My disciples are all villains.

Early the next morning in the great hall.

Lu Zhou looked at everyone gathered here.

Pan Zhong was absent due to his injuries. Pan Litian had been recuperating after consuming the sable magnolia a few days ago. Although Leng Luo was powerful, his power was almost nonexistent after the trip to Slender West Lake.

Lu Zhou did not expect anything from the three of them.

"Master… Jiang Aijian's letter arrived this morning. His words are essentially the same as what Seventh Junior Brother said but with some exceptions," Zhao Yue presented the letter she held and said, "The Heavenly Sword Sect isn't without help… However, this helper isn't among the ten great sects. Its movements are mysterious and nearly impossible to investigate."

Lu Zhou nodded. Based on this, it could be seen that Jiang Aijian's information was more precise than Si Wuya's. He remained silent as he walked out of the great hall with his hands on his back.

Hua Wudao, Duanmu Sheng, Mingshi Yin, Zhao Yue, Little Yuan'er, Zhou Jifeng, Hua Yuexing, and ten female cultivators trailed after him.

A short while later, they stood before the cloud-splitting chariot.

"Senior brother, I heard from little junior sister that your steering has improved greatly," Mingshi Yin said.

"It's too insignificant to mention compared to your skills. It's too insignificant to mention…" Duanmu Sheng hastily waved his hands.

"I told you I wasn't lying. Manning the helm does wonders for your cultivation… Senior brother, there's another benefit to manning the helm…" Mingshi Yin put up a show of whispering something important.

"Hm?" Duanmu Sheng inched closer.

Mingshi Yin said softly, "It can calm the heart and temper one's character… It's a wonderful method to cultivate a good attitude."

"Are you saying I'm hot-tempered?"

"No, no, not at all." Mingshi Yin waved his hands frantically.

When Duanmu Sheng heard this, he nodded and said, "Fourth Junior Brother, what do you think about my Overlord Spear?"

"It's majestic, and one of its kind! It's the greatest treasure you could ever find!" Mingshi Yin praised.

Duanmu Sheng sighed as he shook his head and said, "I know you're disgruntled for being granted some junk as a weapon. You should man the helm well and calm your heart. A heaven-grade weapon is still a heaven-grade weapon no matter what. There's no need to put too much thoughts into how majestic it looks."

"Uh…"

"Go on, then." Duanmu Sheng gave Mingshi Yin's shoulder an earnest pat.

'I… I never f*cking said that I like majestic weapons.' Mingshi Yin leaped to the helm helplessly.

Duanmu Sheng turned to look at his little junior sister. He thought his little junior sister needed to temper her character as well. He did not like her flinging her red cloth around everywhere she went.

The others boarded the flying chariot.

Duanmu Sheng leaped to Lu Zhou's side. He lifted a side of his clothes, blew on the Overlord Spear's dragon ornament, and rubbed it down until it shone with a pleased expression on his face.

With Mingshi Yin manning the helm, the people onboard the flying chariot had an exceptionally smooth journey.

Hua Wudao stood at Lu Zhou's side. He looked down at the surroundings of the Evil Sky Pavilion with his hands on his back. With this vantage point, he could see the Golden Court Mountain's barrier in its entirety. He said, "I have a question, Pavilion Master. When you absorbed the barrier's power while you were cultivating in the hidden chamber, did you do it to maintain your peak condition?"

Lu Zhou glanced at him and said, "You think that's the case as well?"

"I dare not."

"I'll mend the barrier," Lu Zhou said. The weakening of the barrier was a hot topic of discussion in the outside world. This was equivalent to saying he was growing weak as well. Unfortunately, he had not found a good way to mend the barrier at the moment. If he entrusted the task to his disciples, they would need at least three years to mend it. The Eight-leaf Leng Luo and Pan Litian were currently old misfits so he could not place any hope on them. The quickest way was to use a Peak Trial Card, but he would not simply use that card.

Hua Wudao said, "The Lotus Dais is where the sects on the Noble Path spar… I'm just worried Luo Xingkong intentionally provoked us so he can lure us there after he sets a trap."

"Your worry isn't unfounded," Lu Zhou said with a nod.

"There's no need to worry, Elder Hua… All tricks and schemes are meaningless before master."

