Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 996 Unexpected Gain, Action Plan!
Zhenyu Island.

It is the closest territory of the Lu Clan to Tian Shu City. The island is full of spiritual energy, with lush trees and exotic flowers and plants everywhere.

In order to strengthen ties with Tian Shu City,
The Lu family specially set up a teleportation array here that leads to the heart of the family territory, which can only be used by members of the Lu family.

On this day, the sky was clear and the sea breeze was gentle.

A golden beam of light streaked across the sky like a shooting star, accompanied by a sharp whooshing sound, and landed precisely at the entrance to the island.

The light faded, revealing Lu Hanqing's tall and upright figure.

Today he was wearing a golden brocade robe, a style unique to the core members of the Lu family, with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the hem, which shone brightly in the sunlight.

The sea breeze rustled his clothes.

"finally reached."

He looked up and saw four guards standing at the entrance to the island, all dressed in the Lu family's standard blue robes, with long swords at their waists, and solemn expressions.

Their bodies were filled with spiritual energy, and they were all at the Foundation Establishment stage.

"He who comes is stopped!"

The lead guard stepped forward and said in a loud voice, "This is a key area of ​​the Lu family. Please show your identification token!"

Lu Hanqing remained calm and took out a golden token from his pocket.

The token features a bold and elegant "Lu" character on the front, and a small golden sword on the back—this is the symbol of identity for a core member of the Lu clan.

The guard took the token and examined it carefully.

When he saw the small golden sword on the back of the token, his expression immediately became more respectful.

He respectfully handed the token back, bowing in return: "So it is Patriarch Han Qing, my apologies. Patriarch is waiting on the island, please."

"Thank you."

Lu Hanqing retrieved his token and stepped inside.

Upon entering the island, a rich spiritual atmosphere immediately envelops you, instantly invigorating your spirit.

Looking around, the island's buildings are arranged in a staggered pattern, mostly made of white jade, which gleams with a warm luster in the sunlight.

Various spiritual plants are planted on both sides of the road, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

He didn't stop and walked straight towards the teleportation array in the center of the island.

The teleportation array was located in a magnificent white jade hall.

The palace gate is three zhang high, with a lifelike stone-carved beast on each side.

The dome inside the hall is inlaid with countless luminous pearls, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime.

The ground was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting people's images.

The most eye-catching feature is the enormous teleportation array in the center of the main hall.

The formation was composed of countless mysterious runes, emitting a faint silver halo, with spatial power subtly fluctuating on it.

As soon as Lu Hanqing stepped into the main hall, a gentle voice came from the side:

"Han Qing?"

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man in his early thirties, dressed in a brocade robe, walking towards him with a smile.

This person had a handsome face, with an innate noble air between his brows. His eyes were clear and bright, and a gentle breeze seemed to surround him. His aura was profound, and he was actually at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

"Brother Hanzhong!"

Lu Hanqing's face showed just the right amount of surprise, and he bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

The person who came was Lu Hanzhong, one of the most outstanding members of the Lu family in this generation. He possessed a wind-attribute earth spirit root and his sensitivity was as high as 77 points!

He was hailed as the most promising genius in the family to reach the Divine Realm.

More importantly, he is a direct descendant of the ancestor Lu Xinghe, and holds an extremely high position in the clan.

Lu Hanzhong quickly stepped forward, patted Lu Hanqing's shoulder affectionately, and said with a smile:
"What a coincidence! I just teleported here from the clan's territory and was about to go out on some errands when I ran into you. Are you heading back to the clan's territory?"

"Exactly,"

Lu Hanqing nodded, his tone carrying just the right amount of excitement.
"My cultivation has improved slightly recently, and I've accumulated enough contribution points. I'm planning to return to the clan to exchange for the 'Golden Wave Sword' that I've been coveting for so long."

He had already learned from the soul search that the real Lu Hanqing had indeed been working hard to exchange for a magical artifact called the Golden Wave Sword.

"Golden Wave Sword? Not bad, that's a top-tier gold-elemental magic weapon, perfectly complementing your cultivation technique."

Lu Hanzhong nodded approvingly, then changed the subject, lowering his voice slightly.
"Hanqing, the reason I went out this time is that I discovered the tracks of a pair of mid-grade fourth-tier Rift Beasts, and I am preparing to hunt them down."

"The inner core of this beast is of great benefit to my wind attribute cultivation technique, but it is quite cunning and skilled in combined attacks. Although I am not in danger of losing my life if I deal with it alone, I am afraid that it will escape."

"I was just about to invite someone to come along, and I just happened to run into you. Why don't you come with me?"

He looked intently at 'Lu Hanqing', with a hint of anticipation:

"Your metal-based cultivation technique is incomparably sharp, making it the best way to counter the Rift Beast's defenses. After it's done, the beast core is mine, and all the other materials are yours. How about it?"

"The hide and bones of that Rift Beast are excellent materials for crafting magical artifacts, and are quite valuable."

