My disciples are all villains.

Mingshi Yin scratched his head. He remembered the stern expression on the old woman's face and felt humbled. He thought that she had quite the temper to break off from the Confucian sects. Perhaps, things were more complicated than Leng Luo had let on. He asked in confusion, "They'll only pass it down to males and not females?"

Leng Luo stepped forward and cupped his fists at Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou nodded in reply.

Leng Luo looked at Mingshi Yin and explained, "Since ancient times, the dynasties ruled the world with scholarly knowledge and martial strength. Education was monopolized. The civilians could only cultivate Body Tempering. If they're lucky, they can enter the Mystic Enlightening realm or the Sense Condensing realm. If they wanted to reach greater heights, they had no choice but to join a sect and work their way up with their talents and efforts. Martial strength alone was not enough to determine the prosperity or demise of a nation. That was where academic institutions came into play. However, the institutions only took in male disciples. When the daughters of wealthy families wanted to learn as well, they could only hire private tutors. In this scenario, the males prospered while the females suffered. As time goes by, the Confucian and Daoist sects thrived, and political and military achievements were made possible."

Leng Luo's words were similar to the information in Lu Zhou's memories. Although he did not expect this world to share similar ways with the ancient times back on earth, compared to earth, Great Yan was not so bad to the extent where males were held in much higher regard than females. Many sects revered female disciples in the cultivation world.

"How preposterous," Mingshi Yin replied.

"500 years ago, Zuo Yushu was highly accomplished in Expansive Heavenly Energy… After breaking away from the Confucian sects, she went into seclusion, and nobody knew what happened to her." Based on Leng Luo's tone, it was clear he admired an expert like her.

Mingshi Yin said, "Well, we can ask her about what happened when she comes, right?"

"She's coming here?" Leng Luo was clearly shocked.

"Yes, she wants to stand up for the Zhencang Branch's Master, Feng Qinghe," Mingshi Yin replied.

If this were in the past, Leng Luo would have been worried on the pavilion master's behalf when he heard Zuo Yushu was planning to come to fight for Feng Qinghe. However, now that he had discovered the pavilion master was a Nine-leaf elite, how could Zuo Yushu possibly be a match for the pavilion master? Therefore, he said, "She overestimates her own capabilities."

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, "Let's leave this matter aside for now. Why did you come here, Elder Leng?"

Leng Luo bowed and said, "I'm here to ask about the method to attain the Nine-leaf stage, Pavilion Master."

"…"

The time had finally come. Lu Zhou had thought about this before. He asked, "You want to attain the Nine-leaf stage?"

Leng Luo said, "The door is already before me. If I don't open it and take a peek, it'll surely be one of the biggest regrets of my life." There was no reason for an Eight-leaf cultivator to not attempt to reach the Nine-leaf stage.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, "Currently, there are two methods to attain the Nine-leaf stage that are spreading in the cultivation world. One is two sever your Golden Lotus and sprout leaves again. This is doable."

Leng Luo looked at Lu Zhou.

Mingshi Yin had a shocked expression on his face. When he was fishing for information outside previously, he had learned that many cultivators who severed their Golden Lotuses managed to survive. However, he had never heard of anyone being able to sprout leaves after severing their Golden Lotuses. If it was truly possible to sprout leaves again, it would bring a revolutionary change to the way people cultivated in the future. Why was his master so sure of this?

Lu Zhou continued to say, "The second way is to choose not to form a Golden Lotus upon entering the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. Both methods are viable cultivation paths that lead to the Nine-leaf stage. Those who aren't at the Nascent Divinity stage can choose the first or second method. Those who are already in the Nascent Divinity realm can only choose the first method."

Leng Luo asked, puzzled, "Did you choose the first method, Pavilion Master?" He wondered when the pavilion master severed his Golden Lotus, and how he managed to sprout all nine leaves in record time?

"I chose neither," Lu Zhou said with a straight face.

Leng Luo and Mingshi Yin were perplexed. However, they did not dare to ask any more questions.

Lu Zhou continued to say, "Since all of you possess Golden Lotuses already, you can only choose the first method."

Leng Luo was shocked. It seemed like severing his Golden Lotus was the only option available to him. However, the problem was making sure he survived the ordeal. He bowed and earnestly said, "Kindly advise me, Pavilion Master."

