Chapter 369: There are three million sword practitioners in the world, and they all bow their heads when they see me.
Both Bihu Mountain and Qingzhu Mountain were draped in white, a sign of mourning. Many rogue cultivators and young cultivators who heard about this were curious why the passing of a Qi Refining cultivator would be treated with such solemnity.
When they learned that this elder was a senior relative of the Bihu Mountain Lord and his wife, and that the now-famous Bihu Mountain Lord, Lu Changsheng, was just a son-in-law from Qingzhu Mountain over forty years ago, they couldn’t help but feel moved and took Lu Changsheng as their goal to strive for.
They fantasized about rising up like Lu Changsheng.
After all, Lu Changsheng’s growth story was both inspiring and enviable for countless low-level cultivators.
Baihu Mountain continued to operate normally during this time and was not affected by the Fourth Elder’s funeral.
With the relocation of Bihu Mountain’s puppet workshop, Baihu Mountain is now essentially the industrial park of Bihu Mountain.
Not only has the puppet workshop expanded, but the artifact refining workshop is also expanding in an orderly manner under Lu Changsheng’s guidance and arrangements, combining artifact refining with puppetry.
That night.
Outside Baihu Mountain.
“Boom boom boom!”
A surging wave of magical power was constantly approaching Baihu Mountain.
The patrolling cultivators of Baihu Mountain immediately sent out a warning when they saw this.
Soon, a young man of twenty-eight or nine, with a heroic and resolute face, arrived.
“What’s going on?”
Lu Qingsong has been in charge of Baihu Mountain’s affairs for these years, serving as the Lord of Baihu Mountain. To appear sufficiently majestic, he hasn’t maintained his youthful appearance and even sports a thick, ink-like mustache.
“Mountain Lord, it seems to be Foundation Establishment cultivators fighting.”
A驻守修士 immediately said.
“Foundation Establishment cultivators fighting?”
Lu Qingsong heard this and looked towards the source of the magical power fluctuations in the distance, his brows furrowed.
For this fight to reach the entrance of their mountain gate was a very serious matter.
It not only affected and damaged their trees and ore veins but could also attract unnecessary trouble.
“Fellow Daoists of Baihu Mountain, my surname is Shi, and I am a镖头 from Tianwei Escort Agency. I encountered a raid by rogue cultivators on the way. Please help me out, and I will repay you handsomely afterward!”
Soon, Lu Qingsong could see a tall Foundation Establishment cultivator being chased by two Foundation Establishment cultivators wearing straw hats.
This Foundation Establishment cultivator looked very disheveled and could only constantly parry under the pursuit of the two, shouting loudly for help towards Baihu Mountain.
“Tianwei Escort Agency?”
Lu Qingsong’s eyes narrowed slightly.
This was a large chain escort agency with a wide range of business.
Ordinary cultivators, as long as they had a clean background and certain strength, could go to Tianwei Escort Agency to register as escorts and take on escort missions.
Families like Bihu Mountain and Baihu Mountain had a lot of business dealings with Tianwei Escort Agency due to their own needs.
“Hmph, this matter has nothing to do with your Baihu Mountain. Don’t bring trouble upon yourselves!”
A Foundation Establishment cultivator wearing a straw hat snorted coldly.
“Please help me, Fellow Daoists. I have a commission to fulfill on this trip. If you are willing to help, my Tianwei Escort Agency will also offer a generous reward afterward!”
The tall cultivator being chased continued to shout, his voice urgent and desperate, with a hint of pleading.
“I don’t care who you are or where you come from. This is the territory of my Baihu Mountain. Leave quickly now, or you will suffer the consequences!”
Lu Qingsong looked at the situation before him, his expression cold and stern, and shouted in a deep voice.
It seemed he knew that as a mere Qi Refining cultivator, saying such words was not intimidating enough.
In an instant, the entire Baihu Mountain formation was fully activated, and a fierce tiger seemed to be hovering in the sky above, its appearance ferocious and majestic, roaring towards the three people with surging power.
“Our Tianwei Escort Agency has a lot of business dealings with your Baihu Mountain and Bihu Mountain. In this situation, you are just standing by and letting rogue cultivators do evil?”
The chased Foundation Establishment cultivator heard this and immediately shouted with a face full of grief and despair.
