Chapter 334: Chapter 334

The darkness, vast as the cosmos and stars, slowly receded. Purple Yang Thunder clashed with green, gloomy Earth Fire.

Amid a radiant, fierce explosion of light, as the purple-green Taiji diagram spun, the former Pure Yang Palace Sect Leader, Huang Xuanpu, was utterly annihilated—body and soul.

After his physical form was completely destroyed, even his Divine Soul was ground into nothingness.

Elder Miaokong stepped forward, only to see a tall young Daoist, appearing no older than twenty, clad in a purple Daoist robe, emerge from the intense light.

“Elder Lei,” Miaokong greeted as he approached.

Reemerging into the mortal world, Lei Jun’s aura appeared weak—his mana faded, even his gaze dimmed.

Though no external injuries were visible, Elder Miaokong could tell right away that Lei Jun had suffered heavy damage to his Divine Soul.

According to what Lei Jun had said earlier, Huang Xuanpu’s body and Foundation Core had already been destroyed by Xu Yuanzhen, leaving only his Nascent Soul Yang Spirit.

That meant Lei Jun had faced Huang Xuanpu’s soul-based secret arts directly.

Yet, Lei Jun had ultimately triumphed—completely destroying Huang Xuanpu and leaving no chance for escape, utterly eradicating the Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Daoist.

Though Lei Jun now looked frail, even a bit spiritless, his presence remained calm and composed, like still waters.

Facing Elder Miaokong’s gaze, he said quietly, “The Mortal Daoist Nation of Great Tang… ends today.”

Elder Miaokong couldn’t help but marvel at Lei Jun’s tranquil demeanor. “Elder Lei’s powers are vast. At last, the demonic destiny has been severed.”

Lei Jun replied, “The greatest credit for this battle belongs to my Senior Sister. I merely followed in her wake. Besides, had our Grandmaster not been holding the line outside, Huang Xuanpu might still have escaped.”

Elder Miaokong shook his head. “You’re too modest, Daoist Lei. The fall of Huang Xuanpu is clearly the work of Elder Xu and yourself. I was simply in the right place at the right time.”

Looking at Lei Jun, he was filled with complicated emotions.

Huang Xuanpu’s fall—was it unjust, or well-deserved?

Under normal circumstances, with the Northern Sea Whale King backing him up, he could have safely retreated regardless of win or loss.

And with his perfected Ninth Heaven Five Energies Converging to the Origin realm, aside from the capital Luoyang, there were few places in all of Great Tang he couldn’t go.

Who would’ve expected him to be defeated so thoroughly by Xu Yuanzhen, whose cultivation was a level lower? Not only was his Daoist body destroyed, even his Foundation Core was shattered.

Still, the old Daoist managed a desperate breakout despite his injuries.

A Ninth Heaven cultivator of the Daoist Alchemical Sect’s Nascent Soul Yang Spirit could survive even without a physical body.

Yet in the end, the Tianshi Mansion tracked him down.

And it wasn’t Xu Yuanzhen or Tang Xiaotang who came—it was Lei Jun, at the Eighth Heaven Realm.

Yet Huang Xuanpu still died by Lei Jun’s hand!

Even if heavily injured, he was still a Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Daoist.

For Lei Jun to defeat him head-on, without even the Three Treasures of the Tianshi, was no less shocking than the fall of the Thousand-Leaf Butterfly King during the Mount Longhu war.

With such strength, it’s no wonder Shangnan and Xue Xingzi were defeated with peace of mind.

...Unexpected, yes, but not unacceptable.

Elder Miaokong thought of the purple-green Taiji diagram that had just lit up the world.

Lei Jun, still only at the Third Stage of the Eighth Heaven Realm, had already mastered four Dharma Apparitions.

With Miaokong’s cultivation and eyesight, it was clear that Lei Jun’s Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Apparition and Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor Apparition were both life-bound mystical abilities.

Only then could they have wielded such power.

His talent far exceeded what anyone had guessed.

The Tianshi Mansion had regained the Tianshi Seal, and with it, the Thunder Law Talismanic Canon.

