This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

At that time, Li Qiubai was already indisputably the foremost in Sword Dao, yet he still had the courage to make such a decision, and he did so with such nonchalance.

How could Lu Qingshan not admire him?

"After destroying my own Sword Dao, my realm plummeted; indeed, I fell from the Sword Immortal Realm, and because of this, my reputation was tarnished."

The Sword Immortal disregarded Lu Qingshan's shock and turned his gaze to the Shui Yue on the river, speaking softly.

"But this doesn't mean I was wrong. On the contrary, this was a necessary path, for if I had not taken this step, how would I ever learn the true way of the Sword Dao?"

"Have you now returned to the Sword Immortal Realm, senior?" Lu Qingshan probed.

Clearly, with Sword Immortal methods, even the genuine Honorable Realm Martial Emperor was no match for Li Qiubai—this should indeed be the bona fide Sword Immortal Realm, right?

"Just a bit short," Li Qiubai remarked wistfully, "Young one, let me tell you one last thing, Sword Cultivators who blaze their own path, do so through force to prove the Dao, to forcibly carve a new road through the Heavenly Dao."

"It's like you visiting someone else's home; although there are three thousand roads to reach it, you insist on digging a new one yourself. If it were you, would you be willing?"

"Unwilling," Lu Qingshan decisively replied.

"Exactly, since you are unwilling, the Heavenly Dao naturally isn't willing either. Sword Cultivators opening their own path will face the full blockage of the Heavenly Dao," Li Qiubai explained calmly. "Of course, it's not unnegotiable. If your relationship with the Heavenly Dao is good enough, even if you behave somewhat rudely, the Heavenly Dao might turn a blind eye."

It was a simple truth.

A stranger eating your food would surely make you unhappy, but if it's your girlfriend eating your food, you wouldn't get mad; you might even ask if she'd like more.

"Therefore, Sword Cultivators blazing a path require the favor of the local Heaven and Earth's Qi fortune for protection."

"Xie Qingyun achieved Sword Immortal through the Qi fortune of the Eastern Domain and the Sword Sect; Chu Mu Divine back then broke through realms using one-third of the Human Race's Qi fortune; I ascended to the Sword Immortal Realm with the protection of the Great Xia's Qi fortune."

Harnessing Great Xia's Qi fortune to protect his path?

Lu Qingshan looked at Li Qiubai meaningfully.

There was no doubt who borrowed Great Xia's Qi fortune from.

But....

The Chang'an Sword Immortal was not someone from Great Xia, so how he borrowed the Qi fortune was worth pondering.

Li Qiubai ignored Lu Qingshan's thoughts and continued, "When I destroyed my Sword Dao, I also dispersed my Great Xia Qi fortune."

"Now, my Sword Dao is reconstructed, and even four or five layers higher than my previous Sword Immortal Realm, but I simply lack that Qi fortune to protect my path, so I have been unable to reopen it."

This is why Li Qiubai is both a Sword Immortal and not a Sword Immortal.

——His cultivation remains at the Eighth Realm, yet his Sword Dao realm far surpasses the Sword Immortal Realm.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior." Lu Qingshan realized, bowing with his hands cupped in respect.

Li Qiubai nodded slightly.

The reason he spoke in such detail with Lu Qingshan was precisely to guide him.

He saw in Lu Qingshan a reflection of himself—overflowing with talent and exceptional skill.

To prevent Lu Qingshan from repeating his past mistakes, he shared so much with him.

Qi fortune.

Lu Qingshan silently repeated the word in his heart, feeling it to be profoundly mysterious.

This kind of thing, unseen and intangible, truly belonged to the realm of metaphysics.

He shook his head, ceasing to ponder on it any further.

——He was currently only at the Fifth Realm, matters of the Sword Immortal Realm were too distant for him; it was unnecessary to worry incessantly, better to focus on how to break through the Ten Flowers Divine Gate.

"So, did senior inquire about the matter of the black armor?" Lu Qingshan shifted the topic, this was his most pressing concern.

"Xu Su wasn't my match, and with his mind on Beicang, he dared not hide anything in front of me," Li Qiubai sneered, "The barefooted aren't afraid of those with shoes, especially when the one with shoes can't beat the barefooted."

"Then?" Lu Qingshan's brow furrowed slightly.

"The black armor was requested by the Qing King lineage, said to be the Artifact Refiner from the Qing King lineage wanting to deduce the method of crafting Divine Armor from finished products." Li Qiubai stated emotionlessly.

"As for the matter of the three cities, he knows nothing."

"Could the Xu Martial Emperor be hiding something?" Lu Qingshan hesitated for a moment, then asked.

"No," Li Qiubai shook his head decisively, "He doesn't dare."

"Hehe... truly one link after another." Lu Qingshan frowned, sensing the scent of conspiracy.

Finding the black armor clue from three empty cities was the first link.

Through the black armor, Water Cloud Platform was found, and the information from Water Cloud Platform pointed to the Xu Family's Martial Emperor in Beicang—this was the second link.

Yet it wasn't over.

There was still a third link.

The third link pointed to one of the three collateral branches of Great Xia, the Qing King's lineage.

The power behind this was tremendously vast, capable of mobilizing so many resources.

If not for the Chang'an Sword Immortal uncovering this, relying on himself for investigation would yield little, even if heaven were torn apart.

"Is it the Qing King?" Lu Qingshan speculated.

The clues finally pointed to the Qing King lineage, and his first thought went to the Qing King.

He indeed had both the strength and influence.

Li Qiubai took a step forward, leaning on the railing, gazing at the moon on the water, extending a finger to lightly tap the boat's railing, and raising a glass to catch the moon's glow, speaking to himself, "A simple inquiry will reveal it."

When a person possesses enough strength, they don't need to employ too many tricks to investigate something; it can be summarized in a single word.

Inquire, and it shall be known.

Lu Qingshan mused for a moment before saying, "Senior, there's another matter I wish to discuss with you..."

He carefully chose his words and succinctly recounted his experiences in the Abyss Demon Domain, including the existence of the Human Race in the Abyss, to the Chang'an Sword Immortal.

"Human trafficking…"

Li Qiubai slowly retracted the moonlit cup and gazed into the liquor in the cup, frowning.

He shook his head and poured the "liquor" without hesitation into the vast Lan Cang River.

The liquor was still in mid-air when a gentle river breeze dispersed it, transforming it into scattered moonlight that vanished.

As he watched the moonlight formed from the liquor, he vaguely saw a trace of red light within.

"It's sullied."

Chang'an Sword Immortal let out a long sigh.

The next moment, his figure vanished from the great ship like a fleeting dream or a lightning streak.

"I know about this matter now, young man, don't worry. Focus on your sword training. I will handle this matter."

Above the great river, only the voice of the Sword Immortal was heard, but the Sword Immortal was unseen.