Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 363: A first-class opportunity, the best of luck!

In the Song Mortal Realm, the Talismanic Branch of Daoism had already declined.

As a result, whether it was foreign martial artists or disciples of the Three Spring Palace, they previously had limited understanding of the Tianshi Mansion and the Talismanic Branch’s methods. The few things they’d heard were mostly ancient rumors.

However, lately, they had gradually learned more about the lineage of Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion—especially about that young, current Tianshi, Lei Jun.

It began when the Sunset Tribe entered the Tang Mortal Realm and suffered a major loss because of Lei Jun. Rumors flew wildly after that.

Later, during the outbreak of the Battle of Yunzhou, when the Lone Eagle Khanate’s Western Army was engaged in a brutal fight with the Tang cultivators on the east bank of the Great River, that legendary Tianshi Lei Jun finally appeared. In that battle, he swept the field, making it crystal clear why he could stand alone against many and even slay Mi Han, the Sunset Tribe’s second strongest warrior at the Peak of the Eighth Heaven.

Fortunately, Lei Jun disappeared afterward. Many in the Lone Eagle Khanate speculated that he had rerouted westward to deal with the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru.

At the time, the popular guess was that he was going to team up with his senior martial sister, Tang Xiaotang, to deal with the Vajra Division’s commander.

But Lei Jun made an even bolder move—his target was none other than the main gate of the Vajra Monastery and the Void Gateway to Mount Sumeru.

Unfortunately for the Lone Eagle Khanate, the Void Gateway at Mount Bayan in the north, which led back to their homeland, was also under threat by the Tang cultivators.

With no other option, the members of the Three Spring Palace and some foreign warriors had to head west.

In this desperate situation, they burst forth with a ferocity unlike anything before, charging toward the ruins of the Vajra Monastery under the leadership of Xurigan and others.

But Lei Jun displayed even greater divine might than he had on the eastern riverbank.

Now, above the ruins of the Vajra Monastery, two Taiji Diagrams, one purple-green and the other black-red, exploded in brilliance above Lei Jun’s head, sweeping across the battlefield. It was a scene that brought to mind an old saying:

“One man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot get through.”

The bravery of the Lone Eagle warriors, born from desperation, quickly crumbled under the Dual Dragon-Tiger Strike of Lei Jun.

Compared to the fear instilled in their enemies by his overwhelming mystical power, the Tang cultivators were far more deeply moved.

In the distance, Elder Yue Xiling, a High Priest of the Pure Yang Palace, halted his steps. After recovering from his initial shock, he exhaled slowly.

His knowledge of the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu far exceeded that of people like Jiang Cheng from the Three Spring Palace, even though both inherited from different branches of Daoism.

Yue Xiling was certain that before this day, no one in the Tianshi Mansion—or the Talismanic Branch of Daoism—had ever, at the Eighth Heaven Realm, managed to cultivate five Dharma Apparitions simultaneously.

The most anyone had achieved—like Tang Xiaotang and Lei Jun himself previously—was four.

Now, Lei Jun was manifesting the Apparition of Doumu Star God, with the Yang Thunder Dragon, Yin Thunder Dragon, Yang Fire Tiger, and Yin Fire Tiger guarding in four directions.

He was the first in the history of the Tianshi Mansion to ever do so.

Wait a second...

Yang Thunder, Yin Thunder.

Heaven Fire, Earth Fire.

They all came in pairs...

But that still didn’t explain the presence of the Destined Star Avatar.

A sense of realization washed over Yue Xiling—followed immediately by a flood of new questions.

Amid the explosions of Heavenly Thunder and Earth Fire, of Yang Fire and Yin Thunder, the tall figure of the present-day Tianshi stood amidst the swirling chaos. To the crowd, he still seemed shrouded in mystery.

And the more mysterious he seemed, the more imposing he appeared...

The majestic and mysterious Tianshi Lei Jun had no time to greet the other Tang cultivators.

In the distance, a figure was rapidly approaching the ruins of the Vajra Monastery.

The figure had a gaunt face, flowing long beard, and wore a blue-black Daoist robe—its surface stained with blood that had long turned black, yet still visibly clear.

Even though he was injured, he still exuded the immortal demeanor of a Daoist master.

It was Zhao You’an, current sect master of the Three Spring Palace.

The Three Spring Palace had long joined the Lone Eagle Khanate’s military campaigns. Though their main temple remained in the Song Mortal Realm, over half of their elite had crossed into the Tang Realm on this expedition.

If they suffered too many losses, all the energy and heritage built over the years would be lost.

Thus, to protect his fellow disciples, Zhao You’an had stayed behind despite his injuries, taking on a rear guard role.

Since Xiao Xueting had taken the Mountain and River Sword northward, Zhao You’an, though wounded, was still able to keep up during their retreat west.

However, disaster struck the vanguard.

He had assumed that although the Tang forces had broken the Vajra Monastery’s gate, they too must be exhausted.

From afar, the shaking illusionary triple-tier altar seemed to confirm that hope.

