The others looked at the four avatars in shock. However, Lu Zhou was not surprised.
The great leader of the Black Knights who was once on the top of the blacklist, naturally, had some tricks up his sleeves. Since he was bold enough to come, it meant he was confident of his and his men’s strength. The Four Dark Knights were all Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm experts.
Fan Xiuwen placed his hands on his back as he said, “I stand by my words. I don’t wish to become enemies with the Evil Sky Pavilion.” His words grated on the ears of the listeners. This was a great example of moving forward by taking a step backward. He kept on saying he did not want to oppose the Evil Sky Pavilion, but his actions were contrary to his words.
Even the Evil Sky Pavilion’s traitor Ye Tianxin was angered when she heard Fan Xiuwen’s words.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhou was considering his options. Little Yuan’er could do nothing against the four Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm experts. Mingshi Yin and Duanmu Sheng could handle a knight each. That left him with two knights and Fan Xiuwen, the leader of the Black Knights, whose cultivation base was profound. Naturally, he could use a Deadly Strike Card and get rid of Fan Xiuwen immediately, but he had yet to discover the true mastermind Fish Dragon Village incident. Moreover, if he killed Fan Xiuwen, his remaining item cards were not enough to deal with the remaining four knights. Although he had merit points to spare to get more Deadly Strike Cards, he wanted to save as many merit points as he could. After all, merit points were hard to come by.
While Lu Zhou was deep in thoughts, one of the four Black Knights began to provoke Mingshi Yin, “Since you killed our men, I’ve been itching to spar with you!”
Mingshi Yin had just recently broken through to the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm, after all. He was slightly flustered by this and took several steps backward. He tapped the ground with the tips of his feet before he leaped backward at an angle.
This Black Knight was extremely confident. He intended on defeating Mingshi Yin on his own. “Stand back… We, Black Knights, do not have to resort to strength in numbers!”
The Dark Knights were pleased with this development.
And thus, the duo fought fiercely, leaving the hall and carrying the fight to the distance.
Lu Zhou thought it was just as well. Although Mingshi Yin’s avatar had no leaves yet, he had been suppressed for an extended period of time before he broke through to the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. Similar to Duanmu Sheng, Mingshi Yin could be considered as being prepared. Moreover, battles like this would help with their growth. With Mingshi Yin’s craftiness, he would definitely flee if he could not defeat his opponent. There was no need for him to worry about Mingshi Yin’s safety.
On the other hand. Duanmu Sheng reacted differently. He said in a deep voice, “One isn’t enough. Two of you can come at me at once!” He brandished his Overlord Spear, his chains clanking loudly in the process.
Fan Xiuwen turned slightly to look at Duanmu Sheng. “A heaven-grade weapon?”
The heaven-grade weapon, the Overlord Spear, seemed exceptionally majestic in Duanmu Sheng’s hands. The dragon coiled itself from the end of the spear’s shaft to its tip. Duanmu Sheng grabbed the dragon’s tail and head simultaneously and shook the spear. Powerful and terrifying Primal Qi surged out of the Overlord Spear immediately. He did not give his opponents time to think as he charged, without warning, toward one of the Dark Knights.
The Dark Knight moved his avatar and parried Duanmu Sheng’s blows.
However, the gap between someone who possessed a heaven-grade weapon and someone who did not possess a heaven-grade weapon was quite wide. This was common knowledge in the cultivation world. The energy from the heaven-grade weapon increased Duanmu Sheng’s strength greatly.
A skilled weapon user could also achieve a breakthrough in his avatar with a heaven-grade weapon. However, without the avatar, the advantage from the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm would be gone.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Duanmu Sheng thrust the Overlord Spear out mercilessly. At this moment, the spear looked like a dragon. It seemed like he was overwhelming his opponent. He fought more valiantly as the battle dragged on. It did not take long before he and his opponent brought their fight out of the great hall as well.
“I’ll go!” The third Dark Knight felt something was amiss so he quickly decided to join in the fray, making the fight two against one.
With a heaven-grade weapon, Duanmu Sheng could face off against a two-leaf avatar and a three-leaf avatar at once. He had been fiercely suppressing his opponent earlier. However, when another opponent joined in, the pressure on him, naturally, increased.
The two Dark Knights worked together and sent powerful waves of energy at Duanmu Sheng.
Duanmu Sheng raised the Overlord Spear before himself and wrapped it in his chains.
Bang!
Duanmu Sheng retreated swiftly and slid across the ground on his feet. Shrouded by his energy, he created two long and narrow ditches as he slid across the ground.
The others watched with their mouths agape.
