My disciples are all villains.

Little Yuan'er had never seen the Peacock Plume before. She had only heard about it from her seniors. She was in awe by its appearance when she saw it. She murmured, "Beautiful…" Then, as though she had regained her senses, she suddenly said, "Even then, it looks outdated. It's not as nice as my Nirvana Sash."

Mingshi Yin, "…"

Ever since Little Yuan'er had obtained the Nirvana Sash, nothing else seemed to impress her anymore.

'Look at her being so pleased over some lousy red cloth.'

Lu Zhou looked at the Peacock Plume. "How did you find Old Seventh?"

Mingshi Yin was invigorated by this question. He said with a smile, "That's a long story…"

"Forget it, then." Lu Zhou picked the Peacock Plume up.

Mingshi Yin. "…" It seemed like he had lost the opportunity to brag. In the end, he said, "Master, Old Seventh's cultivation base is sealed. For this reason, he has nowhere to go. I ran into that traitor, Yu Shangrong, and one of the Nether Sect's Four Great Protectors, Bai Yuqing, as well."

Lu Zhou cursed inwardly. 'So it was Old Seventh's cultivation base that had been sealed?' Outwardly, he calmly said, "I'm the one who sealed Old Seventh's cultivation base. It's no surprise that you managed to defeat him. Bai Yuqing's cultivation base is much more profound than yours. Since Baiyuqing was there, how did you succeed?"

Mingshi Yin grabbed at this chance to brag. "Bai Yuqing is a member of the Nether Sect after all. When I mentioned your name, master, Bai Yuqing was scared out of his wits. He didn't dare to stand in my way. Moreover, the traitor, Yu Shangrong, was there as well…"

"Yu Shangrong didn't try to stop you?" Lu Zhou asked.

"Not really… I lectured him for a long time. He knows that he's in the wrong and didn't dare to argue with me," Mingshi Yin said with a straight face.

When Little Yuan'er recalled her encounter with her second senior brother, Yu Shangrong, at Anyang City, she wondered to herself, 'Is Second Senior Brother someone who listens to reason?'

"Fortunately, I was smart enough to confiscate Seventh Junior Brother's Peacock Plume before I left… This way, he won't be able to cause any more troubles or commit any more sins in the future."

Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction. He said, "You've done well this time."

Mingshi Yin bowed and said, "Thank you for the compliment, master."

"If there's nothing else, you should return to rest."

"I have another matter to report."

"What is it?"

"When I returned to the Evil Sky Pavilion, I passed by Tangzi Town's station. I heard that Lu Xingkong, the former Sect Master of Heavenly Sword Sect, is gathering his forces to attack the Evil Sky Pavilion again," Mingshi Yin said. He had carefully studied the Golden Court Mountain's barrier when he returned. Indeed, the barrier was much weaker now. He had also spoken with Elder Hua who confirmed the rumors that were flying outside. Whether it was the Evil Sky Pavilion's disciples or the cultivators of the outside world, all of them were of the opinion that his master had absorbed the power from the barrier. Moreover, those in the Evil Sky Pavilion had also witnessed what happened to the hidden chamber.

Lu Zhou seemed unaffected as he said, "Luo Xingkong is a broken man… He's too insignificant to mention."

Mingshi Yin hastily bowed and said, "I'm willing to go down the mountain and head to the Heavenly Sword Sect to kill Luo Xingkong!"

At this moment, Zhou Jifeng hurried into the great hall. The moment he entered the great hall, he greeted Lu Zhou. "Greetings, Pavilion Master, Mister Fourth, Miss Ninth…"

"What's the matter?"

"I heard Mister Fourth is back so I came to see him." It was clear Zhou Jifeng had something he wanted to say.

When Mingshi Yin saw Zhou Jifeng fidgeting, he rolled his eyes and said, "Stop hesitating and spit it out… You've yet to master your own methods, but you sure do a good job of mimicking the hypocrisy of the Noble Path."

Zhou Jifeng's face turned a shade of pink from Mingshi Yin's mockery. "Pavilion Master… I'm willing to go to the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

"Why do you want to go to the Heavenly Sword Sect? And you want to go there with your Dao-controlling stage of the Divine Court realm?" Mingshi Yin attacked Zhou Jifeng mercilessly.

