The Mirror Master

Lu Bai returned to Bluestone City a little after noon.

The city gate guards recognized Lu Bai. After collecting the entrance fee, they let him in.

"That Young Hero Lu is an interesting one. I remember he rode out of the city on a horse, but when he came back, the horse was gone and he was carrying a rooster instead."

"I bet he’ll find out his world has come crashing down when he gets back to the Luo Family."

"The Luo Family really took a terrible loss this time. A crushing defeat. From now on, they’ll be no different from the Sun Family."

"Well, it’s the Luo Family’s own fault for not understanding the situation. A Tier One Profound Iron Ore mine would have been fine; no one would have fought them for it. But a Tier Two Profound Iron Ore mine? So many people had their eyes on that."

A few of the city gate guards watched Lu Bai’s departing figure, discussing him in low voices.

Lu Bai’s hearing was sharp enough to catch every word, and he couldn’t help but frown slightly.

He had only been out of the city for a day, yet something had already happened to the Luo Family.

From the sound of it, it was related to that Tier Two Profound Iron Ore mine.

The Sun Family was already in prison. What other power in the city could contend with the Luo Family for this mineral vein?

The Jin Family, who ran the gambling dens and brothels?

The Zheng Family, who were in the medicine business?

Or was it some other power?

Even the Sun Family and the Luo Family had fought openly and schemed secretly over this Profound Iron Ore mine for so long.

The Luo Family had operated in Bluestone City for many years and had two Innate Martial Artists overseeing things. How could they have suffered such a crushing defeat in just one day?

Lu Bai unconsciously quickened his pace.

As he passed the Martial Arts Discussion Platform, he saw a bustling crowd that had not yet completely dispersed. Everyone was discussing something with great excitement.

"I’d only heard about the methods of Cultivators before, but I never had the chance to see them firsthand. This was a real eye-opener."

"It’s always been rumored that among those of the same realm, Cultivators crush Martial Artists. We’d never seen it, so we didn’t know how big the gap was. Today, we really learned something."

"Crushing them? It was more than that. This was someone from a lower realm completely dominating someone from a higher one! The other guy was utterly powerless to fight back!"

"No wonder so many people want to pursue the path of Cultivation. I’ve heard that Martial Artists from the great Martial Arts Family Gates, and even the Dukes and Princes of various nations, all want to marry Cultivators. They hope to have children with Spirit Roots who can be sent to the Immortal Sects. The power gap is just too immense."

Lu Bai glanced at the Martial Arts Discussion Platform.

The bloodstains on the stage had not yet dried, and a few government constables were washing them away.

"Lu Bai?"

Below the stage, Li Tianxing spotted Lu Bai and waved him over.

Lu Bai had been wanting to ask what had happened, so he walked over.

Lu Bai clasped his hands in a salute. "Lord Li, what just happened? I just got back from outside the city."

"You don’t know yet?"

Li Tianxing sighed softly. "A Tiger Demon has been harming people recently, and the Demon-slaying Bureau’s Martial Artists have suffered heavy losses.

It just so happened that Cultivators from the Xuanjian Sect were visiting, so Prefect Dou wanted to ask two of them to take action and slay this demon. He hoped to prevent public panic and stop more innocent people from dying."

After a pause, Li Tianxing continued, "That Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator from the Xuanjian Sect stated his condition: the Luo Family’s Tier Two Profound Iron Ore mine.

The Xuanjian Sect specializes in the Flying Sword Technique, and one of the most important materials for refining flying swords is Profound Iron Ore. Furthermore, Tier Two Profound Iron Ore can be used to refine Tier Two flying sword Magical Treasures."

Hearing this, Lu Bai had already figured out the gist of the situation.

’The Xuanjian Sect really planned this well!’

’The whole Tiger Demon disaster was clearly orchestrated by the Xuanjian Sect.’

’Yet they’re using it as a pretext. By ’resolving’ the demon disaster, they can logically demand the Tier Two Profound Iron Ore mine and even earn a good reputation in Bluestone City.’

’Even if the Wu Dynasty investigates the Tiger Demon clue in the future, it will be difficult to trace it back to the Xuanjian Sect.’

’Because that Tier Two Tiger Demon was summoned by an Exotic Beast Mountain Demon.’

’And that Mountain Demon is usually in a state of Invisibility; even a True Master Golden Core might not be able to detect it.’

