Chapter 318: Chapter 318

The Crown Prince looked a little helpless.

Years ago, when he embarked on his first journey, he had to return prematurely to the Imperial Capital, Luoyang, due to an assassination attempt.

Now, after many years, he was finally setting out on his second journey—only to be forced to turn back halfway again.

At least last time, he had managed to visit Pure Yang Palace, the Shushan Sect, and Tianshi Mansion in succession.

This time, he had barely left the capital; he hadn't even reached his first destination, Southern Bodhi Monastery, before he was ordered to return.

Such an unfortunate turn of events—there was no point in arguing about it.

Fortunately, Crown Prince Zhang Hui remained composed and did not act impulsively. He followed the advice given and immediately set off for home.

Luckily, with Ye Cheng from Qingzhou, Grandmaster Kongnian of Xuanyan Temple, and other experts escorting him along the way, safety was no longer a concern.

Lei Jun and the others from Tianshi Mansion had neither the inclination nor the need to turn back and assist with the escort.

The sudden incident at Leping Mountain did not dampen the spirits of Lei Jun and his disciples.

They maintained their original pace, traveling leisurely, pausing to admire the vast landscape.

After some time, the three of them returned to Mount Longhu.

As they traversed the peaks of Mount Longhu, still some distance from the main peak, Lei Jun turned to Zhuo Huajie and Lin Shan, saying, “Huajie, you go back to the mansion with Senior Brother Lin. I’m going to take a detour to Xuanji Monastery.”

“Yes, Master,” the eldest disciple responded promptly, then curiously asked, “Master, has Daoist Nie come out of seclusion?”

Lei Jun nodded. “That’s right.”

Xuanji Monastery was located on the northern side of the Mount Longhu range, a fair distance from the main peak where Tianshi Mansion stood. However, it was still the closest affiliated monastery to the mansion.

This monastery had been established by Nie Fang when he first arrived in the Tang Empire from Tianli.

He had taken on the role of abbot, though the monastery had very few disciples. Strictly speaking, his lineage did not belong to the Talismanic Branch of Daoism but rather to a much rarer path in the Tang Empire—the Daoist Puppet Master lineage.

Previously, with the approval of Tianshi Tang Xiaotang, Nie Fang and his Xuanji Monastery had been acknowledged as an affiliated branch of Tianshi Mansion.

As per protocol, since Lei Jun was newly appointed as the Patrolling Elder, it was his duty to visit all affiliated branches of the Talismanic Branch during his travels. Xuanji Monastery was naturally included.

And given the monastery’s proximity, it would have been Lei Jun’s first stop upon setting out.

However, when he had initially departed a few months ago, Nie Fang was in seclusion, detached from external affairs.

With Xuanji Monastery consisting of just a handful of disciples, they were unable to properly host Lei Jun’s patrolling visit.

Lei Jun hadn’t pressed the matter, choosing instead to move on and postpone the visit.

But on his way back, he sensed that Nie Fang had recently emerged from seclusion.

Since it was on his route, Lei Jun decided to stop by Xuanji Monastery before returning to the main peak.

Zhuo Huajie and Lin Shan returned to Tianshi Mansion, while Lei Jun, after notifying them, made his way leisurely toward Xuanji Monastery.

Having received word of his arrival, the monastery’s abbot, Nie Fang, personally came to greet him at the entrance.

Compared to when he had first arrived in the Tang Empire from Tianli, Nie Fang now appeared much calmer and more at ease, no longer resembling a caged beast constantly on high alert.

However, the sharp brightness in the young Daoist’s eyes remained unchanged.

Dressed in the standard blue Daoist robe of a Tianshi Mansion branch leader, he stood with a few of his disciples, bowing respectfully to Lei Jun.

Lei Jun returned a half-bow. “Xuanji Monastery is starting to take shape.”

Nie Fang replied, “It’s still far from complete. I hope Elder Lei won’t find it lacking. Please, come inside.”

Lei Jun glanced at the disciples behind Nie Fang. A row of young Daoist apprentices in gray robes stood in formation.

Facing Lei Jun, a high-ranking elder of Tianshi Mansion clad in purple robes, the apprentices were both excited and nervous.

Lei Jun, though not as outwardly warm as his master, Yuan Mobai, did not carry an imposing or stern demeanor.

His calm and steady presence quickly reassured the apprentices, allowing them to relax.

