https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-255-A-Single-Slap-Decides-All-Part-1-/12587094/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-256-A-Sword-s-Journey-Across-Miles-Part-1-/12587096/
Chapter 255: A Single Slap Decides All (Part 2)
Chapter 255: A Single Slap Decides All (Part 2)
However, the military rites here had already taken shape, and colliding with the Two-Yi Heavenly Yuan Spell would interfere with its effectiveness.
It would also alert the people in the Gao Clan's ancestral land to the presence of an external enemy.
Although, after dealing with Yong Xiang, the overflowing aura of war began to converge again, appearing normal on the surface, but it was only a facade.
Lei Jun was unsure about the specific arrangements made by the Ye Clan of Jinzhou in Zezhou.
Although the divination sign indicated a relatively safe path, the wording also mentioned possible turmoil.
So, after some consideration, Lei Jun quietly approached.
He utilized the Yin variation of his innate Heaven's Journey Spell to the utmost, and the dim light of the Xuanxu Mirror flashed and disappeared in an instant.
Even Lei Jun's figure became almost imperceptible.
Even amidst the dense aura of war, Lei Jun sneaked in like a shadow.
When he encountered particularly intense areas of warlike energy, Lei Jun would temporarily stop and use the Soil Flag to further enhance his stealth.
It felt like there were patrols in this military camp... Lei Jun complained inwardly, but his actions didn't slow down at all.
He walked and stopped, making his way closer to the core area of the Gao Clan's ancestral land.
The other monk, Jing Xiang, who had just dealt with his fellow disciple Yong Xiang, had also returned to this area.
On the pavilion, the head of the Gao Clan, Gao Xian, stood alongside another tall, middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man said, "Don't be affected by this. Let's focus on our preparations."
He was not a member of the Gao Clan but a genuine elder of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou, Ye Zhenxing.
"Everything is ready, waiting for the clan head to use," Gao Xian said.
Ye Zhenxing nodded. "Good."
"What about the capital?" Gao Xian asked in a low voice.
Zezhou was located north of Zhongzhou, and although it was still far from the capital, it warranted heightened vigilance.
Ye Zhenxing replied, "The current court situation is stable, with no major changes."
Gao Xian breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. His Majesty also can't act recklessly."
After a pause, he asked in a low voice, "Recently, there have been rumors in the capital that His Majesty intends to establish a Political Affairs Hall under the Ministry of Rites. What do you think about this?"
It was said that the emperor and the aristocratic families shared the world.
The emperor governed the officials, and the officials governed the world.
The Five Surnames and Seven Families continuously produced outstanding individuals who entered the imperial court as officials.
Chu Xiuyuan, the former head of the Chu Clan, had earned the title of "Country Elder" for his service as a chancellor.
In the Tang Dynasty, the chief officials of the Three Provinces were at the top of the bureaucratic hierarchy.
These were the Left and Right Chancellors of the Ministry of Works, the Grand Chancellor of the Ministry of Justice, and the Grand Chancellor of the Ministry of Rites.
Among them, the Left Chancellor of the Ministry of Works was also known as the "Zai Fu," and he was the head of the civil officials.
After Chu Xiuyuan retired, the current Left Chancellor of the Ministry of Works was from the Fang Clan of Jingxiang.
"Zhongshuling Chu Lin, the eldest son of Chu Xiuyuan, is Chu Yu's older brother. He assumed the position of Zhongshuling after Chu Xiuyuan retired.
The Shangshou Right Poshuo is surnamed Guo, and his name is Guo Yuan.
However, his origins are from the daughter-in-law of the former Langwai Xiao Tribe.
Despite the tribulations faced by the Langwai Xiao Tribe, Guo Yuan managed to retain his influence.
He and his wife are connected to the Lin Tribe of Youzhou through their children's marriages.
Previously in the imperial court, Guo Yuan navigated the political landscape with ease and flexibility.
However, the recent troubles involving the Lin Tribe of Youzhou, caused by their association with the Lin Tribe of Jiangzhou, have made his position a bit more delicate.
