, very courteously.


    This made Lu Qingshan slightly narrow his eyes, his mind brimming with thoughts.


    The status of this Master Mo seems to be much higher than expected?


    "These are the three Golden Core great cultivators of our Dragon ying Saber, Elder Lian State, Elder Lian Cheng, and Elder Lian Jun," Mo Yan first introduced the three Golden Core cultivators to Lu Qingshan, then pointed to Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian and said to the three cultivators, "These two are my friends."


    The three Golden Core cultivators nodded, acknowledging the introduction.


    In front of everyone, Mo Yan opened the jade box, revealing the Cold Spirit Fire Seed inside. Spiritual Power burst forth from within him, levitating the Cold Spirit Fire Seed in mid-air, then he stretched out his left hand, slightly opening it.


    Whoosh!


    In his palm, a strand of zing red me surged up, grew rapidly, and spread, morphing into a raging fireball thatpletely enveloped Mo Yan¡¯s left hand.


    "Merge!" Mo Yan controlled the Cold Spirit Fire Seed to drill into the me rising from his left hand.


    Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡ª


    Like water meeting hot oil.


    The moment the Cold Spirit Fire Seed touched the mes in Mo Yan¡¯s hand, it immediately emitted a series of crackling and popping sounds.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    A deep blue me emerged from the Cold Spirit Fire Seed, abruptly rising and mingling with Mo Yan¡¯s zing red me, yet clearly distinct, presenting an incredibly mesmerizing beauty.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze sharpened, his heart somewhat shaken.


    Red Lotus Netherfire!


    The zing red me emitted by Mo Yan turned out to be Netherfire!


    Cold Spirit Fire wasn¡¯t particrly strong among Netherfires, but regardless, as the king of all mes, ordinary mes would have no effect on Cold Spirit Fire.


    Only the scorching of another Netherfire could stir the defense mechanism of the Cold Spirit Fire Seed, erupting with strength to protect itself.


    Mo Yan stared intently at the deep blue me in his hand, spotting a faint grey line within it.


    "There¡¯s a seal hidden inside," Lu Qingshan also noticed the grey line, thinking to himself.


    "Come out," Mo Yan¡¯s eyes shone brilliantly as he called out lightly, gently drawing the grey line out of the Cold Spirit Fire like unraveling a cocoon.


    This seal had two purposes: one was to parasitize on the Cold Spirit Fire Seed, allowing its owner to sense the location of the Fire Seed at any time; the second was to burst forth during the refinement of the Fire Seed, thereby disrupting the seed and throwing it into chaos.


    Netherfire is the most ferocious and wild entity, and refining a Fire Seed involves drawing the seed into one¡¯s own Dantian, operating Spiritual Power to slowly tame it.


    If the Fire Seed within the Dantian falls into a state of chaos, with the Netherfire running wild, the consequences would be unimaginable. At the least, the refiner would be severely injured and their cultivation foundation destroyed, and at the worst, they would be reduced to ashes and dust.


    From this, one could see the viciousness of Sea God Sect¡¯s n.


    Unfortunately, Mo Yan had seen through and dispelled this malicious n in an instant.


    After extracting the seal, Mo Yan slowly withdrew the Red Lotus Fire from his palm.


    With the absence of the Red Lotus Fire¡¯s scorching heat, the Cold Spirit Fire atop the Fire Seed also gradually extinguished, and the ripples that had been flowing on the surface of the burst Cold Spirit Fire dimmed significantly.


    Mo Yan held the now somewhat wilted Fire Seed and pped it fiercely towards his lower abdomen Dantian, directly assimting the Fire Seed into his Dantian!


    This caused even Lu Qingshan, who was watching, to shudder.


    When refining a Fire Seed, it¡¯smonly necessary to prepare many Pills and Spirit Materials to assist in suppressing the violent power within the seed and to restrain the eruption of mes. Read new adventures at empire


    But Mo Yan, as if drinking water, effortlessly brought the Cold Spirit Fire Seed into his Dantian.


    Moreover, it is worth noting that there was already one type of Netherfire existing within Mo Yan¡¯s Dantian.


    When Netherfire faces another Netherfire, there¡¯s a very high chance of it falling into a state of chaos and madness, and it could even be said to inevitably lead to conflict.


    This shows that Mo Yan was using the scorching of the Red Lotus Fire to stimte the Cold Spirit Fire, and thus extract the seal deeply embedded within the core of the Cold Spirit Fire Seed.


    Mo Yan¡¯s actions were daringly excessive.


    However, Mo Yan didn¡¯t seem to mind, and after absorbing the Cold Spirit Fire Seed into his Dantian, he seemed to notice Lu Qingshan¡¯s amazement and took the initiative to exin, "I have a unique physique, naturally highlypatible with Fire Seeds.


    The Red Lotus Fire Seed even burrowed into me on its own when I first made contact with it. That was when I discovered my high capacity for housing Netherfire."


    Incinerate Body!


    Hearing this, Lu Qingshan came to a sudden realization, and his gaze toward Mo Yan couldn¡¯t help but grow more scrutinous.


    Incinerate Body, a Legendary Talent, functions to make Mo Yan¡¯s affinity for mes reach an exaggerated level.


    With the enhancement of Incinerate Body, refining a Fire Seed bes a matter as easy as flipping one¡¯s hand for its bearer.


    But that is not where the strength of Incinerate Body truly lies.


    What truly makes Incinerate Body powerful is that it greatly reduces the dangers of Netherfire Fusion.


    Given that Netherfire is one of the most powerful forces in Heaven and Earth, the power that multiple Netherfires can release when fused together is unimaginable, enough to be called divine, forbidden power.


    However, due to the conflict between different Netherfires, attempting to fuse Netherfire is a feat only those with a death wish would attempt, with very few sessful cases.


    But for the bearers of Incinerate Body, this attempt is merely a trivial matter.


    This is the domineering nature of a Legendary Talent.


    Incinerate Body is the third Legendary Talent Lu Qingshan has encountered in this world, aside from his own Innate Swordseed and Lin Yao¡¯s Phantom Body Divine Vein.

 Chapter 150 - 19 Luring the Snake out of Its Hole

    In the historical development of the Nine Heavens, just how many cultivators with legendary talents perished before they could grow?


    Such thoughts flitted through Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    If all these cultivators with legendary talents had sessfully grown into great powers, perhaps the human race wouldn¡¯t have had such a hard time back then...


    Mo Yan, who possessed a legendary talent, the peak-level skills of an Artifact Refiner, and equally extraordinary cultivation aptitude, was indeed a favored child of heaven. However, before this, Lu Qingshan had not heard of him.


    This indicated one possibility: Mo Yan had most likely met an early demise, and the odds were that he had fallen at Jiaolong Ind.


    Could it be that, in the end, the Dragon-ying Saber did not y the vile dragon?


    Such a possibility suddenly urred to Lu Qingshan. As he gazed at Mo Yan, a few traces of scrutiny emerged in his eyes.


    Of course, Mo Yan was unaware of these intricacies. Clutching the gray seal, a trace of coldness flickered in his eyes. He said to everyone, "Next, we just wait for the snake to leave its hole."


    ...


    Inside the Sea God Sect¡¯s deliberation hall.


    "The mark in the Cold Spirit Fire Seed has appeared once again and has stayed in the same ce for quite some time. If I¡¯m not mistaken, it should have reached its rightful owner by now." Having sensed the location of the mark, Real Person Han Bo opened his eyes, his voice hoarse.


    That mark was left by him, and the n to lure and kill Master Mo with the Cold Spirit Fire Seed was also his suggestion.


    He was the head of the Sea God Sect¡¯s Law Enforcement Hall. Eradicating external enemies was part of his duties, and his cultivation at the Golden Core Middle Stage also ranked him among the top five within the Sea God Sect.


    "Shall we set out then?" Real Person Han Lang, who had received an urgent Spirit Message halfway and had hurried back to the sect to inform his fellow senior cultivators, spoke up.


    "Yes, this time my Law Enforcement Hall will eradicate this disaster for the sect!" Real Person Han Bo¡¯s gaze turned fierce as he swept it over the other three Golden Core cultivators in the hall and said sternly, "Han Lang, Han Qing, Han Yi, the three of you will depart with me. Today, we¡¯ll let these petty people understand that the Sea God Sect is not to be trifled with!"


    All cultivators of the Sea God Sect with the "Han" prefix were Golden Core cultivators.


    Real Persons Han Lang, Han Qing, and Han Yi were all at the Golden Core Early Stage.


    The Sea God Sect had a total of eleven Golden Core cultivators, and this time four were being dispatched, which could be considered a major operation. In Real Person Han Bo¡¯s eyes, the sess of this mission was almost certain.


    To capture Master Mo alive, and perhaps follow the trail to uncover the secret of the Dragon-ying Saber, thereby eliminating it in one fell swoop.


    This was the scheme nned by Real Person Han Bo.


    "Understood." The three Golden Core Early Stage cultivators responded in unison.


    ...


    Four serene beams of blue light silently shed out of the Sea God Sect¡¯s deliberation hall, inconspicuously flying towards Jiaolong City.


    However, in the dwelling of a core disciple of the Sea God Sect, a cultivator was staring fixedly at the deliberation hall.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    When he saw the four blue lights shoot up from the Sea God Sect, he immediately took out a Spirit que from his Storage Ring. Divine Sense probed into it, and with a flicker of light, a message was transmitted elsewhere.


    "Four Spirit Snakes have been released."


    ...


    Inside a separate courtyard, the Spirit que hanging at Mo Yan¡¯s waist suddenly stirred.


    Mo Yan sent his Divine Sense into the Spirit que to receive the message, then softly said, "The Sea God Sect¡¯s cultivators areing."


    Hearing Mo Yan say this, the three Golden Core Middle Stage cultivators from Lian Cheng, Lian State, and Lian Jun swiftly rose to their feet, clenching their fists in anticipation and showing eager expressions. A very faint hint of bloodthirstiness even mixed within.


    As for Lu Qingshan, he casually nced at the Spirit que Mo Yan had put away, a gleam of sharpness passing through his eyes.


    It seemed that even the Sea God Sect had been infiltrated by the Dragon-ying Saber. Otherwise, how could Mo Yan be so well-informed about such a secret operation by the Sea God Sect?


    Considering the depth of the three Golden Core Middle Stage cultivators and their pration into the Sea God Sect, the foundation of the Dragon-ying Saber appeared to be extremely profound, not at all like a trivial mob.


    ...


    Four streaks of blue light rapidly soared through the sky, hovering mid-air.


    The four cultivators from the Sea God Sect had arrived.


    "This is the ce," said Han Bo, gazing down at the courtyard below with a harsh tone, "My mark has been here for quite a while now.


    Han Bo released his Divine Sense without any restraint, scanning the courtyard below.


    The presence of four Golden Core cultivators filled Han Bo with confidence.


    "It seems I¡¯ve made a fuss over a few Foundation Establishment cultivators," said Han Bo coldly after probing the courtyard with his Divine Sense, "However, among these Foundation Establishment cultivators, there must be one who is Master Mo. Given his status, he must know many secrets of the Dragon ying Saber."


    "Capture him alive!" Han Bomanded, then with the intimidating presence of a senior cultivator, he dashed toward the courtyard, his cold and arrogant voice booming, "Thinking of escaping? Did you obtain my permission to leave on the Sea God Sect¡¯s territory?"


    In his Divine Sense, he sensed that several Foundation Establishment cultivators were fleeing rapidly.


    Han Bo didn¡¯t hesitate and, with an attitude like a cat toying with a mouse, he charged into the courtyard.


    The other three Golden Core cultivators followed closely behind.


    Inside the courtyard.


    Perceiving that the four Golden Core cultivators of the Sea God Sect had plunged into the courtyard, Mo Yan, who deliberately revealed his presence, sneered, "I¡¯ve been waiting for you!"


    Since Jiaolong City was built by the Sea God Sect, their sect gate was extremely close to the city, a mere step away for Golden Core cultivators.


    Therefore, the core point of the n to lure the snake out of its hole was just one word.


    Quick!


    It had to be swift enough


    that the Sea God Sect hadn¡¯t yet detected the disturbance here toe to their support before the battle was over.


    Mo Yan opened his mouth and spit out a sparkling and translucent Spiritual Pearl that floated up in the air and radiated five-colored Radiance.


    In the blink of an eye, the five-colored Radiance spread out, enveloping the entire courtyard.


    "This magic artifact shouldst a moment. During this time, no movement can be detected from the outside, and no Spirit Messages will be transmitted," said Mo Yan in a chilling voice. "I¡¯ll trouble the three seniors to take over from here."


    "Rest assured, Master Mo, leave this ce to us. We three have been waiting for our day of revenge for a long time!" Lian Cheng agreed, his eyes shing with contempt, "If not for our fear of the Jiaolong n, we would have annihted the Sea God Sect long ago; why would we have left them till now?"


    "Do you think we need to escape?" Lian State sneered coldly, his voice carrying a killing intent that echoed throughout the courtyard.


    As Mo Yan activated the Spiritual Pearl to raise the Radiance, the courtyard was sealed off. The Golden Core cultivators from the Sea God Sect would be trapped here for a short time. Thus, Lian State no longer held any reservation and openly mocked them.


    Shriek! Shriek! Shriek!


    The three Golden Core cultivators from the Dragon ying Saber, with a flick of their left hands, released colossal waves of water towards the Golden Core cultivators of the Sea God Sect.


    The Sea God Sect, facing the mighty water waves, hurriedly summoned their own Magic Artifacts in defense.


    "This is bad! The three Golden Core cultivators!" Han Bo¡¯s expression changed. Just from this encounter, he had already sensed that something was amiss, "Call for reinforcement from the sect immediately!"


    Whether it was the rising Radiance or the three Golden Core cultivators concealed within the courtyard with hidden auras, it was clear that not only had their n failed, but they had actually fallen into an ambush and were trapped in a kill zone!


    Boom!


    A loud collision echoed through the air, scattering blue Spiritual Light.


    The four Golden Core cultivators from the Sea God Sect managed to block the three water waves, but as the Spiritual Light faded, before their eyes stood Lian Cheng, Lian State, and Lian Jun, positioned in a triangr formation.


    A faint glow encircled the three men, moving back and forth across their bodies as if one entity.


    "A Combined Attack Formation!" Han Bo recognized the scene in an instant and, on seeing the identical figures and faces of the three men, his heart skipped a beat, "The Three Heroes of Lianyun Sect! You¡¯re not dead!"

 Chapter 151 - 20: Merge and Slash the Golden Core

    Lianyun Sect was once one of the three most powerful sects on Jiaolong Ind and one of the main fighting sects when the Jiaolong nunched an invasion on the Poseidon Archipgo.


    And the Lianyun Trio were the most outstanding disciples of Lianyun Sect, already at the Foundation Establishmentter stage at that time.


    Even more terrifying was the fact that the Lianyun Trio were triplets with telepathic understanding, proficient in the Combined Attack Formation.


    It was said that under the Combined Attack Formation, the Lianyun Trio once fought briefly with a Golden Core Cultivator and tied.


    During that battle, the sects on Jiaolong Ind were all burnt to the ground, leaving only the Sea God Sect to dominate alone.


    Who would have thought that the Lianyun Trio didn¡¯t perish along with the disappearance of Lianyun Sect but rather survived, and over two hundred yearster, even advanced to the Golden Core Middle Stage.


    At the Foundation Establishmentter stage, the Lianyun Trio could rely on the Combined Attack Formation to temporarily elevate theirbat power to the Golden Core Stage.


    Now that the three of them were at the Golden Core Middle Stage and deploying the Combined Attack Formation, what level of power would they reach?


    Thinking of this, Real Person Han Bo couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill down his spine.


    But there was no time for Real Person Han Bo to think further, as a massive spear made of Water Elemental Spiritual Power had rapidly condensed and formed, bringing with it an intimidating chill and killer intent, streaking straight towards Real Person Han Lang.


    The shrewd and ruthless Lianyun Trio spotted the weakest point of the four Golden Core Cultivators from the Sea God Sect in an instant.


    Real Person Han Lang, having just broken through to the Golden Core a year ago, was now facing a concerted attack from three Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivators.


    In an instant, Han Lang was terrified, and in the next moment, he resorted to hisst card, with several streaks of Spiritual Light shing on his body.


    But it was no use; the spear was unstoppable, effortlessly breaking through all his spell defenses, then destroying his Protective Magical Artifact, and finally, melting his Spiritual Power barrier.


    With no ce to hide and no defense to offer, the spear plunged into his Dantian, and in an instant, a white light flickered, followed by a burst of blood, as Real Person Han Lang turned blue and fell straight backward, his Elemental Spirit scattering from his Dantian.


    This Water Spirit Sharp Spear had directly shattered the Mud Pellet Golden Pill that he had cultivated for a hundred years!


    The decisive and vicious actions of the Lianyun Trio resulted in the immediate loss of one member from the Sea God Sect Cultivators.


    Real Person Han Bo watched this happen with fury in his eyes.


    "Real Person, the Spirit Message can¡¯t be sent out; thisyer of Spiritual Light is blocking the transmission of the Spirit Message!" Han Qing hurriedly informed Real Person Han Bo at this moment.


    When it rains, it pours!


    This news made Real Person Han Bo even more desperate, but having cultivated to the Golden Core Realm, his mind was naturally extraordinary.


    "Han Qing, you go and kill that Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Han Yi, you stay with me and hold off this Lianyun Trio!" In just an instant, Real Person Han Bo¡¯s gaze shifted, and he saw the only way out of the crisis, immediately transmitting the message.


    If the Foundation Establishment Cultivator controlling the Spiritual Pearl was killed, theyer of Radiance that was hindering their escape would naturally break by itself!


    Real Person Han Bo stood in the air, his robe fluttering, not minding the expense, and in an instant, the Spirit Talismans umted over many years in his Storage Ring poured out.


    The dense, rain-like magical lights of spells immediately shot towards the Lianyun Trio.


    Han Yi also activated his Magic Artifact, pinching a spell, and attacked the Lianyun Trio.


    Meanwhile, upon receiving the order, Han Qing took advantage of the Lianyun Trio being temporarily held back by Real Person Han Bo and Han Yi, unable to get away, and his figure violently shot towards Mo Yan, who was controlling the Spiritual Pearl.


    Golden Core against Foundation Establishment, Han Qing was full of confidence.


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    He also knew how urgent the situation was, so he made no reservations, using his strongest methods right from the start.


    Like fine rain but numerous, fast, and powerful, the Water Arrow Technique indiscriminately enveloped Mo Yan.


    Observing this situation, the Lianyun Trio merely nced sideways at the scene without a trace of panic.


    This caused Real Person Han Bo, who was struggling against the Lianyun Trio, to have a bad premonition.


    Could it be...


    Seeing the sky-filled Water Arrowsing, Mo Yan disyed a confidently prepared posture, scoffing, "Is that all."


    Then, he lifted his left hand, and a mboyantly fiery red Netherfire Red Lotus Fire roared out, circling in front of him, keeping him within its protection.


    All the Water Arrows instantly hissed upon contact with the fire, turning into steam and evaporating.


    Clouds and mist steamed up!


    In the Five Elements, the Water Element inherently counters the Fire Element.


    However, Mo Yan¡¯s me was the Netherfire Red Lotus Fire, while the Water Arrowsunched by Real Person Han Qing were merely the mostmon Water Element Spells.


    With such a significant qualitative difference, the supposed counter rtionship naturally ceased to exist.


    After effortlessly neutralizing Real Person Han Qing¡¯s spells, Mo Yan did not stop there; the Fire Ring around him rose, condensing into an extremely long Fire Spear in mid-air, with sparks flying in all directions.


    "Kill!" With a light tap of his finger, Mo Yan sent the Red Lotus Fire Spear shooting towards Real Person Han Qing.


    Confident and domineering!


    Mo Yan, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, blocked Han Qing¡¯s attack and then took the offensive against Han Qing, who was in the initial stage of Golden Core.


    Feeling the terrifying aura from the Fire Spear, Han Qing¡¯s face turned pale, and he quickly summoned a spell to block the Fire Spear.


    A Water Spirit Shield appeared before the Fire Spear.


    ng!


    A metallic collision rang out.


    Then came the sound of crackling, as spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the Water Spirit Shield, spreading rapidly.


    Hiss!


    The Water Spirit Shield shattered into specks of Spiritual Light that fell away as the Fire Spear broke through the Water Cloud Shield, taking advantage of the opening to stab into the chest of Han Qing.


    There, a dazzling blue light shed once again.


    That was Han Qing¡¯s Protective Magical Artifact, hisst line of defense.


    No matter how strong the Red Lotus Fire was, the gap between the ranks of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core was ultimately there.


    This time, after grinding away most of the Spiritual Light of Han Qing¡¯s Protective Magical Artifact, the spear formed by the Red Lotus Fire eventually ran out of momentum and slowly dissipated.


    Whoosh!


    Just as Han Qing had barely heaved a sigh of relief, a piercingly swift sound suddenly reached his ears.


    What was that?!


    In his field of vision, a sword shadow was growingrger.


    Zang Xiaojian¡¯s Flying Sword!


    Following closely behind Mo Yan¡¯s Netherfire spear, it arrived precisely when Han Qing¡¯s old strength had waned and new strength had yet to surface, the timing exquisitely perfect.


    A Foundation Establishment Cultivator¡¯s Flying Sword is something that a Golden Core Cultivator would normally not fear.


    But Zang Xiaojian¡¯s Flying Sword was simply too fast.


    It was a terrifying Flying Sword that was only a whisker away from the speed of sound.


    Han Qing dared not underestimate it, forcibly gathering his breath to activate his Protective Magical Artifact once more.


    Boom!


    This time, the Protective Aura mostly dissipated, and Han Qing spat out blood in distress. Looking at the Flying Sword whose momentum was fading, he was greatly relieved, "I¡¯ve finally blocked it."


    "It¡¯s not over yet," a voice with a hint of mockery reached his ears.


    Han Qing¡¯s pupils contracted slightly, and in front of him, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator had suddenly appeared.


    It was Lu Qingshan, following closely behind Zang Xiaojian¡¯s Flying Sword using the Formless Sword Escape, arriving only a half-breathter.


    After realizing Lu Qingshan¡¯s attack was iing, Han Qing only had time for a hasty rotation of his Spiritual Power, barely maintaining a thinyer of it around his body... Mo Yan and Zang Xiaojian¡¯s sessive attacks left him, in this brief moment, unable to summon a significant amount of Spiritual Power...


    But unsure of where Lu Qingshan¡¯s attack wouldnd, he could only brace himself and spread the scant Spiritual Power he could muster around his entire body, hoping to protect himself.


    Han Qing held onto a sliver of hope.


    Though the tactics of those two Foundation Establishment Cultivators were heaven-defying enough, surely a third monstrously talented Foundation Establishment Cultivator couldn¡¯t exist?


    Moreover, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator before him was only at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.


    Perhaps, I can withstand it?


    Han Qing didn¡¯t realize that he, who had started with full confidence, was now beginning to doubt himself.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword was aimed at the head of Han Qing.


    Secret Sword: Wind sh!


    Two afterimages appeared, carrying the fierce Sword Qi, and directly shed onto Han Qing¡¯s skull.


    A vast spray of blood burst forth, and Han Qing¡¯s skull exploded, leaving a massive gash!


    Watching the substantial experience gain notification pop up on his data panel, Lu Qingshan confirmed that Han Qing, at the initial stage of Golden Core, was dead!


    ...


    It was not unjust for Han Qing at the initial stage of Golden Core to die.


    Though Han Qing did not hold back, his underestimation of Foundation Establishment Cultivators led to him not anticipating Mo Yan¡¯s counterattack, resulting in insufficient preparation on his part.


    This oversight allowed him to fall instantly under the nested attacks of these three exceptional Foundation Establishment Cultivators: Mo Yan who wielded Netherfire, Zang Xiaojian whose Flying Sword was nearing the speed of sound, and Lu Qingshan who could use Secret Sword Technique even at the Foundation Establishment stage.


    Lu Qingshan slowly sheathed his sword.


    Curiously enough, he had had nomunication with Zang Xiaojian, yet they had cooperated tacitly, both choosing to strike at the same time.


    This was the tacit understanding between Sword Cultivators.


    After jointly witnessing the atrocities of the Sea God Sect on the ind and the so-called sacrificial ceremony, both he and Zang Xiaojian had been enduring, but the resentment had been echoing in their hearts.


    Now facing the cultivators of the Sea God Sect, both of them chose to help Mo Yan without hesitation and killed Han Qing.


    The reason was simple: for the most free-spirited Sword Cultivators, if one held resentment but did not act upon it, how could one¡¯s heart remain unobstructed thereafter?

 Chapter 152 - 21 Mrs. Mo

    "What?!" As they saw Han Qing switch his attack to Mo Yan, yet still showing a calm demeanor, even the Lianyun Triplets couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft cry at that moment.


    They knew of Master Mo¡¯s abilities.


    And precisely because they understood how extraordinary Master Mo was, even when they discovered that a Golden Core Cultivator was confronting Mo Yan, they remained unflustered and weren¡¯t too worried.


    But the Lianyun Triplets had never imagined that Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian, these two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, would be so formidable. They were not inferior to Master Mo in the slightest and, after coordinating their efforts, they instantly decapitated Han Qing.


    ...


    The death of Han Qing was like thest straw that broke the camel¡¯s back, causing both Han Yi and Han Bo, the Golden Core Cultivators, to lose all their will to fight instantly.


    They couldn¡¯t understand why a cultivator at the early stage of the Golden Core, in just a blink of an eye, would die at the hands of three Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    They were even more baffled by how their carefullyid n had taken such a turn.


    The situation had evolved into Han Yi and Han Bo battling alone against the Lianyun Triplets.


    There was already a significant gap in theirbat power, and under the enhancement of the Combined Attack Formation, the Lianyun Triplets were even more overwhelmingly powerful.


    In just a brief moment, they beheaded the two Golden Core Cultivators without any hitch.


    ncing over the corpses of the four Golden Core Cultivators from the Sea God Sect, a look of satisfaction shed across the faces of the Lianyun Triplets.


    "I¡¯ll handle the aftermath; you prepare to move out." Seeing that the cat-and-mouse y had concluded, Mo Yan crumbled the mark that had been attracting the cultivators of the Sea God Sect and said softly.


    Lian State nodded and responded, "Then we¡¯ll leave this to Master Mo, and the three of us will take our leave now."


    Mo Yan¡¯s gaze became slightly intense. His right hand holding the Spiritual Pearl shed a faint light, immediately revealing an opening in the boundary of the courtyard.


    The Lianyun Triplets, without further words, transformed into Escaping Light and swiftly departed.


    "The Lianyun Triplets, seeking revenge for their Sect being destroyed, changed their identities on Jiaolong Ind and hid their names for a century." Watching the disappearing figures of the Lianyun Triplets, Mo Yan¡¯s eyes conveyed a peculiar meaning as he spoke to himself, exining, "The members of the Dragon ying Saber, much like the Lianyun Triplets, bear a deep-seated grudge against the Sea God Sect and the Jiaolong n, which is why they resolutely embarked on this path of opposition."


    "Well, let¡¯s not talk about that now." Mo Yan sighed, then turned to Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian and asked, "Do you want toe with me? It will be convenient to inform you as soon as there is news of the person you are looking for."


    Mo Yan was still his usual self, speaking with a smile and without revealing anything unnecessary.


    However, Lu Qingshan could clearly feel that Mo Yan seemed more sincere than before.


    Perhaps it was because he and Zang Xiaojian had just chosen to help out?


    Regardless, Lu Qingshan was not averse to further interactions with Mo Yan, so he didn¡¯t refuse Mo Yan¡¯s invitation and agreed, "Okay."


    Xin Yue had, ording to Mo Yan¡¯s instructions, tidied up the courtyard, and respectfully reported to Mo Yan, "Master Mo, everything is ready."


    Mo Yan nodded, "Good, thank you for your hard work. If there are no other issues, you should also move out as soon as possible."


    "Understood." Xin Yue replied and quickly turned to leave.


    Mo Yan took a look around the courtyard to ensure that there were no oversights, flicked his fingertips, and a small me fell in a corner of the courtyard, gradually spreading, and the fire quickly grew fiercer.


    "We should leave too," Mo Yan whispered. Then, he put away the Spiritual Pearl, and the five-colored radiancepletely vanished.


    Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian followed Mo Yan and also evacuated the courtyard.


    Soon after, mes soared into the sky, engulfing the quiet courtyard located in a secluded corner of Jiaolong City and burning it to ashes, leaving no trace behind.


    ...


    "Here we are." Mo Yan led Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian to a courtyard within Jiaolong City itself, "This is where I live."


    The courtyard they faced was modest with only one doorway, appearing much smaller than the previous courtyard. Its only advantage might be its environment, far from the bustling streets, and very tranquil.


    Mo Yan stepped forward and tapped lightly on the door.


    Could it be that this young-looking Master Mo already had a Dao Companion?


    Seeing Mo Yan¡¯s action, Lu Qingshan mused to himself.


    The courtyard was notrge, so the likelihood of hiring servants or attendants was low, especially since too many people could lead to aplicated situation. Moreover, given Mo Yan¡¯s need for secrecy, it wouldn¡¯t be suitable to have strangers at his residence.


    Clearly, anyone who would live with Mo Yan must be exceptionally close to him.


    Soon, the gate was opened from the inside.


    The door was opened by a woman dressed in a light green silk blouse, approximately thirty years old, with a sharp face and long eyebrows, very beautiful in appearance.


    "Mother, I¡¯m back," Mo Yan said, his face breaking into a very gentle smile.


    The beautiful woman immediately excited, stepped forward, grasping Mo Yan¡¯s left arm while pouting andining, "You haven¡¯t been back for nearly half a month, huh!"


    Mo Yan, unusually, showed an embarrassed expression and pointed to Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian behind him, saying, "I¡¯ve brought two friends home."


    Upon this reminder from Mo Yan, the beautiful woman then noticed the outsiders present.


    "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Mo," Lu Qingshan was also taken aback for a moment, as he genuinely didn¡¯t expect the young and beautiful woman before him to be Mo Yan¡¯s mother, but he quickly recovered, giving Mrs. Mo the respects due to an elder.


    Zang Xiaojian also followed Lu Qingshan¡¯s lead, greeting the beautiful women with respect.


    Mrs. Mo was delighted, weing the guests inside while warmly inviting, "Alright,e in and let¡¯s talk first."


    ...


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Inside the living room.


    Mrs. Mo carried out tea and pastries from the kitchen, serving the two guests.


    "Mother, this is Lu Qingshan," Mo Yan introduced, pointing to Lu Qingshan, then pointing to the little girl who was enjoying the pastries, "This is Zang Xiaojian."


    Mrs. Mo looked at Zang Xiaojian with eager, round eyes, asking, "Do you like it?"


    Zang Xiaojian, her cheeks puffed up, nodded her little head, mumbling, "Mmm... Delicious..."


    Mrs. Mo immediately beamed with pride, "I made these myself!"


    Helpless in face of his mother¡¯s character, Mo Yan spread his hands in resignation towards Lu Qingshan.


    "Squeak!" The King Rat, who had been hidden in the Spirit Beast Bag all this while, couldn¡¯t resist jumping out and looked eagerly at Mrs. Mo, asking, "Can I have a piece too?"


    Mrs. Mo was initially stunned but quickly smiled and said, "Of course you can."


    With Mrs. Mo¡¯s permission, King Rat no longer hesitated and quickly joined in the feast.


    Mo Yan was quite surprised, "Is this Young Master Lu¡¯s Beast Pet? It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen it."


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, "Barely, it has no other skills besides eating, that¡¯s why I never called it out to embarrass us."


    "Young Master Lu, what is your opinion of the Sea God Sect?" Mo Yan chatted with Lu Qingshan for a bit, eventually steering the conversation back to the main topic, asking formally.


    "With the strength of your Dragon ying Saber, wiping out the Sea God Sect doesn¡¯t seem difficult, does it?" Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t directly answer Mo Yan¡¯s question but instead countered.


    With just the Lian Yun trio alone, they were more than enough to keep the Sea God Sect busy. ording to what Mo Yan said, there were many others like the Lian Yun trio in the Dragon ying Saber, clearly showing that, in terms of strength, the Dragon ying Saber was at least equal, if not superior, to the Sea God Sect.


    Mo Yan pondered for a moment, then said, "I won¡¯t hide it from you, in reality, our Dragon ying Saber¡¯s strength far surpasses that of the Sea God Sect."


    "However..." Mo Yan¡¯s gaze deepened, "the real problem isn¡¯t with the Sea God Sect itself. Destroying the Sea God Sect isn¡¯t difficult, but as long as the Jiaolong n exists, even if we exterminate the Sea God Sect, there will be a second and a third Sea God Sect to emerge."


    "Therefore, the aim of our Dragon ying Saber, as the name suggests, has always been the Jiaolong n!"


    Lu Qingshan was silent for a while before answering Mo Yan¡¯s earlier question, "A traitor to one¡¯s kin is no different from beasts."


    Mo Yan nced at his mother.


    Mrs. Mo was chatting amiably with Zang Xiaojian about something on the side.


    "Young Master Lu, may we step outside for a talk?" Mo Yan hesitated for a moment, but finally made up his mind and asked.

 Chapter 153 - 22 Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique

    Lu Qingshan gave Mo Yan a slight nod and stood up to leave the hall.


    Neither of them noticed that just as they rose to their feet, Mrs. Mo, who was in conversation with Zang Xiaojian, cast an inadvertent nce at the two men preparing to depart, her brows slightly furrowed.


    The two men quietly left the hall.


    "Does Master Mo have something important?" Lu Qingshan was indeed quite curious about why Mo Yan had called him out alone.


    "It¡¯s not exactly a big deal, but it is very important to me," Mo Yan stared intently into Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes and asked, "You¡¯ve seen my mother, what do you think of her personality?"


    After contemting for a moment, Lu Qingshan objectively responded, "She¡¯s like a young girl, but there¡¯s nothing wrong with that."


    "That¡¯s right," sensing the sincerity in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, Mo Yan nodded earnestly and began to exin, "ording to what our Dragon ying Saber knows, the Jiaolong Demon King is currently nning to transform into a dragon.


    If the Jiaolong Demon King sessfully transforms, the millions of the Human Race living on the Poseidon Archipgo will have no chance of turning the tides and will be plunged into shadows.


    Although for a Jiaolong, transforming into a dragon is an extremely difficult task with a high chance of failure, we cannot take that risk. Therefore, we must eliminate the Jiaolong Demon King before it transforms.


    The day we have prepared many years for to strike is now close at hand, and time is of the essence. This is also why we have endured for so long and suddenly decided to move against the Sea God Sect."


    "However," Mo Yan looked somewhat troubled and hesitated to say, "although this strike has been nned for many years, the Jiaolong Demon King is after all a Fourth Grade demon beast, and we are not very confident. We can only say we will give it our best shot."


    "If we win, we secure a bright future for our people, which is naturally good. But if we lose, we will be unable to escape our fate.


    I can put life and death out of my mind if need be, but if we identally fail, when the Jiaolong n settles ounts with the people of the Dragon ying Saber, I fear my mother..."


    Lu Qingshan faintly understood Mo Yan¡¯s thoughts, "You mean..."


    Mo Yan nodded and said with some emotion, "My mother may not look young, but to me, she is just like a young girl, innocent and cheerful.


    I can hardly believe that such a person with her temperament managed toe to Jiaolong Ind alone twenty years ago with me in her womb and raise me."


    "Perhaps this is the strength of a mother," Lu Qingshan offered.


    Mo Yan spoke somewhat indignantly, "Butter, when I grew up and asked about my father, she always gave vague and unclear responses, never providing a straight answer. One moment she would say my father had long since died, the next that he disappeared...


    I¡¯ve always suspected that she might have been deceived by some smooth-talking scoundrel..."


    Facing the topic of his own mother, and uncharacteristically beginning to ramble andin endlessly, Lu Qingshan found this side of Mo Yan much more approachablepared to the previously watertight Mo Yan.


    After talking at length, Mo Yan suddenly realized he had digressed, and quickly apologized, "Sorry, I¡¯ve gone off-topic.


    In short, I haven¡¯t discussed the Dragon ying Saber¡¯s affairs with my mother, and she has no connection with the Dragon ying Saber.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    So to speak, even if things are exposed in the end, she should not be implicated.


    But as you know, a son always worries more and wants to consider everything thoroughly.


    With my mother¡¯s personality, if I¡¯m gone, she is likely to suffer. If I can¡¯t take care of her myself when that timees and can¡¯t find a trustworthy person to help, I just can¡¯t be at peace. But finding that person is incredibly difficult..."


    "My mother is actually quite wealthy," Mo Yan said somewhat embarrassingly, "In the Cultivation World, where interest prevails, I can¡¯t trust others who might be greedy for her wealth at that time.


    Dragon ying Saber people are trustworthy, but given their status, no matter how well they handle things, traces are inevitable to be left. I fear that it might backfire and inadvertently implicate my mother.


    So I¡¯ve been troubled about this for a long time, until I met you and Daoist Zang."


    ```


    "You¡¯ve only had contact with us twice, yet you trust us so much?" Lu Qingshan said with a half-smile.


    Unperturbed by Lu Qingshan¡¯s teasing, Mo Yan spoke his heart sincerely, "The first time we met, I gave you arge sum of Spirit Stones to help me purchase the Cold Spirit Fire Seed.


    You kept your word and brought back the Cold Spirit Fire Seed for me, which shows that you, Lu Qingshan, are not a person who forgets righteousness at the sight of profit. That established a certain level of trust in my heart.


    The second time we met, you noticed the issue with the Cold Spirit Fire Seed and had no intention of hiding it. Instead, you were ready to tell the truth. I could sense some of your high righteousness even if only a little.


    After that, when luring the four Golden Core members of the Sea God Sect to their assassination, you and Zang Xiaojian took the initiative to assist us in killing a Golden Core Cultivator from the Sea God Sect. This also indicates that you could not possibly stand on the Sea God Sect¡¯s side, which lessened my concerns."


    "The most important thing is..." Mo Yan said gravely, "with the methods the two of you employ, you are clearly rare talents among cultivators, born into prestigious sects. Such individuals are likely to be more upfront and righteous than other cultivators."


    "Therefore, I earnestly request that, should we fail in ying the dragon, Young Master Lu, you would take my mother away from the trouble-filled Jiaolong Ind."


    After stating his request, Mo Yan took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Ring and handed it to Lu Qingshan.


    "What is this?" Lu Qingshan asked as he took the Jade Slip.


    "Since I am entrusting such an important matter to you, it is only natural that I provide Young Master Lu with adequatepensation.


    Ordinary Spirit Stones and Magic Artifacts may not catch Young Master Lu¡¯s eye. However, having just seen you and Zang Xiaojian in action, I noticed you are both Sword Cultivators. Therefore, you might find some interest in this item," Mo Yan exined.


    "If it reallyes down to the scenario I have anticipated, then I will have to trouble Young Master Lu to take good care of my mother. This Jade Slip can be considered aspensation.


    Even if our Dragon ying Saber is fortunate enough to kill the wicked dragon, this Jade Slip will still belong to Young Master Lu, as a gift to a friend."


    "You have a look at the content, then tell me your decision," Mo Yan said with pursed lips.


    Curious about Mo Yan¡¯s confident demeanor, Lu Qingshan let his Divine Sense probe into the Jade Slip:


    [Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique]


    Learning conditions: Normal Sword Control Technique level greater than 10


    Casting conditions: This skill can only be cast through a Sword Artifact.


    Description: An advanced Sword Control Technique, with a maximum level of 20.


    Skill effects: Wield the sword with the Primordial Spirit, increase the speed of Sword Control by consuming additional Divine Sense, and temper the Divine Soul to enhance the Divine Sense. However, cultivation is extremely difficult.


    Supplementary exnation: The stronger the Divine Sense, the more Spiritual Power is consumed, and the faster the speed of Sword Control.


    Additional exnation: Learning this skill requires the expenditure of five thousand Experience Points.


    Additional exnation: From level 1 to level 5, for every level the skill is increased, Divine Sense +2


    From level 6 to level 10, for every level the skill is increased, Divine Sense +5


    From level 11 to level 15, for every level the skill is increased, Divine Sense +10


    From level 16 to level 20, for every level the skill is increased, Divine Sense +20.


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 154 - 23: The Gift

    This was an extremely precious Sword Control Technique, possessing both Escape Technique and Soul Tempering effects.


    However.....


    "Why, as a Dharma Cultivation, do you possess such a precious Sword Cultivation Method?" Lu Qingshan asked with keen interest.


    Advanced Sword Control Techniques were always the closely guarded secrets of major Sword Cultivation Sects.


    Even Dantai Qingrun, who hailed from a Sword Cultivation Noble Family, practiced Sword Control Techniques that were inferior to this Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique.


    "Actually," Mo Yan said with a smile, "I¡¯ve also wanted to ask this question because this Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique isn¡¯t mine; it belongs to my mother."


    "Mrs. Mo?" Lu Qingshan eximed in surprise.


    "For some reason, my mother possesses many Sword Cultivation items, and," Mo Yan said with a shrug and a sense of helplessness, "every time I inquire about the origins of these Sword Cultivation items, my mother never gives me a straight answer.


    What¡¯s more peculiar is that, although she possesses so many Sword Cultivation items, she, who generally does not interfere with my decisions, was extremely serious on the day I started learning Artifact Refining. She explicitly made three agreements with me, strictly forbidding me from crafting any Sword Artifacts."


    Lu Qingshan was pensive, as the specific circumstances indeed seemed quiteplicated.


    "It seems that you are very satisfied with this Dharma method." Mo Yan brought the conversation back to the main topic.


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.


    He had always been in need of a spell for Soul Tempering.


    The Divine Soul, Spiritual Power, and Physical Body are the three directions of a Cultivator¡¯s cultivation.


    Enhancing the Divine Soul provides extremelyprehensive benefits for a Cultivator, as soul tempering can greatly bolster one¡¯s abilities.


    The importance of the Divine Soul cannot be overstated; feeling deeply moved by such a Dharma method was absolutely inevitable.


    Lu Qingshan pondered deeply for a while before he slowly said, "Since you are willing to trust me, I cannot promise much, but taking good care of it is absolutely no problem."


    If he really was to look after Mrs. Mo, he wouldn¡¯t have the time or energy, but he was not alone; he had his family.


    If it indeed reached the situation Mo Yan anticipated, he would just bring Mrs. Mo back to the Lu Family; considering the character of those two old men in his family, Mrs. Mo would not suffer any grievance whatsoever, and he would definitely not let Mo Yan down.


    "However," Lu Qingshan thought very thoroughly, "what if Mrs. Mo refuses to leave Jiaolong Ind with me when the timees?"


    "I¡¯ll naturally handle that," Mo Yan said, visibly cheered by Lu Qingshan¡¯s agreement.


    With that said by Mo Yan, Lu Qingshan no longer had any objections.


    When Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan returned to the hall, the tray of pastries that Mrs. Mo had prepared had already beenpletely devoured by Zang Xiaojian and the King of Western Rats.


    ...


    Mo Yan arranged for him and Zang Xiaojian to stay in the eastern guestroom for the night.


    Lu Qingshan was sorting out his thoughts.


    If things went well, once the news about the Dragon ying Saber arrived, he should be able to locate the head of the Mo Family.


    However, if things did not go as he expected, where should he start then?


    Knock... Knock...


    Lu Qingshan gently tapped his fingers on the desk, muttering to himself.


    The head of the Mo Family... Mo Yan... The connection between these two was obvious, but there were still some gaps that were hard to bridge.


    Creak.


    The noise from the wooden window interrupted Lu Qingshan¡¯s thoughts.


    The wooden window moved up and down a bit, and a nimble figure jumped in.


    Seeing who it was, Lu Qingshan somewhat helplessly touched his forehead, "Why can¡¯t you use the front door? Do you have to enter through the window like a thief? Did you learn this from the King of Western Rats?"


    "How did the King of Western Rats disappear again?" Zang Xiaojian looked around the room, asked cheerfully while walking up to the desk to sit opposite Lu Qingshan, and took something out from his sleeve to hand to Lu Qingshan.


    "He¡¯s been eating too many Blood Spirit Beads recently, seems like he¡¯s about to awaken his powers again? He¡¯s been very drowsy every day, now hiding in the Spirit Beast Bag to rest," Lu Qingshan replied, then looked at the golden, exquisite pastry in Zang Xiaojian¡¯s hand, and curiously asked, "What is this?"


    "Delicious! I specially saved a piece for you," Zang Xiaojian pursed his lips, his ck eyes surveying Lu Qingshan, looking very animated, "What did Master Mo talk to you about outside?"


    Lu Qingshan took the pastry, tasted a bite, and indeed found it delicious and sweet, with a hint of Spiritual Energy embedded inside, no wonder Zang Xiaojian was so happy eating it.


    After some thought, Lu Qingshan told Zang Xiaojian about his trade with Mo Yan.


    Just as Zang Xiaojian was about to say something, a sudden knock at the door interrupted him.


    Lu Qingshan frowned slightly and walked to the door to open it.


    "Mrs. Mo." Seeing the visitor clearly, Lu Qingshan¡¯s confusion grew, "What can I do for you?"


    "Oh, Zang Xiaojian is here too," Mrs. Mo peeked inside and saw Zang Xiaojian sitting in the room and cheerfully said, "That saves me another trip."


    "Pleasee in," Lu Qingshan invited Mrs. Mo into the room.


    "Yan¡¯er told me, both you and Xiaojian are Sword Cultivators?" Mrs. Mo blinked as she looked at them, asking.


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "Yes."


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s affirmation, a candid smile appeared on Mrs. Mo¡¯s face and she quickly pulled out many Jade Slips from her Storage Ring, piling them into a small mountain on the table.


    "What are these?" Lu Qingshan asked, puzzled.


    "They are all experiences and insights from Sword Cultivators, merely decorations to me, but they should be very useful to you Sword Cultivators, right?" Mrs. Mo said softly.


    Lu Qingshan casually picked up a few Jade Slips and sent his Divine Sense into them.


    Misceneous Sword Qi Discussions, Sword Qi Fment Annotation, Sword Intent ssification, Flying Sword Amplification, ¡­


    They were a dazzling array; although none were Dharma spells or Sword techniques, these records of experience were extremely valuable to Sword Cultivators, capable of saving them many detours.


    "What does Mrs. Mo mean?"


    Mrs. Mo was very pleased, pushing the small mountain of Jade Slips towards them, "They¡¯re all for you."


    Faced with Mrs. Mo¡¯s generosity, Lu Qingshan hesitated slightly.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s confusion, Mrs. Mo took the initiative to say, "This is the first time Yan¡¯er has brought friends home!"


    Hearing Mrs. Mo say this, an image of Mo Yan spontaneously emerged in Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    It matched his own thoughts; people like Mo Yan, warm and pleasant to others, seemed easy to get along with but were actually the hardest to befriend.


    Because such people kept all their emotions inside, making it hard for others to grasp their true thoughts.


    Since Mrs. Mo was so straightforward, Lu Qingshan nced again at Zang Xiaojian, who seemed very interested in the Jade Slips, and no longer held back, "These Jade Slips are indeed very useful to me, I will gratefully ept them."


    "Are Yan¡¯er and the others nning to take action soon?" Mrs. Mo suddenly changed the topic, catching Lu Qingshan off guard.


    Lu Qingshan was startled, "Why do you say that, Mrs. Mo?"


    Mrs. Mo huffed slightly in displeasure and said, "Yan¡¯er always thinks I don¡¯t understand anything, but say what you will, don¡¯t I know my own child?


    He has never told me anything, but he never brings outsiders home, and every time he leaves home, he¡¯s gone for half a month, rarely staying at home, sneaking around, he used to be closest to me when he was little, but now he never even goes shopping with me.


    I realized long ago that he must be involved in something extremely dangerous, and he acts this way to avoid involving me."


    "On Jiaolong Ind, what else could make Yan¡¯er so cautious if not being enemies with the Jiaolong n?"


    "Today, however, he has unusually brought you two friends home, and I heard that the Jiaolong Demon King is about to transform into a dragon, so I guess, they must be getting ready to make a move."


    Mrs. Mo, you¡¯re far more astute than you appear.


    Faced with Mrs. Mo¡¯s well-reasoned analysis, Lu Qingshan muttered to himself.


    Mrs. Mo had guessed almost correctly, denying it didn¡¯t make much sense, and it wasn¡¯t exactly a secret, so Lu Qingshan straightforwardly admitted, "Yes, Mo Yan and the others are nning to y the demon before the Jiaolong Demon King transforms."


    Receiving Lu Qingshan¡¯s confirmation, Mrs. Mo didn¡¯t say much more and left worriedly.


    Turning to look at the mountain of Jade Slips piled on the table, Lu Qingshan suddenly realized that Mrs. Mo¡¯s gesture had hidden intentions of obliging him to speak.


    First, she gave him arge gift, and then when asking questions, he felt ufortable evading the topic. Having realized this, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, "There¡¯s quite a lot on her mind..."


    Meanwhile, Zang Xiaojian, who just a moment ago seemed uninterested and set down the Jade Slip in his hand, his behavior starkly different from when Mrs. Mo was present.


    "These types of Jade Slips, I have plenty at home, and have seen many; I¡¯m just not that interested anymore." Facing Lu Qingshan¡¯s surprised look, Zang Xiaojian pointed to the Jade Slips on the table and exined to Lu Qingshan, "But since Mrs. Mo kindly offered us a gift, I had to appear happy, so she would feel happy too. So, you keep these Jade Slips."

 Chapter 155 - 24: Furious Rage

    "Your family seems quite extravagant," Lu Qingshan said straightforwardly, seeing that Zang Xiaojian didn¡¯t need it, he put all the jade slips on the table into his storage ring.


    "What do you think is the rtionship between Mo Yan and Madam Mo with the Mo Family Head we are looking for?" Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes sparkled with a hint of smugness, "I probed Madam Mo, and she came to settle on Jiaolong Ind twenty years ago while pregnant. This timing is very odd."


    "It seems you¡¯re not just busy eating; you also know how to gather information," Lu Qingshan chuckled. The issue Zang Xiaojian raised was naturally not overlooked by him, not to mention, he had much more information than Zang Xiaojian.


    Lu Qingshan pointed out, "Three points¡ªfirst, they all share the Mo surname. This point is a bit far-fetched but worthy of note is Mo Yan¡¯s identity as an Artifact Refiner.


    Artifact refining, aside from talent, heritage is extremely important. For Mo Yan to be a master, there must be either an Artifact Master guiding him or aplete artifact refining heritage behind him.


    The second point is about the timing you mentioned¡ªtwenty years ago, the Dragon Spring Mo Family was destroyed, and Madam Mo coincidentally appeared on Jiaolong Ind at that time, which is too much of a coincidence.


    Thest point, neither Madam Mo nor Mo Yan are Sword Cultivators, yet they possess so many items associated with sword cultivators, which is peculiar.


    But if they are from a Sword Casting Family, these three points can all be reasonably exined."


    "Bam!" Zang Xiaojian excitedly knocked on the table.


    "However," Lu Qingshan continued, "Now, a major question remains¡ªif it¡¯s as we suspect, why do we only see Madam Mo and not the Mo Family Head.


    Furthermore, it¡¯s clear that Mo Yan is unaware of his origins. Why would Madam Mo not reveal the matters of the Mo Family to Mo Yan? What exactly happened?"


    "Indeed, it¡¯s very strange." Hearing Lu Qingshan put it that way, Zang Xiaojian frowned, looking expectantly at Lu Qingshan, "Do you know the reason?"


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, "To find out the underlying reasons, we might only discover them once we meet this Mo Family Head."


    "However," Lu Qingshan paced gracefully, "I always feel that Mo Yan and Madam Mo will be crucial in acquiring the Three-feet Edge."


    ...


    The young girl rambled on for a long while before finally leaving Lu Qingshan¡¯s room.


    With matters concluded, Lu Qingshan took out the Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique given by Mo Yan.


    "Would you like to learn the skill: ¡¯Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique¡¯?"


    "Yes!"


    "Detected ¡¯Liuyan Sword Control Technique¡¯ (lv5) does not meet the learning conditions, unable to learn this skill!"


    "Detected talent ¡¯Innate Swordseed¡¯, spending three thousand experience points, learning ¡¯Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique¡¯...."


    "You have sessfully mastered ¡¯Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique¡¯, Divine Sense +2!"


    "Detected that the yer has mastered a Sword Control Technique, higher tier Sword Control Technique will automatically overwrite the lower tier Sword Control Technique, ¡¯Liuyan Sword Control Technique¡¯ has been overridden, Liuyan Sword Control Technique experience points automatically converted to Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique."


    "Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique upgraded to lv2 (300/7500), Divine Sense +2!"


    After mastering the Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique, Lu Qingshan felt a mysterious and profound power merging into his Divine Soul. In that instant, his Vital Essence surged, reaching a new peak.


    This was the impact of his Divine Soul strength increasing by twenty percent.


    Lu Qingshan nced at his attribute panel again.


    After ying a Golden Core Cultivator of the Sea God Sect, his experience points once again reached fifty thousand.


    After a brief contemtion, Lu Qingshan left ten thousand experience points as a base and allocated the remaining forty thousand into the Flying Sword Technique, raising the level of his Flying Sword Technique to sixteen.


    In the moment his experience points were allocated, Lu Qingshan had a burst of rity in his mind, and insights spontaneously emerged, allowing him to feel his control over the Flying Sword climb another level.


    A momentter, Lu Qingshan¡¯s closed eyes slowly opened.


    Phew!


    Lu Qingshan extended a hand, and the Peach Wood Sword shot out horizontally, moving around the room like a fish swimming through water, incredibly fast yet exceedingly nimble.


    95% of the speed of sound.


    After receiving a significant upgrade in his Flying Sword Technique, the speed of Lu Qingshan¡¯s flying sword had increased slightly again, inching closer to the supersonic speed, the first realm of the Flying Sword.


    He was currently only at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Even though increasing the speed of the flying sword closer to the speed of sound became more challenging, he should be able to break through to the firstyer realm before reaching the Golden Core stage at this rate.


    If he really managed to achieve this step, by then, with just his Flying Sword Technique alone, Lu Qingshan could almost dominate amidst the Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    The next day.


    Mo Yan handed a jade slip to Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "This contains the information you requested. In the past twenty years, there were four individuals who purchasedrge quantities of Sangluo wine on the ind, all from sizable merchant families, which isn¡¯t surprising.


    In addition, there were over three hundred individuals who purchased Sangluo wine continuously over these twenty years. Each person¡¯s detailed information is recorded in this jade slip."


    "However," Mo Yan paused and hesitated, "among these people¡¯s names, there isn¡¯t anyone who suddenly appeared on Jiaolong Ind in thest twenty years as you mentioned.


    Everyone on the list has a clear origin and background, visible at a nce, all natives born and bred on the ind."


    "Oh?" A glint shed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    Indeed, the progress of the matter was not as smooth as he had hoped.


    "Then, thank you very much, Master Mo." Lu Qingshan bowed to Mo Yan.


    Mo Yan nodded, "Now, you discuss."


    ...


    "What should we do next?" Zang Xiaojian sniffled, quite vexed, "As Mo Yan said, if all the people on the list are citizens of Jiaolong Ind, surely there can¡¯t be the existence of the Mo Family Head."


    "Or could it be that Mo Yan is hiding something?"


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, "Unlikely. If he intended to hide something, he wouldn¡¯t have revealed so much information, allowing us to infer his rtionship with the Mo Family. Such a foolish act of trying to hide the sky with one hand."


    "Then?"


    "Identities and origins can be faked," Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes gleamed, "Hearing is falsehood, seeing is believing, we should go through this list exhaustively!"


    ...


    In the main hall of the Sea God Sect.


    The Great Elder of the Sea God Sect, his hair fully white, stood above the main seat, his face grim.


    The atmosphere inside the hall was oppressively tense.


    "Han Bo, along with Han Qing, Han Lang, and Han Yi, four Golden Core Cultivators, went to y the Dragon ying Saber Cultivator but died tragically without even sending a spirit message for help," the Great Elder of the Sea God Sect said angrily. "The power of the Dragon ying Saber far exceeds our expectations.


    Right now, as the Demon King is preparing for his transformation into a dragon, they have already begun to stir."


    "Great Elder, should we report this to the Demon King?" the Sect Master of the Sea God Sect asked anxiously, "We are in the open, they are in the shadows. They know everything about our Sea God Sect, yet we know nothing about the Dragon ying Saber. This is not advantageous for us."


    "The Demon King is currently fully upied with preparing for his transformation and can¡¯t spare concern for us," the Great Elder shook his head, "Moreover, if the Demon King sessfully transforms into a dragon, what does the Dragon ying Saber amount to? Therefore, the most crucial concern right now can only be the Demon King¡¯s transformation."


    "The Dragon ying Saber may very well be trying to provoke us into action. We will meet constancy with change, give themand for the sect to be on high alert during this period, and everything will be fine once we get through this," the Great Elder said coldly, his gaze stern, "If we are not anxious, then the anxious ones should be those bearing the Dragon ying Saber."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 156 - 25 Xue Zhuyong

    Jiaolong City, a mundane martial arts school.


    Lu Qingshan took a good look around at the martial arts master reeking of liquor and shook his head slightly toward Zang Xiaojian at his side.


    "It¡¯s not him either," seeing Lu Qingshan shake his head, Zang Xiaojian felt somewhat disheartened and listlessly said, "Searching one by one like this isn¡¯t going to work either, we¡¯ve been at it for half the day and only checked five people, when will this end?"


    "You¡¯re right, we need to think of a way to increase our efficiency." Lu Qingshan agreed, and after pondering for a moment, he suddenly had an idea and lightly patted the Spirit Beast Bag, summoning the Great King of Western Rats.


    The Great King of Western Rats hadn¡¯t even grasped the situation when Lu Qingshan tossed the Jade Slip to it. The Great King of Western Rats hurriedly hugged the Jade Slip, which was almost asrge as itself, looking perplexed, "What is this for?"


    "Pick a name from inside," Lu Qingshan said emotionlessly.


    "Huh?" Both the Great King of Western Rats and Zang Xiaojian were confused.


    "This kind of luck-based task might work wonders if it does it," Lu Qingshan muttered, "It¡¯s always been very lucky."


    "Lucky?" Zang Xiaojian stared at Lu Qingshan with wide eyes.


    "...It means ¡¯where Heaven¡¯s Mandate lies.¡¯" Lu Qingshan thought for a moment and gave an exnation that fit the world¡¯s context.


    "That¡¯s a nice way to put it, I am indeed where Heaven¡¯s Mandate lies." Hearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s remark, the Great King of Western Rats immediately squinted its eyes, puffing up in pride, and very casually picked a name from the Jade Slip, "Then let it be him."


    "Xue Zhuyong..." Zang Xiaojian uttered thoughtfully, "He is a carpenter, running a wood carving shop in a remote corner of the city¡¯s west side, been at it for over thirty years, an old carpenter indeed."


    "Let¡¯s go have a look," Lu Qingshan said calmly, unhurried.


    ...


    "It¡¯s nearly noon, and the shop still hasn¡¯t opened for business?" The Great King of Western Rats gazed at the tightly shut door of the wood carving shop, ceaselesslyining, "The shopkeeper is evenzier than me."


    "Lu Qingshan..." Zang Xiaojian didn¡¯t respond to the Great King of Western Rats.


    "Hmm?"


    "Seems like you were right, the Great King of Western Rats might really be where Heaven¡¯s Mandate lies," Zang Xiaojian swallowed, excitedly stating, "Didn¡¯t I tell you, my perception ability for Sword Artifacts is extremely strong..."


    "You mean?" Lu Qingshan grasped Zang Xiaojian¡¯s implication.


    Zang Xiaojian nodded her little head, pointing at the tightly shut door of the wood carving shop, "I sensed it, the Three-feet Edge, it¡¯s inside the shop."


    After many twists and turns, they finally saw a glimmer of hope. Even Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help feeling a surge of joy as if after longst the clouds had cleared to reveal the moon.


    Yet even with the Three-feet Edge right before his eyes, Lu Qingshan was not in a hurry but instead surveyed the surroundings and led Zang Xiaojian into a tailoring shop next to the wood carving shop.


    "Young master, are you here to have clothes tailored?" The tailor shopkeeper came up to greet the guests with great eagerness.


    Lu Qingshan waved his hand and smilingly inquired, "Shopkeeper, I¡¯d like to ask about the wood carving shop next door? Why hasn¡¯t it opened for business at this hour?"


    The shopkeeper oh¡¯ed and exined, "You mean Manager Xue¡¯s wood carving shop.


    Manager Xue has a strong liking for liquor, must have drunk too muchst night and hasn¡¯t woken up yet."


    "I see," Lu Qingshan pondered, then asked again, "Has Manager Xue always been like this?"


    The tailor shopkeeper shook his head, a nostalgic look on his face, and sighed, "It wasn¡¯t like this earlier. In earlier years, when I was younger, although Manager Xue liked to drink, it wasn¡¯t to this extent."


    It¡¯s probably after the demise of Manager Xue¡¯s wife that he began to indulge more deeply in drinking.


    Sigh, life must go on, but drowning one¡¯s sorrows in liquor every day isn¡¯t the way either."


    "When did Manager Xue¡¯s wife pass away, do you remember?" A glint shed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes as he spoke again.


    "It was about when I started taking over our family¡¯s tailor shop," the tailor shop owner pondered and casually answered, "specifically around seventeen or eighteen years ago."


    After getting the tailor shop owner¡¯s answer, Lu Qingshan first felt relieved, but then a hint of suspicion flickered in his eyes.


    ...the matter seemed to be even moreplicated and elusive.


    "Thank you, shopkeeper," Lu Qingshan thanked the shopkeeper and turned to Zang Xiaojian, "Then let¡¯s wait here for Shopkeeper Xue for a while."


    Zang Xiaojian naturally had no objections.


    And so they waited until the hour of Shen.


    When it was close to the time other shops were shutting down, the door of the wood carving shop slowly opened amidst the creaking friction.


    "Oh, do we have some distinguished guests today?" Shopkeeper Xue, his face still showing signs of fatigue from a hangover, held a liquor gourd in his hand, nced at Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian who had been waiting at the door for a long time, and took another sip from his jug.


    "Shopkeeper Xue, your business hours really do make one wait," Lu Qingshan nced at the thin middle-aged man with a full beard in front of him, chuckled lightly, and with Zang Xiaojian, stepped into the small wood carving shop.


    Inside the wood carving shop, numerous shelves held life-like, densely packed wood carvings, most of which were ferocious demon beasts, extraordinarily ferocious and vivid.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes shone as he looked at a wood carving on the left shelf.


    It was a dragon wood carving, identical in appearance to the dragon statue at the center of Jiaolong City¡¯s square.


    This dragon curled its body, every single scale on its body was clear and lifelike.


    What shocked Lu Qingshan even more was that although it was just a wood carving before him, he felt as if he saw a dragon roaring in front of him as if the carving hade to life.


    Turning decay into magic!


    Apart from these demon beast carvings, there were also a few human figures, be they elderly, young women, or middle-aged men, all ordinary-looking bystanders with nothing mysterious, yet there was a subtle and marvelous feeling enveloping these human figurines.


    Intent!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind jolted, finally realizing why these wood carvings seemed so "vibrant."


    It was because each of these carvings was fused with Intent.


    n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    However, his current realm was not enough, and he could only faintly sense the extraordinariness of the carvings without being able to feel the spirit of Intent.


    Intent is a transformation produced at the pinnacle of art and skill, or alternatively, an understanding of the Heavenly Dao, mastered only by high-level cultivators.


    The Intent of a Sword Cultivator is known as Sword Intent.


    Why is the Wind-Cutting Secret Sword so hard to cultivate?


    The reason is nothing else but the conditions of Wind sh cultivation, which require mastering a faint Sword Intent, and yet Intent is the hardest toprehend.


    Thebat power boost provided by Intent is immensely significant, allowing those whoprehend Intent to easily overpower ordinary cultivators under the same level of cultivation.


    Xue Zhuyong, or perhaps the Mo Family Head, had his strength reached such a terrifying realm?


    The moment he realized this, Lu Qingshan glimpsed at Xue Zhuyong, who did not emit any sign of Spiritual Power fluctuations, and a sense of awe suddenly surged in his heart.


    Although Zang Xiaojian was observing the wood carvings like Lu Qingshan, she was not captivated by them; she merely nced over them briefly, her gaze wandering constantly around the shop.


    Suddenly, her eyes stopped abruptly and then grew brighter, excitedly tugging at Lu Qingshan¡¯s sleeve.


    Lu Qingshan followed Zang Xiaojian¡¯s gaze.


    On the west wall of the wood carving shop hung a ck sword, its luster subdued, looking very unadorned and simple.

 Chapter 157 - 26 Three-feet Edge

    Three-feet Edge, a Heaven Rank Sword Artifact, was just casually hung on the wall in a small wood carving shop.


    "Shopkeeper, how much for this sword?" Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes shifted, and she asked aloud.


    Xue Zhuyong picked up the wine pot, took arge sip, rolled his eyes, and disdainfully replied, "This is a wood carving shop, I only sell wood carvings, not swords."


    "I can offer a lot of Spirit Stones, just name your price." Zang Xiaojian wasn¡¯t discouraged and continued to up the ante.


    "Stop the nonsense, I said I¡¯m not selling, and I won¡¯t sell no matter how many Spirit Stones you offer." Xue Zhuyong¡¯s tone became hostile and impatient, "If you really want it, try to take it from me; otherwise, forget about it."


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s response was blunt, but it was within Zang Xiaojian¡¯s expectations; her question was merely an attempt to probe Xue Zhuyong¡¯s intentions.


    She naturally knew that a Heaven Rank Sword Artifact couldn¡¯t possibly be bought with just Spirit Stones.


    "How much for this wood carving?" Meanwhile, Lu Qingshan seemed utterly uninterested in the Sword Artifact and nonchntly pointed at a figure wood carving on the wooden rack.


    "Why would you buy a wood carving..." Zang Xiaojian turned her head, puzzled, but as soon as she clearly saw the wood carving Lu Qingshan was pointing at, her words suddenly stuck, "This?!"


    Lu Qingshan nodded at Zang Xiaojian, indicating she was correct.


    The wood carving was lifelike, depicting a woman of exquisite beauty, looking youthful and stunning. Yet, Zang Xiaojian felt the features all too familiar.


    On closer inspection, wasn¡¯t this Mrs. Mo?


    Though the age seemed different, as Mrs. Mo was older than the statue depicted, the facial features were strikingly simr.


    Noticing their strange reactions, Xue Zhuyong¡¯s gaze flickered slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He nced at them and calmly said, "The figure wood carvings on this rack are also not for sale."


    "Not selling this, not selling that, what do you even sell here, a lousy wood carving shop even more particr than the Great Xia Commercial Firm," grumbled the King of Rats, dissatisfied; Xue Zhuyong, however, acted as if he heard nothing.


    Lu Qingshan wasn¡¯t bothered by Xue Zhuyong¡¯s attitude, instead, he became interested in the figure wood carvings on the rack that Xue Zhuyong refused to sell.


    The rack had three levels, and the middle one disyed all figure wood carvings.


    In the center of the middleyer, the wood carving disyed a woman with a gentle face and a bright smile, her eyes sparkling, and she was quite beautiful, but only quite, markedly less sopared to the stunning Mrs. Mo.


    On the left side of this young woman was a wood carving of a middle-aged woman, her face marked by the harshness of time and her features reflecting a hint of misery and fragility.


    On the right, there was a pair of old spouses cuddled together, their faces covered with intricately carved wrinkles.


    Looking further, there were many more figure statues of varying ages and appearances, but these wood carvings,pared to the clean three in the centre, seemed somewhat dim, with a thinyer of dust almost visible on them.


    It was as if thezy shop owner only cleaned the most noticeable wood carvings when tidying up.


    Mrs. Mo¡¯s wood carving was carelessly ced in the far left corner, seemingly neglected.


    However.


    A spark of insight shed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    It didn¡¯t seem so neglected after all.


    Because, on Mrs. Mo¡¯s wood carving, there was also not a speck of dust.


    After carefully observing all the figure wood carvings on the rack and firmly memorizing their features, Lu Qingshan finally shifted his focus from the wood carvings and nced at the Sword Artifact hanging on the wall, pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Shopkeeper, although this Sword Artifact is not for sale, may I have a closer look and handle it for a moment?"


    Xue Zhuyong nced at Lu Qingshan, his voice somewhat in, "Go ahead."


    "Then, thank you, Shopkeeper." Lu Qingshan politely thanked Xue Zhuyong, then took the long sword hanging on the wall, holding the hilt and lightly swinging it, apanied by a faint sound of the sword¡¯s hum, and the information about the Three-feet Edge also came into view.


    [Three-feet Edge](Water)


    Level: Low Grade Heavenly Artifact


    Description: Contained within the box is the Three-feet Edge, ready to rectify inequity.


    Magic Artifact Effect 1: Break Defense +4


    Magic Artifact Effect 2: Sword Qi Damage +25%


    Magic Artifact Effect 3: Flying Sword Speed +20%, Attack Speed +10%


    Special Effect: [ying Demons](Passive): The Three-feet Edge can y giant serpents. It inflicts +20% damage on demon beasts.


    [Hidden Edge](Passive): Ten years to sharpen a sword, its frost de untested. When not inbat, the damage inflicted by the next attack of the Three-feet Edge will increase over time, up to a maximum of 100% (ten days are needed to reach the full bonus).


    [Three-feet]: When a sword strikes, it can consume 30% of the wielder¡¯s maximum Spiritual Power to instantly deliver two additional identical attacks.


    Cool down period: Three days


    ...


    This was indeed a Heavenly Rank Sword Artifact, its power manifestly evident.


    Having the Three-feet Edge as his life-bound sword,bined with his Wind-Cutting Secret Sword, he could unleash nine strikes in an instant.


    If he also added the strongest state of the Hidden Edge effect, he was even confident he could y the true man Han Qing in one strike, without the groundworkid by Mo Yan and Zang Xiaojian.


    "What a fine sword!" Lu Qingshan eximed with great admiration, before putting the Three-feet Edge back in its original ce and pointing at the ferociously carved wood sculpture of the giant serpent on the wooden stand, he asked, "Is this wood carving for sale?"


    "Ten silver coins." Xue Zhuyong nced at the wood carving of the giant serpent and muttered, "Each person can only buy one wood carving per day."


    "It is as so, such a masterfully crafted wood carving being limited is understandable." Lu Qingshan replied politely yet very seriously, while handing over the ten silver coins.


    Xue Zhuyong took the coins, without a nce, and casually tossed them into a dusty bamboo basket in the corner.


    Although Zang Xiaojian didn¡¯t grasp what Lu Qingshan¡¯s intent was, he also chose a demon beast wood carving, following Lu Qingshan¡¯s example, and said to Xue Zhuyong, "I¡¯ll buy one too."


    After acquiring the wood carving of the giant serpent, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t linger any longer at the sculpture shop and quietly left.


    ...


    As they left the wood carving shop, Zang Xiaojian followed closely behind Lu Qingshan, his eyes locked on Lu Qingshan¡¯s back, opening and closing his mouth several times as if wanting to speak, yet each time, the words would retreat back to the tip of his tongue.


    Faced with Xue Zhuyong¡¯s unyielding demeanor, his first instinct was to seek Lu Qingshan¡¯s ideas and thoughts.


    However, they had initially agreed that once they found the Mo Family head, the ownership of the Three-feet Edge would be up to their own abilities.


    Owing to theirpetitive rtionship, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to ask this question.


    ncing back at Zang Xiaojian¡¯s hesitant demeanor, Lu Qingshan found it slightly amusing.


    He understood the young girl¡¯s thoughts.


    But the situation was indeed as Zang Xiaojian had feared; he now stood as apetitor to Zang Xiaojian.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Even though he got along well with Zang Xiaojian, the Three-feet Edge was after all just one artifact, and he had no reason to share his thoughts with hispetitor.

 Chapter 158 - 27: Loose Ends

    With that thought, Lu Qingshan suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    Following closely behind him and lost in her own thoughts, Zang Xiaojian was caught off-guard and bumped straight into Lu Qingshan¡¯s back.


    "What are you doing?!" Zang Xiaojian, holding her nose, stared at Lu Qingshan with wide innocent and aggrieved eyes.


    "Still following me, huh? We¡¯ve found the person we were looking for, and it¡¯s about time we went our separate ways," Lu Qingshan said with a lightugh.


    "Ah?" Zang Xiaojian blinked several times before it dawned on her, and she mumbled somewhat embarrassingly, "I just got used to it..."


    "Then, let¡¯s part ways here. From here on out, everyone relies on their own abilities," Lu Qingshan said, then turned and walked away cleanly and decisively.


    "Wait!" Zang Xiaojian instinctively grabbed Lu Qingshan, who was about to leave.


    Lu Qingshan turned around, "Hmm?"


    The young girl looked up and fixed her gaze on Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes without blinking, thought for a moment, and then said earnestly, "Finding Xue Zhuyong was mostly thanks to you. I, Zang Xiaojian, won¡¯t take advantage of others. Consider this as owing you a favor."


    Seeing the seriousness on Zang Xiaojian¡¯s face, Lu Qingshan smiled slightly and nodded, "Alright, I¡¯ll remember that."


    This time, Lu Qingshan really left.


    Watching Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure grow distant, Zang Xiaojian clenched her fist and pumped herself up, "Though you, Lu Qingshan, are full of tricks, I, Zang Xiaojian, won¡¯t admit defeat easily, and besides... hmph, just you watch!"


    Lowering her fist, Zang Xiaojian¡¯s thoughts returned to Xue Zhuyong¡¯s mocking tone, and her spirits instantly fell to rock bottom, her brow furrowed in frustration, "But how am I supposed to do it?"


    ...


    "So we¡¯re really splitting up, huh?" The Rat King found it hard to part with Zang Xiaojian.


    He had always regarded Zang Xiaojian as a confidante.


    "It¡¯s because we both want the Three-feet Edge," Lu Qingshan was quite philosophical about it.


    "It¡¯s just a sword, is it really necessary..." muttered the Rat King, who in his view, valued a hearty meal over any sword.


    "Huh?" The Rat King looked up and around at the surroundings, puzzled, "Are we heading back?"


    "Yes," Lu Qingshan nodded.


    To obtain the Three-feet Edge from Xue Zhuyong, first of all, a direct robbery would definitely not work.


    Just the fact that Xue Zhuyong could imbue intent into mundane wood carvings suggested that at least on Jiaolong Ind, his strength ranked among the top three, or he could even be the leader.


    That Xue Zhuyong hung the Three-feet Edge casually on the wall didn¡¯t mean he undervalued it, but rather that he was confident no one could take the sword from him.


    That left only one option, a trade.


    Although Xue Zhuyong clearly stated that the Three-feet Edge was not for sale, Lu Qingshan knew well that if it¡¯s material, nothing in the world is not for sale.


    The so-called non-sale items are simply that the buyer¡¯s offer is not sufficient.


    To meet Xue Zhuyong¡¯s price, first, one must understand his needs, then tailor the solution ordingly.


    If he has no other desires, then it¡¯s necessary to create a need for him.


    The very ambiguous origin of Mo Yan and Madam Mo, and the carving of Madam Mo disyed in Xue Zhuyong¡¯s shop, suggested a very likely breakthrough.


    Moreover, the strange thing the tailor shop owner mentioned also gave Lu Qingshan a vague idea.


    Among all these, he was justcking one thread; once he found it, he would be able to understand the entire storyline and the truth behind the Mo Family¡¯s downfall.


    ...


    "Young Master Lu, your return was quite quick. It seems you have gained a lot?" Mo Yan opened the door, saw Lu Qingshan standing at the doorstep, and jokingly remarked in a leisurely tone. Then he peeked outside and noticed that Zang Xiaojian, who usually followed closely behind Lu Qingshan, hadn¡¯t returned with him, which led him to exim in surprise, "Where¡¯s Miss Zang?


    Why didn¡¯t shee back with you?"


    "Let¡¯s not worry about her for now," Lu Qingshan raised his hand and began, "I¡¯m here on serious business this time, I¡¯ve got some questions I hope to get answers to from Mrs. Mo."


    "You mean my mother?" Mo Yan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, sensing something unusual from Lu Qingshan¡¯s casual remarks.


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "Yes, if it¡¯s convenient."


    Silence.


    Mo Yan remained silent for a long time, eventually rxing his brows and agreeing, "Come in."


    Less than a dayter, Lu Qingshan entered Mo Yan¡¯s home again, but his state of mind this time waspletely different from thest.


    "I¡¯ll go speak to my mother." Having brought Lu Qingshan to the hall, Mo Yan left first.


    In order to prevent Mrs. Mo from having many concerns due to the presence of the King of the Western Rats, Lu Qingshan first returned the King to the Spirit Beast Bag, and then began to leisurely sip clear tea, quietly awaiting news in the hall.


    In less than a moment.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Mrs. Mo, dressed in a light green silk shirt, walked gracefully into the room.


    "Yan¡¯er said you had something to discuss with me?" Mrs. Mo¡¯s tone full of curiosity, she scrutinized Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment, finally deciding to cut straight to the chase, "Mrs. Mo, could you speak about your identity in the Mo Family at Dragon Spring and your rtionship with the current Family Head of the Mo Family?"


    As soon as Lu Qingshan¡¯s question was voiced, Mrs. Mo¡¯s expression immediately stiffened.


    "Why this sudden question?" Mrs. Mo understood that Lu Qingshan must have some basis for his question and thus didn¡¯t deny his statement.


    "I met the Mo Family Head," Lu Qingshan said, "but the circumstances were so peculiar that I became very curious about the events of those years."


    Upon hearing that Lu Qingshan had seen the Mo Family Head, Mrs. Mo¡¯s expression grewplex. After hesitating for a moment, she struggled to speak, "How is Zhuyong doing?"


    Lu Qingshan noted Mrs. Mo¡¯s reference.


    Zhuyong.


    So the name Xue Zhuyong wasn¡¯t an alias after all?


    Then why had the Mo Family Head not changed his first name but had instead changed his surname from Mo to Xue?


    "He seems to be doing quite well," Lu Qingshan recalled Xue Zhuyong¡¯s daily life and thus said.


    As soon as Lu Qingshan finished speaking, Mrs. Mo seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, patted her chest, pondered for a moment, and then shook her head apologetically towards Lu Qingshan, "I prefer not to talk about the events of those years.


    Lu Qingshan was not in a hurry, nodded and replied, "If Mrs. Mo is not willing to discuss the past, so be it."


    "Young Master Lu, could you please not mention this matter to Yan¡¯er," Mrs. Mo bit her lip and said, "I have never spoken to him about the affairs of the Mo Family."


    "Naturally," Lu Qingshan promised with a bow, "I¡¯ll keep this confidential."


    This trip to see Mrs. Mo did not yield any meaningful answers, but it couldn¡¯t be said to be entirely unfruitful either.


    Because in many cases, it isn¡¯t necessary for the respondent to provide a specific answer to make sense of an issue; simply understanding their attitude towards the matter can already reveal a lot.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 159 - 28 Serial Links

    Sea God Sect.


    As the most prestigious Sect on Jiaolong Ind, it recently kept its Great Formation fully activated, waves shimmering as it strictly prohibited its Cultivators from leaving.


    Within the main hall of the Sect.


    "Great Elder, thest batch of Spirit Materials and Spirit Stones required for the Dragon Transformation Pool has also been collected," Sect Master Han Qiu said with a worried look in his eyes as he reported to Great Elder Hanyuan, "We cannot dy matters concerning the Demon King."


    "Indeed, we cannot afford to dy matters concerning the Demon King," Hanyuan frowned deeply and after a long period of thought, he said, "I will make a personal trip and deliver this batch of Spirit Materials to the Demon King."


    Han Qiu¡¯s face showed pleasure; this response was exactly what he hoped for. "Then I¡¯ll have to trouble the Great Elder."


    ...


    "Sword Master, these little snakes are indeed cautious," a barely audible murmur came from somewhere above the skies outside the Sea God Sect. Mo Yan¡¯s sneaky ambush resulted in the fall of four Golden Core Cultivators from their Sect, yet instead of escting into a full-blown conflict, they chose to shut their Sect and fortify their defenses."


    Hidden within the dense clouds, two figures were concealed, staring intently at the Sea God Sect¡¯s gate enveloped by the Great Formation.


    "No rush, ording to our intelligence, within a few days, they will inevitablye out," said the Cultivator known as Sword Master in a deep voice.


    The Sword Master was a middle-aged male Cultivator, standing no taller than five feet, with a hint of gray visible on his head. Yet, he exuded amanding presence, his aura as deep as an abyss, clearly a Great Cultivator of the Nascent Soul Early Stage.


    What was surprising was that the right sleeve of the Sword Master was empty.


    For a Nascent Soul Cultivator, being one-armed was extremely rare, since for Great Cultivators of the Nascent Soul stage, regrowing limbs was by no means a difficult feat.


    The Cultivator who had been grumbling to the Sword Master was a tall and lean strong man, with a beard like iron spikes and thick, untamed hair that looked like wild grass.


    He was the second-inmand of the Dragon ying Saber, next to the Sword Master¡ªCultivator Tongzheng, with the Cultivation of Golden Core Perfection.


    From these two, it could be seen that Mo Yan¡¯s statement about the Dragon ying Saber being far superior to the Sea God Sect was indeed unquestionably true.


    With the Sword Master¡¯s Cultivation at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, he could almost obliterate the Sea God Sect single-handedly.


    "They¡¯vee out indeed!" Tongzheng suddenly said, spotting an extremely faint and barely visible blue light escaping from a hidden corner of the Sea God Sect, which was the Escaping Light of a Sect Cultivator.


    The Escaping Light just flew below them, but it did not notice the two people hidden above.


    "Big catch, it is Old Hanyuan himself who has taken action," the Sword Master, seeing the face of the Cultivator steering the Escaping Light, his eyes gleaming sharply, quickly instructed, "Follow him, we¡¯ll make our move out on the sea!"


    "Understood," replied Tongzheng.


    Out at sea, where the terrain is wide open and unobstructed, that was the best time to make a move and ensure a near-certain kill.


    The two silently tailed the Sea God Sect¡¯s Great Elder, following closely behind.


    It was only because they were Great Nascent Soul Cultivators that they had such means to conceal their presence from the Great Elder¡¯s Divine Sense, allowing them to follow the Golden Core Perfection Cultivator Hanyuan without detection.


    ...


    The Hidden Reef Jiao n was the most numerous among the Jiao ns in the coastal region of the South Sea, with the n nearing a thousand Jiao in number.


    Due to the presence of the Jiaolong Demon King, the Hidden Reef Jiao n was also implicitly considered the most powerful Sea Demon n in this part of the South Sea.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Hidden Reef was the name of the domain where the Jiao n lived; it was a vast area below the sea surface concealing colossal underwater caves.


    The Jiao n made their homes in the underwater caverns of the sea.


    Jiao, a member of the dragon family, looks simr to a snake with four limbs, known for their fierce temperament and carnivorous nature. Indolent and resistant to control, they have always been ipatible with the Human Race, often resulting in conflicts.


    In the Hidden Reef Domain, the waters were as smooth as ss, tranquil beyondparison.


    "Boom!"


    Suddenly, a loud boom exploded above the Hidden Reef Domain, followed by a ck shadow plummeting straight from the sky at a tremendous speed. Upon hitting the surface of the sea, it caused a huge sound and stirred up towering waves.


    This great disturbance immediately attracted over a dozen Second Grade Jiao Beasts who hurriedly swam out from the underwater caverns to investigate the situation.


    Within the sight of the Jiao Beasts, there was a corpse slowly sinking.


    Moo Moo Moo!


    When the Jiao Beasts approached and clearly saw the corpse¡¯s face, they all let out furious roars.


    ...


    Inside the cavern, within a stone cave brimming with Spiritual Power, there coiled a terrifying Jiao Beast of unfathomable length, pitch-ck in color with an especially fierce and vicious appearance.


    Its enormous eyes were fixed on its trembling fellow Jiao Beasts under its suppression, and the corpse of the Human Cultivator, with a chilling tone, "Who is it! Who is it! Someone had the audacity toy hands on Hanyuan, knowing full well that he is one of our Jiao n.


    To kill Hanyuan is one thing, but to throw his body into our Jiao n¡¯s waters is an outright provocation of the Hidden Reef Jiao n¡¯s might!"


    Its voice boomed like thunder, causing the stone cave to tremble slightly.


    "Lord Jiao Yan, the Demon King has been preparing for the Transforming into a Dragon for so long, and yet this incident urs right at the climactic moment. In my opinion, it is very likely a conspiracy against the Demon King," a fellow Jiao Beast said with a trembling voice.


    Boom!


    The terrifying Jiao Beast known as Lord Jiao Yan, swept his tail in anger. His tail struck the hard stone wall, immediately causing it to crack and stones to fly.


    "I don¡¯t care about any conspiracy. My father needs to build the Dragon Transformation Pool to assist his transformation, and a vast portion of the Spirit Materials required cannot be found in the sea but must be prepared by the Sea God Sect for us.


    The person who struck down Hanyuan even took the Spirit Materials Hanyuan was delivering for the Dragon Transformation Pool.


    If we do not retrieve these materials, the Dragon Transformation Pool cannot be fully formed. Not to mention the dy in my father¡¯s transformation, there is a great possibility that it could affect the sess rate of his transformation!"


    "The Sea God Sect Cultivators must know the origin of the person who took action. I myself shall visit the Sea God Sect and rify the situation, to help my father retrieve these Spirit Materials," Jiao Yan dered furiously.


    The fellow Jiao Beasts dared not say any more.


    Neither of the two Jiao Beasts in the stone cave noticed that, in the seemingly lifeless yet wide-open left eye of Hanyuan, the pitch-ck pupil was flickering with an imperceptible glimmer.


    In a secluded ce, the Sword Master, who personally killed Hanyuan and threw his body into the Hidden Reef Domain, stood side by side with the True Cultivator Tongzheng. In front of them, a watery screen materialized out of thin air, disying a scene that showed the conversation between the two Jiao Beasts inside the stone cave.


    "Sword Master, just as you predicted, Jiao Yan has decided to take matters into his own hands," True Cultivator Tongzheng said excitedly, "This baiting strategy is brilliant!"


    "It¡¯s all within expectations. Jiao Yan is brutal and excessively arrogant. Given our tant provocation, how could he possibly not react?" The Sword Master¡¯s eyes shed with a fierce light, "Jiao Yan is the only direct descendant of the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s bloodline.


    If we manage to capture him alive and then use him to lure the Jiaolong Demon King into action, even if the Demon King is usuallyposed, he surely won¡¯t be able to stay put in hisir this time!"


    Above the Hidden Reef Domain, a ck Jiao Dragon, over thirty feet in length, leaped from the sea, soaring into the sky and causing countless white foam as it headed straight for Jiaolong Ind.

 Chapter 160 - 29: Thunderous Measures

    As ck Jiao set out to sea, the Sword Master extended his sole arm, brushing gently over the water curtain in front of him, whereupon all the images instantly transformed into illusions and vanished from sight.


    "Return to Jiaolong Ind," the Sword Master said in a deep voice.


    Upon receiving themand, the Taoist Tongzheng sent out several Spirit Stones from his hand, embedding them into the Formation under their feet.


    Stimted by the Spirit Stones, several patterns within the Formation began to emerge and connect, and two beams of Spiritual Light enveloped the figures of the Taoist Tongzheng and the Sword Master.


    A sh of white light flickered, and after the Spiritual Light dissipated, the Taoist Tongzheng and the Sword Master had also vanished within the Formation.


    In Jiaolong Ind, within a hidden cave situated a hundred miles away from the Sea God Sect, white Spiritual Light appeared, and the Taoist Tongzheng and the Sword Master slowly materialized.


    This was a small Teleportation Array that the Dragon ying Saber had already set up, connecting Jiaolong Ind with the Hidden Reef Domain, aimed at gaining a brief advantage in time.


    At this moment, within the cave, many Cultivators had already been waiting, including the Lianyun Trio that Lu Qingshan had once encountered. Besides them, there were seven Golden Core Cultivators, five of whom were at the Golden Core Early Stage, and two had reached the Golden Core Late Stage.


    These were all the high-ranking Cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber, most of whom, like the Lianyun Trio, were the outstanding disciples earnestly protected by the Sect during its downfall, who had undergone two hundred years of arduous Cultivation, and under the spur of hatred, had reached their current levels of Cultivation.


    "Sword Master!" Upon seeing the Sword Master and the Taoist Tongzheng appear, all the Cultivators showed their respect.


    "Time is of the essence, Jiao Yan has already set off. With his speed, it will take less than half a day to travel from the Hidden Reef Domain to Jiaolong Ind. We must fight swiftly and decisively, Tongzheng!"


    "Present!" Taoist Tongzheng replied solemnly.


    "Notify Han Jiu to get ready to make a move immediately. Today we will strike the Sea God Sect first to alleviate the pent-up anger in everyone¡¯s hearts."


    "Yes!" the Taoist Tongzheng responded.


    All the Cultivators present, upon hearing the Sword Master speak, had a fiercely eager light sh in their eyes.


    ...


    Sea God Sect.


    In a cave dwelling situated above the Sect¡¯s Spirit Vein, a skinny male Cultivator silently put away the Spirit que in his hand that was shing with blue light, his eyes disying a hint of vengeful intent as he murmured to himself, "After lying low for so many years, the day has finallye."


    He was a Golden Core Cultivator of the Sea God Sect, True Monarch Han Jiu, renowned for his proficiency in Arrays and also the chief in charge of the Sect¡¯s Great Formation at the mountain gate.


    Who would have thought that someone with such an esteemed status as his would be an inside agent for the Dragon ying Saber within the Sea God Sect, holding a grudge against the Sect.


    True Monarch Han Jiu shed out of the cave dwelling and headed straight for the central hub of the mountain gate¡¯s Great Formation.


    "Uncle-Master." When the disciples of the Sea God Sect guarding the central hub saw True Monarch Han Jiu, they all called out respectfully.


    True Monarch Han Jiu¡¯s expression was unchanged. As usual, he nodded slightly to the Sea God Sect disciples, acknowledging their greeting before entering the heart of the Formation.


    Inside the hub, three Foundation Establishment Cultivators were responsible for maintaining the operation of the Formation and, through the alert capabilities of the Great Formation at the mountain gate, monitored for any intruders.


    If any abnormality was detected, they would immediately inform the high-level Cultivators of the Sect.


    "Is Uncle-Master Han Jiu here to inspect and maintain the Formation?" one of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators stepped forward and asked.


    "Mhm," True Monarch Han Jiu replied calmly, forming Seal Gestures with his fingers and cing several Dharma Seals on the light screen in front of him, causing the light screen protecting the heart of the Formation to slowly unfold.


    At the heart of the Formation, one could control the power of the Formation.


    Stationed at the center of the Formation, True Monarch Han Jiu unleashed his Divine Sense, starting to inspect the Sect¡¯s mountain gate Great Formation.


    Everything seemed normal, but no one noticed that True Monarch Han Jiu had quietly obscured the Great Formation¡¯s monitoring capability over a certain area, cutting off the flow of Spiritual Power to that corner and rerouting it elsewhere.


    With such maniption, the overall flow of Spiritual Power would not change, making it extremely difficult for other Cultivators to notice.


    ...


    Outside the mountain gate of the Sea God Sect.


    Ten figures had already been waiting here for a long time.


    Finally, in front of them, the tenacious shimmering light silently opened a narrow crack that slowly widened, eventually bing an entrancerge enough for a person to pass through.


    "Go in!" The Sword Master led the way, shing into the entrance, with the rest of the Dragon ying Saber Cultivators following suit.


    "Han Jiu has informed us of the locations of the five remaining Golden Core cultivators of the Sea God Sect; those are their cave dwellings." As soon as all ten entered the formation, the Sword Master pointed to several locations within the Sea God Sect and instructed, "Follow the assignments we previously agreed upon, perform each of your duties.


    You must overpower them with absolute strength instantly without causing too much of an uproar."


    "Understood!" The Dragon ying Saber Cultivators replied quietly.


    "Then let us begin!" The Sword Master waved his hand grandly, his figure swooped tendentiously, and he stealthily darted toward one of the cave dwellings.


    That was the cave dwelling of the Sect Master of the Sea God Sect, Han Qiu!


    The Sea God Sect had a total of eleven Golden Core cultivators. First, four were ambushed by Mo Yan, then the most powerful Great Elder was personally pursued and killed by the Sword Master. Now, within the Sea God Sect, only six Golden Core cultivators remained.


    Among the six Golden Core cultivators, Han Jiu was an insider for the Dragon ying Saber, making it a scenario where ten Dragon ying Saber Cultivators were set against five Golden Core cultivators of the Sea God Sect. Not to mention, the cultivation of the ten Dragon ying Saber Cultivators far surpassed those of the Sea God Sect¡¯s Golden Core cultivators.


    N?v(el)B\\jnn


    It was almost a certainty!


    The key was to act quickly and quietly.


    ...


    Inside the cave dwelling, Han Qiu sat cross-legged, hands forming a seal gesture, circting his cultivation technique to swallow and breathe out spiritual power, deeply engrossed in cultivation.


    As the Sect Master of the Sea God Sect, his cave dwelling was located at the site where the spirit vein¡¯s spiritual power was most abundant; cultivating in such an excellent spot doubled the speed of his cultivation progress.


    That was also why he managed to reach thete stage of the Golden Core with his ordinary talents within two hundred years.


    Boom!


    Suddenly, a booming noise from the cave dwelling¡¯s barrier jolted Han Qiu from his meditative state.


    "What¡¯s going on?" Han Qiu was startled, but before he had time to think further, there was a crackling sound, and the barrier he had set up shattered.


    A seven-foot Full Moon Saber, glowing blood-red, shot into the cave from the outside, heading straight for his face with such force that chilled his spine.


    What was happening?!


    Han Qiu felt a chill surge in his heart and hastily brought out his protective magical artifact¡ªa formation made up of five Spirit Banners.


    "Water Ripple Realm!"


    Han Qiu activated the Spirit Banners, which immediately shone brightly, emitting pale blue waves of spiritual light and forming a barrier in front of him.


    Zi!


    The Full Moon Saber collided fiercely with the barrier, causing all five Spirit Banners to tremble, while the Blood Qi on the Full Moon Saber grew even more intense.


    The stand-offsted only a moment before the Water Ripple Realm barrier, made from the banner formation, suddenly dissolved. The Full Moon Saber¡¯s momentum undeterred, struck Han Qiu head-on.


    Han Qiu spat out a mouthful of fresh blood; he was seriously injured from the attack.


    Like adding fuel to the fire, the Sword Master¡¯s figure followed closely behind the Full Moon Saber, bursting into the cave dwelling. On his sole arm was already condensed a blood-red Dharma Seal, which the Sword Master hurled toward Han Qiu, who hadn¡¯t had the chance to recover from the blow.


    At that moment, the small cave dwelling was filled with the oppressive Blood Qi emitted by the Sword Master, a dense and oppressing atmosphere that made the cirction of spiritual power within Han Qiu extremely difficult.


    Despair filled Han Qiu¡¯s face as he murmured in disbelief, "Nascent Soul True Monarch..."


    The Sea God Sect had dominated Jiaolong Ind for over two hundred years, possessing the most cultivation resources, yet they had never produced a Nascent Soul cultivator.


    He found it hard to believe that a Nascent Soul cultivator could exist on Jiaolong Ind.


    ...

 Chapter 161 - 30 The Dove Occupies the Magpie’s Nest

    The Sea God Sect¡¯s grand hall, signifying the pinnacle of its power, now disyed a scene quite unlike its usual sight.


    Ten Golden Core Cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber had gathered within the hall, and before themy a cultivator firmly bound and immobilized.


    Upon closer inspection, one would abruptly realize that the person in question was none other than Han Qiu, the Sect Master of the Sea God Sect.


    "Sword Master, the other four Golden Core Cultivators have all been executed by us," Tong Zheng Daoist reported as he stepped forth.


    The Sword Master nodded, "Well done!"


    The Sea God Upper Sect, which had dominated Jiaolong Ind for more than two hundred years, was now in an instant overtaken.


    "What Sea God Upper Sect? They are nothing but a few small snakes," said the Sword Master, his gaze falling disdainfully upon the captured Han Qiu: "The foundation of a sect is always its own strength. Your Spirit Snake Sect has dominated Jiaolong Ind for more than two hundred years with the support of the Jiao n. And yet, how is it that I can obliterate you in just the blink of an eye?"


    As hey on the ground, Han Qiu faced the Sword Master¡¯s scorn with a venomous re and a sinister smile: "We of the Sea God Sect may not be a match for you, but what of it?


    Can you contend with the Jiaolong Demon King? The moment the Jiao n discovers the Sea God Sect has been toppled, with a thousand Jiaos descending upon the ind, what can you do then?


    For your momentary satisfaction, when the Jiaolong Demon King erupts in fury, you will have dragged the entire Human Race of Jiaolong Ind into your graves!"


    The Sword Master¡¯s eyebrows twitched as he responded coldly, "Jiaolong Demon King? Not even Fifth Grade, and he dares to call himself a dragon? Moreover, the Dragon ying Saber is precisely here to cut down this vile Jiao!"


    "With just you? The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s cultivation has reached the peak of Fourth Grade. Given the might of the Jiao n¡¯s bloodline, even an Upper Cultivator at Nascent Soul Perfection would not dare im they could y the Jiaolong Demon King.


    You¡¯re merely at Nascent Soul Early Stage, what makes you think you have the capital to speak such words?" Knowing his situation was dire and without any reservations, Han Qiu retorted mockingly, "Do you really think you can disrupt the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s ns for Transforming into a Dragon?"


    The Sword Master swept an indifferent gaze at Han Qiu and did not reply again.


    Silence suddenly fell within the grand hall, and everyone remained quiet, as if waiting for something.


    Momentster, the doors of the great hall slowly opened, and a cultivator walked in.


    Han Qiu, who had once given up struggling andy motionless on the ground, upon seeing the neer¡¯s face, suddenly began to twist his body.


    "Han Jiu, it¡¯s you! No wonder the Dragon ying Saber Cultivators could enter the sect without our sect¡¯s grand formation stirring. Why, why did you betray the sect, after all it has done for you?" Han Qiu¡¯s voice was as bitter as that of a malevolent spirit.


    Han Jiu, kneeling in front of him, wore an enigmatic smile. Looking into Han Qiu¡¯s hate-filled eyes, he asked, "Sect Master, do you still remember the Dikun Sect?"


    Han Qiu was taken aback, then as if realizing something, "You¡­ are from the Dikun Sect?"


    Han Jiu let out a bitterugh, "The Dikun Sect¡¯s second elder, Dikun, was my father. As a mere child, I was lucky to survive under my father¡¯s arrangements.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The Jiao n destroyed our sect, killed my father, and yet the Sea God Sect willingly became the running dogs of the Jiao n. I joined the Sea God Sect precisely for this day!


    Why would I betray the Sea God Sect? Answer me!"


    "A good bird chooses a tree to nest in," Han Qiu was silent for a long while before squeezing out these words with difficulty.


    Having vented the frustration in his heart, Han Jiu paid no further heed to Han Qiu. He stood up and said to the Sword Master, "I have met the Sword Master."


    The Sword Master nodded, his left arm lifting, and tossed out dozens of Array tes and hundreds of Array gs toward Han Jiu.


    "These are Binding Spirit Formation gs. Arrange them as soon as possible. When the timees, in conjunction with the Sea God Sect¡¯s grand formation, we must capture Jiao Yan alive!" the Sword Master instructed.


    "I will start arranging now," Han Jiu epted the gs and responded respectfully before quickly turning around to leave the grand hall.


    Time was of the essence!


    Looking at the grand hall doors that had closed again, the Sword Master¡¯s gaze was deep as he muttered, "The inescapable is ready, all that¡¯s left is for Jiao Yan to fall into it."


    Jiao Yan, as the direct descendant of the Jiaolong Demon King, was already a Fourth Grade Demon Beast himself.


    Although he had just entered the Fourth Grade and was not as strong as the Jiaolong Demon King at the peak of the Fourth Grade¡¯s power, Jiao Yan was indeed capable of sweeping through the cultivators of the Human Race on Jiaolong Ind with such battle strength, which formed the foundation of his arrogance and fearlessness.


    With the cultivation of a Nascent Soul in the early stage, Sword Master had no confidence in capturing Jiao Yan alive.


    In a standoff of equal strength, if one side was set on escaping, it was typically difficult for the other to have any countermeasures, a characteristic of cultivator battles.


    Under such circumstances, if one wished to capture Jiao Yan, outside forces would be required, such as an overwhelmingly powerful Formation.


    The problem was, Formations were difficult to deploy in the midst of battle; they required time to set up beforehand, and once established, could not be moved, which was a significant limitation.


    Although Jiao Yan was conceited, he was not a fool. To entice him into a Formation that had been arranged without raising his suspicions was exceedingly difficult.


    This method being impractical, they racked their brains and came up with another n.


    Luring Jiao Yan into the Formation was problematic, so why not let Jiao Yan walk into the trap himself?


    Above the entire Jiaolong Ind, the Sea God Sect was precisely the ce where Jiao Yan would let down his guard and enter, right?


    With this thought in mind, the Sea God Sect became a ughterhouse in the eyes of the owners of the Dragon ying Saber, who resentfully schemed, provoking Jiao Yan, luring him to leave the sea, and then quietly usurping his position, all to create the situation that now unfolded.


    They used a Sea God Sect that seemed to have no issues and operated normally to deceive Jiao Yan into the pot.


    ...


    Moo!


    Lu Qingshan, who hade out of the hall with Madam Mo, suddenly heard a loud noise like the bellowing of a cow.


    He hurriedly looked up and saw a huge ck Jiao flying low in the sky with reckless abandon, its body enveloped in ck demon qi that hissed continuously, the formidable and terrifying aura chilling to the bone.


    The ck Jiao flying low in the sky, its massive eyes suddenly shing with blood-red light as if it had spotted something intriguing, abruptly halted mid-flight, then diving swiftly downwards.


    By the time the ck Jiao reemerged in the low sky, it was seen clutching two children in its ghastly jaws, its sharp teeth slowly tearing and chewing their bodies as the vile Jiao saliva mixed with chunks of flesh and blood dripped down.


    This scene made Lu Qingshan¡¯s face stiffen instantly, as he involuntarily clenched his hands into fists, anger surging in his heart.


    "Since the cultivators on the ind were defeated by the Jiaolong Demon King two hundred years ago, the Jiao n has always been this arrogant,ing to the ind from time to time to hunt humans.


    In the absence of any cultivator daring to oppose the Jiao n and stand up for the humans, the only thing themon folk can do is silently endure the torment inflicted by the Jiao n," exined Mo Yan, who had appeared beside Lu Qingshan at some point, in a soft voice.


    "Apart from the Jiaolong Demon King, how many Fourth Grade Jiao Beasts are there within the Jiao n?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    "There¡¯s no need to overthink it. Although the Jiao n has an extraordinary bloodline, reaching the Fourth Grade is not that easy.


    This ck Jiao is the direct descendant of the Jiaolong Demon King and is the only other Fourth Grade Jiao Beast in the Jiao n besides the Demon King himself."


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly and retorted, "Master Mo, however, seems quite calm about the ck Jiao¡¯s violent acts."


    "After seeing it so many times, it bes normal. Besides," confronting Lu Qingshan¡¯s probing, Mo Yan waved his hand and a glint shed in his eyes, "this ck Jiao won¡¯t be able to be arrogant for much longer."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 162 - 31: Subduing the Flood Dragon (Part 1)

    Mo Yan did not borate, but the implication was very clear, and Lu Qingshan suddenly understood.


    Although he was somewhat interested in the methods of the Dragon ying Saber, Lu Qingshan was also tactful and chose not to probe any further.


    This was the scheme of the Dragon ying Saber, and it was not proper for him, an outsider, to ask too many questions.


    The figure of the ck Jiao gradually receded until it disappeared from view.


    "Mrs. Mo, please forgive the intrusion. I have other matters to attend to today, so I must take my leave now. I¡¯lle for a visit when I have the chance," Lu Qingshan did not linger at the Mo Family but bade farewell to Mrs. Mo and Mo Yan, then quickly left.


    His objective in seeking Mrs. Mo had only been half-achieved due to her reticence.


    The remaining half might only be resolved by using Xue Zhuyong as a breakthrough.


    ...


    Jiao Yan abducted two Human Race children in Jiaolong City and brutally chewed and swallowed them.


    Such ferocious behavior might seem as ordinary to the Jiao n as the Human Race casually picking wild fruit by the roadside to quench thirst.


    How could this not make themon people loathe the Jiao n to the bone?


    In Jiao Yan¡¯s eyes, the flesh of Human Race children was the most delicious, yet those two children were merely appetizers for him and hardly filling.


    But no matter what, Jiao Yan understood that more pressing matters were at hand, so he did not continue to satisfy his appetite and, with a flick of his tail, he shot straight towards the Sea God Sect.


    In front of the thick light curtain emitted by the great formation of the Sea God Sect¡¯s mountain gate, Jiao Yan suddenly stopped.


    "As expected, something¡¯s up; even the mountain gate¡¯s great formation has been activated," Jiao Yan confirmed his spection upon seeing the Sea God Sect in this state of heightened alert.


    The moment Jiao Yan appeared outside of the Sea God Sect, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were maintaining the monitoring formation immediately spotted him.


    They shuddered and promptlymunicated the arrival of Jiao Yan upward. Not waiting for a response, they immediately began controlling the formation, withdrawing the light curtain that isted the outside world.


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    It wasn¡¯t that they dared to act rashly, but they understood that within the Sea God Sect, the Jiao n always held the highest status. The price of irritating the Sect Master by acting on their own was nothingpared to the cost of slighting Jiao Yan.


    The light curtain slowly opened, revealing a huge gap.


    Jiao Yan did not hesitate and darted in.


    The moment he entered the Sea God Sect, Jiao Yan shook his enormous body, and in the blink of an eye, his figure abruptly shrank, and he ultimately transformed into human form.


    Jiao Yan¡¯s human incarnation was a young man dressed in ck, with an exceptionally sinister appearance. His eyes were full of ferocity and the wildness unique to demon beasts. The most eerie feature was an extremely ugly and fierce protrusion on the man¡¯s forehead.


    This wasmon when demon beasts took on human form: distinctive racial features, such as the tail of a fox demon or the ears of a cat demon, would not disappear even after transformation.


    The Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Sea God Sect had no time to lose and hurried to greet him, "Lord Jiao Yan!"


    Jiao Yan¡¯s voice was exceedingly cold, "Where is Han Qiu? Why hasn¡¯t hee to meet me?"


    "Please forgive us, Lord! The Sect Master has just convened all the Golden Core Elders in the Sect¡¯s main hall for a meeting not long ago. He might not have received the news of Lord¡¯s visit and hence the dy," the Foundation Establishment disciple responded to Jiao Yan¡¯s inquiry with a trembling voice, carefully exining.


    "In the Sect¡¯s main hall?" Jiao Yan¡¯s demeanor was exceedingly cold. He ignored the trembling Foundation Establishment Cultivators, surrounded by swirling ck demonic energy, transformed into a cloud of ck mist, and flew straight toward the Sea God Sect¡¯s main hall.


    Seeing Jiao Yan depart, the Foundation Establishment disciples finally wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads, not knowing when it had appeared, as if they had narrowly escaped death.


    It¡¯s no wonder they were so fearful; the prestige of the Jiao n was indeed formidable.


    Despite the Sea God Sect¡¯s dominance on the ind, they were no different from others in the face of the Jiao n.


    Especially when facing the most ferocious Lord Jiao Yan, whose temper was unpredictable, and acted wholly on a whim. There had been instances where he treated the Sea God Sect cultivators like mere sheep, devouring them whole on a sudden fancy.


    ...


    When Lord Jiao Yan arrived at the main hall of the sect, Real Person Han Jiu, d in a Sea God Sect robe, had already been waiting for him.


    "Lord Jiao Yan," Real Person Han Jiu greeted respectfully.


    Lord Jiao Yan certainly recognized Real Person Han Jiu. However, instead of feeling pleased by the respectful greeting, he nced at the still closed doors of the hall and suddenly erupted, "Where is Han Qiu? You came alone to wee me? Has the Sea God Sect be so brazenly bold, no longer considering me important, daring to treat me so casually?"


    Bang!


    Before Han Jiu could offer a detailed exnation, Lord Jiao Yan erupted in anger, lifted his hand, and a ck seal flew from his palm. The seal swelled rapidly in the air to the size of a small mountain and crashed towards the main hall doors with an rming momentum.


    In Lord Jiao Yan¡¯s eyes, no matter the reason, the fact that the Sea God Sect cultivators did not ce him in the highest regard, greeting him immediately, was an offense to him.


    The main doors, crafted from high-quality spirit material, were no match for the seal as massive as a peak; they were instantly reduced to dust, scattering everywhere.


    The doors were broken, and the inside of the main hall came into Lord Jiao Yan¡¯s view, causing his heart to skip a beat.


    Inside the main hall, it was indeed crowded, but not a single familiar face from the Sea God Sect could be seen... Perhaps it can¡¯t be said there weren¡¯t any familiar faces if one counts Han Qiu, sprawled on the ground like a lifeless corpse.


    "Such impulsive behavior hardly seems fitting for Lord Jiao Yan," the Sword Master said, locking eyes with Jiao Yan and initiating an offensive remark.


    "It¡¯s you!" Hearing the familiar voice and seeing the Sword Master¡¯s face, Jiao Yan¡¯s pupils constricted sharply.


    "It is me." The Sword Master, grasping a blood-red Full Moon Saber in his one arm, exuded a chilling intent to kill.


    "As the Sect Master of the Blood de Sect, my father bit off the arm with which you wielded your saber and you fled in disarray," Jiao Yan scoffed, "And now you dare return? Did you reach the Nascent Soul Stage in your cultivation and think you¡¯ve be capable once more?"


    In the face of Jiao Yan¡¯s mockery, the Sword Master gripped the Full Moon Saber in his hand even tighter, his eyes brimming with hatred.


    "Fight!" No more patience to endure, no necessity to withhold.


    As soon as the Sword Master finished speaking, Real Person Han Jiu received themand and immediately formed a seal gesture with his hands.


    A dense fog rose from nowhere, swiftly enveloping the area, infused with an extremely oppressive aura.


    Behind the Sword Master, all the Golden Core cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber were now holding a golden Array te, channeling spiritual power into them.


    Countless golden threads surged from the Array tes, shining brightly within the dark fog and sparkling brilliantly.


    This was the Golden Silk Mist Formation, ready by the Dragon ying Saber specifically for subduing Jiao dragons.


    The moment the golden threads detached from the Array tes, they spread like agile serpents, enveloping Lord Jiao Yan from all directions.


    Lord Jiao Yan¡¯s demon aura surged mightily, attempting to repel the golden threads immediately.


    But the golden threads proved impervious to both water and fire, remaining unaffected as the demon aura passed over them, not even causing the slightest ripple.

 Chapter 163 - 32 The Subdued Flood Dragon (Part 2)

    The golden threads moved swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, under the precise control of the Dragon ying Saber Cultivator, they hadpletely ensnared Jiao Yan.


    "Damn it!" These golden threads bound Jiao Yan tightly and kept constricting, seemingly intent on strangling him, which left Jiao Yan seething with anger.


    Jiao Yan knew he had to break free from the golden threads¡¯ restraint urgently. With a roar, he transformed back into his true form, a giant ck Jiao over thirty zhang long.


    For the Demon Beasts of the Jiao n with their extraordinary bloodlines, their true form is where theirbat power is at its strongest.


    The golden threads that had trapped Jiao Yan snapped as he reverted to the ck Jiao, his burgeoning form stretching them taut, the golden light on the threads trembling incessantly.


    "Snap already!" Madness filled Jiao Yan¡¯s massive eyes as his body thrashed violently.


    Crash!


    Under Jiao Yan¡¯s fierce struggle, the golden threads finally reached their breaking point, sounding like a snapping bowstring as Jiao Yan tore them apart.


    As the golden threads snapped, the Array te in the hands of the Dragon ying Saber Golden Core Cultivator was also covered in web-like cracks.


    But Jiao Yan wasn¡¯t in good shape either; as the price for tearing apart the golden threads, his body was sliced open, flesh torn and indistinct with blood flowing profusely outwards, carrying a strong scent of blood.


    The Sword Master, of course, would not miss this opportunity. With his one arm, he gripped the Full Moon Saber tightly and pressed forward, his figure transforming into a bloody arc of light, an imposing sight to behold.


    Yet, the attack from the Golden Silk Mist Formation was far from over. Although the golden threads had been torn, the dense ck mist had not dissipated.


    Under the control of the Dragon ying Saber Golden Core Cultivator, the ck mist invaded Jiao Yan¡¯s body frantically through his wounds.


    As he activated the Golden Silk Mist Formation, a chill shed through Han Jiu¡¯s eyes.


    He had another formation at his disposal besides this one.


    The Sect Protection Array of the Sea God Sect.


    As the maniptor of the Sect Protection Array, Han Jiu unfurled arge aquamarine Array g, through which he could control the Sect Protection Array.


    The Spiritual Power from the Spirit Vein of the Sea God Sect surged like a tide into the Sect Protection Array.


    Under Han Jiu¡¯s maniption, the nearly tangible Spiritual Power formed a zing beam of Spiritual Light, shooting towards the bloodied Jiao Yan, almost in unison with the Sword Master¡¯s action.


    Bellow!


    Jiao Yan raised his dragon head and extended his ws, hard as magic artifacts, to meet the onught of attacks.


    Thud!


    Boom!


    Two markedly different but equally thunderous sounds of impact resonated.


    The left w, which was resisting the Spiritual Light, sent a sharp tingling pain through Jiao Yan, causing him great anguish, but this was the better oue.


    @@novelbin@@


    Because the right w, which was meant to fend off the Sword Master¡¯s Full Moon Saber, was torn further along an existing wound, creating an evenrger gash, revealing bright red flesh. The intense pain drove Jiao Yan into an even more frenzied rage.


    "The Jiao n may have strong bodies, but how many ws do you have? How many shes can you withstand?" Seeing the effectiveness of the strikebined with the Sect Protection Array, the Sword Master taunted coldly.


    Jiao Yan remained silent, his tail whipping fiercely like a whip toward the Sword Master. As heunched the attack, Jiao Yan also threw his Magic Artifact seal, blocking the Sword Master¡¯s retreat.


    The next moment, Jiao Yan¡¯s expression changed.


    ¡ªConfronted with his tail sweep, the Sword Master had no intention of dodging. Instead, he brought the Full Moon Saber down upon it with a sh.


    ng!


    The piercing sound of metal colliding echoed, and the huge recoil from the collision between the Full Moon Saber and the Jiaolong¡¯s tail made the Sword Master feel as if his internal organs were about to shift positions. With his Qi-Blood boiling, a fresh trickle of red blood immediately seeped from the corner of his mouth.


    And in such a fierce head-on sh, Jiao Yan¡¯s tail was also shed open with a huge gash, blood gushing out as if it cost nothing.


    It must be said, the physical bodies of the Demon n are indeed strong, as Jiao Yan had already lost count of how much blood he had shed since the beginning of the battle.


    Yet, Jiao Yan¡¯s ferocity had not diminished by a fraction.


    "Thrilling!" The Sword Master spat out a mouthful of blood-stained saliva,ughing wildly, "Come again!"


    His figure as quick as lightning, his saber technique like thunder, bringing a terrifying rumble, the Sword Master once again swung his saber at Jiao Yan.


    Han Jiu also manipted the Sect Protection Array once more, refining Spiritual Light and coordinating with the Sword Master to attack Jiao Yan.


    The omnipresent ck fog also began to show its effects, slowly paralyzing Jiao Yan¡¯s physical body as it merged into his blood, causing his movements to be increasingly stiff.


    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!


    A series of attacks bombarded Jiao Yan relentlessly.


    Even with his frenzied rage and desperate struggles, he had no chance of escaping in the face of the Sect Protection Array operated by Han Jiu, the Golden Silk Mist Formation held by ten Golden Core Cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber, and the incessant assaults of the Nascent Soul Early Stage Sword Master who seemed to be in a frenzy.


    As tough as Jiao Yan¡¯s body was, it couldn¡¯t withstand the continuously worsening injuries, and the blood pouring from his body had already formed a small pool on the ground.


    Finally, Jiao Yan¡¯s resistance grew weaker and weaker, and atst, under the Sword Master¡¯s downward sh, Jiao Yan¡¯s body swayed and fell straight from the sky.


    With a booming sound, the ck Jiao¡¯s massive bodynded on the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust, and the wild Jiao Yan nowy powerless to move, his breaths weak.


    The Sword Master unleashed several golden ropes, binding the incapacitated Jiao Yan tightly.


    Jiao Yan still had his uses for the Dragon ying Saber; naturally, the Sword Master wouldn¡¯t kill him but merely incapacitate him to vent the anger in his heart.


    With Jiao Yan subdued, what followed was the most important, most difficult, and the step that left no room for error¡ªusing Jiao Yan as bait to lure the Jiaolong Demon King into the trap they had so intricately woven in advance!


    Cold light flickered in the Sword Master¡¯s eyes as he held the Full Moon Saber, dragging it along the spine of the ck Jiao.


    The sharp saber de, following the already torn and ragged wounds, carved a deep cut across Jiao Yan¡¯s back, revealing a darkly glowing long sinew hidden within.


    The Sword Master grabbed the sinew and cruelly yanked it out from Jiao Yan¡¯s body.


    This was a dragon sinew several zhang long.


    "First, the Sea God Sect, then Jiao Yan, andstly, it will be the turn of the Jiaolong Demon King," the Sword Master pocketed the dragon sinew, stepped in front of Real Person Han Qiu, and uttered, deliberately pausing between words, "Do you know why your life was spared until now?"


    Husky with emotion, the Sword Master continued, "It¡¯s to let you witness with your own eyes how the Jiao n is annihted. Then, you will be ced before the statue of the Jiaolong to experience the torment of being sacrificed to the fiery ze."


    Han Qiu found it difficult to ept the situation of Jiao Yan¡¯s defeat, twisting on the ground and muttering, "It¡¯s useless, useless... You could capture Jiao Yan with the formation because he had just entered the Fourth Grade. But the Jiaolong Demon King, who is on the verge of Transforming into a Dragon¡ªhow could you be a match for him?"


    "Then watch carefully how we y the dragon," the Sword Master asserted, addressing Han Qiu and bolstering the confidence of himself and the Saber Cultivators.


    Jiao Yan had just reached the Initial Stage of the Fourth Grade, and with his Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivation as a foundation, the n targeting Jiao Yan was nearly foolproof.


    But the Jiaolong Demon King was different, hisbat power astonishing; if they were to confront him directly, the Sword Master would not be his match. Considering the vast disparity in strength, even the most perfect strategy would not have a high chance of sess.


    However, with the arrow already nocked, they had no choice but to proceed. They had reached this point, and there was no turning back now.

 Chapter 164 - 33: The Beginning

    ```


    In the depths of the Hidden Reef Domain, within the deep cavern of the Dragon Pool.


    A Jiao Beast, over sixty zhang in length with a body cast from molten iron, coiled there.


    The beast¡¯s body was pitch-ck, its surface covered with ayer of dark, lustrous Dragon Scales, the edges of the scales sharp as des, sending chills down one¡¯s spine.


    Beyond that, the beast possessed four massive ws beneath its belly, akin to Divine Weapons, exuding a prating chill, while atop its head, a pair of Jiao horns were crystal clear. Itsrge eyes were slightly closed as if it were resting, but even without anger, an oppressive and terrifying might exuded, leaving one gasping for breath.


    At that moment, the enormous eyes of the Jiao Beast suddenly snapped open.


    Malice and icy coldness lurked within those eyes.


    This was the king of the Jiao n, on the verge of breaking into the Fifth Grade, about to Transform into a Dragon, an existence of terror.


    The eyes of the Jiao Dragon Demon King stared intently at the entrance of the cave.


    An old man with a face full of white beard stood there with respect.


    "Jiao Lao, what brings you here?" the Jiao Dragon Demon King asked, his brows slightly furrowed, his voice cold as ice.


    Jiao Lao respectfully bowed his head, his hands lofting an object high, "My Lord, a Human Cultivator has brought this... this."


    In Jiao Lao¡¯s hands was a dark ck sinew, overflowing with Spiritual Light, obviously no ordinary thing.


    Boom!


    The moment he saw the sinew, the Jiao Dragon Demon King¡¯s ws crushed a piece of rock on the cave wall into powder with rage, "This is Yan¡¯er¡¯s Dragon Sinew. What has happened to him?"


    Not daring to conceal anything, Jiao Lao informed the Jiao Dragon Demon King of the entire situation, "Yesterday, the corpse of Hanyuan from the Sea God Sect appeared mysteriously within our domain, and thest batch of Spirit Materials for the Dragon Transformation Pool sent by the Sea God Sect was also stolen.


    To retrieve these materials for your Majesty, the Lord went alone to Jiaolong Ind, then this situation urred."


    "Furthermore, the one who brought the Lord¡¯s Dragon Sinew also had a message for your Majesty..." Jiao Lao looked hesitant.


    "What message?" The Jiao Dragon Demon King gradually calmed down from his rage.


    "He said that if the King wishes to save the Lord¡¯s life, then he should go for a meeting on Jiaolong Ind," Jiao Lao spoke with some reluctance, "My King, this is clearly a scheme by the Human Cultivators..."


    "So you think I should just ignore Yan¡¯er?" The Jiao Dragon Demon King¡¯s icy eyes nted toward Jiao Lao.


    Jiao Lao quickly bowed his head, "I wouldn¡¯t dare!"


    "And the Human Cultivator who brought Yan¡¯er¡¯s Dragon Sinew? You didn¡¯t let him go, did you?"


    "Of course not," Jiao Lao quickly answered, "It¡¯s just that..."


    "It¡¯s just what?"


    "The one who brought the Lord¡¯s Dragon Sinew was but a puppet fashioned by a Human Artifact Refiner. Although we managed to capture it, we couldn¡¯t get any information out of it," Jiao Lao exined.


    "Good, good, worthy indeed of someone who¡¯d dare harm Yan¡¯er. How thorough they are," the Jiao Dragon Demon King said with augh that contained no anger, "Since they wish to lure me to the ind, I shallply with their wishes. I¡¯d like to see just how big the appetite of these Human underlings is, and how they n to swallow me!"


    "Jiao Lao!" The Jiao Dragon Demon King roared.


    "I am here."


    "Assemble the n¡¯s warriors¡ªwe¡¯re heading to Jiaolong Ind together!"


    "As youmand," Jiao Lao acknowledged.


    Although the Jiao Dragon Demon King prided himself on his unparalleled strength, he was inherently cautious and cunning. Unlike Jiao Yan, he did not choose to go to Jiaolong Ind alone.


    After all, how many of those who could rise to be Great Demon Kings were fools?


    ...


    Shortly after.


    At the bottom of the sea, outside the cave, massive waves of light parted the waters.


    The mighty Jiao n assembled, and leading the massive army of Jiao beasts was the towering, immense figure of the Jiao Dragon Demon King.


    ```


    ```


    Jiao Lao stepped out of the cave and approached the Jiaolong Demon King, reporting, "Demon King, most of our n¡¯s strongest warriors are here, totaling five hundred battle generals."


    These five hundred Jiao beasts represented the strongestbat power that the Jiao n could muster.


    With a booming voice, the Jiaolong Demon King dered, "More than two hundred years have passed since Ist visited Jiaolong Ind, and it seems the Human Race has forgotten the might of our n. It looks like I was too merciful back then. This time, I shall lead you to tten Jiaolong Ind and give the Human Race a bloody lesson."


    Moo! Moo! Moo! Moo! Moo!


    The Jiao beasts were brimming with fighting spirit, all of them roaring in response. Their voices melded into one, shaking the waters outside the light waves into rising billows.


    "Follow me, we will retrieve my son and tten the Human Race!"


    The Jiaolong Demon King let out a fierce shout.


    Afterward, the Jiaolong Demon King burst forth through the sea, countless droplets showering down from his powerful and awe-inspiringly beautiful Jiao body.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Following behind the Jiaolong Demon King was Jiao Lao. Then came more than twenty Third Grade Jiao beasts, andstly, hundreds of Second Grade Jiao beasts. The calm of the sea domain was instantly shattered by the grandmotion of the Jiao n, with waves rising and a mist filling the air, where a faint rainbow light could be seen.


    The scene and the momentum were truly magnificent.


    ...


    "Sword Master, no more than half an hour after we delivered Jiao Yan¡¯s dragon sinews, the Jiaolong Demon King has already set out, apanied by five hundred Jiao beasts with a mighty approach!"


    Inside the grand hall of the Sea God Sect, all the high-ranking cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber were present, the atmosphere extremely tense. The cultivator Tong Zheng stepped forward to report thetest intelligence to the Sword Master.


    "Notify Mo Yan to start taking action on his side," the Sword Master said with a grave expression. "As for us here, we¡¯ve prepared everything we can. Whether we seed or fail, it all depends on Heaven¡¯s Mandate now."


    "What of failure? I consider it a great honor to join this endeavor with all of you, and to meet death together in the end!" Seeing the heavy and even somewhat pessimistic mood of the crowd, the eldest of the Lian Yun trio from Lian State was the first to stand, his face full of determination, "A life cowering in servitude to the Jiao n as their dogs is no different from death itself!"


    "Big brother is right," Lian Cheng and Lian Jun immediately chimed in, "We wish to join this endeavor with everyone!"


    "Well said, it¡¯s just a life to lose! The Jiao n destroyed our sect, killed our kin, and tormented our Human Race. If we don¡¯t avenge this grievance, we will never be able to move past this grudge in our lives, let alone talk about cultivation!"


    "Yes, it¡¯s just a measly life. In a hundred and eighty years, we will be vigorous men again!"


    "..."


    The Dragon ying Saber cultivators, who had initially harbored panic and concern, were instantly roused by the Lian Yun trio¡¯s provocation. Their gloom was swept away as they all roared in agreement.


    @@novelbin@@


    Seeing everyone¡¯s fighting spirit soar, the Sword Master felt a surge of boldness swell in his chest, "Good, then let¡¯s take Jiao Yan with us and set off immediately!"


    ...


    Wood Carving Shop.


    Lu Qingshan returned here once again after a day¡¯s absence.


    However, seeing the situation in the wood carving shop, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    A girl who appeared quirky and spirited was holding a wood carving in the shop, looking utterly fascinated by it, as if lost in her own world, deep in thought.


    "What are you doing?"


    Zang Xiaojian, engrossed in the wood carving, hadn¡¯t initially noticed Lu Qingshan¡¯s arrival. Upon hearing the familiar voice, she swiftly turned her head to see Lu Qingshan standing at the doorway, smiling and watching her obliquely.


    The girl¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. She put down the wood carving and was about to speak, but suddenly remembering something, her nose twitched slightly, and she straightened her face, saying, "It¡¯s a secret, I can¡¯t tell you!"


    Priorities being priorities, Zang Xiaojian understood that Lu Qingshan¡¯s decision to part ways with her the day before was reasonable, but that didn¡¯t prevent the slight indignation in her heart.


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    Lu Qingshan just shrugged his shoulders and leisurely stepped into the wood carving shop.


    His gaze swept around the shop and he noticed Xue Zhuyong lying on a rattan chair, reeking of alcohol. His hands hung loosely, the right hand still clutching a wine jug, his eyes half-closed, muttering deliriously as if he hadn¡¯t yet woken up. He was either unaware of Lu Qingshan¡¯s arrival or toozy to care.


    The Three-feet Edge hung on the wall as regally as the day before.


    Though Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian had initiallye for the Three-feet Edge, they were now, with exceptional tacit understanding, ignoring itpletely, their attention instead focused on the wood carvings disyed around the shop.


    ```

 Chapter 165 - 34 Meeting

    Zang Xiaojian noticed that after Lu Qingshan had entered the wooden sculpture shop, he began to look at the wooden carvings attentively, pondering something to himself.


    Suddenly, she recalled Lu Qingshan¡¯s special attention to the wooden carvings yesterday. If she hadn¡¯t mimicked his actions and taken a wooden sculpture when leaving the shop, she wouldn¡¯t have found the secret hidden within the carvings.


    She restrained herself for a long time but finally couldn¡¯t hold back. Throwing aside her intent to ignore Lu Qingshan for a while, she leaned closer and asked softly, "Lu Qingshan, did you also discover¡­"


    "Fellow cultivator Lu, Fellow cultivator Zang." A very gentle voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Zang Xiaojian before she could finish.


    "How did you get here?" Zang Xiaojian turned and looked at the speaker with extreme surprise.


    In the small wooden sculpture shop, a third visitor had arrived.


    Mo Yan.


    Looking at Mo Yan¡¯s very familiar face, Lu Qingshan also covertly nced at Xue Zhuyong who seemed to still be sleeping on the rattan chair, his mind abuzz with thoughts.


    This should be the first meeting between these two who were supposed to be very close.


    However, clearly, at this moment, neither of them was aware of the bond between them.


    ...


    "Master Mo, what urgent matter brings you to us?" Lu Qingshan asked unhurriedly.


    People don¡¯t visit without a reason. Mo Yaning here definitely meant something was up.


    Mo Yan looked around and, noticing Xue Zhuyong resting on the rattan chair, said without much thought, "Let¡¯s talk outside, shall we?"


    Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian followed Mo Yan, leaving the wooden sculpture shop.


    "The Jiaolong Demon King, along with five hundred Jiao Beasts, is already heading straight for Jiaolong Ind; they are currently en route," Mo Yan began explosively.


    Lu Qingshan frowned slightly, "Have you started to act?"


    Mo Yan nodded, acknowledging, "Yes, but as you might expect, we also aren¡¯t very confident.


    So, besides the nning against the Jiaolong Demon King, we also have an additional n."


    Lu Qingshan nodded in understanding. "Is this why you havee to find us?"


    "Exactly," Mo Yan exined in detail, "The Jiaolong Demon King wants to break into the Fifth Grade and transform into a dragon.


    But as we know, transforming into a dragon isn¡¯t that easy, even with the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s bloodline, the chances of sessfully transforming are not high."


    "The Jiaolong Demon King is well aware of this. Thus, he has gathered many rare spirit materials in hisir to construct a Dragon Transformation Pool to aid in his transformation."


    "Are you nning to strike at the Dragon Transformation Pool?" Zang Xiaojian had also grasped Mo Yan¡¯s intent at this point.


    "Correct, this time we have prepared on two fronts," Mo Yan nodded, admitting, "On one hand, our Great Cultivator with the Dragon ying Saber will confront the Jiaolong Demon King, trying to y the vile Jiao.


    On the other, while the Jiaolong Demon King leads most of the Jiao Beasts away from the Hidden Reef Domain, we¡¯ll send someone to sneak into hisir and destroy the Dragon Transformation Pool."


    "By then, if we fail on the front lines with the Dragon ying Saber, at least we could hope that the Jiaolong Demon King, having lost the aid of the Dragon Transformation Pool, would fail to transform and perish on his own."


    "Of course, this is the most helpless and passive option, but as things stand, we won¡¯t give up any viable options," Mo Yan said with a firm gaze.


    "So, what do you need us for?"


    @@novelbin@@


    "Although the Jiaolong Demon King has taken most of the Jiao Beasts away from theirir, there are still hundreds of Jiao Beasts circling in the Jiao n sea domain.


    All our Golden Core Cultivators from the Dragon ying Saber are currently gathered on the front lines, so we can¡¯t muster anybat power above the Foundation Establishment level at the Dragon Transformation Pool.


    In such a situation, we have no choice but to opt for an undercover mission, diving deep into Dragon Pool to destroy the Dragon Transformation Pool.


    "Such undercover operations require quality over quantity, and having too many people could actuallyplicate things," Mo Yan paused, then exined, "As the strongest Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the Dragon ying Saber, I am responsible for dealing with the Dragon Transformation Pool."


    "My original intention was to go alone, but the Jiao n¡¯s habitat is vast, and I¡¯m not confident I couldplete the mission quickly.


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    Lately, I thought of you. When you ambushed the Golden Core Cultivators of the Sea God Sect, you all demonstratedbat power far beyond ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators, so I want to invite you to explore Dragon Pool with me."


    "Of course, this endeavor is not without risk, but first, I will provide magical artifacts to conceal our aura, to minimize the risks as much as possible." Mo Yan took out two green jade pendants from his storage ring and handed them to Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian.


    "These are Hidden Spirit Pendants, Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts. These artifacts can erase the aura of Foundation Establishment Cultivatorspletely. However, they are not capable of concealing Golden Core Cultivators, whose aura is too strong. This is also one of the reasons this operation is primarily for Foundation Establishment Cultivators," Mo Yan exined.


    Zang Xiaojian, intrigued, took the Hidden Spirit Pendant from Mo Yan and channeled some Spiritual Power onto the pendant. A transparent ripple immediately emanated from the pendant, quickly enveloping Zang Xiaojian¡¯s entire body.


    Lu Qingshan released his Divine Sense and scanned Zang Xiaojian.


    Even though Zang Xiaojian was right before his eyes, in his Divine Sense perception, the ce where Zang Xiaojian stood appearedpletely empty.


    "Excellent artifact!" Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but praise.


    Mo Yan humbly replied, "Lu fellow cultivator tters me. While it does deserve some praise for its ability to hide aura, it is still quite limited and only suitable for Foundation Establishment Cultivators."


    "Did you craft this artifact?" Zang Xiaojian, holding the Hidden Spirit Pendant, shook it towards Mo Yan.


    Mo Yan nodded slightly, then said, "If you are willing to apany me to Dragon Pool, first and foremost, I won¡¯t take back these Hidden Spirit Pendants. Additionally, I will pay arge sum of Spirit Stones aspensation for your assistance.


    Lastly, whether we seed in our mission or not, once a day has passed, you can immediately withdraw from the Jiao n sea domain. I absolutely won¡¯t let you face the risk of encountering the Jiaolong Demon King. What do you think?"


    As soon as Mo Yan finished speaking, an excited sparkle immediately shed in Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes.


    An adventure into Dragon Pool was extremely attractive to a young girl new to the world.


    However, despite her excitement, Zang Xiaojian didn¡¯t immediately agree to Mo Yan¡¯s invitation but instead looked expectantly at Lu Qingshan.


    She didn¡¯t know why, but she truly felt that if Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t go, she wouldn¡¯t either.


    Lu Qingshan nced at Zang Xiaojian, whose face all but screamed "Let¡¯s go!" He rubbed his forehead somewhat helplessly, pondered for a moment, weighed the pros and cons, and eventually epted Mo Yan¡¯s invitation, "Then Zang Xiaojian and I will join you on this trip."


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan had agreed, Zang Xiaojian immediately began rubbing her hands together excitedly, "So when do we set off?"


    Mo Yan said gravely, "Now."

 Chapter 166 - 35 Dragon Pool

    Waves of blue, spiritual light twinkling, several figures gradually emerged within this tranquil seabed.


    It was Lu Qingshan, Zang Xiaojian, Mo Yan... and a rat, who had swiftly arrived near the Hidden Reef Domain through the Teleportation Array set up by the Dragon ying Saber from Jiaolong Ind.


    Though the Rat King¡¯s ability in head-onbat was virtually nil, he excelled in skills such as sneaking and tracking, making him the ancestor of the three present in such sneaky matters.


    In this aspect of talent, not even the three of thembined could match up to him, and the ability to conceal his aura from his bloodline awakening was far superior to that of the Hidden Spirit Pendant.


    Thus, when faced with the Rat King¡¯s adamant refusal using fear of water as an excuse, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t hesitate to pull out three Blood Spirit Beads to entice him, smoothly oveing the Rat King¡¯s fear and disgust of water, persuading him to follow along.


    However, after several uses of Blood Spirit Beads as incentives, Lu Qingshan found that the beads in his possession were dwindling, which left him somewhat mncholic.


    ¡ªWithout the Blood Spirit Beads, the Rat King would not be so easily fooled.


    After stabilizing his form, Lu Qingshan¡¯s first reaction was to quickly survey his surroundings.


    This teleportation array was cleverly hidden inside a cave formed by strange rocks on the seabed, shielded from water by a Water-Repelling Pearl and concealed by an Illusion Array¡ªclearly a meticulously arranged setup.


    "We are only fifty miles away from the Jiao n¡¯s Hidden Reef Domain," seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s caution, Mo Yan took the initiative to exin their current location, openly and honestly, "The Teleportation Array is one of the greatest assets of my Dragon ying Saber."


    The construction of a Teleportation Array has always been a high-level secret technique.


    Only a few sects and powers have had the capability to possess such a method, yet a small Dragon ying Saber was capable of constructing a Teleportation Array. Even though it was a small one with extremely limited distance and capacity, it indeed deserved some praise.


    "Water-Repelling Pearls." Mo Yan tossed a blue spiritual pearl to each of them, including the Rat King, who was so pleased that the tuft of red hair on his head even perked up.


    With the water repelled by the Water-Repelling Pearls, the three rushed towards the Jiao n¡¯s territory under Mo Yan¡¯s guidance.


    A momentter.


    "Is this the territory of the Jiao n?" Zang Xiaojian gazed at the scene before him, feeling somewhat dazzled.


    Even Lu Qingshan was slightly startled by the beauty before him.


    Numerous towering crimson water lilies were blooming and growing on the seabed of this domain.


    With the surging undercurrents at the seabed, the water lilies¡¯ roots slightly swayed, causing the uppermost lilies to dance as well, resembling butterflies fluttering,bining to appear like a continuous, passionate sea of fire burning on the seabed.


    And within this dazzling, bright sea of lilies, there was a giant cave entrance that appeared now and then.


    "Through that cave entrance is the Jiao n¡¯s dwelling ce, which the n calls the Dragon Pool," Mo Yan pointed at the cave entrance and transmitted his voice.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Dragon Pool, quite the grand name for just a few small Jiao, isn¡¯t it?" The Rat King was the first to speak disdainfully.


    Mo Yan shook his head, "The name Dragon Pool does hold some reason behind it, though it¡¯s not because of these Jiao n members."


    "Initially, the Jiao n¡¯s territory was not located here, but was discovered by the Jiaolong Demon King by chance.


    The Jiaolong Demon King, driven by curiosity, decided to explore this cave.


    Unexpectedly, once he entered, he found that for some reason, there was a very faint Dragon Breath permeating throughout the cave."


    "Dragon Breath?!" Lu Qingshan frowned.


    True Dragons held one of the most revered bloodlines among Demon Beasts, anything remotely rted to True Dragons often saw its value skyrocket tremendously.


    "Yes, Dragon Breath," Mo Yan spread his hands, "The Jiao n inherently harbors a very weak Dragon n bloodline, and living in a ce imbued with Dragon Breath could potentially stimte the awakening of their Dragon n bloodline.


    Since then, the Jiao n moved their dwelling to this ce.


    The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s awakening of part of the Dragon n bloodline was due to the Dragon Breath in the Dragon Pool, thereby achieving his current Fourth Grade Cultivation.


    And for the Jiao n, it was also because of the Dragon Pool that they gradually grew stronger and ultimately became a dominant Demon n in the nearby seas."


    "Dragon Breath does not appear without a source," Lu Qingshan was not too concerned with the rise of the Jiao n, but directly addressed the core issue.


    "The Jiaolong Demon King thought the same, but as he ruled over the entire Jiao n, he turned the Dragon Pool inside out, top to bottom, for thousands of years, and ultimately failed to find the source of the Dragon Breath. This matter eventually fizzled out." Mo Yan gratefully said, "Fortunately, the Jiaolong Demon King found nothing.


    Had he really found the spiritual object that produced the Dragon Breath, our Human Race would have had no room to struggle."


    Lu Qingshan was silent, but his mind became increasingly interested in this Dragon Pool.


    Zang Xiaojian didn¡¯t care about the so-called Dragon Breath and asked with a pout, "There are guards by the entrance, how are we supposed to get in without making a sound?"


    At the entrance of Dragon Pool, there were two Second Grade Jiao Beasts on guard.


    Killing them was not difficult, but Zang Xiaojian also understood that once they engaged them, it would be difficult to deceive the rest of the Jiao n, and then their movements in the cave would be extremely challenging.


    Mo Yan confidently said, "This is not difficult, we just need to lure the tiger away from the mountain. My Dragon ying Saber has been quite active in the Jiao n territory these past few days, which hasid a foundation for our actions today. These Jiao Beasts are surely still on edge and won¡¯t be hard to deceive."


    After saying this, Mo Yan immediately took out an extremely small puppet in the shape of a lion beast from his Storage Ring. Explore more stories at empire


    "Go." Mo Yanmanded softly, maneuvering the lion beast puppet to swim in the sea.


    The speed of the lion beast puppet was incredibly fast, and in a few moments, it reached the surface of the sea, burst forth violently, and flew into the sky.


    "The lion beast puppet has nobat ability, but it can emit extremely loud thunderous roars," Mo Yan mentioned with pursed lips. "It¡¯s a little toy I forged during my leisure time for amusement."


    Boom, boom, boom!


    A deafening thunderous roar exploded above them.


    The three carefully concealed individuals intently watched as the Jiao Beasts guarding the cave entrance moaned and swam out towards the surface to inspect the situation.


    "These big foolish creatures, all brawn and no brains, were deceived so easily?" Lord Xi Mouse couldn¡¯t help but unleash a sharp tongue.


    In fact, this was a fairly normal scenario.


    The intelligence of Jiao Beasts was not very high.


    And over these two days, there had been two major disturbances in the territory of the Jiao n.


    The first disturbance had caused Lord Jiao Yan to furiously leave the Dragon Pool.


    The second disturbance led their king to lead five hundred Jiao Beasts to march towards Jiaolong Ind.


    Now, hearing such arge disturbance again, the Jiao Beasts were naturally very anxious, fearing another major event, and hurried to check the situation without dy.


    "Let¡¯s go, into the Dragon Pool." Seeing the Jiao Beasts guarding the entrance of the Dragon Pool leave, Mo Yan spoke, not wanting to waste any time, and immediately dashed out as swiftly as a swordfish, moving towards the Dragon Pool.


    Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian followed suit.


    The three of them jumped into the vast entrance of the Dragon Pool, one after another.


    It was like the Water Curtain Cave ¡ª the interior of Dragon Pool was a world of its own.


    From the outside, the entrance to Dragon Pool looked as dark and ominous as the gaping maw of an ancient behemoth, yet the environment inside was unexpectedly bright and spacious.


    The most peculiar aspect was the absence of any seawater inside Dragon Pool.


    Only the air, filled with an extremely rich Water Element Spiritual Qi, proved that this was indeed under the sea.


    An extremely oppressive and forceful breath greeted the three as soon as they entered the Dragon Pool. Fortunately, this breath was very weak and had little impact on them.


    It was Lord Xi Mouse who suffered a great deal under this presence, starting to tremble all over.


    The suppression between the bloodlines of Demon Beasts has always been quite severe.


    "This is the Dragon Breath," Mo Yan said with some concern, frowning. "Lu, can your Spirit Beast hold on? If it can¡¯t, it would be best to keep him in the Spirit Beast Bag."


    "Pah, don¡¯t listen to him," Lord Xi Mouse, with a quivering tooth, struggled to calm his voice and stubbornly said, "Lu Qingshan, I¡¯m perfectly fine. Lord Mouse won¡¯t be affected by a mere Dragon Breath!"

 Chapter 167 - 36 Awakening

    Seeing the usually obedient Rat King behaving so stubbornly, Lu Qingshan let it have its way and didn¡¯t return it to the Spirit Beast Bag.


    Being tempered under the pressure of the Dragon Breath was indeed a good thing for the Rat King; it was an excellent opportunity to strengthen its courage.


    ...


    Before the trioid a nearly vertical passageway leading downward.


    "Beyond this passageway, we should truly be entering the interior of the Dragon Pool," Mo Yan said gravely, "There¡¯s no time to waste, I¡¯ll take the lead."


    Mo Yan leaped decisively, transforming into an Escaping Light, and was the first to move downwards.


    Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian naturally did notg behind, following close behind, the three of them plummeted downward like shooting stars, heading deeper into the Dragon Pool.


    They could clearly feel that the further down they went, the more intense the pressure from the Dragon Breath became.


    It also indicated that they were getting closer and closer to the source of the Dragon Breath that the Jiao n had been desperately seeking.


    Stay tuned to empire


    It¡¯s worth mentioning that the Rat King, which initially trembled and could not stabilize its form due to the pressure of the Dragon Breath and clung to Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder, contrary to expectations, gradually adapted and calmed down as the pressure of the Dragon Breath increased.


    This coward really does have quite the potential.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    The trio descended around twenty breaths¡¯ time, and the vertical passageway turned into a slope, a change that didn¡¯t affect Lu Qingshan and the others; they continued without pause.


    As they moved forward, the angle of the slope became smaller and smaller, until atst, the slope leveled out into a t road, and the true appearance of the Dragon Pool unfolded before their eyes.


    It resembled a vast continent hidden beneath the sea, with rolling hills and ins, and a variety ofndscapes intermingling, stretching far beyond sight.


    On both sides of the continent stood colossal and curiously shaped cliff walls peppered with countless holes.


    The Jiao n favored darkness and moisture, and those holes were their dwellings.


    Whew!


    A very faint breeze brushed against Lu Qingshan¡¯s face.


    "This ce is indeed somewhat extraordinary," Lu Qingshan whispered.


    Where could the wind being from underwater?


    And what colossal force could create such and without water on the ocean floor?


    These remained mysteries.


    But right now, Lu Qingshan, Zang Xiaojian, and Mo Yan didn¡¯t have the luxury to solve these riddles; under the protection of the hidden Spirit tokens, they carefully concealed their forms.


    Mo Yan, like a treasure trove, took out three cloak Magic Artifacts from his Storage Ring and distributed one to each.


    The trio clung to the rock wall, and the moment they draped the giant cloaks over them, they immediately took on the same color as the wall. From a distance, the three wrapped in cloaks merged seamlessly with the rock wall, like strange protruding stones.


    Without close inspection, it would be impossible to detect their disguise.


    Although they dared not fly, the trio moved very quickly.


    Time was of the essence for them, for they needed to find the Dragon Transformation Pool established by the Jiaolong Demon King as quickly as possible!


    The Dragon Pool was vast, and despite the hundreds of Jiao Beasts still circling around, it was only after traveling several miles that Lu Qingshan and the others saw their first Jiao Beast.


    It was a Third Grade Jiao Beast, but its age seemed quite advanced, close to the end of its life, appearing very decrepit.


    The old Jiao flew over their heads leisurely, entering a cave in the rock wall, and failed to notice the three concealed within it.


    For the first time in a thousand years, Human Cultivators had entered the Dragon Pool.


    A thousand years of peace had numbed the vignce of these Jiao Beasts.


    However, due to the unfamiliarity with the area, everything was a challenge for Lu Qingshan and the others, akin to feeling the stones to cross the river.


    After a short while.


    Lu Qingshan stopped, furrowed his brow, and said softly, "This won¡¯t do, the Dragon Pool is far bigger than we imagined.


    If we continue to scurry around like headless flies, the chances of finding the Dragon Transformation Pool are very slim."


    Mo Yan too realized this problem, "You make a sound point."


    "How about," Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes twinkled as a n formed in his mind, and he made a throat-slitting gesture to the others, "we catch a Jiao Beast and interrogate it thoroughly about the Dragon Pool?"


    Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan exchanged a look and surprisingly nodded in perfect sync, "That¡¯s feasible."


    ...


    They retraced their steps following the way they came.


    First and Second Grade Jiao Beasts were at the bottom of the Jiao n hierarchy and couldn¡¯t provide valuable information; capturing them would be pointless.


    To truly uncover the secrets of the Dragon Pool, they needed to target a Third Grade Jiao Beast; only then would they find sess.


    Third Grade Jiao Beasts corresponded to Human Cultivators at the Golden Core Stage.


    Lu Qingshan, Zang Xiaojian, and Mo Yan, when joining forces, certainly had some confidence in capturing a Third Grade Jiao Beast just entering its rank.


    However, they must keep in mind that they were in the territory of the Jiao n, and if they made too much noise or took too long, they could very likely attract other Jiao Beasts.


    If they were surrounded by numerous Jiao Beasts, the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, no matter how against the heavens they were, would also find themselves without recourse.


    To avoid causing a disturbance and to swiftly capture a Third Grade Jiao Beast, the most rational and optimal choice was to pick the softest persimmon to squeeze.


    And the aged Third Grade Jiao Beast they had just encountered seemed to be as soft as they could get.


    They also happened to know the location of its cave.


    With the time and ce to their advantage, it was only a pity for the old Jiao, whose fate had turned sour, as it seemed unlikely to enjoy its twilight years in peace.


    In front of the old Jiao¡¯s cave, Mo Yan first carefully observed the surroundings, ensuring there were no other Jiao Beasts wandering nearby, then immediately spat out a Spiritual Pearl from his mouth.


    The Spiritual Pearl was crystal clear, the same Magic Artifact Mo Yan had used when ambushing the cultivators of the Sea God Sect days ago.


    Above the Spiritual Pearl, five-colored Radiance quickly rippled out, enveloping the cave.


    "This Magic Artifact can shield all noise and presence for a moment, let¡¯s move quickly!" Mo Yan urged, his voice urgent.


    All three figures dashed into the cave sessively, without regard for order.


    An old Jiao coiled in the cave, looking at the three invaders with sheer bewilderment.


    The old Jiao¡¯s already somewhat sluggish mind didn¡¯t react at first, just instinctively astonished.


    Human Cultivators in the Dragon Pool, from whence did theye?


    Mo Yan¡¯s left hand suddenly condensed a deep blue me, while his right hand ignited a zing red me.


    Netherfire Red Lotus and... Cold Spirit Fire.


    In just a few short days, Mo Yan had already refined the Cold Spirit Fire and could use it with ease!


    The might of Incinerate Body was beginning to show.


    The two bundles of Netherfire tumbled in Mo Yan¡¯s hands, their intense heat making the space around them seem almost illusory.


    With a fierce push of his hands, the two tumultuous and fierce Netherfires shot towards the old Jiao with the speed of thunder.


    Whoosh!


    Quicker than Mo Yan¡¯s Netherfire was Zang Xiaojian¡¯s Flying Sword, which was nearing the firstyer of the Flying Sword realm: sound speed.


    Zang Xiaojian¡¯s Flying Sword assaulted powerfully and furiously, striking directly at the spine of the old Jiao.


    Boom!


    The intense collision generated a visible shockwave, radiating outwards in all directions.


    With age, the body the old Jiao had once taken pride in had also weakened substantially, and under the attack of Zang Xiaojian¡¯s Flying Sword, a wide gash now appeared on its back.


    This injury and pain finally brought the old Jiao to its senses.


    The old Jiao¡¯s somewhat murky eyes stared directly at the two approaching bundles of Netherfire.


    Bellow!


    With a roar, the old Jiao spit out a thick water column from its mouth, hoping to extinguish the two bundles of Netherfire.


    But it was useless!


    Under the power of the Netherfire, the water column burned and evaporated into steam, filling the cave with rolling mist.


    Having burnt the water column to nothing, the two bundles of Netherfire, still mighty, crashed onto the old Jiao¡¯s body.


    Sizzle!


    There was a piercing sound of flesh roasting, and on the old Jiao¡¯s ten-foot-long body, two hideously charred wounds appeared; with the burnt skin around them as contrast, the inner flesh appeared especially bright red.


    At that moment, using the Formless Sword Escape, Lu Qingshan had already moved beside the old Jiao.


    Spiritual Power transformed into rampant Sword Qi, enveloping the Peach Wood Sword and striking heavily on therge gash created by Zang Xiaojian¡¯s previous attack.


    Rip.


    The gash expanded into a very long wound, through which the old Jiao¡¯s vertebrae were faintly visible.


    ......


    In a secluded and deep part of the Dragon Pool, a ce unvisited by anyone,


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    The moment Lu Qingshan employed the Formless Sword Escape, a pair ofcquer-like eyes slowly opened, flickering with a bright and resplendent light, like the stars in the sky.


    "This aura, it seems to be..." A whisperden with surprise resonated through this hidden ce for a moment.


    Afterward, the secret location returned to calmness, and moreover,pared to before, it seemed to have lost something...

 Chapter 168 - 37 Qin Yitian

    Inside the Jiao Beast¡¯s cave.


    The aged Jiao Beast, now covered in numerous fine sword cuts and scorched burns,y t on the ground, its breath weak.


    With thebined efforts of three, it took only about five breaths of time to subdue the old Jiao.


    Mo Yan¡¯s left hand burned with Cold Spirit Netherfire, pressed very close to the abdomen of the old Jiao. The terrifying temperature from the Netherfire made the Jiao Beast instinctively twist its body.


    "Where in the Dragon Pool is the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯sir located?" Mo Yan¡¯s voice was extremely cold.


    The old Jiao didn¡¯t respond at first.


    Mo Yan did not ask a second time. His gaze turned icy, and he pressed his left hand with the Netherfire directly onto the abdomen of the old Jiao.


    Sizzle sizzle sizzle!


    The sound of burning was harsh, and instantly, a charred hole appeared on the belly of the old Jiao.


    The intense pain from the wound made the old Jiao cry out miserably.


    Moo! Moo! Moo!


    The old Jiao called out weakly.


    "It says it holds no high position and has never met the king, so it is not very clear about the specific location of the king¡¯sir, but it knows the general direction," King Xi Rat voluntarily took on the role of trantor.


    Such were the Demon Beasts. For them, thew of the survival of the fittest has always prevailed¡ªbeasts not imbued with human intellect hardly held any concept of loyalty, or rather, they were only loyal to the strong, only to power.


    Thus, with just a little coercion, the old Jiao began to confess without any moral constraints.


    Whoosh!


    Mo Yan withdrew the Netherfire in his hand, staring at the dimmed eyes of the old Jiao, and coldly inquired, "Which specific direction is it?"


    Moo¡ª


    The old Jiao responded.


    Having obtained the answer, a glint of cold light shed in Mo Yan¡¯s eyes, and without further mercy, he waved his left hand, and the Cold Spirit Fire burned the old Jiao to ashes.


    There was no mercy for a Jiao Beast.


    "Let¡¯s go, now that we have a general direction, we¡¯ll follow it," Mo Yan decided.


    ...


    Following the direction indicated by the old Jiao, the three walked for a long time. Along the way, they encountered more Jiao Beasts, but thanks to the Cloak Illusion Techniques and the Concealment Artifact, their journey was not hindered at all.


    About half an hourter, Lu Qingshan and hispanions finally stopped their footsteps again.


    Because a fork with two paths appeared on the road ahead.


    Both forks extended very long and were extremely winding, leading to unknown destinations.


    Mo Yan furrowed his brows.


    "Lu Qingshan, what should we do now?" Zang Xiaojian looked at Lu Qingshan expectantly.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyelids tightened as he fell into thought.


    This was not an easy situation. Did they need to capture another Jiao Beast for interrogation?


    ...


    "Are the three of you encountering some difficulty?" A very cold female voice suddenly sounded, startling Lu Qingshan and hispanions.


    Lu Qingshan slightly raised his head, only to see that at the fork junction, which had been empty just moments ago, a woman had appeared.


    The woman faced a flowering tree at the fork, her figure slender, dressed in a light and flowing ancient pce dress. The fiery red hem of her dress was hot as me, billowing without wind, creating gentle ripples.


    Her long hair fell from her shoulders to her back, gently tied with a silver ribbon, with a misty halo around her, her demeanor ethereal, not of this earthly realm.


    "Who are you?" Mo Yan¡¯s entire body tensed up, his guard shot up, and he asked warily.


    @@novelbin@@


    It was no wonder Mo Yan was so sensitive.


    In the Dragon Pool dominated by Jiao Beasts, encountering such a woman was too eerie, stirring suspicion and rm.


    The woman turned around, and her extremely beautiful face entered the view of the trio.


    Her face was as refined as cream, her eyes dark ascquer, her appearance striking like exquisite jade, her presence radiantly beautiful, her figure grace personified like the willow in the spring moonlight.


    "Hmm, you may call me... Qin Yitian," the woman¡¯s voice was very gentle.


    Stay connected through empire


    "Fellow Daoist Lu, something is off about this woman," Mo Yan quietly sent a message, simultaneously bowing his fists toward Qin Yitian in a probing manner, "I am Mo Yan, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet Miss Qin. May I know who you are, Miss Qin, and why you are here?"


    Qin Yitian gave a slight bow to Mo Yan but did not answer his question immediately. Instead, her phoenix-like eyes turned to Lu Qingshan, who had yet to speak, her gaze lingering as she asked, "How might I address you?"


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and although he was surprised, he swiftly responded, "Lu Qingshan."


    "My name is Zang Xiaojian." Standing beside Lu Qingshan, Zang Xiaojian, with eyes shining bright, leaned in and introduced himself voluntarily.


    Qin Yitian nodded slightly, signaling that he understood, and then asked again, "It looks like you are searching for something? Perhaps I can offer some help... I am quite familiar with this ce."


    This time, it was a formal inquiry.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he solemnly said, "We are Human Cultivators because the Jiao n has beenmitting evils in the Human Race¡¯s territory, so we havee here to look for their of the Jiaolong Demon King and create some trouble for him.


    However, the area is veryrge, with many forks and treacherous terrains, leaving us clueless for the time being."


    Qin Yitian thought for a moment and murmured softly, "Jiaolong Demon King, you must be referring to that little snake..."


    "What did you say?" Lu Qingshan faintly heard Qin Yitian¡¯s muttering.


    "Nothing," Qin Yitian shook his head and said, "I think I know where the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯sir is, but the terrain here is too treacherous to describe, so maybe I should lead you there."


    Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment and then nodded in agreement, saying, "Then we shall trouble Miss Qin."


    Qin Yitian nodded slightly, "Hmm, it¡¯s no trouble. Let us go then."


    Qin Yitian was very straightforward, without any further words or dy, and turned to lead the way ahead.


    "Ah, wait a moment." Lu Qingshan called out to Qin Yitian.


    The woman turned around, her face showing confusion, "What is it?"


    "There are Jiao Beasts lingering around here, and if our tracks are discovered by the Jiao n, it could be troublesome," Lu Qingshan pointed at the red pce dress Qin Yitian was wearing, "Your clothing is too conspicuous."


    "I see," Qin Yitian furrowed her brows slightly, somewhat troubled, "But this is the only outfit I have..."


    Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan then noticed that on her slender, fair fingers, there was nothing at all, without even a Storage Ring.


    Lu Qingshan thought for a moment and finally took off his own Concealment Amulet and Cloak Artifact and handed them to Qin Yitian, "Then I¡¯ll lend you mine for now, otherwise, with your appearance, it really is quite conspicuous."


    Qin Yitian was startled, then dly epted the Concealment Amulet and Cloak Artifact, expressing her thanks with a bow, "Then I thank Young Master Lu in advance."


    "Lu Qingshan," Mo Yan, standing to the side, looked at Lu Qingshan, who seemed to have changed his demeanor since seeing Qin Yitian, and hesitated before finally, with a somewhat helpless air, took out another greenish jade amulet and cloak artifact from his Storage Ring and handed it to Lu Qingshan, saying, "For safety¡¯s sake, I prepared an extra set as a backup...."


    "Master Mo truly thinks of everything." Lu Qingshan praised, happily epting the Concealment Amulet and the artifact cloak.


    The trio expanded into a group of four, with Qin Yitian now taking the lead. Under her guidance, they moved quickly.


    "I think with Brother Lu¡¯s discernment, you must understand that this Miss Qin, both in terms of identity and actions, is very enigmatic, and her appearance was extremely sudden, without any rationale.


    Why then do you trust her so much? Is there some detail I missed?" Lu Qingshan suddenly received a transmission from Mo Yan asking.


    Mo Yan was indeed very puzzled and worried; in his view, someone like Lu Qingshan would never trust a strange woman so easily, especially in such a crucial matter.


    If this Miss Qin were to intentionally lure them into a trap, what then?


    "If she intended harm against us, she needn¡¯t contact us at all, she could just lead the Jiao n straight to us, no need for such convolutions..." As Lu Qingshan spoke, he suddenly stopped, sinking into thought.


    Yes, no matter what, that doesn¡¯t justify trusting a stranger so easily?


    Especially in such a perilous and vignt time.


    What is happening to me? Am I confused?


    Lu Qingshan was utterly baffled.


    "Zang Xiaojian, why are you so close to Miss Qin?" Lu Qingshan, troubled, unable to find a reasonable exnation, transmitted his question to Zang Xiaojian.


    He could tell that the young girl was also extremely enthusiastic toward Qin Yitian, so perhaps listening to Zang Xiaojian¡¯s thoughts might enlighten him as well.


    Zang Xiaojian blinked, a bit startled, and naturally transmitted back, "It¡¯s just a gut feeling, my instinct tells me she has no malice towards us.


    Moreover, besides that, there¡¯s a very strange feeling lingering about her, how should I describe it..."


    Zang Xiaojian pondered for a moment and finally found an appropriate analogy, "I feel like she¡¯s like a long-time good friend, inexplicably making me want to get close."


    After hearing Zang Xiaojian¡¯s exnation, Lu Qingshan sank into deep thought.


    Because, surprisingly, his and Zang Xiaojian¡¯s feelings were unexpectedly the same, this feeling of a long-time good friend, making him subconsciously trust Qin Yitian immensely.


    "What do you think of Miss Qin?" Lu Qingshan asked the Great King Xi mouse.


    "Lu Qingshan, are you taken with her? I¡¯ve never seen you act like this, lending your one and only Concealment Artifact to someone you just met!" The Great King Xi mouse, as if catching Lu Qingshan¡¯s small weakness, said slyly.


    After confirming that the Great King Xi mouse was still his usual self, Lu Qingshan disregarded him and nced at Qin Yitian who was leading the way from the corner of his eye.


    The broad cloakpletely enveloped the tall Qin Yitian, alsopletely covering her exquisite dress underneath. With the cloaking artifact¡¯s illusion effect, the four of them moved silently.


    Had they been affected by some strange Spirit Art or Illusion Technique?


    Lu Qingshan considered this possibility.


    But why was it that only he and Zang Xiaojian felt this way, while Mo Yan and the Great King Xi mouse were unaffected?


    Could it be that this Spirit Art targeted only him and Zang Xiaojian?

 Chapter 169 - 38: Red Lotus Netherfire Bead

    Under Qin Yitian¡¯s guidance, the group of four took many turns, passing several forks in the path, and after half an hour, the terrain had ttened and opened up, revealing a thick stone wall lying across their path as far as the eye could see.


    This underseand seemed to have reached its end, as the stone wallpletely blocked the way, leaving no path forward.


    Qin Yitian suddenly stopped and turned to softly speak to the three people behind her, "This is the ce, this should be their of the Jiaolong Demon King that you all are searching for."


    Now that they had arrived at their destination, Lu Qingshan momentarily put aside the doubts in his mind and quickly surveyed the surrounding environment.


    With just a brief nce, he had ascertained that even if this ce wasn¡¯t their of the Jiaolong Demon King, it was definitely a core territory of the Jiao n.


    Because on that road-blocking dark gray stone wall, there was a huge cavern, emitting ayer of radiant light waves, looking extraordinarily out of the ordinary.


    "You go take a look, be careful," Lu Qingshan instructed the Rat Demon King.


    He specifically brought the Rat Demon King along, anticipating the current situation.


    While the Rat Demon King was notoriously sluggish on ordinary days, in times like these, he was still rather capable.


    The Rat Demon King nodded his head. His silvery-gray fur gleamed brightly, instantly transforming into something like water ripples. After ayer of streaming radiance washed over him, his already tiny stature became even more elusive to the eye.


    With a sh of movement, he turned into a barely audible shadow, quickly approaching the giant cavern on the stone wall.


    Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, the Rat Demon King charged into the wave of light.


    The four people remained hiding beside a huge boulder far from the stone wall cavern, waiting for news from the Rat Demon King.


    Even though they had the Spirit Concealing Pendants, they dared not be careless, fearing that any disturbance might be detected, so for the time being, they stayed far away from the cavern.


    After a short while.


    Your journey continues on empire


    Zang Xiaojian frowned and grumbled, "How big can that cavern be? Why hasn¡¯t hee out yet? Could something have happened to the Rat Demon King?"


    Lu Qingshan also felt a hint of concern.


    However, the sneaky ability awakened by the Rat Demon King was one of the most famous abilities of the Rat Demon n and, when looking at the entire Demon n, it was one of the top methods for stealth. Normally, there shouldn¡¯t be any hups.


    "Lu Qingshan, it¡¯s true! That cavern is indeed their of the Jiaolong Demon King, and the Dragon Transformation Pool is built inside," spoke a voice abruptly, just as the three were growing anxious. Following that, at the foot of Zang Xiaojian, covered in silvery-gray fur, the Rat Demon King slowly revealed his form, startling everyone.


    Unbeknownst to them, the Rat Demon King had silently left their of the Jiaolong Demon King and made his way back to their side.


    Until the Rat Demon King chose to reveal himself, none of them had detected his return.


    The bloodline talent ability of the Rat Demon was indeed quite extraordinary.


    Perhaps someone had noticed but simply hadn¡¯t said anything.


    Lu Qingshan nced at Qin Yitian from the corner of his eye and saw her calm demeanor with no sign of surprise, he thought to himself.


    Mo Yan¡¯s face showed a look of joy, "We¡¯ve finally found it!"


    "However, inside the cavern, there are two ferocious Third Grade Jiao Beasts circling as guards. It¡¯s probably going to be difficult to bypass them and approach the Dragon Transformation Pool," the Rat Demon King added a word of caution.


    At this, Mo Yan¡¯s expression became solemn.


    They had indeed easily in that Third Grade elder Jiao previously, but Mo Yan understood that was only because the elder Jiao was already in a dire state with itsbat power severely diminished.


    The Jiao Beasts guarding the Dragon Transformation Pool were certainly from the Jiao n¡¯s elite and would not be as easy to deal with.


    "If we¡¯re going to act on the Dragon Transformation Pool, we must first deal with those two Third Grade Jiao Beasts," Lu Qingshan said gravely.


    Mo Yan understood this logic and said, "Actually, I¡¯ve considered this situation before and have prepared many methods in advance. But after all, they are Third Grade Demon Beasts, and even with a full set of preparations, risks are inevitable ..."


    "Master Mo, rest assured, we are fully aware of the risks of our mission, and since we epted your invitation, we are prepared to face any danger," Lu Qingshan said to reassure Mo Yan, understanding his concerns.


    "Lu Qingshan is right, a promise is a debt owed even to a team of horses!" Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes sparkled with spirit. He gazed at the light waves at the mouth of the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯sir, eager to test his mettle, and brimming with confidence, "It¡¯s just a trio of Third Grade Jiao Beasts, not the Jiaolong Demon King himself. It¡¯s a good opportunity to test my sword!"


    Assured that Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian had no intention of backing down, Mo Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    He nced at Qin Yitian, who stood quietly to the side. After a moment of thought, he walked up to her and bowed in thanks, "We¡¯re indebted to Miss Qin for guiding our way. However, what we intend to do next is extremely dangerous and might even attract many Jiao Beasts.


    It would be best for Miss Qin to leave now, so as not to be involved in our affairs. We will wait for Miss Qin to get to a safe distance before making our move."


    @@novelbin@@


    Regardless of his previous suspicions about Qin Yitian, there was no doubt that she had led them to the Dragon Transformation Pool.


    Thus, even if Qin Yitian¡¯s background was enigmatic, it no longer mattered to Mo Yan. Given the circumstances, he did not wish to endanger Qin Yitian with his ns.


    Qin Yitian gazed steadily at Mo Yan, his eyes clear, "No trouble, you all just go about your tasks, I¡¯ll wait here."


    "But...?" Mo Yan hesitated somewhat.


    "Rest assured, I have my own methods to protect my life," Qin Yitian said, narrowing her long eyes lightly.


    Mo Yan turned to look at Lu Qingshan, his eyes brimming with inquiry.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze moved to Qin Yitian.


    Qin Yitian met his gaze calmly, her eyes rippling like water.


    After a moment of consideration, Lu Qingshan decided, "Then Miss Qin, please be careful on your own."


    Qin Yitian nodded her delicate head slightly and spoke no more.


    ...


    The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯sir was the most prestigious and central location for the Jiao n, which is why theirs of the other Jiao Beasts were all situated quite far from it, so they didn¡¯t have to worry about the Jiao n¡¯s reinforcements in the short time it would take to start the attack.


    The only problem they faced was the two Third Grade Jiao Beasts guarding the Dragon Transformation Pool.


    For Foundation Establishment Cultivators to even think about ying two Third Grade Jiao Beasts, to others, that would absolutely be a fantasy.


    "Luckily, the Dragon Transformation Pool is inside a cave, where the terrain is narrow, putting a significant limitation on the Jiao Beasts; we can make a n around this and set up an ambush..." Mo Yan started to arrange the specifics of the attack n.


    "If the two of you have no objections, then shall we start acting ording to my n?" Mo Yan had set the general n and was asking the two for confirmation.


    Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian exchanged a nce and both shook their heads, "Master Mo is indeed well-prepared. With Master Mo¡¯s n, the likelihood of sess is extremely high, we naturally have no objections."


    "Good!" Mo Yan nodded emphatically, "Then let¡¯s start our action."


    ...


    The three left their hiding spot behind therge rock, sticking close to the rock walls on either side as they slowly approached the cave.


    When they were only a distance of thirty to forty yards away from the cave, Mo Yan no longer concealed his figure.


    In fact, at such a close distance, it was quite difficult to ensure they wouldn¡¯t be discovered.


    Mo Yan leapt into the air, his hands flicking repeatedly, and dozens of fist-sized, red beads flew out of his hands, shooting into the cave.


    At the same time, Mo Yan spat out a Spiritual Pearl, and radiant, five-colored light spread out, momentarily blocking any noise from the area.


    "Third Grade Jiao Beasts possess formidablebat power; if we were to confront them directly, I¡¯m afraid we wouldn¡¯t be up to the task."


    "I¡¯ve prepared dozens of Red Lotus Netherfire Beads. Once we begin our attack, I will throw all these Red Lotus Netherfire Beads into the cave.


    It¡¯s the Jiao Beasts¡¯ duty to guard the Dragon Transformation Pool. To protect it, they will surely bear the brunt of the Netherfire Beads head-on, rather than choosing to flee the cave."


    "The Jiao n is a branch of the Sea Demons, and these Netherfire Beads were refined from my own Red Lotus Netherfire as the main ingredient. Even for Third Grade Jiao Beasts, to endure so many Netherfire Beads will certainly be no easy feat."


    This was the first step in Mo Yan¡¯s n.


    The Red Lotus Netherfire Beads, whose refining principle was very simr to that of thunder beads, possessed even greater power due to the vtile Netherfire as their raw material. As a weapon against water-attribute Sea Demons, their lethality could even be significantly increased, making them an extremely terrifying consumable among Spiritual Objects.


    Mo Yan had umted Red Lotus Netherfire Beads for many years, not a single one remaining, as he hurled them all at the two Third Grade Jiao Beasts within the cave.


    Swish, swish, swish!


    In mid-flight, the Red Lotus Netherfire Beads began to burn, quickly expanding into a fireball that easily smashed through the barrier at the mouth of the cave and shot inside.


    Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!


    Moo! Moo!


    The sounds of explosions, mingled with the furious roars of the Jiao Beasts, were deafening, causing Lu Qingshan¡¯s ears to ring.


    Fierce, red waves of me continuously surged out from inside the cave.


    The intense heat caused the rocks at the mouth of the cave to start melting.


    One could only imagine the horrific me Domain that had formed inside the cave.

 Chapter 170 - 39 Wind Sword Intent

    The waves of me dissipated, and two jiao beasts, one grey and one ck, each over thirty feet long, flew out of the cave entrance in a very bedraggled manner.


    Both jiao beasts had three sharp ws underneath their bellies, emitting a cold glint in all directions.


    However, the tough dragon scales that covered their bodies were now singed ck, and some areas even had scales fallen off, exposing the flesh underneath.


    The most crucial point was that the self-healing ability of the jiao beast¡¯s physical body was extremely strong.


    But the wounds caused by the scorching of theherfire contained a brutal and chaotic energy echoing within, which needed time and effort to refine and assimte; otherwise, theherfire would suppress their self-healing ability.


    The jiao beasts roared angrily, their eyes filled with a chilling intent as they looked toward Lu Qingshan and his twopanions.


    Pfft pfft pfft!


    Countless water arrows shot out from the gaping maws of the two jiao beasts, flying towards the trio in a dense and overwhelming manner.


    As sea demons, the jiao beasts had an innate talent for water control, and this water arrow technique even surpassed the power of a water attribute Golden Core Dharma Cultivation spell.


    If it had been before, Lu Qingshan would have inevitably found it troublesome.


    Such area effect spells have always been extremely sharp against Sword Cultivators.


    However, now Lu Qingshan was not afraid in the slightest.


    With a mere thought, apanied by a sequence of vibrant and clear shing sounds, countless fine water element sword qi surged out of the acupoints around his body, flowing over his entire body in an instant, converging and merging to form ayer of flowing sword armor on his skin, glittering like glimmering waves.


    Without retreating, Lu Qingshan advanced instead, actively weing the onught of arrows under the protection of his Water Walking Sword Armor.


    ng ng ng! ng ng ng!


    The surging water arrows struck Lu Qingshan¡¯s Water Walking Sword Armor, making sounds like metal and jade colliding, but were easily withstood by the armor.


    The Water Walking Sword Armor was a defensive skill cultivated by Lu Qingshan with huge resources that even a Golden Core Cultivator might not be able to afford; facing Water Element Spells, it was not strange to have such defensive power.


    After Lu Qingshan took on the majority of the water arrows, the water arrows that Zang Xiaojian and Mo Yan faced were just a tiny fraction, allowing both of them to focus less on defense!


    Thebination of their three-person team, which included two Sword Cultivators known for their offensive prowess as well as a fire attribute Dharma Cultivation, was indeed incredibly strong in terms of offense, but slightly weak on the defense.


    Hence, Lu Qingshan took on the role of a Body Cultivator by using his Water Walking Sword Armor.


    After blocking the water arrow spells from the two jiao beasts, Lu Qingshan, with his body wrapped in sword armorposed of water element sword qi, approached the grey jiao in an instant using Formless Sword Escape and tangled with it inbat.


    The most viable way to ovee the strong with the weak was to fight in numbers at a localized point.


    Therefore, their strategy was simple, first utilize the Red Lotus Netherfire Bead to weaken thebat power of the two jiaos, then have one person entangle one of the injured jiao beasts, allowing the other two to focus their attacks and swiftly eliminate the other jiao beast.


    Among them, only he, who had cultivated the Water Walking Sword Armor, was most suited to y this role.


    Moreover, Lu Qingshan understood that at this stage, he was far from matching the offensive capabilities of Zang Xiaojian and Mo Yan.


    Swish!


    A sound of a flying sword, fraught with lethal intent, lingered around Lu Qingshan¡¯s ears, and with a nce from the corner of his eye, he saw a strand of blood-red sword light sh through the air, streaking forward and aiming for the great vertical pupil of the ck Jiao.


    Flying Sword Secret Technique!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart trembled.


    Indeed, Zang Xiaojian had stronger moves up his sleeve.


    Although the speed of the flying sword was still not faster than the speed of sound, the blood-red glow that covered it significantly increased the lethality of Zang Xiaojian¡¯s flying sword.


    The ck Jiao, senseing the overwhelming might of the blood-colored flying sword, did not dare to be negligent and extended its massive ws, aiming to smash the flying sword.


    Hum! Hum! Hum!


    The blood-colored flying sword weaved and charged between the ck Jiao¡¯s giant ws.


    With the enhancement from the blood light, the flying sword¡¯s sharpness increased by several levels, cutting through the thick scales on the jiao¡¯s ws and, seizing the moment when the grey jiao faltered from the pain, broke away from the ws, and the sword light fiercely shed across the belly of the grey jiao.


    There, arge wound already existed due to the Red Lotus Netherfire Bead, with scales long fallen off.


    Rip!


    The blood-colored flying sword mercilessly carved arge piece of flesh from the belly of the ck Jiao, and blood sttered from the wound.


    On the other side, the force of Mo Yan¡¯s attack was not lesser than that of Zang Xiaojian.


    In terms of destructive power, fire attribute Dharma Cultivators have always been at the top.


    Not to mention that the fire Mo Yan wielded was not ordinary fire, but one of the most terrifying naturalherfires in the world.


    Mo Yan formed seal gestures with both hands, and the next moment, a crimson and a dark blue fire serpent meandered out from his hands, rapidly expanding in size during flight to be two terrifying creatures over fifty to sixty feet long, with gaping maws ready to bite at the ck Jiao.


    In addition, Mo Yan summoned three huge Fire Ring Magic Artifacts.


    The Fire Rings, shing with dazzling mes, spun swiftly following the two fire serpents,unching an attack on the ck Jiao.


    A ck radiance rose instantly over the ck Jiao¡¯s body.


    Clearly, it held more dread for the attacks from Mo Yan than for the previous flying sword.


    Boom boom boom!


    The Fire Serpent bit onto the ck Jiao¡¯s protective dark light, and a muffled thunder-like sound erupted as the red and blue Fire Serpents intertwined, incessantly eroding thatyer of protective dark light.


    Watching this scene, a chill shed through Mo Yan¡¯s eyes.


    "Explode!" he uttered softly.


    The three nearby Magic Artifacts that were Fire Rings emitted dazzling Spiritual Light, as Spiritual Power surged and raged wildly.


    The next instant.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Three loud explosion-like thunder sounds, apanied by blinding Spiritual Light,pletely engulfed the form of the ck Jiao.


    Continue reading on empire


    Mo Yan had, in the moment they had just shed, detonated three high-quality Magic Artifacts.


    After the Spiritual Light dissipated, the protective dark light of the ck Jiao had already copsed, and its body was torn and battered, blood streaming everywhere. From the looks of it, had it not been protected by thatyer of protective dark light, it would have likely been blown to pieces on the spot.


    This tactic made even Lu Qingshan feel somewhat intimidated.


    Mo Yan, possessing the power of Red Lotus Netherfire, was nearly invincible among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Yet, on top of that, Mo Yan himself was an exceptional Artifact Refiner, which meant numerous techniques... andvish spending.


    In just a few breaths¡¯ time, Mo Yan had already squandered the astonishing value of dozens of Red Lotus Netherfire Beads and three precious Magic Artifacts.


    Truly like a War God.


    A Renminbi War God.


    Looking at the severely injured ck Jiao, Mo Yan¡¯s eyes were filled with bloodthirsty intent.


    He was so willing to deplete his own resources because he feared that if the battle dragged on too long, Lu Qingshan wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the Grey Jiao¡¯s attacks.


    After all, the fragility of a Sword Cultivator¡¯s body was well-known to all.


    Despite Lu Qingshan seeming at ease in his entanglement with the Grey Jiao while wearing the Water Walking Sword Armor, Mo Yan knew very well that Lu Qingshan was, in fact, dancing on the edge of a knife.


    The ck Jiao, at first, used its protective dark light to resist Mo Yan¡¯s Netherfire. Although its defenses were dismantled by the self-detonation of Mo Yan¡¯s Magic Artifacts, the ck Jiao could still rely on its strong physical body to endure. Even if it was injured, it wouldn¡¯t necessarily fall.


    But Lu Qingshan was different; he couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes.


    If any attack that the Water Walking Sword Armor failed to blocknded, Lu Qingshan¡¯s physical body would be annihted.


    This was a disadvantage inherent to the Cultivation path, unavoidable.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    Seeing the ck Jiao so grievously wounded, Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes lit up, his Flying Sword rose again, the Blood Light surged, and it swept past the ck Jiao¡¯s body repeatedly, cutting off bits of flesh, like the torturous dismemberment of the Jiao Beast.


    The ck Jiao writhed, letting out a piteous and agonizing scream, filled with madness and hatred, no longer caring for any attacks, and suddenly charged at Zang Xiaojian.


    Severe injuries hadpletely triggered the ferocity of the ck Jiao.


    Mo Yan¡¯splexion changed, and he quickly manipted the Fire Serpents formed from his Netherfire, trying to block the ck Jiao.


    But at this moment, the ck Jiao, already reckless of all else, had bloodshot eyes, focusing only on the figure of Zang Xiaojian.


    Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle¡ª


    The Fire Serpents coiled tightly around the ck Jiao¡¯s body, scorching its flesh, but the ck Jiao continued unabated, carrying mes all over its body. Its tail whipped fiercely and its ws, shing with cold light, struck towards Zang Xiaojian.


    In contrast to Mo Yan¡¯s panic, Zang Xiaojian faced the dangerous situation with utmost calm.


    Rumbling!


    It was like the sound of thunder, like a tide, as ayer of something mysterious and deep with the aura of Heaven and Earth suddenly enveloped Zang Xiaojian¡¯s Flying Sword.


    Under the influence of this force, the Sword Light turned into a nearly invisible afterimage, condensed into a point of cold gleam. With a whoosh, it passed straight through the abdomen of the ck Jiao.


    sh¡ª


    The Demon Core of the ck Jiao was pierced by Zang Xiaojian¡¯s sword, shattered into numerous fragments.


    Its massive body, only ten zhang away from Zang Xiaojian, thunderously fell, its huge eyes filled with unwillingness and ferocity.


    "The realm of sound speed!" Mo Yan stared in shock.


    Zang Xiaojian¡¯sst sword had reached the first realm of Flying Sword, the realm of sound speed.


    That was a technique exclusive to Golden Core Sword Cultivators.


    Zang Xiaojian had actually pierced through this realm while still in the Foundation Establishment Stage!


    ¡­


    Next to the boulder, Qin Yitian gazed intently ahead.


    The direction of her gaze was the battlefield where Lu Qingshan and the others fought the Jiao Beasts.


    However, the five-colored Radiance from Mo Yan¡¯s Spirit Bead Artifact enveloped everything, obscuring all movements, making it hard to see clearly.


    @@novelbin@@


    But Qin Yitian¡¯s eyes were serene, seemingly unaffected by the Radiance, as if she could see through everything.


    Finally, after Zang Xiaojian executed that sonic-speed sword, Qin Yitian slightly moved, her red lips parted slightly, and she uttered a few faint words, "Wind Sword Intent..."

 Chapter 171 - 40: Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid

    Zang Xiaojian took a slight breath.


    The imposing force of heaven and earth enveloping her flying sword was the so-called Sword Intent.


    Although it was only the weakest level of Sword Intent, as a supreme technique that could be mastered only by high-level cultivators, even an extremely tiny wisp carried an awe-inspiring might.


    Under the enhancement of the Wind Sword Intent, her flying sword not only broke through the sound barrier but also, carrying the imposing force of heaven and earth, pierced straight into the unprotected belly of the ck Jiao and shed its demon core.


    Of course, wielding Sword Intent with her Foundation Establishment Cultivation ced an enormous strain on her.


    Just that one stroke depleted forty percent of Zang Xiaojian¡¯s spiritual power, which was why she would not resort to this Sword Intent unless absolutely necessary.


    Although Mo Yan was astonished by Zang Xiaojian¡¯s earth-shattering strike, he understood the gravity of the situation at hand. Seeing the ck Jiao perish, he immediately turned to assist Lu Qingshan in killing the Gray Jiao.


    If they could eliminate one Jiao beast so swiftly, the remaining Gray Jiao should pose little challenge with the three of them joining forces.


    The Jiao beasts were not highly intelligent, but as third-grade Jiao beasts, they naturally recognized the disadvantage of the current situation.


    The moment the ck Jiao was decapitated, the Gray Jiao¡¯s first reaction was to attempt to flee, but it quickly realized that if it abandoned the Dragon Transformation Pool and escaped, it would face a fate worse than death upon the Demon King¡¯s return.


    Moo!


    The Gray Jiao let out a mournful cry, suppressing the thought to flee deep within its heart. Its wsshed out, striking Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Armor, sending sparks flying everywhere, while its tail swung at Lu Qingshan.


    Despite the strength of the Sword Armor, Lu Qingshan dared not take the Gray Jiao¡¯s attacks head-on. Like a slippery snake, he deftly dodged, evading the tail at thest moment with a quick sidestep, the attack missing him entirely.


    Though it looked perilously close, it was all within Lu Qingshan¡¯s control.


    Indeed, it was relying on such highly agile maneuvers and his precise grasp of thebat situation that Lu Qingshan ventured to confront the third-grade Jiao beast alone.


    However, even after such a brief skirmish, sweat had already begun to bead on Lu Qingshan¡¯s forehead.


    This kind of prolonged engagement was indeed exhausting for his mental focus.


    Fortunately, the Fire Serpent controlled by Mo Yan surged over, and Zang Xiaojian¡¯s flying sword followed suit.


    Once the three joined forces, the pressure on them lessened significantly, and Lu Qingshan let out a slight sigh of relief.


    The wounds on the Gray Jiao were worsening by the moment.


    Suddenly, the Gray Jiao let out a furious roar, brushing Zang Xiaojian¡¯s flying sword aside, and shot a pir of water from its mouth, shing with the fireball produced by Mo Yan. After an explosive burst, it turned and mmed headfirst into the five-colored radiance, appearing ready to make an escape.


    Upon the Gray Jiao¡¯s impact, ripples immediately appeared across the surface of the five-colored radiance.


    "No good, the Gray Jiao is trying to escape!" Mo Yan eximed in urgency.


    If the Gray Jiao managed to flee and bring back an army of Jiao beasts, their troubles would greatly escte.


    Lu Qingshan, Mo Yan, and Zang Xiaojian quickly closed in on the Gray Jiao, aiming to encircle it and thwart its breakout attempt.


    But no one noticed that within the raging pupils of the Gray Jiao, there was a glint of barely perceptible chilling intent.


    Whoosh!


    The next moment, a dense ck light burst forth from the Gray Jiao¡¯s abdomen.


    There, was the location of the Gray Jiao¡¯s demon core.


    "It¡¯s trying to self-destruct!" Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression changed.


    A self-detonation of the demon core required a certain activation time. Under normalbat circumstances, if they detected that the Gray Jiao was preparing to blow up its demon core, they would have ample time to flee the explosion radius.


    But because the Gray Jiao had feigned an attempt to break through the shimmering shield to escape, the three of them, fearing they might draw the attention of other members of the Jiao n, subconsciously had gotten too close to the Gray Jiao.


    Without time to think, Mo Yan waved his hands, and shes of spiritual light appeared. He swiftly brought out five or six defensive artifacts and ced them in front of the trio.


    Boom!


    The explosion caused by the self-detonation of the demon core rang in Lu Qingshan¡¯s ears.


    A huge wave of spiritual power spread out, crushing everything effortlessly, and shattered all the spiritual lights that were protecting Mo Yan, breaking them into pieces.


    Mo Yan couldn¡¯t discern carefully and hurriedly brought out a dozen defensive artifacts of varying quality from his storage ring.


    Crack! Crack! Crack!


    One after another, the spiritual lights shattered, and the artifacts turned to ash.


    These dozen or so defensive artifacts ultimately failed to stop the spiritual power fluctuation caused by the demon core¡¯s self-detonation, but they did manage to buy Mo Yan and Lu Qingshan a brief moment to react.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Armor suddenly expanded to form a shield of Sword Qi, enveloping the three of them.


    Mo Yan also disregarded the limit his meridians could withstand and frantically stimted his Spiritual Power. Red Lotus Fire and Cold Spirit Fire surged out from his hands, forming a Netherfire Shield as a secondyer of protection.


    ng!


    Spiritual Power prated Lu Qingshan¡¯s Water Walking Sword Armor.


    However, after being weakened numerous times, the Spiritual Power wave finally exhausted itself in front of Mo Yan¡¯s Netherfire Shield, sparking a few embers before quietly dispersing.


    Mo Yan¡¯splexion looked extremely ugly.


    Because the Five-Colored Radiance he had used to suppress the noise had instantly copsed under the sweep of the Spiritual Power wave.


    The thunderous roar resonated, traveling far and wide.


    After everything had settled, Mo Yan wiped the fresh blood seeping from the corner of his mouth and asked, "Are you all alright?"


    Lu Qingshan was also far fromfortable, with his Sword Armor shattered and his Qi-Blood surging throughout his body, hisplexion was somewhat pale.


    Only Zang Xiaojian was not greatly affected.


    "Themotion caused by the self-destructing Gray Jiao was so vast, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be long before other Jiao Beasts will be upon us, we can¡¯t afford any more dys," Lu Qingshan said.


    Mo Yan naturally understood this reason as well, "Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check out the Dragon Transformation Pool!"


    The three of them leaped up and headed straight for the cave.


    Just before entering the cave, Lu Qingshan suddenly remembered something.


    The Jiao Beast¡¯s self-destruction hadn¡¯t hurt Miss Qin, had it?


    Lu Qingshan instinctively looked back at the huge boulder in the distance.


    It was empty, Qin Yitian¡¯s figure nowhere to be found.


    Had she left? When did she leave¡­ But it¡¯s better that she¡¯s gone; otherwise, it might be difficult to leaveter.


    Lu Qingshan felt a sense of inexplicable loss, but also heaved a sigh of relief, then quickly came to his senses.


    What¡¯s gotten into me, worrying so much about a stranger? he scolded himself inwardly and then plunged into the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s cave abode.


    Inside the cave, it was aplete mess, with debris everywhere and the ground charred and ckened.


    This was the destruction caused by Mo Yan¡¯s Red Lotus Netherfire Bead.


    The cave was vast, and at its depths, there was a small, shimmering pool.


    That was the Dragon Transformation Pool.


    Next to the Dragon Transformation Pool, West Rat the Great hugged a white jade bottle, teeth clenched with resentment and looking rather wronged at the three people who entered, "This Dragon Transformation Pool is still protected by spells and restrictions, and I can¡¯t break them."


    At the moment when the two Third-Grade Jiao Beasts left the cave abode, West Rat the Great had already stealthily infiltrated the cave.


    This was the n they had set long ago ¨C to divert the tiger away from the mountain, letting the skilled West Rat the Great take responsibility for collecting the Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid from the pool.


    Unfortunately, things did not go as smoothly as they had anticipated. There was still a spell protecting the Dragon Transformation Pool, and this spell proved to be unbreakable by West Rat the Great, who had no means of attack.


    Luckily, they eventually seeded in ying the two Third-Grade Jiao Beasts.


    Knowing the urgency of the situation, Zang Xiaojian did not hold back. With a slight shout, the Flying Sword once again enveloped with Wind Sword Intent, he rapidly bombarded the spell above the Dragon Transformation Pool.


    Crackle¡ª


    The blue light shield transformed by the spell instantly shattered into specks of Spiritual Light and dissipated, revealing the full view of the Dragon Transformation Pool to the three of them. Discover exclusive content at empire


    The Spiritual Liquid, as dense as gel, flowed slowly within the pool. The liquid was crystal clear, with ayer of green radiance flickering, and an exotic fragrance wafted through the air, refreshing and invigorating to those who took just a sniff.


    "This is the Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid refined by the Jiaolong Demon King using countless rare Spirit Materials," murmured Mo Yan.


    West Rat the Great, already sneakily approaching, was drawn by the fragrance and couldn¡¯t help but take a light sip from the liquid within the Dragon Transformation Pool.


    Lu Qingshan grabbed West Rat the Great with one hand, "You dare to eat this recklessly, aren¡¯t you afraid something will go wrong..."


    Lu Qingshan suddenly paused mid-sentence, his voice trailing off.


    @@novelbin@@


    Because, at that moment, a line of informational data quietly appeared.


    "Detection of Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid (Iplete, 90% efficacy) presence. Commence absorption of Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid and convert it into Experience Points (Absorption rate of 1000 Experience Points per breath)?"

 Chapter 172 - 41 Jiao Clan Blocks the Road

    Lu Qingshan, feeling astonished, extended his hand lightly to touch the Dragon Transformation Pool and dabbed some Spiritual Liquid on his fingertips, then began to attempt absorbing the glowing Spiritual Liquid in his hand.


    "Absorbing Spiritual Liquid, and obtaining the add-on from the Taoist-Level Cultivation Technique, Returning Ruins Scripture, absorption rate has been increased: 100%... Absorptionplete, conversion has yielded fifty Experience Points."


    The Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid in his hand faded away and disappeared instantaneously.


    Looking at the Spiritual Liquid in the pool, Lu Qingshan felt his heart heat up.


    Just a bit of this Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid could be converted into fifty Experience Points; if he could absorb the entire pool, the convertible Experience Points could indeed reach hundreds of thousands!


    This was an enormous amount of Experience Points, sufficient to instantly enhance his Cultivation Technique to Max Level.


    Nevertheless, Lu Qingshan understood that now was not the best time to absorb and refine the Spiritual Liquid; he took the white jade bottle from the hands of Great King Xishu.


    This was an Auxiliary Magical Artifact, designed with multipleyers of internal space to categorize and store various liquids, specifically brought by Mo Yan to collect the Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid.


    Driven by Lu Qingshan, a powerful suction force emanated from the mouth of the white jade bottle, and the almost-solidified Spiritual Liquid in the Dragon Transformation Pool began to surge into the bottle, forming a small stream.


    Before long, the entire Dragon Transformation Pool had emptied.


    Lu Qingshan put away the white jade bottle, "That¡¯s settled, let¡¯s leave this ce quickly."


    @@novelbin@@


    Protected by the Hidden Spirit Amulet, Lu Qingshan and his twopanions didn¡¯t linger and immediately left their of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Just moments after they departed from their of the Jiaolong Demon King, three Third-Grade Jiao Beasts hurriedly arrived; upon seeing the chaos at the site and then checking their to find the empty Dragon Transformation Pool, the next moment, an extremely furious roar of the Jiao echoed through Dragon Pool.


    "Jiao Yuan,manding officer, what should we do now? The Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid has been stolen, and the guardians of the Dragon Transformation Pool, Lords Jiao Yuan and Jiao Chen, have also fallen. The assant must be highly skilled," one of the Jiao Beasts, with its eyelids slightly drooping in panic, asked in extreme haste.


    "The Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid has been stolen. If we can¡¯t catch the thief before the King returns, under his furious wrath, we are likely to face serious punishment," Jiao Yuan, themanding officer, sternly said.


    "Yet, since the thief was able to infiltrate Dragon Pool unnoticed, it indicates they must possess extremely strong abilities to conceal themselves, and given the vast size of Dragon Pool, it won¡¯t be easy to find the culprit," the Jiao Beast expressed worry.


    "Although Dragon Pool isrge, there is only one exit," Jiao Yuan, themanding officer, a flicker of fierceness shing in his Jiao eyes, confidently stated, "We just need to immediately dispatch hands to secure the exit of Dragon Pool, and carry out a slow search inside, then it will be like trapping turtles in a jar."


    "Immediately gather our n members, guard the exit of Dragon Pool!" Jiao Yuan, themanding officer, instructed.


    "Yes!"


    ...


    Lu Qingshan and his twopanions retraced their steps back along the path they hade; he directed Great King Xishu to scout ahead while the three of them followed slightly behind.


    If Great King Xishu encountered any Jiao Beasts or any other movement on the path ahead, he could immediately notify them.


    This arrangement made their return journey much faster.


    "Strange, the huge disturbance from the self-detonation of the Ash Jiao¡¯s Jiao Dan was so loud, hasn¡¯t the Jiao n noticed? Why have we encountered no trouble on our way?" Seeing that they were nearing the exit, Mo Yan was puzzled.


    Lu Qingshan was not as optimistic as Mo Yan, "It¡¯s also possible that the real trouble is waiting for us at the end."


    No sooner had he spoken than Great King Xishu appeared in front of them.


    "Lu Qingshan, this is bad news, we can no longer proceed. The exit of Dragon Pool is now surrounded by more than two hundred Jiao Beasts," reported Great King Xishu, flustered and panicked.


    Indeed, they had encountered the worst scenario Lu Qingshan had anticipated.


    Lu Qingshan felt somewhat helpless.


    "So what do we do now?" Zang Xiaojian asked, somewhat clueless upon hearing Great King Xishu¡¯s words.


    "It looks like I underestimated this group of Jiao Beasts," Mo Yan said grimly, "No wonder our journey here was so smooth; it turns out the Jiao n had left all their forces at the exit to wait for us.


    To leave Dragon Pool, we must pass through a nearly vertical corridor, but with over two hundred Jiao Beasts blocking the road, they simply couldn¡¯t force their way through."


    "The problem all started with that Jiao Beast¡¯s Jiao Dan exploding too loudly, leading to our actions being discovered too soon while the Jiao n reacted swiftly," Lu Qingshan analyzed.


    "Are we really going to be trapped in this nest of Jiao Beasts now?" Great King Xishu said dejectedly.


    Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan both plunged into deep thought, desperately trying to think of ways to get out.


    A momentter.


    Mo Yan bit his lip, turning to Lu Qingshan, "In this situation, we can only create a diversion to stand any chance of escape.


    "I will reveal myself to draw the attention of the Jiao Beasts, drawing away those gathered at the exit. You and Daoist Zang take the opportunity to break through the chaos and leave Dragon Pool."


    "Wouldn¡¯t that put you in a deadly predicament?" Zang Xiaojian shook his head in disapproval, "We should all leave together!"


    Mo Yan¡¯s face was full of determination, "Lu Daoist friend, you must understand that in this situation, it¡¯s not very likely all three of us can safely escape."


    "Sacrificing one person in exchange for the lives of two others is the best choice under the current circumstances,"


    "Since it was for the sake of the Dragon ying Saber that the two were trapped in the Dragon Pool, it is only natural that the one to be sacrificed should be me."


    Lu Qingshan stopped Mo Yan, who was ready to take action, and shook his head at him, "Let¡¯s think of another way; it¡¯s not yet time to take thisst step."


    "But..."


    "Do you want to leave this ce?" A very gentle voice arose from behind the three, interrupting their argument.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s hairs stood on end, but he rxed after turning around and recognizing the person who had appeared.


    The figure was none other than Qin Yitian, who had vanished without a trace at some unknown time. She appeared suddenly, just as she had when they first met, watching the three of them as if she were a leaf that was not a leaf.


    Zang Xiaojian was not intimidated by Qin Yitian¡¯s sudden appearances, and instead noticed the hidden meaning in Qin Yitian¡¯s question, cocking his head to ask, "Sister Yitian, do you have a way to get us out of here?"


    Qin Yitian nodded her head lightly, her voice gentle, "If you just want to leave this ce, I indeed have a method."


    Mo Yan couldn¡¯t believe it, "Miss Qin, you mean you have a way to lead us out of here? There are hundreds of Jiao Beasts blocking the exit."


    "Then let them block it; we won¡¯t go that way," Qin Yitian stated matter-of-factly.


    Mo Yan was momentarily speechless; he naturally understood that logic, but he had never heard that there was another exit from the Dragon Pool.


    Find your next read on empire


    "Miss Qin, do you know of another way out of the Dragon Pool?" asked Lu Qingshan.


    "Follow me," Qin Yitian declined boration, transforming into a wisp of smoke and drifting deeper into the Dragon Pool.


    Watching Qin Yitian transform into a streak of red light and flee into the distance, Lu Qingshan subconsciously followed her lead.


    Zang Xiaojian harbored no doubt towards Qin Yitian, and only Mo Yan hesitated slightly, but not for long. Seeing that Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian had both gone, he gritted his teeth and followed them.


    Realizing that most of the Jiao Beasts were gathered at the entrance of the Dragon Pool, the trio moved with less hesitation, transforming into a streak of escaping light, swiftly moving within the Dragon Pool.


    Qin Yitian led the three of them through twists and turns, eventually arriving in front of a stone wall.


    "What is this?" Mo Yan was puzzled.


    Qin Yitian didn¡¯t exin further and stepped onto the stone wall. The anticipated collision did not ur; instead, ripples spread across the surface of the stone wall like circles of water waves, and then Qin Yitian¡¯s figure instantly merged into the stone wall and disappeared.


    An unseen passage was actually hidden on this stone wall?!


    This unusual scene made Lu Qingshan marvel inwardly.


    Zang Xiaojian, seeing something intriguing, was the first to rush into the stone wall.


    Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan quickly followed.


    Behind the stone wall was indeed a different realm.


    It was a spacious passage, the walls made of colorful luminous stones.


    The iridescent light emitted by the luminous stones poured out like mercury, flooding the entire space¡ªthe fierce red, the profound brown, the dazzling golden, the serene deep blue, the vibrant green, the slightly airy turquoise, and the noble, mysterious purple all reflected off each other, painting the corridor as if it were a paradise on earth.


    Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes lit up, "Sister Yitian, this ce is too beautiful."


    "I think so too," Qin Yitian¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, contentedly saying, "Follow this corridor straight ahead, and you will be able to leave this ce. Come with me."


    The corridor was long, and they walked for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Ahead, another stone wall appeared, seeming like the end of the corridor, a dead end.


    But having the experience of entering, Lu Qingshan naturally did not view this stone wall in the same light now.


    As he had expected, Qin Yitian, without even blinking, collided again with the stone wall, effortlessly passing through and disappearing from their sight.


    "Let¡¯s go," Lu Qingshan said sternly.


    The three followed in session, and the moment they passed through the stone wall, azure seawater surged towards them, and fiery red water lilies caught their eyes.


    Indeed, under Qin Yitian¡¯s lead, they had left the Dragon Pool through another hidden passage.


    Joy that he could not suppress showed on Mo Yan¡¯s face; he quickly approached Qin Yitian, bowed with sped hands, and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Miss Qin, for guiding us twice. There is no way I can repay this kindness. If there is anything you need, I, Mo Yan, will do my utmost to fulfill it for you."


    Apart from gratitude, Mo Yan also felt a mix of shame.


    Look at himself, he had been suspicious of Miss Qin all along the way, yet she had indeed genuinely helped him twice.


    Clearly, he was judging a noble heart with a petty mind.


    And looking at Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian, they had shown trust in Miss Qin from the beginning to the end, sincerely treating her with honesty. Their ability to judge character was certainly much better than his!

 Chapter 6 Water Walking Sword Armor (Part 1)

    "Your Beast Pet snuck into my room when I was away and I caught it," Zang Xiaojian pointed at the Western Mouse King hiding behind Lu Qingshan.


    "I''m not a Beast Pet..." the Western Mouse King murmured subconsciously.


    "Right, I forgot to ask you, what''s your name?" Zang Xiaojian heard the Western Mouse King''sint.@@novelbin@@


    Seeing Zang Xiaojian asking about himself, the Western Mouse King immediately stood up straight from behind Lu Qingshan, straightened his back, and thumped his chest with his tiny paws, "I am the mighty Western Mouse King!"


    Zang Xiaojian nodded seriously and, wrinkling her nose, said to Lu Qingshan, "Since it says it''s not your Beast Pet, sorry, I must have misunderstood. I''ll take it away and settle our scores properly, shall I?"


    As she spoke, Zang Xiaojian winked at Lu Qingshan subtly.


    Lu Qingshan caught on and decided to scare the increasingly troublesome Western Mouse King, cooperating by saying, "Sure, take it away. Do whatever you want, kill or cut."


    Zang Xiaojian made a throat-slitting gesture toward the Western Mouse King and chirpily said, "Western Mouse King, huh? Come, let''s settle our ounts properly."


    Just a moment ago, the once ferocious Western Mouse King turned into a defeated eggnt, his spirits deted, and heined bitterly, "Lu Qingshan, you heartless man!"


    After teasing the Western Mouse King, Lu Qingshan then seriously turned to Zang Xiaojian and apologized, "It''s my negligence for not keeping it under control. I canpensate you with some Spirit Stones to show my sincerity. What do you think?"


    Eager to resolve any trouble, as stirring up conflicts wasn''t Lu Qingshan''s way, he was very polite.


    Zang Xiaojian waved her hand generously, "I lost nothing, no need for anypensation.


    Actually, I never intended to do anything to it. It tried to fool me by pretending to be a normal giant mouse when I caught it, so I decided to teach it a lesson. That''s why I came looking for it."


    This foolish mouse, not only did it try to be sly but getting caught in the act was a grave mistake.


    Lu Qingshan red at the Western Mouse King, annoyed.


    "Are you a Sword Cultivator?" Zang Xiaojian tilted her head, looked deeply into Lu Qingshan''s eyes, and suddenly asked.


    Before Lu Qingshan could ask, Zang Xiaojian went on to exin, "Just now outside, I felt the presence of Sword Qi in the room."


    Lu Qingshan was startled and finally began to take the young girl seriously.


    For Zang Xiaojian to possess such advanced Cultivation at her young age was no small feat.


    But being someone who had witnessed many greater events in the game''ster stages¡ªwhere talented NPCs in the Nine Heavens sprang up like bamboo shoots after a rain¡ªZang Xiaojian''s talent only slightly surprised him.


    However, he had tried to condense Sword Qi inside the cabin earlier and had only mobilized a minimal part of his Spiritual Power, which was barely detectable. Under such circumstances, Zang Xiaojian was still able to sense the Sword Qi inside the room from a distance, which was truly astonishing.


    There could be two possibilities for this, one being that Zang Xiaojian''s Divine Soul was far stronger than ordinary people, giving her superior perception abilities.


    The other possibility was that Zang Xiaojian was extraordinarily talented.


    The next second, Lu Qingshan knew it must be thetter.


    Because Zang Xiaojian extended her right hand toward Lu Qingshan, and a strand of sharp Sword Qi suddenly burst forth from her fingertips.


    The delicate fingers of the girl flicked, and the strand of Sword Qi shot straight toward the Western Mouse King, dissipating abruptly three inches in front of him.


    Zang Xiaojian looked at the startled Western Mouse King, smileced with mischief, her eyebrows curved, "I am a Sword Cultivator too!"


    Not to mention anything else, just being at the advanced stage of Foundation Establishment and being able to emit detached Sword Qi without relying on a Sword Artifact indicated an exceptional talent for the Sword Dao, something Lu Qingshan couldn''t exin otherwise.


    "Yes," the identity of a Sword Cultivator wasn''t something secretive. Lu Qingshan readily nodded in acknowledgment. Simultaneously, a simr strand of Sword Qi appeared on his fingertip, which flickered a few times before dispersing quickly. Shaking his head, Lu Qingshan said, "Still no good, I''m far behind you."


    Zang Xiaojian looked at the dissipating Sword Qi at the tip of Lu Qingshan''s finger and said seriously, "The reason your Sword Qi can''t maintain its form for a long time is not because there''s a problem with your skills."


    Lu Qingshan''s heart skipped a beat.


    One of the challenges he faced after his rebirth to the Nine Heavens was that, although this world was like a game world, it was not actually a game, so there were many differences in reality.


    For instance, Sword Qi ¡ª he had mastered the Sword Qi Silk Transformation in the game, but the problem was that, in the game, it was only a set of data, a buff effect he obtained after passing the Sword Dao tutor''s test.


    After crossing over, he could only inherit how to match and apply these skills at a tactical level, but how to cast the skills must be learned from scratch.


    This was also why, even though he had been a Great Sword Cultivator who could sh with overwhelming Sword Qi in the game, after his rebirth, he had to consult and research the true essence of Sword Qi provided by Dantai Qingrun and try to condense Sword Qi.


    In such circumstances, if it were not for the unmatched Sword Dao talent bestowed by the Innate Swordseed, he couldn''t imagine spending decades mastering theunch of Sword Qi.


    Perhaps by then, he would have already advanced his Cultivation to the Golden Core Stage using Experience Points?


    A Golden Core Sword Cultivator who couldn''t release Sword Qi?


    That would be quite ridiculous.


    Lu Qingshan sped his hands together and said, "Please enlighten me, fellow Daoist."


    "My mother once said, ''There''s no such thing as a free lunch in this world,''" Zang Xiaojian paused, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face, and finally, as if making a big decision, he giggled, revealing a row of shiny white teeth, "But since you are the first Sword Cultivator I''ve met since I... came out, this time, consider it a freebie."


    Came out? The first Sword Cultivator?


    Lu Qingshan noticed the peculiar words in Zang Xiaojian''s speech and subconsciously matched them with a suitable family or sect in his mind.


    A surname Zang with a powerful Sword Cultivator family was unheard of, so they must be from a sect.


    Sword Sect, Nascent Soul could leave the sect, Sword Cleansing Pool...


    The information revealed by Zang Xiaojian was too scarce; Lu Qingshan searched his mind but couldn''t immediately determine Zang Xiaojian''s origins.


    "Your problem is that your Cultivation is not enough, and your control over Spiritual Power is insufficient, so you cannot maintain the form of Sword Qi.


    Even I could only achieve this in thete stages of Foundation Establishment without relying on a Sword Artifact to condense Sword Qi!" Zang Xiaojian said cheerfully, with a bright tone.


    Is it because my Cultivation is not enough?


    Hearing Zang Xiaojian say this, Lu Qingshan was taken aback.


    The Jade Slip with "True Essence of Sword Qi" given by Dantai Qingrun only detailed the experiences with condensing Sword Qi using Sword Artifacts and did not mention anything about condensing Sword Qi out of thin air, so he had no choice but to bury himself in research.


    Actually, this was not Dantai Qingrun''s fault.


    For, the Sword Qi formed out of thin air, in terms of power, is much inferior to the Sword Qi emitted by a Sword Artifact.


    Besides being a shy skill, it was not very useful; instead of spending time on this, one might as well nurture one''s Life-bound Sword and practice Sword Techniques. Lu Qingshan wouldn''t have spent his effort researching this if not for the desire to practice the Five Elements Sword Armor.


    Normally, which Sword Cultivator would specifically research condensing Sword Qi out of thin air? Most often, this skill was mastered naturally as one''s understanding of the Sword Dao increased.


    But usually, it was only Sword Cultivators in the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Stage who could achieve this realm.


    When the Sword Qi he condensed out of thin air couldn''t maintain its form, Lu Qingshan had always thought there were some special tricks he hadn''t grasped, but he never expected the reason to stem from his own level of Cultivation.

 Chapter 31 Subduing the Flood Dragon (Part 1)

    Mo Yan did not borate, but the implication was very clear, and Lu Qingshan suddenly understood.


    Although he was somewhat interested in the methods of the Dragon ying Saber, Lu Qingshan was also tactful and chose not to probe any further.


    This was the scheme of the Dragon ying Saber, and it was not proper for him, an outsider, to ask too many questions.


    The figure of the ck Jiao gradually receded until it disappeared from view.


    "Mrs. Mo, please forgive the intrusion. I have other matters to attend to today, so I must take my leave now. I''lle for a visit when I have the chance," Lu Qingshan did not linger at the Mo Family but bade farewell to Mrs. Mo and Mo Yan, then quickly left.


    His objective in seeking Mrs. Mo had only been half-achieved due to her reticence.


    The remaining half might only be resolved by using Xue Zhuyong as a breakthrough.


    ...


    Jiao Yan abducted two Human Race children in Jiaolong City and brutally chewed and swallowed them.


    Such ferocious behavior might seem as ordinary to the Jiao n as the Human Race casually picking wild fruit by the roadside to quench thirst.


    How could this not make themon people loathe the Jiao n to the bone?


    In Jiao Yan''s eyes, the flesh of Human Race children was the most delicious, yet those two children were merely appetizers for him and hardly filling.


    But no matter what, Jiao Yan understood that more pressing matters were at hand, so he did not continue to satisfy his appetite and, with a flick of his tail, he shot straight towards the Sea God Sect.


    In front of the thick light curtain emitted by the great formation of the Sea God Sect''s mountain gate, Jiao Yan suddenly stopped.


    "As expected, something''s up; even the mountain gate''s great formation has been activated," Jiao Yan confirmed his spection upon seeing the Sea God Sect in this state of heightened alert.


    The moment Jiao Yan appeared outside of the Sea God Sect, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were maintaining the monitoring formation immediately spotted him.


    They shuddered and promptlymunicated the arrival of Jiao Yan upward. Not waiting for a response, they immediately began controlling the formation, withdrawing the light curtain that isted the outside world.


    It wasn''t that they dared to act rashly, but they understood that within the Sea God Sect, the Jiao n always held the highest status. The price of irritating the Sect Master by acting on their own was nothingpared to the cost of slighting Jiao Yan.


    The light curtain slowly opened, revealing a huge gap.


    Jiao Yan did not hesitate and darted in.


    The moment he entered the Sea God Sect, Jiao Yan shook his enormous body, and in the blink of an eye, his figure abruptly shrank, and he ultimately transformed into human form.


    Jiao Yan''s human incarnation was a young man dressed in ck, with an exceptionally sinister appearance. His eyes were full of ferocity and the wildness unique to demon beasts. The most eerie feature was an extremely ugly and fierce protrusion on the man''s forehead.


    This wasmon when demon beasts took on human form: distinctive racial features, such as the tail of a fox demon or the ears of a cat demon, would not disappear even after transformation.


    The Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Sea God Sect had no time to lose and hurried to greet him, "Lord Jiao Yan!"


    Jiao Yan''s voice was exceedingly cold, "Where is Han Qiu? Why hasn''t hee to meet me?"


    "Please forgive us, Lord! The Sect Master has just convened all the Golden Core Elders in the Sect''s main hall for a meeting not long ago. He might not have received the news of Lord''s visit and hence the dy," the Foundation Establishment disciple responded to Jiao Yan''s inquiry with a trembling voice, carefully exining.


    "In the Sect''s main hall?" Jiao Yan''s demeanor was exceedingly cold. He ignored the trembling Foundation Establishment Cultivators, surrounded by swirling ck demonic energy, transformed into a cloud of ck mist, and flew straight toward the Sea God Sect''s main hall.


    Seeing Jiao Yan depart, the Foundation Establishment disciples finally wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads, not knowing when it had appeared, as if they had narrowly escaped death.


    It''s no wonder they were so fearful; the prestige of the Jiao n was indeed formidable.


    Despite the Sea God Sect''s dominance on the ind, they were no different from others in the face of the Jiao n.


    Especially when facing the most ferocious Lord Jiao Yan, whose temper was unpredictable, and acted wholly on a whim. There had been instances where he treated the Sea God Sect cultivators like mere sheep, devouring them whole on a sudden fancy.


    ...


    When Lord Jiao Yan arrived at the main hall of the sect, Real Person Han Jiu, d in a Sea God Sect robe, had already been waiting for him.


    "Lord Jiao Yan," Real Person Han Jiu greeted respectfully.


    Lord Jiao Yan certainly recognized Real Person Han Jiu. However, instead of feeling pleased by the respectful greeting, he nced at the still closed doors of the hall and suddenly erupted, "Where is Han Qiu? You came alone to wee me? Has the Sea God Sect be so brazenly bold, no longer considering me important, daring to treat me so casually?"


    Bang!


    Before Han Jiu could offer a detailed exnation, Lord Jiao Yan erupted in anger, lifted his hand, and a ck seal flew from his palm. The seal swelled rapidly in the air to the size of a small mountain and crashed towards the main hall doors with an rming momentum.


    In Lord Jiao Yan''s eyes, no matter the reason, the fact that the Sea God Sect cultivators did not ce him in the highest regard, greeting him immediately, was an offense to him.


    The main doors, crafted from high-quality spirit material, were no match for the seal as massive as a peak; they were instantly reduced to dust, scattering everywhere.


    The doors were broken, and the inside of the main hall came into Lord Jiao Yan''s view, causing his heart to skip a beat.


    Inside the main hall, it was indeed crowded, but not a single familiar face from the Sea God Sect could be seen... Perhaps it can''t be said there weren''t any familiar faces if one counts Han Qiu, sprawled on the ground like a lifeless corpse.


    "Such impulsive behavior hardly seems fitting for Lord Jiao Yan," the Sword Master said, locking eyes with Jiao Yan and initiating an offensive remark.


    "It''s you!" Hearing the familiar voice and seeing the Sword Master''s face, Jiao Yan''s pupils constricted sharply.


    "It is me." The Sword Master, grasping a blood-red Full Moon Saber in his one arm, exuded a chilling intent to kill.


    "As the Sect Master of the Blood de Sect, my father bit off the arm with which you wielded your saber and you fled in disarray," Jiao Yan scoffed, "And now you dare return? Did you reach the Nascent Soul Stage in your cultivation and think you''ve be capable once more?"


    In the face of Jiao Yan''s mockery, the Sword Master gripped the Full Moon Saber in his hand even tighter, his eyes brimming with hatred.


    "Fight!" No more patience to endure, no necessity to withhold.


    As soon as the Sword Master finished speaking, Real Person Han Jiu received themand and immediately formed a seal gesture with his hands.@@novelbin@@


    A dense fog rose from nowhere, swiftly enveloping the area, infused with an extremely oppressive aura.


    Behind the Sword Master, all the Golden Core cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber were now holding a golden Array te, channeling spiritual power into them.


    Countless golden threads surged from the Array tes, shining brightly within the dark fog and sparkling brilliantly.


    This was the Golden Silk Mist Formation, ready by the Dragon ying Saber specifically for subduing Jiao dragons.


    The moment the golden threads detached from the Array tes, they spread like agile serpents, enveloping Lord Jiao Yan from all directions.


    Lord Jiao Yan''s demon aura surged mightily, attempting to repel the golden threads immediately.


    But the golden threads proved impervious to both water and fire, remaining unaffected as the demon aura passed over them, not even causing the slightest ripple.

 Chapter 32 The Subdued Flood Dragon (Part 2)

    The golden threads moved swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, under the precise control of the Dragon ying Saber Cultivator, they hadpletely ensnared Jiao Yan.


    "Damn it!" These golden threads bound Jiao Yan tightly and kept constricting, seemingly intent on strangling him, which left Jiao Yan seething with anger.


    Jiao Yan knew he had to break free from the golden threads'' restraint urgently. With a roar, he transformed back into his true form, a giant ck Jiao over thirty zhang long.


    For the Demon Beasts of the Jiao n with their extraordinary bloodlines, their true form is where theirbat power is at its strongest.


    The golden threads that had trapped Jiao Yan snapped as he reverted to the ck Jiao, his burgeoning form stretching them taut, the golden light on the threads trembling incessantly.


    "Snap already!" Madness filled Jiao Yan''s massive eyes as his body thrashed violently.


    Crash!


    Under Jiao Yan''s fierce struggle, the golden threads finally reached their breaking point, sounding like a snapping bowstring as Jiao Yan tore them apart.


    As the golden threads snapped, the Array te in the hands of the Dragon ying Saber Golden Core Cultivator was also covered in web-like cracks.


    But Jiao Yan wasn''t in good shape either; as the price for tearing apart the golden threads, his body was sliced open, flesh torn and indistinct with blood flowing profusely outwards, carrying a strong scent of blood.


    The Sword Master, of course, would not miss this opportunity. With his one arm, he gripped the Full Moon Saber tightly and pressed forward, his figure transforming into a bloody arc of light, an imposing sight to behold.


    Yet, the attack from the Golden Silk Mist Formation was far from over. Although the golden threads had been torn, the dense ck mist had not dissipated.


    Under the control of the Dragon ying Saber Golden Core Cultivator, the ck mist invaded Jiao Yan''s body frantically through his wounds.


    As he activated the Golden Silk Mist Formation, a chill shed through Han Jiu''s eyes.@@novelbin@@


    He had another formation at his disposal besides this one.


    The Sect Protection Array of the Sea God Sect.


    As the maniptor of the Sect Protection Array, Han Jiu unfurled arge aquamarine Array g, through which he could control the Sect Protection Array.


    The Spiritual Power from the Spirit Vein of the Sea God Sect surged like a tide into the Sect Protection Array.


    Under Han Jiu''s maniption, the nearly tangible Spiritual Power formed a zing beam of Spiritual Light, shooting towards the bloodied Jiao Yan, almost in unison with the Sword Master''s action.


    Bellow!


    Jiao Yan raised his dragon head and extended his ws, hard as magic artifacts, to meet the onught of attacks.


    Thud!


    Boom!


    Two markedly different but equally thunderous sounds of impact resonated.


    The left w, which was resisting the Spiritual Light, sent a sharp tingling pain through Jiao Yan, causing him great anguish, but this was the better oue.


    Because the right w, which was meant to fend off the Sword Master''s Full Moon Saber, was torn further along an existing wound, creating an evenrger gash, revealing bright red flesh. The intense pain drove Jiao Yan into an even more frenzied rage.


    "The Jiao n may have strong bodies, but how many ws do you have? How many shes can you withstand?" Seeing the effectiveness of the strikebined with the Sect Protection Array, the Sword Master taunted coldly.


    Jiao Yan remained silent, his tail whipping fiercely like a whip toward the Sword Master. As heunched the attack, Jiao Yan also threw his Magic Artifact seal, blocking the Sword Master''s retreat.


    The next moment, Jiao Yan''s expression changed.


    ¡ªConfronted with his tail sweep, the Sword Master had no intention of dodging. Instead, he brought the Full Moon Saber down upon it with a sh.


    ng!


    The piercing sound of metal colliding echoed, and the huge recoil from the collision between the Full Moon Saber and the Jiaolong''s tail made the Sword Master feel as if his internal organs were about to shift positions. With his Qi-Blood boiling, a fresh trickle of red blood immediately seeped from the corner of his mouth.


    And in such a fierce head-on sh, Jiao Yan''s tail was also shed open with a huge gash, blood gushing out as if it cost nothing.


    It must be said, the physical bodies of the Demon n are indeed strong, as Jiao Yan had already lost count of how much blood he had shed since the beginning of the battle.


    Yet, Jiao Yan''s ferocity had not diminished by a fraction.


    "Thrilling!" The Sword Master spat out a mouthful of blood-stained saliva,ughing wildly, "Come again!"


    His figure as quick as lightning, his saber technique like thunder, bringing a terrifying rumble, the Sword Master once again swung his saber at Jiao Yan.


    Han Jiu also manipted the Sect Protection Array once more, refining Spiritual Light and coordinating with the Sword Master to attack Jiao Yan.


    The omnipresent ck fog also began to show its effects, slowly paralyzing Jiao Yan''s physical body as it merged into his blood, causing his movements to be increasingly stiff.


    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!


    A series of attacks bombarded Jiao Yan relentlessly.


    Even with his frenzied rage and desperate struggles, he had no chance of escaping in the face of the Sect Protection Array operated by Han Jiu, the Golden Silk Mist Formation held by ten Golden Core Cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber, and the incessant assaults of the Nascent Soul Early Stage Sword Master who seemed to be in a frenzy.


    As tough as Jiao Yan''s body was, it couldn''t withstand the continuously worsening injuries, and the blood pouring from his body had already formed a small pool on the ground.


    Finally, Jiao Yan''s resistance grew weaker and weaker, and atst, under the Sword Master''s downward sh, Jiao Yan''s body swayed and fell straight from the sky.


    With a booming sound, the ck Jiao''s massive bodynded on the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust, and the wild Jiao Yan nowy powerless to move, his breaths weak.


    The Sword Master unleashed several golden ropes, binding the incapacitated Jiao Yan tightly.


    Jiao Yan still had his uses for the Dragon ying Saber; naturally, the Sword Master wouldn''t kill him but merely incapacitate him to vent the anger in his heart.


    With Jiao Yan subdued, what followed was the most important, most difficult, and the step that left no room for error¡ªusing Jiao Yan as bait to lure the Jiaolong Demon King into the trap they had so intricately woven in advance!


    Cold light flickered in the Sword Master''s eyes as he held the Full Moon Saber, dragging it along the spine of the ck Jiao.


    The sharp saber de, following the already torn and ragged wounds, carved a deep cut across Jiao Yan''s back, revealing a darkly glowing long sinew hidden within.


    The Sword Master grabbed the sinew and cruelly yanked it out from Jiao Yan''s body.


    This was a dragon sinew several zhang long.


    "First, the Sea God Sect, then Jiao Yan, andstly, it will be the turn of the Jiaolong Demon King," the Sword Master pocketed the dragon sinew, stepped in front of Real Person Han Qiu, and uttered, deliberately pausing between words, "Do you know why your life was spared until now?"


    Husky with emotion, the Sword Master continued, "It''s to let you witness with your own eyes how the Jiao n is annihted. Then, you will be ced before the statue of the Jiaolong to experience the torment of being sacrificed to the fiery ze."


    Han Qiu found it difficult to ept the situation of Jiao Yan''s defeat, twisting on the ground and muttering, "It''s useless, useless... You could capture Jiao Yan with the formation because he had just entered the Fourth Grade. But the Jiaolong Demon King, who is on the verge of Transforming into a Dragon¡ªhow could you be a match for him?"


    "Then watch carefully how we y the dragon," the Sword Master asserted, addressing Han Qiu and bolstering the confidence of himself and the Saber Cultivators.


    Jiao Yan had just reached the Initial Stage of the Fourth Grade, and with his Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivation as a foundation, the n targeting Jiao Yan was nearly foolproof.


    But the Jiaolong Demon King was different, hisbat power astonishing; if they were to confront him directly, the Sword Master would not be his match. Considering the vast disparity in strength, even the most perfect strategy would not have a high chance of sess.


    However, with the arrow already nocked, they had no choice but to proceed. They had reached this point, and there was no turning back now.

 Chapter 44 Seeking Subtlety with the Ancient Sword (Part 1)

    Lu Qingshan had actually begun to suspect the truth behind the Mo Family''s sudden destruction when he discovered that Mrs. Mo''s rtionship with the Mo Family was profound, yet she refused to disclose anything about the Mo Family to Mo Yan.


    Later, Mo Yan arranged for someone to use the Dragon ying Saber ording to his instructions and found information about Xue Zhuyong.


    ording to the records, Xue Zhuyong''s woodcarving shop had been operating in Jiaolong City for over thirty years.


    However, the problem was that Xue Zhuyong, as the Family Head of the Mo Family, only left Dragon Spring Ind after the Mo Family was destroyed by the Jiao n twenty years ago.


    So, how could Xue Zhuyong manage a woodcarving shop on Jiaolong Ind while residing on Dragon Spring Ind before that?


    Unless it was a case of using the ability to create a doppelg?nger.


    Moreover, ording to the tailor shop owner next door, Xue Zhuyong even had a wife who had passed away from illness about twenty years ago.


    The timing of Xue Zhuyong''s wife''s death coincided precisely with the point in time when the Mo Family fell to ruin.


    The Three-feet Edge in the woodcarving shop had already indicated that Xue Zhuyong was part of the Mo Family, but he was also undoubtedly the straightforward owner of a woodcarving shop on Jiaolong Ind, a man with a clear history, even having had a family early on.


    Under such contradictory circumstances, there''s only one exnation that could make sense of it all.@@novelbin@@


    Xue Zhuyong must have established the identity of the woodcarving shop owner on Jiaolong Ind long before any of the events.


    There''s always a reason for everything.


    The most likely reason for Xue Zhuyong to have set up another identity so early might be that he knew the Mo Family was going to encounter a disaster or he was preparing to leave the Mo Family and wanted to create a faultless retreat and identity for himself.


    Over thirty years ago, the Mo Family was prospering like never before, reaching an unparalleled zenith in its development.


    As the contemporary Family Head of the Mo Family, Xue Zhuyong was not full of ambition, but rather, he was quietly arranging a way out for himself. Was this foresight, preparing for the worst, or were there other internal reasons¡ªlike was he personally nning the downfall of the Mo Family?


    The Mo Family of Dragon Spring, a grand Sword Casting Family, might not have been as powerful as the Jiao n, but would the Jiao n overturn the Mo Family simply because of the im that the Three-feet Edge could "y a Jiaolong in the presence of a Jiaolong"?


    Lu Qingshan had always been skeptical of this im, but very few knew the real reason the Jiao n had acted against the Mo Family.


    On one hand, there was the Jiao n, from whom information was naturally unattainable.


    On the other hand was the Mo Family, but most members of the Mo Family had sunk to the bottom of the sea along with Dragon Spring Ind, making it difficult to find an entry point. The only two remaining insiders, Xue Zhuyong and Mrs. Mo, were unwilling to revisit the past.


    Only after discovering the images hidden in the Jiaolong woodcarvings and seeing the footage of Xue Zhuyong''s interaction with the Jiaolong Demon King did Lu Qingshan truly understand the cause of the Mo Family''s destruction. Explore stories on empire


    Everything had a precursor.


    Xue Zhuyong on numerous asions entered the Dragon Pool alone to provoke the Jiaolong Demon King. That couldn''t have been just for the thrill, could it?


    As shocking as the answer might be, whenbining all the evidence, it seems the most likely truth is that the downfall of the Dragon Spring Mo Family by the Jiao n was a grand scheme orchestrated by Xue Zhuyong himself.


    "Mrs. Mo, you know about Mo Yan''s enmity with the Jiao n and his ns to y the Jiaolong Demon King," Lu Qingshan said seriously, without exining the reasons for his suspicions, "You must be aware of how powerful the Jiaolong Demon King was when it destroyed your Mo Family.


    Even if Mo Yan and the others are fully prepared, the chances of failure in ying the dragon are still exceedingly high, and you understand what would happen to Mo Yan if they fail.


    However, if the Family Head of the Mo Family were willing to take action and assist Mo Yan and the others in their dragon-ying endeavor, it would undoubtedly reduce many risks and add a significant edge to the n.


    We have already found the Family Head of the Mo Family, but no matter what we do, we cannot persuade him to lend a hand.


    Therefore, only by understanding exactly what happened within the Mo Family all those years ago might we be able to convince Xue Zhuyong to act, and for Mo Yan''s sake, Mrs. Mo, it would be best if you no longer kept those events hidden from us."


    With Lu Qingshan''s speech, all color drained from Mrs. Mo''s face.


    With that said, Lu Qingshan quietly awaited Madam Mo''s response.


    Madam Mo''s face turned green and white for quite some time before she exhaled a soft breath andmented sorrowfully, "All of this is a disaster..."


    ...


    ...


    As a sword-casting family of a millennium, the Mo Family''s development and heritage had been so extensive that the factions within the family had be intricatelyplex and entangled. Under the crush ofpeting interests, there was already a hint of decay.


    In theter years of thest Family Head of the Mo Family, a covert struggle erupted over power and the position of the Family Head, aplex affair that changed the fate of many.


    And the origin of this struggle could be traced back to a once-withering and weak faction of the Mo Family¡ªthe Eighth Branch.


    The helmsman of the Eighth Branch, Mo Yinfeng, was fond of pleasures and indulgences. However, his jealous Dao Companion came from a powerful background, forcing Mo Yinfeng to submit and indulge in his affairs secretively.


    Under these circumstances, a male infant was born from the union of Mo Yinfeng and amon woman.


    Fearing that Mo Yinfeng''s Dao Companion would discover the child and kill him, the mother took the child into hiding and did not dare to give him the Mo surname. Instead, she gave her own surname to the child.


    The woman''s surname was Xue, and the babe in swaddling clothes was named Xue Zhuyong.


    After relying on one another for five or six years, the existence of Xue Zhuyong and his mother still came to light by Mo Yinfeng''s Dao Companion.


    That year, Xue Zhuyong''s mother mitted suicide," and due to her suicide, Xue Zhuyong''s life was spared, but his fate was hardly any better as he was locked away in the Mo Family''s n Prison.


    In the prison, there was a jailer with the surname Liu, who was from another n.


    Liu the Jailer, disapproving of Mo Yinfeng''s inaction and his Dao Companion''s cruelty, especially despised the way these cultivators treated a five-year-old child. Thus, he took extra care of Xue Zhuyong and would often secretly take him to his home.


    Liu the Jailer''s family treated Xue Zhuyong exceptionally well, as if he was one of their own, allowing the young Xue Zhuyong to feel the warmth of a family.


    There was also a daughter in the Liu family named Liu Zijun. She and Xue Zhuyong were of the same age, grew up together like childhood sweethearts.


    About ten yearster, when Xue Zhuyong was around fifteen, Mo Yinfeng''s Dao Companion perished in an ident. Seizing this rare opportunity, Liu the Jailer reported to Mo Yinfeng, hoping to give Xue Zhuyong his freedom.


    Only then did Mo Yinfeng remember he had a child in the n Prison. Exuberant from his release from his Dao Companion''s domination and giving little thought, he brought Xue Zhuyong out of prison and recorded him in the n register under the name Mo Zhuyong.


    After leaving the n Prison, Xue Zhuyong was permitted to learn the sword-crafting skills of the Mo Family.


    But due to his mother''s tragic death, Xue Zhuyong had always been repulsed by the Mo Family and naturally despised the study of sword-crafting, refusing to put his heart into it.


    This might have just been anothermon family entanglement, but a turn of events quietly took ce.


    Over the years, Xue Zhuyong and Liu Zijun developed a deep affection, childhood friends devoid of guile. However, knowing his own lowly status and uncertain future, Xue Zhuyong never dared to confess his feelings to Liu Zijun.


    Unexpectedly, in the second year after his release, the fair-faced Liu Zijun caught the eye of a member of the Mo Family with high status, Mo Cheng, and a betrothal letter arrived at her door.


    Liu the Jailer, just a jailer of the Mo Family from an external n, dared not openly defy the order. Reluctantly, he prepared to marry off his daughter to him.


    Xue Zhuyong and Liu Zijun both became dejected, a pair with mutual affection seemingly destined to be kept apart.


    Fortunately, as the wedding approached, Mo Cheng perished at sea in a chance encounter with a Sea Demon, and the marriage arrangement had to be annulled.


    This incident was an epiphany for Xue Zhuyong, who felt it was heaven giving him another chance to cherish the person before him. Resolutely, he went to ask for Liu Zijun''s hand in marriage.

 Chapter 176 - 45 Seeking the Slightest with the Old Sword (Part 2)

    After they married, they were penniless.


    Although Liu Zijun had no great demands for Xue Zhuyong and they led a life of happy poverty, Xue Zhuyong suddenly realized the responsibilities he should bear after getting married, as well as the importance of social status. To prevent his beloved from suffering, he had to attain a certain status.


    In the Mo Family, the best way to improve one¡¯s status was through swordsmithing.


    Despite his aversion to the Mo Family, Xue Zhuyong decided to learn the art of sword casting.


    The gentle Liu Zijun naturally supported her husband¡¯s decision, without hesitation taking out all their savings to barely afford a small courtyard with a sword casting chamber, which they named South Garden.


    Xue Zhuyong focused on sword casting, while Liu Zijun took care of his diet and daily life, managing their little household.


    However, unbeknownst to him until he started to seriously study it, Xue Zhuyong discovered he had an astonishing talent for sword casting.


    In just five years, his talent in sword casting fully emerged, and his status rose sharply, making him the most outstanding descendant within the Eighth Branch.


    Another ten years passed, and Mo Yinfeng¡¯s time hade. ording to Mo Family tradition, Xue Zhuyong, who excelled in sword casting within the Eighth Branch, became the helmsman.


    After suffering for so many years, Xue Zhuyong was finally able to provide a fulfilling and happy life for himself and his wife. Though he still harbored some resentment towards his own mother¡¯s tragic death due to the Mo Family, since the parties involved had returned to dust, Xue Zhuyong gradually buried these grudges deep in his heart, living a simple and happy life with Liu Zijun.


    Twenty yearster, it was time for the current Family Head of the Mo Family to pass the torch, and turmoil ensued within the family.


    The two most powerful branches at that time were the main house and the second house. These factions werepeting for the position of Family Head, and thepetition was fierce.


    As a sword casting family, the Mo Family had a tradition they held in high regard¡ªthe Family Head must be the most outstanding swordsmith of the current generation.


    However, the problem was that the talents of the main house¡¯s helmsman surpassed everyone from the second house.


    ording to this tradition, the main house should inherit the position of Family Head.


    Just when things seemed deadlock with no solution, someone from the second house suddenly realized that the most outstanding swordsmith among the current generation was not from the main house, but the often overlooked helmsman of the Eighth Branch, Xue Zhuyong.


    Like manna from heaven, after an extremelyplicated struggle, the second house promoted Xue Zhuyong to the position of Family Head of the Mo Family.


    Due to his childhood experiences, Xue Zhuyong did not care much for power and had little interest in the position of Family Head.


    He was content to live his simple life with Liu Zijun, knowing well the strength of the second house and willingly acting as a puppet Family Head,pletely subservient to them.


    However, within the Mo Family, everyone knew that controlling Xue Zhuyong meant controlling the Mo Family, so the other factions never gave up their struggle for power, continuously attempting to win over Xue Zhuyong in their bid for ascension.


    @@novelbin@@


    Concerned about this situation, Mo Guang, the helmsman of the second house, feared losing his hold on power. To consolidate his influence, he decided to marry his daughter to Xue Zhuyong, intending to make Xue divorce his first wife.


    However, Xue Zhuyong, who had always been obedient to Mo Guang, staunchly resisted Mo Guang¡¯s repeated threats and temptations on this matter, firmly refusing to relent.


    Later, Xue Zhuyong issued his firstmand out of his own volition after assuming the position of Family Head:


    Seeking the old sword from my humble beginnings.


    When I was down and out, I cast my first sword. Though it was of extremely poor quality and could not even be considered a magic artifact, my attachment to it was deep, and I have missed it greatly. Whoever can help me retrieve it, I will offer a substantial reward in gratitude.


    To others, this seemed like an absurd order. All this fuss just to help you find a broken sword?


    But Mo Guang understood Xue Zhuyong¡¯s intention.


    For a mere old sword, I was prepared to raise an army, let alone when ites to the wife who was there with me during my most insignificant days.


    Mo Guang did not mention wanting to marry off his daughter to Xue Zhuyong again.


    But how could Xue Zhuyong, who only desired to peacefully settle matters, fathom the poisonous hearts of those obsessed with power struggles?


    Half a yearter, Liu Zijun was gravely injured by a cultivator who snuck into the Mo Family¡¯s core area to steal, and this cultivator managed to escape the Mo Family¡¯s manhunt and vanished without a trace.


    Before dying, Liu Zijun gazed upon the face of Xue Zhuyong, unable to close her eyes peacefully.


    Xue Zhuyong was distraught with tears of blood, wanting to follow Liu Zijun to the Netherworld and grow old together.


    Struggling to hold on to herst breath, Liu Zijun told Xue Zhuyong to live well and to properly manage the Mo Family, rotten to its core.


    Xue Zhuyong, heartbroken, agreed through clenched teeth under the soft gaze of Liu Zijun.


    How could a petty thief dare to infiltrate the heart of the Mo Family and casually walk in and out unscathed, stealing nothing, yet by coincidence, kill his own wife?


    The truth behind it all was crystal clear to Xue Zhuyong.


    He had promised Liu Zijun that he would properly manage the Mo Family, and he was determined to keep his word.


    The Mo Family was already rotten to its core, and the best way to manage it was to let it perish.


    After Liu Zijun¡¯s death, Xue Zhuyong buried her in the southern garden where they were married.


    After mourning Liu Zijun for half a year, he married Mo Guang¡¯s daughter, Mo Zhizhi, inpliance with Mo Guang¡¯s wish.


    Aside from Xue Zhuyong starting to sumb to alcohol addiction, drowning his sorrows in wine daily, everything seemed normal; no one realized the depth of the hatred hidden in his heart.


    Mo Zhizhi, still a young girl, was unaware of the pain Xue Zhuyong had endured but harbored deep admiration for Xue Zhuyong, the Family Head of the Mo Family who rose from insignificance.


    Under themand of her parents, Mo Zhizhi married Xue Zhuyong.


    After bing Xue Zhuyong¡¯s wife, Mo Zhizhi devotedly took care of him as he wasted away from his emotional pain, patiently staying by his side, trying her best to be a good wife.


    Seeing Xue Zhuyong gradually regaining his spirit, she thought her care had made an impact and was ted, not realizing that Xue Zhuyong was simply gathering his energy to plot the overthrow of the Mo Family.


    Once a genius goes mad, their methods are terrifying beyond imagination.


    Xue Zhuyong spent nearly a century improving his cultivation, forging Three-feet Edge, and creating an appearance of the Mo Family¡¯s prosperity.


    But in the shadows, Xue Zhuyong had already arranged his exit n, acquired life-saving artifacts, and as Family Head of the Mo Family, purposely provoked the Jiaolong Demon King multiple times, showing the Mo Family¡¯s enmity towards the Jiao n.


    Ultimately, he got his wish and attracted the siege of the Jiao n, leading to Dragon Spring¡¯s demise.


    ...


    "Old sword, enduring affection, legacy of love in the southern garden." Lu Qingshan sighed deeply, understanding all the circumstances, and asked softly, "I have yet to ask for Madam Mo¡¯s name?"


    Madam Mo¡¯s face was covered with tears, her eyes red and swollen, and she sobbed, "Mo... Zhizhi."

 Chapter 177 - 46 The Final Battle Location

    Lu Qingshan was at a loss for words temporarily.


    During the copse of the Mo Family, he couldn¡¯t judge who was right or wrong.


    Was Xue Zhuyong at fault?


    The Mo Family had killed his mother and his wife, the two women he loved most in this life. Was there anything wrong with him seeking revenge for that?


    Was Xue Zhuyong not at fault?


    That couldn¡¯t be said either, since Xue Zhuyong¡¯s revenge was undoubtedly too extreme. There were still many innocent people within the Mo Family.


    But no matter what, Lu Qingshan had no right to judge the correctness of Xue Zhuyong¡¯s actions, because he was well aware of one thing.


    Don¡¯t preach benevolence to others if you haven¡¯t seen their suffering.


    You haven¡¯t experienced the hardship Xue Zhuyong has endured, so what right do you have to stand as a bystander and pity others?


    However, what wrong had Mo Zhizhi done?


    Seeing Mo Zhizhi¡¯s face full of tears yet still bright as the moon, Lu Qingshan sighed deeply.


    If she had married someone else, a woman like Mo Zhizhi should have led a worry-free life.


    But even without doing anything wrong, just because she was Mo Guang¡¯s daughter, she had to endure such suffering.


    The husband she loved most had pushed her father and all her n members to their deaths. With such a heavy burden to bear, who could understand the pain in Mo Zhizhi¡¯s heart?


    "Madam Mo..." Zang Xiaojian, who knew all the details of the story, felt deep sympathy for Mo Zhizhi and wanted to step forward tofort her.


    However, before Zang Xiaojian could approach, Mo Zhizhi swept away the tears from her face in an instant. A resolute expression crossed her face as she continued, "Back then, Zhuyong led the Jiao n to besiege the ind, destroying the Mo Family. He had prepared an escape route for himself long before.


    In the days before that, he deceived me, saying he would take me out for a change of scenery, having me leave the Mo Family to wait for him on Jiaolong Ind. It was after the destruction of the Mo Family that he rushed to Jiaolong Ind to tell me the truth.


    He told me he felt everyone in the Mo Family deserved to die, except me, for whom he felt sorry. He apologized to me.


    At that time, I hated him for being heartless and cruel and refused to pay him any more attention. Zhuyong left behind arge portion of assets he had brought out from the Mo Family for me, as well as theplete Artifact Refining legacy of the Mo Family, and then he quietly left.


    It was also because of the assets he left that I was able to raise Yan¡¯er to be a Cultivator."


    "Does the Family Head of the Xue Family know of Mo Yan¡¯s existence?" Lu Qingshan grasped the key point.


    Mo Zhizhi shook her head with a bitter smile and said, "He doesn¡¯t know. At that time, I had just discovered that I was pregnant with Yan¡¯er. I wanted to find a good opportunity to tell Zhuyong, thinking of giving him a surprise. But then, all this happened, so naturally, I couldn¡¯t possibly discuss it with him anymore."


    Lu Qingshan nodded, roughly understanding the situation now.


    Clearly, Mo Yan was the key to persuading Xue Zhuyong to take action.


    However, it remains to be seen whether Xue Zhuyong, who once valued loyalty and righteousness twenty years ago, would still be willing to risk his life and make a move for this son he had never known about.


    "Madam Mo, we n to find the Xue Family Head again. Would you like to join us?" Lu Qingshan paused before adding, "If thedy personally spoke out, it would be very difficult for the Family Head to refuse your request, regardless of the circumstances."


    Mo Zhizhi¡¯s face showed a great struggle, but she finally made up her mind and said, "Alright, I¡¯ll go with you."


    Moo moo moo moo¡«


    Quite abruptly, the continuous roars of Jiao Beasts, getting closer and louder, gradually reached everyone¡¯s ears.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze sharpened and, looking up, he saw hundreds of small ck shadows in the distance growing continuouslyrger, their outlines bing discernible.


    "It¡¯s the Jiao n, the Jiaolong Demon King has brought hundreds of Jiao n members with him!" Zang Xiaojian said.


    "We need to hurry," Lu Qingshan spoke with a grave tone, "Since the Jiao n has arrived, then the final battle between the Dragon ying Saber Cultivator and the Jiaolong Demon King is sure to be imminent."


    Qin Yitian nodded, "Then let¡¯s set out immediately."


    Lu Qingshan, leading Mo Zhizhi, quickly made their way back to the woodcarving shop.


    ...


    Moo! Moo! Moo!


    The roars of Jiao Beasts, which had been faintly audible just moments ago, were now thundering right at their ears, mingled with the panicked cries of the city¡¯s popce.


    Hundreds of Jiao Beasts flew over Dragon City, heading toward the Sea God Sect, with the imposing Jiaolong Demon King at the forefront.


    The terrifying pressure of a Fourth Grade Demon Beast, the furious Jiaolong Demon King, released without restraint; where he passed, all mortals felt as if a thousand pounds were pressing on them, and in an instant, their legs gave way, making them copse to the ground.


    It wasn¡¯t until the Jiaolong Demon King had gone far that these civilians managed to shakily stand up.


    They didn¡¯t know what had happened, but their survival instincts told them that such arge mobilization of Jiao Beasts meant that something extremely serious must be happening. They all began closing their stalls and rushing home to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.


    The once bustling Dragon City had turned into a city of death with the arrival of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Lu Qingshan and the group of four had also arrived at the woodcarving shop.


    However, just as Mo Zhizhi was about to enter the wood carving shop, her steps suddenly halted.


    This was a feeling akin to being homesick or cowardly.


    Even though Mo Zhizhi had mentally prepared herself for the encounter with Xue Zhuyong on the way here, when the moment actually arrived, she instinctively felt intimidated.


    Knowing that time was pressing, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t urge Mo Zhizhi.


    Some psychological barriers can only be ovee by the individual themselves.


    After hesitating for a moment, Mo Zhizhi¡¯s voice trembled slightly as she said, "Let¡¯s go."


    Yet her position was subconsciously half a step behind Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan, unconcerned, stepped into the wood carving shop.


    This time, as his gaze swept over the wooden carvings on the shelves, he understood that these were not simple carvings, but a miniature of all the experiences in Xue Zhuyong¡¯s life.


    The carving at the very center of the shelf, the one of a woman with a warm face and a bright smile, was Xue Zhuyong¡¯s first wife, Liu Zijun.


    To the right of Liu Zijun, the carving of an elderly couple snuggled together must represent the jailer Liu and his wife, whom Xue Zhuyong regarded as his own.


    And the carving of a middle-aged woman to the left of Liu Zijun was Xue Zhuyong¡¯s mother, who had mitted suicide" to death.


    With so many carvings in the entire shop, the ones that were casually for sale were all the rest, except for these four carvings in the most prominent position, as well as the one of Mo Zhizhi in the corner, which though seemingly neglected by Xue Zhuyong, was actually well-cared for and dust-free. These carvings were not for sale.


    Because, to Xue Zhuyong, all other life segments were insignificant; only these five people were the most cherished in his life, the memories he couldn¡¯t and didn¡¯t want to cut away.


    Xue Zhuyong, as usual, casually nced at the customers who entered, and upon seeing Lu Qingshan leading the way, his expression darkened, his impatience prepping to shoo them away.


    But then his gaze suddenly froze, and his right hand holding the wine pot trembled slightly.


    "Zhizhi, why have youe..." Xue Zhuyong¡¯s voice was very hoarse.


    The woman standing half a step behind Lu Qingshan was none other than his second Daopanion, Mo Zhizhi.


    Mo Zhizhi, who had been timid outside, now that she was facing Xue Zhuyong and didn¡¯t want him to see her frailty, actually hardened her stance, pursed her lips, and said firmly, "I¡¯ve encountered a trouble that I cannot resolve on my own, and I need you... to lend a hand."


    "Alright," Xue Zhuyong answered without asking what the trouble was, nor how to help, and readily agreed.


    Mo Zhizhi¡¯s eyes glistened with tears, and Xue Zhuyong¡¯s simple and decisive affirmation shattered her feigned strength, "Years ago, you lured the Jiaolong Demon King to Dragon Spring Ind, leading to the downfall of the Mo Family.


    Over the years, I have never mentioned the past to our child, but he still ended up facing the Jiaolong Demon King, as if by destiny."


    "You¡¯ve seen the Jiao n outside, their imposing force. How could I rest easy letting Yan¡¯er face this situation alone?"


    "Our... child?" Xue Zhuyong¡¯s voice trembled slightly, disbelieving.


    Mo Zhizhi nodded gently, "When the Mo Family was destroyed, I was already pregnant, but before I could tell you, it was..."


    Xue Zhuyong was momentarily speechless, silent for a long while, then asked shakily, "What is our son like...?"


    "His name is Mo Yan." Pride shone on Mo Zhizhi¡¯s face. "He is excellent. Though he is not yet of age, whether it be in cultivation or artifact refining skills, he is outstanding!"


    "Good! Good!" Xue Zhuyong struggled to contain his excitement.


    "You¡¯ve seen him before, the young cultivator who came to the wood carving shop the other day to look for us, that was Mo Yan." Zang Xiaojian interjected with a smirk.


    Xue Zhuyong was taken aback, recalling the image of that day, hesitantly saying, "That was my son...?"


    His eyes gradually brightened, but his expression quickly became serious because he had felt the pressure from the Jiao beast fading, indicating that the Jiao beast was about to leave Jiaolong City.


    "What exactly is the situation?" Xue Zhuyong asked, "Tell me about it."


    Xue Zhuyong, who could devise a n over a century to bring down the Mo Family, was naturally a cautious person and immediately inquired about the detailed intelligence.


    Lu Qingshan spoke concisely, exining all the key points to Xue Zhuyong.


    "One-on-one, I am no match for the Jiaolong Demon King, but neither can the Jiaolong Demon King kill me," Xue Zhuyong confidently said, "If, as you¡¯ve said, the Dragon ying Saber has been nning this for decades, then with my help, I think we should have at least a fifty percent chance of taking down the Jiaolong Demon King."


    "Where does the Dragon ying Saber n to y the dragon?" The usually unkempt and listless Xue Zhuyong now showed his sharp edge, with a burst of cold light in his eyes.


    "I¡¯ll ask Master Mo now where they n to y the dragon!" Seeing that Xue Zhuyong was persuaded, Zang Xiaojian, excited, clenched his fist and quickly took out the Communication Token left by Mo Yan to send a Spirit Message inquiring about the specifics.


    But all messages were like stones dropped into the sea without any response.


    Zang Xiaojian became somewhat panicked.


    "It must be that the area he is currently in has been sealed by a formation, blocking allmunication," Lu Qingshan said.


    "So what do we do?" The fact that Xue Zhuyong was willing to act shed with this obstacle, greatly vexing Zang Xiaojian. "We should have asked Master Mo where they intended to act when we parted."


    @@novelbin@@


    A glint of light crossed Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes as he softly said, "The ce for the final battle does not necessarily have to be revealed by Master Mo himself for us to know.


    Because... it¡¯s not hard to guess."

 Chapter 178 - 47: Spiritual Abyss

    "Not hard to guess?" Zang Xiaojian was taken aback and puzzledly said, "Do you have a way to know where the Dragon ying Saber ns to y the dragon?"


    Xue Zhuyong and Mo Zhizhi heard this and both turned their gaze toward Lu Qingshan, waiting for his next exnation.


    "The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s strength has reached the peak of the Fourth Grade, and the Dragon ying Saber certainly can¡¯t surpass him.


    In such a situation with such disparity inbat power, to y the dragon, one must rely on external forces." Lu Qingshan paused with each word as he analyzed, "Formations are naturally the first choice of external aid, but given the magnitude of this affair, if the Dragon ying Saber only prepared the formation, it would certainly not be secure enough.


    After all, since we¡¯re dealing with a scheme to lure the Jiaolong Demon King into a trap, such an overt n would not leave the Demon King unguarded; therefore, the Dragon ying Saber must also prepare another trump card aside from the formation."


    "But what trump card could possibly allow the Dragon ying Saber to y the dragon?" Lu Qingshan countered. "If counterattacking the Jiaolong Demon King were so easily prepared, then the three Upper Sects of Jiaolong Ind wouldn¡¯t have been defeated so miserably back then, and there wouldn¡¯t be sayings about cultivators oveing grades as if scaling the heavens."


    "Indeed, that¡¯s true," Zang Xiaojian nodded his tiny head, but then he looked puzzled, "Then, what does this have to do with their chosen battleground?"


    "Interestingly, doesn¡¯t Jiaolong Ind have a natural location that acts as a deadly trap for High Level Cultivators?" Lu Qingshan revealed the answer.


    "You mean," Zang Xiaojian suddenly realized and eximed, "the Spiritual Abyss! They must be nning to use the power of the Spiritual Abyss to counterattack the Jiaolong Demon King."


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    This matter was indeed not hard to guess. After putting himself in that situation, if it were up to him to counterattack the Jiaolong Demon King with these existing forces, he would definitely consider the Spiritual Abyss as his trump card.


    Thus, Zang Xiaojian had merely needed him to suggest a little, and he had guessed the answer as well.


    The Spiritual Abyss, a ce where no one was heard to have evere out safely after falling in. Over thousands of years, it was the most mysterious and deadliest locale on Jiaolong Ind.


    Lu Qingshan did not believe that after nning for so many years, the Dragon ying Saber could fail to think of using the Spiritual Abyss.


    "Then I¡¯ll go to the Spiritual Abyss immediately," Xue Zhuyong nodded in agreement with Lu Qingshan¡¯s words and dered solemnly.


    "I¡¯ll apany you," Lu Qingshan said. "I¡¯m fairly acquainted with Mo Yan, otherwise, if Family Head Xue were to approach them without knowing anyone, the Dragon ying Saber wouldn¡¯t easily trust a stranger in such crucial matters."


    "You¡¯re making sense," Xue Zhuyong nced at Lu Qingshan, "thene with me."


    "I¡¯ll go with you as well," Zang Xiaojian volunteered without any hesitation.


    "And me," Qin Yitian also said softly.


    Lu Qingshan nced at the two, thought for a moment, and then made a decision, "You bothe with us. I¡¯m afraid it will be trouble for Mrs. Mo to wait here in the city for news."


    Mo Zhizhi fell silent for a long while before she finally nodded and softly said to Xue Zhuyong, "Come back alive... with Yan¡¯er."


    Xue Zhuyong silently nodded.


    The reason Lu Qingshan arranged it this way was simple.


    He was very clear about the character of Zang Xiaojian; stopping him would definitely be impossible.


    Moreover, Zang Xiaojian, who clearly came from no ordinary background, would certainly have a few life-saving items given by senior sect members when traveling alone, so Lu Qingshan was not too worried about his safety.


    As for Qin Yitian, if he was not mistaken, the origin of her Dragon Breath and Dragon Pool likely had a significant connection. Moreover, with Qin Yitian¡¯s elusive presence, which made it impossible to determine her cultivation level, such a mysterious and unpredictabledy would certainly have no need to worry about her personal safety.


    As for Mo Zhizhi, that was different.


    Firstly, Mo Zhizhi¡¯s cultivation was not high; if she rashly went to the battlefield, it would be far too dangerous.


    Another very important reason was her close rtionships with Xue Zhuyong and Mo Yan. If anything were to happen to her, it would inevitably affect Xue Zhuyong, making it a very unstable factor.


    In such circumstances, to eliminate unstable factors and avoid overly dramatic scenarios, even though he knew Mo Zhizhi was anxious, Lu Qingshan still had her stay in Jiaolong City.


    Mo Zhizhi understood the reasoning, so even though she desperately wanted to go to the Spiritual Abyss, she stayed in the city as Lu Qingshan suggested.


    "Let¡¯s go," Lu Qingshan turned and motioned for Zang Xiaojian and Qin Yitian to set off.


    However, turning back to see the expressions on the two faces, Lu Qingshan felt somewhat speechless.


    Despite the immense danger of the situation, Zang Xiaojian was visibly excited, his eyes sparkling.


    And Qin Yitian had a gentle, smiling expression.


    "What are youughing at?" Lu Qingshan knew Zang Xiaojian¡¯s temperament all too well, so it was not too surprising, but he was rather puzzled by Qin Yitian¡¯s reaction.


    With sparkling eyes, Qin Yitian said, "I just think that Young Master Lu, you... are quite impressive."


    "Ah?" Lu Qingshan was somewhat baffled by Qin Yitian¡¯s answer.


    ...


    Sea God Sect.


    The Jiaolong Demon King led the massive surge of Jiao Beasts into the area.


    The lower-grade cultivators of the Sea God Sect had not realized that their sect¡¯s Golden Core senior cultivators had already been wiped out, and they were going about their usual activities. The grand arrival of the Jiaolong Demon King immediately terrified them to the point of losing their souls.


    The lower-grade cultivators responsible for the formation nervously activated the formation firstly, letting the Jiao n into the sect, and then immediately sent spirit messages to notify the upper cultivators in the sect. They were horrified to find that all the spirit messages were sunk without a trace.


    The Jiaolong Demon King looked at these lower-grade cultivators with a cold gaze and without stopping, his massive form flew straight towards the core area of the Sea God Sect.


    Before the main hall of the sect.


    On the wide open square, remnants of the previous fierce battle were still present.


    The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s body was entwined in a whirl of ck smoke, transforming into a handsome young man dressed in ck.


    This was the human-incarnation form of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    @@novelbin@@


    Rage filled the eyes of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    On the ground before him, there were patches of dried blood.


    It was the blood of Jiao Yan.


    "Human Race!" The Jiaolong Demon King ground his teeth with a grating sound.


    Crack.


    An eerily strange sound arose.


    The Jiaolong Demon King turned his gaze towards the source of the sound.


    An array te shimmered with light, and then, a light screen emerged above it.


    Blood-covered Jiao Yan, bound by golden ropes and barely breathing, with dull massive eyes, finally sparked a glint upon seeing his father through the light screen, "Father King..."


    The Jiaolong Demon King didn¡¯t respond, waiting for something.


    Momentster, the one-armed Sword Master appeared on the light screen.


    "Jiaolong Demon King, if you still want to save the life of your only offspring," the Sword Master paused, his eyes full of battle intent, "thene and fight here."


    This was a tant scheme.


    Predicated on the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s value of Jiao Yan and confidence in his own strength, even knowing that the location set by the Sword Master was a trap meant for his demise, he would definitely attend this ¡¯banquet.¡¯


    As for the oue, it would depend on whose fist was harder.


    With scorn and disdain in his eyes, the Jiaolong Demon King sinisterly said, "Years ago I was able to take one of your arms, today I can certainly leave you with no trace of your corpse."


    He had already recognized that the Sword Master was the Sect Master of the Blood de Sect, the human representative in the battle against the Jiao n hundreds of years ago.


    "Then I shall await you here!" the Sword Master shouted fiercely.


    Swish!


    The next instant, light shattered into glimmers of spiritual light and dissipated.


    With a wave of his left hand, the Jiaolong Demon King smashed the array te into powder, swept his fierce gaze, and roared, "Follow me, we¡¯ll exterminate the Human Race!"

 Chapter 179 - 48: Golden Core Advancement Task

    Outside the Spiritual Abyss, in and shrouded by drifting mist, four streaks of Escaping Light suddenly came to a halt.


    Xue Zhuyong scrutinized the ceaselessly churning clouds in front of him, his eyebrows slightly raised. "Lad, your guess wasn¡¯t wrong, there¡¯s indeed an incredibly vast Formation enveloping this ce. It appears to be the ground for the final kill set up by the Dragon ying Saber."


    The next moment, Xue Zhuyong released his Divine Sense, sweeping it across the Formation before him.


    Within the Formation.


    Most of the cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber gathered here, yet everyone sported solemn expressions, a heavy atmosphere steadily brewing.


    At the instant Xue Zhuyong unleashed his Divine Sense, the Sword Master¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed.


    "What¡¯s the matter, Sword Master?" the cultivator Tong Zheng observed the Sword Master¡¯s perturbed demeanor.


    "There¡¯s a Nascent Soul Cultivator outside the Formation," the Sword Master said with concentration.


    "Aside from you, Sword Master, there¡¯s actually a second Nascent Soul Cultivator on Jiaolong Ind?!" Tong Zheng was incredibly astonished, and also filled with concern. "And to appear at such a time, I wonder what their intentions are..."


    "I¡¯ll go out and check the situation," said the Sword Master, his expression gradually calming down.


    ...


    Within the ethereal mist, ripples suddenly formed and, as the clouds and fog dissipated, a one-armed middle-aged male cultivator flew out from within.


    "Who are you?" The Sword Master stood suspended in mid-air, sizing up the four individuals before him with a scrutinizing gaze.


    The group looked somewhat odd¡ªthe leader was a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and as for the other three cultivators, two were minor Foundation Establishment ones, and one more... Eh?


    The Sword Master¡¯s brows abruptly furrowed.


    Because he couldn¡¯t see through the cultivation of thest, a remarkably beautiful female cultivator.


    A Great Cultivator whose cultivation surpassed the Nascent Soul Stage?


    The Sword Master shook his head inwardly.


    It didn¡¯t seem likely; even if he couldn¡¯t see through the cultivation realm of someone stronger than him, surely their presence shouldn¡¯t be like this woman¡¯s, devoid of any threat.


    "We are friends of Master Mo, and having heard that the Dragon ying Saber is prepared to y dragons today, we specifically came to lend assistance," Lu Qingshan exined, stepping forward as the Sword Master pondered.


    The Sword Master paused, "Mo Yan¡¯s friends?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    "Wait here, I¡¯ll call out Mo Yan," the Sword Master said decisively.


    If this were true, it meant their side could garner the support of another Nascent Soul Cultivator in battling the Jiao n, increasing their chances of victory.


    Shortly after, Mo Yan flew out of the Formation with a look of surprise, "How did you guys get here?"


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t speak, giving his ce to Xue Zhuyong.


    How to proceed was entirely for Xue Zhuyong to decide.


    Mo Yan was taken aback; Xue Zhuyong¡¯s features seemed somewhat familiar to him.


    Isn¡¯t this the owner of that woodcarving shop? A Nascent Soul Cultivator?!


    Upon careful reconsideration, Mo Yan finally recognized Xue Zhuyong¡¯s identity. Though his nce had been casual at that time, the cultivator¡¯s ability to remember everything they saw allowed him to recall Xue Zhuyong¡¯s appearance.


    Xue Zhuyong stared bluntly at Mo Yan, and for a moment, he found himself at a loss for words. After a brief silence, he managed to speak with some difficulty, "I heard from Lu Qingshan that you¡¯re nning to strike at the Jiaolong Demon King.


    The Jiao n is so brutal, and I¡¯ve had my share of disputes with them. Moreover, as a member of the Human Race, it¡¯s also my duty to y the Demon n that hunts and kills the popce. Therefore, I am willing to participate in this dragon-ying operation to lend you my support."


    In the end, for reasons unknown, Xue Zhuyong chose not to directly reveal his identity to Mo Yan.


    Mo Yan felt slightly disconcerted under the intense gaze of Xue Zhuyong and promptly shook his head, looking towards Lu Qingshan for an exnation.


    Lu Qingshan nodded at Mo Yan, without saying much else.


    Having received affirmation from Lu Qingshan, Mo Yan then conveyed to the Sword Master, "Those three young cultivators were with me when we went to the Dragon Pool to destroy the Dragon Transformation Pool. Anyone they bring should be trustworthy."


    The Sword Master, having received the message from Mo Yan, now understood and said aloud to Xue Zhuyong, "The battle we face is unpredictable and extremely dangerous. Your willingness to lend assistance is indeed a noble act. May I know how to address you?"


    "Xue Zhuyong," the Family Head calmly stated.


    The Sword Master greeted Xue Zhuyong and led him and the three others¡ªincluding Lu Qingshan¡ªinto the Formation.


    Within the Great Formation, cultivators abounded.


    The Sword Master first introduced Xue Zhuyong¡¯s identity to the cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber, then began to discuss the details of the dragon-ying endeavor privately.


    "When facing the Jiaolong Demon King, Xue Daoist friend just needs to coordinate with me to keep the Jiaolong Demon King upied. We have our own arrangements here..." Although Mo Yan provided assurance, the Sword Master still did not disclose the specifics of the Dragon ying Saber¡¯s setup, only briefly informing Zhuyong about the general situation before discussing the task at hand.


    "I have no issues," Xue Zhuyong said sinctly.


    Meanwhile.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Lu Daoist friend, who exactly is True Monarch Xue?" Mo Yan asked Lu Qingshan.


    All this time on Jiaolong Ind, he had believed that there was only one Nascent Soul Cultivator among them¡ªthe Sword Master of the Dragon ying Saber.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Qingshan, a cultivator who had arrived on the ind less than half a month ago, mysteriously brought them a Nascent Soul Cultivator for support, leaving Mo Yan both astonished and puzzled.


    "Since he is unwilling to reveal his specific identity to you, it¡¯s not my ce to say more," Lu Qingshan exined. "However, Master Mo can rest assured, he is most certainly sincere about assisting the Dragon ying Saber."


    "I naturally trust the people Lu Daoist friend brings," Mo Yan said with a heartyugh, then asked further, "But are all three of you also nning to participate in this dragon-ying endeavor?"


    "What, are we not wee?" Zang Xiaojian swung his fist towards Mo Yan.

 Chapter 180 - 48: Golden Core Advancement Task_2

    "Naturally, you are wee, but I did not expect you two, who are not from Jiaolong Ind, would also be willing to engage in such a dangerous venture with no apparent benefit," Mo Yan said with a sped hand salute.


    Lu Qingshan touched his nose but did not speak further.


    Zang Xiaojian indeed had a heart of pure loyalty, but his reason for staying and participating in the dragon-ying battle was not that simple. Apart from harboring a killer intent towards the Jiao n, a more significant reason was that the Three-feet Edge was in Xue Zhuyong¡¯s possession.


    In the predetermined course of history, two monthster, Xue Zhuyong would carry the Three-feet Edge to counterattack the Jiaolong Demon King. After this battle, the Three-feet Edge would disappear.


    He was worried that history would repeat itself.


    Therefore, for the sake of the Three-feet Edge, he also had to be present to witness the entire process of the battle to prevent the mysterious disappearance of the Three-feet Edge again.


    Lu Qingshan was naturally aware of the significant risks involved.


    But to gain benefits and yet not want to undertake any risk¡ªwhere in the world does such a good deal exist?


    Lu Qingshan could not help but sigh lightly again.


    His initial n was to find Xue Zhuyong first, and to obtain the Three-feet Edge before his major battle with the Jiaolong Demon King.


    While he did find the person, the battle with the Jiaolong Demon King was still inevitable, and moreover, it was he who had personally driven this battle.


    ...


    Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the Jiaolong Demon King to arrive.


    Having some spare time, Lu Qingshan found a secluded spot, took out a white jade bottle Magic Artifact filled with Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid, activated the Returning Ruins Scripture technique, and began to absorb the Spiritual Liquid within.


    Before the battle started, he was prepared to enhance his strength.


    "Absorbing Spiritual Liquid, gaining an enhancement from the Taoist Level technique Returning Ruins Scripture, absorption speed enhanced: 100%... Absorptionplete, conversion yields 400,370 Experience Points."


    Before long, an entire bottle of Dragon Transforming Spiritual Liquid was depleted.


    Lu Qingshan gained the most significant amount of Experience Points he had ever seen to date.


    With the fierce battle against the Jiao n just ahead, Lu Qingshan naturally was not in the mood to save up Experience Points any longer and began using them decisively to enhance his Combat Power.


    Enhancing the level of his technique, which enhances his own Spiritual Power Value, is always the most cost-effective choice and also a priority.


    "[Returning Ruins Scripture] upgraded to lv11, Spiritual Power Value +100!"


    ...


    "[Returning Ruins Scripture] upgraded to lv13, Spiritual Power Value +100!"


    "Your Rank has been elevated to theter stages of the Foundation Establishment, Divine Sense +10!"


    ...


    "[Returning Ruins Scripture] upgraded to lv18, Spiritual Power Value +100!"


    "[Returning Ruins Scripture] upgraded to lv19, Spiritual Power Value +100!"


    "Your Rank has reached the Perfection of Foundation Establishment, Divine Sense +10!"


    "[Returning Ruins Scripture] upgraded to lv20 (max)! The technique has been upgraded to the highest level, additionally gaining Spiritual Power Value +1000, mastery of Technique Divine Ability: [Power of the Mountains and Seas]."


    [Power of the Mountains and Seas]


    Description: Seizes the power of the mountains/seas within a ten-mile radius, augmenting oneself. However, as a consequence, the mountains/seas from which the power is seized will be devoid of all life, turning into a barren wastnd.


    Additional Information: The range of the Power of the Mountains and Seas will increase with the cultivator¡¯s Rank.


    Spell Cost: None


    Cooldown Time: 1 day


    ...


    "Your Spiritual Power Value limit exceeds 3000, Talent [Spiritual Power Control] (Intermediate) upgraded to [Spiritual Power Control] (High Level)!"


    [Spiritual Power Control] (High Level): The advancement in Cultivation allows you to control Spiritual Power more exquisitely. Spiritual Power Control +3 (Current enhancement: Spiritual Power Amplification +30%)"


    "Detected that you have reached the current Rank¡¯s maximum level, you can choose the Golden Core Advancement Task!"


    "Please select the difficulty of the Golden Core advancement task (First Grade to Ninth Grade, up to Ninth Grade). Note, the higher the difficulty of the advancement taskpleted, the higher the enhancement obtained during advancement, and the higher the quality of the formed Golden Core."


    Starting from the Golden Core, one can freely choose the difficulty of the advancement task.


    Because the quality of the Golden Core formed by cultivators can be differentiated from one pattern to nine patterns.


    The higher the quality of the Golden Core, the greater the enhancement it provides to the cultivator.


    A Nine-Pattern Golden Core cultivator is definitely far stronger than a One-Pattern Golden Core cultivator.


    This is also why yers should not focus solely on advancing Cultivation but should also consider enhancing their skill levels.


    If the skill level isn¡¯t high enough, naturally, thebat power will also be weaker, consequently, one can only choose to undertake lower-level progression tasks.


    If the quality of the Golden Core formed isn¡¯t high, the rank bonus obtained will also be weakerpared to others, and in the long run, this vicious cycle will further widen the gap inbat power between yers of the same rank, not to mentionpared to those genius NPCs.


    This is the so-called difference between exceptional cultivators and ordinary ones.


    In his past life, even as a sword cultivator ranked in the top ten, the Golden Core Lu Qingshan had formed during the Golden Core Stage was only of Seven Patterns quality.


    But this time, with the Taoist rank Cultivation Technique, the Returning Ruins Scripture, and many powerful sword techniques to rely on, Lu Qingshan felt more confident and assertive than before.


    He was determined to form the highest quality Nine-Pattern Golden Pill!


    "Select the Ninth Grade progression task!"


    "You have obtained the Ninth Grade progression task[Nine-Pattern Golden Pill]."


    [Nine-Pattern Golden Pill]: 1. Learn a Golden Core Technique (The technique level must not be less than Heaven Rank).


    2. Kill enemies of the same rank (0/100), and enemies above your rank (0/3).


    3. Master the talent[Spiritual Power Control](High Level).


    4. Reach the firstyer of the Solidifying Form Realm at the initial stage in the Divine Soul Realm (44/100).


    To form a Nine-Pattern Golden Pill, there are four task conditions. The first is a stringent requirement on the cultivation technique because if the technique is only Mortal Level or Spirit Level, it indeed wouldn¡¯t make sense to form a Nine-Pattern Golden Pill.


    The second task condition is of the nature of a trial, requiring one to kill a hundred enemies of the same rank, where the difficulty lies in finding such arge number of same-rank enemies.


    As for killing three above-rank enemies, the difficulty lies in the quality of those kills.


    Advancing beyond one¡¯s rank is never an easy task.


    This task isn¡¯t simple, but perhaps, through this dragon-ying battle, he has the opportunity toplete arge portion of the targets.


    Thest two task conditions are about the cultivator¡¯s own mana and divine sense, practicing the Returning Ruins Scripture allowed Lu Qingshan¡¯s spiritual power to be much purer and deeper than that of an ordinary cultivator, so he already met the requirements for spiritual power.


    The difficult part is the Divine Soul Realm.


    The firstyer of the Divine Soul Realm is the Solidifying Form Realm, within which cultivators can condense their souls into primordial spirits and look inward at the primordial spirit.


    The entry requirement for this realm is for the divine sense to reach a count of one hundred.


    If one doesn¡¯t practice any divine sense training spells, and merely relies on upgrading through levels, a cultivator at the perfection of the Foundation Establishment Stage could only reach a divine sense of around forty, far from the Solidifying Form Realm.


    Indeed, both the Solidifying Form Realm and Spiritual Power Control (High Level) are abilities typical of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    The meaning of this progression task is simple and clear: only those who can elevate their mana and divine sense topare with Golden Core Cultivators during the Foundation Establishment Stage are qualified and capable of forming the highest quality Nine-Pattern Golden Pill!


    ...


    Lu Qingshan spent a total of 190,000 experience points to elevate the Returning Ruins Scripture from level ten to the maximum level of twenty.


    Looking at the remaining 210,000 experience points in the experience bar, Lu Qingshan began to improve his skill levels.


    With thebined effects of the Innate Swordseed and Primary Level Sword Technique Affinity talents, Lu Qingshan invested 50,000 of the experience points in the Flying Sword Technique, upgrading it to the maximum level twenty.


    The Wind-Cutting Secret Sword, due to frequent use, was currently at lv1 (1500/2000). Lu Qingshan thought about it and invested nearly 20,000 experience points, leveling it to lv5.


    With each level increase in the Wind-Cutting Secret Sword, the additional two stages of damage each increase by 5%, and the cooldown time is reduced by 5 seconds.


    [Secret Sword: Wind sh]lv5 (0/12000)


    Skill effect: Consumes 10% of the maximum spiritual power, the next attack will cause two additional attack stages, the second-stage attack damage is 80% of the base damage, and the third-stage attack damage is 50% of the base damage.


    Additional effect: Each additional attack stage will carry an attack special effect.


    Cooldown time: 2 minutes and 40 seconds


    ...


    Moreover, Lu Qingshan spent 50,000 experience points, also raising the Formless Sword Escape to lv5.


    At this level, the distance that Formless Sword Escape can apany the Flying Sword has reached sixty feet.


    Finally, with the remaining nearly 150,000 experience points, Lu Qingshan only kept 10,000 for unexpected needs, and the rest was entirely invested into the Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique.


    "Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique upgraded to lv3, divine sense +2!"


    ...


    @@novelbin@@


    "Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique upgraded to lv6, divine sense +5!"


    ...


    "Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique upgraded to lv10, divine sense +5!"

 Chapter 181 - 49 Prologue

    Lu Qingshan¡¯s spirit focused intently, seriously feeling the changes within himself, familiarizing himself with the surge of strength.


    Inside his Dantian, what had been only a shallowyer of Spiritual Liquid was now brimming full, as if about to overflow.


    His Spiritual Power, in terms of purity and depth, was undoubtedly unique among Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    To take another step forward, he would need to solidify the overflowing Spiritual Liquid within his Dantian into a Golden Core.


    Lu Qingshan opened his slightly closed eyes, and a strange luster shed through his pitch-ck pupils, twinkling with divine light.


    He looked around; whether it was the sound of the wind or other noises, everything was much clearer than before, due to the immense enhancement of his Divine Sense and perception.


    Just as he was about to release his Divine Sense to try and cover the range it could now reach,


    Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!


