Lu Li’s thoughts were written all over his face. ‘Are you trying to trick me?’
Yan Zhenluo said, “That was then. When you saw Pavilion Master Lu earlier, didn’t you find anything strange?”
Lu Li recalled the events earlier. There were indeed many strange things. For example, if Lu Zhou was truly a Ten-leaf cultivator back then, how did he suddenly become a Five Chart cultivator in such a short time? At that time, he was in a hurry to carry out the mission. He did not think too much and gave Lu Zhou the Birth Chart map at that time since he knew his chances of survival were almost zero. Finally, he nodded and said, “Brother Yan, you’re right. Times have changed… Moreover, Pavilion Master Lu must have hidden his cultivation base at that time.”
“You’ve just joined the Evil Sky Pavilion; it’s natural that there are many things you don’t understand. If you want to learn more about, I can introduce you to someone,” Yan Zhenluo said helpfully.
“Who is it?”
“Monastery Master Xia.” Yan Zhenluo waved to Xia Changqiu who was standing in the distance.
Xia Changqiu walked over with a smile. When he arrived, he bowed at Lu Li.
Lu Li, being the polite person he was, returned the bow as well.
Yan Zhenluo said, “My brother has just joined the Evil Sky Pavilion so he doesn’t know much about it. I wonder if you have time…”
Xia Changqiu interjected as he looked at the sun and said, “Sure, sure. I have a lot of time. I can do it whenever…”
Lu Li asked, “How about tomorrow?”
“It’s better to do it today. Trust me. The sooner you know, the better.” Xia Changqiu said with a smile.
“Um… Okay.”
With that, Xia Changqiu grabbed Lu Li’s wrist and walked to the stairs nearby. He said, “When you join the Evil Sky Pavilion, remember one thing: you can not judge anything by common sense. We’ll talk about the rest slowly. Let’s start with the ten disciples of the Evil Sky Pavilion…”
“…” Lu Li had heard Zhu Honggong bragging about the Evil Sky Pavilion over the years; it seemed like he would have to hear it all over again.
…
Meanwhile, Si Wuya and Zhao Hongfu rushed from the Sky Martial Court to the royal palace as soon as they received news of Lu Zhou’s return.
When they arrived at the Preservation Hall, there were not many people around. They saw Li Yunzheng who was pacing back and forth in front of the hall.
“Teacher.” Li Yunzheng bowed and greeted Si Wuya.
Si Wuya asked, “Why are you here?”
“I heard that grandmaster is back so I came to visit.”
“Have you carried out the task I gave you?” Si Wuya asked
“Yes, but the pressure is very great. The fierce beasts are getting stronger. There are strange movements in the sea near Jiangdong Circuit. It’s probably the same as Shannan Circuit. If more Birth Chart Beasts appear, I’m afraid we’ll be facing an unprecedented disaster,” Li Yunzheng said.
“I know you are a little anxious, which is very normal. However, this matter can’t be rushed. Return first. If there’s anything, I’ll send you a message,” Si Wuya said.
“Then, I’ll have to trouble you, Teacher.” Li Yunzheng bowed before he left.
Si Wuya looked around and saw Ji Fengxing and Wuwu sitting on the nearby steps. He asked, “Where’s my Eight Junior Brother?”
When they were on the Endless Ocean, Zhu Honggong had sacrificed himself to save the others. He had been plagued with guilt for a period of time. Now that Zhu Honggong had returned, he had to personally confirm that Zhu Honggong was fine before he could feel completely at ease.
Ji Fengxing said, “Mister Eighth and Mister Second went to spar at the front hall…”
“Spar?” Si Wuya was a little taken aback. Since he joined the Evil Sky Pavilion, he had never seen Zhu Honggong act even a little unruly in front of their Eldest and Second Senior Brother; Zhu Honggong had always been timid. In the end, he decided not to dwell on this matter for now and to attend to the business at hand first.
When Si Wuya entered the Preservation Hall, before he bowed, he was taken aback by his master’s change in appearance again. “Master, you…”
“Disguising technique.” Lu Zhou indicated that there was no need for him to make a fuss. “There’s no need for formalities. What happened during the half a year I was gone?”
Si Wuya said, “Great Yuan’s royal court is going to go to war with the red lotus domain.”
“War?” Lu Zhou frowned slightly.
“I’ve spoken to Ying Zhao. The fierce beasts in the Unknown Land have long been restless and want to invade human territories. There should be someone in Great Yuan’s royal court who’s skilled in the tongue of beasts because I’m certain they’re colluding with the fierce beasts. The sea beasts in the Endless Ocean and the land beasts seem to be abnormally in sync. They’re all gathering near the sea in the red lotus domain. With this, it’s a great chance for Great Yuan to invade the red lotus domain,” Si Wuya said.
