Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 379: Continuous Killing of Nine Heavens

In the great battle of Luoyang, Prince Zhao, Zhang Teng, was already fighting against overwhelming odds.

Earlier, after replacing the Empress, he had gained the support of most of the nation's Dragon Vein Qi, granting him the strength to fight a war.

Following the battle of Chang'an, after much effort, he had solidified the situation. Even when the Empress returned from Luoyuan, empty-handed, she could no longer seize the Dragon Vein back from Prince Zhao.

His only real opponent was in the Imperial Capital, Luoyang.

There, aside from Crown Prince Zhang Hui—who bore another portion of the Dragon Vein Qi—there was also the State Cauldron.

Prince Zhao held the advantage at first.

However, Crown Prince Zhang Hui received the backing of the ancestral grounds of the three clans—Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang—as well as the support of three Ninth Heaven Grand Scholars: Ye Yan, Fang Jingsheng, and Chu Xiuyuan.

Later, the exposure of Prince Zhao Zhang Teng’s many acts endangering the dynasty caused the situation in Luoyang to flip instantly.

Outside Luoyang, the Cangzhou Ye Clan’s old patriarch, Ye Moquan, was leading his kinsmen—Ye Mocheng, Ye Moxin, Ye Qi, Ye Zheng, Ye Yan, and others—clashing fiercely against the experts of the Chu Clan led by their own patriarch, Chu Xiuyuan.

The two sides engaged in both close-quarters combat and long-range mystical arts.

Although Ye Moquan was deeply committed to supporting Prince Zhao Zhang Teng, the news from Luoyang spread uncontrollably across the realm, leading to a massive loss of public support for Prince Zhao.

Ye Moquan had long heard whispers of Zhang Teng’s private misdeeds. Now that everything was exposed for all to see, even members of the Cangzhou Ye Clan were shocked and appalled.

No matter how hard Ye Moquan wished to salvage the situation, a deep sense of helplessness welled up within him.

At the same time, new bad news arrived from the shores of Mount Yulan.

His nephew, Ye Chen, reported that the Youzhou Lin Clan had attempted to reopen the path connecting the Tang Mortal Realm to Datong in order to bring back their kin from that side, but had failed.

A powerful force, stemming from a grand Confucian ritual, had crossed the void and suppressed them, and Ye Chen’s group could not withstand it.

Mount Yulan had collapsed; the two ritual sites set up by the Youzhou Lin Clan and the Cangzhou Ye Clan were destroyed, and countless clan members were either killed or wounded.

Compared to the decline of Prince Zhao’s position in Luoyang, this news was an even more devastating blow to Ye Moquan.

The old man's gaze shifted from the west, toward Chang’an, to the north, toward Jizhou.

The preparations for these rituals had taken both the Youzhou Lin Clan and the Cangzhou Ye Clan countless years.

Among the materials and treasures involved, many were rare, peerless items that were now irreplaceable.

With the rituals destroyed, it would be nearly impossible to rebuild them in the short term.

"The hand behind Jingxiang must be skilled indeed. Are Qingzhou and Suzhou aiding them?"

Ye Moxin’s snow-white brows furrowed tightly.

While preparing to open the void portal at Mount Yulan, they had also planned to disrupt and sabotage the opposing rituals.

Yet the enemy’s skills were superior, leading to their crushing defeat.

This loss had closed off one of their most critical escape routes.

The newly established ancestral grounds of the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Lin Clan could not match the strength of Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang.

Even though Ye Moquan had labored for years to rebuild after losing their ancestral home in Jinzhou, progress had been slow and difficult.

However, from another perspective, the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Lin Clan now had less to lose.

If Prince Zhao was truly deemed unfit for the throne, and the Crown Prince ascended—or worse, if the Empress returned—then Prince Zhao, along with the Cangzhou and Youzhou clans, would inevitably become scapegoats to reward loyalists and pacify public sentiment.

The consequences of this chaos would all fall upon them.

By then, instead of struggling pointlessly, it would be wiser for the Cangzhou and Youzhou clans to retreat into Datong.

Though dangers remained, it would at least preserve more of their bloodline.

Yet now, the road to Datong was completely sealed.

"Seventh Sister, trouble yourself to go with Ye Qi and meet up with Yujing’s group from Youzhou. Help them retreat from Luoyang as soon as possible."

Ye Moquan spoke calmly:

"I will return to Cangzhou to prepare the Worldly Treasure Array. Immediately send word to Ye Wei and the others, and gather the clan members to get ready."

Ye Moxin’s heart jumped:

"Big Brother, if we’re invoking the Worldly Treasure Array..."

"When it’s time to cut, you cut," Ye Moquan said flatly. "Go."

"Yes, Big Brother."

Ye Moxin and Ye Qi bowed to Ye Moquan and left for Chang’an.

Meanwhile, Ye Moquan instructed Ye Mocheng, Ye Zheng, Ye Yan, and other clan elders to lead their people in an orderly retreat, pulling away from Luoyang and heading east back to Cangzhou.

On the other side, the Chu Clan experts who had been battling them noticed the unusual movement immediately.

One elder of the Chu Clan, Chu Cong, hurried to consult with Chu Xiuyuan:

"Uncle, the Cangzhou Ye Clan is..."

"Hold the formation, don’t let them retreat easily, but there’s no need to push too hard,"

Chu Xiuyuan instructed calmly.

"I’m heading to the Imperial Capital, Luoyang."

That was where the real battle would be decided.

Ensuring that Prince Zhao Zhang Teng had no chance of a comeback was now the top priority for Suzhou, Qingzhou, and Jingxiang.

