Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 409: The Three Layers of the Nine Heavens, the Five Spirits and the Five Qi

Xu Yuanzhen went off to handle her own affairs.

Lei Jun sent all the latest updates to his little senior sister, Tang Xiaotang, who was currently in the human realm of the foreign Khanate.

Over there, Tang Xiaotang had already noticed the presence of high monks from Mount Sumeru, searching for the Gui Xu and the Lotus Division Master, Zongjia.

“What a shame. The first person to surpass the Ninth Heaven in the current world isn’t someone from our era, but an old monk from many years ago,” Tang Xiaotang remarked, somewhat regretful.

Lei Jun replied, “The Venerable Sage of Wisdom became renowned back during the Han Dynasty before the historical divergence. The fact that he's still alive is not something to be taken lightly.”

When his name shook the land back then, he was already beyond the level of any ordinary cultivator newly entering the immortal realm.

That massive upheaval at the end of the Han Dynasty must have dealt him a heavy blow; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone completely off the radar for so long.

But now that so many experts of the Great Ming Dynasty had all fallen inside Mount Sumeru, it was clear the Buddhist Venerable was still incredibly powerful.

Just from how the Ming forces had managed to beat down three of the five divisions of the Sumeru Vajra Realm, one could see the sharpness of the Ming Dynasty’s combined might once they set aside internal strife.

And yet, in the end, they supposedly suffered near-total annihilation.

The Venerable Sage of Wisdom may have been forced to manifest early and was now in poor condition, unable to leave Mount Sumeru for the time being.

But even so, Mount Sumeru was now unquestionably an impenetrable fortress.

The other high monks could move about freely and gather forces elsewhere.

In that case, even if the Venerable doesn’t come out, the Sumeru experts active outside could still form an intimidating force.

Tang Xiaotang didn’t seem too bothered by it.

In fact, she was even curious to see the show when Sumeru tried to fish people out of Gui Xu.

She was just hesitant because she hadn’t yet captured Li Yuanheng.

Lei Jun, meanwhile, remained on Mount Longhu.

He began nurturing the remnant of the Yuan Tian that Xu Yuanzhen had someone deliver back, trying to prolong its vitality while also making use of the spiritual item to refine magical artifacts.

First up, of course, was the Tianshi Seal.

Under Lei Jun’s mana, streaks of light condensed into talismans.

These talismans hovered mid-air, gradually gathering together and forming into a massive cauldron-like structure of radiant brilliance.

Lei Jun tossed the Yuan Tian Remnant into it.

As if ashes were reigniting, specks of starlight began to emerge.

Within the cauldron formed by Lei Jun’s talismanic arts, the Tianshi Seal appeared.

There, the Yuan Tian Remnant ignited once more, merging with the Nine Abyss True Flame, and beams of green light shot up into the sky.

The jade-white Tianshi Seal floated at the center, its surface beginning to glow with starlike brilliance.

Though dazzling, Lei Jun used the furnace fire to strip those lights from the seal.

At this moment, it was as if the Tianshi Seal was undergoing another round of tempering.

Lei Jun quietly observed while adjusting the fire and keeping control of the process.

Overall, the Tianshi Seal only improved marginally.

Not because the Yuan Tian Remnant was ineffective, but because after generations of nurturing by past Tianshis, the seal had already reached a nearly flawless state.

There might be stronger magical artifacts in the world, but for the Tianshi Seal itself, there were no obvious flaws left—it had been refined to near perfection.

To further improve something already at such a high level was always the hardest.

After this new round of refining, the seal’s spiritual resonance had become more vibrant.

Without changing its fundamental structure or adding new materials, the artifact was now essentially at its peak form.

Lei Jun calmly stored away the Tianshi Seal.

Then he placed his Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle of Supreme Purity into the cauldron for another round of refining using the Nine Abyss True Flame and the Yuan Tian Remnant.

Compared to the heavily refined Tianshi Seal, Lei Jun’s personal Dao Foundation artifact was intricate but still relatively underdeveloped.

That also meant it had far more room to grow.

Here, the power of the Yuan Tian Remnant truly shone.

The green-straw threads of the Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle writhed like dragons in the fire-filled cauldron.

It was one of Lei Jun’s most practical treasures—not only superb for concealment, but it also had decent defensive capabilities.

