Xu Wanqing tried his best to maintain his flight so he would not plunge into the sea. At this moment, a storm was raging in his heart.
Before Zhu Honggong could speak, Lu Li said, "I'm going to ask you a question, and you're going to answer honestly."
"I… y-yes, yes…" Xu Wanqing said somewhat incoherently.
Lu Li asked, "Who has the highest cultivation base in your Flood Sect?"
Xu Wanqing said, "It's… It's my teacher, Tao Jing… He's in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. H-he… he's at the p-peak of the Six-leaf stage…"
Lu Li asked, "How can a mere Six-leaf cultivator be the strongest?"
Xu Wanqing's expression was one of confusion. "S-senior, isn't… isn't six leaves the highest number of leaves?"
Lu Li said curtly, "Ignorant."
Xu Wanqing's face flushed red, but he could not and dare not refute Lu Li's words. He had seen Zhu Honggong's display of strength earlier; how could he ask such a stupid question? He had seen with his own eyes that Zhu Honggong had almost nine leaves!
At this moment, Zhu Honggong did not find the situation comedic at all. This is because he saw a shadow of the people from the golden lotus domain in Xu Wanqing at this moment. He sighed, thinking that being weak was the original sin.
Lu Li continued to ask, "Which force is the strongest in this world?"
Xu Wanqing stammered, "G-great… G-great Qing."
Lu Li asked, "Great Qing?"
Xu Wanqing said, "Great Qing's royal court has many six-leaf experts capable of unifying the lands. Every year, they would recruit prodigies from various forces and sects. It's said that Great Qing's royal court has more than 10 Six-leaf experts. 10!"
Zhu Honggong and Lu Li. "…"
Zhu Honggong wore an unnatural expression on his face. This was reminiscent of the time when the people from the golden lotus domain bragged about the many Eight-leaf experts in Great Yan.
Lu Li asked, "Up until now, there's no Seven-leaf cultivator at all?"
Xu Wanqing shook his head quickly before he asked in confusion, "No. It's just… I don't understand. Seniors… How? 120 feet? Why isn't there a lotus? A-and why's the color darker?"
Upon hearing Xu Wanqing's question, Zhu Honggong suddenly remembered that gold and yellow were rather similar. It was understandable that Xu Wanqing mistook his golden avatar for a yellow one. Moreover, Xu Wanqing was probably too shocked by the seven leaves to notice the difference.
Lu Li said, "Take us to your sect master."
Xu Wanqing was shocked. "Seniors, aren't you going to Great Qing?"
Lu Li said, "We've never said we're going to Great Qing. Let's go to Howling Wind Island first."
Xu Wanqing was confused.
Zhu Honggong was similarly confused. He could not figure out what Lu Li was planning.
Xu Wanqing, naturally, did not dare to be presumptuous. He could only
Xu Wanqing didn't dare to be presumptuous. He could only turn around and fly to Howling Wind Island.
Zhu Hongchang asked Lu Lin in a hushed tone, "What are you trying to do, senior?"
Lu Li said, "The limit in the yellow lotus domain is six leaves. You've sprouted more than six leaves; this means you're not restricted by the limit here. If we gather all the resources in the yellow lotus domain, I should be able to help you form your Thousand Realms Whirling avatar."
Zhu Honggong was in shock. "The resources from… from the entire yellow lotus domain?"
"Have some confidence," Lu Li said in a gentle voice, "Don't worry, I'm not asking you to commit a massacre. There are darker things out there that you can't even imagine. The yellow lotus domain is weak so it didn't attract the attention of the beasts or experts from other worlds. This is an opportunity for you…"
"…"
Opportunity?
Suddenly, Zhu Hong felt that he did not have enough brain cells. He asked again, "Then, what should we do?"
Lu Li said, "We'll become their religion."
…
The Howling Wind Island in the yellow lotus domain.
As soon as Xu Wanqing landed on the island, a few cultivators rushed up to him.
"Eldest Senior Brother is back!"
"Eldest Senior Brother, are those two spies? Did you give them a good beating? Teach them a lesson so they know not to carelessly provoke our Flood Sect!"
Xu Wanqing quickly raised his finger and loudly shushed them.
"Eldest Senior Brother, what's wrong?"
In just a blink of an eye, a crowd had already gathered in front of Xu Wanqing. All of them were looking at him in confusion. Apart from when he was with the sect master, he had never been so flustered and afraid as he was today.
Xu Wanqing could not figure it out. The two experts clearly intended to leave. Why did they suddenly change their minds and decide to return to the island? He also could not comprehend why they pretended to be weak? Was that a form of bullying? Or, perhaps, they liked pretending to be weak?
After a beat, Xu Wanqing chided his comrades, "Without my order, no one's allowed to make a move!"
At this moment, Zhu Honggong and Lu Li descended from the sky.
The disciples were about to speak again when Xu Wanqing turned around and glared at them. They shut their mouths immediately and no longer dared to speak.
Xu Wanqing bowed and said, "Seniors."
Lu Li said, "Lead the way."
Zhu Honggong and Lu Li followed Xu Wanqing toward the center of the island. In the beginning, they passed through the dense forest. Then, they had to cross a rugged mountain road before they finally saw a settlement. They could see disciples guarding the entrance of the settlement as well!
"Eldest Senior Brother!"
"Open the gates!"
"Yes."
Two disciples opened the gates immediately.
Zhu Hong Gong felt the place was like a mountain stronghold. He had to admit it looked better than his Tigerridge Gang's mountain stronghold.
Zhu Honggong and Lu Li followed Xu Wanqing into the settlement. As soon as they entered, many disciples gathered around them. There were hundreds of them! All of them stopped what they were doing and rushed over immediately.
