Chapter 383: Chapter 383

The Great Ming Dynasty’s retreat lifted the pressure on Tianli’s Lesser Ming Court, preventing it from facing a two-front assault and immediate destruction. But their troubles were far from over. The previous war had already inflicted heavy losses on them—so severe it could hardly be called anything less than a crippling blow. Even with a brief respite, they were barely holding on.

According to reports sent back by Tang cultivators from Tianli, due to forcibly forging the land and condensing national fortune, spiritual energy within Tianli was being depleted at an alarming rate. Unlike other regions across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, where spiritual energy remained abundant regardless of safety, Tianli was currently in a state of profound scarcity. This deficiency wasn’t something that could be resolved in a short time.

During peaceful times, supporting the Lesser Ming Court was barely manageable. After the war, any further usage or consumption became nearly impossible to sustain. Even so, the Lesser Ming Court of Tianli proved tenacious.

The moment the Ming forces pulled back, the Lesser Ming Court, disregarding its own losses, launched a counterattack in an attempt to reclaim lost territory. But Tang, or more specifically Mount Longhu, had its own way of doing things.

Of the three Ninth-Heaven Sages currently residing on Mount Longhu, Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang remained completely unaffected by the Ming retreat. It was a clear-cut “you fight your war, I fight mine” situation. Neither of them had any intention of treating Tianli’s Lesser Ming Court as a buffer between Tang Mortal Realm and Ming Mortal Realm.

Thus, the war in Tianli raged on. It lacked the overwhelming spectacle of earlier battles, but was even more intense. With Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang both taking action, the already struggling Lesser Ming Court seemed on the brink of collapse.

Inside the Tang Imperial Court, voices of dissent emerged. However, Tianshi Lei Jun at Mount Longhu chose not to intervene in the affairs of Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang. The court had little room to speak and could only dispatch troops to guard the Tianli Portal at the Eastern Sea, just in case.

Lei Jun had no intention of stopping Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang. To him, the cultivators of Tianli were already exhausting to deal with…

As for the Ming side—if Gao Ming and the others had refused to retreat, Lei Jun would have had to think more carefully. But since the Ming Dynasty withdrew due to its internal issues, Lei Jun saw no need for urgency. If anything happened, Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang were fully capable of handling it themselves— especially since Tang Xiaotang possessed the Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman, which made her particularly sensitive to related matters.

Fortunately, Yuan Mobai had recently left Mount Longhu together with Wang Guiyuan. After helping Xiao Hang crush the final major resistance from the Ye Clan in Qingzhou, Yuan Mobai stepped down, leaving the rest to Xiao Hang and the court officials. He then headed south toward the Eastern Sea and entered Tianli via the Void Gateway.

As for Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan, who had left from Suzhou, he initially planned to return to Mount Longhu directly. But because of Tianli, even after bidding farewell to Elder Miaokong of Tianlong Monastery and others, he didn’t head west. Instead, he stayed hidden along the Eastern Sea.

He didn’t enter Tianli himself, but kept watch in secret, waiting to back up Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, and Yuan Mobai, just in case. With both Yuan Mobai and Wang Guiyuan present, Lei Jun felt no urgency to go to the Eastern Sea. He remained at Mount Longhu’s Ancestral Grounds, managing internal affairs while waiting for news.

During this time, Lei Jun continued his own cultivation. Though Tang Xiaotang wasn’t on the mountain, she had left behind Pure Yang Talismans and other spiritual talismans, which Lei Jun studied. Through his natural comprehension and analysis, he had already grasped most of the framework from these relatively basic talismans.

Thanks to Tang Xiaotang’s profound talismanic techniques, which were uniquely refined and closely tied to her Pure Yang Celestial Physique, Lei Jun was able to learn much on his own.

Building on this foundation, he quietly continued his cultivation deductions. Regarding his own Life-Bound Divine Ability after stepping into the Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Realm, he now had a clear blueprint in mind.

Besides researching talismans, Lei Jun also resumed forging various magical items and artifacts. Many of these designs had already been completed back when he was still in the Eighth Heaven Realm.

