My disciples are all villains.

The attendant left the study as reverently as when he came.

The study was once again quiet.

Liu Gu returned to his table. He picked up his brush and moved it across the canvas forcefully. The brush eventually broke the paper. He threw the brush on the table with a loud thud.

Two eunuchs who were startled by the noise hurried to the table.

Liu Gu said indifferently. "Clean this up."

"At once."

Half a day later, Liu Gu was going through the memorials when the attendant hurried into his study with an emergency report in his hand. His forehead was wet with sweat as he held the report with two hands above his head as he said, "Your Majesty, a report from Liang Province."

"Read it." Liu Gu did not bother with personally reading it.

The attendant unfolded the report and read, "The ten cities of Liang Province have fallen. They've been conquered by the Nether Sect. General Xiang Lie has fallen in battle. His Highness, the Fourth Prince, and the six generals have perished!"

Liu Gu frowned when he heard the report. He did not even frown when Liu Huan, the Second Prince, died.

The attendant waited on the Emperor every day so he was familiar with Liu Gu's temper. The quieter Liu Gu was, the more uncomfortable and anxious he became. The air in the study felt as though it was laced with poison. He felt if he inhaled too deeply, he would definitely die. The study was so quiet now that he could hear his own heartbeat.

After a moment of silence, Liu Gu finally said, "I see."

The attendant was relieved. A reply was better than none. He mustered his courage and said again, "Your Majesty, I have another matter to report."

"What is it?"

"There's a rumor going around that the cultivation world has found a way to attain the Nine-leaf stage," said the attendant.

Liu Gu who was slightly troubled by the earlier report turned around immediately. His eyes were wide as he asked, "What method is it?"

"Apparently, if a cultivator cut off his Golden Lotus and manages to survive, he can sprout leaves again and attain the Nine-leaf Stage," the attendant replied.

If Liu Gu had heard this report in the past or someone had told him about severing one's Golden Lotus to attain the Nine-leaf Stage, the person who had spoken about it would have been beheaded without a doubt. However, at this moment, he believed this rumor.

After Emperor Yong Shou passed away, Liu Gu had ascended the throne. He had neglected to govern the empire and focused on attaining the Nine-leaf stage. He had utilized the empire's resources and spent centuries on research before he finally discovered the Golden Lotus was what was preventing cultivators from attaining the Nine-leaf stage. He had tried various methods; binding the Golden Lotus with mantras and modifying the Golden Lotus, for example. He had even once thought about cutting off the Golden Lotus, but he quickly dismissed the idea. And yet, currently, such a rumor was spreading in the cultivation world now? There would be no waves without the wind. There must be a reason for this.

"Who spread the rumor?" Liu Gu asked.

"It started from a relay station in the Divine Capital. This information spread throughout the entire Divine Capital in half a day. However, many people don't believe it. Your Majesty thinks about this topic day and night, I dare not delay in bringing this news to you. Kindly give your informed decision on this matter, Your Majesty," the attendant said.

"Has anyone attempted it?" Liu Gu asked.

The attendant shook his head.

Liu Gu fell deep into his thoughts.

The attendant did not dare to move nor did he dare to rashly speak.

The method of severing one's Golden Lotus was akin to committing suicide with a blade. It was normal for people to be apprehensive.

Liu Gu had spent many years researching this. He had lost count of the number of Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm elites who had died during the research. On the bookshelf behind him, there was a space dedicated to the lists of names of people who had died for the sake of his cause.

Since the heavens had limited humans' cultivation bases to the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm, it was only natural for there to be more and more Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivators as time passed by. Even so, not everyone could attain the Eight-leaf stage, let alone the Nine-leaf stage.

After pondering over it for a moment, Liu Gu finally said, "This is my decree. Gather 100 men who are willing to sever their Golden Lotuses."

"At once."

It was not difficult to find these men. Great Yan had no shortages of citizens. Those at the One-leaf stage could participate as well. It did not necessarily have to be Eight-leaf experts.

Ordinary cultivators might be willing to sever their Golden Lotuses. However, there were many who were on the brink of deaths such as old men whose great limit was fast approaching, cultivators who were heavily injured or were terminally ill, or those who had nothing left to love for. Rather than dying without a cause, these people would naturally think it was better to sever their Golden Lotuses and try to attain the Nine-leaf stage. As long as the reward was huge enough, there would be no lack of brave men.

