“You think you can keep me here?” Fan Xiuwen’s words were filled with confidence. After all, all Eight-leaf Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivators were confident of their own strength.
The four-walled cage formed a square matrix and continued to shrink.
Fan Xiuwen took three steps back. He raised his arms before himself and began making hand seals.
Lu Zhou nodded lightly and praised him. “The Dao Invisibility Grand Technique?” This was a good opportunity for him to test Binding Cage’s ability. Would the cage be able to withstand the grand technique?
In just a blink of an eye, Fan Xiuwen completed the hand seals. As soon as he was done, a wave of energy surged out from him again.
Bang!
The cage continued to shrink.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Countless afterimages ricocheted off the cage’s inner wall. It was as though a frenzied beast was rampaging the cage at this moment.
The eyes of the average person would not be able to catch the movements of Fan Xiuwen’s afterimages. His speed was too fast after all. However, cultivators would still be able to catch glimpses of his movements even if it was not very clear. This showed that Fan Xiuwen’s strength was extraordinary.
The banging noise continued to resonate in the great hall. However, even with the grand technique, Fan Xiuwen failed to free himself from the Binding Cage.
Lu Zhou shook his head. ‘You can only blame yourself for being unlucky. The capture rate is only 30%, and yet, you still got caught.’ After a while, he found that the banging noise grated on his ears. He called out, “Shrink.” With the simple command, the Binding Cage shrank at an amazing speed.
Crack!
Fan Xiuwen’s armor and mask were shattered, revealing his face. The cage had now shrunk itself to the point where it was binding his body.
Lu Zhou only glanced at Fan Xiuwen indifferently before he averted his eyes into the distance.
Fan Xiuwen’s face was disfigured, making him look terrifying. Well, as the saying went, ‘It would be difficult to keep one’s shoes dry if one were to frequently travel along the river’. Fan Xiuwen had committed all sorts of evil deeds 300 years ago, it was not surprising that he would bear the scars for that. After that, he had taken a completely different path from Ji Tiandao. It was ironic to see him in this state.
Lu Zhou said, “From the very beginning until the end, you’re the one who had overestimated yourself.”
At this point, Fan Xiuwen had given up on struggling. He could sense that the cage was not only locking him in place, but it was also affecting his cultivation base. He tried to circulate the Primal Qi in his dantian’s sea of Qi but to no avail. He did not even entertain the thought of breaking free using his physical strength. He looked at Lu Zhou, clearly unwilling to accept his defeat.
Lu Zhou seemed unbothered by the events as though everything had gone according to his plan, which it did.
“O-old senior… what is it that you want?” Fan Xiuwen was puzzled. The Evil Sky Pavilion’s strength had truly exceeded his expectations. Everything that happened today was out of his expectations.
Lu Zhou asked coldly, “Who’s the mastermind behind the Fish Dragon Village incident?”
Fan Xiuwen could not believe that this all-powerful old villain would offend the Black Knights and the important people in the palace for a traitor. He coughed and turned away.
Lu Zhou did not mind. He said, “I have time on my hands…”
“Time?” Fan Xiuwen chuckled. “15 years… I’ll give you 15 years, at most. After that, who will remember you?”
Little Yuan’er raised her hand and retorted, “I will.”
“…” Fan Xiuwen looked at the girl speechlessly.
Lu Zhou only said, “That’s not important.”
“Old senior, it’s pointless to kill me. All those who joined the Black Knights are prepared to lose their lives. Even if you kill all of us, you won’t get anything out of us.”
“Obstinate!” Lu Zhou shook his head lightly. After that, he no longer bothered with Fan Xiuwen. After all, Fan Xiuwen had spent 300 years in the Black Knights. It was more than enough time for him to grow resilient and keep his mouth shut. Someone like Fan Xiuwen could not be threatened with death.
In any case, Lu Zhou was not in a hurry. Since the people in this land thought he only had another decade or so to live, he would do his best to live a good and long life to spite them.
…
Outside the great hall.
