Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 371: The First Sword of the Tang Dynasty

A middle-aged Daoist, dressed in plain robes and straw sandals, his hair unbound in a topknotless style, appeared.

Fang Jingsheng, the Fang clan members, and Xiao Hang of the Xiao Clan from Longxi all felt a stir within upon seeing him.

Shushan Sect — Chen Donglou.

This man was... still alive?

It was unclear why he hadn't shown himself during the last Shushan Sect uprising from the Yellow Springs. Back then, despite the presence of Tang Xiaotang and the Vajra Division Master, even if there hadn’t been other powerful reinforcements, based on Chen Donglou’s personality and style, he wouldn’t have stayed away out of fear.

Had he not been in the mortal world at that time?

Ever since he left Shushan, Chen Donglou had remained mysterious, with formidable strength. In the current turbulent times of the Tang Mortal Realm, he was definitely a factor to reckon with... The Fang clan members exchanged glances.

Others noticed that once Chen Donglou appeared, the Tang National Preceptor from the Tianshi Mansion was now staring at him intently.

Everyone immediately recalled that Elder Chen of Shushan had once had dealings with Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion...

“What is it?” Chen Donglou turned around calmly and looked at Tang Xiaotang.

Tang Xiaotang met his eyes, her expression taut but she said nothing.

Zhang Taigang quickly stepped forward, trying to defuse things: “Martial Uncle Chen, the evil cultivators from the Yellow Springs are the real threat right now. Those who treat human life like weeds—they are the true enemies of our sect at this moment…”

Chen Donglou’s expression remained unchanged. “No need to worry. There’s no Li Clan of Xinzhou in Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion anymore. Whatever grudges there once were have long been settled. That said, if any of the Daoist friends from Mount Longhu would like a lesson, I’m always available.”

Behind Zhang Taigang, Ji Chuan, Xie Yiying, and others could only smile wryly.

Several mid-tier Shushan cultivators broke into cold sweat on their backs.

This Martial Uncle—more accurately, Martial Granduncle—truly lived up to the nickname “Madman of Shushan.”

With that attitude, he could stir up trouble even when there was none.

Especially when the other side was the Tang National Preceptor—who was also known for her temper...

Many glanced nervously at Tang Xiaotang.

But she didn’t get angry. She simply looked very seriously at Chen Donglou and then nodded. “I think... that day isn’t far off.”

Then she looked down. “For now, let’s take care of these Yellow Springs bastards.”

Some around them let out a quiet sigh of relief, others quietly lamented the missed drama.

Chen Donglou said, “You think you can get away with stealing our Qingxiao Hall that easily?”

He beckoned with his hand, and seven flying swords appeared and shot down into the earth.

The ground began to tremble violently.

Billowing gray mist surged upward like a subterranean geyser.

Tang Xiaotang watched from the side, wanting to roll her eyes.

So in the end, it was Lei Jun who grasped this natural level of comprehension.

At this point in time, it seemed he’d outpaced her.

Tang Xiaotang naturally knew exactly who this “Chen Donglou” really was.

Although he seemed to be using methods from the Artifact Refining Sect, in truth, the real work was being done by the Talismanic Branch of Daoism.

Shushan’s Yellow Springs branch clearly found it hard to set up the Great Nether Reversal Nine-Palace Immortal Formation—the materials alone would be massive.

So this raid into the mortal world didn’t give them much room to block their retreat effectively.

Even so, reopening the Yellow Springs portal and striking back wasn’t something that could be done quickly.

But for Lei Jun, it was like carving meat with a chef’s knife—he grasped the intricacies with ease, turning the mundane into the miraculous. Progress was lightning fast.

If not for someone like Fang Jingsheng, a Ninth Heaven Grand Scholar, being nearby, which forced Lei Jun to keep his identity hidden, he could’ve broken open the Yellow Springs portal even faster.

Seeing this, Tang Xiaotang waved her hand.

A treasure seal unlike the Tianshi Seal of Mount Longhu appeared.

Its emergence seemed to stir the surrounding mountains and rivers.

Though they stood beyond the borders of the Tang Realm, the landscape’s spiritual rhythm still responded.

The Tang Empire’s National Preceptor’s Seal, or simply, the Preceptor’s Seal... The Fang clan and Xiao Hang of Longxi both recognized it instantly.

When it was first forged, and Tang Xiaotang had just been appointed National Preceptor, she could only access a limited portion of the empire’s fortune and dragon vein qi.

But now that the Empress resided in Chang’an and Tang Xiaotang had been entrusted with overseeing the empire, the portion of the nation’s fate she could harness had grown immensely.

Though still not equal to that of the Emperor or Crown Prince, she was now a force to be reckoned with.

With this seal, she had once saved Elder Ye Dongming of Shushan even while facing off against Ji Yao and his Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner.

Now, as if not wanting to let “Chen Donglou” steal all the glory, she struck as well—with the Preceptor’s Seal—right at the churning deathly mist of the underground spring.

“Chen Donglou,” appearing unbothered, didn’t stop her.

The sealed void portal suddenly opened again.

