Yellow Court Daoist
Chapter 407 - 383: Ten Years, Calling Out

Beiyang County.

Recently a major event occurred.

Chen's Young Master, while on an excursion, had an unusual encounter and returned to Chen Mansion where he killed his uncle, Chen Xun, and two guards, causing quite a stir.

The cause and effect gradually came to light.

People learned that Chen Xun had sent men to kill Chen Fan, but fate had a twist in store. Chen Fan, having consumed an Immortal Fruit, had his strength greatly enhanced to the point where he could kill the slightly martially adept guards of Chen Mansion with a single punch.

The matter was the talk of the town for a while.

Not many days later.

In an inconspicuous mountain hollow a hundred miles away from Beiyang County, dozens of bodies were discovered, their deaths identical to those of Chen Xun and the two guards in Chen Mansion—

Each had been killed with a single punch.

It was speculated to be the work of Chen Fan.

...

Yu State City.

Headquarters of the Demon Hunting Bureau.

The director listened to his subordinate report, frowning involuntarily, "Chen Fan has become a disciple of the Spirit-Suppressing Daoist of Kunlong Mountain?"

"Yes."

"The Spirit-Suppressing Daoist regards Chen Fan quite highly, it seems due to Chen Fan's excellent aptitude and the fact that he consumed a Spirit Awakening Fruit."

The subordinate reported.

"Spirit Awakening Fruit?"

"I see, no wonder his strength increased so much."

Realization dawned on the director, and with a stroke of the brush, he noted in the ledger—

"In the ninth month of the Geng Yin year, Chen Fan of Beiyang County gained immense strength from consuming the Spirit Awakening Fruit, avenged dozens of lives, went to Kunlong Mountain, and took the Spirit-Suppressing Daoist as his master."

Immediately after.

He tossed the ledger towards the subordinate below, commanding aloud, "Take this to the archives."

"Yes."

The subordinate left.

The director was now alone, the look of sudden comprehension gone from his face, replaced by an expression that flickered with uncertainty, mumbling 'Chen Fan', 'Spirit Awakening Fruit', 'Spirit-Suppressing Daoist'.

He then shook his head.

The Spirit-Suppressing Daoist was a powerful figure not only in Yu State County but also in the surrounding counties. Several disciples even served as directors in the Demon Hunting Bureau in surrounding counties. Obviously, it was not worth the risk and the uncertainty for a task from higher up to offend such a person.

"Better to avoid unnecessary troubles."

He thought to himself and pushed the matter to the back of his mind.

...

Kunlong Mountain.

A young man sat at the head of the room as an old man in a cyan Daoist robe trembled before him.

If the director from Yu State City were here, seeing such a sight of the old Daoist, he would surely be shocked with wide eyes, even more grateful he hadn't pursued Chen Fan further.

This old Daoist was the master of Feiling Temple on Kunlong Mountain, one of the foremost Cultivators within a thousand miles—

Spirit-Suppressing Daoist.

Yet, at this moment, the Spirit-Suppressing Daoist was pale-faced as he bowed to the young man at the head of the room, saying respectfully, "The people from Yu State City's Demon Hunting Bureau have been sent away, just as Predecessor directed."

"Call me Chen Fan."

"I'll be your teacher for the next ten years."

The young man spoke indifferently.

"Yes, yes."

"Chen Fan."

The Spirit-Suppressing Daoist had no choice but to comply quickly.

"That will do."

"You may go down now, carry on as usual, making sure not to slip up."

The young man waved his hand.

The Spirit-Suppressing Daoist repeatedly expressed his assent and withdrew obediently.

...

Kunlong Mountain.

Inside the Feiling Temple.

Lu Qingfeng quietly sensed the chains of karma associated with borrowing the identity of 'Chen Fan' completely dissolving, feeling a sense of relief.

He couldn't help but marvel.

"Immortal Qin is truly extraordinary. Even this Inheritance Order, which deals with karma, although only touching the most superficial level, is incomparable to the ordinary."

Lu Qingfeng's eyes were bright.

He possessed the 'Inverted Void Glazed Glass Wall' which not only allowed him to conceal Fate, preventing his rejection by the Chunshen Realm but in principle, there was no need to fuss over using the 'Inheritance Order'.