As for the Menxia Shizhong, named Shangguan Qing, he is a rare Confucian scholar from the Shangguan family who has cultivated to the Upper Three Heavens realm.
As for the Qingzhou and Jinzhou branches, they each have a lineage of divine archers who hold important positions in the Shence Army.
Overall, the Five Surnames and Seven Families have immense influence, both locally and in the imperial court.
It is only in recent years that the Lin Tribe of Jiangzhou has been suppressed by the combined efforts of the Lin Tribe of Youzhou, the Fang Tribe of Jingxiang, and the Chu Tribe of Suzhou, causing them to lose some of their power.
However, throughout history, rises and falls like these are not uncommon.
In recent years, with the successive tribulations faced by the Langwai Xiao Tribe, the Lin Tribe of Jiangzhou, and the Lin Tribe of Youzhou, and the ascension of the female emperor, the political landscape has been in a state of flux.
The establishment of the Academy has not yet led to large-scale changes in the selection of officials.
However, the female emperor has temporarily set up the Eastern and Western Pavilions in her palace to assist in governing, and some things have begun to come to light.
After the dramatic events involving the Lin Tribes of Nanjiang and Beijiang, rumors have been spreading in the capital that Her Majesty intends to establish a Political Affairs Hall under the Ministry of Rites, allowing other officials to participate in governing.
With this precedent, the political landscape is bound to undergo further changes.
"Her Majesty is indeed pressing step by step, but she can only proceed gradually. With each step forward, there will also be steps back, and she won't always have the wind in her sails," Ye Zhenxing said calmly. "However, no matter how things change, some things will never change. Otherwise, the upheaval in the political landscape would bring misfortune to the people, and no one wants to see that."
Gao Xian nodded slightly.
At this moment, Jingxiang the monk appeared behind them and said, "Seventeenth Uncle, Father-in-law."
The middle-aged man nodded and asked, "Is it resolved?"
Jingxiang replied, "It was my fault. I exposed my whereabouts to him, but fortunately, it's been taken care of, and there shouldn't be anyone else. However, I'm worried that the longer we wait, the more problems may arise."
"As long as we ensure peace for the time being, it will be enough," said Ye Zhenxing. "I believe my uncle will make his move soon."
Gao Xian took a deep breath and said, "We'll make that thieving Taoist priestess of the Celestial Master's Mansion pay!"
Jingxiang was about to say something when he noticed that Ye Zhenxing and Gao Xian's expressions had changed drastically, and he turned to see what they were looking at.
"What is it?" Jingxiang asked, puzzled.
Then, he sensed that the military rites and the aura of war that had been accumulating in the Gao Clan's ancestral land had suddenly disappeared!
Gao Xian's face was filled with shock and dismay.
The building had three floors.
They were on the top floor.
Many capable members of the Gao Clan were guarding the first floor.
The most important ritual objects were on the second floor, which was supposed to be inaccessible to anyone.
But now, something had gone wrong with the rituals.
Ye Zhenxing and Gao Xian rushed downstairs and saw a tall, young Taoist priest standing in the center of the second floor, wearing a purple robe.
Surrounding him were various ritual and ceremonial objects that together formed a complete ritual, constituting one part of the four military rites of the four seasons.
The most crucial ritual object was an ancient sword.
The sword's surface was inscribed with profound patterns, revealing the profound and mysterious principles of Taoism, different from the Taoist talismans, yet communicating the wonders of heaven and earth.
However, at this moment, the ancient sword was broken in two!
Lei Jun stood calmly on the second floor, using the power of the hidden side of the Heavenly Book, combined with his own magical powers, to snap the sword in two with a single slap, ensuring that Ye Moquan, far away in Jinzhou, would never know who had done it.
With the sword broken, the military rites and the aura of war dissipated, and Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction.
Then, a pair of Two-Yi Heavenly Yuan Spell talismans appeared and floated in the air.
