Chapter 238: Chapter 238

The newcomers were all clad in pure black monastic robes, their expressions calm and composed, exuding an air of solemnity. Yet, Lei Jun could clearly sense faint traces of ominous and aggressive energy from them.

Like some cultivators of the Southern Wasteland’s Witch Sect, the disciples of the Vast Void Temple practiced not only by refining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth but also by incorporating traces of demonic energy and malevolent aura into their cultivation. This made their techniques exceptionally aggressive, though it also inevitably affected their mental state to some degree.

Among the two major unorthodox Buddhist sects, the bloodthirsty reputation of the Vast Void Temple far surpassed that of the White Lotus Sect. The deity they revered, the Annihilation Tathagata, was once even known as the Demon Buddha.

Although the White Lotus Sect had, over the years, diverged greatly from the orthodox Buddhist traditions of the four great sacred lands, its roots could still be traced back to Bodhi Monastery, Tianlong Monastery, and Xuanyan Temple.

In contrast, the Vast Void Temple was more like Buddhism’s true nemesis.

From Lei Jun’s readings of ancient records in the Decree Pavilion of the Tianshi Mansion, he knew that the cultivation techniques of the Vast Void Temple were, to some extent, capable of countering and dismantling the divine abilities of orthodox Buddhist sects.

Seeing these black-robed monks appear, Lei Jun immediately heightened his vigilance.

If the Vast Void Temple was involved, then this was no longer just about the Jiangzhou Lin Clan—there were surely other enemies among the Four Surnames and Six Prestigious Clans in the mix.

The Jiangzhou Lin Clan and the Tianshi Mansion had been bitter rivals for nearly a thousand years, locked in a cycle of bloodshed and revenge. The Tang Imperial Court had long turned a blind eye to their conflicts.

Now that disciples of the Vast Void Temple had shown up, it was clear they were merely being used as scapegoats—just like when Bodhi Monastery had been drawn into the fray before.

The black-robed monks remained stationed at the snowy mountains on the outskirts of Dragon Bone Ridge, watching and waiting, rather than advancing.

Lei Jun, too, did not reveal himself immediately, choosing instead to observe in silence.

Above, his sky-gazing eye was concealed more carefully than ever, yet images continuously appeared on the surface of the bronze mirror in his hand.

His little senior sister had clearly been holding back for too long.

Now that she had unleashed her power, she was even more ferocious than what he had expected.

Under the dazzling golden thunder, the Eighth Heaven Confucian scholar she faced was struggling to hold his ground.

The Five Surnames and Seven Prestigious Clans were all aristocratic families with deep-rooted legacies. Their inheritances in all aspects were complete and refined.

Among them, the Confucian divine archery lineage was known for its impeccable shooting techniques, with no discernible weaknesses in range, speed, accuracy, or arrow power.

Of course, every sect had its own secret techniques, leading to inevitable differences in style.

For instance, Lei Jun had personally witnessed Chu Yu of the Suzhou Chu Clan in action—their archery techniques specialized in extreme range and overwhelming single-shot power.

Meanwhile, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s archers were known for their wide-area suppression techniques.

However, from the perspective of the Daoist Talismanic Sect’s holy land, Tianshi Mansion, it was the Suzhou Chu Clan’s archery style that posed a greater threat.

The Talismanic Sect had always been known for its adaptability and versatility in combat.

While they might not be true all-rounders, they rarely suffered major disadvantages.

Only when faced with an opponent who had an extreme specialization would the Tianshi Mansion’s balanced approach appear insufficient.

The Confucian divine archery lineage was precisely such a specialization.

And the greater the emphasis on range, the more dangerous the archer was to talismanic cultivators.

Alternatively, those who had superior movement techniques and rapid-fire archery skills—allowing them to control distance—could also pose a significant challenge to the Tianshi Mansion’s disciples.

In contrast, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s broad-area suppression archery was less effective in one-on-one duels against opponents of similar cultivation.

Lin Yuwei was the foremost expert of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s branch family, having successfully reached the Eighth Heaven. His arrows could pierce the clouds and shatter mountains.

