Yellow Court Daoist

Three months later.

In the Northern Cold Snow Domain.

Within a winding mountain range, Lu Qingfeng held a green bamboo staff, and continued deeper into the mountains.

From beyond the heavens, four streams of mysterious light suddenly appeared, without pause, they directly entered the body of Lu Qingfeng.

The Demon Gods returned to their places.

"In Lingnan, the Nine Heavens Wanderer presides, and as long as one does not intrude upon Da Hao or Da Meng, not even the Sect Leaders of Mao Mountain Dao or Shenxiao Sect are likely to be a match for this Daoist brother."

Lu Qingfeng smiled.

Three months earlier.

He and the Nine Heavens Wanderer had left the Desolate Cold Stream, with the latter heading west towards Lingnan. Traveling swiftly, the wanderer reached Lingnan a month before.

A month faster than Lu Qingfeng and Lin Ye initially.

However, at that time, Lu Qingfeng was accommodating Lin Ye, who controlled an Immortal Artifact for flight, limiting their speed.

This time, traveling alone after parting ways with the Nine Heavens Wanderer, Lu Qingfeng executed the 'Five Ghosts Transfer Skill' and crossed directly from the southern center of the Four Saints Immortal Realm over the Black Sea and Gang Wind, Thunder, and Fire, reaching the Northern Cold Snow Domain in but a moment.

The power of his Great Divine Skills was indeed incomparable even to that of the Nine Heavens Wanderer.

"Three months."

"I've finally found it."

Lu Qingfeng had been searching the Northern Cold Snow Domain for three full months, unable to pinpoint Zhang Yang's location. That day, as the four Demon Gods originally guarding Lingnan returned, Lu Qingfeng also pinpointed the exact location.

In the dense forest.

Lu Qingfeng strode forward and saw on the mountain summit's plateau, two unfathomably deep pools of water that rippled without freezing.

One was dark and unclear, devoid of any aura. The other was brimming with the aura of immortality; a mortal who drank from it would extend his life by a century, and even a cultivator would greatly advance in cultivation.

Such a treasure, boldly placed in the open.

Nearby, someone had carved out a cave dwelling, with two cultivators meditating inside. Lu Qingfeng glanced indifferently and recognized at a glance that these two were merely at the Golden Core Cultivation.

"Wearing Peach Blossom Robes, these are cultivators from the Peach Blossom Sword Sect."

Lu Qingfeng's thoughts stirred, about to use his power to capture the two, but suddenly he paused and turned to look down the mountain.

From the dense forest below, shouts and curses came.

Two similarly dressed cultivators in Peach Blossom Long Robes, both robust and with fierce faces, approached menacingly. Between them, seventeen or eighteen cultivators, bound by chains and connected in a line, were being dragged along, staggering pitifully.

Observing their qi.

Most had Evil Qi and malevolent aura, filled with sinister intent, clearly not the virtuous type. Even now reduced to captives, their defiant curses persisted. Only when the two angry captors lashed them fiercely would they tremble all over and stay quiet for a while.

But not for long.

As the pain receded, they started cursing once again.

The two ferocious captors did not shy away from whipping, pushing these 'prisoners' up the mountain. The two Golden Core Watchers inside the cave dwelling had already come out to greet them.

One held a pen and a jade scroll, the other a pen and a sign-in sheet, smiling at the two fierce cultivators, "Our hardworking senior brothers, we've prepared peach blossom tea for you. Once we've dealt with these evil cultivators, please rest your feet and warm up."

"Ha ha!"

"You're too courteous, junior brothers."

Despite their harsh treatment of the captive cultivators, these two ferocious ones grinned at their sect brothers; their congenitally rough features making their smiles ever more terrifying.

Yet, no one minded.

One of the fierce cultivators took out a jade book and handed it to the Golden Core Watcher holding the pen and scroll. The watcher chuckled as he took it, then licked the tip of his wolf-hair brush and began recording in the jade scroll while calling out—

"Wu Gai, a Loose Cultivator from Changmao Cave on Xuan Turtle Mountain, Cultivation: Gathering Law Realm, Skilled in the Art of: One Breath Cloud Smoke Technique."

"The Demon Monk from Jialan Temple on Kutuo Mountain, Cultivation: Solid Pill Realm, Skilled in the Art of: God Demon Great Handprint."

"The Green Snake Daoist from Lanjiang Water Demon, Cultivation: Golden Core Realm, Skilled in the Art of: Water Wheel Skill."

"Central Continent Ghost City..."

...

Eighteen evil cultivators, comprised of demons, Daoists, and monks.

As one person chants and records in the book, another Golden Core Watcher furiously writes, releasing golden bamboo slips into the foreheads of the evil cultivators, making them disappear.

For each person recorded, a bamboo slip determines their fate.

