Chapter 58

The carriage came to an abrupt stop, but Lu Qingping, who was sitting upright, did not move a muscle.

"Han Shidi, the Jiu Xuan Sword Sect is the dominant force within a hundred thousand miles. How could I not have heard of the reputation of the Sword Pavilion’s Sword Observers?"

She sighed softly and then whispered, "Is Zhen Xiongge becoming a Sword Observer just for the sake of the Hundred Breath Heavenly Realm?"

Lu Qingping knew about the Hundred Breath Heavenly Realm.

It was natural, as an inner disciple of Qingfeng Temple, to be well-informed about the Sword Pavilion of the Jiu Xuan Sword Sect.

"Han Liushixiong has been a Sword Observer in the Sword Pavilion for seven years. In three more years, he will become a Sword Pavilion steward." Han Muye gently pulled the reins, and the carriage slowly moved forward.

"But looking at his condition, can he even last until he becomes a steward?" Lu Qingping frowned.

"To be honest, when I first saw him, I didn’t even recognize him."

"If it weren’t for his eyes, I wouldn’t have recognized him at all."

Han Muye was unsure if Huang Liushixiong could last until he became a Sword Pavilion steward.

Although Huang Liushixiong had practiced the cultivation techniques taught by the elders of the Sword Pavilion, he should have been able to survive.

"Han Shidi, you and the others who are willing to become Sword Observers must have your own stories." Lu Qingping looked at Han Muye’s back and spoke softly.

"But Zhen Xiongge is just an ordinary person."

"Can you try to persuade him?"

"Persuade him to quit this job. Even as an ordinary person, he could live a few more years in peace."

Lu Qingping’s voice was tinged with a hint of sorrow.

"Three years ago, I watched with my own eyes as a fellow disciple from Jinyang County, who was practicing alongside me, had her neck broken by a beast."

"Lying in my arms, she said she missed home."

"She said that if she hadn’t practiced, she would have been a wife and mother, with children around her."

"She said that practicing had made her neglect the world, and it wasn’t worth it."

The carriage moved forward, and apart from the creaking of the wheels, there was only silence.

Practicing wasn’t worth it.

Han Muye looked at the retreating trees and mountains, his eyes gleaming.

What if he didn’t practice?

Is the world worth it?

"Lu Shijie, what about you?"

"Have you felt Zhen Xiongge’s intentions?"

"If he were to retire to the countryside, would you go with him?"

Han Muye spoke calmly.

Behind him, there was no response.

Silence represented rejection.

As an inner disciple of Qingfeng Temple, her cultivation had already reached the Qi Condensation stage, and she had at least three hundred years of life left.

How could such a person in the realm of immortality possibly retire to the countryside with Huang Liushixiong?

Ultimately, everything was just Huang Liushixiong’s one-sided wish.

The carriage moved forward, and the atmosphere became much more somber.

Fortunately, after traveling over a hundred miles to the foot of the mountain, they encountered many cultivators along the way. Some traveled in groups, some rode in carriages, and some flew through the air on their swords, looking quite dashing.

Within a hundred miles of the Jiu Xuan Sword Sect, flying on swords was not allowed unless necessary.

Han Muye had never seen such a sight of flying swords in the Sword Sect.

Seeing the sword light flashing and soaring through the sky, Han Muye’s eyes sparkled.

"Having seen such a scene, how much of the world’s prosperity can one still be attached to?" he said softly.

Behind him, Lu Qingping sighed softly.

The market town was just a small village. The carriage stopped, and the market’s attendants came to take care of it.

Han Muye and Lu Qingping walked into the market, seeing a bustling crowd of cultivators.

Some were setting up stalls and shouting to attract customers, while others were haggling over the price of a piece of spirit stone or half a piece.

These cultivators had mixed auras and chaotic clothing, completely lacking the ethereal aura of the Jiu Xuan Mountain.

Han Muye felt somewhat relieved. If he hadn’t managed to join the Jiu Xuan Sword Sect and instead became a wandering cultivator, he would probably be like these people now.

