Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 391: Sweeping Datong, sweeping away the civility!

Amidst the mountain ridges far from the Su Clan’s Ancestral Grounds, the surrounding peaks had already shattered and collapsed under the impact of Lei Jun’s concentrated mana.

All thirty-six Two-Element Celestial Talismans had transformed into flowing light, dispersing into the air.

However, the space above remained warped and twisted, distorted by the immense magnetic force that had just gathered moments ago.

Lei Jun’s other manifestations had also dispersed at this time, including the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman in his eyes, which could no longer be sustained.

The Magnetism Flying Sword, powered by prolonged aiming and charging, had consumed a tremendous amount of his mana.

Especially with three successive sword strikes, all powered up simultaneously and unleashed at full force—this had drained him severely.

Since attaining the Ninth Heaven Realm, this was the most mana he had ever expended in a single battle.

Even so, the situation was still better than it had been during his time in the Eighth Heaven Realm.

The Earth-Fire Talismanic Canon and the Heavenly Sun Ascendant Talisman still floated at either side of Lei Jun, and at this moment, the two aligned in resonance.

Through the balance of Yin and Yang, Lei Jun’s mana began to recover at a rate faster than usual.

And that speed was accelerating.

In the blink of an eye, his depleted mana surged once again.

Lei Jun set off, heading toward the distant Su Clan Ancestral Grounds.

On the way, the verdant Yin Fire Tiger and the blazing Yang Fire Tiger reappeared.

The Yin-Yang Fire Tigers intertwined around Lei Jun, unleashing a continuous torrent of energy—like endless firewood fueling his Two-Element Celestial Physique.

This physique was, by nature, adept at rapidly regenerating mana.

By the time he arrived at the Su Clan Ancestral Grounds, Lei Jun’s mana had largely returned to its full state.

At this moment, chaos reigned over the Su Clan's ancestral domain.

No one had anticipated that this sacred ground, built over decades and fortified with countless resources, seemingly as solid as an impenetrable fortress, would be breached by a single blow.

And once the Han Hai Sword's form was recognized, everyone was further shocked.

Even if the current Su Clan Matriarch, Xiao Jing, had been present in Datong—which she wasn’t—she likely couldn’t have unleashed such a dominant sword strike.

What was even more unthinkable: Su Guang, the clan’s top cultivator, had been decapitated in a single sword strike!

Who could possibly be such a powerful enemy?

The Tianshi Sword was indeed left standing there, and had even shattered the Su Clan’s ancestral heirloom, the Chengtian Inkstone.

But such terrifying might—could it really come from a talismanic cultivator of the Daoist Talismanic Branch?

Or had a top-tier craftsman from the Daoist Artifact Refining Sect of Tang’s Mortal Realm also come to Datong?

In mere moments, the entire Su Clan was thrown into disarray, leaderless and panicked.

Fortunately, several elders quickly composed themselves and ordered the clan disciples to evacuate at once.

There was no holding this ground—better to retreat quickly.

As for the three divine swords embedded in the earth, some had ideas of claiming them.

But the moment they approached, another flash of sword light streaked across the sky, and their bodies were cleaved in two.

When dealing with opponents of much lower cultivation, Lei Jun had no need to exert himself.

Nor did he require supreme weapons like the Arctic Sword or Tianshi Sword—mid-grade swords were more than sufficient to withstand and channel his Magnetic Force.

From afar, Lei Jun released his swords, cutting down groups of Su Clan disciples like harvesting wheat.

As he arrived near the ancestral grounds—though both sides’ Great Ascension Dao Domains had temporarily dispersed—the newly restored and more agile Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle of Supreme Purity unfurled above him, shrouding the already-ruined Su Clan grounds like a sky-darkening canopy.

A haze like rainfall and mist spread with the opening of the mantle, covering the area.

Within it, the mantle's dragon-grass wavered, morphing like a true dragon, hiding among the clouds.

Lei Jun floated inside effortlessly and beckoned from afar.

The Arctic Sword and Tianshi Sword returned to him first.

The Han Hai Sword, still embedded in the ground, trembled violently before lifting off and gently quivering its way back to Lei Jun.

Lei Jun waved his hand, and the Tianshi Sword erupted with bolts of violet Yang thunder, fierce and explosive, sweeping across the area and toppling waves of Su Clan disciples.

With his mana restored, the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman once again emerged within his eyes, its brilliance flowing softly.

The Jade Celestial Mirror of the Celestial Cycle illuminated all directions, projecting scenes directly into Lei Jun’s field of vision.

As he cleared out the remnants of the Su Clan's Ancestral Grounds, Lei Jun nodded faintly. “Little Senior Sister should be wrapping things up on her end as well.”

The Profound Darkness Dust dispersed, its deathly aura sweeping through the air, sending chills down the spine.

Lin Zheng invoked the Funeral Rite, one of the Five Rites, to console the sorrow of death and dissolve the negative threats brought by the Profound Darkness Dust.

