Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 436: The Fourth Layer of the Nine Heavens, the Seven Qi of the Bright Spirit

In the Great Ascension Dao Domain, aside from the Five Elements and Five Qi cultivated during the Three-Tiered Nine Heavens phase, Lei Jun was now simultaneously manifesting a vast amount of Profound Spirit One Qi and Threefold Elixir Qi.

The Profound Spirit One Qi sank downward, as though transforming into a solid black earth.

The Threefold Elixir Qi rose upward, like a glowing, radiant sky.

The Five Elements and Five Qi surrounded Lei Jun, who stood at the very center.

In the distant, vast darkness of the void, starlight twinkled. Bright yellow, circular magnetic star tracks crisscrossed and stretched into the distance.

Lei Jun had a firm grasp on the state of his Five Elements and Five Qi—they had reached the stage of complete perfection.

Next, it was time to attempt the cultivation of Bright Spirit Seven Qi.

Under his control, his inner techniques began circulating quietly. The Profound Spirit One Qi below and the Threefold Elixir Qi above began to change.

On the black earth condensed from the Profound Spirit One Qi, a great deal of dark dust began to stir.

At the same time, deep within the earth, thunder rumbled—sounding as if buried deep within the land.

The Profound Darkness Dust and the Nine Heavens Heart Thunder began to churn and shake simultaneously, causing the dark earth to rise upward toward Lei Jun and the surrounding Five Elements and Five Qi.

Above his head, the Threefold Elixir Qi swirled, producing multicolored clouds shimmering with three hues. Within the clouds, grayish-white forms flickered in and out of view—half-formed, half-not—while an immense magnetic force surged out.

Under the effects of the Threefold Light and Mist and the Twin Poles Sea Eye, a large amount of Threefold Elixir Qi began to descend.

At this moment, the three wondrous vital energies Lei Jun had cultivated during the Nine Heavens phase finally made contact.

The Five-Colored Clouds and Solitary Aspect Water—products of his Five Elements and Five Qi—were temporarily nowhere to be seen.

In this moment, the Profound Spirit One Qi acted like an alchemical furnace, while the Threefold Elixir Qi was the roaring fire within.

The Five Elements and Five Qi became the raw materials thrown into the fire, undergoing relentless forging under Lei Jun’s control.

Like an unfinished blade, being hammered before becoming a sword.

It was destined not to be completed overnight; it required constant, day-and-night refining.

Lei Jun remained calm, his heart steady as he cultivated.

In the mountains, time passed unnoticed.

After a long and tireless effort, Lei Jun’s cultivation finally bore fruit.

One day, at a certain moment, from within the finely refined Five Elements and Five Qi, a single strand of mysterious and awe-inspiring white qi suddenly burst forth.

Lei Tianshi was like a blacksmith swinging a mighty hammer to forge a weapon.

That instant was like the hammer striking down, igniting a spark.

But this white qi didn’t vanish like a fleeting spark—it coiled steadily around Lei Jun’s body in the Xuanhuang Universe.

He kept moving, unfazed emotionally, continuing to “forge” his Five Elements and Five Qi without pause.

More and more strands of white qi burst forth, gradually accumulating in the Great Ascension Dao Domain.

The white qi gathered and grew in quantity. Unlike the vast and ethereal Threefold Elixir Qi and Five Elements and Five Qi, it was dense like Profound Spirit One Qi, almost solid.

Compared to the Profound Spirit One Qi forming the dark earth, this newly formed white qi resembled faintly gleaming metal rods.

This white qi was the hallmark of a Talismanic Branch cultivator attaining the Fourth Tier of the Nine Heavens: Bright Spirit Seven Qi.

After stabilizing the cultivation of his Bright Spirit Seven Qi, Lei Jun shifted his focus.

No new white qi formed.

Instead, the stabilized Bright Spirit Seven Qi was cast back into the furnace-like environment and continued to be refined.

Over time, this Bright Spirit Seven Qi, which resembled iron billets even more than the Five Elements and Five Qi, also began to transform.

Large quantities of white qi seemed to be continuously compressed and folded, eventually producing threads of white radiance.

As the white radiance flickered, it seemed precisely measured—no more, no less—exactly seven units.

Only then did Lei Jun finally let out a long breath.

The wondrous effect that Talismanic Branch cultivators attain upon reaching the Fourth Tier of the Nine Heavens, the Sevenfold White Radiance, had now been successfully forged.

From a combat perspective, the Sevenfold White Radiance could greatly enhance the power of one’s mystical abilities, yielding immediate results in Daoist combat.

Like the Threefold Light and Mist, Five-Colored Clouds, and Profound Darkness Dust, while the Sevenfold White Radiance could be applied in battle, its original purpose was to aid in a cultivator’s daily cultivation.

