Yellow Court Daoist

"Within the sixty-four Iron Lotus Seeds, sixty-four Innate Scattered Characters are contained, forming a system of their own."

"Nevertheless, a way must be conceived to secure the remaining thirty-two Iron Lotus Seeds before they merge into the Ancient Shang Region from the Chunshen Realm, to ensure thoroughness. Even if thereafter the characters are unobtainable, at least a path to Ascension is available, as well as an avenue to comprehend the Great Dao Heavenly Mechanism."

Lu Qingfeng grabbed one of the thirty-two Iron Lotus Seeds, sensing the complex and Mysterious spirit mechanisms within it. In his Divine Soul, seventy-four Postnatal Scattered Characters continually flickered with spirit light, among which more than ten were particularly strong, aligning well with the spirit mechanism of the Iron Lotus Seed.

Mutual attraction.

Yet,

Even so, as Lu Qingfeng held the Iron Lotus Seed, his mind was still in chaos.

"Not enough."

"My cultivation level is too low, and the Postnatal Scattered Characters I control are too few. To comprehend the more profound Innate Scattered Characters, I still lack a bit of readiness."

A thousand years in the Chunshen Realm as a clone.

Five hundred years as the original body.

The search for Postnatal Scattered Characters has been arduous.

But as times change, the Magic Sword clone transformed and became a Primordial Spirit True One of Yu Mountain Sect - a direct disciple of a True Immortal Ancestor -

"The ways to acquire Postnatal Scattered Characters have now increased!"

Lu Qingfeng smiled inwardly.

Moreover,

Testing the stance of the Yu Mountain Sect could also indirectly reveal the attitudes within Chunshen Realm between the Immortal and Demon Sects, affording him more strategies to deploy.

Mind whirling.

The vast Wuwang Sea.

In the Eastern Realm, a handsome young man clad in a yellow robe strode out from Lie Ri Island and soared skyward, heading straight for East Xiang State.

Not far from him,

On Quiet Island,

There was a burly man dressed in a gray robe, radiating an aura of vast boundlessness, also heading toward East Xiang State.

Southern Territory.

Liu Guang Island.

A commanding military general clad in armor, controlling the wind and waves, headed directly for East Chen State.

Nearby,

On Golden Rainbow Island,

A wickedly enchanting and fierce young demon, his form flickering like a phantom, similarly aimed straight for East Chen State.

And on an island not far from White Head Island,

A long-haired man with most of his face concealed, exposing a pair of crimson eyes and an eerily deep-hidden strange aura. With a step, surging blood energy and demon winds swept around him as he rushed toward East Sinking Island.

...

Beside White Head Island,

Lu Qingfeng sat in meditation, multitasking mainly focusing on Black Water Mountain in the Southern Border.

Tunneling light approached from afar landing outside Black Water Mountain.

By Black Water Pond,

Lu Qingfeng opened his eyes with a smile, "Sit at home and the Scattered Characters come knocking."

And immediately got up.

He went out to greet them.

...

As time passed,

Lu Qingfeng as the original body cultivated in the Wuwang Sea.

Golden Core achieved.

Advancing towards the Primordial Spirit Realm. Postnatal Scattered Characters nourished the Divine Soul, continuously comprehending Innate Scattered Characters, quickly advancing in cultivation.

As for the 'Three Light Heavenly Xin Sword' clone -

Joined the Yu Mountain Sect, stationed at Black Water Mountain.

Gained fame through a battle when establishing a cave dwelling.

First attracting many Primordial Spirit Practitioners from Yu Mountain Sect, on one hand to befriend Lu Qingfeng, the disciple of a True Immortal, and on the other hand to procure Divine Thunder and Thunderbolt.

Various Divine Thunders, each with its unique uses.

For instance, 'Ice Flame Cold Thunder' which can freeze everything, even restraining the Blood Spring Sect's Blood Shadow Technique.

And 'Stone Fire Divine Thunder,' particularly effective against Yin Demons, which the Blood Shadow Technique of Blood Spring Sect also struggles against.

Included also were 'Qiantian One-element Thunderbolt,' 'Green Thunder Child,' 'Secret Demon Yin Thunder,' 'Nine Sons Mother Thunder Pearl,' all possessing immense power and extraordinary mystery.

