Yellow Court Daoist

In reality.

Northern Realm of Xia Guang Domain.

A white-robed cultivator strolled leisurely amongst the mountains and rivers. With handsome features and a devilish smile at the corner of his lips, he exuded an air of being both righteous and demonic.

"In Jinlan City, I planted three emotional seeds years ago. Two have perished, but one remains. Now stepping into the Heart Movement Realm, it's time for the harvest."

Qu Han's face bore a smile, full of anticipation within his heart.

With swift speed.

He headed straight for Jinlan City.

...

Jinlan City.

Surrounded by water on three sides, with a mountain to the north called Jinlan Mountain, where a sect named 'Lishui Sect' sat—a Great Sect considered one of the top within thousands of miles. Several Spirit Void Practitioners guarded the sect, their strength formidable.

On this day.

In Jinlan City, a man and a woman walked hand in hand, with a two- or three-year-old child, looking robust and adorable, sitting on the man's shoulders. The little one's eyes were black and shiny, filled with curiosity as he looked ahead at the bustling city, well-behaved and quiet.

"Changsheng."

"This is the place your mother grew up, called 'Jinlan City.' We'll visit your grandparents first, then go to Jinlan Mountain to meet your grandmaster."

Xu Mi spoke to the little one, her face brimming with happiness. She slightly raised her head, looking at the resolute man by her side, and teased with a laugh, "We're about to meet my parents. Aren't you nervous at all?"

"I am already a Spirit Void Practitioner, and your parents are only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Why should I be nervous?"

The man replied, puzzled.

"Hmph!"

"Shouldn't a son-in-law be apprehensive when visiting? You married their precious daughter without their consent. Once we enter the city, look out for your skin."

Upon hearing this, Xu Mi's expression paused, then she let out a soft snort, feigning annoyance.

"I am thick-skinned and tough; even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator can't harm me."

The man assured Xu Mi with a smile.

Xu Mi was both annoyed and amused, "You still want to fight with my parents?"

"Of course not."

"If your parents are angry, I will take whatever beating they give."

The man shook his head, his face sincere as he spoke. Remembering something, he continued, "My elder brother and younger sister are very kind, the closest people to me. When you and Changsheng meet them, they will surely be overjoyed."

"..."

"Blockhead!"

"Lu Qingshan, you're such a blockhead!"

Xu Mi said with her mouth, but her face was filled with smiles.

Although her husband was blunt and not good at sweet-talking, he had a gentle nature and treated her extremely well. Arguing with him left her both vexed and amused, overwhelmed with joy.

...

Illusion Wave Sea.

Fiery Fire Island.

Within the cave abode, Lu Qingyu and Lu Qingfeng sat across from each other, drinking.

"Ha ha!"

"My second brother really doesn't understand romance. How could my second sister-in-law fall for him?"

Lu Qingyu watched the scene in front of Jinlan City displayed in mid-air, laughing heartily. He tilted his head back and took a big gulp of wine, a flush of redness appearing on his face, and pointing at the mid-air scene, he turned to Lu Qingfeng, laughing loudly, "But now I understand why elder brother never wanted to peek at second brother. Seeing such bickering between husband and wife, the three of them so content, elder brother would only feel troubled watching alone."

After three pots of Flowers Brew, Lu Qingyu was somewhat drunk and spoke somewhat incoherently.

"Peek?"

"That sounds so distasteful!"

Lu Qingfeng glared at Qingyu, seeing him tipsy, couldn't help but shake his head.

In fact.

Ever since Qingyu made significant progress with his 'Daluo Cave Temple' Divine Skills, Lu Qingfeng seldom visited her.

It was the same with Qingshan.

About four years ago, Qingshan passed by Jinlan Mountain in the Lishui Sect's territory and was fated to meet with the sect's talented cultivator, Xu Mi. After they became companions, Lu Qingfeng also rarely checked in.

