Yellow Court Daoist

Having the ability to come and go from the Desolate Cold Stream as one pleases is a trump card.

With this, the Desolate Cold Stream becomes their source of troops and a training ground, capable of continuously delivering battle strength of various levels.

In fact,

Lu Qingfeng had already entertained this idea upon learning about the situation in the Desolate Cold Stream. At the time, however, he was unaware of the Six-winged and the Northern Cold Snowy Domain's grievances; he merely thought of selecting top True Immortals from the Desolate Cold Stream, either to place them in Lingnan on retainer or to send them to serve in the General Mansion of Capturing God.

These True Immortals, trapped in the Desolate Cold Stream, are incapable of escape despite all their efforts.

With this as a temptation, getting them to serve permanently might not be an issue, and if they were simply to serve for a set number of years in exchange for their freedom, it's likely none would refuse.

Now with the added necessity to confront the Northern Cold Snowy Domain, the timing couldn't be more suitable.

Lin Ye, though only having recently achieved the Earth Immortal level, is more than capable of managing affairs in the Desolate Cold Stream. Lin Feng, after being delayed for so many years, also requires time for stable development. With Lin Ye by his side, whether it's access to cultivation resources or guidance in the Sword Dao, all are well within reach.

Lu Qingfeng has no other plans for Lin Feng.

Upon hearing Lu Qingfeng's strategy, Lin Ye found no grounds for objection. With her strength, venturing into the Northern Cold Snowy Domain might indeed bring trouble to her teacher.

She thought to herself,

then frowned and said, "If that's the case, what about Lingnan?"

Lingnan is also crucial.

Wen Guang is still charging into the fray there; without a high-level Earth Immortal to oversee for a long time, it could be dangerous.

"Lingnan?"

Lu Qingfeng looked out toward the sky from outside the Earth Strange Cave and smiled, "There's already a candidate within the Desolate Cold Stream."

...

In the Desolate Cold Stream,

before Lin Ye's arrival, there were only three Earth Immortals.

The Fiery Fire Demon Emperor and Guiyuan Immortal Venerable were the most flamboyant, each having established their own Demon Court and Immortal Court, commanding many cultivators. Squabbling and fighting when bored, their Dao ability and cultivation were not poor.

However, the former, transformed from a Fiery Fire Worm, despite possessing respectable Flame Divine Ability, was lax overall. The treasure 'Fiery Fire Worm', refined by countless offspring, was merely at the level of a common Immortal Artifact.

Having lived for an unfathomable number of years and still wandering in the Dust-Clearing Realm after sixty-four million years of Earth Immortal cultivation proved an inability to break through.

As for Guiyuan Immortal Venerable,

although extraordinarily talented, manifesting as an Earth Immortal in the Desolate Cold Stream is tough. The extreme cold and lack of predecessors' guidance or Earth Immortal discourse meant that Dao ability advancement was difficult.

Stuck in the Dust-Clearing Realm,

even an Earth Immortal of such stature struggled to gather enough materials to refine an Immortal Artifact.

After forty million years since manifestation,

it took a great deal of Pure Yang Qi to finally refine a single Immortal Artifact. That Immortal Artifact, once seen by Lu Qingfeng, was a mere Immortal Sword. Among First Rank Immortal Artifacts, it was exceedingly subpar.

Hardly worth mentioning.

With Lin Ye's heritage and foundations, both of these individuals were well within her handling capabilities.

After all, having cultivated the Righteous Sect Level "Luofu Sword Scripture" and demonstrated Dao ability through "Cloud Summit Step" for Ten Thousand Years. Following her manifestation, Lu Qingfeng even consecutively imparted—

The Mysterious Level "Luofu Sword Scripture."

The Great Divine Power "Cloud Summit Step."

The Great Divine Power "Taiyin Calamity Crossing Robe."

With such proficiency, even many Earth Immortals from true Xuanmen Sects within the Earth Immortal World couldn't compare.

All that was needed now was for Lin Ye to cultivate diligently, fully grasp the Cultivation Technique and Great Divine Powers, and she would be able to face Earth Immortals from the Immortal Fate Realm and even those in the Establishing Dao Realm without fear, just like Guiyuanzi and Fiery Fire Venerable.

Not to mention, with the possession of the Second Rank Immortal Artifact, "Five Bright Demon-suppressing Fan," her combat prowess skyrockets, making her even more challenging to contend with.

