https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-224-No-One-Gets-Handouts-from-Lei-Daoist/12587020/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-226-The-Great-Tang-Dynasty-s-Crown-Prince/12587022/
Chapter 225: Master's Connections and... the Bear Vein?
Chapter 225: Master's Connections and... the Bear Vein?
The Blood Sea counterattacked towards Yang Yuqi and Yuan Shanji. Without dodging, the Crown Prince Sheng Kang, Yang Yuqi, used his own sword qi and thunder to disperse the layers of the Blood Sea.
With the void sealed by the two experts from Ge Po Mountain, Yuan Shanji needed to create a disturbance and find an opening for them to escape together.
Unlike Yang Yuqi, who was headstrong in battle, Feng Gui controlled the Blood Sea to restrain his opponent. Three of his hairs seemed to come alive, standing up on their own before intertwining and tangling in mid-air, forming a single strand, and then igniting.
Thus, another trail of blue smoke rose.
The blue smoke seemed to burn aimlessly.
But from the void, a person's angry roar could be heard.
A shadow appeared and quickly turned red, as if an invisible person was bleeding.
The roar came from Elder Xiong Gang of the Blood River.
Although he mainly practiced the bloody and fierce Blade technique, as an elder of the Eightfold Heaven Realm in the Blood River, Xiong Gang also had the means to cheat death and achieve rebirth.
But now, he was exposed by Feng Gui, the leader of the Wu Clan's Curse-Chanting lineage.
As soon as the blood shadow appeared, it was instantly scorched by the sunlight of Jiuge Dongjun, evaporating under the intense rays.
This elder of the Blood River, who had reached the Eightfold Heaven Realm, had suffered heavy injuries from the combined efforts of Shushan, Reincarnation Abyss, and Ge Po Mountain experts. Finally, he perished, becoming the first casualty of this battle, fulfilling his own words—those who kill will be killed.
However, just at that moment, the once scorching sun dimmed slightly.
The world was covered in a bloody hue.
Ge Po Mountain's sect master, Sang Lu, remained silent, while Li Tianqing exclaimed, "Holy Master!"
Almost simultaneously, the master of the Blood River, Wei Ancheng, and Shangguan Yunbo both grunted in response.
The bloody sky above seemed to be torn apart.
But Jiuge Dongjun's array was also cracked.
Although Lei Jun, who was far away, couldn't see the details, he could tell that despite the deaths and control of the two elders of the Blood River, Xiong Gang and Lian Ran, Wei Ancheng's heart remained unwavering.
He withstood the pressure from Shangguan Yunbo and the future Maitreya, forcibly breaking through the seal that Ge Po Mountain had placed on the void.
At the same time, Shangguan Yunbo also struck with the Exterminating Gold Pole, heavily injuring Wei Ancheng.
In Lei Jun's vision, Wei Ancheng's body seemed to shatter into countless blood shadows, floating in mid-air.
Hui Yin's white light peacock flew by, erasing some of the blood shadows, but the peacock itself turned red and then disintegrated into pus and blood in mid-air.
The remaining blood shadows regrouped to reform Wei Ancheng's body.
At the same time, with a muffled grunt, Shangguan Yunbo's body staggered backward. The golden glow on the surface of the Exterminating Gold Pole in his hand finally faded, leaving a layer of blood-red on its surface.
Taking advantage of the opening created by Wei Ancheng's break from Sang Lu and Li Tianqing's array, Yuan Shanji quickly deployed his own array, holding the rift in the void, and escaped with Wei Ancheng and Yang Yuqi.
However, just then, Yang Yuqi suddenly felt his mind fall into a daze, as if his sea of consciousness had suddenly plunged from day into night.
'Nightmare Descent' from the Reincarnation Abyss! But it wasn't from the Holy Master of Reincarnation Abyss, Feng Gui, but from another Great Witch of the Curse-Chanting lineage.
"...Sun Li."
Without hesitation, Yang Yuqi summoned the fragmented jade seal, which appeared above his head, emitting a brilliant light that dispelled the 'Nightmare Descent' invading his spiritual soul.
The rolling sword qi and thunderous sounds unfolded, just in time to block the onslaught of the other experts.
