Chapter 1340: Bodies Like Feathers and Lives Like Grass

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Lu Zhou did not have much time to think about why Zhu Honggong had met the requirement to complete his apprenticeship.

Lu Zhou thought about Zhu Honggong’s tragic state and how his life and death were unknown, he considered rejecting the completion of the apprenticeship for now. However, past events surfaced in his mind unbidden.

He recalled when Zhu Honggong had just joined the Evil Sky Pavilion. At that time, Zhu Honggong had no talent in cultivation and only relied on the Great Void Seed to transform his physique. However, he had also suffered countless hardships, and they were not fewer than his senior brothers. He was weak and timid, and sometimes, he liked to use his power to bully others. Occasionally, he would charge into battles to show his strength and manly demeanor. He was afraid of his master and seniors. He constantly flattered his master and fellow disciples. Everyone thought he was foolish, but in fact, perhaps, out of all Lu Zhou’s disciples, he was the one who lived life with the most clarity.

Perhaps, the requirements for completing the apprenticeship were not just about cultivation base, strength, or mastering a certain technique. Perhaps, it was dependent on growth that could not be measured with scales. Perhaps, the growth in question for Zhu Honggong was that he had shown that he could shoulder the heavy burdens on his shoulders, take responsibility for his own affairs, and see them through to the end.

After cutting off the Heavenly Writing’s power of sight, Lu Zhou followed his heart and thought to himself, ‘Complete the apprenticeship.’

“Ding! Your disciple, Zhu Honggong, has successfully completed her apprenticeship.”

“Ding! Disciples will provide more rewards for their master after leaving their master and entering the world.”

“Ding! You’re rewarded with a random card. When you use this card, a rare item will be randomly awarded to you.”

“Ding! After Zhu Honggong completes his apprenticeship, he can establish a sect and accept disciples. Maximum number of disciples: 3.”

“Ding! You will no longer receive points for teaching Zhu Honggong.”

‘Use.’

“Ding! Obtained one Initial Card.”

‘That’s it?’

Meanwhile, in the emperor of Great Qin’s eyes, Lu Zhou seemed to have fallen into a daze. He smiled in satisfaction. “You’re not enough. You’re an Equalizer, bound by the shackles of heaven and earth. The Ultimate Formation is an infinite prison. Everyone in the formation will be buried along with me!”

This was the reason the emperor was not in too much of a hurry to attack everyone.

The emperor could not stop laughing. The sound of his laughter sounded creepy as it spread throughout the area within the formation.

Everyone shook their heads when they looked at him.

“He’s gone crazy!”

“He’s a madman!”

The emperor swept his gaze across everyone before he pushed his hand down. His astrolabe appeared beneath his feet and began to expand in the formation.

The spaces merged into one again.

At this time, the four elders of Mount Li and the four dying guards appeared.

The space was like a three-dimensional nine-box grid.

Lu Zhou was at the center while the others were spread out in all directions.

Now that the space had become one, everyone hurriedly gathered.

The 49 swordsmen who were heavily injured gathered and flew to stand behind Qin Renyue.

Yu Zhenghai, Yu Shangrong, and Mingshi Yin returned to their respective positions in front of the other members of the Evil Sky Pavilion.

When the four elders of Mount Li looked at the disheveled emperor, they were puzzled.

“Your Majesty, what happened?”

The emperor’s gaze was unfocused. He was dispirited, but his determination grew stronger and stronger. He pointed with his right hand and said, “Kill them!”

The four elders of Mount Li looked forward, but they did not move. They were not very confident, after all.

The emperor knew what they were thinking so he smacked his hand against his astrolabe. The energy rippled out of the formation into the entire royal palace and Xiangyang City.

…

Outside the formation.

Fan Zhong looked at the Mystic Tranquility Hall and the Ultimate Formation helplessly. Then, he saw a group of death warriors rushing into the formation. A frown appeared on his face immediately. “The emperor trained death warriors? One can only enter but not leave the formation. I apologize to both of you, but there’s nothing I can do!”

