Yu Shangrong continued to breathe as green energy from the life heart entered the breathing avatar.
However, the changes in the avatar were almost unnoticeable.
After two hours, the energy from the life heart was almost completely absorbed by Yu Shangrong's avatar. The light from the life heart had grown dim as well.
"The avatar really absorbed the life heart's energy!"
"Didn't I say there's always a solution to every problem? This avatar will definitely grow stronger and stronger!"
Everyone waited patiently for the avatar to completely absorb the energy from the life heart despite being eager to see the results. After all, most of them had advanced to the Nine-leaf stage by severing their lotuses. This determined if they could become a Thousand Realms Whirling expert in the future.
…
When evening fell, the avatar buzzed.. In just an instant, golden light illuminated the entire Eastern Forest Mountain. At the same time, the light from the life heart went out before it fell to the ground. It looked just like an empty shell now that the energy was depleted.
Yu Shangrong pressed his hand against his Dantian's sea of Qi as he let out a long breath.
Si Wuya walked over and asked, "Do you feel any changes?"
Yu Shangrong said, "My lifespan has increased a little… About 500 years. Apart from that, there doesn't seem to be any changes"
Si Wuya said, "Only your lifespan increased?"
If that was the case, then it was slightly wasteful. After all, one could increase one's lifespan with an ordinary life heart. Using the Birth Chart Heart to increase one's lifespan was truly a bit wasteful.
The others were naturally dissatisfied with this result.
Si Wuya said as he furrowed his brows, "This is rather strange. Life hearts contain vitality energy and special energy. How can there be no effects at all when they've been absorbed by the avatar?"
Pan Litian said, "If it's not enough, should we let Mister Second use the remaining two life hearts to try?"
Yu Shangrong shook his head immediately and said, "Elder Pan, thank you for your good intentions, but we've already wasted one life heart. There's no need to waste the other two."
The others sighed.
At this moment, Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, "It's a good thing that the avatar is able to absorb the life heart's energy. We'll still have to figure out how to use this to help you activate your Birth Chart…"
"Yes."
"It's getting late now; let's return."
Everyone bowed before they entered the Sky Shuttle and returned to the capital.
…
At night. In the Preservation Hall.
Lu Zhou opened the system interface and looked at the merit points he obtained in the Eastern Forest Mountain.
Merit points: 178,500.
Remaining lifespan: 642,420 days (236 years in 1,760 days are from the Reversal Cards)
Items: Critical Block Card x158(passive), Golden Taixu Mirror, Appearance Alteration Card x2, Synthesis Card x2
Mounts: Whitzard, Bi'an, Ji Liang, Qiong Qi, Dang Kang, Di Jiang
Weapon: Unnamed(unknown), Jade Horsetail Whisk(heaven-grade), Magistrate Brush(super heaven-grade), Purple Glazed Ceramic(intermediate desolate-grade), Cold Wind Trident(basic desolate-grade), Confinement Seal(intermediate flood-grade), Dragon Eagle's Fury(intermediate desolate-grade), Flash Hook(intermediate desolate-grade), Sea Soul Pearl(fusion grade)
Overall, he had made a small profit.
Following that, he decided to stock up on item cards.
Lu Zhou looked at the price of the Deadly Strike Card. 30,000 merit points.
The price had risen again.
After mulling over, he did not immediately buy the Deadly Strike Card. Instead, he decided to try his luck with the lucky draw.
"Lucky draw."
"Ding. Spent 50 merit points. Obtained: Reversal Card x5."
Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction. He had previously used up all his Reversal Cards. It was time for him to replenish the card. With the cards, after activating a Birth Chart, he could leave the life heart for his disciples to use.
Xi Qu and the two Shan Gao's life hearts were elementary life hearts. The Civil and Military zone in his Birth Palace had been occupied so he had no use for the three life hearts. For him to activate his fifth Birth Chart, he would need to capture some special Birth Chart Beast that had an intermediate life heart.
"Draw."
"Ding! Spent 50 merit points. Obtained: Reversal Card x5."
"Draw."
"Ding! Spent 50 merit points. Thank you for your participation. Luck point +1."
Despite his gut feeling, Lu Zhou continued to draw until midnight. As expected, he was continuously thanked for his participation.
Lu Zhou rubbed his temples as he muttered, "I thought I'd be able to draw a Deadly Strike Card. Based on how things are going, it seems like I won't be able to get one until dawn, at least."
Lu Zhou sighed and shook his head. It was getting harder and harder to draw useful items.
"I guess I'll have to buy the Deadly Strike Card."
Currently, only cultivators with more than eight Birth Charts were able to put pressure on him. He did not need to use the Deadly Strike Card to deal with the others.
In the end, he bought three Deadly Strike Cards.
After checking his merit points, he found he had spent 93,000 merit points on the three Deadly Strike Cards and the lucky draws.
Every time he bought a card, the price would increase.
After a moment, he decided to buy an Impeccable Card as well.
When he was done, he looked at his remaining merit points and muttered to himself, "After a night, the fruits of my hard work today are gone… I can only continue to work hard to earn merit points…"
Lu Zhou imagined the merit points he would receive if he could destroy Wu Guangping's Birth Charts one by one instead of killing him in one blow. However, based on the situation at that time, it was impossible to do so.
Lu Zhou sighed before he dismissed these thoughts. Then, he activated the Purple Glazed Ceramic and began to meditate on the Heavenly Writing.
…
Two days later. In the Preservation Hall.
Lu Zhou finally replenished his supreme mystic power.
