Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 380: Heaven Street paved with noble bones—Four Surnames, Five Clans swept clean.

Lei Jun suddenly appeared.

Immediately after, Fang Jingsheng, the head of the Fang Family in Jingxiang, was killed.

The speed was so fast that many present couldn't react in time.

Ye Yan, head of the Ye Family of Qingzhou, and Chu Xiuyuan, head of the Chu Family of Suzhou, sensed something was wrong, but they were temporarily held back by the portrait of the Empress painted by Crown Prince Zhang Hui.

Still, Fang Jingsheng's death came far quicker than anyone had anticipated.

As a result, everyone could only watch helplessly as Lei Jun appeared and struck down Fang Jingsheng.

The absence of Prince Zhao Zhang Teng's figure made everyone's heart sink even further.

Had Tianshi Lei Chongyun really killed both a Ninth Heaven Martial Saint like Zhang Teng and a Ninth Heaven Grand Scholar like Fang Jingsheng in such a short time?

And Fang Jingsheng was even at the Second Layer of the Ninth Heaven!

Although Prince Zhao Zhang Teng appeared elderly, he was still full of vigor.

Fang Jingsheng, on the other hand, was still young for his cultivation level—barely approaching two hundred years old after reaching Ninth Heaven some thirty years prior, truly at his prime.

Granted, both had suffered injuries earlier, but to fall so swiftly to Lei Jun still left everyone stunned.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t entirely unexpected—but seeing it happen before their very eyes was still deeply shocking...

Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang and Prince Xiang Zhang Luo exchanged a glance.

Anyone capable of reaching Ninth Heaven, regardless of their cultivation lineage, was extraordinary beyond words.

Take Fang Jingsheng, for example: even when he was at Eighth Heaven, his talent and strength had surpassed that of Fang Huansheng, Fang Shantong, and Fang Du—he was the most outstanding of his generation.

But there’s always a higher mountain.

Just like Tang Xiaotang and Wei Anchang back then.

Now, Lei Jun, who broke through to Ninth Heaven before turning seventy, and Fang Jingsheng, who reached it before one hundred seventy years old, were on two completely different levels.

Not to mention, even without factoring in the heavily injured Huang Xuanpu or others interfering, Lei Jun—at just the peak of Eighth Heaven last year—had already slain a Ninth Heaven Daoist grandmaster, Zhao You'an, of the Daoist Alchemical Sect.

His strength was long acknowledged across the Tang Mortal Realm.

In truth, many had been waiting, with unease or anticipation, to see when Lei Jun would ascend to Ninth Heaven.

And that day arrived far sooner than anyone had predicted.

Now, many were in trouble.

Prince Zhao Zhang Teng was the first.

Fang Jingsheng was the second.

And they clearly were only the beginning..

After slaying Fang Jingsheng, Lei Jun didn’t spare a glance at the despair in the eyes of the Fang Family members like Fang Shantong and Fang Du.

His gaze immediately locked onto Ye Yan, Chu Xiuyuan, and Zhang Hui.

At the same time, his Great Ascension Dao Domain unfolded once more, releasing a powerful gravitational pull.

Chu Xiuyuan, who was closer, instantly felt as if he was being drawn in against his will.

The Grand Scholar’s Nation Within the World, a Ninth Heaven domain of the Confucian Dao, manifested as a separate universe, directly clashing with Lei Jun’s Xuanhuang Cosmos.

A black and a white universe squeezed and eroded at each other along the edges, locked in a fierce standoff.

But ultimately, it was Lei Jun’s Great Ascension Dao Domain that proved stronger, overpowering the Confucian scholar’s world.

Like a massive black sphere, it swallowed up the white, literature-infused realm.

Chu Xiuyuan was dragged into Lei Jun’s domain along with it.

Standing beneath a pitch-black cosmic sky, Chu Xiuyuan let out a sigh.

“Child of Mount Longhu, Xuanxiao… It seems Suzhou and your sect were always fated to reach this point.”

Lei Jun shook his head.

“At this stage, what’s the point in talking?”

As he spoke, he stepped forward—instantly appearing in front of the Grand Scholar.

But then, an invisible force rose between them, like an ocean tide.

That vast, formless power surged and pushed them in opposite directions.

Lei Jun paused briefly but didn’t stop.

He pressed forward, going against the flow.

Chu Xiuyuan used the force to pull back, trying to widen the gap between them.

The Legacy Lute lay across his knees, emitting constant, invisible melodies.

Lei Jun recognized the artifact’s effect—it was the secret behind the Legacy Lute, the treasured heirloom of the Chu Family.

Chu Xiuyuan, a Third Layer Ninth Heaven Confucian Grand Scholar who had comprehended “Rites,” was long hailed alongside Ye Moquan of Cangzhou as one of the Tang Realm’s foremost Confucian cultivators.

Yet like Ye Moquan, he was aging, just barely maintaining his peak condition. Even holding steady was a struggle, let alone advancing further.

Though many of his high-tier abilities were now difficult to use—such as forming “Rites” at will—Legacy Lute allowed the lingering resonance of his Haoran Literary Qi to persist in sound.

In battle, while Chu Xiuyuan appeared calm and relaxed, in truth, he had already built up an invisible sea of sound around him.

The Chu Family’s powerful mystic art Vast Ocean Melody condensed around him in the form of soundwaves that did not dissipate.

Now, this soundless sea, long stored and quiet, erupted like a tsunami.

It both hindered Lei Jun’s approach and propelled Chu Xiuyuan even farther away.

“Where is Yu’er right now?” Chu Xiuyuan asked, still plucking his lute.

“Did she or someone else head to the Southern Wasteland to reopen the Mortal Realm’s gateway to the Vast Ocean?”

Lei Jun replied, “Does Elder Chu really think that asking me this will change today’s outcome?”

Chu Xiuyuan shook his head.

“Of course not. People follow different paths. Now we are not only estranged, but enemies. If she and I meet again in battle, the outcome is uncertain—but if either of us dies at someone else's hand, neither would harbor resentment.

Had we not long understood this, why would Yu’er have ever left Suzhou?”

Lei Jun said, “So what you’re worried about is whether I’ll go after Lady Chu later?

Given her current way of doing things, you really don’t need to worry.”

As he spoke, Purple Thunder Law Talismanic Canon and Black Xuanxiao Five Thunder Talismanic Canon emerged on either side of Lei Jun.

Thunder roared, dragons howled—two massive dragons, one Yang Thunder Dragon and one Yin Thunder Dragon, surged forth from the talismans.

One purple, one black, they roared forward, cleaving through the sonic tides.

Lei Jun transformed into the Doumu Star God Apparition, charging behind the twin dragons into the invisible sea.

As he neared Chu Xiuyuan, the yin and yang thunder dragons coiled around Lei Jun’s Destined Star Avatar.

Purple and black thunder merged—Yin and Yang in harmony, amplifying all of Lei Jun’s powers into the form of Twin Dragons Breaching the Sea.

But at that moment, Chu Xiuyuan’s lute playing changed.

Both hands swept across the strings of the Legacy Lute.

A deep and abrupt chord rang in Lei Jun’s ears.

The quiet harmony of “Great Sound Lies in Silence” was shattered.

What followed was an explosive transformation.

All around them, the void trembled.

It was as if endless tides were erupting, engulfing a vast oceanic domain.

All the stored cultural aura and resonance of the Legacy Lute now erupted in full.

This was called: Legacy of the Four Seas.

The seas surged wildly, all converging into a single point—Lei Jun.

Soundwaves, once invisible, now became tangible as they condensed into a blinding tidal wave, roaring upward as if summoning the might of all oceans to pierce the sky.

This was the Chu Family’s ultimate secret art, Vast Ocean Melody, now elevated into Overwhelming Sea Melody under the Legacy of the Four Seas.

All the force concentrated on Lei Jun.

Even with the powerful protections of yin and yang thunder, Lei Jun was thrown skyward by the luminous tidal force.

And yet, his body soon steadied midair.

Purple, gold, and green light shimmered endlessly around the white jade seal at his waist.

The jade seal rose into the sky, transforming into a massive Three-Tiered Altar.

Round above, square below, octagonal in the center—its surface glowed in three colors, towering like a mountain.

Lei Jun was enveloped by the phantom altar, which pressed down on the rising tidal force below.

