My disciples are all villains.

Karran was already on the brink of death. When he was kicked, he felt as though his internal organs had split apart. A few moments ago, he still had hopes that he could save his own life, but his hopes vanished without a trace at this moment. His eyes were bloodshot as he said, "You… who are you?! You vermin who strikes a man when he's down!"

The peculiarly-dressed man scratched his head. Yu Shangrong's image surfaced in his mind. He cleared his throat and said nonchalantly, "My apologies."

"Huh?"

"I'm Yu Shangrong."

"…" Karran's mind turned blank. Was he hallucinating after being stabbed by a sword? The person he had fought earlier had said he was Yu Shangrong. How could there be another Yu Shangrong? He coughed violently as he thought to himself, 'Illusion, this is an illusion!'

Karran closed his eyes to stabilize his breathing. He rubbed his eyes and opened them again. "Sword… Sword Devil?"

The peculiarly dressed man nodded lightly and said, "It's only a title. It's too insignificant to mention."

"… Fight me fairly if you dare," Karran said, seething with anger.

"I'm sorry. I'm the kind of person who likes to seize the opportunity when my opponent is down." The strange man raised his hand. A hook-like weapon appeared in his hand.

"You shameless... Ahh!"

The Separation Hook slashed across Karran's neck. Then, a few energy seals landed on his chest.

A moment later, Mingshi Yin raised his palms, raining down a barrage of blows on Karran before he finally nodded in satisfaction. "Second Senior Brother, you truly know too little about the Other Tribes. I'm better suited to deal with these Other Tribesmen." He stretched his limbs and looked at the sun in the sky. "How nice… It's still early. I'll go to the Big Dipper Academy and get myself some leaf-sprouting pills."

…

Inside the eastern pavilion of the Evil Sky Pavilion.

"Ding! Killed a target. Reward: 1,000 merit points."

"Ding! Killed a target. Reward: 1,000 merit points."

"Ding! Killed a target. Reward: 1,500 merit points."

When Lu Zhou heard these notifications, he opened his eyes, temporarily pulled out of his meditative state.

"Yu Shangrong?"

With Yu Shangrong's current Three-leaf cultivation base, it should be slightly difficult for him to kill a grand cultivator. Mingshi Yin must have helped him.

"It's good that they're helping each other out."

Lu Zhou closed his eyes and continued to meditate.

...

The next morning.

Yu Shangrong had already returned to the Evil Sky Pavilion. He did not delay and made his way to the eastern pavilion. He said with a bow, "I am honored that I didn't let you down, master. I've brought back 223 survival pills."

"Good." Lu Zhou asked, "Did everything go smoothly?"

"Everything went smoothly. There were no troubles," Yu Shangrong replied.

There was a moment of silence, before Lu Zhou said, "You never used to lie."

Yu Shangrong was taken aback. Then, he bowed and said, "I've made a mistake. I did run into three individuals on my way back. They're petty thieves and aren't worthy of mentioning."

"It's good to see that you've returned. Rest well," Lu Zhou said.

Yu Shangrong was about to turn around and leave when he recalled Si Wuya's words. "I have a request, master."

"Let's hear it."

"I'd like to read Seventh Junior Brother's diary."

'Diary?' Lu Zhou opened his eyes and looked at the table next to him. He waved his hand. An energy picked the diary up and brought it out of the room.

Bam!

The door closed.

Yu Shangrong caught the diary. He bowed and said, "I'll take my leave."

"Ding! Yu Shangrong accomplished the survival pill mission. Reward: 10,000 merit points."

Lu Zhou closed his eyes and continued to meditate on the Heavenly Writing scrolls. He did not leave the eastern pavilion over the next four days.

...

On the fifth morning, Lu Zhou sensed that his extraordinary power was completely replenished. His mental state and bodily functions were much better than before.

"My cultivation base seems to have improved as well," Lu Zhou mumbled to himself, "It seems like making breakthroughs at quite a rapid pace."

In that case, he should save his merit points to purchase the Golden Lotus Leaf. If he could save his merit points and use them when things get difficult in the later stages, he should be able to rank up quicker.

