Planting the Sword

Lu Shuang frowned and asked, "What does this have to do with the sword seed?"

"Don't rush," Lu Tianming said calmly.

"The Spirit-Devouring Sword can suppress an opponent's True Essence, preventing them from unleashing their full power. However, even if it evolves into Dharma Treasure, it can only be considered a support magic Dharma Treasure. As a sword cultivator, what I need is for it to directly devour True Essence and continuously evolve."

"The Spirit-Devouring Sword has another characteristic: it can be nurtured in the dantian. You possess the Ice Sword Physique; simply plant it in your dantian, and within three months, it will surely transform into Dharma Treasure."

Lu Shuang wasn't swayed by the promise of "definitely," but instead seized upon another point of doubt. "Even if the Spirit-Devouring Sword can replenish its master after evolving, that power probably wouldn't be enough for the Ancestor to break through to the Yin Spirit Realm, would it?"

Lu Tianming laughed, "As expected of a genius. With the Spirit-Devouring Sword Seed within you, I can also gain considerable benefits from your Ice Sword Physique. Correspondingly, you yourself will also benefit."

"Is it enough to simply Spirit-Devouring Sword Seed into my body?"

Lu Shuang didn't believe things could be so simple.

"Of course not." Lu Tianming looked at her. "After planting the sword, you need to cultivate together once every seven days, and so on."

The color drained from Lu Shuang's face instantly.

She gripped the elixir bottle tightly through her sleeve, the bottle digging painfully into her palm. The gratitude she had felt moments before now turned into humiliation.

She abruptly stood up, rolling over the futon behind her, and looked at Lu Tianming and Liu Yue with nothing but disgust.

Without saying another word, she turned and rushed out of the cave.

"What, didn't you tell her about dual cultivation beforehand?" Lu Tianming's smile faded.

Liu Yue knelt down with a thud.

"Please calm down, Ancestor. You know the relationship between Xingshuang and me. If I had told her directly, she might have already left the capital."

Lu Tianming waved for her to stand up and said, "Planting the sword requires her willingness for it to be effective. It's a pity you lack talent. If you had Lu Shuang's talent, we would have already broken through to the Yin Spirit Realm."

Liu Yue lowered her head, her eyes filled with resentment. Lu Tianming's words, "insufficient talent," stung her heart. She clenched her sleeves, and it took her a long time to suppress her embarrassment.

When she looked up again, her expression had changed to respectful. "Grandmother, Xingshuang is still young and doesn't understand many things. I've discovered that her relationship with Lu Feng is quite unusual. I've been looking for an opportunity to get rid of Lu Feng, but I haven't been able to do so yet."

Lu Tianming pondered for a moment and said, "Tomorrow morning, spread the news that the Great Chu is about to invade. At that time, send Xingshuang to lead a troop to defend against the enemy."

After a moment's thought, Liu Yue understood. "If Lu Feng dies at the hands of Great Chu, Xingshuang will only hate Great Chu. Once she's focused on revenge, she'll naturally come to you for help."

"Not bad. After all these years, you still understand me best." Lu Tianming nodded with satisfaction.

"I understand. But what if Chu Shanyue personally intervenes..."

"Rest assured. If he dares to make a move, I will stop him. With the Spirit-Devouring Sword in hand, even if I can't defeat that old scoundrel, he can't do anything to me."

Liu Yue was finally relieved.

On the other side, Lu Shuang was in a daze the whole way, and couldn't even remember how she got back to the Prince Jing's Manor.

Uncle Fu opened the door early. "Miss is back? Master and Young Friend Lu have been waiting for you in the living room."

"I'm not feeling well, I'm going back to my room." Lu Shuang waved her hand and walked towards her residence without looking back.

Uncle Fu sensed something was wrong and immediately informed Lu Yunxiao and Lu Feng.

The two quickly arrived outside the room.

"Shuang'er, are you alright?" Lu Yunxiao asked softly.

"I'm fine. You can leave now, I want to be alone." Lu Shuang's suppressed sobs came from inside the room.