“The Tang Realm is unstable, and the situation in the Yellow Springs is unclear. To prevent further outbreaks elsewhere, I’ll remain in the mortal realm,” said Fang Jingsheng, head of the Fang Clan in Jingxiang. “Fellow Daoists, if anything goes wrong, don’t hesitate to fall back. We’ll regroup and reassess.”

Xiao Hang glanced at him and, after a brief pause, added, “Master Tianliu speaks wisely. I’ll stay here too. If anything goes awry, I’ll cover your retreat.”

Zhang Taigang and others nodded slightly.

Though Fang Jingsheng and the Jingxiang Fang Clan had fought hard during both confrontations with the Yellow Springs Shushan sect, caution was still warranted given the Tang Realm’s current instability.

Compared to the Fang Clan, Xiao Hang of the Longxi Xiao Clan was considered more trustworthy.

With him guarding the portal and wielding his Righteous Sword-Star, everyone felt more at ease.

“Do as you will,” said “Chen Donglou”—Lei Jun’s current identity—with his usual calm tone.

Meanwhile, Tang Xiaotang was already charging into the Yellow Springs!

“Chen Donglou” recalled the Seven-Star Swords and followed, hands behind his back, stepping into the portal.

Zhang Taigang immediately summoned Ji Chuan and Xie Yiying to follow.

Elders Ye Dongming and Ji Dongquan of Shushan remained outside with Xiao Hang to guard the portal.

Fang Jingsheng, Fang Shihan, and other Fang Clan experts did the same.

At that moment, the Yellow Springs were far from peaceful.

The fires of war had already reached the very gate of the Inner Shushan Sect.

Senior Elder Tian Lingfeng, a Ninth Heaven High-Ranking Master of Inner Shushan, gathered the remaining disciples and sounded the Five Decays Dao Bell. With the fortified Fengdu City, they were still barely managing to keep the enemies at bay.

“Who disobeyed the Sect Leader’s command and went to the Song Realm in secret to hunt exotic beasts?”

Tian Lingfeng barked while holding Fengdu City together, his expression dark as he glared at the disciples.

Everyone immediately declared, “We wouldn’t dare!”

Tian Lingfeng was deeply frustrated.

Two invading forces now surged like tides against Fengdu City.

One came from foreign tribes, made up almost entirely of Martial Cultivators—riders, body refiners, warriors—vast in number, their surging vitality warming even the frigid, deathly air of the Yellow Springs.

The other group was smaller, but their chanting echoed across the land, Buddhist energy circulating and repelling the surrounding death aura.

They wore robes resembling monks from the Western Regions, but Tian Lingfeng knew better—they were not from the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru that had once clashed with Inner Shushan from the Tang Mortal Realm.

No, these were from the Lotus Division of Mount Sumeru—and they came from the Song Mortal Realm.

Perhaps that place should no longer be called the Song Realm at all.

The Song Dynasty had all but collapsed.

The Golden Khanate had conquered Jiangnan and invaded the Song territories.

The Lotus Division had joined them as an ally.

The Inner Shushan Sect had once forbidden its disciples from clashing with the Golden Khanate directly.

Although the Heavenly Bird and Earth Beast Mirror required enormous amounts of exotic beast souls and flesh for refinement and nurturing, now was not the right time.

They had no intention of provoking both the Tang Court and the Golden Khanate at once.

If no one had violated the sect’s rules in secret, then perhaps it was the sheer scale of refugees absorbed during the chaos in the former Song Realm that had drawn the Golden Khanate’s attention.

Now that the Song had effectively become history, experts from both the Khanate and the Lotus Division had arrived for inspection.

The fiercest attackers currently storming Fengdu City were one monk and one warrior—both of terrifying strength—forcing Tian Lingfeng to stay on full alert.

“This place is truly infuriating,” muttered Angge Asur, chieftain of the Wuda Tribe of the Golden Khanate, glaring coldly at Fengdu City.

Beside him stood Master Danta of the Lotus Division.

Master Danta said, “From what I know, there should be more experts hiding in this Yellow Springs Shushan branch…”

Angge Asur snorted. “Then we’ll keep attacking. If we take it, good. If we don’t, hold the gate and report to the Great Khan. Our warriors are conquering the world—how could we allow rats at our back?”

Though Master Danta saw the Daoists who once brought chaos to Sumeru as a greater threat, and thought it beneficial for Inner Shushan to keep harassing the Tang Realm, the Khanate had its own priorities—and he didn’t object.

So he nodded. “Alright.”

The two then attacked Fengdu City together.

With Tian Lingfeng stationed inside and the Five Decays Dao Bell beside him, the city held strong for now.

But that meant the entire outer area of the Yellow Springs fell into enemy hands.

Considering the vital zones there, any loss would cause great harm to Inner Shushan. Tian Lingfeng had no choice but to urgently summon Ji Yao, Li Linxue, and Lu Changpeng for reinforcements.

Meanwhile, deep within the Yellow Springs—

“Chen Donglou”—Lei Jun in disguise—was adjusting to the unfamiliar environment and scanning the terrain carefully.

They were in hot pursuit of Ji Yao, Li Linxue, and Lu Changpeng.

Though their foes no longer had the materials to recreate the Great Nether Reversal Nine-Palace Immortal Formation, the Tang cultivators remained wary of ambushes and traps.