Rumors had long been rife about the emperor training a group of death warriors. Their general strength was comparable to the 49 swordsmen and the 36 Big Dipper flag bearers.

Today, Fan Zhong finally confirmed the rumor was true.

…

Inside the formation, more than a hundred people dressed in silver armor appeared behind the emperor.

“It takes 1,000 days to train soldiers, but their use is only for a moment,” the emperor of Great Qin said before he ordered, “Kill them!”

How were they going to deal with so many death warriors? Even if the death warriors did not know any techniques and could only self-destruct, the damage would still be unimaginably devastating.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

More than 100 people flew forward without any hesitation.

With this, the confidence of the four elders of Mount Li rose greatly. The four fake Venerable Masters flew out and led more than 100 death warriors forward.

At the same time, the Ultimate Formation continued to weaken.

The Qin emperor coughed violently before he pressed on one of his Birth Charts on his astrolabe, releasing the energy from the Birth Chart.

Crack!

“It originates from the formation and returns to the formation.” At this moment, the emperor had seen through life and death.

Upon seeing this, an ominous feeling rose in Qin Renyue’s heart. He ordered, “Retreat!”

The 49 swordsmen and the people of the Evil Sky Pavilion flew back in unison. They continued to retreat until they were stopped by the formation.

At this time, Lu Zhou tapped his toes lightly on the ground and flew up, blocking the path of the four elders of Mount Li and the more than 100 death warriors.

Lu Zhou now was like the dividing line on a chessboard. Behind him were the members of the Evil Sky Pavilion, Qin Renyue, and the 49 swordsmen. In front of him were the four elders of Mount Li and the death warriors.

The emperor was hiding behind these people, and to kill the emperor, Lu Zhou had to first defeat or kill these people in front of him.

The four elders of Mount Li came to a stop when they saw Lu Zhou.

At the same time, Lu Zhou confirmed the effect of the Initial Card.

“Ding! Initial Card: this card allows you to reset an item card to its initial price. You have ten seconds to buy the cards before the price returns to normal. You’re limited to buying 100 cards, and during the 10 seconds, your buying of the cards will not cause a price hike.”

Lu Zhou had many item cards to choose from. However, there was one card he loved the most: Deadly Strike Card. He could clearly remember the initial price of the card as well: 500 merit points. He believed anyone in his shoes would make the same choice as him at this time.

“Go.”

At the same time, the four old men of Mount Li struck. Just like before, with Cui Mingguang taking the lead, they unleashed palm seals that formed the Nine Cuts Hand Seals. The Grand Mystic Rush Treasure Seal shot out first, followed by the Solitary Diamond Seal, the Mystic Exoteric Circle Seal, and the Solar and Lunar Seal.

Needless to say, the Nine Cut Hand Seals were now much more powerful now that the four elders had become fake Venerable Masters. They had unleashed all their power with this attack.

The Grand Mystic Rush Treasure Seal and Cui Mingguang arrived in front of Lu Zhou first.

When Cui Mingguang saw Lu Zhou, he asked with a frown, “Why aren’t you dodging?”

Lu Zhou raised his hand indifferently. A vortex appeared in his palm before the Nine Cuts Hand Seals flew out one after another. “Because you’re not worthy.”

The Nine Cuts Hand Seals landed on Cui Mingguang’s chest consecutively, leaving a bloody hole behind.

“Ding! Destroyed one Birth Chart. Reward: 1,500 merit points.”

A Thousand Realms Whirling avatar appeared and disappeared just as quickly.

Cui Mingguang fell to the ground.

The emperor of Great Qin, the three elders of Mount Li, and the death warriors. “???”

Just when Cui Mingguang struggled to his feet, Lu Zhou struck again. “I’ll show you what the real Nine Cuts Hand Seals are like!”

The death warrior lined up in a row, watching the unbelievable scene.

Golden palm seals flew out again.

Boom!

“Ding! Destroyed one Birth Chart. Reward: 1,500 merit points.”

Just like that, Cui Mingguang lost another Birth Chart.

Qin Renyue, the 49 swordsmen, and the members of the Evil Sky Pavilion. “???”

