Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 466: Individual Gains

The voice of the Kunpeng Demonic Sage sounded calm, while the Submerged Sea Dragon King deeply lowered his head.

"And after that, the three Daoists—Lei, Xu, and Tang—still had enough strength to attack the Saha World," the Kunpeng Demonic Sage said slowly.

His tone was genuinely composed, causing the Submerged Sea Dragon King to raise his head again.

The oppressive atmosphere in Guixu gradually eased.

The Submerged Sea Dragon King whispered, "According to the messages in Venerable Shanzhihui's dharma texts, if no other unexpected Immortal Realm experts intervened, then this is likely the truth behind Ongqinfu's death."

The Kunpeng Demonic Sage remained silent.

If other Immortal Realm powerhouses had unexpectedly intervened, it would hardly be good news for them either.

The Submerged Sea Dragon King added, "The Mount Ling faction arrived at the Saha World a step behind the Daoist sect. It seems the two sides were not acting in unison. Previously, during the battle in the Yellow Springs, the Witch King of Mount Ling likely did not participate."

The giant Kun fish remained motionless in the water: "Send a reply to Shanzhihui. I need more information about Puguang and the Saha World."

The Submerged Sea Dragon King acknowledged, "Understood."

Later, the master of the Vajra Realm's Buddha Division, Vairochana, personally accompanied the Submerged Sea Dragon King to Guixu, summoned by Venerable Shanzhihui to answer the Kunpeng Demonic Sage's inquiries.

He had previously exchanged many letters with Abbot Baoneng of the Southern Jin's Little Western Paradise.

The other party, on behalf of Venerable Puguang, relayed many details.

Even now, it was hard to say whether Venerable Puguang and Venerable Shanzhihui had truly set aside their past grievances to unite against a common enemy.

However, regarding information related to the Celestial Master Mansion of Mount Longhu, Venerable Puguang was willing to share detailed intelligence with Venerable Shanzhihui's faction in Kongsang.

"Venerable One believes these messages are credible," Vairochana said, forming a mudra as he bowed to the Kunpeng Demonic Sage.

The Kunpeng Demonic Sage remained in the form of a giant Kun fish, submerged in water, yet his voice resonated from all directions:

"Puguang once intended to enter the mortal realm but was delayed by Daoist Xu. In that case, Daoist Xu must have employed some additional methods."

If Xu Yuanzhen could hold her own against Venerable Puguang, or if Venerable Puguang found her troublesome to deal with, the Kunpeng Demonic Sage could believe that.

But for Xu Yuanzhen to stably block Venerable Puguang, preventing him from making any progress, she would need to gain the upper hand or even suppress him.

If Xu Yuanzhen achieved this solely through her own divine abilities, it would be far too exaggerated.

Although she had previously repelled Daoist Zhou Tian, according to the messages from Venerable Shanzhihui, that battle had relied on Lei Jun seizing the foundation of the Han Dynasty's Mount Longhu—it was not Xu Yuanzhen's accomplishment alone.

"In that case, Daoist Lei's killing of Ongqinfu in the Yellow Springs is even more unfathomable," the Kunpeng Demonic Sage remarked, his tone eerily calm.

Vairochana replied, "The Venerable One shares this view. In earlier years... Xuanxiaozi's brilliance was overshadowed by Xu and Tang. Though renowned, we may have underestimated him."

There were other words from Venerable Shanzhihui that Vairochana did not voice now.

The Kunpeng Demonic Sage had likely already realized it as well.

This time, to some extent, the Tang Dynasty's cultivation world and the Celestial Master Mansion of Mount Longhu had launched attacks on two fronts simultaneously, rather than concentrating all their strength in Kongsang.

This was, of course, the result of the Western Regions' Buddhist sect diverting trouble eastward, deliberately creating this situation to trap Venerable Puguang and his disciples from the Thunderclap Monastery.

Yet the Tang Dynasty's cultivation world not only sent Zhang Wantong and Tang Xiaotang into Kongsang unexpectedly but also found ways to break through the Vajra Rebirth Treasury of Sumeru and the Endurance World of the Saha Realm.

