Yellow Court Daoist

Wandering the Crying Swamp, all cultivation resources must be found by oneself.

Either endure grueling cultivation and enlightenment.

Or stumble upon chance opportunities.

Or have talent that defies common perception.

Otherwise, the hurdle of Foundation Establishment is a chasm nearly impossible to cross between mortals and cultivators.

It stops ninety percent of those attempting the trial.

The one in ten thousand who get selected for the trial, and the mere ten percent among them who complete it, clearly have extraordinary talent and strong aptitude.

Such disciples are highly unlikely to deceive their Ancestor Master through trickery.

Firstly, their moral character and integrity prevent them from engaging in such acts.

Secondly, rationality and wisdom also keep them from making such choices.

Thus.

Since Zhang Bo and the first group of disciples entered the Three Mountains and Nine Waters thirty years ago, more than three hundred disciples have dispersed throughout the Crying Swamp into the Biyang Lake Territory and its Heavenly Fire Domain. They've explored various Earth Realms for Lu Qingfeng and never once attempted to bluff their way through.

"Currently, there are three hundred and fourteen individuals forming eighty groups of disciples scattered along the Crying Swamp, each in different parts of the Heavenly Fire Domain without interfering with one another."

"On average, about a thousand miles of Earth Realm can be explored each year."

"As the Longevity Trial continues, more and more disciples enter the Three Mountains and Nine Waters; the speed of exploration will also increase."

A smile appeared on Lu Qingfeng's face, "In this manner, once I advance my cultivation to the Gathering Law Realm or even attain the Solid Pill Realm, I can swiftly determine the exact locations of the Earth Evil Yin Vein and even the Heavenly Gang Qi based on the detailed information these disciples have gathered about various Earth Realms, and rapidly refine the Nine Layers of Gang Sha!"

Over these years.

As Lu Qingfeng's cultivation level continuously improved, so too did his vision and horizons.

His initial concept for the 'Qingyuan Sword Sect' has deviated quite a bit from its original intentions—

Initially, when Lu Qingfeng was merely at the Foundation Establishment Level, he thought he would spend eight or ninety years in the Juyun Mountain Range, believing he would stay at that level for the same duration.

Therefore, his initial plan was to use these disciples of the Qingyuan Sword Sect to gather information on various Earth Realms, Refining Materials, Spiritual Medicines, and secret places such as the Hundred Herbs Garden, and so on.

To accelerate his own cultivation.

He could amass all necessary resources from the comfort of his own sect.

But plans often fall behind changes.

Lu Qingfeng first moved from the Juyun Mountain Range to the Xuanyuan Water Realm, then became a True Inheritor of the Xuanyuan Sect, able to obtain various cultivation resources from the Xuanyuan Sect Luozhen Hall. Later, he rose to the ranks of Lesser Sovereign and even Regent Sovereign, improving his Root Bone aptitude as well. He also created several identities, and resources were no longer a concern.

At least not before achieving Core Formation.

So the original concept for the 'Qingyuan Sword Sect' was abandoned.

Afterwards, Lu Qingfeng continued to revise and perfect it.

Finally, the 'Nine Palace Star Plate' became the 'Green Origin Pearl,' and from the initial intention of collecting materials, the focus shifted to exploring detailed information about different Earth Realms, to pinpoint the positions of Earth Evil Yin Veins and Heavenly Gang Qi.

With the 'Seven Beasts Small Divine Number' in hand and these detailed Earth Realm information, Lu Qingfeng could easily deduce the locations of any Gang Sha Land simply by calculation.

For the disciples of the Qingyuan Sword Sect.

Having come from Upper Sun Country through the Crying Swamp, and after a trial lasting a decade or nearly two decades, they venture into the Heavenly Fire Domain and eventually the even more northern Heavenly Extreme Domain, embarking on their path of cultivation.

With the Green Origin Pearl in hand.

They can collect and explore information about various Earth Realms and exchange it for 'Merit.' Then, they can use 'Merit' to exchange for techniques and cultivation methods from the Green Origin Pearl.

However, no real items can be exchanged.

Such items as Spirit Stones, Magic Artifacts, and Elixir Pills, cannot be exchanged.

There are several considerations to this.

Firstly, whether it's Spirit Stones, Magic Artifacts, or Elixir Pills, these disciples can earn or refine them on their own. They need not waste precious 'Merit' to exchange them from the Green Origin Pearl.

Secondly, if the exchange of real items were permitted, Lu Qingfeng would have to set up a Teleportation Array within the Green Origin Pearl. Not only would that consum more resources, but it would also entail many risks.