However, in terms of protection, it couldn’t quite match the Tianshi Robe, which had been refined and studied over generations.

In terms of defense, the Tianshi Robe still held the top spot in the Tianshi Mansion on Mount Longhu.

Now, thanks to the re-refinement using the Yuan Tian Remnant, the most notable improvement in the Treasure Mantle was a clear enhancement of its defensive powers.

Over time, this improvement would only become more apparent, eventually catching up to the long-refined Tianshi Robe.

Lei Jun didn’t bother keeping track of time—he just focused on refining.

Later, once he was done refining the Treasure Mantle, he planned to do the same with the Celestial Bamboo of Jade Supreme Purity.

He already had a plan in mind: enhance the artifact’s offensive capabilities.

This artifact was especially effective in targeting an opponent’s soul.

After fusing it with the Profound Darkness Dust and Nine Heavens Heart Thunder, the bamboo could now phase between solid and incorporeal states, bypassing layers of barriers to strike the enemy's soul.

Typically, even a single strike would leave an ordinary cultivator debilitated, if not shatter their soul outright.

But some opponents had extremely resilient souls.

Without some setup beforehand, even if they were struck directly, they’d fare better than most.

Like recently, when Emperor Li Hang of the Song Dynasty’s Mortal Daoist Nation, who had just projected his Nascent Yang Spirit in an attempt to seize the Tianshi Seal, got swatted back by Lei Jun.

With cultivation at the fourth layer of the Ninth Heaven, Li Hang hadn’t yet formed the Five Energies Converging Body, but his Nascent Yang Spirit was already nearly as durable as a physical Golden Core.

Lei Jun wasn’t focused on Li Hang alone.

Nor was he just targeting alchemists of the Daoist Golden Core Sect.

He also considered Buddhist cultivators from the Precepts Tradition, who were known for their powerful souls.

Although they weren’t immediate enemies, Lei Jun wanted to be prepared.

He already had a possible solution. Maybe not a perfect fix in one shot, but it should help.

He called it the Twin Poles Sea Eye.

Having cultivated the Threefold Elixir Qi and entered the Great Ascension Dao Domain, Lei Jun had developed this new technique.

It was an evolution from the Magnetic Sea in his Divine Court Universe and the Magnetic Star Path now present in his Dao Domain.

The concept was all about accumulating power, then releasing it in a sudden burst—complementing the Threefold Light and Mist and the Two-Element Celestial Physique.

Although it could only be used inside his Dao Domain, the Twin Poles Sea Eye empowered not only flying swords and refined metals, but all of Lei Jun’s spells and techniques.

Once he finished refining the Treasure Mantle, he planned to combine this power with the Yuan Tian Remnant to further refine the Celestial Bamboo.

After that would come the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity.

Lei Jun maintained calm, cultivating quietly and refining his artifacts.

Time slipped by.

He soon turned seventy-five.

Even so, he continued to fulfill his duties as Tianshi—managing the sect, instructing disciples.

As autumn turned to winter and the new year neared, Tianshi Lei presided over another Initiation Ceremony.

After the ritual, he didn’t rush back to seclusion.

Instead, now that he had reached the Seventh Heaven, Zhuo Huajie emerged from solitary cultivation and followed his master Lei Jun to the entrance of a grotto.

There, Lei Jun’s senior brother from the same lineage, Wang Guiyuan, was waiting.

Lei Jun stood at the center, with Wang Guiyuan, dressed in dark red Daoist robes, standing half a step behind him.

Though Zhuo Huajie wore the purple robe of a High Priest, he stood another step behind, silently and respectfully behind his master and martial uncle.

Soon, the grotto trembled and finally opened.

“Boundless Longevity and Fortune. Congratulations, Master, on achieving the realm of Great Ascension Sage,” Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan said in unison.

Behind them, Zhuo Huajie also bowed properly and offered congratulations to his grandmaster.

From within the grotto emerged a Daoist in purple robes, appearing no older than twenty, wearing a gentle smile that radiated warmth like spring sunshine.

It was Yuan Mobai.

“Master,” he first saluted Lei Jun according to formality, then smiled. “There were many twists and turns, but it all came together in the end.”

Lei Jun responded, “Third Brother couldn’t leave the Great Ming at the moment and couldn’t return, but he’s truly happy for you.”

As he spoke, he took out a Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman.