Lei Jun was just as cautious—though with more insight than the others.

He knew the risks of chasing a desperate enemy too far. Still, he chose to come down after assessing the situation and rejoining Tang Xiaotang.

Just then, a Light Sphere flickered in his mind again—and text appeared:

“When Wangchuan stirs, friend or foe shifts without warning.”

Then three omen lots appeared in succession:

Upper-Moderate Omen: Enter the Yellow Springs via the Still Water Abyss. If handled well, there is a chance to gain a Third-Grade Opportunity. The journey will be turbulent and holds certain risks. Proceed with caution. Good.

Moderate-Moderate Omen: Do not enter the Yellow Springs. No gain, no loss. Neutral.

Lower-Moderate Omen: Enter the Yellow Springs via a path other than the Still Water Abyss. There is a chance to gain a Fifth-Grade Opportunity, but significant danger awaits. Be extremely cautious. Ominous.

Lei Jun mused silently.

Even without his Tianshi Robe or the Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle, and with his Little Senior Sister by his side, they still drew a Lower-Moderate Omen?

From the wording, it wasn’t the worst kind of disaster—no "nine deaths, no life" scenario.

It just meant the downsides could outweigh the gains.

As for the Still Water Abyss, mentioned in both upper and lower lots—Lei Jun recalled that it was one of the famed regions of the Yellow Springs.

Legend spoke of Nine Abysses within the Yellow Springs:

Abyss of the Spinning Salamander,

Abyss of Still Waters,

Abyss of Running Water,

Abyss of Overflow,

Abyss of Fertile Waters,

Abyss of Whirlpool,

Abyss of Tranquility,

Abyss of Rolling Waters,

Abyss of Rich Waters.

It was worth noting that the Nine Abyss True Flame cultivated by Lei Jun, Tang Xiaotang, and other disciples of the Tianshi Mansion, had its origins in these very abysses.

Now, countless millennia later, thanks to continuous refinements by generations of Tianshi Mansion sages, the principles and intentions behind both paths have diverged significantly.

This was Lei Jun’s first time entering the Yellow Springs.

Had it been him from last year, just before entering Sumeru, he would’ve been utterly unfamiliar with this place.

But now, while still unfamiliar with the people, the place quickly began to feel familiar.

Not just because his comprehension had risen to the Natural Insight Level.

More importantly, the way he elevated his insight had been through transitioning between Bilu and the Nine Springs.

As such, even at the same Natural Insight Level, he found navigating the Yellow Springs far easier than Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen.

At this moment, a vast stretch of gray and white met the eye—cold, silent, and void of life, temperature, or even sound.

Still, Lei Jun quickly identified the location of Stillwater Abyss, and sent word to Little Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang.

Grand Preceptor Tang had her own Tianshi Enlightened Heart Talisman, which allowed her to track traces of Ji Yao and the others even in unfamiliar Yellow Springs terrain.

Lei Jun, however, pointed in a different direction.

“Split up!” said Tang Xiaotang. “Best case—we cut them off from both sides!”

Lei Jun didn’t object. But to avoid alerting Zhang Taigang and the others, he discreetly handed the Tianshi Sword to Tang Xiaotang.

Then, taking on the identity of “Chen Donglou,” he headed for Stillwater Abyss.

The Shushan disciples, naturally, followed their own Martial Uncle.

“Chen Donglou” didn’t mind them tagging along. Upon reaching Stillwater Abyss, he studied the terrain and quickly devised a plan.

Ji Yao, Li Linxue, and others had entered the Yellow Springs, aiming to return to Fengdu City.

They hadn’t taken the Stillwater route.

No one was here for now.

But, just as the omen suggested, with the right approach, there might be something to gain.

And “the right approach” truly required someone special.

Like someone with exceptional strength who had also refined the Nine Springs Ascension Core, and studied the principles of Bilu and Yellow Springs...

Soon enough, major changes began to shake the Nine Springs within Yellow Springs.

Just as Ji Yao and his group took an alternate route toward Fengdu, their bodies suddenly shuddered.

Then, the nether death qi within Yellow Springs surged violently, as though the heavens and earth had flipped upside down.

Even Lu Changpeng, an expert in his own right, was knocked off balance by the upheaval of the Nine Springs—only Ji Yao and Li Linxue managed to hold steady.

The vast Wangchuan River began to overflow and flood in all directions.

Ji Yao activated the Whitebone Divine Ark to shield his allies.

Yet amid the flood, the surrounding space twisted and shifted momentarily.

Nearby, golden thunderfire flared into view.

Their longtime foe Tang Xiaotang burst out laughing and struck while the iron was hot.

Her own massive Pure Yang Vessel, just like Ji Yao’s divine ark, rose atop the turbulent Wangchuan.

Once Ji Yao and Tang Xiaotang stabilized the Whitebone Divine Ark and Pure Yang Vessel, both noticed the terrain had drastically changed.

Tang Xiaotang might have found this new environment unfamiliar—but Ji Yao, Li Linxue, and the rest were stunned to discover they had somehow been transported to Stillwater Abyss.

Still within Yellow Springs.

But who had such power to forcibly move them here?