    A deafening barrage of sonic booms suddenly came from the sky above.


    Lu Qingshan hurriedly looked up, only to see the outer clouds that had been enshrouding the area start to churn violently.


    The next moment, the clouds began to steam and dissipate.


    In just a few breaths of time, all the clouds vanishedpletely.


    Hundreds of massive Jiao Beasts appeared in mid-air, circling.


    Every Jiao Beast was covered in ayer of dragon scales. Under the sunlight, the scales reflected specks of a cold gleam, dazzling and blinding, like the sharp edge of a cold weapon.


    Hovering in front of this group of Jiao Beasts was a man in ck, his voice brutal and hoarse, "You puny creatures, the King has arrived."


    It was the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Not far from Lu Qingshan, a Blood Light rose up.


    The Sword Master¡¯s Qi-Blood surged within him, hanging in the air, his figure stopping in front of the Jiaolong Demon King, standing at the same height as the Jiaolong Demon King.


    "Where is Jiao Yan?" The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s eyes shed with dangerous intent, his gaze unrestrainedly scanning the Sword Master¡¯s empty left sleeve, an undeniable challenge in his manner.


    Unperturbed, the Sword Master spoke lightly, "It took us quite some effort to capture Jiao Yan, not easy at all. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for the Jiao King to expect us to just give him back for nothing, would it?"


    "Oh?" The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s gaze sharpened, "Then what do you want?"


    "Life for a life, since the Jiao King wants Jiao Yan¡¯s life," the Sword Master stated firmly, "how about trading it for yours?"


    "Aren¡¯t you biting off more than you can chew?" The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s pupils narrowed slightly, asking in a sinister tone, "Aren¡¯t you afraid of bursting your gut?"


    "I mayck many things," the Sword Master said, his expression growing colder, "but not a big appetite. Today, I intend not only to take your life but to send every member of the Jiao n you brought to join you in the Netherworld!"


    Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!


    As his words fell, the Sword Master¡¯s left sleeve lifted.


    Spiritual Light burst into the sky, and the clouds that had been dispersed by the Jiaolong Demon King once again surged from all directions.


    But this time, the clouds had be sharp-edged, seeming like grains of sand as they swept toward the hundreds of Jiao Beasts.


    On the ground, hundreds of Dragon ying Saber Cultivators revealed their forms, all holding gs and surging with Spiritual Power, as they controlled the clouds to entwine around the Jiao Beasts.


    Another group of Dragon ying Saber Cultivators leapt into the air, casting spells, advancing towards the Jiao Beasts.


    With the clouds restraining them, in this brief moment, it was the Human Race that seemed to gain the upper hand.


    "Na?ve!" The Jiaolong Demon King sneered, his vertical pupils sweeping through the air, having anticipated this situation.


    He stopped wasting words with the Sword Master, and a ck mist emanated from his body. Amidst the mist, a terrifying ck Jiao, over sixty zhang in length, appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes.


    And in the instant the Jiaolong Demon King transformed back to his true form, the Sword Master, wielding the Full Moon Saber and turning into a red light, moved so fast that his shape blurred. The Blood Light converged on the Full Moon Saber, shing towards the neck of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Crack! Crack! Crack!


    Sounds ofpressed air exploding resonated where the Full Moon Saber passed.


    In an instant, the blood-red saber light swept across the throat of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    The Jiaolong Demon King, with his enormous body, failed to dodge the ghostly sh.


    ng!


    Yet, contrary to expectations of flesh and blood flying, the collision between the saber light and the dragon scales on the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s neck sparked violently, making a metallic nging sound.


    The Jiaolong Demon King let out a sinisterugh as his sharp ws reached for the Sword Master¡¯s chest.


    With his physical body, he withstood the Sword Master¡¯s sh without a single injury, not even a white mark appeared on the dragon scales.


    Facing the w strike from the Jiaolong Demon King, the Sword Master hastily positioned his de to defend.


    Boom!


    An overwhelming force traveled up the Sword Master¡¯s arm that was holding the de and into his body. Under the impact, the Sword Master¡¯s body involuntarily flew backwards, crashing into the ground and creating a deep pit.


    "Worthy of a Fourth Grade peak Demon Beast, its physical strength is such that I¡¯m not a match at all," the Sword Master struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with increased caution as he looked at the Jiaolong Demon King.


    He was a Body Cultivator, belonging to the group of Cultivators with formidable physical bodies, and even with the aid of a Magic Artifact, a direct confrontation with the Jiaolong Demon King had left him slightly injured.


    The most important thing was that the dragon scales on the Jiaolong Demon King wereparable to a top-quality Defensive Artifact, and his full-force sh couldn¡¯t Break Defense.


    This battle was indeed not easy; the Jiaolong Demon King was much stronger than two hundred years ago.


    Why had its strength grown so rapidly?


    A glint of icy light shed in the Sword Master¡¯s eyes, filled with perplexity.


    ording tomon sense, the Demon n had extremely long lifespans, and correspondingly, their progress in strength was much slower than that of the Human Race. Yet the cultivation rate of the Jiaolong Demon King broke free from thismon sense.


    "With just this level of strength, you dare to strike at me?" the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s voice boomed like thunder, its huge eyes cold and dismissive as it looked down at the Sword Master, its tone full of contempt.


    As the Jiaolong Demon King uttered its threats, a vague ck afterimage suddenly appeared, shing through the air.


    Spurt!


    Caught off guard, and with the ck afterimage moving extremely fast, it swept across the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s back, leaving behind a spray of blood.


    The Jiaolong Demon King was wounded!


    In pain, the Jiaolong Demon King couldn¡¯t help but roar furiously, its vertical pupils fixed on the serpentine ck afterimage that was continuously circling in the air.


    This time it saw clearly what the ck shadow was.


    It was a sword, entirely dark, emanating a chilling danger that made even the Jiaolong Demon King feel a deep sense of dread.


    And now, arge wound had appeared on its back, which was covered with dragon scales.


    "Such a sharp Sword Artifact!" the Jiaolong Demon King instantly became more vignt.


    The Heaven Rank Sword Artifact, Three-feet Edge, had sharpness that not even the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s scales could withstand.


    A tall figure appeared in front of the Sword Master, his face extremely stern.


    It was Xue Zhuyong.


    He was the one who hadmanded the Three-feet Edge to wound the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Xue Zhuyong was not a Sword Cultivator, nor had he practiced the Flying Sword Technique, using the Three-feet Edge as a regr Magic Artifact instead.


    Yet even without the boost from the Flying Sword Technique, the lethality of the Three-feet Edge against Demon Beasts was still surprisingly strong.


    "Is this all you¡¯ve prepared to y the dragon?" Xue Zhuyong frowned and asked the Sword Master.


    "Of course not." The Sword Master spoke with a deliberate and heavy tone, then shouted, "Rise!"


    As the Sword Master shouted, the Great Formation stirred once again, churning out countless clouds.


    These clouds instantly Solidified into a giant.


    The giant stood a hundred zhang tall, with three heads and six arms, each holding heavy weapons like cloud spears or tridents.


    @@novelbin@@


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    With a roar of wind, the Cloud Mist Giant swung its cloud-formed weapons, smashing them toward the Jiaolong Demon King.


    The Jiaolong Demon King moved swiftly, adjusting its position, and simultaneously swung its tail, trying to bisect the giant at the waist, as if to slice the Cloud Mist Giant in half.


    Due to its massive size, the Cloud Mist Giant was limited in movement, and the Jiaolong Demon King, coated with a ck light, easily passed its tail through the giant¡¯s waist.


    Receiving no resistance, the clouds at the waist of the Cloud Mist Giant were immediately dispersed.


    However, the moment the Jiaolong Demon King retracted its tail, the scattered clouds at the torn waist of the Cloud Mist Giant instantly reformed.


    The Cloud Mist Giant was unaffected.


    It was like drawing a knife to cut water, where the water only flowed faster.


    And yet, the six cloud-formed weapons, also made of clouds, continued their trajectory unabated and struck the Jiaolong Demon King, making a loud impact.


    Even with its immensely powerful body, the Jiaolong Demon King plunged several zhang downwards before stabilizing its figure under the blow.

 Chapter 182 - 50 Flying Sword! Flying Sword!

    "This Cloud Mist Giant can change form, gather and scatter, proving naturally dominant against the Jiao n¡¯s powerful demon beasts with strong physical bodies," the Sword Master said, raising an eyebrow at Xue Zhuyong in response to his previous underestimation of their Dragon ying Saber.


    "With the Cloud Mist Giant holding the forefront and us backing from the side, and considering the immense power of Xue¡¯s magic artifact which can easily sh through the defense of those dragon scales, ying the dragon is well within reach!" the Sword Master¡¯s spirit was uplifted as well.


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s performance was indeed a delightful surprise.


    Had it not been for Xue Zhuyong¡¯s participation, even with the Cloud Mist Giant, he would have found himself in a predicament at this moment.


    Because his attacks couldn¡¯t breach the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s physical defense, under such a scenario, the battle seemed almost unwinnable.


    But now, all he had to do was follow up with attacks on the wounds that Xue Zhuyong had opened on the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s body.


    As a body cultivator skilled in saber techniques, this was not difficult for him!


    Xue Zhuyong, the Sword Master, and the Jiaolong Demon King shed intensely.


    Meanwhile, lower grade cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber began a fierce confrontation with the low-grade Jiao n members led by the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Various powerful spells were cast by the cultivators, and diverse magic artifacts in the hands of the cultivators streaked and darted across this small slice of heaven and earth, striking sparks off the Jiao beasts¡¯ dragon scales.


    The Jiao beasts, not to be outdone,unched wave after wave of counterattacks.


    Though the demon beasts had no magic artifacts, their physical bodies acted as top-grade magic artifacts that were perfectly maniptable for both offense and defense.


    Among the cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber, Mo Yan, who wielded Netherfire, was particrly noteworthy.


    d in blue, with a resolute expression, Mo Yan held in his hands two mes, one deep blue and the other crimson, which slowly surged and rolled.


    The whistling winds swept toward the Jiao beasts, stirring up a fierce gale that fluttered Mo Yan¡¯s clothes, yet the two distinctly colored mes remained unwavering against the wind.


    Mo Yan raised his hands in level, and with a sudden sweep, the two Netherfires then violently fluctuated, with mes wildly darting around.


    With two roaring sounds, fierce energy ripples burst forth, and the two Netherfires flew from Mo Yan¡¯s palms like shooting stars, hurling toward several Second Grade Jiao beasts engaged in battle with Dragon ying Saber cultivators, with thunderous momentum.


    Boom!


    A thunderous explosion resounded, the might of the Netherfire made one¡¯s spirit tremble with fear.


    The two small balls of Netherfire carried devastating energy; upon barely contacting the Jiao beasts, they exploded violently, unleashing the horrendous Spiritual Power within.


    Without encountering any useful resistance, the Netherfire pierced through the abdomens of the Jiao beasts, leaving huge bloody holes, yet no blood sttered at the wounds.


    Because all the blood was instantly vaporized by the intense heat of the Netherfire.


    The bodies of the two Jiao beasts fell from the sky to the ground, raising clouds of dust.


    Theyy motionless on the ground, having lost all signs of life.


    In the blink of an eye, Mo Yan had in two Second Grade Jiao beasts with strong physical bodies!


    But that was not all; the power of the Netherfire had not yet been fully expended. After piercing through the abdomens of two beasts, the remaining force of the Netherfire struck the heads of two other nearby Second Grade Jiao beasts like lightning.


    Ssh!


    Spurt!


    Like wax meeting fire, the Jiao beasts¡¯ supposedly unbreakable heads, faced with the remaining force of Mo Yan¡¯s Netherfire, had their flesh and blood instantly dissolved, revealing their skulls.


    These two Jiao beasts, too, met their demise!


    In just a single move, Mo Yan had in four Second Grade Jiao beasts, equivalent to Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    Such is the power of Netherfire, one of the most brutal forces in the world.


    ...


    The Jiao n outnumbered the Dragon ying Saber cultivators, but thetter managed to fight evenly, and even gained a slight advantage, all thanks to the Great Formation set up earlier to restrain the Jiao beasts.


    This formation is known as the Eight Gates Cloud Spirit Formation, a top-tier Fourth Grade formation.


    The entire formation consists of eight gates, each controlled by twelve Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    This was the most powerful formation the Dragon ying Saber could muster.


    However, to create a Cloud Mist Giant equal in power to the Jiaolong Demon King, it exhausted most of the strength of the Eight Gates Cloud Spirit Formation.


    It was evident that many Jiao Beasts had already escaped the restraint of the clouds and mist.


    Without the power of the formation to restrain them, thebat power of those below Nascent Soul cultivators with the Dragon ying Saber was far weaker than that of the Jiao n.


    Moreover, now that nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators had been assigned to operate the Eight Gates Cloud Spirit Formation to assist the Sword Master in dealing with the Jiaolong Demon King, the disparity inbat power had be even more prominent.


    @@novelbin@@


    If they didn¡¯t swiftly reduce the number of Jiao Beasts, as the number escaping the mist¡¯s restraint increased, once it surpassed the limit that the Dragon ying Saber cultivators could handle, the Human Race would fall into a deficiency ofbat power, continually losing members.


    The more members they lost, the greater the disparity in power would be, ultimately leading to a sudden copse.


    This was also why Mo Yan resolutely made his move, disying his sharp edge.


    His shocking performance, sure enough, immediately attracted the attention of a Third Grade Jiao Beast.


    This Jiao Beast, known as Jiao Lao, was the most distinguished and strongest among the Jiao n, aside from the Jiaolong Demon King and Jiao Yan.


    He was also the first among the Jiao Beasts to escape the restraint of the clouds and mist.


    Empowered by the strength of Netherfire, Mo Yan¡¯s fiercebat record of instantly killing four Second Grade Jiao Beasts rose a towering killing intent in him.


    The power of Netherfire greatly countered their kind of water-attributed demon beasts.


    The damage Mo Yan could inflict was even stronger than many Golden Core Cultivators, but he obviously did not have as many techniques as Golden Core Cultivators, making him much easier to killpared to them.


    Therefore, without hesitation, Jiao Lao¡¯s figure shed as he rushed towards Mo Yan.


    Fast!


    Jiao Lao¡¯s speed was so fast that his figure had already turned into an afterimage, ayer of blue-green brilliance shimmering over him.


    Jiao Lao was actually an exotic demon beast with both wind and water attributes.


    Among the attributes of Heaven and Earth, there are the Five Elements and two exceptions.


    The Five Elements are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.


    The two exceptions are Wind and Thunder.


    Merely in terms of innate gifts, Jiao Lao¡¯s talent with both wind and water attributes even surpassed that of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Utilizing the enhancement to speed from his Wind Attribute Spiritual Power, Jiao Lao was almost instantaneously about to pounce on Mo Yan.


    Inside his widely opened gaping maw, a misty, terrifyingly potent orb of blue light had already formed.


    Mo Yan had just mobilized Netherfire for an extremely swift attack, and his Spiritual Power had not yet stabilized. Facing the sudden assault from Jiao Lao, in his haste, he could only forcefully utilize the Netherfire within him, spouting it forth to swirl in front of him, forming a circr Fire Shield.


    But whether this hastily formed spell could withstand the wave of attack from the peak Third Grade Jiao Lao, Mo Yan himself had no idea.


    "Be careful!" Xue Zhuyong, who was engaged in a fight with the Jiaolong Demon King on the other side, merely nced in this direction out of the corner of his eye and, seeing this scene, couldn¡¯t help but cry out in rm.


    With his keen eyesight, he had already discerned that the Fire Shield formed by Mo Yan in his haste wouldn¡¯t withstand the attack from Jiao Lao.


    But given his current distance from Mo Yan, even for a Nascent Soul Cultivator, it was definitely toote to help.


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but tremble. However, the next moment, his tense expression suddenly rxed as though he had witnessed an astonishing scene, "What a Flying Sword! This kid is too impressive!"


    The blue Spiritual Light in Jiao Lao¡¯s mouth had fully condensed, and he was just about to release it.


    Crack! Crack!


    The very air seemedpressed and burst with a pop.


    A wild wind suddenly appeared, whistling past.


    Xue Zhuyong saw clearly that the Flying Sword was generating this wild wind.


    On the Flying Sword, Sword Qi soared, constantly intertwining and whipping up gusts of wind.


    Its flying speed was so fast that the foot-long Flying Sword had turned into a point of cold gleam.

 Chapter 183 - 51: Competition

    ¡ª


    The flying sword, enveloped in a myriad of fine sword Qi, directly struck the blue light in the mouth of the Jiao Elder.


    The next moment.


    Boom.


    Burst.


    Under this strike, the blue light prematurely exploded inside the mouth of the Jiao Old, causing his gaping maw to be sted into a bloody mess.


    But at the same time, the flying sword also burst.


    Wood splinters and some sawdust flew about.


    Due to inertia, the body of the Jiao Elder still mmed directly into Mo Yan¡¯s fire shield.


    A huge ripple of energy expanded outward.


    The Netherfire dissipated, and the Jiao Elder halted.


    On the body of the Jiao Elder, where it collided with the fire shield, some dragon scales were charred, but ultimately, it was unharmed.


    All the damage was on its mouth.


    Its long-charged attack backfired, causing it excruciating pain.


    "To act so recklessly amidst such a chaotic battlefield," Lu Qingshan suddenly appeared beside Mo Yan, quietly reprimanding.


    "I was reckless, thanks to Fellow Daoist Lu for lending a helping hand," Mo Yan, having narrowly survived, was immensely grateful to Lu Qingshan.


    Apanying Lu Qingshan were Zang Xiaojian and Qin Yitian.


    "Another flying sword destroyed," Lu Qingshan frowned slightly, then turned to asked Zang Xiaojian, "Do you have another flying sword? Please lend me one for temporary use."


    The might of a flying sword is determined by three factors: the intrinsic quality and power of the sword artifact, the sword master¡¯s spiritual power, the strength of their Divine Soul, and the mastery over the flying sword technique by the sword master.


    Having enhanced his Sword Technique to max level and having improved his cultivation and Divine Soul, Lu Qingshan¡¯s power of the flying sword had undergone substantive enhancement.


    The Spiritual Power Amplification talent granted him a +30% increase, also enhancing the power of the sword Qi released using the same amount of spiritual power by an immense 30%.


    The Peach Wood Sword, merely a low-grade mortal artifact, naturally couldn¡¯t withstand the famously sharp sword Qi and was shattered just like the Crying Soul Sword before it.


    Hearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s request, Zang Xiaojian swiftly pulled out a sword from her storage ring¡ªa blue light immediately shot from her hand to hover in front of Lu Qingshan.


    "Green Wind Sword, low-grade spiritual artifact," Zang Xiaojian introduced.


    Lu Qingshan epted the flying sword, inwardly clicking his tongue.


    A low-grade spiritual artifact¡ªthis quality was far superior to his Peach Wood Sword.


    To casually pull out such a valuable item.


    This little rich miss.


    ...


    "Master Mo, leave this evil Jiao to us three brothers," after Lu Qingshan halted the Jiao Elder¡¯s attack, the Dragon ying Saber Cultivator quickly reacted, and in no time, three Golden Core cultivators swiftly came to support.


    @@novelbin@@


    Lu Qingshan knew these three.


    They were indeed the renowned trio, the Lianyun Heroes.


    Master Mo nodded slightly to the Lianyun Heroes, "Good, this Jiao is not simple, be careful, all of you."


    For Mo Yan, dealing with a second-grade Jiao Beast was the most cost-effective choice.


    Given the power of Netherfire, ying a second-grade Jiao Beast was as easy as flipping his hand, highly efficient.


    After a failed attack that left it severely wounded.


    The Jiao Elder let out an unsatisfied and enraged roar, wanting to make another move on Mo Yan.


    However, the Lianyun Heroes had already formed an encirclement, preventing the Jiao Elder from escaping.


    ...


    Zang Xiaojian, looking at the Jiao Beasts circling around, brimmed with excitement, "Come on, let¡¯s see who can kill more Jiao Beasts in this battle!"


    Mo Yan nked out for a moment, but thenughed heartily after regaining his senses, "Alright, let¡¯s see who can kill more!"


    Lu Qingshan did not join the conversation, but responded with his actions.


    Boom!


    The Green Wind Sword whizzed out, tearing through the air in mid-flight, creating a sonic boom as it followed a curved trajectory around a nearby Second Grade Jiao Beast, shuttling back and forth more than a dozen times with lightning speed. The sword¡¯s shadow flickered as it continuously jabbed, pierced, and hammered the beast¡¯s fleshy body.


    In the end, giant holes appeared at the Jiao Beast¡¯s brow, abdomen, and back, with several vital areas prated.


    The Jiao Beast widened its eyes in disbelief as it looked at Lu Qingshan, who was controlling the Flying Sword, and let out an unwilling growl before copsing with a massive thud.


    "The first one," Lu Qingshan muttered as he pursed his lips.


    "Lu, how did you be so strong?" Mo Yan¡¯s eyes widened in shock, feeling the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with Perfection emanating from Lu Qingshan, he waspletely astonished.


    Just a moment ago, in the shock of it all, he had not noticed this point, but now,ing back to his senses, he discovered the change in Lu Qingshan¡¯s cultivation, immediately falling into shock and confusion.


    He clearly remembered that not long ago, Lu Qingshan was still a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    Had he been hiding his cultivation?


    "Moreover, even for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with Perfection, the power of the Flying Sword shouldn¡¯t be so immense!" Mo Yan¡¯s ears were still echoing with the sonic boom created by Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword breaking the sound barrier.


    Just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword had already broken the sound barrier.


    In the realm of Flying Swords, the first level is speed of sound, and the second level is Sword Burst Thunder Sound.


    Each breakthrough in realm would dramatically transform the power of the Flying Sword.


    At this moment, the power of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword could alreadypare to that of a Golden Core Sword Cultivator.


    With this astonishing Flying Sword Technique, Lu Qingshan¡¯s speed in harvesting Second Grade Jiao Beasts became almost exaggeratedly fast.


    He could use Netherfire to kill Jiao Beasts faster than Lu Qingshan.


    But the issue was that his Netherfire, unlike Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword, could not be continuously emitted.


    The power of Netherfire was too ferocious; under normal circumstances, he would only dare to mobilize a very slightyer of Netherfire power, enhancing it with spells or magic artifacts to increase hisbat power.


    Those ferocious attacks, like just now, that instantly killed four Second Grade Jiao Beasts, required him to recover for a while before he couldunch them again, otherwise, it would cause great damage to his meridians.


    In other words, this move had a cooldown time.


    In his previous understanding, he had always thought that among the three of them, in terms of strength, it should be him and Zang Xiaojian on equal footing, with Lu Qingshan, although also very outstanding, still slightly behind them.


    Now, he could only view himself as a frog in the well, having been too confident in himself.


    Compared to Mo Yan, whose mind was filled with hundreds of thoughts in an instant, Zang Xiaojian was much simpler, just staring at Lu Qingshan with bright eyes, full of admiration.


    Mom was right; there are always people better than you, and skies beyond skies.


    Even in the n, at the time of Foundation Establishment, there might be no one who could surpass Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan was truly powerful!


    Zang Xiaojian thought to herself.


    Although she admired Lu Qingshan¡¯s impressive performance, Zang Xiaojian was not the type to easily concede, and herpetitive spirit was even instantly aroused.


    The mysterious Power of Heaven and Earth enhanced her Flying Sword.


    Crack!


    The sound of a sonic boom urred once again.


    Unlike the raging Sword Qi of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword, Zang Xiaojian¡¯s Flying Sword carried not only the sharp Sword Qi but also an inexplicable Power of Heaven and Earth.


    That was Sword Intent.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Like skewering candied haws, Zang Xiaojian¡¯s strike prated the heads of three Second Grade Jiao Beasts in session, with the energy on the Flying Sword finally exhausted.


    But that was it.


    Zang Xiaojian took a breath.


    Simrly, her move, like Mo Yan¡¯s fierce Netherfire attack, also had a cooldown time.


    In terms of burst damage, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword power could not match Zang Xiaojian and Mo Yan.


    After all, how could a small skillpare with a great ultimate?


    But in terms of endurance in battle, they were far inferior to Lu Qingshan.


    After all, if a great ultimate could be used continuously, would it still be called a great ultimate?

 Chapter 184 - 52: A Taoist Sword Qi

    Second Grade Jiao Beasts could not withstand more than ten strikes from Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Swords.


    Lu Qingshan was reaping the Second Grade Jiao Beasts at a very stable and efficient rate.


    Zang Xiaojian and Mo Yan were also employing their various methods, confronting the Jiao Beasts. Although their achievements were not as impressive as Lu Qingshan¡¯s, they were still quite remarkable.


    Only Qin Yitian was different from the three of them, and indeed, from all the cultivators on the battlefield.


    She had no Magic Artifacts and did not cast any spells; she was merely creating a series of crimson light orbs in her hands, relying on them to fence with the Jiao Beasts. She seemed to do this with ease, yet she had not managed to y a single Jiao Beast.


    On the other side.


    The Sword Master¡¯s spirit, initially brimming with excitement, had now plummeted to rock bottom.


    With the divine power of the Three-feet Edge, Xue Zhuyong could indeed easily slice through the defense of the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s Dragon Scales.


    But before long, they discovered an extremely terrifying fact.


    For the Jiaolong Demon King, whose body was more than sixty zhang in length, the wounds created by the Three-feet Edge were merely superficial flesh wounds. Moreover, they were healing at a visible rate to the naked eye.


    "Xue Dao-friend, the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s physical body is too strong, such minor injuries are insignificant to it," the Sword Master said with an ugly expression.


    Xue Zhuyong was naturally aware of their predicament.


    "Don¡¯t hold back anymore, use your real methods," Xue Zhuyong said sternly.


    He had always known that the Sword Master had been hiding something regarding the Dragon ying Saber¡¯s preparation, but given the situation they now faced, Xue Zhuyong could not understand why the Sword Master would still have any reason to conceal it.


    The Sword Master said with some difficulty, "The killing move that I¡¯ve prepared... still needs some time..."


    On hearing this, Xue Zhuyong¡¯s gaze flickered as he understood the Sword Master¡¯s intention.


    This killing move that the Sword Master was reluctant to disclose must be the Dragon ying Saber¡¯s most potent technique.


    "I understand, we¡¯ll continue to tie up the Jiaolong Demon King to buy time!"


    The n was good, but unfortunately, the Jiaolong Demon King was not a puppet on strings for them to manipte as they wished.


    Although it was with its powerful physical body that the Jiaolong Demon King managed to handle thebined attack of Xue Zhuyong, the Sword Master, and the Cloud Mist Giant with apparent ease, the feeling of being constantly struck also left the Jiaolong Demon King feeling annoyed and unsettled.


    A sinister intent shed through the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯srge eyes.


    Roar!


    An astonishing surge of demonic power erupted from the body of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    @@novelbin@@


    It opened its fang-filled mouth wide, and within its gaping maw, Spiritual Light condensed with violent pulsations that caused the surrounding space to start distorting.


    It was the same technique used by Elder Jiao, yet this was far more potent than Elder Jiao¡¯s.


    The gathering of Spiritual Light in the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s mouth was instantaneous, leaving no opportunity for Xue Zhuyong and the Sword Master to interrupt its spellcasting.


    In the blink of an eye.


    A huge meteor-like blue light orb shot out from the mouth of the Jiaolong Demon King, hurtling towards the Cloud Mist Giant.


    Boom~


    Upon collision, the cloud forming the Cloud Mist Giant instantly burst apart, scattering violently in all directions.


    In the moment that the Cloud Mist Giant copsed, nearly a hundred Saber Cultivators who were manipting the Formation emitted a muffled grunt, their faces slightly pale, obviously not feeling well.


    But at the first opportunity, everyone immediately channeled the Spiritual Power within their bodies into the Formation gs in their hands, gathering the scattered cloud to recondense the Cloud Mist Giant.


    Having dispersed the Cloud Mist Giant and temporarily escaping its entanglement, the Jiaolong Demon King naturally would not miss such an opportunity.


    Its immense body lunged forward, heading straight for the Sword Master and Xue Zhuyong, using a variety of moves¡ªbody collision, w swipes, tail whips.


    Though the actions appeared simple, each contained extreme destructive strength capable of shattering heaven and earth.


    ng, ng, ng!


    The Sword Master hurriedly raised his saber to resist, while Xue Zhuyong managed to fend off the relentless onught with the Three-feet Edge.


    Spurt!


    This time, the Sword Master felt a sweetness in his throat and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    Although he had managed to block the onught of attacks from the Jiaolong Demon King, the bacsh from the collisions, due to the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s astonishing strength, was something he was unable to dispel. Under the impact of this rebounding force, the Sword Master¡¯s entire Qi-Blood began to roil.


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s condition was hardly any better than that of the Sword Master. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and hisplexion kept turning from pale to green and back.


    Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!


    Seeing that Xue Zhuyong and the Sword Master were unable to catch their breath for the moment, the Jiaolong Demon King took the opportunity to hurl four slightly less powerful blue light orbs, bombarding the Dragon ying Saber Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were manipting the power of the Formation.


    He couldn¡¯t let the Cloud Mist Giant form again!


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Three explosions rang out, and the Spiritual Light from the explosions instantly engulfed three of the gates of the Eight Gates Cloud Spirit Formation.


    When the Spiritual Light dissipated, it revealed that all the Cultivators at those three gates had been turned to boneless corpses, leaving behind only their broken remains.


    There were just three explosions for the four light orbs.


    Because one of the orbs was flying towards¡­ Lu Qingshan¡¯s side!


    In that brief moment, Lu Qingshan had achieved splendid results using the Flying Sword Technique.


    Enjoy new adventures from empire


    The progress of his Nine-Pattern Golden Pill advancement task had increased to ying enemies of the same rank (17/100).


    His experience was once again nearing the number of fifty thousand.


    But the reason the Jiaolong Demon King targeted Lu Qingshan was not due to his remarkable performance.


    After all, to a Fourth Grade pinnacle Demon Beast like the Jiaolong Demon King, even the most outstanding Foundation Establishment Cultivator was nothing more than a slightly sturdier ant, not worth mentioning at all.


    The reason for his action was very simple.


    He sensed a faint presence in Lu Qingshan¡¯s direction, a presence that was both elusive and deeply repellent and distasteful to him.


    But he could not discern the source of this presence.


    Therefore, heunched thisst attack of Spiritual Light toward Lu Qingshan¡¯s side; the target was not just Lu Qingshan alone but all the Cultivators surrounding him.


    A chill inexplicably shot down Lu Qingshan¡¯s spine, causing his hair to stand on end.


    To a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even an attack that seemed quite casual from a Fourth Grade Demon Beast was absolutely unendurable.


    He did not understand why the Jiaolong Demon King would target him.


    With his Foundation Establishment Cultivation, even if he performed exceptionally well, there was no reason to draw the attention of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    No matter how strong an ant is, it¡¯s still just an ant.


    Under normal circumstances, who would bother to strike at an ant?


    Not to mention that there were numerous Dragon ying Saber Golden Core Cultivators on the field, each of whom was more worthy of the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s attention than he was.


    But since the Jiaolong Demon King had targeted him, no amount ofints would change the situation.


    He had to withstand this attack!


    In an instant, countless Water Element Sword Qi burst forth from the acupoints all over his body, forming a glistening Water Element Sword Armor around him.


    The blue light orb¡¯s speed was extremely fast, and since he was using his Flying Sword Technique to attack the Jiao Beasts, his Flying Swords were not by his side, naturally making it impossible for him to use Formless Sword Escape to move away.


    Not to mention, Qin Yitian, this strangely appealing woman, had been standing by his side all along.


    If he fled, she would be left to face this extremely horrifying attack alone.


    Evidently, even if he could use Formless Sword Escape, he might not choose to flee.


    Qin Yitian watched the figure of Lu Qingshan, who had stepped in front of her, and blinked. A faint red light appeared on her hand concealed within her sleeve.


    But in the next moment, that red light suddenly dissipated.


    A petite figure suddenly appeared in front of Lu Qingshan just as the blue light orb was about to strike him, blocking the attack from the Jiaolong Demon King for Lu Qingshan.


    "Zang¡­ Xiaojian!" Upon recognizing the figure in front of him, Lu Qingshan was incredulous.


    The one blocking his path was none other than Zang Xiaojian.


    What shocked Lu Qingshan even more was that, in the next instant, a thick Sword Qi burst from Zang Xiaojian¡¯s body.

 Chapter 185 - 53: The Final Move

    ```


    Sword Qi swept across the sky, earth-shakingly powerful, and in an instant, it pierced through the blue light orb that threatened Lu Qingshan¡¯s life, turning into a rainbow light that shot towards the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Atop the Sword Qi, an overwhelmingly majestic Sword Intent enveloped everything.


    The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s pupils shrunk suddenly, hisrge eyes filled with the terrifying Sword Qi.


    Upon this Heaven-reaching Sword Qi, he actually sensed the breath of death.


    Not daring to be negligent, countless bright golden runes emerged on his enormous Jiao body.


    The originally pitch-ck Jiaolong Demon King became dazzling with golden light at this moment.


    The Jiaolong Demon King had activated the innate ability of the Jiao n that he had awakened.


    Thwack!


    This Sword Qi viewed everything as nothing, piercing through the midsection of the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s body, leaving behind an extremely small and deep, but difficult to heal, cavity.


    Blood spurted from it.


    The Jiaolong Demon King trembled all over, and his vigor weakened in an instant.


    "Such strong Sword Qi..." Lu Qingshan was stunned, silent at that moment, his heart deeply moved.


    A single burst of Sword Qi could be so powerful.


    How powerful then must the Sword Cultivator who sent out this Sword Qi be?


    "This is the protective Sword Qi my father left for me, only to be triggered when I encounter a life-and-death crisis," Zang Xiaojian turned his head, seemingly unaware of the preciousness of this Sword Qi, and chuckled at Lu Qingshan, "The favor I owed youst time is now repaid."


    Lu Qingshan subconsciously nodded, then forced a bitter smile, "Not only repaid, but now I owe you a favor..."


    "Detestable! Detestable!" The Jiaolong Demon King, having been severely injured by the Sword Qi, was now thoroughly enraged, and countless mysterious runes emerged on his Jiao body.


    Previously, he had been cautious not to exert his full strength since his transformation into a dragon was imminent, fearing it would damage his Element Qi and affect the transformation.


    Now, under heavy injury, he had cast aside all concerns.


    All of the Human Race must die!


    The Jiaolong Demon King was furiously enraged in his heart.


    His Jiao tail, covered with mysterious runes,shed out at the Sword Master, the movement even faster than it had been before the injury.


    The Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s long and thick tail, covered in runes,pressed the surrounding air, creating a terrifying vacuum environment.


    Bang!


    The Sword Master was unable to avoid it and could only hold up the Full Moon Saber, trying to block the sweeping tail just like before.


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    Although the process was the same, the oue was entirely different.


    The moment the Jiao tail collided with the Sword Master¡¯s Full Moon Saber, a blinding golden light red up.


    ng!


    The impact made the Sword Master unable to hold onto his Full Moon Saber, causing it to fly from his grip, and he himself was thrown out like a kite with its string cut, tracing a parabolic arc before falling to the ground, struggling to get up.


    Seeing the Sword Master temporarily incapacitated, the Jiaolong Demon King pursued the attack, pouncing at Xue Zhuyong.


    Compared to the Sword Master¡¯s disastrous defeat, Xue Zhuyong put up much more of a fight.


    An indescribably strange force attached itself to the Three-feet Edge Magic Artifact, and under their mutual enhancement, Xue Zhuyong managed to barely fend off the attacks of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    It was the power of Intent that Xue Zhuyong had mastered.


    ...


    Huff huff!


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face was pale, desperately suppressing the Spiritual Power within him that was gradually bing uncontroble.


    The gap in realms was too great; even with the Three-feet Edge and the power of Intent, he could not hold on for much longer.


    "Isn¡¯t it ready yet?!" Xue Zhuyong gritted his teeth.


    He was waiting for the killing move the Sword Master had mentioned.


    Just then, several strange white lights suddenly appeared, striking the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s body.


    Unbeknownst to when, the Sword Master was holding a golden Array te in his hand, having already climbed up from the ground. Though his face was covered in blood and he was in a sorry state, his expression was incredibly resolute.


    On the ground, dozens of thick Divine Light beams emerged, and those white lights were emitted by the Divine Light.


    This was a Forced Teleportation Formation modified from a small Teleportation Array. The transmission distance was extremely short, the consumption was tremendous, the activation time was exceedingly long, and it might even be a one-time use. Its only advantage was that it could teleport forcibly!


    As for the destination of the teleportation.


    ```


    ```


    The Sword Master nced at the towering volcano crater not far away.


    Spiritual Abyss!


    Yes, exactly as Lu Qingshan had thought.


    His biggest trump card was to knock the Jiaolong Demon King into the Spiritual Abyss.


    Killing the Jiaolong Demon King was too difficult.


    But if the goal was merely to force the Jiaolong Demon King into the Spiritual Abyss, then the chances of sess would undoubtedly increase exponentially.


    The very n of the Dragon ying Saber was to rely on the Cloud Mist Giant and the Sword Master¡¯sbat power to dy enough time to activate the Forced Teleportation Formation and transport the Jiaolong Demon King into the Spiritual Abyss.


    The form of the Jiaolong Demon King began to flicker.


    Intense spatial fluctuations spread within the space surrounding it.


    Though the Jiaolong Demon King detected no danger atop these few strands of Spiritual Light, he understood that whatever the Human Race had so diligently schemed, it couldn¡¯t possibly be so simple.


    He even had a vague guess about the Sword Master¡¯s plot.


    The name of the Spiritual Abyss, he had heard of it, too.


    Situated at such a desperate ce, just within reach, and the Human Race¡¯s long-prepared means turned out to be a teleportation array.


    At this point, as the king of the Jiao n, how could he be so foolish as to not realize the Human Race¡¯s plot?


    Mysterious runes suddenly appeared on the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s body, solidifying his previously phantom-like form once again.


    ng, ng, ng!


    These mysterious runes then swiftly detached from the body of the Jiaolong Demon King, rapidly entwining with the white Spiritual Light of the teleportation array, continuously dissolving each other.


    As a price, each time a rune left the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s Jiao body, the corresponding Dragon Scale would actually fall off.


    However, under the influence of these runes, the white Spiritual Light slowly dissipated and vanished.


    In the end, although the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s body was gored and looked exceedingly miserable, he ultimately withstood the force of the Forced Teleportation Formation¡¯s teleportation.


    Even though the Sword Master had already greatly overestimated the Jiaolong Demon King, the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s tactics were still far more numerous than he had thought.


    After exhausting all efforts, when the Forced Teleportation Formation had just activated, the n still resulted in failure.


    Despair.


    ¡­


    "Is this where it ends?" Seeing this scene, Xue Zhuyong, whose face was pale, let out a long sigh and asked the Sword Master.


    "No, I still have onest move¡­" The Sword Master, with a face filled with despair, shook his head to Xue Zhuyong and said through gritted teeth, "It all depends on how much the Jiaolong Demon King values his one and only bloodline."


    "Wretched beast, look over here." A hoarse male voice rang out.


    The Jiaolong Demon King instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.


    @@novelbin@@


    The Dragon ying Saber¡¯s second-inmand, the Taoist Truth Speaker, who had not made an appearance on the battlefield, had unexpectedly appeared high above the edge of the Spiritual Abyss.


    In his hands, he held a golden rope.


    On the rope, hung the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s one and only bloodline, Jiao Yan.


    The golden rope bound Jiao Yan, preventing him from moving.


    The Taoist Truth Speaker revealed a cold smile on his face and with a wave of his right hand, he flung Jiao Yan out.


    Tossed towards the Spiritual Abyss.


    The speed wasn¡¯t fast. Given the distance between the Jiaolong Demon King and the Spiritual Abyss, if he acted immediately, it was entirely possible to rescue Jiao Yan before he fell into the Spiritual Abyss.


    But the risk he faced was that, being so close to the Spiritual Abyss, one misstep might result in being knocked into the Spiritual Abyss.


    An obvious stratagem.


    It all depended on whether the father-son bond between the Jiaolong Demon King and Jiao Yan was strong enough.


    If it was strong enough, even knowing it was a trap, the Jiaolong Demon King would still risk the rescue!


    This was the Dragon ying Saber¡¯s final gambit, only to be used after all other preparations hade to naught.


    After all, cing the hopes of ying the dragon on the father-son bond that the Jiaolong Demon King held for Jiao Yan was truly the most helpless choice.


    "Father King..." Jiao Yan¡¯s voice was weak as he called for the Jiaolong Demon King, his body falling straight towards the Spiritual Abyss.


    Roar!


    A very human-like light shed in the eyes of the Jiaolong Demon King, and with a furious bellow, he plunged without hesitation toward the abyss.


    ```

 Chapter 186 - 54: The End?

    Upon witnessing this scene, the Sword Master couldn¡¯t help but be stunned for a moment, and the face that was once filled with desperation immediately changed to an undeniable expression of joyous surprise.


    The carefully prepared Forced Teleportation Formation, in the end, did not y out as imagined


    And thest move, originally a desperate attempt at a cure, actually turned out to be so effective?!


    How could this not be an unexpected delight for the Sword Master.


    "If we miss this opportunity again, we may not find such a good one next time," the Sword Master transmitted to Xue Zhuyong, "Daoist Xue, you must seize this chance of battle!"


    Like lightning, the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s figure turned into a blur, and in an instant, he had shed beside the Spiritual Abyss.


    First a sweep of his stout dragon tail, which the Tongzhen Taoist, caught off-guard, was unable to dodge, easily shattered Tongzhen Taoist¡¯s Protective Aura and Defensive Artifact, sending him flying away, his fate unknown.


    Immediately after, the Jiaolong Demon King extended his sharp ws, embedding them in the gaps of Jiao Yan¡¯s Dragon Scales, firmly grasping him.


    Inhale¡«


    Even though he had not fully entered the Spiritual Abyss, the Jiaolong Demon King felt an inexplicable attraction emanating from within it.


    This ce is unfit for a prolonged stay!


    Clinging to Jiao Yan, the Jiaolong Demon King immediately prepared to distance himself from the Spiritual Abyss.


    "Since you¡¯vee, do you think you can leave?" With a roar from the Sword Master, his whole body surged with a powerful Qi-Blood Strength.


    He was burning his own Essence Blood, sacrificing his own cultivation base, in exchange for a brief moment of explosive power.


    At the same time, a profound force of Heaven and Earth rose, covering both the Sword Master and the Full Moon Saber.


    This was the Intent mastered by the Sword Master.


    As if a blood-red full moon had risen, or as rampant as thunderbolts, the Sword Master and the Full Moon Saber in his hand merged into one, bing one with his saber. With lightning speed, he shed towards the Jiaolong Demon King.


    The Sword Master¡¯s Intent was only a weak level, far inferior to Xue Zhuyong¡¯s, but nowbined with the boiling Qi-Blood Strength and an indomitable spirit, it reverberated with awe-inspiring authority. Explore more stories with empire


    Following closely behind was a ghostly me.


    It was the Three-feet Edge controlled by Xue Zhuyong.


    On the body of Three-feet Edge, incessant Red me undted, further enhanced with the force of Xue Zhuyong¡¯s Intent.


    Facing the onught of attacks from the Sword Master and Xue Zhuyong.


    The Jiaolong Demon King, his most lethal ws, were at this moment clutching his only bloodline and could not be freed.


    And his pride, the Dragon Scales, having resisted the spatial transmission force of the Forced Teleportation Array, had fallen off inrge quantities, leading to a sudden decrease in his physical body¡¯s defensive power.


    The wound on his body caused by the Heaven-reaching Sword Qi also disrupted the cirction of his Spiritual Power.


    The situation seemed quite dire.


    But when he chose to save Jiao Yan, he had anticipated just such a scenario.


    As the king of the Jiao n, he was not so easily defeated.


    Filled with pride, the Jiaolong Demon King raised his head and roared defiantly in the Void.


    ng ng ng ng!


    An incessant sound of metal and jade rang out.


    The few remaining Dragon Scales on his body, apanied by the ng ng ng, fell off in a sh.


    The falling Dragon Scales gathered in front of his body, rapidly assembling into a huge ck Dragon Scales Shield that glinted with shimmering light and was engraved with many mysterious golden Runes.


    Bang!


    The Sword Master, transformed into a blood-colored full moon, collided with the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s Dragon Scales Shield.


    The aftermath of the collision spread out in all directions, terrifying waves radiating out.


    Even Lu Qingshan, who was at a certain distance from the Spiritual Abyss, now felt a faint push from the wave.


    One can only imagine the immense shockwave force the Jiaolong Demon King and the Sword Master at the center of the disturbance must have felt.


    The full moon spectacle dissipated, revealing the silhouette within, the Sword Master was like a mass of blood-me, uncontrobly flying backward under the influence of the aftermath.


    His injuries worsened once more, and the Sword Master, pale as a ghost, fixed his gaze upon the Three-feet Edge, which arrived shortly afterward in Xue Zhuyong¡¯s control.


    Under his most powerful strike, the Jiaolong Demon King used the Dragon Scales Shield to block most of the attack.


    And the resulting shock wave, while it pushed the Jiaolong Demon King several dozen feet into the Spiritual Abyss, with the physical strength of the Jiaolong Demon King, the attraction of the Spiritual Abyss at this distance was not enough to overpower him.


    Whether the Jiaolong Demon King could be sent into the Spiritual Abyss, doomed forever, would depend on Xue Zhuyong¡¯s next move.


    Whoosh!


    Red me surged, covering the body of the Three-feet Edge, transforming the originally dark sword artifact into a radiant red glow.


    The Three-feet Edge trembled continuously, the sound clear and deafening, and it smashed against the Dragon Scales Shield, which was showing signs of fracturing.


    @@novelbin@@


    A roar thundered, earth-shaking, like the copse of mountains.


    In this instant, the golden light from the mysterious Runes of the Dragon Scales Shield and the fierce red light of the Three-feet Edge shed brilliantly, Spiritual Light crisscrossed.


    Pop!


    The golden Runes on the Dragon Scales Shield exploded, but the Red me on the Three-feet Edge also shattered and dissipated into the Void, leaving no strength behind.


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s Divine Sense peered through the dazzling light, observing that the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s figure was pushed back over ten yards with this strike.


    His colossal dragon body towered in the space above the Spiritual Abyss.


    An irresistible suction force was emitted from the Spiritual Abyss, eager to swallow the Jiaolong Demon King.


    On the now exposed dragon body of the Jiaolong Demon King, numerous Blood Beads, unable to withstand this suction, detached from his flesh, dripping down continuously, then vanishing out of sight.

 Chapter 187 - 54 End?_2

    The Jiaolong Demon King nced over and saw only a pitch-dark expanse beneath him, like a ck hole that swallowed everything, with no visible bottom, and no knowing where it led.


    Roar!


    With a roar of fury, the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s body violently thrashed, suddenlying to a rigid halt midair for a moment, before he began to struggle against the pull of the Spiritual Abyss.


    The power of the Spiritual Abyss at this time had almost reached the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s limit of endurance, but it still had not surpassed that boundary.


    Using his formidable strength, the Jiaolong Demon King was still able to wriggle free from the gravitational pull of the Spiritual Abyss.


    @@novelbin@@


    This was also why the Jiaolong Demon King had resolutely chosen to take the risk and save Jiao Yan.


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    The reason he made such an irrational decision, other than the father-son bond that urged him on, was the great confidence his overwhelming strength gave him.


    "We¡¯ve lost," Xue Zhuyong said, his face as gloomy as water.


    The Sword Master was already heavily injured by this time, with no strength left to continue the fight.


    He himself still had some strength left, but by the time he couldunch another attack at the Jiaolong Demon King, the demon would have already put a distance from the Spiritual Abyss.


    "Why is Master Mo there?!" Zang Xiaojian, who had been closely following the battle, suddenly cried out in rm.


    Lu Qingshan, standing beside Zang Xiaojian, narrowed his eyes.


    Mo Yan, who had been with them, had disappeared without them noticing, and at this moment, he had eerily appeared at the edge of the Spiritual Abyss.


    From their current position to the Spiritual Abyss, calcting the time needed to reach¡ªthe moment Daozheng appeared, Mo Yan had already started to move.


    "What does he want to do?" Lu Qingshan muttered.


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s eyes widened dramatically, panic written all over his face.


    A red and blue firelight enveloped Mo Yan¡¯s entire body.


    Those were the two types of Netherfire that Mo Yan had refined.


    A terrifying aura that seemed to pulverize everything pulsed violently from Mo Yan.


    Although Mo Yan possessed exceptionalbat power, he was ultimately a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. To threaten a Fourth Grade peak Jiaolong Demon King, even in his current weakened state, was an outright fantasy.


    He understood this as well.


    Hence, what Mo Yan used was not his own strength, but the power of the Netherfire.


    The power of Netherfire was wildly violent and ipatible with any other force. Upon contact, it would cause fierce explosions.


    This was one of the reasons why refining Netherfire was so difficult.


    The power of one type of Netherfire was already terrifying, so what kind of horrific power would result from abination of two Netherfires?


    Mo Yan didn¡¯t know.


    But he understood that this was the most powerful attack he could muster in theory.


    So, he became a vessel, fusing the Cold Spirit Netherfire with the Red Lotus Netherfire upon his physical body, turning into a human bomb as he hurtled toward the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Even with the strength to Incinerate Body, merging Netherfire was still a forbidden domain that not just any minor Foundation Establishment Cultivator should touch.


    Even before making contact with the Jiaolong Demon King, Mo Yan¡¯s body was already torn and bleeding profusely, with the blood that flowed being instantly incinerated into nothingness by the mes enveloping his body.


    Seeing this, it was clear that without the boost from Incinerate Body, Mo Yan would have likely turned to ash on the spot.


    Mo Yan¡¯s face contorted with spasms, enduring excruciating pain, while his pitch-ck eyes were filled with determination and murderous intent.


    Finally, the two Netherfires merged, the red and blue colors intermingling, each containing elements of the other.


    At the moment of the Netherfires¡¯ fusion, Mo Yan¡¯s body trembled, letting out a muffled groan.


    Smoke began to rise from his body.


    "Let¡¯s die together!" Mo Yan shouted madly in his heart.


    He was well aware that such an act would undoubtedly seem iprehensible to others, even foolish, but when he made his decision, he did not hesitate in the least.


    Within every person¡¯s heart are their own steadfast beliefs and convictions.


    This was Mo Yan¡¯s conviction!


    At that moment, it seemed as if heaven and earth themselves had gone silent. Behind Mo Yan trailed a long tail of me, like a meteor, and he finally collided with the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s massive body.


    The red and blue Netherfires fused around him began to contract violently before exploding with force.


    The Jiaolong Demon King felt an unbearable heat and an unstoppable force, coupled with the pull of the Spiritual Abyss. No longer able to struggle, he plummeted toward the depths of the Spiritual Abyss at a blistering speed.


    Of course, the same went for Mo Yan.


    How could he possibly halt his motion after recklessly crashing into the Jiaolong Demon King?


    Under the force of inertia, Mo Yan and the Jiaolong Demon King fell into the Spiritual Abyss together.


    Mo Yan, his face pale, looked toward Lu Qingshan nearby, his breath so weak he could no longer speak, only able to mouth words toward Lu Qingshan.


    "My mother, please take care of her..."


    But as everyone watched in stunned silence, another figure dashed toward the perilous depth of the Spiritual Abyss with determined momentum.


    It was Xue Zhuyong!


    The instant he noticed Mo Yan¡¯s move, without a thought, Xue Zhuyong reflexively transformed into a streak of Escaping Light and flew over.


    He was determined to save his child!


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s decisiveness caught up with him.


    In mid-air, Xue Zhuyong grabbed Mo Yan¡¯s hand.


    The next moment, an intensely powerful surge of Spiritual Power rose from Xue Zhuyong¡¯s body.


    Like the Sword Master, he burned his Essence Blood without any reservation, regardless of the irreparable damage it would inflict on his own path to cultivation, and with Mo Yan¡¯s hand in his, he exploded with power, flying upward, attempting to break free from the pull of the Spiritual Abyss.

 Chapter 188 - 54: The End?_3

    It stopped.


    Under the outburst from Xue Zhuyong, Mo Yan¡¯s falling body was suspended in midair and he began to climb upward with difficulty.


    "Keep it up!" Watching this scene unfold, Zang Xiaojian¡¯s heart clenched tight, her fists balled up inside as she silently cheered for Xue Zhuyong.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    A fierce wind noise came.


    Just at this moment, the Jiaolong Demon King, who was rapidly falling into the Spiritual Abyss, looked at Xue Zhuyong and Mo Yan stiff in midair, a cold glint streaked through his eyes, and suddenly heshed his tail fiercely, striking both Xue Zhuyong and Mo Yan.


    This strike was not very powerful, but for Xue Zhuyong, who was already struggling to contend with the power of the Spiritual Abyss, it was like thest straw that broke the camel¡¯s back.


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s whole body shuddered with Spiritual Light, the breath he had been holding gave way suddenly, and then he lost the strength to struggle.


    At that moment, Xue Zhuyong tightly grasped his son Mo Yan¡¯s hand, and together with the Jiaolong Demon King and Jiao Yan, the father-son duo of Jiao beasts, they all fell towards the depths of the Spiritual Abyss.


    However, there was no look of sorrow on Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face, he merely nced silently at Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian.


    "Take good care of Zhizhi; this sword is left to you," Xue Zhuyong¡¯s Spiritual Power infused his voice, transmitting hisst words.


    Whoosh!


    A shadow burst out from the edge of the Spiritual Abyss.


    The Heaven Rank Sword Artifact, Three-feet Edge, personally forged by Xue Zhuyong.


    Xue Zhuyong had not specified who should receive the Three-feet Edge.


    Famous swords possess spirit, and who should be the Sword Master of Three-feet Edge could only be decided by Three-feet Edge itself.


    Three-feet Edge hovered in midair, paused slightly, as if choosing the Sword Master it preferred.


    Suddenly, as if sensing something, Three-feet Edge emitted a light and clear sound of a sword¡¯s chime, and like a beam of Radiance, it flew incredibly fast towards Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan was still immersed in the great upheaval of the brief moments that had just passed and did not notice that, the moment Three-feet Edge flew towards him, Qin Yitian, standing behind him, narrowed his eyes at the Three-feet Edge, transformed into Radiance flying towards him, and emitted a barely audible light snort.


    The next moment, the body of Three-feet Edge trembled sharply. During Qin Yitian¡¯s light snort, it still flew towards Lu Qingshan, but the angle had been slightly adjusted.


    Finally, Three-feet Edge flew straight to Zang Xiaojian, stopping obediently in front of her, buzzing vibrantly.


    Zang Xiaojian was stunned and incredulously pointed at her own nose, asking, "Me?"


    The Three-feet Edge, having swept to in front of Zang Xiaojian, trembled slightly, as if nodding.


    The young girl¡¯s face unconsciously disyed a hint of joy, then remembering something, she cautiously turned her head to nce at Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan, somewhat helplessly, said with a smile, "Since Three-feet Edge has chosen you as its Sword Master, just take it; why look at me?"


    @@novelbin@@


    The Life-bound Sword that had been so desperately sought after had chosen Zang Xiaojian in the end.


    But in his heart, Lu Qingshan truly had no regrets.


    The connection between Sword Cultivators and their Life-bound Swords ispletely different from the connection other Cultivators have with their Magic Artifacts.


    To a Sword Cultivator, a sword is not merely a weapon, but arade-in-arms in life and death.


    Since it¡¯s arade, it naturally involves mutual affection. If Three-feet Edge prefers Zang Xiaojian, what point is there in him wishing otherwise?


    Moreover, with Lu Qingshan¡¯s pride, he believed that he would definitely find a Life-bound Sword more suited to himself.

 Chapter 189 - 55 Qingshan Remains Unchanged, the Green Water Flows Forever

    ```


    Seeing Lu Qingshan speak so, Zang Xiaojian stopped hesitating, extended her finger, and lightly touched the tip of Three-feet Edge.


    A point of Spiritual Light suddenly flickered.


    Whoosh!


    Like water returning to the sea, Three-feet Edge instantly burrowed into Zang Xiaojian¡¯s body.


    The moment Three-feet Edge entered her body, a divine light shed through Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes, sharp and piercing.


    Sword Cultivators and their Life-bound Swords have alwaysplemented each other; Sword Cultivators nurture their Life-bound Swords, thereby continuously improving the quality of the swords. Naturally, the Life-bound Swords also reward and enhance the Sword Cultivators in return.


    A Sword Artifact can also nurture a person!


    @@novelbin@@


    Therefore, the instant Zang Xiaojian assimted Three-feet Edge as her Life-bound Sword, she gained a bit of Three-feet Edge¡¯s sharpness out of thin air.


    ...


    The little girl¡¯s speed of assimting her Life-bound Sword is quite fast.


    Lu Qingshan muttered to himself, then withdrew his gaze from Zang Xiaojian and scanned the surroundings.


    From the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s rescue of Jiao Yan to his being struck into the Spiritual Abyss, it was but a brief moment in time, and arge part of the Jiao Beasts brought by the Jiaolong Demon King had already broken free from the restraint of the Great Formation.


    "The Jiao King is dead!" Shouting out loud while still severely injured from an all-out effort, the Sword Master actually stood up once again and sent his Nascent Soul Cultivator aura rolling towards the center of the battlefield.


    The next moment, the Jiao Beasts in the battlefield started to scatter like birds and beasts, fleeing in all directions, seeking to escape back to the sea.


    Given the current situation, it was clear that the Jiao Beasts had the upper hand. Even with the Sword Master, a Nascent Soulbat power, his severe injuries and worrisome state left room for the Jiao Beasts to fight back fiercely, possibly even to win.


    But such is the inferior nature of Demon Beasts. With the death of the Jiao King, and the Jiao King¡¯s only Bloodline, Jiao Yan, also falling into the Spiritual Abyss alongside the Jiao King, with no leader to guide them, these Jiao Beasts stood no chance of fighting a desperate battle against the Human Cultivators.


    Wild beasts are all self-interested.


    Zang Xiaojian watched the many Jiao Beasts flee on their own and, itching to go after them, asked Lu Qingshan, "Should we pursue and kill them?"


    Lu Qingshan nced at the Sword Master and, seeing that after exerting his presence, he made no move to chase the Jiao Beasts, understood that the Sword Master was at the end of his strength, merely posturing to scare off these Jiao Beasts.


    "Do not chase after a defeated foe, let these Jiao Beasts go for now," Lu Qingshan said coldly.


    The Saber Cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber seemed to have received a simr order, also unintentionally allowing the Jiao Beasts to flee.


    Under the leadership of the Jiaolong Demon King, these Jiao Beasts had arrived on the ind in a mighty and unstoppable tide. Yet, in the blink of an eye, they were inplete disarray, fleeing in embarrassment.


    The blood-soaked Saber Cultivators of the Dragon ying Saber, witnessing this turn of events, were at a loss for words.


    All they knew was that the dense gloom that had enshrouded the ind for over two hundred years finally dispersed today, and the Human Race on the ind saw the light of day once again.


    As thest Jiao Beast also vanished from their field of vision, the Sword Master¡¯s figure suddenly slumped, toppling straight down.


    "Sword Master!"


    A Golden Core Cultivator of the Dragon ying Saber cried out in rm, moved frantically towards him to check his condition, only rxing after confirming that the Sword Master had merely fainted from injury and exhaustion.


    ...


    "Thank you all for lending a hand," Lian State walked over, very courteously sping his hands in gratitude toward Lu Qingshan.


    With the Sword Master unconscious and Priest Tongzheng also severely injured, the Three Heroes of Lian Cloud temporarily tookmand of the Dragon ying Saber Cultivators to manage the situation.


    "We need to hurry and treat our injuredrades," Lian State said, pointing to the Dragon ying Saber Cultivators who were clearing the battlefield: "In a few days, we at the Dragon ying Saber will personally visit to properly thank the three of you for your assistance."


    Lu Qingshan waved his hand and said, "It¡¯s nothing, you go busy yourself."


    Lian State spoke no further and quickly joined the ranks of those tidying the battlefield.


    ...


    "I didn¡¯t expect that Shopkeeper Xue would be willing to give his life for a child he had only juste to know today¡­" Zang Xiaojian said with aplex expression.


    "It¡¯s not surprising," Lu Qingshan replied solemnly, "The Jiao King himself was willing to risk his life near the Spiritual Abyss for his own Bloodline. Not to mention Xue Zhuyong, who was determined to avenge his wife and overthrow the Mo Family, right?"


    Zang Xiaojian was left speechless, then asked again, "Shopkeeper Xue is deeply sentimental and disregarded life and death for Master Mo¡¯s sake. But what about Master Mo then?"


    "Although the Jiao n has been tormenting the Human Race of Jiaolong Ind, if it¡¯s been going on for so many years, why not endure it a little longer?" Zang Xiaojianmented, murmuring, "With Master Mo¡¯s talent, if he had been willing to devote himself to cultivation for a few hundred years, by then, even if the Jiaolong Demon King seeded in Transforming into a Dragon, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t mean much to him. Yet, he chose this moment to sacrifice his life in order to y the Jiao King."


    Lu Qingshan fell silent for a while, thought about it, and then exined to Zang Xiaojian, "There are two kinds of people in this world.


    The first kind are rational people who will change themselves to adapt to the environment.


    The other kind are the irrational ones who seek to change the environment."


    "Master Mo was one of those irrational people¡­" Zang Xiaojian murmured.


    Lu Qingshan nodded and then shook his head, "However, history is always made by thetter kind of people."


    Zang Xiaojian stalled in her speech, falling into silence.


    "Which kind are you then?" Qin Yitian, who was hovering beside the two, suddenly asked.


    "Ah?" Lu Qingshan was taken aback.


    ```


    Qin Yitian¡¯s eyes swirled with light as he stared at Lu Qingshan¡¯s handsome face and asked again, "Young Master Lu, which type of person are you, the former or thetter?"


    Lu Qingshan was stumped by Qin Yitian¡¯s question.


    Qin Yitian didn¡¯t rush Lu Qingshan and kept his crystal-bright phoenix eyes fixed on him, quietly waiting for his answer.


    After a long while, Lu Qingshan came back to his senses and gave Qin Yitian a bitter smile, saying helplessly, "I¡¯m not sure myself, probably leaning more towards the former type..."


    As if understanding something, Qin Yitian nodded and a shallow smile filled the corners of his mouth, "I see."


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Suddenly, a fierce howling noise erupted.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze instinctively turned towards the source of the noise.


    This thunderous roar, like a prehistoric behemoth turning over, was actuallying from the Spiritual Abyss!


    In an instant.


    Countless white mists began to inexplicably emerge, brew, and umte within the dark depths of the Spiritual Abyss.


    "What is this?" Zang Xiaojian¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    "The ind residents mentioned that the Spiritual Abyss erupts intermittently, and it seems we¡¯ve encountered it," Lu Qingshan said with some hesitation.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    The howling grew louder and the white mist thickened even more.


    Lu Qingshan and his twopanions quickly retreated, distancing themselves from the Spiritual Abyss.


    Finally.


    Like a violent explosion, a massive column of water, wrapped in rolling mist, burst forth from the mouth of the Spiritual Abyss and shot straight up into the sky.


    The loud rumble spread outwards in waves as the water column reached a certain height then dispersed, racing downwards and leaving millions of droplets in the azure sky.


    It was as if a gxy was cascading down from heaven.


    The droplets reflected the sunlight, their sparkling and translucent brilliance intermingling with the mist, revealingyers of color; dazzling, vivid, and beautiful.


    An exceptionally beautiful rainbow appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes.


    On the ground, where Dragon ying Saber Cultivators were gathering the fallen cultivators¡¯ bodies and treating the injured, were also drawn by this tremendousmotion, inevitably lifting their heads to gaze at this rainbow that conveniently appeared after the battle.


    ...


    After a long time.


    The disturbance from the Spiritual Abyss came to an abrupt halt, and as the myriad droplets evaporated, the rainbow disappeared as well.


    The clouds dispersed and the rain cleared.


    "I¡¯m leaving," Zang Xiaojian said suddenly to Lu Qingshan with her moist, bright eyes blinking.


    "So soon?" Zang Xiaojian¡¯s readiness to leave didn¡¯t surprise Lu Qingshan since their purpose foring to Jiaolong Ind was to seek the sword, and now that their goal was achieved, there was naturally no reason to linger.


    He just didn¡¯t expect Zang Xiaojian to be in such a hurry to leave.


    Given the girl¡¯s temperament, having taken Xue Zhuyong¡¯s Three-feet Edge, it was unlikely she wouldn¡¯t visit Lady Mo in Jiaolong City.


    "Yes, there are some special reasons. I need to hurry back home," Zang Xiaojian pursed her lips, "I was supposed to go back with you to see Lady Mo, but it looks like I¡¯ll have to ask you to visit her on my behalf."


    "Of course, I had an agreement with Mo Yan. If something unfortunate happened to him, I would take care of Lady Mo," Lu Qingshan nodded and sighed.


    Zang Xiaojian turned her head towards Qin Yitian and extended an invitation, "What about you, Sister Yitian? What are your ns next? If you don¡¯t have a ce to go, how about visiting my home?"


    Qin Yitian¡¯s eyebrows arched with a hint of light in her eyes as she looked at Lu Qingshan, silent.


    "I understand," Zang Xiaojian instantly grasped the meaning in Qin Yitian¡¯s eyes and said to Lu Qingshan, "Then, I¡¯ll leave Sister Yitian in your care."


    Lu Qingshan, however, was caught off guard, failing to understand the sudden tacit agreement between Zang Xiaojian and Qin Yitian.


    "Oh, there¡¯s also this." Zang Xiaojian pped her hands as if remembering something and pulled out a cloth-wrapped bundle from her Storage Ring, handing it to Lu Qingshan.


    The bundle was bulging, its contents a mystery.


    "What is this?" Lu Qingshan asked, puzzled.


    "It¡¯s a gift for the Rat King, so it doesn¡¯t get mad at me for leaving without saying goodbye," Zang Xiaojian exined cheerfully.


    Knowing the journey was perilous and that the Rat King itself had nobat power, Lu Qingshan had decided to let the Rat King stay in Dragon City with Mo Zhizhi.


    "I understand, I will deliver it to him," Lu Qingshan said, taking the bundle.


    "Then," Zang Xiaojian looked at Lu Qingshan, her dark pupils shining, with a small dimple appearing on her egg-shaped face, "Qingshan remains unchanged?"


    Lu Qingshan paused for a second, and after realizing what she meant, waved his hand at Zang Xiaojian and chuckled, "The green waters run long."


    Zang Xiaojian rose on her sword, turning into a streak of light. Her yfulughter echoed from the sky, "Sister Yitian, see you next time."

 Chapter 190 - 56 Longevity Whale

    Zang Xiaojian¡¯s figure grew more and more distant, eventually disappearing into the horizon above.


    After bidding farewell to Zang Xiaojian, Lu Qingshan rubbed his forehead with a headache.


    "I don¡¯t know how I¡¯ll face Lady Mo," Qin Yitian could see Lu Qingshan¡¯s distress.


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    Next, he had to deliver the news of the death of her husband and son to Mo Zhizhi.


    He couldn¡¯t imagine how devastating this news would be for Mo Zhizhi.


    But no matter the headache, since he had promised Mo Yan, he had to do it.


    "Forget it, Miss Qin, let¡¯s head back to Jiaolong City first," Lu Qingshan rubbed his temples and called out to Qin Yitian.


    Qin Yitian lightly nodded her head.


    ...


    Jiaolong City, Woodcarving Shop.


    Two streaks of Radiance came to a halt and gently descended.


    "You¡¯re finally back!" The keenly perceptive King of the Western Mice was the first to detect Lu Qingshan¡¯s presence, bouncing out excitedly from the woodcarving shop to wee him.


    However, when the King of the Western Mice saw that only Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian were at the door, he couldn¡¯t help but be startled, not knowing what scenario he had imagined, his face mournful and his voice trembling, "Why just the two of you? Where is Zang Xiaojian? Don¡¯t tell me ... "


    A cloth bag flew out of Lu Qingshan¡¯s hands towards the King of the Western Mice.


    The King of the Western Mice clumsily caught the bag, which was slightlyrger than his own body, "What¡¯s this?"


    "Zang Xiaojian had urgent business, couldn¡¯t say goodbye, and had to go home first. This is the gift she left for you," Lu Qingshan said a bit irritably, "Lady Mo is still inside, right?"


    "A gift?" The King of the Western Mice¡¯s eyebrows lifted and he smiled eagerly, hurriedly starting to open the cloth bag while replying, "Lady Mo is inside, she¡¯s been restless all this time, making me feel anxious too..."


    Lu Qingshan walked towards the woodcarving shop, casually asking, "What gift did Zang Xiaojian leave for you?"


    He was indeed quite curious but, after all, since it was something Zang Xiaojian had given to the King of the Western Mice, he didn¡¯t feel it right to open it without permission.


    "It¡¯s a book...." The King of the Western Mice¡¯s excitement turned into a sob, "The gift Zang Xiaojian left me is actually a book..."


    The cloth bag contained several ancient books.


    Lu Qingshan nced amusedly at the King of the Western Mice, who was flipping through the ancient books with a look of absolute despair.


    He had no idea what kind of books Zang Xiaojian had left for the King of the Western Mice, but they even included some very delicate illustrations.


    Lu Qingshan muttered something and shook his head, not giving it much more thought.


    He still had not rified things with Lady Mo, which was the most urgent matter at hand.


    However, after taking a few more steps, a thought seemed to sh through his mind.


    "Wait," Lu Qingshan muttered uncertainly, "Why do I feel like that illustration looks familiar... like I¡¯ve seen it somewhere before?"


    "What book did Zang Xiaojian leave you?" Lu Qingshan stopped walking and said to the King of the Western Mice, "Let me see it."


    The King of the Western Mice threw the book in his hand to Lu Qingshan.


    On the book cover, the title was written in tiny script.


    [Southern Sea Spirit Beast Chart].


    "Back then, it was because I peeped at this that Zang Xiaojian caught me," King West Mouse grumbled.


    Lu Qingshan, absorbed in his own world, flipped open the Southern Sea Spirit Beast Chart to the page he had just glimpsed.


    He was so engrossed that, after a long while, he suddenly began to fly high into the sky with Sword Control.


    Qin Yitian blinked his clear eyes, puzzled, but also subconsciously prepared to follow by levitating.


    "Take me with you!" King West Mouse hastily leaped onto Qin Yitian¡¯s shoulder.


    Qin Yitian gave King West Mouse a nce but said nothing else, transforming into a rainbow light and following Lu Qingshan.


    This time, Lu Qingshan stopped his Sword Control flight at a very high point and looked out into the expanse of blue, the air growing thin.


    The red light Qin Yitian had transformed into stopped next to Lu Qingshan. Seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s solemn expression, he quickly asked, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Lu Qingshan handed him the book in his hands and pointed down at Jiaolong Ind, "Don¡¯t you think Jiaolong Ind looks familiar?"


    Qin Yitian looked down. From such a height, the outline of Jiaolong Ind was faintly visible in its entirety.


    Jiaolong Ind towered like a mountain, stretching long overall, but its head and middle parts were wider, and the area gradually narrowed toward the tail.


    And the Spiritual Abyss was located at the head of Jiaolong Ind.


    "Familiar?" Qin Yitian still did not understand what Lu Qingshan meant by ¡¯familiar,¡¯ and turned his gaze back to the book.


    A grayish-white image of an Eternal Whale entered his view.


    This whale was mountainous in size, immenselyrge, tapering from the head to the tail. Its tail fin was heart-shaped, and its blowhole on the top resembled a volcano...


    Qin Yitian¡¯s pupils slightly constricted, he nced again at the outline of Jiaolong Ind, and said incredulously, "Are you suggesting...?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    Only King West Mouse was still confused, scratching his ears and cheeks anxiously, "Lu Qingshan, what are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand what you mean."


    Lu Qingshan did not keep King West Mouse in suspense but retorted, "Do you remember the story about the Eternal Whale transforming into an ind that the storyteller mentioned in the teahouse at Bibo City?"


    King West Mouse nodded, "I remember, that storyteller was boasting at the time.


    He said that in the Boundless Sea Area, there was an Eternal Whale Species floating on the sea surface, huge and sleepy, sleeping for millions of years at a time, unmoved by wind or rain. Over time, it evolved into an ind, but his im was quickly debunked by other patrons, who ridiculed him..."


    King West Mouse¡¯s voice trailed off, and it finally dawned on him. His mouse eyes looked at the image of the Eternal Whale in the Southern Sea Spirit Beast Chart and then down at Jiaolong Ind again. He rubbed his eyes, his mouse paw trembling excitedly as he pointed at Jiaolong Ind, hardly believing, "The silhouette of Jiaolong Ind is exactly the same as the shape of the Eternal Whale depicted in this drawing?!"


    @@novelbin@@


    "Not necessarily," King West Mouse regained itsposure after the shock, vigorously shaking its head, "Lu Qingshan, you can¡¯t just conclude that Jiaolong Ind was transformed from an Eternal Whale just because their outlines are simr; after all, coincidences happen all the time in this world."


    "Indeed, there are many coincidences in this world, and merely having simr shapes doesn¡¯t prove anything," Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t oppose King West Mouse¡¯s proposition, then added, "However, Jiaolong Ind just happens to have an extremely mysterious volcanic vent called Spiritual Abyss.


    This Spiritual Abyss is bottomless, usually emits a strong attracting force, devours everything, and erupts intermittently, but what it spews is not magma but misty water vapor."


    Qin Yitian, reading from the detailed description of the Eternal Whale in the Southern Sea Spirit Beast Chart, spoke word by word, "The Eternal Whale, the oldest spirit beast in the South Sea, is gentle by nature, loves to sleep, and has an almost unlimited lifespan, its body vast and boundless.


    The reason the Eternal Whale always remains asleep is that within its whale belly, there is a small universe. This small universe is the source of the Eternal Whale, and as long as the small universe is indestructible, the Eternal Whale will not die.


    To fortify the small universe, the whale remains in constant slumber, thus minimizing its energy consumption."


    The entrance and exit of the small world is the blowhole on top of the Eternal Whale¡¯s head.


    The Eternal Whale constantly draws the Spiritual Power and Yang Qi from between Heaven and Earth through this blowhole, fortifying the small universe inside and intermittently expelling the Yin Qi within the small universe."


    "The description of this blowhole matches perfectly with the characteristics of the Spiritual Abyss," Qin Yitian put down the Southern Sea Spirit Beast Chart, his clear eyes wandering.

 Chapter 191 - 57 The Small World

    "You¡¯re preparing to enter the small world nurtured by the Longevity Whale to rescue Xue Zhuyong and Mo Yan?" Qin Yitian saw through Lu Qingshan¡¯s intentions.


    "Taking care of Mrs. Mo should be more appropriately done by her husband and child," Lu Qingshan said calmly.


    "You should know that even though the Spiritual Abyss is both the entrance and the exit, the fact that no one has ever been heard of escaping unharmed after falling into the Spiritual Abyss suggests that even if there¡¯s a way out of this small world, it¡¯s certainly not easy to find," Qin Yitian analyzed.


    "There always has to be a first for everything. If no one has ever escaped from the Spiritual Abyss, then let me, Lu Qingshan, be that first person," Lu Qingshan said.


    In fact, the moment Lu Qingshan discovered the secret of the Longevity Whale, he had already considered a great deal.


    The first thing he considered was what kind of ce the small world inside the Longevity Whale would be, and whether it was possible that it was an absolute deathtrap.


    But in the Southern Sea Spirit Beast Chart, there is a description: the Longevity Whale, by nature, is gentle and kind.


    Moreover, the Longevity Whale has a habit: it draws the yang qi from Heaven and Earth for the small world within its body, and it periodically expels the yin qi from that small world.


    The yang qi mentioned here is actually the qi necessary for life to survive, while the yin qi is the waste qi expelled by life.


    To exin it in moreyman¡¯s terms, it¡¯s like oxygen and carbon dioxide.


    The logic that follows is much simpler. If there were no life in the small world nurtured by the Longevity Whale, why would it go through the trouble of doing this?


    Therefore, the possibility that this small world is a deathtrap is ruled out, and moreover, it is highly likely that there are a great many living beings within this small world.


    As for what Qin Yitian reminded him of, he had naturally thought of that too.


    But just as he said to Qin Yitian, he is Lu Qingshan.


    In his previous life in the Nine Heavens, he had always been in the role of a pioneer, rather than an ordinary yer picking up scraps of wisdom from behind masters.


    Before him, there had never been a non-professional yer in the Nine Heavens who had made it into the top ten of the main profession rankings, and no Sword Cultivator had ever been able to solo kill a Demon Race elite...


    He was also the first non-professional yer to win a head-to-head PK against a professional yer, the first Sword Cultivator to solo clear a hundred-people dungeon of the same tier...


    He had done too many things that others deemed impossible, and he had always been extremely confident in himself.


    The reason he had the confidence to venture into the unknown realm within the belly of the Longevity Whale was simply because he was Lu Qingshan, nothing more.


    Just because others could not do something, did not mean he could not.


    Moreover, to Lu Qingshan,pared to telling a woman the news of her husband and child¡¯s death, clearing a high-difficulty dungeon was undoubtedly more interesting for him.


    "But," Qin Yitian pointed out the crux, "even if we don¡¯t talk about whether you can bring Mo Yan and Xue Zhuyong out of the realm within the Longevity Whale, even if you manage to do it, this deed won¡¯t bring you any benefits."


    "If one only does things because there are benefits to be gained, then how is that person any better than a wild beast?" Lu Qingshan paused and said calmly, "The reason I¡¯m willing to do this is only because I believe it is the right thing to do, it is what I want to do, and that¡¯s enough."


    "The actions of a Sword Cultivator do not lie in benefits, but in the heart."


    He believes it¡¯s worth doing, so he does it.


    Mo Yan sacrificed his life for the humans on the ind, sending the Jiaolong Demon King into the abyss with him, to perish together.


    Lu Qingshan admitted to himself that he could not sacrifice his life for justice to such a degree.


    However, he understood that he could not stand by knowing there was hope to save Mo Yan and yet do nothing.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s words left Qin Yitian momentarily stunned, his face showing a reminiscent expression.


    After a moment, as if he had made a decision, Qin Yitian¡¯s gaze suddenly became focused. He looked at Lu Qingshan seriously and said, "I will go with you."


    "This matter has nothing to do with you¡­" Lu Qingshan instinctively wanted to refuse.


    "It¡¯s not only Sword Cultivators who act without regard for benefit in this world," Qin Yitian said leisurely.


    Caught off guard by his own words being used against him, Lu Qingshan was temporarily at a loss for words.


    No longer teasing Lu Qingshan, Qin Yitian extended his jade-white hand, ced it on Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder, and said softly, "I wish to apany Young Master Lu."


    Lu Qingshan remained silent for a long time before he finally spoke, "Then let¡¯s go together."


    "I¡¯ming too!" The West Rat King, oblivious to the situation, volunteered immediately.


    "You stay." Lu Qingshan decisively quashed the West Rat King¡¯s idea.


    @@novelbin@@


    "It¡¯s not only the human race that doesn¡¯t always act out of self-interest," the West Rat King parroted.


    Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help butugh at the West Rat King¡¯s words.


    "If Miss Qin and I cannote out within a short period, someone has to tell Lady Mo about these matters, and bring her back to the Lu Family," Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment before instructing the West Rat King, "This is something I promised Mo Yan to do; it must be done. So, since Miss Qin and I are going together, you must stay behind to fulfill this task for me."


    "I..." The West Rat King, after being told so by Lu Qingshan, was at a loss for words, unable to think of a rebuttal.


    "Then it¡¯s decided," Lu Qingshan said decisively, "Miss Qin, shall we head back to the Spiritual Abyss to check the situation?"


    "Yes," Qin Yitian agreed gently, her head bowed.


    A sword light and a streak of red dawn shot up into the sky from Jiaolong City, tearing through the air as they left.


    ...


    At the edge of the Spiritual Abyss.


    Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian who had returned there stood suspended in the air.


    A faint attraction emanated from within the Spiritual Abyss.


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    Looking down, it was a pitch-ck expanse.


    "What does Young Master Lu n to do?" Qin Yitian inquired.


    "Enter the Spiritual Abyss first," Lu Qingshan said firmly.


    "You intend to enter the Spiritual Abyss without knowing anything about the situation inside?" Qin Yitian asked.


    "Before falling into the Spiritual Abyss, Mo Yan, using his own body as a container, did something taboo and rashly merged the Cold Spirit Netherfire with the Red Lotus Netherfire.


    If he really was fortunate enough to survive, his current condition must be extremely dire. Without timely treatment, I fear he might not escape death.


    Therefore, if we want to save Mo Yan, we don¡¯t have much time to dy."


    "As for the situation inside the minor world," Lu Qingshan paused for a moment, "let¡¯s find out by going there."


    "It may seem a bit reckless, but we can only try our luck by plunging straight in. This is also why I¡¯d rather you not join me in entering the Spiritual Abyss," Lu Qingshan exined.


    "Let¡¯s go then," Qin Yitian said, gazing at Lu Qingshan¡¯s profile, her eyes fearless and shimmering.


    Seeing that he couldn¡¯t dissuade Qin Yitian again, Lu Qingshan no longer yed coy, "Then, shall we depart?"


    "Mhm," Qin Yitian nodded.


    Just as Lu Qingshan was about to leap into the Spiritual Abyss, he was suddenly taken aback.


    For a soft, smooth palm reached out and covered his own, fingers gently curling to grasp his hand.


    "The spatial passageways into a minor world often transport one to random locations," Qin Yitian calmly exined, "This way, even if we are teleported to random locations, we will still be together after entering the minor world."


    What Qin Yitian said was true, and he couldn¡¯t refute it.


    Lu Qingshan tightly clutched Qin Yitian¡¯s hand, smooth as jade, and with a mighty leap towards the Spiritual Abyss, they plunged straight down.


    A massive pulling force immediately enveloped them both, increasing their falling speed more and more.


    In the end, the figures of Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian vanished into the depthless Spiritual Abyss.

 Chapter 192 - 58: I really should have hugged her then.

    ```


    The surroundings were bizarre and colorful, with every hue imaginable.


    A sensation of weightlessness came over me.


    But this feelingsted for only a few moments.


    Soon after, the scenery around me changed dramatically, and Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes lit up.


    This was an exceedingly bright world.


    Fresh air brushed against my face, and the overwhelming vitality filled the world, creating andscape of splendor and elegance.


    Due to the exceptionally vibrant life force, the surrounding nts grew extraordinarily tall.


    Thick vines as broad as buckets twined around ancient trees so wide they would take four or five people to encircle them, and even the wild grass and flowers were so lush they stood as tall as a person.


    Compared to the dark and dreadful Spiritual Abyss, which struck fear into those who beheld it, this ce was like paradise on Earth, a beautiful divine soil.


    "It really is random teleportation," Lu Qingshan murmured.


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    The nts around ournding spot appeared rejuvenated without any signs of man-made damage.


    But the Jiaolong Demon King, Jiao Yan, Xue Zhuyong, and Mo Yan had all plummeted into the Spiritual Abyss only shortly before. If it were fixed-point teleportation, this ce would not be so pristine, nor would it be devoid of any traces of their fall.


    The first issue to resolve, then, was to locate Xue Zhuyong and Mo Yan.


    Fortunately, when Xue Zhuyong and Mo Yan fell into the Spiritual Abyss, they were holding hands. Thus, logically, they should havended in the same ce.


    Lu Qingshan only hoped that the distance between where he and the two of them had fallen wasn¡¯t too great.


    He observed his surroundings and realized that he was currently on the middle of a mountain¡¯s slope.


    "Let¡¯s head up higher to see what the situation here really is," Lu Qingshan said to Qin Yitian.


    "Alright," Qin Yitian agreed.


    ...


    Several hours earlier.


    @@novelbin@@


    A world of fiery red magma, the scene resembling the apocalypse.


    The ground was cracked, with fissures worming their way across thend, densely packed andplex.


    Through these crevices, one could see the slow flow of deep-redva.


    In the background stood a huge volcanic crater, continuously emitting ash and smoke.


    And there, in this destendscape, on an open stretch ofnd,y a young man with mes emerging all over his body. Beside him stood a middle-aged cultivator.


    It was Mo Yan and Xue Zhuyong.


    On Mo Yan¡¯s body, the blue and red Netherfires were clearly separated, each taking over half of his body.


    The Red Lotus Netherfire and Cold Spirit Netherfire fought fiercely for dominance, using Mo Yan¡¯s body as their battleground.


    Xue Zhuyong stood by, his expression extremely grave.


    He had already released his Divine Sense to investigate Mo Yan¡¯s entire body.


    Mo Yan¡¯s situation was far worse than it looked because not only the surface of his body, but even inside, was now filled with Cold Spirit Fire and Red Lotus Fire.


    Under the scorching of the two Netherfires, his meridians had begun to shrivel, and the Spiritual Power in his Dantian was also dissipating into nothingness under the high temperatures of both fires.


    This was the side effect of rashly merging Netherfires.


    Even though Mo Yan was an Incinerate Body with an affinity for Netherfire far surpassing that of ordinary people, at the Foundation Establishment stage, he still couldn¡¯t withstand the savage strength of the two Netherfires shing.


    Thus, in just an instant, both Netherfires were utterly out of control.


    ```


    And Mo Yan, whose Spiritual Power had already been incinerated beyond retrieval, had no ability to take control of the two types of Netherfire again, to make them cease their battle.


    Due to the pain, Mo Yan¡¯s facial muscles were continuously twitching.


    Xue Zhuyong was anxious butpletely powerless.


    Because although the two types of Netherfire were shing, since they originated from the same source, from within Mo Yan¡¯s body, they temporarily fell into a very peculiar state of bnce.


    At such a moment, if an external force were to get involved, it would disrupt this bnce and cause the Netherfire within Mo Yan to erupt immediately, turning Mo Yan to ashes in the blink of an eye.


    Suddenly, Mo Yan¡¯s fingers trembling slightly.


    Xue Zhuyong, who had been closely monitoring Mo Yan, was startled.


    A few momentster, Mo Yan¡¯s tightly closed eyes began to flutter and slowly opened.


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face, filled with nervousness, came into Mo Yan¡¯s view.


    There was a hint of confusion in Mo Yan¡¯s gaze, and without asking about the current situation, he spoke with aplex expression, "Senior... who are you?"


    Xue Zhuyong was at a loss for words, not knowing how to reply.


    He understood well that what Mo Yan meant to ask wasn¡¯t his name.


    What Mo Yan cared about was his identity.


    "Senior has braved mortal danger to enter the Spiritual Abyss to save me, to go to such lengths for me... There should only be my mother in this world who would do so, yet Senior¡¯s behavior is just so... cough..." Mo Yan gasped painfully, then continued, "Given my current state, please treat this as my dying wish and give me a definitive answer, can you?"


    "I... want to know the truth."


    Mo Yan¡¯s voice was extremely weak, and his current condition was like a candle flickering in the wind, potentially falling at any moment.


    Facing Mo Yan¡¯s intense gaze, Xue Zhuyong¡¯splexion turned from pale to green and after a moment, he finally let out a long sigh and said softly, "Then let me tell you a story, a story about me."


    "I¡¯m all ears," replied Mo Yan calmly.


    "Since a very young age, I never saw my father and it was just my mother and me against the world," Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face showed a hint of reminiscence, "In order to support me, my mother had a tough life. She worked in the kitchen of an inn during the day in exchange for a meager wage, but she didn¡¯t want to leave me at home alone, so she took me with her to the inn¡¯s kitchen.


    Since I didn¡¯t have a father, and my mother was extremely beautiful, the men in the kitchen would often sexually harass her, either tantly or subtly, while the women incessantly gossiped, saying to my face that I was the result of my mother¡¯s illicit affair, that I was a bastard, which is why I didn¡¯t have a father."


    My mother knew all of this. She was angry, but for that meager wage, she could only silently endure it all.


    Back then, I would often find my mother curled up in the corner of the bed, crying silently into the night.


    Ignorant as I was, I couldn¡¯t understand just how much my mother had given up to have me, and instead, because of those harsh words and people¡¯s ridicule, I harbored resentment towards her in my heart.


    So when I found my mother crying, I actually chose to pretend to be sound asleep, to ignore it all.


    Eventually, on a winter¡¯s day, my mother, already worn thin from hardbor, uncharacteristically did not go to the inn to work.


    She just sat by the bed, sitting quietly, as if deep in thought, and after a long while, she shakily reached out and held my hand," Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face twisted in agonizing pain and his voice began to choke up, "Her hands were small, rough, but so warm.


    She looked at me with veryplex eyes ¨C there was attachment, pain, and many things I couldn¡¯t understand.


    After a very long time, my mother suddenly said to me, no matter what, to live well, to just live well."


    "Then, she gave me some Silver Pieces and asked me to go out and buy something tasty to eat."


    "Without much thought, I took the Silver Pieces and ran out of the house, onto the street.


    But I never imagined that would be thest time I saw my mother." Tears were already streaming down Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face, "Back then, what I loathed most was the lonely night and the way my mother curled up on the bed, crying silently. But now that I think about it, I should have hugged her then."


    Xue Zhuyong, looking at Mo Yan¡¯s face which was already exuding an aura of death, said softly: "Later, I learned a lesson ¨C for those people you cherish, when you still have the chance, don¡¯t be stingy with your hugs.


    What¡¯s the point of regretting when the chance is gone?"


    "So, when I found out that I had a son," Xue Zhuyong¡¯s emotions gradually settled, speaking as if it did not concern him, "even though I had never met him, I didn¡¯t hesitate at all. Even at the risk of my life, I would save him.


    Because, I... don¡¯t want to have regrets a second time."

 Chapter 193 - 59: Flame of Life

    Dharma Cultivation understood naturally the story told by Xue Zhuyong.


    Yet, after a long silence, Mo Yan hoarsely questioned, "Then why did you abandon my mother in the first ce?"


    Xue Zhuyong, who would rather enter the Spiritual Abyss to save him, surely touched his heart¡ªit was impossible not to.


    He was never a person of cold heart.


    He could disregard Xue Zhuyong¡¯s negligence towards him, but he could not forgive Xue Zhuyong for abandoning Mo Zhizhi.


    Enjoy new adventures from empire


    "I did something in the past that wronged Zhizhi," Xue Zhuyong fell silent for a moment, then painfully exined, "She could no longer ept me, so I could only..."


    "Although I don¡¯t know where we are right now..." After a long silence, Mo Yan did not keep digging into the past, scanning the surroundings, "but since we¡¯re still alive, I hope you can find a way out, go back... and then properly take care of my mother..."


    Mo Yan¡¯s gaze was intense, fixed on Xue Zhuyong.


    He felt his end was near, and he did not want to pursue those old, rotten issues any longer.


    What he desired at that moment was a promise from Xue Zhuyong.


    He knew that Xue Zhuyong might not be able to fulfil the promise, but all he sought was Xue Zhuyong¡¯s attitude and some peace for himself.


    "I... will," Xue Zhuyong nodded with difficulty.


    "Then I... forgive you," Seeing Xue Zhuyong make that promise, Mo Yan, sustaining his breath with effort, managed a smile.


    Then his breath loosened, and he finally fainted again.


    This time, he might never wake up again.


    The Netherfire covering his body was bing increasingly vigorous.


    Yet his breath was growing ever so weak.


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face was ashen, his eyes devoid of all sparkle.


    "Drip drip drip~~~" A very cheerful sound rang out.


    Xue Zhuyong instinctively looked in the direction of the sound, and a very mystical little fire person appeared before his eyes.


    Xue Zhuyong referred to it as a little fire person because its entire body was a clump of blue-green mes shaped like a human, its facial features made of fire lively and vivid.


    It joyfully hopped around this barrennd, as if this ce was its yground.


    And it itself, was like a spirit of fire.


    "Drip?"


    The little fire person, initially hopping aimlessly around, suddenly seemed to sense something, sharply turned towards Xue Zhuyong¡¯s side, finally fixing its gaze on Mo Yan, who was unconscious and burning with Netherfire.


    "Drip? Drip?" The little fire person let out two puzzled sounds, no longer hopping but floating in the air weightlessly, swiftly flying over, circling above Mo Yan¡¯s body.


    "Drip?" The little fire person looked towards Xue Zhuyong, softly calling out as if asking a question.


    @@novelbin@@


    Although Xue Zhuyong could feel the goodwill emanating from the little fire person, he could not understand its words.


    Seeing that Xue Zhuyong could not understand him, the little fire person became somewhat anxious and circled in the air a couple more times.


    Whoosh!


    At that moment, the two types of Netherfire on Mo Yan¡¯s body suddenly surged, and their ze grew even fiercer.


    And Mo Yan¡¯s life force had already begun to gradually extinguish.


    The little fire person paused in midair, as if contemting something.


    Finally, the little fire person made up its mind and, under Xue Zhuyong¡¯s astonished gaze, dove headfirst toward Mo Yan¡¯s Dantian.


    The speed was so fast, and the action so sudden, that Xue Zhuyong had no time to react or stop it.


    What shocked him even more was that the moment the little fire person entered Mo Yan¡¯s body, the two different Netherfires fiercely shing within Mo Yan did not explode instantly due to the intervention of an external force.


    Instead, there was a sudden pause, as if a mouse had encountered a cat. The fires began to tremble violently, and then started to shrink timidly.


    The red and blue Netherfires that pervaded Mo Yan¡¯s body slowly extinguished and calmed down. In the blink of an eye, they hadpletely receded.


    But that wasn¡¯t the end.


    Huuu huuu huuu~


    The next moment, a teal me burst forth from inside Mo Yan¡¯s body, taking the ce where the Cold Spirit Fire and Red Lotus Fire had been, burning on the surface of Mo Yan¡¯s body.


    Then, a very strange scene urred.


    Wherever the teal me burned, the already charred ck flesh of Mo Yan began to peel off its carbonized skin to reveal the wounds beneath, looking bloody and gory.


    Yet, the teal me seemed to have no temperature. As Mo Yan¡¯s blood flowed out, it remained intact within the mes and was not evaporated.


    Even more bizarre was that, like dry wooding upon spring, Mo Yan¡¯s crackling flesh began to heal gradually, regrowing fresh red flesh and skin at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    Seeing this scene, Xue Zhuyong finally recalled a slightly unfamiliar name.


    me of Life.


    The magical me ranked twenty-third on the Netherfire Ranking!


    The reason Xue Zhuyong felt this name unfamiliar was not that he had never heard of it before; in fact, every Netherfire on the Netherfire Ranking was very famous.


    There are countless types of Netherfire in the world, but only one hundred make it onto the Netherfire Ranking.


    Each kind of Netherfire could be regarded as a rare treasure of Heaven and Earth, the object of countless Dharma Cultivation practitioners¡¯, as well as Alchemists¡¯ and Artifact Refiners¡¯ dreams.


    So even though he was now a Nascent Soul Cultivator, the Netherfires on the ranking still seemed too distant, as if they existed only in legends.


    Therefore, when he saw the little fire person for the first time, he did not associate it with this at all.


    Only now did he suddenly realize it.


    As for the current scene, that was the unique ability of the me of Life.


    The me of Life was entirely different from all other Netherfires.


    Although different Netherfires may vary in form and power, they share onemon characteristic: all Netherfires are imbued with destructive power, brutal and strong.


    The me of Life is the exception.


    It is the only Netherfire discovered in the world that possesses no destructive power at all.


    The reason it made it onto the Netherfire Ranking and achieved such a high rank of twenty-three is entirely because of the exuberant vitality it contains.


    Indeed, as one of the most brutal Netherfires between Heaven and Earth, the me of Life is known for its vitality.


    It has no killing power but possesses unparalleled healing capabilities and even the ability to extend life.


    Therefore, the me of Life is also called the Longevity me.


    Though he did not know the reason, the me of Life was indeed saving Mo Yan at this moment.


    Mo Yan was saved!


    A surge of uncontroble tion shed through Xue Zhuyong¡¯s heart.


    ...


    While Xue Zhuyong focused entirely on Mo Yan, he did not notice that the moment the me of Life entered Mo Yan¡¯s body, the volcanic crater behind him, continuously emitting grey smoke, had undergone a tremendous change.

 Chapter 194: 60th Chapter: Netherfire Golden Core

    Two figures rose into the air from atop a lush, verdant mountain peak.


    "This?!" Lu Qingshan, suspended high in the sky, was slightly astonished by the peculiar sight before him.


    As far as the eye could see, the world inside this Longevity Whale seemed to be split into two starkly distinct parts.


    The mountain peak where he was teemed with vitality and life, wild grass as lush as a carpet, wildflowers fragrant.


    To his westy an unbroken chain of vast, deep mountains.


    The lush colors stretched to the end of his sight, akin to an endless green ocean.


    A slight gust of wind would raise massive green tidal waves, hundreds of feet high, sweeping from afar to nearby, a spectacr sight to behold.


    But to his easty a world nketed in charred ck, a boundless world of moltenva.


    Gazing into the distance, one could see towering volcanoes in that molten world piercing the clouds.


    From every crater, billowing plumes of gray smoke flowed without pause, merging into a continuous expanse of gray fog.


    Even from a considerable distance, he could still feel the gloom and scorching heat emanating from it.


    Interestingly, the mountain peak where he stood served as the boundary, neatly dividing the world into one of red and green, one of life and death¡ªtwo opposing realms.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Why has the smoke from that volcano stopped?" Qin Yitian pointed suddenly at the chain of volcanoes in the molten world.


    Lu Qingshan followed the direction Qin Yitian was pointing.


    Indeed, within that range of volcanoes, one of them had gradually ceased its activity, no longer releasing gray smoke, creating a stark contrast with the other volcanoes.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze suddenly sharpened, a gleam shed in his eyes, "Let¡¯s go over and take a look!"


    In such unfamiliar territory, without any clues, they naturally needed to find a breakthrough.


    And this volcano, having undergone a significant change, was very likely that breakthrough.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan summoned the Green Wind Sword given by Zang Xiaojian, not minding the consumption of his Spiritual Power, and rapidly soared through the air at an extremely fast speed.


    Hissss!


    The sound of the wind whooshed by on both sides.


    With his Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique elevated to a very high level, Lu Qingshan¡¯s speed of Sword Control now even surpassed that of the escape techniques of most Golden Core Cultivators.


    Initially, Lu Qingshan was worried that Qin Yitian would not be able to keep up with his speed, but Qin Yitian transformed into a streak of red mist, maintaining a speed parallel to his with a calm and effortless appearance, evidently still having plenty of strength to spare.


    ...


    Once they crossed the boundary that divided the two worlds and entered the molten world, waves of searing heat continuously assaulted them, baking Lu Qingshan.


    A sharp, pervasive sulfur smell also assaulted their senses.


    The ground was crisscrossed by rivers of magma, with fiery redva flowing slowly within, resembling veins branded upon thend.


    Additionally, there were numerous magma pools of various sizes randomly distributed across this vast molten world.


    Sizzle!


    Every so often, gigantic bubbles emerged from within the magma, following with a faint sound, they burst immediately, vigorously ejecting moltenva, akin to splendid fireworks.


    "Phew..." Lu Qingshan let out a breath, turned his head to nce at Qin Yitian, who had been following by his side.


    But this nce instantly left Lu Qingshan somewhat astonished.


    Despite the high temperature here, which even as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator he found slightly ufortable, Qin Yitian was notablyposed.


    He could even feel that Qin Yitian¡¯s mood seemed somewhat joyful at the moment.


    "Don¡¯t you feel hot?" Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    "Not at all," Qin Yitian shook his head, squinting his narrow phoenix eyes as he softly reminded, "However, you might not have noticed, but I can feel that ever since we entered this world, the temperature here has been continuously dropping."


    "The temperature is dropping?" Lu Qingshan frowned, pondering, "I wonder if this is a normal phenomenon here, or... due to some external factors."


    If it was due to external factors, then it was highly likely rted to Xue Zhuyong, Mo Yan, or the Jiaolong Demon King, who had entered this world before.


    ....


    Elsewhere.


    Under the me of Life, the wounds on Mo Yan¡¯s body gradually healed, and his breath also steadied.


    Xue Zhuyong finally let go of the worry that had been weighing on his heart.


    Although it was somewhat mysterious, under the powerful influence of the me of Life, Mo Yan had already left his previous near-death state and returned to his peak condition.


    However, Xue Zhuyong only rxed for a brief moment.


    Because, after returning to his peak state, the aura emanating from Mo Yan¡¯s body continued to rise, bing stronger and more dominant.


    A terrifying fluctuation began to brew within Mo Yan, and in the surrounding space, a strong Spiritual Power gathered.


    A dense Spiritual Power storm whipped up above Mo Yan¡¯s body.


    Xue Zhuyong was familiar with this scene, having experienced it himself years ago.


    This was the state of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator beginning to condense a Golden Core.


    Yet Xue Zhuyong¡¯s heart, which had just settled, tightened once again.


    Considering Mo Yan¡¯s talent of achieving such cultivation at a young age, the small task of condensing a Golden Core should not have been a problem.


    But the current situation was that Mo Yan was still in an unconscious state, not awake.


    Xue Zhuyong had never heard of anyone condensing a Golden Core while unconscious.


    He frantically called Mo Yan¡¯s name over and over and even exerted pressure in an attempt to awaken him.


    But all these efforts proved to be futile.


    As Xue Zhuyong worried, Mo Yan began to unconsciously absorb the Spiritual Power around him voraciously.


    The dense Spiritual Power swarmed into Mo Yan¡¯s body.


    And at that moment, in Mo Yan¡¯s previously empty Dantian, a vortex made up of Spiritual Power and the red and blue Netherfire appeared, rotating continuously.


    Even more bizarre was that the newly entered me of Life, sitting cross-legged inside Mo Yan¡¯s Dantian, was stirring and manipting something with both hands.


    Upon closer inspection, one could be surprised to find that the vortex was actually being controlled by the me of Life.


    As the Spiritual Power in the surrounding space of Mo Yan began to create a vacuum, the me of Life¡¯s small hands suddenly shook.


    The vortex of Spiritual Power and Netherfire rotated rapidly andpressed. Find your next read at empire


    A momentter, the massive vortex imploded into a very small point and then immediately expanded into a Golden Core the size of a broad bean.


    The me of Life, like an Alchemist, used Mo Yan¡¯s Dantian as a furnace and the Cold Spirit Fire and Red Lotus Fire as materials, forcibly creating a Golden Core for Mo Yan.


    Perhaps it could not be called a Golden Core, because there were no usual markings on this Golden Core that would distinguish its quality.


    Moreover, this Golden Core was not gold but an incredibly dazzling red and blue, and its surface was enveloped in a thin mist of fire!

 Chapter 195 - 61: Flame Spirit

    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s emotional turmoil underwent a process from high tension to astonishment.


    Because he had just witnessed, Mo Yan, while unconscious,plete his breakthrough from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to a Golden Core Cultivator.


    In other words, if someone were to ask Mo Yan how he broke through to the Golden Core, his answer would probably be that he fell asleep and, upon waking up, had condensed a Golden Core.


    Utterly preposterous.


    Afterward, Xue Zhuyong thought of Mo Yan¡¯s age.


    A twenty-year-old Golden Core Cultivator?


    Xue Zhuyong clicked his tongue in amazement and also felt a bit proud.


    In this world, there should be hardly anyone whose talent for cultivation surpasses that of my son, right?


    Since Mo Yan¡¯s injuries had all healed and his cultivation had even made a great rank breakthrough, reaching an unprecedented peak state, he should be waking up soon, right?


    Xue Zhuyong hoped so in his heart.


    Seeing that the Netherfire all over Mo Yan¡¯s body had dissipated, he finally no longer hesitated, helping Mo Yan up from the cracked ground while taking out a set of clothes from his Storage Ring to put on him.


    ¡ª¡ªDue to being consumed by Netherfire, Mo Yan¡¯s clothing had long turned to ashes; he was now in the nude, his new skin as lustrous and fair as jade, inciting envy even among women.


    However, before Xue Zhuyong could see Mo Yan awaken, his gaze suddenly sharpened, his face taking on an alert expression.


    Because his Divine Sense detected two people rapidly approaching this ce.


    Could it be the Jiaolong Demon King?


    No, that¡¯s not right.


    Xue Zhuyong swiftly dismissed the thought.


    The aura of Demon Beasts is very distinct from that of the Human Race, and the iing auras were clearly not of the Demon n.


    Could they be the natives of this realm?


    Due to Mo Yan¡¯s terrible condition, though he had been in this mysterious ce for several hours, he still had not had the chance to properly investigate the area and was unaware of the specifics here.


    @@novelbin@@


    But the few breaths long transmission process through the spatial passageway had made it clear to him that they had arrived within a small world isted from the outside.


    If the iing people were indeed the natives of this world, perhaps he could glean useful information from them to help him and Mo Yan leave this realm.


    The worrying part was if the visitors bore ill will.


    As he pondered, two small figures had already appeared in the distant sky.


    Yet, the wary expression on Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face shifted gradually into astonishment as the two figures grewrger.


    The two streaks of light stopped before him, and as the Spiritual Light faded, the people within revealed themselves.


    "How could it be you?" Xue Zhuyong furrowed his brows, utterly puzzled.


    The two whonded before him were a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in an elegant, regal robe and an extremely handsome young man.


    Xue Zhuyong recognized both of them.


    Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian.


    "We came looking for you," Lu Qingshan exined, a trace of joy shing through his heart.


    Indeed, he had not expected to find Xue Zhuyong and the others so smoothly.


    However, Lu Qingshan¡¯s attention was drawn once more toward the unconscious Mo Yan, sensing the aura emanating from him, he was filled with shock and awe, "Master Mo, what happened to you? What urred before?"


    He clearly remembered that before falling into the Spiritual Abyss, Mo Yan was consumed by Netherfire, on the brink of death.


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    And now, in less than a few hours, his injuries were gone, and he had even ovee his Foundation Establishment to reach the Golden Core Realm.


    "I¡¯m not entirely clear about the specifics myself; we¡¯ll have to wait for him to wake up and see what he has to say," replied Xue Zhuyong, who then briefly shared the situation with Lu Qingshan.


    "This must be the Life¡¯s me Spirit¡¯s automatic recognition of its master," stated Qin Yitian after hearing Xue Zhuyong¡¯s ount. "However, as such a revered Netherfire, why it would so readily acknowledge a Foundation Establishment Cultivator as its master is beyond my knowledge."


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes flickered slightly as he nodded his head in agreement.


    Just then, Mo Yan¡¯s tightly closed eyes suddenly began to tremble slightly.


    "He¡¯s waking up!" eximed Xue Zhuyong.


    A few breathster, Mo Yan¡¯s eyes slowly opened.


    What shocked everyone was that two colors of me, blue and red, burst forth from Mo Yan¡¯s opened eyes.


    These two mes were precisely the Cold Spirit Fire and Red Lotus Fire that Mo Yan had cultivated and controlled.


    The two colored mespletely obscured Mo Yan¡¯s originally ck-as-ink pupils.


    At this moment, Mo Yan had a deep blue in his left eye, and his right turned to a fiery red, like yin and yang, giving off an incredibly strange appearance.


    However, this eeriness did notst long; after a moment, both mes receded, and Mo Yan¡¯s pupils returned to their normal color.


    "Lu Daoist, Qin Daoist?" As Mo Yan opened his eyes, he was shocked to see the faces of Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian, "How did youe to be here?"


    Qin Yitian nced at Xue Zhuyong, whose face also showed a questioning look, and stepped forward to exin the reasons and details of their mission.


    "Jiaolong Ind, it¡¯s actually transformed by the Spirit Beast Longevity Whale?!" Even theposed Xue Zhuyong couldn¡¯t help but exim upon hearing this astounding secret, and Mo Yan was equally shaken.


    "Yes, the Spiritual Abyss is the breath exchange port of the Longevity Whale," Lu Qingshan nodded and confirmed: "That¡¯s why you both, after falling into the Spiritual Abyss, ended up in this small world."


    "Such a mystical ce, yet Lu Daoist and Qin Daoist were willing to risk entering to save us..." Mo Yan was at a loss for words, not sure what to say.

 Chapter 45 Seeking the Slightest with the Old Sword (Part 2)

    After they married, they were penniless.


    Although Liu Zijun had no great demands for Xue Zhuyong and they led a life of happy poverty, Xue Zhuyong suddenly realized the responsibilities he should bear after getting married, as well as the importance of social status. To prevent his beloved from suffering, he had to attain a certain status.


    In the Mo Family, the best way to improve one''s status was through swordsmithing.


    Despite his aversion to the Mo Family, Xue Zhuyong decided to learn the art of sword casting.


    The gentle Liu Zijun naturally supported her husband''s decision, without hesitation taking out all their savings to barely afford a small courtyard with a sword casting chamber, which they named South Garden.


    Xue Zhuyong focused on sword casting, while Liu Zijun took care of his diet and daily life, managing their little household.


    However, unbeknownst to him until he started to seriously study it, Xue Zhuyong discovered he had an astonishing talent for sword casting.@@novelbin@@


    In just five years, his talent in sword casting fully emerged, and his status rose sharply, making him the most outstanding descendant within the Eighth Branch.


    Another ten years passed, and Mo Yinfeng''s time hade. ording to Mo Family tradition, Xue Zhuyong, who excelled in sword casting within the Eighth Branch, became the helmsman.


    After suffering for so many years, Xue Zhuyong was finally able to provide a fulfilling and happy life for himself and his wife. Though he still harbored some resentment towards his own mother''s tragic death due to the Mo Family, since the parties involved had returned to dust, Xue Zhuyong gradually buried these grudges deep in his heart, living a simple and happy life with Liu Zijun.


    Twenty yearster, it was time for the current Family Head of the Mo Family to pass the torch, and turmoil ensued within the family.


    The two most powerful branches at that time were the main house and the second house. These factions werepeting for the position of Family Head, and thepetition was fierce.


    As a sword casting family, the Mo Family had a tradition they held in high regard¡ªthe Family Head must be the most outstanding swordsmith of the current generation.


    However, the problem was that the talents of the main house''s helmsman surpassed everyone from the second house.


    ording to this tradition, the main house should inherit the position of Family Head.


    Just when things seemed deadlock with no solution, someone from the second house suddenly realized that the most outstanding swordsmith among the current generation was not from the main house, but the often overlooked helmsman of the Eighth Branch, Xue Zhuyong.


    Like manna from heaven, after an extremelyplicated struggle, the second house promoted Xue Zhuyong to the position of Family Head of the Mo Family.


    Due to his childhood experiences, Xue Zhuyong did not care much for power and had little interest in the position of Family Head.


    He was content to live his simple life with Liu Zijun, knowing well the strength of the second house and willingly acting as a puppet Family Head,pletely subservient to them.


    However, within the Mo Family, everyone knew that controlling Xue Zhuyong meant controlling the Mo Family, so the other factions never gave up their struggle for power, continuously attempting to win over Xue Zhuyong in their bid for ascension.


    Concerned about this situation, Mo Guang, the helmsman of the second house, feared losing his hold on power. To consolidate his influence, he decided to marry his daughter to Xue Zhuyong, intending to make Xue divorce his first wife.


    However, Xue Zhuyong, who had always been obedient to Mo Guang, staunchly resisted Mo Guang''s repeated threats and temptations on this matter, firmly refusing to relent.


    Later, Xue Zhuyong issued his firstmand out of his own volition after assuming the position of Family Head:


    Seeking the old sword from my humble beginnings.


    When I was down and out, I cast my first sword. Though it was of extremely poor quality and could not even be considered a magic artifact, my attachment to it was deep, and I have missed it greatly. Whoever can help me retrieve it, I will offer a substantial reward in gratitude.


    To others, this seemed like an absurd order. All this fuss just to help you find a broken sword?


    But Mo Guang understood Xue Zhuyong''s intention.


    For a mere old sword, I was prepared to raise an army, let alone when ites to the wife who was there with me during my most insignificant days.


    Mo Guang did not mention wanting to marry off his daughter to Xue Zhuyong again.


    But how could Xue Zhuyong, who only desired to peacefully settle matters, fathom the poisonous hearts of those obsessed with power struggles?


    Half a yearter, Liu Zijun was gravely injured by a cultivator who snuck into the Mo Family''s core area to steal, and this cultivator managed to escape the Mo Family''s manhunt and vanished without a trace.


    Before dying, Liu Zijun gazed upon the face of Xue Zhuyong, unable to close her eyes peacefully.


    Xue Zhuyong was distraught with tears of blood, wanting to follow Liu Zijun to the Netherworld and grow old together.


    Struggling to hold on to herst breath, Liu Zijun told Xue Zhuyong to live well and to properly manage the Mo Family, rotten to its core.


    Xue Zhuyong, heartbroken, agreed through clenched teeth under the soft gaze of Liu Zijun.


    How could a petty thief dare to infiltrate the heart of the Mo Family and casually walk in and out unscathed, stealing nothing, yet by coincidence, kill his own wife?


    The truth behind it all was crystal clear to Xue Zhuyong.


    He had promised Liu Zijun that he would properly manage the Mo Family, and he was determined to keep his word.


    The Mo Family was already rotten to its core, and the best way to manage it was to let it perish.


    After Liu Zijun''s death, Xue Zhuyong buried her in the southern garden where they were married.


    After mourning Liu Zijun for half a year, he married Mo Guang''s daughter, Mo Zhizhi, inpliance with Mo Guang''s wish.


    Aside from Xue Zhuyong starting to sumb to alcohol addiction, drowning his sorrows in wine daily, everything seemed normal; no one realized the depth of the hatred hidden in his heart.


    Mo Zhizhi, still a young girl, was unaware of the pain Xue Zhuyong had endured but harbored deep admiration for Xue Zhuyong, the Family Head of the Mo Family who rose from insignificance.


    Under themand of her parents, Mo Zhizhi married Xue Zhuyong.


    After bing Xue Zhuyong''s wife, Mo Zhizhi devotedly took care of him as he wasted away from his emotional pain, patiently staying by his side, trying her best to be a good wife.


    Seeing Xue Zhuyong gradually regaining his spirit, she thought her care had made an impact and was ted, not realizing that Xue Zhuyong was simply gathering his energy to plot the overthrow of the Mo Family. Read new chapters at empire


    Once a genius goes mad, their methods are terrifying beyond imagination.


    Xue Zhuyong spent nearly a century improving his cultivation, forging Three-feet Edge, and creating an appearance of the Mo Family''s prosperity.


    But in the shadows, Xue Zhuyong had already arranged his exit n, acquired life-saving artifacts, and as Family Head of the Mo Family, purposely provoked the Jiaolong Demon King multiple times, showing the Mo Family''s enmity towards the Jiao n.


    Ultimately, he got his wish and attracted the siege of the Jiao n, leading to Dragon Spring''s demise.


    ...


    "Old sword, enduring affection, legacy of love in the southern garden." Lu Qingshan sighed deeply, understanding all the circumstances, and asked softly, "I have yet to ask for Madam Mo''s name?"


    Madam Mo''s face was covered with tears, her eyes red and swollen, and she sobbed, "Mo... Zhizhi."

 Chapter 62 Slaying the Flood Dragon (Part 1)

    Mo Yan and Xue Zhuyong fell into the Spiritual Abyss alongside the Jiaolong King almost simultaneously.


    Given that the two of them arrived in the me Spirit Realm, the Jiaolong Demon King and Jiao Yan must have done the same.


    However, with the vastness of the me Spirit Realm and the random transmission of the Spiritual Abyss passage, they should have had difficulty encountering each other in a short period.


    But fortunately, much like Mo Yan, the Jiaolong Demon King also fell into the territory of the me Spirit n.


    "Yan is an elemental spirit of Netherfire and does not belong to the me Spirit n, but his status among them is unsurpassed.


    Since the me Spirit n is spread throughout the entire me Domain, the instant wended here, we were detected by the Fire Spirits and informed Yan," Mo Yan exined. "The Jiaolong Demon King''s location is now also within Yan''s grasp."


    After pondering for a moment, Xue Zhuyong spoke up, "The Jiaolong King was already gravely injured when he fell into the Spiritual Abyss, and hisbat power has been reduced to a low ebb.


    As a water attribute demon beast, finding himself in the ze Domain replete with Fire Elemental Spiritual Power, he can''t replenish his spiritual power. Under such circumstances, he might not even be able to exert twenty percent of his strength."


    "Now is indeed the best opportunity to take action against the Jiaolong Demon King when he''s at his weakest," Xue Zhuyong added.


    "Jiao Yan is extremely weak, even his tendons have been removed, and on top of that, the Sword Master hasid some schemes on him¡ªcurrently, he''s insignificant. We only need to consider the Jiaolong King," added Mo Yan.


    "Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Qin," Mo Yan slowed his voice, extending an invitation to Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian: "Would you two be interested in joining me to meet this sea Jiaolong King who has entered the furnace?"


    "Naturally, I will follow Young Master Lu''s decision," Qin Yitian said as a matter of course.


    Lu Qingshan began to ponder.


    Xue Zhuyong, a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator whose intent had already reached the secondyer of the Perfection Realm, Mo Yan, who had just be a Golden Core Cultivator, and himself at the peak of Foundation Establishment, were about to face the Jiaolong King, who at most only retained twenty percent of his peakbat power.


    As for Qin Yitian, although her cultivation didn''t seem prominent, her various extraordinary performances made Lu Qingshan suspect her identity a long time ago.


    No matter the circumstance, Qin Yitian was definitely rted to the origin of the Dragon Breath in the Dragon Pool.


    Such a woman with a bizarre background surely possessed her own unique methods. At the very least, he didn''t need to be distracted by concerns for her safety; she might even have a powerful trump card hidden, just like Zang Xiaojian.


    After weighing the formation of his own side in his mind, Lu Qingshan decisively said, "To strike while he''s ill and take his life, this is feasible!"


    "Good, today we shall exact blood for blood for the suffering the Jiaolong King has inflicted on Jiaolong Ind for hundreds of years!" Seeing that Lu Qingshan had agreed, Mo Yan clenched his fist and said coldly.


    Then, Mo Yan patted the little Fire Spirit on his shoulder.


    The little Fire Spirit obediently floated up and let out a soft call.


    An invisible sonic wave quietly spread out.


    A momentter.


    Gurgling, gurgling~


    Theva river began to roil and surge, making a boiling sound with bubbles rising and bursting, countless crimson dots emerged, like fireflies, rising from the undergroundva river.


    These red dots were the me Spirit n.


    Numerous me Spirits ryed the message from far away in a primitive manner, informing Yan.


    Yan then conveyed it to Mo Yan.


    Upon receiving the message, Mo Yan nodded and said to everyone, "Since entering the me Spirit Realm, the Jiaolong King has not moved. Follow me!"


    Mo Yan leapt up and flew towards the northeast.


    Several streaks of heaven and earth rainbow light immediately followed behind him, breaking through the air. Explore hidden tales at empire


    ...


    The territory of the me Spirit n was almost identical inndscape, except for different patterns on the ground.


    Without Yan leading the way, it would likely not take long to be disoriented when traveling through this area, wondering if one is merely going in circles.


    About an hourter.


    "Yan said it''s just ahead," Mo Yan stopped and whispered.


    Everyone signaled their understanding and all began to conceal their aura, preparing to sneak forward silently.


    But at that moment, an extremely mournful roar suddenly burst out from not too far away.


    Everyone''s expression changed.


    They were familiar with the roar¡ªit was the voice of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    "What''s happened?"


    Lu Qingshan had a suspicion in his heart. He looked at Mo Yan, waiting for his exnation.


    "It''s the Sword Master''s doing," Mo Yan''s eyes were cold as he said icily, "Although we specifically spared Jiao Yan''s life to use as bait to lure the Jiaolong Demon King into our trap,


    how could the Sword Master easily let it go when Jiao Yan''s hands were stained with so much blood of the Human Race.


    In fact, Jiao Yan''s essence had already dispersedpletely, beyond salvation. It was only being kept alive temporarily by a special method of the Sword Master, allowing it to cling to life desperately.


    Now it seems to have reached its limit and died on the spot."


    The four of them walked on for a while longer.


    Lu Qingshan immediately widened his eyes. He saw within a cracked low hill, a ck Jiao Beast, over sixty zhang long, drenched in blood but still exuding fierce might, with most of its body coiled within the crevices.@@novelbin@@


    It was indeed the Jiaolong Demon King.


    The Jiaolong Demon King''s expression was one of pain, its roaring voice earth-shaking.


    By its sidey another ck Jiao Beast, slightly shorter in length, but it no longer had any sign of life. Strangely, the corpse of this massive ck Jiao Beast was incredibly shriveled.


    Scattered around were pieces of golden ropes torn into sections.


    These were the magic artifacts previously used by the Dragon ying Saber to bind Jiao Yan.


    "So it''s true that Jiao Yan is dead. The Dragon ying Saber is indeed ruthless towards Jiao Beasts," Lu Qingshan thought, taking a deep breath, as he looked at the shriveled corpse.


    All the Dragon Scales on the Jiaolong Demon King''s body had already fallen off, and the wound caused by the Heaven-reaching Sword Qi hidden within Zang Xiaojian showed no signs of healing, and seemed to be worsening further.


    Bloodstains were scattered all over the hill.


    At this moment, the Jiao King was at his weakest.


    What was more important was that due to the fall of Jiao Yan, the Jiao King suffered a great blow. For the time being, the Jiaolong Demon King, engulfed in pain, had yet to notice the approach of Lu Qingshan and the three others.


    "I shall take the first move," Xue Zhuyong said solemnly, his tone leaving no room for refusal.


    Xue Zhuyong''s Cultivation was far superior to the three others, and he was their greatest assurance.


    Without Xue Zhuyong, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, among them, even if the Jiao King were severely injured, they would not dare to seek him out.


    Therefore, without question, Xue Zhuyong should be the one to make the first move.


    Xue Zhuyong moved incredibly fast. With a flick of his left hand, a sh of fire appeared, transforming into a Fire Bead.


    Compared to Three-feet Edge, this was the magic artifact that Xue Zhuyong had used for the longest time and was most adept with.


    A thickyer of fog emanated from the Fire Bead, and within the mist, Fire Serpents moved around.


    Without any hesitation, Xue Zhuyong spat a mouthful of Essence Blood onto the Fire Bead.


    Boosted by the power of this Essence Blood, the Fire Bead instantly shone brightly and started to expand rapidly.

 Chapter 63 Slaying the Flood Dragon (Part 2)

    Crack!


    A sound of shattering rose, and the expanding fire bead had unexpectedly burst into countless tiny fragments.


    Just this action caused Xue Zhuyong''s face to suddenly turn pale.


    He had actively detonated his fire bead magic artifact.


    The effect of this was that the power of his next strike would be astonishingly great.


    Visible to the naked eye, within the mist of fire, countless dazzling red lights shed, like arrows piercing through the fog and breaking through the air.


    Boom!


    In the next instant, the mist dissipated, bursting open, and the fire serpent hidden within broke free, its body overflowing with fiery light, mes flowing downward.


    "Rise again!" Xue Zhuyong shouted softly, as an invisible and profound power of heaven and earth bolstered the fire serpent.


    Under this heavenly power, spiritual power on the fire serpent condensed again, forming a terrifyingyer of spirit qi.


    This was the power of intent.


    The power of intent, although incredibly formidable, had one extremely fatal characteristic¡ªit greatly consumed spiritual power.


    Therefore, in ordinarybat, Xue Zhuyong would not easily utilize the power of intent.


    Once used, it signified a maximum burst of power, intending to determine the victor in a short period of time.


    Because if he couldn''t quickly resolve the battle, given the rate at which the power of intent consumed spiritual power, in less than an instant, he would deplete his own spiritual power and lose hisbat effectiveness. Discover hidden stories at empire


    But now that there was a chance to strike first, Xue Zhuyong had no intention of holding back.


    In just an instant, he spared no expense in harming himself; essence blood and the power of intent surged out, and he even detonated the magic artifact he had used for many years.


    The fire serpent howled as it rose, notrge in stature, but the highly condensed power it carried was chilling to the soul.


    At the moment the fire bead shattered, the Jiaolong Demon King had spotted Lu Qingshan and his group.


    But the fire serpent condensed too quickly, darting out in the blink of an eye, and the Jiaolong Demon King, even having spotted them, was toote to react.


    The fire serpent made contact with the Jiaolong Demon King''s physical body, and a booming sound echoed in all directions.


    Within the me domain, the power of fire-oriented magic artifacts was further elevated.


    As one grew stronger and the other grew weaker, the Jiaolong Demon King appeared even more vulnerable.


    Like a firework blooming, the tiny fire serpent exploded, raising a skyful of fiery rain thatpletely covered the Jiaolong Demon King''s massive form, temporarily obscuring the specific details from view.@@novelbin@@


    "Why would you choose to strike like this?" Mo Yan''s voice was cold, seemingly reproachful, but in his tone, there was a scarcely perceivable concern.


    Indeed, anyone with clear sight could see the Jiaolong Demon King was in a terrible state. Xue Zhuyong could have dragged out the fight, slowly grinding down the Jiaolong Demon King.


    However, Xue Zhuyong chose to risk damaging his own foundation for a swift and full-powered assault.


    Mo Yan couldn''t understand; he was angry and anxious.


    Blood seeped from the corners of Xue Zhuyong''s mouth, but his tone remained calm as he responded, "Wouldn''t it be good to y it with one strike? It also avoids any potential prolonged troubles."


    "You..." Mo Yan furrowed his brows, hesitated to speak and eventually chose not to express the thoughts in his heart.


    Xue Zhuyong also withdrew his gaze, turning his attention back to where the Jiaolong Demon King was.


    He had another reason for taking decisive action, one he had not mentioned.


    He hoped to demonstrate his strength as a father in front of Mo Yan.


    As the fiery rain scattered, the Jiaolong Demon King''s form became visible to everyone.


    At its abdomen was a gigantic wound over ten meters wide, charred flesh surrounding it, with blood still flowing.


    During his previous battle with the Jiaolong Demon King, Xue Zhuyong had sharply noticed that the Heaven-reaching Sword Qi had merely pierced casually through the Jiaolong Demon King''s body, leaving a very small wound.


    But the piercing intensity of the sword qi remained at that wound, rendering the Jiaolong Demon King''s self-healing abilities ineffective.


    Under these circumstances, the wound created by Sword Qi became an apparent weakness for the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Thus, his attack was aimed precisely at the wound caused by the Sword Qi.


    In fact, upon this very strike, the Jiaolong Demon King, initially rising in anger and seeking to vent his fury by killing them, suddenly plummeted back into the fissure, severely injured and barely clinging to life.


    Woo!


    The Jiaolong Demon King raised his head and let out a feeble roar.


    The pain and burning sensation from the wound made him howl in agony.


    Even as a Fourth Grade peak Demon Beast, he had already reached his limit after facing several fierce battles, contending with the meticulously prepared maneuvers of the Dragon ying Saber, and being shed by a Heaven-reaching Sword Qi left by an invincible Sword Cultivator.


    Now, the attack unleashed by Xue Zhuyong, damaging his own origin, further inflicted severe wounds on him.


    Exhausting all his strength, the Jiaolong Demon King struggled to rise again, but after a floundering attempt, he fell back onto the ground.


    Mo Yan looked at the Jiaolong Demon King, who couldn''t get up, sneered coldly, and did not rashly approach, but instead stretched out his right palm.


    In the center of his palm, a palm-sized Netherfire Lotus appeared.


    What was strange was that the petals of the lotus were half blue and half red.


    The violent power emanating from the lotus twisted the light around Mo Yan''s palm with its scorching intensity.


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan''s heart trembled slightly.


    This is... Netherfire Fusion!


    When Mo Yan fell into the Spiritual Abyss, he nearly lost his life trying tobine the Netherfire.


    But now, he could seemingly easily fuse the Cold Spirit Netherfire with the Red Lotus Netherfire.


    It seems that Mo Yan gained far more than just the me of Life and an increase in cultivation from this ordeal.


    Just with this skill of Netherfire Fusion alone, even if a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator appeared, Mo Yan could hold his own in a battle.


    The red and blue Netherfire Lotus flew out of his hand, cutting through the void without making a sound as it traveled.


    The lotus spun as it glided closer to the Jiaolong Demon King.


    The Netherfire Lotus that was so docile in Mo Yan''s hand became increasingly violent as it flew.


    Roar!


    On the surface, the Jiaolong Demon King, who had lost the ability to struggle, let out a frustrated roar and was suddenly enveloped in ayer of thick ck light.


    "So he was indeed holding back his strength and purposefully showing weakness," Mo Yan said nonchntly upon seeing this.


    He had guessed that the Jiaolong Demon King might have been trying to lure them closer tounch a sudden attack, so even when the Jiao King was on hisst breath, Mo Yan unleased his most powerful attack.


    Boom!


    Destructive energy radiated from the lotus, stirring up waves of fire.


    After the fire waves dispersed, the enormous form of the Jiaolong Demon King was no longer discernable, his flesh charred and the red beads of blood that seeped out evaporated instantly, with horrific wounds and exposed bones visible all over his body.


    This time, the Jiaolong Demon King truly had but a breath of life left.


    Whoosh!


    Lu Qingshan, without any courtesy, had his Green Wind Sword circle out. With a sh of light resembling a bolt of lightning, it contrasted sharply with the silent strike of the Fire Lotus, creating a thunderous sound as it impressively shot towards the Jiaolong Demon King.


    The Flying Sword pierced into the Jiaolong Demon King along the enormous wound on its belly, stirring viciously within its innards, until Lu Qingshan saw the notification of sessfully ying the Jiaolong Demon King on the Attribute Panel and only then did he retract the Flying Sword.


    "It''s a good thing it''s a Demon Beast known for its strong physical body. Despite such heavy injuries, it still maintained a breath of life, otherwise, I might not have had the chance for the finishing blow," Lu Qingshan muttered softly.


    Why was he so willing to join Mo Yan?


    A huge part of the reason was the enormous Experience Points that the Jiaolong Demon King could provide, which he had coveted for a long time.


    He was only at Foundation Establishment, taking on the Jiaolong Demon King two major stages above, and thanks to the experience reward doubling from leaping stages, he instantly added another two hundred thousand Experience Points on his Attribute Panel.

 Chapter 199 - 63: Slaying the Flood Dragon (Part 2)

    Crack!


    A sound of shattering rose, and the expanding fire bead had unexpectedly burst into countless tiny fragments.


    Just this action caused Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face to suddenly turn pale.


    He had actively detonated his fire bead magic artifact.


    The effect of this was that the power of his next strike would be astonishingly great.


    Visible to the naked eye, within the mist of fire, countless dazzling red lights shed, like arrows piercing through the fog and breaking through the air.


    Boom!


    In the next instant, the mist dissipated, bursting open, and the fire serpent hidden within broke free, its body overflowing with fiery light, mes flowing downward.


    "Rise again!" Xue Zhuyong shouted softly, as an invisible and profound power of heaven and earth bolstered the fire serpent.


    Under this heavenly power, spiritual power on the fire serpent condensed again, forming a terrifyingyer of spirit qi.


    This was the power of intent.


    The power of intent, although incredibly formidable, had one extremely fatal characteristic¡ªit greatly consumed spiritual power.


    Therefore, in ordinarybat, Xue Zhuyong would not easily utilize the power of intent.


    Once used, it signified a maximum burst of power, intending to determine the victor in a short period of time.


    Because if he couldn¡¯t quickly resolve the battle, given the rate at which the power of intent consumed spiritual power, in less than an instant, he would deplete his own spiritual power and lose hisbat effectiveness.


    But now that there was a chance to strike first, Xue Zhuyong had no intention of holding back.


    In just an instant, he spared no expense in harming himself; essence blood and the power of intent surged out, and he even detonated the magic artifact he had used for many years.


    The fire serpent howled as it rose, notrge in stature, but the highly condensed power it carried was chilling to the soul.


    At the moment the fire bead shattered, the Jiaolong Demon King had spotted Lu Qingshan and his group.


    But the fire serpent condensed too quickly, darting out in the blink of an eye, and the Jiaolong Demon King, even having spotted them, was toote to react.


    The fire serpent made contact with the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s physical body, and a booming sound echoed in all directions.


    Within the me domain, the power of fire-oriented magic artifacts was further elevated.


    As one grew stronger and the other grew weaker, the Jiaolong Demon King appeared even more vulnerable.


    Like a firework blooming, the tiny fire serpent exploded, raising a skyful of fiery rain thatpletely covered the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s massive form, temporarily obscuring the specific details from view.


    "Why would you choose to strike like this?" Mo Yan¡¯s voice was cold, seemingly reproachful, but in his tone, there was a scarcely perceivable concern.


    Indeed, anyone with clear sight could see the Jiaolong Demon King was in a terrible state. Xue Zhuyong could have dragged out the fight, slowly grinding down the Jiaolong Demon King.


    However, Xue Zhuyong chose to risk damaging his own foundation for a swift and full-powered assault.


    Mo Yan couldn¡¯t understand; he was angry and anxious.


    @@novelbin@@


    Blood seeped from the corners of Xue Zhuyong¡¯s mouth, but his tone remained calm as he responded, "Wouldn¡¯t it be good to y it with one strike? It also avoids any potential prolonged troubles."


    "You..." Mo Yan furrowed his brows, hesitated to speak and eventually chose not to express the thoughts in his heart.


    Xue Zhuyong also withdrew his gaze, turning his attention back to where the Jiaolong Demon King was.


    He had another reason for taking decisive action, one he had not mentioned.


    He hoped to demonstrate his strength as a father in front of Mo Yan.


    As the fiery rain scattered, the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s form became visible to everyone.


    At its abdomen was a gigantic wound over ten meters wide, charred flesh surrounding it, with blood still flowing.


    During his previous battle with the Jiaolong Demon King, Xue Zhuyong had sharply noticed that the Heaven-reaching Sword Qi had merely pierced casually through the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s body, leaving a very small wound.


    But the piercing intensity of the sword qi remained at that wound, rendering the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s self-healing abilities ineffective.


    Under these circumstances, the wound created by Sword Qi became an apparent weakness for the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Thus, his attack was aimed precisely at the wound caused by the Sword Qi.


    In fact, upon this very strike, the Jiaolong Demon King, initially rising in anger and seeking to vent his fury by killing them, suddenly plummeted back into the fissure, severely injured and barely clinging to life.


    Woo!


    The Jiaolong Demon King raised his head and let out a feeble roar.


    The pain and burning sensation from the wound made him howl in agony.


    Even as a Fourth Grade peak Demon Beast, he had already reached his limit after facing several fierce battles, contending with the meticulously prepared maneuvers of the Dragon ying Saber, and being shed by a Heaven-reaching Sword Qi left by an invincible Sword Cultivator.


    Now, the attack unleashed by Xue Zhuyong, damaging his own origin, further inflicted severe wounds on him.


    Exhausting all his strength, the Jiaolong Demon King struggled to rise again, but after a floundering attempt, he fell back onto the ground.


    Mo Yan looked at the Jiaolong Demon King, who couldn¡¯t get up, sneered coldly, and did not rashly approach, but instead stretched out his right palm.


    In the center of his palm, a palm-sized Netherfire Lotus appeared.


    What was strange was that the petals of the lotus were half blue and half red.


    The violent power emanating from the lotus twisted the light around Mo Yan¡¯s palm with its scorching intensity.


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart trembled slightly.


    This is... Netherfire Fusion!


    When Mo Yan fell into the Spiritual Abyss, he nearly lost his life trying tobine the Netherfire.


    But now, he could seemingly easily fuse the Cold Spirit Netherfire with the Red Lotus Netherfire.


    It seems that Mo Yan gained far more than just the me of Life and an increase in cultivation from this ordeal.


    Just with this skill of Netherfire Fusion alone, even if a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator appeared, Mo Yan could hold his own in a battle.


    The red and blue Netherfire Lotus flew out of his hand, cutting through the void without making a sound as it traveled.


    The lotus spun as it glided closer to the Jiaolong Demon King.


    The Netherfire Lotus that was so docile in Mo Yan¡¯s hand became increasingly violent as it flew.


    Roar!


    On the surface, the Jiaolong Demon King, who had lost the ability to struggle, let out a frustrated roar and was suddenly enveloped in ayer of thick ck light.


    "So he was indeed holding back his strength and purposefully showing weakness," Mo Yan said nonchntly upon seeing this.


    He had guessed that the Jiaolong Demon King might have been trying to lure them closer tounch a sudden attack, so even when the Jiao King was on hisst breath, Mo Yan unleased his most powerful attack.


    Boom!


    Destructive energy radiated from the lotus, stirring up waves of fire.


    After the fire waves dispersed, the enormous form of the Jiaolong Demon King was no longer discernable, his flesh charred and the red beads of blood that seeped out evaporated instantly, with horrific wounds and exposed bones visible all over his body.


    This time, the Jiaolong Demon King truly had but a breath of life left.


    Whoosh!


    Lu Qingshan, without any courtesy, had his Green Wind Sword circle out. With a sh of light resembling a bolt of lightning, it contrasted sharply with the silent strike of the Fire Lotus, creating a thunderous sound as it impressively shot towards the Jiaolong Demon King.


    The Flying Sword pierced into the Jiaolong Demon King along the enormous wound on its belly, stirring viciously within its innards, until Lu Qingshan saw the notification of sessfully ying the Jiaolong Demon King on the Attribute Panel and only then did he retract the Flying Sword.


    "It¡¯s a good thing it¡¯s a Demon Beast known for its strong physical body. Despite such heavy injuries, it still maintained a breath of life, otherwise, I might not have had the chance for the finishing blow," Lu Qingshan muttered softly.


    Why was he so willing to join Mo Yan?


    A huge part of the reason was the enormous Experience Points that the Jiaolong Demon King could provide, which he had coveted for a long time.


    He was only at Foundation Establishment, taking on the Jiaolong Demon King two major stages above, and thanks to the experience reward doubling from leaping stages, he instantly added another two hundred thousand Experience Points on his Attribute Panel.

 Chapter 200 - 64: River of Immortality

    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s face was slightly pale, but seeing theplete annihtion of the Jiao King¡¯s life fluctuations, he felt a great relief.


    All the entanglements, whether it was the Jiao n¡¯s destruction of the Mo Family in the past or the current feud between Mo Yan and the Jiao n, seemed to end with the fall of the Jiao King.


    Mo Yan threw a bottle of pills to Xue Zhuyong, without saying much more, he flew to the body of the Jiao King, took out a sharp knife-like magic artifact from his storage ring, and began to get busy.


    Xue Zhuyong took the pill given by Mo Yan, hesitated for a moment, suddenly smiled, took the pill, and started to treat his injuries.


    Mo Yan¡¯s knife gently slid over various parts of the Jiaolong Demon King¡¯s body. Like a skilled chef butchering cattle, he expertly harvested all the useful materials from the Jiao King¡¯s body.


    As a top Artifact Refiner, he had always been quite adept at this task.


    First, he peeled open the Jiao King¡¯s back and extracted the most precious dragon sinew from inside the Jiao King¡¯s body.


    Dragon sinew could be used to refine whip-like magic artifacts or as the bowstring for bow-type magic artifacts, and it was very valuable.


    Then, Mo Yan precisely stripped the teeth and bones of the Jiaolong Demon King.


    Dragon teeth could be used to refine small ornamental magic artifacts, and dragon bones could be used as raw materials for mainstream attack magic artifacts such as swords and knives.


    Finally, Mo Yan took out a white jade bottle magic artifact filled with liquid to collect the Jiao blood.


    Demon Beast blood was an essential material for Talisman Masters to make talismans and was always one of the best-selling spirit materials.


    Unfortunately, all the dragon scales had been wasted by the Jiao King, otherwise, using them as raw materials could have refined high-quality defensive artifacts due to their magic-dampening effects.


    Mo Yan clicked his tongue, naturally expressing his regret.


    As for Jiao Yan, its body had already been reduced to ashes under the aftermath of their assault.


    After collecting all the useful Spirit Materials from the body of the Jiao King, Mo Yan lifted his hand, and all the Spirit Materials floated in front of Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian.


    "These Spirit Materials are from the Jiaolong Demon King, and they are extremely valuable, but ughtering the Jiao King was my personal wish. You two were willing to lend a hand, which was a huge help to me, and I can¡¯t thank you enough. I have no intention of keeping these materials, so naturally, they are all yours," Mo Yan said slowly.


    The value of the physical body Spirit Materials of a Fourth Grade peak Demon Beast was unimaginably high.


    Mo Yan made it clear that he wanted to use this gesture to repay some of the favour for Lu Qingshan¡¯s consecutive assistance.


    Lu Qingshan did not act pretentiously and epted all the Spirit Materials.


    When someone wants to repay a favor, if you refuse, it actually makes them feel ufortable.


    ...


    When Xue Zhuyong had slightly adjusted and stood up, a sharp light suddenly shed in Mo Yan¡¯s eyes, "Then next, we shall head to that mysterious ce to see if we can find a way to leave the me Spirit Realm!"


    Lu Qingshan naturally had no objections.


    This time, they flew for a whole day before arriving at their destination.


    Ava waterfall cascading down from the sky blocked their path, its sight strikingly magnificent.


    Before theva waterfall, Yitian murmured in anguage they couldn¡¯t understand, his voice carrying a tone of authority.


    The next moment, countless red sparks emerged from within theva waterfall, like a sky full of fireflies.


    In theva, there appeared to be numerous members of the me Spirit n!


    After the me Spirits appeared, theva waterfall parted like curtains, revealing a huge passageway before them.


    "Let¡¯s go, our destination lies ahead," said Mo Yan, leading the way into it.


    The three did not hesitate and followed him.


    After they passed through theva waterfall, the partedva waterfall slowly closed back again.


    This time, however, the me Spirits did not hide back into theva; instead, they floated in the air, seemingly observing their movements.


    ...


    The sight before them was a vast expanse of dull yellow cloud sea.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    The fierce and swift wind swept through the cloud sea, almost tearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s body apart.


    Qin Yitian¡¯s long hair, tied with a silver ribbon, also began to flutter under this strong wind.


    The violent wind dispersed the cloud sea, turning it into clusters of mist, but these mists quickly regathered into dark clouds as they floated and ascended.


    This cycle repeated, forming a dense cloud sea.


    But the most peculiar thing was in this dull yellow cloud sea, there seemed to be an extremely long, almost invisible, milky white luminous strip suspended, resembling a river heading deep into the cloud sea.


    Within the luminous strip shone brilliant, resplendent starlight, spectacr and magnificent.


    "This is the strange ce Yan mentioned," Mo Yan said in a profound tone to Lu Qingshan, "Ever since his birth, this cloud sea has existed in this world. Just now, that waterfall of magmaing from the sky, was the source of the me Spirit Realm¡¯s magma, as for this river, it is the source of all life in the me Spirit Realm, called the River of Longevity."


    "Because this river continuously brings life to the me Spirit Realm from an unknownnd, and has never stopped since ancient times, hence it is called the River of Longevity."


    "Hasn¡¯t the me Spirit n ever tried to explore its origin?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    "This cloud sea blocks all Spiritual Power," Mo Yan said. "And the me Spirit n only has spirit forms, not physical bodies, so they cannot enter the River of Longevity."


    Lu Qingshan tapped his forehead, somewhat helpless.


    Since even the me Spirits have never entered the River of Longevity, it signifies the unknown, everything is unknown.


    A clever woman can¡¯t cook without rice; if there¡¯s no useful information at all, he couldn¡¯t think of any leads.


    Lu Qingshan fell into deep thought.


    Mo Yan also started to ponder.


    For a while, only the sound of the wind echoed at the edge of the cloud sea.


    After a long time, Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes gradually brightened.


    @@novelbin@@


    "What does Master Mo think?" Lu Qingshan spoke out, breaking the silence.


    Mo Yan and Lu Qingshan exchanged nces, and looking into Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, Mo Yan suddenly smiled. "It seems I¡¯m thinking along the same lines as Daoist Lu."


    Xue Zhuyong frowned and asked, "What are you nning to do?"


    "Since no one from the me Spirit Realm has ever set foot in the River of Longevity, then it¡¯s up to us to pave the way," Mo Yan said gravely.


    "This unknown Spirit-Nullifyingnd might harbor any dangers, still unknown," Xue Zhuyong shook his head.


    Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan exchanged a smile, saying leisurely, "Under these circumstances, considering the dangers and being afraid to explore doesn¡¯t make much sense if we want to leave the me Spirit Realm.


    Everything must be taken as ites."


    Xue Zhuyong fell into silence.


    Lu Qingshan methodically distributed roles. "In that case, Master Mo and I will go in, while Manager Xue and Miss Qin wait outside," he said.


    "Since the River of Longevity is a Spirit-Nullifyingnd, cultivation isn¡¯t very important. Manager Xue is still unwell with injuries, and not in a condition as good as Master Mo and I, so it¡¯s most suitable for Master Mo and me to enter the River of Longevity.


    Besides, someone needs to stay outside as support." Before Xue Zhuyong could object, Lu Qingshan actively exined.


    Qin Yitian, who had been standing silently aside, suddenly spoke up, "Okay, then we¡¯ll wait for you outside."


    With Qin Yitian saying that, Xue Zhuyong had no choice but to agree.

 Chapter 201 - 65: Spirit’s Request

    Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan walked to the edge of the sea of clouds.


    Just as Mo Yan was about to step into the sea of clouds, he halted, gazing at the ethereal Milky Way within, and suddenly asked, "Young Master Lu, do you now regret entering the me Spirit Realm?"


    "Before I acted, I had no hesitation; after I had acted, there was even less reason for regret." Lu Qingshan spoke very calmly, dispelled the clouds, and was the first to step into the Longevity River.


    He was very rational, always considering everything carefully before acting, but this did not mean his blood was cold.


    @@novelbin@@


    As he had said to Qin Yitian, there were things he wanted to do and so he simply did them.


    Even if he said, the me Spirit Realm meant nothing to him.


    Mo Yan stood rooted to the spot for a moment, then suddenlyughed, watching Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure disappearing into the sea of clouds and quickly followed, "Brother Lu, wait for me."


    This time, he called him Brother Lu.


    ...


    In the Longevity River.


    There was none of the danger they had anticipated.


    A rich vitality surrounded them, and with just a light breath, Lu Qingshan felt refreshed and much lighter.


    The Starry Radiance was brilliant around him. Lu Qingshan reached out a fingertip to lightly touch a star, but it seemed only an illusion as it passed right through his finger, falling behind him.


    An almost imperceptible force of repulsion from all directions surged, pushing Lu Qingshan towards the outside of the Longevity River.


    The deeper into the Longevity River he went, the stronger this repulsive force became.


    This ce was as beautiful as a heavenlyndscape.


    Yet, it seemed that some invincible will had isted all the Spiritual Power in this realm, even preventing Lu Qingshan from activating the Spiritual Power within his Dantian.


    At this time, Mo Yan too entered this river of stars.


    "It seems that this ce is very likely the exit," Mo Yan made a judgment as soon as he felt the pushing force upon entering the Longevity River.


    Not otherwise, this scene was all too familiar.


    It resembled the Spiritual Abyss.


    Only, the Spiritual Abyss was an irresistible pull, whereas the Longevity River was a force hindering their advancement.


    "ording to the situation in the Spiritual Abyss, if we go deeper into this Longevity River, the repelling force will be irresistible," Lu Qingshan tried advancing a few more steps into the depths of the Longevity River using the strength of his physical body.


    Only a short distance was covered before the force of expulsion in the Longevity River had increased to the point that he could barely maintain his stance.


    Indeed, even when they could use Spiritual Power, they could not resist the pull at the depths of the Spiritual Abyss.


    Now caught in a Spirit-Nullifying state, having lost the source of a Cultivator¡¯s strength and unable to use Spiritual Power, how could they go against this pushing force and proceed along the Longevity River to leave the me Spirit Realm?


    "Let¡¯s go back," seeing that they could no longer continue forward, Lu Qingshan turned back and called out.


    Mo Yan nodded in agreement.


    The two were pushed back by the force from the Longevity River and returned outside the sea of clouds.


    Waiting outside, Xue Zhuyong saw that Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan had returned after only a moment within the Longevity River and a bad premonition arose in him, so he quickly asked, "Is the situation inside not optimistic?"


    Mo Yan and Xue Zhuyong borated on the scene inside.


    "Has Young Master Lu already thought of a way to escape?" Qin Yitian suddenly asked.


    For she noticed that Lu Qingshan, who should have shown at least some disappointment, had a slight smile on his lips,


    "To leave the me Spirit Realm, indeed, it¡¯s not an impossibility," Lu Qingshan nodded.


    "Do you still remember that the Spiritual Abyss erupts periodically?" facing the puzzled look from Xue Zhuyong, Lu Qingshan hinted.


    It was merely a sentence, yet immediately everyone understood.


    "When the Spiritual Abyss erupts and the heavens fill with water mist, that is when the Longevity Whale breathes, and at that time the devouring strength within the Spiritual Abyss vanishes.


    ordingly, the repelling force in the Longevity River will also disappear.


    We can wait for the next eruption of the Spiritual Abyss and take that opportunity to leave the me Spirit Realm," Mo Yan exined, a point he and Lu Qingshan had realized almost simultaneously.


    "We can go back!" Xue Zhuyong eximed, unable to contain his joy.


    "Yes," Mo Yan nodded gravely, "Everything is ready, we just need an east wind; all we need to do now is quietly wait for the next eruption of the Spiritual Abyss."


    Whirr! Whirr! Whirr!


    Suddenly, a continuous strange sound erupted.


    The me Spirit n, floating beside the magma waterfall, heard their conversation and, suddenly excited, started uttering unintelligible words, flying around them, constantly circling.


    "What does this mean?" Mo Yan could not understand the sudden behavior of the me Spirit n and hastily summoned the me of Life from within his body.


    "Drip?" me floated in front of Mo Yan, calling out in confusion.


    Mo Yan pointed at the excited red me Spirits encircling them.


    "Drip-drip," me began tomunicate with the me Spirits.


    After a long while, me started exining to Mo Yan.


    "Brother Lu, the me Spirit n wants us to take them with us when we leave the me Spirit Realm," Mo Yan¡¯s expression gradually turned solemn, he turned to Lu Qingshan, stating, "The me Spirits feel that the will of this world does not wee them, and if they do not leave this realm, with the expanding of the Wood Spirit n, a thousand years from now, they will bepletely extinct."


    "Further, since me has acknowledged me as its master after bing one of the sources of strength in the Fire Domain, the strength of the Fire Domain has been depleting faster than before. The me Spirit n might not evenst a thousand years now."


    "So that¡¯s how it is," Xue Zhuyong realized with a start.


    me naturally took the side of the me Spirit n, and so did Mo Yan.


    They both wanted to be able to take the me Spirits away from this ce of doom.


    The biggest problem was just one.


    The me Spirits, being inherently ethereal, could not enter the Spirit-Nullifying Longevity River.


    Mo Yan understood this dilemma too, his brows furrowed tightly, "Brother Lu, do you have a way?"


    Lu Qingshan fell silent.


    Was there a way?


    At least for now, there was no solution; he had no leads.


    Their strength was too weak; they simply couldn¡¯t break the Spirit-Nullifying power of the Longevity River.


    "If it really can¡¯t be done, perhaps the only solution is to wait until we are powerful enough to break this Spirit-Nullifying power, only then we might have a chance to save the me Spirit n," Mo Yan also knew it was unrealistic to solve this problem now, he sighed, "But I don¡¯t know if the me Spirit n canst until then."


    "I¡¯ll go in again and see," Lu Qingshan suddenly said, and then entered the Longevity River once more.


    He wanted to observe again, to understand where exactly this Spirit-Nullifying power came from and whether there was any way to remove it.


    Qin Yitian¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, thinking something unknown, he too suddenly shed into the Longevity River.


    Lu Qingshan stood in the midst of the river, motionless.


    Countless specks of stars, with long trails of light, passed over Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    "Why did youe in too?" Seeing Qin Yitian enter, Lu Qingshan asked.


    Qin Yitian did not answer Lu Qingshan¡¯s question but instead asked him, "Young Master Lu, do you intend to save the fate of the me Spirit n and take them out of the me Spirit Realm?"

 Chapter 204 - 67 Sword Qi Silk Transformation

    After confirming that Lu Qingshan really had the capability to solve the Spirit-Nullifying issue, Mo Yan did not dy, he immediately got busy with Yan, gathering all the me Spirits.


    Upon receiving this news, the me Spirit n, who had long suffered from their living domain being upied by the Wood Spirits, did not hesitate either; they quickly assembled, preparing to leave this ce with all their nsmen to seek a new ce to live.


    The me Spirits who arrived at the bank of the Longevity River temporarily settled in the magma waterfall.


    As the number of me Spirits increased, Lu Qingshan began to feel a sharp rise in the surrounding temperature, eventually reaching the point where he had to use his Spiritual Power to resist the heat.


    In contrast to his difort, the other three seemed quitefortable.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword was immune to hundreds of fires, and as the Dragon Sparrow Sword Spirit, Qin Yitian even felt quite at ease in this fiery environment, somewhat like a fish in water.


    Both Mo Yan and Xue Zhuyong, the first as an Incinerate Body and thetter as a Nascent Soul Stage Swordsmith, also bore no aversion to a fire-based environment.


    He was the only one who seemed somewhat out of ce.


    ...


    The Longevity Whale¡¯s time for breathing was neither fixed nor regr; it could be in the next instant or muchter, but it would never be too long.


    ording to Xue Zhuyong¡¯s life experiences on Jiaolong Ind, within about three months, the Spiritual Abyss would erupt at least once, so there was no need to be overly anxious.


    Waves of heat rolled in.


    A faintyer of Spiritual Light radiated around Lu Qingshan, blocking out the heat.


    In his hand, he held a Jade Slip, into which Lu Qingshan was intently immersed.


    Sword Qi Fment Annotation.


    This was something Mo Zhizhi had once given him, a Sword Cultivator¡¯s insights on Sword Qi.


    A momentter, Lu Qingshan¡¯s brow rxed, and he put away the Jade Slip.


    "Young master," asked Qin Yitian, "have you mastered it already?"


    Xue Zhuyong, who was not far away and quietly tending to his injuries, quite sharply heard Qin Yitian¡¯s question and instinctively curled his lip.


    How could that be possible?


    Contrary to what he thought, Lu Qingshan just smiled warmly and replied, "Almost. It seems that transforming Sword Qi into silk is indeed not too difficult."


    Xue Zhuyong¡¯s brow furrowed, and he nced sideways.


    It was nothing else but Lu Qingshan¡¯s statement, which, to others, sounded far too presumptuous.


    Turning Sword Qi into silk represented one of the highest and most sophisticated skills in controlling Sword Qi, requiring a micro-level of control over Sword Qi before one could transform it into silk.


    If the fine Sword Qi could be turned into a thin fment of silk, its sharpness would be a hundred times greater, its toughness a hundred times stronger, and it would be invincible, also increasing its power to an extremely terrifying degree.


    Such a profound realm could only asionally be glimpsed in strong Golden Core or even Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators.


    A Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator, who had studied a Jade Slip for just half a month, dared to im such a boast?


    But oddly, both Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian took it for granted.


    Lu Qingshan took it for granted because, in his experience, turning Sword Qi into silk truly wasn¡¯t difficult; he grasped it as though snow met a zing furnace, instantlyprehending it.


    Qin Yitian¡¯s thoughts were even simpler: as his Sword Master, wasn¡¯t it normal for him to achieve such a feat?


    Lu Qingshan did not immediately start practicing turning Sword Qi into silk.


    The difficulty of this techniquey not only in needing a very high understanding of Sword Qi but also in meeting strict conditions.


    Your Divine Soul must be strong enough to undertake such delicate work.


    Lu Qingshan took out 80,000 Experience Points from the massive Experience Points he got from assisting in killing the Jiaolong Demon King, investing them into the Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique, thereby boosting his Skill Level while also raising the strength of his Divine Soul.


    In doing so, he alsopleted another of the four tasks required to advance the Nine-Pattern Golden Pill.


    "Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique upgraded to lv11, Divine Sense +10!"


    ...


    "Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique upgraded to lv13, Divine Sense +10!"


    "Your Divine Sense limit surpasses 100, your Divine Soul Realm reaches the Initial Stage of Solidifying Form (105/200), at this realm, a cultivator¡¯s soul bes a Primordial Spirit, and one can introspect the Primordial Spirit."


    Just as his Divine Sense surpassed the limit of one hundred, Lu Qingshan felt a throbbing sensation in his mind, even causing him to experience a bout of dizziness.


    In the sea of consciousness at his brow¡¯s center, a vague human-shaped soul was gradually condensing.


    The ethereal human-shaped soul flickered with spiritual light and was quickly solidifying.


    Finally, after a thunderous sound, the shadowpletely transformed into a human form, revealing its true appearance.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind was immersed, much like when one introspects their Dantian. His consciousness saw, standing in the vast and empty sea of consciousness, a figure.


    The figure was slender, with a handsome face, imposing phoenix eyes, and clear ck and white eyes¡ªit was his Primordial Spirit, looking exactly like him.


    Just like how the speed of a flying sword is starkly different below and above the speed of sound, the realm of the Divine Soul, after solidifying, also undergoes a qualitative transformation.


    Lu Qingshan quietly felt a transformation in himself, as if he was shedding his old self for a new one.


    His eyes were clearly closed, yet he could hear every little detail around him distinctly.


    Using himself as the center, he could clearly distinguish the breath within a mile¡¯s radius; naturally, the further the distance, the weaker this sensory ability became.


    More importantly, after his Primordial Spirit solidified, unlike the ephemeral soul shadow that scattered upon touch, his Divine Soul had taken form, much like a human¡¯s physical body, inherently possessing certain defensive and restorative abilities.


    This meant that the Divine Soul Attacks, which were razor-sharp and deemed fatal against Foundation Establishment Cultivators, could no longer easily shake him.


    "Everything in the world seems more real!" Lu Qingshan slowly opened his eyes, looking around, and he could even see the patterns of the magma flowing in a magma waterfall.


    "Sss!"


    Lu Qingshan stretched out his palm, and a fine thread of Sword Qi shot out from his fingertips.


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    He gazed at the Sword Qi at his fingertips, a sh of brilliance in his eyes.


    Because, in the past, what appeared very solid Sword Qi to him, he now saw many more gaps.


    Lu Qingshan released his Divine Sense, adhered it to the Sword Qi at his fingertips, and carefully, like unraveling silk from a cocoon, separated the Sword Qi intoplete, fine fments through those omnipresent gaps.


    The fine Sword Qi trembled as it was gradually separated.


    Threads of Sword Qi, barely visible, fluttered around Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    When the thread of Sword Qi on his fingertippletely transformed into nothingness, Lu Qingshan¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile.


    His first attempt at transforming Sword Qi into silk was as smooth as flowing water.


    Go!


    Lu Qingshan uttered softly in his mind, and the thread-like Sword Qi straightened out, shooting toward a massive rock in the distance.


    Whish whish whish!


    The Sword Qi pierced right through the massive rock, and then, an inconceivable scene unfolded.


    The rock, though seemingly undamaged on the surface with just a few pinhole-sized holes pierced through it, suddenly burst apart in the next moment as if a tremendous force had exploded at its center.


    The rock exploded into dust, scattering like sand and dust into the air.


    This was the power of Sword Qi silk!


    If previously, by imbuing his flying sword with Sword Qi, he could break through the defenses of a typical Foundation Establishment Cultivator and y them within five strikes,


    now, with the explosive power of Sword Qi silk, unless facing a uniquely gifted and mysteriously skilled Foundation Establishment Cultivator like Mo Yan, he was confident he could y them with one strike.


    ...


    Xue Zhuyong, who had previously turned his attention to Lu Qingshan, watched this scene in silence.


    Previously, as the Family Head of a swordsmith n, he had seen an abundance of Sword Cultivators in his lifetime, including many prodigies.


    Yet even so, he had never heard of any Sword Cultivator who, at such a level of cultivation and at such an age, had mastered Sword Qi to such an extent.


    Not to mention, he knew that Lu Qingshan had taken less than half a month to learn and master this technique.


    Could it be that there really are those born with innate knowledge of the Sword Dao?


    @@novelbin@@


    This thought emerged in Xue Zhuyong¡¯s mind.

 Chapter 205 - 68: Spell Breaking with a Single Sword

    Lu Qingshan nodded in satisfaction. Read new chapters at empire


    Next, what he needed to do was to be gradually familiar with the process of Sword Qi Silk Transformation until he had mastered it as naturally as an instinct.


    After all, although he had now sessfully drawn out and condensed the Sword Qi into silk, the process still took too long and had no real significance in actualbat.


    Of course, this was definitely not going to be difficult for him.


    Half a month had passed.


    Lu Qingshan had gradually practiced Sword Qi Silk Transformation to perfection.


    ...


    Huff! Huff! Huff!


    Just then, dull sounds kept arising, like bellows being pumped, or as if a prehistoric behemoth was breathing.


    The cloud sea enfolding the River of Longevity now exhibited the momentum of turbulent seas, with the River itself shining bright with Starry Radiance.


    In the sky, slightly murky gases began to gather out of nowhere, disregarding the barrier formed by the magma waterfall suspended in the heavens, and appeared by the side of the River of Longevity.


    "It¡¯sing, the moment the Longevity Whale breathes," Lu Qingshan said softly, his gaze intensifying upon witnessing this scene.


    Xue Zhuyong, Mo Yan, and two others came over to stand side by side with Lu Qingshan by the riverbank, silently observing the changes in this world.


    Behind them, the waterfall of magma started to boil too, with the blood-redva bubbling up.


    Countless bubbles burst with pops, and dense clusters of red dots floated out from them, so numerous that they stained the entire sky red, their brilliance dazzling to behold.


    These were all the me Spirits from the me Spirit Realm, summoned by Fire over the course of a month.


    "Brother Lu, by what means do you n to dissolve the Spirit-Nullifying force within the River of Longevity?" Mo Yan, feeling the repelling force from the River slowly dissipating, couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Out of understanding and trust for Lu Qingshan, Mo Yan was certain that Lu Qingshan wouldn¡¯t take aimless actions, and he had never harbored the slightest doubt about Lu Qingshan¡¯s words.


    But by this point, seeing Lu Qingshan still without any action, he too began to feel puzzled.


    Xue Zhuyong was equally curious.


    Over thest month, he had entered the River of Longevity several times, but as to the Spirit-Nullifying force inside, he waspletely clueless, let alone having a solution.


    He couldn¡¯t believe that Lu Qingshan, whose cultivation was far inferior to his own, and even inferior to Mo Yan¡¯s, could possibly have a method when even a Nascent Soul Cultivator could not achieve such a thing.


    But since Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t speak, he too could only suppress his curiosity, not asking further.


    Now, with the Spiritual Abyss about to erupt and the situation on a knife-edge, whatever mysterious technique Lu Qingshan had, it was time for him to show it.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan stared at the River of Longevity as it floated and sank within the cloud sea, its surface continually trembling; he remainedpletely still without answering Mo Yan right away, and fell silent for a long moment.


    Not until the repelling force emanating from the River of Longevity hadpletely vanished, starting to turn into an attracting force, did he speak.


    "Now is the time."


    Lu Qingshan murmured softly.


    Swish!


    A brilliantly outrageous sword suddenly appeared in his hand.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    "With this sword in my hand," Lu Qingshan answered Mo Yan.


    "Ah?" Mo Yan was utterly baffled by Lu Qingshan¡¯s response, his astonishment immense.


    But before he could voice his questions, he suddenly choked up.


    Then, he stood frozen in ce, eyes wide in shock.


    Xue Zhuyong wore the same astonished expression.


    For in the next moment, Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword moved.


    He wielded the Dragon Sparrow Sword and with a gentle wave toward the churning cloud sea, made a sh in the void.


    It was a very ordinary sh, neither fast nor slow, with nothing special about it, and the sword didn¡¯t even carry a hint of Sword Qi.


    Perhaps, the onlymendable thing might just be that the sword looked quite pretty.


    However, under this sh, the tumbling cloud sea abruptly came to a halt.


    It was as if an invisible giant hand, following the direction in which Lu Qingshan shed his sword, pushed aside all the clouds and mist.


    The dull yellow sea of clouds was pushed to one side, revealing a vast expanse of empty space.


    At the heart of this voidy the majestic and crystal clear, glittering River of Longevity, with the scents of time and vitality permeating through it.


    With that one strike, it seemed as if heaven and earth had overturned, with the force of mountains and seas being moved.


    This one strike was called Spell Breaking.


    [Spell Breaking]: Dragon Sparrow Sword, capable of breaking all spells.


    Any barrier, formation, domain, or spell would be unable to withstand this Divine Skill.


    Cooldown period: 30 days


    ...


    The Spirit-Nullifying power of the River of Longevity, when traced back to its source, was essentially the Longevity Whale¡¯s control over the world, which, at its core, was just a much more powerful spell.


    As long as it was a spell, the Dragon Sparrow Sword, which could break all spells, was able to slice right through it with a single sh.


    The whooshing of the wind continued, and Lu Qingshan could feel countless streams of air brushing past from his back, flowing into the River of Longevity and disappearing without a trace.


    Whoosh!


    The sword in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand disappeared.


    He had returned the Dragon Sparrow back into his Dantian.


    Without offering further exnation, Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian entered the River of Longevity side by side.


    At this moment, the River of Longevity emanated waves of enticing force, pulling their bodies towards its depths.


    Mo Yan and Xue Zhuyong snapped out of their astonishment, shook their heads, and hastily followed suit.


    Upon entering the River of Longevity, Mo Yan immediately became attuned to the Spiritual Power within his body.


    The obstruction to his Spiritual Power that existed before had vanished at this moment.


    Lu Qingshan had really lifted the Spirit-Nullifying power within the River of Longevity!


    Unable to contain his joy, Mo Yan turned and gave a deep nod to the members of the me Spirit n who were still floating in the air near the sea of clouds, too apprehensive to make a move.


    Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp


    Seeing Mo Yan¡¯s nod, the me Spirits immediately issued joyful cries and, without further hesitation, swarmed into the River of Longevity.


    The River of Longevity, once sparkling with starlight, was now covered by a sky of red light as a vast number of me Spirits entered.


    At this moment, the starry river transformed into a river of fiery red magma.


    Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian stood shoulder to shoulder at the forefront, with Xue Zhuyong, Mo Yan, and the me Spirits trailing behind. Carried by the pulling force and apanied by the wind, everyone seemed to ride the wind as their figures gradually disappeared into the depths of the River of Longevity.


    ...


    Just as the me Spirits entered the River of Longevity.


    In the me Spirit Realm, the densely packed forest that made up the vast majority of thend, a countless number of green lights, far surpassing the number of me Spirits, floated out from the branches and trunks of the lush trees.


    They were the Wood Spirits.


    Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!


    Jubnt chirping noises emerged from their mouths as they expressed their gratitude to their father god.


    For the Wood Spirits were floating high in the sky, looking towards the me Domain.


    The countless volcanoes in that destend had ceased spewing ash, the grayyer of smoke in the sky was also slowly dissipating, and the temperature was rapidly dropping.


    Theva that flowed through the fissures of the cracked ground had also disappeared at that moment.


    The me Spirits were gone!


    It must be the will of the father god that took away the me Spirits!


    Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!


    A Wood Spirit at the edge of the boundary line couldn¡¯t contain itself and rushed into the me Domain.


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    Ethereal green light spilled from its body, scattering on the ground, and sinking into the crevices.


    A tiny green sprout grew rapidly at a visible pace within the gap.

 Chapter 206 - 69 Primordial Intent

    At the edge of the Spiritual Abyss.


    With a figure full of grace and elegance, Mo Zhizhi stood quietly here, her gaze, autumnal as the falling leaves, fixed intently on the mouth of the Spiritual Abyss, her face etched with worry.


    In front of her, there was also a small silver-gray mouse shadow.


    "Mrs. Mo, you can rest assured. From what I know of Lu Qingshan, he will definitely bring your husband and child out of the Spiritual Abyss," the Western Mouse King promised confidently, thumping his chest as he assured Mo Zhizhi.


    Mo Zhizhi did not trouble the Western Mouse King but simply said softly, "I just want to wait for them here, so the moment theye out, I can see them at first nce."


    The Western Mouse King felt somewhat helpless.


    After Lu Qingshan entered the Spiritual Abyss, two days had passed, yet there was still no sign of any activity.


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    As Mo Zhizhi began to ept that Xue Zhuyong and Mo Yan might have encountered misfortune and was on the verge of breaking down, the Western Mouse King could only reveal the true situation tofort her.


    But who would have thought that upon hearing such a secret, Mo Zhizhi would immediately rush to the Spiritual Abyss, determined to endure the wait for Mo Yan and the others to return.


    To fulfill Lu Qingshan¡¯s request, naturally, it could only stay by Mo Zhizhi¡¯s side.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Just then, a strong howling sound arose from within the Spiritual Abyss.


    The Western Mouse King¡¯s ears twitched slightly.


    The Spiritual Abyss was about to erupt with water mist again, or rather, that clumsy whale was taking another breath!


    Mo Zhizhi, drawn by themotion from the Spiritual Abyss, shifted all her attention towards it.


    Lu Qingshan, Mouse Lord must have been fooled by you; appeasing a woman turns out to be even more exhausting than fighting!


    Seeing Mo Zhizhi¡¯s attention temporarily diverted, the Western Mouse King finally rxed, wiping his forehead where there wasn¡¯t actually any sweat, while cursing Lu Qingshan incessantly in his heart.


    However, a month had passed, and Lu Qingshan still hadn¡¯t emerged. Could it be that he¡¯d really encountered some unsolvable problem?


    The Western Mouse King¡¯s heart began to fill with concern again.


    "Wait a minute, something¡¯s not right..." While lost in thought, the Western Mouse King inadvertently nced at the mouth of the Spiritual Abyss out of the corner of his eye, only to discover that it waspletely different from usual, with conspicuous red mist spewing out from within.


    "Could this be...va?" Seeing the unusual color, the Western Mouse King¡¯s heart sank with fear. He hurriedly reached out to pull on Mo Zhizhi¡¯s sleeve, aiming to drag her to safety, "Mrs. Mo, hurry, the Spiritual Abyss is starting to y for real, and it¡¯s not spewing mist this time!"


    Mrs. Mo¡¯s figure, however, remained immovable as she watched the flickering red light at the mouth of the Spiritual Abyss, choking up, "Yan¡¯er... he¡¯s back."


    The Western Mouse King was taken aback and looked toward Mrs. Mo.


    Throughout this time, Mo Zhizhi¡¯s hand had always been clutching a crystal-clear jade pendant.


    ording to Mrs. Mo, it was crafted for her by Mo Yan.


    The Western Mouse King didn¡¯t think much of it and assumed that Mo Zhizhi was simply missing her loved ones through the object.


    But at this moment, inside that pendant, a myriad of rainbow lights swirled.


    @@novelbin@@


    Only then did the Western Mouse King realize that this pendant must be part of a set of paired Magic Artifacts, able to sense the other jade pendant, which was evidently carried by Mo Yan.


    ....


    Under the pull from deep within the Longevity River, the figures of Lu Qingshan and hispanions gradually became blurry.


    "We¡¯re finally about to get out!" Mo Yan felt uplifted yet anxious in his heart.


    Having been gone for so long, he wondered how worried his mother must be.


    Xue Zhuyong, on the other hand, had a somewhat stiff expression on his face.


    During the month in the me Spirit Realm, his interactions with Mo Yan had been awkward and restrained, polite yet distant.


    Now, with Mo Zhizhi about to join them, he felt even more troubled.


    He had no idea how to face the reunion of the three of them.


    As everyone held their thoughts in silence, a dense green light, vibrant and full of life, suddenly appeared within the Longevity River. In the blink of an eye, it silently merged into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body so fast that Xue Zhuyong and Mo Yan did not notice it.


    Only Qin Yitian noticed this scene.


    "Young master, what was that?" Qin Yitian asked softly.


    She could feel that the orb of light had no intent to harm.


    So that¡¯s how it is.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes were slightly closed, as if feeling something, then his face showed a look of sudden realization. Responding to Qin Yitian¡¯s question, he pursed his lips and exined softly, "It¡¯s a gift from the Longevity Whale..."


    ...


    Momentster, they re-entered the bizarre and colorful space of the transportation passage.


    This transportation process was just as brief as their entry, with a light quickly appearing ahead in the dark expanse.


    Passing through the ck gateway, the temperature around them dropped.


    They had arrived at the mouth of the Spiritual Abyss.


    Apanied by the breaths erupting with them, which had been quite hot from being near a waterfall ofva just before, they now abruptly met the cold and immediately turned into mist. Propelled by the force of the Spiritual Abyss, it sprayed outward from the Abyss.


    Protected by Spiritual Power around him, Lu Qingshan soared through the air, taking advantage of the momentum to leave the Spiritual Abyss. Trailing him were Xue Zhuyong, Mo Yan, and the me Spirits rushing out like a river.


    ...


    The Western Mouse King¡¯s eyes bulged as he watched several figures burst out through the mist.


    Following behind them was a red dragon, hundreds of feet long and spectacrly imposing.


    Subsequently, the red dragon suddenly transformed into countless red dots that drifted across the sky.


    The figures, after hanging in the air momentarily, then dove towards them.


    The Western Mouse King quickly reacted, "It¡¯s Lu Qingshan, they¡¯ve returned!"

 Chapter 208 - 1: Lingxu Tower

    Therge ship cleaved through the waves, its sails fluttering with whooshing sounds apanied by the sshing of the waves against its hull, which had been ongoing for quite some time.


    Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian stood on the deck, the sea breeze fluttering their robes as they watched the outline of Jiaolong Ind slowly fade from view.


    "The Longevity Whale..." Lu Qingshan murmured.


    Your journey continues with empire


    This trip to the South Sea had once again exposed him to many secrets and... many doubts had arisen.


    "I will definitely return." Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze hardened. He stopped dwelling on it and turned his head to Qin Yitian, whispering, "Mo Yan says the Dragon ying Saber is gathering cultivators, preparing to head to the Dragon Pool to eradicate the Jiao npletely. After all, the Dragon Pool has been your temporary refuge for so many years..."


    "Actually, during my time in the Dragon Pool, I was asleep for the most part, with no attachments to the ce." Qin Yitian responded to Lu Qingshan¡¯s concern with a radiant smile, his eyes clear as he gazed at Lu Qingshan and softly said, "Besides, for me, apart from you, there is nothing else in this world worth clinging to."


    The life of a sword belongs solely to its Sword Master.


    ...


    Although the quest for the sword was fraught with unexpected twists and turns, the ultimate gains far exceeded Lu Qingshan¡¯s expectations.


    Not to mention the Dragon Sparrow Sword, in just two months, he had amassed five hundred thousand Experience Points, and his assets had significantly increased again.


    Having gathered all the Spirit Materials required for the Wood Element Sword Armor and most of those needed for the Metal Element Sword Armor, Lu Qingshan felt quite delighted.


    These materials were all collected by the Dragon ying Saber within half a month.


    Not wanting to waste time on the ship, Lu Qingshan returned to the cabin, nning to start the Refining Ritual for the Wood Element Sword Armor.


    Just as he was about to retrieve the Spirit Materials, the Spirit Beast Bag on his waist suddenly shed, and the King of the Western Rats appeared.


    Seeing the King of the Western Rats run out from the Spirit Beast Bag, Lu Qingshan frowned slightly.


    "I came out to get some air," the King of the Western Rats exined with a sneaky look and a slight twitch of his snout.


    Seeing the sly demeanor of the King of the Western Rats, Lu Qingshan was genuinely concerned, so he said to Qin Yitian, "Keep an eye on him for me, don¡¯t let him cause any trouble."


    Last time the King of the Western Rats went out for some air, he had brought him Zang Xiaojian. Although this ship was specially prepared by the Dragon ying Saber and there were no outsiders, who knew what might happen with the King of the Western Rats¡¯s ability to stir up trouble?


    "Lu Qingshan, you¡¯re actually letting her keep an eye on me!" The King of the Western Rats¡¯s voice immediately became shrill upon hearing this, his mouse ws trembling as he pointed at Qin Yitian and indignantly said, "How long have I been with you, and how long has she known you?"


    "You must exin to me today, in your heart, who holds a higher position, me or this woman?"


    Lu Qingshan looked at the King of the Western Rats¡¯ "performance" with a faint smile and confirmed with a nod, "Of course, it¡¯s her."


    "You forget friends at the sight of beauty, the world is in decline..." The King of the Western Rats¡¯s face was ashen, continuously muttering the idioms he had just learned.


    "You attend to your matters, I¡¯ll take care of him," Qin Yitian said to Lu Qingshan, nodding her head lightly. Then she expressionlessly picked up the King of the Western Rats by the neck and hauled him out.


    ...


    Once bitten, twice shy, having had the experience of refining the Water Walking Sword Armor, the refining of the remaining four Element Sword Armors posed no more difficulties for Lu Qingshan, apart from the challenge of gathering Spirit Materials.


    In less than five days, Lu Qingshan had extracted the Wood Element Qi from the Spirit Materials and merged it with the Sword Qi to form Wood Element Sword Qi, which he then stored in the acupoints throughout his body.


    ng!


    With a thought, Lu Qingshan circted the Water Element Sword Qi and Wood Element Sword Qi, which covered his entire body in a sh, the turquoise and deep blue glows intertwining.


    These Sword Qi surrounded Lu Qingshanpletely, appearing as tranquil as water ripples, yet contained within were the sharpness of the Sword Qi, the enduring division of water, and thesting vitality of wood, all of which contributed to an astonishing defensive power.


    "When the Five Elements areplete, even just the Sword Armor will render ordinary cultivators helpless," Lu Qingshan muttered to himself.


    The Five Elements Sword Armor is a defense spell quite famous and extremely useful among sword cultivators. Aside from the expensive spirit materials required, it had no significant drawbacks. In the previous life¡¯s game, it had always been the prime choice for sword cultivators to spend heavily on.


    ...


    When Lu Qingshan once again set foot on thend of Bibo City, a month had already passed.


    "Where shall we head to next?" the Sea Rat King, haggard from the sea journey, asked weakly.


    "We return to where we came from," Lu Qingshan said calmly.


    This long detour, crossing Qing State to reach the South Sea, had been solely to find a suitable Life-bound Sword. Now that the goal had been aplished, it was naturally time to return to Qing State.


    Because, ording to historical progression, the next major plot development was set to ur in Qing State.


    As the main area of activity for yers in the second version of the game, and under the meticulous design of the game nners, Qing State was like being enveloped by a great fortune. Countless caves and ruins (instances) appeared one after another, filled with endless Cultivation Techniques and Magic Artifacts.


    How could he not return to share in the bounty?


    ...


    Lingxu Prefecture was one of the thirty-six prefectures of Qing State.


    After the destruction of Zhenjiang City, Lingxu Prefecture epted almost eighty percent of the refugees from Zhenjiang City.


    Simrly, as the Asura ruthlessly crushed the Heart Demon Gu, killing all the cultivators of the minor Netherworld halls in Zhenjiang with the bacsh from the Heart Demon Gu, Zhenjiang Prefecture had thus returned to peace.


    Most of the cultivators from Zhenjiang Tower were also redirected by orders to various prefectures in Qing State, leaving only a minimal number stationed in Zhenjiang Prefecture to monitor whether the Netherworld might be resurrected and to maintain daily affairs.


    @@novelbin@@


    Lingxu City, Lingxu Tower auxiliary building.


    A woman stepped out from Lingxu Tower, her demeanor cold as frost, but a hint of worry could faintly be sensed between her brows.


    Two others had been waiting at the door. Seeing the woman¡¯s chill expression, they dared not speak much but quickly pulled aside the male cultivator following behind the woman to inquire about the situation. "Xiao Zhi, how are things?"


    The male cultivator trailing the woman was Xiao Zhi, a former team member of Lu Qingshan in the Tiger Squad.


    Xiao Zhi said indignantly, "The Lingxu Tower Master, Lefthand Guo, didn¡¯t take what Dantai Tower Master said seriously at all, let alone offer any substantial help."


    "Who would have thought that the people of Lingxu Tower would be so distinctly different from us at Zhenjiang Tower, focusing not on dealing with the Netherworld but on grappling for power and profit," another cultivator from Zhenjiang Tower, Zuo Tao, said helplessly.


    "Deputy Tower Master Dantai was directly transferred to Lingxu Tower to take over as Deputy Tower Master, discing the former Deputy Tower Master Yi. It¡¯s somewhat expected that Yi harbored resentment and made things difficult for Tower Master Dantai," Zhong Mian said through gritted teeth angrily, "but I didn¡¯t expect Lingxu Tower to be this corrupt, where from the top down, everyone¡¯s a rat in a sack, not just Yi Yuan making life hard for Tower Master Dantai, but everyone else following suit!"


    "If Lingxu Tower weren¡¯t so ineffective, leading to such a dire situation in Lingxu Prefecture, why else would Knowledge Guard Tower remove an old-timer like Deputy Tower Master Yi Yuan, recing him with the unfamiliar Dantai Tower Master, if not in the hopes that Tower Master Dantai could achieve some real aplishments?"


    "Yes, indeed," Xiao Zhi sighed heavily, "It would be great if someone could help Tower Master Dantai¡­"


    "With even the Lingxu Tower Master supporting Yi Yuan, who could help Tower Master Dantai turn the situation around?" Zuo Tao shook his head, saying helplessly.

 Chapter 210 - 3 Demon Spirit Palace

    ```


    Dantai Qingrun¡¯s exnation was undoubtedly the most reasonable.


    The Netherworld authorities in Zhenjiang marshaled the forces of nearly half of Qing State¡¯s Netherworld, plotted a Corpse Puppet Chaos, and still had to swallow their pride andy low for a century.


    Lingxu Tower, despite having all the advantages of time and ce in its hundred-year struggle with the Netherworld, repeatedly suffered setbacks. If there were no other forces behind the scenes lending a hand, wouldn¡¯t the very idea of a vignt tower be a joke?


    "Have you investigated the recent activities of the forces within Lingxu Tower?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    "Of course, I¡¯ve spent most of the past six months doing just that," Dantai Qingrun nodded, gesturing to the dazzling array of Jade Slips on the table. "Recorded within these Jade Slips are the major and minor events that have urred over the past century among the sects and families within Lingxu Tower that have some standing."


    "You found no problems?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    Dantai Qingrun shook her head, "In these pieces of information, I haven¡¯t yet found any that are wed."


    "I see..." Lu Qingshan pondered and then strolled to the desk, casually flipping through those Jade Slips.


    Dantai Qingrun stood quietly at the side, silently watching as Lu Qingshan rapidly scanned one Jade Slip after another, asionally falling into deep thought.


    After a while,


    Lu Qingshan had gone through all theplex information.


    For cultivators, it was not difficult to remember this information, but the difficultyy in how to sift through the vast sea of data to find the crucial pieces of information.


    Swish! Swish!


    However, Lu Qingshan now looked confident, and with a sweep of his Spiritual Power, two Jade Slips hovered in front of Dantai Qingrun.


    "Take another look at the information recorded in these two Jade Slips," Lu Qingshan said.


    Dantai Qingrun¡¯s eyebrows raised in disbelief that the problems she hadn¡¯t discovered in half a year¡¯s time, Lu Qingshan had identified in just half a day.


    She took the two Jade Slips and probed them with her Divine Sense.


    "In the year 19945 of Chang¡¯an, the second elder of the Poison Butterfly Sect, Moon Butterfly True Man, entered the Demon Spirit Mountain Range to search for herbs and was not heard from again."


    "In the year 19947 of Chang¡¯an, the Young Master of Shui Yue Fort entered the Demon Spirit Mountain Range and met his end within."


    "...."


    The first Jade Slip recorded a long list of cultivators from the major powers within Lingxu Tower who had perished in the Demon Spirit Mountain Range over the years.


    The second Jade Slip contained a very brief message.


    "In the year 19975 of Chang¡¯an, the Demon Spirit Pce publicly dered that they were sealing off the Demon Spirit Mountain Range for fifty years."


    Dantai Qingrun looked up with a puzzled expression at Lu Qingshan.


    The Demon Spirit Mountain Range was a vast expanse of primitive mountains, teeming with numerous Demon Beasts. For cultivators to venture into and fall prey to fierce Demon Beasts was not umon, and such events were always happening in the world of cultivators¡ªnothing out of the ordinary.


    "Tower Master Dantai, you¡¯ve repeatedly checked the Human Race forces within Lingxu Tower, trying to find among them the sects that might be colluding with the Netherworld, yet you¡¯vee up empty.


    Have you considered, Tower Master Dantai, the possibility that the problematic force isn¡¯t within your scope of investigation at all?" Lu Qingshan said softly.


    "But I¡¯ve already included all the sects and families with any significant strength in Lingxu Tower. If it¡¯s those insignificant small forces, how much help could they possibly offer to the Netherworld?" Dantai Qingrun retorted instinctively.


    "Are you sure you¡¯ve ounted for all the major powers within Lingxu Tower?" Lu Qingshan countered.


    Dantai Qingrun was momentarily stunned, at a loss for words at Lu Qingshan¡¯s question.


    ```


    "You¡¯ve simply counted all the Human Race forces." Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of sharpness shing through them.


    Qin Yitian, who had been witnessing the entire process from the side, also seemed to have some sudden insight. She nodded thoughtfully, but although she might have an answer, she did not rashly interrupt the conversation between Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun.


    "There¡¯s another force within the Lingxu Prefecture that ranks in the top three in terms ofprehensive strength, one you have overlooked," Lu Qingshan said calmly.


    "Are you referring to the Demon Spirit Pce?!" Dantai Qingrun was taken aback, grasping Lu Qingshan¡¯s meaning.


    The Demon Spirit Pce, in terms ofbat power alone, could even be the most preeminent among all sects in Lingxu Prefecture.


    Yet Dantai Qingrun had never once doubted the Demon Spirit Pce, let alone investigated it.


    It wasn¡¯t that Dantai Qingrun was being muddle-headed, but rather because, just as its name indicated, the Demon Spirit Pce was a Demon n force!


    Experience tales at empire


    In fact, the Demon n was scattered throughout the human territories, and in terms of strength, it was in no way inferior to the Human Race.


    But due to the wild nature of Demon Beasts and racial divisions, most Demon Beasts generally did not mingle with others. At most, they were like the Jiaolong Demon King, leading their own kind and upying mountains to establish their rule, with very few forming significant forces.


    And the Demon Spirit Pce was the only Demon n force within Qing State.


    The first Pce Master of the Demon Spirit Pce was a Gengjin Tiger King at the peak of Fifth Grade Realm.


    It is said that this Gengjin Tiger King possessed a faint trace of ancient Spirit Beast White Tiger bloodline, which granted him extraordinarybat power. He united the divided Demon n of Qing State for tens of thousands of years and established the Demon Spirit Pce. He reigned supreme over Qing State, wreaking havoc for a thousand years.


    After a millennium, when the Gengjin Tiger King could no longer break through to the Sixth Grade Realm and his lifespan reached its limit, he fell.


    After the Gengjin Tiger King passed away, the Demon Spirit Pce,cking an absolute strong presence to suppress the untamed natures of the Demon Beasts, saw most of its members quickly leave the Demon Spirit Pce, with only a very small part willing to remain and continue the legacy of the Demon Spirit Pce.


    Following the fragmentation of the Demon Spirit Pce, its sphere of influence also began to rapidly shrink.


    From its heyday with a presence throughout Qing State, now it could only barely cling to survival in the Demon Spirit Mountain Range at the junction of Lingxu, Yanxi, and Changyang Prefectures.


    @@novelbin@@


    But a camel thinned by hunger is still bigger than a horse. In terms of peakbat power, not a single sect or power within Lingxu Prefecture could best the Demon Spirit Pce.


    "If there indeed was a sect colluding with the Netherworld, they must have received some benefits from the Netherworld. It would not stay quiet on the surface.


    Yet, in the past hundred years, none of the Human Race powers within Lingxu Prefecture that could be considered significant exhibited any sudden rise or made any unusualrge movements. It does not match your expectations," Lu Qingshan said gravely. "But there just happens to be such a Demon Spirit Pce, which has been very active in recent years.


    First, the death rate of Human Cultivators entering the Demon Spirit Mountain Range began to surge,ter on, the Demon Spirit Pce even unprecedentedly sealed off the Demon Spirit Mountain Range to outsiders."


    The Demon Spirit Mountain Range is vast in area, and even the Demon Spirit Pce only controls the core region.


    Typically, aside from the core area, the Demon Spirit Mountain Range does not forbid Cultivators from entering.


    But it was precisely in this century that a relentless series of bloody events urred in the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, with Cultivators entering it either falling dead or disappearing at a rate dozens of times higher than before.


    Latterly, the Demon Spirit Pce unusually proimed they were sealing off the Demon Spirit Mountain Range to outsiders.


    Given the vastness of the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, how could the Demon Spirit Pce possibly achieve aplete blockade? Announcing this seemed more like an attempt to deter Human Cultivators who wished to enter the Demon Spirit Mountain Range.


    After carefully pondering the unusual actions of the Demon Spirit Pce, Dantai Qingrun muttered, "When put that way, it seems to be a bit too coincidental."


    Dantai Qingrun was of course aware of the Demon Spirit Pce¡¯s significant activity over thest hundred years.


    However, because the Demon Spirit Pce was not a Human Race force, this issue was subconsciously overlooked by Dantai Qingrun.


    But upon closer thought, Dantai Qingrun suddenly realized that she had be fixated on a narrow view under the influence of her subconscious bias.


    Why couldn¡¯t the Netherworld coborate with the Demon n?

 Chapter 211 - 4: Demon Spirit Tomb

    "I¡¯ll head to Lingxu Tower right away to pull up the relevant intel on Demon Spirit Pce," Dantai Qingrun said with brisk efficiency. "Wait here for a moment."


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    In a sh, Dantai Qingrun¡¯s figure blurred, and she had already drifted away.


    Lu Qingshan turned around only to see Qin Yitian frowning slightly, lost in thought, and couldn¡¯t help asking, "What are you thinking about, to be so engrossed?"


    "I am just wondering why it took her half a year to fail to think of it, yet you needed only a moment to see through it," Qin Yitian¡¯s eyes shined with a hint of admiration in his voice.


    Lu Qingshan chuckled wryly and didn¡¯t feign being profound in front of Qin Yitian, "Actually, I just have a bit more experience than Dantai Qingrun and think things through a little more thoroughly, that¡¯s all. The actual gap isn¡¯t nearly as big as it seems."


    After a pause, Lu Qingshan exined, "Simply put, I have ess to far more information than she does."


    The more information one has, the easier it bes to find the key points within an issue.


    .......


    In the Nine Heavens game of my past life, the most famous instancemissioned by Lingxu House was from this Demon Spirit Mountain Range.


    It was called the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    As a massive instance spanning three houses, the Demon Spirit Tomb¡¯s update came with a special expansion pack that provided a detailed background introduction:


    The founder of the Demon Spirit Pce, the Gengjin Tiger King, had created for himself an extremelyvish tomb as his prime approached its end.


    In addition, the Gengjin Tiger King brought the spoils he had plundered from the Qing State over a thousand years into the tomb as funerary objects, among which was even the presence of a Human Race Immortal Codex.


    This is also why the unruly Demon Beasts, even after the death of Gengjin Tiger King, some remained to continue the legacy of the Demon Spirit Pce.


    They were not loyally devoted to the Demon Spirit Pce but purely lusted for the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    The treasures amassed by the Gengjin Tiger King over a millennium of ravaging the Qing State were unimaginably terrifying.


    Moreover, with the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s Fifth Grade pinnacle realm, even the bones of his entire body were valuable Spirit Materials.


    As long as one could enter the Demon Spirit Tomb, all these treasures would be at one¡¯s fingertips. How could the well-informed Demon Beasts not be moved by the thought?


    The problem, however, was that the Gengjin Tiger King knew the greedy nature of Demon Beasts, so no one was informed of the exact location of his tomb.


    The Demon Beasts of the Demon Spirit Pce only knew that the Demon Spirit Tomb was located within the Demon Spirit Mountain Range.


    With the range as vast as it was, finding a hidden tomb within it was no easy task, was it?


    Thus, after trying fruitlessly to locate it on a grand scale, most of the Demon Beasts from the Demon Spirit Pce quickly gave up on the idea of the Demon Spirit Tomb and left the Pce to live their carefree lives.


    Latterly, there even arose such a belief¡ªthe location of the Demon Spirit Tomb was merely a ruse released by the Gengjin Tiger King; in fact, it didn¡¯t exist within the Demon Spirit Mountain Range at all.


    As time passed, due to the longck of any discovery of the Demon Spirit Tomb, gradually, this im became the prevailing belief.


    That is, until this year, when the Demon Spirit Tomb emerged out of nowhere, and others realized that in fact the Demon Spirit Pce had found the tomb within the Demon Spirit Mountain Range during thest century of the Chang¡¯an Years. They simply had been unable to break through the tomb¡¯s numerous constraints to plunder the treasure, hence their silence.


    Latterly, the Demon Spirit Pce yed all their cards and finally lifted the restrictions of the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    What nobody expected was that at the moment the constraints were lifted, the Demon Spirit Tomb erupted into a tumultuous uproar that the Demon Spirit Pce couldn¡¯t conceal.


    Thus, news of the emergence of the Demon Spirit Tomb spread instantly throughout thends of the three prefectures, attracting the attention of all sects in the region.


    What made it even more peculiar was that the Gengjin Tiger King had possessed overwhelmingbat power and a ughter Intent that had reached an extreme state, nearly materializing into a tangible existence.


    Even though the king had perished, the residual power of its ughter Intent still lingered; any high-rank cultivator who rashly entered the Demon Spirit Tomb would be viewed as an enemy by the lingering intent of the Gengjin Tiger King ande under attack.


    With the Gengjin Tiger King at the pinnacle of the Fifth Grade, the strongest cultivators within the three prefectures were only at the Nascent Soul Stage and could not dare to match its edge, which is why no high-rank cultivators dared to enter the tomb.


    @@novelbin@@


    On the other hand, cultivators below the Nascent Soul Stage, due to their rtively weaker strength, were like mere ants to the Gengjin Tiger King, and thus could avoid the attacks of this ughter Intent.


    Under the pressure of numerous cultivators and demon beasts making their way to the site, the Demon Spirit Pce could no longer monopolize the Demon Spirit Tomb, and they had to open it up for all cultivators to explore together.


    ...


    Under these circumstances, the Demon Spirit Tomb became an open-instance dungeon for all yers, a massive dungeon catering to cultivators from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Golden Core Stage.


    Furthermore, as the Demon Spirit Tomb gathered cultivators from the three prefectures and demon beasts also entered, fighting and killing urred constantly in the battle for the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s treasures, and the degree of bloodiness, at the time of its opening, had all yers eximing about the thrill.


    Of course, looking at this expansion pack, it seemed that the Demon Spirit Tomb had little to do with the Underworld Cultivators.


    The turning point urred within the Demon Spirit Tomb itself.


    When the first group of cultivators was still exploring the periphery of the tomb searching for secrets, a group of mysterious cultivators suddenly burst out from the depths of the tomb with the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s corpse, escaping from the encirclement of the crowd and vanishing into the distance.


    Latter, the identities of these mysterious cultivators were verified.


    They were indeed Underworld Cultivators.


    ...


    As the first major open-instance dungeon in the Nine Heavens, the Demon Spirit Tomb garnered immense poprity, and Lu Qingshan also kept a close eye on its news. Your adventure continues at empire


    So when some enthusiastic yers uploaded videos of this plot to the forums, Lu Qingshan joined in on the excitement to watch, which left a deep impression on him.


    Although it was not directly stated in the plot that there was a connection between the Underworld and the Demon Spirit Pce, Lu Qingshan had noticed an important point.


    Why were Underworld Cultivators able to prate the core of the tomb when other cultivators were still getting familiar with the environment inside?


    Was it because the Underworld Cultivators possessed extraordinary strength?


    Clearly, that was unlikely; even if there was a gap, it could not be so vast.


    The most likely possibility was that the so-called first batch of cultivators entering the Demon Spirit Tomb were not truly the first.


    Possibly, several days earlier, the Underworld Cultivators had already entered the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    Considering that the Demon Spirit Tomb was the Demon Spirit Pce¡¯s most closely guarded secret, the likelihood of the Underworld bypassing the Demon Spirit Pce to enter first was slim.


    That the Demon Spirit Pce might have privately coborated with the Underworld thus became an obvious conclusion.


    This coupled with the sudden rise of the Underworld over thest hundred years, pressuring Lingxu Tower to the point of no recovery.


    And coincidentally, it was during these hundred years that the Demon Spirit Pce discovered the Demon Spirit Tomb, which previously had no clues to its location.


    Without imingplete certainty, the possibility that the Demon Spirit Pce and the Underworld had long been in cahoots was undoubtedly very high.

 Chapter 212 - 5: The Three Great Demon Kings

    In the core of the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, within the Demon Spirit Pce.


    "Useless, all useless." A huge gray leopard emitted an angry scold, its eyes full of rage, "The Demon Spirit Tomb is right before our eyes, and yet with so many of us in the Demon Spirit Pce, we are still helpless, forced to remain under the control of those despicable human traitors!"


    "Bao Ming, what¡¯s the use of you getting angry here?" Beside the gray leopard was a ck wolf covered in cold fur, who replied in a low voice, "In terms of various skills, we demon beasts have always been inferior to the human race.


    Even in battle and ughter, most of the time, we demon beasts rely on our physical bodies and bloodline talents, unlike the humans, who rely solely on their cultivation, with extraordinary skills and spells.


    It¡¯s only normal that we are powerless in breaking the seals."


    "The main issue is that these human traitors are too detestable, using the Demon Spirit Tomb to tightly control us, coercing us to help them deal with Lingxu Tower." The smallest figure on the scene, a red jackal, narrowed its eyes, "If Lingxu Tower finds out, it¡¯s us, the Demon Spirit Pce, who have been tripping them up in secret over these years, things could get really bad."


    "Yes, Lingxu Tower is not easy to provoke, and we certainly can¡¯t afford to provoke the Tower Master," Bao Ming said harshly, "If our underhanded actions get exposed, how can we withstand the wrath of the Tower Master?"


    The problem is not significant, the restrictions outside the Demon Spirit Tomb have already started to crumble.


    As long as we finish looting the treasure left by the Tiger King and split it, we can immediately abandon the Demon Spirit Pce.


    The world is vast, where can we not settle?


    By then, even if Lingxu Tower discovers that it was us, the Demon Spirit Pce, stirring things behind the scenes, where could they go to settle ounts with us?" the ck wolf said fiercely.


    "What the Wolf Pce said makes sense, why not just cooperate with them for a little longer?" the red jackal¡¯s eyes gleamed sinisterly, "There¡¯s amon saying among the humans, ¡¯A great man can bend and stretch.¡¯


    Right now, it¡¯s just a momentary irritation, for the sake of the Demon Spirit Tomb, we have endured for so long, what¡¯s the harm in enduring a little longer!"


    "Roar!" Bao Ming suppressed the rage in his heart and let out a deep growl twice.


    ...


    Dantai Qingrun¡¯s actions were as decisive as her personality. Thus, Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian really only had to wait for a moment before Dantai Qingrun folded back to them.


    As soon as Dantai Qingrun entered the room, she handed over a Jade Slip to Lu Qingshan.


    Actually, there was no need to look at the contents of the Jade Slip. Just by seeing Dantai Qingrun¡¯s increasingly cold gaze, Lu Qingshan had already confirmed that his suspicions must have been verified.


    Lu Qingshan took the Jade Slip from Dantai Qingrun¡¯s hand and explored it with his Divine Sense. Momentster, he looked up, deep in thought, "In the three disastrous encounters between Lingxu Tower and the Netherworld, in two of them, the three Great Demon Kings of the Demon Spirit Pce, Bao Ming, the Demon King, the Wolf Pce, and the Jackal Lile, all happened to have left the Demon Spirit Pce around those times."


    Before he began suspecting the Demon Spirit Pce, everything still seemed very normal.


    But once the Demon Spirit Pce was ced under suspicion, the information collected about it by the Lingxu Tower was full of obvious ws that became more problematic the more he looked.


    "The Netherworld using our blind spot in thinking, doing the exact opposite and choosing to work with the Demon Spirit Pce, indeed is very clever," Dantai Qingrun was not stingy in praising the enemy, "Our focus on the demon race has always been low, even within Lingxu Tower, this Jade Slip is the only piece of information about the Demon Spirit Pce, and nobody else takes these reports seriously."


    "And the Netherworld precisely used Lingxu Tower¡¯s neglect of the demon race, thus turning the situation on its head," Lu Qingshan said.


    @@novelbin@@


    Dantai Qingrun nodded and added, "The three Great Demon Kings of the Demon Spirit Pce, Bao Ming, Wolf Pce, and Jackal Lile, are all Fourth Grade Realm demon beasts with extraordinarybat powers, and we also have the Netherworld among them, which is equally powerful.


    "The strongest cultivator in our Lingxu Tower is only at the mid-stage of Nascent Soul, firmly not a match for the Demon Spirit Pce, not to mention, it¡¯s uncertain how focused the Tower Master of Lingxu Tower is on eliminating the Netherworld."


    "It seems that you need to report this matter to the main tower so that they can dispatch a Great Cultivator to assist," Lu Qingshan analyzed.


    "But if there is no more concrete evidence, just a deduction made based on this intelligence, it would be difficult for the Great Cultivator of the main tower to set out immediately ande to Lingxu Tower," Dantai Qingrun frowned.


    The Guardian Tower is an extremely secretive force, and its cultivators, besides being members of the Guardian Tower, often have multiple other roles, such as Dantai Qingrun, who is also the heir to the Dantai Family Head.


    Moreover, a Great Cultivator holds a very esteemed status, naturally making it impossible to rashly mobilize a Great Cultivator based merely on Dantai Qingrun¡¯s spection without any substantial evidence.


    Lu Qingshan understood this reasoning as well and said nonchntly, "If there¡¯s no evidence, then we¡¯ll have to find some."


    The emergence of the Demon Spirit Tomb was approaching soon, and thus, Lu Qingshan did not wish to dy any longer, hoping to persuade the Qing State main tower to dispatch a Great Cultivator for reinforcement as soon as possible.


    If it were possible to resolve the Netherworld and seal the Demon Spirit Tomb before its emergence, he could enter the tomb early, just like in the previous cycle with the Netherworld.


    In doing so, his chances of obtaining the Immortal Codex within the tomb would undoubtedly be much higher.


    Discover hidden stories at empire


    His first subtask in advancing his Golden Core involved learning a Golden Core Technique of no less quality than that of the Heaven Rank.


    The Immortal Codex hidden within the Demon Spirit Tomb held the highest grade of techniques he could possibly acquire in Qing State at the time.


    A good Cultivation Technique could bring obvious benefits to a cultivator, and the Returning Ruins Scripture was a fine testament to this.


    Thus, he still hoped to do his best to secure this codex.


    "How do you n to find evidence?" Dantai Qingrun asked.


    "I¡¯ll just take a trip around the Demon Spirit Mountain Range," Lu Qingshan said lightly.


    "The coboration between the Demon Spirit Pce and the Netherworld must be extremely secretive; even if you visit the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, what could you possibly achieve?" Dantai Qingrun asked, puzzled, waiting for Lu Qingshan¡¯s exnation.


    She knew that Lu Qingshan must have had some confidence to speak in such a manner.


    She just couldn¡¯t figure out where Lu Qingshan¡¯s confidence came from.


    Lu Qingshan assuredly said, "The Demon Spirit Pce wouldn¡¯t collude with the Netherworld for no reason; the Netherworld must have offered something irresistible, making the Demon Spirit Pce choose to cooperate with the Netherworld to target Lingxu Tower.


    And over these years, the biggest action of the Demon Spirit Pce has been to seal off the Demon Spirit Mountain Range."


    "Connecting the action of sealing off the Demon Spirit Mountain Range and the conditions that the Demon Spirit Pce couldn¡¯t refuse, Dantai Tower Master, have you thought of something?" Lu Qingshan led persuasively.


    "...It¡¯s the Demon Spirit Tomb!" Dantai Qingrun realized.


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "Exactly, this matter likely has a nine out of ten chance of being rted to the Demon Spirit Tomb; if we can find the Demon Spirit Tomb, finding evidence would clearly not be difficult."


    Dantai Qingrun nodded in agreement with what Lu Qingshan said but immediately countered coldly, "No, you can¡¯t go; the Demon Spirit Mountain Range is so vast, and if you just barge in, you are likely toe up empty-handed, not to mention even if you do find it, the vicinity of the Demon Spirit Tomb is bound to be manned by people from both the Netherworld and Demon Spirit Pce; how could your Foundation Establishment Cultivation guarantee your life?"


    "I appreciate your concern, Dantai Tower Master," Lu Qingshan dismissed lightly, "But if I dare to enter the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, naturally, I have some confidence, whether it be for preserving my life or other reasons."


    Lu Qingshan left one thing unsaid; not only was he certain about the terms of cooperation between the Netherworld and Demon Spirit Pce, but he also knew the approximate location of the Demon Spirit Tomb.

 Chapter 213 - 6 Xiaoxiao the Mouse Demon (Part 1)

    After a brief silence, Dantai Qingrun, who had begun to adapt to Lu Qingshan¡¯s way of acting, did not try to dissuade Lu Qingshan anymore.


    Since he said he was confident, then he must be confident.


    Dantai Qingrun thought to himself, and after pondering for a while, finally, as if nonchntly, he reminded, "However confident you are, there¡¯s always the risk of capsizing in the gutter; be careful on your own."


    "I understand that principle," Lu Qingshan nodded.


    When ites to experiences of capsizing in the gutter, who could surpass a yer who is not happy unless taking risks?


    ...


    Outside Lingxu City.


    Zheng!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword surged out from Lu Qingshan¡¯s dantian and hovered in front of him.


    Lu Qingshan leaped up and, with Sword Control, headed straight for the Demon Spirit Mountain Range.


    Qin Yitian transformed into a streak of red light, following by Lu Qingshan¡¯s side, breaking through the sky as well.


    After elevating the Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique to an extremely high level and with the addition of the Taoist Artifact, Lu Qingshan¡¯s ultimate speed in Sword Control had already broken the sound barrier.


    Of course, the consumption of Spiritual Power under maximum speed Sword Control was still too great, so during travel, Lu Qingshan maintained only about eighty percent of the speed of sound.


    Even so, such a speed of escape was still incredibly fast, so in just half a day¡¯s time, a vast, unending range of mountains came into Lu Qingshan¡¯s view.


    This massive primitive mountain range, nearly the size of a province, was the location of the Demon Spirit Pce¡ªthe Demon Spirit Mountain Range.


    Such a vast mountain range, teeming with demon beasts, and located right at the intersection of three provinces, thus even Zhishou Tower found it beyond reach to know much about the Demon Spirit Pce.


    Continue reading stories on empire


    In reality, the information about the Demon Spirit Pce stored in Lingxu Tower was not collected by Lingxu Tower itself but rather the clues discovered when the guardians using the Heavenly Secret Mirror conducted their inspections.


    It¡¯s no wonder Dantai Qingrun praised the Netherworld¡¯s exceptional methods, repeatedly finding the vulnerabilities of the Zhishou Tower.


    The Human Race¡¯s territories are boundless, but the regions actually upied by Great Xia only ount for a very small part, so in terms of numbers, there are far more demon beasts than Human Cultivators.


    Fortunately, demon beasts usually keep to themselves, rarely forming powers, and they also do not easily attack human cities, at least in this respect, demon beasts are not considered enemies of the Human Race.


    The rtionship between humans and the Demon n has always been in a very bizarre state of harmony.


    If Human Cultivators venture into demon beast territories, the savage beasts will certainly not let humans off easily, and humans also often hunt demon beasts in the wilderness to obtain resources, but most of the time, both parties do not provoke each other.


    Gengjin Tiger King, under his rule, had ravaged the Qing State for a thousand years, but he wisely only targeted the numerous sect powers and never dared to challenge the baseline of Great Xia by attacking cities established by Great Xia.


    Aside from the Demon Race, nobody dares to provoke the existence of Great Xia.


    And after the death of Gengjin Tiger King, the remnants of the Demon Spirit Pce became much more cautious and quiet and have been hiding in the Demon Spirit Mountain Range for years, rarely venturing out.


    ...


    Entering the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, Lu Qingshan slightly lowered his altitude, not daring to show off in the high skies.


    He released his Divine Sense, scanning the surroundings to avoid the demon beasts in the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, while his body swiftly maneuvered through the trees, rushing towards the location of the Demon Spirit Tomb based on his memory.


    Half a dayter.


    When he was still a distance from the Demon Spirit Tomb, Lu Qingshan suddenly stopped.


    The area where the Demon Spirit Tomb was located was sure to be upied by people from both the Netherworld and the Demon Spirit Pce; he did not dare to get too close.


    Given the recent increase in the death toll within the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, once discovered, being a Human Cultivator, he would probably be inescapable doom.


    However, although Lu Qingshan did not dare to approach the Demon Spirit Tomb rashly, the great western rat king had this capability.


    Lu Qingshan lightly patted the Spirit Beast Bag, summoning forth the Gengjin Tiger King.


    As soon as the Gengjin Tiger King appeared, Lu Qingshan immediately threw a water-blue Spiritual Pearl to him.


    Knowing full well the nature of the Gengjin Tiger King, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point, "This is a Shadow-capturing Pearl, a magic artifact. Follow my instructions andplete a task for me. Once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll give you a Demon n Cultivation Technique in exchange. How about it?"


    The Gengjin Tiger King had long wanted to practice cultivation, but it was only now that Lu Qingshan had found a suitable Demon Cultivation Technique. He was certain that, uponpletion of the task, the Gengjin Tiger King would not becking in Demon Cultivation Techniques.


    Eagerly taking the Shadow-capturing Pearl, the Gengjin Tiger King quickly nodded and, pounding his chest with a righteous air, dered, "Demon n Cultivation Technique or not, it doesn¡¯t matter. What¡¯s important is that I, Lord Rat, want to help you, brother!"


    As for Lu Qingshan, since he had made a promise, he would definitely keep his word.


    Knowing Lu Qingshan¡¯s character well, the Gengjin Tiger King boldly feigned importance without any reservations.


    Lu Qingshan, ignoring the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s pretentious behavior, carefully went over the mission details once more with him.


    "Got all that?"


    "Don¡¯t worry, no problem. Leave it to Lord Rat!" the Gengjin Tiger King confidently dered.


    The next moment, ayer of radiance shimmered across the silver-gray fur of the Gengjin Tiger King, and his presence vanished instantly. Despite being right before his eyes, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Divine Sense swept over the area and could not detect the slightest trace of the Gengjin Tiger King.


    This was his Sneaky Talent, a top-tier natural ability from his Sixth Grade phantom rat bloodline, and also the reason why Lu Qingshan was confident in obtaining proof.


    Thoughcking in offensive capabilities, the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s extraordinary abilities had always been quite remarkable.


    Be it his ability to hide and stalk or his sensory abilities, all were far superior to those of a Second Grade Demon Beast. Moreover, he was endowed with what Lu Qingshan considered an extremely against-the-odds stroke of luck.


    And for a Sword Cultivator, no matter what wascking, it was never damaging capabilities, hence creatures like the Gengjin Tiger King, that served as aides, were always among the favorites for Sword Cultivators.


    ...


    Carefully, the Gengjin Tiger King navigated through the Demon Spirit Mountains, sprinting swiftly in the direction Lu Qingshan had specified, moving quickly yetpletely silently.


    ~Inhale~


    Suddenly, the Gengjin Tiger King held his breath, because he sensed dozens of terrifying presences emanating from not far ahead.


    "Oh my god!" the Gengjin Tiger King cursed inwardly. Although Lu Qingshan had warned him earlier that strong opponents would be plentiful in this area, he hadn¡¯t expected it to be so frightening.


    "The ardor of Lord Rat is as fierce as a wolf, and with a fiery heart, I thump my chest¡­" the Gengjin Tiger King muttered under his breath, psyching himself up.


    Finally, after hesitating for a moment, the Gengjin Tiger King clenched his teeth, gathered his courage, and stealthily made his way toward the source of the presences, being more cautious than ever.


    The trees ahead began to thin out, revealing a small valley in the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s view.


    He carefully observed his surroundings, climbed arge ancient tree nearby, and hid among its dense branches and leaves, overlooking the valley.


    The valley wasn¡¯trge, and everything within it could be seen at a nce, but at that moment, it was dotted with over a dozen fierce birds and strange beasts, each looking incredibly ferocious.


    There was a spider with eight legs, its body golden yellow and as thick as tree trunks, covered with icy sharp spines, lying quietly on the ground, itspound eyes seemingly observing something.


    There was also an exceedinglyrge brute ox, its body covered in ck scales, with a sharp, pointed horn growing from its forehead, constantly emitting a deep breath.


    The Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s eyes scanned slowly over these terrifying demon beasts, and suddenly his gaze froze.


    Among theserge demon beasts, he spotted a ck rat about his own size, with non-threatening looks and soft, even cute, fur.


    Yet, this small rat was emanating a chilling presence, dominating arge area all to itself.


    The Gengjin Tiger King swallowed enviously.


    After observing all the demon beasts, the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    @@novelbin@@


    Because in the middle of the valley, he saw an unbelievable scene.

 Chapter 214 - 7 Xiaoxiao the Mouse Demon (Part 2)

    In the valley, there was an ancient gate, illusory and ephemeral, appearing and disappearing intermittently.


    Above the gate, a modest gray light flickered, carrying the aura of ages, making it look exceptionally extraordinary.


    In front of this ethereal gate stood dozens of Human Cultivators dressed in ck robes.


    Each cultivator held an Array te in their hands, from which Spiritual Light continuously shot out, merging into the asionally visible gate.


    Under the influence of these lights, one could distinctly feel the gray light above the gate being gradually erased, and the gate¡¯s physical form solidifying.


    These cultivators must be the Underworld Cultivators Lu Qingshan had mentioned.


    @@novelbin@@


    Rat Tyrant secretly pondered, decided not to think further. Following Lu Qingshan¡¯s instructions, he took out the Shadow Pearl and quietly recorded the scene before him.


    A momentter, Rat Tyrant put away the Shadow Pearl, satisfied, and prepared to leave the area.


    It was at this moment that some disturbance urred in the valley, causing Rat Tyrant to pause.


    With his keen perception, he suddenly sensed, in just an instant, a faint yet unusual aura fluctuate from one of the ck-robed cultivators and then vanish.


    Rat Tyrant wasn¡¯t sure whether it was his illusion or a real fluctuation of aura.


    But the next moment, Rat Tyrant understood.


    Because that ck-robed cultivator just coincidentally stopped what he was doing and after seemingly speaking with some Demon Beasts entrenched in the valley, he left the valley.


    "There must be something fishy!" Rat Tyrant sensed the hint, but hesitated, "Should I follow and see what¡¯s actually happening?"


    After a brief hesitation, Rat Tyrant couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity.


    "As long as I¡¯m careful, I shouldn¡¯t be detected..." Rat Tyrant reassured himself in his mind as he began to move.


    He leapt down from the ancient tree where he was hiding, transformed into a gray shadow, and nervously trailed behind the ck-robed cultivator.


    What Rat Tyrant didn¡¯t know was that just after he began following the ck-robed cultivator, a ck Rat in the valley, originally closed off in meditation, suddenly opened its eyes and intently watched the direction Rat Tyrant had left, its nostrils twitching.


    "Is this the aura of my Demon Rat lineage?"


    The ck Rat was of the ore-eating variety, skilled in Earth Escape Technique, which enabled it to evolve by consuming metal ores and absorbing their energy, making it a rare rat demon lineage.


    Besides having the ability to devour metal ores, ore-eating rats also possessed the skill to detect ore veins, reliant on their innate strong sense of smell and the ability to sense metallic minerals.


    Just now, in the instant that Rat Tyrant passed by, it had caught a scent unique to the Demon Rat lineage."How could there suddenly appear the scent of a strange Demon Rat in this forbidden ce, after our stringent checks by the Demon Spirit Pce and those humans?" ck Rat was puzzled but didn¡¯t directly report his discovery to others. Instead, he found an excuse and followed the faint scent lingering in the air.


    Rat Tyrant followed the ck-robed cultivator for a considerable distance, all the way to the backside of the valley.


    He scanned the barren rock face before him, puzzled. The rock face was covered with dense scratches as though it had been marked with tools.


    Beyond that, everything seemed normal, with no anomalies.


    "Where has the person gone?"


    Concerned about being discovered, Rat Tyrant had always maintained arge distance from the ck-robed cultivator, relying solely on his exceptional perceptive ability to hang far back.


    However, the aura of the ck-robed cultivator had oddly disappeared at this spot.


    "Eh?" Rat Tyrant scratched his head, "Did I lose him?"


    Thump!


    A muffled sound suddenly rang out.


    Rat Tyrant hadn¡¯t reacted before he felt a massive force restrain him and, together with him turned into a gray shadow, quickly merged into a nearby rock to hide.


    And in the next moment, the in rock surface suddenly flickered with rippling waves, and a purple circle of light slowly spread out.


    Rat Tyrant¡¯s eyes widened.


    This scene was one he had seen before, very familiar!


    It was exactly like the scene when the Void Demonsunched their spatial transport ability!


    Soon after, the ck-robed cultivator he had just lost, along with dozens of unfamiliar Human Cultivators, emerged from that purple circle of light.


    At the same time, a fierce aura of ughter burst from the purple circle, etching dozens of shallow marks on the rock face.


    Even the Western Rat King could catch glimpses of the interior of the light circle, a dark and gloomy hall adorned with several jade pirs, each engraved with many ancient characters of the Demon n.


    "What¡¯s the situation?" the cultivator in a ck robe retracted the purple-glowing orb in his hand, and the purple light circle on the Shi Bi also vanished.


    "We¡¯ve found the tomb chamber of the Gengjin Tiger King, but outside it are severalyers of strong prohibitions blocking us. We need more time to break through," replied one of the purple-robed cultivators stepping forward.


    "Speed up the process. We can¡¯t hold them off much longer. At most, we can buy you half a month to a month¡¯s time.


    If it drags on, even the brainless beasts of the Demon Spirit Pce will start suspecting something," the ck-robed cultivator said sternly.


    "The aura of ughter emitted by the Gengjin Tiger King is too strong, affecting our Divine Souls greatly. We need to leave the tomb periodically, or we¡¯ll lose our minds.


    Because of this, our progress has been severely slowed; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have taken this long," exined the purple-robed cultivator.


    Looking around, one could see that all of the Human Cultivators present had eyes that were blood-red, which was extremely eerie!


    ...


    At this moment, the Western Rat King had no interest in paying more attention to these Netherworld Cultivators but struggled to turn its head within the rocks, wanting to see what exactly had captured it.


    With just a turn of the head, the Western Rat King was terrified out of its wits.


    It was the ck rat demon from the valley!


    The rat demon gestured for silence to the Western Rat King.


    The Western Rat King cooperated knowingly.


    Time dragged on slowly, and for the Western Rat King, each minute and each second felt like torture.


    Finally, after another half day had passed,


    When the blood-red hue in the eyes of the purple-robed cultivators had entirely faded and rity was restored, the ck-robed cultivator retrieved the purple Spiritual Pearl and performed a hand seal. Instantly, a beam of Spiritual Light shot from the pearl, merging into the Shi Bi, followed by a purple light circle that slowly dispersed.


    "There isn¡¯t much time left. Complete the task as soon as possible!" the ck-robed cultivator said in a dark tone.


    "Understood!" the purple-robed cultivators responded softly, then one by one, they entered the hall inside the light circle.


    After thest person had entered the hall within the light circle, the ck-robed cultivator put away the Spiritual Pearl, transformed into a streak of Radiance, and vanished in front of the Shi Bi.


    Momentster.


    Kerplunk!


    Two rat demons squeezed out from within the rocks.


    Lu Qingshan, it seems I might have to make a heroic sacrifice for you; what will you give me in return for what you owe me?


    The Western Rat King looked helplessly at the ck Rat, not understanding how it had been discovered, and felt very anxious.


    There was an unreadable expression in the eyes of the ck Rat, who eyed the Western Rat King suspiciously, "What breed of rat demon are you? And why do I have the feeling I¡¯ve never seen you in the Demon Spirit Mountains before?"


    The heart of the Western Rat King, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.


    Skilled in discerning speech and behavior, it immediately saw that the ck Rat had no ill intentions from the tone and content of its questions.


    "I¡¯m not quite sure¡­" the Western Rat King envisioned, shivering as it spoke: "I¡¯ve also never seen the Rat King before this in the Demon Spirit Mountains..."


    The ck Rat thought for a moment. Seeing the Western Rat King trembling, it reached out to rub the tuft of red mane on its head, soothingly said, "Don¡¯t be afraid, I am Rat Tyrant, the strongest among the rat demons of the Demon Spirit Mountains.


    Our n of rat demons is always at a disadvantage, at the bottom of the demon hierarchy, and greatly in need of mutual support.


    Therefore, after I advanced to Third Grade, being the strongest among our n, I¡¯ve always been protecting the weaker members.


    While I¡¯m still not sure of exactly what species of rat demon you are, since you belong to our lineage, you are also my kin. Continue your saga on empire


    I see you possess some peculiar traits, not like amon creature; thus, from now on, stay by my side, who knows, maybe I can cultivate a Third Grade demon beast for our rat demon lineage."


    <>"Squeak, squeak, squeak," the Western Rat King responded weakly and helplessly, not daring to contradict.


    Rat Tyrant nodded satisfactorily.


    "Those Human Cultivators from earlier, what¡¯s their story?" Resigned to its fate, the Western Rat King, changing its thoughts, immediately pointed to the spot where the Netherworld Cultivators had vanished, asking innocently.


    Rat Tyrant¡¯s voice sank, "It seems you might be my lucky star. Had I not smelled your scent just now and followed along, I certainly wouldn¡¯t have discovered this tremendous secret."

 Chapter 6 Xiaoxiao the Mouse Demon (Part 1)

    After a brief silence, Dantai Qingrun, who had begun to adapt to Lu Qingshan''s way of acting, did not try to dissuade Lu Qingshan anymore.


    Since he said he was confident, then he must be confident.


    Dantai Qingrun thought to himself, and after pondering for a while, finally, as if nonchntly, he reminded, "However confident you are, there''s always the risk of capsizing in the gutter; be careful on your own."


    "I understand that principle," Lu Qingshan nodded.


    When ites to experiences of capsizing in the gutter, who could surpass a yer who is not happy unless taking risks?


    ...


    Outside Lingxu City.


    Zheng!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword surged out from Lu Qingshan''s dantian and hovered in front of him.


    Lu Qingshan leaped up and, with Sword Control, headed straight for the Demon Spirit Mountain Range.


    Qin Yitian transformed into a streak of red light, following by Lu Qingshan''s side, breaking through the sky as well.


    After elevating the Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique to an extremely high level and with the addition of the Taoist Artifact, Lu Qingshan''s ultimate speed in Sword Control had already broken the sound barrier.


    Of course, the consumption of Spiritual Power under maximum speed Sword Control was still too great, so during travel, Lu Qingshan maintained only about eighty percent of the speed of sound.


    Even so, such a speed of escape was still incredibly fast, so in just half a day''s time, a vast, unending range of mountains came into Lu Qingshan''s view.


    This massive primitive mountain range, nearly the size of a province, was the location of the Demon Spirit Pce¡ªthe Demon Spirit Mountain Range.


    Such a vast mountain range, teeming with demon beasts, and located right at the intersection of three provinces, thus even Zhishou Tower found it beyond reach to know much about the Demon Spirit Pce.


    Continue reading stories on empire


    In reality, the information about the Demon Spirit Pce stored in Lingxu Tower was not collected by Lingxu Tower itself but rather the clues discovered when the guardians using the Heavenly Secret Mirror conducted their inspections.


    It''s no wonder Dantai Qingrun praised the Netherworld''s exceptional methods, repeatedly finding the vulnerabilities of the Zhishou Tower.


    The Human Race''s territories are boundless, but the regions actually upied by Great Xia only ount for a very small part, so in terms of numbers, there are far more demon beasts than Human Cultivators.


    Fortunately, demon beasts usually keep to themselves, rarely forming powers, and they also do not easily attack human cities, at least in this respect, demon beasts are not considered enemies of the Human Race.


    The rtionship between humans and the Demon n has always been in a very bizarre state of harmony.


    If Human Cultivators venture into demon beast territories, the savage beasts will certainly not let humans off easily, and humans also often hunt demon beasts in the wilderness to obtain resources, but most of the time, both parties do not provoke each other.


    Gengjin Tiger King, under his rule, had ravaged the Qing State for a thousand years, but he wisely only targeted the numerous sect powers and never dared to challenge the baseline of Great Xia by attacking cities established by Great Xia.


    Aside from the Demon Race, nobody dares to provoke the existence of Great Xia.


    And after the death of Gengjin Tiger King, the remnants of the Demon Spirit Pce became much more cautious and quiet and have been hiding in the Demon Spirit Mountain Range for years, rarely venturing out.


    ...


    Entering the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, Lu Qingshan slightly lowered his altitude, not daring to show off in the high skies.


    He released his Divine Sense, scanning the surroundings to avoid the demon beasts in the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, while his body swiftly maneuvered through the trees, rushing towards the location of the Demon Spirit Tomb based on his memory.


    Half a dayter.


    When he was still a distance from the Demon Spirit Tomb, Lu Qingshan suddenly stopped.


    The area where the Demon Spirit Tomb was located was sure to be upied by people from both the Netherworld and the Demon Spirit Pce; he did not dare to get too close.


    Given the recent increase in the death toll within the Demon Spirit Mountain Range, once discovered, being a Human Cultivator, he would probably be inescapable doom.


    However, although Lu Qingshan did not dare to approach the Demon Spirit Tomb rashly, the great western rat king had this capability.


    Lu Qingshan lightly patted the Spirit Beast Bag, summoning forth the Gengjin Tiger King.


    As soon as the Gengjin Tiger King appeared, Lu Qingshan immediately threw a water-blue Spiritual Pearl to him.


    Knowing full well the nature of the Gengjin Tiger King, Lu Qingshan didn''t bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point, "This is a Shadow-capturing Pearl, a magic artifact. Follow my instructions andplete a task for me. Once it''s done, I''ll give you a Demon n Cultivation Technique in exchange. How about it?"


    The Gengjin Tiger King had long wanted to practice cultivation, but it was only now that Lu Qingshan had found a suitable Demon Cultivation Technique. He was certain that, uponpletion of the task, the Gengjin Tiger King would not becking in Demon Cultivation Techniques.


    Eagerly taking the Shadow-capturing Pearl, the Gengjin Tiger King quickly nodded and, pounding his chest with a righteous air, dered, "Demon n Cultivation Technique or not, it doesn''t matter. What''s important is that I, Lord Rat, want to help you, brother!"


    As for Lu Qingshan, since he had made a promise, he would definitely keep his word.


    Knowing Lu Qingshan''s character well, the Gengjin Tiger King boldly feigned importance without any reservations.


    Lu Qingshan, ignoring the Gengjin Tiger King''s pretentious behavior, carefully went over the mission details once more with him.


    "Got all that?"


    "Don''t worry, no problem. Leave it to Lord Rat!" the Gengjin Tiger King confidently dered.


    The next moment, ayer of radiance shimmered across the silver-gray fur of the Gengjin Tiger King, and his presence vanished instantly. Despite being right before his eyes, Lu Qingshan''s Divine Sense swept over the area and could not detect the slightest trace of the Gengjin Tiger King.


    This was his Sneaky Talent, a top-tier natural ability from his Sixth Grade phantom rat bloodline, and also the reason why Lu Qingshan was confident in obtaining proof.


    Thoughcking in offensive capabilities, the Gengjin Tiger King''s extraordinary abilities had always been quite remarkable.


    Be it his ability to hide and stalk or his sensory abilities, all were far superior to those of a Second Grade Demon Beast. Moreover, he was endowed with what Lu Qingshan considered an extremely against-the-odds stroke of luck.


    And for a Sword Cultivator, no matter what wascking, it was never damaging capabilities, hence creatures like the Gengjin Tiger King, that served as aides, were always among the favorites for Sword Cultivators.


    ...


    Carefully, the Gengjin Tiger King navigated through the Demon Spirit Mountains, sprinting swiftly in the direction Lu Qingshan had specified, moving quickly yetpletely silently.


    ~Inhale~


    Suddenly, the Gengjin Tiger King held his breath, because he sensed dozens of terrifying presences emanating from not far ahead.


    "Oh my god!" the Gengjin Tiger King cursed inwardly. Although Lu Qingshan had warned him earlier that strong opponents would be plentiful in this area, he hadn''t expected it to be so frightening.


    "The ardor of Lord Rat is as fierce as a wolf, and with a fiery heart, I thump my chest¡­" the Gengjin Tiger King muttered under his breath, psyching himself up.


    Finally, after hesitating for a moment, the Gengjin Tiger King clenched his teeth, gathered his courage, and stealthily made his way toward the source of the presences, being more cautious than ever.


    The trees ahead began to thin out, revealing a small valley in the Gengjin Tiger King''s view.


    He carefully observed his surroundings, climbed arge ancient tree nearby, and hid among its dense branches and leaves, overlooking the valley.


    The valley wasn''trge, and everything within it could be seen at a nce, but at that moment, it was dotted with over a dozen fierce birds and strange beasts, each looking incredibly ferocious.


    There was a spider with eight legs, its body golden yellow and as thick as tree trunks, covered with icy sharp spines, lying quietly on the ground, itspound eyes seemingly observing something.


    There was also an exceedinglyrge brute ox, its body covered in ck scales, with a sharp, pointed horn growing from its forehead, constantly emitting a deep breath.


    The Gengjin Tiger King''s eyes scanned slowly over these terrifying demon beasts, and suddenly his gaze froze.


    Among theserge demon beasts, he spotted a ck rat about his own size, with non-threatening looks and soft, even cute, fur.


    Yet, this small rat was emanating a chilling presence, dominating arge area all to itself.@@novelbin@@


    The Gengjin Tiger King swallowed enviously.


    After observing all the demon beasts, the Gengjin Tiger King''s gaze sharpened.


    Because in the middle of the valley, he saw an unbelievable scene.

 Chapter 7 Xiaoxiao the Mouse Demon (Part 2)

    In the valley, there was an ancient gate, illusory and ephemeral, appearing and disappearing intermittently.


    Above the gate, a modest gray light flickered, carrying the aura of ages, making it look exceptionally extraordinary.


    In front of this ethereal gate stood dozens of Human Cultivators dressed in ck robes.


    Each cultivator held an Array te in their hands, from which Spiritual Light continuously shot out, merging into the asionally visible gate.


    Under the influence of these lights, one could distinctly feel the gray light above the gate being gradually erased, and the gate''s physical form solidifying.


    These cultivators must be the Underworld Cultivators Lu Qingshan had mentioned.


    Rat Tyrant secretly pondered, decided not to think further. Following Lu Qingshan''s instructions, he took out the Shadow Pearl and quietly recorded the scene before him.


    A momentter, Rat Tyrant put away the Shadow Pearl, satisfied, and prepared to leave the area.


    It was at this moment that some disturbance urred in the valley, causing Rat Tyrant to pause.


    With his keen perception, he suddenly sensed, in just an instant, a faint yet unusual aura fluctuate from one of the ck-robed cultivators and then vanish.


    Rat Tyrant wasn''t sure whether it was his illusion or a real fluctuation of aura.


    But the next moment, Rat Tyrant understood.


    Because that ck-robed cultivator just coincidentally stopped what he was doing and after seemingly speaking with some Demon Beasts entrenched in the valley, he left the valley.


    "There must be something fishy!" Rat Tyrant sensed the hint, but hesitated, "Should I follow and see what''s actually happening?"


    After a brief hesitation, Rat Tyrant couldn''t contain his curiosity.


    "As long as I''m careful, I shouldn''t be detected..." Rat Tyrant reassured himself in his mind as he began to move.


    He leapt down from the ancient tree where he was hiding, transformed into a gray shadow, and nervously trailed behind the ck-robed cultivator.


    What Rat Tyrant didn''t know was that just after he began following the ck-robed cultivator, a ck Rat in the valley, originally closed off in meditation, suddenly opened its eyes and intently watched the direction Rat Tyrant had left, its nostrils twitching.


    "Is this the aura of my Demon Rat lineage?"


    The ck Rat was of the ore-eating variety, skilled in Earth Escape Technique, which enabled it to evolve by consuming metal ores and absorbing their energy, making it a rare rat demon lineage.


    Besides having the ability to devour metal ores, ore-eating rats also possessed the skill to detect ore veins, reliant on their innate strong sense of smell and the ability to sense metallic minerals.


    Just now, in the instant that Rat Tyrant passed by, it had caught a scent unique to the Demon Rat lineage."How could there suddenly appear the scent of a strange Demon Rat in this forbidden ce, after our stringent checks by the Demon Spirit Pce and those humans?" ck Rat was puzzled but didn''t directly report his discovery to others. Instead, he found an excuse and followed the faint scent lingering in the air.


    Rat Tyrant followed the ck-robed cultivator for a considerable distance, all the way to the backside of the valley.


    He scanned the barren rock face before him, puzzled. The rock face was covered with dense scratches as though it had been marked with tools.


    Beyond that, everything seemed normal, with no anomalies.


    "Where has the person gone?"


    Concerned about being discovered, Rat Tyrant had always maintained arge distance from the ck-robed cultivator, relying solely on his exceptional perceptive ability to hang far back.


    However, the aura of the ck-robed cultivator had oddly disappeared at this spot.


    "Eh?" Rat Tyrant scratched his head, "Did I lose him?"


    Thump!


    A muffled sound suddenly rang out.


    Rat Tyrant hadn''t reacted before he felt a massive force restrain him and, together with him turned into a gray shadow, quickly merged into a nearby rock to hide.


    And in the next moment, the in rock surface suddenly flickered with rippling waves, and a purple circle of light slowly spread out.


    Rat Tyrant''s eyes widened.


    This scene was one he had seen before, very familiar!


    It was exactly like the scene when the Void Demonsunched their spatial transport ability!


    Soon after, the ck-robed cultivator he had just lost, along with dozens of unfamiliar Human Cultivators, emerged from that purple circle of light.


    At the same time, a fierce aura of ughter burst from the purple circle, etching dozens of shallow marks on the rock face.


    Even the Western Rat King could catch glimpses of the interior of the light circle, a dark and gloomy hall adorned with several jade pirs, each engraved with many ancient characters of the Demon n.


    "What''s the situation?" the cultivator in a ck robe retracted the purple-glowing orb in his hand, and the purple light circle on the Shi Bi also vanished.


    "We''ve found the tomb chamber of the Gengjin Tiger King, but outside it are severalyers of strong prohibitions blocking us. We need more time to break through," replied one of the purple-robed cultivators stepping forward.


    "Speed up the process. We can''t hold them off much longer. At most, we can buy you half a month to a month''s time.


    If it drags on, even the brainless beasts of the Demon Spirit Pce will start suspecting something," the ck-robed cultivator said sternly.


    "The aura of ughter emitted by the Gengjin Tiger King is too strong, affecting our Divine Souls greatly. We need to leave the tomb periodically, or we''ll lose our minds.


    Because of this, our progress has been severely slowed; otherwise, it wouldn''t have taken this long," exined the purple-robed cultivator.


    Looking around, one could see that all of the Human Cultivators present had eyes that were blood-red, which was extremely eerie!


    ...


    At this moment, the Western Rat King had no interest in paying more attention to these Netherworld Cultivators but struggled to turn its head within the rocks, wanting to see what exactly had captured it.


    With just a turn of the head, the Western Rat King was terrified out of its wits.


    It was the ck rat demon from the valley!


    The rat demon gestured for silence to the Western Rat King.


    The Western Rat King cooperated knowingly.


    Time dragged on slowly, and for the Western Rat King, each minute and each second felt like torture.


    Finally, after another half day had passed,


    When the blood-red hue in the eyes of the purple-robed cultivators had entirely faded and rity was restored, the ck-robed cultivator retrieved the purple Spiritual Pearl and performed a hand seal. Instantly, a beam of Spiritual Light shot from the pearl, merging into the Shi Bi, followed by a purple light circle that slowly dispersed.


    "There isn''t much time left. Complete the task as soon as possible!" the ck-robed cultivator said in a dark tone.


    "Understood!" the purple-robed cultivators responded softly, then one by one, they entered the hall inside the light circle.


    After thest person had entered the hall within the light circle, the ck-robed cultivator put away the Spiritual Pearl, transformed into a streak of Radiance, and vanished in front of the Shi Bi.


    Momentster.


    Kerplunk!


    Two rat demons squeezed out from within the rocks.


    Lu Qingshan, it seems I might have to make a heroic sacrifice for you; what will you give me in return for what you owe me?


    The Western Rat King looked helplessly at the ck Rat, not understanding how it had been discovered, and felt very anxious.


    There was an unreadable expression in the eyes of the ck Rat, who eyed the Western Rat King suspiciously, "What breed of rat demon are you? And why do I have the feeling I''ve never seen you in the Demon Spirit Mountains before?"


    The heart of the Western Rat King, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.


    Skilled in discerning speech and behavior, it immediately saw that the ck Rat had no ill intentions from the tone and content of its questions.


    "I''m not quite sure¡­" the Western Rat King envisioned, shivering as it spoke: "I''ve also never seen the Rat King before this in the Demon Spirit Mountains..."


    The ck Rat thought for a moment. Seeing the Western Rat King trembling, it reached out to rub the tuft of red mane on its head, soothingly said, "Don''t be afraid, I am Rat Tyrant, the strongest among the rat demons of the Demon Spirit Mountains.


    Our n of rat demons is always at a disadvantage, at the bottom of the demon hierarchy, and greatly in need of mutual support.


    Therefore, after I advanced to Third Grade, being the strongest among our n, I''ve always been protecting the weaker members.@@novelbin@@


    While I''m still not sure of exactly what species of rat demon you are, since you belong to our lineage, you are also my kin. Continue your saga on empire


    I see you possess some peculiar traits, not like amon creature; thus, from now on, stay by my side, who knows, maybe I can cultivate a Third Grade demon beast for our rat demon lineage."


    <>"Squeak, squeak, squeak," the Western Rat King responded weakly and helplessly, not daring to contradict.


    Rat Tyrant nodded satisfactorily.


    "Those Human Cultivators from earlier, what''s their story?" Resigned to its fate, the Western Rat King, changing its thoughts, immediately pointed to the spot where the Netherworld Cultivators had vanished, asking innocently.


    Rat Tyrant''s voice sank, "It seems you might be my lucky star. Had I not smelled your scent just now and followed along, I certainly wouldn''t have discovered this tremendous secret."

 Chapter 12 The Shattered Infant (Part 1)

    The three Great Demon Kings looked in the direction from which the sound hade and in the next instant, their bodies went cold as hair stood on end.


    A cultivator, his body flickering with thunder and lightning, was suspended in the air and heading straight towards them.


    In his left hand, numerous tiny thunder serpents slithered, distorting the space around them, a testament to their power.


    "A dog-eat-dog fight is indeed a spectacle," Beiming True Venerable said with disdain as he looked down upon Li Venerable, whoy on the ground, "But if a dog is nning to flee, I can''t be med for stepping in to block its path."


    Struggling, Li Venerable managed to rise from the ground, blood oozing crimson from his nostrils, corners of his mouth, and ears.


    Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Li Venerable''s pupils contracted as he stared intently at Beiming True Venerable, who had transformed into a Thunder God, his voice trembling slightly, "Beiming Divine Thunder... Beiming True Venerable, how could you appear here!"


    "You recognize quality," Beiming True Venerable''s fierce gaze swept across Li Venerable''s face as he confidently dered, "Li Venerable, lord of the Netherworld''s Lingxu Tower, your methods are indeed not bad, keeping my Lingxu Tower under pressure and unable to catch a breath for a hundred years.@@novelbin@@


    "This time, I want to see if your tricks can help you escape from my grasp."


    "This is Beiming True Venerable of Lingxu Tower, if we continue to fight each other, I fear that both our Netherworld and your Demon Spirit Pce will die here today!" Li Venerable, realizing the grim situation, shouted sharply, "Let''s set aside our past conflicts and join forces, how about that?"


    Even though joining forces would hardly be enough to contend with a Void Refining Cultivator, Li Venerable would not give up the struggle easily, willing to attempt any useful endeavor.


    The three Great Demon Kings exchanged nces, also realizing the peril of the situation, and made a decisive decision, "Let''s join forces; we''ll address the current predicament first, our issues can wait untilter."


    In an instant, the three Great Demon Kings reached an agreement with Li Venerable to join forces, and they simultaneously issued orders to their subordinate cultivators and Demon Beasts.


    At themand of the three Great Demon Kings and Li Venerable, the cultivators of the Netherworld and numerous Demon Beasts, who were involved in a chaotic battle in the valley, all ceased fighting and stared fiercely at Beiming True Venerable.


    Confronting the gazes of so many, Beiming True Venerable remained confident, and with a mere thought, the thunder serpents coiled in his handunched an attack towards the three Great Demon Kings and Li Venerable.


    "Not good!" The faces of the three Great Demon Kings and Li Venerable changed, and they disyed their Divine Skills in an attempt to fend off the attack of this Divine Thunder.


    The three Great Demon Kings manifested a thick aura of Demon Qi over their bodies, their flesh tightening in preparation to meet the thunder serpents'' assault.


    Li Venerable''s face contorted into a ferocious grimace at that moment, his body suddenly swelling, shattering the ck robe he was wearing.


    His originally normal human shape transformed in the blink of an eye into a giant being more than ten feet tall, covered in dark hues, his naked body marked with densely packed, ripple-like blue Runes if one looked closely.


    Hidden Scale Demon, a rare Demonic Transformation among Netherworld cultivators.


    Li Venerable channeled Spiritual Power into these Runes, and in an instant, they all lit up, his aura surging in power.


    Boom!


    A thunder serpent struck Li Venerable, whose body shone brightly, and with a sizzling sound, the Beiming Divine Thunder, which had previously severely injured Li Venerable, appeared to have caused only some minor external injuries to his body this time.


    The three Great Demon Kings experienced the same, with only some singed fur on their bodies from the thunder serpent''s strike, seemingly not severely injured.


    "Is that all there is to it..." The Wolf Pce Demon King sneered, about to say something mocking, when suddenly he opened his mouth and uncontrobly spewed out a mouthful of blood.


    The actions of the other three mirrored those of the Wolf Pce Demon King exactly.


    "Worthy of the Beiming Divine Thunder that the Beiming True Venerable is famous for!" Li Venerable murmured.


    This thunder serpent was so cunning that it had directly prated their bodies and started assaulting their internal organs!


    Seeing this scene, Beiming True Venerable was not the least bit surprised and let out a coldugh.


    As a Thunder Cultivator, just like a Sword Cultivator cultivates a Life-bound Sword, he had cultivated a Life-bound Divine Thunder¡ª the Beiming Divine Thunder.


    Beiming Divine Thunder, as a Thunder Spell with a Water Attribute, possessed not only the formidable destructive power of Thunder Techniques but also the infiltrating and permeating power of Water Techniques. It was indeed tricky and powerful, making it difficult to guard against.


    This was the most potent technique of Beiming True Venerable, and his title was derived from it. Even Cultivators of the same rank had to fear the Beiming Divine Thunder, let alone Li Venerable, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and the three Great Demon Kings of the Fourth Grade Realm?


    Under the bombardment of the Beiming Divine Thunder, the three Great Demon Kings and Li Venerable were all reeling, blood flowing from all their orifices.


    "No good," eximed the Bao Ming Demon King in horror, "the power of this Thunder Technique is too overwhelming. With just a casual move, it has already inflicted such severe damage on us. Even if we work together, we are no match for it. I''m leaving first!"


    The next moment, in a state of panic, the Bao Ming Demon King disregarded everything else and transformed into a swift, wind-like stream of ck light as it fled towards the outside.


    Among the Cultivators and Demon Beasts present, when it came to speed, it was indeed the fastest, so if anyone had the best chance to escape, it was definitely this one.


    In such a situation, the Bao Ming Demon King quickly lost its will to fight and bolted.


    Bang! Boom!


    But just as its figure began to ascend, rising only dozens of feet from the valley, a thunderous explosion resounded from the Void.


    The Bao Ming Demon King''s entire body was engulfed in electric light, its fur scorched as it fell from the sky and copsed on the ground, twitching uncontrobly.


    Li Venerable looked in the direction of the Bao Ming Demon King''s escape and could faintly see in that empty space, a bolt of lightning briefly flickered.


    It was precisely this bolt of lightning that intercepted the fleeing Bao Ming Demon King.


    "Invisible Yin Thunder!" gritted Li Venerable, emphasizing each word deliberately.


    This lightning hidden within the Void was exactly the Invisible Yin Thunder, formless and invisible, able to be silently set up within space.


    Unknown to them, Beiming True Venerable had already deployed such a sinister Thunder Technique to block their retreat.


    Li Venerable couldn''t predict how many Invisible Yin Thunder bolts Beiming True Venerable had hidden in the surrounding space.


    But he knew that with the killing power of the Invisible Yin Thunder being so great, it couldn''t possibly cover all areas; there must be gaps to be found.


    But where was the way out? Read new chapters at empire


    The Invisible Yin Thunder was deeply hidden in the Void, and as he looked around, each ce seemed safe, yet at the next moment, he felt that every spot was lethal.


    Li Venerable''s eyes were filled with a grim shadow.


    He didn''t dare to gamble rashly; receiving even a few more Invisible Yin Thunders, he feared that he would lose all capacity to resist.


    The next moment, Li Venerable made a particrly sinister decision in his heart.


    Since he couldn''t detect the absence of Invisible Yin Thunder on his own, he would have to use someone else''s life to scout the path!


    The instant he made his decision, he transmitted his n to the Wolf Pce Demon King and the Chai Li Demon King, sharing his strategy with both and simultaneously shouted at the Underworld Cultivator, "This power is immense, I am no match for it, flee for your lives as quickly as you can!"


    The two great Demon Kings, upon receiving Li Venerable''s message, exchanged a look and immediately understood each other''s resolution.


    Being Demon Beasts, they felt no moral qualms about using others'' lives to find their escape route, so they too issued the order for their Demon Beasts to flee for their lives.


    The Underworld Cultivators and Demon Spirit Pce Demon Beasts, already intimidated by the presence of Beiming True Venerable and reluctant to act, when they heard themands of Li Venerable and the Demon Kings, felt as if they were granted amnesty. Without the slightest hesitation, they controlled their Escaping Lights and scattered in all directions.


    This group was very crafty, clearly understanding that scattering was their only chance of survival.


    Even if Beiming True Venerable was strong, after all, he was only one person. How could he intercept all of them?

 Chapter 13 The Shattered Infant (Part 2)

    Unfortunately, they didn''t possess the insight to recognize the invisible Yin Thunder and naturally couldn''t understand Li Venerable and the Demon King''s sinister intentions.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Out of a clear sky, dozens of thunders exploded from nothing.


    The numerous Underworld Cultivators and Demon Beasts fleeing in all directions saw about a dozen figures immediately fall from the sky, making no further sound.


    The bodies of these individuals were enveloped in ayer of purple thunder light, their flesh already charred ck.


    A Thunder Spell that Nascent Soul Cultivators could barely withstand spelled instant death for Golden Core Cultivators and Third Grade Demon Beasts!


    This scene caused those who were a step slower in escaping to tremble with fear, no longer daring to flee outward.


    However, for Li Venerable, this was already enough.


    With the sacrifice of these dozen or so lives, he had discovered the gap in the invisible Yin Thunder.


    At the northwest, southeast, and due south positions, there was no invisible Yin Thunder.


    The three Cultivators and two Demon Beasts that chose these directions to escape were almost out of the valley.


    With three gaps avable, it was perfect for him, Wolf Pce, and the two Great Demon Kings to choose one each and scatter.


    Li Venerable thought to himself.


    But in the next moment, his expression changed.


    At those three gaps, brilliant Sword Lights and immensely fluctuating magic surged, attacking the escaping Underworld Cultivators and Demon Beasts.


    ...


    Not long before.


    Beiming True Venerable concealed everyone''s presence, watching silently like a fisherman as Demon Spirit Pce shed with the Underworld, while releasing one invisible Yin Thunder after another, preparing to trap the valley in silence with Yin Thunder.


    However, the battle between the three Great Demon Kings and Li Venerable in the valley progressed too quickly. Before he could seal off all escape routes, Li Venerable was about to use magical artifacts bestowed by the Demonic Heir to leave this ce.


    In such a situation, Beiming True Venerable could no longer remain on the sidelines and immediately made his move like thunder, halting Li Venerable.


    "I haven''t had the chance toy down the Thunder Spell in the directions of northwest, southeast, and due south. Those are the gaps, I''ll leave them to you three to guard.


    This time, we cannot afford to fail. I want everyone in this valley, whether they are Underworld Cultivators or Demon Spirit Pce beasts, to be unable to escape."


    At the moment of intervention, Beiming True Venerable instantly transmitted this message to Dantai Qingrun, Sha Shuyan, and Xian Huaibi, the three Lingxu Tower high-ranking members, instructing each of them to guard one of the gaps.


    The scene was chaotic, Beiming True Venerable''s intervention was too massive, attracting most of the attention from the Cultivators and Demon Beasts in the area. Added to this, Dantai Qingrun and the others intentionally hid their presence, so Li Venerable did not notice these three initially.


    It wasn''t until now, when the three cultivators each used their own methods to intercept those trying to flee the valley, that he realized there were three more cultivators present.


    In the northwest direction, guarded by Dantai Qingrun, two Underworld Cultivators chose to flee towards this location.


    Dantai Qingrun let out a cold snort, as Spirit Concealment and the Qiuhong Sword, his two Life-bound Swords, shot forth together.


    At that moment, two Sword Lights streaked across the sky in the eyes of the two Golden Core Underworld Cultivators.


    The fierce Sword Qi, along with the Dantai Family''s unique Crescent Moon Sword Light, clung to the Sword Artifacts, making the two Flying Swords seem dreamlike and illusory as they cleaved towards the two approaching Underworld Cultivators.


    The Underworld Cultivators''plexions drastically changed because the two Flying Swords unleashed by Dantai Qingrun were too fast!


    In the blink of an eye, the Sword Light was already before the two men.


    One of the Underworld Cultivators brandished a Trident Magical Artifact to block while the other quickly cast Defensive Spells to counter the Flying Swords.


    Bang! Bang!


    The terrifying force caused the Cultivator holding the Trident Magical Artifact to be shaken involuntarily backward several steps, with Spiritual Power surging violently inside him.


    The one who cast the Defensive Spells faced a far worse situation.


    The Qiuhong Sword instantly shed through his Rock Shield, and still with unmitigated ferocity, struck his body.


    Although he activated his Protective Magical Artifact in a split second, it was futile against the powerful impact of the Qiuhong Flying Sword, sending him flying backward in the air as he continued to spout blood.


    Whoosh!


    Just then, another vast explosion abruptly rang out, drawing Dantai Qingrun''s gaze.


    As a Sword Cultivator, she was very familiar with that sound.


    It was the sonic boom generated when a Flying Sword reached the realm of the first sonic speed.


    Yet, among the three present Cultivators, other than herself, Lingxu Tower Master Sha Shuyan specialized in Earth Attribute Techniques as a Nascent Soul Dharma Cultivator, and Vice Tower Master Xian Huaibi was a Golden Core Body Cultivator ¡ª there was no second Sword Cultivator. Where did this Flying Sworde from?


    As for Lu Qingshan, she had considered him.


    But a Flying Sword reaching the speed of sound, how could that possibly be performed by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?


    A red glow surged outwards, spinning slightly in the air, then shing towards the Underworld Cultivator who had been thrown backward like a broken kite.


    Dantai Qingrun''s eyes shone with curiosity. Despite the red haze''s extreme speed, her keen vision still allowed her to clearly discern the specifics of the red light.


    It was an extraordinarily beautiful Flying Sword, entirely crimson like glowing jade, luminous and vibrant.


    Atop the sword was a fierce and solid howling Sword Qi.


    Most peculiar were the Layers of Radiant Fiery Red Brilliance flowing from the extravagant Phoenix Sparrow markings on the sword''s body, covering the Sword Artifact.


    The speed of the Flying Sword was incredibly swift, far surpassing twice the speed of sound, and it was even approaching nearly double the speed.


    In such extreme speed, the brilliance driven by the Flying Sword appeared exceptionally resplendent.


    But as gorgeous as it was, it wasn''t just a shy facade without substance.


    The red light transformed by the Flying Sword, akin to a red lightning bolt, reached the Underworld Cultivator''s brow in just a blink of an eye.


    The extremely sharp Flying Sword hit the forehead of the Underworld Cultivator. Even though the Cultivator''s Protective Magical Artifact immediately emitted a Spiritual Light enveloping him, this one strike was a struggle in vain.


    Thud!


    The Flying Sword, traveling nearly twice the speed of sound, cleaved through the Underworld Cultivator''s brow, and blood streamed forth.


    The zing red light that clung to the Flying Sword poured out in an instant, engulfing the Underworld Cultivator''s entire body.


    The next moment, the Underworld Cultivator''s body burst into crimson mes, his flesh melted away in an instant, and following an extremely mournful wail, he turned into ash scattering in the sky.


    [Sparrow Chirp]: This sword is invulnerable to all fires, immune to all Fire Attribute attacks, and inflicts Fire Element damage with every strike.


    With the robust Spiritual Power and Divine Sense of a Golden Core Cultivator, the Taoist Rank quality of the Dragon Sparrow Sword, and the Max Level Flying Sword Technique,


    thebination of the three meant that Lu Qingshan''s mastery in Flying Sword barely differed from that of an Early Stage Golden Core Sword Cultivator.


    And Lu Qingshan, who had just in a Golden Core Cultivator with one sword stroke, merely retracted the Flying Sword with a nonchnt air.


    The crimson Dragon Sparrow Sword danced around him cheerfully like a fish dragon.


    On the data panel, tiny glowing characters flickered.@@novelbin@@


    [Nine-Pattern Golden Pill]: Ovee an enemy of higher rank (2/3).


    ...


    Dantai Qingrun was so taken aback that, for a moment, she couldn''t even follow up her attack on the Underworld Cultivator wielding the Trident Magical Artifact, and instead, she cast an incredulous look toward Lu Qingshan.


    By then, she had confirmed that the one who had intervened was indeed Lu Qingshan, who stood behind her. Your journey continues on empire


    But the one turned to ash was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator!


    Even if she hadid the groundwork with her sword, reducing the Golden Core Cultivator to a severely injured state,


    the fact that Lu Qingshan, who was clearly only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was able to sh a Golden Core Cultivator into ashes with a single stroke was utterly preposterous to her, no matter how she looked at it.


    And, the supersonic Flying Sword, which only Golden Core swordsmen could achieve, Lu Qingshan had already mastered it during the Foundation Establishment Stage?!


    What astonished her even more was that the speed of Lu Qingshan''s Flying Sword was not just barely breaking the threshold, but was actually nearing twice the speed of sound?


    The realm of Flying Sword, the firstyer is sonic speed, with the limit being the Flying Sword Speed breaking the sound barrier¡ªan achievement which, for Sword Cultivators, normally requires the Cultivation of the Golden Core Stage.


    The secondyer of the Flying Sword realm is called Sword Burst Thunder Sound, with the limit being twenty times the speed of sound.


    Even with Dantai Qingrun''s Cultivation, her Flying Sword Speed has only reached eleven times the speed of sound and is far from reaching the Sword Burst Thunder Sound realm.


    Dantai Qingrun felt aplex mix of emotions and sighed softly.


    He was only a Qi Refinement secondyer little Sword Cultivator when she first met him, but now he has grown to such a frightening level, how much time has passed?


    Wait a minute?!


    Dantai Qingrun suddenly realized.


    It seems... only a little more than half a year has gone by?!


    ......


    Meanwhile, in the valley, Li Venerable who caught a distant glimpse of this scene, felt a sudden sinking in his heart.


    Given the current situation, it seemed impossible to preserve his life from the hands of Beiming True Venerable?


    No, I will not give up easily!


    Li Venerable shook off his jumble of thoughts, his eyes fixated on Beiming True Venerable with gritted teeth.


    In Beiming True Venerable''s hands, several lightning snakes began to build up again.


    He nced at the Wolf Pce Demon King and the Jackal Raging Demon King next to him; both Demon Kings were extremely panicked at this time, with no backup n whatsoever.


    These worthless Demon Beasts were certainly not to be counted on; surviving would have to depend on himself.


    Li Venerable understood the current situation clearly.


    He actually had onest escape n, one with a very high chance of sess.


    But this n was too costly for him, and unless he was truly in a desperate situation, he would not be willing to act this way.


    But now, he had no choice.


    No treasure is more valuable than life itself!


    In the next instant.


    "The path of the demon, life has its limits, but destruction is infinite, hence life and death are exhausted, turning the finite into the infinite..." Li Venerable steeled his heart, no longer hesitating, and murmured spells under his breath, forming Seal Gestures rapidly with both hands.


    Crack!


    In the midst of obscurity, it seemed as if something shattered at that moment. The cracking sound echoed throughout the valley.


    The next moment, atop Li Venerable''s body, ck Demonic Qi surged towards the heavens, swirling into a tornado above him.


    Thump thump thump!


    At that moment, his bones crackled like snapping beans, and his already massive and ferocious body swelled further, expanding from one and a half zhang to nearly three zhang tall, turning into a giant demon figure.


    Horrific blue Runes covered his Physical Body with bulging veins appearing prominently, wriggling like earthworms across his entire body.


    And the Spiritual Power circting in his meridians began to inexplicably swell, his presence instantly towering tenfold.


    However, with such a dramatic increase in power, the cost to Li Venerable was naturally steep; from his five orifices, dark red, almost ck blood poured out profusely.


    The Heavenly Demon Infant Shattering Technique, an extremely vicious Demon Cultivation Technique that only Nascent Soul Cultivators were able to cultivate.


    The ones who used this technique could temporarily increase theirbat power several to dozens of times after self-destructing their own Nascent Soul.


    But after using this secret technique, the Cultivator''s Nascent Soul would be shattered and their Taoist foundation ruined, and in all likelihood, they would find it difficult to advance to the Nascent Soul again in this life.


    Therefore, this secret technique is generally only used in a deathly crisis to fight for one''s life!

 Chapter 15 Entering the Tomb (Part 1)

    Just as the seal on the pce doors was released, Dantai Qingrun, sensing something amiss, raised his eyebrows and quickly pointed towards his Flying Swords, Qiuhong and Spirit Concealment. Instantly, a blindingly brilliant light shed upon them as they howled and shed towards another Underworld Cultivator.


    Shi! Shi!


    The two Flying Swords moved as swiftly as thunder, pouring forth and continuously bombarding the Underworld Cultivator who wielded a Trident Magical Artifact, creating a rain of swords.


    Initially, the Underworld Cultivator could still swing the Trident Magical Artifact to barely fend them off, but this passive defense vastly drained his Vital Essence.


    However, within moments, Qiuhong Sword pierced through his chest in a sudden motion. Under the pain, his movements were deformed, his Spiritual Power faltered, and then Dantai Qingrun, adept inbat, seized the opportunity and stabbed him repeatedly, turning him into a sieve.


    The motions were so quick that Lu Qingshan didn''t even find a chance to strike an additional blow.


    But his mind wasn''t on iming a severed head anymore; his attention was more on the now opened Demon Spirit Tomb.


    ...Although it was opened a month earlier than expected, the Demon Spirit Tomb was ultimately opened by the Underworld.


    ...


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The sound of thunder echoed from within the pce doors, the intervals growing shorter and the range wider, spreading like tidal waves in all directions across the Spirit Mountain Range.


    The radiance emitted from within the pce doors transformed into a mysterious force, extremely peculiar, rippling continuously outward.


    Immediately after, wave after wave of brilliant, multicolored radiance surged into the sky; some of it blood red, some pitch ck, some glowing silver.


    Within the Spirit Mountain Range, the mountains stretched vast and majestic, covered with towering mountains.


    Perched upon a cliff at that moment was a Third Grade avian demon, its body covered in ck scales; it was resting with its eyes closed. But then, its eyes suddenly snapped open.


    It had heard a very strange sound!


    Looking towards the source of the sound, it saw the sky-piercing radiance.


    The demon bird''s eyes brightened because within those radiating lights, an unmistakable treasure''s glow was visible!


    In the next moment, the demon bird cried out to the skies, its wings shining with a green light, as it soared upward, transforming into a lingering shadow flying toward the location where the radiance burst forth.


    "Moo!"


    A barbaric bellow of an ox roared, mingling with the thunderous sounds, making it hard to distinguish.


    This was a gigantic ox, its appearance as red as blood, towering over a dozen meters tall in the dense forest, charging wildly towards the direction of the radiance.


    It too was drawn by the sky-piercing radiance.


    This sky-piercing radiance, along with the vast sounds, attracted the attention of countless demon beasts.


    In the Spirit Mountain Range''s Primordial Ancient Forest, the area now thundered with the roars of demon beasts and the striking of fierce birds, the noise earth-shattering.


    The significantmotion within the Spirit Mountain Range had also alerted nearby Sects and Cultivating families close to the range, causing them to send people to cautiously investigate the strange urrences within.


    And since the Spirit Mountain Range was situated at the intersection of three prefectures, not only Lingxu Prefecture but cultivators from the other two prefectures were also drawn to the area.


    For a while, the Spirit Mountain Range became a convergence of swirling events.


    However, by the time they had investigated the situation and reacted, sending people required five to six days.


    ....


    Within the valley,


    everything was in disarray, the Bao Ming Demon Kingy sprawled on the ground, blood continuously spurting from its chest, truly on itsst breath, no longer feigning death.


    "Why? Why?" the Bao Ming Demon King uttered, itsrge leopard eyes filled with resentment and anger, muttering ceaselessly as its breath grew weaker.


    It still couldn''t ept the fact that Li Venerable could enter safely while it was stopped outside.


    And the tragic state of the Bao Ming Demon King caused other restless demons to hesitate in their movements, looking towards the pce doors with a hint of caution and fear, unsure whether to advance or retreat.


    Only the Underworld Cultivators, at this moment, did not hesitate to sh towards the pce doors.


    Seeing this, Beiming True Venerable''s face darkened like water.


    Because of his momentary carelessness, Li Venerable had escaped from his hands, already making him feel slightly ashamed; seeing these Underworld Cultivators act this way finally unleashed the anger in his heart.


    If another Underworld Cultivator were to escape from his hands, he would be unworthy of being a Void Refining Cultivator!


    Chi!


    Beiming True Venerable''s whole body erupted in purple lightning, transforming him in that moment into an Ancient Thunder God.


    His right hand pointed downward, and he uttered in amanding tone, "Decree!"


    Rumbling!


    Out of the clear blue sky, dozens of thunderbolts suddenly descended, turning into nimble thunder snakes that instantaneously struck and entwined around the Underworld Cultivators. Their speed was so fast that the cultivators couldn''t dodge at all.


    Sizzling!


    Read new chapters at empire


    In the moment besieged by the thunder, these Underworld Cultivators were as fragile as paper, all plummeting from the sky, shrieking miserably as lightning struck them, writhing and convulsing in agony.


    As one wave settled, another arose.


    In the sky, dozens more thunder snakes formed.


    Seeing such a scene, the demon beasts finally stifled their struggle, even the fierce Demon King and the Wolf Pce Demon King ceased their resistance.


    Surrendering perhaps offered a chance to live, while defiance would surely lead to death.


    The sole opportunity for escape was just as the Beiming True Venerable had not yet reacted.


    Only two seized this chance, one was Li Venerable himself, and the other the most cunning Bao Ming Demon King.


    Yet in the end, only Li Venerable managed to escape into it, while Bao Ming Demon King outright lost half of his life.


    With his profoundly mysterious Thunder Spell, Beiming True Venerable brought the situation under control. However, seeing the growingmotion emanating from inside the temple door, he couldn''t help but frown.


    This disturbance was too great.


    With such amotion, it wouldn''t be long before this ce became bustling.


    Then, even as a Void Refining Cultivator capable of fighting ten or a hundred adversaries, facing thousands of demon beasts, it would be impossible topletely seal off this area.


    ...¡­


    Creak!@@novelbin@@


    The temple doors finally openedpletely, revealing the Gengjin Tiger King''s tomb to the world once again.


    But the radiance emanating from inside the doors showed no signs of stopping, the sounds persisting incessantly.


    As if deliberately designed, the whole temple gateway dazzled with divine light, concealing everything within and emitting an overwhelming aura that seemed truly extraordinary.


    Beiming True Venerable waved his hand, and dozens of thunder snakes moved out, binding all the demon beasts.


    He then shifted his form and teleported next to the temple door.


    However, the moment he approached the door, a scene a hundred times more terrifying than when the Bao Ming Demon King approached it unfolded.


    Dozens of gleaming golden radiances transformed into des, shooting towards him at high speed!


    The Beiming True Venerable''s face paled, and with a light tap from his finger, a mystical Taoist rune appeared out of nowhere, transforming into a somber thunderbolt in mid-air, heading straight for those des.


    "Not good!" The moment the thunderbolt touched the radiant des, Beiming True Venerable''s heart sank again.


    On those radiant des was an extremely intense ughter Intent.


    Under the blessing of ughter Intent, the somber thunder was instantly neutralized and dissolved.


    Fortunately, Beiming True Venerable reacted quickly, and in an instant, he deployed a purple Treasure Talisman.


    The talisman sparked a huge silver moon, from which silver light steamed out like a dazzling divine halo, enveloping Beiming True Venerable within it.


    ng, ng, ng!


    These radiant des struck the silver light, creating intense collisions and then shattering, turning into a brilliant rain of radiance.


    With the aid of the Treasure Talisman, Beiming True Venerable, who blocked this fierce attack, retreated dozens of steps and vigntly watched the divine light shing at the temple door.


    Such a strong ughter Intent!


    Why could Li Venerable enter safely, yet just approaching it, I and the Bao Ming Demon King were attacked?


    For a moment, Beiming True Venerable was also puzzled.


    "This is the residual ughter Intent and influence left after the death of the Gengjin Tiger King." A voice transmitted, as if seeing through Beiming True Venerable''s confusion, it volunteered an exnation, "Any cultivator too powerful approaching it would be deemed an enemy by this ughter Intent and instinctively attacked."


    "And this boundary should be that any Golden Core Stage cultivator or above is forbidden from entering the Demon Spirit Tomb."


    The speaker was none other than Lu Qingshan, who had entered the valley alongside Qingrun after she swiftly killed the Underworld Cultivators.

 Chapter 16 Entering the Tomb (Part 2)

    "So that''s how it is." As Lu Qingshan exined, Beiming True Venerable, who had not reacted at first, suddenly realized and instantly understood the decisive and ruthless nature of Li Venerable.


    The purpose of Li Venerable using the Heavenly Demon Infant Shattering Technique was not only to exchange it for a brief period of powerful strength, allowing him to quickly break the restrictions of the Demon Spirit Tomb, but more importantly, after shattering his Nascent Soul, he was no longer a Nascent Soul Cultivator and could enter the Demon Spirit Tomb unimpeded.


    "Underworld Cultivators..." Beiming True Venerable rubbed his temples, "are indeed troublesome."


    In a situation where victory was in his grasp, a momentary oversight allowed Li Venerable to find a chance to survive.


    "True Venerable, I will immediately enter the tomb to pursue and kill Li Venerable!" Dantai Qingrun said coldly, her expression icy.


    "Dantai Tower Master, with your limited power, going into the tomb alone is too dangerous," reminded Xian Huaibi. "You should know, currently within the tomb, aside from Li Venerable who just escaped into it, there are also Underworld Cultivators who have long been exploring it.


    Whether it''s understanding of the tomb''syout or manpower andbat power, the Underworld has a significant advantage. If Dantai Tower Master rashly enters the tomb, it will not only be difficult to stop Li Venerable, but she might even lose her own life."


    "What you say makes perfect sense," Beiming True Venerable agreed.


    In this regard, what Xian Huaibi said was indeed reasonable.


    Dantai Qingrun frowned slightly, pointing toward the brightly shining entrance of the tomb, "The problem is, themotion of the Demon Spirit Tomb is so great, it will inevitably attract countless Cultivators. Even if we were to guard the tower, we cannot afford to monopolize this Demon Spirit Tomb under the condemnation of all under heaven.


    If we dy further, when more people and more eyes are involved, it will be even more impossible to clear out the Lingxu''s Underworld."


    "Moreover," Lingxu Tower Master Sha Shuyan, with a gleam in his eyes, added, "Though we don''t know what schemes Lingxu''s Underworld has for the Demon Spirit Tomb, the Void Demon even bestowed a Space Transferring Artifact for this purpose.


    Clearly, there must be something within the Demon Spirit Tomb that the Underworld greatly values. If we allow the Underworld to proceed unchecked, wouldn''t that exactly fulfill their wishes?"


    "Therefore, I must enter this Demon Spirit Tomb," Dantai Qingrun dered resolutely. "Just right, I also want to see who is stronger or weaker, myself or the post-Infant Shattering master of Lingxu''s Underworld!"


    She was brimming with a desire to fight.


    Beiming True Venerable pondered for a moment and finally cautioned Dantai Qingrun, "Act as you see fit."


    Pausing, Beiming True Venerable added, "For our side, you are more valuable than Li Venerable."


    "Subordinate understands." Dantai Qingrun responded calmly to Beiming True Venerable''s praise.


    "I will go in with you." At that moment, Xian Huaibi gritted his teeth and volunteered, "There might be various traps and restrictions inside the Demon Spirit Tomb. I am a Body Cultivator, at the very least I can scout ahead for you."


    To make amends and rectify faults, how can one not take risks?


    And as a Golden Core Stage Vice Tower Master just like Dantai Qingrun, who was about to enter the tomb without hesitation, how could he maintain his dignity in front of others by just watching from the side?


    Xian Huaibi clearly understood the stakes.


    "Good, Tower Master Xian and I will enter the tomb together, two people together can look out for each other," Dantai Qingrun said, meaningfully ncing at Xian Huaibi, yet also voluntarily inviting him.


    Although she was a person of cold temperament, she was not one to be inflexible.


    Turning her head, Dantai Qingrun then said to Lu Qingshan, "You and the youngdy Qin,e with me into the tomb."


    Lu Qingshan showed no surprise and nodded in agreement.


    The act of Dantai Qingrun calling on Foundation Establishment Cultivators to enter the tomb together slightly surprised Beiming True Venerable, but he did not voice any questions in the end.


    To doubt those you employ is not to employ them; to employ those you doubt is not to doubt them.


    Dantai Qingrun would not be unaware of the risks of this trip, but specifically calling on these two Foundation Establishment Cultivators must have her motives behind it.


    Dantai Qingrun also pointed to a ck demon rat bound by Beiming True Venerable''s lightning snake, "True Venerable, please spare this demon rat''s life."


    "I understand," Beiming True Venerable nodded, agreeing to the proposal.


    The four of them traveled together, flying toward the fully open entrance of the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    This time, as they approached, not a single one of them encountered any obstruction or attack.


    Before the entrance, Dantai Qingrun didn''t hesitate at all. She stepped directly into the entrance where the dawn light shimmered, and the light, like rippling water, easily engulfed her.


    Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian followed closely behind, stepping in as well, their figures obscured by the shimmering light.


    Xian Huaibi hesitated for a moment, but eventually, his figure also vanished into the light.


    ......


    This was a hall refined from ck jade, hidden deep under the ground. The gloomy jade glowed brilliantly, supported by four sturdy pirs.


    Ancient demon patterns were carved at the bases of these pirs, each distinct from the others.


    The base of the pir on the east depicted a vigorous dragon, the west a fierce White Tiger, the south disyed a soaring Vermilion Bird, and the north a solemn ck Tortoise.


    These were the ancient Four Spirits.


    This Four Spirits Qi Nurturing Formation was constructed by the Gengjin Tiger King using countless materials to nurture the Qi of the Four Spirits.


    These four Spirit Pirs were just a small part of the Four Spirits Qi Nurturing Formation.


    Dantai Qingrun, Lu Qingshan, and Qin Yitian almost simultaneously appeared in the hall.


    However, the moment they appeared, both Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun furrowed their brows.


    "Such a strong aura of ughter!"


    An unremitting, dense aura of ughter surged toward their faces, like turbulent seas, wave after wave rolling toward them and infiltrating, affecting their Divine Souls, causing their murderous intents to suddenly spike.


    "We cannot stay long in the Demon Spirit Tomb," said Lu Qingshan. "If we drag this out, under the influence of the aura, our urge to kill will intensify. Eventually, we might even lose our senses and turn into beasts that know nothing but ughter."


    At this time, Xian Huaibi, who was a step behind them, also entered the hall.


    Caught off guard by the dense aura, Xian Huaibi''s pupils briefly shed red. He hurriedly used his Spiritual Power to suppress the sudden surge of murderous intent within him, and his eyes returned to normal.


    It was also his first time entering the Demon Spirit Tomb, and Xian Huaibi''s performance was not only inferior to Dantai Qingrun''s but also far worse than Lu Qingshan''s.


    "Do you have a way to know which passage Li Venerable fled down?" Dantai Qingrun surveyed the hall and saw passages in the north, south, east, and west directions. She turned to ask Lu Qingshan.


    The reason she had called on Lu Qingshan to enter the Demon Spirit Tomb with her was not due to a sudden impulse, but because Lu Qingshan had taken the initiative to contact her and propose it.


    As for allowing Beiming True Venerable to spare Rat Tyrant''s life, that too was Lu Qingshan''s wish.


    From her understanding of Lu Qingshan, he never acted without purpose. His strong desire to enter the tomb meant he must have discovered something significant.


    Lu Qingshan did not disappoint her and immediately dered, "Let''s take the west passage."


    The Netherworld''s ultimate goal was the physical body of the Gengjin Tiger King.@@novelbin@@


    The Gengjin Tiger King, possessing the Metal of the White Tiger Bloodline, naturally nurtured the ferociousbat aura of the White Tiger through the Qi Nurturing Formation. Stay updated with empire


    Thus, the position with the strongestbat aura was exactly at this West Pce.


    Therefore, the Gengjin Tiger King had also ced his tomb right above the West Pce.

 Chapter 22 Yin Yang Twin Tombs (Part 1)

    "Zhao Jie, Zhao Jie!" Seeing this eerie scene, those acquainted with the ck-robed cultivator felt chills run down their spines and anxiously called out the name of the cultivator who had fallen into the mysterious iron coffin, but there was no response whatsoever.


    A living person had just been swallowed by a coffin.


    Li Venerable''s eyes were shadowed, intently watching the mysterious iron coffin that had returned to its original state.


    It wasn''t that there were no changes, for right after Zhao Jie fell into the coffin, a small portion of the strange grey patterns on the surface of the coffin began to flicker with a blood-red sheen, as if they hade to life.


    He seemed to think of something, but was not sure, and needed to verify it further.


    So he pointed out another Underworld Cultivator¡ªthe cultivator in purple robes who was just calling Zhao Jie''s name, "You, go and explore this coffin again!"


    The cultivator in purple robes never expected disaster to strike from above, and said in fear, "Hall Master, I...."


    "Hmm?" Li Venerable let out a cold hum, and his gaze swept across the cultivator in purple robes like a sharp de.


    Under the watchful and ferocious gaze of Li Venerable, the cultivator in purple robes turned ashen.


    As Underworld Cultivators, they all had the Heart Demon Gu imnted into their divine souls, and Li Venerable held control over the mother Gu of the Heart Demon Gu. With the mother Gu, as long as they dared to act against Li Venerable, he could easily counter them using the restraining power of the mother Gu over their child Gu.


