Yellow Court Daoist

Tonight, why tonight? Old friends do not visit, and the twilight deepens over Chi Lianshan.

Vastly stretching, Chi Lianshan looms.

There lies a peak called the 'Heavenly Pool Peak'.

At its summit rests a ruddy giant rock split into two unfathomable chasms, each about a meter wide. Ancient people used mere stone segments to form a bridge across it, resembling the stone beams of Sky Terrace, thus named the Immortal Crossing Bridge.

Due to the chasms that release a cold draft absent of wind, it is said, "None but immortals can cross."

Indeed, it is the abode of immortals.

The flat top north of the bridge cradles two natural basins, deep and inscrutable, filled with crystalline waters that never run dry, known as the Heavenly Pool.

This is the origin of the peak's name.

With the slightest breeze, water droplets spray, in a dazzling display of flying pearls and scattered jade. Truly, a spectacular sight.

North of the peak, a sheer cliff presses like a precipice into an abyss so intimidating one dare not peer down, aptly called the Heart Testing Cliff.

On this day,

A Black-faced Daoist ascended the mountain on foot, reaching the Immortal Crossing Bridge.

"Do not speak of a heart hard to test, please cross this bridge. Should you discern the clear waters, you can face the blue sky."

Xun Zhenbei, upon seeing the bridge and the immeasurable abyss below, resembling a ferocious beast opening its gaping maw from below with breath frosty enough to chill the soul, felt a surge of trepidation.

Being a True Immortal, Xun Zhenbei was undeterred.

However, upon reaching the bridge and recalling the person ahead, he hesitated briefly before ultimately steeling himself to cross and head directly towards the Heart Testing Cliff to the north.

Not long after,

He reached his destination.

Looking up, amidst the clouds and the rosy haze, where occasional "Buddha Light" appeared, a Black Rob Daoist was meditating atop a gigantic boulder, engulfed in swirling mists.

Xun Zhenbei, seeing this, solemnly bowed and greeted, "Zhou You Mountain Xun Zhenbei pays respects to Black Dragon True Monarch!"

The Black Rob Daoist remained motionless.

Seemingly unaware of Xun Zhenbei's words.

Xun Zhenbei internally lamented, "Everyone says Black Dragon True Monarch has a fiery temper, that Three-eyed Divine Dog was his childhood companion. Though it was killed by the bandits of the Mountain and Water Realm, it all began because of me—"

His thoughts muddled,

Xun Zhenbei harbored intense hatred toward Lu Qingfeng.

Considering he still needed to report to Three Mountains True Monarch at the Nine Sun Ridge Fire God Palace after this, his heart further soured.

"Black Dragon True Monarch has a volatile temper."

"The monks at Nine Sun Ridge practice Fire Technique aligning with their natures, they too are tricky to deal with. Friction is common even among comrades."

Xun Zhenbei's heart brimmed with bitterness, feeling utterly unfortunate.

Sorrow was etched across his black face.

Thirty minutes passed.

Sixty minutes passed.

A full two hours.

Black Dragon True Monarch continued meditating, paying him no heed.

Xun Zhenbei maintained his bowing posture, not daring to rise.

For a True Immortal, enduring such a test was merely a blow to pride; the agony of a sore back and aching sides was a torment for mortals.

"If this can appease him, then—"

Xun Zhenbei was contemplating when suddenly his heart tightened. He heard a thunderous roar close to his ear and, stealing a glance, saw a black dragon in his true form amidst the swirling clouds and rosy mist, sweeping his tail in a fierce arc!

"Spare my life, True Monarch!"

Xun Zhenbei was terrified, retreating while pleading for mercy from Black Dragon True Monarch.

But the Black Dragon paid him no mind.

Thud!

His tail struck squarely against Xun Zhenbei's chest, and in a flash, Xun Zhenbei flew backward like a tattered kite.

Even with a True Immortal's body, he didn't know how many ribs he had fractured from the blow.

His True Immortal Power was completely scattered and sealed.

Behind him, the cold engulfed him as he plummeted below the Immortal Crossing Bridge. It felt as if a beast was pulling him down, pinning him so he couldn't move.

The icy air permeated his flesh and soul, causing Xun Zhenbei to tremble uncontrollably in pain.

Such torment.

Even a Mahayana True Immortal would struggle to endure.

He strained to look up, seeing from the dark, icy depths a shadow flicker above him, then felt no more presence.

"Teacher!"

