Yellow Court Daoist

Lin Ye and his teacher escorted the three from Maoshan Dao out of Two Qi Peak, and after watching their figures disappear into the distance, Lin Ye hesitated for a long time before saying, "Teacher, did you give the 'Sa Ancestor Iron Can' to Maoshan Dao for Ye'er?"

Maoshan's three could see it, naturally, Lin Ye wasn't foolish either.

Thinking of the 'Sa Ancestor Iron Can', Lin Ye was at once moved and heartbroken.

"It's just an iron can, what's there to be heartbroken about."

Lu Qingfeng looked at Lin Ye, seeing the expression on his face, he immediately laughed, "This 'Sa Ancestor Iron Can' is an Immortal Device forged by the secret techniques of the Shenxiao Sect, it can only be activated with specific incantations from our sect. Maoshan Dao, having obtained the Sa Ancestor Iron Can, either has to find a way to get the incantations for consecration and activation or has to use this object to exchange for other Immortal Devices; both ways are extremely bothersome."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

Hearing this, Lin Ye's eyes widened, "That's an invincible Immortal Device, even Earth Immortals long for it, and teacher, you find it troublesome and just gave it away?!"

Lin Ye wasn't foolish.

In this world, probably no one would feel an Immortal Device to be a hot potato.

"It's not just because it's troublesome."

Lu Qingfeng smiled.

He possessed the 'Derivation Technique Analysis', no matter what kind of Immortal Device Spiritual Treasure, he could master the methods to consecrate and activate it, using them as easily as an extension of his arms, even the original owners of the treasures could not take them back.

However—

"It's easy to refine Immortal Devices, but difficult to resolve the karma."

Lu Qingfeng said to Lin Ye, "You are about to attempt to achieve the Earth Immortal Dao Fruit, settling these karmas earlier would benefit your cultivation too."

"..."

Before he could finish, he saw Lin Ye's eyes redden, and signs of a coming crying.

Lu Qingfeng's expression changed slightly, and he quickly changed the subject, "Shenxiao Sect said they would return your third junior brother, and they likely don't have the guts to fool around. However, Wen Guang has suffered a lot in these years, I'll let you go on my behalf to receive him."

"Yes."

Lin Ye, having heard this, finally held back his tears and responded softly.

Lu Qingfeng breathed a sigh of relief, handed the Green Bamboo Staff to Lin Ye for his protection, and sent him on his way.

...

Two Qi Peak.

Without Lu Qingfeng and Lin Ye's words, disciples from Seven Treasures Mountain dared not enter.

The peak was desolate and broken, Lu Qingfeng walked out of Two Extremes Palace, gazed toward the northern sky where the destiny manifested like smoke and Azure Dragons as pillars; among them, two Golden Dragons were the most powerful, coiling in the void, each breath they took was filled with infinite mystery and mighty force.

Dragons and Jiao creatures, too, lurked in corners, not daring to provoke.

"Da Hao."

"Da Meng."

The Golden Dragons were indeed the manifestation of the two nations' destinies.

Lu Qingfeng stared at the place where Da Meng was, contemplating in his heart, "Da Meng is in its prime, trying to eradicate Shenxiao Sect violently is not realistic."

Shenxiao Sect's actions nearly broke Lin Ye's path and they suppressed Wen Guang to the utmost, Lu Qingfeng would not let this go.

However.

With Da Meng thriving, Shenxiao Sect flourishing and deeply rooted, they have tricks up their sleeves and lineages spread in many small nations. Even if Da Meng dynasty meets its end, unless Shenxiao Sect is dragged down with Da Meng, another change of dynasty would hardly dissipate Shenxiao Sect.

Over the years, even a dynasty as mighty as Da Meng has changed countless times.

But regardless of dynastic changes and shifts in empires, Shenxiao Sect has always stood firm.

Eradicating Shenxiao Dao is truly not easy.

"If I kill into Da Meng, let alone it's hard to gain advantages in Shenxiao Sect's home ground. Such actions, just the ruckus alone, would inevitably attract much attention, even with rightful causes, it might still garner lots of scrutiny."

"At that time, the situation would be uncontrollable, rather unwise."

When Lu Qingfeng released Zhengqing Daoist, he already had considerations in his mind.