The Sevenfold White Radiance existed somewhere between form and formlessness, substance and void, acting simultaneously on the physical body and spiritual mind.

Its mysterious edge helped slice through obstacles on the path of cultivation, overcome bottlenecks, and clear away confusion.

To a certain extent, it could accelerate daily cultivation and reduce the hurdles one might face.

For Lei Jun, with his natural level of comprehension and Two-Element Celestial Physique, a new inspiration—opposing yet complementary to the Sevenfold White Radiance—had already sparked during his cultivation of the Bright Spirit Seven Qi.

Now, he even had a complete concept in mind.

All he needed was external assistance—specifically, the Immaculate Golden Rainbow he had brought back from the Human Realm of the Two Jin Dynasties, which originated from the Buddhist-Daoist conflict in Shambhala and Sumeru.

However, there was no need to rush.

The Immaculate Golden Rainbow still required some additional processing.

One, to better harmonize with the Sevenfold White Radiance. Two, to eliminate any potential risks stemming from its origin—namely, Venerable Puguang from Shambhala.

As for when to proceed, that required careful planning and coordination with Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan's movements.

So Lei Jun wasn’t in a hurry.

He simply calmed his mind, continued accumulating his Bright Spirit Seven Qi, and used it to nurture the Sevenfold White Radiance.

After this period of seclusion, Lei Jun finally emerged.

A piece of good news had arrived from his master, Yuan Mobai:

The magical artifact being refined by Xu Yuanzhen had also been completed and was now undergoing quiet nurturing.

Upon hearing this, Lei Jun was intrigued and went to visit Xu Yuanzhen.

He saw an ancient sword suspended in a sea of emerald Nine Abyss True Flame.

The blade appeared motionless and fixed at three feet in length, no longer shifting as it had before.

Yet with Lei Jun’s cultivation and perception, gazing at the sword gave him the illusion that the blade stretched infinitely long—

Like a river of time itself.

But unlike her Flowing Water Thus Blade used to slay Huang Xuanpu in the past, this one didn’t merely carry the mysteries of time. It seemed to fuse in many other profound truths.

From Lei Jun’s perspective, the sword now appeared not only endless in length but also boundless in width—

As if encompassing all the myriad forms of mortal existence.

“Senior Sister, this sword—is it meant for...?” Lei Jun raised a hand and pointed upward.

Xu Yuanzhen's expression was calm as always: “Thanks to Junior Brother Chu’s World-Breaking Dust, this sword was able to be completed. But overall, we’re still short on raw materials, so it only forged this one blade. As for its specific performance... I’d say it’s just decent. I’m currently considering other solutions.”

Lei Jun: “I’ve got a few things on my end too. When the time comes, I’ll help share the load.”

Xu Yuanzhen: “How are things on the Han side?”

“The Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect hasn’t shown up yet,” Lei Jun said.

Though their Daoist methods differed significantly, there had been little direct interaction before.

But at their first meeting, Elder Ma Zongxiang of the Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect had shown open hostility.

Worse, the sect itself went straight into seclusion without even a greeting.

It was hard not to suspect they were hiding something.

Xu Yuanzhen: “No matter. Judging by how things look, we’ll find out soon enough.”

Lei Jun nodded slightly. Suddenly, the glow of the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman flickered in his eyes.

Information was flowing in—from Tianshi Mansion at Mount Longhu—from the Tang capital, Luoyang.

“...Her Majesty the Empress is leaving the Tang Mortal Realm again?” Lei Jun said.

The timing was... suspiciously perfect.

Xu Yuanzhen replied indifferently, “Her Heaven-Wrath Calamity Gold has finally matured?”

Lei Jun: “That seems to be the reason.”

In other words, the empress was preparing to attempt ascension into the Immortal Realm.

“I’ll go to Luoyang,” Lei Jun said.

Xu Yuanzhen waved her hand casually and continued nurturing the ancient sword in the sea of emerald flames.

Lei Jun headed for the Tang capital, Luoyang, for an audience with the empress.

Empress Zhang Wantong had already heard about the current state of the Human Realm of the Han.

But her Heaven-Wrath Calamity Gold could not wait.

Whether stored or left unused, it needed to be used soon—otherwise, its spiritual energy would dissipate on its own.

Another issue was that, even when used, its effects wouldn’t last long.

“So, what happens after Your Majesty ascends?” Lei Jun asked.

Zhang Wantong: “Only after I ascend and re-refine it can I maintain its power long-term.”

Faced with such a special circumstance, Lei Jun hesitated for a moment, then asked bluntly, “Your Majesty once said that this treasure isn’t for your own cultivation, but for... someone else? A remnant of the Heavenly Palace?”

Zhang Wantong responded calmly, not hiding anything: “Bilu.”