Such laborious efforts just for a living, how could one focus on cultivation?

"Lu Shijie, what kind of sword do you want to choose?"

Han Muye turned his head and looked at Lu Qingping.

Lu Qingping shook her head, her gaze sweeping around, and she pointed to a small pavilion ahead.

"Let’s go to that medicinal shop and take a look."

A medicinal shop?

Not looking for a sword, but going to a medicinal shop?

Han Muye didn’t say anything and followed Lu Qingping into the medicinal shop.

The shopkeeper greeted them.

Han Muye and Lu Qingping’s attire proved their extraordinary status.

The shopkeeper, who was used to dealing with all kinds of people, immediately brightened up.

"Do you have any elixirs that can increase one’s lifespan?" Lu Qingping asked directly without waiting for the shopkeeper to inquire.

Elixirs that increase lifespan.

The shopkeeper’s face froze.

"Immortal lady, how could such a treasure be found in my small shop?" The shopkeeper smiled and said in a low voice.

The Jiu Xuan Sword Sect, one of the nine major sects in the Western Border, could hardly find an elixir that increases lifespan, let alone a small medicinal shop at the foot of the mountain.

Lu Qingping nodded and then said softly, "Then, do you have any ingredients for making elixirs that increase lifespan?"

The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, looked around, and then lowered his voice, "Immortal lady, my shop does have two jade lotus branches."

"These are important ingredients for making elixirs that increase lifespan."

...

When they left the medicinal shop, Lu Qingping had a wooden box in her hand.

She spent three hundred spirit stones to buy the two jade lotus branches.

Then, they visited other medicinal shops and bought three more ingredients needed for making elixirs that increase lifespan.

Lu Qingping spent a total of over two thousand spirit stones.

Although it was unknown how much wealth Zhen Xiongge had, he was willing to spend for Huang Liushixiong.

"Let’s go and look at swords."

After leaving the last medicinal shop, Lu Qingping finally let out a sigh of relief and spoke.

Han Muye nodded.

Previously, when Lu Qingping asked Han Muye to persuade Huang Liushixiong not to be a Sword Observer and then said she wouldn’t accompany him to retire, it made Han Muye somewhat unhappy.

Now, seeing Lu Qingping buy so many ingredients for making elixirs that increase lifespan, his opinion of her slightly improved.

Lu Qingping wouldn’t give up her own cultivation, but she was willing to spend money to buy ingredients for Huang Liushixiong, showing some sense of righteousness.

"Let’s go to that shop and take a look." Han Muye pointed to the largest sign of a weapon shop in the market.

Lu Qingping looked up, hesitated for a moment, and then shook her head, "Forget it, a sword doesn’t have to be expensive; it just needs to be suitable."

"There were some stalls selling swords at the street corner. Let’s go and take a look; we might find a good sword."

Although Lu Qingping said this, her eyes didn’t leave the sign of that shop.

Han Muye knew that Lu Qingping didn’t have many spirit stones left.

How much savings could an inner disciple of Qingfeng Temple have?

If she were truly wealthy, she wouldn’t lack a good sword and wouldn’t need to look for one now.

"Lu Shijie, what good swords can be found at roadside stalls?" Han Muye shook his head and looked at the shop ahead, "A penny for a penny, this saying applies to both mortals and immortals."

Lu Qingping was about to say something, but Han Muye had already walked forward.

"Lu Shijie, don’t worry. When I left, Zhen Xiongge gave me some spirit stones."

"Today, I will definitely choose a good sword for you."

Han Muye’s words made Lu Qingping shake her head slightly.

Zhen Xiongge was just a Sword Observer; how many spirit stones could he have saved?

With those few spirit stones, what kind of sword could he buy?

Or perhaps, Shidi Han was still upset about the earlier conversation and was trying to save face for the Sword Observers?

It seemed that Shidi Han still lacked experience.

A cultivator’s heart should be as firm as a rock.

Following Han Muye to the grand and magnificent shop, they heard him shout loudly.

"Bring out your best swords."

"Today, I will definitely choose a good sword for Lu Shijie."