Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 382: Famous in the World

“Tianshi achieving Great Ascension… the bloodshed is even heavier than when the Blood River Sect Master attained his descent,” Shangguan Qing murmured softly.

Hearing this, Zhang Ying, Lu Zhen, and the others nearby all paused for a moment before giving wry smiles.

In Daoism, reaching the Ninth Heaven Realm is known as Great Ascension.

In the Witch Sect, it’s called Spirit Descent.

The Blood River Sect has always been known for its focus on killing and bloodshed.

Years ago, when Wei Anchang, then Master of the Blood River Sect, advanced from the Eighth to the Ninth Heaven, he happened to encounter members of the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Southern Wasteland’s Golden Castle stronghold.

As a result, Ye Lingxi of the Cangzhou Ye Clan and Cao Chu of Golden Castle, both at the Seventh Heaven Realm, were killed on the spot. Ye Han of the Cangzhou Ye Clan and Gao Pu of Golden Castle, both Eighth Heaven cultivators, ended up severely injured.

Afterward, Wei Anchang launched the Southern Wasteland War. He first conquered Golden Castle, then marched toward Yin Mountain Grotto, attempting to unify the Witch Sect in the Southern Wasteland.

Yet now, in hindsight, compared to Tianshi Lei of Mount Longhu, Wei Anchang truly pales in comparison.

Back then, Wei Anchang himself became the first recorded victory of Tang Xiaotang, when she reached the Ninth Heaven Realm and took on the title of Great Tang’s State Preceptor.

When Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang first ascended to the Ninth Heaven, regardless of power, none of them made an appearance as awe-inspiring as Tianshi Lei’s today—divine might like a heavenly punishment.

It was a matter of fate and timing. Tianshi Lei was destined to deliver the most heart-shaking debut ever seen for a cultivator breaking through to the Ninth Heaven Realm in thousands of years.

Though Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince had originally cleared the stage for the entire Tianshi Mansion, in the end, it was Tianshi Lei alone who took the spotlight.

Heaven’s Principle and Sea of Land portals were to reopen together, as part of a grand plan to summon Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, and Lei Jun back—so they could collectively turn the tide and fulfill Empress Zhang Wantong’s vision.

Instead, Lei Jun handled it all on his own.

“When did Tianshi Lei recover from his injuries? And when did he break through to the Ninth Heaven?” someone suddenly whispered.

Everyone present fell silent. No one replied.

The one who asked also quieted down, saying no more.

In most people’s eyes, Lei Jun was known for his calm demeanor—like a still lake—with thunder hidden in his chest.

But now, everyone realized they had underestimated this Tianshi again.

Clearly, there had already been a consensus to estimate this contemporary Tianshi's strength as high as possible.

Yet in the end, even that hadn’t been enough...

Lu Zhen’s gaze swept across the members of the Zhang Imperial Clan and the Shangguan Family present.

Suddenly, a few words surfaced in his mind:

The Suspended Sword Over the Center.

Without Tang Xiaotang or Xu Yuanzhen, Lei Jun alone had determined the fate of Great Tang and pulled it back from the brink.

He and the Tianshi Mansion’s current prestige—especially when contrasted with the Zhang Imperial Clan’s waning influence—made them, at this very moment, arguably the most authoritative voice in Great Tang.

Fortunately, neither Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, nor Tang Xiaotang were anything like Huang Xuanpu or Fu Dongsen from back then.

That’s precisely why the Empress acted as she did.

After Lei Jun’s stunning debut, he seemed to return to a state of calm.

His presence was overwhelming, yet he showed no signs of boasting or seizing attention.

Still, regardless of how low-key he may choose to be from now on, he and the Tianshi Mansion will remain, for a long time to come, the towering jade pillar supporting both the Great Tang Dynasty and the mortal realm beneath it.

To anyone outside Great Tang, Lei Jun and the Tianshi Mansion are the most unshakable cornerstone of the mortal world.

But conversely, it's also clear—since Lei Jun agreed to the Empress and Crown Prince’s plan—he and the Tianshi Mansion will likewise serve to intimidate the younger members of the Zhang Imperial Clan and others in Great Tang, deterring any thoughts of trying to reclaim the Imperial Mandate.

Like a sword suspended overhead.

Considering the current ages of Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, Empress Zhang Wantong, and Crown Prince Zhang Hui, it’s safe to say that their contemporaries within the Zhang Imperial Clan can all give up on such ambitions.

Lu Zhen reined in his thoughts and asked, “We had originally hoped Tianshi Lei could go to Tianli to persuade Master Xu and State Preceptor Tang… but now?”

Tianli’s Minor Ming Realm is under attack from the Ming Dynasty and is barely holding on—on the brink of collapse.

If Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang further stoke the flames, that realm may truly be destroyed.

