Yellow Court Daoist

"Water Dao Soldiers are composed of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, managed through the Huanbing Skill, encompassing the 'Spirit Light Method', 'Spirit Nourishing Pill', 'Mind Awakening Pill', 'Nine Transformation Pill', 'Dragon Ascending Pill', 'Transformation Pill', 'Pointing Soldiers and Generals Method', and others among the Nine Elixirs and Twelve Skills—extremely complex."

"It is said that after achieving Core Formation, the real man started cultivating Water Dao Soldiers in the Broken Star Sea. He selected shrimps and crabs with abundant spirit and Dao ability, and after cultivating for a full fourteen hundred years, he finally refined an invincible troop of Water Dao Soldiers."

Lu Qingfeng, holding a platter of steamed shrimp, came to the residence of Lin Feng and Lin Ye, feeling utterly at a loss.

"Hu hu!"

Lin Ye lay on the wooden bed, sniffing weakly and timidly eyeing the wooden platter in Lu Qingfeng's hands.

"Today we're having shrimp."

Seeing Lin Ye, Lu Qingfeng was reminded of Qingyu during their time in Black Wood Village, and lifted the wooden platter toward the emaciated Lin Ye, who was nothing but skin and bones.

...

The Azure Dragon River is vast, particularly in the stretch by Abandoned Mountain, its banks about thirty to forty miles apart. The great river surged, full of countless shrimps and crabs.

"Shrimps reproduce extremely quickly."

"From spawning to larvae, and then to mature shrimp, it can take as slow as a month and a half or as fast as a month."

"Crabs are much slower, requiring one to one and a half years."

Lu Qingfeng stood on the surface of the Azure Dragon River, riding the undulating waves.

With a wave of his hand,

Countless stone pillars fell around him, quickly numbering in the hundreds. Before long, nature's spiritual energy from all directions gathered within the stone pillars, filling an area of a thousand yards.

Lu Qingfeng kept working, casting large flags into the riverwater.

A barrier rose.

The riverwater continued to rush outside the barrier, while inside, the various species of large shrimps and other creatures swam about freely, completely isolated.

The spiritual energy gathered, delighting every fish and shrimp.

After arranging one location,

Lu Qingfeng followed the Azure Dragon River and set up nine more locations. Some congregated large numbers of shrimps, while others, by the riverbanks, saw crabs moving sideways in large numbers.

Spiritual energy gathered from all around in this stretch of the river, inspiring awe and pleasure in anyone who perceived it.

"First nourish them with spiritual energy, let several generations breed, and then selectively cultivate the best among them."

This area, rich in spiritual charm, naturally saw the rise of creatures full of spirit.

Then supplemented by secret techniques and Elixir Pills.

The formation of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals could be expected, with the Water Dao Soldiers mostly taking shape in a hundred or so years.

Meanwhile,

Cultivating Fire Crow Daoist Soldiers and refining the Dutian Xuanming Strategy could also proceed simultaneously.

Lu Qingfeng was not in a hurry.

He took this opportunity to study the twenty-four Divine Skills thoroughly.

Each Divine Skill contained immense potential that mortal cultivators could spend a lifetime exploring. Lu Qingfeng, mastering many Divine Skills, needed to devote even more effort and hard work.

...

Years passed in a blink.

Ten years later.

"Is this Treasure Mountain? Doesn't look all that remarkable!"

"Treasure Mountain itself isn't anything special, what's truly formidable is the Guangyuan Wanderer on the west side. This wanderer's four major disciples are powerful, the weakest among them, Lin Ye, has the ability of a Samurai. The Guangyuan Wanderer himself is incredible, skilled in refining various Spirit Pills and Magic Artifacts."

"Humph! Compared to Alchemy and Artifact Refining, what the Guangyuan Wanderer excels at most is training disciples. Senior Disciple 'Vulture' Lin Feng, who ten years ago wasn't even considered a Martial Artist, has, in just ten years, become a Martial Master. Three years ago, he single-handedly defeated three Martial Masters stationed at Treasure Mountain. Such rapid progress makes him a top-tier genius throughout Mo Yan Country!"

"The skill of the Guangyuan Wanderer in training disciples really is strong. Rumor has it he has transcended the Innate Martial Master level, reaching the Martial Arts Grandmaster realm, worthy of facing a thousand men, though whether this is true or not is unknown."

