When encountering an alien term, Lu Zhou’s expression remained unchanged. It was so that he would not expose his thoughts. With some brainwork, it was clear that Sikong Beichen now viewed him as an elite that far surpassed himself. The Birth Chart must be some kind of power of the Ten-leaf stage just like the karmic fire of the Nine-leaf stage.
Lu Zhou neither nodded nor shook his head.
When Sikong Beichen saw Lu Zhou remaining silent. He said quietly, “To think that I’m able to meet someone with an initiated Birth Chart while I’m still alive. 2,000 years have passed, and nobody has ever succeeded.”
Lu Zhou was puzzled.
Sikong Beichen continued to say, “The Ninth Temple has been feared by others for many years. The palace and the Sky Martial Court have tried on several occasions to crush the Ninth Temple. If it weren’t for you, old mister, Chen Beizheng would’ve found another reason.”
The reason Chen Beizheng had used this time was the golden lotus.
The Ninth Temple could still challenge the palace and the Sky Martial Court, but they were far from being capable of standing against the entire world.
The golden lotus was undeniably the best excuse to crush the Ninth Temple.
Lu Zhou said calmly, “With your cultivation base, I don’t think you’d have any problem defeating Chen Beizheng. Why didn’t you do anything?”
“There are two reasons. My age doesn’t allow me to battle for too long. Chen Beizheng isn’t even 1,000 years old. He’s young and energetic. Next, this is the Ninth Temple. If we truly fight without restraints, my disciples will surely be caught in the crossfire.”
“I see that you’ve thought of everything.” Lu Zhou dared not underestimate this person. Surely, Siking Beichen was not the average person since he was the Temple Master of the Ninth Temple. If he did not have the 1,000 years of memories from Ji Tiandao, he was certain he would have problems navigating this situation.
For a very long time, it had always been others who were afraid of Sikong Beichen. Finally, there was one person who did not lose to him in terms of bearing and strength. “Old Mister, how should I address you?” He was clearly already trying to get Lu Zhou to be their ally.
Lu Zhou looked up and considered it for a moment. He stroked his beard and replied, “My surname is Lu.”
Yu Shangrong, Little Yuan’er, and Conch were not stupid. They immediately understood their master’s intention. They were in foreign lands, and he was using an alias!
‘As expected of master, he has thought of everything!’
Sikong Beichen racked his brain, searching for a Ten-leaf cultivator with the surname Lu. Alas, he found nothing. However, he did not think it was strange. It was only natural that there were elites who kept a low profile. He had lived for many years and was not a frog in a well. “Brother Lu, you showed us a Nine-leaf red lotus. Did you intentionally hide your realm?” After asking this question, he felt that he was asking the obvious. This man was capable of killing Chen Beizheng with a single strike. It was only natural that he had hidden his tenth leaf.
Lu Zhou did not answer the question. Was the answer not obvious? “Are you satisfied after asking me so many questions?”
Sikong Beichen was slightly taken aback. He suddenly realized that he was being rude. It was impolite to bombard another person, especially a guest, with so many questions.
“Forgive me, Brother Lu. I’m sorry.”
Perhaps, Lu Zhou had been living in seclusion for too long. He did not feel awkward when someone who was clearly much older than him addressed him as such. ‘If he has no problem calling me that, I’ll accept it. There’s nothing wrong with this.’
“The people said that you, Sikong Beichen, are a rare and talented cultivator, a Ten-leaf elite. 1,000 years ago, you fought against a 300,000-strong foreign tribesmen army. You’re renowned all over the world. Since you asked me so many questions, you should show me your avatar as well. Let me see it,” Lu Zhou said.
Sikong Beichen understood Lu Zhou’s meaning. Since they were supposed to work together, it was only natural for them to be on equal ground. A faint smile appeared on his face instantly. He nodded and said, “Those are just praises by the masses. They’re merely exaggerating. If you want to see my avatar, Brother Lu, that can be arranged.”
The others looked at Sikong Beicheng. Who would have the opportunity to look at it during ordinary times? Who would dare to make that request? He was about to manifest his avatar when Zhu Xuan brought Yu Zhenghai into the hall.
“Temple Master, I’ve brought him here.” After Zhu Xuan finished speaking, he kneeled on the ground.