Inside Xuanji Monastery, Lei Jun and Nie Fang took their seats.

After serving tea, the apprentices quietly withdrew.

“Apologies for not welcoming you sooner, Elder Lei. I was in seclusion,” Nie Fang said.

Lei Jun was intrigued. “No need to apologize. Such things happen often among cultivators. We all understand. But tell me, how did your seclusion go?”

Nie Fang replied, “I was hoping to ask for Elder Lei’s guidance.”

He led Lei Jun to the back of the monastery.

There, the mountainside had been cultivated into a field, brimming with spiritual energy.

In the field, figures could be seen tending to the crops.

But Lei Jun didn’t need to look closely to know that those figures were not living beings.

“Wooden constructs? No longer metal?” Lei Jun asked.

Nie Fang explained, “These ones are indeed wooden, but I haven’t abandoned metal. I’m still experimenting with different materials.”

The puppets working in the field were crafted from spiritual wood—each component made from a carefully selected material after years of research and refinement.

As a result, not only had Nie Fang’s craftsmanship improved, but his own cultivation had also stabilized and progressed.

Lei Jun observed closely and saw that the wooden puppets moved with fluidity, displaying remarkable dexterity.

To the untrained eye, it would be difficult to distinguish them from real people at a distance.

“I plan to harvest all the Spirit-Illumination Grass soon and deliver it to the ancestral sect at Mount Longhu,” Nie Fang said.

Though Xuanji Monastery was registered under the Talismanic Branch, it operated like other affiliated sects, answering to Mount Longhu and contributing resources to the ancestral mansion.

In return, Xuanji Monastery also received support from Tianshi Mansion.

“The mansion sent a batch of Yin-Yang Warming Jade recently. Was it useful?” Lei Jun asked.

Nie Fang replied, “Thanks to that, I was able to conduct more experiments and make some progress during my seclusion.”

As they strolled around the spiritual field, Lei Jun casually asked, “Have you found a suitable disciple to pass down your teachings?”

Nie Fang, who had been permitted to accept disciples, had taken in a few apprentices—but none were yet considered his direct inheritors.

“They have potential, but they still need time,” Nie Fang said honestly.

Unlike the mainstream Talismanic Branch, Nie Fang’s Daoist Puppet Master lineage was far more obscure.

Most talented disciples would choose Mount Longhu’s ancestral sect or the neighboring Zixiao Sect in Yunxiao Mountain.

It was difficult for Nie Fang and Xuanji Monastery to recruit outstanding disciples.

However, since his own cultivation was still growing, he was in no rush.

“By the way, does Tianli—or the Ming Empire—have any inheritance from the Witch Sect’s Ghost Dao lineage?” Lei Jun asked.

Nie Fang replied, “Not in Tianli. I’ve only read a few records in ancient texts—it’s practically a myth.”

Their conversation drifted into an exchange on Daoist techniques, particularly how Daoist Puppet Master techniques intersected with the Talismanic Branch and the External Alchemy Sect.

Lei Jun then remarked, “The Witch Sect’s Ghost Dao lineage is rare even in the Tang Empire.”

After all… Tianshi Mansion had played a role in that.

During the Southern Wasteland War, Tianshi Tang Xiaotang had led the charge against the Blood River Sect and the Golden Castle of the Witch Sect’s Ghost Dao lineage.

Now, the lineage was almost extinct.

Nie Fang remained composed. “I’m curious about their techniques, but compared to when I was in Tianli, my situation is already much better. I believe that through steady progress, I will succeed in my cultivation.”

Lei Jun nodded. "It's good that you have this mindset."

Nie Fang bowed. "It’s all thanks to Elder Lei’s guidance."

After spending some time at Xuanji Monastery, Lei Jun left and returned to the ancestral sect of Tianshi Mansion.

"Hu Tiantang sent an invitation, asking if you’d be free to visit Luoyang as a guest," Lei Jun mentioned to Yuan Mobai.

Yuan Mobai smiled. "That may take a while. I plan to enter seclusion for some time.

"For now, the mansion will be left in the hands of Senior Sister Shangguan, Nephew Jingzhen, and you, Chongyun."

Although Lei Jun had been assigned as the Patrolling Elder to travel and oversee affiliated branches, this didn’t mean he was relieved of his primary duties as a High Priest Elder in the mansion.

His role as a High Priest Elder was his main responsibility, while the Patrolling Elder position was more of an additional duty.

