Yellow Court Daoist

Heavenly Star Sect.

Kongling Gorge.

A woman with long, waterfalled hair and finely chiseled features approached gracefully. She appeared to be in her early twenties, with a cunning look in her eyes, lively and clever.

It was a Dharma Body split from Han Ling'er.

"Is this where my teacher cultivated in his early years?"

Han Ling'er surveyed Kongling Gorge, eyes gleaming with surprise, "Who would have thought that such an ordinary place in the Lower Realm could produce a person of such rare talents as my teacher?"

Her thoughts flickered.

Han Ling'er buried the cunning look in her eyes, retracted her astonishment, and wore a solemn and cold expression, instantly shrouding herself in mystery, making her seem inaccessible.

Just like that.

She then uncovered her disguise and walked directly into Kongling Gorge.

…

Twelve Four Pearl Water Pavilion.

Wu Jiu and Lu Qingfeng stood respectfully, with Master Mu Yang beside them, "… This is the process of the demonic disaster's rise and fall."

At the head of the table.

Han Ling'er listened quietly.

Master Mu Yang recounted the process from his Ascension encounter with the Star-Absorbing Demon Spirit to the demonic beast's invasion of Three Mountains and Nine Waters, and finally how the Jinshan Doutian Daoist of the East Sea slew all Fourth Rank demonic creatures and issued the 'Star Absorption Demon Seeking Order' to rally the disciples of the Mountain and Water Realm to quell the demonic wave.

He then took out a talisman from his sleeve, "This is the 'Star Absorption Demon Seeking Order'."

"Star Absorption Demon Seeking Order."

Han Ling'er took it and quickly controlled it with her mana.

"Woof!"

With a mere thought, a valiant divine dog sprang from the talisman. It barked chaotically at the sky, its nose twitching as if sniffing around. After a while, its barking subsided, and the divine dog lay quietly at Han Ling'er's feet.

"This item shares similarities with the 'Search Demon Secret Method' passed down from the Ten Thousand Laws Dao, and has a comparable genius to the Smell Demon Rats bred in the Ice and Snow Divine Palace."

Han Ling'er examined it, searched her memory for similar methods and tools, but couldn't determine the origins of this item.

She decided not to concern herself with it.

"To kill a Fourth Rank Star Absorbing creature as easily as slaughtering a dog, this Doutian Daoist indeed has some capability."

Han Ling'er became somewhat interested, looking up at Master Mu Yang, "Tell me more about this person."

"Yes."

Knowing the woman before him was an Upper Realm True Immortal, Master Mu Yang dared not delay and hurriedly replied, "Speaking of this Doutian Daoist—"

…

Outside the Twenty-four Pearl Pavilion.

Master Mu Yang and Wu Jiu left together.

"It seems Lu Junior Brother indeed made a notable impression at the Upper Realm Ancestor's place. This Upper Realm True Immortal looks upon Lu Junior Brother differently," Wu Jiu glanced back at the Twenty-four Pearl Pavilion, eyes filled with envy.

Though he and Master Mu Yang were well-known in Three Mountains and Nine Waters and wielded considerable power in Heavenly Star Sect.

Yet once they ascended to the Upper Realm.

Primordial Spirits were common.

Even they would be merely ordinary Primordial Spirit Practitioners, hardly noteworthy.

But Lu Junior Brother was different!

Being noticed by the Upper Realm Ancestor, his prospects were boundless.

Both hailing from Three Mountains and Nine Waters, the difference was stark, Wu Jiu felt both admiration and emotion.

"Qin Ancestor granted the Nine Palace Divine Sword, awaiting only Lu Junior Brother's Ascension to the Upper Realm, and he will likely become a disciple of Qin Ancestor immediately."

"I heard that our Heavenly Star Sect's main authority in the Upper Realm is none other than Qin Ancestor, and Lu Junior Brother is naturally seen differently in the eyes of the Upper Realm True Immortal than us."

Master Mu Yang also sighed and shook his head, "However, Lu Junior Brother broke through twenty-seven layers of Array Mountain, achieving Primordial Spirit in just over eight hundred years—truly a rare genius. Given such circumstances and treatment, it's only fitting."