    Thus, even now that Li Venerable had shattered his own Nascent Soul, dramatically reducing his cultivation, they simply could not resist him.


    Coerced by Li Venerable, the cultivator in purple robes could only walk slowly into the ancient temple, his legs trembling as he approached the mysterious iron coffin.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan and his threepanions were hiding their presence in the distance, observing the scene.


    Truth be told, their techniques to conceal their auras were not very sophisticated¡ªindeed, they could be considered quite crude.


    But because the attentions of the Underworld Cultivators were currently all focused on the coffin inside the ancient temple, so far, not a single one of them had discovered the arrival of Lu Qingshan and his party.


    "There''s something off about the state of these Underworld Cultivators!" Lu Qingshan squinted his eyes and whispered, "Theirplexions and conditions are terribly poor."


    After carefully observing, Dantai Qingrun nodded and said, "Indeed, that''s the case."


    Generally speaking, the use of a burst secret technique brings not only damage to one''s cultivation foundation but also severe aftereffects.


    After the enormous strength gained from the burst fades, a cultivator will fall into an extremely weakened state for a long period of time.


    These Underworld Cultivators had previously used a burst Secret Technique to quickly break the restrictions around the Demon Spirit tomb, which was why they had all fallen into an extremely weakened state, their strength reduced to just a tenth or a twentieth of their peak.


    "Seizing this opportunity, we might have the chance topletely eliminate these Underworld Cultivators," Lu Qingshan said casually with earth-shattering implications, as a surge of killing intent burst forth.


    Within his pitch-ck eyes, crimson glints flickered.


    Normally, his desire to kill wasn''t so intense.


    "Lu Qingshan, the sound of a heartbeat and a calling is getting clearer," said the rat king from the West, who was standing on Lu Qingshan''s shoulder, suddenly grabbing Lu Qingshan''s hanging hair, with a tone of anxiousness.


    "Is the sounding from that mysterious iron coffin?" Lu Qingshan asked again.


    The calling and heartbeat sounds that the rat king from the West mysteriously heard remained a puzzle, with no answer to it.@@novelbin@@


    The rat king from the West nodded, then shook its small head vigorously and hastily exined, "The heartbeat indeedes from that coffin, but that callinges from there!"


    The rat king from the West stretched out its small paw, pointing toward the Deep Pool that had naturally formed in the center of the square.


    "Hmm?" Lu Qingshan narrowed his eyes and began to ponder in his mind.


    ...


    On the other side, under Li Venerable''s coercion, the cultivator in purple robes had alreadye rmingly close to the mysterious iron coffin.


    At this moment, the mysterious iron coffin did not emit any abnormal noises.


    "Break open this coffin," Li Venerable''s voice echoed like an owl hooting, sending shivers of icy coldness down the spine of the cultivator in purple.


    Under Li Venerable''s coercion, the cultivator in purple dared not dy.


    A green wooden ruler appeared in his hand, his magic artifact.


    Grasping the wooden ruler, it enveloped in a halo of green light, he swung it fiercely towards the coffin, attempting to shatter the outer shell of the coffin.


    ng!


    A blood-red divine light burst forth from the surface of the coffin, instantly sending the green wooden ruler magic artifact flying from the cultivator in purple''s hand.


    Simultaneously, a foul, bloody stench wafted towards him, causing the cultivator in purple to momentarily be dazed.


    At that moment, with a creak, the dark-iron coffin opened a fine crack like the giant maw of a ferocious beast, and the cultivator in purple, swaying uncontrobly, tumbled into the coffin.


    The lid of the coffin slowly closed under the terrified gaze of the onlookers.


    Everything once again became quiet, the only change being that the gray patterns on the surface of the dark-iron coffin lit up again over arge area.


    About ten percent of the patterns were now flickering with light.


    Li Venerable''s expression grew even more fierce; he had confirmed his spection.


    He pointed with his finger and rapidly selected a dozen more Underworld Cultivators.


    "All of you, enter the Ancient Temple and work together to lift the coffin lid!" Li Venerable''s tone was chilling, revealing an air of indisputable finality.


    The Underworld Cultivators whose names were called all wore expressions of despair, one of them shaking his head in denial, his voice trembling as he said, "Hall Master, this is sending us to our deaths..."


    His feet were unconsciously stepping backward.


    Li Venerable let out a sinister chuckle, his thoughts barely stirring before a ck beam shot into the cultivator''s forehead with such swiftness that he was unable to dodge or react.


    The next moment, the cultivator clutched his head and let out a scream, copsing to the ground and convulsing, emitting wails akin to a tormented spirit, "Ah... Ah... Hall Master, spare my life, please spare me... I was wrong, I was wrong!"


    Li Venerable remained unmoved, instead watching coldly as he writhed on the ground like a despised insect.


    Thirty breathster, Li Venerable finally ceased torturing the Underworld Cultivator.


    Following the shattering of his Nascent Soul, his cultivation was no longer sufficient to suppress all the cultivators present, but this was an opportunity to intimidate the Underworld Cultivators, ensuring they understood that as long as the Heart Demon Gu remained unresolved within them, they were forever under his control.


    "This coffin may not necessarily lead to your deaths, but I can make you wish for death." Li Venerable scanned the crowd, his voice cold and detached.


    For a moment, all the Underworld Cultivators fell deathly silent, no longer daring to say another word.


    Better him than me, after all, it''s not me who''s being sent to die.


    Most of the Underworld Cultivators thought this to themselves.


    The Underworld Cultivator used to make an example of struggled to rise, his clothes already soaked with cold sweat, his face pale, weakly begging for mercy, "I was wrong."


    Li Venerable showed no mercy, pointing at the coffin in the center of the Ancient Temple, his voice stern, "Hurry up!"


    With the previous example before them, even though they knew it was a death sentence, the Underworld Cultivators now no longer dared to resist or argue and could only silently walk into the Ancient Temple, approaching the dark-iron coffin.


    "Open the coffin lid!" Li Venerablemanded sharply.


    The dozen Underworld Cultivators ced their hands on the coffin lid, exchanging a look before finally beginning to slowly push the lid.


    Sss, sss, sss.


    In the stillness of the surroundings, the sound of the coffin lid moving seemed extraordinarily jarring.

 Chapter 23 Yin Yang Twin Tombs (Part 2)

    As soon as a corner of the coffin lid was lifted, an intense oppressive force suddenly burst forth from that corner of the coffin.


    Under this oppressive force, the eyes of all the Underworld Cultivators beside the huge coffin abruptly lost their luster, and their bodies began to sway uncontrobly, just like the previous Underworld Cultivators, they fell into the giant coffin against their will.


    A few breathster, more than a dozen Underworld Cultivators werepletely swallowed by the giant coffin.


    Afterward, the densely packed patterns carved on the surface of the giant coffin emitted a hissing and eerie sound, as blood-red divine light flickered in all directions.


    Boom, boom, boom.


    The giant coffin began to shake violently.


    A hint of delight appeared on Li Venerable''s face.


    Indeed, just as he had thought, once all the patterns on the surface of the giant coffin started to sh with the blood-red divine light, a change would ur.


    But before he could recover from his shock, a thunderous boom suddenly erupted from the interior of the giant coffin, causing everyone''s spirits to tremble.


    The crimson blood-colored luster burst out like a volcanic eruption, radiating endless dazzling lights.


    Thud, thud, thud!


    The dull sound of a heartbeat resonated, each beat shaking the Underworld Cultivators'' Qi-Blood and causing dizziness.


    Powerful demonic power surged out from the giant coffin like a tsunami, charging in all directions, and with a bang, the lid was blown off.


    The fierce demonic power impacted against the walls of the ancient temple, making a continuous barrage of pounding noises, and the entire ancient temple began to tremble and sway under the force of this demonic power.


    And a portion of the demonic power charged out from the open temple doors, the Underworld Cultivators swayed helplessly like reeds in the wind under the influence of the blood-red power.


    In the distance, Lu Qingshan and hispanions were equally horrified.


    "What in the world is this Demon Spirit Tomb, so eerily abnormal!" Xian Huaibi felt somewhat terrified.


    It was indeed strange; the Gengjin Tiger King had fallen so long ago, yet the leftover coffin was still so terrifying. One could imagine how intimidating and supreme the Gengjin Tiger King was during his lifetime, no wonder he was able to unite the Demon n of Qing State under his rule.


    The sinister crimson aura rolled out from the coffin like a tide, flowing outward.


    The Underworld Cultivators standing outside the temple doors couldn''t evade or resist the pration of the aura, and their eyes were immediately tainted with ayer of crimson.


    They were more seriously contaminated by the aura, but at that moment, Li Venerable seemed oblivious to these changes, greedily fixing his gaze on the wide-open giant coffin.


    Inside the giant coffin, a blood-red Great Formation emitted light, with intricate Taoist Patterns outlined and emerging. A dozen or so withered corpsesy across it, clothed in the garb of the earlier fallen Underworld Cultivators.


    And at the center of the Formation, a massive creature was unmoving.


    It was a tiger corpse, its whole body golden, its fur shiny and flowing with an otherworldly luster. Its eyes were tightly shut, but it still exuded amanding presence even without showing anger.


    The blood-red Great Formation nurtured rich Blood Light, all of which was poured into the chest of the tiger corpse.


    There, a blood-red orb was gleaming and vibrated continuously ¡ª the soul-shaking heartbeat wasing from it.


    "The blood of the Four Spirits, it truly is the blood of the Four Spirits!" Li Venerable''s eyes were bloodshot, overwhelmed with ecstasy.


    Only the powerful bloodline of the Ancient Four Spirits could after the death and soul dispersal of the Gengjin Tiger King, still support the immortality of the body and even maintain the vitality of the heart, allowing it to beat again with the force of Qi-Blood.


    The Gengjin Tiger King had died, but his body was still alive!


    Unable to restrain the excitement in his heart any longer, Li Venerable moved swiftly, braving the intense negative energy to break into the temple. With a sh of Spiritual Light, the enormous body of the Gengjin Tiger King was stored inside his Storage Ring.


    Everything went very smoothly, with not the slightestplication.


    "Got it!" Li Venerable eximed, ecstatic like a madman.


    ...


    Whoosh!


    All the while keeping an eye on the Underworld Cultivators, Lu Qingshan and his party of four swiftly sprang into action the moment Li Venerable entered the Ancient Temple, charging towards the Underworld Cultivators at a rapid pace.


    Their mission on this journey was to pursue and kill Li Venerable as well as to thwart the Netherworld''s years of nning.


    At such a moment, they of course wouldn''t allow Li Venerable to get his way.


    In his prime state, Xian Huaibi''s skin turned into hard rock, leading the charge at the forefront.


    And it was the tremendous noise that they made as they moved which finally alerted the Underworld Cultivators to their presence.


    The faces of the Underworld Cultivators changed, and Dharma Cultivators all began to form seal gestures swiftly, with dozens of spells being cast instantly, shooting towards Xian Huaibi.


    Xian Huaibi was not at all afraid, his body glowing with Spiritual Light, using his physical resilience to counter these spells head-on.


    "Boom!"


    Xian Huaibi was engulfed by dozens of spells, with Spiritual Power light scattering everywhere, but then a roar followed closely behind.


    He burst forth from the rain of spells.


    "That''s it? That''s all you''ve got?" Xian Huaibi provocatively taunted, his hair flying wild, his manner ferocious and mad, exhibiting a state of unrestrained wildness that he had never shown before.


    Unbeknownst to anyone, one half of his eyes had already been tainted with blood red.


    The Cultivation level of the Underworld Cultivators was uneven, but on the whole, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were still in the majority.


    Moreover, due to the use of Secret Techniques which caused an outburst of power, their strength had plummeted to an all-time low, which is why thisbined attack was actually blocked by Xian Huaibi without him sustaining any injuries.


    Howl!


    Dantai Qingrun, holding twin swords, draped in an elegant Golden Sword Apparel, followed closely behind Xian Huaibi to attack the Underworld Cultivators.


    ng ng ng!


    Apanied by a flurry of metallic shing sounds, Lu Qingshan''s body also manifested cyan and deep blue Sword Armor, his hand wielding the Dragon Sparrow Sword as he too swiftly advanced forward.


    However, just as Lu Qingshan''s figure neared the Deep Pool above the za.


    That always tranquil Deep Pool suddenly started to churn violently, as if boiling.


    Not only did the thick and extremely blood-red malevolent aura on the surface start to roll, but the water in the pool at that moment also turned into the color of blood, startlingly vivid, with skies of Blood Light surging up.


    "Lu Qingshan, that beckoning voice is getting stronger and stronger." It was in the moment when the Deep Pool underwent a drastic change that the King of the Western Rats, in extreme agony, struggled to cover its ears, trying to block out the call that only it could hear, but to no avail, "It''s beckoning me over...."


    An unbelievable scene unfolded.


    As the boiling water of the pool surged, a blood-red pearl emitting streams of rolling malevolent aura emerged, rising and falling in the Deep Pool.


    The pearl shone brilliantly, with wisps of blood-red malevolent aura moving across it, while inside the pearl, countless dense and mysteriouslyplicated characters fluttered about.


    "That''s Ancient Demon Script," Lu Qingshan murmured upon seeing this sight.


    "The Demon Spirit Tomb on the surface is the burial ground of the Gengjin Tiger King, but in reality, it''s also the ce where he left his inheritance," seeing this scene, the knowledgeable he already understood the whole situation, "This is actually a Yin Yang Twin Tomb!"@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 28 Slaying Demons (Part 1)

    Lu Qingshan, holding his sword, walked to the front of the fierce bird, which had no more strength to struggle or resist, pointed the tip of his sword at its brow, his voice very cold, his tone murderous, "Where do youe from?"


    "You smug pretty boy, don''t be too pleased with yourself. Aside from me, there are countless demon beasts eyeing the Gengjin Tiger King''s inheritance with covetous eyes, and they will soon arrive.


    The inheritance of the Demon Spirit, how could it be something a mere mouse demon is worthy of enjoying!


    What would it matter if you y me? Can you alone stand at the pass and wipe out all the other demon beasts?" The fierce bird was at death''s door, weak to the extreme.


    It did not directly answer Lu Qingshan''s question but instead sneered with bitterness and spite.


    "Countless demon beasts?" Lu Qingshan frowned.


    Seeing the serious look on Lu Qingshan''s face, the fierce birdughed viciously with satisfaction, "Scared now, huh?


    Being a Void Refining practitioner is strong, but how can you stop all of our demon beast kin?


    Who wouldn''t be moved by the inheritance left by the Gengjin Tiger King? With so many demon beasts charging forward, even if only ten percent gets through, they will definitely be beyond your ability to stop."


    A heavy feeling settled in Lu Qingshan''s heart.


    Indeed, the worst scenario had happened.


    Pu!


    Having learned what he wanted to know, Lu Qingshan did not waste more words on the fierce bird and, without a trace of mercy, stabbed it in the brow with his sword.


    .........


    The situation had developed far beyond Lu Qingshan''s expectations.


    The unexpected strategy of the Gengjin Tiger King turned the journey to the Demon Spirit Tomb, which waspletely under control, into the current predicament, truly proving the unpredictability of life.


    Lu Qingshan fell silent for a long while.


    If he wanted the Western Rat King to safely receive the Demon Spirit inheritance, he had to face an unknown number of demon beasts, among which there would be manyparable to Third Grade Golden Core Cultivators.


    There was only one way forward, with no other strategy to break the situation.


    Was it a sure thing? Not at all.


    Lu Qingshan also understood that the odds were not in his favor, but would he leave the Western Rat King to his fate?


    The answer was obvious.


    Moreover, as a Sword Cultivator, if at this moment, he faltered,


    Then there would be no sword for him to cultivate.


    "I cannot retreat from this battle," Lu Qingshan said as he turned to apologize to Qin Yitian.


    "My lord, what is there for you to be sorry about? Remember, I am your sword," Qin Yitian said calmly, looking at Lu Qingshan with a gentle smile, "To battle for the Sword Master is the duty of the sword."


    As her voice fell, Qin Yitian''s figure shed, turning into a streak of red light, merging into the Dragon Sparrow Sword in Lu Qingshan''s hand.


    A streak of Radiance briefly shed above the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    The voice of Qin Yitian came from the sword, "As a Sword Spirit, the moment I unify with the Dragon Sparrow Sword, its power will increase by another thirty percent. That is one of the abilities of a Sword Spirit..."


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback, suddenly realizing what was happening.


    Because Qin Yitian''s every frown and smile were no different from a real person, many times, he subconsciously overlooked the fact that Qin Yitian was the Dragon Sparrow Sword Spirit.


    He held the sword tightly in his hand, feeling his affinity with the Dragon Sparrow Sword increase a notch at the moment Qin Yitian hid in the sword.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword felt warm in his hand, as gentle as a woman''s touch, and wielded as if it were an extension of his arm.


    He did not put away the Dragon Sparrow Sword but instead held the sword as he walked into the passageway leading to the za.


    This ce was restricted from flying, which means this passageway was the only entrance.


    If he could hold this ce, then no one would be able to enter the za and disturb the Western Rat King''s inheritance.


    From this moment on, he had to be as the fierce bird had said.


    One man holding the pass!


    ......


    Dong Dong Dong!


    Not long after, two giant wolves with ck backs and white bellies appeared within Lu Qingshan''s sight.


    "They''ve arrived," Lu Qingshan whispered.


    The two giant wolves were massive, their wide-open jaws revealing long, white, fearsome fangs that glinted with a cold light. Their scarlet tongues hung out, dripping with stinking wolf saliva, giving them a ferociously menacing appearance.


    These were two Third Grade realm demon wolves, and considering their nearly identical appearances, it indicated they were likely born from the same litter.


    The eyes of the giant wolves brimmed with fierceness as they locked onto Lu Qingshan.


    "Awooo!"


    Without a word of nonsense, two wolf howls rang out.


    Like two bolts of lightning, the giant wolves lunged towards Lu Qingshan simultaneously, their sinister ws shing coldly as they aimed for Lu Qingshan''s neck.


    Two streaks of cold light danced out like ribbons, the demon wolves baring their gruesome grins.


    In the blink of an eye, twoyers of fierce Sword Qi surged from within Lu Qingshan, forming a shimmering Sword Armor that shielded him.


    ng!


    The demon wolves'' ws struck the Sword Armor as if they had hit an iron te, causing them immense pain.


    Hisss!


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes turned fierce as he seized a tiny w during the left wolf''s attack, and the Dragon Sparrow Sword, surging with hot waves of me, became a sword shadow that sliced through the belly of the giant wolf.


    The Phoenix me effortlessly scorched and prated theyer of skin that should have been extremely tough.


    A cloud of blood mist rose into the air.


    The demon wolf was sent flying backward, emitting a painful howl.


    This sword strike had inflicted severe injuries on it.


    Seeing the pitiful state of itspanion, the other demon wolf quickly took several steps back and looked at Lu Qingshan with inevitable wariness in its eyes.


    "Come again."


    Lu Qingshan nted his sword and pointed it at the two demon wolves, saying coldly.


    At this moment, all the distractions in his heart had faded away, leaving only a sky-high killing intent.


    Within his pitch-ck pupils, a faint scarlet hue quietly appeared.


    The two demon wolves, looking at Lu Qingshan whose killing aura was boiling over, unconsciously stepped back even further.


    Although demon beasts are ferociously brutal and wildly untamed, there is a limit to this, and even wild beasts know fear¡ªnot to mention these creatures with spiritual intelligence.


    However, the constant calls for helping from behind the man prevented them from simply giving up and escaping.


    But, the demon wolves also understood that they were merely the faster group that had entered the Demon Spirit Tomb; many other demon beasts had also crashed into the tomb.


    If this sword cultivator was so difficult to deal with, they would wait for the other demon beasts to arrive before taking action. No matter how strong a man was, ultimately he could not fight off multiple attackers.


    They decided to lie in wait for an opportunity.


    But if the demon wolves understood this logic, how could Lu Qingshan not?


    His strategy was clear: defeat them one by one!


    Since these demon beasts had entered the tomb at different times, he intended to take out the waves of iing beasts one by one before the next group emerged, to avoid being surrounded and attacked.


    The next moment, Lu Qingshan moved.


    He leaned forward, gripping his sword tightly as he sprinted forward.


    ng, ng, ng!


    Sword armor encircled him, providing excellent protection.


    His sword emitted a Sword Qi like a gust of wind, condensing into fine fments that quietly vanished into the void.


    At the same time, he shed down with the sword in his hand at the uninjured demon wolf''s spine.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan''s reckless attack, the demon wolf''s luminescent green eyes shed with savagery.


    Arrogant sword cultivator!


    Its back was normally covered with thick fur, which instantly bristled, bing hard and coarse with a metallic texture.


    This was the toughest part of its body, and the demon wolf did not believe that the sword cultivator could break through its defenses with just one strike.


    Meanwhile, it opened its sharp fangs wide, aiming to bite down on Lu Qingshan''s head.


    It intended to tear off the head of this sword cultivator!


    Lu Qingshan faced the demon wolf''s attack without dodging or flinching, not even blinking an eye.


    Because his sword had already reached its target!


    Spiritual Power surged from Lu Qingshan''s dantian like a rushing tide, flowing into the Dragon Sparrow Sword in his hand.


    The sword was wreathed in rampant mes, and beyond that, two mysterious and intricate sword technique silhouettes emerged.@@novelbin@@


    Secret Sword, Wind sh.


    The fiery long sword pierced through the tough skin of the demon wolf as easily as puncturing a sheet of paper, maintaining its speed as it cut straight through, cleaving the beast in two.


    That wasn''t all; as Lu Qingshanunched his attack, the other injured demon wolf also seized the opportunity to pounce fiercely toward him.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Just as the demon wolf leaped, it seemed to hit some bizarre object in midair, letting out a mournful wolf howl.


    Its torso was covered with countless tiny cuts, with blood spurting from them.


    The stomach was riddled with gaping wounds, and by the end, its intestines and innards had fallen out, filling the air with a stench that churned the stomach.


    The demon wolf''s body fell from the sky, on itsst breath, its luminescent green eyes still carrying a look of reluctance as it swept across the sky with a nce.


    There, countless almost invisible fments flickered, darting from all directions like agile fishes toward Lu Qingshan, disappearing into the sword in his hands.


    "This...." The demon wolf found the scene somehow familiar, as if, long ago, it had the fortune to witness it.


    It was an immensely powerful Nascent Soul sword cultivator breaking into the Spirit Mountain Range, waving his long sword and releasing Sword Qi Silks like rain, instantly killing arge swath of demon beasts.


    But why would such a terrifying technique appear in the hands of a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator?


    The demon wolf couldn''t figure it out, and it didn''t have the time to think about it any longer; the next moment, its head tilted, eyes closed, and it breathed no more.


    Within three breaths, one sword strike imed the lives of two Third-Grade Initial Stage demon wolves on the spot.


    Lu Qingshan did not revel in his sess.


    The power of the Secret Sword was immense, and, correspondingly, the consumption was also enormous.


    In order to quickly y these two Third-Grade demon wolves, he had executed the Wind-Cutting Secret Sword once and had depleted nearly twenty percent of his Spiritual Power.


    From this moment on, he would have to be doubly careful using his Spiritual Power.


    Because here, there would be no downtime for him to restore Spiritual Power, and even if he could take Spirit Pills to rapidly Restore Spiritual Power,pared to the huge consumption, it was destined to be just a drop in the bucket.

 Chapter 29 Slaying Demons (Part 2)

    ```


    Lu Qingshan pulled out a Spirit Pill from his Storage Ring to restore his Spiritual Power, and after only a short moment, his slightly fluctuating Spiritual Power stabilized.


    He swung his sword and severed the heads of two demon wolves, cing them at the entrance of the tunnel leading to the Yin Tomb behind him.


    Giggling!


    In merely tens of breaths'' time, another demon beast appeared.


    This was an eight-legged demon spider, immenselyrge, upying more than half of the spacious corridor of this underground pce.


    The demon spider was entirely emerald green, its body covered in dense bristles that sparkled with a cold light, like numerous war spears glistening with a cruel radiance.


    Yet another Third Grade beast in its initial stage.


    In the current situation, aside from a fight to the death, there was absolutely no alternative.


    Therefore, at this moment, Lu Qingshan didn''t care about the difference between Second and Third Grade beasts.


    His Vital Essence merged perfectly with his body, and his Spiritual Power infused the Dragon Sparrow Sword, unleashing a foot-long Sword Qi that flickered and undted like raging mes.


    Regarding battle, Lu Qingshan always believed that there was no need for superfluous words when killing.


    Thus, the moment the demon spider appeared, Lu Qingshan was already charging forward with his sword.


    The distance of several dozens of yards was covered in an instant, too fast for the naked eye to discern.


    His figure intertwined with that of the demon spider, his sword''s shadow blending with the green silhouette of the spider, making it hard to distinguish.


    One could only discern from the continuous, thunderous sounds of shing metal that the spider''s eight legs were frantically parrying Lu Qingshan''s sword techniques.


    In just a few breaths'' time, man and demon had exchanged dozens of moves.


    Doubt and fear began to emerge in the demon spider''s heart.


    Lu Qingshan was moving too fast, so fast that the spider''s eight legs could barely defend against his single sword, and danger lurked at every turn.


    A clear and spirited sword cry rang out.


    Lu Qingshan''s figure passed by the demon spider in a sh, touching and separating in a split second.


    Only after advancing a few more steps did Lu Qingshan steady his form and looked back to see that all eight legs of the demon spider had been severed and fallen to the side.


    Separated from the spider''s body, the eight legs still bore signs of life, twisting and crawling frantically on the ground.


    The demon spider, now without its eight legs, had fallen to the ground, still muttering, "You''re definitely not a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, definitely not... No Foundation Establishment Cultivator could possibly be so strong... you..."@@novelbin@@


    The spider''s words were never finished, for in an instant of Sword Light, its head was cleanly severed by Lu Qingshan.


    This time, ying the Third Grade demon spider, Lu Qingshan appeared remarkably adept.


    The demon spider''s eight legs were filled with countless joints, and the delicate lines at the joints indicated points of weakness.


    As long as his sword was fast and urate enough, he could follow these lines and easily sever all the legs, just as he had done.


    In a matter of breaths, having vanquished his foe, the murderous intent in Lu Qingshan''s heart did not subside but instead zed more fiercely, like an uncontrolled fire.


    His eyes grew increasingly bloodshot, and the dense malevolence within the Demon Spirit Tomb seemed to disrupt his usually calm disposition.


    He wanted a joyful ughter!


    Lu Qingshan picked up the head of the demon spider and tossed it behind him at the tunnel''s entrance, stacking it atop the demon wolves'' heads.


    Today, he was resolved to embark on a great ughter, decapitating demon beasts to form a monument!


    .....


    Outside the Demon Spirit Tomb, the charge initiated by the gathering demon beasts had finallye to an end.


    Energy bursts forth at the first drumbeat, weakens at the second, and is exhausted at the third.


    Initially, the demon beasts could still exploit their overwhelming numbers to distract Beiming True Venerable from both front and back, slip through amidst the chaos, and break into the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    However, as arge number of demon beasts were in outside the valley by Beiming True Venerable, Dantai Qingrun, and Xian Huaibi, and a considerable quantity of demon beasts broke into the Demon Spirit Tomb, their numbers dwindled. They were no longer capable of forming another wave of beast tide.


    The beasts that couldn''t catch up issued resentful roars, finally retreating reluctantly and melting back into the mountains of Demon Spirit.


    "Over a hundred demon beasts have entered the Demon Spirit Tomb," Beiming True Venerable said with a grim face.


    Dantai Qingrun''s breath was somewhat disordered.


    The back-to-back battles inside the Demon Spirit Tomb and outside the valley had left her feeling depleted.


    Her gaze towards the Demon Spirit Tomb was filled with worry.


    "During the charge of the demon beasts, I took special care of those with stronger auras, blocking them all," said Beiming True Venerable in a deep voice. "Therefore, the majority of the demon beasts that entered the Demon Spirit Tomb were Second Grade, with a few Third Grade beasts that were mostly at the initial stage. Perhaps, this might somehow help Lu Qingshan..."


    Beiming True Venerable''s attempt at constion failed to ease Dantai Qingrun''s apprehension.


    Over a hundred demon beasts, such a vast number, and not to mention the existence of Third Grade beasts within them, even if they were all Second Grade, she did not believe that Lu Qingshan could cope.


    Dantai Qingrun took out a luminescent pill from her Storage Ring.


    Soul Condensing Pills.


    Extremely precious, they had a calming and mind-clearing effect and were used to ward off Heart Demons during breakthroughs to the Nascent Soul stage.


    To obtain this pill, she had paid a hefty price.


    Yet at that moment, without any hesitation, she swallowed the Spirit Pill and sat down cross-legged.


    She wanted to extravagantly use the calming effect of the Soul-Condensing Pill to shorten the time required to expel the malevolent aura from her Divine Soul.


    Then she would enter the Demon Spirit Tomb to aid Lu Qingshan.


    ......


    The scent of blood was pervasive, with bloodstains and dozens of headless corpses of varying shapes strewn everywhere.


    Following the demon spider, Lu Qingshan had sessively in thirty-one Second Grade demon beasts and three Third Grade initial stage beasts.


    The heads of all the demon beasts had been cut off by him, umted into a pyramid and ced behind him.


    ```

 Chapter 29 Slaying Demons (Part 2)_2

    In the ten years of gaming in his previous life, Lu Qingshan had experienced a number of battles that few in the Human Race couldpare to. His battle awareness had be exceptionally unparalleled.


    And when had these Demon Beasts ever encountered such a battle-skilled cultivator? Under Lu Qingshan''s sword, they appeared frequently wed and struggled to defend themselves.


    With each sessive victory, Lu Qingshan''s momentum grew stronger and increasingly formidable.


    Lu Qingshan, with his hand on the de, gazed ahead.


    A hundred feet away, seven or eight Demon Beasts were nervously circling, their eyes filled with reluctance and unwillingness to withdraw.


    But this time, Lu Qingshan chose not to strike first.


    The reason was that his Spiritual Power had run low.


    Even though he practiced the Taoist Level Cultivation Technique Returning Ruins Scripture, which gave him unusual depths and rates of recovery of Spiritual Power, such intense and continuous battles had led to more expenditure than replenishment.


    The Spiritual Power within his Dantian had diminished to barely a tenth of its usual level, leaving only a thinyer remaining.


    Nearing the end of his strength, Lu Qingshan managed to deter the Demon Beasts from attacking merely by the intimidating presence formed by the heads of the several dozen beasts he had in.


    Standing before the intimidating structures, he slightly closed his eyes and circted his cultivation technique, seizing this rare interval to quickly restore his Spiritual Power.


    The Demon Beasts could feel Lu Qingshan restoring his Spiritual Power, and understood it was a rare opportunity to attack, but after much hesitation, they were still daunted by the imposing presence of the constructed heads and did not dare to advance.


    This was the primary purpose behind Lu Qingshan''s creation of the intimidating figures.


    ...


    As time passed, the number of Demon Beasts gradually increased.


    "Although this fellow is fierce, he is but one person. No matter how strong, he cannot fight against many hands alone. Let''s charge together; surely we are not really afraid of him?" a cunning fox spirit in the crowd of beasts shouted, trying to incite the others to charge.


    Immediately, a beast questioned, "Who should go first then? Fox, since it''s your idea, how about you lead the charge? We will naturally follow closely behind."


    "The task of charging should be assigned to the physically stronger members of the Demon n. I excel in speed, which naturally suits me better for assisting from the side."


    "How convenient for you, sending us to die in the charge while you reap the benefits?" another beast mocked.


    A group of Demon Beasts began to bicker among themselves. Without a capable leader to unite them, the proposed collective attack eventually came to nothing.@@novelbin@@


    The sword cultivator blocking the way was ferocious and ruthless, his sword technique exceptional, having in dozens of demons, including several Third Grade Great Demons. Those who charged forward met certain death.


    Who then was willing to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others?


    While the Demon Beasts might not match the strategic prowess of the Human Race, they were certainly notcking in their instinct to survive.


    Just as the number of surrounding Demon Beasts had increased to nearly thirty and Lu Qingshan had restored a tenth of his Spiritual Power, a deafening roar suddenly erupted, startling everyone to their core.


    All the Demon Beasts quickly stepped aside, making room.


    A terrifying creature emerged from the path cleared by the beasts.


    It was a two-headed Golden-Maned Lion, its mane fluttering.


    In its equally golden eyes lurked a deep-seated ferocity.


    A mid-Third Grade variant, its bloodline and strength sufficient to subdue the many beasts.


    The Golden-Maned Lion walked to the forefront of the beasts, facing Lu Qingshan from a distance. The left head spoke threateningly, its voice booming like a bell.


    "Young brat, the inheritance of the Demon Spirit naturally belongs to the Demon n. How dare you, a mere boy, try to stop us from receiving the inheritance left by Lord Demon Spirit, and even harm our brethren so extensively?"


    The Golden-Maned Lion was not genuinely seeking vengeance for those in by Lu Qingshan; it simply sought an excuse to test him.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes suddenly opened wide, the intense murderous aura swirling within his red pupils made the Golden-Maned Lion''s heart tremble.


    Believing in the principle that ying demons required no dialogue, Lu Qingshan spoke for the first time to these beasts.


    "If you want to fight, then fight. Why all this talk, if not out of fear?"


    "Afraid?" the Golden-Maned Lion roared, "With so many of us, why would we fear a single Foundation Establishment cultivator?"


    Lu Qingshan''s gaze swept over the beasts, his eyes cold as des, causing all of them to lower their heads, none daring to meet his stare.


    "Ha¡­" Lu Qingshan chuckled dismissively.


    His long sword dangled at his side.


    Significantly, despite ying tens of demons, the Dragon Sparrow Sword bore not a single stain of blood.


    A three-foot sword energy surged out from the Dragon Sparrow Sword, refined to perfection.


    "Though the demons are many," Lu Qingshan raised his wrist, his sword pointing at all the demon beasts, "they are merely a sh away."


    Proud and piercing.


    However, paired with the pile of demon beast heads stacked high behind him and the bloodthirsty madness emanating from Lu Qingshan, it was enough to chill the hearts of all demon beasts present.


    "Charge with this king and y this Sword Cultivator. The Demon Spirit inheritance belongs to our Demon n. How can we let the Human Cultivators dictate its fate, especially just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?" the Golden-Maned Lion roared, "This one leading the charge will be dealt with by this king, and you just need to follow me and charge!"


    Well aware of the current situation, the Golden-Maned Lion did not y any tricks in the charge against the Sword Cultivator but took the initiative to lead the charge.


    Its thoughts were simple.


    ¡ª¡ªAs long as they could deal with this obstructing Sword Cultivator, the Demon Spirit inheritance, how could other demon beastspete with it?


    For the sake of the Demon Spirit inheritance, even if it had to lead the charge once, could this Sword Cultivator really kill it?


    With someone willing to lead, the other demon beasts were naturally ready to follow.


    This time, a consensus was finally reached.


    The demon beasts charged towards Lu Qingshan, bringing with them a destructive force.


    The Golden-Maned Lion at the forefront of the charge howled to the sky, and it was clear to see two golden sonic waves burst from its mouth, tangible and massive like an all-enveloping tsunami, rushing towards Lu Qingshan.


    In front of such vast sonic waves, Lu Qingshan''s figure was as inconspicuous as a rock in the tide.


    Twoyers of Sword Armor emerged above Lu Qingshan''s body.


    The golden sonic waves swept across.


    Sizzling sounds erupted, as the sonic wave tide struck Lu Qingshan''s Sword Armor, creating a mingling shing noise.


    The massive figure of the Golden-Maned Lion had already pounced to Lu Qingshan''s front. Its golden ws heavily fell, carrying a force that could split mountains and crack the ground, colliding with Lu Qingshan''s sword. Spiritual light scattered, resonating with deep rumbles, shocking the slightly slower other demon beasts.


    Why did this Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator possess such immense strength?


    With just a sword, facing the powerful onught of the Golden-Maned Lion, he wasn''t at a disadvantage. In fact, he even seemed slightly superior?


    Within a single breath, Lu Qingshan swung his sword several times.


    After taking the first wave of attacks from Lu Qingshan, the Golden-Maned Lion used the impact force of the sword techniques to retreat strategically.


    It intended to let the other demon beasts continue the assault, aiming to kill Lu Qingshan through a ry battle strategy.


    Lu Qingshan''s condition was not good at the moment, or rather, it was very bad.


    He was unable to use the Flying Sword Technique.


    The banishing effect of the evil aura was significant: once the Dragon Sparrow Sword left his hand, not making it even ten feet, it would be like sinking into a marsh, hardly moving, let alone having any lethality.


    What he could rely on were only his sword techniques and sword energy, with no other options.


    But his Spiritual Power was now extremely depleted, less than ten percent remaining.


    Most of that Spiritual Power still had to be used to deploy the Sword Armor, facing these omnipresent attacks.


    Facing these groups of demon beasts besieging him, he seemed utterly powerless, trapped in a deadly situation.


    But in these circumstances, Lu Qingshan became even colder.


    His eyelids slightly drooped, and he whispered softly, "Dragon Sparrow Sword, let me see your true power, the power of a Taoist artifact!"


    Lu Qingshan''s sword moved, the Dragon Sparrow Sword swung, extremely casually.


    Yet, this casual swing created an impact that was hard to believe.


    Roar!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword emitted a humming sword chant.


    Divine light appeared on the Dragon Sparrow Sword, following the trajectory of the swing downwards, a mighty and earth-shattering scarlet me came into being, flickering as it swept across all the demon beasts.


    This corridor was filled and upied by the mes.


    The searing temperature of the scarlet mes caused the dense evil aura above to start rolling violently.


    [Dragon Breath]: Active: The sword generates dragon breath to exterminate evil and y demons.

 Chapter 225 - 18 Ghost

    The Demon Spirit Tomb was enormous, resembling an undergroundbyrinth.


    Since entering the passage on the west, Lu Qingshan and his group felt as though they had embarked on an endless, lengthy journey.


    The surroundings were dark and utterly silent.Xian Huaibi¡¯s eyes gleamed faintly as he vigntly surveyed the area, yet he discovered nothing.


    It seemed exceedingly safe here.


    "Lu Qingshan, something is not right," said the Western Rat King, who was the first to sense something amiss. "This stretch of road suddenly has many extremely cold and eerie auras."


    Lu Qingshan halted.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Dantai Qingrun asked.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze fell on the edge of the stone ceiling overhead, his pupils shing slightly.


    Unknowingly, a face had appeared there.


    An ugly, terrifying face with green, ghostly gleaming eyes like twin mes of ghost fire, sharp fangs, and a face full of scars.


    Wuuu wuuu¡ª


    The ghost face detached from the wall, emitting a piercing shriek and lunged toward Qin Yitian, who was beside Lu Qingshan.


    Whoosh!


    Unfazed, Qin Yitian reacted swiftly by flicking his sleeve, a wave of mes burst forth, instantly engulfing the ghost face and turning it into a wisp of blue smoke.


    But by now, it wasn¡¯t just one ghost face; more and more identical, horrifying faces began to appear on the rocky wall, very sinister and startling.


    The Western Rat King quickly scurried back, hiding upon Lu Qingshan¡¯s body, as if seekingfort.


    Dantai Qingrun and Xian Huaibi finally noticed these ghost faces too.


    "What are those?" eximed Xian Huaibi, startled.


    "They are Yanghun ghosts, assistants to tigers," Lu Qingshan exined.


    Yanghun ghosts, a potent bloodline talent of tiger demons, enable tiger demons to refine the resentful spirits of creatures they have devoured and in into Yanghun ghosts, to serve their purposes.


    Killed by a tiger demon, one not only could not reincarnate but also had to serve the demon.


    It sounded like a particrly sinister and malevolent technique.


    These ghost faces emerged from the stone wall, their bodies bluish, lunging with bared fangs and ws.


    Dantai Qingrun snorted coldly, and the Spirit Hidden Sword flew out, its cool radiance flickering hundreds of times in the dark corridor.


    @@novelbin@@


    The Crescent Moon Sword Light pierced through the skulls of these Yanghun ghosts, immediately turning them into wisps of blue smoke that dissipated.


    "Just the weakest, hardly a match," said Xian Huaibi.


    However, Lu Qingshan furrowed his brow, his expression turning serious.


    He looked deep down the corridor.


    Dantai Qingrun¡¯s action seemed to have ignited a fuse, in the eerie underground Demon Spirit Tomb, more and more cold auras surged forth.


    The air, already stuffy from being enclosed, became even more chaotic at this moment, and strange noises began sounding intermittently.


    The road ahead was now covered in Yanghun ghosts.


    These ghosts either lurked in the shadows or clung to the rocky walls, as if slumbering.


    But at this moment, all the Yanghun ghosts awoke and surged toward Lu Qingshan and hispanions, dense and numerous to a terrifying degree.


    Zhen!


    In the cave, a sh of sword light sparked.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword appeared in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand.


    He slightly channeled his Spiritual Power into the Dragon Sparrow Sword, and with a hiss, the Phoenix Pattern on it faintly glimmered, the de then wrapped in a lightyer of mes.


    These mes, both in aura and form, were identical to those just released by Qin Yitian.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Hundreds of ghosts of different shapes tumbled toward them, like a ck tide, with an impressive momentum that seemed endless at a nce.


    Xian Huaibi¡¯splexion changed, but in the first moment, his physical body immediately shed with dazzling Spiritual Light, his entire skin turned into a gray color like rock, Qi-Blood surged out and he stood at the forefront alone.


    This was the duty of a Body Cultivator.


    In just a few breaths¡¯ time, a green wolf ghost had already pounced in front of Xian Huaibi, its sharp green ws scratching toward Xian Huaibi¡¯s neck.


    This was also a minor ghost, equivalent to the Combat Power of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.


    ng, ng, ng!


    After a series of extremely sharp metallic friction sounds, the ghost¡¯s ws were actually snapped off.


    However, on Xian Huaibi¡¯s neck, there appeared only a faint white mark.


    Before the pained green wolf ghost could express its anger, in an instant, a sound of explosion resounded and a streak of red light had already passed through its body.


    That was Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword.


    Under this sword, the green wolf¡¯s body suddenly exploded into a mist of green blood.


    The blood mist, carried by the chaotic Yin wind in the corridor, drifted, rose, and dissipated.


    But this sword was not over yet, effortlessly ying a green wolf ghost did not consume much of the Flying Sword¡¯s strength, the Dragon Sparrow Sword still had surplus energy, running rampant into the other nearby ghosts.


    Pop, pop, pop! Boom, boom, boom!


    Another five or six mists of blood burst forth.


    With just an effortless stroke, Lu Qingshan had killed six or seven ghosts of the same level.


    This ease greatly startled Xian Huaibi, who had not yet fully realized Lu Qingshan¡¯s strength.


    Such a powerful Sword Cultivator!


    However, this scene did not deter any of the ghosts; instead, it seemed to provoke them, making them surge forward even more frenziedly.


    Immediately, about a dozen ghosts rushed up along the rock wall, opening their gaping mouths to bite at Xian Huaibi.


    These dozen or so ghosts were much stronger than the previous green wolf ghost, their lethality aloneparable to a Cultivator at the Early Golden Core stage.


    Yet even so, when these dozen ghosts¡¯ chilling fangs bit into Xian Huaibi¡¯s skin, they were still futile,pletely unable to breach his defense.


    Meanwhile, Xian Huaibi took the opportunity to stir up his Spiritual Power, his Qi-Blood shook, and with cracking sounds, the ghosts¡¯ fangs were actually crushed by him.


    Boom!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dragon Sparrow Sword flew out again, mes mixed with Sword Light piercing the darkness, bursting apart.


    As ghosts belong to Yin Spirits, the Dragon Sparrow Sword,manding Divine Fire, with mes bursting from the Phoenix Pattern increased damage against Soul Bodies, making it extraordinarily smooth to sh through the ghosts.


    The ghosts were shed into smoke and scattered as the Dragon Sparrow Sword moved.


    But strangely, even though they were only Soul Bodies, these ghosts emitted a strong scent of blood at the moment of their death.


    And this blood scent incited even more violence in the ghosts, causing them to emit sinister howls.


    The howling was like waves and tides.


    The ghosts surged like boiling water, continuously advancing in waves.


    "Enough!"


    Dantai Qingrun, looking at these frenzied ghosts, said coldly.


    The Qiuhong Sword left his body, and with the Sword Light bright and flourishing, it transformed into ripples that spread outward.


    Whoosh!


    Transformed into Radiance, the Sword passed over Xian Huaibi, entering into the midst of the ghost crowd.


    Spiritual Light surged like the undting sea, wave upon wave, and in that instant, it actually lit up this gloomy corridor as if it were daylight.


    And any ghosts that came into contact with the Sword Light melted like they were dissolved by the noonday sun, instantly turning to ashes.


    With just this one move, Dantai Qingrun finished clearing the field, the bustling corridor of ghosts was swept clean and again plunged into silence.

 Chapter 226 - 19 Illusion Array

    Strong, very strong.


    Even from Lu Qingshan¡¯s perspective, Dantai Qingrun was certainly a formidable force among the Golden Core Cultivators.


    "Dantai Tower Master, what a skillful technique!" Even Xian Huaibi, who had some differences with Dantai Qingrun, couldn¡¯t help but praise aloud.


    He had considered Dantai Qingrun young and thought perhaps she was merely a cultivator with outstanding talent for cultivation, one who had high cultivation but averagebat power. However, he had not expected Dantai Qingrun¡¯s sword technique to be so exquisite.


    The Qiuhong Sword wandered back in front of Dantai Qingrun, humming vibrantly.


    But the next moment, a hidden aura began to brew within the spacious corridor.


    Xian Huaibi¡¯s expression changed slightly, asking Dantai Qingrun, "What do we do next? Should we keep breaking through?"


    Dantai Qingrun turned her gaze to Lu Qingshan, seeking his opinion, "What do you think?"


    Lu Qingshan looked serious. He released his Divine Sense to feel the chilly aura deep in the corridor, a strange shadow lingering on his mind, refusing to dissipate.


    It seemed like something was amiss?


    "No matter how many ghostly spirits there are, there will always be a limit to their numbers. After a few more waves, the ghostly spirits in this corridor should be cleaned out." Xian Huaibi suggested to Dantai Qingrun, "These ghostly spirits are not very strong. I can block all attacks by myself, no problem. You can handle the cleanup. We can definitely push forward easily."


    Clean them out... Wait!


    Like a sh of lightning, a thought crossed Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    He was awakened by Xian Huaibi¡¯s words.


    Indeed, no matter how numerous, there should always be a limit to the ghostly spirits.


    If the Underworld Cultivators had also taken this corridor earlier, why were there still endless ghostly spirits here?


    Unless, the path taken by the Underworld Cultivators wasn¡¯t this one.


    But it was undeniable that the Underworld Cultivators aimed for the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s physical body, which surely was located in this West Pce. It made no sense for the Underworld Cultivators to not take this path.


    These two ideas seemed contradictory¡­


    A momentter, Lu Qingshan thought of something. His eyes sparkled for a moment before turning gloomy again.


    There was only one possibility left.


    They had taken the wrong path, the corridor they entered was not the route to the West Pce.


    "Retreat to the hall," Lu Qingshan decided firmly.


    "What?" Not just Xian Huaibi, even Dantai Qingrun was puzzled by Lu Qingshan¡¯s decision.


    "We¡¯ve been trapped," Lu Qingshan exined as he quickly retreated the way they came. "Hurry, we¡¯ve wasted too much time here."


    Qin Yitian, who had been quietly by Lu Qingshan¡¯s side and seemed almost nonexistent, was the first to follow him.


    Dantai Qingrun, still not fullyprehending the situation but seeing this, did not think further and followed as well.


    Dantai Qingrun hadn¡¯t realized that at some point, under various subtle influences, she had developed a subconscious trust and obedience towards Lu Qingshan.


    "Damn, it was he who chose this path, and now he is the one asking us to return!" Xian Huaibiined bitterly, but he had no choice but to follow quickly.


    Compared to their cautious entry, the four were much more reckless on the way back, moving a lot faster.


    In less than half an hour, they had retreated back to the hall they had entered initially.


    Four Spirit Pirs stood there.


    It looked as though nothing was amiss.


    Only this time, with prior caution, Lu Qingshan released his Divine Sense and carefully scanned the environment inside the hall.


    Finally, he sensed an extremely faint but unusual ripple, hidden among the evil auras, hard to detect.


    "Found it," Lu Qingshan whispered quietly.


    Releasing his Divine Sense and following that ripple, Lu Qingshan drew his sword and shed through the void, mes bursting from the de.


    In the empty hall, under Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword, a ripple like water began to shimmer.


    Fierce sparks scattered in all directions, and with a harsh cracking sound, a dark Array te in the corner suddenly shattered. At the same time, a curtain of water fell all around.


    The sky and earth spun, north and south exchanged ces, and east and west switched positions.


    Indeed, it was so.


    Lu Qingshan, observing the drastic changes in the hall after the water curtain disappeared, murmured.


    "What is this situation?" Xian Huaibi, shocked by the immense change in the hall¡¯s orientation, eximed.


    "It¡¯s an Illusion Array left by the Netherworld to reverse directions. On the surface, we entered through the west passage, but in reality, it was the east," Dantai Qingrun understood the current scenario. "So if we had continued down that path, we would have only moved farther away from our destination."


    Lu Qingshan nodded and muttered to himself, "I underestimated the Netherworld."


    Just entering the unfamiliar Demon Spirit Tomb, most people¡¯s attention would be on familiarizing themselves with it.


    The Underworld Cultivators took advantage of this and set up a non-lethal Illusion Array in the hall. Its function was simple: just to reverse directions, yet it was surprisingly effective.


    If the range of the Illusion Array had been wider and moreplex, it would have been easier to detect.


    The range of this Illusion Array set by the Netherworld epassed only this hall. Once Cultivators entered the passage, they would escape the influence of the Illusion Array.


    Moreover, the effect of the Illusion Array was minimal, just a simple switch in direction.


    Yet precisely because of this, it made it difficult for them to realize they were affected by the Illusion Array.


    Lu Qingshan took a deep breath, "Let¡¯s go, try our best to catch up with the Underworld Cultivators."


    The four figures shed, stepping once again into the passage leading to the West Pce.


    This time, in this lengthy passage, they no longer encountered any ghosts.


    Clearly, someone had already passed this way and eradicated all the ghosts.


    With no ghosts blocking their way, Lu Qingshan and his party moved much faster, but they still dared not fully elerate.


    @@novelbin@@


    Once bitten, twice shy; who knew whether the Underworld Cultivators might have set more sinister traps along the way.


    ......


    Within a vast and endless underground pceplex.


    Li Venerable, whose aura was turbulent and fluctuating, leaped out from a dark passage.


    At the passage entrance, three purple-clothed Underworld Cultivators who had received the message were already waiting.


    Seeing Li Venerable appear, the three Underworld Cultivators hurried to meet him.


    However, sensing Li Venerable¡¯s fluctuating aura, now Golden Core, now Foundation Establishment, the three looked somewhat panicked and asked in astonishment, "Lord Li Venerable, what has happened?"


    Li Venerable looked pale.


    His Nascent Soul had shattered, leaving only a dense mass of Spiritual Power in his Dantian. Without time to condense it into a Golden Core, this bizarre fluctuation between Golden Core and Foundation Establishment urred.


    "The coboration with the Demon Spirit Pce was exposed, and Beiming that old fool came after me. Out of desperation, I had to shatter my Nascent Soul to escape the pursuit," Li Venerable said grimly, "How¡¯s the progress on breaking the seal? The entrance to the Demon Spirit Tomb is open, and we do not have much time to dy."


    The purple-clothed Cultivator replied anxiously, "It will still take a few more days, roughly three to four..."


    ording to the original n, Li Venerable could have dyed the emergence of the Demon Spirit Tomb for at least half a month. With their progress, they should have been on schedule, but they hadn¡¯t expected such a sudden change.


    "Lead the way!" Li Venerable said darkly.


    Shattering one¡¯s Nascent Soul was akin to destroying one¡¯s foundation in cultivation, and rebuilding it was even harder than reaching the heavens. Thus, on the path of cultivation, he had reached the end.


    However, he still had one path left.


    ----By using the Blood Pool Reincarnation to transform himself into a member of the Demon Race, taking the path of demonic cultivation.


    The problem was, to reincarnate into a high-grade Demon Bloodline, the Netherworld would also have to pay a huge price, which they would not easily expend just for him.


    Only by bringing back the body of Gengjin Tiger King and using this great merit could he persuade the Netherworld to bestow upon him a high-grade Demon Bloodline.


    The body of Gengjin Tiger King was hisst hope, and there was no room for failure!

 Chapter 227 - 20: The Call

    In the dark passage ahead, a slightly dim light appeared.


    The passage hade to an end.


    Seeing this light, Xian Huaibi couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief.


    Although they had not encountered any dangers along the way, they had to keep their vignce at the highest level, their nerves tense. Moreover, the gloomy silence of the passage oppressed his spirit, making him feel quite ufortable.


    Now that he could see the daylight again, Xian Huaibi took the lead, eagerly darting into the exit.


    Hissss!


    Just as Xian Huaibi reached the exit, a piercing cold wind suddenly whipped up at the entrance, with countless wind des shing towards Xian Huaibi!


    Caught off guard by this turn of events, Xian Huaibi was instantly shed by two wind des across his abdomen, cutting open two gashes, from which blood gushed.


    Luckily, as a Body Cultivator, his physical body¡¯s defensive power was exceptionally strong, and the wind des only caused some minor superficial injuries.


    After being hit by two wind des, Xian Huaibi finally reacted. He hurriedly circted his Spiritual Power to use his Physical Body Divine Skills, and ayer of rock-like armor rapidly covered his entire body.


    Puff puff puff!


    The wind des struck the current Xian Huaibi to no avail, unable to inflict any further substantial damage on him.


    Xian Huaibi casually wiped off the blood seeping from his abdomen.


    The wounds there were healing at a visibly rapid pace.


    Narrowing his eyes, he looked at the slowly drifting ashes above the tunnel and muttered, "The Underworld Cultivators are relentless."


    The ashes were what remained of Talismans after they were activated.


    The Underworld Cultivators had ced dozens of triggered wind de Talismans at the exit of the tunnel, which would activate immediately if someone emerged.


    Of course, Li Venerable did not expect these dozens of talismans to achieve any significant effect; his main purpose in setting them up was to deter those who followed, putting pressure on them.


    The message was clear, telling those who followed that he would set various kinds of traps along the way, and it was up to them to take it seriously or not.


    Once the wind des dissipated, Lu Qingshan finally followed and stepped out.


    As soon as he emerged, the brightness in his field of vision expanded dramatically, revealing a vast underground space. Under the dim and murky light and shadow, he could see a grand pceplex stretching endlessly ahead.


    The construction of the pce was not exquisite. It was built from huge stones, exuding an aura of destion and ruggedness.


    Compared to the ingenious architectures of the Human Race, made from ancient wood, it seemed particrly primitive and simple.


    The source of the dim light illuminating this space was deep within the pce.


    Indistinctly, there appeared to be an object shimmering with golden light inside. The dull yellow light flowed continuously from it, making the entire pceplex appear even more deste and ancient.


    "The malicious aura here has be much denser than before," Dantai Qingrun said, frowning slightly.


    "This must be the burial site of the Gengjin Tiger King, so it¡¯s natural for the malicious aura to be much stronger," Lu Qingshan nodded, not surprised.


    He then released his Divine Sense to explore the surroundings, but suddenly found that his Divine Sense could only extend a few feet upward before it felt like it was sinking into a marsh, making it difficult to proceed further.


    Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun, in perfect sync, turned their heads and looked at each other.


    "Did you notice it too?"


    "Yes, it seems this ce is under a ban on flying."


    Both of them noticed the anomaly at the same time.


    Hearing what they said, Xian Huaibi, relying on his steel-like physique, tried to fly upwards.


    But his body had risen only about six to nine meters when it suddenly plummeted, somewhat embarrassingly tumbling from the air to the ground, rolling a few times before standing up.


    "It is indeed a no-fly zone. After I moved up about nine to twelve meters, a malevolent aura attacked me, infiltrating my Divine Soul. Fortunately, the power of this malevolent aura was not too strong." Affected by the malevolent aura, Xian Huaibi felt dizzy and it took him a moment to recover, he added with a shudder, "I could feel that further up, the malevolent aura became even denser, and the effects could have been more than just a momentary distraction."


    "It seems that we can only walk here," Dantai Qingrun said with a troubled expression.


    Because of the malevolent aura prohibiting flight, as a Sword Cultivator, she couldn¡¯t use levitation or her Flying Sword techniques and had to resort to closebat with her sword.


    In this ce, it seemed that Xian Huaibi, being a Body Cultivator, was unrestricted in terms ofbat power and had the greatest flexibility.


    "Let¡¯s go," Lu Qingshan said calmly.


    To Lu Qingshan, the Flying Sword was his forte, but his Sword Techniques were equally potent, so he wasn¡¯t too worried.


    The group stopped pondering and followed the direction of the light source, heading towards the pceplex. After passing through several huge but simple stone halls, a fork in the road appeared before them.


    At first nce, at the end of both paths, there were faint lights and shadows, making it impossible to discern which path led to the correct destination.


    The same problem confronted them again.


    Which path should they take?


    This time, Lu Qingshan was also out of ideas.


    In his previous life, his main area of activity at this stage was not in the Lingxu Mansion, so he only had a cursory understanding of the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    Knowing the specific location of the Demon Spirit Tomb and the approximate direction of the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s body was all thanks to its poprity in this version, where many yers discussed it enthusiastically, and he had paid some attention as a result.


    But for more detailed information, he waspletely in the dark.


    "Lu Qingshan, did you hear that?" Just as they were undecided, West Mouse King suddenly blinked, looking puzzled, and transmitted his voice to ask Lu Qingshan.


    "Heard what?" Lu Qingshan was puzzled.


    "Just..." West Mouse King tilted his head, describing, "Dong~ Dong~ Dong, like a heartbeat, and mixed within it are intermittent calling sounds, as if something is summoning me to find it."


    It was the first time West Mouse King had encountered such a situation, and he was quite bewildered.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression subtly changed.


    He certainly hadn¡¯t heard any strange noises, but he wasn¡¯t naive enough to think it was just an illusion of West Mouse King.


    "Did you hear any strange noises?" Lu Qingshan quickly asked Qin Yitian.


    Qin Yitian shook his head.


    It seemed the transmission was targeted only at West Mouse King.


    "Do you know where the sound ising from?" Lu Qingshan had some guesses and pursued further.


    West Mouse King nodded, pointing towards the left path.


    Previously unsure of which choice to make, Lu Qingshan, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, pointed to the left path and decisively said, "This way!"


    The group passed by several more enormous pces and in less than half an hour, another three-way fork appeared before them.@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 228 - 21: The Black Iron Giant Coffin

    The pceplex was like a massivebyrinth, and without the ability to fly and scout from above, it was enough to make anyone dizzy.


    This was probably one of the reasons why Underworld Cultivators had been dyed for so long.


    However, for Lu Qingshan, since he had chosen to trust the Rat Demon King, he could only see it through to the end.


    So, at this fork in the road, he did not hesitate for long, following the Rat Demon King¡¯s directions as he continued on.


    .......


    At the end of the pceplex stood a majestic Ancient Temple, crystal clear and glimmering, with brilliance flickering.


    This Ancient Temple was the so-called "source of light"!


    Above the temple, four fierce ancient characters were carved, winding like dragons and snakes, with a distinct aura of death.


    "Demon Spirit Tomb."


    The Gengjin Tiger King imed to be a Demon Spirit, and the Demon Spirit Tomb was naturally the resting ce where the Gengjin Tiger King had fallen.


    Whether it was the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s physical body or the treasures he had plundered over a thousand years, even the Immortal Codex known as the "Taoist Treasury" were all hidden within this Ancient Temple.


    It was a treasure trove that could drive countless Cultivators mad with desire!


    In front of the Ancient Temple, nearly a hundred Underworld Cultivators, each holding an Array te and channeling Spiritual Power, sent streams of Spiritual Light flying out from the Array tes, striking the Ancient Temple simultaneously, like a rain of Spiritual Light, exceptionally spectacr and gorgeous.


    Above the tightly shut doors of the Ancient Temple, a golden divine radiance twinkled, radiating an overwhelming aura that could strike fear into the soul.


    It was evident that the faces of these Underworld Cultivators were very pale, yet their eyes couldn¡¯t hide the unmistakable crimson hue, and their footsteps were slightly unsteady. It was clear that facing the overpowering aura emanating from the temple doors at such a close range was not easy for them.


    However, the divine radiance atop the temple kept shimmering, but at this point, it had significantly dimmed.


    This was the result of the Underworld Cultivators¡¯ prolonged efforts.


    The sealid down by the Fifth Grade Demon King, with their Strength at most reaching the Golden Core Stage, could only be broken with sheer perseverance, grinding away little by little.


    And Li Venerable, who had previously fled into the Demon Spirit Tomb, now stood prominently at the forefront of this group of Underworld Cultivators with a high-quality Array te in hand, leading the effort to break the defenses of the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    "We don¡¯t have much time left, everyone use your explosive secret techniques and don¡¯t worry about damaging your core, as long as we can bring back the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s physical body, all your losses can be recovered," Li Venerable barked angrily, roaring, "If we don¡¯t act fast, all our years of effort will be in vain when ites to crunch time!"


    "Understood!" All the Underworld Cultivators replied in unison, their Spiritual Power surging instantly.


    The next moment, streams of Spiritual Light, several times stronger than before, burst forth from the Array tes and bombarded the Ancient Temple.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Under this furious onught, the Ancient Temple emitted a dull sound, trembling several times, as radiance scattered.


    The strength of the seal was rapidly depleting under the nket of Spiritual Light, the surface luminance boiling violently, and starting to dissipate.


    Above the temple doors, a profound Demon pattern emerged, but in the next moment, the pattern suddenly shattered.


    Then, the Ancient Temple at this moment astonishingly lost all its luster.


    The underground pceplex lost its source of light and suddenly darkened.


    "The seal has been broken!" Li Venerable held back the excitement in his heart, still maintaining a shred of rationality. He casually pointed at a ck-robed Underworld Cultivator, his voice cold, "You, go up and investigate."


    The ck-robed Underworld Cultivator¡¯s legs trembled, fear in his heart.


    But he ultimately did not dare to disobey Li Venerable¡¯smand, and could only tremble forward to the front of the Ancient Temple, extending his hands and gingerly cing them on the firmly closed temple doors, then gently pushing.


    Chiii!


    The seemingly heavy doors of the Ancient Temple opened easily, creating a crack.


    "Continue!" Li Venerable¡¯s expression showed a morbid ecstasy.


    The ck-robed cultivator had no doubts and quickly increased his strength.


    Boom boom boom!


    Instantly, the doors of the Ancient Temple were violently shaken, the crack widening more and more until they werepletely open, revealing the situation inside.


    In the temple, right in the center,y a huge coffin forged from darksteel, ten zhang long, five or six zhang wide, and more than a zhang high, shining with divine light, and so oddly shaped it didn¡¯t resemble a coffin at all.


    On the surface of the giant coffin were many unfamiliar patterns engraved, which Li Venerable couldn¡¯t decipher.


    But he was not concerned with these and urged the ck-robed cultivator to move forward.


    Under Li Venerable¡¯s oppressive force, the ck-robed cultivator had no choice but to enter the temple, his heart filled with terror.


    However, until he reached the front of the darksteel giant coffin, he had not encountered any attacks or other abnormal situations.


    Outside the Ancient Temple, Li Venerable, who was watching the situation inside, was still vignt at this time andmanded again, "Open the coffin, see what¡¯s inside!"


    Although terrified, the ck-robed Underworld Cultivator, having gone through two frightful experiences which turned out to be harmless, was no longer timid. Instead, he steeled his heart and swiftly attempted to lift the lid of the coffin.


    .....


    Ahead, through the vast emptiness, Lu Qingshan and his party of four continued toward the deep pce, after passing five intersections. Aside from Qin Yitian, specks of crimson inevitably appeared in the eyes of the other three, including King of the Western Rats.


    The evil aura grew denser, omnipresent, something they simply could not keep out.


    With the evil aura seeping into their Divine Souls, they could feel their emotions bing much more irritable.


    But, they had finally reached the end of the pceplex and truly found the Underworld Cultivators.


    The cry for help heard by King of the Western Rats provided them with the right direction!


    This was an exceedingly spacious courtyard, at the center of whichy a dark and deep pool, its calm surface undisturbed by any ripples. Yet, the surface was covered with an extremely denseyer of crimson evil aura that had be almost tangible.


    Beyond this deep pool, they could see an Ancient Temple with its doors wide open.


    Before the Ancient Temple, nearly a hundred Underworld Cultivators stood solemnly, their gazes fixed intently on the inside of the temple.


    From the angle of Lu Qingshan and hispanions, they could see everything inside the Ancient Temple very clearly.


    They could clearly see that inside the temple, a ck-robed cultivator ced his hands on the lid of the coffin, trying to push open the massive lid.


    "Boom!"


    With a muffled vibration, after the ck-robed Underworld Cultivator had pushed open a corner of the lid, it made a loud nging noise. The lid shook violently, and an invisible, eerie force emerged, pulling towards the ck-robed Underworld Cultivator.


    "Ahhhhh...."


    @@novelbin@@


    "Save me!"


    The next moment, apanied by the ck-robed cultivator¡¯s frantic scream, he fell into the darksteel giant coffin. Then, with another ng, the lid of the coffin eerily closed by itself.

 Chapter 229 - 22 Yin Yang Twin Tombs (Part 1)

    "Zhao Jie, Zhao Jie!" Seeing this eerie scene, those acquainted with the ck-robed cultivator felt chills run down their spines and anxiously called out the name of the cultivator who had fallen into the mysterious iron coffin, but there was no response whatsoever.


    A living person had just been swallowed by a coffin.


    Li Venerable¡¯s eyes were shadowed, intently watching the mysterious iron coffin that had returned to its original state.


    It wasn¡¯t that there were no changes, for right after Zhao Jie fell into the coffin, a small portion of the strange grey patterns on the surface of the coffin began to flicker with a blood-red sheen, as if they hade to life.


    He seemed to think of something, but was not sure, and needed to verify it further.


    So he pointed out another Underworld Cultivator¡ªthe cultivator in purple robes who was just calling Zhao Jie¡¯s name, "You, go and explore this coffin again!"


    The cultivator in purple robes never expected disaster to strike from above, and said in fear, "Hall Master, I...."


    "Hmm?" Li Venerable let out a cold hum, and his gaze swept across the cultivator in purple robes like a sharp de.


    Under the watchful and ferocious gaze of Li Venerable, the cultivator in purple robes turned ashen.


    As Underworld Cultivators, they all had the Heart Demon Gu imnted into their divine souls, and Li Venerable held control over the mother Gu of the Heart Demon Gu. With the mother Gu, as long as they dared to act against Li Venerable, he could easily counter them using the restraining power of the mother Gu over their child Gu.


    Thus, even now that Li Venerable had shattered his own Nascent Soul, dramatically reducing his cultivation, they simply could not resist him.


    Coerced by Li Venerable, the cultivator in purple robes could only walk slowly into the ancient temple, his legs trembling as he approached the mysterious iron coffin.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan and his threepanions were hiding their presence in the distance, observing the scene.


    Truth be told, their techniques to conceal their auras were not very sophisticated¡ªindeed, they could be considered quite crude.


    But because the attentions of the Underworld Cultivators were currently all focused on the coffin inside the ancient temple, so far, not a single one of them had discovered the arrival of Lu Qingshan and his party.


    "There¡¯s something off about the state of these Underworld Cultivators!" Lu Qingshan squinted his eyes and whispered, "Theirplexions and conditions are terribly poor."


    After carefully observing, Dantai Qingrun nodded and said, "Indeed, that¡¯s the case."


    Generally speaking, the use of a burst secret technique brings not only damage to one¡¯s cultivation foundation but also severe aftereffects.


    After the enormous strength gained from the burst fades, a cultivator will fall into an extremely weakened state for a long period of time.


    These Underworld Cultivators had previously used a burst Secret Technique to quickly break the restrictions around the Demon Spirit tomb, which was why they had all fallen into an extremely weakened state, their strength reduced to just a tenth or a twentieth of their peak.


    "Seizing this opportunity, we might have the chance topletely eliminate these Underworld Cultivators," Lu Qingshan said casually with earth-shattering implications, as a surge of killing intent burst forth.


    Within his pitch-ck eyes, crimson glints flickered.


    Normally, his desire to kill wasn¡¯t so intense.


    "Lu Qingshan, the sound of a heartbeat and a calling is getting clearer," said the rat king from the West, who was standing on Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder, suddenly grabbing Lu Qingshan¡¯s hanging hair, with a tone of anxiousness.


    "Is the sounding from that mysterious iron coffin?" Lu Qingshan asked again.


    The calling and heartbeat sounds that the rat king from the West mysteriously heard remained a puzzle, with no answer to it.


    The rat king from the West nodded, then shook its small head vigorously and hastily exined, "The heartbeat indeedes from that coffin, but that callinges from there!"


    The rat king from the West stretched out its small paw, pointing toward the Deep Pool that had naturally formed in the center of the square.


    "Hmm?" Lu Qingshan narrowed his eyes and began to ponder in his mind.


    ...


    On the other side, under Li Venerable¡¯s coercion, the cultivator in purple robes had alreadye rmingly close to the mysterious iron coffin.


    At this moment, the mysterious iron coffin did not emit any abnormal noises.


    "Break open this coffin," Li Venerable¡¯s voice echoed like an owl hooting, sending shivers of icy coldness down the spine of the cultivator in purple.


    Under Li Venerable¡¯s coercion, the cultivator in purple dared not dy.


    A green wooden ruler appeared in his hand, his magic artifact.


    Grasping the wooden ruler, it enveloped in a halo of green light, he swung it fiercely towards the coffin, attempting to shatter the outer shell of the coffin.


    ng!


    A blood-red divine light burst forth from the surface of the coffin, instantly sending the green wooden ruler magic artifact flying from the cultivator in purple¡¯s hand.


    Simultaneously, a foul, bloody stench wafted towards him, causing the cultivator in purple to momentarily be dazed.


    At that moment, with a creak, the dark-iron coffin opened a fine crack like the giant maw of a ferocious beast, and the cultivator in purple, swaying uncontrobly, tumbled into the coffin.


    The lid of the coffin slowly closed under the terrified gaze of the onlookers.


    Everything once again became quiet, the only change being that the gray patterns on the surface of the dark-iron coffin lit up again over arge area.


    About ten percent of the patterns were now flickering with light.


    Li Venerable¡¯s expression grew even more fierce; he had confirmed his spection.


    He pointed with his finger and rapidly selected a dozen more Underworld Cultivators.


    "All of you, enter the Ancient Temple and work together to lift the coffin lid!" Li Venerable¡¯s tone was chilling, revealing an air of indisputable finality.


    The Underworld Cultivators whose names were called all wore expressions of despair, one of them shaking his head in denial, his voice trembling as he said, "Hall Master, this is sending us to our deaths..."


    His feet were unconsciously stepping backward.


    Li Venerable let out a sinister chuckle, his thoughts barely stirring before a ck beam shot into the cultivator¡¯s forehead with such swiftness that he was unable to dodge or react.


    The next moment, the cultivator clutched his head and let out a scream, copsing to the ground and convulsing, emitting wails akin to a tormented spirit, "Ah... Ah... Hall Master, spare my life, please spare me... I was wrong, I was wrong!"


    Li Venerable remained unmoved, instead watching coldly as he writhed on the ground like a despised insect.


    Thirty breathster, Li Venerable finally ceased torturing the Underworld Cultivator.


    Following the shattering of his Nascent Soul, his cultivation was no longer sufficient to suppress all the cultivators present, but this was an opportunity to intimidate the Underworld Cultivators, ensuring they understood that as long as the Heart Demon Gu remained unresolved within them, they were forever under his control.


    "This coffin may not necessarily lead to your deaths, but I can make you wish for death." Li Venerable scanned the crowd, his voice cold and detached.


    @@novelbin@@


    For a moment, all the Underworld Cultivators fell deathly silent, no longer daring to say another word.


    Better him than me, after all, it¡¯s not me who¡¯s being sent to die.


    Most of the Underworld Cultivators thought this to themselves.


    The Underworld Cultivator used to make an example of struggled to rise, his clothes already soaked with cold sweat, his face pale, weakly begging for mercy, "I was wrong."


    Li Venerable showed no mercy, pointing at the coffin in the center of the Ancient Temple, his voice stern, "Hurry up!"


    With the previous example before them, even though they knew it was a death sentence, the Underworld Cultivators now no longer dared to resist or argue and could only silently walk into the Ancient Temple, approaching the dark-iron coffin.


    "Open the coffin lid!" Li Venerablemanded sharply.


    The dozen Underworld Cultivators ced their hands on the coffin lid, exchanging a look before finally beginning to slowly push the lid.


    Sss, sss, sss.


    In the stillness of the surroundings, the sound of the coffin lid moving seemed extraordinarily jarring.

 Chapter 231 - 24 Demon Spirit Legacy

    Yin Yang Twin Tombs, one Yin and one Yang,plement and enhance each other.


    The Ancient Temple serves as the Yang Tomb, housing the Physical Body of the Gengjin Tiger King.


    The Deep Pool underground is the Yin Tomb, and the content it hides is none other than the Demon Spirit inheritance left by the Gengjin Tiger King.


    And that blood-red pearl is the Primordial Spirit Pearl that contains the Demon Spirit inheritance.


    Lu Qingshan had never heard of the existence of a Yin Tomb within the Demon Spirit Tomb in his past life.


    This indicated that the inheritance of the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s Demon Spirit had been acquired by someone long ago, which is why the news never spread.


    And who could have obtained this Demon Spirit inheritance by deceiving the Heavens and Earth, if not the Underworld Cultivators who had entered the Demon Spirit Tomb early?


    However, this time, it¡¯s unlikely that either the Yang Tomb or the Yin Tomb will fall into the hands of the Underworld.


    That¡¯s what Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    Just then, the Primordial Spirit Pearl floating above the Cold Pond emitted a new disturbance; it suddenly shot out a crimson Spiritual Light, streaking directly towards Lu Qingshan.


    Caught off guard, Lu Qingshan instinctively tried to dodge, but the Spiritual Light moved so fast that he had no time to react.


    However, at the moment when the Spiritual Light was about to reach him, Lu Qingshan suddenly realized that it was not aiming for him.


    Its target was the Great King of the Western Mice standing on his shoulder.


    The blood-red Spiritual Light enveloped the tiny frame of the Great King of the Western Mice, and a powerful pulling force was instantly felt.


    Under this force, the Great King of the Western Mice was uncontrobly pulled towards the Cold Pond, finally hovering above it.


    The countless dense Demon Script flowed out from the Primordial Spirit Pearl at the moment the Great King of the Western Mice took position, surging into its body.


    These Demon Scripts possessed a mysterious power, causingyers of golden Radiance to appear on the Great King of the Western Mice¡¯s body as they merged into it.


    On the fur of the Great King of the Western Mice, mysterious and strange patterns appeared, meandering like serpents.


    These patterns were very familiar to Li Venerable, as they were identical to the engravings previously seen on the dark iron coffin.


    The scene before him left Lu Qingshan utterly dumbfounded.


    This meant... the Great King of the Western Mice had been chosen by the Primordial Spirit Pearl to receive the Demon Spirit inheritance!


    The inheritance of the Gengjin Tiger King, how could it be anything ordinary?


    @@novelbin@@


    Although he couldn¡¯t understand why the mighty Tiger King would choose a little mouse demon as the inheritor, he knew that the Great King of the Western Mice had stumbled upon a grand opportunity.


    Perhaps it was just the rodent¡¯s fate.


    Arrogant and illogical.


    The huge change that erupted from the Cold Pond caused Xian Huaibi and Dantai Qingrun, who were originally charging forward, to halt in their tracks, but it was just a brief pause before they charged again.


    Xian Huaibi, ferocious and with an astonishing momentum, roared as he brandished a ck, long, hard Zen Staff Magic Artifact, facing dozens of Underworld Cultivators without fear and boldly met them head-on, valiant like a War God.


    The ck iron Zen Staff hummed as it swallowed the light, and as Spiritual Power surged around it, Xian Huaibi charged through the Underworld Cultivators, like a wolf through a flock of sheep.


    Bang!


    In an instant, a Foundation Establishment Underworld Cultivator was smashed in the head by Xian Huaibi¡¯s staff blow, and blood and brain matter spurted out, staining Xian Huaibi¡¯s body and making him look even more ferocious.


    The Underworld Cultivators naturally would not just sumb; they quickly manipted their respective Magic Artifacts to attack Xian Huaibi.


    For a time, the Bronze de, Golden Horn Scissors, Silver Sword... various Magic Artifacts struck out, bombarding Xian Huaibi¡¯s Physical Body, making a series of nging sounds.


    Xian Huaibi¡¯s brows didn¡¯t knit in the slightest as he tenaciously bore down the attacks that surged like tidal waves.


    The onught initiated by the weakened Underworld Cultivators wasn¡¯t formidable, and the Spiritual Light on their Magic Artifacts was also extremely faint.


    Thus, after withstandind the siege from the Underworld Cultivators, only a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Xian Huaibi¡¯s mouth.


    He quickly stabilized his figure and, at the first opportunity, swung his Zen Staff wildly, continuing to smash into the crowds of Underworld Cultivators.


    Without any exquisite moves or profound footwork, Xian Huaibi relied solely on his thick-skinned resilience and formidable strength.


    This was the romance of Body Cultivation!


    Xian Huaibi felt an unparalled sense of exhration in his heart, his heroic spirit soaring as if he had returned to his spirited youth.


    But there was someone even more terrifying than Xian Huaibi.


    Dantai Qingrun.


    If Xian Huaibi¡¯sbat style could be described with the word "reckless," then "ruthless" would be the word to describe Dantai Qingrun.


    She wielded her twin swords,yers of Sword Light stacked upon each other, and in an instant, she sliced an Underworld Cultivator beside her into two, her figure ghostly and evasive as she weaved through the crowd with the agility of a goose, dodging a multitude of iing attacks.


    On the rare asions she failed to evade in time and was struck by the Underworld Cultivators¡¯ Magic Artifacts, the Golden Thread Apparel she wore protected her well, leaving her unharmed.


    Her twin swords, swift as the wind, appeared suddenly at the neck of an Underworld Cultivator, severing his head in one stroke, then in the next moment, plunged into the abdomen of another.


    Hardly anyone could withstand even a single exchange with her.


    Dantai Qingrun, whosebat power stood at the pinnacle of Golden Core Cultivators, was ughtering these Underworld Cultivators¡ªwho were already inferior to her and further weakened¡ªlike butchering dogs.


    Faced with such a dire threat, several Underworld Cultivators nearly copsed, trembling all over, "Hall Master, what should we do now?"


    Li Venerable watched from a distance as Dantai Qingrun and Xian Huaibi exerted their awe-inspiring might, his expression fierce as he muttered to himself, "Our goal for this mission¡ªthe Physical Body of the Gengjin Tiger King¡ªhas already been obtained; there¡¯s no need to y with them anymore."


    His gaze then turned to the small Rat Demon that was receiving the inheritance of the Demon Spirit, his voice tinged with regret, "It¡¯s a pity to leave behind this Primordial Spirit Pearl. Taking it back would have been a great achievement. In the current situation, we can only let this Rat Demon benefit."


    Further contemtion held little significance at this point.


    Shaking his head, Li Venerable dismissed his thoughts.


    Suddenly, a purple Spiritual Pearl appeared in his hand.


    This was a treasure bestowed by the Void Demon Child, imbued with the Space True Intention.


    Although the purple Spiritual Light upon it had dimmed considerably, it had notpletely faded; the pearl could still be used to perform a spatial teleportation spell.


    "Beiming True Venerable is a Void Refining Cultivator, if he can stop me, I will have nothing to say.


    But you two Golden Core Cultivators, what ability do you have to prevent me from leaving?" Li Venerable said in a softly to Dantai Qingrun and Xian Huaibi, who were quickly nearing him.


    His tone was calm, devoid of any mockery.


    Indeed, there wasn¡¯t much for him to boast about; had he not acquired the Physical Body of the Gengjin Tiger King, his entire expedition would¡¯ve been aplete loss.


    And now, even though his purpose had been achieved, the Lingxu Underworld had essentially been wiped out, sustaining dreadful losses.


    He couldn¡¯t bring himself to feel triumphant.


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the force of heaven and earth converged; the space in front of Li Venerable subtly twisted, ripped open a crack, which rapidly expanded into a purple ring-shaped spatial teleportation channel.


    Xian Huaibi, bathed in blood, eyeing the situation, nted his Zen Staff firmly onto the ground, and taunted loudly like a reverberating bell, "Li Venerable, with so many from the Underworld here, you do not dare to fight us to the death? Are you preparing to scurry away like a rat? Is this the extent of your prowess?"

 Chapter 232 - 25: Evil Qi Enters the Body

    Li Venerable did not get angry upon hearing those words. Instead, he looked at Xian Huaibi with disdain, "With just this little ability of mine, for a hundred years, I have still been able to y with you Lingxu Tower folks like pping my hands."


    Li Venerable then nced at Dantai Qingrun and pointed at her contemptuously, saying to Xian Huaibi, "You are nothing but trash, who now, backed by others, has grown arrogant?"


    Li Venerable¡¯s mockery struck right at Xian Huaibi¡¯s sore spot.


    He was hundreds of years old and still not as good as a girl in her tens of years. A problem that couldn¡¯t be solved in a hundred years was found a breakthrough by Dantai Qingrun in just half a year.


    He didn¡¯t say it out loud, but deep down, he was always deeply ashamed of this.


    When Li Venerable brought this up, Xian Huaibi immediately became enraged, and Spiritual Power surged violently within him, as he crazily attempted to rush to Li Venerable and smash his skull with a staff to vent his anger.


    But it was already toote.


    With a coldugh, Li Venerable¡¯s half-figure had already stepped into the circle of light.


    In this state, they really couldn¡¯t do anything about Li Venerable.


    @@novelbin@@


    After all, this was the Space True Intention, one of the most terrifying Primordial Intents.


    However, at this desperate moment, Dantai Qingrun¡¯s delicate brows slightly raised.


    Because a sword qi, condensed to the extreme and as fine as silk, suddenly soared into the sky, heading straight for the mysterious purple circle of light.


    In the distance, Lu Qingshan, with the Dragon Sparrow Sword in hand, still had a sliver of sword qi residue on its tip.


    This was a sh of sword qi from Lu Qingshan.


    What was he trying to do?


    Dantai Qingrun couldn¡¯t understand.


    Although this exquisitely fine Sword Qi Silk Transformation was indeed astounding to her,


    the teleportation channel formed by the Space True Intention was by no means something a Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator could destroy with a sh of sword qi.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword strike would surely be futile.


    But in the next moment, Dantai Qingrun¡¯s eyes widened, her pupils shrank abruptly, and for the first time, an indelible look of astonishment appeared on her calm face.


    The sword qi, which should have been of no use, burst forth with a dazzling sword light upon touching the circle of light. It emitted a deafening roar, engulfing and shattering the purple circle of light.


    Crack, crack, crack!


    The powerful Space True Intention was instantly melted away by this strand of sword qi!


    And at the very moment when the Space True Intention dissipated, space, ripped open by a gap, abruptly closed. And so unexpectedly did it close like an invisible de, cutting Li Venerable, who had half his body in the spatial passage, into two pieces at the waist!


    The lower half of his body dropped into the unseen spatial turbulence, while the upper half fell onto the ground.


    Li Venerable incredulously looked at his now empty lower half.


    Where are my legs?


    He thought to himself, suddenly feeling an unbearable excruciating pain, and then everything went dark as he lost all consciousness.


    The ruler of the Lingxu Netherworld, a ruthless man who even survived the Beiming True Venerable¡¯s hands, died here unclearly.


    Until his death, he could notprehend what power had dissolved the Space True Intention.


    Lu Qingshan slowly sheathed the sword.


    Dragon Sparrow, Spell Breaking!


    The Spell Breaking Divine Ability can break through all spells; even the Primordial Intent is no exception.


    Two birds with one stone.


    His sword not only shattered Li Venerable¡¯s notion of fleeing but also easily cut him down with the shing power of space.


    A line of glowing small characters appeared before his eyes.


    [Nine-Pattern Golden Pill]: Defeat an enemy beyond your level (3/3).


    ...


    The death of Li Venerable weighed like thest straw that broke the camel¡¯s back, leaving the Underworld Cultivators with no will to fight as they were already at the end of their tether.


    Although they were incredibly astonished and eager to ask Lu Qingshan what exactly happened, Dantai Qingrun and Xian Huaibi were even less willing to miss the opportunity, immediately stirring up a bloody storm among the Underworld Cultivator crowd.


    The situation turned into a one-sided ughter.


    Dantai Qingrun and Xian Huaibi both got a bit frenzied from the killing.


    Lu Qingshan did not join in, and Qin Yitian also stood silently by Lu Qingshan¡¯s side.


    An hourter.


    Following the demise of thest Underworld Cultivator, split in two by Dantai Qingrun¡¯s sword, the battle finally came to an end.


    In front of the Ancient Temple, the ground was littered with corpses and traces of blood, making the scene resemble a bloody purgatory.


    Dantai Qingrun walked over to Li Venerable¡¯s severed corpse and took the Storage Ring from his hand¡ªfortunately, the lower half of Li Venerable¡¯s body was the part that had fallen into the spatial turbulence.


    Xian Huaibi also quickly collected Storage Rings from the corpses of other Underworld Cultivators.


    "A total victory!" said Dantai Qingrun with a light step, turning to Lu Qingshan, "The credit for this victory isrgely yours. I will make sure to report this to the higher-ups so that they can reward you handsomely."


    Xian Huaibi, who had juste over after tidying up the battlefield, had his eyes wide open, looking at Lu Qingshan in disbelief.


    Did Dantai Qingrun just say that eighty percent of the credit for this victory should go to this Foundation Establishment Cultivator??


    Unperturbed, Lu Qingshan gave a cupped fist salute to Dantai Qingrun, then pointed towards the Western Mouse King, who was epting the Demon Spirit inheritance, and said, "For now, I am not ready to leave this ce yet. It is receiving the Demon Spirit inheritance, and I¡¯m afraid something might go wrong if no one is here to protect it."


    Understanding, Dantai Qingrun thought for a moment and said, "Then let Vice Tower Master Xian leave first to report the details to Beiming True Venerable, and I will stay with you to wait for its inheritance to finish, to have an extra pair of eyes."


    "Thank you for the offer," Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze briefly swept over Dantai Qingrun¡¯s face before he continued, "However, given your current state and that of Vice Tower Master Xian, neither of you should stay in the Demon Spirit Tomb much longer."


    Upon hearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s words, both of them were taken aback, and after exchanging a look, they suddenly realized that, unbeknownst to them, their eyes had turned blood red.


    "How can the evil spirit¡¯s infiltration be so rapid?!"


    The pair were instantly rmed and hurriedly looked inward at their Divine Souls, only to find that, silently and unnoticed, seven to eight parts of their Primordial Spirits had already been entwined by an indelible crimson evil aura, which they found hard to believe.


    Logically, given the speed of the evil spirit¡¯s infiltration of their Divine Souls, they should have been able to stay in the Demon Spirit Tomb for nearly half a month, but how could they have reached their limit in such a short time?


    Under such circumstances, if they didn¡¯t leave the Demon Spirit Tomb promptly to dispel the evil aura, and their Primordial Spirits werepletely invaded by it, they would be beastly devils that know only ughter, a scenario too dire to contemte.


    "Once you harbor a murderous intent in the Demon Spirit Tomb, the speed of the evil spirit¡¯s infiltration will elerate.


    Thus, every time you kill someone in the Demon Spirit Tomb, the evil aura within your Divine Souls bes denser.


    And since you just ughtered so many Underworld Cultivators, it naturally led to the current situation," Lu Qingshan exined.


    It was precisely because he noticed this that, despite the dual demands for leveling up and Experience Points, he had refrained from taking action just now.


    ---He didn¡¯t know how long it would take for the Western Mouse King to receive the inheritance, but he needed to keep his Divine Soul in the most normal state possible, allowing enough time to protect the Western Mouse King.


    Xian Huaibi also had a sudden epiphany, finally understanding why he had just exhibited a crazed state that even he himself could notprehend.


    It was because the evil aura had entered his body and greatly affected his emotions and willpower.

 Chapter 233 - 26: Mutation

    "We need to leave quickly," Xian Huaibi said in a grave voice as he became aware of their dire situation.


    Dantai Qingrun also understood the urgency and without any dilly-dallying, nodded decisively, "Then I will go first. You and Miss Qin be more careful."


    She then turned to look at Qin Yitian, gave him a respectful hand gesture to bid farewell, and hastily retreated towards the exit with Xian Huaibi.


    Seeing the two leave, Lu Qingshan finally came back to his senses and looked at the Rat Tyrant who was epting the inheritance of the Demon Spirit.


    The physical body and inheritance of the Gengjin Tiger King had already been snatched by them, but there were still some very important things that Lu Qingshan had yet to see.


    The spoils of war that the Gengjin Tiger King had plundered over a thousand years, and the rumored Immortal Codex.


    The Taoist Treasury chapter on the Golden Core.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes zed as he watched the ughter Intent swirling above the Cold Pond.


    If this Immortal Codex really existed, it was very likely hidden in the Yin Tomb just like the inheritance left by the Gengjin Tiger King.


    As long as the Rat Tyrant finished epting the inheritance, they should be able to obtain the Immortal Codex smoothly.


    ....


    Outside the Demon Spirit Tomb, in an unnamed valley.


    More and more Demon Beasts had been arriving from all around the Spirit Mountain range, gathering outside the valley, nearly a thousand in number, most being Second Grade Demon Beasts.


    However, intimidated by the might of Beiming True Venerable, these Demon Beasts could only watch from a distance, not daring to make a move.


    Beiming True Venerable alone guarded the valley.


    "Thump," "Thump," "Thump".....


    Just then, an anomaly arose, and a strange sound echoed.


    Crack, crack!


    Shimmering with the light of dawn, the only entrance leading deep underground to the Demon Spirit Tomb, the door of the hall, began to crack.


    Cobweb-like fractures appeared, rapidly spreading outwards.


    A few breathster.


    Boom!


    An overwhelming wave of Spiritual Power erupted in an instant, shattering the entire hall door.


    @@novelbin@@


    Beyond that, the surrounding rock walls also crumbled to dust.


    Under the impact of this violent force, even the Beiming True Venerable was shaken.


    This drastic change caused him to tense up.


    Beiming True Venerable did not know what had happened inside the Demon Spirit Tomb. He only feared that Dantai Qingrun had encountered some danger.


    An entrance several timesrger than the original appeared before the eyes of the Demon Beasts.


    The steaming halo that hovered at the entrance gradually dissipated, revealing the scene inside the tomb; in the dark hall, mysterious Spirit Pirs stood erect, causing the onlooker¡¯s hearts to tremble slightly.


    Quite abruptly, a forceparable to the vast ocean of ughter Intent emerged and concentrated, transforming into a blood-colored beam of light rushing towards Beiming True Venerable.


    Wrapped in endless Demonic Power and a potent ughter Intent, the beam made Beiming True Venerable¡¯s heart clench.


    Boom!


    Leaping electric snakes appeared in his hand, which he hurled out, colliding with the blood-colored divine light and causing a violent explosion.


    To avoid the aftermath, Beiming True Venerable quickly retreated hundreds of steps, temporarily exiting the valley.


    And as he left the valley, the still-surging, eager blood-colored divine light suddenly stagnated and subsided.


    Yet the Rat Tyrant within the valley remained unharmed.


    "What does this mean, that it wants me to leave the valley?" A tinge of darkness floated in Beiming True Venerable¡¯s eyes.


    Even in life, the might of the Gengjin Tiger King was formidable, but there was no reason for the remnant ughter Intent to still possess such great divine power after his demise.


    Beiming True Venerable¡¯s gaze focused on the four Spirit Pirs revealed in the entrance hall.


    At this moment, the Spirit Pirs were shining brightly, with an extremely rich blood-red Spiritual Energy coiling around them.


    This was the doing of the Four Spirits Qi Nurturing Formation.


    The Four Spirits Qi Nurturing Formation had been in operation for hundreds of years, nurturing the remnant ughter Intent of the Gengjin Tiger King into something even more fierce and powerful.


    "Huff, huff, huff!"


    Beiming True Venerable suddenly heard a series of heavy breathing sounds, continuous anding from behind him.


    Taken aback, he turned around to look.


    At this time, the Demon Beasts gathered at a distance outside the valley all had an inexplicable fervor in their eyes, greedily staring at the Demon Spirit Tomb, emitting extremely heavy breathing sounds.


    Beiming True Venerable¡¯s expression changed.


    What¡¯s going on? Have these Demon Beasts been bewitched?


    It was as if he realized something, and he quickly looked at Rat Tyrant, who was in the valley but had not been attacked; it was caught in a strange state just like the other Demon Beasts, asionally casting a covetous nce at the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    Seeing this, Beiming True Venerable realized what was happening.


    Something must have happened to these Demon Beasts, something that he, as a member of the Human Race, could not feel.


    Beiming True Venerable snorted coldly at Rat Tyrant, "Come out."


    Pressured by Beiming True Venerable¡¯s formidable presence, Rat Tyrant shed out from the valley, understanding the situation, and appeared before Beiming True Venerable.


    "What is it that you would like tomand, my lord?" Rat Tyrant asked with great respect.


    "What happened?" Beiming True Venerable asked coldly.


    Rat Tyrant hesitated for a moment, ultimately not daring to obfuscate or conceal the truth, nor pretend to be confused, and honestly reported, "I have heard a continuous calling, emanating from within the Demon Spirit Tomb, urging us to go to it."


    So that¡¯s how it is.


    No wonder these Demon Beasts suddenly seemed like they were bewitched, bing so ardent all of a sudden.


    But what exactly does the Gengjin Tiger King want to do?


    A frown appeared on Beiming True Venerable¡¯s brow as he noticed the breathing of the surrounding Demon Beasts growing heavier, and he too began to feel uneasy.


    In the valley, he could single-handedly prevent these Demon Beasts from entering.

 Chapter 234 - 26 Mutation_2

    Now, the valley had suddenly be a forbidden area specifically for high-level cultivators; the moment he would enter the valley, the Demon Spirit Tomb would emit a blood-colored divine light to attack him.


    He was unable to enter the valley anymore, and once he lost the advantage of terrain, when the rationality and fear of these demon beasts were diluted by frenzy and they charged at the formation regardless of their lives, he was absolutely incapable of stopping all the demon beasts.


    He had originally anticipated that he could at least buy over two days¡¯ time for Dantai Qingrun and the others.


    But who would have thought that just half a day had passed, and due to the bizarre changes within the Demon Spirit Tomb, the situation had undergone an unexpected twist.


    Whoosh!


    Just as Beiming True Venerable was lost in thought and anxiety, two figures suddenly appeared in his line of sight, bringing an immediate joy to his face.


    It was Dantai Qingrun and Xian Huaibi.


    The two emerged twinkling from the Demon Spirit Tomb and, seeing the encirclement of demon beasts around the valley, were momentarily stunned.


    They had only entered the Demon Spirit Tomb for half a day; how had the outside be like this?


    Both were somewhat incredulous.


    Under the watchful eyes of many demon beasts, the two flew to Beiming True Venerable¡¯s side.


    "How are things?" Beiming True Venerable asked hastily.


    "Li Venerable is dead, and all of the Underworld Cultivators inside the Demon Spirit Tomb have been exterminated by us," Dantai Qingrun reported, stepping forward and handing over Li Venerable¡¯s Storage Ring, "This is his Storage Ring."


    "Good, good!" Beiming True Venerable was overjoyed and did not skimp on his praise, "You¡¯ve made a great contribution again, truly living up to my high expectations!"


    "Thank you for your high regard, True Venerable. However, eighty percent of the credit for this great battle merit belongs to Lu Qingshan; I only did some insignificant work," Dantai Qingrun didn¡¯t im the credit for himself and was very sincere.


    "Since it¡¯s your man who made a great contribution, you naturally deserve credit too." Upon hearing Dantai Qingrun speak thus, Beiming True Venerable then remembered Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian and quickly followed up, "What about the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators who entered the Demon Spirit Tomb with you? Why didn¡¯t theye out together? Could it be that something happened?"


    Dantai Qingrun shook his head, cautiously scanned the demon beasts that were eyeing them greedily but temporarily dared not act, and transmitted a message to Beiming True Venerable, exining in detail the events that urred within the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    After understanding the secrets of the Demon Spirit Tomb, Beiming True Venerable was suddenly enlightened.


    The call that these demon beasts had heard must have been from the Primordial Spirit Pearl.


    No wonder the emergence of the Demon Spirit Tomb had caused such amotion and was so contrary tomon sense.


    It seemed that the Gengjin Tiger King, while constructing its tomb, had intended to make it a ce of legacy as well, hence the deliberate arrangement.


    By intentionally creating a loud noise, it attracted the demon beasts from the Spirit Mountain ranges toe, while using the Primordial Spirit Pearl to call the demon beasts into the tomb, like raising gu insects, with the strongest beast remaining in the end eligible to receive its Demon Spirit legacy.


    It was also because the Rat Tyrant had begun to ept the Demon Spirit legacy that the Demon Spirit Tomb underwent such great changes, and the Primordial Spirit Pearl issued a call to attract all demon beasts to join thepetition.


    Only the demon beast that could defeat all otherpetitors and survive till the end would be eligible for the Demon Spirit legacy left by the Gengjin Tiger King.


    The only restriction was that only beasts below Fourth Grade were allowed to receive the legacy.


    Beasts exceeding this level of strength approaching the Demon Spirit Tomb, would be indiscriminately attacked by the aura of extermination, just like him.


    Understanding the current situation, Dantai Qingrun¡¯s expression turned solemn, and her usually calm mind was finally thrown into disarray, "True Venerable, Lu Qingshan has made a great contribution to the Tower of Guardianship. We cannot let these demon beasts enter the tomb; otherwise, facing so many demon beasts, Lu Qingshan is likely to die within the Demon Spirit Tomb."


    Beiming True Venerable¡¯s face was stern and earnest, as he promised, "The Tower of Guardianship has never failed to reward those with merit; of course, I will do my utmost to stop these demon beasts."


    But then, Beiming True Venerable sighed, "However, I can only do my best; I can¡¯t promise anything."


    Dantai Qingrun pursed her lips, with nothing to say.


    Without further thought, she immediately began to operate her Cultivation Technique to expel the evil aura entwined around the surface of her Divine Soul.


    Only by eradicating this evil aura would she be able to re-enter the tomb and assist Lu Qingshan when these demon beasts broke into the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    But what she did not expect was that just as she had begun to operate her Cultivation Technique, Rat Tyrant suddenly clutched its head in panic and shouted, "True Venerable, the call has intensified!"


    Beiming True Venerable¡¯s gaze was sharp as lightning, staring intently at Rat Tyrant. A gray light shot out from his eyes into the Rat Tyrant¡¯s forehead, and Rat Tyrant immediately fainted.


    Dantai Qingrun paid no attention to this but hurriedly turned her gaze to the many demon beasts that, intimidated by Beiming True Venerable¡¯s prestige, dared not take any action.


    Their steps began to slowly move.


    p, p!


    Finally, the first demon beast, crazed and reckless, appeared.


    In the sky, the ck Scale Eagle that had arrived first could no longer hold back. It pped its wings, whipping up a gale, and rushed toward the entrance of the Demon Spirit Tomb in the valley.


    Boom!


    Beiming True Venerable¡¯s eyes shed with a piercing cold light, as a thunderbolt appeared out of nowhere, striking the ck Scale Eagle and instantly knocking it from the sky.


    The mes generated by the lightning started to burn on the ck Scale Eagle, turning its plummeting form into a fireball.


    However, this scene did not instill fear in the demon beasts.


    At this moment, the savage beasts began to surge toward the valley regardless of danger, dense and unstoppable like a tide.


    Nothing could curb the violence in the hearts of these demon beasts.


    Roar¡ªRoar¡ªRoar¡ª¡ª


    Howl¡ªHowl¡ªHowl¡ª¡ª


    Hiss¡ªHiss¡ªHiss¡ª¡ª


    The various roars of the demon beasts echoed one after another, shaking the forest sea in the mountain range.


    The vast momentum of their charge stirred up clouds of dust.


    The demon beasts rushed toward Beiming True Venerable, determined to break past him and enter the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    Beiming True Venerable bellowed, his protective robe moving without wind, golden Taoist patterns shining brightly, safeguarding him.


    At the same time, a purple Bronze Furnace flew out from within his body, spinning in the air and rapidly erging.


    The outer wall of the Bronze Furnace was adorned with lingering thunderbolts.


    "Kill!" Beiming True Venerable¡¯s long eyebrows stood on end as he formed seals with his hands, and a beam of Spiritual Light shot from his hand, hitting the Bronze Furnace and causing it to shake violently¡ªinside, a piercing explosion sounded.


    Crackle! Crackle!


    @@novelbin@@


    In the next instant, the mouth of the Bronze Furnace faced the demon beasts, and a sea of thunder roared out like an inverted gxy.


    In this moment, between Heaven and Earth, everything was nketed in the blinding light of the lightning.


    The endless thunderbolts, dense and flickering, struck toward the onrushing tide of beasts.


    Beiming True Venerable was now going all out.


    Under the divine might of the thunder, more than a dozen vicious birds became fireballs and fell from the sky.


    A crocodile with a broad mouth, fangs, and scale-covered body was torn in half by the thunderbolt, sttering blood everywhere, a sight too gruesome to behold.


    The scene was chaotic, and not a single demon beast was a match for Beiming True Venerable.


    But the purpose of these demon beasts was never to fight Beiming True Venerable to the death; they simply sought to get past him to enter the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    With so many demon beasts surging simultaneously, not even his strength could stop them all.


    A golden-haired rhinoceros, standing four to five zhang tall with a singlerge horn at its brow, sparking with electricity, and a pair of huge, blood-red eyes, was at the forefront. It moved at extreme speed, evaded the thunder strike, and became the first to slip through the, entering the valley before dashing unhesitatingly into the Demon Spirit Tomb and vanishing from sight.


    Where there¡¯s one, there¡¯s a second. Following the golden-haired rhinoceros, more and more demon beasts climbed over the bodies of others, escaping from Beiming True Venerable¡¯s grasp and breaking into the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    Among them were Second Grade and Third Grade demon beasts, definitely not in short supply.


    Meanwhile, Dantai Qingrun, who was simrly using all his methods to stop these demon beasts from infiltrating the tomb, felt an acute sense of urgency for the first time in the face of this situation.


    So many demon beasts entering the tomb, heading straight for the Demon Spirit inheritance¡ªwhat was Lu Qingshan to do?

 Chapter 235 - 27 The Clues

    By the Cold Pond, the motionless Lu Qingshan suddenly blinked and cast his gaze toward the distant fork in the road.


    "Something ising," Lu Qingshan said in surprise.


    With a swooshing sound, a golden-furred rhino appeared at the fork.


    This rhino possessed a divine bloodline, stood four to five zhang tall, and had arge horn on its forehead that flickered with electric light.


    It was an exceedingly rare Thunder Attribute Monster Beast.


    There was no other cover on the square, and looking from the fork leading to the square, the Cold Pond, the Great King Rat undergoing the inheritance, and the Primordial Spirit Pearl were all in in sight.


    Therge eyes of the gold-furred rhino were full of fervor, but its pace hesitated when its gaze fell on the man standing erect by the Cold Pond.


    The beast¡¯s keen instincts made it sense an extremely dangerous aura emanating from this man.


    However, the temptation of the Demon Spirit inheritance prevented it from easily retreating, so the gold-furred rhino adopted a cautious posture, slowly approaching the man.


    The more casual andx this man looked, the more cautious it became, not daring to act rashly.


    The gold-furred rhino circled Lu Qingshan twice, unable to withstand the impatience any longer and not wanting to waste time further. It feigned an attack, its horn sparking with electricity, and lunged at Lu Qingshan.


    But just as it started its move, the man acted.


    A crimson sword appeared in the man¡¯s hands.


    @@novelbin@@


    The moment the sword appeared, an incredibly chilling aura surged forth, causing the beast¡¯s movements to falter and its body to tremble slightly, as if some terrifying existence was releasing an aura that suppressed it.


    "Dragon Breath": Passive: The dragon, the leader of scaled creatures, the noble of the four spirits.


    This sword inherently carries the dragon breath, exerting a corresponding suppressive force on all demon beasts depending on their grade.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword possesses an innate restraining force against demon beasts.


    With Lu Qingshan¡¯s current level of cultivation, the Dragon Sparrow Sword¡¯s Dragon Breath Divine Skill could weaken thebat power of a Second Grade demon beast by nearly thirty percent.


    Under the oppressive force of the Dragon Breath, the gold-furred rhino felt as though it were trapped in a marsh, its movements and thoughts considerably slowed.


    The next instant, a shimmering crimson streak shed across its eyes.


    Immediately afterward, in its line of sight, a massive headless body flew out.


    "Why does this body look so familiar..."


    The next moment, the gold-furred rhino suddenly realized, wasn¡¯t this its own body? But where was the head?


    As it thought this, full of confusion, it hadn¡¯t figured it out when it plunged into endless darkness, never to regain consciousness.


    With one decapitative strike, the movement was so swift that the gold-furred rhino¡¯s body, due to inertia, continued to fly straight forward for more than ten zhang before it crashed to the ground, blood gushing outward.


    And its enormous head was left behind on the ground.


    "The young master¡¯s sword technique is also very remarkable," Qin Yitian, who witnessed the strike, mumbled with her eyes sparkling.


    She couldn¡¯t help asking, "Young master, what is this sword technique?"


    Lu Qingshan sheathed his sword and exined, "The Falling Bright Sword Technique, though I¡¯ve made some modifications to it myself, so it might look a bit unrecognizable."


    He had mastered the Falling Bright Sword Technique to max level a long time ago.


    The power of this sword technique now clearly couldn¡¯t keep up with his pace of growth.


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan had made some improvements and enhancements to the Falling Bright Sword Technique, and with his nearly unmatched talent in swordsmanship as an aid, his progress in modifying the Falling Bright Sword Technique was unexpectedly smooth.


    The biggest change was that Lu Qingshan had intentionally integrated some techniques from the Secret Sword Wind sh into the Falling Bright Sword Technique, transforming it from a control-oriented to a fast sword technique.


    The sword struck like the wind, fierce and swift.


    "Why did a demon beast enter the tomb so quickly?" Lu Qingshan wondered.


    However, just as this question emerged in his mind, he sensed another unusual surge from the passage.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª


    Intense wind sounds swirled, dust roiled.


    A fierce bird with enormous wsnded heavily on the ground, appearing at the passage.


    The fierce bird was pitch ck, its green eyes filled with murderous intent, fixated on the Spiritual Light emitting Primordial Spirit Pearl.


    Lu Qingshan gripped the Dragon Sparrow Sword tightly in his hand, carefully watching the fierce bird.


    The gold-furred rhino was just a Second Grade demon beast, and with the power of the Dragon Sparrow Sword, ying it was like chopping melons and cutting vegetables.


    But this time was different.


    Because the aura emanating from this fierce bird was unmistakably that of a Third Grade demon beast.


    Huff!


    Confident in its own strength, the fierce bird disdainfully nced at Lu Qingshan, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and without any hesitation, it rushed forward swiftly. Its wings flickered with radiance, sharp as curved sabers, shing towards Lu Qingshan.


    Because of the flying restriction, the fierce bird couldn¡¯t use its fastest speed and had to run on its feet, but it didn¡¯t care.


    What trouble could a Foundation Establishment Cultivator pose?


    However, as it approached within fifteen meters of Lu Qingshan, it suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from the man ahead, causing its movements to deform and slow down.


    "What¡¯s happening?" The fierce bird found its speed further reduced by twenty percent under this pressure and shivered in its mind.


    Hiss, hiss, hiss!


    A surge of mes suddenly rolled out, zing brilliantly and fiercely flickering, sweeping towards the fierce bird.


    The fierce bird¡¯s eyes widened.


    It was that female cultivator, whom it hadn¡¯t been paying much attention to, who made her move.


    Lu Qingshan was also slightly surprised; this was actually the first time he had seen Qin Yitian put forth her full strength.


    Screech¡ª


    The wave of mes in the air astonishingly took on the shape of a Fire Phoenix, emitting a very anthropomorphic cry.


    Phoenixes, the reverent subjects of all birds.


    As the supreme among bird-kind, the phoenix exerted more pressure on the fierce bird than even the Dragon Breath.


    This was an innate bloodline suppression.


    It couldn¡¯t understand why a spell-formed Fire Phoenix seemed like a living creature, but it could only suppress the fear from its bloodline instinct, raising its wings and crossing them in front of its body to meet the fiery wave formed by the Fire Phoenix.


    Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!


    The pitch-ck wings, like a thick shield, intercepted the Fire Phoenix. Sparks flew wildly in an instant, scattering around, and the Radiance on the fierce bird¡¯s wings also rapidly melted away.


    Under the strong impact, the fierce bird¡¯s body retreated dozens of meters before stabilizing.


    But the fierce bird¡¯s tightly clenched heart suddenly rxed.


    The Fire Phoenixing head-on had indeed exerted immense pressure on it, but its actual power was entirely manageable, possibly because the person casting the spell was too weak in cultivation.


    Just as it had just caught its breath, it spread its wings, but suddenly, a dazzling red light appeared in its eyes, mixed within the exploding rain of fire, only noticeable at that moment.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword followed right behind the Fire Phoenix, shing towards the fierce bird¡¯s neck.


    Ayer of demonic power emerged and covered the fierce bird¡¯s neck area.


    ng!


    The sword struck the fierce bird¡¯s body but was blocked by it.


    Lu Qingshan, with his extremely richbat experience, having seized the initiative, naturally didn¡¯t stop there.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword continuously thrust forward, the sword body shimmering with Sword Qi and rolling waves of mes.


    Within a range of several meters, cold light was everywhere.


    The fierce bird defended and retreated, continually moving backward.


    Fear gradually appeared in its eyes.


    The Sword Cultivator before it, both in terms of the depth and purity of Spiritual Power, seemed no different from a Golden Core Cultivator.


    And his mastery of sword techniques surpassed that of a typical Golden Core Sword Cultivator by a lot.


    What made it most helpless was the long sword that flickered with waves of mes.


    The mes seemed to continuously flow from the sword, each strike as if boosted by a fire-based spell cast by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator,bined with the inherent power of the sword techniques themselves, made it dare not be the slightest negligent, weary from the defense.


    Moreover, the fiercer the battle, the weaker its momentum became, while the Sword Cultivator¡¯s momentum grew stronger.


    How could this possibly be a Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator?


    The fierce bird felt both unwilling and extremely frustrated.


    Rip!


    Finally, due to a slight misstep, Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword swept across its stomach, almostpletely shing open its chest.


    The fierce bird let out a mournful cry, its body limply copsed to the ground.


    It had been drenched in blood for a while, barely surviving until now.

 Chapter 236 - 28 Slaying Demons (Part 1)

    Lu Qingshan, holding his sword, walked to the front of the fierce bird, which had no more strength to struggle or resist, pointed the tip of his sword at its brow, his voice very cold, his tone murderous, "Where do youe from?"


    "You smug pretty boy, don¡¯t be too pleased with yourself. Aside from me, there are countless demon beasts eyeing the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s inheritance with covetous eyes, and they will soon arrive.


    The inheritance of the Demon Spirit, how could it be something a mere mouse demon is worthy of enjoying!


    What would it matter if you y me? Can you alone stand at the pass and wipe out all the other demon beasts?" The fierce bird was at death¡¯s door, weak to the extreme.


    It did not directly answer Lu Qingshan¡¯s question but instead sneered with bitterness and spite.


    "Countless demon beasts?" Lu Qingshan frowned.


    Seeing the serious look on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face, the fierce birdughed viciously with satisfaction, "Scared now, huh?


    @@novelbin@@


    Being a Void Refining practitioner is strong, but how can you stop all of our demon beast kin?


    Who wouldn¡¯t be moved by the inheritance left by the Gengjin Tiger King? With so many demon beasts charging forward, even if only ten percent gets through, they will definitely be beyond your ability to stop."


    A heavy feeling settled in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    Indeed, the worst scenario had happened.


    Pu!


    Having learned what he wanted to know, Lu Qingshan did not waste more words on the fierce bird and, without a trace of mercy, stabbed it in the brow with his sword.


    .........


    The situation had developed far beyond Lu Qingshan¡¯s expectations.


    The unexpected strategy of the Gengjin Tiger King turned the journey to the Demon Spirit Tomb, which waspletely under control, into the current predicament, truly proving the unpredictability of life.


    Lu Qingshan fell silent for a long while.


    If he wanted the Western Rat King to safely receive the Demon Spirit inheritance, he had to face an unknown number of demon beasts, among which there would be manyparable to Third Grade Golden Core Cultivators.


    There was only one way forward, with no other strategy to break the situation.


    Was it a sure thing? Not at all.


    Lu Qingshan also understood that the odds were not in his favor, but would he leave the Western Rat King to his fate?


    The answer was obvious.


    Moreover, as a Sword Cultivator, if at this moment, he faltered,


    Then there would be no sword for him to cultivate.


    "I cannot retreat from this battle," Lu Qingshan said as he turned to apologize to Qin Yitian.


    "My lord, what is there for you to be sorry about? Remember, I am your sword," Qin Yitian said calmly, looking at Lu Qingshan with a gentle smile, "To battle for the Sword Master is the duty of the sword."


    As her voice fell, Qin Yitian¡¯s figure shed, turning into a streak of red light, merging into the Dragon Sparrow Sword in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand.


    A streak of Radiance briefly shed above the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    The voice of Qin Yitian came from the sword, "As a Sword Spirit, the moment I unify with the Dragon Sparrow Sword, its power will increase by another thirty percent. That is one of the abilities of a Sword Spirit..."


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback, suddenly realizing what was happening.


    Because Qin Yitian¡¯s every frown and smile were no different from a real person, many times, he subconsciously overlooked the fact that Qin Yitian was the Dragon Sparrow Sword Spirit.


    He held the sword tightly in his hand, feeling his affinity with the Dragon Sparrow Sword increase a notch at the moment Qin Yitian hid in the sword.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword felt warm in his hand, as gentle as a woman¡¯s touch, and wielded as if it were an extension of his arm.


    He did not put away the Dragon Sparrow Sword but instead held the sword as he walked into the passageway leading to the za.


    This ce was restricted from flying, which means this passageway was the only entrance.


    If he could hold this ce, then no one would be able to enter the za and disturb the Western Rat King¡¯s inheritance.


    From this moment on, he had to be as the fierce bird had said.


    One man holding the pass!


    ......


    Dong Dong Dong!


    Not long after, two giant wolves with ck backs and white bellies appeared within Lu Qingshan¡¯s sight.


    "They¡¯ve arrived," Lu Qingshan whispered.


    The two giant wolves were massive, their wide-open jaws revealing long, white, fearsome fangs that glinted with a cold light. Their scarlet tongues hung out, dripping with stinking wolf saliva, giving them a ferociously menacing appearance.


    These were two Third Grade realm demon wolves, and considering their nearly identical appearances, it indicated they were likely born from the same litter.


    The eyes of the giant wolves brimmed with fierceness as they locked onto Lu Qingshan.


    "Awooo!"


    Without a word of nonsense, two wolf howls rang out.


    Like two bolts of lightning, the giant wolves lunged towards Lu Qingshan simultaneously, their sinister ws shing coldly as they aimed for Lu Qingshan¡¯s neck.


    Two streaks of cold light danced out like ribbons, the demon wolves baring their gruesome grins.


    In the blink of an eye, twoyers of fierce Sword Qi surged from within Lu Qingshan, forming a shimmering Sword Armor that shielded him.


    ng!


    The demon wolves¡¯ ws struck the Sword Armor as if they had hit an iron te, causing them immense pain.


    Hisss!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes turned fierce as he seized a tiny w during the left wolf¡¯s attack, and the Dragon Sparrow Sword, surging with hot waves of me, became a sword shadow that sliced through the belly of the giant wolf.


    The Phoenix me effortlessly scorched and prated theyer of skin that should have been extremely tough.


    A cloud of blood mist rose into the air.


    The demon wolf was sent flying backward, emitting a painful howl.


    This sword strike had inflicted severe injuries on it.


    Seeing the pitiful state of itspanion, the other demon wolf quickly took several steps back and looked at Lu Qingshan with inevitable wariness in its eyes.


    "Come again."


    Lu Qingshan nted his sword and pointed it at the two demon wolves, saying coldly.


    At this moment, all the distractions in his heart had faded away, leaving only a sky-high killing intent.


    Within his pitch-ck pupils, a faint scarlet hue quietly appeared.


    The two demon wolves, looking at Lu Qingshan whose killing aura was boiling over, unconsciously stepped back even further.


    Although demon beasts are ferociously brutal and wildly untamed, there is a limit to this, and even wild beasts know fear¡ªnot to mention these creatures with spiritual intelligence.


    However, the constant calls for helping from behind the man prevented them from simply giving up and escaping.


    But, the demon wolves also understood that they were merely the faster group that had entered the Demon Spirit Tomb; many other demon beasts had also crashed into the tomb.


    If this sword cultivator was so difficult to deal with, they would wait for the other demon beasts to arrive before taking action. No matter how strong a man was, ultimately he could not fight off multiple attackers.


    They decided to lie in wait for an opportunity.


    But if the demon wolves understood this logic, how could Lu Qingshan not?


    His strategy was clear: defeat them one by one!


    Since these demon beasts had entered the tomb at different times, he intended to take out the waves of iing beasts one by one before the next group emerged, to avoid being surrounded and attacked.


    The next moment, Lu Qingshan moved.


    He leaned forward, gripping his sword tightly as he sprinted forward.


    ng, ng, ng!


    Sword armor encircled him, providing excellent protection.


    His sword emitted a Sword Qi like a gust of wind, condensing into fine fments that quietly vanished into the void.


    At the same time, he shed down with the sword in his hand at the uninjured demon wolf¡¯s spine.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s reckless attack, the demon wolf¡¯s luminescent green eyes shed with savagery.


    Arrogant sword cultivator!


    Its back was normally covered with thick fur, which instantly bristled, bing hard and coarse with a metallic texture.


    This was the toughest part of its body, and the demon wolf did not believe that the sword cultivator could break through its defenses with just one strike.


    Meanwhile, it opened its sharp fangs wide, aiming to bite down on Lu Qingshan¡¯s head.


    It intended to tear off the head of this sword cultivator!


    Lu Qingshan faced the demon wolf¡¯s attack without dodging or flinching, not even blinking an eye.


    Because his sword had already reached its target!


    Spiritual Power surged from Lu Qingshan¡¯s dantian like a rushing tide, flowing into the Dragon Sparrow Sword in his hand.


    The sword was wreathed in rampant mes, and beyond that, two mysterious and intricate sword technique silhouettes emerged.


    Secret Sword, Wind sh.


    The fiery long sword pierced through the tough skin of the demon wolf as easily as puncturing a sheet of paper, maintaining its speed as it cut straight through, cleaving the beast in two.


    That wasn¡¯t all; as Lu Qingshanunched his attack, the other injured demon wolf also seized the opportunity to pounce fiercely toward him.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Just as the demon wolf leaped, it seemed to hit some bizarre object in midair, letting out a mournful wolf howl.


    Its torso was covered with countless tiny cuts, with blood spurting from them.


    The stomach was riddled with gaping wounds, and by the end, its intestines and innards had fallen out, filling the air with a stench that churned the stomach.


    The demon wolf¡¯s body fell from the sky, on itsst breath, its luminescent green eyes still carrying a look of reluctance as it swept across the sky with a nce.


    There, countless almost invisible fments flickered, darting from all directions like agile fishes toward Lu Qingshan, disappearing into the sword in his hands.


    "This...." The demon wolf found the scene somehow familiar, as if, long ago, it had the fortune to witness it.


    It was an immensely powerful Nascent Soul sword cultivator breaking into the Spirit Mountain Range, waving his long sword and releasing Sword Qi Silks like rain, instantly killing arge swath of demon beasts.


    But why would such a terrifying technique appear in the hands of a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator?


    The demon wolf couldn¡¯t figure it out, and it didn¡¯t have the time to think about it any longer; the next moment, its head tilted, eyes closed, and it breathed no more.


    Within three breaths, one sword strike imed the lives of two Third-Grade Initial Stage demon wolves on the spot.


    Lu Qingshan did not revel in his sess.


    The power of the Secret Sword was immense, and, correspondingly, the consumption was also enormous.


    In order to quickly y these two Third-Grade demon wolves, he had executed the Wind-Cutting Secret Sword once and had depleted nearly twenty percent of his Spiritual Power.


    From this moment on, he would have to be doubly careful using his Spiritual Power.


    Because here, there would be no downtime for him to restore Spiritual Power, and even if he could take Spirit Pills to rapidly Restore Spiritual Power,pared to the huge consumption, it was destined to be just a drop in the bucket.

 Chapter 237 - 29 Slaying Demons (Part 2)

    ```


    Lu Qingshan pulled out a Spirit Pill from his Storage Ring to restore his Spiritual Power, and after only a short moment, his slightly fluctuating Spiritual Power stabilized.


    He swung his sword and severed the heads of two demon wolves, cing them at the entrance of the tunnel leading to the Yin Tomb behind him.


    Giggling!


    In merely tens of breaths¡¯ time, another demon beast appeared.


    This was an eight-legged demon spider, immenselyrge, upying more than half of the spacious corridor of this underground pce.


    @@novelbin@@


    The demon spider was entirely emerald green, its body covered in dense bristles that sparkled with a cold light, like numerous war spears glistening with a cruel radiance.


    Yet another Third Grade beast in its initial stage.


    In the current situation, aside from a fight to the death, there was absolutely no alternative.


    Therefore, at this moment, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t care about the difference between Second and Third Grade beasts.


    His Vital Essence merged perfectly with his body, and his Spiritual Power infused the Dragon Sparrow Sword, unleashing a foot-long Sword Qi that flickered and undted like raging mes.


    Regarding battle, Lu Qingshan always believed that there was no need for superfluous words when killing.


    Thus, the moment the demon spider appeared, Lu Qingshan was already charging forward with his sword.


    The distance of several dozens of yards was covered in an instant, too fast for the naked eye to discern.


    His figure intertwined with that of the demon spider, his sword¡¯s shadow blending with the green silhouette of the spider, making it hard to distinguish.


    One could only discern from the continuous, thunderous sounds of shing metal that the spider¡¯s eight legs were frantically parrying Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword techniques.


    In just a few breaths¡¯ time, man and demon had exchanged dozens of moves.


    Doubt and fear began to emerge in the demon spider¡¯s heart.


    Lu Qingshan was moving too fast, so fast that the spider¡¯s eight legs could barely defend against his single sword, and danger lurked at every turn.


    A clear and spirited sword cry rang out.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure passed by the demon spider in a sh, touching and separating in a split second.


    Only after advancing a few more steps did Lu Qingshan steady his form and looked back to see that all eight legs of the demon spider had been severed and fallen to the side.


    Separated from the spider¡¯s body, the eight legs still bore signs of life, twisting and crawling frantically on the ground.


    The demon spider, now without its eight legs, had fallen to the ground, still muttering, "You¡¯re definitely not a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, definitely not... No Foundation Establishment Cultivator could possibly be so strong... you..."


    The spider¡¯s words were never finished, for in an instant of Sword Light, its head was cleanly severed by Lu Qingshan.


    This time, ying the Third Grade demon spider, Lu Qingshan appeared remarkably adept.


    The demon spider¡¯s eight legs were filled with countless joints, and the delicate lines at the joints indicated points of weakness.


    As long as his sword was fast and urate enough, he could follow these lines and easily sever all the legs, just as he had done.


    In a matter of breaths, having vanquished his foe, the murderous intent in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart did not subside but instead zed more fiercely, like an uncontrolled fire.


    His eyes grew increasingly bloodshot, and the dense malevolence within the Demon Spirit Tomb seemed to disrupt his usually calm disposition.


    He wanted a joyful ughter!


    Lu Qingshan picked up the head of the demon spider and tossed it behind him at the tunnel¡¯s entrance, stacking it atop the demon wolves¡¯ heads.


    Today, he was resolved to embark on a great ughter, decapitating demon beasts to form a monument!


    .....


    Outside the Demon Spirit Tomb, the charge initiated by the gathering demon beasts had finallye to an end.


    Energy bursts forth at the first drumbeat, weakens at the second, and is exhausted at the third.


    Initially, the demon beasts could still exploit their overwhelming numbers to distract Beiming True Venerable from both front and back, slip through amidst the chaos, and break into the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    However, as arge number of demon beasts were in outside the valley by Beiming True Venerable, Dantai Qingrun, and Xian Huaibi, and a considerable quantity of demon beasts broke into the Demon Spirit Tomb, their numbers dwindled. They were no longer capable of forming another wave of beast tide.


    The beasts that couldn¡¯t catch up issued resentful roars, finally retreating reluctantly and melting back into the mountains of Demon Spirit.


    "Over a hundred demon beasts have entered the Demon Spirit Tomb," Beiming True Venerable said with a grim face.


    Dantai Qingrun¡¯s breath was somewhat disordered.


    The back-to-back battles inside the Demon Spirit Tomb and outside the valley had left her feeling depleted.


    Her gaze towards the Demon Spirit Tomb was filled with worry.


    "During the charge of the demon beasts, I took special care of those with stronger auras, blocking them all," said Beiming True Venerable in a deep voice. "Therefore, the majority of the demon beasts that entered the Demon Spirit Tomb were Second Grade, with a few Third Grade beasts that were mostly at the initial stage. Perhaps, this might somehow help Lu Qingshan..."


    Beiming True Venerable¡¯s attempt at constion failed to ease Dantai Qingrun¡¯s apprehension.


    Over a hundred demon beasts, such a vast number, and not to mention the existence of Third Grade beasts within them, even if they were all Second Grade, she did not believe that Lu Qingshan could cope.


    Dantai Qingrun took out a luminescent pill from her Storage Ring.


    Soul Condensing Pills.


    Extremely precious, they had a calming and mind-clearing effect and were used to ward off Heart Demons during breakthroughs to the Nascent Soul stage.


    To obtain this pill, she had paid a hefty price.


    Yet at that moment, without any hesitation, she swallowed the Spirit Pill and sat down cross-legged.


    She wanted to extravagantly use the calming effect of the Soul-Condensing Pill to shorten the time required to expel the malevolent aura from her Divine Soul.


    Then she would enter the Demon Spirit Tomb to aid Lu Qingshan.


    ......


    The scent of blood was pervasive, with bloodstains and dozens of headless corpses of varying shapes strewn everywhere.


    Following the demon spider, Lu Qingshan had sessively in thirty-one Second Grade demon beasts and three Third Grade initial stage beasts.


    The heads of all the demon beasts had been cut off by him, umted into a pyramid and ced behind him.


    ```

 Chapter 238 - 29 Slaying Demons (Part 2)_2

    In the ten years of gaming in his previous life, Lu Qingshan had experienced a number of battles that few in the Human Race couldpare to. His battle awareness had be exceptionally unparalleled.


    And when had these Demon Beasts ever encountered such a battle-skilled cultivator? Under Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword, they appeared frequently wed and struggled to defend themselves.


    With each sessive victory, Lu Qingshan¡¯s momentum grew stronger and increasingly formidable.


    Lu Qingshan, with his hand on the de, gazed ahead.


    A hundred feet away, seven or eight Demon Beasts were nervously circling, their eyes filled with reluctance and unwillingness to withdraw.


    But this time, Lu Qingshan chose not to strike first.


    The reason was that his Spiritual Power had run low.


    Even though he practiced the Taoist Level Cultivation Technique Returning Ruins Scripture, which gave him unusual depths and rates of recovery of Spiritual Power, such intense and continuous battles had led to more expenditure than replenishment.


    The Spiritual Power within his Dantian had diminished to barely a tenth of its usual level, leaving only a thinyer remaining.


    Nearing the end of his strength, Lu Qingshan managed to deter the Demon Beasts from attacking merely by the intimidating presence formed by the heads of the several dozen beasts he had in.


    Standing before the intimidating structures, he slightly closed his eyes and circted his cultivation technique, seizing this rare interval to quickly restore his Spiritual Power.


    The Demon Beasts could feel Lu Qingshan restoring his Spiritual Power, and understood it was a rare opportunity to attack, but after much hesitation, they were still daunted by the imposing presence of the constructed heads and did not dare to advance.


    This was the primary purpose behind Lu Qingshan¡¯s creation of the intimidating figures.


    ...


    As time passed, the number of Demon Beasts gradually increased.


    "Although this fellow is fierce, he is but one person. No matter how strong, he cannot fight against many hands alone. Let¡¯s charge together; surely we are not really afraid of him?" a cunning fox spirit in the crowd of beasts shouted, trying to incite the others to charge.


    Immediately, a beast questioned, "Who should go first then? Fox, since it¡¯s your idea, how about you lead the charge? We will naturally follow closely behind."


    "The task of charging should be assigned to the physically stronger members of the Demon n. I excel in speed, which naturally suits me better for assisting from the side."


    "How convenient for you, sending us to die in the charge while you reap the benefits?" another beast mocked.


    A group of Demon Beasts began to bicker among themselves. Without a capable leader to unite them, the proposed collective attack eventually came to nothing.


    The sword cultivator blocking the way was ferocious and ruthless, his sword technique exceptional, having in dozens of demons, including several Third Grade Great Demons. Those who charged forward met certain death.


    Who then was willing to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others?


    While the Demon Beasts might not match the strategic prowess of the Human Race, they were certainly notcking in their instinct to survive.


    Just as the number of surrounding Demon Beasts had increased to nearly thirty and Lu Qingshan had restored a tenth of his Spiritual Power, a deafening roar suddenly erupted, startling everyone to their core.


    All the Demon Beasts quickly stepped aside, making room.


    A terrifying creature emerged from the path cleared by the beasts.


    It was a two-headed Golden-Maned Lion, its mane fluttering.


    In its equally golden eyes lurked a deep-seated ferocity.


    A mid-Third Grade variant, its bloodline and strength sufficient to subdue the many beasts.


    @@novelbin@@


    The Golden-Maned Lion walked to the forefront of the beasts, facing Lu Qingshan from a distance. The left head spoke threateningly, its voice booming like a bell.


    "Young brat, the inheritance of the Demon Spirit naturally belongs to the Demon n. How dare you, a mere boy, try to stop us from receiving the inheritance left by Lord Demon Spirit, and even harm our brethren so extensively?"


    The Golden-Maned Lion was not genuinely seeking vengeance for those in by Lu Qingshan; it simply sought an excuse to test him.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes suddenly opened wide, the intense murderous aura swirling within his red pupils made the Golden-Maned Lion¡¯s heart tremble.


    Believing in the principle that ying demons required no dialogue, Lu Qingshan spoke for the first time to these beasts.


    "If you want to fight, then fight. Why all this talk, if not out of fear?"


    "Afraid?" the Golden-Maned Lion roared, "With so many of us, why would we fear a single Foundation Establishment cultivator?"


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze swept over the beasts, his eyes cold as des, causing all of them to lower their heads, none daring to meet his stare.


    "Ha¡­" Lu Qingshan chuckled dismissively.


    His long sword dangled at his side.


    Significantly, despite ying tens of demons, the Dragon Sparrow Sword bore not a single stain of blood.


    A three-foot sword energy surged out from the Dragon Sparrow Sword, refined to perfection.


    "Though the demons are many," Lu Qingshan raised his wrist, his sword pointing at all the demon beasts, "they are merely a sh away."


    Proud and piercing.


    However, paired with the pile of demon beast heads stacked high behind him and the bloodthirsty madness emanating from Lu Qingshan, it was enough to chill the hearts of all demon beasts present.


    "Charge with this king and y this Sword Cultivator. The Demon Spirit inheritance belongs to our Demon n. How can we let the Human Cultivators dictate its fate, especially just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?" the Golden-Maned Lion roared, "This one leading the charge will be dealt with by this king, and you just need to follow me and charge!"


    Well aware of the current situation, the Golden-Maned Lion did not y any tricks in the charge against the Sword Cultivator but took the initiative to lead the charge.


    Its thoughts were simple.


    ¡ª¡ªAs long as they could deal with this obstructing Sword Cultivator, the Demon Spirit inheritance, how could other demon beastspete with it?


    For the sake of the Demon Spirit inheritance, even if it had to lead the charge once, could this Sword Cultivator really kill it?


    With someone willing to lead, the other demon beasts were naturally ready to follow.


    This time, a consensus was finally reached.


    The demon beasts charged towards Lu Qingshan, bringing with them a destructive force.


    The Golden-Maned Lion at the forefront of the charge howled to the sky, and it was clear to see two golden sonic waves burst from its mouth, tangible and massive like an all-enveloping tsunami, rushing towards Lu Qingshan.


    In front of such vast sonic waves, Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure was as inconspicuous as a rock in the tide.


    Twoyers of Sword Armor emerged above Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    The golden sonic waves swept across.


    Sizzling sounds erupted, as the sonic wave tide struck Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Armor, creating a mingling shing noise.


    The massive figure of the Golden-Maned Lion had already pounced to Lu Qingshan¡¯s front. Its golden ws heavily fell, carrying a force that could split mountains and crack the ground, colliding with Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword. Spiritual light scattered, resonating with deep rumbles, shocking the slightly slower other demon beasts.


    Why did this Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator possess such immense strength?


    With just a sword, facing the powerful onught of the Golden-Maned Lion, he wasn¡¯t at a disadvantage. In fact, he even seemed slightly superior?


    Within a single breath, Lu Qingshan swung his sword several times.


    After taking the first wave of attacks from Lu Qingshan, the Golden-Maned Lion used the impact force of the sword techniques to retreat strategically.


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    It intended to let the other demon beasts continue the assault, aiming to kill Lu Qingshan through a ry battle strategy.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s condition was not good at the moment, or rather, it was very bad.


    He was unable to use the Flying Sword Technique.


    The banishing effect of the evil aura was significant: once the Dragon Sparrow Sword left his hand, not making it even ten feet, it would be like sinking into a marsh, hardly moving, let alone having any lethality.


    What he could rely on were only his sword techniques and sword energy, with no other options.


    But his Spiritual Power was now extremely depleted, less than ten percent remaining.


    Most of that Spiritual Power still had to be used to deploy the Sword Armor, facing these omnipresent attacks.


    Facing these groups of demon beasts besieging him, he seemed utterly powerless, trapped in a deadly situation.


    But in these circumstances, Lu Qingshan became even colder.


    His eyelids slightly drooped, and he whispered softly, "Dragon Sparrow Sword, let me see your true power, the power of a Taoist artifact!"


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword moved, the Dragon Sparrow Sword swung, extremely casually.


    Yet, this casual swing created an impact that was hard to believe.


    Roar!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword emitted a humming sword chant.


    Divine light appeared on the Dragon Sparrow Sword, following the trajectory of the swing downwards, a mighty and earth-shattering scarlet me came into being, flickering as it swept across all the demon beasts.


    This corridor was filled and upied by the mes.


    The searing temperature of the scarlet mes caused the dense evil aura above to start rolling violently.


    [Dragon Breath]: Active: The sword generates dragon breath to exterminate evil and y demons.

 Chapter 239 - 30 Reaching Heaven’s Connection

    The area was entirely engulfed in firelight, with red glows everywhere and no ce devoid of me.


    On the Dragon Sparrow Sword, the previously hidden golden dragon patterns were now shining brightly, their noble colors beyond description, profound and endless, reflecting off the Phoenix Pattern.


    Most terrifying of all, these dragon-shaped imprints seemed not merely ancient decorations but possessed their own life force.


    An iparably noble Soul Shadow of a Divine Dragon emerged from above the dragon pattern, condensing on the de.


    In just an instant, the dragon shadow took form, twisting its body and breaking free from the Dragon Sparrow Sword, the enormous phantom zing with fire.


    The brilliant form of the Divine Dragon phantom was enough to make one¡¯s heart tremble with fear.


    Despite knowing it was just a technique, its lifelike presence was so convincing it instilled disbelief and fear, with a terrifying aura that felt like the authority of a godlike presence and the grace of an ocean.


    The Divine Dragon¡¯s cold eyes looked down at the Demon Beasts that were beginning to tremble, and with a great opening of its jaws, it burst forth with a dragon roar.


    Apanying the roar were invisible and transparent ripples that surged forth from the mouth of the Divine Dragon, sweeping toward the Demon Beasts.


    Hidden by the crimson mes, the ripples might have seemed inconspicuous, but the terrifying oscitions that came from them and the distorted, illusory space around signaled their power.


    This was Dragon Breath, ying evil and banishing demons.


    Any Demon Beast that came into contact with Dragon Breath stood no chance of resisting; in an instant, they dissolved, turned to dust, and vanished.


    Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss!


    The Dragon Breath swept over a dozen Demon Beasts before it finally reached a Golden-Maned Lion with two heads.


    Facing the terrifying waves, the Golden-Maned Lion roared, its body shining with a golden divine light that briefly resisted the Dragon Breath.


    But that resistance onlysted for a few moments.


    Soon after, the divine light shattered, and without its protection, the Dragon Breath freely scorched the lion¡¯s physical body, creating a gigantic bloody cavity in its abdomen.


    @@novelbin@@


    A breathter, the extraordinary Golden-Maned Lion copsed onto the ground, motionless and lifeless.


    It was the moment the Golden-Maned Lion fell that the Soul Shadow of the Divine Dragon burst apart, the Dragon Breath vanished, and the searing mes slowly dissipated.


    For Lu Qingshan¡¯s Spiritual Power had beenpletely drained, not a drop left, no longer able to sustain the Dragon Breath.


    All returned to calm.


    Yet, those Demon Beasts that had luckily survived looked at Lu Qingshan as if seeing a ghost, filled with terror.


    The beasts trembled on all fours.


    The fear from within their hearts finally outweighed the allure of the Primordial Spirit Pearl¡¯s call and their own greed.


    Rumble, rumble, rumble.


    The Demon Beasts turned tail and fled, disappearing from Lu Qingshan¡¯s sight in the blink of an eye.


    ...


    Lu Qingshan had intended to use this sword to eradicate the Demon Beastspletely, but the consumption of Dragon Breath far exceeded his expectations, and with insufficient Spiritual Power, he failed to achieve his goal.


    But unexpectedly, the oue wasn¡¯t bad¡ªat least the remaining Demon Beasts were still alive but had been terrified out of their wits, no longer daring to fight.


    Seeing the Demon Beasts scatter, with no living creature in sight, the intense demonic nature and urge to kill within Lu Qingshan finally subsided somewhat.


    Yet, just as Lu Qingshan had started to rx slightly, a tremendously strange golden mist began to shimmer over the lifeless body of the Golden-Maned Lion thaty copsed on the ground.


    Under the influence of the golden light, the wound in its abdomen healed at a terrifyingly visible speed.


    And one of its formidable heads, the one on the left, was simultaneously withering rapidly, bing desated.


    In the blink of an eye, the Golden-Maned Lion¡¯s wound waspletely healed. Explore more at empire


    The same, only one of its extraordinary heads remained intact.


    The other head had now shrunk to a ball of flesh, tucked away at the side, resembling a grotesque tumor.


    The eyes of the Golden-Maned Lion suddenly snapped open, filled with ferocious light.


    The Golden-Maned Lion, which had lost its life force, made an eerieeback!


    Although its aura had weakened significantly and it had lost one head, the mere fact of resurrection was a miracle beyond imagination.


    This was the Bloodline Talent of the Golden-Maned Lion, a rare breed.


    It had two lion heads and ordingly two lives; in times of need, it even had the ability to bring itself back by regenerating a severed head.


    This was its most important reliance.


    And yet, Lu Qingshan had just severed one of its lives, causing the beast to be split with rage and filled with hatred.


    "You... deserve to die!"


    The sole remaining head of the Golden-Maned Lion red at Lu Qingshan with eyes wide with rage and malice.


    Although it was severely weakened, it hadn¡¯t left the Third Grade realm.


    And the cultivator in front of it, his aura was inly at its weakest point.


    It was convinced that Lu Qingshan must be at the end of his strength, utterly incapable of resisting.


    "Utterly foolish, utterly foolish; if you had any strength left, why hold back and not wipe out all the Demon Beasts present!" The Golden-Maned Lion seemed to be mocking the fleeing Demon Beasts, as well as mocking Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan, with depleted Spiritual Power, watched the restless Golden-Maned Lion, surprised by its bizarre talent but devoid of any fear in his heart.

 Chapter 240 - 30 Reaching the Heavenly Communication_2

    ```


    Then let¡¯s fight to the end, I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way!


    Lu Qingshan muttered to himself in his heart.


    He could feel in his heart a Blood Beast awakening, wildly burning his blood, his heart, making him unable to suppress the urge to fight and ughter.


    An extremely sinister and violent aura gradually emerged and burst forth from Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    "Do I still have any strength left? Why don¡¯t you try and find out?" Lu Qingshan said mockingly.


    As soon as the words fell, Lu Qingshan extended his left hand, palm facing the ground, shaped like a w.


    An inexplicable fluctuation, seemingly arising from nowhere, began to brew and flicker within him.


    What is this?


    The Golden-Maned Lion, which had already deemed Lu Qingshan as amb to the ughter, felt the emergence of this terrifying power, and its fur stood on end.


    The Power of the Mountains and Seas!


    A Divine Skill one can master afterpleting the cultivation of the Returning Ruins Scripture.


    A bizarre Divine Skill that allows one to draw upon and devour the Power of the Mountains and Seas to strengthen oneself.


    Lu Qingshan had promised the Sect Master of the Mountains and Seas Sect that he would not use this Divine Skill lightly unless necessary.


    He had always kept his promise until now, upon facing this life-or-death crisis.


    It was also hisst resort.


    The ground under Lu Qingshan¡¯s feet began to tremble slightly but continuously, with ripples echoing outwards.


    Some spots of light began to float up from the ground.


    He started to draw upon the earth¡¯s power.


    Buzz buzz buzz!


    Just then, the Dragon Sparrow Sword suddenly emitted a rapid buzzing noise.


    A beam of red light flew out from the Dragon Sparrow Sword, and an elegant and graceful figure appeared before Lu Qingshan.


    The appearing Qin Yitian pressed down on the hand Lu Qingshan had used to draw the earth¡¯s power, causing the spots of light that had been suspended to fall back down to the ground.


    Qin Yitian had stopped Lu Qingshan from using his Divine Skill.


    "Young Master, please don¡¯t," Qin Yitian shook her head toward Lu Qingshan, advising him.


    "Hmm?" Lu Qingshan¡¯s voice was hoarse and deep, his tone icy cold and extremely suppressed, sending chills down one¡¯s spine.


    Qin Yitian was not surprised by Lu Qingshan¡¯s indifference.


    She extended her delicate hand and ced her palm on Lu Qingshan¡¯s forehead; a cool and calming breath instantly transferred from Qin Yitian¡¯s palm, allowing Lu Qingshan¡¯s consciousness, on the verge of being lost, to awaken once again.


    "You can¡¯t fight anymore. If you continue to do so, you¡¯ll be possessed by the demon, bing a beast that knows only ughter." Seeing Lu Qingshan regain some consciousness, Qin Yitian said softly.


    Just like Dantai Qingrun earlier, in the Demon Spirit Tomb shrouded in evil auras, as long as one harbors murderous intent, the speed at which the evil auras seep into the Divine Soul increases exponentially.


    And in just such a short period, Lu Qingshan, as an incarnation of the God of ughter, had in dozens of demons, with the evil auras unnoticed seeping deep into his Divine Soul.


    At this moment, all Lu Qingshan needed to do was to look inward slightly to realize that the human-shaped soul in his Sea of Consciousness was nowpletely engulfed by a strangely sinister evil aura.


    Fierce blood patterns were emerging on his Divine Soul, making it appear utterly demonic.


    His pupils had long since bepletely different from that of humans; not only had the irises turned blood red, but even the whites of his eyes were filled with blood veins.


    Presently, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t resemble a Human Cultivator; he looked more like an evil demon of wicked nature.


    Beneath the warm breath streaming from Qin Yitian¡¯s hand, a sliver of rity finally returned to Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    Having calmed down a little and realized his situation, Lu Qingshan, wary, nced at the Golden-Maned Lion, who, out of apprehension, dared not make a move and was only watching from the side, hesitantly said, "But..."


    Qin Yitian naturally understood Lu Qingshan¡¯s dilemma, "Young Master, you rest for a while. Leave the rest... to me."


    "Ah?" Lu Qingshan was startled, puzzled.


    Qin Yitian extended her wrist.


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    Swoosh!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword immediately left Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand and flew to Qin Yitian.


    "The second ability of the Sword Spirit is autonomousbat."


    Qin Yitian¡¯s voice echoed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s ears.


    "Are you saying you can face the enemy alone, just like a Cultivator?" Lu Qingshan was astonished.


    ```


    He had never heard of an Artifact Spirit being able to fight alone, just like a Cultivator.


    Qin Yitian nodded lightly and exined further, "However, it¡¯s not as magical as you think."


    "My strengthes from the Dragon Sparrow Sword, and the power of the Dragon Sparrow Sword depends on the Sword Master.


    Therefore, the strength I can disy now is only that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."


    In other words, she was only as strong as Lu Qingshan was.


    Lu Qingshan fell silent.


    That gave him one more reason to be stronger.


    "Moreover, mybat methods are not conjured from the void; I must learn and master them on my own, just like a Cultivator," Qin Yitian said with a lightugh, joyfully adding, "However, likewise, my talent is a copy of the Sword Master¡¯s.


    So, Young Master, because of your exceptional talent in the Sword Dao, I found mastering Sword Techniques to be exceptionally easy."


    "During this time, being by your side, Young Master, I¡¯ve also picked up a move and a half, and I¡¯d like to ask for your guidance." Qin Yitian held up the Dragon Sparrow Sword, and just like Lu Qingshan with a sword, a wave of me arose on the de.


    Qin Yitian¡¯s demeanor underwent a huge change after taking up the sword.


    Originally gentle and amiable beside Lu Qingshan, she now projected a heroic and cool aura, with eyes clear and cold, like glimmering ss beads.


    Whoosh!


    Qin Yitian¡¯s figure suddenly burst into motion, powerful strength erupting from her, and in the blink of an eye, she swept up to the front of the Golden-Maned Lion with her sword.


    Her Sword Technique was swift as lightning, withyers uponyers of sword shadows, like tidal waves, continuously striking and shing at the Golden-Maned Lion.


    The Golden-Maned Lion staggered backward, wing frantically in defense.


    ng! ng! ng!


    Sparks flew in all directions with the sound of their collision unabated.


    Qin Yitian wielded each sword faster and more domineering than thest, her Sword Technique exquisitely brilliant, stirring waves of emotion in Lu Qingshan.


    Because the Sword Technique Qin Yitian was using was the very Falling Bright Sword Technique he had personally refined.


    Qin Yitian had actually mastered the Falling Bright Sword Technique to such a perfect degree!


    Her Sword Technique was swift as the wind, one move flowing into the next, forcing the Golden-Maned Lion into a frantic defense.


    However, Qin Yitian¡¯s strength was ultimately limited, so after resisting dozens of sword moves in a row, although the Golden-Maned Lion was in a sorry state, it wasn¡¯t seriously hurt. Instead, it gradually grew ustomed to Qin Yitian¡¯s offensive rhythm, even starting to easily counter, seemingly about to turn the tables.


    @@novelbin@@


    The elusive Sword Light shed again.


    This time, the Golden-Maned Lion casually swiped a w in defense.


    Based on previous encounters, this would have easily parried Qin Yitian¡¯s attack.


    But the moment its paw touched the Sword Light, a mysterious sword shadow emerged atop the Dragon Sparrow Sword, delivering two waves of force far stronger than any before, numbing its entire body.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword sted away its sharp ws and with a swift downward stroke.


    A bloody wound appeared on its abdomen.


    "Roar!" The Golden-Maned Lion let out a mournful shriek, its form flying backward.


    It was afraid, truly afraid.


    Having died once already, its fear of death hadn¡¯t diminished; on the contrary, it had multiplied countless times.


    The woman before it was unfathomable, her fierce Sword Technique left it exhausted in defense, and most terrifying was the suffocatingly horrific wave of power it had just felt emanate from Lu Qingshan, which, though it vanished in a sh, kept it constantly on edge.


    Before Qin Yitian could react, the Golden-Maned Lion rolled on the ground and sprang to its feet, then turned tail to flee.


    Seeing the Golden-Maned Lion escape, Qin Yitian did not pursue it relentlessly but expressed with a hint of regret, "I still haven¡¯tpletely mastered it, otherwise it probably wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to run away..."


    The sword move she had just used was Lu Qingshan¡¯s Secret Sword Technique, Wind sh.


    However, as Wind sh was one of the most difficult Secret Sword Techniques to cultivate, even with a Sword Dao talentparable to Lu Qingshan¡¯s, Qin Yitian hadn¡¯t been able to fully master the Wind-Cutting Secret Sword in a short period of time.


    When Lu Qingshan used Wind sh, there would be two trailing Sword Technique shadows, but the Wind sh she had just performed featured only one such shadow.


    "No worries, I¡¯ll teach youter," Lu Qingshan said,ing back to his senses and smacking his lips.


    "That would be most appreciated," Qin Yitian replied with a gentle smile.


    [Sword Spirit]: The Spirit-Communicating Sword, its spirit reaching the heavens.


    Information like this surfaced in Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    Only now did he truly understand what those four words, reaching the heavens, signified.


    Is this¡­ a Taoist Artifact?

 Chapter 241 - 31: Possessed by Demons?

    ```


    @@novelbin@@


    Seeing that the demon beasts had finally all retreated, and with Qin Yitian standing by with his sword as a protector.


    Lu Qingshan felt extremely relieved as he took out a pill from his storage ring and swallowed it. He then closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and began circting the Returning Ruins Scripture to recover the spiritual power that had dried up within his Dantian.


    ...


    Inside the Cold Pond.


    The inheritance of the Demon Spirit continued, and the densely packed Demon Script that glowed with a fluorescent light kept flooding into the body of the West Pce¡¯s Great Rat King, making him appear increasingly mystical and extraordinary.


    And just as Lu Qingshan was on a ughtering spree ying demons, theyer of evil energy that had gathered on the surface of the Cold Pond began to violently churn. The Primordial Spirit Pearl also began to emit thick waves of evil energy.


    The evil energy grew denser and denser until, atst, it gradually broke free from the hold of the Cold Pond, rippling outwards like waves.


    Boom!


    It seemed that the Demon Spirit inheritance had reached a particrly crucial juncture as the Primordial Spirit Pearl suddenly let out a loud explosion.


    At that moment, the entire Demon Spirit Tomb trembled slightly, and the originally orderly evil energy within the West Pce finally surged into motion, rapidly converging towards the center, with the Cold Pond as its nucleus.


    The Great Rat King of the West Pce was engulfed by endless evil energy.


    The Demon Script overflowing from the Primordial Spirit Pearl shone brightly, protecting the Great Rat King from being affected as he absorbed the evil energy that had been nurtured by the Four Spirits Qi Nurturing Formation for a hundred years.


    Because Lu Qingshan was not far from the Great Rat King, he, just like the Great Rat King, was at the very center of the evil energy.


    Without any warning or preparation, the thick red evil energy, almost liquefying, washed over Lu Qingshan,pletely engulfing his figure.


    But Lu Qingshan had no Primordial Spirit Pearl to protect him.


    With Qin Yitian¡¯s help, Lu Qingshan¡¯s consciousness had just be clear, but it was ignited again in an instant.


    The evil energy, like a flood, surged into his body, overwhelming his mental defenses with unstoppable force.


    Now, Lu Qingshan waspletely in a state beyond his own control.


    He instinctively clung to thest bit of rity within his Divine Soul, but that was all he could do; he could not drive away the evil energy that lingered around his Divine Soul.


    Moreover, because the evil energy continued to barrage his Divine Soul relentlessly, thatst bit of his sanity was slowly fading away.


    ughter, bloodthirst, demonic nature, and malevolence...


    Countless terrifying thoughts intent on destroying heaven and earth kept burgeoning, growing at a high speed under the nourishing of the evil energy.


    Lu Qingshan clenched his teeth, his rational mind told him that these ideas were wrong, but these thoughts, uncontrobly, kept emerging.


    In front of him, numerous bloody scenes appeared, with an expanse of white bones strewn all around.


    And hideous Resentful Spirits wailed and roared in his ears, making him feel restless and agitated.


    These chaotic thoughts, bizarre notions, and malevolent ideas were assaulting his Divine Soul, trying to destroy his sanity.


    The ughters of his past were magnified endlessly, bing shackles he could not escape.


    Heart Demons proliferated, and Lu Qingshan found himself in the most dangerous situation he had ever faced on his path of cultivation.


    This was an experience he had never had before.


    In the game, it was impossible to encounter demonic possession like this.


    Therefore, at this moment, his extensive game experience was of no help in face of this situation, leaving him with no strategies to deploy. He could only rely on his own tenacious will andposure to desperately dy the growth of the Heart Demon, but it was getting harder and harder to maintain, and the situation was worsening.


    "How can I subdue these flying thoughts of unease in this long and troubled night?" Lu Qingshan asked himself.


    ...


    The moment Lu Qingshan was enveloped by the evil energy, Qin Yitian immediately sensed his predicament.


    ```


    She could clearly see Lu Qingshan¡¯s muscles begin to knot and swell, contracting and then rxing, as strands of blue veins protruded prominently, terrifyingly like wriggling earthworms.


    Expressions on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face were constantly changing, at times ferocious, at times savage, with the asional fleeting moments of rity.


    Blood-red patterns spread across Lu Qingshan¡¯s handsome face; despite the ferocity, they somehow added a demonic charm.


    Possessed by demons?


    Qin Yitian¡¯s heart trembled, knowing that Lu Qingshan was facing the dire situation of a Heart Demon emerging.


    Heart Demons usually manifested when high-level cultivators broke through their current realms.


    Yet due to the influence of nefarious energy, Lu Qingshan encountered this at the Foundation Establishment Stage, making his already dire situation even more perilous due to his rtively low cultivation.


    To subdue the Heart Demon, the cultivator had to rely solely on themselves; no one else could intervene.


    However, as the spirit of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Life-bound Sword, Qin Yitian was capable of doing something extra.


    For instance, she could clearly sense the confusion in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    And¡­ she could transmit her voice to Lu Qingshan, who was now cut off from his five senses, to resolve his doubts.


    "If you sit in peaceful contemtion during a quiet night, and thoughts run wild, yet you explore the source of this restlessness, questioning its cause, won¡¯t you then find where the peaceful heart truly resides?"


    Lu Qingshan faintly heard Qin Yitian¡¯s voice.


    It was like an enlightening moment, and thatst bit of consciousness helped him make the correct choice.


    He opened his heart wide, released his Divine Soul, and reexamined his propensity for ughter... Find more to read at empire


    Was he too fond of killing? Perhaps.


    In less than a year, he had gone from a mortal to a cultivator at the perfection of the Foundation Establishment Stage, all founded on countless acts of ughter¡­


    But had he killed indiscriminately? Had he regrets?


    No! No!


    Every act of ughter was justifiable, following his own beliefs, and every bloody deed was a consequence of his remorseless sword.


    Without seeking dust outside, without settling inside, both paths are obliterated, leaving only a serene nature.


    Guided by Qin Yitian¡¯s words, Lu Qingshan¡¯s rity began to regather, and a speck of Spiritual Light appeared atop his Divine Soul, expelling and cleansing some of the malevolent energy.


    This speck of Spiritual Light rapidly expanded, first like a stream, then like a river, and finally like the rolling torrents of the Yangtze River, washing over his Divine Soul from beginning to end.


    The crimson malevolence that lingered around his Divine Soul stood no chance against this miraculous Spiritual Light.


    After a moment.


    Lu Qingshan opened his eyes, the crimson in his pupils hadpletely vanished, but a sharper, several times more intense killing intent was now veiled within.


    Yes, the nefarious energy was gone, and his wisdom had regained its rity, but the killing intent that had risen in his heart had not disappeared; in fact, it had be even sharper.


    But at this moment, Lu Qingshan, with a sudden surge of killing intent, appeared exceptionally calm.


    The emergence of the Heart Demon and its subsequent suppression had brought Lu Qingshan¡¯s understanding of killing intent to a new realm.


    Killing intent in itself was not wrong; it should be that the heart controls the killing intent, not that the killing intent controls the heart.


    Killing intent need not be tumultuous or overwhelming with fury, nor does it need to stem from deep-seated hatred or a field of corpses. Rather, it¡¯s like the calm surface of water, quiet yet containing boundless potential, more like a reflection from the depths of the soul.


    "I¡¯m lucky to have you," Lu Qingshan said to Qin Yitian, filled with relief.


    If not for Qin Yitian¡¯s timely guidance at the crucial moment, it was hard to say what state he would have ended up in.


    "My lord," seeing Lu Qingshan regain rity, Qin Yitian¡¯s beautiful face showed a sincere smile, her eyes curving, "you seem a bit different from before, don¡¯t you?"

 Chapter 242 - 32 Sword Intent

    Lu Qingshan nodded and extended his right hand, where atop the tips of his fingers, a mysterious and indescribable force of Heaven and Earth emerged. Gradually condensing, it actually formed a strand of blood-red sharpness visible to the naked eye!


    Within this strand of sharpness was contained the profound mystery of the Heavenly Dao, and it was the most essential kind of thing.


    This existence that touched upon the force of Heaven and Earth was known as Intent.


    The Intent of Sword Cultivators is hence called Sword Intent.


    And the Sword Intent that Lu Qingshan mastered, born from ughter, was naturally known as ughter Sword Intent.


    With another thought from Lu Qingshan, a stream of Sword Qi appeared in his hand, and the strand of blood-red ughter Sword Intent merged resolutely into the Sword Qi, bing one with it, indistinguishable from each other.


    Boom!


    Lu Qingshan released this stream of Sword Qi, which, like a fish in water amidst the energy of ughter, produced the sound of a sonic boom that only a Flying Sword breaking the sound barrier could make. It flew extremely far before finally hitting the stone wall of the pce, sting a hole into it.


    These pces, made of extremely hard minerals, had not suffered much damage even in the fierce battles before, but now just a stream of Sword Qi infused with ughter Sword Intent possessed such power.


    This was the strength of Intent.


    Intent is an extremely mysterious feeling, difficult to describe in words, and there is no fixed or clear method to practice and master it.


    If you understand it, then you understand it; if you don¡¯t, there¡¯s no clue at all. To put it specifically, it¡¯s a certain affinity and understanding of the essence of a kind of force between Heaven and Earth.


    At the same time, there are also strong and weak levels of Intent.


    And ughter Sword Intent, even among the many types of Intent, is considered one of the very strong ones.


    Because although itcks many wondrous aspects, it has an extremely potent expression in offensivebat.


    This is also among the Intents that Sword Cultivators can discern, the strongest type of Sword Intent.


    Sword Cultivators attain enlightenment through killing andbat, and almost without exception, every famous high-rank Sword Cultivator who has achieved great cultivation hasprehended ughter Sword Intent, and it was the same for Lu Qingshan in his previous life.


    And as such an extreme and powerful type of Sword Intent, a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage who couldprehend such Sword Intent was exceedingly rare beyond imagination.


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart was filled with boundless joy. Breaking through his own mental state and realizing that feeling of the force within the Heavenly Dao was incredibly wonderful.


    Tiny words like fireflies appeared on the panel.


    "Intentprehended!....."


    [ughter Sword Intent] (Faint): The ultimate offensive Intent, capable of enhancing powerful lethality.


    "Abilities enhanced!....Your Divine Soul has been strengthened (Divine Sense +50)."


    .......


    Dantai Qingrun was rushing through the Demon Spirit Tomb at high speed.


    "Lu Qingshan..." she thought in desperation.


    After consuming the Soul Condensing Pills, in just a few hours, she was able to expel all the evil energy from her Divine Soul.


    She didn¡¯t dare dy for a moment, and even after fighting two battles in a row without restoring herself to normal condition, she hastily entered the Demon Spirit Tomb.


    "You must stay alive," Dantai Qingrun whispered in her heart.


    Suddenly, more than ten battered Demon Beasts appeared in front of her, running as if for their lives, with an appearance of terror.


    Dantai Qingrun¡¯s expression turned cold, and the Spirit Concealment Sword shot out at high speed, apanied by the sound of a sonic boom, like skewering candied haw on a stick, seven or eight Demon Beasts were pierced through the heart by Dantai Qingrun¡¯s controlled Flying Sword, dying beyond any doubt.


    The remaining Demon Beasts, having barely escaped the wolf¡¯sir only to enter a tiger¡¯s den, could not help but tremble in fear.


    "What¡¯s going on?" After the killing that served as a warning to others, Dantai Qingrun began to interrogate these Demon Beasts about the specifics of their situation.


    .....


    In the Cold Pond.


    As the murderous aura began to gather, the speed of the Demon Spirit¡¯s inheritance was already nearing its end.


    On the body of the King of Western Rats, an extremely peculiar shadow emerged, and as the Demon Script and murderous aura continued to pour into its sea of consciousness, the shadow was growing at an rming rate.


    Gradually, the vague shadow that enveloped the King of Western Rats took on a distinct form.


    It was a Soul Shadow of a White Tiger, pure as snow and devoid of any stray hairs, majestic to the extreme.


    Cry!


    With a light cry from the White Tiger Soul Shadow, thunder roared across thends, and the winds arose with its cry.


    The body of the King of Western Rats flickered with profound Taoist patterns, which floated up into the air, suspending there and merging to form a Star Map.


    @@novelbin@@


    The White Tiger Soul Shadow leapt into the Star Map, disappearing without a trace as its shape was concealed.


    Above the Star Map, countless more intricate patterns then appeared.


    This Star Map spun and shrank, and eventually, it softly fell, branding itself between the brows, right above the forehead of the King of Western Rats.


    One could barely make out that the final shape of the Star Map resembled the character for "King."


    The next moment, the King of Western Rats slowly opened its eyes.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    "My goodness! What in the world is this?" Two beams of Blood Light shot out from its rodent eyes, striking the surface of the Cold Pond, sending water spraying wildly into the air, and, caught off-guard, even startling the King of Western Rats itself.


    Awaiting a moment to gather its thoughts and process the information surging into its memory, the King of Western Rats¡¯ expression gradually turned wild and unrestrainedly ecstatic, "Has the Rat Lord finally obtained a means of attack?!"


    "The road is long, curb your arrogance, no telling who will shine in the end!" The King of Western Rats couldn¡¯t contain its joy, swaying on the spot, the tuft of red hair on its head fluttering incessantly, "Rat Lord is about to turn over a new leaf and embark on a glorious Demon life!"


    Having vented its ecstasy, the King of Western Rats finally remembered something, swept its gaze around, and, seeing no one, it mused puzzledly, "Where have they gone? Could it be that Lu Qingshan, that heartless guy, just abandoned the Rat Lord like that?"


    At that moment, an inexplicable yet familiar ripple suddenly arrived, sensed by it.


    "What¡¯s this?" Without hesitation, the King of Western Rats transformed into a ck shadow and dashed towards the source of the ripple, ready to find out what was happening.


    "Sssss" The King of Western Rats took a sharp breath, stunned.


    The ground was littered with Demon Beast corpses, their heads piled up like mountains, and Lu Qingshan, covered in blood, came entirely into its view.


    The moment it saw all this, it understood everything; during its inheritance, Lu Qingshan had done something for it.


    The body of the King of Western Rats trembled slightly, its eyes shining with moisture as it gazed longingly at Lu Qingshan, "Lu Qingshan, I knew it... Even though you usually ignore me, it¡¯s just that you¡¯re bad at expressing yourself, but in your heart, I am always the most important."


    "I¡¯ve lived a long life, but only you, have truly held me in your heart," the King of Western Rats felt its heart melting.


    "Shut up." Lu Qingshan felt a chill in his heart and couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, hemanded softly.


    The King of Western Rats covered its mouth, feeling wronged, and looked at Lu Qingshan, puzzled.


    Lu Qingshan nced at the King of Western Rats, whose aura had greatly changed, knowing that it must have gained a lot of benefits this time.


    Suppressing the urge to reprimand the King of Western Rats, Lu Qingshan asked, "Have you checked the Yin Tomb for details? If the Gengjin Tiger King left his inheritance there, then the treasures he left should also be in the Yin Tomb, just like the inheritance."


    "Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!" Upon hearing this, the eyes of the King of Western Rats lit up, and it furiously shook its head.


    "You can speak now," Lu Qingshan said helplessly.


    "I got distracted looking for you, I haven¡¯t checked it out yet!" The King of Western Rats said excitedly, "Is it true? Did the Gengjin Tiger King really leave treasures for me?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "If there truly are treasures, there is a very good chance they are in the Yin Tomb."

 Chapter 243 - 33 Taoist Treasury

    "What are we waiting for?" asked the Rat King, his eyes twinkling with stars, unable to contain his hunger, "I¡¯m going to descend into the Yin Tomb now to explore."


    Lu Qingshan naturally would not object, considering that among the treasures left by the Gengjin Tiger King, there was a great possibility that they included the "Taoist Treasury" Golden Core Section he had long anticipated.


    The blood-red Cold Pond churned with waves.


    "Are you sure there won¡¯t be any tomb-guarding ghosts inside the Yin Tomb?" Lu Qingshan was not very reassured.


    He could not guarantee that the Gengjin Tiger King, with his way of doing things, would willingly leave the treasures to the Rat King so easily.


    The Rat King nodded his little head, confidently saying, "Don¡¯t worry, with my perception, I haven¡¯t sensed any dangerous aura in this Yin Tomb, so there is a high chance that everything is fine."


    "Furthermore, who can obtain the tiger¡¯s cub without entering the tiger¡¯sir," the Rat King boasted proudly, patting his chest and adding confidently, "Lu Qingshan, you can rest assured, if the Gengjin Tiger King really left his millennial collection of treasures in the Yin Tomb.


    "After I acquire these treasures, I will certainly not treat you unfairly.


    "When the timees, just follow my lead, I¡¯ll eat the meat and you drink the soup, and together we will achieve great things!"


    The little demon mouse was got carried away.


    Lu Qingshan, with his fingers stroking his chin, looked thoughtfully at the Rat King, calcting something in his mind.


    Having just put on a great show in front of Lu Qingshan and seeing Lu Qingshan scrutinizing him with a suspicious look, the Rat King suddenly had a bad premonition.


    "Then, let this Rat Lord go down first to check the situation," it hurriedly shook its little head to dispel these thoughts, diving into the Cold Pond.


    The Rat King normally detested water, but lured by the treasures, this time he dove in without any hesitation.


    With a gurgle, the water churned and the Rat King plunged down, quickly disappearing from view.


    Lu Qingshan waited quietly.


    Having obtained the Demon Spirit legacy, the Rat King should, in theory, be recognized by the Yin Tomb.


    Even if the Gengjin Tiger King had set up additional measures to prevent others from acquiring those treasures, the Rat King should be unaffected and pass through unhindered.


    ......


    After a long while.


    @@novelbin@@


    Ssh, ssh.


    Water in the Cold Pond surged as the Rat King sprang out like a carp, his fur glistening and shaking off water droplets everywhere.


    But seeing the despair and almost tearful expression on the Rat King, Lu Qingshan seemed to understand something, "What happened?"


    The Rat King, feeling hurt, pouted, "Nothing, absolutely nothing."


    "The Gengjin Tiger King said, to construct this Demon Spirit Tomb and set up the legacy, he had already exhausted all his umted treasures over the years."


    "He also left me a message, saying that treasures should be earned by oneself, not relying on him to leave them behind."


    "I¡¯m just a good demon, I don¡¯t want to fight and kill."


    The Rat King was utterly aggrieved.


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback, then also suddenly realized.


    Indeed, considering the grand scale of the Demon Spirit Tomb and its numerous splendid arrangements, including the Four Spirits Nourish Qi formation,


    it was logical that setting up such a legacy would consume a significant amount of resources.


    The Gengjin Tiger King had used up all the treasures he had plundered over a thousand years to establish this Demon Spirit Tomb, which, upon further thought, was quite reasonable.


    "Oh, right!" the Rat King scratched his head, sounding deted, "He didn¡¯t leave me with absolutely nothing, though."


    A glint sparked in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    Suddenly!


    The Rat King flicked his little tail, and the Storage Ring hanging on it shook, sending a dazzling beam of golden light shooting towards Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan caught the shining, unknown object in his hands and examined it closely.


    It was a piece of paper that shimmered with golden light yet carried an ancient aura, feeling like soft fur to the touch, with a mystical glow flowing over it.


    Though it was merely a sheet of paper, it felt incredibly heavy as if it weighed a thousand pounds.


    Upon closer inspection, Lu Qingshan saw the paper was filled with tiny characters numbering in the tens of thousands, like tiny, scattered stars, radiating starlight, profoundly mysterious.


    However, these characters were twisted andplex, iprehensible to Lu Qingshan, rendering him unable to read them.


    These were characters from ancient times.


    This type of writing could only be understood by those major sects with long traditions.


    But Lu Qingshan did not care about it.


    On his attribute panel, tiny glowing characters began to emerge.


    "Cultivation Technique ¡¯Taoist Treasury¡¯ Golden Core Chapter detected."


    [Taoist Treasury] (Golden Core Chapter)


    Level: Taoist Level


    Description: Man follows the earth, the earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Tao, the Tao follows nature. Toprehend the Tao in one¡¯s body is to possess the Taoist Treasury. The Golden Core Technique is divided into 20 levels.


    Cultivation Technique Effect 1: Every increase by 1 level, the Spiritual Power limit is raised by 1000 points.


    Cultivation Technique Effect 2: Spiritual Power Recovery Speed +100%


    Cultivation Technique Effect 3: The quality of Spiritual Power cultivated in the Taoist Treasury is extremely high; the Golden Core formed will surely have six patterns or more.


    Cultivation Technique Effect 4: Upon reaching level 20 in the Taoist Treasury, gain an additional Spiritual Power limit of +10000 points


    Cultivation Technique Effect 5: The Tao follows nature,prehension within oneself. Cultivating the Taoist Treasury will enhance a cultivator¡¯s aptitude, making it easier for the cultivator to understand and advance their state of intent.


    Cultivation Technique Effect 6: Upon reaching level 20 in the Taoist Treasury, one Divine Skill will beprehended. The specific form and power of this Divine Skill will depend on the cultivator¡¯s understanding of intent.


    Cultivation Technique Effect 7: As a Taoist Level Cultivation Technique, advancing the Taoist Treasury will require 200% of the Experience Points typically needed for other techniques.


    .....


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart pounded fiercely.


    Indeed, what was recorded on this page of the golden book was that legendary Immortal Codex.


    The ¡¯Taoist Treasury¡¯ Golden Core Chapter originated from the Qing State Sect, Great Spirit Gate.


    The Great Spirit Gate, with a long inheritance, was said to have a history that could even trace back to ancient times.


    However, in contemporary times, it had already declined into an ordinary small sect, indistinguishable from the masses.


    Whether the rumors that the Great Spirit Gate originated from ancient times were absolutely true, or just a self-aggrandizing fabrication by the sect itself, was unknown and of no interest to anyone.


    In former years, the Gengjin Tiger King ran rampant in Qing State, causing trouble everywhere, even attacking the mountain gates of several sects and plundering cultivation resources.


    The Great Spirit Gate also suffered persecution from the Gengjin Tiger King and was ruined in one fell swoop.


    The surviving Sect Master of the Great Spirit Gate then released this information to the entire Qing State.


    The Great Spirit Gate once possessed the famous Taoist Rank Cultivation Technique ¡¯Taoist Treasury¡¯ Golden Core Chapter, which was plundered by the Gengjin Tiger King.


    This news shocked the public at the time.


    However, at that time the fierceness of the Gengjin Tiger King was unmatched, and no sect in Qing State dared to provoke the Demon Spirit Pce lightly; moreover, the im made by the Sect Master of the Great Spirit Gate was unsubstantiated,cking tangible evidence.


    Furthermore, an important point was that if the Great Spirit Gate truly possessed a Taoist Rank Cultivation Technique, how could it possibly weaken to such an extent?


    Therefore, to most people, this was probably just a false message released by the Sect Master of the Great Spirit Gate.


    The intention was simple: the sect was destroyed by the hands of the Gengjin Tiger King, and the Sect Master of the Great Spirit Gate, feeling resentful but powerless for revenge, thus released false news hoping to drive wolves to devour the tiger, enticing those sects interested in the ¡¯Taoist Treasury¡¯ to go after the Gengjin Tiger King.


    So, without solid evidence, the matter just faded away.


    Now Lu Qingshan was certain¡ªthe message released by the Great Spirit Gate was indeed verifiable.


    As for why the Great Spirit Gate still weakened despite possessing the ¡¯Taoist Treasury¡¯,


    it was because the entire ¡¯Taoist Treasury¡¯ was recorded using ancient characters.


    By this time, there were hardly any sects left that still mastered the ancient characters.


    Thus, the Great Spirit Gate could only sigh in vain, unable to make use of the ¡¯Taoist Treasury¡¯.


    However, Lu Qingshan did not have this trouble.


    ¡ªAs long as it was a Cultivation Technique, no matter whatnguage it was written in, no matter whether he could understand it or not, as long as he had the Experience Points, he could learn and master it.

 Chapter 244 - 34: 9-Pattern Golden Core

    Lu Qingshan cast his gaze toward the progression task.


    [Nine-Pattern Golden Pill]: 1. Learn a Golden Core Technique (The level of the Cultivation Technique must not be lower than Heaven Rank).


    2. Kill an enemy of the same rank (107/100), kill an enemy of a higher rank (7/3).


    3. Master the talent [Spiritual Power Control](High Level).


    4. Reach the first Initial Stage of the Solidifying Form Realm in the Divine Soul Realm (155/100)


    All four conditions had been met at this time, which meant that as long as he was willing, he could start cultivating the "Taoist Treasury" and form his Golden Core at any time.


    Of course, forming a Golden Core was such an important matter that Lu Qingshan would not recklessly proceed with it in this ce.


    "Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s leave the Demon Spirit Tomb first," Lu Qingshan decided.


    "Oh right, actually, inside the Yin Tomb, Gengjin Tiger King left a passage to leave this ce," the Rat King added weakly, clearly still immersed in the sorrow of the empty Yin Tomb, unable to extricate himself.


    "That Gengjin Tiger King is quite thoughtful, fearing that those who obtain his legacy would be coveted and not be able to leave the Demon Spirit Tomb safely, so he left another way," Lu Qingshan realized.


    "He is indeed thoughtful, everything was prepared, just that not a single treasure was left!" the Rat King clenched his teeth, his heart sour.


    I really don¡¯t want to keep trying!


    The Rat King sighed deeply to the sky, filled with remorse.


    ....


    Whoosh!


    Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian had just turned back to the passage when they heard the sound of someone hastily treading through the wind.


    A graceful figure of a woman appeared in their line of sight.


    It was Dantai Qingrun, who was hurrying over.


    Dantai Qingrun stared at the unharmed Lu Qingshan in front of her, as well as the blood-soaked monument built from demon beast heads behind him, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief.


    Even though she had encountered those fleeing demon beasts on her way and had learned the situation from them, having some mental preparation,


    the shock of witnessing it firsthand was far beyond what rumors could convey.


    "It¡¯s good¡­ that you¡¯re okay," Dantai Qingrun opened her mouth to speak, the words at her lips ultimately turning into four dry and simple words.


    Lu Qingshan sincerely bowed his hands to Dantai Qingrun, "Thank you for your concerns, Tower Master Dantai."


    However, in just a moment, Dantai Qingrun had expelled the malevolent aura from her Divine Soul and re-entered the tomb.


    The exact methods she used were unclear to Lu Qingshan, but clearly, the cost must not have been light.


    Dantai Qingrun raised her eyebrows, making no attempt to take credit.


    "Let¡¯s head out first," Lu Qingshan said.


    Dantai Qingrun nodded and turned to leave.


    On their way back, Lu Qingshan saw the corpses of those demon beasts that had fled earlier, including the most mystical two-headed golden-maned lion, its body riddled with wounds, much like a death by a thousand cuts, showing the ruthlessness of its killer.


    All these were the work of Dantai Qingrun.


    Once out of the Demon Spirit Tomb, the Beiming True Venerable, who had been waiting outside the valley, saw everyone emerge unharmed andughed heartily for a rare moment, "It¡¯s good that everyone is safe, it¡¯s good, this time you have all achieved great merits, the Tower will definitely not be stingy with rewards!"


    Upon hearing this, Xian Huaibi felt somewhat sour.


    This time, not only had the Netherworld of Lingxu been swept empty, but there was also a significantly profound achievement involving the Tower, in which Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun were the main contributors.


    As for him and the Lingxu Tower Master, not being severely punished was already an extraordinary favor from the Tower.


    After pondering for a moment, Beiming True Venerable decided, "This ce will definitely be fraught with disputes next, let¡¯s return to Lingxu City first and n for the long term afterward."


    "Yes!" everyone responded.


    ...


    Three dayster, in Lingxu City.


    Inside a quiet room, Lu Qingshan was sitting cross-legged.


    After he announced his n to break through and form a core, Dantai Qingrun lent him the cultivation chamber she used regrly.


    Although Lu Qingshan was not particrly concerned about this, he did not refuse Dantai Qingrun¡¯s kindness.


    Taking in the room¡¯s features, Lu Qingshan saw Luminous Pearls embedded in the walls, creating a bright environment. In a corner of the quiet room, a column of Spirit Solidifying Incense was burning. The rising wisps of light smoke spiraled within the room.


    This fragrance had the effect of steadying the mind and aiding in cultivation.


    On the ground, mystical Taoist patterns were carved, and dozens of Spirit Stones were ced at Formation Points, gathering spiritual energy.


    The Spirit Gathering Array was effective in umting Spiritual Power.


    Dantai Qingrun¡¯s usual cultivation environment was indeedvish.


    Lu Qingshan mused quietly.


    Shaking his head, Lu Qingshan thought no more of it and took out the sheet of golden paper recording the "Taoist Treasury" from the Storage Ring.


    "Detected ¡¯Taoist Treasury,¡¯ Golden Core Chapter, do you wish to spend 100,000 Experience Points to learn it?"


    "Yes!"


    100,000 Experience Points were drained instantly.


    However, Lu Qingshan originally had a reserve of 200,000 Experience Points, and after the Demon Spirit Tomb, the Experience Points had surged to 450,000, so naturally, he was not concerned about this expenditure.


    After he made his choice, a strange transformation immediately urred within his dantian: a surge of golden light, and the wind and clouds altered.


    The overflowing Spiritual Power inside his dantian gathered into a cluster and began to spin rapidly.


    With each rotation, the cluster of Spiritual Power shrank slightly and became more condensed.


    Gradually, as the cluster continued to diminish in size, a dazzling light was born and flickered.


    Boom!


    Inside Lu Qingshan¡¯s dantian, suddenly, a terrifying roar resounded.


    The blinding light filled the space, like a miniature sun, so brilliant that it was impossible to discern the specific details within.


    A tremendous force spread repeatedly within Lu Qingshan¡¯s body, the intense sensation making him take a deep breath, utterly captivated.


    A momentter, the radiance converged and dispersed.


    All the clusters of Spiritual Power had vanished, reced by a Golden Core the size of a mung bean, floating within the dantian, slowly rotating and releasing numerous golden strands with each turn.


    However, it was not over yet; as the Golden Core rotated, Spiritual Power continued to flow endlessly within the dantian, pouring into it and causing it to undergo a transformation.


    Sizzle!


    A mysterious pattern, containing the subtle essence of heaven and earth, slowly appeared on the Golden Core, intoxicating those who saw it.


    A One-Pattern Golden Core!


    Within the dantian, the divine light of Spiritual Power flowed incessantly, continuously nourishing that Golden Core, thereby causing further changes in the Golden Core.


    Soon, the second pattern emerged!


    The third pattern!


    As the number of patterns increased, the fluctuations of Spiritual Power emanating from the Golden Core grew increasingly powerful.


    The fourth pattern!


    ....


    The sixth pattern!


    After the sixth pattern appeared, golden light began to seep out from Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    The seventh pattern appeared on the Golden Core.


    With the appearance of this seventh pattern, the color of the Golden Core also began to change.


    A faint purple hue appeared, mingling with the golden light, yet not very noticeable.


    The eighth pattern emerged.


    By now, purple and gold on the Golden Core had begun to share dominance, twisting like a yin-yang fish, forming an extremely harmonious bnce.


    The Golden Core spun faster, inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Power, lingering on the eighth pattern for a long time.


    Finally, with a booming sound, the purple light flourished, and the ninth pattern slowly emerged on Lu Qingshan¡¯s Golden Core.


    At the same time, a massive amount of purplish-gold light diffused from the Golden Core, connecting to all the meridians in Lu Qingshan¡¯s body, and at that instant, Lu Qingshan¡¯s pupils, along with the formation of the Golden Core,pletely turned a purplish-gold color.


    At this moment, the Nine-Pattern Golden Core, was achieved!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Golden Core hadpletely transcended the appearance of an ordinary Golden Core.


    Because it is widely known that a Golden Core is supposed to be golden.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Golden Core was a deep purplish-gold color, radiating utmost nobility.


    In the Taoist Sect, it is said that among Golden Cores, the Purple-Gold denotes the pinnacle!


    That is, among Golden Cores, the Purple-Gold Golden Core is the most perfect and ultimate form, with no further advancement possible.


    And the Nine-Pattern Golden Core, is the legendary Purple-Gold Golden Core.


    In such a realm, the Cultivator¡¯s Spiritual Power is so pure and profound that it is beyond the imagination of others.


    Lu Qingshan felt an unprecedented strength, his heartbeat more forceful, his Divine Sense expanding, his body bing tougher, and his bones stronger, signifying a transformation and evolution in every aspect of his being.


    This is the Great Dao of the Golden Core!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes suddenly snapped open, and in the instant his eyes flicked opened, a dazzling purplish-gold light burst forth from his eyes.


    "So this is the power of the Nine-Pattern Golden Core..." Lu Qingshan murmured.


    Rows of luminous small characters continuously flickered before his eyes.


    "You have mastered ¡¯Taoist Treasury¡¯ (Golden Core Chapter)!"


    "Advancement task ¡¯Nine-Pattern Golden Core¡¯ detected aspleted, your Rank has been raised to Golden Core!"


    "You receive the ¡¯Nine-Pattern Golden Core¡¯ Rank boost: As for the Core, Pure Yang it is; as for Purple-Gold, it is supreme! Your Divine Sense is enhanced: +100, and with each minor rank advancement in the Golden Core Stage, the increase to Divine Sense is: +50."


    "Your talent ¡¯Leakproof Body¡¯ is enhanced, transformed into ¡¯Pure Yang Body¡¯!"


    ¡¯Pure Yang Body¡¯: Swallowing a Golden Core, you know your fate is not dictated by heaven. With the Great Dao of the Golden Core, you are impervious to a hundred diseases, indifferent to heat and cold, and your lifespan is extended (500 years).


    @@novelbin@@


    "Your talent ¡¯Sword Technique Affinity¡¯ (Primary Level) has been upgraded to ¡¯Sword Technique Affinity¡¯ (Intermediate Level)!"


    ¡¯Sword Technique Affinity¡¯ (Intermediate Level): Sword Cultivators need 15% less experience to learn and upgrade Sword Techniques, the experience needed to learn and upgrade additional skills rted to Sword Techniques increases by 15%, and damage from Sword Techniques increases by 10%!


    "You gain a new Life-bound Sword slot! Note, the Attribute of the Life-bound Sword added in this slot must not duplicate any existing Life-bound Sword Attribute!"

 Chapter 245 - 1 Opportunity

    Qing State, Fufeng.


    The Heavenly Secret Tower with the que "Qing State Keeper". Continue reading stories on empire


    Inside the tower, in the Qing State Keeper¡¯s dojo, three solemn cultivators stood below the hall.


    "Keeper Yun," the three cultivators respectfully called out to the person seated above.


    The person was tall and thin, with long white hair that draped over his shoulders, appearing rather ordinary, yet he was actually one of the highest-ranking cultivators in the entire Qing State, the state¡¯s keeper, Yun Lang True Venerable.


    "Three Tower Masters, please take a seat," invited the Qing State Keeper, with a grave tone, "Why have the three of youe to my dojo together today? Is there a matter of urgency?"


    "Keeper Yun, have you detected any news regarding the Netherworld¡¯s Void Demon during these days?" The one who inquired was Beiming True Venerable, the vice-Tower Master of the State Tower¡¯s main tower in Qing State.


    "Although the Void Demon has struck twice in session, leaving behind many clues, he is, after all, a figure whose capabilities reach the skies. I am still trying to deduce and calcte his moves, but I only have slight clues, and cannot speak of any significant gains," said Qing State Keeper with a solemn face.


    Although he possessed a fragment of the Heavenly Secret Mirror, considering the strength of the Void Demon and the depth of his techniques, if he were to utilize the mirror¡¯s ability to observe the heavens to track him, the lifespan he would consume was beyond what he could afford.


    Thus, he could only rely on his own method of divination through deduction, using the traces left by the Void Demon as a lead for his calctions.


    However, this process, not only time-consuming and draining, was also hard to grasp the core information.


    One could only say it provided a thread to follow, and how to unravel this thread to clear up the entire context depended on the capabilities of the State Tower.


    This was also the mostmon use of divination techniques.


    @@novelbin@@


    To rify everything through divination was utterly impossible and unrealistic.


    The greatest use of divination was to create something out of nothing and find that initial lead when there were no clues at all.


    As for how to extend this initial finding to uncover more details, that would depend on the people handling the matter.


    Tower Master Pangyang nodded slightly, not surprised by Keeper Yun¡¯s progress, "If we were to say, our State Tower could provide an artifact intimately linked to the Void Demon, or say an artifact personally crafted by the Void Demon himself, could that help with your divination?"


    A look of disbelief appeared on Keeper Yun¡¯s face, "What do you mean, Tower Master Pang?"


    "Beiming!" Tower Master Pangyangmanded.


    Beiming True Venerable stretched out his palm, and within it, a smoothly spinning Purple Spirit Pearl appeared, enveloped by an awe-inspiring, chilling aura.


    An artifact personally refined by the Void Demon, imbued with the Space True Intention.


    This was a trophy acquired by Dantai Qingrun after defeating Li Venerable during their campaign at the Demon Spirit Tomb, from his storage ring.


    With a gentle wave, Beiming True Venerable sent the Purple Spirit Pearl floating towards Keeper Yun.


    Excitedly receiving the Spirit Pearl, Keeper Yun released his Divine Sense onto it to briefly feel its essence, his face full of joy, "This indeed is an artifact from the hands of the Void Demon."


    "Exceptional skills, Tower Masters, to be able to obtain such crucial items!" eximed Keeper Yun.


    Tower Master Pangyang nodded, "It¡¯s all thanks to my subordinates being effective. To have such an unexpected gain was also beyond my expectation."


    "With this artifact, within one month, I will definitely give the three Tower Masters an urate message," Keeper Yun stroked his beard with a smile, "If this goes smoothly, we should be able to take this opportunity to eliminate the Void Demon and deal a heavy blow to the Qing State Netherworld!"


    "May it be so!" Tower Master Pangyang sped his hands together, "Then we won¡¯t disturb Keeper Yun any further, and we will take our leave now."


    "Alright," Keeper Yun did not retain the three men.


    ......


    The three Tower Masters walked out of the Heavenly Secret Tower side by side.


    "Beiming, about those two junior cultivators who have made significant contributions, tell me and the Tower Master in detail?" Vice-Tower Master Lv Yuan asked with interest.


    "Yes, please do share the details," added Tower Master Pangyang.


    "One is called Dantai Qingrun, from the Dantai Family, exceptionally gifted, and is now at the Golden Core Late Stage of cultivation.


    You should also have some impression of her, as she was the one who made significant contributions during the Zhenjiang turmoil, the vice-Tower Master of Zhenjiang," said Beiming True Venerable with a faint smile on his face, quite pleased as he introduced, "Seeing her outstanding abilities, I acted on impulse and transferred her to the long-neglected Lingxu Tower.


    Little did I expect that this transfer would bring about a great oue."


    Since Dantai Qingrun was a person he valued, with suchmendable performances, Beiming True Venerable also felt honored.


    "Dantai Qingrun," Tower Master Pangyang repeated the name aloud and then spoke, "Having made significant contributions in both Zhenjiang and Lingxu, she is exceptionally capable and also has remarkable potential, Beiming, how do you n to reward her deeds?"


    "The current Tower Master of Lingxu Tower, Sha Shuyan, is ipetent and hardly deserves to remain in his position," Beiming True Venerable ventured, "My idea is to have Dantai Qingrun take over Lingxu Tower."


    "A Golden Core Cultivator assuming the position of a Tower Master of a State," Tower Master Pangyang narrowed his eyes, "This seems unprecedented in our State Tower."


    "This is just my suggestion, ultimately the decision is still up to the Tower Master," said Beiming True Venerable.


    After a moment of thought, Tower Master Pangyang said, "The position of Tower Master involves significant responsibilities, and without a Nascent Soul Cultivator, it¡¯s indeed difficult tomand one¡¯s jurisdiction. This arrangement isn¡¯t quite suitable, but as for rewards ¨C"


    Pausing, Tower Master Pangyang then dered, "Isn¡¯t there still an undecided order for the State Tower¡¯s Qing State division? Since Dantai Qingrun, at the Golden Core Late Stage, meets the requirements, why not assign it to her? Given her capabilities, once her cultivation reaches fruition, she will certainly be a pir of our State Tower."

 Chapter 247 - 1 Opportunity_3

    Lu Qingshan smiled and said, "Thank you."


    Qin Yitian also gracefully bowed, her eyes full ofughter, "Congrattions, young master."


    "No wonder you¡¯re Rat Lord¡¯s good brother!" King Western Rat was much more direct, excitedly hopping onto Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder, boasting unabashedly, "With you carrying me on your shoulders, Lu Qingshan, who would dare to be rampant in front of me!"


    Lu Qingshan nced at the triumphant King Western Rat but didn¡¯t put down its boastful pride.


    Ever since it had epted the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s Demon Spirit inheritance, the little rat¡¯s spirit had be conspicuously more arrogant, clearly having gained something extraordinary.


    But when asked for specifics, the little rat was mysterious, refusing to say much, iming it wanted to surprise everyone when the time came. Lu Qingshan then let it be.


    "When you were prepared to break through the realm, Beiming True Venerable took his leave to return to the main tower." Dantai Qingrun walked shoulder to shoulder with Lu Qingshan, briefing him on the current situation.


    "Sha Shuyan and Xian Huaibi cannot escape the me for their dereliction of duty. This expedition to the Demon Spirit Tomb Mounds isn¡¯t enough to offset their crimes, and most likely, they will not be able to retain their position as Tower Masters.


    Beiming True Venerable seems to have some intentions of letting me take over the Lingxu Tower. Still, the position of a tower¡¯s master has always been one that only a Nascent Soul Cultivator can assume, so nothing has been settled yet.


    @@novelbin@@


    As for you, in ordance with your wishes, I have exined the situation to Beiming True Venerable. You have no desire for real power within the tower, and your reward is likely to be converted into tangible assets."


    "How is the situation at the Demon Spirit Tomb Mounds?" Lu Qingshan inquired.


    "Themotion was rather significant that day, and soon after, it attracted countless sects from all three prefectures to gather outside the tombs," Dantai Qingrun said with a cold voice. "However, the greatest treasures within the tombs, the body of the Gengjin Tiger King and the inheritance it left behind, have been taken by us.


    Those who enteredter could only dismantle and extract the Spirit Materials used to build the Four Spirits Qi Nurturing Formation. Although valuable, in reality, they don¡¯t count for much.


    However, due to the sheer number of people and forces involved, quite a few disputes arose. It¡¯s said that a not insignificant number of cultivators perished within the Demon Spirit Tomb Mounds."


    Lu Qingshan nodded, as this wasrgely consistent with the development in his previous life.


    It was natural for so many cultivators congregating in one ce toe into conflict.


    Tomit murder and arson for a gold belt, such acts of ughter were only logical.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan remembered something else, causing his brows to furrow.


    Noticing Lu Qingshan deep in thought, Dantai Qingrun intuitively asked, "Is there a problem?"


    "There¡¯s something I¡¯ve never been able to figure out," Lu Qingshan mused for a moment before speaking.


    Dantai Qingrun¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise, "What¡¯s that?"


    Lu Qingshan spoke gravely, "The body of the Gengjin Tiger King is indeed precious, but it¡¯s not valuable enough to justify Li Venerable expending the Lingxu Netherworld¡¯s efforts to scheme.


    Not to mention, it could even attract the Void Demon, who bestowed the treasure of the Space True Intention." Enjoy more content from empire


    "Indeed!" Enlightened by Lu Qingshan¡¯s reminder, Dantai Qingrun was also taken aback.


    This oversight had gone unnoticed by all of them!


    After pondering for a moment, Dantai Qingrun analyzed, "That being the case, there are only two possibilities.


    One is that the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s body is just a facade, and the Netherworld is actually after something else entirely.


    The other possibility is that the Gengjin Tiger King¡¯s body holds other profound significances for the Netherworld that we are unaware of, beyond the superficial use as Spirit Material."


    Lu Qingshan nodded in agreement, "That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been thinking as well. Moreover, I have a feeling that the stakes involved here are greater than we have imagined..."

 Chapter 248 - 2: The Concept of the Life-bound Sword

    The two pondered for a long time but ultimately were unable toe up with any clues.


    The fog shrouding this matter wasyered and difficult to disperse.


    Lu Qingshan could only set the matter aside for the time being, but at least it made him more cautious.


    "A year ago, when I first met you, you were just a Qi Refinement Level 8 cultivator," Dantai Qingrun spoke softly, her voice was calm, but her heart was filled with waves.


    "Just a gifted talent," Lu Qingshan said nonchntly, shrugging his shoulders in response.


    The scene fell silent for a moment.


    Given Dantai Qingrun¡¯s personality, she wouldn¡¯t press Lu Qingshan for more if he was unwilling to share.


    This was also an important reason why Lu Qingshan continued to cooperate with her.


    "Are you nning to practice the Single Sword Faction or the Multiple Swords Faction?" Dantai Qingrun, no longer dwelling on the previous topic, asked with interest.


    "Does the Dantai Tower Master practice Multiple Swords?" Lu Qingshan asked in return.


    He remembered that Dantai Qingrun cultivated two life-bound swords.


    "Yes," Dantai Qingrun did not deny it and nodded, then added, "However, I n to cultivate only these two life-bound swords. Even if I reach the Nascent Soul stage in the future, I probably won¡¯t cultivate more."


    Sword cultivators roam freely between heaven and earth; when their cultivation isplete, a flying sword can reach thousands of miles in an instant to take a life.


    However, there are always differences in the focus of cultivation, most notably reflected in their life-bound swords.


    Whenever a sword cultivator reaches a new major realm, they can cultivate an additional life-bound sword, with the only restriction being that the attributes must not ovep.


    Therefore, theoretically, a sword cultivator can have up to seven life-bound swords with different attributes¡ªin other words, the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, and the two exceptions: Wind and Thunder.


    Of course, the intricacies involved are not so simple and entail many considerations.


    Cultivating a life-bound sword requires a sword cultivator to spend a great deal of time and spiritual power to nurture it, and the life-bound sword will grow and evolve with continuous nurturing from the sword cultivator, bing increasingly powerful.


    This leads to a question: Since people¡¯s energy and time are limited, should they choose to focus on one or be mediocre in several?


    If one cultivates only a single life-bound sword and specializes in it, there¡¯s a chance to nurture it to an incredibly powerful state, but the drawback is a limitation in techniques.


    If one cultivates multiple life-bound swords, the advantage is having a multitude of techniques, with the Five Elements and two exceptions at one¡¯s disposal, allowing for the use of different attribute swords ording to different opponents, which is flexible and changeable.


    The downside is that it consumes a great deal of energy, and in being divided, the power and strength of the life-bound swords naturally cannotpare to a sword cultivator who cultivates only one life-bound sword.


    No matter how many life-bound swords you have, if theirbined strength is no match for my single one, then what¡¯s the point?


    Additionally, there is another important point.


    With daily and nightly nurturing, a life-bound sword gradually bes part of the sword cultivator¡¯s life; although powerful to a terrifying degree, this also brings a side effect¡ªif the life-bound sword is destroyed, the sword cultivator could suffer damage to their foundation at the least or the destruction of their path at worst.


    Compared to those cultivating a single life-bound sword, sword cultivators who cultivate multiple life-bound swords, due to the increased number of life-bound swords and their rtively weaker strength, also have a much higher possibility of having their life-bound swords destroyed.


    Taking into ount all of these reasons, the Single Sword Faction is actually the mainstream among sword cultivators, while the Multiple Swords Faction is a minority. Moreover, the majority of Multiple Swords Faction cultivators, like Dantai Qingrun, only cultivate two life-bound swords.


    However,pared to other sword cultivators, Lu Qingshan had an unparalleled advantage.


    ¡ª¡ªHe did not need to expend his own energy to cultivate his life-bound sword; instead, he could directly inject Experience Points to enhance it.


    Given this, why wouldn¡¯t he choose the path of the Multiple Swords Faction?


    So, even though the Dragon Sparrow Sword was a heaven-and-earth created sword, Lu Qingshan never intended to use the Dragon Sparrow Sword as his only life-bound sword.


    Two fists are hard enough to match against four hands, after all. Having one more life-bound sword naturally means one more technique to use, so why not?


    "Multiple Swords Faction," Lu Qingshan stated sinctly, ncing from the corner of his eye at Qin Yitian, who stood by his side with a calm and dignified expression.


    After getting his answer, Dantai Qingrun nodded and said nothing more.


    "I still have some loose ends to tie up at Lingxu Tower, so I¡¯ll head back to take care of them. You¡¯ve just entered the Golden Core stage, so take some time to consolidate your cultivation," Dantai Qingrun soon said, taking her leave.


    In fact, once she knew Lu Qingshan was preparing to advance to Golden Core, Dantai Qingrun had put her affairs on hold and waited outside the quiet room.


    Her thought was simple: to act as a protector for Lu Qingshan. If any mishaps urred during Lu Qingshan¡¯s breakthrough, she could provide timely assistance.


    Although she also knew that with Lu Qingshan¡¯s talent, there was no reason for him to fail the advancement to Golden Core, she still did so as a precaution.


    This sentiment, even if Lu Qingshan did not have great need of it, was still quite wee.


    At the very least, from the many behaviors observed, it was clear that Dantai Qingrun did not merely regard him as a chess piece for garnering merits.


    .....


    After seeing Dantai Qingrun leave, Lu Qingshan directly returned to the quarters arranged for him by Dantai Qingrun.


    Upon entering the room, Qin Yitian suddenly said, "Young master need not worry about my opinion if you wish to seek another life-bound sword.


    I am merely the young master¡¯s sword, whose duty is to fight for the young master, not to interfere with the young master¡¯s choices."


    Lu Qingshan felt somewhat embarrassed.


    Clearly, the subtle nce he had cast toward Qin Yitian while answering Dantai Qingrun¡¯s question about the life-bound sword had been noticed by Qin Yitian.


    Because of Qin Yitian, when he decided to follow the Multiple Swords Faction, an inexplicable sense of guilt, strangely named infidelity, emerged in his heart, making him feel somewhat guilty.


    Vibrant!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword shed out from Lu Qingshan¡¯s dantian and hovered in front of him as Qin Yitian transformed into a red light and reentered the sword.


    "However, as my sword master, I hope the life-bound sword that the young master seeks will not be of too low a grade, it must be worthy of the young master," Qin Yitian¡¯s voice came from the sword, "At the very least, a sword of the Three-feet Edge¡¯s level is far from sufficient."


    Lu Qingshan was speechless and merely smirked.


    "Lu....Lu...." came the trembling voice of the Western Rat King.


    Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow, "Hmm?"


    @@novelbin@@


    The Western Rat King pointed at the Dragon Sparrow Sword floating in the air, its teeth chattering, "Qin Yitian, she... How did she get inside?"


    Lu Qingshan spread his hands, "She is a sword spirit. What is so surprising about returning to the sword?"


    "Ah? Qin Yitian is a sword spirit?" The Western Rat King¡¯s head spun, unable to grasp the concept.


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t bother to continue the conversation with the Western Rat King any further and took the Dragon Sparrow Sword back into his dantian, focusing on the distribution of experience points.


    He had been umting experience points without using them, saving for the breakthrough to Golden Core. Now that he had achieved his goal, naturally, he was no longer stingy with spending them.


    In the allocation of experience points, the highest priority was naturally given to the life-bound sword.


    Nurturing a sword is always one of the most direct ways for a sword cultivator to enhancebat power.


    Moreover, although Qin Yitian said she did not mind, if Lu Qingshan truly believed that, it would be his mistake.


    Women are always contradictory in their words and hearts.


    Sword spirits are no different.


    -----And it would also serve to appease Qin Yitian.


    "You spend ten thousand experience points, Dragon Sparrow Sword level up: LV2(0/10w)----Damage from all sword techniques performed through this life-bound sword +20%!"


    "You spend one hundred thousand experience points, Dragon Sparrow Sword level up: LV3(0/100w)----Damage from all sword techniques performed through this life-bound sword +30%!"


    Just as experience points poured out from Lu Qingshan, an astonishing transformation took ce within his dantian.


    Points of intense light appeared from nowhere, surging towards the Dragon Sparrow Sword like mad.


    These points of light contained Lu Qingshan¡¯s vital essence.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword involuntarily let out a crisp sword chant, its surface glowed with radiance, voraciously absorbing the dense light points.


    Both the vibrancy of the Dragon Sparrow Sword¡¯s de and its connection with Lu Qingshan continued to strengthen while absorbing the light points.


    Metallic ng!


    The sword¡¯s entire body shimmered with a fleeting radiance, its form bing blurred, and after a moment, it finally stabilized.


    Lu Qingshan could clearly feel that the connection between him and the Dragon Sparrow Sword had be much closerpared to before.


    In such a condition, the power of all sword techniques he executed through the life-bound sword would ordingly increase. (Damage from all sword techniques performed through this life-bound sword +30%!) Find your next adventure on empire


    This is the process and benefit of a sword cultivator nurturing a sword, both intuitive and powerful.

 Chapter 249 - 3: Secret Sword: Subduing Heaven (Part 1)

    "Tch~" The Dragon Sparrow Sword emitted a genuinely delighted chirp.


    Both the Dragon Sparrow Sword and Lu Qingshan were very satisfied with this enhancement.


    "Young Master, what spell is this?" Qin Yitian asked, her voice tinged with surprise.


    Sword Cultivators always followed a gradual process in nurturing their swords, and she had never seen anyone do it as instantaneously as Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment, then exined with a bit of mischief, "Deep Blue, you can call this Divine Skill ¡¯Deep Blue¡¯."


    "Deep Blue..." Qin Yitian murmured the name, somewhat entranced.


    The next enhancement of the Dragon Sparrow Sword would require one million Experience Points, an amount far beyond Lu Qingshan¡¯s current capacity.


    So, unless something unexpected happened, the level of the Dragon Sparrow Sword would remain at LV3 for a long time toe.


    The Life-bound Sword provided a 30% damage bonus. Sword Technique Affinity at the Intermediate Level added another 10% damage, and with an additional 15% from Trapped in Formation, thebination of these three factors had increased his offensive capability by more than fifty percent.


    This was the reason why Sword Cultivators could dominate the offensive forefront among the six Cultivation streams, standing unrivaled among their peers.


    All the innate abilities of Sword Cultivators were oriented towards stacking damage.


    Enhancing the Life-bound Sword had used up one hundred ten thousand of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Experience Points. He then allocated two hundred thousand from the remaining two hundred forty thousand Experience Points to the Taoist Treasury.


    Cultivation was the foundation of Combat Power.


    "[Taoist Treasury] has been raised to lv2, Spiritual Power Value +1000!"


    ¡­


    "[Taoist Treasury] has been raised to lv5, Spiritual Power Value +1000!"


    The Purple Gold Nine-Pattern Golden Pill within his Dantian began to shine brilliantly, spinning rapidly, as Spiritual Power constantly surged and condensed.


    In just a blink, the Golden Pill had grown from the size of a mung bean to that of a soybean.


    "This is also the work of the Deep Blue Divine Skill." Before Qin Yitian could express her astonishment, Lu Qingshan took the initiative to exin.


    "Such a miraculous Divine Skill..." the Dragon Sparrow Sword uttered in wonder.


    Feeling the overwhelming power emanating from the Golden Pill, Lu Qingshan was in a rather pleasant mood.


    The Taoist Treasury had a total of 20 levels, corresponding to the four minor ranks of the Golden Core Stage, which meant five levels per rank.


    He was currently at the peak of the Initial Golden Core Stage, which was the most appropriate level for his current Cultivation Technique.


    Advancing another level would bring him into the middle ranks of the Golden Core Middle Stage.


    ----Breakthroughs in Cultivation happening quickly could still be exined by exceptional talent.


    But if someone had just advanced to the Golden Core Stage and others were still consolidating their Cultivation, yet you already managed to break through to the Golden Core Middle Stage, even exceptional talent would be hard to justify.


    Lu Qingshan would not excessively hide his power and talent merely to remain unobtrusive.


    Doing so would prevent him from catching others¡¯ attention and value, losing many potential opportunities for favorable exchanges.


    But before truly growing strong, he would not behave recklessly either; instead, he would try to maintain an appropriate measure.


    ....


    "Qin Yitian... how could she possibly be a sword?! How can a person turn into a sword?" Finally catching on, the Western Rat King suddenly started to bluster, unable toprehend such a thing and looking at Lu Qingshan suspiciously, "Are you messing with me again?"


    "Then tell me why it couldn¡¯t be?" Lu Qingshan countered.


    "It¡¯s just... it¡¯s just..." The Western Rat King, frantic, scratched his head and after some thought, realized that there might be some sense in what Lu Qingshan said.


    "But why do I feel like something¡¯s not quite right¡­" Unable to find a reason to argue back, the Western Rat King decided not to dwell on it further, simply muttering to himself.


    "Wait a minute! Lu Qingshan!" The West Rat King suddenly realized something and snickered, "Since she is a Sword Spirit, doesn¡¯t that mean that in your presence, the one with the highest status¡ªapart from the West Rat King myself¡ªwho else could it be!"


    Without waiting for Lu Qingshan to react, the little demon rat, feeling his status restored, started to chuckle to himself.


    "Our brotherly bonds are indeed deep. What could a mere broken sword understand about sibling affection?"


    Whoosh!


    A Sword Qi suddenly shot out, shearing off a tuft of the little demon rat¡¯s hair from the top of its head, which gently floated down in midair, giving the West Rat King a good scare. Stay connected via empire


    "Lu Qingshan, what are you doing?" the little demon rat eximed in panic.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Several more bouts of Sword Qi materialized out of thin air, aiming for the red hair of the West Rat King.


    The little demon rat, frightened, immediately clutched at the little red hair on its head, transforming into a ck shadow and scampered away in defeat.


    Lu Qingshan watched the true image of the West Rat King scurrying away, with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    Of course, the Sword Qi was not from him, but rather from the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    First, there was the sugar-coated shelling of 110,000 Experience Points, and then a fierce lopping of the West Rat King¡¯s hair. Qin Yitian¡¯s slight dissatisfaction should be gone by now, I suppose.


    It seemed that by actively provoking Qin Yitian, the little demon rat really did understand the essence of brotherly love.


    ....


    Once everything was settled, as the Tower Master had yet to present the rewards, Lu Qingshan, while waiting, took the opportunity to refine the Metal Element Sword Armor for which he had already gathered the materials.


    As his only protective spell at present, the Sword Armor¡¯s practicality and importance were at the top of his list of methods.


    Refining theplete set of Five Elements Sword Armor as soon as possible was one of his minor goals at this stage.


    After this, Lu Qingshan waited for another three days, until Dantai Qingrun finally paid another visit.


    "Summoning us to State City Fufeng?" Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes," Dantai Qingrun nodded: "Beiming True Venerable ryed this message to me.


    The merits from the extermination of the Netherworld in Lingxu were immense. As for the specific rewards, the main building intends to let us pick them ourselves from the treasure vault of Qing State¡¯s main building.


    @@novelbin@@


    Besides, the True Venerable also mentioned that there¡¯s a small portion of the rewards that are quite special, which we will only learn about once we get there."


    Dantai Qingrun raised an eyebrow, "Although Beiming True Venerable didn¡¯t specify what this part of the reward is, the implication is that it is definitely something of great value.


    It¡¯s not just as a reward, but it seems that arger part of the reason is that the Tower Master holds us in high regard and intends to cultivate us. It¡¯s abination of award and gift that he has bestowed upon us."


    "I see..." A gleam flickered in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel some anticipation, "So when do we leave?"


    "Tomorrow," Dantai Qingrun exined: "ording to the True Venerable, I might not be able to return to Lingxu for a long time after this, so I want to visit the Dantai Family before leaving."


    The Dantai Family was located in Lingxu Prefecture.


    "That¡¯s only appropriate," Lu Qingshan agreed.


    "However," Dantai Qingrun seemed to think of something and asked casually, "Howe I haven¡¯t seen Miss Qin?"


    "She went home," Lu Qingshan said honestly.


    "Oh?" Dantai Qingrun expressed surprise, "So suddenly?"


    "Yes," Lu Qingshan chuckled: "You know, young girls, always homesick, right?"


    "Heh!" Dantai Qingrun¡¯s delicate eyebrows lifted as she gave a cold snort.


    ¡­

 Chapter 250 - 4: Secret Sword: Subduing Heaven (Part 2)

    The next day.


    Dantai Qingrun, who had made a trip back to the Dantai Family, returned to Lingxu City on time. Together with Lu Qingshan, they used the teleportation formation to directly reach the Fufeng State City in Qing State.


    The city of Fufeng was located atop a giant spirit vein. Although the quality of the spirit vein itself was not high, its meandering length had prompted Great Xia to establish a vast state city upon it.


    Moreover, with a river like a silver ribbon winding around the city, Fufeng was shrouded in a light mist throughout the year. The air was moist, and it was mixed with abundant spiritual energy. Considering the environment alone, it was truly extraordinary.


    Local conditions nurture the people. The ordinary residents of Fufeng City generally lived longer lives, not to mention that the chances of newborns possessing spirit roots also significantly increased.


    A ce of outstanding people and a nurturing environment, brimming with celestial opportunities.


    As soon as Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun arrived in Fufeng, they made straight for the main tower of Qing State within the city.


    Outside the main tower, after their arrival was reported, a cultivator in green quickly led the two inside.


    Crossing the threshold of the tower¡¯s entrance, both of them were taken aback.


    The inside and outside of the tower were like two different worlds.


    Outside, there was a constant stream of people, a noisy bustling scene with numerous buildings, resembling a lively marketce.


    Inside, however, there were misty celestial mountains, lush and thriving trees, with pavilions and towers scattered among them, flowing springs and waterfalls, and an abundance of spiritual energy ¨C the semnce of a celestial abode.


    This was a minor realm managed by the Tower Master, known as the Qingfeng Realm.


    For Lu Qingshan, who had experienced many grand scenes, this spectacle was not particrly surprising, yet it evoked in him a sense of nostalgia as if reuniting with an old friend.


    "Follow me this way," the cultivator in green spoke, taking the lead and flying ahead to guide them.


    Qianshou Tower was one of the three major towers in the Qingfeng Realm, and the person in charge was the Vice Tower Master, Beiming True Venerable, a Void Refining Middle Stage cultivator affiliated with Thunder.


    There was also a vast pceplex surrounding Qianshou Tower, consisting of renowned functional pces of great importance.


    These included the Intelligence Office for storing and processing intelligence, the Treasure Pavilion for storing precious spirit materials, and the Scripture Pavilion holding the inheritance of cultivation techniques and spells, all guarded by great cultivators of either Golden Core or Nascent Soul level.


    Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun went straight into the Qianshou Tower.


    "You two may enter on your own. The True Venerable has been awaiting you inside the tower," said the cultivator in green with polite and even-tempered courtesy.


    Your journey continues with empire


    After bowing their hands in thanks to the cultivator in green, the two of them entered Qianshou Tower.


    However, watching the backs of the two enter the Qianshou Tower, the cultivator in green¡¯s face betrayed a barely perceptible trace of envy.


    Two Golden Core cultivators, so highly valued by the True Venerable and so young, undoubtedly had a boundless future ahead of them.


    ....


    Lu Qingshan stepped into the bright and spacious hall of Qianshou Tower, finding the hall¡¯s decor incredibly simple, fully embodying the Taoist essence of tranquility.


    "Greetings, True Venerable."


    In the hall, Beiming True Venerable sat in the main seat while the two of them bowed in salutation.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun enter, Beiming True Venerable¡¯s face lightened with a smile and gestured as if to offer assistance, but then, as though noticing something, his eyelid twitched and he eximed in surprise, "Eh? Golden Core Early Stage, it hasn¡¯t been long since Ist saw you, and you¡¯ve already broken through to Golden Core?"


    Lu Qingshan replied humbly, "It is but a minor breakthrough, nothing to speak of."


    "At such an age to have Golden Core cultivation, the Nascent Soul stage is already within your reach!" Beiming True Venerable praised, but his tone carried a hint of regret.


    The Tower of Guardians wasn¡¯t a sect, and set no restrictions on the origins of its members, meaning you could engage in activities within the Tower of Guardians even if you came from other sects. Beiming True Venerable, for instance, came from a top-tier sect.


    But there still existed a choice to be made, that of direct versus coteral lineage.


    If one wanted to prioritize their role in the Tower of Guardians, they could take charge and receive the Tower¡¯s resource support. In exchange, the cultivator would have to devote most of their effort to the tower¡¯s affairs, being a direct lineage.


    The Tower of Guardians operated on the principle of mutual willingness, without any coercion.


    If one preferred to focus on their own cultivation, then they would act more like a guest elder, part of the coteral line.


    Although Beiming True Venerable was born into a great sect, his position as the Vice Tower Master of the main tower in Qing State meant he aligned more with the Tower of Guardians, and Dantai Qingrun was the same.


    Moreover, for Dantai Qingrun, the Tower of Guardians was like an unreachable mountain, as it had significant weight within the Dantai Family.


    However, Lu Qingshan had clearly stated he had no intention of taking charge of the Tower of Guardians, thereby cing him in the coteral line.


    It was thus natural for Beiming True Venerable to regret the fact that a cultivator with such exceptional talent was not interested in developing within the Tower of Guardians.


    But regardless of Lu Qingshan¡¯s future path, at the moment he was just a Golden Core cultivator. Even if Beiming True Venerable favored him, he was not indispensable, so he soon set aside his thoughts and changed the subject, asking Dantai Qingrun, "How did things go with Lingxu Tower?"


    "Everything has been properly dealt with. With Li Venerable¡¯s death, the Netherworld is left with but a few stray cats, hardly a threat to the climate," Dantai Qingrun reported respectfully.


    @@novelbin@@


    The specifics were already organized in documents previously forwarded to the main tower by Dantai Qingrun, so Beiming True Venerable¡¯s question was more of a formality.


    Yet, this seemingly meaningless courtesy precisely reflected the esteem that Beiming True Venerable had for Dantai Qingrun.


    In Beiming True Venerable¡¯s eyes, the excellent performance of Dantai Qingrun, whom he had favored and promoted himself, indeed made him proud.

 Chapter 3 Secret Sword: Subduing Heaven (Part 1)

    "Tch~" The Dragon Sparrow Sword emitted a genuinely delighted chirp.


    Both the Dragon Sparrow Sword and Lu Qingshan were very satisfied with this enhancement.


    "Young Master, what spell is this?" Qin Yitian asked, her voice tinged with surprise.


    Sword Cultivators always followed a gradual process in nurturing their swords, and she had never seen anyone do it as instantaneously as Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment, then exined with a bit of mischief, "Deep Blue, you can call this Divine Skill ''Deep Blue''."


    "Deep Blue..." Qin Yitian murmured the name, somewhat entranced.


    The next enhancement of the Dragon Sparrow Sword would require one million Experience Points, an amount far beyond Lu Qingshan''s current capacity.


    So, unless something unexpected happened, the level of the Dragon Sparrow Sword would remain at LV3 for a long time toe.


    The Life-bound Sword provided a 30% damage bonus. Sword Technique Affinity at the Intermediate Level added another 10% damage, and with an additional 15% from Trapped in Formation, thebination of these three factors had increased his offensive capability by more than fifty percent.


    This was the reason why Sword Cultivators could dominate the offensive forefront among the six Cultivation streams, standing unrivaled among their peers.


    All the innate abilities of Sword Cultivators were oriented towards stacking damage.


    Enhancing the Life-bound Sword had used up one hundred ten thousand of Lu Qingshan''s Experience Points. He then allocated two hundred thousand from the remaining two hundred forty thousand Experience Points to the Taoist Treasury.


    Cultivation was the foundation of Combat Power.


    "[Taoist Treasury] has been raised to lv2, Spiritual Power Value +1000!"


    ¡­


    "[Taoist Treasury] has been raised to lv5, Spiritual Power Value +1000!"


    The Purple Gold Nine-Pattern Golden Pill within his Dantian began to shine brilliantly, spinning rapidly, as Spiritual Power constantly surged and condensed.


    In just a blink, the Golden Pill had grown from the size of a mung bean to that of a soybean.


    "This is also the work of the Deep Blue Divine Skill." Before Qin Yitian could express her astonishment, Lu Qingshan took the initiative to exin.


    "Such a miraculous Divine Skill..." the Dragon Sparrow Sword uttered in wonder.


    Feeling the overwhelming power emanating from the Golden Pill, Lu Qingshan was in a rather pleasant mood.


    The Taoist Treasury had a total of 20 levels, corresponding to the four minor ranks of the Golden Core Stage, which meant five levels per rank.


    He was currently at the peak of the Initial Golden Core Stage, which was the most appropriate level for his current Cultivation Technique.


    Advancing another level would bring him into the middle ranks of the Golden Core Middle Stage.


    ----Breakthroughs in Cultivation happening quickly could still be exined by exceptional talent.


    But if someone had just advanced to the Golden Core Stage and others were still consolidating their Cultivation, yet you already managed to break through to the Golden Core Middle Stage, even exceptional talent would be hard to justify.


    Lu Qingshan would not excessively hide his power and talent merely to remain unobtrusive.


    Doing so would prevent him from catching others'' attention and value, losing many potential opportunities for favorable exchanges.


    But before truly growing strong, he would not behave recklessly either; instead, he would try to maintain an appropriate measure.


    ....


    "Qin Yitian... how could she possibly be a sword?! How can a person turn into a sword?" Finally catching on, the Western Rat King suddenly started to bluster, unable toprehend such a thing and looking at Lu Qingshan suspiciously, "Are you messing with me again?"


    "Then tell me why it couldn''t be?" Lu Qingshan countered.


    "It''s just... it''s just..." The Western Rat King, frantic, scratched his head and after some thought, realized that there might be some sense in what Lu Qingshan said.


    "But why do I feel like something''s not quite right¡­" Unable to find a reason to argue back, the Western Rat King decided not to dwell on it further, simply muttering to himself.


    "Wait a minute! Lu Qingshan!" The West Rat King suddenly realized something and snickered, "Since she is a Sword Spirit, doesn''t that mean that in your presence, the one with the highest status¡ªapart from the West Rat King myself¡ªwho else could it be!"


    Without waiting for Lu Qingshan to react, the little demon rat, feeling his status restored, started to chuckle to himself.


    "Our brotherly bonds are indeed deep. What could a mere broken sword understand about sibling affection?"


    Whoosh!


    A Sword Qi suddenly shot out, shearing off a tuft of the little demon rat''s hair from the top of its head, which gently floated down in midair, giving the West Rat King a good scare. Stay connected via empire


    "Lu Qingshan, what are you doing?" the little demon rat eximed in panic.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Several more bouts of Sword Qi materialized out of thin air, aiming for the red hair of the West Rat King.


    The little demon rat, frightened, immediately clutched at the little red hair on its head, transforming into a ck shadow and scampered away in defeat.


    Lu Qingshan watched the true image of the West Rat King scurrying away, with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    Of course, the Sword Qi was not from him, but rather from the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    First, there was the sugar-coated shelling of 110,000 Experience Points, and then a fierce lopping of the West Rat King''s hair. Qin Yitian''s slight dissatisfaction should be gone by now, I suppose.


    It seemed that by actively provoking Qin Yitian, the little demon rat really did understand the essence of brotherly love.


    ....


    Once everything was settled, as the Tower Master had yet to present the rewards, Lu Qingshan, while waiting, took the opportunity to refine the Metal Element Sword Armor for which he had already gathered the materials.


    As his only protective spell at present, the Sword Armor''s practicality and importance were at the top of his list of methods.


    Refining theplete set of Five Elements Sword Armor as soon as possible was one of his minor goals at this stage.@@novelbin@@


    After this, Lu Qingshan waited for another three days, until Dantai Qingrun finally paid another visit.


    "Summoning us to State City Fufeng?" Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes," Dantai Qingrun nodded: "Beiming True Venerable ryed this message to me.


    The merits from the extermination of the Netherworld in Lingxu were immense. As for the specific rewards, the main building intends to let us pick them ourselves from the treasure vault of Qing State''s main building.


    Besides, the True Venerable also mentioned that there''s a small portion of the rewards that are quite special, which we will only learn about once we get there."


    Dantai Qingrun raised an eyebrow, "Although Beiming True Venerable didn''t specify what this part of the reward is, the implication is that it is definitely something of great value.


    It''s not just as a reward, but it seems that arger part of the reason is that the Tower Master holds us in high regard and intends to cultivate us. It''s abination of award and gift that he has bestowed upon us."


    "I see..." A gleam flickered in Lu Qingshan''s eyes, and he couldn''t help but feel some anticipation, "So when do we leave?"


    "Tomorrow," Dantai Qingrun exined: "ording to the True Venerable, I might not be able to return to Lingxu for a long time after this, so I want to visit the Dantai Family before leaving."


    The Dantai Family was located in Lingxu Prefecture.


    "That''s only appropriate," Lu Qingshan agreed.


    "However," Dantai Qingrun seemed to think of something and asked casually, "Howe I haven''t seen Miss Qin?"


    "She went home," Lu Qingshan said honestly.


    "Oh?" Dantai Qingrun expressed surprise, "So suddenly?"


    "Yes," Lu Qingshan chuckled: "You know, young girls, always homesick, right?"


    "Heh!" Dantai Qingrun''s delicate eyebrows lifted as she gave a cold snort.


    ¡­

 Chapter 4 Secret Sword: Subduing Heaven (Part 2)

    The next day.


    Dantai Qingrun, who had made a trip back to the Dantai Family, returned to Lingxu City on time. Together with Lu Qingshan, they used the teleportation formation to directly reach the Fufeng State City in Qing State.


    The city of Fufeng was located atop a giant spirit vein. Although the quality of the spirit vein itself was not high, its meandering length had prompted Great Xia to establish a vast state city upon it.


    Moreover, with a river like a silver ribbon winding around the city, Fufeng was shrouded in a light mist throughout the year. The air was moist, and it was mixed with abundant spiritual energy. Considering the environment alone, it was truly extraordinary.


    Local conditions nurture the people. The ordinary residents of Fufeng City generally lived longer lives, not to mention that the chances of newborns possessing spirit roots also significantly increased.


    A ce of outstanding people and a nurturing environment, brimming with celestial opportunities.


    As soon as Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun arrived in Fufeng, they made straight for the main tower of Qing State within the city.


    Outside the main tower, after their arrival was reported, a cultivator in green quickly led the two inside.


    Crossing the threshold of the tower''s entrance, both of them were taken aback.


    The inside and outside of the tower were like two different worlds.


    Outside, there was a constant stream of people, a noisy bustling scene with numerous buildings, resembling a lively marketce.


    Inside, however, there were misty celestial mountains, lush and thriving trees, with pavilions and towers scattered among them, flowing springs and waterfalls, and an abundance of spiritual energy ¨C the semnce of a celestial abode.


    This was a minor realm managed by the Tower Master, known as the Qingfeng Realm.


    For Lu Qingshan, who had experienced many grand scenes, this spectacle was not particrly surprising, yet it evoked in him a sense of nostalgia as if reuniting with an old friend.


    "Follow me this way," the cultivator in green spoke, taking the lead and flying ahead to guide them.


    Qianshou Tower was one of the three major towers in the Qingfeng Realm, and the person in charge was the Vice Tower Master, Beiming True Venerable, a Void Refining Middle Stage cultivator affiliated with Thunder.


    There was also a vast pceplex surrounding Qianshou Tower, consisting of renowned functional pces of great importance.


    These included the Intelligence Office for storing and processing intelligence, the Treasure Pavilion for storing precious spirit materials, and the Scripture Pavilion holding the inheritance of cultivation techniques and spells, all guarded by great cultivators of either Golden Core or Nascent Soul level.


    Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun went straight into the Qianshou Tower.


    "You two may enter on your own. The True Venerable has been awaiting you inside the tower," said the cultivator in green with polite and even-tempered courtesy.


    Your journey continues with empire


    After bowing their hands in thanks to the cultivator in green, the two of them entered Qianshou Tower.


    However, watching the backs of the two enter the Qianshou Tower, the cultivator in green''s face betrayed a barely perceptible trace of envy.


    Two Golden Core cultivators, so highly valued by the True Venerable and so young, undoubtedly had a boundless future ahead of them.


    ....


    Lu Qingshan stepped into the bright and spacious hall of Qianshou Tower, finding the hall''s decor incredibly simple, fully embodying the Taoist essence of tranquility.


    "Greetings, True Venerable."


    In the hall, Beiming True Venerable sat in the main seat while the two of them bowed in salutation.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan and Dantai Qingrun enter, Beiming True Venerable''s face lightened with a smile and gestured as if to offer assistance, but then, as though noticing something, his eyelid twitched and he eximed in surprise, "Eh? Golden Core Early Stage, it hasn''t been long since Ist saw you, and you''ve already broken through to Golden Core?"


    Lu Qingshan replied humbly, "It is but a minor breakthrough, nothing to speak of."


    "At such an age to have Golden Core cultivation, the Nascent Soul stage is already within your reach!" Beiming True Venerable praised, but his tone carried a hint of regret.


    The Tower of Guardians wasn''t a sect, and set no restrictions on the origins of its members, meaning you could engage in activities within the Tower of Guardians even if you came from other sects. Beiming True Venerable, for instance, came from a top-tier sect.


    But there still existed a choice to be made, that of direct versus coteral lineage.


    If one wanted to prioritize their role in the Tower of Guardians, they could take charge and receive the Tower''s resource support. In exchange, the cultivator would have to devote most of their effort to the tower''s affairs, being a direct lineage.@@novelbin@@


    The Tower of Guardians operated on the principle of mutual willingness, without any coercion.


    If one preferred to focus on their own cultivation, then they would act more like a guest elder, part of the coteral line.


    Although Beiming True Venerable was born into a great sect, his position as the Vice Tower Master of the main tower in Qing State meant he aligned more with the Tower of Guardians, and Dantai Qingrun was the same.


    Moreover, for Dantai Qingrun, the Tower of Guardians was like an unreachable mountain, as it had significant weight within the Dantai Family.


    However, Lu Qingshan had clearly stated he had no intention of taking charge of the Tower of Guardians, thereby cing him in the coteral line.


    It was thus natural for Beiming True Venerable to regret the fact that a cultivator with such exceptional talent was not interested in developing within the Tower of Guardians.


    But regardless of Lu Qingshan''s future path, at the moment he was just a Golden Core cultivator. Even if Beiming True Venerable favored him, he was not indispensable, so he soon set aside his thoughts and changed the subject, asking Dantai Qingrun, "How did things go with Lingxu Tower?"


    "Everything has been properly dealt with. With Li Venerable''s death, the Netherworld is left with but a few stray cats, hardly a threat to the climate," Dantai Qingrun reported respectfully.


    The specifics were already organized in documents previously forwarded to the main tower by Dantai Qingrun, so Beiming True Venerable''s question was more of a formality.


    Yet, this seemingly meaningless courtesy precisely reflected the esteem that Beiming True Venerable had for Dantai Qingrun.


    In Beiming True Venerable''s eyes, the excellent performance of Dantai Qingrun, whom he had favored and promoted himself, indeed made him proud.

 Chapter 4 Secret Sword: Subduing Heaven (Part 2)_2

    Beiming True Venerable nodded and addressed the matter at hand, "The reason I have summoned you both here is something you should already be aware of."


    "Nearly without drawing a de, you have inflicted severe damage upon the Netherworld of Lingxu, and even seized extremely important spoils of war. For such great achievements, the Tower naturally will not be stingy with rewards." Beiming True Venerable waved his hand, and two jade slips flew out, hovering in front of the two men.


    "These are lists of spirit materials and spiritual artifacts from the Tower''s treasury. The Tower has decided on a fixed share for you both. You may choose ten spirit materials and one spiritual artifact from within.


    However, since both of you are sword cultivators and require fewer spiritual artifacts than other cultivators, this can only be considered an extra bonus. The real substantial rewards will be discussed with youter," exined Beiming True Venerable.


    Lu Qingshan had no doubts and took the jade slip, sending his divine sense into it.


    Belonging to Great Xia''s Watchtower, its treasure trove was indeed extraordinary, with a dazzling array of spirit materials appearing before him. Not only were there lifelike images, but also extremely detailed exnations.


    Among them were many rare and invaluable spirit materials that could be said to be priceless in the cultivation world.


    Most importantly, Lu Qingshan also saw the spirit materials needed for the Five Elements Sword Armor.


    Lu Qingshan had a broad perspective and a clear understanding and n for his own cultivation system, so he was able to pick the necessary spirit materials for himself with great efficiency.


    After selecting the spirit materials needed for the Earth and Fire Elements Sword Armor, he chose a few that were needed for upgrading the Sword Armor, and finally, from the list of high-grade spiritual artifacts and supreme quality spiritual artifacts of Water, he picked out a suitable magical treasure.


    The magical treasure was named Soul-Calming Ornament, of high-grade spiritual artifact level, and it was a very rare divine soul defensive artifact, made from Soul-Calming Jade, refined from the cold Yinnds.


    Not only would wearing it on the body help calm the mind and assist cultivators in their cultivation, but it also came with a defensive spell against divine soul attacks. When a cultivator was subjected to a divine soul attack, it would emit Soul-Calming waves to block the attack, and could even counterattack opportunistically.


    As long as all the pieces of the Five Elements Sword Armor are consecrated and coupled with the Soul-Calming Ornament and reaching the mid-stage of the Solidifying Form in the Primordial Spirit Realm, then Lu Qingshan would be as solid as a rock on the defensive side.


    After Dantai Qingrun also chose his spirit materials and spiritual artifact, Beiming True Venerable then solemnly started discussing with them the really crucial matters at hand.


    "Dantai Qingrun, the Tower Master has decided that the sequence slot of our Qing State''s main tower will be given to you," Beiming True Venerable said seriously, with a stern expression.


    Dantai Qingrun frowned upon hearing this, confusion shing in his eyes, clearly not understanding what this represented.


    But Lu Qingshan''s heart shook immediately; he had heard of this in his past life. Read new chapters at empire


    Simply put, the sequence slot is equivalent to the status of a core disciple in a sect.


    "The sequence slot represents a key cultivation target of the Watchtower, with two requirements: it cannot be given to those outside the direct lineage, nor can it be given to anyone who is not exceptionally gifted or capable," Beiming True Venerable started exining the details, "Once you are chosen for the sequence, you must proceed immediately to the main Watchtower in the Central Heavenly Realm to receive cultivation and trials from there.


    Even our Qing State''s main tower has such a sequence slot only once every ten years.


    There are countless people within the Tower coveting this slot, and if it weren''t for your consecutive great contributions in Zhenjiang and Lingxu, which persuaded the Tower Master Pangyang to personally allocate this slot to you, it would have been difficult to satisfy everyone so easily."


    Considering the intensepetition and the value of such a sequence slot, whiches once every ten years from Qing State''s main tower that oversees thirty-six divisions and thousands of sub-towers, one can imagine its worth.


    Add to this theplex backgrounds of the Watchtower''s members, and the struggle for this slot is bound to be entangled with power struggles both overt and covert, with hidden undercurrents stirring.


    Only Dantai Qingrun, who established tremendous merits, could break through the situation with strength and seize this sequence slot by cutting through the red tape.


    In other words, this meant he was about to soar.


    Dantai Qingrun, naturally knowing the importance of this opportunity, quickly and sincerely expressed his gratitude with sped hands: "Thank you for the Tower Master and True Venerable''s high regard."


    Beiming True Venerable nodded slightly, very pleased with Dantai Qingrun''sposure, "No need for thanks; you earned this with your own abilities."


    "As for you," Beiming True Venerable turned his gaze to Lu Qingshan, waving his hand grandly as an ancient yet shimmering Taoist scroll flew out, "this scroll records a sword cultivator''s secret sword technique: ''Secret Sword: Subduing Heaven''.


    Subduing Heaven is a secret sword technique created by a sword immortal in his early years, and it is one of the few with the sword immortal''s own handwritten legacy.


    However, being a secret sword technique created by a sword immortal, the difficulty in mastering it is extraordinarily high. It cannot be grasped by those without an exceptional sword dao talent, and thus, despite being in the Tower for a hundred years, not a single sword cultivator has sessfully cultivated it.


    The Tower Master suggests that you give it a try. If after a hundred years, you are still unable to master this secret sword, the Tower can buy back this scroll at a fair price."


    Lu Qingshan''s heart skipped a beat.


    Secret Sword, to a sword cultivator, is like an oasis to a traveler lost in the desert, a feast to a starving beggar, a naked woman to....@@novelbin@@


    Not to mention, this was a secret sword technique created by a sword immortal, which carried an even greater significance.


    Sword Immortal is an honorary title for sword cultivators.


    Out of the countless sword cultivators in the world, very few are honored with the title of Sword Immortal, rarer than phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.


    The mere title alone was enough to make Lu Qingshan, a sword cultivator, feel his heart pounding excitedly. Moreover, it even included annotations from a Sword Immortal.

 Chapter 4 Secret Sword: Subduing Heaven (Part 2)_3

    Lu Qingshan could not conceal the excitement and anticipation in his heart as he proceeded to open the Taoist Scroll, and a page filled with neat,rge characters came into view.


    "In this world, some people are born extraordinary.


    Coming from amon merchant family, he began learning the sword at the age of four and by six, he had already distinguished himself.


    Seeing his exceptional talent, his family summoned a famous teacher to instruct him, but within a hundred miles, not a single known Sword Master couldst more than a month, all of whom taught him for less than half a month, finding nothing more to teach.


    Thus, everyone heralded him as a true progeny of the Sword Dao.


    Finally, at the age of ten, with no more teachers to turn to, he took nature as his master and developed his own Swordsmanship by observing the movements of a hundred beasts.


    Three yearster, making his first foray into the world, he wielded a three-foot wooden sword and challenged martial artists, winning a hundred battles without defeat and rising as the paragon among Martial World swordsmen.


    At eighteen, he challenged a generational martial arts grandmaster and with a single sh vanquished him, thereafter bing invincible in the Martial World, without an equal.


    In the vast Martial World, it''s lonely at the top, seeking a worthy opponent in vain. He felt a sense of solitude but then heard of the existence of Cultivators and Sword Cultivators in the world.


    Hence, he traveled thousands of miles to find the preeminent Sword Sect of the Southern Territory, the Taiyi Sword Sect, in an attempt to join their ranks.


    But his Spirit Root failed to show, and being past the age limit for Foundation Establishment, he ultimately was unable to gain entry.


    ''To hear the Dao in the morning is to die content in the evening.'' Faced with the prestigious Sword Techniques of the ultimate Sword Cultivators but denied entry, he could not let go and challenged the Sword Sect Cultivators with the mundane Sword Skills of the Martial World.


    It was supposed to be aughable act, yet who could have predicted that one man with one sword, swift as lightning, would defeat three Qi Refinement cultivators and one Foundation Establishment cultivator in session.


    This feat caused a sensation for a time, and the newly advanced elder of the Taiyi Sword Sect, True Venerable Du Xiang, was amazed at his Sword Techniques born of nature and decided to give him a chance.


    True Venerable Du Xiang brought him before the Sect''s Sword Monument, stating that if he couldprehend even half a Sword Technique within half a year, an exception would be made to ept him into the Sword Sect and convey the art of the Sword Cultivator to him.


    He stood motionless before the Sword Monument and after two days and nights, suddenly unleashed a sword strike. The Sword Technique held almost no power, yet the Sword Intent was fully disyed. Truly Venerable Du Xiang was astonished and revered him as Innate Sword Bone, taking him into the Taiyi Sword Sect.


    After this Sword Technique was perfected by him when his Cultivation had matured, it was developed into a Secret Sword technique whose real name was unknown to everyone. Due to its shocking power capable of destroying the heavens and the earth, it was temporarily named the Heaven Suppressing Sword.


    And this person is now one of the three great Sword Immortals of the Human Race, victorious in every battle, and revered as Li Qiubai."


    On the first page of the Taoist Scroll was a detailed introduction to the background and origins of this Secret Sword.


    Lu Qingshan continued to read.


    On the second page were several lines of extremely sloppy but wildly spiritedrge characters.


    "What nonsense is this Heaven Suppressing Sword, earning such a ridiculous name, it was just a casual sh I made, simple and rough.


    It''s only because it was the first sword strike I had ever made since embarking on the path of Cultivation, hence I did not forget it, andter perfected it, naming it Sword One.


    Everyone calls me a Sword Dao genius, which ispletely baffling to me, a bunch of nonsense¡ª


    Isn''t Sword Dao supposed to be simple?


    ------------Li Qiubai."


    ¡­


    So this was what the Sword Immortal himself had written? The so-called name ''Heaven Suppressing'' was nothing but a hollow epithet given by others?


    For a moment, Lu Qingshan was lost for words.@@novelbin@@


    At the same time, the detailed exnation of the Secret Sword within the Taoist Scroll caught his eye, and a row of glowing small characters appeared before him.


    [Secret Sword: Subduing Heaven]£¨Sword One£©


    Learning Condition: Innate Sword Dao talent


    Activation Condition: This Skill can only be unleashed through a Sword Artifact.


    Skill Effect: Strikes out with three Swords each carrying five times the might.


    Description: The power depends on one''s own Cultivation; the higher the Cultivation, the greater the power. Your journey continues at empire


    Additional Exnation 1: The Heaven Suppressing Sword holds infinite power and puts a great strain on the user, use with caution.


    Additional Exnation 2: This Secret Sword cannot be stacked with other Sword Techniques.


    Additional Note: Learning this Secret Sword requires an expenditure of 20w Experience Points.

 Chapter 257 - 6 Beginning_3

    They made connections left and right, obtaining timely information, and gradually expanded theirworks during their development for survival, possessing a considerable intelligence capability. At times, they could even serve as a temporary base for the cultivators of the watchtower, just like now.


    Beiming True Venerable lifted his hand, and a gray wooden spirit boat began to float in midair, quickly increasing in size.


    "Next, we will board this flying spirit boat and venture deep into the Wilderness of Brilliance, to wage a campaign against the Voidfiends and the Underworld Cultivators.


    During this process, all spirit messagemunications will be prohibited. I hope no one will make a mistake," Beiming True Venerable¡¯s eyes shed with a cold light as he emphasized again, "If anyone privately sends out messages to the outside world, for any reason whatsoever, they will be treated as a traitor."


    "Understood!" All cultivators responded in unison, their hearts surging with excitement.


    They were graduallying to terms with the realization and understanding the significance of this journey.


    If they could indeed take advantage of the opportunity to eradicate the Voidfiends and severely weaken the power of the Netherworld in Qing State, then those who participated in this operation would have made a tremendous contribution.


    In both psychological and material terms, they stood to gain immense benefits, which made them incredibly excited just thinking about it.


    "Let¡¯s skip the idle talk. Everyone, board the spirit boat and prepare to set off," Beiming True Venerable stepped back, and Tower Master Pangyang stood out andmanded with an authoritative tone.


    All the cultivators on the field, without any hesitation, jumped onto the spirit boat. Finally, the three Tower Masters and that mysterious great cultivator whose origins were unknown also leaped onto the spirit boat.


    "Go!" Under Beiming True Venerable¡¯s control, the spirit boat soared into the sky, turning into a gray, almost invisible shadow that pierced through the Sect Protection Array of the Iron Fist Sect and sped towards the Wilderness of Brilliance.


    Traveling as fast as thunder, the mountain peaks on both sides turned into fleeting images whizzing past.


    A few hourster, the spirit boat officially entered the territory of the Wilderness of Brilliance.


    @@novelbin@@


    However, the overall area of the Wilderness was vast, and it would take another two or three days to reach the ce where the Voidfiends were located.


    Along the earth veins of the Wilderness, most of the way there were fewrge green areas, and most green areas were not forests or lush vegetation but rather vast stretches of low shrubs.


    As the spirit boat prated deeper, they asionally passed by small human race viges, each with only a few hundred inhabitants.


    Lu Qingshan stood on the spirit boat and took a brief nce, noticing that the vigers in these settlements were short and dark-skinned, thin as iron.


    Despite their slight appearance, these people were physically andbatively superior to most mortals, having survived in such barren and harsh conditions.


    "The Wilderness of Brilliance is not all barrennd; half of it is more akin to an oasis.


    It just happens that the hiding ce of the Voidfiends seems to be in this barrennd," a young cultivator in his twenties beside Lu Qingshan spoke up, seeing that Lu Qingshan was intently observing the ground and voluntarily started the conversation.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan look his way, the young cultivator smiled brightly, courteously sped his hands towards Lu Qingshan, and friendly said, "My name is Liu Yu."


    "Lu Qingshan." Lu Qingshan returned the gesture, "It seems Brother Liu is quite familiar with the Wilderness of Brilliance?"


    Liu Yuughed and said, "I wouldn¡¯t say particrly familiar, but I happen to be originally from Qianzhao Prefecture, so I know a little about the situation in the Wilderness of Brilliance.


    But I never expected that a Voidfiend would be hiding among it."

 Chapter 258 - 7: Spatial Illusion

    "I see," Lu Qingshan nodded thoughtfully.


    Although he was widely knowledgeable, he was not omniscient.


    The Wilderness, he not only hadn¡¯t visited in his past life but had hardly even heard any news rted to it. Naturally, he was pleased that someone who knew the area was willing to share information about the Wilderness.


    "However, the other half of the oasis, because the environment is far more suitable for living, has a significantlyrger number of demon beasts and fierce creatures than this barrennd.


    Therefore, for the humans living in the Wilderness, it¡¯s hard to say whether it¡¯s better to be in this barrennd or safer in that half of the oasis," Liu Yu remarked somewhat sentimentally.


    "Which region does Fellow Cultivator Lue from?" Liu Yu changed the subject, subtly probing with his question.


    "Zhenjiang Lu Family," Lu Qingshan was quite open about his background and dered it outright.


    "I am from the Liu Family of Qianzhao City. The next time Fellow Cultivator Lu visits Qianzhao Mansion, just let me know, and I will make sure to host you well," Liu Yu was also very forting and, without waiting for Lu Qingshan to ask, voluntarily disclosed his own origins.


    To liven up the atmosphere, Liu Yu self-deprecatingly said, "Among the cultivators in this mission, I thought I was the one with the lowest cultivation, but I didn¡¯t expect that there would be a Fellow Cultivator Lu who sympathizes with my situation."


    Liu Yu was a cultivator at the Golden Core Middle Stage, which certainly wasn¡¯t low, but aboard this Spirit Boat, it indeed seemed a bit inadequate.


    Perhaps that was also why Liu Yu took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Lu Qingshan¡ªfinding another cultivator with even lower cultivation than his must have felt like finding a kindred spirit.


    However, Lu Qingshan did not underestimate him because of this.


    He didn¡¯t believe that the cultivators participating in this mission could be simple by any means.


    Just like him, although he was only at the Golden Core Initial Stage, anyone who underestimated him would surely suffer a great loss.


    ....


    The flying Spirit Boat, personally piloted by Beiming True Venerable, was not only incredibly fast but also came equipped with a high-grade concealment array, making it fly silently and even invisibly through the air.


    There was even a time when a Fourth Grade demon bird passed right by the Spirit Boat without detecting its presence.


    The journey was uneventful and safe.


    However, the scenery along the way, mostly low shrubs and barren yellow soil, also made Lu Qingshan feel a bit weary and irritable after a while.


    Therefore, not long after, Lu Qingshan lost interest in the road conditions and resumed studying the Heaven Suppressing Secret Sword.


    Sword techniques are indeed the most interesting!


    After nearly ten days of diligent study and practice attempts in the tower, he had made some progress, albeit slight, pushing forward the mastery of this Secret Sword Technique: Heaven Suppressing (Learning Progress: 1.1%).


    Although it was only 1% progress, this indicated that as long as he was willing to spend the time, he could master this Secret Sword Technique.


    For most Sword Cultivators, this technique often involved years of dedicated study, maybe three or four years or even over a decade, without any gain; progress remained firmly at the starting point, from novice to abandonment.


    Some swords aren¡¯t just about spending time; they require proper techniques to be executed.


    Two dayster, when Lu Qingshan had pushed the learning progress of the Heaven Suppressing Secret Sword to 1.3%, the swiftly flying Spirit Boat gradually came to a halt mid-air.


    They had arrived at their destination.


    ......


    Tower Master Pangyang frowned as he observed the Human Race vige ahead.


    Perhaps it couldn¡¯t be called a vige¡ªa small town would be more appropriate.


    Because the vige was quiterge, with various types of crude but numerous houses, among which many native vigers resembling those seen earlier wandered about, though they were mostly women and children.


    The barrennd was not suitable for nting crops. To survive in such a ce, men had to travel great distances most of the time to hunt where there were wild animals.


    "The location given by the Y¨´n L¨¢ng Guard is indeed this ce," L¨· Yu¨¡n exined to the middle-aged cultivator beside him.


    Beiming True Venerable¡¯s gaze was sharp as lightning as he scanned the small Human Race vige, "These vigers are all mortals, not Underworld Cultivators. Their identities hold no deceit.


    However, since this location was discovered through the Heavenly Secret Mirror used by the Y¨´n L¨¢ng Guard, the possibility of error is extremely low."


    "There¡¯s another possibility, that this Human Race vige is merely a cover, and the real branch of the Underworld is hidden within it in a more concealed manner," Tower Master P¨¡ng Y¨¢ng said with a glint in his eyes. "Do not forget what the bloodline talent of the Void Demon¡¯s Child is."


    Space True Intention!


    Tower Master P¨¡ng Y¨¢ng¡¯s remark enlightened both Beiming True Venerable and L¨· Yu¨¡n.


    .....


    Lu Qingshan was also scrutinizing the indigenous vige in front of him, unable to detect any issues for the moment.


    "Lu Qingshan, I sense a familiar scent," suddenly spoke the Western Mouse King, hidden in Lu Qingshan¡¯s sleeve, breaking the deadlock.


    "What scent?" Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    "It¡¯s the same as those blood-red crystals I consumed in Zhenjiang City. Importantly, it¡¯s extremely, extremely, extremely strong and very, very, very plentiful," the little demon mouse said, using six ¡¯extremely¡¯s to describe the intensity of the scent.


    Lu Qingshan was shaken.


    When the Western Mouse King had broken through from a First Grade to a Second Grade demon beast, one of its newly awakened abilities was the keen ability to sense nearby Spiritual Objects beneficial for bloodline evolution.


    Moreover, this sensing ability, stemming from its bloodline instinct, could not be shielded even by formations or runes.


    The blood-red crystals it had initially consumed were indeed products of Blood Pool Reincarnation.


    Blood Pool Reincarnation was a forbidden technique mastered only by the Underworld.


    If the scent of Blood Pool Reincarnation was as intense as the Western Mouse King described,


    it meant they were not mistaken; there indeed were traces of Underworld Cultivators here, and it was a very important branch!


    But why, when it is so close at hand, can they see nothing at all?


    The next moment, recalling the Void Demon¡¯s Child¡¯s Space True Intention ability, a thought shed through his mind as quickly as lightning,


    Space Illusion!


    The middle-aged man exined gravely, "It¡¯s highly likely a space illusion, those proficient in Space True Intention can pull over a thinyer of space over an actual space, serving as a barrier."


    Just like the edges of a minor realm always appear in different shapes, those shapes are not real; they are illusions created by powerful cultivators manipting the spatialyers at will when they create a minor realm.


    With this exnation from the middle-aged man, Tower Master P¨¡ng Y¨¢ng and the others understood the situation clearly.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Whether it is a space illusion or not, let¡¯s treat it as such for now, Beiming, you and L¨· Yu¨¡n will coordinate the cultivators¡¯ movements," Tower Master P¨¡ng Y¨¢ng began to issuemands.


    "Understood, Tower Master!" Both Beiming and L¨· Yu¨¡n responded in unison.


    "For sealing the space, we¡¯ll need to bother True Venerable H¨¢n M¨¦i," Tower Master P¨¡ng Y¨¢ng politely said to the middle-aged man.


    "It is only right," True Venerable H¨¢n M¨¦i replied primly.


    ......

 Chapter 260 - 9: Inheritance

    Yes, as the organization most closely associated with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the support dispatched this time came from Hanmei True Venerable of the Taoist Sect¡¯s Heavenly Secret Pavilion.


    The Heaven Locking Seal is one of the famously renowned magic artifacts of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.


    Its incredibly potent power of heavenly confinement can even restrain the legendaryw domains, let alone the space true intentions of a Void Demon.


    Of course, such a precious magic artifact would not be allowed to be taken out of the sect by a Void Refining Cultivator.


    If targeted by those with ill intentions, losing the Heaven Locking Seal would be a loss even the Heavenly Secret Pavilion could hardly bear.


    The Heaven Locking Seal that Hanmei True Venerable summoned was merely a replica, yet simrly, the Void Demon was just a fifth-grade member of the Demon Race.


    Thus, with the Heaven Locking Seal at hand, this time, the Void Demon had no escape!


    .....


    The elderly, women, and children in the Human Race vige suddenly experienced such a startling change, yet though panicking, they did not loseposure.


    The women acted swiftly, grabbing the elderly and children and immediately hiding in their homes, tightly shutting doors and windows, taking refuge in the deep cers dug into their houses.


    In this process, hardly any child cried out, and even the elderly were quick in their actions.


    This was the Human Race that managed to survive in such a wilderness.


    ¡­


    Beiming True Venerable and deputy tower master Lv Yuan led the cultivators of the Tower of Guardians as they leaped off the Spirit Boat.


    Once everyone had left the Spirit Boat, Beiming True Venerable¡¯s thoughts stirred, and the Spirit Boat swiftly began to shrink, turning into the size of a palm in short order and flew into Beiming True Venerable¡¯s hand, where he stowed it into his storage ring.


    The participants in the operation to sweep through the Qing State Underworld¡¯s main temple totaled over a hundred Golden Core Cultivators and several dozen Nascent Soul Cultivators, all being elite members from the Tower of Guardians skilled in battle.


    Most of these people were familiar with each other.


    After all, reaching the levels of Golden Core and Nascent Soul as cultivators, and being members of the Qing State Tower of Guardians, meant that their social circles were very narrow.


    Moreover, the long lifespans of cultivators meant that casual encounters at various asions were also highly likely.


    Among them, Lu Qingshan was an exception. As a cultivator who had just advanced to the Golden Core Stage, he waspletely a neer.


    Among so many cultivators, apart from Liu Yu who took the initiative to talk, he had no other acquaintances.


    He also always kept a low profile.


    "Body Cultivators in the very front, Spiritual Cultivators prioritize casting defensive spells on the Body Cultivators.


    Sword Cultivators follow just behind the Body Cultivators, holding the line with Flying Swords, and can freely choose to charge at any time based on the situation.


    Dharma Cultivators at the rear, casting spells to bombard those treacherous demons and spawns, Nether and Beast Cultivators y to their strengths!"


    The voice of Beiming True Venerable boomed like a bell, instantly reaching the ears of all the cultivators under hismand.


    Without any titudes or hesitation, upon confirming that this ce was the main temple of the Qing State Underworld, Beiming True Venerableunched a thunderous offensive against the Underworld Cultivators hidden inside.


    Lv Yuan¡¯s side adopted the same formation as Beiming True Venerable.


    This method andyout, a time-tested ssic formation, was invariably fail-safe whenever deployed.


    What¡¯s even more important is, in a situation where strength held an absolute advantage, advancing in such a steady fashion could lead to minimum casualties, possibly even none.


    @@novelbin@@


    At this moment, Tower Master Pangyang had already leaped into action, locking onto the cave where the Void Demonic Cultivator was hidden, and rushed directly towards it.


    It seemed that Tower Master Pangyang was preparing to face the Void Demonic Cultivator alone.


    Because at this time, Beiming True Venerable and Lv Yuan did nothing and did not have any intention to assist Tower Master Pangyang in surrounding and killing the Void Demonic Cultivator.


    They were merelymanding the cultivators, who were arranged in a formation, to attack those Demonic Cultivators and demons in the caves and Blood Pools.


    The Body Cultivators, who were the fewest in number, charged to the front, their bodies fortified with various Defensive Spells cast by Spiritual Cultivators. With their extremely resilient physical bodies, they charged fearlessly forward like crabs d in tortoise shells, exhibiting a domineering and unbridled aggression.


    When spells or magic artifacts from the Underworld Cultivators mmed into them, the Body Cultivators faced them unflinchingly.


    Bang! Boom!


    The impact seemed colossal, but for those Tower of Aid Body Cultivators, it was just like scratching an itch through a shoe ¨C bothersome but painless.


    Following the Body Cultivators were the Sword Cultivators, ready to burst through enemy lines at any moment, while their Flying Swords, being faster than the Body Cultivators, had already struck the newly reactive Underworld Cultivators.


    The most numerous, the Dharma Cultivators and Spiritual Cultivators, stood in the same line. The Spiritual Cultivators mainly focused on controlling the battlefield, while Dharma Cultivators were tasked with bombarding the enemy under the protection of the Body Cultivator¡¯s human wall.


    This was a rather standard assault formation.


    As for Nether Cultivators and Beast Cultivators, given their uniquebat style, which featured stealth and unpredictability, fixing their positions would mean crippling theirbat power by seventy to eighty percent; they had to act independently.


    Beast Cultivators also acted independently as theirbat styles varied greatly. Different Beast Cultivators could fight very differently depending on their Beast Pets, even though they belonged to the same school.


    Everyone understood that the cultivators present were important members of the Qing State Underworld, and nearly half of them had undergone Blood Pool Reincarnation, transforming into Demonic Cultivators with Demon Race bloodlines, so their actions were ruthless.


    At the moment they were hit by the thunderous assaults from the Tower of Aid¡¯s cultivators, these Demonic Cultivators¡¯ first reaction was to activate their demon bloodlines, causingplex and mysterious blood-red patterns to suddenly appear on their bodies.


    Some cultivators were engulfed in radiating mes, some sprouted bizarre and monstrous limbs, while others transformed into terrifying figures, each disying different forms and abilities.


    However, against a sheer suppression of strength, these transformations seemed to be futile struggles.


    Beiming True Venerable and Deputy Tower Master Lv Yuan, like wolves among sheep, were swiftly clearing up those Nascent Soul Stage Underworld Cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan, mixed among a considerable number of Sword Cultivators, also maneuvered his Dragon Sparrow Sword, attacking the already struggling Underworld Cultivators.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!


    Ear-splitting sounds of sonic booms filled the air as dozens of Flying Swords, swift as lightning, shot out. Though their speeds varied due to different cultivation realms, they still carried an intent to pierce through the sky.


    The fastest Flying Swords belonged to three Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators, whose Flying Swords reached speeds over ten times the speed of sound.


    The strongest among these Sword Cultivators sent his Flying Sword whizzing through the air, emitting a distinct, rumbling thunder sound.


    That was the second realm of Flying Swords, symbolized by Sword Burst Thunder Sound.


    During the strike of the Flying Sword, the rumbling was like a thunderstorm, its might overwhelming.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dragon Sparrow Sword, mixed among these Flying Swords, appeared quite ordinary, attracting no special attention from anyone.


    Only one person noticed something different about Lu Qingshan.


    Liu Yu.

 Chapter 261 - 10 The Plight of a Trapped Animal

    The Golden Core Middle Stage Liu Yu, a Spiritual Cultivator, had just empowered a Body Cultivator with Defensive Spirit Techniques and was ready to act ording to the circumstances of the battle, allowing for flexibility in his approach.


    Instantly, he thought of Lu Qingshan. Just as he prepared to bestow several Attack Spirit Spells suitable for a Sword Cultivator upon him, he witnessed the following scene.


    A Flying Sword, radiating crimson mes, burst forth from Lu Qingshan¡¯s dantian, and like the flying swords of other Sword Cultivators, it carried fierce Sword Momentum as it shed toward a Demonic Cultivator, who was covered in numerous scales and at the Golden Core Late Stage.


    There were three Flying Swords targeting this Demonic Cultivator.


    Almost simultaneously, these three Flying Swords struck the Demonic Cultivator¡¯s physical body.


    Hiss hiss hiss!


    As the scale armor shed with the Flying Swords, countless sparks flew, apanied by several faint sounds of shattering ss.


    Just from this collision, the seemingly indestructible scale armor on the Demonic Cultivator started to crack in several ces.


    "This...." Liu Yu was dumbstruck.


    Among those three Flying Swords, apart from Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dragon Sparrow Sword, the other two were wielded by Sword Cultivators at the Golden Core Late Stage.


    Despite such a clear difference in Cultivation levels, the Flying Sword released by Lu Qingshan, at the Golden Core Early Stage, whether in terms of speed or power, was hardly any different from the powerful Sword Cultivator at the Golden Core Late Stage from the Tower Master.


    They were all seven times the speed of sound.


    @@novelbin@@


    Since when had a Golden Core Early Stage Sword Cultivator¡¯s Flying Sword been able to achieve such prowess?


    If they were all like this, what¡¯s the point for other Cultivators? Just have Sword Cultivators do the reducing!


    Liu Yu was profoundly shocked.


    Of course, he realized that it wasn¡¯t the Sword Cultivators who were strong, but Lu Qingshan.


    "Lu Daoist, I lend you my aid!" At this moment, amidst intensebat, those myriad thoughts in Liu Yu¡¯s mind were fleeting. The next moment, Liu Yu made his strategic choice.


    Two streams of Spiritual Light flew from his hands, attaching themselves to the Dragon Sparrow Sword that had just circled back.


    Two spells cast in an instant¡ªsuch a casting frequency was extremely terrifying!


    Most Golden Core Cultivators, capable of instant spell casting, were already considered talented amongst Dharma Cultivators.


    Indeed, the Cultivators participating in this mission were either highly cultivated or had powerful methods,


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind stirred, and at the moment the two Spirit Spells were attached to the Flying Sword, he could feel that in that instant, both the speed and the destructive power of the Dragon Sparrow Sword had escted.


    "Kill!" Lu Qingshanmanded in his heart. Once again, as a Flying Sword, the Dragon Sparrow Sword transformed into a fierce crimson Sword Light, shing towards the Demonic Cultivator.


    Whoosh!


    This time, the speed of the Dragon Sparrow Sword was even faster than before, reaching a terrifying nine times the speed of sound.


    This, naturally, was thanks to the effect of Liu Yu¡¯s Spirit Spells.


    Moreover, this was just the effect of one Spirit Spell, which allowed Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword Speed to rise by thirty percent, and it should be noted that Liu Yu had cast two Spirit Spells in that instant!


    Bang!


    This time, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword directly struck the Demonic Cultivator¡¯s scale armor, with brilliant golden light bursting forth, like a drill, leading the Flying Sword by one step, spinning at high speed, and piercing through the scale-covered body of the Demonic Cultivator.


    This was the effect of Liu Yu¡¯s second Spirit Spell.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword then approached, targeting the area that had lost its scale protection and struck.


    The Sword Light instantly prated the body of the scale-covered Demonic Cultivator, exiting from his back.


    Boom!


    The me waves and the Sword Qi burst open inside the body of the Demonic Cultivator, mercilessly destroying every part of his flesh, and after a loud noise, the gruesome body of the Netherworld Demonic Cultivator shattered into pieces, with blood sttering tragically.


    Although Liu Yu¡¯s face reddened due to the excessive use of Spiritual Power from casting two Spirit Spells in a moment, the excitement in his eyes could not be concealed.


    He had actually cooperated with a Sword Cultivator in the Golden Core Early Stage to swiftly kill a Demonic Cultivator in the Golden Core Late Stage!


    Lu Qingshan was equally excited.


    This Demonic Cultivator had provided him with eight thousand Experience Points!


    And here, there were numerous Underworld Cultivators, with their side enjoying an absolute advantage, he barely needed to consider anything else except how to im more heads!


    ...


    This vast canyon had been divided into five distinct battle zones by the aggressively invading cultivators of the Tower.


    The cultivators from the Tower were split into two groups, advancing methodically like bulldozers under the arrangements of Beiming True Venerable and Deputy Tower Master Lv Yuan.


    Beiming True Venerable and Lv Yuan acted solo, tirelessly pursuing those scattered and frantically fleeing Underworld Cultivators in the air.


    If Lu Qingshan was swift in killing, for the two Deputy Tower Masters who were at the Void Refining stage, ughtering these Underworld Cultivators whose cultivation was at most at the Nascent Soul level was a massacre.


    As for the final battle zone.


    It was between Tower Master Pangyang and the Void Demon.


    If one paid a little attention to this battlefield, one could roughly understand why Beiming True Venerable and Deputy Tower Master Lv Yuan didn¡¯t assist Tower Master Pangyang against the Void Demon.


    Because Tower Master Pangyang was almostpletely dominating the Void Demon, battering him breathlessly.


    As a Body Cultivator, Tower Master Pangyang¡¯s body radiated streaks of golden light, his Qi-Blood surging like waves, producing sounds like a tsunamic roar, ceaselessly overwhelming the Void Demon with punches like hammers.


    This space, after being sealed by True Venerable Han Mei¡¯s Heaven Locking Seal, made the Void Demon feel as if his legs were cut off, his movements and tactics significantly weakened, possibly even by more than fifty percent, facing the formidable Tower Master Pangyang, he could only passively resist.


    Suddenly, a terrifying force approached, and the Void Demon felt as though mountains weighing thousands of tons were pressing down on him, misstepped, and his body severely deformed.


    This was the Gravity Intent mastered by Tower Master Pangyang.


    An oversight under the suppression of the Gravity Intent left an opening for the Void Demon, and Tower Master Pangyang exploited it.


    The veins on his arms bulging and shining with golden light, he suddenly wrapped his arms around the Void Demon¡¯s neck, the other arm pressing down on his head, and mmed him directly into the ground, smashing him several times, fracturing the rocky ground of the cavern, stones flying and a pool of blood spreading from the Void Demon¡¯s forehead.


    The blood from the Void Demon¡¯s wounds was even a deep purple!


    Under excruciating pain, he let out a ghastly scream and reached towards the nearby Blood Pool.


    A streak of Blood Light surged out, striking Tower Master Pangyang. Though it was blocked by the golden light on his body, the fierce impact still flipped Tower Master Pangyang over.


    Having escaped Tower Master Pangyang¡¯s restraint, the Void Demon struggled to stand up.


    Under the furious onught from Tower Master Pangyang, his appearance had be extremely pitiful.


    His ghost-like cold eyes stared fixedly at Tower Master Pangyang.


    "How did you from the Tower discover our Netherworld headquarters in Qing State?" The Void Demon asked each word sharply, teeth clenched, "With my strength, even if Yun Lang that old fool has the Heavenly Secret Mirror, he absolutely cannot discover my hiding spot.


    Unless he is ready to lose his life, there¡¯s a slight chance!"


    Tower Master Pangyang¡¯s face showed disdain, scoffing, "Do all the members of the Demon Race think so highly of themselves?"


    Even though victory was in his grasp, Tower Master Pangyang had no intention of revealing the method of Heavenly Secret Pavilion¡¯s monitoring and investigation.


    Indeed, due to the profound secrecy surrounding the art of Observing Heaven in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, where precautions were extremely stringent, let alone that the Netherworld¡¯s understanding of the power of the Heavenly Secret Mirror was superficial, mostly derived from spections and analyses, even their own Tower had a shallow understanding of it.


    That veryck of information made it mostly difficult for the Netherworld to defend against the power of the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    For instance, this time, the Void Demon, knowing his formidable strength, thought it impossible through the Heavenly Secret Mirror to locate him, relying on the significant cause and effect involved, felt fearless.


    Yet, he didn¡¯t anticipate that Yun Lang, confirming the location of the Netherworld headquarters in the Wilderness, would utilize the method of first probing with Primordial Intent and then deducing his position, determining his location with a lesser cost!

 Chapter 262 - 11: Luohu Awakens?

    The Void Demon Child was furiously irrepressible, but facing this dead end, he was powerless to retort and could only bitterly repeat the name of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.


    The divination and deduction techniques of the Human Race were a barrier that the Netherworld found difficult to ovee when sowing disaster within human territories.


    If there were a Human Race power that the Netherworld most despised, the Guardian Tower ranked first, closely followed by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.


    Pangyang, the Tower Master, swept his eagle-like, sharp gaze over the grotesque but motionless Luohu within the Blood Pool, his tone cold and tinged with a mix of mockery and probing, "Is this the Luohu that you have schemed for a hundred years to reincarnate, after ughtering millions of people in Zhenjiang City?"


    This hit right at the pain point of the Void Demon Child.


    It was precisely because of Luohu¡¯s current half-dead appearance that he had fallen into such a deadlock.


    Mastering the Space True Intention, he was not strong in his physical body, tending more towards the role of a Dharma Cultivation.


    On ordinary days, relying on the capability of Space True Intention to move unpredictably, how could he possibly engage in closebat with a Body Cultivation.


    Yet, under the restriction of the Heaven Locking Seal, he had no choice but to confront Pangyang¡¯s powerful physical body with his own weakest aspect.


    Luohu was a natural born battle fanatic endowed with extreme strength as a talent, if Luohu were conscious now, he would be able to confront Pangyang head-on. How could he have fallen to such a state, engaging in this brute-like behavior in his eyes?


    "Again!" Pangyang, the Tower Master, withdrew his gaze from Luohu, and with a cold chuckle towards the Void Demon Child, said, "Like a rat, you have gued Qing State for so many years, but now the end hase."


    The next instant, the golden light radiating from his body was even more intense than before.


    A pale golden colossal figure gradually materialized in the void behind Pangyang, massive in stature, like a golden mountain.


    It was the phantom of a wolf-type ferocious beast, hugely intimidating, crouched in the void, its golden eyes like two brilliant goldennterns, with dazzling brilliance swirling within.


    "Dharma Aspect!" The Void Demon Child¡¯s expression grew even uglier.


    A Body Cultivation who has cultivated a Dharma Aspect, with the power of the Dharma Aspect upon them, would have theirbat power climb another level.


    "Roar!" The wolf phantom roared in the void, took a step forward, and the entire Soul Shadow merged with Pangyang to be one entity, transmitting an aura that made the heart of the Void Demon Child palpitate.


    Thump! Thump! Thump!


    Under the support of the Dharma Aspect, Pangyang began to move, and the entire cave shook with his movements, the golden radiance dyeing the whole cave resplendently gold.


    The strong intent to kill surged towards the Void Demon Child.


    "Rise!"


    The Void Demon Child could no longer care about anything else, a mad gleam in his eyes, as countless beams of blood surged from the Blood Pool, stirring up huge waves, rushing furiously towards Pangyang.


    This move was almost an all-out effort using the power of the Blood Pool.


    Pangyang¡¯s body, on the other hand, released golden Gang Qi, countering the waves of blood light.


    Like thunderous waves crashing upon the shore, the sshing blood light spilled to the sides, instantly shattering the cave walls of the cavern, scattering debris all around, while Pangyang stood unyielding at the center of the turmoil.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The cave, unable to withstand the violent aftershocks, copsed with a thunderous roar.


    "Scram!" Pangyang, the Tower Master, let out a thunderous shout, and the golden Gang Qi violently shook, blowing all the debris away.


    Mist and dust filled the air, numerous beams of golden light shot through, dispersing it.


    Yet with just this one collision, the vast cave had already crumbled.


    ```


    Amidst the falling debris that filled the sky, a golden w reached out, sweeping away all the rubble and charging straight towards the chest of the Void Demon.


    Bang!


    The giant golden w erupted in a torrent of light, pping the Void Demon away like a piece of withered grass.


    In the instant the golden w struck, deep purple eerie runes flickered on the chest of the Void Demon in an attempt to withstand this powerful and fierce attack.


    Yet, even so, his chest was still concaved, looking utterly miserable.


    Pangyang was not about to give the Void Demon any chance to catch his breath, relentlessly closing in on him, moving back and forth, and bombarding the Void Demon with punch after punch, swift and ferocious.


    The Void Demon was beaten until he continuously spat blood, his body covered in wounds, utterly devoid of any power to resist.


    ...


    In another battlefield within the canyon, the sound of swords howling and spells exploding rose and fell in session.


    Sword Cultivators manipted their swift Flying Swords, dragging long tails of me in the sky as they moved about, assaulting the Underworld Cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mood grew increasingly joyful; the Spirit Arts controlled by Liu Yu were indeed the perfect match for him.


    With Body Cultivators at the front taking hits, Spiritual Cultivators at the back enhancing his state, and the physically powerful Underworld Cultivators with activated Demon Race bloodlines serving as living targets.


    There was no situation better suited for practicing swordsmanship and grinding Experience Points.


    Lu Qingshan, firing on all cylinders, hadpletely extinguished the thought of close-quartersbat and instead chose to rely on long-range strikes with his Flying Sword.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword often touched and went without any dy, simple and incredibly fast, posing a mysterious and deadly threat to the Underworld Cultivators¡ªlife and death hanging in the bnce of a moment.


    Because the space was limited and there was endless pressure from two Void Refining Cultivators, these Underworld Cultivators had no room to maneuver, their numbers dwindling and their will to fight eroding as the battle progressed.


    While constantly ying Underworld Cultivators, Lu Qingshan was also striving to control the rhythm of the Flying Sword, by varying the sword¡¯s speed, force, feints, and reality. Changing up the rhythm forced his opponents into a frenzied chase.


    In such a situation, enemies could only follow passively and were prone to expose openings, which he would seize to kill with a single strike.


    This technique was a micro-managing skill that Sword Cultivator yers must master.


    Having studied the Sword Cultivator ss for ten years, Lu Qingshan was naturally very familiar with these maneuvers, but regrettably, they were onlybat skills from a game and could not be directly tranted into reality.


    However, with that awareness and experience and leveraging his Sword Dao talent, in reality, Lu Qingshan managed to replicate his gaming skills in just this onerge-scale melee and quickly recaptured the feeling he once had.


    @@novelbin@@


    Under his control, the Flying Sword hunted down enemies like a Spirit Snake.


    Whiz, whiz, whiz!


    Even in such aplex melee, Lu Qingshan consistently relied on his precise judgment of timing and the situation to urately im the lives of seven Underworld Cultivators, pocketing sixty thousand Experience Points.


    However, this good fortune was nearing its end.


    The Underworld Cultivators on the field were already down to a mere few, and faced with such despair, the remaining few Underworld Cultivators also disyed faces filled with bewilderment and distraction, coupled with undeniable panic.


    ... Find your next read on Freewebnovel


    Suspended outside the canyon, holding the Heaven Locking Seal and responsible for sealing the space, Hanmei True Venerable was intently watching the battle between Pangyang Tower Master and the Void Demon.


    Seeing Pangyang hold an absolute advantage and continuously tormenting the Void Demon, Hanmei True Venerable also felt confident of victory, her mood inadvertently bing light and joyful.


    Nobody noticed that when the Void Demon had drained the power of the Blood Pool, within the Blood Pool, Luohu who seemed like a lifeless statue without any sound, had one finger on the palm of one of his four hands twitch slightly.


    ```

 Chapter 263 - 12 Thick Suspicion

    Pangyang Tower Master once again leaped fiercely, lunging towards the Void Demon.


    The Void Demon was surrounded by Demonic Qi, with purple runes shing around his body in protection, trying to evade the attack.


    But Pangyang Tower Master was too fast, like a golden lightning bolt, and even more fiercely brutal as he kicked the Void Demon¡¯s spine.


    Crack!


    The Void Demon¡¯s figure once again flew backward, crashing into the stone wall behind him, causing the wall to tremulously shake andrge cracks to appear.


    Spurt!


    The Void Demon spat out several mouthfuls of deep purple blood, his body drenched in fresh blood.


    Pangyang, looking at the disheveled Void Demon, revealed a sinister cold smile, "Your time of death hase." Find your adventure at Freewebnovel


    Just at that moment, a glint of abnormal light burst from the dim eyes of the Void Demon, as if he had seen some hope.


    Pangyang¡¯s vignce heightened, and a bad premonition sprang up in his heart.


    Suddenly, with a loud bang, a terrifying fluctuation burst forth, its aura frightfully intimidating.


    Pangyang Tower Master¡¯s hair stood on end, a chill spontaneously emerging.


    For he felt behind him, a force so tremendous that he was unable to resist it.


    Hum.


    Under this immense force, the Dharma Aspect-d Pangyang Tower Master was effortlessly flung away, sliding tens of meters across the ground, stirring up countless broken stones.


    But he quickly steadied himself, turning to look at the source of this sudden change.


    "Luohu!" Pangyang¡¯s pupils shrank, he eximed in horror.


    The one who had flung him was none other than Luohu, who had previously made no sound!


    "Luohu, you¡¯ve finally awakened!" gasped the Void Demon, looking at the suddenly revived Luohu with a grim smile, "But, awakening now... it¡¯s already toote."


    Unlike the despair of the Void Demon, although Pangyang was surprised, he was still brimming with confidence.


    Indeed, he had considered Luohu in his ns from the moment he acted.


    With their lineup andbat power, even if Luohu awakened, that would not change the situation.


    The instant Luohu awakened, Beiming True Venerable and Lv Yuan had already swiftly flown over to join the battlefield, rushing to support Pangyang.


    Luohu did not respond to the Void Demon.


    The suddenly awakened Luohu¡¯s current state was incredibly bizarre.


    His body was enshrouded in evil Qi, and his four massive, dead-pool-like green eyes stared straight at the Void Demon.


    This eerie gaze made the Void Demon shiver involuntarily, tentatively calling out, "Luohu?"


    "Do you still have the strength to perform space teleportation?" Luohu¡¯s hoarse voice sounded, his gaze shifting from the body of the Void Demon to survey the entire canyon, finally fixing his gaze firmly.


    His gazended precisely where Lu Qingshan was located.


    It was unclear whether it was a coincidence or for some other reason.


    "Performing space teleportation is not a problem," grimaced the Void Demon, his eyes turning towards Han Yi True Venerable standing high in the sky, and said, "It¡¯s just, the space here has been sealed by the Human Race, and my space teleportation cannot function."


    Following the gaze of the Void Demon, Luohu¡¯s eyes also condensed onto Han Yi True Venerable, staring at the seal in his hand. Luohu seemed to remember something, muttering softly.


    "Heaven Locking Seal, huh?"


    "Break it for me!" The next moment, Luohu suddenly rasped a low shout, his four arms reaching towards the void. In the astonished gazes of the Void Demon and Han Yi True Venerable, eight thick, cyan chains were forcibly grabbed out from the void by him.


