Chapter 216 - Depravity?

Pan Litian, naturally, did not agree with Fan Xiuwen’s words. He said “Not born yet? Young man, you’re the first one who’s bold enough to say such words to me.” “You’re also the first one who’s bold enough to say such words to me.”

When Pan Litian heard this, he sneered and said, “Young man, there’s no need to be so hostile. Come, have some wine. This is a century-old wine.”

Fan Xiuwen shook his head. He looked at the Evil Sky Pavilion and said, “The barrier’s energy is weakening, and the Primal Qi is extremely chaotic. I’m afraid that someone inside the Evil Sky Pavilion is descending into depravity.” Pan Litian took a few sips of wine, stretched his limbs, and said, “I’m sleepy… I hope there’ll still be wine when I wake up.” After yawning twice, he lay back down to sleep. “Let’s hope so.” Fan Xiuwen did not continue observing the scene. He turned around and went back.

Meanwhile, outside the hidden chamber.

Hua Wudao, Duanmu Sheng, Zhao Yue, and Little Yuan’er were getting ready to break in.

Hua Wudao said, “Do it.” Although he was a Seven-leaf elite, he was not as skilled in attacks as Duanmu Sheng was. Duanmu Sheng pushed away from the ground, and Primal Qi surged out of his body. He looked at the stone door of the hidden chamber and lunged at it with little to no hesitation.

Boom!

A loud noise rang in the air. The stone door shook, but it did not break.

Hua Wudao was slightly shocked as he said, “I didn’t expect this stone door to be so strong to be able to withstand an attack from you.”

On the other hand, Duanmu Sheng was not surprised. After all, this was where his master cultivated in seclusion. Moreover, the structure and detailed Formation layout of this place made it almost impregnable for most cultivators. If one hit did not do the trick, he would try two. “Again.”

Duanmu Sheng clenched his fist, wrapped it in energy, lowered his stance before he threw another punch. When he punched out, his entire arm seemed to shine. The heavy punch that contained massive force landed on the stone door again. The shockwave from the collision rippled out into the surroundings.

The loud boom spread from the hidden chamber, through the corridor, the pavilion, the great hall, the four courtyards, and finally throughout Golden Court Mountain.

Crack!

The stone door cracked. Duanmu Sheng firmly kicked the damaged door before he charged in. Hua Wudao, Zhao Yue, and Little Yuan’er followed closely behind him… When the four of them entered the hidden chamber, the sight that greeted their eyes made their jaws drop.

Lu Zhou was levitating in the center of the room, and he was wrapped in a peculiar shining energy that seemed like starlight. His eyes were tightly shut as though he was sleeping. It was clear he was oblivious to what was happening outside. At the top of the hidden chamber, there was a square hole that seemed like a ventilation vent.

The energy from the Golden Court Mountain’s barrier was pouring into the room through this vent.

The energy converged and surged like the tide into Lu Zhou’s body.

Hua Wudao cried out, “Don’t go near him

yet!”

“What’s happening to… master?” Little Yuan’er asked, slightly flustered.

“He’s descending into depravity. His Primal Qi is in a mess. I guess the pavilion master is trying to suppress the chaotic Primal Qi within himself with the barrier’s energy.” Hua Wudao observed the energy surging vigorously into the room. “What do we do now?” Duanmu Sheng asked. After he was satisfied with his observation, Hua Wudao said, “I’ll break the barrier’s energy and block the vent… Three of you catch the pavilion master. Remember, don’t release your protective energies!”

“Understood.”

All of them understood what their respective roles were.

At this moment, an Eight Trigrams seal appeared under Hua Wudao’s feet. Huge scripts began to appear one after another within the seal and revolved around him.

Heaven, Earth, Life, Death, Water, and Fire. These six shining golden scripts revolved around him while the four scripts of Being, Non-being, Separation, and Combination formed an outer layer. He was now covered in two circles. Then, he leaped toward the vent.

