Yellow Court Daoist

This fierce beast was born with eight legs, each leg shining with a ghostly light, like sharp, long knives that intimidated anyone who laid eyes upon them. Its body, as if cast from iron and stone, displayed a formidable strength. Its cold and severe eyes alone were enough to reveal its ferocity.

Despite being only the size of a yellow dog and possessing the aura of someone at the Initial Stage of Core Formation, the ferocity within was beyond the ordinary.

Upon seeing the beast, Lu Qingfeng's eyes lit up slightly, "Is this the 'Eight-legged Blade Chi' that Brother Zhu has tamed?"

On the way here.

Zhu Yang had recounted in detail the reasons behind being pursued by the Ten Beasts Vajra, and this 'Eight-legged Blade Chi' was the main cause. Now, seeing this distinct exotic beast, Lu Qingfeng recognized it without question.

"Exactly."

Zhu Yang nodded, then reached out and drew a giant python from thin air. The python was swallowing clouds and exhaling mists, looking extraordinarily sinister. Yet, in front of the young Eight-legged Blade Chi, it curled up and trembled with fear.

"The Eight-legged Blade Chi feeds on snakes and pythons, and this Xuan Yin Beauty Python is particularly delicious, a favorite of the Eight-legged Blade Chi," explained Zhu Yang to Lu Qingfeng.

The Eight-legged Blade Chi pounced fiercely, swiftly slicing the Xuan Yin Beauty Python into dozens of pieces, then directed the Blade Chi, "Go over there to eat."

Despite its fierce appearance, the Eight-legged Blade Chi was extremely obedient.

Chomping loudly, it moved the sliced pieces of the Xuan Yin Beauty Python into an empty stone chamber within the cave residence and swiftly devoured them.

"The Eight-legged Blade Chi has tremendous potential. It's innately compatible with slaughter and carries the heritage of the blade in its blood. Once it reaches adulthood, it will be at the Peak of Primordial Spirit Cultivation. If it encounters even a slight opportunity, reaching the True Immortal Level would be a matter of course."

"Brother Zhu is very fortunate," remarked Lu Qingfeng, shifting his gaze from the Eight-legged Blade Chi and smiling at Zhu Yang.

This Eight-legged Blade Chi, a capricious and vicious exotic beast, might be of low intellect and brutal nature, but precisely because of this, it could concentrate on mastering slaughter and the way of the blade.

Grasping the great Dao within was much easier than it was for ordinary cultivators.

This was a truly unique advantage.

By controlling this beast and carefully nurturing it, Zhu Yang might gain a formidable True Immortal Level ally proficient in battle.

Indeed, it was a cause for joy.

"Daoist Brother jests."

"It's just a trick."

Zhu Yang also smiled.

Clearly, he understood that once the Eight-legged Blade Chi was raised, it would be of no small help to him.

The two shifted their conversation from the Eight-legged Blade Chi to their future plans.

"Within the Little Dragon Tiger Realm, the Alchemy Dao faction led by Green Wood Valley regards Danxia Mountain as the leader. Within this mountain, it's said that True Cultivators who have grasped the Dao reside. Thousands of miles away on Zhouyou Mountain, the ancestor of the Xun Family, Xun Zhenbei, who ascended from Three Mountains and nine waters, also stands behind Danxia Mountain."

"Furthermore,"

"The Wuxiang Zen Temple on Lantuo Mountain to the west is the very origin of the Six Dust Temple within Three Mountains and nine waters."

"Daoist Brother, having made enemies with Green Wood Valley and Six Dust Temple in the Lower Realm, upon your ascension, Danxia Mountain and Wuxiang Zen Temple are unlikely to let things slide. For prudence's sake, it is best to leave the Little Dragon Tiger Realm as soon as possible."

Zhu Yang had been ascended for four hundred years.

His knowledge of the enemies Lu Qingfeng had provoked was limited to four hundred years ago.

He was unaware that apart from Green Wood Valley and Six Dust Temple, even within the Little Dragon Tiger Realm, Danxia Mountain and Wuxiang Zen Temple, Lu Qingfeng had also offended the Chi Lianshan Black Dragon True Monarch and the Fire God Palace of Nine Sun Ridge.

Moreover, due to obtaining the inheritance of Jiuyu Immortal in the Heavenly Stele Secret Realm, the stance of the Zi Ling Immortal from Seven Extremes Mountain and the Mei Hua Wanderer from Ningbi Cliff Meihua Cave were also ambiguous.

Even worse.

Having taken Yuan Gui City, Lu Qingfeng had also entangled with the Ice and Snow Divine Palace within Little Cold Mountain.

By such calculations.

