The First Venerable of All Paths

"Hiss hiss hiss!"

Inside the secret chamber, the sword energy shimmered brilliantly.

Rays of spiritual light continuously emanated from the Azure Lotus Sword.

Sword marks were left all over the ground and walls.

The scorching sword energy constantly swirled around Fang Xuan, remaining hidden until it was unleashed.

"Buzz!"

Until a certain moment, Fang Xuan's sword technique changed, and all the sword energy suddenly dispersed, forming a sea of ​​fire sword domain.

"break!"

Fang Xuan let out a cold shout, raised his longsword high, and slashed straight down.

"Boom!"

One by one, the blue lotus flowers fell like meteorites.

The entire training room began to shake violently.

The sharp, scorching sword energy swept outwards from the training room, affecting the entire courtyard.

"Snap!"

The courtyard wall trembled and finally collapsed, turning into complete ruins.

Dust flew everywhere, burying Fang Xuan as well.

"Enemy attack?"

Granny Yin noticed the unusual situation and quickly flew over.

Looking at the collapsed training room, his aged face was filled with solemnity.

She worried that the man in the blood-red robe might have returned.

"It shouldn't be."

Li Guanlan also rushed over quickly, and after observing for a moment, he said, "It must have been that guy who did it."

"You mean Young Master Fang?"

Grandma Yin was somewhat taken aback.

After carefully sensing the area, they discovered that extremely dense, scorching sword energy remained.

"Ahem!"

Amidst the smoke and dust, a figure slowly emerged.

It was Fang Xuan.

His clothes were covered in dust, and even his hair was slightly curly, making him look rather disheveled.

"Young Master Fang, are you alright?"

Because Fang Xuan possessed a method to extend Lu Zhao's lifespan, Granny Yin treated him with extreme courtesy.

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

Looking at the dilapidated training room, Fang Xuan gave an awkward smile and said, "Sorry, there was a small accident during my training just now."

"It's good that Young Master Fang is alright. It's just a courtyard; it's not worth much money."

Grandma Yin was also filled with some emotions.

This young master Fang, with just a casual bit of cultivation, has caused such a commotion.

From the lingering sword energy in the air, Granny Yin could roughly guess that Fang Xuan was probably practicing some kind of extremely profound sword technique.

"Brother Fang Xuan, how are you?"

Lu Zhao, who arrived late, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Fang Xuan was alright.

"Mother-in-law, let's get him a new courtyard."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan quickly said, "Sister Lu Zhao, there's no need to trouble yourself."

"What, are you leaving?"

Lu Zhaoxiu frowned.

"I have something important to do, and I really can't delay any longer."

There are less than two months left until the six-month agreement he made with Elder Jia Lian of the Dao Asking Sect, which is very urgent.

Fang Xuan didn't want to delay any longer.

"Are you really going to challenge Zhao Qingcang?"

Lu Zhao frowned, his eyes showing worry.

In the past few days, Lu Zhao has also investigated some things and learned that Fang Xuan is going to the Dao Seeking Sect to challenge Zhao Qingcang.

Seeing Fang Xuan nod, Lu Zhao said, "Brother Fang Xuan, that Zhao Qingcang is a Holy Son of the Dao Seeking Sect, with extremely impressive cultivation. How confident are you in challenging him?"

"have no idea."

Fang Xuan said, "But I will do my best."

He hadn't seen Zhao Qingcang since they met once two years ago.

I only learned from the disciples of the Dao Asking Sect that Zhao Qingcang had the terrifying strength to kill a Divine Intent Realm expert when he was in the Condensation Realm.

Moreover, he had long since gone into seclusion to attempt to break through to the Divine Realm.

Once he successfully breaks through, his strength will reach an even higher level.

Facing such a formidable opponent, Fang Xuan also felt some pressure.

"Since you've put it that way, then I won't try to persuade you anymore."

Lu Zhao hesitated before saying, "However, I have a favor to ask of you, and I hope you can grant it."