Back then, he could have begun refining them—he just lacked the strength and would’ve needed more time and effort, which would have distracted him from his cultivation. That’s why most cultivators choose to wait until they plateau in cultivation before focusing on such pursuits.

Lei Jun, however, was still far from his plateau phase in terms of age and progress. Once he successfully reached the Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Realm, his boosted strength would allow him to craft without draining himself so heavily.

After completing Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo and Celestial Net of the Star River, Lei Jun waved his hand once more.

A flicker of purple light emerged, and seven flying swords arranged themselves in the Big Dipper formation mid-air— his Seven-Star Sword, a treasure inherited from Chen Donglou.

It had previously clashed head-on with Li Linxue’s Yellow Springs Sword, suffering minor damage, which was why it had been undergoing restoration and nurturing.

Since Mount Longhu’s resources were prioritized for repairing the damaged Tianshi Robe, his Seven-Star Sword and Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle had both needed more time for recovery.

Thanks to the wealth acquired from the Lin Clan of Youzhou and Ye Clan of Jinzhou, this process was accelerated. Under Lei Jun’s continuous refinement, the Seven-Star Sword gradually regained its brilliance.

Seeing this, Lei Jun retrieved a piece of Doumu Star Iron from Shushan, and a Celestial Material known as Heavenly Sun Gold Jade from the Youzhou Lin Clan.

Under his control, the emerald Nine Abyss True Flame ignited into a roaring sea of fire. But rather than throwing the treasures into it, the Seven-Star Sword, Doumu Star Iron, and Heavenly Sun Gold Jade rose upward.

Above, crimson-gold Heavenly Sun True Flame condensed into a spinning wheel like a blazing sun. Yin and Yang, two True Flames, above and below, harmonized to refine the treasures.

The purple glow on the Seven-Star Sword faded, vanishing entirely. Only the sword shadows—still scattered in the Big Dipper pattern—flickered faintly in the fire, blending with the flaming stars.

The Doumu Star Iron and Heavenly Sun Gold Jade also slowly melted into the flames. They weren’t absorbed into the stars’ core but remained on the surface, enduring the divine fire’s baptism.

Above: blazing red-gold. Below: tranquil emerald-green. Two massive fireballs orbited around Lei Jun, who stood at their center.

His mana surged from his body, transforming into Yin and Yang Qi, guiding the flames.

Soon, a vast Taiji Diagram formed around him, rotating slowly. The Heavenly Flame Star continued to burn, all materials absorbed into it, but the balance with the Earth Flame remained intact, creating a mysterious Daoist Intent that infused the artifact.

Eventually, everything stilled. The Taiji Diagram stopped spinning. Both Heavenly and Earthly flames extinguished, as if the furnace had sealed.

Lei Jun pointed from afar. A dazzling starlight dropped into the Taiji Diagram.

Moments later, a blinding light, as radiant as the midday sun, flared at its center. Everything turned white.

The Seven-Star Sword was gone. In its place, a seven-foot-long greatsword emerged.

Lei Jun looked calmly at the sword, its glow like the Northern Star at the celestial pole, and nodded: “From now on, it shall be named the Northern Pole Sword.”

It gave a low hum and returned to stillness. Sword light shimmered, starlight danced, and cold radiance burst forth.

The sword had taken shape but was still transitioning from sword embryo to true Daoist treasure. It would require more tempering and nurturing.

Lei Jun reactivated the Heavenly Sun True Flame and Nine Abyss True Flame, merging the flames to continue refining the Northern Pole Sword.

This time, aside from Heavenly Sun Ascendant Talisman and Fire Law Talismanic Canon, Lei Jun also deployed two Two-Element Celestial Talismans, placing them on either side of the sword.

The four talismans worked in harmony to refine this newborn treasure.

With the foundation laid by his Talismanic Branch, Lei Jun then incorporated methods from the Shushan Sect’s artifact refining techniques.

Previously, Zhang Taigang had come on behalf of Shushan, seeking a Talisman Decree from the Tianshi Mansion and guidance from Tang Xiaotang on refining Pure Yang artifacts.

As part of the exchange, Shushan shared many insights on artifact crafting. This was the strong suit of Daoist Artifact Refining Sect cultivators.

