https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-243-Mastering-the-Heavenly-Master-s-Seal-Part-2-/12587067/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-244-Shutting-the-Door-and-Hitting-the-Dog-Part-2-/12587069/
Chapter 244: Shutting the Door and Hitting the Dog! (Part 1)
Chapter 244: Shutting the Door and Hitting the Dog! (Part 1)
The Celestial Master's sword did indeed go to Jiangzhou.
However, Lin Zhe, the patriarch of the Lin clan in Jiangzhou, was also returning to their ancestral land in Jiangzhou with all his might.
Along the way, he and Lin Yuwei split up to escape.
Tang Xiaotang and Chu Yu also divided their forces, with Tang Xiaotang pursuing Lin Zhe by traversing the great rivers and mountains of the north and south.
However, Lin Zhe still managed to escape back to the Lin clan's ancestral land in Jiangzhou.
During the journey, an ominous premonition arose in Lin Zhe's heart.
But after a long battle, his strength was waning, and his old injuries were showing signs of relapse. With no other choice, he could only return to the Lin clan's ancestral land in Jiangzhou first.
Although it was described as the ancestral land of a clan, the Lin clan's territory was vast, with numerous mansions and estates spread out over the land.
As one ventured deeper, there were also four standing walls, giving it the appearance of a city, nestled between mountains and rivers. It occupied an advantageous position, with the grand river and the lush mountains of Emerald Peak enriching the land with spiritual energy, creating a place of prosperity and talent.
From a distance, one could sense the flourishing literary and cultural aura soaring into the sky, like scarlet clouds covering the dome of the sky.
At the very heart of the city was the Lin clan's ancestral hall, where the literary and cultural aura transformed into pillars of light that pierced the heavens, shining day and night with dazzling brilliance.
The splendor of this place was no less than that of the Lin clan's territory near Jiangzhou City, and its splendor even surpassed it.
However, at this moment, the atmosphere in the Lin clan's ancestral land was tense.
Upon returning to Jiangzhou, Lin Zhe met with Lin Chou and Lin Lang, who had been left behind to guard the land. Without pausing to catch his breath, Lin Zhe immediately instructed, "Bring out the Dragon and Snake Brush, and commence the Mountain and River Ritual!"
The members of the Lin clan all felt a sense of solemnity in their hearts.
Ever since Lin Zhe and Lin Yuwei had left, the Lin clan in Jiangzhou had been on high alert, ready for any eventuality. Therefore, when Lin Zhe gave the order, the entire Lin clan sprang into action without panic or disorder.
A large-scale ritual began to unfold, centered on the Lin clan's ancestral hall in Jiangzhou. Drums and music echoed through the air, and the literary and cultural aura soared, as if connecting the river of time, bridging the ancient and the modern, and bringing about a return to ancient times.
Rituals were one of the highest pinnacles of Confucian cultivation in the Taoist practice of the Great Tang.
Many times, one could even omit the word "one" from the phrase "one of them."
For the Confucian lineage in the Taoist cultivation world of the Great Tang, rituals were the most supreme and profound techniques that encompassed the three lineages of the Taoist tradition.
Even a grand Confucian of the Eighth Heaven realm like Lin Zhe could not wield them casually.
Only at their ancestral land or with the assistance of their family's heirloom ritual artifact, the Dragon and Snake Brush, could they quickly establish such a ritual.
Moreover, it required multiple people working together and the use of various spiritual objects arranged over a long period.
The Lin clan's ancestral land in Jiangzhou was the foundation of their clan, cultivated over many years. At this moment, with the unity of the clan, the ritual was swiftly established.
Under the influence of the Lin clan's ritual, the actual mountains and rivers in the area of Jiangzhou began to stir.
With the grand river and famous mountains intertwined here, the ritual caused the vast spiritual energy of heaven and earth to converge upon Jiangzhou.
Lin Zhe performed a grand ritual and entered the Lin clan's ancestral hall.
Inside the hall, in addition to the ancestral tablets of the Lin clan's ancestors, there was also a brush with black and gold bristles placed on a jade brush holder, which was clearly being venerated.
Soon after, the literary and cultural aura in the ancestral hall surged skyward, and in the air, it vaguely condensed into the figure of a grand Confucian.
The figure bore a resemblance to the Lin clan's ancestor who had ventured south from Youzhou in the distant past and established the foundation of the Lin clan in Jiangzhou.
Lin Zhe's expression was solemn as he held the black and gold brush in both hands and emerged from the ancestral hall.