Lei Jun headed east.

Suspended high in the sky, the Grand Celestial Mirror gradually revealed the Imperial Capital, Luoyang, once more.

Above the real Luoyang City, the phantom Imperial Capital grew ever more magnificent. White light shimmered, spreading in all directions, covering an area far greater than the real city beneath it.

"General Shangguan and Elder Xiao Hang are both calm."

Yuan Mobai communicated with Lei Jun via the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman:

"General Shangguan even comforted me, saying that you, Master, along with Nephew Yuanzhen and Nephew Xiaotang, might soon return from the Vast Ocean and the Heavenly Principle."

Lei Jun’s eyes flickered slightly:

"Master, where are the General and Elder Xiao now?"

Yuan Mobai answered calmly:

"Elder Xiao and I are currently heading to the North Sea. Elder Xiao intends to search for traces of the Old Chang’an Palace through an unsealed portal to Luoyuan. As for General Shangguan… he has already set out for Luoyang. Judging by the time, he should have arrived by now."

Lei Jun asked:

"So only the General is heading to Luoyang? Elder Xiao still insists you accompany him to the North Sea?"

"Correct," Yuan Mobai replied peacefully.

"Although the Old Palace did indeed fall into Luoyuan, there seem to be many hidden secrets at play."

"Understood. Please wait a moment, Master."

Lei Jun fell into thought, his gaze fixed on the distant Luoyang.

Above the phantom Imperial Capital, images of a dragon, phoenix, spirit turtle, and qilin roamed vividly, symbols of national grandeur and cultural splendor.

After watching for a while, Lei Jun sank his consciousness into the Heavenly Book Universe.

At present, the Heavenly Book Universe was silent.

Only the Golden Venus Luminary, representing Lei Jun, shone brightly.

He glanced around, finally fixing his gaze on the Lunar Luminary.

He sent a brief message:

"Where is the qilin now?"

He waited quietly.

After a short pause, the Lunar Luminary responded:

"The qilin is in Luoyang. Heavy rain falls there now. However, if you are already outside Luoyang, the rain should soon clear."

Lei Jun calmly replied:

"Where is all this rain coming from?"

The Lunar Luminary seemed busy but answered after a pause:

"Qingzhou, Suzhou, Jingxiang, Cangzhou, Youzhou—and Luoyang itself."

Reading this, Lei Jun nodded slightly and said no more.

The Lunar Luminary also fell silent.

After withdrawing his mind from the Heavenly Book Universe, Lei Jun exchanged a few more words with his master Yuan Mobai and his junior brother Chu Kun, who was still in the Southern Wasteland.

Meanwhile, in the Southern Wasteland

Near the now-sealed void portal connecting the Tang Mortal Realm to the Vast Ocean.

Masses of Tang cultivators and Southern Wasteland Witch Sect disciples had gathered, urgently working to reopen the path between the two realms.

Progress was going smoothly.

The person in charge was a high-ranking Tang official and a grand scholar of the Eighth Heaven from the Divine Archery Lineage—Chu Yu.

"Hmm, Chief Chu indeed came well-prepared this time."

Nearby, Chu Kun stepped aside to quietly report to his senior brother Lei Jun:

"They've studied the portal in depth and brought many rare materials. The ritual setup is progressing rapidly. I believe they’ll soon reopen the Vast Ocean portal."

After listening to Lei Jun, Chu Kun looked a bit surprised but then showed a flash of understanding.

"Even if it all matches up, Senior Brother, you should still stay alert for sudden changes."

After ending the communication, Chu Kun returned to the portal site.

Soon, he saw Chu Yu pausing her work to read a Confucian Letters-As-Face message.

Her expression remained calm.

However, she immediately turned to ask Chu Kun:

"Elder Chu, have there been any recent updates from Tianshi Lei, State Preceptor Tang, or Master Xu?"

Chu Kun, maintaining a neutral expression, replied vaguely:

"When the portal closed, our sect leader sent word saying he had a solution. He told us not to worry."

Chu Yu nodded:

"Tianshi Lei is prudent and decisive. If he says so, there must be reason for confidence. Still, to be safe, we must hurry to reopen the portal, to adapt to the Tang’s rapidly changing situation."

"Agreed," Chu Kun said.

Back at Luoyang — the Battle Reaches its Peak

Prince Zhao Zhang Teng, in desperation, tried to reveal hidden scandals from Qingzhou and Jingxiang.

He exposed how, during the chaos in Guanzhong years ago, Qingzhou and Jingxiang had aided the Great Demons, allowing the likes of the Snow Country Bear King and the Longtian Azure Wolf to sneak past defenses and ravage Guanzhong.

Unfortunately, with communication lines now tightly controlled, the news barely spread.

Not only did Qingzhou, Jingxiang, and Suzhou dominate the battlefield, but even the Jinzhou Ye Clan and Youzhou Lin Clan had similar past offenses.

Meanwhile, Prince Zhao's private collusion with the barbarian Martial Saint Bomu Ge and with Luoyuan remained his own unique scandal.

The overall struggle for the Dragon Vein was nearing its end.

Prince Zhao, once empowered by most of the Dragon Vein Qi, could only watch helplessly as everything slipped from his grasp.

Now, he could rely only on his martial cultivation to fight.

Beyond the top experts, many more battles raged in the phantom Imperial Capital.

Led by Lin Huan, the Youzhou Lin Clan’s experts and Prince Zhao’s forces battled the Qingzhou Ye Clan and the Jingxiang Fang Clan.

Wielding her Northwind Sword, Lin Huan was invincible against all but Ninth Heaven experts and Crown Prince Zhang Hui himself.

