Lu Li was surprised by Lu Zhou’s ability to disguise himself. A cultivator who had not activated his Birth Charts or formed the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar managed to fool his eyes. In fact, when the old man in front of him reverted to his original appearance, he even felt a sense of danger from the old man. This was an instinct he had honed to become an elite.
“You seem surprised,” Lu Zhou said. As he spoke, the Deadly Strike Card hidden in his hand vanished into thin air. In fact, when he canceled the effect of the Disguise Card, he had brought out the Deadly Strike Card. After all, powerful elites could be whimsical and unpredictable. What if Lu Li had gotten angry because of his deception?
Humans had always been unpredictable. There were many who died without knowing why because they were not careful.
After Lu Li regained his composure, he looked at the sea again and said, “I suddenly remember an old friend…”
“An old friend?” Lu Zhou asked in confusion.
Lu Zhou was about to speak when Lu Li shook his head and said with a sigh, “It doesn’t matter. It’s better if you don’t ask. Otherwise, you might get bored of listening to me talk…”
“…”
‘Hey, you should talk about it. I won’t get bored listening!’
In the end, Lu Zhou said, “I have plenty of time. You can say whatever you want…”
Lu Li shook his head and said with a forlorn expression, “My time is limited… Our meeting is a fateful one. Farewell.”
“Wait!” Lu Zhou called out before he said, “Since you saved me, let me tell you something. If you’re really going to the Endless Ocean to kill the 10,000-foot behemoth, I advise you to give up. You’re not a match for it.”
Lu Li exclaimed in surprise, “You’ve seen the sea beast?”
“I’ve seen it in the Endless Ocean. I knew at that time I couldn’t defeat it, let alone kill it,” Lu Zhou replied honestly.
“…” Lu Li looked at Lu Zhou in a daze. He did not understand why the old man who had not even formed the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar or activated his Birth Chart emitted such an immense pressure and sense of danger. In the end, he replied, “I’m not dealing with that sea beast you mentioned. It’s another sea beast.”
“Oh?”
“However, I appreciate your reminder. I can see endless potential in you. Perhaps, one day you’ll understand… Farewell.” Lu Li walked away and walked on the sea’s surface without getting a single drop of water on him.
“Wait,” Lu Zhou called out again. Then, he asked, “Yu Chenshu is the Court Master of the Sky Martial Court. He’s not a good person. Why did you save him?”
“I don’t know if he’s good or evil. If you think he’s an eyesore, then just kill him,” Lu Li replied.
Lu Zhou asked again, “If you truly want humans to unite and help each other, why don’t you help the red lotus domain?”
Lu Zhou truly did not understand. Lu Li was incredibly strong; he was a Thousand Realms Whirling cultivator. Moreover, Lu Li had also activated five Birth Charts. With Lu Li’s strength, he could do as he pleased in the red lotus domain. If Lu Li took action, it would be easy for him to bring peace to or improve the golden lotus domain and the red lotus domain.
Upon hearing Lu Zhou’s question, Lu Li regarded Lu Zhou with a complex gaze.
At this moment, the afterglow from the sunset was fading away, and it would not long before darkness fell.
In the end, Lu Li did not answer Lu Zhou’s question. Instead, he took something out of his sleeve and tossed it over to Lu Zhou before he said, “This map will help you with the Thousand Realms Whirling. I hope it’ll be helpful to your journey to the Thousand Realms Whirling stage…”
Just as Lu Zhou caught the object…
Buzz!
The Thousand Realms Whirling avatar appeared in front of Lu Zhou.
All the fishes and beasts in the sea swam away in a hurry, and the birds and the beasts on the coastline fled in fear.
Lu Zhou looked at the huge black lotus again. He looked at the astrolabe behind the avatar’s head and saw five spots of light and some faintly discernible patterns on it. The astrolabe was huge and round. It was, naturally, black. It was more eye-catching than the patterns in the middle of the lotus.
At this moment, the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar suddenly disappeared as though it had never been there.
With that, normalcy slowly returned to the sea.
“…” Lu Zhou really could not figure out why Lu Li was in such a hurry to leave. However, he had no way to make Lu Li stay. Perhaps, Lu Li’s mission had a time limit. It was unfortunate that his time with Lu Li was so short and the information he obtained was limited. Nevertheless, he was greatly invigorated. After all, he had been given a peek into a new world.