    "How is this possible?" Han Yi True Venerable was filled with horror,pletely taken aback.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Just as I thought," Luohu murmured.


    His arm was swiftly enveloped in ck mist, and with a rumbling sound, Luohu unleashed a shuddering strength, firmly grasping the eight cyan chains and slowly pulling on them.


    Hum hum hum!


    The Heaven Locking Seal emitted violent trembling noises.


    Feeling that something was amiss, Tower Master Pangyang erupted in fury, his body radiating golden brilliance like rain, charging towards Luohu to interrupt his actions.


    However, Luohu merely nced coldly at the iing Tower Master Pangyang and, disregarding everything else, with runes spreading across his body, the veins on his four arms bulged as he increased his strength once more.


    The Void Bloodline boasted an innate ability to master Space True Intention and thus stood above all others, yet the Asura Bloodline matched it with sheer simplicity of strength.


    Thus, one could understand just how terrifying this kind of strength could be.


    At that moment, Luohu disyed his formidable ultimate strength in front of everyone, which could only be described as invincible.


    Crack!


    A fracturing sound emanated from the thick cyan chains.


    Boom!


    At the same time, Pangyang¡¯s attack also struck Luohu¡¯s head.


    Completely ignoring Pangyang¡¯s attack and focusing on breaking the cyan chains in his hands, Luohu paid a heavy price for this.


    His skull nearly split open, blood gushing out,rge chunks of flesh falling off, even revealing the ghastly bones beneath.


    But facing such severe injuries, Luohu was eerily calm, even showing Pangyang a faint smile.


    "You have failed," a hoarse voice reached Pangyang¡¯s ears, sending a chill into his heart.


    For, at that moment, the cyan chains dissolved into a sky-wide shower of cyan light, scattering away.


    The Heaven Locking Seal, at that moment, lost all its Spiritual Light and fell into a degraded state, its space-sealing power alsopletely dissipating.


    The Void Demon Child stood dumbfounded, unable to believe it, but with the current situation, he had no time to solve his doubts.


    His response was very swift.


    A sudden rise in the formidable power of heaven and earth.


    Deep purple, everything around was deep purple.


    From within the body of the Void Demon Child, a terrifying mana burst forth, almost sweeping across the entire canyon.


    Lu Qingshan, who had just ended the battle, took up his Flying Sword to observe the situation and was horrified to find that the Spiritual Light beside him suddenly emitted intense fluctuations.


    A deep purple spatial rift appeared abruptly beside him as a vast suction force emerged from it, swallowing him in an instant before he had any chance to react.


    This scenario was not unique to Lu Qingshan; it was estimated that a dozen other cultivators from the Tower were also drawn into the mysterious spatial rifts that appeared beside them.


    This was a method of employing Space True Intention inbat.


    Directly drawing cultivators into spatial rifts, using the cutting force within to ughter them.


    "To ughter my Underworld Cultivators to the ground, how could they vent their rage without killing a few Tower cultivators?" the Void Demon Child sneered sinisterly.


    As his words dropped, two purple radiances suddenly appeared, enveloping him and Luohu, and after a series of inexplicable fluctuations, the two vanished from the canyon.


    Leaving behind Tower Master Pangyang and the two recently arrived deputy tower masters, their eyes nearly splitting with rage.


    In the sky, True Venerable Han Yi was lost, in disbelief, constantly muttering, "How is this possible..."


    For, just now, Luohu¡¯s proficient technique in finding the Sky-Locking Chains from the void was as if he was a disciple of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion well-versed in Heaven Locking Spiritual Art.

 Chapter 264 - 13 Qingqiu (Part 1)

    "Lu Qingshan!" Witnessing Lu Qingshan vanish right before his eyes, Liu Yu could not help but exim in shock.


    But the spatial rift that swallowed Lu Qingshan quickly disappeared afterward.


    Everything returned to normal.


    The world they were in was extremely stable, even if a powerful cultivator could break the void, under the influence of the world¡¯s own formidable strength and will, spatial rifts would heal as quickly as they just did.


    What was even more terrifying was that these one-way spatial rifts had unpredictable exit points once someone fell into them.


    That meant the dozen or so cultivators from the Tower, although they fell into the spatial fault at the same location, would end up in spatial faults that were far apart from each other, making it practically impossible for them to meet.


    This also meant that unless Lu Qingshan could escape from the spatial fault on his own, it was practically impossible for anyone else to find him in the vast, boundless spatial fault and rescue him.


    But spatial rifts were everywhere in the spatial fault, how could a Golden Core Cultivator survive there and find an exit to escape?


    Liu Yu¡¯s heart turned cold.


    Lu Qingshan... This time, he was most likely dead without a doubt.


    ¡­


    True Venerable Han Mei put away the Heaven Locking Seal, which had lost its divine light, and flew in front of the three Tower Masters, his face dark and somber, with a trace of embarrassment, he apologized, "This was my oversight..."


    He had been specifically invited by the Qing State Tower to limit the spatial devil child¡¯s Space True Intention.


    But it turned out that a mistake urred on his part, allowing the spatial devil child and Luohu to sessfully escape. If it really came down to it, the me was definitely his to bear.


    "What exactly happened?" State Master Pangyang asked not to assign me, but to understand the details, "The Heavenly Seal isn¡¯t supposed to be broken so easily, is it?"


    "The core of the Heavenly Seal is the Heaven Locking Spiritual Art from my Heavenly Secret Pavillion," True Venerable Han Mei exined, "But somehow, Luohu seemed to understand the mysteries of the Heaven Locking Spiritual Art very well. In an instant, he found the critical weakness of the Heavenly Seal and used it to break the Heaven Locking Spiritual Art."


    True Venerable Han Mei was also perplexed, "But, the Heaven Locking Spiritual Art is one of the core secrets of our Heavenly Secret Pavillion. How could a devil child from the Netherworld understand our secret technique so well..."


    ¡­...


    This was a nk, silent space with no sounds at all.


    A figure suddenly appeared, staggering slightly.


    Without paying much attention, Lu Qingshan, who was caught unawares and entered the spatial fault, hastily observed his surroundings.


    But he saw nothing, here, there was only emptiness.


    Silently, a tiny spatial rift appeared next to his ear.


    A strand of hair next to his ear was immediately shed off.


    A chill ran up Lu Qingshan¡¯s spine.


    @@novelbin@@


    If this spatial rift had been a bit closer, it wouldn¡¯t have been his hair that was cut off, but his head instead.


    "Lu Qingshan, what is this ce, why does it look so terrifying?" The King of the West Rats, who had been quietly watching the drama from inside Lu Qingshan¡¯s sleeve, was now almost crying.


    How did they blink from a canyon to such a terrifying ce?


    The life of a rat was too endlessly changing!


    "Spatial fault," Lu Qingshan said with a grave expression.


    This wasn¡¯t a ce he should be right now.


    Inside the spatial fault, there were countless and randomly urring unstable spatial rifts.


    That is to say, a ce that was safe one moment might suddenly have a terrifying spatial rift appear the next moment, and of course, a ce riddled with spatial rifts might have all the rifts disappear the next moment.


    In short, unless one had a profound understanding of the mysteries of space, there was absolutely no way to predict or avoid spatial rifts.


    "Is there a way to break it?" he asked softly.


    "No problem," came Qin Yitian¡¯s voice from the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    Only after receiving an affirmative response did Lu Qingshan let out a slight sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, the Spell Breaking Divine Ability of the Dragon Sparrow Sword was effective even against space.


    "However, the spatial turbulence caused by breaking open the space is unavoidable, young master should be mentally prepared," Qin Yitian cautioned.


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "I understand."


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    Space, for him at the Golden Core Stage, still belonged to the forbidden realm.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Spell Breaking ability of the Dragon Sparrow Sword, this time he would have likely been doomed here.


    Unless his luck was incredibly good, allowing him to avoid all the narrow spatial cracks and find a sufficiently stable one that could amodate his passage.


    He didn¡¯t dare linger or dy; in such a ce, every extra second spent was like dancing on the de.


    Lu Qingshan held his sword and swung it at the void in front of him.


    Spell Breaking!


    It was still an unremarkable sword stroke, but in the vast expanse of the void ahead, following the trajectory of the Dragon Sparrow Sword¡¯s sh, arge gap appeared.


    The moment the gap opened, the surrounding space surged, and colorful streams of spatial turbulence emerged, wildly rushing about.


    Lu Qingshan hastily leaped toward the exit.


    At the same time, the Five-Colored Sword Armor detached from his body and solidified into five thick screens of swords, shielding his form within.


    But the usually infallible Sword Armor, this time, was like paper mache under the assault of the spatial turbulence, instantly turning into fragments, scattering in all directions.


    After breaking through the Sword Armor, these turbulent streams surged towards Lu Qingshan¡¯s physical body.


    Even with Protective Spiritual Power, those streams were like countless sharp des, extremely keen, and instantly shattered the protective Spiritual Power. They then proceeded to rip his clothes into ragged strips and finally scraped across his flesh.


    Countless tiny wounds appeared, and blood spurted from them.


    Once the Sword Armor was destroyed, Lu Qingshan, as a Sword Cultivator, was still too frail.


    Ignoring everything, gritting his teeth, and enduring the pain, Lu Qingshan finally shot out through the gap.


    Then his vision darkened, and hepletely lost consciousness.


    ......


    It was unclear how long he had been unconscious.


    Lu Qingshan finally regained some semnce of consciousness in a daze.


    He felt as if his entire body was on fire, the burning pain was unbearable.


    Without looking, he knew that his body must be covered in wounds.


    Blood was still continuously lost, making Lu Qingshan feel increasingly weak.


    He wanted to forcefully retrieve Healing Pills from his Storage Ring and take them, but he simply couldn¡¯t muster any strength.


    Moreover, the bit of consciousness he had just regained was slowly fading away with the loss of blood, and his senses were bing more and more blurred.


    He felt as if he were plunging into an endless abyss, darkness overwhelming him.


    But in the moment before hepletely passed out, he suddenly heard Qin Yitian¡¯s voice. He couldn¡¯t make out what was said, but he could faintly sense the joy in Qin Yitian¡¯s tone.


    Was he saved?


    That was hisst thought.

 Chapter 266 - 15: Luohu?

    In an unnamed region, the tranquil sky suddenly violently distorted, and a surge of purple-ck Spiritual Power emerged, so dense that it almost turned into a cloudyer.


    Silently, a massive energy ripple, like a surging tide, swept crazily, and then an enormous crack abruptly appeared.


    Two figures with vastly different auras shed out of the crack.


    One was the towering Luohu with four eyes and four arms; the other was a Void Demon gravely injured.


    "It¡¯s good that you woke up in time, or else we might both have been done for this time," the Void Demon nced around the surroundings and said with relief, "This ce is Ning State territory, far from Qing State, absolutely safe.


    Ning State is where Evil Soul resides; we should find him first. The matters of Qing State, we can discusster."


    The person at the helm of the Netherworld of Ning State is called Evil Soul.


    Luohu¡¯s gaze was evasive, his thoughts unknown.


    "Luohu?" Seeing that Luohu gave no response, the Void Demon called out his name in confusion again.


    "You¡¯re not lightly injured, can you still move conveniently?" called out by the Void Demon, Luohu then came back to his senses and suddenly asked with concern.


    "The situation isn¡¯t very good, and moreover, casting a state-level spatial discement, considering the condition of my current body, the burden was still too great. Bringing you from Qing State to Ning State almost exhausted all my strength, but moving about shouldn¡¯t be too much of an issue," the Void Demon didn¡¯t think too much and stated frankly.


    Luohu nodded, "Then I¡¯m reassured."


    "We mustn¡¯t dy, let¡¯s first find Evil Soul, settle down for now, wait until my injuries have recovered, then we will n how to kill our way back to Qing State. The total destruction of our headquarters this time is a serious blow to our strength," the Void Demon decided, his eyes full of darkness and vengeance.


    "If we don¡¯t avenge this, how can I calm the lingering frustration in my heart, Pangyang, you just wait!" the Void Demon gnashed his teeth.


    "You¡¯re right," the hoarse reply of Luohu reached the Void Demon¡¯s ears, "but let me take this revenge for you."


    "No need, I must personally tear off his head..." the Void Demon¡¯s words stopped abruptly halfway.


    Puh! Puh! Puh! Puh!


    He felt an unbearable piercing pain in his chest. Discover more content at NovelBin.C?m


    He couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes, looking down at his chest in disbelief.


    Four ferocious arms entered from his back, directly piercing through his body, then stabbing out from his chest.


    Those were indeed Luohu¡¯s four arms.


    In Luohu¡¯s hands were his internal organs; under the Void Demon¡¯s eyes about to split with fury, Luohu sneered and crushed all the organs into mincemeat in front of him.


    Countless ck Demonic Qi surged from Luohu¡¯s hands, instantly enveloping the Void Demon.


    "Luohu, why would you do this?" a chill named Han Yi rose in the Void Demon¡¯s heart.


    "No, you¡¯re not Luohu!" suddenly thinking of something, he eximed in horror, "Who are you?"


    The patterns on Luohu¡¯s greenish face shed with a dark glow, ignoring the Void Demon¡¯s questionspletely as his strength in his hands intensified again.


    @@novelbin@@


    Rip!


    Under the desperate gaze of the Void Demon, Luohu brutally tore him into pieces, scattering his remains.


    Dark-purple blood sttered out, sprinkling on the ground, and the once lush grass withered and shriveled up instantly.


    The Void Demon, which had brought chaos to Qing State for a thousand years, had fallen¡ªin by Luohu, one of its own kind!


    "No, you¡¯re mistaken." Only after the Void Demon¡¯s death did Luohu finally gaze at the deep purple blood of the Void Demon that stained his hands, his voice cold and emotionless, "I am indeed Luohu, but not the Luohu you imagine....."


    Waves of Demonic Qi surged from Luohu¡¯s body, turning into a mass of Demon Fire that instantly engulfed the Void Demon¡¯s remains, burning and disintegrating them.


    Having dealt with the aftermath, Luohu, without a backward nce, transformed into a dark green shadow and disappeared into the horizon.


    .....


    Qingqiu.


    Little deer Yaoyao blinked herrge eyes several times at Lu Qingshan.


    "Yaoyao, where is Mimi? Why didn¡¯t shee with you?" Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s tone was drawn out, warm and gentle, like a kind grandfather speaking to his granddaughter.


    At the Mountain Master¡¯s question, Yaoyao suddenly remembered the purpose of her visit. She began to il in a fluster, letting out distressed noises, appearing very anxious.


    As little deer conveyed her message, the smile gradually faded from the Mountain Master¡¯s face, and the aura he exuded started to grow heavy.


    Lu Qingshan, who did not understand the deer¡¯snguage, also realized that something bad must have urred.


    After a while, Yaoyao stopped rying her message, her watery eyes filled with expectations as she looked pitifully at the Mountain Master.


    "I¡¯ve told you before, Mimi is flighty; you should keep a close eye on him!" The Mountain Master¡¯s voice became very stern, "I¡¯ll look for him now, hoping he hasn¡¯t rashly left Qingqiu."


    The next moment, the Mountain Master¡¯s face gradually disappeared from the peach tree.


    A mysterious yet vibrant essence spread quickly from the peach tree, like rippling waves, sweeping over every nt and leaf on Qingqiu Mountain, expanding outward continuously.


    Under the influence of this mystery, all the touched flora trembled slightly, revealing their instinctive joy.


    Because they felt an abundant vitality that spurred their growth and prolonged their lives.


    Shortly thereafter, the strength of Heaven and Earth had already enveloped the whole vast mountain range, sparing no corner.


    But still, it was all in vain.


    The Mountain Master retracted the vitality that had enveloped all the nts, and his face re-emerged from the peach tree.


    Facing Yaoyao¡¯s hopeful gaze, the Mountain Master sighed lightly, "I haven¡¯t found him; Mimi must have left Qingqiu."


    Upon hearing the Mountain Master¡¯s words, the next moment, a mist appeared in Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes, pitiful and adorable.


    "Yi yi ya ya!" After thinking for a bit, Yaoyao, as if she had made up her mind, said something to the Mountain Master.


    "No, you can¡¯t leave here, it¡¯s too dangerous outside."


    "Yi yi ya ya!"


    "No means no. Those few clumsy spells of yours, what use could they possibly be?" The Mountain Master scolded, his tone rising.


    The little deer seemed to be unhappy after being scolded by the Mountain Master and, kicking her little legs, prepared to leave the area.


    But as she leapt into the air, dozens of pink peach blossom petals fell from the peach tree, enveloping and pulling the little deer back.


    Constrained by the peach blossom petals and returning to the ground, the little deer rolled around on the ground in extreme frustration, unable to escape the bind of the petals.

 Chapter 267 - 16: 3000 Great Mountains

    ```


    "Eee-yaah!" the little deer made a seemingly ferocious but actually timid cry towards the Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    "You¡¯ll stay by my side during this time, and don¡¯t even think about running off to find Mimi," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said sternly, "lest you get into trouble yourself before you even find Mimi!"


    The little deer fell silent, but the mist in itsrge eyes grew heavier.


    "Mountain Lord, what has happened?" Lu Qingshan, witnessing this scene, had a vague understanding of the situation, "Perhaps I could be of some help?"


    Interrupted by Lu Qingshan, the Qingqiu Mountain Master paused, sizing him up for a moment as if awakened by Lu Qingshan¡¯s words.


    Could it indeed be a solution to the current predicament?


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master thought for a while and decided not to hide anything, pointing at the young deer Yaoyao, she asked Lu Qingshan, "Do you know about Yaoyao¡¯s origins?"


    Lu Qingshan shook his head.


    There were too many demon beasts in the Nine Heavens, and how could he possibly recognize all of them?


    "Yaoyao has ancient spirit beast bloodline, known as Chenghuang; she also has a little brother named Mimi," the Qingqiu Mountain Master exined.


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback; although he had found the little deer to be extraordinary, he hadn¡¯t expected that Yaoyao was not a demon beast but an ancient spirit beast of noble lineage.


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s voice revealed a touch of sorrow and she began to recount, "A few years ago, their mother, wounded all over, barged into Qingqiu while pregnant with them.


    Her injuries were so severe that even I could not save her; by all logic, with such grave wounds, she should have died en route.


    Yet somehow, she mustered the strength to cling to herst breath and made it all the way to Qingqiu, where, at my feet, she gave birth to Yaoyao and Mimi."


    "After giving birth to Yaoyao and Mimi, she was hanging by a thread, unable to tell me in detail what had happened, only imploring me to take good care of Yaoyao and Mimi for her."


    Lu Qingshan remained silent.


    The strength that sustained Yaoyao¡¯s mother so long, the Qingqiu Mountain Master may not understand, but humans could empathize all too easily.


    Because its name is motherhood.


    No wonder a Great Demon of vegetation would form such a close bond with a little deer¡ªit was all because of such a story.


    Most Great Demons of vegetation were characteristically steadfast and virtuous; for Yaoyao¡¯s mother to encounter the Qingqiu Mountain Master in her direst moment was indeed fortunate.


    "Chenghuang wields the Thunder Force and the power of Life-Healing; being young, each sibling has only temporarily awakened part of Chenghuang¡¯s abilities.


    Yaoyao has awakened the Thunder Force of Chenghuang, while Mimi has awakened Chenghuang¡¯s Life-Healing powers," the Qingqiu Mountain Master sighed, continuing, "These are formidable powers, but since they are still young, they cannot exert much force.


    However, with such a noble bloodline, as they grow older, they will be stronger and stronger.


    "And with me to protect them, it¡¯s enough for them to grow up; within Qingqiu, I am an invincible being," the Qingqiu Mountain Master stated confidently.


    "But, unfortunately, Mimi is incredibly impulsive, always loving to run around and explore everywhere.


    Moreover, since he hasn¡¯t awakened any offensive or self-protective abilities, I¡¯ve repeatedly stressed to him that he can roam but never leave Qingqiu and asked Yaoyao to keep a close watch on him." The Qingqiu Mountain Master felt a headache talking about Mimi.


    After a sigh, the Qingqiu Mountain Master added, "As long as they are within Qingqiu, I can intervene at a moment¡¯s notice should any danger ur."


    "Who would have thought this little rascal could be so disobedient, sneaking out of Qingqiu while Yaoyao was in deep slumber due to her bloodline awakening.


    It¡¯s also my fault; my true formes from vegetation, with a very long life span; I¡¯ve alwayscked a strong sense of time, and before I know it, decades can pass, which is why I failed to notice Mimi¡¯s antics."


    ```


    "It wasn¡¯t until Yaoyao woke up yesterday that we discovered Mimi had disappeared, but it¡¯s been too long, even to the point that we don¡¯t know how long Mimi has been gone."


    After all, this was the Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s first time taking care of a child, so some negligence was indeed inevitable.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself this way.


    "Likewise, as you can see, because my original form is this peach tree, a nt spirit that has gained sentience.


    My roots have long been deeply embedded in Qingqiu, integrated with Qingqiu Mountain, so I cannot leave Qingqiu," exined the Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    After a pause, the Qingqiu Mountain Master expressed his worries, "I can¡¯t leave Qingqiu, and although Yaoyao wants to go look for Mimi by herself, with its limited capabilities, how could I possibly rest assured to let it leave Qingqiu."


    "The outside world is extremely dangerous."


    Lu Qingshan nodded, understanding clearly in his heart.


    Upon noticing the rich vegetation here and learning that he was still in the Wilderness area, Lu Qingshan had already deduced where he was.


    The Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    Liu Yu had once told him that the Wilderness was mainly divided into two regions, one being the barrennds where the creatures of the Void dwelt.


    The other was known as the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    Discover more stories at NovelBin.C?m


    The Three Thousand Great Mountains, also referred to as the paradise for Demon Beasts.


    "Three Thousand" is merely a figure of speech; the actual number of mountain ranges is unknown.


    The environment within the Three Thousand Great Mountains is extremely treacherous, not only rampant with Demon Beasts but also riddled with many traps of Miasma Qi.


    @@novelbin@@


    Not to mention ordinary people, even Cultivators might perish here; the level of danger speaks for itself, hence no one has ever been able to fully explore it.


    Moreover, a long time ago, before the Wilderness had suffered great cmity, there used to be a thriving branch of the Human Race here.


    They practiced a unique style of Cultivation, forming a distinctive school known as Witch Cultivation.


    Their main focus was on Body Cultivation, but they also possessed peculiar methods involving Poison Art and Poisonous Insects.


    To most Cultivators, Poison Art was considered a lesser skill not fit for serious consideration, but that didn¡¯t mean Poison Art wasn¡¯t powerful; it merely indicated that those who practiced Poison Art had not researched potent enough poisons.


    The Poison Art of Witch Cultivation was unpredictable and virulent, so much so that even Nascent Soul Cultivators couldn¡¯t ignore it.


    As a result,pared with other Cultivators, Witch Cultivators were not only strong but even surpassed them in some aspects, thus enjoying a period of great prominence.


    However, what exactly happened in the Wilderness afterward, what secrets were involved that led to the disappearance of Witch Cultivation into the sands of history, remains a mystery.


    But ording to some Cultivators who had ventured deep into the Three Thousand Great Mountains, the lineage of Witch Cultivation had not beenpletely exterminated; deep within the mountains, there were still tribal gatherings of Witch Cultivators, and they had personally seen Witch Cultivation viges.


    Of course, regarding such news, most dismissed it with contempt¡ªhow could it be possible for Human Race tribes to survive in such a perilous ce.


    After running the information on the Three Thousand Great Mountains and Witch Cultivation through his mind, Lu Qingshan¡¯s face showed no sign of hesitation.


    Although this ce was rumored to be extremely dangerous, with his current level of Cultivation, it shouldn¡¯t be to the point where he could not make any progress.


    Furthermore, if he wanted to leave this ce, he would inevitably have to traverse the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    Most importantly, he bore the life-saving grace of the Qingqiu Mountain Master; if he did not repay it, he would not find peace of mind.

 Chapter 268 - 17 Blooming Spirit Flower

    "Does the Mountain Lord know about the surroundings of Qingqiu? With so many mountain ranges here, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack if we have no other leads on where to find a small beast." Lu Qingshan frowned and brought up a key issue.


    Qingqiu Mountain Master pondered for a moment and then said with a slight apology, "I have never left Qingqiu, and I have always been indifferent to other matters, so I really don¡¯t know much about the geography around Qingqiu.


    The only thing I know is that Mimi likely left from the east of Qingqiu, and there are traces of its scent there. "


    "I see..." Lu Qingshan muttered thoughtfully.


    Even though he had now set his direction to the east, finding Mimi did not seem any less challenging.


    After all, looking for a needle in a sea or a river is essentially the same deal.


    But even though it felt difficult, Lu Qingshan did not say more.


    If it were something easy to handle, the Qingqiu Mountain Master could have done it himself. Why would he need his help?


    "Then, once the Great Rat King wakes up, I will go down the mountain to look for Mimi," Lu Qingshan decided.


    The sensory abilities of the Great Rat King would indeed be a big help to him.


    Swish!


    The true form of Qingqiu Mountain Master slightly trembled, making a swishing sound.


    A branch with dozens of peach blossoms then broke off from its trunk, floated down from the air, andnded in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hands.


    "Take this peach tree branch with you. When you see Mimi, show it to her, and she will trust you," the Qingqiu Mountain Master exined.


    "If you pick a Blooming Spirit Flower from the Blooming Spirit Stream and wear it on you, most Demon Beasts will stay away and not attack you easily with the scent of the Spirit Flower.


    Continue your journey on NovelBin.C?m


    However, once the Blooming Spirit Flower is picked, it will wither within a month and lose all its effectiveness. You need to be cautious about this."


    The aged voice of the Qingqiu Mountain Master resonated again, "As for that little mouse, its injuries were not as severe as yours, so it actually healed a long time ago and revived from unconsciousness.


    However, it seems to enjoy the environment of the Blooming Spirit Stream very much and has been sleeping soundly, unwilling to wake up."


    Lu Qingshan: "...."


    That¡¯s so like you, Great Rat King!


    Walking to the Spirit Light shimmering Blooming Spirit Stream, Lu Qingshan picked a flower from the clusters of peculiar flowers.


    A faint, dark fragrance wafted from the Spirit Flower, mingled with a subtle aura of vitality.


    It was precisely because these Spirit Flowers were growing in the stream that the Blooming Spirit Stream was so full of vitality, transforming it into a river of life.


    After cing the Blooming Spirit Flower close to his heart, Lu Qingshan nced at the Great Rat King, who was still lying in the Blooming Spirit Stream with his eyes tightly shut, feeling both amused and helpless.


    This creature¡¯s luck was always so good. Lu Qingshan even suspected that his escaping from a spatial rift with severe injuries andnding here, encountering the Qingqiu Mountain Master extending a helping hand, might just be due to the Great Rat King¡¯s good fortune at work.


    It was very likely the case.


    With that thought, Lu Qingshan, not holding back, lightly waved his hand and the calm flowing water of the stream suddenly surged up, sshing all over the Great Rat King.


    "Squeak! Who, who ambushed the Rat Lord!" the groggy Great Rat King was immediately awakened by the water sshing on his head, panickedly looking around.


    Upon seeing Lu Qingshan and Qin Yitian on the shore, the little Demon Rat finally eased its anxious heart, scratched its head, andined, "What¡¯s the deal? Why are you messing with the Rat Lord like this?"


    "Wait a minute...." the scratching paw of the Great Rat King suddenly stopped.


    Because it felt that something was not quite right.


    "Why so bare?"


    The little demon mouse¡¯s round eyes widened as it nced at its own reflection in the stream.


    @@novelbin@@


    The next moment, an extremely pitiful wail arose.


    "Oh my life, where¡¯s my fur?!"


    The Western Mouse King wailed and hopped onto Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder, grabbing Lu Qingshan¡¯s cor, trembling all over, "Lu Qingshan, where¡¯s the fur on my head?"


    Originally, the Western Mouse King had a tuft of very bright red hair on his head, but now it had bepletely bald.


    Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help butugh helplessly, spreading his hands, "You saw the spatial turbulence when we came out; I guess it must have sheared off the red hair on your head."


    "How can this be," the Western Mouse King was furious, looking like he was about to break apart, "It could shear my other fur, but why specifically the most proud, most handsome red hair."


    "A head can be broken, blood can flow, but the red hair on top must not be lost..." the Western Mouse King murmured disheartenedly.


    "No worries, the balder the head, the stronger the power," Lu Qingshan reassured.


    Yi Yi---


    The sudden lightughter from Yaoyao finally made the Western Mouse Kinge to his senses, shifting his attention from the tuft of silly hair on top of his head to the environment he was currently in,


    The little demon mouse stared with wide eyes at the little deer Yaoyao, who was tied up by peach blossom petals yet couldn¡¯t help butugh, feeling mocked and jumped in front of her dissatisfiedly.


    The Western Mouse King examined Yaoyao¡¯s golden antlers, clicking his tongue in amazement, "Lu Qingshan, where did you catch this silly deer? These two antlers really look quite decent, all shiny and sparkling."


    Hearing herself referred to as a ¡¯silly deer¡¯, the little deer immediately widened her eyes, staring at the Western Mouse King as she started yelling "Yi Yi Ya Ya," looking quite angry.


    "Yo, the silly deer even gets angry, pretty capable, isn¡¯t it." The Western Mouse King proudly patted Yaoyao¡¯s antlers, "Being tied up like this, and still trying to act tough with the Mouse Lord?"


    Watching the Western Mouse King¡¯s arrogant actions, Lu Qingshan was momentarily speechless.


    You must know, you are making things difficult for yourself.


    "Cough cough---" The Qingqiu Mountain Master couldn¡¯t watch any longer, his face emerging from the peach tree, coughing twice at the Western Mouse King.


    "Holy moly, a demon!" Unprepared, the Western Mouse King was immediately startled by the sudden appearance of the Qingqiu Mountain Master and instinctively leaped back to Lu Qingshan¡¯s side.


    "I will surely teach this ignorant little demon mouse a lesson," Lu Qingshan said with a smile.


    "It¡¯s no trouble." The Qingqiu Mountain Master said indifferently.


    "Then I shall leave Qingqiu now to look for Mimi." Although the Qingqiu Mountain Master had not urged him, Lu Qingshan also knew that his heart must be burning with impatience, so he did not dy further.


    "Then please do." The Qingqiu Mountain Master said.


    Lu Qingshan bowed to the Qingqiu Mountain Master, then picked up the Western Mouse King who was clutching at his trouser leg, "Ready to go."


    "Where are we going?" The Western Mouse King whispered, all bluster gone, clearly scared out of his wits by the Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    "I¡¯ll exin on the way."


    ........


    Lu Qingshan headed in the direction of the east, leaving Qingqiu Mountain.


    But he knew too little about the Three Thousand Great Mountains, and once away from Qingqiu, faced with the continuous mountain ranges, he immediately felt a headache starting, sensing cluelessness about how to proceed.


    Though he was about to turn back and discuss it with Qin Yitian, he discovered she looked very calm, as if holding a winning ticket.

 Chapter 269 - 18 Wuxiu Village Fall

    Lu Qingshan expressed some surprise and hurriedly asked, "Do you have a way to find Mimi?"


    "No," Qin Yitian shook his head.


    "Then what is this..." Lu Qingshan was confused.


    What does this confident look mean?


    "Isn¡¯t it because you are here? I believe there¡¯s no difficulty that the young master can¡¯t solve," Qin Yitian said as a matter of course.


    "...You really are my sword," Lu Qingshan said with emotion.


    "Hehe," Qin Yitian chuckled lightly, then once again turned into a red light and merged into the Dragon Sparrow Sword, "Remember, young master, I am nothing but a sword."


    Lu Qingshan: "....."


    "If we don¡¯t have any other information, then we can only rely on luck," Lu Qingshan muttered.


    After pondering for a moment, he suddenly had an idea. He patted the West Mouse King, who was still mourning the loss of its red fur, on the shoulder, "Where to next, you decide the direction?"


    The West Mouse King lifted its head irritably and casually pointed in a direction, "That way."


    Lu Qingshan nodded, following the direction indicated by the West Mouse King, his figure quickly disappeared into the forest.


    Since it was a matter of luck, the direction chosen by the West Mouse King, who is considered to have royal fortune, should be the right direction.


    ......


    After walking for a while, Lu Qingshan was certain that the location of Qingqiu was deep within the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    The reason was that along the way, he had encountered many Third Grade Demon Beasts, and even some Fourth Grade ones.


    In such a ce, Lu Qingshan did not dare to act rashly.


    As themotion caused by fighting could attract unknown troubles, he mostly tried to avoid the Demon Beasts.


    asionally, hiding was not possible, like now, when about three or four li away from him there was a very well-hidden den.


    Lu Qingshan had overlooked it at first, and had it not been for the West Mouse King¡¯s reminder, he might have only discovered it when he was right in front of it.


    In the den lived a giant spider whose body diameter extended for several zhang. It was covered in green fur, which was quite terrifying, and its eight greyish-brown eyes glowed subtly, fixed on Lu Qingshan.


    It had obviously noticed Lu Qingshan.


    A chill ran down Lu Qingshan¡¯s spine.


    This was a Green Poison Spider King, a Fourth Grade Realm Great Demon.


    But it seemed that the Blooming Spirit Flower had an effect: although the Green Poison Spider King had noticed Lu Qingshan, it merely stared at him from a distance, unmoving.


    It was only after Lu Qingshan had left far behind that the Green Poison Spider King did not make a move against him.


    "This Blooming Spirit Flower truly is miraculous, though I do not know its origin. I have never heard of it before," Lu Qingshan said, marveling at the miraculous effect of the Blooming Spirit Flower.


    Protected by the Blooming Spirit Flower, Lu Qingshan flew safely for half a day until he stopped in front of an inconspicuous small hill.


    The ce was full of oddly-shaped rocks, and the environment was quite harsh.


    The ground was scattered with withered branches and dead leaves. Judging by the mess of the scene, it was clear that a battle had taken ce here.


    @@novelbin@@


    Lu Qingshan quickly released his Divine Sense to survey the surroundings. After a moment, something caught his interest, and he headed towards the small hill.


    In front of the small hill, Lu Qingshan waved his sleeve, sweeping the dry grass and branches to one side.


    A skeleton of a human being appeared in front of him.


    It looked as though it had been dead for a very long time.


    "This is..." Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes shimmered with surprise.


    It wasn¡¯t that he had never seen skeletal remains before, even having personally in a considerable number of cultivators, so what astonished him was not the bones themselves, but that the skeletal remains before him were actually those of a mortal.


    Because of the nurturing of spiritual energy, even if only bones remained of a cultivator, they would glow with a luster, markedly different from the remains of a mortal.


    Yet the bones before him were in and dull, even bearing many green spots, as if poisoned by some potent toxin in life, clearly not the remains of a cultivator.


    In the depths of the Three Thousand Great Mountains, even he had to be extremely cautious, relying on the Blooming Spirit Flower given by the Qingqiu Mountain Master for protection. How could an ordinary person manage to enter?


    That could only mean this person was not an outsider, but likely someone who had survived there since childhood.


    It must be a vige of the Human Race gathered by practicing sorcerers!


    Looking at the remains underfoot, Lu Qingshan¡¯s brows twisted tightly together.


    Mortals couldn¡¯t possibly wander too far from their dwelling ces; that indicated that there should be a Human Race vige nearby.


    If he found the Human Race vige, he could then acquire some useful information, rather than flounder aimlessly like this.


    After pondering for a moment, Lu Qingshan rose and started searching the vicinity, using the skeletal remains as the center and moving in a circr pattern.


    Half a dayter.


    Lu Qingshan looked at the small vige not far ahead with a strange expression on his face.


    It was indeed a very small vige, with one rudimentary but solid wooden house lined up after another.


    With just a sweep of his Divine Sense, Lu Qingshan grasped the general situation within the vige.


    There were nearly a thousand vigers, each looking very lean, with somewhat darkenedplexions, deep-colored lips as if poisoned, and most had ck headscarves wrapped around their heads.


    Within the vige, there were sixteen cultivators. Unlike those in the outside world who ced themselves above all, these cultivators lived amongst the mortals.


    However, among these dozen cultivators, the highest in cultivation was only at the tenth level of Qi Refinement, posing no threat whatsoever.


    What was odd, though, was that this small vige of merely a thousand people had over a dozen cultivators.


    This ratio was quite high and more than manyrge families could match up to.


    But what Lu Qingshan found most iprehensible was how a vige of the Human Race with only Qi Refining Cultivators could survive in the perilden Three Thousand Great Mountains. Your next read is at NovelBin.C?m


    Logically, these vigers should have long been devoured clean by Demon Beasts as food.


    After racking his brain for a while to no avail, Lu Qingshan stopped thinking about it.


    Why not just ask and find out?


    Thinking this way, Lu Qingshan directly headed towards the vige.


    At the vige entrance, he was stopped by the wary vigers.


    This was a middle-aged man who looked at Lu Qingshan with vignce, "Who are you?"


    The ent was thick, but thenguage was still themon tongue of the Human Race, somunication was possible.


    "Ie from beyond the mountains and have lost my way here," said Lu Qingshan politely yet without much concern, given his overwhelming strength. "Seeing that there¡¯s a Human Race vige here, I wanted to ask for directions. Would that be possible?"


    Hearing what Lu Qingshan said, the middle-aged man sized him up and replied in a resonant voice, "Are you saying you came from outside the mountains?"


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    A curious look crossed the middle-aged man¡¯s face as he stepped aside, "Follow me, then. I will take you to our vige chief."


    Everything proceeded naturally, without any difficulties, which somewhat surprised Lu Qingshan.


    He had feared that he might bepelled to use force due to obstinate vigers in such a remote and harsh ce, but it turned out to be unexpectedly smooth going.

 Chapter 270 - 19 Secrets

    Under the leadership of the middle-aged man, Lu Qingshan swaggered towards the vige.


    Along the way, vigers kept stealthily sizing up Lu Qingshan, but as he observed theplexions of these vigers, he felt increasingly uneasy.


    Why did every one of them look so strange, with purplish-blue lips, as if they were poisoned, and why did each of them emit a faint fragrance of flowers that all smelled identical?


    However, judging by their behavior, they seemed perfectly normal, not at all like there was something wrong with them.


    The middle-aged man led Lu Qingshan directly to a wooden building in the vige where the spiritual energy was most abundant.


    Strangely enough, although this wooden building wasn¡¯t far from where the ordinary people lived, and there were no spirit veins underground, the spiritual energy here was much more abundant than elsewhere.


    Moreover, here the strange fragrance that could be detected on the vigers¡¯ bodies, indeed became a few notches richer.


    For cultivators, the more abundant the spiritual energy, the more beneficial it is for cultivation.


    "Vige chief," called the middle-aged man from outside the wooden building.


    "What is it?" came an elderly voice from within the wooden building.


    "A cultivator from outside the mountains hase to visit," the middle-aged man said respectfully.


    Although the middle-aged man was just an ordinary person, he was quite perceptive; as soon as Lu Qingshan had introduced himself asing from beyond the mountains, he had realized that Lu Qingshan¡¯s true identity was probably that of a cultivator.


    No sooner had the middle-aged man finished speaking than Lu Qingshan heard the sound of hurried footsteps from within the wooden building.


    With a creak, the wooden door was opened.


    Lu Qingshan narrowed his eyes slightly, taking in the so-called vige chief who had just emerged.


    He was an old man over seventy, with white hair and a slightly stooped back, also wearing a ck cloth wrapped around his head.


    He was also the cultivator with the highest level of cultivation in the vige, at the tenth level of Qi Refinement.


    Upon seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s youthful appearance, the vige chief was unconsciously taken aback at first, but he quickly recovered, cordially inviting, "A distinguished guest has arrived, pleasee in to talk."


    Lu Qingshan, without any formality, stepped into the wooden building.


    However, as soon as he entered the wooden door, the sight in the great hall also made him pause.


    In the center of the wooden building, there was a small ck pool of earth, within whichy many dark crystal stone fragments.


    Dozens of flowers with ck petals, a strange kind of nt, were growing amidst the crystal stone fragments in the earth pool, emitting a peculiar scent along with a faint spiritual energy.


    That scent was exactly the fragrance Lu Qingshan had smelled. Read exclusive content at NovelBin.C?m


    What truly amazed Lu Qingshan was that these strange flowers were identical in shape to the Blooming Spirit Flowers!


    However, the petals of the Blooming Spirit Flowers were pink and looked very beautiful, while the flora in front of him had ck petals, even the buds were ck, making them look extremely eerie.


    Despite his astonishment, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t show it and after a nce, did not look again.


    @@novelbin@@


    The vige chief asked Lu Qingshan to sit down and offered him a cup of clear tea, "This is Biyun tea; it has the effect of calming the mind and nurturing the spirit."


    Lu Qingshan took the clear tea, but only held it in his hand without drinking.


    "May I ask how the fellow daoist addresses himself?" the vige chief asked. "My name is Sang Ku."


    "Lu Qingshan."


    "Fellow Daoist Lu," Sang Ku immediately corrected himself, "I heard that youe from beyond the mountains?"


    "Indeed," Lu Qingshan nodded, "By a misstep, I ventured deep into the Three Thousand Great Mountains and now am lost, not knowing the way out. I wonder if Vige Chief Sang has a map of this ce? If you could provide me with one, I would be most grateful."


    Sang Ku¡¯s eyes flickered.


    Their vige was located deep in the Three Thousand Great Mountains; unless by intention, how could one casually stumble upon this ce?


    The reasoning was simple, could you identally walk from Qing State to Ning State?


    But even though he understood this well, he was very sensible and said nothing more, instead, he took out a piece of sheepskin paper from the storage bag hanging at his waist and handed it to Lu Qingshan without hesitation.


    "This is the map of the Three Thousand Great Mountains. Although it¡¯s rudimentary and rough, it should be no problem helping my fellow Daoist to leave this ce," Sang Ku stroked his beard and said.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart leapt with joy, and he quickly took the sheepskin paper. He saw that it was crudely marked with several points, outlined the terrain of the mountain ranges, and finally, a route leading out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains was indicated with a red line.


    After memorizing the map carefully, Lu Qingshan asked again, "Sang Daoist, have you seen a little demon deer recently, with two golden antlers..."


    Lu Qingshan went on to describe the appearance of the yellow deer in detail.


    Sang Ku pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I have not seen it."


    Seeing the disappointed expression on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face, Sang Ku immediately added, "However, someone in the vige might have seen it; I can gather all the vigers and ask around for you."


    Lu Qingshan was delighted and expressed his gratitude, "Then I will trouble Sang Daoist."


    Sang Ku waved his hand, "It¡¯s a small matter."


    "Sang Yin." Sang Ku called out.


    The middle-aged man who had been waiting outside immediately walked in, respectfully saying, "Vige Chief."


    "Gather all the vigers here; I have something I need to ask them."


    "Understood." Sang Yin quickly withdrew.


    ......


    Soon thereafter, the sound of footsteps rustled outside the wooden building, and more and more vigers began to gather.


    "Vige Chief, all the people in the vige are outside now," Sang Yin walked in soon and reported to Vige Chief Sang Ku.


    Sang Ku nodded, "Fellow Daoist Lu, let¡¯s go outside."


    Stepping out of the wooden building, they saw the clearing in front of the building was already bustling with noise and activity.


    Since Sang Ku had called for all the vigers, even young children hade.


    Standing at the forefront were a dozen cultivators from the vige.


    Upon seeing the vige chiefe out, the crowd, which had been buzzing with conversation, immediately fell silent, their attention fixed on Sang Ku.


    This scene somewhat surprised Lu Qingshan.


    It appeared that Vige Chief Sang Kumanded great respect.


    "Vigers, this esteemed guest is looking for a demon beast. The beast resembles a small deer, with a white body and two golden antlers on its head. In recent times, has anyone seen such a creature?" Sang Ku¡¯s voice, infused with spiritual power, reached the ears of every viger.


    About a thousand vigers looked at each other, but none stepped forward to speak for quite a while.


    After a long wait, Sang Ku¡¯s face showed disappointment, and he apologized to Lu Qingshan, "Fellow Daoist Lu, it seems there is no news."


    "Sang Daoist not only gave me a map but was willing to go through so much trouble for me; my gratitude is boundless," said Lu Qingshan, waving his hand to show that it did not matter; after all, he had not expected it to be so easy.


    Yet, after a brief pause, a glint of sharpness flickered in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, and he spoke again, "I wonder, Vige Chief Sang, what troubles you might have encountered? Just tell me, and if it is within my power, I will do my best to help."


    There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.


    He clearly had no prior acquaintance with Sang Ku, yet Sang Ku was so enthusiastic towards him; either Sang Ku had other schemes in mind, or he needed his assistance.


    Considering the gap in their cultivation, thetter seemed more likely.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s directness caught Sang Ku off guard, his eyes flickered for a moment, and he no longer beat around the bush, frankly admitting, "Indeed, there is a matter for which I would like to request Fellow Daoist Lu¡¯s assistance."


    Lu Qingshan remained silent, waiting for him to continue.


    Sang Ku collected his thoughts and then said, "Fellow Daoist Lu must be curious how such a small and weak vige like ours can survive in a ce teeming with demon beasts?"

 Chapter 271 - 20 Zou Yu

    Lu Qingshan pointed to the ck flowers nted in the wooden building. "Is it because of those things?"


    Sang Ku nodded, "Yes, this flower is called the Poisonous Spirit Flower and emits a scent most detested by demon beasts.


    One only needs to pluck them and drop them into the well water that everyone drinks daily, and the scent will exude from our bodies, making the demon beasts lose interest in us."


    "However, there are two drawbacks with this flower, one being that it¡¯s poisonous.


    The Poisonous Spirit Flower, true to its name, contains poison.


    Although the toxin isn¡¯t strong, to avoid attacks from demon beasts, we¡¯ve been drinking well water infused with the Poisonous Spirit Flower for a long time, and the toxins have been umting in our bodies, making them difficult to expel.


    Therefore, our lifespan is much shorter than that of most people."


    Lu Qingshan suddenly realized why the skeleton he had discovered was covered in green spots.


    It was no wonder that all these vigers looked to have deep purple lips and oddplexions, they really had been poisoned.


    "Second, this flower requires a type of mineral known as Gloomy Poison Crystal for growth and cultivation. Without this mineral, it would quickly wither," the vige chief Sang Ku continued.


    So it seemed that the trouble Sang Ku encountered must be rted to the Gloomy Poison Crystal.


    Lu Qingshan had already made a judgment in his heart.


    As expected, Sang Ku spoke again, "We originally had control of a Gloomy Poison Crystal mine vein.


    But just one month ago, an extremely vicious demon beast suddenly appeared above the mine, standing there with an imposing aura, and we didn¡¯t dare to approach."


    "We also tried to drive it away with the Poisonous Spirit Flower, but this demon beast is strangely immune to the scent of the Poisonous Spirit Flower, remainingpletely unaffected."


    "Without the Gloomy Poison Crystal, we can¡¯t cultivate the Poisonous Spirit Flower, and without the Poisonous Spirit Flower, we can¡¯t survive in the Three Thousand Great Mountains infested with demon beasts," Sang Ku¡¯s voice grew heavier.


    "Since you, Fellow Daoist Lu,e from outside the mountains and with the danger present here, you must be a cultivator with profound cultivation to have safely reached this ce. Therefore, I humbly request that you help us, ck Scorpion Vige." With his words finished, the vige chief Sang Ku deeply bowed to Lu Qingshan and did not rise.


    Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment and then said, "Stand up first. I can go and check the situation, but I can¡¯t guarantee that I will definitely be able to assist."


    Sang Ku was very smart in dealing with things. Since meeting Lu Qingshan, he hadn¡¯t made any requests but had been utterly amodating and cooperative with Lu Qingshan.


    Under such circumstances, it made it difficult for Lu Qingshan to directly refuse Sang Ku¡¯s request.


    However, Lu Qingshan was very rational; he preferred to observe the situation first.


    If the ferocious beast was within his power to deal with, he wouldn¡¯t mind offering help, but if it was beyond his means, he wouldn¡¯t act recklessly.


    @@novelbin@@


    Upon hearing this, Sang Ku¡¯s face lit up with joy, quickly replying, "Of course, if the demon beast is too powerful, then it can only be said that the heavens wish to end our ck Scorpion Vige."


    "Lead the way," said Lu Qingshan, not wanting to linger here too long since his most important task at the moment was to find Mimi.


    .......


    Two distinct lights flew from the distance. Experience new stories with NovelBin.C?m


    The one on the left was ck as ink, while the one on the right was a streak of red light. They stopped in front of the mountain peak and slowly descended.


    "Fellow Daoist Lu, we have arrived."


    The somewhat aged voice of Sang Ku entered Lu Qingshan¡¯s ears. Lu Qingshan nodded and looked ahead at the small mountain in front of him.


    On the cliff at the foot of the mountain, there was a clearly visible mine entrance. From a distance, the mouth of the cave was pitch ck, and the specific scene inside was not clear.


    "That mining cave is where the Gloomy Poison Crystal is mined; we usually extract Gloomy Poison Crystal from inside," Sang Ku said to Lu Qingshan in a low voice, and pointed to the cliff jutting out above.


    A Demon Beast was squatting there.


    "Hiss!" The Western Rat King on Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder couldn¡¯t help but take in a breath of cold air upon seeing the Demon Beast and whispered, "Lu Qingshan, that big guy looks troublesome; maybe we should just forget it..."


    The Demon Beast before their eyes truly had an immense build, extraordinarily fierce.


    Its body resembled that of a ferocious tiger, standing a zhang tall and measuring four or five zhang in length.


    That ferocious head seemed lion-like, hidden under its forelimbs and unclear, appearing as though it were deep in sleep.


    This fierce creature was covered in white fur, with regr ck patterns distributed across its body, and a tail longer than its torso, coiling from behind to the head.


    It was clearly not an easy target.


    "Until half a month ago, this Demon Beast suddenly appeared there, and since then, we haven¡¯t dared to approach the mining cave to extract the Gloomy Poison Crystal," Sang Ku bit his teeth and said resentfully, "It¡¯s trying to cut off our lifeline.


    We were ready, nning to risk our lives and venture once more into the mining cave to extract the Gloomy Poison Crystal when our stores began running low I a short while."


    However, after Sang Ku had finished speaking with indignation, he found that the gaze with which Lu Qingshan looked at him became very strange, mixed with a meaning he couldn¡¯t understand.


    Then, to his disbelief, Lu Qingshan calmly approached the ferocious beast, disying an utterly fearless and unguarded demeanor.


    ....


    Lu Qingshan walked straight to the foot of the mountain, looked up at the behemoth on the cliff, and suddenly called out loudly, "Do you need something up there?"


    Sang Ku was dumbstruck, and the Western Rat King, even more anxious, tugged vigorously at Lu Qingshan¡¯s cor, "Lu Qingshan, why are you provocatively drawing its attention like this? What are you doing?"


    Lu Qingshan patted the Western Rat King, reassuringly saying, "It¡¯s not a big problem."


    In the Western Rat King¡¯s incredulous gaze, the giant beast squatting on the mountain top actually responded to Lu Qingshan in human speech, with a deep and resonant voice, "I¡¯m scared, I dare not... move."


    "Are you too scared toe down?" Lu Qingshan frowned and pressed for an answer.


    "Mmm..." the fierce creature replied timidly again.


    "What does it mean?" The Western Rat King still couldn¡¯tprehend the situation of the fierce creature.


    "I understand now," Lu Qingshan said as he nodded at the fierce creature, then asked, "Do you need my help toe down?"


    In the next moment, the Western Rat King¡¯s little eyes bulged out in shock.


    Upon hearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s words, the fierce creature actually lifted its vast and ferocious head from its forelimbs.


    The beast sped its shining-cold tiger paws over its eyes, revealing only a slit, and carefully peered through the gap at Lu Qingshan below, pleading pitifully, "Please."


    ......


    In ancient times, there were Spirit Beasts with tiger bodies and lion heads, white fur with ck patterns.


    "Shaped like a tiger, full of multicolored features, a tail longer than its body, named Zouyu, capable of traveling a thousand li in a day."


    The Zouyu, also known as the Benevolent Beast, had a gentle nature, not even willing to tread on grass, and would not eat any beings unless they died naturally.


    If the Zouyu, which wouldn¡¯t even harm the grass, what ill intent could it possibly have?

 Chapter 272 - 21 Unexpected Gains

    Lu Qingshan raised his left hand, and Spiritual Power surged out from his Dantian, turning into a mass of Spiritual Light that enveloped the Zouyu, covering it and supporting its massive body, bringing it down from the cliff,


    Throughout this process, the Zouyu kept its eyes tightly shut, not daring to look down.


    It wasn¡¯t until they returned to the ground that the Zouyu felt solid earth beneath its feet and happily stood up; even without making any deliberate noise, the sheer size of its body made quite the impression.


    The Zouyu walked up to Lu Qingshan, towering above him, but asked in a muffled voice, "What¡¯s your name?"


    "Lu Qingshan."


    The Zouyu happened to be one of the Spirit Beasts Lu Qingshan knew.


    So, upon recognizing the origin of this "ferocious beast," he understood that Sang Ku¡¯s im of an extremely fierce Demon Beast upying their Gloomy Poison Crystal mine was entirely based on their natural assumption due to the Zouyu¡¯s fearsome appearance.


    @@novelbin@@


    It was also for this reason; seeing Sang Ku¡¯s readiness toy down his life, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a sense of irony. Enjoy more content from NovelBin.C?m


    "Lu Qingshan, thank you for bringing me down from above." After confirming Lu Qingshan¡¯s name, the Zouyu nodded its big head, word by word, very sincerely expressed its gratitude.


    "What¡¯s the situation with you?" Lu Qingshan asked curiously.


    "I..." The Zouyu hesitated for a moment, but eventually pointed honestly towards the slick, little tree poking out from the cliff above, confessing, "There were so many bright red fruits growing on that tree, I didn¡¯t think much and just jumped up there to eat them...."


    Western Rat King cocked his head to observe the Zouyu and pressed, "Even the leaves you¡¯ve plucked bare, so why didn¡¯t youe down, what were you doing up there?"


    "I... I..." Faced with Western Rat King¡¯s question, the Zouyu suddenly began to stutter, its fierce-looking face blushing with embarrassment.


    Seeing the Zouyu¡¯s reaction and recalling its earlier behavior, Western Rat King suddenly understood and clicked his tongue, "Big fe, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re afraid of heights and that¡¯s why you didn¡¯t dare toe down?"


    "I...." The Zouyu puffed up its cheeks, huffing and puffing through its nose, frustrated with nowhere to vent, and eventually turned its head away, grumpily.


    "Hey, don¡¯t be embarrassed." Western Rat King, having figured out the Zouyu¡¯s temperament, became bolder and jumped from Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder onto the Zouyu¡¯s head, tugging at its fur, and said nonchntly, "So you¡¯re afraid of heights? Everyone is afraid of something, I, Rat Sovereign, am afraid of water too!"


    "Really? You¡¯re not lying to me?" Stunned by Western Rat King¡¯s words, a light sparked in the Zouyu¡¯s eyes, feeling a kindred spirit, as it strained to look at Western Rat King clearly.


    Because Western Rat King was on its head, the Zouyu¡¯s effort to do so resulted in it rolling its eyes upward.


    "Why would I lie to you." The Western Rat King gave the Zouyu¡¯s big head aforting pat.


    "I¡¯m not afraid of water...." the Zouyu muttered.


    "Exactly, everyone¡¯s afraid of something, no shame in that." Western Rat King asked again, "My name is Western Rat King, big guy, what¡¯s your name?"


    "Name?" The Zouyu showed an extremely human-like embarrassed expression, thought for a moment, then shook its head and said, "I don¡¯t have a name."


    But that shake of its head nearly jostled Western Rat King off.


    The mouse demon hurried to hold onto the Zouyu¡¯s head fur,ining, "Be careful with your movements, you almost dropped your Rat Sovereign."


    "Sorry about that..." Zou Yu sincerely apologized.


    "It¡¯s not good to be without a name," King Rat said again, "Where are your dad and mom, why didn¡¯t they give you a name?"


    "I¡¯ve been alone ever since I can remember; I¡¯ve never met my dad and mom, and I don¡¯t know where they¡¯ve gone," Zou Yu cheerily said without a care.


    "I see," King Rat thought for a bit, then slyly said, "How about I give you a name? The Rat Lord has read plenty of poetry; not only am I good at naming, but I¡¯m also quite the poet!"


    Hearing King Rat say this, Zou Yu didn¡¯t doubt him and immediately showed an excited and expectant look, "Really? Can you?"


    "Of course, I can, would the Rat Lord lie to you?" King Rat patted his chest and guaranteed with boundless pride: "Come, let me think... I¡¯ll give you a name that is as splendid as my own, a resounding title."


    After thinking it over, King Rat suddenly excitedly patted Zou Yu on the forehead and murmured, "Got it, you¡¯re so big, but your courage is so small, why not call you Big Fool?"


    "Big Fool?" Zou Yu was somewhat puzzled.


    "That¡¯s because you¡¯re uneducated, isn¡¯t it? You don¡¯t understand! The meaning of a name should embody great expectations," King Rat earnestly lectured, "You¡¯re faint-hearted, you even fear jumping down from such a small cliff.


    As for the character ¡¯Fool,¡¯ you might not recognize it, but let me tell you, it¡¯s quite meaningful. It¡¯s made up of the word for ¡¯dare¡¯ and ¡¯heart,¡¯ with ¡¯dare¡¯ above ¡¯heart,¡¯ implying that the intention of this name is to hope that you can be a bit braver inside."


    "How is it, not bad, right!" King Rat was smug and turned to Lu Qingshan for approval, "Lu Qingshan, what do you think?"


    Lu Qingshan pursed his lips and rendered speechless for a moment, ".....Not bad, good name."


    After listening to King Rat¡¯s exnation and seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s affirmation, Zou Yu immediately began bouncing around foolishly, loudly chattering, "Big Fool, Big Fool, I¡¯ll be called Big Fool from now on!"


    Caught off-guard, King Rat was immediately flung away by Zou Yu¡¯s big gesture, but the agile King Rat turned into a "smooth descent of the wild goose" in mid-air, stabilizing his form.


    "This foolish thing," King Rat, holding his forehead and looking at the overly excited Zou Yu, was at a loss for words.


    "Quit it now, don¡¯t forget we still have a mission, finding Mimi is urgent," Lu Qingshan shook his head and said to King Rat.


    "It¡¯s like finding a needle in a haystack, looking for a little deer, how difficult!" King Rat said listlessly.


    "Are you looking for someone?" The overly excited Zou Yu, or rather Big Fool, had heard the conversation between Lu Qingshan and King Rat, and immediately stopped celebrating.


    Using his bell-sized eyes, he stared at Lu Qingshan and blinked curiously, asking, "Maybe I could be of some help?"


    "We want to find a little deer." Lu Qingshan chuckled, without much hope, so he didn¡¯t go into too much detail.


    But to his surprise, upon hearing this, Big Fool showed a thoughtful expression, then started to gesture uncertainly, saying, "The little deer you¡¯re looking for, does it have two golden horns, all shiny, very pretty?"


    Lu Qingshan was startled, then overjoyed, "You¡¯ve seen Mimi? Where did you see her?"


    Big Fool nodded, stuck out his tongue to lick his tail that was as long as his body, and seriously recollected for a moment, "Almost many, many days ago, I saw a little deer with a group of people in gray turbans, looking very much like her. I found it odd at the time."


    Big Fool pointed to Sang Ku next to him, then pointed east, "I ran into them in that direction, but it¡¯s very, very far from here."

 Chapter 273 - 22 The Five-Part Alliance

    Lu Qingshan felt somewhat helpless.


    Da Han clearly had no clear concept of numbers, so he could only describe them with vague words like "very far, very far" and "a lot, a lot," making the information seem quite fuzzy.


    However, at least there was a useful clue that allowed him to follow up, instead of aimlessly crashing around like a headless fly or searching for a needle in a haystack, relying on luck.


    Mountains pile up and waters return when no path is found, yet suddenly, in the dark willows and radiant flowers, another vige appears!


    Having obtained the clue, Lu Qingshan quickly turned around and bid farewell to Sang Ku, "Vige Chief Sang, I have resolved the trouble for you now. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."


    A trace of astonishment still lingered on Sang Ku¡¯s face, as he evidently hadn¡¯t recovered from his initial belief that the fearsome beast was actually a simpleton in reality.


    However, upon seeing Lu Qingshan preparing to leave, he hesitated for a moment, before eventually calling out to him, "Cultivator Lu!"


    "What is it?"


    "If nothing goes wrong, those people who were with the deer demon you¡¯re looking for should be from the Spirit Snake Faction," Sang Ku said with a flicker in his eyes.


    "Spirit Snake Faction?" Lu Qingshan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly.


    "Cultivator Lu should¡¯ve heard of our witch cultivators, right?" Sang Ku asked.


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "I¡¯ve heard some news, but don¡¯t know much in detail."


    "After all, our witch cultivator lineage has been hidden within the Three Thousand Great Mountains for so many years, and we have been out of touch with the outside world all this time. It¡¯s only natural that the outside world doesn¡¯t understand us well."


    Sang Ku, unconcerned, smiled and exined, "Our witch cultivator lineage originates from Ancient Times, cultivating the physical body and the five poisons, divided into five factions. This division has been handed down without change.


    The five factions correspond to five poisons: the Heavenly Dragon Sect representing centipedes, the Spirit Snake Faction representing venomous snakes, the Gecko Faction representing geckos, the Yinkui Faction representing scorpions, and the Golden Toad Faction representing toads.


    Although the factions all stem from the same source, there are significant differences, and they each reside separately.


    Our ck Scorpion Vige belongs to the Yinkui Faction, and we wear ck headbands, while the Spirit Snake Faction wears gray headbands."


    "I see," Lu Qingshan responded, nodding.


    "The closest Spirit Snake Faction vige to our ck Scorpion Vige is the White Flower Snake Vige to the southeast," Sang Ku pulled out a map, pointed out a direction to Lu Qingshan on it, and cautioned, "However, the vige chief of White Flower Snake Vige is a Great Cultivator at the Golden Core Stage, and besides that, it¡¯s said that there are more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the vige.


    "If Cultivator Lu really intends to go there, even if you are extremely powerful, remember to be careful. You don¡¯t want to bring trouble upon yourself.


    "The Spirit Snake Faction is currently the one faction among the five you would least want to provoke."


    "Oh? Why is that?" Lu Qingshan¡¯s interest was piqued as he asked further.


    Sang Ku sighed, then went on to exin, "After the great disaster of Ancient Times, we witch cultivators had to fight for survival in the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    "But in such a dangerous ce, even with the Poisonous Spirit Flower, it is very difficult for most people to survive, especially the ordinary humans.


    "Ordinary humans are also the foundation of cultivators; even the strongest cultivators start from being ordinary people. If these ordinary people were gone, our witch cultivators would not be far from decline and extinction.


    "So at that time, to gather resources and strength, the deepest cultivators from the five witch cultivator factions gathered together to discuss and finally decided to form an alliance of the five factions.


    "Although there are gaps between the factions, to continue the legacy, we had no choice but to choose to cooperate and assist each other for mutual support and protection.


    "Among them, the Great Elder of the five-faction alliance oversees the factions, pooling resources.


    "The position of the Great Elder is selected through Magical Combat from within the five factions; the strongest assumes the position, and every fifty years, the position of the Great Elder changes to prevent any one faction from bing too dominant."


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    Pausing for a moment, Sang Ku¡¯s face showed a wary expression as he continued, "Currently, the Great Elder of the five-faction alliance is the Great Witch Cultivator from the Spirit Snake Faction, Golden Snake Granny.


    "Not only is Golden Snake Granny highly skilled and ruthless, but she is also vindictive and protective of her own."


    The most important thing is that she has served as the Great Elder three times in a row. In the alliance of the five factions, she¡¯s virtually untouchable. As a result, the Spirit Snake Faction has be incredibly arrogant.


    Therefore, Cultivator Lu, you should try your best not to provoke the cultivators of the Spirit Snake Faction easily.


    If the little deer that Cultivator Lu is searching for has indeed been captured by the cultivators of the Spirit Snake Faction, it would be best for you to see if you can exchange something for it. It¡¯s better than trying to seize it by force.


    @@novelbin@@


    Otherwise, even if Cultivator Lu manages to defeat the cultivators from White Flower Snake Vige, the act of touching someone from the Spirit Snake Faction is very likely to provoke Golden Snake Granny."


    "Thank you, Vige Chief Sang." Lu Qingshan expressed his gratitude with a cupped fist.


    Even though he knew that Sang Ku was simply returning a favor with another¡ªsince he had no initial intention of sharing this information with Lu Qingshan.


    It was only because Lu Qingshan had helped him with the troublesome Dahane that he was willing to disclose more this time.


    But no matter what, since it was well-intended, Lu Qingshan still felt grateful in his heart.


    "Let¡¯s go to White Flower Snake Vige and see what¡¯s going on!" After organizing his thoughts, Lu Qingshan made his decision.


    No sooner had he nned to set out than Dahane stopped him, "How about I take you there?"


    Under the gaze of Lu Qingshan and King Xi Rat, Dahane shyly said, "You helped mee down from the cliff and even named me. I haven¡¯t thanked you yet!


    I see you are in a hurry for that little deer. I¡¯m very fast, I can take you there quickly."


    Zouyu are spirit beasts known for their speed, so Dahane was not exaggerating.


    "Then we¡¯ll be troubling you," Lu Qingshan said, not standing on ceremony with Dahane.


    "Come on up," Dahane said with a chuckle.


    Lu Qingshan leaped gracefully,nding on Dahane¡¯s back.


    Once Lu Qingshan was steady, Dahane sprang forward, transforming into an almost invisible shadow, rapidly weaving through the ancient forest.


    ......


    One dayter, at White Flower Snake Vige.


    Although both are called viges, White Flower Snake Vige was clearly notparable to ck Scorpion Vige.


    Here, a massive fortress-like vige had been erected, housing nearly ten thousand people.


    Lu Qingshan released his Divine Sense to sense the vige ahead.


    The vige was enormouslyrge, nearly a hundred li in length and width, predominantly constructed from millenary tree wood.


    This ancient timber was extremely tough, so tough that even if one were to chop fiercely with a broadsword, there would not be a scratch, making its defensive power akin to giant boulders.


    The vige gates were bustling with peopleing and going. As arge tribe, White Flower Snake Vige often had people from other vigesing in for trading and purchasing, so there was a significant flow of people.


    However, those responsible for guarding the gates were just ordinary people, and there were no cultivators among them.


    Lu Qingshan dismounted from Dahane and patted his thigh, saying, "Thank you."


    Dahane responded with a cheerful, "No need to be polite."


    It was evident that Dahane could not be brought into the vige; it would cause too much of a stir. Besides, Dahane did not wish to interact with humans. Thus, Lu Qingshan bid farewell to him there.


    Heeding Sang Ku¡¯s warning and not wishing to stir up trouble, Lu Qingshan disguised himself as an ordinary person and stealthily entered White Flower Snake Vige.

 Chapter 274 - 23 News

    ```


    In the stronghold, a three-story tavern made of bamboo looked primitive yet had the charm of a traditional drinking establishment.


    Lu Qingshan had already inquired about it, and this was the tavern with the highest patronage in White Flower Snake Vige.


    And taverns and brothels were always the best ces to gather information.


    Lu Qingshan found an empty seat in the tavern, casually ordered a few dishes and drinks, and started eating on his own.


    Interestingly, at the table next to him sat a middle-aged sturdy man wearing a grey headband, with a fierce face and an oddly absent nose, apparently shaved off since there was a long scar in its ce, looking particrly terrifying.


    What was even more chilling, however, was that this middle-aged man ordered a pot of strong liquor called "Bamboo Leaf Green," and after pouring some into a small cup, a small green snake, emerald green like jade, wriggled out from his sleeve.


    The strong man carefully held the cup in front of the small green snake, which immediately extended its crimson tongue and began sipping the liquor from the cup with quick flicks.


    Yet, the people around them seemed unfazed by this spectacle.


    It seemed to be a trait of the Witch Cultivator Tribe, as though all the patrons in the tavern weremon folk, Lu Qingshan had already seen seven or eight people with poisonous snakes on them.


    However, Lu Qingshan¡¯s attention was currently focused on a pair of young men sitting in a corner.


    One of the men had a scar from a knife on his face, while the other had a ck mark on his neck resembling a centipede; they wore brown headbands, and ording to Sang Ku, they should be from the Pce Guard division.


    "Big brother, White Flower Snake Vige really is bing more and more lively," the scar-faced man observed the scene in the tavern and murmured softly, "Who would have thought that half a year ago, White Flower Snake Vige almost perished, on the brink of decline."


    "It was also their good fortune; they were at the very edge of being eradicated, but then at that critical moment, Wizard Wu Shao managed to turn the tide by concocting spiritual medicine.


    Not only did he save the lives of almost ten thousand vigers, but he also brought a massive turnaround for White Flower Snake Vige. In just half a year, it has developed into this bustling ce; it¡¯s really a blessing in disguise.


    Given this trend, in a few decades, White Flower Snake Vige bing arge tribe would naturally follow their course.


    Because of Golden Snake Granny, the Spirit Snake division has long been the dominant force among the five divisions. Ah, these days for us other four divisions are getting tougher and tougher!" the centipede-marked man sighed helplessly.


    "At the beginning, the establishment of the five-division alliance was supposed to enable the divisions to support each other better, yet ever since Golden Snake Granny took up the position of Great Elder, she hasn¡¯t seen the other four divisions as equals at all, only focusing on hoarding resources and benefits for her Spirit Snake division and herself," the scar-faced man angrily said.


    "Shush, don¡¯t talk recklessly. On the Spirit Snake division¡¯s territory, talking so loudly about Golden Snake Granny is seeking death!" the centipede-marked man smacked the scar-faced man on the head as a caution.


    He then looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to them, before he pulled the scar-faced man closer and whispered, "Might makes right. Golden Snake Granny is powerful; in each of the three witchcraft conferences, her strength has increased. It¡¯s said she has reached the realm of Nascent Soul Perfection."


    "I also heard that at thest witchcraft conference, the other four divisions¡ªas if they had long harbored resentment towards Golden Snake Granny¡¯s dominance¡ªjoined forces and tried to force Golden Snake Granny out of the position of Great Elder!" the centipede-marked man said mysteriously.


    "Really? No way!" the scar-faced man eximed in astonishment with his mouth agape.


    "Lower your voice, why react so loudly?" the centipede-marked man smacked the scar-faced man¡¯s head again, displeased, then continued, "Would I lie to you? My second uncle told me this."


    The scar-faced man no longer doubted, for the centipede-marked man¡¯s second uncle was one of the Foundation Establishment Great Witch Cultivators in their vige, with high status and authority; it made sense he knew some secret information, "So what happened in the end?"


    "My second uncle isn¡¯t very clear about the specific situations, but Golden Snake Granny is still the Great Elder of the alliance, so you should understand what that means, right?" the centipede-marked man said gravely.


    Hiss¡ª


    ```


    The scar-faced man took in a sharp breath of cold air.


    Golden Snake Granny¡¯s renown had spread throughout the Five Faction Alliance, but he really hadn¡¯t expected that Golden Snake Granny would be so powerful that even thebined efforts of four factions couldn¡¯t pull her down from her position as the Great Elder.


    "Why bother thinking so much, we two Qi Refinement juniors?


    The Spirit Snake Sect is now an existence we cannot afford to provoke. All we need to do is to honestly bring back the Rejuvenating Spirit Liquid we bought to the vige.


    With the aid of this Rejuvenating Spirit Liquid, the toxins in the vige chief¡¯s body can be cleared out a bit more. That¡¯s what matters most, the rest isn¡¯t our concern to worry about," the centipede man cautioned.


    The scar-faced man nodded, and their conversation gradually shifted to other matters.


    However, both men failed to notice that, at a table far from theirs, a Golden Core Cultivator was not only paying attention to their hushed conversation but had even set his sights on them.


    After having their fill of food and wine, the two lower-grade cultivators from the Guardian Temple were ready to get up and leave the tavern.


    Watching the backs of the two men as they departed, Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes flickered with thought.


    From their conversation just now, Lu Qingshan had gleaned a lot of useful information, but it was still not enough.


    And these two men, who knew quite a bit and were not from White Snake Vige, wouldn¡¯t attract attention if they disappeared; they were surely the best candidates for extracting intelligence, weren¡¯t they?


    It was as if they had delivered themselves right to his door.


    @@novelbin@@


    Lu Qingshan mumbled to himself.


    ...


    The scar-faced man and the centipede man left their stronghold, preparing to head back to their own vige, both in quite good spirits.


    But abruptly, a green light shed, and a youth appeared before the two of them.


    The youth was very handsome and tall. He merely looked at them quietly, but both of them couldn¡¯t help but feel as if a rabbit was being watched by a ferocious tiger, and a cold sweat broke out on their backs.


    One whoes uninvited is usually an ill-wisher, and furthermore, theplexion of the youth didn¡¯t seem to belong to a witchcraft practitioner.


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    Although various thoughts shed through their minds, the centipede man¡¯s reaction was by no means slow. With a flick of his right hand, dozens of long, ck, worm-like insects appeared and rushed towards the youth.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he nced at these ck insects.


    These must be the Poisonous Insects bred by witchcraft practitioners. They looked quite umon, but to dare to take action against himself, a mere Qi Refinement junior cultivator, was simply overestimating themselves.


    To deal with a cultivator of this level, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t need to use his Life-bound Sword at all. He simply extended a finger and lightly tapped.


    A sh of Sword Qi vanished in a blink of an eye, splitting into fine threads in the air, effortlessly shing the onrushing ck insects to the ground.


    It turned out they were just a group of ck geckos, each no longer than a finger.

 Chapter 276 - 25 Mimi

    The centipede man ryed everything he knew to Lu Qingshan, then he and the scar-faced man anxiously watched Lu Qingshan.


    It was now the moment that would decide their life or death.


    Lu Qingshan did not make things difficult for them.


    First, he was not a bloodthirsty man, and second, these two would not be any hindrance to his next action; there was no need to kill them.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan turn to leave, the centipede man and the scar-faced man exchanged nces, filled with a sense of relief after a narrow escape.


    The centipede man patted his chest with relief and eximed, "We should hurry back to the vige. It¡¯s really lucky that we managed to save our lives this time..."


    ...¡­


    "Lu Qingshan, are we going back to find that Witch of the Crow-tailed Tribe?" King of the Western Rats asked.


    Lu Qingshan nodded and praised, "Not bad, you¡¯ve been getting smartertely."


    "Of course." King of the Western Rats unabashedly epted the praise.


    Indeed, the most pressing matter of his journey now seemed to have a clue.


    ording to the Qingqiu Mountain Master, Mimi had awakened an ability of life-healing.


    And in this White Flower Snake Vige, where most of the vigers were afflicted with a forbidden poison, the Witch of the Crow-tailed Tribe happened to concoct a Rejuvenating Elixir that could cure all poisons in a short time.


    Even the poison of the Poisonous Spirit Flower, which many wizards failed to cure, could be dispelled with the aid of the Rejuvenating Elixir.


    Moreover, there was another crucial point; Big Blockhead just happened to have seen Mimi with people from the Spirit Snake Tribe nearby!


    @@novelbin@@


    So, to say that the Rejuvenating Elixir had nothing to do with Mimi, he did not believe it.


    "First head back to White Flower Snake Vige," Lu Qingshan decided.


    In ck Scorpion Vige, Cultivators mixed with mortals, but the scale of White Flower Snake Vige was vast, so mixing was naturally impossible.


    White Flower Snake Vige was built alongside the mountain, and their Cultivators resided on this peak.


    The entire mountain peak contained a vast Spirit Vein, divided into threeyers.


    The topyer, which had the richest Spiritual Energy, was where the Great Witch Cultivator, the Witch of the Crow-tailed Tribe, had his cave dwelling.


    The Witch of the Crow-tailed Tribe was at the Golden Core Stage, but his exact realm was unknown.


    Besides the Witch of the Crow-tailed Tribe, there were eight Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, who built their cave dwellings on the midsection of the mountain where the Spiritual Energy was slightly inferior.


    As for the base of the peak, it was the location of cave dwellings belonging to dozens of Qi Refining Cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan quietly approached the vicinity of the mountain peak, but instead of choosing to barge in directly, he patted King of the Western Rats. Stay connected through NovelBin.C?m


    In this situation, it was time for it to y a role.


    "The focus is to investigate news about Mimi," Lu Qingshan instructed. "Be careful not to get discovered."


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m good at this, much better than you," King of the Western Rats said confidently.


    Dealing in stealthy thievery was always something small demon rats were adept at.


    Lu Qingshan also had a sufficient level of trust in King of the Western Rats¡¯ abilities in this aspect.


    In Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze, King of the Western Rats emanated a haze of gray smoke, its silhouette became blurred and inconspicuous, and even vanished from his Divine Sense detection.


    This was a unique technique of concealing aura, exclusive to King of the Western Rats.


    The posture was distinctively different from before, and the effect was much stronger than previously.


    This must be one of the many benefits King of the Western Rats obtained from the Demon Spirit inheritance, Lu Qingshan thought.


    .....


    The West Rat King¡¯s presence receded, stealthily scaling the mountain.


    It was inherently an unnoticeable Demon Rat, small in size. Coupled with its incredible skill in concealing its form and presence, it went unnoticed by any Cultivator and smoothly passed one wizard¡¯s dwelling after another, all the way from the foot to the summit of the mountain.


    However, at the entrance of the wizard¡¯s dwelling on the mountain peak, there were multipleyers of banishment spells. If it charged in recklessly, it would inevitably rm the master of the dwelling.


    But the West Rat King was feeling particrly smug facing this situation.


    "In the past, these trinkets could indeed hinder me, but times have changed!" it said.


    The Demon Rat stuck close to the entrance of the dwelling, its demonic power coursing through its body as a beam of red light shot from its eyes onto the banishment spell ahead.


    Immediately, a small ring of light appeared on the banishment spell, justrge enough for it to slip through without raising any rms.


    The West Rat King chuckled with satisfaction and effortlessly broke into the wizard¡¯s dwelling.


    The wizard¡¯s dwelling was massive, with a total area estimated to be several hundred square zhang. As soon as it entered, the West Rat King felt an extremely cold chill hit it.


    The West Rat King¡¯s gaze wandered, first surveying the scenery within the dwelling, which was divided into many stone chambers.


    The Demon Rat sensed around and discovered that the dwelling was empty.


    ----The wizard was not currently inside the dwelling.


    It must be said that the wizard was very cautious; although there were banishment spells at the entrance of the dwelling, he had also set up spells in these stone chambers within.


    However, this did not greatly affect the West Rat King since its purpose was to investigate and gather information.


    After some thought, the West Rat King carefully slithered from one stone chamber to another.


    In some chambers, there wererge cauldrons apparently used by the wizard for alchemy¡ªthese must be the wizard¡¯s alchemy rooms. In other chambers, there was nothing but darkness and piles of poison, with numerous ck snakes with spotted patterns slithering around, which made West Rat King¡¯s skin crawl; this was the room where the wizard cultivated his poison snakes.....


    After years of management, his dwelling was fully equipped, yet the West Rat King still had not seen the Mimi it was looking for.


    "Could it be that both Lu Qingshan and I were overthinking?" the West Rat King spected in its mind.


    Suddenly, the West Rat King¡¯s body shook violently, staring nkly at a scene in the stone chamber before it, trembling slightly.


    .....


    An hourter.


    The West Rat King, responsible for infiltrating the mountain to gather intelligence, quietly appeared before Lu Qingshan.


    "Lu Qingshan, I¡¯ve seen Mimi. She¡¯s indeed in the wizard¡¯s dwelling," The West Rat King spoke in an unexpectedly low tone, "And moreover, the wizard is not in his dwelling right now, it seems he has gone out on some errand."


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart lifted with joy, not only had they found Mimi, but the only Golden Core Cultivator was not in the vicinity.


    This meant he could infiltrate the mountain just like the West Rat King; these Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement Cultivators posed no threat to him.


    "What¡¯s the situation with Mimi?" Lu Qingshan casually asked.


    The West Rat King fell silent for a moment before speaking with difficulty, "You go up... You¡¯ll understand when you see it."


    Seeing the reaction of the West Rat King, Lu Qingshan had an ominous premonition.


    Not wanting to cause too much disturbance, he reached the wizard¡¯s dwelling undetected under the protection of the Hidden Spirit Talisman, without rming anyone.


    Facing the banishment spell at the entrance, Lu Qingshan felt somewhat troubled¡ªbreaking it was not difficult, but the banishment spell apparently also had an alert function. If it was attacked, it would create an enormous disturbance, informing others that someone had broken into the wizard¡¯s dwelling.


    "Let me do it," the West Rat King volunteered, as a beam of red light shot from its eyes.


    Just as before, an openingrge enough for Lu Qingshan to pass through appeared on the ripple of the banishment spell.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes shone with wonder.


    The spell cast by the West Rat King was both mysterious and magical, truly remarkable, and most importantly, it was a perfect match for West Rat King itself.

 Chapter 277 - 26: The Decision to Kill

    Upon entering the cave abode, under the guidance of the Western Rat King, Lu Qingshan made his way directly to the stone chamber where Mimi was located.


    A wave of Spiritual Power echoed at the entrance of the stone chamber.


    However, when he saw the scene inside the stone chamber, Lu Qingshan¡¯s scalp tingled, and he understood why the Western Rat King had hesitated to speak before a surge of anger erupted from his heart.


    Inside the stone chambery a small deer with a strange appearance, almost identical in looks to Yaoyao.


    Without a doubt, it was Mimi whom he had been seeking.


    But unlike Yaoyao, who was full of Spiritual Nature, the small deer before him had all its limbs tightly mped by thick chains.


    Not only that, but its body was also riddled with holes, covered with unhealed wounds.


    As a Spirit Beast, Mimi had even awakened the Vitality Force, such injuries should have had no reason to not have healed by now.


    That was because its real injuries were not external but came from within its body.


    A glimmering ss tube was inserted directly into Mimi¡¯s body, connected at the other end to a small basin containing golden, vibrant blood extracted from Mimi¡¯s body.


    The purpose of this ss tube was to continuously draw blood from Mimi!


    By that time, Mimi had already be nothing but skin and bones.


    Prior to this, it had undergone long periods of continuous blood extraction; out of necessity, it used all its Vitality to produce blood, sustaining its own life, which was why those surface wounds had not healed.


    Without further hesitation, the Dragon Sparrow Sword left its sheath and appeared in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand, its de aze with mes and Sword Qi.


    Lu Qingshan brandished the sword fiercely at the stone wall in front of him, and a yellow protective shield silently emerged, blocking his attack.


    The Ushao Wizard had actually set up a defensive formation inside this stone chamber.


    A cold light shed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, and he no longer held back, his Spiritual Power bursting forth.


    Although the formation was extraordinary, his methods were even more potent. Apanied by a thunderous boom and sparks flying, the yellow shield suddenly shattered,pletely copsing.


    Seeing the destruction of the stone chamber¡¯s formation, Lu Qingshan who had entered the chamber noticed that Mimi¡¯s eyelids twitched weakly but ultimatelycked the strength to react, presenting a lifeless appearance.


    Lu Qingshan approached Mimi, his brow furrowed, and carefully removed the blood-drawing tube from Mimi¡¯s body, then hurriedly took a healing Spirit Pill from his Storage Ring and brought it to Mimi¡¯s lips.


    But Mimi simply turned its head slightly, refusing to swallow the Spirit Pill Lu Qingshan had offered.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s brow furrowed again, then he seemed to recall something and took out another item from his Storage Ring.


    It was a piece of Peach Blossom branch given to him by the Qingqiu Mountain Master as proof of his identity.


    At the sight of this Peach Blossom branch, a bright light suddenly shed in the deer¡¯s otherwise dim eyes, and it weakly moved its lips, making an extremely weak sound, "Yi yi?"


    Lu Qingshan turned his gaze to the Western Rat King. Your journey continues with NovelBin.C?m


    "He asked you what your rtionship with Grandpa Qingqiu is and why you have this piece of Peach Blossom branch," said the Western Rat King, tranting.


    Lu Qingshan once again brought the Spirit Pill to the small deer¡¯s lips, reassuring it softly, "We were asked by the Qingqiu Mountain Master to find you. Your injuries are serious, take the Spirit Pill first."


    This time, the small deer did not resist Lu Qingshan and swallowed the Pill he had offered.


    With the effect of the medicine, the small deer¡¯s condition finally improved somewhat.


    "Can you tell us what exactly happened? How were you captured by the Ushao Wizard and ended up like this?" Lu Qingshan¡¯s brow puckered slightly.


    As Lu Qingshan asked this question, the small deer¡¯s eyes immediately welled up with tears.


    "Yi yi ya ya..." The deer¡¯s voice was still very weak, but it seemed to find sce in having someone to confide in, so it still made an effort to gather its spirit and began to narrate its ordeal.


    After Mimi finished recounting, Lu Qingshan turned his gaze to the Western Rat King, waiting for its trantion.


    "That¡¯s too much, these people returned kindness with malice!" eximed the Western Rat King indignantly, "Mimi saved them, yet they did this to Mimi..."


    Originally, after fleeing from Qingqiu Mountain, Mimi roamed the mountains like a wild horse let loose, and just happened toe near the White Flower Snake Vige.


    At that time, White Flower Snake Vige was in the midst of a devastating disaster, with most of the vigers poisoned and beyond help.


    Under the ravaging effects of the poison, the poisoned vigers fell, many to their deaths, and after seeking help from the Five-Region Alliance in vain, the entire vige fell into dead silence, everyone overwhelmed by despair and helplessness.


    Mimi, unable to bear it and also possessing the Vitality Force due to its Serene Yellow Bloodline, realized there were few poisons it couldn¡¯t neutralize.


    Seeing such a hellish scene on earth, it deployed its Vitality Force into the well water of White Flower Snake Vige, curing all the vigers.


    For this reason, Mimi was regarded as a savior by the vigers, who thanked it profusely.


    The simple-minded Mimi didn¡¯t think much about it, just feeling happy inside.


    However, among those vigers saved by its spell, some harbored crooked thoughts and immediately reported the matter to the Wizard Wushao.


    After dealing with the cmity in White Flower Snake Vige, Mimi left the settlement.


    Meanwhile, prompted by the orders of Wizard Wushao, those vigers with ulterior motives chased after it, searching everywhere for Mimi.


    If those chasing had been cultivators, Mimi, remembering the teachings of the Qingqiu Mountain Master, wouldn¡¯t have shown itself easily for its own safety.


    But these vigers were mere mortals, and since it had also saved their lives, Mimi never expected they would betray it, so it appeared before them willingly.


    Seeing Mimi, the vigers told it that more people had been poisoned in the vige, exploiting its kindness to lure it back.


    Wizard Wushao had alreadyid a trap within the vige, waiting for Mimi to fall into it, easily capturing it the moment it returned.


    After falling into the hands of Wizard Wushao, he used its blood to concoct the so-called "Rejuvenating Elixir," earning himself a huge amount of resources.


    ...


    A nameless rage erupted within Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    He wasn¡¯t a moral saint, but he had always adhered to his own principles of right and wrong.


    The actions of the people of White Flower Snake Vige clearly had no bottom line at all.


    Lu Qingshan suppressed the anger in his heart and again shed at the ck iron chains that bound Mimi¡¯s limbs.


    But unexpectedly, at the moment the chains were cut, several streaks of Spiritual Light shed and disappeared.


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    Wizard Wushao hadid a special prohibition in these chains, one that would alert him if the chains were tampered with.


    "Lu Qingshan, this Wizard Wushao is quite cunning, we should hurry and take Mimi and leave," Lord Western Rat said, tugging on Lu Qingshan¡¯s pant leg urgently.


    But this time, Lu Qingshan remained unmoved.


    "Lu Qingshan?" Lord Western Rat asked, puzzled.


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, smiled calmly, "No need to leave, I actually want to see whether Wizard Wushao¡¯s poison is fiercer, or my sword is sharper..."


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword gleamed coldly, casting a reflection of Mimi¡¯s emaciated form.


    If Wizard Wushao were a Nascent Soul Cultivator, Lu Qingshan might have forced himself to endure, controlling his thoughts about Mimi¡¯s ordeal.


    After all, a Nascent Soul Cultivator was an existence he couldn¡¯t possibly defeat at his current level.


    But Wizard Wushao was merely a Golden Core Stage sorcerer.


    Even if he were at Golden Core Perfection, so what?


    It would be no big deal to utilize the Power of the Mountains and Seas.


    He was resolved that today, he would take Wizard Wushao¡¯s head to calm his feelings of resentment!

 Chapter 278 - 27: Wizard of the Black Tip

    In a bamboo tower, a dozen cultivators were gathered, sitting on seats on both sides.


    And sitting in the central main seat was a middle-aged male cultivator, burly in figure, looking about forty years old.


    It was indeed the Wizard Wushao.


    He was discussing the trade of Rejuvenating Elixirs with cultivators from four other viges.


    However, at that moment, his smiling face suddenly changed.


    The other cultivators naturally noticed the change in Wizard Wushao¡¯s expression, but before they could ask what had happened, Wizard Wushao, without a word of exnation, transformed into a strange light and rushed towards the mountain.


    ---He had sensed that the shackles he had ced on the deer demon had been broken.


    If it weren¡¯t for that deer demon, would there have been such a situation where all the major viges had to cautiously attend to him, seeking to buy "Rejuvenating Elixirs"?


    To him, the little deer demon was a treasure bowl, a money tree, not to be lost!


    Thus, upon noticing the anomaly, without any hesitation or thought, he desperately rushed back.


    "I must catch up!" Wizard Wushao was anxiously burning.


    If the unknown cultivator who had entered his cave dwelling was quick enough to grab the deer demon and swiftly escape, how could he find the deer demon again, given the vastness of the Three Thousand Great Mountains?


    His mind was whirling with thoughts, but his speed was indeed very fast. Furthermore, since he was not far away, it took only about twenty breaths before Wizard Wushao had arrived outside his cave dwelling.


    "What is this?!" Seeing the intact restrictions at the cave dwelling, Wizard Wushao was somewhat incredulous.


    Now was not the time to think about these things.


    With a wave of his hand, Wizard Wushao dispelled the restrictions and hurriedly entered the cave dwelling to investigate the situation.


    Just at the moment he entered the cave dwelling.


    Whoosh!


    A dazzling sword light suddenly arose from nowhere.


    Wizard Wushao murmured to himself in dismay, but his actions were extremely fast.


    In an instant, a pale green light shed across his physical body.


    Boom!


    The sword light collided with the green light, and Spiritual Light spilled out in all directions.


    Under this strike, Wizard Wushao¡¯s figure was shaken and sent flying backward.


    But the attack was not over yet.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    A sword light soared, apanied by a deafening sonic boom and dazzling me, it shot up into the sky. Along with the exceptionally sharp Sword Qi, it chased after Wizard Wushao like a flood dragon.


    It seemed to be ready to pierce through Wizard Wushao¡¯s heart mid-air.


    The one who made the move was naturally Lu Qingshan, who had been quietly waiting for Wizard Wushao to return.


    @@novelbin@@


    In his every move, Lu Qingshan first took advantage of Wizard Wushao¡¯s panic and confusion to ambush and gain an upper hand, sending Wizard Wushao flying, then leveraged the power of the Flying Sword to chase after Wizard Wushao, who had fallen into a passive position.


    A highly effectivebination of moves.


    Wizard Wushao, seeing the swiftly approaching Flying Sword, felt a chilling sensation down his spine as coldness crept over him.


    As the Flying Sword crossed the sky, a terrifying ughter Intent was revealed, forming a dreadfully destructive aura.


    "The power of Intent!" Wizard Wushao eximed inwardly; though hecked the ability to grasp the power of Intent, as a Golden Core Cultivator, he still had some discernment.


    The foundation of wizard cultivation is fundamentally abination of Body Cultivation and Poison Art, so although he had been caught off-guard and looked extremely awkward, he was not severely injured.


    But the Flying Sword before him waspletely different from the previous strike, as it was endowed with Intent.


    The power of Intent was so mysterious that even with his robust physique, he dared not forcibly resist it.


    The wizard, heart hardened, lightly patted the Spirit Beast Bag hanging at his waist, and as Spiritual Power surged, hundreds of ck poison snakes appeared.


    Like a dark cloud, these snakes flicked their crimson tongues and made a piercing noise as they ferociously pounced toward the iing Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    Hiss, hiss, hiss! Experience tales at NovelBin.C?m


    Embracing death, the snakes coiled around the sword¡¯s shadow, but the mes bursting from the Dragon Sparrow Sword caused a sizzling sound to emit from their bodies.


    Bang!


    The next moment, under the intense scorching of the mes, the bodies of these snakes rapidly swelled and then violently burst open, turning into a cloud of foul-smelling toxic gas.


    This poison gas quickly enveloped the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    Under the gas¡¯ envelopment, the Flying Sword was like trapped in a swamp, its speed drastically reduced and its Spiritual Power continually drained. By the time the Flying Sword broke out of the poison fog, its strength was nearly exhausted, leaving it unable to form another offensive.


    Watching the stopped Flying Sword, the wizard felt a deep pain.


    Despite seemingly casually releasing hundreds of poison snakes, each snake had required at least twenty years of cultivation, costing him plenty of energy and wealth.


    Normally, these long-cultivated snakes could be used for a long time and would be even stronger.


    But now, to block this Flying Sword charged with the power of Intent, he had no choice but to use them as expendable items, his decades of effort gone in a sh.


    Having paid such a huge price to stop the first wave of the Flying Sword¡¯s attack, the wizard finally got a clear view of the face of the Cultivator who had ambushed him.


    It was a very young and handsome male Cultivator, staring at him with a cold expression and piercing gaze.


    Lu Qingshan was also sizing up the wizard.


    A Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator, indeed, he has some methods.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    Although it was only a weak level of ughter Sword Intent, the Flying Sword, enhanced by this strand of Sword Intent, had still elerated from seven times the speed of sound to twelve,bined with the Fire Element damage inherent in the Dragon Sparrow Sword, its power was formidable.


    This is the power of Intent, and why it bes the most crucial standard in evaluating thebat power of High Rank Cultivators.


    Having seen the wizard¡¯s Cultivation, Lu Qingshan felt even more confident.


    His current realm was only Golden Core Early Stage, but both in terms of Spiritual Power and Divine Sense, he was no different from a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator.


    As for magical spells, he believed that most Golden Core Late Stage Sword Cultivators could not beat him.


    Thus, to him, the Golden Core Late Stage wizard was certainly not an invincible opponent.


    "Who are you? Why are you here in my cave dwelling?" the wizard asked sharply, his face darkening.


    Swoosh!


    What he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that the young Cultivator before him had no intention of conversing, and the Dragon Sparrow Sword transformed again into a streak of crimson light, charging towards him.


    A man destined to die, why bother with further words!


    Crack, crack...


    The wizard¡¯s face darkened, his whole body¡¯s Spiritual Power vibrated urgently, and a grating sound emerged.


    His body¡¯s muscles bulged, and bizarre scale-like armor wildly grew over his skin, quickly covering most of his body, even his face was covered in bluish-ck scales, looking horrifying.


    When the Flying Sword struck the wizard¡¯s chest, his close-fitting clothes immediately burst apart, followed by theyer of scales.


    ng, ng, ng!


    Upon collision, sparks flew everywhere.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword continually buzzed and struck relentlessly, mes interwoven, creating a terrifying in the sky, dense and chilling, enveloping the wizard.

 Chapter 279 - 28: Eradicate Evil Thoroughly

    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression was grave as he squinted at the wizard.


    Due to the immense consumption of Spiritual Power by the use of Intent, he refrained from recklessly deploying the ughter Sword Intent after the initial strike.


    This had led to the current situation, where although he was overpowering the wizard, he had yet to inflict any fatal damage.


    Finally, the wizard, having been continuously struck, roared in anger.


    Facing Lu Qingshan¡¯s powerful offensive, even though he was a Body Cultivator with advanced Body Tempering techniques, he felt a pain that seemed to tear him apart and resolved to break the deadlock!


    "Break!" the wizard shouted lowly.


    A somewhat ethereal greenish me burst out of his mouth, attacking Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    After performing this move, his face turned noticeably paler, clearly indicating the great consumption of Spiritual Power by the me.


    Correspondingly, the more Spiritual Power a spell consumes, the stronger it bes.


    In the myriad arts of the Cultivation World, using poison is considered a minor skill and few cultivators practice it, not to mention the generally weak spells it involves.


    This breath of poison fire was a key reason their line of wizardry cultivators often overpowered cultivators of the same level.


    This poison fire was known as Myriad Poisons Fire, a growing spell that increased in power the more deadly toxins were refined into it.


    The batch of Myriad Poisons Fire he had unleashed contained precisely three hundred and fifty-six types of fierce poisons, one of which was a taboo poison recorded in the Poison Scripture.


    Moreover, besides being strange and highly deadly, Myriad Poisons Fire had another feature¡ªit was extremely adept at corrupting Spiritual Artifacts.


    Sword Cultivators and their Life-bound Swords were closely linked, almost sharing a life-and-death bond, a well-known fact in the Cultivation World.


    If he could eradicate the spiritual nature of the Sword Cultivator¡¯s Life-bound Sword before him, wouldn¡¯t the Sword Cultivator then be amb to the ughter?


    The wizard¡¯s calctions were very precise.


    However, his smile had not yet faded from his lips when he noticed that the Sword Cultivator opposite him was not at all rmed, and even sneered at him.


    This sent a chill down his spine as he sensed a dangerous aura and hastily retreated backward.


    But it was already toote.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword faced the oing wave of Myriad Poisons Fire as if it were nothing, effortlessly piercing right through it.


    Boom!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword, like a bolt of lightning, traced brilliant red streaks across the sky, sword cries shaking the heavens, and struck the wizard once again.


    Apanied by a nging sound, arge piece of scale armor was sliced off the wizard¡¯s body, causing him severe pain.


    But what made him even more desperate was the sh of a green sword light and Lu Qingshan suddenly appearing in front of him.


    Yes, in the moment the wizard deployed the Myriad Poisons Fire in defense, Lu Qingshan had simultaneously released the Green Wind Sword originally given by Zang Xiaojian, following right behind the Dragon Sparrow Sword and shooting forth.


    At the same time, Lu Qingshan was performing the Formless Sword Escape, closing in together with the Green Wind Sword.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword, too, wandered back at this time, tightly grasped in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand.


    Divine Skills: Dragon Breath!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes zed with a murderous intent.


    In the fearful eyes of the wizard, the Dragon Sparrow Sword burst forth with a me wave several times more powerful than before.


    Apanied by a soul-piercing dragon chant, the Dragon Sparrow Sword in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand surged with divine light, the previously grey and dull dragon patterns shing a dazzling golden light.


    A phantom of the Dragon Soul emerged, attaching to the sword, and along the shing trajectory of the sword, it spewed out invisible clear ripples.


    Ultimately, with a puff, this strike cleaved open the wizard¡¯s body, decapitating him, with his blood raining down inrge quantities only to be instantly vaporized by fire.


    Sparrow Chirp: Passive: This sword is invulnerable to all Fire Attribute attacks and delivers Fire Element damage during strikes.


    The wizard¡¯s target for his Myriad Poisons Fire attack was not Lu Qingshan, but the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    ording tomon sense, his line of thinking was not wed.


    Although the Myriad Poisons Fire contained intense poison, it fundamentally belonged to the Fire Attribute attacks, and under the Dragon Sparrow Sword¡¯s Sparrow Chirp Divine Skills, which was immune to all Fire Attribute damage, the Dragon Sparrow Sword naturally could ignore the Myriad Poisons Fire.


    The Myriad Poisons Fire thus became a wasted move.


    In this intense back-and-forth confrontation, one misstep could lead to an utterly irreparable situation.


    Not to mention, the Wizard had expended a tremendous amount of Spiritual Power to execute a wasted move.


    He naturally had to pay a heavy price for his misjudgment, but Lu Qingshan¡¯s ability to seize the opportunity far exceeded the Wizard¡¯s expectations.


    In the end, the price the Wizard paid was his... life.


    After killing the Wizard, Lu Qingshan coldly surveyed the area ahead, where several Cultivators from the White Flower Snake Vige who had just arrived were scattered.


    His fight with the Wizard had caused such amotion that the other Cultivators in the mountain caves couldn¡¯t possibly have no reaction, and they rushed over to check on the situation immediately.


    Who would have thought, by the time they arrived at the scene, what they saw was the Wizard¡¯s head being severed by a sword.


    This instantly shattered their courage.


    Whoosh!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword circled in the air and broke through the sky again, shing towards those Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    This immediately sent the seven or eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators into chaos, each disying their techniques and fleeing in all directions, but how could the Escape Techniques of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator outrun a Sword Cultivator¡¯s Flying Sword?


    This is what makes Sword Cultivators most terrifying: when facing other sect¡¯s Cultivators, if they can¡¯t win, they might have a chance to escape.


    But when facing a Sword Cultivator, if they can¡¯t win, in most cases, they also can¡¯t escape!


    Blood Light appeared repeatedly.


    Before long, all these Foundation Establishment Cultivatorsy dead in pools of blood, perishing on the spot.


    "Lu Qingshan..." King of the West Rats was shocked beyond words the first time he witnessed Lu Qingshan with such fierce killing intent.


    "Ee ee ah ah¡­." Mimi, who hade out with the King of the West Rats, made a weak sound, the joy in it perceptible.


    "Should we hurry and take Mimi back to Qingqiu now?" The King of the West Rats suppressed the shock in his heart, somewhat worried about Mimi¡¯s condition, and said, "Mimi is wounded in its vital essence, perhaps only the Qingqiu Mountain Master can heal Mimi properly."


    "Wait a bit longer," Lu Qingshan said coldly, "the cleaning up isn¡¯t done yet."


    Evil must bepletely eradicated.


    The mortals who had lured Mimi back, he hadn¡¯t killed them yet.


    Perhaps in the eyes of a Cultivator, mortals are like ants, not worth considering, and after dealing with the Wizard, they would have let the matter rest, but Lu Qingshan wouldn¡¯t.


    No matter the identity, if someone did evil, he treated them all the same.


    He would not ignore someone¡¯s crimes just because their status was distinguished, nor would he disdain to pursue someone because their status was as low as ants.


    Lu Qingshan walked up to the Wizard¡¯s corpse, took off the Storage Ring from his finger, and after scanning it with his Divine Sense, had an idea in his mind.


    "You twoe with me," Lu Qingshan said to the King of the West Rats and Mimi.


    He leaped up and flew from the mountain peak to therge za in the vige.


    This was the gathering ce of the White Flower Snake Vige during major festivals.


    In the center of the za, on a high tform, hung arge bell.


    Spiritual Power shed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand, and with a casual swing, he struck the bell.


    Dong¡ª


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    Dong¡ª


    Dong¡ª


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    The long and loud bell sound resonated throughout the entire vige.

 Chapter 281 - 30: What is a Demon?

    "Five, four, three..." the countdown continued.


    Lu Qingshan had no choice but to act this way; he had no time to stay here any longer. Although this would make his actions widely known, it was indeed the most efficient way to solve the problem.


    However, even if Golden Snake Granny knew about his actions in Whiteflower Snake Vige and wanted to settle ounts with him, it would still be a matter of one or two dayster.


    With his speed, one or two dayster, he would have long left this ce. The Three Thousand Great Mountains were so vast, and as long as he did not appear in other viges, how could Golden Snake Granny find him quickly?


    Not to mention, after he sent Mimi back to Qingqiu, he nned to leave the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    Therefore, he had no concerns.


    "Two..." Lu Qingshan¡¯s voice gradually became harsh.


    "Stop counting, it was I who lured the deer demon back, and it was also my idea!" Suddenly, an old voice came from the crowd.


    The crowd turned towards the source of the sound.


    "It¡¯s Old Li!" someone eximed.


    Lu Qingshan also looked in the direction of the voice, seeing an elderly man around fifty years old, his thin face covered with deep wrinkles.


    Due to the long-term consumption of well water soaked with Poisonous Spirit Flower, the lifespan of ordinary people in the Witch Cultivator Tribe was generally short, not living past fifty. Therefore, this old man was considered to have a long life.


    "Zhu Mazhen, Li Er...e out, what are you hiding for? A man should bear the consequences of his actions alone, why involve your families?" Old Li loudly scolded.


    Under the scolding of Old Li, another thirty to forty vigers withplex expressions on their faces stood out, including young men in their twenties and middle-aged men in their thirties.


    The old man walked in front, leading these vigers to the stage.


    The other vigers silently moved to the sides to make way for them, and these people walked right up to Lu Qingshan.


    "It was us who lured the deer demon back to the vige." Old Li looked up at Lu Qingshan on the high tform and shouted loudly, "A man should bear the consequences of his actions alone. I hope, Wizard sir, that you will keep your word and not vent your anger on our families."


    In the eyes of the vigers, a cultivator is a wizard.


    Lu Qingshan did not respond, but turned his inquiring gaze to Mimi.


    "Yi yi ya ya!" Mimi cried out twice.


    The Great King of the Western Mice nodded at Lu Qingshan.


    The meaning was that the people who had initially lured Mimi back to the vige were all here, with none missing.


    "You all are severely poisoned, beyond medical help, hanging by a thread, yet it was Mimi who saved you from peril. Not only did you not show gratitude, you even turned around and framed it, causing it to end up like this, you are more despicable than crows!" Lu Qingshan turned his head, looked at Old Li, and said harshly.


    "Despicable? What fault have Imitted? It is a demon, we are human, demons and humans cannot coexist, isn¡¯t it only natural for the Human Race to kill demons?" Seemingly aware of his inevitable death, the old man was fearless, his gaze calm, and he rasped.


    The Great King of the Western Mice was infuriated, he couldn¡¯t help but step forward, pointing at the old man¡¯s nose and shouting, "Just because it¡¯s a demon, it should be killed?"


    "Yes! ¡¯Those not of our kind must have a different heart,¡¯ demons all deserve to die; theymit all sorts of evil, ughtering our people.


    It is because of these demons that our people need to consume well water containing deadly poison every day, most vigers thus do not live to see their allotted lifespan. Don¡¯t demons deserve to die?" Old Li retorted.


    Old Li¡¯s words seemed to resonate with many vigers, causing a buzz of agreement among them.


    "Old Li¡¯s wife and children were killed by demon beasts," someone knowledgeable whispered, "No wonder Old Li harbors such hatred for demons."


    The scent of the Spirit Flower might repel demon beasts, but it wasn¡¯t infallible, so even though they drank the Spirit Flower infused well water all year round, many of the Human Race still died at the hands of demon beasts.


    "Old Li is right, those monsters have been harming our Human Race for so many years, they truly deserve to die!" a viger supported, his tone filled with resentment.


    "But... not all demons are necessarily bad, this deer demon isn¡¯t just..." some vigers hesitated.


    ...


    "But Mimi clearly saved your lives, it¡¯s your lifesaver!" The Great King of the Western Mice trembled with anger, not hesitating at all, directly questioning.


    "So what? Does this change the fact that it is a demon?" Li Er said coolly, watching the irate Western Rat King.


    Hearing such absurd words from the elder, the Western Rat King was so angered he didn¡¯t know what to say, but Lu Qingshan was not at all angry and even couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud.


    "Wizard Sir, why are youughing?" Li Er asked, puzzled.


    "You are right," Lu Qingshan stopped smiling and nodded calmly, "If it¡¯s a demon, it must be killed."


    "Lu Qingshan, you?!" The Western Rat King pointed at Lu Qingshan in disbelief.


    "But, it is not a demon." Lu Qingshan flipped his hand, and a st of Sword Qi shot out, instantly decapitating the elder and causing his head to fall to the ground.


    @@novelbin@@


    Because the Sword Qi was so fast, the elder¡¯s head rolled on the ground several times before his headless body finally fell slowly.


    "You are the one!" Lu Qingshan said slowly, looking at Li Er¡¯s corpse.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping over the remaining thirty or forty vigers one by one.


    Some lowered their heads in silence, some faces filled with resentment, and some showed regret. Their expressions varied.


    "Today, I will y a demon," Lu Qingshan murmured.


    He raised his right hand, and more Sword Qi shot out from his fingertips, turning into countless fine threads in the air, sweeping across the necks of those thirty or forty mortals.


    In an instant, another thirty or forty heads fell to the ground, and their headless bodiesy in pools of blood.


    The smell of blood permeated the air, leaving the scene gruesomely bloody.


    "Let¡¯s go." After beheading these people, Lu Qingshan did not wait to see the reaction of others and left with Mimi and the Western Rat King.


    He needed to hurry and take Mimi back to Qingqiu.


    ...¡­


    "Lu Qingshan, why do you think that old man refused to admit his wrongs even before he died?" the Western Rat King asked, full of puzzlement.


    "Because he truly believed that what he was doing was right."


    "But he was clearly wrong, wasn¡¯t he?" the Western Rat King couldn¡¯t understand.


    "People have different perspectives, and changing someone¡¯s perspective is the most difficult thing," said Lu Qingshan calmly.


    "I see¡­ that¡¯s how it is¡­" The Western Rat King was quite depressed, clearly still troubled by Li Er¡¯s actions.


    "But, as long as your fist is harder than his, that¡¯s all that counts," Lu Qingshan said calmly, "I don¡¯t care whether he truly recognized his mistake or truly felt guilty and reflected; I only care about whether I can impose punishment on him."


    The Western Rat King fell into silence, seemingly enlightened.


    And Mimi, looking at Lu Qingshan with her big eyes, blinked.


    It felt that Lu Qingshan, who had saved it, and Grandfather Qingqiu, though both good people, werepletely different.


    It couldn¡¯t quite tell where the differencey, but it discovered that it could learn some very special things from Lu Qingshan.


    Things that Grandfather Qingqiu didn¡¯t have, yet were very useful.


    ...¡­


    At that moment, Lu Qingshan was also somewhat bewildered.


    For he had discovered, after ughtering all those mortals, the ughter Sword Intent had unexpectedly advanced a bit further.


    In his previous life, the ughter Sword Intent was only a set of data for him, so he knew how to use it, though he was clueless about how to enhance it.


    This unexpected enhancement of the ughter Sword Intent, for Lu Qingshan who was still feeling his way, was an unexpected pleasure indeed.

 Chapter 282 - 31: The Divisions of Intent (Part 1)

    Lu Qingshan, along with the Western Rat King and Mimi, a man and two beasts, swiftly moved through the forest towards Qingqiu.


    "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Lu Qingshan noticed that along the way, Mimi kept asionally shaking its head as if it was feeling quite ufortable.


    "Ee-ee-ah-ah!" Mimi weakly cried out.


    "Mimi says it feels like there¡¯s something in its head, very ufortable," the Western Rat King tranted.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan furrowed his brows slightly, a bad premonition rising in his heart, "Could it be that something has injured its brain?"


    Thinking this, Lu Qingshan ced his hand on Mimi¡¯s forehead and sent out his Divine Sense, inspecting Mimi¡¯s body all around.


    But apart from the injuries that had been discovered long ago, there were no other new findings.


    "It might be some subtle internal injuries, it¡¯s still best to hurry back to Qingqiu and have the Mountain Lord take a look," Lu Qingshan said.


    .......


    While Lu Qingshan was taking Mimi away, in a hidden ce, a beautiful middle-aged woman with almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks sensed something, opened her eyes, and murmured softly, "Have they finallye?"


    Although the woman was middle-aged, she radiated a glowing beauty, exceptionally graceful, which was rare among the generally early-aging sorceress cultivators.


    "Yun Meng, if not for your desperate struggle back then, I would not have discovered the secret of the Three Thousand Great Mountains...." Her gaze drifted as if recalling something, a strange and ferocious smile appeared on her graceful face.


    Then, the woman stood up, her figure transformed into a beam of Escaping Light, and she flew off into the distance.


    ....


    Two dayster.


    The sight of the fiery red vegetation covered Qingqiu Mountain came into view.


    This time, when Mimi saw the Qingqiu that it had previously grown a bit tired of, a wave of indescribable emotions surged in its heart.


    It was like a child eager to leave home to see the world, who, after wandering outside and enduring society¡¯s harsh realities, suddenly realizes that home is indeed the warmest ce.


    Lu Qingshan, barely having entered the territory of Qingqiu, saw a very bright silver-white shadow sh across the sky, joyfully bounding out.


    It was the young deer Yaoyao.


    The control of Qingqiu by the Qingqiu Mountain Lord was beyond imagination, so the moment Lu Qingshan entered Qingqiu, he sensed that Lu Qingshan was bringing Mimi back and immediately informed the extremely anxious Yaoyao.


    "Ee-ee-ah-ah!" Yaoyao circled around Mimi, looking at the emaciated Mimi, herrge eyes brimming with tears. The words she initially wanted to scold Mimi with were silently retracted, leaving only deeppassion.


    Mimi cocked its head and carefully rubbed Yaoyao¡¯s antlers with its own, as ifforting Yaoyao that it was not in great trouble and telling her not to be too sad.


    @@novelbin@@


    Under Mimi¡¯sfort, Yaoyao, originally tearful, suddenly had a determined look as if realizing she was the older sister, making noises, "Ee-ee-ah-ah!"


    Mimi obediently nodded its head.


    "Ee! Ee-ee-ah-ah!" Yaoyao then turned her small head and called out to Lu Qingshan in a soft, somewhat shy voice, as if confiding something.


    Then, a beam of cyan light suddenly appeared, enveloping the two little deers and, carrying them, quickly vanished from Lu Qingshan¡¯s sight.


    "That silly stag said, it needs to urgently take Mimi back to Grandpa Qingqiu for treatment and will go ahead first, asking us to followter.


    "Additionally, the Qingqiu Mountain Master has something for you as a reward for helping retrieve Mimi," exined the King of the Western Mice.


    Lu Qingshan nodded. "Then let¡¯s go and find the Qingqiu Mountain Master."


    ....


    By the time Lu Qingshan arrived near the peach tree, he saw Mimi coiled motionless under the tree, her whole body glowing as if she was insted from all external sensations.


    Above Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s true form, an exceedingly divine radiance overflowed, merging into a glow that transformed into a divine dawn, enveloping Mimi¡¯s entire body and nourishing her physical form.


    Mimi¡¯s body, covered in wounds that were hard to heal, healed rapidly under the nurture of the divine light, and her physical body even emitted a crystal-clear luster.


    Atop her head, the two golden antlers, which were already nearly withered, were also now restored, shining brilliantly and resplendently.


    Most importantly, not only were the injuries on Mimi¡¯s physical body healed, but the nearly divine strength was also nourishing her spirit, restoring her essence.


    Lu Qingshan stopped in his tracks, silently waiting for the Qingqiu Mountain Master to heal Mimi.


    Unexpectedly, the Qingqiu Mountain Master, while healing Mimi, still had spare strength to engage in conversation.


    His massive true form¡¯s trunk once again manifested his human face, "This time Mimi could return, I must thank you, young friend."


    "It was just a small effort," Lu Qingshan did not take pride in his action, having no intention of asking for credit before the Qingqiu Mountain Master who had saved his life.


    "How did Mimi get so seriously injured? What exactly happened, can you tell me in more detail?" asked the Qingqiu Mountain Master gently.


    Lu Qingshan hesitated for a moment but eventually did not conceal the truth. He organized his words and ryed everything that Mimi had encountered in the White Flower Snake Vige, and he reassured, "Mountain Lord, rest assured, anyone who plotted against Mimi has already been punished by me."


    "Human Race¡­" But unlike the expected furious reaction, after knowing the details, the Qingqiu Mountain Master just sighed softly.


    Having lived through countless ages as a spirit-transformed flora, the Qingqiu Mountain Master had a much clearer view of the world¡¯s ugliness than others.


    After a pause, the Qingqiu Mountain Master slowly asked, "When I initially saved you, it was because I sensed a familiar aura on you. However, do you know what that aura specifically is?"


    Lu Qingshan somewhat understood.


    When he was leaving the me Spirit Realm with the Spirit, suddenly a vibrant green globe full of vitality appeared in the Longevity River. It silently merged into his body.


    Following that, there was also a very brief message, a message from the Longevity Whale.


    "The vitality I gift, the affection I offer."


    ording to Lu Qingshan¡¯s spection, his act of taking the Spirit seemed to have helped the Longevity Whale a great deal.


    Thus, the Longevity Whale gifted him a globe of vitality.


    However, why the Longevity Whale did not release the Spirit itself and what exactly the purpose of this globe of vitality was, he still had no idea.


    Now, seeing the Qingqiu Mountain Master bringing up the past, Lu Qingshan was startled, shook his head, and respectfully asked for guidance, "The junior is unaware, please enlighten me, Mountain Lord."


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master then seriously asked, "Then, do you know about the divisions of Intent?"


    "I do know a bit about that," nodded Lu Qingshan. After pondering for a moment, he said, "The Intentprehended by cultivators is divided into three levels: weak, unity, and perfection. The higher the level, the greater the power of the Intent."


    Raising the level of Intent is extremely difficult; even though the trip to the White Flower Snake Vige gave Lu Qingshan some insights, his current ughter Sword Intent still remained at the weak level.

 Chapter 283 - 32: Categories of Intent (Part 2)

    "In addition, there are countless Intents, but based on their strength, they are divided into four grades."


    "From weakest to strongest, they are Lower Rank Intent, Middle Rank Intent, Higher Rank Intent, and the rarest but most powerful, Primordial Intent."


    "The difficulty ofprehending Intents differs for each rank, with the Lower Rank Intent being rtively easier to understand and improve upon."


    "Whereas Higher Rank Intent is very difficult to even perceive, but once sessfullyprehended, even a weak level of Higher Rank Intent can be stronger than a Unified Level of Lower Rank Intent," Lu Qingshan added.


    His ughter Sword Intent was one of the Higher Rank Intents.


    After pausing, Lu Qingshan went on to say, "Furthermore,prehension of an Intent is not something that stays the same forever."


    "Even if the Intent you initially perceive is of the Lower Rank, when you cultivate it to Perfection, you still have a chance to thoroughlyprehend it, reaching an understanding of the corresponding Middle Rank Intent."


    Of course, this upgrade is limited; it can only be a direct advancement from one level to the next.


    For example, Water Wave Intent as a Lower Rank Intent can only be promoted to a Middle Rank Intent through deepening one¡¯s understanding of the Water Element; it would be absurd to think that the Water Wave Intent could be upgraded to, say, Purgatory Intent, that belongs to apletely different Attribute¡¯s Middle Rank Intent.


    To take Lu Qingshan¡¯s ughter Sword Intent as an example, the corresponding Primordial Intent is the Destruction True Intent.


    That is to say, if Lu Qingshan wanted to upgrade his ughter Sword Intent, the only way would be through the path of Destruction Sword Intent, and no other paths would work, just like that.


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master interjected, "You do have a very clear understanding of Intents."


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan suddenly realized something, "Does the Mountain Lord mean that this aura is rted to Intent?"


    "Yes," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said slowly, seeing that Lu Qingshan had caught on: "It is actually a cluster of Spiritual Sense that containsprehension of an Intent."


    "If you are destined, one day when you have a realization about the Intent it contains, it wille into effect and help you quicklyprehend this Intent."


    So that was it.


    Lu Qingshan nodded silently, but then he frowned slightly and asked curiously, "May I know what Intent it contains? Please enlighten me, Mountain Lord."


    "The Intent it contains happens to be one I have mastered, which is why I said there was a familiar aura about you," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said with a light chuckle.


    After a pause, he continued, "As for the Intent I have mastered, if I remember correctly, it is one of the Primordial Intents, which your Human Race refers to as... Immortal True Intent. But I prefer its other name, Life True Intent."


    Even someone as knowledgeable as Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but be deeply shaken upon hearing this news.


    You see, up to now, the only person he had seen possessing a Primordial Intent was the Void Demon Child.


    And the Void Demon Child¡¯s Space True Intention wasn¡¯t cultivated by himself but was due to his Bloodline.


    "May I ask, what is the Mountain Lord¡¯s current level of Cultivation?" Lu Qingshan wondered with amazement and doubt.


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master replied gently, "It¡¯s not as exaggerated as you imagine."


    "You must understand that in terms ofprehension, the Demon n has never been superior to the Human Race. Theirbat power is usually reliant on the awakening of their own Bloodline. Intents have always been a significant barrier that is difficult for the Demon n to ovee."


    "Not to mention, among my own Race, myprehension abilities are ranked quite low for a Grass and Wood Demon."


    After thinking for a moment, the Qingqiu Mountain Master exined, "The only reason I have mastered the Immortal True Intent is through a fortuitous coincidence."


    "In terms of actual Cultivation, I am at the Fifth Grade, equivalent to the Void Refining level of your Human Race."


    "However, if the location is limited to within Qingqiu, I¡¯d say I¡¯m pretty much unbeatable within the Fifth Grade."


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master was very candid, unafraid to reveal his shorings while at the same time disying an undisguised domineering aura.


    "The phrase ¡¯unmatched in one¡¯s ss¡¯ is not something ordinary people dare to say."


    In fact, just as the Qingqiu Mountain Master said, the Human Race has always been known for its enlightenment.


    A frail mortal who is born without any bloodline awakening can often achieve through cultivation what demons consider a remarkably short time, transforming decrepitude into wonder and growing into a cultivator with great powers that even the Great Demons fear.


    This is something many from the Demon n cannot understand but deeply admire.


    "Are you interested in the Immortal True Intent?" the Qingqiu Mountain Master asked with a serious look, finally turning to the main topic.


    Lu Qingshan was startled at first, but then chuckled, "Primordial Intent, who among the cultivators wouldn¡¯t be interested?"


    "You brought back Mimi, saving it from the sea of misery, and no matter what, this favor must be repaid," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said with a smile. "Since you possess the Immortal True Intent gifted by a great power and are interested in it, why don¡¯t I give you a hand then?"


    Something stirred in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    His reason for seeking out Mimi was to repay the life-saving kindness of the Qingqiu Mountain Master; he shouldn¡¯t have epted any further reward.


    But the conditions proposed by the Qingqiu Mountain Master were simply irresistible.


    He was well aware of the significance represented by the Primordial Intent.


    Lu Qingshan wasn¡¯t one to put on airs, and he had no reason to refuse the Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s offer, so he bowed deeply to the Qingqiu Mountain Master, "Then I shall trouble the Mountain Lord."


    The Qingqiu Mountain Masterughed lightly, "I¡¯m just serving as a catalyst. If you didn¡¯t already harbor the Immortal True Intent within you, I¡¯d be powerless to help.


    "Moreover, I cannot guarantee that you¡¯ll ultimately grasp the Immortal True Intent, because, after all, the understanding of such intent muste from within yourself."


    "The young one understands this naturally," Lu Qingshan said.


    "Good, then get ready," said the Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    Lu Qingshan quickly adjusted his breathing, calmed his mind and spirit, and sat cross-legged under the peach tree.


    "It¡¯s starting," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said gently. Then his face disappeared from the trunk of the tree, his body began to glow, and more than a dozen branches shone with a treasured light.


    A speck of cyan light flew up from the midst, turning into a mist of this color, a flood of auspicious light, all entering Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    With a boom.


    After these mists entered his body, the cluster of cyan light that existed within Lu Qingshan instantly exploded, surging like a vast ocean.


    @@novelbin@@


    This was a gift from the Ancient Spirit Beast Longevity Whale.


    A sea of cyan luminescence poured out from within his physical body, enveloping his entire form, and even radiated to the surrounding area.


    It was like the Sea of Life descending, and wherever the cyan luminescence sprinkled, various nts began to grow wildly, exuding a stunning vitality!


    Among the grasses and in the soil, many seeds took root and sprouted instantly, bursting forth from the ground, while the nts that had already grown branches shot up at a high speed.


    The Immortal True Intent is also known as the True Intent of Life.


    And this is one of its effects.


    Watching Lu Qingshan, who had closed his eyes, immersed inprehension, the Qingqiu Mountain Master murmured, "Sword Cultivators are known for their prowess in ughter, and you possess the ughter Sword Intent. You should have no connection to the Immortal True Intent, which represents life, and it should be difficult for you to touch the Immortal True Intent.


    "But if the powerful one who gifted you the Immortal True Intent did so willingly, it must not have been an impulsive decision; surely they saw a possibility between you and the Immortal True Intent."


    As if reflecting on something, the Qingqiu Mountain Master couldn¡¯t help but sigh, "Indeed, if you manage toprehend it, thebination of a Sword Cultivator who has in countless with the Immortal True Intent, a representation of life, would truly be a rarity."

 Chapter 22 The Five-Part Alliance

    Lu Qingshan felt somewhat helpless.


    Da Han clearly had no clear concept of numbers, so he could only describe them with vague words like "very far, very far" and "a lot, a lot," making the information seem quite fuzzy.


    However, at least there was a useful clue that allowed him to follow up, instead of aimlessly crashing around like a headless fly or searching for a needle in a haystack, relying on luck.


    Mountains pile up and waters return when no path is found, yet suddenly, in the dark willows and radiant flowers, another vige appears!


    Having obtained the clue, Lu Qingshan quickly turned around and bid farewell to Sang Ku, "Vige Chief Sang, I have resolved the trouble for you now. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."


    A trace of astonishment still lingered on Sang Ku''s face, as he evidently hadn''t recovered from his initial belief that the fearsome beast was actually a simpleton in reality.


    However, upon seeing Lu Qingshan preparing to leave, he hesitated for a moment, before eventually calling out to him, "Cultivator Lu!"


    "What is it?"


    "If nothing goes wrong, those people who were with the deer demon you''re looking for should be from the Spirit Snake Faction," Sang Ku said with a flicker in his eyes.


    "Spirit Snake Faction?" Lu Qingshan''s brow furrowed slightly.


    "Cultivator Lu should''ve heard of our witch cultivators, right?" Sang Ku asked.


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "I''ve heard some news, but don''t know much in detail."


    "After all, our witch cultivator lineage has been hidden within the Three Thousand Great Mountains for so many years, and we have been out of touch with the outside world all this time. It''s only natural that the outside world doesn''t understand us well."


    Sang Ku, unconcerned, smiled and exined, "Our witch cultivator lineage originates from Ancient Times, cultivating the physical body and the five poisons, divided into five factions. This division has been handed down without change.


    The five factions correspond to five poisons: the Heavenly Dragon Sect representing centipedes, the Spirit Snake Faction representing venomous snakes, the Gecko Faction representing geckos, the Yinkui Faction representing scorpions, and the Golden Toad Faction representing toads.


    Although the factions all stem from the same source, there are significant differences, and they each reside separately.


    Our ck Scorpion Vige belongs to the Yinkui Faction, and we wear ck headbands, while the Spirit Snake Faction wears gray headbands."


    "I see," Lu Qingshan responded, nodding.


    "The closest Spirit Snake Faction vige to our ck Scorpion Vige is the White Flower Snake Vige to the southeast," Sang Ku pulled out a map, pointed out a direction to Lu Qingshan on it, and cautioned, "However, the vige chief of White Flower Snake Vige is a Great Cultivator at the Golden Core Stage, and besides that, it''s said that there are more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the vige.


    "If Cultivator Lu really intends to go there, even if you are extremely powerful, remember to be careful. You don''t want to bring trouble upon yourself.


    "The Spirit Snake Faction is currently the one faction among the five you would least want to provoke."


    "Oh? Why is that?" Lu Qingshan''s interest was piqued as he asked further.


    Sang Ku sighed, then went on to exin, "After the great disaster of Ancient Times, we witch cultivators had to fight for survival in the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    "But in such a dangerous ce, even with the Poisonous Spirit Flower, it is very difficult for most people to survive, especially the ordinary humans.


    "Ordinary humans are also the foundation of cultivators; even the strongest cultivators start from being ordinary people. If these ordinary people were gone, our witch cultivators would not be far from decline and extinction.


    "So at that time, to gather resources and strength, the deepest cultivators from the five witch cultivator factions gathered together to discuss and finally decided to form an alliance of the five factions.


    "Although there are gaps between the factions, to continue the legacy, we had no choice but to choose to cooperate and assist each other for mutual support and protection.


    "Among them, the Great Elder of the five-faction alliance oversees the factions, pooling resources.


    "The position of the Great Elder is selected through Magical Combat from within the five factions; the strongest assumes the position, and every fifty years, the position of the Great Elder changes to prevent any one faction from bing too dominant."


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    Pausing for a moment, Sang Ku''s face showed a wary expression as he continued, "Currently, the Great Elder of the five-faction alliance is the Great Witch Cultivator from the Spirit Snake Faction, Golden Snake Granny.


    "Not only is Golden Snake Granny highly skilled and ruthless, but she is also vindictive and protective of her own."


    The most important thing is that she has served as the Great Elder three times in a row. In the alliance of the five factions, she''s virtually untouchable. As a result, the Spirit Snake Faction has be incredibly arrogant.


    Therefore, Cultivator Lu, you should try your best not to provoke the cultivators of the Spirit Snake Faction easily.


    If the little deer that Cultivator Lu is searching for has indeed been captured by the cultivators of the Spirit Snake Faction, it would be best for you to see if you can exchange something for it. It''s better than trying to seize it by force.


    Otherwise, even if Cultivator Lu manages to defeat the cultivators from White Flower Snake Vige, the act of touching someone from the Spirit Snake Faction is very likely to provoke Golden Snake Granny."


    "Thank you, Vige Chief Sang." Lu Qingshan expressed his gratitude with a cupped fist.


    Even though he knew that Sang Ku was simply returning a favor with another¡ªsince he had no initial intention of sharing this information with Lu Qingshan.


    It was only because Lu Qingshan had helped him with the troublesome Dahane that he was willing to disclose more this time.


    But no matter what, since it was well-intended, Lu Qingshan still felt grateful in his heart.


    "Let''s go to White Flower Snake Vige and see what''s going on!" After organizing his thoughts, Lu Qingshan made his decision.


    No sooner had he nned to set out than Dahane stopped him, "How about I take you there?"


    Under the gaze of Lu Qingshan and King Xi Rat, Dahane shyly said, "You helped mee down from the cliff and even named me. I haven''t thanked you yet!


    I see you are in a hurry for that little deer. I''m very fast, I can take you there quickly."


    Zouyu are spirit beasts known for their speed, so Dahane was not exaggerating.


    "Then we''ll be troubling you," Lu Qingshan said, not standing on ceremony with Dahane.


    "Come on up," Dahane said with a chuckle.


    Lu Qingshan leaped gracefully,nding on Dahane''s back.


    Once Lu Qingshan was steady, Dahane sprang forward, transforming into an almost invisible shadow, rapidly weaving through the ancient forest.@@novelbin@@


    ......


    One dayter, at White Flower Snake Vige.


    Although both are called viges, White Flower Snake Vige was clearly notparable to ck Scorpion Vige.


    Here, a massive fortress-like vige had been erected, housing nearly ten thousand people.


    Lu Qingshan released his Divine Sense to sense the vige ahead.


    The vige was enormouslyrge, nearly a hundred li in length and width, predominantly constructed from millenary tree wood.


    This ancient timber was extremely tough, so tough that even if one were to chop fiercely with a broadsword, there would not be a scratch, making its defensive power akin to giant boulders.


    The vige gates were bustling with peopleing and going. As arge tribe, White Flower Snake Vige often had people from other vigesing in for trading and purchasing, so there was a significant flow of people.


    However, those responsible for guarding the gates were just ordinary people, and there were no cultivators among them.


    Lu Qingshan dismounted from Dahane and patted his thigh, saying, "Thank you."


    Dahane responded with a cheerful, "No need to be polite."


    It was evident that Dahane could not be brought into the vige; it would cause too much of a stir. Besides, Dahane did not wish to interact with humans. Thus, Lu Qingshan bid farewell to him there.


    Heeding Sang Ku''s warning and not wishing to stir up trouble, Lu Qingshan disguised himself as an ordinary person and stealthily entered White Flower Snake Vige.

 Chapter 31 The Divisions of Intent (Part 1)

    Lu Qingshan, along with the Western Rat King and Mimi, a man and two beasts, swiftly moved through the forest towards Qingqiu.


    "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Lu Qingshan noticed that along the way, Mimi kept asionally shaking its head as if it was feeling quite ufortable.


    "Ee-ee-ah-ah!" Mimi weakly cried out.


    "Mimi says it feels like there''s something in its head, very ufortable," the Western Rat King tranted.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan furrowed his brows slightly, a bad premonition rising in his heart, "Could it be that something has injured its brain?"


    Thinking this, Lu Qingshan ced his hand on Mimi''s forehead and sent out his Divine Sense, inspecting Mimi''s body all around.


    But apart from the injuries that had been discovered long ago, there were no other new findings.


    "It might be some subtle internal injuries, it''s still best to hurry back to Qingqiu and have the Mountain Lord take a look," Lu Qingshan said.


    .......


    While Lu Qingshan was taking Mimi away, in a hidden ce, a beautiful middle-aged woman with almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks sensed something, opened her eyes, and murmured softly, "Have they finallye?"


    Although the woman was middle-aged, she radiated a glowing beauty, exceptionally graceful, which was rare among the generally early-aging sorceress cultivators.


    "Yun Meng, if not for your desperate struggle back then, I would not have discovered the secret of the Three Thousand Great Mountains...." Her gaze drifted as if recalling something, a strange and ferocious smile appeared on her graceful face.


    Then, the woman stood up, her figure transformed into a beam of Escaping Light, and she flew off into the distance.


    ....


    Two dayster.


    The sight of the fiery red vegetation covered Qingqiu Mountain came into view.


    This time, when Mimi saw the Qingqiu that it had previously grown a bit tired of, a wave of indescribable emotions surged in its heart.


    It was like a child eager to leave home to see the world, who, after wandering outside and enduring society''s harsh realities, suddenly realizes that home is indeed the warmest ce.


    Lu Qingshan, barely having entered the territory of Qingqiu, saw a very bright silver-white shadow sh across the sky, joyfully bounding out.


    It was the young deer Yaoyao.


    The control of Qingqiu by the Qingqiu Mountain Lord was beyond imagination, so the moment Lu Qingshan entered Qingqiu, he sensed that Lu Qingshan was bringing Mimi back and immediately informed the extremely anxious Yaoyao.


    "Ee-ee-ah-ah!" Yaoyao circled around Mimi, looking at the emaciated Mimi, herrge eyes brimming with tears. The words she initially wanted to scold Mimi with were silently retracted, leaving only deeppassion.@@novelbin@@


    Mimi cocked its head and carefully rubbed Yaoyao''s antlers with its own, as ifforting Yaoyao that it was not in great trouble and telling her not to be too sad.


    Under Mimi''sfort, Yaoyao, originally tearful, suddenly had a determined look as if realizing she was the older sister, making noises, "Ee-ee-ah-ah!"


    Mimi obediently nodded its head.


    "Ee! Ee-ee-ah-ah!" Yaoyao then turned her small head and called out to Lu Qingshan in a soft, somewhat shy voice, as if confiding something.


    Then, a beam of cyan light suddenly appeared, enveloping the two little deers and, carrying them, quickly vanished from Lu Qingshan''s sight.


    "That silly stag said, it needs to urgently take Mimi back to Grandpa Qingqiu for treatment and will go ahead first, asking us to followter.


    "Additionally, the Qingqiu Mountain Master has something for you as a reward for helping retrieve Mimi," exined the King of the Western Mice.


    Lu Qingshan nodded. "Then let''s go and find the Qingqiu Mountain Master."


    ....


    By the time Lu Qingshan arrived near the peach tree, he saw Mimi coiled motionless under the tree, her whole body glowing as if she was insted from all external sensations.


    Above Qingqiu Mountain Master''s true form, an exceedingly divine radiance overflowed, merging into a glow that transformed into a divine dawn, enveloping Mimi''s entire body and nourishing her physical form.


    Mimi''s body, covered in wounds that were hard to heal, healed rapidly under the nurture of the divine light, and her physical body even emitted a crystal-clear luster.


    Atop her head, the two golden antlers, which were already nearly withered, were also now restored, shining brilliantly and resplendently.


    Most importantly, not only were the injuries on Mimi''s physical body healed, but the nearly divine strength was also nourishing her spirit, restoring her essence.


    Lu Qingshan stopped in his tracks, silently waiting for the Qingqiu Mountain Master to heal Mimi.


    Unexpectedly, the Qingqiu Mountain Master, while healing Mimi, still had spare strength to engage in conversation.


    His massive true form''s trunk once again manifested his human face, "This time Mimi could return, I must thank you, young friend."


    "It was just a small effort," Lu Qingshan did not take pride in his action, having no intention of asking for credit before the Qingqiu Mountain Master who had saved his life.


    "How did Mimi get so seriously injured? What exactly happened, can you tell me in more detail?" asked the Qingqiu Mountain Master gently.


    Lu Qingshan hesitated for a moment but eventually did not conceal the truth. He organized his words and ryed everything that Mimi had encountered in the White Flower Snake Vige, and he reassured, "Mountain Lord, rest assured, anyone who plotted against Mimi has already been punished by me."


    "Human Race¡­" But unlike the expected furious reaction, after knowing the details, the Qingqiu Mountain Master just sighed softly.


    Having lived through countless ages as a spirit-transformed flora, the Qingqiu Mountain Master had a much clearer view of the world''s ugliness than others.


    After a pause, the Qingqiu Mountain Master slowly asked, "When I initially saved you, it was because I sensed a familiar aura on you. However, do you know what that aura specifically is?"


    Lu Qingshan somewhat understood.


    When he was leaving the me Spirit Realm with the Spirit, suddenly a vibrant green globe full of vitality appeared in the Longevity River. It silently merged into his body.


    Following that, there was also a very brief message, a message from the Longevity Whale.


    "The vitality I gift, the affection I offer."


    ording to Lu Qingshan''s spection, his act of taking the Spirit seemed to have helped the Longevity Whale a great deal.


    Thus, the Longevity Whale gifted him a globe of vitality.


    However, why the Longevity Whale did not release the Spirit itself and what exactly the purpose of this globe of vitality was, he still had no idea.


    Now, seeing the Qingqiu Mountain Master bringing up the past, Lu Qingshan was startled, shook his head, and respectfully asked for guidance, "The junior is unaware, please enlighten me, Mountain Lord."


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master then seriously asked, "Then, do you know about the divisions of Intent?"


    "I do know a bit about that," nodded Lu Qingshan. After pondering for a moment, he said, "The Intentprehended by cultivators is divided into three levels: weak, unity, and perfection. The higher the level, the greater the power of the Intent."


    Raising the level of Intent is extremely difficult; even though the trip to the White Flower Snake Vige gave Lu Qingshan some insights, his current ughter Sword Intent still remained at the weak level.

 Chapter 32 Categories of Intent (Part 2)

    "In addition, there are countless Intents, but based on their strength, they are divided into four grades."


    "From weakest to strongest, they are Lower Rank Intent, Middle Rank Intent, Higher Rank Intent, and the rarest but most powerful, Primordial Intent."


    "The difficulty ofprehending Intents differs for each rank, with the Lower Rank Intent being rtively easier to understand and improve upon."


    "Whereas Higher Rank Intent is very difficult to even perceive, but once sessfullyprehended, even a weak level of Higher Rank Intent can be stronger than a Unified Level of Lower Rank Intent," Lu Qingshan added.


    His ughter Sword Intent was one of the Higher Rank Intents.


    After pausing, Lu Qingshan went on to say, "Furthermore,prehension of an Intent is not something that stays the same forever."


    "Even if the Intent you initially perceive is of the Lower Rank, when you cultivate it to Perfection, you still have a chance to thoroughlyprehend it, reaching an understanding of the corresponding Middle Rank Intent."


    Of course, this upgrade is limited; it can only be a direct advancement from one level to the next.


    For example, Water Wave Intent as a Lower Rank Intent can only be promoted to a Middle Rank Intent through deepening one''s understanding of the Water Element; it would be absurd to think that the Water Wave Intent could be upgraded to, say, Purgatory Intent, that belongs to apletely different Attribute''s Middle Rank Intent.


    To take Lu Qingshan''s ughter Sword Intent as an example, the corresponding Primordial Intent is the Destruction True Intent.


    That is to say, if Lu Qingshan wanted to upgrade his ughter Sword Intent, the only way would be through the path of Destruction Sword Intent, and no other paths would work, just like that.


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master interjected, "You do have a very clear understanding of Intents."


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan suddenly realized something, "Does the Mountain Lord mean that this aura is rted to Intent?"


    "Yes," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said slowly, seeing that Lu Qingshan had caught on: "It is actually a cluster of Spiritual Sense that containsprehension of an Intent."


    "If you are destined, one day when you have a realization about the Intent it contains, it wille into effect and help you quicklyprehend this Intent."


    So that was it.


    Lu Qingshan nodded silently, but then he frowned slightly and asked curiously, "May I know what Intent it contains? Please enlighten me, Mountain Lord."


    "The Intent it contains happens to be one I have mastered, which is why I said there was a familiar aura about you," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said with a light chuckle.


    After a pause, he continued, "As for the Intent I have mastered, if I remember correctly, it is one of the Primordial Intents, which your Human Race refers to as... Immortal True Intent. But I prefer its other name, Life True Intent."


    Even someone as knowledgeable as Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but be deeply shaken upon hearing this news.


    You see, up to now, the only person he had seen possessing a Primordial Intent was the Void Demon Child.


    And the Void Demon Child''s Space True Intention wasn''t cultivated by himself but was due to his Bloodline.


    "May I ask, what is the Mountain Lord''s current level of Cultivation?" Lu Qingshan wondered with amazement and doubt.


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master replied gently, "It''s not as exaggerated as you imagine."


    "You must understand that in terms ofprehension, the Demon n has never been superior to the Human Race. Theirbat power is usually reliant on the awakening of their own Bloodline. Intents have always been a significant barrier that is difficult for the Demon n to ovee."


    "Not to mention, among my own Race, myprehension abilities are ranked quite low for a Grass and Wood Demon."


    After thinking for a moment, the Qingqiu Mountain Master exined, "The only reason I have mastered the Immortal True Intent is through a fortuitous coincidence."


    "In terms of actual Cultivation, I am at the Fifth Grade, equivalent to the Void Refining level of your Human Race."


    "However, if the location is limited to within Qingqiu, I''d say I''m pretty much unbeatable within the Fifth Grade."


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master was very candid, unafraid to reveal his shorings while at the same time disying an undisguised domineering aura.


    "The phrase ''unmatched in one''s ss'' is not something ordinary people dare to say."


    In fact, just as the Qingqiu Mountain Master said, the Human Race has always been known for its enlightenment.


    A frail mortal who is born without any bloodline awakening can often achieve through cultivation what demons consider a remarkably short time, transforming decrepitude into wonder and growing into a cultivator with great powers that even the Great Demons fear.


    This is something many from the Demon n cannot understand but deeply admire.


    "Are you interested in the Immortal True Intent?" the Qingqiu Mountain Master asked with a serious look, finally turning to the main topic.


    Lu Qingshan was startled at first, but then chuckled, "Primordial Intent, who among the cultivators wouldn''t be interested?"


    "You brought back Mimi, saving it from the sea of misery, and no matter what, this favor must be repaid," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said with a smile. "Since you possess the Immortal True Intent gifted by a great power and are interested in it, why don''t I give you a hand then?"


    Something stirred in Lu Qingshan''s heart.


    His reason for seeking out Mimi was to repay the life-saving kindness of the Qingqiu Mountain Master; he shouldn''t have epted any further reward.


    But the conditions proposed by the Qingqiu Mountain Master were simply irresistible.


    He was well aware of the significance represented by the Primordial Intent.


    Lu Qingshan wasn''t one to put on airs, and he had no reason to refuse the Qingqiu Mountain Master''s offer, so he bowed deeply to the Qingqiu Mountain Master, "Then I shall trouble the Mountain Lord."


    The Qingqiu Mountain Masterughed lightly, "I''m just serving as a catalyst. If you didn''t already harbor the Immortal True Intent within you, I''d be powerless to help.


    "Moreover, I cannot guarantee that you''ll ultimately grasp the Immortal True Intent, because, after all, the understanding of such intent muste from within yourself."


    "The young one understands this naturally," Lu Qingshan said.


    "Good, then get ready," said the Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    Lu Qingshan quickly adjusted his breathing, calmed his mind and spirit, and sat cross-legged under the peach tree.


    "It''s starting," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said gently. Then his face disappeared from the trunk of the tree, his body began to glow, and more than a dozen branches shone with a treasured light.


    A speck of cyan light flew up from the midst, turning into a mist of this color, a flood of auspicious light, all entering Lu Qingshan''s body.


    With a boom.@@novelbin@@


    After these mists entered his body, the cluster of cyan light that existed within Lu Qingshan instantly exploded, surging like a vast ocean.


    This was a gift from the Ancient Spirit Beast Longevity Whale.


    A sea of cyan luminescence poured out from within his physical body, enveloping his entire form, and even radiated to the surrounding area.


    It was like the Sea of Life descending, and wherever the cyan luminescence sprinkled, various nts began to grow wildly, exuding a stunning vitality!


    Among the grasses and in the soil, many seeds took root and sprouted instantly, bursting forth from the ground, while the nts that had already grown branches shot up at a high speed.


    The Immortal True Intent is also known as the True Intent of Life.


    And this is one of its effects.


    Watching Lu Qingshan, who had closed his eyes, immersed inprehension, the Qingqiu Mountain Master murmured, "Sword Cultivators are known for their prowess in ughter, and you possess the ughter Sword Intent. You should have no connection to the Immortal True Intent, which represents life, and it should be difficult for you to touch the Immortal True Intent.


    "But if the powerful one who gifted you the Immortal True Intent did so willingly, it must not have been an impulsive decision; surely they saw a possibility between you and the Immortal True Intent."


    As if reflecting on something, the Qingqiu Mountain Master couldn''t help but sigh, "Indeed, if you manage toprehend it, thebination of a Sword Cultivator who has in countless with the Immortal True Intent, a representation of life, would truly be a rarity."

 Chapter 284 - 33 True Intent Embryo

    Lu Qingshan closed his eyes tightly, his heart calm as still water, sensing the fluctuations of Primordial Intent emanating from that clump of Spiritual Sense.


    Suddenly, a vortex appeared before him, sweeping his consciousness into it, and in the blink of an eye, a barrennd appeared in his consciousness.


    Boom!


    Apanied by the sound of spring thunder tearing through the sky, the sparse pitter-patter of rain began to sound.


    Scattered raindrops fell from the sky, slowly evolving into a drizzle and then turning into a torrential downpour.


    On the earth, spring buds began to sprout gradually; strains of green grass struggled to poke their heads out.


    From the perspective of an observer, Lu Qingshan quietly watched and felt; however, after a long time, he still grasped nothing.


    In his view, this was purely a scene of spring rain sprinkling down, reviving all things; he could not see where it rted to Immortal True Intent at all.


    In the outer world, the green light enveloping Lu Qingshan¡¯s body grew increasingly intense, with clouds steaming and mists swirling.


    His breathing was very steady, the white mist he exhaled was like Immortal Qi.


    This was the origin of life.


    The nts stimted by the Immortal True Intent enshrouded Lu Qingshanpletely, causing Yaoyao and the Rat King standing by to stare in dumbfounded amazement.


    Thump, thump, thump!


    At that moment, a violent fluctuation urred within Lu Qingshan¡¯s body; his chest began to heave violently, like a drum being beaten.


    This was his heart, throbbing intensely under the stimulus of a strong life force.


    His flesh also became crystalline and translucent, bursting with auspicious light.


    Just as these changes urred in his body, Lu Qingshan¡¯s consciousness also finally underwent a transformation.


    He unexpectedly shifted from an observer¡¯s perspective to be a wild weed under the soil, listening to the relentless pounding of raindrops hitting the earth, and all he could do was endure and struggle to sprout from the soil.


    Too heavy!


    Lu Qingshan was faintly aware, but the weight of thisyer of soil kept him from breaking free from its restraint; the raindrops continued to pour down, preventing him from feeling precisely.


    Suddenly, Lu Qingshan seemed to remember something and unconsciously began to circte his Cultivation Technique.


    Taoist Treasury (Golden Core Chapter)


    Cultivation Technique Effect 5: Taoist methods are natural, understanding Tao through the body. Practicing Taoist Treasury will enhance the Cultivator¡¯s aptitude, making it easier for Cultivators toprehend and elevate their Intent.


    ...¡­


    Taoist methods are natural, understanding Tao through the body!


    As Spiritual Power coursed through his body again and again ording to the Cultivation Technique, Lu Qingshan¡¯s spirit suddenly became unprecedentedly clear, feeling as if time itself had slowed down.


    Amidst the vagueness...


    An infinite desire suddenly surged in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart¡­ This was the yearning from the weed, and it was this yearning that bestowed new strength upon him.


    With a pop,


    the weed he had be finally shook off the shackles of the dust and broke through the soil,


    This was the weed¡¯s first glimpse of the world.


    The world was boundlessly vast, filled with stars.


    The weed was verdant, green halos like light, filled with vigorous vitality, exhibiting an inexplicable grandeur of Tao.


    Then, its perception continuously extended and expanded, even stretching towards the sky, gradually, the entire sky entered into the weed¡¯s perception.


    The view was endlessly broad.


    Yet, the weed was still not satisfied, wanting to stretch into the void, but just like it had been restrained by the earth, this expanse of sky also confined the weed¡¯s perception.


    But the yearning in the heart of the weed grew even more intense.


    Lu Qingshan understood clearly, bing more focused and immersed in the world of the weed¡¯s spirit, feeling the weed¡¯s yearning.


    Or rather, it was his own yearning.


    Intent varies with each individual.


    For the same intent, the effect can differ dramatically from one person to another.


    Naturally, what each person perceives in the process ofprehension also varies, linked to their strengths and temperament.


    Yet, all paths eventually lead to the same destination.


    Gradually, under that yearning and extension, Lu Qingshan seemed to see the end of heaven and earth, where murky clouds swirled, appearing very vague and dim.


    Suddenly, he felt his perspective wrench away from this tuft of weed, reverting to that of an onlooker.


    "What is this?" Lu Qingshan suddenly widened his eyes, his pupils constricting as he stared intently at the scene before him.


    A tuft of grass unleashed unparalleled Heaven-reaching Sword Qi, shing towards that hazy heaven and earth. The cloudyyers under this strike of Sword Qi slowly parted to form a dividing line.


    Yin and Yang sliced through dawn and dusk.


    What an astonishing sight!


    And it wasn¡¯t over yet!


    Following that, the tuft of grass suddenly shot up from the ground, transforming into a formidable sword with its insignificant and tiny existence, bursting forth with earth-shattering Sword Intent.


    With one strike, the clouds dispersed and a sliver of light slowly emerged.


    "A most insignificant and weak tuft of weed, yet capable of creating heaven and earth," Lu Qingshan felt his heart surge, "This is the meaning of life, from an insignificant form, endless possibilities arise, evolving into immortality."


    @@novelbin@@


    Sword Qi filled the sky, and once again, Lu Qingshan focused his mind, preparing to deeplyprehend the underlying intent.


    However, at that instant, the whole world started spinning, everything beginning to blur.


    By the time Lu Qingshan came to his senses, the scene had returned to reality, with himself seated cross-legged under a peach tree, the green light around his bodypletely vanished, surrounded by lush nts.


    It was the batch of Spiritual Sense gifted by the Longevity Whale that had beenpletely exhausted, which is why he had emerged from the state of enlightenment.


    "How do you feel?" Seeing Lu Qingshan regaining his senses, Qingqiu Mountain Master asked gently, his eyes kind andpassionate.


    Lu Qingshan nced over the flickering firefly-like characters before his eyes:


    "Comprehension of Intent!...."


    "...you have gained someprehension of Immortal Sword Intent!"


    "...you have gained someprehension of Immortal Sword Intent!"


    "Your Divine Sense has improved! (+50)"


    Immortal Sword Intent (Protypal Form): Primordial Intent, possessing the power of immortality and evolution."


    "Some gains," Lu Qingshan said, a bit lost in thought.


    It seemed because hisprehension was not yetprehensive, his Immortal Sword Intent was still in its protypal form, unable to fully take shape.


    But his mind sunk into deep thought; having felt the protypal form of the Immortal Sword Intent, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of awe.


    Primordial Intent was indeed the most formidable force of intent.


    Just a protypal form already possessed the power to change the heavens and the earth!


    "Human Race¡¯s perception is indeed enviable. Even though I have a divine advantage, it still took me nearly ten thousand years to truly master the Immortal True Intent. But you, in such a short time, have already understood some of it," Qingqiu Mountain Master couldn¡¯t help remarking, "However, even among the Human Race, you must be one of the most talented."


    Lu Qingshan remained silent.


    The point the Mountain Lord made was quite right.


    Putting aside his Spirit Root, in the realm of Sword Dao, he indeed was among those rare individuals in the Human Race who couldpare. Experience more on NovelBin.C?m


    Lu Qingshan did not say more and turned his head to look at Mimi beside him.


    At this moment, the life energy emanating from it had grown considerably stronger, and all life characteristics had mostly recovered.


    "It¡¯s fortunate; though it has suffered a lot, it¡¯s just that its life essence was damaged without any lingering hidden injuries. Consider this a lesson for it," Qingqiu Mountain Master said light-heartedly, "After all, they can¡¯t stay in Qingqiu forever. Sooner orter, there will be a day when they leave Qingqiu, and this experience will be its biggest warning."


    Lu Qingshan nodded in agreement and then said, "Since this matter is resolved, Mountain Lord, I am ready to take my leave."


    Qingqiu Mountain Master wasn¡¯t surprised nor did he attempt to detain him.

 Chapter 285 - 34: Metal Wire Snake?

    "This trip, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Although I almost perished in the spatial rift, the end result is not bad at all." Lu Qingshan spoke candidly, getting up and preparing to leave.


    "Yiyi yaya!" A soft and mushy sound arose, and the little deer Yaoyao suddenly shed over, blocking Lu Qingshan¡¯s path with bright, blinking eyes focused on him.


    After hesitating for a moment, Yaoyao walked in front of Lu Qingshan and gently licked his hand.


    "It says, ¡¯Thank you for saving Mimi,¡¯" the Western Rat King exined to Lu Qingshan, while mumbling sourly, "The Rat Lord also contributed, yet no one thanks the Rat Lord."


    It seemed Yaoyao heard the Western Rat King¡¯sint, tilted her head to look at him for a while, and after some thought, stretched out her long antlers to nuzzle the Western Rat King¡¯s belly, "Yiyi yaya! (Yaoyao also thanks you for saving Mimi)"


    "This silly roe deer..." The typically brash Western Rat King became uncharacteristically shy this time, quickly twisting his head away from Yaoyao, although his mouth still subconsciously spouted sarcasm, a proud and tsundere expression on his face. Find exclusive stories on NovelBin.C?m


    Lu Qingshanughed, reaching back to touch Yaoyao¡¯s pretty antlers, "I¡¯lle back to see you all if I ever get the chance."


    Yaoyao hummed in satisfaction and then stepped aside, clearing the way.


    Afterward, Lu Qingshan did not dy any further, leaping up and vanishing into the forest.


    He was preparing to head back to Fufeng City.


    What had happened after he fell into the spatial crack, he was now eager to find out.


    However, the Three Thousand Great Mountains were vast, and even with the rough map given by Sang Ku, he estimated that it would take about half a month to depart from the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    Especially in these mountains filled with demon beasts, he dared not fly recklessly across the skies with sword control.


    Compared to his strenuous travel, the Western Rat King was much more rxed; after all, it just needed to stay perched on Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder.


    It even arrogantly imed that Lu Qingshan was its mount, and after being scolded, it finally settled down.


    ....


    Meanwhile, shortly after Lu Qingshan left Qingqiu, an escaping light appeared at the foot of Qingqiu Mountain.


    Once the escaping light stopped, the figure within it was revealed, turning out to be an incredibly gorgeous woman.


    The beautiful woman stopped at the base of Qingqiu Mountain without directly entering Qingqiu, merely gazing at the seemingly ordinary peak with a hint of reminiscence in her eyes, "Yun Meng, don¡¯t me me for using your child..."


    ....


    "Lu Qingshan, the wizard techniques of the Five Divisions are really something," the Western Rat King, perched on Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder, suddenly eximed in amazement.


    It was holding a veryrge scroll.


    That was a Poison Scripture secret manual that Lu Qingshan had confiscated from the storage ring of the Wizard of Firestone.


    But as a Sword Cultivator, he had no interest in anything besides sword techniques, so even though he knew the Poison Scripture was anything but ordinary, he did not look closely and casually tossed it to the curious Western Rat King.


    "What does it say?" Lu Qingshan asked casually.


    "The Poison Scripture says, these Five Divisions of wizards each have a supreme poison creature that they have continued in a single lineage, extremely difficult to cultivate.


    Once sessfully cultivated, however, it bes invincible, the supreme of all poisons.


    Take, for example, the Golden Toad Division, their supreme poison creature is called the Ice Toad.


    The cultivation process involves cing nine thousand nine hundred and ny-nine toads in a toad cave infused with three thousand types of poisonous nts for ten years without any food. The toads can only feed on the poisonous nts, and the cave entrance is sealed.


    After ten years, once the entrance is unsealed, the sole surviving toad bes the Ice Toad.


    @@novelbin@@


    It contains a thousand poisons yet is immune to all, and when it spits out a drop of its poison saliva, almost any magic artifact will lose its spiritual light. Tell me, isn¡¯t that fierce!" the Western Rat King said anxiously.


    "Indeed, it¡¯s quite extraordinary." Lu Qingshan nodded in agreement.


    The wizard cultivators truly are experts in the art of poisons, their methods quite strange and treacherous.


    "And there¡¯s more, this Spirit Snake Division¡¯s poison creature is even more vicious. Their supreme poison creature is called the Golden Thread Snake.


    The cultivation process requires feeding a poisonous snake with a thousand types of spiritual medicine and three thousand types of poisonous herbs.


    Under the premise of ensuring its survival, it simultaneously gathers the essence of the sun and moon within it and infuses it with Taiyi fine gold.


    Once forged, this snake will contain a deadly poison for the Primordial Spirit, difficult for even immortals to defend against.


    At the same time, the Gold Thread Snake is shadowless and formless, and if it resides inside a human body, it is silent and nearly undetectable, capable of lurking for up to a hundred years!" the King of Western Rats eximed excitedly.


    This Gold Thread Snake sounds even more terrifying than the Ice Toad.


    Lu Qingshan muttered to himself.


    After all, no matter how potent the Ice Toad¡¯s poison is, it is out in the open and there is always a way to counteract it.


    The Gold Thread Snake¡¯s inherent invisibility, however, often makes it much harder to defend against, not to mention that it targets the Primordial Spirit.


    As Lu Qingshan pondered this, his footsteps suddenly halted.


    In that instant, a scene shed through his mind in the blink of an eye.


    "Lu Qingshan, what¡¯s wrong?" the King of Western Rats saw Lu Qingshan suddenly stop and start to daydream, and asked in confusion.


    "Do you remember, when we sent Mimi back, she said she always felt like there was something in her head?" Lu Qingshan asked.


    "I remember, but didn¡¯t the Qingqiu Mountain Master inspect herter and say there was nothing else wrong with Mimi?" the King of Western Rats asserted.


    Yes, at the time Lu Qingshan thought that Mimi might have sustained some hidden injury in her head that he couldn¡¯t detect.


    Butter, the Qingqiu Mountain Master also said that aside from the loss of her original essence, Mimi had no other injuries. At that time, he didn¡¯t think much of it.


    But now,bining the strange abilities of the Gold Thread Snake, a terrifying thought suddenly arose in his mind.


    There was another issue that had puzzled him previously, but he had temporarily ignored it because things had gone too smoothly.


    When the entire White Flower Snake Vige was afflicted with the deadly poison, they immediately sought help from the Five-Part Alliance, but even the Golden Snake Granny was powerless and could only let the vigers of White Flower Snake Vige wait for death.


    It was only because of Mimi that this disaster was resolved.


    Such a mysterious event, would Golden Snake Granny not be the least bit curious? She wasn¡¯t interested in finding out how the Ebony Shaman solved the poison that even she couldn¡¯t deal with? Was the Ebony Shaman¡¯s sale of the Rejuvenating Elixir so transparent and just, with no one coveting it?


    To possess a treasure is to court trouble, and for a being as magical as Mimi, how could an Ebony Shaman at the Golden Core Stage possibly keep her safe?


    Was it because Golden Snake Granny was nobly righteous and didn¡¯t snatch the Ebony Shaman¡¯s possessions?


    Or, was it that Golden Snake Granny didn¡¯t value Mimi?


    Both assumptions seem unlikely.


    Unless, Golden Snake Granny had bigger schemes, grand enough that even a Mimi was insufficient to satisfy her.


    If we reason along this direction, all the anomalies start to make sense.


    The reason Mimi felt there was something in her head, which neither he nor the Qingqiu Mountain Master discovered, was because it was the Gold Thread Snake.


    The Gold Thread Snake, being shadowless and formless, is very difficult to detect.


    However, no matter what, the Gold Thread Snake is still a creature with vitality.


    For someone like Mimi, who is awakened to the ability to sense life force, having an extra life in her head would naturally feel a bit off, and it¡¯s within reason.


    And despite Mimi being within easy reach, Golden Snake Granny remained unmoved, instead infusing theboriously cultivated Gold Thread Snake into Mimi¡¯s body. This must mean that whatever she¡¯s plotting is of extraordinary value, worth such a sacrifice.


    And coincidentally, Qingqiu possesses such a priceless treasure.


    Qingqiu Mountain Master!

 Chapter 286 - 35: Return to Qingqiu

    The essence of flora and fauna was already considered among the top-tier Spirit Materials, not to mention that the Qingqiu Mountain Lord was a Fifth Grade Cultivator who had mastered the Immortal True Intent of a great flora and fauna demon.


    In terms of its value, it could be described as priceless, with innumerable ingenious uses.


    Furthermore, within Qingqiu, there was a Blooming Spirit Stream, in which countless Blooming Spirit Flowers grew.


    The function of the Blooming Spirit Flower was identical to that of the Poisonous Spirit Flower, yet it contained no toxins.


    This fact alone was enough for Golden Snake Granny, who wanted to lead her people out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains, to desperately fight for it.


    @@novelbin@@


    Of course, this raised many doubts, which Lu Qingshan could not figure out for the moment.


    How did Golden Snake Granny know of the existence of Qingqiu Mountain Lord? And how did she know about Mimi¡¯s rtionship with Qingqiu Mountain Lord...


    These were unknown, shrouded in a veil of mystery.


    Whoosh whoosh.


    As Lu Qingshan was lost in thought, he suddenly noticed faint sounds from deep within the ancient forest, and almost simultaneously, a shadow flickered, instantly putting him on high alert.


    Whoosh!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword immediately left his body and circled in the air, like a dragon-serpent.


    "It¡¯s me," a very honest and familiar voice sounded.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, rxed.


    It was Dahon¡¯s voice.


    A gentle breeze passed by.


    Therge, fierce-looking Dahon floated out from the ancient forest, his round tiger eyes staring nkly at Lu Qingshan and Western Rat King, and he said with a naive smile, "It really is you! I felt something familiar about this aura, so I came to check it out."


    "Is everything going smoothly with your matter?" Dahon asked with concern.


    "It was resolved, but now newplications have arisen," Lu Qingshan pursed his lips.


    Dahon scratched his head in confusion, "Do you need my help?"


    Lu Qingshan thought for a moment, a glint of light shing in his eyes, and smiled, "Don¡¯t mention it, I might actually need to trouble you once more."


    ......


    A fast-moving afterimage darted through the forest, its speed astonishingly fast, rendering it nearly impossible to see clearly.


    "This is the ce, right?" a husky voice came through.


    "Yes, thank you," Lu Qingshan replied softly.


    The afterimage stopped, revealing the figures of Dahon and Lu Qingshan.


    Dahon was incredibly fast. It had taken Lu Qingshan three days to travel the distance, but Dahon had brought him back to Qingqiu in less than half a day.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s thought process was straightforward¡ªguessing too much was not very meaningful. It was better to go back to Qingqiu to see the situation for himself, and then the truth would be clear.


    If the Golden Thread Snake truly existed, he didn¡¯t believe it could escape the probing of Qingqiu Mountain Lord if he was intentionally searching for it.


    Looking towards Qingqiu, the Peach Tree, which was the true form of Qingqiu Mountain Lord, still stood tall, spectacrly majestic.


    The hills of Qingqiu were covered in a fiery red flora, looking strikingly beautiful.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Thunderous sounds of battle came from the peaks of the mountain


    Bright, powerful Spiritual Power ripples also spread out from the center of Qingqiu Mountain Lord¡¯s true form, scattering in all directions.


    Like a violent wind blowing by, the nts were pushed to either side, revealing a straight path to the mountain¡¯s peak, and only when the ripples of Spiritual Power slightly halted did the nts stand upright again.


    "Something indeed has happened!" Lu Qingshan leaped in his heart.


    The thing he feared most had still urred.


    If Mimi truly harbored a Golden Thread Snake, then when the Qingqiu Mountain Master was treating Mimi, he would inevitably be unguarded, making it the perfect opportunity for the Golden Thread Snake to sneak in.


    Lu Qingshan leaped off Da Han¡¯s back and patted him, "This ce is no longer safe, you go first, I need to check out the situation."


    "I want to go with you," Da Han said in his deep and muffled voice, sensing theplexity of the situation, "If things go south, I can use my speed to help you escape!"


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes flickered slightly as he thought for a moment, no longer declining the offer, he jumped back onto Da Han¡¯s back, "Then I¡¯ll trouble you."


    "Don¡¯t mention it," Da Han said earnestly, "You and King Xi Mouse are both my friends, Da Han doesn¡¯t want anything bad to happen to you."


    The name of the Zouyu Benevolent Beast truly wasn¡¯t in vain, innocently straightforward like a child.


    He simply helped Da Han, who was afraid of heights,e down from a cliff once, and Da Han had etched it in his heart.


    Lu Qingshan felt somewhat moved.


    Who could say that all demons were fierce and brutal?


    With one stride, Da Han carried Lu Qingshan, rushing towards the source of the disturbance.


    A whirlwind followed, pushing all the lush vegetation aside.


    This was the true speed of Zouyu, fully unleashed; even Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Control Technique was far inferior to this terrifying velocity.


    Momentster, Da Han brought Lu Qingshan to the center of the battlefield.


    Boom boom boom!


    A beautiful female cultivator was suspended in the air before a peach tree; her physical body radiated wave after wave of golden ripples, much like a divine light shielding her.


    What was horrifying was that this female cultivator¡¯s luxuriant ck hair was actuallyposed of many slender golden snakes.


    At that moment, these tiny snakes were all revived, writhing and hissing violently with their crimson tongues.


    Golden Snake Granny!


    There are only mistaken names, not mistaken nicknames.


    The abilities disyed by the female cultivator allowed Lu Qingshan to identify her identity the instant he saw her.


    He just didn¡¯t expect that the so-called Golden Snake Granny would be such a beautiful woman.


    Looking further, Lu Qingshan saw on the peach tree, which was the true form of Qingqiu Mountain Master, covered in countless golden intricate patterns that glittered like spider webs, a chilling aura oozing out of them.


    And before this peach tree, fighting the Golden Snake Granny, was a translucent Primordial Spirit.


    The image of the Primordial Spirit was that of an elderly man with long gray hair.


    And that old man¡¯s face, Lu Qingshan knew all too well.


    It was the Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    Seeing this scene, Lu Qingshan immediately understood everything.


    How ruthless, how venomous a scheme!


    In Qingqiu, the Qingqiu Mountain Master was invincible because his original body had long taken root throughout the entire Qingshan, extending outwards to draw strength from Qingqiu whenever needed.


    To deal with the Qingqiu Mountain Master, the Golden Snake Granny had actually used the Primordial Spirit poison of the Golden Thread Snake to forcibly separate his Primordial Spirit from his original body.


    "I spent fifty years and countless resources to refine the only Golden Thread Snake used on you, you should feel fortunate!" Golden Snake Granny said coldly.


    "Even if it¡¯s just my Primordial Spirit, unable to utilize the power of my original form, you, a mere Nascent Soul Cultivator, still can¡¯t defeat me," the Qingqiu Mountain Master said calmly.


    The two were at loggerheads, and at this moment, Lu Qingshan arrived riding Zouyu.


    "How did youe back?" Qingqiu Mountain Master was surprised, and his expression suddenly changed.


    Because Golden Snake Granny ncing at the newly arrived Lu Qingshan, suddenly said angrily, "Human Cultivators from the outside, all must die!" Your adventure continues at NovelBin.C?m


    With a thought, a golden snake detached from her head and lunged towards Lu Qingshan.

 Chapter 287 - 36: Primordial Spirit Embryo

    ```


    The Golden Snake burst into a terrifying presence in the air, its shape suddenly expanding dozens of times over, transforming into a colossal snake soaring into the sky. Its menacing and prominent body twisted as it rolled towards Lu Qingshan. Its entire body was shing with golden light, causing the whole space to start trembling.


    It was just a single strand out of the three thousand Qing fibers, yet it possessed such a terrifying power. The strength of Golden Snake Granny could be partially perceived from this.


    ng!


    @@novelbin@@


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword left the body and transformed into a Spirit Snake, but it wasposed of mes and Sword Qi. It fiercely collided with the Golden Snake.


    In the face of a Nascent Soul Cultivator¡¯s methods, even if it appeared to be just a casual strike, Lu Qingshan did not dare to underestimate it, to say nothing of the fact that Golden Snake Granny was a Nascent Soul Cultivator who had made a resounding name for herself.


    Therefore, he also added a thread of ughter Sword Intent to this Flying Sword.


    An indescribable aura spread, causing the Golden Snake¡¯s body to shudder slightly.


    This was the power of the Dragon Breath from the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    Boom!


    The massive Golden Python actually couldn¡¯t withstand the Flying Sword that Lu Qingshan had exerted with all his might.


    The snake¡¯s golden body first emitted intense shaking, and after a few moments, it exploded violently under the impact of the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    A shower of Blood Beads rained down from the snake¡¯s body, but they were instantly turned to nothingness in the scorching wave of the Dragon Sparrow Sword¡¯s fire.


    However, although he had blocked Golden Snake Granny¡¯s attack, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t have the slightestcency. He promptly had Mimi quickly retreat backwards, giving up a very distant position.


    The gap between him and a Nascent Soul Cultivator was too great. If Golden Snake Granny were to be even slightly more serious with her attack, it would not be something he could bear, so he could only retreat first.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Qingshan had managed to block her poison snake. Golden Snake Granny felt a slight surprise in her heart, but seeing that Lu Qingshan had already retreated a great distance, she did not pursue him further.


    After all, her true target and great enemy was the Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s gaze was solemn as he raised both hands.


    A thick burst of green light surged out, and immediately, several thick vines intertwined together sprouted from the ground.


    The vines rotated at high speed, like a drill, shooting towards Golden Snake Granny.


    The vines could be both rigid and flexible, suitable for both attack and defense.


    Golden Snake Granny¡¯s gaze was full of irritation. A brilliant golden glint appeared in her hand, and facing the oing vine attack, she did not dodge or evade, catching all of those annoying vines Qingqiu Mountain Master had cultivated right in her palm!


    A sinister smile crossed her face. The golden light in her hand suddenly died down, turning into a purple Poison Fog, which she instantly merged into the vines.


    She nned to corrode and break down Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s vines with her Poison Art.


    But to her surprise, her always effective Poison Art had no effect against these vines that seemed to be swung at random.


    Thud!


    The vines¡¯ onught continued, piercing Golden Snake Granny¡¯s palm, leaving a huge blood hole!


    Golden Snake Granny quickly shook off the vines and retreated.


    Her palm was a bloody blur.


    "Is this the Immortal True Intent?" However, Golden Snake Granny was not infuriated or angry by this, but rather muttered to herself somewhat distractedly.


    Those seemingly ordinary vines had the Immortal True Intent attached to them, which is why her Poison Art had no effect and could not cause any damage.


    But Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s offensive was not over yet.


    The vines stopped in the air, and suddenly trembled. The leaves, originally fiery red, detached from them. In an instant, these inconspicuous leaves burst into me as if they had encountered something that could ignite them in the air, forming one violent fireball after another.


    ```


    The leaves turned into a fireball, and when the fireballs connected with one another, they instantly formed a heart-stoppingly ferocious fire lion that charged towards Golden Snake Granny with the fierce gait of a wild beast!


    Lu Qingshan watched, dumbfounded.


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s use of the Immortal True Intent waspletely different from his understanding.


    Turning Wood Attribute vine leaves into a Fire Attribute attack¡ªthis kind of application was whimsical yet conformed to the Immortal Intent.


    As long as the essence of life remains the same, why can¡¯t attributes be transformed into one another?


    "If you don¡¯t want these two fawns to die, then stop immediately," Golden Snake Granny said with a cruel smile on her radiant face, facing the immensely savage fire lion.


    A long golden Spirit Snake tightly bound Yaoyao and Mimi, slithering up in front of Golden Snake Granny.


    The Spirit Snake constantly flicked its scarlet tongue, and saliva dripped ceaselessly from its mouth onto Yaoyao, seemingly drooling over her.


    A camel, though emaciated, is bigger than a horse; Golden Snake Granny had never deluded herself into thinking that she could take down the Qingqiu Mountain Master with just the golden line snakes.


    Her real trump card was the lives of Yaoyao and Mimi.


    First, she used Mimi to allow the golden line snakes to lurk within the Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s body, then, through the snakes, she forced the Mountain Master¡¯s body to separate from his Primordial Spirit, robbing him of his terrifyingbat strength that could have subdued her instantly.


    Next, she entangled with the Qingqiu Mountain Master, briefly holding him back and drawing his attention while releasing poisonous snakes to silently and stealthily capture the two fawns.


    This was also a w of the Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    Having never left Qingqiu and interacted with outsiders, he was aware of humanity¡¯s cruelty butpletely unprepared to face such ruthless tactics, seeming far too na?ve.


    The fire lion, surging and thundering towards her in the sky, abruptly halted.


    Seeing this, a sinister light shed in Golden Snake Granny¡¯s eyes, and upon her maniption, the golden Spirit Snake that bound Yaoyao and Mimi tightened its body, constricting the fawns, making it difficult for them to breathe.


    Yaoyao couldn¡¯t help but let out pained whimpers.


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    "Release Yaoyao and Mimi!" Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s voice was hoarse.


    This was the first time he felt such uncontroble rage.


    Even when he had been previously tricked into having his Primordial Spirit separated from his own body, his emotions had not fluctuated so intensely.


    "If you want the lives of these two fawns, then exchange them for your Primordial Spirit Embryo!" Golden Snake Granny demanded coldly, her eyes shing with ruthlessness.


    After witnessing the power of the Immortal True Intent, her desire and greed surged even more.


    "How did you know?!" Qingqiu Mountain Master asked, his face showing a slight change.


    Although Lu Qingshan had temporarily stepped back to monitor the situation, upon hearing the term "Primordial Spirit Embryo," he too was taken aback.


    Could it actually be that kind of divine object?


    No wonder the Qingqiu Mountain Master had said that hisprehension of the Immortal True Intent was blessed with a unique advantage.


    The Primordial Spirit Embryo, also known as Taoist Jade.


    It was a miraculous item that captured Heaven and Earth¡¯s creation when the world was young and not yet fully stable, a vessel to carry the mysteries of the Great Dao.


    Although as Heaven and Earth steadily solidified and the world became whole, the profound mysteries of the Great Dao eventually departed and returned to Heaven and Earth.


    However, the remnants of the Dao¡¯s Intent and the mysteries it left within the Jade Embryos could still point directly to the Primordial True Intent and were sacred objects forprehending Intent.


    As a curious object from the birth of Heaven and Earth, the Primordial Spirit Embryo was irreceable and no longer existent since the current world was stable.


    One could say that as they were consumed, Primordial Spirit Embryos would be increasingly scarce and would eventually disappearpletely.

 Chapter 288 - 37: The Psyche Mouse

    "Just a mere object in exchange for the lives of these two fawns, you aren¡¯t reluctant to part with it, are you?" Golden Snake Granny saw that Qingqiu Mountain Master remained unmoved, her eyebrows raised in a mock, "Could it be that your cultivation is more important to you than the lives of these two fawns?"


    Qingqiu Mountain Master did not respond, his expression continuously changing.


    "Since you are unwilling to exchange the Primordial Spirit Embryo for the lives of these two deer demons, don¡¯t me me for being merciless!" Golden Snake Granny said sinisterly as she waved her left hand.


    Crack! Crack!


    The golden giant snake constricted its body with more force, and the bones of Mimi and Yaoyao made a disturbing noise at once. Under the tremendous power of the giant snake, both fawns were now suffocating, their eyes bulging out in extreme difort.


    Golden Snake Granny stared intently at Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s Primordial Spirit, her face bing increasingly brutal.


    "Stop it," Qingqiu Mountain Master sighed softly in his heart before speaking, "I will give you the Primordial Spirit Embryo."


    "You¡¯ve already mastered the Immortal True Intent, a Primordial Spirit Embryo is nothing to you even if you give it to me," Golden Snake Granny said, nodding her head with satisfaction now that Qingqiu Mountain Master had eded, a vicious gleam shing in her eyes.


    She waved at the golden giant snake, which somewhat reluctantly loosened its coils, allowing Mimi and Yaoyao to catch their breath.


    Golden Snake Granny¡¯s eyes were aze as she looked at Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    Since he had decided to exchange the Primordial Spirit Embryo for Mimi and Yaoyao, Qingqiu Mountain Master made no further moves.


    He waved his hand gently.


    On the peach tree adorned with golden veins and enveloped by an aura of chilling cold, a splendid dazzling green light gleamed at the center.


    Through the massive trunk, its shape became visible.


    "That is the Primordial Spirit Embryo you want," Qingqiu Mountain Master said quietly.


    Above the trunk, now ridden with the venom of the spirit of the golden-threaded snake, he was unable to return to his original ce, naturally unable to control his own body, and so the Primordial Spirit Embryo could only be taken by Golden Snake Granny herself.


    A shadow emerged, as Golden Snake Granny, ghost-like, moved silently to the front of the peach tree.


    Yet, as Golden Snake Granny moved, Qingqiu Mountain Master subtly nced at the golden giant snake using the corner of his eye.


    Behind the giant snake, a grey shadow was approaching silently.


    Standing in front of the peach tree, Golden Snake Granny made a chopping motion with her still-intact left hand, which flowed with a daunting golden luster, like a sharp knife, she sliced through the bark and reached inside. All the golden threads recoiled the moment she reached in.


    Golden Snake Granny effortlessly retrieved the piece of Taoist Jade.


    It was a crystal-clear jade, nearly invisible with its fluid changes, veiled in a divine radiance, enigmatic with the Profound Mysteries of the Dao ¨Cplex and difficult toprehend.


    However, within the Taoist Jade, there was a flickering green hue, shimmering incessantly as if a heart continuously beating.


    Countless faint threads were connecting this green hue with the very essence of Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s body.


    "Hahahahahahaha!" Golden Snake Grannyughed in a strange manner upon seeing this, herughter growing more insane and eventually mixed with a touch of destion, "Foolish! Foolish! Are all of you from the Demon n this foolish?!"


    "Your life essence is already integrated with the Primordial Spirit Embryo. To give it away is to offer up your own life. Just for these two children of Yun Meng, these two deer demons who are unrted to you, you¡¯re willing to give up your own life?"


    Originally, Qingqiu Mountain Master was just an ordinary peach tree, but by chance, its roots reached the Primordial Spirit Embryo hidden deep beneath Qingqiu, thereby gradually awakening its Spiritual Nature. Under the mysteries of the Taoist Jade, it grew into a Great Demon of nts and trees.


    At the same time, its life essence continued flowing into the Taoist Jade, fusingpletely with it, Gradually changing the jade¡¯s nature. The Primordial Spirit Embryo at this time seemed more like an extraordinary Spirit Material.


    "Yun Meng?" the Qingqiu Mountain Master furrowed his brows upon hearing this, then quickly realized, "You know Yaoyao and Mimi¡¯s mother?!"


    Golden Snake Granny did not respond; her beautiful face was filled with madness and ferocity. "Good! Good! Good! Since you all value affection and loyalty so much, then I shall grant you that wish!"


    Golden Snake Granny¡¯s eyes were full of Han Yi. She tightly gripped the Taoist Jade in her hand; the gold light shed again, winding around those strands of hair, dissolving thempletely.


    As each strand of hair was being cut, the Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s Primordial Spirit started to flicker incessantly, gradually bing illusory.


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    "Qingqiu Grandpa..." Mimi watched this scene, murmuring continuously, as tears fell from her bright,rge eyes while she called out weakly under the gold serpent¡¯s restrictive bindings.


    The beautiful woman ignored her, eyes fixated on the Taoist Jade in her hands, a boundless fervor flickering within.


    Bang!


    Just then, on the other side, two blood-red beams flickered into existence, striking the unsuspecting golden serpent.


    @@novelbin@@


    Sizzle sizzle sizzle!


    As if containing endless might, the beams instantly prated the serpent¡¯s scale armor, leaving two bloody holes on its body.


    In extreme pain, the golden serpent instinctively let out a deep roar, and its body rxed. Mimi and Yaoyao momentarily escaped from the golden serpent¡¯s clutches.


    A fleeting shadow dashed by, sweeping up a fierce wind, whirling around Mimi and Yaoyao, who disappeared from their spot in an instant.


    When the shadow finally settled, it revealed a fierce demon beast with the body of a tiger and the head of a lion.


    It was the great oaf.


    It set Mimi and Yaoyao down gently, who it had been carrying in its mouth.


    "This move is called ¡¯Light of the Righteous Path¡¯!" King Rat of the West¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his pupils still had remnants of powerful Spiritual Power fluctuations, and he nced at the gold serpent that was emitting an angry roar, boasting arrogantly.


    The two red beams were the Divine Skills it had unleashed, abilities it had awakened after receiving the Demon Spirit inheritance.


    However, King Rat of the West only dared to show off for a moment. Seeing Mimi and Yaoyao free from the clutches of evil, he hurriedly pushed off with his four short legs and scampered away as the golden serpent had yet to react.


    The golden serpent was a Third Grade Demon Beast. By employing Divine Skills, it could indeed deal a heavy blow to the golden serpent if done unexpectedly.


    But to say it truly wanted to fight it head-on?


    That would be overestimating the rat!


    King Rat of the West quickly retreated back to Lu Qingshan¡¯s side, excitedly seeking approval, "Lu Qingshan, did I do well?"


    "Well done!" Lu Qingshan¡¯s face lit up with joy, sparing no praise.


    The Qingqiu Mountain Master was not unable to defeat Golden Snake Granny; it was only because Mimi and Yaoyao had fallen into someone else¡¯s hands that he waspelled to submit.


    Golden Snake Granny was a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, and he could not contest her sharp edge.


    Yet the Third Grade golden serpent was not unbeatable.


    King Rat of the West was skilled at hiding his presence, the great oaf was incredibly fast, and the Qingqiu Mountain Master used the Taoist Jade to separate Golden Snake Granny from the golden serpent.


    With the coordination of the three, they executed a wless cooperation, rescuing Mimi and Yaoyao from the clutches of the demon beast.

 Chapter 289 - 38 Remember This Sword

    ```


    Seeing Mimi and Yaoyao break free from the golden serpent¡¯s mp, Qingqiu Mountain Master reacted swiftly, and a thick teal light surged over his already somewhat illusory Primordial Spirit.


    He pressed his palm to the ground, with his five fingers at the center, the invisible Wood Attribute force expanded in all directions.


    All nts and vegetation grew wildly and sprouted branches.


    Vines entwined around the trees shot up like snakes, intertwining with each other and whipping about in the air.


    Trees unfurled ws, and giant trees burst from the soil!


    These nts and trees, as if brought to life, turned into a green cage that trapped the Golden Snake Granny inside and rapidly closed in on her in a pincer movement.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    An uncountable number of wooden spikes burst out, aiming straight for the Golden Snake Granny in an instant!


    ng ng ng!


    There was Protective Golden Light on the body of Golden Snake Granny.


    But these seemingly ordinary wooden spikes rained down on thatyer of golden light and easily pierced through it.


    Pu pu pu!


    The beautiful woman¡¯s body halted in the air, and then she fell helplessly from the sky.


    From her head to her lower legs, her entire body was now riddled with dense, bloody holes, with blood spurting out, turning her into a bloodied person, a ghastly sight.


    However, facing such injuries, Golden Snake Granny¡¯s face revealed a morbid smile, "Toote, if you had acted before I got the Primordial Spirit Embryo, indeed, I would have been no match for you.


    But now, the Primordial Spirit Embryo that¡¯s connected to your life is in my hands, what are you in front of me?"


    "Deep affection and loyalty? A demon talking to me about these? You¡¯re too full of yourselves, this is the price!" With blood all over, Golden Snake Granny¡¯s lips turned white, but her tone became even more sinister.


    She held up the Taoist Jade in her hand, her gaze full of malice, as Spiritual Power surged out wildly, dissolving thest of her hair as well!


    Qingqiu Mountain Master was manipting the vine snakes, attempting tond the final blow on Golden Snake Granny. Although his hand was raised mid-air, it eerily froze in ce.


    His Primordial Spirit kept flickering, and the divine radiance and spiritual nature of his peach tree body were also rapidly fading.


    "You all deserve to die, I will ughter all of you, let you meet again in the Netherworld; none of you will escape!" Seeing Qingqiu Mountain Master struggling powerlessly, about to lose hisst bit of spiritual sense, Golden Snake Granny released the most venomous words.


    At the critical moment, his Primordial Spirit suddenly emanated a burst of teal light, and a terrifyingly profound mystery shed by.


    It was the Immortal True Intent.


    As Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s Primordial Spirit was about to scatter, he used the power of the Immortal True Intent to momentarily retain a breath of consciousness.


    His Primordial Spirit turned into a sphere of teal light, flying rapidly towards Lu Qingshan.


    This sphere of light crashed directly onto Lu Qingshan¡¯s body and then, like a fish returning to the sea, it smoothly merged into him.


    The Immortal True Intent allowed the transfer and merging of his own power into another, and only Lu Qingshan, who also possessed the Immortal True Intent, was capable of utilizing the power left by Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    "I leave it to you..." The voice of Qingqiu Mountain Master flickered and vanished in Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    The very next moment, thest of Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s spiritual consciousness also dissipated.


    Simultaneously, an incredibly potent and thick energy erupted within Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    Inside Lu Qingshan¡¯s body, vast surges of Spiritual Power erupted, violentlyshing out all around like a wild tornado, with astonishing might.


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan¡¯s aura was boundlessly majestic.


    After merging with Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s power, Lu Qingshan¡¯sbat power grew considerably, reaching the level of a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    However, this power began to dissipate rapidly as soon as it erupted within Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    Force without a source cannotst.


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    It seemed he only had the chance for one sword strike.


    The remnants of Qingqiu Mountain Master¡¯s emotions fused with the anger and desire for ughter in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword appeared in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hands, its ze more fierce than ever before.


    ```


    @@novelbin@@


    "Yitian, remember this sword," Lu Qingshan whispered to the Dragon Sparrow Sword in his hand.


    "Spending 10w Experience Points, learning the Secret Sword: Heaven Suppressing... Learning progress 1.3%.....50%...99%....., you have mastered the Secret Sword: Heaven Suppressing!"


    With the dual enhancement of Innate Swordseed and Sword Technique Affinity (Intermediate Level), he only needed fifty-five percent of the Experience Points to learn Sword Techniques.


    This allowed him to umte enough Experience Points to learn the Heaven Suppressing Secret Sword after the battle at the Netherworld of Qing State and the killing of the Wu Shao Wizard.


    In the midst of it all, a surge of killing intent arose between heaven and earth.


    The Golden Snake Granny, still trapped in the verdant cage, suddenly felt a chill reflecting in her Divine Soul, causing it to flicker as if it might extinguish, and an unnamed terror filled her emotions.


    Lu Qingshan dashed forward swiftly, arriving in an instant, appearing in front of the Golden Snake Granny.


    A streak of Sword Light rose to the sky, dense with overwhelming ughter Intent, coiling around the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    This ughter Intent, as if gazing directly into the soul of the Golden Snake Granny, caused her body to stiffen, and her Spiritual Power operated with extreme difficulty.


    This was the will to ughter.


    It contained not only ughter Sword Intent but also the enhancement of Immortal True Intent (Nascent Form)!


    A single de of grass can divide a river and cleave the heavens.


    A thread of killing intent could likewise evolve into endless destruction.


    This was Lu Qingshan¡¯s understanding and application of the Immortal True Intent.


    Perhaps in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hands, it had no power of its own, but it could amplify the power of other intents by several to dozens of times!


    The power from the Qingqiu Mountain Master poured out like a deluge, flooding into the Dragon Sparrow Sword in his hand.


    Lu Qingshan eximed in his heart.


    Secret Sword: Heaven Suppressing!


    Skill Effect: sh with Three Swords containing five times the Strength.


    Additional Note 1: The Heaven Suppressing Sword holds infinite power and ces an extreme burden on oneself, use with caution.


    Additional Note 2: This Secret Sword cannot be stacked with other Sword Techniques.


    A fierce tumult transmitted from the sword to Lu Qingshan¡¯s body, and at this moment, all his orifices were seeping with scarlet blood.


    Spiritual Power coursed madly through the meridians in his body like knives, causing a searing pain in all his internal organs.


    This sword, amplified by the Strength of the Nascent Soul level, brought an unimaginable burden to Lu Qingshan¡¯s Physical Body.


    But its power was equally terrifying.


    Bits of Sword Qi condensed into clusters on the Dragon Sparrow Sword, expanding in the blink of an eye like mighty flooding waters, and as Lu Qingshan traced his sword path, they surged forward unrestrainedly.


    This sword, disregarding realms and levels, shattered the Protective Golden Light, crushed physical defenses, and in the disbelieving and desperate gaze of the Golden Snake Granny, entered her body, exploding violently deep within, scattering into a thousand strands of Sword Qi.


    The Golden Snake Granny, with a Wizard¡¯s formidable body and unmatched regenerative abilities, was mercilessly torn and ravaged by the thousand strands of ughter Sword Qi, rendering her healing capabilities utterly useless.


    In her flesh, already riddled with bloody holes, a myriad of crimson lights shed across the thousand gaping wounds.


    The Golden Snake Granny let out a mournful scream.


    Immediately after, her entire body was torn into innumerable fragments, with a massive surge of mes erupting from within.


    A small Nascent Soul, emitting golden light and resembling a Buddha, burst forth from the Golden Snake Granny¡¯s body, wailing as it tried to escape.


    But it was toote!


    The rampant Sword Qi had already condensed to the extreme, and amidst a piercing shriek from the Golden Snake Granny, it mercilessly sliced her Nascent Soul into two.


    mes spread from the severed halves of the Nascent Soul, from waist to head, and waist to legs, engulfing it all in an instant, reducing it to nothingness.


    The Great Elder of the Five Alliances, Golden Snake Granny, had fallen at Qingqiu!


    Amidst the dust and smoke, Qin Yitian¡¯s somewhat irritated and dejected voice rang out, "Young Master, I don¡¯t think I can learn this sword¡­"

 Chapter 290 - 39 Black and White (Part 1)

    Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand holding the sword was trembling continuously, drenched in cold sweat.


    His entire meridians were transmitting a burning sensation and the pain was unbearable; the spiritual power within his dantian was nearly exhausted.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword was still resonating with a humming sound.


    Heaven Suppressing had three swords, but he had only unleashed one sh, which had consumed ny-nine percent of his spiritual power, and his physical body was on the brink of copse.


    This was the burden one had to bear when executing Heaven Suppressing.


    He was gasping slightly.


    The dust settled, the mes dissipated, and everything returned to calm.


    Rustle rustle.


    In the midst of the calm, an unusual noise came from above, prompting Lu Qingshan to raise his head.


    On the branches of the peach tree that seemed to blot out the sky, the buds that had been hidden and unopened suddenly began to grow vigorously.


    Suddenly, as if a night of spring breeze had passed.


    The buds grew rapidly and blossomed.


    In just an instant, the tree was full of vibrant pink peach blossoms, as if one were in a sea of flowers, surrounded by their fragrance.


    Only the person within that peach tree could never return.


    Mimi stumbled to the base of the peach tree, tears continuously falling from its eyes.


    It curled up into a ball, its body trembling in the cold, muttering in a dazed state, "I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong... pleasee back, I¡¯ll never run off again...."


    Mimi cried like a child, loudly sobbing.


    The price it had to pay for its prank of sneaking out this time was too heavy for it to bear.


    The guilt and self-reproach in its heart were unbearable, and it felt a pain worse than death. Your next chapter awaits on NovelBin.C?m


    Yaoyao¡¯s eyes were also red, with tears swirling in them, but it was enduring the pain, stubbornly holding back its tears.


    Yaoyao walked beside Mimi and gently touched Mimi¡¯s antlers with its own,forting Mimi, as if it could slightly alleviate the pain in Mimi¡¯s heart.


    King West Mouse and Big Silly, watching this scene, also felt a stifling sadness in their hearts, falling into a silent gloom.


    Gulu gulu¡ª


    A round storage ring, gleaming with metallic luster, rolled all the way to King West Mouse¡¯s feet.


    It was the Golden Snake Granny¡¯s storage ring, which had flown out as her physical body was torn apart.


    King West Mouse conscientiously picked it up and instinctively checked the items inside.


    Beyond the dazzling array of spirit materials and poisons, there were numerous jade slips.


    King West Mouse casually flipped through them, when suddenly, as if discovering something, its body trembled.


    Cradling an ancient jade slip in its paws, its expression was indescribable, and its voice trembled, "Lu Qingshan, look at this..."


    Seeing King West Mouse¡¯s expression, Lu Qingshan was taken aback and took the jade slip, sending his divine sense into it.


    ...


    ...


    Yinkui, the thirtieth year, early spring, on the seventh day after the new moon, this is my fifth year as a wizard, and today I have finally broken through to the secondyer of Qi Refinement.


    The vige chief says my Spirit Root is very ordinary, and my cultivation aptitude is average.


    In this lifetime, to be able to cultivate to the tenthyer of Qi Refinement like him is already quite remarkable.


    I feel somewhat discouraged. Does it mean that no matter how hard I try, if my Spirit Root aptitude is poor, it would be of no use?


    Yinkui, the thirtieth year, early spring, on the fifteenth day, I thought about this problem for a long time, and finally, I understood.


    An ordinary Spirit Root means that hard work might not change anything, but without effort, nothing will definitely change.


    From today on, I must diligently practice cultivation and be the most powerful wizard in the history of the vige.


    ...Perhaps even the most powerful wizard in the history of the Spirit Snake tribe!


    Yinkui, the thirtieth year, early spring, on the twelfth day, I approached the vige chief and asked him if there was any Cultivation Technique that doesn¡¯t rely on the Spirit Root and could allow a cultivator to rapidly improve their cultivation.


    The vige chief said there was none, but his behavior was off, evasive and cagey.


    I know for certain that there must be such a Cultivation Technique!


    I must get this technique from the vige chief.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the third day, I asked the vige elder for that Cultivation Technique, to no avail.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the fourth day, I requested the Cultivation Technique, to no avail.


    ...


    @@novelbin@@


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the ninth day, I requested the Cultivation Technique, to no avail.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the tenth day, I requested the Cultivation Technique, to no avail.


    ...


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in mid-spring, on the second day, perhaps this Cultivation Technique truly does not exist? The vige elder has been so good to me, not at all stingy with resources. If there really were such a technique, why wouldn¡¯t he give it to me?


    Forget it, I¡¯ll go find the vige elder onest time. If it still yields no results, I¡¯ll look for another way.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in mid-spring, on the third day, that Cultivation Technique indeed existed.


    Yesterday, the vige elder finally gave me the technique.


    He also said that this Cultivation Technique, known as the "Disastrous Poison Scripture," is spread across all the major viges of the five regions, but is rarely practiced by anyone.


    Because, the "Disastrous Poison Scripture" doesn¡¯t require arduous practice; one only needs to ingest deadly poison, which then gets refined into Spiritual Power, quickly enhancing one¡¯s strength. Consequently, the natural quality of one¡¯s Spirit Root is no longer important.


    However, practicing this Cultivation Technique causes toxins to umte within the body, which will then erupt instantaneously upon reaching a certain threshold.


    ording to the vige elder, most Cultivators who practice this Scripture seldom live past ten years. He advised me not to act rashly and to carefully weigh the pros and cons.


    I am hesitant, I need to think this through.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in mid-spring, on the sixth day, today my father passed away.


    My father was only thirty-seven years old, but due to the umtion of toxins from the Poisonous Spirit Flower, his physical body deteriorated, and his lifespan prematurely diminished.


    Each viger in my hometown is like my father; few live past the age of forty. The vige elder said that beyond the Three Thousand Great Mountains, there is an evenrger world.


    There, the Human Race does not need to consume water soaked with Poisonous Spirit Flower to survive, thus people from the outside world generally live beyond sixty years of age.


    ...


    I have made up my mind, instead of suffering for another twenty or thirty years, only to die in agony and poison, I¡¯d rather risk it all in ten years!


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in mid-spring, on the eighth day, I began studying the arts of Poison and Body Cultivation.


    Only with a sufficiently strong Physical Body can I withstand more toxins, and only by delving deep into the art of poison can I refine deadly poisons to consume, and... find a way to expel the umted toxins from practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture."


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, inte spring, on the fifth day of the full moon, I officially began practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture," taking the first poison: peacock gall.


    Peacock gall, also known as Mbris, rots flesh upon contact, indicating its toxicity.


    Extremely painful, excruciatingly agonizing¡ªafter consuming the peacock gall, I felt as if I were being burned and shed from the inside, and countless red blisters formed all over my body. I started to regret my decision.


    But after refining these deadly toxins, I remarkably broke through to the third level of Qi Refinement.


    It was all worth it!


    ....


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, inte autumn, on the seventh day of the full moon, ¡­I broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement¡­


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, inte autumn, on the third day, ¡­I broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement¡­


    .......


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in the winter month, on the third day, after practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture," in just eight months, I continuously overcame five barriers and advanced to the sixth level of Qi Refinement.


    The vige elder warned me that even those few Cultivators who had tried practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture" in the past would space out the ingestion of poison by at least two to three months. Few were like me, consuming deadly poison incessantly as if on a death wish.


    At this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be ten years, not even three years before I couldn¡¯t hold on any longer.


    In fact, I had already noticed that now, every midnight, my abdomen would be wracked with pains as if cut by knives. I must quickly find a way to rid my body of the umted toxins.


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the day of the full moon, through refining Spirit Pills, I could indeed expel some of the toxins, but I also had to stop practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture," causing my Cultivation progress to long be stuck at a bottleneck.


    Tomorrow I¡¯ll leave the vige and look for suitable Spiritual Medicines in the mountains to refine a more potent Spirit Pill.


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the seventh day of the full moon, I still can¡¯t believe what happened today.


    Today I went into the mountains searching for Spiritual Medicine to refine into Alchemy, but the toxins umted inside my body unexpectedly erupted violently.


    The price of practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture" seems to have arrived; the intense pain from my Dantian caused me to faint on the spot. Before losing thest shred of consciousness, I even felt I might not wake up again.


    But I did wake up eventually. When I awoke, a silver-white Demon Deer stood beside me.


    Her golden antlers shone brightly; a rich vitality surged from her antlers toward me. The long-standing, indispeble toxins in my body dissolved under this vitality, even the poison from the Poisonous Spirit Flower vanished!


    The Demon Deer gave me onest look before swiftly turning and disappearing into the woods, never to be found again.

 Chapter 291 - 40 Black and White (Part 2)

    In the thirty-first year of YinKui, early spring, the eighth day of the lunar month, because all the toxins had been cleared from my body, I resumed cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture.


    Although I did not know the origin of that deer demon or why it possessed such miraculous spells,


    it was certain that it had saved my life. If I ever have the chance to meet it again, I must thank it properly.


    ....


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, early spring, the ninth day of the lunar month, ... breakthrough to the seventhyer of Qi Refinement ...


    @@novelbin@@


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-spring, the tenth day of the lunar month, ... breakthrough to the eighthyer of Qi Refinement ...


    ....


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui,te summer, the third day of the lunar month, one year and three months after I began practicing the Disastrous Poison Scripture, I broke through to the tenthyer of Qi Refinement.


    I was only one step away from bing the strongest wizard the vige had ever seen.


    The vige chief said that although the Disastrous Poison Scripture is a fast method for sess, he had never heard of anyone achieving a breakthrough from the first to the tenthyer of Qi Refining so quickly without dying from a toxin outbreak.


    If it weren¡¯t for that deer demon, I would have died long ago.


    To break through the Foundation Establishment Stage, ordinary poisons no longer had any effect on me, so I decided to take the Corpse-Heart Piercing Balm prepared by the vige chief.


    The Corpse-Heart Piercing Balm, even a slight contact with the skin of a Qi Refining Cultivator would cause the flesh to rot to the bone in twelve hours and the poisoned blood would attack the heart in twenty-four hours, it was the most potent poison concocted by the vige chief.


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui,te summer, the fifth day of the lunar month, those two days of hell-like experience, I do not wish to recall ever again.


    However, no matter what, I seeded, I broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    But after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, my cultivation began to hit a bottleneck again.


    Because of the toxins umting in my body, I reached a critical point, making me feel as if I was being sliced in hell every midnight, suffering unbearably. Read new chapters at NovelBin.C?m


    I had to stop cultivating and figure out how to eliminate the toxins in my body.


    ...


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the fifth day of the lunar month.


    This won¡¯t do, this won¡¯t do!


    As my cultivation improved, the toxicity of the poisons I took increased, and ordingly, eliminating these toxins required higher quality Spirit Pills.


    And these high-quality Spirit Pills are clearly not something I can concoct in a short amount of time.


    Alchemy is indeed a profound craft.


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the sixth day of the lunar month.


    I still have not solved this problem, could it be that this is the end for me at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment? I am not content!


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the seventh day of the lunar month.


    That deer demon!


    That deer demon is my only hope now; if it could help me eliminate the toxins in my body once, it surely can do it a second time!


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the tenth day of the lunar month.


    I have been searching near the ce where the deer demon originally appeared for three days already.


    Nothing.


    Is it really just a fool¡¯s hope...


    This won¡¯t do, I cannot give up, I must find it!


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the fifth day of the lunar month.


    Just when I was about to give up, the deer demon appeared on its own.


    It blinked its bright,rge eyes, curiously looking at me, full of spiritual nature.


    I didn¡¯t mind whether it could understand my words, I organized mynguage and told it my problem.


    It seemed to be pondering something; after a long time, its golden antlers emitted a rich vitality simr to thest time, merging into my body and driving out all the umted toxins.


    It indeed understood my words, and this was the second time it helped me.


    I decided to give it a name.


    The ce where it appeared was called Yunmeng Mountain; I decided to henceforth call it Yunmeng.


    Yunmeng seemed to like the name very much, giggling non-stop at me, cheerful and spirited.


    ...


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui,te spring, the eighth day of the lunar month.


    With Yunmeng¡¯s help, I no longer had to worry about the side effects of cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture.


    But now, a new problem arose; due to consuming numerous potent poisons, my body had developed a strong resistance to toxins.


    Ordinary poisons could no longer enhance my cultivation.


    And those highly toxic poisons were often very difficult to concoct and extremely valuable.


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, early summer, the eighth day of the lunar month.


    Our Spirit Snake Sect¡¯s Spirit Snake Convention is about to begin!


    The Spirit Snake Convention is a grand assembly used by the Spirit Snake Sect to select cultivators of exceptional talent; only cultivators under thirty are eligible to participate, and I definitely qualify.


    Wizard of outstanding performance in the Spirit Snake Convention might even catch the attention of the Teal Snake Wizard and be taken as an apprentice.


    The Teal Snake Wizard is the most profound cultivator in our Spirit Snake Sect and the only Nascent Soul Cultivator; being taken as an apprentice by him would indeed mean a leap to the skies.


    This is my chance.


    If I perform well in the Spirit Snake Convention, I won¡¯t have to worry about toxins anymore.


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, early summer, the ninth day of the lunar month.


    I bid farewell to Yunmeng and headed to Spirit Snake City to participate in the Spirit Snake Convention.


    In thirty-second year of Yinkui, mid-summer, the first day of the lunar month, the Spirit Snake Convention began, my first opponent was a Qi Refining tenthyer male cultivator, and I easily defeated him.


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, mid-summer, the third day of the lunar month, the second battle..... achieved victory.....


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, mid-summer, the fifth day of the lunar month, the third battle..... achieved victory....


    ....


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, mid-summer, the fifth day of the lunar month, due to practicing the Disastrous Poison Scripture and having consumed numerous potent poisons, I had be nearly invincible to a hundred poisons.


    And in the Spirit Snake Convention, the techniques of my opponents often revolved around Poison Arts.


    Thus, in the battles, I was almost invincible, and even as a cultivator in the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, I defeated three opponents in the middle stage, directly advancing to the final.

 Chapter 39 Black and White (Part 1)

    Lu Qingshan''s hand holding the sword was trembling continuously, drenched in cold sweat.


    His entire meridians were transmitting a burning sensation and the pain was unbearable; the spiritual power within his dantian was nearly exhausted.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword was still resonating with a humming sound.


    Heaven Suppressing had three swords, but he had only unleashed one sh, which had consumed ny-nine percent of his spiritual power, and his physical body was on the brink of copse.


    This was the burden one had to bear when executing Heaven Suppressing.


    He was gasping slightly.


    The dust settled, the mes dissipated, and everything returned to calm.


    Rustle rustle.


    In the midst of the calm, an unusual noise came from above, prompting Lu Qingshan to raise his head.


    On the branches of the peach tree that seemed to blot out the sky, the buds that had been hidden and unopened suddenly began to grow vigorously.


    Suddenly, as if a night of spring breeze had passed.


    The buds grew rapidly and blossomed.


    In just an instant, the tree was full of vibrant pink peach blossoms, as if one were in a sea of flowers, surrounded by their fragrance.


    Only the person within that peach tree could never return.


    Mimi stumbled to the base of the peach tree, tears continuously falling from its eyes.


    It curled up into a ball, its body trembling in the cold, muttering in a dazed state, "I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong... pleasee back, I''ll never run off again...."


    Mimi cried like a child, loudly sobbing.


    The price it had to pay for its prank of sneaking out this time was too heavy for it to bear.


    The guilt and self-reproach in its heart were unbearable, and it felt a pain worse than death. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    Yaoyao''s eyes were also red, with tears swirling in them, but it was enduring the pain, stubbornly holding back its tears.


    Yaoyao walked beside Mimi and gently touched Mimi''s antlers with its own,forting Mimi, as if it could slightly alleviate the pain in Mimi''s heart.


    King West Mouse and Big Silly, watching this scene, also felt a stifling sadness in their hearts, falling into a silent gloom.


    Gulu gulu¡ª


    A round storage ring, gleaming with metallic luster, rolled all the way to King West Mouse''s feet.


    It was the Golden Snake Granny''s storage ring, which had flown out as her physical body was torn apart.


    King West Mouse conscientiously picked it up and instinctively checked the items inside.


    Beyond the dazzling array of spirit materials and poisons, there were numerous jade slips.


    King West Mouse casually flipped through them, when suddenly, as if discovering something, its body trembled.


    Cradling an ancient jade slip in its paws, its expression was indescribable, and its voice trembled, "Lu Qingshan, look at this..."


    Seeing King West Mouse''s expression, Lu Qingshan was taken aback and took the jade slip, sending his divine sense into it.


    ...


    ...


    Yinkui, the thirtieth year, early spring, on the seventh day after the new moon, this is my fifth year as a wizard, and today I have finally broken through to the secondyer of Qi Refinement.


    The vige chief says my Spirit Root is very ordinary, and my cultivation aptitude is average.


    In this lifetime, to be able to cultivate to the tenthyer of Qi Refinement like him is already quite remarkable.@@novelbin@@


    I feel somewhat discouraged. Does it mean that no matter how hard I try, if my Spirit Root aptitude is poor, it would be of no use?


    Yinkui, the thirtieth year, early spring, on the fifteenth day, I thought about this problem for a long time, and finally, I understood.


    An ordinary Spirit Root means that hard work might not change anything, but without effort, nothing will definitely change.


    From today on, I must diligently practice cultivation and be the most powerful wizard in the history of the vige.


    ...Perhaps even the most powerful wizard in the history of the Spirit Snake tribe!


    Yinkui, the thirtieth year, early spring, on the twelfth day, I approached the vige chief and asked him if there was any Cultivation Technique that doesn''t rely on the Spirit Root and could allow a cultivator to rapidly improve their cultivation.


    The vige chief said there was none, but his behavior was off, evasive and cagey.


    I know for certain that there must be such a Cultivation Technique!


    I must get this technique from the vige chief.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the third day, I asked the vige elder for that Cultivation Technique, to no avail.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the fourth day, I requested the Cultivation Technique, to no avail.


    ...


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the ninth day, I requested the Cultivation Technique, to no avail.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the tenth day, I requested the Cultivation Technique, to no avail.


    ...


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in mid-spring, on the second day, perhaps this Cultivation Technique truly does not exist? The vige elder has been so good to me, not at all stingy with resources. If there really were such a technique, why wouldn''t he give it to me?


    Forget it, I''ll go find the vige elder onest time. If it still yields no results, I''ll look for another way.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in mid-spring, on the third day, that Cultivation Technique indeed existed.


    Yesterday, the vige elder finally gave me the technique.


    He also said that this Cultivation Technique, known as the "Disastrous Poison Scripture," is spread across all the major viges of the five regions, but is rarely practiced by anyone.


    Because, the "Disastrous Poison Scripture" doesn''t require arduous practice; one only needs to ingest deadly poison, which then gets refined into Spiritual Power, quickly enhancing one''s strength. Consequently, the natural quality of one''s Spirit Root is no longer important.


    However, practicing this Cultivation Technique causes toxins to umte within the body, which will then erupt instantaneously upon reaching a certain threshold.


    ording to the vige elder, most Cultivators who practice this Scripture seldom live past ten years. He advised me not to act rashly and to carefully weigh the pros and cons.


    I am hesitant, I need to think this through.


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in mid-spring, on the sixth day, today my father passed away.


    My father was only thirty-seven years old, but due to the umtion of toxins from the Poisonous Spirit Flower, his physical body deteriorated, and his lifespan prematurely diminished.


    Each viger in my hometown is like my father; few live past the age of forty. The vige elder said that beyond the Three Thousand Great Mountains, there is an evenrger world.


    There, the Human Race does not need to consume water soaked with Poisonous Spirit Flower to survive, thus people from the outside world generally live beyond sixty years of age.


    ...


    I have made up my mind, instead of suffering for another twenty or thirty years, only to die in agony and poison, I''d rather risk it all in ten years!


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in mid-spring, on the eighth day, I began studying the arts of Poison and Body Cultivation.


    Only with a sufficiently strong Physical Body can I withstand more toxins, and only by delving deep into the art of poison can I refine deadly poisons to consume, and... find a way to expel the umted toxins from practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture."


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, inte spring, on the fifth day of the full moon, I officially began practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture," taking the first poison: peacock gall.


    Peacock gall, also known as Mbris, rots flesh upon contact, indicating its toxicity.


    Extremely painful, excruciatingly agonizing¡ªafter consuming the peacock gall, I felt as if I were being burned and shed from the inside, and countless red blisters formed all over my body. I started to regret my decision.


    But after refining these deadly toxins, I remarkably broke through to the third level of Qi Refinement.


    It was all worth it!


    ....


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, inte autumn, on the seventh day of the full moon, ¡­I broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement¡­


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, inte autumn, on the third day, ¡­I broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement¡­


    .......


    In the thirtieth year of Yinkui, in the winter month, on the third day, after practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture," in just eight months, I continuously overcame five barriers and advanced to the sixth level of Qi Refinement.


    The vige elder warned me that even those few Cultivators who had tried practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture" in the past would space out the ingestion of poison by at least two to three months. Few were like me, consuming deadly poison incessantly as if on a death wish.


    At this rate, it wouldn''t be ten years, not even three years before I couldn''t hold on any longer.


    In fact, I had already noticed that now, every midnight, my abdomen would be wracked with pains as if cut by knives. I must quickly find a way to rid my body of the umted toxins.


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the day of the full moon, through refining Spirit Pills, I could indeed expel some of the toxins, but I also had to stop practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture," causing my Cultivation progress to long be stuck at a bottleneck.


    Tomorrow I''ll leave the vige and look for suitable Spiritual Medicines in the mountains to refine a more potent Spirit Pill.


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the seventh day of the full moon, I still can''t believe what happened today.


    Today I went into the mountains searching for Spiritual Medicine to refine into Alchemy, but the toxins umted inside my body unexpectedly erupted violently.


    The price of practicing the "Disastrous Poison Scripture" seems to have arrived; the intense pain from my Dantian caused me to faint on the spot. Before losing thest shred of consciousness, I even felt I might not wake up again.


    But I did wake up eventually. When I awoke, a silver-white Demon Deer stood beside me.


    Her golden antlers shone brightly; a rich vitality surged from her antlers toward me. The long-standing, indispeble toxins in my body dissolved under this vitality, even the poison from the Poisonous Spirit Flower vanished!


    The Demon Deer gave me onest look before swiftly turning and disappearing into the woods, never to be found again.

 Chapter 40 Black and White (Part 2)

    In the thirty-first year of YinKui, early spring, the eighth day of the lunar month, because all the toxins had been cleared from my body, I resumed cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture.


    Although I did not know the origin of that deer demon or why it possessed such miraculous spells,


    it was certain that it had saved my life. If I ever have the chance to meet it again, I must thank it properly.


    ....


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, early spring, the ninth day of the lunar month, ... breakthrough to the seventhyer of Qi Refinement ...


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-spring, the tenth day of the lunar month, ... breakthrough to the eighthyer of Qi Refinement ...


    ....


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui,te summer, the third day of the lunar month, one year and three months after I began practicing the Disastrous Poison Scripture, I broke through to the tenthyer of Qi Refinement.


    I was only one step away from bing the strongest wizard the vige had ever seen.


    The vige chief said that although the Disastrous Poison Scripture is a fast method for sess, he had never heard of anyone achieving a breakthrough from the first to the tenthyer of Qi Refining so quickly without dying from a toxin outbreak.


    If it weren''t for that deer demon, I would have died long ago.


    To break through the Foundation Establishment Stage, ordinary poisons no longer had any effect on me, so I decided to take the Corpse-Heart Piercing Balm prepared by the vige chief.


    The Corpse-Heart Piercing Balm, even a slight contact with the skin of a Qi Refining Cultivator would cause the flesh to rot to the bone in twelve hours and the poisoned blood would attack the heart in twenty-four hours, it was the most potent poison concocted by the vige chief.


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui,te summer, the fifth day of the lunar month, those two days of hell-like experience, I do not wish to recall ever again.


    However, no matter what, I seeded, I broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    But after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, my cultivation began to hit a bottleneck again.


    Because of the toxins umting in my body, I reached a critical point, making me feel as if I was being sliced in hell every midnight, suffering unbearably. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    I had to stop cultivating and figure out how to eliminate the toxins in my body.


    ...


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the fifth day of the lunar month.


    This won''t do, this won''t do!


    As my cultivation improved, the toxicity of the poisons I took increased, and ordingly, eliminating these toxins required higher quality Spirit Pills.


    And these high-quality Spirit Pills are clearly not something I can concoct in a short amount of time.


    Alchemy is indeed a profound craft.


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the sixth day of the lunar month.


    I still have not solved this problem, could it be that this is the end for me at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment? I am not content!


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the seventh day of the lunar month.


    That deer demon!


    That deer demon is my only hope now; if it could help me eliminate the toxins in my body once, it surely can do it a second time!


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the tenth day of the lunar month.


    I have been searching near the ce where the deer demon originally appeared for three days already.


    Nothing.


    Is it really just a fool''s hope...


    This won''t do, I cannot give up, I must find it!


    In the thirty-first year of Yinkui, mid-autumn, the fifth day of the lunar month.


    Just when I was about to give up, the deer demon appeared on its own.


    It blinked its bright,rge eyes, curiously looking at me, full of spiritual nature.


    I didn''t mind whether it could understand my words, I organized mynguage and told it my problem.


    It seemed to be pondering something; after a long time, its golden antlers emitted a rich vitality simr to thest time, merging into my body and driving out all the umted toxins.


    It indeed understood my words, and this was the second time it helped me.


    I decided to give it a name.


    The ce where it appeared was called Yunmeng Mountain; I decided to henceforth call it Yunmeng.


    Yunmeng seemed to like the name very much, giggling non-stop at me, cheerful and spirited.


    ...


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui,te spring, the eighth day of the lunar month.


    With Yunmeng''s help, I no longer had to worry about the side effects of cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture.


    But now, a new problem arose; due to consuming numerous potent poisons, my body had developed a strong resistance to toxins.


    Ordinary poisons could no longer enhance my cultivation.


    And those highly toxic poisons were often very difficult to concoct and extremely valuable.@@novelbin@@


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, early summer, the eighth day of the lunar month.


    Our Spirit Snake Sect''s Spirit Snake Convention is about to begin!


    The Spirit Snake Convention is a grand assembly used by the Spirit Snake Sect to select cultivators of exceptional talent; only cultivators under thirty are eligible to participate, and I definitely qualify.


    Wizard of outstanding performance in the Spirit Snake Convention might even catch the attention of the Teal Snake Wizard and be taken as an apprentice.


    The Teal Snake Wizard is the most profound cultivator in our Spirit Snake Sect and the only Nascent Soul Cultivator; being taken as an apprentice by him would indeed mean a leap to the skies.


    This is my chance.


    If I perform well in the Spirit Snake Convention, I won''t have to worry about toxins anymore.


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, early summer, the ninth day of the lunar month.


    I bid farewell to Yunmeng and headed to Spirit Snake City to participate in the Spirit Snake Convention.


    In thirty-second year of Yinkui, mid-summer, the first day of the lunar month, the Spirit Snake Convention began, my first opponent was a Qi Refining tenthyer male cultivator, and I easily defeated him.


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, mid-summer, the third day of the lunar month, the second battle..... achieved victory.....


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, mid-summer, the fifth day of the lunar month, the third battle..... achieved victory....


    ....


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, mid-summer, the fifth day of the lunar month, due to practicing the Disastrous Poison Scripture and having consumed numerous potent poisons, I had be nearly invincible to a hundred poisons.


    And in the Spirit Snake Convention, the techniques of my opponents often revolved around Poison Arts.


    Thus, in the battles, I was almost invincible, and even as a cultivator in the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, I defeated three opponents in the middle stage, directly advancing to the final.

 Chapter 292 - 40 Black and White (Part 2)

    More and more people were starting to pay attention to me, I just didn¡¯t know if the Serpentine Wizard had noticed me.


    Five dayster, the final battle would take ce, and it was said that the Serpentine Wizard would be there to watch. I wonder what kind of person the Serpentine Wizard is?


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui, in midsummer, on the tenth day, everything that happened today still feels like a dream when I think back on it.


    Just before the final battle was about to begin, the Serpentine Wizard finally arrived.


    I had thought that the Serpentine Wizard would be like the vige chief, an old man with white hair or a middle-aged person, but to my surprise, the Serpentine Wizard was so young and... handsome.


    Though he still looked very majestic and frightening.


    In the subsequent final battle, my opponent was the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Wizard of Water.


    Although I didn¡¯t fear his Poison Art, I was nheless two realms below him in terms of Cultivation. After a hard fight, I was ultimately defeated.


    But unexpectedly, instead of the Wizard of Water, the Serpentine Wizard took me on as an apprentice.


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui,te summer, on the first day of the new moon.


    The Serpentine Wizard, oh no, I should say Master, today I performed the disciple induction ceremony with my Master, who gave me many gifts, which made me especially happy.


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui,te summer, on the second day of the new moon.


    I know now why Master chose to take me as his disciple because, the Cultivation Technique he practices is also the Disastrous Poison Scripture!


    After he discovered that I was also cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture, he decided on a whim to take me as his apprentice.


    Master prepared many poisons suitable for cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture for me and arranged the order in which I should take them, ording to his experience.


    ....


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui,te autumn, on the first day of the new moon, after more than a year of being stuck in the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, I finally broke through to the mid-stage. Master was also very pleased and rewarded me with a Spiritual Artifact.


    In the thirty-second year of Yinkui,te autumn, on the third day of the new moon, today I made a special trip back to Yunmeng Mountain to visit Yun Meng.


    After a long time apart, Yun Meng was very happy to see me.


    So was I.


    ...


    In the thirty-third year of Yinkui, early winter, on the first day of the new moon,.... breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Late Stage.....


    In the thirty-fifth year of Yinkui,te winter, on the fourth day,... breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Perfection...


    In the thirty-sixth year of Yinkui, early spring, on the second day of the full moon, as Master¡¯s most satisfied disciple, Master took me to visit the Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivator of the Protectorate Faction, the Scaled Toes Wizard.


    @@novelbin@@


    On the way, we encountered a Fourth Grade Demon Beast, but Master dealt with it easily.


    Master, he is truly powerful.


    In the thirty-sixth year of Yinkui, early spring, on the fourth day of the full moon, I met the Scaled Toes Wizard, who was far inferior to Master.


    Not only was his Cultivation inferior to Master¡¯s, but his aura and appearance were also worlds apart from Master¡¯s.


    In the thirty-eighth year of Yinkui,te spring, on the second day, I prepared to attempt the breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage.


    This time I would use the Golden Silkworm Gu Poison in my attempt to reach the Golden Core Stage.


    The Golden Silkworm Gu Poison is the utmost of Foundation Establishment poisons, those poisoned feel as if millions of silkworms are gnawing over their body, the intense pain is indescribable.


    But to form the Golden Core, I will willingly endure the agony of a million gnawing worms.


    To ensure a wless attempt, I decide to go back to Yunmeng Mountain for the Golden Core breakthrough.


    In the thirty-eighth year of Yinkui,te spring, on the third day.


    I won¡¯t go back to Yunmeng Mountain. Master knows I am preparing for the Golden Core breakthrough and says he will personally act as my protector.


    Master has always been extremely good to me.


    In the thirty-eighth year of Yinkui,te spring, on the tenth day, under Master¡¯s protection, I endured the pain of a million worms gnawing at me and sessfully formed my Golden Core.


    It¡¯s been just eight years since I was a mere Qi Refinement Layer Two cultivator, and now I¡¯ve be a Golden Core Great Wizard; it still seems unbelievable, and I owe much of this to Yun Meng¡¯s help.


    I must quickly go back to Yunmeng Mountain and share the good news of my sessful advancement to the Golden Core with her.


    In the thirty-ninth year of Yinkui, early autumn, on the tenth day of the new moon, after bing a Golden Core Cultivator, I gradually began to take over some affairs of the Spirit Snake Faction.


    Today, a small vige under the care of the Spirit Snake Faction, Flower Rain Vige, was attacked by a horde of Demon Beasts. They sent out a Spirit Message asking for help, and I hurried to their aid.


    But when I arrived, out of over fifteen hundred people in the vige, there were nearly no survivors.


    The attack by the Demon Beasts was carried out by an Ear Mouse Demon Beast horde. These creatures have no sense of smell, which naturally makes them immune to the scent of the Poisonous Spirit Flower.


    The vige was full of dismembered limbs, and an Ear Mouse was gnawing on a little girl¡¯s left hand, bloodied and gruesome.


    The girl had not yet diedpletely, still hanging on to a thread of life. I took action and killed that Ear Mouse.


    Before her death, the girl¡¯s consciousness was blurred, and she mistook me for her mother, calling out weakly in her stupor.


    "Mom, it hurts¡­"


    My heart was filled with horror and sorrow, along with a sense of unwillingness.


    It reminded me of the day my father died...


    What did we do wrong to deserve so much pain?


    In the thirty-ninth year of Yinkui, during the early autumn, on the first day of the waxing moon, today I went to report the situation of Flower Rain Vige to my master.


    Unexpectedly, my master, who always seemed as majestic as the sea, shed tears in front of me after learning about Flower Rain Vige. Continue your adventure with NovelBin.C?m


    I couldn¡¯t believe it.


    It turned out that my master¡¯s own vige had suffered a simr fate, attacked by demon beasts. By the time the Great Witch Doctor of the Spirit Snake faction arrived, only my master had survived.


    My master said that his greatest and only goal in life was to lead his people out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    I....


    I think I¡¯m falling in love with my master...


    ....


    In the forty-first year of Yinkui, during the early autumn, on the first day of the waxing moon, ... I broke through to the Golden Core Middle Stage...


    In the forty-fourth year of Yinkui, in the winter month, on the first day of the waxing moon, ... I broke through to the Golden Core Late Stage...


    In the forty-fourth year of Yinkui, in the winter month, on the third day of the waxing moon, I returned to Yunmeng Mountain and met with Yun Meng.


    Because of many pressing matters, thest time I came to see her was a year ago. She was very angry, and it took a long time for me to coax her into happiness.


    Yun Meng cleansed my body of all the umted toxins over these days.


    However, it seems that as my cultivation grows, the toxicity of the poisons in my body also bes stronger. This time Yun Meng used quite an effort to cleanse all the toxins...


    In the forty-seventh year of Yinkui, at the start of spring, on the first day of the new moon, in three years it will be the time for the five factions¡¯ alliance, which holds the Witchcraft Conference only once every fifty years.


    Last time, the Great Witch Doctor of the Yin Kui Faction seized the position of the Great Elder, so thesest fifty years have been known as the Yinkui Years.


    My master has been preparing for this Witchcraft Conference for a long time.


    Only by bing the Great Elder and taking control of the five factions can he further his pursuit of leading his people out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    My master will surely achieve it!


    In the forty-ninth year of Yinkui, in mid-autumn, on the third day of the full moon, ... I broke through to Golden Core Perfection, just one step away from bing a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    I couldn¡¯t wait to share this good news with my master, and he was very happy, too.


    But I noticed that, for some reason, my master¡¯splexion has be very poor, dark and sullen as if he had encountered something.


    I asked my master about it, but he just shook his head and said it was nothing.


    In the fiftieth year of Yinkui, during thest winter month, on the tenth day.


    At yesterday¡¯s Witchcraft Conference, my master lost. Despite preparing for so many years, my master still lost.


    But he wasn¡¯t bested due to ack of skill.


    The Great Witch Doctors of the other four factions, knowing my master¡¯s ambitions and to keep their own interests from being harmed, chose to unite against my master.


    No matter how strong my master was, he couldn¡¯t withstand thebined forces of four Great Witch Doctors.


    In the eyes of these four Great Witch Doctors, the well-being of their people didn¡¯t seem to count for anythingpared to their own interests.


    They don¡¯t deserve to be Great Witch Doctors!


    In the first year of the Gold Cicada, at the start of spring, on the third day of the new moon, these past few days my master has been very depressed, seemingly still immersed in the defeat at the Witchcraft Conference.


    I¡¯m a bit worried about him.


    In the first year of the Gold Cicada, at the start of spring, on the tenth day of the new moon, that spirited and proud master of mine finally returned!


    In the first year of the Gold Cicada, at the start of spring, on the second day of the waxing moon, my master came to see me today. He said I am the most talented cultivator in the history of the Spirit Snake faction.


    From today on, he will guide me with all his strength, and the resources of the Spirit Snake faction will be generously inclined towards me, to help me condense the Nascent Soul with full effort.


    I am very pleased because not only does this mean that I am a step closer to bing a Nascent Soul Cultivator, but it also means that I will spend more time with my master.


    In the first year of the Gold Cicada, in midsummer, on the first day of the new moon, my master has gradually been transferring the affairs of the Spirit Snake faction to me.


    He said that I would inevitably take charge of the Spirit Snake faction one day, so I might as well start getting familiar with these matters now.


    Though that¡¯s what he said, I always feel that something isn¡¯t quite right.

 Chapter 293 - 41 Black and White (Part 3)

    In the third year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the first day of the lunar month.


    I finally realized what was amiss.


    My master was actually making arrangements for his affairs after death.


    For that grand witchcraft conference, my master had daringly ingested the Hundred Flowers Viper Pill, a poison difficult for even a Nascent Soul Cultivator to withstand.


    Although my master managed to refine the poison into Spiritual Power through the Disastrous Poison Scripture, the residual toxin from the Hundred Flowers Viper Pill eventually brought the umted poison within his body to a critical point, erupting on this day after several years.


    I wanted to take my master to Yun Meng.


    Due to Yun Meng¡¯s special abilities, I feared others harboring malice toward Yun Meng, and thus have carefully guarded the secret of Yun Meng all these years.


    But now, I can¡¯t manage so much anymore.


    Only Yun Meng can save my master now.


    My master stopped me, as it turned out, after discovering I had been safely cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture, he had been investigating privately and thus also uncovered Yun Meng¡¯s secret.


    However, he was different from me,


    He had cultivated the Disastrous Poison Scripture from the Qi Refinement stage to Nascent Soul, with poisons in his body umted over a long time, deeply embedded in his organs and even his Nascent Soul, beyond any hope of cure.


    I wept deeply.


    My master wiped away my tears, told me he hoped I could continue the aspiration he had not fulfilled, to lead our people out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    I promised, I promised, I will surely lead our people out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains!


    If only... Master, if only you could see this for yourself, how wonderful that would be...


    In the third year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the second day of the lunar month.


    After my master passed, as his most outstanding disciple and currently the strongest cultivator of the Spirit Snake Sect, I naturally assumed leadership of the Spirit Snake Sect.


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the first day of the lunar month, since I had not yet advanced to Nascent Soul, the Spirit Snake Sect became the only one among the five sects without a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    The other four sects began to ostracize us openly and covertly, and the Great Elder even started to exploit the Spirit Snake Sect.


    This won¡¯t do, I must break through to Nascent Soul as soon as possible.


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the first day of the lunar month.


    Forming a Nascent Soul is no easy task, but I no longer have much time.


    The oppression and exclusion from the other four sects are getting worse, and the situation for the Spirit Snake Sect is deteriorating rapidly.


    Among the possessions my master left behind were some of the Hundred Flowers Viper Pills he did not consume. I decided to use the potent toxin of the Hundred Flowers Viper Pill to make a breakthrough to Nascent Soul.


    I must seed, right, Master?


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the third day of the lunar month.


    I returned to Yunmeng Mountain and, beside Yun Meng, I ingested the Hundred Flowers Viper Pill.


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the end of spring, on the sixth day of the lunar month.


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    With Yun Meng¡¯s help, I seeded.


    But to expel the toxin from my body, Yun Meng too suffered damage to her essence. After looking after her for a long time and feeding her many pills, she finally recovered.


    I must stop cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture now.


    This time, Yun Meng¡¯s essence waspromised; next time the toxins erupt, if Yun Meng were to save me, she might have to exhaust her own life.


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the end of spring, on the seventh day of the lunar month.


    After I became a Nascent Soul Cultivator, the other four sects finally started to restrain themselves.


    But do they really think I would just forget what they have done?


    I have not forgotten what they did to our Spirit Snake Sect and to my master.


    One day, I will make them pay twice over!


    @@novelbin@@


    They could never imagine how long a woman can hold a grudge.


    ...


    In the thirty-fourth year of the Jin Chan era, in mid-spring, on the seventh day of the half-moon.


    These thirty years, I have been exceedingly busy.


    I need to start preparing for the witchcraft conference sixteen years from now.


    The task that my master did not aplish will now be mine toplete.


    The Great Witch Doctors of the other four sects have been Nascent Soul Cultivators for many years, and with only a little over thirty years since my Nascent Soul advancement, it would be difficult for me to defeat them without some trump cards.


    The Golden Thread Snake, the supreme poison of the Spirit Snake Sect!


    That¡¯s the only solution I can think of as of now.


    Besides, because I have been so busy, it has been a long time since Ist visited Yun Meng. I¡¯ll go see her tomorrow.


    In the thirty-fourth year of the Jin Chan era, in mid-spring, on the eighth day of the half-moon, I went to Yunmeng Mountain to see Yun Meng. Knowing I had given up cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture, she was very happy but also a bit sad.


    She seems to think that I don¡¯t want toe see her anymore because I no longer cultivate the Disastrous Poison Scripture and don¡¯t need her help in expelling toxins.


    Silly girl, how could that be possible?


    After my father and master left, you¡¯re all I have left...


    In the forty-ninth year of the Jin Chan era, in mid-spring, on the first day of the cycle.


    I seeded, I finally did it, I actually nurtured a Spirit Snake with a Metal vein!


    ......


    Spirit Snake year one, early spring, the new moon.


    Master, if you¡¯re seeing this from the heavens, you must be very pleased.


    Spirit Snake year eleven, early spring, the new moon.


    After bing the Great Elder of the Five Sect Alliance, the resources at my disposal have grown.


    Thus, even though I¡¯m no longer practicing the Disastrous Poison Scripture, my Cultivation is still steadily improving.


    .....


    Spirit Snake year forty-nine, early spring, the new moon.


    The Witchcraft Convention that urs once every fifty years is starting in one more year.


    I know that the Great Witch Doctors of the other four sects have been preparing for this Convention for a long time, intent on wresting the position of Great Elder from me.


    But they are destined to be disappointed.


    Spirit Snake year fifty-one, early spring, the new moon.


    For the next fifty years, I will remain the Great Elder.


    It¡¯s time to settle the two debts: their joint betrayal of Master back then and the oppression of our Spirit Snake sect after Master¡¯s death.


    .....


    .....


    Spirit Snake year eighty-nine, early spring, the new moon.


    It¡¯s over, all the vengeance is over.


    In these forty years, I¡¯ve done many bloody deeds, but there¡¯s not a single hint of regret in my heart.


    Because this was the price they had to pay.


    After everything ended, I returned to Yunmeng Mountain to see Yun Meng once more.


    I don¡¯t know why, but this time, I felt as if there was a fissure between me and Yun Meng, and I didn¡¯t know how to mend it.


    Perhaps... I know what to do, but I¡¯m just not willing to do it.


    I just realized that the little girl of the past has be the Golden Snake Granny who the Five Sect Wizards dread even at the mention of.


    And Yun Meng, too, has unknowingly transformed and grown a lot.


    Spirit Snake year one hundred and one, early spring, the new moon.


    It seems like a cycle of destiny, other sect Wizards, just like they did against Master back then, joined forces against me in the Witchcraft Convention, trying to topple me from the Great Elder¡¯s seat.


    Unfortunately for them, they failed this time.


    Bing the most powerful Wizard in the Spirit Snake sect¡¯s history, I¡¯ve finally achieved the expectation I set for myself long ago.


    Next, I¡¯ll spend the rest of my life fulfilling the promise I made to Master.


    Leading our people out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains!


    A grand task, I entrust my life, starting with the night, and in death... it has no end.


    Spirit Snake year one hundred thirty-seven,te spring, the new moon.


    One hundred and thirty-seven years after advancing to Nascent Soul, after spending countless Cultivation resources that causedints among the Five Sect Wizards, I finally broke through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage.


    But it¡¯s still not enough.


    I must be a Void Refining Cultivator to have our people stand firm in the outside world.


    Spirit Snake year one hundred thirty-eight, early summer, the new moon.


    My Cultivation has once again hit a bottleneck, impossible to make any progress.


    There must be a solution, I won¡¯t give up.


    Spirit Snake year one hundred forty-two, mid-summer, the first day of the month.


    I¡¯ve tried, I¡¯ve tried all the methods I could, but none worked.


    But that¡¯s to be expected, if Cultivation were that easy, why would our line of Wizards not have produced a Void Refining Cultivator for so many years?


    To break through to Void Refining, the only current option is to once again practice the Disastrous Poison Scripture.


    But the umtion of poison from breaking through to Void Refining is definitely something I can¡¯t bear.


    Unless I let Yun Meng help me, but that would take her life, how could she possibly be willing?


    And how... could I bear to let it happen?


    Spirit Snake year one hundred forty-two, mid-summer, the third day of the month.


    Is this possibly the only option under the current circumstances?


    If I don¡¯t break through to Void Refining, I can¡¯t fulfill Master¡¯s dying wish.


    But to break through to Void Refining, I would need to take Yun Meng¡¯s life.


    What should I... choose?

 Chapter 41 Black and White (Part 3)

    In the third year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the first day of the lunar month.


    I finally realized what was amiss.


    My master was actually making arrangements for his affairs after death.


    For that grand witchcraft conference, my master had daringly ingested the Hundred Flowers Viper Pill, a poison difficult for even a Nascent Soul Cultivator to withstand.


    Although my master managed to refine the poison into Spiritual Power through the Disastrous Poison Scripture, the residual toxin from the Hundred Flowers Viper Pill eventually brought the umted poison within his body to a critical point, erupting on this day after several years.


    I wanted to take my master to Yun Meng.


    Due to Yun Meng''s special abilities, I feared others harboring malice toward Yun Meng, and thus have carefully guarded the secret of Yun Meng all these years.


    But now, I can''t manage so much anymore.


    Only Yun Meng can save my master now.


    My master stopped me, as it turned out, after discovering I had been safely cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture, he had been investigating privately and thus also uncovered Yun Meng''s secret.


    However, he was different from me,


    He had cultivated the Disastrous Poison Scripture from the Qi Refinement stage to Nascent Soul, with poisons in his body umted over a long time, deeply embedded in his organs and even his Nascent Soul, beyond any hope of cure.


    I wept deeply.


    My master wiped away my tears, told me he hoped I could continue the aspiration he had not fulfilled, to lead our people out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    I promised, I promised, I will surely lead our people out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains!


    If only... Master, if only you could see this for yourself, how wonderful that would be...


    In the third year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the second day of the lunar month.


    After my master passed, as his most outstanding disciple and currently the strongest cultivator of the Spirit Snake Sect, I naturally assumed leadership of the Spirit Snake Sect.


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the first day of the lunar month, since I had not yet advanced to Nascent Soul, the Spirit Snake Sect became the only one among the five sects without a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    The other four sects began to ostracize us openly and covertly, and the Great Elder even started to exploit the Spirit Snake Sect.


    This won''t do, I must break through to Nascent Soul as soon as possible.


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the first day of the lunar month.


    Forming a Nascent Soul is no easy task, but I no longer have much time.


    The oppression and exclusion from the other four sects are getting worse, and the situation for the Spirit Snake Sect is deteriorating rapidly.


    Among the possessions my master left behind were some of the Hundred Flowers Viper Pills he did not consume. I decided to use the potent toxin of the Hundred Flowers Viper Pill to make a breakthrough to Nascent Soul.


    I must seed, right, Master?


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the start of spring, on the third day of the lunar month.


    I returned to Yunmeng Mountain and, beside Yun Meng, I ingested the Hundred Flowers Viper Pill.


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the end of spring, on the sixth day of the lunar month.


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    With Yun Meng''s help, I seeded.


    But to expel the toxin from my body, Yun Meng too suffered damage to her essence. After looking after her for a long time and feeding her many pills, she finally recovered.


    I must stop cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture now.


    This time, Yun Meng''s essence waspromised; next time the toxins erupt, if Yun Meng were to save me, she might have to exhaust her own life.


    In the fourth year of the Jin Chan era, at the end of spring, on the seventh day of the lunar month.


    After I became a Nascent Soul Cultivator, the other four sects finally started to restrain themselves.


    But do they really think I would just forget what they have done?


    I have not forgotten what they did to our Spirit Snake Sect and to my master.


    One day, I will make them pay twice over!


    They could never imagine how long a woman can hold a grudge.


    ...


    In the thirty-fourth year of the Jin Chan era, in mid-spring, on the seventh day of the half-moon.


    These thirty years, I have been exceedingly busy.


    I need to start preparing for the witchcraft conference sixteen years from now.


    The task that my master did not aplish will now be mine toplete.


    The Great Witch Doctors of the other four sects have been Nascent Soul Cultivators for many years, and with only a little over thirty years since my Nascent Soul advancement, it would be difficult for me to defeat them without some trump cards.


    The Golden Thread Snake, the supreme poison of the Spirit Snake Sect!


    That''s the only solution I can think of as of now.


    Besides, because I have been so busy, it has been a long time since Ist visited Yun Meng. I''ll go see her tomorrow.


    In the thirty-fourth year of the Jin Chan era, in mid-spring, on the eighth day of the half-moon, I went to Yunmeng Mountain to see Yun Meng. Knowing I had given up cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture, she was very happy but also a bit sad.


    She seems to think that I don''t want toe see her anymore because I no longer cultivate the Disastrous Poison Scripture and don''t need her help in expelling toxins.


    Silly girl, how could that be possible?


    After my father and master left, you''re all I have left...


    In the forty-ninth year of the Jin Chan era, in mid-spring, on the first day of the cycle.


    I seeded, I finally did it, I actually nurtured a Spirit Snake with a Metal vein!


    ......


    Spirit Snake year one, early spring, the new moon.


    Master, if you''re seeing this from the heavens, you must be very pleased.


    Spirit Snake year eleven, early spring, the new moon.


    After bing the Great Elder of the Five Sect Alliance, the resources at my disposal have grown.


    Thus, even though I''m no longer practicing the Disastrous Poison Scripture, my Cultivation is still steadily improving.


    .....


    Spirit Snake year forty-nine, early spring, the new moon.


    The Witchcraft Convention that urs once every fifty years is starting in one more year.


    I know that the Great Witch Doctors of the other four sects have been preparing for this Convention for a long time, intent on wresting the position of Great Elder from me.


    But they are destined to be disappointed.


    Spirit Snake year fifty-one, early spring, the new moon.


    For the next fifty years, I will remain the Great Elder.


    It''s time to settle the two debts: their joint betrayal of Master back then and the oppression of our Spirit Snake sect after Master''s death.


    .....


    .....


    Spirit Snake year eighty-nine, early spring, the new moon.


    It''s over, all the vengeance is over.@@novelbin@@


    In these forty years, I''ve done many bloody deeds, but there''s not a single hint of regret in my heart.


    Because this was the price they had to pay.


    After everything ended, I returned to Yunmeng Mountain to see Yun Meng once more.


    I don''t know why, but this time, I felt as if there was a fissure between me and Yun Meng, and I didn''t know how to mend it.


    Perhaps... I know what to do, but I''m just not willing to do it.


    I just realized that the little girl of the past has be the Golden Snake Granny who the Five Sect Wizards dread even at the mention of.


    And Yun Meng, too, has unknowingly transformed and grown a lot.


    Spirit Snake year one hundred and one, early spring, the new moon.


    It seems like a cycle of destiny, other sect Wizards, just like they did against Master back then, joined forces against me in the Witchcraft Convention, trying to topple me from the Great Elder''s seat.


    Unfortunately for them, they failed this time.


    Bing the most powerful Wizard in the Spirit Snake sect''s history, I''ve finally achieved the expectation I set for myself long ago.


    Next, I''ll spend the rest of my life fulfilling the promise I made to Master.


    Leading our people out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains!


    A grand task, I entrust my life, starting with the night, and in death... it has no end.


    Spirit Snake year one hundred thirty-seven,te spring, the new moon.


    One hundred and thirty-seven years after advancing to Nascent Soul, after spending countless Cultivation resources that causedints among the Five Sect Wizards, I finally broke through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage.


    But it''s still not enough.


    I must be a Void Refining Cultivator to have our people stand firm in the outside world.


    Spirit Snake year one hundred thirty-eight, early summer, the new moon.


    My Cultivation has once again hit a bottleneck, impossible to make any progress.


    There must be a solution, I won''t give up.


    Spirit Snake year one hundred forty-two, mid-summer, the first day of the month.


    I''ve tried, I''ve tried all the methods I could, but none worked.


    But that''s to be expected, if Cultivation were that easy, why would our line of Wizards not have produced a Void Refining Cultivator for so many years?


    To break through to Void Refining, the only current option is to once again practice the Disastrous Poison Scripture.


    But the umtion of poison from breaking through to Void Refining is definitely something I can''t bear.


    Unless I let Yun Meng help me, but that would take her life, how could she possibly be willing?


    And how... could I bear to let it happen?


    Spirit Snake year one hundred forty-two, mid-summer, the third day of the month.


    Is this possibly the only option under the current circumstances?


    If I don''t break through to Void Refining, I can''t fulfill Master''s dying wish.


    But to break through to Void Refining, I would need to take Yun Meng''s life.


    What should I... choose?

 Chapter 294 - 42 Delicate Ashes

    The Spirit Snake was a hundred and forty-two years old, in midsummer, on the fifth day.


    These past few days, the face and voice of my master echoed relentlessly in my mind.


    There was also my deceased father, and that little girl before she died calling out to me, "Mother, it hurts...", and then...


    I felt like I had fallen into a kind of madness.


    But, I... seemed to have found an answer.


    The demon, Yun Meng is a demon.


    Over the years, demon beasts have killed countless members of our n.


    Before the death of my master, I had promised him that I would lead our n out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    Now, am I to abandon the ambition my master and I painstakingly pursued for hundreds of years for the sake of my feelings for a demon beast?


    To save the life of a demon beast, should I let my people continue to suffer in the Three Thousand Great Mountains?


    The Spirit Snake was a hundred and forty-two years old, in midsummer, on the seventh day.


    It was unrealistic to expect Yun Meng to voluntarily sacrifice her life to help me break through to Void Refining; I must find another way.


    Since Yun Meng possessed the Vitality Force, her essence blood would surely contain an endless vitality.


    Just extracting her essence blood and consuming it would be effective.


    The Spirit Snake was a hundred and forty-two years old, inte summer, on the seventh day.


    I returned to Yunmeng Mountain today, to see Yun Meng.


    Long time no see, Yun Meng had actually progressed from Fourth Grade to a Fifth Grade Great Demon.


    Damn it, why did it have to be at this time!


    I¡¯ll have to n this out over the long term now. If I act and fail, Yun Meng¡¯s trust in me will copse.


    The Three Thousand Great Mountains are so vast; where will I find her if she runs off?


    ....


    The Spirit Snake was a hundred and forty-two years old, in the winter month, on the night of the full moon.


    Yun Meng disappeared!


    I returned to Yunmeng Mountain today, but Yun Meng didn¡¯t show up, something that has never happened before. Has she discovered my plot?


    The Spirit Snake was a hundred and forty-three years old, at the start of spring, on the night of the full moon.


    I¡¯ve been in Yunmeng Mountain for several months, and Yun Meng has yet to appear; she truly has disappeared.


    Perhaps this is fate...


    The Spirit Snake was a hundred and forty-three years old, inte spring, on the sixth day.


    Yun Meng came back!


    Clutching at myst hope, I went back to Yunmeng Mountain, and this time I finally saw Yun Meng.


    And, Yun Meng was pregnant!


    The opportunity hade at a time when she would be unprecedentedly weak during childbirth.


    That would be my time to act.


    I stayed on Yunmeng Mountain under the pretext of taking care of Yun Meng, quietly waiting for the day she gave birth.


    The Spirit Snake was a hundred and forty-four years old, in mid-autumn, on the night of the full moon.


    I failed. I only thought of Yun Meng¡¯s weakness during childbirth, but I forgot about the power of motherhood.


    Yun Meng, extremely weak, struggled fiercely and escaped from my grasp.


    When I made my move on her, Yun Meng¡¯s eyes were incrediblyplex.


    She cried.


    But the me who had been extremely hesitant before, upon seeing this scene, felt not the slightest ripple in my heart.


    All of it was for my people and... my master.


    Although I failed, I discovered a colossal secret.


    I followed the traces of Yun Meng¡¯s escape to a mountain peak that no one had ever set foot on before.


    There, I unexpectedly discovered a Fifth Grade nt-based Great Demon whose original form was a peach tree.


    I concealed my breath, not daring to get close, and secretly observed.


    I found that the peach tree was doing its utmost to heal Yunmeng, and in its tree heart, there was a piece of Spirit Jade flickering brightly, emitting the profundity of the Tao, with runes swirling and divine radiance reflecting.


    That piece of jade, that scene, I had seen it in ancient texts!


    It was the Primordial Spirit Embryo, also known as the Taoist Jade!


    If I had this jade, even without cultivating the Disastrous Poison Scripture, I would have a chance to advance to Void Refining.


    In the end, the peach tree demon was unable to save Yunmeng. Yunmeng fought to the death to give birth to two fawn demons and entrusted them to the care of the peach tree demon.


    Fearing discovery, I quietly retreated while the Great Demon was still distracted by Yunmeng.


    This Taoist Jade possessed by the peach tree demon was my chance to break through to Void Refining.


    But since he was a Fifth Grade Great Demon, exactly how to proceed would require careful nning.


    Year 147 of Spirit Snake, early spring, day six.


    Yunmeng¡¯s children, they actually left Qingqiu.


    Her children, who looked just like her, were so enchanting and beautiful.


    That little fawn actually ran to the White Flower Snake Vige under my Spirit Snake¡¯s domain, saving many vigers who were severely poisoned, just as Yunmeng had once saved me, only to end up captured by the ck-tailed Wizard.


    It was far more foolish than Yunmeng.


    But, could this be an opportunity?


    I secretly hid a golden thread snake in the fawn demon¡¯s head without making a sound.


    I waited for things to unfold.


    Year 147 of Spirit Snake, mid-autumn, day three.


    That nt-based Great Demon ultimately did not leave the mountain peak, but a Cultivator from who-knows-where acted to save Yunmeng¡¯s child.


    In order for him to carry the fawn demon with the golden thread snake back to the peach tree Great Demon, I did not intervene, watching him y the ck-tailed Wizard and numerous vigers before striding away.


    I found himughable.


    But that is normal. When young, most people are like that, full of vigor and hoping to wield a sword to y dragons.


    But in the end, the dragon-ying youngsters will inevitably be dragons themselves.


    So many years of hiding and enduring, sess or failure, it was time for the dust to settle.


    ....


    ....


    The contents within the Jade Slip have nowe to an end.


    In only a moment, Lu Qingshan had finished reading the life of Golden Snake Granny.


    From an innocent and romantic young girl to the powerful Golden Snake Granny whomanded five factions.


    Her life¡¯s experiences were tumultuous and magnificent, with her merits and demerits difficult to discern.


    @@novelbin@@


    "Lu Qingshan, was Golden Snake Granny ultimately a good person or a bad person?" West Rat King couldn¡¯t figure it out and hoped Lu Qingshan could give it an answer.


    Golden Snake Granny first forced Yaoyao and Mimi¡¯s mother to death, then caused the Qingqiu Mountain Lord¡¯s Primordial Spirit to scatter. In its eyes, she was definitely a great viin, itching to y and dismember her.


    But after reading the Jade Slip, it felt hesitant and confused.


    Hearing West Rat King¡¯s question, Lu Qingshan was silent for a moment.


    Indeed, from their perspective, Golden Snake Granny was undoubtedly an utterly viinous great evil.


    But from the perspective of the ordinary people of the five factions alliance, Golden Snake Granny, who had led them out of the Three Thousand Great Mountains and helped them settle and survive outside, was willing to give her life, endure the suffering of poisons, and even overlook her century-long affection with Yunmeng for their sake.


    To them, wasn¡¯t Golden Snake Granny also their hero? Stay updated through NovelBin.C?m


    "Human nature is often difficult to ssify simply as good or bad, so judging Golden Snake Granny¡¯s virtues and sins is a task with little meaning," Lu Qingshan provided his answer.


    "The world is never just ck, nor is it white, but a delicate shade of gray."


    "I only recognize one thing," Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze turned to the corner, where a golden giant snake was trying to quietly slip away, and he coldly dered, "Whoever tries to harm those I care about, I will simply draw my sword and y them!"


    Whoosh!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword trailed a zing red tail, shooting towards the demon snake like lightning!

 Chapter 295 - 43 Sword Name: Peach Blossom

    The Third Grade Spirit Snake, driven by Golden Snake Granny, witnessed her demise at the hands of Lu Qingshan with the power of Qingqiu Mountain Master, in by a single strike of his sword.


    The once fierce creature was immediately struck with terror, shattering its courage, and it wisely sought to sneak away while Lu Qingshan was not paying attention.


    Unfortunately for it, Lu Qingshan had not ignored it.


    Carrying the residual fury from ying Golden Snake Granny, the Dragon Sparrow Sword emitted a chilling murderous aura, apanied by a strand of ughter Sword Intent, flying out at twelves times the speed of sound.


    The crimson Sword Light repeatedly pierced through the Spirit Snake¡¯s body, and in a mere moment, amidst the snake¡¯s feeble hisses, it was torn into numerous pieces.


    The scent of blood permeated the air.


    Mingling with the fragrant scent of peach blossoms in full bloom, it created a very eerie atmosphere.


    Mimi and Yaoyao lost Qingqiu Mountain Master, who treated them as their own, cherishing and loving them.


    Golden Snake Granny, seen as a malignant tumor by the five wizards, also met her end here.


    Yet the Qingqiu Mountain Master was gentle in his final moment, like a piece of Taoist Jade merging with the Tao.


    Golden Snake Granny, on the other hand, died with a belly full of resentment and unwillingness.


    Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.


    In the Jade Slip, Golden Snake Granny steadfastly believed that Lu Qingshan was just acting impulsively.


    As time went on, she believed Lu Qingshan would eventually be a person he despised, just like her.


    Regarding this im, Lu Qingshan understood that it was merely Golden Snake Granny¡¯s self-justification and pretext.


    In fact, he had experienced much more than Golden Snake Granny had, and it was much more magnificent and sweeping.


    But his convictions and principles had never wavered or changed.


    The strength of a Sword Cultivatores from the will within one¡¯s heart.


    He could set this world aze, unaffected and unaltered by external influences.


    This was especially why Golden Snake Granny was so enraged and bitter upon seeing Qingqiu Mountain Master ready to hand over the Taoist Jade, crucial to his own life, for Mimi and Yaoyao.


    When she betrayed the trust Yun Meng had in her and betrayed her own moral baseline, to prove she was right, or rather to deceive herself, she could no longer tolerate anyone who valued loyalty and righteousness.


    Especially when that person who valued loyalty and righteousness was also the person she despised and used as an excuse for her actions.


    All of this seemed like uncovering the modesty cloth she had draped over herself, making her more eager to wield her ughter knife to prove herself.


    ¡­


    The golden light above the peach trees was slowly dissipating, and the chilly air was also gradually receding.


    Although the Gold-threaded Snake is considered a supreme poison among the Spirit Snakes, restraining a Fifth Grade Great Demon actually involved burning its own life.


    Thus, following the death of Golden Snake Granny, the Gold-threaded Snake also vanished.


    All traces of Golden Snake Granny had disappeared, but the scars she left in Mimi and Yaoyao¡¯s hearts could not be known how long they wouldst.


    It is very likely that they will never fade in their lifetimes.


    Watching Mimi, who was gradually crying herself to silence, Lu Qingshan grew somewhat pensive.


    ¡­


    At the site of Golden Snake Granny¡¯s demise, the Taoist Jade that had merged with the life essence of Qingqiu Mountain Master shone with a faint green light, swirling with a mystical radiance.


    Suddenly, the Taoist Jade inexplicably rose into the air and rushed towards Lu Qingshan, stopping in front of him.


    Its shape was like a pool of liquid, constantly moving and changing, with no definite form.


    After merging with Qingqiu Mountain Master, the nature of the Taoist Jade had changed, tending more towards a piece of Spirit Material.


    Its material was supreme, striking awe and even capable ofsting forever with the world.


    Lu Qingshan was momentarily stunned.


    Because on the green light transformed by the Taoist Jade, he sensed the presence and call of Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    Does the Mountain Lord mean to leave this piece of jade for me?


    Lu Qingshan tentatively reached his hand into the green light.


    In an instant, the formless Taoist Jade underwent a miraculous change.


    @@novelbin@@


    The brilliant green light surged, its brightness several times more dazzling than the sun, blinding to behold.


    It was as if a pair of skillful hands were molding this piece of Spirit Jade.


    This Jade Embryo would transform into a different divine object depending on the thoughts and preferences of its owner.


    Thus, its final form would be wherever Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart directed.


    The Jade Embryo kept elongating, its sides gradually thinning, its tip bing increasingly sharp, shing a hint of cold light.


    This shape was all too familiar to Lu Qingshan. It was...


    A sword.


    Finally, all the light scattered.


    A dull, dim, greyish-green ancient sword appeared in front of Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan instinctively reached out, wanting to grasp the sword.


    But halfway through, Lu Qingshan suddenly remembered something and his arm paused in mid-air.


    "Is it possible?" Lu Qingshan asked softly.


    "Mhm." The Dragon Sparrow Sword hummed in the air, and Qin Yitian¡¯s gentle and soft voice came through.


    With Qin Yitian¡¯s affirmation, Lu Qingshan no longer hesitated and grasped the sword hilt


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    A questioning message entered his mind.


    "Name?"


    Lu Qingshan, thoughtfully looking up at the stunningly beautiful peach blossoms, had an idea, and murmured, "Let¡¯s call you... Peach Blossom."


    Several lines of glowing, small characters shed by.


    "Naming sessful, Sword Name: Peach Blossom."


    "Peach Blossom Sword attribute passed inspection, binding as life-bound sword..."


    "Contract binding sessful, you have bound the Peach Blossom Sword as your life-bound sword!"


    [Peach Blossom](Wood ¡¤ Life-bound Sword)


    Sword Master: Lu Qingshan


    Quality: Middle Grade Heavenly Artifact (Sword Embryo, upgradable)


    Current upgrade requirements: Sword Artifact Level greater than lv4, Withered Dragon Wood two ounces, Purple Jing Divine Copper six ounces, Mutton Fat White Jade nine ounces, Earth Dragon Essence four ounces.


    Level: lv1 (0/5000) ¡ª [Damage +5% for all Sword Techniques performed through this life-bound sword]


    Description: If I am to be the Green Emperor in the future, I will share this with the peach blossoms


    Additional Description: Formed from Taoist Jade, once carried the Tao, thus has the potential to be a Taoist Artifact.


    Divine Skills:


    [Withering]: A technique that leads all things to wither. Any artifact under this Divine Skill that is inferior to this sword¡¯s quality will lose all its spirituality within five breaths.


    Cooling Time: 1 day


    [Immortal] (Passive): Attacks performed through this sword can freely transform attributes without any power change (including weakening/enhancement). (Default Wood Attribute)


    [Indestructible]: The peach blossoms are lush, overwhelming with vigor.


    Passive: The damage inflicted by this sword will be extremely difficult to heal.


    Active: When activating this Divine Skill and inflicting damage on an enemy, a Peach Blossom Mark can be branded on the enemy. Within the following ten breaths, part of the damage can be stored in the Peach Blossom Mark.


    The Peach Blossom Mark¡¯s duration won¡¯t exceed three days, is hard to detect, and difficult to erase.


    The Sword Master can detonate the Peach Blossom Mark at any time during its duration.


    The Sword Master can sense the location of the Peach Blossom Mark without any distance limit.


    Cooling Time: 10 days


    .......


    Lu Qingshan never expected to obtain his second life-bound sword through such a method.


    But judging from the sword¡¯s quality, he couldn¡¯t be more satisfied.


    Still just a sword embryo and not yet fully refined, the Peach Blossom Sword already had such power, which indeed was a bit bewildering.


    However, the Primordial Spirit Embryo was one of the most precious Spirit Materials in the world. Fused with the unparalleled vitality of a Great Demon of vegetation, creating such a sword embryo truly made sense.

 Chapter 296 - 44: Departure

    Whoosh!


    After Lu Qingshan refined the Peach Blossom Sword into his Life-bound Sword, it swiftly entered his body.


    An extremely mystical understanding suddenly sprang forth from his heart.


    Lu Qingshan involuntarily closed his eyes slightly, feeling deeply.


    The Sword Artifact could also nurture a person.


    This was the Peach Blossom Sword¡¯s reward to Lu Qingshan, born from the Qingqiu Mountain Lord¡¯sprehension of Immortal True Intent.


    Lu Qingshan had his own interpretation of Immortal True Intent, which was the most suitable for him.


    However, regardless, both kinds of Immortal True Intent pointed directly to the essence.


    Even though the path walked by the Qingqiu Mountain Lord was vastly different from his, it could still provide nourishment for him to absorb.


    In his Divine Consciousness Sea, the hazy and indistinct form of Immortal True Intent, bolstered by the Peach Blossom Sword, once again solidified significantly.


    But that was all.


    The enhancement of Intent is very difficult.


    Ever since he was moved by Causality Sword Intent on Jiaolong Ind thest time, he had made no further progress.


    A momentter, Lu Qingshan opened his eyes.


    His dark pupils shimmered with divine light.


    The mental lethargy caused by the effort of using Heaven Suppressing had now revitalized as well.


    Of course, the injuries on his body could not heal so quickly.


    However.


    Lu Qingshan nced at the two small creatures snuggled together under the peach tree.


    Compared to them, what were his injuries?


    Mimi and Yaoyao were actually still just children.


    Mimi had merely been yful for a while, sneaked out, and then saved an entire vige of mortals.


    The result, however, was that she was imprisoned for half a year... and it cost the Qingqiu Mountain Lord his life.


    "For these children who have not yet grown up," Lu Qingshan could not help but sigh again, "what absurd things are these so-called cultivators who have cultivated for a hundred years doing!"


    ......


    Three dayster.


    Inside Blooming Spirit Stream, Lu Qingshan, naked, sat cross-legged in the stream, letting the rippling water flow over his body. His hands interlocked to form a seal, his eyes were tightly shut, and his breathing was steady and strong.


    In the water, countless strange lights surged towards his body.


    His chest heaved slightly, and his body emitted a glow akin to warm jade.


    And his wounds were healing at a visible pace.


    After a long while, when the injuries on his body hadpletely healed, Lu Qingshan opened his eyes, slowly exhaled a turbid breath, and abruptly stood up.


    "Such a marvelous ce, it¡¯s a pity it can¡¯tst," Lu Qingshan smacked his lips.


    The power source of Blooming Spirit Stream came from the Qingqiu Mountain Lord and the merging with the Taoist Jade, so after the Qingqiu Mountain Lord¡¯s death and the transformation of the Taoist Jade into the Peach Blossom Sword, the magical essence of Blooming Spirit Stream was slowly dispersing.


    And the Blooming Spirit Flowers in the stream were also beginning to wither gradually.


    Except for that one peach tree that covered the sky and blossomed, all traces of the Qingqiu Mountain Lord would gradually fade with the passage of time.


    But that might be for the best, for an innocent man is meless, but he who carries jade incurs guilt.


    The Qingqiu Mountain Lord ultimately left the Taoist Jade to him, rather than to Mimi and Yaoyao, which seemed, to Lu Qingshan, to be mostly due to Immortal True Intent, and perhaps more so for this reason.


    The existence of the Taoist Jade, which had already made him, a Fifth Grade Great Demon, a target of desire, thus costing him his life.


    How could two little creatures born just a few years ago guard this jade?


    Giving it to someone else was, in fact, a better option for Yaoyao and Mimi.


    This was the uncontentious wisdom of the Qingqiu Mountain Lord who had lived for tens of thousands of years.


    Lu Qingshan unhesitatingly left Blooming Spirit Stream, activated his Spiritual Power, evaporated the moisture from his body, and casually put on a clean set of clothes.


    Since his injuries had healed, it was time to leave.


    "Are you really decided on staying here?" Lu Qingshan walked under the peach tree and asked the gradually recovering Mimi.


    It seemed to slowly emerge from the grief after that bout of intense crying.


    But Lu Qingshan knew that some sorrows could not be washed away by tears.


    They were not forgotten, just deeply buried in the heart, transforming into a strength that supported onward movement.


    "Yiyi yaya." Mimi looked much more haggard and matured, her eyes no longer held the innocence and confusion of before, but were filled with determination.


    "Yiyi." Yaoyao agreed in a somewhat hoarse voice.


    The transformation from a child to an adult is never a slow process.


    People often grow up in an instant.


    Mimi and Yaoyao, obviously, hadpleted this transformation after the event.


    They decided to stay in Qingqiu, to protect the peach tree that the Qingqiu Mountain Lord had transformed into.


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t say much, turning his gaze to the side at Dahane.


    Dahane, with his fierce and menacing face, showed a silly smile to Lu Qingshan, "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of them."


    Before the two little deers could protect themselves, it was still necessary to ask Dahane to look after them.


    King Rat reluctantly bid farewell to the two young demons.


    .....


    A monthter.


    At the edge of a continuous mountain range, a red light shed rapidly between the mountains, soaring instantly to the skies.


    Beneath was a vast in except for the dense green grass, there were only some low shrubs around.


    They had finally left the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    "We finally made it out," King Rat, standing on Lu Qingshan¡¯s shoulder said, as his normally dull and lifeless eyes suddenly lit up.


    He looked back at the swiftly retreating continuous mountain range, patted his chest, and boisterously said, "Tiger descending the mountain, Rat Lord emerges from seclusion, Qing State, your Emperor has returned!"


    ....


    Fufeng City, within Qingfeng Realm.


    Meeting Tower, the three Tower Masters gathered together.


    "Tower Master, by using the identities of the Underworld Cultivators within the Netherworld Qing State headquarters, following leads, we have thoroughly investigated the forces that the Netherworld had hidden in Qing State.


    All the towers in Qing State acted together, and over this period, we have eradicated seventy percent of these forces," Beiming True Venerable said with a stern expression and in a cold voice. "The remaining thirty percent of the cultivators got the message and quickly went into hiding.


    But our people are still tracing them, we won¡¯t let any of those Netherworld beasts go."


    Pangyang Tower Master said with amanding voice, "Good, only then can we say we haven¡¯t failed Yun Lang¡¯s sacrifice."


    @@novelbin@@


    His voice gradually became solemn, and the atmosphere in the room also turned somewhat gloomy.


    "Has there been any trace of the Void Demon Child and Luohu?" Pangyang Tower Master shifted away from the heavy topic.


    Lv Yuan reported respectfully, "None. Since the battle of Wilderness Huang, after Void Demon Child and Luohu used Space True Intention to relocate, neither has shown any trace again.


    Even as we have aggressively attacked the Netherworld that the Void Demon Child painstakingly managed for many years, there has been no sign that they would counterstrike."


    "Such patience," Pangyang Tower Master¡¯s eyes shed coldly, "As long as the Void Demon Child remains, he will always be a serious threat..."


    "Tower Master, should we inform the families of the twenty-one cultivators who were transported into spatial faults by the Void Demon Child using Space True Intention?" Deputy Tower Master Lv Yuan asked.


    "It¡¯s already been almost two months without any rted information from them, their chances of survival are indeed not high.


    Well, let¡¯s inform their families of their demise," Pangyang Tower Master sighed and waved his hand.


    Beiming True Venerable¡¯s gaze flickered for a moment, but in the end, said nothing more.


    Actually, a month ago, Lv Yuan had proposed considering the cultivators who fell into the spatial faults as deceased.


    It was he who insisted on waiting a bit longer.


    But now another month had passed, and he really had no reason to continue insisting.


    Thinking this, the token at his waist suddenly moved slightly.


    This was his Message Transmitting Artifact for receiving important intelligence.


    Was there some important news?


    Beiming True Venerable subconsciously checked the newly arrived intelligence.


    The next moment, Beiming True Venerable couldn¡¯t help but startle, then smiling spoke, "No need to notify the Lu Family of Zhenjiang."

 Chapter 297 - 1: The Prodigal Sword

    Qianshou Tower.


    Beiming True Venerable sized up Lu Qingshan from head to toe, "Do you know that among the twenty-one cultivators who fell into the spatial rift at the Netherworld¡¯s Qing State main temple, you are the first to return, and possibly... the only one."


    Lu Qingshan nodded, "I was indeed lucky. After falling into the spatial rift, I encountered a sufficiently stable space crack and was able to escape."


    "That is indeed very lucky." Beiming True Venerable did not doubt his word.


    He did not think that apart from luck, a Golden Core Cultivator would have the means to escape from the spatial rift on his own.


    "You are a cultivator highly regarded by Dantai Qingrun. Had you truly perished, I would indeed have had a hard time exining to Dantai Qingrun." Beiming True Venerable said with a cheerful smile, "It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back."


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze flickered slightly as he asked, "May I ask what happened afterward at the main temple in Qing State, and what has be of the Void Demon-child and... Luohu?"


    Beiming True Venerable sighed but did not hide much from Lu Qingshan, briefly summarizing the events that urred after he fell into the spatial rift.


    "They actually escaped?" Lu Qingshan murmured to himself.


    He felt somewhat conflicted.


    If he remembered correctly, ording to the original historical trajectory, Zhi Shou Tower would discover the news of the Netherworld¡¯s Qing State main temple in a decade or so and would resolutely take action.


    That time, Zhi Shou Tower had seeded in killing the Void Demon-child on the spot.


    Now, the time to act had been advanced by more than a decade, but the Void Demon-child had managed to flee from this world because of it.


    With my involvement, has the plot developed in a direction favorable to the Human Race, or has it be worse than before?


    Lu Qingshan was uncertain now.


    "This time, all cultivators who participated in the Wilderness Hwang battle will receive generous rewards from the Tower.


    Since you have encountered this peril, I can decide to increase your reward by thirty percent aspensation. Take a look for yourself to see if there is any Spiritual Object you need, and go to the Treasure Pavilion in the Tower to make your selection," said Beiming True Venerable without further ado, tossing a Spirit Talisman to Lu Qingshan as proof.


    "Thank you, Beiming True Venerable." Lu Qingshan took the Spirit Talisman, bowed his hands, and then took his leave.


    ....


    Qingfeng Realm, Treasure Pavilion.


    This ce is one of the vital locations of Zhi Shou Tower¡¯s main building in Qing State. Not only is it protected by high-grade formations, but Nascent Soul True Monarchs are also stationed here, making it a forbidden zone where outsiders are not allowed.


    Under normal circumstances, it is quite deserted with few people in sight.


    Lu Qingshan tossed the Spirit Talisman outside the protective Great Formation of the Treasure Pavilion.


    Atop the light shield of the Great Formation, a gap slowly opened, and Lu Qingshan walked through it.


    The Treasure Pavilion covers a vast area, its divine light concealed.


    Of course, as such an important ce, Lu Qingshan was not qualified to enter the Pavilion and pick out Spirit Materials himself; he could only submit his requests to the stationed Nascent Soul True Monarchs outside the hall, who would then fetch them for him.


    "Two ounces of Withered Dragon Wood, six ounces of Purple Thorn Divine Copper, nine ounces of Sheep Fat White Jade Essence, and four ounces of Earth Dragon Essence. Any of these four will do, so I¡¯ll trouble the True Monarch," Lu Qingshan reported his needs to the Treasure Keeper True Monarch.


    The Treasure Keeper True Monarch slightly frowned upon hearing this, somewhat surprised as he looked at Lu Qingshan.


    As a Nascent Soul True Monarch in charge of guarding the Treasure Pavilion, he had a certain understanding of various Spirit Materials. The treasures that Lu Qingshan had listed were all no ordinary materials.


    Considering the value of these Spirit Materials, a Golden Core Cultivator would usually not have the finances to purchase them.


    The Treasure Keeper True Monarch subconsciously probed the Divine Sense into the Spirit Talisman in his hand. Upon clearly seeing the allotted share inside, he too was taken aback.


    What great feat had this Golden Core junior achieved for the Tower to be so generous?


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression remained calm.


    The Spirit Materials he requested were all needed for his Peach Blossom Sword to advance to a high-grade Heavenly Artifact.


    These four types of Spirit Materials were all Sixth Grade, and their preciousness and value went without saying.


    Withered Dragon Wood was a material required for true dragons to build their nests, and it was one of the hardest Wood Attribute Spirit Materials.


    Earth Dragon Essence was an extremely rare mineral which, besides being used in Artifact Refining, was often the main ingredient in Body-Refining Elixirs, making it immensely versatile.


    @@novelbin@@


    Mutton Fat White Jade was an extremely precious type of Spirit Jade, as white as mutton fat and containing Divine Essence, which was beneficial for the conduction of the Divine Soul. If it was added during the manufacturing of a Spiritual Artifact, it would make the Cultivator¡¯s control of the Spiritual Artifact even more effortless.


    Copper of Thorny Locust was an extremely precious Artifact Refining material, possessing great tolerance yet being very hard. Spiritual Artifacts forged from it were incredibly difficult to damage.


    The Vaultkeeper True Monarch didn¡¯t say much else, took the Spirit Talisman, and turned to walk into the main hall.


    Before long, the Vaultkeeper True Monarch came out with a storage bag and tossed it to Lu Qingshan.


    "The Spirit Materials you seek are all exceptionally precious, and even with your contributions, you can only exchange for one of them.


    The Vaultcks Withered Dragon Wood and Earth Dragon Essence. The amount of Mutton Fat White Jade you require is too much, and we can¡¯t fulfill the request. Giving you only half would mean you would inevitably have to look for moreter, which would be of no help.


    There¡¯s quite a surplus of Copper of Thorny Locust, so I¡¯ve chosen this for you. Check if the quantity is correct," said the Vaultkeeper True Monarch, very amiable and considerate.


    "Thank you, True Monarch," Lu Qingshan said. He probed the storage bag with his Divine Sense and, after confirming the quantity was correct, took his leave.


    Carrying the storage bag filled with six taels of Copper of Thorny Locust, Lu Qingshan felt a twinge of financial pain.


    This Life-bound Sword indeed was an experience and money-consuming extravagance.


    Luckily, for now, he only had to sustain the Peach Blossom Sword, a profligate lord¡ªthe Dragon Sparrow Sword¡¯s own quality was already Taoist Level, so it didn¡¯t need further resource investment for quality advancement.


    Yitian is better, sensible, well-behaved, and cost-effective.


    Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but express his satisfaction.


    Besides the quality advancement of the Peach Blossom Sword, there was another area where he had to burn resources.


    The Five Elements Sword Armor.


    The Sword Armor was a special, growable Technique that also resembled a Spiritual Artifact.


    Currently, the Sword Armor he was refining was all Third Grade, and the level of attacks it could defend against corresponded to those of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    As his only Defensive Spell, this grade was still not secure enough for Lu Qingshan.


    He intended to gradually upgrade the Five Elements Sword Armor to Fourth Grade Sword Armor.


    Purchasing the Spirit Materials required for the Refining Ritual of Fourth Grade Sword Armor would require arge sum of Spirit Stones.


    Fortunately, Lu Qingshan still had an abundance of treasures yet to be sold.


    These treasures were from Golden Snake Granny¡¯s Storage Ring, with an unimaginable amount of Spiritual Objects inside.


    As a Nascent Soul Late Stage Great Cultivator who had presided over the alliance of five factions for over a hundred years, even if Golden Snake Granny had spent more than half of her resources on her Cultivation, the remaining Spirit Materials and Spirit Stones were still an astronomical figure.


    Additionally, since the Poison Art practitioners were located in the Three Thousand Great Mountains and were masters of Poison Art, the majority of items in Golden Snake Granny¡¯s Storage Ring were primarily Spiritual Medicines.


    For Lu Qingshan, who knew nothing about Techniques aside from the Sword Dao, these items truly served no other purpose than to be sold for profit.


    ...

 Chapter 298 - 2, 1 Year

    Chapter 298: Chapter 2, 1 Year


    Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Lu Qingshan entered the building, and a servant immediately greeted him respectfully.


    ¡°I have a big business deal to make, get your manager here,¡± Lu Qingshan stressed the words ¡°big business.¡±


    The best ce to dispose of Spiritual Artifacts and Spirit Materials that one doesn¡¯t need lies with the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    Whether in terms of credibility or price, the performance of the Great Xia Commercial Firm was widely recognized.


    ¡°Please wait a moment, sir. I will inform the manager immediately.¡± The servant¡¯s expression brightened upon hearing this¡ªif the big deal went through, he, as the one serving Lu Qingshan, would receive a certain reward.


    Soon, Lu Qingshan was led into a room that was simple yet elegant.


    The servant was now a poised and beautiful female attendant.


