Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 440: The best thunder method in the world, the true five thunder methods!

After Ji Daocheng was dealt with, Lei Jun’s hands never stopped moving.

The Tianshi Seal gleamed brightly in his grasp, and the first mark landed on the Doumu Central Treasure Talisman closest to him.

A flash of purple, gold, and azure light flickered across the surface of the Tianshi Seal.

The Doumu Central Treasure Talisman radiated a similar glow, though it seemed twisted and warped, giving off an eerie distortion.

Over the great Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu, the sky flickered constantly, like a battlefield filled with fierce clashes, when suddenly streaks of flowing light appeared across its surface.

Under the influence of the Sealing Heaven Seal, it felt as if some invisible force had been severed.

Within Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Scene, the twisted glow on the Doumu Central Treasure Talisman settled, transforming into a graceful radiance—though distinctly different from before.

Lei Jun continued without pause, stamping the Tianshi Seal onto the Nine Heavens Immortal Capital Treasure Talisman, Nine Heavens Jade Pivot Treasure Talisman, and the other talismans in turn.

The flowing light on these talismans also began to change.

The Azure Sword, North Pole Sword, Taiyi Broken Tower Sword, and other magic weapons were retrieved by Lei Jun one after another.

And the Tianshi Seal fell repeatedly, stamping onto the Doumu Seven Luminaries Treasure Talisman, Doumu Four Saints Treasure Talisman, and the remaining talismans that had previously been restrained by the magic weapons.

Inside the Longhu Sect altar, all eleven talismans had now been restamped by Lei Jun with the Tianshi Seal.

His Grand Dao Scene dispersed, reappearing in the Longhu Sect altar alongside those talismans.

The altar trembled violently, countless Dao patterns and talismanic forces swirling within it, endlessly forming and dissipating in cycles.

Meanwhile, beneath Mount Longhu, the twelve talismans Lei Jun had previously buried—which had manifested as twelve beams of light—now transformed into twelve glowing orbs that flew up from the mountain base into the Longhu Sect altar at the Great Han Tianshi Mansion.

Under Lei Jun’s control, only one of his twelve talismans remained unused; the rest matched one-to-one with the talismans in the altar and began merging together, each pair fusing into one.

Lei Jun respectfully offered his homage to the heavens, pacing in a measured rhythm, and used the Tianshi Seal to further refine the newly fused talismans.

The glow of the talismans grew even more dazzling than before, expanding continuously until it nearly enveloped the entire Great Han Mount Longhu.

Lei Jun maintained a calm and composed demeanor, subtly adjusting and refining the talismans, all while using the Yu Qing Zhou Tian Divine Mirror to observe the surroundings.

Suddenly, the Heaven-Penetrating Earth-Connecting Talisman in his pupils began flashing again.

Lei Jun’s mind stirred, and his gaze shifted back to the Celestial River Net over the Tang Dynasty’s mortal realm.

Although the power of the Yin-Yang Heavenly Punishment Mirror had been depleted earlier, the Celestial River Net still covered a vast area of the Tang mortal realm, allowing Lei Jun to continue his surveillance.

Just then, he noticed something—right above the Tang Dynasty’s Mount Longhu Tianshi Mansion ancestral courtyard, near the Shangqing Thunder Mansion Grotto-Heaven, the void seemed to waver slightly, as if a spatial gate was about to open over Mount Longhu.

Though it hadn’t yet reached the altitude of the Celestial River Net, Lei Jun’s keen senses still detected subtle traces.

His thoughts turned, recalling how Lord Youluo, Black Mountain Lord, and other great demons had retreated to Luoyuan.

When Lord Youluo had first invaded the old Tang capital, Chang’an, he had briefly triggered Luoyuan’s power in the final moments.

Now that Lei Jun had severely wounded the Ghost Moss and heard that Xing Feng had also injured the Bone Flood Dragon King, it might seem like setbacks for the Luoyuan demon horde—but for Lord Youluo himself, it could be an opportunity, allowing him to further mobilize Luoyuan’s power.

In the past, Lord Youluo might have focused inward, using this chance to completely annihilate or subdue the Ghost Moss and Bone Flood Dragon King, solidifying his position as Luoyuan’s master.

While Chen Yi’s Pure Gold Hall was desirable, it didn’t hold the same urgency for Lord Youluo.

But according to Yuan Mobai and Wang Guiyuan, the Pure Gold Hall contained a Reverse Yuan Heart Fruit.

For top-tier great demons—especially Lord Youluo, who was equivalent to a peak Ninth Heaven human cultivator—the allure of the Reverse Yuan Heart Fruit was extraordinary.

With his current cultivation foundation, obtaining that fruit might allow him to take the final step and attempt a breakthrough into the realm of demon immortals, ascending beyond the Ninth Heaven.

Mu Weizi had fled without hesitation to join Lord Youluo, likely for this very reason.

It seemed their retreat to Luoyuan wasn’t a surrender, but rather a bold move to take even greater risks!

With Emperor Zhang Wantong in seclusion, Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, and Tang Xiaotang were in the Han Dynasty’s mortal realm, and the battles with the Kongsang Wu Clan and the Great Han’s Longhu Mountain had reached a fever pitch.

If this window of opportunity wasn’t seized now, it might never come again.

Mu Weizi rushing to inform Lord Youluo about the Reverse Yuan Heart Fruit was all part of pushing him to act swiftly.

Whether it was out of desire for Chen Yi’s Pure Gold Hall or an attempt to ease the pressure on the Tang Dynasty’s mortal realm and Kunlun’s Ancestor Zhou Tian, this was a critical moment.

With Yuan Mobai and Wang Guiyuan holding the line at the Tang Dynasty’s Mount Longhu Tianshi Mansion, and possibly Zhang Hui, Chu Yu, and other Tang experts joining the defense, Lord Youluo and the injured Mu Weizi alone would never be enough to breach the ancestral courtyard of Mount Longhu.

Their only option was to rely on Luoyuan. And they had to act fast.

As for how they could so quickly select a location to open a portal in the sky over Mount Longhu, Lei Jun didn’t need to think hard to figure it out.

Black Mountain Lord.

