Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 482: Celestial Master Lei’s Ascension Path

While speaking with Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun still sat upright on his three-tiered magical platform.

In his hand, there now shimmered another vibrant light, not originating from himself but from a spiritual entity flowing downstream along the Earth Vein River that he was blocking.

After gathering the light, Lei Jun dispersed it.

Within it were four items. Having traveled to Sumeru, Kunlun, and Saha, Lei Jun easily recognized three of them as works from Venerable Shanzhihui, Daoist Zhou Tian, and Venerable Puguang.

The last was a withered, pitch-black seed.

Recalling the ancient texts he had read in the decree pavilion of the mansion, Lei Jun recognized this black seed as originating from the Abyssal Border—specifically, a seed of the Youning tree.

This meant that this item came from someone within the Abyssal Border, cooperating with Venerable Shanzhihui, Venerable Puguang, and Daoist Zhou Tian to form the current magical ritual, pushing forward the premature convergence of the human realms behind the scenes.

A slight stir arose in Lei Jun’s heart.

Perhaps this was the Fourth Grade Fate mentioned in the second middle-to-high fortune slip.

After nurturing the seed into a spiritual tree, it might further help him explore and understand the reality and illusion of the Abyssal Border.

As for the Second Grade Fate mentioned in the first middle-to-high fortune slip, it should be the solar heartblood that junior senior sister Tang Xiaotang was currently gathering.

Whether it was Lei Jun blocking the Earth Vein to stop the premature convergence or Tang Xiaotang collecting the solar heartblood, both required considerable time.

No wonder the two fates pointed to different matters, impossible to handle simultaneously by a single person.

The opponent had worked for many years, only now delivering the final blow by summoning two great immortal spirits from Canghuan for the duel.

The convergence of the human realms was inevitable—it was the grand trend.

Lei Jun followed the tide without intention to obstruct.

But at least, it should not happen now.

Daoist Zhou Tian, Venerable Puguang, and others forcibly altering the celestial timing—this was the moment to correct the chaos.

To turn the tide in a short time by using a small force to overcome a great one, they had to seize the perfect timing and the right position.

Nothing was more suitable than Qingxing Mountain at sunrise.

However, this was not something achievable overnight.

Lei Jun had a treasure left by senior sister Xu Yuanzhen.

But he did not use it immediately and instead observed the opponent’s follow-up moves.

Even if the human realms could not converge prematurely, other problems might still exist.

Biluo’s shock might be the last straw to break the balance.

Therefore, Lei Jun promptly sent messages everywhere, notifying of the situation.

During the communications, he also received the latest news about the battle in Canghuan.

Tang Xiaotang had withdrawn early to pursue the solar heartblood, lingering in the void to stabilize and collect it.

The war in Canghuan would not stop because of this.

Amidst the intense and heated battle, no final outcome had been decided yet, and both sides were already severely injured.

Though neither Golden Crow Haoyang nor True Dragon Huaming intended to eliminate the other for satisfaction, both fought with genuine fire, giving their all.

The brutality far surpassed the sparring among Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, and their peers; the two great immortal spirits dealt each other heavy blows.

Meanwhile, in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms human realm, in a remote wilderness mountain, Witch Zhen Jia Xianting stood silently.

He stared toward Canghuan, beside him a jade-like bone trembled with sound.

Jia Xianting asked, “Still no news of Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen?”

The other responded, “Currently, it’s confirmed that Zhang Wantong remains in Sumeru, Tang Xiaotang is in Canghuan observing the battle, but Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen’s whereabouts are unknown. Lei Jun may be in Saha.”

Jia Xianting’s expression remained unchanged, but his voice was measured and deliberate: “…The arrow is on the string!”

Finally, his gaze shifted away from Canghuan, turning toward the southern Han where the Mount Ling sect was located for a last look.

Withdrawing his gaze, this grand sorcerer at the ninth heaven’s full completion level decisively turned and entered the cold, silent gray-white bone tower behind him.

Inside the tower, before Jia Xianting lay a bone, now crimson like blood, flickering faint golden light.

Its appearance showed no malice but carried profound mystery.

As the golden light grew stronger on the bone, Jia Xianting’s usually impassive face finally showed joy.

But the momentary change vanished.

Jia Xianting suddenly turned back, the smile disappearing from his face, eyes flashing with caution.