And now, the most orthodox form of the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike, unseen since the Battle of Liwai, had returned to the mortal world.

Thinking of Tang Xiaotang’s golden Pure Yang Thunder Dragon and the green Yin Fire Tiger in that earlier combined strike, Elder Miaokong couldn’t help but feel wistful.

In recent years, even Tang Xiaotang herself hadn’t denied the possibility of stepping down early.

Everyone assumed Lei Jun was the most likely successor.

The golden-green Taiji had turned back to purple-green.

It was as if, in all aspects, the Tianshi Mansion was returning to its proper path—a revival of its Golden Age.

Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang needed no further praise.

And this young Lei Jun, though still technically in the Eighth Heaven, perhaps it was more appropriate now to treat him as a Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Daoist already… Elder Miaokong thought silently.

After greeting Elder Miaokong, Lei Jun lowered his gaze.

Due to earlier compression by his Divine Court Manifestation Universe, the already-damaged upper Round Altar of the Huangtian Sect Altar had collapsed further. Even the second-tier Octagonal Altar had crumbled.

The entire altar now teetered on the edge of complete destruction.

Without suppression from Lei Jun’s external Divine Court Universe, the ruined Huangtian Altar resembled a volcano on the verge of eruption.

The Huangtian Dao had kept its sect altar hidden, so few people were stationed there.

Most disciples had been scattered to branch altars.

Located deep in the desolate snowy mountains, even large-scale destruction wouldn’t cause casualties.

Lei Jun had spent a great deal of mana in the battle with Huang Xuanpu, but his Divine Soul injury had been feigned with the power of the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book.

Still, to complete the act, he turned to Elder Miaokong and requested:

“Chasing down Huang Xuanpu and finding this place was an unexpected surprise. I must trouble Master to help stabilize the altar for now, so it doesn’t completely collapse. I’ll summon my fellow disciples to handle the rest.”

“Of course. You rest and recover. Leave this place to me,” Elder Miaokong replied, aware that Lei Jun wanted to coordinate with other Tianshi Mansion disciples to search the Huangtian Sect Altar for clues—possibly leading to the remaining branch altars.

It seemed not only the Mortal Daoist Nation was ending today… even the Huangtian Dao might be breathing its last… Miaokong thought to himself.

Lei Jun contacted the Tianshi Mansion's ancestral seat on Mount Longhu, while also reaching out to his Eldest Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen and Little Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang to check on their status.

The Huangtian Sect Altar was located in the snowy mountains of Western Sichuan.

At that same moment, another earth-shaking battle was unfolding in Bashu.

Backed by the Great Tang imperial court, the Shushan Sect clashed once more with the Inner Shushan from Huangquan.

But this time, they didn’t fight at the Shushan gate at Xiaoding.

After losing the Taiyi Innate Tower and Qingxiao Hall, the current Mountain Guarding Formation at Xiaoding was unstable.

Without the advantage of terrain, the Shushan Sect decided to descend the mountain and head south, joining with elite reinforcements from the Tang Dynasty to face the Inner Shushan forces advancing from Southern Zhao.

A contingent of the Lin Clan of the Southern Sect, led by current clan leader Lin Yuwei, joined the fray alongside the Divine Strategy Army.

A Grand Scholar of the Confucian Divine Archery Lineage at the Eighth Heaven Realm, Lin Yuwei did not charge the frontlines. Instead, he moved along the outskirts, sniping enemies with piercing arrows.

Though free to maneuver, Lin Yuwei did not slack off. Having boarded the Tang Empire’s ship, he knew eyes were on him—not just from the imperial side, but also from the Fang Family of Jingxiang, who’d arrived with their patriarch Fang Jingsheng.

Lin Yuwei’s long-range suppression tied down the enemy’s attention even if it didn’t kill outright.

At the same time, he constantly shifted position.

After all, many Daoist Artifact Refining Sect experts among the enemy were skilled in long-range Flying Sword attacks.

For safety, he couldn’t afford to stay in one place.

Other Divine Archery Grand Scholars from the Divine Strategy Army and Fang Clan took the same approach.

