Yellow Court Daoist

One hundred thousand miles away.

Yunhua Mountain.

A flash of Caiyun revealed Lu Qingfeng's whereabouts.

"In the blink of an eye, a hundred thousand miles."

"That's the Mist Banner for you!"

Lu Qingfeng held the Mist Banner in his hand, feeling the shift of space, and before he could gather his senses, he had arrived at Yunhua Mountain.

He was ninety thousand miles from Mozi Mountain, and exactly one hundred thousand miles from where he had just been. The Mist Banner Lu Qingfeng now wielded was refined right there, drawing upon the earth's aura of Yunhua Mountain.

As for his original Mist Banner, its grade was too high; he could only utilize it and not alter the earth's aura captured inside. Otherwise, no matter the time or place, he could return to the location where he harnessed the earth's aura.

"Using it once uses up quite a bit."

Lu Qingfeng looked at the Mist Banner in his hand, its spirit light dimmed. To use it again, it would need to be nurtured for a decade. Or, he would need to spend several months' time and feed it with Spirit Stones, Jade Dew, and such to restore it.

A copy, after all, has many limitations.

"The Mist Banner isn't much of a concern."

"It's just a pity."

"To have rushed a hundred thousand miles for nothing, wasting seven months."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head, thinking of the black-robed cultivator who had been chasing him.

When deploying the Mist Banner, he had brushed past him. Lu Qingfeng had a momentary glimpse, determining his cultivation level—

"The Third Stage of Jiedan—Gathering Law."

After Core Formation, transitioning from Void Core to Solid Pill, comes the Gathering Law Realm.

Condensing Evil and Refining Gang, pooling mana!

This is Gathering Law.

Only upon reaching Gang Sha Perfection can one achieve the Supreme Golden Core.

"That black-robed cultivator was surrounded by swirling black winds, a clear sign of some fire control mastery in Condensing Evil."

Lu Qingfeng had traversed various realms, even reaching the Core Formation Stage himself, and thus had some understanding of the realms beyond Core Formation.

Even if not much.

Leveraging the insights from Daluo Cave Temple, he had seen through the cultivation level of the black-robed cultivator.

The black-robed cultivator was a Gathering Law Realm True Man of the Core Formation Stage.

His methods reached the heavens.

Even tens of thousands of miles away, he could summon Magic Artifacts, truly formidable.

"Black wind."

"Condensing Evil."

Lu Qingfeng's figure swayed, then vanished. He had cast an Invisibility Technique to leave Yunhua Mountain.

As he left, he pondered.

This time his plan had gone awry, thwarted by the black-robed cultivator, who led him astray a hundred thousand miles. Now he had to take a detour. Although it wasn't a major issue, it did cause a delay.

"There's also Gu Shaoshang."

Lu Qingfeng calculated with his fingers, furrowing his brow. With a wave of his hand, an image appeared before him. It showed a young man, limbs severed, in a dark place that seemed to be a Water Prison.

Quite a miserable sight.

"He is, after all, my third disciple in the Five Directions Realm."

"A Jiedan True Man, to be treated so contemptuously!"

Lu Qingfeng's anger rose upon seeing this.

Ding Yu, Gu Shaoshang, and others were disciples he had taken on to master the Golden Silkworm Destiny Reversal Technique and test the Qingyuan Sword Sect's might.

But a mentor-disciple relationship existed.

He could not sit back and ignore.

"That Sect Magical Artifact—"

Lu Qingfeng's eyes gleamed with Xuan Light.

[Magical Artifact: Six Paths Black Rope]

[Grade: Fifth-Order]

[Description: One of the sixty-seven Magic Gates of Heshan Dao, ranking third. More sinister than the Huntian Banner and the Five Yin Bag, it is forged from a millennium's worth of filth gathered from beneath the earth. Originally just a mass of grayish putrid air, foul and unbearable, it requires Heshan Dao's Secret Technique, through tremendous pain and effort, to be refined. Eventually, it becomes nearly imperceptible, colorless, and odorless—just a thread-like black line, signifying its Great Success. Once someone is bound by the Six Paths Black Rope, yin evil poison Qi immediately penetrates to the bone. Even a disciple of the true sects, upon reaching the Jiedan Level, would have their lifetime of cultivation shattered in an instant. Even if they did not die, it would be akin to starting all over again.]

