Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 461: Your Ironclad Encirclement Is Full of Holes

The portal to Kongsang, located in the Former Song Realm, reopened once more.

Jadira, head of the Sumeru Karmic Division, immediately withdrew.

From the void portal connecting to Kongsang came a wondrous aura, originally rich and serene with spiritual energy. But in the blink of an eye, it grew restless—like a slumbering beast suddenly awakened.

Due to the great battle that had taken place earlier in the Modern Han Realm, large numbers of people had either voluntarily or forcibly exited Kongsang from both Tianjing and Dudu. As a result, Kongsang was now almost deserted, with only the Kongsang Witch King, sovereign of this domain, quietly resting within.

Back then, after clashing with Daoist Zhou Tian, he lost two of his vessels—Xiang Chengyuan and Xiang Jing—one after the other. His ritual magic collapsed, and the resulting backlash left him badly wounded. To make matters worse, Daoist Baimei of Shushan intervened, exacerbating his injuries.

In the years since, he had been in constant retreat and healing, slowly making progress.

But it was precisely because of these personal injuries that he had become hypersensitive to intrusions into Kongsang.

Although this time the portal did not reopen from the Modern Han Realm, but from the Former Song Realm instead, the Kongsang Witch King was immediately alerted.

As spiritual energy surged, he attempted to seal the void.

But at that moment, the entire Former Song Realm trembled violently, as if a powerful being was rampaging toward the entrance of the void portal.

A thunderous tiger's roar shook the heavens.

The monstrous tiger Arata, who was supposed to be deep in the wilderness of the Western Regions, now stood before the portal to Kongsang—his mountain-sized form looming.

And above his head appeared a figure.

Although minuscule compared to the giant beast, this figure radiated an even more overwhelming presence—he felt like the very center of the human world.

The moment he appeared, he stood atop Arata’s head, and then the two vanished together.

The tremors in the Former Song Realm ceased.

But the shaking of the Kongsang portal only grew more intense.

And the void portal could no longer be sealed.

At the same time, another portal in the Former Song Realm—the Guixu Portal—also began to tremble violently.

Located off the eastern coast, the tremors of the Guixu Portal sent ripples through the ocean and even disrupted inland river systems.

It seemed that a massive body was moving through the water, navigating upstream through the mouth of the sea and entering the great river of this realm.

The mighty river surged, its currents distorting as if the very riverbeds twisted in its wake.

Soon, the Dongting Marsh, the body of water nearest to both the great river and the Kongsang portal, began to change.

The entire marsh surged skyward, as though the heavens themselves were pouring upside down.

From its depths, a massive shadow emerged—part illusory, part real—shaped like a giant kun fish.

The kun burst from the surface, and the sheer wind force from its leap swept across the inland.

That colossal black shadow, vast and imposing, then twisted and transformed into a roc, vanishing in a blink within the raging storm.

Moments later, the Kongsang portal shook again.

But with the kun-like shadow having broken through the water, rivers and seas across the realm rippled even more violently.

Meanwhile, the Guixu Portal on the eastern coast began to close and soon disappeared.

The Kunpeng Demon Saint had finally left Guixu in person.

Though his true goal was a certain individual within Kongsang rather than the territory itself, he nonetheless understood the rule of "he who kills shall be killed."

Thus, he used his own powers to temporarily shut the Guixu Portal, preventing others from sneaking in behind him.

The Flood Dragon King of the Sea, along with other major demons of Guixu still in the Former Song Realm, had already received the Kunpeng Demon Saint's instructions and were therefore unsurprised.

They continued to rampage through the rivers and lakes, suppressing and driving away local cultivators of the Former Song Realm while maintaining control over the waterways.

Meanwhile, in the western region of the Former Song Realm, inside and around the Jingang Temple of the Great Song, Buddhist light burst forth in full force.

Before Jadira could return to the human world from Karmic Division, Venerable Shanzhihui made a rare descent from Mount Sumeru. He said to the nearby division leaders—Vimasha of the Buddha Division and Vandata of the Jewel Division:

"Both the Golden Khan Ongqinfu and Kunpeng have gone to Kongsang. I will go as well. Sumeru is in your care."

Vimasha and Vandata formed seals and bowed together. “Yes, Venerable.”

