My disciples are all villains.

Liang Zidao fell.

At this moment, Yu Zhenghai's Jasper Saber flew out again. The technique, Sovereign Descent, was like the tempestuous sea, and as majestic as the vast ocean. The might and range of this technique far exceeded the Dark Heaven Starlight.

The energy sabers blotted out the sight of the land as they descended. They shrouded the flying chariot and the disciples from the Flying Star House.

The desolate-grade weapon complemented Yu Zhenghai's peak Eight-leaf cultivation base. The might of the energy sabers was on par with an Eight-and-a-half-leaf cultivator. They easily devoured Liang Zidao.

Meanwhile, the Thousand Willow Monastery's Tian Buji, Wuwu, and Ji Fengxing looked at the energy sabers that rained down from the sky and gulped. They felt their mouths were extremely dry at this moment. Perhaps, their mouths were agape for too long. When they breathed, they felt as though the air grated their windpipes. Their throats were uncomfortably sore.

Yu Zhenghai was pleased with his demonstration. He turned around to look at the others, wanting to see what their expressions were like. Just as he wished, the people from the Thousand Willow Monastery looked at him with their mouths hanging wide open. Finally, he asked Yu Shangrong, "Second Junior Brother, you told me if these corpses aren't cut to shreds, our location would be exposed. Since you've defeated Liang Zidao, I took the liberty of dealing with the others. You won't be angry, right?"

Before Yu Shangrong could reply, a bitter expression appeared on Ji Fengxing's face as he said, "It makes no difference whether they're reduced to shreds or not. With the huge flying chariot here, there's no way the Flying Star House will fail to notice it."

"It doesn't matter," Yu Zhenghai said, "If you're all afraid, you can run away."

"…"

Yu Shangrong did not entertain Yu Zhenghai's bragging. Instead, he looked at his Longevity Sword's blade. In the end, Liang Zidao had caught his Longevity Sword with the talismans' karmic fire. As a result, the red runes on his blade had been burned off. The red runes had many uses. One of its most important functions was absorbing vitality. As a national of the land of the melilots, he mainly relied on this to live until now. Moreover, if it were not for the longevity pill, perhaps, he would have already reached his great limit and died.

With the red runes gone, Yu Shangrong's mood was slightly affected. These red runes were only found after his Seventh Junior Brother scoured the entire nine provinces. Their rarity was on par with a heaven-grade weapon.

When Yu Zhenghai turned back to look at Yu Shangrong, his smile vanished.

Yu Shangrong returned the Longevity Sword to its scabbard; his expression remained neutral.

The duo flew toward the gazebo together.

"There's more to the talismans' karmic fire than meets the eye," Yu Shangrong said.

Yu Zhenghai did not disagree. He nodded and said, "Without the red runes, your longevity…" He knew Yu Shangrong had consumed a longevity pill before. Even so, that would only provide Yu Shangrong with 200 years of life.

Yu Shangrong said nonchalantly, "I'll just have to reach the Nine-leaf stage…" He did not know how many years of life would be given to him when he reached the Nine-leaf. However, his instinct told him the number of years had to be a lot since it was so difficult to reach the Nine-leaf stage.

Yu Zhenghai asked, "I didn't know you're already at the Eight-and-a-half-leaf stage. Did you try to reach the Nine-leaf stage before?"

"Yes." Ever since Yu Shangrong arrived in the red lotus domain, he had spent every day cultivating and teaching Ji Fengxing the basics of swordplay. When the time was ripe, he had attempted the Nine-leaf stage. He was quite satisfied with the results; he became an Eight-and-a-half-leaf cultivator.

"Why didn't you reach the Nine-leaf stage instead?" Yu Zhenghai was puzzled. Based on the normal process of cultivation, a peak Eight-leaf cultivator could attempt the Nine-leaf stage. Usually, from the One-leaf to the Eight-leaf stage, cultivators would succeed in proceeding to the next stage within three tries. Those who were talented usually succeeded with their first try. Although his Second Junior Brother was unbearably arrogant, there was no doubt he had an amazing talent for cultivation. Why did his Second Junior Brother did not succeed during the first attempt?

Yu Shangrong said, "Breaking through to the Nine-leaf stage will create too huge of a commotion. The 150-foot avatar will definitely draw attention. Moreover, after reaching the Nine-leaf stage, I'd be temporarily vulnerable and weakened. I'll have to look for a secluded place to reach the Nine-leaf stage next time."

"…"

Yu Zhenghai nodded.

The two fellow disciples' conversation did not escape Ji Fengxing and Wuwu's ears.

Ji Fengxing felt as though he was listening to a conversation between gods. He was stunned speechless. All cultivators wished to reach the Nine-leaf stage as soon as possible, and yet, this man forcibly suppressed the process of reaching the Nine-leaf stage?

Yu Shangrong asked in return, "Have you ever attempted the Nine-leaf stage, Eldest Senior Brother?"

"I'm still waiting for the right time… I have the desolate-grade Jasper Saber, and it's enough for me to protect myself. You, on the other hand, Second Junior Brother…"

"The red runes are external, after all. I'll just have Seventh Junior Brother inscribe a new set when I return to the Evil Sky Pavilion."

As the duo continued to converse, it seemed likely that it would escalate into a fight.

Naturally, Wuwu, Ji Fengxing, and the others did not dare to interrupt.

The duo just annihilated the entire entourage from the Flying Star House, and yet, they were acting as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

At this moment, Tian Buji finally regained his senses. He flew over, bowed, and said, "Dear guests… Shall we talk in the hall?"

Yu Shangrong and Yu Zhenghai looked at each other.

"Might as well."

The golden avatar had already been exposed. They were not sure what stance the Thousand Willow Monastery was going to take.