"A Rift Beast?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Hanqing sneered inwardly.
'You choose the path to heaven but refuse to take it, you barge into the gates of hell when there are none!'

Just when I was wondering how to find an excuse to leave, you delivered yourself right to my doorstep. Lu Xinghe's bloodline… perfect for collecting some interest first!

His face showed interest, and after a moment's hesitation, he readily agreed:
"Since you have invited me, brother, how could I refuse? The materials from the Rift Beast are indeed of great use to me. I will do as you say, brother!"

"Great! That's satisfying!"

Lu Hanzhong was overjoyed. "Let's set off now, lest that beast change its lair."

The two exchanged a smile, then immediately turned and left the teleportation hall, transforming into two streaks of light, one golden and one azure, soaring into the sky and leaving Zhenyu Island.

They sped off in the direction indicated by Lu Hanzhong.

Above the sea, two streaks of light raced side by side at incredible speed, tearing through the clouds and leaving long trails of light across the sky.

While controlling the escape light, Lu Hanqing glanced at Lu Hanzhong beside him out of the corner of his eye.

He looked relaxed, a smile playing on his lips, clearly confident about the hunt, completely unaware that he had invited a deadly Yama.

Several days later, the two were already millions of miles away from Zhenyu Island.

"The Rift Beast's lair is about a million miles away. At our speed, we can arrive in four days."

Lu Hanzhong transmitted his voice, which rang clearly in Lu Hanqing's ear.

"At that time, my brother will need to go all out and kill him with one blow, leaving him no chance to catch his breath."

At this moment, the vast expanse of blue waves stretches to the horizon.

The surrounding sea and sky blended into one, and apart from the occasional seabird flying by, there were no other traces of cultivators.

Lu Hanqing suddenly slowed down his escape speed, a strange look appearing on his face.

"There's no need to go to the Rift Beast's lair."

Lu Hanzhong was taken aback upon hearing this, then burst out laughing:
"Hanqing, don't joke around. Didn't you just agree?"

"I'm not joking."

Lu Hanqing's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

As soon as he finished speaking, he flashed and appeared beside Lu Hanzhong like a ghost.

With a swift tap of his right index finger, golden light flowed from his fingertip, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, instantly sealing off Lu Hanzhong's major acupoints.

"Hanqing, what are you doing?"

Lu Hanzhong was shocked and instinctively tried to use his magic to defend himself.

However, Lu Hanqing's move was too fast and too sudden!
The two were so close that he had no time to react effectively.

He felt several sharp finger strikes penetrate his body, like golden needles piercing into his meridians and acupoints.

A surge of lightning energy instantly sealed off his dantian and primordial energy center, and his nascent soul was also firmly imprisoned by a purple rune.

"Ugh!"

Lu Hanzhong groaned, his magical power instantly froze, his escape light dissipated, and he plummeted straight down into the sea.

'Lu Hanqing' reached out and grabbed, and a gentle magical force supported Lu Hanzhong, carrying him slowly down to a deserted island reef below.

"Han Qing... what does this mean?"

Lu Hanzhong slumped on the reef, his face pale, his eyes filled with shock, anger and confusion.

"Could it be that you're worried about the next opportunity to reach the Nascent Soul stage?" He forced himself to remain calm, trying to clear his thoughts:

"But our cultivation levels are quite different. By the time you reach the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, I will most likely have already reached the Deity stage, so there will be no conflict between us!"

Even now, he still believed that the person in front of him was the real Lu Hanqing, and assumed it was just a result of internal clan competition.

Upon hearing this, Lu Hanqing sneered, slowly stepped forward, and looked down at the Lu family genius.

"A chance to reach the Nascent Soul stage? You think you're worthy to talk to me about that?"

His voice was icy, laced with undisguised sarcasm.

"I will not kill you, but you will suffer a little."

As he spoke, a spiritual light shone from his fingertips again, and he touched Lu Hanzhong's forehead.

"No...what are you going to do!"

Lu Hanzhong's pupils contracted sharply as he felt that chilling power, finally realizing that something was wrong.

However, at this moment, his nascent soul was sealed, and he had lost all his magical power, so he couldn't even put up the most basic resistance.

"what--!"

The moment the light entered his brow, a heart-wrenching pain shot through the depths of his soul.

Lu Hanzhong let out a shrill scream, his whole body trembled violently, veins bulged on his forehead, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his robes.

The pain far exceeded physical pain; it felt as if countless needles were piercing his soul, or as if he were being roasted on a raging fire.

"Soul Search...you actually..."

He managed to utter a few words, his eyes filled with terror and despair.

"Don't worry, I won't take your life."

Lu Hanqing spoke calmly, but his hands kept moving.

Streams of spiritual light continuously entered Lu Hanzhong's sea of ​​consciousness, forcibly reading his memories.

Half a day later, as the sun set, golden waves rippled across the sea.

Lu Hanzhong was limp as a rag doll, his eyes were lifeless, white foam remained at the corners of his mouth, and his whole being was extremely weak.