As Lu Changpeng and the others wrestled with shock, Ji Yao and Li Linxue quickly calmed themselves under the influence of Mortal Dust Qi.

They realized it wasn’t a single person’s overwhelming power—

—but someone had touched the Nine Springs’ core.

Shushan Sect, with centuries of expertise in Yellow Springs, was deeply familiar with its workings.

Ji Yao performed a ritual to stabilize the environment, preventing a repeat of the previous upheaval.

But he also realized one crucial fact...

“The person who caused the previous disturbance in Yellow Springs… has entered.”

His eyes swept over Tang Xiaotang, who had caught up, and the Shushan disciples emerging from Stillwater Abyss.

No time to ponder further.

Fengdu City was still under siege.

Ironically, Fengdu—Shushan Sect’s foundation, linked to the Nine Springs—remained steady despite the violent turmoil earlier.

Thus, the Golden Khanate warriors and Sumeru Lotus monks attacking the city were unaffected...

“Changpeng and the rest—take the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner back. Make sure Fengdu stands.”

Ji Yao ordered, “Uncle Li, stay with me and handle things here.”

He wasn’t enraged—only icily calm, eyes shifting between Tang Xiaotang and “Chen Donglou.”

Back in the Tang mortal realm, Ji Yao had handed the Whitebone Ark to Lu Changpeng, taking the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner to search for Qingxiao Hall.

This time, he reversed the plan.

The Whitebone Divine Ark was his Life-bound Artifact!

In Ji Yao’s hands, the already formidable ark became even stronger.

Li Linxue, without hesitation, drew her Yellow Springs Sword and joined the fray.

Tang Xiaotang, naturally, didn’t hold back either.

Vessel clashed with vessel, sword met sword.

She crashed her Pure Yang Vessel into the Whitebone Ark, unleashing the Tianshi Sword—purple and gold lightning coursing through its edge—striking at both Li Linxue and the Yellow Springs Sword.

The National Preceptor’s Seal at her waist shimmered with brilliance.

Though the Dragon Vein Qi of the Tang Dynasty was weakened in Yellow Springs, the dense nether death qi overwhelmed her lightning techniques.

But now, green flames flickered all over the Pure Yang Vessel’s surface.

While the Nine Abyss True Flame passed down by the Tianshi Mansion was fundamentally different from the Nine Abyss intent of Yellow Springs—

—right now, it surged in power like never before.

Even within this gloomy underworld, Tang Xiaotang blazed like a scorching sun—radiant and fierce, facing two powerful foes at once without a hint of fear.

Meanwhile, “Chen Donglou” eyed the Whitebone Ark with a sneer. “Return Qingxiao Hall to our sect.”

As he spoke, the Seven-Star Sword by his side buzzed and launched forward in a blur of light.

Perfect timing.

Just as Tang Xiaotang’s Pure Yang Vessel rammed the Whitebone Ark, the Seven-Star Sword struck its mark.

The sword flew fast.

Yet Ji Yao, as a perfected Loose Immortal at the Ninth Heaven of Daoist Artifact Refinement, tracked the sword’s flight and tried to neutralize it with his Spirit Energy.

To no avail.

Even Ji Yao was stunned.

The flying sword struck the Whitebone Ark precisely—causing it to shudder.

Though undamaged with Ji Yao on board, the ark then jolted again and…

A tremendous shadow—just as large—began to separate from the Whitebone Ark.

The Shushan disciples burst out: “Qingxiao Hall!”

That mountain-like silhouette under radiant light was indeed the long-lost Shushan treasure—Qingxiao Hall.

Ji Yao had reclaimed it with the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner, temporarily fusing it with the Whitebone Ark for suppression and fortification.

And yet... it was just dislodged.

Ji Yao looked up, fixing his gaze on “Chen Donglou.”

Who was this man?

But before he could think further, golden, purple, and green light overwhelmed his vision.

Tang Xiaotang rammed her green-flamed vessel again.

Her cultivation kept climbing. Even bathed in Yin Fire, her Pure Yang Vessel retained its Pure Yang intent, balancing Yin and Yang beautifully—even without the Taiji Diagram, it showed profound harmony.

Ji Yao’s face regained its icy calm as he re-stabilized the Whitebone Ark, reinforcing it for another clash.

The vessels collided. The Pure Yang Vessel halted, while the Whitebone Ark stood firm.

Tang Xiaotang slashed again.

On Ji Yao’s ark, numerous white-bone spirit fiends ignited, forming a pillar of pale flame that met the Tianshi Sword head-on.

Li Linxue, on the other hand, didn’t focus on Tang Xiaotang or “Chen Donglou.”

Instead, she struck at weaker Shushan disciples.

Zhang Taigang, Ji Chuan, and others had intended to hinder Lu Changpeng and his group.

But with Qingxiao Hall falling, they prioritized retrieving it.

Li Linxue reached them in a flash.

Ji Chuan wielded the Azure Abyss Sword, while Xie Yiying controlled the Purple Star Sword—their purple and blue sword lights synchronized, blocking the Yellow Springs Sword.

However, both were Spirit-Infused Sword users, and their souls were jolted out of their blades.

“Since our founding ancestors created the Shushan Sect, we’ve never bowed to the Tianshi Mansion’s Talismanic Branch!”

