Yellow Court Daoist

Beyond the Four Great Continents, scattered across the Constant Sand Worlds like the vast Star Sea, lies unknown territories. One such realm spans this distance, known as the Red Smoke Realm. A million years ago, an exotic beast called the Red Smoke Colt wreaked havoc in Red Smoke Realm, causing the collapse of the Immortal, Divine, and Mortal paths. The Heavenly Court dispatched the True God of the Fire Department to quell the chaos.

From the south, the Fire Star Lord Luo Xuan came wielding the Flying Smoke Sword and the Controlled Thousand Crow Pot, subduing the Red Smoke Colt. He reestablished order within the immortal and divine hierarchies of Red Smoke Realm, taught the law for eighty years, and passed down the Jie Sect teachings of Fire Dragon Island.

Later, Lv Zu of the Upper Cave Eight Immortals roamed to these parts, founding the Quanzhen and Pure Yang sects. Since then, the realms of immortals and gods have flourished...

Unexpectedly, mere centuries ago, a new demonic calamity beset the Red Smoke Realm.

...

In the Central Plains Territory, an Earth Spirit land of remarkable people, initially, Xuanhuo Sect, Nine Sword Immortal Mountain, and Sahpo Divine Sect maintained a balanced power structure, each standing on one leg of a tripod. However, centuries ago, the Sect Leader of Sahpo Divine Sect, Du Jiuyou, comprehended the supreme method of his sect, causing a rapid advance in cultivation and Dao ability. Using unknown means, he amassed numerous skilled followers, known as the 'Sahpo Eighteen Divine Envoys.'

In just a hundred years, the Sahpo Divine Sect eradicated Xuanhuo Sect and exiled Nine Sword Immortal Mountain to the North Wilderness. The various immortal sects on the Central Plains either prospered by submission or perished in defiance. This Earth Realm, and its Immortal and Divine paths were all subdued by Sahpo Divine Sect. In less than two centuries, they completely occupied and stabilized their control over the Central Plains Territory, possessing the momentum to sweep across all directions.

The Heavenly Observation Official noted that the Sahpo Divine Sect had deep ties with a Demon God from Nine Nether. Consequently, it was classified as a third-grade case by the General Mansion, tasked to us for investigation and capture.

Outside the Red Smoke Realm.

A dark cloud avenue spanned across, concealing thunder within. Above this cloudy avenue, several Heavenly Generals led the way, followed by three thousand Heavenly Soldiers arrayed in formation. Upon reaching the Red Smoke Realm, they all halted in unison.

The flags fluttered, and the drumming ceased.

A prominent General emerged, his head crowned with a Three-pronged Purple Gold Crown, draped in a West River Red Silk Flower Robe, wearing a Beast-faced Swallowing Head Linked Armor and fastened with a Lei Jia Linglong Lion Barbarian Belt, striding atop a Nine-headed Lion.

He was majestic and awe-inspiring.

This was none other than 'Si Tuqian', a True Immortal who joined the Divine General Mansion five hundred years ago; not only skilled himself but also ranking above the five demons, including Ghost Vine and Mad Ape. It was rumored that his mount, the Nine-Headed Lion Essence, held lineage tracing back to the Grand Saint of Nine Spirits.

With a single roar, it could devour the heavens and earth, truly fearsome.

With Si Tuqian's arrival, Lu Qingfeng was overjoyed and appointed him as the second general of the General Mansion, named 'Devouring Demon Six Armored General', commanding one thousand two hundred soldiers.

Over the past five hundred years, he had achieved illustrious merit, capturing gods and demons alike, second only to the 'Law Enforcement Evil Extermination Daoist' of the Longevity Path.

Now, with the demonic turmoil arising in Red Smoke Realm, and Earth Immortals unable to intervene, he was tasked with leading the troops against it.

Accompanying the army were 'Thunderbolt Scribe Zhang Jingshan', 'Thunderbolt Envoy Sha Daoist', along with forty-seven other ranked Heavenly Generals and three thousand Heavenly Soldiers.

The force was formidable.

The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals arranged outside the boundaries of heaven.

Si Tuqian pointed toward the Central Plains Territory within the Red Smoke Realm, his voice booming, "Which general wishes to lead the vanguard and probe the true strength of the Sahpo Demon Sect?"

As his words fell, a great General eagerly stepped forward, "This humble General Meng Huo volunteers to fight!"

Clad in black armor and helmet, astride a black horse, wielding a Five-hook Divine Flying Spear, he exuded valiance. He was the great disciple of Qin Wei True Monarch from the Five Directions Immortal Alliance and a True Immortal named Meng Huo.

This youth, despite an innate Dantian injury, had received Qin Wei True Monarch's true teachings and practiced the 'Star Constellation Great Method', making him no trivial contender.

He had already reached the Second Realm of the Mahayana Tribulation Crossing Realm.

