The Fangxian Path

"Ha ha!"

"Sir, you flatter me. I am well aware of my limited talent and knowledge, possessing only some martial prowess. As for protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people, and recovering Southern Ridge, it is entirely thanks to your strategic planning."

Zhao Jian burst into laughter, appearing quite hearty.

After exchanging compliments with Lu Qingfeng, he straightened his expression and finally got to the point, "Sir, you should know that I am from the Zhao Clan. More than a thousand years ago, I was the King of Southern Ridge among the six kings of the Great Xu. Through several changes, some members of my Zhao Clan have become outstanding generals and prime ministers, reaching the highest positions in the court."

The Zhao Clan of Southern Ridge is indeed quite prestigious.

Zhao Jian was able to easily control the situation in Southern Ridge, thanks in no small part to the efforts of his clan.

Tracing their ancestry, the Zhao Clan was one of the seven vassal states that migrated from the Meng Kingdom, and also one of the six founding kings of Great Xu. Even excluding the branches that remained in the Meng Kingdom, they were a prominent family with a long and distinguished lineage in Great Sui.

Ups and downs, many ups and downs.

Although they are no longer comparable to the Great Sui, they are still a force to be reckoned with in Lingnan Commandery.

When Lu Qingfeng heard Zhao Jian mention his ancestors, he immediately understood what was going on.

He didn't interrupt, but listened quietly.

Zhao Jian's eyes lit up with reminiscence as he recounted the achievements of his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father, tracing back to the periods of Great Xu and Great Chao. After a long while, still not finished, he looked at Lu Qingfeng with eager eyes and said, "Now, the Great Sui is engulfed in war, and the people are suffering. I intend to restore the glory of my ancestors, declare myself Southern Ridge, and send troops north again to serve the king and quell the rebellion. What do you think, sir?"

Zhao Jian was earnest.

Occupying Lingnan Commandery filled him with pride, but it also fueled his growing ambition.

The title of 'Prefect of Southern Ridge' was no longer enough for Zhao Jian.

He wants to be king, the 'King of Southern Ridge'!

"To become king".

Over the years, Lu Qingfeng, using the alias 'Lu Changqing,' had been closely monitoring Zhao Jian's changes. Both his physical condition and his mindset were under his control, largely in line with the divination he had made ten years ago; he had long anticipated this day.

Eight years isn't too long.

However, it would be too conspicuous to declare oneself king at this stage. "Brother Jingzhi, you should not be too hasty, lest you attract too much attention from all sides. It would be better to accumulate more grain and delay declaring yourself king. First, take the title of 'Marquis of Southern Ridge' and establish your own government and military headquarters. It will not be too late to declare yourself king after you have pacified Lingbei."

"The Marquis of Southern Ridge?"

Zhao Jian paused for a moment, then looked at Lu Qingfeng. Seeing the latter remain unmoved and composed, Zhao Jian pondered for a long time before finally agreeing, "I'll listen to you, sir."

Then.

Zhao Jian then discussed the matter of being granted the title of Marquis with Lu Qingfeng. Lu Qingfeng did not leave the Prefect's residence until after lunch.

Before leaving.

Lu Qingfeng glanced at Zhao Jian and saw that his face had a ruddy glow, but it was mixed with a hint of dark gray. His broad forehead was also faintly black, and his face, which should have been full of good fortune, instead showed a hint of waning life.

"For Zhao Jian, there was actually little difference between being called a king or a marquis."

"Those with such a weak fate will ultimately not escape death."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head inwardly and strode back to his residence.

Zhao Jian is about to die.

He also needed to make final arrangements to ensure everything was in order.

County Cheng Mansion.

Lu Qingfeng went straight into the inner hall. Lin Ye was dressed as a young girl, with a slightly altered appearance, ensuring that no one would recognize her.

The girl in front of me, who looked like a rich heiress, was actually the Seven Treasures Immortal Aunt from the Seven Treasures Mountain of the Hao Kingdom.

Lin Ye had already served tea.

Upon seeing the teacher return, they hurried forward, beaming as they stood by.

"How is your cultivation going?"

Lu Qingfeng looked at Lin Ye and asked casually.

"Teacher, I have refined all seventeen Immortal Bodhi Fruit, and my Law Power has reached its peak. I also swallowed a 'Immaculate Immortal Pill' to cleanse my Immortal Body and eliminate all my hidden ailments."

"I am in better condition than ever before, and I can break through to the Earth Immortal at any time."

Lin Ye waited for a long time, finally getting her teacher to ask a question. Overjoyed, she replied in a cheerful tone. Her current condition was even better than ten years ago before she attempted to break through to the Earth Immortal. If she had a well-managed training Daoist Domain, she might even be able to glimpse the Earth Immortal realm again very soon.

However, her Seven Treasures Mountain Daoist Domain had long been destroyed, and now she was just waiting for her teacher to use his great magic.

"Good."

