Chapter 145 Arrival at the Lightning Crow Sec

Lu Tianzi frowned.

The Lightning Crow Sect?

Wasn't that where Beihua Wanlei was from?

Before the Scarlet Moon Heroes Meet started, Lu Tianzi heard from Beihua Wanlei that City Lord Nanlan had already paid a visit to the Lightning Crow Sect. That was when the marriage arrangement between Beihua Wanlei and Nanlan Qianbing was decided.

However, due to Nanlan Qianxue's appearance, Beihua Wanlei had said that he wanted to switch his marriage partner.

Was it regarding this matter?

But in that case, shouldn't it be the Nanlan sisters who should be going?

Why would it be him instead?

Sensing Lu Tianzi's confusion, City Lord Nanlan turned towards Elder Xingmeng. "Elder Xingmeng, it might be better if you explain it to him."

Elder Xingmeng nodded.

After all, the Sect Master had entrusted him to look out for the geniuses of the Nine Suns Sect. Anything to do with Nanlu Tianzi could now be considered his responsibility.

"It's like this," Elder Xingmeng hesitated a little before continuing. "During the Scarlet Moon Heroes Meet, you struck at a member of the Lightning Crow Sect while he was distracted, do you remember this matter?"

"Are you talking about Beihua Wanlei of the Four Stars?" Lu Tianzi asked.

"That's right," Elder Xingmeng replied. "The problem now is this. The Lightning Crow Sect firmly believes that if you had not snuck up on Beihua Wanlei, he definitely had a chance to reach the top four. Thus, your actions have greatly displeased Sect Master Leiba of the Lightning Crow Sect."

"And…?" Lu Tianzi narrowed his eyes. He had a bad feeling about the direction that this conversation was headed.

Elder Xingmeng sighed helplessly. "You must have guessed the rest as well. Angered by your actions, Sect Master Leiba demanded for you to take responsibility for your actions. In fact, he had wanted you to publicly apologise, as well as admit your inferiority to Beihua Wanlei."

"What a joke!" Lu Tianzi could not believe what he was hearing. "It was a battle royal. What I did was completely legitimate! In fact, Beihua Wanlei was doing the exact same thing at that point in time, trying to stab Beimu Fei in the back. If I had not stepped in to take him out instead, would he be doing the same right now, publicly apologising to Beimu Fei?"

"Calm down, Nanlu Tianzi, and listen carefully." Elder Xingmeng sighed once more. He was not too surprised by Lu Tianzi's response. "In this world, there are times when we need to think of the bigger picture. Take me for example. Do you believe that I enjoy staying here in Scarlet Moon City? As an Elder of the Nine Suns Sect, as long as I stayed within Bluenight City, I would be able to live in comfort, not having to tread lightly in front of these monstrous influences in the capital. However, here I am in the capital, humbling myself in front of countless others. This is all because I prioritise the sect's interests before my own!"

Seeing that Lu Tianzi was listening in silence, Elder Xingmeng continued. "Even though the Lightning Crow Sect is slightly weaker than the Beimu Clan, they are at least of similar standing. However, our Nine Suns Sect might be quite something in Bluenight City, you should know that we are still far weaker in comparison to them. Therefore, it is necessary to sometimes humble ourselves before others. Even when the other party mete out unreasonable requests such as this, we have no choice but to agree to it. This is all for the sake of self preservation."

Lu Tianzi looked at Elder Xingmeng in disbelief. "So Elder Xingmeng's meaning is for me to publicly apologise and admit my inferiority to Beihua Wanlei?"

"As for that, City Lord Nanlan and I have talked to the Lightning Crow Sect over the past few days," Elder Xingmeng's solemn face finally broke out into a faint smile. "In the end, we finally managed to convince Sect Master Leiba to reduce his demands. As long as you personally went over to the Lightning Crow Sect and apologise to Beihua Wanlei in private, admitting that you are not his match, Sect Master Leiba will let the matter rest. This way, it will still be possible to keep this matter under wraps, and you won't have to face the scrutinisation of the masses."

"I guess I still have to thank you for the arrangement then?" Lu Tianzi replied.

