My disciples are all villains.

Boom!

The energy blade descended.

Lu Zhou frowned slightly. He said, "Let's take a look."

"Hm?" Jiang Aijian sensed a change in the old senior's aura. He led Lu Zhou to the Obedient Villa. When they encountered the soldiers outside the villa, he took the Imperial family's token out.

"My lord? You… you..." The soldier could barely speak from his overwhelming emotions.

"Shh!" Jiang Aijian shushed him. He lowered his voice and said, "I'm under His Majesty's orders to secretly protect the Empress Dowager."

"Yes, of course… My lord, please enter. These two are?"

"Hm? Who are you to ask?"

"I apologize for my rudeness. Please enter…"

The three of them successfully entered the Obedient Villa.

Lu Zhou had practically forgotten about the Imperial token. He had to admit that Jiang Aijian was quite quick-witted.

The three of them were close to the scene of the battle. They did not even have time to look at Zhao Yue and the Empress Dowager when the dust around the crumbled building settled.

The building had disappeared, and an entanglement of Bluewood could be seen on the ground.

"What happened?" The cultivators nearby were puzzled by this sight.

The Five-leaf elite did not move at this moment.

The Obedient Villa was extremely quiet.

Everyone's attention was focused on the battle. The fourth disciple of the Evil Sky Pavilion, Mingshi Yin, was he dead or alive?

Boom!

The Bluewood exploded. A Three-leaf Avatar emerged from the wooden cocoon.

Mingshi Yin shot into the skies above the Three-leaf Golden Lotus. His Separation Hook shone brilliantly. From underneath the Golden Lotus, 1,000 energy blades shot out along with the Separation Hook.

When Li Yunzhao saw this, his eyes widened. "As expected of an Evil Sky Pavilion's disciple. Conjuring energy blades with an avatar and pairing them up with a heaven-grade weapon. This strength… is terrifying!" He remained guarded. He waved his arm and conjured up a layer of energy to shield the Empress Dowager, just in case. However, his worries were for naught.

Mingshi Yin's attack was clearly meant for the Five-leaf elite who wanted to kill him.

The other person leaped. As soon as he moved along with his avatar, the 1,000 energy blades converged. With the Separation Hook, the blades moved toward the elite's avatar like hooks.

Zing!

The Separation Hook returned to Mingshi Yin's palm.

Thud!

Before anyone could react, the Five-leaf elite crashed to the ground. His eyes widened, and his body was bloodied.

When Lu Zhou saw this, he stroked his beard and nodded.

Little Yuan'er was so excited that she nearly jumped.

Lu Zhou caught her in time.

Jiang Aijian offered his praise in a soft voice, "Old senior, this disciple of yours… He's truly something else. He killed a Five-leaf Avatar with a Three-leaf Avatar… That's like a fantasy." As a cultivator himself, he knew just how great a difference every leaf would make in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm.

Even Lu Zhou did not expect this. He remembered that Mingshi Yin was only at the Two-leaf stage. However, it seemed like he had suddenly sprouted another leaf.

…

Mingshi Yin's attack landed true. He wiped away the blood on the edge of his lips and swiftly flew away. "Don't come after me… I have plenty from where that came from!"

Mo Li ordered in a low voice, "Activate the Formation!"

The cultivators around them moved.

'Activate the Formation?' Jiang Aijian shook his head and said, "Mo Li is a witchcraft cultivator, after all. It's only natural for her to have prepared some spells beforehand."

However, the peculiar thing was she did not send someone else after Mingshi Yin.

Lu Zhou looked to his left and right. He wanted to see where Leng Luo was. Unfortunately, there was no sign of him. He stroked his beard as he waited for the Formation to be activated. 'Activate all the Formations you want… Witchcraft is useless against me anyway. In fact, it'll work in my favor.'

"That disciple of yours sure is cunning. To think that he could escape from this…" Jiang Aijian said with a thumbs-up.

…

On the second floor of the pavilion north of the Obedient Villa.

Han Yuyuan looked at the fleeing Mingshi Yin and said, "Sect Master Si, your Fourth Senior Brother is much more cunning than you. He's wise enough to conserve his strength. Alas, he won't be able to survive. Do you believe me?"

Si Wuya shook his head and said, "I don't think so. If you think so, then, you don't know my Fourth Senior Brother at all."

