Yellow Court Daoist

Years prior.

Zhang Shu became Dao companions with a Loose Cultivator True Immortal and gave birth to a son, who is Zhang Ke.

It was also Lu Qingfeng's suggestion that Zhang Ke come to Min River to assume the role of Second Grade Water Monarch.

Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le preferred to live quietly within the mortal realm as officials in Jimo City, undisturbed, thus they told no one.

Therefore, even Zhang Ke was kept in the dark.

Lu Qingfeng glanced at the sky outside. Several figures landed just beyond the Cloud Sky, seemingly waiting for him to come and pay homage. He couldn't help but laugh and said to Ao Le, "I won't be meeting with these few in the heavens."

"Mhm."

Ao Le nodded lightly, aware that although her husband had many friends, he also had quite a few enemies in the Shang River. Most of them belonged to the same lineage as the once formidable Commander of East Heaven, Ao Shang, and Commander of the Southern Sky, Zhu Jiu. The disputes from the past were unpleasant, and there was no need to face them again.

It seems that if these individuals knew that the immortal of Jimo City was Lu Qingfeng, they would probably run away even faster than him.

Nothing much in the mortal world to tidy up.

"Let's go!"

Utilizing the Five Ghosts Transfer Skill, dark clouds immediately gathered, enveloping him, his wife, and their two little ones, Lu Xiao and Lu Yao, whisking them away through the air, out of sight.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Ke promptly bowed respectfully, "Farewell, My Lord and Lady."

When he looked up again, the courtyard was empty.

...

At the edge of the heavens.

Ao Zhong stood high on the Qingyun, looking down, waiting for the newly immortal person below to come up and pay respects. Suddenly, he witnessed a black wind below and the flickering aura of the Five Ghosts. Looking down again, there was no trace of the True Immortal.

"Ran away?"

Ao Zhong was startled, and his brows furrowed abruptly. His gaze shifted southward, and after considering for a moment, his eyes widened in realization, "That dog from Guang Yuan?!"

In the distance.

Another True Immortal arrived, landing in front of Ao Zhong, inquiring with surprise, "Was that just now—"

"The Five Ghosts Transfer Skill!"

"An Investigation of Guang Yuan!"

Ao Zhong gnashed his teeth.

"Indeed, it's him!"

The True Immortal voiced gravely, "Guang Yuan has traveled the mortal world for fifty thousand years. There were rumors that he had already become an immortal, yet there was no news from any quarters. Today, it seems he has just achieved immortality?"

Ao Zhong shook his head.

Looking southward, he felt a complex and indescribable emotion.

...

"That Sky Patrol Commander Ao Zhong, is he the son of Ao Shang?"

In East Chen State.

The Five Ghosts dissipated.

Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le held Lu Xiao and Lu Yao respectively, as they headed toward a small city in a minor western nation of the Northern Realm. Ao Le, with curiosity on her face, asked aloud.

"Indeed."

"Ao Shang had thirty-six sons, but only this Ao Zhong was fortunate enough to become a True Immortal. He even had a fate with the daughter of the Wujiang Dragon Lord, and we share a significant grudge. His ascension to True Immortality is a joyous occasion, and so I decided to show some goodwill and not cause him any trouble."

Lu Qingfeng said with a laugh.

He was in charge of the Investigation Department, had command over demons, and once caused a calamity in the darkness, massacring the entire lineage of Wujiang. Ao Zhong's father-in-law, the Wujiang Dragon Lord, along with several of his maternal uncles, all perished at the hands of demons.

The entire Shang River was in turmoil.

Some speculated that Lu Qingfeng was the one stirring trouble behind the scenes. Manuals of accusations fell like snowflakes, yet in the end, the matter was dismissed.

The enmity with Ao Zhong was indeed great.

Previously, Lu Qingfeng's relationship with his father-in-law, Ao Shang, was even worse.

But Ao Shang had perished thirty thousand years ago during the Nine layers Heavens Tribulation, his Divine Soul entering reincarnation. Within Ao Shang's lineage, Ao Zhong held the highest status and power but was unable to contend with Lu Qingfeng.

