https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-214-Lei-Daochang-was-Almost-in-Tears/12587010/
Chapter 215: A World as General Shangguan Desired
Chapter 215: A World as General Shangguan Desired
Gao Pu was no stranger to Yuan Mo Bai and his disciple, Lei Jun. Back in the Great Southern Mountain, this man had conspired with the Ye Clan from the north to ambush the master and disciple duo.
Gao Pu was renowned and famously known as the "Ghost King," second only to Zong Han of Jin Cheng Zhai in terms of strength.
However, the actual combat strength of the Ghost Path cultivators from the Wu Clan varied greatly, largely depending on the evil souls and corpses they commanded.
The reason Gao Pu was considered the second most powerful Ghost Path cultivator, second only to the Holy Master of Jin Cheng Zhai, was because over the years, he had accumulated numerous powerful evil souls and corpses, and he possessed the ability to control multiple formidable evil souls and corpses simultaneously in battle.
For cultivators of the Eighth Heaven Realm, facing Gao Pu would be extremely tricky if they didn't have a way to quickly threaten him.
Fortunately, thanks to a little help from Lei Jun, Gao Pu was sent to meet Wei Ancheng, the leader of the Blood River Sect, who had just emerged from his seclusion.
As a result, Gao Pu and his companions became Wei Ancheng's first targets after he attained the Ninth Heaven Realm.
The numerous evil souls and corpses that Gao Pu had painstakingly accumulated were all destroyed by Wei Ancheng.
Subsequently, Wei Ancheng pursued Gao Pu back to the Jin Cheng Zhai holy land, gathering the high-level cultivators of the Blood River Sect. Together, they crushed Jin Cheng Zhai, forcing Zong Han, Gao Pu, and the others to submit.
Now, Jin Cheng Zhai, led by Zong Han, was accompanying Wei Ancheng and the Blood River cultivators in attacking the Gu Technique holy land, Yin Shan Dong, engaging in a bloody battle with Yin Shan Dong, Ge Po Shan, and Reincarnation Abyss—a rare sight in South Huang in recent years.
However, whether it was Zong Han or Gao Pu, they were both unruly powerhouses of the South Huang Wu Clan.
Although they had temporarily submitted to Wei Ancheng and the Blood River Sect, they obviously had other plans.
The fact that Gao Pu was acting together with Yang Yuqi, the legitimate descendant of the Sui Dynasty, was quite intriguing.
The relationship between Wei Ancheng and the legitimate bloodline of the Sui Dynasty was rather delicate at the moment.
Unfortunately for Shangguan Peng, he had run into two Eighth Heaven Realm opponents.
Especially for Jin Cheng Zhai Elder Gao Pu, who was worried about the loss of many of his evil souls and corpses and was in urgent need of replenishment.
It was like a young bride encountering an old hungry wolf—a scene too cruel to imagine...
"So, is General Shangguan currently considered... missing?" Lei Jun asked.
Yuan Mo Bai's voice came through the Thousand Miles Sound-Transmitting Talisman: "Temporarily, yes. As far as I know, news has already reached the Tang Dynasty. With such an incident, I believe the capital will respond soon."
Shangguan Peng was a general who commanded a division of the Divine Strategy Army of the Tang Dynasty and was also a prominent figure among the younger generation of the Shangguan Clan. He was being groomed as a key successor for the future.
His disappearance in South Huang would surely not be taken lightly by either the imperial family or the Shangguan Clan.
Especially considering the possible involvement of the Ghost Path of the Wu Clan.
"Heavy Cloud, in these tumultuous times, remember to be cautious and vigilant in your words and actions," Yuan Mo Bai reminded Lei Jun once again.
"Please rest assured, Master. I understand," Lei Jun replied, his mind at ease.
He had also appeared in the Zhao Jiang River Basin, although it was a brief flash. He expected that it would eventually become a lead for the Shangguan Clan to investigate.
However, just as Shangguan Peng had planned earlier, the situation in South Huang at the moment was giving the Tang Dynasty people more pressing concerns.
After agreeing with Yuan Mo Bai to meet later in the Zhu An Jiang River Basin, Lei Jun ended the call.