Moreover, Lei Jun had concealed his true strength.

Until his entry into the Saha World, he had hidden the fact that he had already reached the Five Qi Facing the Mystic stage, stepping onto the Bridge of Transcendence.

And he had dug an enormous pit in the Yellow Springs long beforehand!

Though the outcome was far from satisfactory for himself, looking back, Venerable Shanzhihui felt this result was not entirely undeserved.

The past could not be changed, but how to proceed in the future was the pressing matter at hand.

After Vairochana withdrew, silence fell over Guixu for a time.

"Order our warriors in Song territory to return. Seal Guixu for now. As for other minor matters, handle them as you see fit," the Kunpeng Demonic Sage instructed.

"As you command, Great Sage," the Submerged Sea Dragon King replied, his spirits lifting slightly.

The Kunpeng Demonic Sage's words implied he intended to enter secluded cultivation.

The battle in Kongsang had gone smoothly at first, but its later stages were... complicated.

Though Venerable Shanzhihui had successfully seized Kongsang, one of the Ten Lands, for him, it was far inferior to Sumeru among the Nine Heavens. Already in poor condition, he now had to establish a new dharma site from scratch while recuperating.

Not only was the restoration of the Five Divisions of the Vajra Realm increasingly distant, but the foundation he had built across various mortal realms was also largely lost.

As for the Golden Khanate, the situation was even worse.

If both the Golden Khan Ongqinfu and the Demonic Tiger Alata had perished, the Golden Khanate would struggle to maintain its holdings in the Central Plains on its own.

The only one satisfied was the Kunpeng Demonic Sage.

He had obtained the treasure from Kongsang as desired, and for a great demon like him, the gains were immense, offering hope for further ascension.

Even so, Guixu and the Tang Dynasty's cultivation world—or rather, the Celestial Master Mansion of Mount Longhu—had crossed paths before.

During the conflict among great demons in the Luo Abyss, the Kunpeng Demonic Sage had once sought to enter the Luo Abyss via the Nether Tortoise of the Abyss, though the matter had come to nothing.

Looking back now, it was highly likely that the Celestial Master Mansion of Mount Longhu had thwarted that plan as well.

Leaving aside whether Guixu would attempt to enter the Luo Abyss again, if the Nether Tortoise of the Abyss had fallen into the hands of Lei Jun, Wang Guiyuan, and others, Guixu would need to remain vigilant.

In such circumstances, nothing mattered more than self-improvement.

The Kunpeng Demonic Sage's current seclusion was precisely to digest the gains from this venture.

Success here would change the landscape entirely.

However, the mortal realm had seen the rise of many new experts, and complacency was not an option... The Submerged Sea Dragon King felt a chill in his heart.

……………………

In contrast, while the great demons of Guixu were collectively shaken, they still had some footing.

For the Golden Khanate, it was as if the sky had collapsed.

At first, none could believe that the Golden Khan Ongqinfu had perished in such a manner, but as time passed, more and more began to waver.

Though not as tightly linked as the ancient Talisman Sect's Daoist Zhou Tian and his disciples—where effects were immediately apparent upon mishap—Ongqinfu, as a Martial Immortal who had mastered the Path of Riding and Command, had unique methods of governance after reaching the pinnacle of the mortal realm.

Now that he had fallen, experts of the Golden Khanate like Haritana and Arslan faintly sensed it, leaving no room for self-deception.

"Was it the Tang people?" Arslan's eyes were bloodshot. "And these Western Region monks are to blame as well!"

Hasen, the Lotus Division master and a noble of the Golden Khanate, wore a sorrowful expression but spoke calmly: "Arslan, the Great Khan's death grieves me deeply as well. I speak to you now as a son of the grasslands, not as a monk. At a time like this, we must not act recklessly, lest we bring about our own destruction."

Arslan whirled around, glaring at him furiously.