Hence, some within the mortal realm of Great Tang have suggested no longer coordinating with the Ming Dynasty in attacking Tianli. Some even propose helping Tianli stabilize, to prevent it from being annihilated.

After suffering from the Lone Eagle Khanate’s incursion and the wars in Chang’an and Luoyang, the Great Tang Dynasty faces a long road ahead in pacifying the Four Surnames and Five Prominent Clans, and restoring order to regions like Youzhou, Qingzhou, Cangzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang.

During this time, Tang needs a relatively stable environment.

Right now, the Ming Dynasty appears much stronger than the Minor Ming Realm of Tianli.

Having Tianli serve as a buffer between the Ming Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty may, at this moment, actually benefit Tang.

Even if it’s just to maintain the current situation and reevaluate later.

But Xu Yuanzhen is notoriously unpredictable.

Tang Xiaotang, upon returning from the Sea of Land, immediately plunged back into Tianli—causing no small amount of anxiety.

Anxiety for the Minor Ming Realm, that is.

If it falls, Tang’s mortal realm would have to deal with the Ming Dynasty directly.

Recent intel suggests that over there, they’ve even found common ground with Tianli: both sides refer to the Tang Dynasty as “False Tang.”

Originally, Lei Jun was the most suitable person to go to Tianli and try to reason with State Preceptor Tang and Master Xu.

But after witnessing the aftermath of the Luoyang battle—the phantom streets of the Imperial Capital strewn with bones—Shangguan Qing, Lu Zhen, and the others were no longer so sure.

People often described Lei Jun as aloof and serene. But over time, they remembered only the “aloof” part.

The Luoyang battle revealed something else entirely: Tianshi Lei was as cold-hearted and ruthless as he was calm.

He rarely makes a move. But when he does, there’s no mercy.

After leaving Cangzhou, he didn’t head to Tianli. Instead, he traveled southwest, toward Jingxiang.

That led Lu Zhen, Shangguan Qing, and the others to suspect that Lei Jun might actually be tacitly supporting whatever Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang are doing in Tianli.

With that, no one dared suggest asking Tianshi Lei to intervene anymore.

Grand Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang silently observed all this, then let out a quiet sigh.

Because of Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang’s personalities and style, their influence often didn’t rest solely on them—but on the Tianshi Mansion as a whole.

Conversely, the Mansion’s overall influence has, for many reasons, now become concentrated on Lei Jun.

To a certain extent, Lei Jun can represent the Mansion, and by extension, Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang as well.

This has made his impact on Tang’s political climate even more powerful and far-reaching.

That kind of influence is starting to reshape how the world perceives things.

People like Lu Zhen and Shangguan Qing.

Instead of communicating directly with the Tianshi Mansion, they now focus on guessing Lei Jun’s personal stance.

This already has the feel of divine will—unknowable and commanding.

The Will of the Tianshi.

Suzhou.

Elder Miaoyi stood beside Elder Miaokong. “Has Faqing left again?”

Elder Miaokong replied, “Yes...”

Elder Miaoyi sighed. “So, in the end, he still refuses to stay in Suzhou?”

Elder Miaokong remained silent.

Elder Miaoyi asked again, “Any more detailed updates from Luoyang?”

Elder Miaokong nodded. “Yes.”

After giving a general summary, he added, “After leaving Luoyang, Tianshi Lei went to Cangzhou. At Nanyu Plains, he wiped out nearly all the upper-level cultivators of the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Lin Clan who were trying to retreat and escape. From Ye Moquan down to Ye Wei, Monk Kongjian, Lin Yi, Ye Mocheng, Ye Qingquan—none of them escaped.”

Elder Miaoyi took a deep breath. “When Tianshi doesn’t strike, he remains quiet. But when he does… what a ruthless method.”

Elder Miaokong nodded silently.

At that moment, Elder Miaohui, who had been silent until now, finally spoke:

“The fortune of the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu is already set for the next several centuries. Unless a massive catastrophe occurs, no other Daoist or Buddhist sect will be able to shake it.”

His tone carried no resentment or unwillingness—just a calm statement of what had become an accepted truth.

Elder Miaoyi looked at him, surprised: “Senior Brother Miaohui...”

Elder Miaohui replied, “Back then, you and Senior Brother Abbot saw more clearly than I did.”

Elder Miaokong added, “The world is unpredictable. This sea of human suffering—we’re all just floating within it.”

Elder Miaohui nodded gently. “This time, upon returning to the mountain, I’ll have a thorough discussion with my master.”

Meeting Elder Miaokong’s eyes, he said, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother. Though my master and I had devoted ourselves to searching for Shambhala day and night, we’ve found nothing yet. Once I return to the monastery and meet with him, I’ll bring all relevant scriptures and artifacts to offer to Senior Brother Abbot.”

“You’re able to let go and see things clearly—that’s admirable,” Elder Miaokong said, pressing his palms together in respect.

