Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 378: Nine Heavens, Mahayana High Truth!

The court official sent to Mount Longhu this time was Zhang Ziye, an attendant official of the Eastern Palace.

Years ago, he had traveled the lands with Crown Prince Zhang Hui, even accompanying him as a guest to Mount Longhu.

His father, Zhang Mu, the Prince of Xunan, frequently interacted with Mount Longhu.

Though Zhang Ziye was not the direct heir of the Prince of Xunan, he had always been trusted by his father.

This time, he was dispatched under imperial command to the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu. At the same time, he also bore an edict bound for the Southern Wasteland, where his father Zhang Mu was currently located.

“His Majesty is in Chang’an. Nothing must go wrong.”

Yuan Mobai, accompanied by Shangguan Ning, met with Zhang Ziye.

“This humble Daoist has already sent messages to the Land of the Sea and Tianli, requesting the Sect Master, Junior Martial Niece Tang, and Junior Martial Niece Xu to return to the Mortal Realm as soon as possible.”

Zhang Ziye nodded.

“Much obliged, Master Yuan.”

His expression, however, was anything but relaxed.

Among the Tianshi Mansion’s key figures—Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, and Tang Xiaotang—each one was currently a pillar of the Great Tang.

Tianshi Lei Jun was injured, and it remained uncertain how much strength he could exert. No one could demand too much of him in his condition.

As for the mysterious and elusive Guardian of the Profound Vastness, Xu Yuanzhen, she was notoriously difficult to track down—always the one finding others, never the other way around.

Though she was currently the top expert of the Tianshi Mansion, and arguably the second strongest in Great Tang after the Empress herself, expectations for her remained low.

The fact that she had already helped mitigate the threats from Penglai and Tianli was an unexpected stroke of fortune—no one dared hope for more.

Thus, the imperial court had specially dispatched an envoy to Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion, hoping to rely on the current National Preceptor, Tang Xiaotang, personally appointed by the Empress herself.

But Zhang Ziye could not be optimistic.

Because of his father’s position in the Southern Wasteland, he was more informed about the situation there.

The battle in the Land of the Sea was reaching a fever pitch—especially the fight between National Preceptor Tang Xiaotang and Li Zhongding, currently considered the top expert of the Jiuli there.

At this point, neither side could afford to pull back.

With the National Preceptor's Seal and the Tianshi Sword in hand, Tang Xiaotang feared no enemy.

But Li Zhongding was a top-level Great Shaman of the Divine Dance Lineage, and with the Ghost-God Ritual Array fully unleashed, the void was almost entirely sealed off.

Technically speaking, Li Zhongding and the allied forces of the Five Tribes—Wen Li, Ju Li, and others—weren’t directly targeting Great Tang.

If communication could be established, perhaps a mutual withdrawal was still possible.

However, there was one major problem...

As far as Zhang Ziye knew, National Preceptor Tang Xiaotang did not speak the Jiuli language.

On the other side, Li Zhongding and Li Yan also didn’t understand the language of Great Tang—they required interpreters.

While the Great Tang had people like Shen Qubing fluent in Jiuli, that layer of mediation still remained.

And over on that battlefield, Tang Xiaotang and the Jiuli experts like Li Zhongding and Li Yan had already gone all-out...

On his way to Mount Longhu, Zhang Ziye had heard the latest news from the Southern Wasteland.

The Jiuli Great Shamans could no longer tolerate Tianshi Lei Jun’s rituals.

While engaging with Tang cultivators, some of them began attempting to shut the Void Gateway that connected the Land of the Sea to the Mortal Realm, aiming to sever the link and halt the flow of the rituals.

Zhang Mu, Chu Kun, and other Tang cultivators stationed in the Southern Wasteland were now locked in a new battle against the Jiuli Great Shamans, fighting to keep the gateway open.

It was a bit of dark irony—

Now, it was the Jiuli people doing everything in their power to close the Void Gateway, while Tang cultivators in the Mortal Realm were trying desperately to keep it open.

Still, the fierce escalation answered some of Zhang Ziye’s doubts—

Tianshi Lei Jun’s condition was, in fact, serious.

Whether it was for the greater good or for healing purposes, his venture into the Land of the Sea made one thing clear: his injuries hadn’t fully healed.

“What’s the situation elsewhere?” asked Yuan Mobai and Shangguan Ning.

Zhang Ziye replied:

“The Grand Marshal has already left Luoyang with the Dangkou Golden Halberd, heading to the old capital of Chang’an to protect the Emperor.

In the west, Sect Master Zhang of the Shushan Sect is using the Northern Abyss Divine Spear to block the Snowy Sky Eagle, a powerful demon beast from the snowfields.

Meanwhile, the Shangguan clan’s patriarch from Longxi has taken the Righteous Sword to Guanzhong.”

Yuan Mobai and Shangguan Ning nodded slightly.

Previously, Tang cultivators had counterattacked into Shushan’s corrupted Yellow Springs and forced the enemy to flood the Wangchuan River, sinking the Whitebone Divine Vessel.

Though damaging, the reversal actually benefited Shushan greatly.

With Yellow Springs now sealed from within, the entrance beneath Shushan’s mountain gate, Xiaoding, no longer needed to be suppressed by the Northern Abyss Divine Spear.

Moreover, with Qingxiao Hall finally returned, the Shushan Sect had reestablished its roots, allowing the Northern Abyss Divine Spear to reappear.