Zhou Xun slowly withdrew his hand, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He carried the limp Lu Hanzhong and, following the same method, added several more restrictions to his nascent soul to ensure that nothing went wrong.

"The Lu family's number one genius of our time... falling into my hands is a way of getting some interest back from the Lu family."

He muttered to himself.

From Lu Hanzhong's memories, he obtained more core information about the Lu family.

The most crucial point is that Lu Xinghe, who is stationed in the clan's territory, is actually in seclusion trying to break through to the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm!
Even Lu Hanqing was not entirely aware of this news; only Lu Hanzhong, a direct descendant of the inner circle, knew about it.

"If we can find a way to make him fail in his breakthrough, then this operation can be considered a complete success!"

Zhou Xun's eyes flashed as he quickly made a mental calculation.

Lu Hanzhong's memories also included the detailed layout of the Lu clan's territory, the weaknesses of the various restrictions, and the locations of the cultivation caves of several Nascent Soul cultivators.

This information is crucial to his next plans.

"Unfortunately... Lu Xinghai's whereabouts are still unknown."

Zhou Xun frowned slightly.

This ancestor, who was at the peak of the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm, was elusive, and even core disciples like Lu Hanzhong did not know his exact whereabouts.

He glanced down at the unconscious Lu Hanzhong and casually put him into a specially made spirit beast bag.

Such a genius cannot be killed for the time being, otherwise it will easily attract the attention of the Lu family.
After doing all this, Zhou Xun rode the golden escape light and returned towards Zhenyu Island.

“Lu Xinghai…Lu Xinghe…”

His eyes flashed with a cold light, and a bold plan was already brewing in his mind.

Since we can't touch Lu Xinghai for the time being, let's start by targeting Lu Xinghe!

If we can influence the breakthrough process and cause the opponent to fail while they are in seclusion to break through to a higher realm, we can definitely severely damage the Lu family!
After all, for a family like this, the Void Refining Ancestor is its foundation.

Zhenyu Island, Teleportation Hall.

Lu Hanqing returned and entered the hall with a normal expression.

The guards on duty were somewhat surprised to see him return alone, but they dared not ask any questions.

After all, this young master Han Qing holds a high position in the clan, and his actions have their reasons.

"Activate the teleportation array; I want to return to my clan's territory."

Lu Hanqing took out his identity token, speaking calmly.

The guards dared not delay and immediately activated the teleportation array.

With a flash of silver light and fluctuations in spatial power, Lu Hanqing's figure disappeared into the formation.

In the heart of Lushi, in a remote valley.

Zhou Xun revealed himself, then left the island and found a deserted underwater spot hundreds of miles away.
A stone chamber was carved out.
Then the setup began.

With a flick of his fingers, several array flags disappeared into the ground, forming a simple concealment array.

Then he took out a teleportation array and carefully set it up.

This was a backup plan he had prepared in advance, so that if things went wrong, he could use it to escape to distant lands.

After doing all this, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.

He repeatedly went over the next course of action in his mind.

That was to use Lu Hanqing's, or even Lu Hanzhong's, identity to infiltrate the heart of the Lu clan and visit many Nascent Soul cultivators.

They took advantage of the moment and suddenly attacked and injured the person!
With the power of intent he now possesses, coupled with his formidable physical body from the fifth-level body refinement, ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators would have absolutely no chance of reacting.

Then, just as they had dealt with Lu Hanqing and the others, they subdued them and sealed their nascent souls.

This operation can be roughly divided into three phases.

The first stage is to deal with the early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators of the Lu clan.

They subdued and sealed the nascent souls of those who guarded the various islands.

According to Lu Hanqing and Lu Hanzhong's intelligence, four of the six early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators are stationed on the outer islands.

These four are Zhou Xun's targets for the first stage.

Their cultivation level was relatively low, their defenses were relatively lax, and since they were scattered in different places, no one would care if they disappeared for a short period of time.

The second stage involved the four mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

Two of them are stationed on the outer islands.

With his current strength, it shouldn't be difficult for him to subdue his opponent by launching a sudden attack at close range.

If a mistake is made, then eliminate the enemy decisively and never linger in the fight.

After all, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is far more alert than a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

If we fail, we must act swiftly and decisively.

The next stage is the third phase: the overt attack.

Once the first two phases are successful, Zhou Xun will use the pre-arranged teleportation arrays to launch feints and maneuver his troops in different directions.

At the same time, kill all the Nascent Soul cultivators who were restrained!

Such swift and decisive measures will surely break the Lu family's heart!

Even if it cannot shake its foundation, it is enough to severely damage this behemoth.

More importantly, he wanted Lu Xinghai to know—

The price of offending the Lord of the River of Oblivion!

After finishing his meditation, Zhou Xun opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.

He took out Lu Hanqing's identity token and carefully examined the disguise of the Thousand Faces Mask once again.

After confirming that everything was in order, he activated his escape light and flew towards the island where his first target was located.

(End of this chapter)