Chapter 173: Seven-leaf Hua Wudao, Nine Scripts Six Compatible Seal   “To open up a person’s sea of Qi,” Lu Zhou answered honestly.

Lu Zhou’s honesty took Hua Wudao slightly aback.

Hua Wudao sighed and shook his head. “To tell you the truth, the Yun Sect only has one sable magnolia. We’ll need at least two magnolias to open up a person’s sea of Qi. Sable magnolias are extremely rare. There are not more than five in Great Yan. It won’t be enough with just one.”

No matter whose sea of Qi had to be opened, they would need at least two sable magnolias.

“That’s why... I need two.”

“...”

Lu Zhou’s words were direct and frank.

“This is extremely important. I’ve sent word to the Yun Sect’s elders. They will discuss this soon,” Hua Wudao said.

Lu Zhou nodded and said, “Tell the Yun Sect that my patience has its limits. I will have the sable magnolias no matter what.”

When Hua Wudao heard this, he bowed and said, “I’ll mediate as best I can. I’ll return to you with an answer within a month.”

“Alright.”

A month was an acceptable duration for Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou’s strength and cultivation base were relatively weak. If he did not have to earn merit points, he would have stayed on Golden Court Mountain and not leave. Recovering his cultivation base was his greatest priority.

If it had been Ji Tiandao, he would not have waited for a single day, let alone a month. Lu Zhou was different. He was not lacking in time.

...

A month passed by in a blink of an eye.

During the entire month, Lu Zhou spent his time disciplining his disciples and comprehending the Heavenly Writing. His accumulated merit points finally breached the 15,000 mark.

Within the great hall, Lu Zhou stared at his merit points on the system dashboard. He muttered hesitantly, “Should I buy an avatar or attempt lucky draws?”

If he attempted the lucky draws, there would be risks. If he purchased an avatar, he would spend all the merit points he had painstakingly saved. It made him feel insecure to not have any merit points at all.

After considering it for some time, Lu Zhou shook his head. He decided to make a decision after he earned more merit points. After all, he could buy the avatar at any time, and he was not experiencing any obstacles in his cultivation.

At this moment, Hua Wudao and Mingshi Yin walked into the great hall.

“Greetings, Pavilion Master.”

“Greetings, master.”

Lu Zhou’s gaze fell on Mingshi Yin and Hua Wudao. Hua Wudao’s cultivation base was in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. Although he tried his best to conceal his aura, he could not fool Lu Zhou. When he recalled that Hua Wudao had gained the ninth script under Whitzard’s influence the other day, he asked, “Did you have a breakthrough?”

Hua Wuado was shocked. His eyes widened as he looked at Lu Zhou who was seated up high incredulously. He had been tending to his injuries every day throughout the past month. After battling the Ten Shamans, he fought Sword Saint Luo Shisan for a long time as well. Under Whizard’s auspicious Qi, the knot he had been suppressing for 20 years had been undone while his injuries healed. However, no one should know that he had sprouted another leaf. If he concealed his cultivation base, he should appear to be a Three or Four-leaf cultivator. He did not expect Lu Zhou to see through him so easily. How could he not feel shocked?

When Mingshi Yin, Duanmu Sheng, and Little Yuan’er heard this, expressions of shock appeared on their faces as well.

“Congratulations, Elder Hua!”

“Congratulations, Elder Hua!”

Duanmu Sheng was slightly envious. Nevertheless, he respected an expert like Hua Wudao. He cupped his fists and said, “Congratulations, Elder Hua.”

Hua Wudao waved his hands and said, “Thank you all for your kind words... If it weren’t for Whitzard’s magic, I wouldn’t have been able to undo this knot that had been in my heart for 20 years. At the end of the day, I’d still have to thank the pavilion master for this. Pavilion Master, thank you.” When he finished speaking, he kneeled respectfully.

Nobody stopped him.

In the Evil Sky Pavilion, Lu Zhou had every right to be thanked in this way by him. Perhaps, it was due to the length of time Lu Zhou had spent here after his transmigration, he had gotten used to being the Evil Sky Pavilion Master. For this reason, he was not flustered nor uncomfortable by Hua Wudao’s display of gratitude. He remained calm.