Had it not been for Qingyu returning, hearing that second brother was already married with a child and insisting on seeing her nephew, Lu Qingfeng would not have used the 'Heavenly Listening and Earthly Viewing Great Method' for three to four years.

"Hmph, hmph!"

"Second brother married and had a child without saying a word, stayed outside for these years. When he returns, elder brother must give him a good lesson."

Lu Qingyu hummed, showing a naive expression, and said to Lu Qingfeng.

The three siblings had depended on each other since they were young. Now that second brother had his own family, Lu Qingyu felt joy and anticipation upon seeing the second sister-in-law and the nephew named 'Changsheng', but her feelings were also complicated. She was a bit angry that second brother didn't even tell her about something as big as marriage and waited until his return.

Lu Qingfeng smiled.

Understanding Qingyu's thoughts.

The two drank and chatted about various things.

Suddenly.

Lu Qingfeng's wine pot paused, his eyes focused on the scene in the air. Without delay, he hurriedly said to Qingyu, "Qingshan is in danger. Wait here for me; I'm heading to Jinlan City."

Saying so.

Lu Qingfeng formed a Seal Technique, and five streams of black vapor coalesced into whirling black smoke. They transformed into five small ghosts in the air, bowed respectfully to Lu Qingfeng, and then mimicked lifting something, as Lu Qingfeng disappeared in an instant.

"Elder brother!"

Lu Qingyu's drunkenness vanished instantly. Seeing her brother using the 'Five Ghosts Transfer Skill' to vanish into thin air, her eyes turned towards the scene in the air, her brows furrowing tightly.

She saw—

...

In Jinlan City.

Lu Qingshan, carrying his son Changsheng, entered Jinlan City with Xu Mi, heading straight to Xu Mi's home. Xu Mi's parents were cultivators from the Lishui Sect, with average talent. Not having reached Foundation Establishment by their thirties or forties, they were assigned to do deacon work and sent to serve in Jinlan City. The couple had a daughter, Xu Mi herself.

Xu Mi possessed exceptional talent for cultivation.

At the age of sixteen, she joined the Lishui Sect and quickly distinguished herself, eventually becoming a disciple under the wing of the Great Elder. Blessed by Xu Mi's influence and the sect's care, her parents each received two Foundation Establishment Pills and successfully established their foundations.

Now under two hundred years of age, they could still lead over a hundred more years of a good life, even if they made no further progress in their cultivation.

Their status in Jinlan City was not low.

Lu Qingshan and Xu Mi arrived at the front of a rather imposing mansion. Both being Spirit Void Practitioners, they entered and left without anyone noticing. Xu Mi didn't wish to alarm anyone else, so she brought Lu Qingshan and her son Lu Changsheng over the compound wall, hurrying towards her parents' quarters.

As they walked, Xu Mi talked to Lu Qingshan, "I was just scaring you before. My parents are very easy to talk to. Seeing such a fine son-in-law as you, they'll surely be delighted. And there's Changsheng, such an adorable and charming grandson, my parents will be overjoyed."

Xu Mi couldn't stop smiling.

She had been away from home for some time, and now, about to meet her parents, moreover bringing husband and child, her heart was filled with joy, anticipation, and also a bit of nervousness.

While she was talking.

The two quickly reached the inner courtyard.

As soon as they stepped in, Lu Qingshan's expression subtly changed, and he pulled Xu Mi to a halt.

"What's wrong?"

"Haha, you're not seriously nervous, are you?"

Xu Mi was stunned, then burst out laughing.

Lu Qingshan's brow furrowed slightly, shaking his head, "Something's not right inside."

"Something's not right?"

Xu Mi froze, confused.

Lu Qingshan was on guard.

Just then.

Bang!

Bang!

Two bodies were flung out from inside, riddled with signs of torture and unrecognizable. The vitality had faded from their bodies, evidently deceased for a while.

Upon seeing them, Xu Mi's eyes widened in shock—

"Dad!"

"Mom!"

