Yellow Court Daoist

Soldier Book and Treasure Sword Gorge.

This place is a forbidden cultivation site of the Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain, where only monks with the sect's permission may enter for cultivation and ponder upon the Soldier Book Stone or the Treasure Sword Stone.

In the Hidden Law Pavilion of the Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain, there are countless magic gates, each more mysterious than the last, left by the predecessors who were geniuses of their times and derived from their contemplation at Soldier Book and Treasure Sword Gorge.

To choose a method from these and then cultivate within the gorge, mutually verifying one's understanding, will more than double one's cultivation effectiveness.

Lu Qingfeng, following Bing Yi Daoist, had paid a visit to Gu Yue Daoist and then went to the Hidden Law Pavilion to review numerous magic gates derived or inspired by the Soldier Book and Treasure Sword Gorge, recording them one by one in his attribute panel.

In Bing Yi Daoist's eyes, Lu Qingfeng seemed to be casually browsing and arbitrarily chose four top-tier magic gates.

Little did he know.

The Hidden Law Pavilion's magic gates were nearly swept clean by Lu Qingfeng.

Perhaps it was Lu Qingfeng's performance in Qingluo Valley, as well as his actions in the White Bone Realm and Annihilation Divine Sect, that eased the caution of Gu Yue Daoist and Bing Yi Daoist.

Perhaps the Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain indeed valued this 'Primordial Spirit Practitioner'.

All the magic gates in the Hidden Law Pavilion were at Lu Qingfeng's disposal.

But Lu Qingfeng knew.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain was established upon the Beast Taming Skill, and though the magic gates in the Hidden Law Pavilion were mysterious, even the most profound among them were only of common goods at the Side Door Level.

Their only advantage was the comprehensiveness.

The core Great Methods and top-tier magic gates would not be stored within.

But after all, Lu Qingfeng had just joined the Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain, and to have such treatment showed Gu Yue and Bing Yi's sincerity.

Lu Qingfeng, in the Hidden Law Pavilion, selected four magic gates related to the 'Soldier Book and Treasure Sword Gorge' and also took two more that detailed the refining of the 'Snow Soul Pearl'.

Then he went to the Soldier Book and Treasure Sword Gorge to begin closed-door cultivation.

...

Xiling Gorge, centered around White Dog Gorge to the west, is sequentially followed by Broken Water Gorge, Rice Storage Gorge, and Soldier Book and Treasure Sword Gorge. To the east, there is Mountain Guardian Gorge, Yellow Bull Gorge, and Ox Liver Horse Lung Gorge.

The White Dog Gorge, in particular, is where Ancestor Master Guyue of the sect secluded himself for cultivation.

The walls of the White Dog Gorge are steep, with white rocks peering out, resembling white dogs.

Along the banks, the peaks rise steeply, competing in height, with some cliffs reaching a thousand feet.

Inside the Xuanyue Cave.

Bing Yi Daoist was seated in meditation, with a tall Daoist with a long beard and towering hat in front of him, sitting upright. He had a green gourd and a yellow gourd tied to his waist.

It was none other than one of the world's top cultivators—

Daoist Gu Yue!

His gaze profound, Ancestor Master Gu Yue's eyes seemed to pierce through the void to see Lu Qingfeng, who was contemplatively cultivating in silence within the Soldier Book and Treasure Sword Gorge.

After watching for a long time.

Ancestor Master Gu Yue spoke in a thick voice, "According to what you said, this Changqingzi is intolerant of evil and has an upright nature, indeed worthy of cultivation."

"That's right."

"Changqingzi had made a name for himself in the White Bone Realm, killing many demons. Also outside Impermanence Island, he rescued a group of practitioners from the Annihilation Divine Sect. In Qingluo Valley, if it was not for his breaking through the mysteries of the Snow Mountain Formation, it would have been hard to thoroughly eradicate the Qingluo Eight Demons."

Bing Yi Daoist nodded as he spoke, then added, "However, Changqingzi's origins remain unknown, and we should treat him well without causing him to feel alienated. The core of our Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain lies in the Teacher Uncle and the 'Green Mist Treasure Cauldron' as well as 'Immortal-locking Treasure Gourd'. Everything else, whether it be Cultivation Secret Realms or Spiritual Elixir and Treasures, are all secondary."

The Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain was, after all, a large establishment with vast undertakings.

While Bing Yi Daoist admired Lu Qingfeng's character, deep down, he still harbored caution.

Which was only natural.

How could one completely lower their guard when joining halfway?

Lu Qingfeng was aware, but he did not mind.

As Bing Yi Daoist spoke, he did not see Gu Yue Ancestor Master respond. Looking up, he saw that Ancestor Master Gu Yue was gazing into the heavens, lost in thought.