After opening the Kongsang portal, Jadira did not linger and would soon return to Sumeru.

Only Master Harsen, commanding the Lotus Division, would remain in the Former Song Realm. Vimasha, Jadira, and Vandata—three accomplished monks who had achieved Fifth-Layer Full Dharma Bodies of the Ninth Heaven—would then oversee Sumeru together.

In most cases, their presence would ensure Sumeru’s stability even in the absence of Venerable Shanzhihui.

Still, to be safe, he had made arrangements in advance.

If Sumeru were to suffer a calamity during his absence, it would be sealed off like Guixu—cut off from the outside world to avoid being caught off guard.

“The Han Dynasty—Vandata, I’ll leave that to you,” Venerable Shanzhihui said at last.

Vandata replied, “Please be at ease, Venerable. His Highness Prince Jin of the Han Dynasty has already come to the Han Jingang Temple to offer incense. If Sumeru must be sealed, I will invite him in as a guest. It may disrupt the Han Dynasty’s political plans, but it ensures we maintain influence. We can scheme slowly from there.”

Since Emperor Xiang Chengyuan and Crown Prince Xiang Jing of the Han had both perished, the throne had remained unclaimed.

After multiple rounds of power struggles, only two candidates remained:

Prince Zhen (Xiang Zhen) and Prince Qin (Xiang Sheng).

The former was backed primarily by Sumeru's Buddhist sect, while the latter had the support of local Han factions.

Sumeru had reached a critical juncture. Though things looked stable on the surface, every contingency was being prepared for. Hence, Prince Zhen had been invited to the Han Jingang Temple as a guest.

“As for the Kongsang Witch Sect,” Vandata said softly at the end, “there’s still a chance they might reopen the portal to Kongsang from the Modern Han Realm…”

Venerable Shanzhihui nodded. “Indeed. After I arrive in Kongsang, I will make preparations.”

With that, the gaunt, gold-faced monk drifted out of Sumeru.

Behind him, Vimasha and Vandata bowed deeply in farewell.

After leaving Sumeru, Venerable Shanzhihui moved swiftly, traversing the Former Song Realm en route to the southern Kongsang Portal.

Just the act of traveling through the mortal world posed a heavier burden on him than it did on Golden Khan Ongqinfu or the Kunpeng Demon Saint.

Fortunately, after years of recuperation, his condition had improved enough for him to manage such a task occasionally.

Still, his seemingly perfect, indestructible Buddhist Golden Body emitted a faint golden glow as he walked through the mortal realm, which diffused around him, merging with the spiritual energy of the land.

Though his presence was brief, wherever he passed, the aura he left behind caused the surrounding spiritual energy to become slightly more abundant.

Once he passed through the void portal and entered Kongsang, Venerable Shanzhihui immediately felt a repelling force from within.

The aura of Kongsang, once cool and tranquil, had become hot and agitated.

Even his golden body felt as if it were being scorched.

Kongsang was one of the Ten Realms, alongside Earth Sea, Luoyuan, Wu Jian, and Great Ju, among others.

Although not as deathly as Luoyuan, Wu Jian, or the Yellow Springs, like Earth Sea, it had the power to stir up internal chaos and repel intruders—unlike the relatively peaceful Nine Heavens.

Kongsang’s current turbulence was a result of that innate nature.

Though the Kongsang Witch King was still recovering, he had ruled the realm for many years. Now, personally overseeing its defense, he had the advantage of home territory.

In contrast, Venerable Shanzhihui had just endured the corrosion of the mortal realm. Newly arrived in Kongsang, he had yet to gain a foothold.

However, he did not immediately reveal his Immovable Wisdom King form to counteract the realm’s suppression.

Instead, he calmed himself and focused inward, adjusting his body and mind.

He was not the only one being repelled upon entering.

Nearby, close to the Kongsang portal that connected to the Former Song Realm, there lay a vast abyssal sea.

From the waters, a massive black shadow slowly surfaced—it was a giant kun fish.

So enormous was its body that it could no longer be described as island-sized; it resembled a small continent.

The kun’s eyes—one gold, one silver—opened and shut in alternating rhythms, like the sun and moon swapping places.

Even within the now-scorching Kongsang, the water system where it resided continued to expand and contract, resisting the invisible forces pressing down on it.

