Yellow Court Daoist

The Black Dragon True Monarch struck across the Mountain and Water Realm for the twenty-third year.

On this day,

the Void was serene, the sky clear and bright.

Beyond the Three Mountains and Nine Waters.

Ding~

Ding~

Ding~

Bell chimes resounded through the cosmos, a Divine Mountain loomed majestically from beyond the heavens.

This mountain, shaped like a bronze bell, had its peak wreathed in purple clouds, amidst which strange rocks lay scattered like dragons coiling and tigers crouching; forested cities integrated naturally with the landscape, an overwhelming testament to its might.

Atop the mountain, a Daoist stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed upon the Three Mountains and Nine Waters.

This Daoist wore a yellow crown and plain clothes, with straw sandals and white socks, his visage radiating decency with an aura impervious to myriad evils.

He also wielded powers reminiscent of moving mountains and seas.

The Divine Mountain descended.

The bell chime echoed.

Han Ling'er emerged upon hearing the sound, gazing distantly at the Divine Mountain.

"This is—"

She observed the mountain, unaware of its origin. She scrutinized the Daoist, unaware of his lineage.

Her heart remained on guard.

She saw the energy of Han Ling City, which enveloped the Three Mountains and Nine Waters, now being eroded and expelled by this Divine Mountain, crumbling into disarray.

"Who comes there?!"

Han Ling'er demanded aloud.

She was tasked with defending the Mountain and Water Realm, and could ill afford to let anyone usurp the internal and external sealing powers. Otherwise, should the Star Absorbing Demon Spirit enter and leave at will, she would have no authority to intervene.

"No need for panic, Han Immortal."

"I, Hu Feng, act on behalf of Black Dragon True Monarch, to lend my aid to the Immortal, to relieve the demon tide afflicting the Mountain and Water Realm!"

Atop the Divine Mountain, the Daoist's voice boomed, reverberating through Han Ling City.

"Black Dragon True Monarch?"

"Hu Feng Daoist?"

Han Ling'er's eyebrows shot up.

The Black Dragon True Monarch had disappeared twenty-three years ago, and now, unexpectedly, a True Monarch helper sought her out before Zheng Tu of the Fire God Palace reached the Mountain and Water Realm.

As thoughts flickered through her mind, Han Ling'er declared aloud, "Fellow Daoist boasts profound abilities, and the Divine Mountain exudes fierce might. Why not seek glory on the Outer Domain Battlefield instead of squandering time in these desolate wilds? As long as I stand guard here, rest assured I shall not allow the Lord of Star Absorption to wreak havoc upon life."

She knew without asking.

The controller of this Divine Mountain, Hu Feng, did not come solely because of the Lord of Star Absorption. His dispatch by the Black Dragon True Monarch was clearly aimed at the Dutian Daoist.

A chill settled in Han Ling'er's heart.

"Merely jesting, Han Immortal."

Hu Feng paid no mind to Han Ling'er; the Divine Mountain continued its descent. In comparison, Han Ling City, where she resided, could not withstand a single blow. The previously enveloping formation around the Three Mountains and Nine Waters, with the force of landslides and tsunamis, was constantly being driven back.

In an instant.

Not a trace was left!

"How utterly insolent, Fellow Daoist!"

Han Ling'er's delicate face contorted with anger, her beautiful eyes glaring furiously at the Daoist of the Divine Mountain.

The Daoist glanced at Han Ling'er, his expression unchanging.

Within the Divine Mountain, a faint light flickered.

Then, next moment.

Boom!

Countless massive stones rolled in all directions, each weighing hundreds or even thousands of pounds. As they tumbled down the mountain's sides, the rocks fused with each other on the way down.

At the base of the Divine Mountain.

A dust cloud billowed, and four colossal figures, as if holding up the heavens, suddenly stood erect. While the Divine Mountain itself stood roughly twelve hundred feet tall, these four stone giants loomed at seven to eight hundred feet each.

Standing in the Void, like protectors of the Divine Mountain.

