Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 413: Jiazi wipes out the demons

Li Hang had reached the Four Qi Convergence Realm and cultivated the Heartless Soul of Stone Resistance, giving his physical body exceptional durability and toughness.

Once he activated his Great Ascension Core, his defenses rose even further.

But even with that, his core couldn’t withstand the relentless barrage of Lei Jun’s Magnetic Flying Swords.

Especially now—Lei Jun wasn’t just using the old Seven-Star Sword anymore. His arsenal of treasures, enhanced by the Two-Element Celestial Talisman, could unleash devastating power even without extended buildup, piercing through heavens and earth alike.

No matter how hard Li Hang resisted, the outcome was inevitable:

He followed in Han Qingtao’s footsteps—falling within Lei Jun’s Great Ascension Dao Domain.

“Huang Xuanpu, Han Qingtao, Li Hang…” Lei Jun exhaled slowly.

In his eyes, the light of the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman shimmered as he connected to a Heavenly Sight and Hearing Talisman.

On the other end, his Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen’s voice came through. “It’s done?”

Lei Jun: “Two of them—Han Qingtao and Li Hang. The Eastern Azure Emperor hasn’t shown up at all.”

Xu Yuanzhen: “Not much progress on my end. The gateway to Shambhala has already closed.”

She had arrived in Penglai earlier—

But something unexpected had happened.

The Ink Blade brought in by Han Qingtao ended up exposing Yan Keji too early.

Scholars like Zeng Kui and Xi Zhichang from the Ming Dynasty—who inherited the legacy of the blade’s creators—were precisely the ones able to fully activate its powers.

As a result, both they and the Buddhist Venerable disguised as Yan Keji suffered setbacks. More Ming experts kept pouring in, and the whole situation turned chaotic.

By the time Xu Yuanzhen arrived, the void gate between Penglai and Shambhala had already shut down.

Her focus now rested entirely on Penglai and Shambhala, so she also sealed off the portal from the Ming Realm to ensure she could devote herself fully to her research.

As for the Western White Emperor Han Qingtao and the Southern Red Emperor Li Hang—she’d lost interest.

Unless Lei Jun were to fall.

But Xu Yuanzhen didn’t believe that was possible.

She possessed the Celestial Physique of the Universe, granting her insights into many secrets of the void.

Under normal conditions, if a portal between Penglai and Shambhala had only just opened or closed, she could reopen it easily.

But something unusual had been done on Shambhala’s side, leaving her temporarily unable to get in.

Though she’d arrived a little late, the unexpected turn of events had sparked her curiosity.

Far from disappointed, she now seemed genuinely excited.

“A disguise to meddle in the Daoist ranks rather than acting personally... It suggests this Buddhist Venerable from Shambhala isn’t exactly in top form either,” Lei Jun remarked.

Xu Yuanzhen chuckled. “Quite the schemer.”

Lei Jun asked, “Senior Sister, any interest in what’s going on at Yellow Springs?”

Xu Yuanzhen replied calmly, “Not at the moment. Do as you will.”

While talking to her, Lei Jun was also sorting through what Li Hang had left behind.

He discovered a particularly unusual item—one Li Hang had clearly treasured and kept close.

It didn’t seem to have a physical form. Surrounded by a faint, dreamlike mist similar to Penglai’s rainy fog, it gave the impression of a vast, surging sea.

Where the sea met the sky, ocean and heavens blended together like a dream.

Deep within those waters, blazing flames burned.

Focusing his eyes, Lei Jun saw what looked like a divine tree growing from the sea, with a strange beast resembling a Three-Legged Golden Crow roosting on its branches—wings folded, appearing like the sun itself.

The vision was so vivid, Lei Jun felt as if he were truly there.

But with his current cultivation and vision, he could tell this was the spiritual manifestation of a powerful Heavenly Treasure.

Sea-Sky Fusang.

The name surfaced in Lei Jun’s mind instinctively.

Sensing and probing its spiritual force, Lei Jun fell into deep thought.

This treasure was likely the Second-Grade Expandable Opportunity referenced in his previous Supreme Good Omen.

It originated from Penglai—another miraculous treasure like the Essence of Pure Yang Vital Qi from before.

Both might help him ascend from the Two-Element Celestial Physique to the Tai Chi Dao Body.

Alone, neither was enough to push him across that threshold.

But there was no doubt—he was one step closer now.

The Sea-Sky Fusang was a uniquely spirited treasure, requiring a special preservation method.

Li Hang had used his own Great Ascension Core to house and nurture it.

Lei Jun now did the same, absorbing the treasure into his Great Ascension Dao Domain.

With the help of the Threefold Light and Mist, which not only mirrored opponents’ techniques but also excelled at preserving and nurturing spiritual items, Lei Jun encased the Fusang Tree in shimmering clouds.

As for the other remnants left by Han Qingtao and Li Hang, Lei Jun checked them briefly and put them away for later.

---

Lei Jun manifested two Dao Domains at once, each resembling a miniature cosmos, used to capture and slay both Han Qingtao and Li Hang.

The twin Dao Domains stood over the sea and mountains of Penglai, shaking the surroundings with their divine power.

Nearby, Zhuang Changfeng and others from the Dao Nation of the Ming Realm, who were hiding in a cave-dwelling, were alarmed.

When they emerged, they ran into Ji Dongquan, Ye Dongming, and Li Miaozhen.