Li Linxue surged forward. “You don’t deserve to wield the Purple and Azure Twin Swords left by our founders!”

The swords flew in different directions—

—but soon halted mid-air, then vanished.

Alarmed, Li Linxue swung her sword—

—and was met with the sound of two metallic crashes.

The Twin Swords reappeared, clashing with her Yellow Springs Sword, driving it back.

Across from her stood a Shushan cultivator, hair disheveled, eyes bright—and smiling.

At that moment, the Seven-Star Sword reappeared at “Chen Donglou’s” side.

Li Linxue recalled the Yellow Springs Sword with one hand.

With the other, she drew a line—

—and nine streams of sword light, like the Wangchuan River, unfurled before her.

They were perfectly synchronized—nine Life-bound Flying Swords, the Nine Springs Swords, also called the Nine Wangchuan Swords.

They were Li Linxue’s own Life-bound Artifact, refined as a Ninth-Heaven Sword Cultivator of Yellow Springs Shushan.

Expressionless, she launched her attack. The swords flowed like cold, eerie rivers, forming a twisting torrent toward “Chen Donglou.”

He responded in kind—Seven-Star Sword shooting forward once more.

The two flying swords crossed paths midair.

Li Linxue, a Great Ascension Daoist of the Daoist Artifact Refining Sect at the Third Layer of the Ninth Heaven, had already mastered the Vast Earth Qi, allowing her to shift through space, nearly ignoring all distance.

She successfully dodged the Seven-Star Sword while simultaneously retrieving the Yellow Springs Sword.

Across from her, "Chen Donglou" stood motionless.

A streak of cyan and a streak of violet light crossed each other, dispersing all the winding arcs of sword light.

"Chen Donglou" turned to Zhang Taigang, Ji Chuan, and Xie Yiying and instructed, “Don’t lose Qingxiao Hall again.”

The three replied in unison, “Disciple obeys, Uncle Master!”

None of them questioned the scene before them—the Purple Star Sword and the Azure Abyss Sword floating on either side of "Chen Donglou" with brilliant sword light shimmering around him.

In fact, to be more precise, they believed this scene was exactly what the current Tang Dynasty’s Shushan Sect needed.

"Chen Donglou" looked directly at Li Linxue across from him.

"Let me send you to meet our founding ancestor."

He smiled. The twin swords hung in the air, yet made no immediate move.

Li Linxue also didn’t merge her Celestial Soul with the Purple Star or Azure Abyss Swords.

Just as this foremost sword cultivator of Inner Shushan sensed something was wrong, she suddenly felt her spatial shifting was being restricted.

She noticed the Seven-Star Sword, which she had thought she had evaded earlier, now hovering silently behind her, arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper.

The twin swords beside "Chen Donglou"—their glow flickering—seemed to form the dual eyes of a Taiji Diagram.

As their lights intertwined, an invisible formation quietly enveloped both "Chen Donglou" and Li Linxue.

When their swords first clashed, Li Linxue had sensed some unique intent and profundity in his sword style.

Now, with the formation in place, she could clearly discern that it was filled with dense magnetic force.

“A sword escape technique, developed by a Tang Dynasty Shushan disciple?” Li Linxue frowned.

As someone from Inner Shushan, who had adapted Daoist methods to the Yellow Springs environment, she didn’t find it entirely unacceptable.

She had just never seen another Tang Shushan cultivator with such capabilities before.

Unafraid, Li Linxue fused her Celestial Soul with the Yellow Springs Sword and launched a strike at "Chen Donglou."

But mid-flight, she instantly realized her ability to shift space using the Vast Earth Qi was being increasingly suppressed—almost useless now.

“There’s something more than just magnetic force here…” Without the aid of her Earth Qi, dodging his sword became drastically harder.

Inside the Still Waters Abyss, the invisible formation unfurled—its range limited, but its power extremely concentrated.

"Chen Donglou" based the formation on his Seven-Star Sword and his overwhelming magnetic force, supplemented by a mystical item called Void-Stabilizing Cloud Veil, obtained from the Celestial Starry Universe of the Heavenly Book under the Water Luminary.

With these combined, he created a localized void-sealing effect.

What had once been a base for the Magnetic Sword Domain, now evolved into a full sword formation.

The Two-Element Celestial Sword Formation.

At the formation’s core were the twin swords Purple Star and Azure Abyss, treasures anchoring the formation and enabling its ever-shifting core.

While it might not be enough to trap someone like Ji Yao, a Scattered Immortal-level master of the Artifact Refining Sect, it was more than enough to handle Li Linxue.

The overwhelming magnetic force continually disrupted the Yellow Springs Sword and Nine Springs Sword.

As the formation fully deployed, within it, the twin swords and Seven-Star Sword darted and weaved, sword lights crossing endlessly.

Li Linxue instantly lost her greatest advantage over "Chen Donglou"—her spatial mobility—and was forced into a direct sword clash.

Enraged but quickly regaining her calm thanks to her Mortal Dust Qi, she pressed on.

With the Third Layer of the Ninth Heaven cultivation and the Yellow Springs Sword in hand, she feared no direct confrontation!