For a sect with Eighth Heaven cultivators but no Eighth-Heaven Sword Masters, this weapon was a game-changer.

After all, the Northern Abyss Divine Spear rivaled the Twin Swords of Purple and Green, and in terms of raw killing power, surpassed even the Southern Bright Fire Cauldron.

Zhang Taigang, wielding the spear, could at least hold off the Snowy Sky Eagle, a Ninth-Heaven demon.

“The Shushan Sect has also dispatched Daoist Ye Dongming and Daoist Ji Chuan with the Azure Abyss Sword to Guanzhong.”

“And of course, the Pure Yang Palace has sent its Daoists as well. Tianlong Monastery and Xuanyan Temple have each sent eminent monks to the old capital.”

The Demon Horde of Luoyuan, in many ways, resembled the Yellow Springs cultists in Shushan—

They shared similar ties to nether and ghostly qi.

This made the Pure Yang Sect’s Daoist arts and their newly forged Pure Yang treasures especially effective.

Likewise, the Buddhist light from Tianlong and Xuanyan Monasteries could counteract the ghostly forces.

Grand Marshal Shangguan Yunbo, a peak Eighth-Heaven martial cultivator, had powerful, fiery qi—hostile to all things evil.

Against demon beasts below the Ninth Heaven, Tang’s cultivators stood firm.

But the real problem was the leader of the demon horde...

There was only one demon of the Ninth Heaven level among the invaders near Chang’an.

But it was no ordinary demon—it was the ancient Lord of Youluo Mountain, a peerless beast stronger than the Black Mountain Lord of the Northern Frontier.

Though he commanded no other Ninth-Heaven demons, his army of Eighth-Heaven demon kings and powerful ghost tigers was terrifying.

Each ghost tiger could command spirit-wraiths, and under this demon lord, they had become even more monstrous.

Even with Shangguan Yunbo and Xiao Hang wielding the Dangkou Golden Halberd and the Righteous Sword, Chang’an was in grave danger.

Imperial edicts flew from Luoyang like snowflakes, summoning reinforcements.

Even the imperial princes, once bound to defend their own lands, were now leaving their fiefs to protect the old capital.

Among them were many top-tier experts like Prince of Changshan Zhang Junhai, Prince of Weiyang Zhang Zhen, Prince of Luning Zhang Xiaohao, Prince of Zhaoping Zhang Ji, and Prince of Muncheng Zhang Ming, all Eighth-Heaven cultivators.

Then came the shocking news—

One of Great Tang’s key ministers had fallen in battle.

Though only a Seventh-Heaven cultivator—not particularly eye-catching on the battlefield—his identity caused a nationwide uproar.

It was Xiao Chunhui, the Empress’s closest and most trusted advisor.

He had been slain by the claws of a Luoyuan demon beast.

His elder brother, Xiao Hang, was unable to save him due to the threat posed by the Lord of Youluo Mountain.

Yuan Mobai and Shangguan Ning exchanged solemn glances in the Tianshi Mansion.

In terms of cultivation, Xiao Chunhui couldn’t match his siblings, Xiao Hang and Xiao Xueting, but politically, he was even more favored by the Empress.

It was he who had reshaped the Secretariat and Ministry of State Affairs to pave his own way into the Cabinet.

After stepping down as Chancellor of the Academy, he became a central figure in state affairs—a once-illegitimate son of the Longxi Xiao Clan, now one of the Empress’s chief ministers.

His death revealed a disturbing truth—

Her Majesty’s condition was far worse than expected.

Over the years, Ye Moquan and the Ye Clan of Cangzhou had grown deeply entangled with the Southern Wasteland.

His granddaughter, Ye Lingxi, had perished there. His daughter, Ye Han, had also suffered immense hardship and grievous injury in that region.

His most trusted younger clansmen and right-hand men—Ye Morong, Ye Liang, and other disciples of the Ye Clan of Cangzhou—had fallen in the lands of the Earth Sea and Southern Wasteland.

It was precisely Ye Morong’s death that led to a surprise northern assault on the Ye Clan’s ancestral grounds in Cangzhou by the Great Shaman of Jiuli.

In that battle, Ye Moquan lost his eldest son and direct grandson, Ye Feishan.

His hopes for this grandson surpassed even those he placed on his son, Ye Wei. Sadly, the boy met an untimely end at the hands of the Jiuli Great Shaman.

But this time, Ye Moquan’s journey south wasn’t for the Jiuli Great Shaman.

He didn’t have much time left—there was no room for indulgence or personal vengeance.

What mattered most now was determining the fate of the Tang Mortal Realm going forward.

That decision would directly determine the future of the entire Ye Clan of Cangzhou.

Ye Moquan had already arrived outside the gateway to the Earth Sea, silently observing from a distance.

Compared to the ongoing battle between Tang cultivators and Jiuli people at the Earth Sea portal, Ye Moquan’s cultivation was far superior—too high for others to even notice his presence.

Silently, he analyzed the Tang’s current ritual formations. His heart stirred with solemn respect:

Lei Jun of the Tianshi Mansion truly is a great talent. Even while seriously wounded, he can still perform at such a level.

If not for the fact that the situations in Chang’an and Luoyang were simply too critical, Ye Moquan asked himself—he, too, might have been tempted to act given such a rare opportunity.

