My disciples are all villains.

Having experienced much, Yu Shangrong merely squinted slightly. He was not affected and pressed forward.

Yu Zhenghai, on the other hand, exclaimed in shock, "The people of Lou Lan!"

Yu Zhenghai obviously recognized the witchcraft spell used by the people of Lou Lan. As Yu Shangrong expected, being sold to Lou Lan and killed by having his heart gouged out were the only things Yu Zhenghai remembered due to the cycle of obsession. 

"Hold on tight," Yu Shangrong reminded Yu Zhenghai.

"Mhm."

Yu Shangrong picked up speed. The duo looked like a meteor in the sky.

The purple gas seemed poisonous. Peculiar tendrils extended wildly out from it into the surroundings.

Yu Shangrong was still focused; his eyes were trained up ahead. At the same time, his energy formed a cone-shaped barrier before him. They were slightly leaning forward now as though they were surfing.

"Up ahead." Young Yu Zhenghai had quick reflexes.

However, Yu Shangrong, naturally, had seen the purple barrier before Yu Zhenghai did. He did not slow down. Instead, he accelerated his speed

Young Yu Zhenghai dared not watch this so he turned away.

Yu Shangrong suddenly drew his sword and pushed a palm forward.

Bam!

His Longevity Sword shot forward and stabbed at the purple barrier. The red runes tore the energy tendrils into shreds, and the barrier shattered like glass.

With this, the duo successfully breached the barrier!

Yu Shangrong suddenly came to a halt after moving 100 meters away…

The witchcraft Formation was only the appetizer.

In the skies, several hundred meters before them, a row of purple-robed cultivators armed with spears barred their way.

The cultivator standing in the middle had white hair and was holding a staff in his hand. He stroked his beard as he looked at Yu Shangrong who had emerged from the witchcraft Formation.

Behind the row of cultivars lay a 10,000-foot-deep abyss. A few more miles opposite the abyss was Heaven's Moat. After crossing Heaven's Moat, Yu Shangrong and Yu Zhenghai would have successfully returned to Great Yan. It was not too far away. Alas, it was so close, yet so far.

Young Yu Zhenghai opened his eyes and looked ahead. "More people from Lou Lan?"

Yu Shangrong did not reply to Yu Zhenghai. Instead, he waved his hand. Two energy seals were unleashed. One of them stuck on himself while the other stuck on young Yu Zhenghai.

The old man with the staff said tonelessly, "We finally meet."

"You're in luck," Yu Shangrong said dismissively.

"You might not recognize me… I'm Bazir from Lou Lan. There are only three best routes to return to Great Yan from Lou Lan. It might've slipped your mind, dear sir, but divination is a part of witchcraft as well," Bazir slowly said.

Young Yu Zhenghai shook his head and said, "The success rate for divination is only one out of five. Even if you made a wild guess out of the three routes, you'd have higher chances of getting it right than trying to predict it."

"…" Bazir's eyelid twitched. He glanced at the young man hovering in the air. "A mortal?"

Yu Shangrong smiled faintly. "Indeed, a mortal."

"Young man, you've got guts, I'll give you that much. Alas, you're an outsider who has nothing to do with the cultivation world. You'll never understand how wonderful cultivation is," Bazir said.

Yu Shangrong glanced at his Eldest Senior Brother. For some reason, a faint smile appeared on his face again.

Bazir stroked his beard and said, "I wonder what amused you, sir?"

"My apologies. I harbor no ill will. I was just thinking about how interesting your statement was. I myself wouldn't have said that in the past," Yu Shangrong said.

Bazir was confused. The young man was only a mere mortal, why should he care? In the end, he shifted his gaze back to Yu Shangrong and said, "Long story short… In terms of cultivation base, I admit that you're a towering figure among men. However, with national interest in mind, I'm afraid I can't allow you to cross Heaven's Moat."

"I like confident men. I hope you'll please this sword of mine." Yu Shangrong raised his right hand slightly and unsheathed his Longevity Sword.

The scabbard flew into Yu Zhenghai's embrace.

Yu Shangrong turned to look at him. "Take care of that for me."

"Alright." When young Yu Zhenghai caught the scabbard, he replied with a maturity beyond his age.

Yu Shangrong smiled and nodded. He raised his hand higher. The scarlet runes on his Longevity Sword's blade shone.

"Activate the Formation." Bazir waved his staff.

Dozens of shamans behind him tossed purple radiant orbs into the air.

The orbs dropped down and formed purple radiant circles.

The Longevity Sword split into five, ten…

Countless energy swords shot forth.

"That's fast!"

"As expected of Great Yan's Sword Devil!" Bazir seemed to have thought of a countermeasure. He hammered his staff down. "Shackle!"

The purple rings merged, and a sky curtain fell.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

The purple radiant circles blocked the energy swords.

The energy swords whittled away at the shining purple rings.

Yu Shangrong shot upward. He joined his palms together. His Longevity Sword appeared before himself. Then, he dove with it.

"Avatar."

The lotus-less avatar suddenly materialized behind Yu Shangrong.

Bazir was taken aback when he saw Yu Shangrong's avatar moved to join its palms together as well. In fact, the avatar's posture was similar to Yu Shangrong's posture.

It moved!

Bazir's eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed in a hoarse voice, "You're controlling the energy swords with your avatar? Was there such a sword-controlling method in Great Yan?"

Yu Shangrong smiled faintly as he brought his sword down.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

This was… an extra-large version of the Sword Devil's Destiny. The force of the Sword Devil's Destiny was multiplied under the control of a Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar.

Energy swords rained down and struck the purple shield rapidly.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Every time an energy sword struck, the purple radiant circle would grow dimmer.

Yu Shangrong's eyes were trained on his targets. He could feel how powerful these shamans were. They were more powerful than Zhang Yuanshan. However… his expression remained calm and confident.

When the final few energy swords of Sword Devil's Destiny struck…

Eight of them shone with exceptional brilliance!

Bam!

The energy swords penetrated the purple shield and the chests of several shamans.

Bazir frowned. "You broke through our defenses with a single skill?" He saw the eight energy swords returning to Yu Shangrong. However, upon closer inspection, he discovered they were not energy swords! They were eight golden leaves!

Lotus leaves could be used to kill. Their sharpness surpassed heaven-grade weapons! This was one of the earliest techniques Yu Shangrong discovered.

Eight shamans fell from the skies.

The first round was a great victory for Yu Shangrong!

His Longevity Sword returned to his grasp…

Young Yu Zhenghai exclaimed in shock, "Your sword skills are the best I've ever seen!"

"Is that so?" Yu Shangrong was secretly pleased to hear his Eldest Senior Brother praise him.

"The ones I've seen before can only cut down trees, at most."

"…"

Bazir sounded incredulous as he said, "So, you've returned to the Eight-leaf stage."

Yu Shangrong was puzzled. He said, "What's there to be surprised about? Is there anything more normal than my return to the Eight-leaf stage?"

"…"

Eight people have died from their first encounter. Bazir could hardly accept this. "Do you think that you can do whatever you want just because you have a profound cultivation base?"

Bazir waved his hand again.

The 'Roulians' tossed their spears. The spears were wrapped in purplish radiant circles.

The other shamans unleashed purple orbs that shone with greater intensities.

Yu Shangrong tightened his grip around the Longevity Sword's hilt and said indifferently, "My apologies, but a person with a profound cultivation base can, indeed, do as he pleases!" Then, he leaned forward slightly and charged at the shamans.