Lu Zhou walked forward in a leisurely manner.

Ji Shi, Zhou Chongshu, and Tang Zibing; the remaining three elders of Mount Li; stiffened.

The emperor of Great Qin felt his throat go dry. For a moment, he wondered if he should continue. As it turned out, the other party had not used his full strength all this time! After a moment, he regained his senses. He had already lost more than half of his Birth Charts; he no longer had anything to lose. Hence, he yelled, “What are you waiting for?”

With this, the three elders of Mount Li charged out.

Energy seals as thick as the palace walls appeared in the Ultimate Formation.

Qin Renyue frowned upon seeing this. Then, he asked, “Brother Lu, do you need help?”

Lu Zhou did not reply. Instead, he launched another three palm seals.

“Solitary Diamond Seal.”

The three palm seals with different sizes flew out, accurately destroying the three elders’ palm seals. They showed no signs of stopping as they continued to fly out.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Ji Shi, Tang Zibing, and Zhou Chongshu felt their bodies go numb. They lowered their heads to take a look and saw the bloody holes on their chests.

“Ding! Destroyed one Birth Chart. Reward: 1,500 merit points.”

“Ding! Destroyed one Birth Chart. Reward: 1,500 merit points.”

“Ding! Destroyed one Birth Chart. Reward: 1,500 merit points.”

“…”

Terrified expressions appeared on the three elders’ faces as they watched the three palm seals gradually fade away.

Fear descended in the Ultimate Formation.

The emperor of Great Qin. “…”

Lu Zhou continued to advance.

The three of them revealed terrified expressions.

Endless fear swept through the entire sinkhole formation.

Emperor Qin:”…”

Lu Zhou continued to step forward.

At this time, the more than 100 death warriors leaped out at the same time with eyes shining with killing intent. Streaks of green energy twined around the halberds in their hands. With the determination to kill and the acceptance of death, they swept toward Lu Zhou like a plague of locusts.

The emperor of Great Qin felt his heart racing at this moment. He had slaughtered many people, his hands were stained with the filthiest blood, he had decapitated many heads, and he had seen the most deceptive of human hearts. Coupled with the fact that he stood high above others, he had grown numb over time. Nary a ripple appeared in his heart over the years. However, at this moment, his heart was racing; he was nervous! He clenched his hands as he watched the death warriors he had painstakingly cultivated for this moment fulfill their purpose.

The more than 100 death warriors were like starving wolves, ferocious and unafraid of death.

“Kill!”

Their thunderous cries shook the sky, and their killing intent filled the entire place.

Lu Zhou raised his head before he raised his hand. With just a flick of his hand, 90 palm seals appeared in the air.

A seal with the script for ‘Stability’ hovered at the lead.

At this moment, everyone, including Qin Renyue and the emperor of Great Qin who were Venerable Masters, saw a scene they would never forget in their entire lives.

With a wave of his hand, Lu Zhou sent the palm seals that fluttered in the air like golden butterflies toward the death warriors, leaving streaks of dazzling golden light in their wake. Without an exception, each of the 90 palm seals found its targets.

Following that, 90 Thousand Realms Whirling avatars appeared before they disappeared again.

“Ding! Destroyed one Birth Chart. Reward: 1,500 merit points.”

Lu Zhou received exactly 90 of this notification.

The death warriors were heavily injured, spitting out blood. The ground was dyed red from their blood. 90 death warriors fell to the sky one after another. Their bodies were like feathers, and their lives were like grass.

“What a one-sided battle! This kind of absolute and crushing strength… Is this Brother Lu’s true strength?” Qin Renyue became more and more stunned the longer he watched.

The emperor of Great Qin was as shocked as Qin Renyue. At this moment, he suddenly recalled something Lu Zhou had said before: From the beginning until now, I’ve never used my full strength. It was clearly not a lie meant to intimidate people. With this revelation, he staggered back as he began to tremble. His mind seemed to have collapsed at this moment.

Meanwhile, slightly more than ten death warriors arrived in front of Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou pushed his hand out, unleashing palm seals again.