Outside Mountain City,

Many people, dusty from travel, arrived continuously, discussing non-stop.

The topic most discussed was the 'Guangyuan Wanderer'.

It's said that ten years ago, the Guangyuan Wanderer appeared in the vicinity of Treasure Mountain. In those ten years, he trained four disciples—

The senior disciple 'Vulture' Lin Feng is now a famous prodigy, elusive and hard to find.

The second disciple Lin Ye has the lowest cultivation, only at the level of Samurai, often staying by the side of Guangyuan Wanderer, rarely appearing or acting on his own. His one memorable action outside Treasure Mountain involved him scattering dozens of talismans, annihilating two demon beasts, an act that left a deep impression.

The third disciple 'Overlord' Wen Guang, barely over twenty, has already joined the ranks of Martial Master. Now he controls Treasure Mountain, commands three Martial Master powerhouses, has founded the Overlord Army, and rules an area of a hundred miles indomitably. Operating various industries, his connections reach to the heavens.

The fourth disciple 'Fisherman' Zhang Yanng, a youth with white hair, spends his days on a bamboo raft, roaming the upper and lower stretches of the Azure Dragon River. People have seen the young man wrestling with water beasts amidst the rapid currents, creating countless waves with his green bamboo.

One master and four disciples alone stand as the absolute lords of the Treasure Mountain region. Their influence spreads for more than a hundred miles, and even the three counties of the western realm of Mo Yan Country view them with considerable wariness.

Many have sent envoys to recruit and favor them.

Unfortunately, whether it's the Guangyuan Wanderer or his four major disciples, none is swayed.

They would rather remain confined to the impoverished lands of Treasure Mountain.

On this day,

In Abandoned Mountain.

Splash!

Boom!

Metal clashed in the sky with a 'splash' sounding noise, thunderously plummeting down and causing the earth and mountains to shake.

In a mountain cave,

Array enchantments isolated the inside from the outside, unmoved.

Lu Qingfeng sat cross-legged, a cauldron that towered two to three people high spinning in front of him, with Zhu Rong Demon God beside it, swallowing and spitting the Dutian Fierce Fire.

After half an hour,

Lu Qingfeng pinched a Seal Technique, flicked his finger, and the lid of the cauldron flew open, releasing a burst of fiery air, and hundreds of Elixir Pills leaped out. With a wave of his large sleeve, a strong wind swept through, precisely guiding the pills into an arranged row of Jade Bottles.

Beside him,

A slender woman with a somewhat youthful face stepped forward and opened her storage bag to collect all the Jade Bottles.

"These Elixirs, along with those refined earlier, will be enough for Third Disciple to sell for a long time. I can already manufacture Intermediate and Low-Level Elixirs myself, and within a year or two, I'll be proficient in Advanced Elixirs like Qi Union Pills, Qi Movement Powder, and others."

"By then, Master won't have to work so hard."

Lin Ye secured her storage pouch around her waist, looking up at Lu Qingfeng.

Ten years had passed.

Lin Ye, who had once been bedridden and skin over bones, was now twenty-five. Due to poor development in her youth, even after Lu Qingfeng's treatment and nourishment, she remained shorter and seemed younger than her peers.

However, having followed Lu Qingfeng in Cultivation of the Luo Fu Sword Scripture from the Side Door Level and studying the Technique of Alchemy, she had developed a unique charisma and her constitution was not weaker than others of her age.

She appeared delicate and exquisite.

"Second Disciple has always been the most filial."

Lu Qingfeng looked at the earnest Lin Ye and couldn't help but laugh heartily.

Lin Feng, Wen Guang, and Zhang Yan, the three male disciples were often away, but Lin Ye frequently stayed by his side and being a woman, she was naturally more attentive.

As his words fell—

"Master, that's favoritism!"

From outside the cave, a robust voice echoed. A burly man with a stride like a dragon and walk like a tiger approached Lu Qingfeng, his body clad in armor, carrying a Fangtian Halberd in his hand.

Kneeling respectfully in front of Lu Qingfeng, he said, "Disciple Wen Guang greets Master."

This was Lu Qingfeng's third disciple, picked up by Lin Feng from a desolate mountain eight years ago and brought back to Abandoned Mountain. Seeing his simple and naive nature, Lu Qingfeng took him as his third disciple and passed down the Yellow Robe True Skill of the Side Door Level.

