Yellow Court Daoist

Human Dao Law Domain.

The nations of Wu and Meng border each other, their armies stand in opposition, each with a million soldiers arrayed, swords drawn, and crossbows taut.

Thirty years pass in the blink of an eye.

In the vast expanse of the Immortal Dao, such a period barely registers. Yet within a single realm, amongst mortals, it is enough for a nation to flourish and then decline, for dynasties to change hands.

The nations of Wu and Meng.

It is Da Meng that has gone from flourishing to declining.

A Demon Concubine brought chaos to the royal court.

The Emperor of Da Meng indulged in revelry night after night, forgoing court sessions, causing unrest to spread through the land.

It is Da Wu that has changed its ruling dynasty.

Ever since Zhao Jian, the founding emperor of the Zhao Family, rose up to suppress rebellion and unite the Lingnan region, the reigns of Emperor Jian, Southern King Ce, and the current Emperor Jin Diquan spanned two generations over forty-one years, sweeping through thirteen counties of Da Sui, consolidating the foundation of their rule.

The Zhao Family replaced Sui, establishing their own state, named "Wu."

Over the next thirteen years, Da Wu and Da Meng fought multiple times.

The former, an emerging dynasty eager for expansion.

The latter, with its Demon Concubine disrupting the order, its ruler and ministers estranged, in the midst of turmoil. Da Hao from the south seized the opportunity to raise an army and conquer the southern territories of Da Meng.

Besieged on three fronts.

Amidst internal turmoil and external threats.

Ironically, it was Da Wu, with merely thirteen counties, that won battles consecutively, conquering nine counties from Da Meng with overwhelming momentum.

Now, with a million soldiers lined up at Juyong Pass, their blades pointed directly at the three counties of Pi Yang, Candle Mountain, and Feng State. Should Juyong Pass, such a Heroic Pass, fall, the three counties of Pi Yang would be lost, leaving Da Meng exposed from north to south, like a brawny man stripped of his clothes, vulnerable to Da Wu's aggression.

This battle was crucial to the fate of a nation.

Both countries dispatched elite troops and excellent generals, and also invited experts from various Immortal families to compete in the Array before combat.

…

Juyong Pass.

Within the Heroic Pass, war generals and commanders gathered, with over ten Daoists present in the command tent.

Leading them was no other than the Shenxiao Sect Leader, Zhengqing Daoist.

Forty years prior, after being heavily defeated and wounded at the Seven Treasures Mountain, he gradually stepped back from the affairs of Shenxiao Sect, leaving all matters to his junior, Zheng Yuan Daoist, while he focused on healing and awaited the Ancestor Master's decree, permitting him to step down and leave.

But a day in the Heavenly Realm is a year on Earth.

Four Bright Gongbin Yuanjun's departure forty years ago was just over a month in the Heavenly Realm. Any delay felt endless. Zhengqing Daoist could only wait patiently.

However, at this juncture.

Da Meng was precarious.

Zhengqing Daoist, after all, was still the Shenxiao Sect Leader and had previously abstained from involvement, but now faced with such a critical matter of national survival, he could no longer ignore it.

Thus, he emerged from seclusion.

Appearing at Juyong Pass.

In the command tent's seat of honor sat a Great General, clad in white helmet and armor with a shining silver spear, exuding an extraordinary presence—a true blend of scholar and warrior.

Another than none.

It was the foremost general of Da Meng's army, the 'Piqi Great General,' Chen Shu.

With the Great Wu Chancellor confronting Da Hao in the south, Chen Shu led the troops to resist Da Wu in the north.

Chen Shu glanced at the generals below him, after discussing defenses and battle situations for a long while, he dismissed the generals.

Then he turned to Zhengqing Daoist, seated to his left, "Daoist, I did not dare speak earlier, to avoid shaking our soldiers' morale. Yet within the Wu Army's formation, there are numerous Tiger Generals, each possessing Special Skills. Take Gan Yun, for instance, skilled with the Iron Spine Snake Spear and master of the 'Flying Stone Skill' - a secret launch that kills upon impact. And then there's Song Qian, whose crescent spear mastery is formidable, and who harbors Sword Qi within himself, lethal upon release."

"These various peculiar skills are indeed hard to counter."

"In thirteen years of warfare with Wu, we've lost hundreds of our war generals, including over a dozen high-ranked officers."

Chen Shu's face was troubled as his gaze fell upon Zhengqing Daoist, "Rumor has it that these Tiger Generals with Special Skills are disciples of the Great Wu Marshal 'Wu Guang,' emerging from the same lineage as Da Wu's Chancellor 'Lu Changqing.' I wonder if Daoist has a strategy to teach me so that we do not fall victim to the enemy generals' prowess?"

Chen Shu felt true concern.

