Yellow Court Daoist

Deep in the vast starry sky, endless solitude prevails.

Thick thunderclouds spread across the celestial path, flashing with thunder within, and above the clouds, Heavenly Soldiers and Generals form elaborate arrays, with elite troops and powerful warriors fore and aft.

In the central army, a young Divine General rides a winged celestial steed, displaying extraordinary valor. On either side of the young Divine General stand Immortals, born with the air of Taoist sages, holding banners as the Left and Right Banner-Holding Immortals. Surrounding them are the Purple Light Child, Hand Record Boy, Sword-Holding Child, Throwing Light Child, and Banner-Holding Child, each carved like fine jade, radiating an aura of wonder.

Thirty-six Thunder Drum Warriors are arrayed in all directions, their drumming reverberating through the ancient celestial path.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The east wind blows, the war drums beat, surging mightily towards the depths of the cosmos.

Within the starry sky, billions of starlight points burst forth. Some stars are dead and lifeless, void of any Spiritual Energy, unsuitable for habitation by any Life Spirit. Others are wild and uninhabited by humans. Yet others teem with vibrant life, bustling with creatures.

Stars differ widely.

Between these stars, many Constant Sand Realms lie hidden, unassuming and difficult to trace with a cursory glance.

Lu Qingfeng leads five thousand Heavenly Soldiers, charging directly toward the Nine Ring Realm.

...

The Nine Ring Realm.

Named for the nine layers of stars that surround it like rings.

At the center of this realm lies the 'Zhong Huan Continent'.

To its southeast once stood a country, known as 'Beixiong Country'. It was a place blessed with outstanding people and rich resources, but disaster struck overnight, turning it into a Purgatory on earth.

Yin Winds whirl, and a horde of ghosts roams the night.

The Poison Mist rises, and dead corpses run rampant.

In a single day,

Countless Life Spirits transformed into shadowy corpses, becoming Undead Evil Corpses. Those who barely survived were further eroded by the unstoppable onslaught of countless Undead Evil Corpses. Only those few with unwavering will, superhuman wisdom, and fortitude have managed to eke out a precarious existence in this Undying Country.

Day by day, they slay Undead Evil Corpses, using Corpse Cores to enhance their strength and resist the Corpse Evil, Yin Qi, and Poison Mist.

Gradually,

Countless small and large bases have formed within the Undying Country. Due to the endless roaming of Undead Evil Corpses blocking the way, these bases don't even know of each other's existence, let alone that they represent humanity's last line of defense.

Located in the south of what is now known as the 'Undying Country', once 'Beixiong Country', is a place called 'Immortal Spirit Island', which has become a survivor's base in the Undying Country.

Of course,

This base occupies only a tiny part of Immortal Spirit Island, with most of the land still overrun by Undead Evil Corpses. Beyond the island, water barriers prevent entry or exit, with water-dwelling evil corpses lurking below the surface.

Today,

A figure bursts out from the base, moving as swiftly as a sharp sword. Upon closer inspection, one sees a young and handsome man, his demeanor somewhat carefree. However, his brows are deeply furrowed now, his eyes filled with urgency and regret.

He charges recklessly,

Not caring about the evil corpses around.

"Zhao Ling, you must wait for me!"

The young man grips his long sword, swirling it around his body as he charges forwards, fending off any attacking evil corpse.

He actually manages to carve a path through.

Approximately two hours later,

He arrives at a valley.

In the valley,

A young girl holds a fiery red Spiritual Pearl, maintaining a fiery red barrier that keeps the evil corpses at bay. Yet she struggles to move even half a step due to the blocking corpses. As the Spiritual Energy in the Fire Spirit Pearl gradually depletes, a look of despair appears on the girl's face.

Suddenly,

"Zhao Ling!"

A familiar voice echoes from outside the valley, and Zhao Ling looks up sharply, first seeing the flashing sword light, followed by the familiar figure appearing before her. Her eyes widen in shock, "Li Xiao, what are you doing here?"

Her expression turns frantic.

The valley is quite a distance from the base, and she ventured here riskily for her aunt's illness, only to be trapped by evil corpses, left to await her demise.

With such numerous evil corpses,

Even if three or five more people were to arrive, they might not be able to break through the encirclement. Li Xiao's arrival at this time could mean they both might end up trapped in the valley.

