Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Lu Zhou’s first Birth Trial ability was the Flaming Golden Lotus. Karmic would rage around his golden lotus as it launched smaller flaming lotuses. It covered a very wide range.
His second Birth Trial ability, the Water Lotus Storm, had explosive power. It seemed to be a fusion of his Ice Seal ability and Tian Wu’s ability to manipulate water. Although only a small amount was used to cast the Water Lotus Storm, its force surprised Lu Zhou. The water lotuses cut down all the trees they shot past. At the same time, a biting chill settled on the flowers and plants, stealing the abundant vitality of nature.
Lu Zhou had wondered more than once how the trees, plants, and flowers thrived in the Unknown Land where the sun was hidden all year round. This meant there was no such thing as photosynthesis. How did the trees and flowers stay lush?
Lu Zhou shook his head. The world was filled with mysteries. He was not a scientist or explorer so there was no need for him to dwell on this kind of question.
…
Everyone from the Devil Sky Pavilion held their astrolabes to block the water lotuses.
Fortunately, the Water Lotus Storm was cast from the overflow of energy from Lu Zhou’s lotus. Hence, its force was not deadly.
Most of them were only pushed a few dozen meters back.
The Water Lotus Storm only lasted for a short while before it gradually calmed down until it completely disappeared.
The forest was quiet again. No, it could no longer be called a forest when the trees had all turned into stumps.
After Yan Zhenluo and Lu Li put away their astrolabes, Kong Wen and his brothers flew over from the distance followed by Yu Zhenghai, Yu Shangrong, Mingshi yin, Little Yuan’er, and Conch.
“What’s Pavilion Master doing?” Kong Wen murmured.
Everyone turned to look at him. Apart from looking disheveled, he seemed fine.
Yu Zhenghai asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I was just caught off guard,” Kong Wen said sheepishly.
“You’ll get used to it… Let me give you another piece of advice. In the future, when the Pavilion Master cultivates, no matter how curious you are, don’t go near him,” Yan Zhenluo said.
Kong Wen nodded. Since the moment he and his brothers joined the Evil Sky Pavilion, they would have been beaten black and blue until they were bedridden if it were not for Yan Zhenluo telling them about the various unspoken rules in the pavilion. For example, Yan Zhenluo had told them not to provoke or offend the elder and little ancestors in the Evil Sky Pavilion.
…
Without Lu Zhou’s orders, the others naturally did not dare to approach.
Lu Zhou observed his Dantian’s sea of Qi. It had already returned to normal. He nodded; his cultivation had improved significantly. Then, he looked at the system panel.
Remaining lifespan: 4,096,862 days (11,224 years)
“Hmm? My lifespan was not absorbed at all?” Not only did he not lose his lifespan while activating his 12th Birth Chart, but his lifespan had increased tremendously as well.
Activating the 12th Birth Chart increased one’s life by 500 years. Sprouting the 11th leaf and activating the 13th Birth Chart gave him 3,000 years respectively. Altogether, he had gained 6,500 years of life. Usually, activating a Birth Chart required 3,000 years of life. However, with the Divine Soul Bead, the process did not require his lifespan at all. The Divine Soul Pearl directly activated two Birth Charts, sprouted a leaf, and helped him pass his second Birth Trial. This rate of improvement was probably unprecedented.
At this time, Lu Zhou recalled the speed of the Pillar of Impermanence. Compared to the past, the speed was admittedly abnormally fast.
Lu Zhou transmitted his voice to the others. “Come here.”
The people from the Evil Sky Pavilion rushed over immediately.
“Greetings, Pavilion Master.”
“Greetings, Master.”
Lu Zhou turned around and swept his gaze across everyone. It was clear their cultivation and strength were better than before. Then, he looked at Lu Li and asked, “How’s the effect of the blue crystal?”
Lu Li replied respectfully, “The Great Void energy from the blue crystal is strong. With its help, my Birth Palace has expanded. Thanks to the Pillar of Impermanence, I’ll be able to activate my next Birth Chart soon.”
“Congratulations,” Yan Zhenluo said.
The others followed suit and congratulated Lu Li as well.
Lu Zhou nodded. Then, he put his hands on his back and said, “Report your cultivation.”
Yan Zhenluo was the first to reply. He said, “I’m fortunate enough to have activated seven Birth Charts.”
Lu Li said, “Five Birth Charts.”
Kong Wen scratched his head and said, “I-I just activated my fifth Birth Chart…”
Kong Wu, Zhang Qian, and Zhang Laosi had four Birth Charts. Although they were weaker than the others, due to their time in the Unknown Land, they had many survival skills. These skills were able to make up for their weaker cultivation bases.
Yu Zheng cleared his throat and loudly said, “Eight Birth Charts.”
Lu Zhou did not find it surprising. After all, Yu Zhenghai had passed his first Birth Trial using Lu Wu’s Ice Seal ability. After passing the Birth Trial, the activation of the seventh and eighth Birth Charts was rather easy. It was akin to activating the first and second Birth Charts. Moreover, under the effect of the Pillar of Impermanence, Yu Zhenghai had ten years to cultivate.