For one, Lu Qingfeng was cautious; having an extra layer of protection was undeniably a good thing. After all, the Ancient Shang Practitioners, using the 'Inheritance Order', eluded detection except in rare cases, making it a reliable method.

Secondly, the Inverted Void Glazed Glass Wall could only conceal Fate and not alter it. Once Lu Qingfeng revealed his true strength, it would only be a matter of time before he was exposed. By assuming the identity of 'Chen Fan', although it had its share of weaknesses, it gave him an anchor.

Thus.

Lu Qingfeng quickly resolved the remaining obsessions of 'Chen Fan'—

Personal rivalry, vengeance for his father, and joining an Immortal Sect.

Lu Qingfeng entering Chen Mansion and killing three persons was settling his own grudge. Killing the horse bandits was avenging his father. Later, going to Kunlong Mountain, revealing his true might as a True Man, and easily subduing the Spirit-Suppressing Daoist of only the Spirit Void Level, he forced a discipleship.

This addressed the last layer of obsession.

From then onwards.

Within Chunshen Realm.

He could move about freely under the guise of Chen Fan of Beiyang County.

"The Chunshen Realm was divided into nine provinces with boundless territories. Even the top immortal, demonic, and demon sects could not fully control it. By concealing Heaven's Secrets and changing my tracks, the likelihood of being discovered is almost zero. Even if I were to reveal my Third Realm cultivation in the future, the vastness of the world may not take notice. Practitioners of the Fourth Realm are considered top figures in their own right, and the Third Realm cultivators are as common as carp crossing the river, harboring their own mysterious secrets."

"If we were to kill indiscriminately without sparing anyone, it would likely lead to chaos within Chunshen before Immortal Qin's arrival."

Lu Qingfeng was clear in his heart.

As long as he wasn't intercepted and killed upon entering the Chunshen Realm, the chances of his identity being exposed and resulting in death were extremely slim.

"Many Ancient Shang practitioners enter the Chunshen Realm to seek a place to cultivate in hiding until they achieve the Fourth Realm and have sufficient power to protect themselves before coming out again. Some seek opportunities, others to establish sects, or to expand their territories."

Lu Qingfeng pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "Secluded cultivation is not suitable for me. I am currently in the Gathering Law Realm and still need to gather the Nine Layers of Gang Sha. It would be best to find a top-tier Spirit Wood to establish the foundation for the 'Red Dust Longevity Technique.'"

Finding the Nine Layers of Gang Sha was not easy.

However, Lu Qingfeng had already sent an avatar to the Chunshen Realm early on to establish quite the foundation. His disciples and followers were scattered about, searching for places rich in Gang Sha and reporting back. Over five hundred years, they had indeed found several Earth Evil Yin Veins and Heavenly Gang Qi.

"First, I'll recuperate for ten years."

"Then I'll head to the Wuwang Sea."

Having organized his thoughts.

Lu Qingfeng temporarily settled down in Kunlong Mountain, cultivating while keeping an eye on the overall situation.

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, ten years flew by.

...

On this day.

In East Xiang State.

Two middle-aged men, one fat and one thin, walked out of a cave dwelling.

The slightly plump one spoke, "It's been ten years. If Guang Yuan isn't dead, he should have recovered from his injuries."

"Call him now?"

"Do you think he'll really come to help?"

The slender tall middle-aged man frowned.

"Let's just give it a try."

"If he does come, great, we kill him, and there will be one less person to share the spoils of Chunshen Realm with us in the future. If he doesn't come, it's no loss either way. It's just a matter of convenience."

The plump middle-aged man smiled, revealing his teeth.

Ao Yin looked at his eighth brother, Ao Pi, and nodded, "That might be best. If he left a deceitful way to contact him, in just these ten short years, he wouldn't have achieved much of note."

Saying that.

He silently recited the phrases from the Eight Diagram Array that Lu Qingfeng had told him. Unknown ripples spread through the Void, then transmitted far away.

"It's done."

"We just wait for the kid to show up now."

Seeing this, Ao Pi's face revealed a sinister and ferocious expression, "That old fool Ao Zhan, so stubbornly unaware of the times. Ao Le, that wretched girl was supposed to be my wife, but married a lowly mortal instead. This is a clear insult to me, a blatant humiliation to our Wujiang Dragon Palace. Whether Guang Yuan comes or not, I will take his life within the Chunshen Realm!"