If he faced Li Song, he might gain the upper hand—but only because Li Song was aging while Lin Yuwei was in his prime.

However, if he went up against Li Hongyu, who was of the same generation, he would find it much harder to dominate.

And as for Tang Xiaotang’s record against Li Hongyu and Li Song—the whole world already knew the outcome.

At this moment, a golden Pure Yang Thunder Dragon let out an earth-shaking roar, triggering a massive avalanche across the surrounding snow-capped mountains.

A rain of dazzling golden light surged forward, sweeping away the star-like arrows falling from the sky. With unstoppable momentum, the golden dragon charged straight at Lin Yuwei.

As Lin Yuwei rapidly retreated, he swung his arms.

The air trembled as if an invisible bowstring had been plucked.

The scattered starlight rapidly converged into a blinding radiance, continuously compressing and intensifying.

In that instant, the meteor shower transformed into a brilliant sun.

The Jiangzhou Lin Clan had been at odds with the Tianshi Mansion for so many years that both sides were deeply familiar with each other.

The Lin Clan had also been working to refine and enhance their techniques in hopes of finally surpassing their long-time nemesis.

With this arrow, Lin Yuwei abandoned the Lin Clan’s usual archery style.

But his opponent, Tang Xiaotang, was likewise an anomaly within the Tianshi Mansion.

The moment the dazzling sun-like arrow shot forth, it seemed to pierce through heaven and earth.

Yet the golden Pure Yang Thunder Dragon did not evade or deflect—it charged head-on, colliding directly with the beam of light.

For a brief moment, the space above Dragon Bone Ridge seemed to distort.

And along with the air’s distortion, the straight trajectory of the arrow warped and twisted in midair.

Meanwhile, the Pure Yang Thunder Dragon continued its relentless advance toward Lin Yuwei.

Although that arrow had bought Lin Yuwei some time to retreat, golden light flashed once more, and the thunder dragon chased after him with unyielding ferocity.

Suddenly, torrents of sword energy coalesced in the sky, forming solid, mountain-like entities.

Five towering peaks stood in formation, resembling five old sages, unmoved by the passage of time, silently watching the flow of history.

It was the Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s Confucian Sword Art—Five Elder Peaks!

Under the concentration of sword intent, it was as if even the river of time itself could not erode these peaks.

The golden thunder dragon clashed head-on with the towering mountains.

As radiant thunder scattered in all directions, the five peaks trembled violently.

Simultaneously, a mighty river of sword energy surged forth, complementing the defensive stance of the mountains with an aggressive offensive.

Though the golden thunder dragon was momentarily blocked, it did not retreat in the slightest.

At the same time, a blazing tiger formed from golden light and fire emerged, roaring defiantly as it met the river of sword energy head-on.

In this frozen northern land of ice and snow, the battlefield had transformed into a breathtaking scene reminiscent of Jiangnan’s picturesque landscapes—crafted entirely from sword energy.

Yet, in stark contrast, the heavens echoed with the deafening roars of dragons and tigers.

Lei Jun narrowed his eyes.

Lin Che... so the current head of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan had come to the northern frontier personally.

"Strange," Lei Jun mused, closely observing the shifting battle.

"Wasn’t Lin Che a Confucian scholar specializing in statecraft? His attacks seem incomplete..."

Was he holding back, or was he secretly wary of another hidden threat?

The former Tianshi, Li Qingfeng’s grandfather—who was also the first Li Tianshi—sustained severe injuries after killing the then-leader of the Lin Clan. He later succumbed to his wounds and passed away.

Lei Jun had first heard of the Tianshi’s Three Treasures when his master, Yuan Mobai, briefly mentioned this incident.

At that time, the Tianshi Mansion suffered heavy losses, but the Jiangzhou Lin Clan fared no better. The brutal clash cost the Lin Clan its position as the last-ranked family among the Five Great Surnames and Seven Prominent Clans.

Subsequently, the Tianshi Mansion experienced multiple internal conflicts and fell to its lowest point.

Jiangzhou, on the other hand, had its own struggles.

Otherwise, when the Tianshi Mansion was in turmoil, the situation could have been even more dire.

