Yellow Court Daoist

Wuwang Sea.

Sitting cross-legged in a cave dwelling on an island with exceptional spiritual energy, a thousand miles away from White Head Island, was Lu Qingfeng.

The great array set up outside the cave dwelling isolated internal and external investigations.

The Inverted Void Glazed Glass Wall functioned, radiating its glazed brilliance into the cave dwelling, reversing heavenly mechanisms, concealing one's own traces.

Ensuring that even a Mahayana True Immortal would find it difficult to probe.

Thus.

Only then did he retrieve a branch from the storage space.

[Remarkable Item: Guang Hui Tree (Branch)]

[Grade: Eighth-Order]

[Description: The Founding Master of the Yu Mountain Sect, Guangdu True Immortal, once acquired an Immortal Wood seed called 'Guang Hui.' He planted it, and the tree provided enlightenment during cultivation under its shade. The Guang Hui Tree has since become a supreme treasure of the Yu Mountain Sect. Cultivating beneath the tree can enlighten the mind and calm the spirit, aid in perceiving the truth, and promote cultivation. This is a branch that fell from the Guang Hui Tree; once it touches the ground, it grows. Watering it with Moon Hua True Water and nurturing it with one's own wisdom can make the branch flourish and, in turn, nourish the original Guang Hui Tree.]

"Immortal Wood branch."

Lu Qingfeng internally muttered 'as expected.'

Upon first seeing the Guang Hui Tree, he sensed its extraordinariness and speculated it might be among the Immortal Woods above the eighth order. Now with a branch at hand, a glimpse from Daluo Cave Temple confirmed his speculation was correct.

"Immortal Artifacts are hard to come by in the world."

"Immortal Wood is equally hard to find."

"That Guang Hui Tree—"

Lu Qingfeng looked up, gazing above the Nine Heavens, his mind fluctuating, "If one could establish a foundation with Immortal Wood—"

Thinking thus.

Lu Qingfeng then laughed silently to himself and redirected his gaze.

"Rong Hong True Immortal has given the Guang Hui Tree branch with calculations in mind."

"It wasn't given for nothing."

"With my current cultivation, I shouldn't even dream of touching the Guang Hui Tree."

Lu Qingfeng knew himself well.

The Guang Hui Tree was the foundational treasury of the Yu Mountain Sect, where a great Mahayana True Immortal was cultivating beneath it, never straying day or night. Even if he advanced to Primordial Spirit, it would be futile.

"However, even if it's just a branch, it is of great use."

Lu Qingfeng put on a smile.

The Guang Hui Tree is Immortal Wood.

Even a single branch can match the Eighth Rank Spirit Wood.

For cultivating the Red Dust Longevity Technique and establishing foundation, the eighth order would be more than sufficient for Lu Qingfeng.

"But—"

Such a treasure, casually bestowed by Rong Hong True Immortal, clearly had ulterior motives.

"Even."

"It's not only about using my wisdom to nourish the Guang Hui Tree."

"And me, cultivating day and night next to the Guang Hui Tree branch, my every detail fully exposed. By using the tree's body, Rong Hong True Immortal could even analyze my real whereabouts."

"Even by using this branch, control over my cave dwelling established in the Southern Border could be exerted."

Lu Qingfeng's mind flickered, "Let's test him for a while."

Once resolved.

Above his head, Five-Colored Divine Light burst forth, shaking the heavens like an Ancient Divine Mountain, ferociously swiping at the Guang Hui Tree branch in his hand.

Three consecutive strokes.

The Guang Hui Tree branch in his hand flashed with spirit light three times.

Only then did Lu Qingfeng feel relieved, holding the branch with running Xuan Technique, entwining strands of vital energy.

He was actually cultivating the Red Dust Longevity Technique!

"Although it's just a branch, it's not weaker than Eighth Rank Spirit Wood, enough for foundation building!"

Lu Qingfeng felt a light joy in his heart.

As the saying goes, no need to break an iron shoe in searching, for it seems to come without effort. Originally unsure when he would be able to find an Eighth Rank Spirit Wood for building the foundation of the Red Dust Longevity Technique.

He thought, if he truly couldn't find one, a seventh order would suffice.

Unexpectedly, it was delivered right to his doorstep.

"To establish a foundation with the Guang Hui Tree branch, if in the future I could obtain the body of the Guang Hui Tree, I could also fill in the foundation."

