Can Block, But Only A Little

"Lu Changsheng is truly terrifying."

Li Xuanyan, watching the recording stone, was also awestruck by the magnificent scene of Lu Changsheng annihilating the entire Youmo Sect in a single strike.

Judging by Lu Changsheng's strength, he must be at least a high-level Mahayana Stage cultivator. It seems I'll still have to be subservient to the Lu Family even after breaking through to the Mahayana Stage.

"By the way, has Ping'er returned to the capital city with Lu Jiuyuan yet?"

Li Xuanyan turned to look at a hidden agent standing nearby.

"Your Majesty, the Princess and Young Master Lu are indeed heading back to the capital city. According to the estimated time, they should arrive in three days."

A figure emerged from the void nearby and spoke to Li Xuanyan with utmost respect.

Li Qingping had informed him when Lu Jiuyuan agreed to participate in the Hundred Kingdoms Competition, so it wasn't surprising that he knew this news.

"It's just that young friend Lu is only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. If he participates in the Hundred Kingdoms Competition, he'll likely lose miserably. We should find a reason to have Young Master Lu withdraw on his own."

Li Xuanyan thought of Lu Jiuyuan's cultivation and shook his head helplessly. He had previously learned from Li Qingping that Lu Jiuyuan could defeat a cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment Stage while only being at the peak of Qi Refining.

However, this was the Hundred Kingdoms Competition, and opponents wouldn't necessarily fight at the same level. Even though he had now broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, it was still not enough for the Hundred Kingdoms Competition, where Golden Core Stage cultivators were commonplace.

But what Li Xuanyan would never have imagined was that Lu Jiuyuan, who was about to arrive at the capital city, would bring him a bit of a "transmigrator shock."

Meanwhile, aboard the Thousand Mile Shuttle, Li Qingping felt a bit bored and went up to the deck to look outside.

"Xiao Qing, how much longer until we reach the capital city?"

"Miss, we've only just returned to Black Wind Ridge. It will take about five more days to get back to the capital city," Xiao Qing replied quickly, standing beside Li Qingping.

"Five days? Young Master Lu has been in seclusion for so long. I wonder when he'll finally come out of seclusion?"

Looking at the seclusion room on the ship, Li Qingping sighed.

As soon as they boarded the Thousand Mile Shuttle, Lu Jiuyuan had said he felt a breakthrough opportunity and immediately entered the seclusion room to cultivate. He had been in seclusion for five days without any sign of emerging.

Also on deck, admiring the scenery, was the Thousand Ghost King. A rare smile flickered across his face as he looked at the destroyed Youmo Sect in the distance.

He could feel that the servant's mark the King Youmo had placed on him had finally disappeared, meaning he was no longer bound by the King Youmo.

Also on deck was Long Aotian, who was currently curled up in the small nest Li Qingping had arranged for him, sleeping soundly. A faint Golden Core Stage aura emanated from him.

Long Aotian had refined some Dragon Blood while at the Lu Family, and his cultivation had consequently broken through to the Golden Core Stage. After breaking through, he was surprised to sense that the original owner of that drop of Dragon Blood had been as high as the Tribulation Crossing Stage in life.

This meant that this drop of Dragon Blood was enough to allow Long Aotian to break through to at least the Nascent Soul Stage.

So, even though Long Aotian appeared to be sleeping, he was actually refining the Dragon Blood within his body, and his cultivation was slowly increasing.

Rumble, rumble. Inside the seclusion room, a continuous roaring sound echoed from within Lu Jiuyuan's body. This was the sound of his Dao Foundation continuously solidifying.

Finally, as his Dao Foundation reached a new level of solidity, Lu Jiuyuan's cultivation stabilized at the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Breaking through to the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage in just over a month... I wonder if this speed is embarrassing for a transmigrator."

He opened his eyes, and it seemed as if another world existed within them. Lu Jiuyuan clenched his fists, acknowledging his current realm, then stood up and pushed open the door of the seclusion room.

Creak.

"Young Master Lu, did you successfully break through to the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage?"

Ling Qingping, hearing the sound, looked at Lu Jiuyuan with unconcealable joy on her face.

"Yes, after all, I'll be participating in the Hundred Kingdoms Competition soon, so it's quite necessary to have a stronger cultivation."

Lu Jiuyuan said seriously. Although he didn't know what kind of opponents he would face in the Hundred Kingdoms Competition, having a stronger cultivation was definitely beneficial for him.

"Hey, Aotian, wake up."

Lu Jiuyuan then looked at Long Aotian, who was still sleeping, and casually waved a strand of spiritual energy to wake him from his slumber.

Startled awake, Long Aotian wore a look of annoyance.

"Hey, Master, what are you doing?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to confirm you were still alive. Alright, continue cultivating."

Lu Jiuyuan said with a serious expression that almost made Long Aotian believe him. However, he remembered that Lu Jiuyuan had signed a Heavenly Dao contract with him, so how could he not know if he was alive or dead?

But there was nothing he could do. Even though Lu Jiuyuan was his master, he could only indulge him.

Watching Long Aotian reluctantly fall back into a deep sleep, Ling Qingping couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle.

"Jiuyuan, you're so mean! He was sleeping so soundly."

"Mean? I just wanted to tell him not to sleep too long, it's not good for his health."

Lu Jiuyuan said with a hint of surprise, his expression somewhat comical, making people unable to help but laugh.

"Alright, where are we? And how much longer will it take?"

Time flies when cultivating. During his seclusion, Lu Jiuyuan had no idea how long he had been cultivating.

"This is Black Wind Ridge, a territory of demonic beasts. Humans rarely enter, but the strongest demonic beasts here are only at the Nascent Soul Stage, so don't worry."

Ling Qingping said proudly. Her Thousand Mile Shuttle was a genuine top-grade Earth Grade flying treasure, personally given to her by Ling Xuanyan on her eighteenth birthday.

It was enough to defend against a ferocious beast at the Nascent Soul Stage, so those at the Nascent Soul Stage were naturally not much of a concern.

"Mm."

Lu Jiuyuan nodded, but Thousand Ghost King, standing nearby, sensed something and couldn't help but shake his head.

"While it can defend against ferocious beasts at the Nascent Soul Stage, what about those at the Void Refining Stage?"

"Void Refining Stage? It definitely wouldn't be able to block that."

Ling Qingping blurted out without thinking, but after saying it, she realized her mistake and her expression faltered.

"Senior, do you mean there's a ferocious beast at the Void Refining Stage approaching?"

"Mm, I'll go handle it."

Thousand Ghost King shook his head. His cultivation technique primarily involved absorbing the enemy's blood essence to rapidly increase his cultivation. However, after being subdued by Lu Jiuyuan, Lu Jiuyuan had forbidden him from doing so.

But now, he would be absorbing the blood essence of a ferocious beast, so Lu Jiuyuan probably wouldn't say anything, right?

"Make it quick and come back soon."

Lu Jiuyuan naturally knew what Thousand Ghost King was thinking, so he said indifferently. He didn't object to Thousand Ghost King absorbing blood essence, but he wanted to see whose blood essence he was absorbing.

"Yes, Young Master."

Thousand Ghost King said, then leaped off the deck, quickly disappearing from Ling Qingping and the others' sight.