“If the Big Dipper Academy and the Sky Conduct Academy were to make their moves at the same time… I’m afraid that Eldest Senior Brother might not be able to conquer Yan Province. Eldest Senior Brother only has Hua Chongyang and Seventh Junior Brother by his side. The Big Dipper Academy is not an easy opponent to deal with. Moreover, they have Wei Zhuoyan,” Mingshi Yin said with a bow. “Master, please help Eldest Senior Brother.”
“Your Eldest Senior Brother is obstinate. He won’t allow anyone else to interfere,” Lu Zhou said.
Mingshi Yin nodded. “In that case, we can send Old Huang to help… Island Master Huang and Eldest Senior Brother are close. I think that he has rested enough. We shouldn’t keep him here forever.”
At this precise moment, a coughing sound rang from behind Mingshi Yin.
“Brother Ji!” Huang Shijie’s expression was neutral when he entered the eastern pavilion.
How awkward. The ancients had the wisdom of saying that a loose tongue could cause a lot of trouble.
Mingshi Yin greeted Huang Shijie as though he had not spoken those words earlier. “Greetings, Island Master Huang.”
“Hello.”
Lu Zhou looked at Huang Shijie and asked, “Did you manage to rest, Island Master Huang?”
“Thank you for your hospitality, Brother Ji,” Huang Shijie replied, “I heard that Sect Master Yu is marching on Yan Province at the moment. If you don’t mind, Brother Ji, I’d like to go have a look…”
Naturally, it was helpful if Huang Shijie was willing to go there. However, sending him there on his own might not be enough. Eight-leaf cultivators were not required to conquer the nine provinces. However, the current situation was that the Divine Capital was surrounded; the Imperial family would not turn a blind eye to it.
After muttering to himself for a moment, Lu Zhou said, “There’s no need for that.”
“Why do you say so, Brother Ji?”
“I believe in Yu Zhenghai’s abilities,” Lu Zhou replied.
“I’m not doubting Sect Master Yu’s abilities… It’s just that…”
Before Huang Shijie could finish his sentence, Lu Zhou turned around and walked away after he said, “We’ll discuss this another day.”
…
Two days later.
Lu Zhou could sense that half of his extraordinary power had been replenished. It was the same volume as his full capacity before he obtained the Earth Scroll.
After that, he did some breathing exercises.
Throughout the past five months, he had basically been exploring the Earth Scroll and meditating. His own cultivation base did not improve much. Fortunately, he had 100,000 merit points, which was equivalent to two Golden Lotus Leaves. He was satisfied with this pace.
Lu Zhou got up and flexed his limbs.
He went behind the screen and looked at the old parchment drawing. No new parts of the map had appeared. Then, he turned around and left the room.
He stood before the eastern pavilion’s hall and flexed his limbs.
At this moment, Mingshi Yin entered the pavilion. He bowed and said, “Master, Seventh Junior Brother sent another letter saying that the Big Dipper Academy and Sky Conduct Academy had left.”
Lu Zhou frowned and said, “Where does Liu Gu get the confidence to disregard me? Underestimating Yu Zhenghai is underestimating the Evil Sky Pavilion.”
“Master… Since Liu Ge possessed a sword like High Void, the Nine-leaf elite might actually be in the palace,” Mingshi Yin said offhandedly.
Something stirred in Lu Zhou. “What did you say?”
Mingshi Yin kneeled with a thud and said, “You’re the first Nine-leaf elite, master. There’s no one else. Regardless of the elite, you can take them out with a single palm strike.”
Lu Zhou raised his hand and said slowly, “Repeat what you just said.”
“You’re the first Nine-leaf elite…”
“Before that.” Lu Zhou frowned. ‘You’re usually smart. Why are you acting daft today?’
“Since… Liu Ge possessed a sword like High Void, the Nine-leaf elite might actually be in the palace?”
Lu Zhou felt this was a possibility. The armor, the diary, the red coffin, High Void, the red talismans inside the box; everything came from the palace!
Liu Ge had said that the Nine-leaf elite had once come to the Great Yan’s Divine Capital.
Apart from that, Lu Zhou had overlooked a fact. It had been quite some time since the Lotus-severing era began. Who could say that there were no geniuses who had cultivated to the Eight or Nine-leaf stage?
It was just like the games he had played in his previous life. No matter how hard he trained, there would always be some f*cker who would reach the maximum level in a matter of days. As the lotus-severing era progressed, the possibility of that happening increased by the day.
“Tell Huang Shijie to accompany me,” Lu Zhou said.
Mingshi Yin was shocked upon hearing this. “Are you going to help Eldest Senior Brother to attack Yan Province?”
“No.” Lu Zhou waved his hand. “I’m only passing by.”
“Understood.” Mingshi Yin turned around obediently and left.
Lu Zhou would not allow the two great academies and some other secret actor to plot against his disciple.
…
When the sun was high in the skies, the Evil Sky Pavilion’s cloud-splitting chariot left the barrier slowly and flew to the western side of Yan Province.
This time, apart from the three prisoners from the Taixu Academy, only Lu Zhou, Mingshi Yin, and Huang Shijie were onboard the flying chariot.
This way, the others could work harder in cultivating. It was also safer for them to stay in the Evil Sky Pavilion. Moreover, they would not have been much of a help.
On the flying chariot, Lu Zhou stood with his hands on his back as he looked at the three people from the Taixu Academy who were kneeling on the wooden floorboard.
