Yellow Court Daoist

He was indeed excited.

This King Yun Gou was an absolute master in the nearby lands. Possessing the bloodline of ancient divinity, after achieving the level of a True Immortal, not only was his Life Span exceedingly long, but his methods were also extraordinary. Among the True Immortals of Heavenly Lion Peak, even he might not be their match.

Such a figure coming to join Heavenly Lion Peak was truly a joyous occasion.

And since he was the one to lead him in, whether it was with his teacher or later on within Heavenly Lion Peak, he would have greater say.

How could Lei Yunzi not be pleased?

"I never expected that after lying dormant for a century, King Yun Gou would come to join Heavenly Lion Peak," Lei Yunzi thought to himself, beaming with joy. "It looks like I owe the Vulture Daoist a thank you. Otherwise, with King Yun Gou occupying Yungou Mountain, why would he come to pledge loyalty to my teacher?"

He pondered this.

Beside him, King Yun Gou laughed self-deprecatingly, "Daoist Brother must not make fun of me. Right now, I'm nothing more than a stray dog who's been driven out by those on the Evil Path. My mountain gate and cave dwelling were taken, and I was severely wounded; it took a full hundred years to recover. When one's skills are inferior, one ends up alone. I'm already grateful that Senior Feng Yinzi and Daoist Brother didn't despise me."

Upon hearing these words, Lei Yunzi waved his hands, saying, "Brother Yun Gou doesn't know the whole story—48,000 years ago, an Evil Demon attacked Heavenly Lion Peak, causing heavy losses. A great number of high-level True Immortals perished. We've not recovered since then, leaving my teacher with very few capable underlings. With Brother Yun Gou's reputation, your arrival is sure to lead to my teacher making good use of you; this is no empty promise."

Lei Yunzi was intent on befriending King Yun Gou, and so he revealed the reality of the situation, to secure King Yun Gou's confidence.

Upon hearing this, King Yun Gou indeed felt more assured. However, his face showed a trace of perplexity as he hesitated, "I have heard about the havoc caused by that Evil Demon, but I am not privy to the details. Could Daoist Brother elaborate for me?"

"Why not?"

Lei Yunzi laughed heartily and began his tale, "That Evil Demon's origin is quite bizarre. All I know is that Senior Uncle Four brought it back from beyond Buting Mountain. Somehow, after it got to Hundred Barbarians Mountain, it suddenly launched an attack, not only scattering Senior Uncle Four's Divine Soul but also entirely overturning Senior Uncle Four's Ten Thousand Spirits Cave, where he practiced."

"In the end, it was our Ancestor who finally subdued the Evil Demon. But that creature was cunning and skilled; it managed to escape from our Ancestor's grasp. I don't know whether it had terrible luck or too good of luck. After escaping from our Ancestor, who was in hot pursuit and nearly caught it again, it was intercepted by the Ancestor of Red Wood Ridge."

"Our Ancestor fought the Ancestor of Red Wood Ridge for thousands of exchanges, both unleashing their True Fire. Although our Ancestor severely wounded the Ancestor of Red Wood Ridge, he could not recapture the Evil Demon. Then, those fools at Red Wood Ridge put the Evil Demon in the Five Elements Divine Furnace to refine it, but this only allowed the Evil Demon's Dao ability to skyrocket, and it broke out of the divine furnace, going on to slaughter seven Earth Immortals of Red Wood Ridge."

...

The account Lei Yunzi provided was obviously more detailed than what Lu Qingfeng had learned from Du Jiuyou.

Take the origin of this Evil Demon, for example.

Du Jiuyou believed it was just passing through, but Lei Yunzi knew that this Evil Demon was lured away from the Southern Border of Earth Realm by his already perished Senior Uncle Four.

And where Du Jiuyou had no knowledge of what followed after the Evil Demon broke free from Red Wood Ridge and was attacked by the Sahpo Divine Sect's Killing Department, Lei Yunzi, who had been fortunate enough to survive, knew that the Evil Demon had pushed past Yingsheng Peak and headed to the north side of Buting Mountain. Having been gravely injured at the time, it was unknown whether it was dead or alive now.

Afterwards, the Ancestors of Hundred Barbarians Mountain, Red Wood Ridge, and even the Sahpo Divine Sect Leader personally took action to track down the Evil Demon, to no known result.

