Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 441: Mastering the Great Purity and Saving People in the Cave Heaven

A vast ocean of thunder engulfed the area, its searing lightning clearing out all the Gu insects in a single sweep, leaving no chance for Xiang Jing to survive.

Once the countless Gu insects had been reduced to ashes, Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Manifestation slowly retracted.

Within the Taiqing Salvation Grotto, the massive, pitch-black celestial body began to dissolve bit by bit.

As the giant opaque black sphere vanished, multicolored lightning surged out, crackling and arcing wildly across the space.

Amidst the thunderstorm, Lei Jun’s tall figure emerged, walking forward at a steady, unhurried pace.

In the Taiqing Salvation Grotto, a few cultivators from the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain lineage were present.

They had originally planned to attack Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Manifestation from the outside, hoping to coordinate with Xiang Jing from within.

But the difference in strength between the two sides was simply too vast.

Aside from Ji Daocheng and Xiang Jing, there were no other peak Nine Heavens Grand Dao cultivators among the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain lineage who could shake Lei Jun’s Xuánhuáng Cosmos.

The Gu left behind by Xiang Jing in the Taiqing Salvation Grotto, intended as a life-saving trump card, had no chance to activate. The giant, opaque black sphere remained utterly still, and the Gu hidden in the Grotto trembled and flew out of their hiding places on their own, only to turn into ashes in an instant.

This scene left most of the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain cultivators baffled.

But a select few of the Han Dynasty elders who knew Xiang Jing’s true background felt their hearts sink.

When Lei Jun’s Grand Dao Manifestation finally dissipated, and the sea of thunder it had generated faded away, Xiang Jing was nowhere to be seen. As Lei Jun stepped forward from the aftermath, their worst fears were confirmed.

Yet no matter what they thought, the situation in the Taiqing Salvation Grotto was already decided.

Lei Jun exited his Grand Dao Manifestation, leaving behind a crimson Yangfire Tiger and a jade-green Yinfire Tiger to temporarily seal off the entrance to the Taiqing Salvation Grotto.

Lei Jun himself strolled through the Grotto at a leisurely pace.

The golden Pure Yang Thunder Dragon, the silver Pure Yin Thunder Dragon, the purple Yang Thunder Dragon, and the black Yin Thunder Dragon circled and drifted through the space, each heading in a different direction, scouring the Grotto thoroughly.

He didn’t go on a wholesale killing spree; aside from those who stubbornly attacked him, most were simply suppressed and contained by Lei Jun’s four Dao Manifestations.

The interwoven golden, silver, purple, and black lightning formed an invisible cage that no one dared approach.

Lei Jun continued forward, arriving at the core of the Taiqing Salvation Grotto.

There stood a three-tiered altar, its customary design of a round top, square base, and octagonal middle glowing with countless Dao patterns and radiant energy.

As Lei Jun stepped onto it, the entire altar seemed to tremble.

Yet he remained calm, placing the twelve treasures—the Three Caves and Twelve True Treasure Talismans he had previously refined—into the altar.

These twelve talismans, which had been used to set up the Tai Shang Longhu Celestial Array in the mortal realm, were in a dormant state, their brilliance dimmed.

But under Lei Jun’s control, they successfully acted as bridges, allowing him to establish a connection with the altar.

Radiant light shimmered across the altar.

Amidst the brilliance, Lei Jun could faintly make out a hazy figure.

Had it been anyone other than Ji Daocheng or Xiang Jing from the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain, they wouldn’t have been able to discern the figure’s features at all. They would have been overwhelmed with reverence, instinctively feeling that all their cultivation and achievements were thanks to this figure.

It was the silhouette of Ancestor Zhou Tian.

His presence, too, lingered in the Taiqing Salvation Grotto.

But as Lei Jun’s four thunder dragon Dao Manifestations finished sweeping the surroundings, they all converged upon the altar and merged into it.

Under the impact of Lei Jun’s Dao power, the illusory figure gradually dissipated.

