https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-149-New-Cultivation-New-Discoveries/12586578/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-151-150-The-Heavenly-Tome-s-Opportunity-Expansion/12586580/
Chapter 150: We Have No Casualties, But We Will Fight Back
Chapter 150: We Have No Casualties, But We Will Fight Back
"The Vermilion Brush has already become your magical artifact. If you wish to reforge it, no one will stop you."
Master Yuan Mubai smiled and nodded in agreement with Lei Jun's idea. "To receive assistance from the true meaning of the Nine Abyss Earthfire of the True One Law Altar is indeed a great blessing."
Even among the disciples of the Celestial Masters' Mansion, those who could obtain the Fire Law Earth Script Talisman were extremely rare.
Therefore, those who could use the Nine Abyss Earthfire to refine artifacts and treasures were also very few.
Of course, just as there were other Heavenly Thunder techniques below the Thunder Law Heavenly Script Talisman, such as the Five Thunders Righteous Spell Talisman and the Thundering Might Talisman, there were also other Earthfire techniques below the Fire Law Earth Script Talisman for cultivators of the middle Three Heavens realm to practice.
In addition to its fierce offensive capabilities, the Fire Law was also renowned for its usefulness in pill refining and artifact crafting, which led to a large number of practitioners.
However, when it came to effectiveness, no other spiritual fire could compare to the Nine Abyss Earthfire produced by the Fire Law Earth Script Talisman.
At the moment, Lei Jun could utilize the Celestial Master Seal within his divine soul and the True One Law Altar to draw out a small amount of the essence of the Nine Abyss Earthfire to aid him in artifact crafting and pill refining.
When he had first obtained the Vermilion Brush, Master Yuan Mubai had not attempted to reforge it but had instead given it directly to Lei Jun, waiting for the day when Lei Jun's cultivation base improved and he could refine the treasure himself.
In this way, the newly reborn Vermilion Brush would completely erase all traces of Yuan Mubai and become a true reflection of Lei Jun's soul.
Of course, Lei Jun also had the option to start from scratch and forge his own artifact.
However, he was not particularly fastidious about such matters, and the Talisman Faction of the Daoist School, to which he belonged, differed from the Artifact Refining Faction in that they did not obsess over the concept of a "destined artifact."
Thus, Lei Jun followed his heart's desire and decided to modify the Vermilion Brush that his master had bestowed upon him.
Yuan Mubai immediately began instructing him in the finer points of high-level artifact crafting.
When the Artifact Refining Faction of the Daoist School crafted artifacts, they sought to infuse their divine souls, thoughts, flesh, and blood into the artifacts, striving for the closest possible connection between the artifact and its user, ideally making them inseparable.
In the initial stages, the artifact became an extension of the user's divine soul and body, responding to their every command.
In the middle and later stages, the artifact would replace and fuse with the user's entire physical shell, completely shedding their mortal coil.
The Talisman Faction's approach to artifact crafting focused more on establishing a connection.
The emphasis was not on the artifact itself but on the cultivator's link to the natural world.
The artifacts of Talisman Faction cultivators often served as bridges.
This was especially true for talismans, brushes, and inkstones.
Drawing inspiration from the laws of heaven and earth and emulating the ways of nature.
Until, ultimately, I become one with the heavens and earth, indistinguishable from each other, returning to the Dao, and merging with the divine.
In the middle and later stages, artifacts and treasures often became a part of the Talisman Faction cultivators' journey to comprehend and communicate with the heavens and earth.
They blended into both the real world and their own spiritual realm.
Therefore, in terms of the refinement technique, the process of Talisman Faction cultivators refining artifacts was similar to the process of constructing their own altars, halls, and palaces during their cultivation.
Using Lei Jun's pre-transmigration understanding as an analogy, the Artifact Refining Faction's approach to artifact crafting was like creating mechanical exoskeletons for themselves, striving for both intricacy and biomimicry.
On the other hand, his own sect, the Celestial Masters' Mansion of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, was more akin to pure mechanical engineering, and their products were relatively purer.
During the refinement process, talisman seals and spiritual powers were combined to form the artifact's restrictions, intricately and precisely inscribed within the artifact.
The entire process was delicate and complex, requiring the cultivator to focus their attention and carefully sculpt the artifact.
