Chapter 81

"Thank you," Yang Dingtian said. "If I succeed, I will certainly regard Terror Manor as an ally and Brother Zhao Mu as an ally. If you do not betray me, I will never betray you."

"Agreed," Zhao Mu extended his palm.

"Agreed," Yang Dingtian struck his palm against Zhao Mu's.

Zhao Mu said, "In theory, I should release the two of you and treat you as honored guests. However, there are many spies from the Northwest Qin family in my manor. Since I have captured you, if I release you as distinguished guests, it will certainly raise their suspicions. Therefore, you will have to stay here for a few days. Once I have made the necessary arrangements, I will invite you out."

By "necessary arrangements," he meant finding a woman similar to Qin Hongmian, dressing her up, and then secretly cutting off her head to send to Qin Shaobai.

"I don't need to go out. Here is fine. I can observe this thousand-year-old night owl," Yang Dingtian said.

"Then I will take my leave and handle this matter. If you want to leave, just let me know, but it's best not to leave the Lingzhong Tower until I have everything settled," Zhao Mu said. "I will send your meals and other necessities here."

"Thank you," Yang Dingtian said.

"Goodbye!" Zhao Mu said.

"Take the young master out," the disfigured man suddenly said. "I have something to say to Mr. Yang Dingtian."

"Yes!" Immediately, a black-robed strongman carried Zhao Mu and floated up, leaving through the Lingzhong Tower's opening.

After everyone had left, the disfigured old man slowly said, "Young brother, you lied."

Hearing the disfigured old man's words, Yang Dingtian's expression changed slightly.

"Manor Lord Zhao Wujie did not die in the so-called Demon Cave. He should have died at your hands, or at least very close to it," the disfigured old man said, his fiery red eyes staring coldly at Yang Dingtian. "You can deceive others, but not me. The entrance to the Fire Cloud Demon Cave collapsed at least five years ago, perhaps even earlier!"

Yang Dingtian was startled. His words had been almost flawless. Why did this disfigured old man know? Ximen Ningning's beautiful eyes also turned cold, and she was about to use her mental binding technique.

"Because I went to the Fire Cloud Demon Cave five years ago," the disfigured old man said. "Your lie was perfect, but this flaw is something I know about, so I know you lied."

"That doesn't prove Zhao Wujie was killed by me," Yang Dingtian said.

"Your talent is astonishing. Manor Lord would have killed anyone with such high talent immediately. So you must have fallen into his hands. But the result is that you are alive and he is dead. His death must be related to you, even though I don't know how you killed him," the disfigured old man said slowly.

Yang Dingtian was shaken. Who was this disfigured old man? He was incredibly wise, and although they had never met, his guesses were almost spot on. However, he could have exposed Yang Dingtian earlier but did not, waiting until everyone had left to point out the lie.

"What do you want to teach me by saying this now?" Yang Dingtian asked slowly.

The disfigured old man slowly walked to Yang Dingtian, noticing Ningning's actions, and said, "Girl, your talent is astonishing, but your mental binding technique is useless against someone of my level."

Ningning was startled when her actions were revealed, then smiled slightly, withdrew her mystic energy, and said, "Old sir, please speak directly. Don't scare us two juniors."

The disfigured old man reached out and grabbed Yang Dingtian's pulse, a powerful mystic energy suddenly surging into his body. This mystic energy was incredibly strong, quickly spreading throughout Yang Dingtian's body. He was immediately startled and said slowly, "Such strong talent, truly unfathomable. No wonder Ximen Wuyuan and Dongfang Nie would both take an interest in you."

There were very few people in the world who could see through Yang Dingtian's mystic meridian talent, but this disfigured old man could. Yang Dingtian was surprised and asked, "Who are you, senior?"

The disfigured old man did not answer Yang Dingtian but continued, "I didn't expose you earlier because, apart from the matter of Zhao Wujie, you didn't lie. Moreover, your character is good, and you were sincere when you made the pact with Zhao Mu. If I'm not mistaken, the real cure for Zhao Mu's cold poison is not the yang energy condensed into the jade needle, but your blood, which is the purest yang."

Yang Dingtian nodded and said, "That's right. I can actually cure Brother Zhao Mu completely right now."

"No need. Let's do it in five stages," the disfigured old man said. "Zhao Wujie's death at your hands was definitely his fault. He was already insane and would have died sooner or later. But remember, you must keep your promise today, understand?"

"I will, senior," Yang Dingtian said. "If I become strong one day, I will certainly seek justice for Brother Zhao Mu."

"Not just that, you must also liberate Terror Manor from the Northwest Qin family," the disfigured old man said.

Yang Dingtian was taken aback and said, "I will do my best."

"You must do your best. The Northwest Qin family will not sit idly by as you grow stronger. Once they see you as a threat, they will do everything to eliminate you," the disfigured old man said.

He was right. The Northwest Qin family was not killing Yang Dingtian now only because the current Yang Dingtian was a madman and a waste, posing no threat to the Qin family and even being somewhat useful.

