Yellow Court Daoist

Standing atop the Great Rift Valley, Lu Qingfeng watched the four Dukes of Star Shining Floating City leave in the distance.

Thoughts flickered through his mind, but he ultimately shook his head.

"Not yet."

"First, we'll assimilate the territory controlled by Augustine and let the Guangyuan Immortal Sect begin to take shape. Then, we can discuss recruitment."

Dukes are not so easily won over to one's command!

In the Material Realm, the strongest are the Abyss Masters of the thirty-six layers of the Abyss.

Below them are the Duke Lords.

Or rather, whether it's an Abyss Master, a Grand Duke, or a common Duke, they all fall under the category of Duke Lords.

Only that a Grand Duke is a top-level warrior among common Dukes, possessing the ability to fight multiple opponents at once, hence they are singled out and called "Grand Duke."

The vast expanse of the Abyss First Layer only has ninety-nine Grand Dukes.

The position holds great prestige.

And the Abyss Master is the first among these ninety-nine Grand Dukes, having the ability to crush the other ninety-eight and seize authority, suppressing thousands of Abyss Creatures.

Augustine.

Duke Jingji.

He is one of the ninety-nine Grand Dukes in the Abyss First Layer.

He is the undisputed lord of the eight-thousand-mile territory around the Thorny Rift Valley, a top-tier power of the first layer.

Faced with Augustine, whose reputation was so immense, Lu Qingfeng had originally planned to spend the next two years digesting all his Experience Value before dealing with him. But plans can't keep up with changes, and the exposure of the Demon Suppressing Golden Ring after surviving the heavenly judgment sparked a series of events.

Ultimately leading to the massive attack by the Abyss Army on Star Shining Floating City.

Lu Qingfeng did not hesitate.

He went straight to the Thorny Rift Valley and started the fight.

Augustine, shrouded in powerful and unpredictable rumors, commanding an invincible Abyss Army over eight thousand miles, was in fact a thicket of Extreme Evil Thorns. Difficult to engage, with countless branches resistant to damage. And even if one gained the upper hand, it was very hard to completely cut down all its millions of branches and utterly annihilate Augustine.

Unfortunately.

Augustine met Lu Qingfeng.

Yin Soldiers Ghost Generals held the field.

An array of Magic Artifacts and Divine Skills were unleashed.

Destroying thousands of thorns, capturing souls with ease, effortlessly slaying the 'Duke Jingji' whose advantages and flaws were both significant.

His soul suppressed within the Eight Sceneries Tower.

Even so, the four Dukes from Star Shining Floating City were still Duke-level powers—not much weaker than the strength Lu Qingfeng had shown. To speak rashly of them submitting, willing to be commanded as subordinates, was indeed difficult.

Might as well not speak for now, and wait for the future.

"No rush."

After sixteen lifetimes, Lu Qingfeng has amassed such deep foundations that not even a Heavenly Immortal reincarnating in the mortal world could surpass him.

He just needed time to transform this accumulation into power, and then he could advance unopposed.

Recruiting followers.

Expanding influence.

There's no need to hurry; with Lu Qingfeng's power, he could resist any enemies in the Abyss First Layer. Suppress a region, develop slowly, and one day become invincible in the world.

He cleared his thoughts.

Lu Qingfeng looked down at the chaotic and desolate Thorny Rift Valley with an unmoved gaze.

Looking into the distance, beyond the Thorny Rift Valley to the towering mountain range that stretched for a hundred miles to the north, he said, "This mountain shall be called 'Zhenyuan Mountain' and become the gateway for Guangyuan Immortal Sect!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, a thirty-foot-high stele fell down, inscribed with—

Zhenyuan Mountain!

…

Time passed.

The news that Duke Jingji Augustine had been killed, the Thorny Rift Valley had been cleansed of blood and occupied, swept like a hurricane across the Abyss First Layer.

The world was shocked.

The name "Duke Guangyuan" spread from Star Shining Floating City and instantly rose to the ranks of the top powers of the Abyss First Layer, taking the place of the former "Duke Jingji."

Some who were interested in these matters had made a ranking of the top powers of the first layer based on their record of achievements.

Duke Jingji Augustine ranked eighty-first among the ninety-nine Grand Dukes.

