Ao Lie Arrives, the Southern Demon Marshes
"Third Brother."
Lu Qingfeng's face lit up with surprise when he saw the newcomer. Ao Le's eyes lit up and he called out, "Third Brother!"
Boom!
The person landed in front of the couple like a cannonball, but only sank a foot into the snow beneath their feet. Nothing beyond their feet was affected.
This person was dressed in Golden Light armor and looked like a young man.
It was none other than the Third Prince of the Min River Dragon Palace—
Ao Lie.
"Little sister, brother-in-law."
Ao Lie strode forward, laughing heartily.
Over the years, Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le were in Yuan Lake, while Ao Lie was to the south, leading his troops to confront the southern Demon Marshes. This was the first time in a century that Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le had seen Ao Lie.
Unlike Ao Feng, and Ao Yu, of the Min River Dragon Palace.
Ao Lie and Ao Le became closer.
Ao Le arrived at the Min River Dragon Palace, perhaps due to the large age gap or other reasons, Ao Feng and Ao Yu Ao Le spent time with her. Although they were nominally siblings, they were quite distant from each other.
On the contrary, Ao Lie is cheerful and carefree.
Seeing that Ao Le was taciturn and sullen, he often tried to cheer her up. He thought of Ao Le when there were good things to do, and he also thought of Ao Le when there were delicious foods to eat.
Therefore.
Ao Le once told Lu Qingfeng that besides her "father" and "third brother", Lu Qingfeng was the person she was closest to, but she did not bring Ao Feng and Ao Yu along.
Ao Le was originally introverted.
But she knows in her heart who is truly sincere and kind to her.
Lu Qingfeng married Ao Le, and his relationship with Ao Lie was far better than that with Ao Feng and Ao Yu.
A century has passed, Ao Lie's cultivation level is still at the Golden Core Peak, except that he has gained a more capable and ruthless aura.
It must have come from his experience in the South.
"Your Highness."
Lan Feihu and Yuan Bi bowed respectfully to Ao Lie.
"Generals, it's been a long time," Ao Lie said warmly.
Lu Qingfeng looked behind Ao Lie—
Stretching for countless miles, the procession of carriages and horses was as vast as a dragon, with rows of armored soldiers standing guard on either side—truly a magnificent sight.
"Third Brother, what is this—"
Ao Lie had met Lan Feihu and Yuan Bi before, and was talking with Ao Le when he saw Lu Qingfeng pointing at the dragon-shaped carriage and asking about it. He casually said, "I returned to the Dragon Palace and happened to arrive just in time for this batch of supplies to be delivered to Yuan Lake, so I asked my father for permission to come here."
As he spoke.
He waved impatiently at Lu Qingfeng, "Take some people to check the numbers first to see if there are any discrepancies. I'll have a good chat with my little sister and see if you, the Yuan Lake Water Lord, have ever bullied her while I'm not here."
Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le exchanged a glance.
Ao Le smiled and said to Ao Lie, "Third Brother, my husband treats me very well."
"You--"
Short of breath, Ao Lie turned and glared at Lu Qingfeng, "Go and count them quickly. How can my little sister tell me the truth if you're standing there?"
"Alright then."
"Le'er, you stay with Third Brother for a bit, I'll be right back."
Helpless, Lu Qingfeng summoned the officials of the Yuan Lake Water Palace to take inventory of the supplies.
Two hours later.
Lu Qingfeng returned to Longshan Island and strode into a simple thatched hut in the mountains. Inside the hut, Ao Lie and Ao Le, the brother and sister, were having a long talk.
Ao Lie was saying something when Ao Le blushed. Suddenly, Lu Qingfeng entered, and Ao Le's face turned bright red as if she had thought of something.
"What are you talking about with Third Brother?"
Lu Qingfeng looked puzzled upon seeing this.
"I need to return to the Dragon Palace to report back later, and in a few days I will go to Luo Lake in the south."
"You two can talk after I leave."
Ao Le was about to speak when Ao Lie interrupted him.
"Third Brother, it's rare for you to come all this way, why are you in such a hurry?" Lu Qingfeng stepped forward and sat down next to Ao Le.
"Within the Demon Marshes, the Qixia Demon Kingdom is restless and has been frequently sending demon soldiers to invade the border. I have been ordered by my father to lead troops under the command of the Luo Lake Water Lord. I have only returned to report the movements of the Demon Marshes to my father and will be heading back soon."
The situation in the Immortal Qin Realm is complex.
