Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 390: Three Swords Destroy the Aristocratic Family

"Did that ritual just now feel... off to you?"

Standing beside Lei Jun, Tang Xiaotang frowned.

Lei Jun's brows furrowed too. “...Blood ritual?”

Xu Yuanzhen’s expression didn’t change. “It was a blood ritual, no doubt.”

Tang Xiaotang looked surprised. “So they’re in league with those evil sects from the Yellow Springs?”

Lei Jun replied, “They see us as invaders and themselves as leaders uniting Datong to resist foreign aggression. That makes certain things feel like necessary sacrifices.”

“As for what we’re actually doing here, or whether the people of Datong even agree to be sacrificed for them... that’s become a side note.”

His face remained expressionless as he stared at the world cloaked in smoke and fire. “I can more or less understand where they're coming from, but... it’s honestly hard not to snap.”

Tang Xiaotang scoffed. “Sure, the aristocratic clans in Great Tang are annoying, but they’ve never gone this far.”

“The Five Prominent Clans have ruled over Datong for ages. Since the very beginning, they’ve basically been the masters of this land—both its emperor and the mortal world are in the palm of their hands. Naturally, their way of thinking differs from the outside world.”

Lei Jun turned to Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang. “Senior Sisters, allow me to head out first. I’m going to the void portal connecting Datong to the Han human realm to make some arrangements.”

Xu Yuanzhen nodded. “Go ahead.”

Tang Xiaotang, meanwhile, stared at the smoke-filled world ahead and sneered. “Perfect. Let’s shut the door and beat the dog.”

Lei Jun might’ve said he’d go ahead, but Tang Xiaotang had already leapt off the small boat with a single step. “Do as you please, Lei Jun. I’m not waiting around. I’m starting the party in Datong!”

“Best of luck, Little Senior Sister,” Lei Jun replied, his eyes spinning with the Heavenly Ground-Through Talisman.

As the talisman activated, an invisible force connected to the Celestial Mirror of Jade Purity and All Heavens he had left behind in the Great Tang realm.

The mirror hovered high above the Tang realm, its light swirling gently—subtle, almost imperceptible.

And yet, that ethereal light now seemed capable of piercing through countless layers of void, shining directly into Datong.

The swirling light projected images of Datong, even through the thick smoke, reaching far and wide.

While he was in the Tang realm, Lei Jun couldn’t view scenes inside Datong due to the void barriers—but now that he was here, he used the talisman to successfully sync with the mirror.

Though the mirror remained in the Great Tang, it had been reforged with rare treasures like the Tenfold Jade of Miluo and Stellar Bridge Crystals, allowing Lei Jun to observe vast distances within Datong.

Cross-referencing intercepted letters between the Datong Lin Clan, Fang Clan, and others, he compared the texts with current topography. Soon, he made some discoveries.

“The ancestral land of the Five Prominent Clans... the Fang Clan of Jingxiang is currently overwhelmed by the smoke. We can ignore them for now.”

Lei Jun pointed out the basics to Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang. “The Lin Clan should be over there, the Xiao Clan this way. Further south is the Han Clan’s ancestral land. Downstream from there, the Su Clan’s territory. Oh, and the so-called capital of the local emperor is over that way.”

“I remember you said the current top fighter in Datong is from the Lin Clan of Youzhou?”

Tang Xiaotang let out a loud laugh and turned into a streak of light, heading straight for the Lin Clan’s ancestral land. “He’s mine!”

Her voice still echoed as she vanished beyond the sky.

Xu Yuanzhen said casually, “Lin, Fang, and Xiao are about the same. But the Han and Su Clans have declined for years in the human realm. Didn’t expect them to still hold their own here in Datong. I’ll check them out.”

With that, she too left the boat. Dark thunderclouds drifted overhead—seemingly slow, but she disappeared in an instant.

Lei Jun bid her farewell, then stowed away the boat. Donning his Treasure Mantle of the Eight Sceneries of Supreme Purity, he too vanished into the world of Datong.

---

Fang Clan Ancestral Grounds in Datong — Qingliang Plain

The place was in complete ruin.

Thick smoke had backflowed here, nearly solidifying into a physical wall, sealing off the Fang Clan’s ancestral land.

The Fang Clan's ancestral rituals and Confucian rites originated from the same source as those of the Fang Clan in Jingxiang under both the Great Tang and the Han realms.

Though the passage of time and environmental shifts in Datong caused some divergence, their core traditions remained aligned.

Even the construction and scholarly heritage of the ancestral land mirrored each other.

In the human realm, the Fang Clan held sway over Jingxiang—a crossroads of the Nine Provinces, a convergence of vital earth veins, with land and water routes branching in all directions.

