Chapter 155: Lu Zi Zai
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Before a stone mountain, a fiery spring transformed into a gentle stream, flowing through a serene patch of emerald bamboo. The air was fresh and tranquil, an oasis of calm.
A youth dressed in rough hemp garments scrutinized Qin Ming, circling halfway around him before shouting, “Old guy, stop pretending to be young! Reveal your true form!”
His voice boomed like thunder, laced with golden energy, his presence commanding. Yet, nothing happened.
Qin Ming’s gaze grew peculiar. This youthful, almost immortal-looking individual—could he have wandered into the Shenzhang Plains and suffered a kick to the head from Lu Chong Xiao?
The young man furrowed his brow, examining Qin Ming up and down with a contemplative look.
“Which of us is acting strange here?” Qin Ming asked.
“You are!” the youth declared confidently, his conviction unshaken. “You’re still in the Awakening stage, yet your lifespan far exceeds what it should be for your level.”
He leaned closer, scrutinizing Qin Ming further. “I’m very sensitive to things like life extension and immortality. I suspect you’re an old monster who severed your past self, condensed vitality, and started life over in a youthful form.”
“There are people like that?” Qin Ming exclaimed, startled.
“Considering we have individuals transcending lifetimes, what’s so unusual about this?” The young man dismissed the notion with a wave, then gazed into Qin Ming’s eyes again. Concluding that Qin Ming didn’t quite fit the profile of an ancient entity, he hesitated.
Qin Ming’s interest was piqued. “Tell me more about these cases. Also, how long is my current lifespan?”
“You can live at least 250 years,” the youth asserted firmly.
“Two hundred and fifty-six,” Qin Ming corrected, his tone sharp as though offended by the slight.
“Close enough,” the youth replied with a nod, his deep black eyes steady.
Qin Ming studied the boy closely. Despite his rustic appearance, there was a profound strength and unshakable will about him. He seemed detached, immune to emotional ripples that others could resonate with.
“Are you an old-timer, then?” Qin Ming asked, imitating the youth’s scrutinizing tone. He glanced at the young man’s long black hair, noticing streaks of silver near the roots.
Could he truly be ancient?
The youth chuckled. “I’m only eighteen. Just some cultivation mishaps—I’ll be fine soon.”
Yet he turned serious again, his eyes boring into Qin Ming. “You’re in the Awakening stage. Why is your lifespan so long?”
“I’m extraordinarily gifted!” Qin Ming replied, speculating in turn, “You wouldn’t happen to be a permanently possessed vessel, would you?”
The youth shook his head, his clear eyes unclouded by any signs of decay or decline.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Ming activated the Wood Sutra, releasing a verdant energy that cloaked his body like a shimmering green mist. The fresh essence of flora spread outward, probing the young man. The sutra, a technique known for its longevity insights, revealed a robust vitality coursing through the youth. His spirit radiated the unique vitality of someone truly young, untainted by any hint of rot or wear.
“Not bad, you know your tricks,” the youth said. “But if you’re so gifted, let me test you—see if you can handle one of my strikes.”
His demeanor shifted instantly, raising one hand. He radiated a glow as pure as moonlight, the celestial aura enveloping him like a rising orb from the sea. The light enhanced his otherworldly temperament, lending him an almost ethereal presence.
Qin Ming was taken aback. A casual move from this youth was extraordinary. Were all disciples of the Six Rulers Sect’s Ancestor Court this formidable?
“Hold on,” Qin Ming quickly interjected. “You’re at least in the Outer Saint realm. I’m just an Awakening stage cultivator. How could I possibly block your attack?”
The youth shook his head. “Relax, I’ll only use Celestial Light Force at the Awakening level. Nothing above your stage.”
Qin Ming grinned. “In that case, be careful yourself.”
“Confident, aren’t you? Bring it on!” The youth raised his hand, bathed in luminous radiance, the image of a grandmaster, standing apart from the ordinary.
Qin Ming grew serious, his fist gleaming with a golden brilliance so intense it seemed to distort space. Out of respect for the youth, he put genuine effort into his strike.