"Eldest Senior Brother is back!"
"Who are these two people?"
"There's a wild boar as well!"
Xu Wanqing said in a low voice, "Don't talk nonsense. These two are distinguished guests from afar. Don't be rude."
Fortunately, it was Xu Wanqing whom Zhu Honggong and Lu Li met. Otherwise, the people of the Flood Sect would have gotten into trouble today.
As the Eldest Senior Brother, the disciples naturally did not dare to disobey Xu Wanqing. All of them turned to Zhu Honggong and Lu Li before they bowed.
Although Lu Li's sea of Qi had been destroyed, his views did not change. In his eyes, these people were even more insignificant than ants. Therefore, he remained indifferent and did not pay attention to them.
Xu Wanqing asked, "Where's the sect master?"
"The sect master is resting. He said it was time for his nap and that no one's allowed to disturb him," a disciple replied.
"Go and invite the sect master here!"
"Huh?"
"Did you not understand what I said?" Xu Wanqing said in a low voice.
"B-but… the sect master said…"
Xu Wanqing pushed the disciple away.
At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe appeared on top of a tall building in the center of the settlement. He asked in a displeased tone, "Xu Wanqing, what's wrong? Why are you making a racket?"
Xu Wanqing hurriedly said, stumbling over his words, "M-master! M-master, these… t-these two are distinguished guests from…"
"Distinguished guests?"
The middle-aged man standing at the top of the tall building was none other than Tao Jing, the Sect Master of the Flood Sect. He asked in a tone that was a mixture of confusion and ire, "Who allowed you to bring strangers onto the island?"
Lu Li looked at the middle-aged man indifferently. Then, he turned to Zhu Honggong and said, "Manifest your avatar."
"Alright."
Zhu Honggong widened his stance and turned his feet out like the letter 'V'.
Buzz!
A 120-foot lotus-less golden avatar shot up into the sky.
The hundreds of disciples watched with their mouths agape. Their mouths were so wide open that they could fit a foot in it.
Meanwhile, Tao Jing was about to continue rebuking Xu Wanqing when he saw the avatar that suddenly shot up into the air. It hovered slightly above him and looked down at him.
The entire Flood Sect was as silent as a graveyard.
Lu Li did not like scheming nor did he like to pretend to be a wolf dressed in sheep's skin. His approach was simple and direct: manifest the avatar to quickly subdue the opponent! Needless to say, his approach was effective.
When had any of them seen such a tall avatar? Based on their knowledge and years of cultivating, six leaves were the limit, and the tallest avatar was 70 feet tall. There was no doubt the appearance of the 120-foot avatar had shattered their worldviews.
Indeed. Schemes and tricks were useless when faced with absolute strength.
Lu Li broke the silence first. "I have three things to say to you. First, we came here with no ill intentions, and we don't wish to kill anyone." Then, he pointed at Zhu Honggong before he continued to say, "Second, Zhu Honggong will now take over the position of the Sect Master of the Flood Sect. Please think things through before you voice your objections. Third, Zhu Honggong will support the Flood Sect and raise its status to the strongest sect in Great Qing. After five years, both of us will leave."
Lu Li paused for a moment before he said in a menacing tone, "Our time is precious. You have ten breaths to make up your minds."
Until today, the people of the Flood Sect had never felt that the wind on Howling Wind Island was so biting and cold like a knife as it blew against their faces. There was no wound to be seen but it stung before it gradually faded to numbness.
Smart people could always figure out advantages and disadvantages and weigh the pros and cons in the shortest time possible.
How could Tao Jing, a sect master, be a fool? In just a second, he made a few snap judgments.
First, these two experts were way beyond what he could comprehend. The duo had no interest in killing anyone here because it was too easy, and the duo was too lazy, to kill them.
Second, the duo was telling the truth. After all, with such profound strength, was there a need for them to lie?
Third, there were clear benefits for them if they submitted themselves to the duo. Regardless of why there were such experts or how they obtained such strength, there was no doubt they were capable of making the Flood Sect the greatest sect in Great Qing!
After ten breaths, Tao Jing suppressed his shock and fear before he unhesitatingly jumped off the building. He kneeled on one knee and placed his right hand on the ground as he said, "I'm willing to give up the position of sect master. Greetings, Sect Master!"
All of the disciples in the surroundings followed suit and fell to their knees immediately.
"Greetings, Sect Master."
However, there would always be dissension when there was a large group of people. It was impossible to make everyone submit and obey in such a short time. There was nothing absolute in the world, after all.
Two people glared at Zhu Honggong and Lu Li as they charged over.
"It must be fake! Don't be fooled by him!"
Tao Jing barked, "Stand down!"
At the same time, Xu Wanqing cried out, "No!"
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Lu Li shook his head.
No matter how stupid Zhu Honggong might be, he was not going to stand still if someone attacked him. In just an instant, he released his energy.
Bang! Bang!
The two people were sent flying back, spitting out blood in the air.
Zhu Honggong did not kill the two people from the Flood Sect. It was good enough to kill their hopes. Moreover, these two were only a Three-leaf cultivator and a Four-leaf cultivator. Even if they were considered experts in the Flood Sect, in his eyes, they were so weak that they were not even worth mentioning.
…
Literary Star Hall in the red lotus domain.
"Ding! Worshiped by 210 people. Reward: 210 merit points."
"Ding! Worshiped by 350 people. Reward: 0 merit points."
Red Lotus World, inside the Wen Xing Palace.
Lu Zhou opened his eyes as soon as he heard the system notifications.