In recent years, four top-tier experts from the Jiangzhou Lin Clan gained widespread recognition: former clan leader Lin Qun, his successor Lin Che, and two clan elders, Lin Feng and Lin Chou—all of whom were at the Eighth Heaven realm.

With Lin Qun’s death, the Lin Clan’s strength suffered another blow.

Following the decisive battle at Poyang Great Marsh, Lin Che and Elder Lin Feng went missing, pushing the Jiangzhou Lin Clan into an unprecedented decline.

Only in recent years, when Lin Yuwei broke through to the Eighth Heaven realm and Lin Che returned, did the Lin Clan manage to recover slightly.

But the successive deaths of Lin Qun and Lin Feng left the clan half-dead, a devastating loss.

"It's unlikely that Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s ancestral grounds are hiding some ancient monster, but we still need to be cautious," Lei Jun pondered.

The "old monsters" of this world were not the same as those in the novels he had read back on Blue Star.

Due to this world's lifespan limits and aging process, it was rare to find ancient elders growing stronger just by accumulating years of experience.

The so-called "old monsters" referred to cultivators who had passed their prime and begun their downward decline but had not yet reached the point of an abrupt collapse due to old age.

For cultivators at this stage, further breakthroughs were nearly impossible. Only a handful in history had managed to defy this fate and achieve further advancement.

Most of these elders lived in seclusion, not to seek progress but to delay their decline.

A downward spiral was inevitable, but through deep meditation, communion with the heavens, and focused cultivation, they could attempt to slow the rate of their deterioration.

At the very least, they needed to avoid an accelerated decline.

For such cultivators, any battle risked damaging their foundations.

Once their foundation was harmed, it often marked the beginning of their rapid collapse.

If they had no hope of extending their lifespan, many chose seclusion and meditation.

The more powerful the faction, the more likely this was the case, as sects or families would provide for their elders, sparing them from mundane concerns like seeking resources or maintaining a guard.

Among them, Upper Heaven elders would strive to preserve their strength as much as possible, serving as hidden trump cards for their sects or noble clans.

This was a significant part of what people meant when they spoke of a sect’s or a noble family's deep foundation.

However, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan was in a rather unique situation.

After being pushed to the bottom of the Five Great Surnames and Seven Prominent Clans by the Tianshi Mansion, they suffered constant suppression from their neighbors, the Fang and Chu Clans.

Whenever the Lin Clan faced turmoil, it was always "visit time" for the Fang and Chu families.

Lin Qun’s fall during the battle at Poyang Great Marsh was no exception.

It was only when the Empress established the new Academy that the Fang and Chu Clans eased their grip on the Lin Clan.

Yet, following Lin Qun’s death and Lin Che’s disappearance, the leaderless Lin Clan fell into chaos, with no powerful "old monster" stepping forward to stabilize the situation.

During the battle at Poyang Great Marsh, Lin Che and Lin Feng were either dead or missing, leaving only Lin Chou to lead the surviving clan members as they retreated in defeat to their ancestral land.

The Lin Clan was forced to shrink its influence.

At one point, Ye Zhu of the Qingzhou Ye Clan had to settle in Jiangzhou for several years, helping the Lin Clan maintain its reputation.

Had things not been absolutely desperate, the Lin Clan wouldn’t have declined to such an unthinkable extent.

Unfortunately, when Xu Yuanzhen also went missing, the Tianshi Mansion called off the war instead of pressuring the Lin Clan further.

Otherwise, they might have uncovered more secrets.

As for whether the Tianshi Mansion had similar hidden elders or powerful "old monsters"?

Of course, it had... once.

Lei Jun shook his head slightly.

Better not to discuss this. We’re all friends, after all.

After years of internal strife and external conflicts, the Tianshi Mansion had completely exhausted its senior experts.

Not to mention the Tianshi Mansion—even the opposing Huangtian Dao no longer had any elders left.

There had been one last surviving relic, Li Song.

But during the last Battle of Liwai, he, too, was gone...

Lei Jun’s gaze suddenly sharpened as he turned his attention to a group of black-robed monks in the distance.

