The Mirror Master

Yun Luo said, "If a Cultivator sets up an Array, you’ll be exposed the moment you touch it.

"Back when I was on the island, I was playing hide-and-seek with my senior brothers and sisters. I used an Invisibility Technique I had just learned, but while hiding, I accidentally touched Senior Brother Lin’s Array and was discovered right away."

Lu Bai was silent.

The Mountain Demon Hat could conceal his figure, but it wasn’t without its flaws.

Never mind Cultivation Arrays—even just climbing a wall, opening a window, or forcing a door could make noise.

The County Government Mansion was heavily guarded. If he were discovered, his presence would likely be exposed, even with the Mountain Demon Hat.

"In the end, I’ll have to kill him openly!"

Lu Bai’s eyes glinted, his decision made.

’A fight to the death on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform!’

"On the Martial Arts Discussion Platform?"

Yu Daoxuan said, "You’ve never fought a Qi Refiner. You haven’t seen their many techniques, and you’re unfamiliar with the speed of a Flying Sword. If you fight him, your odds of winning are twenty percent at best.

And besides, the Xuanjian Sect specializes in the Flying Sword Technique, which makes them even harder to deal with."

"Twenty percent will do."

Lu Bai did a quick mental calculation.

According to Yu Daoxuan, there were two keys to victory.

First, he had to find a way to engage in close-quarters combat, no matter what.

Second, he had to break through his opponent’s Defense Talisman.

Or better yet, not give his opponent the chance to even use a Defense Talisman.

He had the Silent Shock Secret Technique. Unleashing it suddenly would very likely cause his opponent’s Flying Sword to freeze for an instant.

He could use this opportunity to quickly close the distance.

As for how to break the opponent’s Defense Talisman, he’d have to think of another way.

There were five wisps of Soul Light in the Ancient Mirror, one of which was a Level 2 Soul Light.

He could fully restore the Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist, quickly master it, and see what kind of power he could unleash.

With that, his odds might be as high as forty percent!

"There’s one more thing I should remind you of."

Yu Daoxuan added, "If you defeat this man in front of everyone, it’s the same as offending the Xuanjian Sect. The Xuanjian Sect’s plans to get their hands on the Profound Iron Ore will also be cut short.

This Sect isn’t that powerful, but it’s not something you can stand against right now. You need to think carefully about the consequences."

Yu Daoxuan’s tone seemed to carry both a warning and a threat.

Lu Bai’s mind was made up. He said, "What’s the point of doing anything if you’re always afraid of the consequences!"

’Some things he could tolerate, biding his time and planning for the long term.’

’But some things had to be done now!’

Hearing this, Yu Daoxuan seemed to relax. He looked at Lu Bai with a hint of approval in his eyes and said, "You can challenge him to a fight on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform in three days."

"Why wait three days?"

Lu Bai didn’t understand.

Yu Daoxuan said nonchalantly, "For these three days, come to my place to familiarize yourself with the methods of a Qi Refiner—Flying Swords, Magic, Talismans, and the like. It will give you time to prepare."

Lu Bai was overjoyed and couldn’t quite believe it.

’This Yu Daoxuan’s Cultivation is definitely beyond the Qi Refining Stage, maybe even higher than the Foundation Establishment Stage!’

For an expert of this level to deign to guide him and act as his sparring partner was an enormous help.

Lu Bai quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Yu. I am endlessly grateful."

Yu Daoxuan said, "I don’t have the time."

Lu Bai: "..."

The atmosphere grew a little awkward.

Yun Luo covered her small mouth, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she smiled.

’This Brother Lu really doesn’t know his own limits, daring to hope for such a wonderful thing.’

"SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!"

The little squirrel darted back and forth across Yun Luo’s shoulders, as if it, too, were mocking Lu Bai for biting off more than he could chew.

Yu Daoxuan said, "Yun Luo is at the Eighth-Layer Qi Refining Stage, a similar Realm to that man. She can be your training partner."

Lu Bai was left speechless.

’This little girl looks like she’s only four or five, and she’s already at the Eighth-Layer Qi Refining Stage?’

