***
Clearly that person had done nothing at all, yet Zhang Xiu still felt waves of chill running down his back.
This would not do!
He had to escape!
He directly and violently charged toward the nearby wall.
With his current realm, once he broke out from here, he would be able to distance himself from this residential area within two seconds.
However, in the next moment, he discovered to his astonishment that no matter how hard he tried, the distance between them did not change in the slightest.
"You worked so hard to come before me, so why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
His vision blurred, and Zhang Xiu finally regained his clarity, noticing that he was still standing in his original position.
His expression could not help but become unsightly.
An illusion array!
It was an extremely sophisticated illusion array, and he was not even clear on when he had fallen into the trap.
"Just who are you?"
There was no doubt that this person’s realm had already far surpassed his own, but how could Xiao Lu have become involved with a cultivator of this level.
"Me?"
"In a certain sense, you should be the first person to discover that I have emerged from seclusion."
Xu Xing did not hide the truth.
Buzz!
It was as if a thunderbolt had flashed through his mind, and even his divine soul was trembling.
He had considered that Xu Xing might be a cultivator who was attracted here because of the emergence of a great cultivator, but he had never imagined that this person was actually the great cultivator who had emerged from seclusion himself!
But how could this be?!
Why would Xiao Lu be involved with an ancient cultivator who had just emerged from seclusion?
"Do not think too much, I simply felt that you siblings have a predestined affinity with me, and so I passed a few things to her so that her path of cultivation might be a bit smoother."
Zhang Xiu did not believe the words Xu Xing spoke in his heart, but he still cupped his hands and said: "I thank the senior, but Xiao Lu's path of cultivation will already be smoother than most people, so..."
Before he could finish even half of his sentence, Zhang Xiu stopped.
He looked at Xu Xing with disbelief, or more accurately, he was looking at the teardrop-shaped red jade in the man's hand.
Inside the storage ring, it was not there!
He quickly searched for his person, and it was not there either!
"So that is how it is, I was wondering what the reason was, she actually managed to master the first move of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique."
Xu Xing clicked his tongue in wonder.
"Interesting, someone actually thought of using this kind of method to utilize the blood of those guys."
Blood?
Could it be that this ancient cultivator who emerged from seclusion knew what the essence of the red jade truly was!
"The production method of this thing is very exquisite, but it should not be used in the way you are using it."
Xu Xing looked toward him and asked: "Do you need me to give you a hand? However, after using it, the 'form' of this object might disappear."
"I do not dare to trouble the senior."
This was the only item left behind by his parents, so he naturally could not allow it to disappear, especially not through an ancient cultivator whom he did not understand.
"Very well, as far as your current realm is concerned, the efficacy of this thing is indeed limited."
The red jade in Xu Xing’s hand disappeared.
"It has already been put back."
Zhang Xiu hurriedly checked, and that red jade was lying quietly inside his storage ring, as if it had never left.
A trace of chill could not help but well up within his heart.
Just what level of a powerhouse was this!
"Sit down first, ask whatever it is you want to ask, and I will do my best to answer you."
Zhang Xiu really wanted to say that he had nothing to ask, but the opportunity to obtain clues regarding his parents' demise was right before his eyes.
If he were to give up just like this...
After a slight hesitation, he walked forward and sat down properly on the sofa.
"I venture to ask the senior, you said just now that the red jade is 'blood', may I ask what kind of creature’s blood it is?"
"The answer to this question is too dangerous for the current you, so I suggest you join the Dragon Elephant Heaven-Sustaining Sect, and after you have achieved Dao Integration, you will naturally come to know it."
Ah?
Not only did he have to join an immortal sect, but he also had to become a Dao Integration cultivator?!
It was just an answer, was the threshold truly this high?
Back then, his parents were still a hundred and eight thousand miles away from the Dao Integration stage.
"Is this the only method?"
"It is not strictly necessary to join an immortal sect, but Dao Integration is a requirement. You are a body cultivator after all, so entering the Dragon Elephant Heaven-Sustaining Sect would also allow your path to be smoother."
"..."
He remained silent for a moment.