Now that he had completed his first round of patrolling, he would be stationed in the mansion for a while before considering a second round in the future.

"Master, His Majesty sent a gift this time—a vial of Violet Manor Flowing Mists," Lei Jun said.

The two Brahmic Essence Gourds they had obtained from the Eastern Sea had significantly aided both master and disciple in their cultivation.

With its help, Lei Jun had advanced from the First Layer of the Eighth Heaven to the Second Layer, and it would continue to benefit him.

Meanwhile, Yuan Mobai, who had been at the Second Layer of the Eighth Heaven, was clearly on the verge of breaking through to the Third Layer—the Divine Court Manifestation Realm of the Talismanic Branch.

The Violet Manor Flowing Mists would be immensely beneficial for this breakthrough.

Yuan Mobai, however, shook his head with a smile. "I appreciate Chongyun’s thoughtfulness, but there’s no need.

"First, you still need it for your own cultivation. Second, my approach to achieving the Divine Court Manifestation differs from that of past sages who cultivated an External Cosmic Realm. While the Violet Manor Flowing Mists are excellent, they won’t be of much help to me, so there’s no point in wasting them."

"Oh? Then I wish you success in your seclusion, Master," Lei Jun said. He could tell Yuan Mobai wasn’t simply being humble, and this only made him more curious about his master's Divine Court Manifestation.

And so, in the days that followed, Yuan Mobai entered seclusion for his breakthrough.

The daily affairs of Tianshi Mansion were temporarily managed by Lei Jun, Shangguan Ning, and Zhang Jingzhen.

However, unlike before, Lei Jun was now the primary decision-maker.

Previously, he had always assisted Tianshi Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, or other senior elders like Shangguan Ning.

This time, he took the lead, with Shangguan Ning and Zhang Jingzhen assisting him.

This shift wasn’t just because of his cultivation level—it was also due to the growing influence and prestige he had gained through his travels.

Whether it was overseeing the various branches of the Talismanic Branch, visiting Shushan and Zhongnan Mountain, or making a trip to the imperial capital, Luoyang, Lei Jun had earned widespread recognition.

Within Tianshi Mansion and beyond, his authority and reputation had steadily solidified.

Yet, Lei Jun remained calm and composed. He wasn't cold, but neither did he go out of his way to appear overly friendly—everything continued as usual.

Aside from managing the mansion’s affairs, he focused on his own cultivation and training his disciples.

One day, he left a message in the Heavenly Book Universe, calling for a gathering.

At midnight, the celestial luminaries of the Heavenly Book Universe lit up one by one.

"Greetings, everyone. Does anyone have Spirit Void Immortal Fruits?" Lei Jun, under his alias as the Venus Luminary, asked first.

The Saturn Luminary, Fang Yue, responded, "I have some."

"I need a large quantity of Spirit Void Immortal Fruits," Lei Jun said. "The more, the better."

Fang Yue replied, "I do have quite a few, but I need a large number of spiritual resources for Confucian scholars. Any type will do, as long as the quantity is high."

As before, his request was not for himself.

The newly established Jianye Academy was beginning to take shape but still required significant investment.

The needed resources were relatively basic but required in massive quantities.

Lei Jun said, "I have some, but I might not be able to guarantee the amount."

The Lunar Luminary interjected, "A three-way trade is also an option. If the Venus Luminary has something that interests me, I might be able to contribute."

Lei Jun replied, "I don't mind involving others, but I’m not sure if I have anything tempting enough. However, I do have a bottle of White Lotus Frost Dew from the White Lotus Sect. The quantity is small, but the quality is excellent."

The Lunar Luminary hesitated. "White Lotus Frost Dew, huh…"

Before a response came, Lei Jun received a private message.

It was from the Jupiter Luminary, the Future Maitreya.

"Layman, please keep the White Lotus Frost Dew for me. I am willing to pay for Saturn Luminary’s required Confucian resources on your behalf."

Since his identity had already been exposed to Lei Jun, he spoke openly.

Lei Jun didn’t question why the Future Maitreya had such a large stock of Confucian spiritual materials and agreed directly. "Alright, thank you, Master."

The Future Maitreya replied, "No need for thanks—we’re just getting what we need."

Thus, a semi-private three-way trade took place.

Lei Jun obtained the Spirit Void Immortal Fruits from Fang Yue.

Fang Yue received a large number of Confucian cultivation materials from the Future Maitreya.