A flood of thoughts rushed through Lei Jun’s mind.

If Zhang Wantong was telling the truth, the implication was clear: something—someone—within Bilu would emerge once she ascended.

Whether it was a sealed being breaking free, a slumbering entity awakening, or something being reborn—

Such a presence, even with her ascension, could not be completely contained.

So the best solution, for now, was to re-refine the Heaven-Wrath Calamity Gold after her ascension, to keep Bilu sealed long-term and suppress whatever lay within.

Combined with past hints, it became clear: Bilu belonged to the former Heavenly Palace...

Lei Jun remained silent in contemplation.

Empress Zhang Wantong stood up. “The mortal realm is in your hands. It’s fine if the Tianshi Mansion disciples head to the Han Mortal Realm soon. Over here in Great Tang, I’ll rely on Mo Feng’er and the others.”

Lei Jun said, “The Tang Mortal Realm isn’t what it used to be. If I and my fellow disciples must depart before Your Majesty returns in triumph, we’ll make the necessary preparations.”

Zhang Wantong: “Thank you, Master Lei.”

She did not linger and left immediately.

Lei Jun returned to Mount Longhu.

Upon hearing the news, Tang Xiaotang pouted. “The timing is just way too convenient. Could someone have orchestrated this?”

Lei Jun: “It’s not certain yet. For now, let’s keep watching. No need to rush to the Great Han Dynasty just yet.”

Xu Yuanzhen’s lips curved into a subtle smile. “Zhang Wantong… she’s trying to suppress the remnants of the Heavenly Palace sealed in Bilu, isn’t she?”

Lei Jun: “Based on what we know, yes. But whether her words are entirely true, or if there’s something more to it—we can’t be sure yet.”

Xu Yuanzhen: “Let’s assume she’s being honest. Then how exactly is she connected to Bilu in such a profound way?”

Lei Jun: “Senior Sister, are you suspecting the predecessor from Shushan Sect was telling the truth when he said a former member of the Heavenly Palace tried to resurrect it, triggering the Great Calamity at the end of the Han Dynasty—and that our Empress was one of those who betrayed the Heavenly Palace back then?”

Xu Yuanzhen: “Some beings in the Immortal Realm, if arrangements are precise enough, can reincarnate, cultivate anew, and recover their past wisdom. It’s not impossible.”

Lei Jun: “Since she hasn’t said anything, we may as well wait and see.”

Still, if that was the case, it certainly explained a lot—like why this Tang Empress always gave off such an unreliable air…

Unreliable, because she acted on impulse.

Acting on impulse, because she didn’t truly care.

She once betrayed the Heavenly Palace during its attempted revival—how much more indifferent must she be toward a mortal imperial throne?

And if her reincarnation happened to land in the Zhang Imperial Clan of Tang, that was just fate playing tricks.

If she had never regained her past memories, that would be one thing.

But if she had—then anything she did now wouldn’t surprise Lei Jun.

Xu Yuanzhen showed a rare smile. “Though we’d guessed a little of this before, it’s still a pleasant surprise. I like it.”

“Is she the only one like that?” Tang Xiaotang glanced back and forth between Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen, curiosity brimming.

Lei Jun spread his hands. “The three of us have all cultivated to this level. If we were reincarnated with past lives, we’d have sensed something long ago.”

Tang Xiaotang: “True enough.”

…

Kunlun Yuyutian.

In a Dao Palace, Mu Weizi suddenly shuddered all over, brilliant light flashing in his eyes.

He felt as if his soul had been gilded in gold.

But the golden hue faded quickly, causing no harm.

Looking down, he saw the jade pendant at his waist shimmering faintly with golden light.

Stunned, Mu Weizi stood frozen, his mind adrift, then suddenly cried out in shock.

Snapping out of it, he rushed to find Ancestor Zhou Tian.

Inside the Dao Palace, another disciple, Jiang Nan, was on guard. Like Mu Weizi, he had also entered the Dao through Kunlun, not from the Han Mortal Realm.

Seeing Mu Weizi in such a frenzy, Jiang Nan was surprised. “Senior Brother, what’s happened?”

Mu Weizi hurriedly replied, “I need to see Master!”

Jiang Nan: “Master said not to be disturbed unless it’s critical—”

A deep, resonant voice suddenly echoed in their ears, like a great bell: “Come in.”

Mu Weizi apologized, took his leave from Jiang Nan, and rushed into the grand hall.

Within, the alchemy furnace was surrounded by radiant clouds.

Ancestor Zhou Tian no longer reclined but stood before the furnace with hands clasped behind his back. “What is it?”

Mu Weizi took a deep breath and steadied himself. “Master, I’ve found the old traitor.”

Zhou Tian turned to look at him.