The two powers clashed—one descending, one ascending—locked in deadlock midair.

Under the gathering starlight, the massive Doumu Star God Apparition gradually faded, leaving only streams of radiant light converging into Lei Jun’s already towering figure.

Then, he threw a direct punch.

It pierced straight through Chu Xiuyuan’s chest and abdomen.

Chu Xiuyuan’s originally bloodless face, surprisingly, turned slightly rosy.

He coughed repeatedly. “In the end, the tides of fate surge forward... the grand momentum... cannot be resisted.”

Lei Jun calmly looked at the old man in front of him.

Under the fleeting illusion of vitality, Chu Xiuyuan’s breath became steadier.

He gazed at the young Daoist standing before him and sighed deeply, "Your Master, Master Yuan, was right... Chongguang... Chongguang, ah..."

Lei Jun’s expression remained unchanged as he withdrew his hand from Chu Xiuyuan’s chest.

The frail body before him crumpled softly to the ground.

Outside the massive black sphere formed by the Daoist Great Ascension Domain, the Illusory Imperial Capital's white light grew even more intense, trapping everyone currently within the capital, thanks to Zhang Hui's mastery over the State Cauldron and the augmentation of the nation’s Dragon Vein.

With the State Cauldron and the Dragon Vein boosting him, Zhang Hui was able to handle even Ye Yan, a Ninth Heaven first-level cultivator, with ease.

The portrait of the Empress had already vanished.

That kind of overwhelming power had never been something Zhang Hui could control for long at his current cultivation level.

But he had other paintings.

Thus, another scroll unfurled—a man clad in imperial robes, dignified and awe-inspiring, appeared within the Illusory Imperial Capital.

It was Zhang Hui’s father.

The former Emperor of Tang, Zhang Qilong.

Facing the former emperor, Ye Yan stared deeply at him but said nothing. Holding his own painting brush and the Ye Clan’s ancestral treasure, the Great River Map, he advanced.

The other members of the Ye Clan from Qingzhou surged forward like a tidal wave toward Zhang Hui.

Second only to Ye Yan, Ye Jiong acted first. He drew his bow and fired an arrow straight at Zhang Hui.

The others from the Ye Clan wore grim expressions as they charged.

Meanwhile, Lin Huan, while dueling with Shangguan Yunbo, waved her hand.

The current situation was vastly different from before.

Earlier, the Youzhou Lin Clan and the Cangzhou Ye Clan had joined forces with Prince Zhao to fight against the Qingzhou Ye Clan, the Fang Clan of Jingxiang, and the Chu Clan of Suzhou, who supported Crown Prince Zhang Hui.

But now, they shared a common enemy again.

At Lin Huan’s command, not only did Lin Liyu, Lin Xuan, and other Lin Clan experts move, but even Ye Moxin and Ye Qi of the Cangzhou Ye Clan, who had come to assist, joined the action.

They had originally come to support Lin Huan, but now, with the Illusory Imperial Capital sealed, everyone was trapped together.

Given how Lei Jun, Zhang Hui, Shangguan Yunbo, and others were acting, if Lin Liyu and Ye Moxin didn’t fight their way out, their fate would be grim.

The Four Great Surnames and Five Prominent Clans, who had been locked in deadly combat, needed little coordination. At this moment, they reunited naturally, charging at Zhang Hui and the Illusory Imperial Capital.

Meanwhile, the internal struggle between the Zhang Imperial Clan and the major aristocratic families had also reached a critical point.

Everyone began fighting with everything they had.

"The situation is clear," said Prince Zhang Yang, normally the most cautious of the royals, now the first to speak up. "His Majesty could return at any moment. When that happens, no matter what excuses or regrets we offer, we’ll be charged with treason."

“Regret is useless. We must unite and fight our way out.”

Prince Han, Zhang Chengyu, remained silent—but he was the first to act.

Princess Zhang Qiongrong of Dongping, Prince Zhang Zhi of Nanyang, and other powerful members of the imperial clan followed closely behind.

Shangguan Xiu, Shen Jun, and other high-ranking nobles clenched their teeth in secret, but in the end, had no choice but to step forward and join the fight.

Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang, Prince Zhang Zhen of Weiyang, Prince Zhang Luo of Xiang, and Prince Zhang Zhichong of Huaixi stayed by Zhang Hui’s side, guarding the crown prince under the command of General Shangguan Yunbo of the Divine Strategy Army, and engaged the attacking royals and aristocrats in fierce battle.

Lu Zhen, head of the Lu Clan—second only to the Shangguan family—stood nearby, brows tightly furrowed.

At his side, Shangguan Qing spoke slowly: “Both His Majesty and the Crown Prince are unmatched talents. Now that they stand united, the future of Tang is secure.”

Lu Zhen remained silent, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Princess Zhang Wanying of Yuzhou hesitated as well. But after a shared glance with her husband, Shangguan Zhe, they both nodded slightly and stepped forward to support Shangguan Yunbo’s group.

Their actions set off a chain reaction. Other members of the imperial family began to choose their sides too.

At that moment, the ever-silent Daoist Great Ascension Domain began to fade.

Lei Jun stood calmly with his hands behind his back, his tall figure reemerging.

Just like earlier, when Prince Zhang Teng fell.

The body of Chu Xiuyuan, the Suzhou Chu Clan’s patriarch, was gone.

Chu Yuyuan, Chu Xinyuan, and Chu Cong—all top experts of the Chu Clan—looked on with visible sorrow.

Lei Jun’s Ascension Domain appeared and vanished in an instant.

From the dark, starry void, a powerful suction surged forth again—targeting the last remaining Ninth Heaven cultivator within the Illusory Imperial Capital besides Lei Jun himself: Ye Yan.

Ye Yan tried to resist and evade.

But Zhang Hui intercepted him from the side.

Unable to dodge, Ye Yan was captured by Lei Jun’s Ascension Domain.

Everyone watching was shaken.

That made the third one.

By all appearances, three Ninth Heaven experts had already fallen to Tianshi Lei Jun today!

The notoriously aloof and cold-hearted Tianshi had gone on a full-blown rampage!

If it had been just Zhang Teng and Fang Jingsheng—one already wounded, the other caught off-guard—people might have dismissed it.

But just now, Mount Longhu’s current Tianshi had gone toe-to-toe with the Ninth Heaven third-layer scholar, Chu Xiuyuan... and won.

And now, he had captured Ye Yan, the patriarch of the Qingzhou Ye Clan!

Was he really going to keep taking on elite after elite in a four-way gauntlet?

For a moment, both allies and enemies alike were overwhelmed with awe.

But after the shock came action. Shangguan Yunbo, Zhang Ying, Zhang Luo, and others were reinvigorated.

Meanwhile, Lin Huan, Ye Jiong, Chu Lin, Fang Shantong, Ye Moxin, Zhang Qiongrong, Zhang Yang, Shangguan Xiu, and their companions felt a chill run down their spines.

Even so, seasoned as they were, they swiftly regained focus.

Then, they launched an even fiercer assault—storming the Illusory Imperial Capital in a desperate bid to break free.

Zhang Hui himself possessed exceptional strength, backed by the Dragon Qi of national fortune and the State Cauldron. Even against Ninth Heaven cultivators, he held his ground.

Normally, Ninth Heaven experts would crush any Eighth Heaven or below. The disparity was that vast.

But with overwhelming numbers, even that could shift.

And that’s what was happening now.

More than half the elite cultivators of the Four Surnames and Five Prominent Clans were gathered here.

Zhang Yang, Zhang Qiongrong, Zhang Chengyu, Zhang Zhi, Shangguan Xiu—each of them was a heavyweight in their own right.

Tens of Upper Three Heaven cultivators joined forces. Dozens of Eighth Heaven powerhouses erupted in a rare, unified assault, shaking the Illusory Imperial Capital itself.

Zhang Hui, leading Shangguan Yunbo, Zhang Ying, and others, held the line. Both sides began suffering casualties.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen so soon,” Zhang Hui said, pressing his hand to the State Cauldron as the white light of the capital surged, intercepting a deadly arrow from Ye Jiong aimed at Prince Zhang Luo, then instantly transporting the wounded prince away.

“But since it has... I’ll ride the tide.”

He slowly withdrew his hand from the Cauldron.

Their enemies had more people, greater momentum, and kept hammering at the Illusory Imperial Capital, pushing it toward collapse.