The leader of the group was cautiously retrieving something.

From a distance, it looked like a small bag.

I recall that Dakuang Monastery cultivators practice the Dao of Destruction… They don’t forge Buddhist artifacts… Lei Jun thought as he moved closer.

The black-robed monk carefully opened the bag.

Ironically, his nearby companions—also clad in black robes—took out several talismans.

They were Spirit Talismans of the Daoist Talismanic Branch.

And judging by the style… It was crafted using Huangtian Dao’s techniques…

Even with a single glance, Lei Jun could tell.

As for what was inside the bag, he couldn't quite make it out.

But even at a distance, a sharp, sinister demonic aura began to seep out.

It wasn't strong enough yet to draw the attention of the warring factions, but…

The demonic energy was incredibly pure—far too genuine to be from hybrid cultivators like Dakuang Monastery or the Blood River Sect.

It was… a true demon’s aura.

Lei Jun traced the direction where the black-robed monks were aiming their Windstorm Talismans.

They’re planning to use the wind to send whatever is in that bag… straight toward Dragon Bone Ridge.

His mind raced, but his actions were even faster.

Using Wind Thunder Talisman and the concealment of the Teng Snake Bone, he silently moved closer to the Dakuang Monastery monks.

"Use the talismans properly. They must work. You cannot let them break."

The black-robed leader’s tone was grave.

"If the Sea King Chrysanthemum’s clone awakens, it will expand instantly. The wind must be strong enough. The direction must be precise.

"If it lands too close, we die first. No time to run."

Even non-Daoists could use Daoist Spirit Talismans.

They couldn't unleash their full power, but for the Dakuang Monastery disciples, these talismans were perfectly suited for their needs.

The only issue was that they had to be extra careful not to tear them apart.

"Rest assured, Master-Uncle. We've practiced in advance."

A disciple holding a Windstorm Talisman spoke confidently.

"But the Jiangzhou Lin Clan and the Tianshi Mansion old ox-noses are still locked in battle. They're really close…"

The black-robed leader smirked.

"That's their problem. We already gave them a heads-up."

But before they could act—

The leader suddenly froze.

The bag in his hands was gone.

Light as a feather, it had been plucked away by an unseen hand.

Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, the disciples of the Vast Void Temple still displayed remarkable coordination. As some launched close-range attacks, others refrained from recklessly charging in. Instead, they stayed back, curling their fingers into a flower-picking gesture before flicking them forward.

Tiny yet venomous black beams, almost imperceptible but lethally powerful, shot toward Lei Jun like a barrage of flying needles.

In an instant, a deadly web was formed, combining attacks from both near and far.

Meanwhile, some of the Vast Void Temple disciples didn’t join the encirclement. Instead, they retreated into the distance, preparing to contact their sect elders.

However, Lei Jun was too fast. By the time he kicked the black-robed monk leading the attack to death, the others were once again struck by fear. It was too late to change their tactics.

The flurry of black needle-like beams all missed their mark, piercing the ground where Lei Jun had stood moments ago. The snow instantly corroded, forming deep pits. But by then, Lei Jun was already gone.

The disciples who had attempted to surround him and engage in close combat found themselves striking empty air.

Although Lei Jun was temporarily standing on one leg, vast, earth-hued lightning erupted around him, engulfing all the Vast Void Temple disciples in its radius.

Under the shroud of Yin Earth Thunder, everything fell into eerie silence.

It was as if they had been buried alive.

Dark lightning-infused water seeped from the soil.

One disciple, who had retreated to inform their elders, suddenly saw his vision blur.

Lei Jun appeared right before him. Without hesitation, Lei Jun struck him on the bald head—just like a true disciple of orthodox Buddhism.

Hmm, this guy’s cultivation isn’t even as strong as the black-robed monk from earlier. Didn’t feel like much of a hit… Lei Jun nodded slightly to himself.

Soon, the entire group of Vast Void Temple disciples had been dealt with.