This demonic tiger, seeking to change its own fate, had drawn Lord Youluo and Luoyuan into the Tang Dynasty’s mortal realm.

But now, as a demon of the Tang Dynasty, it had become another key for Lord Youluo.

And with Lord Youluo’s deeper mastery of Luoyuan’s power, he could wield this key more freely.

What the “key” thought didn’t matter to the now desperate Lord Youluo and Mu Weizi—they were racing against time and had no patience for hesitation.

In the sky above Mount Longhu of the Tang Dynasty, as the void twisted, a black dot appeared, then spread out like ink, staining the sky.

At the center of this “ink,” the severed head of Black Mountain Lord stared wide-eyed, but the spark of life was gone.

Darkness surged outward from its head, eroding the space and forming a gaping portal in the void.

Then, from Luoyuan’s cold and lifeless Abyssal Prison, a raging tide poured forth like a heavenly river, crashing down upon the Mount Longhu Tianshi Mansion below.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to wither and vanish in an instant, leaving nothing behind.

Lord Youluo and Mu Weizi, having suffered losses before and wary of when Lei Jun and the others might return to the Tang Dynasty’s mortal realm, weren’t taking any chances now.

They struck with everything they had—drowning Mount Longhu under the tides of Luoyuan.

There was no probing, no tug-of-war.

Lord Youluo and Mu Weizi had neither the confidence nor the time to test the waters.

Regardless of the defensive formations, the mountain-protecting arrays, or any experts holding the line, they would rely on the overwhelming flood of Luoyuan to break through.

Once they smashed the defenses, they could slowly search for the Pure Gold Hall and the Reverse Yuan Heart Fruit.

But the response from the Tang Dynasty’s Mount Longhu Tianshi Mansion was even faster than they expected.

Despite the suddenness of the attack, a magnificent radiance shot up from the Myriad Dharma Altar within the Tianshi Mansion, manifesting as a colossal three-tiered altar shimmering with purple, gold, and azure light, shielding the entire main peak of Mount Longhu.

The Shangqing Thunder Mansion Grotto-Heaven activated, torrents of purple lightning cascading down, merging with the massive three-tiered altar and forming an integrated defense and offense barrier.

The masculine purple lightning surged endlessly, shattering vast portions of the Luoyuan Abyssal tide.

“They’re responding so quickly.” Mu Weizi’s expression grew grim.

Lord Youluo’s massive form was shrouded in dark mist, his eyes flashing with a piercing cold light.

“Things are different now.”

On one hand, most of the top experts from Mount Longhu were gone, and the Three Treasures of the Tianshi were no longer anchoring the sect.

On the other hand, the power Lord Youluo could wield from Luoyuan now was far beyond what he could summon during the battle at Chang’an.

Within Luoyuan, countless Abyssal Seas shuddered together.

From the depths of each abyss, an endless horde of ferocious calamities surged forth, erupting with malice and murderous intent accumulated over countless years, all converging into a single, overwhelming tide pouring out of Luoyuan.

Lord Youluo no longer cared about the potential depletion of Luoyuan’s essence from this forced exertion.

Now that they had made their move, he was going all in—he had to get the Reverse Yuan Heart Fruit!

The Luoyuan flood grew even more violent, and though it was obstructed by Mount Longhu’s protective array, it began to spread outward, threatening to engulf the surrounding mountains.

Even with the main peak protected by the great formation, the light of the three-tiered altar dimmed, showing signs of collapse.

Facing the true wrath of the heavens, Mount Longhu trembled, teetering on the brink of destruction.

A calamity unseen for centuries had arrived.

Inside the Myriad Dharma Altar, Yuan Mobai, who was in command of the mountain-guarding formation, remained calm.

Though the usual warmth of his smile was absent, the purple-robed youth was composed, his gaze steady.

“Chonggui, it seems this time I’ll have to trouble you.” Yuan Mobai spoke softly.

Wang Guiyuan was nowhere to be seen, yet his voice rang in Yuan Mobai’s ear.

“Fortunately, the Tang Dynasty’s situation is very different from back then.”

Outside Mount Longhu, a young Daoist in deep crimson robes appeared.

It was Yuan Mobai’s chief disciple, Wang Guiyuan.

He no longer appeared in the guise of Fa Qing of the Tianlong Temple, as he had during the great battle at Mount Longhu over thirty years ago.

This time, the opponent was far stronger than the Daoist Nation that had invaded the Tang Dynasty back then.

Fa Qing was formidable, but he wasn’t enough to resolve the crisis of the Luoyuan flood.

So what form Wang Guiyuan took didn’t matter—it would all come to light sooner or later.

He gazed at the surging Abyssal flood and let out a soft sigh.

In that moment, the crimson-robed talisman Daoist seemed like a Buddhist monk, pressing his palms together in a gesture that said:

“If I do not enter hell, who will?”

He then stepped directly into the tide of the Abyssal flood.

Within Luoyuan, Lord Youluo and Mu Weizi’s expressions changed drastically.

Though the Abyssal tide didn’t cease its surge, it suddenly faltered for a moment.

Within the cold, lifeless Luoyuan Abyssal Prison, an unexpected heat seemed to ignite—though this heat didn’t bring warmth, only an oppressive, suffocating sense of death.

It felt like they had plunged into the depths of the Avici Hell!

Within the raging Abyssal tide, a strange point suddenly emerged.

That point rapidly expanded, twisting the surrounding void.

Another portal appeared—this one directly in front of Luoyuan’s gate!

From within that portal, an uncountable horde of terrifying calamities erupted, surging out in a chaotic torrent.

The forces pouring forth were even more ferocious than those from Luoyuan itself, having been suppressed for an even longer time.

Flames of the Hellfire, dark waters, winds of the Avici Abyss—all surged out.

No living beings could be seen, only countless vicious spirits and specters, born of ancient calamities, forming a horde too numerous to count.

It was as if a hellish riot had erupted, flooding outward in a massive wave.

“…Avici?!”

Lord Youluo and Mu Weizi stared in stunned disbelief at what was unfolding before them.

They had speculated that Tang Emperor Zhang Wantong might abandon her attempt at ascension to intervene personally.

They had speculated that the three Tang masters—Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, and Tang Xiaotang—might forgo the battle in the Han mortal realm to return and defend the Tang Dynasty.