Though he found the young man odd, he dared not underestimate him.
“Not bad!” the youth remarked, pressing down with his palm.
A thunderous roar echoed as golden and silver lights clashed, exploding in a dazzling display. The force shook the surroundings, sending ripples through the air. This was Celestial Light Force at its peak, an extreme rarity in the Awakening stage.
The youth staggered backward—one step, two steps… seven steps in total!
Stunned, he gawked at Qin Ming. Was this truly the strength of a new entrant to the Ancestor Court?
Qin Ming, equally surprised, exclaimed, “You’re that strong?”
The youth froze. Wasn’t he the one supposed to say that? Yet, Qin Ming had beaten him to it.
Muttering to himself, Qin Ming mused, “To only retreat slightly… the Six Rulers Sect is truly full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.”
The youth was thoroughly baffled. He had been forced back, yet his opponent was the one reflecting as though humbled. Outrageous!
“Again, this time I’ll be serious!” the youth growled. Never had he been defeated at this stage, let alone underestimated in his own Sect.
“What’s your name, brother?” Qin Ming asked seriously, sensing he was dealing with an extraordinary figure.
“Lu Zi Zai. And you?”
“Qin Ming.”
“Alright. This time, I’ll measure you properly,” Lu Zi Zai declared, his aura transforming again. This time, he stood like a radiant sun, his light blinding, piercing enough to make eyes water.
Qin Ming’s expression grew solemn. This opponent was unlike any he had faced. It was clear Lu Zi Zai had been holding back earlier.
Encased in brilliance, Lu Zi Zai resembled a solar deity. Even before unleashing his next strike, thunderous reverberations filled the air.
Nearby, Zhou Tao and Zhou Shi Ze, drawn by the commotion, arrived just in time to witness the spectacle. With one glance, they silently withdrew, unwilling to be caught in the crossfire.
Qin Ming launched his counterstrike, his golden energy erupting like a tempest. Their fists collided mid-air, creating a burst of dazzling light. Golden and silver energies intertwined, engulfing the battlefield in a radiant storm.
Rocks and cliffs nearby crumbled into dust under the sheer force. Anything touched by the light disintegrated like rotted wood shaved clean by a sharp blade.
To Lu Zi Zai’s astonishment, he was pushed back three steps this time. It upended his understanding of the Awakening stage. He had never encountered such power before.
Qin Ming, too, felt a wave of shock. The Six Rulers Sect was far deeper and more treacherous than he’d imagined. Casual encounters unveiled prodigies like Lu Zi Zai. All he could do was sigh. “Incredible.”
Lu Zi Zai’s gaze sharpened. Was that praise? For him?
“Again!” he roared. Both moon and sun rose behind him in a perfect harmony of light.
“You can get even stronger?” Qin Ming felt the mounting pressure. He truly hadn’t expected this.
Lu Zi Zai couldn’t shake the strange feeling. Wasn’t he always the one commenting on others? Today, the tables seemed turned. He had actually experienced a minor setback.
In the distance, numerous disciples were drawn by the thunderous sounds and prepared to head over, but Zhou Tao and Zhou Shi Ze intercepted them, stopping anyone from approaching.
Beside Lu Zi Zai, the luminous moonlight darkened into blackness, while the blazing sun turned white-hot. The two energies spiraled together, chasing one another like entwined fish circling within a sphere. Raising his hand, Lu Zi Zai summoned the twin flows of yin and yang, which swirled fluidly around his palm.
Qin Ming’s expression grew intensely serious. “Who exactly are you?”
Although Qin Ming hadn’t fully studied the Six Rulers Heart Sutra, he knew enough to understand that this individual was extraordinary. Even in the Awakening stage, mastering two Ruler Forces was rare, let alone beginning with the intricate interplay of yin and yang.
“I’m not one of those old monsters you’re imagining, but I do have some background,” Lu Zi Zai said frankly.
This time, Qin Ming activated a dazzling array of energy. Layer upon layer of brilliance unfolded around him, forming twenty-seven divine rings. It was as though he stood in a sacred realm, his flesh and blood radiating a piercing light.
