Yellow Court Daoist

Yv Mountain Island.

Sikong Qinglian returned with Lu Qingfeng, but soon after, Lu Qingfeng departed to focus solely on refining the Five Yang Sword. Sikong Qinglian gathered another twelve True Men from Yv Mountain Island, informed them of the manifestation of the Five Yang Sword, and discussed the matters of opening the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion.

Both Yv Mountain Island and the Five Mountains Sect had made preparations for the imminent opening of the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion.

However, after Lu Qingfeng, who held the Five Yang Sword, returned to Yv Mountain Island, he vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

Time continued to slip away unchecked.

One year.

Two years.

Three years.

...

In the blink of an eye, twenty-four whole years had passed.

"Could it be that Qing Yuanzi died somewhere outside?!"

Amidst Yv Mountain Island.

The Fire Crow Daoist, dressed in his Fire Crow Daoist Robe, had eyes that blazed with fire, his temper clearly on edge.

He was the same Fire Crow Daoist who had offered to broker a deal with Lu Qingfeng outside Yv Mountain Island, trading Fire Crow Daoist Soldiers for the Five Yang Sword.

Beside him sat Sikong Qinglian and two others in meditation, exchanging a glance that was tinged with helplessness.

Twenty-four years had gone by with the preparations laid to conquer the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion, yet one of the key figures, Lu Qingfeng, had vanished without a trace.

The initial surge of enthusiasm followed by disappointment, and after the third strike, complete exhaustion. The morale of everyone was almost worn down.

It would have been one thing if the Five Yang Sword had not appeared yet; after all, without the Six Treasures complete, the Immortal Mansion could not be opened. But the fact was that the Five Yang Sword had indeed appeared, and they knew in whose hands it was, and had even agreed on opening the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion together.

But now the man and the treasure were both missing!

How could they not be infuriated?

Fire Crow True Man turned to Sikong Qinglian, "Fellow Daoist Sikong, have you made any contact with Qing Yuanzi?"

"Not at all," replied Sikong Qinglian, shaking her head. For years, she had been searching for Lu Qingfeng, but the Rain Mountain Pavilion Master had seemingly evaporated from the world, leaving no trace to be found.

"Fellow Daoist Sikong, you are most familiar with Qing Yuanzi. In your opinion, why has he disappeared?" A middle-aged cultivator in blue robes couldn't help but speak up, his blue eyes and bearing akin to that of a vast ocean. He was one of the Thirteen Perfecteds of Yv Mountain Island—

The Water Daoist True Man!

He was as well-known as the Fire Crow Daoist True Man, both being Independent Practitioners. One cultivated the water technique and the other the fire technique. One refined Fire Crow Daoist Soldiers, commanding three thousand of them across the Bamboo Mountain Sea Domain, and the other refined Water Dao Soldiers, enlightening Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, invincible across the waters.

Both were influential figures within the Bamboo Mountain Sea Domain.

"I truly do not know," sighed Sikong Qinglian. "All I am aware of is that Qing Yuanzi is inherently cautious. Throughout the many years in Yv Mountain Island, he has been kind to others, never showing off his skills in alchemy, artifact refining, or his mastery over arrays beyond what was necessary. It was only when the Five Yang Sword appeared that I got to see his true strength, equaling that of a Core Formation True Man."

"That being said, after refining the Five Yang Sword, he could formally join Yv Mountain Island and fight against the Five Mountains Sect, Kongzhu Sect, and Hundred Ghosts Sect, working with us to open the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion."

"But—" The Water Daoist True Man frowned slightly.

"The Five Yang Sword has certainly been refined," Sikong Qinglian said, shaking her head. "However, I fear Qing Yuanzi, being so cautious, might wish to increase his cultivation further before joining us to open the Mansion."

"Progress in cultivation at the Spirit Void Stage is certainly faster than at Core Formation."

"With Qing Yuanzi's profound expertise in arrays, just a slight advancement in his cultivation would improve both his combat and survival abilities significantly."

At this, Sikong Qinglian shook her head again. Thinking of Lu Qingfeng's indifferent nature, and how he didn't even care for the Hundred Sword Map, it was hard to say how alluring the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion was to him.

After Sikong Qinglian finished speaking, another in attendance said in a deep voice, "Not only does the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion contain treasures left behind by the Bamboo Mountain Sect, but it is also said that the four Array Maps, aside from the Five Mountains True Form Map, are hidden within it. Since Qing Yuanzi has such an affinity for arrays, even if he doesn't care for magical artifacts, he would certainly not miss the opportunity to obtain those four cultivation array maps."

