Spirit Communion Physique

"Finally, I've shaken them off."

"Now the opportunity is mine alone."

As Qing Xu secretly made her way toward White Cloud City, she rejoiced inwardly.

Her earlier display had naturally been an act. There was no future in following Qing Zhe, and now that he had brought her to White Cloud City, he had outlived his usefulness.

Next, she would investigate just what it was in White Cloud City that drew her.

As Qing Xu secretly slipped into White Cloud City,

inside the Lu Clan's ancestral shrine,

Sage Tianyan's eyes snapped open. "That presence... could it be a Spirit Communion Physique?" he murmured.

Cultivators with a Spirit Communion Physique were born with exceptional talent for cultivation and an acute sensitivity to fortune. They could often accurately discern which course would benefit them.

If properly nurtured, it could even evolve into the more powerful Heavenly Spirit Physique, earning the favor of the Heavenly Dao and making the whole path of cultivation smooth sailing.

"Oh? It's a young girl, too. If I could bring her into the Lu Clan, there would surely be many benefits."

With that thought, Sage Tianyan tore open space and reached out with a giant hand.

Meanwhile, in White Cloud City, Qing Xu was carefully sensing the direction when a giant hand suddenly appeared out of thin air and seized her in an instant. Then the world spun around her.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in an unfamiliar place.

An elderly man of immortal bearing was looking at her with a faint smile.

"Y-you, who are you?"

Qing Xu hurried to her feet and took a step back, but the next moment, fear appeared on her face.

Her cultivation had actually been sealed.

Qing Xu's expression turned grim, her delicate little face somewhat pale. With her hair in disarray, she was a sight to stir anyone's pity.

Just then, Sage Tianyan chuckled. "Don't be afraid, little girl. For now, I mean you no harm."

For now...

Qing Xu didn't dare move, for fear of angering the expert before her.

"Senior, I was only passing through. I didn't mean to disturb you."

Seeing how timid Qing Xu looked, Sage Tianyan asked with mild curiosity, "Oh? Didn't you come to White Cloud City because you sensed something?"

Qing Xu's lips parted slightly in utter shock.

"Senior, y-you knew?"

A storm raged in Qing Xu's heart. The old man before her had seen through the secret she had hidden for over a decade at a glance.

Just what kind of existence was he?

"Spirit Communion Physiques are quite rare."

A faint smile remained on Sage Tianyan's face.

Qing Xu had also heard a key term. "Spirit Communion Physique... so that's my physique?"

Afterward, Qing Xu calmed down and looked at Sage Tianyan. "Senior, just who are you?"

This time, Sage Tianyan said no more than necessary. "An ancestor of the Lu Clan, Sage Tianyan."

"The Lu Clan!"

Hearing who he was, Qing Xu's eyes widened. Wasn't that the force they were preparing to suppress as rebels?

Their force actually had someone like him. Judging by his presence, he was even more terrifying than her imperial father.

And they were going to deal with a force like that? They were courting death!

Then Sage Tianyan said, "Little girl, I'm the person you sensed could benefit you. That's because I can help your Spirit Communion Physique evolve into a Heavenly Spirit Physique."

"A Heavenly Spirit Physique?"

Qing Xu's heart jumped, and she was filled with curiosity.

She had only just learned that she had a Spirit Communion Physique, and now there was a Heavenly Spirit Physique too.

"That's right, a Heavenly Spirit Physique."

Sage Tianyan flicked a finger, sending a glimmer of light into Qing Xu's mind.

The next moment, Qing Xu learned of the Heavenly Spirit Physique's wondrous uses.

I must obtain a Heavenly Spirit Physique!

That was Qing Xu's first thought.

When she looked at Sage Tianyan again, her eyes were full of longing.

"Senior Tianyan, I'm willing to pay any price. I only ask that you help me evolve into a Heavenly Spirit Physique."

Qing Xu prostrated herself, respectful and devout.

She was a smart person. She knew there was no free lunch in this world, and he wouldn't help her for nothing.

Seeing that Qing Xu understood how things worked, Sage Tianyan nodded slightly. "It's simple if you want my help. Just join the Lu Clan. Once you become a member of the Lu Clan, I, as its ancestor, can naturally help you."

Qing Xu didn't hesitate. "All right. From this day forward, I'll change my name to Lu Xu. In life, I'll be a member of the Lu Clan; in death, a ghost of the Lu Clan."

Sage Tianyan: ...

"Girl, you can't become a member of the Lu Clan just by changing your name."

Sage Tianyan was somewhat speechless.

Qing Xu looked puzzled. "Then, senior, how can I become a member of the Lu Clan?"

Sage Tianyan smiled. "It's simple. Just marry into the Lu Clan."

Qing Xu blinked. Her bright eyes were like water, pure and lively, and she was like a pear blossom in full bloom upon its branch.

The next moment, Qing Xu smiled, her eyes curving as she revealed adorable dimples. "Senior, can you still father children?"

Sage Tianyan: ...

Outside the ancestral shrine,

the clan head, Lu Qingshan, approached at a brisk pace, a puzzled expression on his face.

He had been discussing the Lu Clan's future development with Lu Fan when he suddenly received word from the ancestor that there was an important matter to discuss.

Lu Qingshan didn't dare take it lightly. If even the ancestor called it important, it would surely have a considerable impact on the Lu Clan.

Soon, he spotted a young girl squatting outside the ancestral shrine.

The girl looked somewhat dejected as she drew circles on the ground with a slender finger.

