Only during his journey back earlier did Mingshi Yin carefully consider it. After all, the lotus-severing era had dawned quite a while ago; the tides were changing. He was truly in a dilemma. In the end, he said, “Master… Sixth Junior Sister can use this. She has been at the Eight-leaf stage longer than I have. Her foundation must be more stable.”
“Ye Tianxin has never recovered from her past injuries. Her cultivation base has never reached the peak as well. She needs more time,” Lu Zhou said with his hands on his back, “The four elders of the Evil Sky Pavilion are old. After recultivating to the Eight-leaf stage, they won’t be able to compare to the younger generation.”
Lu Zhou continued to say, “Your Eldest and Second Senior Brother are possibly in trouble in the red lotus domain. From what we know now, the red lotus domain is much more powerful than the golden lotus domain. They haven’t returned even after all this time. I’m certain that they’ve run into some problems. I’m going to bring both of them back. However, before that, I can’t leave until there’s a second Nine-leaf cultivator in Great Yan. Do you understand?”
Mingshi Yin understood his master’s concern, and he was impressed by it.
“Among your fellow disciples, you’re the one I worry about the least…”
Mingshi Yin widened his eyes when he heard these words. He looked up and met his master’s gaze. Perhaps, he was imagining things or thinking too much, but his master seemed to have aged further. Time waited for no man. Even his ever-powerful master would grow old one day. The younger generation would have to take center stage sooner or later. In the end, he bowed and said, “With your faith in me, I’ll do my best, master!”
“Good. Go back and prepare for it. When the time is right, I’ll keep watch for you,” Lu Zhou said.
Mingshi Yin was moved. “Understood.” Then, he retreated from the room respectfully.
Many people in the world wished to be protected by the Evil Sky Pavilion, but it was similar to asking for the moon. This opportunity he was given could only be hoped for, but not obtained.
…
The Sky Martial Court in the red lotus domain.
Mo Buyan entered the hall. He bowed at Elder Qiu and said, “Elder Qiu, the final person in the golden lotus domain, Zhang Wu… His life stone has shattered.”
Elder Qiu was much calmer than before when he received this news. Perhaps, there was the precedent of Fa Kong’s death so he was not surprised that someone with Zhang Wu’s cultivation base would die as well. He opened his eyes and said, “He’s alone in the golden lotus domain. It’s impossible for him to conceal his avatar for so long unless he lived in the wilderness. I expected as much…”
Mo Buyan nodded. Then, he said with a sigh, “Looks like the golden lotus domain is much more powerful than we thought. Also, the research on the Sky Chariot is almost done. What do you think that we should do now?”
“Leave it for now… We’ll come up with a new plan to understand the golden lotus’s true strength. One Sky Chariot won’t be enough. If a single Nine-leaf cultivator is all they have… We’ll need ten Sky Chariots. I think the elites of Great Tang won’t mind having a slice of the cake.”
Mo Buyan was shocked. This plan was slightly bold. When they remained motionless, they did nothing, but when they made a move, they would launch a large-scale invasion on the golden lotus domain. After a moment, he said, “Also, we’ve received word from the Flying Star House. Their elder, Liang Zidao, and his subordinates, Yun Huan and Yun Lun, brought 80 disciples to the Thousand Willow Monastery. All of them are dead.”
Elder Qiu widened his eyes, and his brows were slightly furrowed. Before this, it was only a trivial matter, and they did not have to worry about the Flying Star House. However, it seemed like matters were not as simple as they imagined.
The Flying Star House and the Sky Martial Court were the closest allies. Who would act against the Flying Star House?
“Has the Thousand Willow Monastery grown so bold now?”
“It’s complicated… Moreover, I don’t think the Ninth Temple has a hand in this,” Mo Buyan said.
“Why do you say that?”
“The Ninth Temple’s Eight-leaf cultivator, Kong Lu, was attacked by a saber user and was heavily injured. This saber user… is in Thousand Willow Monastery. The Ninth Temple has sent experts to the Thousand Willow Monastery,” Mo Buyan said.
“Interesting, interesting…” Elder Qiu sighed with relief. “As long as it isn’t the Ninth Temple.”
…
Meanwhile, in the Thousand Willow Monastery.
In front of Fair Hall.
The monastery master, Xia Changqiu, had no other choice but to maintain a cordial relationship with Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong. Based on what Elder Tian told him, the duo had unfathomable cultivation bases. He sighed. He was only worried about the fact that the duo was from the golden lotus domain.
Xia Changqiu looked down at the gazebo from the sky.
Ji Fengxing was practicing with a saber and a sword outside the gazebo.
Xia Changqiu shook his head and sighed. “I wonder if this is the right or wrong choice. I’m ashamed to face my predecessors due to my own powerlessness.”