Hearing Lu Tianzi's reply that was full of indignation, Elder Xingmeng frowned. "If you truly have the sect's interest at heart, you need to listen to us. I understand that you tried your best in the Scarlet Moon Heroes Meet, and finally managed to emerge as the victor. You must feel unfair that due to our lack of strength, the sect is unable to even protect your prestige. For that, I can only apologise to you on behalf of the Nine Suns Sect. But you don't have to worry, the sect will definitely compensate you for this!"

Lu Tianzi sneered in his heart.

Compensate him?

What could the Nine Suns Sect possibly compensate him with?

No, in the first place, was this truly the will of the Nine Suns Sect?

By asking him to accept the demands of the Lightning Crow Sect, did City Lord Nanlan and Elder Xingmeng truly have the sect's interest at heart, or was it for their own convenience as well?

At this point, Lu Tianzi could not help but recall that City Lord Nanlan had tried to tie Beihua Wanlei and Nanlan Qianbing together in marriage.

At the same time, Elder Xingmeng had to continue staying within Scarlet Moon City even after this.

Considering that, it was obvious that the two of them had their own interests at stake here too.

"What if I refuse?" Lu Tianzi could not help but ask.

"Hmm?" City Lord Nanlan was surprised. "Nanlu Tianzi, this is no joking matter. If we incur the wrath of the Lightning Crow Sect, it will not end well for both the Nine Suns Sect and Bluenight Palace."

"I am just asking," Lu Tianzi shrugged. "However, it is a fact that His Majesty the King personally bore witness to the Scarlet Moon Heroes Meet. I don't see how the Lightning Crow Sect can openly act in defiance of His Majesty's ruling."

"What ignorance!" Elder Xingmeng harrumphed. "Do you think that the Lightning Crow Sect can only act openly if they wish to deal with us?"

"Even if you are right, there is no need for us to go through with this," Lu Tianzi smirked confidently. "According to what you mentioned earlier, the Lightning Crow Sect is slightly weaker than the Beimu Clan? In that case, perhaps we can just directly ask the Beimu Clan for help!"

"And on what basis?" City Lord Nanlan finally ran out of patience. "Do you think that as long as you tell them that this only happened due to you helping out Beimu Fei during the Scarlet Moon Heroes Meet, the Beimu Clan will be moved? Nanlu Tianzi, I am disappointed in you!"

"That is not what I meant," Lu Tianzi explained. "In fact, even before the Scarlet Moon Heroes Me-"

"Enough!" Elder Xingmeng bellowed in anger, cutting Lu Tianzi off even before he could finish his sentence. "Nanlu Tianzi, we might be talking to you nicely right now, but we are still your seniors, not your friends! As an Elder of the Nine Suns Sect, I am telling you right now that this is not a request, it is an order! Now go back and prepare yourself. Like it or not, we are leaving for the Lightning Crow Sect tomorrow at noon!"

Due to his stellar achievements, they had been trying to talk to him nicely all this while. Yet who knew that this Nanlu Tianzi would be so dense and obstinate?

How could he not understand the simple logic that if the Nine Suns Sect was threatened, then no matter how great his talents were, there was simply no room for him to grow?

Thus Elder Xingmeng could no longer stand it anymore, and finally exploded in rage!

Lu Tianzi was shocked by the sudden outburst, but managed to calm himself down after taking a deep breath.

"Junior will be taking my leave then," he turned around and left the front hall, heading back to his room.

Since City Lord Nanlan and Elder Xingmeng were unwilling to listen to him, there was no point in trying to explain further.

For the rest of the day, Lu Tianzi did not leave his room, surprising Nanlan Qianxue and Nanqing Haowen who had been waiting to have a chat with him. This was especially so for Nanqing Haowen who had not even gotten the opportunity to congratulate him yet.

Even so, they did not bother him, and chose to take this time to cultivate as well.

After all, Nanlan Qianxue understood that they had just exited from the Lifebrand Courtyard. Even she needed some time to organise her thoughts, not to mention Lu Tianzi who had been given a much better cultivation spot.

Just like that, the night passed.

The next day at noon, City Lord Nanlan and Elder Xingmeng gathered together in the front hall once again.

When Lu Tianzi arrived, he saw that this time, Nanlan Qianbing was with them as well. However, her elder sister Nanlan Qianxue was nowhere to be seen.