Their ancestral estate was not only sturdy but interwoven with the arcane mysteries of the void.

If ever attacked, they could hold their ground. But if push came to shove, the Fang Clan could evacuate using the void pathways, abandoning land to preserve their people.

But in the Great Tang, their fortunes crumbled.

Clan Leader Fang Jingsheng had led many experts—along with the clan treasure Spring-Autumn Brush—to the Imperial Capital Luoyang, only to fall in the Phantom Capital.

Then Zhang Hui lured them in and detonated the ancestral lands of the three major clans through connections between their heritage and the national dragon veins.

The Fang Clan of Jingxiang never got the chance to use their void-linked estate—they were wiped out before that. The resulting Qi backlash even harmed those who remained behind, like Fang Huansheng and Fang Zhu.

By the time Shangguan Yunbo led a team from Luoyang to Jingxiang, he found the place nearly undefended.

And now, the Fang Clan of Datong was facing the same calamity.

Their brilliant void-linked heritage didn’t help. On the contrary, it made them the prime target of the Iron-Blooded Loyal Souls Grand Ritual’s backlash.

Clan leader Fang Xi took the brunt of the assault, his vision going black.

“Father!” his son, Fang Zufeng, rushed forward in shock to support him.

“I’m fine,” Fang Xi grunted, shaking him off.

Protected by the Nine Provinces Brush, he wasn’t seriously injured. “Go find Yuanfeng!”

As he spoke, Fang Xi rushed to the clan shrine and knelt. “Your unworthy descendant Fang Xi begs to invoke the Nine Provinces Brush!”

A brilliant scholarly aura surged from the shrine, radiating in multiple directions.

A black ink brush flew out—Nine Provinces Brush, the clan’s ancestral treasure, crafted when this branch of the Fang Clan first entered Datong, refined with rare local resources, and worshipped for generations.

It shared philosophical resonance with the Spring-Autumn Brush of Jingxiang.

As the current clan leader, Fang Xi relied on it to resist the ritual’s backlash and barely stabilize their territory.

But the choking smoke still engulfed the ancestral grounds, as if doomsday had arrived.

While Fang Xi did his best, Fang Zufeng ran toward the inner courtyard.

Midway, he encountered a tall, thin young man with a serious expression.

“Uncle Sixteen!” Fang Zufeng greeted with a deep bow. “Father is requesting your presence!”

The tall youth nodded calmly and headed to the shrine.

“Sixteenth Brother, I never expected your reclusion to end this way—no grand debut, only a calamity upon our clan. I’m ashamed,” Fang Xi sighed as he saw the man approach.

This was Fang Xing, courtesy name Yuanfeng.

He was young, but his status was high, and he was hailed as the brightest scholar of his generation. The whole clan placed great hopes on him.

Other noble families and even the rulers of Datong’s Sixteen Nations had their eyes on Fang Yuanfeng.

He had already reached the Eighth Heaven Realm of Confucianism, and many speculated on when he would achieve Ninth Heaven, attaining mastery over the mortal realm.

Currently, only one such Ninth-Heaven master existed in Datong—Lin Clan Patriarch Lin Zheng, making the Lin Clan increasingly dominant.

In contrast, Fang Xi and Xiao Clan leader Xiao Jing were both at Ninth Heaven, Fourth Layer.

Han Clan’s Han Tian was at Third Layer, Su Clan’s Su Guang at Second.

So, the Five Prominent Clans each had a Ninth-Heaven Confucian master.

Now, Fang Xing had secretly broken through too.

Two Ninth-Heaven scholars in one family.

But Fang Xing had kept a low profile, continuing his studies even after his breakthrough. The clan remained tight-lipped, and the outside world could only guess.

None of them expected their hidden ace to be revealed so soon—and under such dire circumstances.

But fate left them no choice.

“You flatter me, Brother.” Fang Xing saluted and assisted Fang Xi. “Let’s first stabilize the estate.”

Whether they chose to stand or flee, the Fang Clan had to dispel the suffocating smoke sealing off their grounds.

The ritual was a combined effort of the Five Clans. Their energy remained interlinked.

As Fang Xing and Fang Xi, both Ninth-Heaven scholars, joined forces to resist the backlash—

—members of the other four clans immediately sensed it.

“That must be Fang Yuanfeng. He made another breakthrough.”

In the Xiao Clan ancestral land, with Xiao Jing away in the Han realm, Elder Xiao Yuan led the defense.

A subordinate murmured, “So they couldn’t keep Fang Xing hidden anymore.”

Xiao Yuan said gravely, “Because the enemy is far stronger than expected.”

