Yellow Court Daoist

"Blood Spring Demon Sect."

"Zhenyuan Array."

Long hair covering half of his face, Lu Qingfeng's eyes reflected the image of Blood Shadow upside down, which unexpectedly revealed the figures of Blood Spring Ancestors Yv Gong and Miao Yu.

Lu Qingfeng's lips curved upward, displaying a trace of wickedness.

"No need for five years."

"At most three years, these two will make their move."

"Let's wait a bit longer."

Lu Qingfeng sat down cross-legged, quietly waiting for the right moment.

...

Three years later.

Above the clouds.

The Shang River Navy stretched for ten thousand miles in connected encampments.

Outside the Eastern Realm of Dong Xian State, in the Southern Border Land.

Thirty thousand miles from Black Water Mountain, a mighty river surged, and its violent flow often resounded with thunderous echoes, hence it was named 'Thunder Sound River'.

Upstream of the Thunder Sound River.

A grand array formed by three thousand camps, where Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals patrolled within and without.

Inside the central command tent.

The Min River Dragon Lord, Ao Zhan, was seated in the place of honor.

At his side, Tao River Water Lord Xuan Shuang, Yuan Lake Water Lord Zhang Shu, and other Min River Generals were all present, along with numerous veteran generals and newly promoted leaders from the Dragon Palace over the past few hundred years.

A crowd that was lively and bustling.

As for the Third Prince of Min River, Ao Feng, the Second Prince Ao Yu, Luo Lake Water Lord Chi Yin, they remained stationed in Min River, on guard against the possibility of the Demon Swamp and other forces taking advantage of the situation to launch attacks, and thus did not move rashly.

Meanwhile, the Third Prince of Min River and Yunhu Water Lord Ao Lie were currently leading troops along the Thunder Sound River downstream to inspect and purge demons.

Inside the tent.

A great general with a scarred face, holding a Turtle-Backed Alligator Dragon Spear, arrived in the center of the tent and bowed to Ao Zhan sitting at the highest seat, "My Lord, upstream of the Thunder Sound River, from Black Water Mountain in the north, to Yanqing Ridge in the east, to Divine Room Mountain in the west, covering thirty thousand miles, only the final thousand miles to the east remains to be purified. Further downstream, the Wujiang Water Navy is stationed."

"This general requests permission, once the Third Prince has purged the final thousand miles of territory, to lead three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers and welcome the return of the Prince Consort!"

The assembly turned their gaze toward this person.

They all nodded slightly, unsurprised.

For the one who spoke was none other than—

Zhang Shu, the Water Lord of Yuan Lake!

Seven hundred years ago.

Zhang Shu succeeded the role of Prince Consort Guang Yuan, from acting as the steward of Yuan Lake, to repeatedly distinguishing himself in battle and formally being appointed the Water Lord of Yuan Lake. Despite his relatively short tenure, he commanded three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers, and whether it was personal strength or his ability to lead troops in combat, he even surpassed Ao Lie.

In the lineage of Min River, his reputation rose rapidly and was quite extraordinary.

Zhang Shu was once an obscure general on the South Pass Road, discontent with his lack of achievement. Later, after joining Yuan Lake, he was heavily favored by the then Yuan Lake Water Lord, Guang Yuan.

Not only was he taught the Cultivation Method, but also the art of training troops, and even the command of the elite Fire Crow Soldiers was given to him.

After Guang Yuan's departure.

He even recommended him as the new Water Lord of Yuan Lake.

It can be said that Zhang Shu's accomplishments today were all thanks to the grace and opportunity provided by that Prince Consort.

Even though he is now the Fourth Grade Yuan Lake Water Lord, and vaguely recognized as the top general of Min River aside from Luo Lake Water Lord Chi Yin, he still harbors profound gratitude toward Guang Yuan, the one who forged his path, and remains unwaveringly loyal.

Having been stationed upstream of Thunder Sound River for three years, and now seeing his jurisdiction almost entirely purged of threats, it was within reason for Zhang Shu to be the first to volunteer to search for Prince Consort Guang Yuan.

"No need for that."

Ao Zhan waved his hand, indicating for Zhang Shu to stand and spoke clearly, "Our Min River Navy has encamped here. Guang Yuan, Luo Fu and others can find out about us with just a little inquiry and will naturally seek us out. If General Zhang went out to search, you would likely miss each other instead."

