Chapter 357 The List that Makes the Cultivation World Shudder
Hua Wudao trembled briefly. A blush could be seen on his wizened face. Since was withstanding a single hit an ordinary thing?
Yu Shangrong stood on the stone pillar and looked down at Hua Wudao as he said, “Take a good look.”
Zing! Primal Qi surged, and the Longevity Sword left its scabbard. Although the power from the Longevity Sword had dissipated, its unique characteristics could still strike fear into the hearts of those who saw it.
Everyone’s attention was focused on Yu Shangrong at this moment.
Yu Shangrong controlled the sword with his Qi, and an energy blade appeared. He dove. The air in front of the stone pillar seemed to contort as a thin layer of mist appeared. His figure blurred, and it seemed like there were three figures
Hua Wudao’s eyes widened. When he did a second take, the three figures had merged into one. The Longevity Sword was already inside the Six Compatible Seal’s range.
Yu Shangrong raised the Longevity Sword before himself and pointed it at Hua Wudao.
Hua Wudao felt pain. He had sparred with Duanmu Sheng, Old Third, every day. Although he had not lost, he was not in a good shape after their sparring sessions. When he sparred with Yu Shangrong, he did not expect the gap between Yu Shangrong and Duanmu Sheng’s strength to be so big. He was greatly embarrassed.
Zing!
Yu Shangrong recalled his Longevity Sword as he said, “There’s no need to feel embarrassed. The Longevity Sword has been with me for many years. It has penetrated countless Formations.”
“...” Was that Yu Shangrong’s way of comforting another person?
Hua Wudao retracted his Six Compatible Seal and staggered backward.
Pan Litian and Leng Luo who were watching the battle from afar shook their heads.
“Old Leng, you’re an Eight-leaf cultivator as well. Why don’t you spar with Mister Second?” Pan Litian said tauntingly. “I have yet to recover my cultivation base. We can do this another day... Old Pan, you have the support of the sable magnolia. I’m sure your cultivation base is recovering much quicker than mine. Why don’t you give it a try?” Leng Luo retorted.
“I suddenly remember that I’ve left a jar of century-old wine in the courtyard... Old Leng, care to have a cup?”.
“That’s a splendid idea.”
The two of them quickly reached an agreement and left.
Hua Yuexing quickly supported Hua Wudao.
Hua Wudao said, “I’m alright... Thank you for the lesson, Mister Second.”
Mingshi Yin stepped forward from among the crowd and looked at Hua Wudao knowingly as he said, “Elder Hua, you better not form another knot in your heart over this. My Second Senior Brother is famous for his Enter and Return Three Souls sword technique. It’s commendable that you’re even brave enough to face it.”
When Hua Wudao looked around his surroundings, he no longer saw Leng Luo and Pan Litian. He felt much more at ease seeing that they did not witness his humiliation.
Yu Shangrong did not waste words and only said, “Since you’re a member of the Evil Sky Pavilion, I’ll surely give you all the lessons you need.”
II
“Is there anything else that you need me to teach you?” Yu Shangrong asked gently.
III
Yu Shangrong meant well. He was willing to teach all those who wanted to learn. However, his words sounded a little wrong in the listeners’ ears for some reasons.
At this moment, Mingshi Yin quickly pointed at Duanmu Sheng and cried out, “Third Senior Brother!”
Duanmu Sheng leveled his Overlord Spear and charged out from the crowd. He grabbed Mingshi Yin’s collar and said, “You promised to spar with me! Are you going to renege on your promise?”
“Uh... no, no...”
Duanmu Sheng dragged Mingshi Yin away from the southern pavilion.
“Se-senior Brother... slow, slow down.”
The others felt speechless.
At this moment, Little Yuan’er appeared on the beam of the southern pavilion. She said, “Morning, Second Senior Brother.” “Morning, Little Junior Sister.”
“Master wants to see you.”
“Alright.”
Inside the Evil Sky Pavilion’s great hall.
Lu Zhou placed the brush to the side. He looked at the name list he had just written down and nodded.
Yu Shangrong, Little Yuan’er, Pan Zhong, and the others entered the great hall.