Shangguan Yunbo, disregarding his own injuries, rushed forward with the Exterminating Gold Pole in hand. In his other hand, a long spear appeared, its tip aimed at Yang Yuqi.
Knowing that the opportunity to escape was fleeting, Yang Yuqi didn't dare to linger and fled at full speed.
The fragmented jade seal above his head served as protection, but it was knocked away by Shangguan Yunbo's spear, and Yang Yuqi also injured Shangguan Yunbo with his sword qi.
Yang Yuqi had no time to lament the loss of the jade seal as he fled into the distance.
The clouds and mist scattered in an instant.
Only Lian Ran remained, restrained by Feng Gui, unable to escape.
Feng Gui didn't pursue the injured Wei Ancheng, Yuan Shanji, and Yang Yuqi. Instead, he firmly held Lian Ran, who had been constantly struggling and resisting.
Today, the Blood River lineage would lose at least two elders of the Eightfold Heaven Realm.
Feng Gui didn't say much. He just glanced into the distance.
Elder Sun Li, who also came from the Reincarnation Abyss, had attacked Yang Yuqi and then disappeared without a trace.
Originally, Sun Li was supposed to be Yang Yuqi's ally, secretly working against the Reincarnation Abyss from within.
But after Yuan Shanji, Xiong Gang, and Yang Tai's intervention in Zhu An Gorge, Sun Li had now turned against Yang Yuqi himself.
The battle, centered on Mending Dragon Lake, came to an end.
Outside, the Great Tang Shence Army and the other members of the South Wasteland Wu Clan intensified their slaughter of the Blood River experts and the remnants of the Sui Dynasty.
"I shall go and lend a hand to my friend," Yuan Mo Bai said with a smile.
Lei Jun casually followed alongside him.
He had now fully switched to a spectator's mindset.
Through this encounter, he also learned the identity of his master's friend.
Elder Sun Li of the Reincarnation Abyss fixed his gaze on Crown Prince Sheng Kang, Yang Yuqi.
Having betrayed them, Yang Yuqi naturally held deep grudges towards Sun Li. However, given the current situation, he wouldn't dwell on it. Instead, he took advantage of the fact that most people's attention was on Wei Ancheng and quickly departed from the area.
He was even willing to leave some additional benefits for Sun Li to pick up, regardless of the cost.
Previously, when Sun Li was at Zhu An Gorge, he had been focused on collecting and refining the changes brought about by the Earth Vein sacrifice of Zhu Anjiang. As a result, he let Yang Tai escape.
To be precise, he let the Dragon-Spotting Orb, which was with Yang Tai, get away.
This time, he reclaimed the treasure from Yang Tai's father, Yang Yuqi.
Yang Yuqi was no pushover, and although he had lost the jade seal, he hadn't sustained any serious injuries himself. Thus, Sun Li and Yuan Mo Bai didn't pursue them further and left after obtaining the Dragon-Spotting Orb.
Although there was the potential for future troubles due to letting Yang Tai go, the Southern Wasteland was currently in a state of chaos and wouldn't immediately calm down just because the Blood River had suffered a setback. So, Sun Li had to remain vigilant and prioritize ensuring his own safety first.
"You've worked hard, Mo Bai," Sun Li said with a smile.
This elder from the Reincarnation Abyss wore traditional Southern Wasteland clothing and appeared to be in his forties or fifties. His skin was tanned, but his eyes shone brightly, revealing his handsome features. However, his unkempt beard and disheveled appearance gave him a somewhat disreputable look.
He had successfully fished in muddy waters, and the process had been smooth, with satisfactory results.
However, he had also incurred the enmity of the direct descendants of the Sui Dynasty and exposed himself in the process.
Yuan Mo Bai, who had assisted him, might also be implicated due to their association.
"Brother, there's no need to be so polite. We're all helping each other out. You've helped me a lot in the past," Yuan Mo Bai said calmly.
He smiled and introduced Lei Jun to Sun Li, "Brother, this is my disciple, Lei Jun. I brought him along today, so please forgive me for any impoliteness."
Sun Li laughed, "How could I blame you? He must be one of your few personal disciples and someone you trust deeply."
Lei Jun bowed, "Senior."
Sun Li smiled, "A hero emerges at a young age. Your reputation in the Southern Wasteland has also been ringing in my ears lately."
