"Huang... Huang Tianluo... Huang Tianfeng..."
Shi Luo Ren felt as if an invisible giant hand was squeezing his heart, causing it to convulse fiercely. Even breathing became difficult for him.
Huang Tianluo, an outer disciple of the Immortal Aspiration Sect, was already considered a figure to be excessively flattered in his eyes. This was evident from the fact that in order to gain his favor, City Lord Li Fengbei went so far as to send his daughter, Li Waner, known as the Flower of Dragon Gate City, to him.
Huang Tianluo, this outer disciple, had already compelled the city lord Li Fengbei to offer his daughter, and what's more, he was the sixth in rank among the inner disciples of the second peak!?
Top ten among the inner disciples!
This type of figure, and his background and influence, were so formidable that they were beyond imagination. He could decide the rise and fall of Dragon Gate City with a single word, and determine the life and death of the Deputy City Lord of Dragon Gate City.
And yet...
He had actually died!?
Died in front of him!?
Moreover, it was evident that he had died by the sword of Lu Qinghe...
Shi Luo Ren couldn't help but glance at Lu Qinghe, who was calm and composed.
Just one glance!
In just one glance, he was filled with such fear that he quickly averted his gaze, lowering his body slightly and showing an expression of awe.
This time, it was not to please Lu Qinghe's backer, Lu Qingyun, nor was it due to Lu Qinghe's potential. Instead, it was for the strength he was displaying at this moment...
"Tidy up."
Lu Qinghe calmly ordered, then went to the innkeeper, who had already retreated to a corner, and took out ten gold coins. "This is for the damage."
"Young... young hero... I..."
"Take it."
Lu Qinghe handed the ten coins to the innkeeper.
After that, he politely nodded at Han Zhen and Han Ya, ignoring the sea of corpses on the ground, and went upstairs.
"..."
Watching Lu Qinghe leave, Han Zhen was speechless for a long time.
Shi Luo Ren was the same.
After a long while, Han Ya was the first to react.
"Senior Brother Han Zhen, should we go upstairs..."
"Hoo!"
Han Zhen let out a heavy sigh and looked at the now cold body of Huang Tianfeng, feeling a chill all over.
He understood that the present Lu Qinghe had completely risen, no longer a person who could be casually dealt with. He now possessed a terrifying combat power that was not inferior to the top ten among the inner disciples.
He could almost imagine the shockwaves caused within the Immortal Aspiration Sect once news of Lu Qinghe killing Huang Tianfeng spread.
"Let's go!"
Han Zhen said heavily, as if trying to drive away all those greedy and mixed thoughts from his mind. "Upstairs!"
"Yes."
Han Ya responded. After the two of them left the hall and climbed the stairs, she quietly asked, "Senior Brother Han Zhen, about the opportunities Senior Brother Lu obtained from the Sacred Ground of the Ancient Imperial Family..."
"Opportunities..."
Han Zhen replied somewhat self-mockingly, "Do you think that, with Lu Qinghe's previous cultivation level, he couldn't defend the opportunity he obtained?"
Han Ya nodded deeply in agreement.
"Since you and Lu Qinghe have a life-and-death bond, seize this opportunity! In our Han family, aside from our ancestor, there's no other fusion realm expert. With our ancestor's lifespan coming to an end... our Han family's situation is quite precarious. At this time, we mustn't miss any potential power we can obtain!"
Han Zhen's face was very serious.
"I understand."
Han Yayi nodded.
In fact, over the years inside the sect, she had been doing the same.
...
Back in his room, Lu Qinghe continued his contemplation of the first sword of the Art of Seeking Defeat, the Sword of Origins.
He could imagine the sensation it would cause to kill Huang Tianfeng.
But with his current strength, did he need to fear these things?
At present, he only needed to concentrate on his cultivation, striving to advance to the twelfth level of Refining Reality within a year and open the Legendary Yuan World.
...
Early the next morning, Lu Qinghe had already risen.
Shi Luoren acted swiftly. The inn's hall had been thoroughly cleaned, and various broken items had been repaired. The inn chosen by Han Zhenxuan was quite magnificent and had a good amount of influence and wealth in Longmen City. In the eyes of ordinary people, it was considered a formidable force, and the efficiency with which these things were done was remarkable.
When Lu Qinghe came down with his luggage, Shi Luoren was already waiting downstairs with two trusted men. There was also a vaguely familiar figure waiting alongside them.
U Lian.
"Senior Qinghe."
U Lian stepped forward, about to speak, but Lu Qinghe interrupted him: "There's no need for excessive thanks. This matter is simply something I did casually."
"But, Senior Qinghe saved the Meng family, that's a fact," U Lian said, respectfully bowing to Lu Qinghe. "Since Brother Feng has gone to Changkong Academy, only I can express gratitude to Senior Qinghe on behalf of Brother Feng."
Lu Qinghe nodded.
In reality, he was not familiar with U Lian, and they had not exchanged many words between them.
"Master Lu."
After U Lian finished his brief conversation, Shi Luoren stepped forward and asked, "Master, do you plan to ride the Phoenix back to the Asking Immortal Sect or..."
"Your Phoenix has probably just entered the jurisdiction of the Asking Immortal Sect and will be shot down," Lu Qinghe said with a smile. "I will go to the Beast-taming Station and ride a Dragon Feather Horse there."
"Um..."
Shi Luoren understood that what Lu Qinghe said was true.
After a moment, he received a 1.5-meter long sandalwood treasure box from one of his guards and opened it to reveal a sword that shone like jade.