"Let's wait a little longer, he will eventually appear," Sikong Qinglian looked towards Fire Cloud True Man, her expression steady, but there was an ironic smile within her heart.

Not to mention that the Hundred Sword Map was already in her and Qing Yuanzi's possession, even if there were other cultivation array maps within the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion, that Qing Yuanzi might not be interested at all.

Fire Cloud True Man was oblivious to what Sikong Qinglian was thinking. Commanding the Qianyan Fire Bamboo Sword, one of the Bamboo Mountain Seven Treasures, he was content to wait patiently—a True Man's lifespan was extensive; he was in no hurry.

Fire Crow Daoist True Man and Water Daoist True Man were unaware of the Hundred Sword Map, but upon hearing Fire Cloud True Man's words, they felt more reassured. Still, the thought of Rain Mountain Pavilion Master acquiring the Five Yang Sword and then hiding away for twenty-four years without a trace left them feeling somewhat aggrieved.

At that very moment.

The world beyond darkened, a blood-red hue encompassing all.

...

Lu Qingfeng concealed himself in a secluded and desolate island hundreds of miles away from Yv Mountain Island. An array concealed his aura, making it impossible for even the True Master Flying Eagle of the Five Mountains Sect, holding the Returning Light Divine Mirror, to deduce Lu Qingfeng's location.

What transpired over twenty-four years passed in the blink of an eye, merely three months in reality.

While managing his cultivation and affairs in reality, Lu Qingfeng also maintained his progression within the game. After reaching the Spirit Void Fusion Realm, due to his lack of experience, he could visibly see his advancement slow down. Counting the twenty-four years, he had ascended to the Middle Late Stage of the Fusion Stage within eighty-four years of becoming Spirit Void Fusion, but he was still a substantial distance from Perfection and breakthrough.

Lu Qingfeng was not in a hurry to enter the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion.

Unlike what Fire Cloud True Man of Yv Mountain Island had surmised, Lu Qingfeng was indeed interested in the magical artifacts, array maps, and the lineage of the Bamboo Mountain Sect within the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion.

However, his interest was not matched by urgency.

His cultivation hadn't hit a ceiling yet; he could continue to refine his skills in hiding. When his progress plateaued, then it would be the right time to open the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Mansion. Holding the Five Yang Sword in his possession, the timing of the Mansion's opening couldn't bypass him.

Just like that.

No need to be anxious about anything.

Thus, Lu Qingfeng cultivated on the desolate island, and in the blink of an eye, twenty-four years had passed, causing great anxiety among Yv Mountain Island and the members of the Five Mountains Sect.

Twenty-four years.

The Five Yang Sword had long been refined and decoded.

However, the focus of Lu Qingfeng's Artifact Refining efforts was on the Nine Strategies Xuanhao Talisman and the Dutian Fierce Fire Divine Banner.

Both genuine items were Eighth Rank Magical Artifacts, with immense potential.

The former, in combination with Lu Qingfeng's array knowledge, allowed him to fight across ranks without appearing conspicuous. The latter, wielded by the Zhu Rong Demon God, could unleash a fighting power not inferior to Lu Qingfeng's own body.

Apart from these two magical artifacts, the Wind and Fire Dual Beads served merely as a supplement, and the Mist Banner was for defense and escape.

The Luofu Heart Lamp was for cultivation.

The Da Geng Sword Formation had been integrated into his body.

Both, along with the Luofu Sword Scripture, continued to improve, requiring minimal heart power to do so.

Thus, accounting for attack, defense, escape, and cultivation—the four most important aspects for a cultivator—Lu Qingfeng lacked for nothing.

Naturally, his need for other magical artifacts became less pressing.

Although the Five Yang Sword was among the Seven Treasures of Bamboo Mountain, its genuine form was but a Sixth Rank, and Lu Qingfeng had no intention of refining it in reality.

On this day.

Lu Qingfeng was as usual, having completed his cultivation and was working on the Nine Strategies Xuanhao Talisman.

The perfect number for the Nine Strategies Xuanhao Talisman is twelve thousand nine hundred and sixty, and although Lu Qingfeng often worked on it, he was still far from completion.

This time, in the Five Directions Realm, Lu Qingfeng directly refined a Third-rank Magical Artifact.

The process was more complex and took more time.

