Yellow Court Daoist

Perhaps they could uncover one or two clues about the Immortal Qin Realm.

Even if they couldn't,

having more knowledge is never a bad thing.

"Yes!"

Shen Lanqing, though a practitioner of Sword Dao, possessed an air of scholarly elegance, and nodded in agreement.

...

Nan Zhanbu Continent, a place of greed and lust for pleasure, rampant with killings and strife; where Daoism, Buddhist Sect, demons, and other sects vie for spiritual dominance, leading to endless disputes.

The Heavenly Observation Star Festival, involving the Five Thunders Marshal Mansion and the Capturing God General Mansion, finds its origins here.

Within this context,

descending directly from the 'Capturing God General Mansion' above the Nine Heavens, one reaches the Dragon Mountain in the Mortal world.

Dragon Mountain, located in the Eastern Realm of Nan Zhanbu Continent, is said to be where an ancient dragon fell in ancient times, transforming into a sprawling range of rolling hills and peaks. With numerous peaks and ravines, and rivers flowing through, there are patches of flat land where mortals live, forming nations both large and small that revere both Daoism and Buddhism.

It also serves as a haven for demons, where great demons and Old Demons hide in the deep mountains, many of which are barbarians who perform rituals in blood, known as the Mountain Barbarians, who worship demons.

This singular location is said to house eight hundred small nations, three thousand Mountain Barbarians, and a hundred thousand peaks.

A melting pot of immortals, demons, and Buddhists, it's a place where it's difficult to unravel the complex relationships.

Situated to the southeast of Dragon Mountain is Smoke Cloud Peak.

This mountain is steep on the west, south, and north sides, with cliffs that plunge down thousands of feet. The peak is a narrow and treacherous strip, stretched over a hundred yards long and barely twenty or thirty yards wide, entwined with age-old trees and vines. Those who traverse it find their courage tested. Occasionally, mists and clouds swirl around the waist of the peak, leaving the summit intermittently visible and giving it an ethereal, fairyland appearance.

Thus, it is named 'Smoke Cloud Peak.'

On this day,

the peak of Smoke Cloud is alive with the sounds of drums and the roar of thunder. Flags flutter in the air, the word 'Capturing God' written boldly on the front, and the back painted with the image of thunder striking down an evil god.

Practitioners come and go.

Heavenly Soldiers stand guard.

An Upper God resides at the summit, an imposing presence.

Several hundred miles north of Smoke Cloud Peak, across several peaks of varying heights, there is a peak shrouded in misty immortal energy. Above the clouds at the peak, two white-haired, bearded Daoists sit facing each other in a chess match.

The elder Daoist with a florid complexion and lively eyes pauses his move as he looks toward Smoke Cloud Peak, muttering, "This old Daoist remembers that the great Capturing God General was scattered to the winds by a demon from the Lower Realms three thousand years ago. Ever since, the Capturing God General Mansion had been leaderless."

Pausing, he then turns toward the gaunt old man beside him.

Hearing this, the gaunt elder chuckles and replies, "He's only recently taken up the post, they say he's one of the Third Great Kings of Huangfeng Ridge, called 'Qingjing Saint.'"

"Huangfeng Ridge?"

"Is it that Huangfeng Ridge dominated by the great Yellow Wind Saint in the north?"

Chi Cheng Daoist raises his eyebrows, asking curiously.

"Where else could it be?"

Kuyu Daoist laughs heartily, making his move on the chess board.

Chi Cheng Daoist, however, is not focused on the game anymore, "This Yellow Wind Ridge's Yellow Wind Saint has always been carefree, many a Demon King has sought refuge there only to be rejected. This old Daoist is indeed uninformed, not even aware of the other two great kings, let alone this Qingjing Saint."

His heart swayed.

He looks at his old friend Kuyu Daoist, "Daoist Brother, do you know what cultivation this Qingjing Saint has, or what capabilities enable him to hold the position of Capturing God General?"

"What capabilities could he have?"

"This young child may be called a great saint with his boastful talks, but he just relies on his powerful elder brother. He hasn't even achieved Longevity, still residing in the realm of Mahayana."

Kuyu Daoist shakes his head, scoffing dismissively.

Hearing this, any thoughts Chi Cheng Daoist had entertained immediately extinguished.

Just a True Immortal.

Even if he had the inclination to follow, spreading such news would tarnish his reputation.

"So much face for the Yellow Wind Saint. So many experts covet the position of Capturing God General, and to think that after being vacant for three thousand years, it ends up with a mere True Immortal." Chi Cheng Daoist shakes his head.

He finally understands why Kuyu Daoist wore such an expression.

Kuyu Daoist hails from the Eternal Youth Sect, his senior brother Shangchun Daoist has been stuck at the pinnacle of Earth Immortal for a long time. Moving far and wide in desperation, seeking a Divine Position to no avail. When the Capturing God General position became vacant, hoping for a chance, it was unexpectedly snatched by a True Immortal because of his connections.

It must be hard for Shangchun Daoist not to feel resentful.

And as his junior brother, Kuyu Daoist also harbors grievances.

"It's laughable that this mere boy even sent disciples to our Eternal Youth Sect, inviting True Immortals to his General Mansion to be Heavenly Generals." Kuyu Daoist's face shows even greater scorn as he glances at the distant peaks of Smoke Cloud Peak, bustling with immortal light and practitioners moving like fire, he snorts dismissively, no longer speaking.

...

The recruitment of Heavenly Soldiers on Smoke Cloud Peak is in full swing, quite lively.

As news of the Capturing God General Mansion's recruitment spreads, it immediately attracts numerous Primordial Spirit Practitioners, mostly Loose Cultivators. With some selection, within three to five months, reaching a force of five thousand Heavenly Soldiers should not be a problem.

However, finding Heavenly Generals remains challenging.

Zhang Jingshan visits places like the Eternal Youth Sect among the Immortal Sects of Dragon Mountain, some receive him well, but when the matter of becoming a Heavenly General is broached, excuses abound, and they brush it off. Some even shut their doors outright.

Who amongst those established on Dragon Mountain, with their vast foundations, isn't shrewd?

In the house of General Capturing God, the Capturing God General is revered. But Lu Qingfeng is only a True Immortal. If one were to entrust their own True Immortal to him, following such a Divine General into battle to capture Evil Gods, the dangers are too great.

No one wants to push their own True Immortals into the fire.

Especially not those like the Eternal Youth Sect, who hold disdain and contempt, and would certainly not send out their True Immortals.

And outside the Immortal Sect.

Even among the many True Immortal Loose Cultivators, after weighing their options, most are unwilling.

Firstly, their concerns mirror those of the Immortal Sects. They ascend to be generals for the sake of advancing their own cultivation, not to follow a lowly ranked commander to their deaths.

Secondly.

If they were to follow other Divine Generals, there might be a chance to build merits and receive guidance from the General, potentially advancing to Earth Immortal and achieving long-lasting life. But with Lu Qingfeng as merely a True Immortal, how could he guide them?