A hundred lifetimes of cultivation, merely seeking immortality in the cultivation world.

Chapter 199 An Unintentional Success

"There's something wrong with this secret realm. Evacuate all our people."

Lu Qingyun made his decision without hesitation.

"But junior brother, isn't that the spiritual herb you wanted among them?"

"If we withdraw now, wouldn't all our previous efforts be in vain?"

Zhao Qingxuan frowned.

Although she made a fortune by speculating on the price of the pills, she never forgot.

From the very beginning, Lu Qingyun told her that their goal was this secret realm, and a second-tier wood-elemental spiritual herb within it.

Giving up at this point would undoubtedly render all previous efforts futile.

Greed, anger, and ignorance are inherent in human nature.

"But survival is the prerequisite for everything. The timing of this secret realm's opening is wrong, and the things behind it are not something we can interfere with."

"You have been acting too hastily lately. You should recite a few Taoist scriptures, calm your mind and maintain stillness, and then attend to other matters."

Lu Qingyun gave Zhao Qingxuan a deep look and said slowly.

"In such a vast and mysterious realm, even if I don't obtain that spiritual herb, my cultivation will only be slightly delayed. But if there is a trap here, I'm afraid I might have the life to take it, but not the life to use it."

"Senior sister should take this as a warning."

"Junior brother..."

Zhao Qingxuan was taken aback and was about to explain.

However, her face paled in shock.

Just now, she suddenly realized that the secret realm in Dajing was left behind by a True Person, and only a True Person could make it appear in the world ahead of time.

This is further compounded by Zhang's sudden move and the struggle between Zhang's two legitimate sons for the position of family head.

Behind all this, is it that Zhang family's high-ranking official?

He actually abandoned Zhang Tianyan and chose Zhang Tianlie instead?

Moreover, these days I seem to be too hasty and anxious, as if my mind is bewitched by something...

Zhao Qingxuan stared blankly, her mouth agape as if she wanted to say something.

However, Lu Qingyun extended his index finger, pressed it against her lips, gazed into her eyes, and slowly said, "Things of the Supreme Truth should not be spoken of lightly. Just stay true to yourself and do what you should do."

Is it something that cannot be said, or something that should not be said?

Lu Qingyun shook his head.

Zhao Qingxuan and Lu Qingyun locked eyes, and they found their answer. Before they knew it, beads of sweat had soaked their clothes.

In the vast emptiness.

"They actually broke free?"

The Taoist priest in the green robe frowned and said in a low voice.

His fingers twitched as he pondered something.

"Very well, it's not good to break ties with those people. The Zhao family's fate is not yet over. It's better to leave each other some face. It's just a matter of changing people."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Taoist in the green robe pointed his finger slightly, and several streams of Dharma flowers swirled around his fingertips.

While inspecting mundane affairs in the Hall of Punishments, he was worried about how to find Cui Bao, the audacious man who had stolen the Qingyuan Spring Mine that rightfully belonged to the Cui family. A thought suddenly occurred to him.

He only realized it inadvertently.

A message came from his clan that he had missed some information about the Great Jing Secret Realm.

"Alas!"

"There might be two second-tier spiritual treasures, water and wood, in this secret realm. If I could obtain them, wouldn't I be able to break through to the half-step Foundation Establishment stage in no time?"

Cui Bao's heart was greatly moved.

His cultivation had been stuck at the eighth level of Qi Refining for a long time, and thus he was constantly suppressed by Niu Gao, who was at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Although he was a deacon of the Punishment Hall, nominally the deputy head of the Punishment Hall, the word "deputy" sounded awful no matter how you looked at it.

This Great Jing Secret Realm is a godsend.

If he can gain something from this and break through, he can, according to the rules of the outer sect, leap to the level of Niu Gao.

I no longer have to put up with that old bull-nose's nonsense.

Once Cui Bao's greed took hold, he was no longer willing to waste his time in the torture chamber.

Young Master Cui is dead; all that's needed is for him to have another child.

If it weren't for the sake of the Cui family's reputation, he wouldn't have even put in the hard work these past few days.