Duanmu Sheng, Little Yuan’er, and Zhao Yue conjured up their most powerful protective energies. Three pairs of eyes were staring intently at Hua Wudao as the Six Compatible Seal collided with the barrier’s energy!

Boom!

The energy immediately dispersed, stirring up gusts of wind that wreaked havoc in the room! The barrier’s energy was abruptly cut off! “Now!”

Duanmu Sheng, Zhao Yue, and Little Yuan’er sprinted toward Lu Zhou at the same time. The three of them had to push through the resistance from the barrier’s energy in the shortest time possible.

However, at this very moment, Lu Zhou suddenly opened his eyes. When he saw his three disciples running toward him, he instinctively bellowed, “Impudent!”

To gain the power to silence everything, to maintain and manifest samadhi. Like light and shadow, permeating everywhere, while staying still in samadhi. This was the power to silence everything.

With Lu Zhou in the center, a light blue energy that resembled seawater instantly spread like a blue lotus. It spread into the surroundings. The three disciples’ eyes widened. They felt the threat of this terrifying energy and instinctively conjured their Hundred Tribulations Insight avatars!

Duanmu Sheng conjured his Two-leaf Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar.

Zhao Yue conjured her Ten Energies Universe.

Little Yuan’er conjured her leafless Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar.

The shout of ‘impudent’ was not a sound technique… Although it could not be compared to the grand technique, Scram, that they witnessed in Anyang’s Ci mansion, Lu Zhou’s voice that was laced with Primal Qi still shook everyone’s eardrums. However, the most terrifying thing was the blue lotus that Lu Zhou conjured! When the blue lotus bloomed, energy pushed into the surroundings with intense force.

At this moment, Hua Wudao descended. The nine scripts were positioned before Duanmu Sheng, Zhao Yue, and Little Yuan’er, forming a circle.

At the same time, a Seven-leaf Golden Lotus avatar descended from the skies.

Boom!

At this moment, the blue lotus was in full bloom. When the blue lotus touched the nine scripts, the scripts shattered easily into nothing!

Hua Wudao was sent flying. He lay on his back on the ground after he crashed against the stone wall.

“Elder Hua!” Duanmu Sheng and Zhao Yue cried out in unison.

The Six Compatible Seal did not manage to stop the blue lotus’ energy from spreading. Instead, it was heading toward the three disciples at increasing speed. From the moment Lu Zhou had bellowed to the moment Hua Wudao was sent flying, only one breath had passed. None of them had time to react at all.

The blue lotus’ leaves hit their chests like a whip, and the three avatars simultaneously disappeared.

Duanmu Sheng, Zhao Yue, and Little Yuan’er reeled back.

Duanmu Sheng and Zhao Yue spat out a mouthful of blood after that.

Zhao Yue’s cultivation base was the weakest, and she suffered the greatest impact… Her Ten Energies Universe could not even withstand a single hit. The blue lotus’ energy made her Qi and blood boil. If the Six Compatible Seals did not absorb most of the impact, she would have been severely injured. Fortunately, she was not standing at the forefront.

Meanwhile, Duanmu Sheng had been sent flying out of the hidden chamber.

Little Yuan’er was more fortunate. Her Cloud Feather Raiment burst with colors and light and absorbed most of the impact. With her Cloud Treading Boots and the Nirvana Sash in her hands, she did a backflip in midair and fled in Hua Wudao’s direction.

Outside the Evil Sky Pavilion.

The female cultivators were staring in the direction of the hidden chamber with their mouths agape. Although they were standing in the distance, they could see a peculiar blue pillar of light shooting up to the sky from the hidden chamber.

The drowsy and lazy Pan Litian was also attracted by the shout of ‘impudent’. He turned to look at this strange sight. Upon seeing it, his eyes widened. “Did he fail or is it a breakthrough?” The wine jar slipped from his hand as he shuddered from the shock. It fell on the floor and rolled a few times, spilling its content. When he regained his composure, he shook his head and sighed. “What does this have to do with me?”

Meanwhile, while four of them were sent flying back, the surging blue energy destroyed the hidden chamber. The stone wall crumbled and turned into rubble.