Coincidentally, Si Wuya walked in at this moment with a map in his hand. "Master, I have something to report."
"What is it?" Lu Zhou's gaze fell on the ancient map. With just a glance, he saw there were many new changes to the ancient map. In the red lotus domain, a special area had appeared.
Si Wuya pointed to the southwestern corner of the red lotus domain and said, "When I was looking at the map this morning, I noticed the changes. I didn't dare to delay and brought it over for master to have a look. This ancient map is both miraculous and mysterious. It should be some kind of ancient treasure. Many areas on the map seem to be shrouded by some special power, but they'll gradually reveal themselves as time passes."
Lu Zhou only nodded. He could not say the map was given to him by the system, after all.
Si Wuya continued to say, "This place used to be called the Southern Kingdom. Later on, due to natural and man-made disasters, the place was abandoned. At some point in time, it became a part of Great Tang. It's nothing but a barren land so there's no need to pay attention to it. I have a feeling that if we can uncover the entire map, we should be able to learn the secrets behind the heaven and earth shackles."
Based on Lu Zhou's past experience, he knew a new area would not appear on the map for no reason. He opened the system interface to look at the mission panel. Just as he had expected, there was a new mission: Search for a new scroll from the Heavenly Writing.
It had been a long time since he was given a new mission.
Based on the mission and the appearance of a new place on the map, it seemed like he had to travel south in the red lotus domain to search for the scroll from the Heavenly Writing.
"Master?" Si Wuya called out tentatively when he saw his master lost in his thoughts.
Lu Zhou replied, "There's no need to worry about the secret of the heaven and earth shackles for now. Where's your Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother?"
"Eldest Senior Brother said that to play it safe, he plans to wait a month before activating his Birth Chart since he had just sprouted the tenth leaf. Second Senior Brother seems to be… in a bad mood since he failed to activate his Birth Chart. He has been practicing with his swords non-stop for two days straight now…"
"Summon them here."
"Understood."
As soon as Si Wuya left, Lu Zhou felt movement from the black talisman. He lit up as soon as he brought it out. In just a moment, Yan Zhenluo's figure appeared before his eyes.
Yan Zhenluo did not beat around the bush and immediately asked, "Brother Lu, did you kill Wu Guangping?"
Lu Zhou did not bother hiding this and nodded. "Wu Guangping wanted to kill my disciple; how could I allow him to do that?"
Yan Zhenluo said, "He… wants to kill your disciple?"
"Do I look like a liar to you?" Lu Zhou asked.
Yan Zhenluo regained his senses and hurriedly said, "Then, he deserves death."
Lu Zhou said, "You're a member of the Black Tower Council, after all, but you're speaking up for your fellow member and are siding with an outsider instead… Why did you contact me?"
"Two days ago, the Black Tower Council was in an uproar over Wu Guangping's death. I was worried the radical faction would send people to the red lotus domain again."
"They still dare to come after Wu Guangping's death?"
"In all honesty, I don't think they'll dare to come in the near future. Currently, there's a conflict between the Black Tower Council and the Dark and Light Alliance now. They won't have the time to deal with the matters in the red lotus domain when they can't even take care of themselves now. On top of that, there's the internal strife to deal with," Yan Zhenluo said. After a pause, he said gravely, "However, there's one thing I have to remind you. Recently, we've lost too many Birth Chart Beasts. I'm afraid once the Black Tower Council's situation stabilizes, they will carry out the annihilation plan."
"The annihilation plane?"
"Annihilate all the cultivators at or above the Ten-leaf stage," Yan Zhenluo said as his expression turned grimmer.
Lu Zhou nodded. "If hunters want to continue eating lamb, they should first kill the sheep that might turn into wolves. It's not a bad plan."
"Brother Lu, you're not afraid?"
"We'll deal with whatever comes our way. I've never been afraid in my life," Lu Zhou replied indifferently.
After a moment, as though he had just recalled something, Yan Zhenluo said, "I just remember that Brother Lu is from the golden lotus domain. I found out that the Black Tower Council has sent blackguards to the golden lotus domain."
"I know about that." Lu Zhou thought about Lian Xing who was with Zhao Yue in the golden lotus domain.
"I'm relieved Brother Lu is already aware of that. By the way, how's Lu Li?" Yan Zhenluo asked.
"He is fine."
Lu Zhou did not say Lu Li's life was more comfortable than that of an emperor at this moment.
Yan Zhenluo was delighted upon hearing these words. "Thank you, Brother Lu. I'll send you more talismans so we can keep in contact. Along with that, I'll send you the method to create the talismans."
Lu Zhou nodded. "It's best if you're able to send information regarding runic passages as well…"
"I'll try my best, but I can't make any promises. After all, information about runic passages is highly confidential. I'll contact you at a later date…"
"Alright."
The talisman burned to ashes, and Yan Zhenluo's image disappeared.
Not long after that, Si Wuya led Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong into the Preservation Hall.
"Disciple greets Master."
"There's no need for formalities." Lu Zhou slowly rose to his feet and placed his hands on his back. "I summoned both of you here because I have a mission for both of you."
Yu Zhenghai smiled and said, "I can handle the mission alone. Second Junior Brother absorbed the energy from the life heart and has yet to completely stabilize it."
Following that, Yu Shangrong said, "Eldest Senior Brother, you worry too much. The effect from the life heart's energy isn't big so it doesn't affect me. However, Eldest Senior Brother needs to stabilize his foundation in preparation to activate his Birth Chart. Therefore, it's best if I carry out this mission alone."