Chapter 308: Chapter 308

The Daoist Talisman Sect cultivator at the Eighth Heaven realm has mastered the divine court, which is the result of condensing one’s cultivation and Daoist arts, merging the soul and the body to create a unique realm within. This realm corresponds with the natural universe and the world outside, thus it is referred to as the "inner scene of the divine court."

Upon further cultivation, the inner scene of the divine court expands and refines itself, transforming from a rough shape into a real universe and world.

Inside Lei Jun’s divine court, it previously seemed to split into two parts. However, this wasn’t a true split, but rather it resembled the Yin-Yang fish of Tai Chi, where opposing forces give birth to each other and exist in relation to one another.

At this moment, under Lei Jun’s control, all of his developed Daoist techniques began to appear one by one.

The Divine Doumu Star God’s Apparition, the Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor’s Apparition, the Mysterious Sky Thunder Ancestor’s Apparition, the Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor’s Apparition, and the Heavenly Sun Flame Ancestor’s Apparition all stood side by side.

The Two-Element Magnetic Talisman, the Heaven-Through-Earth-Ceiling Talisman, the Spirit Official Talisman, the Heavenly Travel Talisman, and the Star Array Talisman all coexisted together.

In addition to these life-bound talismans, Lei Jun’s knowledge of other talismanic techniques manifested as little sparks of spiritual light, floating around him.

As Lei Jun’s thoughts moved, these talismans began to multiply, then split into two parts.

At this moment, all the talismans became double in number.

Only one altar, unique in its form, remained at the center of the divine court, still unified despite appearing to be split.

The altar had three layers: the top was round, the bottom square, with eight sides. It emitted purple, gold, and green light.

This altar was the core of Lei Jun’s cultivation, achieved through the "True Canon of the Dao of Righteousness"—the foundational technique of his Daoist path.

After Lei Jun reached the Eighth Heaven realm of his divine court, he received all seven volumes of the "True Canon of the Dao of Righteousness" transmitted from the Tianshi Mansion.

With his cultivation, the teachings became one with his essence.

Using the altar as the core of his divine court, the inner universe began to expand and strengthen.

On either side of the altar were talismanic techniques, identical and complete in form. They sparkled with light and followed their own trajectories, rotating slowly.

Lei Jun sat silently, practicing breathing and focusing his spirit, and the purple, gold, and green lights began to shimmer on his skin.

His skin momentarily turned translucent like jade before returning to its usual state, repeating this cycle over and over.

The clear Qi, seemingly etched with red inscriptions, flew out of the Purple Gourd. After being absorbed by Lei Jun, the gourd glowed brightly, scattering like light points in the air.

As Lei Jun absorbed the Qi, it entered his divine court, where it was gradually refined.

Under the influence of this Qi, the transformation of Lei Jun’s divine court accelerated significantly.

"Creation of the Ancestor’s Tribulation, ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Vajra Qi. The Red Book shines, six hundred and sixty-eight True Inscriptions, opening the Nine Heavens through the Chaos Red Inscriptions, marking the Era of the Jade Calendar with five Tribulations. The heavenly law and earthly boundaries, towering as the foundation of creation. The hidden mechanism of Yin and the rising mechanism of Yang, as the supreme ancestor of thunder..." Lei Jun chanted the sacred scripture.

The Qi from the Vajra Immortal Gourd spread upward and downward, permeating his divine court.

The upper part reached the heights of the Nine Heavens, while the lower part connected to the foundations of creation.

As this process continued, Lei Jun’s divine court expanded and refined, constantly resonating with the external universe.

His divine court now seemed like it had truly been split into two halves, mirroring one another.

Simultaneously, it resonated with the real universe outside.

With his cultivation, Lei Jun developed a deeper understanding of the natural laws of the world and his Daoist techniques.

At night, the stars shimmered in the sky.

Lei Jun continued his quiet cultivation. The upper part of his divine court seemed to transform into the stars in the Nine Heavens, glittering with starlight.

The next day, after greeting Yuan Mobai and Tang Xiaotang, without disturbing the others at the mansion, Lei Jun quietly descended into the Earth’s veins beneath Mount Longhu.

In the Earth’s veins, Lei Jun sat silently by the river of spiritual energy, deeply meditating on the flow of fate.

At that moment, the entire land and mountains seemed to merge into one in Lei Jun’s eyes.

This unity also had a method of movement and shifting.

The massive Yuan Magnetic force within began to become clear to him.

What was once ungraspable—the foundation of creation—was now visible.

Through this resonance, Lei Jun’s divine court began to stabilize and solidify, from the rough shape it once was into something more stable and distinct.

"Mm, it's starting to take shape," Lei Jun murmured, nodding slightly.

Next, he would continue to accumulate, improving both the stars in the sky and the magnetic forces of the earth, which would further complete the entire inner universe of his divine court.

Eventually, his divine court would reach perfection.

Once the framework was solid, the next step would be the quiet refinement of his cultivation.

The Vajra Immortal Gourd not only helped him lay the foundation but would also shorten the time required for future cultivation.

For the next year, Lei Jun remained on the mountain. Aside from fulfilling his duties as a senior elder and assisting Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, and others with managing the mansion and teaching disciples, he focused on his own cultivation.

That summer, Lei Jun celebrated his fiftieth birthday.