As a grand sorcerer at the fifth level of the ninth heaven descending god realm, his spiritual senses were extremely sharp, detecting someone approaching.

…The visitor came openly, seemingly without intent to hide.

But how had they found this place?

Jia Xianting was extremely cautious about his grand plan to break into the celestial realm; he concealed his movements with great effort and did not trust even the monks from Thunderclap Monastery who aided him.

Yet all disguises seemed to vanish before his opponent’s eyes.

Upon exiting the gray-white bone tower, Jia Xianting saw the curse array restriction he had set in the sky dissolve, exposing this place to the world.

In the sky appeared a colorful phoenix with golden radiance, not massive in size but majestic, spreading its wings as it flew over.

Canghuan had been known for some years, and its inner situation gradually became known outside. Seeing that phoenix, Jia Xianting recognized its identity instantly.

It was Fengming, a phoenix spirit recognized as the third strongest among the spiritual beasts and birds of Canghuan, equivalent to a ninth heaven fifth-level cultivator of the human race.

Witch Zhen Jia Xianting’s heart sank deeply.

This was one of the toughest opponents at his level!

The phoenix, endowed with the five virtues, was not doomed to calamity.

In terms of defense, it could be regarded as a top Buddhist monk at ninth heaven full completion, possessing five portions of a dharma body with freedom from karmic bondage.

Fengming was rumored to be a top-tier presence among his kind at the same realm, both offensively and defensively formidable.

He was one of Jia Xianting’s most vigilant opponents, hence Jia Xianting’s extreme care in hiding.

Although the phoenix’s spiritual awareness was keen, theoretically it should not have found him so quickly. This exposure was far less time than he had hoped to buy.

“There are two sage lords dueling, with some onlookers admiring, but others harboring sinister intentions.”

Amid the clear cry of the phoenix, Fengming’s figure descended, golden light cascading like a torrential rain onto Jia Xianting’s gray-white bone tower.

Immediately, the tower was riddled with holes.

Jia Xianting had no intention to investigate how the opponent found him; he acted instantly, releasing black energy shooting upward like a needle, slender as a thread, between illusion and reality, seemingly fragile yet endless.

Reincarnation Descent!

A technique by a grand sorcerer at the fifth level of the ninth heaven descending god realm.

It infects the opponent’s soul like a bone-attached abscess, causing eternal entrapment through lifetimes.

However, Fengming ignored it completely, allowing the black threads to entangle his body while golden light rain continued pouring.

Five mysterious characters on his body lit up, radiating five-colored light, difficult for common people to discern but naturally manifesting the five words “benevolence,” “righteousness,” “virtue,” “obedience,” and “faith” from his heart.

With these five words protecting him, Fengming blatantly disregarded Jia Xianting’s reincarnation descent attack.

His golden light rain continually destroyed Jia Xianting’s gray-white bone tower.

Inside the tower, the crimson witch bone’s radiance began to dim, and even its blood color faded.

No matter how unwilling Jia Xianting felt, he now had to consider retreating for the time being.

The human grand sorcerer was forced to give up.

In the distance, a great demon approached quietly.

Though it was daytime, it silently hid in the shadows.

True to its name, Yi, the Four-Winged Celestial Serpent Demon from the Ming human realm, equivalent to a ninth heaven fifth-level grand demon of the human race, had unusually come to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms human realm.

Its intention was akin to a mantis stalking a cicada while the oriole waits behind.

It sought to advance further, also scheming around the current war in Canghuan.

However, it did not directly target Canghuan.

Canghuan’s spiritual beasts cultivated spiritual energy and were especially sensitive to its demonic qi and foul aura.

If it set up a magical ritual, even outside Canghuan, it might alert the two great immortal spirits, Solar Sage Lord and Brilliant Sage Lord.

Therefore, the Four-Winged Celestial Serpent’s target was the grand sorcerer Jia Xianting, who was also scheming over Canghuan.

Jia Xianting was cautious and difficult to find within a short time.

But the serpent was confident that Jia Xianting’s final actions would inevitably alert Canghuan’s side.

Fengming and others would find Jia Xianting.

He only needed to wait patiently; once the battle began, Jia Xianting’s movements would no longer be hidden, providing an opportunity for him to benefit.

But Fengming’s early arrival also surprised the serpent.

The Four-Winged Celestial Serpent was suspicious and came to observe but did not reveal itself.