…

Ever since Lu Zhou's demonstration at the Evil Sky Pavilion, the cultivators under the heavens continued searching for opportunities to reach the Nine-leaf stage.

Currently, the Tian Sect's Nan Gongwei and the Yun Sect's Feng Yizhi were considered the most likely candidates to reach the Nine-leaf stage first.

Lu Zhou had been thinking. He was now at the Nine-leaf stage, and Jiang Wenxu's words seemed to be true. Did this mean his presence would attract the beasts?

At this moment…

"Ding! Killed a target. Reward: 2,000 merit points. Domain extra: 1,000 merit points."

The notification of the reward surprised him slightly.

"2,000 points… That's at least an Eight-an-a-half-leaf cultivator. Have they reached the Nine-leaf stage?" Lu Zhou wondered out loud, "I certainly hope so."

If Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong had reached the Nine-leaf stage, it would be much easier for them to protect themselves.

At this moment, a voice rang from the other side of the door.

"Greetings, master," Si Wuya said.

"Enter."

Si Wuya entered the room. "Master, the two academies have come up with improved Formations. They'll be made known in a few days."

Lu Zhou was slightly moved. He did not expect them to be done so soon.

Si Wuya explained, "In the past, the Emperor withheld the blueprints. Now that the two academies and the Taixu Academy are working together to research it, it's, indeed, progressing much more quickly."

"Good."

"Also, I've had the Sky Shuttle disassembled. The Formation and runes outside can only be activated by a Nine-leaf cultivator. It's extremely difficult to fix it," Si Wuya continued to say.

"The Sky Shuttle can only carry one passenger, and the rider won't be able to see outside. Yet, the monk, Fa Kong, managed to accurately arrive at the Evil Sky Pavilion. Someone must've been cooperating with him. Search the nearby mountains," Lu Zhou said.

"Understood."

"Also, who do you think Great Yan's second Nine-leaf cultivator would be?" Lu Zhou asked.

Si Wuya had thought about this before. He immediately smiled and said, "If there are no accidents, I think that it'll be Eldest Senior Brother or Second Senior Brother… Eldest Senior Brother's life was extended by 600 years with the Red Fish Heart and half of Chi Yao's Heart. If the remaining half is put to good use, it won't be a problem for them to reach the Nine-leaf stage. Second Senior Brother is the first person to sever his golden lotus. He won't be limited by his longevity. However, we still don't know what happened to him after he fell into the abyss."

"What about the others?" Lu Zhou asked again.

Si Wuya gave it some thought before replying, "Apart from the reclusive elites, among the known cultivators, the most probable candidate is Ji Qingqing, one of the eight great generals… Then, there's the Three Sects' Nan Gongwei and Feng Yizhi… Also, Senior Sister Tianxin if she's able to prolong her life."

"Ji Qingqing?" Lu Zhou did not recognize this name.

"Xiang Lie was one of the eight great generals. During the battle at Liang Province, he was killed by your Abandon Wisdom. Then, the Imperial family appointed Ji Qingqing as his replacement to defend Yu Province. This person became one of the eight great generals at a young age. She has amazing talents. If she has recultivated, I reckon that she's already an Eight-leaf cultivator now. Second Senior Brother made a hit list in Yu Province, and for some reason, Ji Qingqing was so frightened that she fled the city in the dark of night. Nobody knows where she is right now."

This meant it would be difficult to locate Ji Qingqing.

Since Nine-leaf cultivators would attract the beasts, how did Jiang Wenxu avoid them?

"Continue your investigation and find the hidden red lotus cultivators. Also, keep an eye on the beasts' movements."

"Understood."

"One more thing. I might go to the red lotus domain to bring your Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother back."

Si Wuya was shocked. "If you're gone, how is Great Yan going to repel the beasts, master?"

The manmans and Qiong Qi were not beasts that Eight-leaf cultivators could deal with.

"That's why I'm waiting for the appearance of the second Nine-leaf cultivator in Great Yan."

"I understand."

After Si Wuya left the eastern pavilion, Lu Zhou continued thinking to himself and felt he would feel more at ease if the second Nine-leaf cultivator in Great Yan was from the Evil Sky Pavilion.

He sighed. The four elders were old to begin with. They were close to their great limits. Among his disciples, Ye Tianxin was the only one who was at the Eight-leaf stage.

'Old Fourth?' Lu Zhou thought about Mingshi Yin. 'Could he be concealing his strength? Although Conch is special, she's still quite behind. She might not reach the Eight-leaf stage before Little Yuan'er.'

After a while, Lu Zhou shook his head to dismiss his thoughts and decided to do a lucky draw.

"Lucky draw."

"Ding! Spent 50 merit points. Obtained Binding Cage Card x5."

'Binding Cage Cards?'

The item cards were expensive, anyway. If he got item cards, it was a big win for him.

"Lucky draw."

"Ding! Spent 50 merit points. Obtained Reversal Card x10."

…

Three days later.

South of Great Yan.

Amid a forest with towering trees.

A middle-aged man had one knee on the ground as he looked at the dozens of Restrictions beyond the woodlands.

"The most likely candidate to be the second Nine-leaf cultivator in Great Yan is Nan Gongwei?"

He had remained hidden for a long time. Yet, he did not feel the surge of Primal Qi that was unique to a cultivator breaking through to the Nine-leaf stage.

...

In the afternoon.

A huge group of flying beasts appeared on the horizon. The beasts' number grew, and they kept attacking the dozens of barriers of the Three Sects' ten holy lands.

Upon seeing this, the middle-aged man widened his eyes as he mumbled to himself, "They're here! Alas, there are no huge beasts. These people are pretty lucky."