Dueling volleys filled the sky over Bashu, as brilliant streaks of light crisscrossed the heavens—some dense, some sparse.

At times, Lin Yuwei drifted closer to the west.

Suddenly, violent tremors shook the earth in the far northwest.

Alert, he turned—and saw, deep in the snowy mountains of Western Sichuan, intense seismic activity accompanied by radiant bursts of light.

As an Eighth-Heaven Confucian Grand Scholar in the Pioneering Realm, he sharpened his perception to the utmost.

Still, the distance made the details fuzzy.

But he could just make out purple lightning and green fire soaring into the sky—intertwining.

Anyone else might not be sure from such a distance.

But Lin Yuwei came from the Southern Lin Clan.

And the Jiangzhou Lin Clan had warred with Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion for generations—they knew each other far too well.

With one glance, Lin Yuwei was certain: that was a Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike from the Tianshi Mansion!

He’d heard rumors about their recovery of the Tianshi Seal.

The return of the Yang Thunder Dragon and Yin Fire Tiger was not unthinkable.

But to see their forms from so far away—intertwined in purple and green—meant the pair were immensely powerful.

Definitely not two Seventh Heaven cultivators.

If it was Eighth Heaven disciples of the Tianshi Mansion—who were they?

Could it be… Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang? Or Lei Jun?

Questions swirled in Lin Yuwei’s mind.

Still caught in the current battle against Inner Shushan, he had to put his suspicions aside.

Later, from the eastern sky, a burst of golden light pierced the heavens, rapidly descending onto the battlefield.

That dazzling aura needed no introduction—every Tang cultivator instantly recognized it.

It was Tang Xiaotang.

But Lin Yuwei suddenly paused.

If she were coming, would she have left Western Sichuan and circled all the way east?

No—she’d come straight.

So the one who’d displayed the Dragon-Tiger strike earlier… wasn’t her?

Then was it Xu Yuanzhen and Lei Jun?

Or… was that combined strike not a collaboration at all?

Was it… just one person?

That would be the natural guess.

But then—another name rose unbidden in Lin Yuwei’s mind.

At first, he dismissed it as impossible.

But the more he thought of it, the stronger the intuition became.

Confused and startled, he whipped his head back to look northwest.

Others had started to piece things together too.

Having just fled the snowy peaks, Kang Ming and Chen Ziyang also looked back—at the mountains shaking, and at the blinding light where Yang Thunder Dragon and Yin Fire Tiger had met.

And they were certain: that was the work of a single person.

The Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike, revived… by one man alone.

Lei Jun, known as Xuanshaozi of the Tianshi Mansion.

Unlike Elder Miaokong, Lin Yuwei held complicated feelings about the strike.

Kang Ming and Chen Ziyang? Even more so.

They stared in awe at the Yang Thunder Dragon surging into the sky, fusing with the Yin Fire Tiger—mesmerized.

Such a scene had never existed in Huangtian Dao.

Back when that sect splintered from the Tianshi Mansion, they had elders skilled in Thunder Law, but those elders died in the inner war.

They never had the Tianshi Seal, nor the Tianshi Robe.

Since its founding, Huangtian Dao lacked both the Thunder Law Talismanic Canon and the Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Apparition.

Naturally, they never had the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike.

Later, due to another civil war involving Li Cangting and the third-generation Tianshi Li Bo, casualties mounted. Since then, even the Tianshi Mansion no longer allowed non-Li elders access to Thunder Law.

The Yang Thunder Dragon became a Li-family exclusive.

For the Huangtian Dao, it was an unfulfilled obsession.

Now, the Yang Thunder Dragon had returned to the world.

And the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike had reappeared.

Both… in the hands of one man.

And that man was not surnamed Li.

Both Kang Ming and Chen Ziyang were overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

“Could… could it be others arrived, and the two worked together?” Chen Ziyang’s voice was hoarse.

Kang Ming took a deep breath. “Even if someone else came, and they weren’t surnamed Li either—I think it’s just Lei Jun alone.”

Chen Ziyang asked, “He… has mastered how many Dharma Apparitions?”

Kang Ming replied, “As of now… four.”