Now in tranquility, as thoughts whirled continuously and his hands formed calculations without stopping, he leapt into the clouds above, his eyes reflecting spirit light as he overlooked the human realm.

Continuously refining his thoughts.

Gradually, he completed the idea, forming it into a feasible strategy.

...

Time flowed.

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed since the battle at Seven Treasures Mountain.

In that battle, the world thought that Seven Treasures Mountain was going to rise, becoming an undeniable force between Da Hao and the Barbaric regions. Even Immortal Dao cultivators from all directions gathered, hoping to affiliate.

Who could have expected that Seven Treasures Mountain would soon be deserted?

That breathtakingly powerful Qingjing Saint, who rescued his disciples from Shenxiao Sect, took along his disciples including Seven Treasures Immortal, as well as Qi Zhou, Cui Fengnian, and Zhong Lihu, three True Immortals, and vanished overnight.

Shortly after their disappearance.

Two Sixth Rank Earth Immortals from Shenxiao Sect, Yun Qing and Yun De, suddenly perished, causing a huge uproar. Shenxiao Sect was both shocked and enraged, investigating the reason everywhere.

Many guessed that it might be the final retaliation from the one who was about to leave Seven Treasures Mountain.

Shenxiao Sect guessed it too.

After a high-profile investigation for a few years, in the end, they could only venture deep into the Barbaric regions and had a few battles with Sixth Rank demons, barely preserving face and leaving it unresolved.

As for Seven Treasures Mountain—

Some say that the people including Seven Treasures Immortal followed that Qingjing Saint to the Immortal Realm.

Others say they went to the thriving Four Saints Immortal Realm.

And some say they retreated to the snowy realms of Beihan.

...

Opinions varied.

As time passed, fewer people mentioned it.

...

Sui Country.

Located to the northwest of Da Meng.

More than fifteen hundred years ago, Tu Clan of North Pasture, Da Meng, dissatisfied with the monarch of Da Meng favoring his relatives and implementing a policy to reduce the power of the vassals, thus raised a rebellion and gathered eighteen lords to pressure the capital of Da Meng.

It was a momentous uprising.

Unfortunately, the fortunes of Da Meng were not yet exhausted, and the loyalty of its people endured, with its counties strong and horses gallops.

The eighteen lords were defeated completely.

To evade Da Meng's military, the North Pasture Hou together with the other six surviving lords, led hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians over mountains and ridges to settle in the northwest of Da Meng.

After decades of battles, they conquered thirty-three small nations one after the other and took control of a vast territory. Though not as wide as the seventy-two counties of Da Meng, they established nine counties of their own.

They established their own nation, naming it 'Xu'. They crowned Hou Tu Zhan as monarch, and the six lords were all ennobled with their own hereditary lands.

Two hundred years later, things seemed decent, although there were occasionally rebellious armies intending to restore the country, overall it was flourishing.

The two hundred forty-first year of Da Xu.

The ruler Tu Che, incompetent and tyrannical, made life unbearable for the citizens of Xu. Also arrogant by nature, dissatisfied with the six kings, he heeded the strategy of Chancellor Zhu Yan, inviting the six kings to the capital with plans to disarm them and revoke their fiefdoms, causing the six kings to be wary and refuse orders.

Xu Country plunged into great chaos.

Engulfed in the flames of war.

Since thirteen hundred years ago, the original nine counties of Xu Country, long united must divide and long divided must unite, continuously annexing neighboring small states. Twenty-seven years ago, the unified nation of Da Sui, after nine generations, possessed the territory of thirteen counties.

The territory was vast like never before.

Unfortunately,

It still faced its demise.

The monarch of Da Sui was indulgent and lustful, causing the state to be unstable. With constant natural disasters and rampant corrupt officials, fires of rebellion broke out everywhere. Not only did various rebels rise, but even the local governors and generals commanding troops started to operate independently, harboring ambitions and establishing their own dominions.

The territory of Da Sui fell into chaos.

It was anticipated by those who were perceptive—

This reign of Da Sui was likely doomed.

Thus, whether scholars, warriors, or Daoist monks, all placed their bets to find a wise ruler to support in establishing the nation.

Some aimed to be renowned through the ages.