Sure enough, Chu Kun’s voice came through: “Boundless Longevity and Fortune. Congratulations, Master, on achieving the realm of Great Ascension Sage!”

Yuan Mobai smiled and replied, “Tell Chongguang to stay sharp over there.”

Everyone entered the grotto.

Though Yuan Mobai was now facing the current Tianshi—his own disciple—he remained properly respectful.

Lei Jun, meanwhile, was far more relaxed before his old master than usual.

After some small talk, he asked curiously, “Master, how’s your third life-bound divine ability coming along?”

Unlike most cultivators, Yuan Mobai had already laid the groundwork for his next life-bound ability before even crossing his tribulation.

It was part of his cultivation process.

He always emphasized to Lei Jun and the others that the most suitable divine abilities were those that fit oneself.

So he never practiced the Yin Fire Tiger or Yang Thunder Dragon.

His second life-bound ability, the Nine-Turn Nine-Refinement Commanding Canon, and now this third one were all his own creations.

Back when he advanced from the Seventh to the Eighth Heaven, he already had the embryonic form of his second ability.

Now, as he stepped into the Ninth Heaven, the same was true.

The Mountain Pí possessed innate control over water and fire.

Yuan Mobai’s third divine ability drew from this, abandoning the usual Mount Longhu paths of yang lightning and yin fire in favor of a more suitable water-fire yin-yang approach.

While traveling with Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, and Chu Kun, he had always sought out special spirit fires and water veins.

“I call it the *Yin-Yang Calamity-Dissolving Talisman,” Yuan Mobai said.

“And the manifested form is known as the *Yin-Yang Star Sovereign Apparition.”

This time, instead of entering the usual Celestial Thunder Grotto or the Ten Thousand Methods Altar, Lei Jun activated his Great Ascension Dao Domain.

Though the grotto space seemed small, the Xuanhuang Cosmos within held boundless potential.

In the vast black void of the universe, black and white energy swirled around Yuan Mobai’s body.

Four streams split off—black flames met white waters, and black waters met white flames.

Together, they formed a giant Taiji diagram in black and white.

From it, a massive figure stepped forth.

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.

Wang Guiyuan tightened his face, hiding his reaction.

Zhuo Huajie was stunned on the spot.

Because the figure, aside from its enormous size, looked strikingly like Elder Zhuo of the Tianshi Mansion—before he took human form.

It was an enormous panda.

But not the cuddly kind—instead, it radiated overwhelming presence. Black and white fire and water intertwined all over its massive body.

And beneath that surface, Lei Jun and the others could sense power and brilliance like starlight, ready to burst forth.

Just like Yuan Mobai himself.

“The Yin-Yang Star Sovereign Apparition lives up to the name,” Lei Jun remarked calmly. “But just like how the Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Apparition is often called the Yang Thunder Dragon, and the Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor Apparition is known as the Yin Fire Tiger, maybe we should give yours a nickname too… like… Yin-Yang Panda?”

Wang Guiyuan turned his head away immediately.

Behind him, Zhuo Huajie had been wide-eyed, staring at the panda. Now, hearing this, he glanced back at his master with an expression that all but said:

You’re the Tianshi. A true titan of the Dao. Can you please act like it?

From the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman still echoing with Chu Kun’s voice came the sound of repeated coughing.

Elder Chu didn’t need to guess what his senior brother, the Sect Leader, was about to say next.

Because he was thinking the exact same thing.

He just wouldn’t dare say it out loud like Lei Jun did…

The calmest one of all was Yuan Mobai.

“You…”

Looking at his own enormous Yin-Yang Star Lord Apparition, then at Lei Jun, who wore a solemn and serious expression, he could only let out a sigh in the end.

"Master, with your Yin-Yang Star Lord Apparition looking like that, even if I don't say anything, others outside will still bring it up..." Lei Jun showed not a hint of embarrassment.

With three generations present, after exchanging a few lighthearted remarks, Yuan Mobai turned the topic to the current state of affairs outside.

Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan took turns recounting the major people and events of the past few years.

Yuan Mobai listened thoughtfully and said, “The Tang Mortal Realm has been calm and stable in recent years, enjoying a rare opportunity for recovery and respite. But elsewhere, turmoil has never stopped, and these undercurrents are gradually gathering strength. Sooner or later, they will inevitably spread to Tang...”