Compared to the Profound Darkness Dust, Tang Xiaotang’s streaking light-speed movements instilled greater fear in the Da Tong Lin Clan Patriarch.

She was nearly moving at the speed of a Martial Saint of the same realm.

Lin Zheng originally intended to use the insights and foresight of “Yi” to gain the upper hand by acting second yet arriving first, preparing to counter Tang Xiaotang.

But to his shock, he soon realized that Tang Xiaotang’s edge in this area was even greater than his own, despite his mastery of “Yi.”

Observing her unfamiliar demeanor, Lin Zheng noticed that in addition to manifesting the Apparition of the Doumu Star God, a pair of illusory eyes also floated above her.

Tang Xiaotang’s own eyes mirrored those above—crystal-clear, calm, neither joyful nor sorrowful.

In a close-combat exchange over several rounds, Lin Zheng steadily lost ground.

But just then, the Heavenly Insight Apparition above Tang Xiaotang’s head blinked momentarily.

Through the Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman, Tang Xiaotang’s “Heavenly Insight” sharply detected shifts within the Lin Clan's Ancestral Grounds.

The Military Rite.

Due to the presence of her Destined Star Avatar and Heavenly Insight, Lin Zheng was at a clear disadvantage in close combat.

Yet as a Ninth Heaven cultivator at the Perfection stage, having mastered “Rites,” he could still singlehandedly and rapidly set up a Ritual Formation without relying on tools, environment, or terrain.

So even while being forced back by Tang Xiaotang, he maintained his composure. The Four Seasons Military Rite was soon complete. Alone, he enacted the spring “Troop Deployment,” summer “Barracks Establishment,” autumn “Troop Drilling,” and winter “Grand Review.” The surging martial aura blessed his Broad Vast Sword, making the already formidable divine weapon even sharper, as if an army charged forward at once, slashing toward Tang Xiaotang.

Tang Xiaotang saw the strike coming but did not evade.

Instead, her Tianshi Robe shimmered brilliantly. The swirling Flow of Ninefold Chaotic Qi and Ninefold Light from the robe enveloped her, while multicolored clouds descended from the Pure Yang Domain, forming another protective layer around her.

As a Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Daoist, having refined the Five Spirits and Five Qi, the resulting Five-Colored Cloud had powerful defensive abilities.

Tang Xiaotang’s bone structure had advanced to the Primordial Dao Body level, and her cultivation realm soared yet again, breaking through another tier.

Now, with her Tianshi Robe’s Ninefold Light and her own Five-Colored Cloud, she met Lin Zheng’s sword head-on.

The north wind howled, yet she remained unmoved.

Although both the Ninefold Light and Five-Colored Cloud were significantly diminished and torn apart—

She stood firm.

And in that moment, her golden Pure Yang Thunder Dragon and emerald Yin Fire Tiger appeared simultaneously, launching a head-on counterattack.

Blazing golden lightning and searing green earthfire intertwined, tearing through the foundation of Lin Zheng’s Military Rite.

With a thunderous roar of dragons and tigers, a Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram of gold and green formed between heaven and earth.

As the Taiji Diagram spun, radiant light exploded in all directions.

Snow and ice melted instantly upon contact.

“Solitary Yang cannot survive; pure rigidity shatters easily; disharmony between Yin and Yang—what then?” Lin Zheng chanted, unleashing the profound metaphysical truths of “Spring and Autumn,” a marvel only possible at the Fifth Layer of the Ninth Heaven as a Grand Confucian.

The formless, arcane force caused the gold-green Taiji Diagram to falter momentarily mid-air.

Though it didn’t shatter, the brilliant light emanating from it dimmed slightly.

The “Spring and Autumn” truths of a Fifth-Layer Grand Confucian were far from the miraculous state of “words manifest law” or “thought becomes reality.” Yet used at the right time, they could achieve astonishing feats.

Timing, intrinsically tied to “Yi,” wasn't conjured from thin air, but based on detecting subtle possibilities and interpreting hidden transformations.

Tang Xiaotang’s Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike was ferocious, yet the coordination between lightning and fire was not as balanced as the fusion of Pure Yang Thunder Dragon and Pure Yin Fire Tiger—nor as seamless as the perfected fusion achieved by the Tianshi Mansion’s direct disciples after years of tempering.

By blending “Yi” and “Spring and Autumn,” Lin Zheng grasped this nuance and exploited it, suppressing her Dragon-Tiger Strike.

But focusing on one meant neglecting the other.

While he restrained the Dragon-Tiger Strike, Tang Xiaotang’s Pure Yang Sea began to manifest the wonder of the Primordial Sea.

The violent golden thunderfire faded, replaced by formless, colorless, intangible Primordial Qi, which rapidly corroded the snow-bound defenses of the Lin Clan's Ancestral Grounds.

Even the Taiji Diagram now shimmered with ethereal, unseen currents.

