My disciples are all villains.

With that thought in mind, Liu Ge said, "Before I came up the mountain, your disciple told me that you're going to cultivate in seclusion for five months. Now that three months have passed, there are two months left… I wonder if it'll be okay for me to visit the Evil Sky Pavilion again in two months?"

An idea appeared in Lu Zhou's mind when he heard Liu Ge's words. 'Although that's in line with what I want, why should I dance to your tune? You're nothing but an emperor who's past his prime...'

"Aren't you going to plead for your son now that you're here?" As soon as Lu Zhou saw Liu Ge, he had assumed that Liu Ge had come to plead on behalf of Liu Gu. After all, the Nether Sect was like the sun at high noon at this moment. The Divine Capital and the Imperial city were both threatened.

Liu Ge shook his head. "I've retired, and I won't meddle with the empire's affairs. Liu Gu is my son while Yu Zhenghai is your first disciple. Just as well. The old will face the old, and we'll let the young ones face each other."

Lu Zhou glanced at the boxes left by the Imperial bodyguards that were sitting behind Liu Ge's feet. Although the veins on the boxes were not clear, he could still tell they were the same as the ones on the armor. His eyes brightened. "Just as well. I'll see you in two months." In other words, he wanted Liu Ge to bring the boxes as well.

The Nine-leaf cultivator who was in the coffin and the diary that was filled with advice had piqued Lu Zhou's curiosity. He did not know where his memory crystal was, and since the crystal contained his memories about the Nine-leaf stage, who knew if Ji Tiandao had dealings with the mysterious elite in the past? How could he let such a clue slip past his fingers?

Unfortunately, the four elders of the Evil Sky Pavilion had severed their lotuses and were re-cultivating. Hence, they could not defeat Su Sheng and Gu Yiran.

Lu Zhou was also meditating on the Earth Scroll. Before he could unlock the next power, his meditation did not seem to add to the Human Scroll's extraordinary power. The other functions of the system were practically locked.

"Alright! I hope you'll keep this promise, Brother Ji," Lu Ge replied.

Lu Zhou said, "Liu Ge, I'll give you a piece of advice."

"What is it, Brother Ji?"

"Don't think too highly of yourself." After saying this, Lu Zhou turned around and said loudly, "See our guests out!"

After that, Mingshi Yin escorted the trio down the mountain. He said, "I told you that my master was cultivating in seclusion and this would be a waste of time."

Liu Ge, Su Sheng, Gu Yiran, and several imperial bodyguards exited the barrier.

"It's not a complete waste. I've already achieved my goal of meeting your master and telling him about my thoughts," Liu Ge said.

Mingshi Yin looked at Liu Ge, speechless. 'He's great at consoling himself!' He did not respond to Liu Ge and flew back to the Evil Sky Pavilion.

Once Mingshi Yin was out of sight, Su Sheng spat out a mouthful of blood. Sweat broke out on his face.

Liu Ge frowned slightly, "Nine-leaf?"

Su Sheng tapped his meridian points and said, "I can't be sure, but that Abandon Wisdom could have destroyed the world."

Gu Yiran asked in confusion, "Why do you suspect he's not a Nine-leaf cultivator, Your Majesty?"

The rumors being spread in the cultivation world said that the Evil Sky Pavilion's Patriarch, Ji Tiandao, was a Nine-leaf cultivator. Liu Ge was the only one who did not believe this.

With his hands on his back, Liu Ge said, "I said the Nine-leaf stage will bring forth disaster… Since there's no disaster as of now, I don't think anyone has attained the Nine-leaf stage."

"A fake Nine-leaf cultivator?" Su Sheng appeared frightened. "But his great limit is already up, and he's still alive! How can we explain that?"

Gu Yiran said, "His Majesty means to say that Old Villain Ji is somewhere between the Eight-leaf and Nine-leaf stage, is that correct?"

Liu Ge smiled meaningfully. "I'll wait for two months… Whether he's real or not, I'll make it clear to the world."

"Your Majesty, are you going to fight a Nine-leaf cultivator?"

Liu Ge waved his hand. The Imperial bodyguards stepped forward.

They did not open the boxes that were brought here.

Su Sheng speculated out loud, "Could it be that there are treasures in there that can detect and destroy a Nine-leaf cultivator?" A shocked expression appeared on his face as he continued to say, "If that's the case, why didn't you do something back then, Your Majesty? Why did Old Villain Ji agree to the two-month timeline instead of three or four months?"

