My disciples are all villains.

Xia Changqiu nodded and said, "The members of the Thousand Willow Monastery have troubled you recently, Sect Master Nie."

Since Xia Changqiu was living under someone else's roof, he had to maintain a certain level of courtesy. Moreover, in the past, nobody would even spare the Thousand Willow Monastery a glance.

Nie Qingyun laughed before he said, "If it's up to your standards, Monastery Master Xia, treat Cloud Mountain as your home. You can visit and stay here as often as you like."

"Thank you," Xia Changqiu said before he left. It felt wonderful to have a powerful backer.

As Nie Qingyun looked at Xia Changqiu's retreating back, he thought to himself that Xia Changqiu was talented, wise, and had a great perspective. In retrospect, if he was able to perceive things clearly from the beginning, he would not have to take so many detours. He was even hit by Senior Lu twice! When he recalled this, he felt was truly inflexible in the past.

At this moment, a huge surge of vitality energy converged at the mountain peak where Lu Zhou was residing again.

Nie Qingyun only nodded and no longer dwelled on the matter.

…

Lu Zhou used 30 Reversal Cards in two sessions. Each card granted him 600 days of life. With that, he became younger by 30 years. His body no longer felt as stiff, and he had more black hair as well.

After that, he did not use the remaining 57 Reversal Cards. He was afraid their price would increase in the future so it was better to save some. Apart from that, he had a feeling the Reversal Cards would become more useful in the future.

Remaining life: 231,730 days

Following that, Lu Zhou looked at the lucky draw interface.

"Lucky draw."

"Ding! Spent 50 merit points. Spent 110 luck points. Obtained Critical Block Card x50, Shining Stone x1."

"Forget it!"

Lu Zhou had his doubts about the outcomes of the lucky draw.

"I have 188 Critical Block Cards now. Does this mean that I'm going to die 188 times?" Lu Zhou frowned.

This was probably the most useless card of all.

'If I'm invincible, this card is useless.'

Lu Zhou closed the lucky draw interface and entered his meditative state.

…

Meanwhile, in the Sky Martial Court's underground prison.

It was so dark that one could not even see one's hands.

At this moment, Yu Chenshu sauntered into the prison with his hands on his back. A disciple carrying a lamp followed him respectfully from behind.

When he looked at the exhausted Sikong Beichen, he shook his head and said, "I don't think you killed Chen Beizheng, not with your abilities."

Sikong Beichen only chuckled. His voice was hoarse.

"We're both from the red lotus domain. Why must we fight each other? Sikong Beichen, you of all people should understand this. Tell me, what did that foreigner with the surname Lu offer you? Why are you so loyal to him?" Yu Chenshu asked emotionlessly.

"Yu Chenshu, if you're man enough, you'll release me from the Confinement Seal and fight me fairly… At that time, you'll be able to find out if I have what it takes to kill Chen Beizheng," Sikong Beichen said with a sneer.

"You're the Ninth Temple Master, a person renowned in this world. Why are you so naive? You should know there's no fairness in the world. Moreover, do you think the Confinement Seal is all I have?" Yu Chenshu said mercilessly.

Sikong Beichen remained silent.

At this moment, a scoff rang in the darkness.

"Newcomer, you're really immature and naïve. Old Fiend Yu has many tricks up his sleeve, especially those despicable and dirty third-rate tricks…"

"Yu Chenshu, you're useless! Where did you pick up this gourd bottle? He won't even talk to us. Aaaahhh! Let me out!"

Yu Chenshu roared, "Silence!"

The soundwave resounded in the prison.

"Oooh… How scary! Your breath is as smelly as ever. It stinks in here. You better watch out. If I ever get out of this place alive, I'll sever all four of your limbs. Oh, I mean give limbs! I'll keep them in a wine jar!"

Yu Chenshu turned around and launched a palm strike.

The red lotus karmic fire palm seal sailed in the darkness through the space between the black and cold iron bars toward a savage and filthy madman.

Bam!

Sikong Beichen merely caught a glimpse of the man's emaciated body and maniacal expression.

The prison fell silent again.

"Sky Research Court?" Sikong Beichen was shocked.

Yu Chenshu did not say anything about the Sky Research Court. Instead, he said, "That Foreigner Lu is from the golden lotus domain. He's already infiltrated the palace and met the young emperor. What I understand and know is much more than you can imagine. You'd better come clean."

