When Lu Zhou saw the curiosity and doubts in Nan Li’s eyes, he answered truthfully, “The southern true fire can improve the karmic fire.”
Nan Li was briefly stunned by these words. He asked, “You want to refine the karmic fire into divine fire? In the first place, not everyone possesses the karmic fire. Even if you possess the karmic fire, using the southern true fire to forcefully refine your karmic fire might result in a backlash!”
Lu Zhou nodded. “You’re not wrong.”
Xuanyi said, “Divine Lord Nan Li, based on your words, are you doubting Pavilion Master Lu’s ability?”
“No, no, no.” Nan Li shook his head repeatedly.
“Is it convenient for us to stay for a night at the northern Dao hall? It’s getting quite late, after all,” Xuanyi asked.
Nan Li smiled. “Let alone a night, you can even stay for ten days or half a month. Southern Split Mountain will always welcome you.”
“Very well.”
…
At night.
The people from Xuanyi Palace stayed in Southern Split Mountain.
In the northern Dao temple.
Zhang He flew in and kneeled on one knee as he said to Xuanyi, “Your Majesty, I have a request.”
At this moment, Xuanyi and Lu Zhou were chatting happily.
“What is it?” Xuanyi noticed Zhang He’s expression was a little serious.
“Today, I witnessed Pavilion Master Lu’s skills and abilities with my own eyes. I truly admire him. I don’t feel worthy of being the Commander of Xuanyi Hall. Therefore, I’m willing to assist Pavilion Master Lu!” Zhang He said earnestly. Previously, he was unaware of Lu Zhou’s ability. After today, he was thoroughly convinced so his words were very sincere.
Xuanyi frowned. “Didn’t we already discuss this?”
“We did. However, Pavilion Master Lu’s cultivation is profound, and his abilities far surpass mine. If I continue to shamelessly hold onto my position, I’m afraid I’ll bring shame to Xuanyi Palace when I meet those two people again in the future,” Zhang He said.
Xuanyi nodded slightly. Although Zhang He was not extremely smart nor was he meticulous in planning things, he was very righteous and loyal.
Lu Zhou said, “I feel that the young man who defeated you using his clone can take on this heavy responsibility. If you insist on giving up your position, you can give it to him.”
“???”
Zhang He was stunned.
Xuanyi was stunned as well.
Upon seeing their reactions, Lu Zhou continued to say, “Don’t underestimate him. Outwardly, he looks like a despotic and arrogant ruffian who lacks manners. However, he’s very shrewd and cunning.”
Xuanyi laughed. “Pavilion Master Lu seems to know him very well. Now that you mention it, he’s really quite interesting.”
Zhang He said unwillingly, “I still think Pavilion Master Lu is the most suitable.”
“Don’t be rude,” Xuanyi admonished him.
Zhang He lowered his head; he no longer dared to speak.
Xuanyi said, “Don’t mention this matter again.”
“Understood,” Zhang He raised his head and said, “I still have something I don’t know if I should say.”
“Speak,” Xuanyi said.
“Has Your Majesty met the White Emperor recently?” Zhang He started with this question.
Upon hearing this, Xuanyi frowned and said, “Scram!”
Zhang He felt that the situation was not right so he hurriedly turned around and left.
After Zhang He left and the others retreated, Xuanyi cupped his fists together at Lu Zhou and asked, “Please don’t be angry with him.”
“I’m not that petty.”
“That’s good. I won’t disturb you further,” Xuanyi said before he took his leave.
…
Midnight.
Lu Zhou brought the southern true fire out of the Vast Sky Bag. He suppressed it with the divine power and toyed with it, precisely controlling its heat.
With a flip of his hand, his karmic fire appeared. Following that, he merged the karmic fire with the divine fire.
He had learned this method from the memories of the Unholy One. The Unholy One naturally possessed the karmic fire. He had intended to take the southern true fire away but was delayed due to some matters.
Now that Lu Zhou possessed that knowledge, how could he let go of such a great opportunity?
After the true southern fire was subdued, it seemed harmless as it constantly weaved into Lu Zhou’s karmic fire.
The process was uneventful and did not cause too much damage.
…
The next day, Lu Zhou made up an excuse to stay for two more days and did not leave.
