Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 408: Above the Nine Heavens

Even eunuchs could embark on the path of cultivation.

Whether in the Tang world or the Ming world, the Daoist cultivation world had a long, storied history. Over the ages, such cases were no longer rare.

Physical deficiencies might bring inconvenience, but they never truly barred the path.

Even martial arts—arguably the most reliant on robust blood and yang-based vitality—had branches suited to those with such conditions.

Just like women practicing martial arts could still achieve success.

It was just that, over centuries, few eunuchs ever rose to prominence in the cultivation world. As a result, people rarely mentioned them.

But now, something significant was stirring in the Ming Dynasty.

After all, with a grand war involving the Ming Empire, northern barbarians, and Western Buddhist sects, elite experts from all sides were gathering.

To achieve anything on the frontlines in such a battle was no easy feat.

“There are capable eunuchs emerging from the Ming Palace—and it seems like it’s not just one,” Lei Jun remarked.

Chu Kun replied, “The Ming imperial clan may be large, but few among them have real ability. Now the Inner Court has trained experts from a different angle.”

The emperor allowing them to leave the palace and join the northern expedition—this time, the Ming Empire had truly united as one, striking with full force.

“Senior Brother, if they force their way into Sumeru, how do you think this battle will end?” Chu Kun asked softly.

The Buddhist Mudra Lineage had flourished in Sumeru.

But this time, they faced an entirely different opponent.

The Ming world had experienced a spiritual energy resurgence for centuries. Both in duration and abundance, it surpassed all other realms.

Previously, internal strife and factionalism had left the Ming Dynasty divided and weakened, unable to act in unison.

Faced with threats like northern tribes, the Guizang-backed Xiaoming Court, Daoist nations, Guixu, and the Southern Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms world, the Ming cultivators often found their biggest enemies not on the outside—but behind them, within.

To them, the enemy wasn't foreign invaders—it was corruption at court.

But now, with rare unity across the court, the Ming Empire stood as an undeniable behemoth.

Not just the Karma Division and northern barbarians—even the entire Vajra Realm of Sumeru regarded the Ming forces as a looming threat.

The Vajra Division Commander, Jialuotu, had perished.

The Lotus Division Commander, Zongjia, had been lost outside Sumeru.

Fortunately, with urgent reinforcements, Sumeru still had the Buddha Division, Treasure Division, and Karma Division leaders—all cultivators at the perfected Ninth Heaven stage—holding the fort with their Buddhist masters.

Yet the Ming experts who entered the fray this time included at least as many Ninth Heaven elites.

“Grand Secretary Chen Yu has truly emerged as the leader of his generation this time,” Chu Kun said. “In addition to current ministers and Daoist-Buddhist experts, even some retired cabinet elders have returned to service. Aren’t they all over 600 years old?”

Lei Jun responded, “Probably even over 700.”

Thanks to the structure of Neo-Confucian cultivation, those scholars could maintain formidable strength well into old age.

For most paths, Upper Three Heavens cultivators would inevitably weaken after 600.

But not for Confucian cultivators. In fact, this stage was considered their prime.

Retirement, returning home—it often had more to do with political setbacks than physical decline. Only a few truly entered decrepitude.

Many old scholars retained sharp minds and formidable strength.

Conversely, the younger generation of Confucian cultivators seemed mediocre—weak even—compared to peers from other traditions.

In the Ming court, only Ninth Heaven cultivators were qualified to enter the Cabinet.

To govern the realm, one had to reach Ninth Heaven Perfection.

Even in retirement, as long as they left peacefully, their cultivation would remain intact.

Which meant: these “retired” elders were nothing to scoff at.

Though their days were numbered, they were still dangerous.

“So why are they still fighting so hard?” Chu Kun asked in disbelief.

Lei Jun replied, “One, they’ve built vast networks of disciples and allies. Two, this is a winning battle. A favorable tide like this attracts many who want to explore Sumeru.”

Chu Kun nodded thoughtfully.

Sumeru’s Mudra Lineage had risen swiftly.

There might be secrets—or treasures—within.

Many were likely eager to investigate, even just for a chance.

Especially after hearing through Guizang that the Tang Dynasty once invaded Sumeru, killed the Vajra Division Commander Jialuotu, and escaped unscathed.

