Lu Li was determined, which disappointed Grand Master a bit. But the latter reconciled with the fact after a while.
Lu Li was only a teenager. How could he be disillusioned with the mortal world like them, a bunch of extremely old guys and be free from worldly life? Besides, had the old guys at the Demon-slaying Hall really let that go?
Grand Master frowned. He lowered his head to drink tea. After a moment, he looked up again and said, "If so, I will not try to force you in joining the Demon-slaying Hall. Of course, you will have to manage your own stuff now and the Demon-slaying Hall cannot help you. I can only give you my word that in 10 years, none of the major forces at the Central Plains will make you trouble. But I will not protect you after that."
Lu Li frowned. Grand Master was quite clear. He had given Lu Li alternatives. Lu Li could either join the Demon-slaying Hall and have his soul rebuilt and the Demon-slaying Hall would help him deal with his matters, or he could go back to the Northern Desert without any one to help him. In that case, he would live or die without outside interferences but he was guaranteed at least 10 years to be alive.
Neither alternative was ideal. After a moment of silence, Lu Li asked, "I have killed many alien races in the small battlefield and I think I must have got a lot of points. Can"t I get the cure for Immortal"s Perish?"
"If you haven"t caused so much trouble, you could!"
Grand Master calmly looked Lu Li in the eyes and said, "But now you cannot or else many patriarchs at the Demon-slaying Hall will be displeased. I am the Grand Master but I cannot take my own course all the time. I have offended many for you this time."
"Of course!"
Lu Li believed Grand Master was telling the truth. Grand Master did publicly shame Deputy Master and many strong connections for the four forces. Grand Master had done Lu Li a great favor. If Lu Li asked for more, it would be inconsiderate.
But Lu Li still was reluctant to let go of his chance. He asked, "Grand Master, then please give me some guidance on how to cure the Immortal"s Perish. I will work it out myself."
After some consideration, Grand Master took out an ancient book from his ring, browsed it, and handed it over to Lu Li and said, "Find this and you can cure the Immortal"s Perish."
"Bodhi Fruit!"
Lu Li took over the book and had a look. There were ill.u.s.trations and descriptions. He read it through carefully and remembered all the information. Handing the book back to Grand Master, Lu Li bowed and expressed his grat.i.tude again.
"Alright. This shall be the end of it!"
Grand Master put the book away, looked at Lu Li and said, "I will have someone send you out of the Demon-slaying Grounds. You go back and cultivate. Also take good care of your beast. If you change your mind in 10 years and is ready to rebuild your soul, you can come back to the Demon-slaying City and ask for me. If not…don"t come to me again."
Lu Li nodded yes. Grand Master waved his hand and a man covered in black armor appeared out of nowhere. He said nothing after he showed up. He grabbed Lu Li and walked toward a chamber.
Lu Li turned back to look at Grand Master for one last time before he was brought to a castle where there was a Teleportation Formation. The black-armored man took Lu Li into the Teleportation Formation and teleported away soon.
"Buzzing!"
After Lu Li was teleported away, the s.p.a.ce near the stone pavilion trembled. Then Law Enforcement Patriarch showed up outside the pavilion.
Grand Master didn"t look as if he knew Law Enforcement Patriarch was going to come. Grand Master continued to drink tea while Law Enforcement Patriarch stood outside with respect silently.
After a while, Grand Master turned to Law Enforcement Patriarch and said, "Condor, your great-grandson has your temper back in your days. But he is more talented than you. It"s a pity that he doesn"t want his soul rebuilt or else…there is hope that he can ascend to heaven and become immortal."
Law Enforcement Patriarch was happy to hear this. After a while, he asked, "Are there any special meaning contained in the letters in the book of the statue of Emperor of Heaven Reverse?"
"Of course there are!"
Grand Master nodded and continued, "If there weren"t any special meaning, why would I come out and protect Lu Li? Don"t ask for the details. This is the most confidential information of the Demon-slaying Hall. Only Masters are qualified to know. If you can make the final step, I can pa.s.s the position of Master to you. Then, you will have access to this information."
"Um…"
Law Enforcement Patriarch was stunned not because Grand Master intended to let him take the position of a master but because there were something between the lines.
It could be deduced from Grand Master"s words that the statue of Emperor of Heaven Reverse"s strange situation was triggered off by Lu Li. In other words—the Emperor of Heaven Reverse pa.s.sed down a decree to save Lu Li.
However, Grand Master didn"t want to further this discussion. Grand Master might not say this to anyone, except for the Law Enforcement Patriarch, or reveal the truth.
Law Enforcement Patriarch thought about it and asked, "If so, should I get a message back to the Lu Family and tell them to look after Lu Li? Should they allocate all the resources for him to use?"
"No!"
Grand Master waved his hand and said, "Don"t do anything. Let him take his own course."
"What?"
Law Enforcement Patriarch was confused. If Lu Li was so talented that he got attention from the Emperor of Heaven Reverse, how come the Grand Master let Lu Li run his own course? Without the support of resources available only in major families, Lu Li wouldn"t stand to make great accomplishment no matter how talented he was.
"Carry out my order. n.o.body attacks him in the next 10 years!"
Grand Master said, "I have given him two choices, either rebuilding his soul and stay at the Demon-slaying Hall or go out and make it on his own. He has chosen the second!"
Seeing that Law Enforcement Patriarch was still confused, Grand Master added after a pause, "To become an incredible powerful warrior, one must let go of worldly affairs, cut off emotional ties and focus only on cultivation. Or, one should go deep into the world and go through sufferings in the world so as to rise up in adversity. April showers bring May flowers. Back in the days, Emperor of Heaven Reverse had taken step by step on his own. If we helped Lu Li on everything, we would actually be ruining him."
"I say that I will protect him for 10 years and after that, the four forces can wipe out their humiliation. If Lu Li didn"t have the ability to face them then, then he would be destined to fall. His potential will not be stimulated without stress, suffering and motivation."
"Some people grow up fastest in adversity. Lu Li is one of them. The more pressure there is, the more resilient he will be. Also, tell the Pavilion of Delicacy not to give Lu Li any preferential treatment in the 10 years. It"s up to his own fate to see if he can transform into a b.u.t.terfly, or fly up to heaven like a dragon or sink into vice."
With that said, Grand Master walked to a castle. At the door, he turned back and saw Law Enforcement Patriarch was still frowning. Grand Master said coldly, "Condor, you have rebuilt your soul and nothing of the Lu Family is related to you. If you still trap yourself in such trivial matters, you will never achieve inner peace and your achievement will not go further. Our future generations will get by on their own and we shall trust fate. Let go when needed."
Feeling ashamed, Law Enforcement Patriarch bowed and said, "Thank you Grand Master. I understand."
Grand Master had entered the chamber but Law Enforcement Patriarch"s eyebrows were still knitted together. He had rebuilt his soul but those from the Lu Family were his offspring nonetheless. They had the same kind of blood running in their vines. Was letting go this easy?
"Come to me!"
After a while, Law Enforcement Patriarch made up his mind and said, "Send Grand Master"s order to the four forces. For the next 10 years, they shall not make trouble for Lu Li. Tell the Pavilion of Delicacy that they cannot help Lu Li in any form. Let Lu Li run his own course. After 10 years, the Demon-slaying Hall will stay out of this!"