These days, one's own cultivation is naturally more important than one's reputation.

Cui Bao was riding high, confident of victory.

They set sail on a flying boat to Dajing.

With his Qi Refining Level 8 cultivation and the magic artifacts borrowed from his clan, wouldn't it be a piece of cake for him to break into this secret realm?

Cultivation knows no days or months; a thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Qingyun had already spent half a month in seclusion.

That day, he suddenly felt a tremor in his heart and awoke from his meditation.

Lu Qingyun probed with his divine sense.

Suddenly, a sound came from outside the cave.

"Junior brother, are you there?"

Looking over, Lu Qingyun saw that the person who had come was Zhao Qingxuan.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring cave, the spiritual energy around Chen Xiru also suddenly trembled, indicating that Chen Xiru was also about to break through.

Zhao Qingxuan smiled broadly, clearly indicating that good news was on its way.

With Chen Xiru's breakthrough as well, it's truly a double celebration.

"Senior sister, it's been a long time."

Lu Qingyun smiled.

"Is there some good news this time?"

"Not bad, Junior Brother is as perceptive as ever."

Zhao Qingxuan took out a brocade box. Lu Qingyun was slightly puzzled, but after taking a look, he was overjoyed.

"This is that ten-thousand-year-old wood core, that second-tier wood-elemental spiritual artifact from the Great Jing Secret Realm. Senior Sister actually obtained it?"

"That was a coincidence, and it was also my junior brother's good fortune."

Zhao Qingxuan nodded slightly, quite moved.

"In this Great Jing Secret Realm, countless late-stage Qi Refining cultivators died. No one expected that Zhang Tianlie, who was only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, would win in the end."

"At first, no one paid any attention to him, thinking he was just a spoiled brat from the Zhang family who came to make up the numbers. It wasn't until he obtained the inheritance of that true master and the puppet he left behind, and killed several late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, that everyone realized that this person was almost invincible."

"Even though Cui Bao, an eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator from the Qiyang Cui Clan, suppressed his cultivation and brought in a high-grade magic weapon, he was still killed by Zhang Tianlie."

"Even this time, he didn't use the puppet left behind by that real person."

"If I remember correctly, the cultivation level limit in the Great Jing Secret Realm this time is the sixth level of Qi Refining, right? Doesn't that mean Zhang Tianlie killed Cui Bao, whose cultivation was suppressed to the sixth level of Qi Refining, with a mere fifth level of Qi Refining?"

Lu Qingyun muttered to himself.

Although he knew that Cui Bao might be suppressed by the secret realm and unable to unleash his full strength, he still couldn't help but be amazed.

Unexpectedly, the seemingly naive eldest son of the Zhang family possessed such strength.

In his previous life, Zhang Tianlie died young and only made a slight move in the battle between Zhang and Zhao.

Therefore, Lu Qingyun was unaware of his strength until now, when he finally realized it.

"It's truly unbelievable; no wonder that Supreme Being values ​​him so highly."

"Yes, he killed Cui Bao, who was at the eighth level of Qi Refining, despite being at a higher level. His talent and demeanor are unparalleled. Some even call him the number one genius of the outer sect."

"It's laughable that Cui Bao, who considers himself invincible and possesses a top-grade magic weapon, has ended up doing all the work for someone else."

Zhao Qingxuan sighed.

"Unfortunately, he happens to be our enemy."

"There's no need to feel too sorry about it."

"The cultivation technique he practices is called the 'Heavenly Fortune and Fate Scripture,' which allows him to seize the fortune of the defeated during calamities and use the fortune of others as resources. This time, he overwhelmed all the heroes in the Great Jing Secret Realm, so it is certain that his fortune will soar."

"Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune, and misfortune may be a harbinger of good fortune. The outer sect of the Yunxia Sect is unfathomable. His recent exposure may not be a good thing."

Lu Qingyun shook his head.

Or perhaps, as Zhang Tianlie's life force grew stronger, he became increasingly closer to death.

His fortunes will only truly reach their peak when Zhao Rushou dies and the Zhao family declines.