From the looks of it, it was likely that City Lord Nanlan yet to have given up on bringing together Nanlan Qianbing and Beihua Wanlei.

"You are here," City Lord Nanlan smiled in satisfaction when he saw Lu Tianzi arrive.

"Yes," Lu Tianzi merely gave a cursory reply before standing to the side.

"Where are your manners?" Elder Xingmeng immediately chided. "Is this how you answer to the City Lord?"

"Don't worry about it, Elder Xingmeng," City Lord Nanlan shook his head. "I understand what Nanlu Tianzi must be feeling right now. I am not offended."

Even after hearing City Lord Nanlan's words, Elder Xingmeng still glared at Lu Tianzi. "You better behave later when we are at the Lightning Crow Sect, do you understand?"

Lu Tianzi shot a side glance at Elder Xingmeng before muttering under his breath. "Understood."

From the side, Nanlan Qianbing was shocked by what she just witnessed.

Even though she still felt some resentment towards Lu Tianzi, Nanlan Qianbing's impression of Lu Tianzi had changed greatly after seeing how he rose above everyone else in the Scarlet Moon Heroes Meet.

However, the glorious top ranker from that day was actually being treated in such a manner right now?

Just what was going on?

Even though she was extremely confused, Nanlan Qianbing could also sense the heavy atmosphere weighing down over everyone. Thus, she chose to keep her thoughts to herself.

Later when there was a chance, she would definitely ask her father about it!

After Lu Tianzi's arrival, they no longer had to wait for anyone else. The group of four left for the Lightning Crow Sect, not even bringing guards or servants along with them.

City Lord Nanlan hoped that by showing that they were not guarded against the Lightning Crow Sect, there would be a chance of Sect Master Leiba being satisfied with their sincerity.

It was not a long journey, and they quickly arrived at the entrance of the Lightning Crow Sect.

As one of the top influences within Scarlet Moon City, the Lightning Crow Sect naturally had a huge territory of its own. Just like any of the other top influences, its territory was protected with a huge concealing formation so that others were unable to spy on them.

Or at least these actions would not go undetected.

"City Lord Nanlan has finally arrived." a man who looked to be in his early thirties stepped forward to greet them with a smile. "I have been waiting for a while now."

"Elder Quanwang," City Lord Nanlan greeted him in return. "We are here to meet Sect Master Leiba and Beihua Wanlei."

It was not their first meeting, and City Lord Nanlan recognised this man as one of the elders of the Lightning Crow Sect.

"The Sect Master is already expecting you," Elder Quanwang shot a meaningful glance at Lu Tianzi before continuing. "Please follow me to the front hall."

The buildings within the Lightning Crow Sect's territory looked plain and ordinary in terms of architecture. However, everyone knew better than to underestimate the Lightning Crow Sect because of that.

"Here we are," Elder Quanwang stopped before the door to the front hall. "Please enter."

This was not City Lord Nanlan's first visit to the Lightning Crow Sect, and it was naturally not the first time he had been to their front hall either.

However, after Elder Quanwang pushed open the door to the front hall, City Lord Nanlan could not help but freeze in his steps when he looked within.

The front hall of the Lightning Crow Sect was a grand chamber large enough to hold hundreds of people at once. But that was not what shocked City Lord Nanlan. After all, there had not been any changes since the last time he was here.

What caused City Lord Nanlan to freeze was something else altogether.

Right now, almost every single seat in the front hall had been filled up!

On top of that, there were not only members of the Lightning Crow Sect. In fact, most of those seated were actually people hailing from different influences within Scarlet Moon City!

As one of the top influences within Scarlet Moon City, the Lightning Crow Sect possessed a large network comprising countless influences, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that every single one of these influence that had even the slightest of relations to the Lightning Crow Sect was represented here in the front hall.

No, there were even representatives from influences based outside of Scarlet Moon City!

City Lord Nanlan clenched his fists in anger.

Did Sect Master Leiba deliberately arrange for everyone to come?

This was a far cry from the private apology that Sect Master Leiba had agreed to!

With this many people present, how would it be any different from asking Nanlu Tianzi to issue a public apology?

While City Lord Nanlan was still frozen at the entrance, Sect Master Leiba's cheerful voice reverberated across the front hall.

"Hahaha! City Lord Nanlan, please enter! All of us have been waiting for you!"