My disciples are all villains.

Lu Zhou looked at the fire spirit stones in the bag. The quality was good, and their energy was sufficient. He closed the bag and asked, "Fire spirit stones are so rare. How did you find so many?"

The black-robed cultivator laughed twice and said, "Senior, you've already seen my astrolabe. It's not surprising that I have these fire spirit stones."

Lu Zhou could tell he was not willing to speak about the past. However, he could still figure out a few things. How could someone who managed to activate twelve Birth Charts be a nobody? However, what he was most curious about was which expert was capable of destroying this person's Birth Charts?

As he put the fire spirit stones away, Lu Zhou asked, "With your cultivation base, logically speaking, many forces should be trying to rope you to their sides. Why do you want to be a sectless cultivator?"

The black-robed cultivator let out a long sigh. "I had these thoughts in the past. Later, I realized you'd get caught in a vortex, unable to get out. This is the situation Wu Chao is in. Sometimes, there's nothing wrong with being a free and unrestrained ant."

The forest was very large, and it was impossible for every bird to be the same. There were some that liked to be independent and some that needed something to rely on. Only those who had experienced a lot would have such thoughts.

Lu Zhou weighed the black bag. "Only six?"

"..." The black-robed cultivator said awkwardly, "Six fire spirit stones are all I have. This is already quite a lot. Even the powerful Black Tower Council and the Dark and Light Alliance combined don't have six fire spirit stones."

Although Lu Zhou knew fire spirit stones were rare and precious, he did not expect that even the Black Tower Council and the Dark and Light Alliance did not have this number of fire spirit stones. He was even more certain that the person in front of him had an extraordinary background. No wonder even the entire Sky Martial Court, coupled with the Sky Research Court, only managed to find one.

"Six fire spirit stones aren't bad. However, what if I kill you after taking them?" Lu Zhou asked.

The black-robed widened his eyes in shock, but he calmed down swiftly. He said, "I can tell that you're not an unreasonable person. Moreover, if you wanted to kill me, you wouldn't bother asking."

"A wise man submits to circumstances. Today, for your sake, I'll let Wu Chao."

"Thank you!"

"Remember your promise, or else, I will tear you to pieces," Lu Zhou said. Then, he flashed to 100 meters in the air before he flew away.

After Lu Zhou left, the black-robed cultivator straightened his body and shook his head. He let out a long sigh and said, "Come out."

An arm stretched out from the debris ten meters in front of him. Then, a shadow shot out of the ground, stirring up dirt.

After crawling out of the ground, Wu Chao spat out the dirt in his mouth. His eyes brimmed with fear as he lay on his back and stared at the sky, panting heavily. When he finally calmed down, he turned around and said, "Thank you for saving my life, Tower Master!"

"I'm no longer the Tower Master!"

"No, you are! You've always been the Tower Master!" Wu Chao said passionately.

"Alright, alright, get up."

"Understood."

"After this, don't return to the Black Tower Council. I'll think of a way to make your life stone shatter," the black-robed cultivator said.

Wu Chao asked skeptically, "Is that possible?"

"Yes." Then, he turned his head and looked in the direction in which Lu Zhou left as he muttered to himself, "Why does the golden lotus domain have such a powerful person?"

…

Zhao Yue was sitting on Di Jiang's back waiting for her master's return when she heard someone calling out to her.

"Zhao Yue... Save… save me..."

Zhao Yue looked at the source of the voice and saw Lian Xing waving at her. After being heavily injured by her master's two palm strikes, Lian Xing did not look like she had long to live. She said expressionlessly, "You're dreaming!"

Lian Xing said with an expression of disbelief, "I've known you... known you for so long. Don't tell me you still don't trust me?"

"I used to trust you and treat you as a friend, but you lied to me all the time and even tried to steal my Great Void energy. Is this what you call being a friend?" Zhao Yue said mockingly.

"I didn't!"

Zhao Yue looked down at Lian Xing. "Actually, I already knew something was off with you, but my master wasn't around at that time. Otherwise, how could I promise to suppress my cultivation?"

"You... You lied to me?"

Zhao Yue found Lian Xing's words absurd. "You can lie to me, but I can't lie to you?"

"Then, did you think it's fake as well when I risked my life to say you?" Lian Xing said, unresigned.

As soon as Lian Xing finished speaking, the black and white guards who had only one Birth Chart left each rushed forward.