The Golden Khan Ongqinfu and Arata the Demon Tiger were nowhere to be seen.

But deep within Kongsang, a fierce battle had already erupted—mountains trembled and the earth shook.

Golden Khan Ongqinfu was already engaged with the Kongsang Witch King.

Despite being in hostile territory, Ongqinfu appeared more at ease than both the Kunpeng Demon Saint and Venerable Shanzhihui.

It wasn’t that he was stronger than the other two—it was simply that he had consumed the least energy traveling through the Former Song Realm.

Therefore, he was the first to charge into battle against the Kongsang Witch King.

Had he not done so, the freshly arrived Kunpeng and Shanzhihui might have been ambushed at the portal before even gaining a foothold in Kongsang.

Now, Venerable Shanzhihui and the Kunpeng Demon Saint could take some time to recover and gather their dissipated energies from passing through the mortal realm.

But time was running out.

For their alliance to hold, all three needed to demonstrate sincerity.

Even if any of them had personal ambitions, they would wait until the dust settled before making a move.

The massive kun fish in the water gave a slight nod to Venerable Shanzhihui. “I’ll go ahead and assist him.”

Shanzhihui formed a seal in return. “Much obliged.”

The enormous kun leapt from the water, and in midair transformed into a vast roc, vanishing in a flash.

The next instant, the battleground in the distance erupted with even greater force, shaking the heavens and earth.

Venerable Shanzhihui didn’t join the fight immediately, but he wasn’t simply watching from the sidelines either.

He first began laying down ritual magic, sealing off the portal that had brought him from the Former Song Realm into Kongsang.

Once sealed, the void portal could only be breached by experts who specialized in spatial manipulation—and the longer it remained sealed, the harder it would be to open. Special methods would be needed to reactivate it.

By now, the Former Song Realm had been thoroughly swept. The Earth Sea, Yellow Springs, and even the once-notorious Nether Abyss showed no signs of activity.

Even if the Great Tang caught wind of this and dispatched experts through the Earth Sea, they wouldn’t arrive in time to reopen the sealed Kongsang portal.

As Venerable Shanzhihui continued recuperating and walking, a prayer wheel appeared in his hand.

The wheel shimmered with divine light, which transformed into a larger radiant disc in the air, rotating endlessly.

With this glowing wheel in hand, he moved forward, scanning his surroundings and identifying a certain spot.

He gently raised his hand, and the gleaming wheel soared upward before descending into the seemingly ordinary mountains and rivers of Kongsang.

The wheel slowly sank into the earth and stone.

Even underground, its radiance persisted. Within that halo, various mystical images began to emerge.

And they weren’t only related to the Buddhist tradition of hand seals…

Apart from the faint manifestation of the Immovable King of Wrath behind Venerable Shanzhihui, there was also the alternating sun and moon beneath a veil of shadows, along with a flicker of an illusory blade. As the blade swept across, a faint tiger’s roar echoed.

Three layers of imagery intertwined, their brilliance converging more intensely until they fully vanished into the mountains and waters of Kongsang.

Venerable Shanzhihui stood quietly, watching the scene unfold.

After receiving assistance from Golden Khan Ongqinfu and the Kunpeng Demon Saint in refining the wheel, it should now serve some purpose.

Ideally, it wouldn't be needed at all—but Shanzhihui harbored no illusions. He focused on his preparations.

Once the Dharma Wheel fully disappeared, he turned to leave, heading toward the heart of Kongsang.

There, the great battle had already reached a fever pitch.

---

Great Han Realm.

In the northern borderlands, Ke Lang, the head of the Kongsang Dudu lineage, had been in seclusion for recovery.

But on this day, he suddenly felt something stir within and exited seclusion:

“Kongsang is changing—there’s a chance to reopen it.”

Elder Chenxiao, one of his peers, was startled. “So sudden? Is it because chaos has broken out inside Kongsang?”

Ke Lang pondered. “It’s not clear yet, but very likely so.”

Chenxiao hesitated to speak.

With the Witch King still present, anyone daring to provoke Kongsang must possess extraordinary cultivation and strength.

Even if such powerhouses clashed like tigers, it didn't mean Dudu's people could benefit and reclaim Kongsang.

Of course, Ke Lang had considered that too.