Nearly all the major powers within the Little Dragon Tiger Realm were enemies, with only a few of unclear allegiance; the One-Line Sky Passage could be said to be on friendly terms. But solely as the 'Dutian Daoist', Lu Qingfeng was only somewhat acquainted with Han Ling'er, the third disciple of Qin Feng, an ancestor of the One-Line Sky Passage.

In a crucial time, they wouldn't be reliable.

Thus.

Looking around, all he could see were enemies.

"What Brother Zhu says is very true."

"I had the same thought," said Lu Qingfeng.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yang furrowed his brows in thought, then said, "Near the Little Dragon Tiger Realm, many Buddhist Sect practitioners are in the west, which is not an easy place to conceal oneself. The east's Little Youdu Realm, while perilous, is nonetheless the most suitable for hiding."

Although Zhu Yang had never left the Little Dragon Tiger Realm since his ascension, he had gathered some understanding of the adjacent eastern and western Second Realms from various sources. He was now suggesting that Lu Qingfeng head to the 'Little Youdu Realm' in the east.

"Little Youdu Realm?"

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

Although this realm bordered the Little Dragon Tiger Realm, within the vast Nine Nether World, the two realms were extremely distant, and communication was hard to establish – even True Immortals were seldom aware of their neighboring realms' recent situations. However, for great powers such as the Fire God Palace, Chi Lian Mountain, and Danxia Mountain, once he'd be exposed, it wouldn't take long for them to be informed.

The distance simply wasn't sufficient – it wasn't quite appropriate.

"The Spirit Domain is vast, and many great demons and beasts dwell among the mountains and rivers, making swift travel difficult. Even if heading to a neighboring realm, solitary travel is a hopeless endeavor for Primordial Spirit Practitioners, with only True Immortals capable of flying hundreds of years to possibly reach there. Within each realm, there are flight paths, but they are expensive, and most are controlled by major forces. One misstep and you're likely to be discovered by Danxia Mountain and Wuxiang Zen Temple before even leaving the realm."

Zhu Yang frowned and looked at Lu Qingfeng, inquiring, "Does Daoist Brother have any other plans?"

In the vast Spirit Domain, ordinary flying was extremely slow.

In the Earth Immortal World, without Great Divine Power, an ordinary True Immortal wouldn't even dream of moving between the Four Great Continents. Take the Earth Realm of Dragon Mountain: most True Immortals were confined to activities within that Earth Realm, barely spanning a radius of a million miles.

Only the Heavenly Court, with its dominion over heaven and earth and the Thunder Department wielding great power, allowed the General Mansion and Marshal Mansion where Lu Qingfeng resided to exercise authority over heaven and earth, deploying troops across the lands.

An ordinary true immortal could never enjoy such convenience.

The same was true in the Spirit Domain.

Zhu Yang came early and was aware of the difficulties therein.

"Plans?"

Lu Qingfeng smiled, pointed to the east, and declared, "I shall not stay in any realm of the Nine Nether World; I'm preparing to cultivate in the Outer Domain Battlefield."

"Outer Domain Battlefield?" Zhu Yang's face revealed confusion. Having ascended four hundred years ago, he was unaware of the existence or significance of this 'Outer Domain Battlefield.'

"Brother Zhu, you don't know?" Lu Qingfeng noticed Zhu Yang's puzzled look and hesitated.

"I'm not aware."

"However, the Spirit Domain is vast, and within the Little Dragon Tiger Realm alone, even I have only a smattering of understanding. The name 'Outer Domain Battlefield' sounds as if it's outside our domain, but which 'domain' does it actually refer to?" Zhu Yang inquired, turning to Lu Qingfeng for answers, "Daoist Brother, where did you learn of the 'Outer Domain Battlefield,' and do you know how to get there?"

"I came to know of this Outer Domain Battlefield from—" Lu Qingfeng promptly shared in detail the information he had obtained from Han Ling'er about the 'Outer Domain Battlefield.'

Outer Domain Battlefield.

This 'domain' refers to both the 'Spirit Domain' and the 'Realm Domain,' denoting a battlefield located beyond the Nine Nether Realm boundaries, or even outside the Spirit Domain.

According to Han Ling'er.

The Outer Domain is rife with numerous Demon Spirits coveting the land of the Spirit Domain—

"Fierce and ruthless are the demons, cunning and vile are the spirits."

Thus, these Outer Domain Demon Spirits are all exceptionally violent, cunning, and vicious. The Star Absorbing Demon Spirit that sneaked in through a defensive gap from the Mountain and Water Realm is an example. There, one could easily overturn an entire realm.

In the Outer Domain Battlefield, creatures like the Lord of Star Absorption and Star Absorbing Demon Spirits are legion. At some unknown time, major powers of the Spirit Domain began to set up multilayered defensive lines in various Realm peripheries, using grotto heavens, blessed lands, battlefields, and Daoist Fields, with countless cultivators on the front lines.

For instance, outside the Nine Nether Realm, there are seven levels of defense.

