Yellow Court Daoist

"I am unworthy, Master."

"It's troubling for you to worry about me."

After the departure of the Golden Phoenix King, Lin Feng approached Lu Qingfeng and bowed deeply again.

"There's no need for formalities," Lu Qingfeng waved his hand dismissively.

Master and disciple had not seen each other for quite some time. The reunion of the siblings Lin Feng and Lin Ye after a separation of forty thousand years left them with endless topics to discuss.

Lin Ye talked about the events that transpired during their separation.

Upon hearing that Zhang Yang disappeared while searching for him, Lin Feng's expression darkened with concern.

Then, Lin Ye spoke of the troubles incurred from offending the Shenxiao Sect for a 'Returning Saint Grass', Wen Guang's tragic fate, and Lin Ye's life sold to the Maoshan Dao, which left Lin Feng both shocked and furious.

When Lin Ye mentioned the failed assault on the Earth Immortal Realm due to the deliberate interferences of the Shenxiao Sect, which left him with merely a century or so of life, Lin Feng felt an agonizing pull at his heartstrings despite Lin Ye standing well before him, and anger welled up within him.

Only when Lin Feng heard that Lu Qingfeng had saved Lin Ye and Wen Guang did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Hearing further that his master had been establishing a foothold in Lingnan with intentions to overturn the Shenxiao Sect, Lin Feng volunteered eagerly to lend his support.

Lu Qingfeng just smiled and said there were other arrangements.

Lin Feng had no choice but to drop the matter.

In the end,

when speaking of the celebrations by all immortals for Lin Ye's enlightenment outside Desolate Cold Stream, Lin Feng could hardly contain his excitement, pacing back and forth in his cave dwelling, clapping his hands and praising without end.

...

With expressive detail, Lin Ye recounted the significant and minor events of the past forty thousand years.

Seeing Lin Ye's enlightenment, Wen Guang's escape, and their teacher's return, Lin Feng's joy was boundless.

Over these years,

his only concern while trapped in Desolate Cold Stream was for his three fellow disciples.

Forty thousand years,

the hardships of which are indescribable. The mere existence of a Golden Phoenix King at the Mahayana Realm in the barren and chilly Desolate Cold Stream was testament to the suffering Lin Feng endured.

The moniker 'Vulture' was not just the alias Lin Feng adopted in Desolate Cold Stream; it was also the title secretly bestowed by those True Immortals who had dealings with him.

Like Han Feng,

who was unfortunate enough to be targeted by Lin Feng several times for his 'Taiyi Green Spirit Fire.' Others who contested with Lin Feng over Spiritual Medicine, Spirit Stones, and various Cultivation Resources were too numerous to count.

It was precisely through the Vulture's principle of plucking feathers as the geese pass that he managed to elevate the rare and exotic Golden Phoenix Sparrow to the Mahayana Cultivation level.

Thus he saw a glimmer of hope for escape.

Originally, meticulous planning and considerable effort were required, with unpredictable accidents potentially occurring.

Success was not guaranteed.

But now,

all concerns were unnecessary.

Except for one—

"Is there any news of our fourth junior brother?" Lin Feng asked, looking at Lu Qingfeng and Lin Ye.

Lin Ye turned her gaze to Lu Qingfeng as well.

On her journey to the Four Saints Immortal Realm, she had also inquired about Zhang Yang's whereabouts, but the teacher had only mentioned the north. The information derived by Lu Qingfeng was much vaguer than that of Lin Feng, knowing only that Zhang Yang was alive but unaware of further details.

So she came to the Desolate Cold Stream first.

"He should be in the Northern Snow Realm."

"The exact location will be known once we reach the Northern Snow Realm," Lu Qingfeng explained.

He was puzzled.

According to the 'Seven Beasts Small Divine Number', although it pointed north, the location of Zhang Yang was elusive. It seemed as if he was within the Nanhua Realm and yet not.

As if trapped in a small world.

Not a Grotto Heaven.

Nor a Blessed Land.

Nor a place like the Desolate Cold Stream.

But similar to an existence separated by a layer, like the Three Mountains and Nine Waters in reality.

