Is the outside world really that dangerous?

"Side Mission 2: Building an Ascendant Force from Scratch [Current Mission Progress: Ascendant Embryo, Beiluo Dominance]"

"Congratulations to the host for completing the construction of the Ascendant Force embryo 'Baiyu Jing' and gaining 10 points of disposable attributes."

"Tip: Host, please continue to work hard to develop 'Baiyu Jing' into an Ascendant Force. It is expected to obtain 1000 points of disposable attributes."

In front, a figure with extraordinary elegance and charm appeared.

And in front of Lu Fan, a prompt message from the system immediately popped up.

"Mission... there's new progress?"

Lu Fan raised an eyebrow and let out a breath after reading it.

This result was somewhat surprising to him.

He originally thought that he would only receive disposable attribute rewards if he built a force that surpassed all the schools of thought. Unexpectedly, there were distinctions within this mission as well.

After all, given Lu Fan's current cultivation level, it would be a long and arduous process to build a force that truly surpassed all the schools of thought.

What truly caught Lu Fan's attention was the system prompt.

If he could really turn "Baiyu Jing" into an Ascendant Force, he could obtain 1000 points of disposable attributes. 1000 points of disposable attributes meant 10,000 strands of spiritual energy!

In other words, if he could obtain these attribute points, he would at least reach the third level of Qi Refinement.

However, Lu Fan soon furrowed his brows.

Because, when compared like this, cultivating Qi seemed... really difficult!

One point of Soul Strength attribute could only be exchanged for 10 strands of spiritual energy.

In other words, with 1000 attribute points, he could only reach the third level of Qi Refinement...

Then how many attribute points would he need to reach the 100th level of Qi Refinement?

He felt like he might go crazy.

Therefore, Lu Fan understood that relying solely on attribute points to advance in cultivation was definitely not feasible.

There must be other means to improve his cultivation level.

For example, nurturing cultivators in the Transmission Platform and gaining benefits from their refined spiritual energy, among other things.

This was just one method, and there might be other methods that he had not yet encountered.

He could even try cultivating on his own.

He withdrew his thoughts.

In the distance.

Ning Zhao walked over with a figure in tow.

Her breath was a bit uneven, and her pretty face was flushed with excitement.

"Master, after arranging matters for 'Baiyu Jing,' this servant hurried over from Heart Lake Island to assist you. On the way, I encountered this fleeing swordsman from the sword sect..."

Lu Fan's gaze fell on the swordsman with a swollen and bruised face.

The corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Nie Changqing, who was by Lu Fan's side, was also speechless.

At this moment, they both recognized this swordsman... Wasn't he the sword sect's grandmaster who had escaped from under their noses twice before?

This grandmaster of the sword sect hadn't participated in the battle and had run away every time they encountered him.

Lu Fan and Nie Changqing couldn't be bothered with him anymore.

They thought this guy had already left Beiluo City and fled far away.

Never did they imagine...

That he would be captured by Ning Zhao.

This was really unfortunate, wasn't it?

Under the bruised and swollen face, a deep sense of doubt about life seemed to linger.

"Well done..."

Lu Fan also found it somewhat amusing. However, it was thanks to Ning Zhao that they were able to determine the completion of the side mission ahead of time, perhaps because she captured this grandmaster of the sword sect.

"This swordsman has the Four Swords Hidden in the Sword Box, which is a Six Echoes Grandmaster... How can you defeat him?"

Nie Changqing, holding a pig-killing knife, asked with confusion.

Nie Changqing knew Ning Zhao's strength: a One Echo Grandmaster, in the second stage of Qi Condensation.

Although she had two strands of spiritual energy in her body, it still seemed somewhat unrealistic for her to capture a Six Echoes Grandmaster alive.

Curiosity also appeared on Lu Fan's face.

 Ning Zhao gently raised her delicate hand, brushing away the strands of dark hair that fell onto her forehead. With a slight pursing of her red lips, she smiled.

"At first, this humble servant was indeed no match for this swordsman. The situation was dire, but...at the brink of life and death, this humble servant's heart was as clear as a mirror and accidentally realized...spiritual pressure."

"Once the spiritual pressure appeared, this master swordsman lost all will to fight and only wanted to escape. Seizing the opportunity, this humble servant...beat him black and blue, and captured him."

"Spiritual pressure?"

Nie Changqing froze.

Lu Fan's eyes lit up as he looked at Ning Zhao, who had a hint of pride on her face. His lips curled slightly.

"Come, let the young master experience your spiritual pressure."

Lu Fan lightly clapped his hands and said, "Here."