She stepped forward to catch the two corpses. Feeling the life force that had long since dissipated, Xu Mi's eyes split open with rage, and she let out a roar from the depths of her throat.

Just a moment ago.

She had been cheerfully discussing her parents with her husband, eagerly anticipating their reaction to seeing their son-in-law and young grandchild, her heart brimming with the joy of an imminent joyful family reunion.

But in the next moment.

Her parents lay dead before her, devoid of any sign of life. Even the most powerful Divine Doctor in the world had no such heaven-defying technique to revive the dead.

Xu Mi's heart was wracked with pain.

Lu Qingshan stepped forward half a step, first shielding Xu Mi, then holding the child Lu Changsheng in his arms tightly, and looking towards the inner courtyard.

"Joy."

"Sorrow."

"Anger."

Walking out from the inner courtyard, Qu Han in a white robe approached leisurely, sensing the intense emotional fluctuations coming from the female cultivator ahead, his face showing a malevolent smile. His aura vibrated intensely, his formidable presence enveloping ten zhang in an instant.

"A Jiedan True Man!?"

Such an aura instantly jolted Xu Mi out of her grief and rage. Struck by fear, she abruptly rose to stand in front of Lu Qingshan, protecting her young son, and furiously demanded of Qu Han, "Who are you, and why did you kill my parents!"

Yet secretly, she transmitted a message, "Qingshan, you're faster. I'll hold this man off while you escape with Changsheng."

"Activate the Mist Banner and leave first, I'll stop him!"

Lu Qingshan, one hand holding the blinking, puzzled Lu Changsheng, pushed Xu Mi away with the other, and spoke sternly, "I have the Cloud Summit Step. I can escape with Changsheng at any time. Hurry and leave, otherwise neither I nor Changsheng will survive!"

As his words ended.

Lu Qingshan slapped his storage bag at his waist, and a Black Banner rushed out.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Seven Spirit Void Level Evil Spirits circled around him, roaring towards Qu Han. Meanwhile, sword qi flickered around his body as seventy-two rays of golden light shone out, streaking towards Qu Han.

It was the Da Geng Sword Formation from the Luofu Sword Scripture!

"Fear."

"Love."

"Loathing."

Qu Han approached leisurely, holding a banner that released twenty-one ghostly shadows, each resembling a beautiful woman in light veils, their faces showing extreme emotions, whether joy, sorrow, anger, or fear, all portrayed to the fullest. As soon as they appeared, they began to unsettle the mind.

Woo woo woo!

The twenty-one shadows formed an array, clashing with the Da Geng Sword Formation.

Lu Qingshan cultivated the Luofu Sword Scripture, which was of an exceedingly high level, but after all, his cultivation was only at the early stages of Spirit Void, not even yet reaching the Heart Movement Realm. The white-robed cultivator Qu Han before him, however, had long since reached the Solid Pill stage of cultivation.

The gap between the two was too wide.

It wasn't something that skills or spells could bridge.

As ghostly lights flashed and they collided, the Da Geng Sword Formation was on the verge of collapse.

"Go now!"

While desperately trying to stabilize the Da Geng Sword Formation to block Qu Han, Lu Qingshan shouted at Xu Mi.

Xu Mi gritted her teeth, slapped her storage bag, and an inch-sized small banner fell into her hands. She looked at Lu Qingshan with determination, "You must come find me!"

"Alright!"

Lu Qingshan nodded vigorously.

Without further hesitation, Xu Mi shook the small banner fiercely.

But at that moment.

Qu Han lightly uttered a word—

"Explode!"

As Xu Mi was about to shake the Mist Banner, she suddenly paused, her face turning crimson with a start, feeling as if a loud boom echoed from somewhere within her body. A torrent of emotions immediately surged forth, shattering her True Yuan completely, trembling, she dropped the Mist Banner from her hands to the ground.

Her entire body collapsed limply.

A bizarre and erratic aura scrambled across her body.

Seeing this, Lu Qingshan's eyes nearly split, "Heart Demon?!"