Regarding concealment, it was more skilled than Jia Xianting and valued it more.

To have an oriole behind the mantis, one must beware of someone even further back.

Especially since Yi distrusted the monks like Shedila from Kong Sang Buddhist Sect, even if the news about Jia Xianting came from them.

Now, the great demon retracted its aura, seeming to become a part of the sunlight’s shadow, silently observing Fengming and Jia Xianting’s battle.

Fengming had come too early, and the Four-Winged Celestial Serpent was beginning to worry that Jia Xianting’s ritual was unfinished, and everyone might have come in vain.

At this thought, the serpent felt regret but its greed dissipated, and a retreat urge arose.

It moved silently, hiding in the shadows, quietly withdrawing.

Just then, a flash of sword light cut through the shadow.

In the next instant, a piercing, soul-gripping sharp howl rang out.

The severed shadow came alive, writhing on the spot, instantly expanding from slender to immense.

In the blink of an eye, a black giant serpent as tall as a mountain appeared in the wilderness, spreading four black wings that blotted out the sky and sun.

But on the giant Four-Winged Celestial Serpent’s body, a huge and gruesome wound had opened, nearly slicing its body in half on the spot.

The serpent was furious and shocked.

It transformed its demonic power into dark shadowy force, best at concealment and ambush, yet today it was ambushed itself.

After one sword strike, it could no longer hide its presence.

But that sword had landed a heavy blow.

The serpent focused on the attacker—a middle-aged man who appeared as a refined scholar.

He looked elegant and handsome, with a simple, crisp aura and a scholarly, dignified demeanor.

Regarding his ambush on a great demon, his expression was naturally confident.

“Danger demands boldness; only then can one stir the rushing waters and topple the fierce bird.”

Though cautious, the Four-Winged Celestial Serpent’s ferocity ignited at this moment.

It spread its giant black wings, unleashing endless darkness around, devouring light and heat, counterattacking the middle-aged scholar.

The scholar remained calm, wielding a long sword whose gleam pulsed as Confucian rituals manifested one after another.

Suddenly, countless lights appeared in the darkness.

Though darkness still enveloped all directions, the “lights” did not extinguish.

With numerous rituals’ power combined, light was preserved in the eternal night.

The serpent’s fierce counterattack resembled a tidal wave crashing against a reef.

What made it more uneasy was that the “reef” seemed to grow larger and more numerous, filling the sea of darkness.

The serpent’s ferocious aura immediately retracted, replaced by a chill in its heart.

After mastering the Confucian classics and reaching the ninth heaven’s world-level realm, the second highest among the five classics, “Shu” (Books), allowed accumulation of profound scholarly energy, while the third, “Li” (Rituals), enabled a single person to deploy powerful rites.

However, everyone knew that deploying such rituals required time and materials; the better the preparation, the stronger the ritual power.

This middle-aged scholar had stealthily come here for a surprise attack, then began deploying ritual after ritual during their direct confrontation.

But his rituals were far more powerful than the typical ninth heaven Confucian masters’ and grew stronger at an extraordinary speed.

The serpent’s keen senses quickly noticed that these lights in the night seemed to use the surrounding darkness it created as fuel, burning rapidly and growing far faster than expected.

Was the middle-aged scholar using its demonic aura to amplify his power?

Confucian scholars following the chanting path could convert opponents’ spiritual energies into their own, but mainly against natural spiritual energy; manipulating demonic aura was much harder.

What exactly was this scholar up to?

What was his relationship with Fengming and other Canghuan spiritual beasts?

The Four-Winged Celestial Serpent was filled with suspicion.

Seeing his opponent’s rituals strengthen and recalling his own ambush injury, he dared not be reckless, and his huge body began to retreat into the darkness.

The scholar, using the fourth of the five classics, “Yi” (Changes), keenly sensed the serpent’s movement and took the initiative to advance.

The lights all trembled together.

“If we rely on the enemy’s provisions, our army’s food will suffice.

One portion from the enemy means twenty for us.”

First using the serpent’s power to strengthen his rituals and stabilize his formation, the middle-aged scholar then launched an unstoppable offensive.

Facing the giant serpent retreating into the darkness, he calmly chanted:

“For ghosts and demons, there is no place to stand.”

Suddenly, the darkness trembled, and within a certain area, the darkness vanished, revealing daylight.