But reality turned sharply against him.

With both hands outstretched like a divine dragon’s claws, Zhao You’an pushed aside Princess Zhang Ying of the Tang Royal Family with one claw and swept aside Elder Xu Duan of the Shushan Sect with the other.

Then he soared skyward like a startled dragon, rushing toward the Vajra Monastery ruins.

As he approached the ruins, mixed emotions flickered across his face.

Back in the Song Mortal Realm, the Three Spring Palace had always been wary of the Lotus Division of Mount Sumeru.

But since the Lotus Division rarely operated in the Lone Eagle Khanate, both sides had maintained a kind of mutual non-interference.

That changed when the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru suddenly rose to power.

Now, both Zhao You’an and the entire Three Spring Palace were on high alert.

But with Mount Bayan to the north—currently the main route by which the Lone Eagle Khanate invaded the Tang Realm—being under threat, the Tang forces were certain to pursue and block it.

That left Zhao You’an with no choice but to take his disciples westward, attempting to use the Void Gateway at Mount Sumeru to return to the Song Realm.

In normal times, this would have been incredibly risky.

Luckily, the Vajra Division was currently overwhelmed, unlikely to cause more trouble.

But all of this depended on first breaking through the obstacle in front of them.

Behind Lei Jun, the three-tiered altar conjured from the Tianshi Seal became increasingly unstable.

Across the Void Gateway, someone from the Vajra Division was continuously attacking from the other side.

Clearly, the Vajra Division still had powerful cultivators stationed within Mount Sumeru, holding their ground.

And since Lei Jun hadn’t yet fully mastered the Tianshi Seal, the illusionary altar was close to collapse under pressure.

Still, Lei Jun remained focused, eyes locked onto the rapidly approaching Zhao You’an.

Zhao You’an also stared at Lei Jun, but he wasn’t interested in a prolonged fight.

Mists swirled rapidly around him as he vanished into the fog, like a dragon revealing its head but hiding its tail.

This was the classic Daoist movement technique recorded in the “Spring Dragon Hidden Canon,” part of the Three Spring Palace’s Martial-Daoist Arts.

The Three Springs—Early Spring, Mid Spring, Late Spring—corresponded to their three core scriptures:

Spring Dragon Hidden Canon,

Spring Dragon Rising Canon,

and Spring Dragon Battle Canon.

Early Spring, the first month of the year, where the cold hadn’t yet receded and all things lay dormant, waiting to rise.

The Azure Dragon hides, poised to leap.

Zhao You’an, shifting between concealment and attack, attempted to bypass Lei Jun and strike directly at the faltering altar above the Void Gateway.

Right now, the Three Spring Palace and Lone Eagle cultivators were under siege from both front and rear.

If they could open the gateway and bring reinforcements from the Vajra Division, they could reverse their situation.

Lei Jun’s eyes glowed with the light of the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman, silently rotating.

As his mana drained rapidly, the black-red Taiji Diagram above him vanished.

But the purple-green diagram still flared with brilliant light—locking precisely onto Zhao You’an hidden in the mist.

Seeing this, Zhao You’an’s heart tightened slightly, but he didn’t stop. He continued flying toward the altar.

Clouds thickened around him, dense and chilling.

The Three Spring Palace, unlike the Pure Yang Palace, didn’t cultivate Pure Yang Fire, but through the wisdom of generations, they’d developed their own method: Yin Stream Frozen Clouds.

Heavy, frigid, and integrated in both offense and defense.

At this moment, he concentrated all of it into a single palm, using it to block the purple-green light.

Though he faltered slightly in midair, he quickly pressed forward.

From afar, Elder Xu Duan and Princess Zhang Ying, who had exchanged blows with him earlier, knew he had cultivated Qi of Stabilized Spirit.

This was a unique Daoist refinement of Bright Spirit Qi, one of the Five Origin Qi from Foundation Establishment. It allowed the body and soul to resist external forces like thunder or wind, reducing damage significantly.

With both the Yin Stream Frozen Clouds and the Qi of Stabilized Spirit, Zhao You’an endured the strike—but his old injuries flared up again.

Still, he was close to the altar—almost there.

But in that moment, a step away became a chasm.

A massive black sphere suddenly appeared behind him—beyond all expectations.

Its surface was covered in runes that flowed like orbits, exuding an immense gravitational pull, locking Zhao You’an in midair.

It was the Heavenly Court Inner Cosmos of a Talismanic Cultivator at Peak Eighth Heaven.

While this manifestation was effective at seizing enemies, capturing a Ninth Heaven Daoist like Zhao You’an was supposed to be impossible.

He resisted with Frozen Clouds, trying to freeze space itself.

But inside that black sphere, it was as though multiple celestial bodies revolved together.

The suction far exceeded what any book had prepared him for.

Was this really the Inner Cosmos of a Peak Eighth Heaven? Or had he misjudged—and this was a Great Ascension Realm domain?