Lu Qingfeng held sway over the Shang River, his status venerable, especially in the states of East Chen and Dong Xian where his influence was immense.

Ao Zhong could only hide within the Ancient Shang Region, not daring to set foot in Chun Shen.

"My husband deliberately revealed the aura of the Five Ghosts and then says he won't trouble Ao Zhong."

Ao Le smiled with pursed lips.

Lu Qingfeng laughed out loud too.

While walking towards the city, the two of them continued talking.

This return to East Chen State.

They did not visit the Investigation God Monarch Mansion but chose to live amongst mortals.

"Xiao'er and Yao'er are still young; being spoiled in the Divine Monarch Mansion amidst admiring starlight is not ideal."

"Better to live in the mortal realm for a while."

"Wait twenty years, then send them to the Tianshu Mansion and let Ao Jun worry about them!"

Lu Qingfeng, holding Lu Yao, said to Ao Le.

Although both little ones were over a year old, they still couldn't understand what their father was planning for the moment.

"The mortal world is quite nice, with more playmates."

Ao Le nodded, agreeing as well.

Growing up humble, they would later understand the hardships of the mortal world and not develop into spoiled children.

As long as their characters remain untwisted.

With such a father, their future achievements would certainly not be small.

So.

The couple took Lu Xiao and Lu Yao with them and settled down in a small city called Qing City in a minor Northern Realm nation called Scripture Country, located in the west of East Chen State.

For tens of thousands of years.

Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le had spent most of their time in the human realm, sometimes as small traders, sometimes serving in government or the military, and at times like in Jimo County, acting as the Governor, shepherding the populace.

The mortal world is full of wisdom.

Lu Qingfeng, in addition to cultivating, was also absorbing the quintessence of human wisdom to supplement himself. It might be useless at the moment, but making analogies and accumulating knowledge could never be wrong. When his cultivation ceases to progress in the future, if he carefully reflects and comprehends, he might find a breakthrough method.

Accumulation is never too much.

This time.

Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le completely transformed into a mortal couple, opening up a pharmacy in Qing City, using blinding techniques to conceal Lu Xiao and Lu Yao's dragon horns and tails, along with all kinds of extraordinary auras.

While teaching the two little ones to grow, Lu Qingfeng was also consolidating the cultivation level he had just broken through, realizing the various changes in the Mahayana realm and the body of a True Immortal.

Time flies.

In the blink of an eye, eighteen years passed.

...

"I've decided. I'll leave tomorrow to go to the Immortal Mountain in the north to find a master and learn the arts!"

A dark and sturdy lad looked at the slightly delicate-looking youth in front of him and asked loudly, "Lu Xiao, do you want to come with me?"

Lu Xiao was wearing a long gown and looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old. His features bore a resemblance to Lu Qingfeng, but in his eyes, there was also a bit of Ao Le's charm.

Hearing what the hefty youngster said, Lu Xiao was quite tempted.

But after thinking it over, he gritted his teeth and shook his head, "I won't go. With my parents here, I shall not travel afar."

"Aren't Lu Uncle and Aunt still with Lu Yao to look after them?"

"Let's go together. I heard there is a Yangshui Immortal Mountain up north, where a few immortals reside. They can fly to the heavens and escape the earth without any restrictions, holding great fame in the current world."

Zhang Kui got anxious and quickly urged, "That Little Sister Zhou was taken away by an immortal who was passing by to learn immortal techniques years ago. If you stay cooped up in Qing City, by the time you meet Little Sister Zhou again, she might have forgotten you already."

Little Sister Zhou was the childhood companion of Lu Xiao and Zhang Kui.

She was closest to Lu Xiao, often calling him 'Brother Xiao' and following him around like a shadow.

But a few years ago, Little Sister Zhou suddenly disappeared.

According to her parents, she was taken in by an immortal and became a disciple.

Over the years.

Lu Xiao would still mention her from time to time, regretting that he never got to say a proper goodbye.