"Oh?"

"Even with the Darknet's extensive information network, I can't say for sure that I'll be able to catch my Fourth Senior Brother," Si Wuya answered honestly.

"Hah, even the great Darknet's master has his humble moments. However… That's you… I don't think you understand why the Imperial family likes the enclosure at Rubei."

"Why is that?"

"Look… How's he going to escape when Rubei City is this huge?"

...

Bzzt!

A strange buzzing noise rang in the air.

From the pavilion, a rippling energy resonated with the buzzing noise from Rubei City's walls.

The weather in the sky changed. A strong gust of wind blew through Rubei at this moment.

The civilians looked up in surprise. The non-cultivators wondered if the weather was turning bad. It felt as though there was going to be a storm.

The cultivators, on the other hand, felt stifled.

"My Primal Qi has been blocked!"

"What happened?"

The cultivators noticed the sudden change in their bodies. They looked up at the skies. They could no longer conjure up their Primal Qi…

Several barriers appeared around the Obedient Villa.

The cultivators nearby retreated hastily when they saw this.

This was the Imperial family's territory. Nobody dared to get close. Moreover, there were many soldiers standing guard around the compound.

…

Inside the Obedient Villa.

The others looked up at the skies as well.

Jiang Aijian, Little Yuan'er, and Lu Zhou sensed the abnormality in the air.

Jiang Aijian said sheepishly, "This is bad… It's not a Witchcraft Formation. It looks like… the Ten Terminal Formation."

Lu Zhou stroked his beard as he observed the situation and said, "The Ten Terminal Formation is a Grand Formation unique to the Divine Capital. Why is there one here?"

"These are all cloned Formations… They only possess one of the Ten Terminal Formation's strengths," Jiang Aijian replied.

"Master, I… I can't seem to mobilize my Primal Qi anymore…" Little Yuan'er mumbled.

"Stop trying. All Primal Qi has been blocked. This is one of the most terrifying aspects of the Ten Terminal Formation…"

Lu Zhou seemed unfazed. He secretly tried to circulate his Primal Qi. As expected, it felt empty. Nothing moved. He wondered about the extraordinary power and tested it. A cooling sensation instantly spread throughout his body.

With this Formation, the entire villa was now cut off from the outside world. Everyone within the villa was now a mortal. At most, they were mortals with tougher bodies.

'Let's leave this to Leng Luo." Lu Zhou wanted Jiang Aijian to lead the way to escape when they heard a sound from the villa's entrance.

"I say… What a merciless bunch! I'm Princess Zhao Yue's senior brother. How rude! Unhand me!"

Two muscular generals flanked Mingshi Yin as they escorted him over.

Clearly, Mingshi Yin had failed to escape.

He was tossed by the two generals.

A brilliant smile bloomed on Mo Li's face as she said, "This is the Ten Terminal Formation… It's quite unexpected, isn't it?"

Li Yunzhao was slightly stunned. He frowned.

Zhao Yue registered a slight change in her expression as well.

The other soldiers and generals were neither shocked nor puzzled. Clearly, they were privy to this plan.

Mo Li said, "Inside the Ten Terminal Formation, all beings are equal."

This meant that everyone inside the Obedient Villa were mortals.

The Fourth Prince, Liu Bing, clapped his hands and said, "I'm impressed… As expected of you, brother. That's a brilliant move."

After spending years on the battlefield, he, naturally, knew how terrifying Formations could be. If it were not for the cities and barriers, wars between nations could very well be fought by cultivators alone. There would have been no need for mortals. When the battle proceeded into the cities, the ones that would decide the outcome of the battle were these mortal fighters.

"Your Highness, I've captured Mingshi Yin. Kindly pass your judgment."

"Very well." The Second Prince, Liu Huan, rose to his feet and waved his arm as he said, "Behead him."

A general drew his sword.

Zing!

"Wait!" Zhao Yue took a step forward.

The others looked at her in confusion.

Zhao Yue frowned and said, "I'll kill anyone who dares to touch my Fourth Senior Brother!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager could not help but glance at Zhao Yue. She sighed deeply before looking at the Second Prince, Liu Huan. Then, she pointed at Mingshi Yin and said, "In that case, I'll support Zhao Yue this time. As long as I'm here, nobody's allowed to touch a single strand of hair on his head…"

Mo Li turned around slowly. Her eyes were trained on the Empress Dowager, but her words were addressed to the Second Prince. "Your Highness, I've guessed correctly, haven't I?"