He had no choice but to abandon the altar and turn all his energy toward resisting.

Suddenly, he shuddered—his suppressed wounds burst open, blood gushed out, and his figure blurred...

...and vanished into that cosmic darkness.

Xu Duan and Zhang Ying reached the area—

But the massive sphere had already gone still.

Inside, Zhao You’an floated, face grim, staring at the distant stars and the nearby yellow sea of magnetic energy.

And in the center, stood Lei Jun—the master of this mysterious cosmos.

One hand behind his back, the other holding a pure white jade given by his junior martial brother Chu Kun.

Massive spiritual power poured into him, nourishing both body and soul, aiding his Two-Element Celestial Physique in rapidly recovering mana.

Earlier, to avoid revealing his grand formation too soon, he had summoned all five Dharma Apparitions and unleashed a Dual Dragon-Tiger Strike, clearing the field in one explosive moment.

The price was, of course, immense mana consumption.

Still, his reserves were greater than most at his level, and his Two-Element Celestial Physique made his mana recovery among the best of his peers.

His divine arts burned mana fast—but the effect was devastating.

This combat style was shaped by his knowledge from before coming to this world.

Breaking limits and unleashing overwhelming force had always been his goal.

But with great power came great cost.

After unleashing both the Dual Dragon-Tiger Strike and the Heavenly Court Inner Cosmos, even Lei Jun needed to draw on the spiritual jade Chu Kun had gifted him.

Inside the cosmos, though dissatisfied, Zhao You’an remained calm.

He stabilized his wounds, then launched himself toward Lei Jun.

There was only one option now: defeat this Talismanic Daoist first.

The techniques of Spring Dragon Hidden Palm, Spring Dragon Soaring Palm, and Spring Dragon Battle Palm—all the classics of the Three Spring Palace—unfolded from Zhao You’an’s hands.

Lei Jun, rapidly recovering mana, didn’t yield an inch.

As the Doumu Star God Apparition manifested, countless mystical talismans activated alongside—Spirit Officer Talisman, Heavenly Travel Talisman, and Star Array Formation, among others.

In the dark void, they fought at full speed.

Lei Jun’s Spirit Officer Apparition traded countless blows with Zhao You’an.

Zhao You’an was shaken.

He knew that Lei Jun had once physically killed a Peak Eighth Heaven warrior, purely with his body.

But now, his attacks hit even harder than expected.

Zhao You’an scanned his surroundings—and realized the source.

Here, within the Mystical Yellow Cosmos, strands of stellar flame energy were continuously empowering Lei Jun.

At the edge of the stars, tongues of fire flickered.

Around Lei Jun’s Spirit Officer Apparition, starlight flowed, growing ever more brilliant—as if the stars themselves were burning.

Zhao You’an’s movements were slightly delayed due to his injuries, giving Lei Jun the perfect opening. Seizing the opportunity, Lei Jun swiftly closed in.

Zhao You’an managed to parry the punch just in time.

But right then, the Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle unfurled in the void. Each strand of straw on the mantle twisted like a furious dragon, wrapping around Zhao You’an on their own accord.

Zhao You’an’s body was tough and resilient, so he focused on guarding his previous wounds.

But entangled by the straw threads, his movement was momentarily restrained.

Even so, Zhao You’an remained composed. While manifesting Yin Flow Freezing Clouds to freeze the straw strands and force them to fall away, he continued fending off Lei Jun’s assault.

Suddenly, a dire sense of danger surged in his heart.

With no time to think, Zhao You’an instantly activated the Nascent Core—a signature of Ninth Heaven Great Ascension cultivators from the Daoist Alchemical Sect.

Buzz!

A loud rumble echoed as his Nascent Core quivered slightly midair.

The core remained unbroken.

But Zhao You’an’s face changed subtly.

He turned and spotted the source—a long sword had shot straight at his Nascent Core, striking it with tremendous force. The sword was now spinning backward in retreat.

Yet Zhao You’an couldn’t find the Artifact Refining Sect Daoist who had launched the sword.

From what he could see, other than that sword, several others were arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper in the distance. Their tips trembled faintly, all aimed directly at him.

“…It’s you?!” Zhao You’an turned to Lei Jun in shock.

Lei Jun replied, “If General Xiao’s Mountain and River Sword could wound you, doesn’t that mean you’ve yet to cultivate the Heart of Indifference to Gold and Stone, one of the five essences in Five Energies Returning to Origin of the Daoist Alchemical Sect?”

As he spoke, the Seven-Star Swords whistled through the air, forming a continuous streak as they shot at Zhao You’an, who was shielded by his Nascent Core.

Despite being injured, Zhao You’an was still a Ninth Heaven cultivator. Though not as fast as a Martial Saint, his reflexes were highly attuned—under normal circumstances, magnetic flying swords would have had little effect.

But now that Zhao You’an was restrained in place, it was a whole different story.

The Seven-Star Swords struck relentlessly, hammering Zhao You’an’s Nascent Core.

