Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 416: Heavenly Master in charge of Penglai

A bridge—a means to communicate with Heaven, Earth, spirits, and ghosts.

For Talismanic Sect cultivators, their main path of cultivation has always been to commune with the natural world and the laws of Heaven and Earth.

Upon reaching Perfection in Five Energies Converging to the Origin, one may attain the Bridge to Profound Insight, symbolizing the bridge between the Divine Perception and Profound Insight realms.

Once the bridge is formed and one stands upon it, it marks that the cultivator is only a half-step away from the Profound Insight Realm, making it much easier to continue their path forward.

Thus, it’s often said that among all cultivation paths, aside from Confucian Scholars reaching Fifth Layer Perfection of the Ninth Heaven and soaring effortlessly, the Talismanic Sect cultivators who attain the Bridge to Profound Insight are most likely to transcend the Ninth Heaven and reach the Immortal Realm.

Of course, ascending to the Immortal Realm is always difficult. Even among soaring Confucian scholars and Talismanic Daoist Sages who’ve completed the Five Energies, only a rare few ever succeed in pushing open the Gate of Immortality and becoming immortals or saints.

Yet in the pursuit of perfection, even a half-step ahead can be an immense advantage.

In terms of practical combat, forming the Bridge to Profound Insight allows Talismanic cultivators to commune more deeply with nature, reducing the energy cost of casting spells while simultaneously amplifying their power.

Talismanic spellcasting is often closely tied to the surrounding environment.

Only those who’ve reached the Divine Court Manifestation or higher—within their Divine Court Universe or Great Ascension Dao Domain—can gradually shed this dependency.

But even then, projecting their internal realms outward still consumes vast spiritual and mental energy.

Therefore, the external environment always remains important to the Talismanic Sect.

When Lei Jun first entered the Land of the Deep Sea, he spent considerable effort cleansing the black mists, partly to enhance perception, and partly to aid himself and fellow Talismanic cultivators like Tang Xiaotang in their spellcasting.

Thanks to the past presence of the Nine Springs Spirit Ascension Jade and the ancient Nine Abyss True Flame from the Tianshi Mansion, Yellow Springs posed less resistance to Talismanic magic.

And for Talismanic Daoists who’ve formed the Bridge to Profound Insight, such issues are no longer a problem.

With the bridge established, Daoist Sages of the Talismanic path can tap into the laws of Heaven and Earth anywhere they go.

“You know, when you eventually complete the Five Energies Converging to the Origin, I’m actually more curious to see how your movement and evasion arts evolve,” Xu Yuanzhen commented casually.

Lei Jun replied, “I’m pretty curious too. Though it’ll definitely take quite a bit of effort.”

In the three major Daoist sect lineages, reaching Fifth Layer Perfection of the Ninth Heaven grants cultivators a way to address weaknesses previously exposed in battle.

While it doesn’t fix everything, the improvements are very real.

For instance, in the Daoist Alchemical Sect, completing the Five Energies Converging to the Origin breaks the rigidity of the once-stationary Great Ascension Yuan Core, and gives rise to the Danxia Radiant Light, significantly boosting both attack range and power.

In the Artifact Refining Sect, cultivators obtain the Loose Immortal Body, also known as Lesser Freedom, enhancing spatial and temporal sensitivity while greatly fortifying their Celestial Soul.

As for the Talismanic Sect, their Bridge to Profound Insight not only deepens their communion with nature but makes their physical form far more agile and elusive. The bridge links Heaven, Earth, Yin, Yang, and the mortal-underworld realms, allowing movement across dimensions.

To the eye, this appears as a significant boost in speed and mobility.

But internally, it’s a technique where the cultivator constantly shifts between stepping on and off the bridge—between real and illusory—walking as if between worlds. If the enemy cannot grasp the interplay of illusion and reality, they’ll often find their attacks landing on empty air.

Lei Jun’s mastery of movement and evasion had already surpassed even Martial Saints of his level in the Mount Longhu Tang Lineage, making him unmatched in his generation.

That was why Xu Yuanzhen looked forward to seeing how much higher his skills would soar once he stepped onto the Bridge to Profound Insight.

“In any case,” Lei Jun said, “congratulations, Senior Sister. With your bridge complete, the Immortal Realm is now within reach.”

Xu Yuanzhen replied, “So far, so good. What’s more useful at the moment is that it helps me investigate why Zhang Wantong has slowed down—and why those ancient immortals remain silent.”

