Ten Years Later

"The Water-Element Dao Soldiers is composed of shrimp soldiers and crab Soldier-Taming Method include nine pills and twelve techniques, such as the 'Radiance Method,' 'Spirit-Nurturing Pill Wisdom-Opening Pill Nine-Transformations Pill,' 'Dragon-Rising Pill Form-Transformation Pellet,' and 'Troop-Calling Method,' which are extremely complex."

"It is said that after the Water-Walking True Person Core Formation, he began to raise Water-Element Dao Soldiers. He selected shrimp and crab demons with high spirituality, and even those with cultivation, from the Shattered Star Sea to train them. It took a full fourteen hundred years to forge an invincible Water-Element Dao Soldiers."

Lu Qingfeng carried a bowl of steamed prawns to Lin Feng and Lin Ye's residence, feeling utterly helpless.

"Whoosh!"

Lin Ye lay on the wooden bed, sniffing the air. She was thin and frail, staring timidly at the wooden basin in Lu Qingfeng's hand.

"We're having shrimp today."

When Lu Qingfeng saw Lin Ye, it was like seeing Qingyu from Blackwood Village. He waved the wooden basin in his hand at Lin Ye, who was now just skin and bones.

The Azure Dragon River is wide, and in some Abandoned Mountain sections, the two banks are thirty or forty miles apart. The mighty river flows on, teeming with countless shrimp and crabs.

"Shrimp reproduce extremely quickly."

"From spawning to larvae, and then to adult shrimp, it takes a Half Moon at the slower pace, and a month at the faster pace."

"The crabs are much slower to ripen, taking a year to a year and a half."

Lu Qingfeng stood on the Azure Dragon River, his feet treading on the waves, rising and falling with the tide.

With a wave of the hand.

One stone pillar after another fell around him, and in an instant, hundreds of stone pillars had fallen. Before long, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered from all directions, converging in the thousand-foot-wide area enclosed by the stone pillars.

Lu Qingfeng continued throwing out flags, one after another, which sank into the river.

A barrier rises.

The river continued to flow, but fish and shrimp could not move between the inside and outside of the barrier, and could not enter or leave.

Within the barrier, countless shrimp of all kinds roamed freely.

The Spiritual Qi gathered, and all the fish and shrimp were overjoyed.

One place was set up.

Following the Azure Dragon River, Lu Qingfeng set up nine more locations in one go. Some were gathering places for prawns, while others were near the shore where crabs scurried about.

The convergence of Spiritual Qi from all directions along this section of the river creates a breathtaking and refreshing atmosphere.

"First, nurture them with Spiritual Qi, and after several generations, select the best ones to cultivate."

Where Spiritual Qi gathers, a place can be called a land of spiritual energy. Only in a land of spiritual energy can spiritual things be formed.

Furthermore, it is supplemented with Secret Method and elixirs.

With the promise of shrimp soldiers and crab generals, a hundred or so years from now, the Water-Element Dao Soldiers will be roughly complete.

During this period.

Raising Fire Crow Dao Soldiers and refining the Dutian Dark Nether Strategies can be carried out simultaneously.

Lu Qingfeng wasn't in a hurry.

This opportunity also allows you to learn and practice all twenty-four Divine Ability.

Each Divine Ability contains immense potential, requiring a mortal cultivator to dedicate their entire life to its study. Lu Qingfeng's mastery of numerous Divine Ability necessitates an even greater investment of energy and effort.

Time flies.

Ten years later.

"This is Treasure-Gathering Mountain? It doesn't look particularly special!"

"There's nothing special about Treasure-Gathering Mountain itself. The real power lies with the Rogue Person Guangyuan of Rogue Person Guangyuan in the west. Among his four disciples, even the weakest, Lin Ye, possesses the strength of Martial Warrior. The Rogue Person Guangyuan is even more remarkable, as he is skilled in refining various elixirs and Law Artifact."

"Hmph! Compared to alchemy and weapon crafting, this Rogue Person Guangyuan is more skilled at training disciples. His eldest disciple, 'Vulture' Lin Feng, wasn't even Martial Initiate ten years ago. In just ten years, he became Martial Master. As early as three years ago, he single-handedly defeated the three martial Martial Master guarding Treasure-Gathering Mountain. Such a speed of progress would be considered top genius in the entire Demonrock Kingdom!"

"Rogue Person Guangyuan's skill in training disciples is indeed remarkable. It is rumored that he has already broken through the realm of Innate Martial Master and reached the realm of Martial Grandmaster, making him a match for a thousand men. I wonder if it is true or not."

