340: Let me know when you've figured it out!

"Husband~"

"Lingzhao almost didn't get to see you again!"

"Waaaah..."

Hu Lingzhao had previously been left at the Black Leopard Fortress. When Shen Yunshu's army set out, she insisted on coming along to kill demons, saying she wanted to avenge her parents and friends.

When the army besieged the snake demons of the Misty Fog Valley, she even left the flying boat to join everyone in slaying them.

When the Silver Pangolin Great Demon appeared, if Liu Xuan hadn't immediately pulled her onto the flying boat in his identity as Wang Qiao, it was truly uncertain whether she would be alive now.

"Alright!"

Liu Xuan held her and comforted her, saying, "Aren't you fine now? Stop crying!"

This little fox spirit Hu Lingzhao clearly had a Face that looked clever, but in reality, she was quite silly.

Liu Xuan was very fond of her looks, and he was often exceptionally tolerant of her petty temperaments.

"The Snow Wolf Clan that killed your family is long dead. Don't keep thinking about revenge. Think more about our child, Dezhao. If you miss him, go back and visit."

"Mm!"

Hu Lingzhao wiped her tears. "Dezhao has Sister Miao to look after him. I'm not going back; I want to stay with you!"

Liu Xuan: "..."

His elder sister, Liu Miao, had sacrificed too much for this family. Liu Xuan decided to keep an eye out for suitable Heaven And Earth Treasures to send to her in the future. No matter what, he had to ensure she succeeded in her Foundation Establishment... When Shen Yunshu entered, she saw Hu Lingzhao sitting in a chair with Liu Xuan leaning behind her, massaging her shoulders. The two were incredibly intimate, their roles as Revered Master and servant completely reversed.

"True Person Feiyu!"

Seeing Shen Yunshu enter, Hu Lingzhao hurriedly tried to stand up and salute, but she was pressed down into the chair by Liu Xuan.

"Disciple greets Revered Master!"

Liu Xuan smiled as he saluted Shen Yunshu, then continued massaging the little fox spirit's shoulders.

Hu Lingzhao's fragrant shoulders were rounded and smooth, her collarbones delicate, and her neck long and slender. Liu Xuan discovered that massaging her shoulders was just as enjoyable as her massaging his!

Especially after Shen Yunshu entered, the little fox spirit's restless, pitiful appearance—wanting to break free but unable to escape Liu Xuan's palms—was extremely amusing!

Shen Yunshu glanced at Liu Xuan, unmoved by his bold and disrespectful actions. She walked to the side and poured herself a cup of spirit tea.

"Looking at you like this, what? Did True Lord Haoran marry his daughter to you?"

"Not quite," Liu Xuan took out a token and let it float in front of him. "However, True Lord Haoran has already accepted me as a Personal Disciple. You are now of the same generation as True Lord Haoran!"

"What nonsense are you talking?!" Shen Yunshu nearly spat out the spirit tea she had just sipped. She said with a stern expression, "Be careful, or your mouth will bring you trouble!"

"Personal Disciple?"

"I see this token is quite ordinary. I'm afraid you're just a common Named Disciple, aren't you?"

"The waters of the Beast Taming Sect are very deep. As your Revered Master, I give you a word of advice: don't always think about currying favor!"

The Beast Taming Sect was a top-tier immortal sect. Since arriving here, how many millions of people had wanted to curry favor with them?

But how many actually succeeded? Weren't they all just used as pawns, discarded once their utility was drained, and left to die on the battlefield?

If it weren't for Yue Li, she wouldn't even bother talking to Liu Xuan.

Liu Xuan put away the token without much explanation. He pointed to a Big Black Bear snoring in the corner and asked, "This is the Natal Spirit Beast True Lord Haoran gave me. Revered Master, take a close look at what breed it is?"

Shen Yunshu had noticed this Late Foundation Establishment Stage Big Black Bear earlier, but she thought it was just an ordinary Spirit Beast and hadn't paid it much attention.

Hearing Liu Xuan say this, she extended her Divine Sense to investigate carefully and indeed found something unusual.

