Chapter 149: How Dare You Plot Against Golden Court Mountain?
The cloud-splitting chariot rose into the air and hovered for a moment.
The female cultivators who did not have the chance to board the chariot could not help but look at the sky. From their vantage point, the chariot looked like a glowing boat.
Mingshi Yin suddenly felt that it was nice to man the helm at the bow. He could see Golden Court Mountain in its entirety. He said, “Off we go!”
The flying chariot moved forward.
“Tangzi Town isn’t far away. Move at the slowest speed,” Lu Zhou ordered.
“Yes, master.”
The chariot slowed down. The others walked to the sides of the flying chariot and looked down at the land, mountains, forests, and rivers. Some unique beasts could be seen flitting in and out of the clouds. The sun’s rays shone on the flying chariot through the layers of clouds. The scenery was very pleasing to the eyes.
Lu Zhou said, “Elder Hua… Shall we?”
Hua Wudao was overwhelmed by this favor. He hastily made an inviting gesture as well and allowed Lu Zhou to walk ahead of him. The two of them walked abreast to the bow of the flying chariot. They stood at the best spot and enjoyed the scenic view.
“The Yun Sect has two flying chariots. One of them is used by the sect master while the other is used by the sect master’s daughter. Even with the two combined, they still pale in comparison to this cloud-splitting chariot,” Hua Wudao said sincerely.
Lu Zhou slowly said, “It’s only a means of transport. It’s not significant enough to mention.”
“A means of transport? The way you speak is like a breath of fresh air, Pavilion Master.” Hua Wudao nodded.
The cloud-splitting chariot continued moving forward.
Hua Wudao gave it some consideration and decided to speak his mind. “Fan Xiuwen is only a lowly prisoner. His cultivation base has been sealed. Since we’re going up against the descendants of the Ten Shamans to demand an explanation, why are we bringing them along?”
“Fan Xiuwen is the leader of the Black Knights. He has a profound cultivation base. However, he’s willing to kneel to me for Mo Li,” Lu Zhou said.
“Are you saying that Mo Li might compromise for Fan Xiuwen?”
“Not necessarily.” Lu Zhou stroked his beard and continued, “With Fan Xiuwen’s knowledge and temper, I wonder what kind of woman would make him this subservient and even fearless of death?” Fan Xiuwen did not strike him as the type to be hopelessly infatuated.
Hua Wudao shook his head helplessly. “Witchcraft?”
“Possibly.”
“As expected…” Hua Wudao appeared slightly shocked. “I thought that such evil controlling methods were long lost. I didn’t expect to see it in this time and age.”
“There are plenty of strange things in the great wide world,” Lu Zhou said.
The flying chariot flew on.
When it was approaching Tangzi Town, some cultivators traveling at a lower altitude saw the flying chariot.
“A flying chariot! It’s a flying chariot!”
“Which great sect’s flying chariot is this?”
“I can’t see the flag… There aren’t any inscriptions as well.”
It was only natural for the younger cultivators to not recognize the cloud-splitting chariot.
When the older cultivators saw it, their eyes widened, and they reminded the younger ones anxiously, “This is the cloud-splitting chariot. It belongs to the Evil Sky Pavilion’s Ji Tiandao!”
“The Evil Sky Pavilion’s flying chariot?”
The cultivators landed. Some of them looked at the cloud-splitting chariot passing over their heads fearfully. The more cowardly ones ran away without even thinking.
“Back in the days, Ji Tiandao rode this very chariot as he roamed the lands.”
“Isn’t Ji Tiandao supposed to be guarding the Golden Court Mountain and enjoying his final years since his life’s limit is almost up?”
“Even a scrawny camel is bigger than a horse… Don’t forget, when the ten great elites laid siege on Golden Court Mountain previously, they were soundly defeated.”
The cultivators around Tangzi Town were all looking at the chariot. When the Evil Sky Pavilion’s patriarch was mentioned, none of them could keep their expressions from changing.
Shortly after, the cloud-splitting chariot passed by various mountains and was almost upon Tangzi Town.
Pan Zhong looked down at the lands. He frowned and said, “Pavilion Master, look at this. There’s a dense fog rising from below. It looks fishy.”
“You’re right… It’s a perfectly sunny day. Why would there be fog?” Zhou Jifeng said, puzzled.
“A Grand Witchcraft Formation?” Little Yuan’er suggested. After all, she had been to Measure Heaven River with Lu Zhou. Apart from its color, the dense fog on the ground was exactly the same as the Grand Witchcraft Formation she witnessed the other day.
“Judging by its appearance, it doesn’t look like something that could be completed in seven days…” Pan Zhong said with a frown.
Mingshi Yin glanced at Pan Zhong and said, “This only means they’ve long prepared this Grand Formation before they went up to the Evil Sky Pavilion.
The others were surprised.
Hua Wudao looked at Lu Zhou.
Lu Zhou looked calm, and there were no changes in his expression.
“It seems like that person in the palace has no intention of making peace in the first place,” Hua Wudao said.
