Chapter 73: Improving Cultivation Base (Part One)   Jiang Aijian was startled. He looked at Lu Zhou incredulously. His legs felt weak as his guilty conscience weighed heavily on his mind. After a while, he chuckled and said, “Senior Ji, what are you talking about? Are you joking?”

Lu Zhou said slowly, enunciating each word clearly, “You’re from the palace.” He spoke in a tone that brooked no arguments as though he was certain of it.

Jiang Aijian’s heart skipped a beat. He forced a smile on his face as he said, “How is that possible...”

Lu Zhou did not bother to reply.

Jiang Aijian was smart. There was no need to waste words when speaking to someone smart. Jiang Aijian had known about the plans of the monks from the Temple of Great Emptiness. He knew about the grand ceremony. He also knew Zhuo Ping was from the palace. Most importantly, when he had boarded the carriage, he had said someone from the palace was around. Who else would be so familiar with the incident on the holy altar? Who else would know about the schemes of the palace?

Lu Zhou sent Mingshi Yin off with Whitzard while he remained behind. The elite from the palace had remained as well. The elite did not dare to act recklessly since Lu Zhou’s identity had been exposed. Someone had also been sending him information about the she-villain, Zhao Yue. Most importantly, when Jiang Aijian found out he was the master of the Evil Sky Pavilion, he was completely flustered since his plans were disrupted, and he began to panic. All these signs pointed to Jiang Aijian being from the palace.

“I’ve always been direct with my words... You’re smart so you should know what I mean,” Lu Zhou said calmly.

Jiang Aijian remained silent. His silence could be considered as his admission. Beating around the bush would only waste everyone’s time. He sighed before he said, “You’re very astute, Senior Ji.”

Lu Zhou stood with his hands behind his back, remaining silent.

Jiang Aijian continued to say, “You’re only half right, old senior... Indeed, I’m from the palace, but that’s in the past. I left the palace a long time ago. There are too many schemes in the palace, and a person like me isn’t cut out for a place and life like that.” He sighed again. His usual smiling face had been replaced with a solemn expression. “The people from the palace fight and scheme against one another most of the time, deceiving each other... Old senior, would you believe me if I told you this?” He did not think the old villain would believe his words.

“I have my own thoughts about this,” Lu Zhou answered ambiguously.

Jiang Aijian shook his head helplessly and said, “To each his own, I suppose. I like the outside world where I’m free and unfettered. However, my friends prefer to stay in the palace. Whenever we meet up for a few drinks, they would share what they know about the palace with me.”

Jiang Aijian’s words made sense. Otherwise, there was no way a rogue cultivator like him would be privy to the palace’s plans. After a while, he said regretfully, “Alas, it’s too late for some of my friends to leave the palace now. Some of them had even died.”

Lu Zhou said, “Their lives have nothing to do with me.”

Jiang Aijian nodded. It was true. The human relations in the palace were very complicated compared to the outside world. He took a deep breath before asking warily, “Old senior, since you know about my identity... Can we call off our previous agreement?”

Jiang Aijian loved his life very much. He was extremely guarded when he asked this question since he was not sure if the always-calm Lu Zhou would attack him.

Lu Zhou shook his head and said indifferently, “You can try.”

“...” Jiang Aijian was speechless. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever be able to disembark from this pirate ship.’ He said, “Will I be safe if people find out about this?”

Lu Zhou said, “I don’t care about that.” Inwardly, he thought to himself, ‘I don’t think there’s a need to worry about your safety since you value your life so much.’

Lu Zhou turned to Jiang Aijian and said, “As long as you’re not working against Evil Sky Pavilion, I won’t interfere with whatever you do.” He was, naturally, lenient toward those who were talented. He added, “Since you were from the palace, I’m sure you understand the Evil Sky Pavilion and how we work.”

Jiang Aijian nodded. He sighed and said, “Fine... About the swords you promised me, old senior...”

“I’ll give them to you.”

Jiang Aijian hugged his sword and said. “It’s a deal then!”

Lu Zhou nodded with satisfaction. He flicked his sleeve lightly before his mount, Bi An, rushed forward. Before he leaped onto Bi An’s back, he said, “I don’t care about the palace’s affairs, but they better not drag the Evil Sky Pavilion into their schemes and feud.”

Little Yuan’er pulled a face at Jiang Aijian before she leaped on Bi An as well.

Jiang Aijian cupped his hands together and said no more.

Bi An rose into the air before rushing toward the Evil Sky Pavilion.

As soon as Lu Zhou left, Jiang Aijian slumped to the ground. He was really surprised the old villain did not press him about the matters in the palace. This was good. After all, there were many things about the palace that he did not dare to give voice to.

...

As Bi An traveled across the sky, Lu Zhou checked the system dashboard. His merit points were now at 5,010. He had only gained 500 merits points when he gained an informant. Regardless, he thought it was a good deal. Someone like Jiang Aijian was only suited to collaborate with, he was not suited to be a subordinate.

Little Yuan’er asked in a small voice, “Master, are we not going to Divine Capital?”

Lu Zhou chided her softly, “Little girl, all you think about is playing.”

Little Yuan’er pouted and said, “Master, we shouldn’t trust Jiang Aijian.”

“I know.”

Little Yuan’er continued to say, “He had worked for the palace. Why would he become your informant?”

“Enough.” Lu Zhou rapped his knuckles on Little Yuan’er’s head. However, he was inwardly pleased that she was thinking about such matters. This was much better than before.

...

Meanwhile, in the Tiger Ridge headquarters.

The person sitting on the throne was not Evil King Zhu Honggong, whose name inspired fear, but the Darknet Cult’s chief, Wuya.

“Seventh Senior Brother, your information network covers the land, and your information has always been reliable. However, don’t you think there’s something wrong about the information regarding the incident on the holy altar? Kong Xuan from the Temple of Great Emptiness is only a Four-leaf Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm at best. Is he really capable of taking Zhao Yue away with so many people from the Noble and Fiend Path around? I find it impossible,” Zhu Honggong said.

Si Wuya said indifferently, “Kong Xuan didn’t take Zhao Yue away. He was killed by a senior Buddhist monk.

“Kong Xuan is dead? Impossible!” Zhu Honggong exclaimed in shock.

“My informants have always been trustworthy. The bald donkeys from the Temple of Great Emptiness activated the Brahman Lullaby, impeding my men from advancing, so they could only observe from afar. However, based on what they saw, there’s no doubt that only a senior Buddhist monk is capable of casting the hand seal for the Great Vajra Wheel!”

“How ironic that Kong Xuan was killed by one of his own kind.” Zhu Honggong scratched his head.

As both of them continued their discussion, a cultivator rushed in and fell to one knee before he said, “Reporting to the cult master. Sword Freak Chen Wenjie has been killed by Senior Sword Devil.”

“Alright.” Si Wuya did not seem surprised, but Zhu Honggong was stunned.

“Cult master, I have another report.”

“Speak.”

“Ren Buping, the Master of Fiend Temple Master, has come out of seclusion!”

Si Wuya shot up to his feet immediately. “A breakthrough?”

“I don’t know!”

“Is the Fiend Temple making any move?”

“Not for now.”

“Inform me right away if they’re making a move.”

“Understood!”