Hasen remained composed: "A good hunter focuses on one prey at a time, especially when the prey is exceptionally dangerous."

He sighed. "I understand your rage and resentment toward the Venerable One, but we've been trapped from the beginning.

"The Tang people had prepared for this from the start. Otherwise, they would have all charged into Kongsang together.

"Had we all galloped forth in a frontal assault, regardless of Kongsang's fate, at least the Great Khan would have had a chance to break through—not like this.

"Now, the Khanate stands at the brink of peril!

"Beyond the Tang, we have other enemies in this very realm. Zholigetu of the Gray Wolf Tribe is merely hiding; he isn't dead and is poised to tear out our throats. The Khanate cannot afford to make additional enemies now, least of all turn friends into foes."

"Were they ever truly friends?" Arslan stared coldly at Hasen.

Hasen murmured, "Calm yourself. You know this—the enemy is formidable. Whoever they are, we need more allies.

"The Vajra Realm does seek to convert followers of other traditions to replenish its ranks, but with the Tang Daoist sect as an enemy, the Venerable One will not narrow his options further."

"When the Great Khan slumbered in the void, we followed the Venerable One's decrees," Haritana interjected, placing a hand on Arslan's shoulder to silence him. "It is no different now. We await the Venerable One's commands."

Hasen, the Lotus Division master, formed a mudra in salute: "Stabilizing the Khanate is your priority. The Venerable One has instructed us to monitor the changes in the Earth Sea and the Yellow Springs' gateways. Leave that to us."

With that, he and the other monks, including Abbot Danta, took their leave.

Arslan turned to Haritana: "Strength is the foundation of all. With my father gone, we are no longer allies in Venerable Shanzhihui's eyes—more likely, bait."

Haritana nodded: "You understand. So take a portion of our people and leave immediately. Do not return to the capital. Have the capital's defenders regroup and head north to rendezvous with you. Then, return to the Great Wasteland as swiftly as possible!

"I will lead another group southeast, leaving this place to Zholigetu and his ilk. Let us see if they still dream of letting the Tang into this realm!"

"The Great Wasteland has been barren for years..." Arslan took a deep breath. "I see. Preserving our last pastures is paramount, so that one day we may return."

Haritana: "Exactly. And you must move quickly, lest Zholigetu and the Gray Wolves retreat as well!"

The Gray Wolf Khanate remained unaware of the upheavals in the Central Plains' Shu region.

Previously forced into the far west by the Golden Khanate, they first received strange news about changes in Sumeru and the Song Dynasty's Vajra Temple.

When Gray Wolf Khan Zholigetu learned that the Song's Vajra Temple had been abolished and Sumeru had changed hands, he felt no joy.

Instead, an ominous premonition settled over him.

"Morigen, we can return to the eastern grasslands..." he said slowly.

Morigen, a general of the Gray Wolf Khanate, brightened at the news.

But Zholigetu's next words were: "But we may not hold them for long."

Morigen: "What does the Great Khan mean?"

Zholigetu: "I will lead the main force east to gather intelligence. You take a small scouting party to observe the outskirts of the Northern Sanctuary first."

Morigen looked surprised.

The Northern Sanctuary lay in the northern wilderness, near the extreme north, where the ancient tribes had once emerged from the Great Wasteland.

After the tribes split and the four khanates formed, the Northern Sanctuary had remained under the Golden Khanate's control.

For Zholigetu to send Morigen there now suggested more than just anticipating the Golden Khanate's collapse—there were deeper implications.

"As you command, Great Khan!" Morigen replied solemnly before galloping away on his Azure Wind Howler.

Gray Wolf Khan Zholigetu gazed into the distance, his expression grave.

…………………………

While the former Song Dynasty's mortal realm churned with turmoil and Venerable Shanzhihui and the Kunpeng Demonic Sage brooded over the Tang Dynasty's cultivation world, Lei Jun remained in the Saha World, watching as Qin Caiwei and Ling Hui handled affairs there, gradually bringing order.