They had even considered the possibility of terrible luck—that Zhang Wantong might have already succeeded in her ascension, and despite the risk of her mortal Dao dispersing, she might still rush back to interfere.

But none of their guesses had anticipated this.

Right here, above the Tang Dynasty’s Mount Longhu, another portal had opened—an entirely different world had revealed itself, directly opposing them.

Avici!

The Avici Hell, long said to be one of the three great realms of the netherworld alongside the Yellow Springs and Luoyuan, its power so fierce and its reputation so grim that none dared ignore it.

The ferocity of Avici wasn’t surprising to Lord Youluo and Mu Weizi.

What shocked them was—how the hell was this place connected to the Tang Dynasty’s Daoist sacred ground, the Mount Longhu Tianshi Mansion?!

Within Avici, the land was covered with calamities and chaos.

The Buddhist auras, usually pervasive, were now tangled and twisted, corrupted into a monstrous, distorted version of themselves.

There were no true Buddhas seated here—only endless malevolent forces, spilling out in a torrent.

The timing of the Avici surge was devastatingly precise—it struck just after Luoyuan’s tidal wave reached its peak, reversing the pressure back onto Luoyuan in an instant.

And so, the overwhelming tide from Avici began flooding back into Luoyuan!

Both Avici and Luoyuan were ten lands of the Netherworld—grim, desolate places of death and stillness, each capable of bringing tremendous catastrophe upon the mortal realm. Yet at this moment, instead of merging, they clashed head-on like two tigers meeting in battle.

For a moment, the devastation and ferocious spirits from Avici surged into Luoyuan, while Luoyuan shielded the mortal world from the brunt of the impact. The mortal realm suffered only minor shockwaves.

But the clash enraged Luoyuan. Without needing Lord Youluo to push it, Luoyuan itself roared back with an even more intense counterattack, as if it were a furious beast.

The two void portals, one from Avici and the other from Luoyuan, faced each other directly in the sky above the Tang Dynasty’s Mount Longhu, exploding in a violent collision.

Caught in the crossfire of Avici’s chaotic surge and Luoyuan’s raging backlash, Lord Youluo and Mu Weizi could no longer hold their positions and had to retreat in haste.

The many abysses within Luoyuan trembled together, and the void portal connecting Luoyuan to the mortal realm forcibly slammed shut, cutting off Avici’s invasion.

The portal was closed, but chaos still reigned inside Luoyuan.

What was once a cold, lifeless Abyssal Prison now churned in an endless upheaval.

Avici, struck back by Luoyuan, trembled as well. The portal twisted violently.

In this clash between two hells, Avici, which struck first and with precise timing, ultimately prevailed.

The full force of their collision was absorbed by both sides, yet residual waves still swept across the mortal realm.

Fortunately, Lei Jun and Mount Longhu had prepared well in advance.

Golden light began to glow throughout the mountain range—pure, righteous, and searing, representing the energy of Pure Yang.

These years, thanks to the Tang Tianshi Mansion, the Shushan Sect, and the Xuanji Temple, vast quantities of Pure Yang artifacts and treasures had been forged and accumulated within Mount Longhu.

Although their quality and quantity were insufficient to directly oppose Luoyuan or Avici, they were enough to shield the surroundings from the residual impact of the collision.

Like a hunter snatching the cicada while the mantis stalks its prey, these Pure Yang artifacts served as the third layer of protection—mopping up the aftermath of the Mount Longhu crisis.

The gathered Pure Yang energy surged heavenward. Three ethereal figures appeared, aligned in a vertical column facing the distorted Avici portal.

Under their control, the Pure Yang energy stabilized the fluctuating portal, resealing it.

Countless calamities and spirits within Avici could only watch helplessly as the void portal was shut once more.

As the portal closed, the three phantoms merged back into one.

Far to the north, Chu Yu was rushing to reinforce Mount Longhu.

Her steps slowed as she stared southward, her face filled with astonishment.

She recognized all three of those figures—but never expected they were one and the same!

Arranged in a vertical line before the Avici portal, like the Buddha’s Three Bodies, the last figure—representing the future—was a young Daoist in a crimson robe.

Chu Yu had crossed paths with him many times before. He was Wang Guiyuan, chief disciple of Yuan Mobai and senior brother to Lei Jun, a fellow Tang Tianshi.

The figure seated in the center—the present—was a youthful monk with a dignified bearing, enveloped in radiant golden light and the coils of a golden celestial dragon, exuding an overwhelming aura of transcendent wisdom.

Chu Yu knew him as well: the renowned Fa Qing of Tianlong Temple, the most brilliant Buddhist genius of the Tang Dynasty in the past centuries.

Once thought to have perished, Fa Qing’s reappearance during the last Mount Longhu battle had shocked many, yet he had remained elusive, never returning to Tianlong Temple, leaving many to speculate about his fate.

Now, seeing him merge as one with Wang Guiyuan, Chu Yu finally understood the mystery behind Fa Qing’s disappearance.

Years ago, she had discussed Wang Guiyuan with the Empress Zhang Wantong, suspecting that he was extraordinary but lacking evidence. Today, it was confirmed.

However, the figure seated in the position of the past caught her completely by surprise.

It was a middle-aged monk, clad in pristine white robes, with an air of serene compassion, seated on a massive white lotus.

Though Chu Yu had never met him in person, his image had been recorded in countless diagrams and scrolls.

She never imagined she would see him here, nor that he would merge into one with Fa Qing and Wang Guiyuan.

This was the White Lotus Sect’s Holy Master, the present-day Maitreya—Jingjiu!

For years, he had not set foot in the mortal world, leading many to believe he had already passed away.

Figures like the militant Jing Shan Monk, who often incited White Lotus uprisings, or the future Maitreya Huiyin, who many viewed as the de facto new Holy Master, were far more visible.

Jing Shan’s influence had grown precisely because the true Holy Master, Jingjiu, had remained in seclusion for so long.

But now, here he was, revealed before their eyes—unified with Fa Qing and Wang Guiyuan.

Chu Yu stared at the figures arranged like the Three Buddhas, shocked yet gaining a deeper understanding:

For some unique reason, these three incarnations had coexisted in a single lifetime.

