Xu Chen, who had lost another Birth Chart, became even weaker.
For cultivators, especially experts who activated their Birth Charts, they had many life-saving techniques. For each Birth Chart they obtained, it was like they gained an extra life. Apart from that, their cultivation, strength, speed, and defenses would improve. It was incredibly difficult to destroy a Birth Chart; it was no different from taking a life. Only if one’s strength was overwhelmingly strong would it be easy to destroy a Birth Chart, or perhaps, if one was like Ye Liuyun who was a master assassin and skilled in sneak attacks.
Xu Chen and Shi Youran had lived for a long time and managed to preserve their Birth Charts thus far. However, who knew today they would be so weak in front of Lu Zhou? This could only mean one thing: Lu Zhou’s strength far surpassed theirs.
Shi Youran’s expression was incredibly unsightly at this moment. He stepped forward as the Eight Trigrams Seals appeared beneath his feet; one Yin and one Yang. The seal glowed brightly, forming a nest-like space and instantly covering Lu Zhou as well.
“Retreat!”
Xiao Yunhe and Yu Shangrong, who were standing closest to the battle, retreated.
Yu Zhenghai and those from the Humble White Sect retreated as well.
Within the illuminated space, Shi Youran’s strength had increased greatly.
Following that, countless energy seals appeared in the sky and shot toward Lu Zhou.
Lu Zhou glanced at Xu Chen who was lying in the pit that was dozens of meters deep. Upon sensing the change in the air, he raised his head and looked at Shi Youran.
Lu Zhou’s deep gaze caused Shi Youran’s heart to tremble. He knew he had met a tough opponent today. He silently recited an incantation and vanished into thin air. In the next moment, he appeared above, below, in front, at the back, and to the sides of Lu Zhou. It seemed like six figures had surrounded Lu Zhou from all sides, launching black energy seals at the same time.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The storm-like attacks continued to fall, but Lu Zhou stood unmoving and unharmed. A strange energy surged out of his body, easily neutralizing the attacks one after another. The attacks only left slight ripples near his body; that was it.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shi Youran continued to attack in a frenzy. The sounds of collision rang in his ears as the energy seals struck his opponent, but his attacks failed to do any damage at all!
Wu Chao asked, dumbfounded, “How’s he doing that?”
“If I’m not mistaken, the Pavilion Master’s Birth Charts are from the highest grade life hearts. The fierce beasts they’re from probably had incredibly high defenses…” Shen Xi speculated. After all, this was the only explanation he had for Lu Zhou being able to withstand the frenzied attacks of a Ten Chart expert without suffering any injuries.
“Highest grade?”
“Birth Trial,” Shen Xi explained, “After accumulating six Birth Charts and passing the Birth Trial, the first six Birth Charts would improve tremendously. Apart from that, one might also obtain a special ability after passing the Birth Trial. If I’m not mistaken, Shi Youran’s space is a special ability he obtained after passing the Birth Trial…”
“Even then, they’ve both passed the Birth Trial. Even if Senior Lu is stronger, how’s it that he’s completely unaffected by the attacks?” Wu Chao was puzzled.
“I… I suspect that the Pavilion Master has already passed the second Birth Trial,” Shen Xi said.
“The second Birth Trial? Does this mean that Senior Lu has more than twelve Birth Charts?” Wu Chao’s eyes widened in shock.
At this moment, Shen Xi could sense something was amiss so he quickly ordered, “Retreat again!”
Xiao Yunhe and Yu Shangrong retreated 1,000 meters back.
At this time,
Xiao Yun and Yu Shangrong were the same. The two of them retreated quickly and retreated another thousand meters.
At this time, it seemed like Shi Youran’s figures were everywhere in the dark space. All of a sudden, the six figures merged back into one and appeared above Lu Zhou. Following that, he held a sharp saber in each hand and brought them down.
At the same time, Lu Zhou said in a deep voice, “Are you done playing?”
“Huh?”
“You really don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth!”
Buzz!
Lu Zhou manifested his golden avatar.
The Thousand Realms Whirling avatar pierced the sea of clouds and disappeared into the sky.
Boom!
A surging energy that seemed to hold all the power of the universe sent Shi Youran flying immediately.
