My disciples are all villains.

The nine huge pillars around the Lotus Dais burst forth with energies that resembled black chains and transformed into a huge black net.

"Run!"

"Those b*stards from the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

It was impossible that the Heavenly Sword Sect did not have a trump card since they were bold enough to lure the Evil Sky Pavilion here. It seemed like they had risked their lives to exact revenge.

This was all part of Luo Xingkong's plan. Although the sacrificial offering was successful, alas, the fight to the death was slightly different from what he had imagined.

At this moment, the cloud-splitting chariot started moving…

"Old villain, you won't be able to escape." A peculiar voice rang from the crowd before a cackle sounded across the Lotus Dais.

Lu Zhou raised a hand. "Stop."

The cloud-splitting chariot came to halt.

The nine pillars covered a wide area. The insides of the pavilions and the upper and lower parts of the Lotus Dais were surrounded by the towering pillars. In other words, the black net was meant to capture everyone here. This included the onlookers on the petals of the Lotus Dais.

Heads began to fly near the Lotus Dais.

The cultivators who had been shrouded by the black gas began to kill everyone around them.

The people's cultivation bases were too low so there was no way for them to defend themselves.

The black puppets wreaked havoc everywhere they went.

The Lotus Dais was in complete chaos. There were too many people around.

Lu Zhou remained expressionless as he watched this scene.

Meanwhile, Hua Wudao and Hua Yuexing frowned at this. They were formerly from the Noble Path after all. They could not accept such a killing method.

The grand shaman controlled the puppets and increased his own powers by devouring the others. This was a truly vicious method.

Lu Zhou was not worried. He was only worried that the person behind this would not show himself. He continued to wait. It did not matter if the flying chariot could leave this place or not. He planned to wait for the mastermind to appear and use his Deadly Strike card. A grand shaman would be worth at least 1,500 merit points.

"Master… there's no need to save them! These people would've paid to see things escalate. Their lives or deaths have nothing to do with us!" Mingshi Yin said.

Little Yuan'er chimed in, "That's right… I'm sure they were cursing us before we arrived."

At this moment, one of the black puppets seemed to have gone berserk as he lunged at the cloud-splitting chariot like a fierce beast. The black gas seemed to sizzle as he made his move.

Duanmu Sheng shouted angrily, "Get lost!" He tossed his Overlord Spear out!

Bam!

The puppet's facial features were hidden by the black gas. Only his eyes that were glowing unnaturally green could be seen. The puppet raised his arms and parried the Overlord Spear, sending it spinning.

Duanmu Sheng raised his hand, and the Overlord Spear flew into his hand.

Lu Zhou said apathetically, "Take care of this."

"Yes, master!" Duanmu Sheng was dissatisfied with his failure. Since his first attack did not do the job, he would attack again. He flew out of the flying chariot, energy rippled out from the tips of his toes into the surroundings. Based on this, one could see how fired-up he was. When he made a move, he would go all out.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Duanmu Sheng advanced on the puppet with a crushing force. Thousands of spear shadows struck.

"Let me at him as well!" Mingshi Yin was eager to join in the fray. He did not hesitate and shot toward them.

Little Yuan'er giggled before she said, "I want in as well!" She activated her Cloud-treading Boots and wrapped herself in the Nirvana Sash as she charged toward the other three black puppets.

Hua Yuexing raised her bow and fired. Feathered arrows took form between her left index and middle fingers.

Twang! Twang! Twang!

Her shots landed true on numerous puppets below them.

However, the puppets only staggered backward for a moment and did not fall.

Hua Wudao said, "Hit their critical spots."

"Mhm." Hua Yuexing fired her arrows again.

At this moment, more and more puppets appeared near the Lotus Dais.

Hua Wudao noticed the abnormality in this and said, "It's not only the sacrifices… Those who are killed will also be controlled!"