However, with Ye Yan and Fang Jingsheng present, even she struggled.

Meanwhile, chaos broke out among the remaining Tang Divine Strategy Army loyalists stationed at Luoyang.

Even some noble clans like the Zhang Imperial Clan and the Shangguan Family became embroiled.

Grand Princess Zhang Ying tried to mediate.

Princes Zhang Yang and Zhang Zhi said:

"We never intended to commit regicide. At most, we only wished to persuade Her Majesty in Chang’an to abdicate."

Yet the old general Shangguan Xiu coldly remarked:

"Since the founding of the dynasty, our families have loyally served the emperors. But that Empress in Chang’an is heartless and ungrateful. After the Western Expedition sapped our strength, she replaced the nobility with commoners, abandoning her old allies!"

Zhang Ying sighed:

"Zhang and Shangguan stand together. Water can carry the boat—or overturn it. With the great changes sweeping the world, we must act wisely and cooperate."

Prince Han, Zhang Chengyu, interrupted:

"Such lofty words belong in books, Aunt. In reality, when the storms come, we protect our own fields first. No farmer starves his sons to save a few stalks of grain."

Princess Zhang Qiongrong added coldly:

"All the current chaos stems from Empress Zhang Wantong's disastrous policies. She brought it upon herself."

Lei Jun walked through the void, arriving above Luoyang City.

At this moment, the battle had already spread to every corner of the phantom Imperial Capital.

High above, the Grand Celestial Mirror swept over the scene. The mirror light condensed, and the view became even clearer and more detailed.

The experts of the Suzhou Chu Clan were also joining the battle one after another.

The old patriarch, Chu Xiuyuan, had already entered the phantom Imperial Capital.

Prince Zhao Zhang Teng now faced the situation of fighting against four major forces at once.

Although his experience in deadly combat surpassed that of the Grand Scholars, the phantom Imperial Capital, influenced by Crown Prince Zhang Hui and the State Cauldron, was interfering with and suppressing Prince Zhao on all fronts, making it extremely difficult for him to fully unleash his abilities.

Even though Lin Huan held the Northwind Sword, she was unable to aid Prince Zhao for now.

After receiving news from Ye Moquan, Lin Huan and the Youzhou Lin Clan had intended to retreat.

However, numerous experts stood in their way. Ye Yan, Fang Jingsheng, Chu Xiuyuan, and others kept a constant watch.

Even with Ye Moxin, Ye Qi, and others coming to support the breakout, Lin Huan and her companions faced a long and arduous escape route.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Xiu, Shangguan Zhengqing, Shangguan Jie, Zhang Qiongrong, Zhang Zhi, and Zhang Chengyu, who were facing Zhang Xiaohou, Zhang Ji, Zhang Ming, and other members of the Zhang Imperial Clan supporting Prince Zhao, had already gained full advantage.

However, they were now being harshly rebuked by General Shangguan Yunbo, who had rushed back to Luoyang.

Even so, despite Shangguan Yunbo’s high prestige, Zhang Zhi, Zheng Chengyu, Shangguan Xiu, and others refused to back down.

The situation grew increasingly out of control.

Prince Zhao Zhang Teng finally began leading his forces in a breakout attempt.

Although he was wounded by his enemies, his World-Securing Blade swept out with unmatched sharpness and overwhelming force, managing to injure the Fang Clan’s patriarch, Fang Jingsheng.

Top martial experts, especially Martial Saints who practiced martial assault paths, had elevated their offensive abilities to the utmost limit.

Even if their opponents were stronger overall, they still had to be extremely cautious—lest they be dragged down by desperate attacks, trading injuries for injuries, or even exchanging life for life.

After injuring Fang Jingsheng, Prince Zhao Zhang Teng immediately sought an opening to lead his forces out of the siege.

Crown Prince Zhang Hui, Ye Yan, and Chu Xiuyuan attacked repeatedly, trying to keep Zhang Teng trapped inside the phantom Imperial Capital.

Just then, a colossal black sphere, vast as a separate world, suddenly appeared within the phantom Imperial Capital.

The black sphere resembled a standalone cosmos, exuding an enormous suction force.

Prince Zhao Zhang Teng and part of his forces, for a moment, seemed to be sheep voluntarily rushing into the tiger’s mouth, drawn into the black sphere.

Prince Zhao was struck with horror. He tried to shift through the void to retreat.

Yet the suction force from the black cosmic sphere stiffened his movements in midair.

Then, slowly but steadily, he began being dragged toward that black universe.

Upon seeing this, Ye Yan, Chu Xiuyuan, Fang Jingsheng, and even Lin Huan, Zhang Qiongrong, and others in the phantom Imperial Capital were all startled.

...This looked like the method of a Daoist from the Talismanic Branch!

Everyone stared more closely.

Within the dark cosmic void, a tall figure gradually emerged.

The figure wore a Primordial Crown, draped in a Nine-Colored Radiant Robe, with a White Jade Seal hanging from the waist, standing amidst the darkness as though occupying the center of the universe.

"Tianshi..."

"Xuanxiaozi?"

"Lei Jun of Mount Longhu?!"

Shock rippled through the crowd.

Wasn’t it said that this Daoist had not yet recovered from his injuries and was trapped in the Vast Ocean?

The information was false—he had not been confined to the Jiuli region, and he had found a way to return to the mortal realm without using the portal?

And if he had returned so easily, then—had his injuries already healed?

Watching as Lei Jun's cosmic force seized and pulled Zhao Zhang Teng into the black sphere almost effortlessly, everyone suddenly realized—

They already had their answer.

However...

Hold on a second.

