Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 333: Reverse Slashing the Ninth Heaven!

Lei Jun moved by force of habit, using the power of the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book to do some cleanup, while also sorting through the belongings of Shang Nan and the others.

He didn't have the leisure to inspect everything carefully at the moment. After a quick check confirmed there were no issues, he packed it all away for a more thorough look later when he had free time.

Currently, his Divine Court Manifestation—the universe outside his Divine Court—began to dissipate.

In the real world, outside this domain, Elder Miaokong of Tianlong Monastery had just broken through the ice and snow formed by Xue Xingzi's Heavenly Snow Sword, under the assault of the golden Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon.

Although the blizzard had obstructed his view, Elder Miaokong had still seen Lei Jun unfold his Divine Court Universe and understood that all four had been pulled into it.

Now that he was free, he saw before him a huge opaque black sphere. Its surface was dotted with starlight, displaying scenes of various celestial bodies on its dark shell—it was like a miniature version of the real universe.

“The Divine Court Manifestation of Xuanziaozi from the Tianshi Mansion, huh…”

Elder Miaokong only observed from outside and took a quick glance, yet already sensed boundless and profound Daoist principles hidden within.

Just as he considered contacting Lei Jun, he suddenly noticed Xue Xingzi's life-bound artifact, the Heavenly Snow Sword, begin to collapse and disintegrate into ashes.

Such a phenomenon usually meant that a Daoist Artifact Refining Sect cultivator at the Eighth Heaven Realm like Xue Xingzi had already perished—only then would a life-bound artifact be destroyed.

Artifacts that could survive, like the Taiyi Innate Tower or the Twin Swords of Purple and Green, were extremely rare exceptions.

If Xue Xingzi was dead… what about Shang Nan?

What was Lei Jun’s and Master Zongcuo’s current situation?

Just as Elder Miaokong stepped closer to the giant black sphere, he saw it begin to shimmer with radiant lights, which then dissolved into countless Daoist talismanic runes, scattering like flowing sand.

The Divine Court Manifestation dispersed, and Lei Jun’s figure reappeared in the real world.

Elder Miaokong hurried forward. “Elder Lei.”

Lei Jun nodded. “Master.”

Elder Miaokong saw neither Shang Nan nor Xue Xingzi—only Lei Jun floating mid-air above the sea, and beside him, the lifeless corpse of Master Zongcuo, fallen in silence.

“Both evil Daoists have been executed,” Lei Jun said. “But unfortunately, Master Zongcuo was struck by the enemy’s flying sword. I was too late to save him. Though I killed both scoundrels afterward, Master Zongcuo ultimately passed away. I deeply regret it.”

Elder Miaokong put his palms together. “Amitabha.”

Though both Tianlong Monastery and Vajra Monastery were Buddhist holy lands, their ties had always been limited. Since the arrival of Mount Sumeru, Tianlong Monastery had kept a respectful distance from the Vajra Division.

During their journey together, Elder Miaokong and Master Zongcuo had been cordial but never spoke privately.

Now, however, with Zongcuo having died at the hands of a common enemy, Elder Miaokong still folded his hands and softly chanted the Rebirth Sutra.

Lei Jun followed suit, also performing a Daoist soul passage ritual, reciting the Daoist version of the Rebirth Sutra for the fallen.

“Fortunately, the evil Daoists were slain, so Brother Zongcuo can rest in peace,” Elder Miaokong said after finishing his chant.

Lei Jun replied, “Master Zongcuo possessed great wisdom and courage, with the strength to vanquish demons. Only by working together were we able to take down those two evil cultivators and keep them from escaping.”

You’re too modest… Elder Miaokong thought to himself.

He observed Lei Jun—his mana was clearly depleted, but he bore no visible injuries.

Even though Xue Xingzi had left her Heavenly Snow Sword outside, her Flying Star Sword alone made her a tough opponent. Shang Nan was even stronger.

This battle may have looked like a two-versus-two, but Master Zongcuo died outright, while Lei Jun came out looking untouched.

Elder Miaokong didn’t believe Lei Jun had taken on all three enemies alone and come out unscathed—that would be too outrageous.

Still, Shang Nan’s power likely surpassed that of the former Supreme Elder of the Pure Yang Palace, Rong Guangchen, and Xue Xingzi, while not at Hong Jie’s level, was stronger than Wei Qiyue from the Shushan Sect.

Even without witnessing the fight, Elder Miaokong was confident that Lei Jun could have handled Shang Nan and Xue Xingzi alone without much pressure.

The strength of this generation of the Tianshi Mansion was truly awe-inspiring.

As Lei Jun himself had said, the real challenge was not the battle itself but whether the enemies could be stopped from escaping.

As for Master Zongcuo, although there were rumors about the dispute over the Tianshi Robe, Elder Miaokong didn’t believe he had sacrificed himself out of such motives.

It was simply that within Lei Jun’s Divine Court Universe, there wasn’t much room to slack off. With Shang Nan and Xue Xingzi fighting for their lives to escape, Zongcuo couldn’t afford to hang back.

Lei Jun had given him a proper posthumous tribute, and Elder Miaokong didn’t intend to dig further into the details.

At other times, Lei Jun might have tried to appear injured to downplay his role.

But today, the real focus of the battle wasn’t Shang Nan or Xue Xingzi, nor even the so-called Western White Emperor, but Huang Xuanpu.