Sometimes, a single mistake in inscribing a spiritual power restriction could result in the waste of all the materials.
Lei Jun listened to Master Yuan Mubai's lecture without immediately attempting to apply it to the Vermilion Brush.
Instead, he first went to the mansion's treasure pavilion and retrieved a batch of lower-level Pitch-black Brushes and Azure Brushes.
Lei Jun planned to use these brushes to practice his artifact crafting skills before attempting to reforge the Vermilion Brush.
Regarding the reforging of the Vermilion Brush, Lei Jun needed to carefully consider how to improve its quality and what new materials to incorporate, requiring both thoughtful planning and gradual experimentation.
He relished the process.
Although he had not yet produced any remarkable results, Lei, whose ideas often diverged from those of most people in this world, had already begun to wonder: Could this personal artifact crafting process be transformed into a large-scale production line with division of labor, where each person is responsible for a specific step?
Ahem, that thought was a bit too far-fetched... Lei Jun quickly reined in his wandering thoughts and refocused his attention on the present.
He decided to first master the intricacies of artifact crafting himself before considering other possibilities.
In the following days, Lei Jun remained in the ancestral court of the mountain gate.
While continuing his cultivation and steadily improving his realm, he also studied the first layer of the True One Law Altar to understand how it could assist in artifact crafting and pill refining.
Although he did not seek attention, his rapid advancement in realm could not be hidden from the numerous disciples within and outside the mansion.
Taking some time to consolidate his gains was not a bad idea.
Perhaps some observant individuals would continue to monitor him discreetly, but in this turbulent era, new developments emerged daily.
As time passed, some matters would naturally lose their heat.
Moreover, Lei Jun believed that the previous battle near Tian Song Mountain might still arouse speculation among some members of the mansion.
It would be best to let this matter cool down as well.
Of course, this was the ideal scenario.
As for reality...
"Due to the battle in Poyang Marsh, your reputation, Heavy Cloud, has once again resounded." Master Yuan Mubai said with a smile.
Lei Jun replied, "I do not wish to be a firefly in the night, illuminating only myself."
Poyang Marsh, located between Xinzhou and Jiangzhou, was abundant in resources and surrounded by fertile land and a large population.
The area had always been a focal point of contention between the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou and Dragon Tiger Mountain of Xinzhou, with a history of skirmishes and truces spanning nearly a millennium.
Most of the time, to preserve the abundant resources of the marsh and the fertile fields by its lakeside, neither side would easily engage in open warfare near the marshlands.
However, there was still a possibility that this place could become a frontline.
This time, the two sides rekindled their conflict.
The Lin Clan's ambush on the disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion not only failed to kill Zhang Jingzhen outright but also resulted in significant losses for their own clan, including several outstanding young members.
Two of the Lin elders, Lin Chi and another, were also injured, though not to the extent of damaging their bones or tendons. Nonetheless, the losses were painful, exceeding those of Lin Liao and the others in the previous encounter.
The Lin Clan was not about to let the matter rest.
Just a few years after achieving peace, the two influential forces, a prominent family, and a sacred site, were once again locked in battle.
Although the Lin Clan had just elected a new clan leader and was facing internal instability, the presence of a common enemy seemed to unite them.
Lei Jun even speculated that the one strongly pushing for this conflict was none other than the new Lin Clan leader.
Of course, the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou couldn't openly admit that they were retaliating out of embarrassment after their failed ambush. Instead, they raised a banner, which, in Lei Jun's opinion, was quite sensationalist in nature:
"Dragon Tiger Mountain's Celestial Master's Mansion harbors filth and accepts bribes, secretly colluding with the great demon, the Two Extremes Sky Eagle, to plot against Lin Chi and the others, who are of the same human race."
"Such scum among the human cultivation world should be eradicated by all righteous people!"
However, despite their bold proclamation, according to Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun, and others' observations, the Lin Clan's actions were more bark than bite at this stage.
Although the battle took place within the scope of Poyang Marsh, the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou did not mobilize their entire force, and the conflict was contained within a small area.
The number of high-level cultivators engaged in the battle was also relatively limited, mostly consisting of lower and middle Three Heavens cultivators, with a few upper Three Heavens cultivators holding the fort.
