Yellow Court Daoist

The Five Directions Realm, beyond its five continents, also encompasses five seas.

These five seas are a general term, referring to the boundless oceanic areas within a realm.

Lying between the Southern Continent and the Central Continent, there stretches an expanse of sea known as the South Sea. Its vast waters are untraversable except by practitioners wielding Great Divine Power, and thus it has evolved into several smaller, infrequently visited cultivation realms.

The Broken Star Sea is one of them.

"The Broken Star Sea."

"Close to the Central Continent."

Lu Qingfeng paddles on his simple skiff toward Yv Mountain Island, lamenting in his heart, "With such low cultivation, one is constrained at every turn."

He had come from the Sky Witch Realm to the Five Directions Realm intending to visit the Golden Silkworm Immortal Sect, to acquire the subsequent Magic Gates related to the Golden Silkworm Gu and save on Experience Value.

Little did he expect to be intercepted mid-journey by the Six Paths True Man and followers of the Heshan Dao. Hardly resolving that encounter, an enigmatic White-haired Daoist emerged, a practitioner of unfathomable prowess. Had it not been for Lu Qingfeng's possession of the Eighth Rank Mist Banner and the use of the Golden Silkworm Gu's Shell Shedding Technique, he would likely have fallen prey to capture by the old Daoist.

Escape seemed only possible through an act of self-destructive death.

Without the Golden Silkworm Destiny Reversal Technique, should Lu Qingfeng perish, he wouldn't be able to improve his Root Bone in the short term, which would be a substantial loss.

But, fortunately,

Lu Qingfeng managed to escape by partially refining the Mist Banner and swiftly extricating himself from the situation.

"I have arrays for concealment, but that man still found me. He must have traced me through the trajectory spread by the Destroying Grain Pearl."

"Now that I have left the Southern Continent and arrived closer to the Central Continent at the Broken Star Sea, I have muddled the Heavenly Mechanism, leaving no trace. Even if a Mahayana True Immortal were to try to deduce my whereabouts, it isn't likely to succeed."

Of course,

a Mahayana True Immortal wouldn't bother to deduce the location of a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"That person."

"Kongchan Mountain."

Lu Qingfeng ponders.

Kongchan Mountain is one of the Eight Hundred Side Sects, and the backing for Heshan Dao. It'd be no surprise if, following Lu Qingfeng's destruction of Heshan Dao, Kongchan Mountain sent a formidable practitioner in pursuit of him.

"Heshan Dao."

"Kongchan Mountain."

"The mountains are high and the waters far. When my cultivation is higher, I will settle this karmic debt."

The Broken Star Sea is too distant from the Southern Continent.

Lu Qingfeng has no desire to return to the Southern Continent nor to visit the Golden Silkworm Immortal Sect in the short term.

Being of low cultivation brings too many restrictions.

The mere encounter with Heshan Dao nearly left Lu Qingfeng with no avenue of escape. It's better to focus on increasing his cultivation level first, before seeking benefits within the Five Directions Realm.

"The Mist Banner is indeed useful, although the Earth Spirit within can't yet be changed or replaced at will, making its randomness too strong."

Lu Qingfeng smiles wryly.

He had escaped from the White-haired Daoist of Kongchan Mountain clutching the Mist Banner, which was visualized within the Central Plains of the Sky Witch Realm's Treasure Appearance Sect. However, using the Eighth Rank Mist Banner to breach realms proved challenging.

After putting some distance between himself and the Southern Continent, Lu Qingfeng activates the Caiyun.

In a blink,

he arrives at the Broken Star Sea.

"The islands of the Broken Star Sea are plentiful, like scattered stars across the sky."

"Unique geography begets unique circumstances. In these waters, islands are mostly independent entities with various sects settled upon them. Some larger islands even have more than one sect."

"There are countless Independent Practitioners cultivating here."

In such places, there is a plethora of techniques and methods.

More experiences would be quite beneficial to Lu Qingfeng's real-world cultivation.

So after inquiring for information, he sets a target —

Yv Mountain Island.

...

"Yv Mountain Island is both a mountain and an island. With converging spiritual energy, it houses a large Spirit Stone Mine, and even contains thirteen Yin Sha Acupoint Eyes, prompting factions like the Kongzhu Sect, Hundred Ghosts Sect, and Five Mountains Sect to vie for control."

"None of the three sects yielded to the others, but in the end, it was occupied jointly by thirteen Independent Practitioner True Men."

