Chapter 521: On A Platter

“Can be used against a Nine-leaf cultivator?” Lu Zhou was puzzled.

Zhou Wenliang continued to say, “This armor was sent by the Crown Prince, Liu Zhi. He said that a Nine-leaf cultivator will be able to activate the armor’s special power. In any case, I don’t believe it at all! Please examine this thoroughly, Senior Ji!” After he finished speaking, his eyes instinctively wandered to the sides again. He wondered where the other little villains were. Why were there only two repulsive men in the hall apart from the pavilion master? Naturally, he did not dare give voice to these questions.

Pan Zhong said with a sneer, “There’s no need for you to tell us what to do. Since you’re so good at telling others what they should do, why didn’t you tell Lin Xin to personally come and apologize?”

A helpless expression appeared on Zhou Wenliang’s face as he said, “Even the president can’t persuade the patriarch, let alone us.”

Wang Jianrang, who was kneeling at the back, hastily said, “Please examine this thoroughly, Senior Ji. The three of us are sincere in our apologies. That old fart, Lin Xin, is trying to push the Taixu Academy to destruction... As elders, we can’t stay idle when the academy is being pushed onto the path of destruction!”

Lu Zhou remained silent. He rose to his feet and descended the steps. He came to a stop in front of Zhou Wenliang and studied the armor again. He flipped his palm, and the armor floated up. It was covered in fine red threads. Every detail was meticulously carved.

Although Zhou Jifeng did not understand the veins on the armor, previously, he had been ordered to make copies of the veins on the coffin. Therefore, he still had a vague recollection of the veins on the coffin. When he finally saw the veins on the armor, he exclaimed in shock, “Why do they resemble the veins on the coffin?”

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and continued to study it.

Zhou Wenliang looked up and said, “The Crown Prince, Liu Zhi, has said that the unique power of this armor will be activated when it encounters a Nine-leaf cultivator. It’s only a despicable lie to fool children. Liu Zhi wants to use the Taixu Academy to keep the Evil Sky Pavilion occupied. Hence, he produced this so-called special armor to drive a wedge between us.”

Lu Zhou looked at Zhou Wenliang and asked, “Why do you say that?”

“Well... This is just my opinion. If there’s truly a way to deal with a Nine-leaf cultivator, the Crown Prince would have used this when the seven great sects attacked you back then. Otherwise, why did he keep the armor hidden and send the other sects to meet their deaths?” Zhou Wenliang replied.

Lu Zhou did not refute Zhou Wenliang’s opinion. After all, Zhou Wenliang had a point. However, when the seven great sects laid siege on the Golden Court Mountain, nobody believed that the Nine-leaf stage existed. If Lin Xin were to don the armor, with his skills, he could stand up against cultivators of the Eight-leaf stage and below. At that time, only a Nine-leaf cultivator could take Lin Xin down.

“Senior Ji, please examine this thoroughly,” Zhou Wenliang said in a clear voice.

“Only an outstanding talent can recognize current trends...” Lu Zhou turned around and paced with his hands on his back, “Put it on.”

“Huh?” Zhou Wenliang was taken aback. He did not know where this was going.

Without waiting for a reply from Lu Zhou, Pan Zhong urged Zhou Wenliang. “Get on with it. Wear it!”

“Yes, yes, yes...” Zhou Wenliang dared not dally. He hastily put on the thick and heavy armor. After donning it, he remained in his submissive position and dared not move.

Lu Zhou gauged him for a moment. The veins were basically the same as the ones on the coffin. He said tonelessly, “Stand up.”

Zhou Wenliang did as he was told. He stood up, trembling with fear and trepidation. The moment he stood up, he saw Lu Zhou raising his big wizened hand. There was a flurry of movements before he saw a shining golden palm seal shooting out of Lu Zhou’s palm.

“Ahh!” Zhou Wenliang did not expect Lu Zhou to suddenly attack him. He was completely caught off guard.

Bam!

The palm seal landed on Zhou Wenliang’s chest. He felt keenly felt the impact of the attack as he was sent flying back with his back arched

Wang Jianrang and Zhang Gong frowned as they looked at Zhou Wenliang who was sent reeling back.

The palm seal did not fade away immediately. It stuck to Zhou Wenliang tightly as he flew out of the great hall.

Thud!

When the power subsided, Zhou Wenliang lay on the ground, facing the sky. He felt as though his joints had come loose. It was a terrible feeling.

Evidently, the ‘special power’ of the armor was not triggered at all.

At this moment, Wang Jianrang was the first to react. He cried out, “Look! This item is a fake, after all!”

Zhang Gong chimed in, “Lin Xin is too despicable. He has no regard for the safety of the Taixu Academy. We were almost fooled by Liu Zhi.”