Though Lei Jun couldn’t directly replicate them as a Talismanic cultivator, he adapted and integrated their knowledge into his process.

Leaving the four talismans to refine the Northern Pole Sword, Lei Jun turned to his next project: enhancing the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book.

Guided by the Nine Abyss True Flame, he introduced Mysterious Firmament Celestial Lightning alongside Heavenly Sun True Flame, fusing rare treasures like Voidmetal and Veiled Shadow Essence to further refine the Dark Side.

This lightning appeared silent but was devastating within—eroding and destroying all things. It wasn’t suitable to pair with his Celestial Net of the Star River, as it was too disruptive.

Yet, for the Dark Side refinement, it was perfect. In truth, when Lei Jun created the Yin Thunder Dragon and Mysterious Firmament Five Thunder Talisman, he had drawn on the Dark Side’s secrets.

Now, he was effectively using the Celestial Lightning to strengthen the very source that inspired it.

As he continued refining and adjusting, the shadow formed by the Dark Side began to expand, transforming into a shadowy palace with tangible form.

It looked solid but was constantly shifting, as if about to collapse at any moment. A delicate balance was struck between solidity and dissolution.

Lei Jun now stood within that shadowy palace.

“I cultivate the Daoist Talismanic Branch methods to study and refine the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book, and as expected, it has responded one by one,” Lei Jun murmured, surveying his surroundings.

The shadow formed by the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book was now shifting, bearing a striking resemblance to the process by which Talismanic cultivators forge their own Divine Court Universe—the similarities were uncanny.

Lei Jun quietly observed the changes happening within the Dark Side.

By now, this mysterious treasure was largely under his control.

The insights and transformations he implemented here no longer affected the others within the Dark Side Heavenly Book Universe,

just as they didn’t affect those in the Empress’s True Heavenly Book Universe.

Over time, Kang Ming, Meng Shaojie, and Nie Fang had gradually become more familiar with one another.

Among them, Meng Shaojie and Nie Fang were already quite close, though they hadn’t revealed their true identities.

Kang Ming, by contrast, remained more cautious.

Still, in recent years, he had interacted frequently with the other two.

In fact, their support had contributed somewhat to the Yellow Heaven Sect establishing itself in the Han Mortal Realm.

At this moment, Nie Fang, also known as Moon Comet, was not present—

he had returned to Tianli amid the ongoing war, too busy to focus on other matters.

Meanwhile, Rahu Kang Ming, grateful for Ketu Meng Shaojie’s earlier help,

shared updates about the Han Mortal Realm in return.

“The Four Creations of Han… though chaos brews, there’s still hope to rebuild the land,” Meng Shaojie sighed.

Kang Ming replied flatly,

“Perhaps even Five Creations of Han, but it may no longer be under the current Han Dynasty.”

Meng Shaojie grew curious.

“Does that Han Mortal Realm also require heirs of the Buddhist Hand Seal Lineage from Mount Sumeru?”

“Indeed,” Kang Ming answered.

“It’s the Treasure Division, one of the Five Divisions of the Vajra Realm, parallel to the Vajra Division in the Tang realm.

In fact, the Treasure Division appeared in the Han Mortal Realm decades earlier than the Vajra Division did in the Tang realm.”

Lei Jun listened quietly, deep in thought.

The Treasure Division...

He recalled how, during his counteroffensive alongside Tang Xiaotang into Mount Sumeru,

there had still been a division head of the Vajra Realm left to guard the place.

That person never expected Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang to defeat both the Vajra Division Head Jialuotu and the Master Cizong in such a short time,

nor to break through the Miaoxi Pure Land, destroy the Division Mother's Chart, and collapse the Akshobhya Elephant Throne.

Caught off guard, the remaining monk focused on stabilizing Mount Sumeru.

But by the time he rushed to Miaoxi, it was already in ruins—

and with the Ganges Flood erupting once more, all he could do was watch as Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang left unscathed.

According to some monks of the Vajra Division,

that monk left behind in Sumeru was none other than the Division Head of the Treasure Division—Fanda Tuo.

Within Mount Sumeru, each of the Vajra Realm’s Five Divisions operated in separate Mortal Realms.

