Yellow Court Daoist

That day.

Above the Poison Dragon Pond on Yinchuan River.

The troops of two sides clashed relentlessly.

On one side, they manipulated the river to create waves, each without armor, wielding weapons; they were Water Clan Demons, scattered in their formation which showed signs of training. Perhaps because the training was brief or the innate ability of these Water Clan Demons was lacking, their arrangement seemed quite disordered.

On the other side.

Evil Qi surged to the sky, oppressive aura daunting. Similarly lacking sophisticated tactics, each Demon donned armor, showing vigorous prowess, fighting fiercely, advancing without retreat, hence gaining the upper hand.

"Kill!"

A young soldier wielding a Red Tassel Spear fought the Bull Head Demon, barely able to hold his own.

Though the young soldier looked handsome, seemingly only around thirteen or fourteen years old, his spear skill was refined and his strength formidable. But the Bull Head Demon was equally formidable, brandishing a pair of iron axes, waving them with menacing force.

For a moment.

The battle was evenly matched.

After prolonged fighting, anxiety grew in the young soldier's heart. Seeing his comrades fall one by one, being steadily pushed back, he clenched his teeth and sent a message to someone in the distance, "Aunt, the forces of Green Bull Mountain are overwhelming; our soldiers can hardly hold any longer."

From afar.

Golden hairpins pressed on twin buns, phoenix shoes and treasure stirrups tilted. Chain mail armor backed by white silk, embroidered belt on slender waist.

A female general exuded heroic energy, wielding a sword, battling a Bull Demon with two horns on its head.

The sword light dazzled.

Cold light intimidating.

As voices reached her ears, she glanced around with the corner of her eye—

Indeed!

Her own troops suffered immense losses, teetering on the brink of collapse. If they didn't retreat now, they would be routed. Being pursued relentlessly would endanger the whole army's existence.

"Ao Jun."

"Lead the soldiers and retreat swiftly!"

Without any hesitation, the female general cried out. A bolt of lightning surged from above her head, enveloping her sword as she charged towards the Bull Head Demon tangled up with the young soldier, allowing him to break free.

"Retreat!"

The young soldier did not dare to hesitate.

He leaped out from the battle circle, his Red Tassel Spear dancing wildly, creating a path on Yinchuan River, stirring up thousands of waves as he led the remaining soldiers in flight.

"Chase after them!"

"Don't let those Yinchuan brats escape!"

The Bull Demon with two horns roared angrily, wielding a Mountain Opening Axe to block the female general's sword, forcing her to retreat explosively. Then with a swift sweep of his axe, he completely shattered the Thunder Magic Sword entangled with the Bull Head Demon nearby.

"Chase!"

Furious to the extreme, the Bull Head Demon led a group of Demon soldiers and generals, charging along Yinchuan River in pursuit.

But there was a brief delay.

Their troops were far less adept at water maneuvering than their opponents, despite their vigorous efforts to chase, they failed to catch up.

"Green Bull King."

"Forgive us for not entertaining you any longer!"

Seeing her troops successfully escape, the female general chose not to linger in battle. Pointing her sword to the sky, she summoned Thunder Prison fiercely, engulfing the Bull Demon known as the 'Green Bull King' within.

Seizing the opportunity.

She decisively turned around, transforming into lightning and vanished.

Boom!

Moments later, the Green Bull King split the Thunder Prison with his axe, but the female general's figure was nowhere to be seen.

"Damn it!"

"She escaped again!"

The Green Bull King's bull eyes furiously glared, filled with raging anger.

"Father."

"The Yinchuan Water Army is entirely composed of Water Clan Demons, commuting with the waves and tides; the young ones couldn't keep up."

The Bull Head Demon, carrying two Big Axes, returned, his nostrils huffing and puffing as he reported breathlessly.

"Let them flee if they've fled."

"The Yinchuan Water Navy has suffered massive losses this time. Once I return to Green Bull Mountain to recuperate for some time, we'll follow along the Yinchuan River and strike directly at the Yinchuan stronghold—annihilating them without a trace!"

Despite his bluster, the Green Bull King had a wary look in his eyes. He did not continue the pursuit, leading his troops and Demon Generals, triumphantly back to Green Bull Mountain.

...

Upstream of the Yinchuan River.

At its deep parts, there was a Water Palace constructed.

Ao Jun ordered his soldiers to rest while he himself waited outside the palace.