He had clashed with Da Wu for ten years, seeing his generals perish, one by one — over loss and remorse, yet helpless.

Flying Stone Skill.

The Skill of Embracing Sword Qi.

The Name Calling Falling Horse Skill.

The Chizha Technique.

…

These, among others, various Special Skills, were difficult to confront.

In his early years, Chen Shu also acquired the 'Wind Eye Skill' from a strange person. With a stare, gales would blow, whipping up sand and stone, disorienting enemy generals to the point of dizziness right on the spot. Chen Shu would seize the moment and in eight out of ten cases, achieve a deadly strike.

His reputation resounded both within and without Da Meng.

But compared to Da Wu, it was insufficient.

Da Wu's Chancellor 'Lu Changqing' possessed the talent to draw upon heaven and earth, with abilities to reach spirits and deities. With his help, the Zhao family founded the grand domain of Da Wu, a country respected and admired by all neighboring nations as a Scripture Country with immense talent.

Especially notable were the generals he trained, who shone brightly in consolidating the thirteen counties and in the conquest of Da Meng.

Near impossible to withstand.

Chen Shu knew this all too well.

A decade ago, he faced Gan Yun and was disheveled by a single 'Flying Stone Skill.' If it were not for the 'Wind Eye Skill' which confused Gan Yun's sense of direction, he likely would have perished on the spot.

Since then.

He no longer dared to rush into battle rashly.

But now, in front of Juyong Pass, repeatedly displaying the 'no-battle card,' not to mention the issue of morale, merely the discussions in the court behind him would suffice to convict him of cowardice.

Out of necessity.

Chen Shu could only seek advice from the Shenxiao Sect Leader in front of him, reputed to be an Immortal Master with long-lasting life.

"Lu Changqing."

"Special Skills."

A serious expression flashed across the eyes of Zhengqing Daoist.

He was not too apprehensive about Special Skills, as this path surely was not as profound as Divine Skills and Daoist Skills, and its usage was limited.

Might be somewhat effective for war generals in Battle Formation, but for cultivators like them, as long as they did not encounter these skills within a Battle Formation, they were not much of a concern.

Yet, regarding Da Wu's Chancellor 'Lu Changqing,' Zhengqing Daoist did harbor some apprehension, "The Changqing Temple worships the 'Capturing God General,' what is the relationship between this Lu Changqing and him?"

Thinking about the person he encountered at Seven Treasures Mountain back then, Zhengqing Daoist felt somewhat uneasy.

"I knew this man would not rest until he had his way."

"Can't believe they're disregarding the face of Four Bright Gongbin Yuanjun, such audacity from Qingjing Child backed by Yellow Wind Ridge, truly arrogant and domineering."

Zhengqing Daoist thought with loathing in his heart, yet also with a headache.

This Qingjing Child rampaged through the Mortal world without any regard, even daring to kill at will, regardless of him being the Shenxiao Sect Leader. In comparison, even if Qingjing Child stood before him, he would not dare to strike a killing blow.

One was sworn brothers with the Yellow Wind Great Saint.

The other was just one of the many disciples and grandchildren of Sa Heavenly Master.

Their statuses were inherently different.

"Fine,"

"Let's play his game. As long as I handle it carefully and stall the situation first. Once the Ancestor Master's decree arrives, and we reach Primordial Monarch Palace, there's no need to entangle with him anymore."

Zhengqing Daoist decided in his mind, and with a smile, he said to Chen Shu, "Do not panic, Great General. My Shenxiao Sect has myriad wonderful methods and a thousand Array formations. Once I set up the 'Wind, Rain, Thunder, Lightning' Great Array, I shall make his generals surrender one by one!"

I dare not kill you.

But would I not dare to strike down your disciples?!

Zhengqing Daoist sneered in his heart.

Upon hearing this, Chen Shu was immediately overjoyed: "It's all up to you, Daoist Master!"

...

"The scholar seeks nothing but the cultivation within oneself. The Five Elements rooted in the Second Level of energy, which divides and forms the Five Elements. One who can gather the energy of the Five Elements and channel them as Five Thunders, then the Thunder Skill is indeed the Innate Dao, and the Thunder God becomes the god within me. With energy united with energy and spirit combined with spirit, isn't it as though the response is instantaneous?"

"To master this Dao and to comprehend this principle, then the Second Level of energy does not remain as merely the Second Level, it becomes part of me; the Five Elements are not merely the Five Elements, but also within me."

"Blow to create wind, channel to summon thunder, exhale for clouds, and command for rain."

"Thousands of transformations, myriad forms, all of which stem from the physical manifestations within one's heart."

"This is the Shenxiao Sect's 'Wind, Rain, Thunder, Lightning' Great Array."

Outside Juyong Pass.