Just like that, the death warriors were sent flying in all directions.

“Ding! Destroyed a Birth Chart. Reward: 1,500 merit points.”

Lu Zhou received more than ten of the same notification again.

Lu Zhou came to a stop. He hovered in the air quietly; his expression was calm. When he surveyed his surroundings, he saw nothing but dust and ants. In this world, only he was invincible!

After the unprecedentedly violent Primal Qi storm subsided, silence descended in the formation.

Lu Zhou stared at the emperor unblinkingly for a long time before he asked, “Do you still want to resist?”

This question was like the straw that broke the camel’s back. It crushed all of the emperor’s hope. He spat out of a mouthful of blood, and his black hair turned silver in just a blink of an eye. His face was haggard, his eyes were sunken, his skin sagged, and his wrinkles deepened.

“Your Majesty!” the death warriors cried out.

The four elders of Mount Li were also in excruciating pain.

“The emperor asks me to die, and I’ll die without question. I would rather die on the battlefield than live a peaceful life!” the leader of the death warriors cried out as he charged out.

“I’ll fulfill your wish,” Lu Zhou said as he shook his head. Then, he waved his hand.

Yu Shangrong, Mingshi Yin, and the people from the Evil Sky Pavilion rushed over, sweeping through the hundred or so of death warriors.

The death warriors were already heavily-injured; how could they be a match for the Evil Sky Pavilion? Now that they lost their Birth Charts, how could they withstand some of the members of the Evil Sky Pavilion who had passed two Birth Trials?

Swords, sabers, and blades flew in the air attacking the death warriors.

Looking at the one-sided battle, Qin Renyue knew there was no need for him to make a move. Hence, he walked over and looked at the four elders of Mount Li before looking at the ashen emperor of Great Qin. He asked, “Still not giving up?”

The emperor let out a long sigh and said, “My heart is already dead. I have nothing to say.”

At this moment, a figure flashed toward the emperor.

Swoosh!

A hook slashed at the emperor’s vital points, causing blood to splatter everywhere.

“Ding! Destroyed one Birth Chart. Reward: 1,500 merit points.”

The emperor was sent flying before he crashed against the Mystic Tranquility Hall. He spat out another mouthful of blood.

Mingshi Yin looked at the emperor with eyes brimming with killing intent. He sneered. “Of course, you have nothing to say.”

Everyone understood Mingshi Yin’s actions. After all, the emperor was the main culprit responsible for the destruction of the Meng clan.

The emperor who had nothing left to live for laughed. Then, he said, “I’m very gratified to be able to die in your hands!”

“I’ll grant you your wish!” Mingshi Yin flew over, brandishing his Separation Hook.

The Separation Hook slashed the emperor from the bottom to the top, easily piercing his chest.

“Ding! Destroyed one Birth Chart. Reward: 1,500 merit points.”

Boom!

The emperor fell to the ground.

The emperor seemed to be unable to feel pain at this moment as his mind turned chaotic. His hair turned even whiter, and his appearance aged even more. He lay on the ground; his right cheek pressed against the ground. “In fact, if I don’t deactivate this formation, you’ll never be able to leave. It… doesn’t matter if you believe it…or not…”

Then, he launched into a violent coughing fit.

Without lifting his head, the emperor smacked his hands on the ground.

Buzz!

With that, the formation slowly receded.

A smile could be seen on the emperor’s aged face at this moment. He raised his head to look at Mingshi Yin whose expression was twisted in hatred. No one knew if it was due to his chaotic mind or near-death kindness, his tone was gentler as he said, “Child, kill me…”

“…”

When the formation was completely deactivated, everyone could clearly see the corpses that littered the ground. As far the eyes could see, the Mystic Tranquility Hall and its vicinity were in ruins.

At this time…

“He’s not the emperor, he’s Meng Mingshi…”

“…”

Everyone was shocked by this revelation.

They turned around and looked at the source of the voice and saw Madam Qi in the distance. Her expression was one of sorrow.. She could not help but shake her head as Zhao Yu supported her.