Yellow Court Daoist

Su Mu's face was cold and indifferent, utterly ignoring Ao Zhen as her eyes were fixed solely on Lu Qingfeng.

"Little Sword Immortal, Su Mu."

"So, it turns out that the senior sister's background is so formidable. My apologies, my apologies."

Lu Qingfeng clasped his hands, evidently with a hint of surprise.

Before entering the Chunshen Realm, he had been merely a minor Min River Dragon Son-in-law in the Ancient Shang Region.

The secretive matter of One Yuan Ancestor taking disciples was naturally beyond his knowledge.

Setting aside the title 'Little Sword Immortal' for now, just the identity of a direct disciple of the One Yuan Ancestor was enough to make any Immortal Sect pay great respect.

Like Lu Qingfeng.

Three True Immortals from Yu Mountain Sect had mistaken him for a disciple of either the One Yuan Ancestor or the Golden Light Ancestor Master, which was why they had staked their claims.

However.

Su Mu, a True Man of such standing, was unrecognized by Lu Qingfeng, who had exploited this oversight.

"This Su Mu."

"Did she mistake me for a disciple of the Golden Light Ancestor Master of Green Sea Youxu Palace?"

"No wonder despite several tests, she never exposed me."

As Lu Qingfeng's thoughts flowed, he suddenly understood.

Seeing the expressions of embarrassment and indignation on Su Mu's face, the previous cool composure was gone, indicating it had all been a pretense. Her acting was so remarkable that even Lu Qingfeng had been deceived.

Until this moment.

Her true temperament had finally shown.

A direct disciple of the One Yuan Ancestor!

Little Sword Immortal, Su Mu!

A youthful prodigy, whose personality was quite lively.

Lu Qingfeng looked over at Su Mu, noting her fiercely glaring eyes, a scene flashing through his mind—

Above the clouds, the golden light was dazzling.

A streak of golden light plummeted down, landing directly on Yu Mountain. As the golden light dispersed, a figure appeared, spirited eyes shining; it was Su Mu.

The golden light had just dissipated.

Su Mu had just risen.

In the heavens.

Former Sect Leader Gu Xuan of Yu Mountain Sect descended amidst them, swept up Su Mu with a wave of his sleeve, and vanished.

...

"This luck—"

Lu Qingfeng glanced at Su Mu and almost laughed out loud.

Just then, as the Heavenly Mechanism was revealed, Lu Qingfeng, blessed by sudden enlightenment, derived and calculated that Su Mu had entered the Chunshen Realm with him over seven hundred years ago, only her fate was so dire, she inadvertently crashed right into the location of Yu Mountain Sect's gate.

Without any chance to hide, she was captured by Gu Xuan.

Heavenly Mechanism shining.

As Lu Qingfeng saw Gu Xuan sweeping Su Mu away with his sleeve, another figure was taken along. He focused his gaze, and who else could it be if not Ao Zhen!

"No wonder."

Lu Qingfeng muttered internally.

He finally understood how the two ended up in Yu Mountain Sect.

The gazes of Ao Zhen and Su Mu fell on Lu Qingfeng, burning like flames.

Just about to inquire.

At this moment.

Three beams of light suddenly descended from the sky, three figures unexpectedly landing atop Yu Mountain.

The intense gazes on Lu Qingfeng suddenly multiplied by three pairs.

"Greetings, Master."

"Greetings, Grand Uncle, Grand Master Uncle."

Upon seeing the newcomers, Lu Qingfeng immediately bowed in greeting.

The newcomers were none other than the three True Immortal Ancestor Masters of Yu Mountain Sect.

Their expressions were inscrutable as Guangning True Immortal's eyes landed on Lu Qingfeng, his voice loud, "Qing Yuan, you joined our Yu Mountain Sect, and in over two hundred years succeeded as the Sect Leader, overseeing thousands of cultivators of Yu Mountain Sect, managing half of the mountains and rivers of East Xian State. We've never questioned your origin or background. Now that the Immortal Dao is irreversible, the Ancient Shang Heavenly Court has already descended, and the Dragon Palace will soon follow, you need not hide anything, go ahead and speak freely."

Tong Xuan and Rong Hong True Immortal also looked towards Lu Qingfeng.

Ao Zhen's eyes flickered.

Su Mu crossed her arms, her face a mixture of anger and amusement, merely watching Lu Qingfeng. Although she felt embarrassed, she was also curious about this ostentatious fellow who had managed to secure the grand position of Sect Leader under the guise of her master's name. What exactly was his background!