And that was also the time for those few high-ranking officials to reap the rewards.

Is it perhaps not a good thing?

Zhao Qingxuan seemed to be deep in thought, recalling how that high-ranking immortal had interfered in the affairs of the secret realm.

Could it be that all of this was designed by that supreme being?

In that case, it's intriguing to see whether Zhang Tianlie is truly valued or being groomed as a reserve.

"But speaking of which, the name Cui Bao sounds somewhat familiar."

Lu Qingyun pondered for a moment.

He immediately recalled Cui Bao, the deputy head of the Punishment Hall.

In his previous life, Cui Bao had been able to manipulate events at Lingzhi Peak, leaving a deep impression on him. In particular, Cui Bao later broke through to the half-step Foundation Establishment stage, which naturally made Lu Qingyun pay more attention to him. Originally, he planned to wait until the late stage of Qi Refining before settling things with this Cui Bao. Unexpectedly, Cui Bao was destined to die young.

His death in this life was so laughable, dying at the hands of Zhang Tianlie, who was merely at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Logically speaking, Cui Bao shouldn't have died here.

Lu Qingyun looked up.

He always felt that the same person had done it afterward.

However, after a short while, Lu Qingyun regained his composure.

The fire in the furnace signifies seizing the cause and effect, and manipulating power.

That Supreme Being's methods were truly terrifying. Who knew if he was monitoring them at this moment? Therefore, Lu Qingyun didn't even dare to reveal his thoughts easily.

"The reason we were able to obtain this ancient wood core is because of Cui Bao, whose steward Cui perished."

Zhao Qingxuan shook her head.

"He simply couldn't see the times clearly. The Cui family was already showing signs of siding with the Zhang family, yet he brazenly attacked Zhang Tianlie in the secret realm, only to be killed by Zhang Tianlie in return."

"It's truly heartbreaking."

"After his death, Zhang Tianlie seized this treasure from him. Because he had always coveted one of my family's gold-elemental spiritual objects, he decided to trade with my family..."

"That's too much trouble for you, Senior Sister..."

Lu Qingyun was slightly surprised.

It is truly remarkable that Zhao Qingxuan would hand over that gold-elemental spiritual item to Zhang Tianlie for her own sake.

After all, the Zhang and Zhao families were bound to fight sooner or later, so doing this was tantamount to aiding the enemy.

This shows how great the favor Zhao Qingxuan has done for her this time is.

"So it wasn't a loss after all. Although this eldest son of the Zhang family is domineering, he has quite a bit of spirit. It seems that he knew I might refuse, so he directly took out the water element spiritual item from the secret realm along with this ten-thousand-year-old wood heart, just to exchange for that metal element spiritual item."

Zhao Qingxuan said in a complicated manner.

"And this water-based spiritual object will also be useful to me. When I reach the later stage of Qi Refining, it will greatly save the time required to break through to the half-step Foundation Establishment stage."

"Therefore, junior brother, just accept it without any psychological burden."

"Besides, my junior brother has shouldered just as much responsibility as I have, hasn't he?"

"I understand, thank you, senior sister."

Lu Qingyun smiled and met Zhao Qingxuan's gaze. Even though they hadn't said it aloud, they both already knew what was going on. In fact, it was just as Zhao Qingxuan had said.

He has now become the hope of the Zhao family.

Although they knew they were no match for the Zhang family, many of the Zhao family elders hoped that he could use his exceptional talent in alchemy to break through to the half-step Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible.

Thus, they gained an advantage over the Zhang family in alchemy, giving the Zhao family a chance to survive.

Although such hope was utterly insignificant in the face of that sage Zhang.

But it's still better than the feeling of being constantly watched and potentially devoured by the Zhang family, which was previously suppressed by the Zhao family.

In addition, Zhao Qingxuan talked about some recent events.

Most of the stories concern the complete outbreak of war between the Cui family of Qiyang and the Shen family of Pinghu, which caused turmoil in the outer sects.

