Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 412: The Heavenly Master Kills the Human Emperor in Penglai

Penglai, as one of the Nine Heavens, has enjoyed enduring fame for many years.

When Lei Jun entered it, it felt like stepping into an entirely different world of endless oceans.

Above the vast blue sea, countless islands, large and small, were scattered like stars in the sky.

Some of the larger ones were as expansive as continents, with numerous immortal mountains rising from the land. Mist curled around them, and spiritual light flickered throughout.

At a glance, the scene carried a hint of desolation.

Back in the days of the great catastrophe that struck Heaven and Earth, both the mortal realm and the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were affected. Penglai, too, seemed to have suffered greatly.

Though it still retained its immortal beauty, it had not yet returned to the glorious state described in ancient texts.

Back when Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen had entered, Penglai had experienced a major upheaval.

It seemed the current appearance of Penglai was still tied to that incident.

Thick clouds and mist blanketed the sea, obstructing not only the view but also cutting off a cultivator’s soul-sense.

But such obstacles posed no problem for Lei Jun.

Xu Yuanzhen had once explored Penglai and later shared what she learned with Lei Jun. Thanks to her account, Lei Jun already had a general understanding of Penglai’s environment and geography.

At present, he had also brought the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity into Penglai.

Under its quiet glimmer, the mirror continued to track the location of the Taiyi Innate Tower.

Lei Jun led the way, with Ji Dongquan and Li Miaozhen closely following.

With Lei Jun guiding them, Ye Dongming would arrive later, carrying the Northern Abyss Divine Spear.

At the same time, divine light from the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman swirled in Lei Jun’s eyes. He used it to contact his Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen and Junior Sister Tang Xiaotang, who were currently in the Mortal Realm of the foreign Khanate, to see if they also wanted to visit Penglai.

Lei Jun still remembered how Tang Xiaotang had once grumbled about wanting to go after the Western White Emperor, Han Qingtao.

Back in the Tang Mortal Realm, shortly after reaching the Ninth Heaven, Tang Xiaotang had fought Han Qingtao.

Though she successfully drove her back, Han Qingtao had been quick and cunning, escaping the Tang Realm so fast that Tang Xiaotang had never caught her again.

Last time when Xu Yuanzhen had opened the Penglai gateway, Tang Xiaotang had been busy stirring up trouble with the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru, missing her chance once more.

Lei Jun remembered how much she’d stewed over that.

A certain Tang State Preceptor had definitely brooded on it for a while.

Still, someone else was annoying her even more now.

Compared to Han Qingtao, it was Li Yuanheng and that wretched Grand Shaman from Kongsang who ruined her plans last time that really grabbed her attention.

Xu Yuanzhen simply said, “Penglai, huh? Since the timing works out, I’ll take another look. Last time I passed through, one person there felt a bit... strange.”

Lei Jun asked, “Li Hang? Han Qingtao? Or someone else?”

Xu Yuanzhen replied, “Someone else. I think he called himself the Central Yellow Emperor? I didn’t speak to him directly, but something about him felt off. I didn’t follow up since I got busy elsewhere. This time, I’ll check it out. You go your way, I’ll go mine. No need to wait.”

“All right, Senior Sister, suit yourself.” After finishing the exchange, Lei Jun continued forward.

At the same time, in contrast to Penglai of the Nine Heavens, Yellow Springs—one of the Ten Earths—suddenly stirred.

Lu Changpeng, a High Priest Elder of Inner Shushan left behind to guard Yellow Springs, was surprised to see his Senior Sect Master Ji Yao, who had just recently left, suddenly return.

Ji Yao not only came back himself but also contacted another Great Ascension Daoist of Inner Shushan, Tian Lingfeng, urging him to return from the foreign Khanate’s Mortal Realm as well.

Ji Yao turned to the confused Lu Changpeng and ordered, “Contact that person from the Witch Sect in the Tang Mortal Realm immediately.”

“You mean something’s changed over there?” Lu didn’t dare delay and promptly reached out to their old contact—Zong Han, the Holy Master of the Golden Castle Lineage of the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect.

Back when the Wangchuan Sunken Ark occurred and the Yellow Springs were sealed shut, all communication had been cut off.

Only recently, as Yellow Springs reopened—though still not reconnected with the Tang Realm—Inner Shushan had reestablished contact with Zong Han.

But Zong Han’s situation was hardly optimistic.

With Wei Anchang dead, the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect had undergone massive upheaval.

Zong Han had tried to quietly return to the region but met resistance every time.

Not only were the newly risen Xing Feng and Li Tianqing problematic...

Even Hu Hengyuan, the once-familiar Grandmaster of the Gu Sanctum in Yin Mountain, had become hard to recognize.

Thanks to Sun Li’s influence, the Reincarnation Abyss branch also seemed to be in turmoil.

To Zong Han, even Feng Gui had become hard to deal with.

The Southern Wasteland now felt foreign to him.

Despite seeming peaceful, he found no place he could settle.

What truly alarmed him, though, was how much stronger the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu had grown.

With both old and new enemies applying pressure, Zong Han had been forced to hide in the desolate snow-covered highlands to avoid disaster.

But he had never planned to stay there forever.

As a Southern Wastelander, he had absolute faith in his own power.

Several collaborations with Yellow Springs cultivators had greatly benefited his ghost-path cultivation.

Now, with spiritual energy surging across Heaven and Earth, his cultivation was growing ever steadier.

Though no longer young, Zong Han believed he could still break into the Ninth Heaven realm as a Spirit-Descending Grand Shaman of the Ghost Path, surpassing even old rivals like Hu Hengyuan and Feng Gui.

If he could achieve the Ninth Heaven, he would still be limited in the mortal world—but far more mobile than he was now.

He just needed a chance.

Now, with Yellow Springs reconnected, the weight on his heart finally lifted.

This might be his last chance.

If he could gain something again from Yellow Springs, and had time to prepare, he was confident he could break through the chasm between the Eighth and Ninth Heaven.

Within Yellow Springs...

In Fengdu City...

Tian Lingfeng returned from the foreign Khanate: “Sect Master, what’s the urgent matter?”

Ji Yao now looked contemplative.