The current environment was picturesque, with clear waters and lush mountains, brimming with spiritual energy.
Lei Jun once again set up his altar and carefully drew spiritual talismans.
After accumulating a certain number of talismans, Lei Jun dismantled his altar and returned to the area near Kong Liu Shan.
The flow of spiritual energy in Kong Liu Shan was no longer as chaotic and frenzied as before.
However, the deep valley in the earth still remained, and the earth veins' spiritual energy continued to fluctuate.
Lei Jun quietly descended into the underground rift valley and then threw down the specially crafted Thousand Miles Sound-Transmitting Talismans one by one.
These talismans shimmered with light in the rushing earth vein spiritual energy, like a flowing river, and were soon swept away and scattered out of sight.
Seeing this, Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction and then left.
After leaving the chaotic area of Kong Liu Shan, he repeated the same process, once again setting up the star chart-like diagram in the second layer of the True One Law Platform, showing the rough locations of the scattered talismans in the earth vein spiritual energy.
Although he already had the related information from Zhu An Jiang, Lei Jun still used his own methods to further gather intelligence and compare the two.
Some of the talismans scattered in the Star Dragon Abyss had been damaged, and some had drifted too far away to continue tracking their positions.
Lei Jun was now releasing the second wave of talismans in the Kong Liu Shan area.
While waiting for a response, Lei Jun returned to the first layer of the True One Law Platform from the second layer.
Then, he gently shook his Xi Rang Flag.
As the Xi Rang Flag unfurled, the scorching Che Chen, resembling molten lava, flowed out.
However, after being eroded by the spiritual power of the Xi Rang Flag for a long time, this Che Chen had lost its former fierceness and was now being nurtured by the flag's spiritual power.
After detaching from the Xi Rang Flag, the Che Chen beads, upon contact with the air, began to cool and solidify.
The fiery streams converged and gradually condensed into a peculiar spirit stone resembling an eyeball. It was pitch-black and perfectly round, its spiritual essence deeply hidden within.
Lei Jun remained calm and collected as he waved his hand in the air.
In response, azure flames rose and enveloped the spherical, ebony-like stone in the first layer of the True One Law Platform.
Soon, as if a person were waking up, the stone began to radiate a brilliant light, emitting a scorching aura.
"However, it shouldn't be frequently altered in this manner, or its spiritual essence will be wasted," Lei Jun remarked after observing for a moment, having already deduced as much.
As he continued to refine the Tian Yan Chi Chen with the Nine Abyss True Fire within the Law Platform, he also took out the Guang Fa Spirit Crystal that had been gifted to him by Ji Chuan of the Shu Mountain Sect.
The Nine Abyss True Fire was excellent for pill and artifact refining, offering additional convenience.
The Guang Fa Spirit Crystal, when used to summon the Guang Fa mist, provided similar benefits and aided cultivators in artifact refinement.
Combining these two, the Tian Yan Chi Chen once again shone like a blazing star.
With the convergence of spiritual power, a illusory heavenly eye took form within the first layer of the True One Law Platform, overlooking the heavens and observing all directions.
Lei Jun closed his eyes in contemplation, his consciousness connecting with the illusory giant eye as he continuously refined it.
He then took out his Divine Eye Mirror Stone and threw it into the blazing star.
The star erupted with a dazzling light, even brighter than before.
Lei Jun stood up, treading on the stars, and began to circle the star.
As he chanted, his fingers drew flashing spiritual talismans in the air.
These talismans whirled around the blazing star and then, in a rhythmic and lyrical fashion, were sequentially thrown into it.
Shimmering runes and profound principles began to emerge within the blazing star.
Lei Jun tirelessly refined this artifact for several days.
Finally, while the star's radiance remained undiminished, it began to exude a gentle warmth.
Although the heavenly eye formed by the convergence of spiritual power could observe all directions, it was suspended high in the sky and was equally conspicuous, easily detectable by others.
Now, as Lei Jun continuously refined and nurtured it, the illusory heavenly eye gradually began to hide itself in the air, as if disappearing from view.
However, Lei Jun's vision remained connected to it, still capable of perceiving and observing the surrounding vast expanse.
