This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

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 collapse 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 explanation 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 plan 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—the 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 could command 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 day later, 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.

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 accepted without question.

After arranging what needed to be instructed, Lin Yao withdrew.

Lu Qingshan did not linger in the room for long but flashed 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 accurate 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 glancing 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 wooden components.

The roof eaves stretched out far, supported by square wooden blocks.

These square blocks, known as Dou Gong, had a complex structure and exquisite craftsmanship, almost beyond human capabilities.

Lu Qingshan looked up at the plaque hanging high on the top of the building.

Zhenjiang Guardian, four flamboyantly 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 glanced 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 similar to Lu Qingshan.

Just the looks of a mere maidservant were already amongst the rarest beauties he had come 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 the complex layer 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.

The last 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.