This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

Qianshou Tower.

Beiming True Venerable sized up Lu Qingshan from head to toe, "Do you know that among the twenty-one cultivators who fell into the spatial rift at the Netherworld's Qing State main temple, you are the first to return, and possibly... the only one."

Lu Qingshan nodded, "I was indeed lucky. After falling into the spatial rift, I encountered a sufficiently stable space crack and was able to escape."

"That is indeed very lucky." Beiming True Venerable did not doubt his word.

He did not think that apart from luck, a Golden Core Cultivator would have the means to escape from the spatial rift on his own.

"You are a cultivator highly regarded by Dantai Qingrun. Had you truly perished, I would indeed have had a hard time explaining to Dantai Qingrun." Beiming True Venerable said with a cheerful smile, "It's good that you're back."

Lu Qingshan's gaze flickered slightly as he asked, "May I ask what happened afterward at the main temple in Qing State, and what has become of the Void Demon-child and... Luohu?"

Beiming True Venerable sighed but did not hide much from Lu Qingshan, briefly summarizing the events that occurred after he fell into the spatial rift.

"They actually escaped?" Lu Qingshan murmured to himself.

He felt somewhat conflicted.

If he remembered correctly, according to the original historical trajectory, Zhi Shou Tower would discover the news of the Netherworld's Qing State main temple in a decade or so and would resolutely take action.

That time, Zhi Shou Tower had succeeded in killing the Void Demon-child on the spot.

Now, the time to act had been advanced by more than a decade, but the Void Demon-child had managed to flee from this world because of it.

With my involvement, has the plot developed in a direction favorable to the Human Race, or has it become worse than before?

Lu Qingshan was uncertain now.

"This time, all cultivators who participated in the Wilderness Hwang battle will receive generous rewards from the Tower.

Since you have encountered this peril, I can decide to increase your reward by thirty percent as compensation. Take a look for yourself to see if there is any Spiritual Object you need, and go to the Treasure Pavilion in the Tower to make your selection," said Beiming True Venerable without further ado, tossing a Spirit Talisman to Lu Qingshan as proof.

"Thank you, Beiming True Venerable." Lu Qingshan took the Spirit Talisman, bowed his hands, and then took his leave.

....

Qingfeng Realm, Treasure Pavilion.

This place is one of the vital locations of Zhi Shou Tower's main building in Qing State. Not only is it protected by high-grade formations, but Nascent Soul True Monarchs are also stationed here, making it a forbidden zone where outsiders are not allowed.

Under normal circumstances, it is quite deserted with few people in sight.

Lu Qingshan tossed the Spirit Talisman outside the protective Great Formation of the Treasure Pavilion.

Atop the light shield of the Great Formation, a gap slowly opened, and Lu Qingshan walked through it.

The Treasure Pavilion covers a vast area, its divine light concealed.

Of course, as such an important place, Lu Qingshan was not qualified to enter the Pavilion and pick out Spirit Materials himself; he could only submit his requests to the stationed Nascent Soul True Monarchs outside the hall, who would then fetch them for him.

"Two ounces of Withered Dragon Wood, six ounces of Purple Thorn Divine Copper, nine ounces of Sheep Fat White Jade Essence, and four ounces of Earth Dragon Essence. Any of these four will do, so I'll trouble the True Monarch," Lu Qingshan reported his needs to the Treasure Keeper True Monarch.

The Treasure Keeper True Monarch slightly frowned upon hearing this, somewhat surprised as he looked at Lu Qingshan.

As a Nascent Soul True Monarch in charge of guarding the Treasure Pavilion, he had a certain understanding of various Spirit Materials. The treasures that Lu Qingshan had listed were all no ordinary materials.

Considering the value of these Spirit Materials, a Golden Core Cultivator would usually not have the finances to purchase them.

The Treasure Keeper True Monarch subconsciously probed the Divine Sense into the Spirit Talisman in his hand. Upon clearly seeing the allotted share inside, he too was taken aback.