    ¡°What do you need, young master?¡± the middle-aged manager asked amiably.


    Lu Qingshan smiled and said, ¡°I need to dispose of some items.¡±


    The manager responded with a smile, ¡°Rest assured, young master. Our Great Xia Commercial Firm provides a consignment service for Spiritual Objects. Relying on our reputation in Fufeng City, we can sell the Spiritual Objects you wish to dispose of in a very short time, and at the most appropriate price.


    However, we need to charge a 10% fee of the final price in Spirit Stones.¡±


    Pausing for a moment, the manager added, ¡°Of course, besides the consignment option, our Great Xia Commercial Firm also offers a direct purchase service for Spiritual Objects. But the purchase price would be ording to our assessment.¡±


    ¡°I choose the consignment,¡± Lu Qingshan asserted decisively.


    Although consigning Spiritual Objects required paying a 10% fee in Spirit Stones to the Great Xia Commercial Firm, if the value of the Spiritual Objects themselves was high enough, even after giving away 10% in Spirit Stones, the remaining Spirit Stones he would receive would still be much higher than the purchase price offered by the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    The experienced Lu Qingshan was not one to encounter a loss in such matters.


    ¡°These are the Spiritual Objects I need to dispose of, including Spiritual Artifacts and Spirit Materials,¡± Lu Qingshan handed over all the valuable but unnecessary Spiritual Objects that he had sorted out from Golden Snake Granny¡¯s Storage Ring to the Great Xia Commercial Firm.


    Afterward, Lu Qingshan also replenished his stock of high-grademon Pills at the Great Xia Commercial Firm, including those to Restore Spiritual Power, heal injuries, and detoxify¡ªin short, he considered almost every kind of pill avable.


    This was typical of the good habits of solitary yers; only by being fully prepared could they deal with all kinds of unexpected situations.


    @@novelbin@@


    Lu Qingshan also gave the manager a list of Spirit Materials he needed, all for refining the Fourth Grade Sword Armor.


    ¡°These are the Spirit Materials I need. Please pay attention for them, manager. If you find any, help me purchase some. The needed Spirit Stones can be deducted from the sale of these Spiritual Objects until they are exhausted,¡± he requested.


    The manager was very amodating and agreed to the request.


    The Spiritual Objects Lu Qingshan had provided were no ordinary items; with such a major customer, the manager naturally would not refuse his requests.


    Even for a firm asrge and well-connected as the Great Xia Commercial Firm, disposing of these Spiritual Objects would take some time, so Lu Qingshan took his leave for now.


    ¡­


    ¡°In the next version, on the timeline, it will officially begin in Immortal Martial ten years, which is also Tianyuan ten years,¡±


    If the story does not change, I still have nine years to prepare well.


    With my knowledge of the various treasures in Qing State, in nine years, my strength will surely increase significantly.


    If that is the case, what I couldn¡¯t do in my previous life, I should be able to aplish in this one¡­¡± Lu Qingshan became somewhat reflective, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.


    In the transition time between the current version and the next, yers¡¯ activities are restricted within the region of Qing State.


    Although many years have passed since that time, and many memories have be blurred, he still has some impression of the most famous treasures and items in Qing State during this phase.


    And then came the next version.


    In the backdrop of the Nine Heavens, the grand curtain of the Human Race was officially unveiled to all yers, revealing an enticing glimpse of her snowy white midriff, leaving countless yers itching with desire, unable to stop.


    ¡°However, looking at the current situation, since even the era name, a matter of great importance, could be changed,


    the arrival time of the main storyline in the next version could also change; it is indeed not impossible. Therefore, from now on, I must start preparing early and cannot ck off,¡± Lu Qingshan focused his mind.


    After experiencing the early outbreak of the Corpse Puppet Chaos and the incident with the demons of the Void, Lu Qingshan would no longer blindly trust the familiar storyline from his memory.


    ¡­..


    The prolonged battle of pursuit against the remnants of the Netherworld in Qing State¡¯s Knowledge Guard Tower continued for a long while.


    During this process, various domains of the Human Race also experienced some disturbances instigated by the Netherworld, presenting a chaotic situation.


    This kind of simultaneous trouble in all domains of the Human Race was rare during the Chang¡¯an Years.


    Lu Qingshan was active across the various prefectures of Qing State, moving around, which also made Beiming True Venerable somewhat unclear about Lu Qingshan¡¯s specific intentions. After all, in such circumstances, participating in the cleanup mission against the remnants of the Netherworld in the Knowledge Guard Tower seemed to him an exceedingly profitable venture.


    The great currents, like a raging river, only moved forward, never ceasing or flowing backward.


    A year had passed.


    Qingfeng Realm, Fan Tower.


    Lu Qingshan, seated cross-legged within the Spirit Gathering Array, suddenly opened his eyes, his expression seemingly calm, yet a faint trace of joy shed through his eyes.


    Roaming across the prefectures of Qing State, collecting and sweeping through various relics and blessednds that had caused significant turmoil in his past life, he had finally gathered all the materials for the Fourth Grade Sword Armor not long ago.


    The Sword Armor, refined from the Five Elemental Qi and Sword Qi found within Spirit Materials, presented two challenges for a Golden Core Cultivator wishing to craft it across grades.


    One, gather the costly Spirit Materials and refine the Five Elemental Qi.


    Two, ensure the Sword Qi one has cultivated is solid enough not to be destroyed by the high-quality Five Elemental Qi.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan¡¯s expertise with Sword Qi had already reached the realm of Sword Qi Silk Transformation.


    Thus, after gathering the required materials, he spent half a month to sessfully refine the Fourth Grade Five Elements Sword Armor.


    Its value was equivalent to five defensive Spiritual Artifacts used by Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.


    With a slight shift of his thoughts, myriad incredibly solid Five Elements Sword Qi streams flowed out from the acupoints around his body, knitting five gorgeous sword screens across his surface.


    But at the same time, his Spiritual Power, like a breached dam, surged outwards, rapidly depleting.


    Crafting Fourth Grade Five Elements Sword Armor across grades had its pros and cons.


    The advantage was that his defensive capabilities had significantly improved.


    The downside was that the Spiritual Power Quota required to maintain the Fourth Grade Five Elements Sword Armor was an extremely terrifying figure.


    Even with the robust Spiritual Power bestowed by his Taoist Level Cultivation Technique, he definitely could not wield the Fourth Grade Five Elements Sword Armor at will.


    More often, he might have to mimic Dantai Qingrun, merely utilizing the Metal Element Sword Armor for protection.


    Lu Qingshan rose to his feet.


    Besides the acquisition of the Fourth Grade Five Elements Sword Armor over the past year, his Experience Points had also increased from one hundred thirty thousand to five hundred ten thousand.


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 Chapter 299 - 3 Qing State Fierce Tiger

    Chapter 299: Chapter 3 Qing State Fierce Tiger


    Looking at the Experience Points on the panel, Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment about how to use them and quickly made a decision.


    ¡°You spend five thousand Experience Points, Peach Blossom Sword level up: LV2(0/5w)¡ª-All Sword Techniques executed with this Life-bound Sword receive +10% damage!¡±


    ¡°You spend fifty thousand Experience Points, Peach Blossom Sword level up: LV3(0/50w)¡ª-All Sword Techniques executed with this Life-bound Sword receive +15% damage!¡±


    Inside his Dantian, a mung-bean-sized Purple-Gold Golden Pill was suspended, its value ineffable.


    Beside the Golden Pill were the Dragon Sparrow Sword and Peach Blossom Sword.


    @@novelbin@@


    Spiritual Power intermittently overflowed from the Purple-Gold Golden Pill, silently merging into the two swords.


    At this moment, countless specks of light emerged out of thin air within the Golden Pill, surging toward the Peach Blossom Sword.


    The dull surface of the Peach Blossom Sword, nourished by these specks of light, suddenly became ensnared in ayer of lustrous sheen.


    Only after the specks of light had fully merged into the sword did the Peach Blossom Sword revert to its original simple appearance.


    Lu Qingshan did not hesitate with the remaining 450,000 Experience Points, keeping 50,000 as a contingency and pouring the rest of the 400,000 into the Taoist Treasury Cultivation Technique.


    ¡°[Taoist Treasury]upgraded to lv6, Spiritual Power Value +1000!¡±


    ¡°Your Rank has risen to Golden Core Middle Stage, Divine Sense +50!¡±


    ¡°Your Spiritual Power Value limit has exceeded 10,000, Talent [Spiritual Power Control] (High Level) has evolved into [Spiritual Power Genesis] (Primary Level)!¡±


    [Spiritual Power Genesis] (Primary Level): As your Cultivation improves, your control over Spiritual Power bes more exquisite, and its power bes increasingly formidable. Spiritual Power Amplification +40%


    ¡°[Taoist Treasury]upgraded to lv7, Spiritual Power Value +1000!¡±


    ¡­.


    ¡°[Taoist Treasury]upgraded to lv10, Spiritual Power Value +1000!¡±


    Pure Spiritual Power inexplicably surged through Lu Qingshan¡¯s meridians, all pouring into his Dantian.


    This Spiritual Power constantly condensed in the Dantian, and as the Purple-Gold Golden Pill rotated, it formed a cyclone that quickly merged into the Golden Pill.


    Within a moment, the mung-bean-sized Golden Pill had swollen to the size of a broad bean.


    Lu Qingshan instantly reached the peak of the Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivation.


    A powerful Strength coursed through his entire body.


    This was the longest time Lu Qingshan had ever taken to break through a realm, from the Golden Core Early Stage to the Golden Core Middle Stage, costing him over a year¡¯s time.


    Putting aside the increased Cultivation, as the Talent for Spiritual Power Control upgraded to Spiritual Power Genesis, countless mysteries now spontaneously emerged within his Primordial Spirit, enabling him to integrate and grasp them instantly, thus making the use of his own Spiritual Power all the more adept.


    With a Spiritual Power Amplification of +40%, the external manifestation is that a Flying Sword cast with the same amount of Spiritual Power will have its power increased by forty percent.


    To give a simple example, now he could cast a Flying Sword with a hundred points of Spiritual Power whose potency would be equivalent to that of a Flying Sword cast without this Talent, using one hundred and forty points of Spiritual Power.


    This is also why High Level Cultivators, even when they suppress their Cultivation to Lower Grades, can often easily crush Lower Grade Cultivators.


    Because not to mention the mastery of Spells, just the mere application of Spiritual Power alone, there¡¯s a world of difference between the two.


    Once everything was over, Lu Qingshan nodded in satisfaction and slowly exhaled a deep breath.


    Cough!


    The next moment, Lu Qingshan was suddenly choked by the violent Spiritual Power.


    Because within Fan Tower at that moment, a fierce Spiritual Energy Storm had erupted.


    Lu Qingshan turned his gaze to the perpetrator responsible for this intense Spiritual Energy Storm.


    It was West Rat King sitting cross-legged on the ground, adopting a posture of cultivation, looking very serious.


    ¡°To stir up such an intense Spiritual Energy Storm, it looks like it¡¯s finally time for a breakthrough,¡± Lu Qingshan murmured.


    ¡°But it¡¯s also time for it, considering the Blood Spirit Essence consumed during the Zhenjiang battle and the great benefits received in the Demon Spirit Tomb,¡± he added.


    The Spiritual Energy in Qingfeng Realm was extremely abundant to begin with, not to mention the added boost from the Spirit Gathering Array in Fan Tower, making the Spiritual Power incredibly dense.


    For Lu Qingshan, whocked Spirit Root talent and relied solely on Experience Points to improve Cultivation, this didn¡¯t mean much.


    But for the West Rat King, this ce was without a doubt a Cultivation paradise.


    Within this year, Lu Qingshan had swept through various small ruins across Qing State, leaving West Rat King to cultivate in Fan Tower.


    It finally allowed West Rat King to reach the bottleneck for a Third Grade breakthrough.


    This spiritual energy storm swept through in a wild manner, and the dense spiritual power inside the building was quickly depleted by a great amount as it was absorbed by the Western Rat King, bing thin.


    But by now, the Western Rat King¡¯s breakthrough had entered the right track, and the consumption and replenishment of the spiritual power had reached a state of bnce.


    Lu Qingshan quietly stood by.


    After five hours had passed, the Western Rat King¡¯s body was enveloped in a red glow, from which an aura that was very familiar to Lu Qingshan seeped out.


    Killing intent!


    The killing intent of the Gengjin Tiger King.


    Boom!


    Suddenly, the killing intent surged upwards, and a mysterious star map faintly emerged on the Western Rat King¡¯s forehead under Lu Qingshan¡¯s astonished gaze.


    Upon closer inspection, one would realize that it was shaped remarkably like the character for ¡°King¡±.


    This little demon mouse was indeed getting more and more arrogant, even daring to etch the character for king on its face.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    The moment the star map appeared, a soul shadow that was both visible and invisible materialized behind the Western Rat King, quickly solidifying.


    It was a pure white giant tiger that looked very holy, yet one could feel a chill from its metallic gloss and sternness that radiated from its body.


    Moreover, its tiger eyes were blood red.


    Indistinctly, an endless ferocity seeped through.


    This was an extraordinary fierce tiger!


    Roar!


    The white giant tiger roared to the sky, and a wave of sound, almost tangible, swept out all at once.


    At the same time, a fierce and strong aura burst out from within the Western Rat King.


    That aura was the presence of a Third Grade demon beast.


    Clearly, the Western Rat King had sessfully advanced to the Third Grade.


    The next moment.


    ¡°Squeak!¡± The Western Rat King opened its eyes excitedly and squealed.


    The star map on its brow disappeared, and the giant tiger soul shadow behind it vanished, the roar¡¯s sound also dissipating, with the red glow beingpletely absorbed into the body of the demon mouse.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, I¡¯ve finally broken through to the Third Grade!¡± After sensing the changes in itself, the Western Rat King boastfully mored, ¡°The Western Rat of Yuanshan of old, is now the fierce tiger of the Qing State!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve reached the Golden Core middle stage,¡± Lu Qingshan stated tly.


    The originally excited Western Rat King was dealt a fatal blow, deting in enthusiasm on the spot, full of silent resentment, and muttered quietly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a happy day? Could you not say something nice?¡±


    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve progressed to the Third Grade, you must have some new skills, right?¡± Lu Qingshan asked curiously.


    The Western Rat King nodded its little head vigorously, its spirit rising again, ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll show you the new divine skills of Lord Mouse.¡±


    The demon mouse eagerly propped itself up, its two front paws came together in a lifting gesture above its head, and under the astonished gaze of Lu Qingshan, it shook rapidly in a dazzling speed.


    In the gestures of the Western Rat King, Lu Qingshan could even make out a blossom of a spirit flower.


    Then, the star map that had faded from the demon mouse¡¯s brow reappeared.


    A red glow instantly enveloped the Western Rat King¡¯s entire body, and in the next moment, the demon mouse¡¯s body began to rapidly erge, quickly transforming into a giant tiger with a silver-gray coat, emitting a breathtaking breathing sound, its size almost enough to burst through the building.


    ¡°The dragon ascends the mountain while the tiger descents; life and death are not in your control!¡± From the silver-gray giant tiger, the Western Rat King¡¯s proud voice emanated, ¡°Lu Qingshan, now tell me how fierce Lord Mouse is!¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°What was that hand gesture you just did?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a transformation gesture I developed!¡± the giant tiger stated as a matter of course, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it looks cool?¡±


    Lu Qingshan fell silent.


    But in a moment, the giant tiger shrank back into the Western Rat King¡¯s original form.


    The demon mouse held its waist, panting tiredly, ¡°Pity this move is fierce indeed, but it¡¯s too exhausting. I can¡¯t maintain it for long.


    Otherwise, I could¡¯ve solidified my reputation as the fierce tiger of the Qing State.¡±


    ¡­¡­


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 Chapter 300 - 4 The Deliberation in Chang’an

    Chapter 300: Chapter 4 The Deliberation in Chang¡¯an


    A towering mountain of tens of thousands of Zhang, capped with purple mist and roiling clouds, surprisingly bore a majestic city upon its peak.


    Amidst the ethereal mist, this great city seemed to rest upon Heaven¡¯s Vault itself.


    There stood a tremendous white jade staircase stretching from the base of the mountain all the way to the top, where the grand city loomed.


    The white jade staircase shimmered with radiance, surrounded by celestial mist, its light and fog enigmatic.


    The city itself was vast and magnificent, beyond measure.


    Above the towering city gates, which sparkled with silver light reaching the skies, were carved two ancient characters flowing with sacred brilliance, enveloped in mist and subtly revealing the profoundest of Taoist principles.


    Those two characters were ¡°Chang¡¯an.¡±


    This was the most grandiose city of the Human Race, the Imperial Capital of Great Xia.


    Chang¡¯an City.


    It stood high above the Nine Heavens, overseeing all sentient beings and the vastndscapes, a stance so grand and imposing like never before.


    Chang¡¯an was the name personally chosen by Ancestral Daoist Xia when he saved the Human Race and prevented the great disaster.


    The era of Chang¡¯an was also designated by the Ancestral Daoist.


    Indeed, it was due to Ancestral Daoist Xia¡¯s existence that the Human Race had passed through twenty thousand years known as the Chang¡¯an Era.


    At that time in the Imperial Pce of Chang¡¯an City, within a spacious and brightly lit grand hall.


    The hall sparkled with gold and jade, exuding amanding aura, and within it stood thirty-six jade Spirit Pirs, carved with terrifying mystical runes.


    Around them Taoist Patterns faintly emerged, always ready to suppress the Void.


    There were also strands of exotic fragrance drifting, refreshing the spirit, dispelling heart demons.


    In the grand hall at that moment, six cultivators stood; some meditated with closed eyes, while others remained silently, yet the aura that each emitted was as deep and terrifying as the abyss.


    Not long after, an elderly man dressed in a blue Taoist robe and with white hair walked out from a side chamber, hands sped behind his back.


    His face was aged and wrinkled, yet his eyes revealed a divine light as if he could see through everything.


    ¡°Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master.¡±


    The six cultivators in the hall, upon seeing the old man, straightened up and addressed him with respect.


    For the old man before them was none other than the current Pavilion Master of the Taoist Sect¡¯s Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the National Teacher of Great Xia.


    ¡°Gentlemen, I¡¯ve summoned you here by the decree of the Supreme. You all must be aware of it?¡±


    ¡°We are aware, but what does the Supreme intend?¡± a middle-aged man in a deep purple robe asked. ¡°It¡¯s an assembly so grand that it required summoning all seven Sect Masters of the Taoist Sects, and even you personally appeared.¡±


    This middle-aged man had an authoritative aura, and on him emanated a presence rising like the deep and terrifying abyss, with a low rumbling sound.


    He was the Vice Pce Master of the Great Pure Pce.


    ¡°From Heavenly River City, Sword Immortal Chu sent a message,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master spoke deliberately. ¡°The Demon Race has started to move.¡±


    All six of the attending Sect Masters from the Taoist Sects showed a slight change in their expression upon hearing this.


    At their level, only such earth-shattering events could still affect them.


    ¡°Two years ago, when the former Pavilion Master ascended, you all must remember the words he left behind?¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s expression showed an unprecedented solemnity.


    ¡°The Abyss ising¡­¡± the deputy master of the Great Pure Pce said gravely.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master nodded, his eyes shing with an indescribable meaning, ¡°The current situation is exactly as this prophecy has shown.


    Since entering the Tianyuan Year, in just a short span of two years, shadows of the Netherworld stirring trouble have appeared in all Seven Domains of the Human Race.


    And on the side of Heavenly River City, pressured by the might of the Ancestral Taoist, the Demon Race, which had been dormant for twenty thousand years, has finally begun to stir.¡±


    ¡°Such internal and external troubles striking at the same time, the implication of which, you all should understand.¡±


    The atmosphere at the scene grew increasingly solemn with the words of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master.


    ¡°Ancestral Taoist, what exactly is the situation, why has he not shown himself for a full twenty thousand years, could it be that the Ancestral Taoist has¡­ fallen?¡± asked a middle-aged man dressed in a purple-gold robe with silver hair.


    Although his face looked middle-aged, his skin was as smooth and white as a baby¡¯s, which was eerie.


    He was one of the three Sect Leaders of the Rinsing Spirit Sect, Chang Geng Sect Leader.


    ¡°I do not know either,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master shook his head, ¡°The situation with the Taoist Master is only known to the Supreme.¡±


    After a pause, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master affirmed, ¡°However, given the Ancestral Taoist¡¯s realm, if he had perished, the celestial phenomena of his falling would have been earth-shattering and known across all domains. Therefore, it is certain that the Ancestral Taoist has not yet perished.¡±


    The Rinsing Spirit Sect Leader, upon hearing this, asked no further.


    Seeing that no one else had more to say, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master continued, ¡°Even with the fear of the Ancestral Taoist, the Demon Race has been holding back for twenty thousand years. This battle is unavoidable.


    ording to the calctions of the former master of our Heavenly Secret Pavilion, this battle will erupt within a thousand years.¡±


    The profound gaze of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master swept over the faces of the six Taoist Sect cultivators, ¡°Our seven great Taoist Sects, being the most powerful sects of the Human Race, inheritances from Ancient Times, each reigning supreme in their domain, unparalleled by anyone.¡±


    ¡°When the sky falls, it is naturally up to the tall ones to hold it up.


    This battle with the Abyss Demon Race, our seven great Taoist Sects and Great Xia, will be the mainstay of the Human Race.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    The voice of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master was filled with age, ¡°But that is still not enough! Do not forget, the great battle twenty thousand years ago, where the Human Race, led by the seven great Taoist Sects, was utterly defeated before the Demon Race.


    If it had not been for Ancestral Daoist Xia¡¯s defiant rise, our Human Race might have ceased to exist over those twenty thousand years!¡±


    The words of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master struck everyone¡¯s hearts like a massive rock.


    As the strongest of the seven great Taoist Sects, having failed to protect the Human Race during the first Demon Race battle, and instead relying on Ancestral Daoist Xia, who emerged from a Loose Cultivator, to save the Human Race, was indeed a shame for the Taoist Sects.


    ¡°Likewise, even though within our seven great Taoist Sects, we have gathered and trained countless prodigies, dominating the younger generation.


    Yet, we all understand that given the vast territory of the Human Race, it¡¯s hard to ensure that there aren¡¯t cultivators with the potential of Ancestral Daoist Xia, lurking beyond our sight,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master spoke with a remote tone, ¡°The former pavilion master, before passing away, observed the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    Peering into the future thousand years of the Human Race, he saw stars that represented the prodigies of the Human Race, shining brilliantly, like a meteor shower.¡±


    ¡°Ancestral Daoist Xia was able to rise defiantly on his own, but he is after all an exception. We cannot let the next Ancestral Daoist Xia grow wildly on his own again.


    There are definitely many prodigies among the Human Race who, due to issues with inheritance and resources, have been overlooked!


    Ancestral Daoist Xia, if at that time he had the support of our Taoist Sects, perhaps he would not have had to take the steps he did¡­


    Therefore, for the prodigies of the Human Race, especially those who might possibly be the mainstay in our second great war with the Demon Race, or even the decisive factor,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s eyes were unfathomably deep, his tone conveyed an undeniable intention. ¡°We must spare no effort to nurture them, to help them grow!¡±


    ¡°So, the intention of the Supreme is to have our seven great Taoist Sects abandon the concept of rigid adherence, and open the gates of the Taoist Sects to all outstanding young cultivators in the world!¡±


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 Chapter 301 - 5 Discourse on the Dao in the Seven Domains (Part 1)

    Chapter 301: Chapter 5 Discourse on the Dao in the Seven Domains (Part 1)


    A single stone caused a thousand ripples.


    The six mighty cultivators in the field looked at each other, with Chang Geng Sect Leader being the first to contain himself no longer and asked, ¡°What does the Pavilion Master mean?¡±


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master seemed to have anticipated everyone¡¯s reaction and narrated the Supreme¡¯s decision calmly and unhurriedly.


    An innovation that had never before appeared within a human race sect.


    A major change that would alter thendscape for the younger generation of cultivators.


    ¡­¡­.


    In the Qingfeng Realm, within Qianshou Tower.


    Beiming True Venerable was engrossed in handling the affairs of the tower when suddenly his eyebrows twitched, and he produced a deep purple token.


    It was engraved with lightning patterns and was currently flickering with a faint purple light.


    ¡°A message from the sect?¡± Beiming True Venerable was somewhat astonished.


    Ever since he had devoted himself to overseeing the tower, although the sect had not objected, his contact with them had indeed be increasingly sparse. Why would the sect suddenly send a message to him today?


    With that thought, he had already extended his Divine Sense into the token, receiving the message within.


    The next moment, Beiming True Venerable¡¯s expression changed, revealing a look of disbelief as he eximed, ¡°How is this possible? Isn¡¯t this too insane?¡±


    Afterward, Beiming True Venerable immediately stood up with a solemn expression and hurriedly left, heading in the direction of Pangyang Tower Master¡¯s dwelling.


    A terrifying storm was amassing energy, brewing in the background.


    ¡­


    In the third year of Tianyuan, on the second day of February, a day that was not special but destined to be inscribed in the annals of human race history.


    In Qing State City, Fufeng City.


    A huge, indescribable light curtain suddenly rose from the high-standing Heavenly Secret Tower in the city, disying itself to all the cultivators and even themon folk within the city.


    It was an enormous, slowly unfurling scroll.


    On the scroll were characters that shone with a dazzling golden light.


    At the same time, a vast and mighty voice echoed continuously throughout the city.


    ¡°The Seven Domains Debate and Competition, jointly organized by Great Xia and the seven major Taoist Sects along with the top hundred Ninth-Grade sects of the Seven Domains,


    Will take ce starting with preliminaries in the major State Cities half a year from now, all cultivators under the age of fifty from the human race, regardless of their background, may participate!¡±


    ¡°Those who pass the preliminaries will proceed to the Central Martial Domain for the midterm exams.¡±


    ¡°At that time, cultivators from the seven major Taoist Sects and the hundred great sects will be present to observe the midterm exams, and those who perform outstandingly will have the opportunity to join one of the Ninth-Grade sects or even a Taoist Sect!¡±


    ¡°Those cultivators who pass the midterm exam will enter the final phase ¡ª the Debate.¡±


    ¡°In the final Seven Domains Debate, cultivators ranked within the top ten thousand will receive rewards based on their rankings, varying from one to one hundred Spirit Crystals, and may freely choose to join any one of the top hundred sects to be a core disciple.


    The top thousand cultivators will have the opportunity to cultivate in the Spirit Cleansing Pool for one year.


    The top hundred cultivators can choose to join any one of the seven major Taoist Sects as core disciples; and will receive a Middle-Grade Heavenly Artifact provided by Great Xia as a reward.


    The top ten cultivators will be granted a chance to enter the Source Realm toprehend Intent.


    The final victor will be offered any one volume of the Taoist-Level Cultivation Technique ¡®Great Xia Scripture¡¯ by Great Xia.¡±


    The massive voice echoed in the city for a long time, deafening and startling.


    The next moment, countless exmations rose from throughout the city.


    ¡°The Seven Domains Debate? How is this possible?¡±


    ¡°Hiss, the seven major Taoist Sects, Great Xia, and the hundred top Ninth-Grade sectsing together to host this event, this scale, it¡¯s unprecedented in the history of the human race.¡±


    ¡°The first time since the heavens and earth were split asunder! Have these sects gone mad?!¡±


    A Cultivationpetition sweeping across the entire Human Race, including all the young cultivators across the entire territory of the Human Race!?


    In the territories of the Human Race, numerous cultivation ns, countless Loose Cultivators, heirs of various powerhouse cultivators¡ªthe numbers were simply unimaginable.


    With all these people gathered together, going head to head, what kind of scene would that be?


    An absolute epochal grand asion!


    ¡°Open to all regardless of background, and the top ten thousand can choose to join any top-tier sect, with the top hundred even able to join a Taoist Sect! And as core disciples no less, how is that possible?¡± muttered an older cultivator who knew a bit about the specifics.


    This was the most terrifying news revealed in the announcement.


    Being a core disciple meant that the sect¡¯s top-secret techniques would be taught without reservation.


    The secret arts of a sect are the foundation of its existence, secrets of earth-shaking importance that absolutely cannot be revealed.


    Countless anecdotes and curious tales have risen over time regarding the secrecy of sect session and the covert learning of these secrets, even involving the rise and fall of many sects.


    The Taoist arts are not to be transmitted lightly.


    The more powerful the sect, the more it prized its own secret techniques. Naturally, the requirements for recruiting sect disciples became increasingly strict.


    Only those of unblemished origin and exceptional talent could join.


    Once a cultivator already has a master ores from non-Taoist genuine cultivation ns, even if they are exceptionally gifted, these top-tier sects are not likely to take them in and impart their secret techniques.


    Because there would be a risk of the secrets being leaked.


    And for the Taoist Sects, which possess the strongest lineages of the Human Race, the stringency of their recruitment of disciples is unimaginably high.


    Yet now, this announcement suggests that as long as one achieves a high enough ranking in the Seven Domains debate, they could freely choose to join a Taoist Sect.


    This implies that the seven great Taoist Sects are willing to risk their secret techniques being leaked, opening their doors to all cultivators in the world!


    @@novelbin@@


    Why would the Taoist Sects make such a bold decision?!


    Countless cultivators were speechless with shock, numerous cultivators beat their chests in frustration,menting their poor timing, while countless young cultivators were ecstatic with joy!


    This was an unprecedented great opportunity.


    Once one joins a Taoist Sect, their path of cultivation will be smooth and unimpeded.


    For Loose Cultivators or cultivators from minor sects or ns, even if they cannot reach the end, just making it through the preliminary round and holding on to the secondary examinations would be enough.


    Because getting into the secondary examinations means attracting the attention of the top sects of the Human Race and thus the chance to be courted and ascend in a single leap!


    For cultivators born into major ns, performing well in the Seven Domains debate could affect the degree of importance they receive in their families and even be key to whether they can be heirs.


    If one manages to enter a Taoist Sect, they will rise with the wind, and the position of Family Head is theirs to lose.


    Not to mention the coveted rewards for entering the top ten thousand.


    Spirit Crystals are the essence of a Spirit Vein, containing boundless Spiritual Power, one crystal being worth the entire fortune of a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    And yet, this is merely the lowest reward.


    The top thousand will have the opportunity to cultivate in the Spirit Cleansing Pool for one year.


    Most people do not understand the preciousness of the Spirit Cleansing Pool, but every cultivator who knows its name inhales a breath of cold air.


    This is one of the secret cultivation grounds of Great Xia, where the Spiritual Energy is so dense and pure, it almost condenses into liquid. Upon entering, even without practicing any Cultivation Technique, the Spiritual Energy will rush into the cultivator¡¯s body, a true Holy Land of cultivation¡ªone year there is equivalent to decades of hard cultivation.


    As for the top ten¡¯s opportunity toprehend the Intent in the Origin Realm, it is beyond precious because it is an invaluable treasure that could never be bought or sold in this world.


    The prize of choosing any Great Xia Scripture Cultivation Technique for the ultimate winner is enough to make even great cultivators click their tongues in wonder.


    This was a secret technique created by the Ancestral Taoist, the only one of the Human Race that stretches from the First to the Ninth Realm, all nine chapters Taoist Level supreme Cultivation Techniques!


    ¡­


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 Chapter 302 - 6 Discourse on the Dao in the Seven Domains (Part 2)

    Chapter 302: Chapter 6 Discourse on the Dao in the Seven Domains (Part 2)


    The booming voice that previously erupted in Qing State¡¯s Fufeng City and the floating promation that appeared there, did not only manifest in Fufeng City but also echoed and materialized in all of Great Xia¡¯s cities, including State Cities, Prefectural Cities, and Prefecture Cities.


    This news spread across the entire Human Race territory like a gue sweeping through.


    Whether it was the remote inds across the sea or the numerous sects and noble families nestled within the wilderness mountain ranges, all received this heart-shaking news.


    Half a year was enough time for this message to reach every corner of the Human Race, leaving no talent unnoticed.


    ¡­


    Momentster, in a ce beyond mortal knowledge, an elder stood before a pool ofva, and before him stood a dozen young cultivators.


    ¡°You should all be aware by now, the trials of the ¡®Seven Domains Discourse¡¯ will begin with the preliminary tests in half a year!¡±


    In front of these young cultivators, the elder slowly spoke, his voice full of vigor and ringing with a resonant force.


    They were from the reclusive Yan Family, and the elder was none other than the Yan Family¡¯s Supreme Elder, a being at the Divinity Transformation Stage of the Sixth Realm of Cultivation.


    ¡°We know.¡± The young cultivators nodded in unison, their breaths bing fervent. How could they not be excited about the ¡®Seven Domains Discourse¡¯ that was stirring up the entire Human Race, an event they actually had a chance to partake in?


    ¡°Good, I won¡¯t say much. My requirement for you is to perform well. If you can gain the recognition of a top-tier sect, that would naturally be for the best.


    Among you, if someone can break into the top ten thousand, then the position of the Yan Family heir will be yours, and no one can snatch it away from you!¡±


    ¡°The top ten thousand to gain the position of Family Heir?¡± Several young cultivators exchanged nces, hardly believing what they heard.


    ¡°Don¡¯t believe it? Think it¡¯s easy? Hmph, so naive. Do you know how vast the Human Race is?¡± The Supreme Elder snorted coldly when he saw their reaction.


    ¡°The Human Race has Seven Domains, each Domain containing dozens of States; each State has at the very least dozens of Prefectural Cities and at the most hundreds.


    In them are countless sects, families, and secret powers. Have you thought about how many geniuses there might be among them?


    And that is without even considering the Loose Cultivators.


    Although most Loose Cultivators are very weak inbat, you know as well as I do how numerous they are. It¡¯s inevitable that geniuses will emerge from among them.


    You may be considered exceptional within our Yan Family, but if you look at the entire young generation of the Human Race, you¡¯re practically nothing.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    After pausing, the Supreme Elder continued, ¡°What you should be grateful for is that the disciples of the Seven Great Taoist Sects and the One Hundred Top-Tier Sects aren¡¯t participating in this ¡®Seven Domains Discourse.¡¯


    They are the true leaders of the young generation of the Human Race. If they were to participate, it¡¯s almost certain that the top thousand ranks of the ¡®Seven Domains Discourse¡¯ would bepletely dominated by them.¡±


    The dozen or so young cultivators present couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard, feeling an unspeakable shock.


    The ¡®Seven Domains Discourse¡¯ sweeping across the Human Race was even more terrifying than they had imagined!


    ¡­.


    Atop a vast mountain peak, on an empty za, stood a burly cultivator d in a ck robe. Imposing like the mountain itself, he stood at the center of the za, his gaze cutting across the neatly arranged thousand-plus young cultivators in front of him like a knife.


    ¡°The names of the Seven Great Taoist Sects would also be familiar to you, I assume,¡± the burly cultivator asked slowly.


    The more than a thousand young cultivators nodded in unison.


    The name of the Seven Great Taoist Sects is as resounding as thunder; how could they not know of it?


    The Human Race has Seven Domains, and within each domain, there exists a dominant Sect that can be described as having the power to overshadow all.


    These seven mega Sects are the so-called Seven Great Taoist Sects, and each excels in different areas.


    Central State epasses Three Domains, starting with Heavenly Secret Pavillion in Central Heavenly Realm, which is a Spirit Cultivation Holy Land.


    The cultivators of Heavenly Secret Pavillion specialize in the Heavenly Divination Technique, capable of probing the divine will, seeking fortune and avoiding cmity, and holding an encyclopedic knowledge of the world¡¯s information and intelligence. Even the Netherfire Ranking and the rankings of the Four Symbols of Heaven and Earth are determined and issued by the Heavenly Secret Pavillion.


    Moreover, the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, as the Sect with the closest ties to the Great Xia Imperial n, is also the most mysterious and untouchable supreme Sect among the Seven Great Taoist Sects.


    In Central Martial Domain, there is Martial Debate Hall, also known as a Taoist Sect with an almost divine Nether Cultivator heritage, which is the oldest ancient Sect of the Human Race. The Sect has been in existence for at least a hundred thousand years, holding countless Ancient Spells and Divine Skills.


    In Central Spirit Domain, there is Rinsing Spirit Sect, known as the Holy Land for Beast Cultivators. It is the only one among the Seven Great Taoist Sects that rose rapidly during the Chang¡¯an Years and achieved the status of a Taoist Sect.


    Rinsing Spirit Sect excels in nurturing Demon Beasts, and the business of selling these creatures is immensely widespread, covering all Seven Domains of the Human Race.


    It is said that forty percent of the Human Cultivators¡¯ Beast Pets originated from Rinsing Spirit Sect, which speaks volumes about the magnitude of their business.


    Therefore, Rinsing Spirit Sect has been able to develop rapidly during the Chang¡¯an Years and is already showing signs of bing the strongest among the Seven Great Taoist Sects.


    Then there is the Southern Territory, whose towering Sect is named Great Pure Pce, a sacrednd for Dharma Cultivation known for its Thunder Spells among the Human Race.


    Out of the seven attributes of Dharma Cultivation, Thunder Technique is considered the most domineering and powerful. Therefore, among the seven Dharma Cultivating Sects that each specialize in one attribute, only Great Pure Pce has be a Taoist Sect.


    Additionally, since Dharma Cultivators make up thergest proportion and the highest number of cultivators among the Human Race, Great Pure Pce has always been the Sect with the greatest number of cultivators since ancient times.


    In the Western Domain, there is Dragon Elephant Temple, a pilgrimage site for Body Cultivators, aspiring to reach the state of Buddhas and Dragon Elephants, one must first endure as themon beast of burden, a powerful Sect known for its austere practitioners.


    In the Northern Domain, there is a Taoist Sect named Armor Pavilion, the wealthiest Sect among the Human Race.


    The cultivators of Armor Pavilion are skilled in a variety of true practices, presenting endlessly diverse methods, with each disciple protected by numerous Spiritual Artifacts and Spirit Pills.


    The disciples of Armor Pavilion, known for theirvishness, are often referred to as walking treasure troves.


    Lastly, there is the Sword Sect from the Eastern Domain, the Taoist Sect of Sword Cultivation.


    ¡°You all have heard of the news concerning the Seven Domains Conference on Dao; I¡¯m sure I needn¡¯t exin it further.


    ording to the rewards of this Conference, the top hundred will gain an opportunity to enter the Source Realm. You all understand the significance of this,¡± the muscr cultivator said in a slowly and heavily enunciated tone.


    ¡°Great Xia established the Ninth Grade system for Sects. There are a hundred Sects honored as Ninth Grade, referred to as the hundred top Sects.


    Above Ninth Grade are the Seven Great Taoist Sects, which stand on equal footing with Great Xia.


    In this Seven Domains Conference on Dao, the disciples of the Seven Great Taoist Sects and the hundred top Sects act as the organizers and will not participate in thepetition.


    Our White Bone Peak is an Eighth Grade Sect, just a step below them. As the most outstanding disciples of our White Bone Peak, I have only one requirement for you: out of the top hundred, you must secure at least five spots, so as not to tarnish the reputation of our White Bone Peak!¡±


    ¡°As for you,¡± the muscr cultivator turned his gaze to a handsome young man in white robes standing at the front of the young cultivators, ¡°as the current Dao Child of White Bone Peak, my requirement is that you enter the top ten. Do you have any objections?¡±


    The Dao Child of White Bone Peak replied with a faint smile: ¡°Peak Master, in my eyes, there is only first ce!¡±


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 Chapter 303 - 7: Prologue to Chaos

    Chapter 303: Chapter 7: Prologue to Chaos


    South Sea, a small ind.


    At this moment, a young, skinny man dressed in ck, looking travel-worn, wasing off the dock, preparing to head to the town on the ind to rest for a few days.


    Suddenly, the young man pricked up his ears; he heard some interesting topics.


    ¡°Have you heard? The news from the maind¡­¡±


    ¡°Seven Domains discourse¡­ The seven great Taoist Sects¡­ All the geniuses of the Human Race¡­ below fifty years old¡­..¡±


    It was people at the dock discussing the news of the Seven Domains discourse.


    The skinny man paused, a thoughtful smile appeared on his face, ¡°Seven Domains discourse, huh¡­ interesting¡­¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­ Lu mentioned that we would meet again soon, could this be what he meant?¡±


    The next moment, the skinny man turned around, revealing a familiar face.


    It was none other than Mo Yan, Master Mo, who had parted from Lu Qingshan at Jiaolong Ind!


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, no time to waste, let¡¯s head to the maind first!¡± Mo Yan prepared to go to the maind to participate in the Seven Domains discourse that stirred the entire Human Race!


    ¡­.


    This was a vast desert, under the zing sun, with scorching hot sand.


    At this moment.


    A young man dressed in tattered clothes was walking through the desert, struggling to move forward.


    His entire body was bathed in the zing sun.


    Suddenly, a tall figure appeared in mid-air, looking down at the young man below.


    ¡°Yu Xu,¡± the tall figure called out to the young man.


    The young Cultivator named Yu Xu quickly looked up, astonished, ¡°Master, what brings you here?¡±


    The owner of the tall figure looked at Yu Xu and nodded, ¡°Although the fourth gate has not yet opened, even just three gates of the Eight Gates Dunjia are enough for you to dominate Cultivators of the same level.¡±


    After a pause, the tall figure continued, ¡°A never-before-seen prosperous era of the Human Race is about to arrive, Seven Domains discourse¡­¡±


    Once his master had fully exined the matter of the Seven Domains discourse, Yu Xu was utterly astonished, ¡°Master, how is that possible? How could such a legacy of the seven great Taoist Sects be so easily passed on?¡±


    The owner of the tall figure spoke with a meaningful tone, ¡°For the seven great Taoist Sects to make such an unbelievable decision can only indicate one thing, the situation there¡­ is more severe than I imagined.


    Not only will this be an unprecedented prosperous era, but it will also be an unprecedented chaotic era.¡±


    With a sigh, the tall figure then said, ¡°Go participate in the Seven Domains discourse, my Cultivation Technique and secret techniques are not weak, butpared to the Taoist Sects, they are still slightly inferior.


    With your talent, only the Taoist Sects can fully unearth your potential.¡±


    ¡°Master¡­.¡± Yu Xu wanted to say something, but stopped abruptly, because at that moment, the tall figure had already disappeared into thin air.


    ¡°Seven Domains discourse, huh¡­¡± Yu Xu muttered to himself.


    ¡­


    In a small realm filled with thunder, the grand sound of thunder kept echoing.


    At the gathering point of the thunder, sat a bald man over two meters tall, bare-chested.


    The violent thunder became unusually docile around him, at hismand.


    Seeing this, the bald man revealed a satisfied smile.


    ¡°Lin Guihai.¡± Out of nowhere, a grand voice suddenly filled the small realm, echoing in the ears of the bald man.


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°Old man,¡± the bald man, whose real name was Lin Guihai, scratched his head and spoke carefreely, ¡°Is there something you need me for?¡±


    ¡°Go participate in the Seven Domains discourse, I hope the glory of the Lin Family can be revived through you.¡±


    ¡°Seven Domains discourse?¡± Lin Guihai wondered.


    ¡­


    ¡°Discussing the Ways in the Seven Domains?¡±


    In a destend, a young man in white folded the Communication Token in his hand and murmured.


    ¡°Good, a sword must be sharpened to be sharp.¡±


    The next moment, in the void, countless fine swords, thin as hair, suddenly appeared and silently prated the body of the young man in white.


    ¡­..


    Within the vast territories of the Human Race, there were numerous well-known geniuses in various sects and cultivator families.


    Beyond them, there were also many unknown disciples of great power and austere cultivators, but without exception, these people all took notice of this grand event that enveloped the younger generation of the Human Race.


    There is no second ce in martial arts; the more talented one is, the less likely they are to submit to others.


    Even if some geniuses undervalue such events, none could restrain themselves in the face of the rewards offered at the grandpetition.


    They might disregard fame, but as potential powerful cultivators, none could remain indifferent to things that might enhance their strength!


    ¡­


    In the Qingfeng Realm, inside Qianshou Tower.


    The West Rat King, who had just broken through to Third Grade, was still holding his waist and panting as Lu Qingshan was about to tease him, when suddenly his expression changed.


    Because he had received a Spirit Message from Beiming True Venerable, summoning him to Qianshou Tower.


    Was there an incident?


    Lu Qingshan was uncertain, but he could not worry about that now and immediately set off for Qianshou Tower.


    Upon entering Qianshou Tower, Beiming True Venerable, seated at the main seat with a somewhat solemn expression, cast an unusual nce at Lu Qingshan, looking him over from left to right, and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Reached the Golden Core Middle Stage?¡±


    Lu Qingshan respectfully replied, ¡°I had a bit of luck. Some days ago, I stumbled upon a sect relic in Lingxi Prefecture and reaped great benefits.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Beiming True Venerable nodded, ¡°Although it¡¯s a small opportunity, it ultimatelyes from your exceptional talent.


    Advancing from the Golden Core Early Stage to the Golden Core Middle Stage in just over a year is indeed rare.¡±


    ¡°True Venerable tters me,¡± Lu Qingshan said neither humbly nor arrogantly.


    ¡°Take a look, you have been in the Qingfeng Realm during this time and probably haven¡¯t heard this news yet.¡± Beiming True Venerable suddenly threw out a Jade Slip, finally cutting into the main reason he had called him here.


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback and quickly caught the Jade Slip, his Divine Sense probing into it.


    The next moment, his heart trembled.


    ¡°The Great Debate of the Seven Domains¡­¡± Sixrge characters entered his sight.


    Indeed, had the timeline changed once again?


    Although Lu Qingshan was prepared, he felt somewhat helpless.


    It was nothing else; this Discussing the Ways in the Seven Domains, starting nine years earlier, affected him greatly.


    In his previous life, Discussing the Ways in the Seven Domains was the main story line of the third version update in the Nine Heavens.


    It was after the Discussing the Ways in the Seven Domains that yers originally starting in the Southern Territory sailed across the star-studded seas, joining the various sects of the Human Race¡¯s Seven Domains.


    The entire map of the Human Race finally became disyed in front of the many yers for the first time.


    At the same time, Discussing the Ways in the Seven Domains was the only publicly disclosed path to join the Taoist Sect in the ten years of the Nine Heavens.


    Unfortunately, it was from this Discussing the Ways in the Seven Domains that the yers of the previous Nine Heavens first realized they were merely extras in the game¡¯s storyline.


    Before this, although the yers had always only been errand runners in the storyline, getting involved here and there,


    the prevailing thought among most yers was: These major storyline bosses are all old demons who have cultivated for hundreds or even thousands of years; isn¡¯t it normal that we are just ying supporting roles?


    Though now impoverished youth, give us a few more updates, and we wille out to save the world!


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 Chapter 304 - 8 Lu Qingshan’s Weakness

    Chapter 304: Chapter 8 Lu Qingshan¡¯s Weakness


    The release of the ¡°Seven Domains Debate¡± version made the yers suddenly realize that evenpared to NPCs of the same generation, they were mere bystanders, mercilessly thrashed by NPCs in various ways.


    Of course, among such arge number of yers, there were always some with extraordinary talent.


    In the past life, there were yers who sessfully joined the Taoist Sect through the Seven Domains Debate.


    Although few, it was still a possibility.


    Only the Sword Sect was an exception.


    Yes, in the Seven Domains Debate, not a single Sword Cultivator yer managed to enter the Sword Sect.


    Including Lu Qingshan, who also failed¡ªhe was eliminated in the second round of the retest.


    No one joining the Sword Sect was a regret shared by all Sword Cultivator yers, as well as by Lu Qingshan.


    As for the reasons, it wasn¡¯t that Sword Cultivator yers were inferior to yers of other schools.


    It was all due to the Sword Sect¡¯s almost obsessive threshold for recruiting disciples.


    If joining the Taoist Sect was like ascending to the heavens,


    then entering the Sword Sect was even more difficult than that.


    As the overlord Sect of the Eastern Domain and the holynd for all Sword Cultivators, the total number of members in the Sword Sect had never exceeded five thousand!


    What kind of concept is this?


    An ordinary third or fourth-grade Sect would definitively have more than five thousand members.


    In the Taoist Sect, the Great Pure Pce had the most members; even if we only count core disciples, there were more than five thousand. If we include outer sect disciples and Sect management personnel, the total number of people in the Great Pure Pce would reach over a million.


    As part of the Taoist Sect, the fact that the Sword Sect could dominate a territory with only five thousand members was indeed considered a marvel in this world.


    What one cannot obtain is always considered the best; hence, the Sword Sect became the unattainable dream for countless Sword Cultivator yers.


    Facing the chance to start over, Lu Qingshan was determined not to be a supporting character again, and even less inclined to pass by the Sword Sect without joining.


    This was also why he had been willing to remain a Loose Cultivator up until now.


    If one were to join a Sect, it had to be the best Sect.


    If one were to enter an insignificant Sect, they could only learn inconsequential Secret Techniques. What use would it be to learn such things?


    ¡­.


    Beiming True Venerable asked, ¡°Do you know why I have summoned you here?¡±


    Lu Qingshan was startled, then shook his head.


    ¡°I am from the Great Pure Pce,¡± said Beiming True Venerable softly.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of enlightenment, but upon careful thought, it made sense.


    A Void Refining Great Cultivator skilled in Thunder Spells, stationed in the Southern Territory, hailing from the Taoist Sect¡¯s Great Pure Pce famed for Thunder Spells¡ªit was not surprising.


    ¡°The news from our Sect states that Great Xia¡¯s valuation of this Seven Domains Debate is beyond ordinary people¡¯s imagination.


    Apart from the rewards listed publicly for individual Cultivators, there is also a significant amount of hidden resource allocation involved.


    If we, people from the Qing State Tower of Guardianship, achieve good rankings in the Seven Domains Debate, it would be a tremendous aplishment for us.¡±


    ¡°These are matters that we too, hold in high esteem,¡± said Beiming True Venerable, his voice pausing emphatically, ¡°The three Tower Masters decided that we will select a young Cultivator from our Qing State Tower of Guardianship, allocate resources preferentially, and focus on cultivating him to achieve a good cement in the Seven Domains Debate.


    But as you know, due to the special nature of our Tower of Guardianship, most of our Cultivators are of older age, and young Cultivators are scarce.¡±


    ¡°After much consideration, I have rmended you to the Tower Master!¡± Beiming True Venerable¡¯s gaze rested on Lu Qingshan¡¯s handsome face, full of admiration, ¡°As far as I know, you¡¯re only around eighteen years old this year.


    An eighteen-year-old at the Golden Core Middle Stage is a rarity among the Human Race, truly a prodigy.¡±


    A year ago, Beiming True Venerable¡¯s opinion of Lu Qingshan was that he was among the top.


    But after Lu Qingshan¡¯s unimaginably rapid advancement to the Golden Core Middle Stage, his opinion of Lu Qingshan had been elevated to the highest level.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart stirred.


    ¡°`


    To actually receive such extra privileges was something he had not anticipated.


    However, it was exactly what he had been hoping for, so he agreed to it without any hesitation.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan had epted, Beiming True Venerable nodded slightly, ¡°The Tower Master¡¯s intention is, as long as your final ranking is within the top ten thousand in the Southern Territory, it will be considered a great achievement.


    We can offer an additional three Spirit Crystals as a reward!¡±


    Being in the top ten thousand of the Southern Territory was the expectation and request of the Qing State guard tower for Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Three Spirit Crystals?¡± Lu Qingshan was greatly surprised.


    The three Tower Masters were really sparing no expense.


    Even in the rewards for the discussion among the Seven Domains, one would only receive a Spirit Crystal for ranking in the overall top ten thousand.


    But Beiming True Venerable, as long as he made it into the top ten thousand of the Southern Territory, would reward three Spirit Crystals.


    ¡°Yes, three Spirit Crystals,¡± Beiming True Venerable nodded slightly and repeated, then sighed with some regret, ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that the discussion among the Seven Domains came too early.


    At eighteen years of age, in the Golden Core Middle Stage, based solely on talent, he should rank well beyond the top ten thousand of the Southern Territory.¡±


    In his eyes, considering only cultivation talent, Lu Qingshan was definitely capable of ranking among the top in the Seven Domains.


    Unfortunately, this was about the discussion among the Seven Domains, wherebat power and talent were beingpared.


    @@novelbin@@


    Lu Qingshan was silent.


    This was the very issue that troubled him.


    The premature discussion among the Seven Domains had cost him a whole nine years of preparation.


    With the rapid increase in cultivation provided by the Attribute Panel and an iparable talent in the Sword Dao bestowed by the Innate Swordseed, he nearly had no shorings in terms of talent.


    But he had one major weakness.


    ¡ª-His cultivation time was too short.


    He had been cultivating for only three years, and his actual age was not yet neen.


    And the age limit for the discussion among the Seven Domains was under fifty.


    For ordinary cultivators, the concept of time is irrelevant.


    After all, in the world of cultivators, spending a year or two refining a Magic Artifact is amon urrence.


    However, for genius cultivators, especially in the earlier stages, one must look at them in a new light if three days go by without seeing them.


    Take Lu Qingshan himself, for example; the current him could easily dispatch the him from a year ago in an instant.


    Of course, his situation is extreme as other genius cultivators probably couldn¡¯t achieve this extent.


    But for genius cultivators, each year that passes brings about an earth-shattering change to theirbat power and cultivation, and this is indeed a reality.


    The gap between geniuses is inherently small; why should someone who has only cultivated for three years be able to defeat a genius who has cultivated for thirty years?


    The logic is that simple.


    ¡°A cultivator¡¯s strength is determined by cultivation, spells, and the understanding of intent. Your Golden Core Middle Stage cultivation is already far beyond most cultivators, at least you should have no problem sweeping the younger generation of Qing State,¡± Beiming True Venerable exined.


    ¡°However, sweeping the younger generation of Qing State, and being among the top ten thousand in the Southern Territory, is still a significant divide. What follows is that we will do our utmost to help you ascend another rank in strength in the next six months,¡± exined Beiming True Venerable.


    This was the benefit of disying one¡¯s own strength.


    If one pursued keeping a low profile and excessively concealed one¡¯s capabilities, it would fail to draw others¡¯ attention and thus lose many potential opportunities for advantageous exchanges.


    Therefore, in this regard, Lu Qingshan had never deliberately hidden his powers.


    However, even so, Beiming True Venerable still underestimated him.


    He only saw Lu Qingshan¡¯s cultivation at the Golden Core Middle Stage, but he was unaware that Lu Qingshan had already mastered the higher intent of the ughter Sword Intent and the nascent form of Primordial Intent.


    Moreover, in terms of spells, Lu Qingshan was a master of two Secret Sword Techniques.


    Even with just three years of cultivation, reaching the top ten thousand in the Southern Territory was still an easy task for Lu Qingshan!


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 305 - 9 Myriad Swords Art

    Chapter 305: Chapter 9 Myriad Swords Art


    ¡°Cultivation is a process analogous to water dripping through stone, and it¡¯s unrealistic to expect a breakthrough in your Cultivation within half a year,¡± Beiming True Venerable said leisurely.


    ¡°As for Intent, it¡¯s something one must encounter rather than seek;prehension is key. We cannot rush its growth,¡± Beiming True Venerable continued.


    ¡°Therefore, if we want to take your strength to the next level in half a year¡¯s time,


    my idea is to provide you with some assistance in the art of Sword techniques.¡± Beiming True Venerable stared at Lu Qingshan and suddenly asked, ¡°To what extent have you mastered Sword Qi?¡±


    Without evasion, Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind stirred as he summoned the Spiritual Power within his body, instantly producing several fierce strands of Sword Qi.


    However, these tangible fierce strands of Sword Qi gently twisted upon leaving his body, transforming into dozens of faintly visible threads that slipped into the Void, bing difficult to detect.


    ¡°Sword Qi Silk Transformation?¡± Beiming True Venerable eximed in surprise.


    Is this what is called a genius?


    It was the first time such incredulity and admiration had risen in his heart.


    Who isn¡¯t a genius?


    Beiming True Venerable himself, hailing from the Taoist Sect¡¯s Great Pure Pce, had seen far too many geniuses. Even he was considered a genius among his peers.


    So, even after witnessing Lu Qingshan¡¯s Cultivation, while he was impressed and surprised, he had not experienced a feeling of disbelief.


    Now, before Lu Qingshan¡¯s disy of Sword Qi Silk Transformation, even he couldn¡¯t help but feel subjugated.


    Sword Qi Silk Transformation is such an exquisite skill in controlling Sword Qi that it requires mastery of Sword Qi to an extremely subtle degree.


    At the age of neen, not only is his Cultivation astounding, but his mastery over Sword Qi also reaches such a realm.


    Could it be that thisd had begun practicing the sword since his mother¡¯s womb?


    While his mind was tumultuous, Beiming True Venerable quickly concealed his astonishment and adopted a calm demeanor, ¡°Good, since you have reached the realm of Sword Qi Silk Transformation, that¡¯s even better.


    You have crossed the threshold for this Secret Technique, and you can nowmence its Cultivation.


    If, within this half-year period, you can make some progress with this Secret Technique, then it¡¯s not far-fetched to expect your strength to increase by an additional two or three tenths.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart stirred.


    Someone of Beiming True Venerable¡¯s status would not speak thoughtlessly; if he said that Lu Qingshan¡¯s strength could increase by another two or three tenths, then this Secret Technique must be extraordinary!


    Beiming True Venerable stood up and said to Lu Qingshan, ¡°Come with me.¡±


    With no doubt in his mind, Lu Qingshan followed Beiming True Venerable¡¯s lead.


    ¡­.


    Beiming True Venerable led Lu Qingshan all the way to a grand hall situated at the core of the Qingfeng Realm.


    The hall had no name, and its doors were closed tightly.


    Before the hall, there was a Golden Core Cultivator on guard.


    ¡°True Venerable,¡± the guarding Golden Core Cultivator immediately approached and offered a salutation upon seeing Beiming True Venerable.


    Beiming True Venerable waved his hand nonchntly, and the Golden Core Cultivator tactfully retreated to the side.


    In front of the grand hall, Beiming True Venerable performed a spell, and the multipleyers of restraints and lethal traps covering the hall dissipated.


    ¡°Come, enter with me,¡± Beiming True Venerable led the way into the hall.


    This was a very spacious hall, within which stood a total of one hundred and eight pirs exuding a faint green light.


    Above the pirs were several grooves, and within these grooves, Spirit Stones were ced.


    Lu Qingshan nced over and saw that the Spirit Stones ced within the grooves were all Fifth Grade Spirit Stones.


    Moreover, engraved on the floor were hundreds of intricate andplex Taoist Patterns.


    This was an extremely vast Formation, but as for its specific use, Lu Qingshan could not identify,


    it must be a rare and unusual Formation.


    ¡°This ce is called the Great Yan Hall; we, three Tower Masters, usually practice our spells within this hall,¡± Beiming True Venerable exined.


    ¡°`


    It turned out to be a ce where Void Refining Cultivators practiced spells.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart was shocked.


    Beiming True Venerable¡¯s words about tipping the scales of resources to help himself ascend to another level were indeed not just an empty promise.


    But that wasn¡¯t the end of it; Beiming True Venerable produced a Jade Slip in his hand and tossed it to Lu Qingshan, ¡°Take a look.¡±


    Lu Qingshan hurriedly caught the Jade Slip and probed into it with his Divine Sense.


    The Myriad Swords Art Secret Technique.


    This was a battle secret technique rted to the utilization of Sword Qi which could exert the power of Sword Qi to its fullest, even amplifying it.


    Although this secret technique was named the Myriad Swords Art, the ¡®sword¡¯ here did not refer to the tangible swords like Dragon Sparrows but to Sword Qi.


    It was a wondrous secret technique that used Sword Qi as the sword.


    The threshold to enter the ranks of practicing this secret technique was Sword Qi Silk Transformation, and just this step alone blocked innumerable Sword Cultivators.


    No wonder Beiming True Venerable had inquired about his realm of Sword Qi.


    Luckily, Lu Qingshan had already reached the threshold required for cultivating the secret technique.


    He continued to read on.


    The Myriad Swords Art was divided into four realms.


    The first realm, the Ten Swords Faction.


    The second realm, the Hundred Swords Faction.


    The third realm, the Thousand Sword Faction.


    And thest realm, the Myriad Sword Faction.


    Once this technique was mastered, the Sword Qi would be transformed into threads and arrangedyer uponyer in the Void, entwining around the space; the opponent would find themselves as if trapped in Lu Qingshan¡¯s domain, constrained at every turn, unable to move an inch.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan appeared quite interested in the Myriad Swords Art, Beiming True Venerable nodded leisurely, while sweeping his robe at the same time.


    The next instant, the one hundred and eight Spirit Pirs suddenly underwent a violent transformation, with countless wraiths of mist spontaneously forming and swirling throughout the hall.


    The Taoist Patterns on the ground also flickered into action at that moment.


    Heavens spun and the earth revolved, sun and moon shifted, and in the now vast hall where the Spirit Pirs had vanished, myriad marvelous sceneries came into existence.


    @@novelbin@@


    When the scene before Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes stabilized, he found himself standing on a narrow meteorite, half-suspended in mid-air.


    Looking up, there was a serene expanse of stars, and around him floated numerous tiny meteorites, moving in an unpredictable pattern.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Lu Qingshan was a bit astonished.


    ¡°This is a training environment specifically prepared for you to practice the Myriad Swords Art. The meteorite you are on is a safe zone.


    Once you¡¯re ready, you can leave the meteorite beneath your feet. The surrounding meteorites will then automatically attack you.


    What you need to do is to rely solely on your Sword Qi to block all these meteorites without the help of any external forces,¡± Beiming True Venerable exined after a pause.


    ¡°Moreover, although this is just a giant Illusion Array and all the meteorites are simted illusions,


    to give cultivators sufficient pressure, there is Spiritual Power contained within these meteorite illusions, and if you¡¯re not careful and get hit by an attack, you will sustain no small injury.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Lu Qingshan nodded to indicate that he was clear about it.


    ¡°Then that¡¯s settled. I won¡¯t disturb your cultivation.


    In half a year, when the timees, I wille to notify you. You just focus on your cultivation, and don¡¯t worry about anything else,¡± Beiming True Venerable instructed.


    ¡°Thank you, Beiming True Venerable,¡± Lu Qingshan said gratefully.


    Beiming True Venerable nodded slightly, his figure shed, and he disappeared in this void of the Meteorite Formation.


    Lu Qingshan sat cross-legged on the meteorite, contemting the Myriad Swords Art in detail.


    ¡°`


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 Chapter 307 - 11 Name

    Chapter 307: Chapter 11 Name


    In the past half-year, he had been cultivating, and so had the King Rat of the West, who had faithfully been consolidating his cultivation within the Fan Tower.


    Therefore, after leaving the Great Yan Hall, Lu Qingshan first returned to Fan Tower to check on King Rat of the West and, finding the little demon deeply immersed in cultivation, he did not disturb it.


    @@novelbin@@


    He could not bring King Rat of the West with him to the uing Seven Domains Dao Discussion.


    Great Xia had implemented such a rule to prevent powerful ns or major factions from disrupting the order and bnce of the contest by bringing high-rank demon beasts under the pretense of being their descendants¡¯panions, without wanting to impact beast cultivators negatively.


    Thus, it was established that cultivators could only bring contracted demonpanions into the contests of the Seven Domains Dao Discussion.


    And Lu Qingshan had not formed such a so-called contract with King Rat of the West.


    Leaving the Qingfeng Realm and walking through the streets of Fufeng City once again, Lu Qingshan could clearly sense that this state city of Qing State was much more bustling than it had been half a year ago.


    During the past half-year, young cultivators with aspirations from all thirty-six prefectures of Qing State had flocked to Fufeng City, waiting for their chance.


    Amidst the noisy throngs of people, Lu Qingshan could even detect some powerful presences, and a look of understanding shed across his eyes.


    It truly lived up to its reputation as a gathering ce for the outstanding talents of a state; the young cultivators who appeared here had indeed reached a rtively high level.


    Due to the sudden increase in the number of cultivators in the city, a temporary no-fly rule had been enacted in Fufeng City.


    Lu Qingshan could only walk on foot through theplex, maze-like streets, and finally, after half an hour, he arrived at his destination.


    It was an immenselyrge and towering square, capable of amodating tens of thousands of people.


    At the center of the square stood an enormous, golden stele, like a mountain peak, with golden light pulsating and shimmering across its surface.


    This was also the registration site for the Seven Domains Dao Discussion, and even in the final three days, there were still many people crowded around the golden stele.


    As for that golden stele, named the Giant Spirit Stele, it was a spiritual artifact specially refined by Great Xia in coboration with Armor Pavilion for this Seven Domains Dao Discussion. It was evident that on the Giant Spirit Stele, there were densely packed names with age and cultivation disyed after them.


    The function of the Giant Spirit Stele was, first, to verify the ages of the cultivators registering to see if they met the restrictions of the Seven Domains Dao Discussion. If they met the criteria, their names would be disyed on the surface of the stele, signifying sessful registration.


    Second, once the initial test began, those cultivators who had not registered would not be able to directly witness the specifics of the initial test, but their actual ranking would still be disyed in real-time on the Giant Spirit Stele.


    Thirdly, the Giant Spirit Stele also contained a mini realm, which served as the ce for the initial tests in Qing State.


    Of course, the Seven Domains Dao Discussion contests would not take ce in the human world.


    Once a cultivator reached the Golden Core or Foundation Establishment realm, a full disy of their strength would be astoundingly powerful.


    The event where tens of thousands of Foundation Establishment cultivators and numerous Golden Core cultivators gathered would be disastrous, capable of shattering mountains and splitting stones.


    Therefore, the venue for this trial had to be a mini realm!


    ¡­.


    Lu Qingshan honestly trailed at the end of the queue, while his eyes swiftly scanned over the Giant Spirit Stele.


    Even though it was just within one state, a cursory nce by Lu Qingshan was enough to determine that there were nearly forty thousand cultivators participating in this Seven Domains Dao Discussion.


    Most were Foundation Establishment cultivators, but among them, he also spotted the presence of nearly a hundred Golden Core cultivators.


    Soon, Lu Qingshan¡¯s drifting gaze settled on one particr name.


    Lin Kui (49 years old, Golden Core Perfection)


    This was a cultivator who had just reached the age limit, and among those from Qing State participating in the Seven Domains Dao Discussion, he had the highest level of cultivation.


    It was precisely because the plot had started early that this cultivator named Lin Kui was able to participate in this Seven Domains Dao Discussion.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind was filled with racing thoughts, and finally, it was his turn.


    ¡°Name,¡± the cultivator from Great Xia tasked with registration asked without lifting his head.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan.¡±


    ¡°ce your hand on the Giant Spirit Stele,¡± the Great Xia cultivator instructed.


    Lu Qingshan nodded, extended his right palm, and gently touched the cold surface of the stele.


    The moment his palm made contact with the Giant Spirit Stele, he clearly felt a very unique strength meandering out from it, flowing along his palm that was in contact with the stele and surging into his physical body, inspecting every part of him.


    A momentter, a golden light shed upon the Giant Spirit Stele, and a name slowly emerged.


    Lu Qingshan (18 years old, Golden Core Middle Stage).


    The Great Xia cultivator nced indifferently at the name on the Giant Spirit Stele, nodded naturally, and said nonchntly, ¡°Meets the requirements, just be on time for the preliminary test in three days¡­¡±


    The next moment, his words came to an abrupt halt as he saw the cultivation and age next to the name, his breathing suddenly became rapid, ¡°Eighteen years old, Golden Core Middle Stage?!¡±


    When he turned his head to take a good look at the face of the young cultivator called Lu Qingshan, Lu Qingshan had already disappeared into the crowd.


    A hint of regret rose in the Great Xia cultivator¡¯s heart.


    Because he knew that this name would likely soon be an existence beyond his imagination.


    ¡­..


    Three dayster.


    The city of Fufeng had reached an unprecedented peak of excitement through half a year¡¯s brewing.


    All the young cultivators had eyes filled with fervent anticipation.


    They came from all the major jurisdictions, to this state city, all for the chance to pass the preliminary test of the Seven Domains Dao Discussion, to reach the faraway Central Martial Domain, to secure a decent score in the secondary test, and ultimately to gain the attention of Taoist Sect or a top-tier Ninth Grade sect, thereby making a meteoric rise.


    Caught up in this atmosphere, even the cultivators who had no qualifications to participate in the Seven Domains Dao Discussion could not help but feel a surge of hot-blooded enthusiasm, and they all rushed to the square where the Giant Spirit Stele was located.


    They too wanted to see who would be the number one figure among the young generation of cultivators from Qing State!


    While the city was in uproar, Lu Qingshan was also walking leisurely to the site of the preliminaries.


    His expression,pared to others, was exceptionally calm.


    Because he had participated in the Seven Domains Dao Discussion before, it wasn¡¯t exactly fresh anymore, let alone the fact that this time, the participation was just limited to a small preliminary trial in Qing State.


    His horizons had always been set on the entire younger generation of the Human Race from the beginning.


    So, this preliminary trial looked to him merely like a minor event, indeed nothing to get too excited about.


    When Lu Qingshan arrived at the square where the Giant Spirit Stele was located, he could see the Giant Spirit Stele glowing, casting a huge and immense screen of light that spread out in a ring shape to the edge of sight, while the square was packed with a sea of people.


    Seeing this scene, a smile also appeared on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face. He had been preparing for the Seven Domains Dao Discussion for three years.


    This time, no matter how difficult it was, this Sword Sect, which had not had any yers join since his rebirth, was a must for him to join!


    Lu Qingshan walked confidently towards the light screen, which flickered slightly, and allowed him to easily enter through the light screen.


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 Chapter 308 - 12 The Initial Test Begins

    Chapter 308: Chapter 12 The Initial Test Begins


    Within the light curtain, a nce revealed it was filled with human figures, wearing varied attire and exuding distinctly different auras. A sweep of the eyes revealed that most were very young faces.


    Here, it almost encapsted the most outstanding cultivators of the current generation in Qing State.


    The myriad gazes moved across the sky and finally converged on the Giant Spirit Stele.


    There, the City Lord of Fufeng City stood with his hands behind his back, suspended in midair.


    Yes, the cultivator presiding over this year¡¯s ¡®Seven Domains Conve¡¯ preliminaries in Qing State was indeed the esteemed City Lord of Fufeng City.


    ¡°All cultivators participating in the ¡®Seven Domains Conve¡¯ Qing State preliminaries, please be aware; the preliminary trial location will be within the Minor Realm inside the Giant Spirit Stele, known as the Giant Spirit Realm of Qing State,¡± a robust voice emanated from the mouth of the City Lord of Fufeng, resonating in the ears of all cultivators, ¡°Anyone who engraves their name on the Giant Spirit Stele will be allowed entry into the Giant Spirit Realm of Qing State.¡±


    The next moment, the City Lord of Fufeng¡¯s expression turned solemn, ¡°The rules of this preliminary are also quite straightforward. The Giant Spirit Realm consists of nineyers that will begin to shrink after your entry.


    What you need to do is make your way to the nextyer. Those who fail to advance to the nextyer before the realm shrinks will be squeezed out of the Giant Spirit Realm, meaning elimination.


    Ultimately, when only one thousand cultivators remain within the Giant Spirit Realm, this preliminary trial will be dered over,¡± he announced.


    Nearly forty thousand cultivators,peting for one thousand spots.


    Even if it was just the preliminaries, its cruelty was beyond the imagination of others.


    ¡°However, let me make it clear, in these preliminaries, causing death to another is not allowed!¡± The City Lord of Fufeng¡¯s gaze suddenly grew sharp, sweeping across the crowd and causing the color of many to change, immediately silencing them like cicadas in winter.


    In short, the Qing State preliminaries embody four characters: Survival of the fittest!


    Seeing that the time hade, the City Lord of Fufeng said no more. He formed a spell with his hands and moved his mind.


    Immediately, a cascade of golden light fell from the Giant Spirit Stele, enveloping all the participating cultivators, and they disappeared from the za.


    ¡­..


    This ce was a vast ind suspended in midair. Even with nearly forty thousand cultivators entering, they were evenly dispersed.


    Having participated in a ¡®Seven Domains Conve¡¯ before, Lu Qingshan, upon entering the Giant Spirit Realm, had memories of this scene resurface.


    The entire Giant Spirit Realm now resembled a circle, with these people uniformly dispersed at the very edge of this circr ind, which was the firstyer.


    Behind them, was a Golden Light Shield.


    Within the Golden Light Shield was considered the safe zone.


    As soon as these cultivators entered the Giant Spirit Realm, the Golden Light Shield began to move gradually at a uniform speed, starting to shrink inward.


    Without hesitation, the dull Peach Blossom Sword left his body.


    Without surveying the specific situation too much, given his familiarity with this ce, Lu Qingshan immediately began Sword Control, swiftly heading towards the secondyer of the Giant Spirit Realm.


    Having only traveled a few miles, Lu Qingshan encountered the first cultivator in the Giant Spirit Realm, a Foundation Establishment cultivator of unknown identity and sect.


    Seeing the lightning-fast and blustering arrival of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Light, that cultivator was suddenly terrified, hurriedly moving aside to clear the way and dodging past.


    But when he looked back to find someone else, he discovered the area was empty; the Sword Cultivator had already gone far, leaving behind only a dull trail of Sword Light.


    ¡°I just wanted to say hello¡­ Was the first cultivator I met that strong?¡± the cultivator muttered, his already scant confidence nearly extinguished at that moment.


    After all, that cultivator¡¯s Sword Control Technique was so fast it was somewhat beyond hisprehension.


    ¡°And why is this person in such a hurry right after entering the Giant Spirit Realm, not even taking the time to understand the specific circumstances within the realm?¡± wondered the cultivator, feeling increasingly anxious.


    With such speed and decisive action from the Sword Cultivator, and his own dawdling, wouldn¡¯t he just get left even further behind?


    Thinking so, the cultivator bit his lip, threw caution to the wind, and followed in the direction the Sword Cultivator had taken.


    ¡­


    Lu Qingshan headed straight for the secondyer of the Giant Spirit Realm. Although he encountered many cultivators along the way, firstly, the preliminaries did not permit ughter, and secondly, his speed of Sword Control had reached a terrifying level.


    As he traveled along, surprisingly no one dared to provoke him, even deliberately clearing the way for him.


    An hourter.


    Suddenly, the road ahead was interrupted by a hazy sea of clouds.


    Though still distant, he could already feel the storms and pressure emanating from the cloud sea, darting around were innumerable clusters of Spiritual Power.


    This was the first checkpoint of the Giant Spirit Realm, an insurmountable ravine for many cultivators, known as the Spiritual Energy Storm Layer.


    Within the cloud sea, there were all sorts of irregr Spiritual Energy Storms of varying sizes, strengths, and directions; crossing thisyer really required some techniques.


    And if by any chance one was struck down by a Spiritual Power cluster, falling outside the protection of the Golden Light Shield below, that would signify the end of their preliminary trials.


    Of course, if one chose to wait in the firstyer until the outer shrinking Golden Light Shield contracted to this point, it too would result in elimination.


    Lu Qingshan, however, was utterly fearless and without the slightest hesitation, he leapt directly into the stormyer.


    Various forms of Spiritual Energy Storms immediately surged towards him¡ªtornadoes, wind shears shifting forms, and crosswinds sweeping around, trying to disturb his direction of advance.


    But once Lu Qingshan¡¯s robust Spiritual Power was exerted, his form remained unshakeably steady, advancing in a precise direction.


    At the same time, a fierce Sword Qi Separated from his body, instantly transforming into a hundred Sword Qi Fments that roamed about his surroundings.


    Whenever a wandering Spiritual Power cluster attacked him, the Sword Qi Fments acted like Flying Swords, leaving his body and crushing these clusters one by one.


    This scene somewhat resembled the Meteorite Formation within the Great Yan Hall, butpared to the pressure exerted by the Meteorite Formation, these Spiritual Power clusters seemed a bit like lesser shamans meeting a great one.


    In just a moment, Lu Qingshan had nearly reached the end of the stormyer.


    The surrounding fluctuations of Spiritual Energy gradually returned to normal.


    The next instant, Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened, and he leaped forward.


    He had arrived at a slightly smaller ind, looking back, the cloud sea of the stormyer was like fluff, thick and imprable, still revealing no trace of any other cultivator.


    This was the secondyer ind of the Giant Spirit Realm.


    He had already put quite a distance between himself and the other cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan did not dwell on his progress, with a leap of his form, he moved forward to the nextyer ind.


    ¡­.


    Outside, as cultivators entered the Giant Spirit Realm, the Spiritual Light on the Giant Spirit Stele alsopletely vanished, leaving only those shining names of cultivators, all crowded together, currently indistinguishable.


    @@novelbin@@


    Because at this time, all the cultivators were on the firstyer ind, without any noticeable gap between them, and simrly, none had been eliminated yet.


    Once eliminated, a person¡¯s name would disappear from the Giant Spirit Stele.


    Many cultivators were paying attention to the names on the Giant Spirit Stele, these were rtives of the cultivators participating in the trials, be it n elders, fellow sect members, spiritual masters, or Daopanions¡­


    The crowd exceeded even the number of participating cultivators, bustling and lively.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity we can¡¯t see the detailed situation in these trials; just looking at names grouped together like this doesn¡¯t really convey much,¡± a middle-aged cultivator watching his disciplemented to the Giant Spirit Stele, smacking his lips.


    ¡°That¡¯s understandable. It would be manageable if it were individual Magical Combat, but with so many cultivators involved simultaneously, it really is difficult to disy the detailed situation indeed,¡± said a knowledgeable cultivator. ¡°But you¡¯re right, just looking at the names, you really can¡¯t discern much. It¡¯s a bit dull.¡±


    No sooner had the voices fallen,


    then a name on the Giant Spirit Stele burst forth in an intense golden light, capturing everyone¡¯s attention.


    In the astonished gazes of the crowd, this name surged with radiance, pushing past all other names with an unstoppable momentum, and moved into the secondyer area disyed on the Giant Spirit Stele.


    That name was:


    Lu Qingshan (18 years old, Golden Core Middle Stage).


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 Chapter 309 - 13 Shock

    Chapter 309: Chapter 13 Shock


    The cultivators present froze in shock the moment they saw that name followed by age and cultivation level, rendered speechless by their astonishment.


    Eighteen years old at the Golden Core Middle Stage?


    In their minds, this was simply inconceivable.


    It was important to note that nearly forty thousand cultivators had participated in the preliminary trial in Qing State, yet among them, those who had achieved Golden Core Cultivation were less than a hundred, at best.


    Not to mention that among these fewer than a hundred, all were invariably cultivators who were thirty years and older, except for this Lu Qingshan.


    They could only imagine the immense shock that this cultivator called Lu Qingshan would cause throughout Qing State.


    ¡­


    ¡°Great Elder, could this Lu Qingshan be that Qing Ling fellow¡¯s son¡­..?¡±


    In a secluded corner, a middle-aged cultivator cautiously spected with an elder beside him.


    They were none other than the Great Elder Lu Zhou and the Family Head Lu Yuan from the Lu Family of Zhenjiang, who had brought their young kinsfolk to participate in the Qing State preliminary trials.


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°The age does line up, but wasn¡¯t he only at the Foundation Establishment stage when he left Zhenjiang¡­..¡± Lu Zhou¡¯s face also showed a hint of confusion. After pondering for a long time, he finally shook his head, ¡°I really have no idea¡­¡±


    Emotionally, he naturally hoped that this Lu Qingshan was that brat.


    But logically, he understood that the likelihood was slim¡ªhow could Lu Qingshan have advanced from Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core Middle Stage in just two years after leaving Zhenjiang?


    Impossible¡­.


    It should¡­ be impossible, right?


    Even though he kept telling himself to stay calm, Lu Zhou¡¯s breathing unintentionally became rapid, his heart aze.


    What if it really is that kid?


    Feeling the countless urgent breaths around him, the usuallyposed Great Elder of the Lu Family couldn¡¯t help but slowly clench his hand hidden in his sleeve, a glimmer of hope rising in his heart.


    He was quite aware of the tremendous impact it would have on the Lu Family if this Lu Qingshan was indeed the same as that Lu Qingshan.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the square, there was also a group of people gathering.


    Their attire was simr, clearly indicating they were part of the same n.


    At their forefront stood a ck-robed middle-aged man.


    The man had his hands sped behind his back, his face seeming calm but his eyes hid a deep shadow.


    ¡°Who is this Lu Qingshan, and why has Kui¡¯er not caught up yet?¡± he was the Family Head of the Lin Family from Fufeng.


    Among the cultivators participating in the Qing State preliminary trial, the only one with Golden Core Perfection cultivation was Lin Kui, his son, from their Lin Family.


    Lin Kui¡¯s Golden Core Perfection cultivation had already attracted much attention.


    Even in most people¡¯s eyes, the title of first ce in the Qing State selection for the Seven Domains Martial Meeting almost certainly belonged to Lin Kui.


    But unexpectedly, his start was not smooth.


    The Lin Family Head stared intently at the name on the Giant Spirit Stele, contemting something in his mind.


    He was not aware of the specific details of the preliminary trial, but if a cultivator with Golden Core Middle Stage could reach the secondyer, there was no reason for his son Kui¡¯er, with Golden Core Perfection cultivation, to be so far behind!


    Finally, after half an hour, amid bursts of amazed exmations rising from the square, another name burst into golden light, charging to the secondyer as if sweeping all obstacles aside.


    Once the light faded, the disy showed:


    Lin Kui (Forty-nine years old, Golden Core Perfection).


    He had finally caught up.


    The Lin Family Head pursed his lips, thinking this to himself, his confidence firming up once again.


    This Lu Qingshan¡¯s talent was indeed stunning, but Kui¡¯er was definitely not inferior.


    And no matter what, Kui¡¯er was after all thirty years his senior, and two minor realms higher in cultivation; this was a significant advantage that could not be easily eradicated.


    If there is a Lu, why should there be a Liang, the title of the best of Qing State¡¯s younger generation undoubtedly belonged to Kui¡¯er!


    If there¡¯s to be me, it¡¯s only because the timing of this Seven Domains Discourse came too coincidentally.


    If it hade just a yearter, Kui¡¯er would have surpassed the age of fifty and would not have been eligible to participate in the Seven Domains Discourse, then no one would have been able topete with you.


    Perhaps this is Kui¡¯er¡¯s destiny.


    The thoughts of the Lin Family Head were in turmoil, but shortly after, a wave of even louder uproar abruptly interrupted his reverie.


    He lifted his eyelids slightly and saw the Giant Spirit Stele shining brightly with golden light once again.


    Just like before, the golden light ascended forcefully as if cutting through bamboo, and finally, amid the astonished gazes all around, it squeezed into the thirdyer.


    Lu Qingshan (eighteen years old, Golden Core Middle Stage).


    At this moment, the entire Giant Spirit Stele was divided into three sections.


    The thirdyer, one person, Lu Qingshan.


    The secondyer, one person, Lin Kui.


    And the countless names still on the firstyer.


    The Lin Family Head¡¯s expression instantly stiffened.


    ¡­..


    Inside the Giant Spirit Realm of Qing State.


    Lu Qingshan controlled his sword with incredible speed, so in the blink of an eye, he arrived at the boundary between the second and thirdyer of the Suspended Sea Inds.


    It was stillyers uponyers of rolling and howling Spiritual Energy Storms, only now, the clusters of spiritual energy within were even more fierce, like beams of five-colored radiance shooting out.


    Thisyer of cloud sea was also deeper and more violent than what he had experienced before.


    Lu Qingshan, without any hesitation, charged into this surgingyer of storms with tens of Sword Qi Fments.


    In thisyer of Spiritual Energy Storm, the power of the wind was indeed much stronger, but that was all.


    If memory serves, the stormyers of the first five levels within the Giant Spirit Realm all belonged to the challenges that Foundation Establishment Cultivators could pass, and the difficulty was not great.


    The main challenge was the wide expanse of the stormyer, where moving forward required a great deal of Spiritual Power to resist the storms, and the safe zones were constantly shrinking, leaving no time for the cultivators to Restore Spiritual Power.


    Such an unsustainable situation would lead to arge number of cultivators falling out of thepetition due to insufficient cultivation as they traverse the Spiritual Energy Stormyer.


    An hourter, Lu Qingshan burst through the clouds and leapt out!


    This moment was nearly indistinguishable from the time when Lin Kui entered the secondyer, which was why the scene observed by the outsiders urred.


    ¡­.


    Outside, half a day had passed, and the names on the Giant Spirit Stele had already changed drastically.


    It was evident that the names on the firstyer of the Giant Spirit Stele had vanished into thin air, with even the least capable cultivators¡¯ names now ranking in the secondyer.


    That¡¯s because, at this time, the safe zone within the Giant Spirit Realm had already shrunk to the Suspended Sea Inds of the secondyer.


    The cultivators participating in the preliminary trials either had to break through to the secondyer within the allotted time or they would be eliminated, with no third option avable.


    And the densely packed names on the Giant Spirit Stele had already disappeared by a small half at this time.


    In a corner of the square, arge number of young cultivators appeared.


    They were the first batch of cultivators to be eliminated.


    Some quietly left after their elimination,


    but many chose to stay and watch the situation of the preliminary trials.


    Although they were eliminated, they too wanted to see who the most outstanding among Qing State¡¯s young generation of cultivators would be.


    Afterward, their hearts began to pound fiercely.


    Because the situation of the trials within the realm, as disyed on the Giant Spirit Stele, was truly stunning to them.


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 Chapter 310 - 14, Level 8

    Chapter 310: Chapter 14, Level 8


    The name called Lu Qingshan, with a stable and shocking speed, advanced step by step without seeming to be affected by anything at all.


    ¡°The Sixth Layer!¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    A light exmation came from the crowd, followed by another burst of surprised outcries.


    The name had already steadily ascended to the Sixth Layer, while Lin Kui¡¯s name was still hovering above the Third Layer.


    All the other Cultivators¡¯ names were in the Second Layer region.


    Half an hourter, when Lin Kui¡¯s name squeezed into the Fourth Layer region, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Lin Kui was catching up.


    ¡°It¡¯s moving again, it¡¯s moving again!¡±


    But no sooner had the hushed breath settled than the exmation exploded once more.


    Then everyone saw that name on the Sixth Layer, once again climbing up, unwaveringly moving toward the position of the Seventh Layer.


    ¡°Family Head, this Lu Qingshan is really no simple character. It¡¯s just that we don¡¯t know his background, why he was always unheard of before this,¡± said an elder beside the Lin Family Head, his face showing a contemtive look and he spoke with a grave tone, ¡°A Golden Core Cultivator this young shouldn¡¯t be unknown. Could he be the disciple of some reclusive great cultivator?¡±


    ¡°He is indeed no simple matter.¡± Although the Lin Family Head¡¯s heart was heavy, he wouldn¡¯t deceive himself and nodded slowly, ¡°Is Qing State truly so filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers?


    I had thought that with Kui¡¯er¡¯s Golden Core Perfection, he would undoubtedly be the first in Qing State, and even making it into the top thousand of the Southern Territory would not be difficult¡­


    Now it seems, I was rash, underestimating the Cultivators of the world¡­¡±


    ¡­.


    On the Giant Spirit Stele, golden light shimmered, with more and more people fixing their eyes on the name at the top of the list.


    As if the name Lu Qingshan contained an infinite attraction, they could not take their eyes off it.


    Golden light shed again, and that name crawled upwards again.


    ¡°The Seventh Layer!¡±


    The noisy square, at this moment, eerily became much quieter.


    Because at this time, Lin Kui, who was in second ce, was still on the Fourth Layer!


    When would this unstoppable momentume to a halt?


    This question shed through everyone¡¯s mind.


    Sometimeter, they numbly found that the name¡¯s climbing momentum hadn¡¯t stopped, shining with golden light once more and climbing up another position.


    The Eighth Layer: Lu Qingshan!


    Some people groaned out loud right away.


    What demon or specter was this Lu Qingshan?


    An extremely conspicuous discontinuity had appeared before them.


    Lin Kui, whom they had the highest hopes for, had only just made it to the Fifth Layer, the sole person there.


    There were seventeen names on the Fourth Layer, all Golden Core Cultivators.


    Further back, they were all concentrated in the Third Layer region.


    ¡­¡­


    Lu Qingshan, with a lunge and a crash, burst out of the violent Spiritual Energy Stormyer and had already leapt onto a Suspended Sea Ind, which was hundreds of times narrower than the one before.


    On this ind, even the Spiritual Energy Stormyer below was right in front, visible to the naked eye.


    Because, this was the Eighth Layer of the Suspended Sea Inds in the Giant Spirit Realm.


    His forward steps never stopped.


    So in just one short day, he had almost entirely swept through the Giant Spirit Realm.


    Throughout his journey, he had encountered several cultivators on the suspended sea inds of the firstyer. But from that point on, he stood out from the crowd, never seeing anyone else again.


    Lu Qingshan once again took control of his sword and flew upward, rushing towards thestyer, the Spiritual Energy Stormyer.


    An almost imperceptible sense of wildness emanated from the thick stormyer even before he entered, which was truly rming.


    As far as the eye could see, countless massive groups of Spiritual Energy roamed, an astonishing sight indeed.


    In thisstyer of the Spiritual Energy Storm, the attacking power of these Spiritual Energy groups wasparable to that of a Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator.


    The only relief was that these Spiritual Energy groupscked consciousness; they were merely pure violent Spiritual Power collisions, not particrly draining mentally to deal with, as it sufficed to simply disperse them with strikes.


    However, on this final stormyer, the frequency and power of the Spiritual Energy groups increased, bing so great that even Lu Qingshan could no longer handle them effortlessly.


    Nevertheless, he knew that reaching the eighthyer of suspended sea inds would signify not just securing one of the thousand ces for Qing State¡¯s secondary trial, but also undoubtedly securing a spot among the top ten in the preliminary trial.


    Yet, gazing at the seemingly perilous stormyer before him, Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart stirred.


    He realized that the intensity of this Spiritual Energy Stormyer seemed to be on par with the Meteorite Formation in the Great Yan Hall¡ªdidn¡¯t it?


    What was insurmountable for others was not an obstacle for him.


    But that wasn¡¯t what he was thinking about.


    ¡ªPerhaps he could use this Spiritual Energy Stormyer as his own Meteorite Formation to practice his Myriad Swords Art?


    With this thought, Lu Qingshan decisively leaped into the fray. A gale whirled around him, buffeting his figure, while the violent groups of Spiritual Power began to sprint about.


    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, Sword Qi Fments crisscrossed, confronting the oing assault of Spiritual Energy groups.


    ¡­.


    Above the Giant Spirit Stele.


    One name after another began to fade.


    Then, one cultivator after another was eliminated, appearing in the square.


    At this moment, no one cared about that scene.


    All that remained in everyone¡¯s mind was a single thought.


    Would that name be able to make it to the finalyer?


    Everyone¡¯s gaze heated up, staring unblinkingly at that seemingly unremarkable name.


    They knew that if that name kept advancing with the momentum it had shown earlier, then he would be the undisputed number one among the young generation of cultivators in Qing State!


    Everyone was well aware of the tremendousmotion it would cause in Qing State should the next scene unfold.


    An eighteen-year-old topping the Qing State preliminary trials!


    ¡­


    Yet, under the watchful eyes of so many, that name didn¡¯t leap upwards as expected. Instead, it stopped, standing firm and unyielding.


    After a long time, when it became certain that this was the end, everyone¡¯s emotions were somewhatplex.


    There was both regret and some schadenfreude.


    The regret stemmed from the miracle they hoped for not materializing.


    The schadenfreude came because everyone harbors negative thoughts at times, not wanting to see others seed.


    ¡°Has he reached his limit?¡± The Lin Family Head murmured upon seeing this scene, ¡°Indeed, while his momentum has been earth-shattering, with his Golden Core Middle Stage cultivation, the eighthyer must be his limit, right?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­¡± A gleam shed in the eyes of the Lin Family Head as he looked at the name of Lin Kui, who had made it to the sixthyer while Lu Qingshan¡¯s name hade to a halt.


    ¡°Then Kui¡¯er still has a chance!


    Though his speed is much slower than Lu Qingshan¡¯s, as long as Kui¡¯er can break through to the ninthyer in the end, the title of Qing State¡¯s number one will still belong to Kui¡¯er!


    After all, no matter how fast one runs, if the finish line isn¡¯t reached in the end, it counts for nothing¡­¡±


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 Chapter 311 - 15 Lin Kui

    Chapter 311: Chapter 15 Lin Kui


    When Lin Kui broke through to the eighthyer of the ind, what he saw was a young and extremely handsome cultivator standing still at the edge of thestyer of the storm, with his eyes closed, as if he was restoring his spiritual power.


    Lin Kui was first shocked in his heart.


    Such a young Golden Core Cultivator!


    He then suddenly felt a sense of wariness.


    Someone actually got to this eighthyer of the ind before me?


    But looking at the situation, it seems like he had overexerted himself earlier on, and his spiritual power could not keep up, so he had to stop.


    Thinking this way, Lin Kui felt a sense of smugness in his heart.


    All the way here, he had kept the consumption of his spiritual power at an appropriate level, even slowing down his pace for this reason. Therefore, he still had fifty percent of his spiritual power remaining in his dantian now.


    Sure enough, still too young,cking experience. He burst out too fiercely at the front and nowcks staying power.


    Lin Kui greeted Lu Qingshan, ¡°I am Lin Kui of the Lin Family from Fufeng, may I know how to address this fellow daoist?¡±


    He kept a very appropriate distance from Lu Qingshan, one that wouldn¡¯t cause any displeasure.


    Quite an insightful person.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself, while his eyelids slightly lifted, he replied, ¡°Lu Qingshan.¡±


    ¡°Fellow Daoist Lu,¡± Lin Kui nodded, pointed towards the stormyer rampant with spiritual energy, and said with a loudugh, ¡°Then, I shall take the lead.¡±


    Though there was no hint of mockery, the sense of pride was undoubtedly revealed in his tone.


    The next moment, Lin Kui leaped into the stormyer, with a misty green light shining on him.


    ¡°A Dharma Cultivation who is proficient in wind techniques?¡± Lu Qingshan nced at the situation and muttered, ¡°That¡¯s indeed rare.¡±


    Soon, Lu Qingshan focused back on restoring his spiritual power.


    For the sake of practicing the Myriad Swords Art, he had already stayed in this stormyer for a day before Lin Kui¡¯s arrival.


    Thestyer of the stormyer exerted even more pressure on him than the Meteorite Formation because of the influence of the various spiritual energy storms.


    Under the high-intensity training of such a stormyer, both his spiritual power and divine sense were greatly consumed.


    Of course, the gains were good too; in just this short day, the Myriad Swords Art had improved from Three Hundred and Sixty Swords to Three Hundred and Seventy Swords.


    An hourter.


    When Lu Qingshan had recovered to seventy percent of his peak state, he suddenly opened his eyes.


    Looking at the stormyer ahead full of rampaging spiritual mechanisms, he shed forward, once again leaping into it.


    But this time, he was no longer using the stormyer as a training ground, but was heading straight for the Giant Spirit Realm¡¯s ninthyer.


    ¡­.


    Lin Kui focused his mind and traveled through the stormyer at a rapid pace.


    Being proficient in wind techniques, he was also quite sensitive to the direction of the storms in the stormyer.


    This allowed him to use the wind to his advantage more often when breaking through the stormyer, unlike Lu Qingshan, who directly confronted the violent tornado.


    Thus, all along the way, his spiritual power had been maintained in a rtively good state.


    He rxed his body, propelled by the violent wind, flying forward. However, it wasn¡¯t as easy as imagined.


    The direction of the spiritual mechanisms within the stormyer was erratic, with the intensity fluctuating wildly. Sometimes it was like a violent wind technique deployed by a Golden Core Cultivator, other times it shifted to amon gale within heaven and earth.


    His speed fluctuated with the flow, bing fast and slow unpredictably and difficult to control. On top of that, he had to deal with the increasingly frequent attacks of spiritual energy clusters.


    Fortunately, he was, after all, a cultivator at Golden Core Perfection. Although it was somewhat difficult, he was still progressing steadily overall.


    Whoosh!


    Just at that moment, a whizzing, buzzing sound suddenly reached Lin Kui¡¯s ears from behind.


    What¡¯s happening?


    He couldn¡¯t help but look back, and then his heart shook.


    It was that very same Lu Daoist friend, rapidly catching up from behind with his Sword Control Technique!


    How could this be? In such a ce where spiritual machines are chaotic, how dare he brazenly use Escape Technique?


    In the stormyer, the faster one¡¯s own speed, the shorter the reaction time to those sudden bursts of Spiritual Power.


    Moreover, due to the high-speed movement, the power of the Spiritual Power burst hitting the body would also be multiplied several-fold.


    Therefore, in the stormyer, treading cautiously with a more stable speed was the best method he had figured out for braving the Spiritual Energy Stormyer.


    And at this moment, Lu Qingshan was shattering his conception.


    The next moment, Lin Kui¡¯s eyes suddenly hardened, and he secretly thought that Lu Qingshan was about to suffer greatly.


    Because at that moment, there were four massive clusters of Spiritual Energy as if attracted by Lu Qingshan¡¯s unrestrained disturbance of the spiritual machines, assaulting him simultaneously.


    But in the very next instant, Lin Kui found that there wasn¡¯t a trace of panic on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face.


    In his astonished gaze, dozens of Sword Qi, like swimming fish, meandered out from the void surrounding the sword cultivator, as though swimming through water with full Spiritual Nature, dividing into four groups and seeking out the four iing Spiritual Energy clusters.


    Boom!


    The two collided and then dissipated together.


    And Lu Qingshan¡¯s speed was not affected in the slightest.


    ¡°What Spell is this?¡± Lin Kui¡¯s heart surged.


    ¡°Fellow Lin,¡± Lu Qingshan had already caught up with Lin Kui in the blink of an eye, and was now paralleling him.


    @@novelbin@@


    He slightly paused his figure, intentionally stopping to nod seriously at Lin Kui, gesturing towards the violently surging Spiritual Energy Stormyer up ahead, and said with a brightugh, ¡°Then I shall take my leave first.¡±


    Whoosh!


    In the next instant, Lu Qingshan burst forward, his form disappearing into the midst of the Spiritual Energy Storm ahead.


    ¡°Young master,¡± Qin Yitian¡¯s light chuckle echoed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s ears, ¡°you really know how to annoy someone¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Gazing at Lu Qingshan¡¯s gradually vanishing figure, Lin Kui pursed his lips, ¡°They say the more talented the sword cultivator, the more unrestrained in temperament, indeed they did not deceive me¡­¡±


    mboyant, maverick, these are thebels on a sword cultivator.


    For this group of people often do things that seem to others to be very indulgent, willful, or arrogantly defiant.


    In the eyes of the sword cultivator, this is called being true to one¡¯s heart; in the eyes of those who adore sword cultivators, this behavior is called romance.


    ¡°Unfortunately, with the speed of a sword cultivator¡¯s Sword Control, I suppose I just can¡¯t catch up with him,¡± Lin Kui thought with some regret, though he didn¡¯t care too much.


    After all, the Sword Control of sword cultivators is known to be the fastest Escape Technique in the cultivation world; it was only natural that he couldn¡¯tpare to Lu Qingshan in this aspect.


    Moreover, the initial test in Qing State only required the top one thousand without specifying exact rankings. Although he had some designs on being the first to reach the ninthyer, he didn¡¯t necessarily insist on it.


    The Seven Domains discourse has just begun!


    A Golden Core Middle Stage sword cultivator does indeed surpass him at the moment.


    But he also firmly believed that during the subsequent Seven Domains discourse, once it came to showing true capability, the one who wouldugh at thest would definitely be him.


    After all, he was at Golden Core Perfection.


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 Chapter 312 - 16 The Initial Test Ends

    Chapter 312: Chapter 16 The Initial Test Ends


    Above the square.


    When Lin Kui¡¯s name appeared on the eighth level of the Giant Spirit Stele, alongside Lu Qingshan¡¯s name, a thought flickered in everyone¡¯s mind.


    Indeed, was the strongest still Lin Kui at Golden Core Perfection?


    Meanwhile, the Lin Family Head, who was nervously watching the changes in the rankings on the Giant Spirit Stele, could not hide a hint of joy, his eyes shing brightly, ¡°Well done, next, surpass him!¡±


    For Lin Kui personally, he did not ce much importance on the preliminary trial of Qing State, which did not specify exact rankings.


    But as the head of the Lin Family, what he cared about waspletely different from that of Lin Kui.


    What Lin Kui saw as vanity, to a family, could be transformed into tangible resources.


    Under his fervent gaze, on the Giant Spirit Stele, the winds stirred and clouds surged once more, and a name shone with a golden light, amidst the mor and exmations of the crowd, leap towards that vacant spot at the very top of the Stele.


    The face of the Lin Family Head stiffened.


    The name that had leaped up, although hard to make out due to the golden light, was clear, but the one that still remained on the eighth level was fully visible.


    There, disyed¡­ was Lin Kui.


    ¡­


    Lu Qingshan had passed through the ragingyer of Spiritual Energy Storm andnded on the Suspended Sea Inds of the ninth level, which could hardly even be called inds anymore, as the area was as small as a separate courtyard.


    Lu Qingshan found a spot at random, sat down cross-legged, and quietly waited for the preliminary trial to end.


    An hourter, a figure broke through theyer of Spiritual Energy Storm, shed into existence, and lightlynded next to him.


    It was Lin Kui.


    ¡°Lu Daoist friend.¡± Lin Kui greeted Lu Qingshan once again and also found a spot to sit down cross-legged.


    ¡­.


    As time slowly passed, the number of cultivators still in the Giant Spirit Realm was dwindling.


    Outside, the mood of the spectating cultivators was even more tense.


    The cultivators in the Giant Spirit Realm did not know how far they were from the top one thousand, but these spectators had a clear view.


    Now, on the massive Giant Spirit Stele, only slightly more than eleven hundred names remained.


    Within the ninth level, Lu Qingshan and Lin Kui were side by side.


    Surprisingly, the eighth level waspletely empty.


    Below that, from the seventh down to the fourth level, were scattered those thousand-plus people.


    At this point, everyone¡¯s attention shifted to focus on those three hundred-plus names on the fourth level.


    Because once these names disappeared by over a hundred, this preliminary trial would officially dere its end.


    ¡°Hold on, just need tost until these hundred-plus people are eliminated¡­ Brother, then you can proceed to the Central Martial Domain for the re-examination.¡± A junior sister was praying for her fellow sect brother.


    There were elders worrying for their young family members and others who clenched their fists, even more nervous than thepeting cultivators¡­


    ¡°One thousand and eight!¡±


    ¡°One thousand and seven!¡±


    ¡­


    At the critical moment, some even began to count quietly.


    ¡°One thousand!¡±


    Finally, when another name disappeared from the Giant Spirit Stele.


    The robust voice of the Fufeng City Lord rang from above the Giant Spirit Stele, ¡°This preliminary trial of Qing State at the Seven Domains Conferencing, hereby officially ends!¡±


    ¡°The cultivators whose names still appear on the Giant Spirit Stele will represent the younger generation of Qing State and go to the Central Martial Domain to participate in the re-examination of the Seven Domains Symposium,¡±


    In the crowd, several people had ashen faces and were speechless.


    Because thest person eliminated from their family of cultivators was that so-called thousand and first ce.


    Missing by just one step is always the most tragic.


    ¡­.


    In the Giant Spirit Realm, strange sounds erupted from the sky, followed by streaks of golden light appearing and descending, enveloping the thousand cultivators still remaining in the Giant Spirit Realm.


    The next instant, they vanished into thin air from the Giant Spirit Realm.


    @@novelbin@@


    When Lu Qingshan reappeared on the za where the Giant Spirit Stele was located, four days had passed since he had entered to participate in the preliminary test.


    Due to therge number of participants, the preliminary test was not bloody and even forbade thepeting cultivators from attacking each other, which naturally made it somewhat nd andcking in excitement.


    However, this selection ratio of four thousand to one thousand, or forty to one, also added a bit of cruelty to this otherwise mild preliminary test.


    ¡°You all will represent the most outstanding young cultivators from Qing State and go to the Central Martial Domain to participate in the uing re-examination of the Seven Domains Symposium,¡± the sharp gaze of Fufeng City Lord swept over the thousand young cultivators as he said solemnly, ¡°In three days, gather at the inter-domain teleportation formation here in the city. Remember, do not bete.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Everyone responded, unable to hide their excitement.


    Having conveyed all the necessary details, the City Lord of Fufeng gestured grandly, striking the towering Giant Spirit Stele with a spirit spell.


    In the next moment, the Giant Spirit Stele rose into the air, emitting a golden light, rotating continuously while also shrinking in size¡ªuntil finally, it turned into a palm-sized jade medallion, which the City Lord tucked into his sleeve.


    Afterwards, the figure of the City Lord of Fufeng shed and vanished in the sky.


    Once the City Lord had departed, therge za suddenly burst into a cacophony of discussions, like a pot boiling over.


    Lu Qingshan paid no mind, blending in with the crowd while preparing to return to the Qingfeng Realm.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan?¡±


    ¡°You rascal!¡±


    Two familiar voices called out.


    Lu Qingshan turned around to see Lu Yuan with an incredulous expression and Lu Zhou with a slightly annoyed face. He chuckled, ¡°Isn¡¯t it the Family Head and the Great Elder? What brings you here, did you know about my participation in the Seven Domains Symposium and came specially to check on me?¡±


    Teased by Lu Qingshan in such a manner, Lu Zhou immediately puffed up in anger, ¡°You cheeky brat, still trying to act all innocent with me, huh!¡±


    Lu Qingshan quickly responded with a grin, ¡°Of course not, Great Elder. You¡¯re of considerable age, don¡¯t get angry so easily¡ªit¡¯s not good for your health.¡±


    ¡­.


    ¡°Tell us what happened,¡± Lu Zhou asked sternly, gazing at Lu Qingshan¡¯s face.


    Lu Qingshan spread his hands, ¡°Well, a bit of fortune, plus a tad of talent, and, just carelessly, I¡¯ve reached my current level of cultivation.¡±


    Hearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s exnation, Lu Zhou¡¯s face twitched slightly as he clicked his tongue, ¡°In two years, to carelessly surpass hundreds of years of our hard cultivation, you certainly are careless indeed.¡±


    Lu Qingshan just grinned, choosing not to respond.


    Lu Zhou fell silent for a moment, then sighed deeply, a tone of wistfulness in his voice, ¡°Your cultivation level now ranks just below Qing Ling in the Lu Family. You¡¯ve really grown, and there¡¯s not much we can help you with anymore. When you go to the Central Martial Domain, make sure to perform well and achieve a good result. And¡­ when you have time, you shoulde back to visit. The Lu Family might be small, but after all, this is where your family is¡­¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression became serious, and he solemnly promised, ¡°I understand, Great Elder.¡±


    Lu Zhou patted Lu Qingshan on the shoulder, his voice filled with pride, ¡°You and Qing Ling are the pride of our Lu Family.¡±


    Then, Lu Zhou tossed a storage bag to Lu Qingshan and waved his hand, ¡°There¡¯s a lot to handle back at the family, and the Family Head and I have been away for nearly half a year, so we¡¯ll head back first. As for these, consider them a token of the family¡¯s appreciation, youngster, don¡¯t think it¡¯s too little.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s divine sense probed into the storage bag, which was packed full of spirit stones.


    For him now, these indeed weren¡¯t much, but he silently epted them nheless.


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 Chapter 44 Departure

    Whoosh!


    After Lu Qingshan refined the Peach Blossom Sword into his Life-bound Sword, it swiftly entered his body.


    An extremely mystical understanding suddenly sprang forth from his heart.


    Lu Qingshan involuntarily closed his eyes slightly, feeling deeply.


    The Sword Artifact could also nurture a person.


    This was the Peach Blossom Sword''s reward to Lu Qingshan, born from the Qingqiu Mountain Lord''sprehension of Immortal True Intent.


    Lu Qingshan had his own interpretation of Immortal True Intent, which was the most suitable for him.


    However, regardless, both kinds of Immortal True Intent pointed directly to the essence.


    Even though the path walked by the Qingqiu Mountain Lord was vastly different from his, it could still provide nourishment for him to absorb.


    In his Divine Consciousness Sea, the hazy and indistinct form of Immortal True Intent, bolstered by the Peach Blossom Sword, once again solidified significantly.


    But that was all.


    The enhancement of Intent is very difficult.


    Ever since he was moved by Causality Sword Intent on Jiaolong Ind thest time, he had made no further progress.


    A momentter, Lu Qingshan opened his eyes.


    His dark pupils shimmered with divine light.


    The mental lethargy caused by the effort of using Heaven Suppressing had now revitalized as well.


    Of course, the injuries on his body could not heal so quickly.


    However.


    Lu Qingshan nced at the two small creatures snuggled together under the peach tree.


    Compared to them, what were his injuries?


    Mimi and Yaoyao were actually still just children.


    Mimi had merely been yful for a while, sneaked out, and then saved an entire vige of mortals.


    The result, however, was that she was imprisoned for half a year... and it cost the Qingqiu Mountain Lord his life.


    "For these children who have not yet grown up," Lu Qingshan could not help but sigh again, "what absurd things are these so-called cultivators who have cultivated for a hundred years doing!"


    ......


    Three dayster.


    Inside Blooming Spirit Stream, Lu Qingshan, naked, sat cross-legged in the stream, letting the rippling water flow over his body. His hands interlocked to form a seal, his eyes were tightly shut, and his breathing was steady and strong.


    In the water, countless strange lights surged towards his body.


    His chest heaved slightly, and his body emitted a glow akin to warm jade.


    And his wounds were healing at a visible pace.


    After a long while, when the injuries on his body hadpletely healed, Lu Qingshan opened his eyes, slowly exhaled a turbid breath, and abruptly stood up.


    "Such a marvelous ce, it''s a pity it can''tst," Lu Qingshan smacked his lips.


    The power source of Blooming Spirit Stream came from the Qingqiu Mountain Lord and the merging with the Taoist Jade, so after the Qingqiu Mountain Lord''s death and the transformation of the Taoist Jade into the Peach Blossom Sword, the magical essence of Blooming Spirit Stream was slowly dispersing.


    And the Blooming Spirit Flowers in the stream were also beginning to wither gradually.


    Except for that one peach tree that covered the sky and blossomed, all traces of the Qingqiu Mountain Lord would gradually fade with the passage of time.


    But that might be for the best, for an innocent man is meless, but he who carries jade incurs guilt.


    The Qingqiu Mountain Lord ultimately left the Taoist Jade to him, rather than to Mimi and Yaoyao, which seemed, to Lu Qingshan, to be mostly due to Immortal True Intent, and perhaps more so for this reason.


    The existence of the Taoist Jade, which had already made him, a Fifth Grade Great Demon, a target of desire, thus costing him his life.


    How could two little creatures born just a few years ago guard this jade?


    Giving it to someone else was, in fact, a better option for Yaoyao and Mimi.


    This was the uncontentious wisdom of the Qingqiu Mountain Lord who had lived for tens of thousands of years.


    Lu Qingshan unhesitatingly left Blooming Spirit Stream, activated his Spiritual Power, evaporated the moisture from his body, and casually put on a clean set of clothes.


    Since his injuries had healed, it was time to leave.


    "Are you really decided on staying here?" Lu Qingshan walked under the peach tree and asked the gradually recovering Mimi.


    It seemed to slowly emerge from the grief after that bout of intense crying.


    But Lu Qingshan knew that some sorrows could not be washed away by tears.


    They were not forgotten, just deeply buried in the heart, transforming into a strength that supported onward movement.


    "Yiyi yaya." Mimi looked much more haggard and matured, her eyes no longer held the innocence and confusion of before, but were filled with determination.


    "Yiyi." Yaoyao agreed in a somewhat hoarse voice.


    The transformation from a child to an adult is never a slow process.


    People often grow up in an instant.


    Mimi and Yaoyao, obviously, hadpleted this transformation after the event.


    They decided to stay in Qingqiu, to protect the peach tree that the Qingqiu Mountain Lord had transformed into.


    Lu Qingshan didn''t say much, turning his gaze to the side at Dahane.


    Dahane, with his fierce and menacing face, showed a silly smile to Lu Qingshan, "Don''t worry, I''ll take good care of them."


    Before the two little deers could protect themselves, it was still necessary to ask Dahane to look after them.


    King Rat reluctantly bid farewell to the two young demons.


    .....


    A monthter.


    At the edge of a continuous mountain range, a red light shed rapidly between the mountains, soaring instantly to the skies.


    Beneath was a vast in except for the dense green grass, there were only some low shrubs around.


    They had finally left the Three Thousand Great Mountains.


    "We finally made it out," King Rat, standing on Lu Qingshan''s shoulder said, as his normally dull and lifeless eyes suddenly lit up.


    He looked back at the swiftly retreating continuous mountain range, patted his chest, and boisterously said, "Tiger descending the mountain, Rat Lord emerges from seclusion, Qing State, your Emperor has returned!"


    ....


    Fufeng City, within Qingfeng Realm.


    Meeting Tower, the three Tower Masters gathered together.


    "Tower Master, by using the identities of the Underworld Cultivators within the Netherworld Qing State headquarters, following leads, we have thoroughly investigated the forces that the Netherworld had hidden in Qing State.


    All the towers in Qing State acted together, and over this period, we have eradicated seventy percent of these forces," Beiming True Venerable said with a stern expression and in a cold voice. "The remaining thirty percent of the cultivators got the message and quickly went into hiding.


    But our people are still tracing them, we won''t let any of those Netherworld beasts go."


    Pangyang Tower Master said with amanding voice, "Good, only then can we say we haven''t failed Yun Lang''s sacrifice."


    His voice gradually became solemn, and the atmosphere in the room also turned somewhat gloomy.


    "Has there been any trace of the Void Demon Child and Luohu?" Pangyang Tower Master shifted away from the heavy topic.


    Lv Yuan reported respectfully, "None. Since the battle of Wilderness Huang, after Void Demon Child and Luohu used Space True Intention to relocate, neither has shown any trace again.


    Even as we have aggressively attacked the Netherworld that the Void Demon Child painstakingly managed for many years, there has been no sign that they would counterstrike."


    "Such patience," Pangyang Tower Master''s eyes shed coldly, "As long as the Void Demon Child remains, he will always be a serious threat..."


    "Tower Master, should we inform the families of the twenty-one cultivators who were transported into spatial faults by the Void Demon Child using Space True Intention?" Deputy Tower Master Lv Yuan asked.


    "It''s already been almost two months without any rted information from them, their chances of survival are indeed not high.


    Well, let''s inform their families of their demise," Pangyang Tower Master sighed and waved his hand.


    Beiming True Venerable''s gaze flickered for a moment, but in the end, said nothing more.


    Actually, a month ago, Lv Yuan had proposed considering the cultivators who fell into the spatial faults as deceased.


    It was he who insisted on waiting a bit longer.


    But now another month had passed, and he really had no reason to continue insisting.


    Thinking this, the token at his waist suddenly moved slightly.


    This was his Message Transmitting Artifact for receiving important intelligence.


    Was there some important news?


    Beiming True Venerable subconsciously checked the newly arrived intelligence.


    The next moment, Beiming True Venerable couldn''t help but startle, then smiling spoke, "No need to notify the Lu Family of Zhenjiang."@@novelbin@@

 Chapter 5 Discourse on the Dao in the Seven Domains (Part 1)

    A single stone caused a thousand ripples.


    The six mighty cultivators in the field looked at each other, with Chang Geng Sect Leader being the first to contain himself no longer and asked, "What does the Pavilion Master mean?"


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master seemed to have anticipated everyone''s reaction and narrated the Supreme''s decision calmly and unhurriedly.


    An innovation that had never before appeared within a human race sect.


    A major change that would alter thendscape for the younger generation of cultivators.


    .......


    In the Qingfeng Realm, within Qianshou Tower.


    Beiming True Venerable was engrossed in handling the affairs of the tower when suddenly his eyebrows twitched, and he produced a deep purple token.


    It was engraved with lightning patterns and was currently flickering with a faint purple light.


    "A message from the sect?" Beiming True Venerable was somewhat astonished.


    Ever since he had devoted himself to overseeing the tower, although the sect had not objected, his contact with them had indeed be increasingly sparse. Why would the sect suddenly send a message to him today?


    With that thought, he had already extended his Divine Sense into the token, receiving the message within.


    The next moment, Beiming True Venerable''s expression changed, revealing a look of disbelief as he eximed, "How is this possible? Isn''t this too insane?"


    Afterward, Beiming True Venerable immediately stood up with a solemn expression and hurriedly left, heading in the direction of Pangyang Tower Master''s dwelling.


    A terrifying storm was amassing energy, brewing in the background.


    ...


    In the third year of Tianyuan, on the second day of February, a day that was not special but destined to be inscribed in the annals of human race history.


    In Qing State City, Fufeng City.


    A huge, indescribable light curtain suddenly rose from the high-standing Heavenly Secret Tower in the city, disying itself to all the cultivators and even themon folk within the city.


    It was an enormous, slowly unfurling scroll.


    On the scroll were characters that shone with a dazzling golden light.


    At the same time, a vast and mighty voice echoed continuously throughout the city.


    "The Seven Domains Debate and Competition, jointly organized by Great Xia and the seven major Taoist Sects along with the top hundred Ninth-Grade sects of the Seven Domains,


    Will take ce starting with preliminaries in the major State Cities half a year from now, all cultivators under the age of fifty from the human race, regardless of their background, may participate!"


    "Those who pass the preliminaries will proceed to the Central Martial Domain for the midterm exams."


    "At that time, cultivators from the seven major Taoist Sects and the hundred great sects will be present to observe the midterm exams, and those who perform outstandingly will have the opportunity to join one of the Ninth-Grade sects or even a Taoist Sect!"


    "Those cultivators who pass the midterm exam will enter the final phase ¡ª the Debate."


    "In the final Seven Domains Debate, cultivators ranked within the top ten thousand will receive rewards based on their rankings, varying from one to one hundred Spirit Crystals, and may freely choose to join any one of the top hundred sects to be a core disciple.


    The top thousand cultivators will have the opportunity to cultivate in the Spirit Cleansing Pool for one year.


    The top hundred cultivators can choose to join any one of the seven major Taoist Sects as core disciples; and will receive a Middle-Grade Heavenly Artifact provided by Great Xia as a reward.


    The top ten cultivators will be granted a chance to enter the Source Realm toprehend Intent.


    The final victor will be offered any one volume of the Taoist-Level Cultivation Technique ''Great Xia Scripture'' by Great Xia."


    The massive voice echoed in the city for a long time, deafening and startling.


    The next moment, countless exmations rose from throughout the city.


    "The Seven Domains Debate? How is this possible?"


    "Hiss, the seven major Taoist Sects, Great Xia, and the hundred top Ninth-Grade sectsing together to host this event, this scale, it''s unprecedented in the history of the human race."


    "The first time since the heavens and earth were split asunder! Have these sects gone mad?!"


    A Cultivationpetition sweeping across the entire Human Race, including all the young cultivators across the entire territory of the Human Race!?


    In the territories of the Human Race, numerous cultivation ns, countless Loose Cultivators, heirs of various powerhouse cultivators¡ªthe numbers were simply unimaginable.


    With all these people gathered together, going head to head, what kind of scene would that be?


    An absolute epochal grand asion!


    "Open to all regardless of background, and the top ten thousand can choose to join any top-tier sect, with the top hundred even able to join a Taoist Sect! And as core disciples no less, how is that possible?" muttered an older cultivator who knew a bit about the specifics.


    This was the most terrifying news revealed in the announcement.


    Being a core disciple meant that the sect''s top-secret techniques would be taught without reservation.


    The secret arts of a sect are the foundation of its existence, secrets of earth-shaking importance that absolutely cannot be revealed.


    Countless anecdotes and curious tales have risen over time regarding the secrecy of sect session and the covert learning of these secrets, even involving the rise and fall of many sects.


    The Taoist arts are not to be transmitted lightly.@@novelbin@@


    The more powerful the sect, the more it prized its own secret techniques. Naturally, the requirements for recruiting sect disciples became increasingly strict.


    Only those of unblemished origin and exceptional talent could join.


    Once a cultivator already has a master ores from non-Taoist genuine cultivation ns, even if they are exceptionally gifted, these top-tier sects are not likely to take them in and impart their secret techniques.


    Because there would be a risk of the secrets being leaked.


    And for the Taoist Sects, which possess the strongest lineages of the Human Race, the stringency of their recruitment of disciples is unimaginably high.


    Yet now, this announcement suggests that as long as one achieves a high enough ranking in the Seven Domains debate, they could freely choose to join a Taoist Sect.


    This implies that the seven great Taoist Sects are willing to risk their secret techniques being leaked, opening their doors to all cultivators in the world!


    Why would the Taoist Sects make such a bold decision?!


    Countless cultivators were speechless with shock, numerous cultivators beat their chests in frustration,menting their poor timing, while countless young cultivators were ecstatic with joy!


    This was an unprecedented great opportunity.


    Once one joins a Taoist Sect, their path of cultivation will be smooth and unimpeded.


    For Loose Cultivators or cultivators from minor sects or ns, even if they cannot reach the end, just making it through the preliminary round and holding on to the secondary examinations would be enough.


    Because getting into the secondary examinations means attracting the attention of the top sects of the Human Race and thus the chance to be courted and ascend in a single leap! Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    For cultivators born into major ns, performing well in the Seven Domains debate could affect the degree of importance they receive in their families and even be key to whether they can be heirs.


    If one manages to enter a Taoist Sect, they will rise with the wind, and the position of Family Head is theirs to lose.


    Not to mention the coveted rewards for entering the top ten thousand.


    Spirit Crystals are the essence of a Spirit Vein, containing boundless Spiritual Power, one crystal being worth the entire fortune of a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    And yet, this is merely the lowest reward.


    The top thousand will have the opportunity to cultivate in the Spirit Cleansing Pool for one year.


    Most people do not understand the preciousness of the Spirit Cleansing Pool, but every cultivator who knows its name inhales a breath of cold air.


    This is one of the secret cultivation grounds of Great Xia, where the Spiritual Energy is so dense and pure, it almost condenses into liquid. Upon entering, even without practicing any Cultivation Technique, the Spiritual Energy will rush into the cultivator''s body, a true Holy Land of cultivation¡ªone year there is equivalent to decades of hard cultivation.


    As for the top ten''s opportunity toprehend the Intent in the Origin Realm, it is beyond precious because it is an invaluable treasure that could never be bought or sold in this world.


    The prize of choosing any Great Xia Scripture Cultivation Technique for the ultimate winner is enough to make even great cultivators click their tongues in wonder.


    This was a secret technique created by the Ancestral Taoist, the only one of the Human Race that stretches from the First to the Ninth Realm, all nine chapters Taoist Level supreme Cultivation Techniques!


    ...

 Chapter 6 Discourse on the Dao in the Seven Domains (Part 2)

    The booming voice that previously erupted in Qing State''s Fufeng City and the floating promation that appeared there, did not only manifest in Fufeng City but also echoed and materialized in all of Great Xia''s cities, including State Cities, Prefectural Cities, and Prefecture Cities.


    This news spread across the entire Human Race territory like a gue sweeping through.


    Whether it was the remote inds across the sea or the numerous sects and noble families nestled within the wilderness mountain ranges, all received this heart-shaking news.


    Half a year was enough time for this message to reach every corner of the Human Race, leaving no talent unnoticed.@@novelbin@@


    ...


    Momentster, in a ce beyond mortal knowledge, an elder stood before a pool ofva, and before him stood a dozen young cultivators.


    "You should all be aware by now, the trials of the ''Seven Domains Discourse'' will begin with the preliminary tests in half a year!"


    In front of these young cultivators, the elder slowly spoke, his voice full of vigor and ringing with a resonant force. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    They were from the reclusive Yan Family, and the elder was none other than the Yan Family''s Supreme Elder, a being at the Divinity Transformation Stage of the Sixth Realm of Cultivation.


    "We know." The young cultivators nodded in unison, their breaths bing fervent. How could they not be excited about the ''Seven Domains Discourse'' that was stirring up the entire Human Race, an event they actually had a chance to partake in?


    "Good, I won''t say much. My requirement for you is to perform well. If you can gain the recognition of a top-tier sect, that would naturally be for the best.


    Among you, if someone can break into the top ten thousand, then the position of the Yan Family heir will be yours, and no one can snatch it away from you!"


    "The top ten thousand to gain the position of Family Heir?" Several young cultivators exchanged nces, hardly believing what they heard.


    "Don''t believe it? Think it''s easy? Hmph, so naive. Do you know how vast the Human Race is?" The Supreme Elder snorted coldly when he saw their reaction.


    "The Human Race has Seven Domains, each Domain containing dozens of States; each State has at the very least dozens of Prefectural Cities and at the most hundreds.


    In them are countless sects, families, and secret powers. Have you thought about how many geniuses there might be among them?


    And that is without even considering the Loose Cultivators.


    Although most Loose Cultivators are very weak inbat, you know as well as I do how numerous they are. It''s inevitable that geniuses will emerge from among them.


    You may be considered exceptional within our Yan Family, but if you look at the entire young generation of the Human Race, you''re practically nothing."


    After pausing, the Supreme Elder continued, "What you should be grateful for is that the disciples of the Seven Great Taoist Sects and the One Hundred Top-Tier Sects aren''t participating in this ''Seven Domains Discourse.''


    They are the true leaders of the young generation of the Human Race. If they were to participate, it''s almost certain that the top thousand ranks of the ''Seven Domains Discourse'' would bepletely dominated by them."


    The dozen or so young cultivators present couldn''t help but swallow hard, feeling an unspeakable shock.


    The ''Seven Domains Discourse'' sweeping across the Human Race was even more terrifying than they had imagined!


    ....


    Atop a vast mountain peak, on an empty za, stood a burly cultivator d in a ck robe. Imposing like the mountain itself, he stood at the center of the za, his gaze cutting across the neatly arranged thousand-plus young cultivators in front of him like a knife.


    "The names of the Seven Great Taoist Sects would also be familiar to you, I assume," the burly cultivator asked slowly.


    The more than a thousand young cultivators nodded in unison.


    The name of the Seven Great Taoist Sects is as resounding as thunder; how could they not know of it?


    The Human Race has Seven Domains, and within each domain, there exists a dominant Sect that can be described as having the power to overshadow all.


    These seven mega Sects are the so-called Seven Great Taoist Sects, and each excels in different areas.


    Central State epasses Three Domains, starting with Heavenly Secret Pavillion in Central Heavenly Realm, which is a Spirit Cultivation Holy Land.


    The cultivators of Heavenly Secret Pavillion specialize in the Heavenly Divination Technique, capable of probing the divine will, seeking fortune and avoiding cmity, and holding an encyclopedic knowledge of the world''s information and intelligence. Even the Netherfire Ranking and the rankings of the Four Symbols of Heaven and Earth are determined and issued by the Heavenly Secret Pavillion.


    Moreover, the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, as the Sect with the closest ties to the Great Xia Imperial n, is also the most mysterious and untouchable supreme Sect among the Seven Great Taoist Sects.


    In Central Martial Domain, there is Martial Debate Hall, also known as a Taoist Sect with an almost divine Nether Cultivator heritage, which is the oldest ancient Sect of the Human Race. The Sect has been in existence for at least a hundred thousand years, holding countless Ancient Spells and Divine Skills.


    In Central Spirit Domain, there is Rinsing Spirit Sect, known as the Holy Land for Beast Cultivators. It is the only one among the Seven Great Taoist Sects that rose rapidly during the Chang''an Years and achieved the status of a Taoist Sect.


    Rinsing Spirit Sect excels in nurturing Demon Beasts, and the business of selling these creatures is immensely widespread, covering all Seven Domains of the Human Race.


    It is said that forty percent of the Human Cultivators'' Beast Pets originated from Rinsing Spirit Sect, which speaks volumes about the magnitude of their business.


    Therefore, Rinsing Spirit Sect has been able to develop rapidly during the Chang''an Years and is already showing signs of bing the strongest among the Seven Great Taoist Sects.


    Then there is the Southern Territory, whose towering Sect is named Great Pure Pce, a sacrednd for Dharma Cultivation known for its Thunder Spells among the Human Race.


    Out of the seven attributes of Dharma Cultivation, Thunder Technique is considered the most domineering and powerful. Therefore, among the seven Dharma Cultivating Sects that each specialize in one attribute, only Great Pure Pce has be a Taoist Sect.


    Additionally, since Dharma Cultivators make up thergest proportion and the highest number of cultivators among the Human Race, Great Pure Pce has always been the Sect with the greatest number of cultivators since ancient times.


    In the Western Domain, there is Dragon Elephant Temple, a pilgrimage site for Body Cultivators, aspiring to reach the state of Buddhas and Dragon Elephants, one must first endure as themon beast of burden, a powerful Sect known for its austere practitioners.


    In the Northern Domain, there is a Taoist Sect named Armor Pavilion, the wealthiest Sect among the Human Race.


    The cultivators of Armor Pavilion are skilled in a variety of true practices, presenting endlessly diverse methods, with each disciple protected by numerous Spiritual Artifacts and Spirit Pills.


    The disciples of Armor Pavilion, known for theirvishness, are often referred to as walking treasure troves.


    Lastly, there is the Sword Sect from the Eastern Domain, the Taoist Sect of Sword Cultivation.


    "You all have heard of the news concerning the Seven Domains Conference on Dao; I''m sure I needn''t exin it further.


    ording to the rewards of this Conference, the top hundred will gain an opportunity to enter the Source Realm. You all understand the significance of this," the muscr cultivator said in a slowly and heavily enunciated tone.


    "Great Xia established the Ninth Grade system for Sects. There are a hundred Sects honored as Ninth Grade, referred to as the hundred top Sects.


    Above Ninth Grade are the Seven Great Taoist Sects, which stand on equal footing with Great Xia.


    In this Seven Domains Conference on Dao, the disciples of the Seven Great Taoist Sects and the hundred top Sects act as the organizers and will not participate in thepetition.


    Our White Bone Peak is an Eighth Grade Sect, just a step below them. As the most outstanding disciples of our White Bone Peak, I have only one requirement for you: out of the top hundred, you must secure at least five spots, so as not to tarnish the reputation of our White Bone Peak!"


    "As for you," the muscr cultivator turned his gaze to a handsome young man in white robes standing at the front of the young cultivators, "as the current Dao Child of White Bone Peak, my requirement is that you enter the top ten. Do you have any objections?"


    The Dao Child of White Bone Peak replied with a faint smile: "Peak Master, in my eyes, there is only first ce!"

 Chapter 315 - 19: Nightfall Conspiracy

    Chapter 315: Chapter 19: Nightfall Conspiracy


    ¡°Alright, then each of you go and pick a wooden building to settle down for now,¡± the middle-aged cultivator instructed.


    The group nodded and immediately dispersed, each looking for a room.


    @@novelbin@@


    Creak.


    The wooden door was gradually pushed open, a sliver of sunlight spread through the crack, casting a thin line of light on the floor.


    Then, a shadow elongated and shortened unevenly as it too walked in, drawn by the sunlight.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze swept across the spacious pavilion, which also had a small Spirit Gathering Array engraved inside, making the spiritual energy within extremely dense; it was clearly a small cultivation paradise.


    King West Mouse had already blissfully groaned, springing out from Lu Qingshan¡¯s sleeve.


    It liked this ce!


    Such small cultivation paradises would number in the hundreds of thousands within Debate Dao City!


    This was the handiwork of the Seven Taoist Sects and Great Xia.


    ¡­.


    Night, with Mingyue hanging high, the pallid moonlight poured down from the sky, enveloping the vast Debate Dao City in Yue Hua.


    Within the wooden building, Lu Qingshan sat cross-legged at the center of the Spirit Gathering Array, his hands forming a Taoist Treasury cultivation seal, strands of spiritual energy visible to the naked eye drifted from all around, incessantly entering his body¡­


    Next to him sat a grey, odd demon mouse, its legs crossed, its chest rhythmically rising and falling gently.


    Streams of spiritual power, much denser than what Lu Qingshan was receiving, continuously flowed into its body.


    Its small body, like a bottomless pit, swallowed that dense spiritual energy without showing the slightest reaction.


    The cultivationsted for about half an hour, and Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, which had been tightly closed, slightly opened.


    ¡°I¡¯ve recovered to my best state,¡± Lu Qingshan muttered softly, his dark eyes shimmering with a soft, warm jade-like luster, quite attractive.


    All around, the continuous wooden buildings, unknown how many cultivators were within, but at this moment, it waspletely silent as though everyone was seizing thest night before the retest.


    And under the night sky, quietness was the main melody, but conspiracy and the intent to kill were also major themes.


    Within an odd high tower, a shadow quickly walked out.


    After leaving the high tower, the shadow first looked around, ensuring no one else was present, then quickly picked a direction and vanished.


    Momentster, in front of the seemingly empty high tower, two faint shadows gradually became clearer, emerging.


    ¡°Pavilion Master, as you predicted, stirring up the Human Race, the grand Seven Domains Debate Daopetition has indeed rmed the vermin from the Netherworld,¡± a cultivator in a ck robe muttered.


    ¡°The Seven Domains Debate Dao is a grand event for our Human Race, Millennium, but for the Netherworld and the Demon Race, it is a disaster, they must be nning to sabotage this Debate Dao,¡± the cultivator known as Pavilion Master said softly, ¡°But, the Soul Locking Tower is a supremely important ce, that he managed to participate and walk out unnoticed, his skills are indeed clever¡­¡±


    Moonlight shone on his face, revealing the face of the new Pavilion Master of the Taoist Sect¡¯s Heavenly Secrets Pavilion!


    The ck-robed cultivator nodded, his tone chilling, ¡°He secretly changed the Illusion Arrays of the ninth and neenth levels to Killing Arrays, intending to use them to kill the cultivators participating in the Seven Domains Debate Dao.


    If he seeds, not only will numerous talented cultivators die, but this mishap will also make it difficult for us to continue organizing the Seven Domains Debate Dao.


    A grand event meant to select the Human Race¡¯s talents would turn into a farce, Great Xia and the Seven Taoist Sects would lose face from this, and their morale could greatly increase!


    One stone hits three birds, the Netherworld, truly a pinpoint move indeed!¡±


    ¡°The tactics of the Underworld Cultivators have always been so ruthlessly cunning, which is not surprising.¡± The Pavilion Master was veryposed as he assessed the situation.


    ¡°I hope that this time, with the Pavilion Master and I taking action personally, we may be able to uncover some of the people behind him,¡± the ck-robed cultivator said in a deep voice. ¡°However, why is this Underworld Cultivator so familiar with the Soul Locking Tower?


    He actually knows all the monitoring mechanisms and secret passages of the Soul Locking Tower and could silently alter the formation without alerting anyone?¡±


    ¡°King Qing Mei, do you not know, or do you not wish to believe?¡± The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master quietly gazed at the ck-robed cultivator with his profound eyes.


    After a long silence, the ck-robed cultivator called King Qing Mei finally spoke slowly, his voice hoarse, ¡°But¡­ why? As pirs of the Human Race, why would they betray their own kind?¡±


    Only the seven great Taoist Sects and the top echelons of Great Xia, the so-called mighty cultivators, pirs of the Human Race, had ess to the Soul Locking Tower.


    The only reason the Underworld Cultivator could master such a secret ce as the Soul Locking Tower was obvious.


    Among this group of people, there had to be someone from the Netherworld!


    Simrly, the fact that the Netherworld could infiltrate the Human Race for twenty thousand years and continually grow stronger implied that there must be a significant Human Race force behind them, providing cover and support.


    This was a consensus in their eyes.


    Yet, they had always been unable to identify exactly who the traitor was.


    Now, capitalizing on the asion of the Seven Domains Debate Dao, they knew the Netherworld would not remain indifferent. The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and King Qing Mei of Great Xia decided to take matter into their own hands, to lie in wait.


    After finding the Underworld Cultivator who tampered with the mechanism, they would then use this to trace the clues of the Human Race traitor, determined to expose even a slight trace of this deeply hidden traitor.


    To ensure the utmost secrecy of their operation and prevent the n from leaking to the Netherworld.


    They did not disclose this matter to a third party, and even the other six Taoist Sects werepletely unaware of it!


    ¡°I¡¯ve already branded him with the Xuantian Spiritual Record; he can¡¯t escape,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master stated, looking at the disappearing shadow, ¡°Now, let¡¯s deal with the matter of those two killing formations.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± King Qing Mei responded.


    This time, the Seven Domains Debate Dao was held in high regard by the Supreme, and no mistakes were allowed!


    ¡­.


    Dang! Dang! Dang!


    As the sound of the bell rang out, reverberating throughout Debate Dao City, all the cultivators opened their eyes and flew out from the wooden buildings.


    They saw bursts of multicolored lights suddenly appearing in the sky above Debate Dao City.


    This rich radiance spread in all directions, almost enveloping the entire sky, and within the light, a towering spire came into view.


    By then, cultivators from Great Xia were already waiting outside.


    ¡°Cultivators from Qing State, follow me,¡± a cultivator wearing a ck uniform emzoned with a five-w insignia shouted as he hovered in front of Lu Qingshan and the others, then turned into a streak of Radiance, leading everyone to the secondary examination site.


    Debate Dao City was vast, and although the secondary examination site was still within the city, it took them an hour to get there.


    When the leading cultivator slowed down, all thepeting cultivators immediately turned their attention to the secondary examination site ahead, and many of them hesitated slightly at the sight.


    A light curtain separated two worlds.


    Outside was the bustling Debate Dao City, but within the light curtain, the sky was a gloomy gray with seven vast and majestic mountains, and at the center of the seven mountains, there stood a bronze tower shimmering with multicolored precious light!


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 Chapter 316 - 20: The Seven Great Taoist Sects

    Chapter 316: Chapter 20: The Seven Great Taoist Sects


    The tower had ny-nine levels, and each level had seven chains shining with dark light stretching out from the eaves, connecting it to the seven vast and majestic mountains nearby.


    Nearly seven hundred chains nged together in the air, creating a spectacr sight that shook the spirit of anyone who saw it.


    At first nce, the tower seemed infinitelyrge, radiant with colorful treasure light, glittering brightly.


    At the base of the tower was a massive deep pit in which the pagoda was deeply embedded.


    Lu Qingshan, who had just arrived, looked around the sky around him.


    At this moment, the sky was densely popted with countless cultivator shadows, all staring at the pagoda with surprised and fervent gazes, their breathing rapid.


    They were all cultivators who had passed the preliminary selection and came to Debate Dao City for the re-examination.


    And this ce would be where theypeted.


    On the first level of the Bronze Pagoda, there were notably seven closed bronze doors, encircling the tower.


    Carved on them were countless exotic flowers and herbs, primeval fierce beasts, exuding a sense of age and ruggedness.


    The enormous body of the tower was startlingly impressive.


    In front of this Bronze Pagoda, cultivators were like ants, and even the seven majestic mountains seemed like small hills inparison.


    On those seven majestic mountains, numerous sounds of breaking wind rose, with trails of escaping light falling one after another.


    ¡°Each mountain represents a domain, and the sects from that domain will watch over your performance in the re-examination from atop these mountains.


    Moreover, even if you do not rank high in the end, if there are aspects of your performance during the re-examination that are valued by these sect cultivators, it is possible for them to extend an olive branch to you,¡± exined the cultivator who led them here.


    This statement instantly ignited the cultivators¡¯ emotions.


    Being watched by people from the Seven Taoist Sects and a hundred top-tier sects, the thought alone was both nerve-wracking and exciting.


    What¡¯s more, for most people, achieving a high ranking in the re-examination was difficult.


    But as the powerful cultivator had said, it wasn¡¯t necessary to achieve a very high rank; as long as there were highlights in one¡¯s performance, there was also a chance to be recruited by a top-tier sect.


    This immediately sparked their wild ambitions.


    Who here didn¡¯t have some skills?


    Who knew if they might catch the eye of a top-tier sect, or even a Taoist Sect?


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze swept over the tops of the seven mountains, and in the next instant, his pupils constricted sharply.


    For at that moment, seven figures rose into the air, their opening and closing eyes carrying an indescribable terrifying pressure, covering this piece of heaven and earth, looming over them like deities from high above.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s lips pursed tightly as he stared intently at these seven people.


    They were the leaders of the Seven Taoist Sects in this Seven Domains¡¯ Debate Dao, the main officials.


    Standing on the far-right mountain was a middle-aged male cultivator dressed in a purple gold robe with silvery hair, his lips as thin as knife des, his skin as pale as a baby¡¯s.


    This male cultivator had never nced at thepeting cultivators, maintaining an aloof demeanor that quite fitted the status of his sect.


    For, he was one of the three Sect Leaders of the Rinsing Spirit Sect from the Central Spirit Domain, the Chang Geng Sect Leader.


    And the Rinsing Spirit Sect was subtly emerging as the first among the Seven Taoist Sects.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze lingered on the Chang Geng Sect Leader, then shifted to the mountain on the left.


    @@novelbin@@


    There stood a woman who appeared quite amiable, dressed in a moon-white-colored Taoist robe. She looked to be around thirty years old, with divine light in her eyes, radiating brilliance.


    She is the deputy Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion in the Central Heavenly Realm, Shui Yue Pavilion Master.


    Beyond her was a man wearing a gray robe, surrounded by Yin Qi, his face shrouded in ck mist, his appearance unclear.


    He was one of the four Hall Masters from the Martial Debate Hall in the Central Martial Domain, Yi River Hall Master.


    As for the figure on the far left that resembled both thunder and me, he was the deputy Pce Master of the Great Pure Pce, the dominant sect in the Southern Territory, Deputy Pce Master Ling Ye.


    Next to Deputy Pce Master Ling Ye, on the summit of the mountain, stood a robust male cultivator.


    The veins on his bare arms surged like Qiu dragons, and one could even faintly hear the deep roars of tigers and dragons emanating from his body.


    Clearly, this was a Body Cultivation master who had trained his body to an incredibly powerful level.


    He was the Flying Saint from the Dragon Elephant Temple in the Western Domain.


    To the right, there was an elderly man with slightly gray hair, his face lined with wrinkles, yet every move he made radiated vitality.


    He was one of the five Tower Masters from the Armor Pavilion in the Northern Domain, an expert in Artifact Refining, Grand Master Xuan Ji.


    Finally, standing on the central peak, was a middle-aged cultivator in a blue robe, a gentle smile on his face, but with a movement that couldn¡¯t conceal an odd quality.


    This quality made Lu Qingshan feel very close to him.


    Because it was the quality unique to Sword Cultivators.


    It¡¯smonly epted that, cing an outstanding Sword Cultivator among other types of cultivators, without deploying any skills and judging only by appearance, a Sword Cultivator would likely be identified at first nce.


    Because the quality of Sword Cultivators is too unique and cannot be imitated by others.


    It is an indelible mark of casual unrestraint and transcendence ingrained in their very bones.


    This middle-aged cultivator was one of the seven Peak Masters of the Eastern Domain Sword Sect, the Taibai Sword Master of Vastness Peak.


    ¡­


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze swept over these seven mighty cultivators and finally rested on Taibai Sword Master, his heart echoing with some indescribable emotions.


    He was a legend in the minds of many yers, still unattainable despite Lu Qingshan¡¯s transference into this world.


    Other than this Seven Domains Debate Dao, other yers almost never had the chance to meet them directly.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Everyone, it seems about time¡± said Chang Geng Sect Leader, his silvery hair shimmering, his gaze lightly sweeping over the solid mass of people below, and then looking towards the other six Taoist cultivators, he slowly began to speak.


    The other six slowly nodded their heads.


    Seeing this, Chang Geng Sect Leader sped his hands behind his back, slowly stood up, and flew towards the Bronze Pagoda, the other six cultivators following suit.


    As the seven powerful Taoist cultivators began to move, the murmurings among thepeting cultivators quickly subsided, and all eyes watched them with reverence.


    In response to this reverential gaze, Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s lips twitched slightly, revealing a rather satisfied smile.


    The seven great Taoist cultivators hovered in front of the Bronze Pagoda, each raising their right hand and forming aplex Dharma Seal, pointing towards the Bronze Pagoda.


    The Dharma Seal immediately flew out and fused into the seven doors of the pagoda.


    Underneath these seven Dharma Seals, the Bronze Pagoda immediately emitted rumbling noises.


    The seven bronze doors, corresponding to the seven Dharma Seals, started to tremble at this moment and slowly revealed a crack!


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 Chapter 318 - 22: Sword Intent Enhancement

    Chapter 318: Chapter 22: Sword Intent Enhancement


    Whoosh!


    The Peach Blossom Sword instantly shot out, heading straight for the Magma Giant.


    After his Cultivation reached the Golden Core Middle Stage, Lu Qingshan could achieve a shocking eleven times the speed of sound with his Flying Sword Technique through the Peach Blossom Sword, even without employing his full capabilities.


    These ten Magma Giants, each one exuding a powerful presence, were mere illusions created by the Illusion Array, devoid of human thought but not the instinctualbat consciousness, which was no less than that of ordinary people.


    Faced with the oing Flying Sword, the Magma Giant did not choose to withstand it directly. Instead, its enormous body performed arge angle turn in mid-air, cleverly evading the attack of the Flying Sword just as it was about to hit.


    A sinister, almost human-like smile flickered across the indistinct features of the Magma Giant¡¯s face as it then charged towards Lu Qingshan.


    The next moment, the Magma Giants were all taken aback.


    For Lu Qingshan had disappeared from his original position without a trace, his whereabouts unknown.


    The Magma Giants¡¯ minds couldn¡¯t catch up for a moment.


    Where is he?


    Only then did the Magma Giants sense the whooshing sounding from behind them.


    When they turned their massive heads, they saw that the Cultivator, who had been in front of them just a moment ago, was now behind them, rapidly making his way towards the Teleportation Array.


    Roar! Roar! Roar!


    The Magma Giants let out roars of extreme anger and swiftly pursued Lu Qingshan.


    As he passed by the Magma Giants, Lu Qingshan continued forward without looking back.


    How could his Flying Sword be so easily dodged if he had not allowed it?


    Indeed, his very intention was to make the Flying Sword miss the Magma Giants while executing the Formless Sword Escape, achieving Unity of Body and Sword. He leveraged the extreme speed of the Peach Blossom Sword to instantly reverse his position.


    The Art of Sword Control, known for its incredible speed among Sword Cultivators, was rarely matched even among those of the same Rank.


    And how could these ten Magma Giants, ranked a minor stage below him, possibly catch up?


    Therefore, the roaring Magma Giants could only watch angrily as Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure grew farther and farther away from them.


    Entering the Teleportation Array withposure, Lu Qingshan activated the Array with a surge of Spiritual Power, and Spiritual Light burst forth from within it.


    The moment they saw the flickering Spiritual Light, the Magma Giants became even more frenzied.


    ¡ªThey were illusions formed by the Illusion Array, and from the moment they were created, they weremanded to block anyone from entering the Teleportation Array at all costs.


    One breath, two breaths, three breaths¡­


    Time slowly passed by.


    Just before the final moment, one of the ten Magma Giants managed to reach the Array. It red at the slightly blurred form of Lu Qingshan within the Array and hurled itsst attack in fury.


    A massive, scorching fireball was condensed and flung towards Lu Qingshan inside the Teleportation Array.


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan simply snorted.


    In an instant, a hundred fments of Sword Qi rose, streaking towards the fireball in session.


    The small yet potent Sword Qi Fments effortlessly shattered the enormous fireball.


    With power to spare, the Sword Qi Fments, under Lu Qingshan¡¯s mentalmand, ruthlessly pierced through the Magma Giant¡¯s body.


    Thud, thud, thud!


    Compared to the Magma Giant¡¯s form, the Sword Qi Fments seemed tiny and insignificant.


    But these very fments possessed astonishing power andpletely disintegrated the body of the Magma Giant.


    And by this time, the duration of the Teleportation Array had also reached itsst moment.


    No one could stop Lu Qingshan from reaching the thirdyer anymore.


    However¡­


    In the next moment, Lu Qingshan, alreadypletely enveloped by the teleporting Spiritual Light, stepped out of the Teleportation Array on his own.


    His eyes sparkled with a strange gleam as he nced over the remaining nine Magma Giants.


    ¡°What was that feeling just now?¡± Lu Qingshan muttered.


    Just after he had in the Magma Giant, he felt a vague sense, as if something had been touched in that instant, momentarily illuminated.


    This feeling was very peculiar, refreshing him like a sweet spring.


    It was his ughter Sword Intent that had been stirred.


    Looking at the remaining nine Magma Giants, Lu Qingshan seemed pensive.


    Thest time his ughter Sword Intent improved was back in White Flower Snake Vige.


    ughter Sword Intent, ughter Sword Intent, as one of the most top-notch offensive Sword Intents, naturally couldn¡¯t be enhanced without ughter.


    However, could ying these lifeless illusions also be an effective method?


    Lu Qingshan wasn¡¯t sure, but since his ughter Sword Intent had just been stirred, he wouldn¡¯t ignore such an opportunity. Therefore, the moment the Teleportation Array activated, he took the initiative to leave it of his own ord.


    Then¡­ let¡¯s try it out with you.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind moved.


    Boom!


    Sword Qi Fments wrapped around his body, and Lu Qingshan¡¯s Cultivation burst forth in an instant. With his sword horizontal before him, his gaze cold and sharp, he advanced, not retreating but charging at the remaining nine Magma Giants with his sword.


    The roaring sounds seemed as if they could stir the rivers of magma. This battlested half a moment; Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t aim for a full-strength burst to end the fight quickly but adopted a steadier stance to pulverize the remaining nine Magma Giants one by one.


    When thest Magma Giant crumbled and shattered in front of Lu Qingshan, his eyes narrowed, shing with unusual colors.


    This feeling became even more evident!


    It was true; ying these illusions within the Seal Spirit Tower did indeed enhance his ughter Sword Intent, although not very noticeably, its existence was certain.


    This was something he had never anticipated.


    Thest time he participated in the Seven Domains Discourse retry, no yer had mastered the ughter Sword Intent, so this not-so-secretive secret had not been discovered by anyone.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I need to change my ns¡­¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes lit up with a renewed idea gradually taking shape in his mind.


    To breach the Seal Spirit Tower, one just needs to enter the Teleportation Formation and withstand it for five breaths.


    Thus, most people choose to cleverly circumvent the guardian illusions, aiming for entering the Teleportation Formation as their ultimate goal, rather than confronting the illusions head-on.


    After all, the final ranking in the retry is based on which level you ultimately reach, not on the manner you arrived there.


    If you ughtered your way to the tenth level with unparalleled prowess, in terms of ranking, you would still be inferior to a Cultivator who cautiously survived to the eleventh level.


    Lu Qingshan had previously thought the same.


    As these were merely illusions, even if he slew them, he would gain no Experience Points; fighting against the guardian illusions was indeed a meaningless task.


    But now, it was different.


    ying these illusions could actually improve his ughter Sword Intent.


    The premature arrival of the Seven Domains Discourse had always ced him in a state of unpreparedness.


    What hecked most was time.


    With the boost of the Innate Swordseed and the improvement of his talents from the Taoist Treasury, hisprehension had reached an almost demonically high level.


    In just three years, he had acquired his current Combat Power. Given another three years, he would have had boundless confidence in iming victory in the Seven Domains Discourse.


    However, unfortunately, he did not have the time or conditions to enhance his strength.


    But now, he did!


    He could treat the Seal Spirit Tower as a secret realm for enhancing Sword Intent, ying his way down level by level!


    Of course, this would make his speed of clearing the tower extremely slow.


    @@novelbin@@


    After all, while others seek only to enter the Teleportation Formation, he was prepared to methodically ughter every guardian illusion on each level. The extra effort and time required for this were evident.


    But that¡¯s not a problem.


    Because the Seal Spirit Tower retry didn¡¯t have a time limit.


    What it assessed was how high you could go, not how quickly you could ascend within a limited time!


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 Chapter 320 - 24 Phantom Shadows

    Chapter 320: Chapter 24 Phantom Shadows


    ¡°Is that, Space True Intention?¡± Atop the seven peaks, other Sect¡¯s cultivators couldn¡¯t help but exim in shock upon seeing this scene.


    It was truly hard to imagine that within the Seven Domains Debate Dao, there would actually be young cultivators who had grasped the Primordial Intent present.


    You must know, even amongst so many High Rank cultivators with the Fifth Realm as their starting point, there were very few who had mastered the Primordial Intent!


    It was at this moment that an intense fervor shed through the eyes of countless Sect cultivators, ¡°We must recruit such talent into our Sects!¡±


    For a cultivator who had grasped the Primordial Intent at such young age, their future aplishments could not possibly be low, and they could even allow a Sect to rise with their help!


    Because of the astonishing performance of the grey-robed cultivator, a stir even urred atop the mountain peaks.


    And in midair, the powerful High Rank Cultivators from the seven great Taoist Sects had also witnessed this spectacle.


    The figure shrouded in ck mist, Yi River Hall Master, spoke with a hoarse voice, ¡°His Cultivation Technique system almost perfectly matches the test form of the Seal Spirit Tower; the advantage he holds is too great.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the voice of the beside Xuanji Grand Master boomed, ¡°This person is called Bai Guandao, without any Sect or family background, seemingly a disciple of some powerful Loose Cultivator.


    He is thirty-three years old, at the Golden Core Late Stage, and from the records, he seems to be just a slightly outstanding Dharma Cultivator, yet unexpectedly, he turns out to be a supreme genius who has mastered Space True Intention at the Golden Core Stage.¡±


    ¡°Solely with the transformative power of Space True Intention, a ce within the top ten of this Debate Dao in the Seven Domains is assured for him,¡± dered Chang Geng Sect Leader, with a barely perceptible gleam in his eyes.


    Nobody noticed that, while many cultivators were astonished by Bai Guandao¡¯s performance, two ethereal figures were observing the reactions of these spectating cultivators from the void.


    It was the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and King Qing Mei.


    The reasoning was simple; the Netherworld spared no effort in covertly altering the non-lethal Ninth and Neenth Layers¡¯ Illusion Arrays of the Seal Spirit Tower into a Murderous Array.


    The Netherworld would not possibly leave the scene unattended, without observing.


    They prepared to watch from the shadows to see if they could detect any clues.


    Especially if a participating cultivator managed to breach the Ninth Layer arranged by the Netherworld, the instant the Underworld Cultivators hiding in the crowd realized their scheme had failed, it was highly possible that they would involuntarily reveal some anomalies.


    Yet, to their surprise, they found nothing.


    ¡°Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, what shall we do next¡­¡±


    Running his fingers together, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master slowly analyzed, ¡°There are three possibilities; first, among these spectating cultivators from various top Sects, there really are no infiltrators from the Netherworld, though this possibility is the lowest.


    Given the morbid nature of Underworld Cultivators, having set such a malevolent trap, it is highly likely they would want to be present and personally witness the moment their machinationse to fruition.¡±


    Such psychology is like that of murderers who would, after the fact, typically return to the crime scene to view their ¡°masterpiece.¡±


    ¡°The second possibility is that the infiltrating Underworld Cultivator is simply too cunning, able to maintainposure even upon realizing their setup had failed.


    The third possibility is that I have failed to detect them.


    Although my Heavenly Secrets Art can observe various minutiae, I can¡¯t guarantee there are no omissions in my foresight.¡±


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master appeared calm, seemingly not too disheartened by theck of findings on this asion.


    ¡°The only clue we have left is that Underworld Cultivator who snuck into the Seal Spirit Tower to change the Array,¡± King Qing Mei sighed, not dwelling on it any further, and asked, ¡°Pavilion Master, has there been any movement from him yet?¡±


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master shook his head, ¡°Sincest night, he has just been staying in Debate Dao City, showing no intent to leave, yet he also hasn¡¯t met with any other cultivators.


    What we can do now is simply to observe and wait for further changes.¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­


    The Debate Dao in the Seven Domains continued.


    In the space of the Sixth Layer, a Dharma Cultivator in thetter stages of Foundation Establishment was currently facing the assault of thirty Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Demon Wolves.


    He sustained his Magic Artifact, moving towards the Teleportation Array with difficulty.


    But the number of Demon Wolves was simply too great, and their attacks too fierce; his Spiritual Power was being consumed at a terrifying rate.


    A momentter, as his spiritual power neared exhaustion, he could no longer fend off the demon wolf that pounced at him head-on.


    The demon wolf¡¯s ws, shining with a cold light, instantly grabbed his throat.


    ¡°Ah!¡± the cultivator cried out in rm, and the next instant, the scene before his eyespletely changed.


    All the demon wolves turned into specks of spiritual light and dissipated, and he felt as if he were propelled out of nothingness, flying out of the Seal Spirit Tower.


    He spat out blood from his mouth and staggered back several steps before stabilizing his figure.


    The area in front of the Seal Spirit Tower was still empty at this moment.


    Seeing this, the cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage couldn¡¯t help but reveal a bitter smile at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°Am I¡­ truly the first cultivator to be eliminated?¡±


    A token appeared in his hand.


    It disyed his current real-time ranking.


    Liu Yue (Northern Territory)


    Floors: Sixth Layer


    Overall Ranking: 487567


    Domain Ranking: 54356


    This ranking number was continuously changing; within a few breaths of time, his overall ranking had dropped by more than three hundred ces.


    This was because the cultivators who were originally behind him in the Seal Spirit Tower were still advancing to higher floors, while his floor level had be fixed at the Sixth Layer.


    ¡°Although I knew I was not particrly outstanding among these geniuses, I really didn¡¯t expect to be the first one eliminated¡­¡± The cultivator named Liu Yue felt utterly dejected, even a faint shadow seeming to cast over his heart.


    Before this, living inconspicuously, he was still the genius of his family, a distinguished figure among the younger generation in his domain, enjoying limitless glory.


    But unexpectedly, after participating in the Seven Domains Debate Dao, he starkly realized that he was nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well.


    His confidence was severely shaken, causing him to be somewhat disheartened all at once, with ayer of dust settling on his dao heart.


    Swish! Swish! Swish!


    Where there¡¯s one, there are two, and as if triggering a chain reaction, within just a few breaths of time, over ten figures emerged one after another beside Liu Yue.


    They, too, had been eliminated!


    ¡­


    No matter how the outside world was in turmoil, or how many genius cultivators attracted attention due to their outstanding performance, Lu Qingshan remained as unshakeable as Mount Tai. Following his own n, he cleared the guardiansyer byyer, continuously refining his ughter Sword Intent bit by bit.


    After clearing all forty Rock Giants at the Golden Core Initial Stage on the Eighth Layer with a single sh, Lu Qingshan took a slight breath to recover.


    Starting from thisyer, he began to feel some pressure.


    While the teleportation spiritual light of the Eighth Layer enveloped him, Lu Qingshan also took the opportunity to check his current ranking.


    Lu Qingshan (Southern Territory)


    Floors: Eighth Layer


    Overall Ranking: 417567


    Domain Ranking: 48396


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 Chapter 323 - 27 The First Glimpse of Prominence

    Chapter 323: Chapter 27 The First Glimpse of Prominence


    In front of the Seal Spirit Tower, another cultivator was ejected from the Illusion Space.


    ¡°Brother Lin, I knew you¡¯d definitely make it into the top ten thousand. I just didn¡¯t expect you to reach the 22nd floor; truly exceptional,¡± a young cultivator who seemed to be acquainted with the just-eliminated cultivator immediately came up to him and admired.


    ¡°It¡¯s indeed tough to clear the Seal Spirit Tower,¡± Lin Kui nced at the cultivator who approached him and asked with a smile, ¡°What about you, how did you fare?¡±


    As he spoke, Lin Kui also took the opportunity to check his own ranking.


    Lin Kui (Southern Territory)


    Floors: 22nd floor


    Overall Ranking: 4631


    Domain Ranking: 441


    ¡ª¡ªAlthough not particrly satisfied, at least he had passed the re-examination.


    ¡°I knew my limits and never imagined I could pass the re-examination to dash into the top ten thousand.¡± The young cultivator familiar with Lin Kui shook his head helplessly and said, ¡°So as soon as I entered the Seal Spirit Tower, I exploded with full force, not even bothering to recover my spiritual power, doing all I could to sprint in one go.


    While everyone hadn¡¯t started to make their move yet, I thought to temporarily surge to a high ranking and maybe even catch the attention of one or two top sects.


    And it turned out just as I¡¯d thought, very few people would go all out from the start, showing all their cards, even ignoring the depletion of spiritual power, which is why my ranking rose quickly, at one point reaching over two thousand.


    But the higher you go in the Seal Spirit Tower, the harder it gets, and my pace increasingly slowed, rankings plummeting crazily.


    Moreover, since I hadn¡¯t used the one-day recovery period provided after each floor to restore my spiritual power, by theter stages, the depletion of spiritual power was too great, and one day¡¯s time was simply not enough. Hence, my ranking dropped to three hundred and ten thousand in a tumble.


    Eventually, I was eliminated on the 11th floor. I just don¡¯t know if my early performance caught the attention of one or two sects. If not, then I can only resign myself to fate.¡±


    Strong cultivators have their own tactics, and weaker cultivators have their own strategies too.


    To Lin Kui at least, the young cultivator¡¯s strategy seemed unproblematic.


    Because with his strength, if he had yed it safe, he could¡¯ve advanced one or two more levels at most.


    There is no essential difference between forty percent and fifty percent, in the eyes of others, both are failing marks.


    But if that fifty percent is the first one handed in the exam, maybe it would leave an impression on others.


    ¡°Forget about me, I came here more to see the world. If a top sect takes an interest in me, then it would be like my ancestors¡¯ tombs billowing with green smoke. If not, it was to be expected. But Brother Lin, you¡¯ve really distinguished yourself this time, truly bringing honor to us cultivators from Qing State,¡± the young cultivator was very open-minded.


    ¡°Bringing honor to the cultivators of Qing State¡­¡± Lin Kui muttered, and suddenly a name shed through his mind.


    Lu Qingshan!


    Right, that young cultivator who outperformed him during the preliminary trial, how did he do in this re-examination?


    Thinking this, driven by an uncontroble curiosity, Lin Kui hurriedly checked the rankings.


    Lu Qingshan (Southern Territory)


    @@novelbin@@


    Floors: 21st floor


    Overall Ranking: 7835


    Domain Ranking: 729


    ¡­


    The young cultivator, seeing Lin Kui¡¯s suddenly solemn expression, shifted his gaze as well and then smiled, ¡°This Lu Qingshan, after all, is still too young. Although he managed a minor victory over Brother Lin in the initial trial, his performance in this retest seems to be a bitckingpared to you.¡±


    ¡°Look at his name,¡± Lin Kui didn¡¯t continue the conversation but shook his head and said in a deep voice.


    The young cultivator felt surprised upon hearing this, took another look at the rankings, and the next moment, couldn¡¯t help eximing, ¡°He¡­ he¡¯s still in the Seal Spirit Tower!¡±


    The names of cultivators who were eliminated in the Seal Spirit Tower would turn into a dull gray.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan¡¯s name remained a shining gold color.


    This indicated that he had not yet been eliminated, and it also represented that Lu Qingshan still had a chance to improve his ranking!


    ¡°He¡­ can¡¯t be¡­¡± The young cultivator stuttered involuntarily.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens,¡± Lin Kui¡¯s eyes shed with a keen light, and he pulled up the scene of Lu Qingshan in the Seal Spirit Tower. As the first and only person among all the cultivators to pay attention to Lu Qingshan, he began to watch Lu Qingshan¡¯s battle situation seriously.


    Curious, the young cultivator also leaned in to watch.


    One hourter.


    Watching Lu Qingshan in the Seal Spirit Tower ughter all the guardian illusions and break into the twenty-second level, Lin Kui exchanged a look of disbelief with the young cultivator.


    ¡°What is he doing¡­?¡± the young cultivator asked, bewildered. ¡°This Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t possibly have misunderstood the rules, thinking he has to kill all the guardian illusions to advance to the next level, could he?¡±


    Lin Kui¡¯s intense gaze was fixed on Lu Qingshan, who was in the process of recovering, on the screen. It was visible to the naked eye that ayer of blood-red malevolence was swirling around him.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± Lin Kui paused for a moment and made the most reasonable guess, ¡°He knows the rules; he¡¯s doing this deliberately!¡±


    ¡°Doing it deliberately? Who would do such a thankless task¡­¡± The young cultivator started to object instinctively, but in a split second, a terrible realization dawned on him.


    ¡°If he has been tackling the Seal Spirit Tower like this before, then that would mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, the twenty-second level is definitely not his limit,¡± Lin Kui nodded firmly and said with certainty, ¡°I have a feeling that in this retest of the Seal Spirit Tower, Lu Qingshan¡­ is very likely to be famous in a single battle!¡±


    ¡­.


    Lu Qingshan continued to methodically y the guardian illusions, spending a long time on each level, slowly progressingyer byyer.


    The twenty-second level, three hours, cleared!


    On the twenty-third level, the guardian illusions had increased to a hundred Third Grade Initial Stage demon beasts and fifteen Third Grade Mid Stage demon beasts. Even though these were the most regr andmon, sans any special talents or methods, such a sheer number was nevertheless terrifying.


    Lu Qingshan nced at the ever-ready-to-erupt guardian illusions, carrying an almost physically manifest killing aura, and slowly sat down, circled his cultivation technique, and began restoring his condition.


    Time continued to pass, and as it did, the rate at which the remaining cultivators were being eliminated quickened.


    Four thousand¡­ three thousand¡­ two thousand¡­ one thousand¡­ five hundred¡­


    When Lu Qingshan had recovered his condition, rose from the safe area, and drew his sword to attack the guardian illusions on the twenty-third level.


    The number of cultivators still in the Seal Spirit Tower had dwindled to just eighty-nine!


    At this stage, the cultivators remaining in the Seal Spirit Tower, excluding Lu Qingshan, had at least reached the thirtieth level.


    His being at only the twenty-third level stood out from the crowd, attracting the attention of arge portion of the cultivators in a rather eerie manner.


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 Chapter 324 - 28 Unity Realm (Part 1)

    Chapter 324: Chapter 28 Unity Realm (Part 1)


    ¡°This person is quite cunning,¡± he knew his own strength was limited, so he purposely dragged it out and slowly made his way through the tower.


    Dragging it out until now, when only seventy or eighty people are left, everyone can¡¯t help but notice him.


    With such petty tricks, the attention he can attract is something those cultivators who were eliminated early on, despite ranking higher than him, can¡¯tpare to.¡±


    Some cultivators who had already been eliminated noticed this situation and couldn¡¯t help feeling sour as they sarcastically said, ¡°But what can these little tricks amount to in the face of true strength¡­¡±


    However, in the next moment, their remarks were abruptly cut off as the real-time battle screen disyed the current situation.


    ¡­.


    Spiritual Light enveloped Lu Qingshan.


    Looking around, the twenty-third floor was a scene of carnage, with the ferocious and insane illusionary demon beasts turned into dismembered carcasses strewn across the ground, blood flowing and creating an exceptionally gruesome sight.


    Lu Qingshan stood among the corpses of the demon beasts, his body unstained with blood, but the overwhelming ughter intent leaking from him, as well as his blood-red eyes, were more terrifying than if he were soaked in blood.


    After the scenery changed, Lu Qingshan had already appeared in the Illusion Space of the twenty-fourth floor.


    This was a boundless wilderness, across which roamed over a hundred colossal yellow-brown Great Demons¡ªFlowery Leopards.


    The hundred-plus Leopard Demons before him each measured five or six meters in length, with small heads and long tails, their gaping maws chilling to the bone, each tooth¡¯s biting force looking astonishingly powerful.


    The tails of the Leopard Demons were almost as long as their bodies, their paws grayish-white; the front ones with five toes, the back with four, all shining with a cold light that sent shivers down the spine, their triangr eyes filled with a cold and bloodthirsty gleam.


    But within Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes was a ughter intent even chillier than theirs.


    @@novelbin@@


    Assessing his own condition, he murmured, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve reached a critical point?¡±


    Indeed, along the way he had intentionally umted a sense of killing intent, and the number of Third Grade demon beast illusions he had killed had actually reached over a thousand.


    Such extensive ughter had resulted in a near-physical presence of murderous aura surrounding him.


    If someone were toe within five meters of him, they would feel a chilling terror from the formidable deathly aura.


    With such umtion, he felt that he was just oneyer shy of piercing through to elevate his ughter Sword Intent to the Unity Realm.


    The feeling was mysterious, as though it could be touched at any moment, but was always just a bit out of reach.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s blood-red eyes casually swept over the Flowery Leopard Demons outside the protective barrier and suddenly made a very insane decision.


    He did not replenish his Spiritual Power but left the protection of the barrier just like that.


    Boom!


    The hundred-plus Flowery Leopards turned their massive heads to look at the tiny human that had appeared before them, making a hissing sound.


    Under the control of the Formation¡¯smand, the gigantic Flowery Leopard Demons did not hesitate and transformed into Radiance, pouncing towards Lu Qingshan to kill.


    ¡­.


    ¡°What is he doing? He dragged his feet at first, but now he is so rushed that he is not even recovering the consumed Spiritual Power before killing his way out. Is he overly confident, or just showing off?¡± Outside the Seal Spirit Tower, due to Lu Qingshan¡¯s decision, there was an instant uproar.


    Even Lin Kui, who had been watching Lu Qingshan all along, couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    He could no longer fathom Lu Qingshan¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡­¡­


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!


    Leaping into midair, Lu Qingshan immediately released the 370 Sword Qi Fments which he had long mastered control over.


    Forming showers of Flying Swords from the Sword Qi Fments, they split into multiple waves, some slow, some fast, some solid, some feint, sweeping towards the group of Leopard Demons.


    Pffft! Pffft! Pffft!


    The relentless attacks of the Flying Sword shower saw the foremost Leopard Demons using their paws to sweep aside the first two waves, with the third wave being scattered by their slender tails shimmering with a metallic light.


    Hisss!


    But they could no longer fend off the fourth wave of the Flying Sword shower.


    The delicate Sword Qi fments, swift as lightning and brutally ferocious, pierced through its skin and entered its flesh, abruptly exploding inside its internal organs.


    Instantly, six Third Grade Initial Stage Leopard Demons were in on the spot by Lu Qingshan¡¯s Myriad Swords Art!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes shimmered with a chilling light as he, holding the Peach Blossom Sword, charged into the pack of Leopard Demons, unleashing a terrifying ughter.


    He cast the extremely Spiritual Power-consuming but highly protective Metal Element Sword Armor, safeguarding his own safety.


    ng ng ng!


    The attacks of the Leopard Demons shed against the Sword Armor, emitting the sound of metal colliding.


    ¡°Running out of Spiritual Power!¡± After charging back and forth repeatedly, looking at the number of Leopard Demons only reduced by half, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly.


    In the twenty-thirdyer of space, he had already exhausted forty percent of his Spiritual Power, and upon reaching the twenty-fourthyer, he had not been able to recover at all before once again plunging into battle.


    The reason was quite simple.


    Strike while the iron is hot.


    With his ughter Sword Intent on the verge of a breakthrough, if he were to stop and recover Spiritual Power, after a day, although his Spiritual Power would have been restored, the sense of premonition he felt might havergely faded.


    So, he could only seize the moment while this premonition still lingered in his mind and resolutely head out to kill.


    As a consequence, the already diminished sixty percent of his Spiritual Power had, in this short period, dwindled to less than thirty percent, particrly since he still had to use the Sword Armor, which was extremely draining on his Spiritual Power.


    ¡°No, even though I¡¯ve entered the top ten thousand rankings and would ept being eliminated now, the chance for a breakthrough and enhancement of my ughter Sword Intent is too precious to miss. If I let this opportunity pass, who knows how long it will be until I find another,¡± Lu Qingshan gritted his teeth as determination filled his heart. ¡°The Seven Domains Conve is just around the corner, and any opportunity to increase my strength should not be missed!¡±


    The next instant, Lu Qingshan made an extremely crazy decision.


    He abruptly stored away the highly Spiritual Power-consuming Protective Sword Armor.


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    With a soft shout in his heart, Lu Qingshan¡¯s face, now somewhat pale due to the insane consumption of Spiritual Power, had eyes blood-red and intimidating.


    His speed surged wildly, as he and the dozen Leopard Demons crisscrossed and ughtered repeatedly, with the powerful Primordial Spirit of the Mid Solidifying Form stage sharpening his senses of his surroundings.


    Lu Qingshan was so familiar with the changes in Sword Technique strength and direction that it became instinctual; he kept swinging his sword, fending off the assault of the Leopard Demon illusions.


    The Leopard Demon¡¯s attacks were dense and unpredictable.


    Sometimes more than ten Leopard Demons attacked simultaneously, and sometimes only three or five, with trajectories so erratic that Lu Qingshan struggled to respond.


    Shi!


    In a turn he couldn¡¯t manage in time, a Leopard Demon¡¯s w left a long gash on his left arm, and blood gushed out immediately.


    Lu Qingshan clenched his teeth, disregarding the wound on his arm and continuing to face the enemy with cautiousness, without uttering a word.


    If only he could precisely predict the movements of these Leopard Demons, it would make things much easier for him.


    Subconsciously, this thought emerged in Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    In this mad and extremely dangerous situation, his mind was still incredibly calm.


    As Lu Qingshan thought this, in the next instant, he seemed to sense something in the darkness, an auspicious sidestep that allowed him to narrowly evade an attack from a mid-stage Third Grade Leopard Demon.


    It was risky, yet in the end, it waspletely within his control.


    What was this?!


    He had just managed to discern some subtle cues in the actions of these Leopard Demons.


    This remarkable sensation enthralled Lu Qingshan, and he eagerly sought to grasp and master it!


    Here ites again!


    The next moment, as two Leopard Demons to his left pounced, that extremely familiar sensation emerged anew.


    Once again, he twisted agilely, dodging the Leopard Demon¡¯s sharp ws as if he were a flower being whisked away by a breeze.


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 Chapter 325 - 29 Unity Realm (Part 2)

    Chapter 325: Chapter 29 Unity Realm (Part 2)


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±


    ¡°Exactly like this!¡±


    It was killing intent, emanating from the Leopard Demons!


    At this life-and-death moment, surrounded by Leopard Demons, Lu Qingshan made an even bolder decision.


    He slowly closed his eyes and retracted his Divine Sense.


    The world suddenly turned ck and white, but his perception of the surrounding did notpletely disappear.


    In his consciousness, within a certain area around him, the thick killing intent pervaded, fully perceived by him. This killing intent was like various lines, outlining a different andplete world.


    A worldposed of killing intent.


    The greatest source of killing intent was himself, followed by the killing intent carried on the bodies of these Leopard Demons.


    It was the presence of this killing intent that enabled him to urately predict every move of the Leopard Demons¡¯ attacks.


    Lu Qingshan finally sensed that special feeling.


    The cold, bloody, insane, and cruel fluctuations spread, and everything seemed to be controlled at heart.


    The long-brewing killing intent in his body merged into him at this moment.


    It was like a sharp Treasured Sword being sheathed.


    Once Lu Qingshan retracted his fierce killing intent, his entire being became gentle and mild.


    ¡°Unity Realm,¡± Lu Qingshan understood in his heart.


    ¡°Grasping of Intent!¡­ ughter Sword Intent improved to Unity Realm!¡±


    ¡°Ability enhancement!¡­ Your Divine Soul received an enhancement (Divine Sense +100)!¡±


    Despite the qualitative change and the multiple increases in strength of his ughter Sword Intent, there was no killing intent to be found on Lu Qingshan anymore.


    This is the secret of Unity.


    Intent integrated with the Divine, imperceptible to the outside world.


    Lu Qingshan opened his half-closed eyes, the darkness in his pupils devoid of any hint of red, and he nced indifferently at the surrounding Leopard Demons.


    Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!


    He moved swiftly, avoiding the attacks of the Leopard Demons with movements that seemed perilously close each time. The sword in his hand, the Peach Blossom Sword, became unfathomable, and each strike was incredibly incisive. Every sword thrust exploited the Leopard Demons¡¯ moments of weakness between old and new strengths, delivering lethal blows with precision.


    In an instant!


    The dozens of Leopard Demons, which had previously endangered Lu Qingshan¡¯s life, were all ughtered by him.


    At this moment, he had undoubtedly stepped into a brand new realm of strength.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes shone brightly.


    The next level!


    Since his ughter Sword Intent had improved to the Unity Realm, it was time for him to seriously tackle the Seal Spirit Tower with the most appropriate stance.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°ughter Sword Intent, this kid¡¯sprehension of the Intent has actually reached the Unity Realm!¡± The Holy Master in the sky watched the scene unfold in front of him, his eyes emitting an rming brilliance.


    ¡°Using the illusion of the Seal Spirit Tower to achieve a breakthrough in ughter Sword Intent, turning the assessment venue into a cultivation secret realm. This kid is indeed bold and attentive,¡± Pce Master Yi Rivermented with appreciation in his tone, his eyes as deep as the ocean, ¡°Moreover, his talent for grasping Intent is above average.


    Illusions are just illusions, mere ethereal existence. If not for his exceptional understanding, it would be delusional to think that he could utilize the illusion to achieve a breakthrough in his ughter Intent.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a pity, he¡¯s a Sword Cultivator¡­¡± Pce Master Yi River sighed. He actually had a very high opinion of Lu Qingshan.


    But regrettably, among the six cultivation systems, the barriers between the other five are not that deep, and it is not rare to see cultivators who practice both magic and martial arts; only sword cultivators are the most exclusive.


    A truly powerful sword cultivator, devoted to the sword for a lifetime, would never even consider joining their Martial Debate Hall.


    ¡°With the intent of the Unity Realm, just in terms of the realm of intent, in this Seven Domains discourse, this person should be regarded as the foremost!¡± Chang Geng Sect Leader said with a chuckle, ¡°However,pared with the Space True Intention of Bai Guandao, it is still slightly inferior in strength.¡±


    ¡°Taibai, this person, the group of ughterers from your Sword Sect will probably like him a lot,¡± Grandmaster Xuanji teased, ¡°It seems that, in this Seven Domains discourse, the name of Lu Qingshan will have to be added to the list of the strongest sword cultivator candidates.


    It¡¯s just that his cultivation is a bit low, at least everyone else is at the Golden Core Late Stage, and he is only at the Golden Core Middle Stage.¡±


    ¡°While it¡¯s true his cultivation is a bit low, making it unlikely for him to win the championship, breaking into the top ten is highly probable,¡± Shui Yue Pavilion Master said to Taibai Sword Master with a radiant smile, teasing, ¡°It seems that this time, at the Seven Domains discourse, your sword cultivators are going to make a big ssh.¡±


    Taibai Sword Master, in the face of everyone¡¯s teasing, just shook his head indifferently and said inly, ¡°Even if half of the top ten are sword cultivators, what of it? The attention they getbined still won¡¯t match that of a cultivator who wins the championship.¡±


    What Taibai Sword Master said was indeed the truth.


    The one who is always most remembered is the first ce.


    With a thought from Taibai Sword Master, the information about Lu Qingshan was disyed before everyone¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, eighteen years old, Golden Core Middle Stage, sword cultivator, from Qing State in the Southern Territory.¡±


    Hiss!


    ¡°He¡¯s only eighteen?!¡± The aura of thunder and me around the Pce Master of Spirit Ye cracked with a burst, indicating the shock in his heart.


    Even Taibai Sword Master was taken aback.


    They could tell that Lu Qingshan was very young, but they hadn¡¯t expected him to be this young.


    Eighteen years old, Golden Core Middle Stage, with the ughter Sword Intent of the Unity Realm.


    What kind of prodigy is this?


    ¡°This time at the Seven Domains discourse, your Sword Sect has really unearthed a treasure,¡± Yi River Pce Master remarked somewhat sourly, immediately eliciting a chorus of agreement from everyone else.


    Chang Geng Sect Leader nced at Lu Qingshan in the image from the corner of his eye, a strange and indescribable light shing in the depths of his gaze.


    While several of the great cultivators were discussing animatedly, Shui Yue Pavilion Master, who had been all smiles before, fell into an unusual silence.


    Lu Qingshan¡­ this name sounded familiar to her; she had heard it before!


    ¡°Can it be the same person my beloved disciple always talks about?¡± pondered Shui Yue Pavilion Master as she quickly checked the relevant information in her mind.


    ¡°The girl always says that Young Master Lu, although young, has a mind far beyond ordinary people¡­ this matches the eighteen years of age.


    She also mentioned that Young Master Lu has superb swordsmanship and exceptional talent, and this person is indeed a sword cultivator, too ¨C another match.


    Lastly, this Lu Qingshan is also from the Southern Territory.¡±


    The next moment, a hint of surprise shed through the heart of Shui Yue Pavilion Master.


    If there¡¯s no mistake, then this Lu Qingshan is almost certainly the highly praised Young Master Lu whom her good disciple always talks about.


    Originally, Shui Yue Pavilion Master thought that her disciple¡¯s high praise was only because she came from a remote ce and had not seen truly outstanding people.


    But she had not expected Lu Qingshan to indeed possess such extraordinary talent!


    ¡­.


    Outside the Seal Spirit Tower, the cultivators who had been eliminated were also shocked by Lu Qingshan¡¯s sudden outburst, letting out subdued cries of amazement and non-stop discussion.


    ¡°Bai Guandao is about to attempt the fortieth floor!¡±


    Suddenly, an exmation from within the crowd shifted everyone¡¯s attention away from Lu Qingshan once again.


    For a moment, nearly five hundred thousand talented cultivators of the Human Race, the high level cultivators from over a hundred top sects on seven mountain peaks, as well as the seven great powers of the Taoist Sect, all turned their eyes towards Bai Guandao.


    Countless eyes were watching.


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 Chapter 328 - 32: The Merits of Qing Ling

    Chapter 328: Chapter 32: The Merits of Qing Ling


    ¡°As for the rest of the cultivators, your Seven Domains Debate Dao hase to an end,¡± the Chang Geng Sect Leader said indifferently.


    This statement made the hearts of the talented cultivators from the Seven Domains of the Human Race sink.


    After striving for so long, they had now beenpletely eliminated, and they were even painfully aware of the vast gap between themselves and the truly talented cultivators.


    This was their inner demon, but also an opportunity. If they could not ovee it, they might lose their self-confidence and have their Dao hearts be unstable, never recovering from this setback.


    But if they managed to ovee it, it was not impossible for them to advance courageously and achieve a turnaround.


    In the world of cultivators, there was an abundance of uncertainty. That is precisely its charm.


    ¡°However, there¡¯s no need to be disheartened. It seems that many of the top hundred sects are quite interested in a great number of you,¡± Chang Geng Sect Leader said with a faint smile.


    ¡°So being eliminated does not mean that you have nothing left. It¡¯s possible that in a short while, you will receive invitations from the top hundred sects, or even from a Taoist Sect.¡±


    A very in sentence, yet it made the lights within the previously disheartened cultivators¡¯ eyes begin to twinkle again.


    ¡°Moreover, Debate Dao City is not rushing you to leave. You can choose to depart from here and return to your respective domains, or you can stay in the city and watch the rest of the Seven Domains Debate Daopetition.


    My suggestion is that you stay and witness the event in its entirety. After all, such a grand asion, being able to watch the current generation¡¯s strongest cultivators engage in magicalbat, should be of great help to your vision and the direction of your cultivation,¡± Chang Geng Sect Leader added.


    By the final decisive round of the Seven Domains Debate Dao, the cultivators remaining, aside from those from the seven great Taoist Sects, were unsurpassed across the entire Human Race.


    The paths and systems of cultivation of these individuals were absolutely worth learning from for everyone.


    ¡°The group elimination round will be held in three days in the small Debate Domain.


    You can now return to your respective living areas to adjust your condition and conserve your strength in preparation for the start of the elimination round!¡±


    Having announced all the rules, the Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s form shed and he transformed into an escaping light, vanishing from the sky.


    At the same time, streams of escaping light twinkled and rose from seven majestic peaks, and in the blink of an eye, the spectators from the seven great Taoist Sects and the top hundred sects had all dispersed.


    The various talented cultivators also left with heavy hearts.


    The eliminated cultivators worried whether their performance in the Seal Spirit Tower was eye-catching enough, whether any sects had taken notice of them, and if they would be selected by a major sect.


    On the other hand, those who had advanced to the group elimination round were pondering their strategy for the uingpetition.


    After all, individuals in the Third Sequence had only two chances to challenge a cultivator from the Second Sequence.


    And with ny cultivators in the Second Sequence, there would undoubtedly be varying strengths. If they could pick a weaker individual to challenge, their odds of winning would surely be much higher.


    ¡­.


    The results of the Seven Domains Debate Dao retest spread with unimaginable speed, radiating out to the Seven Domains and reaching the hands of all the major powers concerned with thepetition.


    @@novelbin@@


    If the talented cultivators themselves could be said to be rtively calm, the sects and powers of the Seven Domains of each state and prefecture were exceedingly lively, as if a bomb had gone off.


    Especially the major sect powers of Qing State.


    That was where numerous renowned talents of the Human Race gathered for thepetition, and the cultivator who ranked third overall actually came from their own little corner, Qing State?


    This news set them abuzz.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, he actually shot up to the third rank overall, number one in the Southern Territory?¡±


    ¡°Although it¡¯s just the retest, that was apetition where half a million of the Human Race¡¯s talented cultivators gathered!¡± Fufeng City Lord waspletely stunned when he received the news.


    That was terrifying!


    The higher one¡¯s position, the clearer the understanding of what Lu Qingshan¡¯s ranking signified.


    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t fall, this young man will surely be a powerful cultivator of the Human Race,¡± the Fufeng City Lord murmured before bing lost in thought.


    After a moment, a sharp light passed through Fufeng City Lord¡¯s eyes as hemanded loudly, ¡°Allocate two Fourth Grade Spirit Veins to the Lu Family of Zhenjiang City, and also spread the news of Lu Qingshan¡¯s achievement of the third overall rank.


    In addition, reserve a spot for a Deputy City Lord candidate for the newly constructed Zhenjiang City and give it to the Lu Family¡­¡±


    Compared to his earlier promise of one Fourth Grade Spirit Vein, this was a multiple-fold increase, an unimaginably grand gesture.


    But he wasn¡¯t heartbroken.


    He wanted to create momentum, first by elevating Lu Qingshan¡¯s standing, thus indirectly establishing his own reputation, after all, Lu Qingshan hailed from Qing State.


    Furthermore, by currying favor with Lu Qingshan, investing in such a cultivator with exceptional talent was definitely not going to be a loss.


    ¡­.


    In Qingfeng Realm, within Qianshou Tower.


    ¡°True Venerable, this is the news from the Seven Domains Debate Daopetition.¡± A Cultivator walked in, respectfully presenting a Jade Slip.


    ¡°Oh? Has the retest ended?¡± Beiming True Venerable raised his eyebrows, Lu Qingshan¡¯s handsome faceing to his mind, ¡°I wonder how this young man fared. I hope he didn¡¯t disappoint me and instead brought some surprises.¡±


    Thinking this, Beiming True Venerable casually took the Jade Slip, his Divine Sense probing into it.


    ¡°Overall first ce, Bai Guandao, thirty-three years old, Golden Core Late Stage¡­¡±


    Unexpectedly, a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator took the first ce in the re-examination; this was unforeseen.


    So thought Beiming True Venerable in his heart.


    ¡°Overall second ce, Zhou Yuan, forty years old, Nascent Soul Early Stage¡­¡±


    Hiss!


    Upon seeing Nascent Soul Early Stage, even Beiming True Venerable couldn¡¯t help but suck in a breath of cold air.


    Incredible, to achieve Nascent Soul under fifty years of age and not even from a Taoist Sect.


    Indeed, such prodigies emerge one after another among the Human Race!


    Beiming True Venerable murmured to himself.


    His gaze continued downward.


    ¡°Overall third ce, Lu Qingshan, eighteen years old, Golden Core Middle Stage¡­.¡±


    Third ce was down to Golden Core Middle Stage? What¡¯s going on?


    Beiming True Venerable furrowed his brows, his eyes continuing to scan downward.


    ¡°Wait a minute!¡± The next moment, Beiming True Venerable was startled, his gaze snapping back, fixated on that name.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan¡­¡±


    Afterward, a deep sigh echoed in Qianshou Tower from Beiming True Venerable, ¡°What on earth is going on¡­ what I wanted was a surprise, but this, it should be called a shock¡­¡±


    ¡­


    At Lu Family of Mihe Peak.


    ¡°What? The City Lord of Fufeng City wants to allocate those two Fourth Grade Spirit Veins to us, and also give us a candidate spot for the Deputy City Lord of Zhenjiang City?¡± In Qingping Hall, Lu Zhou and Lu Yuan, two high-ranking members of the Lu Family, were stunned.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, in the Seven Domains Debate Dao retest, achieved the overall third ce?


    ¡°How is that possible, this is the grandpetition which gathers all the genius Cultivators of the Human Race, this youngster¡­.¡± Lu Zhou stared in disbelief, instinctively denying it.


    The shock in his heart was indescribable; this newspletely dumbfounded him.


    He naturally understood what this implied.


    It was precisely because he understood that he dared not believe it.


    But how could the news personally brought from Fufeng City be false?


    The unexpected surprise left them dazed and disoriented.


    ¡°Great Elder, you said Qing Ling was our opportunity for the Lu Family to rise,¡± after a long while, Lu Yuan finally regaining hisposure, said to Lu Zhou: ¡°Looking at it now, it seems you were right, just look at what a great son he has brought forth¡­.¡±


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 Chapter 329 - 33: Luring the Snake out of Its Hole (Part One)

    Chapter 329: Chapter 33: Luring the Snake out of Its Hole (Part One)


    Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan returned to the residential area together, and since Mo Yan hadn¡¯t seen the King of Western Rats for a long time, he took the initiative to suggest that they stop by to see it.


    However, when the two entered Lu Qingshan¡¯s temporary wooden tower, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly, the empty wooden tower had no sign of the King of Western Rats.


    ¡°Where has the King of Western Rats gone off to wander this time?¡± mumbled Lu Qingshan.


    Since the Seven Domains Debate Dao didn¡¯t allow the entry of Demon Beasts not bound by contract, Lu Qingshan had no choice but to let the King of Western Rats stay alone in the wooden tower.


    Yet, he had specifically instructed it that the Seal Spirit Tower retest would likely take about a month and told the King of Western Rats to stay put and not wander off during this time.


    But he didn¡¯t expect that the little Demon Rat would still vanish without a trace.


    ¡­.


    In the heart of Debate Dao City.


    Six powerful Cultivators of the Taoist Sect gathered together, their eyes all turning to the beautiful-faced Shui Yue Pavilion Master.


    Mystery Supreme furrowed his brows and was the first to speak up, ¡°Shui Yue Pavilion Master, what is so urgent that you have called us here?¡±


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master smiled gracefully and shook her head, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not me who has matters to discuss with you¡­¡±


    ¡°Then who is it?¡± the Chang Geng Sect Leader asked, his expression darkening.


    ¡°It¡¯s King Qing Mei and I who asked for you,¡± a steady voice came through.


    Following that, the figures of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and King Qing Mei emerged from the back hall of the main hall.


    Upon seeing the two, everyone was startled and promptly bowed, saying, ¡°We pay respects to the Pavilion Master, King Qing Mei.¡±


    King Qing Mei waved his hand dismissively, ¡°No need for such formalities.¡±


    ¡°Pavilion Master, King Qing Mei, what brings you here?¡± said Pce Master Ling Ye, full of surprise.


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°Our visit pertains to the Underworld,¡± began the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, his gaze sweeping across the faces before him, before slowly continuing, ¡°The Seven Domains Debate Dao was organized on themand of the Supreme, with the goal of nurturing a batch of capable Cultivators who can stand on their own in the uing great war against the Demon Race.¡±


    The Cultivators nodded in agreement without saying a word.


    It was only for such a significant event, one that affects the survival of the entire Human Race, that they could agree to put aside their Sect philosophies and consent to the organization of the Seven Domains Debate Dao.


    ¡°This is an unprecedented event for our Human Race,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master paused, his expression turning serious, and exined, ¡°However, for those from the Underworld who are hidden within the Human Race, this is like a bolt from the blue.


    After all, their existence is to cause chaos within the territories of the Human Race and to destroy the living strength of the Human Race.


    Given the magnitude of this event, it is impossible that the Underworld wouldn¡¯t harbor some ulterior motives.


    Therefore, King Qing Mei and I have stealthily infiltrated Debate Dao City and have been secretly observing, waiting for those Underworld Cultivators with malicious intent to reveal themselves.¡±


    ¡°Does the Pavilion Master mean to say that you have made some discovery?¡± the Suspended Saint inquired uncertainly.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master nodded, ¡°On the night before the retest began, some Cultivators of unidentified identities entered the Seal Spirit Tower and secretly changed the Illusion Arrays on the ninth and neenth floors to lethal formations.


    Their intention was to use this to massacre our talented Cultivators of the Human Race and disrupt the holding of the Seven Domains Debate Dao.¡±


    Hiss!


    Upon hearing this, everyone took in a sharp breath, their faces showing a slight change of expression.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s gaze swept over everyone¡¯s expressions, and he didn¡¯t say much more.


    ¡°After the cultivator left the Seal Spirit Tower, we immediately changed the altered killing formation back to the Illusion Array. At the same time, we secretly followed the cultivator, trying to trace the vine to find the melon and catch the person behind him,¡± King Qing Mei continued to exin.


    ¡°So, what was the oue?¡± the Xuanji Grandmaster asked in a deep voice, ¡°Did we encounter any trouble that requires our help, or?¡±


    ¡°But since leaving the Seal Spirit Tower, that cultivator has just been staying in Debate Dao City, showing no other movements.


    Even after knowing that the cultivators participating in the retest of Seal Spirit Tower had no issues on the ninth and neenth floors, he still remained as steady as Mount Tai,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master said indifferently.


    ¡°An Underworld Cultivator remains soposed, so indifferent to the failure of their actions?¡± Shui Yue Pavilion Master¡¯s voice sank, carrying a mix of helplessness and disbelief.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that he¡¯s indifferent¡­¡± The Taibai Sword Master, who had been silent and listening quietly, interjected, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this person¡¯s actions were more about probing our reactions, so-called ¡®beating the grass to startle the snake¡¯ to lure the snake out of its hole!


    The purpose is to determine our level of vignce and nning against their Underworld during this Seven Domains Debate Dao.¡±


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s eyes sparkled, and he nodded in agreement with the Taibai Sword Master¡¯s words, ¡°Indeed, we have collected some covert evidence that clearly shows that the cultivators sent by the Underworld to disrupt the Seven Domains Debate Dao should be in two groups.


    One operates openly, and the other operates in the shadows, without interfering with each other.


    First, they send out the group in the open to act. If no one monitors every move inside Debate Dao City, their scheme against the Seal Spirit Tower would naturally seed, fulfilling their desires, and there would be no need for the other group to take action.


    If we¡¯re indeed leading the adversary into a trap and notice the changes in the Seal Spirit Tower, we wouldn¡¯t tolerate any cultivators perishing during the retest, regardless of the circumstances.


    As long as all the cultivatorse out unscathed from the retest, those operating openly will understand that their ns have failed, and then it will be time for the group in the shadows to start their actions.


    And the exchange of information between these two does not require any meeting.


    Because, the specific details of the Seal Spirit Tower retest assessments are public.¡±


    The expression of Chang Geng Sect Leader changed subtly, ¡°If what the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master says is true, won¡¯t there be unexpected incidents during the uing Seven Domains Debate Dao?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡± King Qing Mei spoke up, ¡°There¡¯s a high likelihood, or there may be other schemes at y.¡±


    ¡°Then, regarding the other group of Underworld Cultivators hidden in darkness, waiting to strike, does the Pavilion Master have any news?¡± Yi River Pce Master asked in a cold voice.


    ¡°None,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master shook his head, eyes sharp as if piercing through everything, and spoke indifferently, ¡°But, as the Seal Spirit Tower is a guarded secret, with its hidden doors and various formations known only to us cultivators of the Seven Great Taoist Sects.


    How then did an Underworld Cultivator manage to move through it unnoticed and sessfully tamper with the formations?¡±


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s tone was calm, yet it carried an incisive note of questioning.


    Suddenly, the hall was filled with dead silence.


    After a long while, Shui Yue Pavilion Master looked at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master with disbelief, in a tone she herself could scarcely believe, she questioned, ¡°Are you suggesting that among the high-ranking cultivators of our Taoist Sects, there¡¯s an insider from the Underworld?¡±


    All present were superior beings, powerful cultivators, yet upon hearing Shui Yue Pavilion Master¡¯s words, they couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill down their spines.


    Such a circumstance was inconceivable.


    The Seven Great Taoist Sects and Great Xia, as the pinnacle of power for the Human Race, could determine the direction of humanity¡¯s future.


    And among these people, there was an Underworld insider?


    If the Underworld had managed to infiltrate to such an extent, wouldn¡¯t it mean that many of their decisions wereid bare before the Demon Race?


    ¡°Although I am reluctant to admit it, the harsh truth is likely just that,¡± King Qing Mei¡¯s voice grew heavier, speaking tersely, ¡°And moreover, I cannot be certain that the Underworld¡¯s insider is not among those present!¡±


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 Chapter 330: 34 Lure the Snake Out of Its Hole (Part 2)

    Chapter 330: 34 Lure the Snake Out of Its Hole (Part 2)


    ¡°How is that possible? Among us seated here, all are high-ranking members of the Taoist Sect, almost all at the level of a vice Sect Master. How could there be an insider from the Underworld amongst us?


    What kind of conditions could the Netherworld possibly offer to buy off a group like us? You are giving the Underworld too much credit!¡± The Great Cultivator Xuanji was the first to stand up in opposition.


    ¡°Nothing is impossible,¡± said the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, indifferent to the Great Cultivator Xuanji¡¯s sudden rage. ¡°Taking things for granted is a grave taboo when confronting the Demon Race.¡±


    ¡°So, Pavilion Master, are you suggesting that we should be put under house arrest and interrogated?¡± The Spirit Yue Pce Master¡¯s face turned as dark as water. ¡°Although we all respect you, Pavilion Master, as high-ranking members of the various Taoist Sects, the likelihood of us letting you manipte us at will is somewhat unrealistic, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    The more powerful the Cultivator, the more secrets they have and the more concerned they are with saving face. How could they possibly allow themselves to be interrogated just because of a guess made by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master?


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master shook his head with a smile. ¡°Of course, I would not take such a risk.¡±


    ¡°However, the Underworld is using this infiltrator, who tampered with the Formation in the Seal Spirit Tower, as a disposable pawn, without realizing that even pawns have their uses.


    They may not know that the Heavenly Secret Mirror has a Divine Skill that can observe the causal lines of all beings in the world.


    At that time, I will only need to bring everyone in front of this Underworld¡¯s throwaway Cultivator and use the Heavenly Secret Mirror to observe their causal lines with this Divine Skill.


    If any of you seated here do have an insider from the Underworld, there will be an extremelyplex causal line between you and this Underworld throwaway Cultivator.


    My reason foring here was precisely to inform all of you and to express my hope that you will cooperate with this small request of mine.¡±


    Everyone fell into contemtion, and after a long while, the Taibai Sword Master said indifferently, ¡°If it¡¯s just such a small request, my Sword Sect agrees.¡±


    ¡°Great Pure Pce agrees as well,¡± the Spirit Yue Pce Master hesitated for a moment before also agreeing.


    Subsequently, everyone present expressed their agreement.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you all are willing to cooperate,¡± King Qing Mei said with a calm smile, and immediately suggested, ¡°Then let us go together now to the location of this Underworld throwaway, and allow the Pavilion Master to investigate the causal lines!¡±


    ¡°Very well, let us follow the Pavilion Master on this journey.¡± The Taibai Sword Master was still the first to agree, his eyes scanning over the other people present.


    Among those present were the Vice Pce Master of Great Pure Pce, the Vice Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, the Holy Master of Dragon Elephant Temple, the Sect Leader of Rinsing Spirit Sect, the Hall Master of Martial Debate Hall, the Tower Master of Armor Pavilion, and the Peak Master of Sword Sect¡¯s Vastness Peak.


    These individuals were all Great Cultivators wielding considerable power. If the Netherworld had truly infiltrated to such a level, it would indeed send chills down one¡¯s spine.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and King Qing Mei disappeared from view, immediately standing up and transforming into a beam of Escaping Light, flying out of the great hall and hurrying toward a corner within the city.


    The other Cultivators followed closely behind.


    With their Escape Techniques, it wasn¡¯t long before they were about to reach the destination,


    but just at that moment, the face of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master suddenly changed. ¡°The Xuantian Spiritual Record I left on that Underworld throwaway is dissipating!¡±


    Everyone was shocked and hurriedly increased their speed again.


    Soon enough, they arrived at the destination, a wooden building located in the northern part of the city.


    However, at this very moment, the wooden building was aplete mess, and the body of a Cultivatory silently amidst the ruins.


    ¡°This¡­ this¡­ tomit murder in Debate Dao City, the Netherworld is provoking our Human Cultivators!¡± Upon seeing this scene, the Spirit Yue Pce Master was immensely angry.


    They didn¡¯t die earlier orter, but just after the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master proposed a solution.


    In just less than half a moment¡¯s time, this person had died on the spot, and this solution had only been mentioned in the presence of the Cultivators from the Taoist Sects.


    Could such a coincidence truly exist in the world?


    Obviously not.


    There must be some trickery at y here.


    ¡°Pavilion Master, what should we do next?¡± Shui Yue Pavilion Master asked with a worried expression, while also feeling that something was amiss.


    She always felt that, given her understanding of her own Pavilion Master, he shouldn¡¯t have made such a mistakeden move.


    Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to capture this Underworld discard and then look for them?


    Why insist on bringing them to find this Underworld discard, isn¡¯t this rather giving the Underworld Cultivators time to deal with the aftermath, which led to the current awkward situation?


    ¡°Now that this Underworld discard is dead, the man is gone and so is his spirit, and the thread of causality has vanished along with him.


    We had finally found a way to break the situation, but it has turned into this scene. What should we do next?¡± Chang Geng Sect Leader sighed, filled with regret.


    ¡°Although I am reluctant to believe this fact, as I just said to everyone, there is an undercover agent of the Underworld among us.¡± As Chang Geng Sect Leader sighed, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s icy gaze suddenly swept across the crowd, her tone full of lethal intent.


    Just as everyone was in shock, a person who looked exactly like the dead body was pressed out by King Qing Mei.


    ¡°He¡¯s not dead??¡± The cultivators present were all stunned. They nced back at the corpse, then at the Underworld discard that King Qing Mei had restrained. After being bewildered for a moment, they suddenly realized, ¡°Is this a trap to lure the snake out of its hole?¡±


    ¡°I and King Qing Mei first captured this Underworld discard, then used the Art of Incarnation to create a lifelike, fake Underworld discard, and revealed everything to you.


    I truly hoped that my incarnation could emerge unscathed, but the result has truly chilled my heart and should chill everyone¡¯s hearts as well,¡± said the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master with no expression on her face.


    ¡°This is a trap, a test for us,¡± Taibai Sword Master realized at this moment. ¡°No wonder, Pavilion Master, you were so eager. It turns out you wanted us to fall into your fast-paced trap, to make instinctive responses subconsciously.¡±


    Indeed, upon closer thought, one would notice that there were actually many ws in what the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master had just said.


    For instance, the simplest question: why bring them to see the Underworld discard instead of bringing the Underworld discard to them?


    And if the Heavenly Secret Mirror truly had such a tyrannical ability to observe causality, as miraculous as the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master mentioned,


    Then why hadn¡¯t the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, in cooperation with the Control Tower, achieved any breakthrough victories against the Netherworld over so many years?


    Questions like these, but under the deliberate guidance of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, everyone had fallen into his pace and simply did not have time to ponder these details.


    If there indeed was an undercover agent of the Netherworld among them, their first impulse upon subconsciously believing the words of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master would be to immediately find a way to kill this Underworld Cultivator, to erase the causality, destroy the evidence, and avoid exposing their own presence.


    Everyone at this point was both shocked and angry.


    The Grand Master Xuanji was the most astonished.


    He was the one who least believed that there could be an undercover agent of the Netherworld among them, and he reacted the most vigorously.


    But now the truth was right before his eyes, there indeed was an undercover agent of the Netherworld among them!


    Who could it be?


    @@novelbin@@


    At this moment, everyone looked at each other, the meaning in their eyes suddenly bing strange.


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 Chapter 331 - 35 Taiyi Sword Sect

    Chapter 331: Chapter 35 Taiyi Sword Sect


    Who exactly was it?


    This question emerged simultaneously in the minds of all the cultivators present.


    ¡°Pavilion Master, the one who killed your incarnation, did you clearly see who it was?¡± King Qing Mei asked.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master didn¡¯t say much but just formed a mysterious Spirit Seal with his hands.


    The incarnation, constructed through the Art of Incarnation, immediately turned into specks of stardust, floating in the air and transforming into a light screen.


    Disyed on the light screen was the exact scene of the Spirit Art incarnation being attacked.


    An unknown beast, shrouded in ck mist and hard to see through, suddenly appeared, transforming into a sharp arrow that pierced directly through the incarnation¡¯s brow.


    Its purpose was simple, to directly destroy the incarnation¡¯s Primordial Spirit, obliterating both its form and spirit.


    However, when this unknown beast realized the Primordial Spirit it expected did not exist, it immediately sensed something was wrong. In an instant, it flickered and transformed into a cloud of ck smoke, dissipating on the spot, leaving no trace behind.


    ¡°This¡­¡± King Qing Mei¡¯s eyes tightened, feeling somewhat troubled.


    Even in the most hurried response, the insider from the Netherworld did not leave any loopholes.


    He nced at the abandoned child of the Netherworld, who was tightly bound by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s Divine Skills, and his brow furrowed even more.


    ¡°Cultivators at the Divinity Transformation Realm are being treated as throwaways, even managing to reach into the high ranks of the Taoist Sect; the Netherworld¡¯s infiltration in the Human Race for twenty thousand years has indeed been fruitful,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master said calmly.


    ¡°So, until the true identity of that Netherworld insider is revealed, we cultivators present are to be treated as suspects?¡± the Taibai Sword Master asked, quite calm.


    ¡°Although I am sorry, under these circumstances, that is indeed the only way to handle this,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master apologized. ¡°My apologies, I hope you all can understand.¡±


    Then, with a thought, the space around him suddenly stagnated, and countless golden runes emerged, swirling about.


    At the moment these runes appeared, all the Spiritual Power and everything within this space seemed isted, under the control of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master.


    This was the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s Dao Domain.


    The Dao Domain epassed even the deputy leaders of their Pavilion, including the Shui Yue Pavilion Master.


    The expressions of the seven great Taoist Sect cultivators changed, seemingly struggling with something. After a moment, an airborne saint spoke in a deep voice, ¡°If it were anyone else, I would definitely not surrender without a fight, but you, Pavilion Master, I can trust.


    Since I cannot prove right now that I am not a person from the Netherworld, I will temporarily let you arrange the proceedings, hoping that the Pavilion Master can quickly find out the identity of the Netherworld insider and clear my name.¡±


    ¡°I never thought I would be suspected to be a person from the Netherworld,¡± the Chang Geng Sect Leader shook his head and took a deep breath, helplessly saying, ¡°Pavilion Master, please rify the truth quickly so you can clear our names.¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master nodded slightly and bowed lightly to the seven great Taoist Sect cultivators, ¡°I appreciate your cooperation, and I thank you all here in advance.¡±


    King Qing Mei¡¯s gaze shifted to the abandoned child of the Netherworld, feeling somewhat dejected.


    In fact, their only clue at present was this abandoned child of the Netherworld; however, it remainedpletely silent, and he and the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master had regrettably had to take a risky step.


    Fortunately, the oue was favorable.


    Yet, they had once again fallen into their previous dilemma.


    To determine which of the seven cultivators was actually the insider from the Netherworld, the clue was still only the abandoned child of the Netherworld before them.


    ¡­..


    @@novelbin@@


    Debate Dao City, an unknown ce, where several cultivators, their faces shrouded in ck mist, gathered together.


    ¡°Shentu Mansion Master has been ced under house arrest,¡± one said.


    ¡°Has Shentu Mansion Master¡¯s identity been exposed?¡± another inquired.


    ¡°It seems not yet. ording to the information I have, the person under house arrest isn¡¯t just Shentu Mansion Master; seven great cultivators from the Taoist Sect are also under house arrest.


    Thus, it is apparent they haven¡¯t yet discovered the true identity of Shentu Mansion Master.¡± One cultivator said in a hoarse voice, ¡°In theing period, we must be even more cautious and not expose any ws.¡±


    ¡°Yes, if we slip up now, not only would we be risking our own lives, but it would also implicate Shentu Mansion Master. Everyone should understand the severity of this situation, restrain your subordinates during this time.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± responded the other cultivators.


    ¡°Hall Master, should we proceed as normal with our n for the Seven Domains Debate Dao?¡±


    ¡°Proceed as normal,¡± responded the cultivator known as the Hall Master, his tone icy, ¡°Great Xia has foolishly decided to offer the Great Xia Scripture as a reward for the Seven Domains Debate Dao.


    As long as our people can prevail in the Seven Domains Debate Dao and secure the Great Xia Scripture, and then pass it on to the Demon Race for our Demon Lords to analyze, we might find vulnerabilities in the cultivation system of the Dao Master of Xia.¡±


    ¡°They think that our purpose is to disrupt the Seven Domains Debate Dao, little do they know that what we actually desire is the Great Xia Scripture!¡± another spectral-faced cultivator said with a sinisterugh: ¡°Without the Dao Master of Xia, what use is it for the Human Race to cultivate more powerful cultivators?


    To think they would offer the cultivation technique of the Dao Master of Xia as a reward in order to nurture cultivators, how foolish!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourselves,¡± the Hall Master scolded sharply, seemingly displeased with the conceit of the others.


    ¡°Rest assured, Hall Master, with Yinhe stepping forward in this edition of the Seven Domains Debate Dao, how could a group of juniors, none of whom have more than fifty years of cultivation, possibly fail? The first ce is certain to be ours!¡± the spectral-faced cultivator said nonchntly in response to the Hall Master¡¯s stern warning.


    The fact was such that, even though Yinhe had to suppress his cultivation to meet the conditions for participating in the Seven Domains Debate Dao, using a physical body that wasn¡¯t very powerful,


    with Yinhe¡¯s abilities, he couldn¡¯t see any reason why Yinhe would lose to these juniors of the Human Race.


    ¡­


    Inside a wooden building.


    Since he hadn¡¯t met King Qing Mei, Mo Yan had chatted with Lu Qingshan for a while and then took his leave very perceptively.


    All cultivators were currently resting and recuperating, preparing for the group elimination matches in three days, so it wasn¡¯t good to disturb Lu Qingshan further.


    However, just after Mo Yan had left, the wooden building unexpectedly weed another visitor.


    ¡°May I know who you are?¡± Lu Qingshan asked as he looked at the ck-robed cultivator at the doorway, his heart tense as he invited him into the building.


    He couldn¡¯t discern the cultivation realm of this person.


    This indicated that the ck-robed cultivator¡¯s cultivation was far superior to his.


    With a warm smile, the ck-robed cultivator said, ¡°My name is Zhuan Zhu Grand Honor, an elder of the Taiyi Sword Sect.¡±


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback and vaguely guessed the intent of Zhuan Zhu Grand Honor¡¯s visit but kept his expressionrgely unchanged as he bowed and said, ¡°I¡¯ve met Zhuan Zhu Grand Honor.¡±


    ¡°No need for such courtesy,¡± Zhuan Zhu Grand Honor waved his hand dismissively and got straight to the point, ¡°My visit here is quite straightforward¡ª to invite you to join our Taiyi Sword Sect.¡±


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 Chapter 332 - 36: Asura Reappears

    Chapter 332: Chapter 36: Asura Reappears


    ¡°Among Sword Sects, aside from the Eastern Domain Sword Sect, my Taiyi Sword Sect can be considered the strongest,¡± said Zhuan Zhu grandly.


    ¡°Moreover, although we, at Taiyi Sword Sect, acknowledge that the might of our sect is notparable to that of the Eastern Domain Sword Sect, when ites to mentoring disciples, which is stronger and which is weaker is not so easily stated.


    Furthermore, you must understand that the Eastern Domain Sword Sect is rife with extraordinary individuals. Even if you possess exceptional talent, there, you would be considered quite trite, easily expendable, and wouldn¡¯t receive much attention.


    But if you would join our Taiyi Sword Sect, I, representing the Taiyi Sword Sect, guarantee that you will at least receive the treatment of a direct disciple, and the Sect¡¯s secret techniques will also bergely avable to you.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, as I understand it, you are from the Southern Territory. Coincidentally, the home of our Taiyi Sword Sect is also in the Southern Territory. Instead of leaving your homnd to go tens of thousands of miles away to the Eastern Domain, perhaps the Taiyi Sword Sect would be a better choice.


    Besides, if we truly discuss top-tier strength of the sects, you must understand that our Taiyi Sword Sect has also produced a Sword Immortal,¡± Zhuan Zhu continued calmly.


    Lu Qingshan remained silent.


    Zhuan Zhu¡¯s words were naturally not shots in the dark.


    The Sword Immortal that he mentioned from Taiyi Sword Sect was Li Qiubai.


    When Li Qiubai first sought to enter the path of true cultivation, the first and only sect he joined was the Taiyi Sword Sect.


    Although Li Qiubai left the Taiyi Sword Sect soon after to travel alone, seeking the Sword Dao.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan did not respond immediately, Zhuan Zhu was not in a hurry. He tossed a Communication Token to Lu Qingshan, ¡°For such an important matter, I don¡¯t ask you to decide now, but I hope you will seriously consider our Taiyi Sword Sect.


    ¡°Thepetition of the Seven Domains Debate Dao has not yet ended. You should prepare well for the uingpetitions. If you have any thoughts, contact me through this Communication Token.¡±


    Once he conveyed this, Zhuan Zhu turned and left.


    It wasn¡¯t as if his visit signified that they absolutely needed Lu Qingshan, but from the fact that Zhuan Zhu himself came to meet him, Lu Qingshan could feel the Taiyi Sword Sect¡¯s regard for him.


    However¡­


    ¡°Better to be a phoenix¡¯s tail than a chicken¡¯s head,¡± this Taiyi Sword Sect simply failed to move him.


    As for what Zhuan Zhu said, that he would not be greatly regarded within the Sword Sect, Lu Qingshan dared not dismiss it outright.


    Zhuan Zhu wasn¡¯t exaggerating the situation, but he knew very little about Lu Qingshan.


    @@novelbin@@


    With the Legendary Talent, Innate Swordseed, and character panel, Lu Qingshan was confident that even in the Sword Sect, he would not merely blend into the crowd.


    ¡­¡­


    Putting aside these distracting thoughts, Lu Qingshan lightly tapped his index finger, pondering over the affairs of the Seven Domains Debate Dao in his heart.


    He wasn¡¯t worried about the group elimination matches. There was only one person he was concerned about.


    Zhou Yuan in the early stage of the Nascent Soul.


    As for others, he dared not im a one hundred percent confidence in defeating them, but still, there was a chance of victory.


    But this Zhou Yuan left him utterly perplexed.


    After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation was an entire major realm above all otherpeting cultivators.


    Challenging across realms was harder than ascending to the heavens, especially since Zhou Yuan was not some unknown Nascent Soul Cultivator. He was a genius among cultivators, with exceptionalbat power and unparalleled strength in his realm.


    The same went for genius cultivators considering challenging across a realm?


    It was nothing short of a fantasy.


    That was why the seven powerful cultivators of the Taoist Sect all believed that Zhou Yuan was destined to be the champion of this Debate Dao of the Seven Domains.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan did not want to give up so easily.


    He must enhance his strength to battle against him.


    But what methods were there to improve his strength in such a short time?


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s brow lightly furrowed as he pondered.


    With just a few days until the final contest of the Debate Dao of the Seven Domains, others might think it impossible to bridge such a massive gap in strength in such a short period.


    But for Lu Qingshan, although it was very difficult, it was notpletely impossible.


    Because by relying on Experience Points, he was able to quickly enhance his Cultivation.


    However, this required a substantial amount of Experience Points, and he was currently in Debate Dao City, with no means to obtain these points.


    At this thought, Lu Qingshan also felt utterly at a loss.


    ¡­¡­


    Swish swish rustle rustle.


    His train of thought was interrupted by a subtle noise; Lu Qingshan nced sideways at the Western Rat King who had sneaked in tiptoeing, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay in the wooden tower and not to run around?¡±


    Embarrassed by Lu Qingshan¡¯s scolding, the Western Rat King awkwardly rubbed its small paws,menting, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for so long and I¡¯ve never been here before. I couldn¡¯t help but go out for a stroll¡­¡±


    ¡°This ce is and of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; you, an unruly Demon Beast without a contract, would certainly be seen as a wild Demon Beast.


    With better luck, you¡¯d just be caught and made a Demon Pet; with worse, you might just be cooked right away. That¡¯s why I told you not to wander around,¡± Lu Qingshan said helplessly. ¡°Luckily, you didn¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    The Western Rat King scratched its head, smoothing the newly sprouted red fur on the top, all of a sudden speaking in a mysterious tone, ¡°Lu Qingshan, this time I not only refrained from causing trouble for you; I might even say I¡¯ve made a great contribution!¡±


    ¡°?!¡± Lu Qingshan startled, his gaze sharpened, his tone bing somewhat serious, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    The Western Rat King straightened up, ¡°Remember the big viin who vanished with Luohu in Zhenjiang City?¡±


    ¡°You mean¡­ Asura?¡± Lu Qingshan was uncertain.


    The Western Rat King vehemently nodded its tiny head, ¡°Yes, him.¡±


    Pausing, the Western Rat King raised its voice, ¡°I encountered him here!¡±


    ¡°You met Asura?!¡± Even as calm as Lu Qingshan was, he couldn¡¯t help but exim.


    This little mouse demon, indeed, had bizarre luck.


    As for the Western Rat King¡¯s actions, in a game, that would be called triggering a hidden main quest just by randomly wandering the street.


    ¡°Yes!¡± affirmed the Western Rat King: ¡°Even though he changed his appearance, I clearly remembered the distinct scent on him, sinister yet carrying a hint of the aroma of the Blood Spirit Bead, and I recognised it right away.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression had grown serious, ¡°Where did you encounter him? What is his identity now?¡±


    With a look that knew you¡¯d ask this, the Western Rat King proudly said, ¡°I met him in the East City District, then secretly followed him for a while and discovered that he eventually entered a Cultivator¡¯s living area called the Silver Butterfly Sect.¡±


    Silver Butterfly Sect, one of the top hundred Sects.


    Had he shifted from the Southern Territory to another and transformed into a person of a top Sect?


    The Netherworld¡¯s maneuvers are truly vast and mighty.


    Danger flickered in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, his expression changing continuously. After a long while, he firmly told the Western Rat King, ¡°This time, you truly have made a great contribution!¡±


    The Western Rat King shook its head, ¡°Then again, don¡¯t overlook whose identity this is, the Heaven-Mandated Mouse!¡±


    But after its triumph, the Western Rat King scrutinized Lu Qingshan with a discerning gaze, ¡°But, Lu Qingshan, you better not think of confronting this Asura yourself, right?


    He¡¯s a Great Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage; we better quickly inform those old demons to deal with this bad guy!¡±


    Lu Qingshan nodded, murmuring softly, ¡°Of course, I would not overestimate myself.


    Moreover, with Debate Dao City being such a crucible of swirling influences, Asura¡¯s appearance here, could it just be a coincidence?


    It must be that the Netherworld has designs on the Seven Domains¡¯ Debate Dao; thus viewed, in today¡¯s Debate Dao City, there are certainly not just Asura among the Netherworld Cultivators.¡±


    There was one thing Lu Qingshan left unsaid.


    Perhaps, this was the opportunity he was seeking to gain enough Experience Points to raise his Cultivation before the finalpetition of the Seven Domains¡¯ Debate Dao started.


    Were Netherworld Cultivators not just walking bundles of Experience Points?


    As for how to proceed, he was still uncertain and would just have to adapt as circumstances evolved.


    The pressing matter was to first ¡°activate¡± this ¡°plot.¡±


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 Chapter 333 - 37: Outbreak

    Chapter 333: Chapter 37: Outbreak


    ¡°But to whom should this news be disclosed?¡±


    Lu Qingshan hesitated.


    It was nothing else; in Debate Dao City, he was unfamiliar with the area and simply could not contact the true high-level members.


    Moreover, the slightly authoritative Zhi Shou Building was tens of thousands of miles away.


    Such crucial news must necessarily involve only High Rank Cultivators.


    After a long time of contemtion, Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes shed with a glint of light, ¡°Perhaps, this is the only option to try¡­¡±


    ¡­.


    In the core area of Debate Dao City.


    King Qing Mei, with a worried expression, walked out of the secret chamber along with the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master.


    ¡°Pavilion Master, this Underworld Cultivator is the only clue, but he keeps his lips sealed despite repeated interrogation; he refuses to say much.


    At this rate, we¡¯ll be out of options,¡± King Qing Mei said gravely. ¡°Although some high-level members from the Taoist Sect are now willing to cooperate with us,


    if we are unable to find useful clues and root out the Underworld infiltrator among them, it isn¡¯t good to keep them confined indefinitely.¡±


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master deeply agreed and silently nodded, lost in thought.


    He had done everything he could, even managing to narrow down the range of the Underworld infiltrators to seven high-level members of the Taoist Sect.


    However, the final step was proving difficult to breakthrough.


    ¡°Perhaps, we should try to look for that unknown beast that attacked my Spirit Art incarnation,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master suddenly said. ¡°Besides this Underworld Cultivator, it¡¯s the only clue that isn¡¯t really a clue.¡±


    ¡°But this beast disappeared in a blink of an eye, leaving no trace behind. How are we to find it?¡± King Qing Mei frowned, then suddenly seemed to realize something and reacted immediately, ¡°Pavilion Master, are you¡­ nning to use the Heavenly Secret Mirror?¡±


    ¡°It seems to be the only option at the moment,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master said calmly.


    ¡°Pavilion Master, the previous Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, before his death, left behind a prophecy: ¡®The Abyss shalle.


    We, the Human Race, are on the brink of a great battle with the Demon Race. In such a critical moment, you, being the sole cultivator among the Human Race who masters the art of the Heavenly Secrets and controls the Heavenly Secret Mirror, will definitely be needed in many ces in the future. It¡¯s not advisable to frivolously use the Heavenly Secret Mirror!¡± King Qing Mei hastily tried to prevent him.


    The Heavenly Secret Mirror, as a Taoist Artifact, possesses the ability to observe the mysteries of Heaven and Earth and is indeed considered inscrutably divine; however, the drawback is that it consumes the user¡¯s own lifespan.


    Moreover, before using the Heavenly Secret Mirror to observe the heavens, you cannot urately estimate what mysteries you will observe and how secretive they will be, hence it¡¯s also unknown how much lifespan will be consumed.


    For example, Yun Lang of Qing State was pursuing the traces of a Demon of the Void in the Wilderness, and the unexpected involvement of the Qingqiu Mountain Master caused the cost of his observation to exceed his expectations drastically, resulting in his lifespan being nearly depleted.


    Under such circumstances, unless absolutely necessary, it is best to refrain from using the Heavenly Secret Mirror lightly.


    Especially since the Heavenly Secret Mirror itself, being a Taoist Artifact, has a strict restriction¡ªonly those who have mastered the art of the Heavenly Secrets can use it.


    And after the demise of the previous Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, the current Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master is the only cultivator who has mastered this art among the entire Human Race.


    At the time of the battle with the Demon Race, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s omniscient Divine Skill is incredibly important to the Human Race.


    ordingly, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s lifespan, even to the extent that it can be described as a strategic-level resource, must not be squandered lightly.


    This is also why, even though currently caught in a difficult situation, King Qing Mei is reluctant for the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master to hastily use the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    Because in his eyes, the lifespan of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master is evidently more important than finding the Underworld infiltrator.


    ¡°Among the high-level members of the Taoist Sect, the existence of an Underworld infiltrator is a fact; if we cannot expose the infiltrator, it will lead to endless trouble,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master said pointedly. ¡°If they return to their Sect with such suspicion, how can they maintain their position?¡±


    And how should the Taoist Sect treat them, could they still entrust them with the Sect Secret Arts and the sect¡¯s secrets?


    Knowing full well that among the seven of them, some were Underworld Cultivators, how were they to get along then?¡±


    Caught in the statement, King Qing Mei was at a loss, finding himself in a difficult dilemma.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time to dy, I have a n in mind, rest assured,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavillion Masterforted, ¡°Moreover, this beast is surely still in Debate Dao City. Given the limited area, the toll on my lifespan should not be too great.¡±


    King Qing Mei showed an embarrassed look but didn¡¯t know where to begin to advise.


    Once the decision was made, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master did not drag his feet.


    A sh of golden light streaked by, and subsequently, an ancient mirror floated in front of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master.


    He formed a strange hand seal with both hands, preparing to imprint it on the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    Just at that moment, King Qing Mei suddenly had a thought.


    He received a secret message of the highest importance.


    @@novelbin@@


    Subconsciously, he read the message, and in the next instant, his face suddenly showed a look of surprise, then joy, as he quickly stepped forward. In the astonished gaze of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, he stopped him.


    ¡°Pavilion Master, hold on, there has been a breakthrough!¡±


    ¡­¡­.


    In Debate Dao City, fifty thousand talented Human Race Cultivators and countless high-ranking Cultivators from over a hundred major sects gathered, creating a bustling scene.


    Boom!


    Just then, a thunderous explosion sound was heard, followed immediately by a session of building copses echoing continuously.


    This greatmotion instantly rmed the countless participants of the Seven Domains Debate Dao and the high-ranking Cultivators from various major sects within the city.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Who would dare make a move in Debate Dao City and cause such a disturbance?¡±


    Numerous Cultivators were in a state of panic.


    Only when the Cultivators left their training rooms to check the situation did they shockingly discover that this explosive disturbance had actually urred at the residence of a top-tier sect in Debate Dao City.


    All of the Cultivators¡¯ faces were filled with shock, and many thought they were seeing things.


    Not only had someone dared to take action within Debate Dao City, but they had even targeted a top-tier sect?


    Silver Butterfly Sect residence.


    Amid the enormous explosions, numerous silver light points darted into the sky, congregating into a silver butterfly which then transformed into an elegantly dressed middle-aged man in schr¡¯s robes.


    Almost simultaneously, another escaping light shot out from the now-ruined Silver Butterfly Sect residence, and a figure stood suspended in the air by controlling a sword.


    Tall and wildly arrogant.


    ¡°Zhuan Zhu, have you lost your mind? Attacking me indiscriminately, does your Taiyi Sword Sect want to dere war on our Silver Butterfly Sect?¡± the schr-robed middle-aged man bellowed angrily.


    Zhuan Zhu looked at the schr-robed middle-aged man with a half-smile, ¡°Should I address you as Lord Yunxiao, or is ¡®Teacher of the Demon Race¡¯ more fitting?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lord Yunxiao¡¯s face turned cold, and he was both shocked and furious, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


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 Chapter 334 - 38: Cutting Off the Tail to Survive

    Chapter 334: Chapter 38: Cutting Off the Tail to Survive


    Zhuan Zhu, the great revered, swept his gaze over the numerous Silver Butterfly Sect disciples who had just escaped the ruins, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    One of the disciples d in a blue robe felt the space around him suddenly freeze as an unimaginable gravity engulfed him, immobilizing himpletely.


    Then myriad strands of fiery red Spiritual Power crisscrossed in all directions, transforming into ropes that bound him, and with a swoosh, he was flung in front of Zhuan Zhu, the great revered.


    ¡°Is this your direct disciple, not bad, eh?¡± Zhuan Zhu, the great revered, asked with a cold voice.


    ¡°Release him!¡± roared the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain with a look of indignation on his face. ¡°Zhuan Zhu, this provocation of yours, do not think for a moment that I am truly afraid of you!¡±


    ¡°Oh, do you dare to raise a hand against me?¡± Zhuan Zhu, the great revered, asked without concern, his voice filled with counter-challenge.


    This made the face of the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain flush with shades of green and white, but in the end, he did not make the first move against Zhuan Zhu, the great revered.


    Sword Cultivators were always a group of reckless madmen, to the death. If he were to actually strike out at Zhuan Zhu at this moment, the situation would be irreconcble.


    Why argue over a momentary impulse with a madman? Stay calm! Stay calm!


    The great revered of Cloud Sky Domain consoled himself in his heart, forcefully suppressing his rage, ¡°Zhuan Zhu, my Silver Butterfly Sect and your Taiyi Sword Sect have always kept to our own affairs. What are you thinking with such a sudden attack?¡±


    Staring at the disciple who was captured by Zhuan Zhu and unable to move, the skin on the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain¡¯s face twitched. ¡°For someone of your high stature to personally take action against just a Nascent Soul Stage disciple of mine seems rather beneath you, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°There is no degradation in eradication of the remnants of the Demon Race,¡± the voice of Zhuan Zhu, the great revered, wasced with bone-chilling coldness.


    ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± The great revered of Cloud Sky Domain¡¯s face changed drastically, as if he realized something.


    ¡°Take a good look at your beloved disciple, and see what he really is,¡± Zhuan Zhu, the great revered, said with a coldugh.


    An invisible pressure emerged from the space around them, and strands of Spiritual Power took shape to form Red me Shackles, sweeping towards the Silver Butterfly Sect disciple he had in his grasp.


    An enormous, unknown Spiritual Pressure directly merged into his Primordial Spirit.


    A Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator was like an ant before Zhuan Zhu, the great revered, to be toyed with without the slightest chance for resistance.


    Under the coercion of this Spiritual Pressure, the disciple¡¯s veins bulged violently, emitting bursts of uncontroble cries of agony, managing to call outboriously to the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain, ¡°Master¡­¡±


    In such a situation, even though he was greatly wary of Zhuan Zhu, the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain could no longer endure.


    If he were to simply watch his direct disciple be tortured to death before his eyes and remain indifferent, what face would he have left?


    ¡°Zhuan Zhu, you¡¯re forcing my hand!¡± The great revered of Cloud Sky Domain bellowed angrily.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡± The great revered of Cloud Sky Domain was engulfed in a fierce gale, and a wave of blue Spiritual Power rippled out, creating a space of ethereal lightness.


    ¡°Om¡ª¡±


    At that moment, a gigantic avatar of a storm giant formed behind him, the winds rising from the ground, moving with the storm, as the sound of it roared across the entire field like thousands of troops in gallop.


    This was his Cloud Sky Domain.


    In the next instant, the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain seemed to merge with the storm giant Dharma Aspect behind him, his Cloud Sky Domain spreading out and enveloping the entire arena, instantly breaking through the Dao Domain¡¯s suppression cast by Zhuan Zhu.


    Just as the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain prepared to take advantage and rescue his disciple from Zhuan Zhu¡¯s clutches, a shocking scene unfolded before his eyes.


    @@novelbin@@


    His disciple, amidst agonizing moans, began to flicker with an eerie, demonic light, and dense, twisted Demonic Patterns appeared on his Physical Body.


    In the next instant, under the incredulous gaze of the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain, his disciple¡¯s form rapidly swelled, and four lumps protruded from his back.


    With a pop, four deformed arms gruesomely sprouted out from the lumps.


    ¡°Demon Race!¡± eximed the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain, staring at the scene before him.


    This was the Demon Race¡¯s bloodline activating its instinctive defense mechanism when faced with insurmountable Spiritual Pressure in a moment of life and death, transforming uncontrobly into a more powerful Demon form.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡± Theplexion of the great revered of Cloud Sky Domain stiffened, unable to believe that his disciple could be a part of the Demon Race.


    ¡­


    Lu Qingshan, who blended into the crowd, raised his head to see the Asura reveal its true form under Zhuan Zhu the Great¡¯s control, feeling immense satisfaction in his heart.


    The chief culprits of the Corpse Puppet Chaos three years ago were finally about to bepletely settled on this day.


    ¡­


    Zhuan Zhu the Great still watched Cloud Sky Domain¡¯s Sect Leader indifferently, silent, yet the corners of his eyes flickered restlessly as if searching for something.


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Boom!


    In Debate Dao City, at this moment, smoke rose simultaneously from dozens of corners, waves of fighting noisesing one after another.


    However, these sounds of battle started quickly and ended even faster, as if the fights concluded in the blink of an eye.


    Seeing the scenes of rising smoke, Zhuan Zhu the Great, who initially had a murderous look, revealed a slight smile.


    He retracted his Dao Domain, bowed to Cloud Sky Sect Leader, and said, ¡°I have offended you just now, and here I apologize to Cloud Sky Sect Leader first.¡±


    Cloud Sky Sect Leader nced at the chaos in the city, confused, and feeling even more puzzled by Zhuan Zhu¡¯s proactive apology, asked, ¡°What exactly is going on?!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Idiots, didn¡¯t we tell them to control their subordinates during this time?! It has only been half a day, how could so many have exposed their identities?¡±


    The Cultivator called Hall Master stared at the scene unfolding above the Silver Butterfly Sect¡¯s residence in a corner of Debate Dao City, seemingly trapped in a difficult situation.


    ¡°If we carry on like this, capturing so many insiders, even Yinhe¡¯s identity might be implicated and exposed.


    If that happens, the Netherworld¡¯s n against the Seven Domains¡¯ Debate Dao would truly end in utter failure!¡±


    As the Hall Master was deep in thought, a ck light suddenly emanated from his forehead, and a shadowy insect flickered out of sight briefly.


    After that, a look of extreme astonishment crossed the Hall Master¡¯s face.


    After a long while, he exhaled slowly and muttered, ¡°Mansion Master Shentu is actually preparing to cut off his own tail to survive¡­


    But it is also good, with Mansion Master Shentu¡¯s Bloodline Divine Ability, despite the great loss, after all his current identity is just¡­.


    The most important thing is, once the Mansion Master ¡®dies,¡¯ the Human Race will think their goal has been achieved. They will naturally abandon the idea of continuing their investigation to prevent exposure of our Netherworld¡¯s biggest secret trump card¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Before one wave had settled, another rose. The disturbance here was not yet over when another earth-shattering explosion rang out.


    In the core of Debate Dao City, considered a forbidden ce by everyone, a figure enveloped in demonic mes broke through restraints and soared into the sky.


    The skin exposed was as white as a baby¡¯s¡ªit was precisely Chang Geng Sect Leader!


    The wind howled, and the clouds surged.


    In the sky, Chang Geng Sect Leader was enveloped in pitch-ck Yin Qi.


    The Yin Qi was so dense that it formed numerous terrible demons with their teeth bared and ws extended, swirling around him. Each demon had hook-like fingers and looked exceptionally fierce, fiercely attacking the nearby Cultivators.


    However, Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s actions were to no avail because the next moment, six equally majestic and terrifying presences arose.


    The powerful Cultivators from the six major Taoist Sects had appeared simultaneously, already surrounding Chang Geng Sect Leader within their midst.


    ¡°The Netherworld¡¯s inside agent turned out to be you!¡± Taibai Sword Master said, his voice filled with deadly seriousness as he stared at Chang Geng Sect Leader and pronounced each word clearly.


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 Chapter 335 - 39: The Unbeaten of the 7th Realm: Taibai Sword Master

    Chapter 335: Chapter 39: The Unbeaten of the 7th Realm: Taibai Sword Master


    ¡°What if it¡¯s me?¡± Chang Geng Sect Leader defiantly responded, yet his eyes were filled with darkness.


    Facing six high-level members of the Taoist Sect, who were of the same realm as himself, his situation seemed quite dire, almost as if there was no escape even if he had wings.


    ¡°If it¡¯s you, then today I shall sh you down,¡± the Taibai Sword Master said coldly.


    He extended his left hand, reaching into the void.


    A ck sword, ethereal and insubstantial, appeared out of nowhere, now firmly in his grasp.


    @@novelbin@@


    The sword was named Taibai.


    This was also the origin of the Taibai Sword Master¡¯s title.


    The moment Chang Geng Sect Leader saw the Taibai Sword, a sense of wariness surgingly rose in his heart.


    The burst of strength from a Sword Cultivator was unmatched in the Human Race; not a single Cultivator dared to be the slightest bit negligent in the presence of a Sword Cultivator wielding their sword.


    Not to mention, the Taibai Sword Master was a Sword Cultivator from the Sword Sect, ranked first in the Heavenly Ranking, a Great Cultivator.


    Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s eyes rapidly changed, an unnatural crimson filling his pupils, with an atmosphere of brutality and coldness pervading.


    Without physical contact, the long-suppressed Demon Race bloodline in Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s body began to boil uncontrobly.


    They were like demons imprisoned for ages, finally released, yearning to descend upon the mortal world immediately and sweep the inborn brutality across the entire Debate Dao City.


    A stream of ck qi silently burst forth, enveloping the area in a domain of eternal night.


    All the scenery in this ce, upon the unfolding of the domain of eternal night, was utterly devoured, rendering it invisible to outsiders.


    Within the domain of eternal night, a gigantic ck Soul Shadow stood proudly behind Chang Geng Sect Leader.


    It was a White Tiger with a corrupted form, awoke from the Abyss, fierce yet demonic, and the ferocious light bursting forth from its tiger eyes could shred weaker Cultivators into pieces!


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s clothing exploded, revealing demonic tiger patterns on his skin, echoing the gigantic corrupted White Tiger Soul Shadow at his back, and intensifying the dense Demonic Qi radiating from him.


    Bang!


    The White Tiger Soul Shadow suddenly collided into Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s body.


    Next, the demonic tiger patterns shone with a dazzling ck light on Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s body, transforming him in an instant into a demon of the Abyss, the aura of brutality being so intimidating that it seemed like a wild dragon was rampaging through the area.


    However, just as Chang Geng Sect Leader activated his Demon Race bloodline, his eyes suddenly caught sight of a massive ck sword gleaming with a cold light.


    The Taibai Sword Master had made his move!


    The ck sword was wrapped in unimaginable terrifying fluctuations.


    Chang Geng Sect Leader wanted to dodge, but found his body immobile, his face turning to shock and fear.


    At some unknown moment, the Taoist Domain of the Taibai Sword Master had already totally enveloped him along with his domain of eternal night, imprisoning himpletely.


    In the void, countless invisible Sword Qi crisscrossed, condensing into a colossal Sword Array.


    The array within the domain locked Chang Geng Sect Leader firmly in ce.


    At the same time, Chang Geng Sect Leader was alsopletely pinned down by the Taibai Sword in the hands of the Taibai Sword Master!!!


    The ck sword grew tremendously in size as it shed down, bing so immense that it could rival Heaven and Earth itself, making any attempt by Chang Geng Sect Leader to flee or hide utterly meaningless!


    Chang Geng Sect Leader did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent, and even sensed a life-and-death crisis. At the first moment, he summoned his demon pet with a thought.


    It was a massive ck and green Xuan Snake.


    With a roar, the Xuan Snake resolutely flew out, cing itself in front of Chang Geng Sect Leader.


    That powerful sword, vast as the ocean, made even a fearsome Demon Beast like the Xuan Snake tremble uncontrobly.


    The sound of the sword was like thunder; a torrent of ck Sword Qi waves,parable to a catastrophic tsunami capable of destroying heaven and earth, surged forth!


    In the face of such power, the metallic luster of the scales on the surface of the snake¡¯s body seemed futile.


    Ssh!


    Blood flowed along the massive body of the Xuan Snake.


    Itsrge ck and green body was cleaved into two, falling to the ground, writhing helplessly.


    The rolling Sword Qi, undiminished in momentum, attacked Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s body, swirling him away like dust.


    Sword marks streaked across his body, but at that moment, ayer of golden light shed on the surface of Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s body, shing with the Sword Qi with a ng.


    This was the dual protection of his Defensive Spell and his protective Spiritual Artifact.


    The body of Chang Geng Sect Leader swayed perilously under such a ferocious attack, but after the storm of sword qi had passed, he still stood firm in his ce, not having suffered too grievous an injury.


    Only, upon seeing the Xuan Snake Demon Beast directly lose its life, a slight twitch appeared at the corner of Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s eye.


    Taibai Sword Master, noticing that this blow had been blocked by the Xuan Snake Demon Beast, remained indifferent and once again swung out with his sword.


    This sword spawned countless Taoist patterns, the sword qi weaving chains of Heavenly Dao that were like dragons, spreading out in all directions from the Taibai Sword at the center, piercing towards Chang Geng Sect Leader.


    ¡°Heavenly Secret Pavillion has ranked you Taibai as number one on the Heavenly Ranking for too long, which has been irksome to me. I want to see just how powerful you really are and what makes you worthy of being ced at the very top of the Heavenly Ranking!¡± Facing the dragon-like sword qi onught, Chang Geng Sect Leader let out a mighty roar.


    He was not convinced!


    He could not believe that his top-tier Demon Race bloodline could not defeat a member of the Human Race whose bloodline was incredibly frail and who had only reached his current realm through his own cultivation.


    Demonic Qi surged and boiled over his body, burning the heavens as if to st open the sky above Debate Dao City.


    Fortunately, at this time, the region was enveloped by the Dao Domain of Taibai Sword Master, preventing the violent turmoil from raging wildly and damaging Debate Dao City.


    Chang Geng Sect Leader revealed his true form, covered in Demonic Patterns, exuding overwhelming ferocity.


    At this moment, the terror-inducing figure of Chang Geng Sect Leader, entirely enveloped in Demonic Qi, stood towering in the air, his eyes filled with rampant violence, as he confronted Taibai Sword Master.


    With a strike of his palm, he unleashed a fearsome ck light, the densely packed Demonic Qi giving birth to a ferocious Demon Tiger Soul Shadow that roared forth, seeking to determine the victor against Taibai Sword Master¡¯s sword.


    ¡°ng, ng, ng!¡±


    At the tip of Taibai Sword Master¡¯s sword, nine beams of brilliant sword light suddenly shot forth, dazzling and soaring to the skies.


    Spinning, they carried a sharp chill and a resolute intent to shatter space, shing towards Chang Geng Sect Leader.


    This sword made the other five high-ranking Taoist Sect cultivators, who had not yet taken part in the fight, gasp in shock.


    The strength contained within instilled a daunting fear in anyone who felt it!


    Boom!


    Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s terrifying fist exploded under the impact of the sword light, flesh scattering in the air, horrifying onlookers.


    Spurt, spurt, spurt¡­


    Following that, spray of blood erupted from Chang Geng Sect Leader as nine beams of sword light sequentially pierced through his body.


    Unable to restrain himself, Chang Geng Sect Leader roared with fury.


    At this moment, pierced by nine beams of sword light, blood poured from his body.


    But this was not the end, as Taibai Sword Master slightly withdrew his sword.


    Yet from behind him, another silver-white sword spontaneously appeared, drawing a dazzling arc of rainbow light in the air, rushing towards Chang Geng Sect Leader.


    This was the fourth level of the Flying Sword realm, turning the sword into a rainbow light.


    Spurt!


    The arm of Chang Geng Sect Leader was shed by the Qiming Sword, easily severing through his protective light shield like cutting paper, instantly severing his left arm.


    ¡°Spurt!¡±


    The silver-white Flying Sword circled back,unching yet another attack. This time, its target was the right leg of Chang Geng Sect Leader.


    One lower leg fell to the ground as directed, with ck blood staining the ground.


    Taibai Sword Master¡¯s second sword, the Qiming Sword, spun rapidly, crisscrossing through the Dao Domain like a divine light reminiscent of a roaming dragon, flying up and down, continuously slicing Chang Geng Sect Leader.


    ¡°Spurt!¡±


    A sword struck Chang Geng Sect Leader in the chest, the Flying Sword passing cleanly through his torso, shining through the front and back without a single drop of blood on its de, dealing him another severe blow.


    Spurt, spurt, spurt!


    The Qiming Sword continued its relentless assault, its unstoppable domineering intent turning Chang Geng Sect Leader into a maimed figure in the blink of an eye.


    ¡°Is this what they call the ¡®Invincible at the Seventh Realm¡¯?¡± Watching Chang Geng Sect Leader, who was clearly at the same realm as Taibai Sword Master, stand helpless before him like amb awaiting ughter, the other high-ranking Taoist Sect cultivators couldn¡¯t help but mutter to themselves.


    In the Heavenly Ranking provided by the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, Taibai Sword Master had been ranked first for five hundred years already.


    This time, they finally had the chance to witness the capabilities of the top-ranked on the Heavenly Ranking for themselves.


    ying a cultivator of the same level as if ughtering a dog!


    This raised a chill in all their hearts.


    Considering Taibai Sword Master¡¯s current performance, it seemed as though ying them would be just as effortless.


    Even though they were all cultivators at the Integration Realm, the gap in strength could be so vast, which stirred countless exmations within their hearts.


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 Chapter 336 - 40 The Three-Year Period (Part 1)

    Chapter 336: Chapter 40 The Three-Year Period (Part 1)


    Just as the Taibai Sword Master was preparing his final strike, aiming for the Primordial Spirit at the Sect Leader Chang Geng¡¯s brow and ready to unleash it, a distant voice came, ¡°Taibai, perhaps it¡¯s better to leave him to the Rinsing Spirit Sect to deal with.


    Even though he is a coborator with the Netherworld, after all, he is one of the three great Sect Leaders of the Rinsing Spirit Sect. If you kill him outright like this, it will cause a lot of trouble.¡±


    The figures of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and King Qing Mei emerged in the void.


    Unbeknownst to all, they had entered this Dao Domain in silence and had been observing everything without drawing any attention.


    Just as the Taibai Sword Master was about to behead Sect Leader Chang Geng, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master appeared and stopped Taibai Sword Master¡¯s action.


    At the reminder of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, the rapidly advancing Qiming Sword halted midair and then obediently flew back, disappearing into the void once again.


    The Taibai Sword Master was not one to ignore advice; he nodded and replied, ¡°Then let¡¯s do as the Pavilion Master suggests.¡±


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master gave a slight smile, and with a beckoning gesture, picked up Sect Leader Chang Geng as if he were a small chick.


    Several seals rapidly congealed, forming countless Rune Chains that merged into Sect Leader Chang Geng¡¯s body, locking away all his Spiritual Power.


    ¡°You needn¡¯t worry, leave the rest to me. The Seven Domains Debate Dao shall proceed as usual. Your primary task is still to preside over the Seven Domains Debate Dao.¡± The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master instructed them in a low voice, then quickly took Sect Leader Chang Geng and departed.


    As they watched the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master disappear with the whittled-down Sect Leader Chang Geng, everyone exchanged nces, and amidst the ongoing sighs, a touch of disbelief remained, ¡°Who would have thought that Sect Leader Chang Geng, esteemed as one of the three great Sect Leaders of the Rinsing Spirit Sect, would actually be an inside coborator with the Netherworld¡­.¡±


    The others felt the same.


    At their level of status, they were basically wanting for nothing. What on earth could the Netherworld have offered to buy off Sect Leader Chang Geng?


    Everyone¡¯s thoughts were scattered.


    Unfortunately, none of them noticed that Sect Leader Chang Geng, who was being taken away by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and should have been filled with indignant rage, revealed a subtle and hard-to-detect sly smile, mixed with a hint of smugness.


    ¡°King Qing Mei, what happened in this day¡¯s time that led to Chang Geng suddenly choosing to expose himself?¡± the Taibai Sword Master was more concerned about this question and turned his head to ask King Qing Mei for the details.


    King Qing Mei did not hide anything from them. He organized hisnguage and slowly narrated the entire sequence of events to the six senior Cultivators of the Taoist Sect, ¡°Here¡¯s what happened¡­¡±


    ¡­.


    Turning back time to one day earlier.


    After learning of the Asura¡¯s existence, Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment, then took out a Token from his Storage Ring.


    It was a Communication Token given to him not long before by the great Zhuan Zhu.


    Without any hesitation, Lu Qingshan infused a thread of Spiritual Power into the Token.


    A momentter, with a look of surprise, Zhuan Zhu appeared before Lu Qingshan¡¯s wooden tower.


    ¡°Have you made your decision so quickly?¡±


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, ¡°Youngster Lu seeks out Great Zhuan Zhu, but it¡¯s actually for another matter.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What is it?¡± Zhuan Zhu raised his eyebrows slightly.


    If it were another Golden Core Cultivator saying such words, he would certainly not have been willing to pay attention.


    But he took quite a liking to Lu Qingshan.


    So even though Lu Qingshan¡¯s behavior seemed a bit presumptuous, he still gave Lu Qingshan enough face.


    After arranging his thoughts for a moment, Lu Qingshan respectfully said to Great Zhuan Zhu, ¡°Great Zhuan Zhu, Ie from the Southern Territory, Qing State¡¯s Zhenjiang Prefectural City.¡±


    ¡°Qing State¡¯s Zhenjiang Prefectural City?¡± Zhuan Zhu pondered briefly, then perked up, ¡°Is it that Prefectural City in Qing State that suffered the conspiracy of the Netherworld and was thrown into utter turmoil during thest years of Chang¡¯an?¡±


    With the Human Race¡¯s vast territories and countless cities, he might not have heard of any other state or city, but he happened to remember Qing State¡¯s Zhenjiang City because of the great disturbances it had experienced.


    ¡°Indeed, three years ago, during the Blood Pool Reincarnation initiated by the Netherworld, I was in Zhenjiang City and witnessed with my own eyes the Asura leading the Corpse Puppet Chaos, massacring the city¡¯s popce, and in the end, fleeing Zhenjiang City together with Luohu.¡±


    ¡°Such deep hatred is etched in my heart; I hold great enmity towards the Asura, and long for the day when my cultivation reaches fruition so I might y and grind his bones.¡±


    ¡°However, since then, this Asura has disappeared without a trace, never to be seen again.¡± Lu Qingshan recounted slowly, allowing his face to reveal timely expressions of hatred and rage.


    He had to set the stage for his own character first; that would make it easier to exin his subsequent actions.


    ¡°Until today,¡± Lu Qingshan said with an emphatic expression, grinding his teeth, ¡°I encountered this Asura again in Debate Dao City.


    Although he had changed his appearance, my hatred for him is so deeply rooted that I could recognize him through the ashes. His disguise naturally couldn¡¯t deceive me, and I saw through his true identity at first nce.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    The usuallyposed Zhuan Zhu was startled upon hearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s detailed ount.


    Having cultivated to such a realm, he understood what it meant for an Underworld Cultivator to appear in Debate Dao City.


    Had the Netherworld¡¯s reach extended to the Seven Domains¡¯ Debate Dao?


    Such audacity!


    ¡°Can you assure that what you say is true?¡± Zhuan Zhu asked with furrowed brows.


    ¡°I¡¯m ny percent sure,¡± Lu Qingshan said gravely.


    Ny percent certainty¡­ that was quite high.


    This matter was of great consequence, and Zhuan Zhu dared not take chances.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Zhuan Zhu nodded slightly and called out softly, then led Lu Qingshan straight to the heart of Debate Dao City.


    This was no small affair; he could not decide alone and must contact the higher-ups from the seven great Taoist Sects.


    But as they flew towards the heart of the city, a mysteriously powerful restriction suddenly appeared and blocked their way.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? When I came here previously, the gates were wide open,¡± Zhuan Zhu was shaken, thought for a moment, then cast a Spirit Message into the restriction.


    ¡°Visitor Taiyi Sword Sect¡¯s Zhuan Zhu, bearing an urgent matter rted to the Netherworld, seeks an audience with the high-level members of the seven Dao Sects.¡±


    The Spirit Message was quickly transmitted through the restriction, traveling all the way to King Qing Mei, the one who had set up the restriction.


    ¡­¡­


    Whoosh!


    With a flicker of light, the celestial Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and the solemn-faced King Qing Mei appeared before Zhuan Zhu, ¡°A matter concerning the Netherworld? What is the great issue?¡±


    ¡°Why is the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master here?!¡±


    Upon seeing the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, Zhuan Zhu couldn¡¯t help but feel a jolt in his heart.


    This was a leader among the Taoist Sects, one of the few cultivators of the Human Race with the highest status and cultivation, and even Lu Qingshan was somewhat excited at this moment.


    However, regardless of why the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master appeared in Debate Dao City, in this situation, his presence was all the more advantageous for them!


    Zhuan Zhu did not hesitate and swiftly ryed Lu Qingshan¡¯s discovery to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master.


    Afterward, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master¡¯s profound gaze turned towards Lu Qingshan, who was following behind Zhuan Zhu, his voice filled with amazement, ¡°You discovered the whereabouts of the Asura?¡±


    Seeing the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master inquiring about the specifics, Lu Qingshan quickly nodded and respectfully said, ¡°Yes, it was I who discovered him.


    The apparent identity of the Asura is that of a disciple from the Silver Butterfly Sect.


    Whether the news is true or false, Pavilion Master, a visit to investigate will rify everything.¡±


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 Chapter 337 - 41 The Three-Year Period (Part 2)

    Chapter 337: Chapter 41 The Three-Year Period (Part 2)


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and King Qing Mei exchanged a nce, both clearly understanding the other¡¯s intention.


    ¡°I will go and investigate, to see whether this Asura¡¯s identity is true or false,¡± King Qing Mei volunteered.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master nodded, for this was exactly his intention.


    No sooner had they spoken than King Qing Mei transformed into a streak of spiritual light and disappeared.


    What followed was a wait for the results of King Qing Mei¡¯s investigation.


    As for the methods King Qing Mei would use to verify the Asura¡¯s identity, Lu Qingshan had no idea.


    However, Lu Qingshan was not worried, for since King Qing Mei often dealt with the Underworld, he presumably had some unique methods to check the identities of the Underworld Cultivators.


    But for an Asura of the Nascent Soul Realm, he would surely have nowhere to hide against King Qing Mei¡¯s techniques.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master courteously led both Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor and Lu Qingshan into the heart of the core area, to calmly wait for news from King Qing Mei.


    ¡­


    Two hourster.


    Spiritual light shed, and King Qing Mei¡¯s figure reappeared with a grave expression. He nodded at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, gave a meaningful look, and at the same time, handed over a jade slip.


    This signified that the Asura¡¯s identity had been confirmed.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master immediately understood and epted the jade slip.


    Recorded within were all the details about the Asura¡¯s current identity and his movements in Debate Dao City over the past few days.


    ¡°Han Jiu, Nascent Soul Perfection, a direct disciple of the great honor Yunxiao.


    Left the sect to travel six years ago, then vanished for two years, only reappearing three years ago, and returning to the Silver Butterfly Sect¡­.¡± The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master quickly surveyed the information.


    ¡°Came to Debate Dao City with his mentor to watch thepetition; movements in recent days include a visit to Nascent Soul Cultivator Ling Yuanzi¡­¡±


    The opportunity they were seeking really did appear before their eyes.


    The identity of a direct disciple of the great honor from the Silver Butterfly Sect was no small matter.


    Even with the Underworld¡¯s great reach, to fabricate such an identity would not be an easy task.


    And would the Underworld casually assign such a significant identity to an insignificant cultivator?


    Clearly, the Asura¡¯s status in the Underworld was by no means low.


    More so, ording to what Lu Qingshan had said, the Asura had sessfully orchestrated the Corpse Puppet Chaos, leading to the descent of Luohu.


    With such a great meritorious service, the Asura was bound to be heavily utilized.


    A high-status Asura appearing in Debate Dao City could not be unrted to the Underworld¡¯s ns for the Seven Domains¡¯ debate. They did not believe otherwise.


    ¡°The Asura¡¯s status must be quite high; taking him as a focal point, we can trace back and find many leads on other Underworld Cultivators,¡± the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master ordered with a stern voice, ¡°Send people to keep a close watch on the cultivators he has had contact with in recent times.¡±


    Then, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master turned to Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor, ¡°This time we may have to trouble Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor for help.¡±


    Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor waved his hand dismissively, ¡°If there¡¯s any way I can assist, feel free to tell me, Pavilion Master.¡±


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master spoke coldly, ¡°You will cause a stir to shock the snakes. Attack the Silver Butterfly Sect, create a bigmotion, preferably one that gets the whole city of cultivators to take notice.¡±


    ¡°Once the Underworld Cultivators realize that the Asura¡¯s identity is exposed, those rted to him will definitely have some abnormal reactions and countermeasures. And I, I will personally keep an eye out, to pull out these Underworld rats from their hiding¡­¡±


    ¡­.


    Above the Silver Butterfly Sect¡¯s area.


    ¡°¡­.So that¡¯s the situation. The reason for causing such a hugemotion over your Silver Butterfly Sect¡¯s area is part of the strategyid out by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master.


    It¡¯s to shake the grass and startle the snakes, to make other Underworld Cultivators reveal themselves,¡± Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor slowly exined.


    The expression of the great honor Yunxiao was somewhatplicated.


    His own disciple had, without a sound, turned into an Underworld Cultivator, and he had beenpletely unaware.


    The shock of this revtion was profound.


    ¡­¡­


    In the core area of Debate Dao City.


    ¡°Including the Asura, all thirteen Underworld Nascent Soul Cultivators are inside; from now on, as you wish, they are at your disposal,¡± King Qing Mei said to Lu Qingshan as he led him to the entrance of the cell where the Underworld Cultivators were detained.


    Inside the cell were the thirteen Underworld Nascent Soul Cultivators they had captured in Debate Dao City.


    Lu Qingshan gave King Qing Mei a bow, ¡°My thanks to you, King Qing Mei.¡±


    King Qing Mei nodded nonchntly, ¡°Go in then.¡±


    Without further hesitation, Lu Qingshan stepped into the cell.


    Zhuan Zhu, who had been watching the entire operation from the sidelines, couldn¡¯t help but sigh emotionally as he saw Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure enter the secret chamber, ¡°The Netherworld has really met its retribution this time.


    They ughtered the people of an entire city, leading this youngster to hold such resentment against them, only wishing to personally execute these Underworld Cultivators as vengeance for the tragic deaths of Zhenjiang City¡¯s residents.¡±


    King Qing Mei echoed, ¡°Indeed, I find his temperament rather agreeable.


    But, it¡¯s only your Sword Cultivators who would do such a thing, willing to forgo substantial rewards for the chance to exact personal revenge.¡±


    Zhuan Zhu nodded his head and smiled at the corners of his lips, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m growing fonder of this youngster.¡±


    King Qing Mei nced at Zhuan Zhu and curled his lip, ¡°In the same vein, do you think this youngster would choose any Sword Sect other than your Taiyi Sword Sect, following the typical behavior of Sword Cultivators?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡± Being directly involved can cloud one¡¯s judgment, but an outsider sees things clearer. Prompted by King Qing Mei¡¯s point, Zhuan Zhu also came to a realization.


    The more outstanding the Sword Cultivator, the more ¡°mad¡± they tend to be.


    To join the strongest Sword Cultivation Sect in the world, to meet the most exceptional talents among Sword Cultivators, which genius Sword Cultivator could resist this temptation?


    ¡­


    Lu Qingshan slowly walked into the secret chamber.


    More than a dozen Underworld Cultivators who were tightly bound to the Spirit Pir and unable to move even slightly all faintly lifted their eyelids.


    These Underworld Cultivators were all Nascent Soul Cultivators, but because their Cultivation levels weren¡¯t high, they naturally didn¡¯t know many secrets.


    Being not highly valuable, there was no need to preserve their lives.


    So when Lu Qingshan expressed the desire to personally kill these Underworld Cultivators to console the souls of the Zhenjiang City¡¯s dead, King Qing Mei did not hesitate for long before agreeing.


    Lu Qingshan walked up to an Asura who had lost all power to struggle and seemed utterly wretched after undergoing various cruel tortures and being covered in wounds, and stared at him in silence.


    In both his past life and this one, this person had sessfully orchestrated the first major plot of the Nine Heavens, the Corpse Puppet Chaos.


    In this life especially, even though he interfered in every possible way, Asura still managed to bring Luohu back to life.


    Now, with just some minor scheming, he managed to throw Asura into a cell.


    The fundamental difference lies in the fact that his strength had increased countless times, and the power he could borrow had be multiple times stronger.


    In the Nine Heavens, strength is the foundation of everything.


    And in this life, he actually had the opportunity to personally execute the mastermind behind the first major version¡¯s main storyline, which filled Lu Qingshan with many emotions.


    ¡°Who are you¡­?¡± After being watched by Lu Qingshan for a long time, Asura¡¯s eyelids twitched, and he finally asked with a hoarse voice.


    ¡°When Luohu was born, I was there too,¡± Lu Qingshan articted his words slowly: ¡°Asura, did you ever think that there woulde a day when you would fall into my hands?¡±


    Asura was first taken aback, then began desperately searching his memories of that time.


    After a long time, he finally found a faint impression of Lu Qingshan in a corner of his memory.


    After all, it had only been three years, and Lu Qingshan¡¯s appearance hadn¡¯t changed much.


    The reason he hadn¡¯t recognized Lu Qingshan at first nce¡­


    Was simply because, at the time, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Cultivation level was too low.


    @@novelbin@@


    A mere Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator, under those circumstances, why would Asura pay him any extra attention?


    Seeing the expression on Asura¡¯s face, Lu Qingshan knew that he must have recalled something.


    And he, too, felt that the time was ripe.


    ¡°There¡¯s a popr saying in my hometown, ¡®the period of three years has ended, Asura should take his rightful ce¡­''¡± Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, but his eyes were incredibly cold, forming a stark contrast with his expression.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s chilling gaze swept across the Underworld Cultivators in the secret chamber, then he said to Asura, ¡°It has been exactly three years since the Corpse Puppet Chaos, Asura, it¡¯s time for you to depart.¡±


    The primary reason he wished to personally kill Asura was for the Experience Points.


    But the reasons he presented publicly were equally genuine.


    To witness the deaths of countless flesh-and-blood members of the Human Race right before his eyes, including Steward Cai Heng, Captain Xu Hao¡­


    To say that Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t harbor any hatred towards Asura, how could that be possible?


    Lu Qingshan extended his fingertip, and a wisp of Sword Qi rapidly condensed and shot out, splitting into dozens of Sword Qi Fments, darting towards the foreheads of the thirteen Underworld Cultivators in the secret chamber.


    Hisssss!


    The bound Underworld Cultivators were helpless against these Sword Qi Fments.


    The piercing Sword Qi directly prated their foreheads, shattering their Primordial Spirits into dust.


    A hint of crimson blood seeped from the foreheads of the thirteen Underworld Cultivators.


    In an instant, these once malevolent Underworld Cultivators were void of any signs of life.


    ¡­.


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 Chapter 338 - 42 Golden Core Late Stage

    Chapter 338: Chapter 42 Golden Core Late Stage


    Lu Qingshan walked out of the secret chamber, his face showing a faint sense of relief after avenging a great wrong, mixed with a touch of mncholy.


    ¡°For a Sword Cultivator, indulging in personal quests for justice isn¡¯t wrong,¡± Zhuan Zhu¡¯s emotions wereplicated, but upon seeing Lu Qingshane out, he still took the initiative to nod and greet him, ¡°However, the group knockout phase of the Seven Domains Debate Dao will begin tomorrow, so you should hurry back and prepare well, adjust your state, and don¡¯t let these events affect your performanceter.¡±


    Lu Qingshan expressed his gratitude, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Great Master Zhuan Zhu.¡±


    After bidding farewell to the two mighty cultivators, Lu Qingshan quickly left the ce.


    Watching Lu Qingshan¡¯s gradually disappearing figure, Zhuan Zhu smacked his lips, his expression somewhat conflicted.


    The unobtainable is always unsettling.


    ¡°This Sword Sect, they recruit only the peerless geniuses, hence it grows stronger and stronger.


    It is also due to this increasing strength that the real seeds of Sword Dao, nine times out of ten, end up entering the gates of the Sword Sect.¡± Zhuan Zhu sighed, ¡°With this cycle continuing, the Sword Sect¡¯s dominant position will only be more evident, leaving no chance for the neers to catch up¡­.¡±


    After Lu Qingshan and Zhuan Zhu had left, King Qing Mei once again entered the secret chamber, staring at the bodies of the thirteen Underworld Cultivators, his eyebrows tightly furrowed.


    This sh with the Underworld, seemingly smooth by ident, but in reality, King Qing Mei had always had a question that he couldn¡¯t find an answer to.


    These Nascent Soul Cultivators were all subordinates of Asura,manded by Asura, and did not hold high ranks.


    Theoretically, they shouldn¡¯t be able toe into contact with someone of Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s stature, and the interrogation seemed to confirm this.


    So why, when their identities were revealed, did it force Chang Geng Sect Leader to burst out and resolutely explode his identity,mitting an act that seemed like fleeing but was actually akin to delivering himself to death?


    This didn¡¯t appear to be a move of desperation, but rather like going with the flow.


    Was there another conspiracy?


    It did not seem likely.


    After all, for a cultivator of Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s distinguished status, how much effort and what a tremendous price the Underworld would have to pay to develop him as an inside agent, how could they afford to use him as a disposable pawn?


    A confrontation that started fiercely but endedmely led toyers of fog, making it impossible for King Qing Mei to see through.


    ¡­.


    Back inside the wooden tower, Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression became serious, his thoughts drifting.


    Although he had always been working to alter the storyline between the Underworld and the Human Race, due to his ownck of strength, this was truly the first time he¡¯d made a real change in history.


    The disturbance that urred in Debate Dao City, although most people did not know exactly what happened or that the true identity of Chang Geng of the Rinsing Spirit Sect was actually an Underworld spy and had been exposed,


    Such a major disturbance still had a significant impact, causing many cultivators to talk amongst themselves.


    @@novelbin@@


    And in his previous life, the Seven Domains Debate Dao had proceeded without such chaos until the very end.


    Moreover, if he remembered correctly, by the time of the finals, Chang Geng Sect Leader was still one of the host cultivators of the Seven Domains Debate Dao, safe and sound.


    Even until before his transmigration, Chang Geng Sect Leader¡¯s identity had not been revealed.


    The exposing of such a prominent Underworld inside agent must surely have profound andsting positive effects.


    Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but nce at the Western Rat King, who had no idea what he had done, and couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly.


    Because fundamentally, such a major turn in history was all thanks to the creature before him, the small and resourceful mouse.


    The Underworld¡¯s meticulous ns or brilliant strategies were always unexpectedly uncovered by the Western Rat King¡¯s inexplicably good luck, embodying the notion of overpowering skill with brute force.


    Could this be the so-called fool¡¯s conquest over a master?


    Lu Qingshan muttered to himself.


    Putting those thoughts aside, as Zhuan Zhu had said, the most important thing for him now was the Seven Domains Debate Dao.


    His gaze shifted, and the glowing lines of small characters in front of him flickered.


    The Experience Points section of the Attribute Panel showed a number he had never seen before.


    The thirteen Nascent Soul Cultivators, likembs to the ughter, were effortlessly defeated by him.


    Yet the experience points werepletely granted to him, along with the additional rewards for oveing levels, making his current experience points reach the millions for the first time.


    1.06 million experience points.


    An enormous sum that could even elevate him to Golden Core Perfection, also the most crucial leverage for him to win the Seven Domains Debate Dao and im the ¡°Great Xia Scripture¡± reward.


    With a grand sweep of his hand, Lu Qingshan had added 500,000 experience points to his Taoist Treasury Cultivation Technique.


    ¡°Taoist Treasury has advanced to lv11, Spiritual Power Value +1000!¡±


    ¡°Your rank has advanced to the Golden Core Late Stage, Divine Sense +50!¡±


    ¡°Taoist Treasury has advanced to lv12, Spiritual Power Value +1000!¡±


    ¡­.


    ¡°Taoist Treasury has advanced to lv15, Spiritual Power Value +1000!¡±


    With the rise in the Cultivation Technique level and change in rank, his body underwent extremely exaggerated changes.


    Rich Spiritual Energy continuously emerged in his meridians and Dantian, converging towards the Nine-Pattern Golden Pill in his Dantian.


    Eyes closed and in deep meditation, Lu Qingshan gathered all the Spiritual Power in his meridians into his Dantian, focusing on breaking through.


    Above the Golden Core, a Spiritual Power vortex quickly formed and grewrger, absorbing Spiritual Energy at an increasing rate.


    In the ongoing process of devouring Spiritual Energy, the surface of the Golden Core became more rounded, incarnating a greedy behemoth that voraciously devoured all the Spiritual Power gathered in Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dantian.


    In just a few moments, the terrifying Spiritual Energy had beenpletely devoured by the Nine-Pattern Golden Pill.


    The next instant, the Golden Core swelled drastically in size, growing from the size of a broad bean to muchrger, and its form also became more solid. Then, a fierce purple-golden light shed by.


    Sess! Golden Core Late Stage!


    Lu Qingshan suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes shining brightly.


    Though his experience points were sufficient for him to break through to Golden Core Perfection, Lu Qingshan chose to exercise restraint unless necessary.


    After all, he was still at the Golden Core Middle Stage just three days ago.


    Advancing from the Golden Core Middle Stage to the Golden Core Late Stage in three days, thanks to ample umtion, was understandable.


    But he hadn¡¯t left Debate Dao City during these three days, solely resting inside a wooden building; naturally, he hadn¡¯t encountered any special opportunities either.


    In such circumstances, if he were to achieve an exaggerated leap from the Golden Core Middle Stage to Golden Core Perfection, it would appear too shocking and could potentially attract malicious cultivators with ulterior motives.


    So, after some thought, Lu Qingshan decided to stop after advancing his Cultivation to the peak of Golden Core Late Stage.


    ¡­.


    On the third morning, while Lu Qingshan was meditating inside his wooden building, a voice suddenly resonated, entering his ears.


    ¡°One thousand contestants from the elimination round, assemble in the square and prepare to head to the Minor World Debate Domain!


    The elimination round officially begins today!


    Cultivators who wish to watch may also head to the Debate Domain to spectate!¡±


    The authoritative voice spread throughout the city.


    Lu Qingshan abruptly opened his eyes, his spirits high.


    Finally, the elimination round had begun.


    This meant that this session of the Seven Domains Debate Dao was nearing its end.


    Because once the elimination round ended, the finals would be next.


    In the residential area, the top ten thousand cultivators from the Seal Spirit Tower¡¯s second trial gradually emerged from their wooden buildings and gathered in the square.


    Upon reaching the square, Lu Qingshan immediately saw a burly man in a white robe hovering in the air.


    He was tall and imposing, his presence deep and powerful, his whole body radiating a terrifying pressure.


    The burly man in the white robe looked down at the crowd, and seeing everyone had arrived, waved his hand, casting countless rays of Spiritual Light that enveloped their bodies.


    A mysterious pulling force emerged, seemingly intending to envelop them all.


    Despite feeling that he still had the strength to resist this pulling force, Lu Qingshan did not do so, allowing the Spiritual Light to pull him along.


    ¡°Do not resist,¡± the burly man¡¯s authoritative voice sounded.


    The next moment, all the cultivators were transported into the Debate Domain.


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 Chapter 339 - 43 Round 1

    Chapter 339: Chapter 43 Round 1


    Here, the heights seemed boundless, and the expanse felt seemingly infinite.


    Ten thousandpeting cultivators were in a region that had been divided distinctly into ten areas.


    Within each area, a hundred massive tforms had been established.


    The size of each tform was about ten kilometers in diameter, spacious enough for any cultivator to fully utilize their skills.


    Around the exterior of the tforms, there was ayer of spiritual power light shields enveloping them.


    All thepeting cultivators, based on their earlier grouping, were sequentially ced into the ten areas.


    At each area¡¯s border, simrly, there was a faint spiritual power light curtain segregating them.


    And in the air around them, countless inds were floating. These inds were the positions designated for observing cultivators.


    Even before the group knockoutpetition had started, these inds were already bustling.


    Cultivators from all the top-tier sects, as well as those tens of thousands of talented cultivators who hadn¡¯t made it into the knockout rounds, had already positioned themselves on the inds, eagerly anticipating the moment when this generation¡¯s most outstanding cultivators would demonstrate their abilities and decide the victor, each disying their own style.


    The area Lu Qingshan belonged to was marked as number six, that is, Group Six.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Waves of energy spread like tides, and everyone looked up at that moment, gazing toward the sky.


    Lights intertwined, and seven figures appeared in the air.


    They were high-level cultivators from the seven major Taoist Sects.


    Lu Qingshan also looked up, his eyes flickering with interest as he gazed at the cultivator standing at the center of the seven.


    Of the seven, he had seen six during the Seal Spirit Tower¡¯s retest, but this seventh person, a recement for the Chang Geng Sect Leader, was a new face.


    This was a thin, elderly man dressed in a blue robe. On his robe, there was an embroidery of a ck sun and a crescent moon, intersecting like a Tai Chi diagram.


    This was the Taiyin Sect Leader from the Rinsing Spirit Sect.


    It was unexpected that just a day after the shocking news that their previous Sect Leader was an insider for the Netherworld, the Rinsing Spirit Sect had already sent another Sect Leader to preside over the discussion of the Seven Domains.


    This also indirectly showcased the strength of the Rinsing Spirit Sect.


    They were so robust that even after such a significant event, the Rinsing Spirit Sect could still operate as usual.


    It was like when a huge wavees, only thergest ship can still sail on.


    ¡°Let me emphasize the rules onest time!¡± the Taiyin Sect Leader said, his eyes slightly narrowed as his gaze swept over the ten thousand cultivators poised for action. His resonant voice boomed, echoing between heaven and earth, stirring everyone.


    ¡°The group knockoutpetition is divided into two rounds, beginning with the Third Sequence cultivators challenging the Second Sequence cultivators.


    Third Sequence cultivators, you are free to choose your opponent. Remember, each person only has two chances to challenge.


    Each challenged cultivator can have an hour to recover before facing the next challenge.


    Finally, each cultivator in the Second Sequence can be challenged a maximum of five times. Once all the challenge attempts for Second Sequence cultivators are exhausted, or if no more challenges are initiated, this round of the knockoutpetition will be dered over.¡±


    Taiyin Sect Leader dered, ¡°Now, let the first round of the knockoutpetition begin!¡±


    ¡­.


    Upon themand of the Taiyin Sect Leader, the arena bustled with activity amongst thepeting cultivators.


    But initially, very few chose to initiate a challenge.


    The reason was simple; all thepeting cultivators had a clear understanding. In this type of challenge under such rules, the timing of the challenge and discernment were very important.


    Each group¡¯s Second Sequence cultivatorsprised ny cultivators, among whom there were naturally stronger and weaker ones.


    @@novelbin@@


    If one rushed to challenge blindly and picked a tough opponent, wouldn¡¯t that be a wasted effort?


    Poor discernment could not be med on others, but those whocked it naturally needed to learn to watch and wait.


    They must remember that they only had two chances to challenge, and the margin for error was extremely low.


    But if one waited too long to challenge, that too was inappropriate.


    Since each Second Sequence cultivator could be challenged up to five times, those who appeared slightly weaker might be consecutively challenged in a short period.


    Missing these opportunities and then wanting to initiate challenges when there were still chances left would naturally mean facing those tough opponents who were difficult to sessfully challenge.


    Furthermore, if all challenge attempts for Second Sequence cultivators were exhausted, even if you hadn¡¯t used both your challenge chances, that would just be too bad.


    Because at that point, the round of the knockoutpetition would be considered over.


    ¡­


    Finally, in Group Six where Lu Qingshan was, the first challenger stepped forward.


    It was a white-robed cultivator, lean andnky, with a Cultivation at the Perfection of Foundation Establishment.


    He leaped onto one of the hundred tforms, his gazending on a Golden Core Early Stage cultivator among the Second Sequence below.


    ¡°Fellow Daoist, how about a friendly exchange?¡± the white-robed cultivator greeted with a bow.


    The face of the chosen Golden Core Early Stage cultivator turned slightly livid.


    Clearly, under these rules, he was seen as the weakest in the Second Sequence by the white-robed cultivator, which made him somewhat indignant.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what skills you have to dare challenge me,¡± said the Golden Core Early Stage cultivator darkly, not directly responding to the white-robed cultivator¡¯s words as he leaped onto the tform.


