My disciples are all villains.

Zhu Honggong said this with a sense of righteousness that inspired reverence. He truly behaved like a Gang Leader now.

His gang members who were kneeling exchanged glances. Then, they kowtowed at Zhu Honggong and said without any hesitation, "Thank you, Gang Leader!"

Zhu Honggong was taken aback. 'Shouldn't they be covered in snot and tears and feel reluctant to leave after listening to my touching words?'

"Get lost! You bunch of heartless fiends!"

The gang members hastily got up and dispersed.

Mingshi Yin waved his hand. The vines that blocked the paths vanished immediately. He had no reason to fight these small fries. Moreover, they were Zhu Honggong's subordinates. It was a good thing to let them go.

"Forget about this shoddy stronghold! You have a place in the Evil Sky Pavilion," Mingshi Yin said when he saw Zhu Honggong's crestfallen and reluctant expression.

"Senior brother… I've worked hard for everything here. I feel that I have a connection with every single plant here."

"Oh, shut up!" Mingshi Yin rolled his eyes. 'I can't believe he's being pretentious even at this moment!'

Zhu Honggong said reluctantly, "Let's go then…"

The two of them proceeded to leave Tiger Ridge.

While they were walking, Mingshi Yin recalled the sensation he felt when he struck Zhu Honggong's back with his palm. "Old Eighth… what are you wearing?"

Zhu Honggong hastily pulled his robes over his tunic and said, "Senior brother… don't you dare have any covetous thoughts."

Mingshi Yin shook his head and said, "That's enough. You can stop trying to hide it. I didn't expect Old Seventh would procure a zen tunic for you, that's all."

"…"

"I'm impressed that you weren't beaten to death by that pack of bald mules!" Mingshi Yin gave him a thumbs-up.

Zhu Honggong chuckled. "It's all in a day's work."

The two of them stepped into the air.

...

Meanwhile...

"Ding! Captured the rascal, Zhu Honggong. Reward: 1,000 merit points."

This surprised Lu Zhou. Initially, he only intended to have Mingshi Yin find out about Old Seventh's plan. Who knew Mingshi Yin would manage to capture Old Eighth? It was definitely a good thing that Old Eighth was captured. This way he would not be able to make trouble.

Lu Zhou looked at the system dashboard.

Name: Lu Zhou

Race: Human

Cultivation base: Brahman Sea Eight Meridians

Merit points: 13,312

Avatar: Six Recombinant Trigram Lines

Remaining life: 5,988 days

Item: Deadly Strike Card x1, Impeccable Card x2, Critical Block Card x7 (passive), Binding Cage x4, Refining Talisman x2, Ji Tiandao's Peak Trial Card x1, Whitzard (resting), Bi An.

Weapon: Unnamed, Amorous Hoop (Owner: Ye Tianxin. Requires refining before use), Life Cutter, Nirvana Sash, Tear Stain Box.

Cultivation method: Three Scrolls of Heavenly Writing.

It had been two days, and Whitzard was still resting.

Lu Zhou shook his head. Perhaps, it had spent too much energy while battling the Ten Shamans. He wondered how long it needed to completely recuperate.

Lu Zhou glanced at the system's mall again.

There was no time-limited box.

Lu Zhou gave it some thought before he finally decided to try his luck with the lucky draws. After five consecutive draws, his luck was raised to 19 points. His current merit points allowed him some margin for error on the lucky draw. Naturally, the above point was an exception.

"Elder Hua requests an audience." A voice rang from outside.

Hua Wudao walked in, clearly exhausted. His battle with Sword Saint Luo Shisan seemed to have drained him of all his energy. When he walked into the great hall, he bowed reverently at Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou asked in confusion, "What's the matter, Elder Hua?"

Hua Wudao cupped his fists together and said, "I've been thinking over these past few days, and there's something that I can't get off my mind…" Hua Wudao continued, "What this bag of old bones wishes to request has something to do with Ding Fanqiu."

"Oh?"

"Ding Fanqiu is from the Yun Sect and had acted under my instructions. At the end of the day, I'm the true perpetrator. This has nothing to do with him…" Hua Wudao said.