But whether it was Hundred Barbarians Mountain, Red Wood Ridge, or the Sahpo Divine Sect, no further news of the Evil Demon emerged, as if the pursuit had ended in vain.

As time passed.

No one else inquired.

"So, that's how it was."

King Yun Gou's face showed a moment of realization, while deep-seated anger lay hidden within him.

While Lei Yunzi was guiding the way, he continued to remark, "Speaking of which, it's truly a shame about Senior Uncle Four's Ten Thousand Spirits lineage. That Ten Thousand Spirits Cave housed an array of Ten Thousand Spirits, countless exotic creatures and beasts. It was completely devastated in that battle, and ever since, it has become much more difficult for our Heavenly Lion Peak's Hundred Poison lineage to cultivate the 'Hundred Poison Gu' than before."

The Ten Thousand Spirits Cave.

Dominating Ten Thousand Spirits, breeding exotic insects and beasts.

"That person must have seen through its true nature, luring it in with the intention of enslavement," King Yun Gou speculated in his heart, his anger growing yet deeper, but he kept it hidden as he mused to himself, "However, from what Lei Yunzi has said, it seems that at least within Heavenly Lion Peak's lineage in the Hundred Barbarians Mountain, there's no news of him."

He pondered silently.

And, just like that, he had arrived at the Hundred Poison Cave atop Heavenly Lion Peak.

...

In the blink of an eye.

Another hundred years passed.

The Southern Border's Ten Thousand Mountains.

Located over thirty thousand li north of Vulture Mountain, there stood a peak called—

Yingsheng Peak.

According to ancient legend, this peak was a site where ancient people once welcomed and worshipped the deities of old, which is how it got its name. The peak spirals upward, uniquely formed. On the sunny side of the cliff, stone patterns depict titanic figures—donning purple gold crowns, silver hair, red sashes, and black canopies—towering majestically to the south, appearing ever more realistic the longer one gazes upon them.

At the top of the peak, huge boulders form a natural cave, spacious enough for a hundred people.

On this particular day.

At the summit of Yingsheng Peak, seven or eight people gathered together. Each one emanated a turbulent aura; some were stern, others nonchalant, and still others brimming with a killing intent that marked them each as no easy foe.

One among them wore a black and white Daoist robe and appeared both righteous and wicked. He toyed with a miniature sword in his hand and spoke unhurriedly, "We've received news that Nine Nether True Monarch from the Rain Killing Hall was captured by the Thunder Department two hundred years ago in the mortal realm. He will soon be executed at the Slaughter Demon Platform."

The Sahpo Divine Sect wielded enormous power.

For countless years, they'd used the successive mountains of the Southern Border as a natural defense, steadily growing their influence. Now, they were one of the paramount transcendent forces within the entire realm of Buting Mountain.

The sect was divided into ten departments based on the Sahara Ten Evils.

Yingsheng Peak was the headquarters for the first of these—the Killing Department. Those who sought entry into the way of Dao through killing formed eight branches within the Killing Department, each establishing its own hall, and among these was the Rain Killing Hall.

"There are two True Monarchs in Rain Killing Hall, both of whom perished and reincarnated during the calamity forty-eight thousand years ago. Now, younger brother Jiuyou is caught in the Purgatory of the Thunder Department, with no hope of escape," another said somberly.

"Sister Lin has yet to send any message; I fear she has likely met with more misfortune than luck. Red Wood Ridge and the Sword Immortal Sect are pressing hard against us, taking advantage of the vulnerability of our Killing Department. The Rain Killing Hall has been without a leader for far too long, and we must hasten to reorganize."

Unmoved, the Killing Body God Monarch spoke indifferently, "Currently, only my Killing Body Hall boasts two True Monarchs. It wouldn't be amiss for Cloud Sky Monarch to temporarily take charge of Rain Killing Hall. Once Sister Lin returns, or another cultivator who has perfected the 'Killing Rain' technique achieves Earth Immortal status, we can then return the hall to them. What do you all think?"

The Killing Body God Monarch's hair was tied back, save for a single white lock that fell over his forehead, lending him a slightly sinister air. Behind him stood Cloud Sky True Monarch, dressed in a white cloud Daoist robe, topped with a purple gold crown, looking handsome and extraordinary—less of a demon, and more a successful cultivator of the Immortal Dao.

The Killing Department was divided into eight halls.

Each hall previously had three to five Earth Immortal True Monarchs; even the least of them had one or two, a testament to significant strength. In each hall, the one with the highest cultivation and greatest power was termed a 'God Monarch,' and also served as the Hall Master.

