Yellow Court Daoist

Located on the western side of Geng Country, separated by over a dozen nations, lies the southwestern border of Da Hao. Westward and southward from here stretches the barbaric wilderness. Within, continuous mountains and marshes are densely scattered like stars, making traversal perilously difficult. Amidst the deep woods and ancient forests, one might sporadically encounter poisonous miasma, or the domain of savage demons and old monsters, treacherous beyond compare.

There are seven counties along the border, interlocked like the teeth of a dog.

At the southwestern corner, protruding like a chicken's claw, is the most destitute of the counties, known as Gui De County.

Seven Treasures Mountain is situated at the border of Gui De County.

Recently, the vicinity of Seven Treasures Mountain, which is usually scarcely visited, has seen a fair amount of activity.

This bustle is invisible to ordinary people. However, if there were high-level cultivators with the skill to glimpse auras and the Insight Skill, upon ascending a height and looking down, they would surely see—

Those stream-like auras intertwined and fluttering, concealing over a hundred individuals among the mountains, the void, and the wilds. This does not even include those who have taken residence within Seven Treasures Mountain.

Seven Treasures Mountain consists of seven main peaks and forty-nine smaller ones. It is named 'Seven Treasures' not because of these seven large peaks, but because countless years ago, an Immortal established a Daoist Field here, dispensing kindness and justice, banishing demons and protecting righteousness. This Immortal owned seven treasures, which endowed the area with the name 'Seven Treasures Mountain'.

The seven great peaks were subsequently named after the Immortal's seven treasures.

The Immortal's name remains unknown, but due to the seven treasures and being associated with Seven Treasures Mountain, over time the title 'Seven Treasures Immortal' emerged and persisted to this day.

Seven Treasures Mountain.

Two Qi Peak.

This is the main peak of Seven Treasures Mountain, towering into the clouds; its summit sheared off by some incredible force into a flat platform thousands of feet in diameter. It is adorned with pavilions and shrouded in mist, resembling the abode of Immortals.

Inside the Two Extremes Palace, three individuals were seated opposite each other.

Two of them were dressed as Daoists; one elderly with a hunched back and a face full of healthy rosiness, and the other a middle-aged Daoist nun, holding a horsetail whisk, with the air of a drifting celestial being and piercing eyes.

The third person was a young woman dressed in black, a distinguished sword by her side. Although petite in stature, the intimidating aura she exuded was not to be underestimated.

If there were top cultivators present, they would recognize her as the renowned 'Seven Treasures Immortal', famed for traversing the barbaric wilderness with deadly prowess.

As for the other two Daoists, they were less widely recognized.

Not because they lacked renown, but their levels were so exalted that they remained unseen by the world. Should their names be revealed, it would surely cause an earth-shattering reaction.

The elderly one was known as 'Jiang Tianjin', also called 'Yuan Shan Daoist', the founding Heavenly Master of Maoshan Dao in Da Hao. He retired eight hundred years ago. Rumors claim that Yuan Shan Daoist ascended to immortality upon his death, while others believe he survived the tribulation and became an Immortal Master, enjoying eternal bliss.

Now that he has appeared on Seven Treasures Mountain, it is clear that he has achieved Pure Yang and become an Immortal Master, undying and indestructible.

As for the middle-aged Daoist nun, she holds an even more illustrious title, 'Cheng Jin Daoist Nun'. She predates the Yuan Shan Daoist by a generation. Thirteen hundred years ago, when Da Hao was not yet founded, she was already a Maoshan Immortal Master. It was she who sealed the Evil Dragon in the depths of the Evil Dragon Abyss using supreme Daoist skills.

To this day, the roar of the Evil Dragon echoes faintly from the abyss. Those who enter and possess substantial cultivation could even see flashes of the Golden Light Talisman.

In the presence of these two, even the acclaimed Seven Treasures Immortal showed a trace of respect. Her frosty demeanor cracked into a slight smile as she said to the two, "Fellow Immortal Masters grace us with your esteemed presence, your humble servant has no worries now!"

The voice of the Seven Treasures Immortal was steady, yet crisp as a child's, stirring a sense of both joy and fear in those who heard it.

The Yuan Shan Daoist responded with a hearty laugh, "With the Immortal anchoring Seven Treasures Mountain, ridding the evil and protecting the Dao, your pursuit for Longevity will surely encounter no obstacles."

Cheng Jin Daoist Nun also spoke, "Seven Treasures Mountain and Maoshan Dao both follow the Taiao Righteous Path, so naturally, we should support each other. Fellow Daoist, you have slain countless demons in the wilderness these past years and have assisted Maoshan Dao and Da Meng Shenxiao Sect in several battles. As you endeavor to Breakthrough Realm, leave all other matters to Maoshan Dao."

