Chapter 67: The Path of the Strong Sect

Seeing her pondering, Lu Xingzhou spoke again: "There are many aspects to worldly affairs... I don't know if your Tianyao Holy Land's cultivation requires experiencing male-female emotions, but these past few days by Shen Tang's side, you've certainly seen many things."

"For example?"

"The struggle within the imperial family's direct lineage, siblings harming each other, a father breaking his daughter's leg, a mother's death shrouded in doubt yet powerless to investigate – isn't this change in kinship worldly affairs? A city lord raising demons and poisoning the people just for some demonic arts – isn't that worldly affairs? You experienced the whole process, did you have no feelings or thoughts?"

"No."

"That's because those were always other people's matters, unrelated to you. When you feel they are related to you, you will toss and turn over those matters, perhaps that is your path to the upper three grades."

Dugu Qingli felt this was somewhat reasonable, but perhaps Master's meaning wasn't entirely like this. It should be when she personally experiences something and her heart remains like a cold river, that is her own cultivation.

She didn't argue, only asked: "You yourself only recently obtained a super-grade technique, probably haven't thoroughly researched it yet, why would you understand others' paths?"

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Because I have a world backing me."

He had read too many novels, the so-called "tempering the heart in the mundane world" and the like were nothing more than these few factors. He had just been analyzing how this nine-grade system was a complete misclassification, is this what people in Daqian who are accustomed to it would think...

Dugu Qingli didn't understand this sentence and said again: "As for personal experience, I have nothing to experience. I am an orphan, adopted by Master since I was young, with no kinship. If you say kinship... it's Master."

Lu Xingzhou also didn't know why he couldn't say many things when facing Shen Tang, yet when facing the clearly much colder little white-haired girl, he always couldn't resist the urge to tease.

For example, right now he really wanted to tease this little human machine and trick her into trying male-female emotions, starting with us... But just as the words reached his lips, he thought of Shen Tang's gentle gaze and in the end didn't say a word, changing it to: "Let's start with friendship."

Dugu Qingli was silent for a moment, then softly said: "You really think of everything for her ah, you even want to tie me to her."

Lu Xingzhou wanted to speak but stopped, feeling a bit embarrassed.

This sentence was referring to himself, not Shen Tang... This misunderstanding seemed to have been elevated.

But was the little white-haired girl's soft tone like praise after being elevated?

His mind raced, and he replied directly: "I am also your friend."

Dugu Qingli couldn't discern where the slight dissatisfaction in her heart came from at that moment, but hearing this sentence, she immediately felt much more comfortable. What was going on?

Was this a kind of worldly affairs?

She seemed to feel a bit... This was indeed a change in mood she hadn't experienced in over a decade in the icy river, although the fluctuation was very weak.

The furnace lid popped open, and five Rongxue Guiyuan Pills jumped out. Lu Xingzhou waved his hand, and the pills automatically floated in front of Dugu Qingli: "How has the market reacted to us selling Rongxue Guiyuan Pills these past few days, and how has Fenxiang Tower reacted?"

Dugu Qingli said: "I just came out of seclusion, I haven't asked about these things. If you want to know, I'll have Shen Tang come find you later. Wait..."

"Hmm?"

"Did she not come and report the situation to you in real-time these past few days?"

"......No."

Dugu Qingli looked him up and down suspiciously. You know, some days ago when Lu Xingzhou brought A Nuo back to the mountain, Shen Tang ran to his place every day, tiring herself out climbing up and down the mountain with her white hair. Now there was clearly no one disturbing them, and even A Nuo didn't like staying long because the temperature below was too high, yet Shen Tang still didn't take the opportunity to come every day. Why wasn't she coming every time?

Lu Xingzhou coughed dryly twice: "Do you still want to leave now?"

Dugu Qingli said seriously: "Since cultivation is beneficial, I will stay for a while longer. If I truly learn nothing useful, then I will leave."

"It's good that you're not leaving... Have Shen Tang come over. Besides wanting to ask about the situation, I also have some matters I want her to help with."

"What help? Since you are also my friend, why not find me?"

Lu Xingzhou: "......"

Actually, after being cared for these past few days, he felt he could try to do some recovery training, and occasionally he would stand up and walk a few steps by himself. But this was definitely not as good as walking with someone supporting him. A Nuo was too short and couldn't support him. This place was not suitable for others to enter for a short period of time, so Lu Xingzhou could only think of Shen Tang.

Everyone had hugged and been close so many times, Shen Tang shouldn't mind too much. Didn't she actively support him that day... Having a little more contact could also alleviate the awkwardness of kissing her face that day.

As a result, the little white-haired girl asked this, still taking it seriously...

Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment and decided to be direct: "I just need support to walk around, like how you supported Shen Tang before."

Dugu Qingli stood there, not making a sound for a long time.

Just now she was saying how as friends, why not find her for help, but now that her friend actually said it, she refused?

How to reply? Lines were burnt, crashing.

Lu Xingzhou found her appearance really funny and deliberately teased: "I supported you when you were injured."

"Where did you support me..." Dugu Qingli said half-way and suddenly paused, remembering the past where she was injured and sat on his lap to move forward.

You call that support? Supporting with a sword hilt?