"Good, this is the initial realization of my idea." Lei Jun, who had been circling nonstop, suddenly stopped.
Above his head, spiritual power converged to form a giant Dao imprint.
The imprint descended and stamped itself onto the flashing star.
As the imprint landed, the star's radiance dimmed, completely transforming into an ancient mirror.
The mirror bore the mark of the Dao imprint, which flashed and then vanished, as the mirror's radiance became even more subdued, as if it had received its final confirmation.
The Dao imprint rose back to Lei Jun's head and then dispersed into black and white Yin-Yang qi, returning to his body.
Lei Jun gestured, and the mirror descended in front of him.
"For now, let's call it the Heavenly Eye Mirror," Lei Jun said, nodding slightly as he examined the artifact forged from the Divine Eye Mirror Stone and the Tian Yan Chi Chen.
He carried the Heavenly Eye Mirror and left the True One Law Platform's cave abode, returning to the real world.
Standing amidst the mountains, Lei Jun looked around and then tapped his Heavenly Eye Mirror.
The mirror's surface rippled gently like water waves and then calmed.
However, the scene reflected in the mirror was now different.
The artifact's spiritual essence soared, but it was much more low-key than when it was the Tian Yan Chi Chen.
In the sky above, a giant heavenly eye seemed to appear but remained hidden in the air.
In an instant, Lei Jun's consciousness connected with the heavenly eye, granting him a panoramic view of his surroundings, with almost no blind spots. Moreover, the range far exceeded his current perception limits.
When Lei Jun focused his attention on a specific direction, area, or even a single point, the observation distance and clarity improved even further.
At such times, the scene would be clearly reflected on the mirror's surface.
In terms of distance and clarity, it far surpassed the original Divine Eye Mirror Stone.
"Hmm, with the Yuan Magnet Sword Pill, it's now even easier to lock onto targets."
Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction.
He had discussed and sought guidance on this matter with his master, Yuan Mo Bai.
In terms of pure visual power, the Heavenly Eye Mirror's range and precision were comparable to those of some Seventh Heaven Realm cultivators.
After conducting a few more related tests, Lei Jun put away the Heavenly Eye Mirror and returned to the True One Law Platform's cave abode.
In the second layer of the Law Platform, he observed the star chart-like diagram.
Just like the previous time, many of the light spots on the diagram had disappeared, leaving less than half.
Some of the spots were still moving.
A few spots, however, had stopped moving and were only trembling within a small range.
Lei Jun recalled the rough terrain map of Nan Huang and, after comparing it, confirmed that the area was indeed the Zhu An Jiang River Basin.
It seemed that there really might be an abnormal shift in the earth veins here, possibly a node where the Sui Dynasty descendants could alter the earth veins and establish a new country.
Under the rule of the Wu Men Shen Wu lineage's holy land, Ge Po Mountain, there were people related to the Sui Dynasty descendants.
Or perhaps they were the descendants of the Sui Dynasty themselves, sent by the family to infiltrate Ge Po Mountain?
Lei Jun pondered as he left the True One Law Platform's cave abode, setting out for the Zhu An Jiang River Basin.
Along the way, the glowing ball in his mind didn't give any more signs of seeking good fortune and avoiding calamity.
As usual, Lei Jun habitually concealed his tracks as he traveled, his curiosity piqued.
By awakening the Heavenly Master Seal, Lei Jun could hide himself within the True One Law Platform's cave abode, greatly enhancing his safety during his journey.
However, it wasn't a guarantee against all dangers.
The two previous signs of seeking good fortune and avoiding calamity were proof of that.
However, among Eighth Heaven Realm cultivators, while Blood River Sect Elder Xiong Gang had drawn the lucky sign twice, both Sheng Kang Crown Prince Yang Yuqi and Jin Cheng Zhai Elder Gao Pu had drawn the unlucky sign.
The difference lay in whether Yang Yuqi and Gao Pu, the two Eighth Heaven Realm powerhouses, were traveling together.
Lei Jun had a different opinion.