Two fierce spirits lift their whips and lash at the evil cultivators violently, sending them flying into one of the twin ponds – a pond devoid of any sign of life, dark and ominous.

The evil cultivators scream in horror as they sink swiftly into silence.

"This pond—"

Lu Qingfeng glances over with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. He strolls to the edge and peers in, observing the heavy waters which even his divine sense cannot penetrate.

He casually drops a leaf into the water.

The leaf sinks immediately as if weighing thousands of pounds.

"It somewhat resembles the waters of the Black Sea."

"But it's more akin to the legendary Ruishui River."

North of Kunlun exists a river, its force incapable of supporting even a mustard seed, hence named the Ruishui.

In the Earth Immortal World, although rare, Lu Qingfeng had heard of such waters.

Like the Tianhe guarded by Marshal Tianpeng of the North Pole and the Flowing Sand River renowned for 'Eight hundred realms of flowing sands, three thousand depths of Ruishui. Not a feather floats, not a reed sinks.'

Unexpectedly, he encountered such legendary Ruishui in the Beihan Snow Domain.

"That's it."

"The sea between the Four Saints Immortal Realm and the Human Dao Law Domain, and the sea between the Beihan Snow Domain and the Four Saints Immortal Realm, possessing traits of Ruishui, might have gained its nature from contact with Ruishui."

Lu Qingfeng stands up.

Watching as four cultivators from the Peach Blossom Sword Sect throw all eighteen evil cultivators into the Ruishui pond, intending to return to their caves for tea to ward off the cold, Lu Qingfeng no longer hides and suddenly reveals himself.

"Who is that?"

Before the four could react, their eyes emitted a strange light as Lu Qingfeng applied an enchantment to charm them, inquiring about the happenings here.

Half an hour later.

"Little Ruishui."

"Ling Kong Immortal Realm."

Lu Qingfeng appears intrigued, erases the memories of the four, and without further hesitation, dives into the Ruishui pond.

...

Hidden in the Beihan Snow Domain is a river.

This river exists neither on the earth nor beneath it, neither in the heavens nor beyond them; it resides only in the void of Wujian.

Because the river flows with the legendary Ruishui.

Thus.

The Peach Blossom Sword Sect, Jade Dragon Sect, Langhuan Heavenly Mansion, and Great Xumi Mountain, name it 'Little Ruishui'.

Within Little Ruishui, a realm is concealed.

Owned by the Four Sects.

Over tens of thousands of years, they have gradually uncovered many secrets.

...

Ruishui Realm.

Southern Border.

White Cloud Mountain.

Tucked deep in the Southern Border, White Cloud Mountain is unremarkable and typically unnamed. However, over a hundred years ago, after the four disciplines of the Southern Border's Gu Immortal Lady Cai Yi, known as the White Cloud disciples, completed their training and settled in these mountains, it gained its name.

The surroundings of White Cloud Mountain were inundated with various clans seeking affiliation.

The youth from White Cloud Mountain, who turned away no one, selected seven exceptionally talented children among the clans to take as direct disciples. He also selected several children as registered disciples to bolster the ranks of the sect.

A hundred years went by.

Of the original seven disciples taken in, only three had achieved any significant degree of cultivation, the rest either descended the mountain or died of old age there. However, among the first batch of registered disciples, two rose to prominence with notable Dao ability, and the youth from White Cloud Mountain promoted them to direct disciples.

Now, there were five of them.

These were the second generation cultivators of White Cloud Mountain, the revered immortals of the mountains.

Below them were the disciples and registered disciples of these five, few of whom achieved any real success in the Dao, yet there were still signs of a thriving sect.

On this day.

Early in the morning, just as dawn broke.

Wu Meng, with a joyful expression, carried his sword and headed towards a bamboo grove on the back mountain.

Originally, Wu Meng was the son of the chief of Immortal Dawn Village, located more than eighty miles away from White Cloud Mountain. Four years ago, he was sent up to the mountain to study under Zhang Ji, a junior disciple under the youth from White Cloud Mountain, known as 'Fire Cloud Sword.' Due to his average aptitude, he was only a registered disciple.

He could still learn a move or two.

But he could hardly compare to those direct disciples personally taught by Zhang Ji.

He had come to the mountain at twelve.

Now, he was sixteen.

Seeing that several of his senior direct-disciple brothers had mastered their swordsmanship to the first level—'Sword Qi Generates Evil,' a phase where a single sword strike would cause a ferocious force to bear down on the opponent, making it difficult to withstand.

This was the threshold of the Sword Dao.

Their Qi Cultivation levels mostly reached the Second or third layer.

Yet, he was still stuck at the most basic 'White Cloud Sword Technique,' barely managing to perform it smoothly and far from reaching the 'Sword Qi Generates Evil' stage. His cultivation was also still at the first layer, 'Qi Perception.'