It was better not to mention this matter. When this matter was mentioned, how could Dugu Qingli still dare to be close to him? Until now, she hadn't figured out why her mind inexplicably went blank and her whole body was powerless at that time, and she was still sweating... If you talk about crisis, that was probably the most critical moment since her cultivation began. Any nine-grade sneak attack could probably kill her there.

Thinking of this, she simply ran away in fear: "I can't help with this, I'll go call Shen Tang."

Lu Xingzhou watched her fleeing back disappear with a dumb smile. He had been afraid that she would become even colder after breaking through, but he didn't expect her to still be so cute.

However, this was only Grade Four after all... Grade Three was the watershed...

"Seeing you laughing like a street side auntie, is that really how you like Qingli?" Shen Tang's voice came, her expression stiff.

"......" Looking at the sudden appearance time, Shen Tang must have come early ah, hiding somewhere watching him and the white-haired girl exchange words? What kind of mindset was this...

Lu Xingzhou just smiled: "Qingli's thinking is pure, very cute."

Shen Tang said with a stiff face: "Is my thinking very complex?"

"But I still asked her to go find you to support me." Lu Xingzhou looked into her eyes and answered seriously: "Facts have also proven, only you will help me."

Meeting his gaze, Shen Tang only took one breath before retreating.

No wonder they say even dogs look affectionate, this gaze is too deadly, it's simply cheating.

She pursed her lips and still walked to his side, saying stiffly: "Get up, I'll support you for a while."

Lu Xingzhou stood up, and Shen Tang actively put his arm on her shoulder, then warned him with a stiff face: "Dare to steal attack like that day again, see how I beat you!"

Lu Xingzhou just smiled.

Shen Tang also didn't say anything else, carefully supporting him as they walked for a while, speaking in a familiar manner: "The trends in the pill and flying sword industries have completely followed your previous expectations these past few days."

That kiss from that day seemed to have just passed by like that, without any trace.

Lu Xingzhou also responded very naturally: "Be more specific?"

"We entrusted Xia State's most famous auction house, Wanbao Pavilion, to auction several 'Duanyue' swords, and the response was very enthusiastic. Now, when celebrities in Xia State discuss flying swords, they basically default to our sect producing the best. On the surface, we only auction a small amount of high-grade items, and there is no conflict with Cangshan Sword Sect's low-grade flying swords, but looking at this trend, as long as we launch low-grade flying swords, the market will surely be occupied by us." Shen Tang said here, somewhat admiringly: "The trend is exactly the same as you expected, you are so young..."

"Stop... Are you not going to trick me into calling you sister again?"

"Hmph." Shen Tang snorted and mumbled: "There are also elders who have raised concerns, saying they don't know if the conflict with Cangshan Sword Sect will intensify."

"That is a matter for later. Before that, we and Cangshan Sword Sect have not completely fallen out, they will continue to observe. If we can successfully suppress Fenxiang Tower, Cangshan Sword Sect will only withdraw from the Xia State market. After all, the gains and losses in a mere county city are not too serious a matter."

Shen Tang turned her head and looked at him meaningfully: "Now the secret realm is open, Xia State's earth veins will recover daily, and perhaps Xia State will even upgrade back in the future..."

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "Then they can only blame themselves for losing this first opportunity."

This was the final move in all the plans. What others thought was a "foothold in a county city" was actually a state capital land, a dragon and tiger spiritual mountain overlooking a thousand miles. The only thing was that Tianxing Sword Sect must become strong before this, able to withstand wind and rain, otherwise they would only be making wedding dresses for others.

Lu Xingzhou said again: "Do you know why we chose Fenxiang Tower as our primary big enemy?"

Shen Tang was stunned for a moment: "Could it be because they want to compete for Danxia Mountain and have a natural conflict?"

"That's just the surface cause of the contradiction." Lu Xingzhou said: "This kind of pill master sect is different from other sects. Their main focus is on pill techniques, and battle is not their strength. Therefore, most of the inner forces of their sect are not self-cultivated, but they recruit famous strong individuals from various sides to join. The strong individuals are greedy for stable pill resources and are willing to protect them, basically the same nature as bodyguards hired by families..."

Shen Tang understood his hidden meaning: "Your meaning is that under this ecology, the loyalty and reliability of the strong individuals in Fenxiang Tower are both questionable."

"Yes, they are even less reliable than guards cultivated by families from a young age, essentially completely outsiders." Lu Xingzhou said slowly: "I have always been thinking, were the two guards who assassinated you that day really instructed by Bai Jingtian? Even if Bai Jingtian really instructed them, were they really that obedient? They were probably just someone else's pawns."

Shen Tang was thoughtful: "What does this have to do with you dealing with Fenxiang Tower first?"

"It does." Lu Xingzhou said: "After merging Danxia Gang, Tianxing Sword Sect is now not lacking disciples, but it is very lacking in immediate strong individuals who can fight, so we must strongly retain Qingli. Actually, it's not very fair to Qingli either. Truly waiting for you to cultivate a batch of upper three-grade disciples step by step, that would take until which year... After defeating Fenxiang Tower, those strong individuals with nowhere to rely, couldn't you use them?"