After a moment of silence, he added, “Get in touch with His Majesty the Tang Emperor and Celestial Master Lei of Mount Longhu.”

Chenxiao asked, “Does the Sect Master wish to follow the example of the Jiuli of Dihai?”

Ke Lang replied, “The world is unpredictable—we can only take one step at a time.”

Chenxiao followed up, “What about the Western side, Sumeru?”

In a past campaign, the Kongsang Dudu line had joined forces with the elite from the Sumeru Jewel Sect under the command of Fandatuo, besieging the Kongsang Tianjing and crippling it entirely.

They had maintained contact since.

However, neither Ke Lang nor the other great shamans of Dudu fully trusted the Sumeru Buddhist Sect.

Reports of them converting disciples from other traditions concerned both Ke Lang and Chenxiao.

“For now, set aside the Western Buddhist sects. This might actually involve them,” said Ke Lang. “The situation is unclear, but the timing is rare. I’ll first attempt to reopen the void gateway to Kongsang. Leave the outreach to you.”

Chenxiao accepted the task. “Yes, Sect Master.”

After bidding Ke Lang farewell, she ordered other capable members of Dudu to investigate Sumeru's movements. She herself immediately set out for Mount Longhu in the Great Han Realm.

There, the Tianshi Mansion received her.

Zhuo Huajie, Fu Yuzhou, and Ma Zongxiang quickly grasped the situation, and Zhuo Huajie promptly relayed a message to his master.

When Lei Jun, stationed in the Two Jin Realms, received the news, he contacted Tang Xiaotang in the Former Song Realm. From the information they pooled together, it wasn’t hard to guess: Sumeru, Guixu, and the Golden Khanate had joined forces to invade Kongsang.

Golden Khan Ongqinfu undoubtedly sought a place within the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths for himself.

Given this alignment, the Kunpeng Demon Saint from Guixu probably wasn’t fighting for the demon race’s right to reclaim Kongsang.

More likely, some treasure, opportunity, or spiritual resource within Kongsang was the target.

As for Venerable Shanzhihui, besides strengthening his alliance with Ongqinfu, it was hard to say whether he sought something more.

The Kongsang Witch King had recently suffered several setbacks and needed to recuperate. Even with the home advantage, he likely couldn’t fend off all three forces alone.

Venerable Shanzhihui and his side had been preparing for quite a while.

They had already cleared the Former Song Realm and cut off all external ties.

On the surface, things looked quiet in the Great Han Realm. But it was said that Prince Zhang Zhi of the Han Dynasty had recently visited Vajra Temple to offer incense and prayers—clearly also preparing for emergencies.

That meant over in the Two Jin Realms, the Sumeru Buddhist Sect and Vajra Temple of the Northern Jin Dynasty must also be making preparations.

Lei Jun heard that Ke Lang of the Kongsang Dudu line was preparing to reopen the void gateway from the Great Han Realm to Kongsang. His thoughts raced.

At that moment, the glowing sphere in his consciousness lit up again.

As it pulsed with light, words swiftly appeared:

“One hand becomes Buddha, one hand wields the blade. Western wind, eastern wave—fate lies in your hands.”

Three fortune slips appeared with it:

1. Upper-Middle Fortune – At sunset, go to Black Ocean Island off Eastern South Jin. A third-tier opportunity awaits. The sea is stormy—future karmic consequences may arise, handle them well. Auspicious.

2. Upper-Middle Fortune – Before sunset, go to the Sea Valley in Kongsang. A third-tier opportunity awaits. The sea is stormy—future karmic consequences may arise, handle them well. Auspicious.

3. Lower-Middle Fortune – Travel through the Qinghe Prairie in the Great Han’s northern border to reach Kongsang. Significant risk, possible mortal peril. Proceed with utmost caution. Inauspicious.

Lei Jun’s attention immediately focused on the lower-middle fortune.

The Qinghe Prairie in Great Han’s northern border... That’s where the Dudu people were now.

If Ke Lang was planning to reopen the void gateway there, could that be the location?

Major danger, potential death—such ominous fortunes had become rare for Lei Jun at his current level.

Had the Sumeru Jewel Sect plotted with Dudu’s forces to lay a trap for him on Qinghe Prairie?

Or was it that Ke Lang and the others simply didn’t realize the potential danger there?