After the attendant left, Liu Gu raised one hand. A miniature Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar appeared above his palm. It was standing on an Eight-leaf Golden Lotus, and it shone with a golden light. The eight leaves were full and plump. The radiance of the Golden Lotus was dazzling.

Liu Gu's eyes flashed. If severing the Golden Lotus worked, it meant he would have to give up on his Eight-leaf cultivation base and start over. He wondered if he would be able to do it.

…

The Divine Capital was the core of Great Yan.

The cultivators under the heavens gathered in the Divine Capital and some were scattered across Great Yan's nine provinces.

The rumors of severing one's Golden Lotus to attain the Nine-leaf stage spread like a wildfire and caused a huge commotion.

Both the Noble and Fiend Paths had been racing to study the way to attain the Nine-leaf stage. Shortly after the rumor had spread. People had been divided into three factions; the lie faction, the radical faction, and the trial faction.

This rumor had also reached the Nether Sect's branches as well.

Hua Chongyang, Bai Yuqing, Yang Yan, and Di Qing stood in a row with their heads lowered.

Yu Zhenghai was pacing with his hands on his back.

"Please punish us, sect master! We weren't able to stop Mister Seventh!" Hua Chongyang was the first to fall to one knee.

"Please punish us, sect master!" The others followed suit and dropped to one knee as well.

The Nether Sect had won in the battle of Liang Province. Their victory was beautiful and brilliant. All ten cities of Liang Province were now under the Nether Sect's control. However, Yu Zhenghai was not happy at all. A somber expression could be seen on his face, and he would frown intermittently. He looked at his four subordinates who were kneeling and could not bring himself to punish them. In the end, he punched the wall next to him to vent his frustration.

Boom!

Yu Zhenghai did not use any Primal Qi. Relying on his fist and strength alone, he made the wall crumble. His expression was dark as he muttered, "Without Seventh Junior Brother, how am I supposed to unify the lands? Am I supposed to believe the rumor about severing one's Golden Lotus like all the fools out there?"

The Four Great Protectors remained kneeling on the ground. They did not even dare to breathe loudly.

After a moment of silence, Hua Chongyang said, "Mister Seventh insisted on returning to the Evil Sky Pavilion. We couldn't stop him. Moreover, the old senior's cultivation base is terrifyingly profound. Even an elite such as Xiang Lie could not survive a single strike from the old senior."

"All of you, rise." Yu Zhenghai turned around.

The four of them rose to their feet.

Yu Zhenghai said with a sigh, "Since he's insisted on returning, I'll respect his decision." What could he do anyway? Could he rush to the Evil Sky Pavilion to bring Si Wuya back?

"Sect master, what's our next move?" Hua Chongyang asked.

"Seventh Junior Brother drafted a plan to isolate the Divine Capital before he left for Liang Province. He has come up with different simulations of possible outcomes. Regardless of which of his plans we use, as long as we follow one of his plans, the sect will conquer the Divine Capital, sooner or later," Yu Zhenghai said.

Upon hearing this, Hua Chongyang sighed before he said, "Mister Seventh was a huge asset to the sect. What a shame…"

The other three shook their heads as well.

…

Achoo!

Perhaps, it was due to the cold wind blowing in the Cave of Reflection, Si Wuya whose cultivation base had been sealed sneezed.

"Zhu Honggong prepared a set of clothes for Si Wuya. He massaged Si Wuya's shoulders as he asked with a chuckle, Seventh Senior Brother, why won't you reveal the location of the crystal?"

Si Wuya glanced at Zhu Honggong and asked, "Did master send you to gather information from me?"

"Seventh Senior Brother, with my brains, what kind of information do you think I can glean from you? If master wanted to send someone, he would've sent Fourth Senior Brother," Zhu Honggong replied.

Si Wuya shook his head and said, "You're just recently returned to the Evil Sky Pavilion, but I see that your bootlicking skills have improved."

"I don't agree with your words, Seventh Senior Brother… How can you equate bootlicking to honesty? This is a great insult to me," Zhu Honggong said.

"…" Si Wuya, naturally, did not believe Zhu Honggong. How could Zhu Honggong fool him? "That's enough. To be honest, the only thing I know is that the crystal has found its way to Rongxi. It's not in Great Yan."