With the upcoming situation unknown, Lei Jun saw no point in feigning injury. Better to preserve some freedom of movement.

With Master Zongcuo’s sacrifice to speak for the toll of the fight, the battle looked less like one man crushing three and more like a tragic yet balanced two-on-two.

Now, Lei Jun was more concerned about what was happening with Huang Xuanpu. Within his pupils, the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman flowed quietly.

Above, the Grand Celestial Mirror rotated in the sky, its reflections shifting.

Moments later, Lei Jun saw something.

A vast swath of blackness came into view—a huge shadow covering a broad area of the ocean, like someone had spilled ink over the sea.

From the outside, this black world seemed endless. Black thunderclouds frozen into glaciers had solidified into a physical form, utterly silent.

This was Xu Yuanzhen’s Great Ascension Dao Domain—Endless Deep Space.

Beside this cold, silent black world, the surrounding sea churned violently, the contrast stark.

Amidst the towering waves, two figures clashed in fierce combat—one small, one huge.

The smaller one wielded a long black halberd shimmering faintly with golden radiance. His movements were lightning-fast, almost like teleportation. It was General Shangguan Yunbo of the Tang Divine Strategy Army.

His opponent was mountainous in size, pure white, mostly submerged—the Northern Sea Whale King.

A notorious great demon of the Northern Sea, this monster had once displayed strength equivalent to a human Eighth Heaven Realm cultivator.

Recent intel from Shangguan Yunbo and the Court indicated that the Whale King had reemerged after years of hiding, and his power had likely advanced to match the Ninth Heaven Realm.

With the Snow Kingdom Bear King grievously wounded and in retreat, and the Eastern Sea Butterfly King slain, the power vacuum among Seventh and Eighth Heaven Realm demons of the North and East had made room for new threats to rise.

But judging from this, the Whale King’s breakthrough was likely unnatural—Huang Xuanpu may have played a critical role behind the scenes.

At this moment, the great demon was clearly one of Huang Xuanpu’s hidden cards, appearing just as he was cornered by Xu Yuanzhen and Shangguan Yunbo.

It made one reconsider the past—perhaps the rise of the Butterfly King back then wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed.

Shangguan Yunbo, with the Dangkou Golden Halberd, could hold his own for a while.

As a martial cultivator, he had superior mobility and could advance or retreat at will in battle.

But under the Whale King’s demonic pressure, massive waves surged skyward, transforming into frost that surrounded and sealed him in.

Unless Shangguan Yunbo wanted to forcefully break through the frost and risk getting trapped, he had to dodge—which meant he was effectively pinned down.

In the distance, Lei Jun was about to pose as Xu Yuanzhen and use a message transmission to point out the direction to Elder Miaokong so they could go help—when suddenly, he saw something new in the mirror.

A hole had appeared on the surface of Xu Yuanzhen’s Great Ascension Dao Domain.

When Pill Cauldron Sect cultivators manifest their Great Elixir and go all out on defense, they’re generally considered second only to the 戒律 monks of Buddhism.

However, on the long road of cultivation, there are occasional exceptions.

For Pill Cauldron Sect cultivators, reaching the Ninth Heaven Realm and achieving Five Qi Toward the Origin is precisely one such exceptional milestone.

A cultivator whose body has attained the Five Qi Toward the Origin Physique possesses defensive strength truly on par with 戒律 monks of the same level—though not as widely applicable to external threats. But in terms of personal defense alone, such a cultivator can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Buddhist masters as the strongest in protection.

Spirit of Solid Qi, immune to wind and thunder.

Soul of Emotionless Clarity, immune to metal and stone.

Essence of Immovability, immune to death and destruction.

Soul of Quiet Nature, immune to thought and intention.

Mind of Peaceful Harmony, regulating all four; thus completing Five Qi Toward the Origin.

Huang Xuanpu had already attained this Five Qi Physique. As he forcefully met Xu Yuanzhen’s Li Heng Halberd, he instantly switched moves and counterattacked with a strike of White Tiger Evil-Banishing Claw.

On the body of the Doumu Star God Manifestation Xu Yuanzhen had transformed into, the Primordial Talisman surfaced.

The natural essence of Primordial Indestructibility radiated from it, helping block Huang Xuanpu’s counterstrike.

However, amidst the impact, the talisman itself was torn apart by his claw.

The same impenetrable body he used for defense could also deliver seemingly unstoppable attacks.

Even so, after the talisman blocked the blow, Xu Yuanzhen’s figure flickered and vanished on the spot.

The two clashed at incredible speed, exchanging countless moves in an instant.

As they maneuvered, Xu Yuanzhen always held the upper hand.

But Huang Xuanpu’s body seemed truly indestructible—he’d take a hit just to seize an opportunity to strike back.

His every subtle movement showed the cunning and composure of a veteran, leaving no exploitable flaws.

Yet despite that, in a sudden surge of momentum, Xu Yuanzhen’s halberd slammed right into his face.

A shroud of five-colored radiance flared—Huang Xuanpu leaned back slightly but showed no signs of injury.

His expression didn’t change. Instead of anger, he let out a soft sigh. “Insight of a natural tier… I’m impressed.”

Compared to the force of Xu Yuanzhen’s halberd, what concerned the old Daoist more was something else.

In the dark cosmic void, even deeper darkness occasionally surged forth.