Over the eight years, he'd fought in many battles and gained a considerable reputation.

Seeing his hearty and righteous nature, and the brothers and friends he'd gathered while wandering outside, Lu Qingfeng commanded him to take charge of Treasure Mountain and establish the War God Army.

This served a dual purpose: as an external force, ensuring that Lu Qingfeng was not without capable men, and managing the trade of herbs, Elixirs, Talismans, Magic Artifacts, and gathering various resources and intelligence for Lu Qingfeng.

In a few years, he'd built a considerable presence.

"Rise."

Lu Qingfeng motioned with his hand.

"Thank you, Master."

Wen Guang got up, standing in front of Lu Qingfeng and Lin Ye, wearing a simple smile without the fearsome aura of the 'Overlord' he was known as outside. Standing next to him, Lu Qingfeng was alright with his thin stature, though not as tall and sturdy as Wen Guang, he had his own imposing presence, like the grand and sturdy Mount Tai. In contrast, Wen Guang didn't seem so imposing.

Lin Ye, however, seemed much smaller.

Already not tall, she now stood beside the towering Wen Guang, barely reaching his arm, a full two heads shorter than him.

"Third Disciple has grown taller again."

Lin Ye looked up at Wen Guang and pursed her lips.

"Meet Second Senior Sister."

Wen Guang, knowing what was appropriate, crouched slightly and grinned at Lin Ye. He had been picked up by Lin Feng and had always followed Lin Ye when Lin Feng was away. He had deep affection for her and respected this slightly younger Senior Sister.

"With so many affairs at Treasure Mountain, how did you find time to come here?" Lin Ye nodded in approval and looked at Wen Guang.

Planting his Fangtian Halberd on the ground, Wen Guang glanced at Lin Ye and then turned to Lu Qingfeng, "Disciple has returned to consult Master about the next steps for Treasure Mountain and the Overlord Army."

Hearing this, Lin Ye saw that it was a serious matter and stood aside without interjecting.

"What thoughts do you have yourself?"

Lu Qingfeng, hands behind his back, looked at Wen Guang.

"Treasure Mountain is too small. Given the current strength of the Overlord Army, we have the capability to take over nearby regions like Phoenix Tail Mountain, Seven-Pointed Mountain, and Black Tiger Mountain. Once consolidated, our power wouldn't be inferior to a county in Mo Yan Country."

"And whether managing industries or gathering intelligence, it would all be much more convenient," said Wen Guang straightforwardly.

"Are there any difficulties?"

Lu Qingfeng didn't respond directly but asked another question.

"Master is wise."

Wen Guang replied, "Consolidating surrounding forces isn't difficult, and with the Overlord Army under my lead, we can sweep all obstacles. However, I fear Mo Yan Country's Western Realm won't sit idly by as the Overlord Army rises, and might interfere. Mo Yan Country is strong, and although the Western Realm counties govern themselves, each has numerous martial masters and their military strength far exceeds the Overlord Army's. If they intervene, the Overlord Army alone might not be able to hold them back."

Mo Yan Country was located east of Treasure Mountain and was a major power in the region.

Treasure Mountain and Abandoned Mountain were located in the crevices between countries. Every ten years, celestial events mixing chaos weren't conducive to the livelihood of the people and governance by the state.

This gave rise to forces like Treasure Mountain, Phoenix Tail Mountain, and Seven-Pointed Mountain.

"This matter is simple."

Lu Qingfeng waved his sleeve, and suddenly ten figures in black robes landed on the ground in a line. Each held a shield in one hand and a long knife in the other, a powerful bow hung from the shoulder, and an Arrow Quiver on the back, looking every bit the elite warrior.

"This is—"

Wen Guang looked at the ten 'Black Robed Men,' puzzled.

Lin Ye quickly stepped forward and lifted the corner of a 'Black Robed Man's' robe, revealing a dark metallic luster, and looked up, "These are 'Green Bamboo Guards,' recently refined by Master. Each Green Bamboo Guard has the strength comparable to a martial master."

"Green Bamboo Guard?"

"Comparable to a martial master?"

Wen Guang was overjoyed and quickly bowed to Lu Qingfeng, "Thank you, Master!"