Hua Wudao focused his spirits and regained his footing in the air. He suppressed his surging Qi and blood and condensed his Primal Qi into energy again. Six shining golden scripts surrounded him and shielded him from the rubble that was flying everywhere.

Little Yuan’er’s Nirvana Sash circled around her like a dancing dragon.

Hua Wudao’s eyes were filled with incredulity… He had the most difficulty accepting this compared to the other three.

He had studied this defensive Daoist mudra for 20 years and knew that he could withstand a grand technique… He was even confident enough to come to the Evil Sky Pavilion to undo the knot in his heart that was formed many years ago. He did not expect that his Six Compatible Seal would be so easily overcome by a single Thunderblast. Although he had lost that fight, he was still unwilling to concede defeat. After all, he did not unleash his full strength back then. He merely used eight scripts and the Eight Trigrams of his Six Compatible Seal. After the experience with the Grand Predecessor Formation, Hua Wudao gained enlightenment and achieved a breakthrough. From eight scripts, he gained nine, and the Six Compatible Seal was strengthened by several magnitudes. All this while, he had been looking for an opportunity to request for instructions from the Pavilion Master. However, currently, it seemed like he had failed before he even had a chance to speak to the Pavilion Master. There was no doubt he had lost miserably. The nine scripts were more fragile than tofu when faced with the blue energy. Along with the scripts, his confidence was crushed as well.

“Is it the barrier’s energy?” Hua Wudao did not believe a cultivator could produce such potent power. In that case, there was only one possibility; it had to be the energy from the Golden Court Mountain’s barrier. However, this was not the time to think about this matter.

Hua Wudao and Little Yuan’er fell at the same time.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhou finally regained consciousness. He surveyed his surroundings as he slowly descended to the ground.

Lu Zhou clearly remembered that he was comprehending the Heavenly Writing. Ever since he obtained the Open Heavenly Writing Scroll, his comprehension state had changed. He was even more immersed and focused. For this reason, the hidden chamber was the best place for him to comprehend the Heavenly Writing

However, the instant he opened his eyes, Lu Zhou saw his three disciples barging into the hidden chamber. He instinctively triggered the Heavenly Writing’s extraordinary power. He did not know how long he had been in his comprehension state. However, in that instant, the Heavenly Writing’s power had surged out. “Ma-master?” Zhao Yue was sitting weakly on the floor. She looked shocked as she stared at Lu Zhou who seemed unharmed.

Duanmu Sheng pushed the rubble away and rose to his feet. He was looking at Lu Zhou in shock as well.

Then, Hua Wudao and Little Yuan’er descended on the ground.

“Master.”

“Pavilion Master.”

Little Yuan’er seemed unaffected.

Hua Wudao, on the other hand, had messy hair and a dirty face. He did not seem to be in a good mood either.

Lu Zhou looked annoyed as he said in a deep voice, “How bold of all of you.”

Duanmu Sheng, Zhao Yue, and Little Yuan’er started. They hastily lowered their heads and remained silent.

Hua Wudao quickly explained, “Please stay your anger, Pavilion Master.”

Zhao Yue hastily bowed and explained, “Please don’t be angry, master! The Golden Court Mountain’s barrier’s energy was flowing in the opposite direction and the eye of the Formation appeared… We thought that you had descended into depravity. That was why we barged into the hidden chamber! Please forgive us, master!”

Lu Zhou looked up at the barrier above. Indeed. It was much weaker than before.

Lu Zhou was puzzled. He had been comprehending the Heavenly Writing as usual. Why did he suddenly begin to absorb the barrier’s power? He had incurred quite a big loss from this comprehension session. Due to the conflicting powers of the Heavenly Writing and the barrier, his hidden chamber was destroyed.

Lu Zhou looked at all of them before he said in a deep voice, “Those who trespassed into the hidden chamber will be punished. Hua Wudao and Duanmu Sheng will be given 30 lashes while Zhao Yue will be given 20.”