Empowered by Primordial Qi, the diagram broke free of Lin Zheng’s constraints. As Yin and Yang converged, the spinning diagram unleashed blinding light that blasted directly toward Lin Zheng.

Surrounded on all sides, Lin Zheng had no choice but to pull back his Broad Vast Sword and plant it before him like a heavenly pillar.

The snow-covered world of the ancestral grounds retracted, freezing into a glacier-like state.

He condensed all his power to resist Tang Xiaotang’s Dragon-Tiger Strike and the Primordial Qi’s surge.

But the price was heavy: much of the “Writings” he had accumulated—his cultural essence—was consumed.

Tang Xiaotang didn’t let up. The Tianshi Seal embedded within the Snow-Covered Grounds manifested a triple-tiered altar, its violet, gold, and green lights blazing as it expanded.

The altar’s eruption caused violent tremors across the Lin Clan Ancestral Grounds.

The sacrificial vessels supporting the rituals and formations began to tremble uncontrollably.

Then came the chain reaction of shattering—

Ritual vessels like fu, gui, bian, dou, deng, jue… all cracked and exploded.

The Da Tong Lin Clan members assisting Lin Zheng in stabilizing the ancestral grounds felt their souls shaken; blackness clouded their vision, as if their very spirits were about to be forced from their bodies.

The literary aura rising above the ancestral shrine twisted and then dissipated.

Finally, even the shrine itself began to quake—

And then collapsed!

Seeing the snowbound domain unravel, Lin Zheng’s heart trembled.

He disregarded the cost to his cultural energy from invoking “Spring and Autumn” and attempted to speak to stabilize the grounds.

But at that moment, “Yi” gave him a warning!

Now at close range, Lin Zheng’s “Yi” activated at full strength, allowing him to grasp Tang Xiaotang’s exact movements.

He saw Primordial Qi concentrating into a single point.

Still invisible and colorless, but Tang Xiaotang perceived it like a precious pearl.

This was her newly attained life-bound mystical ability after reaching Ninth Heaven, founded upon her Primordial Dao Body—

The Primordial Genesis Talisman, a peer of the Heavenly Insight Talisman.

It manifested the Apparition of the Primordial Sovereign.

She named it: Genesis Pearl.

The Primordial Qi condensed into a point, then violently burst outward.

It was as if creation itself began anew—from void to substance, from chaos to cosmos.

This elegant yet terrifying force cleared everything around it, forming a vacuum of origin.

The falling snow was obliterated in an instant.

A vast portion of the snowy domain was seemingly wiped from existence; the rest began to collapse and shatter.

Lin Zheng’s pillar-like sword tilted from the shock.

In that instant, the Da Tong Lin Clan's Ancestral Grounds seemed to crumble entirely.

Tang Xiaotang’s golden-green Taiji Diagram exploded with renewed brilliance, the Dragon-Tiger Strike enveloping Lin Zheng.

His robe fluttered wildly.

Once pure white, his robe now bore countless black characters.

These characters expanded into flowing, ornate script, blocking the light from Tang Xiaotang’s strike.

The triple-colored altar above vanished.

The white jade seal reappeared, crashing down on Lin Zheng’s head.

He raised his sword, deflecting the falling jade seal skyward.

But Tang Xiaotang was already upon him. No longer able to defend simultaneously, he faced her transformed form—embodying the Doumu Star God, surrounded by Nine Suns, like a golden celestial avatar, her massive, fierce fist struck his body.

The protective robe of black characters shattered like snowflakes.

His vision darkened. Blood surged. Red seeped from his seven orifices.

Tang Xiaotang’s fists came down again—but struck only air.

Lin Zheng burned the accumulated cultural energy forming his “Writings.”

He invoked the Guest Rite, one of the Five Rites of Confucianism.

Yet not in its usual manner.

He reversed it: instead of the host welcoming the guest, he—the guest—took initiative and departed, turning defense into escape.

Using this sudden maneuver, Lin Zheng fled the Da Tong Lin Clan’s Ancestral Grounds and evaded Tang Xiaotang’s Dao Domain grasp.

But such a reversal came at a cost: he could not use the Guest Rite again anytime soon.

Above Tang Xiaotang’s head, her Apparition of Insightful Awareness—those twin gaze-like forms—flashed, immediately tracking Lin Zheng’s location.

With a cold snort, she turned into a beam of golden light and pursued him without hesitation.

Behind her, the Lin Clan’s ancestral grounds lay in ruin, riddled with casualties.

Those who remained stared at the collapsed shrine and shattered literary lineage in utter despair.

That female Daoist… had stormed their ancestral grounds and forced back the Ninth Heaven Patriarch Lin Zheng?!

Now that Lin Zheng had retreated, the Da Tong Lin Clan faced a critical crisis.

Thankfully, a few elders managed to stabilize the situation. Some tried to salvage the grounds; others scattered.