That emboldened many in the Ming world.

But…

“Sumeru might not be so easy to breach this time,” Lei Jun said slowly.

When he and Tang Xiaotang had stormed into Sumeru, it was a surprise attack.

Earlier, after destroying the Tang world’s Vajra Monastery, Lei Jun had sealed off the portal to Sumeru—though it appeared vulnerable.

This was a ruse to mislead both the Vajra Division defenders in Sumeru and Jialuotu himself.

As it turned out, the deception worked too well—even misleading the rest of the Vajra Realm.

So when Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang burst in, the other four divisions were caught unprepared.

Only Treasure Division Commander Vanda was stationed in Sumeru, and many of his experts were still in the Han world.

As for the Buddha Division, Lotus Division (based in the Song world), and Karma Division (in the Ming world), they weren’t even present.

By the time they returned, Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang had already left.

There were certainly mysteries at Mount Sumeru, but with only Commander Vanda, nothing could be triggered.

But now, the situation with the Ming elders was entirely different.

Yes, they brought many powerful cultivators—but most were Confucian Neo-Confucianists.

Their approach would be steady, cautious, progressing step by step.

Such momentum would force all five Vajra Realm divisions to rally.

Sumeru would have enough time to recall all its forces from other realms.

Even if only three divisions remained, they might not hold back the Ming onslaught—but who knew what Mount Sumeru would look like once breached?

“Senior Brother, the hole you and Senior Sister Tang dug years ago… Who knows how many people are going to fall into it now,” Chu Kun said, wincing.

Lei Jun chuckled, “You’re giving me too much credit. I really didn’t plan that far ahead.”

Chu Kun fell silent.

Senior Brother, I believe you.

Just not sure how many in the Ming court still believe... or rather, how many are still around to care.

“Now that the Ming are moving toward Sumeru, we should prepare as well,” Lei Jun said thoughtfully.

“You mean… Sumeru might go scorched-earth?” Chu Kun asked.

After Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang had wrecked the Vajra Division, Sumeru hadn’t retaliated.

Maybe the other divisions weren’t keen to die for Vajra.

Or maybe… something else held them back.

If the Ming truly cornered Sumeru, the aftermath might drag the Tang world back into it.

No matter how likely, Lei Jun intended to be prepared.

Zhang Hui, Xiao Chunhui, and Meng Shaojie would no doubt report back to Empress Zhang Wantong.

Sure enough, Lei Jun soon received an imperial edict from Luoyang.

The Empress was closely watching Ming affairs.

As for the Ming side—many of them had entered the war with one goal: to get into Sumeru.

Even those who initially only wanted to stay within the Human Realm had little to say now.

The portal to Sumeru had already been seized.

The momentum was unstoppable—they had to go.

On the Ming court, cowardice was a greater crime than rashness.

So, the Ming Empire invaded Sumeru.

The Buddha, Karma, and Treasure Divisions resisted fiercely.

They would not allow anyone to touch Mount Sumeru.

Millennia of cultivation and planning—how could they let it all go to waste?

But if the worst came to pass, they were prepared to make their final move.

All was karmic fate.

The monks fought with all their might.

The Ming cultivators surged forward.

At last, the Ming forces touched Mount Sumeru.

And Mount Sumeru collapsed.

At that moment, Grand Secretary Chen Yu felt a surge of dread.

So did Liu Chong and the other Confucian scholars of Ninth Heaven Perfection.

Mu Chunyang, master of True Martial Monastery, had a gleam of light flash through his eyes.

Gao Ming and the rest began to feel the same creeping unease.

In their eyes, where Sumeru had once stood—there was no dust, no rubble.

Instead, a silent, colorless sea of fire began to spread.

Endless.

“…The Wrathful Flame of the Bright King,” Chen Yu muttered, face dark.

They’d encountered this before—Buddhist wrathful flames during battle.

But never on such scale or power.

At the center of that fire, a massive black shadow rose into the air.

It emitted an aura of demonic energy—far beyond even Ninth Heaven demons.

The black shadow pierced the skies, escaping toward the outer void.

Beneath it, another giant figure rose from the wrathful flames.

This one had a blue-green body, two arms, a sword in the right, and a chain in the left—though the chain was broken.

