The Yellow Heaven's Peace

After flying north for most of the day after leaving Ghost Valley, Li Fan found Yellow Heaven Dao's men again. After all, tens of thousands of people were roaming the plains, many of them wearing yellow turbans and yellow clothes, so it would be hard to miss them.

However, Li Fan still couldn't find Li Wugou's shadow. He only found Liu Zhuo using his Gu Guan Method, and then landed at the camp to ask him questions.

Liu Zhuo was quite happy to see Li Fan and immediately asked, "Hey? My benefactor, how come your hair has grown back so quickly?"

"Wow! I'm a cultivator! I can ascend to the heavens and descend to the earth, overturn rivers and seas, slay demons and monsters! What kind of skills do I lack that you're asking me how hair grows?"

This guy's focus is so strange, Li Fan was speechless. But then again, as long as a person isn't dead, they'll eventually go hairless...

"Your sister has never been here. After we escaped from the siege, I sent someone to Tianlong Mountain to borrow grain, and she went with me and we parted ways." It was getting late, and Yellow Heaven was setting up camp to prepare for the night. Liu Zhuo was patrolling the camp, so he took Li Fan Fourth Department.

"Tianlong Mountain is so generous?" Li Fan saw that the grain sacks were piled up like mountains in Yellow Heaven Dao's magic array, and Yellow Heaven Dao's people were distributing and moving them.

Liu Zhuo smiled bitterly, "Generous? Ha, my benefactor, you don't know this. Our Yellow Heaven Dao's 'Dafang' is for farming and production, and the 'Xiaofang' is for training soldiers and thieves. In Dizhou, the population of one Dafang and three Xiaofang has been driven out. The immortals in the mountains and the warlords in the city don't farm. All those tens of thousands of acres of fertile land that we have painstakingly cultivated over the years have all benefited Tianlong Mountain, haven't they?"

The reason I was able to borrow these surplus grains from them for the journey was because I had been a thief for many years, plundering gold, silver, jewels, and silks from wealthy families and merchants. I had given them all away to bribe the abbots and monasteries. They still weren't satisfied. I heard that if it weren't for the sudden appearance of some Sword Sect members who ordered them to provide supplies, they wouldn't have been so quick to agree.

Ah well, at least we managed to borrow some grain. Heh, monks are truly compassionate.

Li Fan looked at the long lines of men, women, and children of the Yellow Heaven Sect, who were lining up to receive rice bran and oats. Apart from being wrapped in yellow cloth, they looked almost like beggars. Li Fan was helpless. All he could do was make a hand seal and use the Five Ghosts Controlling Sword Technique to control the white porcelain bowl that could turn one bowl of rice into two, so that he could help distribute more rice to the Yellow Heaven Sect members.

"... Don't call me benefactor anymore, just call me Brother Li... How many people died this time?"

Liu Zhuo did the math. "Each of my subordinate districts has three thousand Yellow Heaven Warriors, and the major district of Dizhou can support three districts, so there should be over two hundred thousand laborers capable of working in the fields. This time I contacted eight districts for support, and now those who escaped with me are probably less than forty thousand."

Seeing Li Fan remain silent, Liu Zhuo actually comforted him, "My benefactor, Brother Li, there's no need for that. It's already quite good that 40,000 people can survive. This amount of grain is enough for us to last until we reach Zhuozhou, which is within the sphere of influence of my Yellow Heaven Dao. After a few years when the population has multiplied, we will take back this plain of Dizhou!"

Seeing that he wasn't discouraged at all, Li Fan hesitated before asking, "Brother Liu, do you know what Yellow Heaven Dao wants to do?"

Liu Zhuo nodded, "I want to summon the Yellow Heaven Dao Ancestor to sweep across Gen Province, conquer the world, end the chaos, and realize the Great Way of Yellow Heaven's Peace."

Li Fan sensed the other person's indifferent tone, as if they didn't quite believe him, so he asked directly, "Do you know that the Yellow Heaven Dao Ancestor... perhaps, he isn't necessarily a god or Buddha who saves the world, but could also be an being that destroys everything?"

Liu Zhuo waved his hand, "Brother Li, since you have helped me so many times, I will speak my mind. When I was young, I also roamed Hebei with a sword. I also wanted to join the army and make a name for myself based on my skills. But after seeing too much, I took my brothers and joined the Yellow Heaven."

