My disciples are all villains.

Lu Zhou focused his gaze and pushed down as he maintained the blue lotus.

The blue lotus blossomed above Yu Zhenghai; the blue light completely shrouded him.

Lu Zhou could keenly feel life slipping away from Yu Zhenghai. He recalled the scene where Yu Zhenghai kneeled before him at the foot of the mountain. He remembered how Yu Zhenghai trained tirelessly, day after day, under the waterfall, when he wanted to master the Great Dark Heaven Memorial. He remembered how he had beaten Yu Zhenghai when Yu Zhenghai made mistakes. All these things felt as though they had just happened yesterday. Was it worth it for his first disciples to throw away a life that would lead him to the peak of humanity to kill the wretched pig, Ping An, who abandoned his ancestors for glory and power?

Yu Zhenghai had died twice before. He had lost 600 years of life. Considering the time he spent on the mountain in his youth, he was, indeed, approaching his great limit. When his life was at its end, he used all his might to trade it for Liu Gu's life. Was it worth it?

Lu Zhou thought to himself, 'It doesn't matter as long he thinks it's worth it!'

Lu Zhou pushed downward again.

The three elders' avatars released a greater power.

Under Zuo Yushu's enhancement Formation, the Coiling Dragon Staff's special effect was also unleashed without reserve.

The blue lotus shone on Yu Zhenghai and the surroundings…

The fishes leaped in and out of the water. The plants on the riverbed grew wildly. The flowers on the banks bloomed. The broken trees grew again!

Lu Zhou clenched his fists; the blue lotus disappeared! He raised his left palm again. The Fiend Monk's Hand Seal reached down and brought Yu Zhenghai up. Then, he returned to the flying chariot.

The three elders withdrew their avatars at the same time.

"Eldest Senior Brother!" Duanmu Sheng, Zhao Yue, Ye Tianxin, Zhu Honggong, Little Yuan'er, and Conch cried out in unison, clearly anxious.

The others were ill at ease as well.

Yu Zhenghai's eyes were tightly shut. They did not know if he was dead or alive. There was only a faint sliver of life aura surging in his chest. The wound on his chest had closed up and no longer bled after being healed by the blue lotus. However, he was still unconscious. His condition was truly worrying. Finally, he landed on the flying chariot's deck.

"Master, how's Eldest Senior Brother's condition?" Little Yuan'er looked up and asked.

The others looked at Lu Zhou as well, waiting for his answer.

Lu Zhou said, "It doesn't look good."

Zuo Yushu exclaimed in shock, "Even you can't save him, big brother? This…"

This outcome was rather difficult to accept.

Those present had witnessed the blue lotus's power before. However, even with its healing technique, it was not enough to guarantee Yu Zhenghai's life. If that was the case, there was nothing the healing methods from the other sects could do.

Pan Litian said with a sigh, "Well, he did fulfill his dying wish. He's slightly stubborn, that's all."

"I don't think conventional healing methods can save him now… His life can only be saved by unconventional methods," Leng Luo said.

"Unconventional methods?"

"I heard that Mister Seventh found a rune that absorbs life after scouring the lands, including the territories of the Other Tribes, with the Darknet's resources. Perhaps, we can ask him about this."

The others nodded.

"Wuqians lose 300 years of their lives every time they die. He has died thrice… My guess is absorbing life would only work when the person's life is far from the great limit. I think that we should think of another way..."

At this moment, Lu Zhou raised a hand. "Enough." He turned around coldly and looked at the palm print on the cliff face beside Cloud Rage River.

"Old Third."

"Yes, master."

"Bring him up here," Lu Zhou said.

"Master… I'm afraid that he's already been reduced to ashes. Are you… going to torture his corpse?" Zhu Honggong was slightly puzzled. Then, he nodded. "Makes sense. We should torture him as much as we like since he did this to Eldest Senior Brother! For something like this, there's no need to trouble yourself, master! I'll do it!"

"…"

The atmosphere had been heavy and stifling with a hint of unease. However, as soon as Zhu Honggong spoke, the others were rendered speechless.

Duanmu Sheng said, "You dummy! That Liu Gu isn't the real Liu Gu. He's a Wuqian!"

Wuqians could die thrice before they died for real.

Lu Zhou did not know how many times Liu Gu had died before. He wanted to send someone down there to confirm his death.

After hearing this, Pan Litian nodded and said, "I'll go with you."