Therefore, it's omitted.

He doesn't need these disciples to gather various materials, and these disciples don't need to exchange for Spirit Stones, Spirit Pills, Magic Artifacts, and so on from him.

After all.

What's more precious within the Green Origin Pearl is the dazzling array of thousands, tens of thousands of techniques. While Spirit Pills and Magic Artifacts are easy to come by, Mysterious Techniques are hard to find.

Hence, the current ultimate version of the 'Green Origin Pearl' is not equipped with a Transmission Array and cannot transfer any real items. But both Earth Realm information and various techniques are transferrable without the need for an Array.

And Lu Qingfeng made several arrangements within the Green Origin Pearl.

Such that even if others get hold of it, they can't use it. Even if they track down these disciples, at most they could trace them back to the Upper Sun Country. The Crying Swamp conceals all traces, and following the Crying Swamp leads to vast expanses of Earth Realms.

Under these circumstances, even Lu Qingfeng, who has cultivated the 'Inverted Void Glazed Glass Wall,' reaching the Small Success Realm during his three-thousand-year bitter cultivation in the starry sky of the Black Star Realm.

Concealing Heaven's Secrets, confusing Heaven's will.

Even Six Dust Temple Master Zhen Jue, using the Two Spaces Map, cannot track down any information or whereabouts of the 'Yellow Robed Old Monster,' not to mention the remote areas near the Crying Swamp.

By the time they start with the Qingyuan Sword Sect disciples and manage to find Upper Sun Country after overcoming the Crying Swamp, and then try to locate information from three people—Lu Qingfeng, Lu Qingshan, and Lu Qingyu—from millions of citizens from decades ago, then to the billion lives in the 3,600-mile Biyang Lake Territory, it's like searching for a needle in a haystack.

By the time they manage to find Lu Qingfeng in the Xuanyuan Realm, he would already have become a Gathering Law True Man, traveling throughout the Three Mountains and Nine Waters.

At that point.

Even facing a Primordial Spirit Expert, Lu Qingfeng dares to fight.

"The disciples of the Qingyuan Sword Sect are of good character and temperament, and the Green Origin Pearl contains various secret techniques. Under any circumstances, it is expected that they would not disclose the existence of the Green Origin Pearl."

Just as Lu Qingfeng would not reveal the 'Login Ring.'

...

Two and a half months have passed since the battle outside Fierce Fire Island.

Lu Qingfeng returned to Feiyun Island, having spent half a month away.

This day.

As usual, Lu Qingfeng sat cross-legged in cultivation, then went on to refine Spirit Pills and temper Magic Artifacts, and later practiced wielding Daoist Soldiers within the Dutian Xuanming Strategy.

Finally, he entertained a thought.

The operation of the Green Origin Pearl was not complicated, but the impartation of the Magic Gate and the reception of Earth Realm information still required Lu Qingfeng's supervision. Allocating a single thought could save much energy.

As he entertained this thought.

A Spiritual Crane flew to the cave dwelling from outside.

"Master?"

Lu Qingfeng awoke startled from his meditation and waved the Spiritual Crane over. If it were not urgent, Gu Bu Yan rarely sent messages this way.

The Spiritual Crane turned into a breeze and entered his ear—

"Come to Biyang Peak immediately!"

Lu Qingfeng's gaze held a contemplative look as he got up and hurried towards Biyang Peak.

Biyang Peak.

Combined Pill Hall.

"Disciple greets Master." Lu Qingfeng bowed respectfully to the white-haired and hoary Gu Bu Yan sitting at the head of the hall. Glancing around, he noticed the hall was empty aside from himself and Gu Bu Yan.

"Don't bother looking around."

"I've summoned you here today because there's a major issue, not suitable to be known by outsiders for fear of inciting panic."

Gu Bu Yan's face showed a trace of gravity.

Lu Qingfeng couldn't help frowning, "May I ask Master, what has happened?"

Currently, within the White Bone Realm to the north, the White Bone Demon Sect had been suppressed by him to the point where they did not dare venture beyond Yunyan Mountain, and other Demon Dao Golden Core experts either fled or died, hardly a threat.

In the Eastern Heavenly Travel Realm, Heavenly Travel Mountain had crumbled to dust, leaving nothing but disconnected stragglers.

For the Xuanyuan Sect, the situation should be extremely favorable. So, why this air of doom?

Gu Bu Yan shook his head and said, "You've been in deep meditation and are unaware of the events of the last two or three months, which is understandable."

