22: Retreat

Inside the meeting hall of Qingzhu Market, the atmosphere was heavy as iron.

Li Wanggao stood in the center of the hall, his face gloomy, his eyes faintly showing a trace of unwillingness.

He looked up at Lu Guangtian on the high seat, his tone respectful but unable to conceal his indignation: "Two members of my Li Family tracked the Spiritual Farmer from the shantytown, Xu Qi'an, but have not returned to this day. They are likely to have fallen victim to this person. My Li Family suspects this person must be a spy from another Qingzhu Market!"

"But Miss Lu Anhe said Xu Qi'an is her person!"

"But if Xu Qi'an is truly Miss Lu Anhe's person, then why did this person leave Qingzhu Market without a sound?"

"Lord Lu, this matter concerns the face of my Li Family. I ask for your clear judgment!"

Lu Guangtian sat on the main seat, wearing a green Daoist robe, his expression calm.

He was playing with a Jade Slip in his hand, his gaze sweeping over Li Wanggao, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable authority: "Li Wanggao, are you questioning my daughter's decision?"

Li Wanggao's heart trembled, and he quickly lowered his head: "I wouldn't dare! It's just that Xu Qi'an is merely a Spiritual Farmer. Why does Immortal Lu protect him so much? If this matter gets out, I fear it will damage the prestige of the Qingzhu Market."

Lu Guangtian sneered and casually threw the Jade Slip onto the table: "Li Wanggao, have you forgotten your identity?

"The Li Family is just a dog of Qingzhu Market. When is it your turn to question the Master's decision?"

Li Wanggao's face instantly turned ashen, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

He lowered his head, his voice hoarse: "Lord... you are right to teach me a lesson. I overstepped."

Lu Guangtian waved his hand, a hint of impatience in his tone: "Get out. Remember, everything the Li Family has was given by me. If there is a next time, I won't mind replacing a dog."

Li Wanggao bowed and retreated. As he walked out of the hall, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

He looked up at the distant sky and secretly swore in his heart: "Lu Guangtian, the humiliation of today, I will repay a hundredfold in the future!"

Moments after Li Wanggao left, Lu Anhe entered the main hall.

Her expression was serious. She came below the main seat and bowed, saying: "Anhe greets Father Lord!"

Lu Guangtian's expression remained unchanged. He only spoke slightly: "Anhe, no matter what you have done, I support you."

"But what is your relationship with that Spiritual Farmer? Why is he worth your protection?"

"Moreover, this person killed two Cultivators at the Qi Refinement Sixth Level from the Li Family. He is probably not simple either."

"Hiding in my Qingzhu Market for so many years, what are his intentions?"

Lu Anhe's expression changed slightly, and she quickly explained: "Father Lord, my relationship with him is merely one of food. This person can make spirit food, which your daughter enjoys very much, that's why..."

"Alas..." Lu Guangtian shook his head and sighed.

"Everything about you is good, but this fondness for food is something your father doesn't particularly like."

"Cultivators should cut off their seven emotions and six desires and pursue the Great Dao of Longevity. How can they focus on such trivial food every day?"

"Look at your cultivation now, it has fallen behind. You've only just advanced to the eighth level of Qi Refinement!"

"I will handle this matter, you don't need to worry about it. Now that the ruin has opened and the situation is turbulent, you should first go into seclusion and Cultivate to the Qi Refining Peak."

"After that, the Foundation Establishment Pill and Qingzhu Lingfeng will be sent to you. We can talk more after you break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage!"

Lu Anhe wanted to say something else, but seeing Lu Guangtian's unquestionable gaze, she could only bow and leave the main hall.

Lu Guangtian watched Lu Anhe leave the main hall, then his gaze went through the doorway, looking into the distant sky, and he muttered.

"Xu Qi'an? Spiritual Farmer? Perhaps it's the old guys from the other two Qingzhu Markets playing tricks. I wonder how much this Qingzhu Market has been infiltrated by these people."

"Hehe, but none of this is important."

Lu Guangtian revealed a meaningful expression, got up, and left the main hall.

......

Three days later.