Soon, a female general arrived amidst a swirl of wind and thunder; it was Ao Le.

"Aunt."

Seeing his aunt return unharmed, Ao Jun breathed a sigh of relief.

"The minor Green Bull King couldn't stop me."

Ao Le held a sword, surveying the surroundings. She had taken 3000 members of the Navy into battle, only to have 800 slaughtered. Of the remaining few over 2000, hundreds were wounded or mutilated.

This battle.

A great defeat!

With a grim expression, Ao Le led Ao Jun into the grand hall of the Water Palace.

Years had passed, and the once timid and demure Ao Le, having been separated for hundreds of years and enduring a family tragedy decades ago, had transformed into a valiant and competent female general.

She moved like the wind and handled affairs with efficiency.

Greatly changed from before.

"Aunt."

"This battle has inflicted heavy losses on Yinchuan. If Green Bull Mountain seizes this opportunity to attack, we may have no choice but to seek assistance from grandfather."

Ao Jun stood firm, holding the Red Tassel Spear, his posture erect.

Over a hundred years ago, Ao Jun, then only as tall as Ao Le's knees, had now become a famed young general in Yinchuan after years of battle experience, supporting his aunt Ao Le in safeguarding Yinchuan near the River and Green Bull Mountain.

"Big brother, second brother, and your father are each guarding Lotus Valley, Moon Lack Lake, and Bailing River. General Yan Xun is stationed at Po Feng Mountain, and General Zhang Shu assists our father in training troops at Purple Sun River."

"Even if we ask for reinforcements, who could father possibly send?"

Ao Le shook her head, her gaze somber.

Father was demoted from Min River to Poison Dragon Pond, apart from their children and family, only Minister Turtle, Yuan Lake Water Lord Zhang Shu, and Yan Xun, who had returned from his travels, followed him.

The others,

like Xuan Shuang, Chi Yin, or Yuan Lake's Lan Feihu and Yuan Bi, did not follow.

Truly alone.

To the point that upon assuming his new post at Poison Dragon Pond, he found it still occupied by that Poison Dragon, unmovable. He had no choice but to use the area west of Poison Dragon Pond by Purple Sun River for his base, dispersing his three sons and a daughter, along with his disciple, to guard different locations. Then he began recruiting and carefully strategizing.

Forty-nine years had passed in this place.

From having no troops or generals,

To having troops but no generals.

And still struggling.

"Grandfather's old subordinates at Min River, including my father and uncle, really wield power."

Hearing this, Ao Jun also knew that there was a shortage of soldiers and generals both on Yinchuan River and Purple Sun River. Thinking of the courtiers and generals at Min River, he couldn't help feeling indignant.

"Father was demoted to Poison Dragon Pond."

"This place, far from Ancient Shang, far from Min River, in the unknown territories of Chun Shen Nine Provinces, is fraught with unpredictable dangers, and naturally, those people are unwilling to risk it."

"That's only logical."

Ao Le accepted this reality.

Ao Zhan's demotion was clear at a glance. The dangers of Poison Dragon Pond were evident, and following Ao Zhan meant a grim future—nobody dared to gamble their fortune and their life on Ao Zhan's current standing.

Inside, she understood.

But something seemed to strike Ao Le, and his mood became somewhat gloomy after speaking.

"Hmph!"

"Nothing but a group of ingrates."

"General Zhang Shu is top-notch in training and commanding troops, with a boundless future. Didn't the newly appointed Dragon Lord of Min River personally come to entice him, only to end up at Poison Dragon Pond together?"

Ao Jun was indignant.

As he spoke, he noticed that his aunt had been silent for a while and quickly looked over. He saw Ao Le with her head down, lost in thought, which made Ao Jun frown as he recalled his own words—

"Aunt?"

With a pang of regret, Ao Jun said, looking at his aunt, "Aunt, I believe uncle would never defect to the demons, and will return sooner or later. Maybe he is already on his way back to Min River, or perhaps on the way to Poison Dragon Pond right now."

Ao Le listened.

She looked up and smiled at Ao Jun, "When your uncle first entered the Chun Shen Realm, your father hadn't even married your mother, and you were nowhere to be found yet. I've never seen your uncle, and here you are making up stories to amuse me. Aren't you afraid your father will beat you?"

"Father is too busy dealing with the demons to even think of beating me."

Seeing his aunt smile, Ao Jun felt relieved and joined in with a chuckle.

"Look at you!"

