Yellow Court Daoist

Heavenly Star Province.

Located southwest of Yuanwu Country, bordering East Prosper Country to the west and Mountain Country to the south, it governs twenty-one counties and has over fifty million residents, with dozens of small and medium-sized sects.

Lu Qingfeng had already investigated the situation of Heavenly Star Province when he was in Ning Province of East Prosper Country.

This province is led by Qingling Sect, Fire Cloud Pavilion, and Dutian Sect, each with Core Formation True Men in residence, and is rumored to be related to several top sects in Yuanwu Country.

No small background.

"This is the place!"

Lu Qingfeng had traversed mountains and waters for ninety-four years, preparing to settle in Heavenly Star Province.

"Qingling Sect, Fire Cloud Pavilion, Dutian Sect."

"Among the three sects, Dutian Sect practices Demon Techniques, belonging to the Demon Sect. Qingling Sect and Fire Cloud Pavilion, compared to it, are more orthodox, yet they are no kind folks."

"Founding a sect can't be rushed."

After entering Heavenly Star Province, Lu Qingfeng spent months understanding the situation of the twenty-one counties and then arrived at Panlong Mountain in Taihe County.

Panlong Mountain, named because its shape resembles a coiled dragon.

Initially, this place was inconspicuous, with average Spiritual Energy, not valued by sects. Later, as the Spiritual Energy gradually became richer, it was occupied by an Independent Practitioner True Man, accommodating all kinds of independent cultivators.

Over time, it became a gathering place for independent cultivators, where many cultivators trade cultivation materials and exchange cultivation experiences.

The secular city is filled with people, not conducive to cultivation. Furthermore, fighting is strictly prohibited, so as not to disturb the secular world.

Divine beings exist everywhere just a few feet above!

In the city, there are many more divine beings compared to the wilderness, and no cultivator wishes to cultivate under the watchful eyes of divinity.

Therefore, even independent cultivators mostly seek ownerless mountains and places where Spiritual Energy gathers to open secret caves and cultivate in seclusion.

In recent years, the Spiritual Energy in Panlong Mountain has surged, turning it into a remarkable Small Spirit Mountain.

Nowadays, with three Core Formation True Men in residence, even Qingling Sect, Fire Cloud Pavilion, and Dutian Sect have to show some respect.

On this day.

A young man in a blue Daoist robe makes great strides towards the mountain.

It's Lu Qingfeng.

Having been in this world for over a century, Lu Qingfeng had established his foundation early, thus only his appearance changed slightly from youth to adulthood. Having traveled a million miles and re-cultivating in this lifetime, his demeanor has become more detached from the mundane world. With extensive knowledge and a refined mentality, he is indeed extraordinary.

He hurried to Panlong Mountain and had already hidden his Puppet early on, disguising himself as an ordinary independent cultivator.

Even without the Puppet, with his current Body Refining Realm cultivation, he is not easy prey among independent cultivators.

Standing at the foot of Panlong Mountain.

Looking ahead, he sees only dense mist; an ordinary person entering would become dizzy and disoriented, stumbling around for days, literally starved and withered before finding a way out.

Initially, mortals came here, foolishly searching for an Immortal Fate. But as time passed and they realized the danger, they dared not come again.

"Mystifying Prohibition."

Lu Qingfeng's eyes flicker with spirit light, noticing the entire perimeter of Panlong Mountain shrouded in mist, a mystifying prohibition induced to bar mortals and Postnatal Cultivators.

Only those who have reached the Foundation Establishment Stage can see through this mist and enter Panlong Mountain.

Taihe County has a population of three million, among which are a minimum of thirty to fifty thousand Postnatal Cultivators. If all were to come in, Panlong Mountain would have been flattened long ago.

Of course.

If there are elders from Foundation Establishment or Spirit Void Stages leading the way, that's another matter.

"Panlong Mountain has gathered nearly half of Taihe County's independent practitioners from the Foundation and Spirit Void stages, a jumbled mix, yet due to the three True Men in residence, there's order in the chaos."

Lu Qingfeng pondered quietly and unknowingly passed through the mist, entering into Panlong Mountain.

The mist disperses, revealing a hidden world!

The noise bursts forth, and Lu Qingfeng's eyes light up.

He is now situated on a plateau halfway up Panlong Mountain. The area, three hundred meters in length and width, has been leveled. Several Foundation Establishment Cultivators are sitting cross-legged, each with a stall in front of them.

Demon beast materials, spiritual ore and grass, Elixir and Magical Instruments...

Dazzling array, everything available.

Traveling 170,000 miles with him in East Prosperity Country, the markets along the way were more or less the same.

"Is this Senior's first time visiting Panlong Mountain?"

Lu Qingfeng assessed a grey-robed young cultivator who approached and respectfully inquired.