After a moment, he said, “I was out seeking opportunities when I stumbled upon a duel between two individuals.”

He turned to Tian Lingfeng and Lu Changpeng. “One of them was the Tang Empress, Zhang Wantong.”

They exchanged surprised looks. “She’s left the Tang Mortal Realm?”

“No doubt about it. It was definitely her.”

Though he hadn’t met Zhang Wantong in person, she had long been a focus of Inner Shushan’s attention.

“And the opponent?”

“Someone from our Daoist ranks, I think. I didn’t approach too closely—didn’t want to risk being seen.”

Partly to avoid being drawn into the fight.

Partly for secrecy.

If the Empress realized she had been spotted outside the Tang Realm, she might become alert and rush back—disrupting their plans.

“The battle was intense. They were clearly locked in a fierce duel.” Ji Yao said gravely, “Which is why we must move—fast!”

Lu Changpeng took a deep breath. “Zong Han said the Three Great Experts of the Tianshi Mansion are all currently unaccounted for. Master Xuanxiaozi recently left with the Three Treasures of the Tianshi!”

Tian Lingfeng frowned. “If their whereabouts are unknown, they could still be in the Tang Realm—could appear anytime…”

Ji Yao: “And what about Chen Donglou?”

Lu Changpeng: “He hasn’t shown up in the Tang Realm for years.”

Ji Yao asked, “According to Zong Han, aside from the Empress and the four newly ascended Great Ascension Daoists of Mount Longhu, how many Ninth-Heaven experts are in the Tang Realm?”

Lu replied, “Two from the imperial family—Shangguan Yunbo and Xiao Xueting.

Three from the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect—each from the Divine Dance, Blood River, and Cursing lineages.

But including Yuan Mobai, the newly ascended Daoist of Mount Longhu, all five are recent entrants into the Ninth Heaven.”

Ji Yao paused and said, “Then let’s go to Xiaoding of Shushan, retrieve the Twin Swords of Purple and Green and other treasures, and return to Yellow Springs. Mount Longhu... is not part of this mission.”

Tian Lingfeng thought it was still risky.

But Lu Changpeng immediately bowed. “Understood, Sect Master.”

Lei Jun was walking across the sea in Penglai when he suddenly sensed something.

Due to the many layers of void separating him from the Tang Mortal Realm, it wasn’t easy to establish contact from his current location.

But as he focused his mind, the divine light of the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman flowed in his eyes and atop the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity that hung high above.

Together, the two lights merged into one, and under their radiance, Lei Jun connected to a secondary setup he had arranged back in the Tang Realm.

In the distant skies of the Tang Mortal Realm, specks of light quietly lit up.

These lights shimmered high above the ground, nearly invisible to the naked eye.

Under the silent guidance of mirror light, they formed delicate silver streams that extended far into the distance.

One point of starlight after another connected like a net, gradually forming a web that covered a vast area.

Although separated by layers of space, the images reflected in the divine glow now appeared clearly before Lei Jun.

He saw that in the Southern Wasteland, at a particular location, the void had begun to ripple, and gray mist surged from the earth.

Though only a projection, and without the tangible chill of that gloomy energy, Lei Jun—who had once walked through Yellow Springs himself—recognized it instantly.

The portal to Yellow Springs had reopened in the Tang Realm.

From within the gateway, faint silhouettes began to emerge.

As the yin aura churned and twisted violently, it was clear the intruders possessed formidable cultivation. Lei Jun calmly cut off the monitoring of that Yellow Springs portal by the light mirrors he had stationed in the mortal realm.

Compared to the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity, those mirrors had the advantage of quantity and range, but were far weaker individually.

Their observational power and stealth were both inferior.

If they kept staring directly at a Ninth-Heaven cultivator, they would easily be noticed.

But even so, they had done their job.

Although Lei Jun had brought the Zhou Heavenly Mirror with him to Penglai, the Starry River Heavenly Net he left behind in the Tang Realm had served its purpose—exactly for situations like this.

Seeing no further developments beyond the Yellow Springs portal, Lei Jun didn’t rush back to the mortal realm just yet.

Instead, he passed the relevant information to his master, Yuan Mobai, who remained at Mount Longhu, and asked him to contact Zhang Hui—who had quietly returned to Luoyang—as well as the cultivators of the Shushan Sect.

Lei Jun himself would later re-expand the Starry River Heavenly Net.

But this time, his target wasn’t the Inner Shushan cultivators of Yellow Springs.

The light mirrors scattered across the land rotated, and soon they locked onto the person Lei Jun was looking for.

The Ghost King Zong Han, Holy Master of the Golden Castle lineage of the Southern Wasteland's Ghost Path.

As expected, this incident was his doing—again—helping to reopen the Yellow Springs portal.

Zong Han was not greedy. After reaping benefits from Yellow Springs, he would always vanish, never cooperating openly with Inner Shushan disciples in the mortal world.

This was why both Lei Jun and the Tang Imperial Family had repeatedly failed to intercept him.

Now that Zong Han had finally shown himself, Lei Jun wasn’t going to let him get away again.

He redirected part of the Starry River Net to focus solely on tracking Zong Han.

Only after making these arrangements did Lei Jun return his attention to Penglai.

The Zhou Heavenly Mirror resumed its soft glow, continuing the search for the Taiyi Innate Tower.

Behind Lei Jun, Li Miaozhen, Ji Dongquan, and the newly arrived Ye Dongming had not noticed anything about the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman’s earlier activation.

Their focus remained on Penglai itself and the goal of locating the Taiyi Innate Tower and other artifacts.

Lei Jun, expression calm, walked confidently among the cloud-shrouded immortal mountains above the Penglai sea.

The Taiyi Innate Tower had fled into Penglai and turned into a stream of light—seemingly vanishing once more.

But for Lei Jun, its location was no longer a mystery.

After a while, Heavenly Master Lei suddenly smiled. “We’re here.”

Ye Dongming looked toward Ji Dongquan.

In Ji Dongquan’s hands was a compass-like artifact that began to tremble slightly.

Moments later, it stabilized—pointing clearly to this very place.

The two High Priests from the Tang Shushan Sect finally let out a breath of relief.