“Greetings, master.”
“Greetings, Pavilion Master.”
Lu Zhou’s gaze fell on Yu Shangrong as he said, “How was the sparring session?”
Yu Shangrong said, “I won with a single hit.” When he said these words, there was a fleeting nostalgic moment where he seemed to have returned to the past when he was still cultivating and learning in the Evil Sky Pavilion. At that time, he had only wielded a wooden sword, but it did not stop him from challenging elites. He had also liked to proudly say that he had defeated his opponents with a single strike. Lu Zhou said, “Elder Hua has a sizable ego. Let him take a few more hits the next time.”
The others remained silent.
Yu Shangrong nodded. “Understood.” Hua Wudao was an asset to the Evil Sky Pavilion. They should take care not to trample on his pride in case it became a hindrance to his cultivation. It would have been a great loss then.
At this moment, Lu Zhou waved his hand. The paper on the table flew toward Yu Shangrong. With quick reflexes, Yu Shangrong caught the paper. He scanned the names on the list and roughly understood what this was all about. Lu Zhou placed his hands on his back and said, “I have two missions to entrust you... Will you accept them?”
Yu Shangrong replied without hesitation, “As you command, master.”
“Very well.” Lu Zhou walked down the stairs to Yu Shangrong and said, “All the names on this list... leave none alive.” His voice was neither loud nor soft, and the speed was neither slow nor rushed.
Every word reached everyone’s ears clearly. They inhaled sharply when they heard the words. Although they did not whose names were on the list, it did not matter. They knew that once the list of names was in the Sword Devil’s hand, they would all lose their lives.
Was this the Evil Sky Pavilion’s strength?
Yu Shangrong looked at the list again and said, “Weak.” The people on the list were weak, indeed. Previously, he would not even deign to look at them. Perhaps, he felt the mission posed no challenge at all, he cupped his fists and said, “Let me add to the list of names.”
The others felt speechless.
Lu Zhou replied apathetically, “Alright.”
Yu Shangrong brought the paper to the table and began adding names to the list. A moment later, the rather empty paper was crammed with names. After he was done, he presented the paper with two hands to Lu Zhou. “Please take a look, master.”
“There’s no need for that. If you think you can kill them, then, kill them.” Lu Zhou showed his trust in Yu Shangrong. After all, he had no use for someone he did not trust.
The others were silent.
Pan Zhong, Zhou Jifeng, and the others felt their understanding of the world crumbled.
Little Yuan’er, on the other hand, was curious. She walked up to Yu Shangrong and said, “Second Senior Brother, let me have a look.”
“Mhm.” Yu Shangrong did not mind. He passed the paper to Little Yuan’er. Little Yuan’er raised the paper and read aloud, “The Sect Master of Righteous Sect Master, Zhang Yuanshan. Duanlin Branch Master, Chang Jian. The Celestial Masters Sect’s Grand Elder, Zhang Daoran. Hengqu Branch’s Grand Elder, Lao Zhangjin. Good Fortune Temple’s Abbot, Buddhist Master Miao Zhen. Seven Stars Villa’s Hu Shendao...”
Every time a name was mentioned, the others felt their hearts skipped a beat. They were all names of notable individuals. Every single one of them was people whose names shocked the lands. They were the elites of the ten great sects who had attacked the Golden Court Mountain previously.
Little Yuan’er’s voice sounded exceptionally clear and bright inside the great hall. After a moment, she paused and looked at Yu Shangrong as she said, “Second Senior Brother, you’ve added many names.”
Yu Shangrong merely smiled.
Little Yuan’er continued, “Yun Sect’s Grand Elder, Zhao Ji. Yun Sect’s Second Elder, Sun Hong...”
These were the names of people from the Yun Sect, the leader of the Three Sects in southern Great Yan.
The others felt their heart race as they listened. The Three Sects were sects that were stronger than the ten great sects. The sizes of their forces were not something that the ten great sects could compare to.
After reading for a while longer, Little Yuan’er reached the last name on the list. “Luo Sect’s Second Elder, Shan Yunzheng.”
As soon as Hua Yuexing heard this name, her eyes widened as she staggered backward.