Considering how thoroughly Shanzhihui had swept through the Former Song Realm, surely he hadn’t ignored figures like Ke Lang or Peng Youshan whose fate was still unknown…

Lei Jun mused silently.

“The situation’s unclear. It could be dangerous. Don’t act recklessly.”

While thinking, he sent a message to Zhuo Huajie: “Saha involves our Yuqing Miluo Grotto Heaven. I’ll take care of things here first, then head over.”

Zhuo Huajie promptly replied in agreement.

Lei Jun then contacted Tang Xiaotang and Empress Zhang Wantong: “Someone’s invaded Kongsang. We can confirm at least three parties—Sumeru, Guixu, and the Golden Khanate.”

Tang Xiaotang’s voice was full of cheer. “I’m almost at Kongsang’s portal.”

Lei Jun: “Based on what we know, the Sea Valley in Kongsang might be a key location. You could try your luck there—but be cautious, it hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

“Got it, I’ll check it out,” Tang Xiaotang responded casually. “I’ve never been to Kongsang before.”

In Datong, Empress Zhang Wantong instructed her people to respond to the Dudu line: “Let the Daoists of Mount Longhu handle this matter.”

When Ke Lang of Dudu heard the news, he slowed down his preparations.

A nearby elder whispered, “Sect Master, what now…”

“We could take the risk alone—but the danger would be too great.”

Standing on the Qinghe Prairie, Ke Lang exhaled deeply. “Celestial Master Lei’s concern is not without reason.”

His junior brother looked regretful, but Ke Lang only shook his head slightly:

“Returning to Kongsang would be wonderful, but given the current unrest, trying to grab the fire may only end up burning ourselves.

The chance is rare, yes, but since neither Celestial Master Lei nor the Tang Empress is making a move, our chances of success are far too slim.”

The elder bowed his head. “You’re right, Sect Master.”

Gazing over the boundless grasslands, Ke Lang said softly, “Don’t act rashly. I’ll go pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”

His companion looked surprised.

Ke Lang offered no further explanation.

---

Two Jin Realms.

Lei Jun, now looking at the two upper-middle fortunes, found himself torn.

The second one being related to Kongsang was expected.

But the first? It pointed to this very realm—and what kind of situation was that?

As he pondered, he shifted his position eastward.

Though his cultivation was profound, his Heaven-Earth Observing Talisman still had its limits.

Fortunately, he had brought the Yuqing Zhou Tian Divine Mirror with him this time.

The mirror was already moving steadily eastward above the skies. Using it as a medium, Lei Jun’s view extended all the way to the vast Eastern Sea, despite him being inland.

Identifying which island was the so-called Black Ocean Island, however, took more effort.

Once he located it, at first glance, it seemed like just another deserted island.

But under the mirror’s focused light, Lei Jun gradually noticed clues.

The island was cloaked in a mirage, an illusionary haze.

To him, it resembled Buddhist techniques—specifically from the Saha Buddhist Sect.

Due to the vast distance, the mirror couldn't pierce through fully.

And the other side’s illusion arts were rather refined.

Too direct an observation might alert the monks stationed there.

But what exactly was the Saha Sect up to? What was this third-tier opportunity on Black Ocean Island?

At first, Lei Jun wondered if it was the Yuqing Miluo Grotto Heaven.

But based on his judgment, something like that would be second-tier at least.

This third-tier… was hard to pin down.

Still, given that both he and Xu Yuanzhen had already torn down Saha’s Little Western Paradise in Southern Jin, and were now on friendly terms with Venerable Puguang, why would Saha still engage in side schemes?

The unusual nature of it all made Lei Jun deeply suspicious.

He first informed Xu Yuanzhen, mentioning that his Divine Mirror had accidentally uncovered something suspicious.

Xu Yuanzhen was currently engrossed in research on Saha itself. She hardly paid attention to Kongsang or other matters. “You could ask Wang Guiyuan to check it out.”

“Senior Brother has no plans to go.”

Lei Jun replied, “With you, me, and Little Sister already out—and even Her Majesty joining the fray—Senior Brother decided to stay behind in the Great Tang to assist Master. Otherwise, it’d be too empty there.”