Li Miaozhen’s expression turned complicated as he looked at Zhuang Changfeng—once a senior of his sect—and gave a Daoist salute to Ji Dongquan and Ye Dongming. “Elders Ji and Ye, I ask for your help.”

Ji Dongquan and Ye Dongming also looked at Zhuang Changfeng and company with visible emotion.

Seeing them brought back memories of figures like Hong Jie and Wei Qiyue from the Tang Shushan Sect.

Without a word, Ye Dongming merged his celestial soul with the Northern Abyss Divine Spear.

The spear vibrated, and waves of icy blue light spread out like frost and snow.

Though Ji Dongquan had just acquired the Taiyi Innate Tower and hadn’t yet fully harmonized with it, he still summoned its power and joined Li Miaozhen in supporting Ye Dongming.

Zhuang Changfeng and the others were stunned by the presence of two identical Dao Domains. They tried to contact Han Qingtao, but received no reply.

As they hesitated, Ji Dongquan, Ye Dongming, and Li Miaozhen had already launched their attack.

Zhuang Changfeng set aside any scolding of Li Miaozhen, raised his hand, and summoned a shadow to block Ye Dongming’s spear.

The shadow clashed with the spear and revealed its true form—a massive Nine-Segment Steel Whip.

The whip shimmered in azure-green hues, and with a single sweep, it looked as though the heavens themselves were falling.

Li Miaozhen looked at the weapon with a heavy heart.

It was once one of the treasured artifacts of the Ming Shushan Sect.

Its name: Heaven-Drooping Whip.

It had always been mentioned alongside the Sun-Moon Gourd of Heaven and Earth and the Three Mountains Fire-Screen.

When the Ming Shushan Sect fractured, Han Qingtao and the others took these three heirloom treasures—the whip, the fire-screen, and Han Qingtao’s personally forged Taiyi Severing Sword.

Now, Zhuang Changfeng used the Heaven-Drooping Whip to block the Northern Abyss Divine Spear, resulting in a clash of divine artifacts that tore through the void.

As a senior elder of the Ming Shushan Sect, Zhuang’s cultivation exceeded that of Ye Dongming.

Though aged, he had, like Hong Jie and Rong Guangchen from the Dao Nation of the Tang Realm, used a Talisman Decree to restore his peak strength.

Even amid uncertainty, he held firm, giving no opportunity to Ye Dongming, Ji Dongquan, or Li Miaozhen.

He even had spare energy to cover for others during their retreat.

But then he noticed something wrong.

That long-forgotten sensation of aging—so foreign to him now—was suddenly creeping back into his celestial soul.

Zhuang Changfeng was horrified.

This wasn’t a secret attack from his enemies. It was a change within himself.

There was only one explanation:

Han Qingtao, who had granted him the decree, had fallen.

Her demise meant that all who bore her decree would be affected.

Others among the Dao Nation let out cries of alarm—they too were experiencing the same.

Everyone exchanged glances—and all hope was gone.

Even Zhuang Changfeng turned to stare at the two identical, silent Dao Domains—the Xuanhuang Universes.

In that instant, the Dao Nation of the Ming Realm fell into disarray.

Zhuang tried to escape, fusing his soul with the whip.

Ye Dongming didn’t rush.

Instead of attacking head-on, the Northern Abyss Divine Spear circled around, laying down layers of frost to block escape routes.

Zhuang Changfeng, despite weakening, forced his way through.

But he was stopped by beams of divine light.

He felt despair.

He knew the Taiyi Innate Tower could isolate entire sections of void.

Inside the tower, only Li Miaozhen remained.

Ji Dongquan’s celestial soul had fully merged with the artifact.

Li Miaozhen watched with admiration.

The treasure had been lost for years—yet Ji Dongquan had already stabilized its power.

Though late to reach his cultivation stage, Ji Dongquan’s deep foundation impressed even the once-proud Li Miaozhen.

Still, the deciding factor wasn’t inside the tower...

Just then, the two Dao Domains began to collapse.

No sign of Han Qingtao or Li Hang.

Only a tall Daoist in a Nine-Colored Robe emerged.

So fast?!

Not just Zhuang Changfeng—even Li Miaozhen was stunned.

He had known the Tang Heavenly Master was powerful, but not this powerful.

Two Ninth-Heaven experts, gone in mere moments?

As he watched the burnt remnants of the Three Mountains Fire-Screen and Void-Ferrying Shuttle floating beside Lei Jun, Li Miaozhen could no longer doubt.

Lei Jun, calm and steady, stepped forward.

To prevent further twists from Yan Keji or the Ming Realm, and to make it to Yellow Springs in time, he had unleashed tremendous force.

His storm of devastating spells wiped out both foes rapidly.

Though heavily draining, Lei Jun’s recovery was faster than ever.

As he approached Zhuang Changfeng and the whip, he simply reached out.

The once-fierce Heaven-Drooping Whip slowed.

Even Ye Dongming and Ji Dongquan were shocked—had Lei Jun mastered the Divine Smithing Path of the Daoists?

Zhuang felt it differently.

A massive surge of magnetic force bound his weapon like mud.

Lei Jun slapped the whip lightly—

The artifact shuddered, and Zhuang’s celestial soul was forced out.

With one more strike, Lei Jun shattered his soul.

He waved his hand, and the whip joined the damaged fire-screen and shuttle in the air.

“Killing Han Qingtao made it hard to spare your artifacts,” Lei Jun said calmly. “I hope you’ll understand.”