Before deploying the Mist Banner, Lu Qingfeng had observed the details of the black glow.

"Heshan Dao."

"Six Paths Black Rope."

"The Six Paths True Man of Heshan Dao!"

While Lu Qingfeng had briefly passed through this Earth Realm, he knew that within, there was a Left Dao Immortal Gate called "Heshan Dao."

Heshan Dao was a Demon Sect, with sixty-seven renowned Magic Gates being secrets of the Demon Dao.

The Six Paths Black Rope was one of them.

Using the Secret Technique of Heshan Dao to collect a millennium's worth of filth from beneath the earth and refine through Artifact Refining, it could be a Lifebound Magical Artifact.

Fearsome in combat.

Within Heshan Dao were Six Perfecteds.

Among them, one who went by 'Six Paths True Man' had this Six Paths Black Rope as his signature move, renowned throughout hundreds of thousands of miles.

"Heshan Dao!"

"Heshan Dao!"

Lu Qingfeng glanced at Gu Shaoshang lying crippled, divested of his cultivation in the dark Water Prison, with a flicker of cold light in his eyes.

...

Che Xiong, Tianji, Changdan, and other small countries spanning several hundred thousand miles were all territories of Heshan Dao, one of the three thousand Left Dao Gates.

The Heshan Dao's sect gate was located between the territories of Tianji and Changdan, deep within the mountains and forests.

On this day.

Lu Qingfeng was hurrying on his way.

Suddenly, his heart shook, and with a wave of his hand, the scene of Gu Shaoshang in the Water Prison appeared. The Water Prison showed Gu Shaoshang in a state of extreme exhaustion.

In this moment.

A black-robed cultivator entered.

It was the Six Paths True Man.

"Demon!"

Upon seeing the man, Gu Shaoshang gnashed his teeth with rage.

It was he who had taken his Nine Palace Star Plate, destroyed his hard-earned cultivation, and thrown him into this Water Prison.

Shortly within reach of Longevity, the path now severed. How could Gu Shaoshang not seethe with hatred?

"Fellow Daoist, I'll ask you once more. Where did you acquire this Sect Magical Artifact? Speak the truth, and I can restore your cultivation. Furthermore, I can induct you into the Heshan Daoist teachings to cultivate the Great Method of Longevity. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

The Six Paths True Man gazed down at Gu Shaoshang within the Water Prison, urging him with a seemingly kind face.

"Ptui!"

"Dream on!"

Gu Shaoshang spat furiously at the Six Paths True Man, his face twisted into a scornful sneer. His tormentor might be a fierce cultivator, yet no matter the torture inflicted upon him, Gu Shaoshang would not utter a single word. Seeing the demon persistent in his questioning but reaping no information brought Gu Shaoshang a sense of satisfaction.

"Stubborn fool."

The Six Paths True Man snorted coldly. This young cultivator might not possess high cultivation, yet his will was resolutely strong. Neither cruel torture nor seductive coercion could sway him.

Having lost his patience, the Six Paths True Man gestured with a summoning motion, and a Black Banner suddenly appeared in his hand. With a shake of the banner, a black wind enveloped Gu Shaoshang.

"Bad news!"

Lu Qingfeng realized things were amiss.

In the next moment, the black wind dissipated, dragging a soul into the banner. From within, the sounds of cackling Evil Ghosts tearing and gnawing could be heard. Gu Shaoshang whimpered, his voice fading away.

Clearly, his soul had been devoured by the ghastly spirits inside the banner.

Lu Qingfeng was furious.

His plan was to head to the gates of the Heshan Dao, find a way to rescue Gu Shaoshang. Possessing the Invisibility Technique and the Divine Skills of the Daluo Cave Temple, along with his proficiency in Arrays, securing Gu Shaoshang's escape from the Water Prison seemed feasible.

Yet before he could move, the Six Paths True Man had beaten him back to the gates, slaughtering Gu Shaoshang in relentless questioning and feeding his soul to the Magic Artifact.

"Despicable!"

"Truly despicable!"