Yu Zhenghai was in a daze during the journey here. He merely saw Zhu Xuan coming to him with an anxious expression as he brought him here. He entered the hall and looked up. If that was not his master whom he feared and respected the most, who else could it be? He immediately shivered as his eyes widened. He hurried over before he kneeled and kowtowed. “Greetings, master!”
The master and disciples were finally reunited, and it felt as though the world had turned upside down. If they were still in Great Yan, they would not have been filled with so many emotions. When he descended into the abyss, he was already prepared to die. When he saw the 200-foot avatar, he thought he would not be able to meet his master again or return to the Evil Sky Pavilion. He did not expect his master was here as well.
Lu Zhou looked at Yu Zhenghai. As always, he said calmly, “As long as you’re alive. Get up.”
“Eldest Senior Brother,” Little Yuan’er and Conch greeted Yu Zhenghai.
Yu Zhenghai stood up and said excitedly, “Hello, Little Junior Sisters.”
Sikong Beichen who was interrupted just as he was about to manifest his avatar said, “So, Zhu Xuan has truly treated your disciple well, Brother Lu.”
Yu Zhenghai was stunned. ‘Brother Lu? Why is this old man so polite? Why would someone like Zhu Xuan bow and bend his knees?’
Sikong Beichen said, “Well? Aren’t you going to apologize to Brother Lu?”
Zhu Xuan crawled all the way over from the door and stopped in front of Lu Zhou before he kowtowed.
Sikong Beichen nodded. He looked at Lu Zhou and said, “Brother Lu, Zhu Xuan is still young. He doesn’t know how to show restraint. Can you spare him on my account?”
“Senior, Zhu Xuan knows that he’s wrong! Please spare me!” Zhu Xuan shook.
Yu Zhenghai was shocked by this.
Lu Zhou looked at Zhu Xuan and said, “On account of Sikong Beichen, I’ll spare your life. However, I’ll keep your Square Box as a punishment. Will you accept this?”
Zhu Xuan. “…” His mind went blank. The Square Box was an object he valued as much as his life. It had kept his company and helped him defeat numerous opponents. He successfully reached the Nine-leaf stage because of the Square Box. In the future, he might become one of the respected First Seats of the Ninth Temple. His future and potential would be unlimited. This was also the reason Sikong Beichen was trying so hard to preserve his life. How was he going to go on without his Square Box?
“Although Square Box is a desolate-grade treasure with a shocking defense, it doesn’t have any offensive power. If you like it, Brother Lu, you can have it,” Sikong Beichen said. Inwardly, he was puzzled. ‘Why does Brother Lu need a useless weapon such as the Square Box with his cultivation base? Perhaps, he really intends to use it to punish Zhu Xuan.’
Zhu Xuan. “…”
Lu Zhou kept a straight face as he thought to himself, ‘I don’t like an item that can only take hits…’
Sikong Beichen added, “Aren’t you going to thank Brother Lu?”
“Thank you, senior. Thank you, Brother Lu…”
“Hm?”
“Thank you, senior! Me and my useless tongue!” Zhu Xuan slapped himself. He was extremely frightened and nervous that he could not even talk properly.
The others were stunned.
“You’re dismissed,” Sikong Beichen snapped.
“Yes, yes, yes…” Zhu Xuan retreated respectfully. He no longer had the air of a Nine-leaf elite. This image was a shock to Yu Zhenghai as well. Throughout the time he spent in the Ninth Temple, Zhu Xuan had always acted like a lofty figure. His eyes were always looking up. At this moment, Zhu Xuan’s image was completely destroyed.
Whether it was in Great Yan or the red lotus domain, they were but humans with flesh and bone. Nobody could overcome the weakness of humanity.
Yu Zhenghai was shocked. He remembered the shocking scene he saw earlier and hastily said, “Master… I saw a 200-foot palm seal earlier. That was…”
“Eldest Senior Brother, who else in the world would have such power apart from master?” Little Yuan’er said with a giggle.
‘As expected, it was master.’
Sikong Beichen nodded and said, “Brother Lu has mastered the Birth Chart. It’s not shocking for him to have such power.”
Yu Zhenghai asked, puzzled, “What’s a Birth Chart?”
Lu Zhou had been troubled about this, but he could not bring himself to ask about it. His disciple’s question helped him solve the problem. His trip here was not a waste.
