https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-256-A-Sword-s-Journey-Across-Miles-Part-1-/12587096/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-257-Elder-Lei-and-the-Celestial-Master-Sword-Part-1-/12587098/
Chapter 256: A Sword's Journey Across Miles (Part 2)
Chapter 256: A Sword's Journey Across Miles (Part 2)
The "Barbarian" did not have the same effect as it had in Jiangzhou and Youzhou, and Xu Yuanzhen's expression remained unchanged as she observed the collision between the barbarian's military might and the elegant and majestic energy of the Ye ancestral land below. She even nodded slightly.
She paid little heed to Ye Mokuan's counterattack.
It was only when real chess pieces began to appear among the scattered nebulae that she turned her gaze to them.
These chess pieces seemed to be made of jade, with distinct black and white colors, and a gentle aura. They hovered in the air, forming a real chess game.
Moreover, these chess pieces had their own sentience and combined with Ye Mokuan's nebulae chess game.
From a distance, Tang Xiaotang's eyes narrowed, and her pupils faintly reflected a pale golden color.
"Hey!" She sneered, "He's been preparing for us, and this doesn't look like something he prepared recently!"
One nebula after another expanded outward, each resembling a larger chess piece falling into place.
Although the Tianma Space did not seal off the heavens and the earth, it greatly influenced the spiritual energy of the world.
The most direct effect was the disruption of the Daoist Talisman Sect cultivators' ability to manipulate the world's spiritual energy.
Similar to the Confucian School's chanting techniques, the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion's path of communicating with heaven and summoning ghosts, borrowing the power of nature, and using their own strength to leverage the greater power of the world resulted in extremely powerful talismans.
The special chess pieces, chess game, and chess moves that Ye Mokuan had prepared did not prohibit the heavens, but they constantly interrupted and disrupted the Daoist Talisman Sect cultivators' spellcasting.
While this style differed from the Ye Clan of Jinzhou's traditional style of controlling the entire situation and seeking perfection, it was not like the Daoist Talisman Sect's method of sealing off the heavens and the earth. Undoubtedly, this approach reduced the difficulty and allowed for more freedom and richness in variations, making it harder for their opponents to decipher.
This technique was not specifically designed to counter Xu Yuanzhen but rather to counter the Daoist Talisman Sect's lineage as a whole.
It was similar to the countermeasures prepared for the Hanging Temple.
In the past, the Ye Clan of Jinzhou had secretly supported the Li Clan of Xinzhou in gaining a stronger foothold on Dragon-Tiger Mountain, but they had also made preparations in case the Li Clan grew too powerful.
This chess move, designed to counter the Daoist Talisman Sect cultivators' communication with the heavens, was named:
Subdue the Divine Head.
As this technique took effect, Ye Mokuan unsheathed the ceremonial longsword at his waist.
Wherever the sword pointed, the Yi Xing chess pieces, empowered by righteous qi, fell like shooting stars from various directions toward Xu Yuanzhen.
Xu Yuanzhen remained calm, a hint of mockery playing on her lips as she regarded the Subdue the Divine Head formation before her.
She stood still as a sea of green fire spread out around her.
Within the flames, a massive tiger roared, its fiery mane flowing as streams of fire danced and clashed with Ye Mokuan's righteous qi stars.
Although the specially crafted black and white jade chess pieces surrounding them flashed with light, the Subdue the Divine Head formation was functioning as intended.
However...
It had no effect on Xu Yuanzhen whatsoever.
The spiritual energy of the world gathered around her, controlled and commanded by her, not only unaffected by the formation but also working to seize control of the spiritual energy from Ye Mokuan and the Ye ancestral land, causing the energy to fluctuate wildly.
Ye Mokuan's Subdue the Divine Head technique fell flat, and his eyes narrowed.
Recalling his previous encounters with Xu Yuanzhen in the Lin Clan's ancestral land in Youzhou and her earlier actions, a long-held suspicion in his heart was finally confirmed:
"...Natural Law!"
As humans follow the laws of the earth, the earth follows the laws of the heavens, the heavens follow the laws of the Dao, and the Dao follows the laws of nature.
Some people are one with the laws of nature, with no distinction between self and nature.
While Subdue the Divine Head disrupted and interfered with ordinary people, it was like a gentle breeze to someone like Xu Yuanzhen, who was in harmony with nature.
And because of this, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was manipulated with ease, and every talisman and register, no matter how big or small, was wielded with supreme power and subtle transformations.
This profound mystery was something that the vast majority of high cultivators in the Upper Three Heavens of the Talisman Sect had tirelessly strived for, contemplated, and refined throughout their lives, yet they still fell short of achieving it.
And so...
"...Clarity and Stillness, followed by innate comprehension?"
Not only Ye Mokuan, but everyone watching from a distance was stirred, their expressions varying.
In the early years when the previous Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, and the others were still around, Xu Yuanzhen, even at a young age, had earned the reputation of being the second most powerful expert in the Celestial Master's Mansion, and there were even rumors debating whether she or her master, Li Qingfeng, was superior.