“I accept… the punishment.” The others did not even dare to breathe loudly, let alone ask why Little Yuan’er was not punished.

It was impossible that Little Yuan’er was the one who made this choice. Therefore, Hua Wudao, Duanmu Sheng, and Zhao Yue were the ones who should be punished.

Lu Zhou said calmly, “Rebuild the hidden chamber in six months.”

Duanmu Sheng did not dare to protest. He hastily bowed. “Yes, master.”

Hua Wudao accepted the punishment willingly. However, when he saw that Lu Zhou did not seem to be affected at all, he was confused. Then, he cupped his fists and said, “Pavilion Master, have you been experiencing obstacles in your cultivation?”

“Are you doubting me?”

“I dare not,” Hua Wudao replied with a bow. Then, he continued, “It was truly an emergency earlier. I’m sure you deliberately created the impression of descending into depravity with your peerless talent, Pavilion Master.”

Lu Zhou did not offer much explanation on that. After all, he was not sure himself. His cultivation base was still at the Dao-shaping stage in the Divine Court realm. In terms of cultivation base, he could not even compare to Zhou Jifeng.

Even 100 Divine Court realm cultivators could not defeat three Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivators. However, Lu Zhou found it shocking that the Heavenly Writing’s extraordinary power contained such formidable might, apart from the sound technique. He repelled four of them in one go, and the Six Compatible Seal was shattered as though it was tofu.

“Descend into depravity?” Lu Zhou was amused. ‘I’ve been in my comprehension state. How did I end up descending into depravity?’

Hua Wudao felt it was too awkward to continue this conversation. He would probably be beaten up if he continued talking about descending into depravity.

“We’ve misjudged the situation.”

Clearly, his disciples were not completely cold-hearted.

“How’s the barrier?” Lu Zhou asked.

“We haven’t had a chance to inspect it yet.”

Lu Zhou walked outside with his hands on his back.

At this moment, the female cultivators who were watching from a distance were flustered. After they witnessed that peculiar sight, they wondered if they should go and have a look.

The barrier’s energy was more than half depleted.

Pan Litian stumbled over and fell to the floor. He said lazily, “It’s either life or death… There’s nothing much to it.”

The female disciples turned to look at the old beggar.

“If something were to happen to the Evil Sky Pavilion, you won’t have any more wine to drink.”

Pan Litian’s eyes widened and said, “You’ve got a point. I hope the Evil Sky Pavilion’s alright.” He looked at the eye of the Formation. The edges of the eye seemed normal. The azure skies were now like before. The former barrier could not keep him out. Needless to say, the current barrier was nothing to him.

Pan Litian shook his head as he bowed and said. “The Evil Sky Pavilion’s glory won’t be able to bounce back from this.”

The female cultivators turned to glance at the old beggar. They felt that he was only a mere mortal and could not possibly know what he was talking about. Everyone was still worried when Lu Zhou finally emerged from the Evil Sky Pavilion with his hands on his back.

Duanmu Sheng, Zhao Yue, Little Yuan’er, and Hua Wudao followed behind him, looking battered. It was as if they had been in a fight.

“Greetings, Pavilion Master!” The female cultivators bowed and saluted him in unison.

“Clean this up.” Lu Zhou waved his arm.

Pan Litian was lying on higher ground. When he saw Lu Zhou walking toward him, his wizened face tensed up. He asked incredulously, “Y-y-you’re alright?”

Lu Zhou walked over indifferently with his hands on his back. He stared at the barrier nearby and said, “Do you wish for something to happen to me?”.

“I don’t…” Pan Litian said as he hugged his jar of wine. “If something happens to you, I won’t have any good wine to drink.”

Little Yuan’er snorted, “All you know how to do is drink. I hope you choke on your wine one day…”

Naturally, Pan Litian did not bother to argue with a young girl. Instead, he looked at Lu Zhou and said, “What a shame…”

“What’s a shame?”

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep soundly, not with this commotion.” After he spoke, he lay down again. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the sun.

Lu Zhou looked at Pan Litian as he said, “I can help you sleep better.”