Mu Weizi: “Empress Zhang Wantong of the Great Tang Dynasty! She has indeed reincarnated and cultivated anew—and she’s preparing to ascend to the Immortal Realm!”

Zhou Tian: “If she ascends, that means Bilu is about to awaken.”

Mu Weizi shook his head gravely and offered the jade pendant from his waist. “She’s laid down a ritual using Heaven-Wrath Calamity Gold, Spirit-Sealing Divine Flame, and other treasures. Bilu cannot awaken or reopen.”

Ancestor Zhou Tian finally shifted his full attention from the alchemy furnace.

He took the jade pendant in one hand and waved the other through the air.

The Dao Palace transformed into a vast cosmic star sea.

Ancestor Zhou Tian closed his eyes in contemplation. After a while, his brow furrowed slightly. “I can’t determine the exact location.”

Mu Weizi: “If she’s still within the Tang Mortal Realm or its related domains, that’s manageable. But if she’s gone into the Outer Void, she’s truly untraceable.”

Zhou Tian’s frown slowly eased as he turned back to the furnace. “In that case, let’s deal with the Han Dynasty side first.”

Mu Weizi knew that his master had been investing in the Han Dynasty for a long time—even ordering the Han Dragon-Tiger Sect to remain hidden for over a decade.

If he had learned Zhang Wantong’s location at once, Zhou Tian might have broken formality to act.

But for now, nothing would shake his resolve.

“You’ll go to the Tang Mortal Realm soon to confirm where she’s gone into seclusion,” Zhou Tian said. “Later, I’ll go personally.”

Mu Weizi: “The Tianshi Mansion disciples are still in the Tang Realm.”

Zhou Tian: “They’ll be coming to the Han Realm. Even if the realms are sealed now, someone will open the way for them.”

Mu Weizi: “Then I’ll head there later.”

He wasn’t concerned that the Tang Dragon-Tiger Sect descendants would mess things up.

Zhou Tian had made his preparations. Whether it was the Kongsang Witch Kings or the Tang Dragon-Tiger Sect, they would be powerless to interfere.

“Go wait for further news,” Zhou Tian ordered.

After Mu Weizi withdrew, Zhou Tian summoned Jiang Nan.

Staring at the alchemy furnace, he spoke after a short silence.

Soon, Jiang Nan entered and saluted.

Zhou Tian said, “Leave everything else to your Senior Brother. You head to Taiqing Salvation Grotto and assist Ji Daocheng. Wait for further orders.”

Jiang Nan: “Yes, Master.”

…

Back in Mount Longhu, Lei Jun silently adjusted his Starry River Heavenly Net.

If he were to head to the Han Mortal Realm later, he would take the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity with him, while leaving the Starry River Net behind in the Tang Realm.

“The Void Gateway to the Great Ming Mortal Realm—I sealed it earlier,” Lei Jun told Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan and Junior Brother Chu Kun. “Later, I’ll do inspections around the Western Region and Northern Sea.”

Shambhala and Luoyuan had both opened Void Gateways in those locations before.

Though they had been sealed, now that Empress Zhang Wantong had dispersed the Tang Dynasty’s Nation-Blessed Fortune, and since she herself was no longer present, these gateways might reopen.

Reinforcing such gateways without a visible source was difficult. Lei Jun planned to install alert mechanisms—if anything changed, they’d know immediately.

Other such sites included Chang’an, and the Greater and Lesser Pass Mountains in the northwest, as well as Lone Cloud Plains.

Wang Guiyuan sighed softly. “Just like when you went into Penglai, the Tang Realm itself feels far too hollow…”

It left the Daoist master with little sense of security.

Lei Jun replied, “As long as the Immortal Realm doesn’t descend, most situations can still be handled by the Tang cultivators. And Master and you are still here at the mountain gate.”

Chu Kun reached over and gripped Wang Guiyuan’s hand tightly. “Master also said, if anything happens, we’re counting on you, Senior Brother.”

Wang Guiyuan looked down at his deep red Daoist robe, then glanced at Chu Kun’s purple one.

Lei Jun said, “We’ve made plenty of preparations these years. We may not have a surplus, but holding out for a time shouldn’t be an issue.”

Wang Guiyuan smiled bitterly. “How long is ‘a time’? That’s the real question.”

Even if things were different now in the Tang Realm…

Chu Kun suddenly asked with curiosity, “Second Brother, what’s the situation over in the Han Mortal Realm now?”

Lei Jun said, “The casualties are mounting. People are starting to bring out their true power, but the real battle hasn’t begun yet. Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect has yet to appear, and there’s no sign of further moves from the Kongsang Witch Kings.”

At present, Great Han cultivators were fighting bitterly in Guanzhong in a campaign to defend the capital.

Experts like Ye Zhao and other elites of Great Han had all gathered in Guanzhong.

