Chapter 119: The Most Powerful Elder! Huawu? Wuhua?
Although Duanmu Sheng and Mingshi Yin disdained this tortoise technique, they would not dispute their masterâs words. Moreover, the Evil Sky Pavilion was waning. With the injection of new blood, it might be restored to its former glory.
Mingshi Yin turned and looked at his master furtively. âHe doesnât look like his life is nearing its limit at all. In fact, he looks livelier day by day and is filled with vitality.â
Hua Wudao pondered about this but still could not make up his mind.
Lu Zhou said in a deep voice, âYou have two choices, and you can only pick one. Youâre the first person under the heavens to be given such a treatment by the Evil Sky Pavilion. My patience is limited. I want an answer after a count of ten.â
âAnd if I donât have an answer?â Hua Wudaoâs heart raced.
Before Lu Zhou could reply, Mingshi Yin said, âThen youâll suffer the same fate as Fan Xiuwen. Youâll be imprisoned in the Evil Sky Pavilion until youâve thought things through. However, since youâve seen through life and death, Iâm sure this wonât matter to you.â
âAlso, the Evil Sky Pavilion doesnât have much, but we have a lot of rooms for lodging. We have the north, south, east, and west pavilions. We have many dilapidated residences halfway up the mountain. We have the Cave of Reflection behind the mountain as well, itâs cold there. Also, donât think youâll be able to escape. Even if the ten great elites show up together, they wonât be able to break the Golden Court Mountainâs barrier!â Mingshi Yin prattled on with a smile on his face.
His words made Zhou Jifeng and Pan Zhongâs hearts race.
âMister Fourthâs words are truly devastating. This is even more terrifying than killing a person!â
Hua Wudao was a distinguished and accomplished person, and he would never cling abjectly to life. Otherwise, he would not have shown up here. However, someone like him would care about his pride and dignity.
âAt that time, Iâll make sure every cultivator under the heavens knows that Yun Sectâs Hua Wudao is an untrustworthy person. He came to the Evil Sky Pavilion and lost a wager but would not pay up!â
ââŠâ Hua Wudao felt even more speechless. There were many who knew about his visit to the Evil Sky Pavilion. Otherwise, he would not have had to resign from his position as Yun Sectâs elder. Everything started and ended with this knot in his heart. He would not have any regrets.
Little Yuanâer giggled and said, âIâll start counting, then.â She was worried that Hua Wudao did not hear her so she repeated, âIâll start counting⊠Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Timeâs up! Whatâs your decision?â
âWho counts this fast?â
Before Hua Wudao even had time to think, the countdown had ended.
Everyoneâs eyes in the Evil Sky Pavilionâs great hall, including Lu Zhou, were trained on Hua Wudao.
Silence descended on the great hall again.
Finally, Hua Wudao shook his head and heaved a long sigh. âForget it!â
Upon seeing this, Hua Wudaoâs disciples fell to his knees immediately. âMaster, you shouldnâtâŠâ
Hua Wudao looked at his disciples, but he did not chide him like before. Instead, he said, âYou should return to Yun Sect.â
âFrom this day onward, youâre no longer my disciple. There are many elders in the Yun Sect. Iâm sure one of them will be willing to teach you. When you return, tell them that Hua Wudao is dead.â
The middle-aged man wanted to say something, but Hua Wudao raised his leg and kicked him. He reprimanded him, âI said, get lost!â His shout created a soundwave that pushed the middle-aged man away.
Helpless, the middle-aged man could only get to his feet and respectfully salute Hua Wudao.
Mingshi Yin said with a smile, âIâll see you down the mountain⊠However, if you want to stay, Iâm sure my master wonât object to it. After all, the Golden Court Mountain is huge. We donât mind having another person here.â
The middle-aged man shuddered. âI want to leave the mountain. I want to leave now.â
Mingshi Yin clicked his tongue at the middle-aged man and motioned him over before leaving the great hall.
The two of them left the great hall.
