My disciples are all villains.

Duanmu Sheng was sent up with the full force of the four elders' palm strike. Even the, when he shot up 10 meters past the cliff's edge, the suction force started pulling him at him again. He instinctively brought his Overlord Spear out!

"1,000-pound force!"

The Overlord Spear flashed with a golden light like a golden dragon and stabbed into the ground, causing the ground to shake and crack.

Duanmu Sheng was sent out by the four elders with a full-strength palm strike.

Bang!

With the Overlord Spear stabbed into the ground, Duanmu Sheng gripped the handle tightly as he looked back. Although he had gotten back up, he was not happy. Where were the four elders? He recalled Leng Luo's words: go up with our blessings! He gritted his teeth as he stared at the edge of the cliff and falling wind blades as his discomfort grew. Alas, he was helpless.

The suction force only went away after 15 minutes.

Following that, Duanmu Sheng pulled the Overlord Spear out before he leaped off the cliff. After flying for a long time, he still could not see the bottom.

"Elder Zuo!"

"Elder Huo!"

There was no response from the bottom of the cliff.

Duanmu Sheng had never felt so helpless in his life.

...

Meanwhile, Lu Zhou frowned as he continued watching.

Duanmu Sheng seemed to have lost his mind at this moment.

Due to the unique and dangerous nature of the Star Gathering Formation, Lu Zhou finally used all the supreme mystic power and roared, "Return!"

With this word, the scene cut off.

…

When Duanmu Sheng heard the thunderous voice from the sky, he shuddered and looked up. "Master?"

He looked around and kept searching for his master, but he could not see anyone at all.

"Is master nearby?"

Duanmu Sheng called out twice, but the area within 1,000 meters of the Star Gathering Formation was silent.

At this moment, golden talismans that fluttered like butterflies flew up from below.

"Elder Zuo?!" Duanmu Sheng was overjoyed. He flew toward the golden scripts.

There were not many scripts, but they were enough to form a few sentences: There's something wrong with the formation. Only the Pavilion Master can save us. Hurry up and return!

Duanmu Sheng calmed down. After all, these scripts meant that the four elders were alive.

Following that, he flew up again. He discovered the Star Gathering Formation had now shrunk to the size of a house.

"I should leave first…"

Duanmu Sheng charged toward the entrance. He thrust his spear out at the light barrier. This time, the barrier could no longer keep him inside. Delighted, he rushed out of the Star Gathering Formation.

Duanmu Sheng took a deep breath; the air outside was cool and refreshing. Then, as he turned to leave…

A purple ring of light appeared in the center of the Star Gathering Formation. It looked like a Six Directions Eight Trigrams Seal.

Duanmu Sheng was puzzled. "What's that?"

The ring of light let out an ear-piercing buzzing noise all of a sudden before a beast emerged from the ring of light.

The beast resembled a raccoon, but it had sharp and deadly claws. The noises it made sounded like that of a dog, and it was deep and powerful.

"Fierce beast?" Duanmu Sheng was not too surprised by its appearance since there were all kinds of strange-looking fierce beasts. However, this fierce beast emitted a very strange aura.

In fact, it was strange that a fierce beast would just suddenly appear in the Star Gathering Formation.

When the fierce beast saw Duanmu Sheng, it clawed at the ground and charged toward him.

"Average speed, average strength, average size..." Duanmu Sheng's rich combat experience allowed him to discern his opponent's strength.

When the fierce beast arrived in front of Duanmu Sheng, he spun around and stabbed his spear into its chest.

Bang!

The fierce beast died immediately as purple smoke rose from its body. The wisps of purple smoke lingered around Duanmu Sheng for a moment before dissipating.

"Huh? It disappeared just like that? It appeared in such a flashy and strange manner, but it died with just a poke?'

Duanmu Sheng frowned slightly and flung the fierce beast off the tip of his spear in disappointment. This kind of low-level fierce beast did not even have a life heart; killing it was a waste of time and energy.

Thud!

The fierce beast landed on a patch of grass.

Then, a terrifying scene appeared.

When the purple smoke that was still rising from the fierce beast's body made contact with the grass and the tree nearby, they wilted at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"This..." Upon seeing this, Duanmu Sheng thought the purple smoke must be poisonous. He checked his body and stretched his limbs, but he could not see anything wrong.

"What's going on?"

At this moment, the talisman on his waist rustled. He hurriedly lit it up.

Following that, a projection of Si Wuya appeared before his eyes.

"Third Senior Brother, are you okay?"

"I'm fine... The elders saved me. They're trapped at the bottom of the cliff," Duanmu Sheng said.

"It's good that you're okay. Master ordered for you to return to the palace; he'll save the four elders," Si Wuya said.

Duanmu Sheng nodded. Then, he lit up another talisman and threw it to the fierce beast's carcass before he asked, "What kind of beast is this?"

Si Wuya looked at it for a long time with a frown on his face. "It should be a Li Li. This fierce beast isn't strong. Why is it here?"

"It suddenly appeared in the Star Gathering Formation," Duanmu Sheng said.

