Located between the Spiritual Mountain Shell Field and Yunmeng Swamp, lies a cluster of densely packed islands known as the Black Cloud Islands.

The Black Cloud Islands consist of hundreds of islands, large and small, centered around a main island.

This place was once dominated by demons.

But more than three hundred years ago,

the Ancestor Master of the Dutian Sect, the Dutian Daoist, descended here. Since then, it became a forbidden area for cultivators and demons alike—even top Immortal Sects such as Guangling Mountain and the Heavenly Star Sect dare not trespass.

Black Cloud Islands.

Black mountains and black waters, as if cloaked in dense clouds obscuring all four directions. From outside, one cannot see the inner situation clearly. Naturally, they also cannot see that, 1200 li at the center of the 'Black Cloud Island', there sits a magnificent large city with the name 'Dutian' inscribed above its city gate.

Dragons flying and phoenixes dancing, harboring intense sword intent.

Unknown to others, this 'Dutian City' was originally dilapidated, called 'Yuan Gui City', and only had a small stretch of wall measuring a few hundred zhang.

Over the centuries, the city walls have now been completely restored, stretching across twenty to thirty li.

With the city walls intact, its grandeur is apparent.

Lu Qingfeng has officially renamed this city as 'Dutian City'.

On this day,

within Dutian City, Lu Qingfeng and Han Ling'er sat facing each other.

Lu Qingfeng stationed here is the Eight Desolate Avatar, while Han Ling'er entered the Three Mountains and Nine Waters merely as a Divine Separation.

These years,

The two have been cooperating and have grown quite familiar with each other.

Han Ling'er slightly frowned, and with a hint of helplessness on her face, she said, "338 years ago, I was ordered by my teacher to come to the Mountain and Water Realm to solve the disaster of the Star Absorbing Demon Spirit. Over the years, I've fought that Lord of Star Absorption countless times, always ending in a draw. Based on the recent confrontations, it seems that the Lord of Star Absorption might be looking to leave."

The fleeting years passed in the blink of an eye.

Originally, Han Ling'er came to dismantle the disaster caused by the Demon Spirits, but unexpectedly meeting the 'Dutian Daoist', they clicked instantly and have cooperated to this day.

Mingqing Spirit Water, high-quality basic Elixirs, and top-grade immortal brews.

These three lucrative industries not only allowed Lu Qingfeng to earn enough cultivation resources but also made the middleman Han Ling'er quite wealthy.

Suppressing the Mountain and Water Realm, they indulged in a rather pleasant life.

But since she came with a mission,

Although they deliberately delayed and kept entangling the Lord of Star Absorption over the years, as time progressed, some within the Spirit Domain started expressing slight complaints.

If Han Ling'er continues to delay, she might be replaced by someone sent by places like Ten Thousand Beasts Immortal Mountain or Guangling Mountain which are of Upper Realm Daoist.

She could shamelessly continue to stay in the Mountain and Water Realm.

But that would inevitably embarrass her teacher.

But if she doesn't delay,

For one, Han Ling'er was not absolutely certain she could kill the Lord of Star Absorption. Over these 300 years, she indeed earned plenty of Immortal Crystals, constructing 'Han Ling City' into an incredibly formidable entity. However, the Lord of Star Absorption was no easy feat, with strong defenses and cunning deceitfulness. If he sensed anything wrong, he'd likely flee immediately.

When that time comes, it would still result in a stalemate, perhaps even forcing the Lord of Star Absorption to give up on the Mountain and Water Realm completely.

The latter was the second concern.

If the Lord of Star Absorption abandons the Mountain and Water Realm and flees far away, Han Ling'er too would have to pursue and leave the Mountain and Water Realm.

Without her using 'Han Ling City' as cover, even if others came, they wouldn't be able to secretly trade with Lu Qingfeng.

Don't forget.

Outside of the Mountain and Water Realm, there were Daoist Hu Feng of Zhong Mountain and Zheng Tu of the Fire God Palace guarding. Han Ling'er, having hard-won a foothold, any concession meant future attempts to connect with the Mountain and Water Realm would be difficult.

This was a dilemma.

Hearing this, Lu Qingfeng realized the problems involved.