Lei Jun replied, “This disciple shares the same assessment. For now, the best we can do is focus on cultivating ourselves diligently.”

As Yuan Mobai said, ever since the Battle of Luoyang, the Tang Mortal Realm had entered a rare period of peace.

Within the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu, things were no different.

Not only were Zhuo Huajie and Yuan Mobai engrossed in cultivation and breaking through their limits, but many others in the mansion were also dedicating themselves to quiet cultivation.

The prolonged surge of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy in the Tang Mortal Realm was a rare opportunity for cultivators, one everyone hoped to seize.

Right after Yuan Mobai reached the Great Ascension Realm, congratulations poured in from all over. Among them, Zhang Jingzhen, a fellow disciple of the Tianshi Mansion, also returned from Datong to the mortal world.

After congratulating her Martial Uncle Yuan Mobai on his progress, Zhang Jingzhen officially reported back and began her own closed-door cultivation.

She was preparing for her breakthrough to the Eighth Heaven.

Though she wouldn’t claim absolute certainty, she felt more confident this time than she did moving from the Sixth Heaven to the Seventh.

Despite that being the dividing line between the Middle Three Heavens and the Upper Three Heavens, breakthroughs became exponentially more difficult the further one progressed.

Yet Zhang Jingzhen herself had changed since then.

Ever since she let go of certain attachments, she had faintly felt a growing inner peace—which turned out to be beneficial to her cultivation.

Not only had Lei Jun, but even Chu Kun, surpassed her and reached the Eighth Heaven first. But Zhang Jingzhen's state of mind was steady and unshaken.

She continued to cultivate at her own pace.

If anyone in the outside world had stirred something within her, it wasn’t Chu Kun, nor even Chen Yi, who had reportedly appeared in Dihai in recent years.

It was Han Qingtao, the so-called Western White Emperor of the Daoist Nation in the Ming Mortal Realm, and former head of the Shushan Sect of the Ming Dynasty.

As a senior elder of the Tianshi Mansion, Zhang Jingzhen had access to most external intelligence and secrets.

Learning about the Daoist Nation in the Ming Realm was no problem for her.

Upon hearing of Han Qingtao, Zhang Jingzhen was filled with emotion.

It was as if she were looking at a fully enhanced version of herself.

Talent, accomplishments, even ambition.

Both were noble-born women. Both had taken a different path to join a Daoist Holy Land. Both sought to stand out on this alternate road.

In some ways, Zhang Jingzhen had failed—and let go.

Han Qingtao had succeeded. But what the future held for her was still unclear.

Zhang Jingzhen asked herself: if she had never let go and then learned of Han Qingtao’s achievements—would she have felt envy or longing?

Would she have thought: That’s the version of me I always dreamed of becoming?

She gently shook her head and cleared away the wandering thoughts.

Right now, that woman sought to establish a Daoist Nation, just like Huang Xuanpu once coveted the Ten Thousand Methods Sect Altar and the Tianshi Seal—an emerging threat to her sect.

And as for Zhang Jingzhen, even if she was not yet her equal in strength, they were irreconcilably opposed—like ice and fire.

Her sole focus now was refining her cultivation.

Zhang Jingzhen steadied her mind and entered a new round of closed-door seclusion.

Closed death seclusion.

When Lei Jun and the senior figures of the mansion received her notice, they all gave their approval without hesitation.

He himself also stayed focused, using the power of the Remnants of Yuantian to nurture and refine his artifacts.

Time passed unnoticed during cultivation.

Summer arrived, and Lei Jun celebrated his seventy-sixth birthday.

As the new year approached, he presided over the once-every-six-years Talisman Conferral Ceremony.

Aside from Zhang Jingzhen, Ke Sicheng also declared his entry into closed death seclusion.

He had finally begun his assault on the Seventh Heaven—a bit later than Liu Xiao and Zhuo Huajie, but he had taken that crucial step forward.

As the Tianshi, Lei Jun was well aware of the cultivation progress of his fellow disciples.

Among the younger disciples, Qin Caiwei and her master Luo Haoran, along with Xu Rui and his former mentor Fang Jian, were all currently at the Sixth Heaven.

As their cultivation deepened, they were also preparing to break into the Seventh.

Xu Rui had once been in the lead.

But for various reasons, he now remained stuck at the peak of the Dao Seal Stage of the Sixth Heaven, unable to take the final step.