Ning Zhao threw the beaten swordsman, Jing Yue, to the ground and activated the spiritual energy in her qi dantian.

"Young master...forgive me."

Her dark hair fluttered, and her white dress danced.

Boom!

In the next moment, amidst the intertwining spiritual energies, an oppressive force suddenly pressed towards Lu Fan.

Dust flew up from the ground, Lu Fan's white robe floated in the air, and even his hair was blown to sway.

Yue Yi's face instantly turned pale. She felt as if her chest was being crushed by a giant stone, struggling to breathe. Her slender legs trembled slightly.

Ni Yu was fine, with the spiritual pressure chessboard on her back, she was like enjoying a gentle breeze, completely unaffected.

"Not bad, although you are still weak, at least you have grasped the basics of spiritual pressure. Nuan, the blood manipulation technique you learned is also the same as your father's blood manipulation technique, right?"

Lu Fan chuckled lightly.

Ning Zhao indeed comprehended spiritual pressure, but the spiritual pressure formed by the two strands of spiritual energy she possessed couldn't be compared to Lu Fan's spiritual pressure at all. However, in battle, it could become a winning tool.

Jing Yue, with his bruised and swollen face, was the best proof of that.

"Yes."

Ning Zhao gathered her qi back into her dantian, her pretty face slightly flushed as she bowed.

"Tomorrow, come find me and ask for my cultivation methods. With the assistance of cultivation methods, the power of your spiritual pressure can be taken to another level."

Lu Fan said.

"Thank you, young master."

Ning Zhao's face brightened with joy.

Lu Fan didn't say anything else. His gaze shifted sideways and fell upon Jing Yue, who was trying to slip away from the ground, preparing to escape unnoticed.

Fifty strands of spiritual energy intertwined within the qi dantian.

Boom!

Jing Yue, who was trying to get up and run like a cunning rabbit, suddenly fell flat on the ground again. His cheek collided intimately with the ground, and his nose almost got crooked. Blood splattered...

It was truly miserable.

Jing Yue had an urge to cry... He had endured so much, and the only time he took action, he failed. He just wanted to survive... Was it really that difficult?

Was the outside world already so dangerous?!

"You're still running?"

Lu Fan propped his chin with one hand and lightly tapped his fingers on the woolen blanket covering his thighs, saying casually.

He dispersed the spiritual pressure.

Jing Yue struggled to get up from the ground.

Ning Zhao had already come behind Lu Fan, her delicate hand resting on the handle of the wheelchair. Yue Yi retreated to the side, still feeling lingering fear on her face.

Nie Changqing held the butcher knife, looking coldly at Jing Yue.

The moonlight gradually turned chilly.

Jing Yue wiped the blood off his nose and looked at Lu Fan, who sat in the wheelchair with a gentle and jade-like appearance.

He knew that there were only two choices left now.

Death or surrender.

As one of the Seven Heroes of the Sword Sect, how could he choose to surrender? That would be an insult to swordsmanship and a trampling of his own sword heart.

Crack!

Afterward, Jing Yue's legs went weak, and he knelt down.

Without any hesitation, he knelt in front of Lu Fan.

"I...I surrender, I won't run anymore."

Lu Fan was slightly surprised. Weren't swordsmen supposed to be resolute and unwilling to yield, even in the face of death?

How could this guy, who claimed to be a master swordsman, have no dignity at all?

However, the other party's actions gradually made Lu Fan's expression more meaningful.

Jing Yue's bruised and swollen appearance was indeed pitiful, but his appearance of knowing the situation was quite impressive.

Lu Fan leaned back in his wheelchair and calmly looked at Jing Yue.

Observing as the other person's body trembled, his face becoming increasingly pale.

After a long time...

Lu Fan gently tapped the woolen blanket with his fingers and spoke indifferently.

"Surrender is acceptable."

"Give me a reason not to kill you."

...

In the dark night, Beiluo City stood arrogantly like a lion standing on flat ground.

The sound of hooves resounded.

Three hundred iron riders galloped back from the plain.

Lu Changkong fiercely whipped his horse's reins, the steed neighed, and he took the lead charging forward.

The remaining few stationed soldiers on the city wall saw Lu Changkong returning at a gallop and immediately became excited, sending out messages.

The heavy city gates were pulled up, and the doors opened wide on both sides.

Lu Changkong's face turned cold as he looked at the scattered few soldiers on the city wall, clenching his teeth.

With three hundred iron riders and the state teacher's carriage being pulled wobblingly by five horses, he rushed into Beiluo City.

But as soon as they entered the city, they smelled the thick scent of killing and blood in the air.

Lu Changkong's heart...

Sank instantly.