For him,

Having cooperated with Han Ling'er for over three hundred years, he was familiar with her, and their collaboration was indeed pleasant. If Han Ling'er departed, with two top True Immortals restricting access from the outside, it would be difficult for him to find another collaborator in the Three Mountains and Nine Waters.

And without Han Ling'er acting as the middleman to handle his sales and purchases, his accumulation would slow down or even stall.

It was a pity.

Thinking inside, Lu Qingfeng looked at Han Ling'er and asked, "If the Lord of Star Absorption could be killed outside the Mountain and Water Realm, could the Fairy stay permanently outside the Mountain and Water Realm?"

"Certainly,"

Han Ling'er nodded, "As long as the Lord of Star Absorption is slain, those people can't find more faults and can't swap me back to the Spirit Domain. As for whether I continue in the Mountain and Water Realm, aside from my teacher, no one else can interfere. If Zheng Tu of the Fire God Palace and Daoist Hu Feng can guard the Mountain and Water Realm, certainly I can too."

Staying outside the Mountain and Water Realm is simple. For Han Ling'er, the main issue is that currently being unable to swiftly kill the Lord of Star Absorption would result in someone replacing her. If she still shamelessly stayed, others couldn't complain or drive her away. But by then, truly being shameless, Han Ling'er wouldn't care much, but she had to consider her teacher.

It's okay for her to be embarrassed.

But she couldn't let her teacher's dignity be trampled.

"Given that."

"I, the poor Daoist, can lend the Fairy a helping hand!"

Lu Qingfeng declared boldly.

"You help me?" Han Ling'er's beautiful eyes landed on Lu Qingfeng, her eyes filled with doubt.

"Indeed."

Lu Qingfeng nodded.

In over three hundred years, he had restored Dutian City. With the aid of Han Ling'er, he imported a large amount of materials from the Spirit Domain, enlarging and strengthening Dutian City.

In Primordial, within the Five Directions Realm (Wǔfāngjiè) and during his time in the Thunder Department, Lu Qingfeng analyzed and derived enhancements for numerous Daoist Soldiers, Daoist Soldier buildings, and War Killing Weapons, arming Dutian City to its teeth.

In the early days of his collaboration with Han Ling'er, he could earn four to five hundred thousand Spirit Stones a year.

As time passed, today, with increased purchases of 'Alcohol Liquid' and the continual improvement of Dutian Sect Alchemist's skills, he could already earn nearly two million Spirit Stones a year—a fourfold increase from the beginning.

Half of the spirit stones here were used by Lu Qingfeng for purchasing construction materials for War City and refining magic artifacts.

Over the years, the true strength of Dutian City was unimaginable to outsiders.

This time, to continue cooperating with Han Ling'er, and also because—

"My Eight Desolate Avatar has already reached the peak of the Primordial Spirit Realm, just one step away from ascending to the True Immortal Realm. If I continue to stay in Three Mountains and Nine Waters, I would have to remain in the Primordial Spirit Realm, wasting time in vain. But if I break through to True Immortal now, leaving Three Mountains and Nine Waters would not only allow me to experience and familiarize myself with the Spirit Domain situation sooner, but also help Han Ling'er solve her current predicament."

It was a win-win situation.

Why not take it?

"You—" Han Ling'er hesitated, looking over at Lu Qingfeng, then her eyes swept across Dutian City. The War City was hidden and obscured; beyond recognizing that this city was no longer the ruin it used to be, she could discern no further details.

But apart from this War City, Han Ling'er couldn't think of what capabilities this Dutian Daoist had to boast so confidently.

Seeing Lu Qingfeng looking assured, Han Ling'er slightly lifted her head, pointing upwards crisply, "Outside the mountains and rivers, there are two top True Immortals overseeing. Once you go out, they will definitely make a move immediately. Are you confident you can withstand them?"

"I won't entangle with them."

"If I can't beat them, I can always escape."

Lu Qingfeng said lightly.

Besides, it's not necessarily true that I can't beat them. But behind those two True Immortals, one has the support of Black Dragon True Monarch and the other from the Fire God Palace, it's better not to get too entangled with them.

"Alright!"

"I see why you care so much; you just want to use me to escape from the Mountain and Water Realm amidst the chaos."

