My Disciples Are All Villains

Although Lan Xihe was hit by Lu Zhou's palm strike, she seemed fine now. As she spoke, her breathing was even and her tone was confident. "Pavilion Master Lu, what you're saying is directly sprouting the eleventh leaf without activating Birth Charts?"

"That's right," Lu Zhou nodded.

Lan Xihe shook her head. "I've never heard of it."

Ning Wanqing said curiously, "From the perspective of cultivation, this path is very difficult. Human cultivation is based on the lotus. With the lotus as the foundation, one opens the Birth Palace and activates the first Birth Chart. After sprouting the tenth leaf, there's no space for the eleventh leaf to sprout. Only by activating Birth Charts, one could expand the size of one's lotus before one will have space to sprout the eleventh leaf."

Lu Zhou said indifferently, "If the lotus is a hindrance, then just sever it!"

Lan Xihe was stunned by these words. A frown appeared on her face as she fell deep into her thoughts. She did not comment on Lu Zhou's words and was seriously considering the feasibility of severing her lotus. After a while, she shook her head and said, "Even if it's possible, it's too late for me…"

After all, if Lan Xihe severed her lotus, it would mean she had to give up on her 13 Birth Charts. Without her 13 Birth Charts, apart from having to endure a great decline in her cultivation base, her lifespan would be greatly reduced as well. After living so many years, if she were to lose her 13 Birth Charts now, it was likely she would die instantly. Even if her life was guaranteed, how could it be easy for a cultivator like her to give up on her cultivation that she had painstakingly cultivated?

Lu Zhou said, "Well, it's not surprising you've never heard of it. However, I have a disciple called Yu Shangrong. He was the first person in the golden lotus domain to sever his lotus."

The calm and resignation on Lan Xihe's face were replaced by a fleeting surprised expression. "He succeeded?"

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said mysteriously, "Perhaps... You should ask Ning Wanqing."

Ning Wanqing was one of the judges of the White Tower Council. He once represented the White Tower Council in the Southern Kingdom to search for Ying Zhao. He had defeated King Chen of Wu and Luo Huan on his own. At that time, under the orders of Xu Chen, the late First Elder of the White Tower Council, he was going to search for Ying Zhao's life heart on the then-presumed dead Lu Zhou's body. At that time, Yu Shangrong stood in his path, becoming a huge obstacle on his path. His eyes were lifeless as he recalled the scene where Yu Shangrong worked with his avatar and unleashed a sky full of energy swords to obstruct him. He would not believe Yu Shangrong was just a Ten-leaf cultivator even if he was beaten to death. Now that he heard Lu Zhou's words, he felt much better. Whether Yu Shangrong sprouted the eleventh leaf or not, at least, he was certain Yu Shangrong was not just a Ten-leaf cultivator.

Ning Wanqing said, "I've fought him before. However, due to my eyes, I can't see his avatar. However, I'm certain his strength is at least above that of a Four Chart expert."

Yan Zhenluo added, "This matter is interesting. The Second Elder of the Black Tower Council, Duan Xihua, once sent someone to the golden lotus domain. His men mostly have about five Birth Charts. Before I left the Black Tower Council, I heard from a friend that Duan Xihua's subordinate's life stone had shattered… No one knew if he was killed by a fierce beast or what…"

Si Wuya said, "I believe I can help you find the answer to that…."

Si Wuya had been in contact with Yu Shangrong so he knew that Yu Shangrong was safe. He immediately brought a talisman out and unfolded a portable formation before burning the talisman.

The principle of communication formations and talismans was that only those who were in the range of the formation would be in view. Needless to say, the other side would have to have the corresponding formation and talisman as well. However, if one only needed to pass a message without seeing each other, a one-sided communication formation and talisman would do.

Soon enough, the projected image of a person appeared.

Si Wuya called out, "Second Senior Brother."

"Seventh Junior Brother, is something the matter?" Yu Shangrong asked.

Si Wuya bluntly asked, "Did you kill Duan Xihua's subordinate?"

"Su Heng?" Yu Shangrong shook his head, thinking that the Black Tower Council must have discovered Su Heng's shattered life stone. "He was eaten by a sea beast in the Black Water Mystic Cave; I didn't kill him."

"He has five Birth Charts; how could he be eaten so easily?"

"It's only five Birth Charts. If the sea beast didn't eat him, he would have died under my sword," Yu Shangrong said indifferently.

