My disciples are all villains.

In other words, the fourth Heavenly Writing power was like a healing technique. However, it was much more effective and rejuvenating compared to ordinary healing techniques.

Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction after confirming his guess.

'Well, then, are there any more Heaven Writing powers?' Lu Zhou thought to himself as he returned to the eastern pavilion to look at the old parchment drawing.

When he finally saw the old parchment drawing, he was shocked to find nine provinces shown on the map.

Yi Province in the southwest, Qing and Yang Provinces in the east, Ji and Yan Provinces in the north, Yong Province in the northwest, Liang Province in the west, and Yu and Jing Provinces in the central area. The map of Great Yan's nine provinces now laid before him.

'Uh… Is this a hint that the next Open Heavenly Writing Scroll is scattered across the nine provinces?'

The area the nine provinces covered were vast. If Lu Zhou did not have a good flying chariot or a mount like Bi An, it would have been much easier to ascend the heavens than to traverse the nine provinces.

Lu Zhou would not encounter much of a problem if he stuck to the human settlements. However, it would be exceptionally dangerous once he set foot in uninhabited areas such as the forest and the desert. Even with Yu Shangrong's cultivation base, it took him a long time to reach Wuxian Mountain on his sword.

The other parts of the parchment were still blank.

However, judging by the layout of the land, Lu Zhou could tell that Rongxi was to the west while Rongbei was to the north. Those were the lands of the Other Tribes.

The old parchment drawing hovered in front of Lu Zhou as he continued to study it. It was much larger than he had expected. The table could barely support it. He could not help but frown when he saw that there were still many blank parts. "What are these places?" Even Ji Tiandao had only gone as far as Rongxi and Rongbei. Most of the time, he was in Great Yan. Ji Tiandao did not know much about places beyond Rongxi and Rongbei.

After a while, Lu Zhou lowered the old parchment drawing and no longer looked at it. He recalled Si Wuya's words and muttered to himself, "That man is temperamental and cannot be trusted."

"Is anyone outside?"

Swoosh!

A figure appeared outside of the eastern pavilion.

"Your orders, master?" It was Little Yuan'er.

"Send a letter to Mingshi Yin. Have him investigate the Darknet," Lu Zhou said.

"Oh… but how are we supposed to find members of the Darknet?" Little Yuan'er asked as she scratched her head.

"The Cave of Reflection."

"Understood!" Little Yuan'er turned around and left.

…

Meanwhile, in front of the Scholar Cave in Duanlin Branch.

Many Duanlin Branch disciples were bowing at the cave's entrance. They said in unison in a thunderously loud voice, "Congratulations on coming out of your secluded cultivation, Patriarch!"

Whizz!

The stone door slid open, and an old man with white air emerged from the Scholar Cave. He did not seem energetic. In fact, he looked downright exhausted. However, his gaze was sharp. Nobody doubted his status and glory. This old man was none other than the old Patriarch of the Duanlin Branch, Chang Yan. "I know about Chang Jian."

At this moment, the first disciple, Shao Jinhan, stepped forward and gloomily said, "Patriarch, the Evil Sky Pavilion is too much! The Sword Devil, Yu Shangrong, crossed the heavenly moat and killed the sect master. Apart from that, the Celestial Masters Sect's Grand Elder, Hengqu Branch's Grand Elder, the Good Fortune Temple's abbot, and many others were also killed by Yu Shangrong… So long as the Evil Sky Pavilion isn't destroyed, we'll never have peace in the cultivation world. We had no choice but to implore you to come out of your secluded cultivation, Patriarch!"

Chang Yan looked at the others and asked, "The Evil Sky Pavilion? Old Villain Ji isn't dead yet?"

Shao Jinhan recounted everything that happened recently to Chang Yan. He made sure to mention the rumors of Yu Shangrong being heavily injured by Zhang Yuanshan and the withering of plants across half of Golden Court Mountain.

Upon hearing Shao Jinhan's words, Chang Yan frowned slightly as he said, "Old Villain Ji's great limit is near. How is he maintaining his peak cultivation base?"