As he spoke, a Purple Yang Thunder Dragon flew forth, assisting Ji Dongquan and Ye Dongming in clearing out the remaining Dao Nation members.

Li Miaozhen bowed. “Heavenly Master, your words humble me. If not for you, our sect would still be mired in these so-called Dao Nation heretics.”

He didn’t claim the artifacts just yet.

Back in the Ming Realm, Shushan’s position remained delicate.

And besides these three treasures, there were still others held by the Ming court.

What came next would require careful planning.

They would need to contact Sect Leader Yuan Qingci and others to discuss the next steps before making any decisions.

Thus, Li Miaozhen spoke softly, “The spiritual energy in Penglai is abundant. May I ask if the Tianshi would allow me to temporarily leave the Swaying Heaven Whip, Three-Mountain Flame Shield, and Void-Crossing Shuttle here?”

There might still be some turbulence ahead, but in her view, this Daoist Immortal Land of Penglai would soon fall under the control of the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu.

“Of course.”

Lei Jun said, “But Penglai just underwent a shift. The ebb and flow of tides remain unstable. Fellow Daoists, do stay vigilant. As for me, I still have matters to handle with Senior Sister Xu.”

Li Miaozhen: “Thank you, Tianshi.”

Ye Dongming added, “Master Xu has come to Penglai as well? With Tianshi Lei and Master Xu present, Penglai will surely be secured.”

Lei Jun took his leave and vanished into the waves of Penglai.

For what came next, he temporarily entrusted all matters in Penglai to Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen.

Lei Jun himself, having made some arrangements, quietly opened a Void Gateway leading from Penglai back to the Tang Mortal Realm.

---

Tang Mortal Realm, Bashu Region.

Above the Celestial Summit, the mountain gate of the Shushan Sect, black mist spread thickly.

The Li Shushan Sect from the Yellow Springs was launching another assault on the mortal Shushan.

There were only two intruders, but their presence was more overwhelming than an army.

Ji Yao and Tian Lingfeng.

Two Ninth-Heaven Great Ascension Sages of the Li Shushan Sect.

Saying they surpassed thousands of troops was no exaggeration.

At this moment, they wielded two supreme treasures: the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner and the Heavenly Bird-Earth Beast Mirror.

The black mist churned as countless evil souls and beast spirits, vicious and savage, surged toward the Celestial Summit.

As Ji Yao brandished the banner, three especially powerful evil souls emerged from within.

Among the black mist, their silhouettes resembled a Confucian scholar, a shaman, and a Daoist.

The figures of the Confucian and the Daoist were unfamiliar to the Shushan defenders.

As for the shaman, though they hadn't encountered him before, the old Shushan elder Xu Duan vaguely recognized him—he resembled a long-deceased Ninth-Heaven Great Shaman from the Southern Wasteland.

Much like Grandmaster Wang Kun of the Shushan Sect, these evil souls didn’t fully replicate their living strength but were not to be underestimated.

Even without Ji Yao or Tian Lingfeng taking action, the formation alone—constructed from the banner and the beast mirror—was enough to place the Tang Shushan Sect on high alert.

Fortunately, they had reclaimed the Qingxiao Hall.

With it guarding the mountain gate, the Celestial Summit was now far more stable than before.

The Great Mountain Guarding Formation, cultivated over many years, regained its former strength and stability.

Even though the Taiyi Innate Tower had yet to return and the Northern Abyss Divine Spear was still absent, a mighty radiance still shone from the summit.

The intricate interlocking array patterns spread in all directions, forming a solid, three-dimensional structure that shielded the entire mountain.

This formation was known as the Innate Sixfold Return-to-Origin Array.

Zhang Taigang, overseeing the formation from within Qingxiao Hall, was aided by Xu Duan, who controlled the Southern Bright Flame Cauldron.

Twin swords of purple and blue flanked them, their sword light harmonizing completely with the formation, not acting independently.

As such, the array balanced offense and defense, operating as one.

Thanks to its power, even Ji Yao, though a peak Ninth-Heaven cultivator, couldn’t easily unleash his powerful magical treasures.

Meanwhile, brilliant golden light flared across Shushan Mountain, brimming with Pure Yang aura, pushing back the Nether Qi from the Yellow Springs’ Li Shushan Sect.

But the invaders had come prepared.

Tian Lingfeng, expressionless, lightly tapped the Heavenly Bird-Earth Beast Mirror.

A beam of gray light descended, pouring a yellowish river onto the Celestial Summit.

It resembled the Nine-Bend Wangchuan River, flowing directly into the human realm.

Swept by this strange current, the Pure Yang aura over Shushan weakened instantly.

This was refined Wangchuan essence, meticulously collected by the Li Shushan Sect over the years, meant to suppress Pure Yang forces.

Ji Yao then waved the banner again, casting an endless wave of black mist over Shushan.

The formation counterattacked fiercely, smashing the mist again and again.

But with Ji Yao, a peak Ninth-Heaven rogue immortal, wielding the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner, the black mist seemed endless.

And with only a portion of Shushan's six great treasures present, the formation couldn't last indefinitely.

Even so, Ji Yao frowned.

As a Daoist Artifact Refiner of the Ninth Heaven, his soul sense was razor-sharp.

He already sensed other top-tier cultivators rapidly approaching.

They were from other parts of the Tang Dynasty, but why were they arriving so quickly?

He was surprised.

Not only strong, but fast.

In the blink of an eye, they reached the Celestial Summit.

