"Lu..."
Shi LuoRen, suppressed all the words he wanted to say in his heart, as the assassin's severed head flew high up, everything he wanted to say got stuck in his throat.
Not only him, but also the city lord Li Fengbei and the heads of various major families who wanted to rescue Lu Qinghe, whether they were pretending or sincere, were frozen in place, stopping their actions.
The atmosphere at the scene, for a moment, seemed to have been frozen.
"Hiss!"
It wasn't until a while later that Deputy City Lord Shi LuoRen was the first to react, unable to help but take in a breath of cold air.
Eighth Level of True Refinement!
The level of cultivation displayed by the assassin just now was clearly felt by Shi LuoRen to be that of a powerhouse at the Eighth Level of True Refinement.
Especially since the other party was adept in swordsmanship, among the Eighth Level of True Refinement, he probably couldn't be considered weak.
A cultivator at the Eighth Level of True Refinement, who had just attempted a sneaky attack and assassination, not only failed to deal with Lu Qinghe, a cultivator at the Sixth Level of True Refinement, but instead ended up losing his life.
This...
It is simply unbelievable!
Thinking from his own perspective, if it were to be him, Shi LuoRen, facing an assassination from a cultivator at the Eighth Level of True Refinement, his fate would definitely be only one!
Death!
Even Li Fengbei, at the Ninth Level of True Refinement, when suddenly assassinated by a cultivator at the Eighth Level of True Refinement, would also be in mortal danger, let alone seizing the opportunity to counterattack.
This kind of reaction speed, this kind of swordsmanship, this kind of battle prowess...
"No wonder, no wonder this person, Lu Qinghe, at such a young age, could actually become a senior member of the Blue Moon Lake! In the Blue Moon Lake, cultivators at the Seventh Level of True Refinement can only become ordinary members, and without exception, senior members have the strength of the Ninth Level of True Refinement. Lu Qinghe, perhaps compared to the Ninth Level of True Refinement, might be somewhat inferior, but he's just at the Sixth Level of True Refinement now! At the Sixth Level of True Refinement, possessing such terrifying battle prowess already, when he reaches the Seventh Level of True Refinement, or even the Ninth Level of True Refinement, that will be something to behold!" Shi LuoRen felt a chill in his heart.
At this moment, he finally understood, why in Dragon Gate City, even the city lord Li Fengbei, was so afraid of Lu Qinghe, so much so that he didn't hesitate to send his daughter Li Wan'er out to get close to Huang Tianluo.
Background?
Lu Qinghe's background is no less inferior to Huang Tianluo's, and even has an advantage over it.
And strength...
If it were a life-and-death confrontation, even if Huang Tianluo had the power of the Yuan World to protect himself, in the end, he would still be exhausted by Lu Qinghe and killed.
In this situation, Huang Tianluo, who was acting arrogant and domineering, had no choice but to yield to Lu Qinghe.
Thinking that he had actually made friends with such a top-tier genius, and also helped him accomplish something, Shi LuoRen couldn't help but feel excited in his heart.
"Young Master Lu truly lives up to the genius disciple of the Quest Immortal Sect, easily capturing the assassin! Young Master Lu, please rest assured, I, Shi LuoRen, will definitely investigate thoroughly for you regarding today's assassination attempt." Shi LuoRen unabashedly praised, and then quickly promised to take down this matter.
"The fact that an assassin sneaked in here and attempted to assassinate an honored guest is my dereliction of duty as the lord of Dragon Gate City. Young Master Lu, please rest assured, I, Li Fengbei, will definitely give you an explanation." At this point, the viciousness in Li Fengbei's eyes had already dissipated, and he came forward at the first time, making every effort to speak good words.
"This person...I recognize this person!"
At this moment, the accompanying Sun Chairman suddenly said.
After taking a look at the head of the assassin, he had already identified his identity: "This person's surname is Jin, his name is Long, nicknamed Golden Dragon Sword King. He is one of the highly esteemed elders in the Ancient Sword Sect, and his cultivation is unfathomable. I once saw him from a distance at an auction!"
