The First Venerable of All Paths

"???"

Fang Xuan didn't react for a moment and stared blankly at Lu Zhao.

"Sister Lu Zhao, what did you just say?"

"Kill Lu Ren."

Lu Zhao's expression remained unchanged, but his tone was more serious than ever before.

"I need you to kill Lu Ren for me!"

Lu Zhao gazed calmly at Fang Xuan, his eyes deep yet carrying an unyielding determination and stubbornness.

However, Fang Xuan saw a hint of pleading in that stubbornness.

Looking at Lu Zhao in front of him, Fang Xuan's emotions gradually calmed down.

Become calm, composed, and serious.

"Sure?"

"I'm absolutely certain!"

Lu Zhao nodded and said, "Brother Fang Xuan, you should help your sister, right?"

"reason."

"He deserves to die."

Lu Zhao looked at Fang Xuan and said, "Besides, don't you have a grudge against him? You killed Lu Ci, destroyed a wisp of his soul, and forced you into the Valley of Death. Don't you want revenge?"

"not enough."

Fang Xuan shook his head, his emotions completely unmoved.

Lu Ren is not Lu Ci.

This person, who could force Lu Zhao to make repeated concessions, must have considerable skill.

Going to kill the other party yourself is too risky.

"Even if I have a grudge against him, it's not enough to make me confront him right now."

Fang Xuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said calmly, "I don't want to get involved in the affairs of the Lu family and the Sihai Chamber of Commerce."

"Brother Fang Xuan, are you truly unaware, or are you feigning ignorance?"

Lu Zhao smiled upon hearing this, a hint of amusement in his narrow eyes, like that of a fox.

"Let me put it this way: Lu Ren is even more vengeful and narrow-minded than his younger brother Lu Ci."

Lu Zhao said, "From the moment you killed Lu Ci and destroyed his distraction, it was destined that you two could never be reconciled and could only be enemies."

"But as I said, even so, it's not enough for me to face him right now."

Fang Xuan reminded him again, saying, "I can easily leave here and avoid a direct confrontation with him. You should know that I have that ability."

Lu Zhao remained silent for a moment.

She believed that with Fang Xuan's abilities, if he really wanted to leave, no one could stop him.

"Perhaps, as you say, Lu Ren is vengeful, but..."

Fang Xuan looked directly into Lu Zhao's eyes and said, word by word, "He is definitely a smart man. If he knew that the price of dealing with me would be too high, he would definitely not continue to insist."

Lu Zhao fell silent once again.

She knew that Fang Xuan was right.

"So what you just said is not enough for me to take such a huge risk to kill Lu Ren."

Fang Xuan continued, "Even if we manage to kill him by sheer luck, it will only end in mutual destruction."

Although he was unaware of Lu Ren's strength.

However, even when Lu Zhao was in charge of the Lu family and the Sihai Chamber of Commerce, he was still able to take away half of Lu Zhao's power.

One can imagine that this person's scheming, cunning, and skill are absolutely extraordinary.

As for strength?

If one doesn't have enough strength, who would stand on Lu Ren's side?

"You're right, I was too hasty."

After a long silence, Lu Zhao sighed softly and said in a complicated tone, "You are more calm and cautious than I imagined."

"When it comes to matters of life and fortune, it's always better to be cautious."

Fang Xuan picked up his teacup, cleared his throat, and said, "Otherwise, I wouldn't be alive today."

"That's true, it was just my sister's assumption."

Lu Zhao smoothed his hair and said with a smile, "Since Brother Fang Xuan feels the time is not right, let's talk about it later."

That was said very skillfully.

There was no disappointment, no resentment, only that the timing wasn't right.

This means she will speak up again in the future, but hopes that Fang Xuan will not refuse again.

Unexpectedly, Fang Xuan put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, looked up at Lu Zhao, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

"I just didn't agree, but I didn't refuse either."

"???"

This time, it was Lu Zhao's turn to be caught off guard. She stared at Fang Xuan in astonishment, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise and shock.

"Brother Fang Xuan, you..."

"Since Sister Lu Zhao made this request, I don't think it was without reason, right?"

Fang Xuan laughed and said, "Besides, with Sister Lu Zhao's methods, she must have made preparations in advance and wouldn't let me take any risks."

Lu Zhao was taken aback, then shook her head and laughed, "You little rascal, you were just teasing your sister on purpose."

Fang Xuan shook his head and said, "It's not just a joke, I just want to confirm some things."

"That......"

Lu Zhao stood up, picked up the teapot, and bent down to pour Fang Xuan a cup of tea.

"Brother Fang Xuan, has it been confirmed yet?"

The tea sipped, and Lu Zhao's magnetic voice rang in Fang Xuan's ears, making him feel a surge of desire.

Fang Xuan wasn't some clueless newbie.

Qin Luoli is one thing.

At that time, his Dao body had just been taken away, his martial meridians and dantian were shattered, he was seriously injured, and his consciousness was hazy. He did not have a clear memory of what happened afterward.

However, during his intimate moment with Xiao Jinyu, Fang Xuan remained fully conscious and took the initiative throughout.

Having experienced these things before, Fang Xuan naturally understood Lu Zhao's mindset.

He stared at Lu Zhao, a wicked smile slowly curving his lips.

Profound and captivating.

Lu Zhao also looked at the young man in front of him.

He was handsome, with striking eyebrows and bright eyes.

She had undergone a complete transformation since our first meeting.

At that time, Fang Xuan was like a long sword drawn from its sheath, sharp and arrogant.