Chen Lingfeng of Shushan emerged, bringing with him one of his sect’s sacred treasures—the Nine Heavens Sun-Yang Ruler.

Even the Treasure Division of Sumeru had joined the fray, with Master Nuobu, who had reached the Nine Heavens Buddhist Body Realm, stepping into battle.

Their opponents weren’t idle either.

Aside from Abbot Juexiang of Vast Void Temple reemerging in the world, Juefa, a monk long rumored to be on the verge of the Ninth Heaven Realm like Chen Lingfeng and Pan Hailin, had also appeared—and as it turned out, he had already achieved the Ninth Heaven Great Extinction Realm.

When Xiang Jing and others returned to reinforce Chang’an, the opposing side relentlessly pursued them, placing the Han cultivators under pressure from both front and rear.

With the surge of spiritual energy in the Han Mortal Realm, many powerful figures had emerged in recent years.

Yet now, this brutal war in Guanzhong was like a grinding mill, constantly consuming lives that once stood proud and tall.

The figures that drew the most attention were still Emperor Xiang Chengyuan and Crown Prince Xiang Jing, the father-and-son rulers of the Han Empire.

“Kongsang appeared alongside Vast Void Temple this time. Among them is a Great Shaman named Yun Qingyan, who’s at the Fifth Layer Perfection Stage of the Ninth Heaven,” Lei Jun reported. “He uses the Divine Dance Lineage of the Witch Sect, firmly holding his ground in a positional battle. He’s more than capable of fending off many on his own. With Chang’an’s Nation-Blessed Fortune tied to the Crown Prince destabilized due to upheaval, suppressing him is extremely difficult.”

The Han Dynasty’s top three experts were Emperor Xiang Chengyuan, Crown Prince Xiang Jing, and Eastern Yang Hermit Wang Xu.

Now the crown prince was fighting alone, the emperor had turned against them, and the outcome was obvious.

“Mr. Dongyang is also absent…” Chu Kun murmured.

Lei Jun remained expressionless. “Thankfully, it seems there’s internal conflict among the Kongsang Great Shamans, which is why the Crown Prince is still able to lead his forces closer to Chang’an.”

Wang Guiyuan asked, “Tianjing and Didu?”

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Chu Kun asked, “Which side is righteous? Or do they both have their own agendas?”

Lei Jun replied, “The one who ambushed Little Senior Sister was from Didu. But the ones helping Emperor Xiang Chengyuan also came from Didu. So we can’t jump to conclusions yet.”

Though Tang Xiaotang was itching to pick a fight with the Kongsang Didu lineage, neither Lei Jun nor Xu Yuanzhen was in a hurry to make a move.

After advising Tang Xiaotang once more, Lei Jun set off to patrol various corners of the Tang Mortal Realm.

He wasn’t the only one. Zhang Hui had also returned from Datong. Though he didn’t head to the capital Luoyang immediately, he was likewise journeying across the realm.

Later, after making his rounds, Lei Jun returned to the ancestral seat of Mount Longhu.

Meanwhile, the war in the Han Mortal Realm grew ever more intense. Yet Lei Jun remained calm and composed, quietly cultivating his Bright Spirit Seven Qi and reflecting on various Daoist arts and mystical abilities.

Among them were the Four Saints Canon of Doumu and the Sky-Blighting Plague Canon—techniques he’d encountered earlier through Elder Ma Zongxiang of the Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect.

Though these differed greatly from the legacy of the Tang Dragon-Tiger Sect, Lei Jun’s comprehension allowed him to quickly grasp the core of these Daoist arts.

Years of repeated study always brought fresh insights. Lei Jun not only gained a deeper understanding of the Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect, but also sparked new ideas for refining his own mystical abilities.

Days passed in quiet cultivation.

More news arrived from the Han Mortal Realm.

The battles were escalating.

It wasn’t just Upper Heaven Realm cultivators anymore—reports of Ninth Heaven Realm casualties had begun to emerge.

One such loss was Yang Zhe, an esteemed scholar of Pacify All Under Heaven and the former patriarch of the Yang Clan of Guanzhong, one of the twelve elite noble families.

But the enemy wasn’t faring any better. From Kongsang, the Ninth-Heaven Great Shaman Lian Jing had reportedly been gravely wounded and fallen shortly after.

Beneath the Ninth Heaven, casualties were too numerous to count.

The war had reached a fever pitch.

Yet under Crown Prince Xiang Jing’s command, the royalist forces had still managed to press close to Chang’an.

As black mist engulfed Chang’an and much of Guanzhong, fierce battles raged on.

The thick haze blocked visibility, cutting off communications between Xiang Jing, Chen Lingfeng, Master Nuobu, Ye Zhao, and other elite Han cultivators.

