Chapter 139: Another Expert?

Underground Gambling House.

"Red Ming Celestial Patrol..."

Lu Bai murmured, "Senior, I’ll take this one."

"Are you sure?"

The Old Gambling Ghost fumbled in his robes for a long while before pulling out a chipped Jade Block.

"Is this... something like a Memory Jade Slip?"

Lu Bai took it and gave it a quick look.

The Jade Block was the size of an egg and cool to the touch, yet its surface looked as if it had been burned, leaving behind reddish-black patterns.

"Once, by a stroke of luck, a Sword Dao Ancestor obtained the True Sun Fire, one of the thirty-six ancient treasures. This treasure ranks ninth among them! The legendary Fierce Beast, the Three-legged Golden Crow, was born from this very treasure."

The Old Gambling Ghost continued, "This Sword Dao Ancestor sealed the treasure in a Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade Box and performed visualization on it daily. He finally comprehended a form of swordsmanship from it, which became the Red Ming Celestial Patrol.

There are Six Great Sword Scriptures in the world, all of them top-tier Ultimate Skills of the Sword Dao. Red Ming Celestial Patrol is one of them."

’It has such a grand origin!’

Looking at the chipped Jade Block in his hand, Lu Bai found he couldn’t put it down.

The Old Gambling Ghost said, "Later, that Sword Dao Ancestor failed his tribulation. The Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade Box was destroyed by the heavenly tribulation and shattered into nine pieces. The True Sun Fire vanished without a trace.

I was fortunate enough to obtain one of those pieces of cold jade back in the day—the very piece in your hand. It contains a single Sword Move."

"I see."

Lu Bai nodded.

"This swordsmanship originates from the True Sun Fire. It is extremely firm and yang, blazing and fierce—far more powerful than the Heaven-Burning Sword Technique."

The Old Gambling Ghost said, "Unfortunately, there’s only one move. Even if you master it, it’s nowhere near as good as the complete Heaven-Burning Sword Technique.

If you want to cultivate the complete Red Ming Celestial Patrol, you’ll have to find the other eight pieces of cold jade. That’s as hard as ascending to the heavens—like finding a needle in a haystack.

And even if you could find the other pieces, you probably wouldn’t be strong enough to take them."

Lu Bai coughed lightly and said shamelessly, "My comprehension of the Sword Dao is pretty good. I might just be able to figure it out on my own."

With the Ancient Mirror to help him, he wasn’t worried.

’Still, this swordsmanship has such an incredible origin. I wonder how much Soul Light it will take to repair it.’

"You think an Ultimate Skill is that easy to comprehend?"

The Old Gambling Ghost pursed his lips. "Back then, even with the True Sun Fire, it took that Sword Dao Ancestor countless years of study to comprehend this path. If you can figure out the entire swordsmanship from a single Sword Move..."

"Then what?"

Lu Bai chuckled and asked, "Wanna make a bet?"

"No more bets."

The Old Gambling Ghost waved his hand. "If you can truly comprehend the complete Red Ming Celestial Patrol, it would be no exaggeration to call you the number one genius of the Sword Dao. Among the world’s powerful cultivators, you would surely have a place in the future."

Lu Bai asked, "There are Six Great Sword Scriptures. What are the other five?"

"The Cyan Emperor’s Longevity Sword Manual. This was created by the Cyan Emperor, one of the Ancient Five Emperors. It is in the hands of the Royal Family of the Great Cang Country in the Celestial Divine Land.

The Circulation Star Shifting Sword Manual was created by a Great Power of the Sword Dao who observed the movements of the celestial stars. After a thousand years of silent meditation and enlightenment, as the stars shifted and the world turned, he created this Ultimate Skill. It contains..."

At this point, the Old Gambling Ghost’s expression shifted as if he sensed something. He let out a soft "Hm?" and said, "There’s another expert?"

"What?"

Lu Bai had been listening intently, but the Old Gambling Ghost suddenly said something completely unrelated.

"When did this person arrive?"

The Old Gambling Ghost muttered under his breath, "Judging by that fire, they should have at least Nascent Soul Cultivation."

Lu Bai was completely confused, not knowing what the Old Gambling Ghost was suddenly getting worked up about and muttering to himself.