Elder Miaoyi then asked softly, “Senior Brother Miaohui, what’s the current situation with Shambhala?”

Shambhala, like Mount Sumeru, is one of the Nine Heavens among the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Legend has it that it's under the control of Buddhist cultivators.

But thousands of years ago, like many other realms, Shambhala became cut off from the mortal world.

To this day, no clear message or sign has ever emerged.

Mount Sumeru’s return had given Buddhist cultivators in Tang’s mortal realm a glimmer of hope.

But up to now, there still hasn't been any solid information about Shambhala.

Elder Miaohui answered, “Though my master and I have been searching, we haven’t had much luck. We don’t know when Shambhala might return to this world, and we’ve yet to find any way in or out.”

“What we do know is this: unlike Mount Sumeru, Shambhala is likely governed by successors of the Zen lineage, rather than the Mudra lineage. The details, however, remain unclear.”

Elder Miaoyi nodded lightly. “I see.”

Elder Miaokong then said, “Let’s focus first on helping the imperial court clean up the last loose ends with the Chu Clan here.”

Elder Miaoyi added, “While the Chu Elder was on his way to Luoyang, the Suzhou Chu Clan sent a branch of their family out to sea. They’re currently missing.”

“I’ve also heard people from Cangzhou and Qingzhou have taken to the sea as well,” Elder Miaohui added.

For clans like the Suzhou Chu Clan or Cangzhou’s Ye Clan, once the Luoyang battle began, whether they won or lost, they had contingency plans in place—just in case.

Now that “just in case” has truly happened.

And it turned out to be the worst-case scenario.

“It’s no surprise that the Chu Clan had such a plan,” Elder Miaokong said, looking into the distance.

“The seas turn into mulberry fields, and the tides of fate surge on. In such times, one can only go with the flow. Defying it… is close to impossible.”

---

Sea of Land, the Seven Abyss beneath the sky begins to tremble.

All cultivators from Great Tang's mortal realm are forcibly ejected by the realm, leaving only the native Jiuli people who’ve long lived there.

Tang Xiaotang turned north, heading for the Tianli portal in the Eastern Sea.

She left the remaining aftermath to Chu Yu, Zhang Mu, Chu Kun, and the sects of the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect.

Sacred Lords Hu Hengyuan of Yin Mountain Grotto (Gu Mastery) and Feng Gui of the Reincarnation Abyss (Cursing Lineage), upon exiting the Sea of Land, were stunned to discover that the mortal realm of Great Tang had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.

“Mount Longhu’s Tianshi has reached Daoist Ninth Heaven Great Ascension,” Hu Hengyuan murmured. “The Tianshi Mansion now holds three cultivators at Great Ascension…”

Feng Gui added, “But that Tianshi’s breakthrough is completely different from anyone else’s.”

Hu Hengyuan fell silent.

Zhang Teng, Fang Jingsheng, Chu Xiuyuan, Ye Yan, Ye Moquan—all powerful, famous figures—had all fallen to a single person.

The outcome was simply chilling.

Had it been Empress Zhang Wantong using her methods in Yunzhou, or the combined might of the entire Tianshi Mansion, such a result wouldn’t have been surprising.

But it had been just Lei Zhongyun alone?

“Will the Tianshi Mansion replace Great Tang?” Hu Hengyuan asked, gazing north.

Feng Gui replied, “Judging by Tianshi Lei’s past conflicts with the Mortal Daoist Nation and people like Huang Xuanpu, it doesn’t seem like he has any intention to completely dominate the Divine Lands.”

Hu Hengyuan asked, “Maybe Lei Jun has no such ambitions. But in the future, if an imperial decree and a Tianshi edict conflict within Tang territory… whose word will the people follow?”

Feng Gui answered, “We’ll see when the time comes.”

Hu Hengyuan gave a quiet nod.

Though the Southern Wasteland isn’t currently under Tang’s jurisdiction, every move the Tianshi Mansion makes from now on will also influence the Wasteland…

“I just received word—Li Tianqing has slain the Nine-Winged Golden Centipede,” Feng Gui said.

Following Lei Jun’s dazzling achievements, Li Tianqing slaying a Ninth Heaven-level demon beast like the Nine-Winged Golden Centipede somehow felt less earthshaking.

But for Hu Hengyuan, who was still in the Southern Wasteland, this was highly relevant.

Li Tianqing had just broken through to the Ninth Heaven himself.

And then immediately faced off against a demon beast equivalent to a human Ninth Heaven cultivator—and won.

In any other era, such a feat would be considered dazzling beyond compare.

The Nine-Winged Golden Centipede was especially adept at flight and escape, cunning and vicious by nature.

To be precise, Li Tianqing had not just trapped it—he had killed it.

His talent and attainments in the Divine Dance Lineage of the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect were truly rare across ancient and modern times.