Lei Jun asked, “So you’ve found something?”

Xu Yuanzhen said, “Most of the ancient immortals are silent because the mortal realm has fractured into divergent historical realities. As for Zhang Wantong’s slowed pace, the reason may not lie with her directly. She’s always kept plenty of secrets—this is just another one.”

Her speech was, as always, fast and direct. “But from what you said, the opponent she encountered this time doesn’t seem ordinary.”

Lei Jun nodded. “According to Her Majesty, it might have something to do with Kunlun.”

Xu Yuanzhen acknowledged, “Yeah, Kunlun’s an interesting place.”

Lei Jun continued, “Some of the secrets surrounding Hua Wei, niece of Senior Brother Luo, may also come from Kunlun. And with the situation at Mount Longhu in the Han Dynasty, it seems Kunlun may have been the place where Daoist traditions endured the longest after the great catastrophe at the end of the Han era.”

It’s often said that back in the days of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, Daoists held influence over Kunlun, Penglai, and Yellow Springs.

But the Inner Shushan branch within Yellow Springs was, to some degree, just like the Shushan Sects of the Tang, Ming, and Han Dynasties—they all splintered off during the late Han period.

As for Penglai, only ruins remain. It’s only in the last century or two that Huang Xuanpu, Han Qingtao, and others began exploring it.

Moreover, Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen had now confirmed that Penglai’s ruins were largely associated with the Ancient Heavenly Palace.

“Once Her Majesty returns to the mortal realm, I’ll go to court to inquire further,” Lei Jun said.

Xu Yuanzhen nodded indifferently.

“As for whether Little Senior Sister needs to be cautious…” Lei Jun tilted his head and thought a moment, seemingly unconcerned.

Empress Zhang Wantong, after all, wasn’t always reliable.

But if something genuinely serious had happened to Tang Xiaotang, she wouldn’t have been so vague—unless she truly believed Mount Longhu was growing too powerful to rein in and needed monitoring.

The issue was…

She didn’t value the Zhang-Tang dynasty as much as people thought.

Lei Jun had come to realize this over the years.

Her rise to the throne was partly fate, but more so because she didn’t want certain others to get it.

That mindset was actually similar to Xu Yuanzhen when the Tianshi position was vacant.

The two might’ve had a lot in common.

But apparently… they didn’t get along well.

As for the way Her Majesty had brought up Tang Xiaotang earlier—it sounded more like a casual reminder than a serious warning.

If it were Xu Yuanzhen, she probably wouldn’t have mentioned it at all—just sat back and watched the drama unfold.

Sure enough, when Lei Jun brought it up, Xu Yuanzhen was unfazed: “If Xiaotang gets annoyed, she’ll just hit them. At worst, she’ll miss.”

Lei Jun chuckled.

Tang Xiaotang’s temper came and went quickly.

Strictly speaking, there had only been one thing over the years that had truly affected her mindset—

The long seclusion of former Tianshi Li Qingfeng, which forced her to remain an Apprentice for over a decade, missing several Initiation Ceremonies and never becoming a True Disciple as she wished.

Unable to become a True Disciple, she went straight to being Tianshi—and that settled it.

Since then, nothing has really bothered her.

And if it did—well, a good fight usually solved it.

And if it didn’t—then another one would.

Perhaps it was all the books she read on Blue Star before coming here, but Lei Jun’s thoughts began to wander.

Tang Xiaotang came from an ordinary mountain village—no hidden background. If she had, Xu Yuanzhen would’ve said something already.

She really was a golden phoenix rising from humble roots.

With such a vast population and long history, these stories weren’t rare.

And if there was another Tang Xiaotang, or if she were some reincarnation or split soul—it’d be obvious. Empress Zhang Wantong would’ve just said so.

As for her physique, Tang Xiaotang had already attained the Primordial Dao Body. If anyone was going to block others’ paths—it’d be her.

Lei Jun mentally ruled out all other possibilities.

“No need to overthink it,” he concluded. “Senior Sister, what do you think Little Senior Sister is most proud of?”

Xu Yuanzhen replied, “Diligent in body, clueless in grains.”

Lei Jun: “...In terms of cultivation, she’s definitely diligent—and she knows her grains too.”

Xu Yuanzhen: “Just give her a heads-up. She’ll take care of the rest herself.”