Nan Li, who had wished Lu Zhou was stronger, was naturally delighted. He wanted to continue to observe the stability of the formations.
Lu Zhou took advantage of the time to continue refining his karmic fire, gradually absorbing the southern true fire.
Fortunately, he had the Purple Glazed Ceramic, the divine mark robe, the Vast Sky Bag, and most importantly, the divine power. They all easily suppressed the southern true fire.
He spent the entire two days refining his karmic fire.
…
Two days later.
At night.
When Lu Zhou put the southern true fire into the Vast Sky Bag, a figure flashed past.
“Who’s so bold?” Lu Zhou asked in a deep voice.
The figure rushed into the hall sneakily like a thief. He rolled over on the ground and removed the black cloth from his face.
Thump!
After knocking his forehead on the ground, he said, “Disciple greets master!”
“Old Fourth?”
Apart from his fourth disciple, Lu Zhou really could not think of anyone else.
Mingshi Yin raised his head and chuckled sheepishly.
Lu Zhou frowned. “How dare you. Aren’t you afraid of being discovered?”
“It’s fine. These people are weak,” Mingshi Yin said with a smile. Then, in the next second, he moved forward with his knees with a crying expression on his face and hugged Lu Zhou’s legs as he said, “Master! I really thought you died!”
“No good words can be expected from a scoundrel!” Lu Zhou said as he kicked Mingshi Yin away. Then, he added, “Didn’t you say you don’t have a master?”
Mingshi Yin continued kneeling as he said, “I swear I was just acting for them to see! This is the Great Void, and the walls have ears. I swear on the Separation Hook that if there’s an ounce of untruth in my words, I’ll let the Separation Hook kill me!”
“Enough. Stop talking about useless things. How did all of you and Old Third to the Great Void?” Lu Zhou asked.
Mingshi Yin told Lu Zhou about what happened with him and Duanmu Sheng before he told Lu Zhou about Qi Sheng as well.
“Qi Sheng?” Lu Zhou frowned in confusion.
“This person intentionally led us to believe he’s Old Seventh and secretly helped us. However, the truth is he’s very cunning and has yet to show his foxtail,” Mingshi Yin said.
“You don’t think he’s Old Seventh?” Lu Zhou asked.
“Impossible!” Mingshi Yin said confidently, “Master, I know Old Seventh very well.”
“If it’s not Old Seventh, why did he lure all of you to the Great Void?”
“He’s trying to curry favor with the Sacred Temple. He’s now Great Emperor Ming Xin’s lackey. Then, I think he’s trying to curry favor with us to rope you in,” Mingshi Yin said.
“Rope me in?”
“You… Aren’t you the Unholy One? Master, why didn’t you tell me about your legendary identity earlier? From now on, I’m your number one lackey!” Mingshi Yin said. Then, he waved his fist as he added, “Let’s see who dares to bully me in the future!”
“???”
Lu Zhou frowned and scolded him, “Is that all you got?”
Lu Zhou’s stay in the Great Void was rather smooth now due to his identity as the Unholy One. Since everyone misunderstood him, he decided to let them be. Every time he comprehended the Heaven Scroll and the Resurrection Scroll, he felt like he was the Unholy One. Since the world needed an Unholy One, he had decided to become one.
“Master, you’re the high and mighty Unholy One. Are you planning to return to the peak and take back what you’ve lost?” Mingshi Yin asked with a cheeky smile.
Lu Zhou said, “Your master doesn’t have such ambitions.”
Mingshi Yin revealed a regretful expression.
Lu Zhou changed the topic and asked, “How are the others?”
Mingshi Yin replied, “Eldest and Second Senior Brothers are enjoying themselves at the Azure Emperor’s place. I heard they’re also participating in the commanders’ competition. I think they should be going to Xuanyi Palace in a few days to challenge Zhang He. As for Fifth and Sixth Junior Sisters, I’m afraid their situation isn’t too good at the White Emperor’s place…”
“Hm?” Lu Zhou frowned.
“The White Emperor and Qi Sheng have a very good relationship. Qi Sheng is cunning so he’s definitely not a good person. My two junior sisters are very simple-minded, and I don’t know if the White Emperor is mistreating them,” Mingshi Yin said.