Obscured by some mysterious force, even Lu Qingfeng struggled to make precise calculations.

"The Northern Snow Realm?!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng and Lin Ye's expressions shifted. They had initially thought their teacher meant the northern territory of the Four Saints Immortal Realm, but to think it was the Northern Snow Realm.

Seeing their reaction, Lu Qingfeng asked in wonder, "Lin Feng was trapped in Desolate Cold Stream, Zhang Yang came looking for him. He should be in the Four Saints Immortal Realm, so why would he end up in the Northern Snow Realm?"

Lin Feng and Lin Ye exchanged a look.

Lin Ye's expression darkened as she sadly said, "Our junior brother had been continuously chased and eventually went missing in the Northern Snow Realm."

Lin Ye had kept silent about the Six-winged Golden Phoenix Sparrow because she was worried that the teacher would become enraged and attract other enemies. After all, within the Human Dao Law Domain, the Shenxiao Sect alone was formidable enough.

Those who had previously hunted down the Six-winged Golden Phoenix Sparrow in the Northern Snow Realm included nearly all sects, both Righteous and Evil.

If they took matters seriously,

the entire Northern Snow Realm would be a land of enemies!

Although Lin Ye knew her teacher was formidable and seemed to have an extraordinary background, since the teacher had not inquired, she did not volunteer the information.

"So it's the Northern Snow Realm."

Lu Qingfeng's brows raised slightly.

No wonder he saw many scenes of snow-capped mountains and glaciers in the memories of the Six-winged. It all adds up now.

Seeing that his teacher's expression remained unchanged, Lin Feng spoke up, "When we were inquiring about our junior brother's whereabouts earlier, we interrogated many cultivators who had pursued him. Most said that he had fled from the Northern Realm's cold snowy domain to the Four Saints Immortal Realm, which is why I've been searching there."

"Since the fourth junior brother was in the Northern Realm, there must be new clues."

As he spoke, Lin Feng's face showed increasing shame and self-reproach. "When our junior brother was being pursued, we were still cultivating in the Black Wind Mountain Domain in the south. By the time we heard the news, he had already vanished without a trace. After so much time passed, the information we gathered was contradictory and confusing. I am incompetent, trapped in the Desolate Cold Stream all these years, unable to do anything."

Lin Ye lowered her head too.

The teacher left Fengyue Star years ago, taking none of his disciples with him—only the Six-winged, who traversed the stars with him. Although they did not know why the Six-winged separated from the teacher, it was clear that among them, the Six-winged was the most beloved by the teacher.

The fact that they were of no help was one thing.

But not even knowing whether the Six-winged was alive or what had become of him, they truly had no face to meet with the teacher.

"You all look."

Lu Qingfeng, seeing the siblings' ashamed faces, smiled and gave a casual flick of his large sleeve, causing a streak of golden light to blossom.

Lin Feng and Lin Ye looked over.

In front of them, a ball of golden light suddenly appeared within the cave. It was a palm-sized golden silkworm with six wings, translucent and nimble. Both its body and wings were enveloped in a faint layer of frost, emitting a chilling air.

It was none other than the Six-winged.

"This is—"

"The junior brother?!"

Lin Ye looked at the golden silkworm, feeling a sense of familiarity and strangeness in its presence, and after careful thought, found it extremely similar to the junior brother they had known back at Luo Jia Mountain on Fengyue Star.

Back then, the Six-winged's ferocity had not faded, and he was inseparable from Lu Qingfeng, only when by Lu Qingfeng's side could his ferocious aura be suppressed.

Now, the Six-winged curled up quietly, or rather, self-contained in ice, exuding only tranquility and evoking sympathy with not a hint of ferocity.

"It really is the junior brother!"

Lin Feng also recognized the Six-winged. His eyes went wide in shock, and unable to help it, he looked towards Lu Qingfeng, "What happened to the junior brother—"

"The Six-winged was in a critical moment before, and Lin Ye needed to focus on solidifying her cultivation on achieving the Earth Immortal Realm. Thus, I didn't mention it," Lu Qingfeng looked towards the two and briefly recounted how he found the Six-winged.