"Golden Dragon Sword King?"
"Ancient Sword Sect!?" Shi LuoRen and Li Fengbei were both astonished at the same time.
Of the two, Li Fengbei was also the first to react and shouted, "Someone from the Ancient Sword Sect dares to assassinate a disciple of the Quest Immortal Sect in my Dragon Gate City. Spread my order, immediately capture the person from the Ancient Sword Sect, spare no one, and hand them over to Young Master Lu for disposal!"
"Yes!"
The guard who received the order responded loudly and was about to execute it.
"No need."
Lu Qinghe said, "It's a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. Even if there are people from the Ancient Sword Sect in Dragon Gate City, they are probably just small characters. There's no need to pay attention to them. I will handle this matter, let's just end it here."
"Then I will do as Young Master Lu wishes."
Li Fengbei didn't dare to offend the Ancient Sword Sect. He had just been putting on a show earlier, and now that there was a way to retreat, he naturally went along with it in a compliant manner.
"I'm heading to the Kunwu Mountain Range. Lord Shiluo Ren, take me to the location of the Phoenix."
"Yes, please come inside, Master Lu."
As Shiluo Ren spoke, he hurriedly led Lu Qinghe into the interior.
As they walked inside with Lu Qinghe, he whispered, "Master Lu, last night we disabled Luo Zhengdong, and this morning an elder from the Ancient Sword Sect came looking for you. There's definitely something fishy about this, and the fact that we disabled Luo Zhengdong, but the Ancient Sword Sect's elder came to you, indicates that someone leaked information..."
Although Shiluo Ren didn't specify who the informant was, anyone with a little bit of intelligence could imagine it.
"Now, I'm heading to the Kunwu Mountain Range. When I return, I'll handle this matter."
Lu Qinghe glanced at Shiluo Ren and replied calmly, "Yes, the focus for Master Lu should naturally be on cultivation."
During their brief conversation, they had already arrived at a clearing inside the Beast Station. In the middle of the clearing, there was a giant bird, about three meters tall, entirely covered in golden-red feathers, waiting there along with a knight standing on the side of the Phoenix.
The knight, upon seeing Shiluo Ren and the others arrive, quickly bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Deputy City Lord, and Master Lu."
Shiluo Ren nodded and said, "Alright, Xu Zhen, the rest is up to you now. Ensure that Master Lu is safely escorted to the outskirts of the Kunwu Mountain Range."
"Please rest assured, Deputy City Lord. I will not fail in this task."
After saying this, the knight, Xu Zhen, made a gesture to Lu Qinghe.
"Goodbye, Deputy City Lord."
Shiluo Ren nodded and gestured with his hands. "I'm here to wish Master Lu a safe return."
Lu Qinghe politely nodded and then boarded the six-tiered Phoenix.
Under the control of Knight Xu Zhen, this sixth-level fierce beast spread its wings and took off, stirring up a strong wind. In an instant, it soared into the sky and soon disappeared from view.
Its speed was easily more than twice that of a Snow Carving.
Seeing Lu Qinghe depart, Shiluo Ren still had a smile on his face. Courteously, he nodded at Li Fengbei and said, "City Lord, it seems you've been doing well lately, making friends with a wide circle of people."
"Ha, it's nothing compared to Deputy City Lord Shiluo, who has unexpectedly latched onto such a big tree without realizing it!"
Li Fengbei replied with a half-hearted smile, and then said, "Well, I have some matters to attend to. I will take my leave now. Not as leisurely as you all."
"That's because the City Lord demands too much."
Shiluo Ren insinuated, and then bowed, "Goodbye, City Lord. Have a safe journey."
Li Fengbei nodded with a smile and left the Beast Station.
However, as soon as he left the station, the smile on his face disappeared completely, especially when he saw the bloodstained Golden Dragon carcass, his face became grim.