Of the others, aside from Ke Sicheng, who had already entered seclusion, it was Qin Caiwei—outshining even her predecessors—who seemed closest to the Seventh Heaven.

She had not yet returned to the Tang Mortal Realm from her trip to Datong.

However, she recently sent a classified report to the mansion, mentioning she had inadvertently obtained a Talisman Decree, possibly related to the Ancient Talismanic Branch. Not daring to make decisions on her own, she sent it back to the sect for their head’s judgment.

Lei Jun weighed the talisman in his hand, lost in thought.

“…Senior, are you heading back to the Han Mortal Realm anytime soon?” Qin Caiwei spoke softly, almost as if talking to herself.

A voice answered—but only she could hear it: “Not for now. But in a few days, I might make another trip there.”

Qin Caiwei murmured, “So the Heavenly Palace’s former faction… I never imagined such an existence. That great catastrophe at the end of the Han Dynasty—was it truly caused by them? It’s hard to imagine the level of power they wielded…”

“The Heavenly Palace’s former faction is a broad term. Countless new members joined their ranks over time. Without that, how could the catastrophe have spread so far? Of course, in this era, those ‘newcomers’ are now all ancient relics.”

Qin Caiwei said, “Even you, Senior…”

Realizing her slip, she quickly shut her mouth.

The other party didn’t mind. “There were traitors among the Heavenly Palace remnants. If not for that, they might have truly succeeded.”

Qin Caiwei asked curiously, “What happened to them? I mean… are any of them still around today?”

“It’s hard to say for sure right now. But as the spiritual energy tide continues to rise, some survivors have begun to stir. Soon, their presence will become increasingly obvious.”

“Hmm…” Qin Caiwei hesitated. “Senior… I wonder if I…”

“You want to tell your sect what you’ve heard?”

Qin Caiwei replied, “My master, my Martial Uncle the Sect Leader, and other seniors and fellow disciples—they’re all good people… But I’m worried I might expose your secret.”

“It’s fine now,” the voice said. “Besides, this generation of Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion is young but has broad vision. Say what you want to them—it doesn’t matter.”

Qin Caiwei let out a breath of relief. “Thank you, Senior!”

The camouflaging of the talisman decree was also done by that person.

Qin Caiwei didn’t mention anything about the person themselves—only wrote down what she’d heard about the Heavenly Palace remnants and the catastrophe at the end of the Han Dynasty, claiming she had stumbled upon an ancient decree and was requesting the sect’s guidance.

---

Later…

“This was made using Artifact Refining Sect methods.” Lei Jun handed the talisman decree to Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen, who had just returned from the Han Mortal Realm.

After examining it, Xu Yuanzhen said with interest, “I had a feeling something was off before—looks like this was the missing piece.”

Lei Jun asked, “So this was someone who existed before the Han Dynasty catastrophe, someone beyond the Ninth Heaven?”

Xu Yuanzhen nodded. “Yes, and most likely connected to Kunlun.”

Lei Jun asked, “So behind Han’s Mount Longhu, are there also beings beyond the Ninth Heaven?”

Xu Yuanzhen raised the talisman in her hand. “Something like that. But this and that—two completely different individuals.”

Lei Jun nodded slightly, falling into thought. Still, he didn’t question Qin Caiwei directly about any of it.

Right now, what caught his attention was the mention of the Heavenly Palace’s former faction in the talisman.

“Their plan fell apart due to betrayal,” Xu Yuanzhen said with a smile. “Sounds about right.”

She didn’t dig into Qin Caiwei’s actions either.

“One thing at a time. Kunlun can wait,” she said rapidly. “The ritual formation I set up is still slowly deducing outcomes—soon we’ll know more.”

“As for Sumeru, I’m heading over to see Xiaotang, check some things with those monks.”

“And last time, I misjudged outside Guixu. I’ll swing by again while I’m at it.”

Lei Jun said, “Senior Sister, wait—take Bao Bao with you.”

Looking at Xu Yuanzhen, he added, “Just Bao Bao. I’ll be sending Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo and the Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle of Supreme Purity to Little Senior Sister, and having her return the Tianshi Sword and Tianshi Robe.”

He had already re-refined the bamboo and the treasure mantle.

There were still some remnants of Yuantian, so if he moved quickly, he could also refine and nurture the Tianshi Sword and Robe.