Everyone fell silent.

They were holding the Xiao ancestral land against the ritual’s rebound.

Thanks to the Fang Clan taking the brunt, their pressure was slightly less—but still overwhelming.

Especially without Xiao Jing present, the Xiao Clan’s situation was razor-thin.

With many ritual artifacts, they held a grand rite in their ancestral shrine.

At its center floated a longsword, lightly vibrating—a core component of the rite, pushing back the black smoke.

The sword stormed outward with wild desert winds—Ocean Vast Sword, their clan treasure, refined in Datong, distinct from the Hao Ran Sword of Tang’s Xiao Clan, but steeped in frontier heritage and Confucian flair.

Though Xiao Jing had gone to the Han realm, she had not taken the sword with her, honoring the ancestral rule never to move it lightly.

Now, that choice was proving lifesaving.

“Even so, this calamity won’t be easy,” Xiao Yuan said grimly.

The Five Clans had poured everything into the Iron-Blooded Loyal Souls Grand Ritual, tapping into Datong’s spiritual veins, with countless martyrs named on the Loyalty Roll.

And now the enemy breached it so easily?

“Inform the Clan Leader of everything,” Xiao Yuan ordered. “Luckily, we’re not as sealed off as the Fang Clan. We need not only to send word but dispatch a group to head for the Han Dynasty directly.”

Everyone stiffened.

That meant Xiao Yuan was not optimistic—he was preparing for the worst, trying to ensure some descendants survived.

Words caught in their throats as they gazed at the black smoke above.

They said nothing—and rushed off to follow orders.

While Han Tian and Su Guang were both shaken, Lin Clan Patriarch Lin Zheng, the strongest cultivator in all of Datong, had no time for fear or doubt.

He calmed his mind, concealed all emotion, and looked silently toward the outskirts of the Lin Clan ancestral land.

There, hovering midair, was a tall priestess in a Purple-Gold Daoist Robe, her figure now clearly visible as she gazed down upon the Lin Clan grounds.

---

At that moment, Lei Jun, cloaked in his Treasure Mantle of the Eight Sceneries of Supreme Purity, activated his Heavenly Travel Talisman, gliding through Datong like a phantom—undetectable to all.

Though the Five Prominent Clans of Datong were currently besieged by the backlash of the grand ritual, most of them, unlike the Fang Clan, would recover quickly thanks to their deep foundations and resourcefulness.

Sooner or later, someone might attempt to flee toward the Han Realm.

Likewise, changes in the Han Realm were likely. Lei Jun didn’t need to speculate—he could easily guess that the major powers of the Han side were already watching Datong’s situation closely.

Thus, he sped toward the void portal linking Datong and the Han Realm.

By remaining hidden, he ensured Lin Zheng and others would mistakenly believe they could hold their ground, delaying a coordinated breakout.

Though moving swiftly, Lei Jun used his Heavenly Ground-Through Talisman to take in a general view of Datong along the way.

The Iron-Blooded Loyal Souls Grand Ritual had caused unrest among commoners under the rule of the Sixteen Nations—panic and disorder now spread throughout the land.

Many high-ranking officials in these nations were from the Five Prominent Clans, which had previously helped them coordinate and exert influence.

If the ritual had succeeded, these networks would have made domination even easier.

But now, with the Five Clans' ancestral lands under attack, the upper ranks of the Sixteen Nations were beginning to waver.

Political undercurrents churned across the map.

The clan-born officials stationed in various states were under mounting pressure.

Lei Jun observed all this in silence, revealing himself to no one.

Eventually, he arrived at the void portal between Datong and the Han Realm.

A government office, operating in the emperor's name, had been set up here to guard the gate. Those on duty were elite elders and young disciples from the Five Clans.

Lei Jun noticed that people were already starting to arrive—some likely trying to send urgent messages to the Han side.

Strictly speaking, they had not yet confirmed how many had come from the Tang Realm, but the fact that Datong was under attack needed to be reported as soon as possible.

Only... someone had gotten here faster than they did.

Several clan elders stared in shock as a tall, broad-shouldered young Daoist—draped in a Nine-Colored Radiant Robe—passed by them with hands behind his back, overtaking them in an instant.

At first, they froze in confusion.

Then, fear struck.

The young man’s attire was all too familiar.

Some had even seen the Tianshi of Mount Longhu from the Han Realm with their own eyes.

But this wasn’t Ji Daocheng, the current sect leader of the Han branch of Mount Longhu.

There was only one other person he could be—

The one whose name had shaken all of Datong recently, but whose face few had ever seen—

Lei Jun, Tianshi of Great Tang’s Mount Longhu!