Unlike Tang Xiaotang, who possessed overflowing talent, Xu Yuanzhen was shrouded in mystery, with many speculations surrounding her.
Although people had their guesses, it was only today, with the appearance of the Divine Subduing Head, that everything became clear.
Innate comprehension that surpassed the levels of supreme power, clarity, and stillness, reaching the level of nature.
From this, she obtained the Natural Law, roaming freely between heaven and earth, with no obstacles in her path.
Precisely because of its rarity, as it hadn't appeared in public for many years, it gradually became a legend in people's minds. Most people only knew that above the conventional fifth rank were the levels of supreme power, clarity, and stillness, but few knew about the level of nature.
And now, finally, someone with innate comprehension of the Natural Law had appeared, clearly revealing their talent to the world.
Xu Yuanzhen, who had become the center of attention, seemed rather nonchalant. "By acting against the situation, isn't it easier to unravel the mysteries of the world and the nation?"
The thick, pitch-black thundercloud under her feet, resembling a frozen glacier, began to expand outward. "If you won't come, then I'll come to you."
The black thundercloud rolled and expanded, isolating the surroundings and creating what seemed like an independent world.
A world controlled by Xu Yuanzhen.
Different from the Confucian School's concept of the nation, this was a profound and mysterious realm of Taoism.
It was the sublime realm of a Great Vehicle cultivator from the Nine Heavens of Taoism, a further sublimation of the divine court above the divine mind, which they had attained.
It was named the Great Vehicle Tao Scene.
As Xu Yuanzhen's Great Vehicle Tao Scene unfolded, the universe within revealed itself, with layers upon layers of light and shadow.
Within the thundercloud that had transformed into a pitch-black world, there were not just one, but several Yin Fire Tigers and Life Stars.
They shone like twinkling stars in the vast universe.
However, they were cold and lonely.
It was as if, in the boundless depths of space, light and heat were drifting away and fading at this very moment.
And this pitch-black world was constantly expanding, eroding the airspace above the Ye Clan's ancestral land, and beginning to oppress the land below.
Back in the Lin Clan's ancestral land in Youzhou, Ye Mokuan had witnessed Xu Yuanzhen's Great Vehicle Tao Scene, and now he felt that the dark world, like a deep space, was even more profound and mysterious, but he wasn't surprised.
He silently swung the longsword in his hand.
In the Ye Clan's ancestral land, which was already acting against the situation, a vast amount of military aura began to emerge!
Military Rites.
Summer Encampment.
It originally referred to camping in the wilderness, a way to train soldiers.
Spring Inspection, to inspect and organize the troops.
Summer Encampment, to train and mobilize soldiers.
Autumn Maneuvers, to discipline and drill the soldiers.
By the time of the Winter Grand Review, the army would be at its most formidable state, displaying its full might.
However, under Ye Mokuan's orchestration, everything seemed to be reversed.
He wasn't adapting to the current summer season.
Instead, he was responding to the changes in the Ye Clan's ancestral land, which was acting against the situation.
Everything was abnormal, and by combining them, they fueled each other, resulting in even greater momentum!
A surging military aura erupted, sweeping away the remnants of the "Barbarian's" influence and giving rise to a desperate yet vigorous counterattack, with both vigor and killing intent at their peak.
Even the destruction caused by the "Barbarian" earlier became a foundation for this fierce retaliation!
...It was supposed to be like this.
But just as the military aura soared to the sky, it suddenly seemed to lose its momentum.
Ye Mokuan took a deep breath.
His gaze shifted to the south.
Something had happened in Zezhou!
The Ye Clan's branch in Jinzhou and the secondary aristocratic families dependent on them were not limited to just the Gao family in Zezhou.
Ye Mokuan's strategy for the Four Seasons Military Rites was not a one-dimensional plan, and he had set up numerous decoys, with the Hanging Temple, the Gao family in Zezhou, and the Bodhi Temple ruins as the three real targets hidden among them.
How could someone find the Gao family in Zezhou so quickly? And how did they manage to defeat the Gao family so swiftly?
Luck?
Was there a leak?
Since Tang Xiaotang was here, who was facing her in Zezhou?
Various questions flashed through Ye Mokuan's mind, only to quickly dissipate.
Because none of these thoughts would help him at the moment.
The Four Seasons Military Rites were interconnected, forming a seamless whole, and when complete, they would unleash tremendous power, justifying the Ye Clan's efforts over the past few days.
If successful, it would be the key to dominating the battle.
As a Nine Heavens Confucian, Ye Mokuan manipulated the spiritual energy across tens of thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, a power far surpassing the ceremony that Lin Che and the others had prepared in Poyang Lake years ago. Even the ritual in the Ye Clan's ancestral land in Jinzhou couldn't compare.
This would be the most powerful Confucian ritual to appear in recent years.
But now, missing a crucial link, it was like a mighty dragon that had been cut in half, and the plan fell apart.
Although the Ye Clan's ancestral land was brimming with military aura, it lacked the power to sustain it, and the outburst of vigor turned out to be short-lived.
