Chapter 257: Elder Lei and the Celestial Master Sword (Part 1)

Chapter 257: Elder Lei and the Celestial Master Sword (Part 1)



Lei Jun stood in the dojo before the True One Altar, bowing reverently as the purple light above the three-layered altar grew brighter.

Accompanied by the sound of thunder, the purple light transformed into intertwining electric snakes, roaming in all four directions.

Within the True One Altar's grotto-heaven, not only was it unaffected, but countless talisman patterns and profound laws also flashed with brilliance, lighting up in resonance.

In the purple light above the altar, a sword gradually took form—it was the Celestial Master Sword, one of the three treasures of the Celestial Master.

The appearance of this treasure shifted continuously between the sword and a purple thunder dragon, phasing between reality and illusion.

As the thunder dragon fully emerged from the purple light above the True One Altar, its form gradually solidified and transformed back into the shape of a sword.

"Please, Ancestral Master Sword," Lei Jun said, a lit joss stick appearing in his hand. The fragrant smoke from the burning incense wafted through the air within the True One Altar's grotto-heaven.

After offering incense to the heavens, Lei Jun raised both hands, and the Celestial Master Sword flew down from the top of the True One Altar, landing horizontally in his outstretched hands as if it had a mind of its own.

Lei Jun had performed a similar task back in Jiangzhou, so he was already familiar with the process.

However, Lei Jun did not immediately deliver the Celestial Master Sword to Xu Yuanzhen or Tang Xiaotang.

Today's battle was unlike the one in Jiangzhou.

Ye Moquan and the Jinzhou Ye Clan were even stronger opponents than Lin Zhe and the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou.

It seemed more necessary to put the Celestial Master Sword to use in this battle.

But the enemy would also have their plans.

One wrong move could lead to being countered.

Therefore, neither Xu Yuanzhen nor Tang Xiaotang had contacted Lei Jun and his master to arrange for the sword's delivery.

However, the time was almost ripe.

The senior sister was about to use her own treasure.

If things went smoothly, Lei Jun believed he could deliver the Celestial Master Sword to them.

Before that, he could take this opportunity to deal with his own Karma (qianyun).

Now that he had obtained the Celestial Master Sword, Lei Jun did not refine it, as it currently belonged to Tang Xiaotang.

Instead, he borrowed the thunder law and talisman patterns within the third layer of the True One Altar, combining them with his own understanding of the Quietude Realm to communicate with the sword.

The countless talisman patterns engraved on the surface of this supreme treasure shone with a continuous radiance.

Lei Jun's heart and soul were stirred.

He gained a preliminary understanding of the profound laws and the realm contained within the Celestial Master Sword.

Compared to the Celestial Master Seal, which encompassed the heavens and the earth with its grand and majestic presence, the Celestial Master Sword exuded a rare aura of killing and heroism, rarely seen among the treasures and artifacts of Longhu Mountain.

It was like heavenly might, descending with thunderous punishment to sweep away all evil! Unlike the Yin-Yang harmony and tranquility typically emphasized by the Talisman Sect of the Daoist School, the sword intent of the Celestial Master Sword even carried a hint of overwhelming heroism.

In the recent battles of this era, it had first aided the previous Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, in wounding the Dragon-Snake Pen and then, at the last moment, killing Lin Qun, the previous generation's clan head of the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou, taking them both to their deaths.

Then, on Longhu Mountain, it had followed Tang Xiaotang as she swept through all four directions, defeating the Li Clan so thoroughly that they were in disarray and even suppressing the Celestial Master's Robe, one of the three treasures of the Celestial Master.

Last winter, it had again accompanied Tang Xiaotang as she ravaged the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou, severely injuring Lin Zhe, the current clan head, and severing their thousand-year-old nemesis, the Dragon-Snake Pen.

These victories had continually bolstered and augmented the killing intent of the Celestial Master Sword, causing Longhu Mountain's foremost offensive treasure to become even more sharp and radiant.

Although it was a Taoist treasure, its vigorous spirit was no less impressive than that of a martial arts divine weapon.

As Lei Jun set off, he nurtured this treasure while on his journey.

The four places mentioned in the four qianyun—Tianle Mountain, Duanlong Gully, Jing Mountain Cliff, and Wuzhai Peak—were all located around the ancestral land of the Jinzhou Ye Clan.

