Chapter 164: The Most Powerful Subordinate   Lu Zhou could clearly see that Fan Xiuwen was shaking. “The condition is simple... From this day onward, you’ll have to be loyal to the Evil Sky Pavilion.”

The room fell silent.

Fan Xiuwen stopped shaking and seemed to have regained his composure. He did not speak, but a self-mocking expression could be seen on his face as though he wondered what use he would be in his current state. He was aware of his situation. The leader of the Black Knights, the first on the blacklist... all those were meaningless now.

Little Yuan’er kept her distance since she was frightened by Fan Xiuwen’s appearance.

Fan Xiuwen was as dark as charcoal. He looked more like a monster than a human at this moment. Apart from being gravely injured, it was highly likely that his cultivation base had been crippled. He was useless now. Was there a need for the grand Evil Sky Pavilion to accept someone like him?

Little Yuan’er had difficulty understanding her master’s decision as well. Naturally, she did not dare to question it. ‘Master must have his own reason for doing this.’

“If you agree, I have ways to save you...”

Upon hearing Lu Zhou’s words, Fan Xiuwen trembled. He mustered all his strength and lifted his head. He wanted to look at Lu Zhou. Alas, his injuries were too severe and he ended up slumping to the ground again. As he fell back on the ground, a wisp of a voice escaped from his mouth, “Sure.” A single syllable was all he was capable of speaking at this moment.

“Ding! Obtained an Eight-leaf Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm subordinate. Reward: 2,000 merit points. Special suggestion: The difficulty of controlling this subordinate is higher than usual. Please increase his loyalty.”

Lu Zhou glanced at Fan Xiuwen when he heard the notification.

Name: Leng Luo

Race: Human

Cultivation base: Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm (highly damaged)

Loyalty: 2%

The low loyalty clearly showed it would be difficult to use him.

In any case, Fan Xiuwen was once on the top of the blacklist. Moreover, he was also the leader of the Black Knights who held much authority. On top of that, he had a terrifying Eight-leaf cultivation base. It was not surprising for someone like that to be prideful. Even Wei Zhuoyan, the commander of the three armies was not like him. In any case, his addition to the pavilion would still be a good thing.

“Very well.” Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction. “Since you’ve joined the Evil Sky Pavilion, you’re not allowed to serve another master...”

Fan Xiuwen tried to speak, but the only sound that came out from his throat was a gurgling noise.

Lu Zhou raised his hand slowly. A faint azure light appeared in his palm. When he waved his hand, the azure light descended.

Upon seeing the ball of energy, Fan Xiuwen’s eyes widened.

This was the Critical Heal Card.

It was worth it to exchange a 300 point card for a formidable subordinate. Moreover, the system had rewarded Lu Zhou with 2,000 points.

Lu Zhou began to think about how to control Fan Xiuwen. Indeed it would be difficult to control someone of Fan Xiuwen’s caliber. In the end, he decided he would slowly deal with this matter.

Fan Xiuwen was heavily wounded. The Critical Heal Card could only heal 30% of his injuries. In his current state, he would not be able to play any tricks.

The azure light shrouded Fan Xiuwen’s charred body, entering his body until it reached his Extraordinary Eight Meridians. The gentle energy instantly coursed through his body.

Lu Zhou appeared calm as he studied Fan Xiuwen’s change.

The effects of the Critical Heal Card reminded him of a Buddhist healing technique, the Merciful Ark of Salvation. The Merciful Ark of Salvation was a technique that only Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm experts could cast. Moreover, it was highly taxing to cast such a technique. It was the equivalent to transferring the healer’s energy into the target’s Extraordinary Eight Meridians. The energy would be used to expand the meridians again. The target’s wounds would then be healed by Merciful Ark of Salvation’s special effect.

Fan Xiuwen, loyalty +2%.

It was impossible for Fan Xiuwen not to be shocked and moved by Fan Xiuwen’s seemingly selfless act. He was, naturally, unaware that Lu Zhou had nothing to do with it, and it was all thanks to the Critical Heal Card.

When Lu Zhou saw Fan Xiuwen’s loyalty rise by 2%, he appeared calm.

‘It’s difficult enough to raise his loyalty now, I can’t imagine how difficult it’d be in the future. Also... two of his subordinates had died in the Evil Sky Pavilion. This will definitely be an obstacle to gaining his loyalty. It’ll take more than a day or two to raise his loyalty to 70% or 80%.’