And the Future Maitreya secured the White Lotus Frost Dew from Lei Jun.

Such transactions were nothing new in the Heavenly Book Universe, and by now, everyone was used to them.

Apart from the three involved, no one else inquired further.

The Lunar Luminary then changed the subject. "My question remains the same as before. I’m looking for information on Elder Chen Donglou of the Shushan Sect. In addition, I’d like to know about Master Faqing of Tianlong Monastery. Does anyone have relevant information?"

Lei Jun remained calm, listening without reacting.

The Future Maitreya spoke first. "I have heard some rumors about Master Faqing, but they are unconfirmed."

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow but stayed silent.

The Lunar Luminary said, "No problem, we can discuss it later."

At that moment, the Solar Luminary spoke up.

Ever since Lei Jun had interacted more with Empress Zhang Wantong, he had noticed that the Solar Luminary’s tone and phrasing had become completely unrestrained.

"Vajra Realm," she stated.

For years, her inquiries in the Heavenly Book Universe had been centered around the Western Region’s Buddhist sects.

Initially, she had asked about the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru.

Lei Jun had once traded for an Earth Soul Flame Heart from her.

Over time, her questions escalated.

Her recent inquiries had turned into:

"Aside from the Vajra Division, do the other four divisions of the Vajra Realm truly exist? Does anyone have confirmed information or relevant details?"

The mere question itself made everyone, including Lei Jun, take notice.

The idea that the Vajra Realm contained five divisions—Lotus, Vajra, Buddha, Treasure, and Karmic—was a well-known Buddhist concept.

However, Mount Sumeru remained shrouded in mystery. Whether the five divisions were real or simply an exaggerated claim was unclear.

Xu Yuanzhen had once speculated that disciples of Mount Sumeru’s Buddhist sect came from various backgrounds before ordination, but the details remained unknown.

Because of Li Qingfeng’s death, she had prioritized dealing with Huang Xuanpu rather than investigating Mount Sumeru and the Ming Empire.

Now, the Mercury Luminary spoke up. "I can’t confirm the existence of the other four divisions, but I do have some information on the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru."

The Solar Luminary responded, "What do you want?"

Mercury Luminary replied, "Let’s discuss privately."

The Solar Luminary agreed. "Alright."

Lei Jun, having successfully acquired a significant quantity of Spirit Void Immortal Fruits, was satisfied with the outcome.

Lei Jun had achieved his goal in the trade, obtaining a substantial supply of Spirit Void Immortal Fruits.

Although he wasn’t sure where Fang Yue had sourced these fruits—long thought to be nearly extinct in the Tang Empire—Lei Jun had carefully examined them and confirmed their authenticity before accepting them.

The White Lotus Frost Dew he had acquired in Luoyang was ultimately returned to the White Lotus Sect’s Future Maitreya, who in turn provided Fang Yue with the vast amount of Confucian cultivation resources he needed.

With this three-way exchange successfully concluded, Lei Jun set aside the Spirit Void Immortal Fruits for now rather than consuming them immediately.

There were still preparations he needed to make.

Now that he knew Fang Yue had a supply, he could consider arranging another trade later—this time publicly—so that the mansion could officially plant the Spirit Void Trees in their medicinal gardens.

Cultivating new Spirit Void Trees would be a long and arduous process, fraught with difficulties, but it was still worth pursuing.

Although Empress Zhang Wantong had long known that Lei Jun was the Venus Luminary in the Heavenly Book Universe, and as his cultivation advanced, he no longer had to worry about others discovering his identity, he still had no intention of revealing himself voluntarily.

If someone else managed to deduce his identity, well, that was their own skill.

As autumn passed and winter arrived, the New Year drew near.

This year, there would be no Initiation Ceremony or Talisman Conferral Ceremony, but the annual grand celebration of the new year was still a major event.

With Tianshi Tang Xiaotang absent from the mountain, the responsibility of hosting the ceremony fell to the High Priest Elders.

And this year, the one leading the grand ceremony was none other than Lei Jun.

With Yuan Mobai in seclusion, Yao Yuan staying in the back mountain, Xu Yuanzhen traveling abroad, and Shangguan Ning and Zhang Jingzhen assisting from the sidelines, Lei Jun presided over the event.

All the rites and rituals followed proper protocol, and the ceremony was successfully and smoothly completed.

That winter, Lei Jun focused on refining his divine soul using the Forgotten River Mist and White Jade Bodhi simultaneously.