“He took the first step. I wonder who will follow?” Feng Gui said. “Perhaps Xing Feng of the Blood River Sect, or maybe… Junior Brother Sun Li?”

Hu Hengyuan turned his head to look at Feng Gui upon hearing this.

Xing Feng, known alongside Li Tianqing as a genius of the Witch Sect, needed no further introduction.

His methods were entirely different from most cultivators of the Blood River Sect throughout history—not only did he not delight in killing, he rarely participated in or even approached scenes of slaughter.

Yet, he still rose to his current height, advancing even faster than Wei Anchang had in his prime.

This time, with fate and circumstance intertwining, Li Tianqing was absent due to the appearance of Yuan Shanji, allowing Xing Feng to enter the Land of the Deep Sea.

There, he battled and slew many of the Nine Li people and even killed Yuan Shanji in a fierce confrontation.

Given the brutal war in the Land of the Deep Sea, the toll it took on Xing Feng was difficult to estimate.

But compared to Xing Feng, another person might concern Feng Gui, the Holy Master of the Reincarnation Abyss, even more—

His fellow disciple, Sun Li.

Sun Li’s actions were elusive and unpredictable, his whereabouts always a mystery—even Feng Gui couldn’t get a read on him.

Now, his strength had clearly surpassed Feng Gui’s.

Even though both were still at the Eighth Heaven Realm, the title of the top expert in the Reincarnation Abyss had already changed hands.

Aside from Gepo Mountain, which remained relatively calm, such developments within the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect often signaled an impending storm.

What would Sun Li do next?

Feng Gui remained silent. Hu Hengyuan didn’t ask further.

He simply recalled an old saying from the northern Han people:

“The waves behind push the waves ahead.”

Wei Anchang and Sang Lu had both fallen. Zong Han vanished like a stray dog.

In their place, Sun Li, Xing Feng, and Li Tianqing had risen, one after another.

Who would be the next to be drowned by the tide?

Hu Hengyuan said nothing for a long while.

---

Li Tianqing was now at the ruins of Gepo Mountain’s ancestral land, sealed after the gateway to the Land of the Deep Sea had been shut.

He followed old customs, performing a ritual dance of blessing and mourning to honor the memory of former Holy Master Sang Lu.

After the dance, Li Tianqing turned to Xing Feng and said solemnly, “Thank you.”

Though they had known each other for many years and often helped one another, it was rare for him to offer such a formal word of gratitude.

Xing Feng lightly shook his head. “You simply weren’t present. If you had been, taking down Yuan Shanji would’ve been even easier.”

He smiled and added, “By the way, congratulations. On your very first step into the Ninth Heaven Realm, you killed a great demon like the Nine-Winged Golden Centipede—that carries even more weight than Yuan Shanji.”

Li Tianqing shook his head. “For me, it certainly wasn’t easy. But compared to the Tianshi of the North, I still fall far short.”

Xing Feng raised an eyebrow. “Oh? How so?”

Although he had also come from the Land of the Deep Sea, due to the particular nature of the Blood River Sect, Xing Feng—despite his restraint from killing—found it hard to interact normally with other human cultivators. They’d parted ways right after the battle.

Thus, Xing Feng wasn’t familiar with the current northern situation.

Li Tianqing, having remained aboveground and kept in contact with Wen Xi, the new Holy Master of Gepo Mountain, had picked up some word.

He held out a hand, spreading five fingers. “I only fought a Nine-Winged Golden Centipede, and it nearly got away. But the Tianshi of Mount Longhu, who just ascended to the Daoist Great Ascension Realm of the Ninth Heaven, went north to Zhongzhou and Cangzhou, and in a single day, killed five cultivators of the Ninth Heaven Realm!”

“Oh?”

Xing Feng was startled. “Five?”

Li Tianqing replied, “In Luoyang, Zhongzhou, he killed Zhang Teng, Fang Jingsheng, Chu Xiuyuan, and Ye Yan. Then in Cangzhou, he finished off Ye Moquan.”

Xing Feng asked, “So in Luoyang, he fought four at once?”

Li Tianqing shook his head quickly. “Word is it was a sequential battle, not all at once. Still, that’s impressive enough to earn anyone’s respect.”

Having just fought a fierce battle against the Nine-Winged Golden Centipede, Li Tianqing knew better than anyone how drained he was, even though he ultimately won using powerful ritual arrays.

As for that Tianshi, even if the battles in Luoyang and Cangzhou were separate, the fact that he consecutively slew four top experts in Luoyang alone was terrifying.

Li Tianqing thought about it for a long time, wondering how he would have handled the same scenario.

No answer came.

Before him, Xing Feng seemed equally lost in thought.

He was currently at the peak of the Eighth Heaven, not yet in the Ninth.

Still, he could roughly imagine a battle against four other cultivators at the same level.