While the others were still frozen with disbelief, the tall young Daoist stepped into the void portal, leaving only a tall, proud silhouette behind.

The crowd grew even more stunned.

Some hesitated, rooted to the spot.

Others, unable to resist, followed him into the portal.

Yet the moment they stepped through, darkness swallowed everything.

A vast cosmos of stars enveloped them, sealing the area around the Datong side of the portal.

Lei Jun himself was still inside the inter-realm passageway leading to the Han Realm.

Having refined the Twin-Lotus of the Grand Void, he had ascended to the Great Ascension Realm of the Ninth Heaven, transforming his Divine Court Inner Cosmos into a true Dao Domain of Great Ascension, now filled with wonder and depth.

Unlike other Ninth-Heaven cultivators of the Talismanic Branch, Lei Jun possessed two completely independent Dao Domains that could split or merge at will.

Moreover, unlike most others, he did not need to remain inside his own Dao Domain to maintain it.

Thus, while one Dao Domain stayed behind in Datong, Lei Jun continued on into the Han Realm.

Upon arrival, he slowed his pace.

His Celestial Mirror of Jade Purity and All Heavens, which remained in the Tang Realm, could only peer into Datong. It couldn’t penetrate two layers of void to reach the Han side.

So Lei Jun activated his Heavenly Ground-Through Talisman, fully channeling its power to survey the portal’s opposite end.

As expected, he spotted several figures.

Martial cultivators at the Eighth Heaven.

Confucian scholars at the Eighth Heaven.

And Daoist cultivators, also at the Eighth Heaven.

Though their methods differed from his own, Lei Jun recognized them as fellow Talismanic Daoists.

“Hm? Even Witch Sect cultivators?” Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.

From what he knew, the Witch Sect had been declining in the Han Realm, especially as the Vast Void Temple rose in power and suppressed them in the Southern Wasteland.

Intrigued, Lei Jun studied the Han side.

But his hands didn’t stop moving.

He expanded his second Dao Domain, and a starry universe swallowed the entrance to the portal on the Han side.

As the dark cosmos expanded, it emitted a powerful suction force.

All Han cultivators near the portal were pulled into it like moths to a flame.

Once inside, they finally steadied themselves—and saw a tall young Daoist standing at the center of the cosmos, clad in a Nine-Colored Radiant Robe, wearing the Primordial Crown, and with a three-foot-long Command Sword at his waist.

Realizing who it was, all present gasped.

Many instinctively turned toward a group of Daoists.

The two leaders wore Purple Daoist Robes, the others dark red—standard attire for true disciples of the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu, the sacred ground of the Talismanic Daoists.

Lei Jun also looked at them, then spoke calmly:

“I am Lei Jun, Dao name: Chongyun.”

Among them, even a Seventh-Heaven Elder Master of high standing remained expressionless.

Only the Eighth-Heaven elder Ma Zongxiang, the group’s leader, responded neutrally. “I am Ma Zongxiang.”

Not hearing a reciprocal Dao name, Lei Jun immediately understood.

There was no goodwill here.

Clearly, the Han branch of Mount Longhu had already made its decision. Ma Zongxiang and his group were simply obeying orders—offering no pretense of civility.

“If I had been around during the Daoist Reformation, I’d have chosen to follow nature too,” Lei Jun said mildly.

Ma Zongxiang remained silent, only motioning for his people to prepare.

Spiritual energy began to coalesce around him into talismanic symbols.

Lei Jun’s gaze moved on to others.

A burly general, slightly shorter than Lei Jun, looked him in the eye. “You’re from Tang?”

“I am,” Lei Jun answered. “And you are, General?”

“I am Yin Ming, Left General under imperial favor of the Han Dynasty, dispatched by the Crown Prince to oversee matters in Datong.”

Lei Jun nodded slightly. “Well met, General Yin. My group came here in pursuit of the Five Prominent Clans of Datong. Their actions relate to rebels and traitors of our Great Tang, and we act under imperial command to investigate and eliminate them.”

“Out of compassion for all life, we will do our utmost to protect the commoners of Datong and have no intention of invading Han territory. I’m only here to ensure no evils remain.”

As he spoke, his gaze returned to the Han Daoists. “However, judging by the current situation, it appears that even after we’ve cleaned up in Datong, our sect might still have to deal with a few lingering issues. I hope you’ll understand, General Yin.”

Yin Ming’s eyes flicked to Ma Zongxiang.

Ma Zongxiang met his gaze calmly, saying nothing.

Yin Ming turned back. “Then… Daoist, what about those two?”

He gestured toward a white-robed Confucian scholar and a middle-aged man in traditional Southern Wasteland attire.