“He’s just lazy,” Xu Yuanzhen commented casually. “Last time Luo Yuan invaded, he just happened to confront him head-on using Wujian. If it had been some other expert from the Ninth Heaven, would he have opened Luo Yuan or Wujian directly in the mortal realm?”

Lei Jun: “I hope it doesn’t come to that. That’s why we can’t let Ongqinfu and the others succeed in Kongsang.”

Xu Yuanzhen: “Have Xiaotang and Zhang Wantong arrived in Kongsang yet?”

Lei Jun: “We’ve arrived.”

He wasn’t in the least bit anxious in the Former Jin Realm, because the ironclad encirclement cleared by Venerable Shanzhihui and the others had already become riddled with holes like a sieve.

---

Former Song Realm.

From this angle, the gateway to Kongsang had already disappeared.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in this direction.

It was an old Daoist in a black-and-white robe, his white hair and youthful face giving him an immortal-like air.

He glanced around, and a mischievous smile suddenly bloomed across his face.

Then, the old Daoist’s figure and appearance began to shift.

From Zheng Chen, the Grand Elder of the Pure Yang Palace of the Great Song, he transformed into Tang Xiaotang, Elder of the Tianshi Mansion on Mount Longhu.

Tang Xiaotang, now looking thrilled, raised a hand and pointed into the air.

An invisible force seemed to gather at her fingertip, then rippled outward, disturbing the void.

Though the portal to Kongsang had only recently been sealed, and the interior of Kongsang remained unstable, for those skilled in manipulating space-time, faint traces were still detectable.

Because it had been sealed personally by Venerable Shanzhihui, reopening it wasn’t easy—

But not too difficult for Tang Xiaotang.

Though she didn’t possess the Universal Immortal Physique, since stepping onto the Bridge of Profound Insight, and paired with the Genesis Pearl, her power had become incomparable to the past.

It was as if the scene from when the Earth Sea had been opened at Guizang Cave was happening all over again.

---

In the heart of Kongsang, the tide of battle had already turned.

Even though the Kongsang Witch King held the advantage of home ground, facing three-on-one, he was still struggling and clearly about to lose.

Venerable Shanzhihui had manifested the form of the Immovable Wisdom King, bearing the Mandala Wheel of Great Sun Tathāgata, with two arms and three eyes—

His left hand held a binding rope, while his right wielded a sword.

With a slash from the right hand, blazing wrathful fire burst forth, as if cutting through some invisible obstacle.

Then, his left hand flung the long rope toward the Witch King.

But at that moment, Venerable Shanzhihui suddenly sensed something—

The sealed entrance between the Former Song Realm and Kongsang... had been opened?

He felt no regret.

His focus was entirely on identifying the unexpected intruder.

A person powerful enough to charge through from a supposedly cleared-out region—was there a breach?

Even if someone from the Great Tang had crossed over from the Earth Sea, it should’ve been too late.

Plus, there had been no prior intel...

Suspicion surged within Venerable Shanzhihui’s mind. Distracted, his attack on the Witch King faltered, and the rope missed its mark.

---

Moments later, he became aware.

The three eyes of his Immovable Wisdom King form all turned at once.

In that direction, a golden ocean spread outward.

A divine golden ship sailed upon it, slicing through waves as it neared.

Seeing the woman standing at the ship’s bow, Venerable Shanzhihui’s gaze flickered:

“…So, Benefactor, you’ve already arrived in this realm?”

Standing atop the Pure Yang Ship, Tang Xiaotang grinned with her hands on her hips:

“Surprised?”

What greeted her was a burst of radiant Buddhist light.

The brilliance seemed to combust, vanishing in a flash—

Then wrathful fire exploded skyward, morphing into a sea of colorless flames that engulfed everything.

But the golden Pure Yang Sea surrounding Tang Xiaotang shielded her from harm.

She’d faced divine techniques before—through Galuota, the master of the Sumeru Vajra Division, and Zongga, the former master of the Sumeru Lotus Division.

But this wrathful fire…

Its origin far surpassed either of those men.

This sea of flames held power greater than if multiple Ninth Heaven experts wielded the Divine Blade of the Wisdom King all at once.

Ordinary Ninth Heaven cultivators would be incinerated instantly.

Yet now, someone had pushed through it.

The colorless wrathful fire began burning through the golden Pure Yang Sea, creeping inward to surround both the ship and Tang Xiaotang.

