My disciples are all villains.

Lu Song felt a searing pain when the energy swords slashed at his body. At this moment, fear had completely tightened its grip on his heart, causing him to lose the will to resist.

'Golden avatar? Is there truth to the Sky Martial Court's research?' Lu Song tried to get a better look at the sword elite in front of him. Alas, he could get a clear look. It was strange. Why did he have no recollection of this elite's face? It was as though he had forgotten what the elite looked like. Even if he did not, what did it matter now? After all, he finally understood the reason Yu Shangrong had lured him here.

The energy swords continued their attacks on Lu Song's body, face, and eyes, causing him to lose consciousness. After what seemed like hours, the energy swords finally disappeared.

Yu Shangrong hovered in the air as he held his scarlet Longevity Sword, pointing its tip downward.

Lu Song's intact body lay behind Yu Shangrong. However, in just a second, a blast of energy erupted before the body exploded and scattered in the air.

The energy swords had completely devoured Lu Song.

…

"Ding! Killed a target. Reward: 1,500 merit points. Domain extra: 1,000 merit points."

…

Yu Shangrong did not look back. After all, an elite knew the outcome of a battle the moment he made his move.

Lu Song was a Six-leaf elite, and Yu Shangrong was an Eight-leaf elite. He could have killed Lu Song with a single sword strike. Moreover, he was not an ordinary Eight-leaf cultivator. For someone like him, killing a Six-leaf cultivator was like an incredibly boring chore.

Yu Shangrong flipped his palm, and the Longevity Sword was restored to its original state after a red energy flew into the sword.

After he put his sword away, his body flashed out of sight again as he returned to the Thousand Willow Monastery.

...

When Yu Shangrong returned to the Thousand Willow Monastery, Ji Fengxing ran up to him and anxiously said, "S-senior… Where's the Flying Star House's Lu Song? We're done for if he returns to the Flying Star House! We can't afford to offend the Flying Star House!"

"He's dead," Yu Shangrong replied nonchalantly.

"D-dead?!" Chills ran up Ji Fengxing's spine. His eyes widened in shock as he asked "How did he die?"

Yu Shangrong crossed his arms and leaned against the railing, He looked at the mountains and rivers and calmly said, "All you have to do is to swing your sword."

"…"

'Is this how bosses talk?' Although this was not the answer Ji Fengxing expected to hear, it sounded reasonable enough.

After a beat, Ji Fengxing asked skeptically, "Senior… That's not what I meant. Lu Song is a Six-leaf elite of the Flying Star House. He's a Six-leaf cultivator… Did you kill him?"

Yu Shangrong glanced at Ji Fengxing before he said, "He's a weakling… Is there a reason why I can't kill him?"

"…" Ji Fengxing was at a loss for words. Yu Shangrong made it seem like Six-leaf cultivators were an insignificant existence.

When Yu Shangrong saw the shocked and speechless expressions on Ji Fengxing's face, he decided to explain himself. After all, he would have to stay here for a while. He did not want to seem too eye-catching. When he recalled his earlier words, he said, "If you know me, you'd understand how humble I'm actually being."

"…" Ji Fengxing took another step back. A complicated expression appeared on his face.

The more he tried, the worse things became. Yu Shangrong decided not to say anything else. He shifted his gaze away to look at the scenery beyond the railing.

At this moment, Wuwu said excitedly, "You're amazing, big brother!"

Yu Shangrong glanced at Wuwu. He found this little girl more likable. He said, "It's nothing."

Thud!

Ji Fengxing's reaction was rather delayed. After all this time, he finally said excitedly, "Brother… you're my big brother from this day onward! Big brother…" Then, he shuffled forward on his knees, intending to hug Yu Shangrong's legs.

Yu Shangrong frowned slightly. Ji Fengxing's antics reminded him of his Eighth Junior Brother. They were somewhat alike. If it had been Zhu Honggong doing this, he would not have found it strange. However, Ji Fengxing's actions made him feel slightly awkward. In the end, he only pointed at the three corpses and said, "Clean them up."