“Your Celestial Light Force feels familiar,” Lu Zi Zai commented, his tone thoughtful.
In an instant, the two clashed with a force unimaginable for ordinary Awakening cultivators. The yin and yang energies collided with the layered divine rings, unleashing a shockwave of Celestial Light Force that could only be described as extraordinary. The area lit up with what resembled lightning storms and rolling thunder, dispersing the night mist entirely.
Fortunately, their energy hadn’t spread far enough to annihilate everything around them. Otherwise, the surroundings would have been obliterated, reduced to a wasteland.
Qin Ming’s body swayed slightly, while Lu Zi Zai took a single step back.
This time, Qin Ming didn’t speak. Instead, he stared at his opponent, wondering if this person could become even stronger. There was something inexplicably unsettling about him.
“You’re incredibly strong!” Lu Zi Zai remarked, his voice carrying a hint of admiration.
Then, within the swirling black and white energies, a third hue—a streak of purple—rose suddenly.
Qin Ming tensed, feeling as though he were facing an unimaginable threat. His earlier assessment of the Six Rulers Sect’s hidden depths was proving accurate. Someone here had mastered Three Ruler Forces!
A crushing pressure bore down on Qin Ming. The fusion of purple with the black and white energies elevated the Celestial Light Force to an entirely new level.
For the first time, Qin Ming broke into a sweat. Though he felt its dampness, he didn’t dare wipe it away. Instead, he braced himself for the next overwhelming strike.
Yet suddenly, Lu Zi Zai retracted the purple energy. Then the black and white flows also withdrew into his body, leaving the surroundings calm once more. He did not unleash the next attack.
“Was that Three Ruler Forces?” Qin Ming asked solemnly.
Lu Zi Zai nodded. “Don’t get hung up on how many forces someone masters. Some can achieve incredible results with just one Ruler Force by understanding its true essence. It’s not just about stacking techniques.”
He added, “My Two Ruler Forces can defeat others’ Three Ruler Forces.”
“I already know you’re amazing,” Qin Ming replied. “I was simply comparing your Three Ruler Forces to my Celestial Light Force. Why did you hold back?”
Lu Zi Zai shook his head. “You’ve only undergone seven Awakenings. Using Three Ruler Forces against you would be overkill. It wouldn’t be a fair fight.”
“You can tell?” Qin Ming asked, surprised.
“Very few people with extraordinary perception could, especially those using the Sect’s secret methods to examine your condition carefully. But yes, you’ve only undergone seven Awakenings,” Lu Zi Zai explained.
“Do the elders, like Zhou Tao, know about this?” Qin Ming asked uneasily.
“They aren’t among the few who could sense it. Only the absolute top-tier aberrants might. Your concealment methods aren’t fully developed yet. Let me help refine them for you.” With that, Lu Zi Zai shared a mantra with Qin Ming.
Qin Ming was astonished. “You’re sure you’re not some ancient monster?”
“I’m eighteen!” Lu Zi Zai stressed, clearly sensitive about his age.
“What’s your plan? Will you stay with the Six Rulers Sect, or do you have other ideas?” Lu Zi Zai asked.
Then he smiled faintly and added, “Don’t worry. Say whatever’s on your mind. I won’t report you, especially since I’m planning to leave myself.”
“What?” Qin Ming exclaimed, shocked. Was this incredibly talented individual intending to abandon the Sect?
“Do you think the Sect is decaying or falling apart, so you’re in a rush to cut ties?” Qin Ming probed.
Lu Zi Zai chuckled. “Who said the Six Rulers Sect is on the verge of collapse? Only fools would dare test its limits. Look around—none of the truly powerful figures have made a move against it.”
He continued, “The real trouble within the Sect stems from internal division. Too many factions, with elders tied to a few prominent families. It’s a cycle of stagnation, and without change, even the strongest legacies can falter.”
Qin Ming couldn’t hold back anymore. “Who exactly are you?” He refused to believe that Lu Zi Zai was merely an ordinary disciple.