The Sky Wheel Mountain Range was where Lu Zhou killed Yu Chenshu, the Court Master of the Sky Martial Court. It was also at that place that he first met Lu Li, and his first time seeing a Thousand Realms Whirling avatar. At that time, the temperature was so high that he had used up a lot of Critical Block Cards. However, based on his current cultivation base, it should not be a problem at all for him to withstand the heat. After all, at that time, Lu Li who possessed five Birth Charts had safely emerged from the magma.
“Alright. It’s decided then.” After Lu Zhou decided to go to the valley in the Sky Wheel Mountain Range, he studied the method to pass the Birth Trial. When he was done, he called up the system interface.
Merit points: 672,610
Remaining lifespan: 291,970 days (800 years in which 663 years are from Reversal Cards)
Items: Enhanced Deadly Strike Card x1, Impeccable Card x1, Critical Block Card(passive) x133, Golden Taixu Mirror, Disguise Card x2, Deconstruction Card x4
Mounts: Whitzard, Bi An, Ji Liang, Qiong Qi, Dang Kang, Di Jiang, Ying Zhao
Weapons: Unnamed(unknown), Jade Horsetail Whisk(heaven-grade), Purple Glazed Ceramic (fusion-grade), Cold Wind Trident(desolate-grade), Confinement Seal(flood-grade), Dragon Eagle’s Fury(desolate-grade), Flash Hook(desolate-grade), Seven Star Sword, Green Cicada Jade
Lu Zhou had over 600,000 merit points left. The cost of an advanced enhanced Reduction Card was very high, much higher than an enhanced Deadly Strike Card. However, the rewards it yielded were very high as well.
Currently, it would not be efficient for him to show off using the Deadly Strike Card. It was more suited to be used as a trump card or a killing move.
Lu Zhou could obtain merit points through other methods instead of relying on the Deadly Strike Card. What was difficult was obtaining advanced life hearts. Just to obtain Ying Zhao’s life heart, he had to face so many experts. He could only imagine how difficult it would get to obtain higher quality life hearts. He could only use high-quality life hearts to ensure his improvement was maximized when activating Birth Charts.
After mulling over it for a moment, Lu Zhou spent 80,000 merit points to buy four Synthesis Cards and another 126,000 merit points to buy nine Reduction Cards.
The price of the Reduction Card would rise with every three cards that he bought. Lu Zhou found it acceptable; at least, the system seemed to have a little conscience.
He could not save these merit points. He had to synthesize the cards into advanced enhanced Reduction Cards. Now that he was left with 460,000 merit points left, he had to spend them sparingly.
Following that, Lu Zhou decided to draw ten consecutive lucky draws. He was thanked for his participation all ten times.
With that, he stopped and activated the Purple Glazed Ceramic to meditate on the Heavenly Writing.
…
North of Cloud Mountain.
The moon shone like a lamp, illuminating the peak of the snowy mountain.
From the twelve peaks of Cloud Mountain, one could hardly see anything at the peak of the snowy mountain except for the vast expanse of the snow.
Buzz!
A buzzing noise rang in the air before a pillar of light shot into the sky. After a few breaths, the pillar of light vanished without a trace.
Upon seeing this strange phenomenon, the Cloud Mountain disciples reported it to Nie Qingyun.
Nie Qingyun hurriedly left his room. He flew into the sky to observe the peak of the snowy mountain. Unfortunately, he was too far away and could not see clearly. With his cultivation base, it was not wise for him to fly up to the snowy mountain. Therefore, he said, “Pass this news to the Evil Sky Pavilion!”
…
Meanwhile, at the peak of the snowy mountain.
A hunchbacked old man dressed in a gray robe stood in a runic circle motionlessly. His eyes darted to the left and the right as his nose twitched, clearly cautious. If he detected even the smallest danger, he would immediately activate the runic passage and leave.
After determining there was no danger in his surroundings, the hunchbacked old man walked out of the runic circle. He slowly walked on the snow. After walking less than 50 meters, he suddenly came to a halt. He raised his head; his nose was twitching. After sniffing the air, he looked at the night sky and said in a hoarse voice, “The smell of blood…”
The hunchbacked old man waved his sleeve lightly, stirring up the snow around him. Soon enough, a frozen corpse floated in front of him. He sighed. “You were a slave no matter what. If you couldn’t even keep an eye on your master, then you deserved this fate…”
Thud!
The corpse fell back to the snow-covered ground.
He continued walking forward until he was at the edge of the pond that reflected the moon perfectly. The pond was as still as a painting; not even a ripple could be seen.
“This must be the Cold Pond that Young Master mentioned.” His expression was solemn, and his eyes gleamed like that of a venomous snake as he looked at the mirror-like pond. After a moment, he waved his hand.
