My disciples are all villains.

Time passed by in just a blink of an eye. Before long, another month had passed.

Inside the hidden chamber in the Evil Sky Pavilion.

Lu Zhou felt that he was once again in a state where there was no distinction between the world and himself. Spots of starlight seemed to dance around him.

At this moment, the system gave a notification…

"Ding! System permission upgrade is successful."

"The Three Scrolls of Heavenly Writing, the Human Scroll's level has been raised."

"System effective area improved, but it will consume Heaven Writing's extraordinary power."

"Increased item card variety with price hikes."

The series of system notifications rang in Lu Zhou's ears. However, he did not seem to have heard them. He remained immersed in his meditation state.

The runes of the Earth Scroll kept dancing around. The extraordinary power of the Human and Earth Scrolls gradually merged into one.

…

Meanwhile.

Liu Ge, Su Sheng, and Gu Yirain once again appeared at the foot of Golden Court Mountain.

"Your Majesty, the promised time with Old Villain Ji is here. What should we do if he refuses to meet us?" Su Sheng asked.

Liu Ge glanced at Su Sheng and said, "General Su, be mindful of your form of address."

When Su Sheng heard this, he hastily said, "I've made a mistake."

Gu Yiran said, "You're worrying too much, Brother Su. Although Senior Ji is of the Fiend Path, from what I know, he's a man of his word."

"I hope so," Su Sheng said.

If this had been in the past, Liu Ge might have given his opinion on Ji Tiandao. Since they knew each other, he was confident he knew Ji Tiandao somewhat. However, since their last meeting, he suddenly felt the master of the Evil Sky Pavilion was not as easy to deal with as he had previously thought.

Liu Ge walked up to the barrier.

Su Sheng understood. He cupped his hands around his mouth and projected his voice. "The Imperial city's garrison general of the northwestern gate, Su Sheng, requests an audience with Senior Ji." His voice was filled with rich Primal Qi, but it was not destructive.

The soundwave traveled across Golden Court Mountain before it gradually faded in the mountains.

Soon after, a figure flew down from Golden Court Mountain. It was none other than Mingshi Yin.

Mingshi Yin hovered in the air and said, "I'm sorry… I was just thinking about asking you to come another day."

Liu Ge, Su Sheng, and Gu Yiran were taken aback. This was the promised time. How could their appointment be canceled without prior notice?

"Mister Fourth, Old Senior Ji has agreed to this arrangement. How can it be changed at will?" Su Sheng said.

Since Su Sheng and Liu Ge had learned about the boxes' purpose, they were more assertive and bold compared to their previous visit. Moreover, Su Sheng was slightly resentful of the palm strike from Lu Zhou.

Mingshi Yin crossed his arms and said with a smile, "I'm the one who changed the appointment date."

"You?"

"My master is old. He can't estimate the duration of his secluded cultivation accurately. I hope you understand, Your Majesty," Mingshi Yin said.

A frown appeared on Su Sheng's face immediately. "How can the arrangement be called off when it has been promised?"

"Heh… What does my master have to do with me not letting you in?" Mingshi Yin pointed at the barrier. "Are you going to force your way through?" His expression made it clear that he would not comply with their request.

Su Sheng grew annoyed.

Su Sheng was about to step forward and argue when Liu Ge raised his hand and interjected, "Fine. I'll come back tomorrow."

...

Early the next morning.

Liu Ge, Su Sheng, Gu Yiran, and another Imperial bodyguard rode their flying chariot to the foot of Golden Court Mountain again.

Like the day before, Su Sheng projected his voice toward the Evil Sky Pavilion.

Mingshi Yin came flying down from one corner of the Evil Sky Pavilion. As he hovered in the air, he said, "I'm sorry… Why don't you come another day?"

This time, he was being honest.

"Mister Fourth, we've made an arrangement with you to meet today… I don't think it's good to go back on your words," Su Sheng said.

Mingshi Yin spread his arms. "I never said that I'm trustworthy."

"You!" Su Sheng had never met someone as shameless as Mingshi Yin before. Although he was one of the eight great generals who fought on the battlefield for many years, he felt powerless.

At this moment, Liu Ge said with his hands on his back, "When do you suggest we come back then?"

Mingshi Yin stroked his chin and gave it some thought. "How about… a year later?"

"…" When Mingshi Yin saw the frown on Liu Ge's face, he chuckled and said, "I'm kidding! Come again tomorrow."