"From an Eighth Rank Spirit Wood foundation, leaping into an Immortal Wood foundation!"

Lu Qingfeng pondered in his heart, growing increasingly joyful.

Then he concentrated on refining the Guang Hui Tree branch in his hands.

...

While Lu Qingfeng was refining the Guang Hui Tree branch.

Somewhere in the sky.

Underneath the Guang Hui Tree, which seemed a world unto itself, Rong Hong True Immortal suddenly opened his eyes.

"Hmm?"

Rong Hong True Immortal's wrinkled face trembled slightly, uttering a light sound of surprise. His gaze descended, looking down from above the Nine Heavens, landing on Black Water Mountain in the Southern Border.

Around the Black Water Mountain.

The 'Yu Mountain Manifestation Saint Array' laid down by the Sun, Moon, and Stars Banner could not stop Rong Hong True Immortal's line of sight, but one hundred and eight peaks arranged around Black Water Mountain acted as an array, drawing the earth's veins, gathering the land's energy, forming a mysterious array. It obscured the area of Black Water Pond; even Rong Hong True Immortal's gaze could not penetrate.

Lu Qingfeng, located within it, was naturally obscured and invisible.

"This disciple—"

Rong Hong True Immortal withdrew his gaze, his eyes flickering with contemplation. He muttered softly, a strand of Xuanji tearing through the void to an unknown destination.

After a moment.

A Daoist clad in Sun and Moon Daoist robe strode forward.

Dark as charcoal.

Had the Primordial Spirit Practitioners of Yu Mountain Sect like Gu Xuan and Gu Sun been present, they would recognize this dark-charcoal Daoist as one of the three great Ancestor Masters of the Yu Mountain Sect, "Guangning True Immortal."

"Elder Brother has taken a new disciple who has gained some renown in the Southern Border. With exceptional Sword Dao, Divine Thunder and Thunderbolt are shaking the region. Now that Elder Brother has summoned me here, have you already ascertained this disciple's origins?"

Guangning True Immortal clearly knew about Rong Hong True Immortal taking Lu Qingfeng as a disciple and was well aware of Lu Qingfeng's actions in the Southern Border.

He now voiced his inquiry.

"I have not," replied Rong Hong True Immortal with a shake of his head. "Qing Yuanzi was apprenticed under the Guanghui Tree with Ao Zhen and Yun Luo by his side. Both of them said that they could not discern Qing Yuanzi's origin, suggesting he might come from the Nine Provinces."

"From the Nine Provinces?"

"Yet his cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, and he possesses a formidable heritage. Moving Mountain Warriors, the Sword Dao of Tianhe, and numerous Divine Thunder and Thunderbolt techniques. Forgive this junior brother for my limited knowledge; I cannot recall such a heritage ever existing in the Nine Provinces."

Guangning True Immortal's dark face slightly furrowed.

Even if it were a heritage,

It should leave some trace.

With Qing Yuanzi's heritage, if it was not from a Mahayana True Immortal, it must be from a well-known Primordial Spirit True One. If it was from the Nine Provinces, Guangning True Immortal himself was confident he had heard of the historical True Immortals of the Chunshen Nine Provinces and many notable Primordial Spirit True Ones.

Racking his brain,

He could recall a few similarities, but upon closer examination, they seemed far from alike.

Guangning True Immortal looked at Rong Hong True Immortal and said, "Elder Brother, you preside over the Guanghui Tree and have seen more of the world than I. Do you know where this heritage comes from?"

"I do not know," Rong Hong True Immortal replied once again, shaking his head, his gaze dark and deep, "The boy just now refined the Guanghui Tree Branch I bestowed upon him using some unknown technique. The Guanghui Tree can no longer sense where the branch has gone."

Upon hearing this,

Guangning True Immortal's eyebrows twitched, grasping the implication, "In that case, it seems unlikely that he's from the Nine Provinces."

He continued,

Guangning True Immortal furrowed his brow in thought—

"A Seventh-Order Alchemist and a Seventh-Order Artifact Refiner."

"Excellence in the Sword Dao."

"Master of numerous thunder-wielding techniques."

Guangning True Immortal turned his gaze to Rong Hong True Immortal, hesitating, "Is Yun Luo truly unaware of the boy's background?!"

