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Chapter 290 Promise of a Battle
The black coffin hovered in the air and did not move. “I didn’t expect to meet you here, Brother Ji.”
Lu Zhou asked again, “Are the Seven Terminal Formation and the Demon Sword your doing?”
“I don’t know anything about the Formations…” In other words, Gong Yuandy was the one who left the Demon Sword here and erected the tombstone.
“After all these years of staying in that coffin, did you have any insight?”
Gong Yuandu sighed deeply and said, “I had some improvements in my sword skills, but I’m limited by my cultivation base and couldn’t use them to their full potential. I’m not sure if I’m a match for you now.”
Gong Yuandu and Lu Zhou were both peerless individuals. Perhaps, only Gong Yuandu himself knew how much he wanted to defeat Lu Zhou.
“Do you want to defeat me that badly?”
“I’m not the only one under the heavens who wants to beat you,” Gong Yuandu retorted.
“Well…”
The answer was as clear as day. There were many who wanted to snatch the Evil Sky Pavilion’s treasures or kill the greatest villain of all time.
At this moment, it was clear to everyone that Lu Zhou and Gong Yuandu who was in the coffin were old rivals. Naturally, they knew they had no place to interfere in the conversation between the two seniors.
The voice rang teasingly from the coffin again. “I’m curious… What’s the grandmaster of the Evil Sky Pavilion doing inside the Mausoleum of Swords? Did you come for my Demon Sword? You have many more treasures compared to me though.”
The atmosphere seemed warm as the old rivals conversed. The pressure that came from the coffin earlier had also greatly lessened.
Lu Zhou replied, “There’s something that belongs to me in the crypt of the ever-living emperor.”
“You’re as stingy as always, Brother Ji… Are you talking about this?” Gong Yuandu’s voice barely faded when the coffin flipped over, and a book dropped down. The coffin flipped over again, and its lid closed.
Lu Zhou caught the book with swift movements. It was cold to the touch. However, this degree of cold was nothing to Lu Zhou. His Divine Court realm’s protective energy was enough to repel it.
The book had been carefully wrapped. It was decorated with the Imperial family’s colors and dragon insignia. Perhaps, the Imperial family was worried that the Heavenly Writing book would rot in the dark and damp environment. Hence, they made a special coating for it.
Lu Zhou flipped through the book.
“Ding! Obtained Open Heavenly Writing remnant piece (final).”
As expected, it was part of the Open Heavenly Writing scroll.
Lu Zhou closed it and tossed it toward Little Yuan’er.
Little Yuan’er caught it and read it out of curiosity. However, she could not understand a single thing and quickly lost interest.
Gong Yuandu spoke from within the coffin again, “This is the only item that caught my eye in the crypt of the ever-living emperor. The other items were nothing but ordinary… Since you’re here to dig the grave, Brother Ji, I’m afraid this is the only thing that’ll be of interest to you.”
Gong Yuandu did not think that Lu Zhou would have a lower standard than his own. Lu Zhou nodded and said, “This is precisely what I was looking for.”
“The book contains some unique power, but I could never understand it… Since the ever-living emperor was buried with it, I thought it must’ve been a treasure. Hence, I kept it.”
With this explanation, everything was clear now.
Lu Zhou’s objective had been achieved. There was no longer any need to dig up Jian Aijian’s ancestral graves.
“Gong Yuandu, if you wish to get out, I can take you with me,” Lu Zhou said. Returning a favor with another favor would be considered as repaying the debt. “No, thank you…” The voice from the coffin seemed a little stifled at this moment as though something was stuck in Gong Yuandu’s throat. “I might not outlive you after all.”
“You have a century before your time is up.” Lu Zhou looked directly at the coffin. He sighed and decided to give up persuading Gong Yuandu. “How many mortals live up to 100 years? It’s much more difficult for a cultivator, I guess.”
This person had often competed with him in the past. This was nothing but the departure of the old and the ushering in of the new. Birth, life, sickness, and death. This was merely the natural cycle of life. “In that case, I won’t force you.”