But forty-eight thousand years ago, the Killing Department faced a great catastrophe and brought a terrible disaster upon itself.

An Evil Demon descended, and the True Monarchs of the Killing Department's eight halls either died or were injured in the ensuing chaos, with more than half perishing.

Take Rain Killing Hall, for example.

Originally, it had the Rain Killing God Monarch and Nine Nether True Monarch, two Earth Immortals, both of whom lost their lives in that battle.

And as for Killing Body Hall, it once had five True Monarchs, marking it as the most profound in depth. Yet, four fell in a single battle. After forty-eight thousand years passed, only Cloud Sky True Monarch has recently re-attained Earth Immortal Dao Fruit and returned to his post.

This also made the Killing Body Hall the only branch within the entire Killing Department that housed two Earth Immortals.

At this moment, the Killing Body God Monarch wanted to use this advantage to take control of Rain Killing Hall.

"Brother Zhu speaks wisely," one agreed.

"Without an Earth Immortal anchoring it, Rain Killing Hall hardly can withstand the onslaught of Heavenly Lion Peak. A century ago, a top-ranking demon beast joined them, leading their troops with exceptional bravery. This has forced Rain Killing Hall into continuous retreat. Not only have they lost dozens of mountain territories, but their forces have also been diminished. We can't drag this out any longer."

The Hall Master of the Killing Beast Hall, wearing a robe embroidered with countless beasts, nodded in agreement.

There were eight people present at the meeting. Now with the Killing Body God Monarch, Cloud Sky True Monarch, and Killing Beast God Monarch standing together, the four God Monarchs of the Killing Department—Killing Life, Sha Wo, Killing Anger, and Red Dust—remained silent for a moment.

It was the Good and Evil God Monarch who had opened the discussion earlier. He now smiled slightly and said, "Brother Zhu is unaware that seventy years ago, control over Southwest Tianhong Mountain changed hands. The new master self-proclaimed as 'Sword Demon,' a Daoist woman named Lin Ye. She, alone with her sword, stormed the mountain, slaughtering all eight thousand demon soldiers of Tianhong Mountain. Over the last seventy years, she's purged sixteen surrounding mountaintops, subduing twenty-three great demons and true immortals. Her rise to power is not small."

"'Sword Demon' Lin Ye?" someone echoed.

"This person—"

The Killing Beast God Monarch looked toward the Good and Evil God Monarch and hesitated, "Causing storms and rain, could it be she cultivates the 'Killing Rain' technique?"

The Killing Body God Monarch and Cloud Sky True Monarch turned their gaze to the Good and Evil God Monarch as well.

Tianhong Mountain was located southwest of Yingsheng Peak, a territory overseen by the Good and Evil Hall. The takeover of Yungou Mountain had only happened seventy years ago; the news had not yet spread widely, so only the Good and Evil God Monarch was fully informed.

"Indeed," he confirmed.

"Not only does she cultivate the 'Killing Rain' technique, but she has also mastered its essence and wields the 'Raindrop Divine Sword.'"

The faces of those present changed at once, and the Killing Beast God Monarch raised an eyebrow, "Senior Sister Lin?!"

While there were indeed many cultivators who practiced the 'Killing Rain' technique, the Raindrop Divine Sword was a Magic Sword that had been refined for many years by Rain Killing God Monarch Lin Yun, becoming attuned in spirit and mind. In that battle, Lin Yun fell, and the Raindrop Divine Sword disappeared without a trace.

That Divine Sword was sentient; without the proper refining secret technique, no one could wield it.

Now that the Raindrop Divine Sword had a new master, and this Mrs. Lin cultivated the 'Killing Rain' technique, her identity seemed clear—

"But if it is Senior Sister Lin, why would she remain in Tianhong Mountain and not return to Yingsheng Peak?" questioned Red Dust God Monarch, with an air of confusion.

The Good and Evil God Monarch chuckled upon hearing this, scanning the gathered assembly, and spoke slowly, "Could it be that you've all forgotten? Back when the Evil Demon ran rampant, Sister Lin was directly in its path. Her Immortal body shattered, her Blessed Land splintered, and even her Divine Soul was grievously wounded. In the end, by a sliver of chance, she escaped into the cycle of reincarnation. Now returned, it's natural that she does not remember some of her past. It's to be expected."

...