Outside the hall, Lin Chou and Lin Lang bowed and said, "We welcome the arrival of the Dragon and Snake Brush!"
Before their words had faded, a thunderous roar suddenly reverberated from the sky above.
A golden thunder dragon appeared from the clouds, overlooking the mountains and rivers of Jiangzhou below.
The rolling thunder illuminated half the sky, turning it into a golden spectacle.
Within the thunderclouds, a tall woman emerged, clad in a nine-colored rainbow robe, radiant and dazzling, with an exquisite face. However, her eyebrows and eyes exuded a fierce aura, and her hair had turned golden.
It was none other than the contemporary Celestial Master, Tang Xiaotang.
She waved her hand in the air.
Immediately, another sound reverberated through the heavens and earth, like the ringing of a sword, like thunder, and like the roar of a dragon.
In addition to the golden half of the sky, the other half was now tinged with purple.
The Nine Heavenly Thunder and the Pure Yang Immortal Thunder roared simultaneously, spreading across the cloud-filled sky.
In Tang Xiaotang's hand appeared an ancient and simple sword, its blade etched with countless rune patterns and profound principles.
In the thunderclouds of the sky, a golden and a purple thunder dragon appeared simultaneously.
As the thunder dragons roared, they charged towards the Lin clan's ancestral land in Jiangzhou below.
At this moment, Lin Zhe's expression remained calm and unperturbed. He held the black and gold brush in both hands and lifted it into the air.
The brush soared into the sky, and the black and gold hues spread out.
The mountains and rivers near Jiangzhou underwent a further transformation.
The river water turned ink-black, and the high mountains transformed into pure gold.
As black and gold intertwined, the entire landscape seemed to come alive, blocking the descending thunder dragons in mid-air.
"When the words fall, the mountains and rivers move. When the brush dances, the dragons and snakes walk," Lin Zhe bowed to the Dragon and Snake Brush in the air and then raised his hand to grasp the brush.
As he wielded the brush with ink, the literary and cultural aura automatically converged.
Although the long sword at his waist remained sheathed, the sword's intent and aura were inherently formed from literary and cultural essence. At this moment, it manifested in a different way, its sharpness restrained while its weight increased.
In this moment, Jiangzhou seemed to transform into an independent world. The flashing black and gold not only isolated the thunder in the sky but also caused the rivers to morph into dragon and snake shapes, coiling upwards to counter-attack Tang Xiaotang.
Tang Xiaotang remained unfazed, her sword in hand. The clouds around her seemed to transform into a sea of thunder, pressing down with even greater ferocity.
Compared to when she had first obtained the Celestial Master's Sword in the battle at Longhushan, Tang Xiaotang's fusion with the sword's power was now more harmonious and well-rounded.
However, the members of the Lin clan within the ancestral land of Jiangzhou felt their hearts settle.
With just Tang Xiaotang alone, there was no way she could break through their defenses.
With an Eighth Heaven expert from their clan present, along with the Dragon and Snake Brush and the ancestral land ritual, Jiangzhou was as solid as a rock.
Moreover, with two Eighth Heaven experts, Lin Zhe and Lin Chou, they could even take the initiative to counterattack.
"Do not be careless," Lin Zhe said solemnly. "Xu Yuanzhen has already reached the Ninth Heaven realm, and he may appear at any time. Furthermore, that otherworldly realm we encountered earlier felt strange!"
Previously, Ye Moquan from Jinzhou and Chu Xiuyuan from Suzhou, both longstanding Ninth Heaven grand Confucians, had made their intentions clear, and they had not acted rashly.
In the distant lands of Qingzhou, the patriarch of the Ye clan, Ye Yan, had once quietly traveled to the northern frontier with Lin Zhe to inspect the "portal" in the void above Dahuishan Mountain. However, they were rejected by that strange and exotic realm, sensing an eerie and overpowering aura that didn't bode well for their scholarly families.
Aside from the threat posed by the Empress, the existence of this enigmatic realm was also one of the factors that finally pushed the Four Surnames and Six Nobles to unite.
"Please, Uncle, stand guard and be vigilant for any unusual movements around us," Lin Zhe said in a low voice.
Lin Chou and Lin Feng, who had perished in the battle at Poyang Lake, were both elders of the Lin clan in Jiangzhou.
Lin Chou nodded slightly and said, "We only need to hold our ground here in Jiangzhou. Even if Xu Yuanzhen comes to attack, it won't be easy for them to breach our ancestral land in a short time.
Longhushan is also currently undefended, so they won't dare to linger too long out there."