But within the Desolate Cold Stream,

there was one Earth Immortal that Lin Ye couldn't handle.

"According to Pan Ji and Zhong Qiu, the Nine Heavens Wanderer has a gentle disposition and has devoted his life to the Array Dao. His brash entry into the Desolate Cold Stream led many to speculate that he was enticed by the Array formations left behind by Marshal Yang Sen," Lu Qingfeng explained as he walked through the sky, stepping amidst a dense fog.

The fog obscured the view,

but not Lu Qingfeng's.

With a faint light in his eyes, Lu Qingfeng arrived at an unremarkable location in the depths of the sky.

At first glance, it appeared ordinary.

But through Lu Qingfeng's eyes, one could see arrays, one interconnected to another, with large arrays encompassing smaller ones, and smaller arrays forming into larger ones...

There were maze arrays, binding arrays, killing arrays, and illusion arrays.

Covering the sky and blanketing the earth.

Extending for tens of thousands of miles.

Everywhere one looked, arrays were in sight.

Even Lu Qingfeng, seeing these seemingly infinite arrays, couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle. Even as an Earth Immortal, it's unknown how many years it would take to lay down so many formations.

His brow moved slightly.

A vertical eye opened, beaming a radiant light.

The Daluo Cave Temple's vision pierced through ten thousand arrays, revealing at the end of the sky an old man with disheveled hair seated on a cloud. With casual waving of his hands, he flicked his fingers, drawing lines after lines. Hundreds and thousands of lines converged to form an array.

Immersed in his work, the old man didn't even notice Lu Qingfeng's arrival.

Or perhaps,

with such concentration, even if he noticed, he might not stop.

"Daoist Qingjing here to pay a visit to the Fellow Daoist of the Nine Heavens."

Lu Qingfeng stood outside the arrays and called out to the old Daoist inside, with a raised voice.

"Huh!"

The old Daoist, upon hearing the voice, roused from his deep focus, hurriedly got up, and with a swift motion, he arrived outside of the arrays, greeting Lu Qingfeng with clasped hands, "I was so engrossed in studying arrays that I didn't realize new individuals had arrived in the Desolate Cold Stream."

The Daoist wasn't a stranger; he was the Nine Heavens Wanderer.

Indeed, the Nine Heavens Wanderer was amiable, greeting Lu Qingfeng with a beaming bow. His seemingly turbid eyes looked at Lu Qingfeng with a tinge of curiosity.

First, he was surprised to find a newcomer had fallen into the Desolate Cold Stream.

Second, he was taken aback by Lu Qingfeng's nebulous aura.

One would need at least Earth Immortal cultivation to find this place.

But as the Nine Heavens Wanderer studied Lu Qingfeng, he felt the young Daoist before him was like a shroud of mist—inscrutable, impermeable, and notably without even a trace of Pure Yang Qi, seemingly not an Earth Immortal being.

However, the Nine Heavens Wanderer didn't dare to test his limits.

In this world, among the myriad Magic Gates, countless could conceal one's Qi and cultivation level. Perhaps this Qingjing Daoist had practiced such techniques.

The Nine Heavens Wanderer didn't probe further.

Looking at Lu Qingfeng, he couldn't help but express his pity, "Old Daoist sees the vibrancy of Fellow Daoist's face, suggesting a young age. Why have you also come to this Desolate Cold Stream?"

The Nine Heavens Wanderer had been an Earth Immortal for a hundred and twenty million years.

Even for Lu Qingfeng, having lived through eighteen lives, he appeared to have experienced just a fraction of that time. Being called 'vibrant-faced' wasn't really out of place.

"I have disciples who have fallen into the Desolate Cold Stream; I came to search for them," Lu Qingfeng replied straightforwardly.

"So that's it."

"I never expected Fellow Daoist to care so deeply for his disciples."

Upon hearing this, the Nine Heavens Wanderer grew even more genial.

His naturally compassionate nature took a liking to Lu Qingfeng who was willing to venture into the treacherous Desolate Cold Stream, a place of no return, all out of concern for his disciples.

"There's no need to hide from Fellow Daoist; although I have entered the Desolate Cold Stream, I indeed have a means to leave," Lu Qingfeng said with a smile.

"Oh?"

"Fellow Daoist also studies the Array Dao?!"

The Nine Heavens Wanderer's interest was piqued, his eyes gleaming. His questions were not about whether he could leave the Desolate Cold Stream but about Lu Qingfeng's mastery in the Array Dao.