"..."

Si Wuya cleared his throat. He really wanted to remind his Second Senior Brother that there were many big shots present; it was inappropriate for his Second Senior Brother to act so haughtily at this time. In the end, he said, "We're now in the White Tower Council; master is a guest here. Master wants to know about your cultivation base…"

"Master is present?" Yu Shangrong's haughty demeanor disappeared without a trace. He was incredibly humble as he said, "The path of severing one's lotus is like traveling forward in the darkness. I'm blinding groping around so my cultivation progress is slow. I need master's guidance to advance…"

"..."

'When it's time to show off, he won't show off…' Si Wuya shook his head. In the end, he said, "It's good to see you're safe. I'll cut off the communication now…"

"Send my regards to master," Yu Shangrong said before the projection disappeared.

Si Wuya did not ask about the eleven leaves. However, this was enough to show everyone Yu Shangrong was alive and well. Eleven leaves were a great trump card and a deadly weapon. How could it be easily revealed to others?

Lan Xihe said in disbelief, "A Ten-leaf cultivator killing a Five Chart cultivator?"

Ning Wanqing said, "I don't doubt it. When he fought the elder that day, he was not at a disadvantage at all. His true strength has likely surpassed that of a Five Chart cultivator."

Lan Xihe trusted Ning Wanqing's judgment. He was not only the backbone of the White Tower Council, but he was also loyal and capable. He would not lie about this matter. She fell deep into her thoughts again. No one knew what she was thinking at this moment.

After a while, Lu Zhou suddenly said, "Indeed, it's a little late for you to sever your lotus…"

Lan Xihe remained silent.

Lu Zhou looked at the sky and rose to his feet as he asked, "Lan Xihe, why do you think I'm from the Great Void?"

Lan Xihe regained her senses and replied, "Rumor has it that those from the Great Void have the origin power, and only those who have the origin power can enter the Great Void…"

Lu Zhou finally understood Lan Xihe's reasoning. After a moment, he asked, "Haven't you grasped the origin power?"

Lan Xihe shook his head. "I used the Sun, Moon, and Star Wheel to draw upon the power of heaven and earth and the essences from the sun and moon. At the same time, I used the ability from passing the second Birth Trial to harness the origin power. However, my control is tenuous at best. If Pavilion Master Lu's doesn't have full control of the blue lotus, I have even less control…" She looked at Lu Zhou knowingly as though Lu Zhou already knew everything. Since she placed Lu Zhou in a higher position than herself, she did not say a lot of things because she assumed Lu Zhou already knew them.

Lu Zhou naturally could see through Lan Xihe's thoughts. In any case, he learned some key information from Lan Xihe during this visit such as the Four Great Uncharted Lands and the next stage after activating 12 Birth Charts.

"It's getting late. I'm sure you understand the purpose of my visit," Lu Zhou said.

Lan Xihe lowered her head slightly. She was inwardly confused. 'What do I understand?'

After Lu Zhou had spoken, Yu Zhenghai, Si Wuya, and the others rose to their feet one after another.

When they walked to the entrance, Lu Zhou seemed to have recalled something and said, "Since I returned Ning Wanqing to you, don't you think there are some things you've forgotten?"

Lan Xihe. "..."

An unnatural expression appeared on the face of the high and mighty Tower Master of the White Tower Council who had never been spoken to in this manner before. After a moment, she said stiffly, "Five obsidian essences and ten fire spirit stones…"

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, "Is Ning Wanqing's status so low in the White Tower Council?" Then, he directed his next words at Ning Wanqing. "If you're dissatisfied here, you can join my Evil Sky Pavilion…"

Lan Xihe's eyes twitched slightly. "I'll double the offer. Please spare me some of my dignity, Pavilion Master Lu."

Lu Zhou did not say anything. Instead, he turned around and left the white tower.

Little Yuan 'er waved at Lan Xihe. "Goodbye."

Everyone took off and rushed toward the runic passage at the peak of the snowy mountain.

…

After Lu Zhou left, Ning Wanqing fell to his knees immediately. "Please punish me for failing you, Tower Master."

"Leave," Lan Xihe said calmly.

"Understood." Ning Wanqing did not dally and left immediately.

The others followed suit, not daring to stay any longer.

As soon as everyone left, Lan Xihe could no longer suppress her surging blood and energy. She leaned forward slightly and spat out a mouthful of blood.