Chapter 570: Stay Calm
Zhou Youcai suddenly remembered that when he first arrived, Zhou Wenliang came to greet him, and then, he met Mings.h.i.+ Yin before finally coming up to the peak. If there had been any mistakes in any of those steps, he would have ended up the same way as the Hengqu Branch Master, Lu Hong. He s.h.i.+vered in fear and decided not to dwell on it any longer.
Lu Zhou remained indifferent to Lu Hong’s death. He had warned the Hengqu Branch before he went to cultivation in seclusion that he would wipe them out if they persisted in going against him. To ensure that his palm strike was powerful enough to kill, he did not hold back when using his extraordinary power. He had used one-third of his Heavenly Writing power to attack. Based on his a.n.a.lysis, one-sixth or one-fifth of his extraordinary power was enough to kill a Six or Seven-leaf elite. To be safe, he used one-third. He was satisfied with the outcome; one palm strike was enough to turn Lu Hong into ashes.
Even Huang s.h.i.+jie was stunned for quite some time when he saw this.
After a brief moment of silence, Lu Zhou said, “Calm down.”
“I am, I am…” Zhou Youcai waved his hands at once. He tried his best not to look nervous despite the panicked state he was in.
The others looked at the huge energy saber above the forest.
Huang s.h.i.+jie smiled and said, “Sect Master Yu is as grand as ever.”
The Dark Heaven Starlight released through the Great Dark Heaven Memorial covered a wide range. There was only one objective and that was to clear the entire forest to look for Lu Hong.
This resembled the scene where Lu Zhou captured Yu Zhenghai on the Clarity Sect’s main peak back then.
The difference was Yu Zhenghai’s attack seemed hasty and impatient.
When the entire forest disappeared, Yu Zhenghai remained hovering in the air. His sharp senses made him s.h.i.+ft his gaze toward the twin rocks peak.
1,000 white-clad cultivators came into view.
At the same time, Yu Zhenghai saw a huge palm seal crus.h.i.+ng Lu Hong like a fly. Despite his Eight-leaf Golden Lotus cultivation base, he was shocked when he saw the huge blue palm seal. Was it a friend or a foe? Who was the person who launched this attack from the twin rocks peak? Why was the palm seal blue? The series of questions made him hesitate to make a move. He wondered if it was Zhou Youcai when he looked at the 1,000 Big Dipper Academy disciples again. However, after thinking about it for a moment, he dismissed that thought. With Zhou Youcai’s cultivation base, it was impossible for him to launch such an attack that seemed capable of making shocking the heavens and making deities and ghosts cry.
Yu Zhenghai was about to move closer to have a look when a voice rang out. “Eldest Senior Brother.”
“What is it?” Yu Zhenghai turned around and saw Si Wuya flying toward him.
“Let’s prioritize the bigger picture. Yan Province comes first.”
“There’s someone up on the twin rocks peak… I’m worried that an enemy army might be lying in wait there. I only want to check it out,” Yu Zhenghai said.
The twin rocks peak was partly hidden by two huge rocks. It was difficult to see who was on the peak since it was high and far away as well.
However, Si Wuya had seen the 150-foot avatar earlier. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry… If they wanted to attack, they would’ve done so long ago. Why would they stand here until the Crown Prince is killed?”
Yu Zhenghai pointed at the twin rocks peak and said, “Wise brother, you might not have seen it, but I saw an enormous palm seal… Mhm, it was blue and about this huge…” He tried to indicate the size with his hands but stopped abruptly. He coughed awkwardly. He was gesturing like a foolish person. How unbecoming of the Sect Master of Nether Sect! He said, “Anyway, Lu Hong was killed with a single strike.”
“That’s great. With Lu Hong dead, the Hengqu Branch will be without a leader. They’re now a platter of loose sand. That’s one less source of resistance against your plan to unify the world, Eldest Senior Brother,” Si Wuya said.
Yu Zhenghai nodded. “So, the people on twin rocks peak aren’t our enemies? But wait, those seem to be the academy disciples.”
