He had just been preaching to his followers, using talisman water to heal and dispel illnesses. Right at that moment, a divine glow had suddenly descended from the sky—a miracle! Without hesitation, he reached out to grasp it.
But as soon as he caught hold of the glowing object, a hook, invisible and insidious, pierced into his body. A powerful force seized him, dragging him through a multicolored vortex, pulling him across dimensions.
When he next opened his eyes, he was already on this fishing boat, and before him stood Yi Tianxing, holding a fishing rod.
With his intelligence and insight, the truth was painfully clear—he had just been fished up.Even his calm disposition couldn't keep his expression from twitching slightly in anger.
"Heavenly Soldiers, heed my command—kill!!"
Without hesitation, the Daoist raised his whisk. A golden light flashed—ten towering Yellow Turban Warriors materialized out of thin air.
Each of them radiated a powerful aura, comparable to a fifth-stage Body Refiner.With weapons in hand, they charged at Yi Tianxing without pause.
No hesitation. No emotion.They followed orders only.
Divine Art – Seed Soldiers from Beans!
(撒豆成兵)
This legendary Daoist technique's power depended entirely on the caster's level of mastery.With cultivation and better beans, it could evolve into a terrifying army.
"Vanish."
Yi Tianxing did not move.
He didn't lift a weapon.
He simply spoke a single word.
The moment the decree left his mouth, an invisible divine power echoed through reality.
BOOM!!
The ten Yellow Turban Warriors disintegrated into golden light, vanishing without a trace.
"Word becomes law..."The Daoist's pupils contracted violently as he muttered in awe.
Just a single word had dispelled his divine art.This wasn't something ordinary cultivators could ever hope to achieve.
Only the most supreme beings, those who ruled realms and commanded cosmic laws, could possess such absolute might.
"I am Zhang Lu. May I ask who you are, fellow Daoist?"
Suppressing the fury in his chest, Zhang Lu offered a formal bow.
"I am Yi Tian, of the Great Yi Sacred Court. Zhang Lu... So it really is you—Zhang Lu of the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice."
Yi Tianxing's gaze grew sharper upon hearing the name.
Zhang Lu was no stranger to him.
In the Daoist lineage, Zhang Lu was a legendary figure—third-generation Heavenly Master of the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice, grandson of the Dao's founder, Zhang Daoling, and a direct descendant of the Han Dynasty strategist Zhang Liang.
During the late Eastern Han, Zhang Lu had seized control of the Hanzhong region, spread his religious teachings, and ruled with a fusion of theocracy and military power.He even went on to surrender to Cao Cao, earning the title of General Who Pacifies the South, along with a noble title and a fief of ten thousand households.
He was later honored posthumously as the "True Lord of Great Virtue and Divine Transformation."
A practitioner of both statecraft and spirituality, Zhang Lu had left a profound mark on Daoism.
"You're from the Great Yi Sacred Court? Where exactly is this place? Is this the Sacred Court itself? Why did you drag me here?"Zhang Lu's voice was calm, but his heart was tense.
He knew of Great Yi's reputation—who hadn't?Only fools would underestimate them.
Now that he found himself in unknown territory, reckless action was unwise.
Yi Tianxing, for his part, was just as surprised to have pulled up someone like Zhang Lu.
Without delay, he set up restraining wards around the boat, preventing others from eavesdropping.
Zhang Lu noticed the gesture and nodded inwardly. He said nothing.
"This isn't the Great Yi territory," Yi Tianxing began."You're in the Nightmare World—more specifically, the Nightmare Sacred City. This is a rare region where multiple sacred domains converge."
"This lake—Nightmare Celestial Lake—is one of those domains. And here… one can fish for anything. Even… living beings like you."
Yi Tianxing calmly explained everything, hiding nothing.
"Nightmare World? Fishing for living beings...?"
Zhang Lu's heart surged with shock.
The Nightmare World was infamous—feared, even.Though he'd never been there, he had certainly heard of it.
"Just a moment ago, I was still in the Eternal World, in the Zhulu Realm. But now, I've somehow been pulled across the dimensional boundary. All… with a fishing rod?"His voice trembled with disbelief.
But he didn't conceal his background.
Clearly, this Nightmare Lake could transcend the barriers between worlds, linking the Eternal World and the Nightmare World—perhaps even others.
"It seems this lake can truly connect multiple realms… even the vast heavens."
"Zhang Daoist, could you tell me more about the Zhulu Realm?"
Yi Tianxing smiled lightly.
This was a rare opportunity to obtain critical intelligence.
"The Zhulu Realm is a hotbed of power struggles," Zhang Lu explained."The Xiongnu, Xianbei, Mongols, Jurchens, various clans and ethnicities… they've all gathered there. Major forces rise and clash endlessly."
"Hu Hai has founded the Western Qin Dynasty. Liu Che has revived the Western Han Dynasty. Zhang Jiao has raised the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Each faction fights for dominion, aiming to become Master of the Realm."
"There are hundreds of forces, not even counting the non-human ones. The entire realm exists for conflict. For supremacy."
Zhang Lu spoke with gravity.
Every day in the Zhulu Realm was war—schemes, alliances, betrayals.
Even the Hundred Schools of Thought were deeply entangled in its politics.
To rise to the top required not just power, but destiny.
"Take Zhang Jiao, for example," Zhang Lu continued."In history, he failed. But here, in this realm, he has succeeded. Through talismanic arts and healing, he gathered countless followers and formed the Yellow Turban Army."
"Now, he's the absolute ruler of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom—a theocratic state where his word is law."
When he finished summarizing the state of the Zhulu Realm, Zhang Lu turned serious again.
"Fellow Daoist Yi… now that you've brought me into the Nightmare World… Can I return to the Eternal World? Back to Zhulu?"
His tone carried a trace of urgency.
He couldn't afford to stay here long.He was on the verge of achieving his dream—a terrestrial immortal kingdom governed by both state and faith.
If he couldn't go back, all his life's efforts would be for nothing.
"That… I'm not entirely sure."Yi Tianxing shook his head honestly.
"But since this lake could bring you here, it might also send you back. Just earlier, I think someone jumped back in and disappeared—maybe they returned. No one knows for certain."
Then, his tone shifted slightly:
"Zhang Daoist, have you considered joining the Great Yi Sacred Court?"
"We are always looking for talent. In Great Yi, anyone with true skill can rise—without being buried or suppressed. You'll have a platform grand enough to fulfill any ambition."
"Miss this chance, and it may not come again."
Yi Tianxing extended his olive branch without hesitation.
Zhang Lu was without question a rare talent. If he joined, it could lead to new synergies.
The Way of the Five Pecks of Rice worshipped the Three Pure Ones—true orthodox Daoism.
Accepting Zhang Lu would allow Great Yi to build a bridge with them.
Not that Great Yi needed to cling to the Three Pure Ones—but having more friends than enemies was a core survival strategy.
This was why Yi Tianxing always left buffer zones between Great Yi and foreign realms—not every problem had to end in war.
"Join Great Yi?"Zhang Lu was visibly tempted.
The Sacred Court's prestige was unparalleled.Now that it had ascended, who could say how far it would rise?
If he joined, he might truly reach new heights.
But…
"I still have unfinished duties in the Zhulu Realm."
"I cannot join Great Yi. But if fate permits, perhaps one day we can form an alliance."
With that, Zhang Lu turned and leapt into the lake.
As he descended, a vortex formed beneath him.
At the bottom, one could glimpse the chaotic storm of the Zhulu Realm.His body vanished into it—gone.