"Indeed."

Lu Qingfeng nodded.

Having come from East Prosperity Country, traversing 170,000 miles and passing through countless counties and entering hundreds of markets, Lu Qingfeng was not unfamiliar with young cultivators like these.

Most of these cultivators were at the Fetal Breathing Realm or True Qi Realm, entering markets by various means, and by introducing the basics to seniors who entered the market for the first time and providing guidance, they earned a modest amount of hard-earned money.

If they encountered a generous senior expert, they could even make a small fortune. If fortunate enough to be liked, some were even taken in as disciples by these senior experts.

"My junior, Han Lin."

"Is Senior new here, would you need me to guide you around?"

The young cultivator, Han Lin, saw Lu Qingfeng's amiable demeanor, and joyfully inquired.

"First, let me just stroll around."

Lu Qingfeng flicked out a segment of a spirit stone.

Lu Qingfeng noticed at a glance that this self-proclaimed Han Lin was only a beginner in the True Qi Realm, unsure how he entered Panlong Mountain. However, for Han Lin, who was in the early stages of the True Qi Realm, getting a spirit stone fragment was something he might not earn in seven or eight days.

Generally, Foundation Establishment Independent Practitioners were also quite strapped for money. Rewarding them with a few low to middle-tier elixir pills like Yellow Dragon Pills and Golden Marrow Pills was considered generous. If one was more magnanimous, they might bestow advanced elixirs like Qi Movement Powder or spirit stone fragments.

Lu Qingfeng was clearly the latter.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Han Lin joyfully accepted and hastily thanked him.

He then led Lu Qingfeng on a tour around Panlong Mountain.

"Panlong Mountain is a sacred land for independent cultivators. True Men Fire Cloud, Jian Lin, and Feng Luan are stationed here, setting rules that strictly prohibit fighting within. This mid-mountain area serves as a place for independent cultivators to exchange, while further up are the establishments by major sects like Qingling Sect, Fire Cloud Pavilion, and Dutian Sect which sell spiritual beasts and magic artifacts among others. There are also trade unions that have opened shops here."

"If Senior wishes to purchase magic artifacts or elixir pills, you may start by looking around this mid-mountain area. If something suitable is found, the prices are generally much more affordable than those in the shops higher up the mountain. If you really can't find what you're looking for, you might want to check the shops; their stock of elixir pills and magic artifacts is quite comprehensive, as long as it's not some obscure elixir or artifact, you should be able to find it."

Han Lin led Lu Qingfeng around Panlong Mountain, his mouth dry from all the talking.

It turned out that Panlong Mountain has four exchange platforms located mid-mountain facing southeast, northwest, and continuing upwards, there are even more regular shops. The prices there are a bit higher than those sold by independent cultivators on their own, but the variety is complete, and quality is guaranteed.

Having toured around, they roughly understood the basic setup.

Lu Qingfeng looked at Han Lin.

After turning around for a long time, understanding Panlong Mountain, he also chatted casually with Han Lin.

Knowing that Han Lin came from Taihe County and became a disciple under the Daoist Sun Jiu several years ago, he started his cultivation journey. Two years ago, he followed Daoist Sun Jiu to Panlong Mountain for cultivation, but unfortunately, a few months ago, Sun Jiu died while collecting spiritual medicine, never to return.

Han Lin continued his cultivation alone.

But Daoist Sun Jiu had only paid a year's rent for his cave dwelling on Panlong Mountain. Now, seven months had passed since the last payment. In another five months, if Han Lin couldn't earn a spirit stone, he would be forced to leave Panlong Mountain.

Without the skills in alchemy or artifact refining, staying in Panlong Mountain, besides occasionally guiding independent cultivators, he had no other means to make a living.

With his current rate of accumulating spirit stones, it would be difficult to gather one in five months.

When driven out of Panlong Mountain, returning to Taihe County, he would be just like any ordinary True Qi Realm independent cultivator, and without special opportunities, he could only waste his life away among the masses.

"I have just arrived at Panlong Mountain and am in need of someone to assist me. Would you like to become my registered disciple?"

Lu Qingfeng looked at Han Lin and asked.

After a brief interaction, it was hard to discern a person's character. However, having just arrived and intending to establish a sect, Lu Qingfeng met Han Lin first and thought of taking him in. If his character was decent, a few years of training could also yield a helper to manage the sect in the future.

"Junior is willing!"

"Disciple Han Lin, greets Master!"

Han Lin was startled, then immediately overjoyed, and in fear of Lu Qingfeng changing his mind, he quickly knelt and kowtowed, continuously addressing him as 'Master'.

"Very well."

"Rise."

Seeing Han Lin's respectful manner, Lu Qingfeng laughed heartily and spoke.