“It’s to be expected.” Lu Zhou was not surprised. When he saw the thickness of the fog, he knew this was no ordinary Grand Formation. They had prepared this for a long time. He was right to have brought the cloud-splitting chariot.
“Mingshi Yin.”
“Yes, master.”
“Go around Golden Court Mountain.”
“Roger!” Mingshi Yin seemed to be in high spirits at this moment.
Hua Wudao nodded. “Wise move, Pavilion Master.”
“Know yourself, know your enemy, and you’ll survive 100 battles,” Lu Zhou said.
The cloud-splitting chariot suddenly accelerated. It was moving at a speed that was several times faster than before. The buildings and scenery on land blurred as the chariot sped up.
Pan Zhong solemnly observed the movement on land.
The Evil Sky Pavilion had always been feared and respected by the people in the world. Hence, aside from Tangzi Town, there were no other settlements nearby. Cultivators were also a rare sight in these parts.
As the flying chariot flew in the sky, they could see the peculiar thick fog rising from the ground at many locations. The rising fog seemed to be moving toward Golden Court Mountain slowly. Some of them had already made contact with the barrier!
Those who did not understand Formations would think this was a natural phenomenon.
The cloud-splitting chariot moved at an even faster speed.
Under Mingshi Yin’s guidance, Zhao Yue, Pan Zhong, and Zhou Jifeng increased their output of Primal Qi. The effect of the dragging tail light appeared immediately.
Golden Court Mountain was huge. Going around it meant traveling for some distance. However, this was nothing for the cloud-splitting chariot.
A moment later, Mingshi Yin announced loudly, “We’re almost at Tangzi Town again.” He had intentionally added the word ‘again’ to tell everyone the cloud-splitting chariot was about to complete an orbit around the town.
Pan Zhong said, “Pavilion Master, it’s clear there are only Formations three miles south of Golden Court Mountain in a semicircle. There aren’t any Formations in other places.”
Lu Zhou nodded and said, “The descendants of the Ten Shamans aren’t the Ten Shamans, after all. They can’t accomplish what the Ten Shamans could.”
Hua Wudao chimed in, “The Ten Shamans were highly accomplished witchcraft cultivators… However, it’s already a commendable feat for the descendants of the Ten Shamans to be able to lay a Grand Formation spanning three miles.”
The cloud-splitting chariot slowed down. The glowing tail faded substantially as well.
Meanwhile, the red-robed cultivators who were preparing the Grand Formation around Tangzi Town stopped what they were doing and looked up into the sky. The huge cloud-splitting chariot had caught their attention.
The 30 red-robed cultivators quickly gathered into three rows.
Wu Sheng and Wu Guan looked at the chariot.
“It’s the Evil Sky Pavilion’s flying chariot.”
A strange smile appeared on Wu Guan’s face. “So, they couldn’t wait in the end.”
“The Fiend Temple has agreed to work with us. I wonder when they’ll arrive?” A red-robed cultivator asked.
Before he received an answer…
Whizz!
The cloud-splitting chariot’s sound reached them from the horizons.
At this moment, the cloud-splitting chariot was slowing down and descending.
When the Primal Qi was withdrawn, the glow from the cloud-splitting chariot faded as well. Without the radiance of its exterior, it resembled a flying skiff.
The flying chariot drew level with the trees and stayed there.
Wu Sheng and Wu Guan’s eyes twitched as they witnessed the scene.
On the flying chariot, Lu Zhou and Hua Wudao stood at the helm, looking down at them from above.
The red-robed cultivators did not leave. Instead, they flew toward the flying chariot. They rose to the cloud-splitting chariot’s level and bowed in unison.
“Wu Sheng offers his greetings to Old Senior Ji.”
Lu Zhou observed the 30 red-robed cultivators with his hands on his back. He asked bluntly, “How’s the Grand Formation coming along?”
Wu Sheng shuddered inwardly. The Evil Sky Pavilion was clearly aware of their Formation. However, that was not important. He quickly said, “What are you talking about, Pavilion Master? We’re only ordered to stay in Tangzi Town for a few days.”
Conversations such as this one served no other purpose other than to stall for time.
Lu Zhou asked, “Where’s Mo Li?”
“Lady Mo… is in the Divine Capital. I wonder what business do you have with the lady, Pavilion Master? I can convey your message to the lady,” Wu Sheng said again.
Lu Zhou looked at the red-robed cultivators indifferently. They were not afraid, secretly coveted the Evil Sky Pavilion, working to take down the mountain’s barrier, and yet, they were playing dumb. Indeed. They were a hypocritical and shameless bunch of people. He said calmly, “I applaud you for your bravery.”
The red-robed cultivators were taken aback. They had difficulty understanding Lu Zhou’s words.
Mingshi Yin shouted coldly, “How dare you plot against Golden Court Mountain… Are you sick of living? You’d better destroy this Formation, kneel, and surrender. Perhaps, my master might spare your lives then.”