Chapter 393: Chapter 393

Due to the Xiao Ming Court's forceful establishment of Mountains and Rivers National Destiny in Guizang, the region had suffered significant spiritual energy depletion.

Strictly speaking, the current spiritual energy could still be described as abundant.

However, in recent years, the circulation of spiritual energy throughout Guizang had shown signs of decline.

Previously, when the Xiao Ming Court of Guizang was caught between attacks from both the Tang and Ming Realms, it resorted to extreme methods that further drained its resources in an unsustainable manner.

Thus, even though the Xiao Ming Court no longer existed, Guizang’s spiritual vitality was in inevitable decline. It would take years of recuperation before the land could regain its former richness.

Of course, compared to many barren or mediocre territories in the mortal realm, Guizang—ranked among the Nine Heavens—was still a blessed and spiritually rich land of wonder.

Especially with many independent Blessed Lands and Cave Heavens scattered throughout, it remained an ideal paradise for cultivators.

Even now, it held tremendous developmental value.

As for Datong, its condition was even better than Guizang.

However, the Tang cultivators now needed to perform some cleansing.

After the reversal of the Blood and Iron Loyal Souls Grand Ritual, thick battle smoke had surged back into Datong.

Due to the resonance of energies, aside from the Five Ancestral Sites—which bore the brunt as the source—all other Blessed Lands and Cave Heavens had also become intertwined with the lingering smoke.

At present, Lei Jun was overseeing Chu Kun and others in purifying these lands, so they could once again shine in their former glory.

During this period, Tang Xiaotang and Chu Yu had already met with senior ministers from the Han Empire: Ouyang Jingyuan and Fang Junmei.

Fang Junmei’s surname drew particular attention.

“I was born into the Fang Clan of Jingxiang... yes, that would be the Fang Clan of Jingxiang in the Han Empire,” Fang Junmei said calmly.

“But my name has long since been struck from the family registry. To the Fang Clan, I’m nothing more than a disgrace—a disowned black sheep.”

Hearing this, Tang Xiaotang blinked and immediately shot a glance at Chu Yu, her movement deliberately obvious.

Both Ouyang Jingyuan and Fang Junmei seemed to have their own speculations upon hearing Chu Yu’s name, but they showed no reaction outwardly.

“Thank you both for coming all this way,” Chu Yu said with a calm expression and a smile. “General Yin will be arriving shortly. Neither Master Lei nor the Grand Preceptor Tang made things difficult for him. Master Lei mentioned that General Yin being stationed near Datong is part of his duty, nothing out of the ordinary. The only reason for the previous delay in receiving him was due to the unsettled situation within Datong.”

“You’re too kind, Master Lei,” replied Ouyang Jingyuan and Fang Junmei.

The Han Empire also had its own Daoist Tianshi Mansion lineage originating from Mount Longhu.

Over the years, the relationship between Mount Longhu and the Han imperial court had generally been close. The Han Emperor treated them with favor, and Han's Mount Longhu had become a pillar among the sacred Daoist institutions of the Han Empire, with the stature of a righteous path leader.

Therefore, ministers like Ouyang Jingyuan wouldn’t refer to the Tang lineage’s leader as Celestial Master.

Yet, in front of Chu Yu and Tang Xiaotang, they also refrained from calling Ji Daocheng, their own sect leader, by that title—instead using “Sect Master Ji.”

Lei Jun not giving General Yin Ming and his men a hard time had already eased half of Ouyang Jingyuan’s concerns.

The other half involved Ma Zongxiang and his associates from Han’s Mount Longhu.

“Our Emperor is a benevolent ruler, not one who revels in war,” Chu Yu explained gently. “The only reason the Three Immortals of Tianshi Mansion were sent into action was that the Five Ancestral Sites in Datong happened to relate to a rebellion case from a few years ago in our realm.”

“There has never been animosity between our two nations,” he continued. “We hold no hostile intent. However... it seems that the Mount Longhu lineage in your country does not share the same view.”

Ouyang Jingyuan responded slowly, “There must be some misunderstanding in all this.”