If you ask why, it's because Yellow Heaven truly can bring peace.

Take these few families in Dizhou for example. If I only bring my own brothers from Xiao Fang's group, I could join the Heng Hai Army and become a military commander or brigade leader. However, the warlords and military leaders would not accept these ordinary followers. They would even treat them as bandits who had wandered into the country and kill them all.

Because the military governors and commanders of each vassal state were all elected by their subordinate soldiers. Due to years of war in Gen Province, the locals were very xenophobic. They not only disliked southerners, but even the two vassal states separated by a river were blood feuds that had lasted for generations. To the locals, the migrants who came into the country, whether they were demons, Yellow Heaven Dao, or ordinary people, were all locusts trying to rob and steal their property.

As for cultivation sects like Guyeshan and Tianlong Mountain, they are even less of a concern. They protect their disciples and their families, who are originally descendants and powerful clans of the former Gen Country. These local strongmen oppress the common people even more. The reason why Yellow Heaven Dao finds it difficult to eradicate them is because most of the people in our sect fled from the chaos of warlord conflicts and the oppression of powerful clans. Who doesn't want to live a peaceful life?

So Yellow Heaven Dao is truly different. Yellow Heaven Dao doesn't require you to pay taxes or tributes; he only needs people to read his book.

Li Fan was taken aback. "Reading a book?"

Liu Zhuo shrugged, took out a yellow book from his pocket, and handed it to Li Fan. "This is the <<Yellow Heaven Book of Peace>>. The wise teachers of the general region regularly come to Dafang to preach. All those who can understand this Yellow Heaven Book will be taken away to comprehend the Yellow Heaven Great Dao. In the past two years, the number of people who can read the Heaven Book has been increasing. Dizhou probably selects about a hundred people every year."

It's no wonder that people call it the Demonic Path. I think those virtuous teachers are also a bit crazy, often having seizures and dying, their bodies and souls destroyed. It's clear that this Yellow Heaven Dao Ancestor is probably not a righteous path, and is very likely similar to that Youquan in the north, a kind of evil god.

But so what? With Yellow Heaven Dao's protection and the unity of the thirty-six directions, ordinary forces dare not provoke us. This time, the Heng Hai Army only dared to come and besiege us because they had the support of the Three Mountains, but we still managed to fight our way out!

Moreover, after war, natural disasters and plagues often follow. Haha, those mountain people and city people only know how to shut themselves in and protect themselves. Only the virtuous teachers of the Yellow Heaven Dao Path travel all over the world to eliminate plagues, distribute food and talismans in various places, and practice medicine to save lives, fearing that if too many people die, fewer people will be able to read the heavenly books. This evil path is much better than the righteous path in the mountains! In chaotic times, having such a way to survive, what more could one ask for?

Seeing Li Fan's embarrassment, Liu Zhuo smiled and tried to comfort him.

"Brother Li, there's no need for that. I know that you cultivators have the leisure to worry about these illusory matters of demon gods descending to earth because you will probably live to see the time when the Yellow Heaven Dao Ancestor descends to earth."

But for us, who often don't know where our next meal will come from, and whoever has been suffering from war for years, we don't care about any demons or monsters. Of course, we'll follow whoever gives us food and a way to survive.

Everyone has their own path, their own destiny is different, and therefore their paths are different; there's really nothing to argue about.

My ambition Liu Zhuo then was nothing more than to be a county magistrate, protecting the territory and its people. Although fate has played a cruel trick on me, leading me to this Yellow Heaven, what I am doing now is still pretty much the same thing.

Brother Li doesn't judge good and evil based on prejudice. Today, he's willing to listen to what a demonic person like me has to say, which shows he's a chivalrous and righteous man. As long as you're true to your conscience and the righteous path in your heart, there's nothing to regret."

Encouraged by the unremarkable middle-aged man before him, Li Fan suddenly felt a jolt, not a chill down his spine, but quite the opposite—a surge of passion rushing to his chest! He almost felt a surge of excitement, like becoming sworn brothers with the man. It took him a while to calm down, and what remained in his heart was a heartfelt joy at meeting a like-minded person.

Then he looked inward into his divine court and discovered that the two epiphyllum flowers, which had withered into buds after the fierce battle between the Gate of Life and Death and Ghost Valley, had bloomed again! Within his divine court, three flowers were in full bloom!

