Chapter 755: Replenishing Longevity
“Master, why don’t you let Junior Sister Conch chase the beasts away?” Little Yuan’er asked.
Lu Zhou shook his head and said, “Although Conch can easily control countless beasts, those beasts are different from those that want a taste of human flesh. These beasts are more difficult to control. Conch’s cultivation base isn’t profound enough to deal with them yet. Even if she can block those flying beasts, she would need to be a Nine-leaf cultivator if she wants to deal with huge beasts.”
Whether it was manman, Qiong Qi, or Chi Yao, they were not targets that cultivators below the Eight-leaf stage could deal with.
“Oh.” Little Yuan’er turned and said to Conch, “Junior Sister Conch, you’ll have to work harder.”
Conch nodded and said, “Mhm... Ninth Senior Sister, I think I reached the Three-leaf stage last night.”
“...” Lu Zhou was slightly taken aback. He turned to look at Conch for a moment before returning his attention back to Yu Zhenghai. A slight frown could be seen on his face; he had just remembered an important problem.
Yu Zhenghai once consumed half of Chi Yao’s Heart and a red fish heart. This meant he had 700 years of life. With the remaining half of Chi Yao’s Heart, he would have 1,300 years in total. If he was the same as Lu Zhou, would he not die if the golden lotus absorbed more life than he had?
“Chi Yao’s Heart,” Lu Zhou reminded.
Yu Zhenghai nodded. He took Chi Yao’s Heart and consumed it.
The golden lotus spun at a terrifying speed.
“Xia Changqiu,” Lu Zhou said gruffly.
Xia Changqiu immediately hurried over. Upon seeing the situation, he knew it was an emergency. “What is it, old senior?”
“Do you have a life heart?”
“Uh...” Xia Changqiu hesitated briefly.
“I won’t mistreat you.” Lu Zhou raised his hand and extended it in front of Xia Changqiu.
Xia Changqiu gave it some thought. Then, he gritted his teeth and said, “Alright... One moment, old senior.”
In truth, the number of years a golden lotus absorbed was not fixed. Lu Zhou only wanted the life heart in case of an emergency. They could not afford to be reckless about reaching the Nine-leaf stage.
Shortly after, Xia Changqiu returned and presented a brocade box respectfully. “This is Ao Yu’s Heart. 100 years ago, we obtained it by a stroke of luck when we followed the Flying Star House and the Sky Martial Court into the Black Water Mystic Cave.”
“Black Water Mystic Cave?”
“It’s a long story. In any case, strange noises had been coming from the cave for months. However, no one dared to get close due to the manmans. At that time, I was only an inner disciple of the Thousand Willow Monastery whom nobody cared about. I put my life on the line and ventured into the Black Water Mystic Cave on my own, but I didn’t dare to go far. After that, my master obtained this item in the black water and gave it to me.”
“You’re truly fortunate.” Many Eight and Nine-leaf cultivators did not receive such treatments.
After Lu Zhou received Ao Yu’s Heart, he observed Yu Zhenghai for any abnormal changes as he waited.
...
Meanwhile, in the southern pavilion of the Evil Sky Pavilion in the golden lotus domain.
Si Wuya sat in front of a stack of books and paper. He had been so engrossed with drawing that he looked like a caveman now.
Mingshi Yin played with the Separation Hook as he said confidently, “You’re worried for nothing. There’s nothing to fear; I’m here...”
“I’m just preparing for the worst. You have outstanding strength, Fourth Senior Brother, and there won’t be any problem with facing the beasts. However, what if a beast such as Qiong Qi were to appear or a karmic fire cultivator like Fa Kong?” Si Wuya asked.
“Master has gone to the red lotus domain. Everything would be fine once he demonstrates his strength to deter those from the red lotus domain from having any unwanted thoughts toward the golden lotus domain.”
“If the red lotus domain is so easily dealt with, master would’ve been back by now.” Si Wuya grabbed a scroll of calligraphy and a map at the side. He turned 180 degrees as he said, “I discovered something new.”
Mingshi Yin did not like these things. However, due to his ego, he had to take a look at it. He read aloud, “The bright moon shines over the sea; from far away, we share this moment together?”
“The first nine words are characters taken from all our names,” Si Wuya said.
Mingshi Yin stroked his chin and looked at it again. He nodded before he said, “I say, I didn’t know master has such taste. He sure knows how to pick his disciples. In that case, all that’s left is this ‘shi’. However, Junior Sister Conch’s name doesn’t have the word ‘shi’.”
Si Wuya picked the paper up again and wrote: Luo Shiyin.
Mingshi Yin was shocked. He asked, “Is this a coincidence? Are you saying Junior Sister Conch is Luo Shiyin?”
Si Wuya said, “I’m not sure yet. However, based on the notes Luo Shiyin left behind, Luo Shiyin and Luo Xuan might not be the same person. The notes were written by a single person. Her research, explorations, and discoveries could hardly be faked. Three centuries have passed. If Conch is Luo Shiyin, according to her cultivation base, she should be an old woman. Junior Sister Conch is skilled in music, the tongue of beasts, and entered the Nascent Divinity realm in such a short time. Moreover, she’s only 16.”