First, the White Lotus Sect’s Holy Master Jingjiu.

Then, Fa Qing of Tianlong Temple.

And finally, Wang Guiyuan of the Tang Tianshi Mansion.

All connected—perhaps through Avici?

As Chu Yu struggled to comprehend, Wang Guiyuan, now fully remerged, remained calm and collected.

Preventing Avici from descending into the mortal realm had been one of his goals.

Not returning to Tianlong Temple was another.

Decades ago, even if he had suppressed Avici’s residual influence, the exposure of his true identity would have caused immense trouble.

Now, with the Tang Dynasty’s situation stabilized, those risks were much diminished.

Still, on the surface, the White Lotus Sect was not officially recognized by the Tang Dynasty as part of the orthodox Dao.

How Xuantian Temple, Bodhi Temple, and Tianlong Temple would react remained to be seen.

There was a world of difference between a private understanding and public acknowledgment.

His master Yuan Mobai had long foreseen this moment when he gave him the Daoist name Chonggui...

In his hand, faint golden light flickered—the Flawless Golden Rainbow Lei Jun had entrusted to him.

After enduring the Avici ordeal, the Flawless Golden Rainbow had undergone numerous mysterious changes.

Wang Guiyuan warmed it for a moment longer before it would be returned to Lei Jun.

Neither Lord Youluo, Mu Weizi, nor the Tang Dynasty’s mortal realm experts rushing to aid Mount Longhu could miss Wang Guiyuan’s true form—once the Avici portal was activated, this appearance was inevitable.

Wang Guiyuan had been prepared for this all along.

The widespread Pure Yang energy had helped suppress Avici’s chaos.

Luoyuan had been a worthy adversary; without it, the Avici portal could not have been sealed.

Wang Guiyuan lowered his gaze toward the Mount Longhu below.

Within the Myriad Dharma Altar, Yuan Mobai calmly managed the aftermath, meeting Wang Guiyuan’s gaze with a serene smile, as if everything was under control.

Under the flickering and changing light, a massive, three-tiered altar slowly took shape, its upper part rounded, the lower part squared, and the middle forming an octagon. It hovered in the air above the Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu.

As the radiance solidified, the entire three-tiered altar appeared pure white, bearing a resemblance to the formation of the Three Treasures of the Heavenly Master that Lei Jun had arranged during the Three Caves and Three Heavens Supreme Longhu Immortal Formation at the Yellow Springs.

A vast amount of Qi gathered and circulated through the altar, transforming as it completed the phase where all things return to the Three.

Next, the surging Qi within the white altar flowed entirely into Lei Jun’s body.

Lei Jun’s magical power transformed into a black-and-white swirling Yin-Yang Taiji diagram, circulating continuously within, completing the transformation from Three to Two.

Then, the vast spiritual power surged into the Longhu Ancestral Altar below, which originally belonged to the Heavenly Master’s Mansion of the Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu.

From Two to One.

Finally, centered on the Longhu Ancestral Altar, the entire Three Caves and Three Heavens Supreme Longhu Immortal Formation was fully completed, unleashing a terrifying power—

A force beyond the mortal realm.

Without suitable heavenly materials or earthly treasures to refine the formation diagram,

And not standing before the Wanfa Ancestral Altar of the Tang Dynasty’s Mount Longhu,

In such a situation, Lei Jun couldn’t fully recreate the awe-inspiring power of the Yellow Springs’ Three Caves and Three Heavens Supreme Longhu Immortal Formation.

But there was one possible exception—

Or rather, half an exception.

That was the current Longhu Ancestral Altar of the Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu, established through the hands of a Daoist from the Talisman School.

With Xu Yuanzhen and the Heaven-Sealing Seal temporarily blocking Ancestor Zhou Tian, and Xiang Jing failing to return in time, Lei Jun could seize the groundwork laid beforehand and swiftly complete the transformation of this Longhu Ancestral Altar.

Though still inferior to the Wanfa Ancestral Altar, for the moment, it could sustain the power of the Three Caves and Three Heavens Supreme Longhu Immortal Formation.

With the Longhu Ancestral Altar as the formation core, the corresponding supreme treasures were no longer the Three Treasures of the Heavenly Master, but rather the Twelve Supreme Talismans of the Three Caves, passed down through the Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu.

That’s why Lei Jun took care to preserve those talismans earlier, always seeking out Xiang Jing’s whereabouts.

Once he obtained the last Wenyang Extinguishing Heaven Talisman, everything was ready.

Then, under Lei Jun’s command and with the attention of Han Dynasty cultivators like Deng Lai and Yu Boyan from afar, a powerful beam of light erupted from the core of the massive formation, the Longhu Ancestral Altar, shooting straight into the heavens and blasting into the vast, boundless firmament!

For a brief moment, the heavens trembled.

In the shimmering light of the upper void, for an instant, the scene seemed no longer so vague and elusive.

Deng Lai and the others gazed upward, and it was as if they could see layers of immortal mountains forming in the shifting light and shadow—

A sight somewhat resembling Kunlun, as described in ancient texts.

…So, that’s Kunlun?

The crowd stared wide-eyed, and within the Kunlun Immortal Mountains, they saw the beam of light from the earthly formation pierce through the sky and strike a Daoist.

As the radiance flickered, the Daoist’s previously ethereal form solidified, and he raised his hand to block.

The illusion in the sky above was fleeting. In the next moment, it blurred and dissipated.

But just before vanishing, the Han cultivators seemed to hear a soft chuckle.

It sounded like Xu Yuanzhen, who had ascended to the heavens earlier.

Within the fading illusion, the previously serene Daoist nun, who had been holding her sword upside down, finally slashed toward her opponent.

The sword strike appeared utterly plain—nowhere near the magnitude of a world-shattering blow.

Deng Lai, Yu Boyan, and the others were puzzled by the sight.

Yet as the illusion faded, the heavens above shook violently once more.

Brilliant light flooded the surroundings—

Then fell.

Like rain from the heavens.

…Or perhaps, like the heavens weeping blood.

Within the Three Caves and Three Heavens Supreme Longhu Immortal Formation, spiritual energy surged wildly, as if the world itself was breathing.