Lu Bai caught sight of the pile of things at the Old Gambling Ghost’s feet. An idea struck him, and he said, "Senior, since I picked a heavily fragmented manual, how about you throw in a little something extra?"

The Old Gambling Ghost seemed to be a million miles away, lost in thought.

Seeing that the Old Gambling Ghost didn’t refuse, Lu Bai continued, "That pile of junk looks pretty good. You’re about to leave, Senior. Carrying that junk around doesn’t suit your temperament. Why don’t I dispose of it for you..."

"Consider yourself lucky, kid. I have other important matters to attend to and can’t be bothered to haggle with you."

The Old Gambling Ghost made a motion as if to leave.

"Senior, may we meet again!"

Lu Bai bowed deeply.

The corner of the Old Gambling Ghost’s mouth twitched. "Forget it. You won’t have much chance of seeing me again. We will not meet again."

By the time Lu Bai looked up, the Old Gambling Ghost had already vanished.

Lu Bai felt a little disappointed.

This was the first truly powerful figure he had met, with unfathomable cultivation. It was just a shame he didn’t get the chance to latch onto him.

However, when he saw the pile of things the Old Gambling Ghost had left on the ground, his disappointment faded considerably.

Lu Bai picked up the ragged cloth bundle and headed gleefully toward the Luo Family residence.

The heavy weight alone was deeply satisfying.

’Looks like I’ll be busy tonight.’

-----------------

Willow Shade Courtyard.

Yun Luo, imitating Lu Bai, began to pretend to search True Master Xuan Lu’s body.

Seeing this, Yu Daoxuan couldn’t help but chuckle.

’That Lu Bai has been a bad influence on this child.’

After Yun Luo took the Storage Pouch from True Master Xuan Lu’s body and trotted back, Yu Daoxuan flicked her finger, and a spark flew out lightly.

It landed on True Master Xuan Lu’s corpse, which instantly burst into flames and was consumed by a ball of fire.

Within a few breaths, True Master Xuan Lu had been reduced to ashes.

"Auntie, the Restriction on this Storage Pouch is too strong. I can’t open it."

Yun Luo struggled with it for a while until her forehead was beaded with sweat, and she looked to Yu Daoxuan for help.

"When your cultivation is high enough, you can open it yourself."

Yu Daoxuan said, "You shouldn’t casually ask for help with a Storage Pouch you’ve picked up. If there’s a real treasure inside, it could attract covetous eyes and bring disaster upon yourself."

"Oh, right."

Yun Luo nodded and placed True Master Xuan Lu’s Storage Pouch into her own.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in the Willow Shade Courtyard.

The man’s clothes were tattered and his appearance was scruffy, but as he stood with his hands behind his back, he exuded an air of otherworldly transcendence. It was none other than the Old Gambling Ghost from the Underground Gambling House.

Yu Daoxuan merely gave him a faint glance before looking away.

"Huh? Where did this extra person come from?"

Yun Luo was taken aback. She rubbed her eyes, stared intently, and asked, "Who... who are you? When did you get here?"

"Little one, you’re from the Four Seas Pavilion, aren’t you?"

the Old Gambling Ghost asked.

Yun Luo said, "Yes, I am. How did you know?"

The Old Gambling Ghost smiled slightly. "Not only do I know, but I also know your old Pavilion Master. You have excellent aptitude, a Top Grade Wind Spirit Root. How about you cultivate with me from now on?"

"Who are you?"

Yun Luo frowned. "Why should I cultivate with you?"

"My skills are heaven-shaking and earth-shattering. Only with my guidance will your talent not go to waste."

The Old Gambling Ghost said, "Come with me first. I will speak with your old Pavilion Master afterward. When he learns of this, not only will he not object, he’ll approve with both hands and feet."

"No!"

Yun Luo pouted. "I don’t even know you. I’m not going with you."

In her eyes, the Old Gambling Ghost had appeared out of nowhere. He was scruffy, like a strange old man, and he wanted to take her away right off the bat. Why would she ever agree?

Yun Luo clung to Yu Daoxuan’s arm and said, "Besides, I can learn a lot by staying with my Auntie."