My Disciples Are All Villains

Although Pan Litian and Leng Luo had seen and experienced many things, they were still shocked when they heard this.

Jiang Aijian lost his footing and sat limply on the chair.

Mingshi Yin looked at his master. A mixture of shock and awe could be seen in his eyes.

Leng Luo said tremblingly in a hoarse voice, "You saw the answer during the chess match, Pavilion Master?"

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and nodded as he said, "Yun Tianluo sealed his method of attaining the Nine-leaf stage inside the chessboard…"

Although he had limited examples to refer to, Lu Zhou could form his own conclusions based on his past knowledge and experience.

"The Golden Lotus under the Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar is what's stopping cultivators from attaining the Nine-leaf stage."

The four of them were stunned. For a time, they did not know what they were supposed to say. This was because Lu Zhou's statement had basically challenged the fundamental knowledge of the cultivation world.

It was common knowledge that everyone in the cultivation world strived to condense the Golden Lotus of the Hundred Tribulations Insight avatar… With a Golden Lotus, they would be an elite.

Lu Zhou spoke slowly, "When a cultivator attempts to reach the Nine-leaf stage from the Eight-leaf stage, the Golden Lotus would absorb the cultivator's power and life… This is the truth behind the great limit."

"…"

Countless cultivators have tried to attain the Nine-leaf stage throughout the years. The numerous failures led to the discovery of the truth of the great limit. The great limit deterred other cultivators from attempting to attain the Nine-leaf stage… Gradually, it became a fact to cultivators that it was impossible to attain the Nine-leaf stage.

"The Golden Lotus is absorbing life… When I met Gong Yuandu back then, I had the same thought, but I wasn't sure. If that's the case, how much life will the Golden Lotus take away?" Pan Litian looked outside the great hall and said, "If a genius were to cultivate and attain the Eight-leaf stage in his youth, could he supply the Nine-leaf stage with his life? Take Little Yuan'er, for example."

In such situations, Jiang Aijian and Mingshi Yin listened quietly without interrupting.

Leng Luo shook his head. "It's not feasible… Cultivation has been around for many years. There had been no shortage of shocking talents throughout history. Yet, I don't remember any of them reaching the Nine-leaf stage."

Lu Zhou said, "So… the Golden Lotus will take at least 1,000 years of life."

"…"

The great hall fell silent. Even a falling needle could be heard.

1,000 years… That was the longevity that only top cultivators could achieve. Most cultivators could not even make it to the Eight-leaf stage, let alone having 1,000 years to live. For them, how could they ever attain the Nine-leaf stage?

Leng Luo and Pan Litian shook their heads helplessly.

At this moment, Jiang Aijian could not hold it in any longer. He bowed and said, "May I offer my two cents?"

"Let's hear it."

"When I was inside the palace, I read some books in the warehouse… Some of them contained records of the Eight-leaf stage. I didn't think much of it then about them, but now, I remember some of the information does sound similar to what you're saying, old senior…" Jiang Aijian stroked his chin and continued, "I can't really remember the original text, but there was one piece that said that a cultivator can only attain the Nine-leaf stage if he was at the Eight-leaf stage while he was still inside his mother's womb."

Leng Luo, Pan Litian, and Mingshi Yin were speechless. Although the statement was crude and ridiculous, it did bear some semblance to what Lu Zhou said.

If a cultivator was at the Eight-leaf stage in his mother's womb, he would have 1,000 years to live, and he would have a chance to reach the Nine-leaf stage.

However, was it possible for someone to attain the Eight-leaf stage while they were inside their mother's womb?

Mingshi Yin rolled his eyes and said, "Even if you're already at the Eight-leaf stage in your mother's womb, how are you going to guarantee that the Golden Lotus won't absorb 1,500 or 2,000 years of life?"

Mingshi Yin's question stumped everyone.

Lu Zhou glanced at Mingshi Yin.

Leng Luo and Pan Litian sighed.

They were both Eight-leaf elites. Naturally, they knew about the difficulties beneath the surface.

"At the end of the day… It's still a problem that can't be solved," Leng Luo said with a sigh.

"No," Lu Zhou said curtly.

The four of them turned to look at Lu Zhou in unison.

