During the battle at the green lotus domain, the Fire Phoenix had been suspicious of Lu Zhou’s identity. He had thought that Lu Zhou was an expert from the Great Void. However, the more he thought about it, it thought if Lu Zhou was truly an expert from the Great Void, during their first battle in the Unknown Land, Lu Zhou would not have fought it alone nor would Lu Zhou allow a divine beast like it to leave. Hence, it dismissed its suspicion.

Later on, apart from ensuring its own safety, the Fire Phoenix also had to consider the Little Fire Phoenix’s safety. In the end, it had no choice but to entrust the Little Fire Phoenix to Lu Zhou’s disciple, Little Yuan’er. After that, it had no other chance to determine Lu Zhou’s identity.

The Fire Phoenix was born in ancient times. It shared the same lineage as the Ling Guang, the Vermilion Bird. It was one of the beasts with the highest and noblest bloodline. In ancient times, they had never bothered to interact with humans. Humans’ knowledge of Fire Phoenixes was only through hearsay and rumors. No one had ever subdued or come close to a Fire Phoenix, after all.

Conversely, the Fire Phoenix’s knowledge of humans was also limited, and this included the high and mighty Unholy One. It had only heard about the peerless Unholy One in the Great Void and his unbelievable deeds like creating the first mountain; Grand Mystic Mountain, in the Great Void, defeating many supreme beings in the Great Void, crossing the Endless Ocean, and circling the Great Maelstrom. There were too many legends about the Unholy One in the world that they could not be counted.

Lu Zhou nodded. He looked at the Fire Phoenix and asked, “Can’t you tell?”

The Fire Phoenix was still shocked.

“Do you have a problem with lending me a drop of your blood essence?” Lu Zhou asked.

The Fire Phoenix thought to itself, ‘Lend? What a word to use! Are you going to return it to me?!’

Seeing that the Fire Phoenix did not protest, Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction and said, “Fire Phoenix, I have a few words for you.”

“Please… Please speak,” the Fire Phoenix said somewhat timidly.

“First of all, humans are the elders of all living things. Even if there’s inequality, humans are on top, not the other way around. If it’s not necessary, it’s best for you to put away your arrogance. Second, the Little Fire Phoenix is staying in the Unknown Land with my mounts. All of them are very safe. In the future, they’ll all become a force to reckon with. Third, cultivate well and don’t let down your bloodline. If you want respect, you should learn to respect others, and that includes humans.” After saying these words, he waved his hand and said, “You can go now.”

“…”

The Fire Phoenix wanted to complain, but when it sensed Lu Zhou’s oppressive aura, it gave up on the idea. It flapped its wings and said, “I hope what you said is true.”

“Thank you for your words of advice,” the Fire Phoenix said again before it flapped its wings and flew away in just a blink of an eye, disappearing into the clouds.

With this, the cultivators in the distance heaved a huge sigh of relief. Then, they rushed over.

A cultivator asked loudly, “Senior, may I ask if you know anyone from the Evil Sky Pavilion?”

Lu Zhou glanced at the cultivators and said, “You have the heart to protect Golden Court Mountain. Your courage is commendable, but you must only act within your means. Everyone, please leave.”

The cultivators naturally understood Lu Zhou’s meaning. They could only look at Lu Zhou and Ling Guang regretfully and bow. Just as they were about to leave…

“Wait,” Lu Zhou said. He waved his hand, using the Heavenly Writing’s power of healing.

The blue lotuses flew out toward the cultivators and the surroundings.

Those who were injured were healed in a blink of an eye, and the overwhelming vitality energy immediately revived the withered plants that had been roasted by the true fire.

A few of the young cultivators who were rather talented could sense that the vitality energy not only healed their injuries, but it also strengthened their Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Dantians’ seas of Qi, increasing the limit of the cultivation. They were overjoyed and hurriedly bowed to Lu Zhou one after another.

“Thank you, senior!”