"Even if I die, I'll drag you down with me!"

Even if they only had one Birth Chart now, Zhao Yue was still no match for them.

Squawk! Squawk! Squawk! Squawk! Squawk!

Di Jiang cried out as the two men leaped up. Its cries seemed rather… excited. It shot away at lightning speed, bringing Zhao Yue with it.

Zhao Yue, who was briefly startled, hurriedly used her energy to stabilize herself. Then, she turned back to look at the two guards. When she saw how far away the guards were, she was even more shocked by Di Jiang's speed.

The two guards whose attacks missed look at Di Jiang flapping its four wings with complicated expressions on their faces. A hint of unwillingness could be seen on their bloodstained faces as well.

"Take the left; I'll take the right."

The two guards made a move to surround Di Jiang and Zhao Yue.

Whoosh!

Di Jiang flapped its wings and shot off again. Its speed was lightning fast and could hardly be seen with naked eyes. The more the guards chased it, the happier it seemed trying to evade them.

After chasing for a long time, the two guards still could not catch up to Di Jiang.

Di Jiang squawked and quacked happily in the air.

Previously, even the healthy Yan Zhenluo with six Birth Charts could not take down Di Jiang, let alone these two injured guards with only one Birth Chart each.

Zhaoyue smiled and said, "Is that all you got? Why don't you try again?"

The two looked at each other before one of them said, "Don't fall for her trick. Let's go before the old man returns."

"Okay, let's put aside the grudge between the Black Tower and the White Tower for now. Let's escape together!"

"Alright. The runic passage is still there. We should have enough time. Let's go!"

The two turned around and flew north.

Upon seeing this, Lian Xing shouted from the ground, "Take me... Take me with you!"

The whiteguard glanced at Lian Xing before he said, "Being a traitor is a capital offense!"

Following that, the duo no longer paid any attention to Lian Xing and gave up on killing Zhao Yue. They hurriedly fled and soon disappeared from sight.

Soon after, in the northern sky, the clouds stirred as strong Primal Qi seemed to tear the sky apart. It was as though it was heralding the arrival of an expert.

Zhao Yue shook her head and said, "It's a pity that I'm not strong enough to kill the enemy! I really have to thank you this time! When did master take in such a fun mount?"

Di Jiang flapped its wings excitedly. However, it no longer flew around and only hovered in position.

Zhao Yue did not pay attention to Lian Xing. Although Lian Xing had saved her, Lian Xing had also schemed against her. Moreover, Lian Xing was a member of the White Tower Council, it was best to be cautious.

After a while, Lu Zhou flew back from the distance.

"Master." Zhao Yue hurriedly kneeled in the air.

Lu Zhou glanced at Zhao Yue and asked, "Are you injured?"

Zhao Yue recalled the time when the blackguard and the whiteguard attacked her. She had instinctively dodged them at that time. However, fear rose in her heart now that she recalled it. After all, even Nine and Ten-leaf cultivators could have been crushed into meat pulp at that time, let alone a Six-leaf cultivator like her.

"No. I've made a mistake. Please forgive me, master." Zhao Yue did not dare to get up.

Lu Zhou looked down and saw Lian Xing lying on the ground. He ignored Zhao Yue's words and asked, "Did the two guards escape?"

"They fled north," Zhao Yue replied in a small voice.

Lu Zhou looked north for a moment before he said, "Let's return first."

Lu Zhou launched a Dhyana Mudra at Lian Xing, using it to grab her.

At this moment, there was a loud commotion in the sky to the north. Black clouds rolled in and churned in the sky as thunder rumbled incessantly.

Lu Zhou, Zhao Yue, and the captured Lian Xing looked north.

Lian Xing frowned and said while she endured the pain, "Both of you should run… I-it should be p-people from the Black Tower Council."

"The runic passage?" Lu Zhou asked.

"This is the fluctuation from the opening of the runic passage. The Black Tower has so many experts; they must have sent someone…" Before Lian Xing could finish her words, she grunted and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Lu Zhou did not have any sympathy for Lian Xian at all. Instead, he said disdainfully, "Brat, do you think I'll be scared?"

"..." Lian Xing was speechless.

As expected, several shadows from the north rushed over.

Lu Zhou looked at them and frowned slightly. For some inexplicable reason, the scene when Wu Chao escaped appeared in his mind.