These two methods worked in tandem, not only strengthening his soul but also preserving its former agility and sharpness.

As winter faded into spring, Lei Jun remained seated in the Supreme Purity Thunder Mansion Grotto-Heaven, synchronizing his cultivation with the rising sun.

As the morning sun ascended, his divine soul began to tremble and—unexpectedly—left his physical body.

At the Eighth Heaven’s Divine Court Realm, Talismanic Branch cultivators fused their soul and life essence together, forming a Divine Court where their mystical abilities and mana intertwined.

However, this did not prevent them from further refining their souls through visualization and transformation techniques.

Lei Jun now allowed his divine soul to manifest externally, a technique reminiscent of the External Alchemy Sect’s soul projection.

With a mere thought, his magnetic energy surged outward from his physical body, centered on the Bi You Immortal Mountain, expanding throughout the grotto-heaven.

Since he was currently alone in the Supreme Purity Thunder Mansion Grotto-Heaven, he could fully unleash his abilities.

His magnetic force spread widely, covering the entirety of Bi You Immortal Mountain and influencing most of the grotto-heaven.

Above him, purple Nine Heavens Divine Lightning continuously struck down, clashing against the earth’s magnetic field, momentarily dividing the grotto-heaven into two distinct layers.

The upper half was filled with purple lightning, while the lower half churned with white magnetic energy.

Despite this intense environment, Lei Jun’s divine soul remained stable outside his body.

The results of his soul refinement with Forgotten River Mist and White Jade Bodhi were fully displayed.

He quietly channeled his mana.

The white magnetic force gradually became invisible.

At that moment, numerous Profound Gold Sword Pellets floated around him.

Flashes of sword light flickered across the sky.

Lei Jun manipulated his Magnetism-Flying Swords with newfound agility and precision.

More importantly, within the vast magnetic field he had created, his sword lights—while still direct and unwavering in their attacks—could now be pulled back by his magnetic force even after reaching distant targets.

Not only that, but once a sword pellet was launched, it could accelerate a second time mid-flight, propelled by the magnetic force!

For a brief moment, sword light flashed in multiple locations, crisscrossing throughout the battlefield.

This technique could now be called a Magnetic Sword Domain.

Lei Jun silently observed and refined his method, continuously improving it.

The mana consumption was immense.

At present, he was only using Profound Gold Sword Pellets. If he switched to a more powerful artifact like the Seven-Star Sword, the destructive force would be far greater—but so would the energy drain.

The technique already covered a large area, but there were still limitations.

Moreover, the sheer magnitude of energy fluctuations made it difficult to conceal from others.

These were all aspects that needed further refinement and improvement.

Lei Jun nodded to himself.

Despite the challenges, he thoroughly enjoyed the process of testing and developing new techniques.

After gradually retracting his Two Elements Celestial Talisman and dispersing the vast magnetic field, Lei Jun’s divine soul returned to his physical body.

The Supreme Purity Thunder Mansion Grotto-Heaven returned to its original state, and the skies above Bi You Immortal Mountain regained their previous appearance.

After a brief period of mana restoration, Lei Jun moved on to another aspect of his cultivation.

He summoned the Thunder Law Heavenly Book Talisman and Mysterious Firmament Five Thunder Talisman.

A purple Yang Thunder Dragon and a black Yin Thunder Dragon coiled around him.

The two dragons intertwined, their thunderous energy surging and colliding.

Under Lei Jun’s controlled refinement, the point where Yin and Yang met began to emit a dazzling light.

Brilliant radiance burst forth, shining in all directions.

Yet Lei Jun showed no excitement—only deep thought.

He gestured, summoning a newly forged Haoran Mystic Jade.

The mingling Yin-Yang thunder radiance made contact with the jade, producing an immense surge of righteous energy, causing the light to shift into a five-colored brilliance.

Lei Jun’s gaze deepened.

Among the three great Dharma manifestations of Tianshi Mansion, he had now mastered them all.

At the same time, he had created his own Heavenly Sun Flame Ancestor Manifestation and Mysterious Firmament Thunder Ancestor Manifestation.

Even though his self-created techniques were powerful, the original three techniques of Tianshi Mansion were infinitely profound.

Even when he reached the Ninth Heaven Realm in the future, they would still be worth refining and studying.

As his cultivation grew, many of his earlier theoretical ideas could now be put into practice.

