Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Lin Zhao looked at Luo Yu with a hint of approval: "Good, kid, you do have some brains. You knew to ask Yan Lie to cover for you."

The hall fell silent instantly.

Yan Lie glanced at Luo Yu, who stood calmly beside him, then looked at Lin Zhao, his expression conflicted, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Lin Zhao saw through his thoughts at a glance and said calmly, "Are you worried that the King of Qin is still alive and will come looking for revenge?"

Yan Lie nodded immediately, his tone full of worry: "That King Qin is at the peak of Foundation Establishment, only one step away from Core Formation, and his strength is extremely strong."

In this market town, besides you, no one else can stop him. I brought him here overnight because I was afraid of implicating the entire market town.”

Lin Zhao shook her head.

"Rest assured, it's almost certain that the King of Qin is dead."

Yan Lie was taken aback.

Lin Zhao leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest: "Based on Luo Yu's account, I suspect that the one who ambushed the Qin Prince's residence was True Immortal Chongguang. With a Core Formation True Immortal involved, do you think they would leave any survivors?"

Lin Zhao paused, then added, "Not everyone is like me, capable of directly repelling a Core Formation Realm cultivator."

With just a simple sentence, Yan Lie and Old He, who was standing next to him, instantly understood its meaning.

Yes.

Just because Lin Zhao can do something doesn't mean others can.

No matter how strong the King of Qin is, he is only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. How long can he last against a Core Formation cultivator?

Not to mention that he volunteered to stay behind to cover the retreat, clearly knowing who he was facing and ultimately prepared to die.

Yan Lie remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"That's good."

Lin Zhao looked at Luo Yu: "Do you know why I called you here?"

"I know," Luo Yu said. "I killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the dynasty, and I need to give an explanation to the outside world."

"Anything else?"

Luo Yu thought for a moment: "I used poison, not to kill him directly."

Lin Zhao nodded: "It's good that you know."

He stood up and walked up to Luo Yu.

"Foundation Establishment cultivators aren't that weak," he said. "You were able to kill her this time because she was injured, because you poisoned her, and because she wasn't on guard against you."

This opportunity was earned through perfect timing, favorable location, and harmonious relationships.

Luo Yu listened without saying a word.

"A true Foundation Establishment expert,"

Lin Zhao looked at him and said, "You're not that weak. Normally, if you were at the eighth level of Qi Refining and encountered a Foundation Establishment cultivator, you wouldn't even have a chance to escape."

He paused, then softened his tone: "I'm not trying to discourage you. The fact that you can kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator shows that you have brains and character."

But don't get carried away by this. In the cultivation world, those who die the fastest are those who can't see themselves clearly and are brainless.

Luo Yu nodded seriously: "I've got it."

Lin Zhao looked at him, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

This kid is really good.

"Tell me, what reward do you want?"

Luo Yu shook her head: "I don't want to."

Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow: "Don't want to?"

"I killed her not for a reward," Luo Yu said. "She insulted you, she wanted to harm the market, so I killed her. It's that simple."

Lin Zhao remained silent for a while.

"Alright," he said. "Then when you reach the Foundation Establishment stage in the future, the market will provide the resources you need, as a reward for your contribution."

Luo Yu was taken aback and instinctively wanted to refuse.

Lin Zhao raised her hand to stop him: "Don't push me. First, you really did make a contribution, and second..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "To be able to kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator with Qi Refining is truly genius. No matter how many coincidences there are, you did it, and you deserve the resources the market has invested."

Luo Yu opened his mouth, and finally nodded.

"Thank you for guarding the town."

---

The two left the garrison.

As Yan Lie stepped out the door, he glanced at Luo Yu.

Why didn't you mention that earlier?

Luo Yu shook his head: "No rush."

Yan Lie sighed.

He wanted to help Luo Yu mention the secret technique, the Hundred Beast Spirit Body.

The spirit of all beasts.

In the entire Cangyun Mountain, only Lin Zhao possesses this secret technique.

Luo Yu smiled and said, "I didn't expect any reward before I killed her."

Yan Lie was stunned for a moment.

Luo Yu continued, "I killed her because she insulted the town garrison commander and tried to harm the market."

It's not about exchanging things. The fact that the garrison is giving me cultivation resources is already a pleasant surprise.

He paused, then continued, "This secret technique won't be very useful to me if I don't reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Once I do, I'll ask the Guardian for the Hundred Beast Spirit Body. At that time..."

His eyes lit up. "I'm planning to become your apprentice."

Yan Lie looked at him and reluctantly accepted the answer.

"Let's go back," Yan Lie said. "You should break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining. I've prepared all the necessary pills."

Luo Yu smiled and followed Yan Lie forward.

His steps were much steadyer than when he came.

---

Old He was still standing inside the garrison headquarters.

He looked at Lin Zhao, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Speak your mind," Lin Zhao said.

Old He carefully considered his words: "That Luo Yu, I've done some research on him..."

Lin Zhao nodded and said, "I know. He's a genius that Yan Lie is focusing on cultivating. I heard he used to have a spiritual body."

Old He continued, "He cultivates the True Technique of a Hundred Beasts."

Lin Zhao glanced at him.

Of course, he could tell that Luo Yu was cultivating the Hundred Beasts Spirit Body, as he knew from the Hundred Beasts True Technique.

This cultivation method, when practiced to its final stage, requires a secret technique—the Hundred Beast Spirit Body—to assist in the transformation and sublimation of the Dao foundation, giving birth to a spiritual body.

Luo Yu is the most suitable person to cultivate this technique.

This secret technique is only possessed by Lin Zhao.

"I understand Yan Lie's thoughts," Lin Zhao said.

Old He nodded: "That child is indeed quite good. He has cultivated Qi and reached the Foundation Establishment stage; he has the temperament, the intelligence, and the courage."

If nurtured properly, he could be a promising talent.

Lin Zhao remained silent for a while.

Then he sighed.

"I'm not considering taking on apprentices for the time being."

He Lao was stunned.

Lin Zhao walked to the window and looked at the night view of the market outside.

"I'm only in the late stage of Foundation Establishment," he said. "Right now, all I'm thinking about is Core Formation."

Advancing through each major realm in cultivation is incredibly difficult, I simply don't have the time or energy to teach my disciples.

Old He didn't say anything.

Lin Zhao continued, "The Hundred Beast Spirit Body can be passed on to him in the future. If he can establish his foundation and successfully cultivate the Heavenly Heart Technique, it won't hurt to give him this secret technique."

"But taking on apprentices..." He shook his head, "I'll pass."

Old He nodded: "I understand."

Lin Zhao waved his hand, and the human head in the wooden box turned to ashes.

The reason I met Luo Yu today was firstly because Yan Lie personally brought him here.

Secondly, it's because this kid killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator while only having Qi Refining cultivation.

Otherwise, the life or death of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn't have alarmed him at all.

Lin Zhao suddenly remembered something and smiled.

It is a legend that he defeated a Core Formation cultivator with his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Luo Yu, with his Qi Refining Stage 8 cultivation level, was not far behind in killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

This kid... his future achievements are probably going to be quite impressive.

Lin Zhao shook her head.

We'll talk about the future later.

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