My disciples are all villains.

Chirp!

The huge flying beast raised its head, opened its thick and sharp beak, and cried out deafeningly. It resembled a giant falcon. It did not look very likable at all.

It was common to see a flying chariot being pulled by a flying beast. However, it was only suitable to be used in sparsely populated cities.

Flying beasts such as this one were difficult to tame. They could easily go berserk. Once they lose control, they would cause harm to humans. Moreover, this did not seem like an ordinary beast.

Mingshi Yin looked at the five individuals on the flying chariot before looking at the man who greeted him. "Envoy from Rouli?"

"It's an honor to meet you, sir." The mustache of Lanni, the Rouli envoy, twitched when he spoke. He seemed like he was smiling, but at the same time, not. "My friend, since you're near Golden Court Mountain, you must be a friend of the Evil Sky Pavilion. If you can introduce us, I will be forever grateful to you."

Mingshi Yin said nonchalantly, "You speak our language well."

"There's an academy to learn the language of Great Yan in Rouli… That's where I learned it," Lanni replied.

Mingshi Yin was perplexed. Rouli was engaged in a battle with the Liang Province. Their two nations were practically at war. Why did Rouli send its men to the Evil Sky Pavilion instead of to his Eldest Senior Brother or the Imperial family?

As the saying went, 'Beware of suspicious folk bearing gifts, they are sure to harbor ill intentions'.

Mingshi Yin scratched his head. He looked away and said, "Uh… What? What did you say? I don't understand you..." After that, he flew in another direction.

"This is important. Please thoroughly think this through," Lanni said immediately.

Mingshi Yin hovered in the air after flying several meters away. He looked back and said, "How important is this? Are the skies falling?"

"…" Lanni was speechless. However, he said, "Not exactly."

"Then, there's nothing to worry about." Then, Mingshi Yin turned around, unleashed a grand technique, and vanished from their sight.

Lanni was left staring at the Golden Court Mountain's barrier with a stunned expression. He did not seem angered. Contrarily, a smile could be seen on his face as he said, "I've spoken with many Great Yan people, but I've never met someone as unconventional as him. What an interesting fellow."

"Chief, shall we force our way through?" one of Lanni's subordinates asked.

"Are you out of your mind? This is the Evil Sky Pavilion. We're not here for a fight. Moreover, this barrier isn't ordinary. We won't be able to easily breach it."

"What should we do then?"

"Wait."

...

In the afternoon, Mingshi Yin returned again. He hovered in the air and saw Lanni and the others still waiting at the foot of the mountain.

When Lanni saw Mingshi Yin, he stood up at once. "We meet again, my friend."

"You guys sure are determined."

"We won't leave until we meet the Master of the Evil Sky Pavilion." Lanni was worried that Mingshi Yin might disappear again so he hastily added, "This has something to do with the secret of the Nine-leaf stage. Please help us obtain a passage, my friend."

Chirp!

The winged beast cried out deafeningly again.

The Nine-leaf stage? Mingshi Yin went on alert immediately. He did not agree to help them immediately. Instead, he said, "Wait here." He turned around and passed through the barrier.

When Lanni saw the blue barrier, he smiled confidently.

At his side, his subordinate said, "Chief, he won't meet us as well…"

"He will… Any expert in this world would be curious about the Nine-leaf stage… The Evil Sky Pavilion's Master is no exception to this," Lanni said confidently.

"I heard that he's already at the Nine-leaf stage. Why would he be interested?" the subordinate asked.

Lanni placed his hands on his back and said, "Firstly, if he's truly at the Nine-leaf stage, that makes him the first Nine-leaf expert in the cultivation world. A person like that will be most interested in maintaining his status. What do you think he'd do if Nine-leaf cultivators pop up one after another?"

When the subordinate heard this, his eyes gleamed and immediately slid a thumb over his throat.

"Secondly, if he's not a Nine-leaf cultivator, it means the rumors are fabricated by Great Yan and the Evil Sky Pavilion. That will be the opportunity for us to take Liang Province with Lou Lan."

The subordinate looked fearfully respectful. He bowed and said, "That's brilliant, Lord Lanni."

However, another person said, "What if he's really at the Nine-leaf stage?"