The farther out one travels, the more dangerous it becomes. Yet, with great danger comes opportunity. The Fire Crow Divine Son Chao Jue, who perished at the hands of Lu Qingfeng, had tempered his skills in the Outer Domain Battlefield, gaining combat prowess and acquiring a fortune comparable to that of a True Immortal.

Combat sharpens one's Dao ability.

Exotic treasures enhance one's power.

Spirit Pills and magical medicines increase one's cultivation level.

As such.

Every person who survives the bloody battles of the Outer Domain Battlefield is considered a peerless prodigy among their equals.

When Lu Qingfeng decided to reveal his 'Eight Desolate Avatar' outside the Three Mountains and Nine Waters, Han Ling'er suggested he should hone his skills on the Outer Domain Battlefield. With Lu Qingfeng's cultivation level, while he might not need combat to sharpen his Dao ability, he was still attracted to the exotic treasures and magical medicines of the Outer Domain.

Fighting in the Outer Domain can also lead to forming valuable connections.

This would be highly beneficial when facing off against the Fire God Palace, Chi Lianshan, Danxia Mountain, Wuxiang Zen Temple, and even Seven Extremes Mountain and Ningbi Cliff in the future.

Furthermore.

When Lu Qingfeng brought the 'Dutian City' into the fray, revealing it within the Little Dragon Tiger Realm would certainly make an impression, but it would also be too conspicuous. Once exposed, it would only be a matter of time before enemies discovered it.

In light of this.

It would be better to venture into the Outer Domain Battlefield.

With his 'Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror' and 'Dutian City' at hand, he wouldn't fear even the top True Immortals. Given some time to fully implement the designs and ideas for the war forts he had envisioned in 'Primordial,' he could even hold his ground against an Earth Immortal.

When the time comes.

Even an avatar could be put to great use.

"So it seems, this 'Outer Domain Battlefield' is indeed a worthwhile destination," Zhu Yang said, his eyes shining bright after listening. Rising from obscurity, he had achieved his current status through countless challenges and was never one to shy away from adversity. Learning of the 'Outer Domain Battlefield,' far from feeling daunted, he was instead very intrigued.

"Brother Zhu, are you considering it too?" Lu Qingfeng asked, looking at Zhu Yang.

"Of course, I am."

"It's just that the actual situation at the 'Outer Domain Battlefield' and how to get there are still unknown to me," Zhu Yang said.

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingfeng laughed and said, "Getting to the Outer Domain Battlefield is not difficult. Places like the Fire God Palace, Ice and Snow Divine Palace, Danxia Mountain and others recruit Primordial Spirit Practitioners and even True Immortal Practitioners from among the Loose Cultivators every so often. They send them to the Outer Domain Battlefield together with their own disciples, both to replenish soldiers and to temper their own followers."

"Two years from now, the One-Line Sky Passage will be recruiting Loose Cultivators to be sent to the Outer Domain Battlefield. I have some relationship with the Han Immortal from the One-Line Sky Passage; with her recommendation, selection should be easy. Once we get to the Outer Domain Battlefield, with Han Immortal's help, we can join the forces of her two senior brothers."

"Both of them control a War City and command numerous soldiers under them, wielding considerable power."

"Joining them, we won't be completely in the dark nor thrown into battle as mere cannon fodder." Lu Qingfeng added fuel to Zhu Yang's enthusiasm.

Zhu Yang was highly talented.

Ascending as one of the top powerhouses of the Three Mountains and Nine Waters in less than two thousand years.

Achieving the Peak of Primordial Spirit Cultivation within three thousand years.

His future prospects were bound to be limitless.

Not to mention attaining the status of an Earth Immortal, as long as he doesn't fall prematurely, he is guaranteed a top spot among True Immortals.

His potential is substantial.

Moreover, he had control over an Eight-legged Blade Chi, which if nurtured, could also become a top True Immortal in combat prowess.

He and Zhu Yang were old acquaintances with a bond of friendship. Saving Zhu Yang's life today added a layer of debt of gratitude.

Together in the Outer Domain Battlefield, it would be much more convenient than being alone.

If fortune favored them.

If Zhu Yang could become an Earth Immortal, it would be a tremendous good.

"Brother Zhu," Lu Qingfeng stood and bowed to Zhu Yang, solemnly saying, "Grateful for Daoist Brother's high regard, I am willing to accompany you to the Outer Domain Battlefield for an adventure."

"Ha ha!"

"With Brother Zhu around, the Outer Domain is going to be much more interesting," laughed Lu Qingfeng. Just as he was about to discuss further specifics with Zhu Yang, something else crossed his mind. He couldn't help asking, "Brother Zhu, is the 'Mingqing Spirit Water' available for sale within Qingming Mountain, and if so, what is its price?"

...