The serpent’s mind flashed with the fifth classic, “Chunqiu” (Spring and Autumn Annals), the power of subtle words and grand principles.

It was not unprepared for Confucian divine techniques.

Though wounded, as a demon of similar level, even if the subtle principles could break the darkness, it should take time, enough for it to escape.

But the scholar spoke, instantly dispelling darkness, leaving the serpent nowhere to hide.

Its massive body reappeared, only to be struck by another sword.

Blood gushed as the serpent fled in panic.

Just as it tried to escape from the scholar behind, another sword light appeared in its fleeing direction.

This sword light was even more refined and concentrated than the Confucian scholar’s gentleman sword, focused at the tip, almost imperceptible, but with extremely concentrated power and lethality.

The wounded serpent’s senses dulled, distracted by the pursuing enemy and wary of Fengming in the distance.

Suddenly, a terrifying sword thrust pierced through its body.

The Four-Winged Celestial Serpent was furious beyond measure.

Having ambushed others for years, it was now ambushed twice in a row.

Its roar released a sharp howl attacking the opponent’s soul.

But the opponent was a ninth heaven martial saint with an extremely stable soul.

Though below the serpent in cultivation, hearing the howl did not injure him, only causing a slight hesitation.

Before the serpent could escape, the second attacker blocked its path.

The middle-aged scholar caught up again.

Looking at the heavily injured great demon, the scholar leisurely unfolded his “Nation and World,” enveloping all directions.

With many ritual lights supporting, the formation was impregnable, preventing the heavily wounded serpent from breaking through.

After delivering a fierce ambush on the serpent’s retreat path, the armored woman holding the Mountain and River Sword entered the scholar’s Nation and World formation.

She rarely looked away from the dying enemy, her expression slightly complicated as she looked at the middle-aged scholar:

“Ten times surround, five times attack, double to fight, divide against the enemy, fewer to defend, if inferior, evade.”

The scholar’s expression was calm: “You have surpassed your master.”

While he spoke, his long sword never stopped, sword qi intertwined, flashing streams of light, never leaving the serpent’s vital points.

Xiao Xueting from the Great Tang human realm, holding the Mountain and River Sword, also turned her gaze back to the serpent and said:

“My father’s teachings have benefited me greatly.”

The scholar’s tone remained usual: “As a father, I have done little, and feel ashamed toward you.”

Xiao Xueting said: “I understand you don’t like me and second brother, but you also haven’t contacted eldest brother all these years. You have spared the Xiao Clan an entire province, and I am puzzled.”

The scholar dodged the serpent’s desperate counterattack: “No special reason. I am tired. No matter which side, I no longer want to deal with them, so I like Canghuan and have stayed here all these years.

Since I have received much care from Solar Sage Lord, and get along well with brother Fengming and senior Chaoyang, naturally I lend a hand now.

I also want to thank you on behalf of Canghuan for today’s help.”

Xiao Xueting sighed lightly: “I will tell eldest and second brothers. You won’t be in a hurry to move out of Canghuan, right?”

With a sigh, she raised her sword and stabbed the serpent again.

The serpent’s scales opened and closed, black mist and blood qi spouted together.

Turning around, it opened its huge bloodthirsty mouth, ready to fight desperately.

But Xiao Xueting moved in and out like lightning, already gone from the original spot.

“So many years have passed; it no longer matters.”

The scholar said, “I’m just too lazy to travel. I’ve heard of the current state of Great Tang, and it doesn’t sound bad.”

He then increased the sword’s ferocity: “Let’s quickly resolve the current situation; the human realm’s condition is somewhat unfavorable.”

On the other side of the battlefield, the gray-white bone tower was utterly destroyed by Fengming.

Even the crimson bone inside turned to ashes.

The Mount Ling grand sorcerer Jia Xianting appeared pitiful, with no flesh on his body, only white bones and skull.

Though his face was stripped of skin and muscle, his skeletal face seemed to smile.

Fengming flapped its wings.

The bones immediately scattered.

But Fengming’s expression was not one of triumph, rather he looked around.

Far away, the soil suddenly moved.

A gray-white skeleton rose from underground, flipped onto the surface.

Red light flickered on the bones.

The red light rapidly condensed into human form.

It was Witch Zhen Jia Xianting.

He exhaled deeply.

If he fought to the death with that phoenix, he still had other methods, but lacked confidence to turn defeat into victory.