"It has become a sacred land for Independent Practitioners."

Arriving at Yv Mountain Island, Lu Qingfeng is escorted by a young cultivator who introduces the island to him.

Reflecting on the information he had gathered before, Lu Qingfeng nods in understanding.

Surrounding Yv Mountain Island are three major sects, all belonging to the Left Dao, making Yv Mountain Island a buffer zone in between.

Over time, albeit somewhat loosely organized, it has become the fourth major force in this Earth Realm, and not to be taken lightly by the Kongzhu Sect, Hundred Ghosts Sect, or Five Mountains Sect.

Upon setting foot on the island, Lu Qingfeng discovers a bustling environment with people coming and going.

"I need to find a place to settle down."

Yv Mountain Island is a mix of dragons and snakes, with the presence of thirteen Independent Practitioner True Men keeping order amidst chaos. Including Yv Mountain Island, the surrounding dozens of large and small islands are occupied by Independent Practitioners and Small Sects.

It's also become a buffer zone between Yv Mountain Island and the Three Great Sects.

"I'll start by checking out the market for a shop to earn Cultivation Resources while establishing my reputation. Once I reach the Core Formation Stage, I'll explore the Broken Star Sea and travel through the Five Continents and Five Seas."

Lu Qingfeng is already familiar with this process.

Back in the Red Smoke Realm's Panlong Mountain, he did the same, living securely until the Hun Mountain Demon King struck him down with a single blow.

This time on Yv Mountain Island, Lu Qingfeng has a stronger foundation.

With the Mist Banner and the Golden Silkworm Gu in hand, his ability to preserve his life is greatly enhanced.

As long as he reaches the Core Formation Stage without disturbance, even if the White-haired old man returns, Lu Qingfeng is confident he can escape gracefully and without the previous desperation.

"Lead the way to the market," Lu Qingfeng tells the young cultivator.

The youth named Zhao Bei is only in the Fetal Breathing Realm. Yv Mountain Island sees countless cultivators coming and going; many, like Lu Qingfeng on his first visit, require the guidance of youths like Zhao Bei.

To introduce Yv Mountain Island, the local situation, shops, various rules, and so on.

Seeing the young man, Lu Qingfeng couldn't help but be reminded of Han Lin back at Panlong Mountain in the Red Smoke Realm.

Their first meeting was very much like this.

Sadly, Han Lin, plagued by misfortune, eventually perished due to exhaustion of his Life Span in a foreign land.

"Yes."

Zhao Bei, unaware of Lu Qingfeng's thoughts, respectfully leads the way and introduces the market situation on the island.

"Yv Mountain Island has eight markets in total, all nominally under the jurisdiction of the thirteen True Men. Few dare to cause trouble within the markets. However, Yv Mountain Island is large, and the thirteen True Men, busy with cultivation, cannot manage every detail meticulously."

"Thus, each of the eight markets has designated cultivators in charge and there's some underhanded competition that happens in the shadows."

Thus, amidst the chaos, a set of rules emerged on the island: ordered yet disorderly, and chaotic yet structured.

Lu Qingfeng still needed to acquaint himself with these.

Time flowed on.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed.

...

Ever since the Bamboo Mountain Sect collapsed seven thousand years ago, the Bamboo Mountain Sea Domain within the Broken Star Sea has been plunged into a state of bloodshed and disorder.

The Kongzhu Sect, Hundred Ghosts Sect, and Five Mountains Sect each inherited a portion of the Bamboo Mountain Sect's magical gate, dividing the Bamboo Mountain Sea Domain among themselves.

Despite this, conflict continued unabated over the years, to the point where even the True Men of these sects would personally intervene.

The thirteen True Men of Yv Mountain Island were no pushovers either. They stirred up the situation, maneuvering skillfully between the three sects and acting with ease.

In recent years, the air was thick with the tension of an impending storm.

...

In Qiantian Square of Yv Mountain Island, there was a place called 'Rain Mountain Pavilion', coincidentally sharing a homonym with the island's name but written with different characters.

Rain Mountain Pavilion, established in Qiantian Square a hundred years ago under the management of Pavilion Master Qing Yuanzi, who excelled in both alchemy and artifact refining, thrived and prospered.

Within a mere hundred years, its influence had spread across the eight major markets of Yv Mountain Island.