The core of a Great Ascension cultivator from the Ninth Heaven was far more durable than the large core of an Infant Transformation cultivator from the Eighth Heaven.

This was Lei Jun’s first time encountering a target that his full barrage of Seven-Star Swords couldn’t pierce through.

Yet he didn’t mind.

Within his Heavenly Firmament Cosmos, magnetic force permeated the space.

The flying swords, after retreating midair, instantly reversed course and realigned on Zhao You’an.

They vibrated briefly in place, then with a buzz, vanished.

When they reappeared, they struck Zhao You’an’s Nascent Core once more.

Over and over, without pause.

Even a core as strong as Zhao You’an’s began to crack.

His soul and physical form quaked violently, and the old sword wounds on his body started to tear open and widen rapidly.

In the blink of an eye, his injuries grew so severe it looked like his body might split in two.

Blood began to seep from his facial orifices.

Suddenly, Zhao You’an pressed his palms together and formed a hand seal.

Then, just as his Nascent Core was about to shatter, a layer of blood-red light enveloped it.

A dragon-shaped silhouette seemed to emerge within.

Boom!

The core shattered, and a crimson dragon burst forth.

Though the blood dragon was pierced by the pursuing swords, it still darted toward the distant reaches of the cosmos at incredible speed.

Zhao You’an’s figure vanished from the spot.

Even the resilient physical shell of a Great Ascension Daoist Alchemist had disappeared.

Dragon’s Battle in the Wild.

Its blood, Xuanhuang.

Zhao You’an had abandoned his body and activated the final ultimate art from the Spring Battle Dragon Scripture: Dragon’s Battle in the Wild, going all in.

The blood dragon soared skyward, its momentum relentless and fierce.

In that moment, it felt as though the endless cosmos had found its end—shattered and broken through by Zhao You’an’s transformation!

His Nascent Soul Yang Spirit seized the moment to escape, rushing to break out of Lei Jun’s Heavenly Firmament Cosmos.

He made it through.

But all he saw was pitch-black nothingness.

Rather than surprise, what Zhao You’an felt now was… bewilderment.

Was there another Talismanic Sect expert outside Lei Jun’s cosmos, who had also unfolded a Divine Court Upper Realm or Great Ascension Dao Domain to trap him?

Yet ahead, in the distance, was a vast golden sea of light, unmistakably the Primordial Magnetic Sea of Lei Jun’s Heavenly Firmament Cosmos.

But Zhao You’an was certain he had broken out in the opposite direction.

So how had he ended up facing the same Primordial Magnetic Sea?

He had always believed, based on ancient Daoist texts, that every Talismanic Sect cultivator’s Divine Court Cosmos would differ according to their personal Dao.

Was he wrong?

Could another talismanist have cultivated a cosmos identical to Lei Jun’s?

Buzz!

That familiar sword hum returned.

A flying sword, wreathed in thunderfire, struck Zhao You’an’s Nascent Soul Yang Spirit.

Even the soul of a Ninth Heaven Daoist Alchemist was incredibly resilient.

Though not broken, the sword’s impact shocked Zhao You’an.

Because right there in front of him—within this space he had just entered—stood Lei Jun himself.

With a raise of his staff, Upper Pure Jade Celestial Bamboo smashed down on Zhao You’an’s Nascent Soul.

Crack!

It sounded like porcelain shattering. Fine cracks spread from the top of Zhao You’an’s soul.

At the same time, the Seven-Star Swords returned, shooting forth once more.

This time, Zhao You’an’s Nascent Soul could no longer withstand them. The swords pierced him through and through.

Zhao You’an froze in place, eyes wide, staring at Lei Jun.

Lei Jun felt a sudden jolt in his soul.

But it passed over him like a gentle breeze—utterly harmless.

Zhao You’an was even more astonished.

Just what kind of Talismanic Sect cultivator was this?

With terrifying mystical abilities and mana—and a soul this indestructible?

Nether Mist with Cold Flame worked remarkably well… Lei Jun remained calm.

His Heavenly Firmament Cosmos slowly faded away, letting daylight return.

But in the dissolving golden Primordial Magnetic Sea, a black Yin Thunder Dragon emerged.

And in the fading starry void, the stars transformed into a crimson Yang Fire Tiger.

As the dragon roared and tiger howled, a black-and-red Taiji Diagram reappeared.

The combined brilliance of dragon and tiger shone down on Zhao You’an’s shattered Nascent Soul, annihilating even his remaining consciousness.

In the real world outside, observers saw a beam of brilliant light shoot into the sky as Lei Jun’s Divine Court Cosmos dissipated.

Within the light, a Nascent Soul—belonging to a Daoist Alchemical Sect cultivator—vanished into nothingness.

Had Heavenly Master Lei just killed Zhao You’an?

Outside, Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang, Elder Xu Duan of Shushan Sect, Prince Zhang Junhai of Changshan, and Yue Xiling all looked shocked.