Above Chang’an, within the black fog, a blurry figure flickered in and out—surrounded by an eerie and domineering red glow.

Rumors spread that the Kongsang Witch King was about to descend upon this mortal realm.

The news struck like lightning across the world, plunging the Han forces into chaos.

But just then, a major change occurred in the Han Mortal Realm—

The Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect… had returned!

Above the old site of Longhu Mountain in Xinzhou, the heavens and earth suddenly quaked.

High above in the clouds, the sky seemed to tear open, and a flood of ten-thousand-fold radiance poured down upon the mountain range.

Within the mountains, a space that had long been vacant—once the location of the main peak—now began to reveal a faint, flickering silhouette.

The majestic main peak of Longhu Mountain was reappearing on the lands of the Great Han Dynasty.

Within the Tianshi Mansion in the mountain, Ji Daocheng, the Great Han Tianshi clad in a Nine-Colored Robe, stood inside the Dragon-Tiger Ancestral Altar.

At his side was Jiang Nan, a disciple from Kunlun.

Jiang Nan said, “Sect Master, let us begin at once.”

Though his cultivation was below Ji Daocheng’s, the latter responded with respectful formality: “Yes.”

Jiang Nan returned the bow.

Beside the two, eleven talismans floated up and down, flickering with wondrous brilliance.

The Dragon-Tiger Ancestral Altar itself erupted in blinding light that coalesced into a thick pillar shooting into the heavens, piercing the clouds.

Outside the ancestral altar, Elder Fu Yuzhou and other elders of the Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect sat with their disciples, chanting Daoist scriptures in unison.

Far in the north, Pan Hailin, who had not joined battle until now, finally arrived in Guanzhong. He sought cover from other Han cultivators:

“I may have come late, not out of cowardice, but to summon our sect’s Ancestor to manifest in the mortal realm. Fellow Daoists, please aid Longhu Mountain with all your strength!”

Spiritual power swirled around him. Though he didn’t unveil his full Great Ascension Dao Domain, he swiftly constructed a three-tiered altar with numerous talismans.

Pan Hailin sat solemnly at the center. Instantly, divine light descended from the sky and merged with the altar.

From Ancestor Zhou Tian in Kunlun, to the Dragon-Tiger Ancestral Altar in the Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect, to the distant battlefield in Guanzhong—rays of spiritual light connected north and south in a single line.

Following the flow of divine light, Pan Hailin threw one of the Twelve Supreme Talismans of the Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect into the altar.

In that moment, amidst the brilliance, a hazy silhouette of a Daoist emerged. The booming resonance of great bells and chimes echoed in all directions, unceasing.

This Daoist’s voice met the phantom image of the Great Shaman head-on, preventing the latter from fully manifesting in the black fog above Chang’an.

Neither the Kongsang Witch King nor Ancestor Zhou Tian had left their respective domains of Kongsang and Kunlun. Instead, both were using arcane techniques to project their power into the Han Mortal Realm, engaging in a long-distance showdown.

Because of Ancestor Zhou Tian’s interference, the Kongsang Witch King could not secure a suitable host body to descend into the mortal realm.

Although the Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect had remained hidden for years, their sudden reappearance turned the tide, blocking the evil shamans.

No matter what, everyone in the Great Han Dynasty finally breathed a collective sigh of relief—their morale steadied.

Above Chang’an, both sides entered a temporary stalemate.

Meanwhile, a Witch Sect expert had secretly opened a Void Gateway connecting the Han Mortal Realm and the Tang Mortal Realm.

The gateway’s opening was swiftly detected by Tang cultivators.

At Mount Longhu, Lei Jun received the news. At the same time, a light sphere in his mind began to flicker and display words:

“Mass spirit death ritual, Heaven and Earth unite at the dragon.”

Following that came four divination lots:

• Supreme Good Omen: “At midnight, head to the Dragon Gate of the Great River in the Han Mortal Realm. Opportunity to obtain a Second-Grade Expandable Fortune. No current risk, slight future potential hidden danger—handle with care. Great Luck!”

• Upper-Moderate Omen: “At midnight, head to Chang’an in the Han Mortal Realm. Opportunity to obtain a Fourth-Grade Fortune. Minor turbulence now, no future threats. Good.”

• Moderate-Moderate Omen: “At midnight, head to Huayin in the Han Mortal Realm. Opportunity to obtain a Fifth-Grade Fortune, but possible danger. Average.”

• Moderate-Moderate Omen: “At midnight, be anywhere else outside Dragon Gate, Chang’an, or Huayin. No gains, but no losses. Average.”

Oh?

A Supreme Good Omen for a Second-Grade Expandable Fortune?

That was quite a prize. Yet current intelligence hadn’t mentioned anything unusual about Dragon Gate.

Clearly, more was yet to unfold.