With Qing Yuanzi's exceptional skills in both alchemy and artifact refining, and his reputation for kindness and making friends with cultivators from all over, his popularity soared.

Rain Mountain Pavilion weathered several crises with the aid of cultivators from all quarters.

Even a few Core Formation True Men on the island had developed a friendly relationship with Qing Yuanzi.

Following this, no one dared target Qing Yuanzi or Rain Mountain Pavilion again.

One day, a young Foundation Establishment Cultivator walked into the Rain Mountain Pavilion. The shopkeeper spotted him and hurriedly approached.

"No need for excessive formalities."

"Is your Pavilion Master here?"

Lu Jiang pointed directly behind the shopkeeper and inquired.

"He's in the backyard."

"I'll notify Senior Lu right away," the shopkeeper replied promptly.

This visitor was no ordinary figure; he was a direct disciple of Master Qinglian, one of the thirteen True Men of Yv Mountain Island. Not only was his background substantial, but his cultivation had also reached the Spirit Void Divine Silence Realm, marking him as a formidable force.

Among the True Men that Pavilion Master had befriended, Master Qinglian was one, thanks largely to the connections facilitated by this very individual.

The shopkeeper didn't dare to delay and quickly went to report.

In the backyard of the Rain Mountain Pavilion.

Lu Qingfeng, clad in a long green robe, was sitting in meditation.

Before him floated a lantern whose flame flickered slightly.

His True Yuan circulated, causing the flame to dance along, speeding up the refinement of spiritual energy from all directions and the circulation of True Yuan, purifying the quality of True Yuan.

This was none other than the Luofu Heart Lamp!

By cultivating the Luofu Sword Scripture and reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, one could visualize and manifest the Luofu Heart Lamp. Furthermore, through refining materials, it can be cultivated into a Magic Artifact that aids both cultivation and combat.

The very lamp before Lu Qingfeng was precisely such an artifact.

Years of dedication had brought it to the Fifth-Order level, significantly enhancing the speed of his cultivation.

Whoooosh!

Boom boom boom!

His True Yuan flowed through his meridians like a raging river, roaring like a mountain.

Four cultivation techniques operated concurrently without interference. The world's spiritual energy was divided, still insufficient. Lu Qingfeng also held two Spirit Stones in his hands, continuously drawing spiritual energy from them for cultivation.

After completing his cultivation,

"It really is difficult step by step after reaching the Fusion Realm," Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

His cultivation experience was mostly prior to Spirit Void Divine Silence Realm, including the Divine Silence Realm itself. The Fusion Realm—post-Core Formation—was somewhat unfamiliar to him.

This inexperience showed clearly in his practice.

Even though Lu Qingfeng had already achieved True Man status once, retaking the steps of the Fusion Realm was still a slow process.

"Indeed,"

"One should repeatedly practice a realm well to become skilled and efficient. Only then can one advance boldly and irresistibly when cultivating in reality."

Lu Qingfeng thoughtfully stretched out his hand and the Luofu Heart Lamp fell into his palm. Following the flow of True Yuan, it settled back into his Dantian, its flame flickering as it carried on refining True Yuan.

At this moment,

A voice from outside reached him, "Pavilion Master, True Cultivator Lu Jiang, a direct disciple of Master Qinglian, requests an audience."

...

"What wind has brought Brother Road here today?" Lu Qingfeng greeted Lu Jiang in the backyard, laughing heartily.

A century in an instant.

As Qing Yuanzi, Lu Qingfeng had established Rain Mountain Pavilion, gaining considerable fame throughout the Bamboo Mountain Sea Domain.

With dual status as a Fifth-Order Alchemist and Artifact Refiner, even Core Formation True Men treated him with a degree of respect.

His own cultivation level had reached the Spirit Void Fusion Realm, quietly surpassing that of Lu Jiang by a whole level.

It had to be said,

Once Root Bone was enhanced, the accumulation of cultivation experience sped up remarkably.

Upon first arriving at the Five Directions Realm, Lu Qingfeng had only just broken through to the True Qi Realm.

In 136 years, he had soared directly from the True Qi Realm to the Spirit Void Fusion Realm.

Moreover, it had been forty years since Lu Qingfeng ascended to the Spirit Void Fusion Realm.

Compared to his earlier stages, his progress had improved by at least thirty to forty percent, saving him nearly seventy years of arduous cultivation.

The degree to which Root Bone could restrict a cultivator's progress in the early stages was truly terrifying.