However, he glossed over parts that involved self-pity or bragging.

Having finished.

Lin Ye still seemed tearful, while Lin Feng fell into silence.

Lu Qingfeng smiled and said to the Six-winged, "When we left Fengyue Star back then, you had not yet gained sentience. Over the years, your elder brothers and sisters have gone through a lot of trouble and hardship in search of you. Shouldn't you pay your respects to your eldest brother Lin Feng and eldest sister Lin Ye?"

As he finished speaking.

A phantom shadow materialized in the golden light floating in the air.

A chiseled, cold-faced handsome youth in a brocade robe.

The youth's face was rigid, but in his cold, ice-like eyes, there was a flicker of softness. He saluted Lin Feng and Lin Ye with folded hands, then turned his softer gaze towards Lu Qingfeng, his lips almost curling into a smile, though one could hardly tell whether he actually knew how to smile or not.

Lu Qingfeng waved it off, smiling, "Take good care of yourself."

The youth nodded.

Then vanished without a trace.

Lu Qingfeng then gathered the Six-winged back into his sleeve and explained to Lin Feng and Lin Ye, "The Six-winged has always been like this."

"It's good that the junior brother is fine."

Lin Feng and Lin Ye, upon seeing the youth, felt the kindness brimming from the depths of his eyes. They couldn't quite say they felt close to him, but this was to be expected; although they had never ceased searching for the Six-winged over the years, it was primarily because of their relationship with Lu Qingfeng.

If they claimed to have any real emotional connection with the Six-winged, it would simply be untrue.

Seeing the Six-winged safe and sound, even though he was still troubled by his ferocious aura, since the teacher had said there was no major issue, it probably wouldn't be too problematic.

A sigh of relief.

And a weight lifted off their hearts.

Lin Ye, unable to resist, addressed Lu Qingfeng, "Teacher, now that elder brother has been found and the junior brother has returned, let's hurry to the Northern Realm's cold snowy domain and get fourth brother out as well."

Compared to the Six-winged.

Zhang Yang was the brother they felt closer to. Now that Lin Feng was safe, the Six-winged had returned, and even she had achieved the Earth Immortal Dao Fruit.

Only Zhang Yang was left.

Lin Ye was somewhat impatient.

Lin Feng also looked towards Lu Qingfeng.

"I will go to the Northern Realm's cold snowy domain alone," Lu Qingfeng raised his hand to stop the siblings from speaking further, "Lin Ye has just achieved her Earth Immortal Realm and should focus on stabilizing it by cultivating in this serene Desolate Cold Stream. The Fiery Fire Demon Emperor and the Guiyuan Immortal Venerable are excellent sparring partners, and battling with them will help you adapt to the Earth Immortal Realm quickly."

Lin Ye was hesitant to speak.

Lu Qingfeng smiled and added, "You also know the Earth Immortals in the Four Saints Immortal Realm. When you have nothing else to do, you may discuss Daoist Skills or spar with them. Surely there will be benefits."

"But the Northern Realm's cold snowy domain is dangerous, and there is no shortage of Earth Immortals there. If I go, I can provide some assistance."

Lin Ye, newly an Earth Immortal, was eager to serve their teacher, reluctant to stay confined in this Desolate Cold Stream.

Lu Qingfeng shook his head, "My trip to the Northern Realm's cold snowy domain is to find Zhang Yang, not to cause a commotion or enter into a big fight. If you go with me, it will draw attention. It is better for you to stay in the Desolate Cold Stream. Among these 108 Little Cave Heavens, there are some promising seeds, and not a few Mahayanas, all True Immortals with considerable Dao ability and mastery of skills."

"Within this Immortal Court and Demon Court, resources are scarce, but Lin Feng has the Golden Phoenix King, allowing free entry and exit from the Desolate Cold Stream."

"Resources are not an issue."

"To garner support using resources is far superior to what Gui Yuanzi and that Fiery Fire Worm can achieve."

"Focus on nurturing this well."

"When the time comes to start the war with the Northern Realm's cold snowy domain, we cannot have too few Earth Immortals. These True Immortals and Primordial Spirits, being core cultivators, are also indispensable."