For now, the Celestial Master's Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain had no intention of escalating the conflict either.
On one hand, many of their powerful cultivators were absent, having ventured out.
On the other hand, many people's attention was now focused on the lost Celestial Master's Sword and the Celestial Master's Seal...
Or, to be blunt, many of their hearts were preoccupied with internal matters within their own sect.
As a result, while the battle of Poyang Marsh seemed lively, it was more akin to a training exercise, with both sides tacitly agreeing to keep the conflict under control.
As for Lei Jun, the reason his name was associated with the marshlands despite him remaining in the mountains was due to...
The emergence of several brand-new foundational spirit talismans unique to the Celestial Master's Mansion, which shone brilliantly during the clash between the lower Three Heavens cultivators of the two sides.
Although they had the drawback of consuming a large amount of spiritual power, the sight of a group of Celestial Master's Mansion disciples simultaneously unleashing the Chain Burst Flame Talisman caught the Lin Clan disciples off guard, burning them and sending them scattering in all directions.
The effect was even more pronounced when multiple people cast the Chain Burst Flame Talisman together.
As the disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion celebrated their triumph, Lei Jun's name once again resounded, this time within their own camp, if not the Lin Clan's.
That is, until someone even more noteworthy returned to the mountain, drawing away much of the attention that had been focused on Lei Jun.
The eldest senior sister, Xu Yuanzhen, who had been away from the mountain for a long time, finally returned.
"This time, I'll be staying on the mountain for a while," Xu Yuanzhen announced as she casually tossed a large stone pillar into the air.
Despite its immense size and weight, the pillar hung suspended in mid-air.
Lei Jun's gaze fell upon the surface of the pillar, where he noticed what appeared to be a sword mark.
"Could this be left by the Celestial Master's Sword?" Lei Jun wondered aloud.
"Use the Myriad Laws Altar to offer sacrifices to the heavens and the earth, and I shall sort out the clues related to this sword mark," Xu Yuanzhen instructed, her voice carrying a hint of command.
"Master is in the High Achievement Pavilion," Lei Jun informed her.
"Mhm, I'll go see him," she replied, her eyes scanning the area and landing on the massive Rolling Beast.
Usually lazy and slothful, the beast actually shrank its neck slightly under the gaze of the petite purple-robed woman.
"How much do you know about Little Uncle's affairs?" Xu Yuanzhen retracted her gaze from the beast and turned to Lei Jun.
"I know some of Master's past in Bashu," Lei Jun replied.
Recalling the conversation between Yuan Mobai and Xu Yuanzhen regarding the succession of the Celestial Master, it was clear that Xu Yuanzhen was aware of Yuan Mobai's background.
Sure enough, a smile played at the corners of her lips as her eyes returned to the Rolling Beast, "What was Little Uncle's expression when he saw this beast?"
Lei Jun silently took out several sheets of paper.
Some were from the time in Bashu with Ji Chuan and the others, while others were from when Yuan Mobai first met the beast.
"Excellent," Xu Yuanzhen said with great satisfaction as she collected the stack of "expression packets," "I like them."
As she put them away, she casually asked, "By the way, I heard that we're fighting with the Lin Clan again?"
Lei Jun proceeded to give her a brief overview of what had transpired.
Xu Yuanzhen's voice was cold and her speech rapid, like raindrops on a jade plate, as she commented, "Both sides are more concerned with their internal affairs.
The previous incident with Li Zhenchang and the others was likely unrelated to the Lin Clan. Third Uncle was just using it as an excuse.
As for Zhang Jingzhen, my relationship with her is superficial at best, but our sect cannot tolerate the Lin Clan's repeated provocations.
When you, Lei Jun, returned from refining your Yin in the Red Abyss Cave Heaven, the Lin family attacked our sect's disciples. This is at least the second time, isn't it?"
Lei Jun nodded.
"I'll deal with this sword mark first, and when I have the time, I'll make a trip to Jiangzhou," Xu Yuanzhen declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Lei Jun looked at her, his gaze steady.
A slight smirk played at the corners of her mouth as she continued, "Even if we didn't suffer any casualties, we will still retaliate."
PS: Third update of the day, we've reached 10,000 words with these three updates! Let's continue our efforts tomorrow!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