Five-petaled crown, blazing flames behind the head, three eyes wide open.

Right eye gazed upward, left downward, central one straight ahead.

All present recognized it immediately:

The Wrathful Form of Acala—the Immovable Bright King.

Foremost of the Five Wisdom Kings of the Mudra Lineage. Said to be an incarnation of the Great Sun Tathāgata’s command.

A form of divine wrath to subdue all evil.

This was no mere illusion.

To manifest this, one had to be a Buddhist master beyond the Ninth Heaven—at the level of a perfected Golden Body.

There was a superior Buddhist cultivator beyond the Ninth Heaven—hidden in Sumeru.

No.

Not just one.

The Wrathful King raised its right-hand sword and sliced open the void—striking the fleeing black shadow.

No blood spilled, but the invisible wrathful fire engulfed the entire shadow.

A roar shook the heavens.

Yet the black figure didn’t stop—it pushed through the pain and vanished into the void.

Meanwhile, the broken chain in the Wrathful King’s left hand restored itself.

Too late to capture the black figure—but it lashed around and bound Chen Yu.

His Confucian texts and symbols flared—only to be incinerated instantly.

The Ming Grand Secretary’s face was ashen.

In just moments, the truth was clear.

There were multiple beings beyond the Ninth Heaven here.

One was a demon saint, sealed and refined by a Buddhist master using the rituals of Mount Sumeru.

In that process, the monks of Sumeru had all benefited.

But such a ritual required vast external feedback.

The demon had just awakened, likely still critically weakened after centuries of suppression.

And the one who sealed him?

Clearly far stronger.

Even ascended beings varied in power.

The Buddhist master who had long slumbered in Sumeru…

…was someone none of them could afford to underestimate.

The secret ritual hadn’t yet been completed when it was abruptly interrupted. While it wasn’t entirely ruined, the backlash on the caster was inevitable.

Even so, the massive Immovable Wisdom King Apparition remained suffocating in its aura.

The long chain wrapped around Chen Yu, immobilizing him.

The Immovable Wisdom King once again raised his long sword in his right hand.

The vast, colorless sea of flames began to recede.

But as the sword swung lightly—almost carelessly—a wave of Great Ming cultivators was cleanly sliced in half.

As if the blade were cutting through delusions.

At the ruins of Mount Sumeru, from where the Immovable Wisdom King Apparition emerged, a withered monk appeared as the flames faded.

His skin was entirely golden.

In the distance, the monks of Sumeru halted their retreat.

Led by the three perfected Nine Heavens Buddhist Masters—Vimasha, head of the Dharma Division; Vandato, head of the Treasury Division; and Jatiluo, head of the Karma Division—

the disciples of the Western Region Buddhist Sects bowed in unison to the monk:

“Venerable One.”

The golden-skinned monk stood silently, forming a Wisdom Fist Mudra. Though he said nothing, a voice seemed to echo throughout Sumeru:

“The affairs of the Great Ming Mortal Realm are not for you to meddle in.

Vimasha shall remain to rebuild Sumeru.

Vandato and Jatiluo—seek out Zongjia and help him return as soon as possible.”

The Sumeru monks responded in unison,

“Yes, Venerable One.”

The withered monk remained motionless.

But the Immovable Wisdom King Apparition swept its sword and chain in all directions once more.

---

Outside Sumeru, in the Western Regions of the Great Ming Mortal Realm,

Grand Scholar Sang Yan, ranked third in the current Cabinet and second only to Chief Minister Chen Yu in the Wu Party, stood guarding the void gateway’s entrance.

Nearby, Abbot Guangshu of the Bodhi Monastery patrolled the perimeter.

The alien tribes had been driven out of the Northern Desert and Western Regions by Ming forces, fleeing even farther into the outer wastelands.

Their Khan was wounded.

Yet Chen Yu, Sang Yan, and the others remained vigilant, wary of a sudden return.

The enemy moved swiftly, and Ming’s Confucian scholars were ill-suited to forcibly restrain them when they truly intended to leave.

Still, many alien cultivators had been slain, and with the loss of fertile lands and spiritual energy, the enemy was now severely weakened.

For a long while, they would pose little threat to the northern front.

Unlike the nomadic enemy, the gateway to Sumeru was fixed and could not be evaded.

