Yellow Court Daoist

Daoist Soldier: Hundred Battle Daoist Soldiers

Grade: Low-level

Explanation: The Annihilation Divine Sect secretly orchestrated wars across nineteen mortal nations, handpicking soldiers who had survived countless battles to be groomed into Hundred Battle Daoist Soldiers. They excel in battle formations and possess the bravery of a thousand men. When commanded by a top general, their prowess could potentially double.

Seven hundred Daoist Soldiers were quickly rounded up.

Four hundred perished in battle, and the remaining three hundred were captured alive by the Xuanming Yin Soldiers and taken to Fiery Fire Island.

"The method of analysis should allow us to decipher the sacrificial rites involved in creating Hundred Battle Daoist Soldiers."

Lu Qingfeng always believed in the principle 'one can never have too many skills.'

Although creating Hundred Battle Daoist Soldiers was a tedious process—requiring control over mortal realms to incite wars, as well as generations of nurturing and countless resources—the benefits of analyzing and strengthening them could yield unexpected uses. Even if ultimately pointless, it wouldn't take up much time and would not be a hindrance.

Following the resolution of the situation with the Hundred Battle Daoist Soldiers,

the mighty Annihilation Divine Sect came with great fanfare but slunk away defeated, thus marking an anticlimactic end to the conflict.

Lu Qingfeng's gaze swept in all directions, pausing notably to the north.

Moments later, he made a move.

"Zhu Rong Demon God!"

"Dutian Ghost General!"

Ten figures streaked across the sky, heading eastward.

The cultivators both within and beyond the Illusion Wave Sea were baffled.

Yet soon, the eastern void seemed to ripple, revealing a figure—an enormous serpent-like body coiled like Pan Mountain, with an aura as deep as the abyss. It was none other than the Pan Mountain King from Heavenly Travel Mountain.

"This—"

"Is that the Pan Mountain King?"

Cultivators exchanged looks, their expressions odd.

The scene felt eerily familiar - déjà vu. If memory served, a month ago, after Fiery Fire Wanderer killed two Gathering Law Realm True Men from the Annihilation Divine Sect, Wutou Po of Heavenly Travel Mountain was spotted lurking nearby by Fiery Fire Wanderer, ultimately meeting her demise.

This time around,

after Fiery Fire Wanderer repelled the Annihilation Divine Sect, the Pan Mountain King was spotted on the sidelines, peering with interest.

"Could it be—"

"Will the Pan Mountain King also meet his end?"

Cultivators from all directions had yet to recover from the shock of Fiery Fire Wanderer driving back three True Men and three thousand Armored Soldiers of the Annihilation Divine Sect. They held their breath and watched intently towards the east.

"Black Evil Blood Burning Technique!"

The moment the Pan Mountain King sensed Lu Qingfeng's gaze while sprawled in the void, he immediately sacrificed a portion of his tail, wielding the Black Evil Sword. A burst of Evil Qi exploded, mingled with blood, as he made his escape through the void.

"..."

"He's rather quick to flee."

Seeing this, Lu Qingfeng's expression remained unchanged as he entered Fiery Fire Island, with the Zhu Rong Demon God following closely behind.

An Array rose, concealing Fiery Fire Island.

"He escaped!"

"The Pan Mountain King is indeed decisive."

"Had he not severed his tail in time, he'd likely have followed in Jiupan Po's footsteps."

"Fiery Fire Wanderer is truly terrifying. Not even a Gathering Law Realm Demon King dares to face him. Throughout the Three Realms, he might well be the sole person of such demonic might."

...

At this point,

All cultivators who had witnessed this battle finally broke away from their breathless state. They stared at the aftermath of the battle in the Illusion Wave Sea. There was an initial silence, followed by a loud clamor—

Amazement!

Discussion!

An unending uproar.

To the south.

"Quite the Fiery Fire Demon!"

Weng Shaoqing silently glanced toward the closed Fiery Fire Island and then at the eastern void where Evil Qi and blood still lingered, his eyes filled with grave concern as he quietly departed.

To the north.

Han Ji's eyes flickered, "With just one look, he forced Pan Mountain King to mutilate himself and use an escape skill to flee for his life. Such demonic might is indeed worthy of the title Supreme of the Demon Dao within the Three Realms!"

"With even the Annihilation Divine Sect unable to touch him, with his intervention, the plight of my White Bone Demon Sect will certainly be no concern. Moreover, this person seems to lack capable subordinates—if I could—"

In thought.