Yet, just as they thought they might break through, all their attacks were suddenly absorbed by the white light.

Above the Illusory Imperial Capital, four sacred beasts—Dragon, Phoenix, Tortoise, and Qilin—formed from white light let out a long cry.

Then they shattered mid-air, one after another, as if unable to bear the burden.

The Dragon Qi bolstering Zhang Hui likewise crumbled and scattered.

Shangguan Xiu, Zhang Yang, Zhang Qiongrong, and the others didn’t even have time to celebrate.

Because the capital still hung high above the real city of Luoyang.

And at that moment, Ye Jiong, Chu Lin, Fang Shantong, and others turned pale!

Disciples of the Fang Clan of Jingxiang, the Chu Clan of Suzhou, and the Ye Clan of Qingzhou all convulsed as if struck.

Eighth Heaven experts reeled like drunkards.

Those with lower cultivation saw stars, staggered with splitting headaches, vomited blood, and collapsed one by one.

Ye Jiong and the others looked on in despair, eyes fixed toward the distant horizon.

From the core of Luoyang, the earth veins surged in violent upheaval.

Then, they fractured into three distinct lines—one heading for Qingzhou, one for Suzhou, and one for Jingxiang.

Straight toward the ancestral grounds of the Ye, Chu, and Fang clans.

It was as if three underground dragons were writhing their way across the land.

When they reached their destination, they exploded.

Temples and ancestral halls crumbled. Pavilions and towers were wiped out.

Their caretakers—Chu Zhe, Ye Cheng, Fang Huansheng, Fang Zhu—fought desperately to stop the destruction. But it was too late.

Just like what happened to the Northern and Southern Lin Clans... and the Ye Clan of Jinzhou.

Everything was gone.

From the ancestral shrines to the literary and cultural essence built up over thousands of years—all obliterated.

And not by the barbaric martial arts they once despised.

But by... the Dragon Veins and national fortune. By Confucian methods.

They had once drawn upon their own ancestral foundations to interfere with the capital’s destiny.

But who would’ve thought... this would be the result?

Ye Cheng, Chu Zhe, and Fang Huansheng had already sensed something was wrong when their communications with Ye Yan and the others in Luoyang went silent.

But before they could find out what had happened...

Disaster struck.

Using their ancestral grounds to aid the capital had turned out to be an invitation to destruction.

With no defenses in place, the impact was devastating.

Not only were their heritage and traditions destroyed, but everyone present—just like what happened with the Lin Clans—was heavily wounded.

Fang Zhu wiped blood from her lips, forced down her surging qi and blood, and rushed to her father, Fang Huansheng.

“This... this has to be connected to the State Cauldron!”

Fang Huansheng’s face turned a ghastly shade. He said nothing, eyes fixed on the direction of Luoyang.

Above Luoyang, the Illusory Imperial Capital still glowed white.

But the sacred beast apparitions were no more.

Within the Daoist Great Ascension Domain, Ye Yan—leader of the Qingzhou Ye Clan—suddenly shuddered.

His expression changed.

Something had happened to Qingzhou!

The connection of qi affected even a Ninth Heaven cultivator like him.

Fortunately, the Great River Map trembled, absorbing some of the backlash.

Still, Ye Yan’s heart sank.

But the situation allowed no room for distraction.

Lei Jun’s attacks surged like a tidal wave, leaving Ye Yan struggling to keep up.

Despite having fought Zhang Teng, Fang Jingsheng, and Chu Xiuyuan in succession, Lei Jun showed no signs of exhaustion.

The masculine, powerful Yang Thunder Dragon and the ferocious Yin Fire Tiger now merged into a purple-green Taiji diagram, whose light burst forth, shattering Ye Yan’s artwork.

Ye Yan steadied himself, and the Great River Map unfurled once more.

It revealed a sacred bow once held by a legendary Ninth Heaven Confucian archer of the Ye Clan—Starplucker.

Its image had been preserved in the painting, now manifesting in the real world.

As the bowstring trembled, a glowing arrow formed, aimed at the heart of the dark cosmic void—Lei Jun.

The string twanged. The arrow flew.

But instantly, an even brighter, more condensed beam of light shot back.

It came from Lei Jun’s brow.

Heavenly Thunder and Celestial Lightning merged into a devastating Yin-Yang Divine Radiance.

The two beams clashed—but Lei Jun’s light sliced through the arrow, then continued forward and severed the very image of the Starplucker Bow in Ye Yan’s painting!

Seeing those endless arrows fly, Ye Yan's heart stirred—

But his thoughts were cut off again.

Lei Jun suddenly appeared.

Right after, Fang Jingsheng, the Patriarch of the Fang Family in Jingxiang, was killed.

Everything happened so fast that most people on the scene didn’t even have time to react.

Ye Yan, Patriarch of the Ye Family from Qingzhou, and Chu Xiuyuan, Patriarch of the Chu Family from Suzhou, did notice something was off,

but were temporarily held back by the Empress’s portrait painted by Crown Prince Zhang Hui.

Still, Fang Jingsheng’s death was way faster than they had anticipated.

In the end, everyone could only watch as Lei Jun appeared and killed Fang Jingsheng.

And with no sign of Zhao Prince Zhang Teng anywhere, a heavy sense of dread fell over the entire gathering.

Was Tianshi Lei Chongyun really able to kill both the Ninth-Heaven Martial Saint Zhang Teng and the Ninth-Heaven Grand Scholar Fang Jingsheng in such a short time?

Especially considering Fang Jingsheng had even reached the Second Layer of the Ninth Heaven!

Zhao Prince Zhang Teng might have looked old, but he was still strong and vigorous.

Fang Jingsheng was even younger — despite having reached the Ninth Heaven two or three decades ago, he was barely two hundred years old now, still in his prime.

Even though both had been injured beforehand, being defeated so quickly by Lei Jun still left everyone stunned and shaken.

If you had to say it, maybe it wasn’t entirely outside of expectation,

but now that it actually happened in front of their eyes, the shock was overwhelming.

Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang and Prince Xiang Zhang Luo exchanged a look.

Anyone capable of reaching the Ninth Heaven was a once-in-a-generation figure, no matter their path of cultivation.

Take Fang Jingsheng, for example.

Even when he was in the Eighth Heaven, his talent and strength already surpassed his peers like Fang Huansheng, Fang Shantong, and Fang Du,

standing out as the brightest among the Fang Family disciples of that generation.

But as the saying goes, there’s always a higher mountain.

Just like Tang Xiaotang and Wei Anchang back then—

now, comparing Lei Jun, who broke through to the Ninth Heaven before seventy,

to Fang Jingsheng, who did so before one hundred seventy,

the difference was night and day.

And that's not even factoring in things like the heavily injured Huang Xuanpu back then or the assistance of others—

even last year, when Lei Jun was at the peak of the Eighth Heaven,

he had already singlehandedly slain the Ninth-Heaven Daoist grandmaster Zhao You'an of the External Alchemy Sect.

Lei Jun’s strength had long been recognized throughout the Tang Mortal Realm.

In fact, quite a few people had been nervously or eagerly waiting to see him ascend to the Ninth Heaven.

And now, it came even earlier than anyone had predicted.

Which meant... trouble for quite a few people.

Zhao Prince Zhang Teng was the first.

Patriarch Fang Jingsheng was the second.

And clearly, they were just the beginning...

After killing Fang Jingsheng, Lei Jun didn’t even glance at the Fang Family members from Jingxiang, like Fang Shantong and Fang Du, whose faces were filled with despair.

Instead, his gaze instantly locked onto Ye Yan, Chu Xiuyuan, and Zhang Hui.

At the same time, his Great Ascension Dao Domain unfurled once more, releasing a powerful force of suppression and capture.

Chu Xiuyuan, who was closest, immediately felt himself being pulled toward it, as if he had lost control of his own body.

The Ninth-Heaven Grand Scholar activated his Nation and World Domain,

which unfolded like an independent world to resist Lei Jun’s Xuanhuang Universe.

In that moment, black and white universes clashed at the edges, grinding and devouring one another in a fierce standoff.

Neither side backed down.

But in the end, Lei Jun’s Great Ascension Dao Domain was stronger, gradually overwhelming the Grand Scholar’s Nation Domain.

