With those words, Lan Xihe immediately guessed the other party’s origin and identity. Fortunately, after living for so many years, she was able to control her expression and faced most things with a calm mind. She said, “The Nihilist Congregation.”
Luo Xiu smiled and nodded. There was a hint of pride in his eyes. Clearly, he was proud that he was a member of the Nihilist Congregation. He said, “The world has too many misunderstandings about our congregation. I’m sure you’re not like the laymen, right?”
Lan Xihe looked at the Unholy One’s painting and the Ancestral Jade intently. She was not too concerned about whether the Nihilist Congregation was good or bad or if it was a friend or a foe. What she was thinking about now was whether she should exchange the Heaven Suppressing Pestle for the two treasures. The two treasures were truly tempting. The only thing was she could not overcome the hurdle in her heart. She had always abided by the rules. The Heaven Suppressing Pestles were of utmost importance to the Pillars of Destruction. It might not be useful to her, but to the Great Void and to the people of the world, it meant a lot.
Lan Xihe averted her gaze and asked, “There are many Heaven Suppressing Pestles. Why did you come to Xihe Hall?”
Luo Xiu replied truthfully, “Holy Maiden, you may not know this, we’ve tried borrowing the other Heaven Suppressing Pestles. Alas, most of them are lost. Apart from that, you’re the owner of a Great Void Seed. This means you have the highest chances of becoming a divine emperor among the younger generation. This also means you have a stronger need for the Great Dao compared to those from the other halls.”
Luo Xiu paused for a moment before he said, “You don’t have to worry too much. According to the congregation’s investigation, even the Great Abyss Land’s Heaven Suppressing Pestle is lost. We don’t want the other Heaven Suppressing Pestles, but the Great Abyss Land’s Heaven Suppressing Pestle is extremely important. We’re still searching for it. In any case, this deal is good for both of us…”
Lan Xihe asked, surprised, “The Great Abyss Land’s Heaven Suppressing Pestle is lost?”
“That’s right. I’m very curious. The Heaven Suppressing Pestle was guarded by Emperor Yu himself so how could it be lost so easily?”
Lan Xihe asked again, “Do you have any leads regarding its whereabouts?”
Luo Xiu said, “Yes, we’ve found clues. I believe it won’t be long before we find that Heaven Suppressing Pestle.”
“Who has it?” Lan Xihe asked.
Luo Xiu did not reply this time. He only maintained a faint smile on his face as he looked at Lan Xihe. It seemed like this question had gone past his bottom line. After all, how could he allow the ten halls to benefit from what the congregation had painstakingly looked for? Finally, he switched the topic and said, “I’m still waiting for your answer. Whether the deal is a success or not is entirely up to you.”
Lan Xihe really wanted the two treasures, but she was very conflicted as well. She was still hesitating when a voice rang from the back.
“Just exchange it with him.”
Luo Xiu was naturally taken aback. He looked in the direction and saw a calm old man and a dignified man with a cold expression. His eyes flashed with surprise and joy, but it was fleeting.
Lan Xihe turned around and said with a smile, “Pavilion Master Lu, Mr. Ouyang.”
Luo Xiu said with a smile, “So they are guests present.”
Lu Zhou walked out and looked at the Unholy One’s painting. There was an indescribable sense of familiarity when he looked at the painting. On the other hand, the Ancestral Jade seemed a little ordinary. Finally, he said, “Open the scroll.”
Luo Xiu said with a smile, “The Holy Maiden has already seen it.”
Lan Xihe said, “Please open it again.”
Luo Xiu did not say anything. Instead, he waved his hand again.
Swoosh!
The subordinate stepped forward and untied the painting.
When the painting was revealed again, Lu Zhou immediately looked at the sentence on the upper right corner. It was indeed the same poem that was related to his disciples. He had deciphered it long ago and knew that the poem corresponded with ten characters, Hai; Shang; Sheng; Ming; Yue; Tian; Ya; Gong; Ci; and Shi. Each of the ten characters corresponded with a character from each of his ten disciples’ names. He frowned, puzzled. This poem clearly came from Earth. How did the Unholy One and Ji Tiandao know about it? He wondered if they all came from the same planet.
“…”
At this moment, Lu Zhou thought that was the most plausible explanation. Then, what did this painting mean? What other secrets were hidden in the poem?
When he looked at the painting, he sensed that the mysterious power was very similar to that of the Resurrection Scroll. The surging energy kept trying to pull his consciousness in.
Swoosh!
The painting was put away again.
Luo Xiu stood in front of Lu Zhou and asked with a smile, “Now that you’ve looked at it, what do you think?”
Lu Zhou looked at Luo Xiu and asked indifferently, “You’re a member of the Nihilist Congregation?”
Luo Xiu felt the aura of the person in front of him was very oppressive, even more so than Lan Xihe. With this, he discovered the other person was not easy to deal with so he said very cautiously, “I’ve already answered this earlier.”
“Then, answer again,” Lu Zhou said.
“Hmm?” Luo Xie frowned.
The atmosphere suddenly turned slightly hostile.
“Indeed, I’m from the Nihilist Congregation,” Luo Xiu said.
Lu Zhou nodded before he asked again, “Where did you obtain the Unholy One’s painting?”
“This…” Luo Xiu shook his head and said, “This is a deal with the Holy Maiden. Don’t you think it’s unethical for you to interfere?”
“You’re talking about ethics with me?” Lu Zhou asked.
“Forget it. I don’t want Xi He Hall’s Heaven Suppressing Pestle. It’s the Great Abyss Land’s Heaven Suppressing Pestle that’s important anyway. Goodbye,” Luo Xiu said before he waved his hand.
Luo Xiu had just turned around and taken three steps when Lu Zhou asked in a deep voice, “Do you think Xihe Hall is a place where you can come and go as you please?”
Luo Xiu stopped in his tracks, and his expression turned grim. He turned around and asked, “Do you plan to snatch the treasures away?”
Lu Zhou nodded and said, “That’s not a bad idea.”
“…”
Luo Xiu turned to Lan Xihe and said, “Holy Maiden, I came here to sincerely make a deal with you. I thought you’re an upright person, but I didn’t expect you to associate with this kind of person.”
Lan Xihe: “?”
Lan Xihe wanted to express that she was innocent and that she had nothing to do with this.
Lu Zhou frowned and said, “How unreasonable. I came out to support your deal, but you refused and accused me of trying to rob you before you tried to leave. I’m not unreasonable. I’ll give you another chance to exchange for the Heaven Suppressing Pestle with the Holy Maiden.” Then, he turned to Lan Xihe and asked, “What do you think?”
Lan Xihe wanted those two things very much. Hence, she said with a smile, “I was hesitating at first. However, since Pavilion Master Lu thinks it’s a good idea, I’ve also made up my mind.”
Lu Zhou nodded before he said, “However, before that, you have to explain clearly how the Nihilist Congregation obtained the Unholy One’s painting.”
‘The Unholy One’s painting belongs to me. It has many secrets hidden in it that I have to find out. It’s ridiculous that I have to exchange for something that belongs to me!’
