Chapter 58: The Path to a Strong Sect

Seeing her deep in thought, Lu Xingzhou added: "There are many aspects to the world... I don't know if the cultivation of your Heavenly Jade Holy Land requires experiencing the love between men and women, but in the days by Shen Tang’s side, you have already seen many other things..."

"For example?"

"The struggle for the imperial succession, brothers and sisters killing each other, a father breaking his daughter’s legs, the mother’s death shrouded in mystery but unable to be investigated—isn't this change in family affection the world? The City Lord raising demons and poisoning the people under his rule just for a mere demonic method—isn't this the world... You experienced the whole process, don't you have any touch or reflection?"

"No."

"That’s because these have always been other people’s business and have nothing to do with you. When you feel that it has something to do with you and you will toss and turn for those things, perhaps that is your path to the upper three ranks."

Dugu Qingli felt that this made some sense, but perhaps Master’s meaning was not entirely like this. It should be when you can still have a heart like the Cold River after experiencing it yourself, that is your own cultivation.

She didn't argue, just asked: "You have only just obtained the super-grade technique yourself, and you probably haven't studied it thoroughly. Why do you understand other people’s paths?"

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

He had read too many novels. The so-called refining the heart in the red dust was nothing more than these few factors. Just now he was still analyzing that the ninth-rank system was a completely wrong grading system. Was this something that people in the Great Qian who were used to this would think about...

Dugu Qingli didn't understand this sentence and added: "I have experienced it myself, and I have nothing to experience. I am an orphan, adopted by Master since childhood, and have no family affection. If you talk about family affection... Master is."

Lu Xingzhou didn't know why he couldn't say many things in front of Shen Tang, but he couldn't help but have a desire to tease the little person who was clearly much colder.

For example, he really wanted to tease the little machine now, trick her into trying the love between men and women, starting with you and me... But when the words reached his lips, he thought of Shen Tang’s gentle gaze, and in the end, he didn't say a word, changing it to: "Start with friendship."

Dugu Qingli was silent for a moment and said gloomily: "You really think for her in everything, even this has to be tied to her."

Lu Xingzhou wanted to speak but stopped, somewhat ashamed.

This sentence referred to himself, not Shen Tang... This misunderstanding seemed to have sublimated.

But was Bai Mao’s gloomy tone a compliment after sublimation?

His mind turned, and he responded directly: "I am also your friend."

Dugu Qingli couldn't distinguish what the little dissatisfaction in her heart at that moment came from, and how she felt much more comfortable after hearing this sentence.

Was this a kind of world?

It seemed that she had a feeling... This was indeed a change in mood that she had never experienced in the glacier for more than ten years, although the fluctuation was very weak.

The furnace lid jumped, and five Snow-Melting Returning Origin Pills jumped out. Lu Xingzhou waved his hand, and the pills automatically floated in front of Dugu Qingli: "What is the market reaction to our selling of Snow-Melting Returning Origin Pills these days, and what is the reaction of the Burning Incense Tower?"

Dugu Qingli said: "I just came out of seclusion and didn't ask about these. If you want to know, I'll ask Shen Tang to come to you later. Wait..."

"Hmm?"

"Hasn't she come to report the situation to you in real-time these days?"

"...No."

Dugu Qingli looked at him suspiciously. You know, in the past few days, Lu Xingzhou took Anuo to live in the back mountain, and Shen Tang ran to him every day, tiring the Bai Mao to death going up and down the mountain. Now that there was clearly no one to disturb them, and even Anuo didn't like to stay long because the temperature below was too high, why didn't Shen Tang take the opportunity to come every day, all the time? Why didn't she come instead...

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

Dugu Qingli said seriously: "Since it is beneficial to cultivation, I will stay for a while longer. If I know for sure that it is useless, I will leave."

"It's good not to leave... Let Shen Tang come over. Besides asking about the situation, I have some things to ask her for help."

"What help? Since you are also my friend, why don't you look for me?"

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

Actually, it was because after raising it for these days, he felt that he could try to carry out restorative training, and occasionally he would stand up and walk a few steps himself. But this was definitely not as good as having someone support him to walk more. Anuo was too short to support him, and this place was not suitable for others to come in in the short term. Lu Xingzhou could only think of Shen Tang.

They had hugged so many times, Shen Tang shouldn't care too much. Didn't she take the initiative to support him that day... More contact could also relieve the embarrassment of kissing her face that day.

As a result, Bai Mao’s question was quite serious...

Lu Xingzhou thought for a while and decided to say it directly: "I just need someone to support me to walk, just like you supported Shen Tang before."

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

She just claimed that friends help, why don't you look for me, but now that her friend really said it, she refused?

How to reply? The line was burned, and it was crashing.

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

"When did you support..." Dugu Qingli stopped halfway, remembering the past when she was injured and sat on his lap to move forward.

You call that support? Did you support it with the sword hilt?