Duanmu Sheng leaped off the flying chariot and flew toward the cliff wall.

Pan Litian followed right behind him.

The two of them reached the cliff wall; they looked at the hole on the face of the rock in shock.

Pan Litian gulped. "The pavilion master's palm strike is…"

An Eight-leaf expert who was on par with Yu Zhenghai could not even withstand a single palm strike from the pavilion master. Was a Nine-leaf cultivator truly so powerful?

"I'll go and have a look!" Duanmu Sheng was skilled and brave. He approached the hole and poked it with his Overlord Spear. Nothing happened. Then, he circulated some Primal Qi and blasted the stone wall away.

Liu Gu's corpse rolled out of the pit.

Pan Litian said gruffly, "Be careful. Leave this to me." He extended his palm; energy wrapped around Liu Gu and lifted him up.

"One more thing." Duanmu Sheng saw a red brush. He pointed his hand at it, and it flew into his hand.

Then, the duo returned to the flying chariot.

When Zhu Honggong saw Pan Litian bringing the corpse back, he cracked his knuckles as he said, "Master, leave the torturing of the corpse to me!"

"…"

"Old Eighth, behave yourself! Be more serious!" Duanmu Sheng reprimanded Zhu Honggong.

When Liu Gu landed on the flying chariot's deck, Lu Zhou studied him. Based on his experiences of using Deadly Strike Cards, his targets were usually reduced to ashes with a single palm strike. However, Liu Gu's corpse was strangely intact. The system's notification would not be wrong. Liu Gu was indeed dead. The Deadly Strike Card's effect had also been triggered. However, he had to worry about Liu Gu's possible resurrection.

"Master, I found this near him." Duanmu Sheng presented the Magistrate Brush with both hands to Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou glanced at it, slightly shocked, before he took it.

"Ding! Received a super heaven-grade weapon, Magistrate Brush. Needs to be refined again before use."

A super heaven-grade weapon! A red brush! This reminded Lu Zhou of the red coffin, the red ornaments on the armor, and the red veins on the super heaven-grade High Void. Was this brush also left behind by the mysterious Nine-leaf elite?

"Master… the situation in the Divine Capital is quite urgent. We've spent too much time here," Duanmu Sheng said.

"Keep an eye on him!" Lu Zhou turned to look at the Divine Capital. "Head toward the Divine Capital."

"Understood!"

The flying chariot sped toward the Divine Capital.

Zhu Honggong walked up to Liu Gu's side. He said with a hint of viciousness, "I'll keep an eye on the corpse!"

"…"

…

Meanwhile.

At the peak of the Imperial city of the Divine Capital, the 19 elders looked down at the tens of thousands of Nether Sect members. Only one-third of their numbers were left.

As time continued to tick past, Si Wuya and Hua Chongyang looked up at the sky.

The sun shone on everyone's faces and scorched the ground.

The blood on the ground had hardened and turned black under the heat of the sun. The flies, lured by the stench of blood, buzzed noisily in the air.

All of a sudden, Hua Chongyang grunted and staggered backward!

"First Seat!"

Two Nether Sect disciples hastily stepped forward and supported Hua Chongyang.

Si Wuya knew this did not bode well for them. He hurriedly placed a palm on Hua Chongyang's back before channeling his Primal Qi to heal Hua Chongyang.

Realization dawned on the 19 elders, and they exchanged a meaningful look.

"It has been two hours. The Ten Terminal Formation can be reactivated now…"

"Reactivating the Formation now isn't going to be in our favor… The Big Dipper Academy and Sky Conduct Academy have always served the imperial court. Now that the Divine Capital and the Imperial city are in trouble, how can we stand by and do nothing?"

"The Fiend Path has plunged the world into chaos. They should be eradicated!"

"Let's split up. Ten of us should head to the Eyes of the Formations while the remaining nine will clear the battlefield!"

Soon after, the 19 elders reached a consensus. Ten of them returned while the other nine continued to look down at the battlefield from the air.

At this moment, several cultivators slowly rose into the air from the Divine Capital and summoned their avatars.

Three-leaf, Four-leaf, Five-leaf…

The avatars came flying from the various gates of the Divine Capital!

There were many Divine Court realm cultivators making their way toward them with their Ten Worlds avatars in tow.

"The sandpiper and clam fight, and the fisherman catches both!"

The nine elders of the two academies nodded in satisfaction.