Now everything hinged on the outcome of the battle within Sumeru...

Just as this thought crossed Sang Yan’s mind, a sudden premonition of danger surged through him.

Before he could react, a torrent of Confucian ink coalesced around him.

At the same time, a figure burst from the gateway—

Sang Yan barely recognized him as Mu Chunyang, the head of True Martial Monastery, before seeing his body split in two!

A Daoist Grandmaster of the Alchemy Sect, Fifth Layer of the Ninth Heaven, at the Five Energies Converging to the Origin stage—

was directly severed by a sword radiating Buddhist light.

His body, though halved, remained intact—but the colorless, translucent wrathfire of the Wisdom King burned at the wound!

The void twisted slightly—some invisible entity seemed to flash out.

But Sang Yan had no time to investigate.

From the same gateway, a long chain followed the sword, lashing out and binding Sang Yan instantly.

The Confucian ink around him dissolved on contact with the chain.

Despite resistance, Sang Yan was held fast.

In the Ming Realm, the massive swell of Confucian ink formed a black temple complex.

Temples stretched in every direction, creating a fortress around the gateway—both a beachhead into Sumeru and a fallback route for Chen Yu, Liu Chong, and Gao Ming.

Decades of careful formation by a perfected Ninth Heaven Confucian scholar had made this site’s defenses dense and resilient.

The long chain faltered slightly upon impact.

Taking advantage of the moment, Sang Yan attempted to escape.

But the sword slashed again, and entire temples of ink collapsed.

The Confucian rites and ethics, though powerful against lower realms, were ineffective here—

for his opponent had already surpassed the Ninth Heaven:

a Saint by Confucian standards,

one who had pushed open the Immortal Gate by Daoist measure,

and one who had attained a perfected Buddha body by Buddhist doctrine.

The sword cleaved through the temples,

and the chain regained momentum—ensnaring Sang Yan once more.

Both chain and sword were now engulfed in colorless wrathfire, consuming all remaining ink.

Even as Sang Yan resisted in despair, the chain dragged him into Sumeru.

In that moment, this elder statesman of Ming had one thought:

Chen Yu, and all of us—we misjudged.

Sumeru… is stronger than we imagined.

But what puzzled him most was—

Where were those monks before this?!

If they had this kind of power, how did the Tang Dynasty’s forces crush the Vajra Division?!

---

The colorless flames surged outward, swallowing sky and earth, their power terrifying.

The Ming cultivators stationed near the gateway retreated in panic.

Farther away, the void shimmered faintly.

A glow emerged, slowly revealing a human silhouette.

It appeared to be a youth of seventeen or eighteen, wearing a Daoist headscarf and robe, but the body was illusory.

His features were nearly identical to Mu Chunyang in his youth.

This was his Nascent Soul Yang Spirit.

On his spiritual body, the colorless wrathfire still burned.

Having lost his physical form, Mu Chunyang’s access to True Martial Heavy Water was limited.

Fortunately, he had prepared in advance—

as soon as he touched the sands below, a buried heavy water vein surged forth, aiding him in suppressing the wrathfire.

He had expected to face Jatiluo and others from the Karma Division,

and possibly be pushed to the front by Confucian scholars—so he had made ample preparations.

But not even he anticipated such an outcome.

Compared to Jatiluo’s wrathfire, this new variant was far more vicious.

Even with a full water vein, it could only be contained, not extinguished.

Mu Chunyang’s expression was serious but composed.

His Yang Spirit sat in lotus position in the void.

Beneath him, a spare body crafted from heavenly materials emerged from the heavy water.

This artificial body had been long prepared,

allowing him to regain flesh without possessing another.

Even so, after losing his Five Energies Converging Body, he would likely drop in cultivation and need time to recover.

But Mu Chunyang was unique.

He was born with a Creation Celestial Physique.

As his spirit descended into the new body,

heaven and earth energy converged, merging into one.

It was as though the cosmos itself smelted him anew.

Once body and soul became one again,

his Five Energies Converging Form was restored.

However, for some time, he would no longer be able to cultivate further using the Creation Physique’s innate advantages.

Mu Chunyang exhaled deeply.

But his expression remained grim—the wrathfire still clung to him.

In normal times, he could resist Karma Division wrathfire head-on.