His mind seemed to reach beyond the clouds.

"What is this—"

Sensing something, Bing Yi Daoist's heart stirred and he fell silent, speculating.

Ancestor Master Gu Yue, who had been daydreaming for a long time, finally withdrew his gaze from the heavens and looked toward Bing Yi Daoist, shaking his head, "Since Changqingzi's origins are unknown, we can only take him into our sect and utilize him as a helper, it is unwise to consider him core. Ultimately, the fate of Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain will depend on you."

"Bing Yi is ashamed."

Bing Yi Daoist lowered his head, showing an ashamed expression.

"Xun Tianxing and I entered the Primordial Spirit Realm at the same time, and we both reached the Fourth Realm of Primordial Spirit. However, with continuous emergence of Primordial Spirits in Guyue Valley, that old fellow threw up his hands and ascended, free and at ease. He is in the Upper Realm, hopeful to breakthrough to the Mahayana True Immortal Realm."

"Poor me has to guard this worldly estate; I have no idea when I can ascend."

Ancestor Master Gu Yue flipped his palm, and a small tripod with mists hovering around appeared in his hand, with various fascinating exotic beasts transforming into auspicious images, utterly mysterious. As if speaking to himself, yet seemingly addressing Bing Yi Daoist.

Bing Yi Daoist sneakily looked up at Ancestor Master Gu Yue, seeing him in a wistful and saddened state, and could not help but smile bitterly, "Bing Yi is dull-witted, despite many years of arduous cultivation, unable to reach the God Transformation Realm, failing Teacher Uncle's expectations."

The small tripod in Ancestor Master Gu Yue's hand, named 'Green Mist Treasure Cauldron,' was the prime Supreme Treasure of the Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain, even more important than the Green Wood King Ding in Guyue Valley.

Priceless and mysterious.

To refine and master it was no easy task. This 'Green Mist Treasure Cauldron' required one to reach the Second Stage of Primordial Spirit and the God Transformation Realm to refine and thoroughly master it.

Otherwise, it would not be secure.

Ancestor Master Gu Yue could have ascended to the Upper Realm long ago, but because there was no one in the sect who could inherit the 'Green Mist Treasure Cauldron,' he stayed until now, allowing Xun Tianxing of Guyue Valley to take the lead.

Although he did not show it while he was observing ceremonies, he was inevitably frustrated deep down.

"Five hundred years!"

"No more than another five hundred years, I am determined to ascend. As for the Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain, by then it will be up to you to take charge. If by that time you are unable to ascend to the God Transformation, I will have no choice but to take the 'Vajra Long-Armed Ape' and 'Cold Jade Turtle' away from the Three Mountains and Nine Waters."

Ancestor Master Gu Yue extended five fingers to Bing Yi Daoist and declared through clenched teeth.

This is a matter of the path ahead.

Between the assured safety of the Immortal Sect and one's own future, it's rare to have the best of both worlds. Master Gu Yue hesitated for a long time, but seeing Xun Tianxing of Green Wood Valley achieve Ascension, he finally made a decision.

Daoist Bing Yi nodded with a bitter expression, "Bing Yi has burdened Master."

Seeing Daoist Bing Yi like this, Master Gu Yue felt a twinge of remorse.

After a long silence, as if struck by a sudden thought, his eyebrows raised briefly then relaxed again.

"Master."

"Have you thought of some method?"

Daoist Bing Yi noticed the change in his expression and quickly inquired.

Master Gu Yue was silent for a moment, then seeing Daoist Bing Yi's eyes fixed unwaveringly on him, he pointed to the north and said, "The Qingluo Eight Demons originally followed Wei Fengniang and learned many techniques from the Six Dust Temple. That Eight-Armed Demon Lord, Huang Su, is proficient in the Combat Skills of the Six Dust Temple, following the path of the Eight-Armed Vajra, much to the disgrace of the Six Dust Temple's reputation and turning Master Zhen Hui into a laughingstock."

"You and Changqingzi, having slain the Qingluo Eight Demons, the Six Dust Temple owes us now. If I intercede, there's a reasonable chance I could persuade Master Zhen Hui to act."

Master Gu Yue paused there for a moment.

"Master Zhen Hui?"

Daoist Bing Yi was initially hesitant, but quickly realized and frowned, "Master, are you referring to the 'Buddhist Little Wheel Three Ride Marvelous Forms Transformation Birth Method'?"

At the conclusion of his words,

Daoist Bing Yi's expression grew solemn, and his eyes seemed to struggle with the thought.

"That's right!"