She gradually noticed: her opponent hadn’t cultivated the Life-Death Nether Qi—a core component of the First Layer of the Ninth Heaven Artifact Refining Path.

This shocked her.

Could it be—he wasn’t Ninth Heaven at all?

Then how was his power this overwhelming?

Suppressing her doubts, Li Linxue pushed her flying sword to the limit, releasing a surge of Life-Death Nether Qi.

Regardless of his secrets, without that Qi, even with the Purple Star and Azure Abyss Swords, he couldn’t beat the Yellow Springs Sword!

This was the premier killing weapon of Inner Shushan, perfectly attuned to Life and Death Qi.

In the Yellow Springs, even those twin swords couldn't surpass it!

Under condensed death aura, the Yellow Springs Sword became a single, grey line—

A line separating life and death.

Where its sword light passed, even lifeless rocks and mountains were cut down, let alone living beings or sentient artifacts.

"Chen Donglou" watched calmly as Li Linxue poured everything into her strike.

His Two-Element Sword Formation suddenly twisted like a painting, converging into a single beam—like a tunnel.

At the other end: Li Linxue and her charging Yellow Springs Sword.

Their paths collided.

"Chen Donglou" raised his hand.

The Seven-Star Sword and the twin swords moved in unison.

Azure Abyss Sword vibrated first, but didn’t fly out immediately.

Seven-Star Sword moved again, meeting the Yellow Springs Sword head-on.

One by one, flying swords clashed, only to be shattered and pushed aside by the Yellow Springs Sword.

This Inner Shushan treasure shone in its durability and might.

But it met its match.

With a flash of violet light, the Purple Star Sword flew out and struck that thin grey line.

They paused midair.

At that moment, the previously still Azure Abyss Sword finally moved.

Its cyan glow vanished from its spot, pulling the full force of the Two-Element Formation into a roaring surge.

This wasn’t just a flood—it was the Celestial River surging upward!

When the cyan glow reappeared, it smashed into the Yellow Springs Sword with a thunderous blow!

The Yellow Springs Sword was sent flying, now bearing a visible crack along its blade.

Li Linxue’s Celestial Soul was shaken apart from the sword.

A glowing cyan gash appeared on her body.

From afar, Zhang Taigang and other Shushan disciples retrieving Qingxiao Hall were deeply shaken.

Even the Inner Shushan leader Ji Yao, locked in battle with Tang Xiaotang, was stunned.

Li Linxue was the strongest sword cultivator in the Yellow Springs' Inner Shushan.

With the Yellow Springs Sword, her offensive prowess rivaled or surpassed Ji Yao’s.

And yet—she had just been defeated.

Defeated by a single sword cultivator.

"Chen Donglou"—from the Mortal Realm of the Tang Dynasty.

Undeniably, the number one sword cultivator of the Tang cultivation world.

Seeing her wounded, Ji Yao’s usually stone-cold face finally revealed a trace of hesitation and helplessness.

But he quickly hardened his resolve.

Having already lost Daoist Kang An, he couldn’t afford to lose Li Linxue and the Yellow Springs Sword too.

Though Fengdu seemed stable, the other front could receive reinforcements at any time.

They’d been disrupted by these outsiders already. Better to regroup later.

Ji Yao made his decision, merging fully with the Whitebone Divine Ark.

The ark’s surface surged with Daoist runes and pale mist, spreading outward.

Yellow Springs quaked in response.

This time, it was Ji Yao who initiated the change.

Under the tremor, the Wangchuan River surged and flooded in all directions.

Within the Still Waters Abyss, it spread as well.

Using the river as cover, Ji Yao and Li Linxue began their retreat.

Tang Xiaotang and "Chen Donglou" both gave chase.

Zhang Taigang and the others held Qingxiao Hall, refraining from reckless pursuit.

Mist and smoke filled the air. They lost sight of Tang Xiaotang and "Chen Donglou".

Only faint flashes of gold, violet, and cyan light remained in the distance.

Li Linxue wanted to regroup with Ji Yao, but was blocked by sword light and forced to escape in another direction.

Fortunately, she was familiar with the terrain, and with Ji Yao’s prior adjustments, Yellow Springs remained stable.

But she was aging.

Normally, she could maintain her state. But once wounded, her recovery was far worse than that of younger cultivators.

Her cultivation slipped below the Third Layer of the Ninth Heaven.

Without the Earth Qi, the most affected aspect was her speed.

Still, using her terrain knowledge and the Celestial Wandering ability, she was confident she could escape.

Until—three lights, violet, gold, and cyan, suddenly converged from above, forming a phantom triple-tiered altar.

It descended upon her and the Yellow Springs Sword.

Startled, she barely dodged.

Purple Star Sword on the left.

Azure Abyss Sword on the right.

Only "Chen Donglou" himself remained in the rear.

Li Linxue countered, directing the Yellow Springs Sword to strike back at him.

But then—darkness enveloped her, starlight sparkled, and a massive black sphere appeared.

“…A Divine Court Universe of a Talismanic Cultivator?!”

Li Linxue shuddered.

Even with Mortal Dust Qi, her heart wavered.

Too late—she had walked right into the trap.

She halted, attempting to escape.

