Yellow Court Daoist

"In a few days, once these Qi Cultivation Disciples have fully assimilated what they obtained today, they will descend the mountain in groups and recruit more disciples to bring back."

"The Spiritual Medicine within the Green Wood King Ding is enough to last for a very long time."

Lu Qingfeng told Zhang Yang and the others.

Sea View Peak had too few disciples, which was far from satisfying for Lu Qingfeng. Although it would be difficult for Sea View Peak to grow significantly in a short period of time, it was always good to start preparing earlier.

After discussing the development of Sea View Peak, Lu Qingfeng awarded Zhao Dahai and Zhao Qi a piece of top-notch Flying Sword Material each, then let the three of them leave.

Outside Right Heart Hall.

After having put some distance between themselves and the hall, Zhao Dahai and Zhao Qi, father and son, clutched the dark and ominous 'Evil Shark Spine' in their hands, their faces blossoming into chrysanthemum-like grins.

True to being father and son, even their smiles seemed carved from the same mold.

Zhao Qi was smiling.

The gloom from the previous day had been swept away, and even the usual despondency had dissipated quite a bit.

"With this treasure, my 'Green Flood Dragon Sword' will surely be greatly enhanced."

Zhao Qi carefully stored the 'Evil Shark Spine' and looked at his aunt Zhang Shu with curiosity, "Aunt Shu, have a look at the 'Green Wood King Ding' awarded by the Ancestor Master."

The Ancestor Master had said that the ding contained thousands of Spiritual Medicines, and Zhao Qi was extremely curious.

Zhang Shu and his late mother Zhang Jing were sisters, so there was no need for formality.

Zhao Dahai also looked towards his wife's sister.

"Okay."

Zhang Shu was also very expectant, her Divine Sense probing into the Green Wood King Ding.

What met her eyes were Powerful Warriors with green headbands, wielding Medicine Hoes and Medicine Shovels, carrying medicine baskets on their backs, busily moving about like ants. The mountains, forests, and waters had been transformed into Medicine Gardens, with various kinds of Spiritual Medicines everywhere, and the rich scent of medicine hit them like a wave.

The sight left the three of them standing in stunned silence.

...

Zhang Shu and the others left.

Only Lu Qingfeng, Zhang Yang, and Qin Fan remained in Right Heart Hall.

Seeing Lu Qingfeng's wealth and boldness, obviously ready to make a big move, Qin Fan was stirred and spoke up with admiration, "With the Ancestor Grandmaster presiding over Sea View Peak, the Great Victory Sect will be in trouble in the future."

In the same Five Prisons Peak.

Sea View Peak was at odds with the Great Victory Sect, and friction with the True Immortals of the sect was inevitable. Qin Fan had no good feelings towards the Great Victory Sect at all.

Seeing the possibility of suppressing the Great Victory Sect, Qin Fan was naturally delighted.

"The Great Victory Sect."

Lu Qingfeng smiled, looking at Zhang Yang, "The Great Victory Ancestor Master of the Great Victory Sect, is he said to be one of the 'Taoshan Three Immortals'?"

He had heard quite a bit about the situation in the Southern Border and Central Earth while traveling from White Cloud Mountain to Five Prisons Peak, and he knew a fair amount about the details of the two sects atop the peak.

At this time, his inquiry was not so much to confirm with Zhang Yang as it was a sign.

"Indeed."

"The Great Victory Ancestor Master is known as one of the Three Immortals, together with the East Sea Wine Sword Immortal and Taoshan Sect Leader Yu Zhenzi."

Zhang Yang replied.

Then, without waiting for Lu Qingfeng to ask further, he described the situation of Taoshan.

He added, "In the Little Ruoshui Realm, the so-called Righteous Four Holy Lands – Taoshan, Heaven Mountain, North Sea, Snow Ridge – are actually the Peach Blossom Sword Sect, Jade Dragon Sect, Langhuan Heavenly Mansion, and Great Xumi Mountain, the four top immortal sects and ancient monasteries in the Beihan Snow Domain."

Zhang Yang's expression was grave as he addressed Lu Qingfeng, "Each of the Four Sects in the Beihan Snow Domain has an Earth Immortal in residence. In the Little Ruoshui Realm, they are the leaders of the Righteous path, with numerous True Immortals in their sects, commanding the world's Righteous Sects, their strength unimaginable. Although disciple has also slain over twenty True Immortals from the Four Sects over the years, most of them were at the Three Calamities, Nine Tribulations level, and to the Four Sects, it is not a significant blow."