"In reply to your question, Patriarch, Old Villain Ji has absorbed the Golden Court Mountain's barrier to maintain his strength. Currently, the barrier is gone. The seven major sects of the Noble Path have formed a Fiend Extermination Alliance. So long as we make ample preparation, we stand a good chance of taking down the Golden Court Mountain," Shao Jinhan said.

Chang Yan shook his head and said, "I heard that the ten great sects laid siege on Golden Court Mountain twice and failed."

"Patriarch, they had miscalculated during their first two attempts. This time, the Noble Path's Alliance took their time preparing… This is a good opportunity for us to try and gain a firmer footing in the cultivation world!" Shao Jinhan said. When he saw the patriarch seemed unmoved, he added, "Otherwise, are we supposed to let the sect master's death go unavenged?"

The latter part of Shao Jinhan's words was similar to Chang Yan's thoughts. A life for a life. This had been the way of the world since time immemorial.

Chang Yan could disregard the happenings in the past. However, the cultivation world had its own rules to function. It was the survival of the fittest as it always had been. However… What could he do?

Chang Yan sighed softly and said, "My cultivation base has already deteriorated to the Two-leaf Nascent Divinity realm. The disciples of the Evil Sky Pavilion are highly talented. How are we supposed to stand up to them?"

"Patriarch, if you would look at this." Shao Jinhan gestured with his hand.

Two disciples carried something between them from the back of the crowd. It was covered by a red cloth.

Shao Jinhan removed the cover. Vials of liquid were presented to the patriarch.

"What are these?" Chang Yan frowned.

"Primal Fiend Potions."

"…" Chang Yan was the only one who was shocked. The others seemed calm.

Primal Fiend Potion was a banned substance in the cultivation world. Consuming this potion would boost one's cultivation base to its peak, but the consequences were dire as well. Those with weak minds would be bewitched by the potion and lose all sense of reason before they turn mad and go on a frenzied killing spree. When the potion wore off, the user would experience extreme exhaustion. There was also the possibility of the user's cultivation base declining greatly. The side effects were too great to ignore.

Chang Yan regarded the Primal Fiend Potions with a complicated gaze. He said in a deep voice, "How dare you?!" Was this not clearly asking him to give up his life?

Shao Jinhan fell to his knees immediately.

The other members prostrated themselves on the ground.

"Patriarch, we have no other choice! I'm willing to accept any kind of punishment! For all your disciples in the branch, please think about it!" Shao Jinhan knocked his head thrice on the ground. Three loud thuds rang in the air.

The others kowtowed as well.

The sight of hundreds of disciples kowtowing in unison was rather impressive.

Loud thuds rang in the air.

Chang Yan's wizened face twitched. His thoughts were complicated. Indeed, his great limit was fast approaching. By right, he should spend the rest of his days in the Scholar Cave while tending to his own health until the day came where he would be buried with a grand ritual. He would then return to dust and be free from the shackles of this life. However, he could not be at peace with Chang Jian's death.

Chang Yan understood Shao Jinhan's meaning. Everybody would die. His great limit was nearing, after all. Why not use this opportunity to grant them a blessing before his death? In truth, when he learned of Chang Jian's death, this thought had crossed his mind as well. However, he did not have the energy to make a decision. He found himself in a dilemma as he looked at his kneeling and kowtowing disciples. He finally said in a deep voice that resounded in the area, "That's enough."

Everyone stopped moving immediately.

Chang Yan waved his hand. A vial flew into his hand as he said, "I'll consider this proposal… but…" He paused before continuing to say, "We must be careful in exterminating the Evil Sky Pavilion. After all, the Duanlin Branch is no match for the major sects."

Shao Jinhan was overjoyed. He said, "Don't worry, Patriarch. The Fiend Extermination Alliance has already formulated a plan that would ensure our success. All we have to do is cooperate with them. When the time comes, you might not even need the Primal Fiend Potion, Patriarch."

Chang Yan glanced at Shao Jinhan. Without saying another word, he waved his sleeve and returned to the cave.

"Take care, Patriarch!"