My disciples are all villains.

"What did you find out?" Yu Shangrong asked with a smile.

Xia Changqiu shook his head and said, "Although I don't know who your master is, I can confirm that you're not from the Ninth Temple."

"Oh?"

At this moment, Tian Buji, who was standing at the back, cupped his fists together and said, "The Ninth Temple's style is swift and suited for assassinations or sinister schemes. This friend's moves were grand like a raging sea. This isn't the style of the Ninth Temple."

After Tian Buji finished speaking, Yu Shangrong vanished out of sight suddenly. He unleashed his Return and Enter Three Souls.

Xia Changqiu felt his vision blur. An alarm sounded in his heart. He shot into the skies and extended his arms as he waved his horsetail whisk. "The Path has No Name!"

As soon as Xia Changqiu called out the name of his technique, a red energy like a snowstorm burst forth. The boundaries between illusion and reality seemed to be blurred.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Three figures appeared before Xia Changqiu. A sword struck the horsetail whisk, another sword slashed at air while the other stabbed toward Xia Changqiu's chest.

Xia Changqiu attempted to catch the Longevity Sword with two fingers.

Bam!

Unfortunately, Yu Shangrong had many battle experiences. He shifted his body, and the blade spun.

The Longevity Sword was no ordinary weapon, after all.

Xia Changqiu could only strike with his palm.

Bam!

Xia Changqiu flew back.

Yu Shangrong flipped backward and swung his sword. Red radiance like falling snow was cut by the sword shadows.

When the sword stopped, the red energy dispersed.

The two of them looked at each other from a distance. They were evenly matched.

Yu Shangrong was lost in his thoughts at this moment. He found that the cultivation system here was similar to Great Yan. There were also the Confucian, the Buddhist, and the Daoist Societies here. Unfortunately, he did not like to think about such troubling problems. Hence, he did not dwell on it for too long even if it was a matter worth pondering on.

The Ideal is to be like Water and The Path has No Name were actual Daoist schools of thoughts.

The elders of the Thousand Willow Monastery were silent. They had been shocked by Yu Zhenghai's strength earlier. Now, there was another elite swordsman. The two of them were capable of pushing the monastery master back. Who would dare to offend these elites?

Even the elders did not dare to speak, how could the disciples dare to say anything? They could only hold their breaths as they watched on.

After a long pause, Yu Shangrong said, "The outcome isn't clear. Should we have a rematch?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhenghai sneered. "Second Junior Brother, you can't even win with your weapon. Allow me."

"…"

Although Xia Changqiu was not at a disadvantage, he felt slightly offended. He watched in silence as the two of them bickered. In the end, he said, "Since both of you aren't from the Ninth Temple, there's no need to fight anymore. This way, please."

When Yu Shangrong saw Xia Changqiu had no more intention to fight, he seemed slightly dissatisfied. He could not help but say, "We'll continue our fight next time."

"…"

Naturally, Yu Shangrong and Yu Zhenghai were unhappy. After all, it was difficult to use his strength if he could not unleash his energy. The duo could only return to the hall.

"Your unfathomable cultivation bases have truly widened my horizons," Xia Changqiu praised once he took his seat.

"It's nothing," Yu Shangrong replied.

"It's hard to imagine that both of you are from the same sect. Is… Is your master a Nine-leaf cultivator?" Xia Changqiu asked in a probing manner.

One of them used a saber while the other used a sword. Yet, their way of fighting and using Qi were starkly different.

Seeing that Xia Changqiu was persistent in getting to the bottom of this, Yu Zhenghai shook his head solemnly. "If you want to know, you'll have to defeat me."

Xia Changqiu. "…"

Yu Shangrong smiled faintly. "I agree."

The duo only sat for a moment before they rose to their feet. At the same time, they walked out of the hall.

When they were nearly out, Yu Zhenghai, with his hands on his back, said without turning back, "If someone from the Flying Star House comes, I'll kill them for you."

When he saw that they were about to leave, Xia Changqiu hastily asked, "What are your names?"

'It's alright if you don't want to tell me your master's name. But, surely there's no issue in telling me yours, right?'

"Yu Zhenghai."

"Yu Shangrong."

The two of them walked out of the hall.

Ji Fengxing and Wuwu followed them.

In no time at all, they left the inner area.

Xia Changqiu sat down. He kept repeating their names before he asked, "Elder Tian, what do you think about them?"

"That swordsman has been staying outside all this while. Monastery master, if these two are enemies of Thousand Willow Monastery, why would they beat around the bush?" Tian Buji asked.

"Elder Tian… I know what you mean. I'm only…" Xia Changqiu did not continue. Instead, he sighed heavily.

"I understand your concern, monastery master. If you surrender these two, we might be able to temporarily hold off a disaster. However, you know the Flying Star House better than anyone else," Tian Buji said.

"What do you think we should do then?"

"These two have unfathomable cultivation bases. Even if you go all out, monastery master, it won't be easy to defeat them. I've spoken with Ji Fengxing before this. Their master certainly isn't a simple person. Perhaps, he's not weaker than the Flying Star House's Ye Zhen," Tian Buji said.

Xia Changqiu frowned and remained silent.

Tian Buji continued to say, "That's why I think rather than walking down the path of sure death, why don't we be brave for once? The enemy of our enemy… is our friend."

After mulling over it for a long time, Xia Changqiu nodded slightly and said, "Promote Ji Fengxing to an inner disciple under the Attendant Hall, and you'll be his instructor… Also, clear out the villa on the southern peak. Since they're our friends, we should be hospitable."

Tian Buji bowed deeply and cupped his fists together. "Understood."