Hearing this, Zhang Shu remained uneasy and hesitated, "But with the war raging, if the Prince Consort wishes to return and is obstructed outside—"

"If he is indeed obstructed, what use would your three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers be?"

"Just wait patiently."

Ao Zhan shook his head. Seeing that Zhang Shu wanted to speak further, he sternly said, "The Great Marshal has ordered our Min River Navy to defend the upper reaches of Thunder Sound River and be ready for orders at any time. We must not act rashly. If you lead a company out and someone reports it to the Great Marshal, I might at worst be demoted, but you as the commander of the Fire Crow Soldiers would likely not escape accountability! Do not bring this up again."

Zhang Shu looked up at Ao Zhan, his face showing struggle.

At this moment.

To the side, Tao River Water Lord Xuan Shuang saw this and spoke up, "General Zhang is rightly concerned for the Prince Consort's safety. The Third Prince is also waiting in Min River, deeply longing. Doesn't our Lord have a Fate Mirror on hand? Why not use it to reveal the Nine Provinces, to check on the Prince Consort's whereabouts, along with Chi Bai, Luo Fu, and Yan Xun whose whereabouts are also unknown."

Zhang Shu, hearing this, saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes, looking at Tao River Water Lord with gratefulness.

Then his gaze turned back to Ao Zhan.

"Amid the military duties, I had indeed forgotten about this treasure!"

Ao Zhan gave a wry smile.

Without saying more.

With a wave of his hand, a copper mirror with ancient patterns appeared in mid-air.

It rotated hoveringly.

Xuan Light erupted.

It was indeed the Fate Mirror.

Being an Eighth Rank Magic Artifact, besides its ability to reveal the fate and destiny of mortals, cultivators, and demons, once something is revealed, the current location can be observed through the mirror.

The eyes of Zhang Shu, Xuan Shuang, and the others were immediately captivated by the Fate Mirror.

It was said.

That the Prince Consort had once used the Fate Mirror to reveal the Green Fortune, which led to marriage with the Third Princess.

They saw Ao Zhan casually forming a seal, infusing mana. The Fate Mirror's Golden Light stirred, illuminating the tent with dazzling brilliance.

Whoooosh!

But amidst the vast Golden Light, no scenes could be seen.

"What—"

Zhang Shu was puzzled.

Xuan Shuang was also bewildered, looking at Ao Zhan, "My Lord, what is—"

"Guang Yuan has on him something that conceals heaven's secrets or perhaps boasts a fortune that is overwhelming, so the Fate Mirror cannot reveal his location."

Ao Zhan explained, a trace of shock and confusion on his face.

After all, the Fate Mirror is an Eighth Rank Magical Artifact, capable of locking onto a location and displaying the surrounding landscape, even for Green Fortune Tellers and Fourth Realm Cultivators.

Yet now, there was no trace of Guang Yuan, a truly baffling occurrence.

"Your Majesty, could it be that the Prince Consort—"

As everyone stared at the blanket of golden light with furrowed brows, deep in thought, a voice rang out from within the tent. Before the sentence was completed, Zhang Shu, with a fierce glare in his eyes, abruptly stopped speaking and the others swiftly silenced themselves, daring not to continue.

"The golden light is radiant; Guang Yuan is unharmed."

Ao Zhan's hands moved through other Seal Techniques, and the Fate Mirror began to turn once more.

The golden light subsided.

But soon after, it flared again, still a dazzling golden brilliance filling all directions, yet revealing no scenery within.

"Again, this?"

The gathered generals were all stunned, turning their gazes toward Ao Zhan.

Ao Zhan frowned deeply and said in a grave tone, "Luo Fu is safe."

He continued to operate the mirror without pause.

The Fate Mirror kept spinning, the golden light falling then rising again.

This time.

There was a change.

In the endless sea, a ship was seen braving the waves. On the deck, stood a young, refined scholar, with his hands clasped behind his back, surveying the boundless ocean.

"General Yan Xun."

"General Yan Xun is on the Wuwang Sea, hurrying towards the East Xian State; he must have received the news."

The generals inside the tent breathed a sigh of relief.

This Yan Xun, a rare Confucian and Military School General from the Min River Dragon Palace in recent years, pursued dual paths of scholarship and martial arts. More than two hundred years ago, he entered Chun Shen Realm; judging by his appearance, he is still in the Third Realm. However, with the fusion of realms and the addition of destiny, his future prospects are boundless.