After momentarily blocking Xu Yuanzhen's black thundercloud, which had transformed into a dark world, the military aura began to wane and disperse.
Ye Mokuan even sensed that, apart from the Gao family in Zezhou, the military rites at the other two crucial locations, the Hanging Temple and the Bodhi Temple ruins, were also encountering problems.
"Although I tried to limit the scope, involving too many people inevitably leads to loopholes."
After his initial surprise, Ye Mokuan's thoughts quickly calmed down.
Despite losing a major trump card, he didn't change his original plan and revert the ancestral land's restrictions and rituals to their original state. Instead, he continued to reverse the spring and autumn, acting against the situation, controlling the surging cultural aura and pushing it upward to resist Xu Yuanzhen's Great Vehicle Tao Scene.
As Lei Jun made his way to Jinzhou, he received a transmission from his master, Yuan Mubai.
According to the message, the Tang imperial family had sent someone to the Bodhi Temple ruins, where they successfully disrupted the Winter Grand Review. Meanwhile, chaos had broken out at the Hanging Temple.
Hearing this news, Lei Jun shook his head.
Indeed, some of the monks at the Hanging Temple, including Elder Kong Jian, had connections to the Ye Clan of Jinzhou or the Gao family of Zezhou. However, they were a minority.
Firstly, there were limited individuals with the necessary talent for Buddhist cultivation that emphasized self-discipline and strict adherence to vows.
Secondly, the path of Buddhist cultivation demanded asceticism and the fulfillment of vows; otherwise, one's cultivation would deteriorate. Thus, only a few could persist on this path.
The Hanging Temple had always been the Buddhist sect with the fewest disciples among the Four Holy Lands, and this was no coincidence.
Some monks at the Hanging Temple, who did not originate from the major families, had also sided with Elder Kong Jian. This could be attributed to the teachings and ethos of the Hanging Temple, which emphasized the cultivation of virtue and the acceptance of life's bitterness as a path to enlightenment.
Over time, a mindset favoring detachment from worldly affairs and seeking enlightenment in the afterlife had taken root and was spreading.
Strictly speaking, similar sentiments could also be found among monks in the Bodhi Temple, the Dragon Temple, and the Vajra Temple, though they were not in the majority. Nonetheless, the proportion of such monks at the Hanging Temple was particularly high.
Given this situation, the joys and sorrows of the mortal world seemed insignificant to some, leading them to completely detach themselves. Others, however, wished to maintain the status quo rather than bring about change.
For them, permanence led to eternal tranquility and the attainment of true enlightenment.
As a result, divisions within the Hanging Temple deepened.
That was why, despite the continuous suppression and infiltration by the Ye Clan of Jinzhou, they had refrained from taking drastic measures.
Based on the Hanging Temple's principles and the monks' usual demeanor, they were unlikely to engage in an internal conflict unless external forces intervened.
However, Elder Kong Jian and his faction had now played their part...
"I don't need to worry about that," Lei Jun said to himself, shaking his head.
With the intervention of the Tang imperial family and the disruption of the Four Seasons Military Rites, the situation was already evolving.
But what about his senior martial sister, Tang Xiaotang? How was she faring?
As Lei Jun continued on his journey, he tried to contact her.
"It's getting exciting here, Junior Brother! Senior Sister is about to make her move!" Tang Xiaotang's voice was filled with excitement.
Upon hearing this, Lei Jun quickened his pace.
Suddenly, a light sphere appeared in his mind, flashing with words:
"The world is in turmoil, a chain of events unfolding in all four directions. Through the chaos, fortune and calamity intertwine."
Lei Jun slowed down as he read the message.
Then, four fortune sticks appeared in the light sphere:
"Upper-middle sign: Travel to Tianle Mountain in the northeast. There is an opportunity for a third-rate opportunity. Be cautious and vigilant to overcome challenges and ensure a smooth journey. Auspicious."
"Middle sign: Travel to Duanlong Gully in the southeast. There is an opportunity for a fifth-rate opportunity. Be cautious and vigilant to overcome challenges and ensure a smooth journey. Neutral."
"Lower-middle sign: Travel to the Well Mountain Cliff in the southwest. There are no gains, and there is significant danger. Be extremely cautious. Inauspicious."
"Lower-middle sign: Travel to the Five Stockade Peaks in the northwest. There are no gains, and there is significant danger. Be extremely cautious. Inauspicious."
Lei Jun raised an eyebrow at the two lower-middle signs.
The fact that he could draw two inauspicious signs with his current cultivation level and resources indicated that the situation was more complex than it seemed.
Lei Jun had no intention of choosing either of the lower-middle signs.
However, it was time to take action regarding a certain matter.
"Master," Lei Jun called out, contacting Yuan Mubai.
At the same time, he stepped into the True One Law Altar, a cave heaven created by the Heaven Master Seal.
The three-layered True One Law Altar shone with purple, golden, and cyan light.
At the top of the altar, the purple light intensified, and thunder rumbled as a sword etched with talismans and spells gradually materialized.
(End of Chapter)
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