Yin Ming immediately recognized the former: Ye Shiqian, elder of the Ye Clan of Qingzhou.

But the latter…

Yin Ming’s expression grew grave. “Tan Muwei? You’re supposed to be dead!”

Eighth-Heaven Grand Shaman Tan Muwei only grinned at him, saying nothing. His focus was entirely on Lei Jun.

“Since you’re all here,” Lei Jun said evenly, “why not stay a while?”

Yin Ming looked at Ye Shiqian, hesitated slightly, then turned to Lei Jun. “If it’s convenient, may I request that you hand this man over to me for transport to Chang’an? He’s committed numerous heinous crimes.”

Lei Jun was indifferent. “Later. After I’ve asked him some questions.”

Tan Muwei’s face changed immediately.

Ma Zongxiang, meanwhile, was already preparing.

Gleaming starlight began to form around him.

Within it emerged images of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—the Four Sacred Beasts, constructed entirely of stars.

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow. “This is… the Talisman of the Four Saints of Doumu?”

He had learned from Kang Ming that the Han branch of Mount Longhu had departed from traditional talismanic teachings.

They now possessed many talismans not found in the old Three Caverns and Three Heavens Canon—including the Doumu Four Saints Talisman.

Unlike the Life Canon, this one summoned constellations arranged in the form of the Four Saints.

Lei Jun observed with interest—but then…

Brighter stars suddenly lit up in the dark void.

A crimson-gold sun blazed into view, tongues of flame licking at its edge.

From within it roared a tiger the size of a star, its growl cutting through the void.

This wasn’t aimed at Ma Zongxiang’s talisman.

It was aimed at something else—a stealthy force attempting to spread quietly through the area.

Under the searing Heavenly Sun True Fire, many tiny, dust-like presences were burned away in an instant.

Ma Zongxiang's expression changed.

One of his hidden talismans, previously undetectable, was forcibly revealed and incinerated by the fire.

Yin Ming understood instantly—this was Ma Zongxiang’s hidden life-bound talisman, the Plague Veil Talisman, complementing the Four Saints Talisman in a deadly one-two combo.

But within Lei Jun’s Great Ascension Dao Domain, such efforts were futile.

Ma Zongxiang couldn’t even unfold his Divine Court Universe.

Yin Ming now turned his gaze to Lei Jun.

This Tianshi from Tang wielded a talismanic power so foreign, even its origins were unknown.

Datong’s earlier warnings were no exaggeration.

The high sages of Tang’s Daoist sects... truly terrifying.

A purple Yang Thunder Dragon appeared, its blazing masculine lightning drawing the frequent side-eyes of the Mount Longhu entourage from Han.

Without a shred of hesitation, the raging thunder dragon surged directly into the grayish-white abyss, shattering it open in an instant.

At the same time, a Yin Thunder Dragon, pitch-black and silent, emerged and began to suppress the Four Symbols Star Chart that was corroding Ma Zongxiang.

A crimson-gold tiger formed from heavenly fire charged forward—after tearing apart Ma Zongxiang’s Plague-Smothering Supreme Talisman, it didn’t lose momentum, and lunged toward Ye Shiqian’s Rivers Flowing Into the Sea Diagram.

In a flash, soaring flames raged like an inferno, as if to scorch the skies and boil the seas.

Surging rivers and vast oceans...

But now, whether river or sea, everything was vaporized by searing heat into thick white mist that scattered in all directions—no longer able to stir waves.

Lei Jun stood calmly at the center of the universe. As his three Great Ascension Dao Domains soared and spun, he had already begun to subdue and capture everyone present one by one.

Rare exceptions included Ye Shiqian and others from the Ye Clan of Qingzhou.

Right on the spot, Lei Jun sent them down—to be reunited with Ye Yan, Ye Jiong, Ye Zhi, Ye Xuan, and the rest of the Ye Clan of Qingzhou from the Great Tang.

Yin Ming, watching from the side, felt his eyelids twitch.

He didn’t have much of a relationship with the Ye Clan of Qingzhou.

But in today’s Han Dynasty, the Qingzhou Ye Clan still occupied a crucial territory.

Four Great Surnames and Six Prominent Clans, deeply rooted and far-reaching.

Among them, the Ye Clan of Qingzhou even had a Ninth-Heaven Grand Scholar guarding it.

Although this young Tianshi from the Great Tang spoke with calm manners and politeness, the way he wiped out Ye Shiqian and the others right in front of Yin Ming still sent chills down his spine.

A show of stance and determination?