"I have studied it a bit," Lu Qingfeng modestly said.

"Good, good, good!"

"I hadn't expected to find someone with a similar path!"

The Nine Heavens Wanderer grew even more delighted and wasted no time in engaging Lu Qingfeng in a discussion about arrays.

Lu Qingfeng wasn't boasting.

Back in the Changqing Realm, he had already started dabbling in array formations. He then acquired a Jade Scroll at the Soul Searching Temple, namely "The True Interpretation of Heavenly Monarch's Array Dao" compiled by the Soul Searching General of the Thunder Department's Twenty-four Heavenly Lords, and the Daoist master of the Array Dao from Golden Turtle Island—one of the Ten Heavenly Lords. It was originally a True Sect Level book.

Lu Qingfeng had enhanced it to Mysterious Level.

Over the years and through ten lifetimes, whether it was in the Five Directions Realm, Black Star Realm, Barbarian God Realm, or Immortal Qin Realm, he accumulated various Array Formation Books, studying numerous arrays.

With years of experience, he had become quite knowledgeable. Coupled with the 'cheat' of the "Great Enlightenment Method" from the Daluo Cave Temple, his comprehension far exceeded that of ordinary cultivators.

By now, he could somewhat be regarded as an Array Dao Master.

Perhaps he still had something to learn from the Soul Searching General who regularly heard the Ten Heavenly Lords' discourses, but compared to the Nine Heavens Wanderer from the mortal realm, they were about equal.

Each had their own strengths; one wasn't superior to the other.

The Nine Heavens Wanderer, rarely meeting a kindred spirit, felt almost regretful for not having met Lu Qingfeng sooner as their conversation flowed endlessly for three whole days, feeling far from satisfied.

While Lu Qingfeng was happy to discuss Array Dao with the Nine Heavens Wanderer, finding Zhang Yang was more pressing.

Thus, he took the initiative to cut the conversation short and briefly explained the situation of his disciples trapped in Lingnan and Beihan's snowy regions to the Nine Heavens Wanderer. He went straight to the point, "I might get delayed on my way to the snowy lands of Beihan. Hence, I'd like to ask Daoist Brother to stand in for me in Lingnan."

"No problem."

"I am alone in this world; it doesn't matter where I go," replied the forthright Nine Heavens Wanderer. He hit it off with Lu Qingfeng, feeling almost a sense of immediate kinship, and without any hesitation, he agreed to Lu Qingfeng's request.

"Many thanks, Daoist Brother!"

Lu Qingfeng's esteem for this senior grew threefold; smiling, he said, "You needn't act in Lingnan's trivial matters, Brother. If an Earth Immortal intervenes, just holding them off will suffice. It certainly won't delay your cultivation."

"You're too polite, Younger Brother."

"The Dao of cultivation treasures balance. I only hope after you find your disciple, you can have a good exchange with me about the Righteous Sect," the Nine Heavens Wanderer said with a broad laugh.

"I'd ask for nothing better," Lu Qingfeng laughed as well, pulling out a Jade Scroll from his robes and handing it to the Nine Heavens Wanderer, "This was something I stumbled upon earlier. Compiled and edited by the Soul Searching General from the Thunder Department's Twenty-four Heavenly Lords who is proficient in the Array Dao—of Golden Turtle Island's Ten Heavenly Lords. It might be of some help to you."

The Nine Heavens Wanderer did not mention it, but Lu Qingfeng felt compelled to reciprocate.

To others, this scroll of Array Dao might have limited value, but to someone like the Nine Heavens Wanderer, obsessed with arrays, it was worth its weight in gold.

"Golden Turtle Island's Ten Heavenly Lords?!"

"He's a patriarch of the Array Dao."

As expected.

The Nine Heavens Wanderer exclaimed in surprise, carefully taking the Jade Scroll, and after a quick glance, his eyes squinted with unabashed joy. He did not decline the offer and said to Lu Qingfeng, "If I were to refuse such a tome, it would be sheer hypocrisy."

Saying so, he also took out a Jade Book from his sleeve and pressed it into Lu Qingfeng's chest, "These are the insights I've gathered over the years on the Array Dao, recorded in these random notes. They don't even have a name. They're surely not as precious as the Ten Heavenly Lords' array knowledge, but this is all I have to offer. Just take it."

"You're too modest, Daoist Brother," Lu Qingfeng smiled and respectfully stowed it away.

...