But… there were still nagging doubts.

Compared to Chang’an and Luoyang, this was merely a peripheral battlefield.

His thoughts remained fixed on the current internal situation of the Tang Dynasty.

For now, he would proceed as originally planned.

And perhaps… it was time to confirm something about the current Tianshi…

Ye Moquan mused silently.

He made his move in silence, without hesitation.

With his covert aid, the Jiuli Great Shaman successfully severed the ritual connection between the Earth Sea and the Tang Mortal Realm, sealing the void portal.

On the surface, everything appeared to be the work of the Jiuli Great Shaman.

Ye Moquan remained calm.

When the ancestral grounds of the Ye Clan of Cangzhou were attacked, it was already too late for him to intervene. He could only try to make up for it in other ways.

And it wasn’t as if he’d come away empty-handed.

Just like how Ye Yan had mimicked Daoist methods, and Chu Xiuyuan had imitated Confucian rituals, Ye Moquan now succeeded in mimicking Shamanic techniques.

That void portal had to be sealed. Only then could the path forward be secured and obstacles reduced.

However, this could never be done openly, nor by their hands directly.

Close the door—for now, at least.

No matter what Ye Moquan, Ye Yan, or Chu Xiuyuan thought, in the current situation, there was no true way to erase the Tianshi Mansion lineage.

Lei Jun’s injury aside, neither Xu Yuanzhen nor Tang Xiaotang was guaranteed to perish in the Ming Mortal Realm or the Earth Sea.

In fact, even the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao might not wish for a total collapse.

In this chaotic age, the Tang Dynasty needed to preserve its vitality.

Both sides had their eyes set on one thing: the Dragon Throne.

Thus, this was the only choice for now.

Lei Tianshi, Grandmaster Tang, True Person Xu—if you have any grudges, take them out on Tianli, Penglai, the Earth Sea, or Luoyuan instead…

With the Earth Sea portal sealed, Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang were temporarily cut off from returning to the Tang Mortal Realm.

Ye Moquan didn’t linger in the Southern Wasteland. He began his journey northward without pause.

Mount Longhu, Tianshi Mansion.

“The Earth Sea portal has been sealed…” Zhang Ziye’s face changed drastically upon receiving the report.

Yuan Mobai and Shangguan Ning also looked grim.

“Any word from the east or north?” Yuan Mobai asked slowly.

Zhang Ziye steadied himself. “The portals to Penglai and Tianli have also been sealed. The Luoyuan portal over the North Sea remains unsealed for now. Fortunately, no Ninth-Heaven-level demon has appeared yet. General Xiao has already returned to land with the Mountain-River Sword and is heading to Chang’an to defend the city.”

Although no top-tier demons had emerged from the Luoyuan portal, that possibility couldn’t be ruled out.

Still, given the critical nature of Chang’an, Xiao Xueting had no choice but to abandon the Luoyuan front and head to the capital.

No one objected to this decision.

“Qingzhou reports that although the Penglai portal has been sealed, the North Sea Whale King is still wreaking havoc. The Ye Clan leader, despite being injured from battle with the Penglai Demon Dao, has rushed to suppress the chaos again,” Zhang Ziye said. His tone was respectful, but his words carried disapproval.

“From Suzhou: after the Tianli portal was sealed, the Six-Horned Golden Shark continued attacking coastal areas. Elder Chu is doing his best to hold the beast back.”

In the north, a message from the Fang Clan of Jingxiang stated that Patriarch Fang Jingsheng was resisting foreign invaders at Lone Cloud Plains.

Though the portals at Tianli, Penglai, and Earth Sea were now sealed, it was clear that the opposing forces were actively working to isolate themselves from the Tang.

The Fang Clan's goal was to seal the passage between the Tang and the Song to prevent the entry of another major threat. The current situation was reaching a critical moment.

“Prince Zhao reports that he intends to head south to Chang’an in service of the emperor, but the Black Mountain Lord continues to entangle him at the northern frontier,” Zhang Ziye added, his tone mixed.

“There are rumors that Elder Ye, the old patriarch of the Ye Clan of Cangzhou, has departed for the north to relieve Prince Zhao, allowing the prince to ride to Chang’an’s defense.”

Despite his age, Prince Zhao Zhang Teng was still seen as energetic and formidable.

Especially during the previous Jiuli assault on Cangzhou, Ye Moquan had shown signs of physical frailty and seemed unable to handle the situation.

Facing a perfected Ninth-Heaven demon like Lord Youluo, Zhang Teng—wielder of the World-Securing Blade—was clearly a better pillar of support.

That said, Elder Ye’s selfless determination to prioritize the world’s safety despite his age still earned him admiration.

...Though Zhang Ziye couldn't help but feel something was a little off.

“Chang’an’s situation is precarious. We must avoid alarming His Majesty,” Yuan Mobai murmured. “Though I am not the most capable, I am willing to travel there myself.”

Zhang Ziye responded, “If Master Yuan is willing to step forward, that would be best. But your sect’s mountain gate will be left unguarded…”

Yuan Mobai replied calmly, “In urgent times, one must prioritize.”

He turned to Shangguan Ning. “Fifth Senior Sister, I’ll leave the Mansion in your and Fourth Senior Brother’s care.”

Shangguan Ning took a deep breath. “I’ll head to the rear mountain to find Fourth Senior Brother right away. Yuan Junior Brother, be careful on your journey.”