The young man before me possessed a restrained and profound aura, with a peaceful and warm gaze.

But they are more composed and confident.

As he watched, Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat.

A fleeting unease crossed her eyes, her earlobes burned slightly, and a long-lost flutter of excitement and shyness welled up in her heart.

She married early and had a daughter.

However, her relationship with him was not as the rumors suggested—a respectful and intimate one.

On the contrary, she only valued his talent, which is why she married him into the family and had children with him. That's all.

She wasn't much more experienced in matters of love than Fang Xuan.

"Confirmed."

Fang Xuan glanced at her quickly and said, "As expected of Sister Lu Zhao, she is indeed kind."

"You...you little scoundrel!"

Lu Zhao was taken aback at first, then rolled her eyes at Fang Xuan with a hint of reproach.

"You're so young and already behaving badly, aren't you afraid I'll tell Jinyu?"

Lu Zhao was somewhat annoyed that he almost lost his composure in front of Fang Xuan.

"Sister Lu Zhao, what are you saying? I don't understand."

Fang Xuan spread his hands, his face full of innocence.

Seeing Fang Xuan's expression, Lu Zhao was so angry that he laughed.

"You little rascal, don't act innocent after getting the benefit."

After a while of laughing and joking, Lu Zhao regained his composure and continued the previous topic.

"Lu Ren, the eldest son of the Lu family, is no less talented in business than in martial arts."

Lu Zhao's expression was serious, and his tone was earnest: "He has just turned twenty-six, but he has already reached the peak of the first level of the Divine Intent Realm."

"This is still based on the fact that he devoted a lot of energy to business and seizing power."

The first level of divine intent?

This level of cultivation was much lower than he had expected.

"Fang Xuan, don't underestimate Lu Ren."

Lu Zhao said solemnly, "The first level of the Divine Intent Realm is just the strength he's revealed. No one knows his true cultivation level. Moreover..."

After a pause, Lu Zhao said, "Lu Ren's martial vein is at the mid-grade Earth level!"

"Oh, mid-grade Earth Rank?"

Fang Xuan raised an eyebrow and said softly, "Then it is indeed not weak."

The middle-grade Earth Rank may seem low, but in fact, it is already considered a top martial arts genius in the entire Qingzhou.

Back then, Fang Xiao had only awakened a low-grade Earth-rank martial vein, yet the Fang family regarded him as a dragon among men and devoted the entire clan's resources to nurturing him.

This includes the so-called geniuses Fang Xuan had encountered, such as Song Fan of Luoxia Valley and Qi Changfeng of the Dao Seeking Sect.

They were merely low-grade Earth Rank cultivators.

Not to mention a mid-grade Earth Rank martial vein.

These are outstanding talents that all the major sects would fight tooth and nail to recruit.

After all, there is only one person in all eternity like Fang Xuan, who possesses the Chaos Saint Body, has condensed the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir and the Supreme Sword Bone, and has also obtained the inheritance of the Nine Emperors.

Leaving aside distant examples, let's just talk about Zhao Qingcang.

Because he seized Fang Xuan's innate Dao Body, he was hailed by the Dao Seeking Sect as a martial arts prodigy who was a once-in-a-millennium talent, and was directly named a Holy Son.

"With a Rank 1 martial vein and the backing of the Lu family and the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, possessing so many opportunities, the first level of the Divine Intent Realm is indeed too low."

Fang Xuan analyzed, "If what you say is true, he has at least the second level of Divine Intent cultivation, or even higher."

"good."

Lu Zhao said, "Moreover, Lu Ren has mastered two extremely powerful martial arts and a secret technique of the Lu family."

"When he mastered this secret technique, he defeated an elder of the clan at the peak of the first level of the Divine Intent Realm with just one move."

Fang Xuan nodded slowly.

Fighting across borders is something not everyone can do.

"In that case, it is indeed a bit tricky."

Fang Xuan said, "I'm starting to regret it."

"Our Sihai Chamber of Commerce doesn't sell any medicine for regret."

Lu Zhao rolled his eyes at Fang Xuan and continued, "But you don't need to worry. Although Lu Ren is strong, you are not weak either. Otherwise, you wouldn't have killed Gu Xiao and Gu Tang would have died at your hands."

Fang Xuan shook his head.

The deaths of Gu Xiao and Gu Tang were not solely due to their own efforts, but also largely due to luck.

If it really comes down to Lu Ren, these methods won't be enough.

"Sister Lu Zhao, tell me your trump card."

Fang Xuan cut to the chase: "You've said so much, there must be some really good stuff you haven't revealed yet, right?"

"Of course, my sister isn't as heartless as you."

Lu Zhao snorted and said, "At that time, I will recommend you to enter the Lu family's Blood Pool, and the Blood Pool will suppress the cultivation of everyone who enters to below the Divine Intent Realm."

"So, the blood pool has no effect on me, but it will suppress Lu Ren?"

Fang Xuan said, "How can you be sure that Lu Ren will enter the Blood Pool? If I remember correctly, the Lu family's Blood Pool is meant to increase the probability of martial artists breaking through to the Divine Intent Realm. There's absolutely no need for Lu Ren to go in."

"Increasing the probability of martial artists breaking through to the Divine Intent Realm only applies to outsiders."

Lu Zhao lowered his voice and said, "The greatest function of the Lu family blood pool is that anyone with the Lu family bloodline who enters it will have the opportunity to elevate any martial art to its highest level."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan's expression immediately changed.

"The true essence of martial arts, summoning the true spirit?!"