bookbashuk Chapter 190 Unpredictable Turbulence
Chapter 190 Unpredictable Turbulence
Chapter 190 Unpredictable Turbulence
Zhao Rushou suddenly appeared, dressed in white with a smile on his lips, and easily blocked Zhao Ruchan's palm print.
"Brother, what brings you here? Do you truly intend to swallow up my many branches and forcibly seize power?"
Zhao Ruchan's expression changed drastically. He looked at Zhao Rushou with a gloomy gaze, knowing that he probably wouldn't achieve anything today. However, he had a guilty conscience and dared not stay to confront Zhao Rushou.
Then he turned around and flicked his sleeve, saying coldly, "Since you have chosen to support this boy, then I have nothing to say. However, if he does not have the talent that Qingxuan mentioned, I will definitely report to the clan elders and ask them to make a decision for me."
With that, Zhao Ruchan forcefully pushed open the front door of Mingyue Tower and hurriedly left.
Zhao Rushou's eyes narrowed slightly. After a moment's thought, he let him leave, completely unaware of why Zhao Ruchan would make such a big move.
Zhao Ruchan's actions towards this kid today were strange in every way.
Even now, Zhao Rushou still doesn't know what Zhao Ruchan's reason for taking action was.
Zhao Rushou pondered for a moment, then smiled at Lu Qingyun: "Young friend, I'm sorry you had to laugh at me. I'm truly sorry for what happened. I never expected Ruchan to have such a strong attitude towards you."
"If Qingxuan hadn't sent me here beforehand to prevent Ruchan from deliberately targeting you, things might have really gotten out of hand. But don't worry, I've already overcome all opposition and agreed to give you everything you want in exchange for your cooperation with the Zhao family."
It turned out to be the case.
Looking at Zhao Rushou, Lu Qingyun understood. The reason why Zhao Qingxuan was not flustered was because her father had already arrived.
With this half-step Foundation Establishment expert here, Zhao Ruchan naturally couldn't cause any trouble.
However, he seemed too hasty, even anxious, at this moment.
"So what are the conditions?"
Lu Qingyun asked.
Although he had already decided to cooperate with the Zhao family, he did not believe that there was such a thing as a free lunch.
The prosperity of the Zhao family of Danfeng for hundreds of years was not accidental, and they would certainly not do something like throwing good money after bad.
Zhao Rushou smiled and said, "Young friend Lu, you are a smart man. This condition doesn't actually depend on you, but on what you can give us, isn't it?"
"I have time. If you change your mind, you may come to the South Cliff to find me."
-
Lu Qingyun left Mingyue Tower without looking back.
Despite Zhao Rushou's great sincerity.
However, the conversation ended unhappily because Lu Qingyun could not agree to Zhao Rushou's proposal to serve the Zhao family for a hundred years.
If things go as expected, he should be able to successfully recover his half-step Foundation Establishment strength within seven years.
Serving the Zhao family for a hundred years means that his entire life has been wasted, and that he has devoted more than ninety years of his life to the Zhao family instead of seeking an opportunity to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Unexpectedly, despite his refusal, Zhao Rushou still gave him two thousand spirit stones, plus a few dozen high-grade spiritual herbs that he needed.
Watching Lu Qingyun's departing figure, Zhao Qingxuan sighed softly, "Father, why bother? If he's unwilling to help us, what are we supposed to do?"
"Are we really hoping those clueless, agriculture-obsessed fools on Spirit Plant Peak will lend a hand?"
Zhao Rushou smiled, his expression profound: "No, he will agree. Of course, our conditions will be more lenient, but not now."
Lu Qingyun's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, until just before it vanished, a slow voice came: "Does Lord Zhao really still have time? Zhao Ruchan and Zhang Shi are very close. If you don't believe me, you can go and see for yourself."
Zhao Rushou's smile froze on her face.
Zhao Qingxuan looked puzzled: "Father, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just suddenly thought of some things."
Zhao Rushou took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.
If what Lu Qingyun said is true, then Zhao Ruchan's actions these days, as well as his attack on Lu Qingyun, seem to have some explanation.
However, if that's the case...
I'm afraid that the Zhao family is already in grave danger!
At the same time, Zhao Ruchan quietly activated a talisman.
"My lord, I tried to make a move against that junior, but Zhao Rushou stopped me. Zhao Rushou will definitely send someone to keep an eye on me, so it will be impossible for me to make a move against him again."
After a moment of silence, Fu Lu slowly said, "I understand. You don't need to say anything more about this. We will make our own arrangements."
-
Upon receiving this reply, Zhao Rushou clenched his fists, but after a long while, he smiled again and looked at the people around the long table.