Although Lu Qingfeng lived in Yuan Lake and never left the area, he had gained some understanding of the surrounding situation over the past century.
The Sorrow River holds an extremely high status, while the Min River Sorrow River tributaries. It flows through the Qi Kingdom, and to the south of the Qi Kingdom lies the Demon Marshes, teeming with demons and monsters, where the 'Qixia Demon Kingdom' resides— Qi Kingdom's mortal enemy.
Luo Lake, located in the southwest corner of the Min River, is adjacent to Demon Marshes.
It is guarded by Chi Yin, the Luo Lake Water Lord.
For the past hundred years, Ao Lie has been assisting the Luo Lake Luo Lake Water Lord in dealing with the Demon Marshes Kingdom.
"The demons have many tricks up their sleeves, Third Brother, please be very careful."
Lu Qingfeng reminded him.
Yuanhu Lake is located south of Jiulang Mountain, a top-ranking demonic force in the Demon Swamp. However, beyond Yuanhu Lake lies the Southern Pass of Qi Kingdom. Along this pass, numerous prefectures and counties are guarded by countless troops, thus reducing the pressure on Yuanhu Lake.
In contrast, look at Luo Lake.
It was deserted and not even within the borders of the Qi Kingdom, relying entirely on the Luo Lake Palace for defense. Naturally, the danger there was far greater than that of Yuan Lake.
"Rest assured."
"Those demon brats from Demon Marshes aren't qualified to hurt your third brother."
Ao Lie grinned, then changed the subject, saying, "Let's not talk about the Demon Marshes for now. My father asked me to tell you to quickly wipe out the demons and monsters within a hundred thousand miles."
As he spoke.
Ao Lie looked at Lu Qingfeng and shook his head. "Brother-in-law, it's not that I'm criticizing you. You've been training troops at Yuan Lake for a hundred years. At least do some pretense. Even if you just let General Flying Tiger or General Yuan Bi lead three thousand Min River Water Army out for a while, it would be good for Father to stand up for you in front of the Min River officials and gods."
"You—"
The Prince Consort of the Min River Dragon Palace, the dignified Yuan Lake Water Lord, embezzled grain and salaries under the pretext of training troops, to the point that his troops were left without any soldiers and cowered in Yuan Lake, afraid to venture out.
Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast.
This sordid affair not only spread throughout the Dragon Palace, but also became a topic of discussion and ridicule outside the Dragon Palace and within the Qi Kingdom.
Although Ao Lie has been far away in Luo Lake all these years, he can still hear about these things.
Having seen it now, he was unwilling to say it outright, but only hinted at it indirectly.
Feeling his tone had been too harsh, he changed his words, saying, "However, compared to the affairs of Yuan Lake, your own cultivation is naturally more important. Cultivate diligently, and once you generate your Pillfire, your father will recommend you to cultivate for a while in the 'Dragon Transformation Pool,' the most prestigious cultivation ground in the Sorrow River Dragon Palace. With your talent, you might be able to achieve the Dao Embryo, shatter your Golden Core, and reach the Fourth Realm of the Fate Dao, the Purple Palace Realm."
"Dragon Transformation Pool".
Lu Qingfeng didn't care much about his reputation. However, he was somewhat interested in the 'Dragon Transformation Pool' that Ao Lie mentioned.
"The Pillfire is the Fourth Layer the Pill-Casting Realm. There is an intermediate process of refining the three souls and seven spirits. The Dragon Transformation Pool is mysterious, and you do not need to know about it for the time being."
"Just focus on your spiritual practice."
Ao Lie offered no explanation.
"Thank you for your guidance, Third Brother."
Lu Qingfeng then suppressed his curiosity.
"Oh, right."
Ao Lie waved his hand, then suddenly remembered something else, "Do you have Father's 'Fortune-Illuminating Mirror'?"
"Good."
Lu Qingfeng flipped his palm and took out a bronze mirror with various ancient patterns.
[Law Artifact: Fortune-Illuminating Mirror]
[Grade: Eighth Tier]
[Note: It can illuminate the destiny and fate of mortals, cultivators, and Devil Qi, appearing in five colors: black, white, red, yellow, and cyan.]
This was the treasure that the Min River Dragon Lord used to illuminate Lu Qingfeng's fortune when Lu Qingfeng was drunk in the Min River Dragon Palace.
Then.
Lu Qingfeng's appearance in the Azure Fortune shocked everyone.
