Overlord yanked the black-mane horse's reins; the front hooves reared high, steaming breath neighing into the air, kicking up clusters of snow.

  Gazing at Beiluo City's mottled walls.

  Overlord's eyes held complexity; he had come to Beiluo City once more.

  He remembered his first visit: domineering entry, even treading waves to the isle, only to be slapped by Lu into the lake bottom and thoroughly beaten.

  And now, he returned.

  Truth be told, he disliked coming to Beiluo City—Lu was too mysterious, too powerful.

  That power gave him a sense of helplessness, an insurmountable void.

  The city gates opened.

  Lu Changkong, cloaked in thick fur, emerged slowly.

  Luo Cheng followed behind, knife at his side.

  Overlord dismounted, eyeing Lu Changkong; his pupils contracted.

  Lu Changkong... had actually fully tempered the Body Storage realm!

  Overlord himself was only at this stage; he hadn't expected Lu Changkong's cultivation speed to be so swift.

  But considering Beiluo's cultivation environment and Lu Ping'an's unfathomable methods, such rapid breakthrough was hardly surprising.

  Boom!

  An aura erupted from Overlord's body, like a waking fierce tiger, winds seeming to whip around him.

  Lu Changkong remained unflinching, smiling, hands clasped behind, fur cloak billowing.

  Luo Cheng's face flushed; knife in hand, he involuntarily retreated two or three steps.

  The clash of two fully tempered five-storages Body Storage cultivators brought immense pressure to a Qi Core realm.

  Yet after retreating, Luo Cheng's eyes grew grave; he stomped hard, steadying himself.

  Overlord led the black-mane horse, which trembled in fear.

  Lu Changkong released his aura too—if Overlord's was domineering, his was like drifting mist.

  Evenly matched.

  The clash didn't last long.

  Overlord soon reined in his breath.

  "Worthy of City Lord Lu; Xiang concedes."

  Overlord said.

  Only then did a guard dare trot out from the city.

  Overlord handed the reins over, striding boldly inside with Lu Changkong.

  "Xiliang King comes this time... for North Xuan King?"

  Lu Changkong walked shoulder-to-shoulder, asking.

  He dismissed the grave dragon blood army; only Luo Cheng followed.

  "Tantai Xuan? If I wanted him dead, would I let him enter Beiluo?"

  Overlord laughed, words brimming with confidence.

  Indeed, if he sought to kill Tantai Xuan, he could have acted in the imperial city.

  Upon entry, Overlord's first sight was the white jade tower—soaring, making him solemn.

  "This is Young Master Lu's white jade trial tower? For breaking shackles?"

  Overlord asked.

  Lu Changkong nodded.

  Suddenly.

  Lu Changkong's expression shifted; Lu's transmission reached his ear.

  He glanced at Overlord, eyes hot on the tower—clearly restless.

  "Xiliang King, let us to the isle."

  Lu Changkong said.

  Overlord paused, then understood—Lu knew of his arrival.

  "Good."

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  He didn't refuse; he had come seeking Lu anyway.

  Lu Changkong smacked his lips—now this was interesting.

  Tantai Xuan on the lake heart isle; Overlord too...

  Two kings vying for the world, gathered.

  How could one not anticipate?

  The three reached Beiluo lakeside.

  No boat; they tread the water, racing to the isle—with their strength, lake-walking was trivial.

  After Overlord's entry.

  Nie Changqing returned.

  He should have been back sooner, but walked slowly—treading snow, reviewing flaws from his black dragon battle.

  Losers had no right to dragon gate return.

  But the journey baptized his mindset; inflated strength consolidated.

  ...

  Lake heart isle.

  Baiyujing pavilion second floor.

  Overlord's trio ascended together.

  Terrace; faint sandalwood; rich wine aroma.

  Lu sat Thousand Blade chair, clipping green plum into boiling wine.

  Overlord spotted Lu instantly; heart gripped—no aura sensed...

  Yes; before, he felt Lu's oppression.

  Now, none.

  Only two possibilities: he grew stronger.

  Or Lu did.

  First unlikely; second—Lu concealed freely, making Overlord face a mundane man.

  "Young Master Lu."

  Overlord cupped hands, suppressing shock.

  "Sit."

  Lu smiled.

  Overlord, Lu Changkong sat; Luo Cheng knife behind Lu Changkong, grave.

  "Cough cough!"

  Side Tantai Xuan coughed, asserting presence.

  Overlord smiled, cupped.

  "North Xuan King."

  Tantai Xuan huffed, ignored.

  Overlord unbothered—Xu Chu just seized his barely-warm immortal fate; good face? Ghost.

  Lu Changkong watched the show, pouring himself green plum wine.

  Lu leaned Thousand Blade, calm eyeing both.

  Overlord's arrival silenced Tantai.

  Lu eyed Overlord; no dodge; produced two gold dragon seals.

  "Young Master Lu recognize these dragon seals?"

  Overlord said.

  Tantai, Lu Changkong glanced seals.

  Dragon seals?

  "No need to probe; I made the gold dragon seals; your dragon qi too."

  Lu lifted bronze cup, sipped warm liquid.

  Faintly.

  Overlord focused.

  Lu no deny?

  Truly his work...

  "Baiyujing... meddling in court?"

  Overlord grave.

  Lu use seals to control, dominate world?

  Overlord intolerable; even knowing no match, he'd rebel.

  Die before puppet.

  Baiyujing atmosphere tensed, swords drawn.

  Lu Changkong squinted; Tantai focused.

  Easiest Lu; cup in hand, sipping warm wine.