But the Immovable Wisdom King Apparition exceeded the Ninth Heaven—it was an outlier.

For now, the True Martial Heavy Water could suppress it.

Mu Chunyang stood, staring toward the Sumeru gateway.

The wrathfire still raged.

But the Buddhist Venerable, perfected in Golden Body, did not pursue him out of Sumeru.

Had he gone to Guixu, or to find Zongjia?

Or… was there another reason?

---

In the northwest frontier of the Great Ming Dynasty,

Confucian essence surged skyward, not lively, but solid and orderly.

Ink and brushstrokes wove together, forming a long, winding wall—

a Great Wall of Confucian Script.

Above it, essence surged like a barrier, separating heaven and earth.

Though the colorless wrathfire had not yet reached this point, the Ming court had already begun fortifying the entire region.

The wrathfire originating from Sumeru now spread for thousands of miles, refusing to die out.

The Ming Dynasty, defeated in the Western Regions, could no longer mount a counterattack.

Despite the empire’s strength, this defeat had shaken even its highest officials.

Many began to suspect—

there was a force in Sumeru stronger than anyone had expected.

Fortunately, after a period of anxiety, they found that no one pursued them into the Ming Realm.

This granted a moment of relief.

Even as defenses strengthened, the imperial court machinery kept turning.

Though the fate of Chief Minister Chen Yu remained uncertain, it was clear—

his end was sealed.

Vice Minister Zhou Mingzhe succeeded him as the new Chief Minister.

The once-glorious Wu Party began to decline.

Thanks to Chao Feng’s oversight, they didn’t collapse entirely.

But the political stage now belonged to Zhou Mingzhe, Xi Zhichang, and the Chu Party.

Still, Zhou Mingzhe’s position was not easy.

He had planned for Chen Yu’s potential failure.

But the damage extended beyond the Wu Party—it impacted the entire Great Ming Dynasty.

What he inherited was a complete mess.

But... could that distant vision really be realized?

At the same time, in the ancestral grounds of the prestigious Xiao Clan of Longxi—a renowned noble family in the Han Dynasty's Human Realm—two figures stood side by side before the clan’s central ancestral shrine.

One man, one woman, both carried an elegant, refined aura.

The man was Xiao Xuan, current clan leader of the Xiao Clan of Longxi.

The woman was Xiao Jing, formerly the clan head of the Xiao Clan in Datong.

“In these turbulent times, the most critical task is the continuation of our clan. I lack talent and knowledge—hardly worthy of the responsibility,” Xiao Xuan said calmly. “The clan must be led by the capable, only then can we survive this era of chaos.”

Among the Han Dynasty’s Human Realm noble clans, only two had produced Ninth Heaven Great Confucian Scholars capable of bringing peace to the world: one from the Ye Clan in Qingzhou, the other from the Yang Clan of Guanzhong.

Xiao Xuan was not one of them.

The surging spiritual energy of the Human Realm offered him a chance to ascend to the Ninth Heaven, but the timing was uncertain.

And the world changed with each breath.

The Datong Xiao Clan had nearly been wiped out, with only Xiao Jing and a few others surviving by sheer luck.

In terms of foundations, they were naturally far weaker than the Xiao Clan of Longxi.

Yet Xiao Xuan was willing to hand over the position of clan leader to Xiao Jing, who had reached the Fourth Layer of the Ninth Heaven.

Merging bloodlines and legacy was no simple task, and there were many complications. But Xiao Xuan felt there was no time to wait.

“Though I am merely a guest here, I offer my help only because the current situation is so dire,” Xiao Jing said, bowing respectfully to Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan solemnly returned the bow.

---

Great Tang Human Realm, Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu.

Lei Jun was currently within the Upper Purity Thunder Altar Grotto-Heaven.

His eyes shimmered again with the light of the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman.

His junior brother Chu Kun had just transmitted the latest updates from the Great Ming’s Human Realm.

“They’re not sending anyone from Sumeru?” Lei Jun mused. “There’s movement in the Barbarian Khanate’s Human Realm too—traces of top Buddhist masters from the Western Region. Seems they’re searching for the Guixu or for Lotus Division Master Zongjia.”

