Chapter 370 The True Gap of the Nine-leaf Stage
An old man with white hair dressed in white robes walked toward them in the air from Heaven’s Virtue. He crossed several hundred feet in a single stride. With every step he took, a light circle would appear. In just a few breaths, he arrived in the air above the Luo Sect’s first holy land.
The disciples of the Three Sects who were kneeling on the ground greeted the old man in unison.
“Greetings, Patriarch!”
At this moment, three other figures shot toward them in just a blink of an eye. They arrived with their grand techniques. The three figures kneeled in the air as soon as they arrived.
“Yun Sect’s current master, Yun Wuji, pays homage to the patriarch.”
“Tian Sect’s current master, Nan Gongwei, pays homage to the patriarch.”
“Luo Sect’s current master, Feng Yizhi, pays homage to the patriarch.” The three powerful cultivators who appeared were the Sect Leaders of the Three Sects. How could they not appear and greet the patriarch when the disciples of the Three Sects had already greeted him.
The white-clad old man with a foot-long beard who struck their cheeks from afar was the Patriarch of the Three Sects, Yun Tianluo. He was the only one worthy of speaking to Lu Zhou in the Three Sects.
Yun Tianluo waved his arm. Three energy seals shot toward Yun Wuji, Nan Gongwei, and Feng Yizhi.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
The energy seals did not miss, and the three individuals did not make any effort to dodge. They took the slaps squarely on their faces. Their cheeks burned, and a sour expression could be seen on their faces. Regardless, there was nothing they could do. Despite their high statuses, they were nothing before the patriarch.
The disciples of the Three Sects were baffled. They did not know why the patriarch would strike their faces.
Yun Tianluo did even deign to spare them a glance as he said, “How dare you delay in extending your hospitality when such esteemed guests have arrived?”
Based on this, the reason the people from the Three Sects were struck was clear now. They began to feel frightened and realized the immensity of the Evil Sky Pavilion since even the patriarch treated them so courteously.
“We’ve made a mistake!” The three sect leaders simultaneously lowered their heads, filled with regrets. Yun Tianluo stepped forward.
Upon seeing this, Leng Luo and Pan Litian cupped their fists at Yun Tianluo before moving aside to make way for him.
The gift of a foot was returned with ten feet.
Yun Tianluo raised his eyebrows and said, “Brother Ji, you’re an old man now. Why did you come here instead of staying put on your mountain?”
“Yun Tianluo, you have one foot in your coffin. If I were to come any later, you might have turned into a pile of bones.” Lu Zhou slapped on the armrests of his chair and flew out of the flying chariot. He hovered in the air with his hands on his back across Yun Tianluo.
An incredulous expression could be seen on Yun Tianluo’s face as he said with a sigh, “You look younger. I don’t think I can keep this up anymore.”
Lu Zhou kept one hand on his back as he stroked his beard with the other. “Am I not welcomed here?”
Yun Tianluo waved his hands. “I’m glad that an old friend has come to visit. I apologize on behalf of my disciples who did not know any better.” As he spoke, he bowed at Lu Zhou.
The disciples of the Three Sects were frightened by this display. They had never seen their patriarch lower his head to anyone before. Naturally, they did not dare to have any opinion about this.
“This way.” Yun Tianluo made an inviting gesture.
Lu Zhou took him up on his offer and descended. Leng Luo and Pan Litian followed closely behind him.
“Master, I want to go as well.” Little Yuan’er had been itching to go down. She felt bored staying on the flying chariot. She hastily alighted from the flying chariot and flew toward Lu Zhou.
Yun Tianluo studied Little Yuan’er for a moment before he nodded and praised her. “Great talent, great foundations... It’s rare to find someone like this.”
Little Yuan’er giggled as she flew next to Lu Zhou’s side.
Lu Zhou shook his head and said, “You’ve taught many disciples as well.”
Yun Tianluo laughed and candidly said, “Alas, they’re a far cry from your disciples.”
“It’s just the difference between the Noble and Fiend Paths,” Lu Zhou replied.
“I think it’s the same.”
When they landed, stone tables and benches were already set up at the center of the holy land.
The two of them sat across each other.
The others could only stand behind them at a respectful distance.
Yun Tianluo looked at Leng Luo and Pan Litian before he glanced at Hua Wudao who was standing further away. He said, “Brother Ji, what business brings you all the way here?”
The disciples of the Luo Sect served fruits and tea as Lu Zhou and Yun Tianluo spoke. When he saw this, Yun Tianluo waved his hand.
Whoosh!
The served items flew toward the faces of the Luo Sect’s disciples. “Impudent!”
The Luo Sect disciples fell to their knees at once, trembling in fear.
Yun Tianluo said in a deep voice. “Please forgive this display, Brother Ji... The young ones are not aware of the customs.”
At their level, food like tea and fruits were no longer fit to be served.
Lu Zhou was not a person who fussed over minor matters. He said, “No matter. I’m here to see you, and not to have you discipline your disciples.” “You have a point.”
“I’ll cut to the chase, then.”
“Fine by me.” The two of them locked eyes.
The conversation between two beings of their level piqued the curiosities of the people around them. They wondered what these two people were going to talk about. What was so important that the two patriarchs had to meet face to face.
Leng Luo waved his hand. An energy shield surrounded them and separated them from the crowd.
The disciples of the Three Sects found this disappointing. They could only look from the outside. Even the Sect Leaders of the Three Sects did not treat them like this. “You have 30 years left before your great limit?” Lu Zhou asked.
Yun Tianluo sighed. “Roughly... You seem to have less time than I do, Brother Ji.” Although he was cultivating in seclusion, he would occasionally hear news in the cultivation world.
Lu Zhou did not deny this. According to the rumors in the cultivation world and his actual condition, his great limit might very well be tomorrow. Therefore, he nodded and said, “That’s right.”
“So... you’re here to look for a way to extend your limit?” Yun Tianluo asked. After he said that, he shook his head, dismissing his words. “Brother Ji, you must be joking. If you don’t have an answer, how could I have an answer?”
“Are you attempting to attain the Nine-leaf stage?” Lu Zhou asked as he stroked his beard.
“I’ve given up.” Yun Tianluo sighed. “Before my great limit, I’ve already lost nearly 70 years of my blood essence. Then, my cultivation base deteriorated greatly. I no longer have a chance to attempt the Nine-leaf stage.”
Leng Luo and Pan Litian exchanged glances. Lu Zhou said, “Has it ever crossed your mind that attempting the Nine-leaf stage is a process that reduces your lifespan to begin with?”
Yun Tianluo frowned, but his eyes brightened. His movements seem to freeze all of a sudden. He had been fumbling in the dark alone, trying to look for an answer. He had nobody to discuss this matter with. If there were anyone under the heavens who stood a chance to attain the Nine-leaf stage, it was Ji Tiandao. He was extremely interested in Lu Zhou’s opinions and insight. “Have you tried it, Brother Ji?”
Lu Zhou stroked his bead and said calmly, “I have.”
“My life depleted rapidly. Perhaps... I’ll be buried the very next day and turn into a lump of clay. Who knows?” Lu Zhou revealed the thoughts in his mind, mocking himself.
Leng Luo and Pan Litian were shocked by this revelation. When they listened to the two old men speaking, it was as though they had been granted permission to peek through the gap of a door to a different world. However, it seemed like nothing but darkness lay behind the door at this moment.
Yun Tianluo was slightly stunned. Then, he said with a sigh, “Don’t worry, Brother Ji. I’ll probably follow right behind you.”