These two, like the Tianshi Seal, had been purified over many years, now nearly flawless.

But precisely because of that, every bit of refinement was even more precious.

With the Tianshi Three Treasures reunited, Lei Jun had some plans in mind he wanted to try.

Ever since his comprehension reached the Clear Tranquility level, moments of inspiration came more often. Now that his comprehension had risen to the Natural level, such insights came almost effortlessly.

The Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle, after refinement, was nearly as protective as the Tianshi Robe.

And Tang Xiaotang, facing Li Yuanheng, needed something special—not brute force, but countering the unpredictable nature of his witchcraft and constant shifting.

The Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo, with its targeted effect on the soul, would be just as useful as the Tianshi Sword.

Thus, Lei Jun instructed Zhuo Huajie to go via Dihai to the foreign Khanate Mortal Realm, and retrieve the sword and robe from Tang Xiaotang.

Though the journey might not be smooth, with Xu Yuanzhen accompanying him, all would go well.

With the Tianshi Sword and Robe back at the mountain, the Tianshi Three Treasures were whole once again.

Lei Jun continued using the Nine Abyss True Flame to refine the remaining Yuantian ashes and nurture his artifacts.

At the same time, he kept building up his Threefold Elixir Qi, making his cultivation foundation ever stronger and more profound.

---

Meanwhile, in the Han Mortal Realm…

Sumeru underwent tremendous change.

Although Venerable Shan Zhihui had not physically manifested in the mortal world—nor had Vandato, Head of the Treasury Division—the Sumeru monks of the Treasury Division no longer maintained their previously withdrawn posture.

This affected the Han Mortal Realm greatly. Not only did open conflicts intensify, but hidden undercurrents became even more turbulent.

In Chang’an, capital of the Han Dynasty…

Inside the imperial inner palace…

A grand and dazzling opera performance played out—completely disconnected from the tense atmosphere of the outside world.

The man watching showed no sign of discomfort.

Naturally, neither did anyone around him.

Because this man was the current Emperor of the Han Dynasty: Emperor Xiang Chengyuan.

Due to various historical developments, the Han imperial clan remained relatively powerful in this realm.

Though there were currently twelve noble houses, they did not dominate the court like in the early Tang era, when emperors and nobles ruled together.

Back in his prime, Emperor Chengyuan did possess the demeanor of a ruler capable of commanding the world.

But with age, he had grown increasingly muddled and indulgent.

Now, he was lost in pleasure and utterly incompetent.

At this moment, he slouched, half-asleep.

Even the operas he once loved seemed to no longer hold his attention.

A scholarly-looking young official approached after receiving permission to enter.

The emperor waved lazily. “Whatever it is, speak later.”

The young man was none other than Fang Junmei, who had previously been sent to Datong.

He bowed respectfully and stepped back to wait.

When the opera ended and the performers had received their rewards and withdrawn…

One woman remained.

The palace staff barely reacted—this was common.

Her name was Chen Xiao, the star of the troupe, and currently the Emperor’s favored performer.

Yes—these days, the emperor rarely attended court.

His favorites now included not only sycophants like Fang Junmei, but also a host of actors and flatterers.

All petty opportunists.

But the emperor didn’t see anything wrong.

He slumped deeper in his seat and asked drowsily, “So what’s so urgent?”

Fang Junmei respectfully replied, “Your Majesty, you previously ordered me to compile a list of cultivators within the Han Realm who have the potential to break into the Ninth Heaven. I’ve made some progress.”

In truth, he’d made more than “some” progress.

The list was detailed and precise.

Flattery may have gotten Fang Junmei his position—but it wasn’t all he knew how to do.

"Recite." The Han Emperor closed his eyes to rest.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Fang Junmei immediately responded, "As of now, the seven most promising figures are:

Chen Lingfeng, current Sect Master of the Shushan Sect.

Pan Hailin, Elder Master of Daoist Rituals from Mount Longhu.

Master Xinguan, Abbot of Xuanyan Temple.

Xiao Xuan, former Patriarch of the Xiao Clan from Longxi, who recently stepped down.

Lin Xiaoyi, Patriarch of the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou.

Additionally, although the current Patriarch of the Li Clan in Luoyang is advanced in years, his eldest son Li Feiyang is in his prime and also stands a strong chance of ascending to the ‘Pacifying the World’ Realm.