Though Qin Caiwei was only a seventh-level cultivator, Lei Jun could confidently leave matters in her hands.

Safety was not a concern either.

Even if Bai Mei chose not to intervene, Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang would remain in the Saha World for some time.

The Saha World itself was one of the Nine Heavens, rich and abundant in spiritual energy, though after years of cultivation by Venerable Puguang and the Thunderclap Monastery, its Buddhist dharma influence ran deep, making it more conducive to Buddhist practitioners.

But for cultivators of Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang's level and comprehension, adapting to the environment posed no difficulty. They could harness the dense spiritual energy for recovery and cultivation.

Once Qin Caiwei had settled into her role, Lei Jun returned to the Tang Dynasty's mortal realm.

To be precise, after visiting his master Yuan Mobai at the sect's ancestral hall, he first made a trip to the Luo Abyss.

Wang Guiyuan looked at Lei Jun's slightly pale complexion with concern but hesitated to speak.

Lei Jun seemed to know what he wanted to say: "This time, it's real. After all, he was a Martial Immortal."

Human Immortals were said to be peerless within their reach, unmatched in single combat, offense, and speed.

Martial Immortals surpassed even those limits, their single-target lethality ranking among the highest of Immortal Realm experts.

Venerable Shanzhihui had needed to remove the petals of the Acala Crown and manifest the Five Buddha Lights, employing the "No-Self" technique to surpass that level.

Wang Guiyuan sighed softly: "Junior Brother, you knew he was a Martial Immortal. Forcing a kill meant taking great risks yourself."

As he spoke, his form shifted into that of the White Lotus Holy Master Jingjiu, a ninth-level, fourth-layer monk of the Vow Path. Though his Buddhist light flowed with the aura of a Medical Martial Saint's techniques.

Without achieving the Golden Body stages of Kriya Maha and Lakshana Maha, Wang Guiyuan could only partially emulate the Medical Martial experts' divine abilities, but it was still a boon to Lei Jun in his current state.

Lei Jun glanced around the Luo Abyss: "Senior Brother, after all these years of guiding lost souls, your cultivation has deepened. As the White Lotus Holy Master, shouldn't you have reached the Perfected Dharma Body stage of Liberated Wisdom?"

Wang Guiyuan: "I could, but there's no hurry."

Lei Jun understood: "Considering Dharma Master Faqing's situation?"

Wang Guiyuan: "Exactly."

Lei Jun: "I brought something back from the Saha World for you."

He produced the Returning Origin Bottle and peeled off the talisman sealing it.

Taking it, Wang Guiyuan examined the Acala Lotus Platform sealed inside, his expression turning complex:

"This is indeed valuable, but we must plan carefully to make the most of it."

From his tone, Lei Jun gathered that this was not merely for advancing the White Lotus Holy Master Jingjiu's cultivation to the ninth-level Perfection stage before attempting an Immortal Realm breakthrough like Elder Chonghui.

He pondered but said no more, instead recounting the details of the battles in the Yellow Springs, Kongsang, and the Saha World.

"Venerable Puguang was prepared. His staff seemed specifically designed to counter you and Wujian," Lei Jun concluded.

Wang Guiyuan nodded: "As I expected. Wujian couldn't touch him, but with this Acala Lotus Platform you've brought, things may change."

Lei Jun: "Will you visit Sumeru later, Senior Brother?"

Wang Guiyuan: "No rush."

He looked at Lei Jun: "Junior Sister Tang obtained the Eight Extremities Obscurity Brightness Pearl, advancing her natural comprehension—a cause for celebration.

"But you, Junior Brother, went through much hardship and returned injured. Did you gain little for yourself?"

Lei Jun shook his head: "The Yuqing Miluo Grotto-Heaven's return to our sect is a great gain for me personally."

This was no humble remark as the current Celestial Master of Mount Longhu. The grotto-heaven's restoration genuinely benefited him, aiding his ongoing efforts to refine the Three Caverns and Three Heavens Supreme Dragon-Tiger Immortal Array.