These shadows coalesced into profound talismans, which silently discharged threads of black lightning.

This black lightning was different from Lei Jun’s Xuanxiao Celestial Thunder. It was born from Xu Yuanzhen’s advancement in the Five Thunders Orthodoxy, now evolved into the Heavenly Thunder Law-Extinguishing Talisman.

It wasn’t cold or gloomy—but it was filled with solitude.

Wherever it touched, it didn’t harm living beings—but wiped out all magical law.

In that moment, divine arts and supernatural powers behaved as if they had lives of their own—and had just encountered their destined death, a force that brought an end to their very existence.

Xu Yuanzhen’s spells were lethal in their subtlety, and this was a perfect example.

Huang Xuanpu’s Pure Yang True Fire wasn’t erased outright by the talismans, thanks to the seamless integration of his Five Qi Toward the Origin Physique.

However, the fire could no longer exert its intended power—now surrounded by these black talismans, it could no longer burn through Xu Yuanzhen’s Great Ascension Dao Domain.

As a Pill Cauldron Sect cultivator, Huang Xuanpu’s body, life force, soul, and spirit were all formidable. He didn’t fear prolonged battle. But defeating Xu Yuanzhen wasn’t his goal.

Rather than fixating on victory, he focused on the bigger picture.

Even though the Northern Sea Whale King was holding off Shangguan Yunbo outside, there was no telling if more enemies were en route.

As for the Western White Emperor of Great Ming, Huang Xuanpu wasn’t sure he was an ally anymore.

Lingering here in a prolonged battle with Xu Yuanzhen wasn’t in his best interest.

In that moment, he made a decisive move and changed tactics.

The old Daoist suddenly moved with both hands.

His left formed an unusual fist, curled like a fetus resting in the womb.

Immediately, in Xu Yuanzhen’s perception, strange visions surged.

Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, and Black Tortoise shifted forms.

Lesser Yin entered Greater Yang, Greater Yang returned to Lesser Yin—then the Four Symbols vanished, leaving only the Great Sun.

All of his Yang Force gathered into a fetal form—pure, innate power condensed within.

Then his other hand, his right, extended a single finger toward Xu Yuanzhen.

All of that Yang Force focused on the tip of that one finger.

Unlike the usual subtle force of Pill Cauldron Sect techniques, this strike carried blazing brilliance at its tip.

This was the Pure Yang Mother Fist, one of the foundational arts of the Pure Yang Sect, born from the convergence of the Four Symbols, manifesting the Ultimate Yang Vital Qi.

Wherever the Ultimate Yang Vital Qi passed, its searing and unrelenting force could pierce through anything.

But Xu Yuanzhen remained calm.

She raised the Li Heng Halberd to meet it head-on, precision flawless, striking directly at Huang Xuanpu’s fingertip—denying him the chance to tear open the Endless Deep Space with a single point.

Failing to breach it, a burst of light flared in Huang Xuanpu’s previously serene eyes.

The five-colored radiance around him suddenly intensified—no longer tranquil, but searingly bright.

In that instant, the brilliance lit up the dark void.

A beam of rainbow light, seemingly without heat, shot forth—like a line dividing the cosmos.

Where it passed, the darkness was scorched as though split apart.

Five Qi Toward the Origin—Elixir Radiance!

Four Symbols Celestial Splendor!

The strongest offensive technique below the Nascent Soul level among Pill Cauldron Sect cultivators—bar none.

From the Fourth Layer to the Fifth Layer of the Ninth Heaven Realm, cultivators faced a major watershed. Pill Cauldron cultivators exemplified that transformation.

Upon reaching Five Qi Toward the Origin, their defense peaked—but so did their attack power.

It was a transformation achievable only when both soul and spirit had reached their current peak.

Though it consumed massive mana, the power unleashed was terrifying.

Huang Xuanpu’s Elixir Radiance – Four Symbols Celestial Splendor pierced forward with unstoppable momentum.

Xu Yuanzhen’s Primordial Talisman managed to block it for a moment—then shattered.

A five-colored auspicious cloud suddenly formed within the Endless Deep Space.

As a Talisman Sect cultivator at the Ninth Heaven Realm – Great Ascension Tier, Xu Yuanzhen had refined her Five Spirits and Five Qi, which could take the form of five-colored clouds as a defensive method.

At this moment, those clouds blocked Huang Xuanpu’s radiance.

However, Huang Xuanpu was determined to break her Dao Domain first.

His Four Symbols Celestial Splendor poured out endlessly.

Even Xu Yuanzhen’s clouds, strong as they were, were ultimately pierced through.

Just then, Xu Yuanzhen herself stepped forward—taking the Elixir Radiance head-on.

She’d rather be injured than let her Great Ascension Dao Domain fall?

Huang Xuanpu was instantly on alert.

He abruptly realized—another Xu Yuanzhen had appeared behind him.

It was the result of her Yin-Yang Dual Body, a life-bound Daoist art.

At the same time Huang Xuanpu channeled his power to breach Endless Deep Space, that very space began to transform.

Huang Xuanpu sensed it clearly—time was involved.

Even a Five Qi Physique, invulnerable to wind, fire, death, and corruption—was not absolute.

Time.

The flow of time, the scouring of the River of Years—it takes away everything.

And that, more than anything, could wear down the Five Qi Physique.