Could a Talismanic Branch cultivator at the Eighth Heaven Perfection Realm, with just the manifestation of the Divine Court Inner Cosmos, really capture someone like Prince Zhao, Zhang Teng, a Ninth Heaven expert, as easily as just now?

Although in the past, during the battle at the ruins of the Vajra Monastery in the Western Regions, Tianshi Lei did capture the foreign human sect master Zhao You'an of the Three Spring Palace with the manifestation of his Divine Court Inner Cosmos.

But Zhao You'an and Zhang Teng were completely different cases.

Zhang Teng had not only reached the Ninth Heaven, but he was also a Martial Saint.

Even though he was injured and not at his peak, his speed in traversing the void was still superior to Zhao You'an, who was a high-level Great Ascension cultivator of the Alchemical Sect.

And now, despite his strength, Zhang Teng couldn't escape from Lei Jun's grasp?

Could this contemporary Tianshi still be only at the Eighth Heaven?

Had he not only recovered from his injuries but even broken through to a whole new level?

Ye Yan looked toward Chu Xiuyuan and Fang Jingsheng.

The two exchanged a glance and both slightly shook their heads.

Seeing this, Ye Yan’s heart sank completely.

"He... has already crossed that step?"

Sixth Elder Fang Du of the Fang Family in Jingxiang looked at Third Elder Fang Shantong.

Fang Shantong and his wife Ye Yue remained silent.

As they gazed at Lei Jun, old memories resurfaced, stirring the grief buried in their hearts for years.

Their children, Fang Lu and Fang Mingyuan, had both fallen years ago near Mount Longhu.

Though the culprits—cultivators of the Blood River Sect—had long been executed, whenever they saw someone from Tianshi Mansion, pain would well up anew, and they would be reminded of their lost son and daughter.

And now, the tall, young Daoist standing before them, the current Master of Tianshi Mansion, was about the same age their children would have been.

"I remember... he's sixty-eight this year?" Ye Yue asked softly.

Fang Shantong nodded lightly: "That's right. I looked into it specially. If you count from the day he first entered Mount Longhu, it's been exactly fifty years."

Around them, even those still engaged in battle slowed their movements unconsciously, diverting more attention to the figure of Lei Jun floating in mid-air.

A Daoist cultivator who reached Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Realm at sixty-eight years old...

And his total cultivation time was only about fifty years.

"He reached the Eighth Heaven at around fifty, right?"

Chu Xinyuan, an elder of the Suzhou Chu Clan, clicked his tongue in amazement:

"From Eighth to Ninth Heaven... he only needed eighteen years?"

In recent years at Mount Longhu, the record for the fastest rise to Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Realm was still held by Tang Xiaotang, current National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty and former Tianshi.

She had entered the Dao before the age of eight, and reached the Ninth Heaven at fifty-four, spending less than forty-seven years in total.

Then came Lei Jun, surpassing even the renowned Xu Yuanzhen.

Both Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang had taken about twelve years to go from Seventh Heaven to Eighth Heaven.

Lei Jun had done it in ten.

Xu Yuanzhen had taken roughly twenty-five years from Eighth to Ninth Heaven.

Tang Xiaotang had taken about twenty-four years.

Lei Jun? Eighteen years.

After reaching the Upper Three Heavens, his pace of advancement had been even fiercer than Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang.

The elders of the Suzhou Chu Clan, including Chu Xinyuan and Chu Cong, exchanged shocked glances.

What made Lei Jun’s breakthrough even more alarming to them was not just his own speed—it was because they themselves were stuck at the Eighth Heaven Perfection Realm.

Among the many experts gathered in Luoyang, many had reached the Eighth Heaven’s peak.

But whether due to fear, risk, or personal limitations, none had dared to take that final step.

And now, Lei Jun had succeeded.

Given his previous talent, no one doubted he would achieve it eventually.

But—

It was just too soon!

Sure, injuries could heal and be hidden.

But the heavenly tribulation between Eighth and Ninth Heaven—the Heavenly Chasm Tribulation—was no joke.

The difficulty of overcoming it could not be faked.

Yet Lei Jun had still done it.

At that moment, friend and foe alike fell into complete silence as they stared at the massive black sphere suspended above the Phantom Capital.

Inside Lei Jun's Great Ascension Dao Domain, he stood there calmly.

In the pitch-black cosmic void, streams of fire—like comets—constantly streaked across the space before him, then crashed down onto those trapped within his domain, sending them sprawling and tumbling everywhere.

The only one still managing to stay upright was Prince Zhao, Zhang Teng.

Though wounded, Zhang Teng wielded the World-Securing Blade, slicing apart the incoming fire comets one after another.

Zhang Teng stared intently at Lei Jun in the distance.

For a fleeting moment, a ridiculous thought crossed his mind:

Could it be that Ye Moquan of Cangzhou had deliberately held back from properly sealing the Earth-Sea Portal, allowing Lei Jun to pass through easily?

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

Now was not the time to overthink.

Gripping his treasured blade tightly, Zhang Teng gathered all his strength.

Blessed by the Imperial Sovereign Art and infused with the nation's dragon qi, cultivators gained divine aid: reducing the damage from others’ attacks and amplifying the power of their own spells.

But now, the dragon qi surrounding Prince Zhao had diminished dramatically—barely anything remained.

Though his wounds had stopped bleeding and he appeared outwardly no different from before, in truth, his attack, defense, and movement were all severely weakened.

Still, every swing of his blade remained razor-sharp and fiercely deadly.

He was a Martial Saint, a pinnacle of the martial cultivation path.