’Comparisons like that are enough to drive you mad.’

Lu Bai hesitated for a moment and said, "Yun Luo is so young. I’m afraid I’d pull my punches."

’He was going in with the intent to kill Mo Shaohan, so he would have to go all out.’

’But facing a little girl like Yun Luo, how could he possibly use his full strength? He would inevitably feel constrained.’

Yu Daoxuan said, "Don’t worry about holding back. First, you have to be able to dodge Yun Luo’s Flying Sword and get close to her."

"Brother Lu, want to give it a try?"

Yun Luo was very excited.

’Finally, someone to play with!’

’And he’s so weak, too! I can totally push him around.’

’Back on the island, it was impossible to find anyone weaker than her...’

Yun Luo flicked her sleeve, and a Sword Pill jumped out, quickly springing open.

SWISH!

A flash of white light filled the room.

Lu Bai suddenly felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. Before he could react, the white light vanished, turning back into a Sword Pill that landed in Yun Luo’s palm.

"Impressive."

Lu Bai couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

He hadn’t even had time to react to that last move.

’Even though Yun Luo was young, she was not to be underestimated.’

"Let me go issue the challenge first. I’ll be back in a bit."

Lu Bai stood up, glanced at the Black Dog, and said, "Ah Mo can stay here for now."

Lu Bai was worried that the Black Dog might run into some trouble during the three days he was away from the Luo Family.

Moreover, he noticed the Black Dog didn’t seem wary of Yu Daoxuan; in fact, it seemed more comfortable with him than with others.

"Oh, right, Daoist Yu."

Lu Bai had only taken a few steps before he turned back, having remembered something. He asked, "Can the Mountain Demon Hat be ready in three days?"

’With the Mountain Demon Hat, it would be much easier to hide my tracks and move around.’

"No."

Yu Daoxuan said, "You stabbed several holes in that Mountain Demon Skin. They have to be repaired."

Lu Bai said, "How about we rethink the design a little?"

Yu Daoxuan looked at Lu Bai without speaking, a trace of confusion in his eyes.

"Like this."

Lu Bai walked up to Yu Daoxuan’s desk, picked up a brush, found a piece of Xuan paper nearby, and quickly sketched a strange-looking hat on it.

"What is this?"

Yun Luo leaned in, her face full of curiosity.

’This doesn’t look like a hat.’

’There was an opening for each eye.’

’There was also an opening for the mouth and nose.’

’The rest of the face was completely covered by this hat.’

’It was less a hat and more a full-head mask.’

Lu Bai cleared his throat and said with a straight face, "This is called a Bandit Hat. Don’t mind its strange appearance. Once you pull it on, not even your own mother would recognize you."

Yu Daoxuan shot him an irritated glance.

’This man really knows how to push his luck.’

’I offer to make him a hat out of kindness, and now he’s getting picky about the design.’

’Besides, this hat is hideous.’

Seeing the look on Yu Daoxuan’s face, Lu Bai quickly explained, "Didn’t I poke a few holes in the Mountain Demon Skin?

This Bandit Hat has holes on the face anyway, so we can make use of them. That way, they won’t need to be repaired, which saves time..."

Yu Daoxuan took out the Mountain Demon Skin and gave it a quick look.

A few of the holes could indeed be utilized, as they were roughly located where the eyes, nose, and mouth would be.

Yu Daoxuan’s expression softened slightly.

"See? It saves time and effort."

Lu Bai smiled and asked again, "Can it be done in three days?"

"I don’t know."

Yu Daoxuan replied coldly.

’He’d never made a hat like this before; it was beneath his usual standards.’

"I appreciate the trouble."

Lu Bai thanked him again before turning to leave, muttering strange words under his breath.

"’Mountain Demon Hat’... sounds kind of lame. Doesn’t sound like an Exotic Treasure at all. But ’Mountain Demon Bandit Hat’... now that’s way more intimidating. If only I had an AK to go with it... Time to get bigger, get stronger, and reach new heights of glory!"