This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

Upon seeing Dharma Cultivation's agreement, Lu Zhou steered the flying ship on a detour toward Zhenjiang City.

The flying ship was incredibly fast, and in no time, they had already arrived outside Zhenjiang City.

Dharma Cultivation cupped his fist, ready to bid farewell to Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou glanced at Dharma Cultivation and casually tossed a storage bag toward him.

Dharma Cultivation caught the storage bag and probed it with his Divine Sense.

Inside the storage bag were forty Fourth Grade Spirit Stones and several Pill bottles.

For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, this was definitely considered a substantial amount of money.

Dharma Cultivation raised his head, his gaze shifting toward Lu Zhou.

"Take it, these Spirit Stones were won from Fang Qian based on your performance in the Ruin Realm," said Lu Zhou, shrugging his shoulders casually. "Don't overthink it, I just don't want to take advantage of the younger generation."

Without exposing Lu Zhou's tsundere demeanor, Dharma Cultivation tucked away the storage bag and smiled. "Then, I thank the Great Elder.

Lu Zhou took another look at Dharma Cultivation, and then added, "Although you are young, you are not a shallow person, so there is no need for me to explain some things; you understand them yourself.

But no matter what, you, Dharma Cultivation, are a member of the Lu Family. If you really encounter any difficulties, just return to the Lu Family; for now, the family can still shelter you."

Upon hearing this, Dharma Cultivation realized that Lu Zhou had seen through his intention not to return to the Lu Family.

However, Lu Zhou did not try to stop him—those Spirit Stones were provided out of concern for his expenses when he was alone outside, as a special subsidy.

He truly was rather endearing, this old man.

"Aren't you going to ask how I managed to secure a Grade A evaluation in the Ruin Realm?" Dharma Cultivation asked with interest.

Lu Zhou's expression was very calm: "If you wish to tell me, you will do so. If it's inconvenient to reveal, my asking will be useless and only serve to increase conflict."

Although Lu Zhou's response seemed relaxed, Dharma Cultivation understood that the matter was not as simple as Lu Zhou made it seem.

At the entrance to the Ruin Realm, the envy in the eyes of other family cultivators was not lost on Dharma Cultivation.

If the Lu Family itself did not know how Dharma Cultivation obtained the Grade A rating in the Ruin Realm, then in dealing with other families seeking to trade, the Lu Family would have no choice but to withstand the pressure passively.

Even so, Lu Zhou still did not intend to coerce Dharma Cultivation into revealing his experiences in the Ruin Realm using force or temptation.

Even for someone as dispassionate as Dharma Cultivation, this warmed his heart.

Yet, he had never intended to hide these details from Lu Zhou from the start.

Thus, he straightforwardly shared everything about his experiences in the Ruin Realm with Lu Zhou.

As for what the next steps in the family's strategy and the alliances and pressures between the different powers would be, that was for the three Golden Core Cultivators to worry about.

Considering the current situation and both Lu Zhou's and Lu Yuan's meticulous minds, the Lu Family should not end up at a disadvantage.

...

Nearly ten days had passed, and Dharma Cultivation finally returned to Zhenjiang City once again.

In less than ten days, he had crossed from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment.

As he told Lu Zhou, the reason he dared to be so striking in the Ruin Realm trial was because he had a reliance.

However, his reliance was not what Lu Zhou thought—the Scripture Pavilion, but himself.

A month ago, he was merely a mortal without any mana in the Corpse Refining Cave, and a month later, he had become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

This was his confidence.

Others play the pig to eat the tiger.

Facing the Netherworld, this giant tiger, one indeed needs to keep a low profile; but in Dharma Cultivation's eyes, how could the major families of the Ruin Realm Alliance be considered as tigers?

Thus, he naturally saw no need to keep a low profile.

Sword Cultivators are by nature spirited and unreserved, following their own desires.

He was not willing to endure the aggravation, trotting on eggshells everywhere.

...

Lu Qingshan had always been adept at strategic planning.

This time returning to Zhenjiang City, he naturally had his plans.

The strength of a Sword Cultivator lies in a single sword.

Once a Sword Cultivator advances to Foundation Establishment, a qualitative transformation follows.

There are two reasons.

First, a Sword Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm will unlock their first life-bound sword slot.

This life-bound sword slot allows a Sword Cultivator to possess a top-grade attack magic artifact that can be upgraded and wielded as an extension of their arm.

The importance of a magic artifact to a cultivator is self-evident, and the life-bound sword to a Sword Cultivator is as vital as water is to fish.

With a life-bound sword, the combat power of a Sword Cultivator immediately doubles.

Secondly, Sword Cultivators at Foundation Establishment Realm can begin training in the two most important and iconic skills:

"Sword Control Technique" and "Flying Sword Technique".

...

As for the life-bound sword, Lu Qingshan currently didn't give it much thought.

It's not that he wasn't in a hurry, but once a life-bound sword is chosen, it cannot be changed, and considering its great importance to Sword Cultivators, he preferred to lack than to make do.

And in the Zhenjiang jurisdiction, based on the information he had, there were no sword artifacts enticing enough for him, so he had to temporarily put aside the matter of the life-bound sword.

Fortunately, for now, the Crying Soul Sword was sufficient for his use.

However, learning the "Sword Control Technique" and "Flying Sword Technique" couldn't be delayed any longer.

Before mastering these two skills, one couldn't really be considered a true Sword Cultivator.

The Lu Family was a lineage of Dharma Cultivators, so their family's Scripture Pavilion did not have the manuals for the "Sword Control Technique" and "Flying Sword Technique".

Nevertheless, Lu Qingshan had already figured out where he would learn these two skills.

After returning to Zhenjiang City, Lu Qingshan, through a broker, rented a quaint little courtyard where he temporarily settled down.

In addition, he also paid some extra spirit stones and instructed the broker on some matters.

After temporarily settling in Zhenjiang City, Lu Qingshan did not allow himself to idle, roaming around Zhenjiang City's various shops selling spiritual medicines and materials.

If his predictions were correct, it wouldn't be long before someone would deliver the manuscripts of the two skills he required.

Exchange of favors required preparations for some gifts in return, to rightfully accept the two skill manuscripts, didn't it?

The third day after returning to Zhenjiang City.

Lu Qingshan left the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, which specialized in spirit materials, and returned to his temporary residence.

Pushing open the house door and entering the hall, Lu Qingshan saw a familiar tall figure inside the hall.

They finally arrived.

A hint of a smile curved the corners of Lu Qingshan's mouth.

Although the person in the hall was facing away from Lu Qingshan, clothed in snow-white robes, with a chilly demeanor, who else could it be but Dantai Qingrun?

"It's been a while since we last met, Dantai Tower Master still carries such a spirited demeanor," Lu Qingshan said with a smile.

Dantai Qingrun replied coldly, "How come, it seems you're not at all surprised to see me, Lu Qingshan?"

"Surprised perhaps not, but delighted somewhat," Lu Qingshan said nonchalantly.

Dantai Qingrun turned around, her gaze falling on Lu Qingshan, as if discovering something, her brows sharply raised: "Before you left Yuanshan City, you were only at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, and now, not even half a month later, you have already become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?"