"Truth and deception, who can truly know?" Rong Hong True Immortal hid a self-mocking smile amidst his wrinkled visage, "Not originating from the Nine Provinces could be a blessing in disguise. The Nine Provinces waver, and Ancient Shang's power is vast. Even if our Yu Mountain Sect were to gain another genius, at most over thousands of years he may reach the True Immortal Realm. One more or one less True Immortal, what difference would it make when facing Ancient Shang?"

Guangning True Immortal fell silent at those words.

Even Primordial Spirit Practitioners in the Nine Provinces might not grasp the might of the Ancient Shang world. But as Mahayana True Immortals who had clashed across the void between the worlds, they understood the gravity of their power.

Centuries of confrontation.

Ancient Shang's power.

It was despairing.

With a self-mocking chuckle, Rong Hong True Immortal continued, "If this child comes from Ancient Shang, with his talents and intelligence, he must be a significant figure. His enthusiasm for joining our Yu Mountain Sect, it seems, first, he's not afraid of the Ancient Shang Heavenly Court or even the Three Great Dragon Palaces seeking accountability, and second, he must possess a method to avoid the backlash of fate intertwining with heaven and earth. If in the future our Yu Mountain Sect intends to stand in Ancient Shang, perhaps this boy is the key."

"Ancient Shang Heavenly Court."

"Shang River Dragon Palace."

"Dragon Palace of the East Sea."

"West Sea Dragon Palace."

Rong Hong True Immortal enumerated, "Once we confirm the boy's identity, we can make a decision. If we don't align ourselves correctly, our Yu Mountain Sect is doomed."

"According to Elder Brother's speculation, this boy should be from the Ancient Shang Heavenly Court."

"Of the four major forces in Ancient Shang, our Yu Mountain Sect is the most suitable for the Ancient Shang Heavenly Court."

Guangning True Immortal's eyes sparkled, "This Heavenly Change might not be entirely bad. In the Nine Provinces, the path of immortality is severed, and Mahayana True Immortal is the limit. But in the world of Ancient Shang, beyond the Fifth Realm, it seems there is still a path ahead."

...

In the Wuwang Sea.

Lu Qingfeng fully refined the last segment of the Guanghui Tree Branch, and his aura immediately underwent a subtle change, a slight transformation in his demeanor that couldn't be put into exact words.

But one could feel.

That his vitality seemed much stronger than that of cultivators of the same grade.

Brimming with vigorous youth.

"Foundation Establishment complete."

"Finally, I can cultivate the Red Dust Longevity Technique."

Lu Qingfeng's eyes opened, a fleeting joy escaped.

He had completely refined the Guanghui Tree Branch, and the Foundation Establishment of the Red Dust Longevity Technique was successful. The increase in life span was not very obvious at the moment, but as he cultivated the 'Mountain and River Pulse Fist,' 'Sun and Moon Five Wheel Fist,' and 'Celestial Cycle Stars Fist,' his lifespan would surge dramatically.

"The Mysterious-grade 'Red Dust Longevity Technique' is not something that can be compared with True Sect-level techniques."

Lu Qingfeng's smile broadened.

He steadied his aura.

Looking up, his gaze was cast towards the unknown in the sky.

"After refining the Guanghui Tree Branch, Rong Hong True Immortal must sense it, but he has not been angered or punished, which seems to confirm my speculation."

Anyone with discernment could see, Chunshen Realm would inevitably be incorporated into Ancient Shang due to its pressure.

How could the Immortal Sects and Demon Sects within Chunshen Realm and their Mahayana True Immortals be unaware of the situation?

At first, they resisted.

That was with hope.

But later, seeing the situation was set, only a very few still harbored such thoughts.

"Now they still blockade the void, probably just to buy time to make more arrangements for the path ahead."

"Yu Mountain Sect."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

Human hearts are easily changeable since time immemorial.

Immortals are also people.

Naturally, they can change.

"I have the Inverted Void Glazed Glass Wall to conceal Heaven's secrets. Even if Ancient Shang Practitioners face me, they won't recognize me."

"Revealing some of my capabilities can confuse and disrupt Yu Mountain Sect's judgment."

"In this case."

"While there's still time, it's best to take advantage of the situation and reap benefits. That is the righteous path."

Lu Qingfeng's eyes shone brightly.

Stretching out his hand, thirty-two Iron Lotus Seeds floated up and down in his palm, filled with mysterious and captivating energies.

Clearly the first benefit he had acquired at Yu Mountain Sect—

Thirty-two Innate Scattered Characters.