…

Meanwhile.

In front of the eastern pavilion of the Evil Sky Pavilion.

Lu Zhou did some simple exercises.

Zuo Yushu was done with her mission at the Divine Capital. She had returned to the Evil Sky Pavilion early and came to report at the eastern pavilion. When she saw the pavilion master doing a set of strange movements in front of the hall, she could not help but feel intrigued. She stopped and stared.

His movements were slow and gentle, and he looked a little stiff. However, the movements were smooth and fluid at the same time. His postures were also pleasing to the eyes.

After a while, Zuo Yushu walked over. "Zuo Yushu is here to greet brother."

Lu Zhou stopped moving. He glanced at Zuo Yushu and asked, "Is the matter with the Formation settled?"

"It was taken care of swiftly since I was there. Up to 100 people skilled in Formations from the Taixu Academy have gone over to the Big Dipper Academy. I believe there will be great improvements in Formations in no time," Zuo Yushu replied.

Lu Zhou nodded in satisfaction.

Up until now, huge beasts had not appeared yet. The human cultivators could still fend off the smaller beasts. However, if beasts such as the two huge manmans were to appear again, they would be hard-pressed to push them back.

The appearance of the beasts also showed that human cultivators were progressing toward the Nine-leaf stage.

"Brother, what was that cultivation method you were practicing earlier?" Zuo Yushu asked curiously.

"You mean, Taiji?"

"Tai-Taiji? I wonder if I can cultivate Taiji as well?" Zuo Yushu asked.

"It's only a way to strengthen your body. It's not much use to you," Lu Zhou replied.

Zuo Yushu appeared disappointed. She had never seen Lu Zhou practicing this mysterious cultivation method. 'Is this the true reason behind big brother's profound strength?'

Lu Zhou returned to his room after stretching. Naturally, Zuo Yushu would not stay any longer.

Once he entered the room, Lu Zhou continued to try his luck at the lucky draws.

Currently, he had 10,333 merit points left.

He did 100 draws and only obtained 30 Reversal Cards.

His luck was slightly better than before.

He now had 270 Reversal Cards.

...

Early next morning.

Lu Zhou was slightly taken aback to see only 33 merit points remaining.

His luck was not exactly bad. He felt that it was good enough that he had obtained 80 Reversal Cards. However, he was slightly disappointed that he did not obtain anything else.

He looked at the sky. Dawn was breaking.

Lu Zhou's mind was in a good state.

He used one Reversal Card.

After his cultivation base reached the Eight-leaf stage, he had never used the cards yet. Perhaps, it was enough now that their values had increased.

Soon after he used the Reversal Card, vitality energy began to converge again. His longevity was extended by 500 days.

There were no obvious changes on him.

With the sun high up in the skies and no lucky draws to do, Lu Zhou entered his cultivation state.

It was only a matter of time before he became a full-fledged Eight-leaf cultivator.

A short while later, Si Wuya came to the eastern pavilion and said, "Master, a huge beast has been sighted at Yu Province. The cultivators guarding the city aren't a match for it. The Nether Sect's branch requests for your help."

"A huge beast?" Lu Zhou emerged from the room. How convenient. He had just been thinking about earning more merit points. He hoped killing the beast with a single palm strike would reward him with 5,000 merit points just like Chi Yao did.

'I don't think I made the best decisions this time around. If I'd known, I wouldn't have purchased that Deadly Strike Card.'

He was going to earn merit points by using a Deadly Strike Card. That was a loss of 50%.

"Do you know what kind of beast it is?" Lu Zhou asked.

"There's a drawing of it in the letter. The beast's name is Qiong Qi."

Qiong Qi?

"The manmans appeared due to the red leaf envoy's instigation… Why did Qiong Qi appear? Is there a Nine-leaf cultivator in Yu Province?" Lu Zhou was puzzled.

"I wondered about that as well. This beast is only recorded in the books. It has never attacked humans before. However, the situation is dire. We'll find out when we get there."

Lu Zhou nodded. With a wave of his arm, he summoned Bi An.

If it was not due to a Nine-leaf cultivator, it was highly possible that the beast was lured there.

Si Wuya said, "The number of beasts has been increasing lately. Judging by the size of the nine provinces, even with the protection from Formations, we'll need at least four Nine-leaf cultivators, with each of them defending two cities. It's not easy for you to cover the entire area on your own, master."

Lu Zhou knew that as well. The human cultivators were progressing too slowly.

"I'll go take a look." He hopped onto Bi An and sped off.

"Safe journey, master."

...

In the air, Lu Zhou glanced at Bi An and said, "Although it's a rocky ride, you're more obedient than Ji Liang."

Bi An howled as if responding to its master's words.

"Faster."

...

Meanwhile.

In the ruins at the western part of Yu Province City, two red lotus cultivators nodded as they looked at the Formation veins on the ground.

"I've basically sent everything we know about Great Yan to the Sky Martial Court. I believe they'll send more men over in no time… There's only a single Nine-leaf cultivator in Great Yan! They're far weaker than I expected!"

"The heavens are on our side. I didn't expect us to be able to lure the high-rank Qiong Qi out this time…"

Boom!

The city wall crumbled.

The two of them glanced in Yu Province City's direction with an excited expression.

"The 1,000 talismans we used are worth it!"

Behind then, the pile of talismans in the Formation circle were burnt to a crisp.

"The Flying Star House's Ye Zhen used this method to attract the luan when he led an expedition to take it down. There's only one Nine-leaf cultivator in Great Yan. Let's see how he is going to deal with Qiong Qi."