In agony, Xun Zhenbei hoped for rescue from his teacher.

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

Yet, he appeared not.

It suddenly dawned on him, "Did Teacher send me to Chi Lianshan specifically to let Black Dragon True Monarch vent his anger?!"

At this thought,

Xun Zhenbei's heart filled with bitterness and indignation.

"Ah!"

As the icy agony seeped deep into his flesh and soul, Xun Zhenbei couldn't hold back any longer and screamed. In his voice was pain, frustration, and resentment.

Yet whether he resented Lu Qingfeng, Black Dragon True Monarch,

Or perhaps—

...

Beyond Three Mountains and Nine Waters,

Lord of Star Absorption mobilized his troops to hunt the stars. Once depleted of three thousand troops, he swiftly replenished their numbers, though mostly with First Rank and Second Rank, requiring substantial time and resources for improvement.

Han Ling'er led Daoist Soldiers, hunting Star Absorbing Demon Spirits across the realms to curb the development of the Lord of Star Absorption.

Within six months,

They faced Lord of Star Absorption in three major battles, each ending in defeat. Although Lord of Star Absorption could overpower, even crush Han Ling'er, he could never capture her. Once Han Ling'er retreated to Han Ling City, he was powerless.

On this day,

Han Ling'er meditated within the city.

With the dealings she had with Lu Qingfeng yielding massive profits, there was no urgency in her heart to address the Lord of Star Absorption.

"Given the current trend,"

"In no more than fifty years, I can gather the materials to construct the 'True Evil Tomb.' 'Undying Life Spirit Immortal, True Evil Nourishing Divine Weapon,' this Fourth Rank 'Corpse Evil Spirit Immortal' excels in nurturing through battles. Once deployed beyond our realms, feeding on thousands of demons, it might even evolve into a Fifth Rank Corpse Evil Spirit Immortal."

Han Ling'er awoke from meditation, surveyed Han Ling City, and her eyes landed on a vacant spot, where hopes surged.

Even the recent defeat to Lord of Star Absorption seemed trivial in comparison.

While inspecting,

Han Ling'er suddenly halted, looking outside the city,

"Roar!"

Only the ferocious roar echoed throughout the universe, sending a powerful force that almost lifted Han Ling City into the sky. However, Han Ling City and Three Mountains and Nine Waters are interconnected as one. Unless the entire Mountain and Water Realm is broken or Han Ling City is shattered, it would be extremely difficult to separate them.

And indeed, either shattering the Mountain and Water Realm or breaking Han Ling City is not an easy task.

Even for a formidable being like the Lord of Star Absorption, it is a tough feat.

But now,

Under the surge of that force, Han Ling City was shaking nonstop with a thunderous rumble; the city's Array was activated in an instant, buildings inside trembled, and the city walls swayed.

Cracks appeared shortly.

"Not good!"

Seeing that Han Ling City was about to shatter, Han Ling'er dared not resist and immediately released the connection between Han Ling City and Three Mountains and Nine Waters. The entire War City was immediately lifted thousands of miles away. Inside the city, there was chaos and devastation, buildings collapsed, and the losses were severe.

"Pfft!"

Han Ling'er, who was in the city, also suffered heavy injuries, feeling her blood surge tumultuously, and uncontrollably spewed out a mouthful of blood, her face flushing red then turning somewhat pale.

She tried her best to stabilize the War City and looked into the distance.

She saw a black dragon roaring towards the sky, its tail smashing fiercely onto the Mountain and Water Realm.

Boom!

The roaring sound echoed throughout the universe. Within the Mountain and Water Realm, in an instant, Gang Winds spilled out, ocean waves rose tens of meters high, mountains inside crumbled, the earth split open, Magma Earth Fire surged violently, and stars mixed with Gang Winds fell from the sky.

It was like purgatory on earth.

As if facing the apocalypse.

"This is—"

Han Ling'er wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and stared at the black dragon, guessing in her heart, "It's Chi Lianshan's Black Dragon True Monarch!"

The Three-eyed Divine Dog was killed in the Mountain and Water Realm.

This Black Dragon True Monarch was clearly taking out his anger on the whole realm.

The Black Dragon went mad.

Its tail whipped fiercely against the Mountain and Water Realm, a vast realm with Three Mountains and Nine Waters, which under the fierce might of the Black Dragon, appeared as fragile as flowers in a mirror or the moon's reflection on water.

After several consecutive attacks.