Some left to investigate the fates of the other noble clans. Others attempted to break through toward the Han Realm.

A few, however, chose to hide, and moved in reverse—seeking a way into the Tang Mortal Realm, hoping to survive through desperate change.

They silently found a Void Gateway linking Da Tong and the Tang Mortal Realm.

What greeted them was a peaceful world—so unlike the war-torn chaos behind them.

There were no Tang cultivators lying in wait, no ambushes.

Relieved, the Lin disciples began exploring the new land and quickly sent back word of the ancestral disaster.

...But wasn't it too peaceful?

The leading Lin elder sensed something was wrong.

He activated his Nation and Homeworld ability—

And it clashed with this realm!

Which meant—this wasn’t the real mortal world.

The clash triggered a surge of even richer, more vibrant literary essence.

The elder’s heart sank.

This too was the work of a Grand Confucian.

One whose cultivation surpassed his own!

No matter how they struggled, it was useless.

This world became more surreal.

They were inside someone else’s painting.

The scroll trembled—until a hand pressed it flat again.

Zhang Hui, brush in hand, smiled as he looked at the Lin Clan trapped in the scroll.

Beside him, Chu Yu stood with her hands behind her back. Smiling, she said, “Your Still-Painting Art has advanced again. Every stroke is divine.”

Zhang Hui chuckled. “I just lament that I still can’t master musical refinement. Seems I won’t be making progress there.”

Chu Yu replied, “Then we’re in the same boat.”

She hailed from the Suzhou Chu Clan, known for their musical heritage. Even her name and courtesy name reflected that legacy.

Sadly, she herself had little talent in music.

“Yes… in the same boat,” Zhang Hui sighed, then turned serious. “How’s Aunt?”

Chu Yu replied, “Her Majesty is no longer in danger. She’s preparing to resume her cultivation. Though this injury delayed her progress, as the saying goes, ‘lose the east, gain the mulberry’—it gave her time to build new reserves.”

“That’s good.” Zhang Hui nodded. “You’ve worked hard, Cousin. Your cultivation has reached a critical point too.”

Chu Yu smiled and shook her head. “The General and Third Aunt are truly at the critical point. I still need time to build up.”

She glanced toward Da Tong. “Have the three Tianshi Mansion Masters—Xu, Tang, and Lei—all gone?”

Zhang Hui said, “They have. Attacking the heart of an entrenched clan like that—it’s far more difficult than normal.”

Chu Yu looked at the Void Gateway and then at Zhang Hui’s scroll. “Looks like... it’s already done.”

Zhang Hui nodded. “Before Lei Tianshi ascended to the Great Ascension Realm, it was rare for all three of them to act together. Now, for Mount Longhu’s three Great Ascension masters to join forces—what a rare spectacle. A pity we couldn’t witness it ourselves.”

When the cold wind and golden light faded, the middle-aged man at the front lifted his head. His eyes were sharp as he gazed toward the distant mountains and fields.

Beside him, a man who appeared to be in his youth spoke softly, “...Father, was that someone from the Lin Clan?”

The middle-aged man in ornate robes gave a silent nod.

The people around them exchanged glances but didn’t dare speak.

Only the young man murmured, “Judging from the direction, he came from the Lin Clan’s Ancestral Grounds and is heading toward the Fang Clan’s Qingliang Plain?”

The middle-aged man gave no reply.

The young man continued, “I heard both the Su and Han Clans are in trouble. Could this really be the dawn of a new era?”

Another person beside him turned slightly pale. “Careful, Young Master.”

The Young Master of Rong Kingdom fell silent for a moment, then gave a small nod. “Indeed. Qingliang Plain connects to all of Jiuzhou. It might even lead beyond this world. They... still might make a comeback.”

His father, Lord Rong Mu, finally spoke. “Let’s head back.”

As he spoke, his gaze shifted in another direction.

Out on the plains, another convoy loomed in and out of sight.

The Young Master of Rong Kingdom narrowed his eyes. “That’s the Yan Kingdom’s convoy.”

Rong Kingdom was mainly under the Fang Clan’s influence, while the Yan Kingdom bowed to the Lin Clan.

Lord Rong Mu silently observed the distance.

Besides the people from Yan, he also noticed another group.

They seemed to hail from Datong’s imperial capital.

War was engulfing all Five Great Clans of Datong simultaneously.

No matter where in Datong, high or low, no one would be spared.

Would this determine the future of all Datong?

---

Lin Zheng had left his clan’s Ancestral Grounds, but Tang Xiaotang relentlessly pursued.

He hadn’t chosen to go to the Han Dynasty Mortal Realm, nor sought refuge in the Tang Dynasty Mortal Realm.

Some clan members had entered the void portal toward the Han side, but they hadn’t been heard from since.

That likely meant something had gone wrong.

Heading toward the Tang Dynasty Mortal Realm might offer a shot in the dark, but more likely, there were even stronger enemies waiting.

