Chapter 1233: Chapter 428: Yuan Family, Sima Family! After Xie Ying and others left, Lu Ruyi stared at her older brother in a daze and said, "Big brother, your strength..." She had been stationed at Flower Fruit Mountain in her early years, often seeking advice from Lu Ping’an, and the two had sparred together many times, knowing that her brother’s strength was extraordinary. But she never imagined that her own brother’s strength would be so astonishing. She had previously seen some information about the six major False Core Families and knew that the recent Xie Ying had the strength of the seventh or eighth level of Foundation Establishment. Even if it was just a probe and he didn’t go all out, the fact that her brother gained the upper hand in just a moment also showed that her brother had the strength of the late Foundation Establishment, or even the peak of Foundation Establishment. Doesn’t this mean that big brother’s strength has surpassed that of father!? That’s not right, Wangshu is that powerful, and father, when using the Talisman Formation, might actually be able to suppress a False Core Immortal, just like the rumors say. "I made a little breakthrough in Body Refinement a while ago," Lu Ping’an said with a slight smile, not giving too much explanation. After speaking, he added, "Such battles are unpredictable. It’s best to end the fight quickly. Later, if we encounter an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, big brother will clear the way for you." "Ruyi understands." Lu Ruyi nodded in acknowledgment, knowing she would have had difficulty intervening in the just fight, and might even have held her brother back. "Big Pot, Big Pot, why didn’t you use the ’Mountain Shaking Fist’?’ Lu Linghe, riding on the Wind-Fire Wheels, came to her big brother’s side and asked curiously. She had always followed Lu Ping’an in practicing boxing and had been looking forward to seeing this set of boxing techniques in real combat. "Xiaohe wants to see the boxing technique, next time big brother will use it," Lu Ping’an said with a smile as he put away the Black Dragon Halberd. Then he came to a luxurious carriage, handing over the token given by the Xie Family to Ling Zixiao. "Lingxi Xie Family, good. As for the matter with the Xie Family, I will write back later and have the family handle it," Ling Zixiao took the token, looked at it for a few moments with a light smile, graceful and dignified. Then she turned to her son Lu Lingxiao and instructed, "Xiao’er, you too have cultivated the Hundred Refinements Treasure Body Art, if you have any doubts about Body Refinement, you can ask your big brother for more advice." Although she knew of Lu Ping’an’s strength, she had never witnessed it before. Even after the engagement, she was still somewhat surprised. "Ping’an has been cultivating so far, it has only been about forty years, right?" Ling Zixiao still remembered that when Lu Ping’an was young, he did not manifest a Spiritual Root, and when he first returned to Qingzhu Mountain, Lu Changsheng even asked her to instruct him in cultivating the "Purple True Solar Scripture." Unknowingly, the other had grown to such an extent, which was quite astonishing. "Mother, your child understands." Lu Lingxiao nodded seriously. He was aware that while he possessed a strong physical body from his Body Refinement practice, he lacked the means to utilize his strength properly. When it came to cultivation issues, Lu Ping’an never held back advice, voicing guidance to his brothers and sisters. In addition to guiding Lu Ruyi and Lu Lingxiao, Lu Ping’an also often cared for other brothers and sisters from Qingzhu Mountain, as well as Lu Family disciples without a Spiritual Root. Once the trade caravan arrives at its current destination, it stops outside the entrance of the other party’s mountain gate to conduct trade. Besides selling goods, the caravan also inquires if there’s anything the other party wishes to sell, engaging in purchases. It’s quite easy to pick up bargains during this process. Picking up a bargain doesn’t mean one must find something exceedingly precious. Even things worth a few dozen or a hundred Spirit Stones that are treated like junk and bought for just a few Spirit Stones count as a bargain. Originally, the commerce association would also make Spirit Stones by offering rides along the way. But this time, the Lu Family Caravan is mainly aiming to establish reputation and open up trade routes, not purely for profit, hence they didn’t take any passengers. On the journey, besides Demon Beasts, they occasionally face bandits and mountain hijackers occupying the hills. In such cases, usually a bribe of some Spirit Stones as a toll is enough. If there is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator presiding, merely leaking out the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure can resolve the situation. As for killing, that’s not usually done. Doing business is all about making money amicably. Moreover, many of these bandits are actions of the small Family Forces nearby. If every one of these bandits were to be killed, it would be an endless task and only bring trouble to one’s own family. ... Seven days later. The trade caravan encountered another attack. This time there were three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, one at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and two at the initial stages. Unlike the previous encounter with the Lingxi Xie Family, these enemies didn’t bother with idle talk and struck to kill immediately. If not for Lu Ping’an’s vigilance, even Lu Family disciples might have been in trouble. Faced with this situation, Lu Ping’an didn’t bother with pleasantries, directly confronting the attack. Lu Ruyi and Lu Lingxiao also took action without delay, each facing off against a cultivator at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. This commercial expedition was for Lu Lingxiao to gain experience and improve; encountering action, he naturally took part. "The Lu Family Commerce Association actually has three, no... four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but where is the lady of the Lu Family?" The elder at the late stage of Foundation Establishment was shocked. He hadn’t expected that not long after the event at Red Leaf Valley Market and the emergence of a Foundation Establishment Stage Lu Wangshu from Bi Lake Mountain, now two unknown Foundation Establishment Cultivators appeared. But what shocked him the most was Lu Ping’an’s combat ability. Seeing that the rumors weren’t true, he immediately wanted to flee and report this information back to his clan. But Lu Ping’an wouldn’t let him go so easily, entangling him in the fight. Meanwhile, Lu Ruyi and Lu Lingxiao were each engaged with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, constantly exchanging blows. Both these Foundation Establishment Cultivators were not simple, possessing the cultivation of the third level of Foundation Establishment, belonging to veteran fighters with rich experience in combat techniques. Lu Lingxiao, who had just broken through to Foundation Establishment not long ago, barely managed to learn the Foundation Establishment spells and lacked a suitable Spiritual Artifact, relying solely on his foundational mana, Devastation Flame, and Second Order Body Refining to match his opponent evenly. However, his powerful Pupil Skill was amazing, his eyes gleaming with golden light, continuously discerning the opponent’s weaknesses and seeking opportunities, gradually gaining the upper hand.