In all sects, it was taboo to inquire about advanced cultivation methods or the secret arts like what Leng Luo was currently doing. Moreover, this was about the Nine-leaf stage that everyone desperately wanted to attain. Leng Luo knew very well about this unspoken rule. Therefore, he was cautious with his words. He added, "I do not covet nor have any designs on your position or power. If you're unwilling to reveal the way, Pavilion Master, I'll no longer speak about it."

Lu Zhou calmly said, "It's nothing. Severing the Golden Lotus is only the beginning… I believe there'll be a more complete method in the near future."

Leng Luo and Mingshi Yin felt invigorated when they heard Lu Zhou's words.

Mingshi Yin said, "In that case, I should sever my Golden Lotus right away. It'd be such a waste to wait until I'm at the Eight-leaf stage to sever it." Severing his Golden Lotus when he was at the Eight-leaf stage and sprouting a leaf again was no different from him severing it while he was at the Four-leaf stage. Why should he not sever his Golden Lotus now?

Lu Zhou shook his head and said, "That might not be the case. Those who are capable of attaining the Eight-leaf stage possess greater control over their cultivation base and technique. They're more experienced as well. That'll work in their favor when they sprout leaves, probably at a much quicker pace compared to others. In fact, the elites might have other benefits as well after sprouting leaves again."

"I'm enlightened," Leng Luo said.

"Thank you for your teachings, master."

"Ding! Instructed Mingshi Yin. Reward: 500 merit points."

Lu Zhou was not surprised to hear this notification. Teaching the Old Age Pavilion was his way of preparing for the future. After all, his true strength at the moment was only in the One-leaf Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. With the advent of the Golden Lotus-severing era, there would surely be ripples across the cultivation world. There were also Other Tribesmen who eyed Great Yan like a prey. The Evil Sky Pavilion had to be strong enough.

In truth, Lu Zhou knew a third method to attain the Nine-leaf stage and that was to attain it through the conventional way. However, that would take too much of a person's life. It was also not completely verified and was not suitable for the others in the Evil Sky Pavilion. Hence, there was no need to explain this to them. "If there's nothing else, we'll leave it at that."

"I'll take my leave," Leng Luo said.

"I'll take my leave as well, master," Mingshi Yin said.

After the duo left, Lu Zhou returned to his room and continued to meditate on the Heavenly Writing scrolls. Without any Peak Trial Cards on hand, he could only rely on the Heavenly Writing scrolls now.

Before he meditated, Lu Zhou checked his remaining merit points on the dashboard. He had 2,300 points left. Was there a point in saving them?

"Lucky draw."

"Ding! Spent 50 merit points and 20 luck points. Obtained: Disguise Card x 5.

"Disguise Card: You can use this card to disguise your avatar as a Nine-leaf avatar. Lasts for 10 seconds."

The appearance of a new card was a welcome surprise. However, when Lu Zhou read the Disguise Card's description, he found that it was quite useless. Was the system encouraging him to deceive others? "Well, it's better than nothing."

"Lucky draw."

"Ding! Spent 50 merit points. Obtained Reversal Card x 10."

'I'm lucky today. Could it be that my luck has improved since I just entered the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm?'

"Lucky draw."

"Ding! Spent 50 merit points. Thank you for your participation."

"…" Lu Zhou continued to try his luck. He spent all his remaining merit points on lucky draws and no longer got any prize. Currently, he had 44 luck points.

He did not have many merit points to begin with. Now that they were all spent, he would not spare any thought on them.

Lu Zhou checked the item column after the lucky draws. The item cards now cost 500 points more. This much was expected. However, there was a new addition to the choices on sale. Disguise Card: 10,000 merit points.

"…" Rubbish among rubbish.

Lu Zhou firmly believed that the system's logic was flawed. The Deadly Strike Card merely cost 4,000 merit points. Who would spend 10,000 merit points to purchase a Disguise Card just to fool another person? Unless, of course, the buyer himself was a fool!

He looked at the avatar column.

Thousand Boundary Swirl: 500,000 merit points. (Note: Nine-leaf avatar required for purchase. This avatar can also be obtained through cultivation.)

Golden Lotus Leaf: 50,000 merit points. (Note: Only applicable for the Eight-leaf stage and below. Leaves can be sprouted through cultivation. One leaf added with each use.)

"…"