For it to be resolved so quickly… it seemed Zhou Tian’s true form was in an even worse state.

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Although the Taiqing Salvation Grotto, like the Shangqing Thunder Mansion Grotto, couldn’t sustain beings from the Immortal Realm for long, Ancestor Zhou Tian had still left behind a few contingencies here, just in case.

Now, Lei Jun wasn’t about to overlook this. He cleared out the last of Zhou Tian’s hidden tricks in the Grotto.

With this threat dealt with, Lei Jun circulated his Dao power, condensing mystical talismans that melded into the three-tiered altar, refining and altering it.

By this point, even if Lei Jun left the Taiqing Salvation Grotto, he wouldn’t have to worry about others sealing or hiding the Grotto again.

Retrieving the twelve dimmed talismans, Lei Jun exited the Grotto.

The entrance to the Taiqing Salvation Grotto, located high in the sky, glimmered faintly.

Below, the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain gradually returned to calm as Lei Jun dismantled the formation.

Those from the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain sect who had remained at the ancestral grounds were now thrown into chaos.

Their sect leader, Ji Daocheng, had fallen.

The outcome of Xu Yuanzhen’s battle with Ancestor Zhou Tian remained uncertain.

Lei Jun had just walked into the Taiqing Salvation Grotto.

The Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain was abuzz with speculation, the hearts of many in turmoil.

Some still held faith in Ancestor Zhou Tian, believing Lei Jun and his companions had overestimated themselves, and that once Zhou Tian defeated Xu Yuanzhen, he would deal with Lei Jun easily.

But more people now felt a heavy, oppressive dread in their hearts.

Some even felt a flicker of fear, though they dared not speak of surrender or fleeing the ancestral grounds.

In the distance from Longhu Mountain’s main peak, Denglai, the head of the Han Dynasty’s Pure Yang Palace, and Yu Boyan, a prominent disciple of the Shushan Sect, had been watching from afar when Xiang Jing and Lei Jun entered the Taiqing Salvation Grotto one after the other, trying to gauge the situation.

They had a general understanding of Xiang Jing’s strength.

Before Wang Xu, the Eastern Mountain Hermit, re-emerged, there had been rumors that the Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing had surpassed the Han Emperor Xiang Chengyuan, becoming the strongest cultivator in the Han Dynasty.

Yet because the emperor was still alive, such talk rarely surfaced publicly.

But tonight, the Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing had been utterly defeated.

Though the passage of time meant that his imperial cultivation blessings hadn’t yet faded completely, even as a peak Nine Heavens cultivator, his strength still firmly exceeded that of Xiang Chengyuan and Ji Daocheng.

Lei Jun of the Tang Dynasty had fought Ji Daocheng, then led a mighty formation to aid Xu Yuanzhen in defying the immortals. After that, he entered the Taiqing Salvation Grotto to battle Xiang Jing.

Denglai, Yu Boyan, and the others were all speculating about the outcome.

They never expected that Lei Jun would emerge from the Taiqing Salvation Grotto exactly as he had entered—calm, unhurried, like an immortal descending to the mortal world.

This sight left Denglai, Yu Boyan, and the others—who knew Xiang Jing’s identity as a Grand Shaman—wondering whether Xiang Jing had actually succeeded in possessing Lei Jun.

But...

As Lei Jun exited the Taiqing Salvation Grotto, the golden Pure Yang Thunder Dragon, silver Pure Yin Thunder Dragon, purple Yang Thunder Dragon, and black Yin Thunder Dragon soared around him, the might of the thunder god crackling in the air.

Lei Jun’s gaze was calm and steady, but within his eyes, bolts of lightning sparked and flickered, as if a thunder god had descended upon the world.

Denglai and Yu Boyan, though not familiar with Lei Jun, could now be sure: this was indeed the Tang Dynasty’s Celestial Master Lei Jun himself, no doubt about it.

So...

After Ji Daocheng, Xiang Jing had also fallen.

And it wasn’t just a defeat—it was an utter, total annihilation.