Ao Le shook her head, her initial melancholy swept away, replaced by deep longing.

Unlike Ao Jun's attempt to comfort.

She had been with her husband day and night for hundreds of years and knew him far better.

Defect to the demons?

Impossible!

Even if he were with demons, it must be driven by his own considerations.

"Luo Fu has secluded himself and is not meeting anyone."

"My husband must be stuck in deep contemplation or trapped somewhere and unable to escape."

"However, with my husband's skill, he certainly won't have any trouble."

Ao Le composed herself, her gaze firm.

She stood up.

"Follow me outside to calm the troops," she said to Ao Jun.

"Yes!"

Ao Jun responded.

The aunt and nephew proceeded towards the hall exit but at that moment—

A daoist in a Water Merging Daoist Robe, wearing a Wolong Crown, strode toward the hall. His face was handsome, his expression a mix of deep nostalgia, love, and guilt was evident in his eyes.

His gaze fixed upon the commanding female general ahead.

Jun turned to the newcomer, failing to recognize him, and exclaimed, "Who goes there!?"

As he spoke,

He found the man's face familiar.

"Eh?"

"Is this—"

He remembered a painting he often saw in his aunt's side hall as a child.

The man in the painting—

Though his attire was different, his face and expression were unmistakably the same.

Ao Jun's eyes widened in shock:

"Uncle?!"

…

"Husband."

Ao Le, with her arm around Lu Qingfeng's, had a face full of tenderness, none of the earlier martial aura remained. Her eyes seemed capable of speaking, filled with endless words.

Lu Qingfeng looked down at Ao Le with an involuntary smile.

Since entering the Chun Shen Realm, he hadn't seen Ao Le.

A calculation revealed it had been eight hundred and forty-four years.

"Unexpected changes a century ago made you wait so long."

"It even caused trouble for my father and third brother."

Lu Qingfeng had endless words to share with Ao Le.

While speaking,

He felt a piercing, flame-like gaze upon him.

He paused, looking up, and saw the young general.

Recalling the young general's earlier address, Lu Qingfeng, not hurried to catch up with Ao Le, looked at her and asked, "Is this the son your third brother had in recent years, Ao Jun?"

Ao Le smiled and nodded.

Ao Jun, staring at Lu Qingfeng, opened his mouth but was at a loss for words.

Seeing this, Lu Qingfeng smiled at Ao Jun, "Call me uncle. I didn't have time to prepare a gift due to the rush of my return."

"No need, no need."

"Uncle's return is enough."

"Aunt has been longing for you for a long time, and for your nephew, your return today is the best gift."

Ao Jun hurriedly said.

Seeing his aunt's face glow with unprecedented happiness made him happy for her.

"Quite the talker."

Lu Qingfeng held Ao Le's hand tightly, the other hand motioned to Ao Jun, "You should still have a gift. Come forward."

Ao Jun, hearing this, looked up at Ao Le.

Only to see Ao Le smiling, "Your uncle has plenty of fine things on him, aren't you coming over?"

"Yes."

Ao Jun then stepped forward, standing in front of Lu Qingfeng.

Lu Qingfeng made a gesture, and before Ao Jun could react, touched his head. Ao Jun instinctively stepped back, but couldn't move an inch.

"So powerful."

"At least Fourth Realm!"

Ao Jun was both shocked and scared.

Unsure what this uncle, met for the first time, intended.

As he was unmoored, a gentle voice reached his ears—

"This Divine Skills is called 'Fallen Divine Light,' able to bring down the Divine Souls of human immortals, demons, Buddhas, and all living beings."

"Do not be distracted, study it well."

The voice ceased.

Ao Jun immediately felt a Mysterious Technique settle in his heart, and deep realizations about 'Fallen Divine Light' burst forth.

"Fallen Divine Light!"

After a brief moment of realization, Ao Jun's eyes brightened, aware of its potency.

Knowing this was a rare opportunity, he quickly closed his eyes to meditate quietly and comprehend.

Unsure how much time passed.

Thousands of realizations filled his mind, a painful exhaustion of his Divine Soul, and he reluctantly emerged from this profound state.

Opening his eyes,

His uncle and aunt were no longer beside him, as Spirit Pills fell from the sky, turning into sweet rain upon Ao Jun's head.

"Hiss!"

The pain in Ao Jun's Divine Soul spurred him. Without delay, he sat cross-legged, recovering his Divine Soul.

…