Since the battlefield was confined to a limited area, Lei Jun didn’t need to set up the Two-Element Magnetic Dragon-Locking Formation in advance. His Two-Element Magnetic Mantra alone, combined with the Reverse-Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman, was enough to manipulate the spiritual energy around him and create a sealed space.

Both were Life-bound Spells, allowing him to experiment with new techniques freely.

Still, to eliminate any chance of being tracked, Lei Jun used the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book to wipe all traces of his presence before swiftly departing.

Only after distancing himself from the snowy mountain range did Lei Jun finally inspect the cloth bag in his hand.

Sea King Chrysanthemum… Lei Jun frowned slightly.

This name wasn’t unfamiliar to him.

During the previous Eastern Sea Demon Uprising, countless sea monsters had caused havoc, and this demon was one of the main culprits.

It was a Great Demon on par with human cultivators at the Ninth Heaven Realm.

It had traits resembling both plants and octopuses, yet its massive body could take root in the earth, absorbing power from both the land and the vast ocean. At the same time, it could move like a fish, freely roaming the sea.

In the end, Empress Zhang Wantong gravely wounded it, forcing it to flee into the deep sea under the cover of the waves. She had been preoccupied with stabilizing the situation on land and didn’t pursue it further.

However, he had never heard of the Sea King Chrysanthemum being capable of dispersing seed-based clones.

Otherwise, a creature would be an even greater threat.

Could it be that creating these clones came at a great cost? Or was it dependent on timing or specific conditions?

These thoughts flashed through Lei Jun’s mind, but he set them aside for now.

His immediate concern was whether this bag could be of any use to him.

Based on what the Vast Void Temple disciples had said, Lei Jun could make some educated guesses:

The Vast Void Temple’s retreat to the sea over the years hadn’t been wasted. Not only had they been gathering strength, but they had also formed alliances with certain demon clans—and not just in the Eastern Sea.

The Northern Demon Uprising, which had caused trouble for Bodhi Monastery, was likely orchestrated by major sects such as the Ye Clan of Jinzhou and the Lin Clan of Youzhou, using the Vast Void Temple as an intermediary to connect with Northern Frontier Great Demons.

Now, using the same playbook, they were targeting Tianshi Mansion.

If these Sea King Chrysanthemum clones were released, they would indiscriminately attack all living beings in the vicinity, unable to distinguish between Tang Xiaotang and Lin Che, Lin Yuwei.

This suggested that these clones did not inherit the Sea King Chrysanthemum’s intelligence and were not mentally linked to its main body.

At the same time, they weren’t under the control of the Lin Clan or Vast Void Temple.

A specific type of wind, or perhaps prolonged exposure to wind, seemed to be the trigger for these creatures to awaken.

These demons were undoubtedly powerful. Even if they couldn’t kill Tang Xiaotang outright, they could disrupt her, giving Lin Che and Lin Yuwei, who were prepared for the attack, the perfect opportunity to strike.

Lei Jun weighed the bag in his hand and glanced back toward Dragon Bone Ridge.

Even if he warned Tang Xiaotang, Lin Che and Lin Yuwei were already aware of this plan. Using these demons against them would likely have limited effectiveness.

Seeing that the battle was still raging and that Tang Xiaotang wasn’t at a disadvantage, Lei Jun withdrew his gaze, concealed his presence, and temporarily left.

He made his way to Great Black Mountain.

By now, midday had passed.

Earlier, he had drawn a Lower-Moderate Omen for this place, likely foretelling the ambush led by Lin Che and Lin Yuwei, both formidable Eighth Heaven Confucian scholars.

Of course, that didn’t mean Great Black Mountain was necessarily safe now. Lei Jun remained cautious as he approached.

From a distance, the mountains appeared deserted.

Yet, Lei Jun sensed that the spatial domain here was unstable.

This place might not just be a simple ambush site—it could genuinely house a void “gateway.”

However, the Lin Clan had set up their ritual formation at Dragon Bone Ridge instead.

If it was such an important location, there was likely still someone guarding it.

More importantly, when the Lin Clan experts rushed to Dragon Bone Ridge earlier, only Lin Che and Lin Yuwei had shown up.