"Third brother, sixth brother, eighth brother, you have all seen the Zhang family's answer. No matter how dissatisfied you are with me, this is the reality."
"The Zhang family's attitude towards that kid is ambiguous, and they are hesitant to make a decision. If this drags on, they naturally won't care about this small loss."
"But what about us?"
"As one of the largest branches of the Zhao family, once Zhao Rushou finds a pretext, he will definitely seize the opportunity to attack us and take back everything we hold in his hands. At that time, even our ancestors will not be able to wrest our power back from him."
Across the long table, the three people had different expressions.
In the end, it was the man with the scar on his face who was the first to respond to Zhao Ruchan: "Although the second brother is full of scheming, he is not wrong in this matter."
His face hardened, and he sneered, "The Zhao family has forgotten that we may not lose everything we have now, but if Zhao Rushou finds an opportunity to implement his 'prioritize the essential and suppress the trivial' doctrine, we will truly be finished!"
"Therefore, we would rather side with the Zhang family and push them to annex the Zhao family than let him find another opportunity. The mine in the Great Jing Kingdom of the thirteenth prince is the best evidence. No matter how much we hate the second prince, we must never become like the thirteenth prince, who is stupid and has his cultivation destroyed."
The other two also stopped what they were doing and looked at him and Zhao Ruchan: "So, what should we do next?"
"Since you have summoned us here, you must already have a plan in mind. Why not speak frankly?"
Zhao Ruchan smiled sinisterly: "Yes, of course I already have a plan!"
His expression was firm, and his face showed determination: "In the end, one can only rely on oneself. Even if we are to help the Zhang family annex the Zhao family, we cannot place all our hopes on the Zhang family."
"Zhao Rushou must die, and Lu Qingyun must die too!"
Each of them had their own ulterior motives, and they made a vow to each other, finalizing many details.
Before leaving, the sixth brother patted Zhao Ruchan on the shoulder: "Second brother, it has to be you. You are a brother of Zhao Ruchan and control 30% of the Zhao family's resources. You can still make such a scheme. Compared to you, we all seem to be slightly inferior."
"I just hope you can really do it, as you say you can!"
Zhao Ruchan slapped his hand away and said coldly, "So what if we are compatriots? If he blocks my path, he will naturally only have one way out: death. As for you, you must not make any foolish decisions."
Inside the cave.
Lu Qingyun sat cross-legged.
The purple-gold black iron furnace in front of them trembled slightly, and a spiritual fire burned continuously beneath it.
Finally, when a pleasant fragrance of pills wafted from the furnace, Lu Qingyun stopped the spiritual fire, activated his magic technique, and collected the pills.
Five crystal-clear pills fell into Lu Qingyun's hands.
Lu Qingyun frowned.
"Although with my current strength, I am capable of refining high-grade pills, I never expected that this 'Heavenly Profound Pill Technique' would be so difficult."
To break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining perfection, one must consume seven completely different high-grade pills.
Lu Qingyun pondered for a moment.
Thanks to Zhao Rushou's gift.
He has no shortage of spiritual herbs and stones, but he still needs to put in some effort to find the pill formula.
In my previous life, I did not focus on alchemy but instead devoted myself to the arts of spiritual plants and talismans, so I did not have many high-grade pill formulas.
Some of these pill formulas, like the Soul-Devouring Pill originating from Master Qingmu, have negative properties and are not suitable for refining.
"It seems I'll have to make a trip to the Zhao family's library."
Lu Qingyun made a decision: since the Zhao family had given him such great convenience, why not take advantage of it? At least there was still a possibility of cooperation with the Zhao family.
Moreover, after learning that Zhao Ruchan harbored ill intentions, Zhao Rushou should have investigated some things as well.
She wanted to come to his place so she could see herself again.
The Zhao family of Danfeng.
Located in the southwest of Danfeng, it occupies a full 30% of the spiritual land on the southern slope of Danfeng, and these spiritual lands are all of the highest quality.
Even just one of these areas could have given rise to large families like the Shen family of Pinghu and the Cui family of Qiyang.
The Zhao family's library was even more magnificent. This hundred-meter-high tower was surrounded by clouds and mist, with carved railings and painted beams. It was protected by a powerful array and emitted bursts of wind and thunder.
Lu Qingyun showed his token and stepped inside.
Upon entering, Lu Qingyun couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
"The Zhao family of Danfeng is indeed worthy of its reputation. This one library alone is comparable to the number of cultivation techniques and scriptures in one peak of Lingzhi Peak. No wonder the Zhang family wanted to fight the Zhao family as soon as they reached the Foundation Establishment stage."
"This shows just how wealthy the Zhao family is."
Lu Qingyun found the location of the elixir formula.
