Chapter 150: Chapter 14 I’m Not Leaving
“School Head…”
Wu Yunzhou’s eyes reddened.
Lu Mingrong smiled, “This represents the identity of the school head, the Principal’s Seal. You take it for now, and as long as it doesn’t involve Baiyan Academy, just leave it at that. Once it does, you must expel me publicly. Remember, you must be decisive and not hesitate at all. The academy can exist without me, but it should not be implicated because of this matter.”
Knowing that the other party had made his decision and that anything he said would be futile, Wu Yunzhou bowed deeply with his fists clasped: “Yes!”
Lu Mingrong said no more, his body swayed, and he swiftly flew out of the principal’s office.
He wasn’t too clear about what a Mandate Chaos Master was, nor did he know if it was good or bad, but he had spent a long time with that Zhang Xuan. He was low-profile, stable, responsible, and not only that, he was a genius with extreme talent but no trace of arrogance. If he were to kill such a talent for someone’s personal ambition, he would probably find it hard to live with his conscience for the rest of his life.
Therefore, when Yu Longqing came to see him, he had already made up his mind.
But, fearing the involvement of Baiyan Academy, he could only categorically deny it.
Moving swiftly, by the time he left the academy, Lu Mingrong had already changed into a black suit and covered his face.
More than ten minutes later, he arrived outside a grand courtyard.
According to the information Wu Yunzhou brought back, at this moment, Zhang Xuan was inside, instructing others on drawing amulets. Successful instruction would lead to a reward of 500,000 Origin Currency… Baiyan City’s 1,000,000 reward tasks had already been completed by him alone, and even for 500,000, this was the last one.
Knowing that time waits for no one, Liu Clan and Ling Buyang, who currently didn’t know he was here, would eventually find out, Lu Mingrong didn’t hesitate at all and, with a light leap, descended into the courtyard like a wisp of cyan smoke, not disturbing a single guard.
Anyone who could offer 500,000 Origin Currency as a reward was certainly no minor household, though not comparable to the Three Premier Clans, they weren’t that far behind.
At that moment, in the living room, Zhang Xuan and Sun Qiang were sitting quietly. Across from them, a middle-aged man with a sincere expression clasped his hands and bowed: “Please provide guidance, Teacher Zhang…”
Zhang Xuan nodded, “Talisman drawing involves imprinting one’s own strength onto a small piece of talisman paper, then through special means triggering an explosion that unleashes immense power. The [Blast Talisman] you need to draw, once activated, is equivalent to the full-force strike of a Jade Bone Realm master, the difficulty of which you can imagine! You have eight flaws currently: one, your focus while drawing the talisman isn’t concentrated enough…”
Not very familiar with the talismans of the Source World himself, but with the aid of the Library of Heaven’s Path, he could easily spot the flaws in the other person’s drawing process and simply needed to guide them, letting them find a way to correct them, making the drawing of one not difficult.
“Thank you, Teacher Zhang…”
After listening to his words, the middle-aged man’s expression grew grave as he bowed deeply.
The eight flaws mentioned by Zhang Xuan were recurrent issues for him, and there was no mistake in any of them. If he seriously corrected these, the talisman he longed to draw might indeed be successfully created.
“You’re welcome. I came for the reward. As long as you think there’s no issue, just give it to me directly,” Zhang Xuan said indifferently.
“Of course!”
The middle-aged man waved his hand, and the butler behind him passed over the 500,000 Origin Currency. Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his fists to bid farewell to Sun Qiang, but he had only walked a few steps when he suddenly raised his eyebrows.
With a mid-air snatch, a ball of paper appeared in the palm of his hand, which he gently unfolded to reveal four words inside.
“Meet me outside the residence!”
Frowning, Zhang Xuan stepped out and shortly after, at the end of a narrow alley, he saw the person in black who had called him out.
“Who are you…”
Just as he was about to inquire, he saw a streak of sword qi soaring across the sky. Another figure in black descended from the air and thrust directly at the person across from him.
“Hmph!”
The black-clothed person let out a cold huff, stretched out his five fingers, and then a vortex-like force surged forth, instantly sweeping the long sword into it.
Clang clang clang!
With three crisp sounds, the long sword vibrated from the impact and could no longer be held, flying out of hand.
Having deflected the sword with one move, the man in black was about to continue his attack when the astonished voice of the other black-clothed person rang out, “Swallow Pecking Mud Thrice? Are you… City Lord Yu?”
“Are you… School Head Lu?”
The other party also recognized him and likewise showed a look of surprise.
Immediately, both of them pulled off their masks, revealing familiar faces.
“City Lord Yu, School Head Lu, what is this…” Zhang Xuan was somewhat bewildered.
“Since you appeared here, it looks like you and I think alike. School Head Lu, you might as well explain,” Yu Longqing gestured.
The last time the two met, they had both spoken of cooperating with Ling Buyang to capture Zhang Xuan. Now appearing in this manner, even a fool would understand the other’s intentions.
“Teacher Zhang, Ling Buyang from the Heaven Mandate Hall of the Han Yuan Dynasty has arrived and is joining forces with the Liu Clan to capture you…”
Lu Mingrong didn’t shirk, and detailed the news that City Lord Yu had told him, finally adding, “My suggestion is for you to leave as soon as possible. As long as you leave Baiyan City, they can’t reach you even if they want to capture you. Staying here could place you in danger!”