The aura of this black bear was extremely thick, and she felt as if she had seen its appearance somewhere before.

"A Rank Four Bloodline, the Mountain Shaking Sacred Bear?!"

The Natal Spirit Beast of a young noble who accompanied Immortal Master Yunhe back then was exactly the same as this Big Black Bear. It was said to be one of the symbols of the direct lineage of the Beast Taming Sect's South Courtyard Head. True Lord Haoran's Natal Spirit Beast was a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Mountain Shaking Sacred Bear.

"Exactly!"

Liu Xuan smiled. "Does Revered Master believe I am True Lord Haoran's Personal Disciple now?"

Shen Yunshu did not voice a rebuttal this time. If Liu Xuan could manage to become a Personal Disciple of True Lord Haoran, it would be greatly beneficial in the current situation regardless.

However, between great powers, there were only interests. Even blood relations were unreliable, and being the Disciple of a Nascent Soul True Lord was not capital for arrogance.

A relationship was just a relationship. How much resource one could leverage through that connection still depended on Liu Xuan's own strength.

"What do you plan to do in the future?" Shen Yunshu asked.

"I plan to manage the rear. Starting from Bone Fiend City, I will develop pills, artifacts, talismans, and formations comprehensively, with a focus on Artifact Refining!"

Liu Xuan walked over and sat across from Shen Yunshu. "Revered Master, have you forgotten? I am a top-tier Genius Artifact Refiner!"

"With the status of a Disciple of True Lord Haoran of the Beast Taming Sect, and with the sisters An Yunxi and An Yunmiao, as well as Immortal Master Yun Xian as my friends, the Artifact Refining workshop definitely has a great future!"

"Is Revered Master interested in taking a stake? If we, Revered Master and Disciple, join forces, won't the Spirit Stones come rolling in?"

Liu Xuan said all this because he wanted to obtain Shen Yunshu's full support.

Shen Yunshu was one of the four Sword-Wielders of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Pavilion. Having held power for many years, the energy she controlled in the shadows was immense.

If he could obtain her full support, the Liu Family's development speed could increase by a whole level.

"Take a stake?"

"You want me to take a stake?"

Shen Yunshu gave a bitter smile. "Don't you know that my properties have basically all been frozen by the Sword Pavilion? Where would I get Spirit Stones to take a stake in the Beast Taming Sect's territory?"

"I don't need you to invest Spirit Stones. I only need you to have your people within the Sword Pavilion cooperate and help me get things done. We can take our time with deeper cooperation later!"

The Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Pavilion had frozen Shen Yunshu's assets only because they feared she would flee with the funds. She couldn't mobilize Spirit Stones, but she could still mobilize some personnel to handle matters.

What Liu Xuan wanted to develop was industrialized Artifact Refining, and what he needed most was manpower.

"So after all this time, you've been plotting against me, haven't you?"

"How can you call it plotting against you?!" Liu Xuan immediately denied it, his eyes sincere. "Disciple just wants to help you, Revered Master!"

"This matter only requires a few words from you, and you don't have to give anything else. But if my Liu Family grows strong in the future, it will surely be a great help to you. Why not?"

Shen Yunshu looked deeply at Liu Xuan for a while, then nodded. "For Yue Li's sake, I can help you a bit. If you need anything, just have Yue Li send me a message."

'Yue Li?' Liu Xuan's Face stiffened. Did Shen Yunshu know about him and Yue Li?

Since that was the case... Liu Xuan continued, "Revered Master, we're all family. Our cooperation can actually be a bit deeper. Spirit Stones, manpower, resources—the more you invest, the more you'll gain later!"

"I can't say much else, but I can guarantee that I'll have the ability to help you Nascent Soul Formation in the future!"

"Stop!" Shen Yunshu waved her hand to interrupt. "Giving you an inch and you take a mile, huh? You think I'm as easy to fool as Yue Li? Say one more word, and the deal is off!"

"Fine!" Liu Xuan slumped back into his chair. "My words just now will always stand. You can take your time to consider it."

"When you've thought it through, tell me anytime!"