Given that Chu Xiuyuan and Fang Jingsheng were rumored to be slightly stronger than Lei Jun, Xing Feng would have to push himself even harder to match such a feat.

After a long silence, he exhaled deeply and smiled. “Impressive. Truly impressive.”

He looked at Li Tianqing and said, “But considering his record even before reaching the Ninth Heaven, it’s not all that surprising.”

Li Tianqing nodded, then asked, “You okay?”

He meant whether Xing Feng would be shaken by this and risk a disturbance in his cultivation.

The battle in the Land of the Deep Sea, even without considering the bloodshed, had already forged him in fire—it was time for him to push forward.

Between the Eighth and Ninth Heavens, lay the formidable Heavenly Chasm Tribulation.

“Stop worrying. Don’t jinx me.”

Xing Feng chuckled and cursed, “If something like that could shake me, I’d have broken down when you surpassed me, not now.”

Li Tianqing laughed as well. “Let’s go. I’ll stand guard while you break through.”

A tall, young Daoist clad in a nine-colored radiant robe, crowned with a Primordial Crown, and bearing a White Jade Seal at his waist appeared before the crowd, descending gracefully to the ground.

“Elder Xu, Brother Ji,”

Lei Jun greeted them calmly, as usual.

Xu Duan looked off toward the distant Fang Clan Ancestral Grounds in Jingxiang.

“Is there still any obstacle over in Jingxiang?”

Lei Jun replied, “General Shangguan has personally taken action, so there should be no issue. I've come this time to investigate the matter of Datong.”

He didn’t hide anything and offered a simple explanation of the situation.

Xu Duan and Ji Chuan exchanged glances. “That is indeed something worth paying attention to.”

After a brief conversation, Lei Jun bid them farewell and ventured deeper into the Fang Clan’s ancestral grounds in Jingxiang.

Shangguan Yunbo had already been waiting for Lei Jun.

The earlier descent of the Purple Lightning Clouds from the sky had also been witnessed by those here.

At this moment, the final clean-up phase at the ancestral grounds was already underway.

The key figures had been dealt with, and Shangguan Yunbo merely needed to hold the center.

By his side was Fang Yue.

When Lei Jun arrived, the two immediately stepped forward. One cupped his fists, the other bowed:

“Nine Heavens Respond to the Primordial Origin, Nine Abysses Return to Truth; Celestial Sun Reveals Righteousness, Mysterious Firmament Spreads Transformation; Doumu Embraces the Void, Assists the Profound in Embodying the Dao; Protects the People and Upholds the Law—Celestial Protector of the Dao, Lei Jun.”

“General, Ritual Chancellor Fang.”

Lei Jun returned the gesture, then stated, “I won’t take anything else. I only wish to examine any letters, to look for correspondence related to Datong.”

Shangguan Yunbo solemnly said, “This matter is critical. Thank you for your efforts, Tianshi.”

Fang Yue added, “Please, Tianshi, come this way. I’ve done some collecting and organizing of the letters, but I’m not sure which ones you’ll need. I hope this helps.”

“Thank you.”

After following Fang Yue to the designated location, Lei Jun gave a brief nod as Fang Yue excused himself and left.

The Fang Clan of Jingxiang had many bloodline descendants.

Even just the collected letters amounted to an ocean of documents.

With Fang Yue’s prior sorting, Lei Jun’s search became more manageable.

Yet he didn’t rush. Instead, he went through a large number of letters one by one, steadily building his knowledge.

Within his eyes, the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman flowed silently.

---

Datong, one of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Long ago, a branch of the Fang Clan of Jingxiang had taken root here in the mortal world, and after years of development, they had grown into a formidable force, with deep roots and towering branches.

The Fang Clan of Datong had its ancestral home at a place called Coolwind Plains, one of the most spiritually rich areas in Datong. The estate was vast, like a city unto itself.

In the central residence, the current Clan Leader Fang Xi, having bathed and dressed, entered his study.

His second son, Fang Zufeng, was already waiting.

Fang Xi sat down. “What’s the news today?”

Fang Zufeng replied, “An envoy from the State of Rong has arrived. Duke Mu seeks to arrange a marriage between his son and a girl from our clan.”

In Datong, there was a Son of Heaven.

But unlike Tianli, there were no Dragon Veins of National Fortune here.

The Son of Heaven was more of a ceremonial figure—powerless and feeble through the generations.

Datong was ruled instead by the so-called Five Prominent Clans and Sixteen States.

The Five Clans were Lin, Fang, Xiao, Han, and Su.

The Son of Heaven was little more than a symbol.

After hearing the report, Fang Xi responded calmly, “What do you think?”

“How could the Prince of Rong marry a daughter of our clan? Please have Duke Mu find another noble lady in Rong.” Fang Zufeng smiled.