Chu Yu smiled, “We hope so as well.”

Tang Xiaotang, uncharacteristically, remained quiet during the entire exchange.

But her thoughts were anything but calm:

Has Senior Sister already gone to the Han Realm?

Later, after meeting with Yin Ming, Ouyang Jingyuan came to better understand what Ma Zongxiang had done—and was shocked.

Was Han’s Mount Longhu acting tough because they truly had something to rely on—or were they bluffing?

Either way, Ouyang Jingyuan hoped neither was true.

Though the Han Empire had its own interests in Datong, the Tang side had swept through the conflict like autumn wind through fallen leaves, quickly ending the war. This left the Han court feeling regretful, but also brought their ambitions to a halt.

From their standpoint, taking advantage of the situation for a small share of benefits was acceptable.

But if it meant reaching into the fire and facing a full-scale war with the Tang Empire—they would rather avoid it at all costs.

Currently, unrest plagued the Han Empire from within.

The rising presence of two suns in the sky was not a good omen for the state.

Of course, even if Han had no intention of going to war with Tang, there was still a red line:

If Tang’s top cultivators were to cross the boundary between Datong and the Han Realm in force, invading Han territory, then the Han Empire would have no choice but to suppress internal disputes and prepare for war.

Such a move would inevitably involve coordination with both the aristocratic clans and the Sumeru Treasury Sect.

Mount Longhu in the Han Realm—while a cherished support for the imperial court—was also at risk of becoming the very spark that ignited a major clash with the Tang’s Mount Longhu.

Ma Zongxiang had already been detained in Datong, which meant Ouyang Jingyuan had to tread very carefully.

Achievement depends on one’s aptitude—and sometimes, luck.

“No rush,” Lei Jun said calmly. “Let them go travel through the Tang Mortal Realm for a while. They can broaden their horizons and get used to the environment. As for whether they’ll be accepted and guided back to our sect, that depends on their individual fate. There’s no need to force anything. Just tell them that clearly in advance and let them decide for themselves.”

“Yes, Sect Leader,” Chu Kun replied respectfully.

Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang didn’t enter the Han Mortal Realm, choosing to remain in Da Tong.

As time passed, Tang Xiaotang grew a bit restless.

Since she wasn’t going into the Han Realm for now, she said a brief word to Lei Jun before returning to the Tang Mortal Realm.

While nurturing her mana and refining her Dao techniques and divine powers, the Tang National Advisor also resumed her own research.

After the events in Da Tong, she wanted to proactively reopen the gateway to the Earth Sea and the Yellow Springs.

Tang Xiaotang still held a grudge over being forcibly pushed back to the mortal world by the River of Forgetfulness and the surging tides of the Earth Sea.

Though she wasn’t a Cosmic Immortal Body like Xu Yuanzhen, with her own attainment of the Primordial Dao Body and her comprehension of the Primordial Genesis Talisman and Genesis Pearl Apparition, she had begun to wonder if she too could open such a portal.

Lei Jun remained stationed in Da Tong for now.

All post-war matters in Da Tong were proceeding in an orderly manner.

Meanwhile, in the Tang Mortal Realm, the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu was under the care of high-ranking elders such as Yuan Mobai and Shangguan Ning.

If anything needed Sect Leader Lei Jun’s decision, messages would be sent.

With everything running smoothly, Lei Jun’s presence in Da Tong became more symbolic.

He spent most of his time quietly cultivating.

He was currently nurturing two newly forged divine talismans—the Divine Firmament Pure Yang Talisman and the Spirit Firmament Pure Yin Talisman.

At the same time, he refined the Six Dragon Marrow, a rare treasure already prepared by Confucian experts and stored in a specialized vessel.

The six-colored blood marrow flowed like radiant light—gathering and dispersing, merging and separating, constantly shifting between unity and distinction.

Until Lei Jun infused it with his own power and began to refine it.

Then, six beams of light soared into the sky, transforming into six light-dragons that circled and danced in the air, releasing waves of spiritual energy.