“Is she a Wuqian like Eldest Senior Brother?” Mingshi Yin asked.
“I don’t think so. I’ve been with Eldest Senior Brother for many years. I know what the attributes of the Wuqi tribe are like.” Si Wuya shook his head.
“A monster?”
“There are three possibilities. First, Conch is indeed a rare genius. Second, Luo Shiyin is Luo Xuan’s descendant and inherited Luo Xuan’s research. There’s an important point in the notes: Luo Xuan returned to the red lotus domain more than a decade ago. However, the records of the final decade or so were written in Luo Xuan’s name. Third, Conch is a spy sent from the red lotus domain.”
“...” Mingshi Yin felt slightly light-headed with these revelations. He had difficulty believing this. “I can believe the second possibility, but the third one is clearly...”
“It’s difficult to tell what’s on a person’s mind,” Si Wuya said as he lifted his head to meet Mingshi Yin’s gaze.
“Save it. You’re smart, I’ll give you that... but you’re too full of yourself sometimes. I’m going out to get some fresh air.” Mingshi Yin turned around and left, closing the door behind him.
After Mingshi Yin left, Si Wuya sighed and shook his head. He looked at the diagram under the poem for a long time before he murmured, “Actually, there’s another possibility... Junior Sister Conch might’ve come from somewhere more terrifying. Perhaps... Luo Shiyin never existed in the first place.”
The golden lotus domain and the red lotus were not the only ones in the diagram. There were other diagrams that aroused his suspicions, but they were all smudged by ink and could not be seen.
...
In the Thousand Willow Monastery in the red lotus domain.
A horde of beasts appeared in the sky.
In the courtyard, Yu Zhenghai’s progress was at a turning point.
Little Yuan’er pointed at Yu Zhenghai as she cried out, “Master, Eldest Senior Brother’s hair is turning white!”
“Chi Yao’s Heart,” Lu Zhou reminded him.
Yu Zhenghai nodded and consumed the remaining Chi Yao’s Heart.
Lu Zhou opened the brocade box in his hand. He saw Ao Yu’s Heart that resembled Chi Yao’s Heart. He tossed it over to Yu Zhenghai. “Eat this.”
“Understood.” The golden lotus ate away at Yu Zhenghai’s years at a faster speed. With the two life hearts, his white hair darkened again.
At this moment, Tian Buji’s voice rang in the air. “Old senior, Monastery Master, the beast, Zhong Diao, is here.”
Amidst the throng of beasts, a distinctive beast could be seen.
Xia Changqiu said, “I’ll deal with it.” He leaped out, followed by the elders from the Thousand Willow Monastery.
Zhong Diao was a beast that resembled half a bird and ate humans. It was like a bird of prey with horns on its head. Its cries sounded like that of a newborn; it was rather annoying.
“Sound technique?”
Zhong Diao’s cry that was similar to a baby’s cry resounded through Thousand Willow Mountain. It was highly distracting.
Yu Zhenghai frowned slightly.
Xia Changqiu and the elders of the Thousand Willow Monastery had no problem dealing with the beast. However, the noises created by this huge beast were truly irritating.
Xia Changqiu waved his horsetail whisk. A blast of energy disrupted the formation of the beasts as it shot toward Zhong Diao.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Zhong Diao flapped its wings and adjusted its bearing. It flew in another direction and continued crying out.
“Cursed livestock!” Xia Changqiu unleashed his grand technique and launched several Daoist seals.
Daoist palm seals spun outward.
The baby-like cries grew louder.
If the huge beast was not dealt with, the other beasts would not leave.
At this moment, Yu Shangrong looked up from his position on the roof and said indifferently, “Leave this to me.”
After Xia Changqiu unleashed his grand technique, Zhong Diao seemed to understand his intentions and adjusted its flight.
“No! This livestock is tamed!” Xia Changqiu said as he observed Zhong Diao.
Yu Shangrong, who was now hovering in the air, asked, “Tamed?”
“After a beast is tamed, it will follow its owner’s orders and know when to retreat. This livestock will be difficult to deal with,” Xia Changqiu said.
Yu Shangrong smiled faintly and said, “Interesting.” If his target was too simple, he would have found it boring.
Zing!
His Longevity Sword left its scabbard.
Yu Shangrong seemed to vanish into thin air as he cast Return and Enter Three Souls. Then, he summoned his avatar.
His 150-foot golden lotus avatar flew forward. Its golden hands seemed as though they were imbued with divine powers as it grabbed Zhong Diao.
When Yu Shangrong’s three figures merged into one, he appeared in front of Zhong Diao with a burst of movement.
A cold light glinted in the air as the Longevity Sword pierced Zhong Diao’s body.
Xia Changqiu. “...”
...
Meanwhile, on a mountain peak nearby.
A hooded man’s fingers trembled as he separated his palms.
“Nine-leaf?” When he lifted his head, one could see he had a mustache on his face. His eyes flashed with killing intent as he said, “You’ll pay with your life for killing my Zhong Diao.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he leaped off the mountain. Strange radiant rings appeared around him. Their colors were a purple so dark that it seemed almost black.