"Su Sheng." Liu Ge suddenly stopped walking.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You talk too much." Liu Ge's voice was deep.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty!" As he bowed, Su Sheng shuddered slightly. He no longer dared to speak.

Meanwhile, Gu Yiran followed behind them silently.

…

A month passed by in just a blink of an eye.

In the unnamed abyss in the Moonlight Woodlands, a white figure broke the lake's surface and flew into the air.

When the figure was in the sky, a surge of energy dried up the moisture in her hair and on her body.

Ye Tianxin hovered in the air as she looked at Cheng Huang that was lying in the distance. She called out with a smile on her face, "Little Huang!"

Cheng Huang ignored her.

"You're mad? Come on, Little Huang… Protect me."

Cheng Huang looked up. Its huge eyeballs rolled as it looked at Ye Tianxin in the air. As it turned and swept its tail out, it stirred up a gust of wind.

Ye Tianxin had to rise higher in the sky. She said, "You're really petty!"

Whizz!

She summoned her avatar. She looked at the seven shining leaves spinning around her Golden Lotus. In the past, she would never dare to dream of this. She had reached the Seven-leaf stage in half a year and was now attempting the Eight-leaf stage.

She looked down at the mystical lake. Although she did not know why, she was certain there was something special about the lake's water. It contained some unique power that helped her cultivation base to improve by leaps and bounds. She had been cultivating in the lake all this while without taking a single step away from it.

Cheng Huang had watched over her the entire time and did not leave her.

As time went by, Ye Tianxin had grown accustomed to this place. She had also gotten familiar with Cheng Huang.

Cheng Huang looked over when she summoned her avatar again.

Ye Tianxin said with a smile, "Don't blink. Eight-leaf!"

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

Rings of energy descended from the top toward the Golden Lotus. This continued for two hours, but a new leaf did not appear. However, Ye Tianxin was extremely patient and tenacious as she kept at it. Perhaps it was due to her long stay in the abyss, she did not long for the outside world. Hence, she was not in a hurry to reach the Eight-leaf stage.

The energy rings continued to descend.

It was precisely because of her calm disposition that the leaf-sprouting process was smooth.

The Eight-leaf stage was the highest point attainable in the human cultivation world.

After four hours had passed, she heard a crisp sound.

The eighth leaf had finally sprouted on her Golden Lotus. Her avatar increased in size immediately and became 100-foot tall. Her Eight-leaf Golden Lotus shone with a golden light.

Ye Tianxin widened her eyes as she leaped with joy and exclaimed, "Little Huang, I'm an Eight-leaf cultivator now!"

Cheng Huang howled, as though it was congratulating her on her achievement.

Ye Tianxin looked at the eight leaves on her Golden Lotus… Everything seemed like a dream to her.

She blinked her big eyes as she looked at the eight leaves. At the same time, thoughts of returning to the outside world appeared in her mind. It was inevitable that she would think about returning to Great Yan now that she had sufficient strength.

Ye Tianxin flew into her avatar before she rose higher in the sky. In just a blink of an eye, she was 100 meters up in the air. She looked around herself and could not see the end. When she sensed her newly gained power, she could hardly suppress her joy. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted.

The soundwave rolled out and caused vicious beasts to take to the air.

Except for a few specific beasts, the Eight-leaf Ye Tianxin no longer feared the vicious beasts. Indeed, her 100-foot avatar deterred many beasts from attacking her.

Ye Tianxin flew in the direction of the cliff wall. She looked up at the space above the abyss.

At this moment, Cheng Huang got up and ran over. When it reached her side, it sat down obediently. Although it was sitting, it was still as tall she was.

Ye Tianxin said, "Little Huang, I'm going to leave the abyss now…"

Cheng Huang glanced at the lake. It neither nodded nor shook its head.

She wondered what it was thinking about. Ye Tianxin speculated out loud, "You want me to attempt the Nine-leaf stage?"

Cheng Huang did not move.

"Are you crazy? It's not that easy to reach the Nine-leaf stage. I'm happy with being an Eight-leaf cultivator."

Cheng Huang growled.

Unfortunately, Ye Tianxin could not understand what it was trying to convey.

"Let's go… Up we go." Ye Tianxin flew onto Cheng Huang's broad back.

Cheng Huang pushed with its four paws. Like a fired arrow, it shot through the sea of clouds and mist.