Chen Tiandu had made all necessary preparations. His trusted subordinate, Ye Zhen, had already planned it all. When he heard the words ‘Birth Chart’, his expression grew stiff. He was perplexed and skeptical.
“We’ve fought for many years, you and I, and yet, I’ve never seen you lie like this, Sikong Beichen. I don’t have the time to entertain you and your delusions.” Chen Tiandu took a sip from his teacup.
Sikong Beichen said indifferently, “It’s just as you said. We’ve known each other for many years now, and I have never lied. In that case, what makes you think that I’m lying to you now?”
Chen Tiandu was slightly taken aback.
Ye Zhen spoke up at this moment. “If I may?”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Do we have any witnesses who have seen this Senior Lu who has initiated his Birth Chart?” Ye Zhen asked.
“My disciples can bear witness to that.”
The four First Seats bowed in unison. There was no need for them to speak; their attitude made their answers very clear.
Naturally, the Ninth Temple’s members would side with their own.
Chen Tiandu raised his wizened hand and placed it on the table.
Whizz!
Primal Qi surged, and the teacup rose slowly into the air.
“We both know how difficult it is to initiate the Birth Chart. Why must you deceive others and yourself?” Chen Tiandu’s cup flew toward Sikong Beichen.
Sikong Beichen placed his hand on the table as well. “You can choose not to believe me, Chen Tiandu. If the goal of your visit today is to verify this, I’m afraid it will be meaningless.”
The teacup flew back to Chen Tiandu. It stopped half an inch away from his nose.
Chen Tiandu widened his eyes.
The buzzing noise from the vibration grew stronger.
“Let’s say you’re telling the truth… Even then, there’s no doubt the Ninth Temple isn’t blameless in regard to Chen Beizheng’s death.”
The tea inside the cup spilled out and solidified into needles. They were as fine as miniature energy swords.
Ye Zhen was slightly shocked. However, he quickly focused his attention. A talented genius cultivator did not need his teacher to teach him. All he needed to do was observe to understand.
The hair-like needles were now in front of Sikong Beichen. He frowned as he spread his fingers apart before putting his hands on the table again.
“For every grievance, someone is responsible; for every debt, there is a debtor. If you intend to search for the culprit, you can look for Senior Lu. Why is the Flying Star House so obsessed about this matter when the palace has not even said anything?”
Bam!
The needles turned into droplets of water again and fell from the air. When they were about to land on the table, they solidified again.
Chen Tiandu’s expression remained unchanged. He spread his fingers and placed them firmly on the table.
“This is how the Flying Star House has always done things. Since the culprit is another person, the Ninth Temple should be the one to bring him to us.”
Primal Qi surged above the Holy Palace. A surge of red energy traveled back and forth in the sky. Soon enough, Primal Qi was turned into energy swords.
Sikong Beichen exerted some force in his four fingers.
Above the Holy Palace, energy swords collided.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
“The Ninth Temple isn’t capable of dealing with someone like Senior Lu. If you’re so anxious, why don’t you head to the Thousand Willow Monastery to capture him?” Sikong Beichen asked.
The needles in the air moved forward seeming as though they would impale Chen Tiandu’s hand.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The clashing energy swords in the sky seemed to be evenly matched. They formed Formations as they continued to clash. It looked as though there was a firework display in the sky at this moment.
More than 10,000 disciples from the Ninth Temple were gathered. It was not a minor force. They looked at the sky.
Chen Tiandu sensed the presence of the large group of cultivators. He pressed his fingers down with so much force that his hand sank into the wooden table, leaving a palm-shaped dent behind.
“Sikong Beichen, I’m afraid that your plan will fail. Elder Meng has already gone to the Thousand Willow Monastery. In less than two hours, there will be nothing left of the Thousand Willow Monastery.”
The needles were now aimed at Sikong Beichen’s hands.
Sikong Beichen pressed his fingers into the table as well as he said with a mocking smile on his face, “Trying to kill Senior Lu?”
Chen Tiandu frowned slightly. “Why are you smiling?”
“I’m amused that the grand Flying Star House’s Master would do something so foolish. You’ve lived in seclusion for far too long. Why don’t we have a wager?” Sikong Beichen seemed excited. He seemed energetic for someone his age. Was he having his dying flash?
“On what?” Chen Tiandu said.
“On whether Meng Changdong will be able to return alive,” Sikong Beichen said.