Qin Fan listened from the side.

There were no Barriers separating them this time, and he heard it all clearly.

At first, he was puzzled why his master and grandmaster were talking about the Great Victory Sect but ended up discussing Taoshan. As he continued to listen, and when he heard about the Beihan Snow Domain, he was utterly confused.

At the end, learning that Zhang Yang had slain over twenty True Immortals from the Taoshan Four Sects, Qin Fan was hit by a wave of shock, his scalp tingling.

"So that's it!"

"There are more than three True Immortals."

"No wonder father didn't want to tell me much about Taoshan. Slaughtering over twenty True Immortals, that's a deep-seated grudge. Was father worried I'd be dragged into it?!"

Qin Fan was momentarily dazed.

Those were the 'Four Holy Lands,' legendary for controlling the entrance to the Ling Kong Immortal Realm, holding the existence of Ling Kong Immortal Sect. Not only could they communicate with Immortals from the Upper Realm, but they also had the Immortal Artifact 'Heavenly Mirror' in hand, which could observe a person's past three lives and possessed might difficult for even spirits to withstand.

It is just that Immortal Artifacts are domineering and cannot be used recklessly.

Moreover, the Four Holy Lands are compassionate and reluctant to create excessive slaughter. Each time the battle between Righteous and Evil reaches an overwhelming advantage, they intentionally allow a path to survival.

Even though the Lion Ridge had long been fragmented, there was no eradication to be seen.

This was the current state of the Little Ruoshui Realm.

His father and grandmaster actually had blood feuds with such a colossal entity, a sacred place of the Immortal's lineage?!

"This could mean—"

"We might not be able to win this fight!"

Qin Fan thought, a mix of shock and absence of fear in his heart.

Steadying his mind, he continued to listen.

Zhang Yang ignored Qin Fan's shock, seeing his teacher deep in thought he kept speaking, "Disciple has had a good relationship with Lion Ridge these years."

"Recently, Lion Ridge is bonding with True Immortals from side doors and Left Dao, intending to fight against Taoshan. Unfortunately, they are ultimately disparate and struggle to unite. Plus, with the Four Sects backed by the Beihan Snow Domain and each True Immortal armed with a Supreme Treasure, their combat strength is formidable. The survival of Lion Ridge and other side door and Left Dao inheritances is but to temper their disciples, and they are fundamentally incapable of subversion."

This was the most despair-inducing fact—

The entire Little Ruoshui Realm was merely a chessboard for the Four Sects to hone their True Immortals.

No matter the situation, it was within their control.

With numerous True Immortals and Magic Artifacts in the outside world remaining vigilant, any change within the Little Ruoshui Realm would result in True Immortals descending, wielding Supreme Treasures, and within at most a hundred and eighty years, the situation would be stabilized.

There was no room for uncertainty.

Zhang Yang speculated that even if he succeeded in overcoming the Heavenly Person Five Decays and became an Earth Immortal, ascending afterwards would still likely confront him with the Immortals of the Four Sects, a very dangerous prospect.

Moreover.

Over the years, there were quite a number of True Immortals at the Nine Tribulations and Ten Tribulations level from Left Dao side doors like the Lion Ridge and the Three Travel Cave. It was rare for someone to overcome the Ten Tribulations and reach the level of Heavenly Person Five Decays.

There wasn't even one who had successfully passed the Heavenly Person Five Decays.

It showed how difficult it was to overthrow the Four Sects.

"Continue to make contact with Lion Ridge, and at the same time, distinguish those who belong to the evil sects from those Loose Immortals who do no harm. Keep your distance from the former, and try to make friends with the latter."

After understanding the situation of the Four Sects and the Little Ruoshui Realm, Lu Qingfeng had a plan in mind.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang hesitated somewhat. "Even with the combined forces of evil sect True Immortals and Earth Loose Immortals, they are no match for the Four Sects. If they are divided, they'll be less significant. Even those Loose Immortals have different motives - some seek transcendence, some hold grudges against the Taoshan Four Sects, some simply want to take advantage of the chaos to snatch a few treasures and Spirit Pills to survive their calamities."

Zhang Yang thought that Lu Qingfeng did not like the indiscriminate killing of innocent evil sect cultivators, and wanted to separately recruit those Loose Immortals, worrying that his teacher might be disappointed in the end, so he spoke up in advance.

"It doesn't matter."

"Just go ahead and do it."

Lu Qingfeng knew his own plans, but it was not yet time to explain them to Zhang Yang.