"The Imperial family is in danger. When should we make our move if not now? This is the greatest chance to wipe out the Nether Sect!"

One of the elders saw that the cultivators were still hesitant so he added, "His Majesty is almost at the Nine-leaf stage! Those who bow down to him will enjoy endless prosperity!"

Nine-leaf?!

"Kill the Nether Sect!"

"Kill the Nether Sect!"

When one person shouted, the others followed suit. Their voices shook the heavens.

The Nether Sect members were ghastly pale.

Si Wuya frowned deeply. He wondered why his Eldest Senior Brother had yet to return.

At this moment, two figures came flying from the western gate.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two energy arrows as thick as arms sailed through the air!

Bam! Bam!

The arrows hit two low-rank cultivators, piercing their chests!

A Godly Archer!

"Let's see who dares to move."

The others looked at the source of the voice and saw a Godly Archer above the city gate.

Hua Yuexing and Hua Wudao hovered in midair.

Hua Yuexing's posture was intimidating as she nocked another energy arrow.

The situation was getting direr and direr.

Nobody dared to make any rash moves.

"As expected of a Two-leaf Godly Archer! Send three elders to take her down! The others, follow me! We'll deal with Si Wuya. Hua Chongyang is heavily injured. Victory is surely ours!"

Hua Chongyang was in extreme pain. He fought back his roiling blood essence and said, "I'm useless!"

"Now's not the time to blame yourself… Hua Chongyang, I'm asking you now: are you brave enough?"

"To do what?" Hua Chongyang was puzzled.

Si Wuya produced two pills from his pocket.

"The Fiend Primal Potion?!" Hua Chongyang's eyes widened before it gleamed with determination. "Yes!" He took one pill and waited for the chance to consume it!

Si Wuya nodded. "Good!"

Before the Imperial city, Wang Yue tapped his meridian points and said gruffly, "It's only a death struggle! Yu Zhenghai must be filled with regrets for not killing me! I'll..."

Bam!

Wang Yue stomped his feet on the ground, shattering the stone slabs, as he shot toward Si Wuya like a fired arrow! Although he was heavily injured, as the saying went, 'An emaciated camel is still larger than a horse'. He was not someone that those at and below the Six-leaf stage could deal with.

Si Wuya launched palm seals into the air!

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Wang Yue struck with both fists, pushing Si Wuya back!

"Mister Seventh!" Hua Chongyang flew out and caught Si Wuya with a hand.

Si Wuya frowned. His arms were numb! When they landed, he staggered before he found his footing.

Meanwhile, Wang Yue's sudden assault boosted the 19 Elders' confidence.

Hua Yuexing who was standing in the distance felt anxious as she watched the proceedings.

Wang Yue wiped away the blood from the edge of his lips and said, "I'll return the damage Yu Zhenghai dealt me on you a hundredfold! He couldn't kill me, but I can kill you! Who's going to stop me in front of the Imperial city?!" He howled and stomped his feet again!

"Wang Yue… is so cunning!" Some of the more observant members realized that Wang Yue had been concealing his strength all this time. He was waiting for the perfect timing to act.

"Mister Seventh, step aside! I'll deal with him!" Hua Chongyang pushed Si Wuya aside. He was about to swallow the Fiend Primal Potion when a figure flew toward them from afar.

The others looked up.

"What's that?"

Hua Chongyang could see it at once when he looked up. There was no disturbance of Primal Qi or any aura at all as the figure flew toward them at a strange angle!

Wang Yue sensed it as well. He shouted, "Vermin! Whoever dares sneak up on me shall die!" He moved and launched a palm strike.

Bam!

The figure took the hit and fell to the ground.

The others exclaimed in shock as they watched.

How strange!

Even Wang Yue found this strange. He focused his gaze...

The figure was not anyone from the Nether Sect or an ally of the Nether Sect. It was… It was none other than Liu Gu, the current Emperor of Great Yan!

Wang Yue felt his scalp tingle. He widened his eyes as he cried out, "Your Majesty?!"

An expression of shock appeared on the faces of the 19 elders and cultivators inside the Divine Capital.

It was the Emperor's corpse!

Yu Zhenghai had won? Where was Yu Zhenghai?

The others looked at the skies again!

What they saw was not Yu Zhenghai, but a flying chariot that resembled a canoe. It was… It was the Evil Sky Pavilion's cloud-splitting chariot!

Shortly after, a firm and gruff voice rang from the chariot. "Take them all down!"