Hua Wudao cupped his fists. âMy disciple is slightly foolish, I hope you wonât hold it against him, Pavilion Master, and spare his life.â
Lu Zhou stroked his beard as he sat down and said, âWe choose to walk on different paths. Please sit.â
Lu Zhou said âPleaseâ! This had never happened in the Evil Sky Pavilion. It could be seen that he valued Hua Wudao.
Lu Zhou regarded him with a curious look before he said calmly, âYou rather join the Evil Sky Pavilion than tell me who the mastermind behind the Fish Dragon Village incident isâŠâ
âPlease forgive me, Pavilion Master.â
âArenât you afraid that Iâll use torture to interrogate you in the future?â Lu Zhou asked calmly.
This was the Evil Sky Pavilion, after all. They were all great villains. No matter how evil an act was, it would not be surprising to see it here.
Hua Wudao shook his head and sighed. âIf it comes to that, I can only ask for death.â
âYouâre different from Fan Xiuwen. He was controlled and doesnât fear death. Youâre much luckier than him,â Lu Zhou said.
Hua Wudao remained silent.
At this point, Hua Wudaoâs choice was clear.
âDing! Recruited a subordinate. Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivator, Hua Wudao. Loyalty: 5%â
Zhou Jifeng and Pan Zhong were courteous. They cupped their fists toward Hua Wudao and said, âGreetings, Elder Hua.â
Hua Wudaoâs old face flushed red. He did not know if he should respond to the greeting or not. He felt awkward.
At this moment, Mingshi Yin had returned from the foot of the mountain. When he saw the extremely awkward Hua Wudao, he said, âYouâre just worried about the ridicule from the world. Thatâs an easy problem to solve. You should change your name. The old Hua Wudao has died in the Evil Sky Pavilion.â
âHow about the name Huawu or Wuhua?â Mingshi Yin said teasingly.
Hua Wudaoâs name slightly conflicted with Ji Tiandaoâs name, after all.
âItâs but a name. I wonât mind being called anythingâŠâ Hua Wudaoâs mind was a mess right now. All he wanted now was to be left alone in a corner. He was not in the mood to fret upon such matters at the moment.
Little Yuanâer walked over and said, âMaster, a letter from Jiang Aijian.â
âBring it here.â Lu Zhou had a feeling that this letter contained important messages that should not be read out loud.
Little Yuanâer passed him the letter respectfully.
Lu Zhou opened it casually. He read the letter.
âThe mastermind behind the Fish Dragon Village incident is the Second Prince. The main culprit of the battle at Measure Heaven River is General Wei Zhuoyan of Changning. His accomplice is the leader of the Black Knights, Fan Xiuwen. Old senior, Iâve paid a huge price to obtain this piece of information⊠To be honest, if you donât compensate me with a nice sword, Iâll be very sad.â
With this information, everything was clear now. However, nary a ripple could be seen on Lu Zhouâs face. In truth, he had his guesses about the matters which Fan Xiuwen and Hua Wudao would not talk about. Jiang Aijianâs letter merely confirmed his suspicions. He waved his hand. The letter was reduced to dust immediately.
âMaster, what did it say?â Little Yuanâer inquired.
âThe mastermind behind the battle at Measure Heaven RiverâŠâ Lu Zhou answered honestly.
When he heard this, Hua Wudao fell from his seat. His face was ghastly pale, and his eyes were wide open.
Lu Zhou said indifferently, âBring Elder Hua away, and let him rest.â
Little Yuanâer was puzzled. âItâs only the mastermind, why are you so nervous? Arenât you being too dramatic?â
Lu Zhou nodded. If it had been a mortal or a great cultivator, things would have been simple. He could just deal with it according to the cultivation worldâs rules. However, he did not expect that a prince was involved in this. The princeâs disputes should not have involved the civilians.
Lu Zhou would not underestimate the Imperial Familyâs power. After all, the Imperial Family was what kept Great Yan stable all these years. The soldiers and officers who guarded the corners of the empire and the great cultivators who operated in the open and in the dark formed the foundation of Great Yanâs stability. It was no wonder Hua Wudao was reluctant to divulge that information.
Lu Zhou finally said, âTell Jiang Aijian that Iâve prepared a nice sword for him. Heâs to come here and collect it.â