Yet time’s mysteries were so deep that few across history grasped even a sliver.

Even at the Ninth Heaven Realm, deep comprehension was rare.

But within Xu Yuanzhen’s Endless Deep Space, temporal forces were now clearly at work—and pressing directly upon Huang Xuanpu’s body.

In the silent vastness of the cosmos, he seemed to hear wind whistling past, and light dancing before his eyes.

Everything was flowing away—into the distance—gone.

And with it, the five-colored radiance around him began to dim.

Huang Xuanpu immediately steadied his spirit, locking down his essence.

But Xu Yuanzhen raised her hand.

A short sword appeared in her grasp.

Barely a foot long.

Its blade shimmered like flowing water.

Like dust drifting over the plains…

Like time, passing silently.

She slashed.

Yet the sword’s intent ran counter to her own Dao Domain.

Precisely because of that contradiction, Huang Xuanpu was horrified.

He tried to stop her.

But while his defense was stronger, Xu Yuanzhen was faster.

Two seemingly opposite temporal forces twisted together.

It was like two invisible hands grabbing the River of Time—and ripping it apart.

Even Huang Xuanpu, caught within, bore the brunt of that tear.

The five-colored radiance around him tore open!

His Five Qi Physique—temporarily incomplete!

The short sword vanished like wind.

Xu Yuanzhen didn’t linger.

In the instant that his Five Qi Physique developed that crack—she was upon him.

What had looked like passive endurance before now exploded into full power.

Thunder roared, flames surged—Purple Yang Thunder Dragon and Green Yin Fire Tiger appeared simultaneously.

Under Yin-Yang Harmony, a Purple-Green Taiji Diagram spun—it was the Dragon-Tiger Strike, the core legacy of the Tianshi Mansion!

The light of the Dragon-Tiger Strike slammed into Huang Xuanpu, as Xu Yuanzhen—manifesting the Fate Star Deity—lunged with her Li Heng Halberd for a brutal follow-up.

The Heaven, Earth, and Human manifestations of the Tianshi Mansion all attacked together—the power was overwhelming.

That short sword had been a one-time weapon—a burst of power, gone in a blink.

Huang Xuanpu’s Five Qi Physique had been breached, but his realm hadn't fallen. In mere moments, he could recover.

The old Daoist didn’t panic.

His Elixir Radiance was weakened due to the breach, but its arc had already changed—heading toward Xu Yuanzhen.

Though it hadn’t stopped her from swinging her sword, the rainbow beam still enveloped her.

Xu Yuanzhen thrust her Li Heng Halberd straight into its core—letting herself be swallowed by its devastating power.

At the same time, her Dragon-Tiger Strike illuminated Huang Xuanpu.

Face calm, the old Daoist changed his stance again.

Still the Pure Yang Mother Fist, but now…

Sun becomes Lesser Yin,

Lesser Yin becomes Lesser Yang,

Until only Greater Yin remains.

Yang gives birth to Yin—reversing everything.

Pure Yang Mother Fist – Yin Extreme Treasure Cauldron.

His stance turned his body into a great cauldron, shielding himself from the Dragon-Tiger Strike.

Though he’d lost the Five Qi Physique, Huang Xuanpu still had mastery over the Five Qi and the full might of the Pure Yang Sect’s legacy arts—he could hold out for a while.

Soon, the Five Qi would return.

But just then—blinding rainbow light flashed in his eyes.

It was his own Elixir Radiance – Four Symbols Celestial Splendor!

Three Elixir Vital Qi, Three Radiances and Clouds, Essence of Preservation... Huang Xuanpu instantly understood.

At Ninth Heaven Realm – Layer Two, Talisman Sect cultivators could refine the Three Radiances and Clouds, preserving external power or artifacts temporarily.

It wasn’t lasting, and couldn’t be taken outside the Dao Domain—but it worked.

This art was never supposed to be usable on a Pill Cauldron Sect’s Elixir Radiance.

Until now.

Xu Yuanzhen had broken that precedent!

This level of comprehension shouldn’t be possible—even for one with natural-tier insight…

In Huang Xuanpu’s view, a strange talisman hovered in Endless Deep Space.

It burned brightly—scorching her own Dao Domain.

And from it, her Elixir Radiance flew straight back—into Huang Xuanpu.

His Yin Extreme Cauldron shattered instantly.

The radiance pierced right through his body.

For the first time since the battle began—he was injured.

And on the other side, with Huang Xuanpu’s radiance running dry, Xu Yuanzhen charged forth with the Li Heng Halberd, striking true.

“Ha!” Huang Xuanpu roared, finally going all in.

Without hesitation, his flesh and blood body ignited.

In that moment, he became a great elixir.

As it burned, brilliant five-colored radiance erupted again—more dazzling than ever.

Huang Xuanpu directly gave up his Five Energies Converging to the Origin body, releasing a blazing Danxia Yuan Radiance that shot straight at Xu Yuanzhen.

Xu Yuanzhen didn’t dodge. Her body was instantly pierced by the Danxia Yuan Radiance.

The treasured light didn’t stop—it even punched through the already scorched Endspace Deep Void.

Xu Yuanzhen’s Great Ascension Dao Domain was finally breached from within.

But at the same time, her Liheng Halberd stabbed into the burning Grand Elixir.

The Grand Elixir shattered instantly!

A streak of light burst out ahead of everything else, shooting toward the sky.