One was a young Daoist in a purple robe, wearing a Daoist crown, with a gentle expression.

The other was a young woman in armor, sword in hand, emanating a far more aggressive presence.

Ji Yao had never met the Daoist in person but recognized him from an image provided by Zong Han: Elder Yuan Mobai of the Tianshi Mansion, Lei Jun’s teacher, recently said to have reached the Ninth Heaven.

The armored woman was Xiao Xueting.

He had met her before when she was still at the Eighth Heaven, but now she was a Ninth-Heaven Martial Saint.

At that realm, her sword intent had become perfectly fused with her body and blade.

Even Ji Yao’s Divine Intent could no longer mark her sword as easily.

A Martial Saint of that level was a real threat—and Ji Yao knew it.

Yet her current head-on approach surprised him.

Had her personality changed with power?

Or was there more going on?

While Ji Yao pondered, he continued his assault and maintained his vigilance.

The evil souls turned to intercept Xiao Xueting and Yuan Mobai.

Seeing Yuan Mobai, Tian Lingfeng’s eyes lit up.

He had heard much about this Tianshi Mansion Elder.

In truth, Yuan Mobai was also a beast in human form...

Tian Lingfeng steadied his aura and remained focused. Under the mirror’s command, beast spirits surged toward the two intruders.

The three top-tier evil souls needed no direct orders—they moved in perfect coordination.

The Confucian Grand Scholar raised his sword. Scholarly qi turned into chilling sword light, colder and darker than in life, engulfing the two.

Alone, the Confucian couldn’t hold them back.

The Cursing Lineage Great Shaman deployed his Abyssal Descent, conjuring a vast, gray-white abyss that constrained their movement.

Meanwhile, the Daoist evil soul used Pure Yang Palace’s soul arts to strike at Yuan Mobai.

He chose not to target Xiao Xueting, whose martial soul was rock solid, but Yuan Mobai, whose spirit appeared more flexible.

Yuan Mobai paused.

Yet at the same time, the evil soul was struck by a fierce counterattack.

It, too, was a soul-based strike.

It was like a forest of blades—sharp, lethal.

Xiao Xueting, now beyond her past restraint, slashed with her Mountains and Rivers Sword, breaking through the Confucian’s attack and even splitting the abyss in two.

Her martial aura surged, sharp and overwhelming.

Yuan Mobai, recovering swiftly, surged forward.

But a sudden trumpeting sound reached his ears.

From the mirror’s surface emerged the image of a colossal beast.

It was an indigo beast with six pairs of purple tusks, as large as a mountain: a Purple-Tusk Indigo Elephant, a rare demon long unseen in the Tang Realm.

This Ninth-Heaven level demon had been refined into a beast spirit by the Li Shushan Sect.

Its presence finalized the Heavenly Bird-Earth Beast Mirror as a true treasure.

Now, it emerged fully formed, its four legs stomping and shaking the earth.

Yet as the elephant appeared, Yuan Mobai’s speed suddenly increased.

The gentle Daoist in purple stepped forward with star-like symbols circling him—he seemed to teleport before the beast.

His form expanded, becoming a towering black-and-white giant bear, far larger than the elephant.

This massive Divine Panda, wrapped in starry talismans, raised a paw and slammed it into the elephant’s head—not enough to crush it, but enough to crack its skull and send it staggering.

As the elephant collapsed, the Divine Bear conjured brilliant lights overhead, forming a talisman unknown to Tian Lingfeng.

Its aura exuded war and conquest, shaking the land.

From the glowing talisman, eighty-one divine weapons—blades, spears, halberds—shot forth, piercing and cleaving countless beast spirits.

Yuan Mobai’s long-lost Nine-Turn, Nine-Refinement Commanding Talisman had returned.

Weapons rained like a forest, slaughtering all before them.

Then, in a single blow, he shattered the elephant’s skull.

Suddenly, a beam of gray light swept toward him.

Yuan Mobai dodged swiftly, avoiding the mirror’s glare.

But the mirror’s edge brimmed with birds and beasts, all animated and roaring.

Their cries distorted space, trapping the area.

No matter how fast Yuan Mobai moved, as long as he was near the summit, he couldn’t escape the effects.

His blood and spirit churned under the pressure.

Even the spirit beasts nurtured under the protective formation trembled.

Yuan Mobai felt a primal fear.

He reverted to human form—the effects lessened but still lingered.

Worse, the mirror’s light revealed the elephant again—ready to return.

At that moment, Xiao Xueting reached Ji Yao.

Ji Yao possessed the power of the Immortal Roaming the Sea and cultivated Vast Earth Qi, one of few who could rival a Martial Saint’s speed.

But Xiao Xueting was fast—faster than most at her level.

Sword in hand, she charged, the Mountains and Rivers Sword cleaving with increasing might.

Ji Yao’s gaze turned cold, finally dropping his cautious approach.

A near-invisible river flashed into view—not water, but sword light.

It was the Nether River Divine Blade, Ji Yao’s life-bound artifact.

Before he forged the Whitebone Divine Ark, this was his most infamous weapon.

Its blade was like the Wangchuan River—cold, still, and deadly.

Even a glancing blow could be fatal.

But suddenly, a Buddhist chant echoed.

A ninth-grade white jade lotus platform emerged, pinning down the deathly blade of the silent Wangchuan.

At the same time, a glow of Buddhist light condensed into a white Buddha phantom, descending from the heavens with a peacock companion, landing above Ji Yao’s head.