Duanmu Sheng seemed to have transformed into another person after sprouting a leaf. His Primal Qi was overbearing and his movements were violent and harsh. Despite that, his mind was keen. He always managed to evade the two Dark Knights’ attacks before they landed on him.
The trio’s battle was truly intense. Even the limestone flooring of the plaza outside the great hall was completely ruined. However, this was not the time to be concerned about such things.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and calmly observed the battle. The trio was firmly locked in battle. After a while, he said in a deep voice, “Too slow.” His voice that had been suffused with Primal Qi traveled to Duanmu Sheng’s ears.
Duanmu Sheng understood his master’s meaning. As he moved, his speed greatly increased suddenly. At this moment, the Overlord Spear he was wielding could no longer be seen. Afterimages could be seen everywhere.
The two Dark Knights were slightly taken aback. After the drawn-out battle, it would be difficult for them to maintain their speed and strength. However, not only did Duanmu Sheng maintain his speed and strength, but it seemed as though they had increased as well!
‘What a monster!’
Lu Zhou pointed at the ongoing fight and said, “Leng Luo, not only did you overestimate yourself, but you truly underestimated the Evil Sky Pavilion as well.”
It was obvious that Duanmu Sheng was fast gaining the upper hand.
The two Dark Knights suddenly felt the pressure on them increasing dramatically as thousands of afterimages from the spear shot toward them. The attacks seemed to be unaffected by their energies and the protection from their avatars.
If the Overlord Spear’s full potential was unleashed, it could even break avatars.
The two Dark Knights began to buckle under the pressure as they retreated with their avatars.
“Impossible!” How could a Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivator who had just sprouted a leaf pressure a Two-leaf and Three-leaf Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivator at the same time!
When Duanmu Sheng leaped up, Lu Zhou said to him, “When are you going to use your strongest technique if not now?”
The strongest technique of a cultivation method was called a grand technique. A grand technique would drain much of one’s Primal Qi. Therefore, cultivators would not recklessly cast their grand techniques.
However, Duanmu Sheng seemed like a machine that was filled with unlimited Primal Qi. He did not show any signs of slowing down at all. After listening to his master’s words, he was filled with confidence. He brandished his Overlord Spear as he remembered Lu Zhou’s demonstration of a grand technique. The spear and the sword were just a means to the same end. He cried out, “Imperfect Divine Intervention!”
In just an instant, countless spear shadows appeared and descended.
“Retreat!” The two Dark Knights fell back swiftly. Unfortunately, it was too late.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two Dark Knights’ protective energies were breached by the Overlord Spear. At the same time, the spear’s shadows thrust at them from left and right. With two quick jabs, they were sent flying!
Crash!
The two Dark Knights landed on the damaged limestone floor with a crash. Blood flowed out of the wounds on their shoulders. As they pressed their hands to their shoulders to staunch the bleeding, they looked at Duanmu Sheng in fear. They had been overwhelmingly defeated. There was no backhanded scheme or sneak attack. Duanmu Sheng had defeated them fairly.
Lu Zhou’s expression was calm. He stroked his beard and nodded.
With the victory, Duanmu Sheng’s confidence rose to the sky. He was ecstatic! He fell to one knee and cupped his hands together before he said, “Thank you for the instructions, master! I’m glad I didn’t fail you and managed to defeat these two!” He pointed at Yue Chong and Duan Yanhong with his Overlord Spear, worried they would escape under his nose.
Fan Xiuwen gripped the bars of the cage. His eyes were filled with incredulity.
“There’s one more…” Lu Zhou said coldly.
Fan Xiuwen gulped. His initial confidence and bravado had been whittled away by the continuous blows.
“This subordinate is useless!”
“This subordinate is useless!”
Yue Zhong and Duan Yanhong cried out in unison, looking ashamed.
Upon hearing this, Little Yuan’er spoke up, “There’s no need to call yourself useless. Since you’re defeated by my master, you can brag about it in the future!”
Duanmu Sheng scratched his head. ‘Wasn’t I the one who defeated them?’