Lei Jun contacted Tang Xiaotang to inform her to pay attention to these directions and help Xu Yuanzhen sweep away the enemy formations. He himself chose Tianle Mountain, located northeast of the Ye Clan's ancestral land, and headed in that direction.

………………

In the sky above the ancestral land of the Jinzhou Ye Clan.

Ye Moquan's military salute and divine head-suppressing technique were ineffective in directly suppressing Xu Yuanzhen. He could only rely on the power of the ancestral land's restrictions to hold his ground against her.

The majestic sword stars crisscrossed with the restrictive spiritual energy of the Ye Clan's ancestral land, slicing through the dark cosmos.

"Didn't bring the Celestial Master Sword?" Ye Moquan asked calmly. "Or... the Celestial Master Seal?"

From the depths of the dark cosmos, Xu Yuanzhen's voice seemed to echo everywhere: "What about you? Are you reluctant to part with the Yi Star Seal?"

"There's no need at the moment," Ye Moquan replied.

"I think you do," Xu Yuanzhen said.

Before her words had faded, in addition to the Yin Fire Tiger and the Life Star God within her Great Vehicle realm, a shadowy figure that was neither bright nor dark suddenly appeared and flew out from the depths of the cosmos, manifesting in the mortal realm.

With a single slash, the shadow cut through the majestic sword stars.

Ye Moquan was startled.

Far away, Tang Xiaotang's eyes shone brightly.

She had a rough idea of what Xu Yuanzhen had been preparing over the past six months, and she had been eagerly anticipating it. Unfortunately, Xu Yuanzhen had kept it a secret, but now she could finally witness it.

Just as Lei Jun contacted her, she exclaimed excitedly, "Senior sister is using her treasure!"

The other onlookers were equally intrigued.

Wei Qiyue, the Supreme Elder of Shu Mountain, who had been observing the surroundings, was also drawn to the scene.

Under the gaze of the top experts, the shadow revealed its true form.

It was a long spear, similar to the ones used by the martial arts cultivators earlier.

Its body was neither black nor white, alternating between obscurity and brightness, making it difficult to discern specific details.

However, the spirituality and power contained within it startled both Ye Moquan and the crowd of onlookers.

It was an entirely new Taoist treasure, never seen before.

It was as much a part of Xu Yuanzhen as it was her own, and it must have been personally refined by her!

The long spear was unassuming in appearance, but with a single slash, it cut through all obstacles, bringing unhindered passage.

Its form was that of a killing weapon, yet its aura and realm were untouched by the mundane world's smoke and blood.

Anyone observing this long spear would be astonished by its extraordinary power.

"This treasure is called the Li Heng Spear. Let's see how you fare against it," Xu Yuanzhen said casually.

As the long spear descended, even Ye Moquan, who had the support of the ancestral land, felt its sharp edge.

The old man, initially surprised, soon regained his composure and praised, "Yuan, Hen, Li, and Zhen—these are also the aspirations of us scholars."

"Although it was somewhat unexpected, fortunately, the Dan Xinshui could stabilize and exert its effect for a period of time. It was originally meant to guard against the Celestial Master Sword, but now it seemed that their opponent had something else up their sleeve as well.

Even though neither the Celestial Master Sword nor the Celestial Master Seal had made an appearance yet, it was time to employ the means at their disposal.

As the Li Heng Spear descended, Ye Moquan unexpectedly advanced instead of retreating!

In the ancestral land of the Jinzhou Ye Clan, countless ritual vessels flew into the sky, shattering amidst the surging spiritual energy and transforming into red flowing lights.

The noble and righteous qi continued to gather around Ye Moquan's body, merging with the flowing lights and also turning into a crimson red.

The crimson red eventually condensed into a precious jade, shaped like a heart, illusory and ethereal, appearing on the old man's chest.

The red light, radiating from the precious jade, spread outwards, forming a crimson cloud.

Not only did Tang Xiaotang's eyebrows rise at the sight, but the Shu Mountain observers, watching from afar, also furrowed their brows.

From the crimson cloud, they sensed an extremely ominous aura.

And at that moment, Xu Yuanzhen's Li Heng Spear was slashing down onto the crimson cloud.

The crimson cloud, radiant with red light, seemed to roll with the wind, shattering apart and counteracting Xu Yuanzhen's Li Heng Spear, seemingly intent on dislodging the treasure from her control.