"you say."

"I just want to be with you."

Fearing that Fang Xuan might misunderstand, Lu Zhao quickly explained, "It's like this, I have a batch of goods that I need to deliver to Zhongzhou. It's on the way, and I thought that if we went together, we could help each other out."

The reason they said they were looking out for each other was actually because this batch of goods was extremely important to the Lu family.

Fang Xuan is extremely powerful; with him around, we'll be much safer.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan hesitated.

Going with Lu Zhao might take up a lot of time, and there might even be some unexpected changes.

"It's okay if it's inconvenient."

Seeing Fang Xuan's predicament, Lu Zhao said, "I'll gather more guards to accompany you then."

Just as Fang Xuan was about to refuse, the spiritual energy in the world suddenly surged back and converged in a certain direction.

"It's towards the Blood Pool!"

Granny Yin exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, it seems the young lady is about to emerge from seclusion!"

"Really?"

Lu Zhao's face immediately lit up with joy.

"Awooo!"

Just then, a deep roar suddenly resounded.

The spiritual energy became increasingly violent.

"Snap!"

In the void, a pitch-black vortex appeared, frantically absorbing all the spiritual energy.

Immediately afterwards, a petite figure burst out of the vortex and stood in the void.

The girl was only eight or nine years old.

Yet she was born as delicate and lovely as porcelain.

Most strangely, there was a faint black mark between her eyebrows, like a mole, which gave her an aura of majesty and domineering presence.

"How unreasonable!"

Lu Zhao's eyes were slightly red, and his body trembled.

Although Fang Xuan had said that Manman had obtained an opportunity in the Blood Pool Secret Realm, as a mother, how could she not be worried?

Manman's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened.

Fang Xuan then saw a huge phantom appear silently and disappear quickly behind her.

The phantom image was none other than the shape of a black tortoise.

"Boom boom boom!"

With a grab of her small hand, spiritual energy poured into Manman's body like a celestial river flowing backward.

Only after absorbing the last wisp of spiritual energy did Manman sway and land in front of Lu Zhao.

"mother!"

With a crisp, clear voice, she opened her arms and hugged Lu Zhao tightly.

I miss you so much.

Lu Zhao raised her hand and affectionately stroked her daughter's head, saying, "Mother missed you too."

After a brief moment of tenderness between mother and daughter, Manman finally released Lu Zhao and looked at Fang Xuan with a slightly shy expression.

"Brother Fang Xuan!"

Fang Xuan smiled and nodded, saying, "It's good that you're out."

"Brother Fang Xuan, are you leaving?"

Manman asked, "Can I come with you?"

"Manman, stop fooling around. Your brother Fang Xuan has important business to attend to."

Lu Zhao also felt that his suggestion was a bit excessive and instinctively dismissed the idea.

"Mother, I'm not being silly."

Manman said seriously, "I also want to go to Zhongzhou."

"What are you going to Zhongzhou for?"

Lu Zhao was taken aback at first, then gripped Manman's small hand tightly, and said in a serious tone, "Could it be... that you already know?"

"understood."

Manman's smile vanished, and she said seriously, "Mother, I'm not a child anymore. There are some things you don't need to face alone."

"But......"

Lu Zhao was still somewhat hesitant.

"Mom, I'm really good now."

Manman raised her fist and said confidently, "I will protect Mother."

"Brother Fang Xuan, please take me with you, okay?"

Manman turned to look at Fang Xuan and said, "I promise I won't cause you any trouble."

"But the place I'm going to is still quite a distance from Zhongzhou."

"It's okay."

Manman said, "We can separate then, and travel together for a while."

Fang Xuan looked at Lu Zhao, seeking her opinion.

"Of course I have no objection."

Lu Zhao was naturally more than happy to agree and readily accepted.

"Then let's pack up and leave early."

Since things had come to this point, Fang Xuan couldn't say anything more.