Ji Yao wasn’t surprised by the arrival of another powerful enemy.

He had long suspected that Xiao Xueting and Yuan Mobai were merely covering for someone else.

But the identity of this new arrival did catch him off guard.

Although he had little contact with the Tang Mortal Realm, he still recognized the person—this was clearly a heir of the White Lotus Sect.

The White Lotus Sect and the Shushan Sect weren’t necessarily enemies.

But why was someone from the White Lotus Sect allied with Xiao Xueting, who was clearly tied to the Tang Imperial Family?

And this wasn’t just anyone—this was a powerful master who had achieved the Buddhist Golden Body Stage of the Ninth Heaven!

Bathed in pure white Buddhist light, the young monk with palms together was none other than the Future Maitreya.

Though Ji Yao was surprised, he quickly stabilized his emotions under the influence of mortal red dust aura. His Scattered Immortal body, fused with Life-Death Nether Qi, allowed him to fight like a Daoist Talismanic or Alchemical master, directly countering the Future Maitreya's Peacock King Dharma Body at close range.

Simultaneously, alongside his Whitebone Divine Vessel and Nether River Divine Blade, Ji Yao unleashed another of his life-bound treasures: the Ten-Thousand-Image Bone Armor.

This treasure resembled the Jade Bone Armor once used by Elder Li Yuanyuan of Shushan, composed of countless bone fragments that combined and shifted freely—but it was even stronger, both defensively and offensively.

The fragments formed a rotating blade wheel, slashing toward the Future Maitreya.

Unexpectedly, the monk didn’t retreat—he met the attack head-on, barehanded.

Both forces clashed violently. The monk staggered back; the bone wheel was knocked away.

Ji Yao immediately realized something:

The Future Maitreya had acted sparingly up until now. Though Zong Han had mentioned his extraordinary talent and mastery of multiple Buddhist traditions, information about him remained limited.

Despite Ji Yao’s caution, the monk had clearly mastered not only the Vow-Based Buddhist Dharma Body, but also the Zen Martial Lineage’s Ninth Heaven stage!

Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly have confronted Ji Yao’s life-bound treasure head-on.

Because of this, the blade wheel that was originally meant to bypass the monk and attack Xiao Xueting was halted prematurely.

Yet neither Xiao Xueting nor Yuan Mobai showed the slightest surprise at the monk’s appearance.

It was part of a deal between Crown Prince Zhang Hui (Taiyin Lunar Luminary) and the Future Maitreya (Jupiter Luminary).

With Empress Zhang Wantong absent, Zhang Hui had taken precautions against potential threats from Luoyuan, Mount Sumeru, and elsewhere.

Although no major changes had yet occurred, his vigilance was justified.

As Li Shushan surged back from the Yellow Springs, rumors spread that the Tang Emperor was not present in the mortal realm.

Zhang Hui didn’t go to Shushan himself, but he had delegated aid.

At this point, the Tang Mortal Realm had more hands available.

Taking advantage of the Future Maitreya’s action, Xiao Xueting vanished on the spot.

She reappeared instantly in front of Tian Lingfeng and the Heavenly Bird and Earth Beast Mirror.

Her sword struck the treasured mirror directly!

A loud crack echoed—fractures spread across the mirror’s surface.

The deafening roars of myriad beasts abruptly stopped.

The image of the Purple-Toothed Blue Elephant, just about to manifest, vanished.

The black mist surrounding and assaulting the Shushan formation, summoned by the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner, now turned and surged toward Future Maitreya, Xiao Xueting, and Yuan Mobai.

"Amitābha," intoned the Future Maitreya.

A sea of glassy Buddhist lotus blossoms bloomed, soft yet unyielding, spreading wide to block the black mist, protecting not just himself, but Xiao Xueting and Yuan Mobai as well.

However, just then, the white jade Ninth-Grade Lotus Platform began to destabilize, falling from the sky.

Ji Yao, focusing his divine intent, struck the lotus platform with a divine spark—at once, the Nether River Divine Blade, like the River of Forgetfulness, surged forward again.

His immortal soul fused with the blade light. As a Ninth Heaven Scattered Immortal, his soul-bound blade grew even deadlier.

The Future Maitreya, faced with this devastating strike, could no longer protect the others.

The vast lotus sea closed into a single, clear lotus flower, shielding only himself.

Meanwhile, at the mountaintop, Zhang Taigang and the others activated the Sixfold Primordial Return Formation, counterattacking.

The black mist swirled defensively, blocking the Shushan cultivators’ retaliation.

The damaged Heavenly Bird and Earth Beast Mirror caused Tian Lingfeng to go pale, his immortal soul momentarily distorted before recovering.

Like Ji Yao’s Whitebone Vessel, the mirror was Tian Lingfeng’s life-bound treasure, forged when he reached the Second Layer of the Ninth Heaven.

Though aided by his sect, the mirror was intimately connected to him—refined from eight prior life-bound artifacts, merged into a single eight-faced treasure.

Though injured, Tian Lingfeng steadied himself with mortal aura, merging his immortal soul back into the mirror.

The cracks halted, and roars of divine and demonic beasts echoed once again.

Yuan Mobai, still in human form, hadn’t revealed his true body, but suddenly gathered starlight around him, revealing a new Dharma Apparition:

The Yin-Yang Star Lord—Yin-Yang Bear.

Formed from burning starlight, a black-and-white cosmic bear emerged—different from before.