Others sought to leverage the imperial mandate to facilitate their own cultivation and achieve the Dao of Longevity.

So Da Sui was increasingly mired in chaos, with continuous conflicts everywhere.

Southeast of Da Sui was Lingnan County. Stretching along the eastern side of the Azure Dragon Ridge, Lingnan County comprised twenty-one counties with a population of six million.

The region was narrow and elongated.

And due to the separation by the Azure Dragon Ridge, high mountains and long roads added to the chaos.

Prior to the complete disorder of Da Sui, Lingnan County was the first to descend into chaos.

Refugees were everywhere, countless turned to banditry.

Rebels ran rampant, seizing county towns and declaring themselves kings.

The situation was on the verge of being uncontrollable.

Fortunately, the Capital Commandant Zhao Jian was a masterful general. He led eight thousand county soldiers to suppress bandits and stabilize the people, and with the death of the Governor, Zhao Jian took over civil affairs and held great power.

Eight years ago.

Zhao Jian regained control of nine core counties of Lingnan, and took up the post of Lingnan Governor himself.

However, the Governor Mansion lacked soldiers and generals, and was also depleted of talents, making military and administrative operations murky.

Lu Changqing of Changqing Temple on Xia Guang Mountain was well-versed in classics and history, understood astronomy and geography, and was proficient in laws, Five Elements, and prophetic texts. He was also skilled in Daoist practices, possessing the Divine Skills to eradicate evil and capture demons.

Not long ago, during his visit to Jinzhang County, Lu Changqing met a youth named Shen Lang, who was transformed from a Jiao Sheng Spirit, causing major floods that threatened hundreds of thousands along the coast. Lu Changqing drew his sword and led his disciples to slay it, thus eliminating the water calamity in Jinzhang.

Since then, Lu Changqing's Daoist powers were widely recognized and his reputation spread far and wide, with many seeking to become his disciples. Among his followers, the 'Changqing Seven Sons' were especially well-known, whom Lu Changqing took as registered disciples. Another secular disciple, Wu Guang, practiced various martial arts and was skilled in troop deployment and formation strategies, showing the talents of a brave general.

Zhao Jian, having just stabilized nine counties and still needing to recover twelve more, was desperate for capable people.

Hearing of Lu Changqing's abilities, he was overjoyed, personally visiting Xia Guang Mountain to appoint Lu Changqing as Lingnan County Governor, and his disciple Wu Guang as Dan Mountain Colonel.

Lu Changqing certainly proved his capabilities.

Over eight years, he managed civil affairs of Lingnan County meticulously, managing to reflect an aura of peace and prosperity amidst chaotic times. Also skilled in strategies, he advised and helped Zhao Jian in recovering the remaining twelve counties, bringing all twenty-one counties and six million people of Lingnan under control.

The disposition akin to a rising dragon.

Lu Changqing thus gained Zhao Jian's great trust, becoming his primary confidante, and arranged for his two sons to be tutored under Lu Changqing.

In Lingnan County, he was second only to Zhao Jian, holding a highly respected status.

On this day.

Inside the Governor Mansion.

Zhao Jian summoned County Governor Lu Changqing for a discussion.

This Lingnan Governor, with a square face and a robust stature, exhibited grandeur. About forty to fifty years of age, his mouth adorned with a pair of whiskers, added a touch of gentleness.

Indeed, a rare benevolent gentleman in the world.

"Ye County was also conquered by General Wen Guang not long ago; with this, all twenty-one counties of Lingnan are recovered, finally we can keep this region at peace," Zhao Jian, having started his career in military, spoke with a resonant and robust voice.

Having recovered the entire territory of Lingnan, Zhao Jian was spirited and his face glowed with health.

Lu Qingfeng looked at Zhao Jian and noticed beneath his healthy-looking complexion, there was an unusual flush, "Blessed with fortunes, Zhao Jian's fate is showing signs of being unable to bear it. In recent years, neglecting martial training, his body is slowly developing chronic diseases, I fear his days are numbered."

He thought to himself.

Lu Qingfeng kept his face expressionless, and congratulated Zhao Jian, "Brother Jingzhi, under your governance over these years, the military and civilians of Lingnan County see the peace you've maintained."