Chapter 124: A Nice Sword
The black item fell into Jiang Aijian’s hands. It looked nothing like a sword. It was more like a small parcel.
However, Jiang Aijian’s eyes widened in surprise as he exclaimed excitedly, “An imperial token?”
“That’s right. The nice sword I’m giving you is this imperial token,” Lu Zhou said calmly.
‘The imperial token is a nice sword?’ The others were baffled by this.
Jiang Aijian scratched his head and said, “If you give this to someone in the palace, it’ll be extremely useful to you. Old senior, isn’t it a waste for you to give it to me? I’m a craven man, I don’t have the courage to order people around.”
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “This item is, indeed, an imperial token. However, it’s also the key to the imperial warehouse. Otherwise, why do you think the Imperial Family searches for it far and wide?”
Jiang Aijian was surprised by Lu Zhou’s words. He was not the only one. None of the others knew there would be another use for the imperial token.
“In that case, are you trying to harm me, old senior? I’ll get into trouble just by having this valuable item in my possession. If the people in the palace find out that I’m in possession of this, won’t they come hunting for me?” Jiang Aijian said.
“You’re the most suitable person to keep this item. You’re a prince, and you’re a person who loves swords. You’re the only one who can get close to the warehouse as well. Don’t be in a hurry to turn this down. What I’m trying to tell you is that a nice sword is kept inside the warehouse. The sword’s name is Dragonsong,” Lu Zhou said.
“A-a sword? D-dragonsong?” Jiang Aijian’s voice trembled slightly. It seemed as though he had a difficult time believing this.
Hua Wudao said, shocked, “Dragonsong is a heaven-grade weapon that’s renowned throughout the world hundreds of years ago. Its sharpness is unrivaled! Many in the cultivation world have been looking for it before it disappeared. I didn’t expect it to be in the palace.”
Little Yuan’er asked curiously, “Elder Hua, is this sword that great?”
Hua Wudao replied, “Of course! It’s considered a godly weapon even among heaven-grade weapons. A heaven-grade weapon would usually need to acknowledge an owner to unleash its full potential. Dragonsong is different. The owner of the weapon has never been found. None of its former users were acknowledged as its owner.”
Everyone appeared shocked. In other words, Dragonsong had never once unleashed its full power.
“You’re saying that it’s possible that this weapon is even higher than heaven-grade weapons?” Little Yuan’er asked skeptically.
“There has never been a weapon that’s higher than heaven-grade... I can only say it’s superior to ordinary heaven-grade weapons,” Hua Wudao said.
Little Yuan’er could not contain herself when she heard this. She quickly turned to Lu Zhou and said, “Master, you can’t give him this weapon. It’s too good for him!”
Jiang Aijian hastily stuffed the imperial token into his pocket. He said shamelessly, “No, no, no. I like this very much, old senior! Don’t worry, I’ll work even harder than before. I-I’m very satisfied with this item. This trip is truly worthwhile.” He waved his hand and made his way to the entrance as he continued to say, “Everyone, I, uh, have something to attend to so I’ll take my leave first! Goodbye! Eh, little girl, please stop glaring at me.”
“Jiang Aijian...” Lu Zhou said calmly.
“There’s no need to see me off, old senior. I know the way back.” Jiang Aijian kept his hand on the imperial token as he walked backward. He was worried Little Yuan’er would come running after him.
“Pass on a message for me.”
Jiang Aijian stopped in his tracks and asked, “What message, old senior?”
“Wei Zhuoyan is the main culprit of the battle at Measure Heaven River... I hope that he surrenders and admits his guilt,” Lu Zhou said coldly. His words plunged the great hall into silence. If a needle were to fall on the ground now, everyone would have been able to hear it loud and clear.
“O-old senior, you’re joking, right? Wei Zhuoyan is in command of a huge army, and he’s an important officer of the nation. Demanding that he admits his guilt might cause an upheaval,” Jiang Aijian said, “Moreover, he has a profound cultivation base. Rumor has it that his strength is comparable to Fan Xiuwen, the leader of the Black Knights. He also has many henchmen in the palace... I think it’s easier to ascend to the heavens than to make him admit his crimes.”
Lu Zhou rested his hands on his back as he said, “Once a man has risen to a certain position, he won’t admit his guilt even if he has done wrong. I understand this sentiment. However, just because I understand it, it doesn’t mean I like it.”