When the State Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty received the message, her response was:

“Unstable mindset? What do I have to be unstable about?”

If anything, Tang Xiaotang felt puzzled—mixed with excitement and curiosity.

In every way, she was someone whose interest came quickly and faded just as fast.

But Empress Zhang Wantong’s words had definitely piqued her interest.

Still, failing to capture Li Yuanheng, and nearly falling into an ambush by the Great Shaman of Kongsang, had left her slightly unsettled.

So, although tempted, she chose to stay in the Mortal Realm of the Foreign Khanate for now.

“I picked up some things from the Kongsang Witch Sect. I’ll have Zhuo Huajie bring them back for you to take a look,” she told him.

Zhuo Huajie was already on his way to deliver the Tianshi Sword and Tianshi Robe per Lei Jun’s orders.

The robe was one thing—but the sword made Tang Xiaotang genuinely happy.

Though Lei Jun’s Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo was good, she still felt the Tianshi Sword suited her better.

Even though Lei Jun wasn’t currently fighting, Tang Xiaotang instructed Zhuo Huajie to also bring back the Upper Qing Bamboo and the Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle.

Later, while in Penglai, Lei Jun received the Kongsang Witch Sect artifact that Tang Xiaotang mentioned.

It resembled a bottle crafted from beast bone, smooth as jade, emanating a strange, seductive aura.

After examining it with his own spiritual energy, Lei Jun muttered thoughtfully, “Tianjing, Dedu...”

In Kongsang, the Great Shamans weren’t strictly divided by the Five Witch Sects. Instead, there were two major factions:

Tianjing and Dedu.

Both included cultivators of various Witch Sect lineages, but stood in stark opposition.

The shaman who attacked Tang Xiaotang came from Dedu, though the reason remained unclear.

Tang Xiaotang struck back fiercely, killing a swath of enemies—leaving no survivors.

It was hard to judge whether Kongsang had someone akin to Sumeru’s Venerable Sage of Wisdom, or a Grand Demon like the one in Guixu.

“Still… why does this Witch Sect inheritance feel familiar?” Lei Jun recalled something.

He thought of Tan Muwei, a Great Shaman he once captured in the Han Mortal Realm.

Over time, traditions evolve. Though Tianshi Mansion and the Yellow Heaven Sect share roots, they’ve grown apart.

Same for the Witch Sect.

The Nine Li Great Shamans differ from the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect of the Tang Dynasty.

And their energies differ again from the Great Shamans of Kongsang.

Even the Witch cultivators active in the Foreign Khanate’s Mortal Realm had variations.

But Lei Jun sensed that Tan Muwei’s methods were strikingly similar to those of the Kongsang Shamans.

So, at the very least, Tan Muwei was connected to Kongsang.

In other words, there had been contact between the Han Mortal Realm and Kongsang.

Though the Witch Sect seemed dormant in the Han Realm—Southern Wasteland controlled by Vast Void Temple—Lei Jun had long suspected something was hidden.

This connection only confirmed it.

“When there’s time, I’ll go check out the Han Mortal Realm,” Lei Jun thought.

For now, he focused on tidying up Penglai.

The place was full of mists and ever-shifting changes.

Even Huang Xuanpu, Han Qingtao, and others hadn’t explored every corner. They had only conducted scattered surveys.

Now it was Lei Jun’s task to finish the job.

After Yuan Mobai returned to the sect to sit in the Main Hall, Lin Shan led a team of elders and disciples to Penglai to await Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen’s command.

Though Ye Dongming and Li Miaozhen were also in Penglai, they kept a low profile, as if they were mere guests.

“Penglai’s Spiritual Energy is more abundant than the mortal realm—especially suitable for Daoist disciples to cultivate,” Lei Jun told Lin Shan.

“Disciples from the Mansion may take turns coming here. Still, though the Nine Heavens isn’t as perilous as the Ten Earths, young disciples must remain cautious. Treat this as a preparatory stage—advance step by step.”

Lin Shan bowed. “As the Sect Master commands.”

Those from the Tianshi Mansion entered partly to cultivate, and partly to follow instructions to organize the ruins and immortal isles within Penglai.

Some infrastructure from the Mortal Daoist Nation remained.

Though their paths differed, much of it could be reused by the Tianshi Mansion, with only a few parts discarded or modified.

With both Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen present, there was no concern about disciples being corrupted by anything the Daoist Nation left behind.

