Chapter 1031: Sowing Discord
The flying chariot flew to the north, creaking as it flew. Perhaps, the person who manned the helm was shocked by the avatar, the flying chariot shook violently.
“Idiot! Be steady!” King Chen of Wu gulped as he looked at the astrolabe. He recalled when Lu Zhou shone the Golden Taixu Mirror on him and was frightened again. If Lu Zhou had attacked at that time, the consequences would have been unimaginable. With these thoughts in mind, his palms grew sweaty, and his legs began to tremble.
At this time, a cultivator moved next to King Chen of Wu and said in a low voice, “Ten obsidian essences are too much. Why don’t we proceed according to the original plan and lure him into the trap?”
King Chen of Wu raised his head and glanced at that cultivator. “I did have such thoughts before, but now… No. I have to seek an audience with His Majesty the Black Emperor. Now isn’t the time for us to care about the obsidian essences…”
The cultivator nodded and said, “Our spies in the Dark and Light Alliance reported that the old senior extorted ten obsidian essences from them as well. Moreover, the Black Tower Council and the White Tower Council are trying to rope him to their sides so they had offered up 15 obsidian essences to him. Based on this, it can be seen that he lacks these things…”
King Chen of Wu said, “The obsidian essences are rare items used to upgrade weapons to the fusion grade. Who doesn’t need them? I want them as well…”
…
In the small village.
The commoners and low-level cultivators walked out one after another. All of them looked at the towering Thousand Realms Whirling avatar in awe.
Lu Zhou looked at the effect of the Disguise Card in satisfaction.
Zhao Hongfu was stunned.
The golden lotus was shrouded with golden karmic flames that shone dazzlingly.
“Ding! Wors.h.i.+pped by 350 people. Reward: 350 merit points.”
At this moment, many people were kneeling on the ground and kowtowing reverently.
After ten seconds, the avatar vanished into thin air, and everything returned to normal.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard as he looked at Zhao Hongfu and said, “As long as you have enough power, you can erase injustice and earn the respect of others…”
Zhao Hongfu nodded like a chick pecking on grains of rice.
With such an avatar, who would dare to talk about whether it was gold or black? Discrimination had always existed since time immemorial. However, the weak did not have the right to discriminate.
“You… You’re so powerful?” Zhao Hongfu said.
Lu Zhou stood with his hands on his back and said, “I’ll give you one last chance… If you are still unwilling, you can leave. After that, your life and death have nothing to do with me.”
After Lu Zhou finished speaking, he looked away.
Yu Zhenghai said, “There many who wish to join the Evil Sky Pavilion but don’t have the chance. I don’t think you’re suited to join the Evil Sky Pavilion seeing as you’re hesitating. My master is merciful, but you don’t know how to appreciate it. I suggest you leave now. Be careful you don’t get hacked to death after you leave…”
“…”
Most humans had a very bad habit; when they were asked to stay, they would be unwilling. However, when they were asked to leave, they would change their minds.
“No, no, no! I’m willing! I didn’t say I’m unwilling!” Zhao Hongfu immediately fell to her knees. “Old senior, I beg you to take me in!”
Lu Zhou nodded and said to Yu Zhenghai, “Tell her about the Evil Sky Pavilion’s rules.”
“Understood.” Following that, Yu Zhenghai solemnly explained the rules to Zhao Hongfu.
After listening to him, Zhao Hongfu said, “I can abide by all the rules, but there is one thing…”
Before she could finish, Yu Zhenghai frowned and asked, “You’re trying to negotiate with the Evil Sky Pavilion?”
“I don’t mean that. The reason why I don’t want to turn black is so I could return to the golden lotus domain one day to find my family,” Zhao Hongfu said pleadingly.
Lu Zhou looked at Zhao Hongfu and said, “I sympathize with you so I’ll make an exception for you.”
Zhao Hongfu was overjoyed. “Thank you, Mister…”
Yu Zhenghai said, “After you enter the Evil Sky Pavilion, you’ll refer to my master as the Pavilion Master.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Zhao Hongfu said three times in a row with a smile on her face, “Pavilion Master.”
“Ding! Recruited a subordinate. Reward: 1,000 merit points.”
“Get up.” When Lu Zhou received the notification, he saw her loyalty was at 40%. It was neither high nor low; it was reasonable. It was much higher than Leng Luo when Leng Luo first joined the Evil Sky Pavilion back then.
“Follow me.” Lu Zhou turned around and walked inside.
The crowd outside the inn gradually dispersed.
The inn owner hurriedly ordered people to clean up the place. At the same time, he ordered his men to prepare good wine and dishes. With such a prominent figure staying in his inn, he was naturally delighted.