"Well!"

"Take five hundred Heavenly Soldiers, focus on reconnaissance, and avoid getting entangled out of recklessness!"

Si Tuqian recognized the General and waved his hand, promptly dividing five hundred Heavenly Soldiers behind him.

"Yes."

Meng Huo, following the command, led the five hundred Heavenly Soldiers charging into the Red Smoke Realm.

Inside the Red Smoke Realm, divine light appeared, and Heavenly Soldiers descended!

...

Beyond the Central Plains Territory.

Sages from the south, north, and east sensed the commotion beyond the heavens, their minds disquieted. Concealed in the Void, they employed various methods to peer towards the Central Plains Territory.

Among them.

Above the North Wilderness.

A middle-aged Daoist in white robes, with a face like a fine jade sat in the Void, his eyes looking toward the south.

Beside him stood an elder Daoist with nine swords on his back, watching the five hundred Heavenly Soldiers descend from the sky, then turning to the leading Heavenly General Meng Huo, he shook his head, "This young general has only just crossed Tribulation, even with five hundred Heavenly Soldiers to aid, he is likely no match for Du Jiuyou, and even a random one from his 'Eighteen Demon Envoys' could handle him."

The middle-aged Daoist remained silent.

This Ni Yang elder was a top True Immortal from Nine Sword Immortal Mountain, unable to stand against Sahpo Demon Sect, forced to leave the Central Plains Territory and now residing in the territory controlled by Luo Fu Sword Sect.

He was well-acquainted with the strength of Sahpo Demon Sect.

As expected.

The words of Ni Yang had barely ended when a cultivator in red robes burst forth from the ground. With a sweep of his hand, he unleashed flames, and within a dozen exchanges, Meng Huo and the five hundred Heavenly Soldiers were rendered helpless, fleeing back to the heavens.

"That is 'Fire Demon' Qiu Yunkong of the Sahpo Eighteen Demon Envoys, an expert in Fire Technique, surpassing even Daoist Zuo Zhang of Xuanhuo Sect in mastery. Two hundred years ago, he even claimed Zuo Zhang's life."

Ni Yang sighed.

Sahpo Demon Sect's sudden rise caught Xuanhuo Sect unprepared, ending in their complete destruction, with only a handful of disciples able to flee. To regain their former glory seems distant and uncertain. Nine Sword Immortal Mountain, fortunately, had a moment's buffer to evacuate most disciples and resources, otherwise, the loss would have been more than mere disciples.

---

Due to the Sahpo Demon Sect, they now find themselves at the mercy of others, a fall from grace that leaves Daoist Ni Yang feeling a pang of regret upon witnessing the Demon Heads flaunting their power, even capable of repelling Heavenly Generals dispatched from the Immortal Court beyond the skies.

The middle-aged Daoist listened, a solemn expression on his face.

Just this Fire Demon alone possessed such skill that his cultivation was no less than that of a True Immortal in the Second Realm. It was hard to fathom, within the entire Sahpo Demon Sect there were seventeen other masters of such caliber. And above the eighteen Demon Envoys, including the Fire Demon, stood the Sahpo Demon Sect Leader, Du Jiuyou—an individual of unknown, possibly unfathomable cultivation.

His gaze grew intense.

The middle-aged Daoist was lost in thought.

Beyond the heavens.

"I've failed, unable to overcome the Demon Head!" Meng Huo said with a flush of shame.

He intended to display his prowess and secure a significant victory, but a True Immortal casually dispatched by the Demon Sect from the Lower Realm had defeated him.

"This demon is one of the eighteen Demon Envoys of the Sahpo Demon Sect, adept in Fire Techniques, having slain even a True Immortal of the True Miao Realm. For General Meng to last more than a dozen rounds against him, revealing much of his opponent's strengths and weaknesses, is an extraordinary feat and deserves the highest commendation," Si Tuqian said, his gaze shifting to Gongyang Ye, who was perusing ancient records. He added, "I hear Lord Gongyang possesses a wonderful Five Fire Magic. Perhaps you would take to the field to dampen the demon sect's ferocity?"

Fire Technique against Fire Technique.

Victory would certainly bolster morale. Of course, this was also Si Tuqian's way of sharing some glory with Gongyang Ye. Otherwise, as a military officer, there wouldn't be much honor left for him after the battle.

Gongyang Ye was examining scrolls about the True Immortals of the Red Smoke Realm. His eyes glinted as he found something of interest, but he was jolted from his reverie by Si Tuqian's suggestion and replied with a hearty laugh, "At the General's command, how could Gongyang dare to refuse?"

With that, he gathered the scrolls and leaped into the Red Smoke Realm.

Above the North Wilderness.