Although laced with Confucian Literary Aura, with just a gesture from Lei Jun, that aura was instantly purified back into pure spiritual energy.

He unfolded his Great Ascension Dao Domain: Xuanhuang Universe.

The six light-dragons dove into the domain, coiling and weaving through its space.

At the center of this universe, Lei Jun sat in quiet meditation, breathing and focusing, immersed in his inner vision.

From the dragons’ shimmering scales, threads of light continuously flowed toward him, pouring strength into his body.

The streams of six-colored light gradually converged into a massive, radiant heart that encased Lei Jun entirely.

That heart pulsed with surging life force and spiritual energy.

The glowing heart slowly contracted and merged into Lei Jun’s chest, syncing with his own heart.

The associated energy had not yet been fully refined.

He would continue to cultivate and polish it in the days ahead.

After retracting his Dao Domain, light from the Heaven-Earth Communication Talisman shimmered in Lei Jun’s eyes.

A message arrived from his Senior Sister, Xu Yuanzhen, from the Han Mortal Realm.

Two things had caught her interest—and Lei Jun’s attention as well.

First, Ji Daocheng and others had caused the Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu to retreat completely into the Taiqing Salvation Grotto-Heaven, a most unusual move.

Second, the Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu legacy might be connected to one of the Nine Heavens, Kunlun.

Hearing this, Lei Jun pondered deeply.

He chose not to act rashly and remained stationed in Da Tong.

After some time, many people from the Tang Realm arrived in Da Tong.

They were all Tang cultivators.

Official communication between the Han and Tang Dynasties was now formally underway.

No longer limited to meetings within Da Tong, cultivators from both sides began to cross realms.

As previously agreed, the first group would be Tang cultivators visiting the Han Realm.

This first batch was not affiliated with either imperial court.

Moreover, Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion, which had performed outstandingly in the Da Tong battle, would not participate in this round.

Instead, Tang’s delegation consisted mainly of representatives from other major Buddhist and Daoist sects.

They entered the Han Realm via Da Tong and made a stop to greet Lei Jun.

“Elder Wang, Master Kongjing, Brother Ji, Master Shounian—thank you all for making this trip,” Lei Jun said in farewell.

Besides the Tianshi Mansion, Tianlong Temple also had no participants.

It wasn’t due to rejection by Abbot Miaoxin or Elder Miaokong—rather, Tianlong Temple’s lineage had long since disappeared from the Han Realm.

That Buddhist vow-based sacred site had perished from the Han Mortal Realm’s history.

However, the Pure Yang Palace, Shu Mountain Sect, Xuanyan Temple, and Bodhi Temple still maintained some presence in the Han Realm.

While not as powerful as Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu, Dakuang Temple, or Sumeru Treasury, their incense fires had not been extinguished.

Thus, Tang’s delegation was drawn from these four sects.

“Tianshi, National Advisor Tang, and Master Xu deserve the real credit,” Elder Wang Xuan from Pure Yang Palace said with a smile. “We’re simply enjoying the fruits of their labor.”

This time, Wang Xuan personally led the Pure Yang delegation into the Han Realm.

After refining the Dragon Marrow Jade Body gifted by Lei Jun, Wang was no longer in a Nascent Soul state—he had successfully rebuilt his physical body.

Hence, his gratitude toward Lei Jun was deep.

“You’re too polite, Elder Wang,” Lei Jun replied.

Even though Tang Xiaotang had returned to the Tang Realm, with Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen still in Da Tong and near the Han Realm, Wang Xuan and the others should be safe.

Besides the Pill Path cultivator Wang Xuan, the team included an Eighth Heaven cultivator—Master Kongjing from Xuanyan Temple, a sacred site of Buddhist discipline.

Back during Xuanyan’s internal strife, Master Kongjing had only reached the Seventh Heaven.

Now, many years later, he had successfully advanced another tier.

The Discipline Lineage of Buddhism allowed for broader age ranges when breaking through, but due to its austere nature, it never had many disciples.

Following its internal strife, Xuanyan Temple had become even more sparsely populated.