Primal Qi surged into the pond, creating a vortex.
The vortex churned violently, stirring up the water from the pond high up in the sky.
Whoosh!
The hunchbacked old man withdrew his hand. With that, the vortex disappeared immediately, and the pond’s surface gradually grew still again.
He turned around and looked in the direction of Cloud Mountain as he muttered under his breath, “Young Master, rest assured. Your servant will definitely find that person and retrieve the Green Cicada Jade.”
…
The next morning.
Great Yuan’s capital was shrouded in a dense fog, giving the city a mysterious air.
Lu Zhou opened his eyes. His meditation had gone rather smoothly; he had recovered most, if not all, of his supreme mystic power.
After checking the Purple Glazed Ceramic, he discovered it had already recovered more than half of its energy.
All he needed to do next was leave for the Sky Wheel Mountain Range to undergo the Birth Trial. However, he was still worried about his disciples’ cultivation.
Lu Zhou recited the mantra for the power of sight and observed Yu Shangrong first.
He saw Yu Shangrong traveling leisurely through a forest on Ji Liang’s back. Yu Shangrong was clearly not in a rush; he looked as though he was enjoying the scenery. Since Yu Shangrong had sprouted the eleventh leaf, he thought Pu Yi’s life heart would be suitable for Yu Shangrong. He felt slightly puzzled that he still did not receive a system notification about releasing Yu Shangrong from his apprenticeship even though Yu Shangrong was strong enough to kill a Five Chart. He wondered if the system could not detect his second disciple’s strength due to the lack of a lotus and a Thousand Realms Whirling avatar.
Following that, he observed Ye Tianxin and Zhao Yue who were cultivating in the Evil Sky Pavilion. They did not seem to have any trouble with their cultivation. Zhao Yue had severed her lotus and was absorbing life hearts according to Yu Shangrong’s instructions while Ye Tianxin had successfully formed the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar.
“What about Old Third?” Lu Zhou knew better than anyone else that his third disciple was incredibly hard working. It was unfortunate that even with the Great Void Seed, his third disciple’s aptitude for cultivation was lacking compared to his other disciples. Needless to say, compared to other cultivators, his third disciple was undoubtedly peerless. At this time, he saw his third disciple cultivating in the red lotus domain’s Star Gathering Formation along with the four elders. Things seemed to be going smoothly as well for his third disciple, and it seemed like his third disciple would not be returning so soon.
Finally, Lu Zhou decided it was time to check on his eighth disciple.
Lu Zhou saw Lu Li pointing at a life heart on a table as he said, “This is the life heart of a sea beast king. This is the last one; don’t give up! You’ve absorbed eight life hearts; this is the ninth one!”
Zhu Honggong shook his head and said, “Old Lu, my good impression of you has disappeared. When we return, I will tell my master you bullied me. Your treatment of me is really inhumane and unbearable. I’d rather eat sh*t!”
“…”
Lu Zhou found this strange. Yu Shangrong had absorbed seven life hearts before he sprouted the eleventh leaf. Why was it that his eighth disciple had yet to sprout the eleventh leaf even after absorbing eight life hearts? Did this mean sprouting the eleventh leaf did not depend on the number of life hearts but the quality of the life hearts? Regardless if a life heart was good or bad, when one embedded it in the Birth Palace, a Birth Chart would be activated. Naturally, if the life heart was weak, one’s power would not improve much. On the other hand, when absorbing life hearts, the essences of the life hearts would merge after being absorbed. Similarly, weak life hearts would affect the overall quality of the fused essences of the life hearts.
Lu Li said, “You! How long have we been in the yellow lotus domain? Do you still not understand my intention?”
Zhu Honggong scratched his head. “I really don’t understand.”
Lu Li sighed helplessly before he said, “This will be the last one; it’ll definitely work. After you absorb it, you’ll definitely enter the Thousand Realms Whirling stage…”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“You’re certain?”
“I’m certain.”
Lu Li shook his head. Who would have thought he would also have a day where he had to coax another person.
Zhu Honggong picked up the life heart and said, “Alright, I’ll trust you one more time!”
Lu Li shook his head and said, “I’ll explain everything to your master when I see him.”
The duo had been together for a long time, and they had many conversations together about the golden lotus domain. Therefore, Lu Li’s understanding of the golden lotus domain had deepened. He said, “Back then, the Eight-leaf stage was the highest in the golden lotus domain. Like the yellow lotus domain, the golden lotus domain can only be raised in captivity by stronger forces. You should be happy you have the guidance of a Thousand Realms Whirling cultivator like me. When you return, imagine what your master will think once he sees you’ve entered the Thousand Realms Whirling stage?”
Zhu Hong’s eyes lit up. “You’re right!”
“Your master will definitely feel grateful to me as well!” Lu Li said in high spirits.