Zhao Yue had been focusing on maintaining the flying chariot's flight. When she heard Hua Wudao's words, she exclaimed in shock, "The dead can come back to life?"

"This isn't some resurrection technique… Ordinary cultivators have to circulate Primal Qi and condense it into energy to move objects. Witchcraft relies on Formations, Formation veins, and rituals to manipulate the Primal Qi in the natural environment and control a person's heart and mind…" Hua Wudao explained, "Even an elite such as Leng Luo could be controlled, let alone these small fries."

Zhao Yue said, "However, it's still meaningless. These puppets have such a low cultivation base, they won't be able to do anything to us."

"No." Hua Wudao shook his head. "A dead cultivator can only be killed if we kill the spellcaster or if we kill them with overwhelming power. They can't feel pain, and they're fearless. They no longer have the capacity to feel fear like normal humans. Meanwhile, this sacrificial offering's Grand Formation will continue to absorb the power of the dead. A grain of sand can become a mountain. We shouldn't underestimate them."

Zhao Yue cupped her fists and said, "I see."

Lu Zhou remained silent as he observed the battle below. He thought to himself, 'Where's the grand shaman hiding? What relationship does he have with Mo Li? Or is this the Fourth Prince who's exiled to the borders whom Hua Yuexing mentioned? As long as I can take the grand shaman out, there's no need for us to fear anything.'

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Duanmu Sheng charged forward as a terrifying energy surged out of his body. Thousands upon thousands of spear shadows finally destroyed a puppet. "This is f*cking tiring… Why are these puppets so difficult to kill?!"

Bam!

Mingshi Yin's Separation Hook destroyed a puppet at this moment as well. He said, "Just destroy the witchcraft spell. They're already dead to begin with."

The others looked at Mingshi Yin.

Mingshi Yin moved back and forth at lightning speed. He aimed his attacks at the black energy veins on the puppets' bodies.

Realization dawned on everyone at this moment.

"Old Fourth is indeed intelligent!" Duanmu Sheng quickly attacked another black puppet nearby with his Overlord Spear.

More black puppets fell. However, even more puppets took their places.

There were as many as 50 black puppets on the Lotus Dais.

Hua Yuexing continued shooting at the weak points of the veins. Although her cultivation base was low, her archery skills were shocking. From a distance, she had dealt with many puppets without having to move around like Duanmu Sheng and the others.

The puppets fell. The black gas rose from their bodies and was absorbed by the chain-like energies above them.

'No merit points?'

'This means the dead cultivators were in the Brahman Sea realm or below. This isn't worth it...' Lu Zhou shook his head. Fortunately, he had many disciples doing the fighting for him. If he had to deal with the puppets with his item cards, he might not even know how he died.

Hua Wudao was not an expert in offense, therefore, he chose to stay on the flying chariot.

As expected, more and more puppets began to lunge at the flying chariot.

"Six Compatible Seal." Hua Wudao's Six Compatible Seal immediately appeared with a dazzling light that enveloped the flying chariot.

The black puppets rammed onto the seal and were instantly repelled.

...

From afar, Si Wuya frowned when he saw this.

"Hua Wudao seems like he has had a breakthrough in his cultivation? Did he manage to get rid of his weak points?"

The nine towering pillars shook. At the center of the web of black energy, a black circle began to appear.

Si Wuya's frown did not ease as he muttered, "They're trying to capture energy like this?"

It was common knowledge that Formations could not be laid on the Lotus Dais. However, the sacrificial offering technique had worked along with the nine pillars. Who knew Luo Xingkong would be willing to offer his life as a sacrifice?

The nine pillars were now the sacrificial offering's strength!

"Sect master, the Nether Sect has returned! Should we greet them?"

The Nether Sect's flying chariot could be seen hovering near the third pavilion.

"There's no need for that."

"Understood."

Si Wuya looked at the Nether Sect's flying chariot and wondered to himself, "Eldest Senior Brother, will you lend them a helping hand?"