Yellow Court Daoist

Nan Zhanbu Continent.

Lu Qingfeng rode upon the Yellow Wind, the Yellow Wind swirling around Lu Qingfeng, tumbling and rolling in a dizzying dance. Amidst the shifting scenes, he had already returned to familiar grounds.

Namely that—

Where caves invert, dong-dong cave reversal, mountainous caves invert dong.

The jade-like Qing Peak dyes the rise thousands of feet, while bluish-green yarn veils the smoky mounds countless heap.

It was indeed Yellow Wind Ridge.

Within the ridge was seen a great general—

A golden helmet dazzling the sun, golden armor aglow. Helmet tassels fluttering like pheasant tails, a light goose-yellow robe cloaks the armor. Lei Jia Tao loops a dragon's vibrant splendor, Heart Protecting Mirror encircles the eyes with radiance. Deer-skin boots, dyed the color of locust blossoms; brocaded apron, decorated with soft willow fluff. Grasping a three-pronged steel fork so sharp, he's second only to the famed display of Saintly prowess.

Upon sighting him, Lu Qingfeng was overjoyed, hastening forward to bow: "Big Brother."

It was none other than the Great Saint of Yellow Wind from Yellow Wind Ridge!

"Ha ha!"

"Little Brother, making quite the commotion out there, I see."

The Great Saint of Yellow Wind saw Lu Qingfeng's return, tucked away his three-pronged steel fork, stepped forward, and gave Lu Qingfeng's shoulder a pat, booming with laughter.

Lu Qingfeng's shoulder bore the weight, and looking at the unaffected Great Saint of Yellow Wind, who could imagine that the very person who had raised such a tempest, threatening the lives of Heavenly Immortals, could be so unconcerned as if it were nothing worth dwelling upon.

Despite having witnessed the might of the Great Saint of Yellow Wind before, Lu Qingfeng couldn't help but marvel.

Amidst his amazement,

Another charming young lad emerged from within the ridge, equally matched in beauty, prompting Lu Qingfeng to hurriedly call out: "Second Brother."

This was the second-in-command of Yellow Wind Ridge, 'Green Fox Great Saint.'

"Well done, Little Brother."

"I hear you had a run-in with a bunch of Heavenly Immortals at your doorstep?"

The Green Fox Great Saint took a few strides to Lu Qingfeng, sizing him up with a glance, teasingly said: "Haven't seen you in a mere few days and while your cultivation hasn't seemed to improve, your trouble-making skills are certainly on par with your second brother. Not bad! Not bad!"

Listening to his second brother's jests,

Lu Qingfeng couldn't help but join in the laughter: "I wouldn't dare compare with Second Brother, a figure bold enough to whisk someone from the court of Nuojuluo Venerable. I dare not compare, truly."

For he had attained Dao through Qingjing Method Bamboo, his origin next only to the Seven Treasures Gourd of Little Shu Mountain Realm.

Seeing the frenzy of Lu Yu the old monster, one could guess what kind of treasures the Green Fox Great Saint must have pilfered from the Sitting Arhat.

"Laughing, my ass!"

The Green Fox Great Saint heard this and cursed with a laugh: "Without your second brother, would you be enjoying your carefree days?!"

"Ha ha!"

Upon hearing this, the Great Saint of Yellow Wind also burst out laughing.

Lu Qingfeng bantered with his second brother.

At last, his tense spirit relaxed from the journey.

Returning to Yellow Wind Ridge,

He was back in the lair,

Free from danger.

Lu Qingfeng then let Lin Ye and both the Golden Phoenix King and the Spiritual Fox Child out.

He introduced them to his two martial uncles.

The two Great Saints each presented a meeting gift, after which Lu Qingfeng had Lin Ye step back, arranging for her to become acquainted with Yellow Wind Ridge.

For these two Great Saints of Yellow Wind Ridge were no ordinary beings.

Lin Ye, having newly ascended to Earth Immortal status, might feel constrained in such company.

"Good lad."

"One disciple after another reaching the rank of Earth Immortal, yet you're still doing rounds as a True Immortal."

Once Lin Ye left,

The Green Fox Great Saint teased Lu Qingfeng.

Lu Qingfeng, serving in the Thunder Department, would often return to Yellow Wind Ridge, meaning both the Green Fox Great Saint and the Great Saint of Yellow Wind knew that Lu Qingfeng had already had an Earth Immortal disciple within the Divine General Mansion.

Seeing another now was cause for the Green Fox Great Saint's comment.

Regarding the Golden Phoenix King and the Spiritual Fox Child, although remarkable, they hardly caught the discerning eye of the two Great Saints.

"Don't make fun of me, Second Brother."

"This time returning, I swear not to rest until I've achieved the rank of Earth Immortal!"