Liu Huan bowed at the Empress Dowager and said, "Grandmother, please return to your room to rest. I'll explain this to the Emperor later."

There was a faint scent in the air.

"Poison."

The cultivators who took in this scent were unharmed.

The Empress Dowager, on the other hand, fell immediately.

Li Yunzhao caught the Empress Dowager at once. He pointed at Mo Li and said, "You fiend! How dare you act against the Empress Dowager?! I'll have your head for this!" He rested the Empress Dowager on the chair behind him and leaped into action.

Mo Li retreated.

Li Yunzhao had barely leaped over when he found himself losing control of his body. He staggered. He was not used to moving around without the support of his Primal Qi.

Zing!

Two soldiers drew their swords and stood before Li Yunzhao.

"Eunuch Li, you should conserve your energy," Liu Huan said coldly with his hands on his back.

"Your Highness!"

At this moment, Liu Huan suddenly turned around.

Boom!

A loud noise reverberated in the air as Liu Huan suddenly kicked Li Yunzhao's chest. "You lowly slave… If it weren't for my grandmother, I would've never permitted you to foul my ears with that voice of yours."

"Eunuch Li!" Zhao Yue's expression changed.

"I'm alright… I've promised someone that I'd protect you even if it costs me my life. Princess Zhao Yue, this is the Empress Dowager's jade token. Take it…" Li Yunzhao produced a piece of jade from his pocket.

Mo Li said coldly, "Don't waste your energy… Even if the king of the heavens himself is here, she can't be saved."

Mo Li waved her hands, and two men stepped forward and captured Zhao Yue…

Zhao Yue struggled defiantly. Unfortunately, without her Primal Qi, she was no match for two grown men. She was eventually suppressed.

"These are members of the Imperial guard… You dare resist?"

Due to the Ten Terminal Formation in the Divine Capital, the Imperial guards stationed there consisted of seasoned elites who did not control Primal Qi. Compared to them, cultivators who relied too much on Primal Qi were weak.

Zhao Yue was dragged to Mingshi Yin's side.

Mo Li was in an exceptionally good mood to see the two villains being captured.

At this moment, Liu Bing, the Fourth Prince, said, "Brother, isn't this inappropriate?"

"You've got a problem, fourth brother?"

"You're doing all this just to capture two villains? If grandmother's condition worsened due to anger, can you really bear the consequences?" Liu Bing asked.

Liu Huan chuckled and waved his hand. Several soldiers around Liu Bing drew their swords.

Liu Huan said, "That's why… I'll have to trouble you, fourth brother."

"What do you mean?" Liu Bing asked.

"Fourth brother… Don't worry, I'll make this entire scene look like an accident… After your death, I'll mourn for you for three days!" Liu Huan said.

Liu Bing clapped his hands and said, "Do you think that I'd come here unprepared? If you dare attack me, the Black Knights outside the villa and my own men will come charging in. They're all seasoned warriors, trained on the battlefield!"

"Are you threatening me?" Liu Huan glared at Liu Bing.

Liu Bing met Liu Huan's gaze unflinchingly. "Don't force my hand, brother!"

Since ancient times, there had been countless instances of people killing their brothers or masters to climb up the social ladder. However, nobody expected this to happen in the Obedient Villa.

At this moment, Mingshi Yin could no longer endure it. He shouted, "Oh, shut up! Jiang Aijian, what are you waiting for? Come out and save the day, will you?"

'Jiang Aijian?'

The Obedient Villa stirred.

Hundreds of soldiers swarmed in from the surroundings. They were worried that Mingshi Yin would escape.

"I'm not afraid of you. I have the Imperial token right here!" Jiang Aijian held the Imperial token up high. It would be too late if he did not act now. He would have to rely on his moles at this crucial moment.

The crowd dispersed!

Everyone was looking at Jiang Aijian and the token in his hand.

'Is Jiang Aijian out of his mind?'

'The audacity!'

'Liu Huan disobeyed the Empress Dowager and is even vicious and bold enough to kill his own brother. Will he really care about the Imperial token?'