Nearby, Li Miaozhen of the Ming Shushan Sect watched the scene silently, deep in thought.

Earlier, this Heavenly Master of Mount Longhu had seemed to specialize in physical cultivation and life-bound arts.

But now, it was clear—his soul and spirit were equally exceptional.

Though he had reached the Ninth Heaven, while Ji Dongquan and Ye Dongming were still in the Eighth, it was surprising that he—rather than them—was the first to sense and find the artifact.

After all, the Taiyi Innate Tower was a treasure of the Tang Shushan Sect. Ji Dongquan and Ye Dongming should have had the closest connection to it.

Yet it was Lei Jun who led the way.

Clearly, whether in spirit or in body, his cultivation was on another level.

As Li Miaozhen pondered this, Ye Dongming stood holding the Northern Abyss Divine Spear, calming down after his initial excitement and scanning the surroundings. “Still no sign of Han Qingtao or the other Dao Nation people…”

Ji Dongquan replied, “Experts from the Ming Dynasty have been entering Penglai non-stop. Han Qingtao and the rest won’t have it easy either.”

As he spoke, his celestial soul left his body and merged with the compass-shaped artifact in his hands.

Then, the compass flew out, transforming into a stream of light as it shot directly into the sea below.

Moments later, the sea surface continued to churn. Threads of light beamed upward, followed by wisps of clear energy rising in a mist, parting the ocean waters.

Amid the swirling mist, a six-story pagoda emerged from the ocean floor, slowly rising.

It was none other than one of the Great Tang Shushan Sect's mountain-guarding treasures—the Taiyi Innate Tower.

Not to mention this treasure left Celestial Summit alongside Fu Dongsen and others back in the day, even if one counted only from when it disappeared overseas, it had been gone for nearly twenty years.

How could Ye Dongming not feel overwhelmed with emotion?

Not just him—even Li Miaozhen of the Ming Shushan Sect, standing nearby, felt a deep resonance.

In some ways, their current situation might not even compare to that of their fellow sect members from the Tang Dynasty back then...

Having found the Taiyi Innate Tower, Lei Jun made no further move. He simply stood by with hands behind his back, smiling quietly.

Suddenly, a subtle shift stirred in his heart, and he slightly tilted his head upward.

From the clouds above, it seemed a faint radiance was shining down—not from the actual sun, but from some kind of spiritual item.

In this location, it was in mutual resonance with the Taiyi Innate Tower. The object had appeared because of the tower, and the tower lingered here because of it... Lei Jun mused.

He guided his mana, transforming it into white vapor that snaked through the sky like a dragon, plucking the source of the radiance from above.

It turned out to be a piece of rare metal shimmering with soft golden light. Its shape was perfectly round, almost like a miniature sun.

Xi He Flowing Gold.

It was similar in nature to the Divine Firmament Flowing Gold Lei Jun had obtained earlier—both were precious metals with mysterious properties.

Although solid and refined in appearance, the metal seemed to be in constant motion and flux.

However, while the Divine Firmament Flowing Gold held thunderous energy, this piece contained Yang energy, radiant and warm like the rising sun.

What caught Lei Jun’s attention was how the spiritual nature of this Xi He Flowing Gold faintly echoed that of the Dark Abyss Water Marrow he had acquired earlier.

He used the Xi He Flowing Gold to channel the spiritual energy of Penglai, nurturing his Five-Colored Clouds.

The Dark Abyss Water Marrow, from the Guixu, worked in contrast—nurturing the Lone Aspect Water.

One warm, one icy.

One stable and enduring, the other heading toward demise.

At this moment, both were contained within Lei Jun’s Great Ascension Dao Domain.

Without activating the Dao Domain outwardly, it was as if Lei Jun had opened a self-contained cosmic void within his body.

Inside this internal universe, vast quantities of Five Spirits and Five Qi surged, circulating between the Five-Colored Clouds and the Lone Aspect Water.

Gradually, the two forces began to balance and harmonize, becoming increasingly complete and integrated.

Lei Jun's face showed no change as he silently watched Ji Dongquan and Ye Dongming retrieve the Taiyi Innate Tower.

Inside his own inner cosmos, transformations continued.

Only now had the Five-Colored Clouds, the product of cultivating the Five Spirits and Five Qi, formally attained their corresponding counterpart—the Lone Aspect Water.

Lei Jun gathered his thoughts. While quietly nurturing his mana, he also activated the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity, sweeping his gaze across the Penglai Sea in search of Han Qingtao and the others.

---

Amid the Penglai Archipelago.

On a celestial mountain, the Southern Red Emperor Li Hang appeared.

Central Yellow Emperor Yan Keji stood solemnly, looking north: “Two Ninth-Heaven Grand Scholars from the Ming Confucian School have chased after Daoist Han into Penglai. If my senses are correct, more top-tier experts are entering as well. Though I’ve tried to counteract this, it’s only a temporary delay.”

Li Hang said grimly, “This is the second time already.”

Last time, Xu Yuanzhen broke into Penglai and even opened a Void Gateway connecting Penglai to the Ming Mortal Realm, causing major upheaval. That, too, had started with Western White Emperor Han Qingtao.

Now, this was the second time.

Even when the Northern Black Emperor Huang Xuanpu perished in the Tang Mortal Realm, it didn’t bring such chaos to Penglai or drag in others.

Li Hang himself had failed to seize the Tianshi Seal in the human world of the barbarian Khanates, but even then, he hadn’t brought Lei Jun, Tang Xiaotang, and others into Penglai.

Han Qingtao had caused repeated trouble. Though Li Hang didn’t say it aloud, he was harboring killing intent.

Their daily interactions might seem cordial, but in truth, they’d never truly seen eye to eye—always watching each other cautiously. Now, being dragged down again, it was the final straw.

Han Qingtao, bold and reckless, was nothing but a walking disaster... Li Hang’s face was clouded.

Yan Keji asked, “Daoist Shen hasn’t arrived yet?”

Li Hang replied, “Doesn’t seem like he’s entered Penglai.”

If Han Qingtao was too restless and prone to stirring trouble, then Eastern Green Emperor Shen Xi was the extreme opposite—too silent and detached.