As he couldn't completely refine and control the Heavenly Master Seal yet, he didn't rely on it to fight or confront his enemies. Instead, he used the True One Law Platform's cave abode to hide his tracks and evade stronger foes.
Currently, it seemed that Seventh Heaven Realm opponents had almost no chance of seeing through this trick.
However, Eighth Heaven Realm experts might pose a risk.
Given that the focus was on divination rather than direct confrontation, aside from the number of Eighth Heaven Realm experts, Lei Jun guessed that the risk was more likely related to their Taoist traditions.
The Blood River Sect's cultivation focused on sensing the vitality of creatures and sanguine murderous aura, but Lei Jun had directly hidden himself within the True One Law Platform's cave abode, making it difficult for them to sense the changes in the void and the Heavenly Master Seal itself.
On the other hand, Crown Prince Yang Yuqi of Sheng Kang was an Eighth Heaven Realm Confucian expert, with a stronger perception in this aspect compared to Blood River Sect Elder Xiong Gang of the same realm.
Therefore, in the same situation, his perception and ability to target the True One Law Platform's cave abode while lying in wait posed a greater threat.
In addition, unlike the Sixth and Seventh Heaven Realms, which had no internal layers, the Eighth Heaven Realm often had subtle variations between its minor realms.
Among Eighth Heaven Realm cultivators, Yang Yuqi's specific cultivation level might be even more profound than Xiong Gang's... Lei Jun speculated.
Unfortunately, with insufficient information, the only person from the Tang Dynasty who had interacted with Crown Prince Yang Yuqi was Shangguan Peng.
A few days later, Lei Jun arrived near the Zhu An Jiang River Basin.
The area seemed peaceful at the moment.
As expected, the holy land of the Wu Men Shen Wu lineage, Ge Po Mountain, which ruled over this area, was indeed the most peaceful region in Nan Huang.
Although Ge Po Mountain was currently at war with the Blood River Sect and Jin Cheng Zhai, the rear area near Zhu An Jiang remained calm.
Even in this tranquility, undercurrents were stirring.
"Externally relaxed, internally tense. It's obviously unusual," said Yuan Mo Bai, who had arrived earlier and had been observing for some time. He, too, hadn't made any hasty moves, quietly waiting instead.
After reuniting with Lei Jun, he glanced at his disciple and smiled. "The latest news is that the Great General has personally left the capital and headed south to Nan Huang."
The Great General was none other than Shangguan Yunbo, the current head of the Shangguan Clan and the Great General of the Divine Strategy Army of the Tang Dynasty, a renowned martial arts expert in the world.
As an Eighth Heaven Realm martial arts master, he could go anywhere in the world, and in Nan Huang, only Blood River Sect Leader Wei Ancheng posed a threat to him.
Therefore...
"The Great General also brought the Pacifying Bandit Golden Spear with him on this trip," Yuan Mo Bai added.
Lei Jun sincerely said, "General Shangguan Peng can rest in peace now. He has witnessed the prosperous age he wished for!"
If something happened to Lei Jun and Yuan Mo Bai, Tang Xiaotang would surely be unable to contain herself.
She was incredibly talented, but as a newcomer to the Eighth Heaven Realm, she would need the help of the Heavenly Master Sword to face a Ninth Heaven Realm opponent like Wei Ancheng.
The same was true for Great General Shangguan Yunbo and the Pacifying Bandit Golden Spear.
The combination of an Eighth Heaven Realm martial arts master and a renowned martial arts divine weapon matched Shangguan Peng's expectations, although there were some differences in the specific individuals involved. But surely, General Shangguan, with his loyalty and dedication to the country, wouldn't mind these minor details...
"There's also some not-so-good news," Yuan Mo Bai said, his smile fading as he looked at his disciple, his expression turning solemn. "The sect received a letter. A few days ago, Lin Che returned to the Lin Clan's ancestral land in Jiangzhou."
Upon hearing this, Lei Jun raised his eyebrows slightly.
Lin Che was the current clan head of the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou. Six years ago, at the conclusion of the battle in Poyang Marsh, he had disappeared along with Xu Yuanzhen, their whereabouts unknown and shrouded in mystery until now.
(End of Chapter)
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