Cheng Jin Daoist Nun's voice was clear and hearty, quite unlike ordinary women.

Listening to Cheng Jin Daoist Nun and Yuan Shan Daoist speak, the Seven Treasures Immortal dared not relax her vigilance. She knew that in relying on Maoshan Dao all these years, she had involuntarily made many enemies. Alas, without allying with Maoshan Dao, she would have fallen long ago at the hands of the Shenxiao Sect's Heavenly Masters.

In recent years, she had utilized the power of Mao Mountain Talisman to suppress the barbaric demons, incurring deep enmity.

She had already mounted a tiger that was difficult to dismount.

Although protected by Maoshan Dao, with Earth Immortals deep in the wilderness wary of Maoshan Immortal Masters, none dared to strike at her. Yet, she remained utterly unable to separate herself from Da Hao and Maoshan Dao.

Any slight deviation, and without the need for Maoshan Dao to take action, the barbaric demons and the northern Da Meng Shenxiao Sect would not allow her to leave alive.

However.

At this moment, as she was on the verge of attaining the Earth Realm, it was likely the barbaric great demons and old monsters could not pass up this golden opportunity. The tacit agreement with Maoshan Dao over many years was bound to break.

Even if it meant clashing head-on with Maoshan Dao to thwart her cultivation and prevent the rise of a Righteous Earth Immortal.

The barbaric demons were already dreadful, and the northern Da Meng Shenxiao Sect would presumably not miss this chance either. Even if they were concerned about appearances and dared not overtly attack, they would still likely resort to subterfuge to hold back Maoshan Dao's Immortal Master.

"Shenxiao Sect."

"Far from Da Meng, the Shenxiao Sect Immortals would greatly diminish in strength without Da Meng's Qi to bolster them. Should I strike with full force, leveraging the power and auspicious energy of this nascent Daoist Field, I might well be able to severely injure or even slay one or two Pure Yang Immortal Masters."

The thoughts of the Seven Treasures Immortal flickered with murderous intent.

Externally, she showed no sign and continued to exchange pleasantries with the two Immortal Masters from Maoshan Dao.

After a while.

The Seven Treasures Immortal excused herself, rising with her sword in hand.

Cheng Jin Daoist Nun and Yuan Shan Daoist exchanged a glance. They watched as the Seven Treasures Immortal leaped up with her sword, a burst of Xuan Light erupting under her feet—

Whoosh!

The next moment, they had already left the Earth Realm of Seven Treasures Mountain.

Sword light flashed in the sky beyond, accompanied by two tragic screams.

Then it flashed again.

The Seven Treasures Immortal had returned to Two Qi Peak.

Yuan Shan Daoist looked at the Seven Treasures Immortal with admiration in his eyes, and said, "Immortal, your Divine Skills are remarkable. This footwork combined with the Kanshan Sword is truly as if the gods and Buddha had yielded. Those two demons dared to spy on Seven Treasures Mountain—they were truly courting death."

As the words of Yuan Shan Daoist fell, the noisy discussions inside and outside Seven Treasures Mountain could finally be heard.

Obviously.

The Seven Treasures Immortal's flick of her fingers to slay two Fifth-Order demons, comparable to Yang Shen Heaven Masters, had indeed shocked the crowd.

It was to be expected.

Not to mention the Fifth-Order powerhouses inside and outside Seven Treasures Mountain, even Yuan Shan Daoist himself, upon witnessing the Seven Treasures Immortal's killing methods devoid of the slightest smoke and fire, couldn't help but silently marvel.

His gaze brushed past the blood-stained sword in the Immortal's hand, and Yuan Shan Daoist clicked his tongue, "With such strength, almost invincible below the Sixth Rank; no wonder even several revered masters within the sect couldn't withstand the pressure of the Barbaric wilderness and had to secretly order the Seven Treasures Immortal to exercise restraint in wielding sword and spear."

How ironic it was.

Years ago, when the Seven Treasures Immortal first joined the Maoshan Dao, whether to test her or demand a token of loyalty, the Maoshan Dao would often summon the Seven Treasures Immortal to join the Maoshan Heaven Masters in delving into the Barbaric wilderness to slay demons.

Gradually, they commanded the Seven Treasures Immortal to slay demons on her own.

Years passed, and as the Seven Treasures Immortal emerged with a fierce reputation on the border of the Barbaric Earth Realm, drawing the activity of great demons and having countless battles with Pure Yang Immortals of the Maoshan Dao.

Eventually.

The Maoshan Immortal Masters, weary of the nuisance, passed the word to order the Seven Treasures Immortal to restrain somewhat.

