Chapter 916: The Black Guards

Yan Zhenluo replied with a smile, “That’s easy. I’ll just take a feather from Di Jiang when I report back to the Black Tower Council. At that time, they’ll have to forgive me.”

Di Jiang’s speed was the fastest among the fierce beasts, after all. It was unlikely for a single Thousand Realms Whirling expert to take it down. It was somewhat unreasonable if the Black Tower Council punished Yan Zhenluo for it.

Lu Zhou nodded and said, “Go ahead. Tell me what you want?”

Yan Zhenluo bowed before he said, “I only want to ensure Lu Li’s safety.”

“Nothing else?”

“That’s right. I only have this one request,” Yan Zhenluo said.

“Alright.” Lu Zhou nodded.

“Thank you.” Yan Zhenluo straightened his back and looked at the setting sun. “It’s getting late. Before I leave, there’s another thing I need to remind you about, Brother Lu.”

“What is it?”

“The Black Tower Council is aware of Lu Li’s disappearance as well. They’re also aware of the disappearance of the Birth Chart Beast on Cloud Mountain. Since you have a golden Thousand Realms Whirling avatar, I suspect the Black Tower Council will send the Black Guards to investigate this matter…” Yan Zhenluo said in a grave tone.

“Black Guards?”

“The Black Guards is a team in the Black Tower that maintains order and rules. They’re like law enforcers. They have authority over the lower level of the Black Tower Council. The average black guard has around four Birth Charts. Each team they send out usually has three people,” Yan Zhenluo explained.

“The Black Tower Council is so strong?” Lu Zhou’s heart moved slightly. There were so many Thousand Realms Whirling in the Black Tower Council?

Yan Zhenluo smiled wryly as he said, “The Black Tower has been around for tens of thousands of years. It has successfully recruited many experts over the years. Apart from that, it also has a monopoly over life hearts. It’s not strange that it’s so strong. In fact, there are many weak cultivators in the black lotus domain. Although there are many forces and sectless cultivators, many of them aren’t even in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation Realm. Those who join the Black Tower Council are all the cream of the crop.”

“I see.” Lu Zhou nodded.

“It’s getting late; I have to go. This is a special black talisman paper. If you have any news about Lu Li, just light it up. Thank you, Brother Lu,” Yan Zhenluo said respectfully as he handed a black talisman paper to Lu Zhou.

“Alright.” Lu Zhou put the black talisman away.

“See you soon,” Yan Zhenluo said as he approached Di Jiang.

Di Jiang took a few steps back and hid behind Lu Zhou.

Squawk!

Di Jiang squawked.

“It’s just a feather. Don’t be noisy.” Lu Zhou plucked a feather and handed it to Yan Zhenluo.

After taking the feather, Yan Zhenluo disappeared in a flash.

Lu Zhou looked at the stone forest before he made his way back to the capital.

…

Back in the capital.

Lu Zhou slowly flew back with Di Jiang.

Due to Di Jiang’s relatively small size and due to its lack of a life heart, no one could tell it was a Birth Chart Beast.

The Purple Glazed Ceramic completely hid the aura of the life heart.

No one paid him any attention as he flew to the royal palace.

When Lu Zhou arrived at the royal palace and was on his way back to the Preservation Hall, he saw Yu Shangrong.

Yu Shangrong bowed. “Greetings, master.”

“Where’s your Eldest Senior Brother?” Lu Zhuo knew the duo often sparred together and could not help but wonder where Yu Zhenghai went.

“Eldest Senior Brother heard that someone in the capital had sprouted the tenth leaf so he went to investigate. It’s said that this person is skilled with sabers. With his personality, how can he let go of a chance such as this?”

Lu Zhou nodded. Since Di Jiang appeared, it was not surprising that a new Ten-leaf cultivator had appeared. He asked, “What is this person’s name?”

“I only know his surname is Zhang,” Yu Shangrong replied.

“Good. Pay attention to this person,” Lu Zhou said before he placed his hands on his back and left.

Yu Shangrong said respectfully, “Farewell, master.”

…

In the Preservation Hall.

Di Jiang looked around curiously until it grew tired and fell asleep.

Lu Zhou brought out the book that Yan Zhenluo had given him before he pored over it. Fortunately, even if he was reading, the Purple Glazed Ceramic continued helping him to replenish his supreme mystic power. Naturally, the speed was not as fast as if he were meditating.