Lu Zhou waved his hand, indicating that everyone should leave. This had always been his way of doing things. If people respected him, he would return the favor.

After everyone left, Lu Zhou flashed and appeared in the southern pavilion. He saw that Jiang Aijian had already given the Fire Phoenix’s blood essence to Si Wuya, and Princess Yong Ning was carefully taking care of Si Wuya.

Si Wuya, who had consumed the blood essence, glowed red.

At this time, Zhu Honggong and Ling Guang also came to the southern pavilion.

Ling Guang said, “Although I don’t care much about the Fire Phoenix, I have to admit its blood essence is not bad.”

Jiang Aijian nodded. “If we can get all the blood essence for him, I believe it won’t be long before he can withstand your power.”

“It’s just that I’ll be going to sleep forever soon,” Ling Guang said bluntly.

“Haven’t you thought about continuing to exist?”

Ling Guang sighed. “I have, but it’s impossible. My consciousness has to exist in my true body. I’m already very satisfied that I can survive until now. The longer it takes, the more my consciousness will weaken. If I can transfer my power to him, my death will be worth it.”

“…”

Zhu Honggong said, “Senior, you look great now! Don’t die so easily!”

Ling Guang looked at Zhu Honggong and said, “I’m different from the Fire Phoenix. I have been on Mount Halcyon for 100,000 years. My true body has long been damaged by the formation there. This possession technique is just a temporary solution. Moreover, don’t you wish for this young man, who lent me his body, to live a normal life again?”

Everyone fell silent.

Li Yunzheng had never done anything to disappoint them. He had never done anything wrong. Most importantly, he willingly suffered so much just for Si Wuya. How could they do such a thing to him?

Lu Zhou said, “Back then, when I went to the Unknown Land, I met Lord Zhennan at the Great Desolate Land. He was also born in ancient times. In order to prolong his life, he transferred his power and consciousness to a tree using a parasitic technique.”

Ling Guang raised his hand to stop Lu Zhou and said, “I would rather die.”

To Ling Guang, this kind of evil technique was more repulsive than eating a few pounds of flies.

“Alright. I respect your decision.”

Although Lu Zhou knew the resurrection technique, it could only be used on those who still had their true bodies. Ling Guang’s problem was unsolvable. Between Li Yunzheng and Ling Guang, there could only be one.

Ling Guang cupped his fists at Lu Zhou and bowed slightly. “Thank you.”

Even Ling Guang, the Fire Deity, had to show respect to the Unholy One.

Lu Zhou said to the others, “All of you stay in the southern pavilion. I’ll go and look for the other three blood essences. If he wakes up, let me know.”

“Yes, master,” Zhu Honggong said obediently.

“Senior Ji, these are locations of the runic passages to the Great Void. As for us, we won’t be returning to the Great Void for the time being,” Jiang Aijian said as he handed a piece of paper to Lu Zhou.

Princess Yong Ning, who wished Si Wuya would recover as soon as possible, bowed and said, “I hope everything goes smoothly for Senior Ji.”

Lu Zhou nodded and disappeared.

…

Xuanyi Palace in the Great Void.

As soon as Lu Zhou appeared in Xuanyi Palace, a guard rushed over and said, “Senior Lu, Emperor Xuanyi asked me to wait for you here. He said to invite you over when you return.”

“What’s the matter?”

Lu Zhou did not have time to chat with Xuanyi. He did not even have time to bother with the people of the Evil Sky Pavilion.

The guard replied, “The White Emperor is now a guest of Xuanyi Palace. He said that he won’t leave until he sees you.”

“The White Emperor?”

‘What a coincidence.’

Originally, Lu Zhou planned to look for Meng Zhang to get its blood essence first. However, since Bai Zhaoju came looking for him, he might as well start with Bai Zhaoju.

Lu Zhou nodded to the guard and made his way to the main hall.

…

In the main hall, Xuanyi was drinking and chatting happily with Bai Zhaoju.

Lu Zhou had yet to enter the hall, but he could already hear the sounds of laughter. The duo was clearly extremely happy.