Chen Ziyang fell silent.

The two stood still, eyes locked on the altar.

Even as the blinding light of the Dragon-Tiger strike faded—they didn’t look away.

After a while, Chen Ziyang suddenly spoke. “You—do you accept him?”

Kang Ming withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Chen Ziyang.

Chen Ziyang mirrored the motion, meeting Kang Ming’s eyes. His gaze also occasionally drifted to Han Wuyou, who remained unconscious after being subdued by Kang Ming.

“No matter his talent or aptitude,” Kang Ming said calmly, “he did save both our lives today. Even if it was likely just a casual move on his part.”

Chen Ziyang said nothing.

It was just as Kang Ming said—if Lei Jun hadn’t shown up, both he and Kang Ming would’ve likely fallen to the hands of the Mortal Daoist Nation.

At least one of them would have been taken over by Huang Xuanpu as a new vessel. Even if the other survived, the days ahead would’ve been hell.

But the problem was—Lei Jun was from the Tianshi Mansion.

The Mortal Daoist Nation was now finished, but Huangtian Sect might be headed down the same path.

Their numbers were already thin, and now the leadership had taken a massive hit. The Ancestral Altar was once again destroyed, and the lower ranks would lose their backbone. Morale would plummet.

Even if Han Wuyou could, as Chen Zongjie once did, transform into a new Ancestral Altar, things were still going to be grim.

Why? Because the situation was just too dire. The enemies were too strong. The future, too hopeless.

The Mortal Daoist Nation, with all its many cultivators in the Eighth and Ninth Heaven Realms, was utterly crushed by the combined forces of the Tang Imperial Family and the Tianshi Mansion.

Now, with the clearly declining Huangtian Sect—how could they hold on?

There was no need to even try. Chen Ziyang could already imagine:

Even if they rebuilt the Altar, the boost to morale this time would be nothing like when they rebuilt the new Altar in Western Sichuan after the one overseas was destroyed.

It hadn’t even been twenty years between those events.

The Altar being broken again so soon—how could the younger disciples of Huangtian Sect not start to waver?

Even if another new Altar was erected—how long could it last this time?

They already lived in the shadows, hidden from the world.

Once faith was shaken, it became all the more difficult for the disciples to keep going.

Those who did manage to persevere—many of them weren’t necessarily driven by determination.

It was because they had clashed too often with the Tang Imperial Family and Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion. Their hands were already stained with blood. There was no turning back.

Chen Ziyang’s own hands had the blood of a direct disciple of the Tianshi Mansion.

As for Kang Ming—he was a bit of a special case.

He had killed court soldiers before.

But as far as Chen Ziyang could remember, Kang Ming had rarely fought with disciples from the Tianshi Mansion, let alone killed one.

Now that things had reached this point, what path would Kang Ming choose?

“I don’t plan to surrender to the Tianshi Mansion,” Kang Ming said calmly.

Chen Ziyang’s gaze moved between Kang Ming and the unconscious Han Wuyou, but he didn’t reply.

Kang Ming glanced at Han Wuyou in his hand. “If I handed him over to you, what would you do?”

Chen Ziyang finally answered, “Find another hidden place, rebuild the Altar. Huangtian Sect will not perish.”

Kang Ming asked in return, “How hidden?”

Chen Ziyang shot back, “If I give him to you, how hidden can you make it?”

Kang Ming answered frankly this time. “I plan to find a chance… to take him out of this world.”

Chen Ziyang was shocked. “You...”

Kang Ming stayed calm. “There’ve been a lot of strange rumors lately. Besides the reunion of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, I heard this world isn’t the only ‘mortal realm’—there are others, outside the Tang Dynasty’s control.”

Chen Ziyang stared at him, both surprised and uncertain.

Kang Ming continued, “As heartbreaking as it is, it’s becoming harder and harder for our sect to survive in this world.

Even if we retreat to the Southern Wasteland, the Northern Desert, or even overseas, our situation only worsens.

So, why not risk everything? Step into the unknown, and maybe—just maybe—find a sliver of hope.”