Zhuo Huajie also remained in Penglai, attending his master and focusing on cultivation.

Lei Jun continued to refine the Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo and Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Mantle, and casually asked:

“Has your Martial Aunt Tang started cultivating the Sevenfold Bright Qi?”

Zhuo Huajie replied, “Master, she has.”

This meant that Tang Xiaotang’s cultivation had reached the Fourth Layer of the Ninth Heaven.

She should’ve reached that before Xu Yuanzhen broke through to the Fifth Layer.

But Tang Xiaotang had been busy hunting Li Yuanheng, delaying her progress.

Now, after being interrupted by the Great Shaman of Kongsang, although she had inflicted heavy losses, she had also lost track of Li Yuanheng’s trail.

Though she was still feeling indignant, she decided to first cultivate the Sevenfold Essence of Luminescent Clarity to elevate her realm and further enhance the efficacy of the Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman. It was a classic case of sharpening the axe before chopping wood.

“Before, we slowed down your cultivation to ensure your foundation was solid. Now that you've reached the Upper Heavens, you can stretch your limbs a little more,” Lei Jun instructed his disciple. “The changes you'll undergo—you’ll need to grasp them carefully on your own.”

Zhuo Huajie replied, “Yes, Master.”

Disciples of the Tianshi Mansion began large-scale cleanup operations across Penglai, and the gains were considerable.

Here, they discovered many rare or nearly extinct heavenly treasures from the human realm.

Some of them could even be used by Lei Jun himself.

For instance, the Thousand-Facet Crystal Jade.

When he last crafted the Starry River Heavenly Net, Lei Jun had exhausted all he had. Only now had he managed to obtain a little more. Though not as much as before, it was enough for him to experiment with similar treasures in new ways.

Later on, the Ming Shushan Sect’s sect master Yuan Qingci sent a message in secret—even elders like Li Miaozhen were unaware of the details.

After reading it, Lei Jun raised his brows slightly.

He thought for a moment and then replied using a hidden talismanic decree that Yuan Qingci had previously dedicated in secret.

Some time later, a mysterious visitor quietly arrived in Penglai.

On an island where the mist had just cleared, the figure revealed himself upon seeing Lei Jun.

It was none other than the foremost figure of Daoism in the Ming realm—the former master of the True Martial Monastery, Mu Chunyang.

“I once assisted a Grand Academician of the Ming court in trying to open a void portal between the Ming realm and Guizang. At the time, I had no choice. But I’ve come in person today to offer an apology to the Tianshi and the Tang imperial court.”

Mu Chunyang bowed. “This humble offering is to express my remorse. I hope the Tianshi will overlook the offense.”

Lei Jun replied, “You're too kind, Master Mu.”

He noticed that Mu Chunyang currently possessed not just a Nascent Soul Yang Spirit, but a real physical body.

His soul and body were fully integrated, unlike a possession. And according to Yuan Qingci, he had not been converted in Sumeru—a claim that now seemed credible.

Sensing Lei Jun’s gaze, Mu Chunyang smiled. “I possess the Creation Celestial Physique. I had made some preparations beforehand. Thankfully so—otherwise, I wouldn’t have survived my escape.”

There were many rumors and speculations about Lei Jun circulating in the Tang realm, some of which had made their way into the ears of Daoists in the Ming realm.

The dominant view was that this contemporary Tianshi of the Tang had somehow elevated his own aptitude after birth.

By now, it was likely that—just like Tang Xiaotang—he possessed a Celestial Physique, along with comprehension at the Clear Tranquility level.

There had once been doubts about the nature of his physique, but once word spread that he wielded two Great Ascension Dao Domains simultaneously, speculation began to mount that he was a legendary Two-Element Celestial Physique.

Mu Chunyang had heard as much recently.

He also knew well that the Two-Element Celestial Physique and the Creation Celestial Physique might be in subtle competition.

Still, facing each other now, Mu Chunyang remained composed and courteous.

Lei Jun likewise refrained from prying into the nature of his physique or how he had escaped from Sumeru.

After exchanging formalities, Lei Jun simply asked a few questions regarding the Buddhist Venerable of Supreme Wisdom within Sumeru.

“That Venerable’s state is definitely unstable. The great demon who escaped his suppression also came out in poor condition,” Mu Chunyang said. “However, the Venerable is no ordinary golden-bodied Arhat. At his peak, his cultivation is unfathomable. Even though he remains in Sumeru and hasn’t set foot in the mortal realm, he is not to be underestimated.”