"Everything has been packed."

Lu Zhao said, "Give me half an hour to arrange matters within the clan, and then we'll set off immediately."

Half an hour later.

A caravan of dragon horses departed from the Lu family and headed towards Zhongzhou.

Because Lu Zhao had just purged Lu Fa and others, the Lu family's foundation was not very stable at this time.

Therefore, Granny Yin needs to stay in the clan to oversee things.

The caravan was handled by a security escort agency that Lu Zhao had hired at great expense.

Qinglong Escort Agency.

The Azure Dragon Escort Agency is not a local force in Mingyue County.

Their headquarters are located in Zhongzhou, and their overall strength is extremely strong, comparable to some top second-tier families.

More importantly, Qinglong Escort Agency has always been known for its integrity and has cooperated with Sihai Chamber of Commerce several times.

It was because the people from the Azure Dragon Escort Agency happened to be escorting a shipment to Mingyue County that Lu Zhao hired them to escort the goods to Zhongzhou.

This was naturally the best thing for the Qinglong Escort Agency, which was already preparing to return to Zhongzhou anyway.

Because it means I can make an extra profit.

The person in charge of the Qinglong Escort Agency this time is named He Tieshan.

He was extremely tall and strong, like an iron tower.

On the surface, this person only had the cultivation level of the second level of the Divine Intent Realm, but Fang Xuan could tell at a glance that He Tieshan was also a body cultivator.

"A body cultivator at the Divine Intent Realm, the Azure Dragon Escort Agency is indeed quite powerful."

Fang Xuan did not sit in the carriage, but rode on the dragon horse, dressed as a bodyguard of the Lu family.

Apart from Lu Zhao and Li Guanlan, no one knew his true identity.

This was something Fang Xuan did on purpose.

Together with the Azure Dragon Escort Agency, one operating openly and the other covertly, they enhance security.

Although Lu Zhao had tried to dissuade him several times, he couldn't resist Fang Xuan's insistence and could only let him go.

However, he was also given the title of deputy captain of the guard.

Fang Xuan did not refuse.

"Jun-ge'er, I've heard that this Chairman Lu of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce is incredibly handsome, is that true?"

Perhaps because they frequently engaged in escort missions, the members of the Qinglong Escort Agency appeared extremely relaxed.

As soon as they left Mingyue County, the members huddled together and began to discuss in hushed tones.

But no matter how soft the sound was, it was crystal clear to Fang Xuan.

"Why are you asking about this?"

The young man called Jun-ge sneered, "Does Little Scarface have some other ideas?"

No, no.

The boy, nicknamed "Little Scarface," waved his hands repeatedly, blushing as he said, "I was just curious."

"Little Scarface, you'll remember this."

He Jun's smile faded, and he said seriously, "We're just escorts. Don't be curious about our employers at all, and don't ask any unsolicited questions."

"Oh, I've got it."

Scarface scratched his head sheepishly, his face turning even redder.

"And you too."

He Jun looked at his companions and said in a deep voice, "The banner of my Azure Dragon Escort Agency was raised with great difficulty by generations of blood and sweat. Anyone who ruins the agency's reputation shouldn't blame me for taking away their livelihood!"

"knew!"

"According to the previously agreed plan, one team will go ahead to scout ahead, the second team will bring up the rear, and the rest will be scattered on the left and right to protect the employer and the goods."

He Jun issued orders methodically. Although he was young and only at the Condensation Realm, he already possessed a certain authority.

Upon seeing this, He Tieshan nodded slightly.

"It seems that after we go back this time, Jun-ge will be able to lead the team on his own."

He Tieshan looked pleased, then frowned and turned to look at the back of the convoy, at one of the Lu family guards.

As a seasoned veteran of escorting goods for many years, he couldn't see the slightest bit of tension in this guard.

He looked calm, composed, and extremely relaxed.

"Could this person be a master spies secretly planted by the Lu family?!"