He often made Han Qingtao, Li Hang, and even the late Huang Xuanpu feel that he wasn’t truly one of them.

Though Shen Xi also studied Heavenly Palace Decrees, ancient Talismanic Traditions, and explored Penglai, he always kept his distance.

Even during group discussions, he remained quiet and uncommitted, going with the flow.

Yan Keji—the Central Yellow Emperor—was the one nobody could see through.

Shen Xi—the Eastern Green Emperor—was the one who didn’t even try to hide his aloofness.

“With the current volatility, we ought to unite. It’s a shame Daoist Shen isn’t here. We can’t wait anymore.”

Yan Keji’s expression was serene as always: “To restore calm to Penglai, we may have to destroy before we rebuild.”

Li Hang: “What do you mean?”

Yan Keji: “Trigger a Penglai Great Tide.”

Unlike the violent regions of Earth Sea, Yellow Springs, or Luoyuan, Penglai, being one of the Nine Heavens, lacked natural defenses that repelled invaders. Its peaceful nature made it easy to access—but that also meant it lacked overwhelming local advantage.

But Yan Keji didn’t speak lightly. So Li Hang replied, “If you have a method, I’ll lend my strength.”

Yan Keji: “Then I shall humbly proceed.”

He closed his eyes and stood still.

Tiny flickers of light began gathering from all directions.

Li Hang watched coldly.

Last time, Yan Keji hadn’t made it back to Penglai in time during Xu Yuanzhen’s incursion. By the time he arrived, everything was already winding down.

Li Hang had always felt Yan Keji was hard to read. Now, seeing him act, he paid close attention.

It resembled the techniques of Lei Alchemy, a sub-branch of Daoist cultivation—but as a Ninth Heaven Fourth Layer cultivator who had already achieved Five Energies Converging to the Origin, Li Hang sensed something off, hidden layers and secrets.

As the old Daoist cast his spell, changes began manifesting across Penglai.

Tides surged, towering waves crashed.

Space-time within Penglai twisted and warped.

It looked like an imitation of Earth Sea or Yellow Springs, but constrained by Penglai’s own nature, the chaos remained relatively contained.

It might not be enough to expel intruders, but it could block more experts from entering from the Ming Mortal Realm.

Waves rolled and space trembled.

Han Qingtao, using her Taiyi Severing Tower Sword and Void-Crossing Shuttle, seized the chance to shake her pursuers and rendezvous with Yan Keji and Li Hang.

“What kind of enemies are we dealing with?” Li Hang asked, suppressing his discontent.

Han Qingtao answered swiftly, “Two Neo-Confucian Grand Scholars. One is Zeng Kui, a 700-year-old who fell out of favor due to political infighting. But recently, the new Chief Minister Zhou Mingzhe pulled him back out. He’s at the peak—Ninth Heaven Fifth Layer, like Chen Yu and Zhou himself.”

They both knew that Neo-Confucian combat strength did not fade with age.

“At present, Zeng Kui remains at full power.”

“The other is Xi Zhichang, Zhou’s student, recently promoted. He’s at the Ninth Heaven Third Layer.”

Han Qingtao added, “There are other Ninth Heaven cultivators held outside for now, but...”

Her eyes darkened: “The one who ruined my plans earlier didn’t seem like a Ming cultivator. More likely from the Tang Mortal Realm. He might’ve entered too, but I can’t confirm.”

Yan Keji said calmly, “Once the tide rises further, none will be able to hide—”

Before he could finish, his expression suddenly changed.

So did Han Qingtao’s—one of her stored spiritual items began surging out of control.

Despite her power, she couldn’t suppress it.

A black shadow slashed out of her Miniature Pouch, breaking free.

It hovered briefly in midair—a strange long saber.

Its design was wild and ferocious, exuding savage power—but entirely jet black, like ink condensed into form.

The Ink Blade pointed straight at Yan Keji.

Li Hang immediately shielded himself, eyes narrowed.

“Wait—it’s a misunderstanding!” Han Qingtao shouted, rushing forward to intercept.

But as Yan Keji’s radiant lights met the blade, a blinding explosion followed.

The previously controlled Penglai Great Tide veered out of control, engulfing even the Immortal Mountain where the three stood.

In a flash, tidal waves surged, space-time turned chaotic.

---

Back in the Penglai Sea, Lei Jun and his group were caught in the tidal surge.

Around him, a Purple Yang Thunder Dragon and an Emerald Infernal Tiger emerged, coiling into a Purple-Green Taiji Diagram, anchoring his body and signaling Ye Dongming and Li Miaozhen to take shelter in the Taiyi Innate Tower with Ji Dongquan.

As the waves surged, the Taiji Diagram and the six-story tower rose and fell together.

Not as fierce as the Earth Sea or Yellow Springs tides—but still a major disruption for one of the Nine Heavens. Quite the move... Lei Jun thought.

Senior Sister hadn’t encountered anything like this last time.

This wasn’t Han Qingtao or Li Hang’s doing, nor did it match Shen Xi’s style.

Then... that most enigmatic one—the Central Yellow Emperor?

Just as Lei Jun speculated, the Light Sphere in his mind flashed suddenly, glowing with text:

"Great Tide Splits Dao, Buddhism, and Confucianism; Penglai Crossing in the Heart of the Sea."

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow. “Dao, Buddhism, and Confucianism?”

Three omen lots then floated out:

• Supreme Good Omen: Ride the tide across; chance to obtain an expandable Second-Grade Opportunity. Minor waves now, no future risks. Great fortune!

• Moderate-Moderate Omen: Drift with the tide; no gain, no loss. Neutral.

• Lower-Moderate Omen: Go against the tide; no gain, current risks, potential karmic entanglements later. Inauspicious.

The first lot was certainly pleasing—a Second-Grade Opportunity that could grow.

But the last one was just as noteworthy—present danger and future troubles.

This Penglai water ran deeper than expected.

...Still, that didn’t stop Lei Jun from picking the Supreme Good Omen.

He remained composed.

Though the tides and space were chaotic, the ritual seemed to falter mid-process, and the turbulence slowly subsided.

The waves remained, but space-time gradually stabilized.