Celestial Master Lei Chongyun of the Tang Dynasty had, on this day at the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain, slain two peak Nine Heavens cultivators in a row!

“The four thunder dragons’ Manifestation Talismans...” Yu Boyan murmured softly.

Though they had never seen the Celestial Master of the Tang Dynasty personally step into the Han Dynasty’s mortal realm—Lei Jun had only ever been to Datong, which had long been cut off from the Han Dynasty’s domain—they had certainly heard of his name. Denglai, Yu Boyan, and the others were no strangers to his reputation.

It was well-known that apart from the core Heaven, Earth, and Man Three Caves and Three Heavens Talismans passed down through the Tang Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain lineage, the Celestial Master had also cultivated two additional, extraordinary Dao Manifestation Talismans, manifesting as the Yin Thunder Dragon and the Yangfire Tiger.

He was a man who wielded five Dao Manifestations at once!

Even if it wasn’t entirely unprecedented, such a feat was still awe-inspiring enough to leave a mark on the ages.

Yet now, seeing the Pure Yang Thunder Dragon and the Pure Yin Thunder Dragon, Denglai, Yu Boyan, and the others felt a chill run down their spines.

“...Seven Dao Manifestations of Heaven and Earth?!” they exchanged glances, unable to conceal the shock in their eyes.

Across the mountains, both inside and outside Longhu Mountain, everyone who witnessed the thunder dragons soaring across the sky seemed momentarily dazed.

After Lei Jun exited the Taiqing Salvation Grotto, he descended through the air with the same unhurried grace, while simultaneously reaching out to contact Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang.

That brief instant before he had entered the Grotto—he hadn’t been mistaken.

Ancestor Zhou Tian had indeed left Kunlun, and Xu Yuanzhen had chased after him.

“The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths... there’s no place left for him,” Xu Yuanzhen said lightly. “From today onward, even in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, his Dao essence and celestial energy will continue to dissipate and fade, just like in the mortal realm.”

Lei Jun exhaled. “...As expected of you.”

Xu Yuanzhen’s Dust-Red Sword had been shattered.

Along with it, Zhou Tian’s ability to move freely through the mortal realm had been severed.

To be precise, it wasn’t just that he could no longer move freely in the mortal world—even the Kunlun domain he had previously called home could no longer sustain him.

If he wanted to prevent his Dao essence and celestial energy from leaking away, there was only one path left for him now:

To sink into slumber in the void beyond the heavens.

And in that endless void, there was no hope in sight—no one knew when it would end. It was an indefinite, potentially eternal sleep.

If he wanted to return to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths or even the mortal realm to fight again, he would first need to stabilize his injuries and condition.

In short, for the foreseeable future, this peak Nine Heavens expert, a being beyond the mortal realm, might as well be dead.

Put more kindly, he would be in long-term seclusion.

“The void beyond the heavens is vast. It won’t be easy to track him down from here,” Xu Yuanzhen added casually, her tone light.

She was right—if you wanted to target Zhou Tian, you had to focus precisely on what he valued most... Lei Jun couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Though their views aligned on many things, this was one area where Lei Jun and his senior sister’s perspectives diverged significantly.

Still, it wasn’t an issue.

There would be time to deal with it in the future, just like how he’d taken out Ye Moquan—Xu Yuanzhen hadn’t objected to that, either.

Lei Jun could tell that his senior sister’s breathing seemed a bit labored—she must have expended a great deal of energy.

It was hard to say whether that effort stemmed from her own choices, making things more difficult for herself.

Since she didn’t seem in immediate danger, Lei Jun simply said, “I plan to reorganize the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain branch. Would you like to join me, Senior Sister?”

“Not really interested. I’ll head back to Kunlun—there are still others there I need to check on.”

Lei Jun’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Then please stay cautious, Senior Sister. After I’m done handling things with the Han Dynasty’s Longhu Mountain, I’ll be making a trip to Kunlun as well.”

Meanwhile, Junior Martial Sister Tang Xiaotang’s battle in the Guanzhong region was also drawing to a close.