Tian Buji flew to his side and looked down as he said, “Monastery master, I think that… this might be an opportunity.”
“I hope so.” Xia Changqiu sighed. “Since I’ve made the choice, I can’t regret it. There’s no other way but forward.”
Tian Buji clenched his hands. “That’s right… We can only move forward!”
…
In the gazebo.
Yu Zhenghai stood with his hands on his back as he observed Ji Fengxing’s saber practice. “You’ve improved quite a lot. You seem much more familiar with it now.”
Yu Shangrong nodded and said, “Your swordplay is rather good as well. You’ll surely achieve something if you keep at it for a decade.”
‘A decade?’ Ji Fengxing wanted to cry.
Yu Zhenghai no longer looked at Ji Fengxing. He said, “Second Junior Brother, we’ve killed the members of the Flying Star House without giving it much thought. How are we going to deal with them if they send a Nine-leaf cultivator our way?”
“What do you think we should do, Eldest Senior Brother?”
“We’re both stuck at the Eight-leaf stage for many years… especially you. You’ve recultivated to the Eight-and-a-half-leaf stage. There are many dangers in the red lotus domain. The Black Water Mystic Cave itself has a high mortality rate. If we want to return safely, we must reach the Nine-leaf stage,” Yu Zhenghai said.
“Do you have a way to reach the Nine-leaf stage, Eldest Senior Brother?” Yu Shangrong asked.
Yu Zhenghai patted his pocket and said, “Master has given me Chi Yao’s Heart. It grants a person 1,200 years of life. With it, I can reach the Nine-leaf stage.”
Yu Shangrong glanced at him wordlessly.
Yu Zhenghai said, “Master has also given me the desolate-grade Jasper Saber. If I become a Nine-leaf cultivator, I can surely bring you safely back to Great Yan.” It was clear he was trying to show off. However, when he saw Yu Shangrong remaining silent, he thought, perhaps, he had gone overboard. After all, his Second Junior Brother was short-lived to begin with and had severed his lotus. Surely, his Second Junior Brother had suffered greater hardship than him. Moreover, now that his junior brother heard about how their master favored him, his junior brother must not feel good. In the end, he said, “If you need it, I can give you Chi Yao’s Heart.”
“There’s no need for that,” Yu Shangrong calmly replied, “How are you going to reach the Nine-leaf stage without that thing? I can reach that stage without relying on an external object.” In other words, he was implying that their master had given his senior brother Chi Yao’s Heart because their master thought his senior brother was too weak.
Yu Zhenghai. “…”
While they were engrossed in their conversation, Wuwu leaped off the gazebo and said, “Big brother, look there…”
A person was riding a white crane on the horizon, flying in their direction.
The two disciples from the Evil Sky Pavilion exchanged a look.
Ji Fengxing noticed it as well. He exclaimed in shock, “Big brother, quickly run! It’s the Ninth Temple’s Zhu Xuan!”
Yu Zhenghai stepped out of the gazebo into the air and asked, “Who is Ninth Temple’s Zhu Xuan?”
Ji Fengxing appeared anxious. He quickly approached the duo and tugged on their sleeves. “There’s no time to explain… Run!”
However, the white crane moved like a bolt of lightning. In just a moment, it had arrived in the Thousand Willow Monastery.
An old man who seemed to be in his seventies sat on the white crane. His eyes were lively. He was holding a black brocade box. He asked loudly, “Where’s Xia Changqiu?”
Above Thousand Willow Monastery.
Xia Changqiu had seen the white crane earlier. With Tian Buji, he led 1,000 disciples over.
“Brother Zhu, I didn’t know that you’re coming. What brings you here?” Xia Changqiu did not expect that a Ninth Temple elite would arrive before the members of the Flying Star House.
Zhu Xuan said, “Kong Lu has been unexpectedly attacked. I heard there’s a saber user here in the Thousand Willow Monastery… He’s the one who injured Kong Lu.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Changqiu frowned slightly.
Tian Buji said in a hushed tone, “We have a mole.”
Xia Changqiu’s eyelid twitched. The Thousand Willow Monastery was already past its prime. Was there a need to use such a despicable method?
Yu Zhenghai flew up into the sky and asked, “Are you looking for me?”
“Are you that saber user?” Zhu Xuan’s eyes quickly found Yu Zhenghai. At the same time, he saw the Jasper Saber at Yu Zhenghai’s waist.
Ji Fengxing said nothing else. He flew up and rammed into Yu Zhenghai’s waist as he flew eastward. “Run!”
“Too late.” Zhu Xuan pushed his palm out. The brocade box in his hand flew out as well.
The brocade box shone with a dazzling red light. It was as dazzling as the blue lotus.
“The Ninth Temple’s peak desolate-grade treasure, the Square Box.” Xia Changqiu was shocked.