Hearing this, Lu Qingfeng felt something odd.

In the last two or three months, every single event was related to him and all were to the advantage of the Xuanyuan Sect.

How could it be—

He saw Gu Bu Yan sigh deeply and started to explain, "Two and a half months ago, in the Fire Domain of the Illusion Wave Sea, the Fiery Fire Wanderer on Fiery Fire Island repelled three thousand Daoist Soldiers and three Golden Core Experts from the Annihilation Divine Sect. His strength alone is feared to be among the top in the Golden Core Realm. He is a member of the Demon Dao, with truly terrifying demonic powers.

In the White Bone Realm, there's the Changqing Daoist, who detests evil with a vengeance and has killed countless Demon Dao cultivators, even oppressing the White Bone Demon Sect from leaving their mountain.

Recently, the White Bone Demon Sect's Han Ji went to Fiery Fire Island to seek an audience with the Fiery Fire Wanderer. Afterward, on his way back, he was killed by Changqing Daoist.

This incident is likely to infuriate the Fiery Fire Wanderer.

Wu Jie and the others analyzed that the Fiery Fire Wanderer is very likely to assist White Bone Demon Sect against Changqing Daoist and might also follow Changqing Daoist's lead in slaying Righteous Sect cultivators.

If that happens, Xuanyuan Sect would be the first to bear the brunt.

…"

As Lu Qingfeng listened to Gu Bu Yan conclude, he finally understood the whole picture.

It turns out.

Han Ji sought out the Fiery Fire Wanderer on Fiery Fire Island, and although he was rejected, it was unknown to outsiders. Later, he was killed at Chao Tian Pool by Changqing Daoist, leading people to believe Changqing Daoist's actions would infuriate the Fiery Fire Wanderer.

And the Xuanyuan Sect believed—

With the Fiery Fire Wanderer having provoked the Annihilation Divine Sect and in need of allies, it made sense for the White Bone Demon Sect to seek an alliance without being turned away.

If they managed to kill Changqing Daoist, a call to arms would surely bring countless Demon Dao experts and even the Demon Kings of Heavenly Travel Mountain to their cause. Though scattered, they could still rally some force.

However, Changqing Daoist proved elusive.

If the Fiery Fire Wanderer couldn't find him after an extended search, he might well follow in Changqing Daoist's footsteps, entering the Xuanyuan Realm to slay Righteous Sect True Men, forcing Changqing Daoist to show himself.

It must be said, placed on a Demon Dao cultivator, this possibility is not small.

"Even if the Fiery Fire Wanderer directly kills Changqing Daoist and doesn't personally enter the Xuanyuan Realm to wreak havoc, but with demons from both White Bone and Heavenly Travel realms flocking to join forces, the Xuanyuan Sect would still be the first to confront them."

Unaware of the complexity in his disciple's thoughts, Gu Bu Yan continued, "In order to continue the Xuanyuan Sect's legacy and preserve its fire seed, the sect has ultimately decided to select disciples with good aptitude and loyalty to the sect from the true inheritors of each peak and hall and send them outside the Xuanyuan Realm. In the worst-case scenario, this would ensure our lineage does not end."

"…"

Lu Qingfeng pursed his lips, momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing his disciple's silence, Gu Bu Yan thought the atmosphere was grave and added with a slight smile, "This is just the worst contingency plan, the most prudent approach. You, as the Combined Pill Hall Master and a cultivator in the Spirit Void level, are on this list. You can choose one disciple from Feiyun Island to leave the Xuanyuan Realm with you."

"The evacuating disciples are divided into three groups, and one group led by you will hide outside the Xuanyuan Realm. If the Xuanyuan Sect remains unharmed, then you'll return to the sect. But if the worst happens and you lack enough strength, then don't come back."

Gu Bu Yan looked at his disciple with great hope.

Without the unforeseen occurrence of the Fiery Fire Wanderer, in a hundred or two hundred years, Lu Qingfeng, with incomparable talent in both cultivation and Alchemy, would surely become a new pillar for the Xuanyuan Sect and their future leader over the next millennia.

However, with uncertainties and accidents sprouting unexpectedly, his only option now was to send him out of the Xuanyuan Realm.

To wait for the future.

Perhaps he would become the greatest hope for the Xuanyuan Sect.

"No more words, Master."

"I vow to share the Xuanyuan Sect's fate!"

Amidst Gu Bu Yan's inner turmoil, the sonorous and clear voice of his disciple echoed, reverberating through the entire Combined Pill Hall.