Now, Great Black Mountain seemed too quiet, likely because a high-level expert was concealing their presence.

If Lei Jun didn’t get closer, he wouldn’t be able to confirm anything.

But he had his own methods.

He ignited a Superior-Grade Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman—not to produce smoke, but to dissolve into the unseen.

Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and activated the Two-Element Magnetic Mantra.

Moments later, ripples spread through his Mind Sea.

Sure enough—Great Black Mountain was connected to the outside world.

He couldn’t discern the exact details, but the link was undeniable.

For now, that was enough.

"People say ‘borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha.’ I, a humble Daoist, shall borrow Buddha to offer flowers instead. Please, enjoy."

Lei Jun stood up calmly, climbed to the peak of a snowy mountain, and looked toward Great Black Mountain.

He retrieved the bag.

Then, he took out twenty Superior-Grade Windstorm Talismans—all of them authentic, high-grade Tianshi Mansion talismans, unlike the mismatched ones the Vast Void Temple disciples carried.

He activated every single one.

A furious storm erupted!

The wind concentrated into a vortex.

Inside the bag, fluffy white puffballs—like dandelions—were launched toward Great Black Mountain.

As they flew, they expanded.

Soon, the sky above Great Black Mountain was filled with drifting white silk threads, sinister demonic auras thick in the air.

An elderly figure suddenly emerged at the mountain’s peak, his face darkening in shock.

"Sea King Chrysanthemum clones?! How did they get here?!"

It was Lin Likong, an elder of the Lin Clan of Youzhou—and he knew exactly what kind of disaster was about to unfold.

Lin Likong did not dare to hesitate. He immediately began chanting aloud:

"The northern wind stirs the land, overturning rivers and seas. I sit atop the polar void, riding the celestial boat!"

As a Seventh Heaven Grand Scholar of the Confucian Recitation Lineage, his poetry resonated with the heavens and earth, allowing him to channel natural forces. In an instant, powerful gusts of wind howled across the skies above Great Black Mountain.

However, Lei Jun had prepared meticulously, and the force of his spell was overwhelming. The two opposing winds clashed violently, neither side yielding.

Lin Likong’s storm managed to halt the incoming white fluff balls, preventing them from advancing further.

But it failed to drive them away.

As time dragged on, the seemingly delicate dandelion-like fluff balls continued to swell and grow. Their soft, wispy fibers began to unravel and expand in all directions.

Once they fully spread out, they no longer fluttered lightly in the wind.

Instead, they writhed as if alive.

A menacing aura—sinister and monstrous—spread across the land, reminiscent of some otherworldly demonic entity.

"Be careful!!" Lin Likong shouted in a thunderous voice. "Retreat—NOW!"

From his vantage point, Lei Jun watched as the white fluff balls blossomed.

Their fully extended forms resembled jellyfish or giant white chrysanthemums in full bloom. The tendrils that had unraveled stretched out hundreds of meters, engulfing the surrounding area.

Despite appearing delicate and feathery, these silky strands moved with terrifying precision—like razor-thin wires cutting through flesh.

The unfortunate Lin Clan disciples hidden in the mountains barely had time to react before the white silk tendrils skewered them like pierced gourds, turning them into grotesque blood-soaked husks.

Even worse, the Sea King Chrysanthemum clones moved as swiftly as the wind, actively hunting down the Lin Clan members instead of waiting for prey to come to them.

"Oh?" Lei Jun mused, rubbing his chin. "So, these things only react to cultivators with spiritual energy? That means they don’t attack ordinary humans or animals?"

His current insight and comprehension had reached extraordinary levels. Just by observing, he was able to deduce certain patterns. "But the Sea King Chrysanthemum’s true body didn’t behave . The differences are worth studying further."

Lei Jun suddenly felt a tinge of regret—if only he had some popcorn, this would be the perfect moment to enjoy a show.

At this point, he even found himself missing Xiao Xueting, who always carried an abundance of snacks.

Over on Great Black Mountain, the scene had turned into something straight out of a horror movie.

From a distance, it looked as though the pristine, snow-covered mountains were bleeding—stained deep red as if the very land itself was weeping.