His prior plan had failed; better to seek escape quickly.

Better to save strength for later.

Venerable Puguang and others might be acting elsewhere.

As for Mount Ling…

Jia Xianting was turning over these thoughts when his body suddenly stiffened.

He took a deep breath and turned around.

Not far off, another person had quietly appeared on the grass without notice.

The leader of Mount Ling’s ten witches, Witch King Huangfu Qi.

An old acquaintance and long-time rival of Jia Xianting.

Huangfu Qi was calm and peaceful as ever but spoke no words, walking steadily toward Jia Xianting.

…………………………

Meanwhile, in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms human realm, somewhere above the heavens, violent shaking began.

The originally clear blue sky turned into an azure green.

Winds and clouds surged, the void trembled, and on the celestial dome appeared an exquisite literary composition, each character like a great sun suspended in the sky.

But this magnificent writing now showed signs of fragmentation, as if about to collapse at any moment.

At that moment, Tang Emperor Zhang Wantong, seated quietly by a lake in Sumeru, closed her eyes.

Chu Kun stood silently beside her.

Chu Yu turned away to seal the void portals connecting Sumeru to various human realms.

At the same time, other realms also took coordinated actions.

Yuan Mobai left Mount Longhu and arrived at Datong, familiar with the place, sealing the void portals from Datong to the outside world as before.

Zhang Hui went to Guicang, notifying Xiao Chunhui and Meng Shaojie, while also sealing the Guicang portal.

Under Li Tianqing’s leadership, the Earth Sea portals began to close.

In Mount Ling, Witch King Huangfu Qi sent orders to Zhao Qianran to act prudently and also temporarily closed Mount Ling’s void portals to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms human realm.

Within Saha, Wang Guiyuan sighed helplessly in an earth fissure.

Though Bai Mei and he remained in Saha, Wang Guiyuan thought it best to seal Saha as well.

Especially since Saha contained the Canine World, which could turn into a pure land of extinction in extreme cases.

But currently, it could not be done.

Not because Venerable Puguang was formerly a Buddhist Golden Body Venerable and Wang Guiyuan’s cultivation was insufficient,

But because Lei Jun’s blockage of the premature convergence was shaking the Yuqing Miluo Grotto-Heaven inside Saha.

The Yuqing Miluo Grotto-Heaven’s location just happened to fill the previous void fissure in Saha.

So unlike the situation during Venerable Puguang’s time, even if Wang Guiyuan sealed Saha with the Canine World, it might be reopened externally due to the grotto-heaven and the fissure.

Wang Guiyuan could only sigh.

Meanwhile, in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms human realm, the sudden azure-green sky trembled for a long time.

With the void’s turmoil, the shining literary composition in the sky began to shatter, characters dispersing.

It was like a dike breaking.

After the writing collapsed, portals began to faintly appear in the azure-green sky, as if gradually opening.

Affected by this, another realm also trembled in the void, seemingly responding, showing signs of arriving in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms human realm.

Once crazy in this realm was the Great Square.

Far away, the Great Square’s void portal also began to faintly appear between heaven and earth.

In the Ming human realm, Cen Ruopu anxiously looked at his prayer tablet, his face showing both worry and joy.

His master, Daoist Zhou Tian, had already awakened from slumber beyond the outer void.

For this matter, he endured discomfort and waited patiently for a short time.

After receiving his response, Cen Ruopu hurriedly reported:

“Master, the premature convergence of the human realm seems blocked, but Biluo shows signs of reopening.”

“Block the premature convergence and reorganize it,” said Daoist Zhou Tian.

He was different from Venerable Puguang, Venerable Shanzhihui, and the deceased Golden Khan Ongqinfu.

The convergence of the human realms was crucial to him.

If it did not come, neither the human realms nor the nine heavens and ten lands would be a safe haven for Daoist Zhou Tian, meaning he would be forced to remain in the void.

Such a defect was hard to tell others, including his own disciples.

But the one blocking premature convergence was decisive and ruthless, meticulous in timing.

With Daoist Zhou Tian’s power, unable to descend to the human realm, he could not find the exact location of the offender or retaliate quickly.

By the time he found out, it would be too late.

“Monks from Thunderclap Monastery and Vajra Realm both say they cannot currently locate the offender’s exact position or know who acted or how many participated,” Cen Ruopu said with difficulty.