Even now, Lu Qingfeng understands the meaning of 'Azure Fortune'.
This is one's destiny, unrelated to strength, cultivation, or status; it represents the limit of a person's achievements. For someone with the Azure Fortune, the limit in this life is the Fifth Realm. In the mortal realm, this equates to an emperor; if they cultivate further, they may aspire to become Fifth Realm powerhouse like the Dragon King of the Dragon Palace or the Heavenly Court Emperor.
Certainly.
The Immortal Qin Realm and the Primordial World Immortal Realm have been separated for countless millennia.
In the mortal realm, ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, they dare to call themselves "Dragon King" and "Emperor," but they are like frogs at the bottom of a well, utterly incomparable to the Four Great Dragon Kings of the Four Seas in the Earth Immortal Realm Four Seas the Six Imperial Emperors above the Nine Heavens.
However, this concept of luck is truly ethereal and mysterious.
Although Lu Qingfeng possesses the Azure Fortune, it is only at the theoretical limit, reaching the Fifth Realm. Cultivation is arduous, and even those with abundant fortune often perish along the way.
It is possible to be trapped in the Third Realm or Fourth Realm.
Moreover, cultivation can be said to be in accordance with Heaven, or it can be said to be against Heaven.
Heavenly Dao has the will.
Whether one is a mortal ant or Immortal Dao being, there is no such thing as going with the flow or going against it.
Lu Qingfeng's cultivation limit is the Fifth Realm, but if he suddenly experiences a surge in external fortune or other opportunities, it is possible that he could break through his destiny and reach the Sixth Realm, which is comparable to a true Earth Immortal True Lord.
After all, fortune is illusory and truly difficult to predict.
But no matter what, the Fortune-Illuminating Mirror is ultimately mysterious, and Lu Qingfeng, who borrowed it from the Dragon Lord, had already analyzed it.
What's so interesting about this mirror?
"There are many mediocre people in the world, but few like you who are Azure Fortune. How many can be reflected in the Fortune-Illuminating Mirror?"
Ao Lie looked down on the 'Fortune-Illuminating Mirror', saying that although it was an eighth-order Law Artifact, it was actually quite useless.
"Just being excited by the prospect, and pondering things aimlessly."
Lu Qingfeng smiled.
He could only lend out such useless eighth-tier Law Artifacts. If they were eighth-tier Law Artifacts with infinite uses, such as the Dust-Veiling Banner or the Eight-Scenery Tower, even if the Dragon Lord valued them highly, he would never be able to lend them out.
Whether it was Min River Dragon Lord or Ao Lie, they probably both thought that he borrowed the 'Fortune-Illuminating Mirror' to discover talents for the Yuan Lake Water Palace.
But they were unaware of the profound mystery of 'Evolving Method - Analysis'.
"Have you figured it out yet?"
"My father asked me to take the Fortune-Illuminating Mirror back with me."
Ao Lie asked.
"Alright." Lu Qingfeng handed over the Fortune-Illuminating Mirror, and Ao Lie didn't mind, casually putting it away.
He immediately got up.
"Third Brother."
Ao Le stood up and looked at Ao Lie.
"Third Brother is leaving already?" Lu Qingfeng also stood up, his face showing surprise.
"The situation at Luo Lake is tense. The Luo Lake Water Lord has few capable generals under his command, and I cannot stay away for too long." Ao Lie patted Lu Qingfeng's shoulder, his face unusually serious. "In the Demon Marshes Swamp, the Qixia Demon Kingdom is stirring. Not only in the Luo Lake area, but also in the Black Mountain Circuit and the southern border of the Nine Waters Circuit south of the Qi Kingdom, demons are appearing far more frequently than in previous years. Although Yuan Lake is located in the South Pass Circuit, you must still be careful and not be complacent, lest you be caught off guard."
Ao Lie did not linger. After delivering the supplies and taking the Fortune-Illuminating Mirror, he left Yuan Lake and returned to the Min River Dragon Palace.
Before leaving.
He gave several instructions, emphasizing the warnings to the Demon Marshes to the south.
The Min River Dragon Lord's urging of Lu Qingfeng to eradicate the demons and monsters within the 100,000-mile territory under the jurisdiction of Yuan Lake was probably also based on this consideration.
Yuan Lake Water Palace.
"My husband foresaw that Father would order an expedition to clear out 100,000 li before 'Luofuzi' offered to recruit him?"
Ao Le's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he looked at Lu Qingfeng and asked.