My disciples are all villains.

Li Jingyi knew this old man was powerful. There were many strange things in this wide world. There were many peerless elites who had withdrawn from the secular world and did not interfere with its matters. These elites were usually humble since they knew there was always someone stronger than them in this wide world. This was something she had known since she was young. She quickly bowed and said, "My name's Li Jingyi."

Lu Zhou's expression was calm. He did not have to display his might to make the Four Great Protectors retreat in the air despite their profound cultivation bases.

They seemed to have forgotten their reason for being here. For a time, they remained in the air, stunned. They did not dare to descend. 'This unassuming old man is sect master's master?'

The four of them exchanged glances. They were still shaken by the lingering 'scram'… Their sect master had said that the Evil Sky Pavilion's patriarch's life was almost up. His strength and cultivation base would deteriorate rapidly in these ten years. If that was true, how did the old man unleash such a shocking and thunderous grand technique?

Li Jingyi looked at the sky. She discovered the Nether Sect's Four Great Protectors were hovering in the air, seemingly too afraid to descend. It seemed like they were intimidated by the old man. She looked in the direction of the southern city gates again. The rebel army was shaking. Some of them were sitting on the ground. It was clear they were no longer able to battle.

The men on Wei Zhuoyan's side were in no better shape either. They were huddled together and could hardly be called an army. They were like a pile of loose sand. They were in no condition to fight.

Lu Zhou looked up slowly. He glanced at the Four Great Protectors hovering in the sky.

With just glance, the Four Grand Protectors retreated again.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, "Rascal."

'Rascal?' Li Jingyi was slightly stunned.

Although Lu Zhou was only in the Divine Court realm, he could still project his voice. He spoke in a slightly irritable tone, "Well? Are you going to come down?"

There was no other person who dared to address the Sect Master of the Nether Sect in such a manner. The Evil Sky Pavilion's master was the only one who could reprimand Yu Zhenghai like this. He must be the Fiend Path's patriarch who dominated the lands, Ji Tiandao!

Everything was clear now. The old man who had slowly walked out of the Ci Mansion was the current greatest villain in the world.

The Four Great Protectors' faces were etched with shock. They did not dare to descend. They simply kneeled in the air.

"The junior, Hua Chongyang of Nether Sect's Azure Dragon Hall, pays homage to old senior."

"This junior, Bai Yuqing of Nether Sect's White Tiger Hall, pays homage to old senior."

"The junior, Yang Yan of Nether Sect's Vermillion Bird Hall, pays homage to old senior."

"The junior, Di Qing of Nether Sect's Black Tortoise Hall, pays homage to old senior."

Li Jingyi regarded Lu Zhou with a complicated gaze. 'Who else could make his enemies submit without a fight apart from the great villain?'

It should be known that the individuals who were kneeling were the Nether Sect's Four Great Protectors. They were the First Seats of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, and Black Tortoise Halls. However, they seemed afraid of this old man.

Mingshi Yin crossed his arms and said, "Eldest Senior Brother, stop hiding. Come on down."

Li Jingyi took a step back. Her mind went blank. Her gaze swiftly swept past Little Yuan'er, Mingshi Yin, Duanmu Sheng, and before it settled on the Nether Sect's flying chariot. She took another step back again!

"There's no need to be afraid." Wei Zhuoyan had appeared behind her at some point.

Li JIngyi remembered the incident at the center of Bluesun Lake. The Evil Sky Pavilion's flying chariot flew past them, and the general was never the same since then.

The old Wei Zhuoyan would go on and on about how he did not fear the Evil Sky Pavilion… but fear was actually deeply ingrained in his bones.

Wei Zhuoyan looked at Lu Zhou. As he got closer, he recognized the old man as the person he met in the Evil Sky Pavilion.

The Azure Dragon Hall's First Seat, Hua Chongyang, said loudly, "My apologies, old senior… The sect master isn't on the flying chariot."

"He's not?"

"The sect master knows you're here, old senior. Hence, he sent the four of us in his stead."

When Mingshi Yin heard this, he said with a smile, "I heard your sect master inspires awe throughout the nation and is invincible. I didn't take him as a coward. Is he worried that master will eat him alive?"

"Uh…"

Mingshi Yin's words gave Hua Chongyang no grounds to retort. It was the truth after all.

Yu Zhenghai felt the same way as Yu Shangrong. They were informed by Old Seventh that their master was here. There was no way that he would dare to personally come here. It did not matter if he was the master of the greatest cult in the world. Hence, sending his subordinates here was the perfect move.

The Four Great Protectors' combined strength and cultivation bases were almost equivalent to their sect master. This was showing Lu Zhou enough consideration. Before they arrived, they were filled with confidence. It was a coincidence that they ran into the disturbance in Anyang City and the fake Nether Sect's flying chariot. However, they did not expect that the four of them combined were less powerful than a 'scram' from Ji Tiandao. Not even their sect master was capable of this. Realization dawned on them. They finally understood why their sect master chose not to come.

