You promised yourself to be a caged bird, but you became the supreme young master?

As he pondered this, Lu Heng flipped through the Qingzhou Daily in his hand.

Excluding aristocratic families, the only entities in Qingzhou that could actually protect him and that he could access were sects and the imperial court.

Qingzhou is, after all, a province, and there are several powerful forces at the level of True Monarch Refining in the open.

Whether there are powerful figures above the Refining Mystic Realm in the secrets of Qingzhou remains unknown.

At that level, even if it exists, it will not be widely known unless the individual chooses to.

The lifespan in the Body Refining Secret Realm is no different from that of ordinary people, while the lifespan in the Qi Refining Secret Realm is 120 years.

The lifespan of a True Person of Refining Spirit is 240 years, that of a Venerable Person of Refining Spirit is 500 years, and that of a True Lord of Refining Spirit is 1,000 years.

The great beings above them live for three thousand years.

Time and years can bury all traces of the Great Power.

However, even if there are powerful sects, Lu Heng does not intend to make contact with them.

Those sects that can be called quasi-holy lands have extremely strict requirements for entry.

It's not just about talent, but also about background and connections...

Even one's fortune.

Lu Heng has not forgotten his destiny of being demoted from the Mandate of Heaven to the Son of Heaven.

They remained tight-lipped about it.

If the entry requirements of such a sect include a disciple's luck and even destiny, then his fate will definitely not be good.

The "Chosen One" destiny is clearly displayed in the panel information as something that can be taken away.

Lu Heng didn't believe that a sect with powerful figures above the Refining Mystic Realm wouldn't lack the means to observe destiny and fate.

Therefore, limiting the selection to sects at the Refining Spirit True Monarch level is undoubtedly the wisest choice.

But is it really that easy to join a sect?

Lu Heng sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

There are indeed sects that accept a wide range of disciples, regardless of their background, and cultivate their disciples by raising venomous insects, but this also means they are not valued.

Having joined such a sect, Lu Heng did not believe that they would be willing to offend the Lu clan for his sake.

Sects that value their disciples are often extremely strict and cautious in their entry requirements due to the many bloody lessons learned in the past.

The most obvious point is...

These sects prefer to recruit disciples who are exceptionally talented and naive, and who have not yet formed a sense of awareness.

Disciples who grow up in a sect are the most likely to develop a sense of belonging to the sect.

Few sects would be willing to recruit rogue cultivators who started their training halfway through their careers...

Sons of prominent families were also among them.

Unless one is sent to a sect from a young age, once one is a little older or has even begun cultivation, it is as difficult as ascending to heaven to join a sect.

Although Lu Heng was merely a member of a branch of the Lu clan, he was unfortunately included in this category as well.

Because of their family's circumstances, they are even worse off than ordinary independent practitioners!

As for the imperial court, it is very easy for cultivators to join it.

There is a perfectly legitimate and bright path to heaven.

As long as one has a status in the imperial court, one can register to participate in the imperial military examination.

After the initial selection and the final selection, one is considered to have joined the imperial court…

Well, it sounds very simple, but the actual difficulty is like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge.

Any cultivator who can join the imperial court through the martial arts examination can be considered one in ten thousand.

Those with exceptional talent in cultivation are often at least top-tier geniuses. As long as there are no unexpected events on their cultivation path, they will surely become True Immortals of Spirit Refinement.

With the resources and techniques provided by the imperial court, there is great potential for further advancement.

In Lu Heng's previous life, these would be equivalent to the two most prestigious universities.

If Lu Heng were to join the imperial court through the military examination, even if he still bore the mark of the caged bird, the Lu clan would not dare to make any rash moves.

Even threatening a martial arts scholar, let alone killing him, is a provocation against the imperial court.

The Lu family was no different from ants in front of him.

To say that it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot is an insult to the imperial court.

It's highly likely that they would be so apprehensive that they would immediately offer a method to free the caged bird in a fawning manner.

Lu Heng glanced at the Qingzhou Daily. The last martial arts examination was half a year ago, and the next one would probably be half a year from now.

In comparison, Lu Heng preferred to join a sect, where he would be subject to far fewer restrictions.

Another crucial point is...

Joining the imperial court is out of the question, especially now that it's such a turbulent time.

The situation in the Western continent is currently unclear, but the current emperor may be approaching his twilight years, and even the eldest princess, a True Monarch of Spirit Refinement, has participated in the struggle for the throne.

The political situation in the imperial court was volatile and unpredictable.

As he grows up, he will inevitably be drawn into a lot of trouble.

Lu Heng is a person who hates trouble. If given the opportunity, he would rather cultivate in the shadows until he becomes invincible and the Sword God of Shili Slope before choosing to emerge from seclusion.

"Take it one step at a time."

Everything needs to be discussed only by those who have become cultivators in the Qi Refining Secret Realm.

First, acquire enough resources through underground boxing to upgrade the production of spiritual food to the perfect level. Then, cultivate the perfect "Basic Body Refining Method" to the perfect level before entering the secret realm three months later.

"Emerging from the secret realm, or naturally achieving a breakthrough within it."

Lu Heng sorted things out and reaffirmed his own ideas.

………………

The next day, the maid led Lu Heng to the outer courtyard.

There, Lu Qingyan, dressed in a sky-blue dress, stood with her hands behind her back, looking like she was waiting quietly.

The girl's eyes lit up the moment she saw Lu Heng, but she held her head high with a reserved air, showing no intention of speaking.

"Good morning, Miss Qingyan," Lu Heng greeted her helplessly.

The maid standing nearby secretly covered her mouth and chuckled. Her mistress hated it when people used her name and added the title "Miss".

As expected, Lu Qingyan's face immediately darkened.

"Take this, put it on after you change your clothes."

She angrily pulled out a set of black clothes and a mask.

"What is this?" Lu Heng had a guess, but still asked.

"A magical artifact that conceals your own aura and appearance."

Otherwise, your age and strength might cause a sensation in Qinghe City and attract unnecessary attention.

Even for my grandfather, it would be quite a troublesome matter. Rather than that, it's better to take precautions.

"Okay, I'll lend it to you for now. You'll have to return it later," Lu Qingyan explained.

At the end of her explanation, she added a final sentence because she was worried that Lu Heng might not accept it.

Lu Heng wore a half-smile, not intending to say anything more.

Lu Qingyan felt uncomfortable watching this.

Before the girl could get angry, he answered decisively, "No problem."

"Follow me." With a light hum, Lu Qingyan walked ahead without looking back.

"You can go back now, thank you for your trouble," she said to the maid who had led her there.

Lu Heng chose to follow.