This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable
Chapter 970 - 24: On a Whim

Chapter 970: Chapter 24: On a Whim

Along with Lu Qingshan leaving the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, came a message spread from within.

A message that stirred great waves like a boulder plunging into a lake.

"Lu Qingshan is a person my Heavenly Secret Pavilion wishes to protect. This is not mere empty words or idle talk, but a declaration to the world.

Everyone must understand, if anyone dares to make a move against Lu Qingshan, apart from not being forgiven by the Sword Sect, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion will also pursue the matter to the end, so act wisely."

This was a proclamation to the world.

Everyone was astounded.

A Sword Cultivator from the Sword Sect could incite such drastic measures by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion? Such importance?

What reasoning is this?

But while they were still in shock, on the other side, the Eastern Domain Sword Sect also responded from afar.

"Lu Qingshan is a disciple of the Sword Sect. If anyone dares, regardless of status, to harm a disciple of our sect, whether successful or not, do not blame us for being ruthless, extinguishing your teaching and Dao fortune, and wiping out your disciples."

"However, if a cultivator of the same realm wants to make a move, our sect will not interfere, and even cultivators higher by one realm who wish to act may do so at their discretion."

A stone stirred a thousand layers of waves.

Compared to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion’s unconditional protection, the Sword Sect appeared uniquely different, and... confident.

What does it mean for a cultivator of the same realm or one realm above Lu Qingshan to make a move and the Sword Sect will not care?

Is it that they do not wish to control?

No, clearly because the Sword Sect believes that Lu Qingshan can handle opponents at this level without their intervention.

The struggle of the same realm, the Sword Sect disdains getting involved, even wishing to use these cultivators to sharpen their disciple’s skills.

Arrogant and full of Sword Sect style.

Cultivators from various sects were abuzz with discussion, and the name of Lu Qingshan, already beginning to resound through the Seven Domains, reached even greater heights.

Evidently, the combination of the Sword Sect and the Heavenly Secret Pavilion provided a significant deterrent to cultivators harboring sinister intentions against the world.

One is a well-known Taoist Sect most protective of its own.

The other is a Spiritual Cultivator sect capable of divining heavenly secrets, with inscrutable means.

Anyone who wishes to act must ponder thoroughly.

"Lu Qingshan has become one protected by two major Taoist sects. From now on, there will be few who dare to have ideas about him?"

"No, you’re wrong. People die for wealth, just as birds die for food. There will still be those who dare to target him, and they will be tough ones."

.......

As Lu Qingshan left the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

Within the Central Heavenly Realm, in a towering Tang Tower.

"Father." Xia Yongzhen respectfully greeted the man standing with his hands behind his back.

"The task given to you by King Qing, you have not accomplished." As the third son of King Qing, Xia Huai, dressed in a robe embroidered with purple-gold patterns, his eyes opened and closed with a radiant glow.

Xia Yongzhen dared not argue, "Father, I assigned the Jiao King of Overturning Rivers to intercept and kill Lu Qingshan, but he was unexpectedly defeated with ease. I am impressed by his talent, and so..."

"Appreciate talent?" Xia Huai swiftly turned around, his gaze like a blade sweeping over Xia Yongzhen’s face.

"Your appreciation for talent is irrelevant, but now is the most critical moment; there can be no mistakes. Do you understand?"

"Father, I personally believe that a mere Fifth Realm cultivator would not negatively impact King Qing’s grand plans." Xia Yongzhen calmly stated.

"Personally believe?" Xia Huai let out a cold laugh, scolding, "Many things, your belief is irrelevant; it is how King Qing perceives it that matters.

Furthermore, you also know, Li Qiubai’s eastern departure to Shuoyun Pavilion and the return of the sword to Beicang City, all these involved Lu Qingshan’s presence. King Qing is already aware of this; what do you think he will think?"

"Clearly assigned the task of eliminating Lu Qingshan to you, yet you have not accomplished it. King Qing will not care about the excuses; he will only think you are ineffective."

Xia Yongzhen was silent for a moment, and finally cupped his fists saying, "Yongzhen is ashamed, I heed my father’s teachings."

"You need not remember," Xia Huai paused, then continued, "You’ve heard the recent rumors, haven’t you."

"Does Father refer to... the Taoist Artifact in Lu Qingshan’s possession?"

Xia Huai nodded.

"But... if the sword in his hands is truly a Taoist Artifact, given its Divine Power, how could he possibly harness it?"

Xia Yongzhen, born of the royal family, has vast knowledge and immediately pinpointed the only irrational aspect, "Besides, Lu Qingshan has used that ’Taoist Artifact’ in public before. While indeed extraordinary, its power has never seemed to reach that of a Taoist Artifact."

The Divine Power of a Taoist Artifact is unimaginably vast; a single slash should be enough to shake the heavens and the earth.

Before this, the power displayed by the Dragon Sparrow was clearly not at this level.

"I initially thought so too, which is why I never considered that his Life-bound Sword could be a Taoist Sword."

"However, there is no smoke without fire. Reevaluating the scene of his spell-breaking strike in the Seven Domains Taoist Debate back then, that sword indeed had several nuances of natural Dao rhythm."

The Dao rhythm cannot be faked, only existing in Taoist Artifacts and above.

"Moreover, if it were not a Taoist Artifact, how to explain his cultivation speed?"

"Has there truly existed a cultivator in history who could elevate their cultivation from Golden Core Late Stage to Void Refining Peak in less than seven years and ascend to the top of the Mysterious Ranking? Have you ever seen such a person?" Xia Huai asked rhetorically.

Xia Yongzhen fell into silence, then after a moment, silently shook his head, "Unheard of."

Even Ancestral Daoist Xia in his day was not this exaggerated.

Could it be that Lu Qingshan’s talent surpasses that of Ancestral Daoist Xia back then?

No one dares to think so.

"Even a reincarnated great power could not progress so quickly, could it?" Xia Huai analyzed, "Only possessing a Taoist Artifact makes this possible."

"There is a high probability that the rumor of the Taoist Artifact is true."