After a pause, he added, “Master, Venerable Puguang and Thunderclap Monastery seem to have other plans, but details are unclear.”

Daoist Zhou Tian’s voice was emotionless:

“Puguang remains unwilling.”

But for him, there was nothing to be unwilling about.

Rather, Biluo’s reopening and the return of the former Heavenly Palace faction was his chance.

If the premature convergence could truly not come early, his dire situation’s last hope rested on one person.

The leader of the former Heavenly Palace faction, the Daoist talisman sect immortal sovereign, Gaotian Sui.

“Puguang, I roughly guess where he has gone,” Daoist Zhou Tian said. “I will first head to Biluo; you go meet the monks from Thunderclap Monastery.”

Cen Ruopu bowed with his tablet: “Yes, disciple obeys.”

At the same time in Kong Sang, Venerable Shanzhihui sat cross-legged, silently pondering.

Beside him stood the Vajra Realm Buddha Division Master, Vairochana.

After a moment, Venerable Shanzhihui spoke: “Any accurate news on the whereabouts of those from Mount Longhu Tianshi Mansion?”

Vairochana replied: “None.”

Venerable Shanzhihui fell silent again.

Vairochana asked: “What about Guixu?”

Venerable Shanzhihui: “Still in seclusion, confirmed not participating this time.”

Vairochana became silent upon hearing this.

The premature convergence of the human realms had ultimately failed.

But Biluo might reopen.

This was not entirely good news for Venerable Shanzhihui and Kong Sang Buddhist Sect.

Compared to Venerable Puguang and Daoist Zhou Tian, Venerable Shanzhihui was more suspicious of Biluo and the former Heavenly Palace faction’s current situation.

If the human realms could not converge now but Biluo reopened, and if many from the former Heavenly Palace faction were truly numerous, they might try to occupy more of the nine heavens and ten lands.

If they did not join convergence, might Kong Sang become a target as well?

Currently, it might be an opportunity to regain Sumeru, but Venerable Shanzhihui was in poor health, and the whereabouts of several top Tang cultivation masters were unclear…

“Notify Shedila, Hasen, and others,” Venerable Shanzhihui said slowly. “Temporarily close the Kong Sang portal.”

Vairochana immediately formed a hand seal: “Yes, Venerable.”

Compared to Daoist Zhou Tian’s disappointment and Venerable Shanzhihui’s caution, Venerable Puguang was quite calm at this moment.

Calm yet resolute.

In the void, he sat quietly inside a purple-gold alms bowl, watching an ancient bell before him.

At this moment, Venerable Puguang struck the ancient bell with his own hand.

The bell vibrated, producing no sound.

Only ripples seemingly solidified spread outward.

When these ripples reached a certain range, they stopped and accumulated.

Gradually, extremely thick pillars of light formed, enveloping Venerable Puguang and the bell at the center.

As he struck the bell, Buddhist light surged around him, gradually condensing into a manifestation.

This manifestation appeared as a Taoist, with white hair and youthful face, wearing robes similar to the Pure Yang Palace’s traditional attire of the Dan Ding Sect’s sacred land.

It was the reappearance of Yan Keji, former Central Emperor of the Taoist Kingdom of Penglai in the human realm.

And now, this Taoist manifestation formed by Venerable Puguang was no longer at ninth heaven cultivation but beyond, a Dan Ding primordial spirit immortal of the Taoist tradition.

The Taoist form raised its hand and began alternating strikes with Venerable Puguang on the ancient bell.

The meaning and realm contained in the bell’s sound intertwined and began to change.

It combined Buddhist and Taoist dharma.

Thus, the huge pillar of light surrounding the bell spread through the void.

It seemed to lay out a brand-new path.

The path slowly extended, disappearing into the vast void,

Leading toward Penglai, one of the nine heavens.

Venerable Puguang did not choose to try to reclaim Saha, which he had previously occupied.

Though there were crucial magical rituals there,

The Great Tang cultivation world eyed that place covetously.

Penglai had long been like the backyard of the Great Tang Taoist Sect.

Venerable Puguang seemingly could no longer easily step foot there.

But having ascended to the celestial realm and achieved the Buddhist golden body, after years of contemplation and research, he finally had some new insights.

Especially now with Biluo’s reappearance and the presence of Heavenly Palace ruins in Penglai, the subtle interference from both sides gave Venerable Puguang a chance to reenter Penglai.

