My disciples are all villains.

It was almost impossible for the Luo Sect's elders to not be shocked.

Shan Yunzheng who was in disbelief said, "Bring me the letter!"

The disciple passed the letter to her.

Shan Yunzheng read the letter, her brows furrowed. When she finished reading, she passed it to the other elders.

"The Evil Sky Pavilion is an insufferable bully!"

"Isn't it enough for the Luo Sect to apologize?"

"If he's going to come, let's make sure he doesn't leave! The barriers of our holy lands aren't just for show, you know! Also… The Yun Sect has always been at odds with the Evil Sky Pavilion. Inform the Yun Sect of this matter as well."

"The Yun Sect won't be enough. It's better to drag the Tian Sect into this as well! Our three sects share the same origins, after all. We must band together and fight back since the Evil Sky Pavilion is clearly pushing us around!"

The elders nodded and came to an agreement.

…

Inside the great hall of the Evil Sky Pavilion.

Lu Zhou had already decided who to bring to the Luo Sect.

They were waiting in the great hall.

"Mingshi Yin, how's the repair of the flying chariot coming along?" Lu Zhou asked.

There were too many of them for them to travel on mounts.

Mingshi Yin stepped forward and said, "Master, the cloud-splitting chariot is completely repaired."

Lu Zhou nodded and said, "Elder Hua, do you have anything to say?"

After all, Hua Wudao was from the Yun Sect, which was one of the Three Sects. He would at least serve as a familiar face there. "I have no objections."

"Lu Ping." Lu Zhou looked at Lu Ping.

"Yes, senior!" Lu Ping bowed.

"How's the refining of the Falling Moon Bow coming along?" Lu Zhou asked.

"In reply to your question, old senior, it's coming along smoothly." Lu Ping was skilled with refining, to begin with. Therefore, he answered proudly.

Hua Yuexing held the Falling Moon Bow and brought it to Lu Zhou. She said, "Please have a look, Pavilion Master."

Lu Zhou looked at the Falling Moon Bow in Hua Yuexing's hands and reached out to take it. The engraved words were clearer than before. It seemed newer and gleamed even brighter than before. He nodded and returned the bow to Hua Yuexing as he said, "Although this isn't the best heaven-grade weapon, it might change if you put it to good use."

"Thank you for the reminder, Pavilion Master," Hua Yuexing replied cheerfully. At this moment, her impression of Lu Zhou had reached a greater height. She suddenly recalled the incident in Skylark Pagoda. At that time, Jiang Aijian had suggested that she joined the Evil Sky Pavilion. She had balked at the suggestion then. In hindsight, she realized how foolish she had been.

Lu Zhou stood up, placed his hands on his back, and walked down the steps.

The others followed behind him.

Considering that there was no longer a barrier around Golden Court Mountain, Lu Zhou left Bi An on the mountain to guard against rats.

…

On the cloud-splitting chariot.

Hua Wudao and Hua Yuexing stood on the port side, and Pan Litian and Leng Luo stood on the starboard side.

Meanwhile, Mingshi Yin was manning the helm in front.

The cloud-splitting chariot left the Evil Sky Pavilion. It left a long tail in its wake like a meteor.

"Aren't we a little under-staffed?" Pan Litian leaned on the wall of the cabin as he drank some wine. He felt that they should have a larger party.

Leng Luo glanced at him and said in a raspy voice, "The Evil Sky Pavilion's no longer protected by a barrier. It's only natural to leave some people behind to guard the Evil Sky Pavilion.

Lu Ping shuddered. He kept looking to his left and right. Throughout the time he spent in the Evil Sky Pavilion, he had only heard the names of the old seniors of the Old Age Pavilion, but he had never seen never them in person. Now that he had met them on the flying chariot, he felt insignificant and helpless. 'They're all f*cking bosses! I feel as though I have to tread on eggshells!'

Pan Litian chuckled and said, "What I'm worried about is the grand shaman, Ba Ma…"

"So what if he's a grand shaman? His mount is dead. I'm sure he suffered some damage as well. It's more than enough to have Jiang Aijian, Duanmu Sheng, Zhao Yue, Zhu Honggong, and the others guarding the Evil Sky Pavilion," Leng Luo retorted.