What great feat had this Golden Core junior achieved for the Tower to be so generous?

Lu Qingshan's expression remained calm.

The Spirit Materials he requested were all needed for his Peach Blossom Sword to advance to a high-grade Heavenly Artifact.

These four types of Spirit Materials were all Sixth Grade, and their preciousness and value went without saying.

Withered Dragon Wood was a material required for true dragons to build their nests, and it was one of the hardest Wood Attribute Spirit Materials.

Earth Dragon Essence was an extremely rare mineral which, besides being used in Artifact Refining, was often the main ingredient in Body-Refining Elixirs, making it immensely versatile.

Mutton Fat White Jade was an extremely precious type of Spirit Jade, as white as mutton fat and containing Divine Essence, which was beneficial for the conduction of the Divine Soul. If it was added during the manufacturing of a Spiritual Artifact, it would make the Cultivator's control of the Spiritual Artifact even more effortless.

Copper of Thorny Locust was an extremely precious Artifact Refining material, possessing great tolerance yet being very hard. Spiritual Artifacts forged from it were incredibly difficult to damage.

The Vaultkeeper True Monarch didn't say much else, took the Spirit Talisman, and turned to walk into the main hall.

Before long, the Vaultkeeper True Monarch came out with a storage bag and tossed it to Lu Qingshan.

"The Spirit Materials you seek are all exceptionally precious, and even with your contributions, you can only exchange for one of them.

The Vault lacks Withered Dragon Wood and Earth Dragon Essence. The amount of Mutton Fat White Jade you require is too much, and we can't fulfill the request. Giving you only half would mean you would inevitably have to look for more later, which would be of no help.

There's quite a surplus of Copper of Thorny Locust, so I've chosen this for you. Check if the quantity is correct," said the Vaultkeeper True Monarch, very amiable and considerate.

"Thank you, True Monarch," Lu Qingshan said. He probed the storage bag with his Divine Sense and, after confirming the quantity was correct, took his leave.

Carrying the storage bag filled with six taels of Copper of Thorny Locust, Lu Qingshan felt a twinge of financial pain.

This Life-bound Sword indeed was an experience and money-consuming extravagance.

Luckily, for now, he only had to sustain the Peach Blossom Sword, a profligate lord—the Dragon Sparrow Sword's own quality was already Taoist Level, so it didn't need further resource investment for quality advancement.

Yitian is better, sensible, well-behaved, and cost-effective.

Lu Qingshan couldn't help but express his satisfaction.

Besides the quality advancement of the Peach Blossom Sword, there was another area where he had to burn resources.

The Five Elements Sword Armor.

The Sword Armor was a special, growable Technique that also resembled a Spiritual Artifact.

Currently, the Sword Armor he was refining was all Third Grade, and the level of attacks it could defend against corresponded to those of a Golden Core Cultivator.

As his only Defensive Spell, this grade was still not secure enough for Lu Qingshan.

He intended to gradually upgrade the Five Elements Sword Armor to Fourth Grade Sword Armor.

Purchasing the Spirit Materials required for the Refining Ritual of Fourth Grade Sword Armor would require a large sum of Spirit Stones.

Fortunately, Lu Qingshan still had an abundance of treasures yet to be sold.

These treasures were from Golden Snake Granny's Storage Ring, with an unimaginable amount of Spiritual Objects inside.

As a Nascent Soul Late Stage Great Cultivator who had presided over the alliance of five factions for over a hundred years, even if Golden Snake Granny had spent more than half of her resources on her Cultivation, the remaining Spirit Materials and Spirit Stones were still an astronomical figure.

Additionally, since the Poison Art practitioners were located in the Three Thousand Great Mountains and were masters of Poison Art, the majority of items in Golden Snake Granny's Storage Ring were primarily Spiritual Medicines.

For Lu Qingshan, who knew nothing about Techniques aside from the Sword Dao, these items truly served no other purpose than to be sold for profit.

...