"Yes."

Seeing this, Zhang Yang could only nod in agreement.

Thus.

The matters of Sea View Peak were properly arranged.

Lu Qingfeng saw that Zhang Yang had only one Golden Ring Treasure on him, which seemed too limited, and so he gave him the 'Six Yang Green Spirit Demon-Repelling Armor', also a supreme treasure. In terms of magical uses and power, it was even superior to Qin Fan's 'Du E Immortal Robe'.

When worn, it protected from harm by water, fire, Golden Saber, and other powerful magic artifacts. It had the marvelous ability of invisibility, ideal for moving through the ground and confusing the enemy's mind. It was superbly versatile.

With this armor for protection, there was no longer any fear.

Afterwards.

Lu Qingfeng left Sea View Peak, carried by the Five Ghosts, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at a rarely visited location deep in the Southern Border.

...

"Three Calamities."

"Let me see how powerful they are."

Lu Qingfeng looked up at the sky.

His mana and Primordial Spirit were continually growing stronger, and his aura climbed higher and higher.

In an instant, he reached a critical point.

The Three Calamities descended.

In the Little Ruoshui Realm, if one does not comprehend the Dao and become an Immortal, the Three Calamities will invade and erode one's essence. If one fails to come to an understanding, all one's efforts will be in vain.

What are the Three Calamities?

The first calamity is the 'Wind Disaster'.

"Such Gang Wind, sharp as a blade, acute as an awl, penetrating the crown, in the span of a moment, piercing through the joints and reaching down to the Yongquan acupoint, causing one's limbs to shiver. In an instant, one is relieved, turning into floating wisps of down with no trace left. This wind is neither from the east nor the south, nor the scent-laden drafts from gold or timbre, nor is it the wind from flowers or pine - it is called 'Bifeng'. Entering through the fontanel, it blows through the viscera, passing the Dantian, piercing through the orifices, causing the flesh to dissipate, self-dismantling; that's why all must avoid it."

"This is the 'Wind Disaster'."

Lu Qingfeng stood atop a Nameless Mountain deep in the Southern Border, with full mana, facing the descending Wind Disaster, attacked by Gang Wind.

Whoooosh!

This fierce Gang Wind aimed at penetrating his crown to cleanse him, turning Lu Qingfeng into drifting fluff to vanish from the world, eradicating both his physical body and Primordial Spirit.

"A mere Wind Disaster wishes to damage even a hair of mine?"

Lu Qingfeng vibrated his mana and circulated his Xuan Technique.

Within a moment, the Gang Wind raged within him, yet couldn't harm him at all. It only helped him slightly temper his mana, refine his Primordial Spirit, and strengthen his physical body.

After a moment's time had passed.

Lu Qingfeng's robes returned to normal as he stood firmly.

The Wind Disaster had been overcome.

But he did not stop.

As the Gang Wind dissipated, his mana and Primordial Spirit continued to grow.

Ordinary cultivators advancing to True Immortal.

Would practice Qi Cultivation for five hundred years to welcome the Wind Disaster.

Another five hundred years, and the Fire Disaster would descend.

Another five hundred years, for the Thunder Disaster to strike.

However, there are cultivators with peerless talent, who in less than five hundred years cultivate the full five hundred years' worth of mana.

Thus, the Three Calamities would come early.

At this moment, Lu Qingfeng was continually climbing in mana, enhancing his cultivation, actively invoking the Three Calamities.

Difficult for others.

And since the tribulations are indeed perilous, even those who cultivate with Divine Speed often suppress their mana, waiting for the five hundred years to be fully prepared for the calamities.

But Lu Qingfeng was highly skilled and courageous.

And accumulating mana, increasing in cultivation, was truly effortless for him—

He only needed to release a small amount of the original mana and Primordial Spirit hidden within the 'Inverted Void Glazed Glass Wall' to achieve it.

With a thought:

The 'Fire Disaster' was upon him.

"What is the 'Fire Disaster'?"

"It rises from below, penetrating the crown, attacking the viscera, scorching the limbs, in a single breath, reducing to ashes. This fire is neither Heavenly Fire nor mortal fire, it's called 'Yin Fire'. Starting from the Yongquan acupoint at the base of the body, burning up through the Mud Wall Palace, the viscera turn to ash, the limbs decay, turning thousands of years of hard cultivation into illusion."

"This is the 'Fire Disaster'."

Lu Qingfeng stood still, as the heavens descended the Fire Disaster to burn him.