Si Wuya did not bother about the two bootlickers. He walked at his normal pace.
Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng followed behind him. They were increasingly convinced that the person before them was the Evil Sky Pavilion’s first disciple. He was too familiar with the environment and the routes between the eastern, western, southern, and northern pavilions. He arrived at the back of the mountain as though he had been there 1,000 times before.
The moment Si Wuya arrived, he said without turning back to look at Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng, “The Heavenly Sword Sect’s first disciple, Zhou Jifeng. The Clarity Sect’s traitor, Pan Zhong.” He easily identified them.
Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng were taken aback.
Before they could respond, Si Wuya continued to ask, “How’s everyone doing?”
Pan Zhong did not answer the question immediately. He was thinking this was indeed how the first disciple of the Evil Sky Pavilion should behave.
‘Just look at him and listen to his words. How majestic! He’s a man of few words, but when he speaks, he asks about everyone’s condition.’
Pan Zhong scratched his head and replied, “Thank you for asking, Mister First. I’m doing fine. I like this place very much.”
Zhou Jifeng chimed in, “Thank you for asking, Mister First. I’m fine as well. This isn’t only a great place, the people here are friendly and approachable as well.”
Si Wuya’s expression remained neutral as he turned around slowly to study them. He was not offended nor did he reprimand them for not answering his question. Instead, he said, “That’s good.”
“Mister First, it’s cold inside the cave. I’ll bring a mattress and a blanket for you at once,” Pan Zhong said.
Pan Zhong’s voice had barely faded when a loud bang rang from behind.
Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng saw Duanmu Sheng who was holding his Overlord Spear. At this moment, he was looking at both of them with a stern expression on his face. They could tell instantly that he was not in a good mood and began to grow anxious.
“Mister First, please don’t be angry… Please don’t hold this against Mister Third,” Pan Zhong said.
Clang!
The Overlord Spear struck the ground.
“You bastard!”
Pan Zhong was taken aback. He did not dare to speak, but he muttered inwardly, ‘Mister Third is being too blunt. Indeed, Mister First had left the Evil Sky Pavilion for some unknown reason, but it still takes a lot of courage to publicly call him out on it!’
Pan Zhong was about to plead on Si Wuya’s behalf when Si Wuya suddenly bowed and said, “Greetings, Third Senior Brother.”
Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng were thunderstruck. ‘We’re dead meat this time. We made another mistake.’
Duanmu Sheng lifted his Overlord Spear and walked over expressionlessly. He glanced at Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng before giving both of them a kick.
“Ack!” Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng bumped against each other. They looked at Duanmu Sheng with a defeated expression, too afraid to say anything.
Duanmu Sheng said, “What do you mean by asking Mister First to not get mad? Old Seventh, is this how you speak to me?”
There was nothing wrong with a senior disciple instructing a junior disciple.
Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng felt like crying.
Si Wuya did not care about their feelings. Instead, he faced Duanmu Sheng and bowed again, “Greetings, Third Senior Brother.” He did it much more formally than before.
Duanmu Sheng snorted and said, “How shameless of you to return.”
“I’m ashamed,” Si Wuya calmly replied.
“All these years, you’ve caused trouble and unrest in the outside world. In the end, look at how obediently you had to return to the Evil Sky Pavilion? Do you think that everyone else is beneath you just because you’re clever?” Duanmu Sheng said, not hiding his intent to mock Si Wuya.
“You’re right, Third Senior Brother,” Si Wuya replied tonelessly.
Swoosh!
Duanmu Sheng raised his Overlord Spear and pointed it at Si Wuya. “Don’t you think that I’ll forgive you just because you’re talking to me in this manner!”
Si Wuya saw the heaven-grade weapon in Duanmu Sheng’s hand. He did not seem overly-surprised. He said with a smile, “I’m injured from the battle in Liang Province’s city. You’re braver and more valiant than most, Third Senior Brother. I’m sure you won’t strike a man when he’s down.”
Duanmu Sheng said, “I won’t be so sure about that.”
Swoosh!
Duanmu Sheng grabbed the center of the Overlord Spear’s shaft with his right hand while the bottom of the shaft was under his armpit. He pointed it at Si Wuya and said, “Old Fourth is right. There’s no need to be fair against a petty and despicable man. Master has told us that there’s no such thing as absolute fairness in the world. Show me just how much you’ve improved, you bloody traitor…” He thrust the Overlord Spear that glinted in the light. The spear flew out like a dragon.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Si Wuya tapped the ground with his feet and retreated.