"Replying to Grand Master Uncle,"

"This disciple originally was a Southern Sea Independent Practitioner from the Ancient Shang Region, fortunate enough to be taken in by the Min River Dragon Lord as the second disciple, with the Taoist name 'Luo Fuzi.'"

Lu Qingfeng did not conceal his background, respectfully addressing Guangning and the other two True Immortals.

"Min River Dragon Lord?"

Guangning, Tong Xuan, and Rong Hong exchanged glances, their faces filled with doubt.

Wondering which number this individual was among the Three Great Dragon Palaces.

Even Su Mu furrowed her brows, mulling it over.

"Min River Dragon Lord."

To have taught such a Sword Dao prodigy as Luo Fuzi, and even nurtured him into a Seventh Order Alchemist and Seventh Order Artifact Refiner, even if it's only the title 'Dragon Lord', he must indeed be a venerable True Immortal.

Still, with her relatively short time in cultivation, and despite racking her memory, she couldn't pinpoint where this Min River was or who this Min River Dragon Lord was.

Turning to look at Ao Zhen beside her, Su Mu's voice sounded light, "Ao Zhen, you're the Prince of the True Dragons of the East Sea, do you know who this Min River Dragon Lord is among the Dragon Clan?"

"Min River."

"Min River."

Without needing Su Mu to ask, Ao Zhen had already been recalling it. Initially his eyes were blank, but slowly they grew wider and wider—

"You!"

"You!"

"You!"

After a moment, Ao Zhen's expression changed, and pointing at Lu Qingfeng, he stammered, "You're a disciple of the Second Grade Min River Dragon Lord Ao Zhan from the Shang River Dragon Palace?!"

"So, it's the Shang River Dragon Palace."

"But."

"A Second Grade Dragon Lord?!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mu was taken aback.

"So, Seventh Senior Brother has also heard of our teacher's fame."

Seeing that Ao Zhen had indeed mentioned the name of Min River Dragon Lord, Lu Qingfeng's face immediately showed a joyful expression.

Guangning looked toward Ao Zhen, "When did the Min River Dragon Lord become a True Dragon, and what position does he serve in the Shang River Dragon Palace?"

"True Dragon?"

Suppressing the words 'absurd' from escaping his lips, Ao Zhen did not respond but instead turned to Lu Qingfeng with a wry smile, "Luo Fu is profound, Ao Zhen admires!"

Right then,

He addressed Guangning True Immortal, whose face bore a puzzled expression, "The Min River is a tributary of the Shang River, holding a Second-Grade rank. Min River Dragon Lord Ao Zhan, born in the East Sea, pledged allegiance to the Shang River in the midst of the journey, at the peak of the Fourth Realm, commanding the Min River Water Clan and responsible for all matters concerning rain and clouds."

Silence fell among Guangning, Tong Xuan, and Rong Hong.

Su Mu's eyes sparkled with excitement as she surveyed Lu Qingfeng.

Ao Zhen kept up his wry smile, inwardly repeating 'absurd'.

Only Lu Qingfeng maintained his usual demeanor, respectfully saying to the three True Immortals, "Teachers and two elder uncles, as the Heavenly Change looms and Ancient Shang descends. The Heavenly Court strikes against West Hua, West Origin, and Chun Shen Three Continents, and Shang River Dragon Palace is about to descend upon Dong Xian State. Though unworthy, I am a subject of the Shang River Dragon Palace and the Sect Leader of Yu Mountain, wishing to fend for Yu Mountain and propose mediation to prevent conflicts."

Before he could finish,

Whoosh!

In and around Dong Xian State, the tidal waves surged immensely high, clouds accumulating in the sky.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The east wind blew, and war drums thundered, resonating across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Through the clouds, countless Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, along with True Dragons, could be seen roaring.

The dragon's chant mingled with the sound of thunder.

Following the Ancient Shang Heavenly Army,

The Shang River Navy finally arrived!

...

Atop Yu Mountain.

The aura of the three Great True Immortals—Tong Xuan, Rong Hong, and Guangning—was so overwhelming that it stifled Lu Qingfeng.

Dark clouds covered the sky.

Five rays of light descended directly toward Yu Mountain.

Within the light, faint dragon chants could be heard and landing on Yu Mountain revealed five figures donned in various armors. Devouring the surrounding void, clearly, they were of the True Immortal Level.

"Min River and Luofu, paying respect to the five seniors."

Lu Qingfeng bowed to the newcomers.

The energies of both parties were tense; had it not been for his body being an Eighth Rank Magical Artifact, he would have spat blood from injuries.

"Min River and Luofu."

"Indeed."

Among the five True Immortals, the leader had a face as broad as a pot's bottom, undersea red beard, white eyebrows, eyes like golden bells, wearing a Nine Clouds Fiery Beast crown, locked chainmail armor under a large red robe, and a white jade belt around his waist, looking exceptionally valorous.