In the next breath, another dazzling pillar of light erupted from the center of the formation, the Longhu Ancestral Altar, piercing the sky again.

The illusion reappeared in the heavens.

Ancestor Zhou Tian’s expression darkened as he tried to block the pillar of light descending from the mortal realm.

The illusion blurred once more, but the small Daoist nun, sword in hand, struck forward again.

As the Kunlun image vanished, light rain fell upon the earth.

With a breath, the formation launched a third strike!

In the heavenly illusion, this time the scene reversed.

The crowd could see clearly: Ancestor Zhou Tian was parrying Xu Yuanzhen’s sword.

And the beam of light from the mortal realm struck him directly.

The illusion blurred again, and the void trembled even more intensely.

After the third strike, the formation began to dissipate.

The Longhu Ancestral Altar fell silent.

Unlike Lei Jun’s previous formation at the Yellow Springs, which was utterly destroyed, the Ancestral Altar merely needed time to recover.

Though it appeared there were only three strikes, the spiritual energy released this time was even fiercer than when Lei Jun had previously activated the formation at the Yellow Springs.

Lei Jun wasn’t greedy—he gathered the now-dimmed Twelve Supreme Talismans of the Three Caves.

Aside from his own third strike, the enemy had also suffered two slashes from Xu Yuanzhen.

In a fleeting glimpse, Lei Jun vaguely saw Ancestor Zhou Tian’s figure retreating from Kunlun—

Xu Yuanzhen in hot pursuit.

The two figures disappeared in a flash, the illusion faded, and a heavy rain of light fell from the heavens, cutting off any chance for mortals to enter Kunlun again.

Deng Lai, Yu Boyan, and the others couldn’t comprehend the profundity of Xu Yuanzhen’s sword. It wasn’t just due to their cultivation level, comprehension, or insight—

It was also because the power and intent within the sword she forged were never meant for mortal combatants.

That sword’s name was Red Dust.

It was forged specifically to counter experts of the immortal realm who avoided entering the mortal world.

Lei Jun’s Three Caves and Three Heavens Supreme Longhu Immortal Formation dispersed—

But the talismans Xu Yuanzhen left behind continued to function, drawing upon the earthly meridian Qi of the Han Dynasty to supply the heavens with energy.

The Heaven-Sealing Seal.

The Red Dust Sword.

The Meridian Qi.

Xu Yuanzhen’s methods captured the essence of the Three Caves and Three Heavens, yet they differed from the conventional harmony of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

Above the Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu, the sky trembled endlessly, countless bursts of radiance erupting like a swaying galaxy.

Deng Lai and the others watched from afar as the tall figure of the Tang Dynasty Heavenly Master ascended amidst the rain of light, walking as if on a casual stroll.

Calmly, he arrived outside the Taiqing’s Salvation Grotto, retrieved the Heavenly Master’s Seal that had sealed the entrance, and stepped inside.

During this time, the tug-of-war over the Heavenly Master’s Seal had left it covered in vast swathes of inky blackness, like blotches of ink—

But it wasn’t actually Confucian ink—

It was gu.

A mass of gu insects, carrying profound mysteries.

Lei Jun activated his masculine thunder and fire arts, his yang energy coursing outward.

Yet the inky patches writhed like living creatures, resisting purification.

Despite Lei Jun’s powerful, masculine techniques, he couldn’t immediately cleanse them.

“A Primordial Celestial Body… and the Imperial Dao Technique,” Lei Jun realized calmly.

Tonight’s upheaval had left the Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing’s reputation at risk.

Yet, due to timing and various other factors, the situation hadn’t yet spread to the populace or throughout the Han Empire.

Thus, while Xiang Jing’s Imperial Dao Technique had been shaken, it still held considerable sway.

The Imperial Dao Technique, beyond aiding the current emperor and crown prince’s cultivation, also granted them formidable advantages in combat.

Except in rare cases, it was generally accepted that those who cultivated the Imperial Dao Technique were the strongest of their level.

Against other cultivators, they would have advantages across the board.

Taking Xiang Jing, Ji Daocheng, Peng Youshan, and Yun Qingyan as examples—one could simply say: when Xiang Jing fought them, every factor favored him.

But when they fought back, they were at a disadvantage in every way.

The protection of a nation’s destiny worked exactly like that—invincible in offense, unshakable in defense.

And Xiang Jing—or rather, Pan Hailin—possessed a Primordial Celestial Body.

While this physique didn’t allow Xiang Jing to cultivate multiple innate divine abilities like Lei Jun, Tang Xiaotang, or Jiang Yu, it granted other enhancements.

Beyond the ability to practice various Daoist lineages, in actual combat, the Primordial Celestial Body’s greatest strength lay in its complete harmony of offense and defense—its power and divine abilities were extremely resilient, hard to break, yet retained their original fluidity.

With his Primordial Celestial Body and the Imperial Dao Technique, Xiang Jing’s cultivated Ink Sea Gu was also exceptionally tenacious, difficult to eradicate.

Earlier, when Lei Jun used the Heavenly Master’s Seal to block the entrance, Xiang Jing immediately activated his innate divine ability, the Ink Sea Gu, to corrode the Seal.

At the same time, he tried to take the Seal for himself, aiming for both treasure and the closure of the grotto in one stroke.

But Lei Jun arrived too quickly.

Having retrieved the Heavenly Master’s Seal, Lei Jun entered the Taiqing’s Salvation Grotto.

At first glance, he saw Xiang Jing surrounded by a swarm of gu insects, holding a white jade bottle in his hand.

From the bottle’s mouth came a suction force, which had been absorbing the spiritual energy around the Heavenly Master’s Seal, aiding the Ink Sea Gu’s corrosion while also attempting to store the Seal inside.

This treasure was highly refined.

Had Lei Jun ignored it, the bottle, combined with Xiang Jing’s gu arts, might have truly claimed the Heavenly Master’s Seal.

Lei Jun’s cultivation, comprehension, and insight were exceptional—he saw at once that this was a Daoist talisman treasure, not something crafted by Xiang Jing, Ji Daocheng, or Mu Weizi.

It was likely the handiwork of Ancestor Zhou Tian himself.

