This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

"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 Explanation: 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 accompanying the flying sword.

...

This was a close-range escape technique, an essential skill for Lu Qingshan as he sought to build a complete 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—the 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 close combat and then to employ Sword Control Technique to flee, it would also certainly be incredibly sharp.

Xu Hao laughed, "The Black Ice Platform, to suppress this matter, not only compensated 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 becomes. We have all seen your flying sword's speed; you are definitely extremely suitable for this technique.

"Furthermore, considering that your Secret Sword Technique also requires close combat 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 accumulated 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 nothing compared 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, preoccupied with concerns, she had failed to notice this situation and had recklessly barged in.

Su Shu glanced 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 explained, "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 plan to announce your Dao Companion ceremony? I need to prepare a gift."

Explaining 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 glance 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..."

—Almost 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 operation coming 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 congratulatory 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 the last 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 it later.

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 explained 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 a large-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.

—He 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 explained 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 glanced 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 relationship.

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.