Huang Xuanpu had abandoned his physical body and was fleeing at high speed.

Just before he escaped, eight talismans suddenly burst out of his Nascent Soul.

The talismans carried ancient charm, flowing with spiritual energy.

But at this moment, all eight talismans ignited, transforming into eight massive Alchemy Furnaces.

Encircled by these furnaces, the Yang Lightning Dragon and Yin Fire Tiger that had been boiling up in pursuit of Huang Xuanpu's Nascent Soul were temporarily blocked.

The furnaces formed a Bagua Formation, like a giant dome, temporarily sealing Xu Yuanzhen beneath it, halting her pursuit.

Had she been uninjured, this technique wouldn’t have worked—but now it gave Huang Xuanpu a sliver of hope.

Though Xu Yuanzhen couldn’t get out for the moment, she flipped her wrist, revealing an ancient mirror with a dim surface.

From the mirror burst out a pillar of black mist-like energy, striking the fleeing streak of light.

Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul shuddered in midair, almost plummeting from the sky.

His streak of light barely stabilized, then shot upward again, disappearing into the distant sky.

Nearby, the Northern Sea Whale King stirred up endless icy waves, momentarily separating from Shangguan Yunbo, then twisted its massive but agile body and vanished into the vast sea.

Shangguan Yunbo tore through the frozen sea, sparing no glance for Xu Yuanzhen, nor caring about his longtime rival the Whale King—he raced after Huang Xuanpu’s disappearing trail.

But Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul Escape was a soul-based secret technique of the Pure Yang Palace—the Lingguang Divine Escape. In a blink, he was gone.

Shangguan Yunbo was fast, but sensory tracking wasn’t his strength. Missing that first beat, he could no longer catch up.

Far out over the sea, after Lei Jun had handled Shangnan and Xue Xingzi, he conversed with Elder Miaokong of Tianlong Monastery while using the Grand Celestial Mirror to search for Huang Xuanpu’s whereabouts.

He saw Xu Yuanzhen’s Endspace Deep Void, and the battle between Shangguan Yunbo and the Northern Sea Whale King—just in time to see her pitch-black Great Ascension Dao Domain shatter.

They were still some distance apart.

Even if Lei Jun had wanted to send Huang Xuanpu a sword from afar in front of Elder Miaokong, it was already too late.

Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul vanished in an instant.

But Xu Yuanzhen had used a mirror Lei Jun had personally refined to hit him.

Through that, Lei Jun’s Grand Celestial Mirror successfully locked onto his trajectory.

The speed was astonishing.

But instead of fleeing into the sea, he was heading west—back toward the mainland.

Lei Jun immediately sensed something and figured out where he was going.

But he couldn’t leave him to Xu Yuanzhen anymore.

Give the guy a bit of breathing room and he’d find a new host body. With his cultivation, he could erase most of his past and be nearly impossible to find again.

“Huang Xuanpu was severely injured by Senior Sister and escaped. She pointed me toward his trail—this time, I won’t let him get away,” Lei Jun said briefly to Elder Miaokong.

————————————

In the snowy mountains of Western Sichuan…

Inside the Huangtian Ancestral Altar, Kang Ming and Chen Ziyang once again arrived together.

Han Wuyou had just exited seclusion, becoming the Huangtian Sect’s newest Upper Heaven-level High Priest Elder.

Kang Ming and Chen Ziyang each had their own thoughts as they offered their congratulations.

The current sect leader, Yu Shao, had also been smiling—until his face suddenly changed.

So did Han Wuyou’s.

Kang Ming immediately grew alert.

“Sect Master, Junior Brother Han—what’s wrong?” Chen Ziyang had just opened his mouth to ask when both Yu Shao and Han Wuyou stood up abruptly.

“Senior Brother Chen, come with us,” Yu Shao said and walked out first.

Han Wuyou followed closely. Kang Ming remained calm and silent as he trailed behind.

Chen Ziyang’s expression darkened, sensing a vague sense of dread. After a moment’s hesitation, he followed too.

The four of them arrived at the very top of the Ancestral Altar.

Yu Shao and Han Wuyou bowed solemnly toward the empty sky: “We welcome the arrival of the Sovereign’s divine presence.”

Chen Ziyang’s face turned ashen.

In Kang Ming’s heart, it was like thunder crashing.

Given Wen Zhaoqian’s identity, he should be making the same gesture as Yu Shao and Han Wuyou.

But clearly, the two of them had been informed beforehand.

While he, Kang Ming, had not.

Did that mean…

“You’ve done well enough. Later, we’ll discuss how you can reverse-possess Nephew Wen.”

Just as Kang Ming was spiraling in suspicion, a voice suddenly echoed in his ear.

Then a beam of light appeared atop the Huangtian Ancestral Altar.

A Daoist youth, looking around eighteen, with jade-like features and a warm expression, appeared.

To most cultivators of the Great Tang, this face had already become unfamiliar.

But even the Huangtian Sect members, seeing that face, felt a faint sense of recognition.

Gradually, the young man’s features overlapped with those of a once-revered Daoist master—elegant, upright, and awe-inspiring.

Huang Xuanpu’s face.

Only now, it was the form of his Nascent Soul Yang Spirit, as he had looked in his youth.

The former Sect Master of Pure Yang Palace now stood within the Huangtian Ancestral Altar.