Unlike Venerable Shanzhihui, who had Kong Sang as a fallback, Venerable Puguang now needed to ensure gains first.

With possible premature convergence in the human realms attracting attention, the battle in Canghuan, Jia Xianting trying to take advantage of the confusion, and Biluo’s reopening with the former Heavenly Palace faction returning,

All this, whether successful or not, was a cover for his true intent now.

Although opening a path to Penglai from nothing required time, he had no choice but to try.

Unlike the nine lands such as Yellow Springs, Earth Sea, and Avici, Penglai among the nine heavens, even with traps, was not as dangerous as Yellow Springs.

At worst, like Daoist Zhou Tian, he would turn to the former Heavenly Palace faction.

Venerable Puguang did not wish to go that route.

His gaze was calm as he collected the purple-gold alms bowl in his hand, holding a nine-ringed staff, proceeding along the path formed by the ancient bell toward the distance.

At the same time, underground at Qingxing Mountain, Lei Jun, forcibly blocking the Earth Vein River to divert its flow, suddenly stirred mentally:

“Penglai? So it’s Venerable Puguang?”

He slightly nodded, a scattering spirit rod appearing in his hand.

It was the scattered spirit rod refined by Xu Yuanzhen.

The three-tiered magical platform under Lei Jun shimmered with purple, gold, and cyan light, remaining motionless.

He threw the scattering spirit rod into the Earth Vein spiritual energy river.

Though it could not immediately disperse the raging river, it slowed the “water” flow.

Affected by this, Lei Jun began actively guiding the river’s dispersal faster than before to save time.

After the spiritual energy river completely diverted, Lei Jun stood.

The void portals connecting the Ming human realm and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms human realm still allowed spiritual energy exchange.

Complete stabilization of related changes would take some time.

But the void domains from the Great Tang human realm at Guyun Plain and Da Xiao Mountain to the former Song human realm had stabilized and would not reopen.

The convergence signs between various human realms remained, mutual attraction continued, but far less urgent than before.

Forcible artificial changes were forcibly suppressed again.

The glowing three-tiered magical platform gradually faded.

Lei Jun carried the three treasures of the Celestial Master and left underground.

The scattering spirit rod had successfully bought him time.

Lei Jun floated toward Penglai.

He was received at the Sky-Watching Terrace in the Penglai Sea and did not need a special void portal, just like Li Hang and Shen Xi in earlier years.

Back then, Shen Xi, Li Hang, and others needed to consume talismans, but for Lei Jun now, it was effortless.

Lei Jun traveled through the void.

Although he had left the Ming human realm, he sensed that the spiritual energy exchanges between all human realms, including the recently weakened void portal from the Ming human realm to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms human realm, had fully restored to their previous state.

The premature convergence signs engineered by Thunderclap Monastery, Kong Sang Buddhist Sect, and Daoist Zhou Tian and his disciples completely disappeared.

The wind stopped.

From the summit of the Great Tang human realm’s Green Mountain, the wind from eighty-one years ago officially ceased.

At that moment, Lei Jun’s body and soul quietly underwent changes.

He remained calm.

Over the past two years, he had steadily traveled a unique path, going backward one year and forward one year.

With cultivation at the ninth heaven fifth level’s full completion, he passed through the Great Square, Saha, Yuqing Miluo Grotto-Heaven, the Two Jin human realms, Yellow Springs, former Song human realm, and then entered Luo Abyss.

Once inside Luo Abyss, Lei Jun himself began to change.

It was not because of Luo Abyss.

It was as if time flowed backward, and his Five Qi Converging into Profound Unity realm no longer existed.

His cultivation level seemed to have fallen back to the ninth heaven fourth level.

Lei Jun had no suspicion.

He calmly wandered between Luo Abyss, current Han human realm, and Taiqing Duren Grotto-Heaven.

When he left Taiqing Duren Grotto-Heaven and descended Mount Longhu in the Great Han, stepping down a stair caused his cultivation to drop to the ninth heaven third level.

He seemed unaware and continued calmly.

Leaving the current Han human realm, passing through Penglai, entering Earth Sea,

Upon entering Earth Sea, as if time reversed, his cultivation dropped again to the ninth heaven second level.

Leaving Earth Sea and passing Datong, Lei Jun revisited old places, his cultivation continuing to decline to the ninth heaven first level.