Lastly, there’s also Juefa, the Demon Monk—a fellow disciple of Juexiang, the Demon Abbot of the Vast Void Temple."

The Han Emperor gave a faint "Mm": "And the others?"

Fang Junmei replied, "In recent years, Pure Yang Palace hasn’t produced any exceptional Daoist talents. Its Sect Master, Daoist Deng Lai, though powerful, is already advanced in age. Even with the current surge in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, the odds of Master Deng achieving the Great Ascension Daoist Sage realm remain slim. It’s a similar story for the Buddhist Bodhi Monastery."

There were some things Fang Junmei chose not to elaborate on.

For example, thanks to the surge of Spiritual Energy, young cultivators were quickly surpassing their predecessors. Pan Hailin of Mount Longhu needed no further mention. Over at the Shushan Sect, there was also the renowned prodigy Yu Boyan, whose cultivation was advancing rapidly.

Even if not immediately, these individuals would soon become pillars of their respective factions.

But if asked, “Who among the younger generation in the Han Realm is the most dominant?”

The answer was obvious. That individual was also in Chang’an.

Not far from here—in the Eastern Palace.

In recent years, it had been the Crown Prince who remained stationed in Chang’an all year round.

Whereas the current Han Emperor, Xiang Chengyuan, spent most of his time enjoying life in various palaces outside the capital, returning to Chang’an only occasionally.

"In addition, there is another matter, Your Majesty. The surge in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy benefits us human cultivators greatly. However, on the flip side, demonic aura and foul qi are also starting to proliferate, and more high-level monsters are beginning to appear..." Fang Junmei reported.

The Han Emperor replied casually, "Let my son handle those."

He waved a hand, "Yes, alright, I get it. I’m tired now. That’s enough for today. You all discuss among yourselves and bring me a plan later."

With that, he rose and walked deeper into the palace.

Fang Junmei bowed respectfully, his face impassive.

But his heart was filled with worry:

His Majesty’s condition had clearly deteriorated in recent years…

“Thank you, Master Fang.”

Once the Emperor left, a woman named Chen Xiao spoke coolly.

She was no ordinary performer.

Fang Junmei certainly did not treat her lightly. "Please."

If he wasn’t mistaken, this woman was of the Witch Sect.

A major upheaval had reportedly occurred in Sumeru, and they were still verifying whether the news was true and what exactly had happened.

If that enlightened Venerable had really left Sumeru and descended into this realm, what would that mean for the Han Empire?

And what would the Witch Sect choose to do?

Furthermore, there was Datong—and the other realm connected through it…

---

Meanwhile, in the Tang Realm—the other world lingering in Fang Junmei’s thoughts.

Within the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu.

Lei Jun sat inside the Ten Thousand Methods Sect Altar.

In front of him, a massive alchemical furnace pulsed with light. At this moment, it crumbled with a thunderous sound, breaking into countless talismans before dispersing as radiant light.

The verdant Nine Abyss True Flame within the furnace receded.

The Remnant Ashes of Yuan Tian had been fully consumed—no trace remained.

Once the green fire faded, three great treasures reappeared in the altar, aligned in midair: the Tianshi Seal, the Tianshi Sword, and the Tianshi Robe.

Lei Jun silently operated his cultivation technique, his mana quietly withdrawing.

His spirit was now fully linked with the three sacred treasures. They subtly resonated with each other, the light on their surfaces flickering in synchronized rhythm.

Two years had passed again.

On the other side, in the foreign realm of the Khanate, Xu Yuanzhen had already gathered vital intelligence on Vandato, head of the Treasure Division, and Jatiluo, head of the Karma Division. Her initial objectives were met.

Her current interest now aligned with theirs: the Return to the Void.

Meanwhile, Tang Xiaotang had uncovered traces of Li Yuanheng.

That Nine Heavens Great Shaman of the Jiuli Tribe, though having reached peak cultivation, continued to lie low.

But Tang Xiaotang had blindsided him with a sneak attack.

Given Li Yuanheng’s compromised condition, he was caught off guard by Tang Xiaotang’s Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo, which shattered his soul. Just as he had barely recovered some vitality, he suffered another crushing defeat.

Now, as Tang Xiaotang pursued him again, his situation was even more precarious.

Lei Jun, however, remained fully immersed in his own cultivation.