If he were alone, Lin Zheng might have taken the risk.

But with Tang Xiaotang hot on his heels, one wrong move would leave him attacked from all sides.

Left with no better option, Lin Zheng chose to head for the Fang Clan’s Ancestral Grounds in Datong.

A united front was better than being defeated one by one.

What’s more, there might be another path there—out of Datong altogether.

At the Fang Clan’s Ancestral Grounds, the smoke stirred by the Iron-Blooded Soulfire Ritual had largely dispersed.

However, the Grounds’ famed ability to connect with all Jiuzhou remained blocked, desperately needing restoration.

Lin Zheng’s arrival made Fang Xi, the Clan Leader of the Fang Clan in Datong, inwardly grim.

His opponent’s strength was clearly formidable.

Their prior success in dismantling the ritual was no coincidence.

“Brother Tonghe,” Fang Xi greeted without refusal.

Had the intruder come from the Han Dynasty Mortal Realm, Fang Xi might have considered negotiating to preserve the Fang Clan’s strength—even at the cost of the other major clans.

But this enemy was different.

Though past reports from the Tang Dynasty Mortal Realm were now questionable, Fang Xi sensed the aristocratic clans there were on the brink of extinction.

This enemy was here to annihilate them.

And so came the Datong Cataclysm.

Since that was the case, Fang Xi had no illusions left.

---

Beside him, Fang Xing had already drawn his bow.

The light flowing along the arrowhead was subdued compared to earlier, but the threat it posed far surpassed any previous display—even greater than that of an Eighth-Heaven Grand Scholar known for his divine archery.

The light-formed arrow left the string and exploded with terrifying force, as if it could pierce a nation’s territory on the spot.

Borders tore, void twisted—this force summoned by the arrow enhanced its power massively, letting it rip through space, ignoring distance, and launch forth at blinding speed.

But the arrow wasn’t aimed at Lin Zheng—it merely brushed past him.

Behind him, above Tang Xiaotang’s head, the phantom twin eyes of her “Celestial Insight Apparition” opened and closed.

Sensing danger, she shifted sideways just in time.

The next moment, an arrow whooshed past her original spot.

Then came a barrage—like a downpour of glowing arrows breaking through the void in an instant.

Tang Xiaotang drifted gracefully, her twin phantom eyes calm above her, dodging each lethal arrow one by one.

Back at the Fang Clan’s Ancestral Grounds, Lin Zheng thanked Fang Xi and Fang Xing. “Much appreciated, Brother Chunguang and Brother Yuanfeng.”

Fang Xing had reached the Ninth Heaven. With that, the Fang Clan now had two Grand Scholars of the “Leveling All Under Heaven” tier.

No one was more deeply moved than Lin Zheng.

He had long sensed Fang Xing’s potential, but reaching this level was still beyond expectation.

Regardless, they had to survive this battle first.

“Though the smoke has cleared, the path remains blocked. It’ll take time to reopen,” Fang Xi said bluntly, hiding nothing from Lin Zheng.

After a pause, he added, “We’ve lost contact with Brother Honggao and the Su Clan’s Ancestral Grounds...”

Lin Zheng nodded quietly. “Thank you for your efforts at Qingliang Plain, Brother Chunguang.”

He didn’t say more. Suppressing his injuries, he immediately turned to assist Fang Xing.

Tang Xiaotang was growing impatient.

Although she had evaded the Ninth Heaven Grand Scholar Fang Xing’s barrage using her “Celestial Insight Apparition,” she wouldn’t be satisfied with merely dodging forever.

As the Tianshi Robe flowed with Ninefold Chaotic Qi and Light, it fused with the Primordial One Qi that empowered both offense and defense.

Together, they formed a phantom but enormous Altar.

Under its cover, Tang Xiaotang advanced through the rain of arrows, descending upon Qingliang Plain below.

Despite his pale face, Lin Zheng met her head-on without hesitation.

Fang Xing didn’t let him face her alone.

With Lin Zheng holding the front, Fang Xing no longer relied on dense volleys.

His shots slowed, but their threat skyrocketed.

Fang Xi did not enter the battle.

Three against one—they had the upper hand.

But Tang Xiaotang was on the outside. She still had a chance to retreat.

To surround and kill her wouldn’t be quick work.

Even if Fang Xi wanted to try, he had to remain wary of other powerful Daoists from Mount Longhu of the Tang Dynasty.

Thus, while Lin Zheng and Fang Xing held off Tang Xiaotang, Fang Xi, as the master of the Fang Clan’s Ancestral Grounds in Datong, focused on reopening their connection with the outside world.

Abandoning years of Datong’s foundation and retreating outright was a painful decision.

But at the very least, they needed to guarantee a path in and out.

However, just as Fang Xi was fully immersed in dispelling the block and restoring the flow, a sense of unease rose within him.

As a Grand Scholar at the Fourth Layer of the Ninth Heaven, one who practiced the Dao of “Change (Yi),” his instincts were rarely wrong.