Given Zhao You’an’s injuries and Lei Jun’s previous victories, this outcome wasn’t entirely unexpected to Zhang Ying and Xu Duan.

But the speed at which it all unfolded had clearly exceeded their expectations.

The Tianshi Seal was still suppressing the void gateway with its three-layered pagoda form.

The Tianshi Sword, according to rumor, was in Tang Xiaotang’s possession.

So was the Tianshi Robe with Lei Jun?

Regardless, this feat alone would cement Lei Jun’s legacy for generations… Zhang Junhai thought to himself.

People had long believed Lei Jun should be considered a Ninth Heaven cultivator.

But most had taken that to mean he could challenge such power, not necessarily defeat it outright—let alone slay one on the spot.

But after the Vajra Monastery incident and today’s battle, those opinions were bound to shift… Zhang Ying composed herself.

Elder Xu Duan of Shushan exhaled deeply.

The ones who broke the Yin Mountain front—Khagan Hariger of the Lone Eagle Khanate, War Saints Datun Bari and Bomu Ge of the alien tribes, the bear and eagle demons, Master Jiasheng of the Vajra Division, and now Zhao You’an, Master of Sanchun Palace—had all been slain.

At last, they could honor the spirits of Zhang Dongyuan and other fallen Tang cultivators.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, a series of thunderclaps erupted across the sky.

Xu Duan and the others turned to see a clash of green and gold drawing closer to Vajra Monastery.

The Vajra Division Commander, Jialuotu, had finally returned.

Seeing the ruined, snow-white remains of the Vajra Monastery’s gates, Jialuotu sighed deeply.

This was a disaster of epic proportions.

Whether the Vajra Division or the Lone Eagle Khanate, both had gravely underestimated the Tang Empire.

The Khanate had nearly lost all its elite forces.

And what of the Vajra Division?

Their only solace now was that Empress Zhang Wantong had also been gravely wounded and gone into seclusion in Chang’an.

Even though Jialuotu had fought Tang Xiaotang near the capital, the Empress never emerged.

If she had, he doubted he would have made it back to the Western Region.

Even so, the Vajra Division couldn’t yet declare this tribulation over.

As Jialuotu watched Lei Jun stabilizing the massive, collapsing illusionary three-layered altar, his gaze cleared. He let go of all distractions.

Clutching his Five-Spiked Vajra Pestle, he blocked a blow from Tang Xiaotang’s Tianshi Sword, then took a step forward—nearly crossing into the ruins of Vajra Monastery.

Beside Lei Jun, the purple Yang Thunder Dragon and black Yin Thunder Dragon emerged together.

Yet Jialuotu, shrouded in blue and with his Vajra Body perfected, took the hit without faltering.

His Wrathful Flame of the Vajra King, colorless and shapeless, spread outward—forcing surrounding Tang cultivators to scatter in fear.

As he landed, Jialuotu pressed a hand seal to the ground.

The illusionary three-layered altar trembled violently, as if jolted into levitation.

From the portal to Mount Sumeru, a beam of Buddha-light soared into the sky, finally breaking through the barrier.

An elderly monk, thin and aged, rose slowly from the portal.

He saluted Jialuotu first.

Jialuotu returned the gesture. “Uncle Master Cizong.”

The veteran of the Vajra Division, who had been stationed at Sumeru, looked over the monastery’s ruins. “I arrived too late.”

“No,” Lei Jun said. “You’re just in time.”

As he spoke, black and white began to swirl from his position.

In an instant, the folded Taiji Diagram unfurled.

Like a closed lotus suddenly blooming.

Both monks were startled.

They tried to retreat, but Tang Xiaotang descended with thunderous purple and gold lightning, forcing them to halt.

That brief pause allowed the Taiji Diagram to fully expand, covering the entirety of Vajra Monastery.

A colossal Daoist formation swept out silently in all directions.

From afar, disciples of Sanchun Palace, Buddhist monks from the Western Region, and foreign warriors watched with hearts pounding.

First, they saw Zhao You’an’s death, which shattered their morale.

Then, with the return of the Vajra Commander and the reopening of the Sumeru Portal, hope rekindled.

Only to be snuffed out in the next breath, as the massive Daoist formation trapped even the Vajra Commander and Cizong inside again.

The Sumeru Portal was sealed once more.

Even the most mentally resilient couldn’t withstand such whiplash.

Some still wanted to fight, while others simply wanted to flee—abandoning any hope of escaping through Sumeru.

Even if they couldn’t leave the Tang Realm, fleeing to the far west or the snowy highlands was better than dying at Vajra Monastery’s ruins.

“Where’s the Xiao Clan Leader from Longxi now?” Prince Zhang Junhai asked Zhang Ying.

Zhang Ying replied, “He tracked a group of demon monks led by Dongda of the Eighth Heaven, and later encountered Xire. He chased them quite far but got word and is heading back now.”

Though wary of the Vajra Commander and Cizong, Zhang Ying, Zhang Junhai, Yue Xiling, Xu Duan, and others felt more at ease knowing Heavenly Master Lei had made preparations.