Wu Meng was anxious.

He trained even harder every day, often practicing swordsmanship in the bamboo grove behind the mountain, but with minimal results.

However.

Half a year ago, as a meteor streaked across the sky, Wu Meng found a peculiar green bamboo in the bamboo grove. This green bamboo showed no spirit light, it didn't seem like a spiritual object, yet it was impervious to water, fire, and resistant to cuts from swords.

Wu Meng was amazed.

So he practiced his swordsmanship next to this green bamboo.

Unexpectedly, in just half a year, as if aided by divine forces, his swordsmanship skills, along with his Qi Cultivation levels, advanced by leaps and bounds.

The 'White Cloud Sword Technique' was mastered swiftly.

He entered the 'Sword Qi Generates Evil' phase effortlessly.

Half a month ago.

A sword thrust was made in perfect harmony.

The iron sword in his hand leaped out on its own, emitted a streak of sword light, and then returned to his hand, overflowing Wu Meng with joy.

The sword leaped from his hand.

This was the true insight into swordsmanship, indicating the arrival at the second realm, 'Sword Control Hundred Steps.'

And to think.

Back when 'Fire Cloud Sword' Zhang Ji reached this level, it took him fifteen years. Now, among Zhang Ji's disciples, only two long-time direct disciples had reached this stage.

They were known in the mortal realm as little sword immortals.

Many experts at the Third or fourth layer of Qi Cultivation, even at the fifth layer, were only at this stage.

The next level up would be what people called the 'Refining Sword into Rainbow' state of the Sword Immortal.

At this level, not only could one control the sword to battle, but one could also fly with the sword, entering and exiting Qingming, thus wielding the sword across the world, recognized as a superior figure everywhere.

And reaching that required at least the fifth level of Qi Cultivation.

On the entire White Cloud Mountain, only a few had reached this level.

"In just half a year, to go from nothing to the state of 'Sword Control Hundred Steps.'"

"In another two or three years, couldn't I too fly with my sword in the air, becoming a sword immortal hero like my grandmaster and master?!"

Wu Meng was ecstatic.

He practiced his sword more diligently every day.

Whoosh!

Ha!

With the sword in hand, the White Cloud Sword Technique unfolded, Wu Meng felt extremely exhilarated. Although he held a mortal iron sword, it seemed to have gained a spirit in its blur.

Wu Meng followed his heart.

Casually thrusting with his sword, the iron sword shot out, transforming into a streak—

Boom!

A loud blast occurred, and where the longsword pointed, a large crater was blasted out of the ground.

"Come back!"

Wu Meng formed a sword technique with his hands, trying to call back the iron sword. With a 'clang', the sword flew back, not landing in Wu Meng's hand, but instead planting itself three feet ahead of him.

"Huff, huff!"

"Still a bit off."

Wu Meng was not discouraged, he picked up the iron sword, continuing his arduous training session by the move.

Unbeknownst to him.

Behind him, the bamboo swayed.

A six-winged golden silkworm appeared out of nowhere, perched on a bamboo leaf, its eyes fixed on Wu Meng, emitting a dangerous glare.

"It's alright."

"He didn't mean to."

The green bamboo shook and transformed into a young daoist, who chuckled and spoke. The golden silkworm, clutching onto the daoist's hair, still had a chilling light in its eyes.

Lu Qingfeng reassured it, and the golden silkworm finally contained its fierceness.

"After half a year together, before we part, let me help you one last time."

Watching the young man focusing on practicing his swordsmanship, Lu Qingfeng pointed a finger, and immediately the iron sword in the boy's hand transformed, shrinking to the size of a palm.

True Qi was infused, and reverted it back to its original form.

During this process.

Wu Meng had no idea that the long sword he held had transitioned from rusty to miraculous.

"A crappy iron sword turned into refined swordsmanship is only found in cheesy martial arts stories."

"Not in reality."

Lu Qingfeng smiled, walked out of the bamboo grove, and moved beyond White Cloud Mountain.

In the bamboo grove.

"Ha!"

Wu Meng shouted loudly, the sword left his hand, its light slicing through ten bamboo stalks within ten steps before turning back into Wu Meng's grasp. This time, he felt absolutely invigorated, without any impediment.

"What great power!"

Wu Meng's mouth hung open slightly; he looked at the seventeen fallen bamboo stalks, then at the iron sword in his hand, and suddenly burst into a smile.

But as he turned his head, the bamboo still stood, yet mysteriously, something seemed different.

A flash of confusion crossed Wu Meng's eyes.

He raised his head to look at the sky, suddenly alert, and without further delay, he hurried forward to the front mountain—

Morning practice waits for no one!

…