Lu Zhou looked around for a moment to confirm that Lu Li had really left. Then, he looked at the thing that Lu Li had given him. It was a unique piece of cloth. It felt soft to the touch, but it was rather heavy. After that, he looked at the content on the cloth. He saw a pattern formed from 36 triangles. All the centers of the triangles overlapped, and the triangles were arranged in a clockwise position. The pattern was simple yet complicated. With just a quick glance, it resembled a blooming flower. Apart from that, each of the 36 corners was marked with names.
Lu Zhou muttered to himself, “The Stars Align the Pen and Sword, Hidden Jade in the Stone, Moonlight Shines on the Calm Sea…” He could not understand what he was reading at all. It felt even more difficult to understand than the Heavenly Writing.
Apart from all these things, there was nothing else that stood out to him.
He wondered to himself, “Does this have something to do with the Birth Charts?”
Lu Zhou decided to put the cloth away; the more he looked at it, the more confused he became. Then, he looked at the boundless ocean again. As expected, Lu Li was nowhere to be seen.
After a short moment, Lu Zhou decided to leave and returned using the same path he came. After flying for a moment, he picked up an unconscious Yu Chenshu and flew toward the horizon.
…
Darkness descended.
It was not known how much time had passed but the Sky Wheel Rift Valley was like a sea of fire now.
The cultivators from the True Kunlun Sect and the Void Sect finally recovered some of their vitality energy. They tried to move closer to have a look at what was going on but were repelled by the uncomfortable scorching heat. In the end, they did not dare to go any closer.
No one knew what happened between Lu Zhou and Yu Chenshu under the valley; no one knew why a mighty Thousand Realms Whirling cultivator appeared in the Sky Wheel Rift Valley.
“If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have come! Why did I even come in the first place?” Xuan Chengzi said regretfully as he looked at the Sky Wheel Rift Valley.
“It’s useless to regret. We’re already here anyway…” Mo Xinglu said.
Xuan Chengxi looked at the corpses strewn everywhere as he shook his head helplessly. In the end, he said, “Retreat.”
Fear lingered in the hearts of the members of the two sects even after they left. The lava, the karmic fires left a lasting impression on them.
…
Four hours after the two sects left, Lu Zhou and Yu Chenshu appeared from the eastern horizon and came to a stop above the Sky Wheel Mountain Range.
Lit by the moonlight, Lu Zhou shook his head as he looked at the valley.
At this moment, Yu Chen suddenly gasped and coughed before he opened his eyes. He looked around in a daze. A shocked expression appeared on his face. He, who had been paralyzed by the pain earlier, had expected to die after all.
“You’re finally awake,” Lu Zhou said, but he did not look at Yu Chenshu. He looked at the corpses on the ground, the collapsed mountains, and the sea of fire in the Sky Wheel Rift Valley.
Yu Chenshu was filled with disbelief when he surveyed his surroundings. It took a while before he regained his composure and accepted the scene before his eyes. In the end, he asked, “Why did you save me?”
Lu Zhou still did not look at Yu Chenshu as he replied, “Do you think I’d save you?”
“…”
Lu Zhou finally turned around.
Under the moonlight, Yu Chenshu who finally saw Lu Zhou’s elderly and sage-like appearance could not help but cry out, “Who are you?”
Lu Zhou looked at Yu Chenshu as though Yu Chenshu was an idiot. Then, he asked, “Where’s Luo Xuan?”
Upon hearing this question, realization finally dawned on Yu Chenshu. Suddenly, he began to cough violently again due to his injuries. It was difficult for him to breathe as well. After a while, he even began to cough out blood. He had been grievously wounded twice in the chest, after all. It was a miracle that he was even alive; he did not expect to be in the pink of health.
“The winner is the king. You can kill me or do whatever you want with me…” Yu Chenshu no longer put up a fight.
“Didn’t you think you’re invincible?”
“…” Yu Chenshu lowered his head. His reasons and opinions were weak when faced with facts.
Lu Zhou said, “You saw the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar… In those people’s eyes, the red lotus domain is as insignificant as an ant… Moreover, do you think if you refuse to talk, I won’t be able to find Luo Xuan?”
