Liu Changlong, the Caobang leader, appeared. Without hesitation, Luo Zhou gripped the Eyebrow-Level Staff, summoned Nine Bulls' Strength, locked on with his Dharma Eye, and unleashed Dragon-Slaying Thrust!
But in an instant, an invisible force appeared.
It was as if water flowed all around him. Beneath its current, everything became like duckweed—floating, but unable to rise.
Luo Zhou hadn't finished the motion of throwing Dragon-Slaying Thrust when he suddenly found he had nowhere to draw power from, making it impossible to hurl.
Liu Changlong had escaped through a tunnel and appeared barely ten feet from Luo Zhou.
He had stepped straight into the range of Luo Zhou's Dragon-Slaying Thrust. Unlike his previous enemies, who had entered Luo Zhou's casting range slowly and given him time to throw.
The moment they faced each other, both began casting.
A Qi Refining cultivator was definitely faster than a Body Tempering cultivator!
Liu Changlong deployed his Qi Refining trait, Weak Water Qi. Weak water bore duckweed, preventing Luo Zhou from using Dragon-Slaying Thrust.
Luo Zhou frowned. This was bad.
He spoke slowly. "Overturning Rivers and Seas, towering waves blot out the sky!"
He consumed one strand of Tidal Qi!
Boom! Boundless waves surged around them. Endless floods appeared, forming monstrous breakers that surged with a frenzied, ruthless force, ready to destroy everything.
But Liu Changlong said, "Three Thousand Weak Waters, not even a goose feather can float!"
He, too, unleashed a divine ability. Calm currents appeared all around, without a ripple. Under this ability, Luo Zhou's Overturning Rivers and Seas gradually dissipated and vanished.
Luo Zhou was shocked. This was it—he was done for!
But then Liu Changlong suddenly bowed to him.
"Your disciple, Liu Changlong, pays respects to the sect's Saint!"
What the hell?
Luo Zhou froze. "What sect's Saint?"
"Saint, there's no need to pretend. I sensed the divine ability you just used and the Tidal Qi you wielded.
"Besides, our powers share the same source. I can also sense that you're only at the Body Tempering realm, yet you possess Heavenly Water Qi, Heavy Water Qi, and Tidal Qi—the three highest-grade water qis of my Celestial Palace.
"Ordinary disciples of my Celestial Palace can cultivate only one highest-grade water qi.
"Only the Saint can cultivate multiple highest-grade water qis without restriction or condition!
"If you're not the Saint, then who is?"
Luo Zhou was speechless. His eyes shifted, and he spoke slowly:
"Ten thousand waters shine in splendor, profound origins endure forever, the Milky Way makes nine turns, the Heavenly Mother reigns supreme!"
He recited the verse he'd just heard from the Jellyfish Celestial Palace.
Liu Changlong immediately answered, reciting the verse as well.
"Ten thousand waters shine in splendor, profound origins endure forever, the Milky Way makes nine turns, the Heavenly Mother reigns supreme!"
Luo Zhou continued:
"I have a great task. I'm lying low here in Green Ridge City to infiltrate the Heaven and Earth Dao Sect.
"My whereabouts must never be revealed, so I've never contacted you. But I know who you are.
"I was passing by when a battle broke out here, so I came to see what had happened."
Luo Zhou's words carried an air of authority. He bluffed the man for all he was worth!
Liu Changlong said:
"Saint, I've been lying low here for fifteen years. My core mission has been to await your orders as your guardian and protect you.
"Though I'm only a peripheral operative and don't know who the Saint is, I would have stepped in if you were in danger.
"Five years ago, when something happened on your side, I had no choice but to trigger the sea-beast siege and create chaos. Your guardian used the opportunity to erase all traces!"
Luo Zhou froze. What did he mean?
Apart from the fake Saint he'd made himself out to be, there was actually a real Saint of the Jellyfish Celestial Palace lying low in Green Ridge City?
And had they even caused the sea-beast siege that killed his parents?
Luo Zhou's expression darkened.
The battle thundered nearby. Two water giants had already been defeated; only one was still holding on.
Liu Changlong dispersed his water qi and continued:
"Saint, I can't escape this time. The Fire Crow Army has already been deployed."
"Your disciple's death is of no consequence."
"But I have a grievance, and I must report it to you.
"Besides lying low here to protect you, I had another mission: to offer sacrifices to the sect.
"I've been making sacrifices for fifteen years. Recently, I just couldn't bring myself to kill those innocent children anymore.
"Last month, I reported to my superior that I wanted a transfer. He readily agreed and said he'd transfer me in three months.
"But when I made the sacrifice this month, the constables came!