Li Fan then understood and bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Liu. I have learned a great deal."

Liu Zhuo quickly replied, "Brother Li, please don't do that. I should be the one thanking you. I have nothing to repay you with, except for my life. Please feel free to ask me for anything you need."

Li Fan nodded, then opened the <<Yellow Heaven Book of Peace>> and glanced at it... then flipped through it again...

"Brother Liu, it seems like there aren't any words written in this heavenly book of yours, is there?"

Liu Zhuo nodded. "My benefactor, you may not know this, but the Yellow Heaven Book is originally a wordless heavenly book, which can only be seen by those who are destined to be with the Yellow Heaven. However, it is said that even if one cannot see it, as long as one frequently contemplates this book, one can still borrow the great power of the Yellow Heaven Dao Ancestor."

Li Fan squinted at him, "... No, of course I know that. Ordinary people can't see the Heavenly Book, nor can they see the yellow talismans used by Yellow Heaven Dao to set up the magic array, but your book not only has no words, but also no yellow talismans, right?"

Liu Zhuo was taken aback. "You can see the yellow characters? Wait, you mean this book really has no characters?"

Li Fan nodded silently. Liu Zhuo, being a sensible man, understood after a moment's thought. He led Li Fan to the camp and found a yellow-robed mage sitting on the ground, picking his toes and drinking porridge. Liu Zhuo went up and pulled him up.

"Geng Yong, this heavenly book you gave me is fake! No wonder I haven't made any progress in my years of arduous cultivation and can't see anything! It turns out you went to the main altar for further study, but you didn't copy any scriptures and just brought back a blank book to fool me!"

"Huh? What are you talking about, Liu? What heavenly book? What fake? I don't know anything about it!"

The sorcerer claimed to know nothing, but Li Fan noticed that there were many talismans scattered in his tent, with yellow characters crawling like worms on them. It seemed that he was Yellow Heaven Dao, the wise teacher who followed Liu Zhuo, and the array outside was probably set up by this person.

Li Fan didn't need to explain further. He stepped forward and picked up an open yellow book from the scattered runes on the ground. Judging from the warning of his declining mood, this was the <<Yellow Heaven Book of Peace>>.

Seeing that Li Fan had obtained the original, the two stopped arguing. The yellow-robed monk Geng Yong, realizing he had been exposed, could only explain, "Boss Liu, I'm not trying to trick you, but this method is extremely dangerous. Even if you can't see it, it's best not to carry it with you often, and definitely don't try to visualize it. It's very easy to get into trouble."

Liu Zhuo retorted angrily, "Nonsense! How could I not know how dangerous it is! This world is even more dangerous! Give me the true scriptures!"

To everyone's surprise, Geng Yong clung to his leg and shook his head, "No, no! Liu, listen to me, this book really has a problem! Since I studied it, I've been having nightmares every day and often suffer from amnesia. I don't even remember when I wrote these yellow characters... You still have to lead everyone to a way out, so please, don't read this heavenly book!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Liu Zhuo was so angry he wanted to hit him, but he seemed unable to bring himself to do it.

"To be able to maintain your sanity while holding the Heavenly Book of Yellow Heaven for so long is already an extraordinary talent," Li Fan said after reading the Heavenly Book once, then stuffed it into his sleeve and said to Liu Zhuo, "Brother Liu, I'll borrow this Heavenly Book. I'll also pass on to you a cultivation method that can protect your chastity."

So Li Fan took paper and pen from the spot and wrote down a Cultivation Method on Liu Zhuo's blank book.

Liu Zhuo and Geng Yong leaned over to take a look. "This... seems to be a superior Qi refining method from the Xuanmen sect? Huh? There's also a sword manual?"

This is a sword manual written by Li Fan, which combines the "Guide to Transforming Ordinary Sword Qi into Sword", "True Technique of Beichen Qi Sword", "Basic Sword Qi of Moshan", and "Profound Heaven Sword Method" in an easy-to-understand manner. He also added a meridian diagram and handed it to Liu Zhuo for reference.

"This method was the basic method used by the Sword Sect to select Outer Sect Disciple back then. I have modified it a lot, so it is not considered top-notch. However, it can be tempered in the midst of a killing tribulation, which is suitable for the current situation in Gen Province. Foundation Establishment Formation should be within reach."