This “mass spirit death ritual” sounded like a Witch Sect technique.

Chang’an seemed manageable. Huayin, however, carried greater risk.

Although it had once been the site of Emperor Xiang Chengyuan’s traveling palace, he'd returned to Chang’an long ago. What would become of Huayin remained to be seen…

Thoughts whirred through Lei Jun’s mind.

He waved the letter in his hand toward Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang nearby.

“Looks like we’ve been invited to mess with Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect’s plans.”

Xu Yuanzhen said casually, “We’ll see how it goes once we’re there.”

Tang Xiaotang cracked her knuckles. “Doesn’t matter if it’s Great Han Dragon-Tiger or Kongsang Didu—I’m interested in both. Nobody gets to run this time!”

Lei Jun turned to Master Yuan Mobai and Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan and said, “Master, Senior Brother—please look after the ancestral grounds.”

Wang Guiyuan gave a bitter smile. Yuan Mobai, unfazed as always, smiled warmly. “Sect Master, Junior Nie and Junior Tang, take care.”

Lei Jun bowed. “I will remember Master’s teachings.”

Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang descended openly from the mountain, entering the newly formed Void Gateway to the Han Mortal Realm.

Lei Jun, however, maintained the illusion that he was still on the mountain.

With Empress Zhang Wantong gone into secluded cultivation, her whereabouts unknown, Lei Jun’s presence in the Tang Mortal Realm served as a deterrent to troublemakers.

Of course, it might be seen through. But even a moment of deterrence was worth it.

He bid farewell to Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, then headed quietly for the Northern Frontier, using a Void Gateway previously opened through the Eastern Yang Jade Pendant.

He moved silently, arriving unnoticed in the Han Mortal Realm.

Upon arrival, Lei Jun used the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman to overhear his junior sister Tang Xiaotang’s complaints.

She and Xu Yuanzhen had just passed through the new Void Gateway—only to be stopped.

The intercepting party wasn’t hostile. In fact, they had had some dealings with Tang Dragon-Tiger Sect in the past.

It was Deng Lai, the former sect leader of the Pure Yang Palace in the Han Dynasty.

He had come personally to greet the Tang cultivators—understandably so, given that Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect was now one of the main pillars resisting the Kongsang Witch Sect.

Deng Lai was greatly unsettled not to see the reliable Tianshi Lei Jun. Only Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang had come.

Fortunately, Xu Yuanzhen seemed reasonable this time. She said she’d observe from the outskirts for now.

Though uneasy, Deng Lai could only follow her and act as mediator.

Tang Xiaotang, seeing the situation, announced that she’d head to Chang’an first.

After all, she had multiple targets—and Kongsang Didu was on the list.

Deng Lai was even more helpless now, and rushed to inform Chang’an, hoping to avoid unnecessary complications.

Lei Jun, concealed beneath his Taiqing Eight Scenes Cloak, remained undetected as he traveled north alone.

He first arrived at Dragon Gate of the Great River, inspecting the area carefully.

At first glance, nothing appeared unusual.

But the flow of the mountain and river meridians showed something odd—this was likely not the origin point of the ritual, but rather the destination where the changes would manifest.

According to the divination lot, the key moment was midnight. There was still a little time left.

Thus, Lei Jun activated the Jade Purity Zhou Heavenly Mirror to observe toward Chang’an, where Tang Xiaotang had gone.

There, the phantoms of Ancestor Zhou Tian and the Kongsang Witch King were fiercely clashing.

Although both were mere projections and focused on one another, Lei Jun’s mirror light did not aim at them directly.

Elsewhere, the most critical locations were within the Imperial Palace of Chang’an, and the ritual altar outside the city that Pan Hailin had constructed on behalf of Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect.

Unfortunately, the pervasive black fog severely limited Lei Jun’s visibility.

Chen Lingfeng and others were doing everything they could to buy Pan Hailin time and space to maintain the summoning altar.

Pan Hailin was fully focused on stabilizing the altar—but suddenly, his expression changed dramatically, and he spat blood from his mouth and nose.

Chen Lingfeng and the others were shocked. Then, their eyes lit with realization: “Human Breath Formation!?”

This was a mystical technique known only to Fifth-Layer Ninth Heaven Shamans of the Divine Dance Lineage.

Just like how they previously used their facial features, hearts, eyes, and bones to bear the load of the Divine Dance Ritual, the Human Breath Formation was borne through one’s very breathing.

The formation shrunk to an almost microscopic scale, like dust, and entered the enemy’s body via inhalation—allowing it to activate and deal devastating damage.

The technique had many limitations. But if successful, the results were astonishing.

Especially now, when Pan Hailin had devoted most of his power to maintaining the altar and ritual—he was instantly gravely wounded.