The Cui family was truly unlucky. Not only did their pillar of the clan, Cui Bao, die at this critical juncture, which angered the Zhang family of Danfeng, whom they had originally intended to rely on, but also, according to rumors, a murderer had recently appeared in Qiyang who was specifically targeting the Cui family, causing fear throughout the entire clan.

More than ten mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators and one late-stage Qi Refining cultivator died.

This is yet another event that never happened in my previous life.

Lu Qingyun pondered for a moment.

He asked Zhao Qingxuan to inquire about the details of the war between the two families.

After much thought, it's not surprising that his seizure of the Qingyuan Spring Mine triggered a war between the two families.

But the appearance of this murderer who was targeting the Cui family seemed rather abrupt.

This kind of uncontrollable situation always reminded Lu Qingyun of the real person Zhang, and he had many worries in his heart.

Next, Lu Qingyun gave Zhao Qingxuan some instructions, asking her to collect some spiritual herbs for alchemy, and gave her some more advice before sending her away from the cave.

However, just as the two were leaving the cave...

A sudden fluctuation also came from Chen Xiru's cave next door.

All the surrounding magical power converged there.

A moment later, a wave of azure magic surged through the hollow, and a girl in a white dress emerged from the cave.

Her bright eyes sparkled as they fell on Lu Qingyun and Zhao Qingxuan beside him.

"This must be Junior Sister Xiru. I never imagined that the Great Liang Kingdom would be such a blessed land, producing two prodigies in succession, Junior Sister and Junior Brother Lu."

Zhao Qingxuan smiled and met Chen Xiru's eyes.

"Junior Sister has only been in the sect for about a month, yet she has already reached the third level of Qi Refining. Her talent is truly enviable."

"You're Zhao Qingxuan, Senior Sister Zhao?"

When Chen Xiru met Zhao Qingxuan's gaze, she didn't give her a second glance and spoke politely and generously.

Zhao Qingxuan nodded.

For a moment, the two women remained frozen in place, each seemingly harboring their own unique feelings.

Looking at the clean and pure white-clad girl in front of her, Zhao Qingxuan felt a pang of envy for some reason. She envied that the girl had known Lu Qingyun for so long and the inexplicable trust between them.

Yes, Zhao Qingxuan could see through Chen Xiru's eyes that her clear, pure eyes were completely free of any impurities and filled with trust in Lu Qingyun.

Lu Qingyun seemed to feel the same way, harboring a deep and inexplicable affection for his junior sister that was even more profound than his own.

I don't know.

At this moment, Chen Xiru couldn't help but feel envious of Zhao Qingxuan, envious that she had a powerful family and was able to finalize a marriage agreement with her senior brother and be together openly.

Chen Xiru shouldn't have been envious; she should have offered her blessings instead.

But she couldn't help but feel envious.

Seeing the two fall into silence, Lu Qingyun, puzzled but impressed, finally smiled slightly, breaking the deadlock.

"Now that Junior Sister has emerged from seclusion, how about we go to South Cliff together for a cup of spiritual tea to celebrate?"

"good!"

Zhao Qingxuan and Chen Xiru agreed at almost the same time, and they even said the exact same words.

Seeing this, Zhao Qingxuan chuckled, and Chen Xiru blinked.

Although Lu Qingyun didn't know why the two were behaving this way, he nodded, and the group headed towards Nanya Market.

At this very moment, in the spiritual land of Qiyang.

Xiao Daojue smiled coldly.

"This Cui family is truly ungrateful; their guard has been growing ever stronger lately. But since Cui Jue dared to attack me, how can I, Xiao, rest easy without annihilating your entire clan?"

As he spoke, Xiao Daojue activated the ritual, and the eerie, blood-red Dharma Flower suddenly shone brightly. Accompanied by the screams of the young cultivator on the altar, it turned into a pool of blood, and Xiao Daojue's cultivation level also suddenly increased.

He unleashed a powerful punch, and the distant rocks shattered instantly.

If outsiders were to see this, they would surely be amazed.

This is not only because of his evil blood sacrifice ritual.

Similarly, at this very moment, his cultivation level had already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining!

He is even a level above Zhang Tianlie, who comes from the Zhang family of Danfeng!

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