"Alright. I'll get to it immediately." Ji Fengxing ran down.

Yu Shangrong added, "If you run into members of the Flying Star House, tell them you didn't see anyone."

Ji Fengxing grinned and said, "Got it!"

Wuwu chimed in as well. "Got it!"

...

On the main peak of the Flying Star House.

At this moment, a disciple hurried into the main hall, bowed, and said, "Elder Meng, Elder Lu's life stone has shattered!"

In the red lotus domain, most sects would prepare life stones for cultivators in the Nascent Divinity realm and above. With these stones, they would be able to confirm the life of death of their members.

Nascent Divinity realm cultivators were the core power of sects. Most sects would assign disciples to keep an eye on their life stones. If any of them shattered, the disciples would immediately report to the higher-ups.

Upon hearing the disciples' words, Elder Meng frowned slightly. "Who dares touch Lu Song?"

"Elder Lu brought three disciples to the Thousand Willow Monastery. Could the people from the Thousand Willow Monastery kill Elder Lu because they couldn't come to an agreement?" the disciple speculated out loud.

Meng Changdong shook his head and said, "The Thousand Willow Monastery isn't so dumb that they'd offend the Flying Star House… Don't spread news about this for now. Investigate it in secret."

"Understood."

Meng Changdong was lost in his thoughts. Under the heavens, there were not many who would dare attack members of the Flying Star House. He did not think the Thousand Willow Monastery was bold enough to do this.

Ever since Elder Ye Zhen led the others to the land where luan was, the Flying Star House had lost four Nascent Divinity realm elites.

'Sky Martial Court? Or was it the Ninth Temple?' Meng Changdong thought about the forces that were at odds with the Flying Star House. However, in the end, he still could not think of anyone bold enough to act against the Flying Star House. Moreover, Ye Zhen was like the sun at high noon now.

…

Meanwhile, in Great Yan's Liang Province City.

Hua Yuexing bowed and said, "Mister Seventh, I've guarded this place for a month, just as you ordered me to. The birds did not disturb the common folk. The two largest birds flew away yesterday. I don't know where they went."

When Si Wuya heard this, he was slightly puzzled. "The Nine-leaf stage will bring forth disasters. It's not surprising that Jiang Wenxu drew the manmans here. However, master is also a Nine-leaf cultivator. Why would the birds leave?"

At this moment, Yu Zhenghai flew over and landed on the city wall. He said, "That's easy. Jiang Wenxu was able to hide in Great Yan for so long, given how shocking most of master's techniques are, it's only natural that master has his way as well..."

"You have a point, Eldest Senior Brother," Si Wuya replied.

Yu Zhenghai stood on the city wall and looked ahead as he said, "How's research on the red coffin coming along?"

"We've made three copies… However, we aren't sure of the route yet. If we recklessly descend into the abyss, we might get lost," Si Wuya said.

"That's enough," Yu Zhenghai said.

"What do you mean, Eldest Senior Brother?"

"I can do it with the progress we have now. After all, Second Junior Brother wandered into the red lotus domain without any help…"

"However, there are too many uncertainties regarding the red coffin…"

"There's no need to worry. I'll explain everything to master," Yu Zhenghai replied.

With this, Si Wuya no longer attempted to dissuade Yu Zhenghai.

…

In the afternoon. In the hall.

Lu Zhou looked at the kneeling Yu Zhenghai. He stroked his beard and asked, "Have you thought it through?"

Yu Zhenghai kowtowed and said, "Second Junior Brother fell into the abyss because of me. I won't be able to live with myself if I don't rescue him. Now that the red coffins are prepared, I ask for permission to go, master!"

Lu Zhou looked at Si Wuya and said, "How confident are you that the red coffins will reach the other side of the shore?"

"I'm only 70% certain. The red runes will keep the beasts at bay, but the details can still be improved. Please give me three months!" Si Wuya said.

Yu Zhenghai prostrated himself and said, "70% is enough. Please allow me to go, master!"