Chapter 794: Killing the Heart

After saying this, the Sky Martial Court cultivators swiftly flew to the side to draw a distinct line between them and the Flying Star House cultivators.

The Flying Star House cultivators’ expressions were grim.

Yao Qingquan said loudly with a smile, “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. Senior Lu, just leave this to Zhao Jianghe and me!”

Lu Zhou shook his head and said, “My two disciples will be enough. The two of you don’t have to interfere.”

Yao Qingquan was moved. He was utterly impressed with the way the old senior did things. He even ordered his own disciples to clear up the stragglers instead of troubling his friends.

The duo from the Ninth Temple retreated.

Lu Zhou looked at the Sky Martial Court.

At this moment, Sikong Beichen reminded him, “The cultivators from the palace are here.”

In the sky to the east, thousands upon thousands of cultivators arrived in throngs. There were so many of them that they resembled dark clouds moving toward Lu Zhou and the others.

The members of Sky Martial Court seemed delighted. ‘We’re saved!’

The Flying Star House members were even more delighted.

Lu Zhou glanced at the newcomers. ‘This is bad... Apart from the Peak Card, I don’t have any other combat methods at my disposal right now. I can purchase item cards, but won’t that mean that I’ll incur losses? It wasn’t easy for me to accumulate this many merit points. Can’t I keep the Peak Card for a little longer?’

Just when Lu Zhou was trying to figure out a countermeasure, Sikong Beichen said, “I’ll stall them.” Then, he shot the duo a meaningful look.

Yao Qingquan and Zhao Jianghe followed Sikong Beichen.

In just a moment, the group from the palace was 100 meters away from them.

The one standing in the lead stood out from the others. He wore red and white armor while the others wore black armor. He was clearly the leader of the troop.

The leader said loudly, “I’m Lu Zhan, deputy commander of the capital’s royal guard. I’m here on orders to capture the foreign tribesmen... Where are they? They are to surrender without a fight.”

Sikong Beichen said nothing. Instead, he manifested his avatar.

A 200-foot avatar rose from the ground as a Ten-leaf red lotus blossomed and slowly spun. Its light illuminated the sky and complemented the light from the setting sun.

Lu Zhan, who had just put on a tough act, frowned when he saw the 200-foot avatar. “A Ten-leaf cultivator?”

Yao Qingquan asked, “Well? Aren’t you going to greet Temple Master Sikong?”

When Lu Zhan, the deputy commander, heard this, his expression changed. He asked tentatively, “Ninth Temple’s Senior Sikong?”

Sikong Beichen withdrew his avatar. His avatar clearly worried Lu Zhan and the others. He said, “There’s no need for formal greetings. Tell your commander, Xiahou Sheng, that there are no foreign tribesmen here.”

“None?” Lu Zhan scanned the scene further ahead. He saw the members of the Sky Martial Court and the Flying Star House.

At this moment, one of the Flying Star House cultivators said, “Commander Lu, save me...”

Lu Zhan smiled. “I think that’s a cry for help.”

“You’re mistaken,” Yao Qingquan said.

“All lands under the heavens belong to the king. There seem to be members of the Flying Star House over there. The Flying Star House has served the royal court well over the years. I can’t sit by and watch them suffer. Senior Sikong, please step aside. Otherwise, I’ll have a hard time explaining this to the palace.”

When the members of the Flying Star House heard this, they were overjoyed.

“Commander Lu, he’s a foreign tribesman. All of them are! Elder Ye Zhen and the house master were killed by them!”

Upon hearing these words, Lu Zhan frowned deeply. “This is a grave matter. Senior Sikong, forgive me for not being able to do as you command.”

“Impudent!” Yao Qingquan snapped. “Even if Xiahou Sheng were here, he wouldn’t dare speak to the temple master in such a manner. Who do you think you are?!”

Lu Zhan’s expression soured. Indeed, absolute power was everything. He had no retort. He had assumed with Chen Tiandu and Ye Zhen here, all the palace needed to do was provide support. The current situation was beyond his expectation.

“Senior Sikong, I have no intentions of offending you... This matter today has nothing to do with the Ninth Temple. I’m merely after the foreign tribesmen. If the Flying Star House and the Sky Martial Court are in trouble, it’s only natural for the royal palace to ensure that justice is served. Otherwise, how are we supposed to govern the lands?”