Fang Xi casually waved his hand, granting him authority to handle the matter.

Fang Zufeng did not leave immediately and reported a second issue:

“Duke Wen of Xuan failed his tribulation and perished during the Heavenly Chasm Tribulation. Now both his eldest and second sons have come to court our support in their contest for succession.”

Fang Xi said, “The eldest is more capable. Support him.”

“Yes.” Fang Zufeng picked up a brush, drafted the document, and presented it to his father. Then he brought forth a tray.

On the tray were four White Jade Seals, representing the States of Rong, Ning, Xuan, and Chen among the Sixteen States of Datong.

Fang Xi picked up the seal of Xuan and stamped the document.

Fang Zufeng retrieved the paperwork and prepared to leave.

As he paused briefly, he said quietly, “Father, the Lin Clan has been acting more and more aggressively lately.”

Among the Five Clans, Lin, Fang, and Xiao each held seals to four states. The other two—Han and Su—held two each.

Clan intermarriage was common, and their disciples held official positions across the Sixteen States.

That said, the Fang Clan held dominance over Rong, Ning, Xuan, and Chen, with many members in high positions.

The shift had come recently when the Lin Clan’s Leader had achieved Fifth-Level Perfection of the Ninth Heaven Realm in Confucian cultivation, completing the Five Classics, and was now rising rapidly in power.

This explained their bolder behavior.

Fang Xi made no comment, instead asking, “Did you read the letter your elder brother sent from the mortal world?”

In Datong, when the clans mentioned "the mortal world," they generally meant the Han Dynasty’s mortal realm.

“Yes,” Fang Zufeng replied. “I’ve read it. The Han Emperor is incompetent, but the Crown Prince shows promise. Meanwhile, the Buddhist and Daoist factions have become increasingly chaotic.”

Fang Xi mused, “The spiritual energy in the mortal realm has surged for over a hundred years. The number of high-level cultivators has grown, and with them, unnecessary ambitions. This is the seed of disaster.”

“Yes.”

“Go now. Escort the envoys from Rong and Xuan out.”

Fang Zufeng bowed and withdrew.

But he quickly returned. “Father, we’ve received an urgent message from the branch in the mortal world—specifically, from the world ruled by a dynasty called Tang.”

Fang Xi nodded. “Yes, the Tang realm is similar in era to the Han, but its history diverges greatly.”

But as he read the letter, his expression hardened.

Fang Zufeng was startled.

He had expected trouble from the Fang Clan of Jingxiang in the Tang Realm, possibly some mishap that caused the Void Gateway to Datong to fail to open.

Fang Xi had mentally prepared for that, so he shouldn’t have been shocked.

Yet Fang Zufeng clearly saw a brief moment when Fang Xi’s fingers clenched—creasing the letter.

Just for a moment.

The letter remained intact.

Fang Xi regained his composure and handed the letter to his son.

Though braced, Fang Zufeng turned pale upon reading it:

“F-Father… is this real?!”

The letter was from a Fang Clan disciple who had escaped the Tang realm after their ancestral land was destroyed, its contents brief and urgent, containing just one line:

“Lei Jun of the Tianshi Mansion has ascended to the Great Ascension Realm. Ninth Uncle, the Ye and Chu families, and two others—all perished. Ancestral land lost.”

Fang Zufeng knew the current head of the Fang Clan of Jingxiang in the Tang realm was Fang Jingsheng, the ninth-ranked among his generation.

The mention of “Ninth Uncle” could only refer to Fang Jingsheng, the only Ninth Heaven Confucian scholar of that branch.

And the other four? Surely all Ninth Heaven experts from the Ye and Chu Clans.

And all dead?

By whom? And why?

Because Lei Jun ascended to the Daoist Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Realm and broke the deadlock, leading to their deaths?

If someone like the Tang Emperor, known to be a perfected Ninth Heaven cultivator, had made a move, Fang Zufeng wouldn’t have been this shocked.

But the letter clearly implied that it was Lei Jun, just newly ascended to the Ninth Heaven.

First Level of Great Ascension.

He should have been weaker than Fang Jingsheng.

Let alone five Ninth Heaven cultivators?

“Father, could the letter be incomplete or lacking details?” Fang Zufeng asked, steadying himself.

Fang Xi replied, “Not from what I see.”

Fang Zufeng lowered his gaze. “Could it be that these five were holding off other enemies, and Lei Jun’s sudden breakthrough tipped the scales?”

Fang Xi remained silent.

After a while, he ordered:

“From the previous letters from the Tang realm, I remember two mentions of Lei Jun. Retrieve them.”

Though he had already memorized them, Fang Xi still wanted the originals.

They were found quickly:

One stated: Lei Jun, now Tianshi of the Tianshi Mansion, had once slain a wounded Ninth Heaven Peak Daoist of the Alchemy Sect before assuming his post.