Besides the Mysterious Spirit One Qi, his Threefold Elixir Qi had also long reached perfection.

On this day, after a brief exchange with fellow disciples Yuan Mobai and Wang Guiyuan, Lei Jun began a short period of closed-door cultivation.

His Great Ascension Dao Domain expanded in silence, retracted at will, and remained confined to his meditation chamber.

Within the microcosmic Xuanhuang Universe, Lei Jun sat cross-legged in solitude.

The Mysterious Spirit One Qi seemed to condense into earth, solid and heavy, dividing the void into upper and lower realms.

The Threefold Elixir Qi lay buried within the darkness created by that earth, like perfected pills inside the furnace of Heaven and Earth.

Dust of Profound Darkness drifted as Threefold Radiant Clouds swirled.

Nine Heavens Heart Thunder erupted from every direction, while the Poles' Abyssal Eyes surged violently, spewing vast magnetic force that resonated with cosmic star-paths.

A formless power seemed to draw together the inner and outer One Qi and Threefold Qi that formed the foundation of the land.

The ground cracked. A new upward force emerged, hinting at ascension.

At that moment, it was as if the vast sky emerged above the solid earth.

This was the inevitable passage from the Second to the Third Layer of the Ninth Heaven Realm in the Talismanic Daoist Branch.

However, this did not mean Lei Jun had fully reached the Third Layer yet.

The ascending sky was still turbulent, the five directions in disarray.

Lei Jun calmly stabilized his state. Almost instantly, the newly formed chaotic space began to settle.

It felt as though a greater will and force enforced order.

That will and force—were Lei Jun’s own.

Once the five-direction turbulence subsided entirely, a thread of multicolored radiance sparkled.

At its root lay a wondrous stream of qi, like the very embodiment of five-elemental creation.

It reminded Lei Jun of the Great Five-Element Creation Qi he once obtained in his early years.

Yet, this was distinct.

This stream was called Five Spirits and Five Qi.

Mastering it marked Lei Jun’s successful advancement.

He had officially reached the Third Layer of the Ninth Heaven Talismanic Realm.

Lei Jun continued his cultivation, refining the Five Spirits and Five Qi to make them more abundant and substantial.

Unlike the heavy One Qi or the agile Threefold Qi, the Five Spirits and Five Qi were marked by absolute stability—calming all directions and the center.

As the Five Spirits and Five Qi became denser, Lei Jun began their further refinement.

Massive amounts of that Qi were compressed inward.

Through repeated tempering and transformation, a new form emerged:

A five-colored cloud.

Though still small, it already displayed extraordinary beauty.

People called it the Five-Colored Cloud.

Though it could only be manifested within the Great Ascension Domain, its defensive strength was so great that it earned universal praise.

But for Lei Jun, forming the Five-Colored Cloud was still not the end.

Seated in the void, within the swirling qi of the Xuanhuang Universe, a grand Taiji Diagram formed behind him.

The Five-Colored Cloud rested on one side.

On the other—he placed the Profound Underworld Water Marrow.

The two exuded an aura of complete opposition.

And under this mutual influence, the Water Marrow began to change.

Ironically, the vibrant, shifting cloud symbolized Lei Jun’s inner stability, while the single-colored, solitary black Water Marrow—representing the end of all things—held his drive for transformation and innovation.

Yet, their current fusion was far from seamless.

Lei Jun contemplated carefully—this was not as easy as when he mastered the Heart Thunder or Abyssal Eyes.

Those two breakthroughs had resonated naturally with their counterparts, perfectly matching Lei Jun’s philosophical breakthroughs on life, death, and the force of accumulation.

Those had been one-time fated opportunities.

But this time, if he wanted further transformation through the Five-Colored Cloud, he’d have to abandon the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book.

Its inner spirit resonated perfectly with both the Five Qi and the Cloud.

But Lei Jun wasn’t ready to give that up.

Instead, he aimed to refine the Five-Colored Cloud itself to create a new counterpart—Solitary Aspect Water—through his Two-Element Celestial Physique.

He wasn’t in a hurry.

He continued his current cultivation and daily routines, slowly refining and reconciling the Five-Colored Cloud with the evolving concept of Solitary Water, awaiting the day he would fully succeed.

This year, he was seventy-eight.

Exactly sixty years had passed since he was first brought back to Mount Longhu and began his Daoist path.