That Venerable Wisdom and Compassion, whose presence was becoming increasingly pronounced across the Great Ming, Great Han, and Barbarian Khanate Realms—if he refrained from retaliating out of mercy, it was still unusual that the task of searching for Zongjia fell to other monks.

The being inside the Guixu might not be simple either.

Having the Venerable personally conduct the rescue would surely be more reliable than sending others.

At present, it seemed more like he couldn’t, rather than wouldn’t.

But...

Just because he couldn’t now didn’t mean he never could.

It was like when Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang had returned safely after a trip to Sumeru—but the officials from the Great Ming got smacked with a brick wall.

In his mind, the glowing sphere remained quiet—no new changes for now... Lei Jun reflected.

Still, preparations had to continue.

Lei Jun remained calm and patient, steadily advancing his plans.

Reports from other realms suggested that Sumeru remained largely peaceful. After punishing Chen Yu and others who trespassed, they’d seemingly let the matter drop—even the Great Ming court had started to relax.

In the Great Tang Human Realm, knowledge of these matters was still limited to a select few.

“Her Majesty the Empress still hasn’t taken that final step?” Chu Kun asked privately.

Lei Jun: “Feels like the opposite of what’s happening in Sumeru. Our Empress can, but doesn’t want to. As for why... maybe she has her reasons.”

Chu Kun sighed: “They say times of upheaval change rapidly. It’s true.”

Lei Jun: “We just focus on what we’re supposed to do.”

Chu Kun: “Yes, Senior Brother.”

As summer approached, Lei Tianshi’s seventy-fourth birthday also drew near.

Around that time, another major event occurred—his direct disciple, Zhuo Baojie, successfully reached the Seventh Heaven.

Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion finally gained a new Upper Heaven Realm cultivator.

And the first among his generation.

In terms of discipleship, Zhuo Baojie became the first of the third generation to reach the Seventh Heaven Tongtian Realm, thus earning the rank of High Priest Elder.

As Lei Jun’s only direct disciple, he was personally granted the ordination and the High Priest rank after reaching this realm.

The little bear, now dressed in a violet Daoist robe, stood before Lei Jun and bowed properly: “It is only thanks to Master’s years of guidance that I could achieve this.”

“Your grandmaster used to say, ‘The master leads you to the path, but cultivation is your own.’ What you’ve achieved is mainly thanks to yourself,” Lei Jun smiled.

Then...

Seeing no one else around, he pulled his violet-robed disciple forward and gave him a playful ruffle.

Truth be told, he had a better feel now than when he was in the Middle Heaven.

Clearly expecting this, Zhuo Baojie remained unbothered. He simply adjusted his Daoist headscarf.

Lei Jun laughed: “You’re a High Priest now. Still not thinking about taking in a disciple of your own?”

“I haven’t met someone fated to be my disciple,” Zhuo Baojie replied. “Until then, I’ll just keep focusing on myself, as you and Grandmaster always taught—let it happen naturally.”

Lei Jun looked at him and nodded slowly. “That mindset is ideal.”

Zhuo Baojie: “I understand Master does this for my own good. I often reflect on myself.”

He’d had solid foundations even when he first entered the sect.

In every way, he was a rare genius.

But in terms of progress, especially through the Middle Heaven, his pace was actually slower than some equally gifted human cultivators.

Not because he was lazy or restricted.

But because practicing Daoist arts as a spirit beast differed from human cultivators.

Ordinary Mountain Badgers without special fortune had naturally shorter lifespans than humans.

So Zhuo Baojie faced additional obstacles. Under Lei Jun’s guidance, he chose a steadier path.

In this regard, he resembled Yuan Mobai.

Even Yuan Mobai progressed slower in the early stages, by his own choice.

Even now, in the Upper Heaven, he remained calm and unhurried.

Lei Jun had taken a similar approach with Zhuo Baojie—step-by-step with a solid foundation, which in turn could reduce lifespan-related limitations.

“I was just surprised that Senior Brother Xu is progressing slower than expected,” Zhuo Baojie commented.

Back when Li Zhengxuan had accepted Xu Rui as a disciple, and after his death, Fang Jian took over the teaching.

Xu Rui had talent and worked hard. The Mansion didn’t treat him any differently due to his background.

Among their peers, he had joined early and progressed quickly, reaching the Sixth Heaven first.

But he’d stalled there, never attempting the tribulation to the Seventh Heaven.

