Lu Ping? Never Heard of Him!
As soon as Lu Ping stepped into the sect's main hall, Shen Xinyao suddenly launched an attack, with several Nascent Spirit Transformation sealing off the hall.
Meeting Shen Yaoxin's gaze, Lu Ping quickly understood Shen Yaoxin's strategy.
Han Shishan went out to handle nothing of importance, but upon his return, he brought an unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivator straight to the sect's power center.
Either Han Shishan is in trouble, or this Foundation Establishment cultivator is the problem.
Shen Yaoxin knew best what kind of person Han Shishan was.
Therefore, the only problem must be this unfamiliar face who seems to be only at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
Since there are ghosts, let's surround them first.
Forced by the aura of the Spirit Transformation stage, Han Shishan's face turned pale on the spot, and he took two steps back, leaning against a pillar in the hall.
Lu Ping, however, showed no embarrassment at having his identity exposed.
As long as he doesn't feel embarrassed, it's others who are embarrassed.
Despite the oppressive atmosphere, Lu Ping chuckled softly.
"I am Lu Ping, Sect Master Shen. How have you been?"
Lu Ping took two steps forward, his voice calm and ordinary, yet it sounded like a thunderclap in the empty hall.
"I wonder if Sect Master Shen has yet to decipher the 'simplicity' of the third form of the Azure Gang Cosmic Ruins Sword?"
Shen Yaoxin's right hand, which had been resting on the edge of the table, froze.
The Jade Slip held between his fingers snapped into a pinch of powder with a "crack".
The several streams of energy outside the hall that had been poised to unleash their power also noticeably froze at that moment.
The Azure Gang Cosmic Ruins Sword technique is Shen Yaoxin sword of seeking the Dao, and he never reveals it to others easily. Even within the Azure Cloud Sect, there are only a handful of people who know about it.
How did this person know? Not only did they know, but they also pinpointed the bottleneck that had been plaguing Shen Yaoxin for so long!
Shen Yaoxin looked at Lu Ping, his expression shifting as he quickly deduced the other man's background.
Lu Ping? Never heard of him!
His name was unremarkable, but his appearance was outstanding, instantly winning people's favor. Even in the humble everyday clothes of a minor sect in a Border Region, his exceptional talent could not be concealed.
This person clearly has a knack for preserving their youthful appearance.
Among the old monsters skilled in preserving their youthful appearance, there are quite a few female cultivators, but I've never heard of any male cultivator who is proficient in it.
Is it some unparalleled old monster? Or an envoy sent from the Upper Domain?
Shen Yaoxin didn't sense any hostility from the other party, but the feeling of having his cards laid bare sent chills down his spine.
What's even more dangerous is that this person's aura is completely undetectable; he truly seems to be only at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
The fact that you can't see through someone only proves one thing: that person's cultivation level is at least as high as yours.
Great Perfection of Spirit Transformation? Or Void Refining?
Lu Ping watched Shen Yaoxin's changing expression, but made no attempt to explain.
Since I got this information for free from the last simulation, I might as well use it.
Lu Ping sighed and turned to look at the sea of clouds outside the palace.
"The Spirit Transformation is merely the starting point for distinguishing between the mortal and the sacred. The path is arduous and long; who isn't walking on thin ice?"
Lu Ping's tone carried a sense of desolation born of experience, perfectly capturing the image of an old monster who had lived for countless years.
"I've come today not to cause trouble, but because a Secret Method has reached a critical point, and I would like to ask Sect Master Shen for his assistance."
Shen Yaoxin stared at Lu Ping without responding, waiting for him to continue.
"If Sect Master Shen would be so kind as to do us a favor,"
Lu Ping turned around.
"I am willing to hold the title of elder in the Azure Cloud Sect and stay for fifty years."
The hall fell silent once more.
Shen Yaoxin's eyes flashed intensely, his mind racing with calculations.
An old monster, seemingly at the Great Perfection of Spirit Transformation, is willing to stay in the sect for fifty years.
This is a very significant bargaining chip.
