Fifty years ago,

at one of the Nine Waters, Yunmeng Swamp, with a deployment of the Beidou Seven Killings Formation, he slaughtered four top-class great demons of Yunmeng Swamp, allowing the Heavenly Star Sect to seize half the territory of the swamp in one fell swoop.

His reputation skyrocketed overnight.

Following the Ascension of Heavenly Star Sect Master Mu Yang, Lu Qingfeng gradually came to be recognized as the foremost master in formations among the Three Mountains and Nine Waters, worthy of the title of grandmaster.

Let alone what heights he may reach in the Spirit Domain after his Ascension, even in the Lower Realm, Lu Qingfeng is destined to be an existence as brilliant as the Arrogant Sun. Even more, there is a faint possibility that in the future, he might contend with the Dutian Daoist of the Dutian Sect.

Such a personage,

South Mountain Zi dares not offend.

Even the Floating Mountain Sect, if unnecessary, would do well not to provoke him.

He knows that right now, just outside the bounds of mountains and rivers, at the very extremity of the Void, sits a True Immortal of the Heavenly Star Sect. Should he wish to ascend, he fears he'd need the protection of this True Immortal.

This is an offense most grave.

"Yes!"

Upon South Mountain Zi's rebuke, the six Golden Core Sword Cultivators dared not speak another word, hastily nodding in agreement.

Seeing this, South Mountain Zi, without further delay, soared into the skies and vanished from sight.

...

Mirror Lake Mansion.

After South Mountain Zi had departed, only Lu Qingfeng, Qingyu, and other family members remained.

Lu Jing had been holding back all the while, waiting until South Mountain Zi was far enough away, he finally couldn't resist saying, "Great Uncle is truly formidable. That South Mountain Zi was extremely respectful when he saw Great Uncle."

Lu Jing had clearly observed South Mountain Zi's demeanor in front of Great Uncle during their conversation, and having listened from the sidelines, knew the man was a Primordial Spirit Ancestor Master from the prominent northern Great Sect, the Floating Mountain Sect.

This Floating Mountain Sect was far stronger than the nearby Light Boat Sect and Yougu Sect.

It could rank in the top ten or even the top five throughout the entire Three Mountains and Nine Waters.

Compared to the Heavenly Star Sect far away in Kongling Gorge, for Lu Jing, both the Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain and the Floating Mountain Sect around Biyang Lake to the north and south were indeed more familiar, as he'd heard much more about them.

But even such a personage from an Immortal Sect remained smiling and didn't dare slight Great Uncle, which was somewhat shocking to Lu Jing.

Lu Changsheng also looked toward Great Uncle.

Initially, he only knew that Great Uncle was extremely mysterious and often cultivated in Kongling Gorge, seemingly holding a high position, but he had no concrete concept.

Today, with South Mountain Zi's visit, they finally got a taste.

"In the Three Mountains and Nine Waters, your Great Uncle is a renowned figure, hailed by all Divine Souls, True Ones, great demons, and great devils as 'Qing Peak True One', acknowledged as 'the foremost in formations under heaven'. With just over a millennium of cultivation, he is already no weaker than those old-school True Ones, admired by countless people!"

Qingyu glanced at his elder brother and said to Lu Jing with a smile.

Lu Jing and Lu Changsheng, listening at the side, widened their eyes—only then did they truly understand how formidable their Great Uncle was.

Lu Qingfeng, hearing Qingyu boast about him in front of his two nephews, couldn't help but smile, but he didn't respond, instead turning to look at Qingshan, "South Mountain Zi came today worried about a loss of our sect's secret arts and specially to initiate you into the sect. But the 'Po Gu Absolute Sword' you cultivate comes from Mu Ye Sword Venerate—if you do not join Guangling Mountain, those people from Floating Mountain Sect can't say half a word against it."

"What are your thoughts?"

Upon his arrival, South Mountain Zi made small talk with Lu Qingfeng for a bit, then revealed his intentions—

After all, he was Lu Qingfeng's blood brother.

South Mountain Zi didn't even inquire about the origins of Lu Qingshan's knowledge. He cut straight to the point, declaring that he wanted to bring Lu Qingshan into the Floating Mountain Sect and subtly suggested that he wanted to take Lu Qingshan as a disciple.

However,

Lu Qingshan had received Mu Ye Sword Venerate's legacy at Cloud Platform Mountain. Once his cultivation succeeded, and he ascended to the Spirit Domain in the future, he would naturally become a disciple of this Great Power and could not possibly take South Mountain Zi as a mentor.

But joining Guangling Mountain for cultivation—that was indeed worth considering.

"Guangling Mountain is renowned for its swordsmanship, ranking supreme among the Three Mountains and Nine Waters. As a practitioner of the Sword Dao, having received the 'Po Gu Absolute Sword', Guangling Mountain is the perfect place indeed."

Lu Qingshan said.

In truth.