“Mu Ertie is quite bold.”
“Murtie is very shrewd. The last time he saw you, he was clearly enduring and putting on an act. With the Black Tower Council busy recovering and Great Yuan’s existing cooperation with the Dark and Light Alliance, it’s normal that Mu Ertie would have such an ambition. Although he was putting on an act of subservience previously, this change is still too sudden and abnormal. There’s something fishy about this. Mu Ertie shouldn’t be so stupid…”
“Is he in the palace?”
“He’s afraid you’ll come looking for him so he hasn’t been in the palace for a long time now,” Si Wuya replied.
Lu Zhou nodded slightly and looked at Si Wuya. “Do you have any countermeasures?”
Si Wuya bowed and said, “Yes. When you weren’t here, I secretly sent a letter to Lan Xihe, the Tower Master of the White Tower Council. Joining forces with the White Tower Council is the best way to deal with Mu Ertie and the fierce beasts…”
Lu Zhou fell silent, lost in his thoughts. His real strength was that of a Six Chart cultivator. Even if he had the Peak Trial Card or the Supreme Mystic Card, it was impossible for him to deal with the fierce beasts and the beast kings in so many different places at the same time. Moreover, there were Great Yuan and the Dark and Light Alliance waiting to attack.
“Master, please forgive me. I didn’t want to do this, but… this is war…” Si Wuya fell on one knee when he saw Lu Zhou’s prolonged silence.
“Don’t be nervous. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said.
Si Wuya explained, “I thought about using the Black Tower Council or Great Ming’s royal court, but Xia Zhengrong and Gongsun Yuanxuan are too cunning and unreliable.”
“Is Lan Xihe reliable then?” Lu Zhou wanted to hear Si Wuya’s judgment.
“She only has five years to live. With her ability, she must have tried everything to change her fate and failed. People who’re facing imminent death are no longer driven by benefits. Moreover, it’ll only benefit the White Tower Council if they work with us…” Si Wuya explained.
Indeed. The Black Tower Council would have loved to cooperate, but they were not given the chance.
Lu Zhou said, “We’ll only cooperate with Lan Xihe as a last resort. It’s best to rely on ourselves no matter what…”
“Master is right… We should send Eldest Senior Brother to Jiannan Circuit. His progress is very fast, and he has already activated his fourth Birth Chart during this half a year. I’ve already asked the Sky Research Court to upgrade the Jasper Saber to the flood grade. It should be easy for him to deal with ordinary Birth Chart Beasts…” Si Wuya said, “Then, we should send Second Senior Brother to Shanbei Circuit. His eleven leaves are comparable to a Five Chart cultivator so it won’t be a problem for him at all.”
Apart from Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong, the others were more difficult to arrange.
Lu Zhou said, “Send Lu Li and Yan Zhenluo to Jiangbei Circuit; let Old Eighth guard Jiangdong Circuit…”
“Eighth Junior Brother?”
“Old Eighth has already sprouted his eleventh leaf. His cultivation base is similar to your Second Senior Brother,” Lu Zhou said lightly.
Si Wuya was slightly stunned. It seemed like his Eighth Junior Brother’s sacrifice at that time turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Coincidentally, at this moment, Zhu Honggong’s voice rang from outside the hall. “Disciple greets master.”
“Come in.”
Zhu Honggong along with Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong walked into the hall.
Si Wuya turned around and was about to greet Zhu Honggong when he exclaimed in shock, “Old Eighth, why are you bruised and swollen?”
Zhu Honggong touched his bruised cheeks and panda eyes. He flinched from the pain and said, “It’s just superficial injuries; they’re not a big deal. I was in such a good mood seeing everyone that I fell in my excitement…”
“Fell?” Si Wuya asked skeptically. No matter Zhu Honggong had fallen, he should not have been bruised to this extent, right?
At this moment, Yu Shangrong said with a straight face, “Eighth Junior Brother’s cultivation base has improved a lot. Congratulations. However, his flying technique is still a little weak. These injuries were indeed caused by a fall. Falling is an essential lesson for cultivators to grow. Seventh Junior Brother, there’s no need for you to worry…”
“… Second Senior Brother is right…”
Si Wuya stepped forward and patted Zhu Honggong’s shoulder heavily as he said, “It’s good that you’re fine…”
“Ouch!” Zhu Honggong fell on his butt immediately.
Si Wuya. “???”
Zhu Honggong held his butt and explained, “It’s nothing. Didn’t I say I fell? It’s inevitable to bruise your face, butt, arms, and legs when you fall. Doesn’t this sound reasonable?”
Lu Zhou stroked his beard indifferently and interjected, “Alright, now. Old Seventh, make the arrangements.”
“Understood.”