It was a jarring sight.

But no one present seemed surprised.

Chen Ziyang’s foreboding feeling had come true.

Yu Shao and Han Wuyou—already pledged to the Mortal Daoist Nation—stood with deep reverence.

Kang Ming, however, felt his heart sink.

He wasn’t shocked that Huang Xuanpu had shown up.

But the fact that his true identity had already been exposed to the man—how much of his private plans had been laid bare?

As that thought formed, a chill spread through Kang Ming’s body. His mind went foggy.

In his consciousness, it felt like a cold sea emerged.

Pure Yang Palace’s soul technique—Sea of Enlightenment.

He’d seen Wen Zhaoqian use it before.

But a Seventh-Heaven Wen Zhaoqian and a Ninth-Heaven Huang Xuanpu were two entirely different beasts.

Even with Huang Xuanpu in a weakened state.

Even with Kang Ming himself now a Seventh-Heaven Alchemist Sect cultivator.

He was still overwhelmed—his spirit plunged into a phantom sea of ice.

Chen Ziyang was in the same state beside him.

Yu Shao and Han Wuyou glanced at Kang Ming with surprise.

They’d always known Chen Ziyang harbored disloyal thoughts toward the Daoist Nation.

But Elder Wen?

He was still Kang Ming?

Had he taken over Elder Wen?

How?

“Lock down the perimeter. Don’t alarm the surroundings…”

Huang Xuanpu was instructing Yu Shao and Han Wuyou when he suddenly stiffened.

Just as he was about to subdue Kang Ming and Chen Ziyang—especially Kang Ming—an unexpected change occurred.

A strange mirror appeared.

Its surface was dim and dull, seemingly damaged.

But streams of black smoke surged from it, as dark as columns of fog, striking toward Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul Yang Spirit.

Just as he tried to dodge, a shadow appeared on him.

This shadow carried the exact same energy as the mirror.

The two were linked—instantly freezing Huang Xuanpu in place above the Ancestral Altar.

Two identical items… Huang Xuanpu’s eyes flickered with dread.

That meant this altar had long been in the Tianshi Mansion’s grasp?

The moment that thought emerged, the entire Huangtian Ancestral Altar began to shake.

Massive talismanic forces surged upward, turning the altar into a prison-like cage, locking Huang Xuanpu inside.

Yu Shao was horrified to find he could no longer control the altar as before.

It was as if ownership had changed.

This wasn’t Tang Xiaotang’s style… Was it Xu Yuanzhen?

Or—

Huang Xuanpu, sensing something, turned toward the distance.

A bolt of lightning flashed.

A purple bolt of lightning struck directly toward him—

It was Lei Jun.

He didn’t waste words—he immediately unleashed his Divine Court Manifestation.

A universe of Xuanhuang appeared, suspended above the altar, and instantly swallowed Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul Yang Spirit.

A massive, opaque black sphere continued to expand, squeezing all directions.

It was like a condensed world dropping from the sky—crushing the altar’s top level.

Yu Shao and the others scrambled to dodge.

Han Wuyou looked back at the terrifying Divine Court Manifestation. He tried to break it from the outside, but the colossal black sphere didn’t budge.

“Was the Sovereign earlier… just a bodyless soul?”

Han Wuyou felt like his heart was being crushed—he could barely breathe: “Is the Mortal Daoist Nation finished? More importantly… what about Huangtian Sect’s altar?”

The Three-Tiered Altar’s top layer collapsed.

The whole structure began to tremble and crack.

“Even without a body, the Sovereign is a Ninth-Heaven Alchemist Sect master. The Tianshi Mansion can’t easily handle him,” Yu Shao had also been shocked but regained his composure at Han Wuyou’s words. “As for our altar… that’s a real problem.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Han Wuyou.

He was just about to continue when Kang Ming’s voice rang out: “The new altar of our sect—let’s place that burden on you, Junior Brother Han.”

Yu Shao and Han Wuyou turned in shock, seeing Kang Ming reappear with Chen Ziyang.

With Lei Jun’s Divine Court Manifestation suppressing Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul Yang Spirit, Kang Ming and Chen Ziyang had finally broken free, regaining their sanity.

Though the earlier details were unclear, just seeing a Eighth-Heaven Talismanic Branch master’s Divine Court crush the altar, they knew—even if they survived today, their base was compromised. Sooner or later, disaster would strike.

After a brief silence, a dangerous resolve gleamed in Kang Ming’s eyes.

He immediately brought Chen Ziyang to confront Han Wuyou and Yu Shao.

Chen Ziyang and Han Wuyou were both stunned, but Kang Ming remained calm as he looked at Han Wuyou:

“You, like Elder Zhao, have a unique physique—you're capable of passively bearing the altar's burden.

All you need is a little help. Just like how the Mortal Daoist Nation forced Elder Zhao back then.

When Elder Qi took you in, he already had this plan.”

Yu Shao stared at Kang Ming in disbelief.

He knew even that?

Han Wuyou, after a brief shock, quickly composed himself: “Kang Ming, Chen Ziyang—are you rebelling?”

Kang Ming: “We're restoring order. We serve the Huangtian Sect, not the Mortal Daoist Nation.”

Han Wuyou: “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’ll take my leave for now.”

He had just entered the Seventh-Heaven Tongtian Realm, still hadn't formed his first Divine Ability or Dharma Image.