Great Wu Chancellor Lu Changqing, the world's Great Marshal Wu Guang, and a host of military generals, as well as many Daoists from Changqing Temple were all present.

Gazing at the dragon-like battle formation before them, Lu Qingfeng spoke to Wen Guang and Nine Heavens Wanderer beside him.

"The Shenxiao and Maoshan Sects lead the Fang Xian Dao, rooted deep in the Mortal world with a solid foundation. Be they Immortals from the Four Saints Immortal Realm or Buddha from the Qingjing Buddha Domain, none can easily set foot here."

"Today, upon seeing this formation, I finally catch a glimpse of it."

Nine Heavens Wanderer gazed at the Great Array ahead, his eyes shimmering with spirit light; even with his profound knowledge in Array Dao, he couldn't see through it at a glance.

Wen Guang was nearby.

Seeing that his teacher and the Nine Heavens Wanderer seemed stumped by the Great Array, he immediately said, "Teacher, Immortal Master, why not let your disciple send a vanguard to probe the reality of the situation?"

Previously, Juyong Pass had hung a truce banner, and their taunting at the Pass boosted morale. Now, with Da Meng emerging and forming battle lines, they would become a laughing stock if they appeared clueless.

"Good."

Lu Qingfeng calculated in his mind and nodded in agreement.

Wen Guang received the order and immediately directed a lieutenant to lead five hundred cavalry from the right flank, sweeping in like a dragon and kicking up dust as they plunged into the array.

But the sound of 'woo woo' brought forth wind.

In the blink of an eye.

The wind ceased, the dust settled, and the array returned to calm.

"Wow!"

All the generals on the field were shocked.

Five hundred elite troops had been dealt with so quickly; the array was indeed fierce.

"This array—"

Nine Heavens Wanderer frowned slightly in thought upon seeing this.

When Lu Qingfeng and Wen Guang looked at him, Nine Heavens Wanderer shook his head and said, "This array manifests wind, rain, thunder, and lightning in myriad forms. The five hundred men that entered were easily dispersed by a mere gust of wind from the master of the main array, turned to dust in an instant, and that clearly wasn't the limit. There are also the transformations of cloud, thunder, and rain to come, as well as other mysterious aspects yet to be known. To break the array, brute force won't do."

Nine Heavens Wanderer, from Lingnan to the current twenty-two counties of Great Wu, had been presiding over for thirty years. He most frequently dealt with the Fang Xian Dao, headed by the Shenxiao Sect. Aware of their fierceness, he did not take them lightly.

"Send another to scout!"

Lu Qingfeng stated flatly.

"Yes."

Wen Guang sent another lieutenant to lead eight hundred soldiers into the array.

In just a short while.

Eight hundred elite troops disappeared.

"Scout again."

Unmoved, Lu Qingfeng continued to order troops into the array.

This time, a Great General led twelve hundred elite troops inside, and more than a hundred managed to escape. All frantic, they sprinted up to the front lines, crying out, "Entering the array, we were shrouded in mist and lost direction. After traveling several miles, a fierce wind blew, scattering our ranks. General Lin, who led the charge, was torn apart by the wind; his armor shattered and his flesh severed!"

"Two levels of wind and cloud changes."

Nine Heavens Wanderer looked to Lu Qingfeng.

"Probe again!"

Lu Qingfeng was determined to press on, even if it cost lives.

The generals also saw the Chancellor's intent.

"As you command."

Without more words, Wen Guang called up two more Great Generals, each leading twelve hundred troops, to enter the array from the left and right wings.

Wo wo wo!

Ah ah ah!

Though still a disastrous defeat,

This time, four to five hundred managed to escape.

Lu Qingfeng, hearing the escapees' accounts, realized that thunder and rain were now added to the array's repertoire.

Before speaking,

All the Great Wu generals in the array looked over, some concerned that the Chancellor might order more probing attacks.

Lu Qingfeng's eyes narrowed as he turned to the Nine Heavens Wanderer beside him: "This array's transformations are too complex; continual probing is merely a wanton waste of soldiers' lives. I request Daoist Brother to investigate the array personally. Lu shall assign Great Marshal Wu Guang to select eight Tiger Generals and lead thirty thousand troops, at Daoist Brother's disposal."

Nine Heavens Wanderer nodded in agreement and turned to Wen Guang, "Thank you, Great Marshal."

"Immortal Master is too courteous."

Wen Guang humbly returned the gesture, and quickly gathered eight Tiger Generals and thirty thousand soldiers, emerged into formation, and arranged the Twin Dragons from Water Array, heading straight for Juyong Pass.

While all the generals and Fang Xian Daoists failed to notice, a flying ant accompanied by dust alighted upon Wen Guang's armor and entered the array with him.