Chen Ziyang’s eyes flickered. He didn’t agree, but he didn’t object either.

Kang Ming added, “Of course, I know the world beyond could be even more dangerous. But here in the Tang Dynasty, fate doesn’t favor us anymore. If we stay, we’re just dragging things out, waiting for the end.”

After a long silence, Chen Ziyang suddenly asked, “Do you believe... we’ll ever make a comeback?”

Kang Ming replied, “The world’s unpredictable—anything’s possible.”

He looked directly at Chen Ziyang. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re right—if I wanted to surrender to the Tianshi Mansion, it’d be easier for me than for you. But I’m not doing this because I want to be the leader of a broken sect rather than a follower in a strong one. It’s because I still have doubts about them.

Even if they’ve expelled the Li Family again, who’s to say they won’t walk the same path in the future? Back then, our sect opposed the Li Family. As long as we exist, we’re proof that such a history existed!”

Chen Ziyang took a deep breath. “You… you’re the new Sect Leader now. Chen Ziyang pays his respects to the Sect Leader.”

Kang Ming said, “No rush. Even if you and I have this idea, the road ahead is perilous. Even if I insist on this path, I can’t say how hard it’ll be.

Who will ? How many will survive the journey? We don’t know.

This is too important to force on anyone. If there are those who want to leave, let them.”

He raised his hand and tossed Han Wuyou to Chen Ziyang.

Chen Ziyang caught him, then looked up at Kang Ming.

“I’ll draft two lists,” Kang Ming said. “You handle one, I’ll handle the other. We’ll regroup later.”

Looking at the names Kang Ming handed him, Chen Ziyang quickly realized these were the die-hard disciples of Huangtian Sect.

Which meant Kang Ming’s list likely included those more easily shaken.

What would Kang Ming do with them?

“Take care, Sect Leader.” Chen Ziyang didn’t ask further. He gave Kang Ming a deep look, then turned and left with Han Wuyou.

“The Tianshi Mansion and the court will definitely launch a massive search,” Kang Ming warned. “Be careful.”

He knew Chen Ziyang still had doubts, but he didn’t bother explaining further.

After all, the methods to forcibly turn Han Wuyou into a new Altar were in his own hands. He wasn’t worried about Chen Ziyang trying anything.

Giving Han Wuyou to Chen Ziyang was just to set his mind at ease.

The Huangtian Sect was walking the edge of destruction—there was no room for even a ripple of internal chaos.

Chen Ziyang had guessed right.

The disciples on Kang Ming’s list weren’t just those more likely to waver—they were also the ones who had less contact with the outside world, and fewer lives on their hands.

Among them were some incredibly promising young talents, ones Kang Ming had high hopes for.

He left the snowy mountains of Sichuan and appeared in a branch altar.

There, several young Daoist apprentices stood before him. “Uncle Kang.”

“How are the others?” Kang Ming asked.

The leader of the group, named Xin Beiyuan, answered honestly, “Everyone’s feeling a bit lost. But now that you’re here making arrangements, things are calming down. Still, we’re all anxious about the future.”

Kang Ming gave a small nod. “That’s not your fault.”

He smiled—a rare expression. “Honestly, my mind is a mess too. But life’s . The path we must walk… we walk.”

Xin Beiyuan hesitated.

Kang Ming met his gaze, his eyes filled with encouragement.

Finally, Xin Beiyuan asked, “Uncle Kang… what about you?”

“I won’t surrender to the Tianshi Mansion,” Kang Ming replied.

The young Daoists glanced at each other, their eyes filled with unease.

“I’ll try to blaze a new trail for our sect,” Kang Ming said.

He stopped Xin Beiyuan and the others from speaking. “Go now. Don’t overthink it. After today, don’t try to contact us who are leaving.”

They hesitated but eventually left.

A while later, Xin Beiyuan returned alone. “Uncle Kang…”

“No need to say anything, Beiyuan,” Kang Ming interrupted. “You’re an extraordinary talent. If we were living in prosperous times, we wouldn’t let that go to waste. But the road ahead will only bury your potential. If you choose to join the Tianshi Mansion and help gather others, with the current Tianshi in charge, they should accept you. You’ll shine in our Talismanic Branch.”