Meanwhile, his eldest disciple, Zhuo Baojie, who had been initiated for less than four years, successfully formed the Yuan Talisman and reached the Fourth Heaven realm of the Daoist Talisman Sect.

His progress was incredibly rapid.

However, Lei Jun and the others were not surprised.

This prodigious talent, especially in terms of his physical foundation, had led to rapid progress in his earlier cultivation. Now, with his foundation laid, his further progress was to be expected.

However, the Fourth Heaven Yuan Talisman realm, compared to the life-bound techniques, leaned more toward the cultivation of the soul.

So, Zhuo Baojie’s benefits as a newcomer were coming to an end.

"Beware of arrogance and impatience. Steady your mind, and don’t let anxiety arise just because your cultivation no longer progresses as smoothly as before," Lei Jun advised as he looked at his little disciple, whose fur-covered hands were folded in front of his chest in respectful greeting.

Zhuo Baojie, with utmost sincerity, nodded and replied, "Disciple will follow Master's teachings."

Lei Jun gave a slight nod. Perhaps Zhuo Baojie would find other opportunities in the future.

But for now, the key was to keep a steady mind during the cultivation period.

The little bear added, "Master, regarding my life-bound first technique, I wish to choose the Stepping the Big Dipper technique."

Lei Jun nodded, "Good."

It wasn’t just a tradition of Lei Jun’s sect; Stepping the Big Dipper was one of the most popular techniques throughout the entire Tianshi Mansion. For Zhuo Baojie, whose cultivation leaned toward physical life-bound techniques, it was the most suitable choice for his first technique.

After previously creating the Spirit-Devouring Talisman at the Third Heaven realm, Zhuo Baojie was now returning to a more orthodox approach with his cultivation at the Fourth Heaven realm.

Though he still insisted on not taking a human form and instead moved in the posture of the Stepping the Big Dipper technique, which looked somewhat comical...

"Has my little nephew reached the Middle Three Heavens?" Chu Kun, who had just returned to the mountain gates, saw Lei Jun instructing Zhuo Baojie in the Stepping the Big Dipper technique and asked with a smile.

Zhuo Baojie circled the ritual altar, returning to his original position, stopping, and respectfully bowing to Chu Kun, "Martial Uncle."

Lei Jun said, "You’ve returned later than expected. Was the relocation of the family difficult?"

Chu Kun shook his head. "No, it was just a minor delay due to some other matters."

He asked, "What is the senior brother busy with right now?"

Lei Jun replied, "He is likely in quiet cultivation, not in seclusion."

He instructed Zhuo Baojie to continue with his cultivation and then, with Chu Kun, left the mansion to visit Wang Guiyuan.

When Wang Guiyuan saw Chu Kun, he asked, "Junior Brother, you’ve returned late. Is everything alright?"

Chu Kun reassured him, "Senior Brother, don’t worry, nothing dangerous happened. I stayed a bit longer by the coast to assist with disaster relief."

Once the three of them were seated, Chu Kun continued, "There has been a huge upheaval in the East Sea recently—constant tsunamis, and the coastal regions are severely affected. Fortunately, the court had already made preparations."

However, there were still problems…

Some corruption, as expected, still exists. It even affected the disaster relief efforts, so Chu Kun stayed behind to help with reinforcing the dikes and preventing a tsunami, which caused his return to the mountain to be delayed.

Fang Yue was with him. Fang Yue had originally planned to return to Jiàn Yè to continue his work with the new academy, but he too stayed behind to help.

For cultivators, the disaster relief food and rice were not of great importance. However, in the supplies used to reinforce the dikes and block the tsunami, there were numerous heavenly treasures with significant value.

Afterward, the imperial court of the Tang dynasty took strict action overall. However, on the other hand...

"Some of the masters from Tianlong Temple have quite large appetites..." Chu Kun remarked while subtly observing Wang Guiyuan's expression.

Although he had often heard the elders or older members of his clan speak of the controversies surrounding Tianlong Temple when he was still in the Chu clan, experiencing it firsthand was still surprising for Chu Kun.

The sea dike was vast, and besides the government officials, other local forces were also involved in the relief efforts. In areas like Yúháng, Míngzhōu, and Sōngjiāng, the two main local powers, the Chu clan and Tianlong Temple, were responsible.

And, as expected, news broke about it.

Lei Jun glanced at Wang Guiyuan when he heard this.

Wang Guiyuan's expression was calm, as if unperturbed: "How many people involved?"

Chu Kun: "Only a few have been confirmed, just a handful, but the one leading the team is Master Fā Píng, and the elder, Miàohuì, who came later to handle the situation... Well, they seem to be more protective of their disciples."

In other words, favoritism, possibly even covering up... Lei Jun understood.

At this point, how many people were involved was still unclear.

But there was one issue.

"Tianlong Temple practices the Buddhist vow lineage..." Lei Jun turned to Wang Guiyuan.

Wang Guiyuan sighed: "People are different, so their vows differ. Just because a vow is made does not necessarily result in good fortune. Of course, to say there is no impact would be impossible."

Lei Jun: "It doesn’t seem like it had much of an impact."

Master Fā Píng, though not as influential as Master Fǎ Míng, was still a high-ranking monk of Tianlong Temple, at the top tier of the Three Heavens. He was the leader of the team sent to assist with the dike reinforcement and disaster relief.