Yun Qingyan, one of the two top experts of the Kong Sang Heavenly Capital lineage, had ultimately fallen to Tang Xiaotang.

Despite constant support from Peng Youshan, another peak Nine Heavens cultivator, Tang Xiaotang had still slain Yun Qingyan, the Grand Shaman of the God-Dance Ritual.

Yun Qingyan’s death not only signaled the total collapse of the last line of resistance from the Kong Sang Heavenly Capital lineage, but it also had another effect: Without Yun Qingyan’s Ghost God Ritual Formation locking down Tang Xiaotang’s Grand Dao Manifestation, her Pure Yang Law Domain fully unfolded, leading to the decimation of the remaining Kong Sang Heavenly Capital Grand Shamans.

In the end, only Peng Youshan and a handful of others managed to escape, while the rest of the Kong Sang Heavenly Capital lineage’s Grand Shamans were either dead or gravely injured.

The Han Dynasty’s Great Void Monastery lineage was almost entirely wiped out.

Though Peng Youshan escaped, Tang Xiaotang’s ruthless rampage had finally vented the fury she’d been holding in since the ambush in the former Song Dynasty’s mortal realm.

It wasn’t that Peng Youshan wasn’t a tempting target.

But after Lei Jun recounted the various events in the Tang Dynasty’s mortal realm and the Sea of Earth, Tang Xiaotang’s focus had shifted back to another matter entirely.

“Luoyuan...”

Lei Jun could hear the gritted teeth in his junior sister’s voice. “...Lord Youluo?”

“The Luoyuan domain has already been resealed,” Lei Jun replied. “But because of Senior Brother and Wujian, we may very well have the chance to reopen it ourselves. We just need to plan and prepare—there’s no rush right now. Don’t worry, Junior Sister. They won’t get away.”

From within the Heaven-Eye Earth-Ear Talisman, Tang Xiaotang’s long exhale could be heard.

Then, as if suddenly recalling something, she said, “That b*****d Jiuli—while we’re over here, he’s snuck off to the Qi Sea?”

Lei Jun replied, “That’s right. Li Yuanheng has been operating in the Qi Sea for some time. After years of recovery, his injuries have healed, and he’s been biding his time. After all, he’s a peak Ninth Heaven Great Shaman. This time, he didn’t use an existing Void Portal; instead, he slipped into the Qi Sea in secret.

However, Elder Li from the Blood River Sect of the Southern Wilderness Shaman Faction, along with other Jiuli experts in the Qi Sea who are hostile to Li Yuanheng, managed to block his path. Li Yuanheng was defeated and currently can’t establish a foothold in the Qi Sea. Fearing our return, he’s now looking for another way out.”

Tang Xiaotang hurriedly said, “Can we contact Li Tianqing and the others? We must keep that b*****d pinned down. I’m heading to the Qi Sea right now!”

She had never forgotten how, back then, Li Yuanheng had escaped because the Great Shaman of Kongsang had interrupted them.

Now that the opportunity was right in front of her, how could she possibly hold back?

The situation in the mortal realm of the Great Han had already been stabilized, so Tang Xiaotang rushed back without delay.

“I’ll come back later! Let’s go to Kunlun together then!” she called out in a hurry.

Lei Jun reminded her, “Be careful, Senior Sister Tang.”

Empress Zhang Wantong was still in seclusion, and it was unclear when she would emerge.

But with Tang Xiaotang heading back now, the situation in the Great Tang’s mortal realm would be under control, and Wang Guiyuan wouldn’t need to risk opening Wujian again.

“Senior Brother, thank you for your hard work this time.” Lei Jun reached out to Wang Guiyuan, speaking earnestly.

Wang Guiyuan sighed softly in response, “It’s fate. At least this time, it didn’t turn into a disaster like the early years—hurting others and ourselves.”

Back in the early days, Wujian was easy to open but hard to close. It could have endangered the entire mortal realm.

This time, by using the collision between Wujian and Luoyuan, they not only had the chance to seal Wujian again, but also avoided harming the surrounding mortal world.