The other: In a battle against a monk from Sumeru, Lei Jun, at Eighth Heaven, had killed another Ninth Heaven Daoist, and later assisted the previous Tianshi Tang Xiaotang in killing the Sumeru Vajra Division Leader, also Ninth Heaven Peak, even turning the tide of battle in Sumeru itself.

Those two letters were much more detailed and calmer than this latest one.

Fang Xi read them all and, after deep contemplation, solemnly handed the three letters to his son.

“Send invitations to the other four clans. We must meet. Copy these three letters and send them to your elder brother in the Han mortal world.”

Fang Zufeng accepted the orders solemnly. “Yes, Father!”

---

"Yes, my Khan."

Morigen didn’t leave right away. After a brief pause, he said, "My Khan, I heard that Master Banjiu from the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru is currently over by Bailu."

Zholigetu replied, "That’s perfect."

"Understood," Morigen responded.

…………………

At this moment, the Tianli Realm of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths was engulfed in flames of war.

The situation in the Xiaoming Court of Tianli was hanging by a thread.

The void gateway connecting the Mortal Realm of the Ming Dynasty and the Tianli Realm was located in the southwest.

A prominent official, Gao Ming, bearing the rank of Minister of War, had been appointed Junior Guardian to the Crown Prince and Supreme Commander of the Southwest Campaign.

Though his hair was white, Lord Gao had a lean face and sharp spirit. With his central army, he had already entered Tianli.

"My lord, about the Young Emperor..."

An official beside him had just begun to speak when Gao Ming swept a glance his way.

The official immediately corrected himself, "The traitorous ministers and rebels who act in the name of the Young Emperor have withdrawn once again."

Gao Ming nodded. "Good."

The official continued, "However, from the False Tang side, a new expert has emerged—a cultivator of the Talismanic Branch of Daoism, with a Ninth Heaven cultivation level."

Gao Ming frowned. "That Talismanic Branch again..."

He recalled the female Daoist priestess who had caused quite a stir in Ming territory not long ago.

"This one’s also a female priestess," the official reported, "and is referred to by the False Tang cultivators as State Preceptor."

Gao Ming snorted. "A charlatan who manipulates hearts and minds."

The official added, "Apparently, the Talismanic Branch indeed wields great influence over there."

Gao Ming replied, "In those uncivilized lands, the people desperately need guidance from sages and righteous teachings, or else they’ll fall prey to deception."

As the two conversed, a heavily armored general arrived before them.

He knelt and saluted. "My lord."

"Speak standing," Gao Ming said with a nod.

"Thank you, my lord." The general stood upright.

"Any latest military reports?" Gao Ming asked.

"Everything on our side is proceeding according to plan. As for the False Tang, we’ve received new intelligence."

Gao Ming asked, "Go on."

The general stood respectfully. "Another Ninth Heaven Daoist from the Talismanic Branch has appeared on their side—making it the third one."

Gao Ming’s expression darkened slightly. "Three Ninth Heaven cultivators from the same sect?"

"Yes," the general confirmed. "Unlike the previous two female priests, this one is a male Daoist and is said to be the current Sect Leader of Mount Longhu under the False Tang."

The title "Tianshi" was taboo in the Ming realm.

Anyone who dared mention it would be quickly rebuked: ‘When has Heaven ever needed a teacher?’ And the matter would end there.

"This Daoist... did he just ascend to the Ninth Heaven?" Gao Ming asked.

"Based on current information, yes."

Seeing Gao Ming’s slight relief, the general hesitated before continuing, "But it’s said that soon after reaching the Ninth Heaven, he killed several Ninth Heaven family heads from the False Tang’s noble clans..."

"Impossible!" the official beside Gao Ming burst out.

"You report unconfirmed rumors as fact?" Gao Ming looked displeased.

The general quickly bowed. "You are right, my lord. I spoke out of turn."

Gao Ming turned his gaze toward the Tianli Realm and, after a pause, said, "Investigate this matter thoroughly."

Xu Yuanzhen had caused quite a stir within the Ming realm, though her direct confrontations had been limited.

Still, even from glimpses, her strength was clearly formidable.

And now, this female priestess in Tianli...

And what of this newly-emerged Daoist from the False Tang Mortal Realm?

"Have we found out his name?" Gao Ming asked.

"Yes, my lord. He is Lei Jun, also called Lei Chongyun, with the Daoist name Xuanxiaozi of Mount Longhu."

…………………

As Lei Jun had told Shangguan Yunbo and Fang Yue, his journey to the Fang Clan Ancestral Grounds in Jingxiang was solely for collecting various letters, especially those concerning Datong.

He took only the documents he needed. After bidding farewell to Shangguan Yunbo and Fang Yue, he returned directly to the Ancestral Sect of Mount Longhu.