Jiang Aijian asked, “Aren’t you afraid of offending the Second Prince? Won’t it be disadvantageous for the Golden Court Mountain to have so many enemies? I know the Evil Sky Pavilion possesses shocking strength, but the lands under the heavens belong to the empire... It’s impossible for the Imperial family to not have its own tactics to have maintained stability in the cultivation world throughout the years.”
Lu Zhou shook his head and said, “You’re wrong.”
“Huh?”
“Wei Zhuoyan will die sooner or later. It’s just a matter of choosing how he dies,” Lu Zhou said coldly.
“Uh...” Jiang Aijian stroked his chin and considered it for a moment. “I’ll send a messenger.”
Lu Zhou nodded and said, “Escort our guest.”
“Understood.”
Jiang Aijian said, “Before I leave, I’d like to know, how did you see through my act, old senior? I don’t think my knack of obtaining information is enough to give me away.”
Lu Zhou waved his hand indifferently. He did not deign to reply to Jiang Aijian. He merely motioned for the Derived Moon Palace’s female cultivator to send the guest away.
Jiang Aijian did not persist when he saw Lu Zhou ignoring his question. He only shook his head helplessly before he turned to leave. “I think you’ve been in the palace before this, old senior. Otherwise, you won’t have the imperial token in your possession.” He laughed. “Forget it. It’s not important. Farewell...”
Mingshi Yin bowed and said, “Master, although this man is unruly and doesn’t resemble a prince, I think he’s a talented person. Should we retain him?”
“There’s no need for that. There are other uses for this man,” Lu Zhou said calmly.
Hua Wudao bowed and said, “Pavilion Master, I have something to say, but I wonder if I should say it at all.”
“Hua Wudao.” Lu Zhou’s tone was stern. “Be mindful of your place... There’s a limit to my patience.”
Hua Wudao immediately lowered his voice. He nodded respectfully and said nothing else.
Mingshi Yin said with a smile, “Elder Hua, you’re no longer a member of the Yun Sect. You’re an elder of the Evil Sky Pavilion now. There are many who would love to be in your shoes. If you regret this decision, you’re welcome to leave at any time. However, you should think carefully before choosing your friends and enemies.”
Duanmu Sheng raised his Overlord Spear and brought it down on the floor heavily.
Clang!
The newly laid greenstone floor was ruined by a new pit.
“Death to the deserters!”
“...”
Lu Zhou looked at Hua Wudao indifferently. If it were not for Hua Wudao’s 5% loyalty, he would have struck him for speaking in Ding Fanqiu’s favor earlier.
Hua Wudao seemed to have realized that there was a problem with his attitude as well. He said, “I’ve been rude.”
When Lu Zhou saw Hua Wudao’s stiff expression, he said, “Although your Six Compatible Seal is powerful, it’s not perfect.”
Hua Wudao, who was a cultivation maniac, was immediately invigorated when he heard this. He cupped his fists and said, “Please guide me, Pavilion Master.”
“How many leaves does your avatar have?”
“I’ve made no progress over the past 20 years. It’s still at the Six-leaf stage.”
Mingshi Yin and Duanmu Sheng were shocked. It was no wonder they were incapable of breaching Hua Wudao’s defenses even after taking turns to attack him. Against an expert of such a rank, even if he did not use his Six Compatible Seal and merely used his protective energy, they would not have been able to break his defenses.
“There are tomes about the Six Compatible Seal and Six-leaf avatars here. You may peruse them at your leisure, Elder Hua.” Lu Zhou stroked his beard.
Hua Wudao beamed. He said respectfully, “Thank you, Pavilion Master.” The general public was of the opinion that the Evil Sky Pavilion hoarded many treasures, tomes, and weapons. Every cultivator dreamed about gaining access to these things. When the barrier was broken back then, the Righteous Sect and Clarity Sect had been searching the mountain for these treasures. How could he not feel excited being given access to these things?
The great hall was quiet again.
A Derived Moon Palace’s female cultivator walked over slowly, curtsied, and said, “Pavilion Master, the palace master...”
“There are no palace masters here!” Duanmu Sheng rebuked the female cultivator immediately.
These female cultivators had regarded Ye Tianxin as their leader ever since they joined the Evil Sky Pavilion, and Duanmu Sheng had wanted to teach them a lesson since a long time ago.
The female cultivator was shocked. She nodded and said, “Y-ye Tianxin requests an audience.”
“What’s the matter?” Lu Zhou asked coldly.
“Ye Tianxin is unconscious. I’m afraid... I’m afraid that she won’t make it!”