As for Miàohuì, she was one of the elders in Tianlong Temple, with a cultivation level at the eighth Heavenly Realm.

Lei Jun couldn’t help but wonder whether they had always been this way or if they had gradually changed into what they were now.

"People are different." Wang Guiyuan repeated: "I’ve heard that over the years, the atmosphere in the temple has gotten slightly better."

Lei Jun immediately remembered Wang Guiyuan’s previous simple remark about Master Miàoxīn. He seemed thoughtful: "How well does Master Miàoxīn handle these matters?"

Chu Kun, understanding what Lei Jun was implying, added: "Master Miàohuì’s teacher is the grand elder, Yún Huì, from Tianlong Temple…"

Yún Huì was a former grand elder of Tianlong Temple, known as the first expert of the temple, with a perfect eightfold Heavenly Realm cultivation. He had remained in seclusion in recent years due to his old age.

Even though he had retired, the first person that came to mind when people thought of Tianlong Temple's stabilizing force, inside or outside the temple, was still this grand elder.

Until this year, when Master Fǎ Qīng emerged in the Longhu Mountain battle, the temple had gained another high-ranking monk in the perfect eighth Heavenly Realm.

Yún Huì had largely withdrawn from the public eye due to his age, leaving Tianlong Temple's matters mostly in the hands of Master Miàoxīn.

Wang Guiyuan shook his head slightly: "Master Yún Huì is not inclined toward greed or delusion, but as for his temper..." He sighed: "He does, as Third Junior Brother said, care deeply for the younger disciples, so..."

Chu Kun comforted, "Master Yún Huì is old, and now most matters in Tianlong Temple are handled by Master Miàoxīn. With the rising spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, more young monks will surely emerge in the Buddhist vow lineage. With leaders like Master Miàoxīn, Elder Miàokōng, and Master Fǎ Míng guiding them, the temple will surely become clearer and more prosperous."

He shared the same suspicion as Lei Jun.

Their senior brother had clearly favored Master Miàoxīn and Elder Miàokōng. However, he had not remained at Tianlong Temple and had no desire to return.

Though he bore the burden of the eternal suffering, his current situation was clearly better than in the past.

If Master Miàoxīn were to gain the support of Master Fǎ Qīng in Tianlong Temple, many things would become smoother for them.

Although there was the potential for internal strife, it was still better than the current state of affairs.

Lei Jun and Chu Kun exchanged a glance, subtly changing the subject without delving deeper into the matter.

Later, Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen finally returned to Longhu Mountain.

“The Daming Dynasty that rules the mortal realm is quite interesting.”

She said this, but her expression showed a bit of disgust.

Lei Jun: "Just like Tianli overall, is Confucian Rationalism the dominant ideology there?"

Xu Yuanzhen: "Exactly. Under the influence of national fortune, it also affects the rotation of the void realms, making it hard to find an entry point. Although I’ve interacted with them a little, I haven’t yet gained entry."

She casually sat down: "But it doesn’t trouble me. When I have time later, I’ll prepare some things, and the next time I go, I’ll be able to break in directly."

Lei Jun noticed the subtle upward curve at the corner of her mouth, clearly excited.

It seemed that this failure to enter the Daming Dynasty mortal realm had only piqued Xu Yuanzhen's interest even more.

Rather than seeking another void gateway, she planned to create one herself.

However, she had other matters to address first.

"Huáng, Xuán, Pǔ..." Xu Yuanzhen nodded as she spoke.

Her speech was usually fast and clear, with words flowing rapidly, like raindrops on a jade plate, but now, she was deliberately speaking slowly, enunciating each word.

Tang Xiaotang grunted, "It’s a pity the Tianshi Robe arrived too late. Otherwise, I would’ve definitely had a confrontation with him."

Xu Yuanzhen: "The Tianshi Robe is nothing to regret, but I do."

The sudden arrival of the people from the Lone Eagle Khanate had almost exceeded everyone’s expectations.

At that time, Xu Yuanzhen had already entered Tianli. If not for the sudden upheaval caused by the Lone Eagle Khanate in the northwest, which diverted the attention of the Tang Imperial Court and Tianli, and her absence, the Mortal Dao Nation wouldn't have attacked Longhu Mountain.

That had indeed been a rare opportunity, but it had slipped away.

But it had still forced Huang Xuán Pǔ and Fu Dōngsēn to retreat.

Though Xu Yuanzhen was now intrigued by the Daming Dynasty's mortal realm, before that, she planned to find Huang Xuán Pǔ.

Though she did not care much for the Mortal Dao Nation, the personal grudge between her and Huang Xuán Pǔ was something she could not overlook.

Though Li Qingfeng had not been killed by Huang Xuán Pǔ, his downfall had been directly caused by Huang Xuán Pǔ's sneak attack.

For Xu Yuanzhen, giving any special treatment to the Li clan because of Li Qingfeng was out of the question.

But Li Qingfeng's death was something she would ensure her master would be compensated for.

"Although it’s not confirmed yet, there’s recent news from the Shushan Sect that the Taiyi Innate Tower might have been retrieved by Fu Dōngsēn." Yuan Mobai said, "As for the Qingxiao Hall, it still seems to be missing."