In her anxiety,

Sword light dances, protecting Li Xiao as he approaches the fiery red barrier. Zhao Ling quickly opens a gap to let him in.

"Panting heavily,"

Li Xiao's face is covered in sweat, yet he smiles, "It's great to see you're alright. I just visited Aunt Zhao, who told me you went to 'Qilin Hall' to study magic. I went there looking for you, and the hall master said you weren't there, so I knew you had to be here."

This valley is said to have been a place where an Immortal once cultivated, possibly containing a cave storage with the 'Purple Gold Pill' that could treat Aunt Zhao's illness. Li Xiao rushed here, and sure enough, Zhao Ling was trapped in the valley.

"You shouldn't have come!"

Zhao Ling holds the Fire Spirit Pearl, looking at Li Xiao with a mix of emotion and self-reproach.

"Heh, heh."

"It's okay."

"I practice the 'Sword Control Technique', strongest in attack. With your Fire Spirit Pearl specializing in defense, together we can certainly fight our way out and make it back to the base alive."

Li Xiao holds his long sword, casually making a 'sword flower' gesture and speaks nonchalantly.

He has always been optimistic.

Yet sweat still beads on his face, he breathes heavily, and his exertion leaves him pale, with his clothes torn and tattered.

"You—"

Zhao Ling listens, knowing that despite Li Xiao's light words, he had risked his life coming here. Not to mention, the journey from the base to this Purple Gold Valley was inherently perilous.

And Li Xiao originally didn't need to undertake such danger.

"What about me?"

"Let's cut our way back quickly, Aunt Zhao is counting on your Elixir Pills to save her life."

Li Xiao glances at Zhao Ling, then remembers, "Right, did you get the pills?"

"I got them."

Zhao Ling pats her chest. Luckily, she had indeed found one well-preserved Purple Gold Pill.

"That's good."

"You follow me, and we'll cut our way back."

Li Xiao steps forward, performs the Heavenly Gang Step, and casts his long sword, resisting the sensation of power loss, his hands forming a Sword technique, he charges through the mass of evil corpses, determined to clear a blood-soaked path.

Zhao Ling stood behind him.

Seeing Li Xiao's back, for some reason, her heart suddenly felt settled.

But.

There were too many evil corpses.

Li Xiao, while controlling the sword, was putting a great strain on himself. Gradually, his face grew paler, yet he endured the pain, leading Zhao Ling step by step towards the valley exit. He knew that Zhao Ling had been trapped in the valley for quite some time after deploying the Fire Spirit Pearl. With the Spiritual Power in the Fire Spirit Pearl, it couldn't last much longer.

He needed to get Zhao Ling back to their base before the Spiritual Power of the Fire Spirit Pearl was completely depleted.

Clearing the path with his sword.

Li Xiao's body gradually soaked with sweat, his face contorted with bulging veins and a ghastly pallor, bloodshot eyes glaring.

Such commotion.

Eventually, attracted a high-level evil corpse.

Boom!

Suddenly, an evil corpse, bringing with it a bloody storm, slammed down towards Li Xiao's sword in full swing. A palm strike dimmed the brilliance of the long sword, causing it to fall to the ground.

"Puh!"

Li Xiao's mind was immediately damaged, he spat out blood, and his eyes quickly dimmed. His cultivation was in the sword control technique, all his skills and spirit were tied to the flying sword. Now that the flying sword was damaged, he couldn't avoid being affected.

"Li Xiao!"

Zhao Ling was shocked, quickly steadying Li Xiao, her eyes revealing deep concern. Li Xiao, resisting the pain, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave Zhao Ling a pained smile, "I'm alright."

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Before Zhao Ling could react, the barrier upheld by the Fire Spirit Pearl burst. Already tottering on the brink, after three hits, it shattered completely. Along with it, the Fire Spirit Pearl in her hand dimmed after a burst of intense heat.

The Spiritual Power was finally exhausted.

Zhao Ling and Li Xiao supported each other, exchanged a glance; Li Xiao grinned, and Zhao Ling, initially anxious and panicked, now also curved her lips upwards.

Revealing a captivating and stunning smile.

Like a blooming hibiscus, enchanting.