Its yin and yang energies of water and fire converged, releasing the power of stellar annihilation.

As water and fire burst apart, a massive shockwave shattered surrounding beast spirits and further cracked the Heavenly Bird and Earth Beast Mirror.

Despite Tian Lingfeng’s efforts, the mirror was more than half destroyed.

Then, Yuan Mobai’s Grand Ascension Domain—the Galactic Heavenly Gate—materialized and engulfed both Tian Lingfeng and the shattered mirror.

Meanwhile, Ji Yao’s Nether River Divine Blade continued to press forward, slicing through the glassy lotus.

Though slow, he controlled the offense—just as the blade was about to strike, it suddenly changed direction toward Yuan Mobai.

The Future Maitreya pursued, but his speed lagged behind both Yuan Mobai and the aura-enhanced Ji Yao.

Thus, the blade reached Yuan Mobai’s domain first.

Although starlight burst and cracks appeared in the Galactic Heavenly Gate, the domain held firm.

Yuan Mobai’s Grand Ascension Domain was weak at capturing but unmatched in defense.

Even Tian Lingfeng, skilled in space traversal, was unable to escape once trapped.

After severely injuring him, Yuan Mobai unfolded his domain to seal the kill.

But as Ji Yao prepared to strike again, the Future Maitreya caught up.

Ji Yao waved his Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner to block the monk’s Zen Martial punches, but his blade still paused in mid-air.

It wasn’t mercy—Ji Yao had sensed another enemy nearby.

Xiao Xueting had vanished during the previous lotus blossom defense and hadn’t reappeared.

Her overt support of the monk had cleverly concealed her real movements.

Sure enough, she now appeared, thrusting her Mountain and River Sword toward the side of Ji Yao’s blade.

Ji Yao’s Bone Armor reformed to shield him, the fragments layering tightly to resist the pinpoint strike.

As Ji Yao turned to counter, the Future Maitreya changed tactics.

His punch became a claw, seizing the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner.

With the other hand, he unleashed the Earth-Touching Mudra, a signature technique of the Sumeru Vajra Division, attainable only at Ninth Heaven.

Though it didn’t shatter Ji Yao’s blade or cast his soul out of the weapon, a thin streak of gray energy entered the blade, sinking into the glowing river-light.

What seemed like a trivial strike made Ji Yao groan—the gray thread latched onto his immortal soul, clinging like a parasite.

"…Reincarnation Descent?!" Ji Yao was shocked.

Someone else was here.

A Ninth-Heaven Great Shaman—Sun Li.

Officially invited by Taiyin Luminary Zhang Hui, but also secretly requested by Yuan Mobai.

He had waited even longer than Xiao Xueting.

But when he finally acted—it was decisive.

From Ji Yao’s view, it was hard to say who was more insidious: Sun Li or Xiao Xueting.

Xiao Xueting’s public stance had been a ruse all along, masking not just her ambush—but Sun Li’s sneak attack.

Entangled by gray lines, Ji Yao was forced out of his blade. He used the Bone Armor to resist Xiao Xueting’s sword while commanding his Divine Blade to strike at Sun Li.

This time, he pinpointed the target.

But Sun Li had no intention of attacking again.

After unleashing the Reincarnation Descent, he immediately used Shift-Form Curse to escape.

Meanwhile, the Future Maitreya seized the banner again. Buddhist light surged, and the Peacock King Apparition reappeared, attacking Ji Yao.

Ji Yao had to use the Bone Armor to block.

Xiao Xueting’s next strike, however, was no feint.

As a Martial Sage, her focused Mountain and River Sword pierced the Scattered Immortal body of Ji Yao.

The gray threads on his body immediately burrowed into his immortal soul.

Desperate, Ji Yao tore the banner, broke free from the monk’s grasp, and forced him to use his glassy lotus in defense.

Then, using his space-traveling and earth-aura powers, he swiftly fled.

He had no time to care about the now-sealed Galactic Heavenly Gate, or Tian Lingfeng and the mirror trapped inside.

Bruised and bitter, Ji Yao thought to himself:

"The Tang Daoist world is not what it used to be. Even without the Emperor or Tianshi present, so many new masters have emerged—each more formidable than the last..."

Xiao Xueting gave chase, sword in hand.

The Future Maitreya, however, stopped. He withdrew his Ninth-Grade Lotus Platform.

The hand that had grabbed the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner was now ash-gray.

But with Buddhist chants and flowing light, the gray faded quickly.

Without a word, the monk rode a white lotus and floated away.

Only Yuan Mobai’s Galactic Heavenly Gate remained.

Sun Li had vanished, as if never there.

Xiao Xueting, while chasing Ji Yao, suddenly heard the toll of a great bell.

Her vital energy and sword intent seemed to wither, as if falling into decay.

She slowed her pace, stabilized her sword intent, and the decay vanished.

Thanks to the Five-Decay Dao Bell, Ji Yao made it safely back to Yellow Springs, sealing the void passage.

When word reached Shushan, Zhang Taigang and others thanked Yuan Mobai:

"Though the enemy leader escaped, the evil cultivators of Inner Shushan were gravely wounded. It'll be a long time before they recover. We owe it to Master Yuan, General Xiao, and the rest of you."

"You're too kind," Yuan Mobai replied.

But his gaze drifted far away.

"Did he really escape?"

After a brief moment of confusion and shock, Zong Han quickly composed himself.