When Lu Qingshan arrived, the girl merely glanced up at him before lowering her head again.

Lu Qingshan's brow furrowed even more tightly.

Where had this girl come from? She actually had the presence of a Spirit Concentration Realm cultivator, and she was no weaker than him.

After his initial surprise, Lu Qingshan hurried into the ancestral shrine.

"Ancestor."

"Qingshan, you're here."

Sage Tianyan slowly opened his eyes, looking somewhat ill at ease.

"Ancestor, who is that outside?"

Lu Qingshan sensed that something was off and asked the question.

"She's called Qing Xu, the tenth princess of the Azure Feather Dynasty," Sage Tianyan said. "She possesses the rare Spirit Communion Physique. Once she matures, she'll be able to hold her own."

"I intend to bring her into the Lu Clan. I'll leave this matter to you. Take her away."

Sage Tianyan waved a hand and closed his eyes again.

Lu Qingshan looked surprised, but seeing that the ancestor was unwilling to say more, he could only nod. "Yes, Ancestor."

When he stepped out of the ancestral shrine, Qing Xu was still squatting by the entrance, looking rather pitiful.

Qing Xu noticed Lu Qingshan coming out and got to her feet to face him.

"My name is Lu Qingshan, head of the Lu Clan. Are you willing to join our clan?"

Lu Qingshan asked tentatively.

Hearing that the man before her was the head of the Lu Clan, Qing Xu's expression brightened slightly. "I am. I can be your concubine."

Lu Qingshan: ???

What was going on in this girl's head? When had he ever said he wanted her to be his woman?

As far as Qing Xu was concerned, sacrificing her body was no problem as long as it got her into the Lu Clan.

Besides, if she could marry Lu Qingshan, his status as clan head would surely ensure that she received ample resources in the Lu Clan in the future.

She was a pure seeker of the Dao.

All of this was for the Heavenly Spirit Physique.

To her surprise, however, Lu Qingshan was unwilling.

Lu Qingshan shook his head decisively. "Little girl, the Lu Clan has plenty of young men looking for wives and concubines. You don't need to worry about that."

"As for me, forget it. I'm old enough to be your father."

It had to be said that Qing Xu possessed both talent and beauty. Across the entire Azure Feather Dynasty, who knew how many handsome and gifted young men secretly admired her?

But Lu Qingshan had his own reasons.

Qing Xu pouted slightly. Was age really an excuse?

She didn't even mind an old relic like Sage Tianyan, much less a grown man in his forties like Lu Qingshan.

Besides, her own father, the Feather Emperor, was over a thousand years old and still took women into his harem every day. In the eyes of cultivators, age had virtually no effect on the body.

Still, Qing Xu had heard something useful.

"Clan Head, then can I take you as my godfather?"

Lu Qingshan fell silent. Why had this girl set her sights on him?

Was this what it meant to be charming?

After a moment's silence, however, Lu Qingshan accepted Qing Xu.

He had no children of his own, and this would also let him complete the task the ancestor had given him. Why not?

Still, when he had the chance, he would have to teach the girl a thing or two about her values.

And so, Qing Xu, who possessed the Spirit Communion Physique, joined the Lu Clan.

Meanwhile, Qing Zhe and his group outside White Cloud City remained completely unaware of this.

In the Azure Feather Dynasty,

Ancestor Qingtian moved swiftly and soon returned to the dynasty.

"Ancestor? Why have you come out of seclusion?"

The Feather Emperor looked shocked at the sight of Ancestor Qingtian and hurriedly bowed.

He had never expected the dynasty's ancestor, who was as elusive as a divine dragon that showed its head but not its tail, to suddenly come out of seclusion.

Could something major be about to happen?

When Ancestor Qingtian saw the Feather Emperor, he said directly, "Come here. I have something to tell you."

A moment later,

the Feather Emperor's eyes widened. "An ancient superpower, the Lu Clan?"

Ancestor Qingtian nodded. "That's right. This force is no simple matter. It is currently recovering, and it is sorely lacking in both resources and manpower."

"If our Azure Feather Dynasty can meet their needs, we'll gain a very powerful ally. For our Azure Feather Dynasty, the benefits will definitely outweigh the costs."

Since even his ancestor had said so, how could the Feather Emperor dare to refuse?

Though he was somewhat reluctant to part with the treasures in the national treasury, he had no choice.

"Wait."

The Feather Emperor froze slightly, suddenly remembering something.

"Ancestor, where is this Lu Clan you mentioned right now?"

"White Cloud City."

"This is bad!"

Just moments ago, he had received a request for aid from his youngest son.

There were actually Spirit Concentration Realm experts in White Cloud City, where his son was preparing to suppress a rebellion, and their number was unknown. He had been puzzled, but now he understood: it was the Lu Clan, an ancient force.

Although it had only just begun to recover, it was perfectly normal for it to have Spirit Concentration Realm experts.

But he had already sent reinforcements: three Spirit Concentration Realm experts!

"No, I have to send someone to bring them back at once!"

The Feather Emperor looked anxious, while Ancestor Qingtian, standing beside him, looked even more exasperated at his failure to live up to expectations.

I went to so much trouble to establish an alliance with the Lu Clan, and you brat actually want to suppress them as rebels.

"Hmph! If you upset the Lu Clan, you can forget about keeping your seat. There are plenty of others who could sit in it!"

Ancestor Qingtian snorted coldly.

At that moment, the crown prince, who had just stepped into the hall, heard those words and immediately brightened.

Ancestor, do you mean it?