The black, massive sphere-like realm swallowed the white mist-covered, literary world whole—

and took Chu Xiuyuan along with it.

Standing beneath the dark cosmic sky, Chu Xiuyuan sighed softly.

“Xuanxiaozhi of Mount Longhu… so this is where things end between Suzhou and your sect.”

Lei Jun shook his head. “At this point, what’s left to say?”

As he spoke, he stepped forward, and in the blink of an eye, closed in on the Grand Scholar.

However, a formless force suddenly arose between them.

Like a surging tide, that vast and boundless invisible force separated them,

pushing Lei Jun and Chu Xiuyuan in opposite directions.

Lei Jun’s steps paused briefly, but he didn’t stop—he pushed forward against the current.

Chu Xiuyuan, meanwhile, used the momentum to retreat and widen the distance between them.

The Yiyin Zither lay across his knees, its silent soundwaves surrounding him.

Lei Jun knew at a glance—it was the secret of the Chu Family’s ancestral treasure, the Yiyin Zither.

Chu Xiuyuan had reached the Third Layer of the Ninth Heaven, mastering the Confucian principle of “Rites.”

He was long regarded, alongside Ye Moquan, the old Patriarch of the Ye Family in Cangzhou,

as one of the most prestigious Confucian scholars in the Tang Realm in recent years.

But like Ye Moquan, he had grown old. Maintaining his current state already took immense effort—

let alone advancing further or keeping from weakening.

Even so, as a Third-Layer Grand Scholar of the Ninth Heaven, Chu Xiuyuan still had formidable methods—

though techniques like casually manifesting "Rites" were now harder for him to perform.

Fortunately, the Yiyin Zither allowed the righteous literary energy to persist.

Though he appeared composed and calm, Chu Xiuyuan had long scattered invisible soundwaves all around him.

The oceanic currents of melody, derived from the Chu Family’s secret technique Wangyang操,

remained around him like a gathering sea.

At that moment, those invisible waves suddenly surged.

Silent yet powerful, like a tsunami, they exploded outward—

blocking Lei Jun while pushing Chu Xiuyuan farther away.

“Where is Yu’er now?” Chu Xiuyuan asked while plucking the zither.

“Did she or others already head to the Southern Wasteland and reopen the portal to the Vast Ocean ahead of time?”

Lei Jun replied, “Does the Chu Elder think asking that will change what happens today?”

Chu Xiuyuan shook his head. “Of course not. Everyone walks their own path.

Now we’re not just strangers—we’re enemies.

If Yu’er and I ever cross blades, the outcome is uncertain.

But if either of us dies by someone else’s hand,

neither would resent the one who struck the final blow.

If she hadn’t understood that from the start, she’d never have left Suzhou.”

Lei Jun: “So Chu Elder is worried I’ll go trouble the Chu Matriarch next?

With the way she’s conducting herself, there’s no need to worry.”

As he spoke, two talismanic canons appeared on either side of Lei Jun—

the purple Thunder Law Talismanic Canon and the black Mysterious Firmament Five Thunder Canon.

Thunder roared and dragons howled.

A massive Yang Thunder Dragon and Yin Thunder Dragon emerged from the canons,

one purple, one black, and charged forward, parting the waves.

Lei Jun himself transformed into the Doumu Star God Apparition,

closely following the twin thunder dragons through the unseen sea.

As he neared Chu Xiuyuan, the twin dragons wrapped around his Destined Star Avatar.

Yin and Yang thunder intertwined, boosting his power across the board—

like two dragons rising from the sea.

But just then, Chu Xiuyuan’s melody changed.

Both hands swept across the Yiyin Zither, and a thunderous yet brief chord exploded in Lei Jun’s ears.

The “silent music” was shattered.

What followed was a tremendous shift.

The surrounding void trembled violently—

as if an infinite sea had flooded in, engulfing the entire region.

The accumulated literary energy and musical resonance erupted all at once.

This was the Four Seas’ Echo.

Under the surge of the four seas, everything converged to a single point—

aimed directly at Lei Jun.

The once-invisible sonic waves became visible, brilliant tidal waves of furious light,

roaring skyward, fueled by the force of all four seas.

Empowered by the Chu Family’s signature technique 滔天操 (Tāotiān操),

and amplified by Four Seas’ Echo,

the entire attack was focused on Lei Jun.

Even with his powerful Yin-Yang thunder defense,

Lei Jun was blasted upward into the air by the brilliant wave.

At first glance, he seemed unable to get close to Chu Xiuyuan.

But in midair, he quickly stabilized.

Purple, gold, and green light radiated from his waist—centered on the white jade seal there.

The jade seal flew up and transformed into a colossal three-tiered altar.

Circular top, square base, eight-sided center—each flashing with tricolored light,

the altar was as vast as a mountain.

Lei Jun stood within the illusionary altar of light,

and as it descended, it forcibly pressed down on the raging tide.

The opposing forces locked in a stalemate midair—

but in Chu Xiuyuan’s heart, a shadow flickered.

Though he hadn’t grasped the Fourth-Layer principle of “Change,” his mind was sharp.

Warning signs surged within him, urging him to evade immediately.

A voice in his mind screamed:

This deadlock between you and Lei Jun, motionless under the Tianshi Seal—it’s incredibly dangerous!

Chu Xiuyuan tried to dodge, but Lei Jun and the altar had pinned him and the zither down.

He could barely move.

The next moment, danger arrived.

In the darkness of the void, countless magnetic star tracks crisscrossed.

A long blade floated silently among them, subtly trembling.

Chu Xiuyuan recognized the powerful and chilling presence of the blade—

it was the World-Securing Blade, a treasure of the Zhang Imperial Clan.

So Zhang Teng really had died at the hands of this young Daoist.

Yet this blade had a monarch's presence—hard for anyone to wield,

even those of Zhang Teng’s level needed long-term synergy to command it.

It was a weapon of martial will, incompatible with the Daoist path.

Lei Jun, a Talismanic Daoist, shouldn't be able to use it either.

Even a top Ninth-Heaven artifact refiner couldn’t wield this weapon properly.

—That’s how it should’ve been.

But looking at the quivering blade, Chu Xiuyuan realized it wasn’t resisting Lei Jun.

Something else was at play.

He wanted to evade, but it felt like sinking in quicksand.

Before the thought even finished forming—

a sudden flash of light appeared!

The World-Securing Blade vanished from where it floated,

and reappeared directly in front of Chu Xiuyuan—already slashing downward!

Chu Elder had no time to react.

He barely shifted his body and the zither—

and still, the flying blade struck home.

Three strings snapped on the seven-string zither.

A piece of flesh along Chu Xiuyuan’s waist and ribs vanished,

charred black instead of bleeding.

The zither screamed, black burn marks spread, and fine cracks webbed outward.

Another string snapped under the strain.

Chu Xiuyuan swayed, his face going pale as snow.

Even with his experience, he was stunned for a moment.

“…A Daoist wielding a weapon? No… it’s… magnetic force?”

He looked up sharply.

“You—back at the Jiangzhou ancestral grounds of the Southern Lin Clan—that was you?!”

Lei Jun’s expression remained calm.

His Tianshi Sword had followed Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang into the Vast Ocean and hadn’t returned.

His Seven-Star Sword was still being restored after dueling with the Yellow Springs Sword.

So currently, he had no ideal blade to pair with his Magnetic Flying Sword technique.

After all, with his current cultivation in the Ninth Heaven and the strength of his Two-Element Celestial Talisman,

very few treasures in the Tang Mortal Realm could handle his full power.

But after killing Zhang Teng, he claimed the World-Securing Blade.

Though he couldn’t wield it with martial intent like Zhang Teng or Xiao Xueting,

Lei Jun had his own way of handling weapons.

No flying sword? Fine. A flying blade works too.

As for Chu Xiuyuan’s realization—Lei Jun’s only reply

was descending with the three-tiered altar formed by the Tianshi Seal,

bearing down on Chu Elder once more.

Chu Xiuyuan took a deep breath and pressed his palm against the broken zither.

The last three strings snapped in sequence.

The resulting melody was fierce and tragic—

“Meteor’s Mirror at Dusk, Fires Blaze Across the Plains by Night.”

The Falling Star Ballad erupted.

Invisible sound became visible, forming waves of fire meteors that rained down on Lei Jun.