"Regarding Xiao Lu’s side, I do not know what the senior’s arrangements are?"
"Her talent for combat is quite good, I will help her achieve a Heaven-made Foundation, and after that, she shall naturally enter my Sword Sect."
Because her combat talent was good, she should become a sword cultivator?
Then why not go for body tempering, as body cultivators also required combat talent!
"Because sword cultivators are more handsome than body cultivators."
Eh?!
Telepathy?
"It is not mind-reading, but whenever you body cultivators hear about sword cultivators, is this not the thought you have in your hearts?"
There was no way to refute this.
As fellow boors recognized by the Great Profound Realm, the elegant and unrestrained sword cultivators who rode the wind on their swords were indeed more popular than the big-muscled body cultivators who burst their clothes at every turn.
"And besides, do you really want to let your younger sister swing her fists to smash people?"
Zhang Xiu: "..."
Alright, he also found that image a bit difficult to accept.
"Is there anything else you want to ask?"
"...Senior's cultivation has reached the pinnacle of creation, with a realm such as yours, why would you pay attention to small cultivators like us?"
Zhang Xiu spoke seriously.
Could it be because he was bored and wanted to find some amusement?
"Do not think of things in such a dark manner."
And you still say you didn't use telepathy.
"I am a pioneer, and compared to you all, I have simply walked for a few more years."
"When I first stepped onto the path of cultivation, I also received the protection and support of many seniors before I could reach my current level, so it is only natural that I should protect the juniors just as the seniors did."
This answer was truly somewhat unexpected.
"But I am not a member of the Sword Sect."
Zhang Xiu said in bewilderment.
Hearing these words, Xu Xing looked toward him: "The billions upon billions of the human race in the Great Profound Realm are all our juniors."
............
Within a hazy grey space, Zhang Yunlu sat cross-legged as strands of grey mist flowed, gathering within the large hole that had been torn open in her abdomen.
The injuries on the other parts of her body had also been completely restored.
[Enemy Slain: Ninth Layer Qi Refinement Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Technique at Great Success]
[Time Taken: Three minutes and ten seconds]
Golden characters emerged, followed by a round and smooth medicinal pill.
Zhang Yunlu opened her eyes and grabbed the pill, placing it into her mouth.
The medicinal strength took effect quickly, and the spiritual power that had been exhausted within her dantian was rapidly restored, and it had even become much stronger.
Had she not been sleeping?
Why was she still able to feel the spiritual power within her dantian?
Why did she also feel pain when she was injured?
When life was ebbing away, was that truly what it felt like?
Many questions weighed heavily on her heart, but she did not have the energy to explore them now.
After nearly a hundred life-and-death battles without any reservations, her Flowing Cloud Sword Technique had progressed at a flying speed, and she had also fully mastered the subsequent sword moves.
Now, even a sword cultivator who had reached Great Success in the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique was no match for her.
[Enemy: Ninth Layer Qi Refinement Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Technique at Perfection]
[Killing this enemy can end this trial]
Seeing that line of words, a glimmer of spirit finally appeared in Zhang Yunlu’s eyes.
It could finally end!
She finally understood why Xu Xing would vow with such certainty to guarantee that she could master the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.
It turned out that it was entirely piled up using her life!
Her spirits were roused, and Zhang Yunlu stood up, gazing into the depths of the grey mist.
Tread, tread!
It was still that familiar phantom of a sword cultivator with an indistinguishable face and spiritual power that was on par with her own.
Kill him, and she would be able to go out!
This time, Zhang Yunlu decided to take the initiative and attack first!
Her toes lightly tapped the ground, and as her entire person charged toward the sword cultivator phantom, she slashed out five sword glows in succession, and this was not even her limit!
Following a burst of the sound of clashing metal.
Puff!
The blood she sprayed out turned into grey mist and dissipated.
Zhang Yunlu, who had been pierced through by several sword glows, flew backward like a broken rag doll, while that sword cultivator phantom showed no mercy, stepping forward and thrusting the sword to pierce through the center of her brows.
[Enemy: Ninth Layer Qi Refinement Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Technique at Perfection]
[Challenge Failed]