Moreover, thanks to Lei Jun’s prior arrangements—the Great Tang Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s Temple, the Shushan Sect, and the Xuanji Temple had all refined large quantities of Pure Yang artifacts and treasures—the aftermath of the collision between Luoyuan and Wujian didn’t spill over into the mortal realm. In the end, they successfully and swiftly re-sealed Wujian.

As for the other consequences of this change in the situation...

It naturally involved Wang Guiyuan’s other identity, aside from being Master Faqing.

“Senior Brother, you really are like an onion, aren’t you!”

Lei Jun complained half-jokingly, “Back then, after the battle, you just revealed your identity as Master Faqing and never explained further. I’m seriously starting to suspect—you’re not just the White Lotus Holy Master and Master Faqing, but you’ve probably got even more identities.”

Wang Guiyuan, for once, wasn’t in the mood to joke. “Spare me, will you? My three lifetimes are already enough to kill me. If there were any more, I wouldn’t have survived to meet you.”

Opening the Wujian Portal had inevitably exposed all of his three lifetimes to the world.

If it had been in the early years, even if they’d avoided a collective catastrophe, the exposure of the White Lotus Holy Master’s identity as the future Maitreya would have brought huge trouble to the Great Tang’s Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s Temple.

Even now, the Great Tang’s court hadn’t formally revoked the public wanted notice for White Lotus Sect disciples.

It was only because Zhang Hui had privately maintained contact with the future Maitreya and had represented the Tang imperial family in establishing an unspoken agreement that, although the official wanted notice hadn’t been lifted, the Tang court’s actions against the White Lotus Sect had eased up considerably—a case of turning a blind eye.

Zhang Hui had previously contacted the future Maitreya to help the Great Tang’s Shushan Sect repel the Shushan Heretics from the Yellow Springs. There were private understandings, but these matters couldn’t be discussed openly.

After all, in the Great Tang’s mortal realm, the three orthodox Buddhist sects—Tianlong Temple, Bodhi Temple, and Xuantian Temple—still had deep-rooted legacies.

You could say that, at this point, the orthodox Buddhist sects were no longer as strong as the so-called heterodox White Lotus Sect in the Great Tang’s mortal realm.

But the Tang imperial family wouldn’t just discard the Three Great Holy Lands of Buddhism and accept the White Lotus Sect as orthodoxy.

At best, they could mediate the conflict between the two sides, and even that would take a long time—it couldn’t be rushed.

If Wang Guiyuan’s other identity had been exposed back then, it would have been a monumental challenge for the entire Daoist world of the Great Tang at the time.

Back then, the major sects and aristocratic families were all present, the imperial court was deeply intertwined, and even the Sumeru Vajra Division had its hand in the mix.

Meanwhile, the Celestial Master’s Temple of Longhu Mountain was still in a period of recuperation.

Who could say what the outcome would have been?

Even if Wang Guiyuan had chosen to go into exile, the Celestial Master’s Temple would have been in an incredibly awkward position.

It was only now that Lei Jun truly understood why Master Yuan Mobai had given Wang Guiyuan the Daoist name “Chonggui”—to return.

The expectations behind that name had indeed been heavy.

Fortunately, times had changed, the overall situation in the Great Tang had shifted, and the Celestial Master’s Temple had clawed its way back from the brink.

“If you need to flee, then flee.”

Wang Guiyuan sighed, “When I first entered Tianlong Temple to seek a solution to the Wujian calamity, I had no evil intentions. But strictly speaking, I was concealing my identity and had ulterior motives.

Regardless of past closeness, now that the truth is out, I can’t shamelessly face my old acquaintances.

It’s rare for the Great Tang Daoist world to see peaceful times like these, with all sides united. We should treasure this moment.”

Lei Jun murmured, “Senior Brother…”

Wang Guiyuan cut him off, “Don’t worry about me. Let’s just leave it at that. We’ve already gained enough—we can’t keep playing innocent.”

There were different kinds of escapes.