…
In the room.
Lu Zhou asked, “Are you a student of the Runes Academy?”
Zhao Hongfu nodded. “Yes… I’ve been learning runes since I was young. However, I’m the only one who learns runes. Most of them focus on cultivations and go out for missions. Sometimes, they even have to kill people.”
“You’re the only one learning runes?”
“What I mean is I’m the only one learning runes among that group of people. I don’t know why it’s like this either. The instructor said I’m smart and talented. Well, I am indeed smart…” Zhao Hongfu said. She had been learning runes for so many years, but she did not have anyone to compare herself to. Without others to compare herself to, she really did not know how skilled she was.
“Yang Yuchen said that you burned down their library. What’s going on?”
“They wanted me to turn into a black lotus cultivator. However, I refuse to do it. They knew it’d be too late once I form my Thousand Realms Whirling avatar so they were planning to force. Therefore, I set fire to the library and escaped,” Zhao Hongfu replied.
“Since they value you so much, you shouldn’t have been able to escape so easily…”
“It seems like that person is helping me in the dark…”
“Who is that person?” Lu Zhou asked. He did not know many people in the black lotus domain. There was no reason for someone to be so kind as to send a runemaster to him.
“I only know his surname is Lu. I really don’t know anything else.”
“Lu?” Lu Zhou was slightly surprised. The first person he thought of was Lu Li.
“Well, that’s what it said in the letter,” Zhao Hongfu said.
Lu Zhou nodded. “You may take your leave and rest. Don’t run around unnecessarily.”
“Alright.” Zhao Hongfu stood up and walked out of the room. When she saw Yu Zhenghai standing outside the room, she nudged him with her elbow and asked, “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“…” Yu Zhenghai looked at her from the corners of his eyes and asked, “Are you really a girl?”
“No, I’m a man!” Zhao Hongfu replied confidently with a straight face.
Yu Zhenghai shook his head and said, “You have no manners.”
Zhao Hongfu cleared her throat and said seriously, “Senior, please take care of me in the future…”
“That’s more like it. After you arrive at Evil Sky Pavilion, someone will show you the ropes. Go rest,” Yu Zhenghai said before he left.
“Got it!”
At this moment, Shen Xi flew into the inn. His expression was not too good.
Zhao Hongfu shrank back. “No way! Are you here to catch me as well?”
Shen Xi staggered forward before he fell to the ground. He supported himself with a hand as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Zhao Hongfu sized Shen Xi up for a moment before she asked cautiously, “You… Who are you? Are you okay?”
Creak!
At this moment, Yu Zhenghai rushed out of his room into the hallway. He asked with a frown, “Guardian Shen, you’re injured?”
Shen Xi endured the pain and said, “I… I’m fine…”
Zhao Hongfu exclaimed in surprise, “Guardian Shen? You’re from the Evil Sky Pavilion as well?”
“He’s Shen Xi, one of the Guardians of the Evil Sky Pavilion. He went out on a mission yesterday,” Yu Zhenghai said.
Without saying another word, Zhao Hongfu took a brush out and quickly drew various symbols on the ground. Her brushstrokes were like dragons and snakes. After she was done, she clapped her jade-like hands. The symbols lit up with black and golden light, forming a circular formation.
Yu Zhenghai asked, slightly surprised, “You know this as well?”
“This is the Buddhist’s Bright Mirror. It’s used for healing. This is within the capabilities of a runemaster.”
“Runemaster?” Shen Xi raised his head and looked at Zhao Hongfu in surprise. “Mister First, this is…”
“Zhao Hongfu, the first runemaster of the Evil Sky Pavilion.”
Shen Xi stood up and said to Zhao Hongfu, “So we’re fellow members.”
At this moment, Lu Zhou opened his room door. “What happened?”
Shen Xi kneeled on one knee and said, “I failed my mission. I couldn’t bring Yan Zhenluo out.”
“Jiang Jiuli didn’t help you?”
“Jiang Jiuli is just a judge. The internal strife in the Black Tower Council is too serious. There are members who didn’t want to be allied with the Evil Sky Pavilion,” Shen Xi explained, “After I sent a message to Jiang Jiuli, he agreed to bring Yan Zhenluo out. When I went to the agreed location to wait, Yan Zhenluo was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Duan Xihua’s men were there. I wasn’t a match for them and was injured as a result. However, they’re afraid of the Pavilion Master so they didn’t dare to kill me. That’s the only reason I survived.”
Lu Zhou shook his head slightly. “They’re deliberately trying to sow discord between me and the Black Tower Council.”