Han Ji's eyes grew brighter as he observed that all cultivators were focused on Fiery Fire Island, none daring to approach rashly. He quickly retreated into the Chao Tian Pool, quietly awaiting an opportunity.

To the east.

About ten thousand miles away, a giant serpent crashed through the void, missing half of its tail, its vital energy severely depleted.

"Fiery Fire Demon!"

"Fiery Fire Demon!"

"The hatred for slaying my younger sister, the resentment for causing me to sever my tail, I shall return it a hundredfold in days to come!"

The Pan Mountain King's eyes seethed with hatred.

He had been too careless. He thought that by tapping into the underground yin energy with the Black Evil Sword and hiding within the void, he would be undetectable. However, Fiery Fire Wanderer's perceptiveness was frightening; nothing hidden could go unnoticed by him.

Having experienced Fiery Fire Wanderer's mighty demonic aura, the Pan Mountain King dared not hesitate and immediately used the "Black Evil Blood Burning Technique" to escape ten thousand li. It was a narrow escape, but his life was spared.

"As long as I live, there will come a day when I defeat Fiery Fire."

"However, I cannot linger in Heavenly Travel Realm any longer. I must call for my second sister and make our escape quickly. The northern Water Palace is recruiting and has numerous powerful beings. Once I've recovered from my injuries, I'll make my way there."

Previously, the Pan Mountain King hesitated to venture to the Water Palace, aware of the abundant opportunities but also the many dangers. Now, with no other options, he finally made up his mind.

"Water Palace?"

"Indeed, a good destination."

The Pan Mountain King murmured to himself, but a detached voice rang in his ears. Startled, his triangular eyes widened in shock. Turning around, he saw a figure approaching at a deceptively swift pace, with a halo of light that had just dissipated nearby.

Cloaked in a red robe.

"Fiery Fire Wanderer?!"

...

The battle at Illusion Wave Sea spread like a hurricane through the Three Realms and beyond, accompanied by two seemingly insignificant pieces of news.

The first.

The Pan Mountain King spying on Fiery Fire Island was so startled by the Fiery Fire Wanderer that he injured himself while fleeing. Having thought he had escaped certain death, he was instead caught up to by the Fiery Fire Wanderer, who surrounded him with Daoist Soldiers and killed him. Then, the Fiery Fire Wanderer rushed to Heavenly Travel Mountain and killed Wutou Po who was hiding there.

From then on.

All three of the Demon Kings of Heavenly Travel Mountain fell to the hands of the Fiery Fire Wanderer.

In the midst of killing Wutou Po, two of the eighteen Demon Generals of Heavenly Travel Mountain also lost their lives. The remaining sixteen scattered and fled, their whereabouts unknown.

The dominant force of Heavenly Travel Mountain, which stood shoulder to shoulder with Xuanyuan Sect and White Bone Demon Sect within Heavenly Travel Realm, now crumbled to ruins.

Beyond the Three Realms, the impact was still manageable.

But within the Three Realms, the shock was no less significant than the Fiery Fire Wanderer's defeat of the Annihilation Divine Sect's siege. The repercussions that were to follow were unimaginable.

In comparison.

The second piece of news hardly seemed worth mentioning.

...

"Dare to leave Yunyan Mountain."

Lu Qingfeng curled his lips into a smirk.

Having dissolved Heavenly Travel Mountain by killing the Pan Mountain King, Wutou Po, and two Demon Generals under his guise as the 'Fiery Fire Wanderer', Lu Qingfeng hurried back to Fiery Fire Island.

Soon after, Han Ji sought an audience, actually begging him to go to White Bone Realm and assist the White Bone Demon Sect in killing Changqing Daoist.

Lu Qingfeng, of course, refused outright.

Han Ji left.

By the time he reached Chao Tian Pool, Changqing Daoist appeared out of nowhere, Thunder Skill descended, and he was slain without any chance to use Escape Magic.

This was the second affair beyond the battle at Fiery Fire Island.

Next to the might of the Annihilation Divine Sect, the shocking battle outside Fiery Fire Island, and the collapse of Heavenly Travel Mountain, it clearly didn't measure up.

At Fiery Fire Island.

Lu Qingfeng pulled out the Dutian Xuanming Strategy.

"Five more Dutian Ghost Generals to add."

The Pan Mountain King, Wutou Po, two Jiedan Demon Generals, and Han Ji made exactly five Jiedan Divine Souls.