A large amount of Yuan magnetic force was unleashed, enveloping the entire Gao Clan's ancestral land and isolating it from the outside world.
The Yuan magnetic force was invisible and intangible, and neither Gao Xian nor Ye Zhenxing noticed it at first. They were more shocked by the fact that the tall, young Taoist priest had managed to sneak up on them undetected and ruin their plans.
The broken sword might be repairable, but Gao Xian had no time to think about that now. He drew his sword and rushed forward, intending to drive Lei Jun back and retrieve the ritual sword.
Lei Jun stood his ground, surrounded by swirling starry talismans.
With the enhancement of the starry talismans, his figure suddenly grew larger, resembling a majestic deity standing between heaven and earth.
The principle of "Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven" was embodied in his stance.
With his head reaching the sky and his feet planted firmly on the ground, he stood at the center of the universe.
The manifestation of the Faatian Astrology was activated.
A towering figure of the Doumu Star Goddess appeared, bursting the three-story building from the inside out.
Gao Xian wasted no time and channeled his powerful sword qi, sending it surging towards the sky.
The sword qi transformed into a majestic river, rushing towards Lei Jun.
Lei Jun's Life Star Spirit lifted its hand, and with a single punch, it blasted apart the river of sword qi.
However, Gao Xian was undeterred.
As the sword qi surged, the entire Gao Clan's ancestral land began to shake.
From the Gao Clan's ancestral hall, streams of refined literary energy rose into the sky and merged into Gao Xian, causing his sword qi to surge even more powerfully.
"Lei Jun!" Ye Zhenxing recognized Lei Jun and took a deep breath. Without hesitation, he stepped back!
As he retreated, a giant bow appeared in his hand.
He nocked an arrow and drew the string, causing a beam of light to condense and transform into an arrow, aimed directly at Lei Jun.
Facing the newly advanced seven-fold Heaven Realm genius of the Heavenly Masters Mansion, Jing Xiang had no intention of engaging Lei Jun head-on.
He, too, retreated.
While Ye Zhenxing and Gao Xian, the two formidable masters, attacked Lei Jun from a distance and up close, Jing Xiang seized the opportunity to contact his allies for assistance.
Lei Jun was young and had only recently attained the seven-fold Heaven Realm, but he had undeniably defeated Lin Chi of the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou, a peer of the same realm.
Even if Ye Zhenxing and Gao Xian joined forces, they could not guarantee victory over such an opponent.
If they could bury this rising star of the Heavenly Masters Mansion here, it would somewhat make up for the loss of the destroyed military rites...
Jing Xiang was contemplating this when he sensed an invisible force isolating this patch of heaven and earth.
He wanted to try again after backing away a little further.
But suddenly, he heard the buzzing sound of electricity.
Lei Jun ignored Ye Zhenxing, who was retreating, and instead waved at Jing Xiang.
Two magic arrays appeared, one black and one purple, both emitting colorful radiance that transformed into the five elements, rumbling with thunder.
Yet, they were completely opposite.
The two arrays, one yin and one yang, with five elements and five thunders, trapped Jing Xiang in the center and then began to rotate in opposite directions, intertwining with each other.
Jing Xiang immediately recited sutras, and the lapis lazuli-colored Buddhist light transformed into lotuses, protecting him.
As a six-fold Heaven Realm disciple of Xuan Tian Temple, when he focused solely on gathering the Buddhist light for defense, even some seven-fold Heaven Realm cultivators would find it difficult to break through his lapis lazuli lotus in a short time.
However, at this moment, Lei Jun's yin and yang arrays with five elements and five thunders rotated in opposite directions, like a giant grinding wheel squeezing and grinding.
Amidst the rumbling thunder, the air around them was squeezed and burst, and Jing Xiang's protective Buddhist light was forcibly crushed!
The monk from the Ye Clan, a disciple of Xuan Tian Temple, cried out miserably as his body was squeezed and torn apart by the 'grinding wheel'!