Just when Sikong Beichen was about to speak, Lu Zhou’s voice rang from the back. “In that case, there’s no need for you to govern the lands anymore.”

“Hm?” Lu Zhan’s gaze shifted toward the old man with silver hair. “Who are you?”

“Commander Lu, he’s the one who killed the house master and Elder Ye. He’s also the one who killed the Sky Martial Court’s chief instructor!” a Flying Star House elder said. It was clear he had decided to risk it all. He would die anyway if he did not do anything. At the very least, with this, there was a slim chance of survival.

On the contrary, the Sky Martial Court cultivators remained silent.

Lu Zhan waved his arm and said, “A life for a life. I’m sure you’re aware of this convention.”

Lu Zhou said, “Who gave you the courage to challenge me?”

“...” Sikong Beichen once again sensed the killing intent in Brother Lu’s tone. He hastily said, “Get lost! If you offend Senior Lu, not even Xiahou Sheng can save you if he were here. These are my, Sikong Beichen, words!” He emphasized his name when he spoke. Although he knew Lu Zhou’s cultivation base was unfathomable, he did not wish to have such a huge conflict with the royal palace.

Lu Zhan said, “I can get lost, but I’m bringing the men of the Flying Star House and the Sky Martial Court with me! How am I supposed to explain to the palace otherwise?” After seeing Sikong Beichen’s firm attitude, he decided to compromise. When he looked past Nie Qingyun, he noticed the Cloud Mountain disciples seemed like eggplants weighed down by the snow; their heads were lowered.

“Sect Master Nie!” Lu Zhan shouted.

Nie Qingyun cupped his fists together. “This matter has nothing to do with Cloud Mountain. Please don’t put me in a difficult spot, Vice Commander Lu... No matter what you plan to do, don’t involve me. Everyone, stand back.”

The Cloud Mountain disciples retreated as far as they could.

When they were a distance away, Nie Qingyun suddenly said, “Vice Commander Lu, a word of advice.”

“What is it?”

“If I were you, I’d return obediently.”

After saying this, Nie Qingyun turned around and left.

Lu Zhan shook his head helplessly and asked, “What are all of you up to?”

“The Flying Star House has done something wrong. It’s only natural for them to be punished...” Yao Qinghan replied.

“They’re with the royal court. Who dares to touch them?” Lu Zhan immediately protected them using the name of the royal court.

Sikong Beichen said, “Ye Zhen was from the Cherry Blossom Nation, and he had a Nine Infants avatar. He’s infiltrated Great Tang many years ago. He was the true foreign tribesman. Senior Lu has gotten rid of the foreign tribesman, and yet, you’re trying to protect these people? You still have the audacity to preach about governing the lands?”

“I don’t care, I’m merely doing as I’m ordered to do. So long as I’m here today, nobody is allowed to touch the Flying Star House,” Lu Zhan said stubbornly. He knew he was no match for a Ten-leaf cultivator, hence, he had used the royal court to apply pressure on the others. He was sure this tactic would work.

Alas, Lu Zhou waved his arm and said, “Kill them.”

Yu Shangrong smiled faintly. His Longevity Sword left its scabbard!

Immediately, a golden energy sword danced in the air and sailed toward the disciples and elders of the Flying Star House.

Yu Zhenghai said loudly, “Second Senior Brother, let’s have a contest!”

“As you wish.”

In an instant, the area where the members of the Flying Star House were hovering were covered with countless energy sabers and energy swords.

Miserable cries and sounds of breaking limbs resounded chillingly in the air as dismembered parts flew and blood splattered everywhere.

Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong slaughtered the people from the Flying Star House in the presence of the royal court’s representatives!

Lu Zhan was filled with so much rage upon seeing this. He shook, furious. “You...”

“Ding! Killed a target. Reward: 500 merit points. Domain extra: 500 merit points.” (Rewards for One to Five-leaf targets are reduced.)

The notifications kept ringing in Lu Zhou’s ears.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard as he calmly looked at the ghastly pale Lu Zhan. Then, he uttered another chilling statement, “Sikong Beichen, do you intend to keep someone as untactful as him alive for the new year?”

“New year?” Sikong Beichen was taken aback, but he could guess the gist of the message. He immediately pointed at Lu Zhan and said, “You’ll die here today.”