Chapter 1234: Chapter 428: Yuan Family, Sima Family!_2 As for Lu Ruyi, she had no advantage. Even as the combat between both sides progressed, she gradually fell into a disadvantage, barely hanging on with the aid of a spiritual artifact. "We can’t keep this up, let’s go!" After exchanging a few rounds of battle with Lu Ping’an, this late-stage Foundation Establishment elder gave up on the other two and activated a talisman, preparing to escape alone. "Trying to leave!?" Seeing this, Lu Ping’an said to his sister, who was riding Wind-Fire Wheels in the distance: "Xiaohe, watch carefully." "Earthshake!" Lu Ping’an clenched his fist, and complex patterns spread across his robust physique like chains, resembling dragons and snakes moving about, bringing boundless mighty force. The endless surge of Qi-Blood erupted like a volcanic explosion, making the air heavy, as if a mountain had fallen, pressing down on the old man in front, causing his entire body to sink sharply. The vertebrae moved like rising dragons, throwing out a fist that gathered infinite force. "Bang bang bang—" The massive sound waves and fist force burst the air layer by layer, then struck the old man trying to flee. The terrible force instantly shattered the old man’s defensive magic artifact, violently blasting his physical body into a mist of blood. "Hmm..." Seeing the blood mist before him, Lu Ping’an suddenly realized that this scene of battle might seem a bit brutal for his sister. Immediately, with a clench of his hand, as if grasping the air from all directions, he made all the blood mist dissipate. "This this this..." The other two initial-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators had been observing the situation between the old man and Lu Ping’an, thinking about when to retreat. Seeing this, they were instantly frightened out of their wits. What in the world! Their leader had just been killed with a single punch. In a flash, the two felt as if they had fallen into a cold chasm and lost all will to fight. Lu Lingxiao took advantage of this moment, and his Devastation Flame transformed into a black firebird, fiercely launching it to incinerate the old man before him. "Spare my life, esteemed Daoists, spare my life!" The man fighting with Lu Ruyi quickly shouted out loud, begging for mercy, knowing that continuing the fight would only lead to a dead end. "Ping’an, ask them where they are from?" The voice of Ling Zixiao rang in Lu Ping’an’s mind. "Yes, aunt." Upon hearing this, Lu Ping’an suppressed the man with a gesture, questioning him for information. Facing such a situation, the man dared not hide anything and divulged all of the information. He revealed that he was merely a loose cultivator named Zhou Datong, who heard about this job opportunity which promised, successful or not, a Second Order Breaking Stage Pill afterward, hence he took up the task. The earlier elder likely hailed from Dayuan Mountain Yuan Family. "One of the six major False Core families, Dayuan Mountain Yuan Family." "Loose cultivator." Upon hearing this, Lu Ping’an, Lu Ruyi, and the others immediately understood what the Yuan Family’s intentions were. They deliberately sent two loose cultivators to probe, knowing that the elder would abandon them and escape alone should any mishaps occur. Even if the two were captured and accused the Yuan Family of the deed, such testimonial evidence would hardly be credible. Moreover, the Yuan Family didn’t believe that Blue Lake Mountain would dare to trouble them. "Fellow Daoists, I truly know little about this matter, have no intention of offending nobles, here is all my wealth, I am willing to offer it as compensation." Zhou Datong pleaded, regretting so much that his guts turned green. "If you want to save your life, that’s possible. My Lu Family Commerce Association is newly established and short-staffed." "As long as you sign a contract and serve as an escort guard for my Blue Lake Mountain for twenty years, you’ll be given your freedom afterward." Just then, a graceful and elegant voice sounded. Ling Zixiao, clad in a lake-blue skirt, her appearance dignified and gracious, stepped out from the carriage, looking at Zhou Datong with a calm and indifferent expression, giving off an indescribable aura of majesty and nobility. Though Blue Lake Mountain currently has quite a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Establishing a commerce association still requires manpower. If they paid to invite Visiting Noble Servants, with the current reputation of Blue Lake Mountain, indeed, some could be invited. But the expenses involved in hiring escort guards would be too great, and currently not worthwhile. Since there are Foundation Establishment Cultivators being served up on a platter, Ling Zixiao naturally would not hold back. "Escort guard, twenty years..." Upon hearing this, Zhou Datong’s expression changed slightly. For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, twenty years is not very long. But the issue is not about the twenty years, but the role of the escort guard! It’s known that escort guards escort merchant caravans and goods, traveling outside year-round, which is a dangerous job. Especially now that Blue Lake Mountain Lu Family is in the limelight being targeted by many powers, you never know when an accident might occur. "You have no choice now, either die or serve Blue Lake Mountain for twenty years." Ling Zixiao’s beautiful eyes were bright, like autumn water, as she calmly and indifferently looked at Zhou Datong, exuding an ineffable nobility. "I am willing..." Zhou Datong knew he had no other choice, and his entire demeanor deflated as he agreed. Right then, Ling Zixiao signed a Spiritual Contract with him and took out a Blood Covenant. For a loose cultivator like Zhou Datong, whose cultivation level would hardly progress further, choosing to give up cultivation and paying some price, a second-order Spiritual Contract would not truly bind him. But a Blood Covenant is different. This type of Blood Covenant is extremely tyrannical; if the other party dares to betray and tears the Blood Covenant, it can directly cause the adversary’s Dao Foundation to collapse. Besides the Blood Covenant, Ling Zixiao also planned to go back and have Li Xingruo, her husband, research if there are Poison Elixirs that could be solved once every one or two years. Such multiple guarantees would provide more stability. "Blood Covenant..." Zhou Datong looked at the Blood Covenant before him, his face turning pale. Knowing that once he signed the Blood Covenant before him, his life would be completely controlled by another. But under the current circumstances, he had no other choice, and ultimately squeezed out Essence Blood to sign the Blood Covenant. "As long as you serve Blue Lake Mountain well, it is not impossible to grant your freedom ahead of time." "If you achieve merits, not to mention a Second Order Breaking Stage Pill, even a Second-Order High-Grade Breakthrough Pill, my Blue Lake Mountain also has them."