They hovered in the air cautiously and obediently. Worst case scenario, they could just turn tail and run. In front of such an elite, running away was nothing to be ashamed of.

Hua Chongyang said, "Please believe me, old senior… The sect master heard that it was Miss Ninth's birthday so he sent us here to deliver a gift. That's all!"

Mingshi Yin and Duanmu Sheng looked at Little Yuan'er at the same time.

Little Yuan'er appeared innocent…

After Hua Chongyang spoke, he mustered up his courage and descended. When he reached a certain altitude, he waved his arm and an embroidered box floated down.

The box was wrapped in energy as it made its way toward Little Yuan'er.

Mingshi Yin flashed a faint smile and said, "I'll get it." He moved at lightning speed and grabbed the box in the air before landing on the ground again. He lifted the box and said, "Little junior sister… If there's something bad inside this box, I'll be able to shield you."

Little Yuan'er nodded. "Mhm. Thank you, senior brother!"

This embroidered box was similar in size to the one Yu Shangrong had given her.

Mingshi Yin opened the box and conjured up a layer of protective energy at the same time. The box did not contain any dangerous poison or trap. Instead, it contained a pair of light green boots.

"The name of this item is the Cloud Treading Boots. Miss Ninth's movements and footwork are among the best in the world. With these boots, she'll certainly be like a tiger that's given wings."

Little Yuan'er beamed when she heard this. She kept looking at the boots within the embroidered box. She said softly, "Senior brother… Senior brother, my…"

"Hm?" Mingshi Yin gave her a meaningful look.

Little Yuan'er immediately quieted down. With an indifferent expression, she said, "Master, I don't want these boots."

Lu Zhou appraised the cloud-treading boots.

The Cloud Treading Boots and the Cloud Feather Raiment were the same; they were not ordinary items. It was rumored that the Cloud Treading Boots were made specifically for the celestials in the heavens. The wearer would be as light as a feather and could soar the skies with the boots. These boots were made from extremely precious twin plumes and asbestos. After the materials were refined, a grandmaster had worked on them.

Lu Zhou said, "Tell Yu Zhenghai to come if he wants to apologize."

The Four Great Protectors sighed in relief when they heard this. They stood up and cupped their fists at Lu Zhou as they said, "We'll certainly convey your message."

The four of them retreated and returned to the flying chariot. Up until now, the Four Great Protectors maintained the air of an elite. Their movements were neither hurried nor slow. However, when the flying chariot turned around, it resembled a frightened fish as it shot toward the distance like it was running away from a predator.

Wei Zhuoyan sighed in relief as well. He cupped his fists at Lu Zhou and said solemnly, "Thank you, old senior." He no longer put on the air and the might of a supreme general.

Li Jingyi bowed as well. "Thank you, old senior…"

Lu Zhou looked at Li Jingyi and asked, "Where's Jiang Aijian?"

Li Jingyi was taken aback by this question. She suddenly remembered the little girl had mentioned her name before this. She announced that nobody was to touch her or Wei Zhuoyan. Clearly, the old man knew who she was. In that case, it was meaningless to lie. She bowed and said, "Skylark Pagoda."

Mingshi Yin frowned slightly. 'This Jiang Aijian… He has left the Imperial family. Is he going to make master travel there to meet him?' He asked, "What's he doing there?"

"Fishing. He says he likes fishing… and has been fishing at Skylark Pagoda for the past few days. I don't know any further details," Li Jingyi answered honestly.

Lu Zhou nodded before he said, "Let's head to Skylark Pagoda then."

The streets of Anyang were deserted as Lu Zhou left with his hands on his back.

Mingshi Yin looked at Wei Zhuoyan's soldiers and said, "Don't tell me you can't handle this group of trash." By trash, he meant the rebel army.

When he passed by Li Jingyi, Mingshi Yin slowed down and said, "Will you consider joining the Evil Sky Pavilion?"

Li Jingyi merely bowed without giving a reply.

Mingshi Yin had to leave it at that to catch up with the rest.

Little Yuan'er did not leave immediately. She bade the people of the Ci family farewell before she left. When she passed by Li Jingyi, she said in a hushed tone, "Big sister… listen to me, you must cut ties with Jiang Aijian. He's too shameless."

"Uh… thank you, little sister. I'm not exactly close to him," Li Jingyi replied with a nod.

"That's great. Goodbye… By the way, you're the first stranger whom I don't dislike…" Little Yuan'er said with a giggle before she skipped off to find the others.

Duanmu Sheng was curt with his words. He cupped his fists and said, "Farewell."

Little Yuan'er was the only one who believed Li Jingyi when Li Jingyi said that she was not close to Jiang Aijian. How could it be true since Jiang Aijian was willing to ask them to help her?