Xu Yuanzhen: "Hmm, that’s one clue. What about Pure Yang Palace?"

Yuan Mobai: "There’s turmoil, but fortunately, not a complete defeat."

Tang Xiaotang interjected: "It’s about time."

The current situation in Pure Yang Palace was even worse than the previously fractured Shushan Sect.

Huang Xuán Pǔ’s influence in Pure Yang Palace was deeper than Fu Dōngsēn’s in Shushan Sect.

With the earlier generation's Grand Elder Róng Guāngchén gone, Huang Xuán Pǔ’s peer, the White Tiger Elder Guān Jìng, was another figure left behind by him and the Mortal Dao Nation in Pure Yang Palace.

With people like Róng Guāngchén, Gù Hàn, and Féng Yì already split off, there were still followers of the Mortal Dao Nation inside Pure Yang Palace.

After the Longhu Mountain battle, Pure Yang Palace once again faced turmoil.

Eventually, the Empress personally visited Pure Yang Palace to handle the situation, and Guān Jìng and others were killed.

However, the Empress did not press further on Pure Yang Palace, instead offering some comfort to the others.

Lü Jǐn Duàn and the recuperating Wáng Xuán exchanged glances but said nothing. They could only collect themselves and try to reorganize the fragile Daoist Alchemical Sect.

Somewhat unexpectedly, Yue Xiling, Huang Xuanpu's disciple and the current leader of the Pure Yang Palace, was not from the Mortal Daoist Kingdom.

However, at this point, after the several upheavals in the Pure Yang Palace, the outside world couldn't help but look at Yue Xiling with doubt and scrutiny.

Yue Xiling remained silent, but out of caution, he chose not to participate in the reconstruction of the Pure Yang Palace.

Moreover, with Wang Xuan’s condition still unstable, the Pure Yang Palace now only had Elder Lü Jinduan as a top pillar in the Eight Heavens, causing Elder Lü to nearly burst into tears.

Among the Seventh Heaven cultivators, only a few like Jiang Yu remained.

The Pure Yang Palace had fallen into its lowest point in over a thousand years.

Even worse was the public’s opinion of them now.

Who knew if, among the remaining people, there were still those from the Mortal Daoist Kingdom hiding in their midst?

Even if there weren’t, for some, it would still be a perfect excuse to suppress the Pure Yang Palace.

It was clear that surviving the current low period would be a significant challenge for the Pure Yang Palace.

“Yue Xiling might not be very capable, otherwise, when the Shushan Sect split, things would have turned out differently,” Xu Yuanzhen casually remarked.

While escorting Liao Jie back from the Southern Wasteland to Shushan, before meeting with Zhang Dongyuan, Chu Yu, Yue Xiling, and Wei Qiyue traveled together.

Had Yue Xiling been as problematic as Wei Qiyue, they would have simply intercepted Liao Jie on the spot.

Even if Chu Yu managed to escape, Shushan wouldn’t have split at that time.

Although exposing Wei Qiyue and Yue Xiling might have allowed Fu Dongsen and Hong Jie to continue concealing things.

“By the way, the current Emperor hasn’t personally acted for nearly twenty years,” Yuan Mobai recalled. “The last time was during the Eastern Sea Demon Chaos.”

When the demons attacked Guanzhong again, although the Empress personally went to the old capital, Chang’an, to take charge, she didn’t take direct action herself.

“One Guo Jing doesn’t reveal her true strength,” Xu Yuanzhen casually remarked.

Lei Jun asked, “Senior Sister, what’s the current situation with the Ming Dynasty and Heavenly Principle?”

Xu Yuanzhen briefly summarized, “The Ming Dynasty overthrew the Qian Dynasty and the founding Emperor did not pass the throne to his son but to his grandson. Later, the young emperor’s reign weakened the royal family, and the country fell into turmoil. The vassal kings, under the pretense of the Jingnan Campaign, raised armies and eventually succeeded in overthrowing the young emperor. The ministers who were loyal to the young emperor and supported his bloodline fled into hiding, entering the Heavenly Principle, sealing the Void Portal that connected the Mortal Realm to the Heavenly Principle, and have been surviving there ever since.”

“They managed to carry on the Confucian court rituals in the Heavenly Principle, but compared to the Mortal Realm, it was nothing more than self-comfort. There is no way they can retaliate against the Ming Dynasty. However, despite not having entered personally, after my contact, I sensed that the national fortune of the Ming Dynasty is waning.”

Tang Xiaotang was curious, “In that Mortal Realm, in that history, did the Tianshi Mansion really disappear?”

Xu Yuanzhen nodded, “Yes, the entire Daoist Talisman Sect has basically been severed. The Dan Ding Sect and Artifact Refining Sect are still rumored to have some remnants, but the mainstream academic philosophy in the Mortal Realm is still the so-called Confucianism.”

Tang Xiaotang pursed her lips, “I’ve heard Lei Jun talk about this. I really dis philosophy.”

Xu Yuanzhen stood up, “I’ll take care of that later. For now, it’s Huang Xuanpu; I need to head to Zhongnan Mountain again.”

Tang Xiaotang suddenly asked, “Senior Sister, you don’t just have the cultivation of the Ninth Heaven, do you?”