“What School Head Lu says is also my view! Once the Heaven Mandate Hall acts, the City Lord Residence and Baiyan Academy can’t refuse… The two of us came here quietly, on personal terms, to advise you to leave, so that no one else has to be put in a difficult position,” Yu Longqing nodded.
“They just suspect that I am a Mandate Chaos Master. Can they really act without even confirming?” Zhang Xuan frowned.
The reason he had revealed his strength and abilities was naturally because he was prepared with explanations, even concocted ones, ready to be used when the opportunity arose.
However… hearing the intentions of the two, it seemed the other party didn’t even intend to give him a chance to speak; they were directly sending people to capture him!
Yu Longqing said, “Whether you are him or not doesn’t matter… on the contrary, if you aren’t, it helps him more! Given this, what choice will he make?”
Lu Mingrong nodded in agreement, “City Lord Yu is right. If you were strong, they would naturally consider whether you have support and would verify your identity thoroughly. But if weak, they would simply kill you and declare you a Mandate Chaos Master, and he could use this merit to gain more resources, thereby leaping up the ranks!”
“This…”
Zhang Xuan was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
Weakness is the original sin.
Just like how in a previous life, some countries would boldly launch wars because a single soldier had been killed, just because you are weak! Once you’re strong, even if their commander dies on your doorstep, they’d rush to refute claims, calling it an accident…
That was exactly the situation he was facing now.
The strength he had shown in Baiyan City wasn’t enough to deter the opponents, so this Ling Buyang decided to strike first to kill him, and then frame him, leaving no room for explanation.
“You better leave quickly, I’ve ordered the east, west, and south gates to be sealed, only leaving the north gate. You can easily escape from there now. If it gets later, I fear it might be too late…”
Seeing his silence, Yu Longqing urged.
“If I leave, what will happen to you all?”
Zhang Xuan looked over.
Although the two hadn’t said much, he knew it wouldn’t be easy for them.
The moment it came time for the arrest and a man vanished into thin air, it was certain that someone had tipped him off. This Ling Buyang, if he wished, could definitely uncover something!
If he found nothing, how could the other party let it go easily?
At that time, both men, one being the father of his disciple and the other who had appointed him as the school head, would surely not escape!
Especially for people like Yu Xiaoyu and Hong Yi, it was highly likely that they would suffer from association and couldn’t escape.
“We still have some status, even if he wants to take action, without a solid crime, he wouldn’t dare do too much…”
Lu Mingrong said.
“What’s Ling Buyang’s strength? Do you know?”
Interrupting him, Zhang Xuan asked.
“He should be at the same level I am at now, the Dharma Form Realm, Ninefold Source Pool! But I’ve just broken through, and his sub-level is a bit higher than mine, and his strength is also stronger…”
Yu Longqing said.
“Dharma Form Realm?” Zhang Xuan said gravely.
Although he hadn’t practiced to that level, he had seen introductions in the Book Collection Vault, a cultivator’s soul becomes so powerful that they can condense a Primordial Spirit to attack using soul energy!
Souls are intangible and elusive, unblockable, and cannot be preempted; thus, a hit results in either madness or instant death, making it difficult even for the Soul Realm masters to contend with.
It was because of this that masters of the Dharma Form Realm were dreadfully formidable, standing at the pinnacle of the Nine Layers of the Source Pool, unmatched by anyone.
Among the neighboring ten cities, Fuyuan City was named the foremost because it had a city lord at the pinnacle of the Ninefold Source Pool, and other cities dared not compete with it frivolously.
However, no matter how strong such people were, they were nothing special to him…
No matter how powerful the soul attack, could it possibly destroy a world?
If not, then the threat to him was not exactly considerable.
Meaning… the soul attack that all cultivators dreaded was actually the weakest attack for him.
As for strength, the Dharma Form Realm could blend soul energy into their bodies, erupting with strength surpassing 100 horses, but… if he was willing to burn the New World, he could unleash similarly powerful strength.
So… if the opponent was just at the Dharma Form Realm, killing him wouldn’t be so easy and simple; instead, with the aid of the Library of Heaven’s Path, he even had a chance to win.
“Yes, it would be one thing if it was just his strength. He also has a Primordial Beast Black-scaled Phoenix Hawk at the Divine Soul Realm, and together with the Mo Dao Destiny, they are nearly unbeatable below the Dharma Form Realm. You… you should hurry and leave!”
Seeing his intent, Yu Longqing anxiously said.
“With your talent, it won’t take long until you surpass him. A wise man does not eat losses before him; first leave to avoid the brunt and it’s not too late to come back once you truly possess great strength…”
Lu Mingrong also hurriedly persuaded.
Seeing the genuine attitudes of the two, urging him to hurry and escape, Zhang Xuan’s heart was full of gratitude, he took a deep breath and cracked a slight smile.
“I have received the kindness of your thoughts! I will not leave! If they think I’m weak and want to take advantage of me, to crown themselves with merits at the expense of my life, then I shall let everyone know that I am not a lowly Mandate Chaos Master to be shamed by just anyone; I am a Fate Master!”