In martial cultivation, reaching the Seventh Heaven was called Seeing the Divine, the Eighth Heaven was Comprehending the Divine Will, and the Ninth Heaven was the realm of the Martial Saint.

A Martial Saint’s strength was fully internalized, compressed, and condensed within themselves—no outward aura leaked.

Their martial will wrapped tightly around their weapon, their very essence honed to a deadly edge.

Thus, among cultivators of the same realm, Martial Saints were feared for their terrifying attack power and lethality.

At this moment, the blade intent gathered on Zhang Teng’s World-Securing Blade gleamed like a sliver of icy light, wherever it passed, it could split the sky and shatter the earth.

But no matter how he charged forward, the blade seemed to slow down the closer it got to Lei Jun, as if it would never reach him.

Zhang Teng’s eyes flashed.

Inside Lei Jun's Great Ascension Dao Domain, things were no longer like before, when it was simply a dazzling Primordial Magnetic Sea.

Now, in this Mystic Yellow Universe, the primordial magnetic forces had become even denser, but instead of chaotic turbulence, the golden-yellow magnetic energy wove itself into semi-tangible, semi-illusory tracks that crisscrossed through the stars.

The primordial magnetic forces surged—but they now moved according to clearer, more stable laws and rhythms.

Countless magnetic star tracks intertwined, making the cosmic scene even more breathtaking.

But for Zhang Teng, this was terrible news.

His World-Securing Blade began to tremble uncontrollably.

Prince Zhao forcibly steadied his mind, gripping his blade with both hands, though the blade edge still trembled as it advanced.

Within the tangled star tracks, streams of primordial magnetic energy coalesced into a purple thunder dragon, racing along the magnetic lines—instantly transforming into the Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Apparition, the signature manifestation of Tianshi Mansion.

The dragon-like manifestation descended before Zhang Teng.

Under its suppression, even the peerless Ten-Thousand-Mile Blade Intent passed down through the Tang Imperial Family began to falter.

Already weakened by injuries, Zhang Teng’s offensive, defensive, and movement capabilities fell even further.

His once-mighty blade intent shrank drastically.

Across from him, Lei Jun wasn't finished: alongside the purple thunder dragon, a verdant green flame intertwined and formed the Yin Fire Tiger manifestation.

Zhang Teng's eyes remained calm.

Another surge of powerful blade intent erupted from the World-Securing Blade—a primal, desolate aura that rejected culture and civilization, sweeping across the cosmos.

It was the very blade intent he had comprehended years ago at the Greater and Lesser Pass Mountains in the northwest—the secret that had helped him cross the gap from Eighth to Ninth Heaven:

Desolate Wilds Blade Intent.

However, before this intent could fully unfold—

The purple Yang Thunder Dragon and the green Yin Fire Tiger merged into a Purple-Green Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram.

As it spun, it unleashed a blinding burst of light!

Zhang Teng did not retreat. He struck forward with all his might.

Yet the swirling dust of the cosmos shifted, and waves of Life-Death Nether Qi exploded forth.

Zhang Teng’s blade intent abruptly shifted into something else—an eerie, cold force:

Luo Abyss Blade Intent.

The prince’s body, once buoyed by the Tang Dynasty’s national dragon qi, had now lost that vital support.

Without that stabilizing power, and burdened by his injuries, many hidden dangers in his body and soul surfaced uncontrollably.

Lei Jun watched him closely: though Zhang Teng still appeared vigorous, signs of drastically shortened lifespan were now obvious.

"So the Lone Eagle Khanate and the Luo Abyss really are tied to you," Lei Jun stated coldly.

From the very start, he had targeted Zhang Teng because the prince was isolated and the most likely to escape.

As a Martial Saint, Zhang Teng, even injured, still had the fastest movement among the contenders.

But now that Lei Jun had moved, he would not allow Zhang Teng to leave Luoyang City alive.

Seeing the impending Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike, Zhang Teng tried to dodge rather than face it head-on.

He glanced deeply at Lei Jun and said:

"Victory or defeat... If I had ascended the throne, I would have raised armies to defend our borders and bring peace to the realm."

Lei Jun only shook his head slightly:

"Calamity."

His voice was calm.

But the moment the word fell, Zhang Teng’s body stiffened mid-air.

A deafening roar seemed to explode inside his mind, leaving it blank.

It was Lei Jun's Nine Heavens Heart Thunder—a formless, invisible attack targeting the soul itself.

Normally, Martial Saints’ souls were so internalized that they could easily shrug off such attacks.

But that was assuming their bodies were intact.

In his wounded, unstable state, Zhang Teng was struck hard.

Though he recovered quickly, it was too late—the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike hit him squarely, sending him crashing down!

The World-Securing Blade flew from his grasp, hovering mid-air, trapped by layers of primordial magnetic star tracks.

The Purple-Green Taiji Diagram dissolved, and the green Yin Fire Tiger leapt forward, pinning Zhang Teng to the ground.

The purple Yang Thunder Dragon returned to Lei Jun's side.

At this moment, Lei Jun had transformed into the towering figure of the Doumu Star God Apparition, a manifestation of immense cosmic power.

Around him coiled a black Yin Thunder Dragon, merging with the purple Yang Thunder Dragon, amplifying Lei Jun’s now-Ninth-Heaven strength even further.

Zhang Teng struggled, drew another long blade—but before he could recover, a brutal barrage of punches hammered his chest and abdomen!

Lei Jun, a Talismanic Branch cultivator, fought more fiercely than even a Martial Saint.

He knocked away Zhang Teng’s second blade, then seized him by the throat with one hand and unleashed a rain of crushing blows with the other, brutally pummeling the Martial Saint into submission within the cosmic void.