"Duanmu Sheng is alright, but Zhao Yue and Zhu Honggong's cultivation bases leave much to be desired. Meanwhile, Jiang Aijian is a coward! Even if the grand shaman is hurt, he shouldn't be underestimated. After all, they rely on Witchcraft Formations," Pan Litian said.

"Witchcraft Formations have to be prepared beforehand. Are you blind that you'll allow him to lay a Formation under your nose? Moreover, the pavilion master's mount, Bi An, is no ordinary beast," Leng Luo said mockingly.

Their bickering was intensifying.

Lu Ping had the urge to try to calm them down. However, he did not have the courage to interrupt a conversation between the two elites. He would be done for if he accidentally offended them.

"Enough," Lu Zhou said tonelessly. His deep voice resounded throughout the flying chariot.

Leng Luo and Pan Litian stopped arguing immediately and bowed at Lu Zhou in unison.

Lu Ping's heart shuddered at the sight. Just how powerful was the master of the Evil Sky Pavilion Master for these two bosses to willingly submit to him?

Lu Zhou stroked his beard as he took in the scenery of the mountains and rivers. He said, "Elder Leng."

"Yes, Pavilion Master?" Leng Luo replied.

"When did you attain the Eight-leaf stage?" Lu Zhou asked.

Leng Luo gave it some thought before answering, "300 years ago, I think…"

Lu Ping's eyes widened. He looked at his own comrades. 'Was this a topic that the bosses discuss on a daily basis?'

"Have you never thought about attaining the Nine-leaf stage after being at the Eight-leaf stage for so long?" Lu Zhou asked again.

Leng Luo said, "I cultivate the Dao Invisibility skill. It's difficult to reach the peak fo of this Daoist art. I haven't had the chance to attempt the Nine-leaf stage yet."

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and nodded. Leng Luo had a point. One could not halfheartedly attempt to attain the Nine-leaf stage.

"What about you, Elder Pan?" Lu Zhou asked.

Pan Litian put down the wine gourd in his hands and said, "I had a chance 200 years ago. Alas, the window was too brief."

"It was a peek through the window, not an actual window," Leng Luo said.

"You're right. I won't deny that."

Lu Zhou said casually, "In your opinion, what are the conditions required to attain the Nine-leaf stage?"

'Nine-leaf?!'

Leng Luo said, "All I know is that the cultivator must be at the peak of the Eight-leaf stage to attempt the Nine-leaf stage. About the other conditions, I have no idea as well…"

"Me too."

The two of them were surprisingly in agreement with each other this time around.

Hua Wudao cupped his fists. "I'm sure that nobody knows the answer better than you, Pavilion Master."

He was right. None of the members of the Old Age Pavilion had reached Lu Zhou's level.

Lu Zhou said, "It's not impossible to reach the Nine-leaf stage."

Leng Luo. "…"

Pan Litian. "…"

Hua Wudao. "…"

Mingshi Yin and Little Yuan'er were shocked.

Lu Ping and the others widened their eyes as well.

The Nine-leaf stage was a taboo realm set by the heavens. Was there actually a chance?

Silence descended on the cloud-splitting chariot.

...

After flying for a day and a night, traveling across several thousand miles past mountains and rivers, a number of peaks finally came into sight.

Mingshi Yin said, "Master, those are the 20 peaks of Yun Tianluo…"

From their high vantage point, the 20 peaks resembled 20 huge trees that towered into the clouds. It was as if they were floating among the clouds. This was where Yun Tianluo founded his sect on the southern parts of Great Yan.

"Lu Ping, lead the way."

If they were not led by those who were familiar with the surroundings, it would be easy to get lost among the sea of clouds.

At this moment, Lu Ping was genuinely worried that he was leading a pack of wolves into a sheep's pen. The feeling intensified when he looked at personages such as Leng Luo and Pan Litian. Regardless of how powerful the Three Sects were, they would not want to make an enemy out of these people. Finally, he said as he walked to Mingshi Yin, "I'll lead the way now."

Mingshi Yin allowed Lu Ping to man the helm.

The cloud-splitting chariot flew toward the peak on which the Luo Sect was located as they passed through a series of barriers.

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

Every time they passed through a barrier, a low and deep hum would reverberate in the air. The sound rang through the headquarters of the Luo Sect on their first holy land. 

The elders and disciples flocked together and looked up into the skies. Finally, they saw a huge chariot with a tail similar to a meteor passing through the barriers.