"Master Lu, I observed that the sword in your hand seems to have been damaged during your time in the Kunwu Mountain Range. I hope this sword can be of help to Master Lu."
Lu Qinghe glanced at the sword and could clearly feel its extraordinary nature.
After all, Shi Luoren was only at the eighth level of Refining Reality, yet he possessed such an extraordinary sword?
Seemingly sensing Lu Qinghe's doubts, Shi Luoren hastily explained, "Master Lu, this sword was a treasure I chanced upon in a desolate mountain. It employs materials from the Xuan Ling Sword level, but the requirements of the swordsmith were too high, and his skill was insufficient, causing it to fall to the level of a superb sword."
"Materials from the Xuan Ling Sword?"
Lu Qinghe looked at the sword again.
No wonder it seemed so extraordinary.
"The sword is named Qing Hong! It is thirty-three percent firm, thirty percent sharp, four feet and two inches long, one inch six wide, weighing six jin four liang three, with a twenty percent increase in drawing speed..."
Shi Luoren recited all the data about the sword.
While its drawing speed was slightly slower than Dustfree Sword, its firmness and sharpness far exceeded it. Moreover, this sword weighed more than six jin four liang, more than two jin heavier than Dustfree Sword. Despite the increase in weight, firmness, and sharpness, it still maintained a twenty percent increase in drawing speed...
This sword could definitely be considered the best among exceptional swords, or even a quasi-Xuan Ling Sword.
"I accept it."
Lu Qinghe needed a sword to contend with Lu Qiankun, and since Shi Luoren had brought this sword to him to curry favor, he naturally would not refuse.
With Li Fengbei's death, Longmen City fell entirely into the hands of Shi Luoren. It was not possible for him to remain indifferent with such a great advantage.
Exchanging a city for a sword was a trade.
"It is my honor that Master Lu likes it."
Shi Luoren responded respectfully, his expression carrying a hint of joy.
Seeing this scene, U Lian couldn't help but feel a myriad of emotions.
This influential figure, whom even Shi Luoren couldn't please enough, was actually thrilled with Lu Qinghe accepting the sword he offered. Just from this, the disparity in their status and identity was evident.
It was ridiculous that when Lu Qinghe was depleted of his true energy in the past, people from the Clear Source City clans and Clear Source Academy treated him with various forms of contempt and disdain, not knowing what they would think when they saw Lu Qinghe's achievements now.
There's still a Beiqing...
Would this young master of the Heijiao Palace have difficulty sleeping and eating upon learning of Lu Qinghe's current identity and status because of what he did back then?
"Senior Brother Lu."
At this moment, Han Zhen and Han Ya-yi also walked down from upstairs.
After a night of struggle, Han Zhen had truly recognized his own identity, cut off his greed for the opportunities on Lu Qinghe, acknowledged Lu Qinghe's cultivation and status, and no longer greeted him as junior brother but as an elder brother.
This was the rule of the Wenxian Sect.
There was no distinction of precedence and size; the accomplished was the master.
"Let's set off."
Lu Qinghe nodded when he saw the two of them come down.
Immediately, a few people, under the send-off of Shi Luo’en, Wu Lian, and others, arrived at the Yishou Station.
In the Yishou Station, the peripheral attendants belonging to the Wenxian Sect had already prepared the Dragon Feather Horses. The group of them rode their horses directly toward the Wenxian Sect.
This time, it wasn't Lu Qingyun leading the way, but Han Zhen's status and position was no less than that of Lu Qingyun back then.
As they rode, all the peripheral members on the way, including the peripheral disciples of the Wenxian Sect, looked on, and they easily arrived at the foot of the third peak.
"It's a pity that we've arrived at the final round of the Wenxian Swordfight now. If Senior Brother Lu had returned a couple of months earlier, he surely could have shone in the Wenxian Swordfight,"
"It doesn't matter."
Lu Qinghe appeared quite calm.
"If Senior Brother Lu hadn't reached the Tenth Layer of True Refinement, there would be no need to worry. But... once you reach the Tenth Layer of True Refinement, the Wenxian Swordfight becomes extremely important."
"Huh!?"
Lu Qinghe looked at Han Zhen strangely. "The Wenxian Swordfight is just a kind of internal competition that motivates the disciples by determining the ranking within the sect, isn't it?"
"Not just that."
Han Zhen shook his head. "Senior Brother Lu, have you heard of the battle of the ages?"
Lu Qinghe nodded. "I've heard a little."
He indeed had heard a little.
Lü Qiankun, the Princely Heir of the Qiankun family, is currently concentrating his efforts in preparing for the battle of the ages.
"The battle of the ages and the Wenxian Swordfight of the Wenxian Sect have a similar nature, and among them is a quota."
"A quota? What kind of quota!?"
"Senior Brother Lu, have you noticed that those who participate in the Wenxian Swordfight and the battle of the ages are mainly those at the Ninth or Tenth Layer of True Refinement?"
Lu Qinghe nodded.
He used to think that it was ordinary cultivators who considered themselves average at the Wenxian Swordfight, and didn't want to embarrass themselves by participating...
But now it seemed that wasn't the case?
"It's because this quota is only valid for those at the Ninth or Tenth Layer of True Refinement."
"Ninth or Tenth Layer of True Refinement?"
Lu Qinghe furrowed his brows, and then, he thought of Lü Qiankun, who was actively preparing for the battle of the ages, and a flash of realization crossed his mind...
"Could it be..."