The black Yin Thunder Dragon coiled around Lei Jun shot off,

merging with the blazing Yang Fire Tiger summoned from the cosmos.

Dragon roars and tiger growls mingled—

black and red light combined in a spinning Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram.

As the powerful light surged outward, it shattered the meteor rain completely.

The three-tiered altar, shimmering with purple, gold, and green light,

finally came crashing down and pinned Chu Xiuyuan beneath it.

The Yiyin Zither, already crumbling, shattered completely.

The charred wound on Chu Xiuyuan’s side burst open, blood soaking half his body.

Lei Jun descended alongside the altar.

This time, nothing stood between him and Chu Xiuyuan.

While Lei Jun exchanged blasts with the enemy using his Yin-Yang Divine Aurora, the purple-green Taiji Diagram he had formed remained steady, continuously pouring out intense light.

The layers of vast ocean previously manifested from the Great River Diagram looked as though they were about to be completely evaporated by the overwhelming light.

This scene had originally been a memento left behind in the Great River Diagram by Ye Yan, recording the moment when the great Eastern Sea demon, the Sea King Ju, attacked.

Thus, at this moment, the scene of the Sea King Ju’s rampage reappeared.

But under Lei Jun’s Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike, the painting stored in the Great River Diagram quickly began to disintegrate.

Ye Yan hurriedly shook the Great River Diagram on the ground.

Under the twists and turns of the Great River’s nine curves, the final scene emerged.

It was a precious seal.

Though the seal itself was small, it exuded an abundance of scholarly aura.

When the seal landed, the imprint seemed minuscule, yet within it lay a universe, with stars filling the heavens — scattered across like pieces on a chessboard.

This was the marvelous power contained within the Chess Star Seal, the heirloom treasure of the Cangzhou Ye Clan, preserved by the Qingzhou Ye Clan in the Great River Diagram.

The starry spread contained profound principles and cosmic laws.

Any entity falling within it would be bound to follow these laws.

However, under the blazing light of Lei Jun’s Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike, the myriad stars manifested by the Chess Star Seal seemed to ignite and then vanish.

Beside Lei Jun, another Taiji Diagram appeared — this one black and red — complementing the purple-green one.

Under the dual illumination of the two Taiji Diagrams, not only did the phantom Chess Star Seal collapse, but the intense light also fell upon the Great River Diagram itself.

Black scorch marks immediately began to spread across the painting.

Ye Yan frantically wielded his Azure Sea Painting Brush, repeatedly reinforcing the Great River Diagram with his brush and ink, desperately trying to protect this heirloom treasure.

Yet unexpectedly, a new beam of light suddenly shot from afar.

Amidst the swirling purple, gold, and green light, a white jade seal tore through the sky.

Occupied with preserving the Great River Diagram, Ye Yan couldn’t react in time — the white jade seal slammed directly into his forehead!

Blood spurted from his brow as he staggered backward.

In Ye Yan’s blurry vision, he saw the Great River Diagram begin to burn under the relentless Dragon-Tiger light, smoke rising as flames spread.

But he was already powerless to save it.

Lei Jun flashed forward and appeared in front of Ye Yan.

The Tianshi Seal, after smashing into Ye Yan, flew back into the air.

Lei Jun reached out and caught the white jade seal.

Then, aiming squarely at Ye Yan’s head, he struck again!

Bang!

Outside the Great Ascension Dao Domain.

Inside the Phantom Imperial Capital.

The people of the Qingzhou Ye Clan, the Suzhou Chu Clan, and the Jingxiang Fang Clan howled in anguish like wounded beasts.

They stared at Crown Prince Zhang Hui of the Tang Dynasty with bloodshot eyes, wishing they could tear him to pieces.

Zhang Hui, now stripped of the nation’s dragon energy, lost the aura of a noble prince. What remained was the refined scholarly elegance and effortless charm of a literati.

He gazed at the State Cauldron hovering above the Phantom Imperial Capital, his expression a little wistful. “We’ve come this far.”

Before this, with three Ninth-Heaven Grand Scholars — Fang Jingsheng, Chu Xiuyuan, and Ye Yan — present, and with the three heirloom treasures — the Spring and Autumn Brush, the Lost Melody Zither, and the Great River Diagram — all together, even if Zhang Hui was extraordinarily gifted and thoroughly prepared, it would've been impossible for him to destroy the ancestral grounds of three major clans with just the State Cauldron and the Phantom Imperial Capital.

Ye Yan and the others could have suppressed him.

But with Fang Jingsheng and Chu Xiuyuan slain one after the other, the aura of the Spring and Autumn Brush and Lost Melody Zither had faded. Ye Yan and the Great River Diagram were trapped within the Daoist Great Ascension Domain, leaving Zhang Hui unimpeded.

Thus, following the destruction of the Northern and Southern Lin Clans and the Cangzhou Ye Clan, the ancestral grounds of the Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang Clans were all reduced to ruins!

The foundations of these grand aristocratic families were utterly destroyed.

Ye Jiong and the others, though outside their ancestral grounds, were supposed to be safe.

But they had come to the Imperial Capital, Luoyang, precisely to coordinate with Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang.

They were the bridge.

Thus, like Ye Cheng, Fang Huansheng, and Chu Zhe, they too now faced disaster.

Ye Jiong, Fang Shantong, Chu Yuyuan, and other top experts tried desperately to steady themselves, tending their wounds, then rallied their last bit of strength with imperial family experts like Zhang Yang and Zhang Chengyu to charge at Zhang Hui once more.

The recent violent shock had also stripped Zhang Hui of his dragon energy and his control over the State Cauldron.

Now was the perfect chance to finish him and break through the Phantom Imperial Capital's seal!

But just as they thought that—

Zhang Hui, calm and collected, pulled out a new painting.

It depicted a refined scholar, middle-aged in appearance, holding a brush and paper.

The figure was instantly recognizable to Ye Jiong, Ye Wei, Ye Haizhou, and the others.

How could they not recognize him? He had literally just been standing there moments ago.

The man in the painting was none other than Ye Yan, the current Clan Leader of the Qingzhou Ye Clan.

Zhang Hui had unveiled a portrait of Ye Yan.

Within the painting, the figure displayed the most orthodox Qingzhou Ye Clan divine art — so flawlessly executed it could be used as a textbook for teaching clan disciples.

The sheer absurdity nearly made everyone cough up blood.

“Over there!” Zhang Chengyu barked concisely.

Beside him, Zhang Zhi, Zhang Qiongrong, Zhang Yang, and others also turned their gaze.

Their target — the State Cauldron.

Controlling it could stir the mountain and river dragon veins.

More critically, it could potentially shatter the Phantom Imperial Capital's seal over the surrounding void domain.

The Tang imperial experts and the martial aristocrats exchanged glances.

While Shangguan Yunbo and Lin Huan were locked in a fierce duel, Zhang Chengyu and the others flew toward the cauldron.

Each of them slit their wrists, spilling copious blood into it.

Immediately, the State Cauldron roared to life, sending bloody and earthy yellow flames surging skyward.

“Hm?” Zhang Hui’s gaze flicked over.

The State Cauldron burned furiously — yet no fuel fed the fire.

The blood was merely a catalyst.

What was ignited was the State Cauldron’s own essence — burning the nation itself!

The world trembled, chaos loomed on every side.

To escape the trap before the Empress herself could return to Luoyang, Zhang Chengyu, Zhang Zhi, and the others had thrown all caution aside.

As a result, the Phantom Imperial Capital began to shake violently, as if about to fall from the sky into the real Luoyang City.

If that happened, the destruction would ripple outward, igniting rebellion across the land.

Yet Zhang Hui remained unfazed. He continued painting with calm, fluid strokes.

Soon, another vivid figure emerged from his artwork.

It was an elderly man, tall and powerful despite his silver hair and weathered appearance, wielding a mighty blade that seemed capable of suppressing mountains and rivers.

Zhang Chengyu, Zhang Zhi, Lin Huan, Ye Moxin, Ye Jiong, and the others all fell speechless.

Because it was none other than Prince Zhao, Zhang Teng — who had just been present!

Before Zhang Hui had revealed his true intentions, he had fought alongside the Qingzhou, Suzhou, Jingxiang clans, and other imperial experts like Zhang Qiongrong, Zhang Yang.

Now, he turned his own paintings against them.