    Sixth District, first battle, officially begins!


    The moment the Golden Core Early Stage cultivator stepped onto the tform, a light shield enveloping the tform shimmered with gloss.


    This signified that the challenge had officially started!


    The cultivator in white clenched his teeth, flicked his hand, and a pitch-ck iron rod appeared in his grasp, emanating a powerful spiritual aura.


    With a loud shout, he swiftly dashed forward, swinging the long rod at the head of the Golden Core Early Stage cultivator.


    His speed was fast, and he wielded the iron rod with fierce momentum, like a great mountain smashing down.


    Although he was merely a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, his choice to challenge a Golden Core Early Stage cultivator wasn¡¯t rash but necessary since all cultivators in the Second Sequence were in the Golden Core Realm and he really had no other choice.


    He had rationally analyzed and made what, in his view, was the best decision.


    The challenger he picked specialized in Wood Technique spells.


    Wood Techniques excel in control and restraint, typically having rtively lesser killing powerpared to the other four elemental spells.


    And he himself practiced Body Cultivation, being thick-skinned and robust.


    In such circumstances, he might just manage to cope with the less lethal Wood Technique by employing rapid attack tactics, hopefully sneaking a victory.


    The Golden Core cultivator¡¯s eyes clearly caught every tiny movement of the cultivator in white and he snorted disdainfully.


    Without any panic, he pped his hands together, and a thick vine whipped out like a fierce python towards the cultivator in white.


    At that time, the Golden Core cultivator also retreated explosively, and a thick green vine shield emerged in front of him.


    Even though he was contemptuous inside, the Golden Core cultivator didn¡¯t let his guard down and immediately created distance.


    Maintaining distance is always the prime principle of Dharma Cultivation when facing Body Cultivation.


    Hiss!


    The vine casually released by the Golden Core cultivator had already entwined itself in front of the cultivator in white.


    Boom!


    The thick iron rod radiated a ck spiritual light and smashed onto the vine, attempting to instantly break through the spell.


    However, contrary to the cultivator in white¡¯s expectations, the vine was extremely tenacious. His strike did not break the vine; instead, it wrapped around his iron rod magic artifact.


    ¡°Unlucky! Although Wood System spells have lower lethality, their toughness and control are extremely strong, somewhat countering my broad and sweeping moves,¡±


    The cultivator in white quickly mulled over his options, hoping to find an immediate counter-strategy.


    But seeing this, the Golden Core cultivator who had already distanced himself revealed a sneer.


    ¡°You¡¯re still far off!¡±


    He raised his sleeve, opening his right hand and performing a seal gesture with his left.


    Wood Spirit Cage!


    In the palm of his right hand, a surge of spiritual power gushed out, mobilizing the power of the Wood Element.


    Whizz whizz whizz!


    Countless wooden spears poured down like a barrage, targeting the cultivator in white.


    Facing such a ferocious attack, the cultivator in white didn¡¯t have any time to think and tremored slightly, as ayer of golden light emerged on the surface of his body.


    ¡°Craack!¡±


    The wooden spears smashed into the cultivator in white¡¯s protective aura, creating terrifying, resonant booms and forming cracks!


    ¡°Can¡¯t withstand a single move?¡±


    The cultivator in white initially thought that, as a Body Cultivator, his protective spirit technique might at leastst a few breaths, giving him time to react, but the aura had already dissipated by this time.


    The wooden spears continued advancing towards his chest.


    He was so frightened that his soul nearly left his body.


    Yet the attack was too swift and fierce, and in his haste, he found himself without any feasible n.


    Just when the wooden spears were about to pierce through his chest, a thick spiritual power enveloped him.


    This was thanks to the tform¡¯s array, not only to iste thebat fluctuations but also to prevent fatalities among the cultivators.


    Amidst the nging sounds, the seemingly fierce wooden spears, facing thisyer of spiritual protection, could not stir even a slight ripple.


    The next moment, this spiritual force swiftly whisked the cultivator in white out of the tform.


    The cultivator in white, defeated!


    His face was full of dejection.


    Losing was not a big deal, but his defeat was too miserable.


    The encounter had barelysted three exchanges, and he had already lost. If not for the protective spirit formation, he would have lost his life.


    This had suddenly left himpletely dejected, and he had lost interest in any further challenges.


    ¡­..


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 Chapter 340 - 44 Lin Kuis Challenge

    Chapter 340: Chapter 44 Lin Kui¡¯s Challenge


    Meanwhile, one after another, more and more Cultivators from the Third Sequence stepped onto the arena to initiate their challenges.


    In each major group, there were nearly a dozen matches happening simultaneously.


    Most of the time, the challenges put up by the Third Sequence Cultivators ended in failure, with only the asional one or two managing a sessful upset.


    Yet even so, those who had turned the tables swiftly became the target of sessive challenges, seen as easy marks by others.


    One battle after another, with each passing moment, someone was being eliminated.


    For Cultivators like Lu Qingshan, who were seated in the First Sequence, these intense battles had no impact on them.


    They merely needed to watch the battles calmly.


    As dusk fell, the first round of the elimination matches officially ended, with the pace so fast it was hard to imagine.


    And now, out of ten thousandpetitors, only a thousand remained.


    ¡°The second round of the elimination matches starts now. Cultivators from the Second Sequence have one opportunity to challenge those from the First Sequence!¡± The distant voice of the Taiyin Sect Leader once again echoed through the air.


    ¡°When the elimination matches finally conclude, the hundred Cultivators still standing in the First Sequence will advance to the final contest of the Seven Domains¡¯ Grand Debate, and all other Cultivators will be eliminated!¡±


    A thousand to a hundred, an exaggerated and brutal ratio.


    ¡­..


    The same situation emerged once again.


    Still, no one chose to take rash action, to be that first person to break the ice.


    After a standoff thatsted a moment, a Cultivator finally stood out from the crowd, leapt onto the stage, and with a steady gaze at Lu Qingshan below, he slowly said, ¡°Cultivator Lu, how about I start things off with you?¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze sharpened, and a gleam of light shed across his eyes.


    The person challenging him was none other than Lin Kui, who also hailed from Qing State.


    In the previous rounds, Lin Kui¡¯s rank was moderate, which had ced him in the Third Sequence.


    But by relying on his Golden Core Perfection cultivation, Lin Kui had be one of the few Cultivators to sessfully ascend from the Third Sequence to the Second Sequence.


    Lu Qingshan gave a faint smile, not at all intimidated, and leapt onto the stage, ¡°Then let¡¯s begin.¡±


    The scene of Lin Kui challenging Lu Qingshan instantly caught the attention of many Cultivators watching the event, including members of the seven major Taoist Sects.


    After all, Lu Qingshan was one of the renowned figures in this Seven Domains¡¯ Grand Debate.


    ¡°This man, he is one of the meritorious individuals responsible for exposing Chang Geng¡¯s identity, isn¡¯t he?¡± The Sect Leader of Taiyin nced at Lu Qingshan with a deep voice and a calm expression.


    ¡°The Sect Leader of Taiyin surely doesn¡¯t hold a grudge against him for that, does he?¡± Grandmaster Xuanji said with a chuckle.


    The Taiyin Sect Leader was unruffled by Grandmaster Xuanji¡¯s teasing, and he said solemnly, ¡°How could I? I am not one to confuse right with wrong. If Chang Geng continued to hide within our Rinsing Spirit Sect, it¡¯s unpredictable what sort of disaster it would have brought upon us in the future.


    He indeed helped us to rid a malignant tumor from within our sect. We of the Rinsing Spirit Sect are grateful to him; why would we me him unjustly?¡±


    Pce Master Yi River nodded and said, ¡°I trust the character of the Sect Leader of Taiyin¡­.¡±


    The Holy Master of the Void raised an eyebrow, surprised, ¡°This young man has actually broken through to the Golden Core Late Stage?¡±


    Once the Holy Master of the Void pointed this out, everyone sensed for a moment and also confirmed this fact.


    Pce Master Ling Ye couldn¡¯t help but say in amazement, ¡°Eighteen years old and in the Golden Core Late Stage¡­ Although he can¡¯t im first ce in this Seven Domains¡¯ Grand Debate because of Zhou Yuan, if we¡¯re talking about raw talent alone, this young man is truly outstanding.


    Taibai, it seems the Sword Sect has picked up another fine prospect this time¡­.¡±


    Taibai Sword Master remained quiteposed and slowly said, ¡°The path of a Sword Cultivator isn¡¯t just about talent¡­¡±


    The others casually chatted, but Shui Yue Pavilion Master kept silent, her beautiful eyes moving quietly, as she focused her attention on Lu Qingshan.


    Because of her valued disciple, she had already taken an unusually high level of interest in Lu Qingshan.


    ¡­


    Seeing Lu Qingshan enter the arena, Lin Kui clenched his fists in secret, full of fighting spirit.


    Since the beginning of the Seven Domains Discourse, his contact with Lu Qingshan had started.


    Lu Qingshan was first in the preliminary test, and he ced second, marginally losing to him.


    At that time, he thought that Lu Qingshan won because the Divine Skills he was cultivating were particrly suited to the form of the preliminary test. However, in the following retests, he was determined to make aeback.


    But to his surprise, not only did he not win against Lu Qingshan in the retests, but the gap between them had also widened even further.


    @@novelbin@@


    At the Seal Spirit Tower, he finished with a ranking of over four thousand.


    While Lu Qingshan, at the young age of eighteen, achieved third ce overall, swiftly bing a person of interest in the Seven Domains Discoursepetition.


    There were even many who believed that given Lu Qingshan¡¯s strength, he was very likely to rank within the top ten of the Seven Domains Discoursepetition.


    Lin Kui had witnessed Lu Qingshan¡¯s performance in the second half of the retests and knew in his heart that Lu Qingshan¡¯s achievements were indeed due to his formidable strength and not just luck.


    He also understood that even though he was reluctant to admit it, Lu Qingshan, who was only at the Golden Core Middle Stage, did indeed surpass him in terms of sheer power.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯sprehension of the Intent at the Unity Realm was recognized as the best among the five hundred thousand cultivators of the Seven Domains Discourse, and Lin Kui had no choice but to ept this.


    But the reason he chose to challenge Lu Qingshan wasn¡¯t that he thought Lu Qingshan was weak; it was purely an obsession in his heart that drove him to make this decision.


    ¡°Fellow Daoist Lu, please do not hold back and let me see just howrge the gap is between me and a top cultivator,¡± Lin Kui requested with a cupped-hands salute.


    He just wanted to see how big the gap was between him and Lu Qingshan.


    Even if he knew defeat was inevitable, he had no fear¡­


    ¡°As you wish!¡± Lu Qingshan said with a slight smile after hearing Lin Kui¡¯s words.


    ¡°Wind Roll Wild Sand!¡± The next moment, Lin Kui shouted loudly, the sleeves of his clothes making whooshing sounds as a violent tornado began to brew around him, with fine yellow sand mixed into it.


    This was abination of Wind and Earth Spells.


    Lin Kui¡¯sbat strategy was very clear. Among the various Cultivation factions, Sword Cultivators actually have a certain restraint against Dharma Cultivation.


    The reason is that the Flying Sword Speed of Sword Cultivators is too fast and frequent, under such interference, Dharma Cultivators often have no time to concentrate and muster their power, failing to cast their spells.


    Therefore, at the outset, heunched arge-scale spell that could control the battlefield.


    Under the influence of the wild sand, the trajectory of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword would inevitably be disturbed, while he could take advantage of the terrain to bombard with spells unrestrainedly.


    His idea was not wrong, but reality proved to be exceedingly cruel.


    Before his Techniques were fully formed, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword had already flown out, enveloping him in fierce Sword Light at an iprehensible speed¡­


    Lin Kui was shocked and pale!


    It was too fast, too fast!


    Initially, he had started a significant distance away from Lu Qingshan.


    Considering his mastery of spells, he needed but a breath¡¯s time to cast this battlefield-controlling spell. There should have been no w in such a n.


    However, the speed of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword crossed the vast distance in nearly impossible time, rushing up close to him.


    A faint sound of thunder echoed in the Void.


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master, watching from above the sky, was somewhat stunned and muttered to himself, ¡°He¡¯s only a hair¡¯s breadth away from Sword Burst Thunder Sound¡­¡±


    The second realm of the Flying Sword is known as Sword Burst Thunder Sound, defined by the Flying Sword Speed breaking twenty times the speed of sound.


    Typically, only Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators can reach this realm.


    In other words, once the Flying Sword breaks into the Sword Burst Thunder Sound realm, its lethal power reaches the level of Nascent Soul.


    And the speed of the Flying Sword disyed by Lu Qingshan was already infinitely close to twenty times the speed of sound.


    This was why where the Peach Blossom Sword passed, a faint thunderous roar could be heard echoing.


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 Chapter 341 - 45 Prominent Figures

    Chapter 341: Chapter 45 Prominent Figures


    Standing on the arena, facing Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword, was Lin Kui, who could most deeply feel the terror of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword.


    His pupils constricted, his vision filled with fierce Sword Light.


    Lin Kui¡¯s hands hastily flipped through the air, as Spiritual Power surged out wildly. Several instantaneously cast Wind System Defensive Spells appeared in front of him, while his body shone with Spiritual Light, and a golden light shield radiated from his Defensive Artifact.


    The Sword Light shed, and Lin Kui¡¯s hasty Defensive Spells were shattered by the striking Flying Sword, which then hit his Defensive Artifact.


    Although the golden light shield did not immediately break, its brilliance dimmed significantly.


    From a distance, Lu Qingshan watched this scene, his thoughts flickering. He gave Lin Kui no chance to catch his breath. The Peach Blossom Sword trembled in the air, quickly gathering momentum again, and shot toward Lin Kui once more.


    With a Cultivation at the Golden Core Late Stage,bined with the ughter Sword Intent, his Flying Sword¡¯s lethality had reached the pinnacle of Golden Core Sword Cultivators, nearly approaching the Nascent Soul level.


    This kind of powerful Flying Sword required Lin Kui¡¯s full effort to defend against.


    But,pletely absorbed in countering the Flying Sword, Lin Kui had no strength left to plot a counterattack or anything else, losing all initiative.


    His only chance for victory seemed to be a war of attrition; after all, wielding the power of Intent was extremely draining on Spiritual Power.


    If he could oust Lu Qingshan¡¯s Spiritual Power and still have energy left, there was still a chance for a turnaround.


    It¡¯s true that relying on the robust Spiritual Power cultivated from a Taoist Level Technique, even in a war of attrition, not many Golden Core Cultivators could oust Lu Qingshan. Unfortunately, Lu Qingshan had no intention of drawing out the battle.


    He was preparing for a quick resolution!


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Lu Qingshan, still with strength to spare, slightly vibrated with Spiritual Power, and a hundred Sword Qi Fments shot out from behind him, enveloping Lin Kui like a from heaven to earth.


    ng ng ng ng!


    The Sword Qi Fments, no thicker than strands of hair, struck Lin Kui¡¯s Defensive Artifact, creating a continuous metallic collision sound.


    And the Peach Blossom Sword followed suit.


    Crack!


    The next moment, with a twist of the Peach Blossom, the Spiritual Light shield finally shattered.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    Lin Kui¡¯s Protective Spiritual Power exploded, a burst of Spiritual Light appeared on his body, blocking the subsequent sword rain and Flying Sword from Lu Qingshan, and simultaneously swept Lin Kui out of the arena.


    With no suspense, it was a one-sided victory.


    From start to finish, it took merely ten breaths of time, Lin Kui not even managing to cast a single decent Spell,pletely caught in Lu Qingshan¡¯s rhythm.


    Lin Kui stood up with a pale face, staring at Lu Qingshan on the arena, somewhat disheartened, ¡°Is the gap between him and me¡­ really so vast?¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he at the Golden Core Middle Stage during his re-examination? How could he have broken through to the Golden Core Late Stage in just a mere three days?¡± a Cultivator in the crowd noticed the change in Lu Qingshan¡¯s Cultivation, inhaling sharply, disbelieving.


    ¡°I knew it would be like this, Lin Kui is simply not on the same level as Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan ranked third in the Seal Spirit Tower re-examination, many see him as a contender for the top ten in the Seven Domains Debate Dao,¡± another Cultivator remarked, still shaken, reflecting silently.


    ¡°After this battle, there probably won¡¯t be anyone foolish enough to challenge Lu Qingshan anymore.


    He is just too strong, in our group, he must be the strongest,¡± they concluded.


    The group challenge matches were just a formality for him; his true stage was supposed to be the final overallpetition¡­¡± dered a Third Sequence cultivator who had already been eliminated.


    First Sequence cultivators wouldn¡¯t face each other in this round of group elimination matches, so there was indeed some truth to the notion of it being a mere formality.


    And the cultivator¡¯s guess wasn¡¯t wrong; after defeating Lin Kui, Lu Qingshan suddenly became taboo in the eyes of the cultivators in the sixth group.


    The second match, the third match, the fourth match¡­


    In the subsequent challenges, everyone consciously avoided Lu Qingshan.


    Because of the reduced number of participants in the second round of elimination matches, and the more evident gap in strength among cultivators, the duration of the matches was much lesspared to the first round.


    By midnight, no one dared to challenge the cultivators of the First Sequence any longer.


    Even though there were many Second Sequence cultivators who hadn¡¯t used their opportunity to challenge, those who knew the disparity in strength was too great ultimately gave up on the idea.


    Challenging stronger opponents did indeed benefit a cultivator¡¯s cultivation, but that was predicated on the stronger opponent only being slightly ahead.


    If the gap was too wide, being simply crushed offered no benefits and could even damage the will of those with weaker convictions, causing them to lose their indomitable spirit.


    However, it¡¯s worth mentioning that in this second round of elimination matches, not a single Second Sequence cultivator managed to upset the rankings and seize a spot in the First Sequence.


    This also showed that the judgment of the Taoist Sect¡¯s high-level cultivators was indeed very urate.


    The one hundred First Sequence cultivators they had subjectively selected were truly the strongest among the participants in the Seven Domains Debate Dao event.


    ¡°The group elimination matches havee to an end! Congrattions to the youngsters who have maintained their position in the First Sequence,¡± the Sect Leader of Taiyin announced from mid-air, dering slowly, ¡°You are the top one hundred of this Seven Domains Debate Dao event.


    As a reward, you may freely choose to join any one of the seven major Taoist Sects and will receive a Middle Grade Heavenly Artifact-level magic artifact provided by Great Xia.¡±


    ¡°Additionally, you will enter the final overallpetition to contend for a spot among the top ten of this Seven Domains Debate Dao event, as well as the title of leader.¡±


    ¡°Next, I announce the finalpetition rules.


    The finalpetition will involve one hundred cultivators, adopting a single victory knockout format on a tournament stage, one-on-one matches, the winner advancing, and the loser being directly eliminated.¡±


    ¡°Of course, to avoid the factor of luck and to ensure rtive fairness and prevent two overly strong cultivators from meeting too early, which could result in a cultivator deserving of a higher ranking being forced to exit thepetition prematurely,


    the matchups and groupings for the finalpetition will not be randomly assigned, but will be arranged by us personally after discussion.¡±


    ¡°The finalpetition willmence in five days in the Debate Domain, still open to all cultivators, while the specific groupings will also be announced at that time!¡±


    After announcing the established rules, the figure of the Sect Leader of Taiyin gradually faded from the void. At the same time, numerous strands of Spiritual Light appeared, enveloping all cultivators in the Debate Domain, invoking a very slight repulsive force.


    In the next moment, the scenery around them shifted, and all the cultivators left the Debate Domain and appeared within Debate Dao City.


    This round of group elimination matches was very easy for Lu Qingshan; he only had to fight Lin Kui once and then was able to advance to the finalpetition.


    But who could have imagined that in a past life, this hurdle was insurmountable for yers?


    ¡­


    In the group elimination matches, although there was a clear gap in strength between the First and Second Sequence cultivators, and they didn¡¯t show too many of their abilities,bining their performance in the retest rounds, it was possible to discern quite a bit.


    Basing on just the tip of the iceberg of the strength demonstrated by them, there were already enthusiasts who began calcting the top ten of this Seven Domains Debate Dao event, and some astute ones even quietly started taking bets.


    The cultivators in Debate Dao City were all top young talents of the Human Race, many of whom came fromrge sects or powerful cultivation families.


    These cultivators were wealthy, and when they took an interest in betting, they did so with generosity. Additionally, the rankings in the Seven Domains Debate Dao were a major attraction, so betting turned out to be a great business opportunity.


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 Chapter 343 - 47: Initial Victory in the First Battle

    Chapter 343: Chapter 47: Initial Victory in the First Battle


    Fifty arena battles urred simultaneously, and the observing cultivators each had their own focus of attention.


    Most people were more interested in the battles on the arenas numbered in the top three.


    However, there were exceptions, such as the Candle Dragon Hall¡¯s Jinyang Grand Honorable, who highly valued Mo Yan and focused on his battle.


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master, for reasons unknown, had her attention fixed particrly on Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan leapt into the arena, entering arena number seven.


    Before him stood a man in a brown robe, short and stocky, with a robust build.


    Upon seeing Lu Qingshan on stage, the man wore a simple smile, ¡°You Chushan of Lean on Mountain Sect, pleased to meet you, Brother Lu.¡±


    You Chushan was naturally older than Lu Qingshan, but in the Cultivation World, mastery was what mattered most.


    Therefore, in acknowledging his own inferiority, You Chushan courteously addressed Lu Qingshan as Brother Lu.


    Lu Qingshan, neither epting nor denying, also smiled slightly, bowing with his hands sped, ¡°Lu Qingshan from Qing State, pleased to meet you.¡±


    ¡°The match begins!¡±


    The Taiyin Sect Leader announced loudly.


    Whoosh!


    In the instant the voice of the Taiyin Sect Leader was heard, Lu Qingshan¡¯s flying sword had already responded by darting out.


    The Peach Blossom Sword, shing a dull gray light, suddenly soared, sweeping toward You Chushan.


    ¡°Mountain Moving Technique!¡± Facing the flying sword that pulled a faint thunderous roar through the air, a hint of sharpness crossed You Chushan¡¯s eyes, his simple face bing serious. Simultaneously, a small, dark, mountain-shaped magic artifact appeared in his hands.


    To defeat a Sword Cultivator, a Dharma Cultivator needed, first and foremost, a way to counter the Sword Cultivator¡¯s flying sword.


    Having stood out among so many cultivators, You Chushan, even when facing a gap in strength against Lu Qingshan, would certainly not be as powerless as Lin Kui, with no ability to struggle or resist.


    The Mountain Moving Technique was the method You Chushan used to restrain the Sword Cultivator¡¯s flying sword.


    Immediately, Lu Qingshan felt his Peach Blossom Sword bearing the weight of a massive burden; the speed of the already near twenty times the speed of sound flying sword suddenly decreased, dropping to just seventy percent of its original speed.


    ng!


    The flying sword, now reduced in speed and power by thirty percent, struck You Chushan¡¯s Protective Spiritual Power. Although sparks of spirit power flew, the attack struggled to make a significant impact.


    This was the renowned Mountain Moving Technique of Lean on Mountain Sect, a strategy involving a weighty magic artifact to establish a type of connection with the opponent, and applying the artifact¡¯s weight onto the opponent¡¯s item.


    Instead, You Chushan cleverly did not apply this technique directly to Lu Qingshan, but rather in a targeted manner to counter Lu Qingshan¡¯s flying sword.


    In the subsequent battle, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Peach Blossom Sword could not escape the drag of this immense weight.


    Lu Qingshan gave a slight smile; this tactic was indeed clever, but¡­


    ¡°Your Mountain Moving Technique is but a single move; yet my attack methods are more than just a flying sword!¡±


    Myriad Swords Art!


    His entire body¡¯s spirit power burst forth instantly. Sword Qi fired from his body, blooming in the air like a lotus flower, unleashing hundreds of fments as fine as flower pistils, extravagantly beautiful.


    The fierce Sword Qi Fments covered the sky, relentlessly enveloping You Chushan.


    The foundation of the Myriad Swords Art was the cultivator¡¯s Primordial Spirit Realm.


    After his cultivation had broken through to the Golden Core Late Stage and along with the enhancement of ughter Sword Intent to the Unity Realm, his Primordial Spirit strength also increased significantly.


    Thus, even though he did not have much time to practice, his Myriad Swords Art naturally evolved to the level of five hundred swords.


    ¡°Ting ting ting ting ting ting ting!¡±


    Amidst the crisp explosions, exactly five hundred Sword Qi Fments heavily bombarded You Chushan¡¯s Protective Spiritual Power.


    Just this one wave of attack had used up nearly twenty percent of Lu Qingshan¡¯s spirit power.


    But the effect was equally visible to the naked eye.


    With a loud ¡®bang,¡¯ You Chushan¡¯s thick Protective Spiritual Power shattered instantly.


    Although a Spiritual Light immediately protected him, under the powerful impact, You Chushan¡¯s figure was sent flying backward.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan wins!¡±


    The voice of the Taiyin Sect Leader came through.


    You Chushan struggled to his feet, scratched his head, and said bitterly, ¡°I admit defeat.¡±


    Lu Qingshan smiled in acknowledgment.


    This battle, from the very beginning when You Chushan employed the Mountain Moving Technique and had a slight upper hand, to Lu Qingshan¡¯s sudden burst, rapidly turned the tide and decided the victor in just a few moments.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan won, and so quickly!¡±


    ¡°This is the terrifying Explosive Power of a Sword Cultivator¡­¡± Although many of the observing cultivators were shocked, they could understand.


    This is thebat style of Sword Cultivators; once they burst forth, they are as swift as lightning.


    And those cultivators from the top Sects with broader insight had serious expressions, as Lu Qingshan¡¯s final burst of five hundred swords left a deep impression even on the experienced cultivators.


    ¡°It seems that before this, Lu Qingshan hadn¡¯t mastered the Myriad Swords Art to this extent, had he?¡± someone pondered, ¡°Was he hiding his true capabilities before, or is his talent so terrifying that even while participating in the Seven Domains Discourse, the Techniques he studied could progress at a speed visible to the naked eye?¡±


    ¡­.


    Lu Qingshan stepped down from the tform.


    Although it had only taken him a few moments to defeat You Chushan, there were actually two others who had won their matches even quicker.


    One was Zhou Yuan, whose face bore two strange patterns, and the other was Cao Xiaoxin.


    Zhou Yuan, at the Nascent Soul Realm, nearly crushed his opponents, and Cao Xiaoxin, who was proficient with the Flying Sword, quickly concluding battles was also expected.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan finish the fight, Cao Xiaoxin nodded to him in a friendly manner, while Zhou Yuan merely nced at him indifferently, as if Lu Qingshan were nothing to him.


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t mind.


    Among the geniuses, many were naturally arrogant and solitary.


    Because others disregarded him, bearing a grudge would be rather petty.


    Thus, Lu Qingshan also nodded back to Cao Xiaoxin and then waited together with them for the other matches to conclude.


    He cast his gaze towards the twelfth tform where Mo Yan was, only to see that the battle there was also nearing its end.


    @@novelbin@@


    Mo Yan¡¯s control over Netherfire had long surpassed ordinary Techniques. His casual maniption caused the Netherfire to transform endlessly, whether into roaring beasts or blossoming mes of Red Lotus.


    Each attack seemed like a simple Fire Control Technique, yet its power far surpassed many Spells.


    Under this relentless offensive, after a short while, Mo Yan¡¯s opponent, caught off guard, waspletely engulfed by a tiger formed from the Red Lotus Netherfire and was eliminated from thepetition.


    ¡°Mo Yan wins!¡±


    The Taiyin Sect Leader announced.


    As time passed, the victors from the fifty tforms emerged one after another.


    Zhou Yuan, Cao Xiaoxin, Lu Qingshan, Bai Guandao¡­.


    ¡­


    When the final victor appeared, the Taiyin Sect Leader spoke again, his invisible authority making everyone look towards him


    ¡°Congrattions to the fifty victors, you have now entered the top fifty in the Seven Domains Discourse,¡± the Taiyin Sect Leader said, smiling gently, ¡°You will now have half an hour to recover and prepare for the second round of tform battles.


    The pairs for the second round of tform fights will have the winner from tform one against the winner from tform fifty, the winner from tform two against the winner from tform forty-nine, and so on.¡±


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 Chapter 344 - 48 Sword Burst Thunder Sound

    Chapter 344: Chapter 48 Sword Burst Thunder Sound


    Fifty Cultivators obediently listened to the words of Sect Leader Taiyin.


    Sect Leader Taiyin nodded with satisfaction, and then with a sweeping gesture, fifty orbs of shining white Spiritual Power surged toward the crowd.


    One of the Spiritual Power orbs merged into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body, flooding every part of his body with an unparalleled abundance of Spiritual Power.


    This was the most pure liquid Spiritual Power, devoid of any impurities, and at this moment, it was extravagantly used to restore their Spiritual Power.


    With the aid of this liquid Spiritual Power, Lu Qingshan gently closed his eyes, circted his Cultivation Technique, and devoured all the Spiritual Power. The twenty percent of Spiritual Power he had expended on performing Myriad Swords Art was immediately replenished.


    ¡­.


    @@novelbin@@


    An hourter,


    Lu Qingshan once again stepped onto the number seven fighting stage, facing his second opponent, Liu Bai.


    This was a lean Body Cultivator, not tall with dark skin, and his Cultivation was at Golden Core Perfection.


    In his hands was a massive broadsword Magic Artifact, the de as wide as his body.


    Liu Bai watched Lu Qingshan with extreme caution, his gaze intense, like a Hunter facing the most ferocious prey, without any underestimation or arrogance, just endless vignce and ferocity.


    This was a Cultivator who dared to risk his life.


    Lu Qingshan made his judgment.


    Liu Bai did not speak with Lu Qingshan. As soon as Sect Leader Taiyin announced the start of the match, he transformed into a gust of wind rushing toward Lu Qingshan.


    Around his body, swirling wind-like Qi formed from his de energy, merging and flowing rapidly, connecting head to tail in oveppingyers, with an astonishingly powerful defense.


    Up until then, what Lu Qingshan had shown the most was his Flying Sword, second only to Cao Xiaoxin, as well as the horrifying quantity of his Myriad Swords Art.


    A Cultivator¡¯s energy and time are always limited, not to mention Lu Qingshan¡¯s young age, so in Liu Bai¡¯s eyes, Lu Qingshan naturally fell into the category of a Sword Cultivator specialized in Internal Sword.


    If so, his External Sword skills would not be very strong.


    Thus, his strategy was simple: closebat fighting to prevent Lu Qingshan from wielding his Flying Sword freely.


    Of course, to get close, he would have to withstand the first wave of Lu Qingshan¡¯s attack.


    He was fairly confident about this.


    After all, he was a Body Cultivator with amazing defensive capabilities.


    With this in mind, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Swords had already stricken his protective de Qi.


    The deep green Wood Attribute Spiritual Light above the Peach Blossom shed against the de Qi, emitting constant tinkling sounds of colliding and bursting, while Liu Bai remained immobile.


    With the formidable Qi-Blood of a Body Cultivator¡¯s Physical Bodybined with perfected de Qi shielding, it seemed impossible for Lu Qingshan to defeat him quickly.


    ¡°If Lu Qingshan¡¯s realm of Flying Sword could reach the Sword Burst Thunder Sound stage, he indeed could easily take down Liu Bai.


    But at this level, facing a Body Cultivator who excels at defense, he indeedcks experience.


    However, the ultimate victor should still be Lu Qingshan. It just depends on how much Liu Bai can force out of Lu Qingshan.


    Up till now, the fight against both the previous five and the iing five Cultivators has been too easy; you can¡¯t see much from it.¡±


    As the distant Cultivators conversed, Liu Bai had already, amidst the continuous onught of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Swords, dashed rapidly towards Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan, calm andposed,manded his Flying Swords to attack while his figure swiftly retreated, his speed not inferior to Liu Bai¡¯s.


    The problem was that the fighting stage had boundaries, so this state would notst long.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Liu Bai, who darted forward with a rush, caused a series of snapping sounds from his body¡¯s joints. His previously lean muscles expanded, blood Qi surged, and with the power of his Physical Body, a series of sonic booms erupted, making it feel as though a herd of wild oxen was charging over.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze slightly solidified.


    His Internal Sword technique was strong, but his External Sword was equally formidable.


    After all, he had mastered two Secret Sword techniques.


    However, before meeting a real opponent, he did not want to reveal too much.


    ¡°I will just use my Flying Sword to defeat you,¡± Lu Qingshan had already decided in his heart.


    A profound and mysterious force arose spontaneously, blending into his ughter Sword Intent, which had reached the Realm of Unity.


    This was the evolving power from the embryonic form of the Immortal True Intent.


    Under the amplification and evolution of the Immortal True Intent, the already sharp ughter Sword Intent grew even more intense, enveloping the Peach Blossom Sword, and a sh of crimson color passed by.


    The next moment, Spiritual Power poured out from Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    A green light spot, brilliant as the rising sun, as swift as lightning, and as sharp as a de, rushed forward, creating a deafening thunderous roar.


    ¡°Hmm?!¡± Liu Bai¡¯splexion dramatically changed.


    ¡°Sword Burst Thunder Sound!¡± Among the observing cultivators, some sharp-eyed ones eximed in surprise.


    Previously, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword Speed had always been infinitely close to twenty times the speed of sound of the Sword Burst Thunder Sound, but as the saying goes, a miss is as good as a mile, in reality, this slight closeness was an insurmountable bottleneck.


    However, once this bottleneck was crossed, the power of the Flying Sword would undergo a qualitative change.


    As long as one had not reached the realm of Sword Burst Thunder Sound, no matter how close, the destructiveness of the Flying Sword still belonged to the level of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    But once this limit was exceeded, the power of the Flying Sword would transform into a technique of the Nascent Soul.


    The gap was that big.


    But who could have imagined, in their eyes, such an insurmountable chasm, Lu Qingshan had achieved this realm in a blink of an eye.


    ¡°This Lu Qingshan has hidden very deep, looking at it this way, perhaps the strongest among the next five will be him¡­¡± some cultivators murmured.


    ¡­¡­


    In this quadrant.


    ¡°Ping!¡±


    The Flying Sword shot out like a thorn, striking against Liu Bai¡¯s protective sword qi.


    Liu Bai, who had previously been coping with ease, now only felt an irresistible counterforce spreading throughout his body, causing his Qi-Blood to surge, and thatyer of rapidly spinning protective sword qi shattered in an instant.


    ¡°Again!¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes were coldly determined.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Sword Light and sword qi intersected, and Lu Qingshan directly unleashed the utmost power of the Peach Blossom, shattering the sword qi around Liu Bai.


    Like a Heavenly Maiden scattering flowers, the shattered sword qi flew in all directions on the stage, carving out grooves.


    ¡°Pfft!¡±


    Liu Bai suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body flying backward, hisplexion slightly pale, a Spiritual Light immediately protecting him to prevent serious injuries.


    ¡°I concede, wholeheartedly and willingly!¡± Liu Bai managed to stabilize his body, uttering his first words since stepping onto the stage.


    He had no choice but to admit defeat because normally, even Nascent Soul Early Stage Sword Cultivators¡¯ Flying Swords could not necessarily reach the realm of Sword Burst Thunder Sound.


    And Lu Qingshan, merely at Golden Core Late Stage, had achieved such a feat with his Flying Sword; what reasons did he have to be displeased?


    ¡°Without participating in the Seven Domains Debate on Dao, I absolutely cannot imagine this world having so many supreme figures; my journey is still long,¡± Liu Bai murmured.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan has won,¡± the voice of Sect Leader Taiyin timely rang out.


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 Chapter 345 - 49 Primordial Spirit Realm

    Chapter 345: Chapter 49 Primordial Spirit Realm


    Lu Qingshan stepped off the arena and closed his eyes to rejuvenate his spirit.


    This time, even the eternally tranquil Taibai Sword Master unconsciously spared Lu Qingshan an extra nce.


    The Taibai Sword Master, while somewhat appreciative of Lu Qingshan¡¯s previous performance, hadn¡¯t feltpelled to give him a second look until now.


    After all, what Lu Qingshan had achieved was something he himself had been capable of during his Golden Core phase, and even then, he had done it better.


    But ever since he witnessed with his own eyes that Lu Qingshan, at the age of eighteen, had cultivated his Flying Sword to the level of Sword Burst Thunder Sound, he finally took the young man a bit more seriously.


    He recalled in his mind, ¡°It seems that I only reached that point when I was in my twenties, right? This kid¡­¡±


    In the second round of the arena fights, most of the matches were still one-sided.


    The most fierce and evenly matched fight was on arena number twenty-five, where two Body Cultivators at thete Golden Core stage battled fiercely.


    The two fought for nearly an hour before one of them ran out of Spiritual Power, bringing an end to thebat.


    After resting for an hour as well, Lu Qingshan faced his third round in the arena.


    This time, it was the beautiful Shui Yue Pavilion Master presiding over the round, who stepped forward and softly announced, ¡°The third round of the arena fight is the top twenty-five advancing to the top thirteen. Due to the odd number of participants, there will be one person byed directly to the next round.


    After our decision, the one with the bye, Zhou Yuan!¡±


    The crowd exchanged nces, but there were no objections to be spoken.


    Had it been anyone else, some might have not epted it: why does he get a bye and not me?


    But when the one given the bye was Zhou Yuan, nobody really had anyints.


    Not convinced? If you¡¯re not convinced, go and fight Zhou Yuan yourself!


    ¡°For the third round of the arena fights, the pairings continue ording to the rules of the previous round, with the winner of arena number two facing the winner of arena number twenty-five, the winner of arena number three facing the winner of arena number twenty-four, and so on,¡± announced the Shui Yue Pavilion Master decisively.


    As the winner of arena number seven, Lu Qingshan¡¯s opponent would be the winner from arena number twenty, a Spiritual Cultivator at the Golden Core Perfection stage, Ling Yue.


    Particrly, Ling Yue was the only female Cultivator still in the tournament among those who had not yet been eliminated.


    The remaining twenty-four participants were all male Cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan returned to the arena as a woman in a moon-white robe also ascended the stage.


    She was Ling Yue.


    Ling Yue wore a gentle smile as she looked at Lu Qingshan¡¯s handsome face, blinked her eyes, and said very politely, ¡°Illusory Spirit Pce¡¯s Ling Yue.¡±


    Her voice was pleasant, conveying a yful vibe.


    ¡°Qing State¡¯s Lu Qingshan.¡± Lu Qingshan returned the gesture.


    ¡°The match starts now!¡±


    The soft voice of the Shui Yue Pavilion Master spread throughout the venue.


    The moment her voice sounded, Ling Yue¡¯s eyes immediately flickered with a faint ghostly light.


    Hum hum hum!


    An invisible wave of void Divine Soul burst forth from Ling Yue¡¯s eyes, instantly reaching in front of Lu Qingshan. It followed his brow straight into his sea of consciousness.


    The speed of the Divine Soul Light Beam was too fast, and more importantly, its mode of attack was different from that of typical Techniques. It targeted the Primordial Spirit level, rendering any Protective Spiritual Power or Defensive Artifacts utterly ineffective!


    Thus, the Divine Soul Attack easily prated into Lu Qingshan¡¯s sea of consciousness.


    The next moment, a look of confusion appeared in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s a Divine Soul Attack. Lu Qingshan has been hit by Ling Yue¡¯s Divine Soul Attack, and that¡¯s going to be tough for him,¡± a Cultivator watching the fight said quietly, seeing the situation clearly.


    On her side, Ling Yue¡¯s heart leaped with joy as she saw this!


    It was working!


    She reacted quickly, seizing the opportunity as she swept her hands together. Seven crescent-shaped des linked to form a rotating Crescent Moon, whirling like a scythe as they flew straight towards Lu Qingshan.


    The speed of the Crescent Moon was so fast that it was nearly impossible to trace its trajectory, making it impossible to capture their path.


    Using Divine Soul Attacks to make the enemy fall into a disoriented state, thenunching an attack during that window, this was Shui Yue¡¯sbat system, simple and crude, but also practical.


    In the past, Lu Qingshan had also used this kind of attack routine through the Crying Soul Sword.


    Unexpectedly, just as the Crescent Moon Artifact was about to reach him, Lu Qingshan¡¯s body suddenly manifested fiveyers of thick sword screens.


    Ding ding ding ding ding!


    The Crescent Moon struck the sword screens, bursting with Spiritual Light, and under the force of the rebound, it scattered again, turning into seven crescent-shaped thin des.


    Looking over again, Shui Yue could see no hint of absence in the handsome eyes of the opposing Sword Cultivator, but rather a clear lucidity.


    Moreover, she was horrified to discover that there was even a mocking smile on the Sword Cultivator¡¯s face.


    Shui Yue¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition surged within her.


    Experience told her that premonitions often proved untrue for the good and true for the bad.


    Swish swish swish!


    A continuous whistling sound, five hundred fments of Sword Qi that had slipped into the void without notice suddenly manifested around her, enveloping her from all sides.


    Shui Yue¡¯s face drained of color, but her reaction was still too slow, the Sword Qi Fments like streaks of lightning had already bombarded her Protective Spiritual Power.


    With the sound of nging, the Protective Spiritual Power was instantly shattered.


    The next moment, a beam of Spiritual Light mysteriously emerged, shielding Shui Yue.


    It was the protective Spiritual Light from the Array in the arena.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan is victorious.¡±


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master looked meaningfully at Lu Qingshan and solemnly dered.


    ¡°What happened, what¡¯s going on?¡± Some talented Cultivators hadn¡¯t understood at all, clearly, just a moment ago, Lu Qingshan had been hit by Shui Yue¡¯s Divine Soul Attack, how did it turn out that Shui Yue was swept out ofpetition so quickly?


    ¡°Lu Qingshan wasn¡¯t affected at all, his Primordial Spirit Realm is very high¡­¡± Xuanji Dazun also glimpsed this scene and instantly understood the reason.


    Yes, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Primordial Spirit Realm was extremely high.


    The Nine-Pattern Golden Pill he had formed already provided a significant boost to his Primordial Spirit Realm, and theprehension of Intent also enhanced the strength of the Primordial Spirit. Moreover, the Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique that he practiced also refined the Primordial Spirit.


    With the culmination of these three factors, his Primordial Spirit Realm was now about to break through to thete stage of Solidifying Form.


    You should know that the Primordial Spirit Realm of an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator doesn¡¯t even reach the mid-stage of Solidifying Form.


    Such a solid Primordial Spirit, surpassing most Nascent Soul Cultivators, meant that Shui Yue¡¯s Divine Soul Attack, which was still at the Golden Core Level, had no effect on him whatsoever.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s thoughts moved, and any remaining Sword Qi Fments dispersed into nothingness.


    ¡°Wait!¡± As Lu Qingshan was about to leave the arena, Shui Yue called out to him.


    Lu Qingshan turned his head back in surprise, not understanding why.


    Shui Yue bit her lip, her eyes filled with a deep grudge, ¡°Just now, weren¡¯t you affected by my Divine Soul Attack at all?¡±


    Lu Qingshan thought for a moment, then silently nodded his head.


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re too much!¡± Shui Yue said indignantly, her face full of sorrow as she stormed off the arena.


    The reason she could enter the top twenty-five of the Seven Domains Martial Meeting wasrgely due to her Divine Soul Attack.


    @@novelbin@@


    If Lu Qingshan was immune to her Divine Soul Attack, then he could easily defeat her.


    But despite his overpowering strength, Lu Qingshan had performed a ruse by feigning to be affected, and while she was proudly attacking, he quietlyid out the Sword Qi Fments, instantly crushing her in a dramatic reversal.


    This made her look particrly foolish.


    Remembering the mocking smile on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face from earlier,


    The Sword Cultivator, who had seemed extraordinarily handsome in her eyes, suddenly became sinister, leaving her feeling deeply irritated.


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 Chapter 347 - 51 A Little Knowledge of Lu Qingshan

    Chapter 347: Chapter 51 A Little Knowledge of Lu Qingshan


    An hour¡¯s rest had passed.


    ¡°Contesting cultivators, please ascend your respective tforms now and prepare to begin the fourth round of duel,¡± Shui Yue Pavilion Master¡¯s gaze swept over everyone.


    As twelve figures levitated and entered their respective tforms, the entire audience of cultivators could not help but hold their breath in anticipation.


    By this time, the gap in strength between these remaining twelve cultivators shouldn¡¯t be too wide.


    At least, that¡¯s what they believed.


    In such a case, perhaps this would be the first time they witnessed the full might of these twelve paragons of the Human Race going all out.


    Interestingly, among the top thirteen cultivators, besides the most numerous Dharma Cultivators who upied five positions, Sword Cultivators surprisingly took up three positions right after them.


    As both Lu Qingshan and Yu Cibei were Sword Cultivators, the question of who was stronger or weaker between the two was a matter of great curiosity for many.


    This battle also attracted the attention of countless genius Sword Cultivators, these geniuses were quite interested in the scene of the strongest batch of Sword Cultivators of their generation shing.


    When Lu Qingshan and Yu Cibei entered the tform, even Taibai Sword Master slightly turned his attention to this situation.


    Two demon-like Sword Cultivators shing would undoubtedly be a remarkable duel, full of highlights.


    ¡­


    On the tform, Yu Cibei stood in a grey robe, holding a silver sword, his eyes sparkling like stars.


    ¡°Yu Cibei, Innocence Sword,¡± Yu Cibei suddenly spoke.


    This was the way Sword Cultivators greeted each other, indicating Yu Cibei¡¯s regard for Lu Qingshan.


    With a whoosh, the dusty Peach Blossom Sword left his body and hovered in front of Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan responded, ¡°Lu Qingshan, Peach Blossom Sword.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± the battle hadn¡¯t even started, yet there were already cultivators in the audience starting to specte.


    ¡°Zhuan Zhu, who are you favoring?¡± At the Taiyi Sword Sect¡¯s location, an elderly cultivator, standing alongside Zhuan Zhu as if on equal footing with the younger cultivators, asked with considerable interest, ¡°You seem to particrly like this Lu Qingshan.¡±


    ¡°Yu Cibei excels in External Sword and his swordsmanship is extraordinary. Lu Qingshan, on the other hand, specializes in Internal Sword.


    The struggle between these two should be a ssic confrontation between External and Internal Sword,¡± Zhuan Zhu did not express a clear preference, offering a rather fair assessment, ¡°But no matter how strong Yu Cibei¡¯s swordsmanship might be, it would be difficult for him to defeat Lu Qingshan, who has reached the ¡®Sword Burst Thunder Sound¡¯ level in the Flying Sword Technique. After all, Sword Burst Thunder Sound is a realm of another level.¡±


    The elderly cultivator nodded but did not entirely agree with Zhuan Zhu¡¯s view, ¡°The struggle between External and Internal Sword depends on distance.


    Within five miles, Internal Sword is invincible, but within three, Victory or defeat hangs by a thread. If the distance is reduced to one mile, then External Sword is invincible.


    With Yu Cibei¡¯s mastery of Wind Sword Intent and speed as swift as a storm, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword, however strong, still requires sufficient space to execute. If Yu Cibei truly finds an opportunity to close the distance with Lu Qingshan, the oue is still uncertain.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just watch,¡± Zhuan Zhu¡¯s eyes narrowed, he said solemnly, ¡°They¡¯ve started!¡±


    As Shui Yue Pavilion Master announced the start of the match, in that instant, a faint green qi began to permeate around Yu Cibei.


    Then, Yu Cibei merged with this green qi, turning into an afterimage as he swiftly dashed toward Lu Qingshan.


    His speed was extremely fast. If Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t move quickly, it would only take two breaths for Yu Cibei to get close to him.


    ¡°Swoosh!¡±


    Yu Cibei swept through the void, emitting a sound simr to that of a Flying Sword cutting through the air.


    ¡°Now it depends on whether Lu Qingshan can stop Yu Cibei¡¯s n to get close,¡± the spectator cultivators thought to themselves.


    If he stops him, then the duel is Lu Qingshan¡¯s to win; if he can¡¯t, Lu Qingshan will be in trouble.


    But as they thought so, the next moment left them all dumbfounded.


    Lu Qingshan, whom they considered an expert in Internal Sword, surprisingly stretched out his hand, tightly gripped the hilt of the Peach Blossom Sword, shed his figure like a sh of lightning, and, with a movement like Yu Cibei¡¯s, dashed toward his opponent.


    The two originally stood at opposite corners of the arena, but now they were tracing a straight line through the air, rapidly nearing each other in a blur.


    ¡°What is Lu Qingshan trying to do?¡± A young Sword Cultivator rubbed his eyes, wondering if he had seen wrongly.


    ¡°It seems he¡¯s preparing to match Yu Cibei in External Sword,¡± someone beside the young Sword Cultivator hazily said.


    ¡°You, who have cultivated your Flying Sword to the Sword Burst Thunder Sound, actually intend to disy External Sword and battle against Yu Cibei, who is most skilled at it? Is this not using an opponent¡¯s strength against their weakness? Have I gone mad, or has he lost his senses?¡± another observing Sword Cultivator couldn¡¯t help but mutter.


    On the tform, when Yu Cibei saw Lu Qingshan¡¯s movements, a sharp light also shed through his eyes.


    As slow as it is to say, it was quickly done¡ªin the next instant, the two had exchanged a nce.


    ¡°Woooo!¡±


    The void trembled, and the sword hummed buzzing, as Yu Cibei drew his sword in that instant.


    A single sword, yet it transformed into a hundred beams of Sword Light!


    In that moment, sword shadows flickered.


    These sword shadows were not illusory; they appeared due to the incredible speed of Yu Cibei¡¯s sword strikes, creating a visual illusion. In reality, each sword shadownded in a solid ce, with attacks everywhere.


    In the span of a breath, Yu Cibei had delivered dozens of sword strikes.


    ng, ng, ng, ng, ng, ng!


    A continuous ngor of metal colliding followed.


    The Five-Colored Sword Armor of the Five Elements¡ªmetal, wood, water, fire, earth¡ªleft his body and roamed around Lu Qingshan, like five thick sword curtains and also like five sturdy pieces of armor, blocking all attacks from Yu Cibei.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingshan had also delivered a sword strike.


    Yu Cibei, dozens of swords in a breath, Lu Qingshan, only one sword in the same time.


    But this one sword move stirred upyers of heavy Sword Qi, massive as mountains.


    This Sword Technique had no name; it was a method of sword strike that Lu Qingshan had learned from Heaven Suppressing Secret Sword techniques, greatly enhancing the power of the swordsmanship.


    Yu Cibei¡¯s expression turned serious, his Innocence Sword sweeping horizontally, the tip drawing a blue full moon.


    With a series of explosions, a Half-Moon Sword Beam shot out, colliding with Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword.


    Bang!


    An uncontrolled explosion rippled outward, and Yu Cibei¡¯s Half-Moon Sword Beam was instantaneously obliterated under Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword.


    All reverted to annihtion!


    Yu Cibei had no time to think further, hastily thrusting another sword with almost no interval from thest, seemingly without the process of retracting and exerting force again.


    Of course, that was not possible.


    It was merely because his speed was so fast that the exertion process was so brief as to seem nonexistent.


    Boom!


    @@novelbin@@


    This second sword, shing again with Lu Qingshan¡¯s Peach Blossom Sword, created an explosive sound of Sword Qi colliding.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword was finally blocked by Yu Cibei¡¯s exceptionally quick consecutive two swords.


    Whiz! Whiz!


    Their figures crossed in midair, stirring up a splendid overflow of spiritual light.


    ¡°You excel in Flying Sword, yet you engage me in closebat, what does this mean?¡± Yu Cibei asked during that brief moment as they crossed paths.


    ¡°Coincidentally, External Sword, I happen to know a bit about it as well,¡± Lu Qingshan calmly responded.


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 Chapter 349 - 53: Still Slow?

    Chapter 349: Chapter 53: Still Slow?


    His sword was swift, but there was always a brief moment of drawing it, yet Lu Qingshan¡¯s three swords seemed to strike simultaneously.


    It was in that instant, the three swords struck at once.


    The power of Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword techniques was naturally stronger than his, but it was only because Lu Qingshan¡¯s draw speed was much slower than his that he had been able to maintain an advantage.


    This was why he had mentioned that Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword draw was too slow.


    It was not mockery, but pity.


    Pity that Lu Qingshan¡¯s powerful sword techniques were so slow.


    But now, the tables had turned.


    He could block one of Lu Qingshan¡¯s swords, but he absolutely couldn¡¯t block three.


    What made him feel even more suffocated was that the dusty Peach Blossom Sword in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hands suddenly shed with a withering yellow brilliance in that moment.


    The color was akin to falling leaves.


    And just as that brilliance flickered, he suddenly realized that the spirit in his own Innocence Sword was lost, as if turned to a wooden sword, and a very intense feeling of disharmony washed over him.


    Withering: A technique that causes all things to wither. Any sword artifact of lesser quality than this one will lose all its spiritual nature for five breaths under this divine skill.


    The quality of Yu Cibei¡¯s Innocence Sword did not surpass the Peach Blossom Sword, thus the Withering technique could be executed.


    ng!


    A massive force travelled through the Innocence Sword to Yu Cibei¡¯s wrists, numbing his hands and making his qi-blood surge.


    That was not the end; with ease, Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword extinguished all theherfire on the Innocence Sword, shook it aside, and then, continuing with the motion, shed towards Yu Cibei¡¯s chest.


    A bluish misty spiritual light appeared on Yu Cibei, protecting him within it.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan wins!¡± dered the Shui Yue Pavilion Master.


    Lu Qingshan, looking at Yu Cibei with his head lowered, somewhat dispirited, smiled and softly asked, ¡°Is my sword still slow?¡±


    Yu Cibei suddenly raised his head, ¡°Was thatst move a Secret Sword Technique?¡±


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly, ¡°Indeed, this technique is called Wind sh.¡±


    ¡°Wind sh¡­ Very fast, your sword is very fast, and you are very strong. Losing to you who mastered a Secret Sword Technique, I am thoroughly convinced,¡± Yu Cibei, with the daze in his eyes now gone, shone with a sharp light much like a sword artifact, resolved and relieved, ¡°But a single victory means nothing. Next time, I will definitely surpass you.¡±


    Yu Cibei slowly descended from the arena.


    Sword Cultivators pursue a relentless advance.


    But such an advance is about the spirit of the Dao, not that a single defeat means despair. After a defeat, figuring out how to do better next time, that is what a Sword Cultivator does.


    Yu Cibei had truly obtained the heart of a Sword Cultivator.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t surpass me this time, and you will never surpass me in the future¡­¡± Lu Qingshan muttered as he watched Yu Cibei¡¯s retreating figure.


    Yu Cibei, originally leaving the arena with steady steps, paused briefly as if he heard something, and then resumed his pace, leaving the arena straight away.


    ¡­


    When Lu Qingshanter descended from the arena, he had already attracted countless gazes from the watching cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan had won the final victory, a result that wasn¡¯t unexpected.


    After all, both Lu Qingshan and Yu Cibei were strong, and either winning or losing wouldn¡¯t have been surprising.


    However, the process of the battle was truly hard for them to believe.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan actually won against Yu Cibei in apetition of external swords?¡±


    ¡°Who would have thought that in this Seven Domains Controversy, the strongest External Sword would not be Yu Cibei, but Lu Qingshan?!¡±


    ¡°With mastery of both internal and external techniques, at only eighteen and in the Golden Core Late Stage, how did he manage to cultivate so fast? Could it be that the Sword Dao indeed has those who possess innate knowledge?¡± a Sword Cultivator imed, envious and admiring yet unable to voice it, ¡°Or could it be that this Lu Qingshan is a reincarnation of a Sword Immortal?¡±


    Being Sword Cultivators themselves, they understood just how difficult it was to cultivate the sword techniques of the External Sword and the Flying Sword of the Internal Sword.


    Because they understood, they found it even harder toprehend how Lu Qingshan had managed to achieve this extent.


    ¡°Zhuan Zhu, this kid¡­. is truly remarkable,¡± an elder beside the esteemed Zhuan Zhu took a deep breath, expressing his admiration.


    Zhuan Zhu slowly withdrew his gaze that had been on Lu Qingshan and nodded in agreement, ¡°I too did not expect that this youngster would have not only cultivated his Flying Sword to the level of Sword Burst Thunder Sound but also had the energy to practice a Secret Sword Technique!¡±


    ¡°Moreover,¡± Zhuan Zhu¡¯s expression grew intense, ¡°I have this faint feeling¡­ that this is not yet his limit¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The elder¡¯s eyes widened, and he burst outughing, ¡°He¡¯s already unmatched in both internal and external techniques, and that¡¯s still not his limit? Just how terrifying would his limit be¡­¡±


    On the side of the seven Taoist Sect cultivators, faced with such achievements, the senior members of the sects fell silent for a while.


    After a long time, the Saint Teacher in mid-air heaved a sigh and said softly, ¡°That is¡­ the embryonic form of Primordial Intent.¡±


    The Xuan Ji Grandmaster also heavily exhaled, having recognized this as well.


    The marvelous power that had given the ughter Sword Intent another boost in strength came from Primordial Intent.


    Even though Lu Qingshan¡¯s grasp on Primordial Intent was still weakpared to Bai Guandao¡¯s mastery of Space True Intention.


    But let¡¯s not forget, Lu Qingshan is only eighteen years old.


    At eighteen, unmatched in both internal and external techniques, Golden Core Late Stage, Unity Realm¡¯s ughter Sword Intent, and even embracing the embryonic form of Primordial Intent.


    He is still very young, with so much time and seemingly limitless potential ahead.


    With Lu Qingshan¡¯s talent, as he grows, the seven cultivators present had already realized what extent he might reach eventually.


    Even if Lu Qingshan might not win the championship, in the eyes of the senior Taoist Sect cultivators, the ultimate gem of this Seven Domains Controversy has already been secured on this young Sword Cultivator.


    ¡­..


    By the time Lu Qingshan finished his fight, there were still two battles that had not concluded.


    One was between Bone Daoist and Mo Yan at the sixth tform.


    The other was Cao Xiaoxin against Shi Bi at the third tform.


    Bone Daoist and Mo Yan were already at the climax of a fierce battle.


    Both were cultivators of Dharma Cultivation.


    Bone Daoist inherited aplete system with aprehensive array of Techniques, whether it be Escape Techniques, Defensive Spells, or Attack Spells, all incredibly powerful.


    Despite Mo Yan¡¯s exceptional talent, he was, after all, a bit rough in his trainingpared to the well-rounded Bone Daoist.


    Even though Bone Daoist seemed to have the upper hand in terms of situation, he could not secure a decisive advantage.


    This was because he vividly remembered Mo Yan¡¯s prior use of Netherfire Fusion and was wary of it, always holding back some strength to guard against Mo Yan¡¯s potential sudden burst.


    As for Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s dy, the reason was simple.


    His opponent, Shi Bi, turned out to be a cultivator of both Dharma Cultivation and Physical Body, and moreover, with an already astonishing defensive power in his physical body, the Spells Shi Bi cultivated were well-known Earth Attribute Spells aimed at defense, making him nearly impregnable.


    @@novelbin@@


    Under such circumstances, even with Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s astonishing offensive capabilities, facing Shi Bi, who was solid like a tortoise shell, felt almost indigestible.


    What was more outrageous was that Shi Bi¡¯s strategy was purely defensive, offering no resistance at all.


    The goal was simple, either you attack hard, break through my defenses, and I lose and leave, or you are worn down to death by me persistently.


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 Chapter 350 - 54 Cao Xiaoxin

    Chapter 350: Chapter 54 Cao Xiaoxin


    ¡°Herees the Netherfire Fusion again!¡± As some spectators widened their eyes and began to murmur softly, Lu Qingshan also involuntarily turned his gaze toward Mo Yan on tform six.


    A red and blue lotus the size of a palm, spinning swiftly, had already flown out from Mo Yan¡¯s hand, shooting rapidly toward the White Bone Taoist.


    The void space itself seemed to ripple at that moment, terrorizing and brutal waves of energy emanating from the lotus.


    However, just as it was about to reach within thirty feet of thetter,


    a sly smile of triumph shed across the White Bone Taoist¡¯s face, ¡°This is exactly the move I¡¯ve been waiting for!¡±


    His hands formed a seal, flickering with blue and white smoke, and in front of him starkly transformed into a pink skeleton cloaked in white bones and flesh, directly confronting the lotus transformed by the Netherfire Fusion.


    ¡°Crimson Face White Bone Path!¡± the White Bone Taoist lightly scolded.


    A tremendous explosion sounded instantaneously,


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Brilliant red and blue fireworks exploded on the Dharma Aspect of the White Bone Taoist, with fiery ripples bursting out. Centered on the explosion, infinite waves of fire surged toward all directions of the tform.


    The vast tform turned into a world of mes.


    ¡°Is this the destructive power after the fusion of the two Netherfires? Truly terrifying¡­¡± Many young cultivators who were watching shuddered and moaned helplessly in their hearts.


    They were all talented cultivators participating in the Seven Domains discourse, all Golden Core Cultivators. Why were these people so terrifying?


    Even Lu Qingshan was contemting at this time, if he faced Mo Yan without using the Dragon Sparrow Sword, could he withstand Mo Yan¡¯s Netherfire Fusion?


    As for why not using the Dragon Sparrow Sword¡­


    Because if he used the impervious Dragon Sparrow Sword, Lu Qingshan was genuinely afraid that Mo Yan might end up being hung and beaten by Qin Yitian.


    ¡ª¡ªGiven Qin Yitian¡¯s temperament, if Mo Yan dared to use such wild moves against Lu Qingshan, which he himself couldn¡¯t control well, the Sword Spirit girl wouldn¡¯t be courteous with Mo Yan.


    The red and blue waves of fire gradually dissipated after a while.


    In the center of the tform, the White Bone Taoist¡¯s clothing was charred ck, looking quite embarrassing; however, the smile on his lips grew even more triumphant.


    Crimson Face White Bone Path, also known as the Added Fragrance of Red Sleeves, is a top-notch defensive secret technique that refines a pink skeleton to block a spell attack that is otherwise hard to resist.


    He had preserved this secret technique for so long just to counter Mo Yan¡¯s Netherfire Lotus.


    Now that Mo Yan had already used his Netherfire Lotus, the White Bone Taoist felt he had victory within his grasp.


    ¡°Your strongest move couldn¡¯t defeat me, how can you still fight against me?!¡±


    The White Bone Taoist spoke and suddenly made his move.


    With a deep chant, behind the White Bone Taoist, a small ghostly figure appeared, entirelyposed of white deathly aura, somber and dreary.


    ¡°Go!¡± the White Bone Taoist shouted, and the little ghost transformed into a wisp of smoke, rushing toward Mo Yan.


    Hooking Technique, a White Bone Taoist Spell refined through deathly aura, which could infiltrate a cultivator¡¯s body, snuffing out their life force, nearly impossible to defend against, and one of the most famous attack spells of the White Bone Dao Sect.


    But to the White Bone Taoist¡¯s disbelief,


    at the moment when the Hooking Technique was about to affect Mo Yan, a divine and powerful green me, full of life and vigor, surged from Mo Yan¡¯s body, erasing his Hooking Technique in an instant.


    ¡°What kind of me is that?!¡± the White Bone Taoist¡¯s eyes widened.


    The me of Life, possessing infinite vitality and itself not very lethal, but it is the nemesis of all deathly auras and perfectly counters the White Bone Taoist Spell cultivated by the White Bone Taoist.


    Mo Yan looked at the White Bone Taoist and chuckled lightly, sending a chill down the White Bone Taoist¡¯s spine.


    A wisp of green me shot toward him like a meteor.


    Though unsure of what this me was, since it could block his Hooking Technique, it must be extraordinary.


    The White Bone Taoist frantically tried to use a White Bone Shield to block it, but something even stranger happened. The green me collided with his defensive artifact without causing any stir, which, while relieving him, also gave rise to countless questions.


    However, his questions were soon answered.


    Without any warning, the previously quenched red and blue Netherfire suddenly surged around him,pletely enveloping him as the tongues of me devoured him in an instant.


    A ray of Spiritual Light timely shed out from the arena¡¯s Array, protecting Bai Guandao from the scorching Netherfire and preventing any harm to him.


    ¡°Mo Yan wins!¡±


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master announced.


    Bai Guandao¡¯s face alternatively turned pale and flushed, while Mo Yan remained calm, slowly descending from the tform and greeting Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Is that¡­ the me of Life?¡± murmured Golden Sun Great Master, his eyes wide open in astonishment.


    As the deputy head of Candle Dragon Hall, who had yed with fire all his life, he recognized the nature of those turquoise mes, which others hadn¡¯t identified at first nce.


    A Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator, had he really mastered three types of Netherfire?


    He was shocked and incredulous, yet immensely ecstatic, with his thoughts now even more resolutely firm.


    No matter what, he had to recruit Mo Yan to the Candle Dragon Hall!


    Meanwhile, on another tform, victory and defeat were also decided in that moment. The impregnable Shi Bi, under the relentless assault of Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s cavalry-like Flying Sword Array, could not endure till Cao Xiaoxin exhausted his strength and eventually sumbed.


    There arergely two directions for Sword Cultivation, categorized into internal and external.


    However, within Internal Sword Cultivation, there are various subdivisions; Cao Xiaoxin practiced one of the moreplex styles¡ªthe Sword Array School.


    This school¡¯s Inner Sword Cultivators possess a strong Primordial Spirit, and their Life-bound Swords often can split into several smaller swords, forming peculiar Flying Swords.


    Being adept in various transformations of Sword Arrays, these Sword Cultivators set up arrays with their swords that wield immense power.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan did not favor this style.


    He advocated for the power of one sword to break all adversaries.


    Your Life-bound Sword might split into hundreds or thousands, forming hundreds or thousands of arrays, but isn¡¯t it still no match for a single strike from his Dragon Sparrow Sword?


    ¡­


    By then, the fourth round of the tform battles hade to an end.


    On tform Two, Bai Guandao won.


    On tform Three, Cao Xiaoxin won.


    On tform Four, Lin Guihai won.


    On tform Five, Yu Xu won.


    On tform Six, Mo Yan defeated Bai Guandao.


    On tform Seven, Lu Qingshan defeated Yu Cibei.


    Seven senior cultivators from the Taoist Sect, having all the cultivators for the fourth round of tform battles determined, gathered together once again.


    After a brief discussion, the Hanging Saint stood up and loudly dered, ¡°The fourth round of tform battles has concluded.¡±


    ¡°The fifth round of tform battles will follow shortly. This round will determine who among the seven will advance to the final four, and there will still be someone who gets a bye, directly advancing to the next round.


    The one who gets a bye will be Zhou Yuan!¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    Hearing the news, Zhou Yuan, who had been simply watching the battles for three consecutive rounds, barely managed anguid lift of his eyelids.


    The Hanging Saint continued to announce the matchups for the fifth round of tform battles:


    On tform Two, Bai Guandao will face Yu Xu.


    On tform Three, Cao Xiaoxin will face Lu Qingshan.


    On tform Four, Lin Guihai will face Mo Yan.¡±


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 Chapter 351 - 55: Shu Path

    Chapter 351: Chapter 55: Shu Path


    In all the previous four rounds of the arena battles, Lu Qingshan had defended his own seventh arena.


    Now, for the first time, he became the challenger,unching an assault on the third arena guarded by Cao Xiaoxin.


    As soon as the Floating Saint Master released the pairing news, the spectating cultivators all stirred up amotion.


    The arenapetitions were indeed visibly more splendid with each round, and by this fifth round, there were countless highlights to look forward to, exciting everyone!


    Bai Guandao and Yu Xu, one wielding Primordial Intent and the other practicing the ancient Body Refinement secret technique, Eight Gates Dunjia, both had conquered their way here overwhelmingly. Now, as these strong forces collided, who wouldn¡¯t be excited?


    Lin Guihai versus Mo Yan, one practiced bothw and body, with unbeatable Thunder Spells, and the other controlled several types of Netherfire. Mo Yan was the strongest dark horse of this tournament in the Seven Domains, and the oue was unpredictable.


    Cao Xiaoxin and Lu Qingshan, the former was recognized in this tournament as the strongest with Internal Swords, his Sword Array techniques reaching the heavens.


    Thetter, exceptional in both internal and external swordsmanship, had be the strongest in external sword among them all after defeating Yu Cibei. Besides, his Internal Sword Technique was also extraordinary.


    Both of them gave off an unbeatably strong aura.


    When the strongest Internal Sword met the strongest External Sword, who would be the strongest Sword Cultivator of the Seven Domains tournament?


    When the Floating Saint Master announced the match-up, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but turn his head and nce at Cao Xiaoxin, and just then, their gazes collided.


    He was also turning his head to size up Lu Qingshan at that moment.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be up against Cao Xiaoxin so soon, thought I¡¯d have to wait another round,¡± Lu Qingshan turned back around and murmured, ¡°But perhaps this was intentional¡­ in a situation where the strengths are so closely matched, putting cultivators of the same school against each other increases the spectacle¡­.¡±


    In the eyes of many spectating cultivators, the fifth round on the arena, especially the fight between Lu Qingshan and Cao Xiaoxin, was the most appealing.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan has a greater chance of winning, after all, he excels in both internal and external swordsmanship, is all-rounded, and has no obvious weaknesses,¡± some supported Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°How can this be calcted so simply, inbat, each unts their strengths and conceals their weaknesses. It¡¯s about whose strengths can triumph,¡± others argued.


    Both Lu Qingshan and Cao Xiaoxin had plenty of supporters.


    Of course, if we were counting, Lu Qingshan had more supporters.


    As Lu Qingshan¡¯s Internal Sword was also strong, and he was younger and¡­ better-looking.


    The surrounding noise and discussions did not affect Lu Qingshan as he closed his eyes to rest, silently recovering his strength.


    After an hour, Lu Qingshan opened his eyes.


    The sh for the title of the strongest Sword Cultivator against Cao Xiaoxin was about to begin!


    Even the powerful Daoist Sect cultivators werergely paying attention to this battle.


    This included Shui Yue Pavilion Master, Tai Bai Sword Master, Taiyin Sect Leader, and Yi River Hall Master, all focusing their attention on Lu Qingshan and Cao Xiaoxin.


    Lu Qingshan leaped onto the arena, standing diagonally opposite Cao Xiaoxin.


    ¡°Cao Xiaoxin, Sword Name Shu Path.¡± Cao Xiaoxin stared at Lu Qingshan, seriously dering.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, Sword Name Peach Blossom.¡± Lu Qingshan responded seriously as well.


    ¡°The fifth round of the arena battle begins!¡± the Floating Saint Master announced loudly.


    ¡°Brother Lu, be cautious!¡± At the Floating Saint Master¡¯smand, Cao Xiaoxin let out a loud shout, and suddenly in front of him appeared a long green sword with flowing wave-like fluctuations, which then split into twelve thinner flying swords.


    Cao Xiaoxin gently waved, as ifmanding troops.


    ¡°Silkworm Nest!¡±


    One of the split swords, named Silkworm Nest, immediately streaked across the sky.


    @@novelbin@@


    Where it passed, it was as though an iron-blooded army had crossed, with noises of hoofbeats and iron horses.


    This sword was directed straight at Lu Qingshan.


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan just smiled lightly.


    Go!


    The Peach Blossom Sword, carrying a faint sound of thunderous roar, did not avoid confrontation, striking directly towards the silkworm swarm transformed from the Shu Path.


    ng!


    The Peach Blossom Sword struck directly onto the silkworm swarm, hissing!


    The momentum of iron cavalry halted momentarily, as the two Flying Swords shed and brushed past each other in an instant.


    This was a probing by both sides.


    However, Cao Xiaoxin, who had prepared for a fast escape, was surprised to discover that Lu Qingshan had been moving only within the original area from the beginning of the fight, without any intention of getting close.


    ¡ªThis waspletely different from what he had expected.


    As Lu Qingshan, known as the strongest External Sword, versus him, an expert in Sword Array, he actually had no ns to get close and disrupt his sword array?


    This scene made many onlooking cultivators secretly click their tongues in wonder.


    Some had already guessed a very outrageous possibility.


    ¡°Is he nning to defeat Yu Cibei with External Sword first, then defeat Cao Xiaoxin with Internal Sword?¡± a round-faced female cultivator standing beside Spirit Moon asked incredulously.


    ¡°Seems like it¡­¡± Spirit Moon¡¯s eyes shimmered, fixated on Lu Qingshan, who was constantly wearing a smile on the stage, without shifting her gaze.


    ¡°Can Lu Qingshan win?¡± the round-faced female cultivator asked subconsciously.


    ¡°He definitely will win!¡± Spirit Moon¡¯s eyes sparkled, asserting confidently.


    ¡°Why definitely¡­¡± the round-faced female cultivator was puzzled, then suddenly, she realized and looking at Spirit Moon¡¯s excited expression, she wondered, ¡°Weren¡¯t you just criticizing this Lu Qingshan when he eliminated you a moment ago? Howe you suddenly changed to supporting him so much¡­¡±


    Spirit Moon, asked by the round-faced female cultivator, pursed her lips, her earlobes slightly reddened, and she said indignantly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because the higher his ranking, the more prestigious I appear too!


    There¡¯s a big difference between being eliminated by the leader and by the top seven!¡±


    Then, Spirit Moon muttered subconsciously, ¡°Although it¡¯s impossible for him to take down the leader, the second ce is still possible¡­¡±


    As for Lu Qingshan, who was both good-looking and had outstanding swordsmanship and acted wildly unrestrained¡ªusing External Sword to defeat Yu Cibei, known as the strongest External Sword, and then challenging Cao Xiaoxin, known as the strongest Internal Sword with Internal Sword, made her secretly fond and admiring of him; something, she wouldn¡¯t admit outwardly!


    The discussions of the external onlooking cultivators were unheard by Cao Xiaoxin, but upon realizing Lu Qingshan¡¯s intent, hispetitiveness waspletely ignited.


    He used Internal Sword techniques because he only excelled in Internal Sword, while Lu Qingshan executed Internal Sword techniques because he wanted to solely focus on Internal Sword.


    He would not allow his most adept and proud Internal Sword to lose to Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Yi Xian Tian!¡± Cao Xiaoxin chanted lightly.


    The silkworm swarm, Fish Fu, Mang Ran, Mount Emei, Yellow Crane, gibbons, and Green Mud¡ªseven slender Flying Swords lit up, aligning in a line, a frost line flying towards Lu Qingshan.


    The seven Flying Swords had sevenyers of consecutive ovepping, and this Yi Xian Tian formation would unleash seven continuous attacks.


    Lu Qingshan dared not underestimate, and immediately went all out, with ughter Sword Intent and the budding Immortal True Intent both attaching to the Peach Blossom Sword.


    Boom!


    Thunderous roars followed!


    Under the enhancement of the two Sword Intents, the Peach Blossom Sword once again reached the realm of Sword Burst Thunder Sound.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!


    Seven collision sounds consecutively erupted.


    The first four were from Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s seven Flying Swords forming Yi Xian Tian shing with the Peach Blossom Sword.


    After the fourth sword, the Peach Blossom Sword was at ack of force and could no longer withstand Yi Xian Tian.


    Then, Lu Qingshan deployed the Five Elements Sword Armor just in time to block the final three swords.


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 Chapter 352 - 56 Eight Hundred Swords

    Chapter 352: Chapter 56 Eight Hundred Swords


    Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s Flying Sword Realm hadn¡¯t reached the Sword Burst Thunder Sound, but through the ovey of the One-Line Heaven Formation, its power far surpassed Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword.


    Such is the formidable nature of a Sword Array.


    Under the attack of the One-Line Heaven Sword Formation, countless overflowing Sword Qi immediately erupted from the Five Elements Sword Armor protecting Lu Qingshan.


    Whoosh!


    Seven Flying Swords in the sky had already adjusted their position, ready to swoop down on Lu Qingshan once again in the One-Line Heaven Formation.


    ¡°Myriad Swords Art!¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart tightened as he let out a low shout.


    When it came to techniques of the Internal Sword, Cao Xiaoxin had his Sword Arrays, while he had the Myriad Swords Art.


    This was the confidence he had in his duel with Cao Xiaoxin.


    Hundreds of Sword Qi Fments detached from his body and hovered around him.


    ¡°Go!¡±


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    With a distant pointing gesture, the Peach Blossom Sword charged forward once more, but this time, it was not alone.


    Because five hundred Sword Qi Fments followed closely behind.


    ng! ng! ng! ng! ng! ng!


    A series of metallic collisions echoed through the air, and just like the swords of the One-Line Heaven Formation, the Peach Blossom Sword¡¯s momentum faltered.


    Then came the five hundred Sword Qi Fments, which, like small soldiers following the Peach Blossom Sword, immediately took their ce at the front.


    Mighty and grand, the iron cavalry formed up.


    Bang!


    Facing the relentless onught of five hundred Sword Qi Fments, Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s remaining three Flying Swords were simply confronted and shattered upon contact, disintegrating instantly.


    After repelling the three Flying Swords, the Sword Qi Fments, relentless in their advance, charged towards Cao Xiaoxin.


    The invisible pressure was so great that it caused a tightness in Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Three Talents Lotus Sword Formation!¡±


    With a mere thought from Cao Xiaoxin, three Flying Swords among the five Shu Path swords in front of him¡ªMournful Bird, Child Cry, and Night Moon¡ªsimultaneously lit up and darted forward.


    The three Flying Swords, standing in the positions of the Three Talents, transformed into a giant Three Talents Lotus as they flew.


    The lotus¡¯s heart,posed of Sword Light, was incredibly sharp as it breathed in and out.


    Zing! Zing! Zing!


    From within the lotus, countless Sword Light stamens shot out, shing with Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Qi Fments in the air multiple times as if two armies were locked in a standoff.


    With each collision, dozens of Sword Qi Fments were extinguished.


    After several exchanges, the Sword Qi Fments hadrgely dissipated.


    Of course, the Sword Light within the Three Talents Lotus were also nearly depleted.


    The Mournful Bird, Child Cry, and Night Moon Flying Swords were all scattered aside.


    Yet the well-prepared Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s mind moved once again, and he immediately controlled thest two Flying Swords to shoot forth.


    ¡°Lianfeng! Juebi!¡± Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s eyes burst with sharp glints.


    Whir! Whir! Whir!


    The two Flying Swords in the air intertwined to form a Taiji Two Instruments diagram, nurturing countless sharp Sword Light, continuously revolving.


    At that moment, the previous three dispersed Flying Swords had also reassembled into a giant lotus.


    For a moment, a Sword Lotus and a Taiji Two Instruments diagram appeared in the sky.


    Both the Taiji Two Instruments and the Sword Lotus unleashed strands of Sword Light, simultaneously striking at Lu Qingshan.


    What was even more terrifying was that the seven previously shattered Flying Swords had now re-formed into the One-Line Heaven Formation, turning into a frost line and slicing towards Lu Qingshan.


    It was as if thousands of troops were besieging Lu Qingshan alone.


    This was the terrifying aspect of an Inner Sword Cultivator who practiced Sword Array techniques. Once the Sword Arrays were deployed, they were overwhelming.


    ¡°Comparing in numbers?¡± Cao Xiaoxin muttered.


    ¡­


    ¡°For an Inner Sword Cultivator who practices the art of Sword Arrays to simultaneously control multiple Flying Swords is quite normal, but to also control multiple Sword Arrays is truly a supreme technique¡­¡± The elder next to Zhuan Zhu could not help but exim upon seeing Cao Xiaoxin manipting the Three Talents Lotus Sword Formation, the Taiji Two Instruments Sword Formation, and the One-Line Heaven Sword Formation at the same time.


    The Taiji Two Instruments Sword Formation, Three Talents Lotus Sword Formation, and One-Line Heaven Sword Formation are all among the top Sword Arrays with boundless power.


    Deploying these top Sword Arrays ces a great strain on one¡¯s mental and Divine Sense energy.


    Ordinary cultivators managing to deploy a single top-tier Sword Array would be remarkable enough, sufficient to dominate their peers.


    But Cao Xiaoxin managed to execute three formations concurrently, no wonder the elder was so astounded.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, the situation has taken a turn for the worse!¡± the elder said in a calm voice


    ¡­


    Facing the simultaneous onught of the three sword formations, a hint of madness shed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    Go! Go! Go!


    Behind him, a torrent of Sword Qi fments swept out, covering the sky and nketing the earth.


    Four hundred strands, five hundred strands!


    In the blink of an eye, he reached his current limit.


    But it wasn¡¯t over, the number of Sword Qi fments continued to increase!


    Six hundred strands, seven hundred strands, eight hundred strands!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes now faintly seeped with blood, clearly exerting himself to the fullest.


    @@novelbin@@


    With his profound Spiritual Power, even producing a thousand strands of Sword Qi fments wasn¡¯t out of question.


    However, if the Sword Qi fments weren¡¯t controlled, they would simply scurry about aimlessly, unable to form anybat power.


    Thus, what determined the level of the Myriad Swords Art wasn¡¯t the number of Sword Qi fments he could produce, but the number he could control.


    Five hundred strands were the level Lu Qingshan could master perfectly.


    Beyond that, he couldn¡¯t achieve full control


    Now, faced with these three sword formations, Lu Qingshan was boldly challenging his own limits.


    The Sword Qi fments trembled slightly, forming streaks of Radiance in mid-air.


    A sharp glint passed through Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, veins throbbing on his forehead, he did not hesitate to control the eight hundred Sword Qi fments to meet the three sword formations without a moment¡¯s dy.


    Whoosh!


    Radiance traced arcs across the sky, and in an instant, heaven and earth transformed; these Sword Qi fments actually wrapped around to form a Sword Qi Cage, trapping Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s three sword formations within.


    The Sword Qi fments continuously drifted up and down, forming an imprable barrier.


    The Peach Blossom Sword moved back and forth within the Sword Qi Cage, attempting to break through the three formations.


    Within the three sword formations, sword lights were constantly emitted, trying to extinguish the Sword Qi fments and break out.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Sword Qi and sword light collided continuously, annihting each other.


    But as soon as one strand of Sword Qi fment was dispelled, another would immediately emerge, rejoining the fray.


    The Sword Qi Cage appeared to be on the verge of copsing, yet it held strong for a long time and was not broken by the sword formations.


    Faced with this situation, Cao Xiaoxin remained calm and collected.


    He could see that Lu Qingshan, in controlling eight hundred strands of Sword Qi fments, had exceeded his limits.


    While Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s control over the three sword formations was not effortless, it was indeed quitefortable.


    In this state, Lu Qingshan mightst a long while on sheer willpower, but a constantly taut string will eventually snap.


    When Lu Qingshan made a mistake, it would be the moment Cao Xiaoxin secured the victory.


    Cao Xiaoxin felt confident of his triumph.


    A full eight hundred strands of Sword Qi fments made Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes begin to redden.


    He directly pushed up three hundred strands of Sword Qi fments over his control limit of five hundred strands.


    Straining.


    Extremely straining.


    But faced with Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s three sword formations, only such a number of Sword Qi fments could stop the onught.


    Moreover, Lu Qingshan had a wildly ambitious idea in mind.


    His Primordial Spirit Realm,parable to that of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, definitely met the basic requirements for eight hundred strands of the Myriad Swords Art.


    The reason it was so strenuous was simply that he couldn¡¯t fully exert the power of his Primordial Spirit.


    In such a case, the only thing to rely on was rigorous training, incessant progress.


    And what better way to practice than to break through one¡¯s limits under extreme pressure?


    The greater the oppression, the faster he¡¯d improve.


    Lu Qingshan had only one thought in mind¡­ to push himself to the absolute limit.


    If sessful, it would mean leveraging the strength of others to achieve a boost in his power.


    If not¡­


    At worst, he would just have to expend some Experience Points to level up the Myriad Swords Art by one level.


    Therefore, in this battle, he had no reason to lose, resting assured and fearless.


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 Chapter 353 - 57: The Four Taoist Sword Array

    Chapter 353: Chapter 57: The Four Taoist Sword Array


    On the arena


    Lu Qingshan and Cao Xiaoxin stood at diagonal positions, facing each other from a distance, each controlling their own techniques to sh time and time again.


    Although Cao Xiaoxin seemed to have the upper hand, he was unable to turn his advantage into victory.


    Above the Sword Qi Cage formed by the Sword Qi Fments, huge bulges appeared time and time again, as Cao Xiaoxin controlled three Sword Arrays to continuously spew forth Sword Light, attempting to break the Sword Qi cage.


    But he was always just a little short of sess, which kept eluding him.


    However, both Lu Qingshan and Cao Xiaoxin believed they hadpelling reasons to be victorious and so neither deviated much from their strategies.


    The elder next to Zhuan Zhu looked on and suddenly his eyes lit up, incredulous and somewhat hesitant, he said, ¡°Is Lu Qingshan¡­ using Cao Xiaoxin as a whetstone, sharpening his sword against him?¡±


    Zhuan Zhu was also intently watching Lu Qingshan.


    He too noticed the change in Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Zhuan Zhu also said quietly, ¡°His control over the Sword Qi Fments is bing more and more proficient. Initially, manipting eight hundred Sword Qi Fments was purely on a burst of energy; now, he seems to be getting the hang of it¡­¡±


    ¡°The Myriad Swords Art is one of the most famous Internal Sword Divine Skills of the Know Defend Tower. When perfected, even the top Sword Arrays dare not easily im victory¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say,¡± the elder couldn¡¯t help but feel sentimental, ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so fond of this Lu Qingshan, this boy truly has an extraordinary talent.


    Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s Sword Array is near divine, and he tried to use his Internal Sword to forcefully collide with Cao Xiaoxin, which initially seemed to put him in a stalemate, as if he was destined to fail. Who would have thought that this boy is actually breaking through in the midst of battle!¡±


    ¡°Whether he can breakthrough or not is still hard to say.¡± Zhuan Zhu watched Lu Qingshan closely.


    Although Lu Qingshan was already showing such a sign, Zhuan Zhu understood that breaking through in battle was by no means as easy as one might think.


    Insight, luck, and a solid foundation¡ªall three are indispensable.


    ¡­.


    Executing eight hundred Sword Qi Fments already had Lu Qingshan exerting all his strength, and due to continuously pushing his Primordial Spirit to its limits, he was now feeling bouts of dizziness.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan could also feel that his control over the Sword Qi Fments was bing more and more natural.


    Five hundred and ten, five hundred and twenty¡­ five hundred and fifty!


    His potential seemed to be rapidly unlocking.


    Five hundred and sixty¡­ five hundred and ny, six hundred!


    ¡°His Sword Qi Cage has be even harder to break than before!¡± Cao Xiaoxin, who had been waging a long battle with Lu Qingshan, finally noticed that something was amiss.


    Cao Xiaoxin faintly smelled danger.


    ¡°Can¡¯t drag this out any longer, more dreams in a long night!¡± Originally prepared to calmly wait for Lu Qingshan to make a mistake, Cao Xiaoxin could not restrain himself any longer. With a thought, the twelve Flying Swords within the Sword Qi Cage instantly shifted formation.


    The One-Line-Sky Formation and the nine Flying Swords of the Taiji Two Instruments Sword Formation scattered all at once.


    The nine tiny Flying Swords named Silkworm Cong, Fish Fu, Mang Ran, Mount Emei, Yellow Crane, Monkey Na, Green Mud, Linked Peaks, and Sheer Cliff spun around, their Sword Light shining brightly.


    Momentster, every three Flying Swords formed a character ¡°Æ·¡± shaped Three Talents Lotus Sword Formation.


    Added to the previously formed Lotus Sword Formation by the three Flying Swords named Sorrowful Bird, Child Rule, and Night Moon.


    Four Lotus Sword Formations were simultaneously formed.


    ¡°Four Sword Formations!¡± The many Cultivators watching were somewhat shocked.


    ¡°Cao Xiaoxin not only has a deep understanding of Sword Arrays, but his Primordial Spirit Realm must also be extremely high!¡±


    ¡°Lu Qingshan might not be able to hold on.¡± Someone stated, because up to now, the clear-sighted crowd saw that Lu Qingshan controlling eight hundred Sword Qi Fments was already at his limit.


    While Cao Xiaoxin had the spare strength to control one more Sword Array, Lu Qingshan could not manage any more Sword Qi Fments.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to end, Cao Xiaoxin is too strong!¡± The round-faced female Cultivator next to Spirit Moon said subconsciously, ¡°But Lu Qingshan really isn¡¯t losing unjustly, before facing him, Cao Xiaoxin at most had only deployed two Sword Arrays.


    This time, however, he was forced by Lu Qingshan to release four Sword Arrays at once.¡±


    Spirit Moon did not respond, but just clenched her fists tightly, staring nervously at the fight on the arena.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Swoosh!¡±


    The lotus blossomed, and Sword Light danced, crisscrossing through the air.


    As four Three Talents Lotus Sword Formations took shape, the Sword Light within the Sword Qi Cage became sharper, more powerful, and more numerous.


    The Sword Light was beginning to suppress the radiating fments of Sword Qi.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Under the assault of the Sword Light, the Sword Qi Fments were continuously eliminated.


    The speed at which Lu Qingshan was patching the gaps was already falling behind the rate at which the Sword Qi Fments were being extinguished.


    @@novelbin@@


    Continuing at this rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the Sword Qi Cage to copse.


    Lu Qingshan took a deep breath.


    It was only because his Primordial Spirit was strong that he could desperately control the eight hundred Sword Qi Fments.


    After Cao Xiaoxin conjured the four Sword Formations, the suddenly increased pressure had exceeded the threshold he could bear.


    To be honest, if he hadn¡¯t insisted onpeting with Cao Xiaoxin in the art of the Internal Sword, he shouldn¡¯t have struggled so much.


    But that¡¯s just the way of the Sword Cultivator.


    Since it was a duel on the stage, winning was certainly important, but while seeking victory, Lu Qingshan also wanted to fight to his heart¡¯s content.


    Faced with Cao Xiaoxin, hailed as the strongest in Internal Sword, Lu Qingshan, thrilled by the hunt, couldn¡¯t help wanting to measure up against Cao Xiaoxin in the art of the Internal Sword.


    That¡¯s what he thought, so that¡¯s what he did.


    There was no other reason.


    The unique charm of Sword Cultivatorsy in this very capricious and unrestrained nature.


    His mind was nowpletely immersed in the Sword Qi Fments.


    In this moment¡­


    Lu Qingshan, who had long since grasped the ughter Sword Intent, inexplicably had a thought emerge in his mind as he prepared to spend Experience Points to enhance the level of the Myriad Swords Art.


    Sword Intent could merge with the Flying Sword, enhancing its power.


    If he could infuse the ughter Sword Intent into the Sword Qi Fments, what kind of effect would that have?


    As this idea surfaced, Lu Qingshan began to try unconsciously.


    Merging Sword Intent with Sword Qi.


    Unlike Sword Artifacts, Sword Qi is not tangible, so to infuse it with Sword Intent, what¡¯s crucial is the implicitness of the Sword Intent and the solidity of the Sword Qi.


    With the ughter Sword Intent of the Unity Realm, Lu Qingshan had already reached a certain level of mastery in wielding Sword Intent, and as for the solidity of the Sword Qi, it had never been much of a problem for Lu Qingshan.


    Therefore, although it was his first attempt, he seeded as naturally as if all were predestined.


    The consumption of Sword Intent was enormous.


    Lu Qingshan felt the Spiritual Power within his body rushing out like a breached dam.


    After a prolonged battle, the Spiritual Power within his Dantian, which was already down to fifty percent, lost another thirty percent in an instant.


    The effect was significant.


    Bang!


    Apanied by an explosion, the barely maintained Sword Qi Cage finally shattered, rays of Radiance dissipated, and the four Lotus Sword Formations, with their imposing momentum, charged directly toward Lu Qingshan.


    In Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, the Sword Light was cold and fierce. Behind him, like thousands of swords returning to their origin, six hundred Sword Qi Fments emerged, but each one was different from before.


    Solid and carrying an indescribable lethal force, they harbored a terrifying Sword Intent that did not leak outward.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Radiant lights tore through the sky, apanied by a sonic boom, and they bombarded the lotuses transformed by the four Lotus Sword Formations.


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 Chapter 354 - 58: The Final Four

    Chapter 354: Chapter 58: The Final Four


    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Sword Qi Fments, like radiance, collided mightily with four Sword Lotuses.


    Above the arena, there immediately came a continuous series of crazy explosions.


    Sword Qi and Sword Light wildly spread and affected everything around them.


    Terrible violent fluctuations swept in all directions, some even reached the huge protective aura above the arena, directly causing the aura to burst into intense ripples.


    In that instant, the Sword Lotuses were shattered into pieces.


    The remaining Sword Light in the Sword Lotuses tried to resist the onught of the Sword Qi Fments, but ultimately, they were like defeated soldiers, powerless to resist.


    Thousands of troops charging through the formation, within Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s field of view, Sword Qi prevailed.


    Thud!


    The Sword Qi Fments, imbued with ughter Sword Intent and as fine as strands of hair, exploded upon contacting Cao Xiaoxin¡¯s body.


    His defensive measures burst open like mes, turning into flying ash that rapidly copsed and dissipated.


    Then, a wave of Spiritual Light emerged, enveloping Cao Xiaoxin within.


    The Sword Qi Fments collided with the Protective Aura from the arena¡¯s formation, emitting a harsh screeching sound as the Spiritual Light frantically squirmed, as if barely able to withstand the impact.


    The Hanging Saint clearly noticed this as well, and seeing this scene, he frowned, waved his sleeve, and immense Spiritual Power was infused into the Protective Aura.


    The Spiritual Light immediately became dazzlingly bright and, with a slight tremble, shattered all Sword Qi Fments into pieces of Spiritual Power.


    ¡°This battle, Lu Qingshan wins.¡± the Hanging Saint announced.


    Instantly, numerous cultivators turned their gazes towards the arena.


    On the arena, both individuals were extremely pale.


    Cao Xiaoxin was affected by the powerful offensive of the Sword Qi Fments, and Lu Qingshan was drained of too much Spiritual Power, unable to recover immediately.


    Lu Qingshan felt a slight joy in his heart, reveling in the pleasure of having defeated a strong enemy, and was more satisfied with the power of the move.


    It was merely an experimental try sparked by a sudden idea, yet he had not expected it to have such a remarkable effect.


    Though the consumption was great, the power of this move was now worthy of being considered a secret ultimate technique!


    ¡°Integrating Sword Intent into Sword Qi, even among your Sword Sect cultivators, that must be a technique only mastered at the Nascent Soul Realm, right?¡± Taiyin Sect Leader watched Lu Qingshan for a long while, his gaze profound, and spoke to Taibai Sword Master.


    Taibai Sword Master slightly nodded, ¡°Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Intent has reached the Unity Realm, something that many Nascent Soul cultivators fail to achieve.


    Moreover, his solidity of Sword Qi is not inferior to that of Nascent Soul cultivators. It¡¯s not surprising for him to use such a method across realms.¡±


    ¡°He won!¡± Seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s victory, Spirit Moon couldn¡¯t help but wave her small fist, her heart filled with shock and excitement that lingered for a long time


    Previously, because she had been eliminated by Lu Qingshan in a very strange posture, filled with indignation, she began to pay attention to Lu Qingshan¡¯s subsequent matches.


    Her original intention was to personally witness Lu Qingshan being eliminated, as a way to soothe her grievances.


    Who could have thought that after only watching two matches, shepletely changed her attitude and became a loyal supporter of Lu Qingshan.


    No other, Lu Qingshan¡¯sst two fights were simply too spectacr.


    If to use the terms from Lu Qingshan¡¯s previous life in the gaming world, it was because Lu Qingshan¡¯s style was too charismatic.


    Yu Cibei excelled in External Sword, Lu Qingshan challenged Yu Cibei head-on with External Sword; Cao Xiaoxin was adept in Internal Sword, Lu Qingshan then captured Cao Xiaoxin using Internal Sword.


    Defeating you at your strongest.


    Proud and domineering.


    The title of the strongest Sword Cultivator in the Seven Domains debate, thoroughly deserved.


    Even for many spectating genius Sword Cultivators, witnessing Lu Qingshan¡¯s two battles was a fortunate encounter.


    That is no exaggeration.


    Because the Inner Sword sh between Lu Qingshan and Cao Xiaoxin had far surpassed Golden Core cultivators and even most Nascent Soul cultivators were out of their league


    Cao Xiaoxin, pale-faced, looked at Lu Qingshan. After a moment of silence, he waved his hands, and twelve tiny Flying Swords gathered before him, shimmering like water, reassembling into the cyan Shu Path Sword. With a swish, he retracted it into his body.


    Cao Xiaoxin saluted Lu Qingshan, refrained from speaking, and quietly walked down the arena.


    He was not one to talk much. Having epted his defeat both in heart and speech, there was nothing left to say.


    ¡­.


    Meanwhile, the remaining two battles also neared their conclusion.


    On Bai Guandao¡¯s and Yu Xu¡¯s side, Yu Xu had spectacrly opened the third gate of the Eight Gates Dunjia, the Life Gate.


    The Rest Gate, situated between the corbones, greatly enhanced Yu Xu¡¯s recovery power, while the Stop Gate, located along the spine¡¯s dragon bone, significantly increased Yu Xu¡¯s physical body¡¯s explosive and control powers.


    The Surprise Gate, the third gate of the Eight Gates Dunjia, positioned at the knees, not only boosted Yu Xu¡¯s physical strength but even significantly increased his speed.


    With the three gates open, Yu Xu¡¯s body shone with divine light, as if dressed in celestial garments, resplendent and valiant, making it difficult to look directly at him.


    Mountain Embracing Seal!


    Yu Xu shouted, and after opening the three gates, directly executed a earth-shattering Seal Technique, with overwhelming force.


    A massive hill appeared, majestic and weighty, with the potential to crush Heaven and Earth.


    Mount Tai felt so real, it left one breathless and with a sensation of overwhelming pressure.


    ¡°Buzz!¡±


    Mount Tai quickly erged, pressing down towards Bai Guandao in an instant.


    Crack! Crack!


    A terrifying impact force emerged, squeezing the air in the space, causing it to emit bursts of explosions.


    Bai Guandao¡¯s expression was solemn as he slowly drew a line in front of him with the Spiritual Power umting in his right hand.


    However, in the next moment, Bai Guandao¡¯s expression subtly changed because the space that was easily torn apart on regr days had now be incredibly solid and difficult to move.


    Seeing Bai Guandao falter, a sharp light burst in Yu Xu¡¯s eyes. Clutching the phantom of a great mountain, he pressed down towards Bai Guandao.


    The Mountain Embracing Seal, as heavy as a thousand jun, suppresses everything, even capable ofpressing space.


    This technique had no upper limit. The greater the weight he could bear, the heavier the mountain he could embrace.


    Yu Xu¡¯s entire body boiled with Blood Qi. His arms burst with veins that wriggled like earthworms and Qiu Dragons, one could only imagine the terrifying strength contained within.


    ¡°Press down!¡± Yu Xu roared.


    He had already been annoyed by Bai Guandao¡¯s elusive movements earlier, facilitated by the Space True Intention. Now that he had caught the chance, he naturally wouldn¡¯t miss the opportunity to strike.


    The shadow of Great Peak in Bai Guandao¡¯s pupils grewrger, and then, he pursed his lips.


    An unbelievable scene urred.


    Bai Guandao actually met Yu Xu¡¯s Great Peak with his bare hands. His arms suddenly spread out, and amidst this action, the void trembled with a humming sound, and the terrifying ancient Demon Mountain miraculously calmed down.


    It seemed to be drawn by some force, following Bai Guandao¡¯s guidance, it vanished mysteriously into the void behind him.


    Then, the ancient Demon Mountain reappeared, astonishingly, right above Yu Xu¡¯s physical body.


    With a crushing force akin to Mount Tai pressing down, he returned the technique back to its caster.


    Yu Xu¡¯s gaze sharpened, and he roared, lifting the ancient Demon Mountain.


    Under the terrifying suppression of the mountain, the Spiritual Light on his body continuously dimmed, and at this moment, Bai Guandao pointed a finger, and suddenly, several golden flying swords appeared behind Yu Xu, stabbing towards him.


    Yu Xu was greatly rmed, but the tremendous power of the ancient Demon Mountain firmly suppressed him, making it difficult for him to escape.


    In the next moment, the Protective Aura of the battle stage¡¯s Array appeared above Yu Xu¡¯s body.


    ¡°Bai Guandao wins!¡± The Floating Saint dered, deeply ncing at Bai Guandao.


    He could tell that Bai Guandao¡¯s move was not something that could be achieved by the mere Space True Intention of a weaker realm.


    Bai Guandao had relied on some heavenly Magic Artifact to return Yu Xu¡¯s technique back to him.


    However, the discourse of the Seven Domains did not restrict the use of Magic Artifacts, hence Bai Guandao¡¯s victory was both fair and reasonable.


    ¡­


    The battle between Mo Yan and Lin Guihai was even more intense.


    Lin Guihai became one with thunder, numerous bolts of lightning burst forth from his body, instantly transforming the stage into an ancient Thunder Prison.


    Mo Yan would not show any weakness either. Red Lotus Netherfire and Cold Spirit Netherfire spread out from his body, forming a fiery domain around him, keeping the thunder at bay.


    Each controlled powers of their respective domains.


    At that moment.


    Lightning shed violently in Lin Guihai¡¯s eyes.


    Following that, a Thunder Dragon burst from the Thunder Prison, dazzling all the watching cultivators with its brilliance.


    In the next instant, the Thunder Dragon charged towards Mo Yan, tightening everyone¡¯s hearts.


    Mo Yan is defeated!


    That¡¯s what they thought.


    Boom!


    But a loud explosion sound erupted before the Thunder Dragon could strike Mo Yan.


    The crowd, confused, looked towards Lin Guihai.


    They were shocked to find a blue me enveloping a red and a blue light, blooming into a spectacrly beautiful Netherfire Lotus of two colors, which had exploded on Lin Guihai first.


    Boom!


    Merely a momentter, the Thunder Dragon released by Lin Guihai engulfed Mo Yan, thunder roaring andpletely submerging Mo Yan¡¯s figure.


    The Protective Aura of the battle stage¡¯s Array appeared on both cultivators one after another, protecting them within.


    ¡°Who won?¡± Everyone had this question in their minds.


    The thunder and mes slowly dissipated, revealing two figures standing on the stage.


    @@novelbin@@


    Mo Yan still wore his usual smile, but Lin Guihai¡¯s expression was not asposed.


    ¡°Mo Yan wins!¡± The Floating Saint slowly dered.


    Both Mo Yan and Lin Guihai had suffered fatal wounds that, in a real Magical Combat, would result in mutual destruction, a draw.


    But since it was a tform fight, it was Mo Yan who narrowly achieved victory, being the one attackedter.


    ¡°Well done, me,¡± Mo Yan murmured quietly.


    ¡°Chirp!¡± The speck of blue me, flying back swiftly from afar, merged into Mo Yan¡¯s body, emitting a joyful and proud chirp.


    The me of Life, it was the one that had silently transported the Netherfire Lotus next to Lin Guihai, who had been on guard against Mo Yan¡¯s move.


    Seeing such an oue, the spectating cultivators were instantly in an uproar!


    They truly hadn¡¯t expected Mo Yan¡¯s underdog momentum to be so terrifying, managing to narrowly defeat the Golden Core Perfection cultivator Lin Guihai with only a Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivation.


    ¡­


    Thus, the top four contenders of the Seven Domains discourse were determined.


    Zhou Yuan, Lu Qingshan, Bai Guandao, Mo Yan!


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 Chapter 355 - 59: Battle with Bai Guandao

    Chapter 355: Chapter 59: Battle with Bai Guandao


    Four individuals stood side by side, each emitting an aura that made the genius cultivators among the spectators swallow their saliva secretly.


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nascent Soul Cultivation and mysterious unpredictability, Lu Qingshan¡¯s exceptional internal and external prowess, Mo Yan¡¯s three types of Netherfire, and Bai Guandao¡¯s Space True Intention, each had their unique methods, instilling deep respect in others.


    Seven high-ranking cultivators from the Taoist Sect quickly discussed and decided on the next round¡¯s matchups.


    ¡°The fifth round of the tform battle has ended, and the sixth round will begin in two hours.


    This round of tform battle is the quarterfinals, with no one getting a bye,¡± the Saintly Xavier announced once again, his voice booming like thunder, ¡°The matchups for the sixth round are now set.


    On tform one, Mo Yan will battle Zhou Yuan.


    On tform two, Lu Qingshan will battle Bai Guandao.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan merely nced indifferently at Mo Yan and made no further gestures, seemingly not holding Mo Yan in high regard.


    Mo Yan did not take it to heart, and he somewhat regretfully said to Lu Qingshan, ¡°Brother Lu, it seems that in this Seven Domains Discourse, I will not have the chance to spar with you on the same stage.¡±


    Even with all his confidence, he did not believe that he could defeat Zhou Yuan, who was at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, with his own Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivation.


    Besides, he was satisfied to have made it this far.


    The only regret was that he had not managed to exchange blows with Lu Qingshan.


    ¡­


    The two hours of rest soon passed, and the new round of thepetition officially began.


    Unlike before, the battles were no longer held simultaneously but took turns instead.


    At this moment, everyone wanted to clearly see every detail of the battles.


    And with just two battles taking ce, taking turns would not waste too much time.


    The first match was between Lu Qingshan and Bai Guandao on tform two.


    Lu Qingshan leaped up and entered tform two, where Bai Guandao was already waiting.


    As bothpetitors took their positions on the tform, all the spectators watched intently, afraid to miss any spectacr moments.


    As for the oue between Lu Qingshan and Bai Guandao, people had their own opinions, but invariably, Sword Cultivators tended to favor Lu Qingshan, while Dharma Cultivators favored Bai Guandao.


    The mentality of sticking together and forming cliques was unavoidable even among cultivators.


    By now, Lu Qingshan had decidedly be the leader in the hearts of all the eliminated Sword Cultivators.


    They naturally wanted Lu Qingshan to go further as a representative of the Sword Cultivators.


    Spirit Moon had even be an ardent supporter, clenching her fists tightly, showing an incredibly strong sense of immersion, looking as if she was the one fighting on the stage.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan ascend the tform, Bai Guandao nodded slightly to Lu Qingshan, greeting him with the courtesy of a cultivator, ¡°Cultivator Lu.¡±


    Having fought his way to the sixth round of the tform battle, Bai Guandao certainly did not underestimate Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan offered his salutations in return.


    ¡°The match begins!¡± Seeing that bothpetitors were in ce and ready, the Saintly Xavier announced loudly.


    With the deration by the Saintly Xavier, Bai Guandao immediately restrained the smile on his face.


    A dark golden long sword appeared behind him.


    This was Bai Guandao¡¯s Attack Magic Artifact.


    With a thought from Bai Guandao, the long sword, apanied by a nging sound, instantly transformed into six sharp des that danced around his body.


    @@novelbin@@


    Go!


    Bai Guandao gave a low shout, and the six des, shing with a cold light, vanished from Lu Qingshan¡¯s sight.


    The next moment, they reappeared just inches away from Lu Qingshan¡¯s neck.


    The power of instantaneous movement with Space True Intention!


    Lu Qingshan felt a chill down his spine, but he was well-prepared for such a situation.


    At the moment the suspended saint announced the beginning of thepetition, he had already deployed the Five Elements Sword Armor.


    ng, ng, ng!


    As expected, the Five Elements Sword Armor, capable of withstanding attacks from Nascent Soul Cultivators, easily blocked the assault of those six Sharp des.


    Whoosh!


    Lu Qingshan was not to be outdone, quickly retaliating.


    The Peach Blossom Sword turned into a streak of gray light and dashed out, circling in the air before shing towards Bai Guandao.


    Bai Guandao¡¯s eyes shone with amazement; he naturally understood the power of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword¡ªcontact with it would surely be unpleasant for him.


    But despite his surprise, he did not fear it.


    Thud!


    Just as the gray light from the Peach Blossom Sword came shing overhead and was about to strike him, Bai Guandao suddenly vanished on the spot, reappearing dozens of feet away.


    Brilliant light flickered as mystical ripples emanated from the Peach Blossom Sword, nging like a bolt of lightning, pursuing Bai Guandao.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Bai Guandao¡¯s figure constantly shifted, effortlessly dodging the attacks of the Peach Blossom Sword, while manipting the six Sharp des tounch unforeseen attacks at Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°This Space True Intention at the Golden Core stage is indeed troublesome,¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he murmured, ¡°Fortunately, I¡¯m notpletely without countermeasures.¡±


    The next moment, hundreds of Sword Qi Fments spread from within his body, but they did not form an attack; rather, they slipped into the void and disappeared, hidden and untriggered.


    ¡°What does this mean?¡± The watching cultivators viewed this scene, all quite perplexed.


    ¡°This young man has an outstandingbat sense and reaction.¡± Seeing this, the Taibai Sword Master instantly discerned Lu Qingshan¡¯s intentions and imperceptibly nodded in approval.


    On the stage, the battle abruptly intensified.


    Bai Guandao once again used spatial teleportation to dodge the sky-shaking attack of the Peach Blossom Sword, but before he could catch his breath, his face turned pale.


    That was because, at the supposed safe teleportation spot he had chosen, the sound of whooshing suddenly erupted as several Sword Qi Fments suddenly appeared, striking his Protective Spiritual Power unexpectedly and causing his figure to stagger.


    And the Peach Blossom Sword seized the opportunity during his stagger when he couldn¡¯t react in time, striking like aet streaking across the sky, and directly chopped at him.


    Spiritual Power dispersed, and light shimmered; although he managed to block this strike with his Protective Spiritual Power, the wave of attacks still left Bai Guandao feeling a sudden upheaval of his Qi-Blood.


    Following this, many watching cultivators finally understood the purpose behind Lu Qingshan¡¯s recent actions.


    ¡°He actually spread hundreds of Sword Qi Fments, scattering them across the space of the stage, like traps that are everywhere.


    Bai Guandao, whenever he teleports across the stage, might inadvertently spring into Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Qi trap!¡± Cao Xiaoxin, also watching from below, murmured as he watched the scene.


    As someone who had been eliminated by Lu Qingshan¡¯s Myriad Swords Art, he understood even more the power contained within the Sword Qi Fments controlled by Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°With the Sword Qi Fments restraining Bai Guandao, he can no longer freely maneuver and toy with Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword as before.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword was the fastest, surpassing all other cultivators¡¯ techniques in the Seven Domainspetition; just a slight dy could allow it to strike.


    This also ounted for one of the restrictions of the tform battle.


    Although the space of the stage was designed to be veryrge in order to allow the cultivators plenty of scope to maneuver, its area was still limited.


    This allowed Lu Qingshan to adequatelyy out the Sword Qi Fments, covering the entire space quite extensively.


    At this point, Bai Guandao too had grasped the situation, his expression growing grave.


    If he was unable to use teleportation freely, it¡¯s as if one of his arms was disabled, greatly reducing hisbat power.


    ng!


    His Magic Artifact transformed into six Sharp des and once again collided with Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Armor, sparking Spiritual Power but still failing to injure Lu Qingshan.


    Bai Guandao bit his teeth in frustration.


    What kind of Sword Cultivator was this? He was even more enduring and tougher than a Body Cultivator!


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 Chapter 356 - 60: The Method of Breaking Techniques

    Chapter 356: Chapter 60: The Method of Breaking Techniques


    Logically speaking, a spell with such strong defensive power should require an enormous amount of Spiritual Power to sustain.


    But for some reason, Lu Qingshan always seemed to handle it with ease, as if casting the Sword Armor was a walk in the park for him.


    This is the advantage that Taoist Level Cultivation Techniques bring.


    His Spiritual Power was exceptionally thick and he had an astonishing recovery rate; stacked together, these allowed him to sustain the consumption of the Fourth Grade level Sword Armor for a long time.


    Facing Lu Qingshan, who wasparable to a turtle shell, Bai Guandao finally changed his tactics.


    Six pieces of dark golden Sharp des quickly connected into a crescent moon-like scimitar, shing towards Lu Qingshan.


    It looked unremarkable, but it contained Space True Intention.


    Under this sh, a narrow, pitch-ck crack appeared in the space before Lu Qingshan, like a knife¡¯s edge cutting towards him.


    @@novelbin@@


    Space Fissure.


    The application of Space True Intention in offense.


    Sssss!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Five Elements Sword Armor, under the cutting power of this space fissure, instantly emitted countless sparks, and the flowing Five Elements Sword Qi quickly extinguished.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    A spiderweb-like crack surfaced on the outermostyer of the Metal Element Sword Armor.


    Facing this situation, a resolute light shed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes as he continued to attack Bai Guandao with the Peach Blossom Sword.


    In terms of offense, Sword Cultivators of the same rank aren¡¯t afraid of other cultivators from any school.


    Lu Qingshan had full confidence that he would eliminate Bai Guandao before his own Sword Armor was shattered.


    So he simply stopped worrying about anything else.


    Boom!


    The ughter Sword Intent amplified by Immortal True Intent clung to the Peach Blossom, bringing a thunderous roar as it shot unstoppably towards Bai Guandao.


    Whoosh!


    Bai Guandao then used a Space Instantaneous Movement technique to shift to another location, but the afterimage he left behind was immediately prated by the Peach Blossom Sword.


    Such was the strength of this sword strike.


    But as soon as Bai Guandao appeared at his newnding spot, he was immediately attacked by several Sword Qi Fments.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    He hurriedly used Space True Intention again to escape.


    After three consecutive times, beads of sweat had already started to form on his forehead.


    Utilizing the power of Intent is extremely draining on Spiritual Power, let alone Space True Intention of Primordial Intent level.


    His incessant use of space escapes thrice in a row had nearly pushed him to his limit.


    The Spiritual Power in his Dantian was having trouble keeping up in this instant.


    However, the location he appeared in the fourth time was finally a safe area, without the presence of the numerous Sword Qi Fments.


    But before he could catch his breath, he saw a shallow smile appear on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face.


    Bai Guandao felt the hair on his body stand on end in an instant.


    The next moment, his ominous premonition came true.


    Sword Qi Fments, thick as a blizzard, emerged from all around the safe zone,pletely covering the area.


    This was the real trap!


    The area that seemed free of Sword Qi Fments, a safe zone, was actually a pot into which he was invited, just waiting for Bai Guandao to fall into it!


    Myriad Swords Art!


    Lu Qingshan chanted softly, and the ughter Sword Intent swirled out, merging into these Sword Qi Fments, causing the fments to solidify further, turning into Radiance-like tiny Flying Swords, like a storm sweeping towards Bai Guandao.


    This was a lethal attack move he had understood from his battle with Cao Xiaoxin.


    With nowhere to evade, Bai Guandao saw this and a fierce glint flickered through his eyes.


    He was about to use that move again!


    Bai Guandao¡¯s heart moved, and a strange jade talisman, shaped like a yin-yang fish within his body, suddenly flickered with a hazy radiance.


    Bai Guandao extended his hands, a faint light emerging in his palms.


    His expression solemn, his hands drew semicircr arcs through the air, and in that moment, everything within the arcs became solely ck and white, devoid of any other color.


    A mysterious taiji diagram appeared, and within this taiji diagram, there was a deep ck hole.


    Hiss hiss hiss!


    All the Sword Qi Fments were attracted to this ck hole, and a vortex emerged within it, greedily devouring and absorbing all the terrifying Sword Qi Fments, leaving none behind.


    Boom.


    The sh between the Sword Qi Fments and the taiji diagram abruptly ended, both dissipating into nothingness.


    However, Lu Qingshan, who had seen Bai Guandao¡¯s moves earlier, naturally understood that the situation was not so simple.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Those Sword Qi Fments, devoured and absorbed by the taiji diagram just moments ago, appeared behind Lu Qingshan, shooting uncontrobly towards him.


    Using the enemy¡¯s own strategy against them!


    This was the terrifying aspect of Bai Guandao¡¯s move, absorbing powerful attacks and then throwing them back.


    ng ng ng!


    The swift and ferocious Sword Qi Fments bombarded Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    With each terrifying impact, the Five Elements Sword Qi thatprised the Sword Armor collided fiercely with the Sword Qi Fments, engaging in intense confrontations.


    Sword Qi melted and crumbled every moment.


    In the blink of an eye, four out of the Five Elements Sword Armor had dissipated, and thest remaining Earth Walking Sword Armor was also on the verge of copse.


    Is my Myriad Swords Art¡¯s attack power really so exaggerated?!


    Facing this situation, Lu Qingshan¡¯s face turned a bit pale as he cursed under his breath.


    Attacking others was indeed satisfying, but having that attack return upon oneself truly left him speechless.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s not like he could say he was brought to tears by his own hands.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Armor, which resembled a tortoise shell,ing close to shattering under his own attacks, Bai Guandao didn¡¯t hesitate and pursued the victory.


    Six sharp des spun in the air like darts, shing with a golden radiance and charging toward Lu Qingshan with a fearsome might.


    Lu Qingshan frowned, as the Peach Blossom Sword, having roamed back, swept across toward the six sharp des.


    ng ng ng ng ng ng!


    Brilliant Spiritual Light scattered all around as the Peach Blossom Sword and the six sharp des collided dozens of times in just a few breaths.


    Finally, in the brief moment when the Peach Blossom Sword knocked the sharp des aside, it shot out once again towards Bai Guandao.


    Bai Guandao saw this and showed no sign of panic. He turned his head to control his Magic Artifact, intending to continue his assault on Lu Qingshan.


    But as he turned, Bai Guandao realized something was amiss.


    Where¡¯s Lu Qingshan?!


    How did he disappear in the blink of an eye?


    Just as the Sword Light of the Peach Blossom Sword appeared in his eyes, he was shocked to find Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure emerging from the Sword Light.


    Formless Sword Escape!


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Also at this time, Sword Qi Fments erupted from Lu Qingshan, spreading out in all directions.


    In an instant, heaven and earth transformed, and those Sword Qi Fments actually formed a sealed, colossal spherical space.


    The Sword Qi Fments on the surface of the spherical space undted up and down, trapping both Bai Guandao and Lu Qingshan within this confined area.


    Faced with Lu Qingshan¡¯s sudden closebat and burst, Bai Guandao was surprised but not overly panicked.


    So what if he closed in? With that move in y, no matter how strong Lu Qingshan¡¯s offensive was, it would only end up directed at himself.


    Using the enemy¡¯s own strategy against them!


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 Chapter 358 - 62: The 4th Netherfire

    Chapter 358: Chapter 62: The 4th Netherfire


    Lu Qingshan had seized another city!


    Up until now, he had consecutively defeated six formidable opponents, breaking into the finals.


    He was merely one step away from iming the title of leader of the Seven Domains.


    In thest round of the finals, he would face the winner between Mo Yan and Zhou Yuan.


    If it were Mo Yan, given his ability to counter Mo Yan¡¯s tactics, his chances of winning were extremely high.


    However, facing Zhou Yuan who had also secured the leader title in his past life and still dominated everyone with his Nascent Soul cultivation this time, Lu Qingshan did not harbor much hope for luck.


    Because in every aspect, Zhou Yuan¡¯s chances of winning overwhelmingly surpassed Mo Yan¡¯s.


    ¡°The second match of the sixth round of the arena battle, Mo Yan versus Zhou Yuan, begins now!¡±


    As Lu Qingshan thought this, Mo Yan and Zhou Yuan had already stepped onto the stage, announced by the suspended sage.


    After three rounds of being passed over, the crowd was finally able to see Zhou Yuan make a move.


    And his first opponent was the strongest dark horse of this Seven Domains¡¯ contest, Mo Yan.


    This battle was equally full of highlights.


    Zhou Yuan, with two strange lines etched on his face, stared at Mo Yan and said in a deep voice, ¡°You are strong, but the gap between us is bigger than you think.¡±


    Mo Yan responded to Zhou Yuan¡¯s evaluation calmly, ¡°Then please enlighten me, Daoist Zhou.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Zhou Yuan said, and a fire-red, exquisite fox leapt out from his waist, transforming into a me and merging into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body.


    That was his demon pet, a Fourth Grade me Fox.


    The next moment, an earth-shattering change urred in Zhou Yuan.


    The two strange lines on his face lit up, and his figure suddenly began to swell, transforming into a towering giant made of fire, with mes swirling around his body and a terrifying presence spreading out.


    That was the terrifying coercion of a Nascent Soul cultivator.


    ¡°I hear you are quite proficient in the Fire Method.¡± Zhou Yuan, now with huge ming eyes, stared at the diminutive Mo Yan and said word by word.


    @@novelbin@@


    Facing Zhou Yuan¡¯s oppression, Mo Yan remained unmoved, ¡°It should be passable.¡±


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    With a sweep of his hand, a thick burst of me Element Qi erupted from Mo Yan¡¯s body, rising up and transforming into a vast fire cloud in the sky, with endless streams of red and blue mes pouring down, attacking Zhou Yuan together.


    The entire Heaven and Earth were filled with a killing intent.


    Zhou Yuan showed a hint of seriousness, his body¡¯s overflowing mes suddenly intensified, he swung out his left hand fiercely, radiance flowing, dazzlingly brilliant, meeting the oing wave of fire attacks.


    Boom!


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s casual swing had actually dispersed Mo Yan¡¯s carefully prepared wave of attacks.


    This was the suppression of realms.


    A Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator against a Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator, the gap in their cultivation was simply too vast.


    Mo Yan¡¯s expression turned solemn, his eyes slightly narrowed, his fists also slowly clenched.


    Though he had been psychologically prepared for a defeat in this battle,


    his pride did not allow him to be eliminated in an utterly crushed manner.


    What was even harder to ept was that Zhou Yuan was defeating him through the method of Fire Method.


    With fists clenched, Mo Yan nced at Zhou Yuan. In the next moment, two-colored Netherfire burst forth from his hands.


    ¡°Netherfire Fusion, huh?¡± Zhou Yuan watched with interest as Mo Yanbined the two-colored Netherfire in his hands, forming a tiny, exotic-looking lotus.


    On the stage, Mo Yan held the red and blue Netherfire lotus and looked up at Zhou Yuan, who had transformed into a giant of mes, and flicked his finger lightly.


    Suddenly, the red and blue Netherfire lotus transformed into a streak of Radiance, like a sh of lightning, fiercely shooting towards Zhou Yuan.


    As the Netherfire lotus got closer and closer to Zhou Yuan, Mo Yan had a thought and shouted lowly, ¡°Explode!¡±


    As the shout fell, the red and blue fire lotus soaring through the air exploded violently, detonating directly on the unflinching me giant.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The deafening explosion resounded suddenly on the tform.


    Even though they had seen it many times, the cultivators watching the battle were still immensely shocked by the power of the Netherfire Fusion.


    After a long while, they looked at each other with lingering fear, before turning their gaze toward the dusty tform above.


    As the dust, smoke, and mes cleared, a colossal figure appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes.


    It was Zhou Yuan.


    At this moment, the mes clinging to his body had dissipated greatly, reduced to a faint, barely visible mantle of me, yet he waspletely unharmed!


    ¡°If that¡¯s all, it¡¯s far from enough,¡± Zhou Yuan said quietly.


    Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s words were nd and irritating, they were not false.


    With Zhou Yuan¡¯s current strength, even with the aid of Netherfire Fusion, Mo Yan was unable to shake him.


    Netherfire Fusion was already Mo Yan¡¯s strongest attack method.


    Yet Zhou Yuan did not dodge or evade, and he withstood this Netherfire Lotus, yet he waspletely unscathed.


    As Zhou Yuan said, the gap between the two was simply too great; Mo Yan had no chance of winning.


    After sweeping his gaze over Zhou Yuan, Mo Yan quickly withdrew it.


    He slowly exhaled, his gaze slightly downcast, and after a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth fiercely.


    To truly shake Zhou Yuan, he would have to use that technique, even though he had not yet fully mastered it until now.


    Once his mind was made up, Mo Yan no longer hesitated.


    Whoosh, whoosh!


    Red and blue Netherfire emerged in front of him once again.


    Seeing this, Zhou Yuanughed, ¡°Still not convinced? But I will not give you a second chance!¡±


    Boom, boom, boom!


    The next moment, the me giant that Zhou Yuan had transformed into took rumbling steps, charging toward Mo Yan.


    Facing the swiftly approaching Zhou Yuan, Mo Yan raised his eyelids, and the Red Lotus Fire and Cold Spirit Fire quickly merged into a red and blue lotus.


    This step was already familiar to him, naturally wless.


    But this time, this step was not the end!


    Mo Yan flicked his finger, and a trembling ball of eerie white me emitting coldness rapidly emerged in front of him.


    If two types of Netherfire can¡¯t hurt you, then three will!


    ¡­


    ¡°That¡¯s Necromantic Cold Fire!¡± eximed the great master Jinyang, watching from a distance as the ball of me appeared, ¡°Has Mo Yan really refined four types of Netherfire?


    Can such violent Netherfire truly coexist within one person without blowing his body apart?¡±


    Necromantic Cold Fire, twenty-fourth on the Netherfire Ranking.


    Its essence is the same as the twenty-third me of Life, but one governs life and the other death.


    The two types of Netherfire have a mysterious connection to each other, even capable of sensing each other from thousands of miles away.


    This exins the saying about getting both Necromantic Cold Fire and me of Life in one go.


    Necromantic Cold Fire was what Mo Yan referred to when he mentioned looking for an old acquaintance with Yan in the sea.


    Seeing the Necromantic Cold Fire appear, Mo Yan did not hesitate at all. With a p of his hands, the red and blue Fire Lotus was pushed into the ball of Necromantic Cold Fire.


    As the three Netherfire made contact, the space around Mo Yan began to fluctuate violently, a terrifyingly potent force started to emerge.


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 Chapter 359 - 63 Feathered Serpent

    Chapter 359: Chapter 63 Feathered Serpent


    Upon seeing Mo Yan¡¯s actions, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed for the first time since he entered the arena.


    He could clearly sense the terrifying power contained within the tri-color lotus in front of Mo Yan.


    Boom!


    Almost at the same moment, Zhou Yuan¡¯s movements suddenly elerated.


    Although he was confident that Mo Yan could not defeat him, he also did not want to give rise to any unexpected variables.


    The sight of Zhou Yuan rushing forward as a streak of red light caused Mo Yan to slightly stir.


    His Divine Sense moved slightly, unconsciously quickening the pace of the Netherfire fusion in his hands.


    The difficulty of Netherfire Fusion was never a simple additive superposition; its difficulty coefficient increased geometrically.


    To fuse two extremely unstable Netherfires has a difficulty coefficient of one, then fusing three extremely unstable Netherfires would have a difficulty coefficient of at least ten.


    So even though Mo Yan had reached a sublime level of control over Netherfire due to his physical constitution, the fusion of three Netherfires still posed a significant challenge to him.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Small explosions like fireworks crackled from the lotus in front of Mo Yan.


    @@novelbin@@


    The red and blue mes had been melding together, but as soon as they came into contact with the pale Necromantic Cold Fire, they reached a critical point where they simply could not merge no matter what.


    Mo Yan pursed his lips, his eyes filled with a manic gleam.


    He no longer had time for careful maniption.


    The next instant, his hands violently clenched in the void, forcefully trying to merge the three mes by brute force.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A muffled explosion rang out, and a small Fire Lotus exploded right over Mo Yan¡¯s chest.


    Luckily, a burst of azure me of Life emerged from Mo Yan¡¯s body at that moment, forming a protective veil that shielded him from the ferocious energy of the lotus, or else Mo Yan might have literally yed with fire and burned himself.


    That was the power of the me of Life.


    At that moment, Mo Yan¡¯splexion turned rapidly pale, but a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.


    He looked down at the continuously flickering tri-color mes of the Fire Lotus.


    This lotus, formed by the fusion of three Netherfires, was far from perfect.


    Due to the terrifyingly fierce Spiritual Power it contained, Mo Yan estimated that he would need to reach the Nascent Soul Stage to fully master this power.


    At this point, in order to merge these three Netherfires together, he had exhausted all his Spiritual Power in an instant.


    Even though he had exerted all his effort, there had still been mishaps during the fusion process.


    Fortunately, the me of Life had corrected this mishap for him; otherwise, he would have really suffered.


    After this strike, regardless of the oue, he was too weak to continue fighting.


    But regardless, this was the strongest technique he could perform at his current level.


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted quickly from Mo Yan¡¯s pale face to the small tri-color lotus in front of him, his pupils suddenly constricting.


    This lotus was terrifying!


    The tri-color Netherfire Lotus lightly floated in the air, unleashing a wildly fierce energy that filled the air!


    ¡°Go,¡± Mo Yan muttered softly to himself, regardless of the astonishment in the hearts of others.


    As his mind moved, the tri-color Netherfire Lotus in front of him burst into a brilliant light like the sun and suddenly transformed into a blurry trail of me, shooting out like lightning.


    Although the Fire Lotus contained a vast power capable of turning rivers and seas upside down, at that moment, it waspletely restrained. As it sliced through space, it did not stir up even a ripple of Spiritual Power.


    It was like the calm before a storm; the quieter it was, the more terrifying the power it unleashed, chilling people to the core.


    The Fire Lotus, amid countless gazes filled with various emotions, violently collided with Zhou Yuan, who had transformed into a giant of mes.


    The spectators did not blink as they stared at the two figures on the stage.


    Even though they were not experiencing it firsthand, they could still sense the terrifying power of the Fire Lotus.


    They knew in their hearts that it hade to the moment of victory or defeat between Mo Yan and Zhou Yuan!


    ¡°A Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator, how could he possess such terrifying moves?¡± Zhou Yuan found it hard to believe as his forward charging figure suddenly halted, and he swiftly retreated, his face marked by the flickering of two strange patterns once again.


    A bizarre serpent creature with a body several zhang long,pletely white and possessing a pair of gold wings, was summoned by Zhou Yuan.


    ¡°A Fourth Grade Late Stage Feathered Serpent!¡±


    Below the arena, the earlier relieved Grand Lord Jinyang could not help but exim softly upon seeing Mo Yan¡¯s performance.


    Zhou Yuan, at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, actually possessed a demon beast pet equivalent to the Nascent Soul Late Stage.


    This was an unimaginable crushing of ranks and strength.


    The Feathered Serpent faced the iing Tri-color Lotus, its golden vertical eyes shimmering with a hint of eeriness.


    Its body suddenly movedterally, positioning itself in front of the me giant that Zhou Yuan had transformed into, its golden wings on its back suddenly exploding in size like clouds covering the sky, vast and boundless, directly fanning toward the Netherfire Lotus.


    Upon it flowed the energies of yin and yang, shrouded in wisps of chaotic mist!


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A thunderous explosion resonated across the entire arena.


    A terrifying storm of Spiritual Power burst forth in an instant between the Feathered Serpent¡¯s wings and the Netherfire Lotus, soon enveloping the entire arena, only stopping at the edge of the arena where it was blocked by the arena¡¯s array.


    Under such a terrifying collision, the observing Cultivators, whether they were the early-eliminated ones of only Foundation Establishment or Golden Core rank, or those High-Level Cultivators from various major Sects, were all shocked, their eyes revealing a look of horror.


    ¡°Two Cultivators under the age of fifty engaging in magicalbat, could it really produce such terrifying power?¡±


    The purpose of holding this tournament of the Seven Domains was finally realized at this moment.


    The Cultivators who had fought up to this round, their talents and methods were already not inferior to those of the Taoist Sect Cultivators, and it was not impossible to even surpass them.


    If it were not for this Seven Domains tournament, even if these individuals had exceptional talents, it would not likely be hidden, but their growth would definitely be slower than that of the Taoist Sect Cultivators.


    ¡­


    The lingering tri-color mes in the arena and the stunned faces below formed a unique scenery.


    All the Cultivators directed their gaze toward theyers of mes.


    Under the interweaving of numerous gazes, after a moment, several figures slowly emerged from within.


    Zhou Yuan had already transformed back from his me giant form to his normal state, the little me Fox appearingnguid as if scorched, lying limply on his shoulder.


    Zhou Yuan himself also appeared quite disheveled, his robe covered in ck burn marks.


    The Feathered Serpent, which had directly countered the Netherfire Lotus, now had several scorched patches on its white serpentine body, through which one could vaguely see exposed flesh and blood.


    At this time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was focused on the opposite side of the arena.


    There stood Mo Yan, hisplexion pale, yet his expression still maintained that calm and collected demeanor.


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils constricted slightly, a barely perceptible ferocity shing deep in his eyes.


    His entire body surged with Spiritual Power, ready to strike once again.


    ¡°This battle, I concede,¡± Mo Yan said slowly, ncing at the uninjured Zhou Yuan, then turned around and walked off the arena without looking back.


    This move, Netherfire Lotus, he had already exerted all his efforts, and now he waspletely drained of Spiritual Power, left with no energy to continue fighting.


    And Zhou Yuan waspletely unharmed.


    Conceding was the only option left.


    Indeed, the gap between him and Zhou Yuan was still too great.


    But he wasposed, without any feelings of inferiority arising.


    He was only twenty-three this year, while Zhou Yuan was already forty.


    The age difference was there and could not be ignored.


    In a few decades, when a decade or so of cultivation time will be minuscule.


    He was confident that by then, Zhou Yuan would no longer be his match.


    Among so many talented Cultivators, the only one who truly made him feel genuine admiration and respect was actually Lu Qingshan, who was even younger than him.


    ¡°This battle, Zhou Yuan wins!¡± Seeing Mo Yan leave the arena, the Celestial Master in midair shed his eyes and solemnly announced the result.


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 Chapter 360 - 64: The Final Battle

    Chapter 360: Chapter 64: The Final Battle


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, it¡¯s all on you now,¡± Mo Yan walked up to Lu Qingshan and faced him, pursing his lips, ¡°My abilities are limited; this is as far as I can go¡­¡±


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.


    He naturally understood Mo Yan¡¯s goodwill.


    When Mo Yan had gone up to fight, he already knew that it was unlikely for him to win this battle.


    His exertion was not only due to his unwillingness to concede; a significant reason alsoy in his hope to force out more of Zhou Yuan¡¯s cards.


    After all, having received byes in three rounds, Zhou Yuan, rested and prepared, was clear on everyone else¡¯s tactics, but the others knew next to nothing of Zhou Yuan¡¯s methods, except for that one me Fox.


    And after Mo Yan had fused three kinds of Netherfire, he had sessfully forced out Zhou Yuan¡¯s second tactic.


    The Fourth Grade Late Stage Feathered Serpent.


    A method that deeply chilled everyone¡¯s hearts.


    Just having an Early Stage Nascent Soul like Zhou Yuan was already immensely awe-inspiring for them, and now there was also a Fourth Grade Late Stage Feathered Serpent.


    They saw the battle as fundamentally unwinnable in their eyes.


    This is the terrifying aspect of Beast Cultivation.


    However, it just so happened that he also possessed certain counters to Beast Cultivation, which conversely was also good news.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    In everyone¡¯s eyes, Lu Qingshan having fought up to now must have yed all his cards.


    But Lu Qingshan knew that he still had his two strongest cards unyed.


    These were also what he relied on to achieve victory against Zhou Yuan by oveing the difference in their ranks.


    ¡­..


    ¡°The sixth round of the arena battle has concluded. The final battle of the Seven Domains Conve will begin in the next two hours, featuring Lu Qingshan versus Zhou Yuan for the championship of the Seven Domains Conve,¡± dered Taiyin Sect Leader, floating above and overlooking everyone.


    A stir andmotion ensued.


    Finally, after six rounds of arena battles, the Seven Domains Conve approached its climax.


    Only by witnessing the most spectacr scene can we better move forward.


    For the cultivators watching the battle, this experience in the Seven Domains Conve had been extremely beneficial.


    For those cultivators from top Sects, setting aside more secretive thoughts like transmission of lineages, the outstanding young cultivators in this Conve truly excited them.


    Bound to their own territories and after heavy selection, a distinguished disciple might emerge only every few decades or centuries. In this Seven Domains Conve, such talents were abundant.


    If they could truly recruit these talented cultivators into their own Sects, these individuals would inevitably be the foundation of the Sects in the next hundred or thousand years.


    The most outstanding of these talented cultivators could even potentially be the cornerstone for the rise of a Sect.


    For instance, in the eyes of the Grand Master of Jinyang, Mo Yan was an essential figure for their Candle Dragon Hall to advance to be the second Dharma Cultivation Taoist Sect.


    The Seven Domains Conve wasn¡¯t over yet, but his mind was already not on the uing final battle but on contemting what terms to offer to draw Mo Yan into Candle Dragon Hall.


    ¡­..


    Time slowly passed. With the help of the pure Spiritual Liquid provided by the Taiyin Sect Leader, Lu Qingshan had restored his Vital Essence to its peak condition a half-hour before the final battle was to begin.


    He slowly opened his eyes, which were as deep as the stars and slowly looked towards Zhou Yuan, who was already waiting for the final battle to start.


    ¡°I saw your performance earlier, very impressive. A Golden Core Realm Sword Cultivator, I haven¡¯t seen anyone stronger than you,¡± Zhou Yuan said, breaking the ice with rare praise as he saw Lu Qingshan looking over.


    ¡°If I were also in the Golden Core Realm, I wouldn¡¯t dare guarantee I could beat you, but¡­¡± Zhou Yuan paused, smiled lightly, ¡°unfortunately, the rules are as such, and I can¡¯t me myself for suppressing you with my Nascent Soul Cultivation.¡±


    Lu Qingshan, neither haughty nor humble, replied lightly, ¡°Whether you can suppress me or not remains to be seen.¡±


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes shed with a gleam, he chuckled, closed his eyes to rest, and did not answer back.


    An hour had finally passed.


    As soon as the time arrived, both figures leaped up and simultaneously ascended to Arena One, standing diagonally across from each other, staring from a distance.


    Lu Qingshan breathed steadily, gazing at Zhou Yuan calmly, his heart as still as water.


    Havinge this far, he was absolutely unwilling to lose.


    Both men on the stage poised for confrontation; one radiantly handsome and transcendental, with elegant features, the other stout and formidable, exuding an aura as deep as an abyss, the pressure from him suddenly intensifying.


    This was a selection from among the Human Race Cultivators under fifty from the Seven Domains, the most talented two they could offer.


    With the attention of thousands, the breaths of the crowd were faintly suspended.


    ¡°Do you think Lu Qingshan has a chance to win against Zhou Yuan?¡± the elder beside Zhuan Zhu asked with keen interest.


    Zhuan Zhu pondered for a moment before shaking his head slowly, ¡°It¡¯s highly unlikely. If Zhou Yuan were just at Golden Core Perfection, or if Lu Qingshan were also at the Nascent Soul Realm, Lu Qingshan would definitely win this battle.


    But a Golden Core against a Nascent Soul, the gap is toorge to bridge.¡±


    For Cultivators of their level, it was rare to misjudge a situation.


    Not to mention that Zhuan Zhu held Lu Qingshan in such high esteem; his words indicated that Lu Qingshan¡¯s chances of winning were indeed very slim.


    It was evident that in all the previous battles, both sides had their supporters.


    Yet at the time of the final battle, hardly anyone was optimistic about Lu Qingshan¡¯s chances.


    Speaking of being nearly,¡±


    ¡°Lu Qingshan will definitely im the championship!¡± Spirit Moon clenched her little fists, her eyes full of determination.


    The round-faced female Cultivator touched her forehead and said helplessly, ¡°Sister Spirit Moon, I think not only did Lu Qingshan defeat you, but he also must have confused you.


    You should at least provide some rationale for why Lu Qingshan could win, to be confident about it.


    From the current situation, except for being more handsome than Zhou Yuan, Lu Qingshan has no advantages.¡±


    Spirit Moon stubbornly shook her head, ¡°Although I can¡¯t find a reason, I just feel that he can win.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of what you feel¡­¡± the round-faced female Cultivator muttered softly.


    ¡°Have you forgotten about that ability of mine?¡± There was a sly gleam in Spirit Moon¡¯s eyes.


    The round-faced female Cultivator suddenly shuddered, ¡°You saw something?¡±


    Spirit Moon gently nodded her little head.


    With that, the round-faced female Cultivator also perked up, looking at the extraordinarily handsome, incredibly young Sword Cultivator on the stage, disbelief surfacing in her eyes.


    It should¡­ surely not be possible, right?


    ¡­


    The moment Taiyin Sect Leader announced the start of the match.


    Zhou Yuan suddenly stepped forward, and immediately, a wildly fierce Spiritual Power fluctuation swept out from his body like surging waves.


    Feeling the oppressive Spiritual Power from the Nascent Soul Cultivator, Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression remained utterly unmoved.


    @@novelbin@@


    Boom!


    The next moment, a me Fox crashed into Zhou Yuan, sparks flying everywhere.


    Zhou Yuan transformed into a giant of mes.


    This was an ability unique to the me Fox Demon Beast, to merge one¡¯s fiery strength with another.


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was severe as he fiercely clenched his fist, and the force he wielded roared out, transforming into several me Spears, speeding like lightning, targeting the vital points all around Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


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 Chapter 361 - 65 Yitian Appears

    Chapter 361: Chapter 65 Yitian Appears


    Five Elements Five-Colored Sword Armor, like fiveyers of a thick curtain of swords, emerged from his body, continuously flowing, surrounding and protecting Lu Qingshan within.


    ng!


    The me Spear collided with the Sword Armor, emitting a ringing sound of swords shing, brilliant sparks and Sword Qi bursting forth, resounding like the sh of metal.


    ¡°Sword Armor that can withstand the assault of Nascent Soul Cultivators is indeed powerful,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered, licking his lips, ¡°But you should use the appropriate methods for your level.


    ¡°How long can you, at the Golden Core Stage, sustain such a spell when you¡¯re overstepping your bounds?¡±


    Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t wrong in his assessment; their first exchange seemed to end in a draw.


    However, for Zhou Yuan, it was just a casual strike, but for Lu Qingshan, although warding off the attack wasn¡¯t difficult, the consumption of his Spiritual Power was not insignificant.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression remained calm as he watched Zhou Yuan, while a sharp gleam crossed his eyes.


    Boom!


    The drab Peach Blossom Sword lit up with a brilliant radiance, apanied by a howling thunderous sound as it charged toward Zhou Yuan.


    For Sword Cultivators, the best defense is an offense!


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression became slightly solemn.


    Lu Qingshan might only be at the Golden Core Late Stage, but his Flying Sword, empowered by ughter Sword Intent, had reached the realm of Sword Burst Thunder Sound, which could even pose a formidable threat to Nascent Soul Cultivators.


    This threat was not small.


    After all, this was an attacking method that belonged to Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators.


    In that instant, the Peach Blossom Sword surged like a Jiaolong, a mythical dragon, its radiance intertwining like lightning, shooting toward Zhou Yuan.


    Zhou Yuan faced Lu Qingshan¡¯s offensive, leaping into the air without evading, his mountainous fist covered in splendid mes, punching toward the sweeping Flying Sword.


    Like a radiant sun exploding, upon collision, rain made of fire and light of Spiritual Power burst in all directions.


    When the dazzling light faded, the two stood facing each other again.


    This strike, once again, ended in a stalemate.


    But Zhou Yuan wore a mocking smile.


    Just like before, Lu Qingshan unleashed both ughter Sword Intent and the nascent form of Immortal True Intent to produce such power in his Flying Sword.


    As for him, he had only used a simple punch, and most of the strength expended came from the me Fox.


    Without mentioning anything else, he was confident that he could simply exhaust Lu Qingshan by continuing this standoff.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s face was expressionless, his eyes growing deeper.


    He was acutely aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s terror.


    If it were an ordinary Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivator, he wouldn¡¯t be too concerned at this point.


    However, it was clear that among Nascent Soul Cultivators, Zhou Yuan stood out as one of the strong.


    Whoosh!


    On the stage, the Peach Blossom Sword swept up again, like a swift Jiaolong rising.


    Zhou Yuan maintained steady breathing, his eyes sharp and cold, the mes on his body rising as he threw another punch at the Flying Sword streaking by like Radiance.


    This time, as the originally dull green Peach Blossom Sword collided with Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist, all the green light suddenly dimmed, and then transformed into a deep, dark blue Spiritual Light. The Spirit machinations on it also shifted from vibrant life to tumultuous waves.


    [Immortal]: Attacksunched with this sword can freely change Attributes, with no alteration in their power.


    This was the instantaneous change from the Wood Attribute of the Five Elements to the Water Element.


    Among the Five Elements, without mentioning other conditions, where Strength is equal, the Water Element ovees the Fire Element.


    The Peach Blossom Sword¡¯s inherent power had not changed, yet when its attacking attribute shifted from the default Wood to the Water Attribute, the damage it inflicted upon Zhou Yuan, transformed into a Fire Giant, unexpectedly increased by twenty percent.


    Caught off guard, the startling firelight at Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm suddenly dimmed, as if pressed down by the might of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword.


    Boom!


    Zhou Yuan felt an intense sharpness from his palm and, with a thought, a vast expanse of crimson dawn arose from his body.


    His right hand, radiant in crimson, burst forth with an unrivaled Spiritual Power surge, sweeping away the aggressively attacking Flying Sword in a split second.


    This strike wasn¡¯t the end but the beginning. The true sh had only started now.


    Although Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t intimidated by Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword¡¯s assault, he no longer wished to drag out the fight with Lu Qingshan.


    After all, defeating Lu Qingshan meant the prestigious title of the Seven Domains¡¯ debate champion was within easy reach.


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure flitted forward, pressing on; each step produced a dull thud, like the sound of war drums, thumping in everyone¡¯s heart.


    Enhanced by the support of the Fire Fox, Zhou Yuan was now hardly distinguishable from a Body Cultivator.


    Even Lu Qingshan was awed by this momentum.


    The oppressive aura emanating from Zhou Yuan at this moment was simply too strong.


    A deep blue Radiance shed, and Lu Qingshan maneuvered the Peach Blossom Sword, attempting to stop Zhou Yuan¡¯s approach.


    Zhou Yuan let out a low growl, and a hint of disdain shed in his giant me-like eyes.


    Howl!


    With a long howl, a fearsome serpent beast suddenly appeared, blocking between Zhou Yuan and the Flying Sword. Its golden feathered wings swept across, stirring the sky with wind, deflecting the formidable Peach Blossom Sword aside.


    That wasn¡¯t enough, the Feathered Serpent shimmered and took the initiative, entangling the Peach Blossom that swam like a fish.


    Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan was now very close to Lu Qingshan.


    His right arm emitted a fierce red light, his palm like ruby, shining with a crystalline treasured brilliance. A massive seal formed in the center of his palm, Runes swirling around it, resolutely stamping down towards Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°You have only one sword, but I am not alone,¡± said Zhou Yuan in a cold voice.


    Down at the arena, seeing the Flying Sword entangled by the Feathered Serpent and unable to break free, and noting Lu Qingshan¡¯s diminutive figure in front of Zhou Yuan transformed into a Fire Giant, even Zhuan Zhu couldn¡¯t help but sigh and say, ¡°This is the strength of a Beast Cultivator in arenabat, it seems like a one-on-one, but in reality, it¡¯s Lu Qingshan facing two opponents.


    With just one Feathered Serpent, his Flying Sword has no strength to spare¡ªhow can he possibly win against Zhou Yuan?¡±


    Lu Qingshan, relying on the Flying Sword, had only just managed a few moves against Zhou Yuan, now transformed into the Fire Giant. Now that he had been deprived of his sword, what could he use to fight?


    ¡°It¡¯s still the disadvantage of youth,¡± Shui Yue Pavilion Master said while looking at the very calm Lu Qingshan in the arena, her watery eyes filled with admiration. ¡°However,ing from such a small ce, without ess to many resources, he has this level of strength. His potential is in for all to see. Even if he loses, what does it really matter?¡±


    The Shui Yue Pavilion Master¡¯s self-talk was reflective of most people¡¯s opinion of Lu Qingshan.


    They were not optimistic about the battle between Lu Qingshan and Zhou Yuan.


    Lu Qingshan was not even twenty years old yet.


    No matter how extraordinary his talent, oveing Zhou Yuan¡ªwith his thirty-plus years of Cultivation and equally titled as a prodigy¡ªin such a short span of a mere decade of Cultivation, was naturally extremely difficult.


    Losing was not surprising at all.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan managed to achieve such a performance without the support of a huge power like the Taoist Sect behind him, which was enough to astonish and shock countless onlookers.


    Of course, under normal circumstances, Lu Qingshan should, as they expected, quickly fall to Zhou Yuan.


    Only this time, Lu Qingshan was destined to disappoint them.


    ¡°Without you, it indeed wouldn¡¯t work¡­¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly as he whispered.


    ¡°I am willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in battle,¡± Qin Yitian¡¯s soft voice directly echoed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


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 Chapter 362 - 66: Who Can Compete?

    Chapter 362: Chapter 66: Who Can Compete?


    The next moment.


    Hum!


    A crisp sound of a sword rang out nimbly above the arena.


    In Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand appeared a long sword that was crystal clear and vivid red; an extremely gorgeous sight to behold.


    Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    Lu Qingshan swung the Dragon Sparrow Sword, and at the tip of the sword, a daunting red me lightly flickered into existence.


    ¡°Who told you I only had one sword?¡± With the Dragon Sparrow Sword in hand, Lu Qingshan¡¯s confidence surged, and his voice suddenly became solemn.


    An overwhelming ughter Sword Intent swept forth, enveloping the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    He brandished the sword, shing at the enormous Crimson Fire Seal that was engulfing the sky and covering the earth.


    The trajectory of the sword left a trail of splendid tail mes in the air.


    Boom!


    A loud collision erupted.


    Sword Light, with a sh of red dawn, sparkling and shining.


    A Fire Seal, me pervading.


    Both shed violently and quickly disintegrated.


    Within the denseyers of Spiritual Light, a massive figure was sent flying backward.


    It was Zhou Yuan!


    Zhou Yuan retreated dozens of yards before finally stabilizing his figure.


    His gaze grew slightly heavier.


    In the palm of his hand, a deep cut appeared, from which crimson blood was seeping out bit by bit.


    As for Lu Qingshan, he stood in ce holding the long sword,pletely unharmed.


    ¡°In this sh, Zhou Yuan actually lost by a margin!¡± Realizing this turn of events, gasps of shock went through the crowd of watching cultivators, ¡°How is that possible?!¡±


    Lu Qingshan, a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator, had just gone head-to-head with Zhou Yuan, an Early Stage Nascent Soul, and came out on top!


    It was as if taken from a wild and fanciful tale.


    In the arena, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept over Lu Qingshan¡¯s face and finally came to rest on the long sword in his hand.


    This sword was no ordinary sword!


    In the standoff just now, after dissolving the vast Spiritual Power of his Fire Seals, this sword, disregarding the leftover mes and his protective me gauze as if they were nothing, effortlessly struck his palm with a horizontal sh.


    What was even more eerie was that the me Fox, which was soul-bound to him, had conveyed a sense of fear and trepidation to him.


    The me Fox was afraid of the sword in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand.


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s usuallyposed face was, for the first time, obscured by a barely conceble look of astonishment.


    What sword was this?


    The ongoing discussions among the watching cultivators suddenly came to an abrupt halt.


    Zhuan Zhu, the great master, looking at the long sword in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand that gently glowed, showed a mixture of admiration and astonishment on his face, ¡°It was enough that this youngster practiced both internally and externally, but his Life-Bound Sword is even of the Multiple Swords style¡­ Such a greedy Sword Cultivator¡­¡±


    What truly astonished Zhuan Zhu the great master was, how could this Qing State swordsman with hardly any significant background, achieve at the age of eighteen what Taoist Sect cultivators could not, mastering all aspects of his craft?


    ¡°This sword is no simple matter,¡± Taibai Sword Master said, exchanging a nce with Xuanji, the great master.


    Both, one skilled in swords, the other deeply knowledgeable about Magic Artifacts, could see this point.


    ¡°Although its aura is subdued, in my estimation, it¡¯s at least a high-grade Heavenly Artifact, and possibly, it might even be of the Pseudo Dao Artifact level,¡± Xuanji, the great master, said as he stared intently at the sword in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand, speaking slowly, ¡°This battle has just be worth watching, which is good, otherwise if it were one-sided, it wouldn¡¯t be interesting¡­¡±


    Zhou Yuan had a powerful Beast Pet; Lu Qingshan had a supreme Magic Artifact.


    With these trump cards revealed, the battle between the two instantly spawned countless more variables.


    ¡°Although your strength is somewhat beyond my expectations, it¡¯s still impossible for you to win against me,¡± Zhou Yuan thought to himself, trying to calm the uneasy emotionsing from the me Fox, murmuring to himself.


    Though his expression seemed calm, his injured palm was involuntarily clenched tightly.


    Seemingly influenced by his Beast Pet, he too began to feel a certain unease.


    Lu Qingshan stood with his sword, the Dragon Sparrow Sword in his hand vibrating, and the clear sound of the sword¡¯s cry echoed forth.


    Swish!


    At this moment, the Peach Blossom Sword finally broke free from the entanglement of the Feathered Serpent and returned to Lu Qingshan¡¯s side, circling around him.


    The Feathered Serpent let out a long howl and stood beside Zhou Yuan, its wary gaze sizing up the sword in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hands.


    Like the me fox, the Feathered Serpent felt an overwhelming pressure from the Dragon Sparrow Sword that it found impossible to resist.


    Under this pressure, it felt as if it was bearing the weight of a thousand catties; not only did its Spiritual Power stagnate within its body, but its physical body became much stiffer as well.


    The Feathered Serpent couldn¡¯t help but growl irritably a few times.


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s body surged with a robust aura once again, his Spiritual Power flowing through his meridians like a raging river.


    The light in his eyes intensified as he surged forward again, his body aze with mes that leaped and danced as if they could burn down the Nine Heavens.


    Whoosh!


    The moment Zhou Yuan made his move, the Feathered Serpent did the same, transforming into a white bolt of lightning, and both charged at Lu Qingshan simultaneously.


    They swooped down.


    ¡°Crimson Fire Seal!¡±


    On Zhou Yuan¡¯s huge right palm, mes wound between the five fingers, and a terrifying hand seal formed in his palm, rumbling as if it was evolving its own world.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    Zhou Yuan flipped his hand and the fiery hand seal emerged from his palm, quickly spreading a violent and unbridled oppressive force.


    As the red hand seal appeared, it swelled in size, with mes coiling around it, and a cunning red fox was crouched within, its clever eyes barely open.


    ¡°Suppress him!¡±


    A cold glint shed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as the Crimson Fire Seal howled out, fiercely pressing down on Lu Qingshan.


    ng!


    Lu Qingshan vibrated his long sword, infusing it with the ughter Sword Intent onto the Dragon Sparrow Sword without fear, and shed at the Crimson Fire Seal.


    A crisp sound of metal shing echoed over the entire arena.


    Ripples of Spiritual Power visible to the naked eye spread from the point of their contact.


    This sh somehow managed to shatter the extremely terrifying Crimson Fire Seal.


    Yet, in the face of this scene, Zhou Yuan revealed a hint of a cold smile at Lu Qingshan, causing a chill in thetter¡¯s heart.


    Boom!


    The next moment, a massive force came crashing through, directly knocking Lu Qingshan away.


    It was the Feathered Serpent.


    The Feathered Serpent that had closed in on him at the same time as Zhou Yuan.


    Lu Qingshan had indeed countered the Feathered Serpent with the Peach Blossom as a Flying Sword.


    But after all, this was a terrifying Demon Beastparable to a Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator; when it unleashed its full strength, a single swipe of its tail was enough to sweep the fearsomely powerful Peach Blossom Flying Sword aside and crash toward Lu Qingshan with an unstoppable force.


    Even with the protection of the Sword Armor, the terrible impact force still made Lu Qingshan spit out a mouthful of blood.


    Swish!


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, as Lu Qingshan was knocked into the air, once again swooped out, leaving behind trails of afterimages as he shot towards Lu Qingshan with rming speed.


    He intended to defeat Lu Qingshan quickly, not giving him a chance to catch his breath.


    After the appearance of the Dragon Sparrow Sword, Zhou Yuan no longer had the confidence of assured victory he had before.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart tightened, and he quickly responded.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword flew from his hand, turning into a zing light shooting towards Zhou Yuan.


    ¡°You think a single Flying Sword can stop me?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a mocking smile on his lips, showing no intention of retreating.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    However, this statested for less than a moment.


    Because the might from the Dragon Sparrow Sword was truly terrifying.


    A thunderous roar that deafened the ears erupted in the arena.


    ¡°This Flying Sword¡­¡±


    Among the Taoist Sect Cultivators, seeing this scene, astonishment crossed their faces as well.


    ¡°Twenty-four times the speed of sound,¡± said the Taibai Sword Master, watching the Dragon Sparrow Sword leave only a phantom trail in the sky, speaking slowly.


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 Chapter 363 - 67: Zhou Yuans Trump Card

    Chapter 363: Chapter 67: Zhou Yuan¡¯s Trump Card


    Previously, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword barely reached twenty times the speed of sound with Sword Burst Thunder Sound.


    This time, with the even more powerful Dragon Sparrow Sword and the enhancement of Sword Intent, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword Speed had reached a terrifying twenty-four times the speed of sound.


    ¡°So this sword is your main Life-bound Sword,¡± Cao Xiaoxin, who was also watching the battle, said in a daze, ¡°Have you really be this powerful?


    Apart from Zhou Yuan, none of us could even force out your main Life-bound Sword¡­¡±


    Facing this Flying Sword, Zhou Yuan¡¯s mes surged forth, congealing into a fiery pir that tore through the sky and fiercely swept away, eventually colliding heavily with the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    Suddenly, a shocking wave of energy crazily swept out from the point of collision.


    ¡°Dragon Breath!¡± Lu Qingshan eximed lightly.


    The Sword gave birth to Dragon Breath, ying demons and cutting down evil.


    This was a Divine Skill belonging to the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    The dragon patterns on the Dragon Sparrow Sword shed with golden light, and a resonant sound could be heard, wherein one could faintly see the phantom of an Ancient Divine Dragon emerging on the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    The Sword Qi was fierce, and the scorching temperature twisted the surrounding light.


    Facing the terrifying fiery pir condensed by Zhou Yuan, the Divine Dragon phantom on the Dragon Sparrow Sword opened its mouth slightly, swallowing all the mes like a whale, making them disappear into the phantom¡¯s maw.


    This was the unparalleled restraining power of the Dragon Sparrow Sword against Fire System Techniques.


    After devouring the terrifying fiery pir, the Dragon Soul phantom¡¯s figure became even more solidified, and the vast waves of power were oppressive to one¡¯s heart.


    The crimson dragon phantom merged with the Dragon Sparrow Sword, its huge dragon eyes burning as it spewed forth crimson mes, charging towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure.


    ¡°Hiss!¡±


    Zhou Yuan confronted the sh directly, and his body was immediately flung away, crashing into the ground of the arena, where he finally stopped.


    Although he was not gravely injured, the mes around his body had scattered, and his form had also suddenly shrunk.


    A tiny me Fox fell from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, exhausted and fainting to one side.


    To block this sh, the me Fox had given it everything, draining all of its strength.


    With a ¡®bang¡¯.


    On Lu Qingshan¡¯s side, there was also the sound of a collision.


    At this moment, the Feathered Serpent seized the opportunity, its massive tail sweeping directly across Lu Qingshan.


    This was a terrifying force that even Sword Armor could hardly withstand.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s body was also sent flying.


    Just from that one strike, he suffered two broken ribs.


    Yet, Lu Qingshan, lying on the ground, did not rush to get up and seemed uninjured, simply staring intently at the situation on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword was sentient.


    His strike was far from over!


    ng ng!


    An extremely clear and resonant cry sounded.


    That was the Phoenix Cry.


    Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens, the Sword transforms into a Dragon Sparrow


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword, which had just jolted Zhou Yuan back to his normal state from his me Fox possession, still had remaining power!


    This was the second attacking Divine Skill of the Dragon Sparrow Sword, ¡°Phoenix Cry¡±, activated by Qin Yitian himself, rising fiercely.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword trembled slightly, and circles of crimson ripples emanated constantly from the de.


    The dragon patterns on the de had just dimmed, entwined with the even more splendid phoenix patterns that once again shed a dazzling red light.


    In just a moment, the Dragon Sparrow Sword was aze with fiery light, the intense and blinding glow like a great sun.


    The violent ripples of Spiritual Power exploded outward.


    One could vaguely see an Ancient Fire Phoenix emerging, merging with the Dragon Sparrow Sword, exuding the supreme aura of a Spirit Beast, terrifying beyond measure.


    ¡°How powerful! Even a Nascent Soul Cultivator would struggle to face the edge of this sword head-on!¡±


    Everyone¡¯s hearts trembled, and their pupils suddenly widened in shock.


    Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed that a Golden Core Cultivator could unleash such a terrifying sword strike.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan not only possesses an extraordinary talent surpassing the mundane, but his fortune is equally profound.


    His Life-bound Sword is of very high quality, so high that even among us from the Sword Sect, there are few Life-bound Swords that canpare in quality,¡± affirmed the Taibai Sword Master.


    ¡°This must be his trump card, a supreme-quality Life-bound Sword,¡± the Sky Saint Master nodded slightly, ¡°Such a might is even more powerful than Mo Yan¡¯s previously unstable fusion of three types of Netherfire. I wonder if Zhou Yuan will be able to withstand it?¡±


    The energy on the Dragon Sparrow Sword only took a moment to reach its peak state, and then it burst forth violently.


    With a nging sound of Phoenix Cry, the Dragon Sparrow-shaped shadow constructed from fierce Sword Qi descended as if from the heavens, shing towards Zhou Yuan.


    How would Zhou Yuan respond?


    Under the gaze of countless anxious eyes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face darkened, and a hint of crimson shed in his eyes. His hoarse and indifferent voice sounded eerily, ¡°To think that you, a Golden Core Cultivator, would force me to use this move. Even in defeat, you will have fallen gloriously!¡±


    At the moment when the shadow of the Dragon Sparrow bore down, a mysterious mist enshrouded him out of thin air, quickly expanding into a vast cloud of ck fog.


    A near-apocalyptic pressure emerged, and within it, an extremely intimidating aura of ferocity radiated from the mist.


    The eerie presence spread.


    Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly, and that dense ck fog suddenly began to converge rapidly.


    Behind him, it coalesced into the silhouette of a fierce and monstrous beast.


    The beast shadow was an ancient ferocious creature!


    It stood a hundred feet tall, its surface covered with ck scales, each shimmering with a de-like chill.


    Golden patterns were engraved on the scales, as though it wore a mixed armor of gold and ck.


    The most terrifying aspect was its pair of eyes!


    Twin massive bronze-colored eyes, utterly cold.


    Savage!


    Ferocious!


    A heaven-defying aura of brutality swept out from within the beast shadow.


    ¡°Huff.¡±


    Zhou Yuan¡¯splexion also turned somewhat paler.


    Using such a technique took a great toll on him.


    His eyes looked particrly fierce, and then, with a light forming of hand seals, he murmured in a hoarse, indifferent voice.


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    ¡°Blood Spirit Technique, Soul Fusion with the Fierce Spirit!¡±


    Boom!


    The terrifying beast shadow merged directly into his body.


    After that, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes revealed a flicker of scarlet light, his momentum and oppressive aura skyrocketing to unknown heights.


    ¡°This is an Ancient Beast Cultivation Secret Technique, refining the soul of a ferocious beast into one¡¯s own Blood Spirit; at critical moments, the ferocity of the soul can be harnessed as one¡¯s own power!¡± exined the Taiyin Sect Leader upon seeing this scene.


    The Blood Spirit Technique, that was Zhou Yuan¡¯s trump card!


    Next, Zhou Yuan thrust out his hand, reaching towards the crushing and fearsomely powerful Dragon Sparrow Sword with a sudden grip.


    Crack!


    The moment his hand sped, countless golden patterns and scales emerged on his hand.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword abruptly stopped, with the Dragon Sparrow phantom shimmering upon it trembling violently.


    Then, it shattered!


    The power-drained Dragon Sparrow Sword was immediately dismissed to the side, all its Dragon Phoenix patterns fading.


    The power of the Blood Spirit, frightening and supreme, suppressed everything!


    After that, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, now twin scarlets, directly locked onto Lu Qingshan.


    His figure streaked forward, like a darting earth dragon, rushing towards Lu Qingshan with murderous intent!


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 Chapter 364 - 68 Dragon Sparrow Breaking Spell

    Chapter 364: Chapter 68 Dragon Sparrow Breaking Spell


    ¡°Is the time finallying to decide the winner?¡± A top-tier Sect Cultivator softly murmured, eyes wide open as he watched the two on the stage.


    After unleashing the Blood Spirit Technique, Zhou Yuan transformed into a beast-like human figure. The exposed skin gradually revealed patches of ck scale armor that shimmered with a metallic gloss, extremely hard and intimidating.


    In this state, Zhou Yuan would undoubtedly crush an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator with ease.


    However monstrous Lu Qingshan might be, how could he win against Zhou Yuan, who was a stage higher in cultivation and equally demonic?


    The reality was just so.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart tightened, his gaze slightly focusing as he watched the furiously fast approaching Zhou Yuan.


    Zhou Yuan, having unleashed his strongest trump card, actually managed to forcefully break the Dragon Sparrow¡¯s Phoenix Cry Divine Ability with brute strength.


    This power truly was terrifying, causing his heart to tremble with fear.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, you can¡¯t win against me,¡± Zhou Yuan said with only a few yards between them. He tugged at the corner of his mouth and spoke coldly.


    Boom!


    In an instant, Zhou Yuan crossed the distance and appeared right in front of Lu Qingshan.


    Then, with a cold look, his scale-covered palms pressed down directly on Lu Qingshan¡¯s physical body.


    The palms carried a terrifying strength, striking upon the Five Elements Sword Armor surrounding Lu Qingshan.


    Hiss Hiss Hiss!


    At the point of their sh, countless Sword Qi fments burst out under pressure, scraping the surface of the stage with numerous sword marks.


    A fierce aura surged out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palms.


    Crack!


    Crack!


    Crack!


    Three sessive loud noises urred as the Metal Element, Wood Element, and Water Element Sword Armors shattered under Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm strike.


    The massive fluctuations of the Five Elements Sword Qi spread out, sweeping across, and due to this Sword Qi, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure slightly stalled.


    However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s onught was far from over.


    Howl!


    The Feathered Serpent erupted, its golden light continuously exploding on its body. With ash of its tail, it wielded terrifying strength and furiously whipped down at Lu Qingshan.


    This was a series of deadly moves, abined attack from Zhou Yuan and his beast pet, aiming to defeat Lu Qingshan in one fell swoop.


    Crack!


    The Fire Element Sword Armor also disintegrated. Under this immense force, Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure was cast out again like a kite with its string cut, heavily striking the ground of the stage, producing a dull sound.


    Blood trickled from the corner of Lu Qingshan¡¯s mouth, and a great pain emanated from his chest, not knowing how many ribs were broken.


    He suffered a severe injury and faced a great disadvantage once again!


    Sword Cultivators¡¯ physical bodies were never considered strong. If it were not for his defensive divine skills, Lu Qingshan was in fact very fragile.


    And the Sword Armor protecting him was only left with thest dimly glowing Earth Walking Sword Armor, barely holding together.


    ¡°In the end, it¡¯s impossible to create a miracle of oveing someone at a higher station,¡± an elder by Zhuan Zhu spoke with a sigh after seeing this scene, ¡°Once Zhou Yuan unleashes his trump card, hepletely overpowers Lu Qingshan.¡±


    The elder¡¯s words were neither exaggeration nor mockery but merely stating a fact.


    Since Zhou Yuan executed the Blood Spirit Technique, his own might had increased exponentially.


    Previously, Lu Qingshan, who could stillpete with various methods, was nowpletely like amb waiting for ughter, utterly powerless to resist.


    Seeing the state of Lu Qingshan, Zhou Yuan did not waste any words. His figure violently dashed forward, turning into a series of afterimages as he once again closed in on Lu Qingshan.


    Such an assault made many onlookers¡¯ scalps tingle with dread.


    Swoosh!


    A swift sonic boom resounded.


    A sh of red light suddenly streaked by, inserting itself between the twobatants.


    That was the red light transformed from the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    Lu Qingshan was enduring continuous attacks, utterly unable to spare any attention to control his flying sword.


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword, under Qin Yitian¡¯smand, flew back to his hand.


    Zhou Yuan nced at the suddenly appearing Dragon Sparrow Sword that had fallen into Lu Qingshan¡¯s hands and sneered, thinking it was Lu Qingshan¡¯sst struggle, ¡°To still control a flying sword in such a situation, you are indeed formidable, but do you really delude yourself into thinking that a single sword can turn the tide?¡±


    ¡°Your sword is strong, but you are not strong enough.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm suddenly shot out, furiously striking towards Lu Qingshan, his palm aze with dark light, an ancient palm print emerging.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression was cold, his eyes sharp as if harboring divine light.


    He slightly lifted his sword and shed towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm.


    ¡°Spell Breaking!¡± Lu Qingshan inwardly shouted.


    @@novelbin@@


    The humming was resounding, sonorous and deafening.


    Every inch of the Dragon Sparrow Sword zed dazzlingly at that moment, suddenly emitting an inexplicable divine might.


    The sword of Yitian, capable of breaking all spells!


    In the void, Spiritual Power radiated, and the zing red light of the Dragon Sparrow Sword collided with the dark light in Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm, spectacrly splendid.


    To everyone watching, what should have been a futile strike seemed to bring about an unimaginable marvelous follow-up.


    All the dark light, faced with the red light of the Dragon Sparrow Sword, melted away instantly like snow under a scorching sun, without even a moment¡¯s struggle.


    But what caused Zhou Yuan to nearly burst with rage was that this strike was far from over.


    The sword seemed to possess an indescribable power, lightly tapping the scale armor on his chest.


    Then, he was shocked to find that the force, embedded within him from a fierce spirit, was being fervently expelled.


    Countless wisps of ck mist emanated from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, gathering into a beastly shadow behind him, its ancient bronze eyes dimming as it let out a mournful howl.


    Hiss!


    The entire terrifying beast shadow shuddered and turned into ck smoke, dispersing into the air.


    It all seemed as if the process Zhou Yuan had just used to employ the Blood Spirit Technique was being rewound.


    Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!


    The scale armor that covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body, following the dispersion and expulsion of the Beast Soul shadow from his body, instantly shed away.


    Spell Breaking was not meant to break Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm print, but his Blood Spirit Technique!


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes sparkled intensely.


    Within his body, six hundred nearly hair-thin fments of Sword Qi whizzed out.


    In the obscure depths, a terrifyingly fierce and icy intent fused within the fments of Sword Qi.


    ughter Sword Intent.


    The Spiritual Power inside Lu Qingshan¡¯s body was instantly depleted.


    This was his final move.


    Zhou Yuan, feeling assured of his victory due to the powerful strength of the Beast Soul Technique, had not prepared any additional defensive spells.


    Lu Qingshan seized this mentality of Zhou Yuan¡¯s, using the transcendent Spell Breaking power of the Dragon Sparrow Sword to break all spells and secure an advantage of taking the initiative at a critical moment.


    That is the meaning of an ace up the sleeve.


    Zhou Yuan could never have imagined, for Lu Qingshan had never disyed Spell Breaking before, that Lu Qingshan could dismiss his Blood Spirit Technique so brutally and unreasonably.


    The reason why Lu Qingshan had closed their distance so significantly was to leave Zhou Yuan as little time as possible to react.


    So little time that he couldn¡¯t prepare new defenses.


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 Chapter 365 - 69 The Discussion on the Dao in the Seven Domains Concludes

    Chapter 365: Chapter 69 The Discussion on the Dao in the Seven Domains Concludes


    At the moment of near bodily contact, Sword Qi Fments imbued with ughter Sword Intent pierced through Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, which had lost its scale armor protection and waspletely defenseless, densely enveloped by Sword Light.


    Puff!


    The next moment, atop the arena¡¯s Array, Spiritual Light burst forth, enveloping Zhou Yuan¡¯s body at an unimaginably fast speed,pletely sealing off the ferocious Sword Qi Fments that seemed determined to annihte everything.


    This time, the activation of the Array was personally initiated by Taiyin Sect Leader.


    Because all these reversals happened in the blink of an eye, the Array couldn¡¯t even react in time.


    ¡°This battle, Lu Qingshan wins!¡± The sonorous voice of Taiyin Sect Leader resounded, and in his eyes looking towards Lu Qingshan, there lingered a trace of astonishment and doubt.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword strike was very profound and mysterious.


    ¡°The ultimate victor of the Seven Domains¡¯ Sect Alliance debates,¡± Taiyin Sect Leader took a deep breath and dered loudly, ¡°Lu Qingshan!¡±


    At this moment, the gazes of all the Cultivators converged simultaneously upon that slender and young figure in the center of the arena.


    No one could have imagined that the Seven Domains¡¯ Sect Alliance debates, gathering countless geniuses of the Human Race, would be won by a Sword Cultivator barely in his twenties, until this scene unfolded.


    As for Zhou Yuan, who stood somewhat disheveled to the side of the arena, at this moment, he was unconsciously being overlooked by everyone.


    Under the brilliance of Lu Qingshan, Zhou Yuan seemed to be insignificant.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan won?¡± someone muttered in disbelief, still struggling to ept it.


    ¡°Impossible, how did Zhou Yuan lose? He was just in an invincible position!¡± a Cultivator eximed in disbelief, ¡°Can someone tell me what exactly happened?¡±


    ¡­


    Lu Qingshan nced at Zhou Yuan, who had a deep expression and was lost in thought, and slowly exhaled.


    Despite the tricks used and various strategic calctions in this battle, no matter what, he had won.


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master descended slowly, and a vibrant green light filled with vitality flickered from her hand, merging into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    All sorts of external injuries on Lu Qingshan began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    ¡°My thanks to Shui Yue Pavilion Master,¡± Lu Qingshan said, showing his gratitude with a bow.


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master nodded, her gaze turning to the few Taoist Sect Cultivators around her and the High Realm Cultivators from various top Sects not far away. She spoke softly, ¡°This time, the Seven Domains¡¯ Sect Alliance debates reach a perfect conclusion today.


    The rankings for the top ten thousand, top thousand, top hundred, top ten, and ultimately the champion, have all been decided.


    The various rewards previously promised will also be distributed to you afterwards.


    However, before that, there is one very important matter that needs to bepleted.¡±


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master paused, her gentle gaze sweeping over the faces of the hundred Cultivators who participated in the final arena battle. She smiled and said, ¡°Gentlemen, you can now make your decision on which Sect you would like to join.


    As previously promised, the Seven Great Daoist Sects and the hundred top-tier Sects will open their gates unconditionally for you to choose freely.¡±


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master¡¯s words once again caused an uproar among the audience.


    When had the domineering Sects, high and mighty above all, allowed Cultivators to choose to join them freely?


    This Seven Domains¡¯ Sect Alliance debate truly set an unprecedented precedent.


    Many eyes were filled with fervent longing, envious of those hundred Cultivators.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, which Sect do you wish to join?¡± Shui Yue Pavilion Master looked kindly at Lu Qingshan and called out loudly, ¡°The Sects interested in Lu Qingshan can also activelypete for him, after all, despite the strength of the Daoist Sect, it is not the only choice.¡±


    As she spoke, Shui Yue Pavilion Master nced at Taibai Sword Master beside her, her eyes seemingly smiling yet not smiling.


    Following the conclusion of Shui Yue Pavilion Master¡¯s words, all Cultivators¡¯ eyes were once again focused on Lu Qingshan.


    As the champion of the Seven Domains¡¯ Sect Alliance debates, it was no surprise that he was the center of attention.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, before you make your decision, consider joining our Sect, the Taiyi Sword Sect.


    ¡°If I am not mistaken, the Secret Sword Technique you practice is indeed the Secret Sword created by Li Qiubai, the Sword Immortal of our Taiyi Sword Sect. Thus, it seems that you and our Sect are also somewhat fated,¡± the voice of Zhuan Zhu the Great timely resonated at this moment.


    Although Zhuan Zhu the Great knew the hope was slim, he decided to make an effort topete for it in the end.


    Like a chain reaction, following Zhuan Zhu the Great, one after another, strong representatives from different Sects spoke up.


    Among the hundred leading Sects, there are twelve Sword Cultivation Sects, and without exception, all issued invitations to Lu Qingshan.


    Sword Cultivators are naturally the path among the six cultivation types that most requires talent and inspiration. Their longing for true geniuses is naturally greater than that of Cultivators from other disciplines.


    ¡°The Sword Sect is the strongest sword cultivation Sect of the Human Race, second to none,¡± the Taibai Sword Master finally said, eyes fixed on Lu Qingshan, after the other Cultivators had finished speaking.


    This statement was domineering and arrogant, yet the invitation contained within it was unmistakably clear.


    Even though the Sword Sect is the Sect leastcking in geniuses in the world, they could not remain indifferent to the talent that Lu Qingshan possessed.


    Witnessing this grand asion, the observing Cultivators could not help but swallow their saliva in envy, a feeling of covetousness manifesting in their hearts.


    For these people, joining a top Sect was nothing more than an unattainable dream, yet for Lu Qingshan, several top Sects along with the Taoist Sects were waiting for him to speak.


    Such is the treatment of a genius.


    Lu Qingshan had long made up his mind and had no intention of posturing.


    Lu Qingshan was straightforward. He respectfully sped his hands toward the powerful figures of the top sword cultivation Sects that had extended him invitations, to express his gratitude, and then spoke to the Taibai Sword Master, ¡°I have made my decision, I wish to join the Sword Sect!¡±


    Whoosh!


    A buzz of discussion arose; his decision was not surprising to them.


    After all, who could reject the Taoist Sects?


    The Taibai Sword Master nodded slightly upon hearing this.


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master nced at Lu Qingshan meaningfully and then proceeded to oversee the next steps.


    Zhou Yuan chose the Rinsing Spirit Sect as expected.


    Bai Guandao hesitated for a moment between the Armor Pavilion and the Great Pure Pce before finally choosing the resource-rich Armor Pavilion, leaving the Pce Master of Lingye somewhat frustrated.


    But the choice that surprised everyone the most was Mo Yan¡¯s.


    Faced with the invitation from both the Armor Pavilion and the Great Pure Pce, two Taoist Sects, he eventually chose the top Sect¡ªthe Candle Dragon Hall, which made Grand Master Jinyang smile like a blossoming chrysanthemum.


    The first Cultivator to reject a Taoist Sect caused quite a stir, leaving many puzzled.


    Lu Qingshan, observing Mo Yan¡¯s calm demeanor and determination in his eyes, however, could understand the reason for Mo Yan¡¯s choice.


    There was nothing more to it than preference.


    Just as he was fond of the sword, Mo Yan was simrly fond of the Fire Method.


    Therefore, even with such a tempting offer from a Taoist Sect before him, he could still refuse it.


    @@novelbin@@


    The Cultivators ranked in the top hundred of the Seven Domains discourse quickly made their choice of Sects.


    Aside from Mo Yan, the other Cultivators chose to join the Taoist Sects they desired.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze swept across the faces of these Cultivators, and a smile touched the corners of his lips.


    At this time, these hundred Cultivators were still Golden Core Cultivators at most, with none higher than the Nascent Soul Initial Stage.


    But, ording to how the plot unfolds, these individuals, after the Seven Domains discourse, almost all gradually grew to be powerhouses of the Human Race that could dominate a region.


    Thus, this Seven Domains discourse in the yers¡¯ter recollections, was referred to as a time of glittering stars.


    And he, had be the most dazzling star among them.


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 Chapter 366 - 1 Aftermath

    Chapter 366: Chapter 1 Aftermath


    The Heavenly Secret Pavilion¡¯s gate was located within a small realm bathed in spiritual light.


    A middle-aged cultivator with a genial face was instructing a lovely-looking female cultivator in the practice of techniques.


    At this moment, a streak of green light suddenly transmitted from outside the realm, which the genial middle-aged cultivator casually caught.


    ¡°Uncle Master Jing Hu, what is it?¡± the female cultivator asked curiously.


    ¡°It¡¯s a spirit message from your master Shui Yue. It¡¯s nothing much, just mentioning some details about the recent Seven Domains Conference,¡± responded the Jing Hu Pavilion Master with a smile.


    The female cultivator was none other than Lin Yao, whom Lu Qingshan had personally sent to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.


    ¡°The Seven Domains Conference? Has it ended?¡± Lin Yao¡¯s eyes lit up.


    Even though she had been in secluded cultivation here, isted from the world, she had still heard about the significant event of the Seven Domains Conference.


    ¡°Yes, this time your master apparently ns to bring back over a dozen new disciples to the sect. They were all recruited from the Seven Domains Conference, each with exceptional talents,¡± he said.


    Jing Hu Pavilion Master unconsciously pursed his lips and continued, ¡°What¡¯s peculiar is that, ording to your master, the champion of this Seven Domains Conference is an extremely young sword cultivator.


    In the finals, he managed to turn the tables, defeating a Nascent Soul cultivator with histe-stage Golden Core cultivation.¡±


    ¡°Ate-stage Golden Core cultivator defeating a Nascent Soul cultivator?!¡± Lin Yao couldn¡¯t help but exim.


    ¡°Yes, this sword cultivator is quite capable,¡± nodded the Jing Hu Pavilion Master casually, ¡°Seems like his name was something like Lu Qingshan¡­¡±


    The Jing Hu Pavilion Master suddenly stopped speaking.


    Because at this moment, Lin Yao¡¯s beautiful eyes became slightly focused, shing with disbelief and a hint of delight.


    It¡¯s him!


    The handsome and attractive face of a man emerged in Lin Yao¡¯s mind.


    Without a shred of doubt, upon hearing the name Lu Qingshan, she was certain that this Lu Qingshan had to be the one she was thinking of.


    She would never forget that it was Lu Qingshan who had taken her from a small prefectural city in Qing State to this most supreme sect of the Human Race.


    Three years ago, she was merely a Qi Refining Cultivator.


    Now she had just entered the Golden Core stage, which could be described as a meteoric rise.


    @@novelbin@@


    All of this originated from Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You know this person?¡± Jing Hu Pavilion Master sensed something was amiss from Lin Yao¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°I think I do,¡± Lin Yao nodded slightly, her clear eyes sparkling, ¡°Uncle Master, let¡¯s continue. I still have many questions about this technique.¡±


    Only by advancing to Nascent Soul could her abilities trulye into y.


    And only then, at their next meeting, could she give Young Master Lu a surprise and prove that she was worthy of his high regard.


    Jing Hu Pavilion Master raised his eyebrows slightly; he had not expected his little niece from a remote ce to be acquainted with such a prodigy.


    Seeing Lin Yao immerse herself again in the practice of the Heavenly Secret Spirit Art, he shook his head slightly and decided not to pry further.


    This little niece of his, despite her mediocre spirit root, had a special constitution, earning the considerable favor of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master.


    Had it been only that, it would have been enough, butter they discovered that Lin Yao also possessed natural aptitude for the most prestigious spirit art of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the Heavenly Secret Spirit Art, understanding it instantly with minimal guidance.


    The difficulty of the Heavenly Secret Spirit Art was well-known among all cultivators of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.


    Only those who sessfully practiced this art could wield the Pavilion¡¯s Taoist artifact, the Heavenly Secret Mirror.


    Because of this, Lin Yao suddenly leapt from obscurity and became a key disciple whom the Heavenly Secret Pavilion focused on nurturing.


    Thinking of this, the Jing Hu Pavilion Master felt somewhat emotional.


    The cultivator they had been searching for to master the Heavenly Secret Spirit Art had turned out to be one who came to them of her own ord.


    Fate indeed works in mysterious ways.


    ¡­..


    In Qingfeng Realm of Fufeng City, Qing State.


    Inside the spacious and bright hall of Qianshou Tower, a figure was calmly perusing the many jade slips on the table.


    It was Beiming True Venerable.


    Whoosh!


    Into the silent hall, a streak of golden light suddenly entered from outside.


    Beiming True Venerable slightly raised an eyebrow, received the spirit message, and probed it with his divine sense to see the specific content.


    The next moment, Beiming True Venerable was stunned, his lips parted as if shocked.


    After a long silence, Beiming True Venerable eventually shook his head and chuckled, ¡°This kid, no wonder he had such an air of indifference to our main Qing State tower. It turns out our waters were too shallow¡­¡±


    ¡°Champion, with a boundless future. Even though I highly estimated you, it seems I still underestimated you. Who would have thought¡­ Who would have thought¡­¡±


    Beiming True Venerable was filled with emotion.


    ¡­


    Fufeng City, within the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    The quiet and magnificent interior was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, refreshing and uplifting to the spirit.


    A robust figure was discussing something with other cultivators, emanating an incredibly strong aura.


    Just then, a cultivator hurriedly walked in from outside, rushing to report respectfully to the Fufeng City Lord seated in the main chair, ¡°City Lord, the Seven Domains Martial Forum has concluded!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± The City Lord of Fufeng raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued, ¡°What was the oue?¡±


    ¡°Lu Qingshan has won the championship!¡± The cultivator standing below was overjoyed, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, ¡°The champion of this year¡¯s Seven Domains Martial Forum is from our Qing State!¡±


    ¡°Won the championship?!¡±


    The City Lord of Fufeng couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply, stunned.


    You see, his initial hope was only that Lu Qingshan would make it into the top ten thousand of the forum.


    But now, Lu Qingshan had directly taken the top spot.


    The shock this brought to the City Lord of Fufeng was like him wanting just a Dao Companion, yet Lu Qingshan had directly presented him with a grand crystal pce, making him feel as if he was dreaming.


    ¡°The Seven Domains Martial Forum, champion¡­¡± The voice of the City Lord of Fufeng involuntarily took on a trembling note, his pupils constricting sharply, he naturally knew what that title represented¡­


    It signified the most talented young cultivator among the human race¡¯s Seven Domains, aside from the Taoist Sect and the top hundred sects!


    Such a person, actually came from their Qing State?


    As long as one could break into the top ten thousand of the forum and did not fall midway, bing a Void Refining Cultivator was almost certain.


    The champion represented the possibility of Lu Qingshan reaching the Seventh Realm or even the Eighth Realm in the future!


    This shock nearly made the City Lord of Fufeng feel asphyxiated, his throat going dry uncontrobly.


    ¡°This guy¡­¡± The City Lord of Fufeng pursed his lips, but in his mind, he recalled the decision he had made several months ago.


    At that time, he couldn¡¯t have imagined that Lu Qingshan would reach this point, he had simply invested in Lu Qingshan on impulse.


    Looking at it now, it was an extremely wise move.


    I, truly have the discerning eye of a wise man!


    The City Lord of Fufeng felt a wave of self-satisfaction in his heart.


    ¡°City Lord, we only allocated the position of the Deputy City Lord candidate of Zhenjiang Prefectural City to the Lu Family¡­ Recently, due to this position as Deputy City Lord, there has been much overt and covert struggle between the Lu Family and the other two candidate cultivators¡­¡± The messenger cultivator gently reminded in a low voice, bowing his head solemnly.


    ¡°Send the order, directly grant the Deputy City Lord position to the Lu Family!¡± The eyes of the City Lord of Fufeng shed coldly, ¡°When one man gains the Dao, even his pets ascend to heaven. The Lu Family, it is their time to soar!¡±


    ¡­¡­.


    Joy for some, sorrow for others.


    In a nameless and extremely secretive ce.


    Yin Qi lingered.


    The cultivator seated at the head, with a gravelly, gloomy voice and slightly narrowed eyes, a subtle aura of murderous intent spread quietly, ¡°Tell me, what went wrong, wasn¡¯t the championship supposed to be almost certain? How could Yinhe lose to a Golden Core Sword Cultivator?¡±


    ¡°The Great Xia Scripture was right before you, yet you failed to secure it! Do you really think the opportunity to obtain the Great Xia Scripture wille again?¡±


    ¡°Are you all wastes, or do you have treacherous intentions?¡±


    A fierce evil aura emerged, oppressing the blood-robed cultivator standing in front of him.


    ¡°Hall Master, Yinhe says, it¡¯s not that he was unwilling, but he had concerns,¡± the blood-robed cultivator, under the heavy pressure of the Hall Master, felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly exined, ¡°That Sword Cultivator called Lu Qingshan, the final sword move he used was extremely strange, containing a force nearly absolute, dispersing his Blood Spirit Technique.


    Although Yinhe still had hidden tactics unexposed, under such circumstances, he didn¡¯t dare to continue fighting this Sword Cultivator.


    Because he didn¡¯t know the limit of this Sword Cultivator¡¯s swordsmanship.


    If the fight continued, and if Lu Qingshan was capable of dispersing his Heavenly Demon Possession Great Technique, then his identity would be exposed for all to see!


    His identity being exposed is one thing, and if death were to follow, so be it, but the Heavenly Demon Possession Technique is of great importance. If it were exposed, causing the identities we¡¯ve concealed for many years to be revealed, that would be a grave sin!


    He didn¡¯t dare to take this risk!


    Reluctantly, he had to present the appearance of being outmatched and hastily end the battle, allowing Lu Qingshan to win easily¡­¡±


    Hearing the blood-robed cultivator¡¯s words, the Hall Master immediately fell into deep thought, and an eerie silence suddenly emerged.


    ¡°Though there are reasons, don¡¯t think you can escape responsibility,¡± after a long while, the Hall Master finally spoke, his tone deadly, ¡°Also, this Lu Qingshan cannot be left alive, we must thwart the possibility of another Sword Immortal emerging among the human race¡­ even if the chance is very slim!¡±


    The blood-robed cultivator nodded and responded, ¡°Understood!¡±


    No one understood the terror of a human Sword Immortal more than the Demon Race.


    The human race currently had three Sword Immortals.


    These three Sword Immortals were the beings they feared the most, aside from the long-missing Ancestral Taoist Xia.


    They were also considered thorns in their eyes that they eagerly wished to remove!


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 Chapter 367 - 2 Great Xia Scripture

    Chapter 367: Chapter 2 Great Xia Scripture


    Debate Dao City, within the wooden building.


    Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan gathered in the hall.


    They rested for a day, waiting for the strong ones from the various sects to handle the subsequent matters, after which they would be taken to their respective sects.


    So, since leaving the Debate Domain, Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan had returned to the residential area.


    ¡°After this time, it will be a long while before I see Brother Lu again,¡± Mo Yanmented.


    The Sword Sect is located in the Eastern Domain, and the Candle Dragon Hall is in the Western Domain.


    This distance is not short; meeting again will naturally not be easy.


    ¡°Brother Lu, there¡¯s actually been a question I¡¯ve wanted to ask for a long time,¡± Mo Yan said with a smile, ¡°Back when we parted at Jiaolong Ind, you said we would soon meet again, and indeed it turned out to be true.


    Brother Lu, could it be that you already knew about this Seven Domains Debate Dao Event?¡±


    ¡°I knew a little,¡± Lu Qingshan said nomittally.


    ¡°The only regret is that I didn¡¯t get to see Miss Zang,¡± Mo Yan said, switching the topic adeptly when he saw Lu Qingshan did not wish to delve into the matter.


    The nearby West Mouse King vigorously nodded its head.


    It missed Zang Xiaojian terribly, who was both its diningpanion and teacher!


    On hearing this, Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze slightly hardened as he too expressed his regret, ¡°Indeed, it is a bit regrettable.¡±


    But why couldn¡¯t they meet Zang Xiaojian?


    Given her performance on Jiaolong Ind, Zang Xiaojian was also a cultivator of exceptional talent.


    Yet, whether in the Seven Domains Debate Dao or in his memory, there was no trace of Zang Xiaojian¡¯s presence.


    Who exactly was this youngdy, and why was she so mysterious?


    Lu Qingshan smacked his lips, pondering silently to himself for a while.


    ¡°I know Brother Lu is extraordinary, but I truly did not expect that someone as young as you would ultimately im victory,¡± Mo Yan said with a touch of admiration as he spoke again.


    ¡°Cut it out, little Mo Yan, what do you know? This is called ¡®the victor takes all¡¯ no matter how young and brash he seems,¡± the West Mouse King immediately started to boast, as if it was not Lu Qingshan, but itself that had won.


    ¡°It was partly luck, I actually wasn¡¯t too sure of it,¡± Lu Qingshan said, ignoring the West Mouse King and speaking candidly.


    ¡°As for you, leaving the Taoist Sect and choosing the Candle Dragon Hall instead, the stir you caused was no smaller than mine,¡± Lu Qingshan said, half-teasing, half-asking.


    Upon hearing this, Mo Yan¡¯s expression became serious, and he earnestly said, ¡°The Great Pure Pce is famed for its Thunder Spell, dominating a domain and bing a center for Dharma Cultivation.


    All cultivators thus recognize the Thunder Spell as the strongest faction among all spells, brutal and tremendously powerful.


    But both Yan and I strongly disagree; in our eyes, how could the Fire Method be any less than the Thunder Spell?


    I want to prove the strength of the Fire Method; naturally, my choice could only be the Candle Dragon Hall, which is renowned for its Fire Method. How could I choose to join the Great Pure Pce?¡±


    ¡°Moreover,¡± Mo Yan¡¯s eyes glowed with determination as he asserted, ¡°if one day the Candle Dragon Hall also bes a Taoist Sect, by then, no one should think anymore that it is the Thunder Spell that reigns supreme.¡±


    ¡°Great ambition!¡± Lu Qingshan admired.


    Mo Yan intended to help the Candle Dragon Hall be a Taoist Sect with his own efforts.


    Spirited and defiant!


    This was just like his established impression of Mo Yan.


    Mo Yan was never someone overly rational, as he always sought to change his environment rather than adapt to it.


    But history is often made by people like Mo Yan.


    Lu Qingshan was looking forward to Mo Yan¡¯s future.


    The two talked for a long time before Mo Yan finally took his leave.


    Just as Lu Qingshan was about to rest for a while, an old and authoritative voice came from outside, ¡°Is Lu Qingshan here?¡±


    Lu Qingshan weed the visitor in.


    This was an old woman holding a walking stick, slender and wiry, steady in her steps, naturally exuding a majestic presence without anger.


    The wiry old woman said to Lu Qingshan, ¡°I am from the Great Xia Dynasty, named Xia Yuan.¡±


    ¡°Junior Lu Qingshan, I have seen Elder Xia Yuan,¡± feeling the profound aura emanating from the old woman in front of him, Lu Qingshan greeted respectfully.


    Xia Yuan gave Lu Qingshan a slight nod and stated her purpose, ¡°I havee specifically to deliver the reward you are entitled to from this Seven Domains Debate Dao Event.¡±


    After Xia Yuan finished speaking, she waved her sleeve, and a hundred incredibly magical crystal stones appeared in the air.


    These were cylindrical-shaped exquisite crystals,pletely transparent, with liquids like spirit marrow contained within, subtly vibrating in an invisible fluctuation, making one feel refreshed and their spiritual power slightly boiling.


    ¡°Leader, as previously mentioned, you will receive a reward of one hundred Spirit Crystals,¡± Xia Yuan said softly.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind stirred, and he took all the Spirit Crystals floating in the air into his Storage Ring.


    Spirit Crystals, each coalescing the essence of a Spirit Vein, are of immeasurable value.


    The crudest way to measure it is, one Spirit Crystal is roughly equivalent to the entire fortune of a Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    @@novelbin@@


    These one hundred Spirit Crystals show that Great Xia is indeed very generous.


    It also subtly reveals Great Xia¡¯s attitude¡ªif your talent is outstanding, don¡¯t worry about the resources for cultivation!


    But that was not all. Xia Yuan flicked her finger and hurled a crystal que towards Lu Qingshan, ¡°This is the pass token for the Spirit Cleansing Pool. With this token, you may enter the Great Xia Spirit Cleansing Pool to cultivate for a year at any time.¡±


    ¡°The spiritual power is abundant in the Spirit Cleansing Pool. Such an environment is greatly beneficial for breaking through realms. I suggest you enter the Spirit Cleansing Pool when you encounter a bottleneck in your cultivation,¡± Xia Yuan advised.


    Lu Qingshan epted the crystal que and expressed his gratitude, ¡°Thank you for your guidance, senior.¡±


    ¡°This is the list of magic artefacts offered by Great Xia for the rewards, as the leader, you can have the first pick of a magic artefact that you desire,¡± Xia Yuan handed a Jade Slip to Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan quickly epted the Jade Slip and let his Divine Sense probe into it.


    Immediately, his vision was filled with densely packed text and diagrams.


    There were a hundred Heaven Rank Middle-Grade magic artefacts, rewards for the top hundred cultivators of the Seven Domains¡¯ Dao Debate.


    ¡°Four Symbols Fan, an attack magic artefact, can emit four colored lights, creating four symbolic spirit bodies with infinite power¡­.¡±


    ¡°Star Shield, a defensive artefact, crafted from meteorite iron, capable of summoning three hundred and sixty celestial stars to protect oneself¡­.¡±


    ¡°Fire Raven Gourd, an attack magic artefact, releasing a million fire ravens upon opening, forming a sea of fire¡­.¡±


    ¡°Night Travel Ancient Jade, an auxiliary artefact, can conceal all traces of a cultivator¡¯s aura, hide the cultivator¡¯s cultivation level; can create illusions, altering the artefact owner¡¯s shape and appearance; unless one is a prominent Primordial Spirit Realm cultivator, practices special spells, or has a cultivation level more than one realm higher than the artefact owner¡¯s (applicable below the Seventh Realm), it is difficult to see through this disguise.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Even Void Refining Cultivators would find these artefacts quite tempting upon seeing them.


    Lu Qingshan nced over them and quickly made up his mind, ¡°Senior, I decided to choose the Night Travel Ancient Jade.¡±


    For a Sword Cultivator, aside from the Life-bound Sword, the demand for other artefacts is not so high.


    Therefore, it is precisely the Night Travel Ancient Jade, an artefact with special abilities, that suits him the best.


    Xia Yuan did not waste words; she flicked her finger, and a dark-colored Spirit Jade flew towards Lu Qingshan.


    It was engraved with extremely intricate and borate Taoist Patterns, flickering with bright light.


    This was the Night Travel Ancient Jade.


    Lu Qingshan quickly stored it into his Storage Ring.


    ¡°The final two rewards, one is a slot to enter the Source Realm toprehend intent.


    The Source Realm is located in the Central Heavenly Realm, and you can go to the Source Realm to exchange this reward at any time,¡± Xia Yuan handed over a Spirit Seal as a token.


    ¡°As for the reward of a Great Xia Scripture of your choice for being the leader¡­.


    As the Ancestral Daoist Technique, you know how precious and valuable the Great Xia Scripture is, thus it cannot be carried by me personally.


    So, first you choose which chapter of the Great Xia Scripture you want, after which we will send someone to personally deliver it to the Sword Sect and hand it to you.¡±


    Lu Qingshan pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, ¡°Senior, I would like the Void Refining Chapter of the Great Xia Scripture.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Yuan¡¯s somewhat cloudy eyes revealed a hint of astonishment, sizing up Lu Qingshan, ¡°You are quite knowledgeable indeed,ing from Qing State, a remote ce, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so well-informed. Could it be that Taibai Sword Master has given you some pointers?¡±


    Lu Qingshan did not dare to me Taibai Sword Master rashly, and respectfully said, ¡°This is just based on my own thoughts.¡±


    Xia Yuan was only surprised, with no intent to scold. Seeing how Lu Qingshan put it, she did not inquire further.


    With that, Xia Yuan left.


    ¡°Young Master, why did you particrly choose the Void Refining Chapter? It even surprised her so much?¡± Qin Yitian¡¯s voice, filled with curiosity, directly appeared in Lu Qingshan¡¯s sea of consciousness.


    Lu Qingshan exined to Qin Yitian with a chuckle, ¡°The Great Xia Scripture is known as the supreme Cultivation Technique of the Human Race because it is the only one, from Qi Refinement to Mahayana, all nine realms are at the Taoist Level and wless.


    The techniques of the Seven Great Taoist Sects are also extraordinary, butpared to the Great Xia Scripture, they are slightly inferior because they are not perfect¡ªalthough most chapters are of Taoist Level, there is always some w in a certain realm.


    And the technique of the Sword Sect is wed in the Fifth Realm, the Void Refining.


    The Void Refining Chapter of the Sword Sect¡¯s technique is of Supreme Quality Heaven Rank, not bad, but still not at the Taoist Level, hence itcks somewhat.


    The Void Refining Chapter of the Great Xia Scripture that I have chosen will nicely fill this gap.


    This matter is somewhat secret, so senior Xia Yuan was surprised that I knew about it.¡±


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 Chapter 369 - 4: The Sword is the Strongest Weapon

    Chapter 369: Chapter 4: The Sword is the Strongest Weapon


    Taibai Sword Master extended his hand and with a sweep, a ray of Spiritual Light shot out from his sleeve and merged into the clouds before them.


    Then, the sea of clouds churned and slowly parted to reveal a path.


    The six disciples followed Taibai Sword Master, their figures darting forward,pletely entering the Sword Sect.


    The moment they entered the Sword Sect, the clouds quickly closed again, enveloping everything once more.


    Hiss!


    In the next moment, Lu Qingshan sharply inhaled a breath of cool air.


    He felt a wave of Spiritual Energy so rich it was almost viscous, nearly turning into liquid, rushing towards him.


    ¡°What a majestic and rich Spirit Energy!¡± Yu Cibei muttered to himself, hardly believing it.


    The Spiritual Energy that pervaded this piece of heaven and earth within Sword Sect was at least a hundred times more concentrated than the outside world.


    Moreover, this was not just in some cultivation secret realm within Sword Sect, but this was the condition of the entire Sect¡¯s world.


    Such extravagance was truly somewhat terrifying.


    Whoosh!


    While they were still deeply moved by the incredibly dense Spirit Energy, a Sword Light burst forth at a rapid speed, eventually manifesting as the figure of a young Sword Cultivator dressed in a green shirt.


    ¡°Master.¡± The green-shirt Sword Cultivator bowed respectfully to Taibai Sword Master.


    ¡°These six are the new disciples of Sword Sect, I have already sent you the details earlier, the rest I¡¯ll leave to you to arrange,¡± Taibai Sword Master said with a smile.


    The green-shirt Sword Cultivator nodded, ¡°Master, rest assured, I will take good care of these junior brothers.¡±


    Taibai Sword Master slightly nodded his head.


    He was very clear about his disciple¡¯s style of handling things.


    After handing over Lu Qingshan, Cao Xiaoxin, Yu Cibei, and the other three new disciples to the green-shirt Sword Cultivator, Taibai Sword Master¡¯s figure flickered and had already disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight.


    After seeing off Taibai Sword Master, the green-shirt Sword Cultivator turned around, his face wearing a warm and gentle smile, and introduced himself, ¡°Junior brothers, my name is Ji Chuan, the current eldest senior brother of Sword Sect.¡±


    ¡°We have seen Senior Brother Ji,¡± the crowd said respectfully, a screen in their hearts.


    They all felt the sharp aura that emanated from Ji Chuan, subtle yet present.


    Such a powerful young Cultivator, who was also the chief disciple of the current generation in Sword Sect, personally guiding them into the Sect made them somewhat apprehensive.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite with me, just bow normally,¡± Ji Chuan said with a wave of his hand.


    ¡°People of Sword Sect dislike such superficialities, so the elders of our Sect, during the founding, decided to eliminate many cumbersome ceremonies straight away.


    There aren¡¯t many processes to our Sect induction, just some necessary arrangements. Just follow me,¡± Ji Chuan was very courteous to these six new disciples, he did not show any overbearing senior brother attitude, let alone something like hazing.


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to trouble Senior Brother Ji,¡± under such circumstances, the earlier addressed ¡®senior brother¡¯ was out of formality, but now it carried a bit of real sentiment.


    The six followed Ji Chuan, heading towards one of the slightly shorter peaks among the cluster of peaks surrounding the seven towering ones.


    ¡°Are you all very surprised by the richness of the Spiritual Energy inside Sword Sect?¡± Ji Chuan, seeing that the shock had not yet fully dissipated from their faces, asked with a smile.


    ¡°Is it the same in the other Taoist Sects?¡± Cao Xiaoxin asked cautiously.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Ji Chuan shook his head and smiled, ¡°Such a scene is unique to our Sword Sect among the Human Race Sects, even the wealthiest Armor Pavilion cannot achieve this.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡± Yu Cibei asked curiously.


    ¡°It¡¯s one of the unique features of our Sword Sect,¡± Ji Chuan didn¡¯t keep the new disciples in suspense, exining leisurely, ¡°As everyone knows, among the Seven Taoist Sects, Sword Sect has the fewest members, but do you know the exact number?¡±


    The crowd shook their heads.


    ¡°Three thousand one hundred and ny-four,¡± Ji Chuan paused, then added, ¡°With the six of you, now it¡¯s precisely three thousand two hundred.¡±


    Three thousand two hundred people!!


    As a Taoist Sect, the colossus of the Eastern Domain, Sword Sect¡¯s total sect poption was actually only three thousand two hundred people.


    Such an exaggerated and ludicrous number.


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°So, just as you¡¯ve seen, with so few people, our Sword Sect naturally doesn¡¯t need to be as stingy as other Sects,¡± Ji Chuanughed, ¡°A vast Spirit Vein that could sustain hundreds of thousands of people¡¯s cultivation, shared by just these three thousand of us, creates the phenomenon you see now.¡±


    Ji Chuan¡¯s gaze became focused, and he asked in a soft voice, ¡°You all must understand that Sword Cultivators require the most talent among the six systems of cultivation, right?¡±


    The crowd nodded slightly.


    This belief was simrly recognized in the Cultivation Realm.


    The threshold for bing a Sword Cultivator is the highest amongst the six cultivation paths.


    For other schools, even if one¡¯s talent does not stand out, it is still possible to be a powerful cultivator with the help of external opportunities and fate.


    But for Sword Cultivators, it is quite the opposite; they never concern themselves with external objects, relying solely on the three-foot sword in their hands.


    Therefore, if you possess this talent, a lesser fate is not an issue, but if you cannot master the sword, no amount of resources will help.


    ¡°At the same time, Sword Cultivation is also the most exclusive among all the cultivation paths. In the cultivation realm, there are those who dual cultivate body and Dharma, Spiritual Power and Dharma, and so on, but as a Sword Cultivator, once you choose this path, you can only follow it to the end. There is no turning back, and no possibility of dual cultivation,¡± Ji Chuan added.


    Sword Cultivators revere the idea of one sword to vanquish all spells, cherishing purity and sincerity. Once they take up the sword, they will not touch any other object, and only by doing so can they continue on the path of Sword Cultivation.


    This is represented in the game as the talent of specialization.


    ¡°Sword Cultivation is so profound and broad, and the philosophy of our senior members of the Sword Sect is this: we sword cultivators, not to mention that we can¡¯t waste our time cultivating other spells and Divine Skills, even on the umtion of Spiritual Power, we should not spend too much time,¡± Ji Chuan calmly narrated.


    ¡°The breakthrough from Golden Core to Nascent Soul is a qualitative metamorphosis that is difficult to force. However, the breakthrough from the initial stage of Nascent Soul to Nascent Soul Perfection is a quantitative umtion, a matter of persistent effort.


    The Sword Sect does not want its disciples to waste their time on such meaningless umtion of quantity.


    Therefore, the seniors of the Sword Sect released the Spiritual Energy umted in the Spirit Veins to create such a Cave Heaven Blessed Land for the Sword Sect disciples.


    They provide such invaluable Spiritual Energy resources to each Sword Sect disciple without any charge, so that you can spend more time on the cultivation of sword techniques, the understanding of intent, and the enhancement ofbat power,¡± he said.


    Such generosity! Such magnificence!


    The Great King of the Western Rats, hidden inside Lu Qingshan¡¯s sleeve, stared withrge, shining eyes, murmuring in astonishment.


    And Lu Qingshan and the others, like the Great King of the Western Rats, were equally stunned.


    It was no wonder that among the Seven Taoist Sects, the disciples of the Sword Sect always had the strongestbat power.


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan finally understood why.


    ¡°This is also one of the reasons why our Sword Sect has such high requirements for epting disciples,¡± Ji Chuan said with a smile. ¡°Such a Cave Heaven Blessed Land environment can only be maintained in the long term if there are less than five thousand people.


    Otherwise, it would result in a deficit, where the amount of Spiritual Energy consumed exceeds the Spirit Vein¡¯s production. A vicious cycle that would ultimately exhaust the Spirit Vein¡¯s energy.¡±


    ¡°This way¡­¡± Cao Xiaoxin said thoughtfully.


    Seeing the six junior brothers in such a shocked state, Ji Chuan asked, ¡°Do you know why, among all weapons, the staff is the head, the saber is the marshal, and the spear is the king, but in the end, among thousands of Magic Artifacts, only the sword remains the eternal protagonist.


    ¡°In the world, there is only the path of Sword Cultivation; there has never been a so-called Staff Cultivator or Saber Cultivator, have you ever considered why?¡±


    This question left them at a loss.


    They had always taken the existence of Sword Cultivators for granted and had never contemted this issue.


    Indeed, with so many Magic Artifacts, why is there only Sword Cultivation?


    ¡°Is it because¡­ the sword is the strongest?¡± Lu Qingshan ventured.


    Lu Qingshan was not certain, but that was what he believed.


    Ji Chuan smiled, ¡°You¡¯re Lu Qingshan, right? The champion of the Seven Domains Forum of this time?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Lu Qingshan nodded.


    ¡°You are right, it is for that reason,¡± Ji Chuan said with aposed and light tone. ¡°The reason there is only Sword Cultivation is simply because the sword is strongest, nothing else.¡±


    ¡°The sword is the mostmon style of Magic Artifact in this world, possessing unique charm.


    ¡°Even Dharma Cultivators often choose the Sword Artifact as their own Magic Artifact, not to mention Sword Cultivators. The prevalence of Sword Artifacts, bing a mainstream choice of Magic Artifact, is simple.


    ¡°In the survival of the fittest where the strong prey on the weak, the Sword Artifact has eliminated all other lessmon Magic Artifacts.


    ¡°Only the essence remains.¡±


    When Ji Chuan spoke these words, there was no pride or arrogance on his face, but the undertones in his words were brimming with extreme confidence and arrogance.


    But this is indeed what Ji Chuan truly thought.


    Since the establishment of the Sword Sect, the Sword Cultivators who have practiced in this region have always firmly believed this: the sword is the strongest weapon in the world.


    It is something that flows in their blood.


    It is also the most fundamental belief of the Sword Sect Disciples.


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 Chapter 370 - 5: Sword Sect Seven Peaks

    Chapter 370: Chapter 5: Sword Sect Seven Peaks


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Ji Chuan said as he introduced the Sword Sect¡¯s situation to the neers while leading them into a wide, t mountain peak.


    This ce was filled with buildings full of ancient charm.


    @@novelbin@@


    The first ce they needed to visit was arge hall within the buildingplex named the Peak Selection Hall.


    Coming to the Peak Selection Hall was for one purpose¡ªto receive the exclusive sword token of the Sword Sect disciples.


    The sword token served as the identity badge of Sword Sect disciples, containing detailed personal information and the imprint of the Primordial Spirit.


    Within the Sword Sect, there were numerous prohibitions, and the Sect Protection Array even isted the realm from the rest of the Sky Dome. Without a sword token, moving even an inch would be difficult.


    Lu Qingshan and five others followed Ji Chuan into the Peak Selection Hall.


    In the vast hall, countless sword tokens floated in midair, each unique in form.


    But upon closer inspection, it was clear that there were only seven different shapes.


    Old Dragon, Wild Crane, Green Marten, Cornelian Cherry, Ant, Vermilion Bird, and a wisp of Willow Catkin.


    Seeing all six neers wearing puzzled looks, Ji Chuan smiled and exined, ¡°The seven shapes of sword tokens represent the seven main peaks of our Sword Sect.


    Our Sword Sect currently has thousands of minor peaks, but only cultivators who have reached a certain level of cultivation can manage a main peak.


    Thus, up till now, our Sword Sect has only seven main peaks.


    All new disciples will train at a main peak for a period.


    The type of sword token you choose will determine which main peak you will end up in.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s our free choice? Not arranged by the sect?¡± Yu Cibei said in surprise.


    This system was something he had never heard of before.


    Ji Chuan smiled faintly and patiently exined, ¡°The path of a sword cultivator is something you carve out for yourself, not waiting for others to pave it for you.


    Thus, the Sword Sect never restricts or interferes with the cultivation path of its sword cultivators, at most providing some advice based on experience.


    Whether to ept it or not is up to you, no one is to me, and of course, the oue must also be borne by you alone, the sect cannot be held responsible,¡±


    Upon hearing this, the neers were slightly stunned.


    Indeed, they had not expected the Sword Sect to have such a hands-off style of operation.


    Ji Chuan added further, ¡°Once your cultivation reaches the Void Refinement Realm, you can leave the main peak and find a peak within this vast multitude of Sword Peaks to establish as your own Daoist rite ce.


    In the Sword Sect, since everyonees from under the guidance of various peak masters, titles can¡¯t be distinguished by your master¡¯s generation.


    Cultivators above the Void Refinement level, unless in a master-disciple rtionship, should be addressed with their respective honorifics.


    Those below the level of Void Refinement are considered the youngest generation in our Sword Sect, thus you may address me as senior brother.


    However, actual numbers of cultivators below the Void Refinement Realm in Sword Sect are not many, less than three hundred.


    As for those at the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement stages, to my knowledge, there are none at the moment.


    So, fellow junior brothers, you are currently among the lowest in terms of cultivation in our Sword Sect, and must strive diligently.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s shock continued, yet he maintained calm and silence excellently.


    This was his first time entering the Sword Sect.


    Previously, he had only heard about the Sword Sect and had never truly understood it.


    Now, the structure of the Sword Sect was finally unfolding before him.


    Indeed, it was unique and yet captivating.


    Ji Chuan was not surprised by theplex emotions of his junior brothers; he had behaved simrly when he first joined the Sword Sect.


    Ji Chuan reached out to gather the seven differently styled sword tokens and introduced them one by one to the six new disciples: ¡°Old Dragon Sword Talisman, representing Qingyun Peak.


    The Qingyun Peak Master is indeed the head of our Sword Sect. However, since he entered the realm of Sword Immortal, he ceased to take disciples, so you may disregard the Old Dragon Sword Talisman.


    The Crane Sword Talisman is the symbol of Canghai Peak.


    The Canghai Peak Master is proficient in the Sword Array techniques of Inner Sword Cultivation, creating arrays as vast and unending as the ocean.


    There are many Sword Cultivators who practice the technique of the Sword Array, making Canghai Peak one of the peaks with more brothers in the Seven Major Peaks.


    ¡°Brother Cao, I¡¯ve heard from our master that you are skilled in the techniques of the Sword Array. You might consider Canghai Peak,¡± he said.


    Cao Xiaoxin replied respectfully, ¡°Thank you for your guidance, brother. I will consider it seriously.¡±


    Ji Chuan continued to introduce, ¡°The Vermilion Bird Sword Token represents the Sheathless Peak among the Seven Peaks.¡±


    The Sheathless Peak Master has practiced only one technique throughout his life¡ªthe technique of nourishing the External Sword.


    Yet this single technique of nourishing the sword has already surpassed ny-nine percent of the Sword Cultivators in the world.


    So, the Sheathless Peak Master is also regarded by others as the ¡®scabbard¡¯ of the Sword Sect.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ because there is only one technique of nourishing the sword, it is not very versatile. Hence, the disciples of Sheathless Peak are very rare,¡± Ji Chuan paused for a moment and looked towards a thin young man among the three other Sword Cultivators besides Lu Qingshan, Yu Cibei, and Cao Xiaoxin. ¡°Brother Luo, although you have not practiced the technique of nourishing the sword before, our master said that you¡¯ve diligently practiced a Sword Technique for decades, eventuallying to your own understanding.


    Your temperament is actually quitepatible with the technique of nourishing the sword, and Sheathless Peak could be a consideration for you.¡±


    The thin Sword Cultivator named Luo nodded, ¡°Thank you, brother.¡±


    Indifferently, Ji Chuan continued, ¡°The Ant Sword Token represents Autumn Horizon Peak.¡±


    Before the whale swallows the sea, the Sword Qi crosses the autumn.


    The master of Autumn Horizon Peak is famous for his Sword Qi which extends vastly, and he is also proficient in various Secret Swords. It¡¯s a suitable choice for those who study Sword Qi or are interested in Secret Swords.¡±


    ¡°The Cornelian Cherry Sword Talisman is the symbol of the Eternal Peak.


    In the uncertain span of a hundred years of life, immerse in the boundless mood of eternity.


    The master of Eternal Peak also specializes in External Sword, but unlike others, he cultivates not the Secret Sword but the Sword Technique of ughter. The lineage of Eternal Peak possesses the most ferocious Sword Techniques in the Sword Sect, and its disciples harbor the most intense intent to kill.¡±


    The Vermilion Bird Sword Token is the symbol of my Vastness Peak.


    A speck of Vast Righteousness Qi spreads a thousand miles of swift winds. Vastness Peak was thus named after this idea.


    The master of Vastness Peak, my master, the Taibai Sword Master, is renowned for his exceptional skills in both Internal and External Swords and has ascended to the top of the Heavenly Ranking because of this. This suits you quite well, Brother Lu,¡± Ji Chuan said, his gaze resting on Lu Qingshan.


    He continued sadly, ¡°However, what¡¯s unfortunate is that my master is the only one among the seven peak masters who has not mastered the ughter Sword Intent. This is quite rare in the entire Sword Sect.


    I am aware that Brother Lu has a deepprehension of the ughter Sword Intent. If he truly joins under my master¡¯s tutge, it might be somewhat wasted.¡±


    ¡°Besides, my master is also the only one among the peak masters whose cultivation still resides in the Seventh Realm, and he is often ¡®overwhelmed¡¯ because of this.


    That is why the troublesome matter of discussing the Tao in the Seven Domains has been entrusted to my master,¡± Ji Chuan could not help but chuckle.


    ¡°As for thest, the Willowfluff Sword Token,¡± Ji Chuan pondered and then introduced, ¡°It is the symbol of the Sword Coming Peak.¡±


    Sword Coming Peak?


    The crowd immediately felt a chill in their hearts.


    Just hearing this name, they could sense the imposing presence of the Sword Coming Peak Master.


    Among the Seven Peaks, it is the only main peak directly named after the sword.


    Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Ji Chuan guessed their thoughts and smiled knowingly, ¡°This Sword Coming Peak Master, is indeed as you imagine¡ªhis presence is incredibly imposing.


    Do you know why the Sword Coming Peak Master has chosen the sword token to be Willowfluff?¡±


    Is there a backstory to this?


    The crowd looked at each other, shaking their heads in unison.


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 Chapter 371 - 6 One Sword Frost Cold

    Chapter 371: Chapter 6 One Sword Frost Cold


    Ji Chuan calmly revealed the answer, ¡°Among the seven Peak Masters, my master has the lowest cultivation, but he is the youngest of the Peak Masters of Sword Coming Peak, and this youth is not just by a slight margin.


    Each of the other six Peak Masters is at least several thousand years old, but the Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak is less than five hundred years old.¡±


    Upon hearing this, everyone couldn¡¯t help but be startled and amazed.


    Five hundred is the life expectancy of a Golden Core Cultivator.


    ording to what Ji Chuan implied, the Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak must be at least of the Eighth Realm.


    Such an existence, yet not exceeding five hundred years of age?


    Ji Chuan was not surprised by everyone¡¯s astonished expressions and continued, ¡°It¡¯s not just you all who are surprised, countless mighty cultivators are full of praise for the Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak, iming her to possess the posture of a Sword Immortal, with unparalleled talent across the wilderness and through the ages, reaching up to Azure Fall and down to Netherworld, the highest talented female sword cultivator withoutparison.


    When the Sect Master opened Sword Coming Peak, he personally appraised the Peak Master as ¡®What need is there for pale azure or light red hues, when she is inherently the finest among flowers.¡¯


    The Sect Master is one of the current three sword immortals of the Human Race; such an evaluation cannot be understated.


    Yet in the face of such recognition, the Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak simply shone with outstanding elegance.


    ¡®Compared to flowers? Not as good as catkins.¡¯


    And then she designated the Sword Token of Sword Coming Peak as catkins.¡±


    The elegance of the Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak¡­ truly is formidable.


    The crowd was silent for a long while, quietly reflecting on this in their hearts.


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan was deep in thought, with a hint of amazement gleaming in his eyes.


    ¡ª¡ªHe recognized this Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak, though it was a one-sided recognition.


    Because this Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak was indeed too famous.


    In his previous life, in multiple yer polls for the most popr NPC, the Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak was consistently ranked in the top three, having won the crown multiple times.


    The respected name of the Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak was Xia Daoyun.


    Before he arrived in this world, Xia Daoyun was already called the sword cultivator closest to a Sword Immortal.


    Moreover, Xia Daoyun was the only known cultivator with dual Legendary Talents in the game before he crossed over.


    One Sword Frost Cold was one of her Legendary Talents.


    Sword Qi spanning thirty thousand miles, One Sword Frost Cold over the Fourteen States.


    ¡­.


    After allowing the neers to recover somewhat from the shock, Ji Chuan said to Lu Qingshan, ¡°Junior Brother Lu, ording to my master, you cultivate both internally and externally, and have extensive learning.


    In this regard, Sword Coming Peak is actually the most suitable for you.


    Because, as the Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak says, she is exactly ¡®skilled in a bit of everything.¡¯


    Furthermore, since the opening of Sword Coming Peak only twenty years have passed, and our Sword Sect has always been strict in epting disciples, so thus far, Sword Coming Peak still does not have a single disciple.


    If you enter this Peak, you will be her first disciple.


    No matter what, when ites to the first disciple, I think everyone will pay extra attention.¡±


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly, sincerely thanking Ji Chuan.


    Ji Chuan, as the senior brother, truly embodies the demeanor of a great elder brother.


    ¡°You all consider it for a moment, which Peak you wish to join, just take down the corresponding Sword Token.¡±


    The crowd immediately fell into contemtion, with no one reacting at once.


    Seeing everyone¡¯s cautious attitude, Ji Chuan calmly and reassuringly said, ¡°The seven Peaks of Sword Sect, or rather, the seven Peak Masters, are not as mysterious as you might think, and you need not be so anxious. Although each of them has one or two quirks¡­¡±


    At this point, Ji Chuan seemed to recall something, a smile forming on the corner of his mouth as he continued, ¡°But when ites to disciples of the Sword Sect, they are always gentle and easy to talk to, just think of them as affectionate elders.


    Besides, Sword Sect has always been very lenient and allows for mistakes; even if you choose to join a certain Peak andter wish to change, that is also possible.


    Therefore, there is no need for you to be overly cautious, worrying about various benefits. Just follow your heart and choose the ce you most want to go to.¡±


    After Ji Chuan¡¯s words, Yu Cibei¡¯s eyes suddenly resolved, and he quickly took down a Cornelian Cherry Sword Talisman.


    Then, the others also quickly made their decisions.


    Lu Qingshan did the same.


    In his palmy a catkins Sword Token.


    Sword Coming Peak, Xia Daoyun.


    Lu Qingshan thought silently.


    This was his choice.


    Seeing that all six junior disciples had made their decisions, Ji Chuan directed, ¡°You can now assimte the Sword Tokens.


    After assimtion, the Sword Tokens will be branded with your marks, and from that moment on, these Sword Tokens will serve as your passes within the Sword Sect.


    Moreover, the moment you assimte the Sword Tokens, the peak masters will also receive your information through the tokens.¡±


    Everyone held the Sword Tokens in the palms of their hands, their Spiritual Power surged out and merged into the tokens.


    The Sword Tokens were neither metal nor stone, impervious to water and fire, fashioned from the extremely precious Nurturing Spirit Jade.


    As this Spirit Material conducted Spiritual Power exceptionally well, it only took a moment for them to leave their own marks within the Sword Tokens.


    After guiding everyone to choose their respective peaks, Ji Chuan led them out of the Peak Selection Hall and walked backwards to the Ding Shen Pavilion.


    The Ding Shen Pavilion is where the Sword Sect disciples¡¯ Soul Lamps are stored.


    This time, Ji Chuan¡¯s only responsibility was to show the way, as the one leading the storing of the Soul Lamps was another.


    The Soul Lamp is standard equipment for every Cultivation Sect and Cultivator family.


    From the time a cultivator joins the Sect, they leave a Soul Lamp within it.


    If the Soul Lamp burns eternally, the cultivator lives; should themp extinguish, the cultivator¡¯s life and dao dissipate.


    Besides that, one can also judge the state of a cultivator¡¯s health by the brightness of themplight, which is quite wondrous.


    Of course, given the strong utility of the Soul Lamp, its cost is naturally high, requiring not only unique refinement techniques but also particrly rare materials.


    A smaller Sect might only provide suchmps for the higher echelons and core disciples.


    As a Taoist Sect, with so few disciples, the Sword Sect naturally standardizes providing a Soul Lamp for every hand.


    Sword Cultivators aren¡¯t skilled at Artifacts Refining, so their Soul Lamps are purchased and custom-ordered from the Armor Pavilion.


    Under the guidance of an aged Sword Cultivator, Lu Qingshan and the other five entered the Ding Shen Pavilion.


    Inside the pavilion, over three thousand Soul Lamps were arranged in concealed cabs, their light small as beans, quietly fluctuating without wind, emitting specks of radiance that brought endless tranquility and ancientness.


    The aged one took out six bronzemps and said, ¡°Soul Lamp creation requires the refining of a trace of your Divine Soul and a drop of Essence Blood to create the wick. Then, you¡¯ll ignite it with your Spiritual Power, and the Soul Lamp will be consideredplete.¡±


    The neers, following the aged sword cultivator¡¯s directions, stepped forward in turn. The Essence Blood extraction was rtively simple; harvesting the Divine Soul was slightly more troublesome. However, the aged Sword Cultivator was quite experienced, and after a series of operations, a trace of the wick was suspended in the center of themp.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s thoughts shifted slightly, and with a flick of his finger, he projected a trace of Spiritual Power onto the wick.


    Fwoosh!


    A fment of bright, serene me sprang forth.


    The Soul Lamp was formed.


    The old man ced Lu Qingshan¡¯s Soul Lamp on a huge cab within the Ding Shen Pavilion, arrayed together with thousands of other Soul Lamps.


    The Soul Lamp shone bright.


    From that moment on, Lu Qingshan had formed an unseverable connection with the Sword Sect.


    After the six neers had left the Ding Shen Hall and were waiting outside, Ji Chuan smiled lightly and said, ¡°The entrance process for the Sword Sect consists of just these two steps; you are now disciples of the Sword Sect.


    ¡°From here on, we will part ways. ording to your selections, you should find the peak masters at the respective main summits to report yourselves.


    ¡°They should have already received the news of your joining and will have made arrangements for you.


    ¡°The Sword Tokens will guide you to the corresponding main peak.


    ¡°As for junior brother Qin, you wille with us. I will take you to Vastness Peak.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your guidance, senior brother,¡± said Lu Qingshan respectfully and sincerely, bowing to Ji Chuan.


    @@novelbin@@


    Along the way, Ji Chuan had been responsibly offering guidance, introducing Sect rules and customs, the duties of various halls, senior peak masters, and details to be mindful of, which had indeed been a great help to Lu Qingshan.


    ¡­.


    After bidding farewell to the others, led by the Sword Token, Lu Qingshan flew acrossyers of mountain peaks and arrived before a mighty towering peak.


    Looking out, the mountain path was shrouded in mist.


    This was Sword Coming Peak.


    Lu Qingshan gently removed the Sword Token, gathering Spiritual Power into it.


    Soon, a faint glimmer emanated from the Sword Token.


    ¡°Are you the first disciple of my Sword Coming Peak?¡± asked a woman¡¯s voice from the depths of the cloudy mountains, as melodious as the cry of phoenixes and cranes.


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 Chapter 372 - 7 Xia Daoyun (Large Chapter)

    Chapter 372: Chapter 7 Xia Daoyun (Large Chapter)


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Qingshan said.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Countless thoughts whirled through Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind in an instant, but his feet did not hesitate; he quickly stepped into the misty mountain.


    This peculiar mist seemed to possess a magical strength thatpressed space; merely a dozen steps transported him thousands of feet upward from the base to the waist of the mountain.


    Thest wisps of fog slowly dissipated before him, revealing andscape akin to a fairy realm.


    From the outside, the Sword Coming Peak appeared steep and de-like, yet surprisingly, it featured a broad and t teau at mid-mountain.


    Atop the cliff teau was a pond mirror-clear, lush and rustling sword bamboo, countless blooming flowers, and a cascading waterfall like a silvery thread.


    In the pond, a school of ck carps frolicked and leaped.


    In front of the pond stood two or three simple wooden towers suspended in air.


    @@novelbin@@


    In front of the wooden towers stood a woman, elegant in poise.


    She wore light-colored cyan clothes that draped over her slender figure.


    The woman was Xia Daoyun.


    The ce resembled a secluded hermit¡¯s dwelling.


    If it were not for the bamboo leaves shaped like flying swords, the pond¡¯s ripples faintly echoing with the force of an ocean, the waterfall that at a nce resembled a silver thread but upon a closer look hung like the Heavenly River inverted, and the initial simplicity of the wooden towers which on second inspection revealed an ancient and profound charm as marvelous as the celestial pces¡­


    All things that seemed simple, upon closer inspection, turned out to be different.


    Except for Xia Daoyun.


    At first nce, impressive.


    On closer inspection, still impressive.


    ¡­¡­


    A Sword Immortal is a realm that countless sword cultivators find difficult to achieve yet yearn for with their hearts.


    Not only because it requires the prerequisite of Ninth Realm, but also because the title of Sword Immortal carries a set of conditions that are abstruse, full of profound mysteries, yet immensely vast.


    Before Lu Qingshan arrived in this world, no yers had ever ascertained what those specific conditions were.


    But they knew that in twenty thousand years, there were many cultivators who had reached the Ninth Realm.


    Yet, there were only three Sword Immortals.


    Xia Daoyun was the sword cultivator most likely to be the fourth Sword Immortal of the Human Race; it seemed she was just one step away.


    Lu Qingshan respected Xia Daoyun.


    This was why he had chosen Sword Coming Peak.


    In the future, aside from those three, Xia Daoyun would be the cultivator closest to the Sword Immortal Realm.


    This indicated that Xia Daoyun¡¯s understanding of the Sword Dao was likely superior to that of the other five Peak Masters.


    He believed that having Xia Daoyun as his mentor would be of great help to him in achieving the Sword Immortal Realm.


    Xia Daoyun turned around, her aura and visage like moonlight on a cold river, dawn light on a clear pond.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan? The foremost figure in the discourse of the Seven Domains, peerless in both internal and external aspects? The person with the greatest talent in swordsmanship in the current era?¡± Xia Daoyun¡¯s gaze lightly fell upon Lu Qingshan¡¯s face.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°Attack me with your full strength using one sword strike,¡± Xia Daoyun said.


    Was this an assessment?


    Without any artifice, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dragon Sparrow Sword left his body and appeared in his hand.


    He took a slight breath, pointed the sword tip towards Xia Daoyun, and raised his sword.


    Secret Sword: Wind sh.


    Lu Qingshan inwardlymanded, and thrust the Dragon Sparrow Sword forward.


    Heaven Suppressing is an Exploding Sword that seeks utmost strength.


    Wind sh, however, is a Secret Sword akin to Tao, less powerful than Heaven Suppressing, but in terms of ir, it surpasses it by far.


    His cultivation was far too inferior to Xia Daoyun; neither Heaven Suppressing nor Wind sh posed any threat to her, and there wasn¡¯t much difference between them.


    Since that was the case, he opted for the more shy Wind sh.


    Sword Qi adorned the de crisscross, while Sword Intent burgeoned upon it.


    Hum!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword let out a light hum as two sword shadows emerged from it, then swiftly extinguished and disappeared.


    Xia Daoyun silently observed until the sword strike neared. Only then did she extend her fair, jade-like finger and lightly tap the tip of the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    Heaven and Earth fell silent for a moment.


    All the rampaging energies on the Dragon Sparrow Sword vanished, both Sword Qi and Sword Intent.


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback, then silently sheathed his sword.


    Xia Daoyun retracted her finger, slightly surprised, she raised her eyebrows, her gaze sweeping over Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    ¡°Good sword¡­ and a good sword,¡± Xia Daoyun nodded twice.


    The first ¡°good sword¡± was in reference to Lu Qingshan¡¯s strike.


    The second ¡°good sword¡± was in recognition of the Dragon Sparrow Sword itself.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just eighteen this year?¡± Xia Daoyun asked, having perceived the depth of Lu Qingshan¡¯s swordsmanship from a single strike.


    Lu Qingshan nodded honestly, ¡°After early winter, I will be neen.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Xia Daoyun¡¯s eyes shone a little brighter as she took another nce at Lu Qingshan, ¡°At such an age, to be able to execute such a sword technique, the title of the greatest talent in contemporary swordsmanship is not an exaggeration.¡±


    ¡°Too kind. In front of the Peak Master, I dare not discuss talent in swordsmanship,¡± Lu Qingshan could only respond with a fist salute.


    ¡°Why did you choose to be a sword cultivator?¡± Xia Daoyun suddenly asked.


    Lu Qingshan was taken aback.


    He had never considered this question.


    After some careful reflection, he recalled the moment he had firmly decided to pursue the path of sword cultivation.


    In the game, before creating a character and selecting a profession, one could get a feel for thebat styles of the six major cultivation schools.


    Back then, he tried each in turn.


    In the end, without any hesitation, he chose the path of sword cultivation.


    From then on, he had always been a sword cultivator.


    Why hadn¡¯t he hesitated back then?


    With his personality, such an important decision as choosing a cultivation school should have resulted in careful analysis of the pros and cons before making a decision.


    But his choice of sword cultivation at that moment was resolute.


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 Chapter 373 - 7 Xia Daoyun (Large Chapter)_2

    Chapter 373: Chapter 7 Xia Daoyun (Large Chapter)_2


    After a long while, Lu Qingshan finally remembered the feeling back then and smiled, saying, ¡°Because holding the sword in my hand feels the most intimate andfortable.¡±


    Where the heart goes, the path follows.


    When Xia Daoyun heard this, a trace of reverie shed in his eyes.


    That was a conversation from hundreds of years ago.


    ¡°Daoyun, the bloodline in you is the purest Ancestral Taoist bloodline.


    The Ancestral Taoist is the only cultivator of our human race who reached the Tenth Realm., your talent is a natural gift for Dharma Cultivation.


    If your path as a Dharma Cultivator is destined to be sessful, why would you choose the path of a Sword Cultivator?¡±


    ¡°Because I prefer the sword.


    Those spells are bothplicated and useless, a single sword strike is all it takes to end it.


    I don¡¯t like cultivating.¡±


    ¡­.


    Xia Daoyun slightly shook his head, dismissing those memories, and softly asked, ¡°Do you wish to join my Sword Coming Peak?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Qingshan affirmed.


    ¡°Good,¡± Xia Daoyun spoke with a hint of pleasure, ¡°then you are my first disciple, Xia Daoyun.¡±


    With a twist of his mouth, Xia Daoyun added, ¡°The Sect Master told me that my understanding of the Sword Dao is different from others, and I should probably not teach disciples easily.


    In terms of the sword, there is nothing I do not know yet, and even teaching others feels the same. I hope you can prove them wrong for me.¡±


    You want to challenge the understanding of the Sword Immortal Sect Master; as a disciple, it¡¯s naturally my duty to charge ahead and face the challenges for you.


    @@novelbin@@


    Thinking thus, Lu Qingshan softly responded, ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    With this address of ¡®Master¡¯, the bond between Lu Qingshan and Xia Daoyun was established.


    In the world of cultivators, the rtionship between disciple and master often surpasses even that of blood rtions.


    Therefore, it wasn¡¯t just Lu Qingshan who felt differently; Xia Daoyun¡¯s attitude also subtly changed after Lu Qingshan addressed him as Master.


    Apart from the sword in his hand, Xia Daoyun was indifferent to everything else.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was aloof by nature, but rather that his devotion made him unconcerned about other matters.


    But now, Lu Qingshan had stepped beyond the level of mere externals in her heart.


    ¡°I know you are skilled with the Flying Sword, understand the Sword Intent, are proficient in the Secret Sword, and cultivate several Life-bound Swords,¡± Xia Daoyun slowly said: ¡°This is somewhat simr to my own path, and it¡¯s fitting for you to join my Sword Coming Peak.¡±


    ¡°However, your Sword Intent, Secret Sword, and Flying Sword are all separate; there¡¯s no connection between them.


    The Sword Dao, in fact, is a path where all rivers flow into the sea, where one either understands onew to understand all, or can integrate and connect them all. Do you understand this?¡±


    ¡°Please enlighten me, Master,¡± Lu Qingshan respectfully said.


    This was the Eighth Realm Sword Cultivator¡¯s interpretation of the Sword Dao, and in his past life, his highest achievement was only the Seventh Realm. Before Xia Daoyun, his earlier pride in understanding seemed somewhatcking.


    ¡°For this first lesson, I will teach you about Sword Intent,¡± Xia Daoyun nodded and instructed quietly, ¡°Close your eyes, do not emit your Divine Sense, and feel with your heart.¡±


    Lu Qingshan was slightly startled but closed his eyes as instructed.


    A verdant sharpness converged between Xia Daoyun¡¯s jade-like fingers.


    Xia Daoyun had instructed him to feel, so he felt very carefully.


    It seemed there was nothing unusual, the faint sound of water was very pleasant, the air was very fresh, and there was a slightly pleasant scenting from Xia Daoyun, veryforting.


    Xia Daoyun quietly observed Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Qingshan¡­.¡± Xia Daoyun was about to start exining something when she abruptly stopped halfway through.


    She saw Lu Qingshan frown at that moment and then gradually rx.


    Hmm?


    Xia Daoyun raised her phoenix eyebrows in intrigue.


    On Lu Qingshan¡¯s part, when he first closed his eyes, the other four senses took over, leaving him slightly perplexed.


    But he remembered what Xia Daoyun had said about feeling with the heart.


    Thus, he entered a state of serene meditation, feeling this piece of heaven and earth with his heart.


    In that instant, it seemed something had pierced and dissolved that thinyer between him and heaven and earth.


    He saw something different, something seen with the heart.


    This sensation was somewhat simr to the enlightenment he experienced when his ughter Sword Intent broke through to the Unity Realm.


    Xia Daoyun¡¯s pleasing voice echoed in his mind, ¡°What did you see?¡±


    Lu Qingshan thought for a moment and earnestly replied, ¡°A very faint flow, like water.¡±


    A brief silence.


    Xia Daoyun¡¯s voice rang again, continuing to inquire, ¡°And now?¡±


    Lu Qingshan, now more familiar with the process, calmly answered, ¡°Like fire, somewhat blistering¡­.¡±


    ¡°And now?¡±


    ¡°Immensely solid, this is earth.¡±


    Xia Daoyun looked curiously at Lu Qingshan¡¯s handsome face, blinking her eyes, then asked, ¡°And now?¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lu Qingshan answered, ¡°Wind, but it¡¯s a strange kind of wind.¡±


    ¡°Strange in what way?¡± Xia Daoyun asked slowly.


    ¡°Wind passes with a flicker, yet this one lingers long.¡±


    Xia Daoyun¡¯s eyes lit up reflectively, appearing approving.


    Because Lu Qingshan¡¯s experience seemed rather simr to her own initial experience.


    ¡°Open your eyes.¡±


    Lu Qingshan opened his eyes, gazing at Xia Daoyun¡¯s graceful countenance.


    ¡°You are very sensitive to the perception of intent, more sensitive than I expected, and I appreciate that,¡± Xia Daoyun praised.


    Such praise was indeed unnecessary.


    Lu Qingshan thought so, unsure how to respond.


    ¡°Yourst perception was indeed of wind, but while the natural wind passes quickly, my intent allows it to linger,¡± Xia Daoyun rified.


    ¡°Follow me.¡± Xia Daoyun turned around, her robes slightly fluttering, her long ck hair flowing down like streaming water.


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 Chapter 374 - 7 Xia Daoyun (Large Chapter)_3

    Chapter 374: Chapter 7 Xia Daoyun (Large Chapter)_3


    @@novelbin@@


    Watching Xia Daoyun¡¯s retreating figure, Lu Qingshan followed.


    She led Lu Qingshan into one of the two or three wooden buildings in front of the smallke.


    Inside the ancient and fragrant hall, through the window, one could see at a nce the flying sword bamboo leaves outside, the jumping ck carp in theke, and a silvery waterfall.


    Xia Daoyun sat down, lightly tapped her index finger, and gestured for Lu Qingshan to sit as well.


    Seeing that Xia Daoyun had something to say, Lu Qingshan sat upright and listened attentively.


    ¡°What do you think about ¡®Sword Intent¡¯?¡±


    A huge question.


    This question, the current Lu Qingshan could not answer.


    Xia Daoyun understood and revealed the answer, ¡°Everyone isprehending the intent, and most Sword Cultivators think about dominating with the ¡®Sword Master¡¯s Intent¡¯; however, the intent exists between Heaven and Earth, it is the will of Heaven and Earth, and how could it be so easily dominated?


    My approach is to demonstrate the intent.¡±


    Demonstrate the intent?


    Lu Qingshan could not understand; the statement was too vague.


    Xia Daoyun began to speak more concretely, ¡°The flow of water through a stream is intent, the spring rain moist as cream is intent, and the waves of the Canghai are intent; a gentle breeze is intent, a strong wind is also intent; the revival of all things is intent, the growth and decay of grass and trees are also intent. Intent is in all things between Heaven and Earth, there is no need to search for it, just finely perceive it and then demonstrate it.


    However, this perception depends on talent, and talent is the luck of a very few people, but you, you have a particrly great piece of luck.¡±


    After a long silence, Lu Qingshan earnestly asked, ¡°Master, to whom should the intent be demonstrated?¡±


    ¡°To the Spiritual Power of Heaven and Earth.¡±


    ¡°Demonstrate to Spiritual Power?¡±


    ¡°Tell the Spiritual Power what you want to do, and then the Spiritual Power will manifest in the most suitable way for you, like your ughter Sword Intent, where your thoughts are of ughter, so the manifestation of Spiritual Power is to enhance the attack power of your Sword Technique.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes brightened, then he remembered another question, ¡°Then why does the same Sword Intent have different effects when executed by different people?¡±


    Xia Daoyun did not answer directly but countered, ¡°Are there two identical leaves in the world?¡±


    Fortunately, I have been educated in a system that prepares for examinations, otherwise ordinary ancients would inevitably argue with you.


    A mix of irrelevant thoughts inexplicably floated through Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind, but he seriously replied, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°If leaves are all different, people are even more so, naturally their perception of intent differs, and the differences in expression are even more obvious, so how could the effects be the same?¡±


    Lu Qingshan understood.


    Whoosh.


    A sh of blue light zoomed past from Xia Daoyun¡¯s sleeve.


    Lu Qingshan caught it, and asked subconsciously, ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°I have looked into your performance in the discourse of the Seven Domains.


    You have practiced the Myriad Swords Art in the Inner Sword inheritance of the Knowledge Guard Tower, but that Myriad Swords Art is just a simplified version given to the Knowledge Guard Tower by Great Xia and does not reflect the true power of the Myriad Swords Art.


    You once tried to fuse the ughter Sword Intent with Sword Qi, in fact, this is precisely the true direction of the Myriad Swords Art, but your technique was too crude.


    This is the trulyplete version of the Myriad Swords Art, take it back and study it carefully, and once you have made some achievements,e find me again, I have ns for you,¡± Xia Daoyun said unhurriedly.


    ¡°Studying skills is not an overnight matter, you have already grasped the Myriad Swords Art quite deeply, you should soon reap some benefits, there¡¯s no need to hurry¡­¡± Seeing Lu Qingshan had already started to probe the Jade Slip with his Divine Sense, Xia Daoyun spoke up.


    The next moment, she saw Lu Qingshan putting away the Jade Slip, he spaced out for a few moments, then with a flick of his hand, a fment of sharpness appeared at his fingertip.


    On the sharpness, there was no Spiritual Power, just pure Sword Intent condensed.


    The next instant, a Sword Qi Fment darted out, enveloping and merging with the fment of sharpness.


    Two became one.


    The Sword Qi was imposing.


    Having spent five thousand Experience Points to reach theplete version of the Myriad Swords Art at the level of one Sword, Lu Qingshan¡¯s spirit was slightly invigorated at this time.


    He could clearly feel that this sword was more than fifty percent stronger than before.


    After pondering for a moment, Xia Daoyun finally said, ¡°The wooden building next door is still vacant, that will be your residence.


    Go back, and simrly train thisplete version of the Myriad Swords Art to Six Hundred Swords, thene find me.¡±


    ¡°Master, I will take my leave then,¡± Lu Qingshan nodded.


    As Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure disappeared into the wooden building.


    Xia Daoyun seemed to think of something, lounging in her chair, hand supporting her cheek, she couldn¡¯t help but murmured, ¡°The old Sect Master said I might not be much of a teacher, he seems to have underestimated me.


    I said, he will.


    Taking on a disciple, isn¡¯t it just this simple?¡±


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 Chapter 375 - 8 Qingya Terrace Sword Duel (Two in One)

    Chapter 375: Chapter 8 Qingya Terrace Sword Duel (Two in One)


    Lu Qingshan was assigned to a wooden building, and to his surprise, the interioryout was just like the one Xia Daoyun had.


    It seemed that these two or three wooden buildings must have been crafted by the same person.


    As soon as he entered the building, a shadow darted out from Lu Qingshan¡¯s Spirit Beast Bag.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, there¡¯s so much Spiritual Energy here, it¡¯s about to overflow. I love it so much!¡± Intimidated by the formidable auras of many Sword Sect cultivators and thus hiding in the Spirit Beast Bag, daring not to stir trouble, the Western Mouse King finally felt free to run wild and express its excitement.


    ¡°The dazzling world is enchanting to the eyes, my love for the Sword Sect will never change!¡± The little demon mouse took a deep breath of air, indulging in the Spiritual Power that permeated it and was reluctant to disperse, and blinked its starry mouse eyes, blissfully intoxicated.


    Demon beasts also need to cultivate.


    With the amount of Spiritual Energy in the Sword Sect, even if a pig demon were to cultivate here, it would make rapid progress.


    Not to mention that the Western Mouse King itself had an extremely good natural talent.


    The little demon mouse seemed to have already seen its future of leaping through the Dragon Gate, achieving sess in cultivation, a future filled with youthful promise.


    Lu Qingshan did not dampen the little demon mouse¡¯s enthusiasm and even took the initiative to encourage it.


    ¡­


    ¡°Young master, your master¡­ she is very good,¡± Qin Yitian¡¯s voice suddenly resonated in Lu Qingshan¡¯s consciousness. ¡°Her aura feels somewhat simr to yours when you first gave me that impression.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    Lu Qingshan was not surprised by this.


    ording to Qin Yitian¡¯s initial assessment of him, he was a Sword Cultivator of Taoist Rank quality in the eyes of the Sword Artifact.


    Xia Daoyun, who also possessed a Legendary Talent as a Sword Cultivator, naturally should also be considered a Sword Cultivator of Taoist Rank quality, perhaps even higher.


    It was reasonable for Qin Yitian to feel this way.


    However, it seemed that Qin Yitian had keenly sensed Lu Qingshan¡¯s thoughts and, feeling misunderstood, became somewhat displeased, ¡°It¡¯s only somewhat simr, but¡­ she cannotpare to the young master.¡±


    Love is blind.


    The Sword Spirit felt the same way; out of thousands of people, who couldpare to her Sword Master?


    Hearing only the voice, Lu Qingshan seemed to see Qin Yitian pouting in dissatisfaction at that moment.


    He could not help but chuckle and quickly soothed the somewhat aggrieved Sword Spirit girl.


    ¡­.


    The little demon mouse, already overjoyed, picked a room in the wooden building and ceremoniously stamped its mouse paw on the door, dering its territory before eagerly beginning to experience the feeling of cultivating in such an environment rich with Spiritual Energy.


    Lu Qingshan sat alone in the hall, delving into theplete version of the Myriad Swords Art given to him by Xia Daoyun.


    The reason he¡¯d used Experience Points to learn it was just to enter the threshold more quickly and genuinely feel the differences between theplete and iplete versions of the Myriad Swords Art.


    With this understanding, the subsequent process was more about the umtion of quantity.


    Lu Qingshan did not mind staying in the Sword Sect to umte and consolidate for some time.


    His progress was too fast. Although heprehended new knowledge as quickly as sun melting snow.


    But no matter how fast theprehension, it was still something from someone else.


    He needed some time to transform it into something of his own.


    Xia Daoyun had told him toe find her once he had re-cultivated the Myriad Swords Art to Six Hundred Swords.


    Lu Qingshan listened obediently and had no ns to disturb her before then.


    He first joined the Sword Sect in the mid-autumn season, and as he gradually trained the Myriad Swords Art to the stage of Twenty Swords, mid-autumn was almost over.


    Lu Qingshan was gradually growing impatient.


    Not because he found the practice tedious¡ªon the contrary, he found the process not only engaging but thrilling.


    His impatience stemmed from the peaceful, inefficient practice of swordsmanship.


    From a modern perspective, before undertaking any task, there¡¯s a pursuit of the most efficient method; very few blindly slog away like simpletons.


    The greatest efficiency in his practice of the Myriad Swords Art was achieved during those six months in Qing State.


    Why?


    Simply put, the Formation of the Zhishi Tower had presented him with tremendous pressure.


    Only with pressure could he grasp the Myriad Swords Art faster.


    After some thought, Lu Qingshan left the Sword Coming Peak to visit one of the uncountable Sword Peaks, a low mountain peak in the vicinity.


    Qingya Peak on Qingya Terrace.


    ¡­¡­


    Qingya Terrace was the ce where Sword Sect disciples dueled with swords.


    It was a rule of the Sword Sect that new disciples, before breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm, were not allowed to leave the Sword Sect unless apanied by a senior brother or predecessor with Cultivation above the Nascent Soul Stage.


    The reason was quite simple.


    Though the Sword Sect was a Taoist Sect and had dominance over the Eastern Domain, the Human Race¡¯s territory was vast. Innumerable cultivators with ulterior motives posed endless dangers in both in sight and in the shadows.


    Given the warrior nature of Sword Cultivators, who acted on whim and were known for theirbativeness, venturing out of the Sword Sect without sufficient Cultivation posed a high chance of untimely demise.


    The number of members in the Sword Sect had never exceeded five thousand since ancient times.


    The loss of any disciple was a significant pain for the Sword Sect.


    Therefore, to protect their disciples, the ancestors of the Sword Sect wisely established this rule.


    However, it¡¯s well known that Sword Cultivators are inherently warlike, born to kill, and have a wild and carefree nature.


    And swordsmanship, which is an art of fighting and killing, how could it possibly be mastered by sitting and practicing in seclusion?


    Qingya Terrace came into being for precisely this reason.


    It was a ce specially allocated by the Sword Sect for their disciples below the Void Refining stage to practice sword dueling.


    Qingya Terrace, in fact, was a very spacious mountaintop area.


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 Chapter 376 - 8 Qingya Terrace Sword Duel (Unity)_2

    Chapter 376: Chapter 8 Qingya Terrace Sword Duel (Unity)_2


    Only a space as vast and close to the natural environment could satisfy the demands of sword cultivators¡¯ dueling.


    Before even reaching Qingya Terrace, Lu Qingshan could already see from afar arge area where dozens of sword cultivators were dueling, sword lights diverging, and continuous sword shadows creating a bustling scene.


    It is known, as Ji Chuan said, that the Sword Sect disciples below Void Refining were no more than three hundred in number.


    But here, Lu Qingshan had just nced and found that there were close to seventy sword cultivators.


    This was already one fourth of the total number.


    The reputation of sword cultivators for beingbative was indeed not an unearned, false charge.


    Lu Qingshan thought this to himself.


    Upon reaching Qingya Terrace, Lu Qingshan saw thousands of green bamboo swords arranged next to the cliff on one side of therge terrace.


    There were all kinds of styles, including some that could differentiate into dozens of tiny swords.


    These bamboo swords were indeed just bamboo swords, carved from the mostmon bamboo without a hint of spiritual nature.


    These bamboo swords were the designated swords for dueling on Qingya Terrace.


    The rationale was not hard to exin.


    The moves of sword cultivators were often extremely dangerous, and all sword cultivators had a very strongpetitive spirit, especially the disciples of the Sword Sect.


    If not restricted, by the time two sword cultivators determined a winner in their duel, it would either result in death or severe injury.


    The Sword Sect did not allow its disciples to engage in such fratricidal battles and internal weakening.


    Therefore, they devised such a method.


    The swords used in a duel must be the bamboo swords from Qingya Terrace, which could minimize the possibility of someone identally injuring their fellow disciples.


    After all, how could the lethality of a bamboo swordpare to a sword cultivator¡¯s life-bound sword?


    The determination of victory or defeat in a duel was even simpler.


    Whoever¡¯s bamboo sword was destroyed was the loser of the duel, and both parties should immediately stop and end the duel.


    ¡­¡­


    Lu Qingshan casually picked a bamboo sword and nted it in the ground in front of him, then stood and quietly waited.


    As Ji Chuan said, being a newly admitted disciple, his cultivation was the lowest within the Sword Sect.


    At this time, all the sword cultivators on Qingya Terrace were Nascent Soul cultivators, and him being of Golden Core cultivation made him quite the anomaly.


    In such a situation, few would choose to duel with him.


    Because a Nascent Soul fighting a Golden Core was hardly considered a proper spar but teaching through the sword was more appropriate.


    Thus, Lu Qingshan was very straightforward, posing in a dueling stance, neither humble nor arrogant, quietly waiting to see if any senior brother would decide to y with him.


    His presence quickly attracted some cultivators¡¯ attention.


    Because his Golden Core cultivation was too conspicuous.


    If they remembered correctly, within the Sword Sect at this time, the only other Golden Core cultivators were those new disciples brought back from the Seven Domains discourse by the master of Vastness Peak.


    @@novelbin@@


    Focusing on this reputation, quite a few Nascent Soul sword cultivators became interested.


    A tall sword cultivator, holding a slender bamboo sword, approached Lu Qingshan, looked him over, and introduced himself, ¡°I am He Yi, are you the new disciple who joined the Sword Sect as a winner of the Seven Domains discourse?¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡± Lu Qingshan responded politely.


    ¡°What was your ranking?¡± He Yi asked with eyes sparkling with curiosity.


    ¡°Modestly, I just managed to secure the first ce.¡±


    He Yi pped his hands lightly andughed heartily, ¡°I had heard that the winner of this Seven Domains discourse joined our Sword Sect, didn¡¯t expect it to be you.


    You have indeed elevated the name of our Sword Sect, so today I¡¯ll spar with you for a few rounds, just as a way to introduce you, a new brother, to our ways of the sword.¡±


    This conversation also attracted a few pairs of sword cultivators who had just be free.


    Influenced by the prestige of being the winner of the Seven Domains discourse, those who had nned to leave Qingya Terrace also paused and stayed.


    They too were curious about the techniques of this disciple who had remarkably secured the first ce in the Seven Domains discourse.


    He Yi moved back nearly a hundred yards.


    He was giving Lu Qingshan space to unsheathe his flying sword.


    ¡°Junior brother, shall we begin?¡± He Yi called out from a distance.


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.


    ¡°Here Ie!¡± He Yi shouted, a deliberate reminder to Lu Qingshan.


    At the same time, He Yi pointed from afar and with a thought, the bamboo sword in front of him shot explosively towards Lu Qingshan, wrapped in ayer of dense Spiritual Power to protect the bamboo sword.


    Of course, He Yi did not use his full strength but only applied about sixty percent, showing some mercy.


    After all, if he flipped Lu Qingshan with one stroke, it would defy his original intention.


    To his surprise, this good-looking junior brother didn¡¯t move the bamboo sword nted in the ground in front of him; instead, from his body emerged twenty vaguely blood-tinted Sword Qi Fments.


    He Yi was exceptionally talented and broadly experienced; the moment his controlled bamboo sword collided with Lu Qingshan¡¯s twenty Sword Qi Fments, he understood Lu Qingshan¡¯s intention.


    This little junior brother indeed came to Qingya Terrace to practice the sword.


    Thinking this in his heart, but considering this little junior had brought honor to the Sword Sect, He Yi¡¯s attitude remained very friendly.


    ¡°Then I¡¯d waste some time to spar with you.¡±


    With this thought, He Yi again pulled back by thirty percent of his force, confronting Lu Qingshan¡¯s flying-like Sword Qi Fments.


    After just a couple more moves, surprise rose in He Yi¡¯s heart.


    This little junior brother¡¯s Sword Qi Fments were solid and exceedingly sharp.


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 Chapter 377 - 8 Qingya Terrace Sword Duel (Unity)_3

    Chapter 377: Chapter 8 Qingya Terrace Sword Duel (Unity)_3


    This time, He Yi¡¯s interest was truly piqued.


    After observing carefully for a while, he discovered the intricacies within.


    Merging Sword Intent with Sword Qi.


    This junior brother, is he already beginning to study this at the Golden Core Stage?


    To achieve this step requires extremely high demands on both the realm of Sword Intent and the mastery of Sword Qi.


    And ordinarily, such requirements shouldn¡¯t be attainable by a Golden Core Cultivator.


    ¡°As expected of the leader in the Seven Domains¡¯ debate, indeed he has some skills,¡± He Yi¡¯s interest surged, and he exerted a bit more force.


    This time, Lu Qingshan¡¯s defense was already somewhat strenuous.


    But what surprised He Yi was that in just a few breaths¡¯ time, Lu Qingshan pointed out distantly, and three threads of Sword Qi Fments bearing extremely pure Sword Intent shot out shakily, joining the fray of battle.


    ¡­


    In the end, Lu Qingshan lost, but thanks to He Yi¡¯s conscious care, the sword duelsted almost an hour.


    By the end of it, he had perfectly refined control over twenty-three Sword Qi Fments.


    Indeed, pressure is the best catalyst for improvement.


    Lu Qingshan approached He Yi and politely thanked him, ¡°Thank you, senior brother, for your guidance and indulgence.¡±


    He was clearly aware that the reason the duelsted an hour was undoubtedly because He Yi saw his intentions and was cooperating with him.


    ¡°Junior brother is exceptionally talented,¡± He Yimented earnestly.


    ¡°Senior brother tters me; it¡¯s also thanks to your mercy,¡± Lu Qingshan did not stint on his thanks.


    He Yi nodded at Lu Qingshan, indicating his understanding.


    Immediately he turned around, controlled his sword, transformed into a streak of Sword Light, and his figure quickly disappeared among the numerous Sword Peaks.


    ¡°This junior brother, I will also join you for a bit, now that He Yi has left¡­¡± Another Nascent Soul Realm senior brother, full of interest, said as soon as He Yi had left.


    This senior brother was one of the cultivators who had watched the entire process of the duel between Lu Qingshan and He Yi.


    ¡°Thank you, senior brother,¡± Lu Qingshan readily epted.


    This is the effect of a good reputation.


    Carrying the name of the leader in the Seven Domains¡¯ debate into the Sword Sect, he had yet to meet these senior brothers, but he had already made a favorable impression in their hearts.


    And now this impression was fermenting and taking effect.


    ¡­¡­¡­


    Thus began Lu Qingshan¡¯s life in the Sword Sect in such an odd fashion.


    Qingya Terrace became his ce to practice swordsmanship, and his good reputation meant that the senior brothers were willing to apany him in his practice when they had free time.


    Of course, the more important reason was that Lu Qingshan was not only constantly progressing but also at a rapid pace. Every duel with Lu Qingshan brought them a refreshing feeling.


    It was this feeling that extended their novelty and allowed this activity to continue over a long-term.


    Because these Nascent Soul senior brothers were also very curious about how much Lu Qingshan would have improved by the next duel.


    After a month like this, sparring with the junior brother practicing the Myriad Swords Art for a few moves had be a tradition at Qingya Terrace.


    And ¡°guess how many swords Lu Qingshan has advanced his Myriad Swords Art to today¡± became an interesting topic frequently discussed among these two hundred Sword Sect disciples.


    One day, just after Lu Qingshan had sparred with a Nascent Soul Late Stage senior brother, he suddenly heard a light ¡°eh¡± that seemed far yet near.


    Lu Qingshan looked up, recognized the neer, and quickly said with respect, ¡°Junior has seen Senior Brother Ji Chuan.¡±


    The person who came was Ji Chuan, the senior brother who had led Lu Qingshan into the sect, the eldest senior brother of the Sword Sect.


    Over these days, through conversations with various senior brothers, Lu Qingshan had gained a deeper understanding of this eldest senior brother.


    Who could imagine that this amiable and approachable eldest senior brother would be ranked first on the Yellow List, an invincible being in the Fourth Realm.


    ¡°I just heard that you were practicing swordsmanship at Qingya Terrace, so I came over to have a look,¡± Ji Chuan exined.


    ¡°Senior brother is thoughtful,¡± Lu Qingshan thanked him with a bow of his hands.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching your situation for a while.


    Your ughter Sword Intent is strong, and even if we include Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators in the assessment, it remains the same,¡±


    Ji Chuan got straight to the point and advised, ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that your ughter Sword Intent is too conspicuous, heavy on the surface aspect of might.


    The consequence is that once the Sword Intent is released, the killing intent is overpowering, as if telling the enemy, ¡®I¡¯m going to use my ultimate skill on you,¡¯ giving them ample time to prepare.


    Sword Intent should be maintained within your Flying Sword all the time, contained but not revealed, dispersing and gathering at will¡­¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    Lu Qingshan was silent.


    Indeed, his Sword Intent was at a high realm, but the problem was that he didn¡¯t know how to use it.


    Previously, when he used Sword Intent, it was more blunt.


    Abruptly and simply attached to the sword, and then exploding was the end of it.


    But this way of using it, while ferocious, was monotonous andcked flexibility, and it was easy for opponents to guard against.


    Only by condensing Sword Intent within the sword, containing but not revealing it until the right moment to explosively burst forth, could its lethality be maximized.


    What Ji Chuan taught was not some Divine Skill but an understanding and usage of Sword Intent.


    This was something Lu Qingshan never encountered in the online game of his previous life.


    So, he could only slowly learn, study, andprehend.


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 Chapter 378 - 9: Senior Brothers and Sisters in the Sword Sect

    Chapter 378: Chapter 9: Senior Brothers and Sisters in the Sword Sect


    Lu Qingshan was extremely talented, but his understanding of some cultivation concepts was limited due to the short time he had been practicing and his limited foundational knowledge.


    However, all this would change and improve quickly as his cultivation time increased and he broadened his horizons.


    Now, with Ji Chuan¡¯s guidance, this process would undoubtedly elerate.


    Seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s brows gradually smooth out and his enlightened expression, Ji Chuan smiled and said, ¡°Junior Brother, you indeed have excellentprehension.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Chuan took a simple bamboo sword from the side of Qingya Terrace with a casual sweep, and it appeared in his hand, ¡°Come, today I will ¡®feed¡¯ your sword for you.¡±


    Lu Qingshan took a deep breath and nodded, ¡°Alright, then I will have to trouble Senior Brother.¡±


    Seeing the Senior Brother personally make a move, everyone turned their gazes to watch, faces filled with curiosity.


    The Sword Sect disciples present had all received some help from Senior Brother Ji Chuan more or less, finding this scene somewhat familiar.


    ¡°Here ites.¡± Ji Chuan said with a smile.


    Boom!


    The bamboo sword turned into a streak of green light, bringing with it the sound of wind and thunder, charging towards Lu Qingshan.


    Vast Righteousness Sword of Vastness Peak.


    The Vast Righteousness Sword pursued the straight and direct, not seeking the crooked, with the philosophy of heart upright and spirit firm, striking without doubt, overwhelming and unstoppable, breaking all opposition.


    Once unleashed, there was nothing in the world that could block it.


    Even a bamboo sword was the same.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind tensed, he seriously prepared himself.


    Whiz, whiz, whiz, like a return to the source of myriad swords, behind him, four hundred and twenty fments of Sword Qi burst forth, flickering with blood-red light, formidable and impressive.


    ¡°Too conspicuous, Junior Brother,¡± Ji Chuan said with a slight smile at the sight.


    ng, ng, ng!


    A single bamboo sword pierced forth like a lone knight breaking armor, charging straight for Lu Qingshan¡¯s face.


    Sword Qi Fments struck the bamboo sword, hindering it with a persistent ringing in the air.


    Ji Chuan smiled faintly, unconcerned, not rushing to destroy the Sword Qi Fments controlled by Lu Qingshan, gracefully moving and entangling them, gradually dissipating the Sword Qi.


    Just like boiling a frog in warm water.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart tightened, and under full concentration, his spirit moved again, trying to marshal the Sword Qi Fments, which had be like a rain of Flying Swords.


    Thread by thread, the trembling Sword Qi Fments joined the fray one after another, against Ji Chuan¡¯s bamboo sword that was like a peerless Great General.


    For these Sword Qi Fments, which Lu Qingshan had not yet fully mastered, Ji Chuan showed enough tolerance, not interfering too much with his attack, but not ignoring it either, applying appropriate pressure.


    In such a deliberate situation, in just half an hour, the originally somewhat awkward Sword Qi Fments were already moving as if by an extension of his own limbs.


    ¡°I will teach you one final sword technique.¡± After about an hour, Ji Chuan, feeling it was about right, suddenly said.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression became solemn, ready with his full attention.


    Without any grandiose movements from Ji Chuan, his bamboo sword seemed to be fueled by fire in that instant.


    Surrounding the de, the Spiritual Power that was one with the bamboo sword surged like a tide, forming Sword Qi, greatly surprising Lu Qingshan.


    This was Sword Intent!


    From the beginning, Ji Chuan had actually infused the Sword Intent into the bamboo sword, but had not unleashed it until now, eluding Lu Qingshan¡¯s notice.


    Until this moment, the Sword Intent burst forth violently.


    At the same time, Lu Qingshan felt a strange and alien force of Heaven and Earth emerge on the bamboo sword.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Intent was of ughter, fierce and intimidating.


    This Sword Intent, however, was immensely vast, a righteous and clear breeze.


    As if all living things were growing, thriving and prospering.


    Hiss, hiss, hiss!


    The bamboo sword, erupting with Sword Intent, instantly shattered and dissolved all the Sword Qi Fments.


    In the end, the bamboo sword hovered in the air.


    The ubiquitous Sword Intent once again retracted into the bamboo sword, the breeze undisturbed.


    This was the Sword Intent that Ji Chuan had spoken of earlier, hidden and then erupting without warning, leaving opponentspletely unprepared.


    And when Lu Qingshan released Sword Intent, it was like the Myriad Swords Art, with the fierce aura fully revealed, alerting the enemy before even making a move.


    Therefore, even if they were of the same realm and same Sword Intent, Ji Chuan would undoubtedly be the victor in a contest against Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan now somewhat understood why in games, yers were often outmatched by NPCs of the same level.


    Aside from talent, there must also be a difference on this level.


    ¡°Thank you for the instruction, Senior Brother,¡± Lu Qingshan said with a cupped fist salute.


    Ji Chuan nced at Lu Qingshan and smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve been fairly freetely, and can spare an hour every day to feed your sword. Would you like that?¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind stirred with joy, ¡°I could only hope for such an offer, thank you, Senior Brother.¡±


    Ji Chuan showed no sense of taking credit, as if he had done a trivial thing, waved his hand and turned into a streak of green light, leaving Qingya Peak with Sword Control.


    In his eyes, it was indeed not worth mentioning.


    As the eldest senior brother, helping a junior brother was simply part of the natural order of things, wasn¡¯t it?


    ¡­.


    Mid-autumn, Winter Solstice, Frost¡¯s Descent, Early Spring.


    Days at the Sword Sect flew by in an orderly and swift fashion.


    The smallke atop Sword Coming Peak had a tendency to grow into a sea without source.


    The ck carp moved restlessly within, full of life and vigor.


    The female master, with eyebrows like distant mountains, had not been seen for quite a while, her activities a mystery.


    A small rat demon, with its chest heaving, was earnestly cultivating a spell, absorbing the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth.


    On Qingya Terrace of Qingya Peak, the ce was always bustling with activity.


    There was the eldest senior brother Ji Chuan feeding the sword for an hour each day.


    The other senior brothers, too, would asionally join in for a bit of fun with the Golden Core junior brother when the mood struck them.


    Sometimes, one could witness a senior brother struck by inspiration, proposing a novel idea, eager to test its feasibility right there on Qingya Terrace.


    Most ideas were quickly rejected.


    @@novelbin@@


    But once in a while, one or two intriguing thoughts would ignite collective involvement, everyone trying to refine the concept.


    Although most of the time, as the discussion deepened, these entric ideas would ultimately reveal unsolvable ws.


    Yet, this process of discussion had the power to broaden the horizons and perspectives of all involved.


    This was a sh of thoughts and beliefs among a group of genius Sword Cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s talent surpassed that of most Sword Cultivators.


    However, along the way, his reliance on enhanced intuition and powerful understanding had enabled him to grasp various Sword Techniques with ease.


    In the realm of ideas, Lu Qingshan, with his slim foundation of knowledge, often could do no more than observe from the sidelines.


    But asionally, he would chime in with a point of his own.


    For example, when a senior sister suddenly decided to explore how external forces could increase Flying Sword Speed and, thereby, its power¡ªa seemingly wed proposition.


    Many were intrigued but felt it was impractical.


    Yet, with his thoughts liberated, Lu Qingshan had a stroke of ingenuity.


    Consider the Sword Qi adhering to the surface of a Flying Sword; it could be slightly condensed to a less rampant and overflowing state of Spiritual Power, clinging closely to the Flying Sword, especially at the tip, to be shaped into a sharp, streamlined form.


    This idea might have seemed baseless, but the senior brothers and sisters were all about practicality.


    Was it useful or not? Why not give it a try and find out?


    When they gave it a go, they indeed found that the Flying Sword Speed unexpectedly improved by half, leaving them astounded.


    To reduce the force experienced by decreasing surface area and minimize air resistance.


    A very simple concept.


    Beyond these interesting discoveries,


    There was also the increasingly profound mastery of Sword Intent and the rapidly advancing Myriad Swords Art.


    In the final days of the third year of Tianyuan at the Sword Sect¡¯s Qingya Peak, these seniors and juniors¡ªwho had only recently stepped onto the path of the Sword Dao and were considered neers¡ªcontinuously relived a scene that had persisted for thousands, even tens of thousand years.


    One could imagine that in the future, when things have changed and people have moved on, these brothers and sisters will look back on this time with immense nostalgia.


    This was the pure essence of their initial sincerity.


    Everything was exceedingly interesting.


    Here, there was none of the survival of the fittest or fiercepetition among sect members that Lu Qingshan had expected, only a group of diverse yet endearing senior brothers and sisters.


    There were no decades-long flips of fortune as rumored in the sectpetitions, only Qingya Terrace with its primary focus on exchange and experimentation.


    No stringent rules and regtions, just an atmosphere of freedom and tranquility.


    Of course, there was no old man peering at him relentlessly, tirelessly imparting teachings, only a beautiful female master who seemed to be hands-off in her approach.


    This was the Sword Sect, unique in all of Heaven and Earth, the one and only Sword Sect.


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 Chapter 379 - 10 Sword Stele Secret Realm

    Chapter 379: Chapter 10 Sword Stele Secret Realm


    Standing by thekeside in the breeze, with the morning light and dew slightly shimmering, Lu Qingshan gazed at the ck carp in the smallke.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Fments of Sword Qi, indistinguishable from the swimming fish, meandered through theke at will.


    These ck carps seemed to treat the Sword Qi as theirpanions, frolicking joyfully with them.


    To onlookers, this was incredibly astonishing.


    Sword Qi, the sharpest of elements, radiating fierce energy, had somehow be so gentle that even the fish were unafraid, a level of control that could only be described as terrifying.


    ¡°Not bad, the Sword Intent is subdued, much like the swimming fish,¡± a light praise came from behind Lu Qingshan.


    The moment Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart stirred, all the Sword Qi fments in theke suddenly surged upward and entered his body.


    Afterward, Lu Qingshan turned around.


    A figure in blue robes came into view, standing just a few steps behind him.


    The woman had rosy lips and a jade-likeplexion, with eyebrows arched like distant hills, though her expression carried a trace of faint fatigue.


    ¡°Master,¡± Lu Qingshan called respectfully.


    Xia Daoyun nced at the 650 strands of Sword Qi fments that had merged into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body and nodded slightly, exining, ¡°I got dyed by some matters, so my return was slow.¡±


    Lu Qingshan naturally had no objections.


    ¡°Your progress in Sword Intent is fast,¡± Xia Daoyun¡¯s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, ¡°It almost seems as if you¡¯ve entered the higher learning.¡±


    With a wave of her sleeves, a piece of ancient yet spiritually radiant green Spirit Jade flew in front of Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan received the green Spirit Jade somewhat bewildered.


    Upon the Spirit Jade, inscriptions of unfathomable, mysterious Taoist patterns flowed out.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°The chief reward of the Seven Domains Debate on Tao, your chosen Great Xia Scripture, Void Refining Chapter,¡± Xia Daoyun said. ¡°The Spirit Jade contains the Taoist patterns of the Great Xia Scripture.


    Once you probe it with your Divine Sense, these patterns will simte various transformations of this scripture within your Primordial Spirit, and then the patterns will disappear.


    Moreover, you can only cultivate from this scripture yourself and must not transmit it to others, including those of the Sword Sect.¡±


    ¡°I will remember well,¡± Lu Qingshan confirmed, understandingly.


    He had not expected that the Great Xia Scripture, which was said to be personally delivered by Great Xia after some time, would actually be entrusted to him by his master.


    However¡­


    @@novelbin@@


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered a question.


    The Great Xia Scripture being such a vital legacy, why would Great Xia entrust it to Xia Daoyun to pass on to him?


    Is it because they trust Xia Daoyun not to pry into its secrets?


    Or is it that even if Xia Daoyun saw the techniques in the Great Xia Scripture, it wouldn¡¯t matter?


    Recalling Xia Daoyun¡¯s surname.


    Thetter possibility seemed more likely¡­


    Yet, if Xia Daoyun truly hailed from the Ancestral Taoist Bloodline and the Great Xia Imperial n, why would she opt to cultivate in the Sword Sect and eventually be the Peak Master of Sword Coming Peak?


    As Lu Qingshan pondered this, he felt the origin of it all must be incredibly interesting; however, he had already swiftly stored the Great Xia Scripture¡¯s Spirit Jade into his Storage Ring.


    ¡°Do you know why I wanted you to elevate Myriad Swords Art to a certain realm before teaching you other things?¡± Xia Daoyun asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s to ensure I have a fuller understanding and stronger control of my own Sword Intent,¡± Lu Qingshan replied.


    Xia Daoyun nodded slightly, then said, ¡°Then do you know why I value Sword Intent so much?¡±


    Lu Qingshan shook his head.


    He did know somewhat.


    Intent is rted to theter path of cultivation.


    But what he knew was too superficial, so he still wished to hear Xia Daoyun¡¯s detailed exnation.


    ¡°The path of cultivation spans ten realms.


    The Tenth Realm, among the Human Race, only the Ancestral Taoist has reached, and we need not discuss it further; thus, consider it as nine realms.


    Void Refining is the Fifth Realm of cultivation. Even though the cultivators who reach this realm are extremely rare, the truth is that the cultivator¡¯s path truly begins only after reaching the Fifth Realm.


    The initial four realms merelyy the foundation.


    The most crucial transformation in the Fifth Realm is the condensation of the Taoist Seed.


    What does the Dao Seed condense from?


    It condenses from this Intent, the stronger the Intent, the more vibrant the Dao Seed will be when formed.


    ¡°Therefore, in the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms, you must find ways toprehend and enhance your Intent as much as possible, as it affects your future path,¡± Xia Daoyun exined in great detail.


    ¡°Ji Chuan has long reached the state of Nascent Soul Great Perfection and is known as invincible in the Fourth Realm.