However, Lu Qingsong was unmoved by these words and still said with a cold expression, “I’ll say it again, leave the area of my Baihu Mountain immediately, or you will suffer the consequences!”
As he spoke, a faint light emerged from the depths of Baihu Mountain and soared into the sky, roaring.
It was the Nine Nether Hound guarding Baihu Mountain.
In recent years, Baihu Mountain had been troubled by petty thieves several times, and it was always Lu Qingsong who, with the Nine Nether Hound, resolved the issues.
Therefore, the surrounding families all knew that Baihu Mountain was guarded by a second-order spirit beast.
Seeing this situation, the chased Foundation Establishment cultivator could only control his magic artifact with a grim expression, escaping along the edge of Baihu Mountain towards the mountain range.
After a moment, Lu Qingsong saw the three leave and said to the patrolling cultivators, “Be extra vigilant during this time. Activate the great formation immediately if there is any movement.”
During the Demon Extermination Order some years ago, Lu Qingsong had heard of many family forces being raided because rogue cultivators colluded with or disguised themselves as cultivators, breaking through from the inside.
After all, immortal cultivation families are protected by great formations, and as long as there are no internal problems, it is difficult to break through them in a short period.
And rogue cultivators are all about quick battles and quick decisions, generally not daring to stalemate with other family forces for too long.
If they cannot break through the great formation, they will retreat immediately.
“We understand.”
The patrolling and驻守修士 all nodded in agreement.
They all knew that the immortal cultivation world had been somewhat unstable in recent years.
At the same time.
The three Foundation Establishment cultivators who had just been fighting stopped after entering a forest.
“It seems that Baihu Mountain is still only guarded by a second-order demonic beast.”
“That’s right, we’ve tested it this way, and no Foundation Establishment cultivators have appeared in Baihu Mountain, which means the situation is the same as before.”
“Since that’s the case, shall we start the next step?”
The three looked at each other and said.
Their situation just now was naturally a test of Baihu Mountain.
To see if Baihu Mountain was indeed only guarded by a second-order spirit beast, as the intelligence they had gathered suggested.
If it was truly only guarded by a second-order spirit beast, they wouldn’t be polite.
Moreover, if they could have gotten a Foundation Establishment cultivator mixed into the interior of Baihu Mountain just now, they could have easily broken through the Baihu Mountain’s protective formation by coordinating from inside and outside.
Lu Qingsong returned to Baihu Peak.
A young man with a proper and resolute face and a tall, imposing physique walked over and asked him, “Qingsong, how was it?”
“Big brother.”
Lu Qingsong saw the young man, called out, and then said, “It should just be Foundation Establishment cultivators passing by, but we can’t rule out the possibility of rogue cultivators in disguise.”
“Okay, if there’s anything, notify me immediately.”
Lu Ping’an nodded and said.
Baihu Mountain is guarded by the Nine Nether Hound, and when something happens, it’s always Lu Qingsong who takes action with the Nine Nether Hound, so no one knows his strength yet.
Seeing this situation just now, knowing that Lu Qingsong could handle it, he just watched from the side and didn’t show up immediately.
“Don’t worry, Big brother.”
Lu Qingsong said with a smile, knowing his big brother’s kind and generous nature.
He had been cultivating wholeheartedly in Baihu Mountain all these years and never interfered with affairs.
But if there was any situation or problem, he would immediately show concern and ask if he needed help.
“Rumble!”
The two chatted for a while and were about to go back to rest when they suddenly heard a rumbling sound.
They saw the spiritual light of Baihu Mountain’s second-order great formation fluctuating, flickering in the night.
“Hmm? This magical power aura, it’s the three people from just now!”
Lu Ping’an looked towards the direction of the mountain gate and, through the magical power aura, sensed that it was the same three people from earlier.
“It seems that the three people just now were indeed rogue cultivators!”
Lu Qingsong’s face turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, guessing what was going on in his heart.
The three people just now were definitely trying to infiltrate Baihu Mountain or test it by acting and disguising themselves.
Having confirmed that their family only had a second-order spirit beast guarding it, they were now forcefully attacking.
After all, although a second-order spirit beast is powerful, it cannot control the great formation.
Without a Foundation Establishment cultivator controlling a second-order great formation, the formation’s offensive and defensive capabilities would be a level lower.