They led Tang forces to pursue and eliminate fleeing enemies, lest they go berserk and endanger populated regions.

Meanwhile, within the formation, both Jialuotu and Cizong wore solemn expressions.

They now seemed to be trapped in an entirely different world.

This formation not only cut them off from the Tang Mortal Realm outside, but also sealed the Void Gateway back to Mount Sumeru once again.

Within the formation, the world seemed devoid of color, black and white.

Only the Vajra Division Commander and Master Cison could barely retain some of their original hues.

Yet the Buddhist radiance around them continued to dissipate into the surroundings, fading as if swallowed by this black-and-white world.

The Vajra Division Commander looked off into the distance.

There, in the midst of a pale void, floated two black lotus thrones.

Two Ninth-Grade Sun-Devouring Lotus Thrones, like twin black suns, hung suspended in midair, facing one another from afar.

But these black suns didn’t radiate heat. On the contrary, they acted like abysses or black holes, devouring everything around them.

The myriad Buddhist Dharma essences swirling around the Vajra Division Commander and Master Cison were all sucked into the lotus thrones, vanishing without a trace.

Master Cison looked at the strange black lotuses in surprise. “Rituals of the Vast Void Temple? No... those would be far more explosive. Could this be an inversion technique from the White Lotus Sect? Or perhaps a variation of the Chan Sect here in the Central Plains?”

He was a Fourth-Heaven Vajra Division Monk of Sumeru, just one step away from achieving a complete Five-Aspect Vajra Body.

Although age had diminished his body and he was no longer at his peak, his insight remained sharp and his experience was profound.

Even though this formation was unfamiliar, the moment he entered it, he could vaguely tell it was of Daoist origin.

But then... what were those two Ninth-Grade Sun-Devouring Lotus Thrones?

A heretical Buddhist technique?

It was vicious to the extreme.

The Five Divisions of the Vajra Realm of Sumeru each revered different Buddhas, but at the core of them all was the supreme Great Sun Tathāgata of the Buddhist Mudra Lineage.

Yet now, this formation employed an inverse corrosive technique directly blaspheming the Great Sun Tathāgata—utterly disrespectful, yet disturbingly effective.

“This is a Daoist formation... but those two demonic lotuses are the cores of the array!” the Vajra Division Commander, Jialuotu, finally spoke.

His gaze locked between the two black lotuses.

There stood Lei Jun, calm and composed, his right hand behind his back, his left hand outstretched in front.

In his palm, it was as if water flowed.

A long river, coming from the distant void, eventually flowed into Lei Jun’s hand—

Like the Heavenly River pouring down from the blue skies, descending straight into the Nine Abysses of the Yellow Springs.

The illusory river finally condensed into a string of luminous water pearls, brimming with spiritual resonance.

[Biluoliu Beads]—Lei Jun's mind automatically named them so.

Grasping its mysteries, he sensed his mind and thoughts resonating with joy.

This must be the First-Grade Opportunity mentioned in the omen.

To be precise, it was an expandable opportunity, capable of nurturing Natural Insight.

Earlier, the other half of the Biluoliu Beads had returned with the Vajra Division Commander to the ruins of the Vajra Temple, entering the formation.

Now reuniting with its missing half in the time-twisting void, the treasure was finally whole once again, revealing its true nature.

“What is this formation?” the Vajra Division Commander asked.

Lei Jun replied: “Great Two-Element Inversion End-Era Immortal Array.”

The moment the name reached his ears, the Vajra Division Commander recalled an unpleasant memory.

At Lei Jun’s side, Tang Xiaotang let out a quiet chuckle.

Indeed, as the commander sensed, the formation drew inspiration from the Great Nether Inversion Nine-Palace Immortal Array Lei Jun had once observed within Inner Shushan.

Lei Jun merged that knowledge with his own Daoist techniques, with the Ninth-Grade Sun-Devouring Lotus Thrones provided by his Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan, along with talismanic knowledge from the Tianshi Mansion, combining numerous artifacts and treasures to create this new formation.

Tang Xiaotang and Wang Guiyuan also contributed significantly.

Unlike Lei Jun, who had only observed from afar, Tang Xiaotang had once entered the Shushan Nine-Palace Immortal Array directly, granting her deeper insight into its secrets.

Three cultivators of exceptional Comprehension discussed and clashed ideas over time, and thus, this formation came to be.

Lei Jun believed the array was still in its prototype phase, far from complete.

But the battle against two Ninth-Heaven powerhouses—Vajra Division Commander and Master Cison—was the perfect chance to hone it.

Of course, the Vajra Division Commander had an entirely different feeling.

During the Bashu and Nanzhao War, it was precisely upon stepping into the Shushan Inversion Nine-Palace Array that their side suffered a swift and brutal reversal.

Master Ren Zhu had perished, and Jialuotu himself was gravely injured.

Now, history seemed to be repeating itself.

But this time, the ending would be different...

A temple radiating golden light rose within the black-and-white world.

