Chapter 223 Reinforcements from the Palace
The cultivation world was not lacking in cultivators who were skilled in various cultivation methods. There were many geniuses as well. However, only a handful managed to master the various cultivation methods.
It was rare to meet a cultivator who could easily unleash the Merciful Ark of Salvation like Lu Zhou did. Who would cultivate a healing technique when they could spend their time on something else? A brief moment later, the light blue radiance faded.
Colors returned to Pan Zhong’s face, and his breathing became much smoother as well.
Leng Luo said, “Although the Merciful Ark of Salvation has great healing effects, it’s rare to see such perfect execution of its effects.” He was not stingy with his praise, and he meant every word of it.
Lu Zhou retracted his hand when the healing ended.
A delighted expression flitted across Pan Litian’s face before he swiftly regained his composure. He said, “Thank you.”
Lu Zhou glanced at Pan Litian.
Loyalty +5%.
Although Pan Li Tian was from the Clarity Sect, it seemed like he did not care about the destruction of the sect at all.
Lu Zhou regarded this as one of the benefits he reaped from this trip. After all, Pan Litian was the first elite of Clarity Sect, he could be considered as on par with Leng Luo.
Lu Zhou heard the system’s notification as well. His subordinate had earned him 2,000 merit points although this meant that the subordinate would be difficult to tame.
He nodded in satisfaction. ‘I’ve earned quite a lot this time. All I used was a single Deadly Strike Card.’ Then, he said, “Bring him back to Golden Court Mountain.”
“Yes, master.” Zhao Yue raised her hand. Pan Zhong was wrapped in energy and brought back to the cloud-splitting chariot.
Pan Litian coughed unnaturally as he looked at the cloud-splitting chariot. ‘How am I supposed to get up there? With my identity and status, it’d be awkward for me to ask for help.’
At this moment, a harsh and piercing whistle could be heard from the far end of Slender West Lake.
Leng Luo said, “Must be the reinforcements from the palace.”
“Who cares? We’ll just kill them as they come.” Little Yuan’er brought her Nirvana Sash out again. The scarlet sash danced and fluttered in the air.
Pan Litian felt dizzy from just looking at it. Everything seemed tinged with red at this moment. He was sure he had not drunk to the point where he had exceeded his limit. The harsh and piercing whistle sounded again.
It was clearly trying to lure them over.
“Master, it’s probably a trap. Be careful.” Little Yuan’er moved to stand in front of Lu Zhou, much to his surprise.
“It’s alright.” Lu Zhou walked toward the eastern bank of Slender West Lake with his hands on his back.
Leng Luo and Pan Litian wondered if they should follow them. After all, both of them were old men who did not have much combat strength. Leng Luo was a little better since his injuries were half-healed, and his cultivation base had been restored by 20%. However, Pan Litian was genuinely a good-for-nothing who would only hold them back.
Little Yuan’er seemed carefree as she hopped and skipped along next to her master. There was no place in the world that was safer than her master’s side.
Leng Luo said with a smile, “... If you’re afraid, you can wait here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have come to the Evil Sky Pavilion alone,” Pan Zhong retorted.
Both of them exchanged a look before walking toward the eastern bank of Slender West Lake as well.
Four of them maneuvered their way through the destroyed park and eventually emerged from it.
Duanmu Sheng watched on from the cloud-splitting chariot, wondering if he should join them as well. He was not familiar with steering the flying chariot. He could fly it in a general direction, but it would be asking too much of him to navigate it to follow his master along the small path. After mulling over it for a moment, he decided to stay put.
Lu Zhou and Little Yuan’er walked in front. When they passed through the long corridor, they saw a young man carrying a sword while he leaned against the fence and lazily shook his leg.
The young man whistled again.
Little Yuan’er rolled her eyes and said, “Shameless.”
The young man was none other than Jiang Aijian.
Jiang Aijian cupped his fists at Lu Zhou and said, “I take it that my letter has safely reached your hands, old senior. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to meet you.”
Lu Zhou regarded Jiang Aijian curiously and said, “How did you know Mo Qi would be here?”
Jiang Aijian straightened up and said, “It’s simple. I intercepted Mo Qi’s letter. He had requested reinforcements from various forces. The only person who could save him was Mo Li.”
Lu Zhou nodded.
At this moment, Leng Luo and Pan Litian walked over.
Jiang Aijian appraised them and said, “Greetings, Elder Hua.” He walked up to them and shook Pan Litian’s wizened hand as he greeted him.
Pan Litian was baffled by Jiang Aijian’s behavior.