After all, Duanmu Sheng did not seem like someone who had just recently broken through to the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. He seemed more like someone who had been in this realm for a long time. He wielded his spear skillfully as well. Every time he unleashed the Scorching Field Hundred Strikes and Thousand Layers of Waves, he would leave 100 afterimages of his spear in his wake.
One could see how terrifying a heaven-grade weapon was. This was the reason why many cultivators coveted heaven-grade weapons.
Fan Xiuwen could not help but clap before he praised, “If I didn’t witness this with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed a disciple of the Evil Sky Pavilion who did not have any leaves could hold his own against two opponents!”
At this moment, the remaining Dark Knight at his side said softly, “Leader, I wish to join the battle as well.”
Fan Xiuwen raised a hand but did not reply. Instead, he turned and looked at Lu Zhou who was standing with a calm expression on his face.
“The Four Dark Knights are in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. They rarely display their strength… The one who’s sparring with Mingshi Yin is Old First, Cheng Zhonghe. The ones sparring with Duanmu Sheng are Old Second, Yue Zhong, and Old Fourth, Duan Yanhong. This remaining knight is Old Third, Li Qing. He’s an archer with great precision.” Fan Xiuwen had deliberately mentioned Li Qing’s precision with the arrows. In other words, Li Qing was not a melee combatant. He could join the battle at any given moment.
Fan Xiuwen continued to say, “It’s extremely rare to encounter a heaven-grade weapon… Li Qing isn’t as fortunate. All he has is the earth-grade Master Bow. However, with this bow, he can hit everything in his range of vision with 100% precision.”
At this moment, Li Qing’s Master Bow resonated with his avatar and flew into his hand.
Fan Xiuwen cupped his hands at Lu Zhou again and said, “I’ll say it again…” However, before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a loud buzz outside the great hall.
Everyone turned to look at the source of the sound as well.
Zhou Jifeng exclaimed in surprise, “An avatar is sprouting leaves!”
When an avatar sprouted leaves, it would immediately grow. Its height, the distance it covered, the radiation coverage, aura, and Primal Qi intake would increase as well.
“Mister Third is truly talented. He sprouted a leaf in the midst of a battle!” Sprouting a leaf meant his cultivation base would improve dramatically.
At the same moment, they heard Duanmu Sheng’s cry.
The Overlord Spear was thrust upward. Duanmu Sheng’s clothes were torn to shreds, revealing his tall, sturdy, and muscular body. He extended his arm, his chains were pulled taut. His energy surged out to the surroundings, this was the power of a cultivator who had sprouted a leaf.
The Dark Knights, Old Second and Old Fourth, had to move back slightly.
The Overlord Spear moved down at lightning speed, its tip slicing through the chains.
Clang! Clang!
The chains were broken!
At this moment, Duanmu Sheng seemed like an extremely dangerous beast as he held the Overlord Spear with his big hands. “Have a taste of my power!”
The trio was once again locked in battle. The battle was more ferocious than before.
Lu Zhou did not expect Duanmu Sheng to have a breakthrough at this moment. He nodded in satisfaction.
Fan Xiuwen waved his hand. His meaning was clear.
“Roger!” The skilled archer, Li Qing, raised his hand and wielded the Master Bow. His Primal Qi and energy surged.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said coldly, “I really despise those who sneak up on others the most…” He raised his right hand before aiming it forward. Fragments of a miniature card seemed to form a cyclone in his palm.
Whoosh!
The Primal Qi in the surroundings was instantly absorbed by the cyclone.
Lu Zhou tossed the thing in his hand out gently.
Target: Skilled archer, Li Qing.
Upon seeing this, Fang Xiuwen panicked. He cried out, “Dodge it!” He did not expect Lu Zhou to make a move at this moment. He assumed Lu Zhou would only continue to observe the battles.
At this moment, a massive hand seal appeared in the air.
“Great Seal of Fearlessness!”
The Great Seal of Fearlessness made everyone from the Evil Sky Pavilion feel safe and fearless.
Fan Xiuwen could sense the danger from this seal. He quickly sent Li Qing flying away with a palm strike.
Li Qing tightened his grip on his bow as he flew out of the great hall.
The Great Seal of Fearlessness continued to shoot forward, picking up speed.
Fan Xiuwen attempted to forcefully block it with his vast energy.
Bang!
“It’s futile.” Lu Zhou shook his head.
Everyone was tongue-tied. They watched as the Great Seal of Fearlessness sailed toward Li Qing.
This was somewhat similar to when Kong Xuan was killed with a single strike on the holy altar. The difference was Kong Xuan was killed by the Great Vajra Wheel Hand Seal.
The Great Seal of Fearlessness was not only big, but it was fast as well!