Rage surged between Lu Qingfeng's brows. He swiftly changed his course and did not proceed to Heshan Dao.

With Gu Shaoshang dead, going there would be futile. All he could do was advance his plans.

...

During Lu Qingfeng's time in hiding, within Heshan Dao.

The Six Paths True Man moved swiftly, approaching a cave. With a wave of spirit light, he dispelled the cave's Array, revealing a pathway.

"Thanks, Brother Zhang."

The Six Paths True Man hurried inside.

Within the cave sat a Daoist robed in hemp, seemingly cultivating. Upon the Six Paths True Man's entrance, the Daoist opened his eyes, rose, ushered him to sit, and finally asked, "What wind blows my junior brother here today?"

The hemp-robed Daoist poured tea for the Six Paths True Man, his manners refined and elegant, a stark contrast to the inhabitants of the Demon Dao.

"Brother, your taste for the finer things is commendable."

After a compliment, the Six Paths True Man cut to the chase, "I'm here to borrow the Five Yin Bag."

"Oh?"

The hemp-robed Daoist paused and looked at the Six Paths True Man, "Which adversary resists the Six Paths Black Rope and compels Brother to seek the Five Yin Bag?"

The Six Paths True Man, a cultivator of the Gathering Law Realm with the Six Paths Black Rope at his disposal, could hold his ground even against Golden Core Realm True People. There was no need for the Five Yin Bag. Even against ordinary Void Core or Solid Pill Realm True People, the Six Paths Black Rope was more than capable. The Five Yin Bag seemed superfluous.

"To inform Brother, I've recently encountered a petty thief possessing an exceedingly elusive Sect Magical Artifact. My Six Paths Black Rope cannot keep pace, nor can my spells. I've come to ask for the Five Yin Bag to thwart the thief and destroy his artifact," the Six Paths True Man explained.

The Five Yin Bag, like the Six Paths Black Rope, was one of the sixty-seven Magic Gates of Heshan Dao, created from the tainting blood of living beings. Once fully refined, common cultivators' Magic Artifacts would instantly be corrupted upon contact, unless one had cultivated the Gang Sha Qi and reached the Gathering Law Realm, to protect their own treasures from being tainted. Otherwise, even Void Core or Solid Pill Realm True People must tread carefully, daring not reveal their Magic Artifacts before Brother Zhang.

Capable of holding many items and nurturing a 'Five Yin Black Evil' that specialized in capturing Flying Swords and Magic Artifacts, and could refine all living flesh and blood, the Five Yin Bag's power grew as it processed more life essence. Its power and inner space expanded accordingly. Though ranking below the Six Paths Black Rope in status, it was far more sinister and treacherous.

In control of the Five Yin Bag, the identity of the Daoist before him was evident. One of the Six Perfecteds of Heshan Dao, of equal renown as the Six Paths True Man, was 'Five Yin True Man' Zhang Jue.

Appearing refined and gentle, his hands were laden with karma from having caused countless harms and refining numerous living essences.

Truly, appearances are deceiving.

"So that is why."

"It's rare for an artifact to escape from Brother's grasp. Such an artifact would be a pity to tarnish with the Five Yin Bag."

Five Yin True Man Zhang Jue, upon retrieving a Beast Skin Pouch, handed it to the Six Paths True Man, "Take this, Brother. With this pouch, you can release three gusts of black Qi, effective for three uses. If the artifact is extraordinary, Brother can refrain from corrupting its core. Capture it and carefully refine it to recover much of its original wonder."

The unremarkable Beast Skin Pouch was none other than the renowned Heshan Dao Magic Artifact—

The Five Yin Bag!

"Thanks, Brother!"

The Six Paths True Man accepted the Five Yin Bag with elation and swiftly expressed his gratitude. Following a brief exchange, he took his leave.

Five Yin True Man Zhang Jue watched him depart, his expression unchanging. He drained his cup of tea in one gulp and continued to sit in meditation, refining Qi.

Outside the cave.

"With the Five Yin Bag in hand, any Escape Magic Tool can easily be countered. However, the whereabouts of this person remain unknown. I'll need to consult Brother Jiao for the use of the Five Horses Floating Lock!"

The Six Paths True Man found his direction and soared through the sky.

...