Lu Qingfeng chugged his cup of wine in one go, vehemently declared.

"..."

"So, you're set on attaining the rank of Earth Immortal."

The Great Saint of Yellow Wind brightened upon hearing this

He looked Lu Qingfeng up and down, nodding continuously.

Inside Yellow Wind Cave.

Joking around with Second Brother, chatting about various enemies with Big Brother, and delving into matters of cultivation, the three brothers drank heartily. Lu Qingfeng had the weakest tolerance and soon became drunk.

...

After three days submerged in drink.

On the fourth day,

Lu Qingfeng sealed his cave dwelling, cultivating in peace.

...

Green Bamboo Cave.

Lu Qingfeng sat in lotus position, before him a landscape painting unfurled, revealing the myriad scenes and myriad spectacles of the world.

Back at Yellow Wind Ridge,

Finally, without fear of exposing the spiritual sensitivity of the Seven Treasures Gourd, he could study at ease. His eyes sparkled with spirit light, peering into Little Shu Mountain Realm. Deep within, he spotted an unusual place, neither in the heavens nor on the ground, but somewhere in between.

A single gourd vine, with seven gourds upon it, each different—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, each embodying their own vivacity.

[Spirit Root: Seven Treasures Gourd Vine]

[Grade: Postnatal Spirit Root]

"In the beginning, when heaven and earth were formed, there existed innate spirit roots known as the 'Innate Gourd Vine', which grew on Buzhou Mountain. There were seven gourds of different colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple. The Gourd Vine contributed to the creation of humans and each gourd had its own transformative powers. As these spirit roots came into existence before the world, they were called 'Innate'. Postnatal gourds were also birthed from the earth and inherited the legacy of the Innate ones. Though they were postnatal, they ranked among the top-level spirit roots of the Primordial era. Depending on their quality, they are further categorized into 'One Treasure Gourd' for a single attribute and the rarer 'Seven Treasures Gourds' for seven attributes."

"I really hit the jackpot."

Lu Qingfeng couldn't help but grin.

This 'Seven Treasures Gourd Vine' is indeed an extension of the Innate Gourd Vine.

The latter is legendary, growing on Buzhou Mountain, and having been seized by several Innate Divines, each transforming their gourd into a supreme treasure that stunned the heavens.

Like the Red Cloud's 'Nine-nine Soul Scattering Gourd', the Nuwa Saint's 'Evil Summoning Gourd', Lord Lu Ya's 'Immortal Slaying Flying Saber', and the Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad's 'Purple Gold Gourd'.

Each one had a resounding reputation.

Though postnatal, the Seven Treasures Gourd Vine is no less extraordinary.

Just as 'Qingjing Method Bamboo' shares the same origin with the 'Six Roots Purification Bamboo' in the hands of western saints, the Seven Treasures Gourd Vine was cultivated from a branch of 'Six Roots Purification Bamboo' by the Heavenly Daoist's Little Sect Leader, who nurtured a 'Quiet Bamboo Forest'.

Not quite top-tier, but still a rarity in this world.

Lu Qingfeng's true form is among the elite of these.

But the Bitter Bamboo falls just short of the Seven Treasures Gourd Vine.

Hence, the Qingjing Method Bamboo is also slightly inferior to the Seven Treasures Gourd Vine, roughly equivalent to a fourth or fifth-rank gourd. However, since Lu Qingfeng was the only one in the heavens and the earth to achieve enlightenment through 'Qingjing Method Bamboo', his fate was of another matter entirely.

"The Seven Treasures Gourd Vine is even rarer and more precious than my own form."

"If I refine it into a treasure, in the future it could easily create seven or eight Spiritual Treasures, not weaker than the 'Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Sword' or 'Dragon Transformation Pond'."

And Qingjing Method Bamboo?

At best, it would end up as one Spiritual Treasure after investing an immense amount of painstaking effort.

It's far less, by not just seven or eight times.

"However."

"Using such a spirit root just for refining treasures would be such a waste."

Lu Qingfeng looked at the 'Seven Treasures Gourd Vine', and seeing the lush vibrancy of the seven gourds swaying, he couldn't suppress his smile. His gaze turned towards a major divine skill named on his attribute panel —

[Divine Skill: Body Separation]

[Grade: Great Divine Power]

[Description: Strengthened from 'Divine Soul Thought Generation Skill', this divine skill uses powerful magic artifacts (Immortal Artifacts, Spiritual Treasures), or the physical bodies of exotic insects, spirit roots, or exotic beasts as the core, with one's own Divine Thought as the guide to refine and eventually create a second self, known as 'Body Separation'. Depending on the quality of the artifacts, spirit roots, or exotic beasts, the Body Separation possesses various divine skills and different levels of mana. It may be stronger or weaker than the original self. Can practice cultivation independently, and the speed of cultivation varies based on the grade of the artifact (Immortal Artifact, Spiritual Treasure) and the potential of the insects, spirit roots, or exotic beasts, as does the ultimate limit they can reach.]