Outside the mountain city.

Many people arrived after a long journey, and some were discussing it incessantly.

The most discussed topic is still "Rogue Person Guangyuan".

It is said that the Rogue Person Guangyuan appeared in the Treasure-Gathering Mountain area ten years ago and has taught four disciples in the past ten years.

The eldest disciple, 'Vulture' Lin Feng, is already a renowned genius and expert, appearing and disappearing like a ghost, making him extremely difficult to find.

The second disciple Lin Ye, had the lowest cultivation level, only at the Martial Warrior level. He usually stayed by Rogue Person Guangyuan's side, rarely appearing outside and seldom taking action. The only time he did take action was outside Treasure-Gathering Mountain, where he scattered dozens of talismans and killed two ignorant Demon Beast, leaving a deep impression.

The third disciple, "Overlord" Wen Guang, became Martial Master at the young age of twenty. Now in charge of Treasure-Gathering Mountain, he has three powerful Martial Master masters under his command and has also formed the Overlord Army, which is unmatched within a hundred miles. He also has extensive connections and influence in managing various industries.

The fourth disciple, Zhang Yang "Fisherman Zhang Yang," had white hair in his youth and spent his days navigating the Azure Dragon River on a bamboo raft. Some had seen the young man, wielding a green bamboo, battling water beasts in the turbulent river, creating countless waves.

The master and his four disciples were the absolute overlords of the Treasure-Gathering Mountain region. Their influence spread over a hundred miles, and even the three Western Frontier prefectures of the Demonrock Kingdom were quite wary of them.

They sent people to recruit and curry favor with them on multiple occasions.

Unfortunately, neither Rogue Person Guangyuan nor his four disciples were moved.

They would rather be confined to the Treasure-Gathering Mountain.

This day.

Abandoned Mountain.

Splash!

Rumble!

The metal collided in the sky with a 'clattering' sound, then crashed down, causing the earth to shake violently once again.

Cave abode in the mountains.

The array barrier isolated the inside from the outside and remained unmoved.

Lu Qingfeng sat cross-legged in the middle, with a cauldron two or three people tall rotating in front of him, Zhurong Demon God beside him, breathing out the Dutian Blazing Fire.

Half an hour later.

Lu Qingfeng formed a hand seal, flicked his finger, and the lid of the cauldron was lifted, releasing a burst of heat. Hundreds of pills leaped out. With Lu Qingfeng of his sleeve, a gust of wind swept through, and the pills landed precisely in the jade bottles arranged to the side.

On the side.

A petite woman with a youthful face stepped forward, opened her Storage Bag, and collected all the jade bottles.

"These pills, along with those refined before, are enough for Third Junior Brother to sell for a long time. Disciples can already refine low- to mid-level pills, and they can become proficient in refining high-level pills such as Qi-Harmonizing Pill, Qi-Circulating Powder, Mind-Clearing Pill in one or two years at most."

"Then Master won't have to work so hard."

Lin Ye tied the Storage Bag around his waist and looked up at Lu Qingfeng.

Ten years have passed.

Lin Ye, who was bedridden and emaciated back then, is now twenty-five years old. Due to poor development in his childhood, even after Lu Qingfeng's treatment and recuperation, his height and appearance are still smaller than those of his peers.

However, because he followed Lu Qingfeng to cultivate the "Luofu Sword Canon" (Unorthodox Grade) and also studied alchemy, he had his own unique temperament and his physique was no weaker than his peers.

It appears small and exquisite.

"My second disciple is the most filial."

Lu Qingfeng looked at Lin Ye, who had a serious expression on his face, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Lin Feng, Wen Guang, and Zhang Yang are all male disciples who are often away from home. Only Lin Ye a female disciple who is always by his side and is very considerate.

As soon as the words fell—

"Master's words are biased!"

A deep, resonant voice echoed from outside the cave abode. A burly man, with broad shoulders and a powerful build, strode in. He was clad in armor and carried a Sky-Piercing Halberd.

He knelt respectfully before Lu Qingfeng and said, "Disciple Wen Guang greets Master."

This man was Lu Qingfeng's third disciple. Eight years ago, Lin Feng found him in the desolate mountains and brought him back to the Abandoned Mountain. Seeing that he was simple-minded and foolish, Lu Qingfeng took him in as his third disciple and passed on the "Yellow Robe True Formula" (Unorthodox Grade).

Over the course of eight years, he fought countless battles and earned a formidable reputation.