The invasion by the Lone Eagle Khanate and the Battle of Yunzhou had devastated the temple.

Fortunately, Abbot Ningru and Master Kongjing survived. With support from the Tang imperial family, the sect had regained its footing.

Another Buddhist sacred site, Bodhi Temple, had spent the past forty years in silent recovery after its own calamity.

Now, it too was reawakening.

This time, their representative was a very young elder named Master Shounian—still under fifty.

He joined the sect only after the founding of South Bodhi following the disaster, yet had already reached the Seventh Heaven and became one of Bodhi Temple’s new High Monks.

He radiated peace and composure and quietly followed behind Wang Xuan and Master Kongjing.

The Shu Mountain Sect was represented by a younger elder as well—Lei Jun’s old acquaintance, Ji Chuan.

“I heard you’ve been in seclusion lately, preparing for your Eighth Heaven breakthrough?” Lei Jun asked during their private chat.

“Yes,” Ji Chuan nodded.

His father, Ji Dongquan, a Shu Mountain elder, was over 300 years old.

Though highly accomplished in Daoist tool refinement, for various reasons, he had yet to attempt the leap from Seventh to Eighth Heaven.

With the Tang Dynasty stable and the Shu Mountain Sect beginning to recover, and with the surge of spiritual energy across the land, Ji Dongquan finally resolved to try.

Though past the ideal age range, at under 400, he still had a chance—though the difficulty was far greater than it would be for younger cultivators like Ji Chuan.

From what Lei Jun knew of Ji Dongquan, the man wouldn’t make such a choice unless he had significant confidence.

“With Elder Ji’s deep foundation, I’m sure he’ll succeed smoothly,” Lei Jun encouraged.

Ji Chuan replied, “It’s not something I can help with. All I can do is pray.”

After a few more words, Ji Chuan and the Shu Mountain disciples rejoined Wang Xuan and the others and set out for the Han Realm.

There, Han Dynasty officials and the four major Buddhist and Daoist sects awaited them.

Lei Jun remained in Da Tong, quietly and humbly.

Yet no one, within or outside Da Tong, dared underestimate him.

After Ji Chuan and the others left, a group of Tianshi Mansion disciples arrived in Da Tong.

They weren’t going to the Han Realm—instead, they had come for training.

Leading them was a man in a deep red Daoist robe—short and stout, with black-and-white fur peeking from his collar and cuffs.

It was none other than Zhuo Baojie, the Tianshi Mansion’s sole direct disciple of Lei Jun, and also an official Scripture Granting Elder.

He often undertook various assignments.

This time, he was in charge of leading disciples for their Da Tong training. But Elder Zhuo had his own agenda too.

He was preparing to challenge the Seventh Heaven.

With his teacher Lei Jun present, Zhuo Baojie followed alongside him to receive teachings.

After giving instructions to his top disciple, Lei Jun quietly observed him cultivate.

Seeing Zhuo Baojie settle quickly into a stable rhythm, Lei Jun nodded and withdrew his gaze.

He turned to another side.

Among the disciples who came to Da Tong, one person surprised him—

Lei Jun remembered her as someone who rarely left the mountain.

But this time, she had signed up voluntarily.

Da Tong had many spiritual plants not found in the Tang Realm, and Qin Caiwei had come enthusiastically to broaden her experience.

Nothing suspicious so far.

But Lei Jun’s intuition told him it wasn’t that simple.

Still, seeing no sign of malintent, he didn’t pry into her privacy.

“So this is Da Tong?” Qin Caiwei looked around with a bright sparkle in her eyes. “This trip was totally worth it!”

She paused briefly, glanced around, then whispered:

“Are you going to the Han Realm? To their Mount Longhu?

I thought you’d go with Elder Ji from Shu Mountain.

Mm… okay. No rush. Let’s keep watching for now.

But I heard their Mount Longhu has vanished without a trace—thanks to the Taiqing Salvation Grotto-Heaven?

Oh, it’s fine. I’m in no hurry. Da Tong is great. I plan to stay a few years.”