“I’m nowhere near your level, Uncle,” Xin Beiyuan said.

“In terms of talent, you surpass me,” Kang Ming replied. “If I worry about anything, it’s that I may have misjudged the Tianshi Mansion. But I believe they won’t hold you back—so long as you sever all ties with us.”

As he watched the young apprentice walk away, Kang Ming let out a quiet sigh.

His eyes turned distant, gazing once again toward the snowy mountains of Sichuan.

He used to be defiant.

Back when the Huangtian Sect split off, they had been in the right. So why had things ended up ?

Now, with time passing, his bitterness had slowly faded.

Especially after the betrayal of Qi Shuo and Han Wuyou joining the Mortal Daoist Nation, Kang Ming’s view of his own sect grew more complicated.

Meanwhile, the Tianshi Mansion had clearly received Heaven’s favor.

After Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, now came Lei Jun.

Though Kang Ming hadn’t said much to Chen Ziyang about Lei Jun earlier, deep down, he admired him. Maybe even envied him a little.

And on a personal level, he was truly grateful to Lei Jun for saving his life.

Even if there were problems between their sects, Kang Ming still owed him.

What he wouldn’t admit to Chen Ziyang was that… deep down, he had a small hope.

Maybe… the future Tianshi Mansion could stay just?

Even with the poison seeds left by the Li Family...

If Lei Jun and others could suppress them for generations, never letting them grow again—then maybe a different future was possible.

But… would that future ever come?

Kang Ming asked himself.

But he wouldn’t pin all his hopes on others.

His gaze turned clear and resolute once again.

Even if the path ahead was treacherous beyond belief, he would do everything in his power to preserve this other possibility—

Even if… it all turned out to be for nothing.

Even if, tomorrow… they were utterly destroyed.

Back in the Shushan Mountains of Western Sichuan, Lei Jun was gazing southeast toward the sky.

There, a streak of golden light shot across the heavens—from the east.

Under the reflection of the Grand Celestial Mirror, he could tell—Little Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang was on her way.

Tang Tianshi wasn’t in the best mood.

With the Three Treasures of the Tianshi in hand, she had fought the so-called Western White Emperor quite fiercely.

But once the enemy sensed things weren’t going well, he bailed.

Tang Xiaotang gave chase for a while but ultimately failed to catch him.

When she turned back and made her way toward the snowy mountains, she found out that Huang Xuanpu had already been taken out by Lei Jun.

The Northern Sea Whale King had also escaped.

Someone was a little frustrated.

She still had energy to burn.

Heaven help them—the battle between Tang cultivators and the Shushan cultivators was still ongoing.

Well, guess that’s her outlet.

Without a word, Tang Tianshi flew straight toward the south of the Bashu Basin.

Lei Jun, remaining in place, couldn’t see the details of the battle from this distance.

At best, he could make out Lin Yuwei and the others on the outskirts.

Overall, things weren’t going all that smoothly for the Tang forces.

Even with two Ninth Heaven experts—Abbot Ren Zhu and Fang Jingsheng—the opposing side also had their own top experts and powerful artifacts.

Still, with Tang Xiaotang wielding all three Tianshi Treasures, her cultivation should be enough to keep her safe.

As for Xu Yuanzhen, she hadn’t come. She was still overseas.

“Huang Xuanpu’s dead?”

Xu Yuanzhen didn’t mind that she hadn’t killed him herself.

She had wanted to, but she wouldn’t lose sleep over it.

If anything, she would’ve been more annoyed if he’d escaped.

“Since Xiaotang’s already there at Shushan, I won’t rush over,” she said casually. “That girl always starts strong but finishes weak. I’m more interested in that Da Ming Artifact Sect cultivator she let slip away. Time to go find him.”

Though injured, with her current cultivation, it would take another fully restored Huang Xuanpu-level opponent to even think about taking her down.

So Lei Jun didn’t say much, only remarked, “Among those from the Mortal Daoist Nation of Great Ming, I killed two. They had some items on them. We can take a closer look later.”