A white jade seal on Lei Jun’s waist shimmered with purple, gold, and blue light, anchoring the space around him.

Then, he parted the sea using light from the Purple-Green Taiji Diagram, calmly walking through.

Ji Dongquan and the others urged the Taiyi Innate Tower to follow.

Lei Jun traversed the Penglai Sea.

Soon, he stopped.

Suspended above, the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity, once disturbed, had returned to normal.

Its mirror light scanned ahead, revealing a sealed Daoist Grotto-Heaven, clearly the dwelling of an Artifact Refining Sect cultivator.

The gate was shut, someone was inside—but Han Qingtao had not returned yet.

Lei Jun did not approach. He paused, continuing to observe.

The sea finally calmed.

But in the distance, a thunderous crash resounded again.

Lei Jun looked over—it came from the direction the Lower-Moderate Omen had warned against.

He couldn’t help but smirk.

He hadn’t even considered that path.

Who had such bad luck to step into that trap?

A soft golden glow shimmered in the distance, carrying the serene and harmonious aura typical of the Buddhist tradition.

Lei Jun could even faintly hear chanting and zen tones drifting from that direction.

Inside the Taiyi Innate Tower, Li Miaozhen, Ji Dongquan, and Ye Dongming exchanged looks.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I’ve heard that over in your Great Ming, the abbot of the Bodhi Monastery, Master Guangshu of the Zen Martial Lineage, is remarkably powerful—has he really reached the Perfection Stage of the Ninth Heaven?" Ji Dongquan asked.

Li Miaozhen replied, "With such a distance and that kind of aura... I doubt even Master Guangshu could manage that."

Above Lei Jun’s position, the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity rotated high in the sky.

Under its reflected light, a vague image from that direction appeared before Lei Jun.

What entered his view was a particularly strange old Daoist.

The old man had white hair and a youthful face, exuding the demeanor of a true Daoist master. But oddly enough, his entire body radiated complete Buddhist light.

Facing off against him was a group of high-ranking Great Ming officials in court robes.

Leading them were two Grand Academicians of the current Ming Dynasty.

The elder of the two was named Zeng Kui, a Ninth Heaven Confucian Scholar at the Perfection Stage.

The other, also a Ninth Heaven scholar, was the newly appointed Grand Academician Xi Zhichang.

The Central Yellow Emperor Yan Keji was quite powerful, but in a head-on clash with experts of such caliber, his weaknesses were inevitably exposed.

Buddhist light surged skyward, vaguely outlining a golden figure of a Buddhist Venerable.

Yet this wasn’t someone from the Buddhist Hand Seal Tradition—it was clearly a practitioner of the Vow-Based Buddhist Mystical Arts.

So the so-called Emperor of the Mortal Daoist Nation here… was actually a Buddhist Venerable?

Watching through the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity, Lei Jun was startled.

And the Ming cultivators facing Yan Keji were equally caught off guard.

Zeng Kui, sharp-tongued even in old age, quickly recovered and sneered, "Just an avatar—pretending to be mystical. Whether Buddhist or Daoist, they’re all the same kind of tricksters!"

With a loud cry, streams of scholarly ink condensed mid-air, clashing directly against "Yan Keji."

Xi Zhichang, while instructing subordinates to urgently inform the Ming court, joined Zeng Kui in the assault.

At this point, "Yan Keji" no longer needed to hide his identity. He unleashed his Buddhist mystical abilities in full force, revealing his true might.

Just as Zeng Kui said, this was merely the avatar of a Buddhist Golden-Body Venerable, not his true self—so his strength was confined to the Ninth Heaven Perfection Stage.

Still, the power he displayed far exceeded that of typical monks at the same level.

His insight, vision, and mastery of Buddhist dharma were all vastly superior to Zeng Kui and Xi Zhichang.

Even with the two Grand Academicians working together, they were no match for him.

But as their Confucian Ritual Arrays finished preparing, the duo bowed deeply in unison.

"Yan Keji" immediately tensed.

Because a shadow shot out from the sea—it was the Ink Blade, which had vanished during the chaotic tides of Penglai.

Zeng Kui shouted coldly, "That traitor Han Qingtao—did she steal this treasure just to deal with you?"

The Ink Blade slashed, and golden radiance burst in midair as if "Yan Keji" was bleeding all over!

From afar, Lei Jun observed through the Heavenly Mirror and had a sudden realization.

He recalled past conversations with Xu Yuanzhen, Ji Dongquan, and Ji Chuan about the origin of the Great Ming Dynasty.

The previous dynasty, founded by foreign tribes—the Great Qian—had collapsed.

Many of the early rebels came from the White Lotus Sect.

Although the current Ming royal family avoided discussing this history, rumors claimed that the founder of Ming was once part of the White Lotus Sect, using the title "Ming King."

After establishing the nation, the Ming court cracked down on the sect heavily.

To this day, the White Lotus Sect remains a major internal threat.

The sect differs from the mainstream Buddhist tradition in doctrine, though they’re far closer than the distant Western Region Buddhist Sects.

So treasures useless against Mount Sumeru could still gravely threaten someone like "Yan Keji."

Thus, Zeng Kui and Xi Zhichang, two Ninth Heaven Confucian scholars, used the Ink Blade to ruthlessly destroy the Buddhist avatar!

Yet, they too suffered.

The shattered avatar became a beacon—disturbing the void, as if a massive Buddhist palm breached spacetime and reached into Penglai.

The Buddhist chanting grew deafening.

Golden light spread so wildly that even the Zhou Heavenly Mirror could only capture a rough outline.

Xi Zhichang died instantly.

Fortunately, other powerful Ming cultivators broke into Penglai in time to save Zeng Kui.

The Buddhist palm’s emergence distorted the void passage connecting Mortal Ming and Penglai, causing violent tremors.

Then it vanished.

Zeng Kui and the Ming cultivators were flung backward, forcibly ejected from Penglai.

As spacetime quaked again, Penglai’s tides raged even more fiercely than before.

Was that… from Shambhala?

Lei Jun thought back to the earlier sight of the palm.

Could it be that, just like Mount Sumeru, Shambhala also harbored a dormant Buddhist Venerable?