Han Ling'er caught sight of them, her heart jolting in shock, "Mahayana True Immortals?!"

She saw the four stone giants, their aura similar yet distinct from Daoist Soldiers, indistinguishable from ordinary True Immortals. With distinctive facial features and lively eyes, they looked towards Han Ling City with expressions ranging from mockery to defiance—some sneered with contempt, while one giant simply ignored the city altogether.

"This person—"

Han Ling'er remained silent.

With such strength at the Daoist's disposal, and his claim of purging demons, she found no grounds to drive him away. And if she resorted to force, these four stone giants stood as a blatant warning.

"Young Daoist."

"Fend for yourself!"

Han Ling'er stood within the city, looking out to the Daoist of the Divine Mountain, no longer obstructing him.

One hour.

Two hours.

Three hours.

The Daoist remained standing atop the Divine Mountain, motionless.

It was not until the fourth hour that the Daoist's lips curved into a slight smile. Suddenly, light chaotically burst forth from within the mountain, streaks of light shooting out explosively—some sped towards distant stars. As the light penetrated, stars burst with loud booms, plummeting towards the earth, shrouded in billowing dust and rising debris.

On the way down, these falling stars.

Transformed in midair, surrounded by blazing flames, they turned into towering stone giants. The giants' every motion exuded infinite might—

With each chaotic stomp, the Gang Wind shattered.

As their arms swung, they scattered the clouds.

Heading straight into the heart of the Three Mountains and Nine Waters, they swept towards the Black Cloud Islands.

"It begins."

Black Cloud Islands.

Lu Qingfeng emerged from Yuan Gui City, looking up at the sky. Invisible to the naked eye of ordinary people, yet Lu Qingfeng saw clearly—

Groups of burning meteors descending from the sky.

Within the flames, enshrouded stone giants. Apart from these burning traces and giants, streaks of light fell even faster, plunging into the vast lands and waters of the Black Cloud Islands, vanishing without a trace.

With a concentrated gaze, Lu Qingfeng swept his vision through Daluo Cave Temple—

[Daoist Soldier: Mountain Spirit Warriors]

[Grade: Fourth Rank]

[Description: Master of Zhong Mountain, Hu Feng, adopts the Mountain Spirit Clan for his service, refining them into Daoist Soldiers. As spirits, they can merge into mountains and stars, refining the earth into their bodies, possessing boundless strength capable of moving mountains and destroying stars!]

"Mountain Spirit Warriors."

Lu Qingfeng's eyebrow twitched.

Such an incorporeal existence, arbitrarily controlling mountains as their physical manifestation, was truly wondrous. The mysteries of heaven and earth were beyond mortal imagination.

Unsure of his true capabilities, he remained seated at the center, opting not to make a move just yet. Meanwhile, the Mountain Spirit Warriors, like meteors plummeting from the sky, were crashing down onto the earth.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Islands in every direction, and lands far and wide shook violently beneath their descent. As soon as they touched down, they stomped forward in a frenzied dash toward Lu Qingfeng's location.

"Seven Star Beauty Boas!"

With a single thought from Lu Qingfeng, water screens surged up between the islands, rising to obstruct the Mountain Spirit Warriors from every direction. These barriers were formidable enough to stop even ordinary Primordial Spirit Practitioners for a moment.

But the Mountain Spirit Warriors were unfazed, neither dodging nor panicking, punching through the barriers while maintaining their forward momentum.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The thick water screens shattered under their fists.

With a single stride, they broke through, not slowing in the slightest.

"Such incredible strength!"

Lu Qingfeng's eyebrows shot up at the sight. The display of power was akin to moving mountains. Unstoppable, it was as if Mount Tai itself was bearing down upon him.

Hiss!

Within the waters, figures in gossamer rose up, spiraling into the air and morphing into enormous pythons.

About two hundred pythons spanned across the skies, menacingly hissing and spewing clouds of mist toward the Mountain Spirit Warriors, which were filled with a bone-chilling coldness and dense Yin Qi.

