Chapter 754: Reaching the Nine-leaf Stage

Yu Shangrong remained calm upon hearing these words. In fact, he felt a sense of superiority. Only weaklings would need help. He, on the other hand, reached the Nine-leaf stage without anyone’s help. The masses should be able to clearly see this.

Yu Shangrong stood with his arms crossed as he stared ahead indifferently. He was, naturally, not admiring the scenery. He was in fact thinking about his master’s move earlier, creating swords out of anything, and the swordless path. With his mastery of the sword, he should have been able to understand his master’s move even if he could not recreate it. His master’s move had made him doubt himself greatly.

He could not understand his master’s technique at all. He understood using creation to form swords. Whether it was the Longevity Sword, a wooden sword, a branch, or a leaf, all of them could be used to kill with enough skills. The second level of the sword path could be achieved as long as one had precise control over Primal Qi. The third level of the sword path needed someone with broad knowledge and perspective, an imposing aura, a desire to find out the truth of the world, and the ability to rule the lands. The only level he could not understand was the fourth level. Like seawater, Primal Qi was the source of power. When cultivators used Primal Qi, it was as though they were swimming in the sea while using the water around themselves. ‘How am I supposed to control Primal Qi from a distance?’

The flying chariot was quick. The wind roared outside of Yu Zhenghai’s cocoon of energy.

Yu Shangrong could not help but close his eyes. He tried to circulate the Primal Qi outside the energy cocoon. However, there were no movements at all. It was as though the energy supply had been cut off from him. He tried again. Apart from the Primal Qi around him, he could not feel anything further away. He failed again.

Lu Zhou looked over at this moment. He stroked his beard and said, “Your sword path is only the lords’ sword. Are you trying to reach the heavens at one go? Are you trying to skip the son of heaven’s sword?”

Yu Shangrong regained his senses; an awkward expression could be seen on his face. He was too obsessed with the sword path and forgot that he was still on the flying chariot.

Yu Zhenghai said, “I understand that you’re fascinated with the sword path, Second Junior Brother.”

Lu Zhou said tonelessly, “If I’m not mistaken, you’re already at the Nine-leaf stage.”

Yu Shangrong did not deny Lu Zhou’s words.

The others were not particularly shocked when they heard these words.

Xia Changqiu and Tian Buji nodded. Perhaps, they had been shocked by Lu Zhou too many times today that they remained calm when they heard this revelation. After all, Yu Shangrong had defeated Zhang Shaoqing earlier. It would be nothing but a dream for an Eight-leaf cultivator to defeat a Nine-leaf cultivator. For this reason, Lu Zhou’s revelation did not shock them.

On the other hand, Yu Zhenghai was slightly surprised. In the end, he said, “If I didn’t go to the Ninth Temple, I would’ve become a Nine-leaf cultivator as well.”

Nobody entertained Yu Zhenghai.

Lu Zhou continued to say, “You’re limited by your Longevity Sword. That shackle is too heavy. If you wish to reach a higher sword path, you’ll have to break free of that shackle. You’re still far away from the swordless path. You shouldn’t bite off more than you can chew. Cultivate the son of heaven’s sword. Nothing is above the son of heaven’s sword, and nothing can stop it from striking. Nothing can stand in its way. Swing upward, it cuts through the clouds. Swing downward, it slices through the ground. This sword can redress the lords and make the lands submit.”

Yu Shangrong looked at his Longevity Sword. Indeed, the sword was the only thing he relied on. It was all thanks to the sword that he had lived this long. The people of the Noblemen Nation were short-lived by nature. How was he supposed to overcome this hurdle? He muttered to himself, “The son of heaven’s sword...”

Lu Zhou initially planned to use a Shining Stone on the Longevity Sword. However, after he saw Yu Shangrong’s reliance on it, he gave up on that thought. Perhaps, he should temporarily confiscate the Longevity Sword and let Yu Shangrong wield a wooden sword.

At this moment, Yu Zhenghai pointed at the Thousand Willow Mountain and said, “Master, we’re here.”

Xia Changqiu and Tian Buji remained silent the entire trip. When they regained their senses, they were surprised when they saw the Thousand Willow Mountain up ahead.

“To think that your mastery of manning the helm has reached such heights, Brother Yu. I’m truly impressed.” Xia Changqiu changed the way he addressed Yu Zhenghai.

Yu Zhenghai glanced at Xia Changqiu and said, “It’s nothing...”

The flying chariot flew into the range of the Formation veins in just a blink of an eye.