Li Tianxing had previously speculated that the Tiger Demon had suddenly appeared and started killing indiscriminately because it had reached a critical moment in its breakthrough.

"What happened then?" Lu Bai asked.

Li Tianxing said, "The contract for this Profound Iron Ore mine was indeed signed between the Luo Family and the County Government Office. The Luo Family owns a forty-percent share, it’s a joint mining operation, and the term isn’t up yet. When the Xuanjian Sect and the County Government Office’s Chief Clerk approached the Luo Family, the Luos were naturally unwilling to hand it over.

The Luo Family didn’t want to clash with the Xuanjian Sect, so they chose to compromise, offering to give up a twenty-percent share. But the Xuanjian Sect demanded the entire forty percent. The two sides argued about it, and the atmosphere became very tense."

Lu Bai opened his mouth to speak, but then hesitated.

’I know the Xuanjian Sect was secretly behind the Tiger Demon disaster.’

’But the Tiger Demon and the Mountain Demon are already dead.’

’There’s no proof.’

’This matter also involves the deaths of an entire team of Demon Slayer Guards. If I’m the one to reveal this, I’ll definitely bring a mountain of trouble upon myself.’

’Not only will the County Governor’s Office want to question me, but the Demon-slaying Bureau will come looking for me, too.’

’At that point, I’d have to fabricate lies about what happened with Cui Jiang, and it would be easy to slip up.’

Lu Bai thought for a moment, then asked, "What is the County Government Office’s attitude on this matter?"

Li Tianxing replied, "Lord Dou is being relatively impartial and hasn’t taken a side. After all, the reason the Luo Family was able to get that Profound Iron Ore mine in the first place was because Luo Tianxiong’s fourth daughter was once Lord Dou’s wife. She just passed away many years ago.

However, resolving the Tiger Demon disaster is an urgent matter."

Lu Bai said, "If the Tiger Demon disaster can be resolved, then the Xuanjian Sect will have no reason, right?"

’Even if I don’t say anything, it won’t be long before someone else discovers that the Tiger Demon has already been killed.’

"That’s true," Li Tianxing said. "But all the Demon Slayer Guards were wiped out. How could the Luo Family possibly have the strength to resolve the demon disaster? The Xuanjian Sect also said that the Luo Family’s strength is completely unworthy of mining that Tier Two Profound Iron Ore mine.

Later, that Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator from the Xuanjian Sect said that the Luo Family didn’t have to resolve the demon disaster. If someone from the Luo Family could defeat his disciple, it would prove they had the qualification, and the Xuanjian Sect would withdraw."

Lu Bai asked, "What’s his disciple’s Cultivation?"

Li Tianxing answered, "Ninth-Layer Qi Refining."

Lu Bai had heard Li Yue’er mention before that the Cultivation Qi Refining Stage has nine layers in total.

The next step after that is the Foundation Establishment Stage.

That Daoist Yu who died was only at the Seventh-Layer Qi Refining.

Lu Bai asked, "Did Third Uncle Luo accept the challenge?"

’The Luo Family has two Innate Martial Artists.’

’Luo Tianxiong is old, and he was recently tricked by a Painted Skin Ghost, which caused sinister energy to invade his body. He definitely wasn’t in any condition to fight.’

’The other one is Luo Mingzhao.’

Li Tianxing nodded. "Theoretically, the Martial Arts Inner Strength Realm corresponds to the Cultivation Qi Refining Stage, and the Innate Realm corresponds to the Foundation Establishment Stage. It would seem that Luo Mingzhao was an entire major realm ahead of his opponent, but when they actually clashed on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform..." He sighed and shook his head. "The gap was just too big. It was a complete domination in every aspect. Luo Mingzhao’s weapon was shattered by that Qi Refiner’s flying sword right at the start.

From start to finish, Luo Mingzhao couldn’t even get close. It was more like the Qi Refiner was just toying with him, effortlessly defeating Luo Mingzhao by controlling a flying sword from a distance.

And not only that, he severed the tendons in both of his hands. Even if they heal, I’m afraid he’ll never be able to wield a weapon again."

Once a Martial Artist’s hand tendons are severed, even if they recover, they won’t dare to exert their full strength. Their power would be drastically reduced.

’Of the Luo Family’s two Innate Martial Artists, one is too old, and the other has been crippled.’

’No wonder those city gate guards said the Luo Family had suffered a crushing defeat.’