"Damn it...the assassination! This assassination was arranged by Li Fengbei. Of course, it can't be called an arrangement. He simply arranged the matter concerning Luo Zhengdong in Longmen City and quietly sent it to the Golden Dragon, who was nearby in the night. But he never thought that the renowned Sword King Golden Dragon would be so useless that he couldn't even deal with a small practitioner like Lu Qinghe."
"Damn Sword King."
Li Fengbei cursed inwardly.
Thinking about Lu Qinghe's skill displayed in the battle with the Sword King Golden Dragon, especially that sword, as fast as lightning...
That sword, even he, at that moment, probably couldn't handle it...
"This Lu Qinghe actually has such a terrifying sword technique. No wonder he could become a senior member of the Blue Moon Lake and challenge senior members of the Blue Moon Lake. I don't have that kind of strength! If the Golden Dragon had killed him earlier, there wouldn't have been any trouble. But now...I have to find a way to repair my relationship with him..."
With a heavy heart, Li Fengbei left.
As for Shiluo Ren...
At this moment, he didn't have time to pay attention to Li Fengbei's petty actions.
Before Lu Qinghe returned from the Kunwu Mountain Range, he had to find a way to reconcile with him. Otherwise, as the lord of Longmen City, his position would be untenable.
...
The Phoenix's speed was as fast as lightning.
Sitting on the back of this sixth-tier fierce beast, the mountains and rivers below quickly flew by underfoot. In just two hours, they had flown more than 1,200 miles.
The speed was far from being comparable to that of the Dragon Feather Horse or the Snow Carving.
However, flying beasts were ultimately more difficult to tame than the Dragon Feather Horse. In the Wanxian Sect, core disciples, elders, true disciples, and direct disciples traveled by flying beasts, and some powerful elders even raised demon beasts as their mounts.
But for inner disciples...
Except for a few, not every one of them had a flying beast to ride.
"Ahead is the Kunwu Mountain Range. In the midst of the Kunwu Mountain Range, there are even more powerful flying beasts lurking. Occasionally, flying demon beasts dart through the sky in the Kunwu Mountain Range, making it very easy to become a target. Therefore, I can only escort Master Lu to the outskirts of the Kunwu Mountain Range."
The knight Xu Zhen, looking at the distant mountain range that stretched across the horizon, said respectfully.
"No problem, once we're near the mountains, just land directly."
"Yes."
Xu Zhen nodded in response.
Meanwhile, Lu Qinghe also had time to look at the Kunwu Mountain Range in front of him.
The Kunwu Mountain Range, stretching for an unknown number of miles, is covered with dense forests, with treacherous terrain and rugged, unusual rocks. At first sight, it looks like a dormant ancient giant beast, quietly asleep.
When they arrived at the outskirts of the Kunwu Mountain Range, Xu Zhen controlled the phoenix to land.
Then, he took out a jade box.
"In the Kunwu Mountain Range, it is very easy to get lost. Getting lost is one thing, but trespassing into the territory of demon beasts is another. When Lord Shi learned that Young Master Lu was going to the Kunwu Mountain Range, he specially prepared a precise compass for Young Master Lu. I hope Young Master Lu will accept it."
Lu Qinghe took a glance and did not refuse.
"Lord Shi is thoughtful."
"If I can help Young Master Lu, I believe Lord Shi will be very pleased."
Saying so, Xu Zhen arched his hand and said, "Young Master Lu, I will be waiting in Kunwu Town outside the Kunwu Mountain Range. When Young Master Lu wants to return to Longmen City, just come to Kunwu Town to find me."
"No need, I may be in the Kunwu Mountain Range for several months. You can go back now."
"This..."
Seeing Lu Qinghe's resolute expression, Xu Zhen did not insist and said, "Well, I wish Young Master Lu a fruitful journey."
"Go back."
Lu Qinghe nodded, his figure leaped and went straight into the depths of the Kunwu Mountain Range.
...