At this moment, Lin Lang stepped forward and said, "Two uncles and Father are here."
Among those who came with him were three scholars with thin and refined appearances, but their faces bore signs of age.
Two of them were of the same generation as Lin Chou and Lin Feng, and they were also elders of the Lin clan in Jiangzhou.
The other man was of the same generation as Lin Zhe, Lin Qun, and Lin Yuwei, but he was much older.
The common trait among the three was that they were all well over four hundred years old, and their physical and mental states had started to decline. To slow down this trend, they usually kept a low profile, cultivating their minds and rarely involving themselves in external affairs.
It was only during times like this, when the Lin clan faced a crisis like the defeat at Poyang Lake, that they would emerge from seclusion.
However, among the three, there was no Eighth Heaven realm scholar.
This fact left a sense of helplessness in the hearts of the Lin clan members.
"If only Great-Grand Uncle and Seventeenth Grand Uncle were still here..." Lin Lang sighed inwardly.
In the past, the Lin clan in Jiangzhou actually had Eighth Heaven elders in seclusion, including a Great-Grand Uncle who was of the same generation as the late Lin Jin.
Unfortunately, those two Eighth Heaven elders had left the ancestral land without a trace, and all contact with them was lost, further weakening the already declining foundation of the Lin clan in Jiangzhou over the years.
"Now that it's clear that Xu Yuanzhen has reached the Ninth Heaven of the Daoist realm, this news will definitely change some people's attitudes," Lin Zhe said. "As long as we hold our ground here for a while, we can resolve today's crisis. For now, let's not be distracted and proceed with the ritual together."
The Lin clan members responded in unison.
The Lin clan in Jiangzhou had suffered heavy losses in the battle at Poyang Lake. In addition to losing Lin Feng, an Eighth Heaven realm elder, they had also lost Lin Zhen and other Seventh Heaven realm experts.
After that, Lin Yuwei had broken through from the Seventh Heaven to the Eighth Heaven, and Lin Lang had advanced from the Sixth Heaven to the Seventh Heaven.
And in the recent chaotic battle in the northern frontier, the Lin clan in Jiangzhou had lost two more Seventh Heaven elders.
One of them had been secretly presiding over a ritual at Dragon Bone Ridge but was directly trampled upon by Tang Xiaotang.
The other Lin clan elder had been guarding the "portal" at Dahuishan Mountain with Lin Likong from the Lin clan in Youzhou when they encountered the calamity of the Sea Emperor Flower's clone and perished.
Now, with the addition of the three reclusive elders who had emerged from seclusion, the Lin clan in Jiangzhou had a total of eight Seventh Heaven scholars.
It would be a difficult task for them to face Tang Xiaotang, who wielded the Celestial Master's Sword.
However, at this moment, Lin Lang and the other seven scholars immediately dispersed, positioning themselves at the eight corners of the ancestral land to assist their patriarch, Lin Zhe, in performing the ritual.
The defenses of the Lin clan's ancestral land in Jiangzhou became even more solid.
Lin Zhe and the others did not think about counterattacking; they only focused on defending their position, making it as solid as a golden city.
Even the purple and golden thunderbolts exploding in the sky above could not shake the black mountains and waters below.
However, Tang Xiaotang, usually known for her short temper, remained calm and collected. "Are you ready?" she asked.
On the other hand, by the mighty river, Lei Jun gazed at the Lin clan's ancestral land in Jiangzhou.
He casually drew several divine sight and divine hearing talisman seals in the air, which spread out around him.
Three metal guide rails hovered above his head, looking inconspicuous but emitting a terrifying yuan magnetic force far more powerful than any previous attempts.
At the same time, Lei Jun held something else in his hand.
It resembled a wooden board, square and neatly shaped.
However, it exuded a bizarre aura of dominance and ferocity.
Lei Jun weighed the wooden board in his hand and said, "It's a bit rushed, but it should be functional."
......
Between the waters of Jingxiang and Chu, the Fang clan reigned supreme.
However, in recent years, as the influence of the Shushan Sect gradually spread beyond Bashu, the first to bear the brunt was the Jingxiang region.
The attention of the Jingxiang Fang clan shifted from their previous focus on the Lin clan in Jiangzhou, downstream to the east, to the west, where they now kept a close eye on the emerging Shushan Sect.
At this moment, on both sides of Wu Mountain, the two forces stood in a stalemate.
However, the leader of the Jingxiang Fang clan, a middle-aged scholar with a formidable aura, turned his gaze eastward.