Xu Yuanzhen walked past her, “Yes, you still have more to work on.”

Tang Xiaotang said, “Just wait, I’ll definitely break through the Ninth Heaven faster than you!”

As far as Lei Jun knew, Xu Yuanzhen had taken about twenty-five years to progress from the First Layer of the Eighth Heaven to the First Layer of the Ninth Heaven.

By now, about eighteen years had passed since Tang Xiaotang broke through to the Eighth Heaven.

She had successfully reached the perfect realm of the Fourth Layer of the Eighth Heaven.

But, first, her Divine Court’s top realm still needed to be nurtured. Secondly, the tribulation to pass from the Eighth to the Ninth Heaven blocked her path.

Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang had both spent about twelve years progressing from the Seventh Heaven to the Eighth Heaven.

Perhaps there were slight differences, but Tang Xiaotang clearly wasn’t satisfied with the few months’ difference.

When calculating, it was still uncertain.

Of course, it wasn’t without hope.

Tang Xiaotang had spent more than nine years progressing from the First to the Second Layer of the Divine Court. She had been focused more on reversing and creating her own talismanic path for the Pure Yang Palace, which had caused the delay.

However, during this process, she also continually sorted and summarized her own learnings.

Afterward, her progress became smoother. It only took about four years to go from the Second Layer of the Divine Court to the Third Layer, and another four years to progress from the Third Layer to the Fourth.

At this point, stabilizing and accumulating her Divine Court’s power was no longer difficult.

The real challenge was when she would complete her accumulation and preparation to challenge the tribulation between the Eighth and Ninth Heavens.

That was the obstacle that had blocked countless powerful cultivators throughout history.

Tang Xiaotang was full of fighting spirit, while Xu Yuanzhen didn’t seem to care much.

She walked out of the room, without stopping or turning around, “It’s fine. For you, having a clear goal will actually help your progress, even if you’re impatient.”

Tang Xiaotang puffed out her cheeks but didn’t speak.

Her senior sister’s indifferent attitude only frustrated her more.

Lei Jun and the others smiled in amusement.

Xu Yuanzhen didn’t stay long on Mount Longhu. After bidding farewell to Lei Jun and the others, she descended the mountain and left.

In the depths of the Northern Sea, a treasure tower fluctuated up and down.

Inside, Huang Xuanpu stood tall in his black-and-white Daoist robes, with a calm and peaceful expression.

In front of him, two individuals stood, both dressed simply in cloth robes and straw sandals, resembling Shushan Sect Daoists.

One of them was Fu Dongsen, the former Sect Leader of the Shushan Sect.

The other was Liu Dongzhuo, a former elder of the Shushan Sect.

Liu Dongzhuo bowed and said with regret, “Dongzhuo is incompetent and failed to keep Chen Yi. I hope the Emperor forgives me.”

Huang Xuanpu smiled and shook his head, “Dongzhuo need not worry. Go and rest.”

“Understood, Emperor.” Liu Dongzhuo bowed again, then retired.

Fu Dongsen spoke up, “Emperor, if I may go…”

Huang Xuanpu interrupted, “Dongsen, though you are recovering, there’s no rush. After you’ve fully rested, we’ll deal with the Qingxiao Mansion first.”

“Of course,” Fu Dongsen replied. “I’m grateful to the Emperor for personally intervening earlier, otherwise, I would never have been able to recover the Taiyi Innate Tower.”

Huang Xuanpu smiled and shook his head, “External alchemical treasures are not my specialty. It all depends on you.”

Fu Dongsen said, “Uncle Master Hong and Brother Gu, still have no news. They’re likely…”

Although Huang Xuanpu was deep within the Taiyi Innate Tower, beneath the sea, his gaze drifted westward, seemingly crossing rivers and mountains, as if he were looking at the Western Region:

“Mount Sumeru… Vajra Division.”

Since the targets were no longer the Wan Fa Sect Altar and the Mount Longhu Ancestral Sect, their next actions could be a little more reckless.

Currently, how many people in the world of Daoist talismans could block Huang Xuanpu’s sharp edge?

The remaining disciples of the Tianshi Mansion—would they spend their entire lives confined to Mount Longhu, or would they always follow a handful of figures, like Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang?

Even someone like Fu Dongsen had no more than five people he truly feared.

The mutual restraint among high-level experts often involves avoiding mutual slaughter of lower-tier cultivators. However, in the current human Daoist nation, there were fewer such concerns.

Huang Xuanpu smiled upon hearing this: "Dongsen may not refine swords, but the heart of a Shushan cultivator, quick to settle scores, is no weaker than that of a sword cultivator."

Fu Dongsen: "I was reckless."

Huang Xuanpu: "The defeat at Mount Longhu was a heavy blow for us. Our losses were substantial, and it caused unrest among the Daoist disciples below. Dongsen, your intention to reunite their hearts isn't wrong, but haste brings no success."

He sighed with a smile: "The Mount Longhu battle, in truth, was a result of all of us acting too hastily. Let it be a lesson."

Fu Dongsen: "I humbly accept the Emperor's teachings."

Huang Xuanpu calmly regarded him: "The war in both the east and west of the Tang Dynasty seems to have settled, but everything has only just begun."

