The main hall of the Lu Residence!
Two men sat within, precisely Lu Jiahe and Lu Xuan.
Seeing Lu Xuan grow increasingly steady and composed, a swell of pride rose in Lu Jiahe’s heart.
“Xuan’er, you go ahead and do what you believe you must do.”
“Do not worry about your father, or the affairs of the Lu Family.”
“I have lived in Qingyun County for most of my life; I cannot leave it now.”
“Moreover, the common folk in the city have just suffered another great calamity. I plan to offer free medical consultations for the city’s residents for a period of time.”
“The Lu Family is your only weakness. If we can stay here in Qingyun County and live a peaceful life, we won’t hold you back, Xuan’er.”
Lu Xuan was not surprised by his father Lu Jiahe’s refusal.
When he suggested moving the Lu Family to White Path Prefecture, he already knew his father would not agree.
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Xuan did not press his idea further.
He understood his father’s way of thinking very well.
Things like so-called fame, reputation, and wealth held no real place in his heart.
Otherwise, given the Lu Family Medicine Shop’s reputation in Qingyun County town, the family’s wealth and property could easily have been three or four times larger.
For any outside force to establish a firm foothold within a prefectural city is no simple matter.
Because whenever an external force firmly plants itself in a prefectural city…
It means a portion of the city’s resources gets divided up by someone new.
“Then let’s proceed according to your arrangements, Father.”
Immediately after, Lu Xuan spoke of his own plans.
“I intend to return to White Path Prefectural City tomorrow, taking Yunqing and Liang Cheng with me to the Xuan Niao Guard.”
“Their martial arts aptitude is slightly better than their peers. Within the Xuan Niao Guard, they might progress faster.”
Among the younger generation of the Lu Family, Lu Yunqing’s martial arts aptitude was the best, aside from Lu Xuan’s.
As for Lu Yun’an, Lu Xuan had already inquired about his wishes.
However, Lu Yun’an’s mind was simply not on the martial path, and his aptitude for it was rather poor.
To this day, Lu Yun’an hadn’t even begun to break into the Skin Refinement realm.
Meanwhile, Lu Yunqing had already cultivated to the peak of the Skin Refinement realm.
As for Liang Cheng, his martial aptitude was a bit better than Lu Yunqing’s.
Of course, with Lu Yunqing’s level of aptitude, he normally wouldn’t qualify to enter the Xuan Niao Guard.
But Lu Xuan never considered himself a particularly fair or impartial person.
Since being in the Xuan Niao Guard would benefit his younger brother, Lu Xuan certainly wouldn’t hold back.
Lu Xuan planned to simply ignore the regulations and get Lu Yunqing into the Xuan Niao Guard.
As for Liang Cheng, that was even simpler.
Ever since that lad Liang Cheng encountered those “unclean things,” he had actually begun to train diligently in the martial arts.
Coupled with the guidance Lu Xuan had given him before, Liang Cheng’s martial realm had improved by leaps and bounds.
Originally unqualified for the Xuan Niao Guard, Liang Cheng had now forcefully pushed his martial realm to the peak of the Flesh Refinement stage.
That was sufficient to enter the Xuan Niao Guard.
The entry requirement for the Xuan Niao Guard was to reach the Major Accomplishment stage of the Flesh Refinement realm before the age of eighteen.
And Liang Cheng was just shy of nineteen.
“Excellent!”
“I’ve always known about Yunqing’s aspirations; I just hadn’t found the right time to mention it to you.”
“Now, being able to let Yunqing enter the prefectural city and devote himself to martial cultivation… that fulfills his wish.”
As Lu Yunqing’s father, Lu Jiahe naturally knew that Lu Yunqing had always strived diligently in martial cultivation.
It was just that Lu Xuan was too outstanding, causing everyone to overlook the existence of Lu Yunqing and the other younger members of the Lu Family.
Early the next morning, five sturdy horses rode out from within the county town gates.
The five riders were precisely Lu Xuan and his group.
Those departing Qingyun County town this time were Qian Hao, Li Daren, Lu Yunqing, and Liang Cheng.
Since the Lu Family wasn’t moving to White Path Prefectural City, Lu Xuan adjusted his plans accordingly.
Lu Xuan had already entrusted the Black Xuan Niao to his father, Lu Jiahe.
Furthermore, Lu Xuan had asked the County Magistrate of Qingyun to keep an eye on the Lu Family and notify him immediately if anything happened.
Of course, even after doing this, Lu Xuan still felt somewhat uneasy.
Ever since breaking through to the Peak stage of the External Aura Grandmaster realm, Lu Xuan discovered that aside from being able to fly briefly through the air, he possessed another rather incredible ability.
The Aura Essence of a Peak External Aura Grandmaster could actually remain in the external world, autonomously drawing upon the energy of heaven and earth, sustaining itself endlessly.
Therefore, when Lu Xuan left the Lu Family…
He left a strand of Aura Essence within Lu Jiahe’s body—a strand equivalent in power to a full-force strike from a Peak External Aura Grandmaster.
And that strand of Aura Essence, rivaling a Peak Grandmaster’s full-power attack, could remain within Lu Jiahe’s body for as long as half a year.
Half a year was more than enough time for Lu Xuan!
When that External Aura Grandmaster’s Aura Essence dissipated, Lu Xuan could simply make another trip back to Qingyun County.
White Path Prefectural City!
In less than three days, Lu Xuan and his group had already arrived at the prefectural city.
Upon entering the city, their pace slowed.
Riding on horseback, Liang Cheng and Lu Yunqing began to curiously survey their surroundings.
Seeing countless large shops lining both sides of the thoroughfare, Liang Cheng couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.
The area in front of every shop was packed with people, crowded and bustling.
“Yunqing, cousin, this prefectural city is truly prosperous!”
“Thanks to Brother Xuan, I never thought I’d one day be able to come to the prefectural city.”
“Indeed, cousin Liang Cheng.”
Lu Yunqing wholeheartedly agreed with Liang Cheng’s words.
Qingyun County town, compared to the prefectural city, was like heaven and earth.
An hour later, the compound of the Xuan Niao Guard appeared ahead of Lu Xuan’s group.
Seeing this imposing, majestic estate before him, Liang Cheng’s heart surged with excitement.
Beside him, Lu Yunqing naturally felt a similar, inexplicable thrill deep within.
So this was the Xuan Niao Guard that Lord Qian and Lord Li spoke of?
An organization that answered only to the Great Xia Emperor, tasked with eliminating any and all threats to the Great Xia Empire.
Including those “unclean things” that filled Liang Cheng with dread.
It seemed those “unclean things” fell precisely within the Xuan Niao Guard’s purview.
However, upon hearing this, Liang Cheng’s own resolve did not waver in the slightest.
Running away wouldn’t solve the problem.
Because Brother Xuan had told him: Strength is the foundation of everything.
Those “unclean things” could only be detected and eradicated by martial artists at the Blood Refinement realm and above.
Therefore, before coming to White Path Prefectural City, Liang Cheng had made a decision for himself.
That was, he must spare no effort to break through to the Blood Refinement realm.
That way, if he ever encountered those “unclean things” again, he would have the power to fight back.
And not be like before, forced to simply wait for death!
