This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

Lu Qingshan set down his teacup and said to Lin Yao, "Let's discuss the details."

Lin Yao gritted her teeth with hatred, "It's Xing Yu of the Xing Family..."

It wasn't much different from what Lu Qingshan had expected.

As many sect powers in Yuanshan City toppled, the surrounding area has been in a state of chaos for some time, with various forces vying for resources and spirit vein blessed lands.

With a Golden Core Cultivator each, Qianhe Sect and Xing Family naturally became the two titans of Yuanshan City.

These two giants devoured a massive amount of resources from the fallen sect powers, growing rapidly in strength.

Ordinarily, the Lin Family's modest assets shouldn't be coveted by these two great powers.

But human greed knows no bounds.

Besides, both the Xing Family and Qianhe Sect were well aware that if they missed this opportunity to expand their power without restraint, they might have to wait indefinitely for another such chance.

Therefore, both powers would definitely want to take full advantage of this golden opportunity to make a fortune.

—Whether they could digest these resources was another matter; securing them was certainly the right move.

And in the Cultivation World, if one wanted to annex other weaker families, resorting to force was always the most basic approach.

Apart from overwhelming military strength, there were many ways to take over without shedding blood.

Consequently, the Xing Family sent a marriage proposal to the Lin Family, expressing Xing Yu's desire to take Lin Yao as his concubine.

"They say they want to take me as a concubine, but their true intentions are elsewhere.

Once our Lin Family agrees to this marriage proposal, then the Xing Family will naturally take over our nest and seize control of our assets," Lin Yao said, clearly understanding the hidden implication of the proposal, and added indignantly, "Besides, that Xing Yu is already an old Golden Core of more than four hundred years— who would want to become his concubine!"

"But the Xing Family is much more powerful than the Lin Family, so we dare not refuse them, and that's why..." Lin Yao's moist eyes turned to Lu Qingshan.

"They want to reap both people and wealth; the Xing Family sure is playing a good game.

But they're just a small family with a single Golden Core after all," Lu Qingshan said indifferently, "It's not hard to resolve; just leave it to me."

The Xing family might be one of the two titans in Yuanshan City, but in his eyes, they were truly not worth much.

At present, he had at least three strategies in mind to deal with Lin Yao's problem.

After a brief consideration in his mind, Lu Qingshan quickly settled on a plan.

...

At the Lu Family on Mihe Peak.

Inside Qingping Hall.

"What disaster has the Great Elder brought upon us this time?" Lu Bei entered the hall last, his brow furrowing upon seeing Lu Yuan and Lu Zhou already seated.

Lu Zhou raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a hint of dissatisfaction, and with a wave of his hand, he sent a Jade Slip toward Lu Bei as a streak of green light.

"It's your son's handy work!" Lu Zhou said.

Surprised by Lu Zhou's words, Lu Bei caught the Jade Slip casually and probed it with his Divine Sense.

It turned out to be a message from Lu Qingshan, sent from Zhenjiang City, seeking help.

Lu Qingshan was asking the Lu Family to intervene and subdue the Xing Family of Yuanshan City in order to make Xing Yu retract his marriage proposal.

Lu Yuan explained in a solemn voice, "We inquired about the details. Lin Yao, the daughter of the Lin Family head, arrived in Zhenjiang City from Yuanshan City yesterday to find Lu Qingshan.

After meeting with Lu Qingshan, he sent us this message requesting help, and then Lin Yao stayed at Lu Qingshan's place."

"Lu Qingshan had spent a brief period in Yuanshan City; that must be when he formed some bonds with the Lin Family."

Lu Bei's gaze flickered.

"So your son really is your flesh and blood, eh? Ready to have our family face off against a Golden Core Cultivator over a woman—your roguish streak seems to have been inherited by him," Lu Zhou said with a sneer.

Lu Bei laughed nonchalantly, "So, are you going to help or not?"

After a moment of silence, Lu Yuan spoke up, "Real Person Xing Yu is nothing but a weak Golden Core. If our Lu Family steps in, I doubt he would dare not to give us face."

Lu Zhou snorted coldly and continued, "Since it's just a simple effort to lift a finger to help him, it's not a bad idea to do so.

It also will serve as a lesson to that young man who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, and make him realize not to look down on his own family just because he has some skills.

He was so arrogant in front of us the other day, claiming that he didn't need the resources of the Lu Family. Now that he's in trouble, he still needs to ask for help from the family, doesn't he?"

Lu Bei showed a knowing expression, "Since you've already made your decision, why did you even call me here?"

Naturally, Lu Bei knew Lu Yuan and Lu Zhou's temperament quite well.

With Lu Qingshan's performance, although it wasn't openly acknowledged, they surely regarded Lu Qingshan as the future cornerstone of the Lu Family.

But facing Lu Qingshan, who seemed even harder to handle than himself, Lu Yuan and Lu Zhou were indeed very worried in their hearts.

To make a future great Cultivator willingly wield his power for the family, it couldn't be achieved through force but rather had to be done by granting favors like this, tying him to the family through bonds of affection, so Lu Qingshan would volunteer his strength for the Lu Family in the future.

This rare opportunity for Lu Qingshan to actively seek their help—how could they not extend a hand?

Seeing Lu Bei growing somewhat impatient, Lu Yuan chuckled, "The reason we called you is, of course, that we have a task for you. Since it involves your son, you, Qing Ling, might as well make a trip to Yuanshan City."

With that, Lu Yuan, without waiting for Lu Bei to react, waved his long sleeve and left along with Lu Zhou.

Watching the quickly departing figures of the pair, Lu Bei felt somewhat helpless.

Those two old foxes sure had a lot of sly thoughts.

Fiddling with the Jade Slip in his hand, Lu Bei's gaze drifted, lost in thought.

After a while, Lu Bei chuckled to himself, "Well then, I might as well take this trip. This bottleneck at the Golden Core Middle Stage has held me back for quite some time now.

Meditating in seclusion probably won't solve the issue, so perhaps a walk about could lead to some fortuitous opportunity that might just break through this bottleneck."

Lu Bei's hands radiated Spiritual Light, clearly indicating he had already reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core Middle Stage.

...

The day after Lu Qingshan reached out for help from the Lu Family, he received a reply from them.

"Real Person Qing Ling has already set out for Yuanshan City."

Lu Qingshan smiled slightly.

This was the method he felt most at ease with for resolving his problem.

If the Lu Family could tolerate a flirtatious person like Real Person Qing Ling, Lu Bei, they could certainly tolerate Lu Qingshan.

There was no likelihood that the Lu Family would refuse to stand up for Lu Qingshan.

Besides, while the Xing Family in Yuanshan City was a giant entity, it truly wasn't much in the eyes of the long-established Lu Family.

The Golden Core Cultivators of the Lu Family have never ceased for nearly a thousand years; they're a family with profound capabilities to nurture Golden Core Cultivators.

In contrast, the Xing Family had to rely on immense luck to occasionally produce one or two Golden Core Cultivators.

The two were not even in the same league.

Given the nature of that old fox Lu Zhou, he would definitely not turn away an affair that was just a simple effort to make yet would owe the Lu Family a big favor.

.....

The next day.

Lin Yao left Lu Qingshan's courtyard and went to the Great Xia Commercial Firm in Zhenjiang City.

She planned to use the firm's channels to rapidly send a message back to Yuanshan City, informing her father that she had found powerful support in Zhenjiang City and that he need not worry.

But before she could send her message, the Great Xia Commercial Firm presented her with the latest communication from the Lin Family in Yuanshan City.

Immediately, Lin Yao's heart skipped a beat.

Nothing has happened to the family during these few days of her absence, has it?