But with the Inner Cosmos of the Divine Court pulling her in and the triple altar sealing her above, she was captured.

Darkness loomed, distant lights shimmered, and a strange sea of brilliant yellow rolled nearby.

“It really is a Divine Court Universe…”

She stared at "Chen Donglou" inside the realm.

“You cultivate both Talismanic and Artifact Refining paths? Defying the One Path Rule?

Or are you—”

Memories surged. A realization flickered in her gaze.

“No… No, you were never from the Artifact Refining Sect to begin with. You… you’ve always been a Talismanic Cultivator!”

Lei Jun reappeared, nodding calmly.

“Your cultivation at Third Layer of the Ninth Heaven, with the Yellow Springs Sword, is indeed impressive. But precisely because of that—there’s no way I can let you escape today.”

Better to cripple one finger than injure all ten.

Since they’d made their move—Inner Shushan had to bleed.

A massive pull emerged from the Brilliant Yellow Magnetic Sea.

Even the mighty Yellow Springs Sword, now damaged, couldn’t resist—it was slowly dragged toward the magnetic sea.

“……”

Li Linxue fixed her gaze on Lei Jun, as if trying to carve his face into her memory.

She had actually seen Lei Jun’s portrait before—knew he was the new-generation Tianshi of Mount Longhu under the Great Tang, following Tang Xiaotang.

But she had never imagined that their first real face-to-face encounter would end like this.

After years of tempering through worldly trials, she quickly steadied her state of mind. Without hesitation, her celestial soul merged once more with the Yellow Springs Sword.

Then—she hurled it straight into the brilliant yellow Primordial Magnetic Sea!

Wounded, she could no longer replicate the full force of her peak sword strike.

But the Yellow Springs Sword was, after all, frighteningly lethal.

Now transformed once more into a streak of gray sword light, it dove into the Primordial Magnetic Sea—and for a moment, it seemed to part the golden ocean in two.

Earlier, activating the Two-Element Celestial Sword Formation had consumed much of Lei Jun’s mana.

Now, although the Yellow Springs Sword was damaged, it remained the fiercest weapon of Inner Shushan, and Li Linxue had poured her celestial soul into this desperate stab. There was still a chance it could break through both of Lei Jun’s dual Divine Court Realms.

If that happened, even if he managed to flee, he would likely suffer serious injuries.

But in that split second, sword light—one purple, one green—flashed again.

Though the golden glow of the Primordial Magnetic Sea dimmed, the intertwining beams of purple and green sword light instantly halted the gray line in its tracks.

And in the very next instant—

The gray streak snapped.

Lei Jun’s Divine Court Universe of Profound Yellow seemed to tremble all over.

Then, the broken gray line reverted to its true form—the Yellow Springs Sword.

No dazzling radiance, no burst of energy.

It was like death arrived naturally.

The most feared treasure of Inner Shushan had now snapped into three pieces.

The Yellow Springs Sword, which had slain countless lives, was severed today by the Purple Star Sword and the Azure Abyss Sword!

The three broken sword fragments rapidly decayed into dust.

A wisp of light burst from the remnants, twisting in midair—barely maintaining a humanoid form—emitting a sharp screech.

And immediately after, nine Water-Slicked Flying Swords shot forward in a furious storm, targeting Lei Jun.

Above Lei Jun’s head, the Tianshi Seal reappeared, manifesting a tri-colored altar of purple, gold, and green, shielding him from Li Linxue’s last-ditch Nine Springs Sword strike.

In terms of defense, the Tianshi Seal wasn’t as strong as the Tianshi Robe.

But now, a tremendous amount of magnetic force re-condensed around Lei Jun’s body.

Normally, it wouldn’t matter—but against artifacts forged from metal and iron by Artifact Refining Sect cultivators, he was particularly adept at defending.

With magnetic force dispersing their momentum, and the altar descended by the Tianshi Seal, the Nine Springs Sword couldn’t touch him.

However, while the strike failed, Li Linxue’s celestial soul turned into a beam of light and dove into the golden Primordial Magnetic Sea, using the last of her strength to try and escape Lei Jun’s Profound Yellow Universe.

But the problem was...

She no longer had the Yellow Springs Sword.

So the outcome was sealed.

She couldn’t escape Lei Jun’s dual-layer Divine Court Universe.

Waiting on the other side—was a Jade Celestial Bamboo of Upper Qing.

A single strike shattered her already wounded celestial soul.

Lei Jun, wielding the twin swords of Purple Star and Azure Abyss, arrived and struck down decisively—completely annihilating this grand sword cultivator of Inner Shushan.

“So this is the Third-Grade Opportunity mentioned in the Upper-Moderate Omen?”

Lei Jun opened a miniature storage pouch and checked its contents.

Not too much, but not too little either.

What caught his attention most was a piece of rare refined metal—Doumu Star Iron—a superb material for crafting artifacts.

As one of Inner Shushan’s top cultivators, Li Linxue’s possessions were all precious.

But some things among them disgusted Lei Jun.

What was considered a treasure in Inner Shushan, he destroyed without hesitation.

He wasn’t planning to study the Doumu Star Iron just yet, so he stashed everything away.