Lei Jun humbly replied, "It's all thanks to the reputation of my sect and the teachings of my master."
After exchanging a few more words, Sun Li said, "Wei Ancheng is still alive. Jin Chengzhai and Yin Shangu are also waiting for news. The Southern Wasteland will remain chaotic for a while, so if you have no other business here, it's best to return north as soon as possible."
He, Sun Li, also intended to lie low for a while to digest his gains from this trip.
"My disciple and I were just thinking the same," Yuan Mo Bai said. "Brother, please take care."
Sun Li nodded, "You too."
His figure seemed to transform into a wisp of blue smoke and disappeared from the spot.
Lei Jun and his master also took their leave.
"Master, is that senior also...?"
Lei Jun made a circular gesture with his hands, as if outlining the shape of a round and plump animal.
"...?" Most of the time, Yuan Mo Bai remained unmoved by such topics, but at this moment, he was left speechless.
Watching Lei Jun's gestures, he pointed at him and said, "Unfilial disciple."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
Lei Jun stroked his chin and followed silently.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.
"Could Master's connections... at least some of them, be related to the Bear Vein?" he wondered silently.
Without saying a word, Yuan Mo Bai could tell what his usually reliable but occasionally unpredictable disciple was thinking.
"Rid yourself of such absurd thoughts," Yuan Mo Bai shook his head.
Lei Jun coughed dryly and straightened his expression, "Yes, master. I will heed your teachings."
Yuan Mo Bai changed the subject, "We need to inform General Shangguan and General Xiao. Also, there's the matter with Shushan."
Although he had assisted Sun Li in hindering Yang Yuqi, thereby incurring some karmic consequences, Yuan Mo Bai had also represented the Celestial Masters' Mansion in the battle at Mending Dragon Lake and thus fulfilled his obligation to the Tang court.
In this battle, the main force of the Tang Dynasty had been General Shangguan Yunbo, who had fought valiantly against both Wei Ancheng and Yang Yuqi. He had also sustained the most severe injuries.
Now that Wei Ancheng had fled, General Shangguan Yunbo no longer had the strength to pursue him, and his Exterminating Gold Pole was covered in bloodstains.
General Xiao Xuelin bid farewell to Lei Jun and his master, asking them to help escort General Shangguan Yunbo back to the Tang Dynasty.
Although General Shangguan Yunbo was heavily injured, his achievements in the battle were remarkable. He had also wounded Wei Ancheng with his Exterminating Gold Pole, and now Wei Ancheng was being pursued by the future Maitreya, who was carrying the Nine-Rank White Jade Lotus Platform, and Xu Duan, a Shushan elder.
Yang Yuqi managed to escape, but he had lost the fragmented jade seal.
Although the seal was incomplete, it held extraordinary significance as it was once a treasure of the Sui Dynasty Emperor. It now served as one of the symbols of the direct descendants of the Sui Dynasty.
By letting go of the seal, Yang Yuqi had secured an opportunity to escape, but in terms of both substance and face, he had suffered a significant loss. From a practical standpoint, losing this treasure would hinder not only his own future cultivation but also that of his entire lineage. Moreover, from a reputational standpoint, he had lost face.
Lei Jun, Yuan Mo Bai, Shangguan Yunbo, and Dang Kou Jin'ge, along with the fragmented jade seal, left the Southern Wasteland and headed north back to the Tang Dynasty.
Even before they reached the borders of the Tang Dynasty, a second batch of high-level Tang court officials arrived to take over.
Lei Jun and his master had no intention of returning to the Southern Wasteland, and they left the rest of the matters to others.
"It's a pity that we weren't able to achieve complete success in this battle, but it's still a difficult feat," Shangguan Yunbo sighed.
Lei Jun and his master agreed with this point.
Yuan Mo Bai spoke up, "General, you were the pillar that held us steady in this battle."
These words were not flattery; it was crucial to have someone who could withstand Wei Ancheng's pressure head-on.
After some recuperation, Shangguan Yunbo's appearance seemed relatively normal, with no visible injuries. However, the scorching aura that had once rivaled the morning star had faded, indicating that this eighth-level martial arts master was still in a weakened state.
"You're too kind, Yuan. I did my best, but if not for other reasons, the outcome of this battle would have been different," Shangguan Yunbo said, his expression solemn rather than proud.