"With your aptitude, even if you were to advance to Divinity Transformation in this life, it's unclear when that would happen. You might as well take the chance now, if successful, you might be able to ascend to the Upper Realm. Though the path is perilous, it's still better than wasting time as you are now."

Master Gu Yue spoke softly, "I do have some self-interest in this, but the choice is yours to make."

Daoist Bing Yi's eyes flickered with resolution.

"Think this over when you return."

"If you have decided, come find me. As for Changqingzi, I will compensate him accordingly."

After all, the slaying of the Qingluo Eight Demons hinged on Lu Qingfeng, and to ask Master Zhen Hui of the Six Dust Temple for help due to the karma of the Qingluo Eight Demons, Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain has to show some recognition of Lu Qingfeng's part in it.

Master Gu Yue waved Daoist Bing Yi away.

"Bing Yi may take leave."

With a grave expression and deep in thought, Daoist Bing Yi did not respond immediately but rose from his seat and left Xuanyue Cave.

Inside Xuanyue Cave.

"Sigh!"

Master Gu Yue watched Daoist Bing Yi leave, letting out a long sigh, then raised his gaze to the vast sky, eventually closing his eyes slightly as Xuanyue Cave fell back into silence.

...

In Soldier Book and Treasure Sword Gorge.

Lu Qingfeng established a cave dwelling within the gorge, seated at the entrance of the cave, he looked around to observe the "Soldier Book Stone" and the "Treasure Sword Stone," contemplating their mysteries. Arrays were set up inside and outside the cave to shield it from detection.

Lu Qingfeng took out the "Snow Soul Pearl" he had obtained from Qingluo Valley, holding it in his hand.

"Such rich and cold power from the snowy domain, if I threw it into the Dutian Creation Pool, it could definitely advance the Dutian Xuanming Strategy to Seventh Order."

It had been some time since the Dutian Xuanming Strategy advanced to Sixth Rank, with the Ghost Generals and Yin Soldiers already in place. But the leap from Sixth to Seventh Order required an unknowable amount of resources to consume, and for Lu Qingfeng, the amount was astronomical.

A short-term advancement was difficult.

Devouring the Snow Soul Pearl was a shortcut, but it seemed too wasteful.

"Even if the Dutian Xuanming Strategy advanced to Seventh Order, it would only result in more Yin Soldiers at the Jiedan Level. Primordial Spirits are difficult to kill, and creating Dutian Ghost Generals is not easy. And Jiedan Yin Soldiers or Jiedan Ghost Generals for me, are only a matter of how much mana I have – it would not fundamentally improve my strength."

As such.

It would be better to maintain the current state of the Dutian Xuanming Strategy, refining and improving it slowly. It was better to first use the Snow Soul Pearl to strengthen himself – that was the right path.

Lu Qingfeng did not hesitate.

He held the Snow Soul Pearl in his hands.

"Even just to aid cultivation, the Snow Soul Pearl is top-tier treasure."

"It could also become an extraordinary magic artifact if used in refinement."

"But its true brilliance lies in cultivation secret techniques, like the one practiced by Snow Mountain Ancestor Wei Fengniang. Once mastered, the power becomes one's own, beyond the reach of others."

Lu Qingfeng chose the same path as Wei Fengniang.

However, the "Snow Mountain Great Method" cultivated by Wei Fengniang was at most at the Side Door Level. The power of the created techniques wouldn't be the weakest among Super-level Techniques but certainly fallen short of Divine Power Level.

Lu Qingfeng, with the "Primordial" myriad of techniques, had far greater methods.

Looking inward at himself, Lu Qingfeng let out an internal shout:

"Twelve Demon Gods—"

"Shebi Corpse!"

Instantly.

Above Lu Qingfeng's head, a dark cloud arose, within which a dragon seemed to be faintly hiding. On closer inspection, it was a demon god with a human face and a beastly body, dog-like ears wearing a green snake – surrounded by phases of the moon and other spectacles.

This was Shebi Corpse, the Demon God known to control the weather.

The Snow Soul Pearl, being the essence of millennia of snow and ice, fell within the realm of Shebi Corpse's command, which included the power of cold. With Shebi Corps refining the Snow Soul Pearl, no techniques were needed, and the refining speed was far beyond Wei Fengniang's capabilities.

"Roar!"

At the sight of the Snow Soul Pearl, Shebi Corpse let out a low growl and swallowed it whole. Lu Qingfeng's head was enveloped in the dark cloud that surged, and with the Shebi Corpse Demon God's body wreathed in ice and snow, the refinement began.

Three months later—

Outside of Soldier Book and Treasure Sword Gorge, a profound icy aura drew near, and in an instant, following the currents of the Chengyang River, arrived in the midst of the canyon.