221: You still need to practice!

Upon returning to his Immortal Cave, Lu Ming hung up a sign indicating he was in seclusion.

However, he knew that the situation was urgent and that he had promised to assist Sikong Ming.

Therefore, this seclusion was merely a formality, and he emerged in less than three days.

His aura had smoothly reached the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, making him a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the eyes of the public!

It just so happened that the beast tide was attacking for the second time, and the fully recovered Tier 2 demon beasts were launching their assault.

Lu Ming went to the North Gate watchtower as invited, where he saw Li Guanqi, whom he had not seen for a long time.

However, the moment they met, Lu Ming frowned—not because Li Guanqi was putting on a sour face, but because he sensed a familiar aura!

It was the aura of his own kind!

"Interesting..."

A playful look appeared on Lu Ming's face, though this smile felt like a chilling, soul-stripping gaze to Li Guanqi.

"What are you looking at? Are you that idle?!"

Li Guanqi wore a gloomy face, spat out those words, and turned to leave, while internally cursing Sikong Ming for all he was worth.

'If I had known, I wouldn't have been putting on an act!'

He felt deep regret. To avoid attracting attention, he had pretended to be weak, making his defense look difficult.

As a result, this had backfired!

That fool Sikong Ming had actually found him an attendant to keep watch, which made it very inconvenient for him to do many things!

'No, I have to find a way to get rid of him!' Li Guanqi pondered secretly.

Lu Ming watched Li Guanqi's retreating back, his eyes dark and obscure.

Before him, the golden book opened quietly, and a name was being written stroke by stroke by an invisible force!

【Li Guanqi】

However, the name that should have appeared on the Qi Refining page had appeared, quite strangely, on the Foundation Establishment page!

"Hahaha, interesting, too interesting!"

Lu Ming couldn't help but clap and laugh; this was the first time in his many years of cultivating the Dao that he had encountered something so amusing.

Li Guanqi had deceived everyone!

Someone who should have had his path to the Dao severed, with no hope of ever forging a Foundation Establishment, had now broken through the Foundation Establishment Stage behind everyone's back!

"It seems you have quite a secret on you!"

Lu Ming was not surprised that Li Guanqi had appeared on the golden book.

It was said that they were of the same kind; after all, like poles repel, and they were mutually repulsive.

If it were him, the moment he met someone with whom he had no grudges and felt intense malice, there could only be one explanation.

Someone was standing in his way!

"It seems I am in his way." Lu Ming smiled indifferently.

He had no intention of making a move against this person right now; otherwise, it would be hard to explain if something happened.

Besides, Li Guanqi was just a small fry at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage; he would be drained dry by a couple of his sucks.

It was better to keep him around and see what tricks he was planning.

After all, if he really was in his way, Li Guanqi would definitely try to find a way to get rid of him.

There were many ways to get rid of someone, such as using his status as a Disciple of a Golden Core True Person to forcibly reassign Lu Ming.

But that would alert the enemy. Since Lu Ming had been personally arranged by Sikong Ming, the intention behind a forced reassignment would be too obvious.

Given the secrets Li Guanqi harbored, he probably didn't want to be scrutinized like that.

Therefore, he could only choose to attack Lu Ming directly, such as by neglecting duty, creating conflict, sabotaging unity, and so on.

Lu Ming could instantly recall many reasons and tactics from his past life that bosses used to make things difficult for their subordinates.

However, with Li Guanqi's temperament, it probably wouldn't be that simple.

The best method was undoubtedly...

"Making me disappear!"

Lu Ming narrowed his eyes, as that would be the most time-saving and effortless method, without the need to rack his brains for schemes!

Having figured this out, Lu Ming chuckled. It had been many years since he'd met someone who dared to scheme against him.

He wanted to see exactly how he intended to do it.

However, Lu Ming also kept his guard up to avoid capsizing in the gutter.

When he arrived at the city wall, Li Guanqi had already begun directing the other Cultivators to face the enemy.

Seeing Lu Ming approach, Li Guanqi changed his sour expression from earlier and instead greeted him with gentle courtesy.

"I'll have to trouble Senior Han with my safety!"

Seeing him like this, Lu Ming raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, simply nodding.

"Rest assured, since I have promised Commander Sikong, I will not let anything happen to you, Fellow Daoist!"

"That is excellent, many thanks, Senior."

A sly smile flashed across Li Guanqi's face before he restrained it and bowed to Lu Ming again.

Watching this scene, Lu Ming sneered internally.

Too crude, kid, you still need practice!

Anyone who wasn't a fool could sense that something was wrong.

And Lu Ming could see exactly what game the other party was playing at a glance!

He was establishing a precedent right in front of everyone, setting the tone!

He wanted others to know that Lu Ming was ordered to protect him, so if anything happened to him, Lu Ming would be the one to take the blame.

And with Li Guanqi's hidden Foundation Establishment cultivation, as long as he didn't court death by rushing into the beast tide, he had plenty of room for maneuvering.

For example, right now, Lu Ming watched helplessly as Li Guanqi's hands grew 'itchy' and he struck a Spell at a Green Thunder Yao Falcon.

Originally, this Green Thunder Yao Falcon was not targeting the North Gate, but this painless Spell was practically a provocation, so it immediately turned and dove toward Li Guanqi.

Then, Li Guanqi quite naturally shielded himself behind Lu Ming.

Lu Ming: "..."

You're not even going to pretend anymore, are you!

However, now was not the time to think about that, because a piercing shriek was already coming from high above.

A shadow like a dark cloud covered the sky, instantly enveloping Lu Ming on the city wall.

The Green Thunder Yao Falcon's wings spanned two zhang, its feathers like bronze casting, gleaming with a cold luster in the setting sun.

Its pitch-black claws, capable of easily crushing a Magical Artifact, were now diving down with the force of a thunderbolt, the evil wind it brought almost suffocating.

If it were an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, they might have panicked.

Yet, Lu Ming didn't even move his feet. His expression remained calm and waveless. He simply brushed his hand across the Storage Pouch at his waist, and three glowing red Talismans were already pinched between his fingers.

Blazing Fire Cage Talismans!

He had slain so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators; what he had gained was far more than just common items.

He possessed a large pile of various Legacies, but Lu Ming didn't have the energy to master them all, so he only selected the most proficient Talisman Legacies to study.

Over the past few months, he had hoarded many Tier 2 Talismans of all kinds.

He had used them frequently during the previous defense of the city, but no one had questioned it.

There was no other reason than the fact that he was a Talisman Master by trade; it was quite reasonable for him to produce Tier 2 Talismans!

People just thought he had a lot of Talismans and was a bit wasteful!

But now that he couldn't fully reveal his strength and still had to guard against Li Guanqi making more trouble, he would just be simple and direct, giving this bad seed a little shock of firepower.