…

On the morning of the third day.

Lu Zhou finally finished reading the book. He sighed emotionally after he closed the book.

“No wonder Yan Zhenluo could easily see that I have no experience with the Thousand Realms Whirling…”

Lu Zhou gained a lot of new knowledge from the book. For example, one should search for life hearts according to suitability and their abilities instead of focusing on the number of life hearts. The Thousand Realms Whirling avatars were different from the Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar in the sense that the lotus seat and the astrolabe could help one block a fatal blow. When a cultivator was hit with a fatal strike, the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar would shrink and enter the cultivator’s body to absorb the fatal strike. Naturally, the price was the destruction and loss of a Birth Chart on the Birth Chart disk and the Birth Palace. Needless to say, without Birth Charts, even if one had a Thousand Realms Whirling avatar, one would not be able to block a fatal strike. Apart from that, he learned that the astrolabe and lotus seat could be used independently without the avatar.

This also solved one of the concerns in Lu Zhou’s heart. This meant that to use the power of the Birth Charts, he could just manifest the astrolabe alone. Naturally, the power would be boosted if one used it along with one’s avatar. However, using the astrolabe alone had its benefits as well.

One could not be too rigid in cultivation. For example, the astrolabe had shocking defensive power. The Birth Chart power could be released from the front and from the back, providing great defenses. This was the same for the lotus seat. However, to protect their Birth Palace, most people would not use their lotus to defend themselves; they would use the astrolabe instead. After all, it was difficult for one to destroy a Birth Chart. The power of the Birth Chart would quickly repair the astrolabe.

After Lu Zhou processed the information, he called out, “Men.”

Little Yuan’er ran in instead of the attendant. When she saw Di Jiang lying at the side, she exclaimed, “M-master! It’s so cute!”

“…” Lu Zhou found it difficult to find the connection between the word cute and Di Jiang’s six legs and four wings. After a moment, he asked, “Do you like it?”

Lu Zhou had too many mounts, after all. He could hardly look after all of them on his own. It would be best if he could pass the responsibility to one of his disciples.

With Qiong Qi and Dang Kang serving as examples, he did not think it was inappropriate to give Di Jiang to Little Yuan’er.

However, Little Yuan’er unexpectedly shook her head and said, “I don’t like it.”

“…”

Then, Little Yuan’er continued to say, “I want a really big mount like Sixth Senior Sister’s Cheng Huang. The bigger it is, the better! This… This beast is so small!”

Quack! Quack! Quack!

Di Jiang quacked, seemingly dissatisfied with Little Yuan’er evaluation of it.

Lu Zhou said, “Call your Seventh Senior Brother over.”

“Understood.” Little Yuan ‘er turned around and left.

Soon after, Si Wuya returned to the Preservation Hall with Si Wuya.

As soon as Si Wuya laid eyes on Di Jiang, his eyes lit up. “Di Jiang?”

“You know of it?” Lu Zhou asked.

“Di Jiang is red. It has six legs and four wings, and it’s skilled in flying. It’s said that it can sing and dance as well. Where did you find this Di Jiang, master?” Si Wuya asked, clearly surprised.

“I had nothing to do and subdued it when I ran into it,” Lu Zhou said.

Si Wuya said in admiration, “Di Jiang’s speed is as fast as lightning. Master, you’re amazing for being able to subdue it.”

Lu Zhou said, “Alright, alright. However, it’s useless now that I’ve taken its life heart. I’ll return its life heart to it once it has completely submitted itself.” After a brief pause, he continued to say, “I summoned you here to give you this book.”

Lu Zhou casually waved his hand, and the book in front of him flew out and landed in Si Wuya’s hands.

Si Wuya asked, “What’s This?”

“It’s the basic principles of activating Birth Charts and combat techniques for the Thousand Realms Whirling. After reading it, summarize the main points and give them to the members of the Evil Sky Pavilion.”

“Understood!” Si Wuya’s heart moved. Since time immemorial, very few people were willing to share their cultivation method selflessly.

At this moment, Di Jiang flapped its wings once as it looked at Little Yuan and Si Wuya.

Squawk! Squawk! Squawk!

Di Jiang’s squawks echoed in the entire Preservation Hall.

After a moment, it rose to its feet and walked unsteadily toward Si Wuya and Little Yuan’er.

Upon seeing this, Little Yuan’er jumped back and asked, “Master, Seventh Senior Brother, what does it want?”