Si Wuya understood Yu Zhenghai’s temperament. If Yu Zhenghai knew their master had helped them, Yu Zhenghai would not be happy. Hence, he hastily said, “That’s not important. The battle in Yan Province is at its most crucial point. We should head back at once, Eldest Senior Brother!”
Yu Zhenghai sighed helplessly. “Might as well.”
The bigger picture was more important, after all. Si Wuya knew this and used it against Yu Zhenghai. Naturally, he knew he was not the only one who had seen the Nine-leaf avatar. However, there was no need to seek trouble at this moment.
With that, Si Wuya and Yu Zhenghai returned to Yan Province City
…
On the twin rocks peak.
Lu Zhou and the others were observing the battle in Yan Province City.
The Nether Sect’s forces were swarming into the city with a crus.h.i.+ng momentum.
Lu Zhou was in no hurry to leave. He recalled Mings.h.i.+ Yin’s words. What if the Nine-leaf elite was ins the palace?
“Brother Ji, looks like the outcome is certain. I thought I’ll have to enter Yan Province City. From the looks of things, I don’t think I’ll be needed there,” Huang s.h.i.+jie said.
“Hm?” Lu Zhou raised his eyebrows slightly.
“Oh, right… We’re just pa.s.sing by.” Huang s.h.i.+jie corrected himself at once. He really felt useless here. Was there a need for him when there was a Nine-leaf cultivator here? At most, he was just like a cheerleader, cheering from the sideline.
Lu Zhou nodded and said, “It’s not as if there’s nothing you can do.”
“Just give the order, Brother Ji. Penglai Island will give you our full support!” Huang s.h.i.+jie said.
“Tell your first disciple… to work harder. I’ve asked him to investigate the Luo woman, and I still haven’t heard anything definitive from him since,” Lu Zhou said.
“Uh…” Huang s.h.i.+jie smiled sheepishly. Then, he said with a sigh, “That rascal of mine is born a loafer and a cunning one at that. However, he does have a knack for investigating things. I’ll keep a closer eye on him when I return.”
Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction. When he saw that the battle at Yan Province City was becoming one-sided, he lost interest. He asked, “How’s the floating island?”
“Ever since you propped it up, Brother Ji, the Formation is mended, and the five islands of Penglai are stabilizing. You single-handedly fought back the tides of malice, Brother Ji. As the Master of Penglai Island, it’s only natural for me to repay your kindness,” Huang s.h.i.+jie replied.
Zhou Youcai was shocked upon hearing Huang s.h.i.+jie’s words. “Senior Ji, it is true that you single-handedly propped up the island?”
Mings.h.i.+ Yin rolled his eyes. He felt this man was truly stupid. ‘Just how did he become the Big Dipper Academy’s President with that brain of his? I should’ve taken all of his leaf-sprouting pills the other day.’
Huang s.h.i.+jie said, “President Zhou, if Brother Ji isn’t here, I would’ve shed all friendliness with you due to your remark.”
Zhou Youcai. “???”
“Penglai owes Brother Ji a debt of grat.i.tude. It’s one thing for the others to doubt Brother Ji, but as the President of the Big Dipper Academy, shouldn’t you be able to tell between truths and lies?” Huang s.h.i.+jie asked.
Indeed, it was mind-blowing to imagine someone holding up an island with a single hand. However, the truth would be revealed after some investigations. Why was there a need to doubt this? He was clearly trying to drive a wedge between Penglai Island and the Evil Sky Pavilion. Huang s.h.i.+jie would not have this.
Zhou Youcai apologized at once. “I’m sorry. I’ve been focused on refining pills and our research on the Golden Lotus. I didn’t think that the incident of propping up the floating island with a palm is real…” After apologizing, he cupped his fists toward Lu Zhou. “I didn’t know that your cultivation base has progressed to this stage. I’m impressed, truly…”
Lu Zhou was used to this level of flattery. He only asked, “What are the results of your research on pill-refining and the Golden Lotus?”