Li Xiao was momentarily stunned by her beauty, just as a fierce wind approached—

"Be careful!" He immediately embraced Zhao Ling, attempting to block the strike.

It was at this moment.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Over Beixiong Country, the sky, typically obscured by a dense poison mist, liked to form yin clouds which plunged the entire land into darkness.

But today.

Thunderous noises resounded.

Columns of golden light pierced the yin clouds, dispelled the poison mist, and thunderously descended. Li Xiao and Zhao Ling, startled, saw the evil corpses that were assaulting them halted, each of them looking up at the sky. Seeing this, Zhao Ling didn't hesitate, unwilling to engage these evil corpses.

Blushing, she supported the embracing Li Xiao, they dashed through gaps between the evil corpses, hurriedly fleeing the valley towards their base.

While escaping.

They finally took a moment to look up at the sky. Instantly, they saw columns of golden light descending from the skies, linking heaven and earth. The columns of light were immeasurably high, numberless as they were plentiful.

Amidst the golden light's glow.

Flags fluttered, general after general dressed in splendid golden armor, surrounded by multicolored halos, imposing figures holding various weapons. Behind these generals, masses of armored soldiers were densely arranged.

Like Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.

Countless in number.

They marched on golden light, with thousands of auspicious clouds under their feet, spanning the horizon. There were flashes of lightning and roars of thunder, embodying vigorous righteousness. The golden light that dispelled the yin clouds and poison mist, was a manifestation of thunder.

"This is—"

Li Xiao and Zhao Ling looked at each other, both eyes showing elation, "The descent of Divine Generals, we're saved!"

Not just them.

Inside and outside of the Undying Country, countless cultivators witnessed this scene. In that moment, some were astonished, some cheered, some leapt in joy.

And in the heavens above.

Lu Qingfeng straddled a celestial steed.

Rumble!

To his left, five hundred Heavenly Soldiers formed a great array, their long spears releasing thousands of thunders simultaneously, striking above the heavy yin clouds of Undying Country, tearing open a rift.

Crackle!

To his right, another five hundred Heavenly Soldiers formed up, emitting lightning, serpentine and refining the yin clouds and poison mist, delivering the souls of the dead.

"Teacher, be careful."

Law Enforcement Evil Admiral Immortal Daoist, being an Earth Immortal, could not enter the Nine Ring Realm.

He lingered outside the heaven and earth, overseeing the array.

While Lu Qingfeng led the remaining four thousand Heavenly Soldiers, charging straight in, descending above the Undying Country.

Divine Light Armor enveloped his entire body, his eyes peering down to the land below. He saw the vast Undying Country, with millions of evil corpses roaming. He also saw tens of thousands of bases scattered, many with the living struggling against the evil corpses.

With varying strengths.

Even the strong bases were merely guarded by cultivators at the Primordial Spirit Level.

The weaker ones, like the base on that small island in the south, were even guarded by cultivators at the Spirit Void Level.

"General."

"This is the exquisite array, containing the True Intent of life and death, based on the Life Spirits of heaven and earth configured into a shocking chessboard. In this chessboard, perils within perils exist, both coexistence and longevity have their retracting moments or breathe in the elaborateness, endlessly complex. From living to dying, then from death reborn. During this clash of life and death, Corpse Evil, array constantly expands outwards, even True Immortals can hardly break it. Until the balance of life and death at one moment, it may even envelop the entire continent."

"By then."

"The master of this exquisite array might well have become a true Undying Immortal. Every living and dead being, all turned into his puppets, eternally sinking in the Undying Country."

Beside Lu Qingfeng.

One muscular general spoke. Lu Qingfeng looked at him, recognizing this general, who was one of the six True Immortals recently recruited into the General's Mansion' Zhao Rongshan'. Together with his two brothers 'Zhao Ronghai' and 'Zhao Rongsan', both siblings and fellow disciples.

All of them were of Mahayana True Marvel cultivation.

Appointed as Seventh Grade Heavenly General upon joining the military, leading a hundred troops.

This Zhao Rongshan, proficient in array tactics, had knowledge of many bizarre arrays. At this moment, he could discern the details of this array inside the Undying Country at a glance.

Lu Qingfeng, listening, nodded slightly and addressed Zhao Rongshan, "Since General Rongshan has discerned the key to this array, do you have any strategy to break it?"