Fu Dongsen: "I have heard rumors that the so-called Great Ming Dynasty in the Tianli world is not the real Great Ming Dynasty. There is, in fact, another human world, one that is not inferior to ours."

Huang Xuanpu: "Indeed, the unrest still exists in the east. And the west is no different."

Fu Dongsen was somewhat surprised: "And what of the Lonely Eagle Khanate…?"

Huang Xuanpu: "For now, Dongsen, go seek out Qingxiao Mansion. If there are any leads, do not overlook the Ziwei Sword."

He seemed to contemplate for a moment: "Any news of Chen Donglou lately?"

In the Mount Longhu battle, aside from guarding against Xu Yuanzhen, the Human Dao Nation also kept an eye out for the sudden appearance of Chen Donglou.

But unexpectedly, it was not Chen Donglou who showed up, but rather Monk Faqing of Tianlong Temple.

Fu Dongsen: "There has been no news of him."

Huang Xuanpu: "While searching for Qingxiao Mansion and the Ziwei Sword, keep an eye out."

Fu Dongsen: "Yes, Emperor."

In Jingzhou, at the ancestral grounds of the Fang Clan of Jingxiang:

After the northwest war, Fang Jingsheng, the clan leader of the Jingxiang Fang Clan, returned to Jingxiang with his nephew Fang Zhu and others.

Fang Zhu’s father, the grand elder of the Fang family, Fang Huansheng, went out to greet them.

"Big Brother," Fang Jingsheng said as he walked with Fang Huansheng back to Jingzhou, with Fang Zhu and the others following behind.

"The war in the East China Sea has come to a close," Fang Huansheng remarked.

Fang Jingsheng nodded: "I’ve heard, Big Brother. Please tell me more about it."

Fang Huansheng spoke in detail.

The more Fang Jingsheng listened, the tighter his brow furrowed. After Fang Huansheng finished, he finally relaxed: "The so-called Li Xue is the golden age for all scholars, but it’s not a golden age for one family, one surname, or even just a few people. Under that system, it could be the emperor’s golden age, but in the end, the center must completely override the localities."

Fang Huansheng lightly nodded: "Fortune and misfortune are unpredictable. The fall of a family or a surname could happen in an instant."

After walking for a while, Fang Jingsheng asked: "What about the matter of Ye Hongzhen? Has there been no follow-up?"

Fang Huansheng: "Compared to this, Qingzhou has suffered this silent loss."

Fang Jingsheng: "Big Brother, please arrange for me to send condolences to the Qingzhou side."

After agreeing, he asked again: "What about Lei Chongyun from the Tianshi Mansion?"

Fang Huansheng: "He made a stunning impression, defeating a Tianli cultivator of the second layer of the Eight Heavens with the Daoist talisman arts and the three major talismanic symbols in a short time.

But then, due to the Li Xue ritual, he was sealed. After some time, he broke free on his own. It’s said that even the three arrows of Su Zhou Chu Shu Yin couldn’t break it."

Fang Jingsheng exchanged a glance with Fang Huansheng: "This ritual—let’s try to find some clues to study it. Though it is a Li Xue ritual, if we can reproduce it, it may be of great use in the future."

"I’ve already instructed the clan’s disciples to head to the East China Sea," Fang Huansheng replied. "I believe both Suzhou and Qingzhou are studying it as well."

Fang Jingsheng nodded: "Don’t underestimate Lei Chongyun from Tianshi Mansion. To be able to swiftly kill opponents with higher cultivation in a short time proves his talent.

The key to the Mount Longhu battle seems to have been the Tianshi Seal and him."

Fang Huansheng: "I understand."

It wasn’t that Lei Jun had become weaker due to being sealed by the Li Xue ritual.

On the contrary, the fact that Lei Jun could be sealed for so long highlighted the value of that ritual!

The outside world was bustling with chaos, while Lei Jun remained settled at Mount Longhu, focusing on his cultivation.

However, there was a small side note.

On the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book Universe, his Yuebo Star had found a lead.

It was quite a coincidence. The person who had obtained Lei Jun’s third Dark Star was a person from the Ming Dynasty whom he had met once before in the East China Sea—Nie Fang.

Though Lei Jun hadn’t checked Nie Fang’s spiritual and physical state in detail back then, the fact that he had self-taught the Yanshi technique with a damaged Daoist scripture, and even made some progress, showed not only his exceptional comprehension but also the strength of his soul.

The Yanshi lineage, while containing elements of both Daoist talisman arts and artifact refining, was more focused on spiritual cultivation, judging by Nie Fang’s work with bronze automata.

Though geographically distant, it seemed they had crossed paths again… Lei Jun smiled.

However, what surprised him more was that Nie Fang was still wandering alone.

Lei Jun had assumed that after learning about the situation in the Tang Dynasty, Nie Fang would join the imperial court or become a part of the academy.

Although Nie Fang had a Daoist background, he was still influenced by the Confucian Li Xue ritual from Tianli.

Due to the sealing of the Void Gate to the Tang world, this influence had weakened significantly, though it still lingered, representing a huge hidden danger.

Having finally escaped his restraints, Nie Fang clearly wished to sever any remaining ties.

In popular perception, the Tang Emperor, ruler of this human world, would be the best solution to this problem.

But Nie Fang hesitated.

Was it because of his past encounter with Tianli that he had misgivings about the imperial court? Lei Jun speculated.