    If he wanted to break through to Void Refining, it would just be a matter of thought.


    However, he has been suppressing his own realm, precisely because he wants to elevate an upper-level Intent to Primordial Intent and congeal an extremely profound Dao Seed, but he doesn¡¯t have enough umtion yet and can only continue to umte and settle,¡± Xia Daoyun used Ji Chuan as an example directly.


    ¡°So, starting to cultivate Intent earlier is definitely worth it,¡± Xia Daoyun stated matter-of-factly.


    As for Golden Core Cultivators perceiving Intent, it¡¯s an extremely strenuous task, generally only in the Nascent Soul Realm can one slightly handle it with ease, which Xia Daoyun has never experienced.


    Because her cultivation started with theprehension of Primordial Intent in the Golden Core Realm.


    Therefore, in her view, starting to cultivate Intent in the Golden Core is absolutely no problem.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Lu Qingshan said.


    ¡°Take out your Sword Token,¡± Xia Daoyun instructed.


    Lu Qingshan promptly took out his Willowy Sword Token.


    Xia Daoyun extended her index finger, gently touched it, and a Spiritual Light merged into the Sword Token.


    ¡°I have inscribed ten days of Sword Stele Secret Realmprehension time into your Sword Token. Next, you should take a trip to the Sword Stele,¡± Xia Daoyun said indifferently.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart stirred, and he respectfully said, ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    ¡°Intent is each person¡¯s enlightenment; I cannot teach you too much, and you will need to explore more on your own,¡± Xia Daoyun drifted away.


    ¡­¡­


    After she left, Lu Qingshan then turned his gaze to his Sword Token.


    It was the Sword Stele Secret Realm!


    Ji Chuan had once introduced this ce to them, the six new disciples.


    This was considered the most crucial secret realm in the eyes of disciples below the Void Refining level within the Sword Sect.


    The Sword Stele Secret Realm came into existence shortly after the establishment of the Sword Sect.


    At that time, a Seventh Realm Sword Cultivator in his twilight years of cultivation and facing death.


    Since he had not achieved the requirements to open a main peak, he could not take disciples to pass down his sword dao.


    Yet, he was unwilling to let his lifetime of sword dao silently disappear into the earth or to pass it down to a mediocre talent.


    After pondering, he thought of a method, took a stele, and left numerous sword marks encapsting his own Sword Intent and swordsmanship on it, unconditionally avable forter disciples of the Sword Sect to study.


    These sword marks were arcane and obscure, only cultivators with true talent could glean understanding from them.


    Thus, this was a clever way to permanently pass down his swordsmanship.


    Later, this act greatly inspired subsequent Sword Cultivators of the sect.


    Numerous Sword Cultivators, who had no chance to open a main peak, followed his example and left a stele containing their life¡¯sprehension and experiences forter Sword Sect disciples to study.


    Over tens of thousands of years, more and more cultivators did this, creating a virtuous cycle, and the number of sword steles also increased.


    Eventually, the Sword Sect gathered these steles together, forming a forest of sword steles for disciples to study.


    These steles, which gathered the lifetime experiences of Sword Cultivator predecessors, held tremendous inspirational and guiding significance for lower realm Sword Cultivators.


    Xia Daoyun hoped Lu Qingshan could furtherprehend one or two suitable Intents in the Sword Stele Secret Realm.


    The enhancement of theirbat power by cultivating Intent was evident and implicated their future paths, which Lu Qingshan naturally was pleased about.


    Moreover, one of the reasons he had been holding off on advancing his cultivation to Golden Core Perfection was this.


    The Taoist Treasury technique he was cultivating had an additional effect:


    Refining the Taoist Treasury Golden Core to Max Level would allow one toprehend a Divine Skill.


    The specific form and power of this Divine Skill would depend on the cultivator¡¯sprehension of Intent.


    In simple terms, the deeper theprehension of Intent, the stronger the Divine Skill naturally would be.


    Therefore, he also wanted to grasp several Sword Intents and elevate the rank of Intent before enhancing his cultivation level toprehend a powerful Divine Skill.


    And Xia Daoyun¡¯s thoughts perfectly matched his intentions.


    ¡­¡­


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 Chapter 380 - 11: Comprehension of the Sword Monument (Added by the Hall Master Zhang Xiaoyuan)

    Chapter 380: Chapter 11: Comprehension of the Sword Monument (Added by the Hall Master ¡®Zhang Xiaoyuan¡¯)


    The Sword Stele Secret Realm was situated atop the Sword Sect¡¯s Cultivation Peak.


    After Lu Qingshan handed over the Sword Token to the decrepit Sword Cultivator guarding the peak,


    the elder, with his hair graying, couldn¡¯t help but look at Lu Qingshan in surprise, ¡°You¡¯re at the Golden Core Stage and you¡¯vee toprehend the Sword Monuments in the Sword Stele Secret Realm, with ten days to do so?¡±


    Lu Qingshan could feel the astonishment in the elder¡¯s tone. He chose to ignore the first part of the statement, but the second part caught his attention.


    Ji Chuan had said that theprehension time in the Sword Stele Secret Realm was extremely precious, but Lu Qingshan had no clear concept of its value.


    Yet, seeing that Xia Daoyun casually granted him ten days, he inherently felt that it must be somewhat precious.


    However, seeing the old man¡¯s reaction now, it seemed different from what he had thought.


    ¡°Is ten days ofprehension time considered a lot?¡± Lu Qingshan asked politely.


    Taken aback by Lu Qingshan¡¯s question, the elder frowned and suddenly asked, ¡°Which peak¡¯s disciple are you? Who is your mentor?¡±


    ¡°Sword Coming Peak, mentored by Xia Daoyun,¡± Lu Qingshan replied.


    ¡°No wonder¡­.¡± Upon hearing this answer, the elder seemed to have an epiphany and muttered, ¡°That girl never knows the cost of food and fuel until she must buy it for herself¡­¡±


    The elder looked up to see Lu Qingshan still looking puzzled and said gruffly, ¡°Normally, a Sword Sect disciple is only granted three days¡¯ time toprehend in the Sword Stele Secret Realm when they break through to Nascent Soul Stage. To wish for more is to depend on fate and fulfilling certain conditions.


    You, on the other hand, are still at the Golden Core Stage, and your generous mentor casually allocated you ten days of her own umtedprehension time.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s pupils contracted slightly.


    He hadn¡¯t thought ten days were many before, but now, after the elder¡¯s exnation, he suddenly understood.


    Those ten days ofprehension time had not been mentioned by Xia Daoyun, so he had assumed they were something all Sword Sect disciples had ess to.


    It turned out to be Xia Daoyun¡¯s private umtion from the past, now allotted to him.


    Lu Qingshan nced at the old Sword Cultivator who appeared pained by this gesture.


    Inside, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of appreciation.


    My mentor really is generous toward me.


    After scrutinizing Lu Qingshan carefully, the elder wiped a hand over Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Token and handed it back. Then, forming a hand seal with his right hand, he suddenly pointed at the stone wall in front of him. Immediately, a roaring sound erupted.


    Amidst the reverberating roar, brown ripples appeared on the stone wall, much like the surface of ake.


    At that moment, a colossal ck crevice appeared on the stone wall.


    ¡°The Sword Stele Secret Realm is inside,¡± the decrepit Sword Cultivator spoke indifferently. ¡°You only have ten days. Of course, if you feel ufortable inside, you can choose to exit early. Don¡¯t overexert yourself.


    The number of days you spend inside will be the exact number of days deducted from your time.¡±


    Lu Qingshan took a deep breath, bowed to the decrepit Sword Cultivator, and then strode toward the fissure, vanishing within it in an instant.


    Only after Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure had disappeared did the elder unintentionally mutter to himself, ¡°Isn¡¯t this wasteful¡­ How can one below the Nascent Soul Stage aspire to enter the Sword Stele Secret Realm andprehend its intent? It¡¯s simply an impossible dream.


    To say nothing of gaining insight, it would be difficult for him to even stay there for ten days. I better pay close attention to what happens inside. If anything goes awry with thed, I¡¯ll promptly transport him out to prevent injury.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Here¡­,¡± when Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure appeared, he found himself in a barren world.


    In front of himy a stone forestposed of towering Sword Monuments.


    The Sword Monuments were spaced far apart from each other.


    @@novelbin@@


    A narrow pathway unfurled, leading deep into the forest of Sword Monuments.


    An odd sensation came over him, causing Lu Qingshan¡¯s scalp to tingle.


    Sword Intent whirled around, making the Primordial Spirit above Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sea of Consciousness experience a slight pricking pain.


    This sensation was due to the excessively strong Sword Intent from the Sword Monuments, which radiated outward, attacking his Primordial Spirit.


    Lu Qingshan paced forward into the forest of Sword Monuments.


    ¡°No one masters the dance, Qiu Shan locks the Divine Dragon.¡±


    At the entrance, the first stone stele boldly disyed these elegantly carved verses¡ªnot with ink, but engraved by a sword cultivator using a sword.


    Watching Lu Qingshan approach the first sword monument outside the secret realm, the frail old mentor couldn¡¯t help but purse his lips.


    ¡°Thisd seems to have a rather strong Primordial Spirit, so he can withstand it, but¡­¡± the mentor sighed, ¡°the reason why only those with Nascent Soul Cultivation can enter this Sword Stele Secret Realm is that the enlightenment of the sword monument has its own thresholds.¡±


    It¡¯s not as simple as just looking at a sword monument and gaining enlightenment.


    One must resonate with the swordsmanship and Sword Intent contained within the monument in order to glean insights from it.


    And the stronger the cultivator, the easier it is to resonate with the sword monument.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingshan gazed intently at the ten characters, feeling irresistibly drawn in as if by their gravity.


    The script itself seemed to form its own space, with a myriad of images and meanings subtly emerging.


    ¡°Profound!¡±


    The more Lu Qingshan observed these ten characters, the more inscrutable they appeared.


    Contained within these ten characters were, astonishingly, ten Sword Techniques and two types of Sword Intent.


    ¡­


    Outside the secret realm, the mentor was taken aback to see Lu Qingshan so immersed in the first sword monument.


    Could it be that he had just happened upon a sword monument that matched his own sword path?


    Thed¡¯s luck was quite good indeed.


    In the Sword Stele Secret Realm, another scenario exists: If a sword cultivator¡¯s personal sword path resonates with that on a sword monument, even if their Cultivation isn¡¯t high, they can still resonate with that monument.


    Inmon terms, it¡¯s like seeing eye to eye.


    But such sword monuments are rare to encounter.


    In the eyes of the veteran sword cultivator, Lu Qingshan seemed to have experienced just that.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, at least in this way, thed has gained something,¡± the seasoned sword cultivator breathed a sigh of relief.


    Though he grumbled continuously, deep down he wanted the disciples of the Sword Sect to do well.


    However, in the next moment, the old sword cultivator¡¯s eyes bulged, his beard trembling with anger.


    Inside the secret realm, Lu Qingshan, having opened his mind and carefully felt around once more, ultimately sighed, shook his head, and unexpectedly walked away.


    ¡°Foolish! Truly foolish!¡± the mentor fumed, ¡°To just give up upon encountering a monument that resonates¡ªdoes this boy realize how difficult it is to find another sword monument that could enlighten him?!¡±


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Young master, why not choose this monument? Isn¡¯t one of the Sword Intents it contains precisely the ughter Sword Intent?¡± Qin Yitian asked curiously.


    ¡°The sword techniques and paths contained in this monument are too unpredictable, and I do not favor them.


    As for the ughter Sword Intent, each person perceives it differently. What I seek in the sword monument is merely a foothold.


    I have already reached the Unity Realm with my ughter Sword Intent and have my own solid understanding. To contemte someone else¡¯s ughter Sword Intent would only disturb my mind and be of no benefit to me,¡± Lu Qingshan exined.


    He then continued down the line, moving towards the second sword monument.


    This monument was not inscribed with characters, but with hundreds of messy, seemingly random sword marks wildly strewn about with no discernible pattern.


    Outside the secret realm, the old sword cultivator was still fuming and bristling, yet a glimmer of hope remained in his heart.


    ¡°I hope that after thed hits a wall with the second sword monument, he will realize how difficult it is to resonate and gain enlightenment from a sword monument in this Sword Stele Secret Realm.


    Then, may hee to his senses, quickly turn back, and diligently seek enlightenment from that first monument¡ªafter all, that is the right path.¡±


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 Chapter 381 - 12 Comprehension (2 in 1)

    Chapter 381: Chapter 12 Comprehension (2 in 1)


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze was fixed on the chaotic sword marks on the stele surface, and gradually, his spirit sank into them.


    From these sword marks, he sensed a sinister and illusory intenting towards him.


    Then, lights and shadows intermingled, and countless illusions flickered before his eyes.


    With darkness transforming and numerous illusionsbining, eventually, many faint glimmers of sword light appeared.


    The intent contained in this Sword Monument was of the Illusion Technique.


    Lu Qingshan was aware of this.


    This, too, was not in keeping with his style.


    What he pursued was either an art nearing the Dao or possessing immense power.


    Although this convoluted intent of the Illusion Technique was peculiar, it ultimately felt inferior in his heart.


    He did not hesitate, stopped looking at this Sword Monument, and walked on.


    ¡­


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°Another resonance?¡± Outside the secret realm, the old Sword Cultivator watched this scene and muttered absentmindedly.


    He had thought that this second Sword Monument would stump the young Golden Core, but it did not stop him at all.


    Before the old Sword Cultivator could even react, the young Golden Core had already given up on this monument and was stepping towards the next one.


    The third Sword Monument, not waiting for Lu Qingshan to approachpletely, already began to emit a faint glowing light, seemingly impatient.


    It was like a signal.


    An unbelievable scene urred for the old Sword Cultivar.


    Inside the secret realm, the many standing Sword Monuments all emitted a faint glow, actively revealing their mysteries, seemingly longing for Lu Qingshan¡¯s choice.


    Each Sword Monument resonated with Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Thisd can actually initiate resonance with all Sword Monuments¡­ This is the heart of a na?ve child, an Innate Swordseed¡­¡± The old Sword Cultivator was stunned, his cloudy eyes suddenly brightening.


    Inside the secret realm.


    Theprehension of Sword Monuments could epass both Sword Intent and Sword Techniques.


    Generally, though, it was mainly focused on Sword Intent.


    At this moment.


    Sword Intent permeated the air.


    Some were cold and chilling, like bone-marrow maggots, impossible to evade.


    Some were extremely yang and fierce, the violent intent being tremendously boundless.


    There were gentle breezes as well as rising ripples of water;


    Some as heavy as mountains, others as light as sparrows¡­


    Nearly a thousand Sword Monuments had seldom the same Sword Intent.


    But even with the same Sword Intent, due to differentprehensions by various Sword Cultivators, they showed distinct elegance.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes were dazzled, and he even felt a strange illusion of choosing a consort.


    His entire spirit waspletely immersed in the intent, releasing his mind to finely experience these Sword Intents.


    He wanted to find the Sword Intent that he liked the most for hisprehension.


    After a while, amidst those chaotic intents, Lu Qingshan felt an extremely sharp and forceful Sword Intent, as if unstoppable.


    The path of the Sword Cultivator was straightforward.


    Spurred by this feeling, Lu Qingshan stopped before a stele.


    Looking up, he stared intently at a point of cold light on the Sword Monument, his gaze flickering.


    Indeed, the pattern on this Sword Monument was just a point of cold light.


    Now, being so close to this Sword Monument, the forceful nature of it, as if piercing through everything, suddenly came at him.


    Even though Lu Qingshan¡¯s Primordial Spirit had reached the mid Solidifying Form stage, and his Primordial Spirit was solidified, protected by divine light on the surface,


    he still felt an inexplicable and intolerable sting in his sea of consciousness under the invasion of this forceful intent.


    But he seemed oblivious, as the powerful Divine Soul in his Niwan Pce suddenly burst out and surged upwards, actively merging into that point of cold light on the Sword Monument.


    Hisss!


    At the moment his Divine Sense surged into the Sword Monument, Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind was briefly dazed, then he suddenly felt the scenery before his eyes begin to shift dramatically.


    By the time he hadpletely steadied his mind, he discovered that he was in a vast void of space.


    An ancient and aged aura of wilderness arose spontaneously.


    Screech!


    A long cry echoed between heaven and earth, a demonic bird with wings covering the Heaven¡¯s Vault swooped and circled, its figure shifting instantaneously, constantly changing.


    Whoosh!


    At that moment, a sword light cut across heaven and earth towards the demonic bird, extremely sharp.


    The demonic bird shook all over, as if sensing the terror within the sword light, emitting mysterious ripples all over its body, and a momentter, it appeared in a far-off area.


    This was spatial teleportation.


    Seeing this scene, Lu Qingshan muttered.


    Then, his spirit was invigorated.


    He wanted to know how the sword light should respond in this situation.


    The sword light paused, then the sword light flickered, like aet streaking across the sky, illuminating the entire void of space.


    A powerful will enveloped the sword light, causing the entire void space to tremble, as if it would shatter into fragments.


    As the sword light flew out, all strength suddenly condensed at one point, turning into a point of cold light, then disappeared into thin air; when that point of cold light reappeared, it had already shattered the skull of the demonic bird.


    The point of cold light arrived first.


    Lu Qingshan was astonished.


    The intent contained in this Sword Monument was actually able to suppress and kill spatial intent.


    The principle of spatial teleportation¡¯s Divine Skill was to open a closer channel between two far apart spaces, shortening the originally far distance, thus achieving what is called teleportation.


    But even termed as instant, it still required time.


    The needed time was indeed an instant.


    But this sword, by using the ultimate piercing strength, directly broke through twoyers of space, achieving a speed that surpassed spatial teleportation.


    If even space could not block this kind of Sword Intent, what else could?


    This was the ultimate offensive intent.


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 Chapter 382 - 12 Comprehension (2-in-1)_2

    Chapter 382: Chapter 12 Comprehension (2-in-1)_2


    The sights before his eyes did not cease, one ferocious demon bird after another emerged, their sword light sweeping across heaven and earth, a cold gleam shing incessantly.


    Scene after scene of ying demon birds with a sword unfolded in Lu Qingshan¡¯s consciousness, evolving into boundless intents.


    And these epiphanies were being magnified limitlessly, enabling him to capture them better.


    Lu Qingshan, who was cultivating the Taoist Treasury, had an ability toprehend intents that was well above the average person.


    Not to mention, these intents were all manifested in the form of swordsmanship.


    This was the area where his talent was most outstanding.


    Like a fish in water.


    Lu Qingshan waspletely immersed in enlightenment, oblivious to the passage of time.


    It wasn¡¯t until a long timeter that his spirit suddenly shook, and his whole body¡¯s aura shed with sharpness.


    A few lines of faint, firefly-like characters flickered before his eyes.


    ¡°Comprehension of intent!¡­..¡±


    [Annihtion Prating Sword Intent] (Weak): Primordial Intent: A branch of Annihtion Sword Intent. Prates everything, the ultimate offensive Sword Intent.


    ¡°Ability enhancement!¡­.Your Divine Soul has been enhanced (Divine Sense +50).¡±


    Lu Qingshan opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and piercing, as if it could see through everything, then suddenly retracted, and everything returned to calm.


    His dark pupils were unfathomably deep.


    ¡­¡­


    His reason foring to the Sword Stele Secret Realm had been achieved.


    Though the Annihtion Prating Sword Intent was merely a branch of the Annihtion Sword Intent, it was also considered a high-tier Sword Intent, on par with ughter Sword Intent.


    For now, he did not n toprehend more intents.


    @@novelbin@@


    The understanding of Sword Intent should not be limited to one, but should definitely not be overly greedy either.


    For a Nascent Soul Cultivator breaking through to the Void Refining stage, the most critical step is to condense theprehended intents into a Dao Seed.


    And the most fundamental condition for condensing a Dao Seed is that the intentsprehended by the cultivator must all reach the Perfection Realm.


    Not one can becking.


    If one were to greedily grasp too many intents before this, theirbat power could indeed be much stronger.


    But the consequence would be needing to madly fill in the gapster on.


    Raising the level of intent is not something that can be achieved overnight, and to elevate all intents to the Perfection Realm, cultivators might need to remain stagnant at the Nascent Soul Stage for a very long time, or even possibly never advance to Void Refining at all.


    The most correct approach is to value refinement over quantity.


    Mastering two to five types of intents is the most suitable quantity.


    But theprehended intents should preferably be of a higher tier.


    Because a Dao Seed condensed from ten low-tier intents, in terms of quality, actually can hardly surpass one condensed from two high-tier intents.


    As for Lu Qingshan, besides his ughter Sword Intent which has already reached the Unity Realm, he also harbors the iplete Causality True Intent and the nascent Immortal True Intent.


    He had never deliberately pursued the reason for the Causality True Intent for this very fear.


    What he worried about was that once he really entered the Causality True Intent, it would then be difficult to get off this tiger¡¯s back.


    The strength of a Primordial True Intent was unquestionable.


    But correspondingly, the difficulty of raising a Primordial True Intent to the Perfection Realm was also countless times harder than any other intent.


    Therefore, before breaking through to Void Refining, Lu Qingshan did not n to pursue the entrance into Causality True Intent and Immortal True Intent.


    His idea was to elevate his most skilled and traceable ughter Sword Intent to its corresponding Primordial True Intent, the Destruction Sword Intent.


    Then, using the Destruction Sword Intent as a base, condense the Primordial Dao Seed.


    ¡­.


    Lu Qingshan slowly stood up.


    With a thought, the willow catkin Sword Token flew out, and a roar echoed within the secret realm as a crack materialized.


    Lu Qingshan exited the Sword Stele Secret Realm through the crack.


    At the Sword Coming Peak, the aged sword cultivator nced at Lu Qingshan who had just left the secret realm, his expression showing some emotion.


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan had undergone great changespared to before he entered the Sword Stele Secret Realm.


    In terms of Vital Essence, his entire being was noticeably sharper.


    ¡°You stayed in the Sword Stele Secret Realm for only two days, and the remaining eight days will be reserved for you. You can re-enter the Sword Stele Secret Realm anytime,¡± the aged sword cultivator said slowly.


    Only two days?


    Lu Qingshan felt somewhat bewildered.


    Because it seemed to him that he had stayed in that void space for an extremely long time.


    ¡°Inside the Sword Stele Secret Realm, whileprehending the intent of the sword steles, your mind will be unprecedentedly clear, and every thought will be infinitely magnified.


    Therefore, the flow of time also seems to slow down, creating the illusion that a lot of time has passed when it has actually been just a short while,¡± the elderly Sword Cultivator exined slowly, noticing the confusion on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s why the sect generally only gives disciples three days to meditate.


    It¡¯s not stinginess. It¡¯s because in such circumstances, if there is enlightenment, three days ispletely sufficient. If nothing is gained, giving them another three days is likely of little use.¡±


    Lu Qingshan understood.


    After bowing respectfully to the elderly Sword Cultivator, he then turned into a streak of sword light and left.


    ¡­¡­


    Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t know that, just after he had left the Sword Stele Secret Realm, a grey stream of energy suddenly appeared above the secret realm.


    The stream contained incredibly pure Spiritual Power and profound Heaven and Earth energy, continuously flowing into a sword stele that Lu Qingshan had previously touched.


    Since Lu Qingshan had touched all the steles in the secret realm prior to this.


    The grey energy stream continuously surged out and entered the nearly thousand sword steles within the Sword Stele Secret Realm.


    The cold gleaming sword stele that Lu Qingshan hadst chosen absorbed the most grey energy stream.


    The elderly Sword Cultivator, upon witnessing this scene, felt incredibly pained and seemed to recall something, muttering to himself, ¡°This kid, just like his master. It¡¯s really costing the sect a fortune again¡­¡±


    The ancestors who left the sword steles were mostly Seventh Realm Sword Cultivators.


    Although this realm was already considered great power, how could the intent on their steles continue to exist for thousands of years without special methods to sustain them?


    And these special methods, of course, came from the Sword Sect.


    To keep the sword intent on the steles from dissipating, the Sword Sect used a minor world to capture the scattered sword intent and had Armor Pavilion Cultivators set up a protective array.


    To maintain the operation of this protective array, the Spirit Stones consumed every year were staggeringly numerous.


    This level of consumption is actuallyparable to, and sometimes even exceeds, the inherent value of the sword steles themselves.


    Yet, despite this, the opportunity to meditate within this Sword Stele Secret Realm was so precious that only Sword Sect disciples who met certain criteria were allotted a very short time to meditate.


    One of the conditions Lu Qingshan currently knew about was what the elderly Sword Cultivator had mentioned: any disciple who broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage would be granted three days of meditation time in the Sword Stele Secret Realm.


    But it¡¯s worth noting that meditation time in the secret realm is also only given as a form of reward to Sword Sect disciples.


    There never has been a case where a disciple could simply pay Spirit Stones or Spirit Crystals and thus be allowed to meditate in the Sword Stele Secret Realm.


    There were restrictions, but no charges.


    In other words, the Sword Stele Secret Realm was a gold-devouring beast that only incurred costs without bringing any substantial revenue.


    ¡­


    And this distinctive quality of the Sword Sect was precisely what shone through under these circumstances.


    Since the establishment of the Sword Stele Secret Realm, throughout tens of thousands of years.


    There had not been a single leader of the Sword Sect who thought the existence of the realm unreasonable or who grudgingly weighed the loss of Spirit Stones and thus decided to dismantle the Sword Stele Secret Realm or to charge disciples who entered for meditation.


    Because, in the eyes of the Sword Sect¡¯s cultivators, the ancestors left the sword steles precisely so that their swordsmanship and Sword Intent could be passed on.


    All Sect Masters of the Sword Sect have always upheld and respected the ancestors¡¯ vision.


    ¡ªAlthough you can¡¯t personally open a main peak to teach swordsmanship and Sword Dao, passing down the steles containing your lifelong Sword Dao generation after generation is something the Sword Sect will certainly do and wishes to do,


    Even if no one has ever made such a demand.


    ¡­¡­


    Having returned to Sword Coming Peak, Lu Qingshan discovered that Xia Daoyun, who had just returned to the sect, had left the Sword Sect again during the two days he was in the Sword Stele Secret Realm to attend to some matter.


    He stood by thekeside in front of the wooden pavilion, reminiscing about the past two days¡¯ experiences while sensing the newly grasped Annihtion Prating Sword Intent.


    In the palm of his hand, a hint of cold gleam faintly emerged.


    The space seemed to freeze for a moment at the appearance of the cold gleam.


    As if infinite strength gathered at that single point of cold gleam, then pierced through everything.


    The unruly aura surged uncontrobly.


    Pop, pop, pop!


    Feeling the terrifying aura unleashed, the fish in theke frantically thrashed about in the water.


    Lu Qingshan frowned slightly and flicked his right hand gently, causing the cold gleam to instantly dissipate.


    The unruly aura also subsided along with it, and the ck carps finally returned to normal.


    ¡°I¡¯ve only just begun toprehend it and still can¡¯t keep it as restrained as the ughter Sword Intent,¡± Lu Qingshan murmured.


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 Chapter 383 - 13 Leaving the Sect (Extra for the alliance leader "FengchenCc" 1/10)

    Chapter 383: Chapter 13 Leaving the Sect (Extra for the alliance leader ¡°FengchenCc¡± 1/10)


    His next goal is to elevate the control of his Annihtion Prating Sword Intent to the same level as his ughter Sword Intent.


    When Sword Intent merged into the Sword Qi fments, even ying with swimming fish would not scare these ck carps.


    In the month following hisprehension of Annihtion Prating Sword Intent, Lu Qingshan spent most of his time on Qingya Terrace.


    He was integrating the newly understood Sword Intent into his attack system and mastering the Annihtion Prating Sword Intent to the point where it could be contained but not unleashed, just like the ughter Sword Intent.


    However, after bing proficient, Lu Qingshan¡¯s progress hit a standstill.


    He wanted to elevate his Intent, but found it difficult to make any progress.


    The power of Intent is seldom broken through by mere sitting and meditative cultivation.


    ¡°Junior Brother, I won¡¯t be able to ¡®feed¡¯ your sword in theing period,¡± Ji Chuan suddenly said to Lu Qingshan after sparring with him on Qingya Peak one day: ¡°Moreover, the benefit of ¡®sword feeding¡¯ to your current realm is not significant anymore.¡±


    Lu Qingshan had already been prepared for this day.


    After all, Ji Chuan was just the eldest senior brother, not someone with an obligation to always take time out to assist him.


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother, for your help during this time,¡± Lu Qingshan sincerely expressed his gratitude.


    ¡°No need to be polite. Actually, I could have sparred with you a bit longer, but I just now have some matters that need my attention,¡± Ji Chuan waved his hand and replied.


    ¡°A big issue?¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze flickered as he inquired.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. Today, one of the small- to medium-sized cultivator families under our Sword Sect sent a Spirit Message for help.


    They¡¯ve encountered some trouble, and it seems like there might be a shadow of the Netherworld involved, which is why they¡¯re seeking assistance from our Sword Sect,¡± Ji Chuan exined candidly.


    Netherworld?


    A hint of killing intent shed deep within Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°It just so happens that my Samsara Sword Intent has also been stagnant at the Unity Realm for a long time, unable to break through.


    I volunteered to take on this task; possibly, this experience might provide the stimulus I need, causing my Samsara Sword Intent to break through to the Perfection Realm,¡± Ji Chuan continued.


    No wonder Ji Chuan stayed stagnant in the Nascent Soul Stage for so long, unable to advance to Void Refining.


    Samsara Sword Intent is one of the Primordial Intents. Naturally, it is extremely difficult to elevate.


    As for the small- to medium-sized cultivator families under the Sword Sect.


    This matter is both simple andplex in its exnation.


    The Sword Sect reigns supreme over a region.


    In the various states of the Eastern Domain, there are many cultivator families and cultivator sects of all sizes that traditionally pay tribute to the Sword Sect every ten years with batches of Spirit Stones, Spirit Materials, and the like.


    In return, the Sword Sect provides protection to these cultivator families and sects and coordinates the resolution of conflicts between them.


    In other words, they are collecting protection fees.


    There are also some affiliated families or sects responsible for the mining and maintenance of Spirit Veins and mineral veins belonging to the Sword Sect.


    These sect families are known as being under the Sword Sect¡¯smand.


    In fact, aside from the sword, Sword Cultivators do not practice Formations, Artifact Refining, or Alchemy; they are entirely ignorant of these crafts.


    That is to say, apart from martial power, the Sword Sect itself has no means of generating resources.


    However, in the world of cultivators, power is the fundamental source of everything.


    Therefore, relying on this formidable power, the life of the Sword Sect is still quite prosperous.


    And now, one of the small- to medium-sized families under the Sword Sect has run into trouble.


    As the big brother, the Sword Sect naturally is expected to send someone to help resolve the issue.


    It¡¯s only right and proper.


    Yet upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart stirred slightly.


    It is a rule of the Sword Sect that disciples below the Nascent Soul Stage may not leave the sect.


    However, beyond this, there is an additional rule.


    If a Nascent Soul cultivator or one of a higher level leads the way, leaving the Sect won¡¯t be an issue.


    ¡°Senior Brother, let me apany you on this trip,¡± Lu Qingshan said without hesitation, immediately making the suggestion.


    Before Ji Chuan could object, Lu Qingshan added, ¡°Senior Brother has seen it too. Currently, both of us are in the same situation, our Sword Intent has stagnated, unable to improve.


    In such a circumstance, toiling away in istion won¡¯t do any good. Rather, going out and wandering around might just lead to an inspiration¡­¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡± Ji Chuan showed a troubled expression for a moment. What Lu Qingshan had said was indeed true, but he still had his concerns, ¡°You joined the Sect after being acimed through the Seven Domains Forum.


    The Seven Domains Forum is the center of attention. Simrly, the Netherworld is bound to pay close attention to this event.


    As the leader with a renowned reputation, you have also be a thorn in the Netherworld¡¯s side.¡±


    ¡°Eliminating the talented cultivators of the Human Race is also one of the Netherworld¡¯s important tasks,¡± Ji Chuan exined: ¡°I am confident I can protect myself, but I cannot guarantee your safety.¡±


    A faint smile appeared on Lu Qingshan¡¯s face.


    How could he not have considered what Ji Chuan had taken into ount?


    With a flip of his wrist, a piece of dark Spirit Jade appeared in his hand, ¡°Rest assured, Senior Brother, I have this.¡±


    With a slight stirring of his thoughts, mysterious ripples emanated from the Spirit Jade, enveloping himpletely.


    A momentter, the young Sword Cultivator with an imposing appearance transformed, bing an ordinary-faced young Sword Cultivator.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Ji Chuan was astonished. He released his Divine Sense to inspect Lu Qingshan, who had undergone an earth-shattering change, but he couldn¡¯t find a single w.


    Ancient Jade for nocturnal travel, capable of creating illusions, altering the appearance and shape of the magic artifact¡¯s owner, beyond the detection of most cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan had anticipated this situation, which is why he had chosen this magic artifact.


    ¡°With this Ancient Jade for nocturnal travel, I am no longer Lu Qingshan, just an ordinary Golden Core Sword Cultivator,¡± Lu Qingshan said with a smile: ¡°Under such a disguise, even if the Netherworld discovers your and my whereabouts, they will only pay attention to you, Senior Brother, and not target me too much.¡±


    ¡°In that case¡­¡± Ji Chuan hesitated but, after long deliberation and faced with Lu Qingshan¡¯s earnest gaze, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to refuse and decided, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you with me to leave the Sect.¡±


    ¡°However, there are a few considerations you need to understand.


    The reach of the Netherworld extends far, with intelligence and spies deeply prated. Your performance in the Seven Domains Forum was too outstanding, and all of your techniques wereid out in the open.


    Thus, after we leave the Sect, it would be better to use less of the distinctly personal techniques you have disyed in the Seven Domains Forum.


    For example, your ughter Sword Intent that reached the Unity Realm during your Golden Core Stage is a rarity among the entire Human Race. Such a feature is too distinct¡­ and so on.¡±


    ¡°I shall certainly do so, thank you, Senior Brother,¡± Lu Qingshan replied joyfully.


    As for the restrictions mentioned by Ji Chuan, although somewhat constraining, they didn¡¯t greatly affect Lu Qingshan.


    If not for the ughter Sword Intent, he still had the Annihtion Prating Sword Intent he had justprehended.


    Besides, should ite to a point of desperation, being forced to reveal his true techniques would mean simply killing to silence, to eliminate any future troubles, and that wouldn¡¯t be a problem either.


    ¡­.


    Preparation for leaving the Sect this time did not require much.


    His master, Xia Daoyun, was busy with something unknown and was still not within the Sword Sect.


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t need to inform her about this departure from the Sect.


    Although Lu Qingshan knew that Xia Daoyun¡¯s temperament would not oppose his leaving the Sect, it was always better to skip a procedure.


    As for the Rat King of the West, this time Lu Qingshan decided not to bring it along.


    One reason was that the trip was not expected to take much time, and he anticipated that they would return to the Sect soon.


    The second reason was with Ji Chuan as a powerful backup, it was unlikely they would encounter any situation they couldn¡¯t handle.


    In the event that they did encounter such a situation that even Ji Chuan, with his Nascent Soul Perfection cultivation, couldn¡¯t solve, having the Rat King of the West wouldn¡¯t really make a difference.


    Moreover, under the rich Spiritual Energy of the Sword Sect, the Rat King of the West was on the verge of making a breakthrough to the mid-stage of Third Grade.


    Lu Qingshan had even less intention of interrupting its cultivation.


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 Chapter 384 - 14: The Realm of the Netherworld (4000 words)

    Chapter 384: Chapter 14: The Realm of the Netherworld (4000 words)


    This trip away from the sect, Lu Qingshan¡¯s main goal was to head to the Netherworld, and the idea of improving his Sword Intent was more like an afterthought.


    Among all the yers in his previous life, there was a consensus.


    Whenever there was an event with signs of the Netherworld¡¯s influence, there was a ny-nine percent chance that Underworld Cultivators were involved.


    Moreover, any event involving the Netherworld wasn¡¯t going to be a minor task¡ªit was often rich in rewards and of significant importance.


    And in the game, such tasks would often cause yers to flock to them eagerly.


    The mere mention of the Netherworld was like a brand embedded in the yers¡¯ gics, igniting their instincts with excitement at the sound of it.


    As Lu Qingshan had anticipated, this plea for aid would likely be no different.


    So when Ji Chuan mentioned that this event might involve the Netherworld, he didn¡¯t hesitate to volunteer and get involved.


    In gaming terms, it meant that the top of the Yellow List, Senior Brother Ji Chuan, was leading a major task. The question is, would you join or not?


    Both the heavy weight of being the top of the Yellow List and the allure of the term ¡°Netherworld¡± were reasons enough for Lu Qingshan to make this journey.


    The so-called Yellow List, also known as the ranking for cultivators in the Fourth Realm.


    The Heavenly Secret Pavillion monitored the world, gathering extremely urate andprehensive information and intelligence.


    The Yellow List was the cultivator rankingpiled by the Heavenly Secret Pavillion.


    It selected the strongest one hundred Nascent Soul Cultivators from all Fourth Realm human cultivators, ranking them and making it public.


    As for the basis of the rankings, it was the knownbat achievements and aplishments of the cultivator.


    This meant that the list wasn¡¯t guaranteed to be one hundred percent urate.


    Because even if there was a Nascent Soul Cultivator whosebat power was unparalleled and who could defeat Void Refining Cultivators, if they always practiced in seclusion and weren¡¯t known to others, their name wouldn¡¯t appear on the Yellow List.


    Generally speaking, though, it still held a great deal of reference significance.


    In fact, there were ultimately four such cultivator rankings: Heavenly, Earthly, Mysterious, and Yellow.


    The Yellow List recorded the ranking of Fourth Realm cultivators, the Mysterious List recorded Fifth Realm cultivators, and so on up to the Heavenly List, which recorded Cultivators up to the Seventh Realm.


    And among these four lists, the Sword Sect exclusively held two top spots.


    The Taibai Sword Master at the top of the Heavenly Listing, and Ji Chuan at the top of the Yellow List.


    The reason Ji Chuan ranked first on the Yellow List was also very clear.


    Name: Ji Chuan


    Ranking: First ce


    Cultivation: Nascent Soul Perfection, mastering Unity Realm Samsara Sword Intent (Primordial Intent), Perfection Realm Five Elements Sword Intent (five types, all upper-level Intents), apprentice to the Taibai Sword Master at the top of the Heavenly Listing, exquisite swordsmanship, and suspected to have internal and external cultivation methods, with his life-bound sword being the high-grade heavenly artifact Green Waist.


    Combat achievements: In Ya State¡¯s Sinister Ridge, exterminated the Vulture Evil Sect, which had two Void Refining Cultivators; slew the Fifth Grade mid-phase Demon King, the Jiuyou Ape, with a single sh.


    Nickname: Vast Righteousness Sword


    Identity: Current Great Senior Brother of the Eastern Domain Sword Sect


    ¡­¡­


    However, from another perspective, the existence of these four rankings seemed to provide the Netherworld with lots of useful information, allowing them to precisely target and assassinate human race¡¯s talented cultivators based on the listings.


    This appeared to be an extremely foolish act.


    Speaking of which, the origin of these four lists must be mentioned.


    They actually originated from the Netherworld.


    Back then, they were known as the Netherworld Bounty Lists.


    One of the Netherworld¡¯srge tasks while lurking within the Human Race was to devise ways to eliminate human genius cultivators and nip the possibility of them bing powerful cultivators in the bud.


    Therefore, based on the reputation and performance of human cultivators, the Netherworld internally created this bounty list, covering human cultivators from the Fourth to the Seventh Realm.


    The reason for setting the cultivation range there was quite simple.


    There were too many cultivators below the Fourth Realm, and it was hard to predict their potential. There was no need to specifically target them, and it wasn¡¯t feasible to do so.


    As for cultivators above the Seventh Realm, their methods were profound, and trying to kill them would require the power of the Netherworld as a whole, not just an individual or a sub-pce, so they were also not on the bounty list.


    In addition, the bounty list not only included the public strength and detailedbat history of these human cultivators but also came with enormous bounties.


    This list was distributed throughout the various sub-pces of the Netherworld, in the hands of all the Underworld Cultivators.


    Any Underworld Cultivator who killed a cultivator listed on the bounty list could im the corresponding reward.


    Clearly, those who could make it onto this list were all individuals with astounding capabilities and superior strength amongst their peers.


    Following this list, the Underworld Cultivators were highly active for a time, and people were filled with dread, many fearing they were on the list.


    Faced with this situation, the Great Xia Imperial n, after some consideration, made a decision: they simply turned the strategy on its head and, under the name of the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, repurposed and published the bounty list for everyone to see.


    It was a masterstroke that changed the panic of human cultivators being recorded on the Netherworld bounty list into immense fame.


    Human Cultivators no longer feared being on the list but took pride in it.


    ¡­.


    @@novelbin@@


    Before leaving the sect, Lu Qingshan finally visited Heng Peak.


    Heng Peak is its official name, but itsmon name among the disciples of the Sword Sect, which better reflects its function, is Treasure Peak.


    This peak was the resource repository and scripture archive of the Sword Sect.


    Lu Qingshan had two objectives for this visit: Cultivation Techniques and Spirit Materials.


    Although he was currently only in the Golden Core Late Stage and seemed far from the Nascent Soul Stage, as long as there were Experience Points, those seemingly distant gaps didn¡¯t seem so significant.


    When one is away, it¡¯s inevitable to encounter unforeseen events; to be on the safe side, Lu Qingshan decided to apply for the Nascent Soul Technique in advance.


    On Heng Peak, there are two halls: Gewu, which deals with investigating the principles of natural phenomena, and Zhizhi, which focuses on achieving knowledge through exhaustive learning.


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 Chapter 387 - 15 Qiu Shiyin

    Chapter 387: Chapter 15 Qiu Shiyin


    ¡°The Origin Demon King entered the Netherworld?!¡± Lu Qingshan eximed, puzzled, ¡°How did he bypass the rule restrictions of the Netherworld Barrier?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty much an open secret,¡± Ji Chuan nodded and exined, ¡°Within the Netherworld, there exists a naturally urring magic artifact called the Jiuyou Kan Yu Map.


    Somehow it emerged from a spatial rift and was found by the then fledgling Origin Demon King.


    The specific magical powers of the Jiuyou Kan Yu Map are unknown to outsiders.


    But there is one special ability that is well known: it can wrap around the Origin Demon King, allowing him to freely enter the realm of the Netherworld.


    It is also because of this great fortune that after obtaining the Jiuyou Kan Yu Map, the Origin Demon King, over thousands of years, incredibly grew into an Eighth Grade Great Demon King.¡±


    Lu Qingshan fell silent.


    This meant that the Origin Demon King was not only a being with great fortune but also truly formidable.


    With great treasurees great danger.


    Not everyone who obtains a divine artifact can consequently rise to power.


    In reality, more often than not, after acquiring a divine artifact, it brings cataclysmic disasters upon them.


    ¡°As for the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine, it formed under the influence of the Netherworld Death Qi and will continue to generate unstoppably as long as the Netherworld Death Qi never ceases, making it exceedingly profitable.


    It is a special type of spirit ore resembling an orchid, containing Death Qi within.


    Magic artifacts made primarily from Primordial Stone Orchid have the effect of eroding cultivators¡¯ physical bodies and Blood Qi, hard to guard against, and are highly favored by Nether Cultivators. Therefore, they are in high demand and bring significant ie,¡± Ji Chuan continued to exin.


    The small portion that the Qiu Family gets, which amounts to the service fee, is rather generous as well.


    Lu Qingshan inwardly clicked his tongue at the thought.


    As Ji Chuan spoke, he and Lu Qingshan slowly descended, ¡°With the name of the Sword Sect behind them, no one in Burial Ridge dares to provoke the Qiu Family, who have gradually grown stronger by controlling this vein of Primordial Stone Orchid.


    But in the past three months, for reasons unknown, the Origin Demons that should have stayed in the forbidden area have been emerging inrge numbers.


    They barged into the Qiu Family¡¯s section of the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine, unabashedly attacking the Qiu Family cultivators and seizing control of the mine.


    The Qiu Family has shed with these Origin Demons many times, each time at great cost.


    Thest time, the Qiu Family even lost an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator within the mine.


    Moreover, it¡¯s not just the Qiu Family; nearly all the families in Burial Ridge have faced simr situations. Unable to find the source of their troubles, they are in a state of panic, and no one dares to mine the Primordial Stone Orchid anymore.


    This situation couldn¡¯t continue, and unable to tolerate more losses, the Qiu Family thus sent a Spirit Message to our Sword Sect asking for help.¡±


    ¡°What did the Qiu Family mean by saying there are traces of Underworld operatives involved?¡± As he posed the question, Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze fixed on the dry, yellowish entrance of the mine not far away.


    For some reason, he felt as if a very subtle and eerie aura was seeping out from there.


    ¡°The Qiu Family reported that a junior saw a cultivator leaving the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine.


    This cultivator was shrouded in Demonic Qi, extremely terrifying, definitely a Demonic Cultivator from the Underworld. Hence, they deduced that this matter must be rted to Underworld Cultivators,¡± Ji Chuan replied.


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡± Lu Qingshan let out a coldugh, a glint of cold light shing in his eyes, ¡°The waters run deep this time.¡±


    Ji Chuan nodded in agreement, ¡°Indeed, which is why I took on this mission personally, to fully investigate the matter.¡±


    Both were astute individuals.


    An Underworld Cultivator leaving the mine, yet not at a life-or-death juncture ¡ª why release Demonic Qi for nothing? And just happened to be seen?


    Was this a deliberate act to reveal their identity?


    Would Underworld Cultivators be so reckless in their actions?


    Could the situation truly be such a coincidence?


    ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look at the situation first,¡± Ji Chuan said.


    Since many Origin Demons were scattered throughout the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine, the Qiu Family could not eradicate them and had withdrawn from the mine after losing a Nascent Soul elder family member.


    The Primordial Stone Orchid is important, but life is even more so!


    By this time, the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine was already devoid of anyone.


    In order not to be swayed by others¡¯ subjective words, leading to premature judgments,


    Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan, therefore, decided to personally investigate the situation in the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine before inquiring about the details from the Qiu Family.


    Only by cross-referencing both could they draw a more objective conclusion.


    The two figures swept towards the mine entrance.


    But as soon as they had reached the entrance, both frowned.


    Whoosh!


    A petite figure unexpectedly rushed out from the mine in a panicked flurry at that moment.


    How could there still be someone inside the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine?


    Behind the figure was a Demon Ape, about several zhang tall, covered in a dark hue as if wrapped in ayer of rock, with bursts of violent Demonic Qi flickering incessantly from its body.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s eyes sharpened, and a streak of Sword Qi shot out in an instant, piercing through the Demon Ape¡¯s head with a puff.


    The previously ferocious demon ape spewed out brain matter and blood, immediately dropping dead.


    However, the small figure seemed not to have recovered from the shock and, in her panic, ran right into Ji Chuan.


    The moment the figure collided with him, Ji Chuan channelled his Spiritual Power throughout his body, repelling the figure away.


    Struck by the immense force, the figure uncontrobly flew backwards through the air.


    By now, Lu Qingshan had gotten a clear look at the true identity of the figure.


    It was a girl with a hint of a babyface, her features still carrying a trace of youthful innocence.


    Her Cultivation was not high, at the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment.


    But Lu Qingshan also understood that it was not fair topare Outer Sect cultivators with those from a Taoist Sect like theirs.


    Therefore, he guessed that this girl¡¯s actual age must be much greater than her appearance suggested.


    ¡°Ow, that hurts,¡± the girl muttered as she rubbed her waist and got up, instinctivelyining.


    Then she suddenly realized her situation, and like a startled rabbit, she quickly got to her feet and headed straight for the entrance, while calling out to Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan, ¡°An Origin Demon is chasing me, you guys better run too¡­¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    Her voice cut off abruptly.


    Because Ji Chuan had grabbed the female cultivator who was about to hurry past them.


    ¡°The Origin Demon has been dealt with,¡± Ji Chuan said calmly.


    The flustered female cultivator was taken aback upon hearing this and remembered to look back.


    She found that the Demon Ape that had been persistently pursuing her had already be a dead corpse.


    ¡°You guys took it down?¡± the female cultivator asked, her eyes wide.


    Lu Qingshan pointed at Ji Chuan, ¡°He took it down.¡±


    Now that the danger had passed, the female cultivator calmed down and turned to look at Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan with her big, curious, bright ck eyes.


    ¡°Are you two also here to earn some extra money?¡± the female cultivator asked curiously, pointing into the depths of the mine.


    ¡°Earn extra money?¡± Ji Chuan was taken aback.


    However, Lu Qingshan had already vaguely grasped the female cultivator¡¯s implication and continued, ¡°You know the way around here?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the female cultivator¡¯s tone rose several notches, patting her chest with satisfaction, saying, ¡°My name is Qiu Shiyin, from the Qiu Family. I was previously in charge of overseeing the extraction of the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine, and I¡¯m more than familiar with the situation here.¡±


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 Chapter 388 - 16 Origin Demon Attack

    Chapter 388: Chapter 16 Origin Demon Attack


    ¡°Qiu Shiyin?¡± Ji Chuan subconsciously repeated her name.


    By now, Qiu Shiyin had already spontaneously grabbed Ji Chuan¡¯s sleeve and slyly said, ¡°Since we are on the same path, why not cooperate?


    This mine is huge and has many pathways; there are plenty of Origin Demons. Outsiderse in like headless flies, possibly encountering seven or eight Origin Demons without gaining anything.¡±


    But I am well aware of the situation inside, where the richest ore can be found, clearer than anyone.


    I will be responsible for leading the way; you are responsible for dealing with the Origin Demons we encounter. When the timees to divide the loot, how about a split of three to seven, three for me and seven for you?¡±


    Qiu Shiyin was very excited, as if she had discovered some great treasure.


    It turns out she¡¯s a little female cultivator thief.


    Taking advantage of the Qiu Family¡¯s withdrawal from the Primordial Stone Orchid vein and the absence of guards, she sneaked in, hoping to mine some Primordial Stone Orchid and make a fortune.


    This time, Ji Chuan understood Qiu Shiyin¡¯s purpose. His lips twitched with implied meaning, ¡°This is your Qiu Family¡¯s vein, taking outsiders to dig your own resources might not be right.¡±


    ¡°No worries, I do not care about these details,¡± Qiu Shiyin said magnanimously with a wave of her hand.


    ¡°Besides, this is the Qiu Family¡¯s vein, not mine. What does it have to do with me?


    If I could take you guys around and get my hands on thirty percent of the Primordial Stone Orchid, then it really bes mine,¡± whispered the little thief.


    The justified tone of the little thief made Ji Chuan fall silent for a while.


    He started to wonder why this female cultivator could make such shameless remarks sound so righteous.


    But he couldn¡¯t figure it out in the end.


    Lu Qingshan, however, took Qiu Shiyin¡¯s remarks quite well.


    ¡°Eighty-twenty, us eight, you two,¡± Lu Qingshan said cheerfully.


    Qiu Shiyin immediately furrowed her delicate brows, seriously weighing her options internally.


    After a long while, Qiu Shiyin nodded reluctantly, her face pained, ¡°Alright, seeing as you helped me deal with that Demon Ape, I will suffer a bit of a loss, deal.¡±


    ¡°But, are you up to it? The Origin Demons in here are quite strong,¡± Qiu Shiyin said with some worry.


    Lu Qingshan reassuringly patted Ji Chuan¡¯s shoulder and soothed the little thief, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there won¡¯t be any big problems.¡±


    ¡°Awesome! A master indeed, a strong backer!¡± The next moment, Qiu Shiyin blinked and made a cupping gesture towards Ji Chuan, whose face was slightly dark.


    Unfortunately, this seemingly charming gesture didn¡¯t move Ji Chuan at all.


    ¡°However, we saw you in a sorry state when we arrived; if not for us, you might have died at the hands of an Origin Demon,¡± Ji Chuan countered, ¡°I¡¯m actually worried you might lead us into a wolf¡¯s den.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as being sure about everything. idents happen all the time,¡± Qiu Shiyin said nonchntly, naturally putting away her hand gesture and motioning, ¡°Follow me, I¡¯ll show you whether or not I¡¯m reliable.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s first check out the situation,¡± said Lu Qingshan, who also nced at Qiu Shiyin¡¯s silhouette and pursed his lips.


    This female cultivator, does she truly have a bold heart, a love for wealth above life, or is there something else hidden?


    She had nearly lost her life here before, and now she was boldly leading two cultivators she had just met back into the dangerous mine?


    Ji Chuan nodded, not objecting.


    The three of them walked together into the deep mine.


    Just a few steps in and the mine¡¯s tunnel started to be so dark they couldn¡¯t see their own hands; however, this posed no problem for cultivators.


    Night vision is a very basic ability for cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan surveyed the mine¡¯s walls on both sides.


    On the yellow-brown walls, there were many odd traces simr to w marks, too numerous to count, densely covering the entire tunnel of the mine.


    These must be traces left by the Origin Demons.


    Qiu Shiyin didn¡¯t lie; she was indeed very familiar with the mine.


    She led them twisting and turning, the w marks on the mining walls gradually turned into pitted ancient caves, the dead air surged like a vast river, and a dull yellow light flowed through them.


    ¡°There¡¯s a find!¡± The next instant, Qiu Shiyin¡¯s eyes lit up, she reached into one of the ancient caves and pulled out a dark stone enveloped by the aura of death.


    She snapped her hands together, and the seemingly tough ck stone actually turned out to be very brittle, splitting instantly under Qiu Shiyin¡¯s force.


    Inside the ck stone was a withered yellow orchid, its petals lifelike.


    However, there was not a trace of vitality on it, only a full presence of eerie dead energy.


    This was the Primordial Stone Orchid, a special mineral nearly indiscernible from a nt.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    Just then, a ferocious Origin Demon suddenly lunged from the darkness.


    The Origin Demon had a greenish-ckplexion, sharp fangs, and cold, shining ws reaching out.


    The aura emanating from its body was significantly stronger than the one Ji Chuan had just in at the entrance.


    This was a Third Grade peak Origin Demon.


    The intimidating presence of the Origin Demon immediately made Qiu Shiyin gasp softly.


    She quickly covered her mouth, fearing to disturb other Origin Demons.


    Seeing this scene, Ji Chuan merely snorted coldly.


    His gaze was piercing.


    ¡°Swoosh!¡±


    A long sword, radiant with light, flew out from his body, transforming into a dazzling rainbow that shot towards this terrifying Origin Demon.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    The Third Grade Origin Demon let out a roar, its crimson eyes filled with greed. It opened its monstrous mouth, and its terrifying white fangs aimed to crush Ji Chuan¡¯s Flying Sword.


    ¡°Crack crack crack!¡±


    Blood sttered as the divine light formed by the Flying Sword shattered the seemingly indestructible fangs into fragments, blending them into dust. Following that trajectory, it entered through the big mouth of the Origin Demon and passed straight through.


    The next moment, copious amounts of blood surged from the massive body of the Origin Demon, which then died on the ground.


    Third Grade Origin Demon, killed in one strike.


    ¡°Wow, he truly is a master!¡± Qiu Shiyin, initially stunned and somewhat disbelieving, eximed excitedly the next moment.


    In the darkness, Qiu Shiyin¡¯s eyes sparkled as she admired Ji Chuan, evidently in awe, ¡°He is even a Sword Cultivator!¡±


    The next moment, Qiu Shiyin lowered her voice, acting like an experienced elder, advising herself, ¡°Qiu Shiyin, Sword Cultivators are not good men. They care even more about their swords than about their Dao Companions. You mustn¡¯t falter, lest you be deceived.¡±


    Quickly calming her excited emotions, Qiu Shiyin, holding the Primordial Stone Orchid, approached the two men to im credit, ¡°Nine pounds and three taels of Primordial Stone Orchid, how about that? I told you I was reliable!¡±


    Ji Chuan nced at Qiu Shiyin and said sternly, ¡°Take us to the ce where your Qiu family elder perished.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± The words startled Qiu Shiyin, making her hurriedly shake her head, ¡°The Origin Demon that killed Elder Qiu might still be lurking there. If we encounter it, wouldn¡¯t it mean certain death?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the terrifying Origin Demon even Elder Qiu couldn¡¯t defeat!¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°Take us there.¡± In the darkness, Ji Chuan¡¯s voice was very firm.


    With a pitiful look, Qiu Shiyin turned her imploring eyes towards Lu Qingshan, hoping that the amiable cultivator would prevent the stern Sword Cultivator¡¯s suggestion.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s go for a walk.


    Don¡¯t worry, we are not foolish enough to simply seek our own death,¡± Lu Qingshan reassured her.


    Qiu Shiyin nced again at Ji Chuan, seeing that he still had no expression, she pouted and muttered something quietly before turning around to continue leading the two men further inside.


    The three had only walked a short distance.


    A loud roar, and another Origin Demon lunged at them from the darkness.


    This Origin Demon had a ghostly head and a serpentine lower body, covered in yellow scales,


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A roaring Sword Light burst forth, slicing the Origin Demon into pieces, blood sttering everywhere.


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 Chapter 389 - 17 Puzzling

    Chapter 389: Chapter 17 Puzzling


    The Sword Light spiraled back, surrounding Ji Chuan.


    Qiu Shiyin watched as the fierce Origin Demon turned into a corpse in an instant and unconsciously shrank her neck, whispering softly, ¡°The deeper we go, the more of these Origin Demons there are. Do you really n to keep going inside?¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, no one in this world cherishes their own life more than I do!¡± Ji Chuan said coldly.


    ¡°What¡¯s so great about that, isn¡¯t everyone the same¡­¡± Qiu Shiyin murmured in a voice only she could hear.


    Lu Qingshan found it somewhat amusing.


    The usually gentle senior brother to his junior brothers and sisters was especially cold towards Qiu Shiyin.


    As for the reason, he could guess one or two.


    Although he hadn¡¯t been in contact with Ji Chuan for long, Lu Qingshan could clearly feel that Ji Chuan was a person with an extremely strong sense of honor for his sect.


    This could be evidenced by the fact that he was willing to take out an hour from his own cultivation time to feed his sword for him.


    Someone like Ji Chuan probably extremely disapproved of Qiu Shiyin¡¯s behavior of bringing in outsiders and ¡®shearing wool from his own family¡¯.


    Simply put, their values did not align.


    Therefore, Ji Chuan did not show the slightest hint of friendliness towards Qiu Shiyin.


    The three of them continued deeper into the mine.


    The entire Primordial Stone Orchid Mine spanned an unimaginablyrge area, and along the way, every intersection had at least five branches.


    Suddenly, all three of them felt a chill in their hearts.


    A stooped figure stood several steps in front of them.


    The three stepped forward to the figure and couldn¡¯t help but change their expressions.


    The scene before them was unbearably tragic.


    This was a middle-aged cultivator whose skull had beenpletely ripped open.


    Bits of bone were scattered everywhere, and the blood had dried up and solidified, turning a purple-ck color.


    Bloody and horrifying.


    ¡°Is this someone from your Qiu family?¡± Ji Chuan asked.


    Qiu Shiyin silently nodded her head and exined, ¡°In the mine, it¡¯s unknown just how many Origin Demons have poured in, so they didn¡¯t dare toe in to collect the corpses of the dead n members.¡±


    Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan¡¯s expressions grew more solemn.


    Things had be even more eerie.


    The scene before them was almost like a brutal ughter.


    ¡°Are Origin Demons always this cruel?¡± Lu Qingshan asked in confusion.


    ¡°Not very clear, because before this, the Origin Demons always kept to themselves and never invaded our Burial Ridge,¡± Qiu Shiyin said with a depth to her voice that made it hard to understand the underlying meaning.


    At that moment, a long howl came through, bringing with it a deluge of power that surged vehemently.


    They saw over a dozen fearsome Origin Demons charging out from the dark surrounding areas, their blood-red eyes in the darkness like a series ofnterns, incredibly disturbing.


    A Sword Light immediately burst forth from around Ji Chuan.


    Lu Qingshan also made a gesture, tightly holding the Peach Blossom in his hand.


    Swish!


    Lu Qingshan swung his sword and struck an Origin Demoning towards him head-on.


    Hisss!


    The Peach Blossom was like a line of frost that, at the moment of contact with the Origin Demon¡¯s body, its cold Radiance suddenly exploded. Treating the tough and powerful Scale Armor of the Origin Demon as if it were thin paper, it instantly split the demon¡¯s body in two.


    The halves of the Origin Demon¡¯s body tumbled through the air, bursting into a cloud of yellow blood mist that seeped into the mine walls.


    Ate-stage Third Grade Origin Demon was effortlessly cut down by Lu Qingshan with a casual stroke.


    Incredibly unbelievable.


    This was the added effect of the Annihtion Prating Sword Intent.


    Unparalleled sharpness.


    Even the Scale Armor of Demon Beasts of the same tier was easily broken under the power of the Annihtion Prating Sword Intent.


    It could break through everything.


    The death of itspanion did not invoke fear in the other Origin Demons; on the contrary, it seemed to incite them.


    They surged in madness, and their piercing howls echoed through the corridor, shaking the eardrums painfully.


    ¡°Grow a pair of eyes yourself.¡± Ji Chuan nced at Qiu Shiyin, who seemed to have been frightened silly by these Origin Demons, frowned, and subconsciously pulled her behind him, chiding her, ¡°If there¡¯s danger, hide behind me. Do I need to call out for you?¡±


    While protecting Qiu Shiyin behind him, Ji Chuan¡¯s mind raced, and Green Waist whistled out in the tunnel, emitting bursts of Sword Light, intensely brilliant, like the light of destruction.


    Hisss Hisss Hisss!


    The Sword Light pierced through the darkness, exploding in all directions, pouring down and shing the fiercely savage Origin Demons into pieces.


    In the dark tunnel, it was as if a rain of blood had fallen.


    Qiu Shiyin stood half a step behind Ji Chuan, holding onto his sleeve, looking at Ji Chuan who held the sword and protected her in front.


    Between the shes of Sword Light, faint shadows fell upon her delicate face.


    Her eyes were deep, hidden in the shadows and unclear, leaving one to wonder what she was thinking at that moment.


    The entire dark tunnel trembled incessantly for a time.


    Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan were not ordinary cultivators; they quickly slew all the dozen or so Origin Demons.


    Inside the now-still tunnel, the rich scent of blood lingered in the air.


    ¡°Something¡¯s not right,¡± Lu Qingshan murmured with a slight frown. ¡°These Origin Demons are behaving abnormally, as if they¡¯ve fallen into a state of mindlessness, only knowing how to kill.¡±


    Lu Qingshan recalled the blood-red eyes of the Origin Demons and said with uncertainty, ¡°This state, it¡¯s as if their minds have been corrupted by Demonic Qi.¡±


    However, there was no sign of Demonic Qi on the bodies of the Origin Demons.


    Hearing this, Ji Chuan¡¯s mind stirred, and he released Green Waist again.


    Transformed into Radiance, Green Waist entered and searched through the corpses of the Origin Demons. After a moment, it returned.


    On the silvery-white de, there was an extremely faint trace of ck light.


    ¡°A sword is born from light; Green Waist can detect the Qi of Heaven and Earth,¡± Ji Chuan spoke gravely, ¡°Your guess is correct, these Origin Demons are indeed corrupted by Demonic Qi, although the Qi is very faint, almost merged into their blood, making it hard to detect.


    If it weren¡¯t for Green Waist, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to confirm the presence of Demonic Qi.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    This must be one of the divine skills of Ji Chuan¡¯s Life-bound Sword.


    Simr to the ability to detect the Demon Race.


    By this point, the shadow of the Netherworld was bing increasingly clear.


    Although the purpose of the Netherworld was still unknown, it was evident that they had a hand in the incident of the Origin Demons upying the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine.


    ¡°Keep leading the way.¡± Ji Chuan said to Qiu Shiyin behind him.


    ¡°Wait a minute!¡± At this moment, Qiu Shiyin had already let go of Ji Chuan¡¯s sleeve, her eyes shining brightly as she dove into the mine tunnels on both sides.


    ¡°This area is rich in minerals, and the output of Primordial Stone Orchid is very high. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s too dangerous; I¡¯ve never dared toe here before,¡± Qiu Shiyin murmured while searching through the mine tunnel.


    Her movements, however, were very efficient, akin to a humanoid mining detector. Every time she reached out, she would certainly find something.


    @@novelbin@@


    She quickly gathered arge number of Primordial Stone Orchids.


    This surprised Lu Qingshan.


    That skill was simply no small feat!


    ¡­


    After Qiu Shiyin had nearly cleared out that rich vein of Primordial Stone Orchids, the three of them continued deeper into the mine tunnel.


    Not long after, a brutal aura peculiar to Origin Demons wafted over from a nearby cavern.


    ¡°Over there used to be one of the three richest mines in the Qiu Family¡¯s vein, with the most abundant production of Primordial Stone Orchid. When the Origin Demons invaded the mine, it was taken over by a terrifying Origin Demon. That¡¯s where our n elder perished,¡± Qiu Shiyin pointed to the cavern entrance not far away, her voice trembling slightly.


    Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan exchanged nces in the darkness.


    ¡°You stay here and be careful. We¡¯ll go check it out,¡± Ji Chuan turned to tell Qiu Shiyin.


    ¡°Thene back quickly,¡± Qiu Shiyin nodded her small head, saying timidly.


    Holding their breath, Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan continued to move forward.


    Finally, in the dark depths of the mine, they saw the terrifying Origin Demon that had killed the Qiu Family¡¯s Nascent Soul elder.


    It was a massively potent Origin Demon, already taking on a vaguely humanoid shape, its body shimmering with eye-catching yellow scale armor.


    The Origin Demon¡¯s eyes were closed, deep in slumber, its colossal body nearly filling the entire cavern.


    Beneath it, in the mine where Primordial Stone Orchidy, there was a stream of vigorous death energy, rolling upwards, continuously merging into the body of the Origin Demon.


    As the death energy passed, being devoured and absorbed by the terrifying Origin Demon, the originally barren yellow mine had more than half returned to its natural earthy color.


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 Chapter 390 - 18: The Chaotic Qiu Family

    Chapter 390: Chapter 18: The Chaotic Qiu Family


    ¡°Fifth Grade Initial Stage.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart tightened.


    The Origin Demon thaty sleeping before him was actually a Great Demon of the Fifth Grade.


    No wonder the Nascent Soul Early Stage elder of the Qiu Family could not even escape and perished within the mining vein.


    Without fully understanding the situation, they were not prepared to rashly make a move.


    Seeing they had not disturbed the Origin Demon, Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan slowly retreated.


    ¡­


    Qiu Shiyin, who tiptoed and hid in a narrow mine tunnel, holding her breath and observing the surroundings, finally rxed when she saw the two men returning.


    ¡°Now that you have seen it too, shall we hurry and leave this ce?¡± Qiu Shiyin cautiously nced at Ji Chuan and suggested.


    This time, Ji Chuan did not object, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    They followed the same path back, and there were no moreplications.


    At the entrance of the mining vein, Qiu Shiyin seriously counted their gains from this journey, ¡°This time, we have collected a total of two hundred and ten pounds and four ounces of Primordial Stone Orchid.


    As agreed earlier with an eighty-twenty split, I¡¯ll take forty-two pounds and one ounce, the rest is yours.¡±


    She even counted the ounces, this little female thief indeed had a bit of a nitpicky ir about her when it came to these matters.


    Ji Chuan didn¡¯t bother to be polite with her either, he simply reached out and took the Primordial Stone Orchid Qiu Shiyin handed over.


    ¡°Next time we have the opportunity to work together, we should.¡± Qiu Shiyin giggled, giving a fist salute to the two, ¡°I shall take my leave first.¡±


    Once Qiu Shiyin¡¯s Escaping Light disappeared from sight, Ji Chuan waved his hand and threw the Primordial Stone Orchid to Lu Qingshan, ¡°You handle these, junior brother.¡±


    For cultivators of their level, these bits of Primordial Stone Orchid ore really weren¡¯t significant.


    Lu Qingshan smiled and, withoutmenting on Ji Chuan¡¯s actions, put away the Primordial Stone Orchid. ¡°Shall we now go ask the Qiu Family about the specific situation?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking.¡± Ji Chuan nodded.


    ¡­..


    Maple Forest Town was the major town where the Qiu Family resided.


    The Qiu Family had nearly a thousand cultivators, big and small, along with countless non-cultivating ordinary family members, servants, and others, roughly amounting to tens of thousands of people, truly worthy of being Burial Ridge¡¯srgest cultivating family.


    However, this once prosperous and thriving n was currently in a state of disorder.


    The family¡¯s fundamental Primordial Stone Orchid mining im was upied by the Origin Demon, and of the family¡¯s only two Nascent Soul True Monarchs, one had fallen within the mine.


    This was a major blow to the Qiu Family, more than enough to describe it as traumatic.


    Inside the main house of the Qiu Family, the air was filled with gloom and despair.


    Several key elders and the Family Head were gathering in the main hall.


    The topic of discussion for today was quite simple.


    Whether or not to send people back into the mine to retrieve the bodies of their kin.


    ¡°Forget the others, but Elder Qiu Han held such an important position in our Qiu Family, serving loyally for nearly a thousand years, earning immense merits. Can you all really let his body remain discarded inside the mining cave without feeling chilled?¡± A middle-aged male cultivator harshly challenged.


    He was the son of Elder Qiu Han.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about whether our hearts are chilled or not, nor that we do not value Elder Qiu Han, it¡¯s truly that the mine is too dangerous right now.


    We¡¯ve already lost Elder Qiu Han, a severe loss, what if something happens again if people are sent in?¡±


    Another key cultivator from a different branch harshly said: ¡°Our Qiu Family is already in a precarious position, we must act prudently and not take major risks.¡±


    For a time, the two factions argued heatedly.


    Sitting in the main seat, Family Head Qiu Changqing rubbed his forehead with a headache.


    @@novelbin@@


    How did this Origin Demon suddenlye out from the forbidden zone?


    Bang!


    The chatter in the main hall was suddenly interrupted by a very harsh crashing sound of the door being broken, and Qiu Changqing¡¯s expression immediately darkened as he raised his head, about to scold the servant who had burst in.


    A hurried but surprised voice then reached his ears.


    ¡°Family Head, people from the Sword Sect have arrived!¡±


    The anger and worry on Qiu Changqing¡¯s face almost vanished instantly, and the quarrel in the hall ceased abruptly.


    ¡°Hurry and wee the Senior Cultivator from the Sword Sect.¡± He thought for a moment, then feeling it inappropriate, suddenly stood up, urgency in his voice, ¡°Or perhaps, let us all go out to meet him together. We must not neglect the Senior Cultivator from the Sword Sect.¡±


    ¡°Indeed we should!¡± the other n members echoed in agreement.


    With this decision made, the leading Cultivators of the Qiu n in the hall quickly got into action and walked out the door together, ready to meet the Senior Cultivator from the Taoist Sect.


    But just as the Qiu n members had rounded the corner hall, they saw two extremely young Cultivators walking straight towards them.


    One was tall and imposing with a fierce demeanor and astonishing Cultivation.


    The other had an ordinary appearance with a concealed aura, making it impossible to discern his specific Cultivation.


    Qiu Changqing reacted the fastest and, not minding that these were two young men, immediately bowed respectfully, ¡°We have seen the two Senior Cultivators. We were just about to personally wee you.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for formalities. My junior and I are here to resolve the catastrophe facing your Qiu Family,¡± Ji Chuan waved his hand, a red light twinkling forth.


    Qiu Changqing quickly reached out both hands to catch the red light.


    Lying in the palm of his hand was a Vermilion Bird Sword Token.


    ¡°Senior Cultivators, this way, please.¡± Qiu Changqing replied with a smile, carefully inspecting the Vermilion Bird Sword Token, and, after confirming the identities of the Cultivators as indeed being Senior Cultivators from the Sword Sect, he respectfully handed the Vermilion Bird Sword Token back to Ji Chuan.


    Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan were quickly weed into the main hall of the Qiu Family.


    ¡°First, tell me about the details of the Origin Demon,¡± Ji Chuan said, sitting in a high seat, frowning slightly.


    Qiu Changqing spoke seriously about the disaster facing the Qiu Family.


    The Origin Demon was a type of Demon Beast that had transformed due to contamination from Netherworld Death Qi; generally, there was no big difference from normal Demon Beasts.


    However, Origin Demons were special in that they absorbed and ingested Netherworld Death Qi, so for them, Netherworld Death Qi was like Spiritual Energy for Cultivators, and without it, they would be like water without a source.


    Because of this, Origin Demons generally stayed within their origin, not troubling the Human Race.


    The origin was the name of that forbidden area; any region covered in Netherworld Death Qi was considered an origin.


    However, three months ago, for some unknown reason, some of the Origin Demons left the origin and ventured into Burial Ridge.


    Even more bizarre, the major families had gathered forces together and eradicated a group of Origin Demons. Yet, it seemed as if there was something in the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine that attracted them.


    No sooner had one group of Origin Demons been cleared out than another group would emerge from the origin.


    In this circumstance, the major families were helpless.


    ¡°Does this matter have anything to do with the Demon King?¡± asked Ji Chuan.


    ¡°It should have little to do with it,¡± Qiu Changqing shook his head and exined, ¡°Because these Origin Demons that left the origin and invaded the mine vein were no higher than Fifth Grade, an affair of such a level is trifling to the Demon King. It doesn¡¯t seem to be at his direction.¡±


    Lu Qingshan silently nodded his head.


    This point indeed concurred with their understanding.


    ¡°An anomaly predicates the demonic; since it has no rtion to the Demon King,¡± Ji Chuan paused, ¡°then it is very likely that the perpetrator is from the Netherworld.¡±


    ¡°Is it written in the Spirit Message that a junior branch member of your Qiu Family saw a Demonic Cultivator from the Netherworld leaving the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine?¡± Ji Chuan asked further.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Qiu Changqing nodded.


    ¡°Could you summon this junior branch member for questioning?¡±


    ¡°Senior Cultivator, please wait a moment, I will call her over immediately.¡± Qiu Changqing was very cooperative, quickly calling over a servant and softly instructing him.


    After a quarter of an hour.


    ¡°Family Head, the person has been brought here.¡±


    A young female Cultivator, with her head bowed, followed behind the servant, entering the main hall.


    The moment they saw the female Cultivator, Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan exchanged nces, their eyes filled with aplex emotion.


    Because this junior branch member of the Qiu Family, who had personally witnessed the traces of the Netherworld¡¯s Demonic Cultivator, was also somewhat known to them.


    Qiu Shiyin!


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 Chapter 391 - 19: The Vastness of Integrity

    Chapter 391: Chapter 19: The Vastness of Integrity


    Qiu Shiyin kept her head down, not daring to look directly at the so-called senior cultivator from the Sword Sect, fearing that the senior cultivator would think her disrespectful.


    When no one was paying attention, she cautiously nced at the high seats using the corner of her eye.


    But as soon as she clearly saw the true faces of the two senior cultivators from the Taoist Sect, Qiu Shiyin abruptly lifted her head, her eyes wide open.


    Lu Qingshan, with a smile that was not quite a smile, looked at the astonished Qiu Shiyin, ¡°ording to what the Family Head said, was it you who personally saw the underworld demonic cultivator leave from the Qiu family¡¯s mine vein?¡±


    ¡°Tell us about the exact situation at that time.¡±


    Seeing Lu Qingshan pretending not to recognize her, Qiu Shiyin was initially stunned but quickly understood Lu Qingshan¡¯s good intentions.


    After sending a covert grateful look to Lu Qingshan, she organized her words and slowly said, ¡°This junior is called Qiu Shiyin, skilled in mining techniques, and is the cultivator responsible for surveying the Primordial Stone Orchid mine vein¡­¡±


    Besides the most universally applicable and famous skills of alchemy, artifact refining, and formations, there are numerous other skills covering all aspects, such as mining techniques, material discernment techniques, immortal chef arts, and immortal brewing techniques.


    These minor arts might not significantly boost a cultivator¡¯sbat power, but they also have their significance.


    No wonder Qiu Shiyin had a sessful find in the Primordial Stone Orchid mine vein as soon as she made a move.


    It turned out she was a cultivator who specialized in mining techniques.


    Lu Qingshan secretly nodded.


    ¡°After the Origin Demon invaded the mine vein, the Family Head ordered all our n members to withdraw from the Primordial Stone Orchid mine vein.


    As the person responsible for surveying the Primordial Stone Orchid mine vein, I was tasked to regrly check the situation of the mine vein, so I could report back to the n at the first sign of any other incidents.¡±


    Surveying the Primordial Stone Orchid mine vein¡¯s situation? Is that what you call guarding your own stash?


    Watching Qiu Shiyin speak fluently, Ji Chuan unconsciously curled his lip.


    ¡°A month ago, as usual, when I went to check on the mine vein, I happened to see an underworld demonic cultivator leaving the mine, so I immediately returned and reported this situation to the Family Head,¡± Qiu Shiyin continued.


    ¡°What was the cultivation level of that underworld cultivator? Why were you able to discover him, yet he failed to notice you?¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he queried.


    @@novelbin@@


    That posed a significant doubt.


    ¡°Qiu Shiyin, exin clearly to the senior cultivator, if there are any omissions, you will not be forgiven!¡± Hearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s serious tone, Qiu Changqing, who was listening from the side, immediately changed his expression and sternly admonished.


    Qiu Shiyin shook her head, slightly confused, and softly said, ¡°That cultivator had a profound aura, and I saw him from a great distance, so I¡¯m not clear on his exact cultivation level.


    As for why he didn¡¯t discover me, I don¡¯t really understand.


    Maybe it was because I was very far away from him at the time, and as soon as I spotted him, I immediately retreated and fled?¡±


    Clearly, even Qiu Changqing was not convinced by Qiu Shiyin¡¯s response, his face immediately showing a thinly veiled anger.


    It seemed that Qiu Shiyin¡¯s position within the Qiu family was not high.


    Seeing this scene, Lu Qingshan thoughtfully pondered.


    Ji Chuan waved his hand, stopping the Family Head from further scolding Qiu Shiyin, and indifferently said to Qiu Shiyin, ¡°I understand, you may step down now.¡±


    Qiu Shiyin bowed to everyone and respectfully exited the council hall.


    ¡°Senior cultivator¡­¡± The Family Head hesitated.


    ¡°Have you tried negotiating with the Origin Demon that upied the mine vein?¡± Ji Chuan nced at Qiu Changqing.


    The Origin Demon they encountered in the mine vein was a Fifth Grade being, fully capable of intelligent reasoning akin to humans, making negotiation entirely possible.


    At the very least, they could rify why they suddenly left their originalnd and invaded Burial Ridge.


    ¡°Initially, we did consider it, but those Origin Demons were brutal and ruthless in their attacks, mercilessly ughtering countless of our n members, so¡­¡± Qiu Changqing¡¯s expression was awkward.


    With such a blood feud before their eyes, it was indeed unlikely for the Qiu family to calmly negotiate with the Origin Demons again.


    ¡­


    After obtaining the desired intelligence, Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan left the old residence of the Qiu family, preparing to head to Burial Ridge to check the situation at the other families¡¯ mines.


    ¡°Senior Brother, what do you think of this matter?¡± Walking on the loop road of Feng Lin Town, Lu Qingshan suddenly asked.


    ¡°If our judgment holds true that the invasion of the Origin Demons is indeed orchestrated by the Netherworld, the Netherworld must be after something.


    They can¡¯t possibly have orchestrated such nning just to upy these Primordial Stone Orchid mines, can they?¡±


    Ji Chuan furrowed his brows and said, ¡°These Primordial Stone Orchid vein, although valuable, aren¡¯t significant enough to make the Underworld go to such lengths.¡±


    Lu Qingshan shook his head, smiling, and said, ¡°It is indeed difficult to guess the Netherworld¡¯s intentions out of thin air, but we can use the oue to infer their purpose.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ji Chuan had a hint of realization.


    ¡°Whether the Netherworld Demonic Cultivator¡¯s exposure of their tracks was intentional or not, or whatever significance the Origin Demon¡¯s actions hold, the result is,¡± Lu Qingshan said lightly, a glint shing in his eyes, ¡°we are here.¡±


    ¡°Well said. The movements of Underworld Cultivators are inscrutable, and despite the Heavenly Secret Pavillion and Knowledge Hall facing off with them for so many years with some gains, they have ultimately failed to eradicate the problempletely.¡± Ji Chuan continued the conversation.


    ¡°Setting aside why the Netherworld meticulously nned the invasion of the Origin Demon for the moment, how could such a thing be discovered by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?¡± Ji Chuan pondered for a moment and said gravely, ¡°Unless it was done intentionally¡­¡±


    ¡°The Qiu family, under themand of Sword Sect, sees such great misfortune fall upon the Primordial Stone Orchid mine and coincidentally discovers traces of Underworld Cultivators. The natural reaction would definitely be to seek help from the Sword Sect.


    And the Sword Sect would naturally send someone to assess the situation,¡± analyzed Lu Qingshan. ¡°Up to this point, all these are reactions that the Underworld could logically deduce we would take.


    However, they likely couldn¡¯t have predicted which disciple of the Sword Sect woulde to Burial Ridge.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, I only decided to personally visit the Qiu family on a whim,¡± Ji Chuan nodded, then, catching on to the implication in Lu Qingshan¡¯s words, his face showed shock, ¡°Could it be?¡±


    ¡°Yes, so what the Netherworld desires is probably not anyone specific, but merely to satisfy the condition of involving a disciple from the Sword Sect,¡± Lu Qingshan concluded.


    ¡°The situation¡­ does not look good,¡± Ji Chuanmented grimly.


    The term ¡®Sword Sect disciple¡¯ includes two mainponents:


    The Sword Sect and the disciple.


    Since the Netherworld¡¯s actions are not for a specific disciple, their target is obviously¡­


    none other than the Sword Sect itself!


    As he spoke, Ji Chuan¡¯s eyes suddenly turned frosty.


    Lu Qingshan followed Ji Chuan¡¯s gaze.


    In the alley at the road intersection, several half-grown children were beating a ragged little beggar, who clung to his head, curling up like a small dog but without pleading or crying, merely whimpering dully.


    The next moment, Ji Chuan had already stepped forward, walking toward the group of children.


    Watching Ji Chuan¡¯s retreating figure, Lu Qingshan¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile.


    There are no wrong nicknames, only incorrectly called ones.


    ¡®Vast Righteousness Sword,¡¯ Ji Chuan¡¯s moniker, was indeed not unjustified.


    Ordinary cultivators, having reached the Golden Core, often adopt an aloof and detached demeanor, unconcerned with the suffering of the mundane world.


    Yet Ji Chuan, a Nascent Soul Perfection Great Cultivator, still felt injustice over the bullying among these mundane children, truly carrying a sense of vast righteousness.


    Perhaps some might find such behavior naive, but having more such cultivators in the world is certainly preferable.


    By the time Lu Qingshan caught up, the children who had been assaulting the little beggar had already been chased away by Ji Chuan.


    The little beggar¡¯s face was covered in blood and dirt.


    Seeing the little beggar¡¯s appearance clearly, Lu Qingshan had already guessed the general situation.


    The little beggar had a crooked nose and nted eyes, his face bore a rash, and his skin disyed a strange blue color, which made him look disturbingly like a toad.


    In the world of children, beauty equates to goodness, and it was not surprising that the little beggar, looking like this, would be tormented by his peers.


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 Chapter 392 - 20 Toads

    Chapter 392: Chapter 20 Toads


    Ji Chuan helped the little beggar who was lying on the ground, intending to say something to him.


    However, the little beggar just nkly shook off Ji Chuan¡¯s hand, didn¡¯t say any words of thanks, and with somewhat staggering steps, ran off into the distance.


    Ji Chuan was slightly stunned.


    At that moment, a refined elder in a long robe passing by saw this scene, pointed to his own head, and sighed, ¡°This young master shouldn¡¯t me himself; these little toads here, they don¡¯t really understand¡­¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ji Chuan asked with a frown.


    ¡°Is the young master from out of town?¡± Seeing Ji Chuan¡¯s puzzled look, the elder asked again.


    ¡°Indeed, I am not from Burial Ridge. Please enlighten me, elder,¡± Ji Chuan politely said.


    ¡°This ce, and yet such a noble young master visits?¡± Muttering to himself, the elder sighed deeply and slowly exined, ¡°No wonder¡­ We are adjacent to the Primordialnds, covered in thick Yin Qi. You know about this, right?¡±


    Ji Chuan nodded.


    The so-called Netherworld Death Qi is a term used by cultivators.


    Among thesemon people, they all refer to the Netherworld Death Qi as Yin Qi.


    ¡°This Yin Qi seems to exist only within that Primordialnd, but in fact, a small part of it has also seeped into ournds,¡± the elder continued.


    ¡°Indeed so,¡± Ji Chuan agreed.


    How were the Primordial Stone Orchid veins formed?


    Isn¡¯t it because of the seepage of this Netherworld Death Qi?


    The elder sighed again, ¡°This Yin Qi is truly a cursed thing.


    Because of the presence of Yin Qi, people living on thisnd are more or less eroded by it to some extent.


    This also leads to a high probability of the women here giving birth to monstrous children.¡±


    ¡°Monstrous children?¡± Ji Chuan was taken aback.


    Lu Qingshan, standing nearby, had roughly understood what the elder was talking about.


    Simply put, thend here was like being contaminated by nuclear radiation, hence the high mutation rate of children born here.


    ¡°Yes, out of ten infants, nearly two or three would be monstrous children who look hideous with greenish-ck skin, resembling toads, hence these monstrous infants are also called ¡®toads,''¡± the elder further exined.


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°But, ording to the elder, if the urrence of ¡®toads¡¯ is so high, why do I see so many people on the streets looking normal except for that little beggar who fits the description of a ¡®toad¡¯?¡± Ji Chuan was puzzled.


    ¡°Because those little toads, few of them ever grow up to be this big,¡± the elder¡¯s gaze flickered with a touch of pity.


    ¡°Is it because of a lifespan limitation?¡± Ji Chuan tensed up internally.


    ¡°It¡¯s likely that the parents of the toads do not n to keep these ¡®toads¡¯ and might abandon them, or even possibly drown them,¡± Lu Qingshan interjected at this moment.


    Through the elder¡¯s words and expression, as well as the appearance of that little beggar just now, he had roughly guessed the underlying truth.


    ¡°What a sin¡­ Indeed, it¡¯s as you said,¡± the elder sighed long and short, then pointing at Ji Chuan, continued, ¡°But the young master is also right. These ¡®toads¡¯ are in very poor health, and they are dull and dazed, much like idiots. Even if tender-hearted parents cannot bear to abandon them, they likely find it difficult to raise them to adulthood.¡±


    Ji Chuan¡¯s expression wasplex, filled with anger, but more so with helplessness.


    The behavior of thesemon people abandoning their own children appeared cruel, but there werepelling reasons behind it.


    Raising children for support in old age is a long-standing concept.


    A child so hideous in appearance and almost certainly unable to grow up.


    A child destined not to be able to take care of them in their old age.


    For thesemoners, barely eking out a living, besides abandonment, there was no better choice.


    Besides, these ugly ¡®toads,¡¯ resembling idiot children, even if raised to adulthood by tender-hearted parents, what would happen after the parents passed away? Those ¡®toads¡¯ without any ability to live independently would also end up starving.


    This was an unsolvable problem.


    In this world, the environment was like this.


    Ji Chuan had no reason to be overly critical or indignant about this.


    No matter how despicable, everyone has the right to survive.


    Yet, in Ji Chuan¡¯s heart, there was still a sense of gloom.


    Lu Qingshan was no different.


    Given his modern mindset,pared to Ji Chuan, he should have been able to see things more clearly.


    After all, even in the modern era with advanced medical conditions, there were numerous cases of children being abandoned because they had disabilities or incurable diseases.


    In a world where people¡¯s wisdom was not yet enlightened and thoughts were rtively feudal and backward, what more could one expect?


    But no matter how understandable it was, the difort in his heart was justid there, and it was not so easy to drive away.


    This feeling was inexplicable yet felt like a fishbone stuck in his throat.


    Perhaps it could only be exined with empathy.


    Just as the Sect Master of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion had assessed Lu Qingshan when passing on the Returning Ruins Scripture to him.


    Lu Qingshan himself was indeed a cultivator with great empathy!


    ¡°It¡¯s also fortunate that there is Master Qiu, who kindly adopted many ¡®toads¡¯ abandoned by their biological parents. That little beggar you just saw, he must be one of the ¡®toads¡¯ adopted by Master Qiu,¡± the elder remarked with emotion at this time.


    ¡°Master Qiu?¡± Ji Chuan¡¯s expression became focused.


    ¡°A very young cultivator, out of kindness, adopted many toads abandoned by their parents.


    Eventually, when some people gave birth to a ¡®toad¡¯, they would personally send them to Master Qiu, asking her to adopt them,¡± the elder sighed incessantly, ¡°A good person, I hope Master Qiu can achieve great sess on her path.


    People like Master Qiu should be immortals.¡±


    The mere mortal elder did not know the distinctions between cultivator ranks and was even less aware that in the world of cultivators, only Sword Immortals were referred to as immortals.


    But in his thoughts, Master Qiu was not much different from an immortal.


    ¡°Old sir, could you please tell me where Master Qiu resides?¡± Ji Chuan bowed and asked the old man.


    The old man didn¡¯t think much and gave Ji Chuan a detailed exnation.


    ¡°Junior Brother, let¡¯s go see those children,¡± Ji Chuan suggested, turning to Lu Qingshan once he had the exact address.


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly, expressing no objection.


    ¡­..


    Following the directions given by the elder, Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan walked several miles until they reached the entrance of the town, a very dpidated area, and finally saw the ¡®Toad Cave¡¯ mentioned by the old man.


    The two stopped, only to see a filthy creek beside which stood about a dozen thatched cottages. The area around the cottages was dotted with flowers and nts, presenting a seemingly serene scene.


    But in the open space in front of the cottages, there were dozens of grotesquely shaped ¡®toads¡¯.


    These ¡®toads¡¯ were all quite young, the youngest seemingly just learning to walk, and the oldest looking about ten years old.


    But without exception, all were extremely ugly, each with dark greenish-ck skin, some with moss growing on them, others with boils, and from a distance, they indeed bore a resemnce to real toads.


    At this moment, these ugly ¡®toads¡¯ were gathered together.


    Lu Qingshan stood not too far away, observing.


    The ¡®toads¡¯ were gathered around a seemingly frail woman.


    The woman was dressed in a short robe made of coarse cloth, looking every bit the industrious farm woman, her back to them, tending to a stove in front of her.


    On the stove sat arge medicine cauldron, where she was concocting some medicine.


    A faint spiritual energy wafted from it, drifting over to Lu Qingshan¡¯s side.


    The medicine being concocted in the cauldron contained precious spiritual energy!


    This woman, presumably, was the Master Qiu mentioned by the old man, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to be a female cultivator.


    Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    At that moment, however, the woman suddenly turned around, her gaze inadvertently meeting Ji Chuan¡¯s who stood across from her.


    Both were startled, and Lu Qingshan was equally astonished.


    This Master Qiu turned out to be¡­ Qiu Shiyin!


    In the span of just one day, they had met her three times, each time leaving a different impression.


    Mysteriously indescribable.


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 Chapter 393 - 21: The White Swan

    Chapter 393: Chapter 21: The White Swan


    Ji Chuan seemed to have forgotten the purpose of his visit, fixated solely on Qiu Shiyin.


    However, Qiu Shiyin reacted swiftly,ing forward eagerly with a practiced smile of courtesy on her face, ¡°I have seen the two Senior Cultivators. What brings you to this ce?¡±


    ¡°Could the two revered ones from the Taoist Sect be here to leverage the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine to pressure a minor cultivator like myself?¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s expression turned wary, yet the trace of cunning in her eyes betrayed her inner calctions.


    @@novelbin@@


    She preempted them with a retreat, aiming to seal the lips of both men.


    Ji Chuan came back to his senses.


    Those aimless ¡®toads¡¯ had their gazes following Qiu Shiyin, converging upon him.


    And in the crowd, there was a child, staring at him fixedly, the blood on his face not yet fully cleaned.


    It was the same little beggar from before,


    Not wanting Qiu Shiyin to misunderstand, and even more so to avoid rming these ¡®toads,¡¯ Ji Chuan pointed at the little beggar, ¡°I saw him being bullied by other children in town earlier, so I stopped them. But I didn¡¯t expect him to run off in such a hurry without saying a word.


    I was worried something might happen to him, so I followed.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qiu Shiyin¡¯s perfunctory smile immediately softened and became much more genuine. She said to Ji Chuan respectfully, ¡°Thank you, Sir, for lending a hand.¡±


    Ji Chuan felt aplex mix of emotions and muttered, ¡°It was nothing but a small effort,pared to everything you have done¡­ it¡¯s nothing¡­ My name is Ji Chuan.¡±


    Qiu Shiyin was taken aback.


    Previously at the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine, when Qiu Shiyin had introduced herself, Ji Chuan had not responded.


    The perceptive Qiu Shiyin understood then that the two cultivators probably didn¡¯t think much of her, hence they did not even consider telling her their names.


    But now, Ji Chuan had taken the initiative to give her his name.


    The implication was clear without words.


    ¡­


    ¡°These children, they are all¡­¡± Lu Qingshan gestured towards the somewhat dazed looking ¡®toads¡¯ and then at the cauldron, uncertain of how to phrase his question appropriately.


    ¡°Most of them were abandoned by their parents, and a few were sent here by their parents¡¯ own hands,¡± Qiu Shiyin said quite freely, ¡°Althoughpared to the number of abandoned children in the entirety of Burial Ridge, they¡¯re just a drop in the bucket, but helping even one is still helping.¡±


    ¡°Since birth, these children have Netherworld Death Qi growing within their bodies. They need to continuously drink decoctions brewed from yang spiritual medicines to suppress it, or else it would be difficult for them to live long,¡± Qiu Shiyin nced at the still fragrant cauldron of medicine and said calmly.


    ¡°These spiritual medicines are quite valuable, and what¡¯s more, they need to be provided over the long term¡­¡± Lu Qingshan said, somewhat moved, ¡°Miss Qiu is truly kind at heart.¡±


    Purchasing such precious spiritual medicines just for the sake of nurturing these ¡®toads¡¯ was unimaginable for a cultivator dedicated to the path.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be better to spend these resources on oneself, buying pills or magic artifacts?


    For Qiu Shiyin to do this, it certainly wasn¡¯t to show off or to chase after the reputation of being a good person.


    After all, what use were these things to a cultivator?


    Ultimately, it could only be because Qiu Shiyin was truly a kind person.


    ¡°I can only say I empathize with them,¡± Qiu Shiyin replied without any sense of boasting, casually speaking.


    ¡°Empathize?¡± Ji Chuan, who had been silent for a long time, frowned slightly, a bit perplexed.


    ¡°My younger brother is also a ¡®toad,''¡± Qiu Shiyin said slowly.


    But when mentioning her brother, her eyes shed with a brilliance she had never shown before.


    It must be something extremely precious and cherished in her life.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s heart tightened as he thought of this.


    Qiu Shiyin¡¯s briefment, casually stated yet immensely heavy, seemed to carry behind it many stories and experiences.


    And it was precisely these experiences that were the reason Qiu Shiyin was so determined to help these children.


    What about Qiu Shiyin¡¯s brother, who was just like another ¡®toad¡¯? What does he look like now, and what on earth happened to him?


    Although Ji Chuan didn¡¯t understand the specifics, such matters involved personal privacy, even painful points. Seeing that Qiu Shiyin had no intention of delving deep, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to ask, nor was there a need.


    ¡°Earlier in the Qiu Family, I noticed that the Qiu Family Head didn¡¯t seem very friendly towards Miss Qiu. What¡¯s the reason for that?¡± Lu Qingshan inquired.


    ¡°Although I¡¯m not as powerful as the two Senior Cultivators, I was considered to have some talent for cultivation in the Qiu Family. I reached Foundation Establishment quite quickly and the n valued me somewhat,¡± Qiu Shiyin said, revealing a bitter smile as she spoke.


    ¡°However,ter on, I spent most of my time and resources on these children. The elders in the family naturally didn¡¯t want me to squander my energy on what they saw as meaningless acts, and they were even less willing to see me spending my monthly allowance from the family on these children.


    After repeated admonitions went unheeded, their attitude towards me grew harsher, to the point where the monthly allowance I was supposed to have as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was also being deducted variously.¡±


    ¡°No wonder Miss Qiu is so particr about money¡­¡± Lu Qingshan remembered how Qiu Shiyin had counted even the smallest amounts of Primordial Stone Orchid Mine earlier when they were dividing the loot, and suddenly understood.


    To Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan, the value of the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine was insignificant.


    But for Qiu Shiyin, that was the life of the children.


    Ji Chuan didn¡¯t know what to say at the moment.


    He had originally thought that Qiu Shiyin was a selfish person who took advantage of trouble to cause chaos and even colluded with outsiders to steal her family¡¯s benefits, but the truth proved to be so heavy.


    He suddenly remembered how he had earlier, out of disdain for Qiu Shiyin, reluctantly epted those Primordial Stone Orchids, which he usually didn¡¯t even value, unwilling to give Qiu Shiyin any advantage.


    Only now did he realize how irresponsible and shallow his own thoughts had been.


    Ji Chuan thought for a bit, then suddenly took out many Spirit Stones from his Storage Ring and handed them to Qiu Shiyin.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s gaze fell on the Spirit Stones, and she looked at Ji Chuan with surprise.


    ¡°I can¡¯t bear to see those children dying by the roadside just after being born¡ªthis is to ask Miss Qiu to take in more children, save more lives¡­ Although this will require a lot more effort from you, I can only entrust this to you¡­¡± Ji Chuan said.


    Qiu Shiyin smiled bemusedly, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble; I¡¯m willing to do it. I thank the Senior Cultivator on behalf of these children.¡±


    She carefully reached out, received the Spirit Stones and handled them with care and earnestness.


    After finishing all this, Qiu Shiyin suddenly raised her head and asked another question:


    ¡°Senior Cultivator, can you save every child that is about to be abandoned?¡±


    Ji Chuan looked at Qiu Shiyin¡¯s neck, which appeared long and as pale as ivory because she raised her head, and fell into a heavy silence.


    Could this kind of tragedy, brought on by therger environment, be changed by his efforts alone?


    As long as the Human Race exists on this earth, there will be a never-ending birth of ¡®toads.¡¯ How can they be saved?


    ¡­


    After a moment, Qiu Shiyin broke the silence. She bowed slightly to Ji Chuan and chuckling said, ¡°Senior Cultivator doesn¡¯t need to mind; I was just speaking hypothetically.


    With so many Spirit Stones given by you, I can help many children. I am very grateful to you already.¡±


    ¡­


    Ji Chuan, carrying a heavy heart, said farewell to the ¡®toads¡¯ and to the unique ¡®white swan.¡¯


    Nobody noticed that as Qiu Shiyin watched Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan¡¯s disappearing figures, her normally calm eyes flickered withplex emotions, and her face revealed a hint of struggle.


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 Chapter 394 - 22: Conspiracy

    Chapter 394: Chapter 22: Conspiracy


    In the vast and empty great hall, a circle of wooden chairs was arranged.


    The cultivators seated on the wooden chairs all had extremely unfamiliar and chilly faces.


    ¡°Jiuyou Hall Master,¡± Hei Luo respectfully reported, ¡°ording to our undercover information, disciples of the Sword Sect arrived at Burial Ridge today and entered the Qiu Family to inquire information, just as we expected.¡±


    ¡°How many came, and do you have their specific identities?¡± the Jiuyou Hall Master asked in a hoarse voice.


    ¡°This time, two people from the Sword Sect came. One has an ordinary appearance and restrained cultivation; we don¡¯t know his capabilities, and he¡¯s not present in our intelligence database. He likely is just a regr disciple of the Sword Sect.


    The other cultivator, however, has a renowned reputation.¡± Hei Luo¡¯s pale face cracked a sinister smile.


    ¡°How so?¡± The Jiuyou Hall Master became somewhat more interested upon hearing this.


    ¡°The other cultivator is the top ranked of the Yellow List, Ji Chuan of the Vast Righteousness Sword,¡± announced Hei Luo.


    ¡°Ji Chuan,¡± the Jiuyou Hall Master repeated the name, suddenly emitting a chillyugh, ¡°in that case, this is rather an unexpected gain.


    This Ji Chuan has been at the top of the bounty list for Nascent Soul cultivators in the Underworld for some time now, so let¡¯s take him down as well along the way,¡± he added.


    They had long since desired to eliminate Ji Chuan as quickly as possible.


    Even though Ji Chuan, as the top ranked Fourth Realm cultivator, could not ordinarily be matched by mere Fifth Realm cultivators.


    If they were to dispatch strong Void Refining cultivators to ambush Ji Chuan, although he would be no match, everyone knew that the speed of a Sword Cultivator¡¯s Sword Control Technique was unmatched among the six cultivations.


    Moreover, given the unpredictable methods of disciples of the Sword Sect, it was very likely there would be no issue for Ji Chuan to escape if he decided to.


    If they attacked and failed to quickly eliminate Ji Chuan without leaving traces, once the reinforcements of the Human Race responded and arrived, it would be the Underworld cultivators who would end up dead.


    If they were unlucky, and their actions led to further investigation unraveling more information, it could potentially implicate an entire sect of Underworld cultivators.


    In such situations, unless there was a guaranteed kill, the Underworld would not easily strike at Ji Chuan.


    Guaranteed assassination of Ji Chuan would require dispatching a Sixth Realm, that is, a Divinity Transformation cultivator, to bepletely confident.


    But after all, this is the territory of the Human Race, where Underworld cultivators face numerous restrictions.


    Divinity Transformation cultivators, even among those in the Underworld, hold highly esteemed positions, simr to those of the State Level Hall Masters, who are of the Rank of Void Refining.


    The cost and time needed to station a Divinity Transformation Underworld cultivator, given their identity, are undoubtedly very high.


    Moreover, the higher the realm of the cultivator, the fewer there are, and their methods are more transparent, which increases the likelihood of their identity being exposed once they act. That¡¯s one side of it.


    On the other hand, such a high-profile existence impacts various aspects; moving one part could affect the whole, and such figures are not expendable.


    Has your Underworld nned an ambush against a Human genius, but are you sure that the Human genius isn¡¯t intentionally revealing ws to bait the Underworld into acting?


    The Underworld has suffered such losses before.


    Several instances had urred in the past where they acted rashly without careful consideration against Human race genius cultivators.


    The oues were ambushed counterattacks that led to several State Level branches being wiped clean, incurring massive losses and undoing preparations that took centuries.


    With such lessons learned from previous experiences, Underworld cultivators, whenever they act, are either extremely cautious with adequate preparation, or they start from the idea of making an immediate exchange.


    An exchange, after all, must have a return on investment.


    For an existence like Ji Chuan, sending a Divinity Transformation cultivator to trouble him, if it turned into an ambush, would be an outright gift; would the Underworld really afford to gamble with a Divinity Transformation cultivator¡¯s life?


    Gamble with the life of a Divinity Transformation cultivator just to deal with a Nascent Soul cultivator?


    The Underworld cultivators aren¡¯t crazy.


    Thus, even though the Underworld cultivators harbor endless killing intent towards Ji Chuan, due to the delicate situation, in most scenarios, they could only let Ji Chuan go his way.


    Actually, the situation of genius Human cultivators is generally simr to that of Ji Chuan, to a great extent; they continue to be free and act openly.


    After all, it cannot be that within the territories of the Human Race, Human cultivators should be frightened by a lurking Underworld and dare not leave their sect, can it?


    ¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s nearly time to reach the critical point; prepare to act, let¡¯s have a quick and decisive battle, and solidify everything before the next batch of Sword Sect people arrives!


    If this operation runs smoothly, even the Sword Sect might have to face a significant weakening,¡± the Jiuyou Hall Master got up and coldly gave the order.


    His tone was tinged with a bit of pride, ¡°For a small state branch like ours, if we really pull this off, even the Main Pce will have to regard us with new eyes!¡±


    No wonder he felt proud.


    An existence like the Sword Sect, full of lethal potential, even the main Underworld Pce wouldn¡¯t dare to face them head-on.


    If they could seed in what they nned, it would surely be a heavy blow for the Sword Sect.


    This would be a monumental achievement, and also a great plot to overthrow superiors!


    The other high-ranking Demonic Cultivators also began to stand up, just like the ¡°Jiuyou Hall Master,¡± cing their hands over their chest, their voices solemn and fervent:


    ¡°Heavenly Demon Formless, all wondrous and myriad, joy and sorrow, all return to dust!¡±


    ¡­..


    Before a small vein of Primordial Stone Orchid Mine, the figures of Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan slowly descended.


    The hundreds of Cultivating families in Burial Ridge werergely established around these Primordial Stone Orchid Mines.


    Of course, the mine upied by the Qiu Family was thergest and had the highest yield.


    This time, the mine Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan hade to belonged to the Luo Family.


    The Luo Family was one of the smaller families at the bottom of the hierarchy in Burial Ridge, with the highest cultivation among them only being in the Golden Core Early Stage.


    Naturally, the mine they possessed was only a minor one.


    In such a small mine, the Origins Demons residing were weak and few in number.


    ¡°ording to the head of the Qiu Family, as soon as these Origin Demons are wiped out, a new batch will immediately emerge from the ground and make a resurgence,¡± Ji Chuan said gravely.


    ¡°The problem is, how do these resurgent Origin Demons know that the previous batch has beenpletely eradicated?¡±


    There must be some hidden machination here that we don¡¯t know about.


    ¡°If we can find this hidden hand, perhaps we could understand the whole by seeing a part of it and trace the root of this matter,¡± Lu Qingshan said coldly.


    Ji Chuan nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s get to it then.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    The two figures streaked into the mine without hesitation.


    In the Qiu Family¡¯s mine, the Origin Demons were rtively powerful; there were even more than one Fifth Realm Origin Demons, so they naturally had to be somewhat cautious.


    But in this small mine, the strongest were merely Third Realm demons, so ughtering them was akin to cutting through vegetables for them, removing much of their concern.


    To be efficient, the two even deliberately made a greatmotion upon entering the mine to attract the Origin Demons to appear.


    ¡°If all the Origin Demons invading Burial Ridge are affected by Demonic Qi like those in the Qiu Family¡¯s mine, even knowing the great disparity in strength, they would aggressively attack us fearlessly,¡± Lu Qingshan said.


    Ji Chuan slowly nodded his head.


    Momentster, several crimson eyes appeared around them, recklessly pouncing towards Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan took a deep breath, ¡°Just as I thought¡­ the Origin Demons invading Burial Ridge are all corroded by Demonic Qi.¡±


    Whoosh!


    In the next instant, at the thought of his mind, sword Qi fments emitted from his body, shing like flying swords.


    An Origin Demon that pounced towards Lu Qingshan flew midair, about to roar, but a sh of sword light left a gigantic gash on its neck, blood sttering.


    Blood rained down.


    To deal with these Origin Demons, Lu Qingshan didn¡¯t even need to use his flying sword, merely relying on the fments of sword Qi to easily conclude the battle.


    Whoosh whoosh whoosh!


    Three more fments of sword Qi shot out, ruthlessly reaping the fragile lives of the Origin Demons.


    A momentter, the group of Origin Demons that had just gathered was wiped out.


    Unsatisfied, Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan continued deeper into the mine, constantly clearing out the Origin Demons upying it.


    Until the bottom of the mine, a giant Third Realmte-stage serpentine Origin Demon, coiled in the richest part of the mine, appeared before them.


    The serpentine Demon, like what they had seen in the Qiu Family¡¯s mine, was continuously consuming the Netherworld Death Qi from the mine, hissing with crimson tongue at Lu Qingshan.


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan just scoffed.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    A streak of lightning shed, and the Peach Blossom Sword emerged from its sheath.


    Annihtion Prating Sword Intent was condensed in the sword, and the Peach Blossom Sword instantly shot towards the serpentine Demon.


    The serpentine Demon¡¯s body was covered in ayer of greyish-yellow scales, seemingly extremely tough.


    But they were of no use.


    As the flying sword collided with the tough scaled body of the demon, a sh of cold light passed over the Peach Blossom Sword.


    A chilling intent of annihtion burst forth in an instant.


    Annihting everything.


    The tough scales protecting the body, didn¡¯t even spark, instead, they directly disintegrated into nothingness.


    Following this trajectory, the flying sword pierced right through the vitals of the serpentine demon.


    Blood poured down, killing it with one strike!


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 Chapter 395 - 23 The Miasma of Jiuyou

    Chapter 395: Chapter 23 The Miasma of Jiuyou


    The Origin Demon Serpent let out a piercing wail, its massive body thunderously copsing to the ground.


    Without any significant effort, the Origin Demon that had troubled the Luo Family for months was swept away.


    ¡°What is that?¡± The moment the serpent demon fell, Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze suddenly darkened.


    Within the body of the Origin Demon Serpent, he caught a glimpse of a fleeting, lustrous jade light.


    Whoosh!


    A fment of Sword Qi suddenly shot out, brushing past the corpse of the Origin Demon Serpent.


    A white Gu Insect, an inch long, was lifted by the Sword Qi Fment and fell into the palm of Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan stared intently at the Gu Insect in his palm, which was constantly writhing.


    ¡°Heart Demon Gu.¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s voice deepened as he instantly understood the principle behind it the moment he saw the object.


    ¡°Within the bodies of these leading Origin Demons, Heart Demon Gurvae were imnted by the Underworld, and as soon as their host perishes, this message would be immediately transmitted to the mother Gu.


    The holder of the mother Gu, an Underworld Cultivator, would then be able to promptly summon a new wave of Origin Demons to reinvade,¡± Lu Qingshan said.


    ¡°But why?¡± Ji Chuan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, unable toprehend.


    The Netherworld even resorted to using the Heart Demon Gu¡ªcould it be solely to manipte these Low Grade Origin Demons to invade Burial Ridge?


    Even the currently revealed purpose of these Origin Demons seems to target only the Primordial Stone Orchid veins; it can hardly even be called an invasion of Burial Ridge.


    Illogical, extremely illogical.


    By their reasoning, the Netherworld¡¯s obscure actions should be aimed at their Sword Sect.


    But how could such a level of chaos possibly affect the Sword Sect?


    What exactly is the Netherworld plotting?


    Lu Qingshan also furrowed his brow, lost in thought.


    ¡°Junior Brother, check if there is any Demonic Qi in the Netherworld Death Qi.¡± Looking at the mine where the surging Netherworld Death Qi showed no signs of subsiding, Lu Qingshan suddenly had another thought.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s pupils contracted slightly, understanding the implication in Lu Qingshan¡¯s words.


    Green Waist darted out and wandered for some time within the rolling Netherworld Death Qi.


    After a moment, Green Waist returned.


    On the silver-white de, there was ayer of rich, withered yellow light¡ªthe mark of Netherworld Death Qi.


    But within that dense withered yellow light, there was also a persistent streak of ck gleam that could not be dispersed.


    ¡°Demonic Qi!¡± Ji Chuan was shaken.


    Lu Qingshan nodded, his spection confirmed, ¡°This is the Jiuyou Poison, a drug concocted by the Demon Race to muddle the minds of Demon Beasts, invisible and colorless, soluble in tangible substances.


    Once spiritual beings absorb Jiuyou Poison, they will be influenced, gradually losing rationality and eventually turning into beasts that only know ughter.


    The influence of Jiuyou Poison on the mind is an extremely long, subtle, and silent process, not something that happens overnight.


    Moreover, the stronger the Primordial Spirit, the less effective Jiuyou Poison is.


    Thus, Jiuyou Poison is generally of no significant use to Human Cultivators, suitable only for Demon Beasts with weaker Primordial Spirits.


    The Netherworld merged Jiuyou Poison into the Primordial Stone Orchids; these Origin Demons, after invading the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine, must absorb and ingest the Netherworld Death Qi contained within the Primordial Stone Orchids to maintain their state, thereby refining the Jiuyou Poison into their bodies.


    Under the influence of Jiuyou Poison, they be deranged Origin Demons that lost their wits and only know ughter.¡±


    ¡°How did youe to know of Jiuyou Poison¡¯s existence, Junior Brother?¡± Ji Chuan¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of surprise.


    He was surprised not only by the existence of Jiuyou Poison but also by Lu Qingshan¡¯s eloquent discourse.


    Jiuyou¡¯s poisonous miasma had never been heard of by him, a Taoist Sect cultivator with broad insight, even in the past.


    Yet unexpectedly, Lu Qingshan, who came from humble beginnings, could know so much, causing him to subconsciously feel some surprise.


    ¡°I hail from Qing State¡¯s Zhenjiang, and personally experienced the Corpse Puppet Chaos orchestrated by the Underworld first-hand.


    Since then, I joined Zhishoulou and participated in many operations against the Underworld.


    So, my understanding of the Underworld¡¯s methods is a bit deeper,¡± Lu Qingshan found a suitable reason.


    Hatred is the original driving force, and those who understand the Underworld the most, are always those who hate it the most, quite reasonable.


    But in truth, the real reason was because of the foreknowledge.


    In a version after Nine Heavens, the Underworld had used Jiuyou¡¯s poisonous miasma to incite a beast tide that attacked a city, triggering a major plot quest.


    Although that plot quest was not part of the main storyline, it had been sensational for a time due to its massive scale and generous rewards.


    @@novelbin@@


    After the quest waspleted, yers had reviewed the entire process and made a detailed introduction to Jiuyou¡¯s miasma, which Lu Qingshan remembered by heart.


    Therefore, when he saw a simr scene now, he immediately reacted to it.


    ¡°As more and more of Jiuyou¡¯s poisonous miasma is absorbed, these Origin Demons will be increasingly insane. Right now we have seen them killing upon sight of humans¡­¡± Lu Qingshan murmured, ¡°Later on, they could even enter a state of blood frenzy, actively seeking out human scents to attack humans to satisfy their own ughter cravings.¡±


    Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan exchanged a nce, both thinking of a terrible possibility.


    ¡°How long does it take for Jiuyou¡¯s poisonous miasma to make these Demon Beasts enter a state of blood frenzy?¡± Ji Chuan swallowed, his voice grave.


    ¡°Two to three months, and it won¡¯t beter than three months.


    Once they absorb Jiuyou¡¯s poisonous miasma into their bodies, if they do not fall into a state of blood frenzy after more than three months, it means that their Primordial Spirit Realm is strong enough to be immune to the erosion of Jiuyou¡¯s poisonous miasma,¡± Lu Qingshan said slowly.


    ¡ª¡ªThe time when the Origin Demons invaded the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine at Burial Ridge was about three months ago.


    ¡°If these Demon Beasts erupt, then all of Burial Ridge will be plunged into misery and death,¡± said Ji Chuan with aplexion as dark as water.


    At this time, within Burial Ridge, a hundred or so Primordial Stone Orchid mine veins were upied by Origin Demons, one could imagine their number.


    It¡¯s important to know that within Burial Ridge there were countless ordinary people and Lower Grade cultivators, who would be likembs to the ughter in front of Origin Demons.


    Although Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan were strong, they were after all only two people; how could they handle it if the Origin Demons poured out of their nests?


    ¡°I will immediately send a message back to the sect, asking them to dispatch reinforcements,¡± Ji Chuan resolved, ¡°Then, we¡¯ll go back to Qiu Family first to inform them of this news.


    Have the Family Head of the Qiu Family urgently ry this dire news to all the major families of Burial Ridge, so they can prepare to face the Origin Demons emerging from the mine veins.¡±


    Lu Qingshan nodded in agreement.


    The perception of Origin Demons continuously staying within the mine veins for three months without emerging had long caused the major families of Burial Ridge to drop their guard, assuming that as long as they stayed away from the Primordial Stone Orchid mine veins, the Origin Demons wouldn¡¯t trouble them.


    In such a state, the consequences were unimaginable once the Origin Demons erupted.


    Aware of the severity of the situation, the two immediately set off, preparing to return to Qiu Family.


    However, a shadow constantly loomed over Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    This matter was definitely not so simple.


    First, how did the Underworld manage to get these Origin Demons to leave their originnd?


    Second, even if the Origin Demons went on a rampage, plunging Burial Ridge into misery and death, it was a tragedy, but for the Sword Sect, the biggest loss would be the Qiu Family.


    However, clearly, this time the Underworld was targeting the Sword Sect.


    So, there must be another deeper scheme behind this incident.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart was heavy, but he had no solution and could only deal with each problem as it arose.


    Take one step at a time and deal with the imminent threat of the Origin Demons running amok first!


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 Chapter 396 - 24 Origin Demon Rampage (Extra 2/10 for Alliance Leader "FengchenCc")

    Chapter 396: Chapter 24 Origin Demon Rampage (Extra 2/10 for Alliance Leader ¡°FengchenCc¡±)


    The sky gradually turned overcast, followed by a light sprinkle of rain.


    The rain quickly intensified, bing a continuous curtain, eventually turning into a torrential downpour. Each raindrop seemed to have weight, blurring the world into a white haze, making it difficult to see even a few meters ahead.


    Shanglin Town, home to the Lin Family of Burial Ridge.


    The Lin Family was only a small n with a heritage of just over three hundred years, but it already showed signs of being tossed about in the wind and rain.


    Within the entire Lin Family, there was only one Golden Core Cultivator, who was already approaching the end of his lifespan.


    If the Lin Family couldn¡¯t produce a new Golden Core Cultivator before his passing, it was feared the family would rapidly decline.


    Gathered in the meeting hall today were all the esteemed and influential elders of the Lin n, uniformly Foundation Establishment Cultivators.


    ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± The elderly figure seated in the ce of honor, with white hair and a face full of wrinkles, coughed twice. His turbid yet profound gaze swept over everyone as he slowly said, ¡°Has everyone arrived?¡±


    ¡°Family Head, all here.¡±


    The elder nodded slightly, ¡°The purpose of summoning you all today, you are undoubtedly aware of. Let¡¯s discuss together the future ns of our Lin Family.¡±


    ¡°As you can see, I don¡¯t have much time left, and Tian¡¯er has been at the peak of Foundation Establishment for over a decade. Despite the family providing abundant resources, he has difficulty breaking through to Golden Core. It seems unlikely in the short term.¡±


    Down below, a slightly younger middle-aged cultivator¡¯s face shed with a trace of shame.


    He was the Tian¡¯er mentioned by the Family Head, the Family Head¡¯s own son.


    ¡°Now that the Origin Demon has broken out from its origin ce, it has upied our Lin Family¡¯s lifeline¡ªthe Primordial Stone Orchid vein¡ªmaking it impossible for us to mine more Primordial Stone Orchid.¡±


    ¡°In such a troubled autumn, one does not know how long this situation willst before a turning point arrives. Some in the family have suggested withdrawing from Burial Ridge to establish anew in anothernd. What are your thoughts?¡±


    A silence fell below.


    The importance and urgency, gains and losses, causality were not difficult to understand.


    The Lin Family had been operating in Burial Ridge for several hundred years; rtionships and connections were already well-established. Abandoning everything now and starting anew in a different ce was easier said than done; it would require great courage and determination.


    One should know that in the Cultivation World, there were frequent examples of families weakening after an unsessful move to newnds.


    But staying in Burial Ridge was no solution either.


    The family had been unable to produce a second Golden Core Cultivator for a long time, and now their support pir¡ªthe Primordial Stone Orchid vein¡ªhad been taken over by an Origin Demon, leaving them with nothing but to eat up what was left of their reserves.


    Based on their previous umtions, holding out for a few more years or even over a decade was not a problem, but what if after several years the Origin Demon had still not retreated?


    When they were backed into a corner with no way out, starting anew would no longer be feasible.


    After all, whether it was building a new family residence, setting up formations, purchasing properties, or smoothing out rtions, every step would require a tremendous amount of resources.


    Therefore, if there were ns to leave Burial Ridge and establish anew elsewhere, a decision must be made as soon as possible while the family was still strong, including selecting a new location.


    The elder looked around, seeing that no one dared to speak, he knew someone needed to take the lead.


    As the Family Head, it was naturally his responsibility to do so. He gritted his teeth, ready to voice his thoughts, when suddenly¡ª


    ¡°The demons are here!¡±


    ¡°Bad news! Quick, take cover, take cover!¡±


    Outside, amidst the sound of rain, came a series of chaotic wails and shouts.


    Bang!


    The doors to the meeting hall were abruptly pushed open, and a middle-aged cultivator rushed in disheveledly, soaked to the bone, with water dripping down his robes to the floor, mingled with blood and rainwater.


    ¡°Family Head, the Origin Demon¡­¡± The middle-aged cultivator caught his breath, his voice shaking to the extreme, ¡°The Origin Demon has left the vein and is now ughtering the townsfolk in the town!¡±


    His words caused all the cultivators in the room to feel a chill rise from their feet, spreading instantly throughout their bodies.


    The turn they had hoped for had indeed arrived, but it was not at all the kind they had anticipated!


    ¡°Family Head, what should we do now?¡± The middle-aged cultivator was already babbling somewhat incoherently, ¡°There are so many Origin Demons, and I saw two Third Grade ones!¡±


    Theplexion of the Lin Family Head turned pale.


    But as the Family Head, he could not afford to panic.


    He panicked, and the Lin Family crumbled.


    ¡°Lin Luo, you take people to activate the Golden Spirit Great Formation and defend the Lin n! The rest of you, follow me to check out the situation!¡± The elder struggled to calm down and made a decision.


    As soon as he had spoken, he took the lead in leaving the main hall and rushed out.


    On the streets of Maple Forest Town, which had once been spacious,y bodies and rampant, ferocious Origin Demons.


    The rain kept washing over the corpses, but the scent of blood couldn¡¯t be diluted.


    Bloody water mixed with the rain flows in streams.


    A giant wolf, nearly two Zhang high and three to four Zhang long, came into view.


    At the street entrance, the giant wolf clutched a mortal man in its jaws, its sharp fangs easily crushing his skull, causing blood and brain matter to stter instantly.


    With a shake of its head, the wolf tossed the headless corpse aside.


    The process was cruel, bloody, yet swift and efficient.


    At this moment, the giant wolf turned its head, locking its gaze fiercely with the Lin Family Head.


    The blood-red pupils of the giant wolf stared intensely at the Lin Family Head, immediately elevating his sense of alert to the highest level.


    This was a Third Grade Middle-Rank wolf-type Origin Demon!


    But it didn¡¯t end there, at this moment, the giant wolf actually raised its head and let out a vicious howl.


    @@novelbin@@


    Soon after, amidst the rain, two more Origin Demons of the same kind appeared, frightening the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had followed the Lin Family Head to assess the situation, to the point where their souls nearly left their bodies.


    Three Third Grade Middle-Rank Origin Demons!


    On their side, apart from the Family Head who was at the Golden Core Early Stage, the highest level of cultivation among the other cultivators was merely at the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    Such a disparity in strength was fundamentally insurmountable!


    The next moment, the three giant wolves lunged at them, a surge of Netherworld Death Qi rolling forth, the fierce intent striking directly into their Divine Souls.


    A mist of blood sttered amidst the crowd.


    The giant wolves disyed their might, and as the Lin Family Head watched the elders of his n be sessively ughtered, anger welled up in his heart, along with a wave of sadness and helplessness.


    The Lin n was done for this time!


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Roar~~~¡±


    Spiritual Power pushed through the rain and mist as Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan flew back on their swords to the Qiu Family.


    But as they neared Maple Forest Town, where the Qiu Family was located, a roar that seemed to vigorously shake Heaven and Earth came through the heavy rain.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s nose twitched slightly.


    He smelled a faint scent of blood.


    ¡°Something happened in Maple Forest Town, Senior Brother!¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart grew cold, and he quickly informed Ji Chuan.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, to aid them!¡± Ji Chuan clearly perceived something was amiss as well, and no sooner had he spoken than he transformed into a Sword Light, breaking through the rainy veil, straight toward Maple Forest Town.


    Lu Qingshan pursed his lips and followed closely behind.


    Their speed was exceedingly fast; within a few breaths, Maple Forest Town came into their sight.


    A countless number of Origin Demons, of various shapes and forms, ran amuck on the streets, massacring mortals, wreaking havoc and devastation.


    Some cultivators engaged in fierce battles with the Origin Demons, but far more often, ordinary people with no Divine Skills were being ughtered mercilessly.


    Every move of these Origin Demons stirred waves after waves of Netherworld Death Qi.


    Because there were so many Origin Demons, Netherworld Death Qi had begun to engulf Maple Forest Town.


    ¡°The Origin Demons have entered a killing frenzy and have burst out from the mine!¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart tightened.


    The situation they feared the most had now vividly presented itself before their eyes!


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 Chapter 398 - 26 Fifth Grade Origin Demon

    Chapter 398: Chapter 26 Fifth Grade Origin Demon


    Two Origin Demons, with overwhelmingly fierce auras and bodies covered in blinding yellow scales, wereunching frenzied attacks on the Qiu Family¡¯s Spirit Formation.


    Besides them, there were over a hundred Third Grade Origin Demons, constantly gathering and collectively besieging the Qiu Family under the protection of the Spirit Formation.


    The Netherworld Death Qi emanating from the Fifth Grade Origin Demons coalesced like lightning bolts or Divine Arrows, nketing the skies and striking towards the luminescence of the Formation. The scene was terrifying.


    In an instant, Thunderp Mountain echoed.


    Inside the Spirit Formation.


    Qiu Changqing watched as their not-so-imposing Great Formation, under the relentless assault of the Origin Demons, appeared like a small boat amidst tempestuous waves, with the Spiritual Light of the Formation rippling continuously, on the verge of copse.


    The seven Golden Core cultivators of his n, along with other cultivators, were exerting their full strength to operate and maintain the Formation against the Origin Demons.


    The Great Formation was in critical danger, seemingly on the brink of copse at any moment.


    One Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator, seven Golden Core cultivators, and several hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, relying on a Fourth Grade Formation ¡ª could they truly withstand two Fifth Grade Origin Demons, and for how long could they hold?


    There was no urate answer to that question.


    But the cultivators of the Qiu Family only knew one thing, even if they couldn¡¯t hold, they had to try.


    They couldn¡¯t run.


    Because behind them, inside the Formation, there were hundreds, possibly thousands, of their nspeople.


    ¡°Everyone, we can only unite and do our best to hold on. We are not without hope. Once the two Senior Cultivators from the Sword Sect return, we will have a chance to break free!¡± Qiu Changqing shouted loudly, boosting morale.


    In reality, Qiu Changqing had no idea where the two Senior Cultivators from the Sword Sect had gone or when they would return.


    But these words, he had to share with the n¡¯s cultivators.


    Because he knew, only by seeing hope, could the cultivators of the n hold on for a longer time.


    The eyes of the two Fifth Grade Origin Demons brimmed with cruelty and savagery.


    Under the influence of the Jiuyou miasma, they had long lost their rationality, and their only thought was to shred the cultivators within the Formation before them.


    As more and more Origin Demons were attracted by the immensemotion and converged, the situation for the Qiu Family became increasingly grim.


    ¡°We truly can¡¯t hold on much longer.¡± Qiu Changqing, seeing the pale faces of his nsmen beside him due to the massive depletion of Spiritual Power, knew they were reaching their limit.


    The entire Qiu Family was facing an existential crisis.


    Despair filled everyone¡¯s hearts.


    ¡°What is that?!¡± Suddenly, someone in the crowd spotted an unusual glint of light.


    @@novelbin@@


    Whoosh¡ª


    A streak of Sword Light, originating from nowhere, shed by before disappearing, drawing an arc as it swept past the Origin Demon on the left side of the two Fifth Graders.


    In the depths of the void, a soul-shaking and unparalleled Intent unfurled.


    A point of gray-white sharpness exploded amidst the Sword Light, prated the body of the Origin Demon, and rampaged without restraint, decimating its flesh.


    The formidable body of the Origin Demon aged and decayed rapidly under the gray-white brilliance, its Spiritual Power and Blood Qi draining away.


    Instantly, the body of the Fifth Grade Origin Demon was ripped into countless fragmented pieces, and a cloud of blood burst forth.


    Samsara Sword Intent.


    A Sword of Samsara.


    This was one of Ji Chuan¡¯s important reliances as the leader of the Yellow List.


    ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡± ¡°Swoosh!¡±


    Another Flying Sword, emitting a deep blue glow, whistled by.


    Close behind the Flying Sword trailed several hundred streaks of cold luminescence.


    Dazzling and eye-catching.


    The Origin Demons were too closely packed; facing the suppression of the Flying Sword and cold luminescence, there was simply no ce to hide.


    Just one wave of the assault swept over the Origin Demons that were ceaselessly attacking the Qiu Family¡¯s Spirit Formation.


    For a moment, the ground was littered with the dismembered corpses of Origin Demons.


    This scene left all the Qiu Family cultivators inside the Spirit Formation stunned.


    Afterward, they saw two figures, like thunderous lightning, swiftly passing through the Origin Demons.


    A figure charged toward another Fifth Grade Origin Demon.


    Surrounded by countless cold shes, another figure rushed towards the Third Grade Origin Demons.


    In a sh, arge number of Origin Demons were cut down like wheat, one after another copsing.


    ¡°You all assist with the other Origin Demons, leave the Fifth Grade ones to me,¡± Ji Chuan¡¯s cold voice instantly spread throughout the Qiu Family.


    As soon as his words fell, Ji Chuan turned to face the Fifth Grade Origin Demon.


    The remaining Fifth Grade Origin Demon was a massive ck Tiger.


    Under the influence of the miasma from Jiuyou, it waspletely fearless, even after seeing itspanion killed by Ji Chuan in one strike.


    The ck Tiger Origin Demon stepped into the void, and a huge ripple formed beneath its feet. Then, its colossal body left a trailing afterimage as it pounced towards Ji Chuan.


    With his left arm cradling Qiu Shiyin and his right lifting a little beggar, Ji Chuan had no hand free to use his External Sword techniques¡ªbut this did not hinder his offensive force.


    With a thought, Green Waist, which had been roaming back, shot out once again, directly toward the ck Tiger Origin Demon.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The assault of Green Waist was like a surging tide, relentless and continuous, repeatedly mming into the ck Tiger Origin Demon.


    The oing ck Tiger Origin Demon was sent flying time after time by the strikes.


    Yet, this ck Tiger Origin Demon was relentlessly persistent, lunging back at Ji Chuan time and again.


    This was the negative effect of a mind consumed by nothing but ughter.


    By now, the ck Tiger Origin Demon hadpletely lost its ability to judge.


    Wrapped in rolling Netherworld Death Qi, the ck Tiger Origin Demon¡¯s aura crumbled and disintegrated under the Sword Light.


    Finally, after dozens of impacts, the Flying Sword blew apart the Death Qi that coated the chest of the ck Tiger Origin Demon, prating straight through.


    Feeling the mortal threat, the ck Tiger Origin Demon instinctively swung its ws, trying its best to block the sword strike.


    But it was all in vain.


    At this very moment, zing red, brownish yellow, vivid green, deep blue, and gleaming golden lights exploded forth from the Flying Sword.


    An extremely magnificent strike.


    Even Lu Qingshan, who was clearing out the low-grade Origin Demons, was captivated by this sword strike.


    This was a sword strike infused with Five Elements Sword Intent.


    This was Ji Chuan¡¯s technique.


    The blending of five higher realm Intents into a single sword strike, its power was so immense that it bore a semnce to the dread realm of Primordial Intent.


    This sword strike sted apart the ck Tiger Origin Demon¡¯s desperately blocking ws, piercing into the chest, swiftly tearing through the many obstructions of its Physical Body, and puncturing right through its well-protected heart.


    Whoosh!


    Green Waist returned, now with ck gleams clinging to its de.


    The next instant, the eyes of the ck Tiger Origin Demon, filled with brutality, gradually dimmed.


    Its massive body fell helplessly from the sky. As it fell, the Netherworld Death Qi swirling around its form started to dissipate, returning to Heaven and Earth.


    At that moment, the entire battlefield suddenly fell silent.


    Both Fifth Grade Origin Demons killed just like that?


    Qiu Changqing was exceptionally astonished, with a shock beyond words stirring in his heart.


    Is this the might of a Sword Sect Cultivator?


    He could sense that Ji Chuan¡¯s Cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul Realm.


    Yet, with such Cultivation, defeating a Fifth Grade Origin Demon seemed so effortless, which he found truly unimaginable.


    ¡°Assist the Senior Cultivator, clean up these low-grade Origin Demons!¡± Qiu Changqing was stunned for only a moment before he quickly recovered, shouting hismand loudly, then led the Cultivators of his n quickly out of the Formation, rushing into the fray.


    Originally, the Cultivators of the Qiu Family were nearing despair, but witnessing both ferocious Fifth Grade Origin Demons being in boosted their morale and emotions, leading them to leave their defended Spirit Formations and engage the frenzied Origin Demons.


    Lu Qingshan, employing the Myriad Swords Art, was already like a wolf among sheep when facing the Third and Second Grade Origin Demons.


    Now that Qiu Changqing, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, had unleased his Combat Power and joined the battle, pairing with Lu Qingshan, the speed of eradicating the Origin Demons elerated significantly.


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 Chapter 399 - 27: Monster

    Chapter 399: Chapter 27: Monster


    Actually, the moment the two Fifth Grade Origin Demons perished, everything had already be a foregone conclusion.


    The resistance strength of the Human Race grew stronger, while the Origin Demons kept being in, their numbers diminishing.


    Under this ebb and flow, the Origin Demon invasion, which nearly suffocated the Qiu Family, was gradually subsiding.


    And the root cause of all these changes was, astonishingly, just the arrival of Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan.


    ¡­¡­¡­


    An hourter.


    After Peach Blossom sted thest Third Grade Origin Demon to fragments within Lu Qingshan¡¯s view, it circled back and disappeared into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body, vanishing from sight.


    ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Lu Qingshan said, his gaze sweeping over the remains.


    The continuous heavy rain in the sky also finally began to stop at this time.


    This Origin Demon invasion had cost the Qiu Family dearly.


    The most peripheral area suffered the most severe damage, with the heaviest casualties.


    The total poption of Maple Forest Town was only thirty to forty thousand, yet in this battle, preliminary estimates suggest that at least about ten thousand people died, most of whom were ordinary people.


    @@novelbin@@


    Under the wanton onught of the Origin Demons, all buildings within Maple Forest Town, except for the Qiu Family estate protected by Spirit Formations, were destroyed.


    Houses copsed, ruined.


    Streets cracked open with crevices, blood mixed with muddy water flowing through them¡­


    Utterly tragic.


    ¡°Thank you both, Senior Cultivators, for rushing to our aid and rescuing our Qiu Family from dire straits,¡± Qiu Changqing approached Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan, expressing his gratitude solemnly.


    ¡°Please find a room for Miss Qiu first,¡± Lu Qingshan waved his hand, not taking any credit, and only nced at Ji Chuan before saying to Qiu Changqing.


    Ji Chuan had already put down the little beggar when the Origin Demons were eradicated and there was no longer any danger.


    But Qiu Shiyin, who had fainted, was still held in his arms.


    Lu Qingshan had once heard of an interesting psychological effect called pensation psychology.¡±


    It seemed that Ji Chuan had fallen into this psychological state at the moment.


    He felt guilty for his earlier misunderstanding of Qiu Shiyin, and now he couldn¡¯t help but pay extra attention to her, as a form ofpensation for his earlier mistake.


    Lu Qingshan silently thought to himself.


    When Qiu Changqing heard this, his eyelids twitched involuntarily, and he nced meaningfully at the pale-faced Qiu Shiyin and Ji Chuan, who had a look of concern, and respectfully said, ¡°I will make the arrangements right away.¡±


    ¡­..


    Qiu Shiyin slowly opened her eyes and found herself in an unfamiliar environment.


    She was lying on a soft,rge bed.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡±


    A slightly hoarse voice came through.


    Following the direction of the sound, Qiu Shiyin looked and saw a familiar figure.


    ¡°Ji Chuan¡­¡± For a moment, Qiu Shiyin was dazed, but soon, her memory gradually cleared, and the scene before she fainted surfaced in her mind.


    ¡°Those children¡­¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s voice trembled slightly.


    Ji Chuan naturally understood what Qiu Shiyin meant and sighed, ¡°When I arrived, only the child you were protecting was left, the other children had all already¡­ so¡­¡±


    Qiu Shiyin fell silent.


    She closed her eyes slightly, and scenes shed through her mind.


    The storm raged, heavy rain poured, countless ferocious monsters roared as they stormed into Maple Forest Town, charging towards the children.


    The children stood in a daze, utterly unaware of the so-called danger, until the Origin Demons tore these already unlucky children into fragments, ughtering them indiscriminately.


    She fought fiercely, trying to stop the Origin Demons and rescue the children from their jaws, but her efforts were in vain.


    One by one, the children died in front of her.


    The painful screams that the children emitted before they died still echoed in her ears, lingering on.


    She felt a heavy sensation in her chest and felt somewhat nauseous, her breathing involuntarily bing morebored.


    At that moment, a warm hand covered her icy palm.


    A stream of gentle Spiritual Power flowed into her, turning into a warm current that spread throughout her entire body.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much,¡± she heard Ji Chuan¡¯s voice.


    After a long time, she finally recovered and opened her eyes again, looking up at Ji Chuan¡¯s sharply contoured face, then her gaze drifted down, staring nkly at her own palm.


    Ji Chuan was tightly holding her hand.


    Seeing Qiu Shiyin look over, Ji Chuan quickly let go of her tender hand in a fluster.


    However, as he watched Qiu Shiyin tuck her hand under the nket, he couldn¡¯t exin why a sense of reluctance emerged in his heart.


    ¡°In my heart, I¡¯ve always thought of those children as my younger brothers,¡± Qiu Shiyin suddenly said.


    ¡°Younger brother¡­¡± Ji Chuan murmured.


    This was the second time he had heard her mention her younger brother.


    ¡°My brother, he¡¯s also an ¡®ugly toad,''¡± Qiu Shiyin said slowly.


    Ji Chuan nodded slightly, having heard this from Qiu Shiyin before and remembering it well.


    ¡°But he¡¯s different from the other ¡®ugly toads,''¡± a look of reminiscence shed in Qiu Shiyin¡¯s eyes, ¡°the other ugly toads just looked like monsters, essentially they were still human, but¡­¡±


    Qiu Shiyin paused, then continued, ¡°My brother, he really was a monster.¡±


    ¡°A monster?¡± Ji Chuan¡¯s heart suddenly tightened.


    ¡°Yes, a monster,¡± Qiu Shiyin said very calmly, as if recounting someone else¡¯s story that had nothing to do with her, ¡°when it was born from my mother¡¯s belly, it was emaciated, but its body was covered in dark blue scales, its eyes were a strange yellow, and although it had just been born, its mouth was already full of sharp fangs.¡±


    Ji Chuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    It was the first time he had heard of a person giving birth to a monster.


    ¡°Moreover, its birth also cost my mother her life,¡± Qiu Shiyin continued, ¡°It grew too big, and my mother died giving birth to it; she didn¡¯t even get a chance to nce at it before she passed away.¡±


    ¡°But perhaps that¡¯s just as well, this way my mother would never know that the child she gave her life to bring into the world turned out to be a monster,¡± Qiu Shiyin smiled bitterly.


    ¡°What happened after that?¡± Ji Chuan asked hoarsely.


    ¡°I originally wanted to kill it, because it was a monster,¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s voice became progressively heavy, full of sorrow, ¡°but just as I was about to do it, the little monster¡­ it suddenly opened its eyes. Those yellow eyes stared motionlessly at me, then it moved, it tumbled around on the ground, rolling over to my feet¡­¡±


    At this point, Qiu Shiyin revealed a hint of a bitter smile, ¡°Just having been born and already able to walk on the ground, what is it if not a monster?¡±


    ¡°It rolled over to my feet and stretched out its paws,¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s voice grew increasinglyplex with emotion, ¡°It firmly hugged one of my feet and joyfully cried out to me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I couldn¡¯t understand what its cries meant,¡± Qiu Shiyin affirmed, ¡°but I could feel its joy.¡±


    ¡°I grabbed its neck and lifted it up, it didn¡¯t resist at all, it just let me handle it obediently. I had intended to directly snap its neck at that time.¡± Qiu Shiyin paused for a very long time after saying this.


    Ji Chuan didn¡¯t urge her on, instead, he waited patiently.


    Finally, Qiu Shiyin continued, ¡°At that moment, my eyes met its.


    I had thought that the eyes of such a creature would definitely be savage, cold, and merciless.


    But at that time, I distinctly saw human emotions resembling longing and attachment in its eyes.¡±


    ¡°It seemed to know that I was its kin, its¡­ sister.¡±


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 Chapter 400 - 28: A Lifetime of Peace

    Chapter 400: Chapter 28: A Lifetime of Peace


    ¡°It just gazed at me dumbly, and after a while, it stretched out its tongue and gently licked my hand.


    Its tongue even had barbs, but its movements were so gentle that it wasn¡¯t painful; it tickled.¡±


    Qiu Shiyin continued, ¡°In that moment, I knew I absolutely couldn¡¯t bring myself to kill it with my own hands.¡±


    ¡°I picked it up, threw it back onto the bed, then turned around and left the room.


    Although I couldn¡¯t bring myself to kill it, I knew in my heart if the little monster grew up, it would definitely be terrifying.


    Because it carried the strong scent of Netherworld Death Qi, just like those Origin Demons.


    So, I decided to let it starve to death in the room.¡±


    ¡°As I was leaving, the little monster continuously made pitiful cries toward me, as if it were crying, begging me not to leave.


    I held back, held back from looking back.


    Because I knew if I looked back and saw its eyes again, I might soften my heart and change my mind,¡± said Qiu Shiyin calmly.


    ¡°You eventually changed your mind, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ji Chuan asked.


    Giving Ji Chuan a nce with her watery eyes, Qiu Shiyin said, ¡°Why would you think that?¡±


    ¡°Because you are that kind of person,¡± this time, Ji Chuan didn¡¯t move his gaze away, but met Qiu Shiyin¡¯s eyes filled withplex emotions, ¡°someone who would give up her own life for these children, how could you let your own brother die in that room, right?¡±


    Under Ji Chuan¡¯s intense gaze, Qiu Shiyin lowered her eyelids, avoiding Ji Chuan¡¯s stare, and continued, ¡°Dad passed away soon after mom became pregnant with the little monster, having fallen severely ill. Mom also passed away from the birth of the little monster. The little monster was my only family left¡­


    I buried mom and, after handling everything, I returned home three dayster.


    Three dayster, when I returned home, I thought for sure that the little monster must have died by now.


    I opened the bedroom door, and the little monster was lying motionless on the bed, its eyes tightly closed, without a sound.


    I ced my finger under its nose; it no longer breathed.¡±


    Saying this, Qiu Shiyinughed inexplicably, ¡°Tell me if it¡¯s not strange; it was clearly my ruthless decision to just let it starve to death, but when I found it truly dead, I inexplicably felt terrible.¡±


    ¡°I thought for a long time and finally decided to bury it with mother.


    Mom surely wouldn¡¯t mind her child being a little monster.


    That way, the little monster would have someone to love it in the Netherworld, and it could alsoin to mom about this sister,¡± she exined.


    ¡°I picked it up, but just then, it suddenly moved and subsequently opened its eyes, thoserge yellow eyes that were surprisingly big albeit lifeless.


    The little monster saw me, and like before, stretched out its tongue to lick my hand, its vacant eyes filled with joy.


    It raised its ugly head at me, constantly calling out as if coyly; its cry wasn¡¯t pleasant and was very weak, yet it was soft and utterly harmless.¡±


    ¡°This foolish thing didn¡¯t know that the sister it saw in me never treated it like a brother and was even ready to starve it to death,¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s voice began to choke up, ¡°It was then, in my eyes, it suddenly wasn¡¯t ugly anymore.


    I rubbed its head, and it squinted its eyes, looking quite content as it consciously rubbed its head in my palms, just like a puppy begging for affection.¡±


    ¡°If it were you, what would you do, would you kill your own brother?¡± Qiu Shiyin suddenly asked back, ¡°Even if it looks like a monster.¡±


    Ji Chuan was stunned, silent for a long time, pondered for a long time, and finally shook his head, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    Receiving the answer, Qiu Shiyin again concealed her gaze in the shadows, slowly saying, ¡°I lost the desire to kill it, I decided to keep it for the time being.


    It was born with sharp teeth, capable of eating meat, so it grew quickly in size, bing as big as a seven or eight-year-old child in less than half a month.¡±


    ¡°Not only could it walk by itself, but it also possessed immense strength; it was hard to imagine what this little demon would be in a few years¡ªa terrifying existence.¡±


    At this point, Qiu Shiyin shook her head again, ¡°Perhaps it was because of those three days spent almost dying alone in the room that left a shadow in its heart.


    That¡¯s why it was particrly clingy to me. Whenever it couldn¡¯t see me, it would be frantic. It was so strong that after it had demolished the house once or twice, I dared not leave its sight.¡±


    ¡°It looked too frightening. The neighbors around were all scared it would hurt someone and wanted to report to the Cultivator in the n to kill the little demon.


    I went door to door with it and gifts, assuring the neighbors that it was well-behaved and would not harm anyone.


    With my repeated assurances, the neighbors reluctantly agreed not to report to the Cultivator in the n, but they made it clear to me that if the little demon showed any inclination to harm people, they would immediately report and have it eliminated.¡±


    ¡°I told the little demon that it was forbidden from throwing tantrums or hurting anyone. If it ever hurt someone, I would not want it anymore and would throw it out so that it could never see me again.¡±


    At this, Qiu Shiyin¡¯s face revealed a faint, gentle smile, ¡°The little demon was very scared, clenching tightly at the corner of my clothes, gurgling with its big eyes, calling out mournfully as if to tell me that it would definitely not hurt anyone and pleaded with me not to throw it away.¡±


    ¡°I patted its head and promised it that as long as it didn¡¯t fight with others or hurt anyone, no matter what happened, I would never abandon it.¡±


    ¡°Upon receiving my promise, the little demon smiled foolishly at me for a long time.¡±


    Ji Chuan fell silent.


    Now, Qiu Shiyin no longer had the little demon by her side.


    Although Ji Chuan didn¡¯t know what had happened afterward, he knew it must not have been anything good.


    Qiu Shiyin continued, ¡°I practiced the Mining Technique, responsible for the family¡¯s mineral vein inspection tasks, frequently searching for the Origin Stones in the veins.


    The little demon was too attached to me. The first time I went out to the mines and couldn¡¯t bring it along, I asked it to wait for me obediently at home.


    That day, it was also raining heavily.


    When I returned, I saw the little demon standing at the doorstep, unaware to take shelter from the rain, soaking wet.


    The moment it saw me, it immediately let out a pitiful cry, scrambling and tumbling to my feet, tightly clutching at my pant leg.


    Turns out, the fool had been waiting at the doorstep for me to return home ever since I left¡­


    I had never named the little demon because I knew that once I named it, it meant that I truly acknowledged it as my brother.


    Although I had already thought so in my heart¡­..¡±


    ¡°That was until one time, the little demon came out of a mine, dirty and excited, running up to me and cheerfully calling. There was joy in its yellow eyes.


    In its hands, it held an Origin Stone.¡±


    ¡°This fool,¡± Qiu Shiyin said in a tone that was both helpless and doting, ¡°thought that I kept looking for these stones because I liked them.


    So, when it found an Origin Stone, it quickly offered it to me as if presenting a treasure.


    Looking at its eyes full of joy and anticipation, I knew it was hoping I would be happy.


    So, I decided¡­¡±


    ¡°From then on, no matter what the little demon turned into, it would be my brother.


    I told the little demon that from now on, its name would be Qiu Ning, Ning as in peaceful.¡±


    ¡°I hope it could live a peaceful and trouble-free life.¡±


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 Chapter 28 Unity Realm (Part 1)

    "This person is quite cunning," he knew his own strength was limited, so he purposely dragged it out and slowly made his way through the tower.


    Dragging it out until now, when only seventy or eighty people are left, everyone can''t help but notice him.


    With such petty tricks, the attention he can attract is something those cultivators who were eliminated early on, despite ranking higher than him, can''tpare to."


    Some cultivators who had already been eliminated noticed this situation and couldn''t help feeling sour as they sarcastically said, "But what can these little tricks amount to in the face of true strength..."


    However, in the next moment, their remarks were abruptly cut off as the real-time battle screen disyed the current situation.


    ....


    Spiritual Light enveloped Lu Qingshan.


    Looking around, the twenty-third floor was a scene of carnage, with the ferocious and insane illusionary demon beasts turned into dismembered carcasses strewn across the ground, blood flowing and creating an exceptionally gruesome sight.


    Lu Qingshan stood among the corpses of the demon beasts, his body unstained with blood, but the overwhelming ughter intent leaking from him, as well as his blood-red eyes, were more terrifying than if he were soaked in blood.


    After the scenery changed, Lu Qingshan had already appeared in the Illusion Space of the twenty-fourth floor.


    This was a boundless wilderness, across which roamed over a hundred colossal yellow-brown Great Demons¡ªFlowery Leopards.


    The hundred-plus Leopard Demons before him each measured five or six meters in length, with small heads and long tails, their gaping maws chilling to the bone, each tooth''s biting force looking astonishingly powerful.


    The tails of the Leopard Demons were almost as long as their bodies, their paws grayish-white; the front ones with five toes, the back with four, all shining with a cold light that sent shivers down the spine, their triangr eyes filled with a cold and bloodthirsty gleam.


    But within Lu Qingshan''s eyes was a ughter intent even chillier than theirs.


    Assessing his own condition, he murmured, "It seems I''ve reached a critical point?"


    Indeed, along the way he had intentionally umted a sense of killing intent, and the number of Third Grade demon beast illusions he had killed had actually reached over a thousand.


    Such extensive ughter had resulted in a near-physical presence of murderous aura surrounding him.


    If someone were toe within five meters of him, they would feel a chilling terror from the formidable deathly aura.


    With such umtion, he felt that he was just oneyer shy of piercing through to elevate his ughter Sword Intent to the Unity Realm.


    The feeling was mysterious, as though it could be touched at any moment, but was always just a bit out of reach.


    Lu Qingshan''s blood-red eyes casually swept over the Flowery Leopard Demons outside the protective barrier and suddenly made a very insane decision.


    He did not replenish his Spiritual Power but left the protection of the barrier just like that.


    Boom!


    The hundred-plus Flowery Leopards turned their massive heads to look at the tiny human that had appeared before them, making a hissing sound.


    Under the control of the Formation''smand, the gigantic Flowery Leopard Demons did not hesitate and transformed into Radiance, pouncing towards Lu Qingshan to kill.


    ....


    "What is he doing? He dragged his feet at first, but now he is so rushed that he is not even recovering the consumed Spiritual Power before killing his way out. Is he overly confident, or just showing off?" Outside the Seal Spirit Tower, due to Lu Qingshan''s decision, there was an instant uproar.


    Even Lin Kui, who had been watching Lu Qingshan all along, couldn''t help but frown.


    He could no longer fathom Lu Qingshan''s thoughts.


    ......


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!


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    Leaping into midair, Lu Qingshan immediately released the 370 Sword Qi Fments which he had long mastered control over.


    Forming showers of Flying Swords from the Sword Qi Fments, they split into multiple waves, some slow, some fast, some solid, some feint, sweeping towards the group of Leopard Demons.


    Pffft! Pffft! Pffft!


    The relentless attacks of the Flying Sword shower saw the foremost Leopard Demons using their paws to sweep aside the first two waves, with the third wave being scattered by their slender tails shimmering with a metallic light.


    Hisss!


    But they could no longer fend off the fourth wave of the Flying Sword shower.


    The delicate Sword Qi fments, swift as lightning and brutally ferocious, pierced through its skin and entered its flesh, abruptly exploding inside its internal organs.


    Instantly, six Third Grade Initial Stage Leopard Demons were in on the spot by Lu Qingshan''s Myriad Swords Art!


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes shimmered with a chilling light as he, holding the Peach Blossom Sword, charged into the pack of Leopard Demons, unleashing a terrifying ughter.


    He cast the extremely Spiritual Power-consuming but highly protective Metal Element Sword Armor, safeguarding his own safety.


    ng ng ng!


    The attacks of the Leopard Demons shed against the Sword Armor, emitting the sound of metal colliding.


    "Running out of Spiritual Power!" After charging back and forth repeatedly, looking at the number of Leopard Demons only reduced by half, Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but frown slightly.


    In the twenty-thirdyer of space, he had already exhausted forty percent of his Spiritual Power, and upon reaching the twenty-fourthyer, he had not been able to recover at all before once again plunging into battle.


    The reason was quite simple.


    Strike while the iron is hot.


    With his ughter Sword Intent on the verge of a breakthrough, if he were to stop and recover Spiritual Power, after a day, although his Spiritual Power would have been restored, the sense of premonition he felt might havergely faded.


    So, he could only seize the moment while this premonition still lingered in his mind and resolutely head out to kill.


    As a consequence, the already diminished sixty percent of his Spiritual Power had, in this short period, dwindled to less than thirty percent, particrly since he still had to use the Sword Armor, which was extremely draining on his Spiritual Power.


    "No, even though I''ve entered the top ten thousand rankings and would ept being eliminated now, the chance for a breakthrough and enhancement of my ughter Sword Intent is too precious to miss. If I let this opportunity pass, who knows how long it will be until I find another," Lu Qingshan gritted his teeth as determination filled his heart. "The Seven Domains Conve is just around the corner, and any opportunity to increase my strength should not be missed!"@@novelbin@@


    The next instant, Lu Qingshan made an extremely crazy decision.


    He abruptly stored away the highly Spiritual Power-consuming Protective Sword Armor.


    "Kill!"


    With a soft shout in his heart, Lu Qingshan''s face, now somewhat pale due to the insane consumption of Spiritual Power, had eyes blood-red and intimidating.


    His speed surged wildly, as he and the dozen Leopard Demons crisscrossed and ughtered repeatedly, with the powerful Primordial Spirit of the Mid Solidifying Form stage sharpening his senses of his surroundings.


    Lu Qingshan was so familiar with the changes in Sword Technique strength and direction that it became instinctual; he kept swinging his sword, fending off the assault of the Leopard Demon illusions.


    The Leopard Demon''s attacks were dense and unpredictable.


    Sometimes more than ten Leopard Demons attacked simultaneously, and sometimes only three or five, with trajectories so erratic that Lu Qingshan struggled to respond.


    Shi!


    In a turn he couldn''t manage in time, a Leopard Demon''s w left a long gash on his left arm, and blood gushed out immediately.


    Lu Qingshan clenched his teeth, disregarding the wound on his arm and continuing to face the enemy with cautiousness, without uttering a word.


    If only he could precisely predict the movements of these Leopard Demons, it would make things much easier for him.


    Subconsciously, this thought emerged in Lu Qingshan''s mind.


    In this mad and extremely dangerous situation, his mind was still incredibly calm.


    As Lu Qingshan thought this, in the next instant, he seemed to sense something in the darkness, an auspicious sidestep that allowed him to narrowly evade an attack from a mid-stage Third Grade Leopard Demon.


    It was risky, yet in the end, it waspletely within his control.


    What was this?!


    He had just managed to discern some subtle cues in the actions of these Leopard Demons.


    This remarkable sensation enthralled Lu Qingshan, and he eagerly sought to grasp and master it!


    Here ites again!


    The next moment, as two Leopard Demons to his left pounced, that extremely familiar sensation emerged anew.


    Once again, he twisted agilely, dodging the Leopard Demon''s sharp ws as if he were a flower being whisked away by a breeze.

 Chapter 29 Unity Realm (Part 2)

    "That''s it!"


    "Exactly like this!"


    It was killing intent, emanating from the Leopard Demons!


    At this life-and-death moment, surrounded by Leopard Demons, Lu Qingshan made an even bolder decision.


    He slowly closed his eyes and retracted his Divine Sense.


    The world suddenly turned ck and white, but his perception of the surrounding did notpletely disappear.


    In his consciousness, within a certain area around him, the thick killing intent pervaded, fully perceived by him. This killing intent was like various lines, outlining a different andplete world.


    A worldposed of killing intent.


    The greatest source of killing intent was himself, followed by the killing intent carried on the bodies of these Leopard Demons.


    It was the presence of this killing intent that enabled him to urately predict every move of the Leopard Demons'' attacks.


    Lu Qingshan finally sensed that special feeling.


    The cold, bloody, insane, and cruel fluctuations spread, and everything seemed to be controlled at heart.


    The long-brewing killing intent in his body merged into him at this moment.


    It was like a sharp Treasured Sword being sheathed.


    Once Lu Qingshan retracted his fierce killing intent, his entire being became gentle and mild.


    "Unity Realm," Lu Qingshan understood in his heart.@@novelbin@@


    "Grasping of Intent!... ughter Sword Intent improved to Unity Realm!"


    "Ability enhancement!... Your Divine Soul received an enhancement (Divine Sense +100)!"


    Despite the qualitative change and the multiple increases in strength of his ughter Sword Intent, there was no killing intent to be found on Lu Qingshan anymore.


    This is the secret of Unity.


    Intent integrated with the Divine, imperceptible to the outside world.


    Lu Qingshan opened his half-closed eyes, the darkness in his pupils devoid of any hint of red, and he nced indifferently at the surrounding Leopard Demons.


    Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!


    He moved swiftly, avoiding the attacks of the Leopard Demons with movements that seemed perilously close each time. The sword in his hand, the Peach Blossom Sword, became unfathomable, and each strike was incredibly incisive. Every sword thrust exploited the Leopard Demons'' moments of weakness between old and new strengths, delivering lethal blows with precision.


    In an instant!


    The dozens of Leopard Demons, which had previously endangered Lu Qingshan''s life, were all ughtered by him.


    At this moment, he had undoubtedly stepped into a brand new realm of strength.


    Lu Qingshan''s eyes shone brightly.


    The next level!


    Since his ughter Sword Intent had improved to the Unity Realm, it was time for him to seriously tackle the Seal Spirit Tower with the most appropriate stance.


    ......


    "ughter Sword Intent, this kid''sprehension of the Intent has actually reached the Unity Realm!" The Holy Master in the sky watched the scene unfold in front of him, his eyes emitting an rming brilliance.


    "Using the illusion of the Seal Spirit Tower to achieve a breakthrough in ughter Sword Intent, turning the assessment venue into a cultivation secret realm. This kid is indeed bold and attentive," Pce Master Yi Rivermented with appreciation in his tone, his eyes as deep as the ocean, "Moreover, his talent for grasping Intent is above average.


    Illusions are just illusions, mere ethereal existence. If not for his exceptional understanding, it would be delusional to think that he could utilize the illusion to achieve a breakthrough in his ughter Intent."


    "It''s just a pity, he''s a Sword Cultivator..." Pce Master Yi River sighed. He actually had a very high opinion of Lu Qingshan.


    ```


    But regrettably, among the six cultivation systems, the barriers between the other five are not that deep, and it is not rare to see cultivators who practice both magic and martial arts; only sword cultivators are the most exclusive.


    A truly powerful sword cultivator, devoted to the sword for a lifetime, would never even consider joining their Martial Debate Hall.


    "With the intent of the Unity Realm, just in terms of the realm of intent, in this Seven Domains discourse, this person should be regarded as the foremost!" Chang Geng Sect Leader said with a chuckle, "However,pared with the Space True Intention of Bai Guandao, it is still slightly inferior in strength."


    "Taibai, this person, the group of ughterers from your Sword Sect will probably like him a lot," Grandmaster Xuanji teased, "It seems that, in this Seven Domains discourse, the name of Lu Qingshan will have to be added to the list of the strongest sword cultivator candidates.


    It''s just that his cultivation is a bit low, at least everyone else is at the Golden Core Late Stage, and he is only at the Golden Core Middle Stage."


    "While it''s true his cultivation is a bit low, making it unlikely for him to win the championship, breaking into the top ten is highly probable," Shui Yue Pavilion Master said to Taibai Sword Master with a radiant smile, teasing, "It seems that this time, at the Seven Domains discourse, your sword cultivators are going to make a big ssh."


    Taibai Sword Master, in the face of everyone''s teasing, just shook his head indifferently and said inly, "Even if half of the top ten are sword cultivators, what of it? The attention they getbined still won''t match that of a cultivator who wins the championship."


    What Taibai Sword Master said was indeed the truth.


    The one who is always most remembered is the first ce.


    With a thought from Taibai Sword Master, the information about Lu Qingshan was disyed before everyone''s eyes.


    "Lu Qingshan, eighteen years old, Golden Core Middle Stage, sword cultivator, from Qing State in the Southern Territory."


    Hiss!


    "He''s only eighteen?!" The aura of thunder and me around the Pce Master of Spirit Ye cracked with a burst, indicating the shock in his heart.


    Even Taibai Sword Master was taken aback.


    They could tell that Lu Qingshan was very young, but they hadn''t expected him to be this young.


    Eighteen years old, Golden Core Middle Stage, with the ughter Sword Intent of the Unity Realm.


    What kind of prodigy is this?


    "This time at the Seven Domains discourse, your Sword Sect has really unearthed a treasure," Yi River Pce Master remarked somewhat sourly, immediately eliciting a chorus of agreement from everyone else.


    Chang Geng Sect Leader nced at Lu Qingshan in the image from the corner of his eye, a strange and indescribable light shing in the depths of his gaze.


    While several of the great cultivators were discussing animatedly, Shui Yue Pavilion Master, who had been all smiles before, fell into an unusual silence.


    Lu Qingshan... this name sounded familiar to her; she had heard it before!


    "Can it be the same person my beloved disciple always talks about?" pondered Shui Yue Pavilion Master as she quickly checked the relevant information in her mind.


    "The girl always says that Young Master Lu, although young, has a mind far beyond ordinary people... this matches the eighteen years of age.


    She also mentioned that Young Master Lu has superb swordsmanship and exceptional talent, and this person is indeed a sword cultivator, too ¨C another match.


    Lastly, this Lu Qingshan is also from the Southern Territory."


    The next moment, a hint of surprise shed through the heart of Shui Yue Pavilion Master. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    If there''s no mistake, then this Lu Qingshan is almost certainly the highly praised Young Master Lu whom her good disciple always talks about.


    Originally, Shui Yue Pavilion Master thought that her disciple''s high praise was only because she came from a remote ce and had not seen truly outstanding people.


    But she had not expected Lu Qingshan to indeed possess such extraordinary talent!


    ....


    Outside the Seal Spirit Tower, the cultivators who had been eliminated were also shocked by Lu Qingshan''s sudden outburst, letting out subdued cries of amazement and non-stop discussion.


    "Bai Guandao is about to attempt the fortieth floor!"


    Suddenly, an exmation from within the crowd shifted everyone''s attention away from Lu Qingshan once again.


    For a moment, nearly five hundred thousand talented cultivators of the Human Race, the high level cultivators from over a hundred top sects on seven mountain peaks, as well as the seven great powers of the Taoist Sect, all turned their eyes towards Bai Guandao.


    Countless eyes were watching.


    ```

 Chapter 33 Luring the Snake out of Its Hole (Part One)

    Lu Qingshan and Mo Yan returned to the residential area together, and since Mo Yan hadn''t seen the King of Western Rats for a long time, he took the initiative to suggest that they stop by to see it.


    However, when the two entered Lu Qingshan''s temporary wooden tower, Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but frown slightly, the empty wooden tower had no sign of the King of Western Rats.


    "Where has the King of Western Rats gone off to wander this time?" mumbled Lu Qingshan.


    Since the Seven Domains Debate Dao didn''t allow the entry of Demon Beasts not bound by contract, Lu Qingshan had no choice but to let the King of Western Rats stay alone in the wooden tower.


    Yet, he had specifically instructed it that the Seal Spirit Tower retest would likely take about a month and told the King of Western Rats to stay put and not wander off during this time.


    But he didn''t expect that the little Demon Rat would still vanish without a trace.


    ....


    In the heart of Debate Dao City.


    Six powerful Cultivators of the Taoist Sect gathered together, their eyes all turning to the beautiful-faced Shui Yue Pavilion Master.


    Mystery Supreme furrowed his brows and was the first to speak up, "Shui Yue Pavilion Master, what is so urgent that you have called us here?"


    Shui Yue Pavilion Master smiled gracefully and shook her head, "Actually, it''s not me who has matters to discuss with you..."


    "Then who is it?" the Chang Geng Sect Leader asked, his expression darkening.


    "It''s King Qing Mei and I who asked for you," a steady voice came through.


    Following that, the figures of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and King Qing Mei emerged from the back hall of the main hall.


    Upon seeing the two, everyone was startled and promptly bowed, saying, "We pay respects to the Pavilion Master, King Qing Mei."


    King Qing Mei waved his hand dismissively, "No need for such formalities."


    "Pavilion Master, King Qing Mei, what brings you here?" said Pce Master Ling Ye, full of surprise.


    "Our visit pertains to the Underworld," began the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, his gaze sweeping across the faces before him, before slowly continuing, "The Seven Domains Debate Dao was organized on themand of the Supreme, with the goal of nurturing a batch of capable Cultivators who can stand on their own in the uing great war against the Demon Race."


    The Cultivators nodded in agreement without saying a word.


    It was only for such a significant event, one that affects the survival of the entire Human Race, that they could agree to put aside their Sect philosophies and consent to the organization of the Seven Domains Debate Dao.


    "This is an unprecedented event for our Human Race," the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master paused, his expression turning serious, and exined, "However, for those from the Underworld who are hidden within the Human Race, this is like a bolt from the blue.


    After all, their existence is to cause chaos within the territories of the Human Race and to destroy the living strength of the Human Race.


    Given the magnitude of this event, it is impossible that the Underworld wouldn''t harbor some ulterior motives. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    Therefore, King Qing Mei and I have stealthily infiltrated Debate Dao City and have been secretly observing, waiting for those Underworld Cultivators with malicious intent to reveal themselves."


    "Does the Pavilion Master mean to say that you have made some discovery?" the Suspended Saint inquired uncertainly.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master nodded, "On the night before the retest began, some Cultivators of unidentified identities entered the Seal Spirit Tower and secretly changed the Illusion Arrays on the ninth and neenth floors to lethal formations.


    Their intention was to use this to massacre our talented Cultivators of the Human Race and disrupt the holding of the Seven Domains Debate Dao."


    Hiss!


    Upon hearing this, everyone took in a sharp breath, their faces showing a slight change of expression.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master''s gaze swept over everyone''s expressions, and he didn''t say much more.


    "After the cultivator left the Seal Spirit Tower, we immediately changed the altered killing formation back to the Illusion Array. At the same time, we secretly followed the cultivator, trying to trace the vine to find the melon and catch the person behind him," King Qing Mei continued to exin.


    "So, what was the oue?" the Xuanji Grandmaster asked in a deep voice, "Did we encounter any trouble that requires our help, or?"


    "But since leaving the Seal Spirit Tower, that cultivator has just been staying in Debate Dao City, showing no other movements.


    Even after knowing that the cultivators participating in the retest of Seal Spirit Tower had no issues on the ninth and neenth floors, he still remained as steady as Mount Tai," the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master said indifferently.


    "An Underworld Cultivator remains soposed, so indifferent to the failure of their actions?" Shui Yue Pavilion Master''s voice sank, carrying a mix of helplessness and disbelief.


    "It''s not that he''s indifferent..." The Taibai Sword Master, who had been silent and listening quietly, interjected, "If I''m not mistaken, this person''s actions were more about probing our reactions, so-called ''beating the grass to startle the snake'' to lure the snake out of its hole!


    The purpose is to determine our level of vignce and nning against their Underworld during this Seven Domains Debate Dao."


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master''s eyes sparkled, and he nodded in agreement with the Taibai Sword Master''s words, "Indeed, we have collected some covert evidence that clearly shows that the cultivators sent by the Underworld to disrupt the Seven Domains Debate Dao should be in two groups.


    One operates openly, and the other operates in the shadows, without interfering with each other.


    First, they send out the group in the open to act. If no one monitors every move inside Debate Dao City, their scheme against the Seal Spirit Tower would naturally seed, fulfilling their desires, and there would be no need for the other group to take action.@@novelbin@@


    If we''re indeed leading the adversary into a trap and notice the changes in the Seal Spirit Tower, we wouldn''t tolerate any cultivators perishing during the retest, regardless of the circumstances.


    As long as all the cultivatorse out unscathed from the retest, those operating openly will understand that their ns have failed, and then it will be time for the group in the shadows to start their actions.


    And the exchange of information between these two does not require any meeting.


    Because, the specific details of the Seal Spirit Tower retest assessments are public."


    The expression of Chang Geng Sect Leader changed subtly, "If what the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master says is true, won''t there be unexpected incidents during the uing Seven Domains Debate Dao?"


    "Correct." King Qing Mei spoke up, "There''s a high likelihood, or there may be other schemes at y."


    "Then, regarding the other group of Underworld Cultivators hidden in darkness, waiting to strike, does the Pavilion Master have any news?" Yi River Pce Master asked in a cold voice.


    "None," the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master shook his head, eyes sharp as if piercing through everything, and spoke indifferently, "But, as the Seal Spirit Tower is a guarded secret, with its hidden doors and various formations known only to us cultivators of the Seven Great Taoist Sects.


    How then did an Underworld Cultivator manage to move through it unnoticed and sessfully tamper with the formations?"


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master''s tone was calm, yet it carried an incisive note of questioning.


    Suddenly, the hall was filled with dead silence.


    After a long while, Shui Yue Pavilion Master looked at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master with disbelief, in a tone she herself could scarcely believe, she questioned, "Are you suggesting that among the high-ranking cultivators of our Taoist Sects, there''s an insider from the Underworld?"


    All present were superior beings, powerful cultivators, yet upon hearing Shui Yue Pavilion Master''s words, they couldn''t help but feel a chill down their spines.


    Such a circumstance was inconceivable.


    The Seven Great Taoist Sects and Great Xia, as the pinnacle of power for the Human Race, could determine the direction of humanity''s future.


    And among these people, there was an Underworld insider?


    If the Underworld had managed to infiltrate to such an extent, wouldn''t it mean that many of their decisions wereid bare before the Demon Race?


    "Although I am reluctant to admit it, the harsh truth is likely just that," King Qing Mei''s voice grew heavier, speaking tersely, "And moreover, I cannot be certain that the Underworld''s insider is not among those present!"

 Chapter 403 - 31: The Phantom Appears

    Chapter 403: Chapter 31: The Phantom Appears


    Within Burial Ridge, countless Primordial Stone Orchid veins exist, yet surveying and developing them is no easy task. Thus, although there are hundreds of families established on the basis of these mineral veins within the entire Burial Ridge, many such veins remain undiscovered and unexploited.


    In the depths of arge mountain, within a gorge where people rarely visited, now arge number of demon beasts had taken residence.


    This ce indeed had such an untouched vein of Primordial Stone Orchid.


    Rolling Netherworld Death Qi rose from the vein, enveloping the entire gorge.


    A mighty assembly of Origin Demons gathered here.


    Deep within the gorge stood a figure approximately sixty feet tall.


    Upon closer inspection, however, one would realize that this figure was not truly human. His face was covered with yellow scale armor, and his eyes were a bright, clear yellow, clearly revealing his true identity as a transformed demon beast.


    In front of this strange figure floated a fist-sized yellow bead, continuously rotating, wrapped in strands of Netherworld Death Qi.


    More bizarre were the sharp, ghostly wails and sounds of agony that incessantly emanated from the bead.


    One could faintly see within the bead, an endless number of soul shadows, too numerous to count.


    The strange figure spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the bead.


    Immediately, a bloody radiance burst forth within the bead, crushing towards the soul shadows.


    The next moment, the sharp cries and moans of pain all vanished; the soul shadows dissipated, transforming into rolling energy, rushing towards the figure.


    The figure took a deep breath, and the energy converged into a stream that was inhaled through his nostrils.


    After a while, all the energy had been absorbed and refined, and the aura around the figure had significantly strengthened from nowhere.


    At that moment, a man in a gray robe emerged from the shadows, respectfully approaching the figure, ¡°Lord Demon, arge group of Origin Demons under ourmand waspletely ughtered by the cultivators of the Qiu Family while they were harvesting souls for you.¡±


    ¡°The Qiu Family?¡± the scaled-faced demon¡¯s expression turned fiercely ugly, and his voice became exceedingly vicious, ¡°Isn¡¯t the highest rank in the Qiu Family just a Nascent Soul Cultivator? They shouldn¡¯t have the capacity, should they?¡±


    The man in gray did not dare to conceal anything, ¡°Indeed, the Qiu Familycks this capacity, but they are backed by the Sword Sect, and it just so happened that two disciples from the Sword Sect were present in the Qiu Family, so¡­¡±


    Lord Demon¡¯s gaze fell on the man in gray, pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Sword Sect¡­ they are not to be trifled with. Let it be, then, let this matter pass and do not think of making a move against the disciples of Sword Sect.


    After all, there are only two of them. They can¡¯t stop so many of my subordinates. Once we have harvested this batch of souls, we will retreat to our originnd, and they will be powerless against me.¡±


    ¡°How are your arrangementsing along?¡± asked Lord Demon, shifting his gaze.


    A hint of sinisterness shed through the eyes of the man in gray, but his demeanor remained utterly respectful, ¡°Everything has been arranged. At this moment, within a hundred Primordial Stone Orchid veins, there lie enough Origin Demons in hiding to destroy the families that own the mines.


    Just waiting for yourmand, these Origin Demons will burst forth, washing Burial Ridge in blood and gathering enough souls for you.


    Once you have harvested this batch of souls, we can retreat back to the originnd. The Emperor is far away, and even if the Human Race bes enraged, they won¡¯t be able to do anything to you.¡±


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Lord Demon nodded in satisfaction and praised, ¡°This n was your idea. If it ends smoothly, I will credit you for it.


    Your request to meet the Demon King is not impossible.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the man in gray¡¯s face instantly revealed a wildly joyful expression, ¡°Thank you, Lord Demon.¡±


    ¡°You may leave,¡± Lord Demon waved his hand.


    The man in gray respectfully bowed and silently withdrew.


    After the man in gray left, Lord Demon turned and walked deeper inside.


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    Amidst the endless Netherworld Death Qi, an abrupt ck shadow emerged.


    Slowly, the full figure of the ck shadow became clearer.


    It was a gigantic Origin Demon, statue-like in size, resembling a lion, and covered in yellow scales with clearly visible patterns.


    At that moment, it was looking down at Lord Demon, its bright yellow eyes shining with a strange power that seemed to prate the heart, though its pupils appeared unfocused and lifeless.


    This was a massive creature with a formidable presence.


    In front of this Origin Demon, even Lord Demon appeared utterly insignificant.


    Yet, Lord Demon was not at all concerned.


    For this gigantic Origin Demon, called the Prime Lion, was his guardian, bound to obey hismands.


    The next moment, under the gaze of the Demon Lord, the Prime Lion submissively lowered its head.


    The Demon Lord stretched out his hand and caressed the enormous head of the Prime Lion, revealing a wildly arrogant smile.


    ¡°If this goes smoothly, refining so many spirit souls from Burial Ridge, I will definitely advance to the Fifth Grade,¡± the Demon Lord murmured, ¡°It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t know why my father forbids me from using such powerful divine skills recklessly.


    What¡¯s the big deal if we exterminate all the humans at Burial Ridge?


    Fortunately, these Underworld Cultivators approached me and helped me carry out the massacre n at Burial Ridge while my father was in seclusion.


    But, to think they can meet my father through me? Dream on!¡±


    The Demon Lord couldn¡¯t help butugh proudly.


    He naturally could see the malice of these Underworld Cultivators.


    However, he had always been using these Underworld Cultivators to achieve his own goals, and once his goals were met, he nned to turn his back on them.


    On the other hand, the grey-robed man, who had respectfully retreated, revealed a hint of scorn on his face after leaving the canyon.


    ¡°Record this as a merit for us? Really thinks he¡¯s something?


    And introducing me to the Origin Demon King, do you really think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re fooling me? The simple thoughts of a young demon, you think I can¡¯t see through them?


    You¡¯re too naive to y tricks with me; you think you¡¯re using us, but our plot is much bigger.


    This time, you¡¯ll leave the origin ce alive, but you won¡¯t make it back!¡±


    Thinking of this, a cold gleam flickered in the eyes of the grey-robed man.


    As the Hall Master of Jiuyou, if he couldn¡¯t out-scheme a pampered young demon, then he was really unfit to be the Hall Master.


    ¡­¡­..


    Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan were continuously browsing the detailed information provided by the Qiu Family when they suddenly heard amotion outside.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Lu Qingshan frowned.


    The next moment, Qiu Changqing rushed in hurriedly, a look of urgency on his face, ¡°Sir, there¡¯s new information.¡±


    ¡°Speak!¡± Ji Chuan¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    ¡°Another Origin Demon has gone berserk. It is currently causing havoc in Yanglou Town at the Song Family,¡± Qiu Changqing¡¯s expression was grave, ¡°I have already mobilized n members, preparing to head to Yanglou Town to aid the Song Family and y the Origin Demon.¡±


    Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan exchanged nces, understanding each other¡¯s intentions.


    ¡°The situation is urgent, no time to dy. My apprentice and I will head out first to support Yanglou Town,¡± Ji Chuan said, ¡°Qiu Family Head, we won¡¯t stay any longer; if we dy even a moment longer, countless mortals may suffer at the hands of the Origin Demon.¡±


    ¡°Of course, ying demons is paramount,¡± the Family Head of the Qiu Family quickly replied.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan each had a Flying Sword appear under their feet, quickly breaking through the sky.


    Watching the two figures departing, Qiu Changqing felt somewhat moved, ¡°Sword Sect disciples are indeed righteous.¡±


    He naturally could see that Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan genuinely cared about the lives of these mortals, taking the matter seriously rather than just treating it as a routine sect mission.


    ¡°Having the Sword Sect behind us truly is a blessing for our family,¡± Qiu Changqing silently remarked, then quickly proceeded to organize and dispatch the family¡¯s cultivators, nning to follow closely behind and assist Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan in resolving the major disaster at the Song Family.


    The moment Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan left, Qiu Shiyin, who had been lying quietly in bed resting, seemed to sense something, suddenly got up, and quietly left the Qiu Family.


    ¡­


    Whoosh!


    Two streaks of Sword Light raced through the sky.


    Since Ji Chuan¡¯s cultivation was far superior to Lu Qingshan¡¯s, his speed in controlling the sword was also much faster than that of Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Apprentice, I¡¯ll go ahead first,¡± Ji Chuan said.


    Knowing how urgent the situation was, and that any dy would result in more deaths in Yanglou Town, Ji Chuan didn¡¯t wait for Lu Qingshan anymore.


    ¡°Go ahead, Senior Brother,¡± Lu Qingshan naturally had no objections, ¡°I¡¯ll follow shortly.¡±


    Immediately, Ji Chuan increased his speed slightly, carrying the sound of a sonic boom, turned into a streak of radiance, and moved as fast as thunder, quickly leaving Lu Qingshan behind, disappearing from his sight.


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 Chapter 404 - 32 Extradition Envoy

    Chapter 404: Chapter 32 Extradition Envoy


    When Lu Qingshan arrived at Yanglou Town, the fight below had nearly reached its end, with bloodstains everywhere alongside the ruins of walls and many iplete bodies.


    There were bodies of Origin Demons, but more were the corpses of the ordinary people of Yanglou Town.


    Ji Chuan, alone with his sword, had managed to quell a great chaos in just a short time.


    A woman was quietly weeping while holding the body of her child. Many others kneeled on the ground, endlessly thanking Ji Chuan, who had reached out to save them, by kowtowing in gratitude.


    Lu Qingshan descended slowly with his Sword Control.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s expression was somewhat somber. ¡°The leading Origin Demon attacking Yanglou Town was only at the mid-Fourth Grade, insignificant to me. Yet, for these small families, it is a cmity capable of wiping them out.


    Now, I can handle just one attack, but I fear simultaneous outbreaks will be too much to handle.¡±


    Lu Qingshan was about to say something when his gaze suddenly turned icy. In the corner of his eye, he spotted a figure hidden behind the crowd.


    It was a middle-aged man with a very robust build. His face looked eerily familiar yet strangely foreign.


    This extremely contradictory feeling momentarily stunned Lu Qingshan.


    Suddenly, the rapid reaction typical of a cultivator allowed Lu Qingshan to remember.


    Wasn¡¯t this figure exactly as Qiu Shiyin had described, the one she had seen at the Qiu Family¡¯s Primordial Stone Orchid vein, the appearance of that Underworld Demonic Cultivator?


    No wonder he looked so unfamiliar¡ªit was after all their first meeting. No wonder he looked so familiar¡ªhis appearance was exactly as Qiu Shiyin had described, without any discrepancy.


    In that instant, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Lu Qingshan flicked his sleeve, extending a hand.


    A sh of Sword Light.


    The Peach Blossom Sword, like a lively fish, bearing the thunderous roar, instantly darted out. The Sword Light surged violently like a tidal wave!


    When it burst forth, it was as if the heavens and earth were splitting apart.


    The middle-aged man in the crowd, upon seeing Lu Qingshan suddenlysh out, remained utterlyposed, his eyes even shing an eerie glow.


    ¡°Have you finally noticed?¡±


    The Sword Light transformed by Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword was terrifyingly powerful, instantly reaching in front of that Underworld Demonic Cultivator. The overwhelming pressure chilled one to the bone,


    The middle-aged man was prepared; dense Demonic Patterns immediately surfaced on his skin, shielding his Physical Body.


    Boom¡ª


    The Sword Light was ferociously potent. A flicker of cold light shed above the sword tip and the Demonic Cultivator¡¯s Physical Body¡¯s Demonic Patterns. A supreme prating force emerged, instantly extinguishing the rolling ck light that had suddenly appeared on his body¡¯s surface.


    ¡°Although not as powerful as Ji Chuan, it is indeed exceptionally potent; likely a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator,¡± the middle-aged man thought to himself, feeling the chilling might of the Flying Sword, as he made a rather urate judgment about Lu Qingshan, the Sword Sect disciple who had always kept his cultivation hidden.


    Only a Nascent Soul Cultivator could unleash such powerful Flying Sword.


    sh!


    A tremendous wound was instantly torn open on his Physical Body by Lu Qingshan.


    What surprised him was how this Flying Sword, which even made him feel somewhat fearful, caused him barely any harm when it shed his body.


    Was it just for show?


    This thought unconsciously crossed the mind of the Underworld Cultivator.


    But he had no time to think further about it.


    Because Lu Qingshan¡¯s Peach Blossom drew an arc in the air, its might instantly returning to its peak state, streaking towards him.


    Seeing this, the Underworld Cultivator merely sneered and made a Seal Gesture.


    With a bang, hepletely dispersed, exploding into a mass of Demonic Qi. Then, this mass of Demonic Qi transformed into countless hideously ugly bats, scattering in all directions.


    Witnessing this scene, Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression turned grave. ¡°Blood Demon Bloodline.¡±


    The divine skill demonstrated by this Underworld Cultivator belonged to the Blood Demon n, a Blood Demon Incarnation!


    He transformed into countless bats and scattered in all directions. Only by killing all these bats could he stop him from using any one of them to reincarnate and restore his physical body¡ªan incredibly elusive escape technique of the Demon Race.


    Initially puzzled, Ji Chuan on the side quickly grasped the situation upon witnessing the Underworld Cultivator transform into countless bats.


    Like thunderbolts, like the sky copsing and the earth splitting!


    A streak of Sword Light emanated from Ji Chuan¡¯s sleeve, its ferocity far surpassing the Flying Sword wielded by Lu Qingshan by an unknown multiple.


    Pupu pupu!


    In an instant, the Flying Sword, like a giant python, sessively pierced and shattered hundreds of bat incarnations.


    However, this Underworld Demonic Cultivator was no ordinary foe, having transformed into nearly a thousand bats.


    In that instant, unable to obliterate them all, these bats scattered and flew in all directions at high speed. Given the sheer number, Ji Chuan was at a loss as to which direction to pursue.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Ji Chuan cursed softly, his mind racing, and the Sword Intent shifted. Green Waist instantly turned into a burst of me Sword Light, ughtering toward the hundreds of bat incarnations fleeing westward.


    Hiss hiss hiss!


    Again, tens of bat incarnations were scorched to cinders by this single strike and fell from the sky.


    Ji Chuan sprang into action.


    ¡°Brother, wait.¡± At this moment, Lu Qingshan suddenly stopped Ji Chuan, who was about to pursue.


    Ji Chuan, puzzled, asked, ¡°What does this mean?¡±


    Lu Qingshan smiled slightly, mysteriously saying, ¡°When I struck earlier, I arranged a little trick on that Underworld Cultivator¡¯s body. He won¡¯t be able to escape.¡±


    ¡°A little trick?¡± Ji Chuan was startled.


    ¡­..


    Elsewhere, that area was again shrouded in Yin Qi.


    Yah yah yah!


    A monotonous and hoarse series of cries rang out as hundreds of shadows flew from the sky into that ce.


    Upon closer inspection, these shadows turned out to be exceedingly ugly bats.


    These bats gathered together, and billowing Demonic Qi enveloped them.


    Momentster, all the bats vanished, reced by a slightly pale-faced Cultivator.


    ¡°Hei Luo, how is the situation?¡± A figure in a gray robe appeared from the shadows.


    ¡°This Ji Chuan¡¯s methods are indeed extraordinary. I am at the Void Refining stage, and he is a Nascent Soul, but with just two strikes, he shed off over three hundred of my nine hundred ny-nine Blood Demon incarnations,¡± Hei Luo still shivered with fear, feeling immense pain.


    Refining the Blood Demon incarnations was no easy feat, extremely exhausting, and the sacrifice of these three hundred plus Blood Demon incarnations equated to the destruction of decades of his arduous cultivation.


    Pulling himself together, Hei Luo¡¯s expression turned solemn and he respectfully said, ¡°Jiuyou Hall Master, I intentionally revealed my true form in Yanglou Town and managed to escape from Ji Chuan¡¯s hands.


    The Origin Demon child¡¯s location is merely a hundred miles away from Yanglou Town. Driven by his unwillingness to lose my trail, Ji Chuan will, centering around Yanglou Town, meticulously search the surroundings. In two to three days, he will inevitably discover the Origin Demon child unwittingly. Then¡­¡±


    The Jiuyou Hall Master nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this, but without counting his chickens before they hatched, said, ¡°Let us then quietly wait and see how things unfold. By the way, what¡¯s the situation with the Extradition Envoy?¡±


    Upon hearing the name of the Extradition Envoy, a sinister shade crossed Hei Luo¡¯s face as he spoke coldly, ¡°Since the Origin Demonunched an attack on the Qiu Family, the Extradition Envoy has stopped passing on messages to us.


    My lord, the Extradition Envoy was reluctant to join us in the Underworld from the beginning, and with her current behavior, could she have had a change of heart? Should I go and warn her?¡±


    The Jiuyou Hall Master¡¯s face showed contemtion, and after a moment of pondering, he said, ¡°At this juncture, let¡¯s not create unnecessaryplications.


    Let¡¯s deal with the matter of the Extradition Envoy after the autumn harvest; besides, if it weren¡¯t for her, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to connect with the Origin Demon child.¡±


    Speaking of this, a cruel gleam shed in the eyes of the Jiuyou Hall Master.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Hei Luo responded respectfully.


    ¡°Next, we just wait for the y to start,¡± the Jiuyou Hall Master sneered.


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 Chapter 406 - 34: Joining the Battle

    Chapter 406: Chapter 34: Joining the Battle


    The Hall Master of Jiuyou watched the sword surge forward like a tide, a hint of panic in his heart, but it was dominated by uncontroble jealousy.


    ¡°Why should he? Both of us are practitioners of the Dao, yet he can integrate and prate the five superior intents into a single sword, as if he were royalty or nobility¡ªhow is that fair!¡±


    The Jiuyou seeds within the Hall Master were only condensed from the Jiuyou Intent of a middle rank.


    Did he not want to condense a higher quality Dao seed?


    How could that be possible? It was simply that he couldn¡¯t do it.


    Resentment simmered in his heart.


    For his own Dao, he had betrayed his bloodline, his race, and spent hundreds of years in arduous cultivation, yet he had only managed to grasp a single middle-rank intent.


    Why was it that for geniuses like Ji Chuan, understanding such intents seemed as easy as eating or drinking, capable of mastering artfully five superior intents?


    He cursed the Heavenly Dao for being unfair, bestowing talent and ingenuity on one person while being so harsh on him.


    Thinking so, the forces of intent within the Jiuyou seeds of the Hall Master surged out wildly, blending into the Jiuyou Seal.


    So what if your talent surpasses mine, the ultimate winner is the one whoughsst.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be delightful if he could personally y Ji Chuan today?


    The heart of the Jiuyou Hall Master was viciously poisonous.


    Boom!


    Green Waist shed with the Jiuyou Seal released by the Hall Master.


    Green Waist¡¯s single sword evolved the Five Elements, transforming into a perpetually rotating grand millstone.


    The ¡°buzzing¡± sound was piercing, and sword energy danced wildly.


    The various runes shining upon the Jiuyou Seal illuminated the valley with a bright light.


    Yet, under the millstone of the Five Elements, the shining runes quickly extinguished, melding within it, while the chilling Jiuyou Intent turned into wisps of vital essence, dissipating into Heaven and Earth.


    The Jiuyou Seal extinguished!


    But Ji Chuan¡¯s sword was far from finished; the Five Elements constantly generated life, the sword evolved from the Five Elements Intent was infinitely powerful beyond.


    After breaking the Hall Master¡¯s seal, its power had diminished by only half.


    The remaining force shook Heaven and Earth.


    Whiz, whiz, whiz!


    Green Waist surged forward, unstoppably heading towards the Hall Master of Jiuyou.


    The Hall Master¡¯s face showed unprecedented solemnity, and with a roar, his body emitted an aura of demons, and from his brows, a vertical pupil strangely emerged.


    ¡°Deste Spiritual Light!¡± the Jiuyou Hall Master bellowed, as the vertical pupil slowly opened and a deste yellow glow formed, fiercely shooting forth.


    In the instant the Deste Spiritual Light was fired, a hissing noise emerged from the void, and the surrounding vegetation withered away as if drained of its essence in a moment, some weeds even directly crumbled into dust.


    This was a spell capable of withering all things, and even the spirits of magical artifacts couldn¡¯t escape its effect.


    The Deste Spiritual Light headed toward Green Waist, as if to annihte all its spiritual nature.


    ¡°Na?ve,¡± Ji Chuan scoffed upon seeing this, then with a thought.


    The Sword Momentum on Green Waist sword suddenly shifted.


    Whiz, whiz, whiz!


    The silver-white flying sword in the sky instantly turned its Five Elements glow into an endlessly extending ck and white sword light, as if it were a long river.


    The Five Elements Sword Intent changed to Samsara Sword Intent.


    The Sword Light River evolved into Samsara.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s sword was not just about fusing Five Elements Sword Intent from the start but also concealed a hidden and explosive Samsara Sword Intent within the sword.


    As the majority of the Five Elements Sword Intent had passed, the Samsara Sword Intent suddenly burst forth, catching the Hall Master of Jiuyou off guard.


    This change in sword intent, the entire process as smooth as clouds and flowing water, a wless transition that showed a new level of skill in handling intent.


    Lu Qingshan, observing from the sky, couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue in wonder at Ji Chuan¡¯s swordsmanship.


    The indistinct Samsara Sword Intent enveloped the Deste Spiritual Light.


    Silently, like a furnace quenching snow.


    The spell of withering aura, under the imposing force of the Samsara Sword Intent, instantly reverted to its original form, that is, spiritual power, dissipating into Heaven and Earth.


    ¡°Impossible!¡± The Jiuyou Hall Master saw this and was nearly splitting with rage, but seeing that the flying sword was about to strike him, he dared not ponder any further.


    He raised his two hands in front of him, forming two Spirit Seals to block with all his might.


    The Spirit Seals were immensely powerful, with the force of Jiuyou Intent within them, their defensive power astonishing.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    The flying sword, with itsst power, collided with the defensive Spirit Seals conjured by the Hall Master of Jiuyou.


    In his rush to defend, the Hall Master found it exceedingly difficult to resist, even feeling a chilling sharpness seeping into his hands.


    ¡°Pfft!¡±


    Following closely, Green Waist, in the moment before its mightpletely dissipated, finally broke through the Netherworld Hall Master¡¯s defensive Spirit Seal. Thest bit of strength sent forth a Sword Qi that tore a huge wound across the Netherworld Hall Master¡¯s chest, blood gushing out.


    ¡°The physical body of a Dharma Cultivation, actually able to block one of my Sword Qi, must be the credit of the Demon Race¡¯s bloodline, right?¡± Seeing this scene, Ji Chuan¡¯s eyes were filled with coldness, and Green Waist simultaneously whirled back to him.


    Grinding his teeth in hatred, the Netherworld Hall Master did not reply but silently transmitted a secret Divine Sense message to Hei Luo.


    After that, the Netherworld Hall Master¡¯s voice boomed like thunder, shouting, ¡°Sword Cultivators¡¯ speed with Flying Swords is the fastest among all spells; their ability to chase and kill surpasses all six Cultivations. The hope of escape is slim to none. In the face of Sword Cultivators, one can only seek life in the face of death, drawing upon one¡¯s signature skill for a desperate fight!¡±


    ¡°Only by fighting desperately can we grasp a thread of opportunity for survival,¡± also understood the other Underworld Cultivators in the valley.


    Despite their numbers, if they wished to flee, in the face of such a powerful Sword Cultivator as Ji Chuan, at most the Flying Swords would sweep through a few more times.


    If they kept on fleeing blindly, out of nearly a hundred Cultivators, how many could possibly escape to ascend to heaven?


    They weren¡¯t sure, but they were still reluctant to easily fall into such a desperate situation of nine deaths and one life.


    Not to mention, there was also an inscrutable Sword Cultivator hovering ominously in midair.


    Boom!


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    The Underworld Cultivators quickly gathered together, ck Demonic Qi rising from within their bodies, countless Taoist Patterns swiftly emerging among them, and in the blink of an eye, they formed a massive Formation.


    A Combined Attack Formation!


    And at this moment, both the Netherworld Hall Master and Hei Luo, two Void Refining experts, were already encircling from two directions.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly.


    ced at the top of the Yellow List, a disciple of the iparable Taibai Sword Master of both internal and external prowess, his ownbat system was almost perfect. However, if one had to point out a w, it wasn¡¯t non-existent.


    His Life-bound Sword was dedicated to the Single Sword Faction, cultivating only Green Waist.


    Thus, the might of Green Waist was exceedingly powerful, greatly enhancing him far beyond the Life-bound Peach Blossom of Lu Qingshan at the same level, but the trade-off was that in group battles, he was slightly weaker.


    If it had just been a bunch of riff-raff, a single sweep would be like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, but now the ones gathering were two Void Refining Cultivators, and nearly a hundred Cultivators forming a Combined Attack Formation¡ªnot foes that could be easily resolved, truly a three-sided encirclement.


    In such an offensive, continuing to use the Flying Sword Technique would likely leave him overextended.


    But the problem wasn¡¯t all that serious.


    He had a way topensate.


    Whoosh!


    Green Waist soared up, and in the next instant was held in Ji Chuan¡¯s hand.


    The External Sword Technique, it was the most suitable swordsmanship for Sword Cultivators to face close-range battles and sieges.


    Sword in hand, against the Underworld Cultivators charging fiercely, Ji Chuan didn¡¯t retreat but advanced, rushing towards the Netherworld Hall Master.


    Shoot the horse before you shoot the man, catch the thief by capturing the king.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s target was clear; it was to y the Netherworld Hall Master first!


    Boom boom boom!


    Just then, another sword descended from the sky!


    It was a dazzling, luminous sword, crystal clear, emitting steaming killing intent, with the sword body flickering with me patterns, shing toward the Combined Attack Formation of nearly a hundred Underworld Cultivators.


    Just as they were about to sh, a blinding divine light suddenly shone from the sword body, and a noble dragon pattern emerged brilliantly.


    Dragon Sparrow: Dragon Breath!


    The Dragon Sparrow Sword chimed sonorously, a de of Red me burst forth, followed by an Azure Dragon Soul Shadow sweeping forth with overwhelming tides of me.


    It was like a Divine Dragon rising from a sea of fire, dazzlingly brilliant, captivating the soul.


    Killing intent and sharp fierceness suddenly erupted from the Azure Dragon Soul Shadow at that moment.


    Dragon Breath, ughter Sword Intent, and Annihtion Prating Sword Intent!


    The three forces unified!


    Just with this single strike, Lu Qingshan¡¯s robust Spiritual Power was depleted by thirty percent.


    But its effect was also pronounced, for this was the peak force Lu Qingshan could exert under normal circumstances.


    Boom boom boom!


    Under the force of this single strike, the Formation¡¯s Spiritual Light actually showed massive cracks, spreading rapidly.


    The terrifying shockwaves spread in all directions, some nearby rocks exploding, incinerated into ash.


    Crack!


    A series of shattering sounds came from the Formation¡¯s Spiritual Light.


    Spiritual Power fluctuations ran wild.


    Under the immense impact of Spiritual Power, several Cultivators of weaker strength among the Formation¡¯sbatants couldn¡¯t withstand the force, spewing blood and getting blown away, already heavily injured and devoid of fighting capacity.


    The Combined Attack Formation, led by seven Nascent Soul Cultivators andposed of dozens of Golden Core Cultivators, could barely withstand this single strike from Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Senior brother, leave these low-rank Cultivators to me,¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s hearty voice came from midair.


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 Chapter 407 - 35 Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan

    Chapter 407: Chapter 35 Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan


    Lu Qingshan mentioned low-ranking cultivators, but in reality,pared to his cultivation, they were not low at all.


    The formation cultivators at the very least possessed a Golden Core cultivation, and at the highest, there were even seven Nascent Soul cultivators present.


    But Lu Qingshan had the confidence to say these words.


    Because if there were a Three Realms Leaderboard beneath the Yellow List, he would undoubtedly be the top of this list.


    He had the strength to fight above his rank, defeating ordinary Weak Nascent Souls with ease.


    After his bold promation, Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze turned cold, and a point of blue light shot out from within his body.


    It was the Middle-Grade Heavenly Artifact, Peach Blossom.


    The moment the Flying Sword moved, Lu Qingshan activated the Immortal Divine Ability of Peach Blossom, converting its default Wood Attribute into the Water Attribute.


    mes surged on the Taoist Dragon Sparrow.


    Generally speaking, defensive spells that counter Fire Attribute spells were restrained by Water Attribute attacks, and vice versa.


    The fire of Dragon Sparrow and the water of Peach Blossom perfectly suppressed most of the cultivators¡¯ defensive measures.


    With the two Flying Swords enhanced by the embryonic form of Immortal True Intent and ughter Sword Intent, Dragon Sparrow dominated with twenty-five times the speed of sound, while Peach Blossom was invincible with the momentum of Sword Burst Thunder Sound.


    Both Flying Swords sparkled with cold light.


    That was the power from the Annihtion Prating Sword Intent.


    The might of Annihtion Prating Sword Intent wasn¡¯t as direct as the ughter Sword Intent in enhancing the power of the Flying Sword. It¡¯s true strength was mostly reflected in that sharpness.


    A sharpness that obliterated all defenses.


    It greatly suppressed all defensive spells.


    The two Flying Swords, like phantoms and specters, constantly darted through the group of cultivators, sweeping back and forth.


    ¡°The foremost in the Seven Domains, Lu Qingshan!¡± Hall Master Jiuyou glimpsed Lu Qingshan out of the corner of his eyes.


    As soon as Lu Qingshan¡¯s two Flying Swords were deployed, he had already realized Lu Qingshan¡¯s true identity.


    A single Peach Blossom could still be disputable, but the Dragon Sparrow Sword was too uniquely magnificent, a rare sword in the world.


    Since Lu Qingshan wielded Dragon Sparrow in the final battle of the Seven Domains conference, this peerless Taoist Sword had been deeply imprinted in the minds of all cultivators, bing a symbol of Lu Qingshan.


    Being from the Netherworld, how could he not know this information?


    Who could have expected, merely a fishing bait thrown in hope, yet actually pulling up two big fish.


    Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan, seeing these two as the future twin Peak Masters of the Sword Sect, was not unfeasible.


    If he could y two such favored sons of heavens today in this small Burial Ridge, what a tremendous feat it would be!


    ¡°A great harvest, a great harvest!¡± Hall Master Jiuyou¡¯s voice grew more venomous, murmuring continuously.


    ¡°Still daring to be distracted?¡± Ji Chuan, seeing Hall Master Jiuyou show a moment¡¯s daze, scoffed coldly, and already pressed forward with his attack.


    He waved the Green Waist in his hands, the Sword Qi was a hundred yards long, nearly a hundred Sword Qi fments roared like dragons, weaving through the air to fend off the assault of Hall Master Jiuyou and Hei Luo.


    Where the Sword Qi passed, the Five Elements evolved,


    Shoo!


    At that moment, motivated by Ji Chuan¡¯s intent, a water-colored Sword Light streaked across the sky, leaving a lingering, twisted mark in the void, the distorted Sword Scar shing towards Hei Luo, whose size had swollen like a giant.


    Feeling the fatal threat, Hei Luo¡¯s heart chilled, his hands surged with endless Blood Qi, blocking in front of him.


    Yet the mighty water-colored sword, seemingly possessing the power to split rivers, ferociously broke through his strenuously blocking hands, obliterated that overwhelming Blood Qi, and stabbed into his chest.


    Boom!


    Hei Luo¡¯s enormous body was suddenly flung backward from the impact of that sword.


    He was initially thrown back for dozens of yards, then his steps stuttered, and he continuously trod on the ground across several yards, leaving trails of ravines, kicking up a cloud of dust before finally stopping.


    Atop Hei Luo¡¯s Blood Devil Incarnation, the originally rich red Blood Qi had already dispersed, and a massive gash was cut open at his chest, from which copious amounts of blood flowed out, appearing fierce and terrifying.


    Hei Luo¡¯s expression darkened slightly, within his body, the Tao Seed once again surged up with vast Blood Qi, enveloping the wound.


    Under the power of the Tao Seed, the gruesome gash visibly began to grow new flesh at a pace visible to the naked eye, healing rapidly.


    The power of the Blood Qi Intent was used to heal his own wounds with Blood Qi.


    Meanwhile, Ji Chuan, not minding at all, after repelling Hei Luo with one sword,unched another across the sky, within the water-colored Sword Light, inexplicably added was a streak of fire.


    Water and fire harmonize, opening the lotus with a sword.


    At the tip of the sword, a splendid water-fire lotus bloomed, its sword light forming the petals and its sword qi the pistil, unleashing the power of water and fire intent.


    In mid-air, the sword techniques flowed as tightly and seamlessly as water, not missing a single drop, yet also contained the explosive noise of fire, as the lotus swept past.


    Facing the onught of Ji Chuan, the Hall Master of Jiuyou had already summoned his magic artifact.


    A ck whip entwined with the poison of theherworld.


    Facing this water-fire lotus, the Hall Master of Jiuyou¡¯s mind fell into a silent gloom, the ck whip swirling with a chilling cold that prated to the bone, sweeping towards the water-fire lotus.


    Whoosh!


    After the Hall Master of Jiuyou¡¯s ck whip swept across, the water-fire lotus was immediately engulfed in sudden frost, frozen into an ice sculpture.


    No sooner had the Hall Master of Jiuyou rxed his heart than he saw within the ice sculpture, above the lotus, the fire portion of the lotus suddenly shed with a muffled red light, as if brewing something.


    It was only a momentter.


    Boom!


    A thunderous explosion sounded, a skyful of red light burst forth intensely, and the entire ice sculpture instantly shattered into pieces.


    Hundreds of tiny mes of sword light shot towards the Hall Master of Jiuyou.


    The Hall Master of Jiuyou, shocked, swung his ck whip again, moving swiftly as thunder, and magically created countless afterimages, blocking all the mes of sword light.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s gaze was cold and fierce as he advanced with his sword again.


    A thick, earth-colored sword light shed, containing a hint of green.


    Earth births wood; two green lotuses once again bloomed.


    Two streaks of sword light charged towards the Hall Master of Jiuyou and Hei Luo respectively.


    Blood qi, sword qi lotus, and ck whip directly collided, shaking the space tremendously, the might was terrifying, and spiritual power fluctuations rampantly wreaked havoc.


    Nascent Soul Realm¡¯s Ji Chuan, relying on a single sword sh with two Void Refining True Venerables, was unexpectedly evenly matched.


    While Ji Chuan was engaged in fiercebat with the two great Void Refining venerables, over at Lu Qingshan¡¯s side, it resembled a massacre.


    The Dragon Sparrow erupted in brilliant sword light, entangling with the Nascent Soul cultivator, while Peach Blossom turned into a massive killing weapon, roaming ceaselessly among the Netherworld Golden Core cultivators.


    The flying sword, with power reaching the Nascent Soul level, ughtered these Netherworld Golden Core cultivators as if chopping melons and vegetables.


    In just a short few dozen moments, seven or eight Golden Core cultivators had been pierced by Peach Blossom in a single stroke, turning into a mist of blood.


    @@novelbin@@


    At this moment, almost all the cultivators from the Netherworld on the field had the same thought as the earlier Hall Master of Jiuyou.


    Why must the Heavenly Dao be so unfair, concentrating such great talent in just one person?


    If any one of them could have a tenth of Lu Qingshan¡¯s talent, they wouldn¡¯t have fallen to the point of joining the Netherworld.


    ¡°Kill!¡± Seven Nascent Soul cultivators from the Netherworld nced at each other, exchanged thoughts within a short time, andpleted a brilliantly coordinated strike.


    Four temporarily held off Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dragon Sparrow, while the remaining three, moving as swiftly as thunder, charged towards Lu Qingshan.


    Charging towards Lu Qingshan, who had both his life-bound swords fighting externally, unable to circle back for a short time.


    A sword cultivator without a life-bound sword is the weakest sword cultivator.


    This ismon knowledge in the cultivation world.


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan merely scoffed coldly.


    ¡°Just waiting for you to seek your own deaths!¡± His physical body suddenly glowed, bursting with ughter Sword Intent.


    ng! ng! ng!


    Resonant metallic sounds echoed continuously.


    From his body, from every pore, six hundred and fifty sword qi fments burst forth, blooming and shooting.


    In the void, a sharp fierceness prevailed, sword qi crisscrossed, transforming into a torrential storm shooting towards those three Nascent Soul cultivators.


    The solidified space, after being shed by the sword qi fments, left behind a piercing hissing noise.


    In an instant, a thousand illusions of sword qi fments roared impressively, and from afar, wave after wave of sword qi fments filled the sky¡ªrising and falling continuously, like a peacock spreading its feathers.


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 Chapter 409 - 37: Accident

    Chapter 409: Chapter 37: ident


    Ji Chuan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as he focused his gaze on the Origin Demon, or more precisely, on the Prime Lion itmanded.


    In his perception, the Origin Demon represented a peak Fourth Grade existence.


    With equal cultivation, he feared no one.


    But the Prime Lion emanated a terrifyingly peak Fifth Grade presence.


    He could punch above his weight and defeat foes, but only if they were limited to the Initial Stage or Middle Stage of Void Refining.


    If an opponent possessed the strength of a peak Fifth Grade, such a vast difference in rank could nullify his advantages in intent, cultivation techniques, and swordsmanship.


    To put it simply, it was like a cunning child pitted against a brawny adult whose sheer brute force trumps skill: the child would have no choice but to concede defeat.


    The Origin Demon nced at the Jiuyou Hall Master and Hei Luo, who were both severely wounded.


    Especially Hei Luo, whose Blood Qi was nearly depleted, evidently at the end of his tether.


    Then, with a sinister gaze, the Origin Demon turned to Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan. ¡°Nascent Soul Stage sword cultivators have forced you to seek my aid?¡±


    Immediately afterward, a glimmer of realization shed through the Origin Demon¡¯s eyes, and his pupils contracted slightly. ¡°Disciples of the Sword Sect!¡±


    The Jiuyou Hall Master had previously reported to him that two Sword Sect disciples had arrived at Burial Ridge to rescue the Qiu Family.


    And the two cultivators before him were both Sword Cultivators who had, with their Nascent Soul Cultivation, pressured the Jiuyou Hall Master and Hei Luo, both with Void Refining Cultivation, into this wretched state.


    Who else could they be if not Sword Sect disciples?


    There was a temporary silence and eeriness to the scene.


    After a moment, the Origin Demon spoke in a sinister tone, ¡°Disciples of the Sword Sect¡­ Out of respect for your sect, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you.


    Leave Burial Ridge now and ignore my affairs, and I promise not to stop you.¡±


    At these words, the Jiuyou Hall Master¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he spoke up to warn, ¡°My lord, but¡­¡±


    The Origin Demon turned his head, his gaze sharp as a knife, shing a look at the Jiuyou Hall Master and scolded furiously, ¡°Shut your mouth!¡±


    Under the scolding of the Origin Demon, Jiuyou Hall Master¡¯s face turned alternately green and white.


    Despite being the Hall Master, he was publicly reprimanded by an Origin Demon, whom he regarded as little more than a cub, leaving him feeling extremely humiliated.


    What made it harder for him was theck of further esction between the two parties, as things seemed to be settling down.


    This did not serve his interests.


    In his current situation, however, he had no choice but to swallow his frustrations.


    ¡°The scheme to harvest living souls¡­¡± Ji Chuan murmured to himself, slowly raising his head. His gaze became colder as he stared intently at the Origin Demon and asked each word deliberately, ¡°Did you, the Origin Demon, leave your homnd to invade Burial Ridge on your orders?¡±


    Caught off guard by Ji Chuan¡¯s questioning, the Origin Demon paused, then replied as if it were a matter of course, ¡°Yes, it was by my order, but it¡¯s just the lives of some mortals and minor cultivators.¡±


    ¡°Just some mortals and minor cultivators¡­¡± Ji Chuan closed his eyes slightly, as if he could see many scenes shing by.


    The world a vast expanse of white, with the rain spurting crimson blood, the torrential downpour mixed with children¡¯s wails and monsters¡¯ roars echoing, the ¡®toads¡¯ turning into corpses, and that pale-faced woman hoping for a peaceful life for her younger brother.


    ¡°Just¡­ some mortals and minor cultivators.¡± Ji Chuan repeated the filthy words that made him feel sick, then suddenly opened his eyes, a cold light flickering within them.


    @@novelbin@@


    At this moment, he had made his decision.


    ¡°Junior brother, when I make my move, leave this ce immediately,¡± Lu Qingshan suddenly received a Divine Sense message from Ji Chuan.


    Lu Qingshan understood what Ji Chuan meant.


    Though against millions, one must seek the direct path and not the devious one.


    This was the world¡¯s most ¡°willful¡± Sword Cultivator¡¯s choice, and it was Ji Chuan¡¯s decision.


    Ji Chuan gripped the Green Waist Sword tightly, gazing at the Origin Demon perched atop the Prime Lion.


    He prepared to take the head of the Origin Demon from the hands of a peak Fifth Grade powerhouse.


    Did he have a high chance of sess?


    Of course not.


    That¡¯s why he insisted that Lu Qingshan leave as soon as he acted.


    That way, even if he failed in the end, Lu Qingshan would not be implicated.


    But it was something he had to do.


    ¡°This sword seeks to settle the world¡¯s injustices,¡± was the motto of the Green Waist Sword.


    It was this very motto that had touched him and led him to choose the Green Waist as his Life-bound Sword.


    There were too many injustices in the world, and he knew that a single sword couldn¡¯t smooth them all out.


    But this was his ambition and passion, his perseverance, and faith.


    If there were no hope, he wouldn¡¯t embark on a suicidal path.


    But as long as there was a chance, no matter how slim, he would not give up easily.


    Because when he chose the Green Waist, he was prepared to uphold justice for the world¡¯s wrongs.


    On the other side, upon seeing the Origin Demon riding the Prime Lion, a thought suddenly struck Lu Qingshan.


    Without hesitation, Lu Qingshan immediatelymunicated his hunch to Ji Chuan.


    ¡°My mind is made up,¡± Ji Chuan said with a smile in response to Lu Qingshan.


    After a moment of silence, Lu Qingshan spoke, ¡°Senior brother, I might be able to help.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Lu Qingshan also said, ¡°My mind is made up.¡±


    Ji Chuan thought for a bit, smiled, and finally nodded his head.


    ¡­


    The Origin Demon quietly watched Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan, waiting for them to make their final, correct decision.


    Swoosh!


    Contrary to the Origin Demon¡¯s expectations, and those of the Jiuyou Hall Master.


    With the sudden force of a thunderbolt, before the Origin Demon could react, a ck-and-white Sword Light emerged, dragging along a river of light, roaring mightily as it swept toward him.


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 Chapter 410 - 37 Accident_2

    Chapter 410: Chapter 37 ident_2


    The Origin Demon had no time to react.


    The Jiuyou Hall Master did have time to respond, but the sword light was directed at the Origin Demon.


    ¡ª¡ªThis was precisely what he wanted, so naturally, he would not intervene.


    Howl!


    Only the Prime Lion at the peak of Fifth Grade reacted and chose to take action.


    The Prime Lion¡¯s huge eyes suddenly condensed.


    Two streaks of Netherworld Death Qi, like two yellow pythons, shot out from his eyes, confronting the long river of sword light.


    This flying sword endowed with Ji Chuan¡¯s Samsara Sword Intent, when faced with the moves of a peak Fifth Grade Origin Demon, ultimately could not achieve much.


    The river of sword light was devoured and enveloped by the yellow pythons.


    A few sshes of Sword Qi hit the Origin Demon, causing him a bit of embarrassment but not much damage.


    However, the embarrassed Origin Demon, aftering to his senses, was filled with towering rage.


    I disregarded the face of the Sword Sect and spared both your lives, allowing you to leave.


    Not only did you not appreciate my kindness, but you also struck at me with your sword?


    Had it not been for the Prime Lion¡¯s formidable strength, that single strike would have cost him half his life just now.


    ¡°Do you really think I wouldn¡¯t darey a hand on you because you have the Sword Sect behind you? Prime Lion, kill¡­ teach them a good lesson!¡± The enraged Origin Demon was still able to maintain a sliver of calm at this point.


    Though his words were fierce, in the end, the Origin Demon chose only to have the Prime Lion teach Ji Chuan a lesson, not intending to take his life.


    Such was the deterrent power of the name of the Sword Sect.


    The Prime Lion issued an angry growl, its strong and powerful forelegs propping up, and its yellow eyes tightly constricted, staring fixedly at Ji Chuan, that intense hostility could be felt by anyone.


    That was the imposing presence of a peak Fifth Grade Great Demon, solemn and majestic.


    This fierce aura pressed down on Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan.


    Both of them felt their steps grow significantly heavier.


    Rolls of Netherworld Death Qi surged out from the Prime Lion, heading straight for the skies, as it crouched, ready to pounce.


    One could imagine what kind of terrifying attack was toe.


    Ji Chuan felt a chill in his heart.


    The preemptive strike had failed, and now it looked like they were going to have to fight hard.


    Although he had anticipated this, feeling the overbearing pressure emanating from the Prime Lion still inevitably brought about a sense of immense stress.


    Just as Ji Chuan braced himself for the fight.


    The ferocious intent in the eyes of the peak Fifth Grade Prime Lion suddenly turned gentle.


    Somehow, a delicate figure had appeared in mid-air, positioned right before the terrifying Prime Lion.


    Dressed in a white gown, she looked frail yet proud, like a white swan.


    Ji Chuan was slightly stunned.


    Because this woman who had appeared out of nowhere was none other than Qiu Shiyin.


    What was happening?


    ¡°Stop, brother,¡± Qiu Shiyin said softly, looking down at the poised Prime Lion with tender eyes.


    That ferocious and incredibly fierce Fifth Grade Great Demon, under the watchful gaze of this frail female cultivator, let out a small whimper and slowly lowered its head, resembling an obedient dog waiting to be petted by its owner.


    A peak Fifth Grade fearsome Origin Demon was actually Qiu Shiyin¡¯s ¡°brother,¡± Qiu Ning?!


    Ji Chuan, who had received this information, felt a surge of shock so great that he couldn¡¯t consider how Qiu Shiyin had arrived or why she was there.


    The Origin Demon, who had been arrogantly blistering just a moment ago, stared wide-eyed at the sight of the Prime Lion¡¯s docile behavior in Qiu Shiyin¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Kill this woman!¡± the Origin Demon roared furiously.


    But what sent a chill down his spine was that the Prime Lion, which had alwaysplied with hismands, now turned its massive head in response to his words, its eyes shing with a hint of murderous intent.


    The protector Origin Demon assigned by his father was harboring thoughts of killing him because of hismand?!


    Disbelieving and furious, he directed a Netherworld Death Qi arrow at Qiu Shiyin who floated mid-air, the woman who had managed to restrain all of the Prime Lion¡¯s movements.


    ¡°It¡¯s all this woman¡¯s doing, once I kill her the Prime Lion will acknowledge me as its leader again!¡± thought the Origin Demon, nearly pathologically.


    Meanwhile, witnessing the Prime Lion¡¯s movements being halted by Qiu Shiyin, Ji Chuan didn¡¯t waste a moment and immediately seized this opportunity.


    Boom!


    Ji Chuan¡¯s strongest force, Green Waist, was transformed into a silvery white light and charged towards the Origin Demon.


    Boom!


    Another sword shadow shot out, even faster than Ji Chuan¡¯s Green Waist.


    It was Lu Qingshan¡¯s Peach Blossom.


    Fully focused on the changing battlefield, Lu Qingshanunched this strike as soon as Qiu Shiyin had taken control of the Prime Lion¡¯s protective Great Demon.


    @@novelbin@@


    The Origin Demon child had no time for anything else and quickly brought out a yellow, shield-shaped magic artifact to block in front of him.


    This Scale Shield Artifact had been refined from the scale armor shed by his father, the king, and given to him for protection, boasting an astonishing defensive power.


    Although Lu Qingshan¡¯s reaction was a notch faster than Ji Chuan¡¯s, the gap in cultivation between them meant that his Peach Blossom was only a breath faster than the Green Waist and mmed onto the Scale Shield Artifact.


    But that was enough.


    For his intent was merely to assist Ji Chuan.


    A glint like a withered leaf shed and disappeared atop the Peach Blossom.


    All things withering.


    The shield-shaped magic artifact that was radiating spiritual light, under this strike, suddenly lost all its brilliance, as if covered in dust, and plunged sharply from the sky.


    ¡°Withering¡±: A technique of all things withering. Any artifact of a lower grade than this sword, under this Divine Skills, would lose its spiritual nature for five breaths.


    There was nothing left to withstand Ji Chuan¡¯s Flying Sword.


    It¡¯s your turn now, senior brother.


    Lu Qingshan muttered.


    Boom!


    Green Waist shed straight onto the scale-armored body of the Origin Demon child.


    The powerful body and scale armor of the Origin Demon child were pierced by the Green Waist, leaving a huge gap.


    The subdued Samsara Sword Intent burst forth at this moment, invading the Origin Demon child¡¯s body.


    Despite his formidable physique, he could not resist the corrosion of the Primordial Intent.


    Hiss, hiss, hiss!


    His physical body crumbled in a most bizarre manner, unable to heal.


    Amidst excruciating pain, the Origin Demon child let out a scream that was neither human nor beastly, filled with agony and madness, deafening to the ear.


    The next moment, the Origin Demon child, no longer shielded by the Prime Lion, was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground dozens of yards away.


    The massive body hit the ground, scales shattered, blood spilling everywhere.


    Chi!


    At the same time, Qiu Shiyin was also hit by an arrow condensed from Netherworld Death Qi, shot out by the Origin Demon child.


    This peculiar technique of the Netherworld Path did not cause surface wounds to the cultivator.


    But all of Qiu Shiyin¡¯s vital essence weakened in that instant. The next moment, this fragile female cultivator fell from the sky like a swan with broken wings.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ji Chuan hastily leaped forward, catching the extremely weakened Qiu Shiyin with urgency and concern in his voice.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s concerned voice still drifted in the wind.


    Yet, just a breathter, Ji Chuan¡¯s voice abruptly stopped.


    He slowly looked down at his abdomen, where there was a wound asrge as a hole.


    A sharp hand covered in scales had pierced through.


    Warm blood was slowly welling out from the wound.


    Yes, welling, not flowing.


    Like floodwaters breaching a dam, the blood was rmingly excessive.


    Within Ji Chuan¡¯s Dantian, his Nascent Soul, which took decades of cultivation to form, was being tightly grasped by a sharp w.


    With just a little more strength from that w, his entire Nascent Soul would instantly shatter.


    Once the Nascent Soul shattered, he would be dead beyond doubt.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t see thating, did you?¡± Qiu Shiyin asked softly.


    The Qiu Shiyin that had fallen into Ji Chuan¡¯s arms was no longer the stubborn and strong ¡°white swan¡±.


    Her entire body now bore yellow-brown scales, and, as she breathed, sharp yellow scales slowly red.


    Rugged bone spurs appeared on her fair forehead and jaw.


    Her once tender and pale hands had also transformed into ws gleaming with a metallic luster.


    Qiu Shiyin, in her current form, was strikingly simr to the Origin Demon child.


    Her right w had pierced directly into Ji Chuan¡¯s abdomen, firmly clutching his Nascent Soul, her yellow pupils chilling to the bone.


    ¡°Well done, kill him quickly!¡± The Hall Master of Jiuyou, upon seeing this scene, showed no surprise but instead expressed delight on his face, eagerly urging on.


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 Chapter 411 - 38: The Cause (For league master "FengchenCc" extra 5/10)

    Chapter 411: Chapter 38: The Cause (For league master ¡°FengchenCc¡± extra 5/10)


    ¡°Your true identity.¡± Ji Chuan didn¡¯t care about the reaction of the Netherworld Hall Master, but simply said calmly and hoarsely.


    He stared intently at Qiu Shiyin¡¯s face, which still vaguely resembled that of a human, as if trying to see through something.


    ¡°Qiu Shiyin, toad, monster, and also, Underworld Emissary.¡± Qiu Shiyin slowly listed all her identities for Ji Chuan to hear.


    ¡°Actually, you¡¯ve known for a long time that I am ¡®toad¡¯, haven¡¯t you?¡± Qiu Shiyin said with a smile, looking at Ji Chuan¡¯s calm eyes.


    How could a swan ever live with a toad? That was just a fairy tale told to frighten children.


    There was never any swan, from start to finish, just a bunch of toads.


    ¡°Sword born from light, Green Waist, I have felt the Netherworld Death Qi on you.¡± Ji Chuanughed softly.


    Long, long ago, Ji Chuan knew that Qiu Shiyin was not a normal human.


    He didn¡¯t care, he even felt pity.


    Ji Chuan¡¯s voice sounded somewhat feeble due to the massive loss of blood.


    Because his Nascent Soul was mped in Qiu Shiyin¡¯s ws, he couldn¡¯t summon Spiritual Power to heal his injuries.


    ¡°Yes, I am the toad.¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s voice was filled with a crying and sorrowful tone.


    The story of Qiu Ning was, in fact, her own story.


    ¡°You could have stopped the Origin Demon behind the illusion and saved those children.¡± Ji Chuan said in a low voice.


    The children he referred to were the toads Qiu Shiyin had adopted.


    @@novelbin@@


    With the Strength that Qiu Shiyin disyed at that moment, how could those Origin Demons, whose minds had been confused, possibly kill the children from her hands?


    But to avoid exposing her own identity, Qiu Shiyin simply watched the Origin Demon wreak havoc.


    ¡°Do you remember the question I asked you?¡± Qiu Shiyin slowly raised her head, her yellow demon eyes containing a prating power.


    ¡°Senior Cultivator, can you save every child that is to be abandoned?¡± Qiu Shiyin repeated the question in a murmur.


    ¡°I cannot, I cannot, so what is the point of saving a hundred or so children?¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s voice was extremely calm.


    ¡°Do you know how many toads have died shortly after birth on thisnd over the past thousand years?


    Thisnd is not suited for the Human Race to live on, but greed has made them stay.


    Who could give up the enormous benefits of the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine?


    ¡°Nobody can, including your Sword Sect.¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s voice became increasingly shrill, answering her own question.


    ¡°Our Sword Sect has never been aware of the toad matter.¡± Ji Chuan spoke softly, his gaze solemn in the shadows, his emotions indistinguishable.


    ¡°Yes, the exalted Taoist Sect, high above, how could they care about these mortals?¡± Qiu Shiyinughed mockingly. ¡°So, I had to solve this problem myself.¡±


    Qiu Shiyin¡¯s gaze swept across the room, finallynding on the Origin Demon¡¯s child sitting powerless on the ground, his face smeared with blood.


    ¡°Senior Cultivator, do you know his identity?¡± Qiu Shiyin suddenlyughed and asked.


    Seeing that Ji Chuan remained silent, Qiu Shiyin went on to say, ¡°He is the Origin Demon¡¯s child, the only bloodline of the Demon King, born with the Netherworld Death Bloodline, capable of absorbing countless life forces.


    Thirty years ago, to give birth to the Demon¡¯s child, the Demon Queen was devoured of all her life force by the child and then died miserably.


    The enraged Demon King thus unleashed a massacre in the Origin Lands to vent his fury.


    Ever since then, the Origin Demon¡¯s child has been the Demon King¡¯s Achilles¡¯ heel.


    Even if you are a disciple of the Sword Sect, if you kill the Origin Demon¡¯s child, the Demon King wouldunch relentless retaliation against your Sword Sect, never to cease until death.


    The Demon King chose Qiu Ning as the Protector for the Origin Demon¡¯s child, because Qiu Ning¡¯s mind has always remained as a four or five-year-old¡¯s, incapable of treachery.


    It was also because of Qiu Ning¡¯s protection that the Demon King dared to go into seclusion, and the Origin Demon¡¯s child dared to leave the Origin Lands.¡±


    But they don¡¯t know that Qiu Ning will listen to me.


    At my word, he would allow you to attack the Origin Demon¡¯s child.


    The Jiuyou Hall Master¡¯s initial scheme was just this, to have me stop Qiu Ning and then let your Sword Sect disciples personally y the Origin Demon¡¯s child.


    Once you¡¯ve killed the Origin Demon¡¯s child, the Origin Demon King will be the undying foe of your Sword Sect.


    An Eighth Grade Great Demon King, stopping at nothing, hiding in the shadows, just for revenge against your Sword Sect¡ªthat would be a terrifying situation, you should know, right?¡±


    A barefooter is not afraid of a person wearing shoes; when the Origin Demon King, who has no fetters, fixes his gaze on the Sword Sect, just waiting in the shadows, ready to strike at Sword Sect disciples who stray from your Sect, that would be a great headache for the Sword Sect.


    Once sessful, it would be as if the Jiuyou Hall Master found an Eighth Grade ally for the Netherworld, targeting the Taoist Sect of the Human Race.


    Qiu Shiyin spoke softly, ¡°I do not care about the struggle between the Sword Sect and the Netherworld.


    All I know is, when the Origin Demon King seeks revenge against your Sword Sect at all costs, given the temperament of your Sword Sect, you would surely sweep clean the Origin realm to set an example.


    The Origin Demon King can almost achieve immortality and indestructibility with the Netherworld Death Qi within the Origin realm, even using the Jiuyou Kan Yu Map to hide within the Netherworld. To kill the Origin Demon King, your Sword Sect will have to seal the rift leading to the Netherworld realm.


    Once the Origin Demon dies and the spatial rift is sealed, the Netherworld Death Qi will naturally dissipate.


    This is the only way I can think of, to save every toad.¡±


    As she spoke, Qiu Shiyin¡¯s gaze swept towards the Jiuyou Hall Master, ¡°Hall Master, this is also the reason I will join the Netherworld.


    How could I really wish to join forces with a bunch of scum who betray the Human Race?


    It¡¯s just that although you¡¯re targeting the Sword Sect, I am for¡­ well, it coincidentally leads to the same oue¡­¡±


    Qiu Shiyin¡¯s gaze returned to Ji Chuan¡¯s face, which was gradually pale due to blood loss, and she whispered apologetically, ¡°Although I know the Origin Demon King values the Origin Demon¡¯s child immensely, I cannot guarantee that he would confront the Sword Sect head-on for the sake of the Origin Demon¡¯s child.


    However, I know that if the Sword Sect learns that their chief disciple, Ji Chuan, died at the hands of an Origin Demon, given the Sword Sect¡¯s nature, they will certainly not let the Origin Demon off the hook. Double insurance, so¡­¡±


    Qiu Shiyin slightly increased the strength in her ws, and the rich Netherworld Death Qi began to seep into Ji Chuan¡¯s Nascent Soul, ¡°Senior Cultivator, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    She not only wanted Ji Chuan to kill the Origin Demon¡¯s child, provoking the Origin Demon King¡¯s wrath but also wanted to kill Ji Chuan herself to ignite the Sword Sect¡¯s fury.


    ¡­


    The Jiuyou Hall Master¡¯s gaze was enigmatic.


    He thought he had calcted everything, little knowing that all this was within Qiu Shiyin¡¯s ns.


    ¡°You calcted everything,¡± Lu Qingshan, who had been watching everything, now stepped forward slowly, looking at Qiu Shiyin and suddenly spoke, ¡°Except for one thing you got wrong.¡±


    Just as Qiu Shiyin was about to annihte Ji Chuan¡¯s Nascent Soul in one fell swoop, her actions stalled, and she looked slightly taken aback.


    ¡°Ji Chuan, he knew that you are a toad long ago, and actually, when he acted against the Origin Demon¡¯s child, he was already aware of the Origin Demon¡¯s child¡¯s true identity.¡±


    Lu Qingshan spoke softly, ¡°Therefore, knowing the identity of the Origin Demon¡¯s child, yet still choosing to act against him, Brother Ji Chuan, as he said, the Sword Sect is not unwilling to forgo the benefits of the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine for the sake of ordinary people, it¡¯s just that the Sword Sect never knew about the toad, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Qiu Shiyin¡¯s cold pupils suddenly dted, and she said in disbelief, ¡°Impossible!¡±


    ¡°Not impossible at all. Do you think that by Jiuyou Hall Master deliberately avoiding the term ¡®Origin Demon¡¯s child¡¯, we wouldn¡¯t guess his origin?¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s voice resonated as if chanting, every word etching into Qiu Shiyin¡¯s heart, ¡°Within the Origin realm, with the Four Great Demons leading the horde, the Origin Demon¡¯s child was only of Fourth Grade, yet hemanded so many Origin Demons.


    Besides that, there was also a Fifth Grade peak Origin Demon as a guard, to whom even the Jiuyou Hall Master had to address as ¡®Lord¡¯. Aside from being the Origin Demon King¡¯s son, we can¡¯t think of any other possibility.¡±


    ¡°I immediatelymunicated with my brother as soon as I could, saying that the Origin Demon¡¯s child is very likely the Origin Demon King¡¯s son, and that killing him would cause a major conflict between the Origin Demon King and the Sword Sect.¡±


    ¡°But my brother did not hesitate at all; instead, he bravely faced the danger to his life and acted against the Origin Demon¡¯s child.¡±


    ¡°The reason you think the Sword Sect would disregard the existence of ordinary people for the sake of the Primordial Stone Orchid Mine¡¯s benefit,¡± Lu Qingshan sighed, ¡°is just that you don¡¯t understand Sword Cultivators.¡±


    ¡°Why were you unwilling to give the Sword Sect a chance to see how they would act?¡± asked Lu Qingshan.


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 Chapter 412 - 39 Crossing Worlds Technique

    Chapter 412: Chapter 39 Crossing Worlds Technique


    Qiu Shiyin¡¯s face froze, but only for a moment.


    And that was enough.


    Inside Qiu Shiyin¡¯s grasp, the Nascent Soul of Ji Chuan¡ªthat tiny figure¡ªsuddenly lit up with bright eyes while Qiu Shiyin was momentarily distracted.


    Countless sword Qi, as sharp as knives, instantly sprayed out from Ji Chuan¡¯s Nascent Soul.


    These bursts of Sword Qi instantly pierced through the hard scale armor covering Qiu Shiyin¡¯s wed hands.


    Qiu Shiyin let out a cry of pain.


    Simultaneously, an evenrger Sword Qi shot out from the center of Ji Chuan¡¯s Nascent Soul, striking Qiu Shiyin¡¯s chest with a thunderous boom.


    The attack was so ferocious that one could even hear the sound of Qiu Shiyin¡¯s ribs breaking.


    Qiu Shiyin¡¯s figure was sent flying backward.


    The two figures separated.


    From within the Nascent Soul that had escaped Qiu Shiyin¡¯s bind, Spiritual Power rapidly surged, restraining the still-bleeding, gigantic wound on his abdomen.


    Qiu Shiyin, watching Ji Chuan from afar, was filled with disbelief in her eyes.


    How could Sword Qi possibly be nurtured within a Nascent Soul?


    In the knowledge of any cultivator, that was absolutely impossible.


    How could the most fragile Nascent Soul contain such fierce Sword Qi?


    Curled over, Ji Chuan clutched the great wound on his abdomen and slowly stood up, facing Qiu Shiyin with Green Waist tightly gripped in his hand.


    Indeed, an ordinary cultivator could not achieve this, but a disciple of the Sword Sect could, because this is the power of a Taoist Level Cultivation Technique.


    ¡­


    Seeing this, Lu Qingshan finally let out a sigh of relief.


    His sudden interjection just now, although all true, had the actual purpose of buying Ji Chuan a brief moment of distraction from Qiu Shiyin.


    Before leaving the sect, he had gone to the Hall of Enlightenment to receive the Nascent Soul Chapter of the ¡°Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture¡± of the Sword Sect and learned its detailed attributes.


    As the Nascent Soul Chapter of a Taoist Level Cultivation Technique, one of the special effects of the ¡°Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture¡± was that the Nascent Soul it condensed would possess an unparalleled affinity with all things rted to the sword, capable of nurturing the Life-bound Sword.


    The most significant use of this special effect was to allow Sword Cultivators to nurture their Life-bound Sword within their Nascent Soul, equivalent to Sword Cultivators constantly nurturing their Life-bound Sword, greatly enhancing the efficiency of sword nurturing.


    A Nascent Soul capable of nurturing even a physical sword could naturally nurture powerful Sword Qi with ease.


    As the Nascent Soul is a cultivator¡¯s fatal weak point, every cultivator would think of various ways to protect their Nascent Soul.


    Since the ¡°Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture¡± had such an ability, Lu Qingshan was certain that Ji Chuan would not fail to nurture several strands of Sword Qi within his own Nascent Soul for protection.


    Therefore, without anymunication, he and Ji Chuanpleted this extremely clever cooperation, freeing Ji Chuan from Qiu Shiyin¡¯s control.


    The moment Qiu Shiyin¡¯s figure was sent flying, a fearsome and respectable aura immediately rose from the body of the Prime Lion, its furious gaze fixed on Ji Chuan, ready to pounce like a hunter upon its prey.


    It was prepared tounch a thunderous offensive against Ji Chuan, to tear apart this insignificant member of the Human Race.


    Qiu Shiyin stabilized her stance, looking at Ji Chuan, who appeared ragged and bloodstained from her sneak attack. Smiling tenderly, she gently pressed down what seemed to be the uncontroble Prime Lion.


    She pointed a finger at the Netherworld Hall Master and Hei Luo, speaking softly, ¡°Qiu Ning, help your sister kill them, then leave this ce far behind and never return.¡±


    The Prime Lion let out a low whine, unwilling to move.


    Although his intelligence was not high, he sensed some ominous signs.


    Qiu Shiyin immediately widened her eyes and looked at the Prime Lion.


    Under the burning gaze of his most respected elder sister named Qiu Ning, the Prime Lion could no longer hold out and began to move.


    It let out an immensely furious roar and suddenly pounced towards the Jiuyou Hall Master and Hei Luo, as if it wanted to pour out all its rage on these two people.


    ¡°Extradition Envoy, what are you trying to do?¡± The Jiuyou Hall Master saw this, his face changed, and he quickly shouted.


    ¡°I want you dead,¡± Qiu Shiyin murmured.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Blood Qi and the power of the Jiuyou Intent continuously bombarded Qiu Ning¡¯s body, but in the span of a single breath, it was disintegrated by Qiu Ning¡¯s Netherworld Death Qi and annihted.


    Qiu Ning rapidly closed in andunched a crazily ferocious attack, swiping with ws,shing with its tail, ripping and tearing¡­ Each move was enormously loud.


    Under the ferocious assault from the Prime Lion, both the already weakened Jiuyou Hall Master and Hei Luo looked like rag dolls being abused, their injuries growing more and more severe.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Qiu Ning¡¯s deadly ws kept striking.


    Finally, Hei Luo, who couldn¡¯t fend off the attacks, had no choice but to once again transform into his bat incarnation in hopes of saving his life.


    However, facing the swarm of bat incarnations, Qiu Ning puffed up his cheeks and blew lightly forwards.


    The rich Netherworld Death Qi, with an overwhelming and intimidating force, spewed out from Qiu Ning¡¯s gaping maw,pletely engulfing Hei Luo¡¯s bat incarnations.


    Crack, crack, crack!


    Hei Luo, already having suffered two severe blows and now down to just three hundred-odd bats, fell silent immediately under the onught of the Netherworld Death Qi.


    The incarnations of Hei Luo¡¯s bats fell from the sky one by one,nding motionlessly on the ground, devoid of any trace of life.


    All of the bat incarnations, without exception.


    That is to say, Hei Luo was dead!


    ¡°Your life is what matters!¡±


    Seeing this, the Jiuyou Hall Master felt a chill in his heart, knowing that if things continued this way, he feared his own life would soon be over.


    Boom!


    He could no longer hold on, formed gestures with both hands, and the power of the Jiuyou Intent surged out, barely defending against one of the Prime Lion¡¯s w attacks.


    With the impact of that massive blow, he was sent flying backward, seizing the opportunity to flee.


    Roar!


    Seeing the Jiuyou Hall Master flee in panic, Qiu Ning let out a dissatisfied roar, stepped on the void, and chased after the Jiuyou Hall Master.


    Qiu Shiyin watched as Qiu Ning chased the Jiuyou Hall Master into the distance, then withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Ji Chuan.


    She pursed her lips, her face covered in scale armor showing not much expression, raised her w high, her pupils shing with yellow light, and her antlers fierce, looking ready tounch herself at Ji Chuan.


    ¡°Without Qiu Ning, you¡¯re no match for me,¡± Ji Chuan stared at Qiu Shiyin, his eyes clear and distinctly cold.


    The Jiuyou Hall Master had teamed up with Hei Luo and still had not been able to ovee him, and Qiu Shiyin, as an Underworld Emissary, was only of Fourth Grade cultivation. How could she possibly be his opponent without a surprise attack?


    Qiu Shiyin let out a coldugh without saying much else, instantly transforming into a vicious Origin Demon again. She left behind trails of afterimages in the air, charging at Ji Chuan fearlessly and persistently.


    Ji Chuan remained where he was, motionless.


    Just as Qiu Shiyin was about to approach him.


    ng!


    A sword strike swift as an antelope hanging its horns.


    A deafening metallic collision echoed.


    Around Ji Chuan, a ck and white river of sword light emerged.


    As the sword light dimmed.


    Green Waist had already deeply stabbed into Qiu Shiyin¡¯s body, piercing through her back.


    Qiu Shiyin¡¯s body began to convulse violently, her rugged and fierce face gradually returned to normal, and the scale armor slowly receded, revealing the soft cheeks beneath.


    @@novelbin@@


    The sharp, horrifying ws also reverted to their original form, a pair of soft and fair hands.


    Her long hair hung down, covering Qiu Shiyin¡¯s face, making it impossible for anyone to see her expression clearly.


    Ji Chuan slowly withdrew his sword.


    Bright red blood gushed out at once, the amount so considerable it was frightening.


    The silver-white de bore the crimson color of blood and the withered yellow of Netherworld Death Qi.


    Ji Chuan stood in front of Qiu Shiyin, looking into her eyes for a long time.


    ck pupils met yellow, representing twopletely different species, also signaling that their lives were two parallel lines that would never intersect.


    Both were expressionless.


    ¡°Why?¡± Ji Chuan asked.


    Why did she choose to send a Fifth Grade peak cultivator like Qiu Ning to kill the Jiuyou Hall Master while she herself came looking for him to die?


    Like a breeze heralding spring thawing the winter ice, returning life to the frozenke, the ice melting away with ripples spreading, Qiu Shiyin withdrew her indifferent gaze and smiled, ¡°I don¡¯t trust the Sword Sect, I don¡¯t trust anyone¡­ but now, I want to trust you once.¡±


    Ji Chuan was silent for a long while, wanting to say something but only opening his mouth without speaking, ultimately only nodding silently.


    ¡°As you wish,¡± he said softly atst.


    Qiu Shiyin revealed a smile of relief as thest glimmer of light in her yellow pupils extinguished.


    She fell backward, copsing into the pool of blood, the dense Netherworld Death Qi spreading out from her body, soaring to the heavens.


    ¡­


    Ji Chuan stood quietly for a moment, his expression returning to calm.


    He, with his sword in hand, walked towards the severely injured Origin Demon.


    He would definitely not let down the trust Qiu Shiyin had ced in him before her death.


    The Origin Demon watched Ji Chuan approach step by step, frantically assessing his own injuries.


    The fierce Sword Intent still lingered in his physical body, the intense pain causing his facial expression to change noticeably, from the earlier arrogance and coldness to gloominess, agony, weakness, and madness.


    The moment he saw the Prime Lion lose control, he knew he was in for serious trouble.


    ¡°You can¡¯t kill me, my father is the Origin Demon King¡­¡± the Origin Demon mumbled hoarsely.


    Ji Chuan didn¡¯t speak, but the undisguised killing intent in his dark pupils made it clear to the Origin Demon what Ji Chuan was thinking.


    ¡°Heh, do you really think you have defeated me? Do you truly believe I can only await my execution?¡± Realizing there was no turning back, the Origin Demon suddenlyughed maniacally.


    He said in an icy tone, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be your enemy, Sword Sect. You forced my hand.¡±


    Both Ji Chuan and Lu Qingshan¡¯s expressions changed upon hearing this.


    Though unaware of what trump card the Origin Demon might still have, his daring to speak in such a manner suggested he had something to rely on.


    Ji Chuan didn¡¯t hesitate and swung his sword forward.


    The river of sword light surged magnificently.


    ¡°It¡¯s useless,¡± dered the Origin Demon coldly, with a sweep of his hand.


    A speck of yellow Spiritual Light flickered, then turned into a scroll that hovered in midair.


    ¡°Jiuyou Kan Yu Map, Divine Skill: Crossing Worlds!¡± murmured the Origin Demon.


    Indeed, the Origin Demon King had not only sent Qiu Ning as a guardian Origin Demon to protect his safety but also entrusted his life-saving treasure, the Netherworld Magic Artifact Jiuyou Kan Yu Map, to the Origin Demon.


    And the supreme Divine Skill of the Netherworld¡¯s supreme Magic Artifact, the Jiuyou Kan Yu Map, was precisely the Crossing Worlds Technique that the Origin Demon was casting now, intended for self-protection and counter-attack!


    In the vastness of the void, the scroll unfolded out of thin air.


    The entire scroll depicted a murky yellow mist.


    Deep within the mist, one could vaguely perceive a tremendous river.


    A deste yellow river.


    Before anyone could discern the details of the river, it suddenly materialized from within the scroll, gushing forth.


    The vast river swept forward irresistibly.


    The nature of this Forbidden Technique was unknown, but it immediately submerged Ji Chuan¡¯s river of sword light.


    Then the river rolled over Ji Chuan, the lifeless Qiu Shiyin, and Lu Qingshan not far away.


    A vast and majestic Strength engulfed them both, binding them tightly, leaving them unable to break free.


    Even the Origin Demon was swept away in the tide.


    Not even the Magic Artifact¡¯s Imperial Envoy could avoid the power of this spell.


    One could imagine the terror of this technique.


    The withered yellow river continued to flow forth until, in an instant, it poured into a void.


    The river, like entering a bottomless deep sea trench, disappeared from view.


    And within the river, Lu Qingshan, Ji Chuan, Qiu Shiyin, and the Origin Demon were simrly plummeted downward with the current.


    ¡°Young Master, this is a technique connecting two realms.


    Right now, you are in the barrier between two worlds. If I make a move and break this Technique, you will be stranded within the inter-realm barrier, unable to extricate yourselves,¡± Qin Yitian¡¯s somewhat urgent voice resounded in Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    In other words, the Dragon Sparrow Breaking Spell could not be used at this moment.


    Lu Qingshan paused and asked, ¡°Connecting two realms?¡±


    ¡°The Human Realm and the Netherworld.¡±


    ¡°This Taoist Spell is to sweep you into that world of reincarnation where only dead souls can pass, the Netherworld!¡± Qin Yitian exined.


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 Chapter 413 - 40: Netherworld Prison Master

    Chapter 413: Chapter 40: Netherworld Prison Master


    Lu Qingshan and others had been caught in the realm of the Netherworld for hundreds of breaths.


    A colossal creature appeared here.


    A Fifth Grade Origin Demon named Qiu Ning, with a human body in its mouth, the human¡¯s face smeared with blood and its gray robe all scratched and tattered.


    This human body was none other than the Jiuyou Hall Master, but the once grim and domineering Jiuyou Hall Master had now be a corpse.


    Qiu Ning didn¡¯t understand anything, it was like a puppy that picked up a frisbee its owner had thrown out, excitedly holding the corpse of the Jiuyou Hall Master in its mouth, hoping to receive praise from its sister.


    Only, Qiu Ning¡¯srge eyes nkly surveyed the surroundings, but it could not find its sister anywhere.


    It stayed still, and after a long while, it seemed to finally realize something.


    Qiu Ning¡¯s fangs loosened, releasing the corpse of the Jiuyou Hall Master.


    ¡°Sister¡­¡± even at the peak of Fifth Grade, this terrifying great demon that still had the intelligence of a three-year-old child stutteringly spoke for the first time, ¡°don¡¯t leave me, don¡¯t leave me, don¡¯t leave me¡­.¡±


    Barely able to speak, Qiu Ning could only repeat these words over and over.


    Repeated them.


    Large tears streamed down from the eyes of this fierce-looking, immensely terrifying great demon.


    A long timeter, Qiu Ning shed thest drop of tear from its eyes.


    Its yellow pupils gradually cleared up, it bowed its head, picked up the Jiuyou Hall Master in its mouth again, and, with its strong, sturdy legs, started walking aimlessly into the distance.


    Qiu Shiyin had told it to leave this ce far behind.


    It wanted to obediently listen to its sister.


    It also wanted to find its sister, who had disappeared without a trace, not knowing where she had gone.


    Even if the world was vast, it was determined to find her.


    Qiu Ning gradually moved away, its massive figure gradually shrinking to a dot, disappearing from sight.


    ¡­¡­..


    Deep in the Origin, beside a dull yellow spatial rift that stretched for tens of miles, the spiritual machine fluctuated violently.


    A nearly thousand-foot-long terrifying creaturey there, its scale armor slightly opening and closing with its breath.


    The next instant, the creature suddenly opened its eyes, itsrge eyes wide likerge doors, its pupils like two yellownterns, impossible to look directly at.


    ¡°Yuan¡¯er is in trouble¡­¡± the creature murmured.


    As the owner of the Jiuyou Geomantic Map, it sensed the Crossing Worlds force of the Jiuyou Geomantic Map.


    ¡°Unless it¡¯s a matter of life and death, Yuan¡¯er wouldn¡¯t use the Crossing Worlds Technique lightly,¡± the Origin Demon King¡¯s pupils exploded with a dangerous and dazzling light.


    It opened its mouth, that seemed capable of swallowing the heavens and earth, and Netherworld Death Qi flowed out, transforming into various images.


    The images showed what the Origin Demon had gone through before using the Crossing Worlds Technique.


    Seeing the images of Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan, especially when Ji Chuan delivered the final strike towards the Origin Demon, the Origin Demon King squinted its eyes.


    ¡°Disciples of the Sword Sect¡­ even if it¡¯s the Sword Sect, they shouldn¡¯t have fatally attacked my only offspring. If I hadn¡¯t given the Jiuyou Geomantic Map to Yuan¡¯er for protection, he would have died at the hands of these two Sword Sect disciples!¡± the Origin Demon King¡¯s breath became heavy as if it had decided something and murmured: ¡°It¡¯s time to give the Sword Sect a warning¡­¡±


    ¡­¡­.


    The river was vast, and not long after being swept into it, Lu Qingshan could no longer see Ji Chuan.


    Under the force of the river, the two were separated far apart.


    Carried by the river, Lu Qingshan flowed downstream.


    It was like encountering a steep downhill while drifting, falling faster and faster, not knowing when he would reach the bottom.


    Kept falling, kept falling.


    The long descent made Lu Qingshan¡¯s head feel heavy, his consciousness gradually blurring.


    ¡°Young master, young master¡­¡±


    Only when waves of cold air assaulted him, and Qin Yitian¡¯s calling voice kepting, did Lu Qingshan start to regain consciousness.


    Lu Qingshan surveyed his surroundings and realized he was in the midst of a dim yellow sea of clouds.


    He did not know what force was keeping him suspended in midair, preventing him from falling.


    Looking down, he saw arge, withered yellow river flowing toward the distance, seemingly without end.


    On either side of the river, blood-red starlight was scattered like spilled blood diamonds.


    Vivid and beautiful.


    They were flowers, one after another, translucent like coral, their petals opening in strips and curving backward.


    There were far too many flowers, densely packed; from above, they looked like a carpet made of blood.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Lu Qingshan murmured to himself.


    The scene before him was exactly like the one depicted in the painting scroll of the Origin Demon¡¯s child.


    ¡°The river is Oblivion, and the flowers are the Red Spider Lilies, the guiding flowers that grow on the banks of Oblivion. They bloom for a thousand years and fall for a thousand years, their flowers and leaves never meeting, symbolizing reincarnation,¡± Qin Yitian said in the heart of Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Red Spider Lilies, Manjusaka,¡± Lu Qingshan murmured back.


    This was the Netherworld, the Reincarnation Lands.


    Hiss!


    Just then, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit cold.¡±


    Suddenly, Lu Qingshan snapped back to his senses.


    Having formed his Golden Core, he now had a Pure Yang Body, impervious to heat or cold. Although the temperature here was low, how could it possibly make him feel cold?


    A chill went through his heart as he cautiously examined himself.


    Wave after wave of chilly aura was rushing into his body.


    His strong Yang energy was being continuously suppressed and swallowed by these cold auras.


    ¡°The Netherworld belongs to the deceased. It only allows the entry of souls.


    @@novelbin@@


    As you, sir, entered with a living, physical body in this world, the Netherworld¡¯s Death Qi will continuously extinguish your Yang energy until you turn into a true dead person.


    This is thew of the Netherworld, unbreachable by any force,¡± Qin Yitian said.


    Lu Qingshan closed his eyes and slightly felt the pace at which the Yang energy inside him was being extinguished, ¡°In ten days, if I cannot leave this realm, I will be a dead man.¡±


    ¡°Therefore, sir, you need to hurry and find a boundary wall of the Netherworld, and through my Breaking Spell, leave this realm,¡± Qin Yitian stated gravely.


    The Dragon Sparrow Breaking Spell could even break through a realm¡¯s boundary wall.


    ¡°Oblivion is the river of reincarnation. Though its waters appear calm, they contain boundless terror. Sir, remember, you must not get close,¡± Qin Yitian warned again.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Lu Qingshan nodded, then thought for a moment and added, ¡°But Ji Chuan, my fellow disciple, has also been brought into the Netherworld.


    If I cannot find him, he likely will not have the means to leave this ce on his own.


    I must go find him and leave together with him.¡±


    The reason Lu Qingshan could escape the Netherworld was because he had Qin Yitian.


    Ji Chuan, however, did not have Qin Yitian; he only had Green Waist.


    ¡°The domain of the Netherworld is vast and boundless. To find him in just ten days will be very hard,¡± Qin Yitian said.


    As Lu Qingshan¡¯s Life-bound Sword, no one understood Lu Qingshan better than she did. Therefore, she did not stop Lu Qingshan¡¯s actions.


    She knew she couldn¡¯t.


    Moreover, the reason she had chosen Lu Qingshan as the Sword Master in the first ce was precisely because he was someone like this.


    ¡°Perhaps, you could seek out the Netherworld Prison Master.


    The Netherworld Prison Master controls the Netherworld, and if you could ask for his help, finding Ji Chuan would not be difficult,¡± Qin Yitian suggested after thinking it over.


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 Chapter 414 - 41 The Voice in the Netherworld

    Chapter 414: Chapter 41 The Voice in the Netherworld


    ¡°The Netherworld Prison Master?¡± Lu Qingshan repeated this unusual sounding name.


    ¡°He who governs the cycle of life and death, the will of the Netherworld Prison Master is like a measuring rod.


    You are not yet at the time of reincarnation, having merely strayed into the Netherworld.


    Thus, even if the Netherworld Prison Master is unwilling to assist you, he will not make things difficult for you at that time,¡± Qin Yitian exined.


    ¡°Where should we look for him?¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised as he asked again.


    ¡°When a person dies, their soul returns to Mount Tai.


    Originating from Mount Tai, the Waters of Wangchuan indicate that the Netherworld Prison Master resides above Mount Tai.


    In the entire Netherworld, there is nothing but the vast river of Oblivion and Mount Tai itself.


    You merely need to follow the current upwards, and upon reaching the source, Mount Tai will reveal itself,¡± said Qin Yitian.


    Lu Qingshan nced down at the vast river.


    The waters of Oblivion surged and roared, day in and day out, year in and year out, ceaselessly flowing within it.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze followed the direction from which the Waters of Wangchuan came, drifting far away.


    The water merged with the sky in one color.


    There was no end in sight.


    The legendary Mount Tai was of unknown distance.


    ¡°Yitian,¡± Lu Qingshan called out.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Qin Yitian gave a light exmation.


    ¡°How do you know so much?¡± Lu Qingshan asked curiously.


    The Netherworld is a different world from the Human Realm.


    In his past life, he had reached the Integration Realm and, despite having ess to the vast database called the forum, he had never heard of the Netherworld.


    Yet Qin Yitian seemed to understand the Netherworld so well.


    ¡°These things seem to be etched in my memory, hard to erase, but I only know of them, why I¡¯m not quite sure, the specific reason should belong to the part of my memory that is sealed,¡± Qin Yitian did not hide anything from Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°But I know, as your cultivation improves, one day all these memories will be unsealed, and all the answers to your curiosity will be revealed.¡±


    ¡°So, young master, you need to improve your cultivation as soon as possible,¡± Qin Yitian said softly: ¡°Although you are already progressing quickly.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Lu Qingshan nodded in assurance.


    Feeling his own vitality weaken another degree during his brief exchange with Qin Yitian, Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart tightened.


    ¡°We must hurry.¡±


    With only ten days¡¯ time, they needed to find the Netherworld Prison Master first, and then locate a suitable Netherworld Barrier. The journey was undoubtedly very tight.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure soared, breaking through the dusky sea of clouds with Sword Control.


    Like a swimming dragon, he quickly flew towards the source of the Oblivion.


    ¡­.


    Within another sea of clouds.


    A mysterious painting hung in the air, with the Origin Demon seated upon it.


    The dense Netherworld Death Qi was crazily pouring into his body.


    Unlike Lu Qingshan who was forced to receive the Netherworld Death Qi, the Origin Demon actively absorbed it.


    Because the Cultivation Technique he practiced originated from the Netherworld, using the Netherworld Death Qi as the source of everything.


    Arriving at this ce, he was like a fish in water, feeling no difort at all.


    As he continued to absorb the Netherworld Death Qi, the fierce Sword Intent that had lingered stubbornly on his physical body was finally beginning to dissipate.


    Sensing his injuries improving, the Origin Demon revealed a sinister smile.


    If the Netherworld was water, and he was the fish, then Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan were fierce tigers; no matter how ferocious, they wouldn¡¯tst long in water and were bound to drown eventually.


    ¡°You forced my hand,¡± the Origin Demon murmured.


    Though he was brutal, he had not yet resorted to treachery at will.


    If he had any choice, he truly wouldn¡¯t want to use such a lethal move, forcibly dragging the disciples of the Sword Sect into trouble, thereby offending the Sword Sect.


    But with his life on the line, he couldn¡¯t care too much.


    ¡­.


    On the other side, known as the Path Illuminated by Fire, were the Sea of Flowers on the Other Shore.


    After being swept up by the vast river waters involved in the Crossing Worlds Technique, Ji Chuan¡¯s first reaction was to tightly embrace Qiu Shiyin, who had been pulled to his side.


    Even though she was now just a corpse.


    But in his heart, his strike, in severing Qiu Shiyin¡¯s life, also severed her evil deeds and her identity as the Extradition Envoy.


    From that moment on, Qiu Shiyin was just the young female thief he first met.


    He had to protect Qiu Shiyin¡¯s corpse.


    Then, it was an endless fall.


    Until he entered the Netherworld.


    A repulsive force emerged out of thin air, like the buoyancy in water, preventing his continuous descent.


    But this repulsive force did not act upon Qiu Shiyin¡¯s corpse.


    Ji Chuan, holding Qiu Shiyin tightly, was like embracing a stone sinking in a river; the stone¡¯s gravity neutralized the repulsive force that had emerged out of nowhere, taking Ji Chuan with it as he continued to plummet downward.


    Fortunately, theirnding spot was not the vast river but the shore¡¯s sea of other shore flowers.


    After falling into the sea of other shore flowers, those blooming blood-red blooms seemed toe to life, shimmering with radiance, furiously emitting specks of red light,pletely enveloping the two of them.


    The other shore flower, also known as the soul-inducing flower, can guide the soul of the living.


    Among those vibrant red other shore flowers, there was one slowly losing its crimson color, transforming into a pure white.


    That was the manjusaka that beckoned Qiu Shiyin¡¯s soul to life.


    Those who see this flower will be purged of evil.


    ¡­.


    Elsewhere, Lu Qingshan had already hurriedly traveled for an entire day.


    All along the way, the scenery around him had always been the same, with heaven and earth immersed in silence.


    This was actually a very torturous thing.


    ¡°Why is the Netherworld so quiet?¡± Lu Qingshan wondered, ¡°As thend of reincarnation, shouldn¡¯t it also be quite bustling?¡±


    ¡°It is bustling,¡± Qin Yitian said, ¡°In the river, there are countless souls screaming shrilly, reaching out their hands to you, wanting to call you down to join them.¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I see anything or hear anything?¡± Lu Qingshan nced down; indeed, there was still only a constantly flowing river, nothing else, and it was hard to imagine that the river was actually full of souls.


    ¡°Because they are dead, and you, Master, are someone very much alive,¡± Qin Yitian exined matter-of-factly, ¡°Under normal circumstances, the living naturally cannot see the dead, or else there wouldn¡¯t be such thing as seeing ghosts in the world.¡±


    ¡°Then why can you see them?¡± Lu Qingshan asked.


    ¡°I am a sword, Master,¡± Qin Yitian replied.


    ¡°What you say makes sense,¡± Lu Qingshan pondered and praised.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Qin Yitian said demurely.


    ¡°It seems we are about to arrive,¡± Lu Qingshan looked up again, gazing toward the distance, and finally a different scenery came into view.


    In the dim and hazy distance, he could faintly make out a vast mountain so high it seemed to touch the sky, the mountain itself was the same dusky yellow color as the Waters of Wangchuan.


    Yellow for the Netherworld, this dull yellow is the primary motif of the Netherworld.


    In the Netherworld, other than the Oblivion river, only Mount Tai remains.


    Thus, this vast mountain was where Lu Qingshan¡¯s destinationy.


    @@novelbin@@


    The most dreaded aspect of traveling is not the distance itself but not knowing how much further one has to go.


    Upon seeing the silhouette of Mount Tai, Lu Qingshan, whose spirit was somewhatnguid, immediately perked up.


    He sped up, continuing to advance.


    A watched pot never boils.


    Thus, Lu Qingshan continued his journey on sword control for yet another day before he gradually neared the foothills of Mount Tai.


    Mount Tai was truly massive; up close, it was like a giant wall separating heaven and earth, obscuring the entire sky.


    Suddenly, Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression changed.


    For in this silent world of the Netherworld, he heard some very eerie noises.


    Indistinct and vague, not very clear.


    But upon closer listening, it seemed a bit like the howls and roars of some beasts.


    Yet, listening again, it felt as if the sound seemed somewhat soft?


    Not like any fierce beast.


    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Lu Qingshan asked.


    ¡°I heard it; it sounds a bit like a wolf¡¯s howl,¡± Qin Yitian said obediently.


    Suddenly, Qin Yitian eximed softly, ¡°Master, how can you hear it? Could it be?!¡±


    Lu Qingshan realized the implications of Qin Yitian¡¯s words and said irritably, ¡°I¡¯m not dead, I¡¯m perfectly alive.¡±


    ¡°Then how can Master hear the sound of the Netherworld¡­¡± Qin Yitian¡¯s voice trailed off, sounding a little aggrieved.


    ¡°This means that this sound is not emanating from the dead,¡± Lu Qingshan said to Qin Yitian, his eyes narrowing slightly, ¡°Let¡¯s go see what is making this noise.¡±


    Lu Qingshan headed toward the source of the sound,


    The noise was emanating precisely from the foot of Mount Tai.


    So even if he did not intend to check it out, he could not bypass it.


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 Chapter 415 - 42 Gu Yiyi

    Chapter 415: Chapter 42 Gu Yiyi


    As he drew nearer to Mount Tai, the abrupt sounds of the Netherworld became clearer and clearer.


    Ao ao ao! Ao ao ao!


    By the tone, it was clearly some ferocious monster howling.


    Yet the sound was incredibly childish, making Lu Qingshan feel extremely eerie.


    Lu Qingshan raised his guard to the highest level and gradually approached the foot of Soul Return Mountain.


    The ¡°monster¡± emitting these strange sounds finally appeared in Lu Qingshan¡¯s sight.


    The Waters of Wangchuan, like a celestial Yellow River, cascaded down from the dim, peak-less summit of Mount Tai.


    However, what was bizarre was that such a terrifying descent of the waters didn¡¯t stir up any ssh, nor did it produce any sound,pletely contrary to Lu Qingshan¡¯s knowledge.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s knowledge was that of a living person; the Netherworld was the ce for the dead, having a set of unique rules which entirely made sense.


    Lu Qingshan could ept that.


    But underneath where the Waters of Wangchuan fell, there was a tiny little one sitting by the bank of Oblivion River, her little feet dipped in the waters that Qin Yitian had spoken of having great horrors within, her big eyes brimming with tears, looking as if heartbreakingly sad, making one¡¯s heart nearly melt, wishing to rush over and wipe her tears away.


    If only this little one wasn¡¯t continuously howling without stopping.


    Eerie.


    Very eerie.


    Extremely eerie.


    In a ce meant only for the dead and their reincarnation, a little girl who looked so adorable, with a chubby round face and teary eyes, howled ao ao.


    This scene was creepily intense.


    The little one was howling vigorously and hadn¡¯t noticed Lu Qingshan¡¯s arrival.


    Lu Qingshan watched for a long time, certain that if he didn¡¯t speak up, this howling little girl might continue just like this until the Waters of Wangchuan dried up.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lu Qingshan asked.


    The howling little girl clearly didn¡¯t expect to encounter someone else in such a ce, and when she turned and saw Lu Qingshan, her entire expression fell.


    She looked at Lu Qingshan for a while then hastily wiped away the tears from her big eyes, corners of her eyes darting around like a little sprite trying to fly backward and flee the area.


    Because her attention was too scattered, she didn¡¯t notice that behind her was the rocky cliff of Mount Tai.


    With a thud, she went directly into it, leaving a small human-shaped dent in the cliff. After a moment of shock, she staggered flying out.


    At this, the little girl could no longer hold back; the tears she had just wiped away now streamed out once more.


    Ao ao ao!


    Watching the little girl cry her heart out, Lu Qingshan faintly understood¡ªapparently in this little girl¡¯s world, ¡°ao ao ao¡± was akin to sobbing.


    Lu Qingshan thought for a moment and softened his voice a bit more, ¡°What¡¯s your name? How are you here?¡±


    The little girl, with tears blurring her vision, nced briefly at Lu Qingshan and then continued to wail, ¡°You look like a bad person, I don¡¯t want to talk to you, ao ao ao ao ao¡­..¡±


    Look like a bad person?


    Lu Qingshan was momentarily stunned.


    This was the first time he had heard such ament.


    Soon, Lu Qingshan quickly understood what was probably the matter.


    He silently removed the disguise of the Ancient Jade, revealing his true face.


    ¡°Now, do I still look like a bad person?¡± Lu Qingshan asked with a pleasing smile.


    The little girl took another careful peek at Lu Qingshan, seeing his exceptionally handsome face and gentle eyes, her chubby cheeks turned red, instantly breaking into a smile, and she coyly said, ¡°Not anymore, you are a good person.¡±


    The little girl was indeed easy to talk to.


    Lu Qingshan thought this, revealing a gentle smile, and repeated his earlier question, ¡°What is your name, and what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°What is your name?¡± the little girl asked in return.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan.¡±


    ¡°Lu Qingshan,¡± the little girl who had been crying repeated Lu Qingshan¡¯s name, then nced at Lu Qingshan¡¯s face and felt reassured, ¡°My name is Gu Yiyi.¡±


    ¡°As for what I am doing¡­¡± Gu Yiyi pouted, looking like she was about to cry again. She pointed at the endlessly tall Mount Tai in front of her, feeling wronged and sad, ¡°Someone on the mountain took my possessions, and not only did they not return them, but they also keep hiding from me, refusing toe down to meet me. I want to cry this mountain down, so they won¡¯t be able to hide from me anymore,¡± she said.


    ¡°Cry it down?¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Who told you that?¡±


    Mount Tai is a sacred mountain in the Netherworld, where the Netherworld is indestructible, and Mount Tai never falls.


    This little girl named Gu Yiyi was absurdly thinking of crying it down. It was hard to say whether she was naively charming or simply foolish.


    Gu Yiyi pursed her lips, pointing at the ceaselessly flowing Waters of Wangchuan, ¡°A big-bearded uncle who looks like a kind person told me.


    He said that in his world, there was a woman named Meng Jiang who cried under the Great Wall because her husband had been conscripted to build the wall and never returned. She kept crying and crying until they returned her husband, eventually bringing the Great Wall down with her tears.¡±


    Gu Yiyi¡¯s spirits lifted, and she clenched her little fists, ¡°I, Gu Yiyi, will not be weaker than anyone. Just as Meng Jiang brought down the Great Wall with her cries, I must bring this great mountain down for the same reason¡­¡±


    Lu Qingshan nced at the unusually calm Oblivion River.


    That said, Gu Yiyi could see and interact with the souls within the Waters of Wangchuan.


    Although this surprised Lu Qingshan, it was within his expectations.


    After all, could a little girl appearing in the Netherworld just be an ordinary little girl?


    ¡°What does that wailing mean then?¡± Lu Qingshan frowned and asked.


    ¡°It was also taught by that big-bearded uncle, who didn¡¯t know how to cry. So I forced him to teach me,¡± Gu Yiyi tilted her nose, proudly saying, ¡°I could tell right away he was lying. I stubbornly held him back from leaving, and he finally taught me.¡±


    Although the big-bearded ghost was wrong for deceiving people, Gu Yiyi¡¯s action in preventing him from going to reincarnation, if thoroughly investigated, was a case of the pot calling the kettle ck.


    ¡°Eh?¡± There and then, Gu Yiyi finally caught on, pointing at the Oblivion River, she curiously asked, ¡°You seem different from others. Why are you not inside it?¡±


    Lu Qingshan thought for a moment, benevolently discussing his origins and even his purpose.


    @@novelbin@@


    Upon hearing this, Gu Yiyi immediately became excited, ¡°You are also looking for him?¡±


    ¡°Him?¡±


    ¡°The Netherworld Prison Master you mentioned, the viin who took my things,¡± Gu Yiyi waved her little fist, looking expectantly at Lu Qingshan, ¡°When you find him, could you talk to him and ask him toe down and meet me?¡±


    Lu Qingshan hesitated, unable to promise, ¡°I¡¯ll try¡­¡±


    The Reincarnation Controller, the master of Mount Tai, the Netherworld Prison Master, had taken something from this little girl, Gu Yiyi?


    How could that be possible?


    Lu Qingshan found it hard to believe, but seeing Gu Yiyi¡¯s earnest expression, it didn¡¯t seem like she was lying.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan had agreed, Gu Yiyi¡¯s big eyes immediately squinted into slits, her hands behind her back, and her whole body uncontrobly began to rock back and forth.


    ¡­.


    Atop Mount Tai.


    A middle-aged man dressed as a Confucian schr with temples frosted by age stood with his hands behind his back, casually looking down through the dim clouds, seemingly watching something.


    Suddenly, the Confucian schr¡¯s gaze sharpened as if he had seen something unexpected.


    After a long while.


    ¡°Seeking my help while getting along so well with her, and exactly a Sword Cultivator,¡± the Confucian rubbed his brow, resignedly muttered to himself, ¡°Perhaps he could help me resolve this longstanding rge nuisance.¡¯


    Otherwise, letting her continue to make a fuss at the foot of the mountain day after day is truly bothersome.¡±


    ¡°I hope he doesn¡¯t disappoint.¡± The Confucian waved his sleeve.


    The swirling sea of clouds around Mount Tai subtly changed, almost imperceptibly.


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 Chapter 417 - 43: You Did Better Than Me_2

    Chapter 417: Chapter 43: You Did Better Than Me_2


    Master thought for a moment, then seriously said, ¡°Compared to your own wishes, the loss of swordsmanship isn¡¯t much to worry about.¡±


    Li Zhao began to learn swordsmanship.


    Reluctantly learning swordsmanship, Li Zhao turned out to be unexpectedly gifted as the master had said.


    In less than five or six years, Li Zhao had already mastered seventy to eighty percent of his master¡¯s swordsmanship.


    On the day before he descended the mountain, the master gave him the sword he treasured like a jewel.


    ¡°This sword is named ¡®Heavenly True.¡¯ Cherish it well, and do not give it to anyone who asks for it,¡± the master instructed.


    Li Zhao said with a chuckle, ¡°It¡¯s just a sword.¡±


    The master didn¡¯t speak, his expression stern.


    Li Zhao gradually stopped smiling and promised, ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡­..


    Lu Qingshan looked down at the sword in his hands.


    Two characters were engraved on the hilt.


    Heavenly True.


    At this moment, Lu Qingshan understood.


    He had be the swordsman named Li Zhao in the picture.


    Lu Qingshan waved the sword in his hand slightly.


    It obeyed his arm as though part of it, truly a sharp weapon.


    But he felt something was off.


    All his cultivation was now gone without a trace.


    What was going on?


    Lu Qingshan called out to Qin Yitian in his mind.


    He received no reply.


    A moment of panic rose in his heart.


    But then, the scene of his conversation with Qin Yitian shed through his mind.


    ¡°He who controls the cycle of life and death, the will of the Netherworld Prison Master, will have a yardstick.


    You have not yete to the time of reincarnation, merely strayed into the realm of Netherworld.


    So, even if the Netherworld Prison Master is unwilling to help you, he will not trouble you when the timees.¡±


    The Netherworld Prison Master would not trouble him.


    So, despite the bizarre illusions of the moment, it certainly wasn¡¯t a death trap.


    Therefore, this must be a test.


    Climbing the mountains is hard!


    So, take it one step at a time, and see what the Netherworld Prison Master really wants.


    Lu Qingshan, holding Heavenly True, quickly descended the mountain.


    ¡­


    Time on the mountain is timeless.


    After studying swords on the mountain for five or six years, Lu Qingshan descended and found that the idyllic era in Li Zhao¡¯s memory had already begun to show signs of chaos.


    The reigning Emperor was a man of loyalty; having ascended the throne, he generously rewarded those who had helped him overthrow the previous dynasty with offices and titles.


    The loyalists knew the hardships of establishing a dynasty and remained disciplined, but their children, having never experienced the bloody battles, were arrogant and unruly, causing the people to suffer.


    If it¡¯s said that all prosperity must decline, then this decline hade too fast.


    Having just entered the first city, Lu Qingshan saw the young prince of the great Deer King from the current dynasty, racing his horse madly in the streets.


    In front of the steed, not far away, was a terrified little girl.


    The next moment, tragedy would unfold.


    Lu Qingshan frowned and, from under the hooves of the horse, narrowly saved the child, but this caused the young prince to fall from his horse.


    The infuriated princemanded his servants to teach Lu Qingshan a lesson.


    @@novelbin@@


    Although Spiritual Power was gone, his swordsmanship remained; Lu Qingshan ended up teaching the prince a lesson, severing his leg tendons, ensuring he could no longer ride.


    Lu Qingshan left gracefully.


    In search of a way out of the illusion, Lu Qingshan roamed the world, intervening whenever he encountered injustice, and with his swordsmanship, carved out a great reputation in the vast Martial World, earning the title of the world¡¯s number one swordsman.


    Great reputation has its benefits, but also its downsides.


    For this reputation reached the ears of the reigning Emperor.


    The Emperor of Yue Country, a man who had fought his way through battlefields, had a life devoted to martial pursuits and naturally loved weapons.


    The Deer King, harboring resentment against Lu Qingshan for crippling his son, suggested that the sword in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hands was the number one sword in the world.


    The Emperor, delighted by the hunt


    One day, the Emperor¡¯s eunuch found Lu Qingshan and conveyed the imperial edict.


    ¡°His Majesty is willing to buy your sword with a thousand gold coins and lucrative benefits,¡± said the eunuch.


    The eunuch gestured, and the attendants brought forward severalrge chests, which upon being opened revealed glittering gold.


    Lu Qingshan closed his eyes, unwilling to hand over the sword.


    ¡°His Majesty is the sovereign of the world, and desiring your sword is an honor for you. How dare you resist the edict and defy respect?¡± the eunuch¡¯s expression turned gradually cold.


    ¡°A swordsman¡¯s sword is his life, it cannot be given,¡± Lu Qingshan said.


    ¡°Whether your sword is your life, I don¡¯t know, but what I do know is that if you don¡¯t give it up, His Majesty will take your life,¡± threatened the eunuch.


    Lu Qingshan shook his head.


    Unable to bear it any longer, the eunuch stepped back and ordered, ¡°Come, kill him!¡±


    Apart from the gold, the imperial eunuch also brought an entire army.


    Lu Qingshan was naturally well aware that he was surrounded by the army.


    But he still chose to refuse.


    Because a sword protects a swordsman, and when necessary, a swordsman must also protect his sword.


    It began with a volley of thousands of arrows, followed by a light cavalry charge.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s swordsmanship had reached the peak in this world, but worldly sword techniques ultimately could not defy the heavens. Bathed in blood and ughter, he managed to break through the encirclement but was gravely injured in the process.


    Six monthster, with the severe injury incurable and his strength waning.


    He still hadn¡¯t found the exit from the illusion.


    He knew he wouldn¡¯t die, but since he hadn¡¯t found the way out, it meant that he had presumably failed this test.


    Lu Qingshan felt some regret, but there was nothing he could do.


    He decided to go back to the mountain to see his master onest time before dying.


    It was the same path full of peach blossoms, but as he walked, Lu Qingshan noticed the clouds and mist swirling, and the scenery changing drastically.


    It turned back into the narrow mountain path of Mount Tai.


    A figure appeared ahead on the mountain path, holding a sword in his hand.


    The Heavenly True Sword.


    The figure gradually became clear.


    Li Zhao.


    Lu Qingshan was startled and took another look at himself.


    He had returned to his original form, with Spiritual Power circting endlessly within him.