The radiance formed a portal. The Vajra Division Commander, along with the heavily injured Venerable Cizong, quickly dove into it.

"Even if you flee all the way to Sumeru today, you're not getting away!" Tang Xiaotang’s figure transformed into a streak of golden lightning and chased after them without hesitation.

Looking at the Sumeru portal, Lei Jun suddenly smiled.

Under his control, the Grand Two-Element Yin-Yang End Era Immortal Formation began to transform.

The originally black-and-white world suddenly turned pitch black.

Then, the entire formation surged like a black ocean, reversing direction and pouring straight into the Sumeru portal!

As the Vajra Division Commander and Venerable Cizong re-entered Sumeru, they sensed Tang Xiaotang hot on their heels.

They immediately activated their contingency plan, attempting to seal the portal from the Sumeru side to block off pursuit.

Nine massive Dharma Wheels encircled the portal, attempting to seal it shut. The wheels then contracted, aiming to suppress and close the void gateway.

But Tang Xiaotang, stepping on a golden Pure Yang Ark, rammed straight into the contracting wheels, shattering them by force under the push of the black oceanic surge!

The massive formation then fully reversed into Sumeru like a black tidal wave.

Inside Sumeru, Buddha’s light shone throughout, peaceful and serene.

At that moment, near the void gateway to the Tang Mortal Realm, a number of Vajra Division monks from Sumeru had gathered.

At the front stood a youth-like figure with striking, handsome features, yet he was a genuine Eighth Heaven monk from the Buddhist Mudra Lineage.

His name was Luo Chi, a direct disciple of Vajra Division Commander Jialuotu, and the most highly regarded young expert in the Sumeru Vajra Division.

He had originally come to escort the Vajra Commander and Venerable Cizong.

But unexpectedly, a terrifying black ocean surged into Sumeru.

The Pure Land was instantly stained with blackness.

The aura that radiated from it was strange and enchanting, causing Luo Chi and the Vajra Division monks to instinctively activate their Buddha Light for protection and resistance.

The lower-ranked disciples didn’t respond as fiercely.

Not because they were less affected.

But because their spirits were already completely sapped — mana, essence, qi, and soul all depleted, as if falling into an invisible abyss, unable to escape even in spirit.

Seeing the returning Vajra Commander and Venerable Cizong submerged in that black ocean, Luo Chi's expression changed again.

He instructed, “Notify Master Duopei immediately... and report to the Jewel Division Chief!”

Before he could finish, the outer disciples of the Vajra Division suddenly saw the black ocean transform again — turning completely white in the blink of an eye.

As if Yin and Yang had flipped.

And within that vast white ocean, two black Sun-Devouring Lotus Thrones appeared, distinct and separate.

In that instant, both thrones ignited.

Lei Jun calmly watched as the formation reached its peak.

The materials and time used to craft the formation had been rushed, lacking the refinement of the Great Nether Reversal Nine-Palace Immortal Formation honed over generations at Inner Shushan.

Now, after the Grand Two-Element Yin-Yang End Era Immortal Formation was fully activated, it began to disintegrate — the formation tools, spiritual items, and diagram all unraveling with time.

Still, the experience was valuable, allowing for improvements later.

But for now, it could still deliver a deadly strike.

Within the vast white space, the two Ninth-Grade Sun-Devouring Lotus Thrones suddenly collapsed into two black dots.

Then, the dots exploded outward, releasing everything previously absorbed.

Venerable Cizong's Dharma Body was destroyed on the spot.

His entire being exploded like a gourd of blood, spraying a mist of gore into the air. The vajra light that once surrounded him had completely vanished.

The Vajra Commander also trembled violently. His vajra body was shattered, and even his state of Perfect Clarity could no longer be maintained. The Manifest Moon Wheel emerged but was compressed into a limited range around him, unable to expand.

Tang Xiaotang didn’t relent in the slightest. Her Tianshi Sword swept forth once again.

The Vajra Commander could no longer defend Cizong and was forced to protect himself using his Five-Prong Vajra Scepter, blocking the Tianshi Sword.

"Lei Jun!"

Tang Xiaotang shouted excitedly, fully engaged in battle.

Without needing a word, Lei Jun had already conjured a Mysterious Firmament Five Thunder Talisman.

As it spun, vast amounts of black Yin Thunder spread silently, turning into a sea of black lightning.

From the sea, a massive Yin Thunder Dragon emerged, roaring silently.

At the same time, Tang Xiaotang summoned a Heavenly Radiance Pure Yang Talisman, generating an immense sea of golden Pure Yang True Fire.

From the flames, a towering Pure Yang Fire Tiger stood proudly.

The Yin Thunder Dragon and the Pure Yang Fire Tiger rose together, roaring as they merged in the air, forming a golden-black Taiji Diagram.

Under their combined might, the power within the Taiji Diagram surged with intense spiritual force.

Yin and Yang harmonized — Dragon and Tiger entwined.

Their radiant might coalesced into a massive beam of light that swept out in all directions.

