Zhu Honggong nodded. “My master isn’t unreasonable. When we return, perhaps, he’ll accept you and give you a position in the Evil Sky Pavilion.”
Lu Li smiled and said, “Do you think I’m such a greedy person with ulterior motives? If that’s the case, it’s better for me to stay in the yellow lotus domain and live like a king.”
Zhu Honggong laughed. “You’re right. In fact, I think it’s not a bad idea. It agrees as well.” After he finished speaking, he pointed at Dang Kang that was lying under the table.
Dang Kang grunted twice before it fell back asleep. It lived a luxurious and enviable life ever since it came to the yellow lotus domain. It grew bigger than when it first arrived, and its fur shone lustrously.
Zhu Honggong asked, “Why do you have to return?”
Lu Li replied, “I’m different from you. The Lu clan isn’t the same as before. As long as I stay in the Black Tower Council, the Lu clan will be safe…”
“If that’s the case, why did you work so hard and go to the Endless Ocean?” Zhu Honggong asked.
“It wasn’t my choice. The internal strife in the Black Tower Council is too severe. Those who maintain a neutral stance are vulnerable and without protection. For this reason, the dangerous task at the Endless Ocean fell on my lap.”
“How Pitiful,” Zhu Honggong said.
Lu Li replied with a straight face, “No, you should pity yourself. The ancestor of the Lu clan was really amazing. The clan wasn’t one that cultivators could get close to. Even the current Black Tower Council wouldn’t be worthy of our clan…”
“…”
“I know you don’t believe me. However, 30,000 years ago, the ancestor of the Lu clan was a prominent figure. Even your Evil Sky Pavilion would not be able to compare to it!”
Zhu Honggong felt his head ache when he heard these words. He hastily picked the life heart up and thought to himself as he left, ‘If you have the guts, you can say this in front of my master when you meet!’
…
At this time, Lu Zhou finally cut off the power of sight.
From the looks of it, his eighth disciple should be sprouting the eleventh leaf soon. It was relatively safe in the yellow lotus domain now. With Lu Li and Zhu Honggong’s arrival in the yellow lotus domain, resulting in the introduction of severing one’s lotus and the arrival of fierce beasts, it was only a matter of time before the yellow lotus domain grew stronger.
Lu Zhou did not observe Yu Zhenghai, Ming Shiyin, Ci Yuan’er, and Conch.
Yu Zhenghai had already entered the Thousand Realms Whirling stage. It would not take long for him to activate his second Birth Chart.
As for Mingshi Yin, Lu Zhou did not think there was a need to worry at all. It was best to let his fourth disciple be. So far, no one was aware that his fourth disciple had entered the Thousand Realms Whirling stage.
As for Little Yuan ‘er and Conch, they were talented and diligent so there was no need to worry about them as well.
Lu Zhou sighed and muttered to himself, “This is the reason why everyone fought and die for the Great Void Seed. Look at how talented my disciples are…”
At this moment, a voice rang from outside the door.
“Master, there’s news.”
“Speak.”
“A pillar of light has appeared on the peak of the snowy mountain in Cloud Mountain. It’s probably from a runic passage,” Si Wuya said.
Lu Zhou rose to his feet and left the room with his hands on his back. When he saw Si Wuya standing respectfully outside of the room, he said, “Let’s return to the red lotus domain.”
“Understood.”
When Lu Qianshan learned that Lu Zhou was leaving, he sent Lu Zhou off respectfully.
Lu Zhou left through Great Yuan’s royal court’s runic passage.
…
At this time, in the royal palace’s Indestructible Hall in the capital.
Mu Ertie paced back and forth.
Soon after, a eunuch walked in and timidly said, “Your Majesty, the Pavilion Master of the Evil Sky Pavilion had already left the Lu clan and returned to the red lotus domain via our runic passage.”
Mu Ertie stopped in his tracks and said with a serious expression, “Pass down my decree. Lu Qianshan will be conferred the title of Protector of the Country. The clan’s wealth and fertile lands will be exempted from taxes…”
“Understood.” The eunuch left respectfully.
Soon after, another two eunuchs entered, carrying a stretcher between them.
The warrior, An Se, the strongest expert in Great Yuan’s royal palace, lay on the stretcher.
A sympathetic expression appeared on Mu Ertie’s face as he asked, “Are… Are you alright?”
Anse coughed a few times before he replied confidently, “I… I’m fine. Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’ll definitely return to the peak!”
“Your master is no longer around; will the Dark Soul Sect be willing to help you?”