After the Battle of Luoyang, Lei Jun’s name spread across the world, and so too did the fame of the Tianshi Mansion.

Due to various connections, part of Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang’s influence had also rubbed off on him.

Lei Jun made no special comment on this.

Most of his time afterward was spent at his sect.

The Tianshi Mansion showed no signs of aggressive expansion. Still, their mere existence meant many matters within the Tang Mortal Realm could not sidestep them.

As usual, Lei Jun handled the sect’s daily affairs and continued his own cultivation.

Thanks to his exceptional bone structure and comprehension, his foundation in the Ninth Heaven realm was more stable than most, his mana more profound, needing little time for nurturing.

But there were other matters requiring his focus.

Each day, aside from studying letters from the Lin Clan of Youzhou and the Fang Clan of Jingxiang, Lei Jun also dedicated time to refining Daoist artifacts.

First, using resources from the Ye Clan of Cangzhou and the Lin Clan of Youzhou, he found an efficient way to restore the Tianshi Robe and Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle.

With his own breakthrough to the Ninth Heaven, the Treasure Mantle would be further reforged after restoration.

Before that, Lei Jun turned his attention to his old companion—the Upper Purity Jade Celestial Bamboo.

He invoked the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder and the Nine Abyss True Flame, forming a fusion of heavenly thunder and earth fire to reforge this foundational artifact.

The eight-segment bamboo staff, shimmering in purple and golden light, began to transform under the countless talismans Lei Jun infused into it.

It gained a ninth segment.

Lei Jun didn't stop there. He unfolded his Great Ascension Domain.

Within it, he introduced Profound Darkness Dust—a substance capable of refining Nether Energy—into the forging process.

In tandem, the Invisible Nine Heavens Heart Thunder manifested.

As the two forces interwove, the bamboo staff pulsed with energy.

Dark streaks appeared on its surface—then faded with the soundless thunder. This repeated nine times.

In the end, the black marks vanished for good.

Aside from gaining a ninth segment, the staff seemed unchanged.

But his senior disciple Zhuo Huajie never dared covet the staff again, which Lei Jun found amusing.

Chu Kun returned from the Southern Wasteland, bearing items. "Too bad I couldn’t get you the Thousand-Facet Crystal Jade, but you did strike gold elsewhere."

Lei Jun smiled. "I found what you needed."

He revealed the Earth-Surge Star Essence.

Chu Kun, who had heard about this earlier, shouted with joy. "I’ve been waiting for this!"

Tang Xiaotang was equally thrilled upon hearing about the Voidbreaking Primordial Stone, though she told Lei Jun to hold onto it until she returned from Tianli.

Lei Jun, unhurried, continued his plans.

After the Celestial Bamboo, he brought out several materials:

• The freshly acquired Thousand-Facet Crystal Jade

• The Celestial River Star Sand, a gift from the Pure Yang Palace

• The Ganges Sand, sourced from Mount Sumeru

These three spiritual items formed the core of his next artifact. With other heavenly treasures, he began a new round of artifact crafting.

This time, instead of the usual thunder and fire fusion, he used Heavenly Sun True Fire and Nine Abyss True Flame.

At the center, he placed the Grand Celestial Mirror, then slowly added the core ingredients.

One crystal, one star sand, and one Ganges grain per set—backed by auxiliary materials.

After a long refining process, a small mirror emerged, its light flowing with ease.

Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction and made another... and another...

Thanks to his innate comprehension, every detail was executed flawlessly, minimizing material waste.

One by one, dozens of mirrors formed—each resembling a smaller Grand Celestial Mirror.

When the last of the crystal jade was consumed, the process concluded.

In the sea of red-gold and green flames, nearly a hundred mirrors lay tempering.

The original Grand Celestial Mirror now floated out of the flames.

Lei Jun held it beside the new mirrors, constantly adjusting and refining.

The many mirror surfaces shimmered brightly.

Soon, beams of light began to flow between them—linking, weaving, forming a net-like structure.

Lei Jun observed quietly and nodded. "From now on, this shall be called the Starry River Heavenly Net."

He left the net to temper in the flames.

Then he began condensing a Mysterious Firmament Five Thunder Talisman—dark thunder seeping out, eroding all it touched.

After a moment of quiet study, he put the Mysterious Firmament Celestial Lightning away.

"Seems like I’ll need Little Senior Sister’s Pure Yang Celestial Thunder to finish this one."

He looked toward the east. "I wonder if there’ll be any traditional performances."

Tianshi Lei had not intervened in the Tianli War.

But he didn’t believe Tianli would collapse in one blow.

Not because he doubted Xu Yuanzhen or Tang Xiaotang—

But because the Ming Dynasty might be the weak link.

And sure enough, not long after, news arrived from Tianli—

The Ming forces had retreated.

Reportedly, their commander—Gao—was under such political pressure at court that he had to return to the capital and face the emperor personally.