From the look of it, the one in Shambhala was even more active than Venerable Wisdom of Sumeru.

Still, not entirely free.

If he were, he would’ve shown himself long ago—not withdraw after just one palm strike.

It seemed he intended to masquerade as a Daoist master and insert himself into the Penglai affair. Whether he had other motives was unclear.

But since his avatar was destroyed, it wouldn’t reappear anytime soon.

"So many twists and turns in Penglai today…" Lei Jun mused.

As he pondered, the light of the Zhou Heavenly Mirror shifted again, shining over his direction.

In its reflection, two figures approached: a female priestess in plain robes and a white-robed Daoist in black cloak.

It was Han Qingtao and Li Hang.

“Yan Keji is from the Buddhist Sect!” Han Qingtao said grimly.

When the Ink Blade activated earlier, she too was surprised—but her suspicions rose quickly.

She’d taken the blade only incidentally while retrieving the Void Ferry Shuttle, just in case.

Her main concern had been Abbot Guangshu or someone from the White Lotus Sect.

Who would’ve thought, by sheer accident, that Yan Keji turned out to be...

Suddenly, Li Hang halted. “Is this near one of your grottoes?”

Han Qingtao nodded. “We can’t stay here. I’ll abandon it.”

She simultaneously sent a message to Zhuang Changfeng and the other Mortal Daoist Nation members guarding the grotto.

Li Hang opened his mouth to speak—but his face instantly changed.

A tall young Daoist, dressed in a Nine-Colored Radiant Robe, with a White Jade Seal and Purple Thunder Sword at his waist, floated in and appeared before them almost instantly.

At his center, a vast black sphere—like a universe—unfurled, swallowing the surrounding space.

Li Hang and Han Qingtao, both seasoned veterans of countless battles, didn’t waste time with words. They immediately darted in opposite directions to avoid being caught in the Grand Ascension Dao Domain of this Talismanic Branch Daoist.

But their opponent was too fast—he reached them in an instant.

Though Li Hang had moved in time, he was still engulfed by the expanding black cosmic void.

Han Qingtao, however, instantly merged with her life-bound artifact, the Taiyi Severing Sword, sending her immortal soul into the blade.

With a flash of cold light from the seven-foot sword, she sliced through the void and vanished from her original spot.

Her speed was so fast that even a Daoist Grand Ascension Domain from the Talismanic Branch couldn’t catch her in time.

However...

Tianshi Lei calmly observed the brief flicker of swordlight.

His body was enveloped in a pale golden star radiance, intertwined with purple and black lightning that danced like dragons.

With a single step, he too vanished like teleportation—instantly appearing behind Han Qingtao, who was sword-flying away.

Just as she was struck with alarm, a vast black cosmic domain opened up before her, swallowing her entirely.

Wait...!

Wasn’t this Daoist’s Grand Ascension Domain still behind, where he’d trapped Li Hang?

Even if he chased her down, they should’ve flown beyond the reach of that domain, right?

Something wasn’t right.

Han Qingtao was stunned to find that the black sphere back there was still floating silently in place...

Yet here, another identical Grand Ascension Domain was opening up—surrounding her.

Not only was Han Qingtao astonished, but even Ji Dongquan, Li Miaozhen, and Ye Dongming, who had come with Lei Jun, stared in shock.

Two massive black spheres, identical in appearance, each resembling a cosmic body, now hovered far apart—both looming in the sky.

Two separate Grand Ascension Domains.

Both... belonging to the current Tianshi Lei Jun?

Did he... possess two Grand Ascension Domains at once?

Li Miaozhen stared blankly for a moment.

After a while, he asked Ji Dongquan, “Do other Talismanic Branch cultivators in Great Tang also have this... ability?”

Ji Dongquan remained silent.

It was Ye Dongming who spoke: “Well… there are indeed a few exceptional talents out there, but something like this? As far as I know—he’s the only one.”

While Han Qingtao was stunned, Li Hang, on the other hand, kept his composure.

What puzzled him most was that Lei Jun himself was nowhere to be seen within this Grand Ascension Domain.

That made Li Hang stay on guard—without knowing where his opponent was, he chose not to act rashly.

For a while, the vast black cosmos remained completely silent.

Li Hang frowned and began attempting to break free from the domain and leave.

But as soon as he moved, everything changed.

Dots of starlight began to ignite, and tongues of flame flickered along the edges of stars, coalescing into a scarlet-gold Fire Tiger.

The tiger roared as Heavenly Sun True Fire filled the void.

At the same time, calm and enduring silver-white lightning crackled, forming a silver Thunder Dragon in the void. Silent but imbued with overwhelming power.

As the foremost expert of the Pure Yang Palace in the Song Dynasty, Li Hang skillfully summoned a Sea of Fire to resist the incoming lightning.

Upon contact, he immediately realized—it was Pure Yin Lightning.

The silver Thunder Dragon and the scarlet Fire Tiger interwove into a red-and-white Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram.

The spinning Taiji Diagram unleashed a brilliant burst of light.

These fire and lightning arts—never before recorded in the ancient texts of the Tianshi Mansion—yet when combined, they still executed the famous Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike.

Still, Li Hang remained calm.

He raised his fists into the stance of the Pure Yang Mother Fist, the top inner art of the Pure Yang Palace.

At this moment, the Pure Yang power reversed into Pure Yin, manifesting the Yin Ultimate Cauldron, a defensive form.

Li Hang, a Grand Ascension cultivator at the Fourth Heaven, had reached the Four Energies Converging to the Origin realm. With the Spirit of Condensed Qi, he faced the Dragon-Tiger Strike head-on.

Despite the explosive clash, Li Hang showed no emotion—he still hadn’t located Lei Jun himself.

Just then, from a distant part of the void, new forces emerged: pure-gold thunder and bright green flames.

This time, Li Hang recognized them.

He had seen Tang Xiaotang use Pure Yang Celestial Thunder before while among the nomadic khanates.

And the Nine Abyss True Fire was a fire art renowned for centuries by the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu.

Familiar or not, he didn’t feel relieved.

The Golden Thunder Dragon and Green Fire Tiger roared into a Gold-Green Taiji Diagram.

A second Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike erupted with dazzling brilliance.

