My disciples are all villains.

There was no need to reiterate just how terrifying the forces of the royal court could be. The head of the secretariat alone possessed such a formidable cultivation base. What about the captains or elites inside the palace? There were also the Daoist Formations that had never been activated before in the palace. There was also Yu Chenshu, a karmic fire user, and the various cultivation elites in Great Tang's ten Circuits.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Yu Shangrong used his hand as a sword to slash at the avatar.

Wang Shizhong said gruffly, "Retreat!" Then, he quickly unleashed a blast from the red lotus that pushed Yu Shangrong back.

Yu Shangrong was about to manifest his avatar when Wang Shizhong turned around and pushed Wang Shu away. "Leave! I'll deal with him."

At this juncture, there was no longer any hope of having a peaceful discussion. Wang Shizhong, naturally, prioritized his daughter over any peaceful discussion.

Lu Zhou remained motionless as he looked at Nie Qingyun meaningfully and asked, "Am I supposed to do this myself as well?"

Nie Qingyun shuddered.

Smack!

Nie Qingyun slammed his hands down on the black table, breaking it immediately. Like a fired arrow, he shot into the air and shouted, "This is Cloud Mountain, not a place where you can act as you please! Get down!"

Then, Nie Qingyun threw his heaven-grade Sky Soul Saber that was wrapped in a dense layer of energy sword toward the huge chariot.

Everyone watched this shocking scene with eyes almost falling out of their sockets.

Wang Shizhong unleashed his grand technique and tried to block the Sky Soul Saber!

Nie Qingyun said gruffly, "Avatar!"

Whizz!

A 200-foot red lotus avatar appeared, announcing the strength Nie Qingyun prided himself on to the thousands of Cloud Mountain disciples present on the scene.

Boom!

The avatars collided.

Wang Shizhong was sent flying. He grunted in pain. His blood essence boiled as he said, "I don't understand this. You're a Ten-leaf cultivator, why are you doing another person's bidding?"

"There are many things you don't understand," Nie Qingyun said, "Alas, that old fiend, Sikong, isn't here… However, I'm enough to deal with all of you. You're not worthy of fighting Senior Lu!"

"…" Li Yunzheng, the monarch of an empire, turned to look at Lu Zhou again. 'How powerful is he? Even two Ten-leaf cultivators have to follow his orders?'

"That's amazing, Sect Master!" the Cloud Mountain disciples exclaimed in unison with an expression of admiration on their faces. Regardless of how powerful outsiders were, they were still outsiders. They were, naturally, moved when they saw their sect master's strength.

"Sect Master Nie, we're here to seek peace." Wang Shizhong fought back his surging blood essence as he reeled back.

Nie Qingyun ignored Wang Shizhong and continued controlling his Sky Soul Saber.

"This is bad! Run!"

The Sky Martial Court disciples and the cultivators from the palace leaped off the huge chariot and scattered in different directions.

At this moment, a massive energy saber from the Sky Soul Saber dropped down.

Boom!

The huge chariot could not withstand the powerful strike from the Sky Soul Saber that was being wielded by a Ten-leaf cultivator. It was easily cleaved into two.

The Formation veins were damaged, and the chariot shattered.

At the same time, boxes from the flying chariot fell from the sky.

"There are so many boxes?" Xia Changqiu stared at the boxes in awe.

"I'm going to catch the boxes… Finders keepers!" Little Yuan'er moved at lightning speed. She moved with her Seven Stars Cloud Treading Steps and Supreme Purity Jade Slip. Her scarlet Nirvana Sash flew over the heads of the others like a dancing dragon, stirring up a gust of wind as it headed toward the boxes.

The Nirvana Sash moved quickly. It shot to the left and right before it caught the boxes. In just a blink of an eye, it caught more than ten boxes.

Currently, Little Yuan'er's control of the Nirvana Sash was almost perfect.

After catching the ten boxes, Little Yuan'er flew toward her master.

Suddenly, dozens of cultivators lunged toward Little Yuan'er at the same time. Half of them wore armor while the other half wore robes. These were the men from Sky Martial Court and the palace.

Lu Zhou's expression remained calm. He was not in a hurry. Everything was within his control.

Yu Zhenghai grinned before he said loudly, "Trying to attack my Ninth Junior Sister? You'd have to go through my saber!" Then, he leaped up and threw his desolate-grade Jasper Saber out.

The Great Dark Heaven Memorial!

Like a great cartwheel, it killed the cultivators in the air mercilessly.

"Ding! Killed a target. Reward: 500 merit points. Domain extra: 500 merit points."

"Ding! Killed a target. Reward: 500 merit points. Domain extra: 500 merit points."