Regardless of Kang Ming’s power, he knew he wasn’t a match for Chen Ziyang right now.

He wasn’t here to fight—he just wanted to run.

As for Yu Shao? That could wait.

But the moment Han Wuyou moved, he froze.

He looked down in shock at the altar beneath him, now about to collapse, and turned to Kang Ming.

Kang Ming held a strange talisman in his hand.

Yu Shao looked even more shocked than Han Wuyou.

Kang Ming: “Told you—I figured out how you dealt with Elder Zhao.”

He turned to Chen Ziyang. “No time to explain. Let’s capture Han Wuyou first—we’ll talk later.”

Chen Ziyang took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and charged at the immobilized Han Wuyou.

Meanwhile, Kang Ming silently charged at the already-escaping Yu Shao.

This young cultivator who had become the new Sect Master of the Huangtian Sect because of Zhao Zongjie, now that he had lost control of the Huangtian Ancestral Altar, was merely a Sixth Heaven realm cultivator himself.

With Chen Ziyang’s assistance, Kang Ming could easily stabilize the current Huangtian Sect.

The problem was...

Kang Ming turned to glance at the Divine Court Manifestation looming above the Huangtian Sect like a natural disaster.

A trace of hesitation and confusion flickered in his eyes.

"So... where should the Huangtian Sect go from here?"

…………………

In the Xuanhuang Universe, lightning and fire scattered in all directions—from the distant starry sky to the nearby Magnetic Sea.

Lei Jun and Huang Xuanpu stood together in its midst.

Their physical bodies gone, only their Nascent Soul Yang Spirits remained. The youthful-looking Huang Xuanpu stared at Lei Jun:

“...This whole thing with Kang Ming—was it all your doing?”

Lei Jun replied calmly:

“I’m more familiar with this new Huangtian Ancestral Altar than you are.”

Huang Xuanpu nodded slightly.

“I was too careless before. That’s how things got this bad. Some matters really do need a personal touch.”

As he spoke, multiple Mysterious Firmament Five Thunder Talismans emerged at once.

A vast cloud of black Yin Thunder spread out in utter silence.

Though Huang Xuanpu had lost his physical body and even his Nascent Soul was damaged, he had previously achieved the Five Energies Converging to the Origin. Those five energies nurtured his soul, making his already sturdy Yang Spirit even more tenacious.

But looking at that sea of black lightning, and the massive head of a Yin Thunder Dragon silently emerging from it, Huang Xuanpu frowned.

This Yin Thunder… could corrode even a Yang Spirit.

Lei Jun didn’t hold back. With a roar, the Yin Thunder Dragon lunged at Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul Yang Spirit.

Though he had taken multiple hits today, Huang Xuanpu quickly calmed his mind. The Sea of Clarity reappeared behind him.

Using soul-based secret techniques, he transformed the Sea into a cold ocean to resist the assault of Lei Jun’s Yin Thunder Dragon and the thunder sea.

At the same time, a layer of illusory mist formed around his Nascent Soul—a soul technique from the Pure Yang Palace, known as Meng Zhang Mists.

The Mists expanded rapidly, obscuring the surroundings and clouding Lei Jun’s soul perception.

With this, Huang Xuanpu feigned a second attempt at escape using the Lingguang Divine Escape.

But instead of fleeing, a fierce phantom gale burst forth toward Lei Jun’s spirit.

Punishment of the Commander!

Huang Xuanpu had suddenly launched a counterattack.

Experts of the Daoist Alchemical Sect always practiced dual cultivation of body and spirit. Even without a body, Huang Xuanpu’s soul-based techniques were formless and hard to guard against.

However, Lei Jun’s spiritual toughness exceeded even Huang Xuanpu’s expectations.

He let himself be drawn in, forcefully tanking the attack. Though his soul was briefly shaken, the Yin Thunder Dragon retaliated immediately.

The stroke of black lightning shredded the ferocious white tiger image in his opponent’s mind.

At the same time, Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul Yang Spirit was now encircled by the Yin Thunder Dragon.

With further spellcraft, Huang Xuanpu caused another buzz in Lei Jun’s mind.

The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—the Four Celestial Beasts—seemed to appear all at once.

Then a blinding light surged forth, threatening to shatter Lei Jun’s very soul.

It was one of the Pure Yang Palace’s most devastating soul arts:

The Supreme Four Spirits Tribulation.

Just as the mystic art was about to take full effect, everything suddenly stopped.

The Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle of Supreme Purity appeared again.

Like raging dragons, the strands of straw unfurled, each solidifying into violent gales that shielded Lei Jun’s spirit.

The same Eight Sceneries Wind that once entrapped Yuan was now defending Lei Jun.

“...So the Eight Sceneries Wind was yours too.”

Huang Xuanpu gave Lei Jun and the treasure cloak one last deep look before flinging his Nascent Soul outward, even at the cost of spiritual damage from the Yin Thunder Dragon.

He shot straight into the dazzling Magnetic Sea.

Even without approaching, he could feel the intense magnetic energy that disrupted the soul.

But he had greater cultivation than Xue Xingzi. While his Nascent Soul Yang Spirit lacked agility, its durability surpassed even the Artifact Refining Sect’s Immortal Souls.

So he aimed for the most dangerous point in the Xuanhuang Universe to break out in one go—trying to escape Lei Jun’s Divine Court Manifestation.