Yu Mountain Sect and Blood Spring Sect divided control over East Xian State.

Blood Spring Sect's Demon Techniques were unpredictable, and possessing Divine Thunder provided an extra layer of protection.

Thus, many sought them, and Black Water Mountain's front door was as busy as a marketplace.

Postnatal Scattered Characters were precious and rare, but Primordial Spirit Practitioners of Yu Mountain Sect each had a few.

If one were unaffiliated, seeking 'Ice Flame Cold Thunder' or 'Stone Fire Divine Thunder' in exchange for Postnatal Scattered Characters would not only require exhausting persuasion but also be careful of others using them against oneself.

But being initiated into Yu Mountain Sect, becoming a disciple of Rong Hong True Immortal removed those worries.

Additionally, these Primordial Spirit Practitioners intended to form good relationships.

Thus, the number of Postnatal Scattered Characters in Lu Qingfeng's possession quickly increased.

Originally, it took five hundred years to acquire seventy-four Postnatal Scattered Characters, but now, in just a hundred years at Black Water Mountain, he had accumulated one hundred and twelve.

It's good to lean on a big tree for shade.

Truly, this saying isn't false.

And not just the Postnatal Scattered Characters.

As a Golden Core, Lu Qingfeng easily obtained all necessary cultivation resources within Yu Mountain Sect. The clone increased its mana simply by needing sufficient Spirit Stones, Primordial Yang Pills, Pure Yang Pills, etc.

Pure Yang Pills contained a hint of pure yang and could only be refined by a Mahayana True Immortal, an Eighth Rank Alchemist.

Lu Qingfeng could neither plead for nor afford them.

But Spirit Stones, Primordial Yang Pills, etc., could be obtained through Alchemy, Artifact Refining, selling 'Ice Flame Cold Thunder,' 'Stone Fire Divine Thunder,' or refining them himself.

Thus,

The clone remained year-round in Black Water Mountain, constantly earning resources, refining prohibitions, and enhancing his strength.

Ten years.

A hundred years.

In the blink of an eye,

Two hundred years had passed.

...

In the Ancient Shang Region,

Min River Dragon Palace.

In an offside courtyard, Ao Le, with long hair tied with a white silk ribbon, dressed in snow-white silk, his waist cinched with a white silk long tassel accentuating his figure.

He sat on a stool.

Gazing into the distance beyond the skies, his eyes somewhat vacant, lost in thought.

A tiger-headed child, only as tall as Ao Le's knees, with bright and intelligent black eyes, watched Ao Le intently, his eyes rolling around.

Thump-thump-thump!

Turning around, he scurried towards the side hall with bare feet.

Before long.

Thump-thump-thump.

He ran out from the side hall again, his chubby little hands clutching a scroll of painting.

Arriving in front of Ao Le, he looked up and called out innocently, "Auntie, Auntie."

Ao Le was lost in thought.

"Auntie, Auntie."

The little guy energetically jumped up, his innocent voice growing louder.

Ao Le then returned to her senses, lowered her head to see her eager nephew bouncing, and couldn't help but smile warmly, "What is it, Jun?"

Ao Jun raised the scroll in his hand above his head, his big eyes blinking, "Jun brought out Uncle's portrait. Auntie misses Uncle, it will feel better to look at it more."

The little guy stretched his arms as wide as he could, but due to his small stature, he couldn't fully unfold the scroll.

Yet even from the loose folds, one could still make out in the scroll—

A man in a blue robe with his hair tied back, eyebrows carefully painted into the picture.

Graceful and composed.

Anyone who saw it would praise, "How splendid, what a fine young gentleman."

Ao Le bowed her head, seeing the person in the painting, took the scroll to spread it out, her face overflowing with an unwitting smile.

Ao Jun looked up.

First at his aunt, then he jumped up to take another peek at the person in the painting, following with a silly laugh.

"You uncle and nephew, laughing so joyfully, is there some good news?"

Outside the side hall.

A young man clad in golden armor approached with a mighty stride, his voice preceding his arrival.

"Father."

Upon seeing him, Ao Jun quickly composed himself, bowing deeply. Though young and barely tall as a knee, he was perfectly proper in manners.

Ao Le looked up to see the golden-armored young man entering.

"Third Uncle."

She called out.