  "If Baiyujing meddles, can you stop?"

  Lu light laugh.

  Hand raised; snowflake on fair finger.

  Pointed Tantai: "If I now declare North Xuan King emperor, dare you block?"

  Lu calm, frank, like stating the ordinary.

  Overlord pupils shrank.

  Domineering!

  Lu more than him.

  But admit truth.

  Baiyujing too strong; Lu too.

  No need for games.

  "Of course, no need tense; Baiyujing won't meddle... dragon qi no side effects."

  "Dragon qi is your nation fortune."

  "Strong qi strong fortune; strong you... each four zhang five chi; total nine zhang; nine extreme, supreme."

  Lu said.

  "So seizing North Xuan's emperor dragon seal useless; qi insufficient to unite."

  Overlord thoughtful.

  "Qi boost to cultivation limited; mainly prevent evil tainting authority; nine zhang drink dispels evil demons; no demon chaos nation."

  Lu stated.

  Tantai and Overlord finally understood dragon qi's role.

  Lingering heart puzzle resolved.

  Overlord pity; boost limited, near none.

  Rib to him.

  Sought strength; qi no help; status symbol, but disappointing.

  Evil invasion? Unconcerned.

  Strong enough; what evil dare?

  Overlord disappointed, silent.

  Lu smiled, eyed Tantai: "North Xuan King, your confusion?"

  Tantai planned wait Overlord leave, private talk.

  But asked; no hide.

  Daxuan Academy; Overlord would know if wanted.

  "Young Master Lu, whim; found academy, cultivate juniors; children early path; enter Beiluo for views."

  Tantai said.

  Lu Changkong eyes condensed; academy...

  Cultivators from cradle?

  Bold!

  Pioneering!

  Overlord stunned; eyed Tantai—such resolve.

  Lu smiled, sipped green plum; no answer; eyed Overlord.

  "Xiliang King, thoughts?"

  Overlord on cushion, shook head.

  "Academy unnecessary; army suffices; army-cultivated true power."

  Overlord said.

  Disagreed.

  Academy resources > army; output maybe inferior.

  Unneeded.

  Tantai condensed; eyed Overlord; silent.

  Daxuan Academy deliberate; planned post-Xiliang victory; Xu Chu incident; cultivator vital.

  Decided.

  Daxuan juniors no suffer like him.

  "North Xuan King, persist?"

  Lu eyed Tantai.

  Tantai firm nod.

  Daxuan Academy imperative.

  Lu smile faded.

  "Build then."

  "North Xuan favors academy; Xiliang army... one year term."

  Lu laughed.

  "Year later Beiluo; contest."

  "Winner Baiyujing three months; this young master special reward; how?"

  Words fell.

  Tantai tensed.

  Overlord squinted.

  "Young Master Lu, if Daxuan falls in year... how?"

  Overlord.

  "Bet void."

  Lu flat.

  "Good."

  Overlord agreed gladly.

  Tantai sat; lap fists clenched.

  "Good!"

  He accepted.

  Distant Lu Changkong stroked beard; intrigued.

  Army vs academy cultivators?

  Eyed Lu; discern favor.

  "Both agree; contract."

  Lu smiled.

  Mind stir; hand out; void pen; words pierced void.

  Simple; as said.

  Finished; words lingered.

  Hand beckon.

  Two emperor dragon seals flew.

  Finger tap.

  Both stamped.

  "Done."

  "Year; Daxuan or Xiliang falls; bet waste; how?"

  Lu laughed.

  Returned stamped to Overlord.

  Overlord Tantai eyed.

  Nodded.

  "Excellent."

  Lu smiled.

  Hand beckon.

  Tantai Overlord vision swirled.

  Clear; Baiyujing below.

  Tantai fine.

  Overlord shocked by Lu's means.

  Lu Ping’an... ever unfathomable.

  Pavilion.

  Lu Changkong rose; eyed Lu.

  "Fan'er, which side?"

  Lu smile no word.

  Lu Changkong seemed to know; smiled; Luo down.

  Just as Lu Changkong descended.

  Lu brow raised slight.

  Eyed Beiluo west mountain.

  Faint strong aura spreading.

  "Hm?"

  Lu eyes brightened.

  Someone breaking Body Storage barrier?

  Not just Lu.

  Descending Lu Changkong; isle Overlord; heads up grave west mountain.

  Powerful aura; breakthrough!

  Overlord inhaled deep.

  Strong; Body to Heaven Lock?

  Who?!

  Truly who?

  Fast!

  Too fast; who?

  Nie Changqing? Or Ning Zhao?!

  Overlord eyes gleamed; aura surged; rapid west shift.

  Lu Changkong surprised brow.

  Heaven Lock?

  Spectacle; miss?

  Steps; snow pulled body; instant west.

  Tantai Luo sensed west mountain.

  Tantai weak; but watch fun.

  Isle quiet again.

  Skyward chrysanthemums; vivid peaches; swaying bamboo; silent Master grave; kneeling Mo Tianyu before.

  Lu leaned wheelchair; fingers light tap fiery phoenix guard.

  Eyes expectant.

  Heaven Lock birth at last?

  Long awaited.

  Heaven Lock; Wuhuang transform begin.

  But success uncertain.

  Plane limit; Golden Core tribulates; Heaven Lock more.

  Lu mind stir; instant crossed myriad mountains waters.

  Thousand Blade sat; ninth heaven plane origin before.

  Origin set Golden Core tribulation only.

  Heaven Lock unset; now breakthrough.

  Lu felt need custom thunder celebrate.