Jiang Aijian looked around himself before he moved closer and said in a hushed tone, “The Empress Dowager had an illness, and it’s said that the blank Heavenly Writing scrolls cured her. Hence, she gave one of them to the Retired Emperor… Alas, it was of no use. The scroll was then entombed with the Retired Emperor.’ When Little Yuan’er heard this, she said, “Are you saying that you want to exhume a grave for my master?” “What are you talking about? I’m not doing such things. I’m here to find the Demon Sword,” Jiang Aijian said. “Demon Sword?”
“The Mausoleum of Swords is behind the crypt. It’s a location nurtured by Qi of extreme Yin and Yang. I’m certain that a peerless sword had been produced at this place. On such an occasion, I, the leader of the three Sword Freaks, can’t possibly be absent… Little girl, don’t glare at me,” Jiang Aijian said.
Lu Zhou asked, puzzled, “Are the others free to dig up the Imperial crypt?” Jiang Aijian waved his hands and said, “The Mausoleum of Swords and the crypts are different. The Purple Sun Mountain has the Yang-attribute on the south and the Yin-attribute on the north… It extends for several miles, and both locations have nothing to do with one another.” He abruptly stopped talking at this point. He suddenly remembered the old senior before him had to be even more knowledgeable than he was, and yet, he went on and on about what he knew. He felt as though he had made a fool out of himself.
Lu Zhou looked at Jiang Aijian and said, “Indeed, both locations aren’t the same… but they’re both in the Purple Sun Mountain. Perhaps, they might have been connected a long time ago. Are you going to just stand there?” By this, he meant that as a prince, was he going to stand by and do nothing while outsiders dug his family’s grave? “Well…” Jiang Aijian was slightly stunned.
Lu Zhou walked toward the boulder that was blocking the path.
The group of cultivators turned their attention to Lu Zhou immediately. When they saw the old man, they hastily made way for him.
Lu Zhou’s appearance had changed some more compared to before… It was not merely a reversal of his age, but his taste in clothes had also changed. Ji Tiandao kept his hair slightly unkempt, he had a short temper, and did not practice restraint. The clothes he wore were simple and crude at best. On the other hand, Lu Zhou preferred to keep his appearance neat. At the very least, his clothes had to fit well. He had the air of an elder about him now. Based on this alone, he and Ji Tiandao did not seem like the same person at all.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “Clean this
up.”
The people around him exchanged looks among themselves. ‘Old man, who are you talking to?’
Little Yuan’er pointed at Jiang Aijian and said, “Go.”
“Me?” Jiang Aijian pointed at himself.
“Yes, you…”
Jiang Aijian wanted to cry. ‘Very well… For the Demon Sword, I’ll bear with this for now.’ He pushed away from the ground and spread his arm before unsheathing Dragonsong. Upon seeing this, the cultivators were in awe and made way for him immediately.
“What a powerful person!”
“Didn’t he say there’s nothing he could do about this earlier?”
“This aura… Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm! He’s a Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm elite!”
As soon as Dragonsong was unsheathed, a ring of golden light surrounded the sword, and a huge energy blade appeared. Jiang Aijian slashed downward with his sword.
Boom!
The energy blade collided with the boulder.
Rubble and debris shot up everywhere.
The cultivators activated their protective energies to defend themselves against the ricocheting rubble and debris.
A short while later, the air cleared, and they could see clearly again.
The boulder had been sliced apart by Dragonsong! Jiang Aijian was pleased with his own handiwork. He descended slowly. When he landed, he ran his hand through his hair and returned Dragonsong to its scabbard before saying, “I can’t help it… I’m flashy and powerful.”
The cultivators took another step backward. ‘Too powerful.’
Even Little Yuan’er did not expect this shameless person to be capable of such a mighty move. It seemed like she had been underestimating him all along.
Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction and said softly, “Let’s go.”
Qin Jun and Little Yuan’er followed him.
“The old first.”
“True, true. The old should go first.”
When the cultivators saw that Jiang Aijian behaved respectfully to the old man, they dared not underestimate Lu Zhou.
Little Yuan’er bared her canine teeth and said harshly, “Who are you calling old? You’re old! Your entire family is old…”
The group of cultivators was so shocked that they did not dare to get close. They merely followed from a distance.
After walking for a while, Little Yuan’er saw the group of cultivators was still following them. She said, “Master… They’re so annoying. Should I chase them away?”
“There’s no need for that.” Lu Zhou stroked his beard and looked ahead. “There are many swords in the Sword Mausoleum. Their cultivation bases aren’t enough to move the Demon Sword. On the contrary… If they remove enough swords from the mausoleum, the Sword Formation would be weakened.”
Jiang Aijian said, “You’ve got a point. As expected of old senior. You’re highly knowledgeable… I’m impressed.”
“Brown noser!” Little Yuan’er pulled a face at him.
Qin Jun cupped his fists and said, “Old mister, are you saying that the swords in the mausoleum’s Sword Formation are without owners?”
“They’re without owners, and they easily recognized new owners… We’d need some energy to destroy them,” Lu Zhou said.
“I see… I’ve learned something new from you again.” Qin Jun bowed.
The group of cultivators behind them overheard their conversation and was delighted. A few of the bolder cultivators bowed at Lu Zhou and the others. “The old mister is right… We must work together in the Mausoleum of Swords! There’s strength in numbers! Our cultivation bases are weak and can only obtain ordinary swords. The old mister’s cultivation base is profound, and he’ll obtain the better swords. This is perfect!”
“The old mister is kind and magnanimous, unlike the despicable Si Wuya who’s a selfish prick.” “…” Little Yuan’er looked at her master with an awkward expression on her face.
Lu Zhou was not angered. The rascal deserved to be cursed for what he did.
Perhaps, they found Lu Zhou approachable, the cultivators grew bolder. They closed their distance and some even walked with them.
Shortly after, they arrived at the entrance to the Mausoleum of Swords.
“The mausoleum is up ahead…”
“The entrance is barred again.”
“Why is he doing this? It only troubles others and serves himself.”
Lu Zhou ignored their discussion. He calmly said, “Jiang Aijian.”
“What?”
“Deal with this.”
“Me again?” Jiang Aijian felt everyone’s eyes on him. “Fine… I’ll do it.” He thought to himself, ‘Sigh. This is far from what I’ve planned.’ Like before, Jiang Aijian easily removed the obstacle.
Qin Jun said, “He must be doing this to buy time. These boulders… can’t stop stronger cultivators. It’s clear that he’s doing this to buy time.”
“The Demon Sword can’t be easily obtained,” Jiang Aijian said confidently.
“You’re right. However, you forget that Si Wuya is the Evil Sky Pavilion’s seventh disciple!” Qin Jun retorted.
Jiang Aijian was rendered speechless and was flustered by Qin Jun’s words. ‘Please don’t speak if you’re lacking in conversational skills!’
Lu Zhou remained silent. Instead, he walked ahead of the others with his hands on his back into the Mausoleum of Swords.
Little Yuan’er hastily followed him.
The cultivators swarmed into the mausoleum.
The moment they entered, mountainous piles of swords came into view. Various swords were sticking out of the sword mounds. They were of various sizes and lengths. The cultivators were captivated by this sight. Jian Aijian, on the other hand, shook his head. “They’re all third-rate items!” He could hardly wait to get his hands on the Demon Sword. To him, the swords here were unrefined and common. Only the Demon Sword in the Sword Formation was the greatest beauty in his heart. It was the only sword he fancied here!