As Lei Jun had predicted, Nie Fang hesitated because of this.

However, he knew that nothing came for free in this world.

If he wanted to eliminate the influence of the Confucian Li Xue from Tianli, he would have to pay the price.

At the very moment Nie Fang was about to make up his mind, another opportunity appeared before him.

Looking at the pale, strange universe, Nie Fang was speechless for a moment.

His problem was something Lei Jun could solve.

Although Lei Jun had no method for handling the Li Xue ritual, he had a way to cut off its influence.

It just required time to gradually erase it, making it unsuitable for battle against Li Xue cultivators.

Now, bringing Nie Fang in was certainly not a problem.

There was truly no free lunch in this world.

Lei Jun’s request for Nie Fang was the same as his request for Kang Ming and Meng Shaojie.

It involved the ancient talisman sects and their legacies.

Through this, he could further understand the status of the talisman sect in the Great Ming Dynasty human world.

Though the talisman sect in the Great Ming Dynasty had fallen, Nie Fang’s Yanshi legacy had ties to the talisman arts.

Nie Fang did not disappoint Lei Jun.

He provided a broken talisman.

The talisman was incomplete, and its practical use was limited.

But the law contained within it left Lei Jun deep in thought:

In ancient times, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were deeply connected with Daoist practices. Among them, the three places most closely related to Daoism were Kunlun, Penglai, and Huangquan.

The talisman sect in the Great Ming Dynasty had declined, but perhaps there was still a connection to Penglai?

Lei Jun pondered for a moment, then refocused his thoughts.

Using the power of the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book, he helped Nie Fang cut off the influence of the Li Xue ritual, piece by piece.

This process involved not only his soul but also his flesh.

Finally, one day, Nie Fang clearly felt his body lighten, as if he had been unburdened.

"I... I..." The young Daoist was for a moment lost in confusion, as if waking from a dream.

The happiness he had longed for arrived so suddenly, even a bit too simply, making it feel unreal.

However, his will was stronger than most. He quickly regained his composure and began to consider his next steps.

Since the Yuebo Star had brought him this opportunity, he would cherish it.

Even though it wasn’t exactly a reversal of fate, it had solved a major issue in his heart.

With this, the Tang Dynasty imperial court was no longer his immediate concern. It wasn’t even his first choice.

So, what about Daoism?

As Nie Fang familiarized himself with the Tang people’s dialect and writing, he began to inquire about the state of affairs.

The first disappointment was that the Tang Dynasty did not have a lineage of Yanshi cultivators.

The good news, however, was that Daoism was thriving in the Tang.

In recent years, however, the three great sacred sites had all faced some challenges.

The Dan Ding Sect was unrelated to his practice, and though Pure Yang Palace was flourishing, it didn’t concern him. He dismissed these options.

As for the Talisman Sect and Artifact Refining Sect, he had heard that the Artifact Refining Sect of Shushan had faced significant calamities in recent years, whereas the Talisman Sect had produced some outstanding disciples and was in the process of revival. After thinking briefly, Nie Fang decided to head to Mount Longhu.

And so it was, that Lei Jun saw Nie Fang arriving at Mount Longhu.

Nie Fang did not hide his origins or his Daoist sect. He truthfully told everything.

Chu Kun received him first, and after their conversation, he arranged for Nie Fang to meet with Lei Jun, the High Elder.

"Your foundation is set. If you wish to change your cultivation to our talisman arts, you will need to start from the beginning," Lei Jun said.

Nie Fang glanced at the bronze automaton by his side before retracting his gaze:

"In response to Elder, I still intend to continue practicing Yanshi arts.

First, when I first entered the sect, I vowed to pass down this art. It gave me the foundation for survival; without it, I would not have been able to escape to the Tang.

Second, I carry a karmic bond and intend to return to Tianli one day to seek justice for myself. If your esteemed sect’s grand Dao leads to the heavens, it will certainly aid this endeavor. However, once I join, I will inevitably bring trouble to your sect. Thus, I do not dare to wish for too much.

I only hope for a few chances to receive guidance from Elder and the seniors of the Tianshi Mansion. I will do my best and await your commands.

This is an unreasonable request, and I humbly ask for your approval. I will never forget this favor."

Chu Kun looked at Lei Jun.

What Nie Fang seemed to want was to set up his own sect, even if it was just a small Daoist temple, and then affiliate it under the Talisman Sect.

Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion was the ancestral home of the Daoist talisman sect of the Tang Dynasty. Nie Fang was essentially here to pledge allegiance.

If he could receive some cultivation resources and insights from the Tianshi Mansion during his practice, that would naturally be welcomed, and he was happy to serve the Tianshi Mansion like a disciple.

However, his roots, at least for now, were not in the Tang Dynasty.

They were in the Great Ming, or rather, in Tianli.

But it wasn’t out of attachment—it was out of resentment!

“Is your target for revenge your father?” Lei Jun asked calmly.

Nie Fang knew that, although the Tang Dynasty didn’t have the strict ceremonial system of Heavenly Principles with its emperor-subject and father-son relationships, filial piety was still highly regarded—just not as extreme.

But he still answered honestly, “Yes, at least, I want him to admit that he was wrong. If he refuses to acknowledge it, then I won’t hesitate to meet him in battle, but it won’t just be him.”