Han Ling'er stared at Lu Qingfeng, suddenly scoffing.

Her thoughts were clear.

In an instant, she understood Lu Qingfeng's intentions. Being sealed in the Mountain and Water Realm, it would normally be difficult to escape. But using the chaos of her battle with the Lord of Star Absorption, undoubtedly, he'd have a better chance.

"The fairy is wise."

"Indeed, this was my intention."

Escaping the Mountain and Water Realm, with Han Ling'er's backing, the risk would definitely be reduced. Given Han Ling'er's ruthlessness over the years, the Spirit Stones she earned were certainly more than Lu Qingfeng's.

Sell, purchase.

Having a hand in every deal, even if Han Ling'er did not have Lu Qingfeng's skill in artifact refining, she could still use Spirit Stones and Immortal Crystals to buy all kinds of Daoist soldiers and war weapons.

Currently in Han Ling City, she may not match Zheng Tu or Daoist Hu Feng, but holding off for a moment shouldn't be a problem.

"You're quite honest."

Seeing Lu Qingfeng not making excuses, Han Ling'er abruptly smirked, "But what makes you think I would help you?"

"It doesn't matter whether you help or not."

"It's just mutual benefit."

Lu Qingfeng also looked towards the sky outside, saying, "If you help me escape, you can continue staying in the Mountain and Water Realm and keep trading. If you don't help me, with no way to deal with the Lord of Star Absorption, you'll have to leave sooner or later, and trading will no longer be feasible."

"You fleeing, who will I trade with in the Mountain and Water Realm?" Han Ling'er stared at Lu Qingfeng, snorting coldly.

"Do you think, Fairy, that I would perilously place all my hopes on you, and escape with my True Body?" A slight smile appeared on Lu Qingfeng's face.

As he spoke.

Seeing a look of slight anger on Han Ling'er's face, without a signal, flames ignited around Lu Qingfeng, and Fire Crows circled him, suddenly revealing the shadow of a magic artifact behind his head.

"This is—"

"The Eight Desolate Mysterious Fire Mirror?!"

Han Ling'er's eyebrows lifted in surprise, "You actually refined this treasure into an avatar!"

She finally realized.

The person sitting before her was not the True Body of the Dutian Daoist!

"Little schemes."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head, retracting the illusion.

Han Ling'er fell silent.

Lu Qingfeng was in no hurry. The situation laid out, Han Ling'er was just worried that once he left the Mountain and Water Realm, the sky's the limit, he would no longer cooperate with her.

But if she thought about it.

She had mature sales channels behind the One-Line Sky Passage. Even if Lu Qingfeng went to the Spirit Domain, he would probably have to keep a low profile, avoiding the pursuit of the Fire God Palace and Black Dragon True Monarch, and dare not manage his businesses in person.

After all.

Once other channels started appearing with Mingqing Spirit Water, high-quality Basic Elixirs, and those superior immortal liquors, Han Ling'er would know. Revealing this to the Fire God Palace and Black Dragon True Monarch would be enough headache for Lu Qingfeng.

As long as Lu Qingfeng still wanted to do business to continue earning Immortal Crystals and resources for cultivation, he could not easily cut off ties with Han Ling'er.

There was a risk.

But firstly, the risk was not significant.

Secondly, for more long-term cooperation in the future, Han Ling'er had to give it a shot.

Han Ling'er's eyes flickered, and she eventually compromised.

Her expression changed instantly, her eyes gleamed with a smile, and she called out to Lu Qingfeng, "Do not panic, Fellow Daoist. What kind of relationship do we have? Remember how I blocked Zhou You Mountain Xun, Zhenbei from Zhouyou Mountain, and the Divine Son of Fire Crow from the Fire God Palace who targeted you, informing you beforehand. Also, when Black Dragon True Monarch came, it was I who begged my teacher to personally intervene to stop him. Since you intend to escape, Han must unquestionably act righteously."

"..."

Lu Qingfeng pursed his lips, ignoring Han Ling'er's nonsense, and directly discussed the specifics of the plan with her.

An hour later.

Han Ling'er escaped.

And Lu Qingfeng sat cross-legged within the city, quietly awaiting the opportunity.