My disciples are all villains.

Liu Ge calmly said, "You're the first person bold enough to speak to me in this manner."

"That's alright. There will be a second, third, fourth… and many more," Mingshi Yin said.

"Interesting." Liu Ge found Mingshi Yin intriguing. "I won't easily leave if I can't meet my old friend."

Mingshi Yin said, "Up to you. It has nothing to do with, and I don't care."

"…" Although Liu Ge was Emperor Yong Shou, whose name struck fear in the Other Tribesmen, he had no retort for this.

Su Sheng frowned and said, "His Majesty is only here to reminisce. If we truly come bearing ill intentions, would we bring so few men?"

Mingshi Yin lazily replied, "Who knows…"

Su Sheng cupped his fists and said, "Sir, His Majesty's presence is the greatest respect toward the Evil Sky Pavilion. His Majesty is friends with your master. If the meeting doesn't happen, as His Majesty's official, I can't possibly stand by and do nothing."

Mingshi Yin frowned and said, "What? Is that a threat? Are you going to force your way in?"

"The pavilion master has shocked the lands with his Nine-leaf powers. We won't be so bold as to force our way in..." Su Sheng said. Then, he added, "However, if His Majesty orders me to, I have no choice but to comply with his order."

In other words, these two who came with Liu Ge had already disregarded their lives. They were the kind of people Mingshi Yin least wanted to meet. He shifted his gaze from Su Sheng to Liu Ge. He sensed Liu Ge's faint but deep aura. Liu Ge's bearing was completely different from what he imagined a member of the Imperial family would have. Liu Ge carried an indifferent and otherworldly air about him, as though nothing much mattered to him in this world.

Mingshi Yin muttered under his breath for a moment before he said in a clear voice, "My master has said that he'd be cultivating in seclusion for five months. Before his cultivation is complete, he won't meet anyone."

Liu Ge said, "Then, I'll wait for him in the Evil Sky Pavilion."

"…" Based on his calculations, Mingshi Yin had assumed no one would dare to trespass on the Evil Sky Pavilion as long as he insisted it was on his master's order. However, it seemed like he had misjudged the simplicity of the matter.

At this moment, Liu Ge waved his hand.

The imperial bodyguards behind him stepped forward with boxes in their hands.

Liu Ge approached the barrier.

Su Sheng and Gu Yiran joined their palms together. Several talismans appeared between their palms.

The Confucian school!

Mingshi Yin immediately raised his hand and said, "In that case, follow me."

Su Sheng and Gu Yiran lowered their hands.

An opening appeared on the barrier.

Liu Ge stopped past the barrier with his hands on his back as the others followed behind him.

At this moment, Mingshi Yin's heart was racing. He suddenly recalled that when his Second Senior Brother, Yu Shangrong, first returned to the Evil Sky Pavilion, his master mentioned that Liu Ge, Emperor Yong Shou, walked on the third kind of sword path. His master had called Liu Ge the Sword of the Emperor.

Gong Yuandu came with his coffin. He was now reduced to ashes and was no longer in this world.

He remembered that Emperor Yong Shou's passing had been announced in the Mausoleum of Swords. He did not expect that to be a fake announcement.

He stopped as he turned around and asked, "My master has said that you're a sword path elite, Your Majesty. He called you the Sword of the Emperor. I wonder if that's true."

Before Liu Ge replied, Su Sheng said, "His Majesty led a campaign against the 10,000 tribes many years ago with his sword skills. Forgive me for being blunt, but even the three Sword Freaks are only children before His Majesty."

"What about my Second Senior Brother, Yu Shangrong?"

"Uh…" Su Sheng did not think he could casually give his appraisal now that Yu Shangrong was brought up. After all, Yu Shangrong was an Eight-leaf sword path elite who lived up to his name. The people called him the Sword Devil. Many Eight-leaf elites had died under his sword. Although they were all Eight-leaf cultivators, their strength differed.

Gu Yiran said, "In that case, the location of the battle will be an important factor, then. If it's in the Divine Capital, His Majesty is invincible."

How shameless! Who could defeat Liu Ge when there was the Ten Terminal Formation in the Divine Capital?

However, Mingshi Yin did not seem to mind their words. He let them say whatever they wanted. He continued leading them to the Evil Sky Pavilion's great hall.

All of a sudden, an ancient voice rang near the great hall.

"Su Sheng? Gu Yiran?"

The duo turned to look at the source of the voice, shocked. They wondered who in the Evil Sky Pavilion had recognized them? They saw an old woman walking toward them with a staff in her hand.

"Elder Zuo?" Su Sheng frowned.

"Su Sheng, mind your words… I've already joined the Evil Sky Pavilion and am an elder of the Evil Sky Pavilion. I'm no longer an elder of the Confucian school," Zuo Yushu said gruffly.

