Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Gaining Fame

Fang Qian was taken aback, "Even at this time, are there still people from the Lu Family who haven't come out of the Ruin Realm?"The Lu Family, being a middle-ranking family in the Ruin Realm Alliance, was unassuming and usually did not attract attention.

If it hadn't been for Lu Zhou's mention, no one would have even realized that there were still members of the Lu Family in the Ruin Realm.

Suddenly, the Lu Family became the focus of everyone present.

Upon closer inspection, the Lu Family was indeed still missing one person.

The Ruin Realm was a realm where life was not in danger.

So, Lu Qingshan couldn't have died in the Ruin Realm.

The only possibility was that this member of the Lu Family was indeed still in the Ruin Realm, having not completed the Ruin Realm trial.

Cultivators who had participated in the Ruin Realm trial immediately began to discuss fervently.

When they had died in the Ruin Realm, the scenario in the realm had progressed to where the high-level cultivators were completely overwhelmed, and countless high-ranking demons were slaughtering these lower-grade cultivators.

It was a massacre.

So much time had passed, and they couldn't imagine how Lu Qingshan, who had not yet come out, managed to not yet finish his trial under such circumstances.

Hearing the fervent discussions among the surrounding cultivators, Fang Qian's heart skipped a beat.

He thought of Lu Zhou's earlier, uncharacteristically bold move of betting on the Lu Family to take the lead at his place.

If he still couldn't realize what was happening now, then he truly was living his years in vain.

That old bastard nearly fooled him; fortunately, he was cautious enough, or else he would have lost everything this time.

Fang Qian's teeth were clenched in hatred.

...

Time dripped away moment by moment.

Initially, some people doubted that Lu Qingshan's final rank would surpass the Ke Family's Grade B.

After all, the Ruin Realm trial was not determined by the length of time one survived within it.

But the length of time Lu Qingshan had spent in the Ruin Realm had already far exceeded anyone's imagination.

Surviving in the Ruin Realm for so long, regardless of how he managed it, there was no doubt that the rank Lu Qingshan would eventually receive would surpass all others. S~eaʀᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The cultivators present were filled with curiosity in addition to being shocked.

All were Qi Refining Cultivators; there was no reason for Lu Qingshan to be so much stronger than anyone else.

Clearly, Lu Qingshan must have discovered something special in the Ruin Realm.

And such a discovery was very likely replicable.

Golden Core Cultivators, who were leaders of the major families, suddenly became very thoughtful.

In their minds, they wondered how to negotiate with the Lu Family in exchange for firsthand information about the Ruin Realm. Stay connected through M-V-L

Ancient high-grade Cultivation Techniques and Methods were extremely tempting for them.

Thinking this, a few Golden Core Cultivators who had this thought looked meaningfully at the Lu Family's group.

A lot more time passed, so much so that the cultivators at the scene began to wonder if there was another way out of the Ruin Realm.

The entrance channel to the Ruin Realm finally stirred once again.

Everyone quickly directed their gaze toward the entrance.

A ripple appeared, followed by a figure stepping out from the dark channel.

It was Lu Qingshan.

All eyes were on Lu Qingshan as he emerged, causing the hearts of the leading Golden Core Cultivators to tremble intensely.

Lu Zhou's pupils also sharply constricted.

Because as he instinctively extended his Divine Sense onto Lu Qingshan.

He had already discerned Lu Qingshan's current realm.

Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Before entering the Ruin Realm, Lu Qingshan was only at the tenth level of Qi Refinement.

But upon emerging, he was now at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The leading cultivators of the families in the Ruin Realm Alliance all flashed a hint of surprise.

Weren't the rewards of the Ruin Realm only Cultivation Techniques and Methods?

No one had ever heard that the Ruin Realm could also aid in advancing a cultivator's Cultivation.

Could it be that there was something about the Ruin Realm they hadn't grasped?

But at present, that was secondary.

The most important thing was, they were now looking at a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was exceedingly young.

Not even twenty?

Some wondered internally.

...

The Lu Family might be on the rise.

The same thought flashed through everyone's hearts.

Already, waves of shock had swept through Lu Zhou's heart.