Lu Qingfeng looked Lin Ye up and down, and indeed he appeared energetic and spirited, so he nodded in approval. After thinking for a moment, he took out a palm-leaf fan from his robes and handed it to Lin Ye.

"Teacher, this is—"

Lin Ye took the palm-leaf fan, examined it closely, and immediately recognized it as the "Five-Brilliance Ghost-Subduing Fan," a treasure held by the Divine Firmament Leader, Master Zhengqing. His master had stolen it from him using Divine Ability outside Seven Treasures Mountain.

Lin Ye held the Five-Brilliance Ghost-Subduing Fan, wondering what his teacher meant.

"In the next few days, Zhao Jian will be declared a marquis and establish his own government and military headquarters. This will inevitably cause some turmoil in and around Lingnan Commandery. In the next few days, you should first refine the 'Five-Brilliance Ghost-Subduing Fan' to its initial stage. After the matter of being declared a marquis is settled, I will find a place to help you break through."

Lu Qingfeng rushed towards Lin Ye.

Lin Ye's advancement to Earth Immortal this time cannot afford the slightest mistake. Lingnan Commandery is close to the Meng Kingdom, not a good place for a breakthrough. Lu Qingfeng had already chosen a breakthrough location. After helping Lin Ye attain the Earth Immortal, they would then take a trip to the Four Sages Immortal Domain.

The matter of being granted a title of nobility was settled, and the upheaval was quelled.

At that time, Southern Ridge needed a short period of rest and recuperation, and Lu Qingfeng took this opportunity to bring Lin Feng and Zhang Yang back.

"The Five-Brilliance Ghost-Subduing Fan?"

"You gave it to me?!"

Lin Ye, unaware of his teacher's elaborate plans, was overjoyed, clutching the Five-Brilliance Ghost-Subduing Fan. Yet, still in disbelief, he looked up at his teacher.

"Consider this a gift to wish you success in becoming Earth Immortal in advance."

Lu Qingfeng smiled.

After his other Earth Immortal disciple, the Daoist Longevity Zheng Chi, became Earth Immortal, Lu Qingfeng bestowed upon him the 'Moon-Worshiping Treasure Fan' under the guise of bestowing a reward. This fan was a second-tier Immortal Artifact.

In the Black Star Realm, Lu Qingfeng was reunited with Mountain Wind after a long separation. For 100,000 years, Mountain Wind had made great contributions to the Guangyuan Immortal Sect, Lu Qingfeng had also bestowed upon him an Immortal Artifact called the 'Five-Ding Axe,' a first-tier Immortal Artifact.

Now that Lin Ye is also aiming to become Earth Immortal, Lu Qingfeng naturally cannot show favoritism.

Although the 'Five-Brilliance Ghost-Subduing Fan' is a magic Law Treasure of the Divine Empyrean Sect, after Lu Qingfeng analyzed it, he refined it again with the Pure Heavenly Fire, washing away many traces, and its power is also considerable. It is also a second-tier Immortal Artifact.

[Immortal Artifact: Five-Brilliance Ghost-Subduing Fan]

[Grade: Tier 2]

[Note: Also known as the 'Five-Brilliance Demon-Subduing Fan'. It was crafted by the Daoist Zhengqing at the request of the Heavenly Official, using Mysterious-Thunder Immortal Bamboo as the handle and woven from ten-thousand-year-old immortal silkworm silk on one of the Six Dings days (Dingmao, Dingsi, Dingwei, Dingyou, Dinghai, and Dingchou). It possesses the power to cure diseases, exorcise evil spirits, and remove calamities. It can generate the 'Five-Brilliance Demon-Subduing Wind', which is difficult for ghosts and gods to resist. The * Eight-Power Dragon-Summoning Scripture * states: "The first is the brightness of desirelessness in the upper cave; the second is the brightness of the mind of self and others; the third is the brightness of the five understandings and nine harmonies; the fourth is the brightness of wisdom and responsiveness; the fifth is the brightness of far-reaching vision in all directions without obstruction. These are the Five Brightnesses."]

"Your disciple kowtows in gratitude to your teacher!"

When Lin Ye saw that her teacher was indeed going to bestow the Five-Brilliance Ghost-Subduing Fan upon her, she was overjoyed. She bowed to Lu Qingfeng and rubbed the palm-leaf fan with great affection.

This is the most beloved treasure of the Divine Firmament Sect Leader.

Judging from the battle ten years ago, this treasure is even more powerful than the Divine Empyrean Sword, the Spell Jujube, and the Ancestor Sa Iron Jar. With this treasure in hand, once one has cultivated to the level of Earth Immortal, even a newly promoted one, the likes of Cheng Jin and Yuanshan would be no match for him.

Seeing Lin Ye's silly, wide-eyed grin, Lu Qingfeng found it amusing. He waved his hand and told her to go down and refine the Five-Brilliance Ghost-Subduing Fan first.

Lu Qingfeng was muttering to himself.

Not long after.