Lu Zhou was about to leave when Gong Yuandu sighed and asked, “Before my time is up… May I have a fight with you, Brother Ji?”
The others were taken aback.
A rival was a rival, after all.
Gong Yuandu would not miss an opportunity to trouble Lu Zhou before his own death.
Little Yuan’er had initially been sympathetic to Gong Yuandu for trying to survive inside a coffin. At this moment, what little sympathy she had was swept away. She said indignantly, “What’s the matter with you? My master had just fought another person for several rounds… Even if you win this match, it will be without honor. Besides, you’re no match for my master.”
The coffin shook slightly before a burst of laughter rang from it.
“Brother Ji… I’m surprised you found disciples with that temper of yours. I’m impressed, truly, I am…”
Lu Zhou did not rise to his taunt. Instead, he said, “If you want to fight, come on out.”
Little Yuan’er chimed in, “That’s right, come out!”
Jiang Aijian joined in as well. “Dear senior, since you’re both acquaintances, why is there a need to fight to the death? Moreover, you’ve said that your limit is upon you, and I’m sure your cultivation base has been diminished greatly. Why is there a need for this?”
Gong Yuandu said, “You’ve all misunderstood me… Since I’m fighting Brother Ji, it’s only natural that I want to do it fair and square… I won’t strike a man when he’s down. Brother Ji, what do say we meet at the Evil Sky Pavilion after a month?”
Lu Zhou did not mind. “I’m just worried that you won’t make it past this month.”
With one’s life limit looming, nobody could be sure when they would die. Perhaps, it would be today. Perhaps, it could be tomorrow. It could even be a year later.
Gong Yuandu gave a hoarse laugh and said, “We’ll meet a month later… If I can’t make it, so be it.” He figured that it was time for him to accept his fate for once after being so stubborn his whole life.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and looked at the others.
Jiang Aijian addressed the coffin, “Dear senior, since you’re going to stay in the crypt, do me a favor and don’t damage anything inside.” “What’s it to you?”
“We should always respect the deceased.”
This time, the coffin did not reply.
Lu Zhou glanced at the swords scattered on the ground.
Jiang Aijian said at once, “I won’t be taking these third-rate items.”
Qin Jun scratched his head awkwardly and said, “May… May I take a couple of them with me?”
Jiang Aijian rolled his eyes and said, “Help yourself.”
Qin Jun was overjoyed. He picked up the two best earth-grade swords he could find.
Jian Aijian said, “Someone has an eye for things.”
“A man who loves swords won’t settle for less.”
“What do you know… We share the same interests, how rude of me…”
“Don’t mention it…”
Lu Zhou shook his head. He placed his hands behind his back and walked toward the exit of the Mausoleum of Swords.
The coffin vanished into the tunnel.
Little Yuan’er left the Mausoleum of Swords with her master.
The Seven Terminal Formation on the ground gathered up some energy again.
“Master, who was that inside the coffin?”
“An acquaintance.”
“Master, you have friends?”
“To put it more precisely, he’s a rival,” Lu Zhou explained as he walked.
“So, do you have friends, Master?” Little Yuan’er asked.
“I have many friends…” Lu Zhou replied.
“Oh…”
Finally, they arrived outside the Mausoleum of Swords and saw the sky. They could not help but take a deep breath.
“Whitzard.”
Jiang Aijian and Qin Jun ran up to them as well. Lu Zhou did not leap onto Whitzard immediately… “Jiang Aijian.”
“Old… Old senior, what’s the matter?”
“Zhao Yue is still inside the palace. Look after her,” Lu Zhou said.
“No problem. However, I need to tell you something, old senior,” Jiang Aijian said.
“What is it?”
“Your seventh disciple, Si Wuya, is onto me. Moreover, I’m certain he’s close to discovering my identity. I must say I’m no match for him in terms of gathering information. His men have been harassing my sources, and I’ve lost no less than five these few days. They were important points of contact for me. If it’s possible, can you perhaps give him a warning or two?” Jiang Aijian asked.