By defeating Augustine, Lu Qingfeng directly took the eighty-first spot. And many believed that Duke Guangyuan's rank was far from stopping there.

The outside world debated, but Lu Qingfeng paid no attention.

He was devoted to setting up Zhenyuan Mountain.

Layers of Arrays transformed into a grand mountain gate Array, covering a hundred-mile radius of Zhenyuan Mountain.

Zhenyuan Mountain, being next to the Thorny Rift Valley and territory Augustine had occupied, was naturally not a common place. Favored by heaven and earth, blessed by the will of the Abyss, it was already a rare cultivation paradise.

But to be precise, it was more suitable for Abyss Demons with dark power like Augustine to live and cultivate there.

Lu Qingfeng laid down Arrays, reversing the fundamental nature of the land.

The Nine Heavens Gang Wind cleansed the Great Rift Valley, with gales blowing day and night tirelessly, erasing millennia of evil, hatred, and gloom to nothingness.

The Star Array connected to the stars and sun.

The Mountain and River Array commanded the earth and its landscapes.

Moving Mountains and Changing Mountains was still beyond Lu Qingfeng's Fire Control, but altering the earth's veins and spirit was not difficult when unhindered and unopposed by powerful cultivators.

The Gathering Spirit Array drew in boundless Spiritual Energy from all directions.

The power of the stars and celestial bodies rained down, spreading over a hundred miles. With Zhenyuan Mountain as the focal point, the terrain and the energy of water veins shifted and changed.

In just a few days, the once 'pestilent and miasmic' Thorny Rift Valley was transformed.

Spiritual Energy surged, brimming with Immortal Energy.

Within the Abyss, a new Immortal Sect and Immortal Mountain stood proudly. Like a lotus rising from the mud untainted, aloof from the world, it carried an air of an Immortal realm.

After continuous effort in setting up Arrays for twenty-seven days.

Lu Qingfeng finally halted.

Yin Soldiers Ghost Generals were arrayed a hundred miles away, the fierce might they displayed as they cleared the Thorny Rift Valley of bloodthirsty creatures was enough to keep all—whether evil, powerful abyssal creatures, lord-level mages, or warriors—at bay, daring only to gaze from afar, witnessing Zhenyuan Mountain undergo changes visible to the naked eye at an astonishing speed.

Of course.

They were still unaware of the name 'Zhenyuan Mountain,' believing it to be the Thorny Rift Valley.

Filled with curiosity.

Yet with seventy-two Dutian Ghost Generals, each with a presence rivaling a Duke, and three thousand six hundred Xuanming Yin Soldiers with might akin to the Arrogant Sun Great Mages guarding the Void, no one dared to overstep their bounds.

At the foot of Zhenyuan Mountain.

Lu Qingfeng took step by step, walking upon the Void as if ascending a Heavenly Ladder, and in the blink of an eye, he reached the summit of Zhenyuan Mountain.

"Three peaks stand as though to pierce the sky; cliffs of emerald and scarlet valleys unfold with majesty. The Gold Essence of the White Emperor channels Yuan Qi, stone blooms into lotus, clouds form a platform."

Three peaks towered over Zhenyuan Mountain.

The North Peak was sheer on all sides, its summit crowned in mist, connected to earth's veins, standing proud and solitary, resembling the Cloud Platform—thus Lu Qingfeng named it 'Cloud Platform Peak.'

Atop Cloud Platform lay a curious stone resembling a lotus flower.

Basking in the influence of feng shui and sunlight, it contained a hint of divine charm. Sitting upon it to contemplate the sea of clouds for thousands of miles, and to cultivate, one would experience ineffable wonders—an excellent place for cultivation!

Atop West Peak was a colossal rock shaped like a lotus petal, which Lu Qingfeng named 'Lotus Peak.'

South Peak, lush with trees and possessing a tranquil atmosphere, was as pretty as a Fairy holding a flower, thus called 'Fairy Peak.'

Lu Qingfeng descended onto North Peak's Cloud Platform, settling onto the stone lotus dais.

He gestured in the Void, and a Sect Magical Artifact fell into his hand.