Xu Qi'an had already moved several hundred kilometers away from Qingzhu Market and arrived at a remote mountain range.

The spiritual energy in this mountain range was thin, and it was rarely visited by people. For ordinary Cultivators, such a place for cultivation was naturally unsuitable.

But Xu Qi'an possessed a large amount of elixirs and did not need to absorb spiritual energy from the outside world at all.

He chose a relatively hidden area and began to build his cave dwelling.

The strength of the fourth level of Body Refinement allowed him to carve rocks like cutting tofu. In just a few hours, a simple but fully functional cave dwelling began to take shape.

The cave dwelling was divided into several parts: an elixir refining room, an Artifact Refining Room, a quiet room, a Spirit Medicine room, etc.

Xu Qi'an walked into the quiet room and began to check his gains from the past few days.

In Bai Zhan's storage bag, there was a copy of Elixir Refining Miscellaneous Records. Xu Qi'an was preparing to study the art of elixir refining thoroughly.

In addition, there were many spirit herbs and Spirit Medicines in the storage bags of those few people.

As for Formations, Artifact Refining, and Talismans, there were also many Secret Manuals.

There were also Cultivation Techniques. The Cultivation Techniques practiced by the two members of the Li Family, Bai Zhan, Wan Feng, and others were much better than the Low Grade technique "Azure Wood Art" that Xu Qi'an was currently cultivating.

Xu Qi'an planned to switch to cultivating the High Grade technique "Living Wood Spirit Technique" from Bai Zhan's storage bag.

Azure Wood Art and this technique share the same origin of spiritual energy, so there is no need to Cultivate from scratch.

Xu Qi'an stood outside the cave dwelling, his gaze sweeping around.

He took out a stack of detection Talismans and shielding Talismans from his storage bag and carefully pasted them on the trees and stone walls around the cave dwelling.

Although the grade of these Talismans was not high, their advantage lay in their large quantity. If anyone approached, he would immediately detect it.

After setting up the cave dwelling, Xu Qi'an stood at the entrance and let out a long breath.

He knew that the days ahead would be a long journey of cultivation.

A month later, inside the cave dwelling.

Xu Qi'an sat cross-legged on the futon, spiritual energy surging around his body like a tide.

His aura was sometimes violent, sometimes steady, as if undergoing some kind of transformation.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes sharply, a glint of light flashing in them.

"The seventh level of Qi Refinement, achieved!"

Xu Qi'an muttered in a low voice, a hint of joy appearing on his face. He felt the surging spiritual energy within him, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Not only that, his Body Refinement Realm had also broken through to the fifth level.

The power contained within his muscles made him feel like he could shatter rocks with a single punch.

He stood up, walked outside the cave dwelling, and casually punched a large rock.

"Boom!" The large rock shattered in response, turning into countless flying fragments.

Over the past month, Xu Qi'an had gathered many treasures through the Omnipotent Treasure Basin.

Now, tier-one supreme-grade Talismans could be produced stably, and he also had a top-grade Qingzhu Sword.

It was a pity that the Secret Manuals for Cultivation Techniques and the four arts of Formations, elixirs, artifacts, and Talismans had not advanced, only their quantity had increased.

Xu Qi'an immediately returned to the cave dwelling and continued to study "Tier One Formation Fundamentals."

Cultivating here now, but without the protection of a Formation, it was ultimately not very safe.

However, the path of Formations was truly demanding. Xu Qi'an had also spent a lot of time cultivating it, but he had not yet entered the beginner stage.

Xu Qi'an had also spent a lot of time on elixir refining. That copy of Elixir Refining Miscellaneous Records contained very detailed notes on elixir refining experiences, and Xu Qi'an benefited greatly.

Now, he could barely refine tier-one Low Grade elixirs, but the number of successful pills and the quality of the pills were both poor.

This was the result of Xu Qi'an using a lot of spirit herbs, and the cost of this was at least several hundred ling stones.

Xu Qi'an couldn't help but sigh with emotion. If one had no talent in the four arts of Formations, elixirs, artifacts, and Talismans, they could only compensate for it with quantity.