Southern Wasteland.

Beneath Canglang Reef, along the South Sea.

Within the underwater Black Lotus.

Lei Jun’s figure had vanished without a trace.

He hadn’t left.

His soul had entered the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven manifested by the Tianshi Seal.

Inside this realm, Lei Jun did not ascend the three-tiered True-One Altar.

Instead, he sat quietly in meditation on the altar’s front ritual ground.

His cultivation at the Eighth Heaven Realm had now reached perfection.

Next, he would step onto a new path.

But first, he needed to climb one more step.

From the Divine Court Realm of the Daoist Talismanic Branch's Eighth Heaven, to the Great Ascension Realm of the Ninth Heaven.

At this stage, successors of Mount Longhu no longer had to remain near the sect altar.

Just like Xu Yuanzhen before him.

Tang Xiaotang had only done so because she had drawn upon the Earth Sea’s extreme Yin tides to activate the Tianshi Seal.

Lei Jun, however, could choose whether or not to rely on it.

Now, secluded within the Grotto-Heaven, he was simply concealing his presence to prevent energy leakage.

He focused silently, channeling his mana with minimal outward signs.

Then, streams of radiant light converged into countless talismans, floating around him.

Gradually, a three-tiered altar identical in height but subtly distinct from the True-One Altar materialized in the ritual ground—mirroring it across the void.

Lei Jun vanished.

His entire being became a colossal, three-tiered altar.

The first layer was square.

Within it, Daoist principles emerged—black and violet lightning, green and crimson-gold flames intertwined, flowing endlessly.

The altar’s base shimmered with landscapes—mountains and rivers formed from this divine symphony.

Subterranean magnetic forces surged chaotically, yet followed their own hidden order, shaping tracks that guided all creation.

This first layer represented the Earth, bearing all things, heaven’s lightning, divine fire, drifting clouds, and storms.

The second tier, an octagonal altar, symbolized Humanity.

It wasn’t visually striking, but it connected Heaven and Earth—standing firm between the two, harmonizing them.

The final, circular tier symbolized Heaven.

It wasn’t limited by a dome but constantly pushed through boundaries, reaching into the cosmos.

Though appearing empty, it was profoundly mysterious, compressing space and time itself.

Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—united in harmony.

At that moment, Lei Jun’s soul, mana, intent, body, and mind merged as one.

His Divine Court manifested a Xuanhuang Cosmos, fully aligned with the altar, becoming indistinguishable.

Then the altar shrank.

Until it returned to the form of Lei Jun himself.

Unlike Xu Yuanzhen’s glacial thundercloud or Tang Xiaotang’s enduring altar form, Lei Jun reclaimed his true appearance the moment his breakthrough arrived.

The Heavenly Chasm Tribulation from the Eighth to the Ninth Heaven struck.

In his consciousness, he was suddenly adrift in a vast river.

Time itself.

It flowed eternally, without source or end.

In its current, he felt his lifespan and vitality draining rapidly.

Lei Jun had an 800-year lifespan—currently 68.

Compared to mortals, he was but a child.

Still, the erosion of time could rot even the soul.

The older one was, the more fear and obstacles arose—making it harder to survive this tribulation.

Yet youth wasn’t a guaranteed advantage either.

Too young, and one's comprehension of time was lacking. A single misstep could mean time slipped away unnoticed.

Lei Jun remained perfectly still within the river—a delicate balance.

He couldn’t leap out yet, but he’d halted the erosion.

His preparations were nearly complete. Perhaps another year or two, and he could pass the tribulation with ease.

But when fate calls, all things align.

Since the opportunity had come—he would seize it today.

Lei Jun sat calmly.

The Five Energies Three Caverns Primal Crystal appeared in the river of time.

Radiant and resplendent, it merged with Lei Jun.

In an instant, it vanished.

Time reversed.

Lei Jun seemed to grow younger again.

All the vitality he’d lost was restored.

The decay from time condensed into a single stream of Daoist Primal Energy.

His form ascended slowly—emerging from the river of time.

And with that motion, the entire True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven began to tremble.

Here's the full translation, done paragraph by paragraph and cross-checked with the glossary for consistency and accurate term use:

On the True-One Altar, light of purple, gold, and green flickered continuously.

In the outside real world, the void rippled with matching turbulence.

The Tianshi Seal, appearing as a white jade seal, materialized within the Black Lotus's internal realm, bursting with radiant brilliance.

Under that flowing glow, the entire small world inside the Black Lotus trembled violently, as if a surge of divine light was about to pierce the heavens and penetrate the earth.

Fortunately, the Black Lotus itself and the Golden Bottle at its heart reached a delicate equilibrium through their rotation, barely stabilizing the massive lotus and preventing it from cracking open.

Beneath Canglang Reef, in the depths of the sea—

The enormous Black Lotus shivered slightly, seemingly on the verge of blooming.

But ultimately, it gradually settled into stillness. No divine light soared skyward, nor did any spiritual energy surge to the heavens.

Although faint waves of spiritual qi rippled out, they didn't spread further and soon faded away.

The surface of the sea rose and fell with the waves, as if nothing had happened.

Only within the Black Lotus's inner world, the white jade Tianshi Seal, radiating in purple, gold, and green, continued to gleam softly.

Inside the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven, Lei Jun now sat upright atop the altar.