Nie Fang’s gaze was firm, his tone peaceful. “My enemy is the entire Confucian ceremonial system of emperors and fathers.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Kun glanced sideways.

Such a goal coming from Nie Fang’s mouth made it hard not to doubt his audacity at first.

But Chu Kun looked at Nie Fang without mocking him. Instead, he felt somewhat self-deprecating:

Compared to their aspirations, I am just a salted fish...

“You are very honest,” Lei Jun nodded slightly. “In that case, I can’t decide on my own, but I will refer it to our sect leader. However, I am willing to introduce you.”

Nie Fang bowed deeply. “Thank you, Elder.”

For such matters, the Tang Tianshi had no hesitation: “Sure, let him stay. Adding one more doesn’t change much. Once he makes progress in his skill with the craftsman’s art, let me know—I’ll take a look.”

Lei Jun smiled. “During Little Junior Sister’s tenure as Tianshi, she added a new lineage to our Great Tang Daoist path, fostering growth. At first glance, it may seem insignificant, but who knows, in the future, this may be recorded in our Daoist classics.”

“Hm…” Tang Xiaotang thought for a moment and couldn’t help but smile brightly.

Meanwhile, Chu Kun lowered his head, keeping his thoughts to himself.

Senior Brother, you’re too flattering… You have the look of a sycophantic courtier...

No matter his internal pain, things were decided.

The Tianshi Mansion prepared a special talisman disc for Nie Fang as proof of his identity, allowing him to establish a sect in Jiangnan and build his own Daoist temple.

Lei Jun handed the related matters over to Elder Chu Kun to arrange.

He remained at the Mansion, assisting Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, Shangguan Ning, and others in handling the Mansion’s affairs while continuing his cultivation.

Thus, time quietly passed.

During this period, the Tang Dynasty ceased military actions against the Southern Wasteland.

The battles on the East and West fronts, along with the upheaval at Mount Longhu, had drained the Tang’s forces considerably.

Even the Vajra Division from Mount Sumeru, including Master Jiasheng and Master Ren Zhu, returned to the Western Regions. However, they publicly claimed victory, boasting impressive results.

The two masters from the Nine Heavens of Buddhism joined forces to slay the Southern Wasteland’s Nine Heavens Demon, the Four-Eyed Python King.

It was said that both suffered some injuries, so they returned to the Western Regions to recuperate.

With the threats on the East and West fronts temporarily cleared and the Nine Li forces in the south failing to expand, the Tang Dynasty was able to support the Witch Sect in the Southern Wasteland, where a rare period of peace and recovery ensued.

For now, all was calm on all fronts.

At Mount Longhu, however, one Tianshi couldn’t sit still.

After hosting a Talisman Conferral Ceremony and a Talisman Initiation Ceremony in the first month of two consecutive years, Tang Xiaotang officially informed Lei Jun and the other elders that she was about to leave the mountain.

Officially, like Xu Yuanzhen, she was going to search for remnants of the Yellow Heaven Sect and other rogue elements of the Daoist nation.

In reality, it was a combination of restlessness and the fact that nearly twenty years had passed since she had taken the position of Tianshi.

During this time, she had hosted numerous ceremonies, met with people, and received congratulations. While it was an honor, the constant cycle of events had worn her down.

In private conversations with Lei Jun, she had said:

“I’m just thinking, when can I go out with the Three Treasures of Tianshi and deal with Huang Xuanpu? That will be my perfect achievement.”

She emphasized the words “go out with the Three Treasures of Tianshi.”

Lei Jun smiled. “Go with the flow. If necessary, be firm with your opponents, no need to hold back.”

Thus, Lei Jun suggested she take the Tianshi Seal with her. If needed, the Tianshi Sword and Tianshi Robe could be passed to her as well.

However, Tang Xiaotang, though she said that, chose the Tianshi Sword when it came to choosing between the three treasures.

“If it’s truly needed, you or Little Uncle can bring the Tianshi Seal to meet me,” Tang Xiaotang waved her hand and set off.

Fortunately, her departure didn’t affect the daily affairs of the Mansion.

With the battle in the Northwest ended, Zhang Jingzhen also returned to the mountain to assist Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun, and Shangguan Ning in organizing the Mansion’s affairs.

Time passed quickly, and two more years flew by.

Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang had not returned. The former had not made much of an appearance, while the latter’s journey was lively, adding much news to the now calmer Tang Dynasty.

In the year when Lei Jun turned fifty-four, after a brief conversation with Yuan Mobai and other fellow sect members, he took a rare break from his duties and focused on closing himself off to cultivate for a period of time.

However, his cultivation location was somewhat erratic.

At night, he practiced on the ground. During the day, he was underground.

One day, as the night shifted to daybreak, Lei Jun faced the first light of dawn, not entering the earth veins but staying on the surface.

He wore a purple robe and a Daoist crown, appearing as usual. But deep within his body, the Divine Court universe had begun to change.

At this moment, Lei Jun seemed like a small world of heaven and earth himself. Above him was the Nine Heavens, dark as night, but the stars shone brilliantly. Below was the Nine Abyss, earth-colored but filled with primordial Dao energy.

In the Eightfold Heaven’s Second Layer, the Divine Court had reached a new stage.