Taking the blame alone and pretending the whole of Longhu Mountain had been deceived—if it were the old days, Wang Guiyuan really would have had no choice but to leave.

But now, there was still a chance to quietly return, moving from the open to the hidden.

That said, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to continue openly serving as the Celestial Master’s Temple’s credentialed elder.

The Celestial Master’s Temple could vouch for him, no problem.

But for Wang Guiyuan himself, he had no desire to stay in the spotlight.

He would shoulder this burden himself, and he wasn’t worried that it would truly sever his ties with the Celestial Master’s Temple.

Anyone who looked closely could guess the truth.

Seeing that Wang Guiyuan’s mind was made up, Lei Jun didn’t push further.

“Whether it’s Luoyuan or Wujian, they’re still unstable. Once we’re back at the mountain, let’s study and refine them together.”

Wang Guiyuan agreed, then said, “Your Faultless Golden Rainbow has been tempered by Wujian. When you refine it again, it should be fine.”

Wang Guiyuan knew a bit about Lei Jun’s situation—his talent and insight were exceptional. It wasn’t hard to grasp Lei Jun’s intentions.

To use the Haoling Seven Qi to cultivate the opposite of the Seven-Part White Radiance, Lei Jun’s Dual Polarity Celestial Body and innate comprehension were key, but other fortuitous encounters were also essential.

For example: Bilu and Yellow Springs were opposites; Penglai and Guixu were opposites.

Now, the Saha Treasure had also been tempered by Wujian, cleansing away the lingering traces of Pu Guang Zun Zhe, and the Faultless Golden Rainbow had undergone a new transformation.

With this, Lei Jun’s plan could proceed.

“What about the other descendants of the Celestial Master’s lineage in the Great Han Dynasty, and the branches of the Talisman Faction scattered across that mortal realm?” Wang Guiyuan asked.

Lei Jun replied, “After coming here, I’ve come to understand the truth about Ancestor Zhou Tian.

Some of the Celestial Master’s disciples in the Great Han mortal realm are determined to follow him to the end. I’ll let them be.

But some are lost and uncertain—I have no intention of a bloody purge.

Back then, when they entered the sect, they never had the chance to choose. That wasn’t their fault.

So I intend to follow the example of our sect’s forebears and reform the Daoist tradition for the Great Han’s branch of the lineage.”

For many years, Longhu Mountain had been recognized as the number one righteous sect in the Great Han mortal realm.

Before Ancestor Zhou Tian and the Kongsang Great Shaman schemed to seize the chance to enter the world, the Longhu Mountain disciples in the Great Han had long been known for defending the Dao and helping the people.

Wang Guiyuan commented, “New disciples might be easier, but as for those who already received their talisman credentials from Ancestor Zhou Tian, turning them around will be near impossible.”

Lei Jun said, “Back when our sect reformed the Dao, it wasn’t accomplished overnight. This will also be a long process. But since I’ve taken on the mantle of the sect, it’s my duty to start the work—even if I don’t finish it in my lifetime, I’ll at least get it started.”

Wang Guiyuan said, “Then we’ll need to send people from the Great Tang to the Great Han.”

Lei Jun nodded. “Senior Sister Zhang will stay at the mountain to assist Master in handling the aftermath here. Let Third Brother lead the team to the Great Han mortal realm.”

He made a few arrangements, then emphasized, “Have Junior Niece Hua Wei accompany Third Brother to the Great Han.”

Wang Guiyuan understood. “I’ll notify Third Brother immediately.”

Chu Kun received his senior brother’s talisman order and immediately mobilized capable disciples from the Celestial Master’s Temple to join Lei Jun in the Great Han mortal realm.

Among them was Qin Caiwei, looking slightly uneasy.

They also brought another person.

It was Ma Zongxiang, a high-ranking elder from the Great Han Longhu Mountain who had been captured by Lei Jun back in Datong.

He had been one of the core upper echelons of the Great Han Longhu Mountain, ranking just below Ji Daocheng and Pan Hailin, comparable to Fu Yuzhou and a few others.