Xu Yuanzhen said, “Alright, keep the items. We’ll go through them later.”

Lei Jun wrapped up his conversation with Xu Yuanzhen.

Indeed, he had successfully seized some spoils of war.

Aside from what came from Shang Nan and Xue Xingzi, there was also a small stash from Huang Xuanpu.

He could hold off on sorting through the rest, but the things from Huang Xuanpu were few in number yet incredibly valuable. Among them, Lei Jun obtained a spiritual treasure that genuinely surprised him.

Its name: Five Energies Three Caverns Profound Origin Crystal.

This treasure had been extinct in the Mortal Realm of Great Tang for many years.

Not to mention now—even in ancient times, it had always been exceedingly rare.

Its functionality was especially powerful—it aided cultivators at the Eighth Heaven in breaking through to the Ninth Heaven, helping them survive the Heavenly Chasm Tribulation.

Of course, it wasn’t a guarantee that crossing the Heavenly Chasm would become as easy as walking on flat ground, allowing cultivators to rest easy. But it did significantly improve their chances—and that alone was enough to make top cultivators fight to the death for it.

Even a slight increase in success rate made all the difference when facing that terrifying threshold between Eighth and Ninth Heaven.

Countless Eighth Heaven cultivators throughout history had balked at that tribulation and never dared to attempt it. Others, braving it at peak Eighth Heaven, had perished with regret beneath the tribulation’s wrath.

It truly was a rare find… Lei Jun carefully stowed the treasure away for now.

On the other side, Elder Miaokong, who had been busy suppressing the damaged Huangtian Ancestral Altar, had just finished communicating with his fellow monks from Tianlong Monastery.

“Elder Lei, I heard that your sect’s Tang Tianshi has recovered the Tianshi Robe?” Elder Miaokong asked Lei Jun.

Lei Jun still appeared weak and drained, clearly still recuperating. He gave a faint nod.

“Thanks to the blessings of our Ancestral Masters, we managed to snatch the Tianshi Robe back from the hands of the Mortal Daoist Nation. With that, the three treasures of the Tianshi are finally back at Mount Longhu. My senior sister the Sect Leader, Eldest Senior Sister, and all the disciples of Mount Longhu can finally bring comfort to our ancestors’ spirits.”

When Tang Xiaotang emerged from the chaotic void caused by the Taiyi Innate Tower, she was already clad in radiant, nine-colored light.

And now, with her dramatic entrance in the land of Bashu, she made a striking impression, carrying all three treasures of the Tianshi with her—looking absolutely stunning and awe-inspiring.

With the Mortal Daoist Nation having come to an end, it was only fitting that the Tianshi Robe “returned to the mountain.”

So neither Lei Jun nor the Tianshi Mansion had any reason to shy away from the robe’s return to Mount Longhu.

Elder Miaokong said, “Indeed, that’s something worth celebrating.”

Suzhou, inside Tianlong Monastery.

Abbot Miaoxin sat across from Elder Miaoyi.

“Huang Xuanpu has fallen. The Tianshi Robe is back at Mount Longhu. The Tianshi Mansion really made waves this time,” Elder Miaoyi sighed.

Abbot Miaoxin replied, “Such is karma—it cannot be changed by man.”

“You’re right, Senior Brother,” Elder Miaoyi said after a slight pause, then looked at him seriously. “But, Senior Brother… what you just told Elder Miaokong might not have been entirely proper. We monks are not supposed to speak falsehoods…”

Just moments ago, Abbot Miaoxin and Elder Miaokong had discussed leaving some ambiguity around the death of Master Zongcuo.

At that time, only Lei Jun and Elder Miaokong had been present...

“Master Zongcuo was indeed killed by a sword cultivator from outside Great Tang,” Abbot Miaoxin said calmly. “Miaokong may have bent the truth slightly, which does violate the precepts. But it helped avoid a conflict between the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru and the Tianshi Mansion. It could prevent a catastrophe. Monks should act with compassion, and this was done from compassion.”

Elder Miaoyi fell silent.

Their relationship with the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru was delicate.