“Pavilion Master Lu, you’ve arrived,” the guard said respectfully.

Upon hearing the guard’s words, Xuanyi’s eyes lit up immediately. He said, “Look! He’s back!”

Bai Zhaoju set his wine cup down and looked outside the hall.

Lu Zhou walked in slowly.

Xuanyi smiled and rose to his feet before he greeted, “Pavilion Master Lu, the White Emperor has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Lu Zhou glanced at Bai Zhaoju before he walked over and took a seat in front of the large table.

Bai Zhaoju looked a little awkward at this time. ‘He’s sitting down just like that? It’s fine if he doesn’t flatter me, but he’s not even going to greet me? Ah, who cares? If he’s not embarrassed then I shouldn’t feel embarrassed.’

With that, Bai Zhaoju sat down as well. Then, he said with a smile, “Pavilion Master Lu, meeting you is better than just hearing about you.”

Lu Zhou did not beat around the bush. He said, “You protected my disciples for 100 years on the eastern Lost Island. Tell me, what do you want?”

“…”

‘I didn’t think it could get even more awkward… No matter what, I’m still the highly-respected White Emperor. Why did you make it seem like I’m here to ask for charity?!’

Bai Zhaoju coughed. He straightened his back and said solemnly, “When I do things, I don’t expect anything in return.”

Lu Zhou nodded. “I admire such people. Back then, you left your jade token behind to help me enter the Great Abyss Land. Apart from that, you also made your cultivators wait near the Pillar of Destruction. Now, you don’t even ask for anything in return. It’s truly admirable.”

“…”

Everyone knew the Unholy One had many treasures. Any one of them would make people go crazy.

Lu Zhou poured a cup of wine and said, “Since you’re not going to ask for anything in return, let me toast you at least.”

“…”

‘Just a cup of wine?’

This was Bai Zhaoju’s inner monologue.

Contrary to Bai Zhaoju, Xuanyi, the super fan, was surprised and slightly envious. What was ‘just a cup of wine’ to Bai Zhaoju, was an honor to him. He had never heard of anyone who had been toasted by the Unholy One!

The Four Emperors of the Lost Lands were greatly respected when they were in the Great Void. Even after they left, they were still very much respected. However, in Xuanyi’s eyes, the quartet was just children in front of his teacher!

In the cultivation world, the strong preyed on the weak. There was no reason for the strong to bow down to the weak.

Thinking of this, Bai Zhaoju only sighed inwardly and raised his cup as he said, “Very well.”

The duo clinked their cups and drained the wine in the cups.

Thousands of words were contained in this toast.

Xuanyi looked at Lu Zhou unblinkingly as he tried his hardest to project his thoughts to Lu Zhou. ‘Teacher, why didn’t you clink cups with me?”

After the two seniors finished drinking, Xuanyi lowered his head and drank his cup of wine as well. He thought to himself, ‘Hmm, the wine is also fragrant even though I’m drinking alone.’

At this time, Lu Zhou suddenly said, “In fact, I have something to ask you.”

Bai Zhaoju was stunned. For some reason, he felt like he had walked into a trap. It was fine that he did not receive a reward, but he still had to work for another person? However, the word ‘ask’ sounded very pleasant to his ears. After all, the other party was a powerful expert. He was naturally very happy to have a powerful expert ‘ask’ him something.

And so, Bai Zhaoju smiled and said, “Please speak.”

“Do you know Zhi Ming’s current whereabouts?” Lu Zhou asked.

Bai Zhaoju’s smile stiffened before it vanished completely. He asked, “Pavilion Master Lu, what is this about?”

Lu Zhou replied frankly, “It’s for an extremely important matter. I have to find it.”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you with this matter,” Bai Zhaoju said.

“Reason?” Lu Zhou asked.

“I owe Zhi Ming a debt of gratitude. I promised it that I would never reveal its whereabouts,” Bao Zhaoju replied.