Outside of cooperation within Sumeru, they rarely interfered with one another’s domains.

The Vajra Division oversaw the Tang Mortal Realm.

The Lotus Division operated in the Song Mortal Realm.

And now it seemed the Han Mortal Realm was under the domain of the Treasure Division.

Lei Jun was genuinely interested in Kang Ming’s explanation to Meng Shaojie.

Though Kang Ming kept a low profile in the Han Mortal Realm, he had gathered plenty of intelligence to secure his position.

According to him, the Han Mortal Realm’s historical timeline closely mirrored that of the Tang realm, with only a century or so of difference.

Even their spiritual energy revival occurred around the same time.

Currently, the realm was said to house six or seven Ninth-Heaven cultivators.

The current Han Emperor, despite being viewed by many as senile and indulgent, still retained his formidable presence and was hailed as the strongest figure of the era.

In contrast, the Crown Prince, widely respected for his wisdom and talent,

had become the second Ninth-Heaven cultivator within the royal family, managing most affairs of the state.

Like the Tang realm, the Han Mortal Realm was filled with aristocratic clans.

The former Five Great Surnames and Seven Prominent Clans still flourished—

excluding the now-fallen Chu Clan of Suzhou,

the southern and northern Lin Clans, the eastern and western Ye Clans, the Fang Clan of Jingxiang, and the Xiao Clan of Longxi all remained dominant forces.

However, due to certain unique historical circumstances, the Han imperial clan was even more powerful and revered than the Tang’s had been.

Thus, while the aristocratic clans remained deeply rooted, they kept a lower profile.

Beyond the Four Surnames and Six Prominent Clans, four newer families had emerged—Zhang, Wang, Li, and Yang—

powerhouses that now stood on equal footing with the long-established elite.

Still, it appeared that the strong Han imperial clan had allowed these new families to rise, diluting the power of the older ones.

Presently, two Ninth-Heaven Confucian scholars of great repute resided in the Han realm:

one from the veteran Ye Clan of Qingzhou, the other from the up-and-coming Yang Clan of Guanzhong.

Unlike the Tang Mortal Realm, the Han realm still had foreign tribes in the northern frontier.

The current Barbarian Chanyu was said to be a Ninth-Heaven Martial Saint.

Nevertheless, the two most powerful figures of the Han realm were undoubtedly one Daoist and one Buddhist:

the Tianshi of Han’s Mount Longhu,

and the Abbot of Vast Void Temple, who had risen to power in the Southern Wasteland, subduing the local Witch Sect.

The two clashed multiple times, with rivalry between Dao and Buddha reaching a peak.

Only in recent years had their confrontations cooled somewhat.

Change was sweeping the Han Mortal Realm.

Mount Sumeru had returned, and monks of the Treasure Division began to spread their teachings.

Meanwhile, Datong had reemerged, producing new elites from the Lin, Fang, and Xiao Clans.

Their return brought both joy and anxiety to the Four Surnames and Six Prominent Clans.

Even more, Han and Su Clans from Datong had risen to prominence.

Now, the Han Mortal Realm recognized twelve aristocratic families.

Their growing power concerned not only the Treasure Division, Mount Longhu, and Vast Void Temple,

but also deepened tensions among the three Daoist and Buddhist Holy Lands.

Though the Crown Prince worked tirelessly to mediate and stabilize the realm, he was but one man.

The emperor remained a hands-off ruler, hidden in the palace.

Signs of chaos spread across the land.

Rumors whispered that Avīci, one of the Ten Lands, steeped in endless calamity, was on the verge of manifesting.

For the Yellow Heaven Sect, it was a rare chance to rise amidst the cracks.

But Kang Ming dared not let down his guard—

he carried a deep, unspoken fear.

Though he hadn’t mentioned it to Meng Shaojie, Lei Jun was well aware:

The Han Mount Longhu Tianshi Mansion cultivated an ancient Talismanic Branch,

relying on Initiation through the Daoist Ancestors.

Such a path would inevitably draw suspicion and scrutiny,

especially since it implied a hidden superior behind the scenes.

Initially, the Han Emperor was too indulgent to care.