Zhou Jifeng scratched his head awkwardly and said, "I… can persuade them."

"…"

Lu Zhou shook his head and said, "You're a Heavenly Sword Sect disciple. You'd only worsen conflict worse if you went. Although Luo Xingkong has been cultivating in seclusion for many years, he's not yet of any concern to me."

"Your might knows no bounds, master!" Mingshi Yin said ingratiatingly.

Zhou Jifeng cupped his fists and said, "Luo Xingkong's cultivation in seclusion isn't as simple as it seems. When I was still in the Heavenly Sword Sect, it's rumored that Luo Xingkong had obtained a cultivation method that could boost his cultivation base for a short period of time. We have to be careful of him!"

"Boost his cultivation base for a short period of time? Isn't he worried that he might descend into depravity, implode, and die?" Mingshi Yin mocked.

"That, I don't know…" Zhou Jifeng said.

The path of cultivation had its own rules. Anyone who wanted to break the rules would have to pay the corresponding price.

Leng Luo chose to implode his body to help the cloud-splitting chariot survive the Ten Shamans' powers. If Lu Zhou did not make a move, Leng Luo would not be alive today.

A spear in the open was easier to guard against than an arrow fired in secret. What if the old man, Luo Xingkong, had secretly cultivated a move of mutual destruction such as Leng Luo's? Who would be able to survive that?

Everyone looked at Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou said nonchalantly, "A mere Heavenly Sword Sect thinks it can go against me?"

Mingshi Yin chimed in enthusiastically, "That's right! When the elites from the ten great sects attacked master back then, they accomplished nothing. Now that the son is dead, the father steps up… How ridiculous!"

Zhou Jifeng said, "Your might knows no bounds, Pavilion Master."

Little Yuan'er stepped forward and said, "Forget about bounds, let's go…"

"Mi-miss Ninth… yo-your orders?" When Zhou Jifeng remembered the Nirvana Sash, his eyes reddened.

"I'm trying to improve my affinity with the Nirvana Sash… Don't worry, I know I was wrong. I guarantee no one would be hurt this time," Little Yuan'er said with a grin.

Zhou Jifeng was taken aback.

Mingshi Yin was speechless.

'Is this really Little Yuan'er?'

'Something seems off.'

They had never seen Little Yuan'er apologize to anyone apart from Lu Zhou.

Before Mingshi Yin could wrap his mind around this, Little Yuan'er was already out the door.

Zhou Jifeng cupped his fists and followed her out.

Lu Zhou nodded slightly. 'Little Yuan'er seems to be more mature now.'

Mingshi Yin rubbed his eyes. He felt as though he was in a dream and pinched himself hard. 'Ouch! That hurts! I… I'm not dreaming. It's real!'

Lu Zhou frowned slightly when he saw Mingshi Yin's antics.

"Master… I'm alright... I'm not crazy," Mingshi Yin said awkwardly.

At this moment, Duanmu Sheng strode into the great hall with the Overlord Spear in his hand. Based on how loud his footsteps were, it seemed as though the earth would quake in his wake. He walked up to Mingshi Yin and clapped Mingshi Yin's shoulders firmly. "Greetings, master."

A pained expression appeared on Mingshi Yin's face. 'Why do you have to hit me when you greet master?'

Lu Zhou asked, "How's the repair of the hidden chamber coming along?"

Ever since the hidden chamber was destroyed while he was cultivating in seclusion, Lu Zhou could not find another place where he could peacefully comprehend the Heavenly Writing. Although the environment in the east pavilion was acceptable, it lacked the tranquility of the hidden chamber.

"We'll need about ten more days. Master, I discovered a box while I was tidying the place. Please have a look," Duanmu Sheng said.

"A box?"

At this moment, two female cultivators carried a box into the great hall.

The box seemed old. However, it was obvious that it was recently cleaned. Its material was unique. It resembled leather and wood at the same time. The box was brownish in color.

When the two female cultivators placed the box on the floor, Mingshi Yin walked over curiously.

"What's in it?"

"I don't know," Duanmu Sheng replied.

"Break it open, and then, you'll know!"