My disciples are all villains.

The moment his palm connected with Si Wuya's back, something peculiar happened. A blast of energy shot out from Si Wuya's back.

Bam!

At such a close range, Daoist Priest Zhang Yunshan could not react in time. He did not even have time to protect himself when the backlash in the form of a golden light hit him squarely in the chest, sending him flying back.

The secluded hut was a wooden structure to begin with. When Zhang Yunshan hit one of the pillars at the back, he broke it immediately.

Si Wuya felt nothing as he turned around to look.

Yu Zhenghai was shocked. He hastily walked over to the back of the hut to have a look. "Daoist priest?"

Zhang Yunshan was in agony and his expression was twisted from the pain. However, when he heard Yu Zhenghai's voice, he hurriedly looked up and forced a smile on his face before he said, "I'm fine. I only wanted to test the strength of the mantra so it'll be easier for me to break it."

"That's good… Please carry one." Yu Zhenghai made an inviting gesture.

Zhang Yunshan returned to stand behind Si Wuya. He was wiser now. With his previous experience, he no longer dared to underestimate the mantra. "What a powerful mantra… I've never been hit with a backlash before even though I've broken many Binding Mantras."

Zhang Yunshan put the horsetail whisk in his hand down and raised both of his palms. Two golden energy seals appeared in his hands, and it was brighter than the one before. He stared unblinkingly at Si Wuya's back. Then, before he slapped his palms down, he said in a deep voice, "Break!"

Bam!

When the golden energy seals landed on Si Wuya's back, a burst of energy exploded immediately!

The impact from the collision sent Si Wuya flying forward as he spat out a mouthful of blood!

Similar to before, the Daoist Priest, Zhang Yunshan, reeled back. This time, he spat out a mouthful of blood as well.

"Seventh Junior Brother!" Yu Zhenghai's expression darkened as he waved his arm. A gentle energy caught Si Wuya and brought him back to his original position before he crashed on the ground.

Yu Zhenghai did not have the time to worry about Zhang Yunshan's condition. He walked up to Si Wuya and examined him…

Si Wuya was pale as blood trickled from the corners of his lips. It was clear that he was injured.

...

Meanwhile.

"Ding! Punished the rascal, Si Wuya. Reward: 500 merit points."

"Does he think he can break the Binding Mantra?" Lu Zhou shook his head and closed his eyes.

He did not expect things would turn out this way. It seemed that there was no end to disciplining his disciples. He knew that rascal had probably tried to break the mantra, and as a result, was injured by the backlash. This was considered a punishment as well.

…

Yu Zhenghai frowned. After all, he was the one who brought Zhang Yunshan here. If Si Wuya was hurt, he could hardly shirk off his responsibility. Moreover, Si Wuya had taken the Binding Mantra for him. Not only did he not help Si Wuya undo the mantra, but he had inadvertently harmed him as well. How could he not feel guilty?

"Eldest Senior Brother, I'm alright… This is to be expected." Si Wuya straightened his back and wiped the blood on the corner of his lips away.

Yu Zhenghai grunted in response. He walked to the back of the secluded hut again and looked down at Zhang Yunshan who was sprawled on the ground before he said, "Zhang Yunshan."

Zhang Yunshan sensed the abnormality in Yu Zhenghai's tone. His heart skipped a beat as he hastily rose to his feet. He wiped the trail of blood on his mouth away and said, "Please give me another chance! I was careless and didn't expect the mantra to be this powerful. I have never seen a mantra like this before. Why is there a backlash whenever I try to break it?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhenghai said coldly, "The weak have many excuses."

"Sect Master Yu, what do you mean?"

"I've given you a chance… Alas, you didn't treasure it."

"You…" Zhang Yunshan, naturally, knew what Yu Zhenghai meant.

Yu Zhenghai turned around, his back facing Zhang Yunshan.

Zhang Yunshan said in a deep voice, "You promised that if I break the mantra… you'll bury the hatchet between the Nether Sect and the Celestial Masters Sect. Are you going back on your own word?"

