This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

My time is nearing its end!

Qi Yuan must have used the split-mirror ability "Observing Heaven" of the Heavenly Secret Mirror at all costs, causing his lifespan to slip away completely.

Coming to his senses, Lu Qingshan sighed and respectfully said, "When I saw Qi Yuan guarding the city of Yuanshan, he was still full of vigor, but in just over half a month, Qi Yuan has become like this, as if three thousand troubles have suddenly arisen out of nowhere!"

Qi Yuan spoke indifferently, "The moment I took the Mirror Master's mantle, I had already anticipated this day, this is both the Mirror Master's destiny and responsibility."

After pausing, Qi Yuan looked at Lu Qingshan with a gentle gaze and lamented, "Yet when I saw you back in Yuanshan City, you were merely an eighth level Qi Refinement cultivator, who would have thought that in just over half a month of not seeing each other, you would have already established your Foundation?"

Lin Yao, who stood behind Lu Qingshan, silent and head bowed, was shaken by these words and glanced at Lu Qingshan out of the corner of her eye.

Her own father had barely managed to advance to Foundation Establishment when he was almost a hundred years old.

Young Master Lu is still so young, and he has already become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

Qi Yuan's eyes were intense as he scrutinized Lu Qingshan, "The last time in Yuanshan City's Netherworld scheme, it was you who returned the Heavenly Secret Mirror's split-mirror to me.

This time, it was also you who discovered the inklings of the Netherworld's plot, providing us with the opportunity to break the situation.

You certainly don't lack secrets!"

Lu Qingshan did not reply.

Seeing that Lu Qingshan did not continue the conversation, Qi Yuan did not pursue the matter further.

No matter where Lu Qingshan got his information from, at least everything he had done indicated that he was standing on the opposite side of the Netherworld.

Qi Yuan glanced at Lin Yao standing behind Lu Qingshan and asked, "Have you come to me this time for her?"

Lu Qingshan nodded and replied, "Yes."

Lin Yao looked up in astonishment, puzzled.

For me?

Lu Qingshan made his request, "I hope Qi Yuan can help me arrange for her to be placed in a sect far away from Zhenjiang Prefecture."

Back in Yuanshan City, due to the Heavenly Secret Mirror's split-mirror, Qi Yuan owed Lu Qingshan a favor.

It was for this reason that Lu Qingshan could easily meet Qi Yuan, who was a city guardian, and put forward his request.

Qi Yuan was surprised and asked back, "Are you sure you want to use the favor I owe you on her?"

As the Mirror Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, although he dared not boast too much, Qi Yuan believed his favor held a certain value.

If it were not for Lu Qingshan's overly important retrieval of the Heavenly Secret Mirror's split-mirror, he would not have easily promised to owe Lu Qingshan a favor.

But he never imagined that what Lu Qingshan would ultimately ask for would be such a request.

Requesting him to place a woman into a high-ranking sect?

Lu Qingshan did not hesitate, affirming again, "That's my request."

"Why?" Qi Yuan, by nature, would not usually pry, but he was indeed intrigued.

If it was for a Dao Companion, it could be understood, Lu Qingshan seemed young and vigorous, and doing something youthful for the sake of a beauty was not impossible.

But with his insight, he could clearly see that Lu Qingshan had no romantic feelings towards Lin Yao.

In this case, Lu Qingshan's request became very intriguing.

Lu Qingshan chuckled without further explanation and called to Lin Yao, "Show your Phantom Sound ability to Qi Yuan."

"Ah?!" Still in shock from the conversation between Lu Qingshan and Qi Yuan, Lin Yao finally snapped back to reality.

Without doubting Lu Qingshan's command, Lin Yao turned her eyes, respectfully addressing Qi Yuan, "Junior Lin Yao, greets Qi Yuan."

Qi Yuan looked at Lin Yao with an astonished gaze.

There was nothing wrong with the lines she spoke, yet the voice that emanated from Lin Yao was identical to Lu Qingshan's?

Thinking back to what Lu Qingshan had said.

This was Phantom Sound?

While Qi Yuan was pondering uncertainly in his heart, Lin Yao continued, "The Phantom Sound ability that Young Master Lu spoke of is just like what I'm doing now..."

Lin Yao's voice then changed to that of the young male Cultivator who had guided them in.

"As long as I have heard a voice before, I can easily imitate it," Lin Yao explained, her voice now warm and rich, which caused a stir in Qi Yuan's heart.

—That was his voice.

From the beautiful Lin Yao's mouth emerged the voices of three different male Cultivators of different ages and Cultivations, an intensely eerie scene.

After displaying her Phantom Sound ability, Lin Yao silently stepped back to stand behind Lu Qingshan.

"If she becomes a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, she will master the Phantom Pupil ability, at Golden Core she will develop Phantom Face, and at the Nascent Soul stage, it will be Phantom Body. By then, she can transform into anything, an ability with endless variations," Lu Qingshan explained to Qi Yuan.

Lu Qingshan knew that with Qi Yuan's character, he would not do a perfunctory job in what he had been entrusted with.

But he also understood that only by making Qi Yuan aware of Lin Yao's value would Qi Yuan truly leverage his utmost capabilities to arrange a good placement for her.

And only in this way could Lin Yao be advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage as soon as possible.

That was why Lu Qingshan had come to find Qi Yuan.

Given Lin Yao's current level of Qi Refinement, she would never catch up to Lu Qingshan in her lifetime; instead, Lu Qingshan would continue to leave her further behind.

Therefore, Lu Qingshan never expected Lin Yao to be of help to him in battle.

But Lin Yao's Phantom Body Divine Vein was a unique talent that could transcend Cultivation levels.

However, although Lin Yao was willing to serve him, her usefulness would indeed be limited until her Phantom Body Divine Vein abilities fully awakened.

So, to quickly realize Lin Yao's value, the immediate priority was to help her fully awaken the Phantom Body Divine Vein.

After hearing Lu Qingshan's introduction, Qi Yuan's expression turned solemn.

With his experience, he almost instantly recognized Lin Yao's worth.

"I understand. Rest assured, I will send a Spirit Message to the Heavenly Secret Pavillion to have Miss Lin inducted into Heavenly Secret Pavillion," Qi Yuan said gravely.

A hint of a smile crept onto Lu Qingshan's lips.

Things were progressing even smoother than he had expected.

The Heavenly Secret Pavillion, one of the seven great Taoist Sects—if Lin Yao could enter the Heavenly Secret Pavillion, there could be no better arrangement.

"Then I will trouble you, Qi Protector," said Lu Qingshan.

"For now, Miss Lin will stay in my Heavenly Secret Tower while waiting for news. With her unique talent, I expect she will receive a response from the Pavillion very soon."

Lu Qingshan naturally had no objections: "You may arrange it as you see fit, Qi Protector."

Qi Yuan waved his hand, summoning the young male Cultivator who had retired earlier, and instructed him, "You take Miss Lin down first, treat her well and do not neglect her."

The young male Cultivator respectfully complied, and while Lin Yao had many questions for Lu Qingshan in her heart, she didn't say more and withdrew very tactfully.

Clearly, Qi Yuan had something to discuss privately with Lu Qingshan, and that was why he had dismissed her.

Lin Yao was astute enough to understand this.