Thus, Zhang Teng, brought to life by the painting, alongside his World-Securing Blade, unleashed devastating power, immediately quelling much of the fire raging within the State Cauldron.

Meanwhile, the massive black sphere below, eerily quiet until now, began to dissipate once again.

Lei Jun’s figure reappeared — returning to the mortal world.

Ye Yan of the Qingzhou Ye Clan, however, had vanished.

Following in the footsteps of Zhang Teng, Fang Jingsheng, and Chu Xiuyuan.

All four Ninth-Heaven experts, dead by the hand of one man?

Though many had anticipated this possibility, witnessing it firsthand still made everyone shudder.

At that moment, countless minds began to crumble.

Many just wanted to flee.

Yet the collapsing Phantom Imperial Capital still sealed off the void — it simply began falling toward the real Luoyang City.

Seeing Lei Jun’s reappearance, Zhang Hui breathed easier and focused on stabilizing the State Cauldron and the Phantom Imperial Capital.

As long as the foundation held, the real Luoyang below wouldn’t be dragged down with it.

Lei Jun didn’t need to exchange a word with Zhang Hui.

He swept his gaze across the battlefield, already assessing the situation.

Then, he began to walk down the main street of the Phantom Imperial Capital.

Everywhere he passed, if he encountered enemies — he casually struck them down without even glancing back.

Behind him, blood rivers flowed.

As he walked, he passed Lin Huan of the Youzhou Lin Clan, who was dueling Shangguan Yunbo.

Lei Jun conjured a massive Yin Fire Tiger from the Azure Abyss True Flame.

With a casual swipe, the mountain-sized tiger clawed at Lin Huan.

Lin Huan raised her Northern Gale Sword — a blade that summoned fierce northern winds and blizzards.

Lei Jun didn’t stop walking.

The Yin Fire Tiger morphed, howling into the wind.

The abyssal gale and fire pierced through Lin Huan’s defenses, striking her down.

Lei Jun’s steps never faltered.

Everywhere he passed, the Phantom Imperial Capital grew emptier and quieter.

Enemies on the same plane as him were annihilated.

The white constructs making up the illusory city vanished.

Ye Yao, Ye Song, Ye Yue, Fang Tianshi, Chu Xicheng, Chu Fu — all dead, their bodies wiped from existence by the light of the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike.

Only Cangzhou elders Ye Moxin and Ye Qi, who had earlier ascended to the sky, narrowly survived.

But seeing the desolation below, their hearts grew heavy.

"This time," Ye Qi murmured, "we may not escape."

Even so, Ye Moxin said calmly, "At least big brother prepared beforehand. Our clan might still survive... if the Worldly Treasure Array can last long enough."

Ye Qi nodded faintly. "Yes..."

Before he could finish, Lei Jun’s voice suddenly rang in their ears:

"Cangzhou Southern Rain Plains, right? I’ll visit shortly."

Ye Moxin and Ye Qi stared at Lei Jun, who had appeared before them, as if they'd seen a ghost.

They had previously worried about whether the Ye Clan of Cangzhou would abandon the Lin Clan of Youzhou at a critical moment.

But now, it was clear that the greatest danger lay with the tall young Daoist standing right before them.

Yet...

Why?!

How could this Daoist possibly know the location of the entrance that Ye Moquan had arranged for the Worldly Treasure Array?

While Lin Liyu was racking his brains, his body was already collapsing uncontrollably.

Lei Jun cleared the area around the illusionary Imperial Capital.

The likes of Zhang Chengyu, who were currently fighting Zhang Hui over the State Cauldron, all witnessed the scene below and were utterly shocked.

Although disciples from Suzhou, Jingxiang, and Qingzhou clans had been affected by the ancestral lands and suffered injuries,

given the number of powerful experts, they could only watch helplessly as Lei Jun ran rampant.

Compared to Zhang Hui, Lei Jun, who had already reached the Ninth Heaven Realm, struck fear into everyone's hearts.

Facing the stares from above, Lei Jun calmly looked up. Wherever his gaze swept, most people hurriedly looked away.

With Lei Jun stepping in, Zhang Hui could now fully concentrate on handling the initial wave of problems.

Prince Zhang Zhi of Nanyang almost despaired:

"Why would an outsider interfere in imperial affairs? With the current power of Mount Longhu, no matter who sits on the throne in Luoyang, they would have to rely on you!"

Lei Jun smacked him down:

"Because you people are unpleasant."

The elderly Prince Zhang Yang of Chen Mountain sighed:

"Xuanchaozi... You are far stronger and far more dangerous than we expected."

Lei Jun replied:

"Not as dangerous as you lot."

After killing Zhang Yang too, Lei Jun swept his gaze across the surroundings.

Under Zhang Hui’s control, the illusionary Imperial Capital stabilized and stopped its downward fall.

However, the illusionary city itself was now burning in the skies above Luoyang.

Beneath Lei Jun's feet, the emerald Nine Abyss True Flame descended and quickly spread outwards.

Thanks to the relatively gentle True Flame balancing things out, the illusionary Imperial Capital temporarily stabilized.

Around Lei Jun’s body, the Nine Abyss True Flame didn't further transform into a Yin Fire Tiger.

Nor did the crimson Heavenly Sun True Fire turn into a Yang Fire Tiger.

At the same time, the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder and Mysterious Firmament Celestial Thunder continued to spread outward from Lei Jun.

The next moment, endless thunder and fire surged, flooding the entire illusionary Imperial Capital.

Purple lightning, black thunder-water, emerald flames, and golden-red meteors —

These scenes blended together, painting an apocalyptic picture for the aristocrats, nobles, and imperial clan members, many of whom were swallowed within.

Lei Jun turned his head to look back.

Along his path, corpses lay everywhere, fields of bleached bones stretched into the distance.

He calmly retracted his gaze and continued moving forward.

Every step he took on the streets of the illusionary Imperial Capital made the surrounding survivors feel suffocated.

After Lei Jun had walked several circuits around the city, silence fell upon the entire place.

"Not only must the Heavenly Street be paved with the bones of nobles," Lei Jun said flatly,

"the Inner Treasury must also be burned into embroidered ashes."

His gaze turned forward.

Zhang Qiongrong and the other Zhang Imperial Clan experts who occupied the palace at the center of the illusionary city didn’t venture out.

But soon, both heavenly fire from above and earthly fire from below engulfed them, burying them beneath the charred ruins.

The illusionary Imperial Capital no longer burned, but it was already reduced to ruins — shattered walls and collapsed buildings.

The raging fires blazed so fiercely that the flames outshone the white light in the sky, burning endlessly.

"Master Lei," Crown Prince Zhang Hui regained control of the State Cauldron.

Yet Lei Jun, observing carefully, found something strange.

Zhang Hui said:

"I must also thank Master Lei for the Qilin Saliva, otherwise many things would have needed to be re-planned."

Lei Jun replied:

"It’s this poor Daoist who should thank Your Highness for the Mi Luo Ten-Patterned Jade."

Back when he first arrived near Luoyang, Lei Jun hadn't rushed straight into the city.

The reason was that upon seeing the Four Spiritual Images forming the illusionary Imperial Capital,

he sensed that the Qilin among them was based heavily on his own Qilin Saliva — an item he had once traded to Lunar Luminary in the Celestial Starry Universe.

Though other materials could also have been used for such a grand ritual,

with Lei Jun’s insight, it was obvious that the Qilin image had been constructed using that very Qilin Saliva.

To confirm, he had sent a message to Lunar Luminary.

The reply he received had confirmed it:

It wasn't that Lunar Luminary’s Qilin Saliva had been traded away or stolen,

but rather, that Zhang Hui was Lunar Luminary from the start.

The next moment, Zhang Hui said:

"Next, I must ask Master Lei and the other True Ones, along with the Generals, for your continued support."

While speaking, he kept inscribing symbols and drawings atop the State Cauldron.

Later, when the Cauldron’s surface was covered in dense black patterns,

Zhang Hui used his Danqing Brush to outline upon it.

The intricate black patterns came to life, and the black characters all detached from the Cauldron.

Though the Cauldron remained and retained rich spiritual essence,

its connection to the nation’s fate and the Dragon Vein was now completely severed.

With this seemingly casual action by Zhang Hui,

an enormous change had been set into motion.

The illusionary Imperial Capital began to quake again.