Lei Jun quickly deduced the situation: Xiang Jing had been secretly working with Ancestor Zhou Tian, seeking a way to escape the control of the Kongsang Gu King without revealing his allegiance to the Han Dynasty’s Mount Longhu. This web of intrigue ran deep.

Besides the occasional removal of talismans by Ancestor Zhou Tian to suppress Xiang Jing’s Daoist cultivation and conceal his allegiance from the Kongsang Gu King, this treasure, designed to absorb vast amounts of Daoist spiritual energy and power, was another key piece.

It could be used both offensively and to hide Xiang Jing’s secrets.

Now, it naturally became an asset in Xiang Jing’s hands.

Lei Jun moved casually, raising his hand in the air. The Heavenly Master’s Seal, stained with inky marks, floated up.

The Pure Yang Thunder Dragon and Pure Yin Thunder Dragon manifested together—golden and silver lightning intertwining, forming a ring that surrounded the Seal, patiently cleansing it.

But in the next instant, Lei Jun’s figure flashed.

It seemed as if he took a single step, yet he was suddenly in front of Xiang Jing.

Empowered by the Yin-Yang Thunder Dragons, Lei Jun’s form radiated the aura of the Doumu Spirit Official—and he closed the distance in an instant, landing a punch squarely on Xiang Jing’s head!

Xiang Jing’s upper body was blown apart by that punch.

“Lei Jun of the Tang Dynasty, the ‘Xuanxiaozi’—you live up to your name,” Xiang Jing’s voice rang out regardless.

His shattered body transformed into countless gu insects, scattering in all directions.

Each insect—countless in number—echoed Xiang Jing’s voice.

He was one of the Han world’s top cultivators, a peak expert at the fifth level of the Ninth Heaven.

But not in Confucian classics—instead, he cultivated witchcraft and gu arts.

His body dispersed into a vast swarm of gu insects—an uncountable, overwhelming flood.

The white jade bottle had vanished.

Yet Lei Jun could sense it: the jade bottle had shrunk, merged with one of the gu insects, and was now hidden within the swarm.

“You’re impressive,” Lei Jun said, as the Grand Dao Scene of the Xuanhuang Universe unfolded around him, sweeping across the surroundings.

Although Xiang Jing’s body had dispersed into countless gu insects, Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Scene remained a vast net, encompassing all.

However, the swarm of gu insects now took on the form of thick, black ink, vast as an ocean, dense and ever-changing—

This was Xiang Jing’s innate divine ability: the Ink Sea Gu.

He usually masqueraded as a Confucian cultivator, and this gu was a key part of that deception.

Now, the massive swarm of Ink Sea Gu surged forward, attempting to devour Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Scene.

Though each gu insect appeared small, with the power of the Primordial Celestial Body and the Imperial Dao Technique behind them, they were incredibly resilient, far tougher than they looked. In such massive numbers, they seemed like a terrifying catastrophe.

The white jade bottle, designed specifically to counter Daoist cultivators, hid within the Ink Sea, constantly moving, absorbing spiritual energy—even drawing on Lei Jun’s own power—to bolster the Ink Sea’s resistance against the Grand Dao Scene.

At this moment, the Ink Sea resembled the Confucian ideal of family and nation—

But in Lei Jun’s eyes, it was actually a manifestation of the Daoist Talisman School’s Grand Dao Scene.

Xiang Jing—or rather, Pan Hailin—was trying to unfold his own Grand Dao Scene.

He had studied both witchcraft and Daoism, and in addition to being a peak Divine Sorcerer of the Ninth Heaven in the gu arts, he was also a first-level Ninth Heaven Daoist Talisman Grandmaster.

“Regret is meaningless now,” Xiang Jing’s voice echoed from the Ink Sea. “I was young and foolish, strayed into the witchcraft path, followed in my father’s footsteps… and now there’s no turning back. So I’ll keep climbing, alone.”

Like his father, the Han Emperor Xiang Chengyuan, both had failed in the traditional imperial arts.

They had both turned to witchcraft and gu arts.

Both were geniuses of the witchcraft path.

And for that very reason, both had been chosen by the Kongsang Gu King as vessels.

Fate, it seemed, had been decided long ago.

Yet, fortunately, Xiang Jing had met Daoist Zhou Tian early on and received his guidance, sparing him from the total subjugation that his father Xiang Chengyuan had suffered.

The Kongsang Gu King wanted to use him to roam freely in the mortal world—

For Xiang Jing, wasn’t that also an opportunity?

An opportunity to break through the Ninth Heaven and ascend to the immortal realm.

But in the end, it had all fallen apart.

The Kongsang Gu King had been injured, but it was still too dangerous to go directly to Kongsang.

Kunlun, on the other hand, faced the threat of the Tang Dynasty’s Mount Longhu.

...If one set certain issues aside, Sumeru might have been an option, but Xiang Jing still had his doubts about that place.

“You really should leave now,” Lei Jun said, as the second layer of the Grand Dao Scene unfolded outward, enveloping both Xiang Jing and the half-completed first layer entirely.

A vast, dark cosmic universe hung suspended within the Taiqing’s Salvation Grotto.

Trapped within Lei Jun’s Xuanhuang Universe, Xiang Jing ceased expanding his own Grand Dao Scene, but the Ink Sea Gu still swept across the surroundings.

At the same time, numerous gu insects shimmering with white light appeared among the dark swarm, glowing like scattered stars in the night.

These gu insects were slightly larger than the Ink Sea Gu—about the size of a baby’s fist.

It looked somewhat like a golden silkworm gu, its entire body gray and glowing faintly with a soft white light.

This was another of Xiang Jing’s innate techniques—the Hunyuan Gu.

As the name suggested, this was a type of sorcery gu he had created by combining the mysteries of his own Hunyuan Celestial Physique, fully unleashing its potential. Though fewer in number than the Mo Sea Gu, each one possessed extreme individual power—be it speed, defense, or destructive force, they far surpassed any other gu insect.

At this moment, these gu were scattered throughout Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Domain, immediately gnawing at the boundary of the Xuanhuang Universe, as if trying to bore through it from the inside.

The swarm of gu was dense, moving fast.