Jiang Aijian’s gaze shifted from Pan Litian to Leng Luo and said, “Leader of the Black Knights, Lord Fan! Greetings!”
“Scram.”
Jiang Aijian hastily retreated a step to Pan Litian’s side. He muttered under his breath, “I knew Elder Hua is the friendly one...”
Pan Litian could not endure it and kicked Jiang Aijian. “Where did this wretched fellow come from?”
Jiang Aijian was stunned. ‘I was being f*cking friendly by greeting you! Is this how you repay me?’
Little Yuan’er said enthusiastically, “He’s Pan Zhong’s grandfather! The first elite of the Clarity Sect.”
Jiang Aijian scratched his head, a faint shocked expression could be seen on his face.
“Grandfather?”
“Scram!” Pan Litian bellowed.
Jiang Aijian knew that the Clarity Sect’s first elite had left the sect a long time ago and had disappeared for a century. Nobody knew where he went. Needless to say, nobody would have expected him to show up at the Evil Sky Pavilion. He processed this information for a moment. Although these experts could not compare to the Evil Sky Pavilion’s patriarch, they were not people to be trifled with. ‘Hm, it’s best to keep a low profile... My life is important after all.’
“Apologies! I have eyes but couldn’t see. Please don’t hold this against me seeing as I’m the one who rescued Pan Zhong,” Jiang Aijian said.
Lu Zhou turned around and looked at Jiang Aijian who was smiling ingratiatingly. “You saved Pan Zhong?”. Jiang Aijian flipped his hair and said conceitedly, “If I wasn’t quick enough to save him, he would’ve died. He’s only in the Divine Court realm, but he wanted to launch a sneak attack on Mo Qi. He’s unaware of his own limits.”
Pan Litian was not offended by this. Instead, he cupped his fists slightly at Jiang Aijian.
Jiang Aijian waved his hand and said with a smile, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”
Lu Zhou said, “So, what you’re saying is that I should thank you?”
Jiang Aijian hastily waved his hands. “No, no, no... There’s no need to thank me. After all, we’re working together.” His tone made the listeners uncomfortable. Jiang Aijian said, “This is the Grand Beclouding Formation. It’s not completely activated yet. Moreover, an elite like Mo Qi can’t be defeated by small fries such as ourselves. I’ve drawn you here to tell you that you should quickly leave. If the people from the palace arrive, it’ll be too late.” “Didn’t you intercept Mo Qi’s letter?”
“He sent more than one. I can’t exactly intercept all of them.”
Everyone was rendered speechless.
At this moment, a troop of men charged toward them.
Leng Luo and Pan Litian turned to look.
The ground slightly quaked, and the lake’s surface rippled.
However, Jiang Aijian did not seem afraid. He was still leaning on the fence. Usually, he would be the first to flee. He asked, “The reinforcements from the palace are here. Aren’t you afraid?”
Pan Litian glanced at Leng Luo and said, “He’s talking to you.”
Leng Luo ignored him.
Hundreds of soldiers appeared in their line of sight.
A lady in blue embroidered robes was at the lead, and four men with helmets followed closely behind. Based on their auras, one could tell they were not weak.
Leng Luo and Pan Litian did their best to appear calm as they furtively looked at Lu Zhou. They felt lucky the old villain was here to handle things. Otherwise, they could only flee with their tails between their legs.
Shortly after, the soldiers came to a halt.
The horses neighed.
The lady leaped off her steed, smoothened the hem of her dress, and gracefully walked over
Perhaps it was out of habit, she curtsied at Jiang Aijian before she saluted Lu Zhou and said, “Jingyi offers her greetings to old senior.”
Little Yuan’er said with a smile, “You’re here.”
Leng Luo and Pan Litian were puzzled. ‘Since when did the Evil Sky Pavilion collude with the Imperial court?’ Both of them were unaware that Lu Zhou had saved Li Jingyi’s life in Anyang, therefore, it was only natural that she greeted him.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “You’re here to help Mo Qi?”
An awkward expression appeared on Li Jingyi’s face as she said, “I’m only following orders. I’m to kill everyone who approaches Slender West Park without any exception... I’ll never forget that you’d helped me, old senior, and I’m not an ingrate. You should leave Slender West Lake for now, old senior. I’ll deal with things here.”
‘Help?’ Pan Litian did not manage to stifle his cough. He briefly wondered if he was in the wrong place.
Li Jingyi continued, “There are other reinforcements coming from the palace as well. I think they’ll be here soon.”