Lanni scoffed and said, "The avatars of humans are based on their own figures. If severing the Golden Lotus allows them to reach the Nine-leaf stage, then Rouli, with our belief in the wolf king, will certainly have an advantage. When that moment comes…" He paused dramatically. "It will be the beginning of the end of Great Yan."

At this moment, a figure floated down from above. Mingshi Yin hovered in the air and said, "My master invites you up the mountain."

Lanni turned back to glance at the box on his flying chariot and said, "Bring it up."

"Understood." The four of them admired and respected Lanni even more now.

Rouli and Lou Lan were currently allies. They fought against the armies of Great Yan multiple times at the borders. Then, they joined in the battle at Liang Province. After the Nether Sect conquered Liang Province, Rouli had been looking for an opportunity to snatch Liang Province away while the situation had not been stabilized. With the appearance of a Nine-leaf cultivator and the popularity of the lotus-severing theory, Rouli had to put its plans on hold.

"Tiangou, stay here." Lanni snapped his fingers. A ray of light shot out between his fingers into the winged beast's forehead.

Tiangou lied down obediently.

Mingshi Yin shook his head. It was clearly a bird, why did they have to name it Tiangou, a heavenly dog?

The five of them walked toward the Evil Sky Pavilion, guided by Mingshi Yin.

…

A moment later, inside the Evil Sky Pavilion's great hall.

Lu Zhou sat on his seat in a stately manner.

The Rouli envoy, Lanni, walked into the hall with his fellow comrades. "Greetings, Pavilion Master. I am Lanni, a Roulian envoy."

The remaining four bowed.

Lu Zhou glanced at Lanni.

Name: Lanni Bonar

Race: Roulian

Realm: Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm

Lu Zhuo bluntly said, "Let's hear it. What brings you here?"

Lanni bowed again and said with a smile. "Esteemed Lord Pavilion Master, I heard that you're the first Nine-leaf Golden Lotus elite in the cultivation world. That's why we made the effort to visit you. If it's possible, Rouli wishes to be at peace with the Evil Sky Pavilion."

Mingshi Yin said in confusion, "What's he talking about?"

Duanmu Sheng frowned and said, "Don't interrupt, let him speak."

Mingshi Yin. "…"

Lanni looked at Lu Zhou and said, "We have two objectives for visiting the Evil Sky Pavilion: to establish a positive relationship with the Evil Sky Pavilion and to discuss the Nine-leaf stage with you."

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, "Is there someone in Rouli who's at the Nine-leaf stage now?"

"Not yet."

"How are you going to discuss anything if you don't have Nine-leaf cultivators?"

"Uh…" This question rendered Lanni speechless. Indeed, what ideas could they exchange or what discussion could they have if none of them had any idea about the Nine-leaf stage?

'I'm sure these Other Tribesmen came here under these pretexts to verify the truth...'

Lanni bowed and said, "Please hear me out, Pavilion Master."

"Let's hear it."

"I'm from the Bonar Family in Rouli. About 1,900 years ago, my family received a certain object." Lanni waved his arm.

The four individuals behind him brought a long box forward.

Lanni pointed at the box and said, "This is a coffin."

Mingshi Yin and Duanmu Sheng frowned.

Duanmu Sheng suddenly shot out at lightning speed.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Spear shadows rained down ferociously.

Lanni did not expect the people of the Evil Sky Pavilion to attack without warning. He hastily retreated and dodged the attack.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The spear shadows rained down on Lanni like a storm.

The other four looked frightened.

Duanmu Sheng's spear techniques were clearly much more powerful than before.

"Please hear me out, Pavilion Master!" Lanni hastily cried out as he retreated. When he saw the spear shadows were about to hit him, he hastily added, "The coffin contains books about the Nine-leaf stage!"

Bam!

In the end, Lanni was struck by the spear shadows. He flipped and reeled back. After stumbling a few steps back, his back slammed into a pillar. His chest was screaming in pain. His eyes widened as he sized Duanmu Sheng up. 'So powerful!'

Duanmu Sheng was also shocked by this man's defensive skills. Even Hua Wudao's tortoiseshell energy seal could not easily block it, and yet, this man only stumbled a few steps backward.

"Stand down." Lu Zhou waved his hand.

Duanmu Sheng cupped his fists at Lu Zhou and went to the side.

Lu Zhou looked at Lanni and calmly said, "Bring them to me."