Using body cultivation techniques and the Yuanmagnetic Flying Sword to clear them was inefficient.

Lei Jun manifested four powerful divine talismans in front of him.

Amid thunderous roars, dragon howls, and tiger growls, the pitch-black cosmic void erupted with the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, the Xuanxiao Celestial Thunder, the Nine Abyss True Fire, and the Tianchen True Fire. The four divine phenomena intertwined, weaving together a torrent of thunder and fire.

However, Xiang Jing’s gu, whether in terms of defense or sheer tenacity, were far superior to ordinary gu masters’ creations.

Among them was the White Jade Bottle, hidden away, constantly absorbing Lei Jun’s mana to relieve pressure on the gu swarm.

The purple Yang Thunder Dragon and green Yin Fire Tiger roared and intertwined, forming a purple-green Taiji diagram that erupted in radiant brilliance, sweeping in all directions.

Many black Mo Sea Gu burned and exploded in the intense light.

Yet the formidable Hunyuan Gu, bolstered by the Emperor’s Dao Techniques, actually withstood the combined might of Lei Jun’s Dragon-Tiger Strike.

Lei Jun’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Although he had never directly faced a peak-level Nine Heavens Great Gu Master like Li Yuanheng, he had heard stories.

When Gu Masters at the second and third stages of the Nine Heavens realm trained in the Decay Transformation and the Prime Transformation, the former reduced an opponent’s threat, while the latter enhanced their own gu’s attack and defense.

Combined with the mysteries of the Hunyuan Celestial Physique and the Emperor’s Dao Techniques, Xiang Jing’s Hunyuan Gu were simply in a league of their own, regardless of numbers.

But...

Within Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Domain, vast clouds of black dust began to swirl, interwoven with streaks of white light expanding and contracting.

The immense Yuanmagnetic force compressed, its yellow hue shifting to a pale gray-white.

Seeing this, Xiang Jing—who had split himself into countless gu bodies—paused in surprise.

With his Daoist talisman cultivation at the Nine Heavens level, it wasn’t hard for him to recognize the Dark Dust and the Sevenfold White Light.

He himself could wield the Dark Dust, though the current battlefield’s constraints prevented him from doing so—he could only watch as Lei Jun used it, as expected.

...But what was that vortex-like presence?

Before Xiang Jing could react, Lei Jun’s Dragon-Tiger Strike, empowered by the Dark Dust, the Sevenfold White Light, and the Polar Sea Eye, struck simultaneously.

Thus—

The Dark Dust countered the gu’s Decay Transformation.

The Sevenfold White Light countered the gu’s Prime Transformation.

With the Polar Sea Eye amplifying its destructive power, Lei Jun’s Dragon-Tiger Strike not only blasted apart the Mo Sea Gu but also began devouring Xiang Jing’s Hunyuan Gu.

Although Xiang Jing’s gu were being destroyed en masse, he remained composed. As a Fifth Stage Nine Heavens Great Gu Master, he had trained in the Child Transformation—his gu weren’t just powerful but also possessed incredible regenerative and even rebirth capabilities.

Some gu were eliminated, but soon, a fresh swarm appeared within Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Domain.

Yet Lei Jun had prepared for this.

The Dragon-Tiger Strike faded temporarily.

The Yin Fire Tiger joined with the Yang Fire Tiger, merging into one.

The Yin-Yang Infinite Starflame materialized exactly where the gu were regenerating, then exploded outward.

Waves of searing flames swept across the area, incinerating a vast number of gu.

Its power seemed endless, like a relentless plague that clung to Xiang Jing’s gu, never letting go.

But—

Lei Jun’s eyes suddenly flashed, the Heaven-Earth Vision Talisman spinning in his pupils.

In the boundless void, a phantom shadow suddenly emerged.

It seemed to merge seamlessly with Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Domain.

It was none other than the Gu Aura Embryo—a manifestation of a Fifth Stage Nine Heavens Great Gu Master’s core essence!

If this Gu Aura Embryo successfully invaded Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Domain, Xiang Jing could potentially possess Lei Jun himself!

Lei Jun’s body stiffened slightly in midair, affected by the intrusion.

Xiang Jing had been waiting for this very moment.

His body split into countless gu forms, scattering in all directions.

Each gu could be his true body, enabling him to avoid Lei Jun’s attacks while focusing on targeting Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Domain.

Finally, Lei Jun’s form showed signs of sluggishness.

Xiang Jing launched his counterattack in full force.

The gu previously threatened by the Yin-Yang Infinite Starflame suddenly shimmered and shifted, transforming under the influence of the Illusion Gu, replacing the Hunyuan Gu and Mo Sea Gu and taking the brunt of the attacks instead.

Meanwhile, the seemingly endless Hunyuan Gu and Mo Sea Gu surged toward Lei Jun from multiple directions.

Lei Jun’s form was surrounded by a cloud of five-colored mist, blocking a swarm of Mo Sea Gu.

But the Hunyuan Gu, empowered by the Hunyuan Celestial Physique and the Emperor’s Dao Techniques, tore through the five-colored mist.

Yet behind the mist, a layer of dark, icy-black water enveloped Lei Jun, halting Xiang Jing’s Hunyuan Gu in their tracks.

The swarming gu halted their advance, but a flash of dark gold light flickered—

A short blade of unmistakable Gu Sect design burst forth, slashing straight for Lei Jun!

Besides the White Jade Bottle from Ancestor Zhou Tian, Xiang Jing also wielded a supreme Gu Sect treasure from Kong Sang—this Black Gold Blade was a pure weapon of slaughter.

Massive Yuanmagnetic force condensed around Lei Jun’s body, but the Black Gold Blade, empowered by Xiang Jing’s Mountain-River National Destiny, pressed forward with unstoppable momentum.

Xiang Jing had unleashed his full strength.

Alongside the Hunyuan Gu and Mo Sea Gu, another of his innate techniques emerged—

The Scarlet Thunder, a brilliant red lightning, gathered above Lei Jun’s head, crackling and crashing down upon him.

This was the Immortal Capital Mountain, the manifestation of the Nine Heavens Immortal Capital Talisman—a signature technique of the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain lineage.