Dan Xinshui (Stable Heart-Shattering)! Derived from the literary intent and profound meaning provided by Zhang Rui, the Grand Prince of Huayang from the Tang Dynasty, combined with Ye Moquan's own erudition in classics and a large number of rare and precious treasures, this treasure was crafted and secretly refined into a ritual vessel by the Lin Clan of the Southern Sect.

While the wild and domineering state crushes literary elegance, the noble and righteous qi of literary elegance can also burn everything to ashes!

The only regret was the scarcity of materials, which currently only allowed for a single set of ritual vessels, capable of producing one 'Dan Xin' (Stable Heart).

Not only was Ye Moquan unafraid of the Locking Confucian Cuff and its ilk, but he also intended to use the related state to counter and proactively shatter his own heart, causing the opponent's treasure to fall apart.

Whether it was Tang Xiaotang lending the Celestial Master Sword to Xu Yuanzhen or them having secretly found the Celestial Master Seal, Ye Moquan was prepared with the Dan Xinshui.

The Li Heng Spear was beyond his expectations, but it was worth using the Dan Xinshui ahead of schedule.

However...

After the long spear trembled in mid-air, crimson red actually flowed out of it and shattered, transforming into shadows.

Caught off guard, Ye Moquan, who was nearby, didn't have time to derive a new crimson cloud, let alone the 'Dan Xin' (Stable Heart) that had formed on his chest; it was shattered by the flying shadows!

"...” The old man retreated, his eyes widening in astonishment as he looked at the Li Heng Spear.

A pale hand grasped the long spear.

"If you have Dan Xinshui, I have the Shuidanxin (Shattered Stable Heart)." Xu Yuanzhen's figure emerged from the depths of the dark cosmos: "Do you like it?"

If it had been the Celestial Master Seal or the Celestial Master Sword, although they were also powerful, there was a possibility that they would have been temporarily disabled by the opponent's Dan Xinshui.

That thing existed solely for this purpose.

But Xu Yuanzhen's Li Heng Spear was newly refined; it had only been completed just before she left for Jinzhou.

Thanks to Lei Jun's reminder, she had just enough time to add some extra ingredients to her treasure...

Not only did this wave fail to dislodge the Li Heng Spear with the crimson cloud, but it also completely shattered the opponent's "Dan Xin" (Stable Heart).

Under the guidance of the opportunity, the result was that Ye Moquan's entire body shook, and his face suddenly paled.

It was as if he had been severely injured, as cracks appeared all over his body, and blood splattered.

This injury was caused by the backlash of the Dan Xinshui, exploding from the inside out, and the few remaining protective treasures on Ye Moquan's body were unable to play any role.

And after injuring Ye Moquan, Xu Yuanzhen had no intention of stopping. The Great Vehicle realm's Taoist landscape took advantage of the situation and completely unfolded, enveloping Ye Moquan within it!

In the deep, dark space, Xu Yuanzhen transformed into the Life Star God, holding the Li Heng Spear, and instantly reappeared before Ye Moquan.

………………

"Is it time to decide the outcome?" The onlookers outside had eager gazes.

Although Ye Moquan was trapped in Xu Yuanzhen's Great Vehicle realm, he had not lost control of the Ye Clan's ancestral land.

The surging spiritual energy, rising in a counteroffensive, continued to attack Xu Yuanzhen's Great Vehicle realm from the outside.

The deep space of the cosmos transformed to resist the external attacks, and for a time, it couldn't exert pressure on the internal Ye Moquan.

While it didn't turn the tables on Xu Yuanzhen, the old patriarch of the Ye Clan had lost his geographical advantage.

Having lost that advantage and with his injuries, he now faced Xu Yuanzhen, who held the Li Heng Spear...

"This time, his trump card will be forced out." Chu Yu looked up at the sky.

At that moment, the sky in the real world suddenly darkened.

Starlight fell from it, illuminating Xu Yuanzhen's Great Vehicle realm.

The black depths of the cosmos, illuminated by the starlight, lost some of its mysteries and regained substance, beginning to twist and shake incessantly.

In that instant, the blackness seemed to thin out a little.

And the aggressive energy rising from the Ye Clan's ancestral land immediately targeted these weak points.

Trapped within, Ye Moquan abandoned his protective treasures and blocked Xu Yuanzhen's consecutive attacks, seizing the opportunity to work in tandem with the outside world, finally opening a passage between the inside and outside of the dark cosmos, akin to an independent world, to escape.

But in that fleeting moment, Xu Yuanzhen had already caught up.

Ye Moquan's figure was stuck at the edge of Xu Yuanzhen's Great Vehicle realm, unable to advance or retreat.