But likewise, its might was greater, and even after advancing to Core Formation, it would suffice for use.

The four hundred and nineteenth Nine Strategies Xuanhao Talisman was halfway through its refinement when Lu Qingfeng suddenly perceived something and looked to the sky.

Beyond the array, in the firmament, a blood-red smear appeared out of nowhere, instantly illuminating the endless sky from the edge of the heavens.

For a moment.

It was as if the entire sky was shrouded in bloodlight.

As if an infinite Blood Sea descended, enveloping the entire Five Directions Realm.

"This—"

Lu Qingfeng's heart tightened as he reached into his sleeve to calculate.

"Humph!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, he scattered a cloud of ashes mixed with blood. Looking down at his hand, the skin on his five fingers split apart, flesh burst open, and bones were visible.

"Such strong backlash."

Standing up, Lu Qingfeng looked at his fingers. With his healing abilities, such seemingly severe injuries should have healed quickly. Yet as True Yuan circulated and the Yellow Robe True Skill constantly repaired it, the rate at which his flesh healed was imperceptibly slow.

Normal for mortals.

But for someone in the Spirit Void Fusion Realm, practicing a Mysterious Level Technique like Lu Qingfeng, it was quite peculiar.

"Blood Sea tumultuous, Asura slaughterfield!"

"What does it mean?!"

Unable to dispel the backlash, Lu Qingfeng had some insights. Echoes of the eight characters spoken by heaven laden with a killing intent reverberated in his heart sea. He pondered deeply. Raising his head to look at the sky, the bloodlight grew denser, and it truly seemed as though the Blood Sea was descending. Lu Qingfeng pinched his fingers slightly and calculated, feeling that the heavenly secrets were chaotic and inscrutable.

"Concealing Heaven's Secrets!"

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

It was only at the initial moment when the bloodlight appeared that he could glimpse a shred of heaven's secrets. Now, with the secrets in chaos and concealed, even with 'Seven Beasts Small Divine Number' in hand, he was at a loss, as though blind despite his eyes being open.

His ability to divine the heavens' will was temporarily nullified.

...

[Event: Five Directions Realm Crisis]

[Description: 'Blood Sea tumultuous, Asura slaughterfield'! In the Primordial Heaven and Earth, the Demon Path arrogantly proclaims, with the Patriarch of the Ming River Sect wielding slaughter and opening the Blood Sea Lineage, establishing the Asura clan, sparking the rise of the Blood Sea Lineage. The Patricharch's child, the Asura Demon King Zi Zai Tian Boxun's 'Heavenly Punishment Asura' is ordered to invade the Five Directions Realm, with the Blood Sea looming, aiming to topple one realm and plunge it into the Netherworld Blood Sea.]

[Factions: Five Directions Realm/Heavenly Punishment Blood Sea]

[Note: Zi Zai Tian Boxun conceals the Five Directions Realm's heavenly secrets, with the Heavenly Punishment Asura dragging the Five Directions Realm with the Blood Sea, altering the realm's orientation. All players must remain logged in until the event concludes.]

...

"It's actually the Blood Sea Lineage!"

Lu Qingfeng was shocked after reading the system's crimson prompt.

The Primordial Heaven and Earth are boundless.

Aside from the innumerable worlds like the grains of sand in the Ganges, there are also the Nine Nethers and the Nine Heavens. At the very center lies the Earth Immortal World, known as the Upper Realm, divided into the Four Seas and the Four Great Continents.

But beyond these,

There are myriad strange places between heaven and earth.

The Netherworld Blood Sea is one of them.

It is said that this Blood Sea is located within the Nine Nether, beside the underworld. Within it rages ceaseless blood waves, devoid of fish and shrimp, birds and insects, with all the world's malevolent energy gathered there.

Yet, a supreme Power was nurtured within, born of slaughter, known as 'Ming River.'

Wielding the supreme treasures Yuan Tu and Avici, as well as protected by the Twelve-Grade Karma Fire Red Lotus, since the ancient times of Primordial, Ming River has been an invincible figure.

Contemporary with the Saints.

Even as Saints emerged one after another, Ming River was hailed as the strongest beneath the Saints in the Primordial era.

He settled in the Blood Sea, creating the Asura tribe, establishing the Asura Sect, and was known as 'Patriarch Ming River.'

Among the supreme inheritances of the Primordial Demon Path, the Ming River's Blood Sea Lineage is one of the most paramount. Powerful and strange, it is most difficult to annihilate.