To conceal this from the Gu Sect, Xiang Jing had previously used the Wenhuang Mitian Talisman instead of the true Nine Heavens Immortal Capital Talisman.

Yet now, bolstered by the Emperor’s Dao Techniques and the Hunyuan Celestial Physique, Xiang Jing’s Immortal Capital Divine Thunder and Immortal Capital Mountain were even more potent than Ji Daocheng’s Yushu Celestial Thunder.

Knowing Lei Jun didn’t carry the Celestial Master Robe, Xiang Jing attacked from multiple angles.

Under the influence of the Gu Aura Embryo, Lei Jun struggled to utilize his body techniques, his mobility and defenses both hindered.

Just as the Black Gold Blade and Immortal Capital Mountain were about to strike, an ominous feeling suddenly surged in Xiang Jing’s heart.

He saw, at the Gu Aura Embryo’s location, a flash of purple and gold light—

A nine-section green bamboo staff materialized.

The bamboo staff struck the Gu Aura Embryo.

The shadow, once seemingly fused with the Xuanhuang Universe, immediately detached and dissipated.

With a second sweep of the bamboo staff, the Gu Aura Embryo shattered completely.

The spiritual energy dispersed—Xiang Jing didn’t mind the loss.

But seeing that flashing purple-gold green bamboo staff, his heart trembled violently.

“...Wang Xu?!”

Though the bamboo staff emanated a strong Daoist aura, Xiang Jing instantly thought of the Eastern Mountain Hermit Wang Xu, who had slain Ou Hongcheng and wounded the Monk Juexiang outside Suzhou City with just such a green bamboo staff.

...Was the Wang Xu from back then actually Lei Jun in disguise?

Just as this thought surfaced, Xiang Jing saw Lei Jun manifest the Eight-Scenes Celestial Cloak, blocking the oncoming Black Gold Blade.

The Black Gold Blade, already worn down by Yuanmagnetic forces, couldn’t advance any further.

With the Gu Aura Embryo gone, Lei Jun’s form moved freely once more.

But instead of dodging, he raised a hand to hold up the Immortal Capital Mountain.

The towering red thunder mountain froze in midair, unable to budge.

Lei Jun stood calmly and said, “Using body techniques and swordsmanship to deal with gu is too inefficient.”

“Cleansing with thunder methods is still the best.”

As he spoke, a mist of purple, gold, and green light swirled in front of him.

Within this Three-Light Mist, a mighty thunderclap echoed—its lightning a deep crimson hue.

Above Lei Jun, Xiang Jing’s Scarlet Immortal Capital Mountain, formed from his mana, shattered on the spot.

Within the Three-Light Mist, another Immortal Capital Mountain emerged—Lei Jun’s own!

Red thunder danced around it, coalescing into a profound talisman: the Nine Heavens Immortal Capital Talisman, a signature technique of the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain lineage.

Golden, silver, purple, and black thunder dragons circled the red thunder mountain, spiraling through the void.

Endless thunderbolts surged across the Xuanhuang Universe.

The lightning coalesced into talismans:

• The Golden Divine Thunder Talisman.

• The Silver Spiritual Thunder Talisman.

• The Purple Thunder Scripture Talisman.

• The Black Xuanxiao Five Thunder Talisman.

• And the Red Nine Heavens Immortal Capital Talisman.

These five thunder techniques and five divine talismans intertwined, enveloping the surroundings.

The lightning interwove, faintly forming a great formation.

Lei Jun formed a hand seal before his chest, his other hand raised high:

“Our sect has the Five Thunder True Method Talisman—what has been achieved today shall be named the Nine Heavens Primordial Five Thunder True Method.”

As he spoke, the radiance of the thunder coalesced, his face obscured by the brilliance—he seemed like a thunder god wielding divine punishment.

The five talismans, now forming a thunder array, pressed down together.

Multicolored thunder filled the void, sweeping across the entire domain like a boundless sea.

Xiang Jing had gathered his gu to surround Lei Jun—though he hadn’t reformed his body, it was as if he had placed himself under Lei Jun’s Nine Heavens Primordial Five Thunder True Method.

The Illusion Gu, which could have saved him, had already been consumed by the Yin-Yang Infinite Starflame, and the Child Transformation couldn’t recover in time.

All Xiang Jing could do was watch as the raging sea of thunder engulfed him.

Facing such a catastrophic, heavenly onslaught, Xiang Jing had no choice but to fully reveal the White Jade Bottle, desperately trying to absorb Lei Jun’s power to survive.

But the Celestial Master Seal, cleansed by the Pure Yang and Pure Yin Thunder Dragons, descended from the sky and pinned the White Jade Bottle in place.

Earlier, Xiang Jing had tried and failed to seize the Celestial Master Seal. Now, without Xiang Jing’s support, the White Jade Bottle couldn’t move—it was suppressed outright.

The Mo Sea Gu, the Hunyuan Gu—all of Xiang Jing’s creations—were obliterated by the endless thunder.

Lei Jun, draped in the Taiqing Eight-Scenes Celestial Cloak, walked calmly through the aftermath, holding the Shangqing Yuchen Celestial Bamboo Staff.

With a sweep of the staff into the void, he shattered something unseen—

More gu emerged, a last-ditch effort by Xiang Jing to escape Lei Jun’s Taiqing Salvation Grotto by resurrecting elsewhere through the gu’s power.

In and outside the Grand Dao Domain, across the Taiqing Salvation Grotto, and in various places, seemingly unremarkable gu suddenly took flight.

Yet they all fell and disintegrated mid-air, turning into lifeless dust.

These were Xiang Jing’s gu—his hidden lifelines, buried everywhere, yet all shattered in an instant.

All that remained was Xiang Jing himself, trapped within Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Domain.

The Nine Heavens Primordial Five Thunder True Method formation still hovered over him.

“You should leave now,” Lei Jun repeated.

He raised his palm and pressed down: “Seal!”

The might of a mortal cultivator’s thunder arts, unparalleled in history.

Like the Thunder Emperor himself, delivering the heavens’ punishment!

Endless thunder engulfed Xiang Jing’s countless gu bodies, utterly annihilating them.

True Five Thunder True Method: Thunderstrike from the Heavens!