It resembled a conch at first glance, seemingly ordinary. But as Lu Qingfeng's True Yuan surged, he activated the Magic Artifact, his voice resounding clearly—

"I am Guang Yuan, who has slain Augustine and received the Heavenly Mechanism. Two years hence, I shall announce the teachings of the Xuanmen at Zhenyuan Mountain. All living beings from the Abyss with a destined affinity are welcome to listen to the Dao."

His voice was clear, audible within dozens of paces in every direction.

As it spread beyond, it gradually weakened. However, with a slight shimmer of Xuan Light, the Dharma Conch-like Magical Artifact slipped from Lu Qingfeng's hand and grew as it caught the wind.

Mystery burst forth.

The words uttered by Lu Qingfeng seemed to solidify rather than dissipate, and with the help of the Dharma Conch, echoed out in all directions.

"I am Guang Yuan, who has slain Augustine and received the Heavenly Mechanism. Two years hence, I shall announce the teachings of the Xuanmen at Zhenyuan Mountain. All living beings from the Abyss with a destined affinity are welcome to listen to the Dao."

"I am Guang Yuan, who has slain Augustine and received the Heavenly Mechanism. Two years hence, I shall announce the teachings of the Xuanmen at Zhenyuan Mountain. All living beings from the Abyss with a destined affinity are welcome to listen to the Dao."

"I am Guang Yuan, who has slain Augustine and received the Heavenly Mechanism. Two years hence, I shall announce the teachings of the Xuanmen at Zhenyuan Mountain. All living beings from the Abyss with a destined affinity are welcome to listen to the Dao."

Suddenly.

Within a hundred thousand miles, in heaven and on earth, every life spirit heard Lu Qingfeng's proclamation—as if whispered in their ear, the words deafeningly clear. Whether they were meditating or deep in sleep, they heard them distinctly.

"Guang Yuan."

"Zhenyuan Mountain."

And with the voice, came the image of a Green Robed Daoist, full of immortal elegance. Although they had never heard of 'Zhenyuan Mountain,' within the depths of their minds a celestial mountain emerged, with clouds swirling, bathed in starlight, rivers flowing—an unforgettable vision. In their minds, directions to Zhenyuan Mountain also materialized.

In that moment.

The ten thousand miles of the Abyss rumble.

All species of living beings, abyssal creatures, and naturally born abyssal demons, some skeptical and others convinced, hastened to the Zhenyuan Mountain suggested by their minds.

Winds gathered clouds; the Abyss was in turmoil.

"In two years, the teachings shall be spread to the Abyss!"

Lu Qingfeng's sleeves fluttered as the 'Mystical Sound Dharma Conch' disappeared into them.

...

Star Shining Floating City.

The four Dukes had long since returned.

The external threat of Duke Jingji was eliminated completely with the sudden rise of Duke Guang Yuan. The Star Shining Floating City could now concentrate on resolving internal strife and purging itself internally.

The great purge continued.

The reconstruction of Echo Lake and the other Five Great Passes proceeded with a frenzy.

A month after Augustine was slain.

A thunderous voice spanned the heavens and earth, sweeping over the entire Floating City.

The four Dukes gathered immediately.

"It's Duke Guang Yuan!"

"The location of Zhenyuan Mountain corresponds to the original site of the Thorny Rift Valley."

Toynbee, galloping in on the wind, burst into the conference hall and was the first to speak.

A familiar voice.

A familiar figure and features.

It was undeniably the same Duke Guang Yuan they had encountered in the Thorny Rift Valley that day.

But—

"Duke Guang Yuan has killed Augustine and now has stirred up such a commotion. What do you think he's trying to do?"

Duke Doyle frowned.

"What else could he be planning?"

"Nothing more than trying to establish a foothold in the Thorny Rift Valley and gather powerful beings from all directions," responded Duke Toynbee, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "It's just that I've never seen such an approach before."

The distance between the Thorny Rift Valley and the Star Shining Floating City was more than ten thousand miles. The fact that his voice could travel so far and permeate the entire city was an ability that left Duke Toynbee greatly impressed.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Duke Doyle shook his head, remembering the harrowing state of the Thorny Rift Valley he had seen that day, always feeling that Duke Guang Yuan was too mysterious.

"We'll find out in two years."

After much debate in the conference hall, the four Dukes could not conclude their discussion, and in the end, Duke Lorrel summed it up.