“Stand up and speak.” Lu Zhou waved his arm calmly.

Hua Wudao stood up.

“Seven-leaf?” Lu Zhou asked.

The Eye of Truth merely revealed his realm. He could only gauge the number of leaves from his aura. Since he was certain that Hua Wudao had sprouted another leaf, he wanted to confirm it right now.

Hua Wudao nodded. His eyes suddenly brightened. “Hundred Tribulations Insight!”

A Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar that was seven feet tall appeared behind Hua Wudao. A spinning, seven-leaf Golden Lotus blossomed under its feet.

“Six Compatible Seal!”

Hua Wudao lowered himself into a stance. The Yin Yang trigram appeared under his feet. With its black and white halves, the Taiji Eight Trigrams was dazzlingly bright.

Shortly after, Heaven, Earth, Life, Death, Water, Fire, Being, Non-being, Separation...

The nine scripts rose and revolved around Hua Wudao.

The Nine Scripts Six Compatible Seal!

Mingshi Yin and Little Yuan’er were awestruck by this.

Duanmu Sheng, however, seemed excited. He was clearly itching to leap forward and spar with Hua Wudao at this moment. His grip on the Overlord Spear tightened.

“Third Senior Brother, you’ve been left in the dust...” Mingshi Yin said with a smile.

“Although Elder Hua has gained his seventh leaf, one day, I’ll be sure to break this Six Compatible Seal,” Duanmu Sheng said confidently.

“Don’t forget, you have the Overlord Spear with you, but Elder Hua has none.”

“...” Talk about hitting where it hurts! Duanmu Sheng glared at Mingshi Yin. “Since the difference in strength between Elder Hua and I is so wide, I’ll have to trouble you to be my sparring partner for the following month, Fourth Junior Brother.”

“Uh...” Mingshi Yin merely wanted to tease Duanmu Sheng. Who knew his mouth would bring calamity upon him? He was truly speechless.

Hua Wudao shook his head and said, “Although Duanmu Sheng only has two leaves, he’s capable of going up against Four and even Five-leaf opponents. He’s far more talented than I am. Youth is wealth as they say. I’ve only managed to gain another leaf after 20 years... I think Duanmu Sheng will surpass me in a few years. There’s no need to doubt that.” Who knew if his words were just flattery? However, it was definitely pleasing to the ears.

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Sheng had a proud expression etched on his face.

“Elder Hua, I didn’t expect you to think so highly of Duanmu Sheng.” Lu Zhou was surprised. In his opinion, among his disciples, Duanmu Sheng was the least talented and had the worst insight. He had attributed Duanmu Sheng’s huge improvement to being freed from Ji Tiandao’s suppression.

It had to be mentioned that Mingshi Yin had entered the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm a long time ago. Lu Zhou suspected the rascal, Mingshi Yin, was concealing his strength on purpose again. Perhaps, he had already sprouted two or three leaves.

Hua Wudao nodded. “I frequently spar with Duanmu Sheng. His fighting style is tough and enduring. His attacks are forceful and decisive. I’ve never met such an opponent before.”

Duanmu Sheng was starting to feel embarrassed by all the compliments. He cupped his fists and said, “You’re too kind, Elder Hua.”

When she saw everyone’s cultivation base making steady progress, Little Yuan’er pouted. She felt slightly annoyed. However, without a sea of Qi, she could not enter the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm.

Against a Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivator, the Divine Court realm and below were as insignificant as ants. Regardless of how powerful she was as a Divine Court realm cultivator, she could never defeat a Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivator. To a certain extent, the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm was the true beginning of one’s cultivation path.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “Back to the main topic.”

Hua Wudao waved his hand. His Hundred Tribulations Insight and Six Compatible Seal disappeared.

Fortunately, Hua Wudao did not request for a sparring session right there and then. Lu Zhou was not sure if he was supposed to use a Thunderblast Card under those circumstances. It would be a great loss if he accidentally killed this powerful subordinate of his.

Hua Wudao said, “The Yun Sect has written back yesterday. They are willing to exchange the sable magnolia for Ding Fanqiu.”