As long as he can safely return, he will certainly be greatly utilized in the Min River.

Seeing Yan Xun, Ao Zhan's tightly furrowed brows also slightly relaxed.

However, the Fate Mirror did not stop. After observing Yan Xun, the golden light filled the sky once more, and the inside scene changed again, showing a place where smoke and clouds gathered.

Within deep mountains and great marshes.

A gloomy middle-aged man with triangular eyes, wearing a black robe, followed by a group of demons, was rushing through the marsh.

Whether it was the gloomy middle-aged man or the demons following him, they were all shrouded in a strong Evil Qi, and the weapons they carried still bore traces of blood – they had clearly just fought a fierce battle.

Whipping up a sinister wind, dark and foul-smelling.

Clearly not of the Righteous Sect.

The gloomy middle-aged man led the demons, and as the demonic wind swept across the marsh, they reached the peak of a mountain. Bowing inside, he announced, "Your subordinate Red Snake, leading three hundred brothers, has slaughtered the entire three thousand Navy of the West Sea!"

"Well done!"

From within the mountains, a hideous man dressed in dark black Armor, with eagle eyes and a hooked nose, stepped out and laughed in praise, "Red Snake, you have performed remarkable feats indeed, truly a War General of merit from the Mystic Eagle Mountain!"

His laughter was ferocious and sinister.

The gloomy middle-aged man, called 'Red Snake,' looked delighted, ready to respond, yet saw the Mystic Eagle Warlord suddenly look up, his eagle eyes locking onto the sky with a fierce glare.

"How dare someone spy on this great king?!"

The Mystic Eagle Warlord's voice was fierce, and with a sweep of his hand, he shattered the Void.

On the upper reaches of the Thunder Sound River.

Inside the main tent of the Min River Generals, the golden light faded, and the image vanished without a trace.

"..."

A silence prevailed among the gathered generals.

Xuan Shuang, Zhang Shu, and others, showed anger on their faces. Ao Zhan's eyes flashed with intense cold fury, even more enraged.

Just then.

Someone ran frantically into the tent, urgently calling out—

"Your Majesty."

"The Third Prince is trapped midstream in the Thunder Sound River by the Fourth and Fifth Princes of Wujiang, leading their troops. Please rush to the rescue, Your Majesty!"

...

The vast Thunder Sound River stretches for tens of thousands of miles.

The upper reaches are guarded by the Min River Navy under the command of Min River Dragon Lord Ao Zhan.

The midstream.

That's where the Wujiang Navy is stationed.

At that moment.

At the boundary where the two navies meet, thousands of soldiers stood in confrontation.

On one side was the thousand-strong Min River Navy led by Ao Lie, clad in golden Armor.

On the other side stood three thousand Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals led by two Tiger Generals, surrounding Ao Lie and his thousand soldiers.

It was the Wujiang Navy.

Leading them were two Tiger Generals who, at first glance, bore some resemblance to Ao Yin and Ao Pi—it was the fourth son Ao Liang and the fifth son Ao Zhi of the Wujiang Dragon Lord.

"Ao Liang!"

"Ao Zhi!"

"Why do you lead troops against me? What is your intention?!"

Ao Lie brandished his spear at Ao Liang and Ao Zhi, fearless and stern, his voice booming with accusation.

"What is our intention?"

Ao Zhi's eyebrows inverted in fury, pointing at Ao Lie he shouted, "You from Min River are ruthless, repay kindness with malice, and yet you dare to be so insolent! If I, Ao Zhi, do not teach you a lesson today, I would fail as an elder brother!"

Ao Zhi was even more enraged than Ao Lie.

Raising his great sword, he slashed at the sky towards Ao Lie.

"Well done, Ao Zhi!"

"I've long wanted to discipline you nine vile insects of Wujiang; today is the perfect opportunity to capture you and settle the score with my dear sister!"

Ao Lie was also of a fierce temperament.

Being unreasonably surrounded by the troops of Ao Liang and Ao Zhi, he had already been seething with rage. Now that Ao Zhi dared to be the first to attack, disregarding the honor of the Heaven Suppressing Army, Ao Lie had no room for tolerance.

With that, he gripped his spear and clashed with Ao Zhi.