Primal Qi churned and spun out like a hurricane, and Shi Youran who was being carried away was like a grain of sand.
Everyone raised their heads. All of them without fail tacitly counted the height of the avatar.
Half of the astrolabe was hidden by the clouds, making it impossible to see the number of Birth Charts. Moreover, those who passed the Birth Trial could hide their Birth Charts. Therefore, the most reliable way was to check the height of the avatar.
They endured the dazzling light of the golden Thousand Realms Whirling avatar as they silently counted. Even if they could usually tell the height of an avatar with just a glance, in this case, they had to count.
“500 feet, 550 feet… 800 feet, 850 feet, 900 feet, 950 feet… 1,050 feet!”
“1,050 feet!”
“12 Birth Charts! I was right! He has passed the second Birth Trial!”
Everyone looked at the golden avatar that towered into the clouds in awe and admiration. They had completely forgotten about Xu Chen who was lying in the pit and Shi Youran who had been blown away.
“Astrolabe.”
The energy from the avatar pushed the clouds away at this moment, revealing the golden avatar in all its glory to everyone present on the scene.
The avatar was 1,050 feet tall. Its body was completely gold, and there was a golden crown in its head. At this moment, it sat with its hands clasped together on a lotus that was burning with karmic fire. An indescribably huge golden astrolabe hung at its back. The twelve distinct patterns on the astrolabe were incredibly eye-catching. At the same time, the 36 triangles on the lotus seat were spinning at the same time. Similar to the astrolabe, twelve Birth zones flashed brightly in unison.
“Amazing! You guessed correctly!” Wu Chao said, “However, how do you know Senior Lu has passed the second Birth Trial?”
One could tell the number of Birth Charts by looking at the flashing lights. However, it was impossible to tell if one had passed the Birth Trial.
“Based on his imposing air and absolute and crushing strength,” Shen Xi said, “I can’t think of another person who can deal with Shi Youran in this manner. Perhaps, even Tower Master Xia isn’t capable of it.”
Wu Chao nodded and said, “You’re right. What are the two special abilities that Senior Lu obtained after passing the two Birth Trials?”
“I really don’t know. After all, those who pass the Birth Trial rarely use their special abilities; it’s like their secret trump card. Moreover, there’s no occasion for the Pavilion Master to use his special abilities. For example, although the Pavilion Master only has two more Birth Charts compared to Shi Youran, look at how badly Shi Youran is beaten…”
Meanwhile, Shi Youran’s eyes looked as though they were going to pop out of their sockets as he looked at the golden Thousand Realms Whirling avatar. He knew it was impossible for him to win now. Without saying anything, he turned tail and fled at lightning speed like a shooting star.
Lu Zhou looked down and said, “Xiao Yunhe, keep an eye on Xu Chen.”
Xiao Yunhe smiled and said, “Leave it to me, Brother Lu.”
Following that, Lu Zhou unleashed his grand technique.
Everyone watched as Lu Zhou and his Thousand Realms Whirling avatar left afterimages in their wake as they sped away. They rubbed their eyes, and when they removed their hands, Lu Zhou and his avatar were nowhere to be seen.
The speed of the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar was truly high above the Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar. Back when Lu Zhou only had the Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar, he could barely keep up with Lu Li’s Thousand Realms Whirling avatar. With a Twelve Chart Thousand Realms Whirling avatar, one could only imagine how fast Lu Zhou was.
Shi Youran fled at top speed. He sighed in relief when he looked back and saw that no one had chased after him. Alas, it did not take long before a voice rang from above him.
“You like flying?”
“You!” Shi Youran trembled when he looked up and saw Lu Zhou. As it turned out, Lu Zhou had been chasing after him silently all this time.
“I’ll let you fly as long as you want.” Lu Zhou pressed his hand down.
“No!” Shi Youran tried to flash away.
Lu Zhou maintained the same speed as Shi Youran and kept appearing in the same position so that it seemed like the two were not moving at all. At this time, he reached out with his hand that glowed with a golden light, easily breaching Shi Youran’s defenses before grabbing Shi Youran by the scruff of his neck.
Following that, the duo disappeared at the same time.