Inside the Phantom Capital, a huge, opaque black sphere hovered above the royal palace.

Ye Yan, Chu Xiuyuan, and Fang Jingsheng all stared at the massive Great Ascension Dao Domain of Tianshi Mansion that had swallowed up Prince Zhao Zhang Teng and his followers, each of them feeling an overwhelming sense of dread.

Chu Xiuyuan and Fang Jingsheng immediately tried to contact their allies—Fang Shihan and Chu Fengyuan over at Zhijin Ridge in Shangzhou.

But it was like tossing stones into the sea—no response at all.

The hearts of the Chu Clan Elders and the Fang Family Leader sank heavily.

"Lei Chongyun has already returned.

What about the others?"

This thought wasn’t only in Fang Jingsheng’s mind.

Had Tang Xiaotang, Xu Yuanzhen, and even the Empress Zhang Wantong also returned?

Meanwhile, Ye Yan turned his gaze to his own grandson—

The Acting Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Hui.

Inside and outside the Imperial Capital, everything was already under your control. Even if Lei Chongyun reached the Ninth Heaven, as long as he stayed out of Luoyang, fine. But once he entered, you would have sensed it. Even if you didn’t, the Sheji Cauldron would have reacted. Earlier, the Sheji Cauldron showed no movement at all—that was only because someone suppressed it..." Ye Yan let out a long, heavy breath.

The man, who had originally appeared middle-aged, seemed to age decades in an instant.

Though his words sounded scattered, they instantly set off a clamor throughout the illusory Imperial Capital.

In the distance, the Qingzhou Ye Clan cultivators—Ye Min, Ye Wei, Ye Ningfang, Ye Haizhou—stood in stunned silence, all turning their gazes sharply toward the current Crown Prince.

Zhang Hui remained calm and composed.

Not only Ye Yan, but also Fang Jingsheng and Chu Xiuyuan looked over at him.

Chu Xiuyuan asked, "Your Highness... you didn't change your course because of Xuanxiaozi of Mount Longhu showing up—you were planning this from the beginning?"

"A lot of people thought back then that I was unfit for great responsibilities," Zhang Hui finally spoke, his tone even. "Just as many today believe I’m full of ambition."

He smiled faintly. "In truth, those people were right. I never had any interest in the throne, much less in governance. Sitting through court affairs every day was a headache for me."

"What I truly enjoy has never changed: a few close friends, traveling the world, admiring the great mountains and rivers, painting and playing music wherever I choose."

"That’s the life I yearn for."

"With Imperial Aunt carrying the burden above me, I was secretly thrilled, endlessly grateful."

Zhang Hui spoke with genuine openness.

The crowd grew even more uproarious.

Ye Min stared down at the real Luoyang city below and shouted, "Sister!"

Within the city, a noblewoman in lavish robes emerged—Ye Ke.

She was the eldest daughter of Ye Yan, the Clan Leader of the Qingzhou Ye Clan, and the former Empress to the late Emperor Zhang Qilong.

"My son spent more time growing up alongside Wantong than he ever did with me or the late emperor," Ye Ke’s voice echoed into the sky.

Among the Qingzhou Ye Clan members, someone couldn't help but curse aloud.

Ye Yan, however, remained expressionless, simply gazing at the Crown Prince across from him. "Since that’s the case, why didn’t you declare it earlier? Did it have to come to this point?"

Zhang Hui’s expression grew more serious. He looked at Ye Yan, then at Ye Song, who stood with Ye Haizhou in the distance.

"Back when my grandfather was teaching us, my cousin once said something during class."

"'Great demons are wreaking havoc, disasters are everywhere. In times like this, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Spiritual energy is surging, benefiting cultivation. As for the commoners—there are too many of them. A few less wouldn’t hurt.'"

"Grandfather, do you still remember how you scolded him back then?"

Zhang Hui answered his own question: "You merely warned him to 'watch his words.' But was it really just a matter of speaking carefully? With an attitude like that... how could I not question your true views?"

He sighed softly. "Grandfather, I was very young back then, and all I felt was a nameless terror."

"As I grew older and saw more of the world, I finally understood what I had feared."

"It wasn’t just you and my cousin. There were many people who thought the same way as you."

Zhang Hui turned to look at Shangguan Zhengqing, Zhang Qiongrong, Zhang Yang, Zhang Zhi, Zhang Chengyu, Shangguan Xiu, and the others. "Even within Luoyang City itself."

"Gone mad! Gone mad... all of you have gone mad!!!"

Princess Zhang Qiongrong of Dongping trembled with rage, jabbing her finger at him and screaming, "Reckless! You and Zhang Wantong are both mad!"

Prince Chen Shanwang, Zhang Yang, raised his head toward the sky and closed his eyes in weary resignation.

The gentle expression vanished from Zhang Hui’s face, replaced by his usual calm and graceful smile. "Though I wish to roam free among the mountains and rivers, it seems I must first do a few things for my Imperial Aunt."

Ye Yan didn’t get angry. He simply nodded slightly. "Looking back now... it wasn’t without signs. It was me lying to myself."

He said no more, merely signaling Ye Min, Ye Wei, and the others to prepare to withdraw from Luoyang.

The people of Qingzhou glared at Zhang Hui, many grinding their teeth in hatred.

But they, too, sensed the dangers ahead.

Lei Jun’s appearance had been far too suspicious.

And Zhang Hui had been working alongside Empress Zhang Wantong from the very beginning.

He was the biggest hidden threat planted in the aristocratic families at the Tang Court’s heart.