Zhou Wenliang, Wang Jianrang, and Zhang Gong shuddered as they kneeled on the floor. They did not dare to move at all.
They had been imprisoned in the Evil Sky Pavilion all this time. They lived in constant fear and could hardly eat or rest. The villains would take turns using them as punching bags for their training. It had been a harrowing experience.
Mingshi Yin who was manning the helm turned to look at them as he asked, “Master, why are we bringing these pieces of trash?”
Before Lu Zhou could answer, Huang Shijie smiled and said, “The Taixu Academy has always been on friendly terms with the Imperial family and the two academies.”
Lu Zhou looked at the three of them and asked indifferently, “Do you want to live?”
Zhou Wenliang immediately prostrated himself and stammered, “Y-y… Y-yes…”
Only a fool would throw his life away!
“In that case, I’ll give you a chance,” Lu Zhou said airily, “The two great academies are already on their way to Yan Province. I want to meet their presidents… If the three of you complete this task, I’ll spare your lives.”
Zhou Wenliang responded immediately, “Don’t worry, Pavilion Master. We’ll certainly make it happen. I’ll write to them right away!”
…
Half a day later, the cloud-splitting chariot appeared on a mountain peak several miles west of Yan Province.
The flying chariot descended.
It did not head toward Yan Province.
Lu Zhou sat with his back straight on the flying chariot, looking down at Yan Province City in the distance. Only a vague outline of the city could be seen.
Zhou Wenliang said softly, “Elder Ji, I-I have contacted the Big Dipper Academy.”
“I see.” Lu Zhou did not look at Zhou Wenliang.
Huang Shijie said, “Knowing Sect Master Yu’s temper, Yan Province should’ve long been conquered. Yet, Yan Province is quiet at the moment. Seems like something worrying him.”
With the two academies and Wei Zhuoyan making their moves, it was only natural for Yu Zhenghai to be cautious. He was not a fool, after all.
A moment later, from the direction of the Divine Capital, white-clad cultivators flew through several peaks. They moved at a fast speed and had impressive auras. They formed a long dragon with their formation. There were roughly 1,000 cultivators.
“Master, here they come!” Mingshi Yin leaped off the flying chariot. He stood on top of the mountain and seemed exceptionally excited. “Master, use your Nine-leaf power now and kill them! That way, Eldest Senior Brother can rest easy.”
“…” Lu Zhou frowned. “Stop spouting nonsense… I’m not a person who kills without reason.”
“It was a slip of the tongue! Please forgive me, master…” Mingshi Yin hurriedly said, “You’re a man of reason and morals, master.”
Huang Shijie cupped his fists as well. “I don’t know about anything else, but I know that you’re a highly tolerant person. The people you killed deserved it. If this is what it means to be a fiend, then Penglai Island is willing to follow the Evil Sky Pavilion.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenliang and the others shuddered.
Even the Penglai Sect was supporting the Evil Sky Pavilion. The Evil Sky Pavilion’s charm was evident. The Evil Sky Pavilion was like the sun at high noon. It was not surprising for it to have a huge following.
At this moment, the thousand white-clad cultivators were drawing closer.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
The cultivators stopped near the mountain’s peak. They arranged themselves in square formations and lowered their altitude.
Zhou Wenliang looked at them. He said in a hushed voice, “Senior Ji, I… I’ll go greet them.”
“Go.” Lu Zhou waved his sleeve. He was not worried about Zhou Wenliang defecting at the final moment. He had countless ways to kill Zhou Wenliang. If Zhou Wenliang was bright enough, he would not dare do something as brainless as that.
Zhou Wenliang tapped the ground with his feet and flew away. “Zhou Wenliang of the Taixu Academy extends his greetings.”
1,000 Big Dipper Academy disciples flew toward him. They were well-trained, and their movements were neat.
The one who stood at the lead was the Big Dipper Academy’s president, Zhou Youcai.
“Zhou Wenliang… You’re actually here. The Taixu Academy’s Patriarch, Lin Xin, had always been on good terms with my academy. Now that the Evil Sky Pavilion’s first disciple, Yu Zhenghai, is stirring up a storm, you and I should work together with the Divine Capital to take down the Evil Sky Pavilion,” Zhou Youcai said.
“Uh…” Zhou Wenliang was filled with the urge to cry. The current Taixu Academy had no master, patriarch, barrier, and core disciples. What were they supposed to use to fight against the Evil Sky Pavilion? They were in no position to be discussing a collaboration. Although he was the Second Elder, he was powerless and helpless. In the end, he shook his head and said, diving into the heart of the matter, “Senior, look over there…”
Zhou Youcai looked in the direction where Zhou Wenliang pointed. On the mountain’s peak, half of the cloud-splitting chariot could be seen. He frowned immediately. Shortly after, he saw a man standing on a huge rock waving at him, “Hello, President Zhou. We meet again!”
Zhou Youcai frowned and said, “Who are you?”
“The Evil Sky Pavilion’s Mister Fourth, Mingshi Yin,” Zhou Wenliang said.
Zhou Youcai glared at him. “So, it’s the fourth villain of the Evil Sky Pavilion… Men!”
“Here!”
“Take him down swiftly… I want him alive. With him, we can negotiate with Yu Zhenghai! Zhou Wenliang, good job! Although the Taixu Academy isn’t what it once was, as long as I’m here, nobody will be allowed to bully the Taixu Academy.”
Zhou Wenliang. “…”
‘How did he become the president with that brain?’