It was better not to talk about this. After talking about this, Dugu Qingli didn't dare to touch him at all. She still didn't understand why her brain was blank and her whole body was weak for no reason, and she was still flowing... If it was a crisis, that was probably the most critical moment since she started cultivation. Any ninth-rank sneak attack could probably die there.

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

Lu Xingzhou looked at her fleeing back and laughed dumbly. He was afraid that she would be colder after breaking through, but he didn't expect her to be so cute.

However, this was only the fourth rank... the third rank was the watershed...

"Seeing you smile like a street aunt, do you really like Qingli that much?" Shen Tang’s voice came, her expression stiff.

"..." From the time she suddenly appeared, Shen Tang came early, right? Where was she hiding to watch him and Bai Mao communicate? What kind of mentality was this...

Lu Xingzhou just smiled: "Qingli’s thinking is simple, very cute."

Shen Tang said with a straight face: "Is my thinking very complicated?"

"But I still let her go to you to support me." Lu Xingzhou looked into her eyes and answered seriously: "The facts also prove that only you will help me."

Looking into his eyes, Shen Tang was defeated in just one breath.

No wonder they say that even looking at a dog is affectionate. This look is too murderous, it’s simply cheating.

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

Lu Xingzhou stood up, and Shen Tang took the initiative to put his arm on her shoulder, and warned with a straight face: "If you dare to sneak attack like that day again, see how I draw you!"

Lu Xingzhou just smiled.

Shen Tang didn't say anything, carefully supporting him to walk for a while, and said the main point like an old couple: "The industry of pills and flying swords has been going according to your previous predictions these days."

That day’s kiss seemed to have passed like this, leaving no trace.

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

"We entrusted the most famous auction house in Xiazhou, Wanbao Pavilion, to auction a few 'Duan Yue', and the response was very enthusiastic. Now the celebrities in Xiazhou discuss flying swords and basically default to the best produced by this sect. On the surface, we only auction a small amount of high-grade ones, which does not conflict with the low-grade flying swords of the Cangshan Sword Sect, but looking at this trend, as long as we launch low-grade flying swords, the market will inevitably be occupied by us." Shen Tang also had some admiration when she said this: "The trend is exactly as you predicted. You are so young..."

"Stop... are you trying to trick me into calling you sister again?"

"Hmph." Shen Tang snorted and muttered: "Some elders also put forward views, saying they don't know if it will intensify the conflict with the Cangshan Sword Sect."

"That’s a later matter. Previously, we didn't completely turn against the Cangshan Sword Sect, and they will continue to wait and see. If we can successfully suppress the Burning Incense Tower, the Cangshan Sword Sect will only withdraw from the Xiazhou market with their hands folded. After all, the gain or loss of such a mere county town is not a very serious matter."

Shen Tang turned her head and looked at him meaningfully: "Now that the secret realm is open, the earth veins of Xiazhou will recover day by day. In the future, Xiazhou might even be promoted back..."

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "Then we can only blame them for losing this opportunity."

This was the final move of all planning. What others thought was "establishing a foothold in the county town" was actually the place of the state government, the Dragon and Tiger Spirit Mountain, overlooking thousands of miles. It was just that the Profound Heaven Sect had to become strong before this, able to withstand the wind and rain, otherwise it would only be making wedding clothes for others.

Lu Xingzhou added: "Do you know why I chose the Burning Incense Tower as the primary enemy?"

Shen Tang was stunned: "Isn't it because they want to fight for Danxia Mountain, and there is a natural conflict?"

"This is just a superficial contradiction inducement." Lu Xingzhou said: "This kind of alchemist sect is different from other sects. They focus on alchemy, and fighting is not their strength. Therefore, most of the martial power in their sect is not cultivated by themselves, but by taking in famous powerhouses from all sides. The powerhouses covet stable pill resources and are willing to protect them. It is basically the same nature as the bodyguards and guards hired by aristocratic families..."

Shen Tang heard the song and knew the elegance: "You mean, in this ecology, the loyalty and reliability of the Burning Incense Tower powerhouses are open to question."

"Yes, it’s not as reliable as the guards cultivated by aristocratic families since childhood. In essence, they are outsiders." Lu Xingzhou said slowly: "I have been thinking, the two guards who assassinated you that day, were they really instigated by Bai Jingtian? Even if Bai Jingtian really instigated them, are they really that obedient? Most likely, they are just guns in other people’s hands."

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

"Yes." Lu Xingzhou said: "After the Profound Heaven Sect merged with the Danxia Gang, it doesn't lack disciples now, but it lacks powerhouses who can fight immediately, so it must strongly keep Qingli, which is actually not very fair to Qingli. If you wait for you to cultivate a batch of upper three-rank disciples step by step, when will you have to wait... If you defeat the Burning Incense Tower, can't you use those powerhouses who have nowhere to rely on?"