Master Mu Yang had been cultivating longer and saw things more clearly.

Over the years, he had encountered countless geniuses. From the Foundation Establishment Stage, the Spirit Void Stage, they all exhibited extraordinary cultivation speed. But after reaching Spirit Void, during the Core Formation Stage, many suddenly stagnated, struggling with Core Formation for life without breakthroughs.

Instead, some mediocre disciples eventually accumulated enough to soar to great heights.

Like Wu Jiu.

Initially, during the Foundation Establishment, Spirit Void, and Core Formation stages, he remained inconspicuous among his peers, never standing out. But in the end, of the three thousand years of Heavenly Star Sect's history, the only one to achieve Primordial Spirit was the rather average Wu Jiu.

Hasty progress does not ensure constant speedy advancement.

"But."

"Given this Lu Junior Brother's temperament—"

Thinking of Lu Qingfeng and the information he had gathered, Lu Junior Brother had been immersed in cultivation since his days in the Xuanyuan Sect, frequently in closed-door training, rarely hindered by trivial matters. After arriving at Kongling Gorge, it had been the same.

He hadn't set foot outside Kongling Gorge in twenty or thirty years.

Such endurance was beyond most geniuses.

"Perhaps."

"This Lu Junior Brother could be the second Qin Ancestor?"

Master Mu Yang pondered silently.

Unaware of his senior brother's thoughts, Wu Jiu shifted his gaze from the Twenty-four Pearl Pavilion and mumbled, "I wonder what position and origins this True Immortal holds in the Upper Realm sect."

Then he walked off with Master Mu Yang.

…

Inside the pavilion.

After Master Mu Yang and Wu Jiu left, only Lu Qingfeng and Han Ling'er remained.

Lu Qingfeng stood still.

Like Wu Jiu, he speculated about the origins of this Heavenly Star Sect's True Immortal.

"Lu Qingfeng."

Yet in Han Ling'er's eyes, the cunning look emerged again, with her spirited eyes sizing up Lu Qingfeng, making him somewhat uncomfortable.

"May I ask, True Immortal, what instructions do you have for this junior?"

Lu Qingfeng was not flustered, but he did not wish to be looked at in such a manner, and thus spoke first.

"You have received the Nine Palace Divine Sword from our teacher, and upon your Ascension to the Upper Realm, you will become the teacher's fourth disciple. Just call me 'Senior Sister'; there's no need for formalities." Han Ling'er looked at this junior disciple, steadied and upright, and felt a twinge of disappointment, "I heard that you have only cultivated for little over eight hundred years, yet you've already reached the Primordial Spirit Realm. With such talent, even within the Spirit Domain, you should be proudly exceptional and bursting with youthful vigor. Why do you seem so mature and reserved?"

She said so, shaking her head.

Lu Qingfeng, upon hearing this, revealed a hint of surprise on his face, "So, you're a disciple of the Qin Ancestor. No wonder you were kept here separately."

"Lu Qingfeng pays respect to Senior Sister."

This senior sister seemed somewhat unconventional, and Lu Qingfeng hurriedly paid his respects, not daring to neglect her. After all, he must maintain a good relationship with his fellow disciples in the Heavenly Star Sect for future strategic concealment.

If he were to offend this True Immortal senior sister right now, it would cause trouble later on.

Although Han Ling'er was somewhat disappointed that this junior disciple's temperament was different from what she had imagined, this, after all, was the fourth disciple designated by their master. As destined close fellow disciples, her enthusiasm was unabated, "I will be staying in the Mountain and Water Realm for quite some time. If you have any doubts about your cultivation during this period, just come to the Han Ling City in the Outer Heaven Void to find me. Once I've taken care of the matters here, I will take you back to Sky-reaching Gorge."

However, to Lu Qingfeng, this senior sister's enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Lu Qingfeng voiced his thanks, but he inwardly sighed, contemplating how to tactfully refuse her kind offer when the time came.

"These three Immortal Crystals are a gift to mark our meeting."