If even Ye Shiqian and his kin in the Han Dynasty were treated like this, then the war in Datong against the prominent families must truly be a fight to the death—with no room for outside interference… Yin Ming thought to himself.

Perhaps it was also a sign that the Tang intended to claim Datong at all costs?

“Next, I’ll have to trouble General Yin to remain a guest within my formation for a while. I hope you won’t mind,” Lei Jun said calmly.

Yin Ming had already sensed Lei Jun’s unwavering resolve toward Datong. He said no more, only replied:

“My skills are inferior. I should thank Daoist Lei for his mercy. But His Majesty and the Crown Prince won’t stay silent. Reinforcements will surely be dispatched. I hope you will show compassion when that time comes.”

Lei Jun replied, “No need for concern, General Yin.”

The scene before Yin Ming’s eyes shifted. The darkness of the cosmos vanished, replaced by an expanse of blinding white.

A formation, it seemed... Yin Ming thought, but dared not act rashly. He instructed the Han soldiers who had come with him to remain calm, then sat down within the formation.

Where Ma Zongxiang and Tan Muwei had gone, he didn’t know.

All he could do now was hope that the Tianshi from the Great Tang would honor his word.

As he pondered, he examined the formation before him—what he saw was completely unfamiliar, something he had never encountered or heard of before.

At this moment, Lei Jun’s two Great Ascension Dao Domains had temporarily separated from his main body.

The two domains, like twin eyes of a Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram, now served as the core of the formation. After careful arrangement and with the aid of numerous Daoist Tools, they formed a massive formation array.

The array seemed to simultaneously connect and sever the void—encompassing the Void Gateway that linked Han’s Mortal Realm and Datong.

With the formation completed, Lei Jun could temporarily leave and return to Datong.

For Datong, the formation would block their path through the void into the Han Mortal Realm.

For the Han, even if a top-tier expert arrived, they wouldn’t be able to breach this array in a short time.

The formation was not only personally laid out by Lei Jun—its core was his own Dao Domains.

Because of this, he was intimately linked to the array.

If a powerful force approached or the slightest anomaly occurred, Lei Jun would sense it immediately and take appropriate action.

The formation was derived from Lei Jun’s Final Dharma-Ending Immortal Array of Dual Extremes, originally based on the Ninth-Grade Sun-Devouring Lotus Throne, which he had since evolved into a new design.

After setting the array, Lei Jun returned to Datong.

The killing over here was brutal.

Earlier, Lei Jun had blocked the gateway using his first Dao Domain, capturing those who attempted to flee from Datong into the Han Mortal Realm.

Within that domain, sword light flashed constantly. Under the guidance of Magnetic Star Tracks, the Magnetic Flying Swords seemed endless, slaughtering countless clan elders and disciples of the Five Prominent Clans. The massacre left no one in Datong daring to approach.

Lei Jun exited the formation and returned to Datong.

Through the Yuqing Celestial Mirror, he gained a clear overview of the situation.

“Little Senior Sister still needs a bit more time,” Lei Jun muttered as the Heavenly Connection Talisman flowed in his pupils. “But Eldest Senior Sister is nearly finished.”

Han Tian, however, was decisively resolute. Instead of retreating, he charged forward. The sword aura on his longsword condensed into a tip less than a foot long, its killing power astonishing.

With unyielding resolve, he launched a counterattack against Xu Yuanzhen.

Xu Yuanzhen neither dodged nor parried.

At that moment, her life-bound spell, the Cosmic Wind Talisman, intertwined with the profundity of her Universe Celestial Physique, making her appear as though she didn’t exist within this time and space at all.

Han Tian’s desperate counterstrike hit nothing but air.

From a distance, the pitch-black cosmos expanded further, entirely swallowing all light and heat.

The flames of the Han Clan Ancestral Grounds vanished from the world of Datong.

---

Inside the Xiao Clan Ancestral Grounds of Datong, Xiao Yuan and other clan elders relied on ancestral defenses and the Boundless Sea Sword to sweep away most of the retaliatory smoke and fire.

But reports from other fronts were consistently grim.

The Fang Clan was a lost cause. Both the Lin and Han Clans had been attacked. The Su Clan was in slightly better condition.

And the Void Gateway to the Han Mortal Realm seemed to have been blocked by a formidable foe.

The enemy had an enormous appetite—it seemed they aimed to devour them entirely in one bite.

“Whether it’s to coordinate with the clan leader from within, or to ensure the safety of our other disciples, we must break out at full force and reestablish the path to the Han Mortal Realm. Only then can we attack or retreat as needed, without being trapped,” Xiao Yuan said gravely.