For example, in recent years, the reason why other family forces haven’t attacked Baihu Mountain, besides the Nine Nether Hound, is entirely because of the Lu family of Bihu Mountain.
Once Baihu Mountain is in danger, not only will the Lu family of Bihu Mountain come, but families like the Mo family of Tiemu Forest and the Ning family of Xishan can also immediately come to support.
The two brothers immediately rushed towards the mountain gate.
They saw the three rogue cultivators who had just been fighting attacking the Baihu Mountain great formation.
The three were clearly prepared.
Not only did they have a formation-breaking artifact like a small mountain bombarding Baihu Mountain, but they also had formation-breaking talismans prepared.
Under this bombardment, the great formation’s mist immediately dissipated, and its spiritual light dimmed.
“Big brother, it seems you’ll have to make a move this time.”
Lu Qingsong saw this scene, his face solemn, knowing that this group was prepared and it wouldn’t be easy to repel the enemy.
So he planned to have Lu Ping’an cooperate with the Nine Nether Hound to take action together.
“Okay, leave it to me.”
Lu Ping’an responded in a deep voice, and the blood in his body began to slowly revive.
“Big brother, be careful. I’ll use the formation to assist you.”
Lu Qingsong continued.
He only knew that his big brother had already broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
But he wasn’t sure about his specific combat strength.
So he thought of his big brother leading the Nine Nether Hound, and then he would control the formation to make these three retreat in the face of difficulty.
“No need for that.”
Lu Ping’an shook his head and quickly came to a courtyard, an dark golden great bow appearing in his hand.
Then he gazed at the Foundation Establishment cultivator controlling the great mountain artifact outside the formation, raised his hand to draw the bow, and pulled the bowstring.
“Big brother?”
Lu Qingsong saw this and didn’t know what his big brother was going to do.
Was he going to shoot and kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator here?
How was that possible?
But in the next moment, he looked at the spiritual pressure and power emanating from his big brother and was suddenly shocked.
He saw that Lu Ping’an at this moment seemed to be connected with the dark golden great bow, like a bow body.
His heart inside beat like a drum of gods and demons, ’thump thump thump’, bursting with endless vital energy, causing a golden divine arrow surging with wind and thunder to slowly form on the bowstring that had no arrow nocked.
“Buzz buzz buzz!!!”
As the golden divine arrow formed, Lu Ping’an’s right arm seemed to be flashing with lightning and thunder, and the wind and thunder were surging.
“Qingsong, the southeast direction of the formation at sixty-three degrees, you make a small gap in the great formation.”
Holding the dark gold greatbow, Lu Ping’an was like a scorching sun, and he said in a deep voice.
“Alright.”
Lu Qingsong heard this, looked at Lu Ping’an in front of him, swallowed, and with a formation plate appearing in his hand, he said, “Big brother, prepare!”
“Open!”
“Buzz!”
In an instant, wind and thunder surged, and a long arc, like interwoven golden lightning, pierced through the void and shot out rapidly.
“Hmm? Not good!”
“Be careful!”
Outside the mountain gate, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators who were attacking the great formation suddenly saw a golden sharp arrow pierce the air from White Tiger Mountain and shoot towards them. All of them were greatly shocked, feeling a sense of dread.
“Boom boom boom!”
The Foundation Establishment cultivator who was controlling the mountain magic tool saw this golden arrow, carrying wind and thunder, pointing directly at him. He immediately let out a loud cry, retreated in panic, and formed layers of protective shields around his body.
But the layers of protective energy shields shattered in an instant, and his entire head exploded like a watermelon under the golden wind-thunder arrow.
“This!?”
Lu Qingsong was stunned when he saw this, his face blank.
He really shot and killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator!?
And killed him with one arrow.
Didn’t his big brother just break through to Foundation Establishment a few years ago?
How could he have such strength?
He was very confused, feeling as if it were a dream.
It wasn’t just him; the patrolling cultivators guarding White Tiger Mountain and the two remaining rogue cultivators outside the mountain gate were all dumbfounded, their faces filled with shock and disbelief, not knowing what was happening.
How could an arrow suddenly appear and kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator with one shot?
What kind of talisman is this, or a talisman treasure, or perhaps a rare treasure!?
“Second brother!”
“Magic power, this is the aura of magic power! White Tiger Mountain has a late-stage Foundation Establishment great cultivator in charge! Go, hurry and go!”