After his capture in Datong, this was Ma Zongxiang’s first time setting foot in the Great Han mortal realm again.

Although he hadn’t been free, the Celestial Master’s Temple hadn’t treated him harshly over the years.

On the way, Ma Zongxiang had already heard a rough outline of what had transpired from Chu Kun and the others.

His expression kept shifting, his spirit flickering with confusion.

The outcome was truly beyond what he had imagined.

Ji Daocheng was dead.

Pan Hailin, who had been the Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing and the Kongsang Great Shaman, was also dead.

Ancestor Zhou Tian had fled from Kunlun in defeat.

That same Zhou Tian, who had schemed against Xiangguang Zhenren—a previous generation’s Longhu Mountain patriarch—by stealing his techniques and posing as an elder ancestor.

Now, the fate of the Great Han Longhu Mountain was, in a way, entirely in the hands of the Great Tang Celestial Master Lei Jun.

Any one of these events, taken alone, would have been enough to leave someone speechless in shock.

Ma Zongxiang could only feel that the world had become unreal.

And yet, he couldn’t help but believe it.

Let alone Xiang Jing and Ji Daocheng, Ma Zongxiang could sense his own cultivation wavering.

This was a clear sign that Ancestor Zhou Tian, the very foundation of their sect in the Great Han, had encountered a problem.

“There were no choices before. Now, there are.”

In the Great Han Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s Temple, Lei Jun calmly faced Ma Zongxiang. “The past determines the present. The present determines the future.”

He waved his hand.

A complete set of Three Caverns and Twelve Supreme Treasures talismans, though not yet recharged, flew back into the Longhu Mountain sect altar, continuing as the sect’s foundation treasure.

Ma Zongxiang was slightly surprised, but quickly composed himself.

He hadn’t just been pondering these things on the way here.

In truth, he had been thinking about them throughout his years in Datong and the Great Tang mortal realm.

He had simply had too many concerns and worries back then.

Now, with the changing tides in the Great Han, he had finally made up his mind.

“The mortal world is ever-changing, ever-challenging. As a disciple of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s lineage, I, Ma Zongxiang, am willing to set aside personal safety and slander, and dedicate myself wholeheartedly to the preservation of our sect’s legacy.”

Ma Zongxiang performed the most formal of bows to Lei Jun. “May the blessings of the Longhu Mountain lineage endure, and may its name be passed down through the ages.”

Lei Jun said, “Reforming the Dao is no ordinary task. It will require long preparation and evolution, and the efforts of many generations.”

Ma Zongxiang replied solemnly, “I will obey the Sect Master’s command. I will engrave this in my heart.”

Beyond Ma Zongxiang, there were others within the Great Han Longhu Mountain who were reconsidering their stances.

Some resisted, but most were still lost in uncertainty.

Chu Kun, Ma Zongxiang, and the others worked on guiding and preparing them.

Qin Caiwei, meanwhile, stayed behind. Looking nervous, she saluted Lei Jun and said, “Sect Master Martial Uncle, I have something to report…”

Lei Jun nodded slightly. “Speak freely.”

Qin Caiwei said, “I… I happened to meet a senior by chance…”

Lei Jun asked, “This senior—do they want to speak with me?”

Qin Caiwei replied, “Yes…”

She presented a wooden sword.

Lei Jun said, “Go assist your Martial Uncle Chu.”

Qin Caiwei breathed a sigh of relief, bowed to Lei Jun, and left.

Lei Jun quietly examined the wooden sword before him. “I wonder which senior of the Shushan Sect this is…”

A bright sword light emerged from the fully wooden long sword.

Within that light, a faint figure took shape before Lei Jun.

He appeared to be no more than twenty or thirty years old, with a lazy, relaxed demeanor.

He wore a plain robe and straw sandals, but what stood out was his snow-white eyebrows and loose, flowing hair, also as white as snow.

This Shushan Taoist woman introduced herself:

“I am Bai Mei, of the Shushan Sect.”