Slowly rolling up the scroll in her hand, freeing her hand to help Ao Jun up, she said to the newcomer with a shake of her head, "Jun is still young, Third Uncle, don't be too harsh."

The newcomer.

Was none other than Ao Lie, the Third Prince of the Min River Dragon Palace.

Seven hundred years had passed.

Since Lu Qingfeng entered the Chunshen Realm, Ao Lie hadn't even been married. Unexpectedly in a blink of seven hundred years, he had both wed and had a child.

Upon his return.

He would surely be astounded.

"Spare the rod, spoil the child."

"Especially because he is young, we need to educate him well."

Ao Lie, formerly reckless, now carried an air of authority as a father. He approached and sat next to Ao Le, gazing from her hand to the scroll, smiling, "Thinking of Guang Yuan again?"

"Yes."

Ao Le, holding back her shyly restrained son, rubbed his tiger-headed little head, "Jun, go play inside the hall."

"Yes."

"Father, Auntie, Jun takes his leave."

Ao Jun bowed to both Ao Lie and Ao Le, then turned and walked toward the side hall. His steps were proper and reserved, not daring to bounce about as before.

Ao Le, seeing this, shook her head again.

But Ao Lie didn't mind, and she refrained from further persuasion.

"Third Uncle."

"This time you return, let Jun stay with me a few more days."

Ao Le, holding the scroll, looked towards Ao Lie.

"That's fine."

"If I had known this hall would be so dreary and cold, I should have let Guang Yuan sire a child with you before he left for Chunshen Realm."

Ao Lie's voice boomed as he spoke.

Ao Le listened.

A slight smile curled at the corners of her mouth, though she remained silent.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Seeing her reaction, Ao Lie realized his blunder but laughed aloud, "But I just visited our father, and I have good news, do you want to hear?"

"Good news?"

Ao Le looked at Ao Lie, blinking.

"Ha ha!"

Laughing heartily, Ao Lie, not one to keep secrets, pointed outside and spoke, "News from the Shang River, in less than fifty years, the Chunshen Realm will be fully integrated into the Ancient Shang Region. Now the Three Great Dragon Palaces and the Ancient Shang Heavenly Court are preparing for war. Our Min River Dragon Palace is also sending troops under Shang River's command. In these few decades, we'll enter the territories of Chunshen. By then, the battle will be much fiercer than in the southern Demon Swamp."

Ao Lie said, his eyes blazing with battle spirit, yet tinged with concern.

But Ao Le seemed indifferent.

Or rather.

She hadn't really heard the latter part of his statement. The only thing echoing in her ears and mind was 'in fifty years, Chunshen will join Ancient Shang.'

She was momentarily stunned.

When Ao Lie's voice ceased, she finally snapped back to reality, her eyes revealing a joyful surprise, "Does this mean, my husband will return to Ancient Shang in at most fifty years?"

"My husband, my husband."

"You girl, you only care about Guang Yuan."

Ao Lie feigned anger, "Guang Yuan will return in no more than fifty years, and you are so concerned. Yet I might die on the battlefield in Chunshen within the same period, and you don't show half as much worry."

Ao Le's eyes were filled with joy.

Hearing this.

She turned to look at Ao Lie, only to see her third uncle looking back at her, his face devoid of anger, instead grinning widely.

The joy in her heart faded, Ao Le furrowed her brows, "The battlefield is perilous, how could Father allow Third Uncle to take such a risk?"

"Third Uncle holds the title of Yunhu Water Lord and is the Third Prince of Min River. If I do not lead by example in obeying Shang River's orders, wouldn't it dishearten the Min River's troops?"

Ao Lie showed no discontent.

The considerations of their father, he understood well. As a Dragon Lord's son and one of the few great generals of the Min River Dragon Palace, his absence would indeed demoralize the troops.

Such matters, not easily shared with outsiders.

Seeing Ao Le's visibly worried face, Ao Lie couldn't help but laugh, "Don't worry. After I go to Chunshen, I'll find Guang Yuan for you and send him back immediately. With his talents, after more than seven hundred years, he may have already advanced to the Fourth Realm."

Ao Le looked at her third uncle.

"My husband is coming back soon, but Third Uncle is heading to Chunshen."

In a moment.

A mix of joy and worry, a blend of many emotions.