Lu Yunxiao could tell she had been crying, and his expression darkened, but he refrained from asking further questions.

"Uncle Fu, please take young friend Lu to rest first. I'd like to have a private chat with Shuang'er."

"I'll take my leave now." Lu Feng didn't ask any further questions and left with Uncle Fu.

After the two had walked away, Lu Yunxiao said, "Your father is coming in."

There was no response from inside. He pushed the door open and immediately saw that Lu Shuang's eyes were red.

"Did Lu Tianming bully you?"

Lu Shuang shook her head.

Why is that?

"Do you know about Lu Tianming and Liu Yue?" She looked directly at her father.

Lu Yunxiao's face darkened, and he nodded.

"So that's why." He sighed. "It was her own choice. It's not worth being sad for someone like that."

When did you find out?

"Ten years ago, when Liu Yue married Lu Yunqi."

"She knew all along, yet she still tricked me into the cave." Lu Shuang gripped the corner of the blanket tightly. "In her eyes, am I a daughter, or something that can be exchanged for cultivation?"

Lu Yunxiao opened his mouth, but couldn't answer immediately. He reached out to pat her shoulder, but in the end, he only tucked the blanket that had slipped down around her neck.

"You are you, not anyone's transaction. She chooses her path, and you can choose yours."

Lu Shuang, who had been holding back her tears all the way, finally let them fall. She turned her face away, not wanting her father to see, and her voice was even lower. "I just don't understand, how can someone give up everything for resources and cultivation?"

Lu Shuang lowered her eyes, and after a long while, she said, "You should leave. I want to be alone."

Okay, call me if you need anything.

Lu Yunxiao got up and left, carefully closing the door behind her, before finding Uncle Fu.

"Sir, is Miss alright?"

"She only knows about Liu Yue and Lu Tianming. It seems she won't be staying in the capital for much longer."

Lu Yunxiao took out a letter from his pocket, put half of the jade pendant inside, sealed it, and handed it to Uncle Fu.

"Go to the Sacred Hall and ask them to pass this letter on to Elder Luo You of the Supreme Purity Pavilion."

Uncle Fu carefully put away the letter, but didn't leave immediately. "Sir, after I leave, will you be safe...?"

"Don't worry, I'll stay in the capital; there will be no danger. Go."

Uncle Fu then slipped away.

Lu Yunxiao gazed alone towards the back mountain, lowering his voice, "Lu Tianming, I hope you don't harbor any ill intentions towards Shuang'er, otherwise..."

The second half of the sentence remained unspoken, lost in the night.

Meanwhile, Lu Feng returned to his residence, entered the secret room, sat cross-legged, and opened the control panel.

[Main character: Lu Feng;]

[Cultivation Level: Celestial Person Realm First Layer]

[Cultivation Techniques: Return to the Void Sword Codex (Level 1); Nine Extremes Essence Condensation Art (Level 6) Progress: 100%; Six-Zhang Golden Body (Level 3); Spirit Condensation Art (Not yet mastered); Nine Extremes Heaven-Breaking Slash (Level 9);...]

[Perfected Martial Arts: Startling Thunder Flash; Hundred Beasts Body-Tempering Art; Walking on Air;...]

[Formation: Four Symbols Formation;]

[Talents: Clear and Pure Spirit Eyes; Void Sword Physique;]

[Demon Points: 3.26 billion]

Looking at the several incomplete cultivation techniques, Lu Feng quickly made his choices.

The Return to the Void Sword Codex consumes too much energy and is only suitable as a trump card for now. There's no rush to improve the Nine Extremes Essence Condensation Art either; he has only just broken through to the Celestial Person Realm, and what's more important right now is to enhance his combat skills.

Although he had mastered several Celestial Person Realm sword techniques, the Phantom Sword Art was still the one he was most comfortable using.

After careful consideration, the most suitable options right now are the Six-Zhang Golden Body and the Nine Extremes Heaven-Breaking Slash.