At the same time, Lin Zheng also received a warning from the Dao of “Change” and sensed danger.

But by then—it was too late.

Far outside the Fang Clan’s Ancestral Grounds, two flashes of light briefly lit up the distant fields like shooting stars streaking across the sky.

The next moment, divine weapons—sword-shaped artifacts—pierced through the void, hurtling straight toward the Ancestral Grounds.

---

The defensive principles of the Fang Clan’s Grounds revolved around connectivity—roads and waterways converging from all directions.

Under attack, water routes could shift into land routes to redirect force elsewhere, protecting the heart of the territory.

But this time, the sword lights embedded themselves into the roads and waterways, coiling like threads and forming a massive vortex.

All surrounding phantom paths were forcibly pulled and snapped.

The once-mighty and mystical ancestral barrier collapsed—disintegrated completely!

Their painstaking efforts to restore the Jiuzhou-spanning connection were reduced to nothing.

The Qi flow went wild. Spiritual veins twisted underground like dragons thrashing in rage.

The entire Fang Clan Ancestral Grounds began to cave in.

Everyone inside was caught up in it, bodies and souls reeling under the pressure.

Fang Xi, protected by the clan’s Nine Provinces Brush, fared relatively well.

But Fang Xing suffered worse—his blood surged and almost gushed from his mouth.

A chill ran through his heart.

As a Grand Scholar of the Divine Archery Lineage, one who had reached the Ninth Heaven and the Leveling All Realm, Fang Xing’s insight was far keener than most.

Yet he had sensed nothing before the strike.

From how far had that sword flown?

He turned his head just in time to see a second sword light follow right behind—the next target was him!

Lin Zheng was still engaged with Tang Xiaotang.

Fang Xi, thanks to his premonition, noticed the incoming sword light even earlier than Fang Xing.

Had it been aimed at Fang Xi, he could have reacted in time.

But since it targeted Fang Xing, even with the Nine Provinces Brush, he couldn’t intervene fast enough.

All he could do was watch as the terrifying blade pinned Fang Xing to the ground!

Violent Thunderfire exploded, killing Fang Xing—the Ninth Heaven Grand Scholar—on the spot.

---

His final thought was this:

Even if he, a top-tier archer of the Confucian Divine Archery Lineage, had ample time to prepare, he might unleash a strike of such devastating force.

But only once.

Even then, it would only match in raw power. It couldn’t possibly maintain such deadly accuracy across such distance.

Who was the enemy?

Two Daoist Artifact Refining Sect cultivators wielding flying swords at once?

If it was just one person—what kind of monstrous cultivation would that take?

That was Fang Xing’s last thought before his mind shattered into oblivion.

Lin Zheng, Fang Xi, and others were resisting Tang Xiaotang's Pure Yang Domain.

Their resistance stalled things just long enough for Lei Jun to arrive in person, taking the opportunity to regulate his breath and recover his depleted mana.

Just as the Pure Yang Domain was about to close, Lei Jun gracefully entered.

At that moment, both he and Tang Xiaotang each held one of the Northern Pole Sword and the Tianshi Sword.

The moment he stepped into the domain, Lei Jun saw Lin Zheng and the Fang Clan members surrounded by a vast sea of golden thunder and fire from all directions.

Besides Lin Zheng and Fang Xi, the rest of the Fang Clan had already been weakened by the destruction of their ancestral grounds, and now they were even more helpless against the overwhelming sea of pure Yang energy within the domain, collapsing in droves.

A sharp Scholarly Aura around Lin Zheng transformed into chilling Sword Qi, manifesting as snow and wind to help block the encroaching thunderfire.

Fang Xi, on the other hand, unfurled a scroll filled with elegant script and illustrations. From within, radiant mountains and rivers emerged to shield him against the storm.

Tang Xiaotang, wielding the Three Tianshi Treasures, attacked with swift and fierce sword light. For the moment, even though Lin Zheng and Fang Xi held the Guangmo Sword and the Nine Provinces Brush, they were forced into a defensive position.

Lei Jun raised his hand, and the Northern Pole Sword returned to him.

Sword in hand, he charged straight for Lin Zheng, the head of the Datong Lin Clan.

Lin Zheng deflected Tang Xiaotang’s sword light and counterattacked, swinging his sword at Lei Jun.

Lei Jun instantly activated the Two-Element Celestial Talisman, focusing its magnetic force directly on Lin Zheng.

Lin Zheng immediately felt his Guangmo Sword tremble in his grasp, losing control over it.

If not for the alert from the “Yi” Principle, which warned him in time, he would have been struck down by Tang Xiaotang’s follow-up attack.

Even with the dodge, Lin Zheng found the sword shaking even more violently.

The venerable Confucian scholar at the Perfection Stage of the Ninth Heaven Realm took a deep breath, stabilizing his injuries and reciting aloud:

“A gentleman excels at using what is at hand, as easily as moving an arm or finger.”