Lei Jun and Yuan Mo Bai nodded slightly.
Many conditions had come together to bring about the current outcome of the battle.
Shangguan Yunbo, with the Dang Kou Jin'ge, withstood Wei Ancheng's pressure.
Feng Gui, the Holy Master of Reincarnation Abyss, arrived earlier than expected and turned the tide.
The two experts from Ge Po Mountain set up a sacrificial array to seal the void, restricting the Blood River experts' movements.
Xu Duan, an elder from Shushan, arrived just in time.
Even Sun Li, an elder from the Reincarnation Abyss, took advantage of the situation.
But these were just the basics and not the decisive factors that turned the tide of the battle.
In Shangguan Yunbo's opinion, there were two key players who were the true victors.
One was Xiao Xuelin.
Shangguan Yunbo hadn't expected him to appear suddenly.
Although he hadn't been able to kill Gao Pu with a single sword strike, he had freed Shangguan Yunbo from the delay.
Otherwise, if he had been held up in Zhong Yu Mountain for a little longer, the situation at Mending Dragon Lake would have collapsed under Wei Ancheng's onslaught.
The breakthrough at Zhong Yu Mountain, rather than the collapse at Mending Dragon Lake, had paved the way for the subsequent grand battle.
While the collapse at Mending Dragon Lake mainly affected the South Desert Wu Clan and the Blood River faction, who opposed each other, Shangguan Yunbo valued the overall situation.
In comparison, Xiao Xuelin's subsequent pursuit and injury of Gao Pu was a minor detail.
And the second key player...
"Why did the White Lotus traitors suddenly turn against us?" Shangguan Yunbo's solemn expression reflected the gravity of this question.
He could tell that Wei Ancheng had truly been outmaneuvered by the White Lotus Sect.
The nature of this betrayal was similar to Sun Li's strike against Yang Yuqi and Yang Tai, but its impact was even more detrimental, directly influencing the final outcome of the Mending Dragon Lake battle.
Wei Ancheng had intended to use the White Lotus Sect as his trump card, but they had become the enemy's trump card instead, and this shift had completely changed the dynamics of the battle.
However, why? Not only was Wei Ancheng taken by surprise, but even Shangguan Yunbo, Sang Lu, and Feng Gui were baffled by this turn of events.
Who had influenced the White Lotus Sect to turn against Wei Ancheng?
And what was offered in exchange? Wei Ancheng had been so confident, indicating that the price he had offered the White Lotus Sect must have been substantial.
The White Lotus Sect had essentially given up on Wei Ancheng's offer and chosen to bear the consequences of turning against him, and this calculation didn't seem to add up.
"Ge Po Mountain, Reincarnation Abyss... or perhaps Yin Shan Cave, or some other power?" Shangguan Yunbo's gaze turned northward.
He had begun to speculate about the possible involvement of the Ye Clan from Jinzhou, who had suffered the deaths of their daughters at Wei Ancheng's hands, or some other force with a grudge against the Blood River faction...
Lei Jun and Yuan Mo Bai murmured their agreement, their eyes fixed ahead.
As cultivators, they were detached from fame and fortune, and they remained humble even in victory.
In the starry sky within the Heavenly Tome, Tai Bai Jin's Lei Jun, as promised, transmitted the Buddha essence derived from the candlestick to Ju Xing, the future Maitreya.
This was the same person who had just aided Lei Jun in the Southern Wasteland.
Neither party elaborated further, as their unspoken understanding was enough.
Lei Jun was already aware of Ju Xing's identity as the future Maitreya.
In this Southern Wasteland battle, there were many who sought to oppose Wei Ancheng, and they were not alone in their efforts.
However, Ju Xing also had his suspicions about Lei Jun's background and cultivation lineage, although he couldn't be completely certain.
Coincidentally, today's collaboration had not only involved the exchange of information but also a joint effort to influence the outcome of the battle.
As for the future, it was too early to tell.
Lei Jun and the future Maitreya, both key players in the Southern Wasteland incident, remained silent. However, the battle had attracted the attention of the entire world.
In the ancestral home of the Ye Clan from Jinzhou, an elder who had been keeping a close eye on the situation fell silent upon receiving the latest news.
(End of Chapter)
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