The Domain of Chaos to the north has been getting increasingly turbulent in recent years, with constant friction at the border mineral veins. Those unorthodox sects are clearly trying to join forces to take a bite out of the Azure Cloud Sect.
If, out of nowhere, a Spirit Transformation stage expert were to appear in the sect at this time, the odds would be doubled.
But Shen Yaoxin didn't dare to completely believe in such a windfall.
"What does Fellow Daoist want me to do?"
Shen Yaoxin leaned forward slightly, his tone softening considerably.
Lu Ping flipped his palm over, and a set of Formation Plates floated in front of him.
Little Smart Communication Formation.
Lu Ping casually placed the Formation Plate on the jade table, stopping it in front of Shen Yaoxin.
Shen Yaoxin hesitated for a moment, then swept his Divine Sense upwards and carefully examined the area.
Fifteen minutes later, the suspicion in Shen Yaoxin's eyes deepened.
This Formation Technique is exquisitely crafted and extremely unique in its design; it requires Spirit Stones to activate.
But what's strange is that it has no trace of Blood Refining, no Restrictions on soul control, and no evil methods that require extracting the life Qi and Blood of living beings.
Moreover, it is indeed very beneficial for sect disciples to send messages and accept missions.
It seems completely harmless, and even... it can concentrate and organize the consumed Spirit Stones Spiritual Qi, which is entirely beneficial to the sect.
"This Formation Technique..."
Shen Yaoxin looked up, his face full of confusion.
"What will you use it for, fellow Daoist?"
"My Great Dao is somewhat biased, and the details are not for outsiders to know."
Lu Ping stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at a 45-degree angle.
"Simply put, the Cultivation Method I practice requires using the Myriad Thoughts of All Beings as a guide to temper one's State of Mind."
"I traveled throughout the four regions before finding a once-in-a-millennium extraordinary person who tailored this Formation Technique to my needs."
Lu Ping started boasting without batting an eye.
"The faint fluctuations of thought left behind when the sect disciples used their tokens to connect to this Formation Technique pose no threat to them. But for me, they are like a stream flowing into the sea, helping me to overcome this current obstacle."
Lu Ping looked at Shen Yaoxin and said calmly,
"It won't harm your disciples' lives, and it will help the sect gather Spiritual Qi. Sect Master Shen, no matter how you look at it, your Azure Cloud Sect won't lose out, right?"
Shen Yaoxin stared at the Formation Plate, tapping his fingers lightly on the table a few times.
This argument sounds absurd, but in the world of cultivation, what strange and unorthodox methods haven't those high-level monsters tried to break through their cultivation levels?
It's really not an outrageous act to only have a slight fluctuation in one's thoughts.
Most importantly, there was that fifty-year promise.
Shen Yaoxin made up his mind, and a hint of difficulty appeared on his face.
"Fellow Daoist's request isn't too demanding. However, to implement this unfamiliar Formation Technique throughout the entire sect, I'm afraid I'll have to spend some time explaining it to the Grand Supreme Elders. How about this: let's settle the elder positions first. As for the Formation Technique, perhaps we can..."
The old fox is haggling, wanting to get a high-level combatant for free, but not wanting to take any risks.
[Bully at Home, effective.]
[Within your sect, you possess absolutely invincible combat power against those of the same level; no one can rival you.]
The pretense of being a Foundation Establishment Realm on Lu Ping's body was torn apart.
The spiritual pressure, belonging to the Early Spirit Transformation Stage, mixed with the absolute suppressive power of the same level brought by the Trait, suddenly dispersed.
Shen Yaoxin slid back half a foot along with his chair, his Protective Gang Qi being forced out, emitting a bright blue light.
Just as the several Nascent Spirit Transformation outside the hall were about to retaliate, Lu Ping had already withdrawn his oppressive aura, acting swiftly and decisively.
"Since Sect Master Shen finds it difficult, then I will not insist."
Lu Ping waved his hand and turned to walk out of the hall.
"I've heard that the Blood Demon Old Man of the Blood Demon Sect in the Northern Region has recently encountered some difficulties. I'll go and ask him; I think he might be interested in this fifty-year-old business."