For a time, the two of them engaged each other in battle.
Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng hastily moved backward. They observed the battle from the side.
“Brother Pan… I won’t believe you ever again,” Zhou Jifeng complained.
“Oh, shut up.”
Zhou Jifeng wiped the sweat from his face and asked, “Who’s more powerful? Mister Third or Mister Seventh?”
Pan Zhong looked at the two disciples and said in a hushed tone, “I’m guessing Mister Seventh. Think about it… He’s capable of turning the cultivation upside down. All nine provinces of Great Yan are in chaos right now. We shouldn’t judge a book by its cover nor measure the volume of the sea with a pitcher. Besides, I’ve heard Mister Eighth mention that nobody was able to make Mister Seventh unleash his full strength before.”
“Is he that powerful?”
“Just watch.”
The two of them ended the conversation.
Duanmu Sheng leaped into the skies. Then, with both hands on the spear’s shaft, he dove. Thousands of spear shadows appeared in just an instant.
Imperfect Divine Intervention!
Countless spear shadows stabbed at Si Wuya without rest.
Si Wuya unleashed several shots of energy.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
To Si Wuya’s surprise, the spear shadows easily destroyed his energy blasts. The tip was now upon his face, and he quickly raised his hands to defend himself.
Bam!
Si Wuya flipped in the air. He staggered backward. His arms felt numb from the vibration, and his face was pale.
Duanmu Sheng retracted his Overlord Spear. He did not continue his assault. Instead, he said, “Is that all you’ve got?”
Si Wuya cupped his fists and said, “I’m impressed by your profound cultivation base, Third Senior Brother.”
Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng were speechless.
Zhou Jifeng rolled his eyes and looked at Pan Zhong skeptically. Based on his expression, it was clear that he would rather wash his hair while standing upside down than believe Pan Zhong’s words ever again.
Duanmu Sheng raised his Overlord Spear. He spun it in his hand before resting it on his shoulder. He said, “Go into the cave. Are you waiting for me to invite you in?”
Si Wuya nodded. He did not resist. Without saying another word, he entered the Cave of Reflection.
The back of the mountain was quiet again.
“Your spear skills finally improved, Mister Third!” Pan Zhong said, giving a thumbs-up.
“Finally improved?” Duanmu Sheng’s expression looked menacing as he said, “Do you mean to say that I made no improvements before this?”
“…”
“Come… both of you. Forget your meals for a few days. Train with me.” Duanmu Sheng did not pursue the matter. Instead, he walked toward them in a friendly manner and placed the Overlord Spear in their hands. Then, he grabbed the backs of their collars and dragged them toward the training place halfway up the mountain.
Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng’s expressions were pitiful as they let themselves be taken away.
…
At dusk.
Lu Zhou opened his eyes. After meditating on the Heavenly Writing for half a day, his mental state was slightly rebuilt. However, there was still a long way to fully recovering it.
He called up the system dashboard.
Name: Lu Zhou.
Identity: Great Yan human.
Cultivation base: Divine Court realm, Dao-transforming stage.
Merit points: 42,800.
Avatar: Ten Worlds.
Remaining life: 9,763 days.
Item: Deadly Strike Card x1, Critical Block Card x62 (passive), Cage Bind Card x4, Ji Tiandao’s Peak Trial Card x1, Whitzard (resting), Bi An, Critical Heal Card, x2, Improved Binding Cage Card x2, Improved Critical Heal Card x2, Thunderblast x1, Reversal Card x33.
Weapon: Unnamed, Life Cutter, Jade Horsetail Whisk (refinement needed), Peacock Plume (refinement needed).
Cultivation method: Three Scrolls of Heavenly Writing.
All in all, he did gain from his time in Liang Province. Si Wuya contributed a lot by killing nearly 2,000 Other Tribesmen.
Lu Zhou muttered under his breath, “One more step… I’m one step away from entering the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm.” Only when he was in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm would he be considered as truly stepping out into the cultivation world.
Lu Zhou waved his hand casually. The dashboard vanished. When he remembered that he had matters to attend to, he pushed the thought of spending his merit points to the back of his mind. He had sensed someone cleaning outside his room so he said, “Summon Si Wuya here.”
“Understood.”