They saw an unbelievable expression of confidence on Lu Zhou's face.

Lu Zhou said, "Let's think about this in reverse."

"In reverse?" Jiang Aijian and Mingshi Yin scratched their heads.

Leng Luo and Pan Litian could not quite understand this statement as well. No matter how they thought about it, it was a problem with no solution.

"Please be clear, Pavilion Master!" Leng Luo rose to his feet.

Pan Litian dared not dawdle. He stood up as well.

Mingshi Yin and Jiang Aijian did the same.

Lu Zhou's eyes were as bright as flames as he looked at everyone gathered there and said, "Since the Golden Lotus is taking life away… all we have to do is to cut it off."

Leng Luo, Pan Litian, Jiang Aijian, and Mingshi Yin looked as though they had been struck by a bolt of lightning. This statement stirred up waves in their hearts.

Leng Luo and Pan Litian who had close to a millennium worth of experiences and the young Jiang Aijian and Mingshi Yin were equally stunned at this moment.

Jiang Aijian gulped. "Wait up… Let me breathe." He raised a hand and rubbed his chest before saying, "Old senior, if the Gold Lotus is severed, we'd suffer great damage. We won't be in peak condition. How're we supposed to attain the Nine-leaf stage?"

The four of them had forgotten about the differences in their age. This was also a question that the other three wanted to know the answer to.

Lu Zhou smiled warmly and said, "Isn't there a way to sever the Golden Lotus without being affected?"

The four of them were stunned.

From the current situation, Lu Zhou was of the opinion that there were two ways to enter the Nine-leaf stage. The first way was to fulfill the requirement of the Eight-leaf Golden Lotus and enter the Nine-leaf stage conventionally. This method was very difficult because nobody knew how many years of life the Golden Lotus would absorb. It was possible for it to absorb 1,000 or even 2,000 years… This was also the reason why Lu Zhou stocked up on Reversal Cards. The second way was to sever the Golden Lotus.

Lu Zhou's tone was calm as he said, "Have you ever thought about it… A cultivation method whereby the Golden Lotus is severed?"

The four of them gulped. Such a cultivation method was unheard of. However, who could say that it was impossible when nobody had studied it before?

"A Nine-leaf stage without the Golden Lotus… That can only be regarded as a quasi Nine-leaf stage, at most," Jiang Aijian said.

"Even without the Golden Lotus, it's still a realm higher. It's enough for your opponent to crush you with the difference in your levels and his avatar… From what we know now, the height of a Nine-leaf Avatar would be at least 150 feet," Mingshi Yin said.

Leng Luo and Pan Litian nodded. The two of them sighed.

Pan Litian said with a sigh, "I'm old. My mind isn't as sharp as you youngsters."

After saying this, Jiang Aijian and Mingshi Yin looked at Lu Zhou in unison.

Pan Litian's old face blushed. He felt slightly embarrassed. 'If I'm old, what would that make the pavilion master?'

This was awkward.

In any case, their discussion today was sure to change their previous cultivation methods.

Leng Luo and Pan Litian bowed at the same time.

"It's better to listen to you than read the books for 100 years."

Mingshi Yin and Jiang Aijian were speechless.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard in satisfaction as he nodded and said, "They're merely thoughts… If you're trying it out, proceed with extreme caution."

The four of them bowed deeply.

They knew that they were not supposed to attain the Nine-leaf stage by severing their Golden Lotuses unless they had a perfect plan or had no other choice. That method was too shocking.

Naturally, Lu Zhou was merely providing them with a new way to think about this. After all, who would actually be willing to do that to themselves?

Lu Zhou had the Reversal Cards. So long as he had enough of them, he could try to attempt it when he was at the Eight-leaf stage. However, it was unclear if there were any other undiscovered effects by practicing this method.

…

Meanwhile, at the exit of the Mausoleum of Swords, a person with messy hair, grimy face, and dressed in rags who emitted a peculiar aura crawled out.

He took step after step, hauling a thick rope over his shoulder, out of the Mausoleum of Swords… At the other end of the rope, a completely withered corpse was being brought out. The corpse was covered in old, tattered monk robes.

The person continued walking. In the next second, he appeared several hundred feet away.