“Eleven leaves,” Yu Shangrong said.
Everyone exchanged a look. Eleven leaves meant that Yu Shangrong’s cultivation was standing still. They knew Yu Shangrong had taken an unusual path of cultivation. However, after such a long time, he still only had eleven leaves. Something did not seem right to them.
“Did you reach a bottleneck?” Lu Zhou asked.
Yu Shangrong was quite calm as he replied, “No. I think I’ll have a breakthrough soon.”
Lu Li said with a slight frown on his face, “If we follow this trajectory, the breakthrough will be when you sprout the 12th leaf. Human cultivators can only sprout twelve leaves at most. That’s the limit, right?”
“Only 12 leaves?”
“It’s just something I heard. I heard that after activating the 12th Birth Chart, you can sprout the 11th leaf, and after activating the 24th Birth Chart, you’ll be able to sprout the 12th leaf. Mr. Second, I’ve never heard of anyone who could sprout the 11th and 12th leaves without activating Birth Charts…” Lu Li said apologetically.
It was destined that Yu Shangrong would not have anyone’s experience to refer to. He was destined to be the pioneer.
“So you can’t sprout any leaves after activating 36 Birth Charts?”
“I don’t know. After all, no one has seen a cultivator who’s able to activate all 36 Birth Charts. There’s nothing in the ancient books either,” Kong Wen said.
Conch asked curiously, “Even supreme beings don’t have 36 Birth Charts?”
“I don’t know about the ways of supreme beings. I’m afraid we’ll have to ask the Pavilion Master,” Kong Wen said as he turned to look at Lu Zhou.
Everyone turned to look at Lu Zhou.
“…”
Lu Zhou’s expression did not change. His voice was low and contained a hint of reproach as he said, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Focus on the present.”
Naturally, no one dared to persist on that line of questioning.
Mingshi Yin spoke up at this moment. “I believe everything will be alright. Originally, there were no roads, roads were paved by men. Hence, I believe Second Senior Brother will be able to carve out his own path!”
Yu Shangrong nodded and smiled confidently. “Thank you for your words. In fact, compared to the conventional cultivation path, I prefer this path. If the path is too easy, it’ll blunt my sword.”
“…”
After a brief moment of silence, Duanmu Sheng raised his Overlord Spear and said, “I-I… I think my strength is about that of a Three or Four Chart cultivator.”
Lu Zhou nodded. Although Duanmu Sheng had yet to sprout his eleventh leaf and was still absorbing life hearts to improve, his actual combat strength was indeed that of a Three or Four Chart cultivator.
Then, Lu Zhou looked at Mingshi Yin.
Mingshi Yin said, “I’m not talented. I only have four Birth Charts.”
“Fourth Senior Brother, it’s more than that, right? Moreover, you were acknowledged by the Pillar of Destruction,” Little Yuan’er said.
At this time, Yu Shangrong said with a smile, “If I’m not mistaken, Fourth Junior Brother should have at least 7 Birth Charts.”
Everyone was shocked.
“…” Mingshi Yin looked at Yu Shangrong awkwardly. ‘Second Senior Brother, must you be so straightforward? You’ve already used me as your practice tool, must you expose me as well?’
“Seven Birth Charts?” Lu Zhou looked at Mingshi Yin.
Mingshi Yin forced a smile on his face and said, “I really can’t hide anything from master.”
Little Yuan’er skipped forward at this moment and said excitedly, “Master, I have two Birth Charts! I’m getting a step closer to Second Senior Brother now! I’ll definitely surpass Second Senior Brother in five years!”
Naturally, when Little Yuan’er said ‘five years’, she meant the ordinary flow of time.
Yu Shangrong smiled slightly and said, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Moreover, I’m very happy that I’m Ninth Junior Sister’s goal.”
Yu Zhenghai. “…”
“Ninth Junior Sister, you can’t be rash. You have the golden lotus so it’s a completely different cultivation path from your Second Senior Brother,” Yu Zhenghai said.
Little Yuan’er scratched her head. “It seems like Eldest Senior Brother has a point…”
Lu Zhou said, “That’s enough. Conch?”
Conch bowed and said, “Master, I’m the same as Ninth Senior Sister. It took a longer time, but I’ve activated my second Birth Chart as well.”
Since the two girls spent a lot of time together, they were privy to each other’s cultivation progress. Although they both had two Birth Charts, the difference between their strength was like heaven and earth. Moreover, the difference would only become more obvious as time passed.
Lu Zhou looked at Conch and said, “Originally, we’re told you’re from the Unknown Land, but it seems very unlikely now…”
During this time, Conch had also thought about this matter. She was no longer anxious about investigating her origins and had decided to let nature take its course. Since she came to the Unknown Land, she began to feel it was unlikely that she came from here due to the harsh environment.
At this moment, Lu Wu lowered its head from above and said, “A human is approaching.”
Everyone turned to look at Lu Wu.
“Who?”
Mingshi Yin said sarcastically, “The Unknown Land is so vast. Who else knows we’re here apart from that person?”
“Zhao Yu?”