Lei Jun nodded. “Thank you for the warning, Master Mu.”

Then he asked, “What’s the current situation in the Ming realm?”

Mu Chunyang responded, “After the setbacks in Sumeru and now in Penglai, the Ming is in turmoil. The land is unstable.

The Ming court has lost many top-tier experts—it won’t be easy to recover anytime soon.

Because of this, the nation’s fortune is faltering. Great demons are rising all around, and rebellions are erupting throughout the realm.”

Lei Jun wasn’t surprised.

Although the Ming Emperor still reigned, the dynasty had always been a shared responsibility between the monarch and Confucian scholars.

The deaths of luminaries like Chen Yu, Liu Chong, Gao Ming, and Xi Zhichang dealt a severe blow to the fabric of Ming society.

Just as Empress Zhang Wantong’s injury once disrupted the Tang’s fortune, the same was now happening to the Ming.

The good news was that the Confucian framework remained intact. With the right successors like Zhou Mingzhe stepping up, stability could soon return—assuming they weathered the transition phase.

But the bad news was twofold: the defeat in Sumeru had been followed immediately by another blow in Penglai, and opportunistic forces within and beyond the realm were rising fast.

Demons were gathering—no explanation needed.

The void portals to Guizang and the Five Dynasties realm had become unstable.

Worse still, peasant uprisings were breaking out everywhere, with faint signs pointing to their old nemesis—the White Lotus Sect.

According to Lei Jun’s knowledge, the Ming’s White Lotus Sect had always been stronger than its Tang counterpart.

That was why it had long drawn serious attention from the Ming court.

And just recently, the Ming had lost the Literary Execution Blade, a treasure they’d refined for years specifically to suppress the White Lotus Sect.

Now with internal rebellion and external threats, the Ming realm was in chaos.

Public sentiment was boiling, and the nation’s Dragon Vein was quaking—there was no way the Ming could ignore it.

“What does Master Mu intend?” Lei Jun asked calmly.

Instead of answering immediately, Mu Chunyang asked in return, “It seems the Tianshi and the Tang have no plans to enter the Ming realm?”

Even though rumors said Empress Zhang Wantong was not currently in the Tang realm, if Lei Jun led a team through Guizang into the Ming realm now, it would be devastating.

Lei Jun replied frankly, “I’m not fond of the Neo-Confucian tradition in your world. But since Gao Ming, Liu Chong, and the others are already gone, and the times have changed—for now, I have no intention of meddling.”

Mu Chunyang bowed slightly. “Your magnanimity is admirable, Tianshi.”

Lei Jun gave him a look and asked directly, “Will the True Martial Monastery take action in the Ming realm?”

Mu Chunyang shook his head gently. “Any move now would only benefit the demons.”

He gave a Daoist salute. “I have a small request, Tianshi. I hope you’ll allow some of our disciples to establish a presence in the Tang realm and pass on our legacy there.”

Lei Jun did not refuse. “You’ll need to first coordinate with our Pure Yang Palace. But I have no objection.”

Mu Chunyang bowed. “Of course. Thank you.”

After further discussions, Mu Chunyang remained in Penglai for the time being.

Representatives from the Tang’s Pure Yang Palace would come to meet him later.

“He’s a man who hides his strength well,” Lei Jun later remarked to Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen.

Xu Yuanzhen said, “I’d heard of him but never met him. Now that I have, he’s indeed impressive—stronger than Huang Xuanpu, though probably not as strong as that Alchemical Sect cultivator Empress Zhang encountered.”

Lei Jun said, “What he wants to overturn isn’t the Ming Dynasty itself, but the Confucian order that underpins it.

But over the years, it’s taken deep root throughout society.

Even if the Ming falls, the next regime might still continue the same structure. It’s not something that can be easily changed.”

Even in the newly named Tianli, many old practices still lingered in everyday life. It would take years, even decades, to shift.

Xu Yuanzhen remained noncommittal. “You take your time tidying up Penglai. I’ll head to the Five Dynasties realm for a look.”

There was a portal to Shambhala in that realm.

But from what Lei Jun knew of Xu Yuanzhen, she’d rather carve her own doorway into Shambhala directly.

She likely wasn’t going there for convenience—but to use the Buddhists there to better understand Shambhala, so she could later open the gate herself.