Both the middle-aged Daoist and Daoist Ni Yang were startled to see another Heavenly General descend, and they hurriedly looked on. After a short observation, the middle-aged Daoist's expression turned intense. Daoist Ni Yang, with a puzzled look, turned to his companion and asked hesitantly, "Daoist Brother Iron Feather, is that the Heavenly General using your sect's Supreme Treasure, the 'Dutian Fierce Fire Divine Banner'?"

In the Central Plains Territory.

Gongyang Ye clashed with the Fire Demon of the Sahpo Demon Sect, Qiu Yunkong, exchanging spellwork.

Gongyang Ye, having achieved True Immortal status not long ago—barely twenty thousand years—was still within the Tribulation Crossing Realm. Yet, he practiced the Five Fire Sect Great Method, improved by his teacher, the Qingjing Great Saint, and mastered Divine Skills such as the 'Dutian Demon Flames.' He was also bestowed with twelve 'Dutian Fierce Fire Divine Banners' by his teacher.

Deploying them effortlessly, he was more than a match for those in the Second Realm.

Qiu Yunkong, known as the 'Fire Demon,' may claim cultivational prowess within the Mahayana Fourth Realm, the Second Daoist Realm, but as a Lower Realm cultivator without Divine Skills and inferior magical practices compared to Gongyang Ye, his magic artifacts fell far short when compared to the Dutian Fierce Fire Divine Banners.

As the battle of attrition wore on.

For a time, it was the less experienced Gongyang Ye who seized a decisive advantage.

With the twelve Dutian Fierce Fire Divine Banners arrayed into an Immortal Formation, he cast forth a sky-full of Dutian Demon Flames, leaving Qiu Yunkong utterly overwhelmed and defenseless.

The battle shook the heavens.

Yet, the True Immortals observing from all sides were casting their gazes toward the North Wilderness, mirroring Daoist Ni Yang's expression of shock and doubt.

"The Dutian Fierce Fire Divine Banner."

Daoist Iron Feather watched the Heavenly General wield the artifact, the banner fluttering with an even greater manifestation of the Dutian Fierce Fire Immortal Array—it was strikingly similar to the supreme treasure of his Luo Fu Sword Sect, perhaps even superior in its mystical essence.

Hearing Daoist Ni Yang's query, Daoist Iron Feather furrowed his brows and shook his head, "Our Luo Fu Sword Sect's treasure was originally owned by a Demon Dao expert more than a hundred thousand years ago. After his passing, it was only after tens of thousands of years that these twelve banners eventually fell into the hands of our sect."

As Daoist Iron Feather spoke.

He flipped his palm, and twelve miniature divine banners appeared. Upon closer inspection, they were indeed extremely similar to the twelve majestic Fierce Fire Divine Banners beyond the southern heavens.

Holding the divine banners in hand.

Nostalgia flickered in Daoist Iron Feather's eyes—

He vividly remembered, over a hundred thousand years ago, that one disciple, originally a Mountain God, who returned to Luofu Mountain after a thousand years, offering the supreme treasure without showing himself. When he went after him, he only saw his disciple, aged beyond recognition, turn to ash with his soul entering the Underworld.

Thanks to the divine banners, the Luo Fu Sword Sect began to thrive.

Over a hundred thousand years ago.

As a late-blooming top immortal sect, the Luo Fu Sword Sect had a shallow foundation, lacking Divine Skills inheritance and Immortal Artifacts, weaker than other sects and paths in the North Wilderness by a considerable margin.

But with the acquisition of the Dutian Fierce Fire Divine Banners and effortless empowerment to twelve of their Primordial Spirit True Ones, who then laid out the Dutian Fierce Fire Immortal Array, even Mahayana True Immortals without Immortal Artifacts had to steer clear.

Entrusted to a Mahayana True Immortal to lead the formation, they suppressed their era!

With these divine banners, the Luo Fu Sword Sect, after mere thousands of years, shed its inferior status and leaped to join the ranks of the top sects in the Red Smoke Realm!

Now with nineteen True Immortals in the sect, each wielding a divine banner and forming the Dutian Fierce Fire Immortal Arrays, their dominion was unchallenged in the Red Smoke Realm, their renown loud and clear, known to all True Immortals across the world.

As the primary architect and currently the highest in cultivation, seniority, and influence within the Luo Fu Sword Sect—how could Tie Yu Ancestor forget the origin of these divine banners?

And yet—

"Where did this person's divine banners come from?"

"Could it be related to that Fiery Fire Wanderer from all those years ago?"

Daoist Iron Feather was riddled with doubts.

For a moment, it remained a mystery.

"Master."

"Ancestor Master."

Behind.

Eighteen True Immortals of the Luo Fu Sword Sect arrived, descending into the Void. Without needing to ask, they surely saw the twelve banners wielded by the Heavenly General and came to inquire.

But before they could speak, they saw Daoist Iron Feather brandishing his set of divine banners. They then looked towards the Central Plains Territory, where twelve banners obscured the sky.

All were struck with astonishment.

...