She, however, remained cheerful.

The golden thunderfire around her body vanished on its own—

In its place came an ethereal, nearly invisible stream of mist.

This airy stream spread in all directions, seemingly able to dissolve everything, returning all to the void.

The sea of wrathful fire was stopped cold, unable to draw any closer.

Tang Xiaotang, now at the cultivation stage of Five Qi Toward the Mysterious and standing atop the Bridge of Profound Insight, didn’t even use it to escape.

Instead, she gently pointed forward.

The surrounding Primordial Energy condensed into a “Sea of Primordial Origin,” which rapidly collapsed into a single point—

Then exploded outward with immense force.

Compared to before, the manifestations of the Genesis Pearl were both more elegant and domineering.

The change came not only from her increased cultivation, but also from deeper mastery of her Primordial Dao Body and Genesis Talisman.

This divine art had grown even more formidable.

As the Genesis Pearl’s force swept out, it cleared everything in its path.

Even the endless sea of wrathful fire was blown aside—not extinguished, but forced away.

It could no longer surround her.

Only then did the tall, Dao-robed Tang Xiaotang, now dressed in purple and gold, stroll out from the sea of colorless fire with her hands behind her back, calm and unhurried.

---

Venerable Shanzhihui stared at her, thoughts racing.

At the same time, he reached out beyond Kongsang, to the Former Song Realm.

He needed to confirm—

Was the Earth Sea reopened?

Were there other Tang cultivators besides Tang Xiaotang?

If the Earth Sea was still sealed, then the giant demons and humans stationed outside Kongsang could reseal the portal to the Former Song Realm.

As long as it was just Tang Xiaotang, the situation could still be salvaged.

There was no need to worry about the Present Han Realm.

Unfortunately, the Mandala Wheel couldn’t be used on the Former Song portal.

It had been a specialized technique devised through years of planning after the war against Kongsang—

Created with the help of Golden Khan Ongqinfu and the Kunpeng Demon Saint, it was tailor-made for the portals to Tianjing and Dudu in the Present Han Realm.

Even though the Sumeru Treasure Division had aided Kongsang’s Witch Sect in the Present Han Realm, Venerable Shanzhihui had predicted that they wouldn’t fully trust the Sumeru—

If they wanted to reopen Kongsang, they’d likely seek other help.

Now, the question was—

Did they find help from the Great Tang?

---

Among the Nine Heavens, in Datong.

Empress Zhang Wantong wore casual attire, her expression relaxed.

Before her stood two people in Witch Sect robes.

One was Kelang, the Sect Master of Kongsang’s Dudu.

The other—was none other than the former Han Emperor, Xiang Chengyuan.

It was a meeting neither had ever expected.

But Xiang Chengyuan had long since calmed his heart.

Now, facing Tang Empress Zhang Wantong, he was as composed as ever.

Once full of ambition, he had been brought low by disaster—

Yet what he had now, he considered great fortune.

So all his past glory and dreams had been let go.

What lingered slightly in his thoughts was this:

Empress Zhang Wantong looked every bit the scholar rather than a monarch.

Once a Han Emperor, now he resembled a Grand Shaman.

Once a Tang Empress, now she seemed like a learned Confucian sage.

But a Grand Shaman was still human.

A Grand Scholar… no longer seemed of this world.

---

“This journey must have been hard on you, Elder Xiang,” Zhang Wantong said calmly.

Xiang Chengyuan steadied his mind. “…I am willing to lend Your Majesty my strength.”

He turned toward Kelang: “Master, I ask your assistance.”

“Of course.”

The Dudu Sect Master replied with the same composure.

Even within Dudu itself, few knew Xiang Chengyuan was still alive.

And those attacking Kongsang now—knew even less.

But due to the Kongsang Witch King, Xiang Chengyuan might now be able to reconnect with Kongsang during this time of upheaval.

He couldn’t open void portals at will—

But to send a few people through? That was possible.

And the one he was sending…

Was none other than the sanctified, immortal expert—Empress Zhang Wantong of the Great Tang.

So the Thunder Celestial had indeed made arrangements… Kelang mused silently.

It had been Lei Jun who secretly invited Xiang Chengyuan to the Great Tang.

And Lei Jun again who introduced him—

To Empress Zhang Wantong, here in Datong.