The Critical Heal Card’s effect lasted for half an hour.

Lu Zhou calmly observed Fan Xiuwen the entire time. He was not worried with the Critical Card Heal at work.

After half an hour, the azure light began to fade.

The entire time, Little Yuan’er had looked on in shock. She stood at the side obediently, not daring to disturb her master.

Finally, the azure light disappeared completely.

The dried blood and crust fell off Fan Xiuwen. He tried to move. He placed his palms on the ground and pushed himself up. It seemed like he had regained some of his strength. However, his injuries were far from healed.

Fan Xiuwen retreated into a corner and leaned on the wall. This was a better vantage point than the earlier one. He panted heavily as he said in a hoarse voice, “From this day on... Fan Xiuwen no longer... exists... There’s only... Leng Luo now...” As soon as he finished speaking, he broke into a violent coughing fit. After all, only 30% of his injuries were healed.

Lu Zhou nodded slightly. He stroked his beard and said, “Leng Luo, I won’t bore you with the rules in Evil Sky Pavilion...”

Leng Luo nodded. His expression was stiff. Even when he nodded his neck seemed stiff. Perhaps, he was not used to being a subordinate.

“Pa-pavilion Master?”

“Whatever you wish to call me.”

“I... have always... taken promises seriously. However, I’d like to ask... why?” Leng Luo could not figure it out. His current cultivation base was no different from trash. Even if the Evil Sky Pavilion were to kill him, he would not be surprised.

Lu Zhou said indifferently, “Because you’re Leng Luo...”

He was Leng Luo, an expert with an Eight-leaf avatar. How could someone like that be worthless?

Leng Luo nodded.

Lu Zhou spoked again, “You want to kill Mo Li?”

“Yes.”

“When did you meet him?”

“I can’t remember... The only thing I remember is that she seems to be close with the Clarity Sect,” Leng Luo said.

Clarity Sect?

Lu Zhou continued, “Mo Li was from the Clarity Sect?”

“That’s right.”

Pan Zhong had studied witchcraft before this. He had said that many elders and seniors in the sect would adamantly refuse to discuss or mention witchcraft.

“Mo Li, Mo Qi...” Lu Zhou placed his hands on his back as he uttered the two names.

It would have been fine if Lu Zhou did not mention those names.

Upon hearing the names, Leng Luo’s expression turned sour. It was clear that he was disgusted.

Lu Zhou glanced at him and asked, “You’ve led the Black Knights for so long, do you know what her cultivation base is like?”

Leng Luo shook his head and said, “I’ve never seen her make a move... However, I don’t think she’s any weaker than Wu Xian when he was within the Grand Predecessor Formation...”

Within the Grand Predecessor Formation, Wu Xian merely possessed 70 to 80% of his strength. With this, Lu Zhou deduced Mo Li’s cultivation base was likely comparable to a Seven or Eight-leaf avatar.

It seemed like the Clarity Sect was a place where there were crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Compared to them, the Righteous Sect paled greatly. The two sects were of the same Path, but their strength was starkly different.

At this moment, Duanmu Sheng’s voice suddenly rang from afar. “Master, I’ve locked Wei Zhuoran up... His true cultivation base is only in the Divine Court realm. Even if we give him wings, it would be difficult for him to escape.”

Lu Zhou nodded.

Duanmu Sheng continued, “Also, Old Seventh sent a letter.”

“What did he say?”

For Si Wuya to send them a letter at this juncture...

“The Righteous Sect’s Zhang Chunlai led a group of people to attack Old Eighth. Their effort ended in failure...”

Lu Zhou was puzzled as he said, “With Old Eighth’s strength... how could he have possibly withstood the onslaught?”

“Old Seventh didn’t mention anything about this in his letter... He also said that Zhang Yuanshan has already gone to the Clarity Sect. They originated from the same sect after all. The Clarity Sect has sworn to bathe Old Eighth’s Tiger Ridge in blood and avenge Zhang Chunlai,” Duanmu Sheng said.

Lu Zhou listened indifferently as though it was some insignificant news. He seemed amused as he said, “He brought this unto himself. He can’t blame anyone for this.”