Han Ling'er was truly generous. She casually took out three Immortal Crystals and handed them to Lu Qingfeng, murmuring, "Senior Sister doesn't have much, unlike your eldest and second senior brothers. After you officially join, you'll definitely want to approach them for favors."

Three Immortal Crystals.

An unexpected joy.

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

Lu Qingfeng hurriedly thanked her again, this time with genuine gratitude.

With these three Immortal Crystals, if refined, their value could equal three to five hundred years of arduous cultivation in the Primordial Spirit Realm. Moreover, since there are no True Immortals in the Three Mountains and Nine Waters, Immortal Crystals are exceedingly rare; these three were truly unique.

"They are just a small token."

"Once I've slain the Lord of Star Absorption, I will bring you a claw—that will be a real treasure."

Seeing the junior disciple's joy upon receiving the Immortal Crystals lightened her face with a smile, diminishing the pain of parting with such treasured items.

"Do you just like seeing my naive side?" Lu Qingfeng noticed, and his heart warmed slightly towards his senior sister.

"Alright."

"I have matters to attend to, so I must leave now."

After meeting the junior disciple and giving the Immortal Crystals as a gift, Han Ling'er left contentedly, and soon left the Twenty-four Pearl Pavilion.

Lu Qingfeng hurriedly saw her off, and just before leaving, Han Ling'er reminded him, "Come to Han Ling City anytime you need me."

Then she didn't stay long at the Heavenly Star Sect.

Leaving Sky-reaching Gorge, she rushed directly to the North Sea.

"To meet with that Dutian Daoist!"

...

"This senior sister has become a True Immortal and upheld her innocent, exuberant heart."

"Generous and warm-hearted."

"I wonder how she will treat me, the 'Dutian Demon,' and Yuan Gui City."

In Yuan Gui City at North Sea Turtle Mountain, Lu Qingfeng, through the void, exchanged glances with the True Immortal above. Initially, he was unaware, but after Han Ling'er's visit to Kongling Gorge, he came to understand the origin of this True Immortal.

His mind buzzed with thoughts.

War City was a Supreme Treasure where True Immortals were scarce.

Although Yuan Gui City was in ruins, Han Ling'er had a new city, 'Han Ling City.' Who could guarantee that she wouldn't covet Yuan Gui City?

Moreover, having previously destroyed Green Wood Valley, he was unsure if Han Ling'er had any connections with Green Wood Valley. While Han Ling'er was kind to him, 'Lu Qingfeng,' and could freely give away Immortal Crystals because they would eventually be fellow disciples, it was a different case with him playing the 'Dutian Demon,' a stranger.

He calculated continuously in his hands.

Lu Qingfeng suddenly stopped, "Perhaps, this too is an opportunity."

A flash of spirit light sparked in his mind, and Lu Qingfeng quickly sketched out a plan.

Waiting in Yuan Gui City for his senior sister.

A few days later.

Han Ling'er indeed arrived.

...

"Greetings, Han Immortal."

Lu Qingfeng greeted with a smile, stepping out of Yuan Gui City.

"Jinshan Doutian?" Han Ling'er's gaze was calm as she looked at the Daoist before her.

"Indeed, it is I."

Lu Qingfeng responded, leading Han Ling'er, "Please, Immortal Han, come into the city and let's talk."

A Dharma Body.

Ready to be abandoned at any moment.

Han Ling'er wasn't afraid of any schemes from Lu Qingfeng and slightly nodded, entering Yuan Gui City.

Inside the city.

Looking around, the city was filled with ruins; the walls were almost completely collapsed, and ninety-nine percent of the buildings within were destroyed, hardly comparable to her newly built 'Han Ling City.'

Her eyes moved.

Seven Star Beauty Boa scattered throughout the city; under half a city wall, there were five hundred 'Ice Cold Spirit Immortals' bustling about.

In the city.

There was also a 'Xuanwu Tower.'

"This War City came from the Ice and Snow Divine Palace?"

Han Ling'er suddenly turned her head to look at Lu Qingfeng and asked.