Lu Zhou did not have time to reply before Duanmu Sheng's voice that was laden with fury rang from outside the great hall. "Elder Hua, forgive me for being unable to agree with you on this!"

Hua Wudao turned to look at a furious Duanmu Sheng who was walking in with his Overlord Spear in his hand. He looked majestic and formidable.

"Ding Fanqiu has impersonated the Evil Sky Pavilion. According to our rules, he should be cut into eight chunks and fed to the dogs! You're a member of the Evil Sky Pavilion, and yet, you're siding with an outsider?" Duanmu Sheng asked furiously.

Hua Wudao's wizened face flushed.

Duanmu Sheng continued on his tirade, "I don't care who won between you and Luo Shisan, but I don't agree to Ding Fanqiu's release!"

Thunk!

Duanmu Sheng hit the floor with his Overlord Spear.

Hua Wudao said remorsefully, "Since I've left the Yun Sect, I should sever all ties with it. Ding Fanqiu is the final tie…"

"That's great! Elder Hua, you should kill him as a way to sever your ties to the Yun Sect!" Duanmu Sheng said.

"…" Hua Wudao was rendered speechless. Duanmu Sheng was destined to be the bane of his life. For some reason, Hua Wudao felt flustered every time he met him.

The sparring sessions did nothing to alleviate this. Ever since he became Duanmu Sheng's training partner, Duanmu Sheng would seek him out to spar at every opportunity he got. He would keep on fighting despite continual setbacks! Sometimes, Hua Wudao wondered if Duanmu Sheng was annoyed by him because he had lost too many times?

"Forget it…" Hua Wudao cupped his fists together at Lu Zhou. "I'm willing to be punished."

Lu Zhou slowly rose to his feet. He descended the stairs with his hand on his back. He looked at Hua Wudao with a level gaze and said gently, "I can release Ding Fanqiu."

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Sheng's eyes widened.

Hua Wudao was stunned.

"Pavilion Master…"

Before any of them could continue to speak, Lu Zhou said with his hands on his back, "On one condition..."

"Do enlighten me, Pavilion Master… Although I left the Yun Sect, my words still hold some weight to them. I'm sure some of the elders will do me a favor." Hua Wudao thought that Lu Zhou wanted something from the Yun Sect.

"All I want is the sable magnolia." Hua Wudao was dumbfounded.

Duanmu Sheng was taken aback as well.

Hua Wudao's old eyes widened as he said, "Pavilion Master, sable magnolias are extremely precious. The Yun Sect will never exchange a sable magnolia for Ding Fanqiu! This…"

Lu Zhou waved his hand and said, "There's no need to turn down my offer right away. Think about it when you get back."

No matter how thick Hua Wudao's face was, he was too embarrassed to say anything else. He cupped his fists and left the hall respectfully.

Duanmu Sheng cupped his fists and said, "Master, this old geezer isn't loyal. Why don't we…"

"There's no need for that." Lu Zhou waved his hand, "Just give him more time."

Duanmu Sheng, naturally, did not dare to protest. Instead, he asked, "Master, why do you want the sable magnolia?"

"Your Little Junior Sister's sea of Qi isn't opened yet… The sable magnolia is a Heaven and Earth Treasure which is most suited to activate one's sea of Qi."

"Your cultivation base is profound, master, why would you need to rely on the sable magnolia?"

"Forcibly opening up her sea of Qi won't be as ideal as using a sable magnolia," Lu Zhou explained.

"I understand now."

At this moment, Little Yuan'er rushed into the great hall. She giggled as she said, "Master, Fourth Senior Brother is back!"

Outside the great hall.

Mingshi Yin and Zhu Honggong, Old Eighth, walked at an unbelievably slow pace.

The way Zhu Honggong shuffled into the great hall made him look even more bashful than a bride on her wedding day.

Mingshi Yin glared at him and said, "Since we're already here, quit dragging your feet. Would you rather I break them and carry you over?"

"No, no, no… I… I need to pee." Zhu Honggong surveyed the familiar surroundings. He saw the buildings… and the Evil Sky Pavilion that he feared most.