"The True Law is One, commune with the Divine and enter the Profound," Lei Jun chanted in a long, steady tone.

As his breath aligned with the chant, the once-turbulent True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven and Tianshi Seal began to calm.

Within his consciousness, the River of Time had vanished.

In its place was a fully formed, independent world—an entire realm seemingly separate from the mortal plane.

At the far edge of this realm, faintly discernible in the void, a bridge appeared—shimmering, yet elusive.

To Lei Jun, it felt close, and yet somehow just beyond reach.

The Bridge of Transcendence.

Or perhaps more accurately—the Bridge to Immortality.

From comprehending divine presence to understanding the Profound.

From the human world to the realm of immortals.

This was a realm untouched by cultivators for thousands of years.

For cultivators of the Daoist Alchemical Sect, achieving perfection at the Fifth Layer of the Ninth Heaven in the Great Ascension Realm would yield Five Energies Converging to the Origin.

For those of the Artifact Refining Sect, the reward would be the Body of a Loose Immortal, also called Little Freedom.

But for cultivators of the Talismanic Branch, upon achieving perfection in the Five Qi Ascending to the Profound, one would be able to manifest the Bridge of Transcendence.

A pathway to even higher realms of cultivation.

Lei Jun smiled.

Just as Senior Sister had once said—

The road of cultivation is long, and we are all travelers upon it. Countless paths, wonders, and dangers still await us.

And it is precisely this that makes cultivation so intoxicating.

Centered around Lei Jun, a unique, standalone cosmic domain unfolded.

In this realm, the Mystic Primordial Qi surged forth—

Then disintegrated into specks of dust.

This was known as Dust of the Profound Darkness, capable of refining the Netherworld.

It was the signature profound manifestation of the Talismanic Branch's first step into the Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Realm.

Lei Jun sat quietly at the universe’s center, a smile on his face.

He had achieved the Great Ascension Realm, Ninth Heaven!

Beyond the Dust of the Profound Darkness, new entities began to emerge within the cosmos.

They were deeply connected to the Dust, yet opposite in form.

The former resided below.

Above it, there seemed to flash a stream of Bilu Radiance.

The brilliance faded quickly, as if dissolving into nothingness.

But like the soundless echo of a mighty voice, a thunderclap stirred—not outwardly, but from deep within the heart.

Nine Heavens Heart-Thunder… Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Unlike the Dust of the Profound Darkness, this was not a universal manifestation for talismanic cultivators of the Ninth Heaven.

It was unique to Lei Jun—born from his own foundation in the Two-Element Celestial Physique, followed by insight from his comprehension of Bilu Descends, Yellow Springs Rises, and his naturally awakened perception.

Dust of the Profound Darkness merged with the Yellow Springs.

The Nine Heavens Heart-Thunder resonated with Bilu.

Using the Dust as a medium and combining it with his various Daoist techniques, physique, and comprehension, Lei Jun ultimately birthed this counterpart to the Dust: Nine Heavens Heart-Thunder.

Like Yellow Springs and Bilu, they stood as cosmic opposites.

"Although I had a hunch before the tribulation," Lei Jun chuckled, "to truly succeed… feels pretty d*mn good."

The Dust and the Heart-Thunder floated quietly within his Great Ascension Dao Domain.

Lei Jun, hands clasped behind his back, strolled through this domain, silently immersed in comprehension.

Spirit Officer Talisman, Heavenly Travel Talisman, Five Thunders of Mysterious Firmament, Star Array and Dipper Formation, Two-Element Celestial Talisman, Celestial Ground-Through Talisman, Life Canon, Earth Fire Talismanic Canon, and Thunder Law Talismanic Canon, Heavenly Sun Ascendant Talisman…

His array of life-bound talismans emerged one after another within the Dao Domain.

After that came a countless stream of other talismans and Daoist arts—

They flowed like a Star River, their might continuously growing, tempered further through fusion with the Dust and the Heart-Thunder.

Once all was fully nurtured—

The Great Ascension Dao Domain receded back into Lei Jun’s core.

Still seated in lotus position atop the True-One Altar, he didn't rise immediately.

Opening his palm, a speck of spiritual light, resembling fine dust, hovered just above.

The speck vibrated softly—

And then split in two.

The twin specks spiraled around one another before slowly sketching out the form of a Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram, rotating steadily above his palm.

Lei Jun watched in silence for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction.

With that, the Taiji Diagram faded and was reabsorbed into his palm.

"Times are chaotic… better take care of things first."

Rising from the altar, Lei Jun said to himself, "I'll study these Ninth Heaven life-bound talismans later. Oh, right—gotta reforge the Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo and the Seven-Star Sword, not to mention a whole bunch of other stuff. Busy times ahead."

Leaving the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven, he waved his hand. The white jade seal flew up and affixed itself to his waist.

Lei Jun looked around.

Due to his earlier actions, though the Black Lotus remained sealed, it no longer had any chance to bloom again.

The Golden Bottle left behind by Wang Guiyuan also began to lose its Buddhist resonance and spiritual vitality.

Lei Jun gave another wave—

The Black Lotus slowly unfurled,

Then withered away, dissipating into the ocean beneath Canglang Reef.

Tianshi Lei’s form reappeared in the mortal world, now standing atop the reef.

Within his eyes, the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman quietly activated.