Others might not know, but Lu Qingshan was a member of his family. How could he not understand Lu Qingshan's age?

This was a fifteen-year-old Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Moreover, if he remembered correctly, had it only been three months from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment for Lu Qingshan?

He couldn't begin to imagine the significance of this.

Perhaps in another decade or so, the Lu Family would produce another Golden Core Cultivator?

And even a Nascent Soul Cultivator was highly probable?

...

Qi Refining tenth level and Foundation Establishment might seem only a tiny realm apart, but the difference between them was like heaven and earth.

Even Lu Bei, previously considered the most talented in the Lu Family, had been stalled at this threshold for two years before crossing it.

As for why he said "previously."

A slight smile rose unconsciously at the corners of Lu Zhou's mouth.

Qing Ling, this time the title of the Lu Family's number one genius cultivator, I'm afraid you must hand it over to your son.

Perhaps, it wasn't just within the Lu Family. Even if the scope was widened to include Zhenjiang Prefecture, wouldn't it still hold?

The same thought surfaced in Lu Zhou's mind again.

Because, upon reflection, it seemed that he had never heard of a fifteen-year-old Foundation Establishment Cultivator within Zhenjiang Prefecture before Lu Qingshan?

...

"Master Lu Zhou, it seems that in this Ruin Realm trial, the Qi Refining Realm champion should be from your Lu Family," Fang Qian said, his eyes gleaming as he stepped forward to greet him. "It's fortunate that Master Lu Zhou showed restraint, betting only two fourth grade Spirit Stones; otherwise, my family's fortune might have been emptied by you."

After saying this, Fang Qian turned his gaze to Lu Qingshan and smiled. "I wonder what grade this young friend achieved in the Ruin Realm trial? Could you share it with me so I could settle the bets with your Great Elder?"

It was a greeting in appearance but a probe in reality.

Fang Qian appeared all smiles, exceedingly polite, but his intentions were anything but benevolent, voicing the question that all other families' cultivators present were most concerned about.

Old fox!

Lu Zhou cursed silently in his heart, feeling a slight regret.

Why had he, greedy for a few Spirit Stones, approached Fang Qian to place a bet on his own family?

And at the moment when everyone was preparing to leave, had he not opened his mouth to stop them?

But he couldn't really blame himself.

After all, he hadn't anticipated such a performance from Lu Qingshan in the end.

Being a little better than others was acceptable, but being too much better might make you a target in others' eyes.

The Cultivation World had always been like this, filled with the law of the survival of the fittest.

"Master," Lu Qingshan's expression remained calm as he politely addressed Fang Qian, smiling. "What's there to hide? My final evaluation in the Ruin Realm was Grade A, so please settle the bets with our Great Elder as soon as possible."

The surrounding cultivators were all shaken by these words.

Although many had already speculated, hearing the result spoken by Lu Qingshan himself still left them immensely surprised.

Fang Qian, still smiling, clicked his tongue in admiration. "Grade A, this is indeed significant.

But words alone are not proof. As the initiator of the bets, I need evidence to ascertain the final outcome, right?

While I naturally wouldn't doubt the Lu Family, if there's no evidence, and I declare your family as the winner, others might not accept this outcome willingly.

I wonder if this young friend could show us the reward they received in the Ruin Realm?"

Fang Qian naturally did not doubt what Lu Qingshan had said, knowing that Lu Qingshan, having stayed so long within the Ruin Realm before returning, must have achieved the highest final grade.

His manner of speaking was purposeful, merely a ploy to learn what rewards Lu Qingshan had gained within the Ruin Realm.

Especially if it was related to his advancement to Foundation Establishment.

The reasoning he provided was perfectly justified, as the legacy Jade Slips awarded by the Ruin Realm could be identified by their exterior colors to indicate their grade.

The Jade Slips of those who attained Grade D were white.

Grade C was green.

Grade B was blue.

As for Grade A, they were not yet sure.

This was also the previous criterion they used to determine which family had won.

Aside from Fang Qian's spontaneous betting, the winning family in each Ruin Realm trial would also receive extra slot rewards for the next trial.

And the family that performed the worst would have their slots correspondingly reduced.

So in every Ruin Realm trial, no family would hold back, all striving for a higher ranking.