After dispersing the Divine Court Universe, Lei Jun reappeared in the Yellow Springs, once more taking the form of Chen Donglou.

At this moment, the River of Forgetfulness was flooding through the Yellow Springs.

Fortunately, he had a unique connection to this place.

Thanks to Ji Yao and Fengdu, even though “Chen Donglou” could no longer affect the River of Forgetfulness, he remained more perceptive than others.

“Chen Donglou” first instructed Zhang Taigang and others to head toward a populated area and request aid from Qingxiao Hall.

He himself set off to find Tang Xiaotang and Inner Shushan’s sect master Ji Yao.

Over by Fengdu, the river was relatively calm.

The battle there had reached its peak.

Many martial cultivators—and… practitioners from the Buddhist Mudra Lineage?

“Chen Donglou” observed from a distance and quickly formed a guess about their origins.

Had they not used the Stillwater Abyss to block Ji Yao and the others at Fengdu, and instead chased them there, they might have run into foreign martial artists and members of the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru. The situation could’ve become chaotic.

“Chen Donglou” was certain—once Lu Changpeng and the others returned with the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner, news of the Great Tang cultivators entering the Yellow Springs would reach the outsiders and the Vajra Division.

Yet Tang Xiaotang’s group hadn’t actually met the Song Mortal Realm visitors face-to-face.

Inner Shushan had been fighting just as bitterly against them.

If a real confrontation had happened in Fengdu, the outcome could’ve shifted dramatically.

Especially once Ji Yao and his group gathered artifacts like the Five-Decays Dao Bell and took command of Fengdu—their strength would’ve soared.

But now…

“Chen Donglou,” walking and restoring his mana, soon found the embattled Tang Xiaotang and Ji Yao.

As Inner Shushan’s leader, Ji Yao had already sensed the demise of Li Linxue and the Yellow Springs Sword.

Realizing an enemy was drawing near, despair sank deep in his heart.

With Lu Changpeng and others returning to block the tide and momentarily stabilizing Fengdu, they couldn’t afford to divide their forces.

No matter how difficult, he had to make a swift decision.

Inner Shushan’s Sect Master boarded the Whitebone Divine Ark, charging into the surging flood of the River of Forgetfulness.

In that moment, the ferocious waters surged again.

The raging netherwaters swept through the entire Yellow Springs.

Even the surroundings of Fengdu could no longer remain still.

Two elite visitors from the Song Mortal Realm, Angersir and Master Danta, were both shocked.

They quickly protected their people and attempted to retreat.

But many foreign martial artists and Vajra Division disciples were silently swallowed by the water—leaving no remains.

Though Tang Xiaotang wanted to persist, considering the people in Qingxiao Hall, she regrouped with “Chen Donglou,” and both were swept out of the Yellow Springs by the raging water.

Qingxiao Hall returned to the mortal realm.

Tang Xiaotang immediately turned to head back in.

But by now, the entire Yellow Springs had truly turned upside down.

This was Inner Shushan’s final move.

So ruthless that even Ji Yao himself could no longer contain it.

But he had no other choice.

He couldn’t choose when to unleash the flood.

Nor could he choose how to stop it.

To halt the torrent—there was only one way.

The Sect Master of Inner Shushan separated his celestial soul from the Whitebone Divine Ark.

The massive bone ark sank voluntarily beneath the waves.

As it descended, it broke apart piece by piece…

The floodwaters of the Yellow Springs finally began to subside, sealing the gateways to all surrounding realms.

Back in the mortal realm, Xiao Hang and Fang Jingsheng rushed to receive “Chen Donglou” and Tang Xiaotang.

Tang Xiaotang stared unwillingly at the sealed Void Gateway.

“Chen Donglou” watched silently for a moment.

At this time, even he couldn’t reopen the Yellow Springs gateway.

Because—

“The Forgetfulness-Sinking Ark is gone.”

He stated calmly: “That artifact is completely destroyed.”

Still reeling, Zhang Taigang and the others were speechless.

That once-mighty divine vessel that sailed between the netherworld and the mortal realm—was now truly gone.

Within the Yellow Springs, as the tide receded, Ji Yao’s celestial soul reemerged.

Expressionless, he looked around, assessing the aftermath:

The Yellow Springs—barely held.

But Fengdu was drowned by the River of Forgetfulness. Most of its wards and defenses destroyed.

The Third Heaven Great Ascension Elder Li Linxue—had fallen.

To halt the flood, his life-bound artifact, the Whitebone Divine Ark—one of the Five Reincarnation Treasures of Inner Shushan—was sacrificed.

The Yellow Springs Sword, treasure of the Hell Path, was also destroyed.

Due to the collapse of his life-bound artifact, Ji Yao himself was wounded.

Earlier, in the mortal realm, they had claimed the Qingxiao Hall, a treasure rivaling the Yellow Springs Sword and Whitebone Ark—but now it had been lost again, reclaimed by the Great Tang cultivators.

The tide had retreated, but the Yellow Springs was in ruins. Inner Shushan’s legacy—reduced to rubble...

The Sect Master of Inner Shushan, Ji Yao, stood in midair, his figure swaying.

Suddenly, a powerful light erupted from him, as if his entire body was bleeding out!