"The formation must have been tampered with. In fact, there are many formations within the Star Gathering Formation. However, there's no reason for it to suddenly change its function. Did you see anyone strange while cultivating?" Si Wuya asked.

Duanmu Sheng shook his head.

Si Wuya nodded. "Alright. Come back first…"

Buzz!

Another Li Li emerged from the purple light circle in the Star Gathering Formation.

Duanmu Sheng said, "Another one of that fierce beast has appeared; I'll take care of it first…"

Si Wuya said, "Wait. Third Senior Brother, the Li Li has an evil and poisonous aura. Don't let it get close to the cities and don't let it go to a beast king. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable…"

"Alright, I won't show mercy to this kind of vile beast."

Si Wuya nodded and cut off the connection.

Duanmu Sheng grabbed the Overlord Spear and spun it around.

Swoosh!

As soon as the Li Li rushed out of the Star Gathering Formation, Duanmu Sheng tossed his Overlord Spear out.

The Overlord Spear exploded with a golden light as it pierced the Li Li.

Bang!

It nailed the Li Li to the barrier from the Star Gathering Formation.

"Hmm?" After Duanmu Sheng pulled the Overlord Spear out, he touched the barrier. He jolted immediately as an electric current ran up his palm. He frowned, "So you can enter again once you leave?"

Duanmu Sheng shouted, "Let me in!"

His voice echoed throughout the mountains and the forest, but there was nothing.

He looked up and thought about the four elders. He cupped his hands together in the direction of the cliff and murmured, "I will not disappoint all of you…"

He could only return as his master had ordered and wait for his master to save the four elders. With that, he grabbed his Overlord Spear and flew toward Jianbei Circuit.

As soon as Duanmu Sheng left, the purple ring of light lit up again. One after another, Li Lis began to rush out. Before long, there were more than 1,000 Li Lis.

The flowers, plants, and trees in the surroundings instantly withered and died.

...

Duanmu Sheng flew in the direction of Jianbei Circuit. After a while, he landed on the peak. He stabbed the spear to the ground and looked around only to find the wilderness was overrun with fierce beasts. However, they were all mid to low-level fierce beasts so they were not a big threat.

"What happened?"

Duanmu Sheng had only been in the Star Gathering Formation for half a year, cut off from the outside world, but he did not expect things to change so greatly.

He turned and looked in the direction of the Star Gathering Formation and was shocked to see the forest in that direction had all withered. Purple smoke slithered through the dead trees.

Bang!

Duanmu Sheng lifted the Overlord Spear and slammed it into the ground again. Then, he brought out a talisman and ignited it.

"Seventh Junior Brother, there has been a change of plans. I'll deal with the damn Li Lis first before returning to the capital…" Duanmu Sheng said.

"Is it very serious? Where are you?" Si Wuya instinctively asked. He did not like unknown variables.

"There are lot of Li Lis, and I have no way of reentering the Star Gathering Formation. I'm almost 100 miles north of Jianbei Circuit…"

Si Wuya quickly took out a map and roughly marked the location. "Don't let them enter the Circuit."

Duanmu Sheng smiled. "Don't worry."

He pulled out the Overlord Spear and stood on the peak, looking at the army of Li Lis slowly approaching from the distance.

…

In the royal palace's Preservation Hall.

Si Wuya reported this matter to his master in full detail.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and asked, "Li Li?"

"Many Li Lis are emerging from the Star Gathering Formation," Si Wuya said, "It should be an ancient runic passage that draws power from the Star Gathering Formation. The current runic passages aren't able to transport fierce beasts."

A runic passage required cultivators to channel Primal Qi into it. Therefore, low-level fierce beasts would not be able to travel through it.

"I suspect this is also part of the annihilation plan. I'm afraid our opponent is determined to destroy the red lotus domain," Si Wuya said grimly.

"Send a message to the White Tower Council, and ask them to send support to Jianbei Circuit," Lu Zhou said.

"Uh..." An awkward expression appeared on Si Wuya's face as he said, "Lan Xihe doesn't seem to be willing…"

"Just send the message," Lu Zhou said, "The four elders are in trouble so I have to go and save them."

"Understood."

At this moment, Meng Changdong rushed in. He fell on one knee and said, "Pavilion Master, a large number of fierce beasts have appeared in Jiannan Circuit, Jiangbei Circuit, Shanbei Circuit, and Jiangdong Circuit. It's especially bad in Jiangdong Circuit…"

Si Wuya sighed as he shook his head. "As expected."

How could there be such a coincidence in this world? Everything was premeditated.

This time, Zhao Hongfu rushed into the hall as well. She bowed and handed a piece of paper to Lu Zhou as she said, "The Hall of Runes found this. Pavilion Master, please have a look."

The paper read: Your opponent is me.

The words were written with a single stroke.

Zhao Hongfu said, "The other party should have broken one of our passages. I've already sealed the passage."

Si Wuya bowed before he called out tentatively, "Master?"

Lu Zhou's two fingers moved, and the piece of paper turned into ashes. "Some people still don't know how to repent after being taught a lesson. They really deserve to die."