Even with his solid cultivation and Spirit of Condensed Qi, Li Hang didn’t dare face two of these strikes head-on.

To withstand them, he’d need to activate his Grand Ascension Primordial Pill and go all-out on defense.

Yet escaping the domain was just as crucial.

He quickly maneuvered to avoid being struck by both bursts at once, while keeping an eye out for the hidden Lei Jun, all the while seeking an exit.

Meanwhile, in the other Grand Ascension Domain, Lei Jun revealed the Doumu Spirit Officer Apparition, empowered by the Star Array Formation.

All his years of cultivation—in body and fate-bound techniques—unfolded in full force.

Although he shared an affinity with his senior sister Xu Yuanzhen, he also differed from her in many ways.

Sometimes, Xu Yuanzhen acted purely out of personal interest—without any real intent to kill.

But right now, Lei Jun wanted nothing more than to swiftly and decisively end the lives of these two emperors from the Mortal Daoist Nation.

If he showed mercy, he wouldn’t strike. If he struck, there would be no mercy.

Although the Pure Yang Thunder Dragon, Pure Yin Thunder Dragon, Yang Fire Tiger, and Yin Fire Tiger were all left with Li Hang, Lei Jun was now empowered by the Yin Thunder Dragon and Yang Thunder Dragon, pushing his already exceptional speed to the absolute limit.

With a single step, he seemed to teleport.

Even Han Qingtao, of the Daoist Artifact Refining Sect, already at the Fourth Layer of the Ninth Heaven, who had cultivated Celestial Wandering Through the Sea of Heaven and Vast Earth Qi, couldn’t shake him off despite her mastery over spatial movement.

Han Qingtao was stunned.

Her life-bound artifact was the Taiyi Severing Sword, a treasure of the void. With the boost of Vast Qi and Celestial Wandering, it should have been faster than most artifacts.

But Lei Jun’s current speed had even surpassed most Martial Saints.

Back when she had clashed with Tang Xiaotang, her speed had already caught Han Qingtao off guard. At the time, Tang Xiaotang was only at the First Layer of the Ninth Heaven—weaker than Han, but the gap had been smaller than expected.

Had Tang Xiaotang been just a bit stronger, Han Qingtao would’ve lost her edge in speed altogether.

Now, against Lei Jun, she had not only lost that edge—she was steadily falling behind.

Though her Celestial Soul was merged with the Taiyi Severing Sword, granting her formidable synchronization, she was barely managing a draw at first.

But as Lei Jun unleashed his Star Array Formation, growing stronger with every exchange, his speed surged even higher.

Soon, Han Qingtao found that Lei Jun was now outright faster.

And the gap… was still widening.

…Something’s wrong!

It’s not just that he’s getting faster—

—I’m getting slower.

Realization hit Han Qingtao hard.

Caught within Lei Jun’s Great Ascension Dao Domain, she felt like she was trapped in a quagmire. The Taiyi Severing Sword constantly suffered disruptions and drag.

Her cultivation was refined and her experience vast, and she quickly sensed the cause—Magnetic Force.

Under the burden of overwhelming magnetism, her sword’s speed faltered, and even her offensive capabilities weakened.

Lei Jun, now at the Third Layer of the Ninth Heaven, stood in a storm of five-colored clouds drifting through his Great Ascension Dao Domain, while Ninefold Chaotic Qi and Light swirled around his Tianshi Robe.

Combined with the pervasive invisible magnetic force, his defenses were enough to make Han Qingtao’s scalp tingle.

With her Celestial Soul bound to the Taiyi Severing Sword, she clashed head-on with Lei Jun, while her other life-bound artifact, the renowned Judgment Blade, attacked from the side.

Yet the famed Judgment Blade of the Mortal Realm of Ming Dynasty was utterly ignored by Lei Jun.

Even the Taiyi Severing Sword was struggling to pierce through his multilayered defense.

Ninefold Chaotic Qi and Light and the sea of invisible magnetism continually blocked and slowed her blade.

The sword was indeed ferocious, pressing forward despite all resistance—but once it hit the five-colored clouds, it became a spent force.

Han Qingtao attempted to use the Divine Radiance from her Fourth Layer of the Ninth Heaven cultivation to target Lei Jun’s Tianshi Sword and Tianshi Robe, aiming to weaken his attack and defense.

But within his Dao Domain, a cold and desolate Black Water emerged.

The Power of the End, a force of utter silence and termination, instantly dissipated her Divine Radiance.

Lei Jun’s Tianshi Sword, charged with the convergence of Yin and Yang Thunder under the Divine Firmament, shimmered with a deadly purple-black light, unleashing devastating might.

Even with the extraordinary defenses of her Heaven-Sealing Robe, one strike from Lei Jun sent its surface rippling violently.

Lei Jun’s expression remained unchanged. His form blurred like lightning. The strike of his sword moved just as swiftly.

Then, within the Great Ascension Dao Domain, the magnetism converged into a glowing Yellow Sea Eye.

As the Tianshi Sword passed through it, its sharpness surged.

Empowered by the Dual Polar Sea Eyes, Lei Jun struck again—and pierced straight through the Heaven-Sealing Robe!

Han Qingtao’s final glance fell on the White Jade Seal at Lei Jun’s waist.

All her efforts had been for that treasure.

Now it was right in front of her, yet completely out of reach.

When she’d fought Tang Xiaotang, there had been little close-quarters combat.

Now, however, Lei Jun pressed her relentlessly.

And strangely, despite being closer to the treasure, it felt more distant than ever—within reach, yet utterly unreachable.

Under the influence of Mortal Dust Qi, Han Qingtao quickly cleared her thoughts, purging her mind of distractions.

In the black void of space, a blazing fire of red and blue light suddenly erupted.

It was the legendary Southern Bright Fire, passed down through the generations of the Shushan Sect.

From within the fire, a colossal barrier descended from the heavens, like mountains engulfed in raging flames.

It was the Three-Mountain Fire Shield, another ancestral treasure of the Shushan Sect, second only to the Void-Crossing Shuttle.

When Han Qingtao and the secrets of the Mortal Daoist Nation of Ming were exposed, forcing her to flee from the Shushan Celestial Summit, she had taken this treasure with her.