Through the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman, though far apart across lands and seas, Lei Jun immediately connected with his Master, Yuan Mobai.

Some of the news, he’d expected—

But some were still beyond what he'd imagined.

Xiao Chunhui is dead.

The gateways to the Earth-Sea, Penglai, and Tianli are all sealed.

Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, and Wang Guiyuan are temporarily unable to return.

Xiao Xueting, carrying the Mountain and River Sword,

Shangguan Yunbo, wielding the Dangkou Golden Halberd,

Xiao Hang, with the Righteous Sword,

And Prince Zhao, Zhang Teng, finally marched south from the Northern Frontier, bringing the World-Calming Blade to hunt the demon Youluo Mountain Lord just outside the former capital Chang’an.

With Zhang Teng, a genuine Ninth Heaven powerhouse, wielding the World-Calming Blade, the Tang cultivators—though not guaranteed victory—could now withstand the onslaught from Youluo and the demon horde of Luoyuan.

But Youluo hadn't come to posture and leave.

From the start, this top-tier demon from the Nether Realm came to slaughter, to empower itself.

Its methods were terrifying. Though it couldn’t win instantly, it invoked the Luoyuan Nether Sea, pouring its waters into the mortal world to flood Chang’an.

The city's defenses weakened; the situation became dire.

At the critical moment, Zhang Teng borrowed the World-Calming Blade, disregarded the Empress’s injuries, forcibly invoked the Dragon Vein Qi, and lifted the old Chang’an palace into the sky, creating a phantom Chang’an above the real one to contain the Nether Sea floodwaters.

Using this opening, Prince Zhao counterattacked, pushing back Youluo and Luoyuan.

But the old palace and the phantom Chang’an were both dragged into the Nether Sea—

The Empress vanished along with them.

“…What the h*ll?”

Lei Jun was silent upon hearing the news.

All signs of the nation's shifting fate had shown the Empress was genuinely injured.

He thought she still had some last-ditch options.

But instead… she pulled that move?

“General Xiao Xueting, to protect the throne, charged into the old palace and followed Her Majesty into Luoyuan.”

Yuan Mobai’s voice was uncharacteristically solemn.

“Xiao Hang was wounded and saved by General Shangguan. He’s fine now, but the General seems to harbor doubts about what Prince Zhao has done…”

The Battle of Chang’an ended tragically.

The only clear winner? Zhang Teng.

Though his actions bordered on treason, sacrificing the Empress to gain power—

He had, indeed, turned the tide, saved the empire, and pushed back the demonic invasion.

Naturally, to the outside world, he wouldn't say he sacrificed the Empress.

Instead, the tale went that despite being gravely injured, the Empress nobly gave her life to save the Tang Dynasty, entrusting its fate to her uncle, Prince Zhao.

Now, with the empire in peril, the Old Prince had no choice but to step up.

And the Dragon Vein Qi he had gathered?

It wasn’t going anywhere.

Tang looked ready to welcome a new ruler.

Imperial Capital, Luoyang.
The battle for the throne had officially begun.
Numerous members of the Zhang-Tang imperial clan gathered together.
Among them were those already residing in Luoyang, those who had returned with Prince Zhao Zhang Teng from Chang’an, and others who had rushed to the capital from various regions of Great Tang.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is the appointed heir of the state, ruling by imperial decree, known for his generosity and virtue—what’s there to hesitate over?” Princess Zhang Qiongrong of Dongping snapped.

Attendant Chancellor Shangguan Qing and Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang both remained silent in contemplation.

Prince Zhang Zhicong of Huaixi, who had just arrived in the capital, looked around and asked, “His Majesty... uh, the Late Emperor, is he truly gone?”

Zhang Qiongrong replied, “If the Late Emperor’s injuries hadn’t truly been so grave, would the Battle of Chang’an have ended as it did?”

Prince Zhang Zhi of Nanyang stood beside his consort Princess Shangguan Jie, and said,
“Whether His Majesty still lives is uncertain. We should do our utmost to search and rescue him. But Prince Zhao harbors wild ambition and is unfit to rule. Right now, the focus should be stabilizing the foundation of the state. Once the situation settles, the Crown Prince should dispatch a team to bring His Majesty back.”

Princess Zhang Wanying of Yuzhou and her husband Shangguan Zhe exchanged glances and gave a faint nod.

Prince Zhang Luo of Xiang asked, “What’s the word from the Grand General?”

Prince Zhang Yang of Chenshan answered slowly, “Yunbo is searching for His Majesty together with Zhang Junhai.”
He looked around the room and added, “Though he hasn’t made any official statements, it’s clear he also believes something is off about the outcome of the Battle of Chang’an.”

Suddenly, Prince Zhang Zhicong of Huaixi asked, “I heard that Master Yuan of the Tianshi Mansion also went to Guanzhong. What stance does the Tianshi Mansion take?”

Prince Zhang Yang of Chenshan replied calmly, “Master Yuan is acting together with the Grand General.”

Everyone nodded slightly in response.
It seemed Prince Zhao Zhang Teng had indeed acted too rashly...

“But some people returned alongside Zhang Teng,” said Prince Zhang Chengyu of Han.
The room fell into a brief silence.

Prince Zhang Xiaohao of Luning, Prince Zhang Ji of Zhaoping, and Prince Zhang Ming of Mucheng—all were formidable figures of the Zhang-Tang clan.
And beyond them, everyone sensed that there were other royal scions siding with Prince Zhao.