Seeing this, the two remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators didn’t dare to hesitate and quickly transformed into streaks of light to escape, fearing that another golden arrow would shoot out.
Although they had a purpose for this trip.
But their main goal was wealth, and it was impossible for them to sacrifice their lives here.
Seeing the remaining two flee in panic, Lu Ping’an let out a long breath and put away the dark gold greatbow.
The arrow just now was a magical ability he had mastered by condensing the ‘Wind-Thunder Ring’ of the Xu family patriarch.
It could allow his attacks to carry the power of wind and thunder!
This was his first time using it in actual combat, and the power and effect were quite good.
Not only could it repel the enemy, but it also didn’t require him to expose his true strength to the outside world.
“Big brother?”
Lu Qingsong still looked at his big brother with a bewildered expression.
Being inside White Tiger Mountain, from such a distance, he actually shot and killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator with one arrow!
Such strength was truly beyond his comprehension.
Lu Ping’an looked at his younger brother in front of him, smiled gently, and explained, “I had some fortuitous encounters before breaking through to Foundation Establishment. My body refinement has already broken through to the second tier, so my strength is a bit stronger than ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.”
“Second-tier body refinement?”
“A bit stronger than ordinary Foundation Establishment?”
Lu Qingsong was speechless for a moment after hearing these words.
He could understand second-tier body refinement.
But killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator with one arrow, he couldn’t understand.
After all, between cultivators, being just a bit stronger makes it very difficult to kill someone, let alone instantly kill them.
Although his big brother’s arrow just now had an element of surprise, this level of strength was not something that could be explained by being “a bit stronger.”
Lu Qingsong didn’t continue to ask about Lu Ping’an’s situation. He took a deep breath and let it out, then nodded and said, “Alright, with you, big brother, in charge of White Tiger Mountain, I can rest easy in the future.”
At this moment, he finally understood why his father had asked his big brother to take charge of White Tiger Mountain.
Because his father already knew Lu Ping’an’s strength. With him in charge, White Tiger Mountain could rest easy!
“Big brother, I’ll go arrange things.”
Lu Qingsong continued, walking quickly to the front of the mountain gate to arrange things.
He didn’t explain what had just happened, whether he had acted himself or someone else had.
Where the punishment is unknown, the deterrent is immeasurable!
Many times, unknown methods are more intimidating.
He ordered the Jiuyou Mastiff to retrieve the Foundation Establishment corpse outside, take the magic tool and storage bag, and with a cold and stern expression, he instructed someone, “Hang this corpse outside the mountain gate and tell others that if any rogue cultivator dares to invade my White Tiger Mountain again, this will be their fate!”
“Yes, Mountain Master!”
White Tiger Mountain not only had cultivators from the Zhao family from earlier years, but also cultivators from the Mo family of Ironwood Forest and the Ning family of Xishan.
The situation just now made them all deeply fearful.
The two Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators were able to sense a trace of Foundation Establishment magic power from the arrow.
These people were only Qi Refining cultivators.
They couldn’t determine whether it was a human acting or some kind of treasure.
And since White Tiger Mountain didn’t have a Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge, and Lu Qingsong, the Mountain Master, had just disappeared, it made them speculate that Lu Qingsong possessed some kind of rare treasure.
After all, Lu Qingsong’s father, Lu Changsheng, could be considered a legendary figure.
Since he dared to let a son in the Qi Refining stage take charge of White Tiger Mountain, how could he not provide him with some hidden means or trump cards!
The events at White Tiger Mountain spread to the surrounding families and forces on the second day.
Everyone who heard this news was greatly shocked.
After all, killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator with one arrow was simply terrifying!
Who wouldn’t be intimidated upon hearing of such a method!
Several families whose cultivators were friendly with Jade Lake Mountain and White Tiger Mountain even sent people under the guise of visiting to check on the situation at White Tiger Mountain.
When they saw the headless corpse hanging outside the mountain gate and confirmed it was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they were all horrified.
They all speculated what kind of methods Lu Changsheng had hidden in White Tiger Mountain.
At the same time, at the Jin family of Golden Dragon Ridge.
“What a White Tiger Mountain, what a Lu Changsheng! He truly hides things deeply!”