Previously, Lu Qingfeng's primary use for this skill was to create multiple identities, such as 'Lin Ye' and 'Wen Guang' in the Nine Nether, and like the 'Eight Desolate Avatar' and 'Green Wood Clone' in the real world.

This skill actually provided no benefit to his own cultivation. Moreover, because the Primordial Spirit was divided, his insight might be affected, and his speed of cultivation could decrease rather than increase.

Of course.

The real-world Lu Qingfeng, coasting on what he had gleaned from his gaming experiences, didn't mind this. Within the game, Lu Qingfeng had the 'Enlightenment Technique', and his true form was the 'Qingjing Method Bamboo', so a minor decrease in insight was not a concern as long as it was applied where it mattered.

But in fact.

Lu Qingfeng had always been intentionally searching for rare and exotic creatures.

He wasn't impressed by creatures at the level of the Golden Phoenix Sparrow.

For one, they improved their cultivation too slowly.

For another, they weren't particularly remarkable as companions.

And thirdly, their divine skills were limited, and altogether ordinary.

As a being who achieved enlightenment through the 'Qingjing Method Bamboo', anything that would benefit his cultivation had to be at least not inferior to his own level.

Such as a phoenix.

Or a qilin.

Or an Azure Dragon.

Or a Xuanwu.

Or a Three-legged Golden Crow.

Only such divine creatures were worthy of major uses.

Or the subspecies of innate spirit roots, like ginseng trees, flat peach trees, and Yellow Plum.

Throughout the years, only the Blood Sea Avatar, cultivated by happenstance in the Immortal Qin Realm, could qualify as an adequate Body Separation.

Even if cultivated to the level of an Earth Immortal or Heavenly Immortal, it would be worth keeping.

The rest.

Whether avatars refined from magic artifacts or Immortal Devices, or avatars created from various exotic beasts, all had limited potential.

"However."

"The potential of the Seven Treasures Gourd is not at all inferior to that of the Blood Sea and greatly benefits the cultivation of the 'Dutian Dao'."

Lu Qingfeng looked over the seven gourds with a gleam in his eyes.

Each of the Seven Treasures Gourds embodies one of the seven attributes.

Each gourd contains one principle. Although they cannot compare to the Innate Dao of the Innate Gourd, they are still greatly beneficial to the cultivation of Heavenly Immortals and even Golden Immortals. Once refined into a separate entity, such as a Fire Attribute Gourd, future cultivation in fire techniques will soar at an unmatched pace.

Even if not made into a separate entity, and simply cultivated alongside them, one could comprehend much mystery and have a greatly increased rate of cultivation.

The gourds were planted in the Little Shu Mountain Realm.

The reason the cultivators in the Little Shu Mountain Realm could understand the Dao so swiftly, apart from the power of the Fourth-rank Immortal Device itself, is also due to the significant contribution of the gourds.

Lu Yu, the old monster, had obtained the Seven Treasures Gourd Vine and had painstakingly refined the 'Little Shu Mountain Realm', yet used wicked methods to nourish it, wanting to transform it into a Spiritual Treasure, truly squandering this resource.

An effort of great hardship.

Tens of thousands of years of hard work all turned out to be to Lu Qingfeng's benefit.

"Thankfully, the Seven Treasures Gourds have not yet devoured Earth Immortals or the blood sacrifice of life spirits, otherwise, it could take significant effort to purify them. If not, they could only be refined into Evil Treasures. Even if refined into separate entities, they would be troubled by evil influences, and sooner or later would fall into malevolence."

Lu Qingfeng considered himself fortunate.

With his advancement to Earth Immortal imminent, Lu Qingfeng wasn't in a rush to refine separate entities. Instead, he retracted all his external avatars and Divine Thoughts.

He remembered Four Bright Gongbin Yuanjun.

"I shall offer you a memorial!"

Before reabsorbing the avatar stationed at the General Mansion, he penned a petition in a flurry, directing it towards the Marshal Mansion, presenting his grievances.

Upon seeing that Heavenly Observation Marshal Zhang Weiyu was seething with rage, he headed straight for Yuqing Heaven.

Only then did the avatar in the General Mansion disperse its physical form and retract the Divine Separation.

...

PS: Fourth update, requesting monthly votes!

PS: There is one more update at midnight. If you can't wait, feel free to read it tomorrow morning. The Demon Monk asks for tomorrow's monthly votes in advance.