No matter what, being able to ascend one step further was undeniably a good thing.

And this time, thanks to what he gained from Yellow Springs, he had accumulated enough—he truly had hope of advancing to the Spirit Descent Realm!

This filled Zong Han with joy.

But just then, a figure suddenly appeared before him.

…Lei Chongyun, the Tianshi of Mount Longhu!

Zong Han’s heart immediately sank to the bottom.

But—how did the other party find him?

Just like before, all he had done was assist Inner Shushan in opening the void gate between Yellow Springs and the Tang Mortal Realm.

Once the portal was opened and he obtained what he needed, they had parted ways. After that, he hadn’t traveled with those Inner Shushan cultivators at all.

Even if the Inner Shushan cultivators had taken a major loss in the Tang Mortal Realm again, Zong Han had long since separated from them. How could the Tang cultivators possibly know where he went next?

Right now, Zong Han’s head was full of question marks.

Lei Jun didn’t waste words. He swiftly captured him.

Then, using the clues found on Zong Han’s person, he reopened a portal to Yellow Springs from the Tang side.

Just like last time, this time Lei Jun chose to go in himself.

At that moment, Ji Yao had just fled back to Yellow Springs.

When Lu Changpeng and the others saw it, they were all horrified.

Ji Yao remained composed, but was troubled by how the population and living souls they had previously gathered were already mostly spent, leaving him with a severe lack of "materials" to repair damaged treasures like the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner.

Just then, the Five Decays Dao Bell, the sect's supreme treasure, suddenly tolled.

Ji Yao's expression hardened. “...An outsider has entered Yellow Springs!”

Previously, he had relied on the power of the Five Decays Dao Bell to seal the void portal.

After the Wangchuan Sinking Boat incident, their current portal sealing was much sturdier than before—outsiders shouldn’t be able to open it so easily.

So… who was it?

Fengdu City stood silently by the Wangchuan River.

But with the bell's toll, Daoist talisman patterns began to appear all around the jagged mountain fortress.

Ji Yao climbed to the top of Fengdu City’s walls.

On the distant Wangchuan River, a figure drifted downstream with the current.

The man was tall, clad in a Tianshi Robe, with a Tianshi Sword at his waist and the Tianshi Seal at his side. His expression was calm, his demeanor composed.

He looked more like the master of this realm than anyone inside Fengdu City.

“Lei Chongyun, Tianshi of Mount Longhu, Tang Dynasty…”

Ji Yao’s gaze grew solemn. “Heard of you for years but never met in person—today I finally see you. Your reputation is well-deserved.”

Lei Jun walked with hands behind his back as the North Pole Sword floated beside him.

Ji Yao and Lu Changpeng, who appeared moments later, were both visibly startled.

The next moment, sword light flashed.

And reappeared—right before them.

When Ji Yao saw the North Pole Sword hovering above Lei Jun’s head, he immediately dodged.

But by stepping aside, he exposed the Inner Shushan disciples behind him.

Fortunately, the once-silent Fengdu City now awakened like a sleeping beast. Vast black mist surged up in silence, as if the beast had risen.

The North Pole Sword struck the mist, Thunderfire blazing, scattering layers of fog—but it did not stop.

That moment of obstruction gave Lu Changpeng and the others just enough time to react and dodge.

The seven-foot-long sword slammed into the dark stone walls of the city, cracks spreading rapidly outward.

Ji Yao gave a low, forceful shout.

At the center of Fengdu City, the Dao Palace slowly raised the Five Decays Dao Bell, whose ringing intensified.

The damaged Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner still stood, fluttering silently.

From Fengdu’s center, grey mist surged outward, expanding in every direction.

Dozens of Dao Banners rose within the mist, forming an immense formation.

The Great Nether Reversal Nine-Palace Immortal Formation!

Unlike the version once cast in the Tang Mortal Realm, this time the array was deployed directly within Yellow Springs.

The Wangchuan River began to flow silently into the formation.

As the grey mist churned, the formation grew more grand—and more vicious.

Ji Yao didn’t turn to look at the North Pole Sword stuck in the wall.

Instead, his eyes locked onto Lei Jun, who was being swallowed by the formation.

“We’ve… met before.”

Lei Jun's expression remained unchanged. “Back then at Wangchuan, after the boat sank and you were expelled from Yellow Springs. My Little Senior Sister said nothing—but I’ve been thinking about you ever since.”

He glanced around. “As expected, you’re prepared.”

His opponent was a Daoist Artifact Refining Sect master at the Perfection of the Ninth Heaven, with sharp Comprehension.

Having suffered losses to Magnetic Flying Swords before, he surely studied them in depth.

Even if he couldn’t replicate them, he would at least devise a way to counter them.

Indeed, under the swirling grey mist, the tolling of the Five Decays Dao Bell severely slowed Lei Jun’s Two-Element Celestial Talismans from accumulating magnetic power, reducing the effectiveness of his magnetic swords.

But Ji Yao felt no sense of triumph.

Chen Donglou of Shushan was actually Lei Jun of Mount Longhu!

That overwhelming magnetic sword technique wasn’t from the Artifact Refining Sect, but a Talismanic Divine Art!

Even if Ji Yao had planned for Chen Donglou, anyone could guess Lei Jun had more than one trick up his sleeve.

And his publicly known abilities in the Tang Realm… weren’t his full strength at all.

No—what they were seeing now probably still wasn’t his full strength.