Faced with such circumstances, Ye Yan, Fang Jingsheng, and Chu Xiuyuan all had no intention of staying any longer.

But—

"Please stay, everyone," Zhang Hui said calmly.

At the same moment, the illusory Imperial Capital erupted with brilliant white light.

The mighty city floating in mid-air shook more violently than ever before.

The dragon, phoenix, spiritual turtle, and qilin all roared together.

Under the swirling white light, the city disassembled and reformed itself, reshaping into what seemed like an immense cage, sealing everyone inside.

Zhang Qiongrong, Ye Wei, Fang Tianshi, and others shouted furiously.

Ye Yan, Chu Xiuyuan, and Fang Jingsheng exchanged glances, then all took action simultaneously.

Ye Yan and Chu Xiuyuan headed straight for Zhang Hui.

Fang Jingsheng, however, moved to a different target.

He appeared outside the massive, silent black sphere—the Dajing of Lei Jun's Great Ascension Dao Domain.

With a casual wave of his hand, Fang Jingsheng summoned a multitude of ritual artifacts.

Not just him; Fang Shan and other Fang Clan cultivators also moved forward, preparing sacrificial implements and offerings to assist him.

In an instant, pillars of white light and columns of black smoke rose from all directions, encircling the black sphere.

Though the illusory Imperial Capital was in upheaval, Chu Xiuyuan remained seated cross-legged, serene and unmoved.

Resting across his lap was a seven-stringed zither—the Yiyin Qin, the Qingzhou Chu Clan’s sacred heirloom.

The melody he played was called Wangyang Cao, a profound divine technique unique to the Chu Clan, merging music with classical studies.

Chu Xiuyuan's fingers moved with a natural, unhurried grace.

Yet the sound of the qin transformed into wave after endless wave of tangible and intangible force, surrounding Zhang Hui like an endless ocean.

Zhang Hui placed one hand firmly on the Sheji Cauldron.

The Cauldron shook, and a heavy white light emanated from it, locking down the vast oceanic energy conjured by the music.

Meanwhile, Ye Yan chose not to paint with brush and ink this time, but instead unfolded the Qingzhou Ye Clan’s sacred artifact—the Great River Scroll.

The scroll’s depiction of the river, winding through nine curves, pulsed with mysterious vitality.

One section of the painting suddenly came to life.

From it emerged a tangible object: a magnificent longsword, simultaneously graceful and powerful, like a dragon emerging from the abyss.

Seeing it, Shangguan Yunbo, currently entangled in a battle with Lin Huan, blurted out, "The Longyuan Sword?"

This sword was one of the Tang Dynasty’s founding treasures, alongside the Dangkou Golden Halberd, Mountain and River Sword, and World-Securing Blade, combining both Confucian and martial principles.

The Longyuan Sword, Mountain and River Sword, Tianshi Sword, Purple Star Sword, Azure Abyss Sword, North Wind Sword, and Haoran Sword were together known as the Seven Great Swords of Tang.

But the real Longyuan Sword had been lost for many years.

The sword emerging from the scroll was not the original but a spiritual imprint left by the Ye Clan’s ancestors.

Although it would soon fade, its brief appearance already disturbed the Sheji Cauldron.

Zhang Hui pressed one hand harder against the Cauldron to resist the Longyuan Sword, while unfurling a second scroll with the other hand.

It was a portrait.

A woman, regal yet dressed in simple robes, stood amidst the splendor of mountains and rivers—a portrayal of none other than the current Empress, Zhang Wantong.

Suddenly, the figure within the painting came to life.

Her cold gaze swept over Ye Yan and Chu Xiuyuan.

Even those not directly targeted felt their breath catch in their throats.

Ye Yan looked at Zhang Hui standing behind the living painting, and his heart stirred for an instant.

A once-in-a-generation prodigy.

A genius whose paintings could capture the essence of life itself.

Even among Confucian cultivators of identical background, Zhang Hui was the most outstanding.

Ye Yan could record landscapes and still objects in his paintings.

But he could not paint living, breathing beings.

He could depict them on canvas, sure—but they would remain only drawings.

Yet Zhang Hui had painted a living person.

Even someone at the Ninth Heaven like Zhang Wantong.

Although the living painting couldn't fully reproduce her true majesty and power, it was still miraculous.

It was obvious that the painting had cost Zhang Hui a great deal of energy, and in time, it would vanish just like the Longyuan Sword.

But Zhang Hui had done it.

Fang Jingsheng and the Fang Clan cultivators, catching glimpses of this, all felt their hearts pounding.

Even with the illusory Imperial Capital’s advantage and the blessing of national fortune, Zhang Hui's talent and strength had far exceeded their expectations.

Even if he could only stall Ye Yan and Chu Xiuyuan briefly.

After all, he was still at the Eighth Heaven.

Whereas his opponents were Ninth-Heaven Confucian grandmasters.

“Finish things here as quickly as possible,” Fang Jingsheng ordered.

The Fang Clan cultivators immediately focused their minds.

Only after finishing here could they deal with Zhang Hui without distraction.

Seeing the ritual already mostly complete, the Fang Clan members felt slightly relieved.

Black smoke and white light intertwined layer upon layer, eventually forming a massive cube-like structure, sealing the huge black sphere—and Lei Jun within it.

It brought to mind the Eastern Sea incident years ago, when, before officially assuming the position of Tianshi, Xuanxiaozi Lei Jun had stunned the world. Shortly after reaching the Eighth Heaven, he had slain a Heavenly Principle Grandmaster of equal cultivation, giving the war a powerful opening.

However, Lei Tianshi’s individual performance afterward had declined. While dealing with the Heavenly Principle rituals, he was trapped beneath the sea for a long time.