He was indifferent, returning to the Great Tang human realm, first through Luoyang, the imperial capital, then heading west.

Before reaching the former Great Tang Vajra Temple site, Lei Jun’s cultivation had fallen below the ninth heaven great vehicle realm to the eighth heaven fourth level.

Upon returning to the Tianshi Mansion, paying respects at the ancestral tomb in the back mountain, his cultivation dropped to the eighth heaven third level.

Leaving the mansion, traveling to the Snow Ridge in western Sichuan, beyond the East Sea, entering Guicang, then returning to the Great Tang human realm.

That day, his cultivation fell to the eighth heaven first level.

Then heading north to Jinzhou and Zezhou, stepping on the old lands of the Ye Clan in Jinzhou.

His cultivation fell to the seventh heaven realm.

Heading south to the Lin Clan’s ancestral land in Jiangzhou opposite Mount Longhu’s Xinzhou across the river.

Then returning to the Tianshi Mansion, crossing the great river, his cultivation fell to the sixth heaven realm, returning to the middle third heaven.

After a period of quiet cultivation in the mansion, his cultivation regressed to the fifth heaven realm.

Then his cultivation strength seemed to roll backward along the river of time, falling from the fifth heaven further to the fourth heaven, descending to the lower third heaven level.

Then the third heaven…

Second heaven…

First heaven.

Until one day, Lei Jun calmly returned near the Daoist Children’s Academy at the mountain foot.

Finally, he had no cultivation left.

Except that his body and mind remained youthful, not showing aging, like an ordinary mortal.

Lei Jun had long prepared for this, presetting spirit talismans and treasures, allowing the Taishang Eight Scenes Treasure Raincoat to function briefly.

He traveled long distances without fear, quietly returning to the original place and also the final place.

The green mountain where he first arrived in this world.

After burying the Tianshi Seal here, Lei Jun quietly sat cross-legged, eating dried rations and drinking mountain spring water like an ordinary person.

Though without spiritual energy, he still silently breathed and conserved his spirit.

Until the clear wind blew again.

At that moment, although without cultivation, Lei Jun felt the celestial gate above clearer than ever.

So he returned to Mount Longhu.

After a long journey and much time, Lei Jun was neither hurried nor anxious.

Arriving at the foot of the mountain near the Daoist Children’s Academy, his cultivation restored to the first level of Qi Refining’s twelve-level tower completion.

Ascending the mountain and entering the mansion, his cultivation returned to the second heaven foundation establishment stage.

Lei Jun remained as before, calm and patient, quietly cultivating.

No need to do anything else; all went naturally as before, meditating daily, adjusting breath, and conserving spirit.

Starting from the mortal stage, he spent the following year calmly.

The gap between immortals and mortals vanished before him.

With time, the third heaven magical platform, fourth heaven primal talisman, fifth heaven Taoist palace, sixth heaven Taoist seal formed one after another.

He left the mountain to the northern border’s Great Black Mountain, reaching the seventh heaven passable realm.

Returning from Jiangzhou, East Sea, and western Sichuan to the mountain, he entered the eighth heaven divine court realm.

After Guicang, Earth Sea, and Sumeru, heading south to the Great Tang southern sea’s Canglang Cliff, he ascended again to the ninth heaven great vehicle realm.

Later, passing Datong, current Han human realm, Penglai, Yellow Springs, the Two Jin human realms, and Saha, he finally reattained the ninth heaven fifth-level full completion realm of the Daoist talisman sect, the Five Qi Converging into Profound Unity.

His momentum was like riding the wave of creation, unstoppable as a flood.

Now, having completed the forward and backward paths, he returned before the celestial gate.

The heavenly moat calamity was a trial only he could cross; others could not help. Success or failure depended entirely on himself.

But today, Lei Jun was the only exception.

Without needing to push, the great gate had already opened.

The era’s torrent, the myriad human realms, helped him push open this celestial gate.

Or from another angle, it could be said that Venerable Puguang, Daoist Zhou Tian, and Venerable Shanzhihui pushed the gate open on his behalf.

Premature convergence of the human realms went against heaven and earth’s natural order.

Stopping its progress and returning to the correct path followed the natural way of heaven and earth.

The gate and the path were the same; not just water flowing into a channel, but fruit ripening and naturally falling from the stem.