Zhang Kui brought up Little Sister Zhou to invoke Lu Xiao's desire to seek immortality so that he would have company on his way to Yangshui Immortal Mountain to seek a master. That way, if he became an immortal, his best playmate wouldn't grow old.

"Little Sister Zhou."

"Even if she becomes an immortal, I am still her 'Brother Xiao.' How could she forget me?"

Lu Xiao listened but still shook his head, saying earnestly, "I'm not going. What time are you leaving tomorrow? Never mind, I'm going back to the pharmacy now and ask Lu Yao to prepare some ointments for detoxifying and healing injuries. That Yangshui Immortal Mountain must be very far, and there will be plenty of dangers on the road. You must be well prepared."

Lu Xiao said and hurriedly left.

Lu Yao usually closed up shop promptly in the evening, and if it was too late, he might miss her.

"Good heavens!"

Zhang Kui watched Lu Xiao running off and couldn't help slapping his thigh in frustration, "What's the point of a man's life if he just huddles in this small county town for decades?!"

...

Lu Xiao didn't care about that.

He ran back to Black Sand Pharmacy and dashed straight to the pharmacy's backyard. The courtyard was filled with drying medicinal herbs, and a girl dressed in coarse linen clothes was carefully sorting them. Upon closer inspection, the girl looked almost identical to Lu Xiao as if they were carved out of the same mold.

Only, as Lu Xiao was a male, his features appeared delicate.

And the girl, being female, her features exhibited a bit of valiant handsomeness.

Though their height and appearance were similar, their temperaments were entirely different and easy to distinguish at a glance.

"Lu Yao."

"Zhang Kui is going on a long journey tomorrow to seek immortality at Yangshui Immortal Mountain. I want to ask you to prepare some ointments for him; otherwise, Zhang Kui will definitely die on the road."

Lu Xiao came up to Lu Yao and said while gasping for breath.

"Zhang Kui is going to seek immortality?"

Lu Yao turned around, frowning and said, "I've heard that Yangshui Immortal Mountain is who-knows-how-far north of here. Many people from the Jianghu in Qing City went to seek a master, but in the end, not one of them came back alive. Zhang Kui is only eighteen, can he be better than those from the Jianghu?"

Compared to Lu Xiao.

Lu Yao was much more decisive and efficient in both speech and action. As she spoke, she didn't stop working.

Listening, Lu Xiao shook his head, "What matters in seeking immortality is not strength, but immortal fate."

Lu Yao scoffed, "Then how do you know that all those people from the Jianghu didn't have immortal fates and only he, Zhang Kui, does?"

As she spoke.

Seeing that Lu Xiao was about to speak again, Lu Yao impatiently waved her hand, "Enough, let Zhang Kui do what he wishes. But, Lu Xiao, you're not thinking of going with him too, are you?"

"Zhang Kui asked me to join him."

"But I didn't agree."

Lu Xiao replied.

"You still have some conscience then."

Lu Yao suddenly smiled, her tone becoming cheerful, "I have prepared ointments in my room, for treating bruises and for detoxification and insect repellent. You take them quickly to him."

"Okay!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiao was also happy and ran home to get them.

...

Early the next morning.

In the courtyard.

A couple, who appeared to be only in their thirties, were each busy with their tasks. The woman was watering and weeding the flowers, while the man was processing medicinal materials, with Lu Yao assisting on the side.

"Father."

"I've seen Lu Xiao spending a lot of time at the Martial Arts School, and these past days, he has been searching the whole city for various immortal stories and cultivation secret manuals. He definitely wants to go seek immortality with Zhang Kui."

Lu Yao turned her head and said definitively to Lu Qingfeng.

Lu Qingfeng smiled, then suddenly raised his eyebrows and looked westward. After a moment, he pressed down on the topic and asked casually, "What do you think, Yao'er? Is becoming an immortal good or not?"

"Becoming an immortal is of course good."

Lu Yao replied without hesitation, "Immortals can fly and escape the earth, and they can live forever. If that were the case, there wouldn't be so much death and suffering in the world, and our family of four would never be separated."

Lu Yao had grown up in her family's pharmacy and was accustomed to life and death, having matured early on.