To be honest, Lu Zhou’s palm strike was that of a Two-leaf Nascent Divinity realm cultivator. It was not a Nine-leaf elite’s attack.

Lu Zhou felt helpless as well. ‘I can’t just launch a Nine-leaf attack just because I want to.’

Regardless of the strength of the blow, it was still of the Two-leaf Nascent Divinity realm.

Pan Zhong interjected, “Your control over palm seals have truly reached amazing heights, Pavilion Master.”

Zhou Jifeng. “???”

Outside the great hall, Zhou Wenliang picked himself up with difficulty. He stood outside and bowed at Lu Zhou as he said, “That was a powerful strike, Senior Ji... This armor is completely useless.” One of his hands was pressed to his chest as he endured the pain and walked into the great hall again.

Lu Zhou studied the armor and the veins on it again. Nothing was triggered at all. Nevertheless, he had a hunch, just like the coffin, the armor was not a fake.

‘... so, it can only be triggered by a Nine-leaf attack?’

Lu Zhou was still lost in his thoughts when a loud voice rang from outside the great hall.

“Master, your palm seal is too dazzling. I could see it clearly from afar.” Zhu Honggong walked into the hall with his back bent.

“Mister Eighth.” Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng greeted Zhu Honggong at the same time.

The three Taixu Academy’s elders turned around and saw the fat and big-eared Zhu Honggong walking into the hall with his back bent. They were puzzled. Was this the Evil Sky Pavilion’s Mister Eighth, Zhu Honggong? This guy? This guy was the Evil King?

When Zhu Honggong was walking past them, the ingratiating smile on his face disappeared. However, as soon as he passed them, the ingratiating smile appeared on his face again. Clearly, he had reached great heights in changing his expressions.

Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng were duly impressed. “...”

Pan Zhong remembered his own attempt at flattery moments ago. Compared to Zhu Honggong, it seemed like he still had ways to go.

“What is it?” Lu Zhou looked at Zhu Honggong.

Zhu Honggong said, “Fourth Senior Brother wants me to pass on a message to you. He said that the Taixu Academy has long been associated with the Imperial family.”

‘Is he not a disciple of the Evil Sky Pavilion? Why does he need to help someone to pass on a message?’ Despite the thoughts running across his mind, Zhou Wenliang fell to his knees immediately as soon as he heard Zhu Honggong’s words. “Please examine this thoroughly, Senior Ji. That’s the old fart, Lin Xin’s idea. The three of us have nothing to do with it.”

Lu Zhou looked at the trio calmly. Nobody could tell what was running through his mind. Finally, he said indifferently, “I can feel the sincerity from three of you. Leave the armor here.”

Zhou Wenliang was overjoyed. He immediately removed the armor.

Then, the trio from the Taixu Academy thanked Lu Zhou in unison. “Thank you, Senior Ji.”

“Ding! Worshipped by three individuals. Reward: 3 merit points.”

“But...”

“Huh?” The trio who had just relaxed tensed up again.

“Once I ascertain Lin Xin is the only one causing trouble, I’ll spare the three of you. Lock them up for now.” Lu Zhou waved his hand.

Pan Zhong and Zhou Jifeng bowed at the same time. “Understood.”

“Please examine this thoroughly, Senior Ji! Senior Ji, I’m telling the truth!” As he was dragged away, Zhou Wenliang wondered when he had misspoken. He could find any fault with his words. What was happening?

In the end, the trio was locked in the northern pavilion’s warehouse where they could even see the sun.

Inside the warehouse.

Wang Jianran asked, “Elder Zhou, will you plan work?”

“Don’t worry... It’ll work.”

With his hands on his back, Zhou Wenliang said, “At the very least, Old Villain Ji didn’t outright kill us, right?”

“The problem is, now that the armor is proven to be fake, how is Lin Xin going to deal with Old Villain Ji?” Wang Jianrang asked.

Zhou Wenliang frowned. “It doesn’t matter if it’s real or not. So long as Old Villain Ji believes Lin Xin is in cahoots with the Crown Prince, it’s enough. With Lin Xin out of the picture and president Xiao Shan in Yu Province, the Taixu Academy will belong to the three of us. Old Villain Ji is a Nine-leaf cultivator, after all. He won’t be defeated that easily.”

Wang Jianrang nodded. “You’ve truly thought this through, Brother Zhou.”

Zhou Wenliang snorted. “Men die for riches while birds die for food. How can you get the cub without entering the tiger’s den?”

When the tiger’s den was mentioned, Zhang Gong said in a hushed tone, “By the way, the Evil Sky Pavilion doesn’t look as scary as I expected it to be.”