With this profound declaration, he finally calmed the Guangmo Sword.

At the same moment, Fang Xi shouted, “Rise!”

Also a Ninth Heaven, Fourth Stage Confucian scholar, like Lin Zheng, he specialized in “Rites”, and swiftly arranged a Confucian Ritual on the move.

Thus, amid battle and motion, he completed the Military Rite.

Meanwhile, though Lin Zheng remained silent, he formed the Auspicious Rite, the foremost among the Five Rites.

Together, the Auspicious and Military Rites activated—one honoring the heavens, the other empowering the masses.

Martial aura surged skyward, clearing a space within the overwhelming sea of Yang energy.

At that moment, the usually serene Scholarly Aura took on an unusually sharp and commanding presence, like an emperor personally leading a campaign—threatening to pierce Tang Xiaotang’s domain.

Due to the heavy consumption of mana and Lei Jun's presence, Tang Xiaotang did not shift the Pure Yang Sea into the Primordial Sea.

As the thunderfire parted, a massive Pure Yang Vessel emerged from within.

Tang Xiaotang, bearing the Three Tianshi Treasures, stood at the bow, meeting the Confucian ritual head-on.

Blazing thunderfire clashed with martial energy. Neither yielded.

Meanwhile, Lei Jun unleashed the Doumu Star God Apparition. Empowered by the Heavenly Travel Talisman and Star Array Formation, his speed defied comprehension.

With the added boost of Yin-Yang Twin Thunder Dragons, his speed spiked once more, as if he were teleporting simultaneously across multiple spots—striking at both Lin Zheng and Fang Xi.

Both were shocked.

This tall Daoist, dressed as a Tianshi of the Tang Dynasty’s Mount Longhu, was even faster than the tall priestess!

If that priestess’s speed rivaled a Martial Saint, then Lei Jun’s velocity and physical prowess outright surpassed them!

What’s wrong with these Daoists from Tianshi Mansion?!

Having seen Tang Xiaotang’s lightning movement, they’d been on guard.

But in their minds, one such anomaly from Mount Longhu was already rare.

They didn’t expect a second, even faster one.

Before they could respond, Lei Jun closed the distance. Even with their cultivation in the “Yi” Principle, which granted foresight, they couldn’t keep up.

Lin Zheng, with higher cultivation, barely held on.

Fang Xi was less fortunate. Lei Jun broke through, and only his scroll of Mountains and Rivers shielded him.

Lei Jun’s punch crashed into the image of the scroll, shaking mountains and splitting rivers.

At that close range, a seven-colored radiance suddenly flared from his brow.

With the Yin-Yang Twin Thunder Dragon powers coalesced, a scorching beam of Divine Yin-Yang Radiance burst from his forehead.

The seemingly thin beam carried world-shattering might and struck Fang Xi’s scroll.

A small black hole appeared on it and rapidly expanded, thunderfire licking outward.

The Fang Clan's second most treasured item, next only to the Nine Provinces Brush, was pierced through and burned.

Fang Xi barely dodged.

The Military Rite collapsed.

Lin Zheng, alone, was no match. Tang Xiaotang pressed forward atop her vessel.

As Lei Jun advanced to pursue Fang Xi, the latter's face turned ashen, but he remained calm.

With a flick of the Nine Provinces Brush, his speed suddenly increased.

This was the secret technique Divine Walk of the Nine Provinces.

Though many Confucian families shared deep legacies, each had unique strengths.

The Lin Clan of Youzhou specialized in physical prowess, while the Fang Clan of Jingxiang excelled in mobility and evasion.

Though the Jingxiang Clan Leader Fang Jingsheng had never mastered this due to lacking cultivation, Fang Xi did.

With his fourth-stage Ninth Heaven power and the Nine Provinces Brush, he made the technique manifest.

Now, even Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang found it harder to track him.

But Fang Xi could no longer maintain a Confucian Ritual while using it.

Lei Jun had no intention of racing.

Thunderfire stirred around him. “Little Senior Sister.”

Tang Xiaotang glanced over, lifting her brow.

Upon her Pure Yang Vessel, appeared in succession:

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Fire Law Ground Talisman

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Divine Firmament Pure Yang Talisman

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Heavenly Radiance Pure Yang Talisman

A green Infernal Fire Tiger, golden Pure Yang Thunder Dragon, and Pure Yang Fire Tiger all roared to life.

On Lei Jun’s side, five Divine Talismans appeared:

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Purple Yang Thunder Dragon from the Thunder Law Canon

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Green Infernal Fire Tiger from the Fire Law Canon

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Black Yin Thunder Dragon from the Five Thunders Canon

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Red-Gold Yang Fire Tiger from the Heavenly Sun Canon

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A final silver talisman, mysterious and serene

From that silver talisman, a silver Thunder Dragon appeared—gentle, yet overwhelmingly powerful.