If the other side clashed with a powerful enemy, Tianlong Monastery might not oppose it.

But right now, the monastery itself was going through turbulent times.

If the Great Tang Empire fell into chaos, that would be bad news for them.

One less conflict was better than one more.

Besides, they’d grown closer to the Tianshi Mansion recently—forming good karma wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Not to mention, the Tianshi Mansion side also involved Monk Faqing…

“What about Elder Miaohui and the others…” Elder Miaoyi glanced at Abbot Miaoxin.

The abbot pressed his palms together and let out a soft sigh.

Northern Seas region.

Deep within the vast ocean, a strange void gateway looked like a monstrous abyssal maw, ready to devour all. It was currently unstable and surging.

But this massive, invisible beast was under restraint—for now.

Its restraints had been spread out in all directions.

Among them was the strongest expert in the Great Tang Empire today—aside from the Empress herself—Prince Zhao, Zhang Teng.

Also present was the patriarch of the Ye Clan of Qingzhou, Ye Yan, one of the most renowned families of the time.

There was also a high monk of the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru, Master Jiasheng, who had reached the Ninth Heaven.

And another top-tier cultivator from the imperial family—Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang.

Other cultivators from the Tang realm were stationed in the periphery, working with them to suppress the void gateway hovering above the sea.

Zhang Teng and the others all bore solemn, serious expressions.

But their thoughts weren’t entirely on the void portal in front of them.

“A message from the front: the Grand Marshal, Prince Huayang, and Mr. Chu of Suzhou are sweeping up the last remnants of the Mortal Daoist Nation in the South Sea.”

Another report came for Zhang Ying: “Tianshi Tang has gone to support Bashu. Elder Xu’s whereabouts are currently unknown. Elder Lei killed Huang Xuanpu in the snow mountains of western Sichuan and is now handling the newly discovered Huangtian Ancestral Altar.”

Besides Zhang Ying, the others were already in the loop.

Master Jiasheng showed no expression.

Even though he’d heard that both Xu Yuanzhen and Lei Jun had been injured, the only casualty in this grand campaign to wipe out the Mortal Daoist Nation had been their Master Zongcuo from the Vajra Division.

Was Zongcuo too weak?

Even if that were the case, he shouldn’t have been their main target…

“Master Zongcuo was a man of great wisdom and courage, a true monk who conquered evil,” Princess Zhang Ying offered words of consolation. “His contributions to the battle against the Mortal Daoist Nation were immense.”

Master Jiasheng slowly replied, “Your Highness overpraises. Though we of the monastery live apart from the world, we’ve always held a firm resolve to defend the Dao and eradicate evil for Great Tang. The people can see it. Though I grieve the loss of my junior brother, I will not waver one bit because of it… I only hope the Tianshi Mansion will not misunderstand our intentions.”

Zhang Ying said, “Now that the Mortal Daoist Nation has been defeated and the Tianshi Robe reclaimed, I believe the Daoists of the Tianshi Mansion will also appreciate Master Zongcuo’s sacrifice.”

Ye Yan said nothing from the side.

His mind was elsewhere.

Both were now Ninth Heaven cultivators, and both immensely powerful.

With them around, the threat posed by the Tianshi Mansion’s leadership had already surpassed that of any Confucian noble house.

Even with his injuries, Huang Xuanpu had still been a peak Daoist master at Ninth Heaven.

Yet he had been slain by Lei Jun, who was still only Eighth Heaven.

At this point, Lei Jun could no longer be considered an Eighth Heaven cultivator.

And he was still young.

His potential was vast, and his progress rapid.

Could the chasm between Eighth and Ninth Heaven really hold him back?

Ye Yan didn’t doubt it at all—Lei Jun would reach Ninth Heaven one day.

The only question was: when? How soon?

And when that time came, if the Tianshi Mansion had three Ninth Heaven powerhouses walking the earth at the same time… what kind of situation would the Tang Empire face?

And what of Qingzhou?

Ye Yan suddenly glanced at Zhang Teng, who had also remained silent throughout.

The prince continued to quietly stare at the entrance of the Luo Abyss, saying nothing.