An internal war among the Zhang-Tang imperial clan was now inevitable.

Lu Zhen of the powerful Lu family, and Shen Jun of the Shen family, exchanged grim looks.

Lei Jun had traveled north from the southern shores, passing through the Southern Wasteland, collecting information along the way.
The battle in Luoyang ebbed and surged constantly.
After a bout of long-distance skirmishes over the Dragon Vein’s qi, both sides finally engaged in close combat.

Ye Yan, who carried the Map of the Great River, and Fang Jingsheng, who held the Brush of Spring and Autumn, aided Crown Prince Zhang Hui in stabilizing the situation.
Later, Zhang Hui made a dramatic move, exposing hard evidence that Prince Zhao Zhang Teng had once harbored the foreign martial saint Bomu Ge, secretly instigating another large-scale invasion by foreign tribes, and even practiced foreign martial arts himself.

The revelation stunned Luoyang both inside and out.

In today’s world, many matters were resolved through force, but in a succession crisis, popular sentiment and national unity were also battlefield tactics.

Prepared in advance, the news spread rapidly.
Prince Zhao, who had once earned public favor for defending the northern frontier and recently protecting Chang’an against Luoyuan’s monstrous threat, now saw his popularity plummet.

The tide in Luoyang shifted clearly.
Lei Jun was nearing the Central Plains.
From a distance, he saw a shining white light at the horizon, floating above.

Just like in Chang’an, the Dragon Vein's national destiny had coalesced above Luoyang, manifesting a phantom imperial capital.

That phantom city was both battlefield and prize.

Above Lei Jun, in the high heavens, the Grand Celestial Mirror hovered, its radiant light rotating.

In his eyes, the Celestial-Ground-Through Talisman turned, fusing with the mirror’s vision, revealing a variety of scenes.

As Lei Jun's cultivation grew, so too did the talisman’s reach.
Though still far from the city, the phantom Luoyang was now fully within his sight.

Dragon, Phoenix, Qilin, and Spirit Turtle—the four sacred beasts—guarded its corners.
Beyond imperial aura, abundant scholarly essence coursed through the phantom capital, majestic and glorious.

Yet inside the city, metal and horse, blood and iron clashed in fierce combat.

Lei Jun halted, gazing at the phantom city in silence.
Moments later, a sudden disturbance broke his focus.

He collected his thoughts, and the Celestial-Ground-Through Talisman in his eyes lit up, projecting light into the air before him.

In the light, black blotches appeared, like ink spreading, forming characters.

The message was simple:
Yulan Mountain.

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.
He wasn’t particularly familiar with this place. He vaguely recalled seeing it on a map once while browsing documents at the Decree Pavilion in the mansion—it should be in Jizhou.

This transmission came from the Ye Clan of Cangzhou, using their “Letters As Face” method.
Lei Jun intercepted the message.

At this critical time when all of Tang’s top experts were converging on Luoyang, a minor site in Jizhou suddenly being mentioned seemed highly unusual.

Surely Ye Moquan wouldn’t play such a casual move at a crucial moment.

As Lei Jun pondered whether to continue toward Luoyang or detour to Yulan Mountain, a Light Sphere flared in his mind.

“Weak trunk, strong branch—guest becomes host.”

Then, three omen lots appeared.

Reading them, Lei Jun grew intrigued:

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Upper-Moderate Omen: Travel to Zhijin Ridge in Lucheng, Shangzhou, and you’ll obtain a Third-Grade Opportunity. No current risk. Handled well, no future harm. Good.

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Moderate-Moderate Omen: Travel to northern foot of Yulan Mountain in Jizhou, no additional gain. Handle it properly to avoid hidden threats. Neutral.

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Lower-Moderate Omen: Go elsewhere. No current risk, but future troubles may arise. Bad.

Lei Jun stood with hands behind his back.
Judging by the wording, it was clear the Ye Clan of Cangzhou was plotting something.

He still had time to stop it.
If he ignored it, it could create issues later on.
Not overly dangerous—but certainly impactful.

And this was under the premise that Lei Jun had just attained the Great Ascension Realm, Ninth Heaven.

The Upper-Moderate and Moderate omens were particularly worth noting.

Zhijin Ridge in Shangzhou?
So, something was also happening there?

If he went to Zhijin Ridge and ignored Yulan Mountain, it wouldn’t cause any negative impact?

Were both places hosting similar events?
Though far apart, could stopping one affect the other?

The difference lay in Zhijin Ridge offering a Third-Grade Opportunity.

He glanced again toward Luoyang.
The battle there was still at a stalemate.

Lei Jun nodded slightly and turned west toward Shangzhou.

With his current cultivation, and using the Heavenly Travel Talisman, even without the Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle, few could track his presence.

He merged seamlessly into the natural world and arrived near Zhijin Ridge, Lucheng, Shangzhou.

His target was well-hidden, but with the Grand Celestial Mirror and Celestial-Ground-Through Talisman, he quickly located it.

Two Confucian clans were holding different ritual ceremonies there.
One side: Fang Clan of Jingxiang, led by Fang Shihan, elder of the previous generation and peer of Fang Hezhou.

The other side: Chu Clan of Suzhou, led by Chu Fengyuan, peer of Chu Xiuyuan and Chu Taoyuan.