Thus, the number of Ghost Generals in the Dutian Xuanming Strategy reached thirty-four. Aside from the six defending Qingyu and Qing Peak, Lu Qingfeng also had twenty-eight Dutian Ghost Generals at his disposal.

"Daoist Soldiers reveal their presence."

"If Dutian Ghost Generals continue to guard Qingyu and Qing Peak, it's somewhat improper."

Lu Qingfeng pondered, already having a plan in mind.

He headed deeper into his cave dwelling.

Retrieving two black robes from the Artifact Refining Room, emblazoned with a horde of ferocious ghosts, their roars unceasing.

These were the 'Hundred Ghosts Locking Yin Robes.'

"One of the Seven Treasures of the Five Directions Bamboo Mountain Sect, a Sixth-rank Magic Artifact. I've replicated it, fortified by the 'Derivation Technique', into a Fifth-Order level artifact. Capable of commanding a hundred ghosts and seizing souls, it's not like the common artifacts – exceptional for protection."

Holding the two Hundred Ghosts Locking Yin Robes, Lu Qingfeng summoned six Dutian Ghost Generals and one hundred ninety-four Xuanming Yin Soldiers from the Dutian Xuanming Strategy. His hands formed a Seal Technique, severing their connection with the strategy, and with a wave of his sleeve, he infused them into the two black robes.

He sat down to refine.

Seven days later.

"Ha!"

Lu Qingfeng opened his eyes, his voice strong as he pointed, the two black robes floating in the air. A hundred ghosts extended their heads, screeching in all directions, though devoid of any traces of Ghost Generals or Yin Soldiers, now becoming fierce and violent Evil Ghosts.

"Dutian Breath Concealing Record!"

"Xuanming Breath Concealing Technique!"

Lu Qingfeng manipulated the hundred ghosts, his fingertips emanating Xuan Light, as he bestowed upon them two volumes of Magic Gates using the 'Enlightenment' method. These two Magic Gates were formed by fusing the 'Dutian Record' and the 'Concealing Breath Skill', and the 'Xuanming Technique' with the 'Concealing Breath Skill'.

They retained the essence of the 'Dutian Record' and 'Xuanming Technique', while the 'Concealing Breath Skill' allowed for hiding their presence for stealthier concealment. Furthermore, it changed the characteristics and aura of the two Cultivation Techniques, distinguishing them from the Ghost Generals and Yin Soldiers.

"These two Magic Artifacts, containing hundreds of ghosts, could even entangle with Void Core or Solid Pill True Men for a long time."

"Giving them to those two now would not be beneficial to their cultivation."

Lu Qingfeng intended to refine the Hundred Ghosts Locking Yin Robes and wait until the two had overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation and reached Spirit Void Divine Silence before gifting it to them. In this way, it wouldn't delay their training, and they could quickly gain tremendous combat power after their tribulation.

But giving it to them now seemed inappropriate.

Lu Qingfeng pondered.

Currently regretting not having capable subordinates. Moreover, those who guard Qingyu and Qing Peak must be followers of 'Lu Qingfeng's' identity.

"Though I am a palace master, I am publicly known merely as a Fourth-rank Alchemist and a novice Spirit Void Practitioner."

"Even True Men of Core Formation wouldn't willingly serve under me."

Lu Qingfeng thought.

A flash of insight, and an object came to mind.

"The Heavenly Mechanism Stone and the Spirit Control Array have already been enhanced by Derivation twenty times, and whether it's sensing distance or spiritual variability, while they haven't reached the level of developing a sentience, handling spontaneous situations is not an issue."

"Sufficient to sustain the operation of even Spirit Void and Jiedan Puppets."

Because he held the Dutian Xuanming Strategy, he rarely dealt with 'puppets', but now the concept resurfaced from the forgotten corners of his memory.

High-level Puppets, although costly to refine in terms of precious materials, could not outmatch the Dutian Xuanming Strategy even at scale. The consumption of materials and Spirit Stones was one thing, but the time and effort spent on them was by far eclipsed by nurturing Ghost Generals and Yin Soldiers.

Moreover, in terms of versatility and application, they fell short compared to Daoist Soldiers.

This is why Lu Qingfeng had long since eschewed puppet crafting.

But now, the idea sparked.

He entered the game world and used Experience Value to empower the 'Jianxiao Puppets' he had acquired earlier in the Changqing Realm, strengthening them tenfold.