From a distance, Ye Zhenxing let out a loud shout, and an arrow left his bowstring, transforming into a well-ordered rain of arrows that filled the sky and rained down on Lei Jun.
The divine archer from the Ye Clan of Jinzhou, with his arrows falling like stars, demonstrated exquisite control, varying the speed of the arrows so that each one was unique, leaving his opponent unable to guard against them all.
However, around Lei Jun, two Two-Yi Heavenly Yuan Spell talismans were rotating.
A large amount of Yuan magnetic force was derived, enveloping Lei Jun.
The dense and massive arrow rain slowed down as it approached, as if sinking into a quagmire, and its power was greatly diminished.
Even though some of the arrows landed on Lei Jun's body, with the Life Star Spirit protecting him, along with the constantly revolving talismans, he was able to block all the arrows.
The arrows shattered, and the talismans also broke apart.
But as the starry river flowed, new starry talismans were immediately formed, spinning faster and shining brighter, as if they had absorbed the power of Ye Zhenxing's arrows.
Before Ye Zhenxing could shoot a second arrow, Lei Jun waved his hand, and a huge metal rail appeared and extended.
Yuan magnetic force swiftly gathered around the metal rail, and a slender beam of light, like a sword, materialized and vanished from its original position.
The sword light seemed to ignore the distance and instantly appeared in front of Ye Zhenxing.
Ye Zhenxing, a seven-fold Heaven Realm master of the divine archer lineage, had keen eyesight and perception. He noticed the metal rail that had suddenly appeared next to Lei Jun.
He frowned slightly, and the longbow in his hand twitched involuntarily.
Then, his arm trembled.
The precious bow snapped in two from the center.
Ye Zhenxing's body also shook.
A treasure jade on him lit up, providing him with protective power.
But the jade exploded with a bang, turning into a shower of light that fell from the sky.
In that instant, Ye Zhenxing's first thought was:
An external flying sword of the Daoist School?
Is this Lei Jun controlling it?
Was it him during the Jiangzhou battle as well?
As he had this thought, he saw three metal rails appear around Lei Jun, where there had only been one before!
Just as Ye Zhenxing noticed this, Lei Jun's second attack arrived.
The sword light flashed, piercing through Ye Zhenxing's body and creating an incredibly terrifying bloody hole.
Fortunately, Lei Jun was distracted by multiple tasks and wanted a quick attack, so this sword light did not gather too much Yuan magnetic force.
The divine archer lineage cultivators were known for their robust physique and endurance, and Ye Zhenxing, though struck by the 'sword', did not die immediately.
He snapped out of his daze and tried to escape.
But before he could move, he saw another sword light flashing towards him!
The third sword light hit Ye Zhenxing's neck.
His flesh charred black, and his head was severed from his body, flying high into the air as if beheaded by a flying sword.
At this moment, Lei Jun pounced forward!
Under the attack of Ye Zhenxing's arrow rain, the starry talismans transformed even more, making Lei Jun's Life Star Spirit even stronger in all aspects, and his speed increased as well.
With the enhancement of the Heavenly Journey Spell, which emphasized speed, Lei Jun instantly closed the distance between himself and Gao Xian.
Gao Xian gritted his teeth and relied on the power of the ancestral land to aid his continuous sword strikes towards Lei Jun.
He had attended lectures given by top masters of the Ye Clan, almost equivalent to half of the Ye Clan's disciples in Jinzhou. With the boost from the ancestral land's ritual, his strength was even greater than Lin Chi's had been in Jiangzhou.
However, Lei Jun had been constantly refining his Daoist techniques during this period and was no longer the same as before.
After using the Life Star Spirit and the Heavenly Journey Spell, he activated the Lingguan Spell.
The Ringed Star Array, an evolution of the Stepping on the Stars Technique, made Lei Jun not only tireless but also stronger as time passed.
Without relying on the protection of the Nine Lights of the Chaos Cave, Lei Jun continued to punch with force, shattering Gao Xian's sword qi river, smashing his defensive treasures, and finally crushing Gao Xian himself!
(End of Chapter)
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