"Zhao Mu is a good kid. Even though you killed his father, I hope you don't hold any grudges and treat him sincerely. He won't disappoint you," the disfigured old man said.

"I will," Yang Dingtian said.

"I believe you," the disfigured old man said. "Ximen Wuyuan and Dongfang Nie are both supreme heroes. I believe in their judgment. However, this thousand-year-old night owl can't help you. You must rely on yourself. I will be watching."

Then, the disfigured old man slowly rose and said, "Goodbye."

Watching the disfigured old man rise higher and higher, about to leave the abyss cave, Yang Dingtian couldn't help but ask, "Senior, may I ask your name?"

The disfigured old man paused and then said slowly, "Zhao Wujie."

"Zhao Wujie." Yang Dingtian was startled. Wasn't this person already dead?

"Zhao Wujie tried to seize the manor lord position back then, only to cripple my martial arts and imprison me. He didn't intend to kill me. It was the Northwest Qin family who killed all the experts of Terror Manor and threw me into the lava, burning me into this state. Zhao Mu saved me that day and secretly hid me, using countless medicines and elixirs to save me," Zhao Wujie said slowly. "So this kid is good. Don't let him down."

"Yes, senior!" Yang Dingtian bowed.

Zhao Wujie lightly flicked his sleeve, and the stone door above opened. Zhao Wujie leaped out, and the stone door closed again.

"This person is actually Zhao Wujie. No wonder he is so strong," Ningning said. "He is just one step away from becoming a grandmaster. If Zhao Wujie hadn't gone mad and brought in external enemies, Terror Manor might have become the third major power in this region, second only to the Northwest Qin family and Yunxiao City."

"Yes, Zhao Wujie got the manor lord position, but Terror Manor fell completely. This person is truly extremely foolish," Yang Dingtian said.

At this time, any sect that produced a grandmaster-level expert would see a qualitative leap in strength and immediately become one of the top powers in the world. Grandmasters are a very small circle, and once you enter this circle, the world's strongest will recognize and acknowledge you.

"This world is truly full of talented people," Yang Dingtian said. "Terror Manor, which is not among the Three Sects, Nine Gates, and Twenty-Seven Sects, almost produced a grandmaster-level expert."

Ningning said, "Actually, the Three Sects, Nine Gates, and Twenty-Seven Sects are the result of the monopoly of major sects. Being on this list doesn't necessarily mean they are powerful, and not being on the list doesn't necessarily mean they are weak."

Yang Dingtian said, "If Zhao Wujie hadn't been betrayed and successfully advanced to a grandmaster, would he have become a master-level expert like Uncle Ximen?"

"No, he would just be a grandmaster," Ningning said. "My adoptive father is a master-level expert. He is usually low-key, and before the battle at sea, the world thought he was just a grandmaster. Master-level experts are the top powers in this world. The gap between grandmasters and masters is almost insurmountable, and most grandmasters cannot cross it in their entire lives."

Yang Dingtian couldn't help but ask, "How many master-level experts are there in the world?"

"In the world of righteousness, there are only four: my adoptive father, Dongfang Zongzhu, Zhu Qingzhu, and the leader of the Hidden Sect," Ximen Ningning said. "My adoptive father's mystic meridian talent is the weakest among the four, but he is also the most likely to become the world's top expert. If not for the disaster, Zhu Qingzhu would not be a match for my adoptive father in five years, and in ten years, Dongfang Zongzhu might not be a match. In twenty years, my adoptive father could even challenge the leader of the Hidden Sect."

Yang Dingtian's heart ached. Ximen Wuyuan was about to become the world's top expert but was prematurely destroyed to save him.

"Uncle Ximen, I will complete your unfinished mission, no matter the cost. The thousand-year-old night owl, you will be my first step," Yang Dingtian looked down at the lava sea thousands of meters below. The thousand-year-old night owl had already submerged into the lava, and his eyes were fixed on its position, as if trying to see through the lava.

******

"Master, the thousand-year-old night owl is below. How should I kill it and obtain its demon core?" Yang Dingtian asked in his mind.

Dongfang Nie was silent for a long time and then said, "The heavens have truly played a huge joke. You only needed a low-level electric demon core, but they gave you a powerful thousand-year-old night owl, a lord-level demon beast even more terrifying than a master-level expert."

Indeed, Yang Dingtian found this somewhat absurd.

Dongfang Nie continued, "Although its energy is completely sealed, it still has an invincible defense. Its skin, having been struck by lightning countless times, is harder than any metal, and almost no weapon can pierce its shell."

"Although its mystic energy is sealed, its physical strength is overwhelming, at least a million pounds. Even a grandmaster-level expert would be killed with one strike if they got too close," Dongfang Nie added.

"Ah..." Yang Dingtian was startled.

A thousand-year-old night owl that even grandmasters could not handle, and he, an initiate, was supposed to kill it alone. This was more absurd than a fairy tale!

"Master, can't this thousand-year-old night owl be killed?" Yang Dingtian couldn't help but ask.

"It can be killed!" Dongfang Nie said. "But you need two things!"