And later, when the Crown Prince matured and confronted the arrival of Datong, Sumeru, and others,

he, too, had no time to investigate.

Still, both Kang Ming and Lei Jun remained vigilant.

Lei Jun withdrew his focus from the Dark Side Universe,

silently contemplating Kang Ming’s update as he gazed at the shadowy palace.

Later, a visitor arrived at Mount Longhu, interrupting Lei Jun’s thoughts.

It was none other than Meng Shaojie—and Crown Prince Zhang Hui.

“I’m unworthy, traveling the world and by chance acquiring a rare spiritual item.

I’ve preserved it specifically as a gift to congratulate the Tianshi on ascending to the Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Realm,” Meng Shaojie said with a bright smile.

“No need to be so formal, Fellow Meng.”

Appreciating his sincerity, Lei Jun accepted the gift without pretense—

a rare item called Starspanning Starlight,

a legendary treasure said to be born in the outer void beyond the Mortal Realm, rarely seen on Earth.

As Lei Jun examined it, inspiration struck—he already had ideas on how to use it.

Compared to Meng Shaojie, Zhang Hui had arrived in great secrecy, keeping his identity hidden.

“I had also prepared a gift, but compared to Qingyan’s, it feels a bit embarrassing. I hope the Tianshi won’t mind if I make up for it later,”

Zhang Hui said with a wry smile.

“However, I do have another spiritual item to offer now.”

A shimmer of light flashed above his head, and a page of script emerged.

Lei Jun looked closely.

Though shrouded in mystic light, the words flickered faintly:

So this was Heavenly Book: Two, a counterpart to Heavenly Book: Three.

As he read its meaning, Lei Jun quickly understood—

if his own Heavenly Book: Three corresponded to Yin-Yang and the Two Elements,

then Zhang Hui’s Heavenly Book: Two represented the Five Elements and Creation.

A cosmos of myriad wonders lay within it.

Lei Jun nodded slightly, then asked,

“Have you seen the third page of the Heavenly Book?”

“You misunderstand, Tianshi. This is a congratulatory gift for your ascension.”

Lei Jun replied calmly,

“There’s no need for concern, Fellow Zhang. I act in accordance with Heaven and mankind.”

Above his own head, a light flared—revealing Heavenly Book: Three.

“Tianshi’s serene heart and clear intent are exactly what I aspire toward.”

He could feel Lei Jun’s guidance embedded in the exchange and expressed his thanks.

Meng Shaojie, unsurprised by the appearance of the Heavenly Books, was preparing to leave.

But Lei Jun stopped him, gesturing that there was no need to shy away.

He welcomed both friends to stay.

Looking at the two, Lei Jun couldn’t help but marvel at fate’s wonders.

Zhang Hui, in the Heavenly Book Universe, held the Lunar Luminary: Heavenly Book Two.

Meng Shaojie, meanwhile, was the second chosen by Lei Jun’s Dark Side Universe—Ketu, the Hidden Star.

Their roles were cosmic counterparts—Lunar Luminary and Hidden Star—as if destined.

But now their fates were reversed.

Meng Shaojie roamed freely, basking in the light.

While Zhang Hui, the crown prince, lived in secrecy, shunning the spotlight.

Lei Jun made no comment, his expression calm as he hosted them.

Just then, a message arrived from the Tianli Portal to the east.

Lei Jun read it, his expression unchanged.

He looked at both Zhang Hui and Meng Shaojie and said quietly:

“One of the Nine Heavens—Tianli—has changed hands.”

Both men were stunned.

“The Lesser Ming Court of Tianli, unable to withstand pressure from Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen, Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang, my master, and other Tang Daoists,

has retreated back to the Ming Mortal Realm.”

Lei Jun’s tone remained light.

But deep down, he sighed:

Of course it was you. Or rather—how could it not be you?

Even without seeing it, he knew this had to be Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen’s idea.

With the Ming Dynasty’s retreat, Tianli had lost one pressure point.

But the pressure from Tang’s side had only grown fiercer.

Xu Yuanzhen likely pushed things just right—

and they’d forced the Lesser Ming Court all the way back to Ming territory.