Lei Jun, with his innate perception, quickly saw through it all.

The Fang Clan’s ritual aimed to open a Void Gateway and connect a different realm to the Tang mortal world.

The Chu Clan’s ritual, on the contrary, sought to block or disrupt it—aimed at Yulan Mountain.

Lei Jun understood immediately.

Between the mountain ridges, Fang Shihan turned to Chu Fengyuan:
“Brother Chu, are you ready?”

Chu Fengyuan replied, “All is prepared, but we must act together.”

Fang Shihan nodded: “I can begin anytime.”
He looked toward Jizhou and said,
“Prince Zhao Zhang Teng has lost all credibility. Will the Lin Clan of Youzhou still support him?”

Chu Fengyuan: “Best to be prepared.”

Fang Shihan sighed as he gazed further north,
“The Lin Clan in Datong has really taken shape.”

Chu Fengyuan responded, “The Fang Clan of Jingxiang is no less.”

But Fang Shihan shook his head:
“Up there, the Lin and Xiao Clans have intermarried. We can't underestimate them.”
He sighed,
“Back then, the ones who moved to Datong were all small clans. Now, they've grown immensely. If they return, who knows what might happen?”

Chu Fengyuan nodded but didn’t respond.

Small clans merging with major clans—everyone cared about that.
If not, Youzhou and Jingxiang wouldn’t be quietly working to block Datong’s return.

Given the current advantage, if they could simply stop Youzhou Lin Clan from opening a path to Datong, all would be well.

But if they failed, they might have to follow suit.

“If it comes to that, Brother Fang, make the call early,” Chu Fengyuan said.

Fang Shihan smiled faintly, “Don’t worry. Everything’s ready. Please go first.”

Chu Fengyuan smiled. “Then excuse my clumsiness.”

“You’re too kind.”

Just then—a new voice rang out across the mountains.

Fang Shihan, Chu Fengyuan, and the elite from both clans turned pale.

They couldn’t see who had spoken.
But an expansive, starry cosmos unfolded around them, engulfing the entire ridge.

In the cosmic void, a tall young Daoist stood cloaked in a Nine-Colored Radiant Robe, crowned with the Primordial Crown, and wearing the White Jade Seal at his waist.

“To be honest, I regretted not catching Zong Han back in Yellow Springs. It might’ve prevented what came after,” he said calmly.

Lei Jun looked at Fang Shihan and Chu Fengyuan and nodded, “This time? Not bad.”

Moments later, the darkness faded.
Only Lei Jun remained beneath Zhijin Ridge.

The two conflicting rituals were intact.

He adjusted the Chu Clan’s ceremony, then activated it.

Far away in Jizhou, within Yulan Mountain, two other Confucian clans were likewise conducting opposing ritual formations, intertwined and counteracting each other.

Elder Lin Lishan of the Lin Clan of Youzhou gestured for Elder Ye Chen of the Ye Clan of Cangzhou to act together with him.

The two Confucian rites, at that very moment, were activated in unison.

Lin Lishan's expression was solemn.

Prince Zhao Zhang Teng had proven a disappointment.
But now, there was no turning back—they had to take the risk.

After the calamity at their ancestral land in Youzhou, abandoning it now might be a palatable sacrifice.

If absolutely necessary, perhaps full relocation to Datong was their best option.

The dilemma between minor sects merging with major ones had to be set aside… at least for now.

Just as the thought crossed Lin Lishan’s mind, his ritual suddenly twisted out of control.

He remained calm:
“It’s the countermeasures from Jingxiang’s side.”

They’d anticipated this much.

In addition to gateways, there were rituals meant to block or disturb the other side.

Ye Chen had long been prepared, standing beside Lin Lishan ready to support him.

But they had not expected what came next—
The change was far beyond anything they’d foreseen.

The entire Yulan Mountain shook violently.
The sky collapsed and the ground split open.

Both Confucian rituals were completely destroyed, and the artifacts they’d spent years preparing were reduced to rubble.

Though Lin Lishan and Ye Chen were powerful cultivators, they were still blasted into the air, coughing blood, souls nearly torn from their bodies.

Others with lower cultivation didn’t stand a chance—they were buried alive on the spot.

Even with help from Suzhou and Qingzhou, how could the Fang Clan of Jingxiang have executed such overwhelming power?!

Lin Lishan lay among the shattered peaks, eyes filled with despair.

Years of preparation, all for this day.

Now it was ruined—would they ever again have the years and stability to rebuild?

If they failed today, what awaited Youzhou in the future?

Back at Zhijin Ridge, Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction and proceeded to clean up all traces of the two rituals.

As for the method that could open a gateway to Datong, he sealed it away temporarily, using his own mana to derive a Taiji Diagram, locking it within.

For now, the other side’s ambitions had been cut off.

Once matters in the Tang mortal realm were settled and peaceful, he would consider whether to rest and rebuild, or perhaps personally travel to Datong.

Having organized the remnants of the rituals, Lei Jun finally understood what the Upper-Moderate Omen meant by a Third-Grade Opportunity.

It turned out to be a spiritual item he had long been searching for: the Thousand-Facet Prism Jade.

These aristocratic clans truly had rich foundations—
Their quantities were large, and quality top-notch.

“Well then… thank you kindly.”

After collecting the prize—

Lei Jun's gaze turned northeast, and he stepped forward, returning toward Luoyang once more.