He had to get away. Otherwise, with injuries piling up and Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen chasing him non-stop, even he wouldn’t make it out alive.

In a way, his judgment was spot on.

He braved the magnetic disturbance—and succeeded!

But the next moment…

“………”

Old Huang thought his eyes were playing tricks.

In front of him, it was still the pitch-black void of space, only distant starlight swirling.

Looking back—bright yellow again.

The Magnetic Sea.

He’d just escaped from it.

Even with Huang Xuanpu’s experience, he was momentarily stunned.

Then—whack!

An eight-section green bamboo staff appeared right in front of him and smacked him square in the forehead.

The unassuming bamboo staff, glowing with purple and gold, exploded with devastating power when it hit his soul.

Even someone of Huang Xuanpu’s level couldn’t react in time. The blow sent his Nascent Soul Yang Spirit tumbling back.

Though he still looked like a living person, the forehead of his Nascent Soul now showed fine cracks—like a shattered porcelain vase.

Dazed, he suddenly saw Lei Jun calmly standing ahead, wrapped in the Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle, holding the Supreme Jade Celestial Bamboo of Upper Clarity.

For a moment, Huang Xuanpu wondered if he’d gotten lost in the Magnetic Sea and somehow circled back into Lei Jun’s Xuanhuang Universe.

The next moment, he suspected another expert was using soul illusions to mess with him.

But all those thoughts vanished quickly.

Even injured, he was certain—he hadn’t gotten lost, and he wasn’t caught in any illusion.

So…

There was only one explanation.

Lei Jun had two Divine Court Manifestation Universes!

As absurd as it sounded, it was the truth.

Two universes.

Or perhaps… one split into two—interlocked, overlapping—two yet one, one yet two.

They weren’t even mirror images. They were exactly the same.

Only one Lei Jun existed—but he could appear in either universe at will.

Huang Xuanpu didn’t need to test it. He knew—if he had tried escaping toward the distant stars instead of the Magnetic Sea, he would’ve still ended up trapped in the other half of Lei Jun’s manifestation.

That was the true nature of Lei Jun’s Divine Court Manifestation:

Xuanhuang Universe: The Two-Element Microcosm.

To escape, either Lei Jun would need to lose strength and drop the manifestation…

Or the attacker had to break through both halves simultaneously.

Or—

Kill Lei Jun here.

At that moment, Huang Xuanpu’s expression turned utterly calm as he stared Lei Jun down.

And then… his Nascent Soul Yang Spirit ignited.

The Five Energies reversed course.

The Essence of Firm Qi, originally a nurturing force, became a wind-thunder tribulation of destruction.

The Still Essence, once a force of stability, turned into a deathly aura of annihilation.

The Passionless Soul, which used to refine the spirit, now condensed into a blinding, icy white light—sharper than any divine weapon.

Huang Xuanpu used the wind-thunder tribulation to freeze Lei Jun’s bamboo staff.

Used the deathly aura to erode the Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle.

And launched the blinding sharpness directly at Lei Jun.

But Lei Jun remained unfazed. He didn’t even move.

He simply raised his hand.

A shadow surged from his palm.

Huang Xuanpu’s deadly slash cut through it, shaking the dark space.

Lei Jun’s pale Dark Side of the Heavenly Book Universe suddenly turned black—as if it had suffered a cataclysm.

But with a single thought from Lei Jun, the golden Seven-Star Sword Light flashed again from the Magnetic Sea.

Sword lights shot out.

Huang Xuanpu’s final attack had been powerful—but it left his Nascent Soul unstable, no longer agile or tough.

So the sword lights tore through him like a sieve!

Lei Jun inhaled deeply, then let out a long breath.

The bright yellow and pitch-black space dissolved, turning into a vast array of talismanic energy, dispersing in all directions.

In the real world, far away, Elder Miaokong was hurrying over.

Kang Ming and Chen Ziyang had just slain Yu Shao and were fleeing with the captured Han Wuyou.

Sensing something, they looked up toward the broken Huangtian Ancestral Altar.

The massive black sphere was falling apart.

From within emerged Lei Jun—and the shattered remnants of Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul.

Dragon roars. Tiger howls.

Thunder boomed. Fire erupted.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Apparition and Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor Apparition stood side by side.

A soaring Yang Lightning Dragon in purple rose to the skies.

A grounded Yin Flame Tiger in green roared from the earth.

Elder Miaokong was stunned at first—then shocked:

“Yang Lightning Dragon and Yin Flame Tiger? He cultivated both of them? Wait, didn’t he also have the Fate Star Avatar and that Yin Thunder Dragon earlier…?”

Lei Jun’s voice rang across the world, calm but resolute:

“The mortal realm no longer needs the Divine Court… and it certainly doesn’t need you.”

Thunder crashed from the sky. Fire surged from the earth.

Together, they obliterated the last remnants of Huang Xuanpu’s soul.

A Taiji Diagram of intertwined purple and green—Yin and Yang united—exploded in the snowy ranges of Western Sichuan.

Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike!

The ultimate supreme art of the Tianshi Mansion erupted with terrifying might.

It completely annihilated what remained of Huang Xuanpu’s soul.

Lei Jun, with his Eighth Heaven cultivation, had just slain a Ninth Heaven powerhouse.

And with that, the Mortal Daoist Nation of the Tang Dynasty came to its end.