The County Guard was sowhat surprised and asked in confusion:
"You seem quite concerned about the beast tide?"
Lu An nodded and explained:
"To be honest, I am planning to go outside the city for so training in a while."
"Knowing about the beast tide now feels like a sharp thorn in my heart; it's quite distressing."
The County Guard laughed heartily.
"Young friend Lu need not worry. The beast tide is far in the Wei Kingdom, and everything is fine within our Qi Kingdom. No unusual movents have been detected among the various demon beasts, so you can proceed with your plans."
"Moreover, whether the beast tide occurs or not, the outco would be the sa whether you are training outside or staying in the city."
"As for how the beast tide forms, it is naturally orchestrated by demon beasts in the Shape-shifting stage."
A glint of curiosity appeared in Lu An's eyes. Since everyone present was knowledgeable, he seized the opportunity to ask:
"What is a Shape-shifting demon beast?"
The County Guard, pleased, patiently explained:
"Once a demon beast reaches the Nascent Soul stage, it can take on human form."
"Of course, there are exceptions. So ancient extraordinary beasts, even when their cultivation reaches that level, cannot take on human form. The stronger the beast, the harder it is to shape-shift."
"Conversely, so minor demons might achieve shape-shifting at the Core Formation stage."
Lu An nodded, feeling enlightened. Since there was no unusual activity among the demon beasts within Qi Kingdom, he need not worry about his training, and his concerns were finally eased.
"County Guard, Elder Mu, since there is nothing else, I will return to my cultivation and strive to complete those two talismans as soon as possible."
"Please take care of the matter concerning the Fang family."
The County Guard waved his hand and smiled:
"Young friend Lu, rest assured. I will soon dispatch two Golden Guards to secretly ensure your safety."
Lu An was intrigued. Golden Guards were renowned.
It was said that the Golden Guards of Guxian County numbered nine, each possessing Foundation Establishnt level strength. They were directly under the County Guard's command, and others had no authority to use them.
It was unexpected that two would be assigned to protect him, reflecting the County Guard's seriousness regarding Elder Mu's breakthrough.
With these two and the Ying family couple, Lu An would have four Foundation Establishnt cultivators by his side.
With this combination of known and hidden protection, he would be safe from the Fang family or Lingxiao Sect as long as they did not send soone in the Core Formation stage.
In an unknown, dark place, a quaint tavern was situated.
The main hall was packed, with custors drinking and chatting, but the atmosphere was sowhat oppressive and unusually eerie.
At a corner table, a burly man with his chest exposed and a lotus flower tattoo was drinking in frustration.
"Damn, this task from the Divine Talisman Pavilion is really not ant for ordinary people."
Soone nearby jested:
"I recall that this task offered quite a reward. When I wanted to exchange with you, you refused. Why are you regretting now?"
The burly man spat and said:
"If you want it, you can take it now. I'm not doing it anymore."
"What happened? Explain in detail."
"Alas... you don't know, the target of this task is only at the fifth layer of Qi Refining, but there are four Foundation Establishnt cultivators protecting him. How can a late Qi Refining cultivator like handle it?"
Others gasped in shock.
"Four Foundation Establishnt cultivators? That seems exaggerated."
The person took out a docunt from his chest and threw it onto the table.
"This is the latest dossier for this task. Take a look for yourselves."
The others quickly picked up the dossier to read.
In a short while, their expressions changed drastically; it was indeed four Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
This level of difficulty was akin to assassinating the young master of a minor sect. Even if the attempt were successful, it was highly likely that it would end in failure.
At this mont, the person who had previously wanted to exchange for the task fell silent.
Just then, a graceful figure appeared and walked straight toward them.
The woman had a frosty face and eyes like deep abysses, yet she was extrely beautiful, resembling an otherworldly fairy or a demon lurking in the shadows.
Seeing her, everyone at the table turned pale and dared not et her gaze.
The woman picked up the dossier from the table, and her cold and beautiful face showed a hint of interest.
"I will take this task."
After speaking, she looked at the burly man with an inquiring expression.
The burly man was montarily stunned, then quickly ca to his senses, his lips trembling.
"You, you are free to do as you wish."
The woman nodded, tossed a small bag of spirit stones onto the table, and said:
"Consider this as paynt for purchasing it."
She then picked up the dossier and turned to leave.
Only after the woman's figure completely disappeared did everyone breathe a sigh of relief, as if they had just faced the king of hell.
"Yea Xiaoqian, why is she here?"
"That's obvious. She must be competing for the position of Saint Son. I heard that to qualify, she has to complete an extrely difficult assassination task."
"No wonder she took this task. With four Foundation Establishnt cultivators protecting the target, the difficulty is enough to serve as a ticket to the Saint Son competition."
"But even if she is Ye Xiaoqian, it's probably still very difficult to complete this task..."
Ye Xiaoqian was a top silver dal assassin in Lingxiao Sect, with cultivation reaching the mid Foundation Establishnt stage. Despite her seemingly harmless na, she had killed many Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
Especially her skill in Concealnt Art, which was incredibly mysterious and difficult to detect even for those with high cultivation.
The others, each with their own thoughts, lost interest in drinking and dispersed like birds and beasts.
After visiting the County Guard, Lu An returned to Lingfu Residence and focused on his preparations.
Apart from the ti spent teaching Bai Sheng and others, he mostly devoted himself to drawing talismans and cultivation.
Even the ti spent fighting with Ying Chang had been significantly reduced.
However, it is worth ntioning that since obtaining the Soul Devouring Sword, Lu An now spends an hour each day nourishing it with his divine soul, which has slightly enhanced its power.
He still hadn't figured out how to use the sword for drawing talismans in the void.
With a weapon in hand, Lu An naturally no longer fought barehanded. In this situation, Ying Chang's pressure increased significantly, and he had to use his weapon.
Despite this, with his cultivation at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, he found it increasingly difficult to suppress Lu An.
The reason was simple: Lu An's spiritual sense was so refined that he could predict Ying Chang's moves even before they began, often anticipating and countering his actions in advance.
Reluctantly, Ying Chang had to expand his spiritual sense to match Lu An's, which made their combat evenly matched.
As days passed, the conflict between the Li and Ding families seed to be nearing its end.
Li Ziyou ca by several tis, always with a cheerful expression, indicating that the Li family had likely achieved a great victory.
However, on this particular day, he arrived at Lingfu Residence with a worried look.
Having just finished his cultivation, Lu An noticed his expression and couldn't help but ask:
"What's wrong? Did sothing change in the battle situation?"
Li Ziyou was about to answer when his eyes suddenly widened as he looked at Lu An.
"Isn't your aura suggesting that you've broken through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining?"
Lu An shook his head, retracting his aura, and said calmly:
"Not so easily. My accumulation still lacks a bit."
Li Ziyou let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't that he wanted Lu An to fail in his breakthrough, but rather that Lu An's rapid progress was surprising even to him.
As the second young master of the Li family, Li Ziyou had access to ample resources. Yet, he had just reached the seventh layer of Qi Refining and barely entered the late stage.
If Lu An were to catch up to him, he would have to find a place to hide in embarrassnt.
He steadied his emotions and recalled his purpose, then said:
"There hasn't been any major change in the battle. The Li family has achieved a great victory."
"However, the three Foundation Establishnt cultivators from the Ding family have all gone missing."
"From the current signs, they are very likely planning to target you!"
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