Naturally, the one capable of such an attack was none other than Yun Qingyan, the Fifth-Layer Perfection Shaman of Kongsang.

The black mist surged and engulfed Pan Hailin entirely, dragging him into Chang’an.

But Pan Hailin clenched his jaw, changing hand seals rapidly and pouring more talismans into the altar to stabilize it.

Though he had vanished, the altar remained upright.

Seeing this, the other Great Han cultivators were heartbroken and furious, rushing to his aid.

They hadn’t been fast enough to save him, but they stood their ground to protect the altar at all costs.

At that moment—brilliant golden light flared in the distance.

In the blink of an eye, it was like clouds parted to reveal the sun. The golden light pierced the black fog and revealed a tall Daoist nun—Tang Xiaotang.

She glanced at the clashing phantoms above and pursed her lips. “Fake. Their true selves aren’t even here.”

She didn’t touch the altar Pan Hailin had left behind, much to the relief of the Great Han cultivators.

Instead, she focused on the aura of the Great Shamans lurking in the area—and quickly homed in on her true target: a Didu-lineage Witch Sect practitioner.

Chen Lingfeng and Ye Zhao were once again stunned.

If there was internal conflict within the Kongsang Witch Sect, then why was Tang Xiaotang attacking the ones helping the Han cultivators stop the Witch King from descending?

Had she made a mistake?

Or was there something more—something sinister—hidden among their supposed allies?

“Hmm? Strange...”

Tang Xiaotang, mid-air, suddenly paused and looked around suspiciously.

Above her head appeared a massive image of twin pupils—the Heaven-Watching Heart Manifestation.

After scanning the area, Tang Xiaotang raised her eyebrows and demanded:

“Who among you is from Tianjing, and who from Didu?”

A Didu-lineage Witch Sect cultivator opened his mouth to respond.

But before he could say a word, Tang Xiaotang had already moved.

The Sea of Pure Yang burst forth in golden waves, sweeping in all directions.

“Whatever. I’ll trust myself.”

As she spoke, she struck directly at the Tianjing Great Shaman—Yun Qingyan!

Both sides, friend and foe, were stunned.

Though temporarily united in battle, Chen Lingfeng, Ye Zhao, and the other Great Han cultivators were completely baffled.

Still, this might be… a favorable development?

They quickly steadied themselves—some remained to protect the altar, while others followed the golden light barreling toward Chang’an.

Far from the city, Pang Youshan, another Tianjing Great Shaman, stood silently in the wild hills.

Behind him, another Great Shaman, Chen Mingxu, had pure white eyes glowing with divine light.

After a moment, his pupils returned to normal. He reported to Pang Youshan:

“The Tang Dragon-Tiger Sect cultivators don’t act by any conventional logic. Xu Yuanzhen is camped at the outskirts of the Great Han sect without making a move—who knows what she’s planning.”

“Tang Xiaotang didn’t attack the Didu group, but chose to cause trouble for Tianjing instead.”

“As for Lei Jun, we haven’t seen him enter this realm. He’s likely still in the Tang Mortal Realm.”

Pang Youshan nodded slightly without speaking.

Chen Mingxu looked anxious, as if holding something back.

Pang Youshan understood.

If the Tang Dragon-Tiger Sect had come just to sabotage the Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect, that would’ve been expected—even preferable to a surprise.

But Tang Xiaotang’s decision to turn on Tianjing now placed enormous pressure on their side.

She was powerful. Whether friend or foe, that difference alone could drastically shift the tide of battle in Chang’an.

It would’ve been better had she never come at all.

But Pang Youshan had other worries:

Eastern Yang Hermit Wang Xu.

That man was also a foe who could not be underestimated.

In fact, he had always been the main opponent in their original strategy—central to their entire plan.

Pang Youshan had remained near Chang’an’s outskirts the whole time, looking for him.

As a Fifth-Layer Ninth Heaven Great Shaman, he was even slightly stronger than Yun Qingyan.

His absence right now was a massive waste of potential.

But if he could be found, it would be worth it.

Back then, Wang Xu had already foiled one of the Witch King's major plans—he must not be allowed to do it again!

Yet they waited. And waited.

Great Han Dragon-Tiger Sect had shown up. So had Tang Dragon-Tiger Sect.

But Eastern Yang Hermit Wang Xu… was still nowhere to be seen.

Could he not be in the Han Mortal Realm?

That seemed unlikely.

Then again… if he really wasn’t here—that might be for the best.

Still, with the chaos Tang Xiaotang had stirred up, Pang Youshan, as the designated backup, was now likely needed to step in.

Unless Wang Xu was also waiting for a critical moment to strike?

Pang Youshan looked around the dark, misty night.

As a Great Shaman, it was rare for him to feel chilled by mere shadow and uncertainty.

But now… he did.