“The White Emperor shouldn’t be so stupid. At the very least, they’re future supreme beings,” Lu Zhou said.
“That’s true,” Mingshi Yin said before he continued to report, “Old Eighth and that Qi Sheng is with the Sacred Temple. Master, there’s something I don’t know if I should say…”
“Speak frankly.”
“I suspect that Old Eighth has already betrayed the Evil Sky Pavilion,” Mingshi Yin said solemnly, “During the 100 years you were gone, he has done a lot for the temple. He’s now the number one lackey of the Sacred Temple. No, no, he’s the second. Qi Sheng is the number one lackey of the Sacred Temple.”
“…”
Lu Zhou asked, “How did you know this?”
“I went to the Sacred Temple once. Not only did Old Eighth completely submit to the temple, but he’s also spouting nonsense about the Unholy One to do whatever he wants!” Mingshi Yin said indignantly.
“If that’s the case, I won’t let him off lightly,” Lu Zhou said.
“That’s right! You have to punish him severely!” Mingshi Yin added fuel to the fire. Then, he continued to say, “As for Ninth Junior Sister and Tenth Junior Sister…”
Mingshi Yin hesitated and stopped speaking.
Lu Zhou frowned.
Mingshi Yin took a step back before he said, “I will be direct, but please don’t be angry. I think Ninth and Tenth Junior Sisters have acknowledged the thief who kidnapped them as their father!”
“Acknowledged the thief as their father?”
‘In 100 years, those wicked disciples have turned out this way?’
In fact, it was only normal for Lu Zhou to feel apprehensive about his disciples. He knew about and experienced the betrayals of Ji Tiandao’s example, and there was also Chen Fu, who died in Fragrant Valley, serving as an example.
“The relationship between two junior sisters and Emperor Shang Zhang is so good that it makes one’s hair stand on end! I heard that he treats them like his daughters. How outrageous!” Mingshi Yin said angrily.
Lu Zhou said, “Emperor Shang Zhang, his name seems vaguely familiar.”
Mingshi Yin said with a gossipy expression, “Do you remember the Dark Prince, the zombie king that guarded one of the Pillars of Destruction? They both had enmity. It was the Dark Prince that cheated with Shang Zhang’s concubine!”
Lu Zhou looked at Mingshi Yin suspiciously. At this moment, not only did Mingshi Yin look like a gossipy woman, but Mingshi Yin also looked like a treacherous official depicted in the history books. He said with a frown, “Old Fourth, they’re all your fellow disciples. Are you sure you’re right?’
“Master, I’m not lying. I’m only telling you what I think,” Mingshi Yin said.
“If it’s really as you said, I’ll punish all of them severely,” Lu Zhou said.
At this time, Mingshi Yin muttered, “I can’t guarantee my speculations are right though…”
As soon as Lu Zhou heard this, he reprimanded Mingshi Yin immediately, “Bast*rd! How dare you spout nonsense when you’re unsure?”
“I know I’m wrong!” Mingshi Yin kneeled down obediently on the ground.
“Forget it. After all, this isn’t the Evil Sky Pavilion. You can leave,” Lu Zhou said with a wave of his sleeve.
“Leave?” Mingshi Yin said, “Master, let me stay with you. It wasn’t easy for me to escape.”
“I still have a lot of things to do. You should return,” Lu Zhou said before he added, “It might be safer for you to stay with the Scarlet Emperor.”
Once Lu Zhou’s identity was exposed, the ten halls would definitely attack him. At that time, he would have to deal with them alone. It would be difficult to have all his disciples follow him.
Mingshi Yin’s eyes lit up. “Alright! I’ll work with you in secret!”
“Your current mission is to grow stronger. You don’t need to worry about anything else,” Lu Zhou said, “I’ll personally investigate the situation of the others.”
“Understood.”
Then, Lu Zhou threw the Vast Sky Bag to Mingshi Yin and said, “The southern true fire is in there. Use it to refine your karmic fire. It can improve your cultivation and will greatly benefit you.”
“Thank you, master!” Mingshi Yin. Then, the cheeky smile on his face vanished before he kowtowed to Lu Zhou respectfully and loudly.
Thump!
“Master, since disciple isn’t by your side, you have to… take care.”
“Alright, go.”