He looked toward the direction of Jiangzhou.
"Elder Brother, aside from the Qingming Sword, we have not heard of the Northern Dark God Spear leaving Bashu, nor have we seen the Shushan Sect Leader, Fu Dongsen, appear at Xiaoding," a Fang clan disciple reported to the middle-aged scholar.
The middle-aged scholar was named Fang Huansheng, known as the Great Elder within the Jingxiang Fang clan, and his status was second only to the clan leader, Fang Jingsheng.
It is worth mentioning that Fang Jian, the direct disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion, was the son of Fang Huansheng.
However, this did not hinder Fang Huansheng from making any decisions at the moment.
A middle-aged scholar behind him said softly, "Xu Yuanzhen has reached the Ninth Heaven, and Tang Xiaotang is also making remarkable progress. If we're being meticulous, Yuan Mobai is still quite a distance away from two hundred years old, isn't he? Even though they are of the same Daoist sect, the Shushan Sect will still be somewhat affected."
Fang Huansheng gazed toward the direction of Jiangzhou for a while before saying, "Sixth Brother, please make a trip to Jiangzhou."
The middle-aged scholar beside him was Fang Du, the Sixth Elder of the Jingxiang Fang clan.
Like Fang Jingsheng and Fang Huansheng, he was also an Eighth Heaven realm scholar and one of the core leaders of the Jingxiang Fang clan.
Although the Western Regions were in turmoil, the Jingxiang Fang clan did not suffer as much as the Lang Clan outside Long Province. Nevertheless, they had maintained a low profile in recent years to recuperate and rebuild their strength.
At this moment, the patriarch of the Fang Clan, Fang Jingcheng, remained behind closed doors, and Jingxiang also had to deal with the strange movements of the Shushan Sect.
With Fang Du now heading east, the people of Jingxiang felt even more stretched thin.
After hearing Fang Huansheng's words, he didn't object but asked, "What does Suzhou have to say about this?"
Fang Huansheng replied, "Friend Liang's brother is also on his way to Jiangzhou."
Although Chu Peng and Chu Youliang were not the eldest sons of the Chu family, they were among the top experts of the younger generation in the Chu tribe and were well-versed in literature, often compared to Chu Zhe.
"Xu Yuanzhen breaking through to the Ninth Heaven is one reason, but on the other hand, there might be a big problem with that exotic realm she was previously in."
Fang Huansheng said, "The Lin Clan in Jiangzhou is a hurdle that needs to be crossed."
Fang Du nodded. "I understand. Brother, rest assured, I'll set off immediately."
Fang Huansheng warned, "Be careful on your journey, and watch out for reinforcements from Longhushan."
Fang Du replied, "I'm aware. Longhushan is also short on manpower, so if they really split their forces, there will be no worries for Jiangzhou."
As long as the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou could hold out during this initial period, with the aid of Fang Du and Chu Peng, two Eighth Heaven experts, along with their ancestral land and the Dragon and Snake Brush, they would be able to defend Jiangzhou even against a Ninth Heaven cultivator.
.................
"My senior sister is also about to make her move."
Tang Xiaotang's eyes lit up. "Perfect timing! Let's begin together!"
In one hand, she held the Celestial Master's Sword, and in the other, a strange object appeared—a spearhead without a shaft, only the sharp tip remaining.
It was one of the three "Barbarians" that Xu Yuanzhen had brought back from that exotic realm.
Tang Xiaotang couldn't help but laugh, and from a certain angle, her smile resembled Xu Yuanzhen's.
It was equally full of malice.
Under her urging, the spearhead suddenly shone with a dim and obscure light.
A wild and domineering aura, as well as a savage and bloody atmosphere, suddenly erupted.
Then, it descended from the sky, straight toward the Lin Clan's ancestral land.
In that instant, it seemed as if countless shadows were flashing, merging into an indestructible sharpness.
It was like countless martial artists attacking together! Although it was wild and domineering, it was also united as one, like an iron-blooded army trampling down on Jiangzhou!
The vaguely real martial arts true intent that was gathered at this moment seemed strange. The strong and violent power had limited destructive effects on other beings, but it was especially devastating to Confucian teachings, like a heavenly disaster.
In particular, it was extremely destructive to Confucian ancestral halls, which were supposed to be exceptionally solid and sturdy due to the accumulation of time.
Like an iron cavalry trampling down, the slaughter of fire and blood seemed to crush everything in its path, breaking through the mountains and rivers of Jiangzhou, which were flickering with black and gold light.
(End of Chapter)
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