Su Sheng and Gu Yiran exchanged a look. They did not expect the former genius cultivator of the Confucian school to join the Evil Sky Pavilion.

Liu Ge looked at Zuo Yushu and said, "500 years ago, I've heard about you… Zuo Yushu."

Zuo Yushu appraised Liu Ge. She learned about his visit from Mingshi Yin so she was not surprised to see him here. She said, "I didn't know you're still alive, Your Majesty. Please accept my humble greetings."

At this moment, the sound of bickering could be heard inside the great hall.

"Old Pan, among all the Eight-leaf cultivators, you're one of the few I disapprove."

That was a harsh statement.

Shortly after, another voice replied, "Who needs your approval? Leng Luo, this is the Evil Sky Pavilion. Can you bear the consequences if you disturbed the pavilion master?"

Liu Ge frowned and muttered, "Leng Luo? The first person on the blacklist 300 years ago?"

Su Sheng said in a hushed voice, "Indeed, it's him."

The voices continued to bicker in the great hall…

"Pan Litian, this isn't the Clarity Sect as well. You can forget about intimidating me. I don't approve of anyone apart from the pavilion master."

Liu Ge frowned again. "The greatest elite of the Clarity Sect, Pan Litian?"

Su Sheng said in a hushed voice again, "Indeed, it's him."

Liu Ge, "…" Despite his outwardly calm appearance, he was shocked. To think that the Evil Sky Pavilion had such powerful elders. How did Ji Tiandao make them submit?

The bickering had not ended when another voice joined…

"Elders, stop bickering. Please do it for my, Hua Wudao, sake..."

Leng Luo said, "Old Pan, you should learn from him… Hua Wudao is also an Eight-leaf cultivator, and yet, he's humble and willing to learn."

"This is how I am. I'll do whatever I want."

At this moment, the three elders walked out of the great hall. When they finally saw Liu Ge and the others, the trio did not say anything. They only grunted at each other before parting ways.

Mingshi Yin nodded subtly, satisfied. 'Nice one, old men!' He looked at Liu Ge. As expected, a deep frown was etched on Liu Ge's face at this moment, seemingly stunned. He chuckled inwardly. 'Elites are as numerous as the clouds in the Evil Sky Pavilion. Are you afraid now?'

Zuo Yushu said, "I need to return to the Formation I'm studying. Forgive me for not keeping you company." Without waiting for anyone's reply, she turned around and left.

Whether it was Liu Ge, Emperor Yong Shou, or Su Sheng and Gu Yiran, two of the eight great generals, the four elders treated them as though they were air.

This was the effect Mingshi Yin was aiming for!

Mingshi Yin cleared his throat at this moment and said, "I'm sorry. That's how the Evil Sky Pavilion's four elders are. At the Eight-leaf stage, cultivators are easily bored, and all they think about is looking for a worthy opponent. However, Eight-leaf cultivators are too destructive in a fight. Hence, they usually get together to debate. Fighting with words is different from physical fights, after all. It's inevitable for them to quarrel among themselves. I'm sorry you had to see that, Your Majesty."

"It's alright." Liu Ge raised his hand. "All I want is to reminisce with my old friend. I won't mind the others."

"Good to hear. This way."

...

Meanwhile, the four elders returned to the southern pavilion.

The quartet was looking in the direction of the Evil Sky Pavilion's great hall at this moment.

"I wonder if that's enough to keep Liu Ge in check," Pan Litian wondered out loud.

"That's our only option. We've severed our lotuses… If we conceal our auras, they won't be able to figure out our actual cultivation bases," Leng Luo said.

Hua Wudao shook his head. "I'm only a Seven-leaf cultivator. I'm afraid I'll be exposed if I pretend to be an Eight-leaf cultivator.

"If we conceal our auras and don't make a move, we're the same as everyone. A pair of eyes and a pair of legs. Relax, no one can tell the difference," Pan Litian said reassuringly.

Zuo Yushu sighed and shook her head. "Liu Ge might be easier to deal with. The Nether Sect's hold over the nine provinces can be used as leverage. However, Su Sheng and Gu Yiran might not be as easy to deal with."

The three old men nodded in agreement.

Pan Litian said, "There's no need to fear. After all, the pavilion master is still around. They won't dare to run amok here."

The Nine-leaf cultivator was obviously the source of their confidence.

…

Inside the great hall.

Mingshi Yin made an inviting gesture. "My master is still cultivating in seclusion. I'll be your host on his behalf."

Liu Ge was in no hurry to take his seat. Instead, he looked around himself. He studied the two pillars, the floor, and the surroundings of the great hall.

Since Liu Ge had not taken a seat, Su Sheng and Gu Yiran did not dare sit down as well. They could only accompany him.

After taking it all in, Liu Ge walked up to a seat and sat down. He asked, "Are the four of them Eight-leaf cultivators?"