"You wish to understand Senior Lu?" Sikong Beichen chuckled.

"He killed Chen Beizheng, Chen Tiandu, and Ye Zhen. His cultivation base is unfathomable. Rumor has it that he has initiated his Birth Chart. Is that true?" Yu Chenshu asked.

"Why do you ask questions you already have answers to?"

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

The sound of rattling chains rang from both sides again.

"Someone has initiated their Birth Chart? Ahahahaha… For real? That's great. Come, come! Save us from this dark world and purge the filth from this world. We must give him all the best women we have to change the filthy bloodline of the red lotus domain!"

"Impossible! It takes 1,500 years to initiate one's Birth Chart. A monster like that has long left the red lotus domain. We can longer find beasts and harvest many life hearts anymore! Yu Chen, tell me, quick, what's the meaning of this?"

Upon hearing the ramblings of these 'madmen', Sikong Beichen was convinced these prisoners were from the Sky Research Court. Then, he looked at Yu Chenshu knowingly and said, "I see. So you've imprisoned the people from the Sky Research Court here..."

Yu Chenshu did not comment on this remark. Instead, he said, "From this day on, you'll become one of them until you die. If you're willing to cooperate, I'll consider releasing you."

Sikong Beichen smiled mockingly and said, "In that case, I'll be honest with you. Senior Lu has, indeed, initiated his Birth Chart! Yu Chenshu, I can sense the fear and unease in your heart."

Yu Chenshu's eyelid twitched. He clenched his hands as he said, "Do you think I've been idle all these years? Do you think I didn't make any preparations at all? So what if he has initiated his Birth Chart? If he dares come, I'll kill him."

Sikong Beichen spat. "Arrogant!"

Yu Chenshu shook his head and said, "One needs to have the capability to be arrogant after all, and I have that capability." He turned around slowly and placed his hands on his back before he said, "Birth Chart… I think there's a great way to deal with someone like that. Isn't that right, everyone?"

The chains rattled in the dark, but no one answered Yu Chenshu.

…

A week later.

In the morning.

Lu Zhou had already replenished his extraordinary power. At this moment, he did a set of Taiji in the courtyard.

The Cloud Mountain disciples who were cleaning saw Lu Zhou but did not disturb him. They only watched and did not ask any questions. Nie Qingyun had ordered them not to bother Lu Zhou without due reasons.

After Lu Zhou entered the room, he sensed his Sea of Qi that was being filled before he counted days. "Three days… Another three days, and I should be able to reach the Ten-leaf stage."

…

Over the next three days, Lu Zhou's slow Tai Ji sets became a topic for the others.

One of the disciples even reenacted the move in front of Nie Qingyun.

After Nie Qingyun replicated moves and trained for two days, he discovered he did not gain anything from it.

"Looks like Monastery Master Xia is right. The elites have their own ways of doing things. It's best not to ask too many questions. However, I've never seen or heard about such a cultivation method before. Perhaps, I'm just too dumb to understand its essence."

At this moment, a disciple entered the hall. After bowing, he said, "Sect Master Nie, Senior Lu has said that nobody should go close to his room over the next few days. He said that you're now in charge of protecting His Majesty. Mister First and Mister Second have been summoned by Senior Lu as well."

"Alright," Nie Qingyun said with a nod, "Bring His Majesty to the main peak."

"Yes, sect master!"

...

Meanwhile, Yu Sangrong and Yu Zhenghai were puzzled as well. Why did their master suddenly summon them back?

Both of them were still wondering about the reasons when they arrived at their master's room door.

The duo bowed and said in unison, "Greetings, master!"

Lu Zhou's voice rang from inside the room immediately. "I've gained some new insights on cultivation, and I'll need to cultivate in seclusion for a few days. I need both of you to guard me."

"Yes, master," the duo replied without any hesitation.

"I hope both of you will gain something from this as well. Apart from that, summon Yuan'er and Conch here as well," Lu Zhou said

"Yes, master!"

Lu Zhou hoped that Mentor and Eternal Paragon would take effect as well. Although the others already regarded him as a Ten-leaf cultivator based on his strength, being an actual Ten-leaf cultivator would benefit him and his disciples.

…

In the afternoon.

In the spacious and bright room.

Lu Zhou's sea of Qi was finally full thanks to the Purple Glazed Ceramic. Then, he opened his eyes…