"Afterwards, I'll return to Ancient Shang and take the newly widowed Ao Le as a concubine. A thousand years apart, I imagine the taste will be quite unique."

In Ao Pi's mind flashed the image of that shy girl from the Wujiang Dragon Palace who, seeing several of them brothers, would walk around them, barely daring to speak like a mute, and thought of Ao Le, now a wife at Min River.

His eyes gleamed with lust, mixed with a hint of regret, "If I had known that wench would grow up so attractive, I shouldn't have let her go back then."

"Ha ha!"

"Ao Le was just a tiny girl back then. Not to mention that you and I were too young to think of such things, even if we did, I wouldn't have had the heart to go after a girl so small," Ao Yin teased with a laugh.

Hearing this, Ao Pi's mind conjured up an image of Ao Le when she was younger. His expression changed, and he nodded repeatedly, "Seventh brother is right. A little girl is indeed no fun, and now, a grown woman is truly tempting."

The two brothers exchanged glances and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The laughter echoed across the countryside, startling the birds and beasts.

...

In a certain part of East Xiang State.

A cave dwelling in the mountains.

Lu Qingfeng sat cross-legged inside.

This place was countless miles away from West Extreme State. Naturally, this was not Lu Qingfeng himself, but his avatar, Luo Fuzi.

Yet, the two were as one, each other's limbs.

There was no distinction between them.

Before him floated a Golden Lotus shimmering with faint golden light. Endless mysteries were hidden within. As Lu Qingfeng delved into comprehension, he could see that among the many lotus seeds, there were faintly three clusters of light. The profound mysteries resided within, but no matter how hard Lu Qingfeng tried to comprehend, the light clusters remained hazy, with the inside mysteries seeming both within reach and yet a million miles away.

"Indeed."

"Without the body ascending to the Primordial Spirit Stage, just having the avatar with the combat prowess of a Primordial Spirit-level does not compare to a legitimate Fourth Realm practitioner. Trying to comprehend these three scattered characters from the Golden Lotus is truly difficult."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

Five hundred years ago.

This avatar came to the Chunshen Realm and established a foundation in the Wuwang Sea under the name 'Qing Yuanzi,' using the base on White Head Island to achieve notoriety. More than two hundred years ago, he refined the Earth Evil Restriction of the 'Three Light Heavenly Xin Sword,' his combat prowess comparable to a Primordial Spirit practitioner, further solidifying his fame.

Ten years ago.

In the Wuwang Sea, after contesting an odd treasure, the Golden Lotus, with the Spirit-Suppressing Daoist, and securing it, he quickly came to East Xiang State to find the brothers, Ao Yin and Ao Pi. Unfortunately, upon arrival, the two had not yet used the Inheritance Order to conceal their Heaven's Secrets, and Lu Qingfeng could calculate their whereabouts. But soon after, their fate grew obscure. By the time Luo Fuzi's avatar arrived, the two were nowhere to be found.

Thus.

Lu Qingfeng had his avatar settle there on the spot.

Waiting for the right moment while cultivating.

The avatar did not need cultivation techniques for cultivation.

Merely refining the inner restrictions and accumulating mana was enough. This was a slow process. Using the Dragon Transformation Pond, he had once refined five layers of restrictions in one go.

But after arriving in the Chunshen Realm—

Over two hundred years ago, he refined one layer of restriction, and to this day, it was just one layer of restriction.

Barely reaching the fifty-fifth layer, he could only fight on par with an average Primordial Spirit practitioner. With the help of his main body's Eighth Rank Magical Artifact, he might have a slight advantage at best.

In the Wuwang Sea, formidable figures such as the Spirit-Suppressing Daoist, who was rather well-known, were actually only at the level of the First Level of the Primordial Spirit Stage, the Nourishing God Realm. His Soul Slaying Black Rope seemed formidable, but it was still a step away from the Seventh-Order Magical Artifact.

Naturally, he was no match for Luo Fuzi.

But likewise, Luo Fuzi was unable to overcome the Spirit-Suppressing Daoist.