The Jin family patriarch’s expression slightly condensed as he looked at the information in his hand.
The three rogue cultivators who appeared at White Tiger Mountain last night certainly didn’t go there to plunder for no reason.
It was he who, in order to probe Jade Lake Mountain, found someone to issue a bounty mission and provided restriction-breaking talismans and magic tools, which made three rogue cultivators willing to attack White Tiger Mountain.
Otherwise, under normal circumstances, ordinary rogue cultivators would not pay a high price to forcefully attack a certain family.
Unless this family had some fortuitous opportunity or treasure and no Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge.
The Jin family patriarch didn’t hesitate and immediately went to report this news to his family’s patriarch.
Jade Lake Mountain.
“Three rogue cultivators, killed with one arrow.”
Lu Changsheng looked at the information from White Tiger Mountain and chuckled.
Others might not know what happened, but as the father, he naturally knew everything clearly.
After all, Lu Ping’an’s methods were all given to him by his father.
“With Ping’an in charge of White Tiger Mountain, unless a Pseudo-Core cultivator makes a move, there won’t be any danger.”
Lu Changsheng lightly exhaled.
However, despite saying that, with such an incident occurring at White Tiger Mountain, he still went there to check on the situation.
Moreover, the sudden attack by three rogue cultivators also made him speculate whether it was related to other forces.
After all, the Demon Slaying Order had just ended, so it was unlikely that any rogue cultivators would dare to cause trouble at this time.
Yue State, Jinyang Sect.
“Qingshan, how confident are you about this trip to the Heavenly Sword Sect to ask for a sword discussion?”
True Person Tianyuan wore a luxurious big red dress, her figure full and graceful. She took a sip from the wine gourd in her hand, her face slightly flushed, and said lazily.
When the Purple Nether Secret Realm ended, Lu Qingshan promised True Person Yujian of the Heavenly Sword Sect that he would go to the Heavenly Sword Sect to ask for a sword discussion within ten years.
Now that only one year remained until the ten-year agreement, she was preparing to send Lu Qingshan to the Heavenly Sword Sect for the sword discussion.
Lu Qingshan had a handsome face, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. Hearing his master’s words, he looked at her calmly and lightly uttered a sentence: “There are three million sword cultivators in the world, but they must all lower their brows when they see me.”
“…”
True Person Tianyuan was speechless for a moment upon hearing her disciple’s words.
After a long time, she finally said, “You can say that in front of me, but if you say such words when you go to the Heavenly Sword Sect, even I, your master, won’t be able to protect you.”
“Hehe, aren’t I just expressing my confidence?”
Lu Qingshan smiled and said.
“Although it’s called asking for a sword discussion, True Person Yujian wants to use you to temper the disciples in his sect. When you get to the Heavenly Sword Sect, a sword discussion is a sword discussion, but you still need to be a little careful…”
True Person Tianyuan’s expression turned serious as she instructed her disciple.
This trip to the Heavenly Sword Sect was a very good opportunity for her disciple to temper himself.
But she knew her disciple’s personality; he was practically arrogant to the extreme deep down.
And the sword cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Sect wouldn’t be any better.
If this disciple completely disregarded the Heavenly Sword Sect’s face during the disciple sword discussion at the Heavenly Sword Sect, it would easily cause trouble.
“Master, don’t worry, I understand these things. Friendship first, sword discussion second.”
Although Lu Qingshan was arrogant, he wasn’t foolish and understood the reasoning behind it.
His trip to the Heavenly Sword Sect was mainly for friendly exchange and discussion, so naturally, he had to consider the host’s face.
If the exchange turned into smashing the place, it would be equivalent to slapping the Heavenly Sword Sect’s face, and it would be difficult to resolve the matter afterward.
Even if the Heavenly Sword Sect didn’t say anything openly, it would still be equivalent to forming a deep enmity.
“Since you understand, I won’t say anything more.”
True Person Tianyuan nodded and asked Lu Qingshan to say goodbye to Lu Qingzhu before heading to the Heavenly Sword Sect.
However, Lu Qingshan said that his younger sister would be bored by herself in the sect, so it would be better to go together, and she could also broaden her horizons.
Hearing this, True Person Tianyuan said it didn’t matter if Lu Qingzhu was willing to go, and then immediately took the brother and sister to the Heavenly Sword Sect.