Just like before—when he developed the Five Thunder Talisman, the Two Elements Magnetic Mantra, and the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman.

Once Lei Jun ascended to the Ninth Heaven, he would need to develop a new life-bound divine ability.

And now, he found himself once again itching to experiment.

In fact, he already had several ideas.

The real challenge was deciding which path to take and how to integrate them.

Lei Jun dismissed the Yin-Yang Thunder Dragons, stepped out of the Supreme Purity Thunder Mansion Grotto-Heaven, and gestured toward the sky.

The Grand Celestial Mirror descended once again.

As he examined it, Lei Jun retrieved a piece of Divine Firmament Flowing Gold from his collection.

Recalling the blinding radiance produced when Yin and Yang thunder collided earlier, he pondered deeply.

Later, he returned to the grotto-heaven.

This time, instead of Yin-Yang Thunder Dragons, he conjured Yin-Yang Fire Tigers.

With Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor Manifestation and Heavenly Sun Flame Ancestor Manifestation side by side, tongues of fire interwove.

The Grand Celestial Mirror floated mid-air, refining the Nine Abyss True Fire and Heavenly Sun True Fire through the fusion of Yin and Yang.

He would still need to obtain a pure and powerful Heaven and Earth Spirit Crystal to complement the Yin-Yang Thunder.

Then, he could consider how to integrate the Grand Celestial Mirror with Divine Firmament Flowing Gold…

Lei Jun nodded slightly—his plan was coming together.

As time passed, Lei Jun gradually refined his ideas.

Later, he sent the Grand Celestial Mirror back to its high-altitude position.

Returning to the Supreme Purity Thunder Mansion Grotto-Heaven, the Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor Manifestation faded away, leaving only the blazing Heavenly Sun Flame Ancestor Manifestation.

Lei Jun meticulously controlled the flames. The form of the Yang Fire Tiger disappeared, and the Heavenly Sun True Fire burned intensely, gradually becoming more condensed—taking on a heavy, dense quality.

It was as if a real Heavenly Sun had manifested within the grotto-heaven.

Beyond the limited skies of Bi You Immortal Mountain, the purple sky of the grotto-heaven began to brighten, mirroring the external heavens.

Lei Jun sat cross-legged atop the mountain peak, silently breathing and refining the Heavenly Sun Flame, continuously tempering and cultivating it.

Winter faded into spring, and then spring gave way to summer.

Since celebrating his fifty-fifth birthday last summer while on patrol, Lei Jun now welcomed his fifty-sixth birthday this summer.

One summer day, Lei Jun was in his grotto refining Yin-Yang Dual Thunder, merging them within the Thunderheart Furnace to craft an elixir.

This elixir was known as the Serene Void Pill, a true heirloom of Tianshi Mansion.

Although its formula had been passed down, the pill itself had not been produced in a long time.

One of its key ingredients—the Spirit Void Immortal Fruit—had been extinct in the Tang Empire for many years.

But with the resurgence of Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Energy, the return of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and the rediscovery of the Spirit Void Immortal Fruit, the Serene Void Pill could finally be made again.

As Lei Jun monitored the Thunderheart Furnace, a thought stirred in his mind.

"Huajie, come watch the furnace for me," he called out.

Without hesitation, Zhuo Huajie stepped forward, rubbing the fur on his head as he replied, "Yes, Master. Did something happen?"

Lei Jun’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Your grandmaster has emerged from seclusion."

Leaving his disciple to tend to the elixir, Lei Jun made his way to Yuan Mobai’s grotto.

Moments later, the cave entrance slowly opened.

Brilliant starlight poured out from within.

Lei Jun smiled. "Congratulations, Master, on a successful breakthrough!"

A young Daoist in purple robes, exuding an air of springtime warmth, stepped out. It was Yuan Mobai, looking refreshed and radiant.

He chuckled. "I owe my quick success to your Brahmic Essence Gourd, Chongyun."

Lei Jun responded humbly, "I wouldn't dare claim credit."

Then, curiosity flashed across his face, much like Zhuo Huajie’s earlier expression.

"Master, have you fully formed your Divine Court Manifestation? What does it look like?"

Yuan Mobai smiled. "I've made some progress."

As he spoke, the starlight around him expanded.

A vast galaxy unfolded before Lei Jun’s eyes.

Yet, as he observed more closely, he noticed that the layers of starlight overlapped and gradually transformed into a grand city.