Under the assault of the frigid mist,

"Roar!"

The Mountain Spirit Warriors bellowed in rage. Bending their knees and pushing hard from their feet, they launched themselves toward the pythons like cannonballs and hammered down with their fists—

Bang!

The sound of impact roared through the air, scattering flesh and blood like rain.

Even as a Fourth-Rank Seven Star Beauty Boa, it was effortlessly pulverized by a single punch from a Mountain Spirit Warrior.

It was as if it stood no chance at all.

"Their mighty strength grants the Mountain Spirit Warriors exceptional speed. With bodies made of mountain rock, they fear no burden and can wield their power with abandon."

The Mountain Spirit Warriors were truly formidable cultivators who specialized solely in Body Refinement.

Robust bodies.

Limitless strength.

Not flesh and blood, they were immune to the scorching cold or sweltering heat.

"Just the Seven Star Beauty Boas won't be enough to stop them."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

He called for the remaining Seven Star Beauty Boas to retreat. In a single clash, thirty-eight of them were reduced to bloody pulp by the Mountain Spirit Warriors, beyond any hope of revival. The remaining one hundred and sixty plunged back into the waters under the cover of the mist.

Then, from the depths below,

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Mountain ranges transformed into giant stone forms under the water. As the Seven Star Beauty Boas dove in, they collided head-on with them.

The Mountain Spirit Warriors underwater punched out with enough force to compress tons of water, mercilessly crushing the Seven Star Beauty Boas from all sides. The flesh and blood serpents couldn't withstand such tremendous force.

In an instant,

they were obliterated.

This encounter added over forty more Seven Star Beauty Boas to the casualties.

Lu Qingfeng's losses were substantial.

"What formidable Mountain Spirit Warriors!"

Lu Qingfeng scanned his surroundings and saw three hundred Mountain Spirit Warriors falling from the sky, rising from the land, and surging from the waters, all converging in an attack on him. Their feet rooted into the very earth, they seemed to have command over the land itself. Trapping him from all sides, an overwhelming oppressive force bore down on Lu Qingfeng.

It was like the intense gravity one would experience training on the stars within the Heavenly Stele Secret Realm, making each step Lu Qingfeng took an arduous feat.

"They mean to capture me alive?"

Lu Qingfeng gazed up at the heavens.

He saw a Daoist standing calmly atop the Divine Mountain, hands clasped behind his back, seemingly disinterested in the unfolding scene. The Divine Mountain, shaped like a bell, echoed with the sound of chimes—

Ding~

Ding~

Ding~

Like a death knell, they seemed to pronounce the nearing demise of Lu Qingfeng.

"If that's the case."

"Then I'll gladly accept these three hundred Mountain Spirits."

A smile crept across Lu Qingfeng's face.

Across the land in every direction, swamps began to surface. As the Mountain Spirit Warriors charged toward Lu Qingfeng and stepped onto the marshes, their pace was immediately slowed. A yellowish glow emitted from their feet, attempting to flatten and overturn the swamps, but from the depths of the marshes, Swamp Walking Spiders the size of millstones emerged.

Covered in muck,

They instantly clung to the feet of the Mountain Spirit Warriors. Their eight legs gripped securely as their pincers dug into the Mountain Spirit Warriors' stony bodies, and expelled a grey mist that turned the Warriors' rock-like exteriors to mud.

The Swamp Walking Spiders climbed relentlessly.

The Mountain Spirit Warriors ran undeterred, trying to shake off the spiders through the shuddering of their motion.

But the spiders held firm.

Their pincers sank deep into the feet of the Mountain Spirit Warriors, as they injected venom that spread rapidly through their bodies. In a matter of moments, what began as specks of mire quickly pervaded.

The more they ran,

the faster it spread.

Despite the tenacity of the small Swamp Walking Spiders in transforming the rock bodies of the Mountain Spirit Warriors into swampy mud, the process, even at its swiftest, required time.

The gap in their levels fundamentally remained.