"Naturally, I believe in the Pavilion Master's strength."

At this moment, Hua Yuexing walked over. Perhaps, she was new to the Evil Sky Pavilion, she seemed reserved. She bowed and said, "I have something to report."

"What is it?"

Hua Yuexing sounded unsure of herself as she said, "When I waited for the Heavenly Sword Sect's Elder Zhang Zhicheng at a tower near the sect, I think I saw someone familiar…"

"Who's that?"

"The Fourth Prince, Liu Bing," Hua Yuexing said as she fell to her knees. She cupped her fists and continued to say, "When I was with Lady Jade, I unintentionally saw a portrait of the Fourth Prince. However, I can't be sure it was him I saw so I didn't report this earlier. Please forgive me, Pavilion Master!"

The Fourth Prince, Liu Bing, usually guarded the borders. He had several military achievements under his belt, hence, the factions in the palace would not easily move against him. If he wanted to return, he would have to relinquish his command of the army. The question was, why would Liu Bing choose to return at this juncture?

Lu Zhou's gaze fell on Hua Yuexing. He remembered Jiang Aijian's status and said, "Have you met Jiang Aijian before this?"

"Our first meeting was at Skylark Pagoda," Hua Yuexing said, slightly nervous.

"Stand up and speak."

"Thank you, Pavilion Master." Hua Yuexing stood up respectfully.

"Have you contacted Jiang Aijian before?" Lu Zhou asked when Hua Yuexing lowered her guard.

Thud!

Hua Yuexing fell to her knees again before she began to kowtow. "I dare not!"

Hua Wudao hastily cupped his fists. "Hua Yuexing is from the Luo Sect where upbringing is stringent. She would never do something like that."

Mingshi Yin turned his head and said, "Stringent upbringing? Why did she leave the Luo Sect, then?"

"Uh…"

"Can't answer that, can you? I was wondering why Jiang Aijian seems to know everything. It seems like he and Old Seventh are made from the same cloth," Mingshi Yin said.

Lu Zhou looked at Hua Yuexing. Even after being interrogated, her loyalty did not decline. It was clear she was not lying. He said, "Stand up and speak."

"Understood."

"You're talented. Have you been to the west pavilion?"

Hua Yuexing replied, "I-I haven't had the time."

"There's a cultivation method called the Quick Condensation in the west pavilion. I think that it suits you well," Lu Zhou said indifferently.

Hua Wudao hastily waved his hand. "What are you standing there for? Thank the Pavilion Master!"

"Thank you, Pavilion Master!" Hua Yuexing kneeled again.

The others were speechless when they saw this. It seemed like Hua Yuexing had gotten used to life in the palace. Kneeling seemed like second nature to her. The palace and its rotten rules!

Hua Wudao said, "The Luo Sect doesn't have any cultivation method like this for you. An archer is powerful when there's a distance between her and the target, but her weakness is also clear. Once another cultivator gets close enough, the archer would rarely have enough time to condense energy and fire shots. Quick Condensation is the perfect remedy for this shortcoming."

Hua Yuexing nodded solemnly. "Thank you for your instructions, Elder Hua. I will work hard."

Loyalty +10%.

Sometimes, Lu Zhou felt that although Hua Yuexing was bound by many rules, she was a pure person. She appeared to have some experience in the outside world, and yet, she did not seem to be completely tainted by it. It was not a big deal to give her a cultivation method so he was surprised to see her loyalty increasing by so much.

...

Meanwhile, inside the secluded hut.

Si Wuya opened his eyes. He guessed the time by looking at the sun's rays at the hut's entrance.

As expected, a grey-robed cultivator flew toward him and landed on his knees before he said, "Sect master, it's just as you've said. Someone has been passing information to the Evil Sky Pavilion."

"Do you know where the information is from?"

"The palace."

Si Wuya frowned when he heard this. How strange. His master had never concerned himself with those people in the palace regardless of which faction they belonged to. How was this possible? "Have our sources in the palace investigate this."

"Understood."

Si Wuya's frown eased away. He smiled confidently as he said, "It's normal for master to believe this person. In that case, we'll play along with him."

"…I'll look for Senior Sword Devil immediately."

"No." Si Wuya shook his head. "Go to Pingdu Mountain."

"Yes, sect master."