As the saying went, 'Third time's the charm'.

Liu Ge would not allow Mingshi Yin to talk his way out of this tomorrow. "What should we do if the same thing happens tomorrow?"

"Now, you're a reasonable man unlike him… We'll leave tomorrow's worries for tomorrow. No one can predict the future."

"…"

What a cunning villain!

Liu Ge said, "In that case, please tell Brother Ji that I'll visit again tomorrow."

During the first two times, Liu Ge had easily given in to Mingshi Yin. Now that he had finally spoken out, it was clear he was determined to go up the mountain on his third try.

Mingshi Yin said, "Safe journeys, Your Majesty. I'll make sure to convey your message to my master."

Liu Ge and the others turned around and left.

Mingshi Yin sighed and swiftly returned to the Evil Sky Pavilion.

After returning to the pavilion, Mingshi Yin walked toward the hidden chamber and paced like an ant on a hot pan. 'What should I do? What should I do?'

He had been waiting for his master to emerge from the hidden chamber over the past few days. However, he could not detect any movement inside at all.

Mingshi Yin called out softly again at the door of the hidden chamber and received no reply. Then, he mumbled to himself, "Looks like I can only count on myself."

He turned around and left.

Currently, the Evil Sky Pavilion's four elders were only at the Four-leaf stage, at most, after their re-cultivating. Duanmu Sheng, Zhu Honggong, and Zhao Yue had severed their lotuses and were re-cultivating as well. With their overall strength, it would be unbelievably difficult to intimidate Liu Ge and the others.

Mingshi Yin pondered on this for a moment before he finally decided to send a letter for help.

…

In the afternoon, in a certain Nether Sect branch.

At this moment, Hua Chongyang hurried into the great hall.

"Sect master, our Yu Province's branch received a letter from the Evil Sky Pavilion. The Retired Emperor, Liu Ge, Su Sheng, and Gu Yiran are now at the Evil Sky Pavilion. They seem hostile, and the Evil Sky Pavilion is asking its first disciple to take charge."

Yu Zhenghai and Si Wuya were stunned.

"I have to take charge at the Evil Sky Pavilion?" Yu Zhenghai was perplexed.

"Mister Fourth didn't explain much in his letter, but reading between the lines, this seems like a complicated situation." Hua Chongyang passed his letter to Yu Zhenghai.

Instead, Si Wuya took the letter and read it. Then, he said, "With master's Nine-leaf cultivation base, it shouldn't be a problem for him to deal with Liu Ge. Even without master, we still have the four elders. What's happening?"

Yu Zhenghai said, "Wise brother, could this be a trap? Do you think master intends to go back on his word and lure me there?"

Upon hearing this, Si Wuya shook his head. "That's unlikely."

'If he wanted to catch you, he would've done so the last time he was here. Why would he wait until now?'

"Liu Ge, that old thief! To think he's still alive. Did he attain the Nine-leaf stage as well?" Yu Zhenghai's breathing quickened. This was an outcome that he wanted to see the least.

Throughout these five months, the Nether Sect had been trying hard to conquer the nine provinces. Now that they had conquered Yi Province, all that was left was Yan Province and the Divine Capital. There was less than a month from the promised time with his master. The cultivation world was now in the Lotus-severing era. The Five-leaf elite he had seen five months ago had shocked him. If someone attained the Nine-leaf stage in such a short time after severing his or her lotus, it would truly be a huge obstacle to the Nether Sect.

"Liu Ge and master are old friends. They were acquainted when master was at his peak many years ago. Liu Ge had invited Master to be the teacher of the state in the Divine Capital then. Master would've been the lord of many, and the servant of one. However, master has never liked to be restricted. Hence, master founded the Evil Sky Pavilion on Golden Court Mountain and recruited disciples," Si Wuya said, "According to my calculations, Liu Ge's great limit should've been up… It's not impossible for him to be at the Nine-leaf stage now."

"…"

Si Wuya continued, "From what I know, among the four elders, Leng Luo and Pan Litian are injured, and Hua Wudao is a Seven-leaf cultivator… The new Elder, Senior Zuo Yushu, is a noteworthy character, but she's from the Confucian school. Su Sheng and Gu Yiran are from the Confucian school as well."

Yu Zhenghai frowned.

Si Wuya said, "Eldest Senior Brother… I suggest that we help the Evil Sky Pavilion. Naturally, it's just a suggestion. The decision is entirely up to you."