After receiving the inheritance from the Mu Ye Sword Venerate, Lu Qingshan had thought several times about going to Guangling Mountain. However, with Lu Changsheng being too young at the time, he held off the idea. When the notion struck him again, his daughter, Lu Jing, was just born. With the hassle of dragging the family along, Lu Qingshan decided to settle down by Mirror Lake.

But today, with the Primordial Spirit Ancestor Master from Guangling Mountain personally coming over, Lu Qingshan couldn't help but be moved.

Joining Guangling would mean, should he succeed in the future, he might stand with a mountain at his back. Not to mention supporting his brother but at least he wouldn't be a burden.

His only concern...

Was Lu Changsheng. With Lu Jing's low cultivation, following him would cause inconvenience not only to his own cultivation but more so due to the malevolence suppressed beneath and beyond the Three Mountains. Guangling Mountain was not as peaceful as Mirror Lake, and he worried he couldn't ensure the safety and well-being of his children.

Lu Qingfeng listened and, seeing the look on Qingshan's face, guessed his thoughts. He said loudly, "If you wish to go, then go. With your identity as the heir to the Mu Ye Sword Venerate's mantle, no one in Guangling Mountain would dare to give you trouble. Joining the Floating Mountain Sect along with Xu Mi is easy. As for Changsheng, my visit this time is precisely because being alone in Kongling Gorge is too lonesome, and I've come to take Changsheng to stay with me for a while. You need not worry."

His words were, of course, a mix of truth and pretense.

The primary reason for his visit was to intimidate the Floating Mountain Sect, to prevent the arrogant sword cultivators of Guangling Mountain from causing a disaster due to their hubris.

It coincided with his Divine Soul being injured and falling into a slumber in the game, so he simply took the opportunity to get out and about.

However, the idea to take Lu Changsheng to Kongling Gorge wasn't a sudden whim.

The game and reality were separate.

Although he had a son and a daughter in the game, in reality, beneath the three siblings, there were only Lu Changsheng and Lu Jing, his nephew, and niece.

Naturally, Lu Qingfeng cared deeply.

In Lu Changsheng's youth, Lu Qingfeng once gave him the Desolate Bell, which contained Divine Skills. Unfortunately, due to Lu Changsheng's limited talents, years of cultivation had not allowed him to glean its secrets. Lu Qingfeng's visit this time was to take Lu Changsheng with him and personally guide him, so he wouldn't fade into mediocrity.

"Many thanks, big brother!"

Before Lu Qingshan could even respond, Xu Mi, who overheard Lu Qingfeng's words, lit up with gratitude and spoke first.

She knew well that this big brother was immensely skilled and his cultivation profound. Moreover, his guidance in cultivation was unmatched. Qingshan, though of mediocre talent and average comprehension, had managed to reach the Solid Pill realm under his intermittent direction.

If Lu Changsheng could follow and cultivate under him, his future would surely be boundless.

As a mother, Xu Mi was overjoyed.

Seeing Xu Mi's expectations and knowing Changsheng would benefit more from cultivating with his uncle than tagging along with him, Lu Qingshan didn't hesitate and said, "It's a bother, but I trust you with him, big brother."

Hearing this, Xu Mi relaxed and her face flushed with happiness, smiling at Lu Changsheng, she said, "Changsheng, why not quickly thank your great-uncle?"

"We're family, no need for formalities."

Lu Qingfeng waved his hand, stopping Lu Changsheng from speaking, his simple and obedient manner momentarily reminding him of Qingshan in his younger days in Yang Country, and he couldn't help but think of Lu Xiao in the Immortal Qin Realm.

This father and his cousins shared a resemblance through their bloodline.

"Jing'er will come with me."

"Changsheng will go with big brother."

"Sister-in-law, without the children to worry about, the two of you should enjoy your time together."

Lu Qingyu teased Xu Mi with a wink.

Lu Qingshan shook his head at the jest.

Xu Mi, however, looked towards Qingyu and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense in front of the younger ones."

The two sisters-in-law got along well.

Lu Jing couldn't help but giggle when she saw her father blushing and her mother reprimanding.

Qingyu laughed off her own joke and didn't elaborate.

Instead, her eyes sparkled as they moved from the giggling Lu Jing and Lu Changsheng, then back to the eldest brother. "Big brother, once Jing'er and Changsheng both become True Men, how about we let them spar to see who's stronger? It'll not only motivate them but also show sister-in-law which one of us has the superior skill in teaching. What do you say?"

Lu Jing, hearing this, glanced at her eldest uncle.

But she saw him smiling, with no desire to compete evident. Her eyelashes fluttered in amusement as well. She didn't mind competing with her older cousin, what really excited her now was the prospect of adventuring with her aunt and sampling countless immortal brews.

"As you wish."

Lu Qingfeng glanced at Lu Jing and Lu Changsheng, knowing that this incentive wouldn't do much, but he agreed without discouraging Qingyu's enthusiasm and nodded in approval.

At this, Qingyu immediately burst into laughter.