Now she unleashed it, trapping both herself and Lei Jun inside.

Then she summoned the Void-Crossing Shuttle.

Like passing a baton, the Taiyi Severing Sword and the Void-Crossing Shuttle worked in tandem, helping Han Qingtao escape from the Fire Shield, leaving Lei Jun trapped within.

She didn’t hesitate for even a moment.

She directly abandoned the Three-Mountain Fire Shield, using this narrow window to break free from Lei Jun’s Dao Domain.

But the moment the Void-Crossing Shuttle emerged from the fire shield—

A deafening boom followed!

The Three-Mountain Fire Shield was shattered from the inside!

Lei Jun stood within the blazing Southern Bright Fire, unscathed.

“My apologies. It seems I’ve damaged a few of the Shushan Sect’s treasures. I hope they can be repaired.”

With multiple Two-Element Celestial Talismans bolstering him, beams of sword light flashed in quick succession.

First, the Guangmo Sword shattered the Fire Shield.

Then, the Oceanvast Sword burst out through the gap, targeting the escaping Void-Crossing Shuttle.

As the shuttle attempted to flee through the void, it was forced into a brief clash with the Oceanvast Sword, delaying it momentarily.

Normally, even the best would struggle to exploit such a fleeting pause.

But the Oceanvast Sword moved with terrifying speed.

In an instant, it reached its target—and shattered the Void-Crossing Shuttle.

At the same moment, the Taiyi Severing Sword reappeared.

Then it shuddered.

Han Qingtao’s Celestial Soul was forcibly expelled from it.

She stared in shock at the cosmic void. In the tri-colored mist and swirling light, a Talisman was burning away.

It was the Threefold Light and Mist, from a Talismanic Cultivator’s Dao Domain.

Somehow, it had recreated her own Divine Radiance?

She had never fought someone from the Talismanic Sect at this realm before, but by ancient accounts, the Threefold Light and Mist shouldn’t be able to replicate Divine Radiance!

…He must have at least Clear Tranquility-level Comprehension?

A storm of thoughts surged through her mind.

Knowing she was in danger, she didn’t hesitate—she tried to redeploy her damaged Heaven-Sealing Robe.

Better broken than nothing.

But before it could take shape, Lei Jun’s third sword arrived.

The North Pole Sword, like the Taiyi Severing Sword, was seven feet long with a wide blade.

Its killing power was monstrous.

With one strike, he cleaved Han Qingtao’s Celestial Soul in half at the waist!

Thunderfire consumed her soul, warping it with agony and nearly destroying her form.

Lei Jun calmly emerged from the ruined Three-Mountain Fire Shield, passed her by, and swung the Tianshi Sword one last time.

In that moment, the Western White Emperor of the Mortal Daoist Nation of the Ming Dynasty—perished.

Lei Jun remained unfazed. Without lingering, his figure vanished, reappearing elsewhere in the Xuanhuang Universe.

Here, Li Hang was dodging the red-white and gold-green Taiji Diagrams while trying to break out of the Dao Domain.

The Pure Yang Fist’s Extreme Yang Vital Qi was potent. If concentrated in a single point, it might pierce the void.

But he had to keep moving.

So he switched techniques—using the Pure Yang Essence-Breaking Palm.

This was not from the Tang Dynasty Pure Yang Palace, but a later development of the Song Dynasty’s Pure Yang Sect over time.

While his cultivation and mastery didn’t match the Northern Black Emperor Huang Xuanpu, Li Hang had his own approach.

The Essence-Breaking Palm left lasting imprints in the void.

Now, with layers of palm imprints surrounding him, Li Hang made his move.

After dodging one Dragon-Tiger Combination Attack, he endured a second, braving the burning light to stand firm.

He struck forward with both palms.

The technique exploded in force, stacking the imprints together—and he broke a hole in the Xuanhuang Universe.

He was about to escape—

When purple, gold, and green light surged before him.

A White Jade Seal flew through the gap—slamming him back inside!

Li Hang’s gaze flickered. He stared at Lei Jun, now appearing inside the domain, with the Tianshi Seal at his side.

“The thing you’ve always wanted—don’t recognize it now?” Lei Jun waved a hand.

The seal transformed into a massive illusory three-tiered altar, purple on top, gold in the middle, green on bottom, crashing down on Li Hang.

He raised his hands to resist.

But the Taiji Diagrams spun again.

Dragon and Tiger merged, Yin and Yang combined, and the twin lights struck.

Li Hang was forced to expose his Great Ascension Yuan Core, round and flawless, to shield himself.

With the Four Energies Converging to the Origin, his defense grew stronger.

But Lei Jun remained composed:

“The strength of the Five Energies Converging to the Origin isn’t just superior defense. It’s the seamless merging of Yuan Core and physical body, allowing full mobility with peak protection.”

As he spoke, five flying swords hovered around him:

• Guangmo Sword

• Oceanvast Sword

• North Pole Sword

• Tianshi Sword

• And… Taiyi Severing Sword

Li Hang was stunned.

Though he resented Han Qingtao, he didn’t suspect she had handed her treasure over to Lei Jun.

The man hadn’t even appeared here earlier. Somehow, he had killed Han Qingtao first?!

“Four Energies Converging to the Origin requires some Emotionless Spirit like Emotionless Stone, making it hard for even blades to harm.”

Lei Jun acknowledged his opponent’s strength, as magnetic force surged into a golden Primordial Magnetic Sea, forming another Dual Polar Sea Eye.

With the added power, the five top-tier sword treasures burst forth in a rotating barrage.

Ever since the Seven-Star Sword had fused into the North Pole Sword, Lei Jun had fewer high-end flying swords.

While each strike was more powerful, he could no longer fire volleys like before.

Now, with five top-tier flying swords, he could finally recapture that former glory.

Li Hang watched helplessly as his Yuan Core was shattered.

All he felt was helplessness:

Five flying swords. Plus the Tianshi Seal and Tianshi Robe.

Even if Han Qingtao had looted the entire Shushan Sect, she didn’t have this many top-tier treasures!

Between the two of you… who’s really from the Artifact Refining Sect?