"They sold me out to get rid of me!
"They betrayed the sect, abused their authority for personal gain, and took bribes. I'm reporting them. Saint, please give me justice."
Luo Zhou nodded. "I understand. Liu Changlong, you've given everything to the sect for fifteen years, working hard and serving it loyally. I know all of it.
"I'll report the truth to the sect. As for your superior, I will..."
As he spoke, Luo Zhou abruptly hurled his weapon. Dragon-Slaying Thrust activated.
Forget all that. He'd dispelled his true qi, so he was dead.
As for the superior, and the real Saint—kill this bastard first, and deal with the rest later.
Liu Changlong had been listening with eager excitement and was completely unprepared. The spear pierced his eye and blew his head apart. He was dead!
Blood, brain matter, and shattered bones sprayed in every direction!
Luo Zhou said coldly:
"Woodworm Devil Liu Changlong, you preyed on the weak and slaughtered children. Unforgivable. Your many crimes demand punishment!"
"He who sows wickedness reaps his own ruin!"
He took nothing from Liu Changlong, because the constables would be here soon.
Taking anything could give them a way to track him.
Luo Zhou immediately turned to leave.
But as he walked away, he felt as if countless children were crawling toward the spot.
They were all Dead Spirits. They seemed to be laughing and playing, overjoyed.
Liu Changlong had killed too many children. The other Woodworm Devils had killed people too, but in their final moments the Dead Spirits had devoured them, and Luo Zhou hadn't sensed a thing.
This time, he did.
Luo Zhou hurried away.
Liu Changlong's soul couldn't believe he had died just like that. Yet he laughed.
"Good! With a Saint of the sect this decisive, my Jellyfish Celestial Palace will surely flourish!"
"Fifteen years of hardship—it was worth it!"
As he watched the children crawling toward him, he felt not the slightest regret.
"I killed you for the sect. Come, take your revenge! I'm not afraid!"
In the wordless silence, the Dead Spirits devoured him bit by bit. Evil begets evil!
Luo Zhou strode away. This place was close to the Caobang battlefield. He'd taken only a few steps when—boom!—the last giant shattered as well.
But Luo Zhou soon disappeared. This was a getaway route Liu Changlong had arranged, naturally designed to be cunning and keep anyone from cornering him.
Luo Zhou hurried off. It was the first day of the month, and he had to go to the Dao Academy.
When he arrived, the lecture hadn't begun yet. He was all smiles after killing Liu Changlong.
Only one last old Crocodile Dragon remained!
But what had Liu Changlong said about a Saint?
Could there really be a Saint of the Jellyfish Celestial Palace here?
Was his purpose really what Luo Zhou had claimed—to infiltrate the Heaven and Earth Dao Sect?
What else would he be doing here?
He looked around. Could it be Zuo Sanguang? Or Senior Brother Cui Jian? Zhang Quan was absolutely impossible!
While Luo Zhou's thoughts ran wild, word had already spread among the quicker students in his class.
"Something happened at the Caobang. I heard some of the transported Demonic Beasts broke loose."
"The Fire Crow Army was even deployed. There was a huge battle."
"Lots of people died. I heard even the Caobang leader was killed."
"Who was the Caobang leader?"
"Liu Changlong. Just an ordinary cultivator, an honest, unremarkable man."
"Not just him. I heard four constables were killed too: Yan Ruoyi, Chi Yu, Wang Ying, and Wu Lihui. More than fifty constables died..."
"Good grief, what kind of Demonic Beast was it? It was that powerful!"
The sect and the authorities kept the Jellyfish Celestial Palace out of the news, claiming that Demonic Beasts had escaped to cover up what happened.
Amid the students' chatter, Master Wang drifted into the classroom.
"Quiet. Settle down!
"There are still one year and five months until the Liang Kingdom Ascension Ceremony of the Dao Sect's main branch. Pay no attention to what's happening outside. You must focus on your cultivation.
"Taking part in the main branch's Ascension Ceremony is the greatest purpose of your lives!
"Remember, you get only one chance each month. Make the most of it and cultivate properly."
As he spoke, Master Wang silently began casting a spell.
"Remember, don't advance to Qi Refining before the Ascension Ceremony. If you do, they'll knock you back down to Body Tempering before letting you enter the ceremony, and you'll get a bad evaluation."
A formless aura of Blood Qi emanated from him, passed through the magical artifacts on the lectern and elsewhere, and spread throughout the classroom.
Under the invasion of Blood Qi, Luo Zhou felt goosebumps rising on his skin, while his flesh and blood tingled and itched for no apparent reason.
He immediately began cultivating. Nothing mattered more than his own strength!
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