My disciples are all villains.

As Bi Shuo spoke, he looked at the boxes that the Black Tower Council brought with a hint of disdain. Everything in the world was about profit. How could the Black Tower Council have the nerve to bring out such trash? Naturally, he did not voice his thoughts out; he only cursed silently in his heart.

Indeed. Lu Zhou felt the items that Black Tower Council brought were rather ordinary and did not carry much value. On the other hand, the White Tower Council's gifts were very valuable. They had given him ten fire spirit stones. If he had ten desolate-grade weapons, that was equivalent to giving him three flood-grade weapons. Most importantly was the obsidian essence that was even rarer.

'Hold on. Why am I being swayed by these small things?'

Jiang Jiuli was not an idiot. When he saw the items the other party brought, he bowed and said, "Senior Lu, I forgot. Tower Master Xia told me before I left that if Senior Lu needs them, we're willing to provide fire spirit stones and obsidian essences."

Bi Shui chimed in, "It's obvious he's not sincere and has ulterior motives. It's obvious he just came up with these items on the spot…"

"If I'm not sincere, are you sincere? Is there anyone who doesn't know the White Tower Council has a lot of obsidian essences? However, you only gave one. Is this what you call sincere?" Jiang Jiulu retorted. Then, he bowed and said, "The black lotus domain and the white lotus domain face each other from across the sea. Both sides have the same geographical terrain, but the difference in resources is very big. Their side naturally produces obsidian essences..."

"Since time immemorial there are always the rich and the poor. How can you blame others for being poor?" Bi Shuo retorted.

"You only gifted a tiny bit of your wealth. However, despite being poor, I gave everything I could give. Let Senior Lu judge which of us is more sincere!!"

"..."

Yu Zhenghai, the Guardians, and the four elders were dumbfounded.

Why did it seem like they were competing for favor?

"That's enough." Lu Zhou said.

The Preservation Hall fell silent.

Jiang Jiuli and Bi Shuo stopped arguing and bowed respectfully. After all, this was Lu Zhou's territory. It was indeed beneath the status of a judge to argue like children, in public no less.

Lu Zhou stood up. He walked down the stairs with his hands on his back as his eyes swept across the two envoys.

"I've seen your sincerity... I'll accept the gifts. As for being friends, I'll have to consider it. You can leave first."

Bi Shuo was stunned. When he regained his senses, he said, "Senior Lu, if it's possible I'd like to invite you to the White Tower Council as a guest. Also, Ning Wanqing…"

Jiang Jiuli interjected, "The Black Tower Council also wants to invite Senior Lu as a guest… At that time, Tower Master Xia and the elders will personally receive Senior Lu. I wonder if Tower Master Lan will do the same?"

Bi Shuo. "..."

These words actually aroused Lu Zhou's curiosity. "Jiang Jiulu, if you have something to say, say it. Don't beat around the bush."

Jiang Jiuli said, "I heard that Lan Xihe, the Tower Master of the White Tower Council, doesn't meet outsiders. She only manages the upper tower. The members of the lower tower had never even seen her before. Even when the Black Tower Council went to visit in the early years, they didn't meet her…"

"Even Tower Master Xia hasn't seen her?" Lu Zhou asked.

"No."

Jiang Jiuli said, "Tower Master Lan is high and mighty; how can ordinary people meet her? Even when she goes out, she's hidden in her flying chariot. She can kill enemies with just a wave of her hand; who would dare to provoke her?"

Bi Shuo scoffed. "Jiang Jiuli, you're just an outsider. What right do you have to judge the White Tower Council? Senior Lu, it's true that Tower Master Lan doesn't meet outsiders. However, it's not due to arrogance, but it's just that she doesn't like sunlight. Tower Master Lan went to the Unknown Land and suffered from ice-cold internal injuries. After she recovered, she grew to hate the sunlight. I hope Senior Lu understands…"

Jiang Jiuli chuckled and said, "Who would believe your words? Aren't guests entertained in the hall? Where's the sunlight in the hall?"

"..."

Bi Shuo was annoyed by being picked on.

Even Lu Zhou felt speechless. Jiang Jiuli was the equivalent of Internet trolls on earth. Regardless, Jiang Jiuli had a point.

Bi shuo said, vexed, "It's not like that. If Senior Lu visits, Tower Master Lan will definitely receive you…"

Jiang Jiuli was speechless.

At this point, both sides were on equal ground. The decision was in Lu Zhou's hands.

Lu Zhou thought for a moment and said, "I appreciate your sincerity... Both of you may take your leave…"

It was clear to Jiang Jiuli and Bi Shuo that Lu Zhou implied that he would consider the matter and that he would not let Ning Wanqing go.

Since Lu Zhou had spoken, how would they dare to stay any longer?

"Please,"Meng Changdong said.

"Farewell."

The duo had just turned around when Lu Zhou said to Jiang Jiuli, "The obsidian essence you mentioned earlier..."

Jiang Jiuli nodded and said, "Uh... Senior Lu, don't worry. In less than three days, it will be delivered to your door."

After saying that, the two judges of the Black Tower Council and the White Tower Council left the Preservation Hall with their subordinates.

Lu Zhou walked to the box and brought the obsidian essence and the Heaven Cleansing Flower Pill. Unfortunately, there were not many of them.

Jiang Jiuli had said there were many obsidian essences in the White Tower Council. He only had 11 now; it would be difficult to accumulate 100. The Black Tower Council could give him one set at most.

After a while, he said, "Send these things to the Sky Research Court."

"Understood."

After Shen Xi took the boxes away, Yu Zhenghai asked, "Master, the Black Tower Council and the White Tower Council are trying to pull us to their sides. Are you planning to choose a side?"

"No," Lu Zhou said.

Pan Litian smiled and said, "Pavilion Master is wise... Since they're fighting, we'll just wait to reap the benefits. As long as they're in conflict, they'll have to be wary of the Evil Sky Pavilion."

Zuo Yushu added, "The conflict between the Black Tower Council and the White Tower Council is quite deep. Before this, both sides could keep each other in check. Now that they know that elder brother has 12 Birth Charts, they're worried the balance would be broken…"

Lu Zhou spoke, "But there will always be people who are foolish and blind…"

"Elder brother is talking about the Dark and Light Alliance?" Zuo Yushu asked.

Pan Litian said, "Who else could it be?" Following that, he bowed and said loudly, "This old man is willing to follow the Pavilion Master to the Dark and Light Alliance to seek justice…."

Hua Wudao chimed in, "The Dark and Light Alliance massacred hundreds of innocent people. They're no better than beasts. I'm also willing to follow the Pavilion Master to the Dark and Light Alliance!"

Just as the remaining two elders were about to make a stance, Lu Zhou said, "There'll be Ten-leaf cultivators and Thousand Realms Whirling cultivators there… Now that the Black Tower Council is no longer monopolizing the Birth Chart Beasts, it's time for all of you to raise your cultivation base…"

In other words, they would just be a burden if they followed him there.

The four elders originally wanted to broaden their horizons, but when they were reminded about their cultivation bases, they could only give up.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhou was deep in his thoughts. The runic passages were the fastest way to travel. It seemed like it was important for him to recruit a runemaster. However, due to the rarity of runemasters, their statuses were very high; it would not be easy to recruit one.

Although Si Wuya was smart and good at studying, he was more suited to other things. It seemed a waste to let him study the runic passage.

Soon after, Meng Changdong returned to the hall. He bowed and said, "Pavilion Master, Mister Seven is here to report that the runic passage has been completed…"