Before taking control of the Maoshan Dao, Yuan Shan Daoist had met the Seven Treasures Immortal and even fought side by side with her, knowing her power and secretly admitting that his own killing methods were not as effective. But since achieving the status of Pure Yang Heavenly Master, he often went into seclusion, and this was the first time he had seen the Seven Treasures Immortal in action again.

It seemed.

Compared to hundreds of years ago, this Seven Treasures Immortal's swordsmanship and Divine Skills had reached the next level. The edge of the sword, while not so fierce to him now, would have been unstoppable two or three strokes prior to his Pure Yang transformation.

"If she achieves the status of Earth Immortal, her lethal techniques, let alone me, I'm afraid even my fellow Daoist Cheng Jin would be inferior,"

Yuan Shan Daoist pondered.

Not just Yuan Shan Daoist, but next to him, Daoist Nun Cheng Jin also had a hint of shock in her eyes.

However, without saying much, she glanced only once towards the southern sky, then saw the Seven Treasures Immortal nodding slightly toward Yuan Shan Daoist, meticulously wiping the blood from her sword. Her aura, condensed but not released, had just thunderously slain two Fifth-Order demons, and her energy was climbing.

Cheng Jin Daoist understood the critical point; this was a gathering of momentum before a strike at the Immortal Sect.

Sensing all around, she saw Two Qi Peak itself blending as one, with the mountain and the Qi from many cultivators inside the mountain all converging towards the Seven Treasures Immortal.

It was not appropriate to disturb any further.

Daoist Nun Cheng Jin and Yuan Shan Daoist exchanged a solemn look, saluted the Seven Treasures Immortal with cupped hands, and in the next moment, they exited the Two Extremes Palace, each darting towards Six Jia Peak and Plum Blossom Peak.

Each in their stance, standing proudly at the peak as guardians.

The noise from all sides abruptly ceased.

All gazes converged upon Two Qi Peak. Heaven and earth fell silent, the atmosphere instantly solidifying. Even the slowest to perceive could sense the anomaly of Seven Treasures Mountain.

As time passed, dark clouds gradually converged in the south. A demonic wind rose, and black smoke spread—these signs indicated the presence of great demons and Old Demons emerging.

Stirring a demonic wind, summoning black fog.

Clearly, there was an attempt to make a grand display of force.

"Coming from the south, this demonic wind is so bitingly cold; it's definitely the 'Red Yin Old Demon' from the Barbaric lands. It's said that the Red Yin Old Demon is a 'Red Yin Stone' that gained spirit and learned the Dao on its own; it wields the Yin Wind, unfearing the Maoshan Immortal Masters."

"Not just the Red Yin Old Demon, but also that ominously dark fog; clearly, there is an Old Demon present."

"The Demonic Qi is boundless, with a hint of dawn light; it's the notoriously wicked 'Hei Xia Old Demon' from the Barbaric lands, born from the Fusion of a cloud and the ancient turbid Qi, which once slaughtered no fewer than three Maoshan Heaven Masters. Unexpectedly, this entity has come as well."

Inner and outer Seven Treasures Mountain erupted with alarm, shattering the quiet.

Daoist Nun Cheng Jin and Yuan Shan Daoist also looked towards the south, their faces solemn, clearly recognizing these two formidable demons.

Daoist Nun Cheng Jin remained unmoved in spirit.

Yuan Shan Daoist, on the other hand, inwardly groaned, "The Red Yin Old Demon is manageable, but that Hei Xia Old Demon's demonic powers are extremely profound, I fear even my senior Cheng Jin is not his match."

He kept his composure, stealthily glancing towards Six Jia Peak. As expected, although Daoist Nun Cheng Jin was as immovable as a mountain, Yuan Shan Daoist could still perceive her vigilance.

In the midst of his worries,

His heart suddenly stirred, and he turned to look towards the northwest direction. With this glance, both Yuan Shan Daoist and Daoist Nun Cheng Jin's expressions darkened. Without coordinating, they looked at each other simultaneously, able to see the gravity in each other's eyes—

Somehow, the Immortals of the sect had not managed to keep all the Shenxiao Immortals occupied, allowing two Shenxiao Immortals to brazenly appear outside Seven Treasures Mountain.

Now there would be many more variables to deal with, which was truly unfortunate.

The two Maoshan Immortals pondered,

Only to hear from the northwest, even before anyone could be seen, a leisurely loud voice traveling through the air. The voice trembled and became increasingly sonorous as it approached. By the time it drew near, it was already surging like thunderous waves crashing against the shores, resonating mightily throughout the world and exploding thunderously within Seven Treasures Mountain—