Brother Liu, when I helped you heal your injuries before, I treated many of your long-standing hidden injuries. You have many years of experience in bloody battles, but unfortunately, you are not practicing any orthodox methods. Therefore, as long as you switch to my swordsmanship and follow the diagrams to nourish your meridians and hone your sword power, I believe that in time, your cultivation will surely make great progress. If you have the opportunity, it is not impossible for you to achieve the Nascent Soul Stage.

Furthermore, although I don't care about good versus evil, this sword technique is based on many esoteric teachings and is extremely powerful. If you intend to teach it to someone who shares your values, please remember to carefully select like-minded individuals before passing it on.

In short, since you have joined the Yellow Heaven Dao and been drawn into the chaotic battlefield, your only way to survive is to fight your way out with your swords. This is all I can do to help you."

Liu Zhuo was truly astonished and couldn't understand why Li Fan would help him like this. He could only bow in gratitude, saying, "Brother Li, your kindness is immense! You have bestowed upon us the true teachings of immortals! I have no way to repay you! I am eternally grateful!"

After much deliberation, Li Fan decided to give the true teachings of the Beichen Sword Sect to Yellow Heaven Dao and Liu Zhuo.

Not only did the other party's unintentional words help Li Fan restore his Dao heart and reopen his Three Flowers, saving him 2.4k mood cap, but it was also because he casually saved Liu Zhuo's life that he was able to get involved in the storylines of the Gate of Life and Death and Ghost Valley.

When I first Gen River, my mood cap was only around 17k, right? I thought it was way too high back then, but after completing the entire questline these past few days, I've somehow managed to get it to 28k! Oh, and I even casually got a Yellow Heaven Book! Insane, I've made an insane amount of money...

It seems that saving a life is truly more rewarding than building a seven-story pagoda. The benefits are so immense that Li Fan felt a little embarrassed to only give away a copy of the Puhua Sword Method.

However, the Beichen Sword Sect is an old Nine Yin Mountain Sword Sect were still around, it would likely share similar views with Hengshan and be even more ruthless in killing them. Considering the example of Xuanmen colluding with the Demonic Sect and being punished, the Profound Heaven Sword Intent probably doesn't have much goodwill towards these Yellow Heaven Path sects either. This time, passing on the true teachings of the Sword Sect to the Yellow Heaven Dao is probably a violation of the sect rules.

However, Li Fan was also helpless. The Daoist techniques of Ink Bamboo Mountain were simply uncultivable for ordinary people, and the Tai Xuan Dao was outdated. Only the Puhua Sword Method was more suited to the actual needs of the Yellow Heaven Dao. Therefore, after much deliberation, Li Fan still felt that the people of Yellow Heaven Dao should be given a chance. At least besides the Yellow Heaven Book, having another sword technique to choose from couldn't be a bad thing, could it?

So Li Fan gave Liu Zhuo some more guidance and used a white porcelain bowl to quadruple the amount of grain Yellow Heaven Dao needed, which alleviated the immediate crisis. Then he left Yellow Heaven Dao and continued flying north.

He had a feeling that the guy who manifested might have actually foreseen something, which was why he gave him three tasks.

This mission alone, "Guigu Investigating the Death Gate Dao," has involved a whole host of forces, including Yellow Heaven Dao, Heng Hai Army, Kongsang Mountain, Guyeshan, Tianlong Mountain, Hengshan, Shenjiao, Wangwu Mountain, and Grand Tutor Manor, causing trouble.

Li Fan still has two missions: "Hunting down Cheng Chengzhi, the Cheng Chengzhi of the Gaozhen Palace" and "collecting the body of Yan Xingyun, a disgraced disciple of the Beichen Sword Sect." Who knows what other messy plots might unfold further north, deeper into the heart of Gen Province...

Why do I keep feeling like he's forgotten something? It doesn't make sense. He has a photographic memory, unless something was so awful that he selectively forgot...

Oh, right! He also had one of those guys in his sleeve!

Li Fan suddenly remembered something and quickly pulled out the dwarf who was tied up like a dumpling.

This man, who called himself Wang Hong, a demonic cultivator from the Black Lotus Sect, had been bound and talismaned and hidden in his sleeve for several days without a drop of water. Even though he had the cultivation of Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, he was already delirious.

Li Fan was shocked. "Hey! Hold on! Hold on, don't die, brother! You're from the Luo Sect, right? I'll save your life too! Open another questline for me, brother!"