It was almost impossible to recover after losing ten Birth Charts. Even if it were possible, it would take a long time. Therefore, Mu Ertie did not place much hope in this matter. However, if An Se had the help from the Dark Soul Sect, Mu Ertie thought An Se’s chances were good.
An Se said, “Your Majesty, don’t worry. I will definitely return to the peak.”
“Alright,” Mu Ertie said solemnly, “I promise you that I’ll avenge you in two years’ time.”
An Se was rather moved when he heard these words. “T-thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Bring Warrior An Se away so he can rest.”
“Understood.”
…
It was close to noon when Lu Zhou and Si Wuya arrived at the peak of the snowy mountain.
Si Wuya silently followed his master here. He did not ask about his master’s purpose of coming to this place.
Lu Zhou’s gaze swept over the Cold Pond. He silently observed his surroundings as he sniffed the air.
He could smell the faint smell of blood eroded by time, the snow, and the wind. He knew it was from Qin Moshang’s subordinate whom he killed. Apart from that, he could smell two distinct remnants of vitality energies. He could tell one belonged to Qin Moshang, but he was unfamiliar with the other vitality energy that seemed vicious and fierce.
Lu Zhou walked forward and came to a stop next to the runic passage.
When Si Wuya saw the runic passage, he exclaimed in surprise, “There’s a runic passage here? Does it lead to the black lotus domain?”
“It leads to the green lotus domain…” Lu Zhou said casually.
Si Wuya. “…”
“Do you have a way to completely destroy a runic passage?” Lu Zhou asked.
Si Wuya shook his head. “There’s no way to completely destroy it. It can recover from damages. The best way is to seal it so the other side can’t access the vitality energy here…”
“Alright. There’s no rush.” Once this runic passage was sealed, it would be akin to telling the other side that something had happened to the newcomer they sent here. The best choice was to leave the runic passage alone for now while he searched for the intruder.
Based on what Lu Zhou remembered of Qin Moshang and his servant’s conversation, it seemed like they were rules in regard to leaving the green lotus domain, and it was not easy to do so.
Si Wuya nodded before he asked, “Master, you plan to find the rat first before sealing the runic passage?”
Lu Zhou nodded. “Yes.” After a while, he said, “Let’s return.”
The pair of master and disciple flew down the snowy mountain.
Lu Zhou shrouded Si Wuya with his energy to make it easier for Si Wuya to descend the snowy mountain just as he did when they ascended the mountain.
The duo did not stay in Cloud Mountain and returned to the capital immediately.
…
In the evening.
In the Preservation Hall.
Lu Zhou recited the mantra for the power of smell and recalled the unfamiliar vitality energy at the peak of the mountain. He slowly expanded the range of his sense of smell; the range grew from a radius of 100 meters to a radius of 1,000 meters and a radius of 10,000 meters, but Lu Zhou did not smell that vitality energy. Even after he increased the range to cover the entire royal palace, he still did not catch the scent of the vitality energy. This was the current limit of the power of smell.
Lu Zhou cut off the power.
“Rat!” Lu Zhou muttered indignantly. He knew as long as he could not find the rat, he would not be able to start his Birth Trial.
…
At the peak of the snowy mountain, north of Cloud Mountain.
The hunchbacked old man descended from the sky. His nose twitched as he sniffed the air. However, he did not seem to smell anything out of the ordinary.
Following that, he brought a jade disk out of the pocket near his chest. After he channeled his Primal Qi into the jade disk, the jade disk began to glow with a weak light. Then, he held the jade disk in his hand as he flew toward the Cold Pond. As soon as he arrived by the pond, the light from the jade disk vanished.
“The Green Cicada Jade…”
The jade disk could sense the location of the Green Cicada Jade, but its aura was too weak now for the jade disk to accurately pinpoint its location.
When the hunchbacked old man turned around, the jade disk lit up weakly again before it was extinguished.
After putting away the jade disk, he looked in the direction of the capital, “I really like a game of cat and mouse…”
Then, he shifted his gaze to the runic passage as he thought to himself, ‘That person took the Green Cicada Jade but didn’t destroy the runic passage?’
After a few more breaths, the hunchbacked old man left the peak of the snowy mountain. As he flew high in the sky, he suddenly sensed a slight movement from the jade disk. He brought it out immediately. As expected, it was glowing with a faint light.
He muttered to himself, “You can’t resist using it, can you?”
The Green Cicada Jade was a sacred object that contained abundant vitality energy. Was there anyone who could resist absorbing the vitality energy in it?