Seven Daoist priests, some old, some young, some male, some female, filed in, their bodies ethereal and invisible, unnoticed by the servants and maids of the prefectural magistrate's mansion. Only upon reaching the inner hall did they materialize, bowing deeply to Lu Qingfeng and addressing him as "Teacher."

The visitors were none other than seven wandering Daoist priests of excellent character and outstanding talent, whom Lu Qingfeng had chosen when he first established Changqing Temple on Rosy Radiance Mountain ten years ago, during his travels through twenty-one counties in Southern Ridge.

With a little Divine Ability, he took the seven people under his wing as Registered Disciple.

After Lu Qingfeng entered Lingnan Commandery and took Lingnan Commandery, all affairs of Changqing Temple were handed over to these seven people.

They were known as the "Seven Changqing Disciples" by their contemporaries.

Lu Qingfeng then obtained additional titles for the seven from Zhao Jian. With the help of the Secret Method bestowed by Lu Qingfeng and the blessing of the Lingnan Commandery's fortune, the Seven Changqing Disciples cultivated rapidly. When they first entered Changqing Temple, each of them only had the cultivation of Ordination and Alchemist. Compared to the Immortal Dao, they were merely at the Foundation Establishment or Spirit Void stages.

But in just ten years, all seven of Human Path.

Even the two Shousheng with the shallowest cultivation, Shoujing, have reached the mid-stage of the Spirit Platform. One has cultivated a sixth-level Spirit Platform, while the other has cultivated a fourth-level Spirit Platform, making them comparable to cultivators in Immortal Dao Solid Core Realm and the Spell Gathering Realm.

The two Shouyang, Shouchun, who are the most talented and have worked the hardest in their cultivation, have already built nine layers of Spirit Platform, reaching the level of Yin Spirit Masters, and can be compared with the Primordial Spirit True One the Immortal Dao Primordial Spirit.

"Ordination, Alchemist, Spirit Platform, Yin Spirit, Yang Spirit".

"These are the five realms of the Fangxian Path."

"It corresponds to the five realms of Mahayana cultivation: Immortal Dao Foundation Establishment, Spirit Void, Core Formation, Primordial Spirit, and Mahayana."

"Although the cultivation of the Fangxian Path has many hidden dangers and the shackles of Changsheng, its prosperity is indeed commendable."

Every time Lu Qingfeng saw these seven Registered Disciples and witnessed their progress in the Human Realm, he felt that the 'Fangxian Path' was no less than the 'Nature-Life Dao' in the Immortal Qin Realm.

From the perspective of the Immortal Dao.

In just ten years, let alone Spirit Void Cultivator, even Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator might not be able to advance even a single minor realm.

Fangxian Path, however, was able to leap from the Alchemist Realm to become Yin Spirit mage.

This leap, in comparison to the Immortal Dao, is like skipping the Core Formation Realm from the Spirit Void Realm and directly jumping to the Primordial Spirit Realm.

It's truly appalling.

"No wonder the Divine Empyrean Sect, Mount Mao Dao, and a host of Fangxian Path Sect lineages can suppress the orthodox immortal Immortal Dao in the Human Dao Dharma Domain." Previously, he had only taken a cursory look, but in the past ten years, Lu Qingfeng been quietly managing Lingnan Commandery, and he has gained a deeper understanding of various aspects of the Human Dao Dharma Domain, including several cultivation systems that are different from the orthodox immortal Immortal Dao and the Nature-Life Dao.

Fangxian Path is one of them.

While eager to try his luck, Lu Qingfeng also took advantage of the Yellow Court Scripture's ability to Dominion over All Arts and experimented with them one by one.

Originally, Lu Qingfeng came to the Southern Florescence Realm to find his disciples, including Lin Feng, and to Lingnan Commandery, which he had established to avenge Lin Ye and Wen Guang against the Divine Empyrean Sect. However, this place brought him unexpected joy.

"If these cultivation systems in the Southern Florescence Realm can be organized and spread in reality, they will surely plunge the cultivation world of the Three Mountains and Nine Rivers, and even the Spirit Domain, into unprecedented turmoil."

"In the past, mortal Wang Chao could only be taken and plundered at will by demons and immortals, and they could also escape their predatory status, just like the Southern Florescence Realm, once they developed Human Dao Dharma Domain."

Whenever he thought of this, Lu Qingfeng's eyes would brighten.

Although he had high expectations, Lu Qingfeng was in no hurry to try it in reality.

He had a plan in mind: to take advantage of the opportunity to deal with the Divine Empyrean Sect to thoroughly study the various systems of the Human Dao Dharma Domain and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each system.

Like the Fangxian Path.

When fortune smiles, heaven and earth lend their strength; when fortune turns, even heroes are powerless.

While cultivating by taking advantage of external forces may lead to rapid progress, it also results in an unstable foundation and a slim Changsheng immortality. Furthermore, being too deeply entangled in worldly affairs will bring karmic entanglements. The workings of the universe could bring about a great calamity at any moment.

They rarely die peacefully in their old age; most perish in various struggles.