It had already caused countless islands in the sea to perish, innumerable mountains to collapse, and an unknown number of Life Spirits to die or be injured.

Yet the attack continued.

It was determined to shatter the Mountain and Water Realm.

"Could it be that all Life Spirits of One Realm must perish as funeral companions for the Three-eyed Divine Dog?!"

Chilled to her core, Han Ling'er witnessed the fury of a True Monarch for the first time and realized the gap between a True Immortal and an Earth Immortal was as vast as the difference between a bright moon and dim stars.

Overturning rivers and seas, bellowing down stars, plucking the moon, all in a single thought!

This was the might of a True Monarch!

Her heart chilled with fear, yet she was extremely angry. She reached into her bosom, grasped a Jade Scroll, about to crush it, when suddenly, outside the heavens, a speck of starlight burst forth, followed by a myriad of bright starlights gleaming across the sky.

Whoosh whoosh!

Banner after banner of Star Banner fluttered through the Void, landing outside the four corners of the Mountain and Water Realm; stars moved accordingly, changing fortunes instantly, enveloping the whole realm. Starlight descended, halting the cracking earth and stilling the waves, while the Earth Fire and Magma also ceased.

"Star Shifting Great Array!"

Han Ling'er paused with the Jade Scroll in her hand, her eyes suddenly brightened, "Master!"

Her gaze fixed.

From a depth in the Void, even though no figure appeared, another three hundred and sixty-five banners suddenly appeared, moving like dragons, enveloping the Black Dragon within.

Unlike the earlier Star Shifting Array's grand atmosphere.

This formation was elusive.

With its appearance, it brought forth clouds and starlight, blocking all paths of advance and escape.

"Countless transformations are the Heavenly Mechanism, hearts unpredictable, stunning gods and ghosts!"

"This 'Ziwei Beidou Judge Heaven Fate' Great Array," Han Ling'er thought as she used it, "is so powerful?"

She looked attentively.

She saw the Black Dragon in the center, smashing and roaring at the Great Array, causing it to sway continuously. However, the array changed mystically and unpredictably, no matter how it smashed, it couldn't break out of the formation.

After a while.

A roar came from inside, "Do not push too far!"

Han Ling'er heard in the roar a trace of frustration, her heart suddenly cool as if she drank a big gulp of ice water on a hot summer day, her pale face also showing a bright smile.

Deep in the Void.

No figure was seen.

Yet the Great Array had not been withdrawn, still thunderously operating, streaks of starlight falling like shooting stars, hitting the center, creating continuous 'booming' sounds.

The battle entangled for hundreds of rounds.

After just about two hours—

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

The Black Dragon roared, with a hint of panting, opening its huge bloody mouth and angrily saying to the outside of the formation, "Hand over the murderer, and this Monarch will immediately retreat."

Boom boom!

Unyielding, the Great Array continuously attacked, letting the Black Dragon roll in the starry river, but unable to escape.

Three hours later.

"Huff huff huff!"

The Black Dragon gasped, its body bearing numerous dents and wounds, dragon scales fragmented, blood spilling. He felt stifled, raised his head, and roared, furiously ramming into the Great Array.

But initial vigor dwindled, second efforts weaker, and by the third, utterly exhausted.

Unable to break through ever again.

"Mr. Qin."

"Taking out anger on this disciple was this Monarch's mistake, but the murderer of the Three-eyed must die today!"

Finally conceding, the Black Dragon roared towards the depths of the Void.

"Master—"

Listening to the words of the Black Dragon, Han Ling'er's eyes suddenly sparkled with brilliant starlight, feeling all her grievances dissolved, filled with immense pride.

...

...

At the end of the darkness.

After a moment of silence, a gentle voice came through, "Conflicts between juniors should be resolved by themselves. Brother Dragon is a True Monarch of a realm, personally intervening does seem demeaning."

The Great Array paused.

But did not withdraw.

In the array, Black Dragon True Monarch transformed back into human form, the Black Robe Daoist with thick eyebrows furrowed, a fierce look on his face, but after transforming he sternly said, "As per Mr. Qin."

With that declaration.

The three hundred and sixty-five Star Banners immediately flew out, disappearing into the deep darkness. The starry river outside Three Mountains and Nine Waters also receded, as if it had never appeared.

Black Dragon True Monarch's face was extremely grim, he glanced at the edge of darkness, then towards the Star Shifting Great Array enveloping Three Mountains and Nine Waters, finally snorting coldly, his body transformed into a black light, disappearing without a trace.