Upon seeing this, Li Yunzheng was shocked. "A desolate-grade weapon?"

"You've got a sharp eye," Lu Zhou said.

"Old Mister, this… Is he your disciple as well?"

"What? Why can't I be his master?" Lu Zhou asked.

"No, it's not that…" Li Yunzheng hastily waved his hands. "I was just curious. Old mister, you said you're going to find me a teacher. I don't think you have to look for one. You're perfect! I'm… I'm not much older than the two little girls. If I'm your grand disciple, won't I have to call them senior aunts? That's… that's awkward, right?"

"I'm no longer accepting disciples… It's an honor being my grand disciple… Are you turning down my offer?" Lu Zhou asked.

Li Yunzheng was taken aback. Then, he said tentatively, "In that case, I should address you… as grandmaster, right?"

"Indeed." Lu Zhou nodded.

"I…" Li Yunzheng straightened his back and cleared his throat before he solemnly asked, "May I ask a genuine question?"

"Let's hear it."

"You're from the golden lotus domain. If one day, I obtain the power to rule the empire, will you become like them?" Li Yunzheng asked.

Lu Zhou did not reply to the question. Instead, he beckoned Li Yunzheng over.

Li Yunzheng moved closer.

Lu Zhou produced Unnamed silently before he opened his other hand.

Li Yunzheng was shocked. He cried out hoarsely, "Black runes! The legend of the black lotus domain… is real?!"

'The old man is from the black lotus domain? Just how far has he traveled?!'

Lu Zhou put Unnamed away and continued to watch the battle in the air.

After what seemed like hours, Li Yunzheng recovered from the shock. He asked curiously, "Then… Is my teacher as powerful as my senior uncles?"

"I can tell you honestly that in terms of talent, intelligence, conduct, strategy, or cultivation base, nurturing the body, the governance of a nation, or bringing peace to the lands... He's leagues ahead of you," Lu Zhou replied.

Li Yunzheng was overjoyed when he heard this. He immediately cupped his fists together. "Thank you, old mister."

"Hm?"

"Grand… Grandmaster."

At this moment, Yu Zhenghai had killed all of the cultivators who were harassing Little Yuan'er with a crushing force.

Nie Qingyun's display of strength was impressive as well. After shattering the flying chariot, he killed three deputies before swinging his saber at Wang Shizhong.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Three sabers descended from the skies and struck Wang Shizhong's shield.

Wang Shizhong grunted as blood trickled out from the edge of his lips to the ground.

Yu Zhenghai said with a grin, "Sect Master Nie, you're a quick learner!"

Nie Qingyun replied with a smile, "Comrade Yu, this technique of yours is handy. Thanks!" Then, he dove as he released his energy sabers and palm strikes at the same time.

"Father!" Wang Shu's eyes brimmed with tears. She was incredibly frightened at this moment.

Yu Shangrong moved swiftly. He raised his hand and formed an energy sword as dozens of cultivators tried to stop him.

"I'm truly impressed… He formed an energy sword with his bare hands."

One needed precise and almost perfect control to form energy with bare hands. It was clear Yu Shangrong did not rely on anything but his fingers to form the energy sword. To a certain extent, it could be seen that he was already on the right track to master the swordless path.

From below, Wuwu cheered loudly. "Big brother, do your best!"

Yu Shangrong swung the energy sword. Every time he swung the energy sword, he would cut down an enemy.

The remaining dozens of cultivators continued to swarm toward Yu Shangrong.

Yu Shangrong launched a huge energy sword with one hand.

The energy sword multiplied into 100 blades that shone dazzlingly with golden light.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The low-rank cultivators could not block the strikes and were struck.

Those who were higher in the air could only retreat as they tried to defend themselves.

At this moment, Yu Shangrong grabbed Wang Shu.

Wang Shu turned around and screamed, "Don't touch me!" At the same time, she tried to punch Yu Shangrong.

"My apologies," Yu Shangrong said expressionlessly. He looked down at Wang Shu indifferently as he pushed his hand forward. Before her punch could connect, his palm landed on her stomach.

Bam!

Wang Shu fell from the sky.

"Shu'er!" Wang Shizhong's eyes turned red.

Nie Qingyun dove.

The energy sabers kept pushing Wang Shizhong back.

Nie Qingyun crossed his hands.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Wang Shizhong spat out a mouthful of blood as he slid along the ground, crashing through two tables. He continued sliding before he came to a stop half a foot before Lu Zhou. When he looked up, he saw Lu Zhou stroking his beard and looking down on him calmly.

Lu Zhou shook his head and said indifferently, "If this happened in the past, you would've been dead by now." After a brief pause, he added, "You really don't know how to appreciate a favor."