Lu Zhou could clearly sense that the Thousand Willow Monastery’s Formation veins were much weaker than the Ninth Temple’s.

The disciples of the Thousand Willow Monastery came out to welcome them.

After the flying chariot landed, Xia Changqiu ordered his disciples to be hospitable to the guests. They were not to neglect the guests.

The disciples tidied up the best quarters in the Thousand Willow Monastery for them.

Tian Buji understood that they were giving them plenty of consideration for refusing the Ninth Temple’s offer and choosing to stay here instead.

Wuwu and Ji Fengxing greeted Yu Shangrong when they saw him. They could tell that he was troubled so they did not bother him and left after they had greeted him.

...

Night fell.

Lu Zhou looked at the system dashboard.

Merit points: 23,440.

“Chen Beizheng only gave me 7,000 merit points...”

‘What a loss.’

The Deadly Strike Card and Disguise Card alone cost 25,000 merit points. Fortunately, he had the Heavenly Writing’s extraordinary power. Otherwise, he would have to make great efforts to defeat the five First Seats with his Nine-leaf karmic fire alone. Apart from Conch’s surprising performance, everything else had fallen within his expectations.

Lu Zhou looked at the item column again. As he expected, although Thousand Realms Whirling was priced at 500,000 merit points, it was dim.

“I can’t purchase it?” Lu Zhou frowned. ‘How annoying! I know I’m poor, but can’t I even check it out?’

After a while, he recalled the Birth Chart that Sikong Beichen mentioned. ‘Perhaps, I’ll have to reach the Ten-leaf stage first.’

According to the ordinary cultivating progress, after reaching the Ten-leaf stage and forming the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar, he would be in the Mysterious Heaven realm.

‘I don’t think Xia Changqiu knows anything about Birth Charts. Even someone like Sikong Beichen doesn’t know much about it... According to Sikong Beichen, there’s almost no one who truly understands Birth Charts in the red lotus domain,’ Lu Zhou thought to himself as he shook his head. The path of cultivation was long. The hasty would not be able to eat hot tofu.

In the end, Lu Zhou entered his meditative state.

...

The second morning.

Lu Zhou did not stop meditating. It seemed like his meditation speed had increased.

At midday, he had already replenished one-third of his extraordinary power. In addition to the extraordinary power he did not use, he currently had about half of his extraordinary power.

He finally stopped meditating at this time and left the courtyard.

The disciples from the Thousand Willow Monastery were busying themselves in the courtyard at this moment. When they saw him, they greeted in unison, “Greetings, old senior.”

“Carry on.” Lu Zhou looked at the sun before he asked about Yu Zhenghai’s whereabouts.

The disciple immediately said, “I’ll bring you there, old senior... Please follow me.”

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and nodded.

When they were in the corridor, the disciple asked tentatively, “O-old senior... a-are you still accepting disciples?”

“Hm?”

Ever since Ji Fengxing became an inner disciple, he was very popular. When the other disciples saw him, they would flatter him. The incident where Ji Fengxing had rejected the old senior was often mentioned. For this reason, many disciples praised him.

Nevertheless, Ji Fengxing might have turned the old senior down, but there were many disciples who wanted to join the old senior.

“I... I want to join the Evil Sky Pavilion,” the disciple said timidly.

Lu Zhou glanced at the disciple and said, “You’re far from adequate with your qualities.”

“...” The disciple could not help but feel disappointed. He scratched his head as he led Lu Zhou to Yu Zhenghai. He thought about Ji Fengxing and could not figure out how he was any worse than Ji Fengxing.

...

At Yu Zhenghai’s courtyard.

Little Yuan’er and Conch were in the courtyard as well.

Upon seeing Lu Zhou, Little Yuan’er said, “Master, you came just in time. Eldest Senior Brother is trying to sprout the leaf now. He keeps saying he doesn’t need any help, and he can’t do it on his own.”

At this moment, Xia Changqiu, Tian Buji, and the other elders flew over from the Fair Hall as well.

Primal Qi was surging above the courtyard.

Lu Zhou looked up and said, “Prepare to defend against the beasts.”

Xia Changqiu nodded. “Elders of Thousand Willow Monastery, follow me.”

“Understood.”

Xia Changqiu and the elders flew toward the periphery of the Thousand Willow Monastery and stood guard.

Lu Zhou stepped into the room and saw Yu Zhenghai sitting in the center of the room. There was a golden avatar slowly spinning in front of Yu Zhenghai.

Yu Zhenghai did not watch his master demonstrating the way to reach the Nine-leaf stage. Would he be able to smoothly reach the Nine-leaf stage?