Even when Princess Zhang Ziyin brought the mighty arrows of the Eighth-Heaven divine archer Chu Yu, they still couldn’t break the seal.

Only near the end of the war did Lei Tianshi finally break free.

For most of that war, he had sat imprisoned beneath the sea.

Today, the Fang Clan of Jingxiang aimed to replicate that outcome.

After years of study, they had refined the ritual, improving its intricacy and strength while preserving its core mysteries.

Of course, Lei Tianshi had since ascended to the Ninth Heaven and reached the Great Ascension level, vastly stronger than before.

Fortunately, the Fang Clan also had their own sect leader, Fang Jingsheng, personally leading the charge.

In his hand was the Spring and Autumn Brush, the sacred treasure of the Jingxiang Fang Clan.

Among Confucian cultivators, Ninth Heaven was collectively known as Pacifying the World.

But within that realm, there were five internal stages: Poetry, Calligraphy, Rites, Changes, and finally Spring and Autumn.

The first stage, Poetry, refined the cultivator's mind, laying a solid foundation for further advancement.

The second stage, Calligraphy, allowed for the accumulation of Haoran Qi through preserved spiritual imprints, strengthening one’s power.

The third stage, Rites, strengthened ritual formations, allowing one to independently set up grand ceremonies swiftly.

The fourth stage, Changes, enhanced insight, judgment, and even a limited capacity for foresight.

And the fifth stage, Spring and Autumn, was a realm where mastery over subtle and profound principles allowed one to perform near-miraculous feats.

It was said that a Confucian cultivator who had mastered all Five Classics at the Ninth Heaven stood the best chance of ascending even higher across all Daoist traditions.

Fang Jingsheng—despite being young compared to Ye Yan—had surpassed him by reaching the second internal stage, Calligraphy.

Normally, he wouldn’t have been able to wield the profundities of the Spring and Autumn realm.

But the Spring and Autumn Brush allowed him to borrow some of that power.

Thus, while holding the brush, each stroke he made to complete the sealing ritual carried a touch of the divine mysteries of Spring and Autumn.

The ritual became a hidden domain within the illusory Imperial Capital.

Of course, even for Fang Jingsheng, the energy expenditure was enormous—especially since he had already been wounded by Prince Zhao Zhang Teng earlier.

By the end, his face turned pale, and he looked close to exhaustion.

Even with the Calligraphy foundation to accumulate Haoran Qi, the cost was still devastating.

Only after he set the final stroke and saw the sealing ritual take effect did Fang Jingsheng allow himself a small nod.

He then began simultaneously suppressing his injuries and replenishing his energy.

Fang Shantong, Fang Du, Fang Fei, and the other Fang Clan members all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Then they turned their full attention toward Zhang Hui.

Just moments ago, he had dared to be so arrogant only because he had allies.

Now, with Lei Jun sealed away, it would soon be Zhang Hui’s turn...

Everyone was thinking exactly this when suddenly—a shock!

They noticed Fang Jingsheng’s body seem to sway.

Before him, without anyone noticing when or how, a tall, young Daoist had appeared.

The figure was as usual in stature, but every movement he made carried terrifying physical might.

The twin dragons—Yang Thunder Dragon and Yin Thunder Dragon—swirled around Lei Jun’s destiny avatar.

“Boom!!!”

Even though Fang Jingsheng sensed it, he was still smashed head-on by a powerful punch.

He was hurled through the air, the Spring and Autumn Brush flying from his hand.

The figure who had appeared before him—none other than Lei Jun, the Tianshi himself—who should have been sealed within the black-and-white ritual prison!

Fang Jingsheng, already wounded by Zhang Teng, now suffered fresh injuries. He crashed heavily to the ground.

The Jingxiang Fang Clan cultivators all turned pale with horror.

Even the other family members, even Ye Yan and Chu Xiuyuan, were momentarily stunned.

Fang Shantong, Ye Yue, and others instinctively turned their heads.

The black-and-white prison still stood intact, seemingly undisturbed.

Yet the man they were supposed to have imprisoned had somehow emerged outside.

Was it because Fang Jingsheng’s injuries had weakened the seal?

Or... had Lei Jun himself found a way to break free?

Their minds raced with countless questions.

The painstakingly prepared ritual had utterly failed.

Could it only work if a Classical Studies cultivator executed it?

Meanwhile, Lei Jun himself, the towering Daoist, looked at the ritual with genuine puzzlement.

“What the heck was all that for?” Lei Jun muttered, genuinely surprised.

He had no idea how much effort Fang Jingsheng and the others had spent preparing for this.

Even Chu Xiuyuan and Ye Yan had participated.

Glancing over the ritual’s layout, Lei Jun recalled his own experience back during the Eastern Sea incident and couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Sins upon sins."

As he spoke, the twin dragons wrapped around him—Yin and Yang—separated.

Twin tigers materialized as well: the Yin Tiger and Yang Tiger.

Then, a purple Yang Thunder Dragon merged with a green Yin Fire Tiger.

And a black Yin Thunder Dragon merged with a golden Yang Fire Tiger.

Two Taiji diagrams—purple-green and black-red—appeared simultaneously in the sky.

Two Dragon-Tiger Combined Strikes erupted at once.

Two blazing beams of light shot out together, dazzling beyond measure.

Under Lei Jun’s control, the beams seemed fine and focused, yet carried overwhelming, unstoppable force.

One beam sliced through the Spring and Autumn Brush.

The other slashed through the already-crippled Fang Jingsheng—cutting the Fang Clan leader cleanly in two!