Seeing his generosity and loyalty, and how he had gathered many brothers and friends while traveling, Lu Qingfeng appointed him to take charge of Treasure-Gathering Mountain and form the War God Army.

Firstly, as an external force, it ensures that they have capable subordinates.

Secondly, he engaged in the trade of medicinal herbs, elixirs, Talisman Artifact, and Law Artifact, and collected various resources and intelligence on the surrounding area for Lu Qingfeng.

Over the years, it has gained some traction.

"Get up."

Lu Qingfeng waved his hand.

"Thank you, Master."

Wen Guang stood up and stood in front of Lu Qingfeng and Lin Ye, smiling innocently, without the domineering or aggressiveness of the so-called "overlord". Just standing next to him, Lu Qingfeng was fine. He had a slender figure. Although he was not as tall and strong as Wen Guang, he had a certain magnanimity. He was as tall as Mount Tai. Wen Guang was inconspicuous in front of him.

Lin Ye is much worse.

He wasn't tall to begin with, and now standing in front of the tall Wen Guang, he could barely reach Wen Guang's arm, a difference of two heads in height.

"Third junior brother has grown taller again."

Lin Ye tilted his head back and glanced at Wen Guang, then pursed his lips and said.

"Greetings, Second Senior Sister."

Wen Guang, being perceptive, half-squatted down and grinned at Lin Ye. He had been taken in by Lin Feng, and when Lin Feng was away as a child, he had always followed Lin Ye around, forming a deep bond with her. He also held this younger second senior sister in high esteem.

"There are so many trivial matters at Treasure-Gathering Mountain, how come you have time to come back?" Lin Ye nodded in satisfaction and asked Wen Guang.

Wen Guang planted his Sky-Piercing Halberd on the ground, glanced at Lin Ye, and then said to Lu Qingfeng, "This time, I have returned to ask Master about the next steps for the development of Treasure-Gathering Mountain and the Overlord Army."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ye realized it was a serious matter and immediately stood aside without interrupting.

What are your own thoughts?

Lu Qingfeng put his hands behind his back and looked at Wen Guang, asking a question.

"Treasure-Gathering Mountain is too small. With the current strength of the Overlord Army, it is fully capable of taking over the surrounding areas such as Phoenix-Tail Mountain, Seven-Peak Mountain, and Black Tiger Mountain. Once integrated, their scale of power will not be inferior to that of a single prefecture in the Demonrock Kingdom."

"It will be much more convenient to manage various industries or collect intelligence in the future than it is now."

Wen Guang didn't mince words and spoke in one breath.

What's the problem?

Lu Qingfeng did not respond directly, but instead asked another question.

"Master is wise."

Wen Guang said, "Integrating the surrounding forces is not difficult. I will personally lead the Overlord Army, which is enough to sweep away all obstacles. The real concern is that the three Western Frontier prefectures of the Demonrock Kingdom will not sit idly by and watch the Overlord Army rise, but will interfere. The Demonrock Kingdom is powerful. Although the three Western Frontier prefectures are independent, each prefecture has many Martial Master stationed there, and their military strength far exceeds that of the Overlord Army. If they intervene, the Overlord Army alone may not be able to stop them."

The Demonrock Kingdom is located east of Treasure-Gathering Mountain and is the most powerful among the surrounding kingdoms.

Treasure-Gathering Mountain and the Abandoned Mountain are located in the gap between various countries. The area is two or three hundred miles wide, and the people are a mixed bunch. Every ten years, the sky throws down debris, which is detrimental to the survival of the people and the rule of the country.

This gave rise to various forces, large and small, such as Treasure-Gathering Mountain, Phoenix-Tail Mountain, and Seven-Peak Mountain.

Backed by Abandoned Mountain and adjacent to the Azure Dragon River, it has managed to make a name for itself.

"This is simple."

Lu Qingfeng waved his sleeve, and ten figures in black robes landed on the ground, lined up in a row. Each of them held a shield in one hand and a long sword in the other, with a powerful bow slung over their shoulder and a quiver on their back—truly elite warriors.

"This is--"

Wen Guang looked at the ten 'black-robed men' with a puzzled expression.

Lin Ye, who was standing nearby, quickly stepped forward and lifted a corner of the robe of a 'black-robed man' to reveal a dark metallic sheen. He looked up and said, "These are puppets that Master recently crafted. They are called 'Green-Bamboo Guards.' Each Green-Bamboo Guards is as strong as Martial Master."

"The Green-Bamboo Guards?"

"Comparable to Martial Master?"

Wen Guang was overjoyed and immediately bowed to Lu Qingfeng, "Thank you, Master!"