Thankfully, it did not actually fall onto the real Luoyang below.

Before it could crash, the enormous city flashing with white light began disintegrating on its own.

Lei Jun attuned his senses to the flow of spiritual energy and the earth veins around Luoyang.

He soon realized that Luoyang no longer gathered any national fortune.

Nor did the old capital Chang'an.

Nor anywhere within the Tang Empire's territory.

After prolonged struggle among the Four Surnames and Five Aristocratic Families,

Zhang Hui’s continuous adjustments finally led to one outcome:

The nation’s fortune now dispersed into the mountains and rivers, merging with the tidal surge of heaven and earth’s spiritual energy.

Noticing Lei Jun’s gaze, Zhang Hui explained calmly:

"This was Aunt’s will: let the heavens return to heaven, and the people return to the people. I share her belief."

Lei Jun swept his eyes around and said frankly:

"I had many guesses... but this, I didn't anticipate."

Zhang Hui smiled:

"When I first heard Aunt speak of it, I had the same reaction as you, Master Lei.

But it’s not a bad thing, is it?"

The nation’s fortune was scattered.

Although Empress Zhang Wantong, Zhang Hui, and the State Cauldron still existed,

the Tang dynasty’s imperial arts became history.

This meant losing a shortcut to rapidly cultivate Upper Heaven experts.

Yet the people’s energy now merged with the world’s spiritual tides,

which would benefit a broader range of cultivators and spark a flourishing Daoist era.

More talents, more spiritual treasures, and more prosperity.

For this to happen, neither Zhang Wantong nor Zhang Hui could be seen as saviors.

On the contrary, Zhang Wantong would have to tarnish her own reputation.

During the Battle of Yunzhou, she had won massive public support.

But afterward, she had to become a "tyrant" — impulsive, moody, reckless,

allowing the Tang Empire to fall into internal and external crises.

Even the imperial clan's prestige was to decline.

Prince Zhao Zhang Teng and others became riddled with scandals.

Zhang Hui was portrayed as entangled with aristocrats and incompetent.

Once the Empress vanished, both sides scrambled for power,

abandoning the people's welfare, drawing mass condemnation.

From the start, Zhang Wantong had placed her hopes in the Tianshi Mansion —

not merely because of their strength, but because Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, and Tang Xiaotang, even if revered by all,

would never become tyrants like Huang Xuanpu.

The tides of history surged onward.

Leadership was unnecessary; mass participation mattered more.

Lei Jun understood Zhang Wantong’s thinking,

but he hadn't anticipated she would take it this far.

"Both the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao will perish in this battle," Zhang Hui said.

"Later, when Aunt returns, there will be no more Crown Princes."

Lei Jun saw that Zhang Hui showed no sorrow — instead, a sort of relief.

It almost reminded him of Tang Xiaotang finally leaving Mount Longhu.

"Without the support of national fortune, Aunt will still be unrivaled after recovering," Zhang Hui added with a faint smile.

"To be blunt about my late father — even with the national fortune's blessing, he was no match for Aunt at the same realm."

Though reputation would suffer, the Tang mortal realm would stabilize.

The tidal shifts would cease, and the dynasty would survive this internal war.

The Earth Veins and the Tianli Portals were reopening,

but the Tang Imperial Court was ready to seal them again.

The Tianli Xiaoming Court was preoccupied fending off the Ming Dynasty's invasion.

The Jiuli clans of the Land of the Deep Sea were locked in civil strife.

The Tang internal war devastated many aristocratic lineages,

but with Empress Zhang Wantong, Zhang Hui, and the Tianshi Mansion still standing,

the empire could recover.

Even the Shushan Sect’s Chen Donglou might be an ally.

And if needed, the Seven Luminaries of the Heavenly Book could intervene.

There was even the Empress's final insurance —

the National Preceptor’s Seal, held by Tang Xiaotang.

If a threat truly beyond their ability appeared,

they could forcefully rewind history, preserve the people,

then plan anew amidst forward and backward tides.

But no one wished to take that last step unless absolutely necessary.

Lei Jun asked Zhang Hui:

"How is Her Majesty now?"

Zhang Hui answered candidly:

"Aunt’s injuries are severe.

That foreign Immortal Warrior Hariger — a consummate Ninth Heaven Martial Saint —

along with another Ninth Heaven Great Demon, truly did a number on her."

In martial combat, exchanging injuries or even fatal blows was not uncommon.

Facing Lei Jun squarely, Zhang Hui said:

"Aunt indeed needs time to recuperate.

But it won't reach the critical point Chang'an once did.

She has already returned to the mortal realm, together with Master Xiao and Sister Xiao."

Lei Jun responded calmly:

"In that case, this poor Daoist will continue onward.

Next stop: Cangzhou."

Zhang Hui: "Thank you for your help, Tianshi."

Lei Jun left the Imperial Capital Luoyang.

Zhang Hui continued to adjust the State Cauldron, guiding the flow of the earth’s veins, while awaiting the Empress’s return to the Imperial Capital.

However, he would no longer appear before the public.

Zhang Ying and others remained behind to assist in handling the aftermath in Luoyang.

During the Battle of Luoyang, the Great General Shangguan Yunbo had slain Lin Huan, the patriarch of the Youzhou Lin Clan who had conspired with the rebellious Prince Zhao.

He left the city slightly later than Lei Jun.

Lei Jun was now on the road to Cangzhou.

By intercepting letters and information from the Cangzhou Ye Clan, he had obtained the name "Nanyuyuan."

On his way to Nanyuyuan in Cangzhou, Lei Jun kept in touch with his master Yuan Mobai and other fellow disciples.

The Gate to the Vast Ocean had reopened.

Little Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang had already heard news from the human world.

But she showed little interest in the current situation following the end of the Luoyang Battle.

Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan had already returned to the human world.

Master Yuan Mobai and Xiao Hang had likewise returned from the Luo Abyss Portal by the North Sea.

The Empress Zhang Wantong and Xiao Xueting had also come back.

Yuan Mobai asked, "You're heading to Cangzhou?"

Lei Jun replied, "The Youzhou Lin Clan should currently be with the Cangzhou Ye Clan. It'll save us some manpower."

Yuan Mobai said, "Since we’re already out and about, Xiao Hang and I might as well head to Qingzhou too."

In the Imperial Capital Luoyang, Lei Jun tread the Heavenly Street, walking over the bones of nobles and ministers.

Among the Four Great Surnames and Five Prominent Clans, the majority of their top elites had been buried.

With covert help from Crown Prince Zhang Hui, this led directly to the destruction of the ancestral lands of the Ye Clan of Qingzhou, the Chu Clan of Suzhou, and the Fang Clan of Jingxiang.

In just one day, the world turned upside down.

The Four Surnames and Five Clans suffered devastating losses, though they still retained some of their heritage.

Now that things had come to this point, they might as well settle the rest of the problems once and for all.

These prestigious families had stood unshaken for generations.

Their bloodlines interwove and thrived; calling them deep-rooted didn’t even begin to cover it.

Neither Lei Jun nor Zhang Hui, nor even Shangguan Yunbo, had ever intended a widespread massacre implicating countless branches.

But the possibility of their resurgence had to be eliminated.

And even if some remnants did survive, it would never again be the embers of the old era.

In the mortal realm of the Tang Dynasty, the troubles didn’t end there.

On the northern frontier, a great demon was once again rampaging.

Prince Zhao Zhang Teng, Fang Jingsheng of the Jingxiang Fang Clan, and Ye Moquan, the former patriarch of the Cangzhou Ye Clan, had all left the North.

With their absence, the great demon of the North, Lord Black Mountain, made a comeback.

But soon, before the assembled northern demons could even head south, most were subdued by Buddhist power.

Only Black Mountain Lord managed to escape with his life.

A massive white lotus bloomed across the northern wilderness.

The Future Maitreya sat cross-legged in its center, subduing the horde of demons.

By his side, several disciples of the White Lotus Sect seemed hesitant to speak.

Without turning his head, the Future Maitreya looked into the distance and said gently,

"If you have something to say, Junior Brother, speak freely."

One of the White Lotus disciples finally spoke,

"Senior Brother, the Tang Court has caused such great chaos. Why aren’t we seizing the opportunity to rise up?"