Lu Zhou stretched his body before he opened the door and went out.

Little Yuan'er was hopping about as she practiced with her Nirvana Sash. When she saw Lu Zhou, she said, "Master… Seventh Senior Brother left for Qing Province yesterday. He saw that you were resting and told me to convey the message to you."

"I see." Lu Zhou descended the steps with his hands on his back.

With Si Wuya's cultivation base, it would be difficult for him to drag Yu Zhenghai back here. The reason Lu Zhou had sent him on the mission was partly due to him being able to easily meet Yu Zhenghai. Even if he could not bring Yu Zhenghai back here by force, at the very least, he could be of help to Yu Zhenghai in confronting the Imperial family.

When Lu Zhou recalled Si Wuya's words, he sighed. Indeed, that rascal had it rough.

Before he could retrieve his memory crystal, he would not be so bold as to confirm whether Ji Tiandao did try to kill Yu Zhenghai or not. 'I'm a reasonable person, after all.'

Then, he looked at Little Yuan'er and asked, "Yuan'er, how's your cultivation coming along recently?"

Little Yuan'er appeared aggrieved as she replied, "Master, it's so difficult to sprout leaves! I can't seem to make the third one appear!"

"The third leaf? Since when did you sprout a second leaf?" Lu Zhou remembered that the little girl had just recently sprouted her first leaf. Most cultivators would experience a drop in their cultivating speed once they entered the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. However, this little girl was progressing more and more quickly! It was almost illogical!

Little Yuan'er scratched her head. "I think it was half a month ago. I can't really remember."

'Half a month ago?' Lu Zhou was at loss for words. Was she not asking for the moon, thinking she could sprout the third leaf overnight?

"I'm going out. You stay here and cultivate well."

"Master, I want to go with you!" Little Yuan'er said excitedly.

Lu Zhou scowled as he reprimanded her, "Don't make me repeat my words."

"Oh."

Lu Zhou waved his sleeve and headed to the back of the mountain.

Little Yuan'er felt aggrieved as she looked at her master's retreating back. Previously, her master would bring her everywhere he went. Now, he was leaving her behind. How could she not feel wronged? She muttered to herself, "Master must think my cultivation base is too weak. Otherwise, why would he ask about my cultivation base?"

…

At the back of the mountain.

Lu Zhou flipped his palm. An Appearance Alteration Card appeared in his hand.

In the past, Lu Zhou did not have much means to protect himself. He had to bring Little Yuan'er with him everywhere he went. However, it was different now. He was already a Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivator. He also had the Heavenly Writing powers and his item cards. He would have no problems defending himself. If he brought Little Yuan'er along, it would be easier for someone else to see through his disguise.

In the cultivation world, only those in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm were considered as properly initiated. Only Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivators could unleash grand techniques. There was no concrete definition of a grand technique. Most cultivators used it as an umbrella term for the mightiest techniques of the Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist Societies. For example, the Sword Devil's Destiny of the sword path and the Dark Heaven Starlight of the saber path. The second reason was only Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivators could form a Golden Lotus and sprout leaves.

Since he was now in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm, he was no longer a weakling.

"Qing Province?" Lu Zhou looked in the direction of Qing Province. "I'd like to see what this rascal is up to."

With the Appearance Alteration Card, it would be much easier to catch the rascal, Yu Zhenghai.

Even if he were to leave the Evil Sky Pavilion, nobody would question him. Yu Shangrong and the others could look after Golden Court Mountain. The barrier had been restored; it was now an impregnable fortress.

"Whitzard."

With the command, Whitzard came on the clouds.

Lu Zhou leaped onto the beast's back and flew out the back of the mountain.

Lu Zhou shattered the Appearance Alteration Card when he was up in the skies. A faint energy swirled around him. A unique sensation made his senses tingle.

He did not know what appearance he had now so he landed near a lake near the back of the mountain. Then, he peered into the lake to look at his reflection on its surface.

He saw another old man looking back at him. This old man seemed more spirited. Half of his hair was black, and his facial features were sharper. He was pleased with what he saw.

Lu Zhou did not stay for long. He mounted Whitzard and made his way to Qing Province.