Lei Jun said, “It’s still a Buddhist Venerable. Even if not on par with the Venerable of Supreme Wisdom, not someone to take lightly.”

Xu Yuanzhen grinned. “That’s perfect.”

Watching her depart, Lei Jun gave a slight shake of his head.

In the days that followed, Tianshi Lei oversaw Penglai’s cleanup while continuing his own cultivation and treasure forging.

Among the gifts Mu Chunyang brought, several struck Lei Jun’s fancy.

One in particular was Ganges Sand.

Unfortunately, it was in short supply. Given the chaos during Mu Chunyang’s escape from Sumeru, he hadn’t had time to prepare—bringing even a little was already impressive.

Lei Jun also acquired a bit of Celestial River Star Sand in Penglai.

With those two materials plus the Thousand-Facet Crystal Jade, the three key ingredients for refining the Starry River Heavenly Net were once again complete.

Though the quantities were limited, Lei Jun could attempt another round of refinement.

This time, he planned to add something new.

Namely, his own Limitless Yin-Yang Star Radiance.

However, this wasn’t like a stable talisman. While calm inside Lei Jun’s body, once externalized, it grew restless.

If not handled carefully, it could trigger disaster.

It was fine in Lei Jun’s presence—but he wanted more than that.

With new resources from both Penglai and the Yellow Springs, he eagerly ran through his various plans, experimenting joyfully.

Then came word from Junior Martial Brother Chu Kun: the Supreme Azure Crystal had been successfully nurtured.

Though few in number, for the Tianshi Mansion, it was a major boon.

Lei Jun received a piece, which would allow him to greatly accelerate his accumulation of the Five Spirits and Five Essences, saving time on the Third Stage of the Ninth Heaven—paving the way for an earlier push into the Fourth Stage.

He activated the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity and observed the Ming realm.

Seeing that Chu Kun had safely reached the void portal connecting the Ming realm and Guizang, Lei Jun nodded and scanned elsewhere.

The Ming realm was indeed ablaze with war.

The battle at Sumeru had devastated not just Confucian cultivators, but also the Ming martial sects.

As a result, the current peacekeeping forces were a mixed bag—on average, martial cultivators were relatively weak.

Lei Jun saw that some disciples of Bodhi Monastery, the True Martial Monastery, and Shushan had been conscripted to stabilize the situation.

In the central plains, disciples of the White Lotus Sect were secretly inciting rebellion. The Ming forces responded swiftly.

One particular Ming army caught Lei Jun’s attention.

Inside and outside a certain city, vast amounts of literary aura were gathering into a powerful shield.

The garrison prepared to march.

Among them were many martial cultivators, some Buddhist and Daoist practitioners, some from the Confucian Divine Archery Lineage, and a few low- to mid-tier Neo-Confucian scholars.

The commanding officer, a scholar of great learning and cultivation, remained in the city, not joining the march.

“Splitting forces?” Lei Jun mused.

Given the nature of cultivation, even officials who believed in ‘those who think govern, those who labor are governed’ had to fight when it mattered.

They couldn’t count on average cultivators from other sects to fend off high-level threats.

When results mattered, everyone had to pull their weight.

Otherwise, figures like Chen Yu, Liu Chong, and the rest wouldn’t have died or been grievously wounded.

Now, an unusual troop formation had emerged.

The general in command accepted the war order from the scholar, then knelt, bowed, and left to organize his troops.

Lei Jun followed their movements with his mirror.

He noticed that after receiving the order, the general’s cultivation seemed to spike—rising from the Seventh to the Eighth Heaven, and even among Eighth-Heaven martial cultivators, he wasn’t weak.

It wasn’t hidden strength—the change stemmed from the decree itself.

Several mid-level officers also experienced similar boosts.

Lei Jun silently shifted the mirror’s focus back to the city.

On the drill grounds, a group lingered.

Their leader was a refined, scholarly official—clearly a high-ranking inspector from the flag displayed. He looked calm and sharp-eyed.

He too was monitoring the departing army and receiving regular updates.

From a glance, Lei Jun assessed his cultivation to be around the Third Stage of the Eighth Heaven in Neo-Confucianism.

However, something was off—his literary aura was low and faint.

“Hm… Third Stage of the Eighth Heaven… about the same level that martial general just advanced to…” Lei Jun started to piece it together.