The Future Maitreya replied,

"The Tang Dynasty’s fate has not yet ended. If we don’t act now, then let it be for the sake of the common folk.

But when its fate does end, if we rise up, it too will be for the salvation of the people.

As disciples, we must always remember this, not act contrary to it."

The disciple clasped his hands together in reverence. "Yes, Senior Brother."

Out in the Eastern Sea, a faint golden light flickered beneath the ocean waves.

Seemingly unremarkable, this was in fact one of the current overlords of the Eastern Sea—a great demon on par with a Ninth-Heaven human cultivator—the Six-Horned Golden Shark.

This demon roamed the coastal waters but didn’t truly approach the shoreline.

Upon a reef unnoticed by anyone, a vague figure stood—barely visible, cloaked in concealment.

It was Elder Sun Li of the Reincarnation Abyss, his presence completely hidden.

As long as the Six-Horned Golden Shark didn’t move, he wouldn’t either.

The trade involving the Lunar Luminary was valuable.

But Sun Li’s only task was to make sure the shark didn’t cause any trouble.

If he could avoid a fight, all the better.

Still…

Sun Li glanced back toward the west, toward the direction of the Imperial Capital Luoyang, and sighed,

"The world sure is unpredictable."

Above the Northern Sea, massive icy waves surged like mountains.

The great demon, the Northern Sea Whale King, dove deep into the ocean.

On the sea’s surface, a woman in armor stood, a divine sword held inverted in her hand, eyes fixed on the direction where the whale had disappeared.

"Another one trying to get in on the action." Xiao Xueting sheathed her sword.

She had accompanied the imperial entourage to the Luo Abyss and now returned to the human realm.

However, given the role the Tang Imperial Clan played in this chaos, she chose not to return to land for the time being.

That didn’t mean she had nothing to do.

Wielding the Mountain-River Sword, she had decisively driven back the deep-sea Whale King, who had just started to stir.

She turned to gaze southward.

Far off in that direction was the location of the Tianli Portal.

"Second Brother, your health isn’t great either… take it easy, alright?" Xiao Xueting sighed.

In the ancestral land of the Chu Clan of Suzhou—once a flourishing hub of culture and scholarship—now lay in ruins.

The loss of their scholarly lineage left the Chu clan in silent despair.

Chu Zhe and the others scrambled to reach out to Luoyang while clearing the devastated grounds of their ancestral home.

Bad news came one after another.

Luoyang was in complete chaos.

Worse yet, they had lost contact with Chu Xiuyuan and the others in Luoyang.

No news, was the worst news.

And now, a long-time rival was knocking on their door.

Tianlong Monastery.

From the moment Chu Xiuyuan and the other top experts had left Suzhou, Chu Zhe and the rest, who stayed behind, had been diligently preparing the ancestral grounds—stockpiling ceremonial instruments and ritual implements, just in case.

But disaster piled on disaster.

Chu Zhe was considered a genius among peers of similar age in aristocratic circles.

But his opponent this time…

Was the top monk of the Buddhist world—Monk Faqing—making a rare return to Tianlong Monastery due to the shifting situation.

This time, he was serving as the lead elder for the monastery's campaign.

Monk Faqing couldn’t help but smile wryly at the irony.

But the Chu Clan of Suzhou wasn’t smiling.

Back in the day, Faqing had been hailed as the monastery’s foremost successor.

Without him, Chu Zhe might have stood a chance of bargaining or resisting.

But with him leading the charge, the people of the Chu Clan saw only despair.

Lei Jun arrived in Cangzhou.

The latest news confirmed that Xiao Chunhui had not died—he was still alive.

He even had the leisure to open the path from the Tianli Realm to the mortal world, paving the way for Xu Yuanzhen's return.

However, after this event, the Second Young Master of the Xiao Family was, in name at least, a "dead man"—or, at best, an unregistered ghost.

"Over in the Fang Clan of Jingxiang, General Shangguan has personally gone there," said Yuan Mobai. "Xiao Hang and I have come ashore and are now heading toward Qingzhou."

Lei Jun responded, "I’ve arrived in Cangzhou."

After finishing the conversation with Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun looked off into the distance.

The preparations on the surface were extensive—definitely not something that could’ve been arranged in a hurry.

The Cangzhou Ye Clan had gathered ritual implements and talismans, forming a peculiar yet vast ceremonial formation.

Besides Ye Wei, Ye Qingquan, and Ye Zheng from the Cangzhou Ye Clan, Lin Yi from the Youzhou Lin Clan had also brought his group to the site.

Compared to the three clans of Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang, who still clung to wishful thinking,

the Ye Clan of Cangzhou and the Lin Clan of Youzhou had sensed the far greater danger.

"Worldly Treasure Array…"

Lei Jun looked them over and said,

"Setting up a formation like this isn’t easy. It must’ve come at a steep cost."

After observing a while, Lei Jun stepped into Nanyuyuan.

He said nothing more—his vast Great Ascension Dao Domain spread outward, expanding rapidly until it covered nearly the entire plain.

The domain cut off the inside from the outside.

Within it, Lei Jun acted without restraint.

At his current level of power, his Magnetic Flying Swords could kill even Seventh or Eighth Heaven Realm cultivators—as long as they landed a hit, few would survive.

For such targets, Lei Jun could afford to reduce the magnetic force's intensity, easing the pressure on his artifacts and expanding his selection of available weapons.

While this meant sacrificing specialization, it was more than enough for the current battle.

Thus, magnetic sword trails crisscrossed the sky, hundreds of flying swords howling in all directions, while heavenly thunder and earthly fire clashed together in a storm.

The elite warriors of the two clans, trapped in Lei Jun’s Xuanhuang Universe, were instantly overwhelmed.

Lei Jun strolled forward calmly.

Behind him, the devastation left upon Ye Moucheng, Lin Yi, Ye Qingquan, and the others looked like the end of the world—serving as the grim backdrop to his advance.

And right ahead, there sat an old man, perfectly still.

Ye Moquan, the former patriarch of the Cangzhou Ye Clan.

His body was now completely immobile.

The Worldly Treasure Array was a legendary divine art capable of opening an independent world and sustaining it for an extended period.

But its difficulty was extreme—and it often demanded a life as the price.

At this moment, Ye Moquan was clearly the sacrifice.

He had given himself to the array, to carve out a future for his children and clan.

Partly because the situation demanded it.

And partly because… his time was up.

Old wounds left by Xu Yuanzhen had tormented him for years—he had even caused the death of his own grandson because of them.

He would not make such a mistake again.

Even if it meant shortening his already numbered days.

In this final stretch of life, his mind had become unusually clear—like in his youth and prime.

Sadly, too many problems remained unsolved. And Luoyang had already seen its conclusion.

He and the Cangzhou Ye Clan had no choice but to attempt a retreat from this mortal world.

The cost? His own life—and what little time he had left.

This final gambit was meant to secure a future for the younger generation.

But how had Lei Jun found him so quickly?

Lei Jun stepped in front of Ye Moquan.

Two formations activated simultaneously.

Illusory Calamity.

Divine Suppression Head.

Even in his final moments, Ye Moquan had prepared for contingencies.

But Lei Jun ignored them.

A flash of rainbow-colored light burst from his brow—Yin-Yang Divine Firmament Radiance tore straight through the Illusory Calamity.

Ye Moquan stared blankly at the flash of light, and blurted out:

"You were the one who killed Li Yongzong of the Broken Li Tribe in the Southern Wasteland’s Vast Ocean... and then framed it on the Cangzhou Clan?"

As he spoke, a massive seal rose into the air, shimmering like a starry sky.

But today—the Tianshi Seal crushed the Chess Star Seal.

A Daoist altar streaked with purple, gold, and green light descended from the sky, pressing down on the Cangzhou Ye Clan’s ancestral treasure.

"The Divine Suppression Head didn't work...

So, your comprehension is natural-level like Xu Yuanzhen's?"

Ye Moquan muttered,

"Two natural-level cultivators from one sect… in thirty years?"

Lei Jun replied,

"I'm not like Senior Sister. I believe in two horizontals and one vertical—get it done, no questions asked."

He struck down with one palm, shattering the Worldly Treasure Array,

saying,

"All those earlier arrangements were just so I could finish this directly in the end."

Without pause, his palm fell square on Ye Moquan’s crown.

Blood and brain matter splattered.

"Like this," he said.