My disciples are all villains.

Yu Zhenghong and Yu Shangrong looked at each other and shook their heads. Even with the Primary Return Pills, they were still discovered. They knew that the chances of winning against the blackguards were slim, and it was likely they would lose their lives. However, they were not cowards.

The duo was about to walk out of their hiding place when a black figure walked out of the ruins in front of them. The person was completely wrapped up, only his eyes could be seen.

The duo hid themselves again.

"He wasn't talking to us…"

The black figure walked to the three blackguards and said, "Since you can sense my presence, I have to admit you have some abilities."

"Who are you?" The captain frowned. It was as though he was facing a great enemy.

"Hand the life heart over to me, and you'll be free to live your lives," the black figure said in a low and hoarse voice.

How could the captain of the blackguards easily give up the life heart that they had obtained with great difficulty?

"You have guts. You even dare to snatch things from the Black Tower Council?"

The black figure replied indifferently, "This isn't the first time I've snatched things from the Black Tower Council."

"You..." The captain was at a loss for words. He could sense the other party's unfathomable aura.

Yu Shangrong and Yu Zhenghai continued to hide and watch the sudden turn in events.

…

Meanwhile, after a long while, Lu Zhou thought it was time to check in on Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong again.

He frowned when he saw the black figure.

Soon enough, his eyes drifted to Liang Qu's heart that was shining under the grey sky. He felt his heart stir. After all, he had been looking for a fifth life heart. Alas, it would still be useless to him. Liang Qu's ability was probably speed as well. He already had Di Jiang's ability. Unless he put Liang Qu's life heart in the earth-grade Birth Charts' zone. That way, it would not conflict with Di Jiang's life heart and would continue to boost his speed to a terrifying extent. However, it was a waste to place an intermediate life heart in the earth zone of the Birth Palace. It was best to embed an advanced life heart in the earth zone to use it to its full potential.

Lu Zhou thought about the 36 Birth Charts that were divided into three categories. Each category had 12 Birth Charts. Once one had six Birth Charts, one could begin to embed life hearts in the earth region.

…

The black figure faced the three blackguards calmly. His bearing was extraordinary. It was clear he was not a simple person.

The captain of the blackguards said, "I've already decided to leave the Black Tower Council... Must you snatch this from me, senior?"

"It's precisely because you said you're leaving the council that you're still alive. Otherwise, you would've died a long time ago," the black figure said as he extended his hand, "I'll say one last time: Hand over the life heart, and you're free to go."

Buzz!

A black astrolabe appeared behind the black figure.

Dark clouds began to roll in like the tide as soon as the astrolabe appeared.

The blackguards looked at the astrolabe.

There were twelve distinct Birth Charts on the astrolabe. However, five of the Birth Charts were dim, and cracks and holes could be seen on them. This meant that the black figure was a Seven Chart expert. Although he had lost five Birth Charts, for him to be able to activate 12 Birth Charts, he would still be considered an elite no matter where he went.

"T-twelve… Twelve Birth Charts!" Upon seeing the astrolabe, the captain fell to one knee immediately and said, "This subordinate greets the Tower Master!"

'The Tower Master?'

Yu Zhenghai, Yu Shangrong, and the two blackguards were dumbfounded by this revelation.

The black figure was the Tower Master of the Black Tower Council?

When the two blackguards recovered their senses, they hurriedly fell to their knees and said in unison, "This subordinate greets the Tower Master!"

"You recognize me?" A hint of surprise flashed in the black figure's eyes.

"I once saw your profile on the Black Tower's Wall of Glory. To begin with, there are very few cultivators who are capable of activating 12 Birth Charts. Moreover, you're the only one who had lost 5 Birth Charts…" the captain said in a trembling voice.

Indeed. The black figure was the former Tower Master of the Black Tower Council, Xiao Yunhe.

Xiao Yunhe sighed. "Since you recognize me, I won't make things difficult for you…"

"Thank you, Tower Master."

Xiao Yunhe continued to say, "However, I still have to take the life heart,"

"..."

The three blackguards looked at each other.

Xiao Yunhe said, "However, I'll give you another choice. Since you've decided to leave the council, you can stay by my side. In the future, you will have a share of the life hearts as well…"

"Tower Master? You're..."

Xiao Yun said truthfully, "I'm trying to restore my cultivation so I have to have the life heart. Think carefully."

The captain of the blackguards did not hesitate and agreed immediately. "All of us are willing to follow the Tower Master!"

"Very good."

Xiao Yunhe waved his hand and the life heart flew into his hand. Following that, he ordered, "In fact, there's another life heart for you here."

"Huh?"

Xiao Yunhe pointed at Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong's hiding place. "Capture them."

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong turned around in unison without any prompt and fled without any hesitation, flying at top speed.

"We were still discovered in the end… Second Junior Brother, are we… is what we're doing now fleeing?" Yu Zhenghai had never experienced anything like this before in his life; he felt rather strange.

"Fleeing?" Yu Shangrong shook his head expressionlessly. "If this counts as fleeing, then what do the countless people whom I chased and killed in the past count as?"

"You have a point. We should retreat and strategize…" Yu Zhenghai nodded.

…

Meanwhile, Lu Zhou who was watching his two eldest disciples frowned when he saw this. Although his two disciples were highly talented and strong, how could they put a fight against such an expert?

Since Xiao Yunhe managed to go to the Southern Kingdom in such a short time after leaving the golden lotus domain, this meant that he had access to a runic passage.

…

As expected of Thousand Realms Whirling experts, it did not take long before four figures appeared 50 meters ahead of Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong.

Xiao Yunhe said, "Trying to flee?" He raised a hand and launched a palm seal at Yu Shangrong.

Whoosh!

Yu Shangrong unsheathed the Longevity Sword and held it in front of him horizontally to defend against the palm seal.

Bang!

Yu Shangrong was pushed back. Before he turned around and flew off, he called out, "Eldest Senior Brother, let's go!"

Xiao Yunhe waved his hand.

The three blackguards rushed forward, each in a different direction.

Yu Shangrong was forced to helplessly return.

Yu Shangrong and Yu Zhenghai were soon surrounded by the four Thousand Realms Whirling experts.

Yu Zhenghai said, "Second Junior Brother, we seem to be in what people call a pickle…"

"Indeed. I wonder if Eldest Senior Brother has any ideas?"Yu Shangrong asked.

"Allow me to think for a moment."

The captain of the blackguards interjected, "There's no need for you to think anymore. You won't be able to escape." Then, he turned to Xiao Yunhe and said, "Tower Master, leave these two to me. There's no need for you to act."

Xiao Yunhe said, "There's no rush." He felt the two people in front of him were rather interesting. In fact, he had arrived at the ruins before they did. He had been hiding and only decided to come out once the stone forest formation and the three blackguards had taken Liang Qu down. Therefore, he had seen the duo hiding earlier. He was surprised that Yu Shangrong was able to block his palm seal. He had always been one to appreciate talent. Moreover, if such a talent was carefully nurtured, perhaps, the person in front of him would be a huge help to him. Hence, he said, "Give me a reason not to kill you…"