    ¡°Young master, what happened to you just now?¡± Qin Yitian¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. ¡°I¡¯ve been calling you, and you didn¡¯t respond.¡±


    Lu Qingshan shook his head and gently reassured Yitian, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Afterward, Lu Qingshan stepped forward and offered a salute to Li Zhao.


    Li Zhao looked at Lu Qingshan and remained silent for a long while.


    Lu Qingshan waited quietly.


    After a long time, he finally spoke, ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°Lu Qingshan.¡±


    ¡°Lu Qingshan¡­.¡± Li Zhao muttered to himself, his emotionsplex.


    After a while, Li Zhao spoke again, ¡°The Emperor wants to receive a sword as a reward; it¡¯s just an inanimate object, why would you rather die than give it up?¡±


    ¡°Because I am a Sword Cultivator.¡±


    ¡°A Sword Cultivator?¡± Li Zhao furrowed his brow.


    ¡°A true Sword Cultivator inevitably has something they wish to protect in their heart, whether it¡¯s a sword, a person, or even the entire world,¡± Lu Qingshan said indifferently. ¡°Since it is my sword, I must protect her well.¡±


    Li Zhao seemed thoughtful and, after a long silence, sighed, ¡°Even with my high talent in swordsmanship and superior sword techniques, without this heart to protect, I am still not a qualified swordsman.¡±


    ¡°I understand now,¡± Li Zhao nodded and thanked Lu Qingshan. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Immediately, Li Zhao waved his hand broadly.


    A scene of light and shadow presented itself before Lu Qingshan.


    The same scenario, the same imperial eunuch, the same gold, and the same army.


    Faced with this difficult choice, Li Zhao hesitated for a long time.


    His master once told him that no matter who asks, the sword must not be given away.


    But in this situation, was it really necessary to risk his life for an inanimate sword?


    He was unsure.


    After pondering for a long time, Li Zhao handed over the sword in his hand.


    One monthter.


    The imperial eunuch led the troops, a thousand riders, to kill Li Zhao.


    Li Zhao was enraged, hadn¡¯t he already handed over the sword?


    The imperial eunuch sneered coldly, saying nothing.


    At the moment of life and death, his master appeared, holding a sword, with Sword Intent emanating chillingly.


    An old swordsman with white hair, his presence dominating, shed towards the thousand riders.


    The imperial eunuch, pointing at Li Zhao¡¯s master, trembled as he said, ¡°Li Sword God.¡±


    Li Sword God, the most dashing in Zhao Country.


    He once defeated the whole Martial World of Zhao Country with a single sword and was taken in by the Emperor of Zhao as an esteemed guest.


    That year, the current Emperor of Yue Country revolted, winning battle after battle, eventually breaking into the Imperial Pce of Zhao Country.


    It was Li Sword God who, with one sword¡¯s might, pressed back the armies and within the Imperial Pce, saved the innocent Crown Prince, who was still in swaddling clothes, preserving thest vestige of Zhao¡¯s bloodline.


    Li Zhao was that Crown Prince of the former Zhao Country.


    Heavenly True was Li Sword God¡¯s apanying de.


    After Li Zhao offered Heavenly True to the current Emperor of Yue Country, the Emperor realized Li Zhao¡¯s true identity.


    To eliminate the roots, the Emperor of Yue sent an army to kill Li Zhao.


    On that day, Li Sword God fought valiantly, ying thirteen hundred enemies before dying from exhaustion.


    Li Zhao also perished.


    ¡­


    ¡°I didn¡¯t keep the promise I made to my master to protect the Heavenly True Sword, and ultimately my master died for me,¡± Li Zhao said to Lu Qingshan. ¡°You did better than me; you are a true Sword Cultivator.¡±


    Li Zhao stepped aside and said softly, ¡°Continue down the path.¡±


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 Chapter 418 - 44: Divine Sword and Demonic Sword (For league master "FengchenCc" extra 6/10)

    Chapter 418: Chapter 44: Divine Sword and Demonic Sword (For league master ¡°FengchenCc¡± extra 6/10)


    Lu Qingshan nodded to Li Zhao to express his gratitude.


    @@novelbin@@


    Li Zhao gave a slight smile, and his entire form turned into smoke, slowly dissipating.


    ncing at the mountain path that still had no visible end, Lu Qingshan fell silent, took a step forward, and continued on.


    As expected, a rumbling noise came through his consciousness once again.


    Immediately, everything started spinning around him.


    Before his consciousness wentpletely nk.


    What would this trial be like this time?


    That¡¯s what Lu Qingshan wondered.


    ¡­


    Atop the summit.


    Li Zhao¡¯s figure appeared beside the middle-aged Confucian schr.


    ¡°Prison Master, Sir,¡± Li Zhao said respectfully to the Confucian schr.


    The Netherworld Prison Master nodded slightly, his gaze distant as he watched Lu Qingshan, still making his way up the mountain path, and then suddenly asked, ¡°Do you think he can pass through Yan Qingfeng¡¯s Sword Heart Challenge?¡±


    ¡°He will,¡± Li Zhao said confidently.


    A hint of astonishment appeared on the Confucian schr¡¯s face, ¡°Are you so certain?¡±


    Li Zhao respectfully said, ¡°Although I am not truly a swordsman and cannot judge much,


    his temperament is exactly like that of my master.


    Therefore, in my heart, he is already the best Sword Cultivator.¡±


    His master was Zhao Country¡¯s most charming and the number one Divine Swordsman of the martial world.


    ¡°Your Excellency holds a venerable position, and I¡¯m merely an untranscended soul, not daring to overstep, but if I may say so, at this moment, he could already ascend to the summit without any further trials,¡± Li Zhao spoke earnestly.


    The Netherworld Prison Master appeared thoughtful, a gleam shing in his eyes, ¡°Then let¡¯s continue to watch.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    Thatched roofs caked with mud and rot.


    Yan Qingfeng opened his eyes.


    He was just an ordinary youth from a small vige at the foot of Qingyun Mountain.


    Above Qingyun Mountain was Qingyun Sect, a Sword Cultivator sect.


    asionally, one could see its immortal Sword Cultivators turning into Radiance as they flew away from the mountain on their swords.


    Sword Control between heaven and earth.


    That was something the youth longed and yearned for profoundly.


    Yan Qingfeng knew he loved the sword.


    Today was the day Qingyun Sect undertook its once-in-a-decade disciple recruitment test.


    The usual clouds around Qingyun Mountain had already dispersed early.


    Step by step, Yan Qingfeng ascended the mountain path.


    The path led up Qingyun Mountain.


    In front of arge hall at the summit¡¯s clearing, stood a middle-aged man in ck robes, possessing an immortal charm.


    In the clearing, nearly a thousand children, all under twelve years old, were gathered, and Yan Qingfeng was among them.


    In Cultivation, the essential first step was the talent of the Spirit Root, even in a Sword Cultivator sect.


    The first step in the entrance exam was to test the Spirit Root.


    Those with Spirit Roots were one in a hundred.


    One by one, children who had climbed the mountain with hopes had their dreams of Cultivation shattered.


    Only a few lucky ones were able to enter the sect.


    Unfortunately, Yan Qingfeng was not one of those lucky few.


    But he didn¡¯t want to give up.


    He knelt down at the foot of Qingyun Sect for three days and nights.


    Ultimately, the sixth elder of Qingyun Sect, moved by his sincerity, made an exception to take him into the sect.


    The next day, a mass of children without Spirit Roots knelt under Qingyun Mountain.


    The status of Yan Qingfeng, who was exceptionally admitted to Qingyun Sect, was extremely low.


    Because his Spirit Root was not prominent, his Cultivation progressed even more pitifully slowly.


    Three months into the sect, he couldn¡¯t even manage to channel Spiritual Energy into his body.


    This had many in the sect criticizing the sixth elder¡¯s decision to admit Yan Qingfeng.


    Although his Spirit Root was not evident, Yan Qingfeng¡¯s innate talent for the Sword Dao far exceeded that of ordinary people.


    He once caught a glimpse of the elder who was teaching swordmanship to the Qi Refinement disciples.


    The Qingyun Sword Art.


    Only those with a Cultivation of the thirdyer of Qi Refinement and above could practice it.


    But he, having not yet reached even the first level of Qi Refinement after three years, was considered a great disgrace to Qingyun Sect, and naturally, he was not qualified to learn the Sword Art.


    He had only seen the first move, the Goose Falling on t Sand.


    Unable to contain his curiosity, he secretly practiced it once with a wooden stick.


    To his surprise, despite having only glimpsed the technique briefly, he executed the Goose Falling on t Sand very proficiently on his first try.


    Goose Falling on t Sand was just the introductory move of the Qingyun Sword Art, quite ordinary and not very powerful.


    Yan Qingfeng had only learned this one move, so he could only practice it over and over again.


    Practicing a sword move a thousand times, ten thousand times a day, even the most ordinary sword move would no longer remain ordinary after a while.


    And Yan Qingfeng was innately talented in the Sword Dao.


    Three monthster, it was time for the big internal Sectpetition of Qingyun Sect.


    The young disciples were all expected topete to let the elder masters evaluate their years of Cultivation results.


    Those who performed well would be rewarded.


    But the Sectpetition this year had a different significance.


    Because a new rule had been added.


    Thest cepetitor would have their status as a disciple of Qingyun Sect revoked.


    Everyone knew that this rule was aimed at Yan Qingfeng.


    Yan Qingfeng also knew this.


    He didn¡¯t speak up, as speaking wouldn¡¯t help.


    When one was of low significance, who would care about their opinion?


    He felt bitter inside and practiced Goose Falling on t Sand under the moonlight.


    Only sword practice could alleviate his worries.


    But that night, he heard a strange calling.


    After hesitating for a moment, Yan Qingfeng followed the call.


    Behind the mountain, by a pool, amidst unevenly sized and irregrly shaped scattered stones, a ck sword was inserted, all ck, with the de submerged in the water and just the hilt protruding above the surface.


    As he approached the pool, the pebbles shot out, and the ck sword rose, surrounded by billowing ck energy, three feet long, its edge emitting a cold light, the fierce aura hitting him in the face.


    It was like a demon.


    But the faint ck glow it emitted and the calls emanating from it seemed to be tempting Yan Qingfeng.


    After a long, long contemtion.


    Yan Qingfeng gritted his teeth and grabbed the hilt of the sword.


    The moment he grasped the hilt, Yan Qingfeng clearly saw the terrifying visions contained within that dreadful evil aura.


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 Chapter 41 The Three-Year Period (Part 2)

    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master and King Qing Mei exchanged a nce, both clearly understanding the other''s intention.


    "I will go and investigate, to see whether this Asura''s identity is true or false," King Qing Mei volunteered.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master nodded, for this was exactly his intention.


    No sooner had they spoken than King Qing Mei transformed into a streak of spiritual light and disappeared.


    What followed was a wait for the results of King Qing Mei''s investigation.


    As for the methods King Qing Mei would use to verify the Asura''s identity, Lu Qingshan had no idea.


    However, Lu Qingshan was not worried, for since King Qing Mei often dealt with the Underworld, he presumably had some unique methods to check the identities of the Underworld Cultivators.


    But for an Asura of the Nascent Soul Realm, he would surely have nowhere to hide against King Qing Mei''s techniques.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master courteously led both Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor and Lu Qingshan into the heart of the core area, to calmly wait for news from King Qing Mei.


    ...


    Two hourster.


    Spiritual light shed, and King Qing Mei''s figure reappeared with a grave expression. He nodded at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master, gave a meaningful look, and at the same time, handed over a jade slip.


    This signified that the Asura''s identity had been confirmed.


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master immediately understood and epted the jade slip.@@novelbin@@


    Recorded within were all the details about the Asura''s current identity and his movements in Debate Dao City over the past few days.


    "Han Jiu, Nascent Soul Perfection, a direct disciple of the great honor Yunxiao.


    Left the sect to travel six years ago, then vanished for two years, only reappearing three years ago, and returning to the Silver Butterfly Sect...." The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master quickly surveyed the information.


    "Came to Debate Dao City with his mentor to watch thepetition; movements in recent days include a visit to Nascent Soul Cultivator Ling Yuanzi..."


    The opportunity they were seeking really did appear before their eyes.


    The identity of a direct disciple of the great honor from the Silver Butterfly Sect was no small matter.


    Even with the Underworld''s great reach, to fabricate such an identity would not be an easy task.


    And would the Underworld casually assign such a significant identity to an insignificant cultivator?


    Clearly, the Asura''s status in the Underworld was by no means low.


    More so, ording to what Lu Qingshan had said, the Asura had sessfully orchestrated the Corpse Puppet Chaos, leading to the descent of Luohu.


    With such a great meritorious service, the Asura was bound to be heavily utilized.


    A high-status Asura appearing in Debate Dao City could not be unrted to the Underworld''s ns for the Seven Domains'' debate. They did not believe otherwise.


    "The Asura''s status must be quite high; taking him as a focal point, we can trace back and find many leads on other Underworld Cultivators," the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master ordered with a stern voice, "Send people to keep a close watch on the cultivators he has had contact with in recent times."


    Then, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master turned to Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor, "This time we may have to trouble Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor for help."


    Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor waved his hand dismissively, "If there''s any way I can assist, feel free to tell me, Pavilion Master."


    The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master spoke coldly, "You will cause a stir to shock the snakes. Attack the Silver Butterfly Sect, create a bigmotion, preferably one that gets the whole city of cultivators to take notice."


    "Once the Underworld Cultivators realize that the Asura''s identity is exposed, those rted to him will definitely have some abnormal reactions and countermeasures. And I, I will personally keep an eye out, to pull out these Underworld rats from their hiding..."


    ....


    Above the Silver Butterfly Sect''s area.


    "....So that''s the situation. The reason for causing such a hugemotion over your Silver Butterfly Sect''s area is part of the strategyid out by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master.


    It''s to shake the grass and startle the snakes, to make other Underworld Cultivators reveal themselves," Zhuan Zhu the Great Honor slowly exined.


    The expression of the great honor Yunxiao was somewhatplicated.


    His own disciple had, without a sound, turned into an Underworld Cultivator, and he had beenpletely unaware.


    The shock of this revtion was profound.


    ......


    In the core area of Debate Dao City.


    "Including the Asura, all thirteen Underworld Nascent Soul Cultivators are inside; from now on, as you wish, they are at your disposal," King Qing Mei said to Lu Qingshan as he led him to the entrance of the cell where the Underworld Cultivators were detained.


    Inside the cell were the thirteen Underworld Nascent Soul Cultivators they had captured in Debate Dao City.


    Lu Qingshan gave King Qing Mei a bow, "My thanks to you, King Qing Mei."


    King Qing Mei nodded nonchntly, "Go in then."


    Without further hesitation, Lu Qingshan stepped into the cell.


    Zhuan Zhu, who had been watching the entire operation from the sidelines, couldn''t help but sigh emotionally as he saw Lu Qingshan''s figure enter the secret chamber, "The Netherworld has really met its retribution this time.


    They ughtered the people of an entire city, leading this youngster to hold such resentment against them, only wishing to personally execute these Underworld Cultivators as vengeance for the tragic deaths of Zhenjiang City''s residents."


    King Qing Mei echoed, "Indeed, I find his temperament rather agreeable.


    But, it''s only your Sword Cultivators who would do such a thing, willing to forgo substantial rewards for the chance to exact personal revenge."


    Zhuan Zhu nodded his head and smiled at the corners of his lips, "That''s why I''m growing fonder of this youngster."


    King Qing Mei nced at Zhuan Zhu and curled his lip, "In the same vein, do you think this youngster would choose any Sword Sect other than your Taiyi Sword Sect, following the typical behavior of Sword Cultivators?"


    "This..." Being directly involved can cloud one''s judgment, but an outsider sees things clearer. Prompted by King Qing Mei''s point, Zhuan Zhu also came to a realization.


    The more outstanding the Sword Cultivator, the more "mad" they tend to be.


    To join the strongest Sword Cultivation Sect in the world, to meet the most exceptional talents among Sword Cultivators, which genius Sword Cultivator could resist this temptation?


    ...


    Lu Qingshan slowly walked into the secret chamber.


    More than a dozen Underworld Cultivators who were tightly bound to the Spirit Pir and unable to move even slightly all faintly lifted their eyelids.


    These Underworld Cultivators were all Nascent Soul Cultivators, but because their Cultivation levels weren''t high, they naturally didn''t know many secrets.


    Being not highly valuable, there was no need to preserve their lives.


    So when Lu Qingshan expressed the desire to personally kill these Underworld Cultivators to console the souls of the Zhenjiang City''s dead, King Qing Mei did not hesitate for long before agreeing.


    Lu Qingshan walked up to an Asura who had lost all power to struggle and seemed utterly wretched after undergoing various cruel tortures and being covered in wounds, and stared at him in silence.


    In both his past life and this one, this person had sessfully orchestrated the first major plot of the Nine Heavens, the Corpse Puppet Chaos.


    In this life especially, even though he interfered in every possible way, Asura still managed to bring Luohu back to life.


    Now, with just some minor scheming, he managed to throw Asura into a cell.


    The fundamental difference lies in the fact that his strength had increased countless times, and the power he could borrow had be multiple times stronger.


    In the Nine Heavens, strength is the foundation of everything.


    And in this life, he actually had the opportunity to personally execute the mastermind behind the first major version''s main storyline, which filled Lu Qingshan with many emotions.


    "Who are you...?" After being watched by Lu Qingshan for a long time, Asura''s eyelids twitched, and he finally asked with a hoarse voice.


    "When Luohu was born, I was there too," Lu Qingshan articted his words slowly: "Asura, did you ever think that there woulde a day when you would fall into my hands?"


    Asura was first taken aback, then began desperately searching his memories of that time.


    After a long time, he finally found a faint impression of Lu Qingshan in a corner of his memory.


    After all, it had only been three years, and Lu Qingshan''s appearance hadn''t changed much.


    The reason he hadn''t recognized Lu Qingshan at first nce...


    Was simply because, at the time, Lu Qingshan''s Cultivation level was too low.


    A mere Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator, under those circumstances, why would Asura pay him any extra attention?


    Seeing the expression on Asura''s face, Lu Qingshan knew that he must have recalled something.


    And he, too, felt that the time was ripe.


    "There''s a popr saying in my hometown, ''the period of three years has ended, Asura should take his rightful ce...''" Lu Qingshan couldn''t help but chuckle softly, but his eyes were incredibly cold, forming a stark contrast with his expression.


    Lu Qingshan''s chilling gaze swept across the Underworld Cultivators in the secret chamber, then he said to Asura, "It has been exactly three years since the Corpse Puppet Chaos, Asura, it''s time for you to depart."


    The primary reason he wished to personally kill Asura was for the Experience Points.


    But the reasons he presented publicly were equally genuine.


    Read thetest on My Virtual Library Empire


    To witness the deaths of countless flesh-and-blood members of the Human Race right before his eyes, including Steward Cai Heng, Captain Xu Hao...


    To say that Lu Qingshan didn''t harbor any hatred towards Asura, how could that be possible?


    Lu Qingshan extended his fingertip, and a wisp of Sword Qi rapidly condensed and shot out, splitting into dozens of Sword Qi Fments, darting towards the foreheads of the thirteen Underworld Cultivators in the secret chamber.


    Hisssss!


    The bound Underworld Cultivators were helpless against these Sword Qi Fments.


    The piercing Sword Qi directly prated their foreheads, shattering their Primordial Spirits into dust.


    A hint of crimson blood seeped from the foreheads of the thirteen Underworld Cultivators.


    In an instant, these once malevolent Underworld Cultivators were void of any signs of life.


    ....

 Chapter 422 - 45: Three Parts Wicked, Three Parts Killer - Part 2

    Chapter 422: Chapter 45: Three Parts Wicked, Three Parts Killer ¨C Part 2


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lu Qingshan asked.


    The Sect Leader of Wind de Sect took out a token with three words inscribed on it, ¡°First Army.¡±


    The Sect Leader of Wind de Sect began to use sternly, ¡°Sect Master Liu, the Sect Master of Mysterious Yin Sect disregarded the decision made by all the major sects, transferring the responsibility, which should belong to the cultivators of their Mysterious Yin Sect, to face the first charge of the Demon n, to us.¡±


    The decisive battle was about the ignite, and the first collision would be the fiercest.


    Thus, the twelve great sect leaders had already agreed in yesterday¡¯s pre-meeting resolution that the disciples with the highest cultivation among the twelve major sects would be the first batch of cultivators trapped in formation, to minimize the losses as much as possible.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze turned icy as he looked at the brooding face of the Mysterious Yin Sect Master, his voice faintly filled with anger, ¡°What does the Mysterious Yin Sect Master have to say about this matter?¡±


    ¡°Regarding this matter,¡± the Mysterious Yin Sect Master exined calmly, ¡°the disciples of my Mysterious Yin Sect are powerful, and to be worn down in the very first sh is truly a waste of talent.


    If their lives can be preserved, in the subsequent battles, won¡¯t they be able to y a role several times greater than these minor sect cultivators?¡±


    The Mysterious Yin Sect Master looked at the Sect Leader of Wind de Sect and the Sect Leader of Sharp Sword Pavilion with a contemptuous gaze, ¡°Sect Master Liu, you agree, right?¡±


    ¡°The battle formation was set by us together yesterday,¡± Lu Qingshan said coldly.


    ¡°I think there is a problem with this battle formation. Why should the disciples of our twelve great sects rece these mediocrities to face the most dangerous first wave of the battle?


    In the pre-battle meeting yesterday, I disagreed with this resolution.


    It was you who insisted on this arrangement. It has nothing to do with me. Anyway, my Mysterious Yin Sect does not agree,¡± the Mysterious Yin Sect Master said firmly.


    He was fearless in his heart.


    The decisive battle was imminent. At such a time, every bit ofbat power was extremely critical, let alone the fact that their Mysterious Yin Sect was one of the twelve major sects.


    He believed that even if Liu Han was angry, considering the bigger picture, he definitely wouldn¡¯t dare to harm him.


    ¡°I now have little patience left. Mysterious Yin Sect Master, do not mislead yourself,¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes shed with a dangerous light as he scanned the Mysterious Yin Sect Master.


    The Mysterious Yin Sect Master still refused to yield, ¡°The decision you made, you carry it out yourselves. I will not let the disciples of my sect die in such a manner.¡±


    Lu Qingshan said nothing more and shed with his sword.


    All was silent.


    The Mysterious Yin Sect Master reacted instantly, countless Yin Spirits arose, ferociously rushing forward to block the sword.


    But it was all in vain.


    In an instant, everything turned to emptiness.


    All the Yin Spirits turned to ashes.


    The Sword of Emptiness continued downward, directly shing the Mysterious Yin Sect Master.


    ¡°Hand it over!¡± Lu Qingshan watched as the Mysterious Yin Sect Master got up, his tone calm.


    The Mysterious Yin Sect Master trembled as he looked at Lu Qingshan.


    Liu Han, unworthy of being the foremost person of the Human Race, once his edge was revealed, no one could withstand it.


    Under Liu Han¡¯s oppressive aura, he had no choice but to hand over the token representing the Second Army, though his eyes flickered with a deeply hidden sinister light.


    The Mysterious Yin Sect Master made an extremely crazy decision in his heart at that moment.


    Lu Qingshan threw the token of the Second Army to the Sect Leader of Wind de Sect and Sect Leader of Sharp Sword Pavilion, grabbing the token of the First Army from their hands.


    Looking at the somber-faced Mysterious Yin Sect Master, Lu Qingshan suddenly smiled.


    ¡°Mysterious Yin Sect Master, your narrow-mindedness and selfishness are well known. I thought that at a critical moment of life and death for the Human Race, you might change,¡± Lu Qingshan paused, then said coldly, ¡°Politics are unchangeable, nature is hard to alter. Someone as selfish as you, harboring resentment today, will be a troubleter on¡ªtrouble that could be substantial.¡±


    ¡°To secure the outside, we must first secure the inside,¡± Lu Qingshan gripped the Sword of Emptiness, ¡°topletely avoid such incidents in the future, let me eradicate the internal trouble first today.¡±


    With a casual remark, what followed was the drastically changing Sword of Emptiness.


    The Mysterious Yin Sect Master¡¯splexion drastically changed.


    @@novelbin@@


    He could never have expected Lu Qingshan to be so decisive, his methods so ruthless.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Lu Qingshan erupted with an aura as towering as mountains, as deep as the abyss.


    Heaven and Earth turned empty, all around turned white.


    Brighter than moonlight, that whiteness.


    It was Sword Light.


    The Mysterious Yin Sect Master exerted his full strength to resist.


    But Lu Qingshan, who could block a single sword against three Great Demon Kings,


    How could the Mysterious Yin Sect Master withstand such a man, such a sword?


    The Mysterious Yin Sect Master turned into emptiness, into nothingness, disappeared.


    ¡°When the timees, you with the Mysterious Yin Sect cultivators will face the enemy. Those who do notply, sh!¡± Lu Qingshan tossed the token of the First Army to the deputy Sect Leader of West Mountain Sword Hut standing behind him, speaking calmly.


    The cultivators of the Mysterious Yin Sect felt chills in their hearts, their bodies quaking, daring not to oppose.


    Lu Qingshan turned and left.


    ¡­¡­


    The deep yet majestic sound of horns rose.


    The final battle between humans and demons finally erupted.


    Lu Qingshan gazed at the vast expanse of Human Cultivators and the Demon n.


    Techniques interwoven, brilliance intermingled.


    Without hesitation, Lu Qingshan, holding his sword, charged like a dragon towards the three Great Demon Kings.


    The battle with the three Great Demon Kingssted three full days and nights.


    It was a fight that darkened the heavens and the earth, leaving the sun and moon without light.


    When Lu Qingshan swung his final sword, decapitating the head of the Demon King, nearly exhausted,


    He heard innumerable cheers.


    Surveying his surroundings.


    It turned out that, as he achieved victory here, he also crushed the morale of the allied forces of the Demon n; the bnce of power quickly tipped, and the allied forces of Human Cultivators here too achieved victory.


    The remnants of the defeated Demon n chose to surrender.


    Lu Qingshan stood aloft, looking at the tens of thousands of bowing Demon Beasts.


    ¡°Sect Master Liu, how should we handle these Demon Beasts?¡± the other major sect leaders, covered in blood, looked at Lu Qingshan with eyes full of respect.


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 Chapter 423 - 45: Three Parts Wicked, Three Parts Killer - Part 3

    Chapter 423: Chapter 45: Three Parts Wicked, Three Parts Killer ¨C Part 3


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s achievements of single-handedly ying three Great Demon Kings had subdued all cultivators.


    They were waiting for Lu Qingshan¡¯s decision.


    Lu Qingshan slightly closed his eyes, and after a moment, he opened them.


    He swept the Qingfeng Sword through the air.


    Wherever the tip pointed,


    the Demon n¡¯s allied forces!


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    ¡°We have surrendered, why press for a total annihtion?!¡± The Demon n was panicked, angry, and dissatisfied.


    ¡°A thousand years of battle, innumerable bloodshed, deep-seated hatred, now that you are at a disadvantage, you choose to surrender,¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s voice was full of murderous intent, ¡°But as soon as you of the Demon n umte enough strength, you will surely make aeback, and it will be another bloodstorm.¡±


    ¡°Therefore, I will cut the weeds and dig out the roots, to prevent future troubles!¡± Lu Qingshan said coldly.


    The Human Cultivators faithfully followed Lu Qingshan¡¯smand, swarming forward.


    In the chaos, everything suddenly became empty, all sounds disappeared, and both the cultivators and the Demon n disintegrated like bubbles.


    This was a world of emptiness.


    A figure emerged.


    d in ck, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his presence was restrained.


    It was Liu Han.


    Lu Qingshan was startled for a moment, but quickly came to his senses and saluted, ¡°I pay my respects to Sect Master Liu.¡±


    ¡°No need for such formalities, it¡¯s just a residual image left behind,¡± Liu Han said indifferently, ¡°I have left this residual image only to tell you two things.¡±


    ¡°I am all ears.¡± Lu Qingshan said.


    ¡°First, the Demon n had already secretly contacted the Sect Master of the Mysterious Yin Sect, offering terms to make him the leader of the Human Race in exchange for betraying the Human Race and helping the Demon n win this war.


    The Sect Master of the Mysterious Yin Sect did not agree¡­ but neither did he refuse.


    If I hadn¡¯t taken action against him, the resentful Sect Master of the Mysterious Yin Sect would surely have betrayed the Human Race. With this uncertainty, the oue of that battle would have been unknown.


    This killing was the right choice, and it had to be done.


    Second, after the Demon n¡¯s surrender, I also chose to eliminate thempletely, which caused thousands of losses for the Human Race, and there was no small amount of resentment.


    If I had chosen to ept the Demon n¡¯s surrender, whether the oue would have been better than this, I do not know.


    So the certainty of this killing, I am not sure, but I still had to do it.¡±


    ¡°Lastly, I leave you with these words: A Sword Cultivator fears not the ughter; even with sins upon him, it is but a matter to be settled by one sh of the sword. As long as his conscience is clear, that is enough.¡±


    Lu Qingshan respectfully said, ¡°I will take your lesson to heart.¡±


    Liu Han smiled gently, the residual image gradually disintegrating into tiny particles and disappeared.


    ¡­


    Atop the mountain summit.


    Li Zhao and Yan Qingfeng likewise watched Liu Han¡¯s residual image dissipate, lost in thought.


    The conversation between Liu Han and Lu Qingshan had also reached their ears.


    ¡°To be human is to bear a trace of evil; to be a Sword Cultivator is to carry a hint of ughter.


    If one is a Sword Cultivator, he must nurture a trace of murderous intent in his heart.


    Too little, and one¡¯s Vital Essence is insufficient, with no sharpness showing, hindering the attainment of greatness.


    Too much, and one strays from the path, bound to be devoured by an addiction to killing.


    Over so many years, countless Sword Cultivators havee and gone on Mount Tai, yet none could satisfy the Netherworld Prison Master.


    Who would have thought, a Sword Cultivator from the mortal realm, lost in the Netherworld, would be the only one to sessfully ascend the mountain.¡±


    ¡°Your long-standing troubles can finally be resolved, Prison Master,¡± Li Zhao and Yan Qingfeng congratted him.


    The Netherworld Prison Master shook his head slightly. ¡°Passing the tests of others is not enough; he also needs to pass my final challenge.¡±


    ¡°The final challenge?¡± Both Li Zhao and Yan Qingfeng were puzzled.


    The Netherworld Prison Master was not a Sword Cultivator.


    As an outsider, how would he test a Sword Cultivator?


    ¡°The heart and character of the Sword Cultivator have already proved satisfactory,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master said slowly, ¡°However, on the path of the Sword Dao, talent and aptitude are equally crucial. Without talent, it¡¯s difficult to truly excel.


    @@novelbin@@


    Therefore, my final challenge will test his talent in the Sword Dao!¡±


    ¡­¡­


    The nk world gradually burst into color.


    The surrounding scenery began to take shape, and the narrow mountain path of Mount Tai slowly appeared beneath Lu Qingshan¡¯s feet.


    He looked up.


    The peak that had seemed unreachable was now just onest step away.


    Without any hesitation, Lu Qingshan took a bold step forward.


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 Chapter 424 - 46 Lu Qingshan’s Talent

    Chapter 424: Chapter 46 Lu Qingshan¡¯s Talent


    Lu Qingshan ascended the mountain summit.


    The summit of Mount Tai was also enveloped in the same silence.


    Lu Qingshan saw a middle-aged man dressed as a Confucian schr not far ahead.


    Li Zhao and Yan Qingfeng stood one step behind the middle-aged Confucian schr.


    ¡°I have seen the Prison Master,¡± Lu Qingshan quickly realized the identity of the middle-aged Confucian schr and respectfully said.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, you ascended Mount Tai and consecutively passed three heart-questioning tests,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master looked at Lu Qingshan and slowly said, ¡°I know you seek something from me, but before that, I will first give you something as a reward for your sessful ascent of Mount Tai.¡±


    ¡°A reward?¡± Lu Qingshan was momentarily startled.


    The Netherworld Prison Master nodded slightly.


    He flicked his finger, and a point of dim spiritual light suddenly shed out, heading straight for Lu Qingshan¡¯s forehead.


    Lu Qingshan hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose to ept it.


    ¡°No need to ponder excessively, feel it with your heart,¡± the voice of the Netherworld Prison Master echoed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s ears.


    Following that, Lu Qingshan felt as if his consciousness had been swept into a tornado, with winds rising and waves surging.


    ¡­


    ¡°What is this?¡± Li Zhao and Yan Qingfeng, seeing Lu Qingshan once again fall into confusion, looked at each other perplexedly.


    ¡°This is a Sword Cultivator¡¯s strike when forging his own Sword Dao, which I have condensed into a point of spiritual light.


    ¡°Although the effect is far from watching it in person, it still greatly benefits a Sword Cultivator¡¯sprehension of Sword Intent,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master softly said, ¡°This is both his reward and his test. It remains to be seen how much he canprehend from this point of spiritual light.¡±


    The Netherworld Prison Master had a yardstick in mind, and only if Lu Qingshan surpassed that limit would he meet the Prison Master¡¯s baseline expectations for a Sword Cultivator¡¯s talent.


    ¡­..


    After a long while.


    Everything stabilized.


    The surrounding scenery came into Lu Qingshan¡¯s view.


    It was a dark, boundless, and utterly silent space.


    There was nothing, no sound, no color, not even light, deste to the extreme.


    This environment was oppressively suffocating.


    Suddenly, a figure appeared in the void.


    An ethereal figure, its features unclear.


    The figure held a three-foot long sword, standing silently.


    A sharp and profound aura suddenly surged from the figure.


    Finally, the figure, seeming to have gathered peak momentum, swung the sword in his right hand towards the void in front.


    At the tip of the sword, endless light suddenly flickered, filling the entire space.


    A millennium of darkness, illuminated by a single strike.


    A ten thousand zhang dust light.


    This single strike contained countless Sword Intents, each ray of light birthing profound mysteries.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes dazzled.


    Boom!


    At that moment, a crack appeared in the void, breaking the darkness.


    That was where the light entered.


    Apart from the Sword Light, the first strand of light appeared in the darkness.


    Countless mysterious fluctuations began to emerge.


    These were utterly different from the superficial Sword Intents in the Sword Stele Secret Realm; disyed here were the most fundamental True Intents and mysteries of the entire world.


    Yes, what was shown was the legendary and most profound Primordial Intent.


    A single strike that split Heaven and Earth, giving rise to endless Primordial Mysteries.


    Spiritual light suddenly sprang up within Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    Time gradually passed.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed.


    No, it¡¯s too much!


    These thoughts and insights were too numerous, already surpassing his mind¡¯s capacity to endure.


    He had to discard most of them, selecting only a few of the deepest understandings.


    Fluctuations transformed, worlds evolved; this was Space True Intention.


    Space True Intention, being the most infinitely applicable among the Primordial Intents, was undoubtedly powerful.


    But Lu Qingshan did not hesitate at all and directly discarded it.


    He had no prior intuition about Space True Intention before this and found entering into it from scratch extremely difficult.


    Besides, with the Annihtion Prating Sword Intent at hand, Space was not an unassable True Intent for him, and he didn¡¯t see it as particrly necessary.


    Fierce and majestic, with infinite Divine Power, enveloped by the honorable purple trajectory of thunder, that is Thunder Truth¡­.


    Starry Radiance brilliant, Profound Mysteries limitless, strength as boundless as the stars, this is Starry True Intent¡­


    One by one, Primordial Intents shed past, each dismissed by Lu Qingshan.


    Until Lu Qingshan saw a stream of Sword Light.


    This Sword Light seemed Immortal, endlessly spawning other Sword Lights from it, yet ultimately, none could extinguish its essence.


    That was the Immortal True Intent that Lu Qingshan had thoroughly researched, having already sensed its initial form.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind was set, and all his consciousness instantly surged towards it.


    Perhaps due to an infinite affinity with Immortal True Intent, Lu Qingshan¡¯s consciousness encountered no barriers as it merged into the Immortal True Intent.


    Afterward, Lu Qingshan finally experienced the marvels of Immortal True Intent.


    ¡°Immortal True Intent is actually so vast and profound; the initial form I hadprehended before is iparable to it.¡±


    One by one, Primordial Intents, based on Immortal True Intent, continuously emerged.


    Immortal True Intent itself had no power, but it could serve as a carrier for any True Intent and could meld into any Intent, augmenting its power.


    Evolve all things, while its own true spirit remained unextinguished¡ªthis was the mystery of immortality.


    Possessing infinite inclusiveness and an indestructible quality.


    This was one of the most powerful auxiliary Primordial True Intents.


    ¡°I understand!¡± The point of spiritual light within his mind suddenly flickered with endless brightness, cleansing Lu Qingshan¡¯s entire mind.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart burst with joy because the final piece ofprehension needed for theplete formation of Immortal True Intent was finally understood by him at this moment.


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 Chapter 425 - 46 Lu Qingshan’s Talent_2

    Chapter 425: Chapter 46 Lu Qingshan¡¯s Talent_2


    Within his Primordial Spirit, a hint of Primordial Intent was taking shape.


    The colors of Chaos tumbled and flowed incessantly, utterly formless.


    This was Immortal True Intent.


    ¡°Comprehension of intent!¡­.¡±


    ¡°¡­you have gained a partial understanding of Immortal Sword Intent!¡±


    ¡°You haveprehended Immortal Sword Intent (Weak)!¡±


    ¡°Your Divine Sense has been enhanced! (+50)¡±


    Immortal Sword Intent (Weak): A supportive type of Primordial Intent, possessing the power of immortality and evolution, which can amplify other intents.


    He had just grasped the Immortal Sword Intent, but even so, it was definitely something that countless cultivators would envy.


    This signified that Lu Qingshan had finally crossed the threshold of Primordial Intent, and it also meant that the Dao Seed condensed by Lu Qingshan in the Void Refinement Realm would inevitably be a Primordial Dao Seed.


    Immortal Sword Intent, in itself, had no offensive power whatsoever.


    However, Lu Qingshan, besides Immortal Sword Intent, also controlled ughter Sword Intent and Annihtion Prating Sword Intent, two high-level intents.


    Both Sword Intents were of the utmost offensive nature, with ughter Sword Intent enhancing powerful lethality and Annihtion Prating Sword Intent capable of annihting and prating through many defensive measures.


    With such abination, in terms of attack, Lu Qingshan¡¯s disyed skills had already surpassed most cultivators at the Nascent Soul Early Stage.


    In the Void, the ripples caused by that one sword strike were gradually fading, and Lu Qingshan, who had grasped the Immortal True Intent, was alsoing back to his senses.


    He naturally did not wish to stop, as this external manifestation of Primordial Intent presented too precious an opportunity for direct observation andprehension.


    Lu Qingshan seized thest of the time, immersing himself in theprehension of intent once more.


    ¡°Tyrannical, with infinite divine power, this is the Destruction Sword Intent that gave rise to the ughter Sword Intent.


    Between ughter and destruction, there¡¯s only a difference of one rank, yet the intricacies could differ this much.¡±


    ¡°Silently annihting everything, this must be the true Annihtion Sword Intent! And my Annihtion Prating Sword Intent can only concentrate on a single point¡­.¡±


    Lu Qingshan was like a sponge, continuously absorbing water from the ocean.


    ¡­.


    The outside world.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± The moment Lu Qingshanprehended Immortal Sword Intent, the Netherworld Prison Master couldn¡¯t help but narrow his eyes, his pupils shing with divine light.


    The figure of Lu Qingshan was shrouded in the profound mysteries of a mighty True Intent, with numerous Taoist Patterns flowing around in the space around him, shimmering with light, the intense fluctuations of Primordial Intent awe-inspiring.


    ¡°Immortal True Intent!¡± Yan Qingfeng eximed in astonishment; he naturally understood what this scene represented.


    He took a deep breath, knowing that at this moment, the trouble that had gued the Netherworld Prison Master for tens of millions of years might truly be resolved.


    A Sword Cultivator at the Golden Core Stage could actuallyprehend a type of Primordial Intent from a mere hint of aura from the Path-Opening Sword.


    This talent was definitely enough to leave the Netherworld Prison Master without words.


    What he didn¡¯t expect was that this was still not the end.


    In the final moments before that hint of aura faded, another powerful wave of intent surged up from Lu Qingshan.


    Deste annihtion, focused on a single point, as if to prate all things, breaking through space and departing.


    ¡°Is this Annihtion Sword Intent?¡± Yan Qingfeng¡¯s face was filled with astonishment, and then he keenly felt, ¡°No, it¡¯s just a branch of Annihtion Sword Intent¡­.¡±


    If Lu Qingshan couldprehend two Primordial Intents from this hint of aura, that would truly be too terrifying.


    ¡°However, this force of intent seems overly mighty¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Annihtion Prating Sword Intent at the Unity Realm.¡± The Netherworld Prison Master¡¯s eyes, nowpletelyposed, slowly said: ¡°He had already had some understanding of Annihtion Prating Sword Intent previously, this time it is an enhancement.¡±


    ¡°Time¡¯s up,¡± whispered the Netherworld Prison Master.


    The aura containing the Path-Opening Sword at this moment had entirely dissipated.


    The scene before Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes changed, and he was ejected from that expanse of space.


    ¡°Comprehension of intent!¡­.Annihtion Prating Sword Intent elevated to the Unity Realm!¡±


    ¡°Ability enhanced!¡­Your Primordial Spirit has been enhanced (Divine Sense +100)!¡±


    ¡°With your Divine Sense exceeding 600, your Primordial Spirit Realm has reached thete stage of Solidifying Form (605/1000).¡±


    Above his Primordial Spirit, sitting cross-legged within the vast expanse of his sea of knowledge at his brow, suddenly burst forth a divine glimmer of spiritual nature, beginning to rapidly transform.


    Theprehension and enhancement of intent both brought great feedback to the Primordial Spirit.


    Afterprehending Immortal Sword Intent and also reaching the Unity Realm with Annihtion Prating Sword Intent, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Primordial Spirit had finally reached a critical point and weed another transformation.


    In a daze, his Primordial Spirit, which had already reached five feet, kept growing.


    Five feet three inches, five feet six inches¡­


    It stopped only after reaching seven feet five inches, signaling the end of the transformation.


    Lu Qingshan opened his eyes, his pitch-ck pupils brimming with vitality.


    ¡°Thank you, Prison Master,¡± Lu Qingshan said sincerely.


    The Netherworld Prison Master¡¯s generosity was immense, and the gains he made were truly considerable.


    His Annihtion Prating Intent broke through to the Unity Realm, his Immortal Sword Intent matured from infancy to mastery, and although his ughter Sword Intent did not break through, it too made significant progress, drawing ever closer to Perfection.


    It was just a pity that right when itcked the final push, the Path-opening Aura had alreadypletely extinguished.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need¡­ this is the reward you deserve.¡±


    Eyeing Lu Qingshan, the Netherworld Prison Master chuckled softly before suddenly saying, ¡°The talents of people are ultimately finite, and all the information of a person¡¯s talents lies hidden within their soul.


    As the Master of the Netherworld, I possess the ability to extract all the talent information from people¡¯s souls.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    Pausing for a moment, the Netherworld Prison Master slowly continued, ¡°As a living person, your soul is housed within your body. I can only grasp your living soul and cannot freely control the Blood Qi of your body, so normally I would not be able to ess your talent information.


    However, just as you wereprehending Sword Intent, and at the moment your Sword Intent ascended to the Unity Realm, as your Sword Intent turned inward and your spirit wandered beyond the skies, I was able to extract your talent information.¡±


    Lu Qingshan was somewhat bewildered, ¡°Talent information?¡±


    ¡°Every person has their own worth, even the nameless ones,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master revealed a faint smile, ¡°Would you like to know what your worth is?¡±


    My worth?


    ¡°Please enlighten me, Prison Master,¡± Lu Qingshan replied uneasily yet curiously.


    ¡°The highest evaluation value is one hundred,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master said with a trace of a smile, ¡°Any item that reaches above thirty shows that as long as one is willing to work hard in that area, one can at least achieve some sess.¡±


    Then, the Netherworld Prison Master waved his right hand, and a stream of deathly energy rolled out from within his sleeves, wriggling through the air like earthworms, forming characters that slowly floated in front of Lu Qingshan,


    Li Zhao and Yan Qingfeng also cast curious nces over.


    ¡°Sword Dao, one hundred.¡±


    ¡°Pursuit of the Phoenix1, sixty.¡±


    ¡°Swordsmanship, sixty.¡±


    The talent information released by the Netherworld Prison Master only included items where Lu Qingshan¡¯s value exceeded thirty.


    It wasn¡¯t much, just three.


    In fact, most people¡¯s talents only have one item scoring above thirty.


    Ordinary people, if fortunate enough to discover their talent in their lifetime and dedicate efforts towards it, can achieve quite a lot.


    If one chooses the wrong path, countless moments are wasted, and by the time they reach the Netherworld for reincarnation, they can onlyment their bad luck.


    ¡­.


    ¡°This child is terrifying!¡± thought Li Zhao and Yan Qingfeng, looking at the number one hundred following Sword Dao.


    You should know that the two of them are already considered among those with the most outstanding Sword Dao talent among the living souls whoe and go to the Netherworld.


    Even so, Li Zhao¡¯s score was only ny-five, while Yan Qingfeng, though slightly better than Li Zhao, had managed to reach ny-six.


    One hundred? An unimaginable realm!


    ¡°Master is truly such a scoundrel,¡± Qin Yitian, hidden within the Dragon Sparrow Sword, nced at the number sixty following Pursuit of the Phoenix and muttered disdainfully in his heart.


    ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for choosing to be a Sword Cultivator, perhaps I could have been a great swordsman of the wilderness,¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s focus was on the sixty following swordsmanship, and he pondered with interest.


    A full-value Sword Dao talent was a gift from his Innate Swordseed, which he had anticipated, so he wasn¡¯t surprised.


    As for Pursuit of the Phoenix.


    Lu Qingshan automatically filtered that out, of course.


    The Netherworld Prison Master saw that Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression remained quite calm and nodded inwardly once more.


    Unflustered, neither arrogant nor subservient.


    Indeed, a good Sword Cultivator.


    What he didn¡¯t say, however,


    Was that Li Zhao, Yan Qingfeng, and others had Sword Dao talents in the nies because theirprehension of Sword Dao was just in the nies.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Sword Dao talent was one hundred.


    Because the highest evaluation value in the entire talent-rating system is one hundred!


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 Chapter 426 - 47: Netherworld Artifact

    Chapter 426: Chapter 47: Netherworld Artifact


    The Netherworld Prison Master flicked his sleeve, and the three lines of characters formed by the Netherworld Death Qi in the air all dispersed.


    ¡°Prison Master, then we two shall take our leave first,¡± Yan Qingfeng and Li Zhao exchanged a nce and spoke.


    Their task waspleted, so there was no need to stay any longer.


    ¡°You two have worked hard over these years,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master nodded and said, ¡°As a reward, I will grant your wishes.


    Li Zhao, your reincarnated identity will be as your master¡¯s son.¡±


    As for Yan Qingfeng, the world of your people remains in unrest. Are you sure you want to reincarnate back into that world?¡±


    Yan Qingfeng nodded and firmly said, ¡°To take back the world of the Human Race with my own hands, I would not hesitate to die.¡±


    ¡°Go,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master said no more.


    The figures of Yan Qingfeng and Li Zhao quickly faded and transformed into streams of light, plunging into the nearby waters of the River Oblivion, flowing from the summit of Mount Tai and following the river downstream towards the path of reincarnation.


    ¡­.


    ¡°You want me to help you find someone in the Netherworld?¡± After sending off Li Zhao and Yan Qingfeng on the path of reincarnation, the Netherworld Prison Master turned and asked Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in this world,¡± said the Netherworld Prison Master again.


    ¡°An equal exchange is naturally a righteous matter. Prison Master, you control the Netherworld, and surely I, a mere mortal cultivator, cannotpare with you,¡± Lu Qingshan bowed with his hands sped and said, ¡°But if there¡¯s anything you need, just say the word, and I will do my utmost to fulfill it.¡±


    ¡°You know I have a request for you?¡± the Netherworld Prison Master asked, his eyes gleaming, studying Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Three challenges on the mountain, each rted to swords; and I, coincidentally, am a Sword Cultivator,¡± Lu Qingshan paused, then continued, ¡°Initially, I felt a familiar sense from Gu Yiyi, but at the time, I didn¡¯t think much of it.


    However, after ascending Mount Tai, and repeatedly hinted in the three illusions, I finally recalled where this sensation came from.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze was intense, ¡°What you seek, Prison Master, should involve Gu Yiyi, whose true identity, I presume, is the Sword Spirit of a certain sword?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master nodded.


    Lu Qingshan took a deep breath and ventured, ¡°Is it specifically concerning what Gu Yiyi mentioned, that you took something from her?¡±


    Gu Yiyi had said ¡®stolen¡¯, but Lu Qingshan, naturally not so blunt, phrased it as ¡®taken¡¯.


    The Netherworld Prison Master thought for a moment and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for secrecy ¨C Gu Yiyi said I stole her possession, and if we really look into it, it¡¯s not entirely incorrect.


    Moreover, I am now unable to return it to her.¡±


    Lu Qingshan was astonished.


    What could it possibly be that would make the Netherworld Prison Master, who controls the path of life and death, take without permission and not return?


    ¡°I would like to hear more,¡± Lu Qingshan said.


    ¡°Since ancient times, the River Oblivion flows from Mount Tai into the Reincarnation Lands, connecting the entire Netherworld and forming the lifeline of the Netherworld.


    To suppress the Oblivion, the will of the Netherworld forged a Divine Sword from Ancient Times.


    This Divine Sword was inherently extraordinary, bing the Divine Artifact of the Netherworld, with the power of Oblivion endowed upon it. In the Netherworld, this sword is unmatched,¡± said the Netherworld Prison Master.


    ¡°Gu Yiyi¡¯s true form is this Divine Artifact of the Netherworld?¡± Lu Qingshan had a moment of realization and then said, ¡°Hard to believe she possesses unmatched power¡­ But if that is so, how did you manage to take something from her?¡±


    The Netherworld Prison Master chuckled, ¡°She indeed possessed unmatched power, but not anymore.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Lu Qingshan asked.


    ¡°What I took from her was the power of Oblivion,¡± said the Netherworld Prison Master calmly, the statementced with monumental implications.


    ¡°There¡¯s a way to even take that?¡± Lu Qingshan was astounded.


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master considered, then continued, ¡°If she had been devoted to guarding the Oblivion as the designated Oblivion Master by the will of the Netherworld, indeed, no one could have taken the power of Oblivion from her hands.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Lu Qingshan furrowed his brow.


    With such a chaotic start, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t understand how Gu Yiyi could have faltered.


    ¡°As the Artifact Spirit of the Netherworld Divine Artifact, Gu Yiyi was inherentlyzy and elusive,¡± said the Netherworld Prison Master with a solemn tone, ¡°At her birth, she was able to perform her duty guiding the cycle of reincarnation well.


    As time passed, she grew weary of this repetitive duty and used the power of Oblivion to guide the souls in reincarnation.


    Meanwhile, she herself fell into a deep slumber, asionally waking to check the situation.


    Since the power of Oblivion never faltered, the duration of Gu Yiyi¡¯s slumbers grew longer.¡±


    The Netherworld Prison Master earnestly exined, ¡°Until the Ancient Times, she had slept through an entire ancient era.


    It was during this long period of her slumber that the self-directed reincarnation of Oblivion gradually developed its own consciousness.


    This consciousness, known as the Spirit of Oblivion.¡±


    ¡°A mountain cannot contain two tigers; the divine power of Oblivion cannot be controlled by two,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master sighed, ¡°In the end, the will of the Netherworld awarded the divine power of Oblivion to the diligent Spirit of Oblivion.¡±


    Lu Qingshan pondered for a while and then asked, ¡°Prison Master, are you the Spirit of Oblivion?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master nodded, ¡°He who possesses the power of Oblivion rules the Netherworld, hence I am the Prison Master.¡±


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    ¡°So what is it you want me to do?¡± Lu Qingshan asked.


    ¡°As you¡¯ve seen,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master appeared somewhat helpless, ¡°since losing the power of Oblivion, Gu Yiyi has continuously wanted me to return it to her, after all, that is the purpose of her creation.¡±


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 Chapter 427 - 47: Netherworld Artifact _2

    Chapter 427: Chapter 47: Netherworld Artifact _2


    ¡°The Prison Master is unable to return it,¡± Lu Qingshan said, ¡°The Spirit of Oblivion, how could it possibly relinquish its own divine power?¡±


    The Netherworld Prison Master nodded. ¡°Indeed, it is so.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how long Gu Yiyi has been like this under Mount Tai?¡± the Netherworld Prison Master asked again.


    ¡°How long?¡±


    ¡°Two whole eras, the Middle Ancient and the Nearest Ancient,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master sighed, very reluctantly, but there seemed to be a hint of indulgence in his tone, ¡°This girl is reallyzy when she decides to be, but she is equally serious when she is dedicated.


    Although I can ignore her, letting her continue this way is indeed a thorn in my side.¡±


    Lu Qingshan remained silent.


    Gu Yiyi lost the divine power of Oblivion due to her own dereliction of duty, which was true.


    However, regardless, the Oblivion divine power the Netherworld Prison Master obtained was indeed secretly stolen without Gu Yiyi¡¯s permission.


    The existence of Gu Yiyi served as a constant reminder to the Netherworld Prison Master of this fact.


    That¡¯s why the Netherworld Prison Master also always wanted to resolve this trouble.


    ¡°Gu Yiyi¡¯s true form, a divine weapon, possesses the power to suppress the four seas. I thought topensate her with the power of a vast ocean to soothe the grievances in her heart,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master slowly said, ¡°But as you can see, in the entire underworld, there is only one Oblivion, one Mount Tai, and countless living souls¡ªnothing else.¡±


    ¡°Therefore, if we want Gu Yiyi to possess divine power of the vast seas, we must look to other worlds.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°But as the master of the Netherworld, I am unable to leave the underworld, so this task can only be entrusted to someone else,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master said with a smile, ¡°Gu Yiyi¡¯s true form is a divine sword; hence entrusting this matter to a Sword Cultivator is undoubtedly the most appropriate choice.


    Since the Nearest Ancient era, I have been searching for a suitable Sword Cultivator to fulfill this task for me.¡±


    ¡°To control the vast seas, the Sword Master must also possess infinite divine power. The Sword Cultivator I am seeking must have boundless potential and not forsake the sword in their hand.


    Beyond that, they must also be someone whom Gu Yiyi is willing to follow and trust.


    This is why I set up various barriers to select the right person.


    It is because the barriers are so high that I have spent an era of the Nearest Ancient still not finding the right candidate.¡±


    ¡°Until you came,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master fixed his gaze on Lu Qingshan, ¡°Gu Yiyi had no reservations when she first met you and got along very well with you.


    Through the Trial of the Three Realms of Conscience, I know yourmitment to the Sword Dao; in terms of talent in the Sword Dao, you are unmatched in the three ancient eras. You are the most suitable Sword Cultivator I have been looking for.¡±


    ¡°My request is simple. Take Gu Yiyi as your Life-bound Sword, bring her to another realm, and when your Sword Dao is aplished, find her a vast sea,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master spoke gravely, ¡°In exchange, I can fulfill any request you might have, and furthermore, help you find whoever brought you into the Netherworld.¡±


    ¡°Also, even without the Oblivion divine power, Gu Yiyi¡¯s true form still possesses tremendous might, and for a Sword Cultivator, a good sword is also a great asset; you will not suffer any loss.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed; what the Netherworld Prison Master said was naturally logical.


    A divine sword, which Sword Cultivator wouldn¡¯t want one?


    As for the one who led him into the Netherworld that the Netherworld Prison Master referred to, it should be the Origin Demon who used the Jiuyou Kan Yu Map to perform the Crossing Worlds Technique.


    But¡­


    Whizz, whizz.


    Two clear sword chirps shed by.


    Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom appeared in front of Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°I already have two Life-bound Swords,¡± Lu Qingshan regretfully said.


    A Golden Core Sword Cultivator is only allowed to refine two Life-bound Swords, and he had already reached the limit.


    ¡°Fire and Wood,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master, seeming to have anticipated this, looked at Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom and nodded with satisfaction, ¡°As long as they do not conflict with Gu Yiyi¡¯s attribute.¡±


    He stretched out his hand and gently hooked a wisp of the steaming mist from the nearby source of Oblivion, and a greenish vapor gathered in his hand, condensing into a droplet of water in which infinite divine power swirled, causing hearts to tremble.


    ¡°To show my sincerity, I will give you some additional support,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master said treasuringly spreading his hand to show the droplet to Lu Qingshan, ¡°This is the essence of Oblivion.


    Even after ten thousand years, Oblivion can only nurture such a droplet. It is a divine item of the Netherworld. This droplet of Oblivion¡¯s essence can help you quickly advance to the Nascent Soul Realm without any negative effects.¡±


    A Nascent Soul Realm Sword Cultivator can refine an additional Life-bound Sword.


    ¡°Of course,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master pressed the droplet of Oblivion¡¯s essence in his hand, ¡°you must first persuade Gu Yiyi, and make her willing to follow you to another realm before I can give you the essence of Oblivion.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s reasonable,¡± Lu Qingshan had no objections, simultaneously withdrawing Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom.


    ¡°So you¡¯re willing to agree to this matter,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master asked.


    ¡°Young Master, I have no objections,¡± Qin Yitian¡¯s voice timely resounded in Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± Lu Qingshan no longer hesitated and responded with a bow of his hands.


    ¡°Good, then I will summon Gu Yiyi now,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master showed a satisfied expression.


    His mind moved slightly, and the dusky yellow mists swirling around Mount Tai began to churn violently.


    Momentster.


    Gu Yiyi appeared before him.


    Clearly, she had not yet grasped the change in circumstances, first staring nkly for a while before seeing the slightly awkward face of the Netherworld Prison Master.


    ¡°Give me back my Oblivion.¡± The little girl immediately clenched her teeth, staring intensely at the Netherworld Prison Master.


    ¡°I am the Spirit of Oblivion, bound to Oblivion itself. Unless you eradicate my spirit, I cannot separate Oblivion to give to you,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master said helplessly.


    ¡°But that¡¯s mine¡­¡± Gu Yiyi pouted, her eyes gradually filling with tears, and then she cried out loud, ¡°Why do you have to tell me these things¡­¡±


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 Chapter 428 - 47: Netherworld Artifact_3

    Chapter 428: Chapter 47: Netherworld Artifact_3


    She understood all these principles; she knew that the Netherworld Prison Master could not possibly return Oblivion to him, and she understood even more clearly that all she had done was in vain.


    But other than matching wits and bravery with the Netherworld Prison Master, there was nothing else she could do.


    This was the only pir of support for Gu Yiyi, as well as the method Gu Yiyi used to deceive herself.


    As long as the Netherworld Prison Master did not see her, she could deceive herself that there was still a chance to get back Oblivion.


    Now, the Netherworld Prison Master had directly torn apart the protective shell that Gu Yiyi had constructed.


    Gu Yiyi felt both wronged and heartbroken.


    The kind that couldn¡¯t be easily soothed.


    In her heart, there was also a sliver of regret.


    ¡ªIf only she hadn¡¯t been sozy back then.


    The birth of the spirits of Oblivion took an extremely long time; if she hadn¡¯t been so absurd as to sleep through an entire Ancient Era, things wouldn¡¯t have turned out this way.


    The Netherworld Prison Master looked towards Lu Qingshan with a hint of barely perceptible plea in his eyes.


    Lu Qingshan let out a helpless smile, squatted down, and looked at Gu Yiyi¡¯s tear-streaked little face, ¡°If Oblivion is gone, then it¡¯s gone. What¡¯s there to be sad about? It¡¯s just a big river after all. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to change it to an ocean?¡±


    ¡°Ocean, what¡¯s that?¡± Gu Yiyi saw that it was Lu Qingshan, and she had an impression of this ¡°good person.¡± She wiped her eyes and asked.


    ¡°An ocean is the broadest expanse of water in the world, even muchrger than Oblivion,¡± Lu Qingshan exined.


    ¡°Really? There¡¯s a river bigger than Oblivion?¡± Gu Yiyi widened her eyes in surprise, then after pondering for a while, biting her fingertip, she seriously said, ¡°But other than Oblivion, I haven¡¯t seen any other big rivers.¡±


    ¡°There aren¡¯t any in the Netherworld, but there are in other worlds,¡± Lu Qingshan coaxed gently, ¡°Oblivion is dull and yellow, with stagnant water full of living souls¡ªa dead expanse. What¡¯s there to miss?


    The oceans in other worlds are azure and clear, shimmering with light, teeming with fish and dragons, and they are even more vast than Oblivion. Isn¡¯t that better than Oblivion?¡±


    Hearing Lu Qingshan belittling Oblivion like this, the Netherworld Prison Master¡¯s eyes twitched imperceptibly, he opened his mouth, but eventually sighed internally and did not say anything more.


    ¡°Better than Oblivion?¡± Stars unconsciously flickered in Gu Yiyi¡¯s eyes, and then with a touch of skepticism, she said, ¡°Really? You¡¯re not deceiving me, are you?¡±


    ¡°Am I a good person?¡± Lu Qingshan countered.


    @@novelbin@@


    Gu Yiyi nodded earnestly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Do good people lie?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then why would I deceive you,¡± Lu Qingshan concluded firmly, ¡°follow me, and I¡¯ll take you to other worlds to find oceans even bigger than Oblivion, how about that?¡±


    Gu Yiyi fell into contemtion, her gaze wandering back and forth between Lu Qingshan and the Netherworld Prison Master.


    ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Gu Yiyi finally made up her mind.


    Lu Qingshan stood up, his gaze turning towards the Netherworld Prison Master.


    The face of the Netherworld Prison Master was somewhat stiff.


    He had not expected things to progress this smoothly; he had thought that with Gu Yiyi¡¯s stubborn nature, it would take a lot of effort to persuade her, but Lu Qingshan had managed to convince Gu Yiyi with just a few words.


    ¡°Chasing Phoenix¡­¡± the Netherworld Prison Master suddenly recalled Lu Qingshan¡¯s talent, muttering to himself, ¡°Could it be that Chasing Phoenix also works on little girls¡­..¡±


    Shaking his head, he dismissed these distracting and superfluous thoughts.


    No matter what, as long as everything went smoothly, it was good.


    The Netherworld Prison Master flicked his fingers lightly, releasing that crystal-clear droplet of Oblivion¡¯s essence.


    The essence of Oblivion instantly flew out and dispersed into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    ¡°The essence of Oblivion I promised you earlier, to help you break through to Nascent Soul,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master said softly.


    A surge of extraordinarily pure spiritual power burst out within Lu Qingshan¡¯s body the moment the essence of Oblivion merged, and he quicklyposed himself, silently circting the Taoist Treasury Cultivation Technique to absorb this pure and immense spiritual power.


    Meanwhile, on the data panel, the Experience Points behind the Taoist Treasury Cultivation Technique were increasing at a dazzling speed, leaping up rapidly.


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 Chapter 429 - 48: Advancing to Nascent Soul and New Divine Skills

    Chapter 429: Chapter 48: Advancing to Nascent Soul and New Divine Skills


    The dense Spiritual Energy began to surge towards the Golden Core in Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dantian.


    A tornadoposed of Spiritual Power quickly formed within his Dantian, raging wildly.


    After a few breaths of time, having absorbed a massive amount of pure Spiritual Power, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Nine-Pattern Golden Pill rapidly began to expand.


    Above the Golden Pill, the nine purple-golden patterns flickered with dazzling and noble light.


    ¡°Taoist Treasury has been upgraded to Lv16, Spiritual Power Value +1000!¡±


    ¡°Your Spiritual Power Value limit has exceeded 20,000, the talent ¡®Spiritual Power Genesis¡¯ (Primary Level) has been upgraded to ¡®Spiritual Power Genesis¡¯ (Intermediate Level)!¡±


    ¡®Spiritual Power Genesis¡¯ (Intermediate Level): As your Cultivation rises, your control over Spiritual Power bes increasingly refined, and its power grows even stronger. Spiritual Power Amplification +50%.


    ¡°Your rank has advanced to Golden Core Perfection, Divine Sense +50!¡±


    ¡°Taoist Treasury has been upgraded to Lv17, Spiritual Power Value +1000!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Taoist Treasury has been upgraded to Lv20, Spiritual Power Value +1000!¡±


    ¡°Taoist Treasury (Golden Core Chapter) has been upgraded to the highest level, obtaining an additional Spiritual Power Value +10,000.¡±


    ¡°Taoist Treasury (Golden Core Chapter) has reached the highest level, and will awaken a Technique Divine Ability. The specific form and power of this Divine Ability will depend on the cultivator¡¯s understanding of Intents.¡±


    ¡°Awakening Technique Divine Ability progressing¡­.¡±


    At this moment, in Lu Qingshan¡¯s sea of consciousness, the blood-red sharp brilliance, the gray cold brilliance, and the indefinable chaos brilliance suddenly surged up, mixed with an almost imperceptible Spiritual Light.


    The Spiritual Light represented the three great Intents Lu Qingshan hadprehended.


    Unity Realm¡¯s ughter Sword Intent, Unity Realm¡¯s Annihtion Prating Sword Intent, and the weak Immortal True Intent,


    That bit of Spiritual Light was the iplete Causality True Intent.


    The three differently colored and shaped Spiritual Lightnings quickly entangled together, prating and merging with each other.


    Then, amidst the continuous merging, a profound symbol slowly formed, mysterious and difficult to understand, yet carrying supreme Profound Mysteries, constantly flowing with dazzling light.


    Just then, that bit of Spiritual Light representing the iplete Causality True Intent, suddenly flowed into this symbol.


    Whirring whirring whirring!


    This bit of Spiritual Light seemed to have triggered something, causing the symbol to begin vibrating violently, emitting a crisp and pleasant sound.


    After a moment, the Rune actually shattered into specks of starlight, constantly evolving and transforming, beginning to reassemble.


    Star specks danced in Lu Qingshan¡¯s sea of consciousness, turning into showers of light, disying and fluctuating with mysterious profundity.


    In the end, the star specks unexpectedly transformed into a ck swimmerfish, floating to and fro in Lu Qingshan¡¯s sea of consciousness, creating a breathtaking sight.


    This was a true Divine Skill, containing supreme Profound Mysteries, immensely intricate, and had even be a living entity through its spirituality.


    The ck swimmerfish wandered in Lu Qingshan¡¯s sea of consciousness for a while, seemingly searching for something.


    Finally, the swimmerfish found what it was looking for and with a swish of its tail, suddenly darted out.


    It left Lu Qingshan¡¯s sea of consciousness, swimming towards a certain ce.


    The target was precisely Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Hmm¡ª¡±


    The ck swimmerfish directly fused into Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes, which were as dark as ink, and he felt an odd itching sensation in his eyes.


    It was like the itching feeling when a wound began to heal and new flesh grew.


    Indeed, something was rapidly growing and forming in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Technique Divine Ability about to be born, do not interrupt.¡±


    ¡°Three, two, one!¡±


    Three breathster, the odd itching sensation in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes dissipated.


    A few lines of firefly-like text timely flickered into existence.


    ¡°Your awakened Technique Divine Ability is, Pupil Skill: Discerning Evil | Xiezhi.¡±


    ¡°When facing human conflicts, it detects the dishonest; when hearing discourse, it silences the unjust.¡±


    ¡°This Divine Ability has twoyers of power.¡±


    ¡°Firstyer, Discerning Evil: It probes the killing intent of other beings, regardless of whether the being has emotional fluctuations.


    ¡°Secondyer, Xiezhi: The pupils nurture Sword Intent. Upon activating this Pupil Skill, it will draw forth a Sword Qi attack targeting an enemy in your line of sight. Upon hitting the enemy, the Xiezhi will manifest andunch an attack on the enemy¡¯s Primordial Spirit.


    The power of Xiezhi will depend on the realm of the Divine Skill¡¯s wielder¡¯s Primordial Spirit.¡±


    ¡°Note: This Pupil Skill consumes arge amount of Divine Sense.¡±


    ¡°Additional Note: This is an Intent-based Pupil Skill. As the four Intents thatprise the Pupil Skill strengthen, the power of Xiezhi will also grow increasingly mighty.¡±


    Lu Qingshan felt immensely satisfied in his heart.


    The Technique Divine Ability, formed by Primordial Intent and higher Intents, was indeed very powerful.


    Moreover, this was the first Primordial Spirit Attack technique Lu Qingshan had mastered.


    ¡°Detection has reached the current rank level limit; you may choose a Nascent Soul Advancement Task!¡±


    ¡°Please select Nascent Soul Advancement Difficulty (First Grade to Ninth Grade, highest Ninth Grade). Note, the higher the difficulty of thepleted advancement task, the higher the bonus obtained, and the stronger the quality of the resulting Nascent Soul will be.¡±


    ¡°Select Ninth Grade Advancement Difficulty.¡± Lu Qingshan did not hesitate.


    ¡°Obtain Ninth Grade Advancement Task Requirements.¡±


    ¡°First, Golden Pill quality must reach Nine-Pattern Golden Pill, this requirement is a prerequisite.¡±


    ¡°Second, learn a Nascent Soul Technique, the technique level must be Taoist Level, this requirement is a prerequisite.¡±


    ¡°Third, master the talent ¡®Spiritual Power Genesis¡¯ (Intermediate Level).¡±


    ¡°Fourth, Primordial Spirit Realm must reach mid-stage Solidifying Form Realm, currentlyte-stage Solidifying Form Realm (655/1000).¡±


    ¡°Fifth, kill equivalent-rank enemies (0/50), kill higher-rank enemies (0/5).¡±


    ¡°Since you used the divine item: Oblivion Source, this item can skip advancement requirements other than the prerequisites, would you like to skip?¡±


    What the Netherworld Prison Master had said, that the Oblivion Source could help Lu Qingshan advance his Nascent Soul without any negative effects, is reflected here.


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 Chapter 430 - 48: Advancing to Nascent Soul and New Divine Skills_2

    Chapter 430: Chapter 48: Advancing to Nascent Soul and New Divine Skills_2


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart stirred, and he hastily took out the Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture (Nascent Soul Chapter), reaching out with his divine sense into it.


    ¡°Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture Nascent Soul Chapter detected, do you wish to learn it?¡±


    [Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture](Nascent Soul Chapter)


    Level: Taoist Level


    Description: Taoist Swordsmen, possess the Innate Qi. Nascent Soul Technique, divided into 20 levels.


    Technique Effect 1: Each level increase raises the Spiritual Power Value limit by 10,000 points.


    Technique Effect 2: Spiritual Power Recovery Speed +100%


    Technique Effect 3: The Spiritual Power cultivated by the Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture will bear a sharp nature, making the condensed Sword Qi even more lethal.


    Technique Effect 4: Upon reaching level 20 of the Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture, gain an additional Spiritual Power Value limit +100,000 points.


    Technique Effect 5: The Nascent Soul condensed through the Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture will possess an unparalleled affinity with all things rted to swords, capable of nurturing a life-bound sword.


    Technique Effect 6: The Nascent Soul condensed through the Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture can create a Sword Aperture, which can rapidly nurture a life-bound sword. Currently, one Sword Aperture can be formed.


    Technique Effect 7: As a Taoist Level technique, the experience points required to increase the Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture is 200% of that for ordinary techniques.


    ¡°Learn,¡± Lu Qingshan said firmly.


    The Spiritual Power that stemmed from the source of the Oblivion flowed endlessly as if there was no end to it.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dantian had be a heaven and earth furnace, continuously refining this Spiritual Power and beginning to rumble vibrantly.


    The purple-gold patterns on the Nine-Pattern Golden Pill became increasingly dazzling. As the Spiritual Power continuously infused into it, the pill expanded once more, gradually developing fine, spiderweb-like cracks.


    Fierce rays of light shot out from these cracks.


    Crack, crack, crack!


    As time slowly passed, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Nine-Pattern Golden Pill showed signs of breaking apart, as if something was about to burst forth from its shell.


    A momentter, the Nine-Pattern Golden Pill exploded suddenly, transforming into a chaotic vortex of Spiritual Power.


    The fragments of the shattered Golden Pill turned into purple-gold shes of light that flickered abruptly.


    Within the vortex of Spiritual Power, the purple-gold light spread directly in Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dantian within his body, continuously condensing.


    Gradually, a vague silhouette appeared within Lu Qingshan¡¯s Dantian.


    The outline was solidifying and bing clearer.


    As the silhouette continued to change, the blood in Lu Qingshan¡¯s body began to circte faster, blood qi surged to the heavens, and a thunderous vibration erupted.


    Pure Spiritual Power was purifying and strengthening his physical body, expelling the impurities within.


    Under the cleansing of this Spiritual Power, Lu Qingshan appeared even more ethereal and transcendent. His physical body was like a precious gem, crystal clear and radiating divine light.


    Inside the Sea of Consciousness, massive movements were urring as well.


    The Primordial Spirit, which had grown to seven feet and five inches, began to undergo another transformation, growing inch by inch.


    It continued to grow until it reached eight feet and six inches,pleting its transformation.


    Advancing from a Golden Core to a Nascent Soul is aprehensive promotion. This promotion is not only on the level of cultivation but includes the physical body and the realm of the Primordial Spirit.


    In the Netherworld, there is only Death Qi and no Spiritual Power.


    But at this moment, the pervasive Netherworld Death Qi surrounding him began to spiral into a vortex of Death Qi, constantly flooding into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    Once this Death Qi entered Lu Qingshan¡¯s body, it underwent a strange change, turning into pure Spiritual Power.


    Mysteriously indefinable.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qingshan¡¯s aura began to climb relentlessly.


    From a distance, Lu Qingshan resembled a star, his body continuously emitting dazzling Starry Radiance.


    The Starry Radiance grew stronger, brighter, and more resplendent.


    ¡°A peak Nascent Soul, huh¡­¡± murmured the Netherworld Prison Master upon seeing Lu Qingshan¡¯s state and aura.


    The Nascent Soul Realm is an important watershed. The transformation from Golden Core to Nascent Soul is like the formation of a cultivator¡¯s second life.


    @@novelbin@@


    This promotion brings about a revolutionary change for the cultivator.


    And the quality of the Nascent Soul will determine the magnitude of this change.


    The higher the quality, the greater the transformation and benefits for the cultivator.


    If the cultivator¡¯s own cultivation andbat power are considered a base number, then the quality of the Nascent Soul is like a multiplier.


    The higher the multiplier, the stronger thebat power.


    The multiplier for a Nascent Soul obtained through First Grade advancement is one, for Second Grade advancement is two, and so on.


    The Nascent Soul condensed by Lu Qingshan through the Ninth Grade advancement task naturally has the highest quality, with a multiplier of nine, known as a peak Nascent Soul.


    Due to the differences in Nascent Soul quality, there is an enormous disparity in thebat power among cultivators of the same rank.


    Those who condense a Nascent Soul of Third Grade or below are collectively referred to as weak Nascent Souls.


    Such cultivators are usually Loose Cultivators or from small sects with insufficient umtion, unstable foundations, and low-level techniques, barely managing to form a Nascent Soul.


    Some are cultivators with limited remaining lifespan or insufficient talent, having forcibly reached the Nascent Soul stage by relying on Spirit Pills and Spiritual Medicine.


    These weak Nascent Souls have lowbat power and are the bottom rung among Nascent Soul Cultivators, often requiring the cooperation of three or four to contend with demon beasts of the same rank.


    Even some powerful Golden Core Cultivators can fight against a weak Nascent Soul.


    Those with Nascent Souls from Fourth to Sixth Grade belong to the rank of ordinary advanced Nascent Souls, known as Ordinary Nascent Souls.


    These cultivators rarely face the situation of being defeated by a Golden Core Cultivator and can fight alone against demon beasts of the same rank.


    Starting from Seventh Grade Nascent Souls, one enters the ranks of strong Nascent Souls.


    Cultivators who condense a Seventh Grade Nascent Soul can easily crush weaker Nascent Soul cultivators of the same rank.


    And those with a Ninth Grade Nascent Soul are almost invincible within their rank.


    Between strong Nascent Souls, ordinary Nascent Souls, and weak Nascent Souls, theyers of strength are clearly delineated.


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 Chapter 431 - 48: Advancing to Nascent Soul and New Divine Skills_3

    Chapter 431: Chapter 48: Advancing to Nascent Soul and New Divine Skills_3


    Lower-rank cultivators, unless they possess incredibly powerful techniques or magic artifacts, generally cannot battle across different ranks.


    ¡­¡­


    Lu Qingshan closed his eyes. The purple-gold light in his Dantian grew increasingly intense, and the outline formed by the chaotic whirlwinds became clearer and clearer until, atst¡­


    It solidified into a translucent little figure,


    The appearance of the figure was exactly like Lu Qingshan, only much smaller in size.


    This nine-inch figure was translucent and emitted a formidable and intimidating aura.


    The Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom were held in the figure¡¯s hands.


    Just like a sword-bearing attendant.


    This was Lu Qingshan¡¯s Nascent Soul.


    It seemed that because it had just been born, the Nascent Soul¡¯s eyes were tightly shut, and its expression was somewhat absent.


    But after just a few breaths, the Nascent Soul awakened.


    The translucent figure suddenly opened its eyes, releasing an incredibly sharp brilliance.


    An overwhelming force erupted from the Nascent Soul in an instant, filling Lu Qingshan¡¯s entire body, bursting forth.


    The radiance outside his body also surged like never before in that instant, dazzling and blinding like the sun, with brilliant light bursting forth all at once.


    An unprecedented sense of power sprang forth in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    At this moment, his aura was far superior to that of a cultivator at the early stage of Nascent Soul, and even surpassed that of a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator.


    But it was not over yet.


    A divine halo made up of pure and overwhelming Spiritual Power gathered toward a certain point above the Nascent Soul¡¯s heart.


    The massive divine halo poured into this point until all the Spiritual Power was exhausted, finally saturating the aperture.


    Then, the point zed with dazzling light.


    This aperture, at that moment, seemed to be divinized, emitting Spiritual Light like a beacon in the night.


    This was the Sword Aperture generated by the Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture, which could quickly nurture the Life-bound Sword.


    With a thought from Lu Qingshan, the two Life-bound Swords held by the Nascent Soul suddenly shimmered.


    @@novelbin@@


    The incandescent Dragon Sparrow entered into the Sword Aperture, while the Peach Blossom entered the Nascent Soul.


    In an instant, the Sword Aperture flickered with Spiritual Light, resembling a Cave Heaven Blessed Land, with strands of light seeping out, continuously bestowing Spiritual Power upon the Dragon Sparrow Sword.


    Of course, a small portion of Spiritual Power also spilled out, flowing around the Nascent Soul and finally entering the Peach Blossom.


    Lu Qingshan briefly felt it.


    Without expending any energy or time, the Dragon Sparrow positioned inside the Sword Aperture could approximately gain ny thousand experience points in a year.


    This meant that even if he did nothing, in eleven years, the Dragon Sparrow could advance to the next rank.


    Since the Peach Blossom was not inside the Sword Aperture, the experience points it could gain were much less, only one third of what the Dragon Sparrow gained.


    This was akin to the difference between a wife and a concubine.


    The Sword Aperture was the wife.


    Several lines of glowing text promptly appeared, flickering before Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You have mastered the ¡®Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture¡¯ (Nascent Soul Chapter)!¡±


    ¡°Your rank has advanced to Nascent Soul!¡±


    ¡°You gain the ¡®Supreme Nascent Soul¡¯ rank bonus: Gold Core transforms yin and yang returning to the Taiji, and the great way is achieved.


    Yourbat power is increased by nine, your Divine Sense is enhanced: +200.


    At the same time, each small advancement in the Nascent Soul Stage increases your Divine Sense by: +100.¡±


    ¡°Your talent ¡®Pure Yang Body¡¯ has been enhanced, transforming into ¡®Mortal Body Shedding¡¯!¡±


    ¡®Mortal Body Shedding¡¯: With rity of heart and perception of nature, immortal and indestructible.


    Those who attain the great Dao of Nascent Soul, so long as the Nascent Soul exists, can regenerate severed limbs, and your lifespan is extended (a thousand years).


    ¡°Due to your refinement of the divine object: Oblivion Source, you are recognized by the will of the Netherworld, obtaining the talent ¡®Spirit Erosion¡¯.¡±


    ¡®Spirit Erosion¡¯: Netherworld Death Qi will no longer pose a threat to you, unable to extinguish your Blood Qi.


    At the same time, you will be able to absorb Netherworld Death Qi and convert it into Spiritual Power.¡±


    ¡°You have gained a new Life-bound Sword slot! Note, the attributes of the Life-bound Sword added to this slot must not duplicate the attributes of existing Life-bound Swords!¡±


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 Chapter 432 - 49 Taoist Artifact: Oblivion

    Chapter 432: Chapter 49 Taoist Artifact: Oblivion


    Lu Qingshan suddenly opened his eyes, Spiritual Light twinkling within.


    In his ink-ck eyes, almost unseen, there seemed to be the shadow of a ck fish swimming.


    ¡°All is well,¡± Lu Qingshan said to the Netherworld Prison Master.


    With the sessful advancement to Nascent Soul, he now had an additional Life-bound Sword slot.


    The Netherworld Prison Master nodded, then turned his gaze to Gu Yiyi, who had been watching the spectacle for quite some time.


    ¡°Humph, humph,¡± Gu Yiyi huffed at the Netherworld Prison Master, somewhat dissatisfied, but eventually she waved her small hand earnestly.


    A clump of mist floated out, and amidst the hazy fog, a long sword, looking like crystalline ice and a shade of ghostly blue, with dull yellow smoke continually spilling and rising above the de, appeared before Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes.


    The sword gently turned, hovering in front of him.


    Lu Qingshan reached out and gently grasped the sword¡¯s hilt.


    At that moment, a touch of ghostly blue Spiritual Light twinkled from within the sword and merged into Lu Qingshan¡¯s Primordial Spirit.


    A sudden chill and icy sensation arose as lines of bright fiery characters appeared.


    ¡°Do you choose the Oblivion River Sword as your Life-bound Sword?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Qingshan was very decisive.


    ¡°Attribute detection in progress.¡±


    ¡°Oblivion River Sword attribute detected sessfully, binding to Life-bound Sword¡­¡±


    ¡°Contract established sessfully, you have now bound the Oblivion River Sword as your Life-bound Sword!¡±


    [Oblivion](Water¡¤Life-bound Sword)


    Sword Master: Lu Qingshan


    Quality: Taoist Artifact


    Level: LV1 (0/10000) ¡ª [Damage of all Sword Techniques cast through this Life-bound Sword +10%]


    Description: Swords divide Yin and Yang, Tao aligns Heaven and Earth; this is a sword forged by the will of the world, an artifact of the Netherworld Realm, holder of the power of Oblivion.


    Supplementary Description: This sword has lost the power of Oblivion and thus most of its might, retaining only the intrinsic characteristics of its form.


    Magic Artifact Effect: As an instrument of the Tao, this sword¡¯s power shall know no bounds, its source of Strength shall be the Sword Master.


    Supplementary Description: Using this sword will consume the Sword Master¡¯s essence. (Can be substituted with Experience Points.)


    Divine Skills:


    [Sea-calming]: The swordmands the Vast Seas, infinite in might. (Current vast sea subdued: None.)


    The Oblivion River Sword can subdue vast seas and control their power; this power will be able to rece the Sword Master and be the source of the sword¡¯s strength.


    Description: The Oblivion River Sword oncemanded the Netherworld and Oblivion, possessing immense power of Oblivion, which is now lost.


    Supplementary Description: The immense power of Oblivion has engendered a will within the sword itself: Gu Yiyi.


    Supplementary Description: Once the great Canghai was hard to hold next to water, and beyond Witch Mountain, clouds were nothing. Because it once subdued the Netherworld and Oblivion, this Divine Skill is not allowed to be deployed on forces weaker than Oblivion¡¯s vast sea.


    [Azure Fall/Netherworld]: Beyond the Azure Sky and beneath Netherworld; Oblivion, the sword that splits with dual edges, one edge for life, one for death.


    Passive: Enemies in by the Oblivion River Sword¡¯s master will have a sliver of their spirit of death/life captured by Oblivion and stored within the sword.


    The stronger the entity, the more spirit of death/life can be harvested.


    Netherworld: The sword that rules death.


    Active: Release the power of the dead spirits stored in Oblivion, obliterating all things.


    Description: The might of Netherworld entirely depends on the power of the dead spirits released by Oblivion.


    Supplementary Description: Prior to Oblivion controlling the power of the vast sea, its source of power will be the Sword Master, so unleashing the Netherworld Sword will drain the Sword Master¡¯s essence. (Can be substituted with Experience Points.)


    Azure Fall: The sword that nurtures life.


    Active: Release the power of the living spirits stored in Oblivion, reviving the dead.


    Description: The healing effects of Azure Fall entirely depend on the living spirits harvested by Oblivion.


    Supplementary Description: Prior to Oblivion controlling the power of the vast sea, its source of power will be the Sword Master, so unleashing the Azure Fall Sword will drain the Sword Master¡¯s essence. (Can be substituted with Experience Points.)


    [Soul Purification](Passive): This sword will be immune to all Water Attribute attacks.


    No Divine Skill can destroy a sword forged by the will of the world.


    ¡­.


    After obtaining the details of Oblivion¡¯s attributes, Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but bitterly smile.


    Indeed, there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.


    The Netherworld Prison Master had presented the Path-opening Aura and the essence of Oblivion as gifts to Lu Qingshan to persuade him to refine Oblivion into his Life-bound Sword and take her out of Netherworld.


    And Oblivion¡¯s identity was that of an artifact of the Netherworld Realm.


    Gifting you a ¡°daughter¡± and also providing you with a substantial dowry?


    Could such favorable deals truly exist in this world?


    The fact proved there was no such thing.


    The attributes of Oblivion were the reason the Netherworld Prison Master had bled so much.


    This ¡°daughter¡± was a beauty that looked good but was a money-losing venture!


    Having lost the mighty power of Oblivion, the Oblivion River Sword would cost the essence of a Sword Cultivator to be used against enemies, until it mastered new Vast Sea Power.


    What is one¡¯s essence?


    The origin is what is referred to as the foundation of a Cultivator¡¯s path.


    In other words, for a general Sword Cultivator, if they primarily use the Oblivion River Sword in battle, and use it too many times, their Cultivation might even fall from the Nascent Soul level to the Golden Core level.


    In such a situation, the Sword Cultivator must either choose to ce the Oblivion River Sword on a high shelf or swiftly allow it to control the new power of the Vast Sea.


    However, since it once suppressed the Oblivion River in the Netherworld Realm, the sea-calming Divine Skill of the Oblivion River Sword will not permit its use on a Vast Sea whose power is weaker than the Oblivion.


    The Oblivion River, what kind of existence is that?


    It is the very lifeblood of the Netherworld.


    In the world, there are few whose power surpasses that of the Oblivion River, not none, but definitely very few.


    And such high-level existences of the Vast Sea, how could they be so easily suppressed and dominated?


    This requires the Sword Master to possess endless Divine Power to achieve it.


    But when the Sword Master truly has such Divine Power, is the strength thates from the Oblivion River Sword still that important to him?


    This is not easy to say.


    Which means, under all these limiting conditions, the Oblivion River Sword bes something akin to a forbidden move stored away, one that normally isn¡¯t used, only to upy a spot of a Life-bound Sword position of a Sword Cultivator.


    How valuable is the slot for a Sword Cultivator¡¯s Life-bound Sword?


    To say it¡¯s precious isn¡¯t wrong; to say it¡¯s not valuable also makes sense, mainly depending on the faction the Sword Cultivator is from.


    For Sword Cultivators from the Single Sword Faction, it¡¯s just an extra slot to nourish an Oblivion River Sword¡ªan inconsequential burden.


    But for those from the Multiple Swords Faction, it equates to a direct loss ofbat power.


    Lu Qingshan practices the Multiple Swords Faction.


    Fortunately for him, unlike other Sword Cultivators, he could use Experience Points to rece the loss of his origin energy and thus wield the Oblivion River Sword.


    Basically, the Oblivion River Sword is akin to a Divine Sword that consumes Experience Points/Cultivation. Lu Qingshan only dares to use it recklessly a couple of times when he has an abundance of Experience Points.


    Lu Qingshan no longer pondered other things.


    Because he clearly understood in his heart that even if he couldn¡¯t use Experience Points to rece the fundamental loss incurred by using the Oblivion River Sword, since he had agreed to the Netherworld Prison Master and had epted the benefits given by him, he had no reason to back out.


    Whoosh!


    Right after Lu Qingshan refined the Oblivion River Sword into his Life-bound Sword, excitement instantly sparkled in Gu Yiyi¡¯srge eyes.


    Her figure suddenly transformed into a wisp of smoke and entered the Oblivion River Sword.


    Following that, the Oblivion River Sword, like a swimming fish, dived into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    But in just an instant, the Oblivion River Sword that had just entered Lu Qingshan¡¯s body was abruptly ejected from it.


    @@novelbin@@


    It was as though it had been shocked by electricity.


    A hazy wisp of smoke, and Gu Yiyi¡¯s figure reappeared in front of Lu Qingshan.


    She pointed at Lu Qingshan, her voice trembling, unable to believe, ¡°You already have other swords?¡±


    Tears began to form in Gu Yiyi¡¯s eyes filled with a mist, ¡°I was here first¡­¡±


    ¡°It was not you who came first. Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom have already apanied me for a long time,¡± Lu Qingshan thought for a moment, then earnestly corrected, ¡°If we¡¯re really talking about the order, you should be considered ¡®the other woman¡¯.¡±


    ¡°What¡­ the other woman!¡± Struck like by lightning, Gu Yiyi¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, and they slowly started to fall.


    ¡°Why has it turned out like this¡­ I have a Sword Master for the first time, and you even promised me to take me away from this heartbreaking ce, to search for a Vast Sea stronger than the Oblivion River¡­


    When two happy eventsbine, the result should be even greater joy¡­


    But why has it turned out like this¡­ waaaah¡­¡±


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°The earlier point is the one who pulled you into the Netherworld, and thetter point is the senior brother you¡¯re looking for,¡± said the Netherworld Prison Master as he stretched out his finger and lightly touched, and two Spiritual Lights emerged from his fingertip, surging into Lu Qingshan¡¯s Primordial Spirit, appearing within his perception.


    ¡°Although I¡¯m a spirit of the Oblivion River, the will of the Netherworld Realm is incredibly strict, and my actions must follow thews of reincarnation.


    Unless they vite the rules of the Netherworld, I am not allowed to directly interfere with the living.


    Thus, I can only tell you their positions, leaving the rest up to you,¡± the Netherworld Prison Master exined.


    ¡°Your help is already deeply appreciated,¡± Lu Qingshan nodded, pondered for a moment, then spoke again, ¡°May I ask if Your Honor could inform me of the location of the barrier that leads from the Netherworld to Sky Dome Heaven?¡±


    He was nning to leave the Netherworld through the barrier, but he was uncertain about the world on the other side.


    Just as Human Race¡¯s Sky Dome Heaven bordered both the Netherworld and the Abyss, the Netherworld besides Sky Dome must border another realm. He feared he might identally take the wrong path and end up in another world.


    ¡°That¡¯s not a big issue,¡± the Netherworld Prison Masterughed, then swung his sleeve, sending four Spiritual Lights flying towards Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°These four points are the barrier locations leading from the Netherworld to Sky Dome. Among them, the point that shines the brightest has already expanded into a spatial fissure.¡±


    What the Netherworld Prison Master referred to as the spatial fissure was the very passage leading to Sky Dome Realm¡¯s origin.


    However, that spatial fissure¡¯s exit was located deep within the originnd, the resting ce of the Origin Demon King. Naturally, Lu Qingshan dared not choose that path.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Honor,¡± Lu Qingshan bowed respectfully, ¡°Then I shall take my leave.¡±


    He possessed the spirit-erosion talent and was not afraid of Netherworld Death Qi, but Ji Chuan didn¡¯t.


    Thus, he needed to rush to find Ji Chuan and then take him away from the Netherworld without dy, fearingplications might arise if toote.


    The Netherworld Prison Master nodded and said no more.


    As for Gu Yiyi, who was wailing beside them, both men tacitly ignored her.


    Gu Yiyi cried for a while, and seeing that neither of the two paid her any attention, she gradually stopped, stood there biting her finger, and listened to the conversation between Lu Qingshan and the Netherworld Prison Master, all the while subconsciously humming ¡°why has it turned out like this¡± to herself.


    After a while, as Lu Qingshan was about to turn away and leave, Gu Yiyi quickly transformed into smoke again and merged with the Oblivion River Sword.


    Then, with a whoosh, as if water returning to the sea, the Oblivion River Sword immediately followed, entering Lu Qingshan¡¯s body and fusing into his Nascent Soul.


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 Chapter 433 - 50: No Ravines in Front of a Fierce Tiger

    Chapter 433: Chapter 50: No Ravines in Front of a Fierce Tiger


    Amidst the boundless sea of clouds, upon the unfolded Jiuyou Kan Yu Map.


    A terrifying beast, nearly one hundred zhang in length and resembling a python,y coiled here.


    Huu¡ª¡ª


    The Origin Demon in its true form, with its gaping maw like a ck hole vortex, frantically inhaled and exhaled Netherworld Death Qi to restore its state, the sounds it emitted reverberating intensely.


    In front of it, a yellow, fist-sized pearl hovered, rotating continuously.


    Within the pearl, soul shadows shattered one after another; at the same time, streams of pure energy were born from it, transforming into a torrent that surged into the massive body of the Origin Demon.


    This was the Netherworld Pearl, refined from the Cultivation Technique he practiced, which could refine the power of living souls.


    After a long while, the Netherworld Pearl suddenly stopped rotating.


    ¡°The living souls have been exhausted,¡± the Origin Demon muttered to itself.


    It had collected living souls at Burial Ridge, all of which it had nowpletely refined.


    ¡°Just a few more living souls, and I could have used them to make a breakthrough to Fifth Grade,¡± thought the Origin Demon bitterly, ¡°Damn Sword Sect.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that there are so many living souls in Oblivion, yet they are out of reach,¡± the Origin Demon thought with some regret.


    In its perception, down below in the endlessly flowing River Oblivion, countless living souls were drifting downstream.


    If it could harvest these living souls, what would Fifth Grade amount to? And why bother with such painstaking efforts at Burial Ridge, scheming in every possible way just to collect those mundane living souls?


    But its father, the Great Demon King, had warned it very seriously: absorbing Netherworld Death Qi from Netherworld was fine, but the living souls in the River Oblivion were absolutely off-limits.


    If it touched them, even a single one, even the Great Demon King would find it difficult to protect it.


    The Origin Demon vividly remembered its father¡¯s tone when he spoke of this matter, the unprecedented solemnity and seriousness.


    If the Eighth Grade Great Demon King couldn¡¯t protect him, there must be some terrible threat involved, and so, even with great turmoil in his heart, it had to suppress its restlessness.


    Now fully recovered and back in peak condition, the Origin Demon stopped thinking and opened its eyes.


    Whoosh!


    The rolling clouds of Netherworld Death Qi that enveloped it were swiftly retracted into its body and disappeared.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    The Origin Demon let out a roar that echoed through the silent Netherworld.


    It gently shook its nearly one hundred zhang-long body, and a baleful gleam shed in itsntern-sized eyes.


    After healing all the wounds on its body, the Origin Demon¡¯s mind began to drift toward different thoughts.


    ¡°Since I entered the Netherworld five days ago, I have used the Netherworld Death Qi to recover to my peak state. That Sword Cultivator must now be trapped in despair as his blood qi continually fades away,¡± murmured the Origin Demon.


    The image of Ji Chuan reemerged in its mind, as well as the sense of fear brought on by Ji Chuan¡¯s sword strike resurfaced in its heart.


    As the beloved son of the Great Demon King, the Origin Demon was doted upon endlessly.


    The Great Demon King even gave it Netherworld Magical Artifacts and the Jiuyou Kan Yu Map for protection.


    Ever since its birth within the Origin Land, it was seen as a supreme being, with the four Sixth Grade Demon Lords treating it with great respect.


    And yet, Ji Chuan, a mere Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, had the audacity to try to deal a death blow to it!


    ¡°Under the invasion of the Netherworld Death Qi, that Sword Cultivator should be quite weak by now.


    And in the Netherworld, my power is even greater than in the Human Realm. With such a change in our respective strengths, that Sword Cultivator definitely can¡¯t be my opponent anymore.¡±


    The Origin Demon thought viciously: ¡°Letting those two perish simply from the erosion of Netherworld Death Qi would be too easy on them.


    If I could find those two Sword Cultivators and kill them myself to vent my anger, that would be delightful!¡±


    Roar!


    With that thought, murderous intent surged within the Origin Demon.


    It tucked away the Jiuyou Kan Yu Map and flickered through the dimly lit sea of clouds, howling with boundless rage from the depths of its heart.


    The Origin Demon, having always lived a life of privilege, never forgave any slights.


    It had decided to set out in search of Lu Qingshan and Ji Chuan, whom it had brought into the Netherworld Realm with its Crossing Worlds Technique, to avenge the near loss of its life.


    ¡°Two insignificant Sword Cultivators, relying on the power of the Sword Sect, dared to be so audacious with me. Just wait until I find you both; I¡¯ll make sure you suffer!¡±


    What it didn¡¯t anticipate was¡­.


    The suffering wasn¡¯t waiting to be found; it was already nearing, delivered to its doorstep¡­.


    As it was about to move, from out of nowhere, a surge of killing intent suddenly exploded, filling its entire spirit.


    In the Netherworld, where gloom perpetually lingered and the notion of daylight was absent¡­.


    But at this moment, the Origin Demon seemed to see a red sun, feeling his divine soul was on the verge of annihtion, and an inexplicable terror suddenly arose within him.


    He actually hadn¡¯t even grasped the specifics of the situation; this terrifying emotion waspletely autonomously produced by his subconscious.


    It was a streak of sword light transformed from a flying sword, a zing and resplendent sword light.


    Sword intent and sword qi entwined around it, tumultuous like the rolling thunder of spring.


    The sword qi was as thick as a dragon sucking water, erupting from the earth, and appeared abruptly.


    Within the sword light, there was a hint of icy gleam, shining like the sun at dawn.


    As the flying sword moved, it emitted the sound of wind and thunder from within, its speed like lightning, stirring up all the murky yellow mist, making the sea of clouds ripple with a yellow hue, obscuring both heaven and earth.


    It was as if a sword descended from beyond the skies.


    A distance of several hundred meters, in front of this flying sword, was like a shooting star crossing, lightning piercing through clouds, reaching its destination in an instant.


    The moment the Origin Demon noticed the sword, he could only hastily spew out a breath of Netherworld Death Qi in a panic, attempting to resist the might of the flying sword.


    The next breath, his vision was filled with red light and cold gleam.


    A suppressing force born from a difference in bloodline ranks spontaneously appeared.


    It was as if an Azure Dragon was pouncing towards him.


    This one flying sword ignored all the Netherworld Death Qi; the cold gleam instantly extinguished everything and entered the Origin Demon¡¯s head, which was bigger than a small hill.


    A deafening roar of dragon¡¯s and phoenix¡¯s cry came from his head.


    Then, the sword qi exploded within the Origin Demon¡¯s skull, scattering into thousands of sword qi, bursting forth.


    In an instant, it destroyed all of the Origin Demon¡¯s vitalities.


    His massive demon body had thousands ofrge holes, with sword light like the sun¡¯s rays shooting out from them.


    Before losing hisst bit of consciousness, the image of a figure appeared in the Origin Demon¡¯sntern-like eyes.


    That was the person who had wielded this flying sword.


    It was a figure he had always considered insignificant.


    Lu Qingshan.


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°Sword cultivator¡­¡± the Origin Demon let out a sorrowful cry.


    He had just narrowly escaped death under Ji Chuan¡¯s sword and had never expected that, just five dayster, he would fall to Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword, someone he had never taken seriously.


    Indeed, one might avoid the beginning of the month, but not the fifteenth day.


    He recalled that just a few breaths ago, he seemed to have been preparing to actively seek revenge against these two sword cultivators.


    Ridiculous, ridiculous!


    Immediately after, the Origin Demon¡¯s entire body was torn apart and disintegrated into countless fragments, exploding in the skies above.


    Among them, a faint and intangible spiritual light flew out, vaguely heading towards Lu Qingshan, directly merging into his body, and finally returning to the Oblivion within the Nascent Soul hidden inside Lu Qingshan.


    That was the power of life and death spirits taken by the Oblivion from the Origin Demon.


    ¡­


    The Dragon Sparrow circled back and re-entered Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    When ites to vengeful retribution, in this world, who canpare to a sword cultivator?


    Wouldn¡¯t it be good to honestly stay within your own territory? Why unite with the Netherworld to cause trouble?


    With a nearly immortal and indestructible Origin Demon King for a father, wouldn¡¯t life be pleasant if one didn¡¯t actively seek death?


    Isn¡¯t itfortable to be a carefree second-generation demon?


    Watching the Origin Demon dissipate into a sky full of blood mist, Lu Qingshan felt solemn in his heart.


    The principles he adhered to were always simple.


    Sword cultivators, live with a breath of air; only when the breath flows smoothly are theyfortable.


    Since someone wanted to kill him, he would no longer consider the other person¡¯s esteemed status or worry about any adverse consequences that might ensue from killing; nor would he ponder so-called lessons to obtain greater benefits in his actions.


    He wants to kill me, but I am stronger than him.


    So, he must die.


    It¡¯s as simple as that.


    With a heart as fierce as a tiger, although one may smell the roses delicately, one remains blind to the ditches!


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 Chapter 437 - 53: Don’t Let Her Down

    Chapter 437: Chapter 53: Don¡¯t Let Her Down


    ng.


    A small ess door at the bottom of the main gate remained open, through which food was passed in from the outside.


    ¡°Mother, let me out. It¡¯s so dark in here¡­¡± Qiu Shiyin¡¯s low plea sounded.


    The hand delivering the food suddenly paused.


    As if seeing hope, Qiu Shiyin¡¯s pleas became even more urgent.


    After a long, long time, the hand set down the food, followed by a sigh, and that small ess door closed once more.


    In the cramped and dark cage, she was once again alone, her suffocating breaths clearly audible.


    Having stayed in such a dark ce for so many years, she must be¡­ very lonely.


    Ji Chuan thought.


    ¡­.


    The scene quickly changed.


    Qiu Shiyin¡¯s small hand was held by a man with an honest face.


    That was her dad.


    The bustling market scene dazzled her, filling Qiu Shiyin with happiness.


    Suddenly, bizarre colors surged before Qiu Shiyin¡¯s eyes.


    She felt an excruciating headache and could only crouch down in agony, clutching her head.


    Amidst the haze, she heard many panic-stricken cries.


    ¡°A demon¡­ run, there¡¯s a demon¡­¡±


    What demon?


    She frantically tried to grab her father¡¯s hand, but at this moment, he harshly flung her hand away.


    When she turned to ask her father, she discovered him looking at her in terror.


    In the reflection of her father¡¯s eyes, Qiu Shiyin saw the blurry image of a monstrous creature.


    Its face covered in scales, with rugged and protruding horns, it was utterly ferocious.


    This¡­ is this me?


    ¡­¡­..


    In that dark cell, time became very long, as if she had stayed there for a very, very long time.


    Finally, one day, the gate that hadn¡¯t opened for so long was opened again.


    Qiu Shiyin was overjoyed.


    She thought her parents had finally decided to let her out.


    But when she looked outside eagerly, what she saw was her mother weeping with her hand over her mouth, her father looking worn out, and a strangely ugly monster covered in scale armor.


    ¡°Shiyin, this is your brother¡­¡± her mother said in agony.


    My brother?


    A mysterious light flickered in Qiu Shiyin¡¯s eyes.


    Her brother, like her, was shackled with heavy chains and locked in the tiny cage.


    ¡­¡­..


    An array of blood and fire.


    A group of people burst in, intending to kill Qiu Shiyin and her brother in the name of ying demons.


    In the moment of life and death.


    Qiu Ning unleashed unprecedented strength, twisting off the shackles that had bound him for so long, as well as the constraints of the world, ughtering all the intruders to thest.


    After the massacre, Qiu Shiyin had no choice but to take Qiu Ning and flee elsewhere.


    ¡­


    The scenes shifted faster and faster, almost in a fleeting instant.


    There were days when Qiu Shiyin and Qiu Ning left home, depending only on each other.


    There was Qiu Shiyin¡¯s helpless act of sending Qiu Ning to the Origin Lands.


    There was her anger and pain watching one ¡°toad¡± after another being abandoned.


    There was her satisfaction and constion in adopting a group of ¡°toads.¡±


    And then the Netherworld sought her out, inviting her to join, and the struggle that ensued¡­


    Qiu Shiyin¡¯s life was colorful, yet filled with pain throughout.


    Gradually, Ji Chuan discovered his own figure appearing in these fleeting images.


    ¡ª¡ª He had barely interacted with Qiu Shiyin, but his figure upied a significant part of her memories.


    Because in Qiu Shiyin¡¯s memory, Ji Chuan, who appeared like aet, clearly held an extremely important ce.


    In the end, all the scenes froze.


    They froze at his sword piercing through Qiu Shiyin¡¯s heart.


    Green Waist was protruding from the back of the frail girl, its tip stained with blood.


    Qiu Shiyin, enduring the pain of having her heart pierced, showed Ji Chuan a smile of utmost tenderness.


    @@novelbin@@


    Exquisite yet full of sorrow.


    The emotions Ji Chuan felt from the girl at that moment contained not a trace of pain, only a sense of relief, as if a burden had been lifted.


    Is this her life?


    There were fleeting moments of happiness, followed by prolonged loneliness.


    Only at the end of her life did she find that little bit of relief, as if a burden had been lifted.


    In the beginning, she was just a child, a beautiful yet fragile child.


    An endless sadness welled up inside Ji Chuan.


    With that lethal sword thrust, he had already severed all of Qiu Shiyin¡¯s sins.


    Dust to dust, earth to earth.


    Now, only love and pity remained in his heart.


    The mournful Ji Chuan suddenly felt an inexplicable wave of fatigue sweep over him.


    Feeling extremely tired, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.


    However, he knew clearly that when he woke up again, the girl named Qiu Shiyin would never be able to smile at him again.


    Darkness descended like a tide, drowning thest vestige of Ji Chuan¡¯s consciousness.


    And in his sea of consciousness, the point of Spiritual Light that represented the Samsara Sword Intent suddenly flickered, growing stronger, undergoing a transformation unprecedented.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Brother¡­ Brother¡­¡± The faint calling finally roused Ji Chuan from the almost endless darkness.


    Ji Chuan slowly opened his eyes and saw Lu Qingshan, his face full of concern, thanked him hoarsely after a long silence, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Seeing Ji Chuan awake, Lu Qingshan finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Guided by the Spiritual Light of the Netherworld Prison Master, six days passed before he found Ji Chuan, who hadn¡¯t moved an inch.


    He finally understood why Ji Chuan had remained motionless.


    Ji Chuan was lying in a sea of flowers on the other shore, his eyes closed, his face showing a painful and struggling expression.


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 Chapter 438 - 53 Don’t Let Her Down_2

    Chapter 438: Chapter 53 Don¡¯t Let Her Down_2


    This state clearly indicated that he had fallen into some sort of trance.


    Fortunately, his arrival wasn¡¯t toote, Ji Chuan had notpletely sumbed, so awakening Ji Chuan¡¯s consciousness was not too difficult.


    As Ji Chuan regained his senses, he looked around. ¡°Where is this?¡±


    Lu Qingshan quickly informed Ji Chuan of the events and their sequence.


    ¡°We should leave here quickly and return to the Human Realm, Brother. Your condition doesn¡¯t seem too good.¡± Lu Qingshan looked at Ji Chuan¡¯s pale, bloodless face, knowing the impact of the Netherworld Death Qi on Ji Chuan was substantial, and spoke.


    ¡°Return to the Human Realm¡­¡± Ji Chuan murmured, subconsciously tightening his embrace around the lifeless body of Qiu Shiyin.


    ¡°Brother, are you saying you have a way to break through the barrier separating Netherworld from the Sky Dome and send us back to the Human Realm?¡± Ji Chuan suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with hope, ¡°That barrier to another world, can you break it?¡±


    Lu Qingshan hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly, slowly saying, ¡°It should also be possible¡­¡±


    After receiving a definite answer from Lu Qingshan, Ji Chuan suddenly fell into silence, his face showing a hint of struggle.


    Seeing Ji Chuan¡¯s demeanor, Lu Qingshan understood that Ji Chuan had some unspeakable secret. He did not rush him, quietly waiting instead.


    After a long time, Ji Chuan seemed to have finally made up his mind, and said to Lu Qingshan, ¡°Brother, I might¡­ not return to the Human Realm.¡±


    ¡°Not returning to the Human Realm?!¡± Lu Qingshan knew what Ji Chuan was considering but had not expected such a decision.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ji Chuan nodded, assertively saying, ¡°Not returning.¡±


    Lu Qingshan was silent for a moment, then asked, ¡°Why? And if not returning to the Human Realm, where do you n to go?¡±


    Ji Chuan smiled, and opened his fist towards Lu Qingshan.


    In his palmy a white Manjushahua flower, radiantly glowing.


    ¡°Nether Flower, the soul guiding flower; this is the Manjushahua that escorts her departing spirit. With this flower, I can sense her reincarnation¡¯s location and find her,¡± Ji Chuan slowly exined.


    ¡°She,¡± of course, referred to Qiu Shiyin.


    ¡°Reincarnation is a cycle; submission to Heavenly Dao is a normal urrence.


    Yet, her sins in this life were grave, so her next nine lives will be filled with mortal tribtions before she can enter a normal cycle of reincarnation.


    Her misdeeds are indeed real, I have nothing to say about that.


    But all of this originates from her tragic life and experiences.


    Since she has already used death to cleanse her sins, why must she, who has already suffered once, endure nine more lives of tribtions?


    I cannot change thews of the Netherworld, but I can use the Nether Flower to find her reincarnation and be her protector, warding off the tribtions she is supposed to face.¡±


    The Netherworld does not cherish her; I will.¡±


    Ji Chuan said, ¡°Her reincarnation¡¯s location is not in the Human Realm but in another realm adjacent to the Netherworld, so¡­


    I might need to trouble you, Brother, for onest favor.


    Help me break the barrier between the Netherworld and this other realm, and send me to the other realm to seek Qiu Shiyin¡¯s reincarnation.¡±


    ¡°Brother, you know nothing about this other realm where Qiu Shiyin has reincarnated,¡± Lu Qingshan cautioned.


    Just as the Netherworld can only amodate souls, each distinct world has its own operating principles.


    Who can guarantee that the realm of Qiu Shiyin¡¯s reincarnation will be suitable for Ji Chuan to survive?


    Ji Chuan said, ¡°I know.¡±


    Since he knew, this decision was made after deep consideration and reflection and would not be easily changed.


    After another long silence, Lu Qingshan tried onest time to persuade Ji Chuan, ¡°Going to the other realm, you will be separated from the Human Realm by two realm barriers.


    In this lifetime, wanting to return to the Human Realm will be almost impossible.


    That means, wanting to return to the Sword Sect to see your Master again will be very, very difficult.¡±


    Ji Chuan closed his eyes, lost in thought. After a while, he opened his eyes and tossed something into the air, which transformed into a streak of Radiance, flying towards Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan quickly caught the Radiance and upon a closer look, it was clearly the Vermilion Bird Sword Token representing Ji Chuan¡¯s identity.


    His heart stirred, understanding Ji Chuan¡¯s intentions.


    Ji Chuan slowly began, ¡°I can only ask you, Brother, to return this sword token to our Master and tell him that Ji Chuan failed his Master¡¯s nurture¡­ failed the Sword Sect.¡±


    How can one have it all in this world?


    The Sword Sect and her, Ji Chuan could only choose one after all.


    Having grown up in the Sword Sect from childhood, how could he easily remove the Sword Sect from his life?


    Yet¡­ without Ji Chuan, the Sword Sect would still endure.


    @@novelbin@@


    But without him, Qiu Shiyin would have to face countless tribtions.


    A momentter, Lu Qingshan silently put away the Vermilion Bird Sword Token, bowed to Ji Chuan with a fist, and said with a smile, ¡°Brother, I¡¯ll help you¡­ as a way to repay your kindness at Qingya Terrace.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Brother,¡± Ji Chuan¡¯s voice was a bit hoarse, ¡°this is probably thest time I¡¯ll call you Brother.¡±


    ¡­¡­


    In Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind, at that moment, a point of Spiritual Light inexplicably appeared.


    ¡°This point of Spiritual Light is the nearest barrier leading to the other realm,¡±


    The voice of the Netherworld Prison Master timely arose in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart, as the spirit of Oblivion, nothing in the Netherworld escaped his eyes, ¡°By the way, the other realm adjacent to the Netherworld is called Wilderness Realm.


    Although it differs from your Sky Dome, it is ultimately part of the Human Realm. Your brother entering the Wilderness Realm will not be hindered, so you need not worry too much.¡±


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 Chapter 439 - 53 Don’t Let Her Down_3

    Chapter 439: Chapter 53 Don¡¯t Let Her Down_3


    ¡°Thank you, Prison Master.¡± Lu Qingshan expressed his gratitude.


    With the map as a guide, Lu Qingshan, apanied by Ji Chuan, quickly arrived at the barrier leading to the Wilderness Realm.


    It was an exposed fissure, unstable, fluctuating in size, now expanding, now contracting, seemingly emitting a cold silence, as if a ck hole was spinning, and as if an inexplicable dust storm was drifting.


    Such strange phenomena abounded.


    Yet within it, there existed an invisible barrier that was sticky and viscous.


    It seemed like a membrane, extremely soft but incredibly tough, binding this world.


    This type of barrier was imprable. Only when it naturally shattered over time, expanding into a spatial fault, could cultivators pass through it.


    Because it was the force ofw, restricted by the Heavenly Dao.


    The barrier could only undergo natural evolution. To affect it externally required tremendous power.


    Ji Chuan turned his gaze toward Lu Qingshan.


    He knew Lu Qingshan was no frivolous talker.


    Yet staring at the massive barrier, he could not conceive of any means by which Lu Qingshan might break through it.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re here, otherwise in such a situation, I couldn¡¯t think of any way to solve it either,¡± Lu Qingshan felt deeply, inwardly speaking to Qin Yitian.


    ¡°I am willing to sh through all obstacles for the young master,¡± Qin Yitian replied softly.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s see your skill,¡± Lu Qingshan murmured.


    Why did he like Qin Yitian so much?


    Because usually, he could watch Yitian, and in times like this, he could rely on Yitian¡¯s ability.


    ¡­¡­..


    A thought stirred in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart.


    The splendidly majestic zing Red Dragon Sparrow had already appeared in his hand.


    Lu Qingshan stood with the sword, then gently swung the Dragon Sparrow toward the barrier in front of him.


    Spell Breaking.


    A simple, clear swing of the sword, traceable in its path, without any earth-shattering momentum.


    Yet the seemingly irresistible barrier¡¯s membrane was instantly pierced by this single sword stroke, revealing the world beyond.


    An expanse of ancient vastness, deep and abysmal, bottomless.


    That was the Wilderness Realm.


    Ji Chuan was shocked by the might of this sword yet also filled with immense joy.


    Meanwhile, a magical artifact that had been deeply resenting its plight inside Lu Qingshan¡¯s Nascent Soul, upon seeing this sword strike, was stunned, speechless.


    Gu Yiyi had previously been full of resentment, thinking, ¡°I am an artifact of the Netherworld, and even though I¡¯ve lost the power of Oblivion, I¡¯m notparable to ordinary items.¡±


    Why should she fall to the rank of a mere mistress, only able to watch enviously as the Dragon Sparrow was nurtured in the best-ced Sword Aperture by Lu Qingshan?


    And she could only feed on the leftovers of the Dragon Sparrow in Lu Qingshan¡¯s Nascent Soul.


    Now, she was out ofints.


    The Dragon Sparrow¡¯s status as the principal consort was indeed justified.


    It wasn¡¯t merely because the Dragon Sparrow was the Life-bound Sword that had apanied Lu Qingshan the longest.


    ¡­¡­


    Let¡¯s set aside the emotional turmoil in Gu Yiyi and Ji Chuan¡¯s hearts for now.


    Because the membrane of the barrier broken by the Dragon Sparrow was healing at an incredibly fast rate.


    Given the current trend, it seemed likely that in just a few seconds, the barrier would be restored to its original state.


    @@novelbin@@


    Lu Qingshan quickly sidestepped, making way for the passage created by the Dragon Sparrow.


    Ji Chuan knew time was of the essence and without further ado, he simply said his farewell, ¡°I¡¯m going, but hope to meet again in this life.¡±


    ¡°Brother¡­.¡±


    As Ji Chuan¡¯s figure was about to vanish into the spatial passage, Lu Qingshan suddenly called out to him.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve abandoned the Sword Sect¡­ then don¡¯t abandon her either.¡±


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 Chapter 440 - 1 January Time

    Chapter 440: Chapter 1 January Time


    A chaotic strip thousands of miles long was continuously stretching and expanding.


    This was one of the barriers between the Netherworld and the Sky Dome.


    The Radiance that Lu Qingshan had transformed into slowly descended in front of the barrier.


    The Dragon Sparrow¡¯s Spell Breaking, just like the Crossing Worlds of the Jiuyou Kan Yu Map, utilized the Dragon Sparrow¡¯s own mana, so it required a certain amount of time to recover.


    The recovery time for Spell Breaking was one month.


    That is to say, after sending Ji Chuan to the Wilderness Realm, Lu Qingshan would have to stay in the Netherworld for a month.


    Fortunately, his talent for Spirit Erosion made him no longer fear the presence of Netherworld Death Qi.


    ¡­¡­


    For most Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, a month really isn¡¯t much, it might not even be enough time for them to cultivate a technique to the threshold.


    But for Lu Qingshan, it was enough for him to consolidate his progress.


    To awaken more powerful Divine Skills from the Taoist Treasury, before raising his Intent, Lu Qingshan chose to deliberately slow down the rate of his cultivation progress.


    Now that everything was settled, he had no reservations anymore.


    With a thought, a column-shaped exquisite crystal appeared in the palm of Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand.


    Within the crystal flowed liquid Spirit Marrow, dazzling to the eyes.


    This was a Spirit Crystal worth as much as the entire fortune of a Weak Nascent Soul cultivator.


    The mostmon use for Spirit Crystals was for cultivators to absorb the pure Spiritual Power within them when they hit a bottleneck in their cultivation, attempting to break through to the next realm.


    Because of their high value and wide applicability, and being hard to devalue, they were also often used as currency by High Level Cultivators.


    For Lu Qingshan, there was an additional use for Spirit Crystals¡­


    ¡°Great Experience Pill,¡± this was what yers called Spirit Crystals.


    A single Spirit Crystal, once fully absorbed, could be converted into fifty thousand Experience Points.


    And because of the high purity of the Spiritual Power inside a Spirit Crystal, absorbing and refining one didn¡¯t usually take too long.


    ¡°In my previous life, this was a luxury only whaling yers could enjoy,¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s face revealed a very faint smile.


    Turning a Spirit Crystal into Experience Points is the least cost-effective way to use them.


    For example, if one were to buy Talismans with a Spirit Crystal, then go raid dungeons, throwing all the purchased Talismans in a dungeon in one go, the obtained Experience Points would certainly far exceed fifty thousand.


    But converting a Spirit Crystal into Experience Points has one obvious advantage.


    It saves time.


    The whaling tycoons don¡¯t have the patience to sweep through dungeons one by one, nor do they have the time to grind quests.


    All they need to do is buy a bunch of Spirit Crystals, and they can extravagantly and wastefully raise their Experience Points.


    This equates to using arge amount of resources to quickly increase one¡¯s Cultivation.


    ¡­¡­


    Without further thought, Lu Qingshan circted the Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture Cultivation Technique, and the pure Spiritual Power in the Spirit Crystal was rapidly absorbed and refined by him.


    The crystalline Spirit Crystal, as the Spiritual Power was absorbed, gradually turned to gray.


    A quarter of an hourter, the Spirit Crystal in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand had lost all its luster, appearing dull and gray, no longer exhibiting any of its previous wonder.


    And his Experience Points had increased by fifty thousand.


    Looking at the empty husk of the Spirit Crystal in his hand, Lu Qingshan felt a little stunned.


    The speed of refining the Spirit Crystal was indeed very fast, but it had never been to this extent¡­


    Is this the power of a Taoist Level Cultivation Technique?


    Lu Qingshan murmured.


    His movements didn¡¯t stop, and soon, another Spirit Crystal appeared in his hand.


    Lu Qingshan was determined, this time he would significantly enhance his Combat Power without worrying about consumption.


    It didn¡¯t matter how much resources were spent, as long as he had strength, he would eventually earn it back tenfold, a hundredfold.


    @@novelbin@@


    The most important thing is, time waits for no one.


    Lu Qingshan had always been in urgent need to increase his strength, as if there was a terrifying beast chasing him from behind.


    A quarter of an hourter, the second Spirit Crystal was refined.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s stored Experience Points reached nine hundred and ny-nine thousand, for the first time approaching seven digits.


    He wasn¡¯t satisfied yet and took out another Spirit Crystal.


    Five hourster, forty Spirit Crystals had been converted into two million Experience Points.


    And Lu Qingshan was still continuing.


    In this process of wholeheartedly absorbing and refining Spiritual Power, time passed the quickest.


    Even Lu Qingshan himself didn¡¯t realize that the Spirit Crystals in his Storage Ring had almost run out without him noticing.


    When there were only five Spirit Crystals left, Lu Qingshan finally came to his senses and stopped the absorption of Spirit Crystals.


    He was awarded a total of one hundred Spirit Crystals as the champion of the Seven Domains Debates.


    Afterward, the Qing State custodians also sent over the previously agreed-upon three Spirit Crystals.


    A total of one hundred and three Spirit Crystals.


    Earlier at the Sword Sect, Lu Qingshan had spent ten Spirit Crystals to purchase Spirit Material necessary to improve the quality of Peach Blossoms, and this time, only five Spirit Crystals remained.


    The remaining Spirit Crystals were all converted into Experience Points.


    A total of eighty-eight Spirit Crystals were consumed, an amount even a Void Refining Cultivator would struggle to produce.


    This massive expenditure brought Lu Qingshan a huge sum of Experience Points.


    Four million and four hundred thousand Experience Points!


    Adding to the eight hundred and ny thousand he had stored earlier, Lu Qingshan now had a total of five million two hundred and ny thousand Experience Points.


    An rmingly high number.


    It¡¯s worth noting that even for Cultivating a Taoist Level Cultivation Technique, the entire Nascent Soul Stage upgrade only cost ten million Experience Points.


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 Chapter 441 - 1 January Time_2

    Chapter 441: Chapter 1 January Time_2


    ¡­


    With experience points now in hand, the most important thing was to enhance his cultivation.


    Without the slightest stinginess, Lu Qingshan directly invested two million experience points into his Cultivation Technique.


    @@novelbin@@


    His aura immediately began to ascend.


    ¡°Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture (Nascent Soul Chapter) upgraded to lv2, Spiritual Power Value +10000!¡±


    ¡­.


    ¡°Heaven Cutting Sword Scripture (Nascent Soul Chapter) upgraded to lv5, Spiritual Power Value +10000!¡±


    Mysterious spiritual power began to emerge out of nowhere in Lu Qingshan¡¯s meridians.


    In his dantian, the Nascent Soul sat cross-legged, little hands forming seals, assuming the posture of cultivation, and continuously absorbed these inexplicably appearing spiritual powers.


    Then, after absorbing a vast amount of spiritual power, the form of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Nascent Soul began to gradually solidify.


    The transparent body was transitioning toward semi-transparency.


    In just a moment, he¡¯d reached the peak of the Nascent Soul¡¯s early stage of cultivation.


    A spiritual force nearly double the strength than before coursed through his entire body.


    Since the beginning of his Foundation Establishment, Lu Qingshan had been cultivating a Taoist Level Cultivation Technique, so both the quality and quantity of his spiritual power far surpassed those of an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator.


    Based on the base value and coefficient, his basic cultivation was equivalent to four times that of a First Grade Weak Nascent Soul Cultivator at the Nascent Soul¡¯s initial stage.


    Thebat power augmentation of an Ultimate Nascent Soul was nine.


    In other words, disregarding Techniques, Intent, and Magic Artifacts, in terms of cultivation alone, Lu Qingshan now possessedbat power thirty-six times that of a the initial stage of a First Grade Weak Nascent Soul.


    Suchbat power allowed Lu Qingshan to defeat most Great Perfection Nascent Soul Cultivators, even with only his Nascent Soul¡¯s initial stage cultivation.


    Lu Qingshan clenched his fist in secret, but his enhancement was still ongoing.


    Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique was the only one among the Techniques he had mastered that could temper the Primordial Spirit.


    Because Sword Control Technique was one of the most frequently used Techniques, even without specifically focusing on cultivating it, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique was already nearing lv15.


    Lu Qingshan, holding a huge amount of experience points, without hesitation invested another two hundred thousand experience points into Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique.


    ¡°Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique upgraded to lv15, Divine Sense +10!¡±


    ¡°Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique upgraded to lv16, Divine Sense +20!¡±


    ¡­.


    ¡°Primordial Spirit Sword Control Technique upgraded to lv20, Divine Sense +20!¡±


    Under the dual experience value discounts of ¡°Innate Swordseed¡± and ¡°Intermediate Level Sword Technique Affinity,¡± Lu Qingshan only spent two hundred thousand experience points to bring this sword-rted Technique to its theoretical max level.


    ¡°There¡¯s still more than half of the experience points left unused¡­¡± Lu Qingshan narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and already had a choice in mind.


    ¡°Formless Sword Escape upgraded to lv6¡­ Formless Sword Escape upgraded to lv10¡­ Formless Sword Escape upgraded to lv20!¡±


    This upgrade once again cost Lu Qingshan about three hundred thousand experience points.


    And on the panel, the level of Formless Sword Escape also reached the theoretical max level.


    Formless Sword Escape: Upon using this skill, a Sword Cultivator can apany the Flying Sword and fly a short distance; current maximum apanying flying distance: three hundred zhang.


    Three hundred zhang is roughly equivalent to one kilometer.


    This is already considered to be a strategic value in terms of a sudden advance distance.


    With the speed of Lu Qingshan¡¯s Flying Sword, one kilometer really is just a blink away.


    By using this skill, he couldunch an assault on the enemy¡¯s face before other Cultivators could react, catching thempletely off guard.


    There were still plenty of experience points to spare.


    ¡°You spent 997,500 experience points, Life-bound Sword: Dragon Sparrow level increased: LV4(0/200w)¡ªDamage of all Sword Techniques executed through this Life-bound Sword +50%!¡±


    ¡°You spent 499,200 experience points, Life-bound Sword: Peach Blossom level increased: LV4(0/100w)¡ªDamage of all Sword Techniques executed through this Life-bound Sword +25%!¡±


    ¡°You spent 1,000,000 experience points, Life-bound Sword: Peach Blossom level increased: LV5(0/250w)¡ªDamage of all Sword Techniques executed through this Life-bound Sword +35%!¡±


    Inside Lu Qingshan¡¯s dantian, where the Nascent Soul sat cross-legged, countless dense points of light burst forth in the Sword Aperture at that moment and surged toward the Dragon Sparrow concealed within it.


    Simrly, a small portion of these points of light, which contained Lu Qingshan¡¯s Vital Essence, also flowed into the Peach Blossom Sword concealed within the Nascent Soul!


    Light halo circted around the two Life-bound Swords, as they continuously absorbed these dense points of light, with the sword body humming vibrantly.


    Ding! Ding!


    Apanying two clear and pleasant humming sounds, a flickering Radiance wrapped around the bodies of Peach Blossom and Dragon Sparrow, their shapes blurred, ascended.


    After a moment, they finally stabilized.


    The two Life-bound Swords hadpleted their upgrades simultaneously.


    Lu Qingshan could clearly feel that his connection with Peach Blossom and Dragon Sparrow had be even more intimate.


    ¡°What about me? What about me? I want it too, I want it too!¡± Gu Yiyi, who had been eagerly watching Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom absorb the energy points and get upgraded, felt so aggrieved that she was about to cry out loud, as she hadn¡¯t yet received Lu Qingshan¡¯s favor.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, why are you so skilled at this? How many times have you done this with them?!¡±


    ¡°And why, despite being so skilled, do I still get no share? How much farther are you nning to leave me behind before you¡¯re satisfied?¡±


    Lu Qingshan pped his forehead and apologized, ¡°It naturally goes in the order of their arrival; those two were first, and when it was your turn, coincidentally there was none left.¡±


    ¡°Wuwuwu¡­¡± Gu Yiyi couldn¡¯t stand the grievance.


    ¡°However¡­¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s face showed a look of difficulty, ¡°I can still reluctantly squeeze out a little¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Gu Yiyi stopped crying, full of anticipation.


    Lu Qingshan nodded.


    ¡°You spent 9,200 experience points, Life-bound Sword: Oblivion level increased: LV2(0/10w)¡ªDamage of all Sword Techniques executed through this Life-bound Sword +20%!¡±


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 Chapter 442 - 1 January Timeline_3

    Chapter 442: Chapter 1 January Timeline_3


    Just as before, numerous glowing dots were being generated, rushing towards the Oblivion.


    ¡°Come on,e on¡­¡± Gu Yiyi immediately broke intoughter, ceaselessly absorbing these glowing dots, which were imbued with Lu Qingshan¡¯s Vital Essence.


    As for the number of these glowing dots, which was significantly fewer than those of the Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom, this fact was joyously ignored by the overjoyed Gu Yiyi.


    This move was called retreating to advance.


    If Lu Qingshan had directly given the ten thousand Experience Points to the Oblivion, Gu Yiyi would definitely have been resentful, feeling that Lu Qingshan was being unjustly partial.


    But Lu Qingshan chose to feign reluctance to give Gu Yiyi any Experience Points, and only when Gu Yiyi epted this reality did he allocate the ten thousand Experience Points to him.


    In this situation, not only did Gu Yiyi feel not the slightest sense of grievance, but he even felt a bit foolishly happy, thinking he had made a big gain¡­


    ¡­


    Afterpleting all this, Lu Qingshan took out four kinds of precious Spirit Materials he had prepared earlier from the Storage Ring: Withered Dragon Wood, Earth Dragon Essence, Mutton-fat Jade, and Zijing Divine Copper, which floated in the air, suspended by his Spiritual Power.


    Lu Qingshan nned toplete the quality enhancement of Peach Blossom here:


    [Peach Blossom]Quality: Middle Grade Heavenly Artifact (Sword Embryo, upgradable)


    Current upgrade requirement: Sword Artifact Level greater than lv4, two ounces of Withered Dragon Wood, six ounces of Zijing Divine Copper, nine ounces of Mutton-fat Jade essence, four ounces of Earth Dragon Essence.


    ¡­¡­


    Lu Qingshan stretched out his hand, and a dusty Flying Sword flew out, transforming into a streak of Sword Light that plunged into those precious materials.


    It was the Peach Blossom.


    Hissss!


    He circted his spell, and with a thought, the surface of the Peach Blossom immediately shed with Spiritual Light, producing a strong suction force.


    At the same time, myriad glowing dots of different colors emerged from the four precious Spirit Materials.


    These glowing dots, which were the essence of the four Spirit Materials, rose like stars, ascending and then flowing into Peach Blossom.


    With the influx of these glowing dots, the Peach Blossom¡¯s inherent might also grew increasingly stronger.


    About a quarter of an hourter.


    ng!


    The de of the Peach Blossom suddenly began to tremble violently, and the speed at which it absorbed the essence of the Spirit Materials also surged exponentially.


    Lu Qingshan knew this was the critical moment for the Peach Blossom¡¯s transformation.


    The volume of the four Spirit Materials including Withered Dragon Wood, Earth Dragon Essence, Mutton-fat Jade, and Zijing Divine Copper shrank at a pace visible to the naked eye.


    Once more than fifty percent of these Spirit Materials were refined and absorbed, no more glowing dots emerged, and what remained were merely some useless scraps, their essence alreadypletely harvested by the Peach Blossom.


    At this moment, the Peach Blossom Sword gleamed with a watery radiance, misty like jade.


    A short whileter, the trembling of the de finally ceased.


    The previously dull Peach Blossom now bore a hint of emerald green like clear water, seeming to umte terrifying power within.


    [Peach Blossom]


    Quality: High-Grade Heavenly Artifact (Sword Embryo, upgradable)


    Current upgrade requirement: Sword Artifact Level greater than lv7, four ounces of Brilliant Star Silver, nine ounces of Gold Sand, seven ounces of Blood Thread Silver, ten jin of Verdant Copper.


    Level: lv5 (0/300w) ¡ª [Damage from all Sword Techniques deployed through this Life-bound Sword +42%]


    ¡­.


    ¡°High-Grade Heavenly Artifact¡­.¡± Lu Qingshan murmured as he beckoned and the Peach Blossom returned to his hand.


    The three-foot-long Peach Blossom didn¡¯t appear as breathtaking as the Dragon Sparrow, seeming quite simple and unadorned, but the power it contained was absolutely not to be underestimated.


    Feeling that both Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom had received significant enhancements, Lu Qingshan was likewise overjoyed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how powerful my Flying Swords are now,¡± he thought, and immediately both Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom shot out, transforming into one crimson-red and one emerald-green Radiance, darting through the air and roaring with the sound of thunder.


    ¡°Dragon Sparrow, forty times the speed of sound, Peach Blossom, twenty-eight times the speed of sound,¡± Lu Qingshan murmured to himself.


    This was the speed of Flying Sword Technique achieved by Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom without imbuing them with any Intent of their own power.


    To know that the power of a Flying Sword deployed by an average Nascent Soul Great Perfection Sword Cultivator might not necessarily reach the level of Dragon Sparrow¡¯s normal state.


    ¡­¡­


    In fact, at Lu Qingshan¡¯s level of Cultivation, the power of a Flying Sword is determined by three factors: one¡¯s own Cultivation, Sword Intent, and the Magic Artifact.


    Cultivation is the foundation, the source of the Flying Sword Technique, while Sword Intent is the soul that takes the power of the Flying Sword Technique to the next level.


    The Sword Artifact itself is also of the utmost importance.


    The power of a Flying Sword Technique deployed through a Taoist Artifact is certainly extraordinary.


    @@novelbin@@


    For this reason, the most important possession of a Sword Cultivator, in most cases, is their Life-bound Sword.


    After all this effort, with two hundred and ny thousand Experience Points remaining on the panel, Lu Qingshan decided not to use them, saving them for unforeseen needs.


    ¡°Up next, it¡¯s time to familiarize myself with the greatly increased strength,¡± Lu Qingshan murmured.


    From the Golden Core Late Stage to the peak of the Nascent Soul Early Stage, it had only been a few days, and he needed some time to stabilize his Cultivation due to the great leap.


    ¡­¡­..


    As days passed, in the silent expanse of the Netherworld, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Cultivation proceeded in an orderly fashion.


    Just as hepletely mastered his rapidly increased strength, a month had finally passed.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to go back.¡±


    Lu Qingshan murmured to himself, holding Dragon Sparrow and standing in front of the realm barrier.


    Then, with a sweep of his long sword.


    The fracture hesitated, then suddenly expanded, the membrane of the realm barrier instantly ruptured, and a spatial passageway appeared.


    Without hesitation, Lu Qingshan stepped into the spatial passageway.


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 Chapter 444 - 3 Watching the "Tide

    Chapter 444: Chapter 3 Watching the ¡°Tide


    ¡°Although Sword Cleansing Pool is a Sect of our Western Domain, yourparison is too biased towards them. I can¡¯t stand to watch it,¡± a yellow-robed cultivator knowledgeable in the ways of the world took up the conversation from within the crowd.


    ¡°Among the seven major Taoist Sects, the Sword Sect originally has the fewest members. Moreover, it is said that the total number of disciples in the Sword Sect with a Cultivation at the Nascent Soul Stage does not exceed three hundred.¡±


    ¡°As the number one Sword Cultivation Sect in our Western Domain, the Sword Cleansing Pool has disciples numbering in the tens of thousands with nearly ten thousand at the Nascent Soul Stage.


    ¡°With such arge base, can a single additional disciple on the rankings prove that the younger generation of the Sword Sect is inferior to the Sword Cleansing Pool?


    ¡°Besides, have you not noticed who is at the top of the Yellow List?


    Vast Righteousness Sword Ji Chuan!


    ¡°You must understand, among the ranked disciples of the Sword Cleansing Pool, the highest is only ranked at thirty-seventh.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    Having been lectured in such a way, the gray-robed cultivator who had spoken before also understood the difference and hung his head in silence, no longer speaking.


    Seeing that the gray-robed cultivator had no rebuttal, the yellow-robed cultivator, feeling emboldened from winning the argument, continued, ¡°The Sword Sect has always been famous for its ¡®few but elite¡¯ principle, so much so that it presents the unique situation where the number of Void Refining Cultivators in the sect actually exceeds that of Nascent Soul Cultivators, defying the pyramid structure of cultivation levels.


    ¡°You only see two Sword Sect cultivators listed on the Yellow List, but when you look at the Mysterious Ranking, the Sword Sect has as many as nine people ranked, which is the most among all the sects in the world.¡±


    With the yellow-robed cultivator¡¯s remarks, the others turned their gazes to the Mysterious Ranking.


    After quickly counting in their minds, they indeed found this to be the case.


    The Great Pure Pce of the Taoist Sects, which had the most people, ended up with only seven cultivators on the Mysterious Ranking.


    With thisparison, one could see how formidable the Sword Sect was.


    ¡°Moreover, if you look across the four rankings, the Sword Sect uniquely upies two top positions, with Ji Chuan at the top of the Yellow List and Taibai Sword Master at the top of the Heavenly Ranking. Doesn¡¯t this tell you something?¡±


    At this point, the gray-robed cultivator waspletely at a loss for words.


    In fact, he had simply blurted out his thoughts upon suddenly realizing that the number of Sword Sect disciples on the Yellow List was actually fewer than that of the Sword Cleansing Pool, without giving it much thought.


    But the moment he spoke, he realized the inappropriateness of his remark.


    Unfortunately, he had managed to catch the attention of a knowledgeable person and ended up being educated, to his great frustration.


    ¡°Talking about the leaders of just two lists is not enough,¡± the girl in light-yellow clothes suddenly took over the conversation, chirping, ¡°What¡¯s truly impressive about the Sword Sect is that they have the strongest Seventh Realm cultivator, Luo Shen Fairy Xia Daoyun.¡±


    When Xia Daoyun¡¯s name was mentioned, the cultivators immediately burst into a buzz of discussion.


    Clearly, this name held great renown.


    It was indeed the case, as Xia Daoyun was the first cultivator granted the title of ¡®strongest¡¯ by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion in the many years since it started ranking cultivators.


    How could such a precedent-setting cultivator not be famous?


    ¡°It is said that this Luo Shen Fairy recently achieved something tremendous.¡± Seeing that she had captured everyone¡¯s attention, the girl decided to share some exclusive news from her own sources.


    ¡°What great deed is it? Don¡¯t keep us hanging, spit it out,¡± urged a middle-aged male cultivator with a bushy beard, clearly an impatient type.


    ¡°What¡¯s the hurry,¡± the girl¡¯s nose twitched at the impatience of the middle-aged cultivator, showing some displeasure, but she eventually began to narrate, ¡°It is said that not long ago, in the Eastern Domain, a Great Demon King of the Eighth Grade, who knows what he was thinking, outright threatened the Sword Sect.


    ¡°Later, Luo Shen Fairy went alone with her sword directly to the Demon King¡¯sir and with just a single sh, she beheaded the Demon King.¡±


    Hearing the mention of his own mentor, Lu Qingshan, who was also eavesdropping for information, could not help but marvel at her words.


    Could this brazen Eighth Grade Great Demon King be the Origin Demon King?


    Lu Qingshan spected in his mind.


    ¡°A single sh? Just like that, a single sh?¡± A cultivator on the scene eximed in surprise upon hearing the girl¡¯s story, skeptical and in disbelief, ¡°Isn¡¯t Luo Shen Fairy only a few decades into the Eighth Realm? Could she be that fierce and powerful?¡±


    ¡°Yes, just that single sh! Otherwise, how could Luo Shen Fairy be titled the ¡®strongest of the Seventh Realm¡¯? She must be unimaginably strong to earn such a im,¡± the girl said animatedly, as if she had witnessed Xia Daoyun¡¯s heroic stature when ying the demon, full of admiration.


    To the skepticism of others, the girl scornfully replied, ¡°Luo Shen Fairy is known to have a track record of cutting down Eighth Realm cultivators while she herself was at the Seventh Realm.


    ¡°Once she advanced to the Eighth Realm, and faced with a Demon King¡¯s provocation, fuming with rage, it¡¯s nothing for her to y a mere Eighth Grade Demon King with a single sh.¡±


    ¡°Hmph¡ª¡± Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but twist his mouth upon hearing this.


    Xia Daoyun was indeed strong, there was no dispute about that.


    But based on the temperament of his own mentor, where would the ragee from just for ying an Eighth Grade Demon King?


    Watching the amazement on the faces of the surrounding cultivators and feeling extremely satisfied inside, the girl finally settled down and called out to her older brother, ¡°Let¡¯s go, big brother, to Fengling River to watch the ¡®tide¡¯!¡±


    ¡°Fengling River to watch the tide?¡± This phrase, falling into Lu Qingshan¡¯s ear, made him involuntarily intrigued.


    ¡°What, are you also nning to join in on the fun?¡± The quick-eyed and quick-eared girl noticed Lu Qingshan¡¯s reaction and enthusiastically invited him, ¡°Why not travel together?¡±


    The reason for the girl¡¯s enthusiasm was twofold: one was her innocence and romantic view of life,cking much wariness towards others, and the other was that Lu Qingshan had just had a brief exchange with her, finding him considerate and easy to get along with.


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 Chapter 445 - 3 Watching the "Tide"_2

    Chapter 445: Chapter 3 Watching the ¡°Tide¡±_2


    Of course, the most, most, most important thing was that this fellow cultivator looked very nice¡ªjust like a good person at first nce!


    ¡°Ping¡¯er¡­.¡± Seeing his younger sister so warmly invite a stranger cultivator to travel together, the young male cultivator was somewhat dumbfounded, weakly calling out.


    ¡°Oh yes, I would like that,¡± Lu Qingshan had already agreed with a chuckle.


    The words ready on the young male cultivator¡¯s lips were suddenly stuffed back in.


    @@novelbin@@


    Although he was more cautious than his younger sister, he was still just a greenhorn cultivator with a thin skin.


    His sister had just extended a hearty invitation to Lu Qingshan, and it wouldn¡¯t be right for him to turn around and push Lu Qingshan away.


    That would be utterly dishonorable. Perhaps after a few decades, he might be able to do such a thing without batting an eye, but for now, he could only twist in difort internally.


    The enthusiastic young girl obviously didn¡¯t notice her brother stewing to the side and cheerfully introduced herself, ¡°We are from the Li Family of White Horse City. My name is Li Baoping, and this is my elder brother, Li Zhangong.¡±


    A water bottle and a wine cup¡ªthe siblings¡¯ names were endearingly unique; their father must be quite the character.


    ¡°May I inquire about the esteemed name of our friend?¡± Li Zhangong, despite his inner difort, kept a good upbringing and followed his sister¡¯s introduction without giving Lu Qingshan attitude, asking politely with a cupped fist.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan,¡± replied Lu Qingshan with a smile, not concealing his name.


    Li Baoping and Li Zhangong, of course, would not connect a cultivator they happened to meet on the road with that distant and unattainable figure at the forefront of the Seven Domains Discourse¡ªsimply based on a name.


    After all, Qingshan was not an umon name; countless others bore it in the world.


    In casual conversation, the three had already left White Horse City and were flying toward the Fengling Great River on their swords.


    Giving Lu Qingshan a few nces, the young girl suddenly asked, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be from our Bai State, fellow Daoist Lu?¡±


    ¡°How can you tell?¡± Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow, surprised.


    Li Baoping replied with a giggly smile, ¡°¡®From Bai State to the west, the people all have deep-set eyes,¡¯ which means starting from Bai State all the way west, the people in all the states more or less have slightly sunken eyes. Not like you, with full and round eye sockets.¡±


    Lu Qingshan never expected such a befuddled-looking youngdy to be so observant and responded with a smile,¡± I was originally born in the south andter entered a sect in the east. Due to some reasons, I found myself stranded here.¡±


    When he mentioned the south, he was referring to the Southern Territory, but in the eyes of the Li siblings, it naturally meant the various southern states.


    Knowing that Lu Qingshan was from out of town, Li Baoping¡¯s eyes shone with excitement, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve traveled far from home, and it was only because we¡¯vee to watch the ¡®Tide¡¯ at the Fengling River under the pretext of broadening my horizons that my father allowed me out. I definitely want to go see even farther ces if I have the chance.¡±


    Lu Qingshan made noment.


    Seeing that Lu Qingshan and her elder brother didn¡¯t pay much attention to her, the girl wasn¡¯t annoyed and started to mutter to herself about her little dreams.


    ¡°One day, once I attain a Golden Core, I¡¯ll travel all over the world to see those legendary figures on the Yellow List¡­ If I could speak a word or two with them, that would be even better¡­¡±


    Li Baoping chattered on in her girlish nature, ¡°And if¡­ if one day I could also make a name for myself, that would be the best. I¡¯ve even thought of the name¡ªit¡¯ll be ¡®Opening Yuan with One Sword,¡¯ ¡®Opening Yuan with One Sword¡¯ Li Baoping¡­¡±


    ¡°Opening Yuan with One Sword,¡± Lu Qingshan, who had been only half-listening to Li Baoping, suddenly took an interest and asked, ¡°Are you a sword cultivator as well, Fellow Daoist Bao Ping?¡±


    ¡°Of course! Our Li family has always been a family of sword cultivators. Otherwise, why would my brother and I be so eager to watch the ¡®Tide¡¯?¡± Li Baoping replied methodically, turning her head to nce at Li Zhangong, ¡°Right, big brother?¡±


    ¡°Right, right, right!¡± Li Zhangong rolled his eyes at Li Baoping, who was about to spill all their secrets, and answered perfunctorily.


    ¡°You must be a sword cultivator too, then, otherwise why join the excitement?¡± Li Baoping questioned Lu Qingshan in return.


    ¡°Indeed, I am. Hearing of the grand tidal phenomenon of the Fengling River, I thought to witness it myself,¡± Lu Qingshan acknowledged, nodding, before casually inquiring, ¡°Do you know how far we are from Fengling River now and who will be performing the Tide-ying this time?¡±


    Li Baoping was very enthusiastic, sparing no detail in her reply, ¡°The Fengling River is just around White Horse City, not too far. With our speed, we¡¯ll get there within a little more than a day. As for the one performing the Tide-ying, it¡¯s none other than ¡®Jade Wave Sword¡¯ Qian Liu, who ranks ny-eighth on the Yellow List.¡±


    Mentioning ¡®Jade Wave Sword,¡¯ Li Baoping¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration, and she recounted his achievements and stories non-stop as if they were treasures.


    ¡°Jade Wave Sword Qian Liu is at the perfection stage of Nascent Soul, mastering a perfection realm upper-grade intent of the water Sword Intent and an upper-grade intent of ughter Sword Intent at the Unity Realm.


    His life-bound sword is the middle-grade Heavenly Artifact Liuxue, skilled at external sword techniques, once having in a metal water tiger Great Demon at the initial stage of Fifth Grade¡­¡±


    ¡°Jade Wave Sword¡­¡± Lu Qingshan repeated the name, nodding slightly, and continued to converse idly with the two.


    ¡­¡­..


    A dayter, the three finally approached the Fengling River.


    They could see many observation towers lining both banks of the river, bustling with people going to and fro.


    Looking closer, one would be amazed to discover that those figures within the towers were actually all cultivators.


    What is referred to as watching the ¡°Tide¡± isn¡¯t naturally about watching the actual tide of the Fengling River.


    Although the tides of the Fengling River are indeed magnificent, earning the title of the best in the world, how could such a natural scene attract swarms of cultivators?


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 Chapter 446 - 3 Watching the "Tide"_3

    Chapter 446: Chapter 3 Watching the ¡°Tide¡±_3


    The ¡°tide¡± these cultivators came to watch was, in fact, the Sword Tide.


    Among the sword cultivation sects around the world, the Eastern Domain Sword Sect is the only Taoist Sect, undoubtedly the foremost authority in Sword Dao, followed by this Western Domain Sword Cleansing Pool.


    But who among those in the second position would be content with such a ranking?


    The Sword Cleansing Pool had long coveted to advance to the status of a Taoist Sect, and perhaps even to rece the Sword Sect¡¯s position.


    @@novelbin@@


    For many years, the Sword Cleansing Pool had been devising various ns to enhance the reputation of their sect externally and to strengthen it internally.


    The Sword Tide of the Fengling River was an event the Sword Cleansing Pool had stirred up to spread their fame.


    Every ten years, on the day when the tides of the Fengling River were at their highest, the Sword Cleansing Pool would send out disciples to face the challenges of sword cultivators from all over the world amidst the river¡¯s tides.


    There was no intent to harm or to seek wealth, but rather a session of guidance, showcasing the profound strength of the sect¡¯s disciples as unrivaled in their respective stages, thereby enhancing their own reputation.


    This was elegantly termed ¡°Sword Cleansing.¡±


    Swordsmanship is an art of actualbat, and whether it is engaging in a fight with a master or observing one, it helps a sword cultivator improve their own skills.


    Therefore, each time the disciples of the Sword Cleansing Pool performed Sword Cleansing in the Fengling River, whether they were the challengers or the onlookers, they would swarm to the event like the iing tide.


    Which is why the event was also referred to by the more enthusiastic as ¡°Tide Watching.¡±


    In a building along the riverside, the Tide Watching Tower.


    The young Miss Li Baoping had already reserved a private room in the tower, located at the top floor with a direct view over the Fengling River.


    The vast and endlessly flowing river was fully visible, right before one¡¯s eyes.


    Lu Qingshan was fortunate enough to benefit from thepany of the Li siblings¡ªotherwise, given the current lively scene, where else could there be such an excellent spot left for Tide Watching?


    Most likely, he would have had to wait with bated breath upon a nearby hill.


    The table wasden with an assortment of small dishes, but the Li siblings seemed to have little interest, their gazes fixed on the center of the vast Fengling River, as if waiting for something to arrive.


    Lu Qingshan, on the other hand, ate with great enjoyment.


    ¡°It¡¯s here!¡± Li Baoping suddenly eximed excitedly.


    At the same moment, the densely packed crowd of Tide Watching spectators began to bustle with activity.


    Lu Qingshan followed Li Baoping¡¯s gaze.


    He saw a cultivator in blue robes approaching on a flying sword, followed by over a dozen sword cultivators with varying levels of cultivation.


    A dozen streams of Sword Control Radiance flying in at the same time presented a magnificent sight.


    The figure in blue robes eventually came to a stop, hovering above the very center of the Fengling River.


    ¡°For this Fengling River Sword Cleansing, the Sword Cleansing Pool has dispatched a total of fourteen sword cultivators.


    From the Golden Core Early Stage to the Nascent Soul Late Stage, they span seven minor stages, and at each stage, there are two cultivators standing guard.¡±


    ¡°Fellow sword cultivators, if you are interested, you are wee toe up and provide guidance,¡± the blue-robed cultivator projected his Spiritual Power into his voice, and it instantly spread across both banks of the river.


    ¡°As for thest to challenge the tide¡­¡± the blue-robed cultivator paused, then continued, ¡°that would be myself¡­ I am ¡®Jade Wave Sword¡¯ Qian Liu, at the Nascent Soul Perfection stage, and I am also open to guidance from all of you.¡±


    ¡°The rules remain the same as before; each sword cultivator can only challenge those at the same or higher cultivation stage.


    Anyone who is victorious shall receive Spirit Crystals as a reward¡ªGolden Core cultivators will receive two, Nascent Soul cultivators will receive five, and if someone can defeat me¡­ ten Spirit Crystals will be offered!¡±


    With a wave of his hand, Qian Liu tossed out twenty Spirit Crystals, which suspended high above in the sky, glittering with Spiritual Light, ¡°If you win against a higher stage, the Spirit Crystal reward will be doubled!¡±


    As soon as Qian Liu finished speaking, the fourteen disciples of the Sword Cleansing Pool immediately spread out, each upying their own domain above the Fengling River.


    Meanwhile, the water in the Fengling River began to surge, with the sound of waves growing louder.


    The great tide of the Fengling River was about to rise!


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 Chapter 447 - 4: The Cut-off Tide (Major Chapter)

    Chapter 447: Chapter 4: The Cut-off Tide (Major Chapter)


    ¡°We¡¯re about to witness a sh between the sword cultivators of the world and the disciples of the Sword Cleansing Pool,¡± Li Baoping said with eager anticipation.


    No sooner had her words fallen than a figure flew out from the riverside, alighting in front of one of the two Golden Core Middle Stage disciples from the Sword Cleansing Pool.


    ¡°I am Ling Xin, disciple of the Jinghong Sect. I am not skilled, but I dare to ask for guidance from my fellow daoist,¡± said Ling Xin, his posture one of great humility.


    ¡°Sword Cleansing Pool, Jun Xiuyuan,¡± the chosen disciple of the Sword Cleansing Pool responded.


    Both sword cultivators belonged to the External Sword Sect, and the very next moment saw them jumping intobat. The sword light was dazzling, and sword qi whirled through the air.


    Li Baoping, watching from the Tide Watching Tower, was full of interest, cheering ¡°Good!¡± at the exciting parts. Even the usually aloof Li Zhangong was absorbed in the spectacle.


    But Lu Qingshan felt it was somewhat dull.


    After all, these two Golden Core sword cultivators, who had not evenprehended Sword Intent, were simplyckluster in his eyes, less attractive than the snacks on the table.


    The battle between the two sword cultivators on the river was at its height.


    In the end, it was Jun Xiuyuan of the Sword Cleansing Pool who easily prevailed, exploiting a w exposed by Ling Xin andnding a decisive strike.


    With this, the grand event at the Sword Cleansing Pool had officially begun.


    Immediately, six or seven more sword cultivators leaped out, challenging the disciples of the Sword Cleansing Pool.


    For a time, above the mighty Fengling River, the sword light flickered and the sound of swords nged incessantly.


    The battles between sword cultivators are like lightning strikes and firestones, changing in the blink of an eye, and always highly spectacr. Winners and losers are often determined in the space of a breath, to Li Baoping¡¯s immense satisfaction.


    Of course, so far, the disciples of the Sword Cleansing Pool had maintained a record ofplete victory.


    After all, the purpose of the Sword Cleansing Pool¡¯s grand event was to promote their prestige; the disciples they selected were naturally the elite of the sect.


    Moreover, the gap in strength between disciples from arge sect like theirs and ordinary cultivators was already extraordinarily vast.


    So it was not surprising that the disciples of the Sword Cleansing Pool maintained a streak of victories.


    Lu Qingshan nced up on a whim, looking into the distance where he could barely see a white line appearing far away.


    The great tidal surge of the Fengling River was approaching.


    By now, all fourteen disciples of the Sword Cleansing Pool had fought at least one round.


    Only the wielder of the Jade Wave Sword, Qianliu, had yet to be challenged, his arms crossed as he hovered above the river, seemingly neglected.


    ¡ª¡ªSelf-awareness is something most people have.


    A sword cultivator worthy of the Yellow List was not someone they were in the same league with.


    To challenge him? That would be an embarrassment they need not subject themselves to.


    ¡°Even if they can¡¯t win, someone should at least challenge him,¡± Li Baoping murmured anxiously as the great tide was about toe in.


    Because once the tide receded, the Sword Cleansing event would alsoe to an end.


    ¡°Come on, someone brave¡­ Otherwise, if no one challenges the Jade Wave Sword, won¡¯t I miss out on seeing him in action? What a loss¡­¡± the young girl muttered.


    Just then!


    An aged swordsman with a withered face rose upon his sword, abruptly halting in front of Qianliu of the Jade Wave Sword, who had yet to be challenged.


    ¡°Qin Mountain of the Qin Family, Qin He, please enlighten me with your Jade Wave Sword.¡±


    ¡°Yay! Someone finally came!¡± eximed Li Baoping, excitedly pumping her little fists. Without needing Lu Qingshan to ask, she started chattering away to him.


    ¡°Among the many sword cultivating families in Baizhou, our Qin Mountain Qin Family and the White Horse Li Family belong to the same ss of power.


    This Qin He is the Family Head of the Qin Family, an old Nascent Soul of seven to eight hundred years old, and yet he shamelessly challenges the Jade Wave Sword, who is even younger than his son.


    @@novelbin@@


    But luckily he has no shame, or else I wouldn¡¯t be able to witness the Jade Wave Sword¡¯s skills!¡±


    While Li Baoping gossiped, the battle had already begun.


    Qin He too specialized in the sword techniques of the External Sword School, lunging forward with a ringing sound as he thrust his sword. The sword light was brilliant, and he unleashed all his mastery, sending forth a powerful and substantial pressure.


    This was his Giant Mountain Sword Intent, of Middle Rank Intent.


    When his sword was unleashed, it was as heavy as a giant mountain, utterly oppressive.


    His strike was as heavy as a thousand catties.


    Qianliu of the Jade Wave Sword then struck with a chime, and his Flowing Snow Sword instantly appeared in his hand.


    The sword emitted a chilly radiance like snow, causing even Qin He to shudder.


    Confronting Qin He¡¯s oing strike, Qianliu simply pointed the Flowing Snow Sword forward, casually sweeping it out.


    Whoosh!


    The sound of waves emanated from within the sword.


    All who saw this stroke felt as though countless waters surged from within that sword, forming waves that swept towards Qin He¡¯s assault, overwhelmingly.


    Qin He clenched his teeth and shed down, trying to break through Qianliu¡¯s strike with the might of a Giant Mountain.


    Boom!


    The waves crashed against the rocks.


    Qin He¡¯s Giant Mountain was not toppled by these waves, and he revealed a look of joy on his face, preparing to pursue his attack.


    However, at that moment, the situation drastically changed.


    Another round of even higher and more ferocious waves surged up, sweeping towards Qin He once again.


    ¡°The sword spawns nineyers of waves, each one stronger than thest,¡± Li Baoping eximed excitedly. ¡°This is the famed sword technique of the Jade Wave Sword, containing nineyers of force within a single stroke, as enduring as water. Few can match its strength. I wonder how manyyers this shameless old man can withstand.¡±


    Lu Qingshan watched intently, focusing on the skirmish above the river.


    Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Four more intense collisions were heard.


    In the next instant, as all the water and waves dissipated, the tip of Qianliu¡¯s Flowing Snow Sword had alreadye to rest just at Qin He¡¯s Dantian on the abdomen.


    Before everyone could react, Qin He, a Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator, had already admitted defeat.


    This elderly swordsman of seven to eight hundred years lost utterly without resistance to Qianliu, a new generation sword cultivator.


    ¡°Thank you for the concession,¡± said the Jade Wave Sword graciously.


    ¡°Indeed, the Jade Wave Sword is formidable. I am unworthy byparison,¡± admitted Qin He dully after a moment, conceding with sincere admiration.


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 Chapter 448 - 4 Tidal Break (Major Section)_2

    Chapter 448: Chapter 4 Tidal Break (Major Section)_2


    ¡°Your sword momentum is like a mountain, heavy beyondpare, but due to this, itcks agility. If you could draw upon some of the continuity of water, you would surely make further progress,¡± Jade Wave Sword Qianliu suddenly advised.


    Upon hearing this, Qin He couldn¡¯t help but be slightly startled. He closed his eyes, as if realizing something. Momentster, he suddenly opened his eyes and bowed with his hands sped, ¡°Thank you for the guidance.¡±


    ¡°No need, it was just a small effort on my part. Isn¡¯t that why we, the Sword Cleansing Pool, hold this grand event of sword cleansing on the Fengling River? To meet friends through swordy and benefit all sword cultivators in the world,¡± Jade Wave Sword said indifferently.


    It seemed as if these words had struck a chord with Qin He. He pondered for a moment, then suddenly said loudly, ¡°The Sword Cleansing Pool has a heart for assisting sword cultivators throughout the world, truly a great righteousness. Today, I am inspired to speak, even if it may be seen as highly inappropriate.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°The Sword Sect may be strong, but its threshold is high as the sky, with only a rare few capable of joining its ranks.


    So no matter how strong it is, it only strengthens itself, which is meaningless to sword cultivators around the world.


    Don¡¯t you see that in the Eastern Domain, due to the overpowering brilliance of the Sword Sect, other smaller sword cultivation sects have scarce inheritance.


    But the Sword Cleansing Pool is different. It widely recruits disciples from around the world, aiming to strengthen the sword cultivators as its mission. It never limits its vision to just one sect, never suppressing other sword cultivation sects.


    Moreover, it is willing to send disciples from among its ranks to hold this grand sword cleansing event on the Fengling River, allowing young sword cultivators with aspirations from around the world to exchange views. This has made the Western Domain a ce where myriad sword cultivation sects flourish.


    Inparison with the Sword Sect, the Sword Cleansing Pool is onlycking a leading Sword Immortal. In all other aspects, it is in no way inferior and could even be said to be superior.


    In my opinion, the true leader of development in the Sword Dao is not the Eastern Domain Sword Sect but the Western Domain Sword Cleansing Pool.


    As long as therees a day when the Sword Cleansing Pool produces a revered Sword Immortal, it will surely rece the Eastern Domain Sword Sect and be the number one sword cultivation sect in the world!¡± Qin He dered in a resolute and emphatic manner.


    A single stone caused a thousand ripples, and immediately, amotion ensued among the cultivators watching ¡°the tide,¡± with a buzz of discussions.


    The prestige and status of the Sword Sect in the hearts of sword cultivators the world over had already taken deep root.


    Qin He¡¯s words, no doubt, were challenging authority.


    But after a moment¡¯s thought, it had to be said that there seemed to be some sense in it.


    ¡­


    Inside the Tide Watching Tower.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes had already narrowed as he sized up the Family Head of the Qin Family, who was admitting inferiority before Jade Wave Sword but speaking eloquently in favor of Sword Cleansing Pool, full of praise.


    Such poor acting.


    How could a family head be so overwhelmed by a few rather insignificant pointers from Jade Wave Sword and be socking in depth as to be inspired to speak out?


    By this time, he had understood that this old supporting character among the sword cultivators was actually a nt sent by the Sword Cleansing Pool.


    The main purpose was to use someone else¡¯s mouth, under the public eye, to say, ¡°Aside fromcking a Sword Immortal, the Sword Cleansing Pool is already on par with the Sword Sect in all other aspects, maybe even surpassing it.¡±


    To create this momentum, subtly influencing the world¡¯s sword cultivators¡¯ view of the Sword Cleansing Pool.


    If this statement came from someone of the Sword Cleansing Pool, it would unavoidably give off a vibe of self-praise, which wouldn¡¯t be very effective and could even be seen as a direct challenge to the Sword Sect.


    But if the statement came from a sword cultivator unrted to the Sword Cleansing Pool, uttered in a circumstance of genuine admiration and submission, it would appear as if Qin He was won over by the Sword Cleansing Pool, indirectly reinforcing its allure.


    Indeed, it was clever.


    Lu Qingshan reflected inwardly.


    This would have been nothing more than an ordinary public rtions tactic in his world,


    One that everyone had already tired of, fooling very few.


    But in this world, it still seemed novel, and looking at the effect, it appeared to be quite sessful.


    Who would have thought that sword cultivators, often so spontaneous and willful, could also ply such cunning schemes?


    Yet¡­


    Lu Qingshan scoffed internally.


    It wouldn¡¯t have mattered if he hadn¡¯t seen it.


    But now that he had¡­ since someone was belittling his own sect to elevate the Sword Cleansing Pool, as a disciple of the Sword Sect, it would be utterly indefensible to remain indifferent.


    ¡°Li Baoping.¡± Lu Qingshan put down his chopsticks and looked at the slowly advancing tide.


    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s up?¡± Li Baoping responded with confusion upon being called, not understanding the sudden statement from Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°I think it won¡¯t be long before your wishes true,¡± Lu Qingshan said softly to the girl with the pleasurable little face, smiling slightly, ¡°Then you can say to others that not only have you talked with a monk on the Yellow List, but you¡¯ve even dined with one.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Li Baoping couldn¡¯t keep up, still baffled by Lu Qingshan¡¯s sudden remark.


    Then, she realized that theirpanion along the way, who had an appealing demeanor, suddenly stood up and leaped, his figure turning into a streak of Radiance that shot vigorously towards the surging tide crest of the Fengling River.


    The tide of the Fengling River at that moment was as rapid as thunder, swell after swell arriving, inching nearer with each passing moment.


    Thunder gathered over the sea, while a waterfall raged in the center of the river.


    With the formation of the great tide, Heaven and Earth seemed hazy. Those with lower cultivation, even with Spiritual Power running through their eyes, could not see through the dense water mist.


    Only that blue-robed sword cultivator of the Sword Cleansing Pool, standing proudly atop the tide crest, stood with his hand on his sword.


    With a spirit that was soaring and a visage that was suave, he captivated the hearts and minds of countless female cultivators.


    Sword cultivators have always been the most romantic kind of cultivator, winning the affection of women since ancient times.


    ¡­¡­


    The tide was surging and vast, like a towering white wall.


    Rising like dragon frolics, rushing like startled pellets of rain and hail.


    The spray of water, like beads small andrge, fell as if on a jade te, noisy and hissing.


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 Chapter 449 - 4 Tidal Break (Major Section)_3

    Chapter 449: Chapter 4 Tidal Break (Major Section)_3


    The grandeur was breathtaking, inspiring a sense of vast openness in the chest.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan of the Sword Sect, dares to ask for guidance from the Jade Wave Sword of the Sword Cleansing Pool.¡±


    Amidst the roaring tide, the crowd heard such a clear and loud voice rising from the river bank.


    The Sword Sect¡­?!


    Is it the Sword Sect from the Eastern Domain?!


    If so, what brings them to the Western Domain?!


    Countless onlookers simultaneously turned their attention towards the source of the disturbance.


    A figure was seen arising from the pavilion on the river bank, hurtling towards the Jade Wave Sword Chianliu atop the tidal crest.


    First, a zing red sword light burst forth, charging directly into the rolling waves.


    Then, thousands of sword qi fments surged out, causing the entire Fengling Great River to tremor with their might.


    Finally, that figure appeared above the crest of the tide, holding a magnificent sword in hand.


    ¡°Lu Qingshan?¡± Jade Wave Sword Chianliu watched the figure in front of him warily, ¡°The Sword Sect?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, since the Sword Cleansing Pool has opened a grand sword cleansing event here, surely you do not prohibit Sword Sect disciples from participating?¡± Lu Qingshan asked.


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Chianliu would not allow his own sect to seem any lesser inparison to the Sword Sect.


    ¡°Then that¡¯s good. I am but a small sword cultivator at the Nascent Soul Early Stage from the Sword Sect,¡± Lu Qingshan nodded lightly, and said in a soft voice, ¡°Today, I ask the Jade Wave Sword of the Sword Cleansing Pool to receive my three swords.¡±


    The moment his words fell,


    Secret Sword: Subduing Heaven.


    Lu Qingshan said to himself.


    Heaven Suppressing was one of the supreme secret sword techniques created by one of the three revered Sword Immortals of the present age.


    Only after advancing to Nascent Soul could he finally unleash theplete three swords.


    Theplete three swords with five times their power.


    Sword qi boiled and churned on the body of the Dragon Sparrow Sword, gathering into clusters.


    With the fivefold increase in power, even the sword qi seemed restlessly surging like ants on a hot pan, soaring upwards with an intense and unbridled ferocity.


    ¡°ughter, and pration¡­.¡± Lu Qingshan muttered to himself.


    The Heaven Suppressing Secret Sword did not stack with other sword techniques, but there was no restriction on Sword Intent.


    The ughter Sword Intent, born for killing, and the Annihtion Prating Sword Intent, created for striking, instantly took form along the de.


    Lu Qingshan did not hold back at all on this first strike after reaching Nascent Soul.


    The evolutive power of the Immortal True Intent acted upon the Annihtion Prating Sword Intent.


    A dazzling cold gleam burst forth from the Dragon Sparrow, exploding with a deafening roar as it sted forward.


    The audience, witnessing the tide, only saw the handsome sword cultivator iming to be Lu Qingshan, swinging his sword three times under everyone¡¯s gaze.


    With the first sword, his power seemed boundless, his radiance sharp, containing twelve hundred sword qi fments, grandly resembling the Heavenly River turned upside down.


    The sword prodigy of the Sword Cleansing Pool, ranked third among the young generation, countered with the apex technique Nine Layers Wave.


    The sword contained nineyers of force, blending the Intent of Water with ughter Sword Intent, bursting forth wave after wave. Each one stronger than thest, with the nineyerspounded, an unstoppable force emerged.


    The sword qi fments stood against these nine waves, resulting in a Sword Tide truly more tumultuous and surging than the great tide of the Fengling River.


    In the blink of an eye, they collided thousands of times.


    Bang!


    The roar of the great Fengling River tide surged suddenly.


    The sword qi, however, vanished in an instant.


    The first exchange between Lu Qingshan and Chianliu ended in a draw.


    But at this moment, Chianliu¡¯s face showed a tinge of paleness.


    Lu Qingshan, on the other hand, still looked as calm as ever.


    Then, Lu Qingshan unleashed the second stroke of the Heaven Suppressing Sword.


    Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!


    It was as if war drums were sounding.


    Like a giant pounding a fist, it sent Chianliu¡¯s heart and mind reverberating.


    He gritted his teeth and softly eximed, ¡°Secret Sword: Thousand Layers of Snow!¡±


    Boulders pierced the sky, waves crashed onto the shore, and snow swirled up in thousands.


    This was one of the secret swords he had mastered.


    @@novelbin@@


    Nine Layers Wave was unleashed again, turning into an immense barrage, white as the moon over the river, pouring forth to meet Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s second Heaven Suppressing Sword confronted Chianliu¡¯s Secret Sword: Thousand Layers of Snow.


    Between their confrontation, sword light and sword qi continuously surged and eroded each other, and in the blink of an eye, countless fierce shes urred.


    Boom!


    Another explosion resounded.


    The sound of war drums ceased, and a thousand heaps of snow passed away.


    In the sight of the tide-watching guests, now only the great tide of Fengling River and the two people atop the tidal crest remained.


    In this second head-to-head confrontation, the two once again fought to a draw.


    But, this¡­ wasn¡¯t over yet.


    Finally, Lu Qingshan unleashed his third sword sh.


    The already at-wit¡¯s-end Jade Wave Sword Qiuliang could only strive to put forth a sword strike in defense.


    Dodge?


    It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t dodge, but under such high-profile scrutiny, if he were to dodge, what would be of the Sword Cleansing Pool¡¯s reputation? Wouldn¡¯t this grand event of the Sword Cleansing Pool on the Fengling River be a joke?


    Thus, for the reputation of his sect, he must do everything in his power to block this sword head-on, even if it meant taking serious injury, he had to stop it!


    However, he overestimated himself and underestimated Lu Qingshan.


    How could he, with barely a breath of energy left, withstand the Heaven Suppressing Sword that he could only block with his full strength?


    This time, the bnce was instantly broken.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s sword light, like destroying the dry and rotten, smashed through Qiuliang¡¯syers of waves, heading straight for the already pale-faced Qiuliang.


    ¡°Is my life over?¡± Qiuliang suddenly had this thought sh through his mind.


    He couldn¡¯t believe that he might meet his end here, at this Sword Cleansing event on the Fengling River, which he had always considered just a game.


    The tide-watching guests were also wide-eyed in disbelief.


    A disciple of the Sword Sect was about to y a disciple of the Sword Cleansing Pool in in sight of everyone?


    If this were to happen, it was easy to imagine how big a storm it would cause in the Western Domain.


    Lu Qingshan, looking at Qiuliang¡¯s pale and desperate face, smiled faintly, then swiftly turned the edge of his sword.


    Drawing one¡¯s sword and killing at the first sign of trouble¡ªthat was the mark of a lunatic, not a Sword Cultivator.


    Marching forward unyieldingly was the way of a Sword Cultivator¡¯s spirit, not his conduct towards others.


    Defeating the Jade Wave Sword had already regained honor for the Sword Sect.


    Killing Qiuliang? That was something only a fool would do.


    But once the Heaven Suppressing Sword was unleashed, such a powerful strike, even he could not retract it.


    Lu Qingshan could only turn the edge of his sword, redirecting his attack to another.


    But on this Fengling River, who else could withstand his all-out strike?


    Therefore, Lu Qingshan¡¯s new target became the great tide beneath him on the Fengling River.


    On this day, along the bustling banks of Fengling River, all the tide-watching guests witnessed an unforgettable scene.


    The two cross-hugging, peaking lines of tide that had reached their zenith suddenly stopped in their tracks.


    They were cleaved straight through by a single sword strike.


    It was as if by divine craftsmanship.


    The water droplets that resembledrge and small pearls vanished into nothingness, and the mist evaporated just as well.


    Leaving behind only the calm, mirror-like Fengling Great River.


    All was gone, as if the tide had never existed.


    The sound of the tide, like thunder and hail, also dispersed, vanishing without a trace.


    The tide-watching guests stood agape, and for a moment, heaven and earth went still.


    An eerily quiet stillness.


    Jade Wave Sword Qiuliang hung suspended in mid-air, his face nk, seemingly lost in thought.


    A ball of Spiritual Power brushed past, taking away the twenty Spirit Crystals that had been suspended in mid-air.


    Between heaven and earth, only the gradually shrinking Escaping Light of Lu Qingshan remained, along with his final, heartyughter, ¡°These twenty Spirit Crystals from the Sword Cleansing Pool, Lu humbly cannot refuse.¡±


    ¡­¡­.


    Lu Qingshan, with one sword, disrupted the great tide of Fengling River.


    And also broke the ¡°Tide¡± of the Sword Cleansing Pool¡¯s Sword.


    Truly peerless elegance.


    The young maiden Li Baoping, who had just entered the world, sat atop the Tide Watching Tower, staring nkly at the gradually disappearing figure above the Fengling River, her thoughts churning like carps vying for food in a pond.


    After a long while, she couldn¡¯t help but murmur foolishly, ¡°All is past¡­¡±


    That figure, she felt she¡¯d probably never forget for the rest of her life¡­


    Li Zhangong nced at Li Baoping, whose eyes were filled with little stars, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly for his sister.


    Their father had said that encountering someone too dazzling in one¡¯s youth was both a fortune¡­ and a misfortune.


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 Chapter 450 - 5: Sand Bandits and Dongque City

    Chapter 450: Chapter 5: Sand Bandits and Dongque City


    ¡°Was the young master already this powerful upon his initial entry into the Nascent Soul Stage?¡± murmured Qin Yitian, still immersed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s recent disy of the Tide-Breaking force, full of astonishment and doubt.


    It must be known that Qianliu was not some weak Ordinary Nascent Soul, but a cultivator from a top tier sect, with a superior inheritance, ranked on the Yellow List at the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul Stage.


    Such a person could definitely not be considered weak, yet, against the young master¡¯s Three Swords, he couldn¡¯t even defend¡­


    ¡°The gap between him and me is not as big as you think,¡± Lu Qingshan said calmly, offering an exnation. ¡°In that predicament, where retreat was not an option, he had no choice but to stand and face me head-on to uphold the reputation of the Sword Cleansing Pool.¡±


    ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for that, and had it been a life-and-death battle, even if I were able to defeat him, it definitely wouldn¡¯t have been so effortless.¡±


    The Heaven Suppressing Secret Sword was his most explosive Sword Technique.


    And Qianliu had mastered the Sword Intent of water to a high degree¡ªhis renowned techniques were famous for their persistent and relentless nature.


    The Jade Wave Sword excelled in prolonged engagements.


    The longer the battle dragged on, the higher his chances of victory.


    But Lu Qingshan decided to shorten the battle to within the span of Three Swords.


    This was essentially exploiting his own strengths to target the other¡¯s weaknesses.


    Thus, it came as no surprise when the Jade Wave Sword was overwhelmed in a single strike.


    On top of that, even after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, the immense burden of wielding the Heaven Suppressing Sword Technique was huge, and the consumption of Spiritual Power for those three strikes was extremely significant.


    Therefore, he wasn¡¯t as leisurely andposed as he appeared.


    But isn¡¯t magicalbat between cultivators all about leveraging one¡¯s strengths against an opponent¡¯s weaknesses?


    Being able to use the situation to deploy the most effectivebat strategy to swiftly defeat the enemy was indeed a testament to his capabilities.


    ¡­¡­


    ¡°Lu Qingshan, where are we headed?¡± Gu Yiyi¡¯s muffled voice came through.


    She had suddenly realized that since leaving Fengling River, the surroundings had gradually be more deste.


    Now, as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but a vast expanse of yellow sand, stretching to the horizon.


    Sand piled up into numerous brown mounds of varying heights, scattered unevenly across thendscape.


    This was a boundless desert, yet it possessed its unique Charm.


    Unfortunately, Gu Yiyi could not appreciate such Charm.


    @@novelbin@@


    ustomed to thepany of the mighty Oblivion River, her preference was for the endless ocean, and she instinctively rejected such a barren scene of yellow earth.


    ¡°Toy low for a while and also to seek out opportunities,¡± Lu Qingshan replied, ¡°opportunities to enhance my Primordial Intent.¡±


    The Cultivation World was never a peaceful ce.


    Strife, had always been the main theme for cultivators.


    In such a climate, as the second seat among the Sword Sects, Sword Cleansing Pool¡¯s friction with the main Sword Sect was inevitable.


    Openly, they wouldn¡¯t target Lu Qingshan, just as he wouldn¡¯t have cause to hurt Qianliu publicly without reason.


    But having humiliated the Sword Cleansing Pool in front of so many and currently being in their territory, it was not certain whether they wouldy traps for him in the dark.


    Hence, it was prudent to lie low and avoid the limelight for some time.


    As for enhancing Primordial Intent¡­


    Because only when the strength of one¡¯s Intent reaches Perfection can a cultivator consolidate a Dao Seed and thus advance to the Void Refining Stage.


    So, from the moment one enters the Nascent Soul Stage, anyone aspiring to the Void Refining Stage would start using all kinds of methods to enhance their Intent.


    And the principle was simple, much like preparing for a college entrance exam, one couldn¡¯t possibly start cramming only in thest month before the exam, right?


    For Lu Qingshan, who possessed the Primordial Intent of ¡®Immortal,¡¯ this need for enhancement was even more urgent and necessary.


    The strength of Primordial Intent was beyond doubt, with its ability to drastically boost a cultivator¡¯s Combat Power being quite exaggerated.


    But the Heavenly Dao is ultimately fair.


    Toprehend and enhance such a heaven-defying Primordial Intent, the difficulty was unimaginable.


    He first managed a basic understanding through the Immortal True Intent bestowed by the Longevity Whale and guidance from the Qingqiu Mountain Master.


    Only after he had some insight from the Path-opening Aura bestowed by the Netherworld Prison Master did he finally step into the Immortal Realm.


    This was the challenge inprehension.


    The talented Ji Chuan struggled to advance to the Void Refining Stage, as he could not perfect his cycle of Primordial Intent.


    This was the difficulty in enhancement.


    Being prepared ahead of time was thus quite crucial for Lu Qingshan.


    And unlike the practice of Cultivation Techniques, enhancing one¡¯s Intent was different.


    It relied not on diligent cultivation, but on moments of serendipitous enlightenment gained from extensive travel, the influence of Heaven and Earth¡¯s unique treasures, and precious opportunities such as the Path-opening Aura orprehending from the Source Realm.


    That is why, after arriving in the Western Domain, Lu Qingshan was in no hurry to return to the Eastern Domain.


    In his memory, near the Mo Gao Desert of the Bai Region in the Western Domain, there was a great opportunity still in its infancy, unnoticed by others.


    And this opportunity could aid in enhancing his own Primordial Intent.


    Hearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s words, Gu Yiyi puckered her lips, had nothing to say, and huffed before falling silent.


    She decided to slumber for a while.


    Upon waking, Lu Qingshan should have left this ce, right?


    Sleeping, that was something she was good at.


    Gu Yiyi nodded satisfactorily to herself in her heart.


    Running away might be shameful, but it¡¯s effective!


    ¡­.


    In the Eastern Domain¡¯s picturesque water towns, the scenic beauty nurtured the most romantic Sword Sect.


    The Northern Domain¡¯s high-altitude ins were frigid, and the ceaseless howling winds of the snowfields cultivated the most tenacious will among the Human Race. Hence, the region was known for the Taoist Sect¡¯s Armor Pavilion, which was famous for its unwavering dedication to the study of various Cultivation Arts.


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 Chapter 451 - 5: Sand Bandits and Dongque City - Part 2

    Chapter 451: Chapter 5: Sand Bandits and Dongque City ¨C Part 2


    The Southern Territory, rich and prosperous with abundant resources, hosted the most numerous and proudest Dharma Cultivators, who took root and flourished there. Consequently, the Great Pure Pce came into existence.


    The most distinctive feature of the Western Domain is its barrenness; a significant portion of its area is desert.


    Due to the infertility, the scarcity of resources, and the harsh environment and oppressive natural conditions of the Western Desert, Body Cultivators, who could adapt to the harsh conditions and even actively seek them out for cultivation, managed to thrive.


    The Dragon Elephant Temple, a holynd for Body Cultivators, originated in this Western Desert.


    However, the Dragon Elephant Temple differs from other sects.


    The location of its sect is not confined to one ce.


    It has branches in various parts of the Western Domain.


    Four institutes, thirty-six temples, seventy-two shrines.


    Together, they are recognized as the Dragon Elephant Temple, the invincible Taoist Sect.


    ¡­..


    Lu Qingshan was flying through the sky with Sword Control.


    The Mo Gao Desert was very quiet, with nothing but the sound of the wind.


    But this did not mean that there were no living creatures in the wilderness.


    As far as he knew, beneath that yellow sand, unknown Sand Demons lurked and hid.


    Lu Qingshan looked around; all he saw was an endless expanse, and he ultimately could only look up at the starry sky, find a guide star, and continue onward, venturing deeper into the desert.


    In a desert where the only references were sand, the only reliable thing was the eternal stars in the sky.


    How vast the Mo Gao Desert actually was, Lu Qingshan had no idea.


    After flying for an entire day at the speed of Sword Control, the scenery around him remained unchanged.


    After another day, something different finally appeared in the deste desert filled with sand.


    A faint touch of green caught his eye, and the dry air also felt a bit more humid.


    Where there is water in the desert, there is an oasis, and where there is an oasis, people inevitably gather.


    Lu Qingshan felt a slight stirring in his heart and followed the direction from where the sense of moisture originated with his Sword Control.


    Sure enough, not long after, a yellow city appeared at the end of Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze.


    This earthen city was not square but shaped like a leaf, situated in the middle of the deste desert.


    On those yellow city walls, there was arge pattern of a ferocious beast branded upon it.


    It was a beast of prey, ready to take flight, its body swirling with mes. Strangely, this predatory bird¡¯s feathers featured a mix of five colors¡ªwhite, blue, red, yellow, and green, truly a sight of mystical wonder.


    A slight movement stirred in Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart; he recognized this creature.


    The five-colored bird, a mythical bird from Ancient Times.


    The reason it was branded on the city wall was that this five-colored bird was the totem of the Human Race inhabiting this city.


    This was also a characteristic style of the Body Cultivators in the Western Domain.


    They cultivated the power of totems, utilizing the essence blood of fierce beasts and birds of prey, and through special methods, inscribed beast runes within their bodies, thus possessing a portion of the fierce beasts¡¯ power.


    And these fierce beasts were referred to as totems by those Body Cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan descended from the sky and slowly approached this ancient earthen city named ¡°Dongque City.¡±


    In the Mo Gao Desert, there were two major forces, one being the Nine Tribes Alliance, and the other, the Sand Bandits,


    The Nine Tribes Alliance, as thergest alliance of the nine major totem tribes in the Mo Gao Desert, each controlled an ancient city, of which Dongque City was one.


    The Sand Bandits were somewhat special, as they were an organization of Evil Cultivators.


    The leader of the group was an Evil Cultivator nicknamed ¡®Old Vulture.¡¯


    In his early years, due to practicing Evil Techniques, he was cruel and killed countless people, consequently triggering a manhunt by Great Xia.


    Having narrowly escaped death, with nowhere to run, he boldly ventured into the Mo Gao Desert, a region untouched by Great Xia¡¯s influence.


    The Mo Gao Desert was vast and extremely deste, barely visited by anyone; how could Great Xia possibly find him there?


    Thus, Old Vulture reveled in his freedom, living beyond the reach of thew.


    But that was not all; Old Vulture was a cunning man. After settling in the Mo Gao Desert, he unexpectedly gathered a few fellow Evil Cultivators, raised a Great Banner, and started acting as ¡°Sand Bandits.¡±


    They specialized in attacking lone Cultivators in the Mo Gao Desert and extorting and threatening the smaller totem tribes for so-called protection money. They behaved wickedly, and surprisingly they managed a substantial gain since Great Xia¡¯s reach did not extend here and practicing Evil Techniques was unbridled.


    Gradually gaining notoriety, more and more desperate Evil Cultivators or Loose Cultivators desiring greater power joined the ranks.


    Thus, the Mo Gao Desert¡¯s second major power, the ¡°Sand Bandits,¡± arose from the ground up.


    The Sand Bandits wereprised entirely ofwless Cultivators with no permanent base.


    Bold and unafraid as they were unshod, even the native Nine Tribes Alliance harbored deep wariness towards them.


    Fortunately, while the Sand Bandits acted without restraint, they still had some limits and at least did not openly provoke the Nine Tribes Alliance. Thus, the Nine Tribes Alliance could only pinch their noses and let the Sand Bandits be.


    ¡­..


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s purpose for entering Dongque City was very clear.


    @@novelbin@@


    He was seeking an opportunity known as the Life Thunder Fruit.


    The Life Thunder Fruit was a miraculous item born from the lightning of Heaven and Earth.


    Lightning was a symbol of destruction and death. Wherever it struck, devastation ensued, and even Cultivators of high realms faced heavenly tribtions of lightning as tests to prevent them from continuously drawing on the Spiritual Power of Heaven and Earth.


    However, as extremes meet, from such fearsome lightning, a rare object filled with endless vitality could surprisingly emerge.


    Moreover, given the immense destructive power of lightning, it naturally contained infinite energy.


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 Chapter 452 - 5: Sand Bandits and Dongque City_3

    Chapter 452: Chapter 5: Sand Bandits and Dongque City_3


    The Life Thunder Fruit is a gift from the Thunder Force.


    Within the Thunder Force, a divine medicine containing the energy and vitality of thunder is born, constantly drawing from the power of thunder, and eventually bearing the Life Thunder Fruit.


    Consuming the Life Thunder Fruit and refining the strength within not only greatly advances one¡¯s cultivation but also the infinite vitality it contains can extend the life of a cultivator. Besides, it aids cultivators in understanding and enhancing the Immortal True Intent.


    In the past life¡¯s Nine Heavens plot, a major regional task urred in the Mogao Desert, drawing countless yers from the Western Domain.


    @@novelbin@@


    The massive scale of the event, coupled with the rapid information cirction among yers, meant that even Lu Qingshan, who was not in the Western Domain at the time, had heard about it.


    In the twentieth year of Immortal Martial, deep within the Mogao Desert, surge of auspicious energy and lightning pierced the sky, as if a chaotic treasure had emerged.


    Subsequently, the entire Mogao Desert boiled overpletely, and several terrifying Great Demons fought to the death for that unknown treasure.


    It was a battle that shocked the world, where the terrifying aura of the Great Demons shook the entire desert wilderness, and even the aftermath was incredibly daunting.


    The Sand Demons thaty hidden beneath the sands, dormant, were awakened by this aura and fled in terror, forming a horrific demon tide thatpletely submerged and devoured nine totemic great cities and thousands of small tribes of the Human Race within the Mogao Desert.


    It was a great disaster, a terrible tragedy; a city¡¯s people were engulfed in the blink of an eye, leveled to the ground, with not a single survivor, as if it were the apocalypse.


    The task given to yers at that time was merely to dy as much as possible, thus saving more of the Human Race.


    Stop the demon tide? Even the officials had no such hope.


    This was the great trend; who knows how many Sand Demons had been hidden and living in the Mogao Desert for thousands of years, and once erupted, they were unstoppable by human power.


    Later, after all the dust had settled, the yers finally learned the truth.


    The origin of everything was because of this Life Thunder Fruit.


    In a great storm, the Life Thunder Fruit fully matured, thus causing an explosion of infinite Spiritual Power and lightning, attracting the Great Demons of the Mogao Desert.


    It was for this Life Thunder Fruit that the four Great Demons caused that bloody disaster.


    Ever since Lu Qingshan arrived in Tianyuan, the memory of this task had been stirred up.


    If a demon tide were to arise, he had no power to stop it.


    But now, he had the ability to nip this bloody disaster in the bud.


    Because the fuse for the bloodbath was that Life Thunder Fruit.


    And now, it was only the fourth year of Tianyuan, and the Life Thunder Fruit had not yet matured, still gestating somewhere in the Mogao Desert.


    If he could find that Life Thunder Fruit early and harvest it, wouldn¡¯t the demon tide be prevented from arising?


    With the opportunity to prevent catastrophe and save lives, given his character, how could he ignore it?


    Not to mention, this Life Thunder Fruit was of great use to him.


    An opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, why not seize it?


    The current problem was that he only knew the Life Thunder Fruit was born deep in the Mogao Desert, but he was not quite sure of its exact location.


    The Mogao Desert was vast, and trying to find a Life Thunder Fruit blindly was too improbable.


    Therefore, since he hade across a great city of the Human Race, he thought of entering the city to see if he could gather some relevant information from the local cultivators.


    Upon entering Dongque City, Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes brightened slightly.


    The unique desert-style yellow earth buildings appeared within his sight.


    The pedestrians on the road were all wrapped in long robes and headscarves.


    This attire was to protect against sand and sun.


    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s interesting,¡± Lu Qingshan suddenly remarked lightly.


    Among the crowd of robe-wrapped pedestrians, Lu Qingshan caught sight of a young monk in a light red robe, which was quite conspicuous.


    There¡¯s a saying widely shared among yers:


    In the Western Domain, the one type of people you don¡¯t want to mess with is the bald ones.


    First, because, among those practicing Body Cultivation, the most fierce are the Ascetic Monks.


    It¡¯s very possible that a random monk you encounter is from the Ascetic Monk sect, whose Physical Body has already transcended the ordinary.


    Second, because of the Dao Dragon Elephant Temple.


    Although not all of them are monks in the Dragon Elephant Temple, at least seventy to eighty percent of the disciples are bald powerhouses.


    However, what Lu Qingshan found interesting was not the sight of a monk but that this young monk, appearing no older than thirteen or fourteen, was dressed in robes that could only be worn by Preaching Monks.


    At such a young age, he could expound on the scriptures?


    Even more interesting was that within the folds of the young monk¡¯s robes hid a small yellow bird, exceptionally spirited, clearly a sentient demon.


    This was a peculiarbination of a young monk and a small bird demon.


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 Chapter 454 - 6 Ascetic Monk_2

    Chapter 454: Chapter 6 Ascetic Monk_2


    Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan quickly examined the map in great detail.


    The expensively purchased map was indeed very detailed, not only marking the locations of various Human Race tribes within the Mogao Desert but also including warning signs in areas where Demon Beasts were active.


    The three ces indicated by the white-haired elder were marked with corresponding lightning symbols.


    ¡°These three ces are where thunderstorms ur year-round in our Mogao Desert,¡± exined the white-haired elder. ¡°This information was provided by the Bear Tribe.


    The cultivators of the Bear Tribe practice a Body Tempering Technique that requires the aid of thunder to temper their bodies, so they have a good understanding of the areas in the Mogao Desert where thunderstorms are frequent.¡±


    ¡°However,¡± the white-haired elder paused, thought for a moment, then said meaningfully, ¡°if you practice any Techniques that require the aid of thunder, it¡¯s best to go to the thunderstorm areas in the northeast or southeast. As for the northwest¡­ if possible, it¡¯s best not to go there.¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°Please enlighten me, elder,¡± said Lu Qingshan with his hands sped and a polite tone, while his eyes unwittingly slid another Third Grade Spirit Stone his way.


    The white-haired elder smiled as he swept the Spirit Stone into his sleeve and began to exin: ¡°The first two thunderstorm areas are where the cultivators of the Bear Tribe go for their Body Tempering.


    The intensity of the thunderstorms there increases in a very regr pattern, from the outside to the inside, gradually bing more violent.


    The weakest thunderstorms on the outeryer can be endured by Qi Refining Cultivators for a while, but deeper in, the force of the thunder is so strong that even Nascent Soul Cultivators would struggle to withstand it.


    This predictability makes these two areas suitable for cultivators of all levels to temper their bodies ording to their own tolerance.¡±


    ¡°But the stability does not exist in thisst thunderstorm area,¡± he said, with a shiver in his voice.


    ¡°The final thunderstorm area is close to the deepest part of the Mogao Desert, where few dare to tread.


    It was discovered by chance by a Nascent Soul elder of the Bear Tribe, who at the time thought he had found another perfect spot for Body Tempering.


    He had only just begun to explore the area, staying within the outermost safe zone when suddenly, for some unknown reason, the ordinarily moderate thunderstorms red up into chaos.


    The thunderstorms grew so violent that even he could hardly withstand them, forcing him to flee in a hurry. Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t gone deep, so it didn¡¯t take long to escape that forbidden zone.


    Even so, he sustained serious injuries and took several years of rest before he fully recovered.


    Therefore, since then, that thunderstorm area has been dered a forbidden zone by the Bear Tribe.


    Even a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator met with such disarray, so it¡¯s best for you, young master, not to enter rashly¡­¡±


    With the Nightwalking Ancient Jade on him, the white-haired elder could not see through Lu Qingshan¡¯s Cultivation level, but Lu Qingshan looked so young and had no trace of decrepitude, suggesting that his real age wouldn¡¯t be too great either.


    In the elder¡¯s mind, Lu Qingshan was at most a Golden Core Cultivator, with a high probability of being at the Foundation Establishment level.


    Lu Qingshan nodded slightly, ¡°Thank you, elder, for the guidance.¡±


    Though he seemingly agreed, Lu Qingshan understood in his heart that the location of the Life Thunder Fruit was likely in that forbidden area.


    The reason was not hard to exin.


    If the Life Thunder Fruit did indeed grow in the other two areas where the Bear Tribe¡¯s cultivators went for Body Tempering, it would have been discovered by them over the years. How could it have remained undisturbed for over a decade to fully mature and consequently trigger such a bloody disaster?


    Having obtained the information he needed, Lu Qingshan turned and walked out of the shop.


    As Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure disappeared from the shop, the white-haired elder narrowed his eyes in silence for a moment before suddenly taking a Communication Token from his sleeve and activating it with his Spiritual Power, causing the Token to flicker with faint Spiritual Light.


    ¡°A forbiddennd that even a Nascent Soul Body Cultivator can hardly handle¡­¡± as he left the marketce, Lu Qingshan rubbed his forehead with a bit of a headache.


    He had a rough idea of where the Life Thunder Fruit was, but how to obtain it was now the problem.


    The strength of a Sword Cultivator lies in attack, whereas defensive power has always been a significant concern for Sword Cultivators.


    Lu Qingshan had not ovee this weakness either.


    Even equipped with the Five Elements Sword Armor, he was not confident he could endure the strikes of lightning in the forbidden area.


    This was noughing matter; one mistake and his life could be over.


    However, he absolutely had to acquire the soon-to-ripen Life Thunder Fruit.


    ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll have to rely on external help,¡± he mused for a moment, formting a n in his mind.


    After entering the city in haste and obtaining the information he wanted, he left just as quickly.


    He shot upwards, following the guidance of the map toward the direction of Giant Bear City of the Bear Tribe.


    ¡­¡­


    In the vast desert, sandstorms raged, and the sun beat down mercilessly.


    Lu Qingshan, who had transformed into a rainbow streaking across the sky, finally encountered the first Cultivator after leaving Dongque City.


    It was a bald monk, naked except for a narrow cloth strip covering his sensitive parts below the waist, walking barefoot through the desert.


    The monk had not activated any Spiritual Power for protection, so the scorching sands, akin to hot iron beads on a pan, had already burned blisters onto the soles of the monk¡¯s feet, who was merely at the Cultivation level of Qi Refinement.


    This was an Ascetic Monk, one of the most esteemed in the Body Cultivation within the Western Domain.


    Ascetic Monks were not any specific tradition but a Cultivation method and belief.


    While typical Body Cultivators focus on the body, Ascetic Monks refine both body and mind.


    In their view, without a strong mind, a powerful physical body is futile, nothing more than an empty shell.


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 Chapter 455 - 6 Ascetic Monk_3

    Chapter 455: Chapter 6 Ascetic Monk_3


    If the heart is free from misceneous thoughts, only then can one truly cultivate the righteous fruits.


    This is the cultivation philosophy of the ascetic monks.


    They force themselves to endure what ordinary people consider to be suffering to train their stamina and detachment.


    In Sanskrit, the term ¡°ascetic¡± originally means ¡°heat,¡± thus enduring heat is the primary method of these ascetic monks¡¯ cultivation.


    Thus, the major deserts have be the frequent haunts of these ascetic monks.


    This method of cultivation, if truly brought to perfection, might turn a person into a piece of wood devoid of any desires.


    Being desireless is indeed steadfast, but at the same time, it also strips away one¡¯s humanity.


    This is a terrifying thing, for without humanity, one can be called a saint, but equally, a demon.


    Lu Qingshan was not afraid of the hardships of cultivation, but he could not agree with this self-imposed suffering.


    Moreover, cultivating the truth should be about cultivating one¡¯s true nature, not erasing all emotions and desires.


    If it were so, that ¡°truth¡± would be better off un-cultivated.


    While he had some reservations about the philosophy of the ascetic monks, Lu Qingshan still had some respect for this group who could endure what ordinary people could not.


    He slowly descended in front of the young ascetic monk, brought his hands together in a monastic salute, and politely asked, ¡°May I know which direction I should head to reach Giant Bear City?¡±


    Indeed, even with a map, Lu Qingshan still got lost.


    After leaving Dongque City, he had encountered a sandstorm, and by the time he got out, he had lost his way.


    Although he could get back on track after the stars appeared at night,


    since he had met an ascetic monk, asking for directions to save some time seemed like a good idea.


    Ascetic monks who dare to practice in such a desert naturally have their own methods of finding directions, unlike Lu Qingshan, who could only rely on the stars in the sky for orientation.


    The ascetic monk, seeing Lu Qingshan descend from the sky, knew that Lu Qingshan must be at least at the Foundation Establishment stage. He also brought his hands together in a salute and politely said, ¡°Please wait a moment, fellow Daoist.¡±


    Then, he picked up a handful of fine sand from beneath his feet and gently sprinkled it out.


    The fine sand dispersed with the wind, and somehow the ascetic monk discerned the correct direction from it, pointing in the opposite direction of where the sand scattered, ¡°Fellow Daoist, Giant Bear City should be in this direction.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, monk friend,¡± Lu Qingshan expressed his gratitude.


    Then, Lu Qingshan rose on his sword again, following the direction indicated by the ascetic monk, and continued on his way.


    The ascetic monk, regarding this fleeting encounter in the desert, didn¡¯t make much of it and continued walking barefoot under the scorching sun.


    ¡­¡­..


    Half an hourter.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Another dozen figures descended from the sky andnded in front of the ascetic monk.


    The leader, an ugly male cultivator with a dark birthmark on his face, had a fierce look and spoke in an eerily cold tone, ¡°Monk, have you seen any cultivators passing through from above?¡±


    @@novelbin@@


    The ascetic monk¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Having chosen to practice ascetically in the Mogao Desert, he naturally had a good understanding of the prominent characters in the Mogao Desert.


    The appearance and especially the noticeable dark birthmark of the man in front of him allowed him to recognize his identity immediately.


    An evil cultivator with a bounty from Great Xia, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, known as Shi Du.


    Sought by Great Xia for practicing evil techniques and harming ordinary people, Shi Du had be cornered and eventually fled into the Mogao Desert, joining the sand bandits.


    With his cultivation and ruthless methods, Shi Du had gradually be a minor leader among the sand bandits, specializing in assaulting so-called isted ¡°fat sheep.¡±


    And with the vast expanse of the Mogao Desert, where not even birds are seen on normal days, encountering another cultivator was not so easy.


    The ascetic monk realized that Shi Du must havee searching for the young cultivator who had asked him for directions earlier.


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 Chapter 456 - 7 Entering the City with a Single Sword

    Chapter 456: Chapter 7 Entering the City with a Single Sword


    The ascetic monk brought his hands together, bowed his head slightly, and answered, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen anyone.¡±


    ¡°You really didn¡¯t see anyone?¡± A venomous gaze, akin to a python¡¯s, slithered across the ascetic monk¡¯s visage, seemingly scrutinizing him.


    ¡°An ascetic cares only for the path under his feet, and dares not to gaze towards the distant horizons above. There might have been cultivators passing by, but I truly have not seen them,¡± said the ascetic monk, lowering his head in respect, yet speaking with neither servility nor overbearance.


    ¡°Boss, this monk is lying to you.¡± Suddenly, one of the dozen or so sand bandits behind the leading figure spoke up.


    ¡°Oh?¡± A chilling look crossed the leader¡¯s face.


    This subordinate of his was tasked with interrogation and was extremely adept at observing people¡¯s expressions and words.


    For those who were not deeply calcting, he could often see through any lies in just a nce, and clearly, the monk before them was not skilled at telling lies.


    The next moment, the leader reached out and grabbed the monk by the neck, hoisting him into the air, ¡°Didn¡¯t the Buddha teach you that monks should abstain from false speech?¡±


    ¡°Speak, which direction did he go?¡± As the leader applied slight pressure, the monk¡¯splexion instantly turned ashen.


    Having just embarked on the path of self-mortification and cultivation, the monk faced a test of his spiritual journey.


    If he remained silent, his life would be in jeopardy.


    But, if he spoke, it would mean choosing to abet tyranny under duress.


    His inner peace shattered, his cultivation would be impossible.


    The ascetic monk, who had hitherto looked down and avoided direct eye contact with the group of sand bandits, finally raised his head for the first time to meet the leader¡¯s sinister gaze, and recited calmly, ¡°The first precept: maintain a mind like that of a true person for an entire day and night. Be free of malice,passionate towards all beings, and do not deceive or injure any sentient life.¡±


    ¡°Have no dealings with delinquent men!¡± The ascetic monk spoke each word deliberately and clearly.


    ¡°Very good, very good,¡± the leader chuckled ominously, ¡°Worthy of an ascetic monk, willing to sacrifice your life for someone you hardly know; your state of mind is indeed lofty.¡±


    ¡°Since your state of mind is so lofty, I guess I¡¯ll send you to the Buddha¡¯s presence so you can discuss the scripture with him.¡± The next moment, the leader unhesitatingly made his move to kill.


    Hiss!


    The hand holding the monk¡¯s neck turned a sudden green, releasing a sinister toxic force, and crushed the ascetic monk¡¯s neck instantly.


    The monk¡¯s face froze, his body swayed, and then he copsed suddenly to the ground.


    Blood flowed profusely from where his neck had been, soaking into the fiery sand beneath him, vanishing without a trace.


    The leader nced emotionlessly at the body of the monk, ¡°What I despise most in life are these sanctimonious monks who, though merelymoners, consider themselves saints.¡±


    ¡°Boss, what do we do next?¡± the sand bandit who had spoken before asked.


    After some thought, the leader replied, ¡°Continue the pursuit toward the east. This person initially headed eastward.


    However,ter on, for some reason, he changed direction several times. Now that we¡¯ve lost him, all we can do is follow the original route.¡±


    ¡°But sooner orter, we¡¯ll catch up with him,¡± said the leader ominously, ¡°after all, he has our mark on him¡­¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that a storage ring could block their sensing of the mark, they wouldn¡¯t have to go through such trouble chasing him, he thought to himself.


    ¡°Fine.¡± The bandits responded in unison.


    Suddenly, a dozen figures rose into the sky, disappearing into the horizon.


    And at the original spot, a gust of wind blew by, and the rising quicksand soon buried the monk¡¯s body, hidden beneath it.


    Turning the vast desert into his grave.


    ¡­.


    In the desert, the two biggest sensations are:


    First, the boundless expanse of heaven and earth; second, one¡¯s own insignificance.


    Even Lu Qingshan, who had reached the Nascent Soul Realm, couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit of this sentiment.


    Yet, an ascetic monk with only Qi Refining Cultivation dared to traverse the desert on foot.


    Those who endure the greatest hardships can be superior beings.


    There¡¯s a reason why ascetic monks often grow to be powerful cultivators.


    Following the direction indicated by the monk earlier, Lu Qingshan checked the map for a while and moved on.


    He did not exert his full speed because in these circumstances, if the direction was incorrect, moving at top speed would only waste time if he deviated even slightly.


    However, not long after putting the map back into the storage ring, Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyebrows suddenly twitched.


    Within his Divine Sense, he detected a dozen cultivators trailing behind him, flying toward his location with clear intent, obviously not passing by coincidence.


    With the leader of the sand bandit cultivators approaching with a rush, it didn¡¯t take long for them to draw near Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan lifted his head, eyeing the leader of the group, a cold glint in his eyes and a sneer on his lips, he muttered to himself, ¡°Sand bandits, eh?¡±


    Meanwhile, observing the calm and steady Lu Qingshan lifting his head, the leader¡¯s face changed, and his eyes filled with caution.


    @@novelbin@@


    For he could not discern Lu Qingshan¡¯s actual cultivation level!


    ¡°Has he mastered some special Techniques, or does he possess a Magic Artifact?¡± the leader wondered, his eyes betraying a hint of greed.


    For people like him, Techniques or Magic Artifacts that could conceal one¡¯s aura were incredibly attractive.


    ¡°Boss, is it this kid?¡± While the leader was still assessing Lu Qingshan, one of the apanying sand bandits, a particrly burly cultivator with rough, dark skin, asked.


    Sand bandits typically exhibit two types of personality traits.


    One is like the leader, cautious and ruthless, having survived numerous sleazy and sordid encounters to be cunning and wily.


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 Chapter 458 - 7: Entering the City with a Single Sword_3

    Chapter 458: Chapter 7: Entering the City with a Single Sword_3


    @@novelbin@@


    Bang!


    The relentless Dragon Sparrow collided with the right hand covered in runes.


    The terrifying shockwave spread in all directions, the overflowing Spiritual Power and Sword Qi forming ripples.


    The runes wrapped around the hand shattered, and his figure was sent flying backwards for dozens of meters.


    Stabilizing his figure, he took another careful look and discovered that his right hand had been reduced to a bloody mess.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡± disbelief shed in his eyes.


    He was a Body Cultivator, practicing the Five Poisons Immortal Body, not to say it wasparable to the Buddhist Sect¡¯s Vajra Indestructible, but it was at least a superior Body Tempering Technique. How could he be so miserably defeated under a single flying sword attack from a Sword Cultivator?


    Lu Qingshan remained calm in his heart.


    With the mindset of Annihtion Pration, even a Body Cultivator¡¯s defense was nothing difficult.


    ¡°Do you truly want a fight to the death?¡± Sharpness stared fixedly at Lu Qingshan, his teeth clenched.


    ¡°You are merely fish meat under the de, where does the idea of breaking thee from?¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s words, filled with killing intent, sent a chill through him like falling into an ice cave.


    The voice had not yet faded.


    Whoosh!


    The Dragon Sparrow circled up and once again swept across the sky.


    The speed was too fast, so fast that the sword shadow could no longer be seen, only a zing red light was visible.


    For this sword, Lu Qingshan invoked the Immortal True Intent to evolve the ughter Sword Intent.


    With this double enhancement, the speed of the Dragon Sparrow had reached a staggering sixty times the speed of sound.


    A distance of several hundred meters was crossed in an instant.


    ¡°No¡­!¡± Feeling the fatal threat, his heart grew cold, his entire body¡¯s Spirit Power ran wildly, the dark green glow greatly intensified, runes encircled his body like stars.


    Boom!


    A cold light suddenly burst forth from the Dragon Sparrow at that moment.


    A grand sword strike turned into a frost line, breaking through the runes around him, obliterating the dark green glow, and finally, piercing straight through the Dantian area of his abdomen.


    He looked down at the massive wound on his abdomen, where blood was spurting out.


    But even more fatal was that this sword had also shattered his Nascent Soul.


    He looked up once more at Lu Qingshan in the distance, opened his mouth, but before the words could leave his lips, his gaze dimmed.


    Following that, his figure plummeted straight down from the sky.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart was coldly resolved, his thirst for vengeance not yet satiated by the death.


    The Dragon Sparrow looped and twisted in the air, heading toward the Sand Bandits on the side.


    The Dragon Sparrow and Peach Blossom, his Life-bound Swords, danced in the air.


    Whether they were begging for mercy or using Escape Techniques to flee, the Sand Bandit Cultivators were all pursued and pierced through by Peach Blossom and Dragon Sparrow.


    In front of a Sword Cultivator¡¯s Flying Swords, few could escape.


    There was no other; among peers, the Internal Sword¡¯s Flying Sword was the fastest Spell, second to none.


    ¡­¡­


    After ying all the Sand Bandits, Lu Qingshan collected their Storage Rings.


    Although these Sand Bandits were Body Cultivators, they were still highwaymen by trade, and their possessions were somewhat wealthy.


    Whew.


    Lu Qingshan flipped out the map he had purchased in Dongque City.


    Since entering the Mo Gao Desert, apart from going to Dongque City once, and asking directions from that Ascetic Monk, he had not encountered any other Cultivators.


    How could the Sand Bandits locate him and chase him down precisely in the vast desert?


    By now, he could clearly see where the problemy.


    Lu Qingshan released his Divine Sense, scanning back and forth over the map. Finally, at a thunder mark previously pointed out by an old white-haired Cultivator, he discovered a minute trace of Spiritual Light.


    This point of Spiritual Light was extremely concealed; he had to search for a long time even when purposely looking, no wonder he hadn¡¯t discovered it before.


    Lights running, he instantly crushed the tiny point of Spiritual Light.


    Lu Qingshan paused briefly on the spot, then made up his mind.


    He leaped up and once again soared with Sword Control.


    But this time, his direction was not towards Giant Bear City.


    Rather, it was the way he came, back to Dongque City.


    ¡­¡­.


    A man named Huang Zhong, a Golden Core elder of Dongque Tribe, was counting something at the counter in Dongque tool shop, his mind wandering.


    ¡°That young Cultivator earlier was quite generous, certainly a plump sheep¡­¡± Huang Zhong yed with a few prayer beads in his hand, murmuring, ¡°Once Sharpness seeds, another big share of ie wille in¡­ With this ie, I can afford some Body Tempering Pills and attempt the Sixth Refinement¡­¡±


    He managed Dongque tool shop, which seemed lucrative.


    But as previously mentioned, there are many Body Cultivators in the Western Desert, and their demand for Magic Artifacts is extremely low, so in reality, he hardly had any business all year round, where could any profite from?


    Instead, another Golden Core Cultivator in the tribe controlled the Dongque Elixir Pavilion, which was truly lucrative, making him utterly envious.


    It was only in the past few years that some Sand Bandits approached him to discuss a partnership to trap Cultivators, with him responsible for providing information about Cultivators, and the Sand Bandits responsible for ambushing them. Sessfullypleted, he would get a ten percent share.


    Since then, his pockets gradually swelled.


    ¡°Rich sheep, rich sheep, when will another fat sheepe?¡± Huang Zhong pondered eagerly in his heart.


    Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.


    But along with that ¡°fat sheep¡± came a Flying Sword.


    It was a zing red streak of cold light, which the moment it was released, shone as bright as the sun.


    The Sword Qi on it roared like a dragon or phoenix, plummeting from the sky, exploding into the Dongque tool shop along with the Flying Sword.


    Just like a famous sword returning to its sheath.


    The dazzling Sword Light, like an Immortal¡¯s toppling touch, entered through Huang Zhong¡¯s crown, then burst forth.


    A cloud of blood exploded on its own.


    Huang Zhong didn¡¯t even have time to scream.


    Outside Dongque City, Lu Qingshan in ck clothes hovered in the air, his cold eyes watching the city within.


    He was still outside the city.


    But his sword had already entered the city.


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 Chapter 459 - 8: Willing to Take the Bait

    Chapter 459: Chapter 8: Willing to Take the Bait


    Gentlemen seek revenge, ten years is not toote.


    But for Sword Cultivators, vengeance shall notst past the night.


    The glint of Radiance shed, and the Dragon Sparrow, which had just in the elderly cultivator Huang Zhong with one strike, spiraled back into Dongque City, before vanishing into Lu Qingshan¡¯s body.


    ¡­..


    Countless cultivators and mortals within Dongque City, faced with the sword descending from the heavens and the sudden explosion of the Dongque artifact shop, were all dumbstruck, unaware of what had just happened.


    They only knew that today, something major was destined to unfold in Dongque City.


    To brazenly kill a Golden Core Cultivator, who managed the artifact shop of the Dongque Tribe, was an act that demanded a response; otherwise, how could they continue to stand in the Mogao Desert?


    In such a barbard, once power and reputation were lost, they¡¯d be devoured clean by the watchful, hungry wolves.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this thief, daring to be so arrogant!¡± Just a few momentster, a sonorous voiceced with rage erupted from the core area of Dongque City, resonating throughout.


    Then, a red Radiance shot up from the ground.


    The cultivators in the city, upon hearing this sonorous voice, quietly discussed among themselves.


    ¡°Even the n Leader of the Dongque is alerted. That¡¯s a major cultivator of the Void Refining Initial Stage¡­¡±


    In the Mogao Desert¡¯s tworgest powers, the nine n Leaders of the Nine Tribes Alliance are all Body Cultivators with the Cultivation of the Void Refining Initial Stage.


    The leader of the Sand Bandits, the Vulture Elder, has even attained the Cultivation of the Void Refining Middle Stage.


    It was for this very reason that these two forces could stand against each other in the Mogao Desert.


    Meanwhile, elsewhere in Dongque City, other cultivators from the Dongque Tribe, equally furious, followed their n Leader¡¯s trail of red Radiance, rushing out of the city towards Lu Qingshan.


    This clearly signified how greatly today¡¯s events had ignited the wrath of the Dongque Tribe.


    Indeed, the Dongque Tribe had reigned supreme in the Mogao Desert for so many years, and not even the Vulture Elder had been brazen enough to kill one of their Golden Core Cultivation stewards in broad daylight, within the city.


    @@novelbin@@


    The red glow halted just before Lu Qingshan, revealing the figure within.


    It was a middle-aged cultivator, tall and built, with the visible five-colored sparrow tattoos on his arms.


    The middle-aged man red at the tranquil Lu Qingshan with eyes like mes.


    He was Dongque Yan, the n Leader of the Dongque Tribe.


    The next instant, without exchanging any pleasantries, Dongque Yan made a ruthless move.


    In the Mogao Desert, strength is the only reasoning.


    Why Lu Qingshan had in one of their tribesmen was a question to be settled throughbat.


    If Lu Qingshan could not withstand a single blow, no matter his justification, in Dongque Yan¡¯s eyes, he would not escape death.


    The five-colored sparrow totem on Dongque Yan¡¯s hand erupted in a wildfire; he swung his palm, which suddenly swelled dozens of feet, as the zing me Intent surged out from the Taoist seed within him.


    The five-colored sparrow is a Fire Attribute beast, thus the Body Cultivation of the Dongque Tribe, who carry the sparrow totem, usuallyprehend Fire Attribute rted Intents.


    Simrly, it was with the Middle Rank Intent¡ªzing me Intent¡ªthat Dongque Yan had condensed his Taoist seed and progressed into Void Refining.


    Under the enhancement of the zing me Intent, Dongque Yan¡¯s hand transformed into a massive peak of mes, engulfing Lu Qingshan.


    The enormous mountain seemed to possess infinite pressure, causing suffocation, dry mouth, and a parched tongue.


    Lu Qingshan, too, wasted no words.


    True skill is shown through action.


    A fierce glint in his eye shed as he released the Dragon Sparrow and simultaneously retreated, creating distance between them.


    Confident though he was, Lu Qingshan did not behave recklessly.


    When facing off against a Void Refining Cultivator a whole Rank higher than oneself, one must rely on the Taoist Artifact, the Dragon Sparrow Sword, to contend.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The sound of explosions thundered from the sky as the Dragon Sparrow emerged, its de also flickering with wildfire radiance.


    The Flying Sword, like thunder and an unstoppable tide, ferociously bombarded the gigantic palm that struck down.


    As the Dragon Sparrow collided with the hand transformed into a peak of mes, ripples visible to the naked eye spread instantaneously, impacting all directions.


    This aftermath was like a cloud of fire blooming in the sky, leaving those within the city who witnessed this spectacle in awe.


    The Flying Sword was repelled, and the fiery mountain crumbled.


    Dongque Yan could feel an infinite strength transferred from the Flying Sword as it collided with his palm, even sensing the sharp intent emanating from the Flying Sword, threatening to pierce through his sun refining body, cultivated to greatpletion.


    ¡°Such a powerful Intent¡­¡± Dongque Yan¡¯s heart tightened. With his Cultivation and experience, he understood clearly that the sharp intent came from the power of Intent, ¡°And why does his Flying Sword seem to ignore the force of my zing me Intent?¡±


    It was precisely because the Flying Sword had ignored his zing me Intent that, despite being significantly more powerful than Lu Qingshan, the exchange ended up in a stalemate.


    Of course, he was unaware that the Dragon Sparrow Sword was immune to a hundred fires.


    In front of the Dragon Sparrow, all attacks carrying the Fire Attribute would be disregarded.


    The Dragon Sparrow only needed to contest the strength of the attacks themselves.


    ¡°This Sword Cultivator can actually fight to a draw with our n Leader?!¡± The other cultivators from the Dongque Tribe were shocked at this scene, ¡°It seems our n Leader won¡¯t be able to take down this arrogant youngster in a short time?¡±


    ¡°Good, good, good!¡± Watching Lu Qingshan, whose expression was unchanged, Dongque Yanughed in anger and roared, ¡°Take another of my moves.¡±


    This time, Dongque Yan gave his all, showing no mercy.


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 Chapter 460 - 8: Willing to Take the Bait_2

    Chapter 460: Chapter 8: Willing to Take the Bait_2


    Upon his arms, the five-colored sparrow totem seemed to revive, slowly breaking free.


    A momentter,


    Dongque Yan swung his arms with a thick murderous intent, as the phantom of the five-colored sparrow wrapped around his palms, overwhelming the sky and heading straight for Lu Qingshan.


    A screech!


    A high-pitched cry of the five-colored sparrow even resonated through the void, piercingly sharp.


    Facing this ferocious strike, Lu Qingshan merely sneered.


    ¡°A sparrow dares topete with the Dragon Sparrow in singing?¡±


    With a thought, the Phoenix Pattern on the Dragon Sparrow Sword shed abruptly, and the temperature of the air surged instantly.


    The Dragon Sparrow brandished a fiery red Sword Light, weing Dongque Yan¡¯s onught.


    In the course of its flight, a sonorous sound suddenly emanated from above the Dragon Sparrow.


    ng! It was as melodious and Unparalleled as the Phoenix Cry in the Nine Heavens.


    Dragon Sparrow: Phoenix Cry.


    A Phoenix Soul Shadow emerged from the Sword Light, let out a clear cry, and collided with the five-colored sparrow phantom in Dongque Yan¡¯s hands.


    Phoenix against sparrow.


    The oue was clear at a nce.


    The phantom of the five-colored sparrow vanished in an instant, and all the mes were swept away by the Phoenix Soul Shadow.


    Hisss!


    With undiminished power, the Dragon Sparrow pierced directly into the right palm of Dongque Yan.


    The next moment, Dongque Yan¡¯s face twitched faintly.


    In the palm of his hand, a bead of blood had oozed out. Although it evaporated the instant it appeared due to the mes in his hand, this strike indeed had injured him.


    The first exchange between the two could be considered a draw.


    In this second sh, he had gone all out only to be at a disadvantage?


    Dongque Yan was shocked in his heart but understood that this indicated that Lu Qingshan now indeed had the standing to talk with him.


    ¡°Who are you, and why are you hostile towards the Dongque Tribe?¡± feeling the lingering pain in his palm, Dongque Yan¡¯s expression gradually became serious, and he finally stopped and asked the first question.


    He could clearly sense that Lu Qingshan had not yet formed his Tao seed, possessing only Nascent Soul Cultivation.


    Yet this Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator was eerily formidable; his Flying Swords dominated, and even he could not underestimate them.


    Such a powerful Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator was rare, which made Dongque Yan unavoidably entertain a thought, his heart skipping a beat as he pressed on, ¡°Could it be that youe from the Sword Cleansing Pool?¡±


    ¡°I trusted your Dongque Tribe and thus purchased a map from your Dongque artifact shop.


    Little did I know that the cultivators from your Dongque Tribe had secret dealings with the Sand Bandits. They turned around and sold my information to these bandits,¡±


    Lu Qingshan did not answer Dongque Yan¡¯s second question and instead coldly mocked, ¡°Had I not had some skill, by now I would have been dead and buried in the yellow sands. Is this your Dongque Tribe¡¯s way of treating guests?¡±


    ¡°Colluding with the sand bandits?¡± Dongque Yan frowned in surprise, ¡°That¡¯s impossible?!¡±


    Lu Qingshan looked at Dongque Yan with a meaningful gaze.


    The sand bandits caused mayhem in the Mogao Desert, even ughtering many of the local small tribes, which had already provoked the ire of the local cultivators.


    Therefore, whether Dongque Yan truly knew nothing of this or pretended to be ignorant, he had to appearpletely unaware at this moment; otherwise, he would be universally condemned.


    Whoosh!


    Lu Qingshan was indifferent to whether Dongque Yan was putting on an act or not, and simply threw a Jade Slip at him. He then infused his voice with Spiritual Power so that everyone in the city could hear him.


    @@novelbin@@


    Thereafter, Lu Qingshan dered loudly, ¡°Not long ago, the poisonous old viin of the sand bandits sought to ambush and kill me. Unfortunately, his skills were not up to scratch, and instead, he was killed by me, losing his life.


    This Jade Slip was searched out from his Storage Ring, which records all his despicable dealings with your Dongque Tribe¡¯s Golden Core Cultivator Huang Zhong over the years. The truth within is clear, and the n Leader of the Dongque need only look to know.¡±


    Dongque Yan¡¯s expression changed, and he quickly took the Jade Slip, his Divine Sense probing into it.


    After a few breaths, he raised his head, hesitated for a moment, but eventually bowed with a fist towards Lu Qingshan, saying, ¡°There must be some misunderstanding here. I ask for your pardon, fellow Daoist.


    I will investigate thoroughly, and if there really is such an absurd affair, I will surely apologize to you.¡±


    Lu Qingshan looked at Dongque Yan and said with a smile that was not quite a smile, ¡°There¡¯s no need for apologies, as I¡¯ve already personally collected the apologies I should have, and there¡¯s no need for the n Leader of the Dongque to gild the lily.


    Only, n Leader Dongque, it would be best to keep a closer rein on your own cultivators, lest one day they bring disaster upon themselves.¡±


    Dongque Yan¡¯s expression stayed fairly unchanged, and he responded with a smile, ¡°What the fellow Daoist said is true.¡±


    Seeing Dongque Yan being so reasonable, Lu Qingshan flicked his sleeves, took control of his sword, and once more left Dongque City.


    ¡­..


    ¡°Father, why did you let him off so easily after he humiliated our Dongque Tribe like this?¡± After Lu Qingshan¡¯s figure faded away, a silhouette flew close from behind,nding beside Dongque Yan with a hint of anger in his expression.


    This person was Dongque Yan¡¯s son, Dongque Xiao.


    ¡°Foolish,¡± Dongque Yan scolded his son in a low voice, ¡°Although that person has only Nascent Soul Cultivation, he showed Flying Sword techniques that are by no means ordinary.


    Even if I could suppress him with my Cultivation and gain the upper hand, it would be incredibly difficult to kill him.


    And if I truly made a deadly move, it would mean making a mortal enemy of him.


    Do you think such a formidable Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator would have no Sect backing him?


    If the Sect behind himes knocking, where shall we ce Dongque City then?


    Moreover, he is so young yet so terrifying in his methods. In ten or twenty years, what realm might he reach? To make an enemy of such a cultivator is to court destruction, is it not?¡±


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 Chapter 461 - 8: Willing to Take the Bait_3

    Chapter 461: Chapter 8: Willing to Take the Bait_3


    Although Lu Qingshan did not answer his second question, in Dongque Yan¡¯s mind, Lu Qingshan¡¯s legacy most likely came from the Western Domain¡¯s Sword Dao major, the Sword Cleansing Pool.


    Even if it wasn¡¯t, it would absolutely be from another top-tier Sword Cultivator Sect, something their tiny Dongque Tribe could not afford to provoke.


    Upon hearing this, Dongque Xiao¡¯s expression changed, and his breathing became slightly rapid, but he quickly came to his senses and then slightly bowed his head, ¡°I was reckless.¡±


    ¡°However, why would a sword cultivator from a prestigious familye to this godforsaken desert?¡± Dongque Yan mused as he watched Lu Qingshan walking away.


    ¡­¡­


    At this moment, inside Dongque City, several cultivators whose faces were hidden under headscarves, revealing only their eyes, looked at each other, ¡°Big brother, it seems like¡­ that sword cultivator killed the chief of the Sand Bandits?¡±


    ¡°It seems so¡­¡± Replied the cultivator called big brother in a low voice.


    ¡°What now?!¡±


    ¡°Quickly report this to True Monarch Vulture, and let him decide!¡± The Sand Bandits hidden in Dongque City stood in stunned silence for a moment, then sighed heavily in their hearts and said.


    He understood that this matter had escted.


    Because Shen Du was not simply a minor leader of the Sand Bandits, but a descendant of the old Vulture.


    Decades ago, Shen Du came under the old Vulture¡¯s wing, and since then, had been highly favored, directly taken as a disciple, and entrusted with important responsibilities.


    The old Vulture even seemed to have the intention of handing over control of the Sand Bandits to Shen Du.


    One can only imagine how furious the old Vulture would be when his most valued disciple and bloodline suffered such a brutal death.


    The revenge would surely be as swift and fierce as a thunderbolt.


    They only hoped their leader would not vent his anger on them.


    A few cautious cultivators discussed briefly, hurried along, and their figures quickly disappeared into the darkness.


    ¡­..


    ¡°Young master, are you setting a bait?¡± After leaving Dongque City again, Qin Yitian¡¯s curious voice suddenly rang in Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    ¡°How did you figure that out?¡± Lu Qingshan asked with a smile.


    ¡°Young master, you could have struck once and left without a trace.


    Yet you chose to stay outside Dongque City, exchanged a few moves with the Dongque n Leader, and under the eyes of everyone, dered that you personally killed Shen Du.


    Such audacity is surely a part of some n, considering your way of doing things,¡± Qin Yitian said softly.


    ¡°Knowing me, Yitian also,¡± Lu Qingshan joked.


    ¡°Young master¡­.¡± Qin Yitian was somewhat embarrassed


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression turned serious, his words imbued with a dense intent of ughter, ¡°I have long understood one principle, if not to act at all, so be it, but since I have acted, to be a swordsman, I must be more ruthless than these Sand Bandits and demonic cultivators, eradicating evil¡­.is due diligence.¡±


    The Sand Bandits inhabited the Mo Gao Desert, having developed over many years, their methods andworks were extremely sophisticated.


    Even a dragon crossing the river had to yield three points to a local snake. Under these circumstances, he found it extremely difficult to locate and eradicate these Sand Bandits.


    Since finding these Sand Bandits was difficult, Lu Qingshan simply did the opposite.


    He made these Sand Banditse to him!


    ¡°The old Vulture is a Great Cultivator in the Middle Stage of Void Refining, young master, are you confident you can kill him?¡± Qin Yitian worried.


    Lu Qingshan shook his head.


    ¡°Then, young master?¡± Qin Yitian was shocked but not panicked.


    His young master was not a fool, and naturally would not do anything suicidal.


    ¡°Although I¡¯m not sure I can kill him, escaping remains no problem,¡± Lu Qingshan exined to Qin Yitian, and then added, ¡°Moreover, if every battle had to be won before it was fought, how would my Sword Dao progress? What kind of Sword Cultivator would I be?


    Moreover, strong enough enemies are also what propel me to progress faster.¡±


    He had long noticed that his ughter Sword Intent and Annihtion Prating Sword Intent were triggered duringbat.


    He vaguely realized that to further refine these two types of Sword Intents and to reach Perfection, the opportunity must also lie within battle and ughter.


    Qin Yitian somewhat understood Lu Qingshan¡¯s persistence and beliefs.


    But understanding or not did not matter.


    Because it was such a young master that made her admire him so.


    Moreover, no matter what, she would always be by his side, fighting alongside him.


    That was enough.


    ¡­


    A hint of murderous intent shed in Lu Qingshan¡¯s eyes as he muttered, ¡°Sand Bandits, don¡¯t disappoint me¡­.¡±


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 Chapter 462 - 9 The Vulture Old Man

    Chapter 462: Chapter 9 The Vulture Old Man


    Despite the twists and turns in his life, Lu Qingshan had ultimately embarked on the road to Giant Bear City once again.


    ¡°Just a few dozen miles ahead, there should be a small Human Race tribe called the ¡®Bei¡¯,¡± Lu Qingshan muttered as he checked the map, ¡°Once we reach the Bei tribe, Giant Bear City will be near.¡±


    He continued on his way, but as he was about to approach the small vige of the Bei tribe, Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression suddenly changed.


    He smelled a pungent odor of blood.


    Hurriedly, Lu Qingshan increased his speed, streaking through the sky as a radiance, heading straight for the small tribe.


    Looking down, he saw a small oasis that could probably support a few hundred households, maybe a few thousand people.


    @@novelbin@@


    But at that moment, the usually bustling oasis was deadly silent.


    The earthen houses had copsed, debris scattered everywhere, with startling dried bloodstains everywhere, and what met the eyes was too dreadful to behold.


    One corpse after anothery in coagted pools of blood, including white-haired old men, fragile women, and even babies in swaddling clothes had not escaped this cmity.


    Among the bodies strewn on the ground, Lu Qingshan spotted a ¡°familiar face.¡±


    Previously in Dongque City, he had noticed a young monk with a long aura.


    The young monk was frowning, his hands sped together, standing in front of the ruins and reciting something to the corpses of the vige people.


    ¡°¡­. Thus have I heard¡­. At that time, Tathagata smiled and released billions of great radiant clouds, the so-called Clouds of Great Perfection Light, Clouds of Great Compassion Light, Clouds of Great Wisdom Light, Clouds of Great Prajna Light¡­.¡±


    It was a Buddhist scripture for the transmigration of souls.


    The young monk was conducting rites for the souls of the dead Bei tribe people.


    He also sensed Lu Qingshan¡¯s arrival but did not interrupt his scripture recital.


    Instead, a little yellow sparrow hidden in the sleeve of the little monk¡¯s robe popped out its head at this moment, its lustrous eyes curiously observing Lu Qingshan.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression was somewhat somber¡ªbeing of the Human Race, anyone with empathy would feel uneasy seeing such horror.


    He silently released his Divine Sense, roaming around the vige to search, when suddenly his expression shifted.


    Among the numerous corpses, he detected a faint breath.


    It was a very young boy, around eleven or twelve years old, with a massive wound on his stomach through which his internal organs were clearly visible, yet he was stubbornly hanging onto life and had not yet died.


    Lu Qingshan approached, crouched down to examine the boy¡¯s injuries, and discovered that the boy¡¯s face was deathly pale, already unconscious, merely hanging on by a thread of breath.


    At that moment, the young monk also noticed Lu Qingshan¡¯s actions and came over. After examining the boy¡¯s injuries, he sighed, ¡°Such severe injuries, it¡¯s impossible for him to survive.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true,¡± Lu Qingshan thought for a moment and then said softly.


    Then, a pale blue sword, like a crystal of ice, appeared in his hand.


    He waved the long sword towards the boy.


    ¡°Whoosh¡­ benefactor you!¡± The young monk unconsciously cried out in rm, his hand shing a golden Dharma Seal, attempting to stop Lu Qingshan¡¯s motion.


    But just as the Dharma Seal was released, the young monk suddenly felt something, his face flickered with uncertainty, and he stopped his movements.


    A sh of snowy Sword Light enveloped the boy¡¯s body.


    After the Sword Light passed, Lu Qingshan sheathed his sword.


    And the boy, who had lost consciousness and was on hisst breath, slowly opened his eyes at that moment.


    The huge gash on his abdomen had somehow healedpletely as if it had never existed.


    Azure Fall: Oblivion.


    The young monk, seeing the boy wake up, looked at the Sword of Oblivion in Lu Qingshan¡¯s hand in utter shock.


    Sword Cultivators were best known for their killing prowess, a fact known throughout the world.


    But this was the first time he had heard that a Sword Cultivator¡¯s sword could also save lives.


    Yet, the young monk was innocent-minded and did not think too much about it, his face showing a hint of joy, and he quickly went forward to help the just-awakened boy up.


    Lu Qingshan nced at his panel.


    The boy was merely a mortal with just physical injuries; even though the injuries looked terrifying, the actual healing was not as difficult as imagined.


    Hence, this sword strike had only used ten percent of the currently stored Spirit energy of Oblivion.


    However, it had cost him a full thirty thousand Experience Points.


    This usage cost was indeed not cheap.


    When the boy opened his eyes, his expression was firstly confused, then as if he remembered what had happened before, his face immediately showed terror.


    He nced at Lu Qingshan and the young monk, then saw the bodies of his parents lying next to him, and couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears, throwing himself on his parents¡¯ corpses, crying, ¡°Dad, mom¡­..¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± asked Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°It was the Sand Bandits,¡± the boy sobbed, ¡°The ¡®Evil Monks of Sand Sea,¡¯ they came to our vige with their followers, demanding Spirit Stones.


    We are just a small tribe, already not wealthy. In the past years, relying on the savings of the Cultivator elders, we could barely hand over the Spirit Stones.


    Butter, all the savings of the Cultivator elders in our tribe were drained, and this time we couldn¡¯t meet the demand for Spirit Stones.


    We pleaded with the Sand Bandits for more time, but they showed no mercy and ruthlessly massacred our vige.¡±


    As the boy spoke, he continued to cry, his face covered in dried blood, stirring up anger in anyone who saw it.


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 Chapter 463 - 9 The Vulture Old Man_2

    Chapter 463: Chapter 9 The Vulture Old Man_2


    Sand Sea Evil Monk.


    Lu Qingshan murmured.


    This was one of the eight leaders of the Sand Bandits, with a status equal to that possessing bodily poison.


    He was originally an Ascetic Monk. For unknown reasons, he switched to practising the Blood ughter Evil Technique, and ultimately found himself wanted by Great Xia, forcing him to flee into the Mogao Desert and be a member of the Sand Bandits. He was a cultivator in thete stages of the Nascent Soul.


    ¡°The Sand Bandits have been extorting you for so many years, have you not tried to seek help from the Giant Bear Tribe?¡± Lu Qingshan asked again.


    The location of the Bei Tribe was very close to that of the Giant Bear Tribe.


    He hadn¡¯t expected the Sand Bandits to be bold enough tomit wrongdoing in a small vige so close to Giant Bear City.


    This behavior was far too arrogant.


    ¡°We tried. At the beginning, our n Leader reached out to the Giant Bear Tribe for help, but theypletely ignored us.¡± Tears mixed with blood streamed down the boy¡¯s face as he spoke from a broken heart.


    Lu Qingshan furrowed his brow, his expression slightly darkening as a nameless fury surged up within him.


    He felt a desire to kill the Sand Bandits as well as anger at the shortsightedness of the Giant Bear Tribe.


    The indulgence of evil-doers is almost no different frommitting evil oneself.


    Moreover, under such indulgence, evil-doers will not stop when they see good; they will only continue to expand without limit.


    Today, the Sand Bandits only cause trouble around Giant Bear Tribe, tomorrow they might defile the very heads of the Giant Bear Tribe.


    Foolish.


    Lu Qingshan judged in his heart.


    If the Nine Tribes Alliance had not indulged the Old Vulture at the beginning, but had decisively joined forces to deal with him, the Sand Bandits would not have grown to such an extent where they could challenge the authority of local forces like the Nine Tribes Alliance.


    ¡­


    The young monk was quietly soothing the boy¡¯s emotions.


    Lu Qingshan was deep in thought.


    ¡°Monk, what is your rtion to this Sand Sea Evil Monk?¡± Lu Qingshan suddenly asked.


    As the boy had mentioned the name of the Sand Sea Evil Monk, he noticed a distinct change in the young monk¡¯s expression.


    The young monk hesitated for a moment, then, without hiding anything, performed a Buddhist gesture and candidly said, ¡°My Buddhist name is Jue Zhen. Ie from Chicken Soup Temple. My mission here pertains to this Sand Sea Evil Monk.¡±


    ¡°Chicken Soup Temple¡­¡± Lu Qingshan repeated the name, recalling information about Chicken Soup Temple that quickly surfaced in his mind. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you toe from the Buddha of Dragon Elephant Temple, my apologies.¡±


    Dragon Elephant Temple consists of four institutes, thirty-six temples, and seventy-two chapels, and Chicken Soup Temple is among these thirty-six temples.


    The monk named Jue Zhen seriously corrected, ¡°I am not yet worthy of being called a Buddha, I am but a small monk.¡±


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression became serious, ¡°What you mentioned earlier,ing here for this Sand Sea Evil Monk, what did you mean by that?¡±


    Jue Zhen, the young monk, looked somewhat ashamed, ¡°This Sand Sea Evil Monk¡¯s name is Qi Luo.


    Back when Qi Luo was still an Ascetic Monk, he came to our Chicken Soup Temple, wishing to join the temple to practice.


    My master told him he had no fate with Buddha and turned him away.


    Unwilling to give up, Qi Luo knelt outside our temple doors for three years, yet my master remained unmoved.


    Feeling pity for him as he was leaving, I secretly imparted to him a Buddhist technique from our temple. Little did I anticipate that he would turn out this way, spreading evil everywhere.


    If I had not passed on that technique to him that day, even if he did evil, he would not have been capable of reaching today¡¯s heights.


    Ultimately, the roots of this disaster trace back to me, so I left the monastery and tracked him here to personally resolve the causality of that year.¡±


    Lu Qingshan, upon hearing this, felt slightly astonished.


    The Sand Sea Evil Monk had been notorious for many years. ording to what Jue Zhen said, the Sand Sea Evil Monk was practicing in Chicken Soup Temple when he was still an Ascetic Monk.


    This meant that this young monk before him must be over fifty years old, and moreover, having dared toe alone to seek the Sand Sea Evil Monk, his cultivation must be extraordinary.


    Yet, for some reason, this monk appeared so youthful, even his speech retained a childlike tone; it was unclear if it was intentional or due to some special reason.


    Generally speaking, those in the Buddhist Sect do not focus on such external appearances, so the likelihood of it being intentional should be low.


    @@novelbin@@


    ¡°The Bei Tribe suffered ughter; thus, as a small monk, I must also bear some responsibility,¡± Jue Zhen said frankly and guiltily.


    ¡°Bandits buy knives to kill people, but the sellers of the knives are not breaking thew,¡± Lu Qingshan said.


    ¡°After I arrange a safe ce for Shi Hu, I will continue to pursue Qi Luo¡¯s traces,¡± Jue Zhen responded without much argument, solemnly making his intent clear.


    Once people in the Buddhist Sectmit to something, they seldom change their minds.


    Shi Hu is the name of the boy Lu Qingshan had saved.


    ¡°The Sand Sea is boundless; finding this Sand Sea Evil Monk won¡¯t be easy,¡± Lu Qingshan nced at the still crying boy Shi Hu and said as if offhandedly.


    ¡°Then I will keep searching, one day I will find him,¡± Jue Zhen dered firmly.


    The little sparrow demon within the sleeves of the young monk chirped twice at this moment, as if supporting the young monk¡¯s resolve, showing its tremendous spiritual nature.


    Lu Qingshan couldn¡¯t help but take another look at the little sparrow demon.


    Noticing Lu Qingshan¡¯s gaze, Jue Zhen, the young monk, took the initiative to introduce, ¡°It¡¯s called Little Sparrow; it was originally just an ordinary yellow sparrow, but for some reason, it doesn¡¯t like millet but prefers listening to the Buddhist chants and the tolling of bells and drums.


    As I recited Buddhist scriptures, it often eavesdropped from an ancient tree in front of¡­


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 Chapter 464 - 9 The Vulture Old Man_3

    Chapter 464: Chapter 9 The Vulture Old Man_3


    The little sparrow demon swiveled its shiny ck eyes, chirping agreeably, and pecked affectionately at the arm of the young monk Jue Zhen.


    ¡°Greetings to little sparrow fellow daoist,¡± Lu Qingshan, who had always treated the Great King of the West Rats equally, naturally epted the little sparrow demon with good grace, and politely greeted it.


    Delighted beyond expectation, the little sparrow demon responded jubntly with a couple of cries.


    ¡°During this time, the little master can go to Giant Bear City for a visit, and perhaps it isn¡¯t even necessary to seek out that evil monk of the Sand Sea; the evil monk might juste knocking on his own,¡± Lu Qingshan said to the young monk Jue Zhen during their farewell.


    This was not an unfounded im.


    The bait had already beenid, and if the Sand Bandits did not react by the time he appeared in Giant Bear City, they would not deserve their reputation as the overlords of the Mogao Desert.


    As for the evil monk Qi Luo from the Sand Sea, who just recentlymitted atrocities in the Bei Tribe, which was not far from Giant Bear City, the probability of him doubling back to Giant Bear City after getting word of his presence there was undoubtedly high.


    Without waiting for Jue Zhen to respond, Lu Qingshan once again took control of his sword and flew straight to Giant Bear City.


    Jue Zhen silently paid his respects to Lu Qingshan¡¯s departing figure.


    @@novelbin@@


    After a while, the young monk suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to ask Lu Qingshan for his name and origin, and pped his forehead in annoyance.


    ¡­¡­


    In the depths of the Mogao Desert, where few footprints tread.


    At this moment, suddenly, several figures hurriedly arrived, standing before a sand dune.


    Not long after, a dark, downward tunnel appeared from within the sand dune, and hot air rose from within it.


    These figures did not hesitate, directly entering the tunnel.


    Then, after traversing a long, pitch-ck passage, a fiery red world came into view.


    This was a massive grotto hidden beneath the desert, with a river of subterranean magma flowing through. Enormous bubbles asionally rose from the magma, only to burst with loud pops.


    This was the den where the Sand Bandits hid away.


    A burly man suddenly appeared before these figures.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°There is important news to report to the boss,¡± these figures were the Sand Bandit cultivators who had witnessed Lu Qingshan departing from Dongque City.


    ¡°Wait here,¡± said the burly man, and then he disappeared into the depths of the grotto.


    A momentter.


    An emaciated old man, draped in a ck robe and with a head full of white hair, his beards at the corners of his lips also white, stood before the Sand Bandit cultivators.


    ¡°Boss,¡± the Sand Bandit cultivators bowed their heads, respectfully addressing him.


    The old man before them was the terrifying existence who had established the Sand Bandits and dominated the Mogao Desert by his own strength.


    A Great Cultivator at the Void Refining Middle Stage, the Vulture Elder.


    ¡°What is the matter of urgency?¡± asked the Vulture Elder, his voice hoarse and piercing.


    ¡°The leader of the Poison Body Sect was killed by a Sword Cultivator ¡­¡± The Sand Bandit cultivators dared not exaggerate but reported everything they knew and spected to the Vulture Elder truthfully.


    In the Vulture Elder¡¯s withered eyes, a sinister, eerie green light suddenly flickered and grew ever brighter, the verdant light rippling, ghastly and terrifying.


    A cold breath emerged from nowhere, making the Sand Bandit cultivators shiver.


    They instantly turned fearful, trembling in their minds and bodies.


    ¡°Do you know the specific identity of that Sword Cultivator and his current whereabouts?¡±


    ¡°The Sword Cultivator¡¯s specific identity remains unknown, but there are some clues to his movements.


    When that Sword Cultivator left Dongque City, he headed towards Giant Bear City, seemingly intending to delve deeper into the Mogao Desert, without any immediate ns to leave this ce,¡± reported the Sand Bandit cultivators cautiously.


    ¡°Good, good, to kill my Sand Bandits¡¯ men and still dare to linger in Mogao Desert, he¡¯s got some nerve.


    Continue the search for me, and as soon as this Sword Cultivator¡¯s whereabouts are discovered, notify me immediately,¡± the Vulture Elder lifted his hand, and a gust of wind picked up, creating a whirlpool in the river of subterranean magma, just like the raging fury in his heart, ¡°I will make him pay with his life for a life!¡±


    ¡°Yes, boss.¡±


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 Chapter 467 - 11: Sand Bandits? Kill Bandits!

    Chapter 467: Chapter 11: Sand Bandits? Kill Bandits!


    The Vulture Elder flew toward his destination with two subordinates.


    As they approached Giant Bear City,


    ¡°Boss, Ju Dao, Ze Du,¡± a tall, middle-aged male cultivator appeared.


    He didn¡¯t wear a turban around his head, thus revealing his shiny scalp. d in a Buddhist robe, his face was covered with a beard.


    It was the nefarious monk of the Sand Sea, Qi Luo.


    The two subordinates that the Vulture Elder brought with him were also skilled members of the Sand Bandits lineage.


    ¡®Netherworld Evil de¡¯ Ju Dao, ¡®Blood Soul¡¯ Ze Du.


    Both were Nascent Soul Late Stage Body Cultivators.


    @@novelbin@@


    From this, it was apparent that the status within the Sand Bandits lineage was extremely high.


    The death of theirrade had prompted the deployment of the Vulture Elder and three of the eight leaders to personally attend.


    The Vulture Elder¡¯s voice was hoarse as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with that Sword Cultivator now?¡±


    ¡°He entered Giant Bear City half a day ago and hasn¡¯t left since,¡± Qi Luo reported respectfully, ¡°Boss, what should we do now? Should we just storm into the city and kill him on the spot?¡±


    ¡°That is not a wise move,¡± the Vulture Elder¡¯s eyes were full of shadows as he shook his head, addressing his three subordinates, ¡°Though we do not fear the Bear n, we can¡¯t be too reckless.


    If we act directly within the city, I fear our nine tribes will no longer be able to shelter us. Keep monitoring that Sword Cultivator. As soon as he leaves the city, strike him down immediately!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± The three Nascent Soul Cultivators, notorious killers among the Sand Bandits¡¯ leaders, dared not meet the chilling gaze of the Vulture Elder.


    ¡­¡­


    As the Vulture Elder and his cultivator subordinates reached a few miles outside Giant Bear City andid in ambush, Lu Qingshan was leaving a shop called Myriad Treasures Pavilion within the city.


    This time, he had almost bought out all the high-rank Lightning Avoidance Artifacts openly on sale in Giant Bear City.


    ¡°The goal of this trip is almost achieved and time has passed quite a bit. By the speed of the Sand Bandits, they should probably be nearby by now,¡± Lu Qingshan murmured.


    A day had almost passed since he entered the city.


    These bandits, desperate fugitives with no small skill and familiar with the terrain of the Mogao Desert, had sufficient time to prepare everything.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s intention to kill was chilling as he no longer hesitated and directly left the city.


    Just after he left the city, within the core area of Giant Bear City, a Great Cultivator from the Bear n murmured, ¡°That Sword Cultivator has left the city.¡±


    ¡°The Vulture Elder should already be outside the city waiting, right?¡±


    ¡°It should be so.¡±


    ¡°n Leader, if that Sword Cultivator and the Vulture Elder engage, should we help, perhaps even take the opportunity to eliminate the Vulture Elder¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? The Vulture Elder is known as the first man of Mo Gao; it would take a united effort from n Leaders of all nine tribes to have a chance to besiege him.


    He¡¯s merely a Nascent Soul Cultivator; you want the n Leader to intervene? If we offend the Vulture Elder with our Bear n involved, can you bear the responsibility?¡± someone scolded.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how things unfold first,¡± the resounding voice of the Bear n Leader echoed, ¡°This Sword Cultivator is so audacious, perhaps he truly has some trump cards that could pose a threat to the Vulture Elder.


    If there¡¯s a chance to eradicate the Vulture Elder, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to act, to remove this cmity for all the tribes of Mo Gao!¡±


    ¡°n Leader Gao Yi!¡± the cultivators of the Bear n eximed.


    ¡­¡­


    No sooner had Lu Qingshan left the city than three terrifying auras burst forth from the desert, rushing madly and rapidly closing in, sending wave after wave of sound.


    Whoo¡ªBoom¡ª


    The sound traveled from afar to near, gradually turning into a roaring noise, howling like wind and thunder.


    ¡°The fish has bitten the hook,¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s expression finally turned serious for a moment as he coldly smiled looking towards the distant horizon.


    There, an intense oppression was surging, and in the sky, three figures wreathed in Blood Qi revealed themselves.


    ¡°Quite bold indeed.¡± Seeing Lu Qingshan not fleeing from their assault, Qi Luo, the nefarious monk from the Sand Sea, bellowed, and a massive palm imprint descended from the sky.


    The palm imprint was blood-colored.


    But within the center of the palm, a faint Sanskrit symbol flickered, bearing tremendous pressure as if carrying the majesty of heaven and earth bearing down on Lu Qingshan.


    Stirred, Lu Qingshan¡¯s Peach Blossom red from within him, like thunderous rush, surging forth to meet the blood-colored palm imprint.


    Boom¡ª


    The emerald green Sword Light and the blood-colored palm imprint shed in the sky.


    In terms of size, they were as differing as a sewing needle to a palm.


    Yet in such a disparity, it caused the blood-colored palm imprint to tremble violently before it shattered into a myriad of Spiritual Lights.


    ¡®Nefarious Monk¡¯ Qi Luo, ¡®Netherworld Evil de¡¯ Ju Dao, ¡®Blood Soul¡¯ Ze Du all visibly materialized.


    ¡°Indeed quite capable,¡± Qi Luo looked towards Lu Qingshan, his eyes still bearing a trace of wariness.


    ¡°With merely this trick, you can¡¯t possibly trouble me,¡± Lu Qingshan said, his eyes flickering as he looked at the three leaders of the Sand Bandits.


    ¡°What, the Vulture Elder¡¯s Direct Disciple is in by me, and the Vulture Elder himself does not dare toe avenge his disciple, sending only you three wastes to die?¡±


    ¡°Sword Cultivator, you just blocked a casual strike from me, don¡¯t be too arrogant,¡± Qi Luo shouted angrily, his gaze venomous, ¡°To deal with you, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, there¡¯s no need for the boss to personally act; it¡¯s already honoring you that we three are doing it!¡±


    Being able to establish such a significant force of Sand Bandits out of nothing in the Mogao Desert, this Vulture Elder was indeed extremely cautious.


    A thought shed through Lu Qingshan¡¯s mind.


    He was aware that the reason the Vulture Elder hadn¡¯t shown himself was not truly because he hadn¡¯te; he guessed that the Elder was hidden in the shadows, observing the situation.


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 Chapter 468 - 11: Sand Bandits? Kill Bandits!_2

    Chapter 468: Chapter 11: Sand Bandits? Kill Bandits!_2


    After all, he was so upright and open that the suspicious old vulture also feared it was a trap, intentionally luring him to appear and then nning to surround and annihte him, so he decided to stay hidden initially, letting his subordinates probe the reality first.


    As soon as Qi Luo¡¯s voice fell, he continuously swung his palms, and in an instant, seven blood-red palm seals burst forth, covering the sky and howling, carrying a strong murderous aura, their fierce might was truly formidable.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s thought flickered, and the peach blossoms whirled into motion, preparing to strike again.


    But just at this moment, he sensed something and thus slightly pressed down the restless flying sword.


    Following that, a simrly huge palm seal surged from the ground, with a Sanskrit character also flickering within it.


    However, this palm seal was golden.


    Behind this golden palm seal was a little monk in a light red kasaya.


    Jue Zhen the little monk.


    Hearing Lu Qingshan¡¯s advice, and following him to Giant Bear City, he indeed waited for this evil monk from the Sand Sea.


    Thus, without any hesitation, the little monk immediately assisted Lu Qingshan.


    The palm seal in front, the little monk behind, soared upwards like a Vajra.


    One palm against seven.


    Boom!


    The golden palm seal shed with those blood-red palm seals, their might seeming capable of destroying heaven and earth.


    The terrifying aftermath red up, creating a blood-red and golden circle of light in the air.


    Jue Zhen the little monk¡¯s golden palm seal, unstoppable like a hot knife through butter, rose straight up, breaking through those seven blood-red palm sealsyer byyer, and finally charging towards the drastically changed face of Qi Luo.


    Qi Luo hastily raised his palm to counter, with Sanskrit flickering, his hand emitting a blood-red glow, resembling a Netherworld evil w.


    The two palms collided.


    Bang!


    Jue Zhen the little monk stood unshaken, while Qi Luo¡¯s arm spasmed, nearly deforming.


    In the city, the cultivators of the Giant Bear tribe who were observing the battle with divine sense, as well as many other cultivators hidden within Giant Bear City, were all watching with flickering eyes.


    ¡°Why is there another little monk?¡±


    ¡°This monk is not simple, he broke Qi Luo¡¯s arm with a single palm!¡±


    ¡­..


    Lurking in the shadows, the old vulture, at the moment Jue Zhen appeared, couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly, ¡°Could this be the sword cultivator¡¯s trump card¡­¡±


    If that were all, it would not pose much of a threat to him¡­


    But with the information still uncertain, the old vulture still wasn¡¯t prepared to take any rash actions, deciding to continue observing the situation, unmoved as a mountain.


    As for the safety of his own subordinates¡­


    Why would he care about such things?


    ¡­..


    ¡°It is you¡­¡± Qi Luo muttering as he looked at the stern-faced Jue Zhen.


    ¡°I taught you the Great Compassion Seal that day, but I never thought you would cultivate it into this Great Blood Seal,¡± Jue Zhen the little monk slowly said as he looked at Qi Luo, ¡°But the Great Compassion Seal, having lost itspassion, has indeed be quite weak.¡±


    ¡°You transmitted divine skills to me, which I keep in my heart. I do not wish to act against you, do not force my hand,¡± facing Jue Zhen, Qi Luo said word by word.


    ¡°That day, a moment of soft-heartedness on my part indeed caused a great disaster,¡± Jue Zhen the little monk brought his hands together solemnly and said, ¡°Since this cmity was caused by me, it should naturally be ended by my own hands.¡±


    ¡°Then do not me me for being ruthless!¡± Qi Luo said hoarsely.


    Under such circumstances, more words were pointless!


    With a thunderous sound, Qi Luo¡¯s body seemed as if it ignited, countless ck blood qi rising up, resembling evil spirits, and heunched a powerful attack on Jue Zhen.


    Bang!


    He fiercely swung his fist, the Blood Seal emerging again, but this time with countless ck blood qi enveloping it.


    This ck blood qi, which he acquired by collecting the essence blood of the Human Race, cultivated from evil techniques, could corrupt various magic artifacts and spells, also possessing an unparalleled corrosive power, coupled with the originally fierce Great Compassion Seal, could be described as a blend of strength and cunning.


    Jue Zhen the little monk, with a dignified Dharma aspect, lightly shouted, employing a Buddhist secret technique.


    A dazzling sun appeared behind him, wrapping his entire body in brilliant golden light, resembling a divine halo protecting him.


    Hisss¡ª


    The countless ck blood qi, upon touching this golden light, was like ice and snow meeting a zing furnace, instantly evaporating and disappearing.


    Jue Zhen the little monk¡¯s sun behind him radiated intensely, impably holy, appearing like a sacred Buddha.


    In his hands, Sanskrit densely covered, suddenly erupted in a tremendous glow, striking towards Qi Luo, with golden waves everywhere, extremely terrifying.


    ¡°Qi Luo, we will help you!¡± Netherworld Evil de Ju Dao and Blood Soul Ze Du roared, simultaneously making their moves, quickly joining the fight.


    In Ju Dao¡¯s hands there appeared a massive Beheading Knife, with resentful spirits roaming about it.


    The Resentful Spirit Knife, an evil path magic artifact, was forged from the souls of innocents, their heads severed and spirits imprisoned within, creating a terrifying tool of power.


    With one sh, countless resentful spirits, with sharp teeth and vicious ws, emerge.


    On Ze Du¡¯s side, a fearsome Blood Soul Dharma Aspect appeared behind him, merging into his body.


    His physical body instantly swelled, and terrifying blood seals surfaced.


    The trio fiercely surrounded Jue Zhen.


    Each sh from Ju Dao was like the strike of thunder, deafening to all who heard.


    Ze Du transformed into a ferocious beast, hisrge body carrying the potential to sweep through thousands, punching again and again with such intensity that each blow could shatter a mountain.


    However, the young monk Jue Zhen, protected by his sacred Dharma aspect, managed to withstand all attacks, facing off against the three sand bandit leaders without falling short.


    Buddhist cultivation techniques inherently have great endurance and persistence, their only notable drawback being theirck of explosive power.


    Coincidentally, present at the scene was a sword cultivator renowned for his explosive force.


    ¡°These three seem to have forgotten for whom they havee¡­¡± murmured Lu Qingshan.


    The next instant, his mind stirred, and both ughter Sword Intent and Annihtion Prating Sword Intent enhanced the peach blossom.


    With a whoosh, the peach blossom shot forth.


    ¡°Using the peach blossom to wield the Flying Sword doesn¡¯t quitepare to the Dragon Sparrow, but even so, with the addition of Sword Intent, it¡¯s more than enough to handle these body cultivators at thete Nascent Soul stage!¡± Lu Qingshan thought to himself.


    For sword cultivators at the Nascent Soul level, the power of a Flying Sword isrgely determined by the Sword Intent it carries.


    Both ughter Sword Intent and Annihtion Prating Sword Intent greatly enhance the power of the Flying Sword, akin to the perfectbination of carrots and mutton.


    Boom!


    At the instant the peach blossom surged forward, its speed soared to thirty-five times the speed of sound.


    The space around the bursting Flying Sword seemed to roar.


    A dazzling sword light charged directly at the wielder of the Netherworld Evil de, Ju Dao.


    ¡°What?¡± Sensing the terrifying force of the peach blossom, Ju Dao¡¯s face changed drastically, and he hurriedly swung his sword to block the iing Flying Sword.


    ng!


    A metallic collision sounded in the sky.


    ¡°No!¡± Ju Dao cried out in disbelief.


    Despite his best efforts to defend, the overwhelming power of the Flying Sword caused his Resentful Spirit Knife to tremble violently and slip from his grasp.


    ¡°Block it!¡± Ju Dao¡¯s eyes reddened, and a glow flickered over his body.


    Being a body cultivator, it was unthinkable for him not to block a single Flying Sword!


    That was what Ju Dao believed in his heart.


    Swipe!


    A hint of cold light suddenly flickered on the Flying Sword.


    The lurking, unexpressed Annihtion Prating Sword Intent violently erupted at that moment.


    Following the brilliance that outshone the radiance from young monk Jue Zhen¡¯s body, the cold light bore the Flying Sword through Ju Dao¡¯s abdomen.


    The power was immense, the killing intent fierce, overwhelming even for a Nascent Soul stage body cultivator in an instant.


    With the Flying Sword entering his body, Ju Dao¡¯s body quaked violently as if sieved through chaff.


    A momentter, with a loud bang, Ju Dao exploded into a cloud of blood mist, devoid of any chance of recovery.


    Originally, when the peach blossom entered Ju Dao¡¯s body, it unleashed countless Sword Qi, breaking his vital points and shattering his Nascent Soul.


    Netherworld Evil de, Ju Dao, dead!


    Until now, Lu Qingshan had only made one sword strike, and only a moment had passed!


    ¡°Are those two high-level Intents?!¡± At that moment, all the cultivators secretly observing were utterly dumbfounded.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s single sword strike produced two Intents, both of which were of a high level.


    What terrifying feat was this?


    To understand a high-level Intent, cultivators could be overjoyed, using it to condense a high-level Taoist seed.


    By then, even among the Void Refining Cultivators, they would be considered powerful.


    And this sword cultivator had understood two high-level Intents, both of which, judging from their power, were of no low rank.


    What level of might had these Intents reached whenbined with the Flying Sword?


    ¡°He must be a sword cultivator from Sword Cleansing Pool!¡± someone murmured.


    Such a formidable sword cultivator could only havee from a well-known major sect!


    Observers quickly realized that their shock might havee too soon.


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 Chapter 469 - 12: Flamboyant Sword Cultivator (Extra 7/10 for Alliance Leader "FengchenCc")

    Chapter 469: Chapter 12: mboyant Sword Cultivator (Extra 7/10 for Alliance Leader ¡°FengchenCc¡±)


    The flying sword, after piercing through the ¡°Netherworld Evil de,¡± once again unleashed a terrifying force and directly bombarded Ze Du, who was right by Ju Dao¡¯s side.


    Ze Du was utterly horrified and instantly produced ayer of armor on his body while trying to dodge with all his might¡ªafter witnessing the miserable condition of Ju Dao, even though he was confident in his own physical body, he no longer had the courage to sh directly against Lu Qingshan¡¯s flying sword.


    But at such a close distance, how could he possibly be faster than the flying sword?


    In just a moment, he was grazed by the dazzling sword light.


    Blood immediately sprayed out.


    Fortunately, after ying Ju Dao, the power of this flying sword had declined to only thirty or forty percent, not enough to kill him outright.


    Such injuries, though frightening to look at, should be recoverable as long as his blood qi was activated.


    He had just begun to feel a sense of relief when he discovered, to his horror, that a strange and unidentifiable power was present at the wound inflicted by the sword cultivator¡¯s flying sword, obstructing the cirction of his blood qi and preventing his injuries from healing.


    [Indestructible]: The peach blossoms are luxuriantly blooming.


    Passive: The damage caused by this sword will be extremely difficult to heal.


    The Indestructible Divine Ability of the Peach Blossom naturally counters the recovery abilities of body cultivators!


    The Peach Blossom moved swiftly, and in an instant, it sliced through hundreds of sword lights over Ze Du¡¯s body.


    ¡®Blood Soul¡¯ turned into a blood-drenched figure.


    At this point, Ze Du was covered in blood, his flesh gaping open, his life essence rapidly draining, leaving him at the brink of extreme weakness.


    Finally, a Peach Blossom sword pierced through Ze Du¡¯s severely weakened physical body and entered his abdomen Dantian, shattering the Nascent Soul hidden within.


    Nascent Soul Late Stage Body Cultivator, ¡®Blood Soul¡¯ Ze Du, dead!


    ¡°Kill again!¡± Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart was filled with an unwavering intent to kill.


    The Peach Blossom took a slight turn in the air and bombarded Qi Luo, who kept retreating under Jue Zhen¡¯s assault.


    The emerald green flying sword turned into a life-taking Yan Luo.


    Boom¡ª


    With a rumble, the flying sword, which even Jue Zhen alone had trouble coping with, how could Qi Luo possibly handle the siege of two?


    He instinctively kept flying backward.


    He was afraid.


    But there was no escaping the sword¡¯s astounding speed!


    ¡°Boss, save me!¡± The Sand Sea wicked monk, who struck fear into countless tribes in Mo Gao, let out desperate wails.


    He also knew that under the flying sword of the sword cultivator, there was no escaping death.


    The only hope he had left was that the old vulture could take action to save him.


    ¡°Save¡­ me¡­¡± Qi Luo¡¯s hoarse cries for help abruptly ended.


    Puff!


    The emerald green Peach Blossom, soaring across the sky, instantly pierced through Qi Luo¡¯s brow, crushing the Primordial Spirit hidden within into powder.


    ¡°No! Save me¡­.¡± Apanied by unwilling roars filled with resentment, Qi Luo¡¯s body trembled, and then he became motionless, falling from the sky.


    ¡°Dead? The three great leaders of the sand bandits died just like that?!¡±


    The Mo Gao cultivators watching the fight hadplex expressions, unable to believe what they saw, with a chill even rising in their hearts.


    They were all body cultivators.


    Body cultivators are famed for their Vajra Indestructible physical bodies and their enduring blood qi.


    Defeating a body cultivator might not be difficult, but killing one is very tough.


    They had always taken pride in this, but now, witnessing how three Nascent Soul Late Stage body cultivators were decapitated so easily by a sword cultivator, they couldn¡¯t help feeling a strange sense of sorrow as the hare grieves at the death of the fox.


    They had no idea that Lu Qingshan had actually not yet demonstrated the strength that belonged to his Primordial Intent, and he had not even used his Dragon Sparrow.


    Because he was afraid that revealing too many of his abilities would scare off the vulture elder, he intentionally showed weakness to the enemy first.


    Yet even this disy of weakness was still too much for the three Nascent Soul Late Stage sand bandit leaders to defend against.


    With only a glimpse of his ability, Lu Qingshan had already intimidated the entire Mogao Desert, letting those from the Body Cultivation tribes understand that this young Sword Cultivator was absolutely not one to provoke.


    But logically speaking, even if the Sword Cultivator¡¯sbat power was exceptional, killing a Body Cultivator of the same realm, known for their physical strength, should not have been easy.


    This made the Mogao Body Cultivators secretly specte about the extent of Lu Qingshan¡¯s strength.


    ¡°After all, he is just at the Nascent Soul Cultivation level, it must be because of his ughter Sword Intent and Annihtion Prating Sword Intent that his offensive is unparalleled,¡± they reasoned.


    ¡°He definitely hasn¡¯t reached the Void Refining level yet. A Nascent Soul Cultivator with thebat power of a Void Refining Cultivator would be a terrifying existence worthy of the Yellow List, and currently, there is no such person on the Yellow List.¡±


    ¡°It must be so, as Sword Cultivators are proimed to be able to break all spells with a single sword and to have the foremost offensive, so it¡¯s not particrly strange that his Flying Sword is ferocious.¡±


    ¡°But if we truly discussprehensivebat power, it¡¯s definitely not as terrifying as imagined. If it weren¡¯t for that little monk shielding him, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to so effortlessly kill three Body Cultivators of the same realm¡­¡±


    Many of the observing Cultivators were more inclined to this view.


    After all, there are only one hundred Nascent Soul Cultivators talented enough to be on the Yellow List in the world, which is extremely few.


    They also distinctly remember the individuals on the list, and there was definitely no one whose abilities were like Lu Qingshan¡¯s.


    ¡­.


    Although Jue Zhen was assisting him, regardless, the manner in which Lu Qingshan easily dispatched the sand bandit leaders was truly disheartening for many of the observing Cultivators.


    In the entire Mogao Desert, including the vulture elder, there are only about ten known Void Refining Cultivators.


    Does that not mean that apart from these ten, it would be as easy as slicing melons and chopping vegetables for Lu Qingshan to kill other Cultivators?


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    Just the thought of it was enough to send shivers down their spines.


    This also made the Cultivators of the Giant Bear n start to wonder, just who was this young Sword Cultivator?


    ¡­


    ¡°Sword Cultivators have unparalleled offensive capabilities, as is well-known,¡± Lu Qingshan thought to himself, ¡°Although my performance was remarkable, ultimately I have not reached the Void Refining level, and it wasn¡¯t too outrageous, so it should still not be enough to scare off the vulture elder.¡±


    The vulture elder was cunning and extremely cautious, which is why he dared not reveal too much.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s heart stirred, and the Peach Blossom circled briefly in the air before turning into a frost line, directly shing off the head of the Sand Sea evil monk.


    The head was severed from the body, and blood sttered.


    Whoosh!


    Two Sword Qi Fments spun around his body, stringing up the severed head of Qi Luo like candied haws, carrying it for several miles through the air.


    First, one Sword Qi Fment sted a dent into the city wall of Giant Bear City behind him, and then the other Sword Qi Fment embedded Qi Luo¡¯s head into it.


    With his eyes wide open in reluctance at the moment of death, Qi Luo¡¯s head stuck to the city wall appeared like a pair of eyes emerging from it, an incredibly eerie sight.


    ¡°So-called fierce bandits of Mogao are actually nothing special!¡± Lu Qingshanughed loudly, ¡°It¡¯s said that sand bandits have been harassing Mogao, and you, as one of the nine ns of Giant Bear, have let the banditsmit atrocities right on your couch without daring to make a sound.


    This head of the Sand Sea evil monk, let it be a gift from Lu to help Mogao get rid of a trouble; a gift to bolster the courage of you Giant Bear Cultivators!¡±


    The Cultivators of the Giant Bear n could only exchange nces in response to Lu Qingshan¡¯s mboyantly brash actions.


    Lu Qingshan¡¯s gesture was not only a challenge to the vulture elder but was also mocking the Giant Bear n.


    ¡°n Leader¡­¡± Some Cultivators of the Giant Bear n hesitated to speak.


    The Giant Bear n Leader¡¯s face was an ashen hue.


    He could imagine that today¡¯s actions by Lu Qingshan would quickly spread throughout Mogao.


    As this Sword Cultivator¡¯s fame rose, the reputation of the Giant Bear n would certainly plummet to rock bottom.


    Unconsciously, he even harbored the malicious hope that the venerable elder would appear soon and cut down the detestable Sword Cultivator on the spot.


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 Chapter 470 - 13 An Eye for an Eye

    Chapter 470: Chapter 13 An Eye for an Eye


    This is human nature at its worst.


    Compared to Lu Qingshan, the actions of the sand bandits were clearly much more despicable.


    Yet merely because of Lu Qingshan¡¯s seemingly nonchnt mockery, the n Leader of Giant Bear City¡¯s hatred for Lu Qingshan had instantly surpassed his hatred for the sand bandits.


    As for the reason.


    The sand bandits were notoriously infamous and vicious, while Lu Qingshan appeared like a good person.


    Bullying the kind and fearing the wicked; it was nothing but that.


    ¡­


    The young monk Jue Zhen saw Lu Qingshan decisively behead Qi Luo and was slightly stunned.


    Eventually, the young monk brought his hands together, bowed to Lu Qingshan, and began chanting a Buddhist scripture for the departed, ¡°¡­.Thus have I heard¡­¡±


    Lu Qingshan nodded to the young monk and then looked around, sword in hand.


    He had been so mboyant by embedding the head of Qi Luo, the leader of the sand bandits, directly into the walls of Giant Bear City.


    This act was akin to hanging the face of the sand bandits up for a beating in front of the cultivators of Mo Gao in Giant Bear City.


    It was unknown whether the old vulture could remain as immovable as a mountain in the face of such humiliation.


    If the old man could still endure, then even Lu Qingshan could only walk away for the time being.


    After all, his main purpose for this trip was the Life Thunder Fruit that triggered blood disasters, not really to help annihte the bandits for the nine tribes.


    ¡­


    The flying swords moved, lifting the storage rings of those three sand bandit leaders.


    After arranging the spoils of war, Lu Qingshan controlled his sword and took off, turning into a streak of radiance, seemingly ready to head deep into the Mogao Desert.


    Just then.


    A streak of radiance rushed from the horizon, moving with great speed directly towards Lu Qingshan.


    ¡°Killed my people of the sand bandits and thought to just walk away without my consent?¡± a dry, harsh cackling sound rang out.


    The old vulture, finally appeared!


    ¡°Here hees, finally!¡± said the n Leader of Giant Bear City, whose spirits had surged at this moment after feeling slightly disappointed when he saw Lu Qingshan preparing to leave with his sword control.


    Before the Void Refining Middle Stage old vulture, let¡¯s see how arrogant you can be?


    ¡°What backing does this Sword Cultivator have to provoke the old vulture like this?¡± More people were baffled and filled with anticipation for what was toe.


    ¡°Can he do it¡­¡± In the Giant Bear n¡¯s apothecary, Xiong Li, seeing the old vulture appear, clenched his fists unconsciously, his heart filled with trepidation.


    He was among the cultivators of the Bear n who most hoped that Lu Qingshan could y the old vulture.


    Lu Qingshan halted, looking at the suddenly appearing old vulture with a smile that was not quite a smile, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t dare to show up.¡±


    The old vulture¡¯s eyes were shadowy, sizing up Lu Qingshan.


    Before making an appearance, he had repeatedly confirmed that there were no ambushes around.


    The only question now was, what exactly was this Sword Cultivator relying on?


    However, although he was still wary in his heart, caution did not mean being timid.


    Lu Qingshan had already been so provocative, if he truly remained indifferent, from today onward, the name of the sand bandits would hit rock bottom.


    Being called the number one person in Mo Gao, and yet not daring to face Lu Qingshan even once.


    What kind of sand bandits? What kind of old vulture? Might as well change his name to old sand sculpture!


    ¡°Sharp words are of no use, in the end, we must see who is stronger through action!¡± the old vulture snorted coldly.


    The next moment, a huge vulture phantom suddenly rose behind him, ferocious and lifelike, looming over the old vulture.


    His eyes also turned fierce at this moment, like those of a hawk, filled with a menacing aura.


    There are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names given at birth.


    The nickname of the old vulture was indeed due to his Dharma Aspect of the vulture.


    With the enhancement of the Dharma Aspect, the old vulture directly transformed into an ancient ferocious bird, glowering in all directions, causing all the observing cultivators to tremble with fear.


    ¡°Die!¡± With a furious shout, the old vulture swooped towards Lu Qingshan.


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    His charging speed was even faster than that of spells, leaving only traces of afterimages in the sky, with sonic booms resonating sharply and intimidatingly.


    The Dharma Aspect of the vulture was famous for its speed, and the old vulture had also condensed a Middle Rank Ferocious Wind Intent.


    With bothbined, even just using the physical Escape Technique, he had surpassed twenty times the speed of sound, bursting forth with thunderous sounds.


    ¡°Well met!¡± A cold smile lingered on Lu Qingshan¡¯s lips.


    The next moment, two flying swords, one verdant green and one zing red, appeared in front of him.


    The Taoist Artifact Dragon Sparrow, the top-grade Heavenly Artifact Peach Blossom.


    Go!


    Although not afraid of the old vulture, in the face of a Void Refining Cultivator, Lu Qingshan still showed ample respect strategically and immediately employed two life-bound swords.


    After all, Void Refining, even just condensing a Middle Rank intent, has attack methods and intent strength that are not easily contended by ordinary Nascent Souls.


    With a thought,


    The two life-bound swords instantly transformed into two dazzling beams of Sword Light.


    Boom! Boom!


    The sound of thunderous explosions, far louder than those made by the old vulture, erupted in the skies above the Mogao Desert.


    At this moment, all the observing Bear n cultivators felt as if they were in the thunderous environment of their regr Body Tempering, even though they were in Giant Bear City, miles away, with thunder still roaring in their ears.


    ¡°How could the might of this Sword Cultivator¡¯s flying swords suddenly surge so dramatically?!¡± they eximed in astonishment.


    Because, with a single move from Lu Qingshan, he had drawn upon the Immortal True Intent to evolve the ughter Sword Intent.


    This was one of his methods that could enhance the power and speed of the flying swords to their utmost limits.


    At this moment, Dragon Sparrow was at sixty times the speed of sound, and Peach Blossom slightly less, at forty-two times the speed of sound.


    However, whether it was Peach Blossom or Dragon Sparrow, purely in terms of attack power, both had reached the level of Void Refining.


    The old vulture moved too quickly, but the two flying swords moved even faster, nearly touching him in an instant.


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