He gave Lu Qingfeng a slight nod, eyes showing approval.

Without waiting for Lu Qingfeng to speak again, he turned to Tong Xuan and the others, saluted with clasped hands, "This marshal is called 'Ao Zhuo', humbly serving as Heaven Suppressing Grand Marshal of Shang River, grateful for Yu Mountain Sect's three Daoist brothers for their high regard, truly a fortunate event for our Shang River Dragon Palace."

...

Lu Qingfeng watched from the side, feeling a weight finally lifted from his heart.

In fact,

After backing the wrong faction, Yu Mountain Sect could still ally with Ancient Shang Heavenly Court.

However,

With the arrival of Shang River Navy in Dong Xian State, not to mention the needless ruckus of allying with Ancient Shang Heavenly Court, the Shang River Dragon Palace would not rest easily. Should a great battle uptake with the Heavenly Court, it would be Yu Mountain Sect caught in the middle who would suffer.

It seemed better to pledge allegiance directly to the Shang River Dragon Palace instead.

Alas,

Lu Qingfeng initially thought that with his high stature, he could leverage these relationships, and forge bonds with either One Yuan Ancestor or Golden Light Ancestor Master from the Ancient Shang Heavenly Court for some advantageous treatment due to emotional connections.

But now, that became a lost cause.

A mere Min River Dragon Lord's disciple, what skills does he have to win over Shang River Dragon Palace to favor Yu Mountain Sect?!

"These three True Immortals probably wish to kill me right here and now."

Lu Qingfeng stood respectfully, watching the three Great True Immortals of Yu Mountain Sect cordially converse with Ao Zhuo, his thoughts racing.

Perhaps,

He was even prepared for such an outcome.

Blessings of fortune added to his form.

His clone's fortunes bolstering his real body, with the fortunes of Heaven and Earth leaning towards him. Even if this clone was killed, the benefits had mostly been reaped, no loss truly.

However, Yu Mountain Sect's three True Immortals, maybe because they were new to Shang River, didn't dare casually kill a cultivator of humble identity like Lu Qingfeng—offending the Dragon Palace.

Or perhaps—

"They see my not-so-shallow foundation, now returning to the Ancient Shang as Sect Leader of Yu Mountain, my fortunes greatly enhanced, a promising future as a True Immortal seems likely, and they intend to foster this?"

Lu Qingfeng saw the expression of Rong Hong True Immortal, the slight nod directed at him.

Some speculation arose in his heart.

Thinking it over,

Judging by the actions of Tong Xuan, Rong Hong, and Guangning True Immortals, they likely had long decided to protect Yu Mountain Sect as their priority, even at the cost of their pride, joining Ancient Shang Heavenly Court.

Now seeing potential in Lu Qingfeng, they accommodated the error, surprisingly possible.

The eight Great True Immortals conversed.

Suddenly halted.

Lu Qingfeng looked up.

Only to see the Heaven Suppressing Grand Marshal named 'Ao Zhuo' looking at Su Mu, waving a broad sleeve, "The Chunshen Realm battles ceaselessly, and within the Dong Xian State lies Blood Spring Demon Sect still active; if this young lady gets hurt, I can't bear the chastisement from One Yuan Ancestor."

Su Mu felt the world spin darkly, and reality seemed to invert, hurling towards the sky outside.

"How detestable!"

In her disorientation, Su Mu clenched her teeth in silent fury.

The shifts in the void flashing in her mind, Luo Fu's posture next to Black Water Pond in Black Water Mountain, she once thought she had figured out his history, while Luo Fu was unaware of her true identity. Although his face remained cold, he had secretly prided himself for a long while.

Thinking back now.

Her face burned red with shame; she so wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Su Mu, hailed as a once-in-ten-thousand-year Sword Dao prodigy by the Jiuzhen Immortal Sword Sect and known as 'Little Sword Immortal', aside from the misfortune of falling at the gates of Yu Mountain Sect as she entered Chunshen Realm, when had she ever endured such humiliation and beating?

Not to mention,

Yu Mountain Sect, originally meant to ally with Ancient Shang Heavenly Court, was 'stolen' by Luo Fu in such a manner.

For Ancient Shang Heavenly Court, it was quite a loss.

Thinking of Luo Fu, her anger surged even more at her own tarnished reputation. Su Mu secretly swore, "To think he dared to play me for two hundred and forty-three years, this grievance, I, Su Mu, must eventually return!"

As her thoughts lingered.

Space inverted, already reaching outside the Chunshen Realm, within Ancient Shang.