My disciples are all villains.

"Fusion grade?" Lu Zhou could feel the energy contained in the weapon. Only fusion-grade weapons would have this unique energy. Their unique energy was the reason why it was so difficult to upgrade swords, sabers, spears, and halberds to the fusion grade. Unlike the Sea Spirit Pearl and the Purple Glazed Ceramic, these weapons would improve tremendously after reaching the fusion grade.

"That's right. I was lucky enough to find the mystic microstones needed to repair it." Xiao Yunhe's body moved like the willow as he rushed to the top of the Star Gathering Formation. When he reached the highest point, the hexagonal weapon in his hand grew several times in size again.

The hexagonal weapon looked like a cone-shaped drilling machine as it fell on the formation.

Boom!

The Star Gathering Formation rumbled thunderously under the attack of the hexagonal weapon. The ground shook as stones rolled down the mountains.

"As expected of a formation from ancient times..." Xiao Yunhe said before he attacked with his hexagonal weapon again.

Boom!

Rocks continued to roll down the mountains as the ground shook, but the formation's barrier remained standing. It showed no signs of breaking at all; it was bright and beautiful, and it shone with a blue that was like seawater. Its light did not dim at all.

'This is f*cking awkward…'

Wu Chao and the others felt awkward when they saw this. Inwardly, they were cheering on Xiao Yunhe, hoping he would not drop the ball at such a critical moment. No matter what, he was an influential figure who once stood at the peak; it should not be that difficult to break a formation.

At this moment, Xiao Yunhe cleared his throat and said, "I only used thirty percent of my strength earlier… Pavilion Master Lu, please be careful. I'm going to unleash my full strength next..."

Wu Chao and the others retreated.

Xiao Yunhe prepared to unleash all his strength in one move. This one move would definitely shake the world; his strength was peerless, and the shockwave would be fierce!

"Let me do it…"

Before Xiao Yunhe could unleash his world-shaking move, a voice rang from a mountain peak behind them.

Si Wuya stood on the mountain peak. His pair of golden wings that spanned dozens of meters made him look unusually cool.

Lu Zhou said, "Let him do it."

Xiao Yunhe looked at Si Wuya on the mountain peak and said, "This is the Star Gathering Formation… Even when I attacked it earlier, I was unable to break it. Are you sure you can… uhh… break it..." He trailed off.

Before Xiao Yunhe finished speaking, Si Wuya had placed one hand on the ground. With that, the barrier of the Star Gathering Formation was disappearing swiftly. Then, he straightened his back and said, "This spot is the heart of the Star Gathering Formation, and it controls the formation. The formation isn't something that can be broken with brute force…"

'Brute force…'

Xiao Yunhe: >_<|||

Following that, Si Wuya leaped into the Star Gathering Formation and bowed at Lu Zhou. "When I learned that something had happened to Ning Wanqing, I rushed over immediately. I apologize for making master worry."

'Master?' With this, Xiao Yunhe said, "As it turns out, you're Brother Lu's disciple. I apologize."

Si Wuya only smiled perfunctorily in response.

Lu Zhou said, "The four elders are still trapped under the cliff. Save them."

Xiao Yunhe said, "I'll do it. The inner part of the Star Gathering Formation is complex and ever-changing. If you're not careful, it'll be dangerous…"

Without waiting for a reply, Xiao Yunhe rushed into the inner part of the formation.

Before Xiao Yunhe could get far, Si Wuya said, "The four elders have already been rescued."

Xiao Yunhe, who was originally flying in a straight line, swayed to the side and stumbled when he heard these words. He could only smile awkwardly and return.

Si Wuya said, "I was studying the formation earlier. Due to the Li Lis' evil energy, the four elders were resting in the forest on the mountain."

At this moment, the four elders rushed over from the mountain peak and landed outside of the formation

"Greetings, Pavilion Master."

Zuo Yushu, Hua Wudao, Leng Luo, and Pan Litian were all safe and sound. Apart from looking a little disheveled, they did not look any worse for the wear.

Si Wuya had already warned them about Lu Zhou's change in appearance so apart from being briefly surprised, they quickly accepted and adapted to the change.

"No need for formalities," Lu Zhou said as he waved his hand.

The four elders were experienced and had lived a long life so they could sense something was not quite right based on Lu Zhou's expression.

At this moment, Zuo Yushu said anxiously, "Duanmu Sheng, that child, he…"

The four elders had accompanied Duanmu Sheng to cultivate here. Due to his age, the four elders had long begun to treat him as their disciple as well. They had used all their strength to send him up from the bottom of the cliff because they did not want him to encounter any danger…"

Lu Zhou did not hide anything from them and said, "He's been taken away by Lu Wu. I don't know if he's alive or dead…"

"..."

Everyone frowned.

Lu Zhou looked at Si Wuya and said, "Let's return to the capital first. Li Yunzheng is probably in a terrible state; you shouldn't leave at this time."

"Yes."

Lu Zhou called out Ying Zhao.