One elder spoke anxiously, “The Clan Leader leaving behind the Boundless Sea Sword certainly stabilized the ancestral ground, but now that she’s separated from it, if we leave to attack the Void Gateway, we’ll be left exposed.”

Xiao Yuan replied, “For now, we’ll invite Su Honggao to join us. Ideally, we can help Han Qiongbi break free, then combine forces to reopen the path to the Han Dynasty, reunite with our leader, and hold separate positions. Though the ancestral grounds offer protection, staying isolated makes us easier targets.”

In recent years among Datong’s Five Great Clans, the Lin Clan stood somewhat apart due to Lin Zheng, enjoying a slightly elevated yet solitary status.

Among the other four, the Xiao and Han Clans were close, while the Fang and Su Clans were similarly aligned.

Though there was regular friction between the two sides, the overall balance and presence of the Lin Clan kept things in check.

Now in a moment of crisis, Xiao Yuan decided to reach out to Su Guang, leader of the Su Clan.

Su Guang soon replied, agreeing to assist Han Tian.

Xiao Yuan immediately set out with the Boundless Sea Sword, heading to the Han Clan Ancestral Grounds to meet Su Guang and reinforce them.

It was a risky move for both the Xiao Clan leader and their treasured weapon to leave the ancestral ground, and unease spread among the Xiao disciples.

But hopes of holding the ancestral ground were fading fast.

After Xiao Yuan departed, the remaining clan members took advantage of the lull in attacks to begin a gradual evacuation.

Xiao Yuan, meanwhile, traversed the vast mountains and rivers of Datong.

Until suddenly, he paused—sensing something.

And just as he stopped, a figure appeared ahead in the distance.

From the person’s attire, Xiao Yuan guessed his identity: “Lei Jun of Mount Longhu, Great Tang?”

His heart sank.

Was this a coincidence? Or had the other party been lying in wait?

If it was deliberate, how did they know his movements?

Did Han Tian or Su Guang betray him?

A storm of questions filled Xiao Yuan’s mind.

Lei Jun had used the Yuqing Celestial Mirror to observe Xiao Yuan leaving with the sword. Since it was on the way, he decided to deal with this now.

He had no interest in conversation.

Starlight flashed from Lei Jun’s form. The Doumu Star God Apparition manifested. Enhanced by the Heavenly Travel Talisman, he instantly appeared in front of Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan barely managed to reflexively raise the Boundless Sea Sword in defense, but was sent flying. His wrist went numb, and he nearly lost his grip.

He steadied himself quickly. With the sword tilted forward, a fierce sword aura swept forth like a desert gale, attempting to create distance from Lei Jun.

Lei Jun watched as the Eighth-Heaven Xiao Yuan wielded the Boundless Sea Sword and felt a moment of wistfulness.

Over the years, he’d seen many Eighth-Heaven cultivators use divine weapons to barely contend with Ninth-Heaven opponents.

Back then, Lei Jun himself had been one of them.

And now, the situation was reversed.

Now he was the Ninth-Heaven cultivator, while others clung to divine weapons in vain resistance.

Truly, life came full circle.

As this passed through his mind, a purple and a black thunder dragon, one Yang, one Yin, coiled around him, roaring.

In the forceful Twin Dragon Surge, even the Boundless Sea could be cleaved.

Overwhelming power split both the desert and the heatstorm in two.

Lei Jun, now in his Destined Star Avatar form, took a single step forward, passing straight through the towering wall of sword qi to appear right in front of Xiao Yuan.

With nowhere left to retreat, Xiao Yuan had no choice but to fight head-on.

He pushed the Boundless Sea Sword’s intent to the extreme and thrust it forward.

Sandstorm and blazing winds clashed at the blade’s edge, coating it in golden brilliance.

But as he gripped the sword, it trembled uncontrollably—no longer stable.

He stabbed directly at Lei Jun’s chest—but the blade veered off course.

“What is this?!”

Xiao Yuan saw two inconspicuous Two-Element Celestial Talismans floating on either side of Lei Jun’s head.

Then, near his sword tip, two identical talismans materialized midair.

A massive, invisible force filled the space, heavily disrupting the Boundless Sea Sword.

“Magnetic Force…” the thought had just formed in Xiao Yuan’s mind when Lei Jun’s fist arrived.

Bang!

The sword, neutralized beyond expectation, was useless. With Lei Jun closing in, there could be only one result:

Instant death.

Lei Jun glanced at the trembling Boundless Sea Sword, as if it had its own will and wanted to escape.

He waved his hand, and four Two-Element Celestial Talismans positioned themselves around it. The magnetic force thickened, almost tangible, binding the sword like shackles.

“Any movement at the Void Gateway?”