The grievously wounded Venerable Cizong was engulfed by the beam — disintegrated without a trace!

The Vajra Commander, too, was caught in the blast, barely able to defend himself.

Using the Five-Prong Vajra Scepter to block, he formed the Inner Lion Seal to forcibly suppress his injuries.

The Manifest Moon Wheel reappeared, expanded slightly — then vanished.

The essence of Perfect Clarity once again emerged within him, no longer needing to be manifested as a moon wheel.

He wielded the real Five-Prong Vajra Scepter in one hand, and condensed a phantom Vajra Scepter from his own Vajra Will and Buddha Light in the other.

With a dual slash, he finally deflected the terrifying golden-black brilliance of the Taiji Diagram.

But just as the brilliance dispersed, Tang Xiaotang was already at arm’s length.

Facing the Vajra Scepter, she abruptly abandoned the sensory judgment from her Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman, pouring all her mana into the Tianshi Sword.

All magical abilities are merely methods of spell combat.

Tang Xiaotang’s fighting style had always been the same.

She channeled both Pure Yang True Fire and Pure Yang Celestial Lightning into the Tianshi Sword, which pulsed with the divine power of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder. With a fierce strike, the sword — embodying the essence of triple Yang — slashed down on the already weakened Vajra Scepter and shattered the Vajra Division’s supreme treasure of Sumeru on the spot!

At this moment, the Vajra Commander unleashed his final strength. He retaliated recklessly, fully aware of the mutual destruction, igniting Wrathful Flame of the Great Vajra King.

The phantom Vajra Scepter solidified, merging with Wrathful Fire to form a Great Vajra King Divine Blade, which slashed at Tang Xiaotang.

At the same time, Lei Jun’s black Yin Thunder Dragon and crimson-gold Fire Tiger intertwined again — their Yin-Yang fusion forming a black-red Taiji Diagram, manifesting the brilliance of the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike, hitting the Vajra Commander.

The Great Vajra King Divine Blade struck Tang Xiaotang directly.

Around her, the Ninefold Chaotic Qi and Light exploded in dazzling brilliance. Then the nine-colored radiance dulled, faded, and was torn apart by the colorless, terrifying blade.

Protected by the Tianshi Robe, Tang Xiaotang remained unharmed — though the nine-colored brilliance was lost.

Yet, her own golden Pure Yang Thunder Dragon and emerald Yin Fire Tiger also transformed into a gold-green Taiji Diagram.

The diagram spun, and the light of the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike erupted, intersecting with Lei Jun’s.

It was as if Lei Jun had once again executed a dual Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike, intertwining the two beams of light, which then twisted around the Vajra Commander!

The indestructible Vajra Will surrounding him shattered once more. The Manifest Moon Wheel detached and reappeared.

Tang Xiaotang stepped forward and struck with the Tianshi Sword again!

This time, she completely shattered the Manifest Moon Wheel.

The Vajra Commander struck back with the Earth Touch Seal, blasting the Tianshi Sword from her hands.

But just then, the Tianshi Seal reappeared — slamming straight into the top of his head!

As stars burst before his eyes, his body finally froze, immobilized at last.

The Tianshi Sword, which had been knocked away, suddenly paused mid-air under the influence of a strange force.

“Zzzzz…” The magnetic force surged.

The Tianshi Sword glowed purple, its tip aiming straight at Vajra Commander Jialuotu.

Just like it had once targeted the Four-Eyed Python Emperor.

This time, no prolonged charging was needed.

And the target wasn’t far away.

Lei Jun stared coldly at his foe.

The Tianshi Sword vanished with a “hum.”

The white ocean rippled faintly, leaving no clear trace.

When it reappeared, it was at the Vajra Commander’s chest.

Piercing him straight through!

The Vajra Commander’s entire body shook violently.

Unable to maintain his wrathful form, he reverted to the appearance of a bloodied middle-aged monk, no longer radiating sacred majesty. He stood dazed, turning his head as if lost.

The Ninth-Grade Sun-Devouring Lotus Thrones had shattered. The formation dissipated slowly. The vast whiteness faded.

The scenes of Sumeru shimmered faintly in the distance.

Tang Xiaotang stood beside the Vajra Commander. She didn’t strike again. Instead, she puffed her cheeks, glancing at Lei Jun, then at the Tianshi Sword that had pierced their foe.

"Every sip and bite — all preordained," she muttered.

The Vajra Commander looked at Tang Xiaotang, then at Lei Jun. “A karmic entanglement indeed!”

After the Tianshi Sword’s strike, Lei Jun didn’t pause. The Seven-Star Sword hovered in the air, its tip trembling slightly, aimed at the Vajra Commander.

A faint hum — and then silence.

The Seven-Star Sword vanished.

When it reappeared, it pierced straight through the Vajra Commander’s body.

Multiple holes tore through him, ripping him apart completely!

“No karmic entanglement,” Lei Jun said flatly. “Only abominations like you.”