Ying Zhao was still trembling from shock after witnessing the earlier battle. Perhaps, he finally understood one thing; he finally understood how powerful his master was.

…

The four circuits in Great Tang suffered heavy losses due to the beast tides. Who knew how many people had died, how many people were injured, and how many had lost their homes. This was the time the ruler of the country had to step up.

…

During the journey back to the capital, Lu Zhou activated the Purple Glazed Ceramic to recover as much supreme mystic power as he could.

When he arrived at the Preservation Hall, he checked in on Duanmu Sheng again. Just like earlier before he depleted his supreme mystic power, it was dark. He even briefly suspected Duanmu Sheng had died. However, the mission to educate Duanmu Sheng was still listed on the system interface; this meant Duanmu Sheng was not dead. In the end, he still could not figure the situation out.

...

On the other hand, it was just as Lu Zhou had expected, Li Yunzheng and the civil and military officials were extremely busy. They had to deal with the aftermath of beast tides in Great Tang's four circuits. They had to rebuild the cities and pacify the families of the fallen.

As soon as they returned, Si Wuya had gone to Li Yunzheng and went to work immediately.

The capital and the royal palace were located in the heart of Great Tang; they were far away from the four affected circuits and the Star Gathering Formation. Therefore, they were not too badly affected. Although there were fierce beasts that attacked, Shen Xi, Meng Changdong, and the members of the White Tower Council easily repelled them.

Due to worries that the fierce beasts might attack again, the members of the White Tower Council and the members of the Evil Sky Pavilion did not leave and continued to guard the four circuits.

…

In the evening.

Preservation Hall.

Xiao Yunhe could not help but sigh when he heard about what happened from Meng Changdong, the Guardian of the Evil Sky Pavilion. He said, "If I knew Great Tang would suffer such a calamity, I wouldn't have left that day…"

Lu Zhou shook his head and said, "Hindsight is 20/20..."

"20/20?"

Lu Zhou did not want to explain so he swiftly changed the topic. "I heard you have three blue crystals, right?"

Xiao Yunhe said, surprised, "Brother Lu, are you looking for the blue crystals?"

"That's right." Lu Zhou nodded.

Xiao Yunhe sighed before he said, "I spent nearly ten years to find the three blue crystals, but only one of them has the Great Void energy. I tried to absorb it, but it couldn't repair my Birth Palace. If Brother Lu needs them, I'll give them to you…"

"In return, I'll use my healing ability to repair your Birth Palace," Lu Zhou said.

Xiao Yunhe was overjoyed when he heard this. "Really?"

"Are there any benefits to me lying to you?" Lu Zhou said, "However, since you've recovered ten Birth Charts, the healing energy might not be very useful…"

"I'm satisfied enough that Brother Lu is willing to help me. Let me go back and get the blue crystals…" Xiao Yunhe said before he eagerly left the Preservation Hall.

Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction. Following that, he looked at his mission with Duanmu Sheng on the system panel; it was still there. He sighed softly.

After a moment, he checked the system interface.

Merit points: 446,760

Remaining lifespan: 1,861,302 days (5,099 years of which 600 years are from Reversal Cards).

Items: Deadly Strike Card x1, Critical Block Card x133(passive), Golden Taixu Mirror, Disguise Card x2, Deconstruction Card x3

Currently, he had very few trump cards left.

Fortunately, Lan Xihe had used her life-threatening grand technique and wiped out a huge number of their enemies. Otherwise, he would not have many merit points left now. All in all, he did not lose many merit points; he only bought the final ordinary Deadly Strike Card to deal with Lu Wu at the last minute.

Lu Zhou no longer bothered with his merit points and began to meditate on the Heavenly Writing.

…

After two days, Lu Zhou had recovered most of his supreme mystic power.

He ordered someone to bring the life hearts of the three beast kings in Jiangbei Circuit back.

While Lu Zhou waited for Xiao Yunhe's return, he used the Heavenly Writing's power of sight to check in on Duanmu Sheng again. Unfortunately, it was still dark.

An idea suddenly appeared in Lu Zhou's mind. 'Wait, could he be unconscious? Why didn't I think of this earlier?'

After mulling over it, he thought it was highly likely that Duanmu Sheng was unconscious.

Lu Wu was very intelligent; it was not inferior to humans. If it really wanted the Great Void Seed, it would not kill Duanmu Sheng immediately. In fact, it would try to save him. If a person died, the Great Void Seed would be destroyed. The Great Void Seed or its energy could only be harvested or absorbed if the host was alive. Back then, when the White Tower Council's Lian Xing wanted to obtain Zhao Yue's Great Void energy, she could only absorb it bit by bit as well.

After that, Lu Wu looked at the progress of the blue crystal mission. He currently possessed four blue crystals. If he counted the three blue crystals from Xiao Yunhe, he would have seven blue crystals. He was only missing two blue crystals.

With this, he was reminded of his fourth disciple. He wondered if his disciple had found the blue crystals.

'Let's have a look…'

Lu Zhou activated the Heavenly Writing's power of sight.

Zzzzz!

Zzzzz!

"..."