Suddenly, Ji Yao saw an unnatural change occur around Lei Jun.

The Tianshi Seal, Tianshi Robe, and Tianshi Sword all detached from him and began to float above.

As purple, gold, and green light blazed, the three artifacts stacked and merged into a massive illusory altar.

Its three layers shimmered white, radiating light that bathed Lei Jun.

Then, black and white Taiji Diagrams emerged, enveloping him.

Before him, a smaller black altar formed.

Ji Yao's Underworld River Saber hovered at his side—it hadn’t moved yet.

But he suddenly felt a powerful impulse:

Run.

Turn around and flee immediately.

Don’t hesitate—even if it meant abandoning Fengdu City, the Five Decays Dao Bell, and the Great Nether Formation!

At the very moment he had this thought, the black altar Lei Jun held shifted form.

The Tianshi Trinity altar, vast and transcendent, even within Yellow Springs and under suppression from the Great Nether Formation, still drew in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

At that moment—all things returned to Three.

Then, through Lei Jun, Three returned to Two.

Finally, through him again, Two returned to One.

The folded black altar unfolded thunderously.

In the once-grey world of Yellow Springs, a new color appeared—

—pure white and pure black.

Black and white intertwined, forming a giant Taiji Diagram that covered the entire space.

Not one.

Three.

Three massive Taiji Diagrams, layered vertically, forming a three-dimensional array like a three-tiered altar—or three overlapping worlds.

At the core was the white trinity altar formed by the Tianshi Seal, Robe, and Sword.

Lei Jun stood atop the altar. As it gleamed, the three Taiji Diagrams began to spin.

Limitless Pure Qi radiated outward.

“This array is called the Supreme Dragon-Tiger Immortal Formation of the Three Caves and Three Heavens,” Lei Jun’s voice rang out.

The enormous 3D array enveloped both the Inner Shushan’s Great Nether Formation and Fengdu City.

Three Caves and Three Heavens versus Great Nether Reversal Nine-Palace!

As the Taiji Diagrams rotated, without a single puff of smoke or fire, they tore through the grey mist.

The mist twisted and churned, like colliding worlds.

But it was quickly shredded by the layered black and white worlds.

Then, like a millstone, the formation began to grind down Fengdu City!

Though the city had once been deathly silent, it now surged with life. Black mist erupted.

Countless wailing faces twisted through it.

Scattered flesh, blood, and pale bones drifted through the air.

Lei Jun’s face showed no emotion.

Under his control, the formation's assault was merciless.

Though the three Taiji Diagrams shrank, they crushed Fengdu City without pause.

The jagged black stone city collapsed with a thunderous roar, crumbling into mist.

But before it could scatter, it was shredded and erased into nothingness by the formation.

Even the surging Wangchuan and Yellow Springs were temporarily stilled.

Even if Ji Yao could summon another flood from Yellow Springs, Lei Jun could now suppress it.

And he needed only a moment to finish his task.

The array soon shrank, the three Taiji Diagrams merging to suppress the Five Decays Dao Bell.

Its ringing ceased instantly.

Pure Qi, sharp as blades, swept out like sickles, felling Lu Changpeng, Daoist Feimo, Cao Heng, and other Inner Shushan disciples in swathes.

Only Lu Changpeng, at the Perfection of the Eighth Heaven, survived.

Ji Yao resisted with his Myriad Phase Bone Armor, but had only one thought:

…What is this array?!

Before he could reflect further, a purple sword light descended like dragon and thunder.

The array collapsed. The Tianshi Trinity returned to Lei Jun.

Lei Jun struck with one clean sweep, eliminating most of the survivors.

Ji Yao retreated toward the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner, while his Underworld River Saber slashed at Lei Jun.

Lei Jun’s Tianshi Robe and Seal manifested Ninefold Chaotic Qi and Light, revealing the Dragon-Tiger Seal that blocked the saber.

With another slash of his Tianshi Sword, the Underworld River Saber was shattered.

Ji Yao’s Celestial Soul barely retained humanoid form. Twisting violently, he fled into the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner, merging with it.

A vast black mist spread, reviving the aura of Extreme Yin.

Lei Jun pointed his sword sideways.

Above him, three talismans gathered:

• Thunder Law Talismanic Canon

• Heavenly Sun Ascendant Talisman

• Divine Firmament Pure Yang Talisman

From them emerged the Yang Thunder Dragon, Yang Fire Tiger, and Pure Yang Thunder Dragon.

A surge of unyielding Yang energy swept out, like a blazing sun descending. Even the always-chilling Underworld gained a fleeting warmth.

Three Yangs Open Auspice.

Supreme and Absolute Yang!

The immense power channeled into Lei Jun’s sword became a divine punishment, cleaving through the black mist—and shattering the Ten-Thousand-Souls Banner!

Ji Yao’s broken soul fell from within.

Desperate, fragments of white bone flew together to form a defense.

Lei Jun stepped forward, sword in hand, gazing at the tangled gray threads still binding Ji Yao’s soul.

“Reincarnation Descent, binding soul to soul, endlessly entangled... but you won’t need to worry about that.”

His sword fell.

And with it, the remnant soul of the Inner Shushan Sect Leader, Ji Yao, was obliterated.

Yellow Springs returned to silence.

Wangchuan resumed its flow.

Everything appeared as it once was.

Except—no traces remained of those who once dwelled here.

In the cold, desolate stillness of the underworld—

Only Lei Jun’s figure stood alone.