Yu Zhenghai did not waste his breath with Zhang Yunshan. He waved his arm dismissively and said, "Send him on his way."

A figure moved quickly to where they were at.

The space seemed to contort, the rippling energy around it was a breathtaking sight to behold.

Bam!

Zhang Yunshan was hit by an energy in the chest before he was sent flying back.

Soon after, Hua Chongyang's figure appeared. "Unfortunately, you didn't break the mantra! On top of that, you wanted to harm Mister Seventh?"

Zhang Yunshan spat out another mouthful of blood. After that, he struggled to get up to his feet before he turned tail and ran.

Hua Chongyang continued to say, seemingly unbothered that Zhang Yunshan was trying to escape, "When you tried to break the mantra, you were thinking about planting a new mantra… That's why there was a backlash! You can only blame yourself for your death!"

As soon as Hua Chongyang finished speaking, he vanished into thin air and reappeared above Zhang Yunshan. His avatar materialized, and it raised its fist before bringing it down.

Meanwhile, Si Wuya did not even spare a glance in Zhang Yunshan's direction. He only shook his head and said, "Is that necessary?"

Yu Zhenghai said, "I know what I'm doing."

"Are you planning to attack the Celestial Masters Sect?"

Yu Zhenghai shook his head and said, "This is just an interlude… He wanted to die, and I'm merely fulfilling his wish."

Si Wuya fell silent.

Yu Zhenghai sighed and said, "I didn't expect this mantra to be so powerful… Not even Zhang Yunshan could break it! I nearly harmed you."

"It's nothing," Si Wuya said, "All these years, I've never used my martial strength much anyway."

"With your magnanimity, Seventh Junior Brother… it's truly a shame that you're not in the Nether Sect! The position of strategist is meant for you," Yu Zhenghai said.

Si Wuya felt slightly helpless. He had been offered the position of a strategist year after year since he had left the Evil Sky Pavilion. He deftly changed the topic and said, "Second Senior Brother was here not long ago."

"Oh?"

"He wanted me to convey a message to you. He said that the blade needs to be whetted regularly to maintain its sharpness. He wants to have a battle with you in half a year." Si Wuya did not withhold nor twist Yu Shangrong's words and conveyed the message honestly.

Yu Zhenghai chuckled.

The sound of Hua Chongyang beating up Zhang Yunshan rang in the air as Yu Zhenghai said, "Just as well. That's what I want…"

Si Wuya asked, "Master said that once we've joined the Evil Sky Pavilion, we're free to do what we want, but we're not allowed to kill one of our own. That's the iron rule of the Evil Sky Pavilion since its foundation. Senior brother, are you really going to do this?"

"You should ask Second Junior Brother this question," Yu Zhenghai said.

"But… you're our Eldest Senior Brother…"

'Yes, you're the Eldest Senior Brother. The eldest should be more accommodating. The eldest should be more tolerant. The eldest should be more resilient.' Whenever Yu Zhenghai thought about this, he would fall silent. This time was no exception.

A moment later, Yu Zhenghai patted Si Wuya's shoulder and walked out of the secluded hut. Before he left, he said, "Let's not talk about such gloomy things. I'll find a way to break that mantra on you.'

"There's no need to trouble yourself, senior brother… I'll think of a way to break it myself. This is master's doing, after all. I'm afraid he's the only one who can undo this."

Yu Zhenghai stopped in his tracks and said, "What do you plan to do?"

Si Wuya smiled without saying anything. He bowed at Yu Zhenghai and said, "Safe journey, senior brother."

...

Meanwhile, Lu Zhou had woken up from studying the Heavenly Writing. He seemed to have remembered something. He stood up and walked toward the table where the old parchment drawing was. He studied it as he muttered to himself, "Place the Open Heavenly Writing's remnant piece on the parchment drawing…"

He looked at the other parts of the drawing beside the outline that was clearer. "This is the palace where the Open Heavenly Writing's remnant piece should be, right?"