Ye Zhen cupped his fists. “I’m afraid that you’ll be disappointed. Elder Meng is accompanied by Xie Xuan, an elite from the Twelve Sects of Cloud Mountain, and the disciples of the Sky Martial Court and the Flying Star House. There are 1,000 cultivators in total. I’m sorry, Senior Sikong. The Thousand Willow Monastery has killed our disciples far too many times. It’s time to put an end to this.”
Whizz!
Bam! Bam! Bam.
The energy swords in the skies grew in numbers by the minute. At the same time, their altitude seemed to have gotten much lower as well. If they were lower any further, they would slice the top of the Holy Palace off.
“You will pay for your foolishness then.” Sikong Beichen pressed his hand down again. He made a palm seal with his right hand before he retracted it.
Chen Tiandu did the same. “I agree with the wager. The loser has to destroy his cultivation base.”
“Sure.” Sikong Beichen was invigorated upon hearing Chen Tiandu’s words.
When they both retracted their palms, the energy swords to the left above the Holy Palace faded away. However, those on the right grew stronger.
The needles that hovered above the table suddenly shot forward.
Chen Tiandu frowned. He said hoarsely, “Impossible!” When he raised his hand again, it was already too late. The nails stabbed his chest.
As soon as Chen Tiandu’s energy burst forth, Sikong Beichen released a blast of energy as well.
Bam!
Chen Tiandu recoiled, but he maintained his posture of sitting cross-legged. Then, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Before gravity could bring the blood to the ground, the blood seemed to freeze in the air.
At this moment, Ye Zhen’s palm flashed red as he circulated his blood essence and struck forward.
The four First Seats of Ninth Temple exclaimed in shock, “Temple Master!” They acted once.
When Chen Tiandu landed, he slammed his palms on the floor. He pulled the four First Seats back with his energy.
Ye Zhen was like a wolf or a tiger as he pounced with arms outstretched.
Sikong Beichen looked up calmly. “What an impudent Nine-leaf cultivator!”
Dozens of feet behind Ye Zhen, energy shots toward him.
Ye Zhen smiled. “Go.” His palms ignited. The blood essence spat out by Chen Tiandu formed a fireball with the karmic fire and shot forth.
Bam!
The fireball hit Sikong Beichen’s chest. He slid backward before he slammed against the wall with his rush cushion. He spat out blood as well.
Ye Zhen landed with a smile and said, “Senior Sikong, your skillful sword path is truly shocking…”
Sikong Beichen stared at Ye Zhen. “Is this your flawless plan?”
“The house master and I are merely protecting ourselves.” Ye Zhen cupped his fists.
Sikong Beichen waved his hand as a signal for the four First Seats to stand down.
The four of them exchanged a look. They did not know what the temple master was planning.
Chen Tiandu retracted his energy and brought his palm toward his dantian, gradually calming himself down.
“Sikong Beichen, I’ve underestimated you. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes. You’ve found a new sword path.” Chen Tiandu wiped away the blood from the edge of his lips.
“My understanding is only superficial. Compared to Senior Lu, I’m nothing. Using all creation as a sword, the swordless path. I can only manage the first part of it,” Sikong Beichen said with a sigh.
Upon hearing this, Chen Tiandu frowned.
Ye Zhen cupped his fists decisively and said, “I apologize for our intrusion today.” He returned to Chen Tiandu’s side and helped him up before they flew out of the Holy Palace.
Yao Qingquan, Zhao Jianghe, Sun Wenchang, and Wang Youdao were about to give chase when they heard Sikong Beichen say, “Don’t go after a cornered enemy.”
“Temple Master, why aren’t we going after them? They’re insufferable bullies. They’re trampling all over us!” Yao Qingquan asked indignantly.
Sikong Beichen said, “Chen Tiandu seems well, but he has been grievously wounded by me.”
“All the more reason we should seize this opportunity to chase after them and kill them!” Yao Qingquan was puzzled.
Sikong Beichen looked outside. He coughed before solemnly said, “Ye Zhen is cunning.”
After Ye Zhen flew away from the Ninth Temple with Chen Tiandu, Chen Tiandu placed a hand on his chest as he asked, “Why didn’t you kill him when you had the chance?”
“I sensed the presence of an elite.”
The two of them landed on the chariot.
Ye Zhen waved his arm. The red bird adjusted its bearing. He looked down at the forest below. “Head for the Thousand Willow Monastery. Quickly! Tell Elder Meng to retreat as quickly as he can.”
“Understood!”