When Lu Zhou and the others left, Wei Zhuoyan's soldiers slumped to the ground. Their backs were drenched in cold sweat. They had been immobilized by that sound technique earlier. Then, they had been in close quarters with those villains… It was good enough that they did not die from shock.

Wei Zhuoyan chided them with a tone that was laced with anger. "Get up!"

His sudden shout shook everyone. Nobody knew why he was angry.

Li Jingyi's gaze turned cold as she said, "Only a powerless person would take his anger out on the people around him."

Wei Zhuoyan fell silent. After a moment of muttering to himself, he asked, "You know Jiang Aijian?"

"I do."

Wei Zhuoyan's expression turned unnatural as he said, "He's one of the three great Sword Freaks. He values the sword as much as his life, and his love for swords is ingrained in his bones. I've heard nothing but bad things about this man."

"What does it have to do with you?"

"Don't forget… I may be an impostor, but I'm still the Commander-in-Chief of three armies," Wei Zhuoyan said as he walked ahead and surveyed the chaotic rebel army and masked cultivators. He seemed more confident now as he waved his arm and said, "Those who caused this disturbance… will be executed!"

…

Meanwhile, the Nether Sect's Four Great Protectors steered their flying chariot back to Pingdu Mountain at top speed.

When the flying chariot arrived above the mountain, a figure suddenly appeared before the flying chariot. The man walked on air and onto the stern. His hands were placed on his back, and he had a proud air about him.

The Four Great Protectors stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Sect Master."

"How did it go?" Yu Zhenghai seemed to be very interested in their answers. After all, he had never sent all four of his Great Protectors on a single mission…

The Azure Dragon Hall's First Seat, Hua Chongyang, bowed and said, "In reply to your question, Sect Master, the gift has been delivered… I've also met the old senior."

"Oh?"

"The old senior is tremendously strong. Even the four of us aren't a match for him," Hua Chongyang said.

When Yu Zhenghai heard this, he said in a low voice, "Tell me everything. Don't spare the details."

The Four Great Protectors did not dare dally. This was the first time they had seen Yu Zhenghai looking so solemn.

Hua Chongyang cupped his fists. He recounted the series events, starting from them riding the flying chariot to Anyang, encountering the rebellion, attacking the rebels, and being pushed back by the word 'scram'. He spared no details. He described the grand technique, Scram, in greater detail, especially about the power it packed. He was very close to reenacting the scene where countless cultivators were pushed back by that technique.

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhenghai mumbled, "A grand sound technique…"

There were many who were skilled in sound techniques. However, those capable of unleashing a grand sound technique were few and far between.

Yu Zhenghai was the Evil Sky Pavilion's first disciple. He knew his master better than anyone else. He could not recall his master ever unleashing a grand sound technique. He paced back and forth as he contemplated this before he suddenly remembered the information that he obtained from Si Wuya. 'Is it really possible that the old man is cultivating techniques from different sects?'

If it had been anyone else, Yu Zhenghai would not believe he or she would be capable of cultivating techniques from other sects to perfection. However, Ji Tiandao was different...

'Perhaps, it's one of master's friends?' Yu Zhenghai asked, "Are you sure you saw my master?"

"We were slightly far away and didn't have a clear look of his face. However, we're certain he's Old Senior Ji."

"How so?"

"We saw Miss Ninth wearing the Cloud Feather Raiment…"

'Cloud Feather Raiment…' It was not that Yu Zhenghai did not believe his trusted subordinates. He merely did not want to miss out on any details. He nodded. He chuckled before he said, "Second Junior Brother… I've truly underestimated you."

"Sect Master… we didn't see Mister Second when we were at Anyang."

"Second Junior Brother has always preferred to operate alone… With your strength, you must never provoke him," Yu Zhenghai said.

"We'll remember your words, sect master."

When he thought about Yu Shangrong, Yu Zhenghai shook his head and sighed softly.

The Azure Dragon Hall's First Seat suddenly realized that he should not have brought this topic up. He hastily bowed and changed the topic. "Miss Ninth likes the Cloud Treading Boots very much."

"Really?"

"I dare not lie…" Hua Chongyang saw the barely-concealable look of delight in Little Yuan'er's eyes when the gift was presented.

Yu Zhenghai smiled widely and said, "The Cloud Feather Raiment is but a protective gear that does nothing but takes blows… It's only natural for Little Junior Sister to like the Cloud Treading Boots better."

"You're extremely wise, sect master." The Four Great Protectors bowed in unison.

Yu Zhenghai asked again, "Where are they now?"

"We did not dare follow them… However, when I returned, I received word from the Azure Dragon Hall that Mister Seventh is on his way to the Skylark Pagoda," Hua Chongyang said.

Bai Yuqing said, "It's rumored that the Skylark Pagoda has nine floors, with each successive floor taller than the one before. There are Formations everywhere. The person who manages to climb to the top floor will apparently receive a treasure. I wonder if it's true?"