This was the Divine Firmament Pure Yin Talisman, birthing the Pure Yin Thunder Ancestor Apparition, or Pure Yin Thunder Dragon.

It was Lei Jun’s creation after merging his Two-Element Celestial Physique with the Pure Yang Thunder Dragon of Tang Xiaotang at the Ninth Heaven Realm.

Then—

Lei Jun’s Pure Yin Thunder Dragon merged with Tang Xiaotang’s Pure Yang Fire Tiger to form a gold-silver Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram.

Now, four diagrams hovered in the domain:

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Gold-Green

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Purple-Green

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Black-Red

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Gold-Silver

Dragon-Tiger merged. Yin-Yang united.

The magnificent radiance didn’t scatter but unified—spreading everywhere.

Whether it was Lin Zheng with his wintry Sword Qi or Fang Xi racing like a blur—they were both enveloped in the Dragon-Tiger Combo Attack.

Both clan leaders were in disbelief.

They’d never fought Mount Longhu’s Talismanic Daoists before—but this?!

Even the ancient texts didn’t describe them like this!

Fang Xi’s Divine Walk was broken, his body revealed—burned by thunderfire.

He flung ink from the Nine Provinces Brush, encasing himself in characters, trying to block the blinding radiance.

But then Tang Xiaotang flew over and slashed with the Tianshi Sword.

The overburdened Nine Provinces Brush shattered on impact!

Simultaneously, Lin Zheng, trapped under the combo attack, could barely hold out.

He roared:

“A fool competes unprepared, doomed to fail!”

He unleashed Righteous Speech against the Dragon-Tiger combo.

It didn’t break all four diagrams, but three of them faltered—slowing their rotation.

Just as he thought he might catch a breath—

Suddenly, something appeared in his mind: a nine-segment, purple-gold glowing bamboo.

Crack!

The illusionary Jade Celestial Bamboo struck Lin Zheng’s soul like a thunderbolt!

Despite being a peak Ninth Heaven Confucian Scholar, he suffered a soul rupture, nearly passing out.

The bamboo vanished—then reappeared beside Lei Jun, dimmed, returning to physical form.

It was the Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo, now reforged with Profound Darkness Dust and Nine Heavens Heart Thunder.

It could now switch between solid and ethereal, attacking enemy souls like a spell—proving devastating against Lin Zheng.

At that same instant—

Tang Xiaotang shattered Fang Xi. Literally.

She invoked the Primordial Genesis Talisman.

Its Genesis Pearl ruptured both Fang Xi’s body and soul, obliterating him!

But even at death’s door, Fang Xi retaliated.

He reversed his Nine Provinces Connection into a deadly Ninefold Dead-End, striking back.

Tang Xiaotang remained composed. Her Tianshi Robe flowed with Ninefold Chaotic Qi and Light, and merged with the Tianshi Seal to form a Triple-Tiered Altar.

Its surface shimmered with five-colored clouds and Primordial Qi, blocking Fang Xi’s final strike.

On the other side, Lin Zheng, his soul damaged, barely held on.

His Guangmo Sword, guided by spirit, summoned wintry Sword Qi to protect him and hold back Lei Jun.

Lei Jun didn’t even flinch—he advanced.

He now wore the Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle, rain mist freezing under the snowstorm.

But Lei Jun remained unscathed.

He reactivated the Two-Element Celestial Talisman, causing the Guangmo Sword to tremble once more.

The ice melted again.

The cold snapped Lin Zheng’s mind back to clarity, but he could no longer use “Spring and Autumn” Righteous Speech.

Instead, he surged his Righteous Scholarly Qi and hurled the Guangmo Sword skyward!

As Tang Xiaotang defended against Fang Xi’s final blow, the ice-blue sword surged upward, cleaving the Pure Yang Sea in half.

It nailed itself to the domain boundary, freezing it. Cracks appeared.

Lin Zheng leapt skyward, spitting blood from Lei Jun’s strike, trying to flee.

Tang Xiaotang groaned—the Great Ascension Domain damaged.

But Lin Zheng still failed to escape.

A tri-colored glow sealed the gap—forming a talisman of Ninefold Dead-End.

It was the same principle Fang Xi had used—this time, invoked by Tang Xiaotang.

The gate was shut. Heaven blocked. Earth barred.

Lin Zheng froze midair—finally hopeless.

Even with “Yi,” he barely dodged her sword.

“So ruthless! The Tang Clan has a feud with the Lin Clan of Youzhou, but you even want to wipe out Datong’s Lin Clan?!”

“Well, I’m no saint,” Lei Jun replied coldly.

Another sword struck him midair.

Buzz!

The massive Northern Pole Sword tore through the air.

By the time Lin Zheng saw it clearly, it had already pierced him through the chest!

A massive wound. Furious thunderfire. In moments, this peak Ninth Heaven scholar was annihilated.

Thus ended all the top-tier Confucian scholars within Datong—none survived that day.