Although Zhao Rushou did not grant him the authority to view all the cultivation methods in the Sutra Repository, he could personally examine any pill formula, regardless of its grade, if he wished.
This treatment is naturally much better than that of the Danfeng Scripture Pavilion, where one has to painstakingly exchange countless sect contributions to obtain even a single Dao.
"In any case, we should still try to cooperate with the Zhao family. With their assistance, things will be much easier, even in troubles like this."
Lu Qingyun pondered.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, he deliberately wore a mask.
As a cultivator capable of thought, he was naturally unlike those characters in third-rate picture books from his previous life, who flaunted themselves everywhere, knowing they were being targeted, yet still went to provoke others with their true colors.
Therefore, after he had briefly looked at the prescription, no one paid any attention to it.
Lu Qingyun selected a dozen or so commonly used pill formulas, estimating that even if one or two pills failed, it would be enough to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining perfection. Only then did he inscribe these jade slips, reveal his token, and walk out of the pavilion.
After walking out of the Sutra Repository for a while, a young Taoist quietly followed him, whispered in his ear, "Young master, Lord Ru Shou has invited you to meet at the Heavenly Pill Pavilion. He has prepared fine wine and has been waiting for you for a long time."
,"knew."
Lu Qingyun smiled and nodded slightly.
Upon hearing the sound, the young Taoist priest left his side without a trace, as if he had never been there.
Lu Qingyun lowered his brows slightly and muttered to himself, "This Daoist boy alone has the cultivation of the eighth level of Qi Refining. It seems that I underestimated Zhao Rushou. Indeed, someone who can give birth to a Foundation Establishment True Person is no ordinary person."
Tian Dan Pavilion is an inconspicuous pavilion in the southern cliff market of Danfeng, but its interior is exquisitely decorated and cleverly arranged.
That painted screen alone was an expensive mid-grade magic artifact, and the paintings on it were clearly the work of skilled craftsmen.
Lu Qingyun went inside, and the servant boy closed the door behind him.
Lu Qingyun then realized that this room was also a mid-grade magic artifact, and looked at Zhao Rushou thoughtfully.
"Young friend Lu, please have a seat."
Zhao Rushou was the only person in the room. He smiled and poured Lu Qingyun a cup of spiritual tea, the color of which was elegant and clearly not an ordinary tea.
"Lord Zhao, please speak frankly. I am not a pleasure-seeking person. Although satisfying one's appetite may provide for oneself, it is ultimately of no benefit to the great path."
Lu Qingyun took a small sip.
"Indeed, a genius in alchemy like you has a temperament that is far beyond that of ordinary people."
Zhao Rushou laughed heartily, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
Then he quickly became serious and said, "I have investigated what you told me before, and it is indeed as you said. Zhao Ruchan had already been in contact with the Zhang family several years ago when I took over as the head of the Zhao family."
"In fact, they have bribed the servants in charge of my meals. Yesterday I discovered that they had mixed poison into all the elixirs and food they prepared for me. If it had been discovered a year or two later, I would probably have died."
Lu Qingyun took a sip of tea.
If that's the case, it's not surprising that Zhao Rushou died young in her previous life.
With his status as a Foundation Establishment family, even if he couldn't extend his lifespan by possessing the bodies of his descendants like Bai Tianxiong, the patriarch of the Bai family, he should at least live for over 150 years.
"However, this is not the main reason for my concern."
Zhao Rushou's expression grew increasingly solemn, his eyes fixed on Lu Qingyun.
"Since you are unwilling to serve my Zhao family for a hundred years, you must harbor the ambition of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. However, you are born into poverty and do not know the ruthlessness of the true masters in this sect."
"All the people under the rule of Yunxia Sect, whether they are independent cultivators or disciples, have been branded by the sect's supreme artifact since birth. Once you attempt to establish your foundation and trigger the tribulation of inner demons, that artifact will track your location. Even if you successfully establish your foundation, you will become resources for those True Immortals."
"If that's the case, doesn't that mean we had no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage from the very beginning?"
Zhao Rushou's tone was heavy, and even Lu Qingyun, who knew a lot of inside information from Niu Gao, was shocked to hear his words.
"That's not all."
Zhao Rushou slowly shook his head.
"The principles of attaining enlightenment have long been hidden by those true masters. If you hadn't learned them from me, you would never have known about this matter in this lifetime."
"If you do not follow the natural order of things, even if you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, you will only have a low-grade Dao Foundation, which contains no profound mysteries and will not be able to make any further progress."
Zhao Rushou looked at Lu Qingyun and said slowly, "Just like the 'Heavenly Profound Pill Technique' you are currently cultivating, even if you cultivate it to the initial perfection, when will you know which fruit level this technique should lead to, and how to build a foundation?"