At that moment, Xu Yuanzhen’s voice reached his ears through a Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman.

Lei Jun briefly explained the situation with Ma Zongxiang and Tan Muwei: “I’ve confined them separately inside the formation. Yin Ming is unaware and cannot contact them.”

Xu Yuanzhen was intrigued: “Then I’ll leave the rest of Datong to you and Xiaotang. I’m going to pay Ma Zongxiang a visit.”

Behind her, the Han Clan Ancestral Grounds had been reduced to ruins.

Han Tian, and many others of the Datong Han Clan, were no more.

“As you wish, Senior Sister,” Lei Jun replied simply.

He ended the transmission, and the glow of the Yuqing Celestial Mirror swept across Datong.

Su Guang had agreed to meet with Xiao Yuan to aid Han Tian.

But before they arrived, the Han Clan had already been destroyed.

Su Guang, left with no alternative, retreated to the Su Clan Ancestral Grounds, and tried to contact the Xiao, Fang, and Lin Clans.

But now, even Xiao Yuan was out of reach…

Lei Jun, carrying the subdued Boundless Sea Sword, arrived near the Su Clan.

From afar, the Su Clan Ancestral Grounds looked like a towering, ink-black mountain peak, piercing the clouds.

Its surface was wounded, but it still stood firm, continuously mended by rising tides of black ink.

At its base was a vast Inkstone Altar, silent and weighty, filled with immense scholarly aura.

Named the Heaven-Bearing Inkstone, it was the Su Clan’s sacred heirloom.

With its aid, they had erected a divine mountain—spiritually connected to heaven and earth, lively yet solid, like a cosmic pillar.

Yet the hearts of the Su disciples were beginning to waver.

Meanwhile, Lei Jun had arrived at a distant location, far beyond Su Guang’s senses.

But for Lei Jun, the distance was sufficient.

The Yuqing Celestial Mirror refocused on the Su Clan.

The Heavenly Connection Talisman gleamed in Lei Jun’s eyes.

Before him, three swords hovered in the air:

• The Boundless Sea Sword, seized from Xiao Yuan—three feet three inches long, broad-bladed.

• The Tianshi Sword, three feet long, blade like flowing water, radiating purple light and lightning.

• The massive Northern Pole Sword, seven feet long—reforged by Lei Jun after reaching the Ninth Heaven.

After the Battle of Luoyang, Lei Jun had returned the World-Securing Blade to the Tang royal family.

But now, he had the Boundless Sea Sword—though he couldn’t yet wield it perfectly, he was confident the bond would form, as it had with the previous weapon.

All three swords now pointed at the Su Clan Ancestral Grounds.

The Yin-Yang Thunder Dragons interwove, channeling lightning into a stream of Two-Element Celestial Talismans.

Each sword was surrounded by twelve talismans—six pairs—aligned in columns, all aimed forward.

The strain on the talismans was evident.

Lei Jun calmly summoned two Fire Tigers—one crimson Yang, the other green Yin—to support the dragons.

Then, the void trembled.

A gold and a silver thunder dragon emerged.

Pure Yang and Pure Yin joined the Yin-Yang Fire Tigers.

Six total Daoist Apparitions—Yin and Yang, thunder and flame—fused into a grand synergy.

The thirty-six talismans surged with power.

Massive magnetic force condensed around the three swords.

At last, the commotion caught Su Guang’s attention.

As he focused, he saw distant sword light flashing—

Once, twice, thrice—each instant, brief.

Then—

Boom!

The towering Ink Mountain split apart with a thunderous crack!

Formed by pure scholarly energy, the mountain was cleaved in two by a pale-golden sword flash.

The Su Clan Ancestral Grounds were broken!

Inside, disciples stumbled in fear and chaos.

Su Guang turned, barely comprehending, only to see a sword embedded in the ground—

The Boundless Sea Sword?

Had the Xiao Clan betrayed them?

Or had the sword fallen into enemy hands?

But the methods used—clearly Daoist Artifact Refining Sect techniques—who could this be?

Even Su Guang, seasoned as he was, could only stare in confusion.

Then came the second sword flash—targeting him directly.

The Heaven-Bearing Inkstone rose, blocking the strike.

But this peerless treasure was shattered on the spot by the Tianshi Sword’s purple lightning!

Then came the third.

White light surged.

Before Su Guang could mourn the loss of the inkstone, the final sword struck his head.

The sword flash passed silently.

Where it had traveled, only a headless corpse remained.

There was no blood.

No severed head.

It was as if his head had been erased from existence.

The Ninth-Heaven Grand Scholar, master of Confucian classical arts, was now a lifeless body.

Su Guang had become Su Corpse.