By age, he was still within the prime century for Middle Heaven cultivation.

But his pace was slow, given his talent.

“Maybe the past still affects him after all?”

Zhuo Baojie murmured: “He thought he didn’t care anymore, but maybe deep down, he still does…”

Lei Jun said calmly: “That’s a hurdle he must cross himself.”

Zhuo Baojie: “Yes, Master.”

Without lifting a hand, Lei Jun’s eyes gathered light and formed a shimmering Mystical Daoist Talisman, which floated in front of Zhuo Baojie.

“The Dao Canon was given to you during the ordination. This talisman is the corresponding mystical method. I’ll explain it now, then you can work on it yourself. Ask me any time if you run into trouble.”

“Yes, Master.” Zhuo Baojie accepted the golden, star-like talisman.

He had already decided on his Life-bound Spell for the Seventh Heaven:

The Life Canon Talisman.

This was practically tradition in their lineage.

He had laid the groundwork using it during his Seventh Heaven breakthrough, and now was the time to formalize it.

Future development would be up to him.

Such was the way of mystical arts.

So for the time being, Elder Zhuo of the newly ordained High Priest rank practiced quietly within the ancestral grounds of Mount Longhu, cultivating his first Life-bound Spell.

Later, the Mansion would assign him new duties.

Meanwhile, news of his ordination and violet robe had already spread far and wide.

The world marveled.

Since Li Song’s death and expulsion from the sect, Mount Longhu’s three most senior elders were Yao Yuan, Yuan Mobai, and Shangguan Ning.

Below them were the younger generation: Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun, Chu Kun, and others.

Now, among the High Priest elders, a third-generation disciple had finally emerged.

“If only Master Xu accepted disciples. By tradition, Tang Zhenren and Lei Tianshi should’ve been hers. Then this would count as a fourth generation High Priest,” said He Dongxing, an elder of the Shushan Sect at the Summit, to his disciple Ji Chuan.

Due to the special backgrounds of Yuan Mobai and Zhuo Baojie, the Shushan elders felt especially moved.

Ji Chuan smiled: “Whether third or fourth gen, they’re all about the same age anyway.”

He Dongxing did some quick math on Yuan Mobai, Xu Yuanzhen, Lei Jun, and Zhuo Baojie: “Yeah…”

“But just think—when Lei Tianshi brought his disciple back from Bashu, that was already nearly fifty years ago,” Ji Chuan said.

He Dongxing sighed differently: “Less than fifty years, and the world has changed so much... Lei Tianshi entered the Dao only fifty-six years ago.”

Ji Chuan nodded: “Yes, not even a full sixty-year cycle.”

He Dongxing calculated silently: “In terms of cultivation years, he’s already caught up to Tang Zhenren.”

Ji Chuan was surprised, then realized: “Right. Both reached the Second Layer of the Ninth Heaven in their fifty-fifth year of cultivation.”

He Dongxing: “So young…”

---

Back at Mount Longhu, Lei Jun continued his quiet cultivation.

But from the Han Human Realm, his Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen sent something back.

Something... like ashes.

“Some findings from Kunlun,” Xu Yuanzhen transmitted. “Likely relics from the days when the Nine Heavens split. They were preserved due to the Kunlun realm, but now that they’ve been retrieved, they need to be used quickly before they vanish.”

Celestial Remnant Ash.

One glance was enough for Lei Jun to recognize this rare treasure—it had immense potential in artifact crafting, possibly enhancing already-refined items. Truly marvelous.

But as Xu Yuanzhen warned, the Celestial Remnant Ash was like dust in the wind—if not used promptly, it would lose all spiritual energy.

“I’ve been busy exploring Kunlun... but it sounds like Sumeru has big moves underway?” Xu Yuanzhen asked. “I think I’ve heard the name Venerable Wisdom and Compassion before.”

Lei Jun: “Despite some uncertainty about his current state, it should be him.”

Xu Yuanzhen: “Interesting. I’ll look into it.”

Then Lei Jun asked suddenly, “Senior Sister, do you think the old Mount Longhu before it went into hiding knew that the Sumeru Treasury Division was backed by Venerable Wisdom and Compassion?”

Xu Yuanzhen: “That... is exactly what I want to find out.”