He drew upon the ancestral land's spiritual energy, which poured in through the gap in the Great Vehicle realm.

However, Xu Yuanzhen's Great Vehicle realm did not shatter or recede due to the gap; instead, it remained suspended in mid-air.

On the contrary, the profound darkness began to "erode" the surroundings with a freezing stance.

Currently, Ye Moquan was injured by Xu Yuanzhen's Shuidanxin (Shattered Stable Heart), but fortunately, the starlight from above illuminated him, temporarily stabilizing his injuries and allowing him to continue manipulating the changes in the Jinzhou Ye Clan's ancestral land, constantly "conquering" the darkness in mid-air.

But as Xu Yuanzhen pursued him with the Li Heng Spear in hand, the old man, though struggling to hold on, began to show signs of collapse.

"It's Ye Moquan's 'Wuyou Jie' (Carefree Calamity), invoking the phenomenon of drawing upon the heavenly light." Zhang Junhai, the King of Changshan, exhaled: "His trump card has indeed been forced out."

This 'Wuyou Jie' (Carefree Calamity) was not meant for Xu Yuanzhen in Ye Moquan's original plan.

Instead, it was meant to prevent other enemies from taking advantage of the situation and was a precautionary measure.

Without mentioning the Tang imperial family or any other adversaries, how could Ye Moquan truly trust the other noble houses and prominent clans?

Unfortunately, he had no time to consider other options and could only focus on the present.

"Aside from the 'Carefree Calamity,' he might have other preparations..." Before Chu Yu could finish her sentence, her expression changed slightly.

She and Zhang Junhai retreated further away and unfurled a scroll, employing a technique to communicate as if they were face-to-face.

After reading the transmitted message, the two of them looked solemn.

"The northern frontier's great demons are crossing the Great River in large numbers! Moreover, they are doing so quietly, without setting off any advance warnings. Someone must be secretly aiding them!" Changshan King Zhang Junhai suddenly turned his head to glance at Ye Moquan, who was engaged in a confrontation with Xu Yuanzhen in mid-air, and then at Ye Fan and Chu Peng, who were standing at a distance.

The terrifying demon tide was not headed towards the land of the Three Jin, but rather, towards the Guanlong region.

Normally, the Guanlong region, with its old Tang Dynasty capital, the Daoist sacred site of Chunyang Palace, and the presence of Huang Laozhen, a Grand Master at the Nine Heavens cultivation level from the Daoist School, was well-fortified and difficult to attack.

However, Chu Yu and Zhang Junhai knew that Huang Laozhen's current state was not optimal...

On the other hand, Guan Jing, Lu Jin, and Duan, the three elders of Chunyang Palace, also received the news and their faces changed simultaneously.

The battle in Jinzhou was heating up.

Affected by this, the world was also plunged into turmoil.

………………

In a remote mountainous area far from the ancestral land of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou, a middle-aged man gazed calmly into the distance.

There, starlight pierced through the heavy clouds and descended from the sky.

"The 'Carefree Calamity' has emerged," the middle-aged man nodded slightly. "The 'World Calamity' is probably meant to guard against the Tang Emperor. I wonder if Ye Moquan has any other arrangements?"

As Ye Moquan and Xu Yuanzhen gradually exhausted their backup plans, the middle-aged man finally left the mountain and moved closer to Jinzhou.

Wei Ancheng, the Lord of the Blood River, was greedy, but he was also patient.

Even if this situation turned out like the previous one in Jiangzhou, it wouldn't matter.

Although a direct descendant of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou had died at his hands, Wei Ancheng's target this time was not necessarily Ye Moquan.

In fact, the person who had provided him with information was a member of a prominent clan of the Tang Dynasty.

However, Wei Ancheng had his own ideas about whom to choose as his target.

Whoever gave him the opportunity would become his target.

"The demon race is also making their move," Wei Ancheng said as he gazed into the distance.

Last winter, the great demons of the northern frontier could have moved southward.

With the destruction of the Lin Clan's ancestral land in Youzhou, they had lost an important stronghold, causing the demons to covet their territory.

Even though the Great Emptiness Temple had connections with the demon race, it was merely a mutually beneficial relationship, and they did not truly control the actions of the demons.

It was only because Ye Moquan and Ye Yan had stayed in the north for an extended period that the Lin Clan of Youzhou had avoided further calamities after the destruction of their ancestral land.

At the same time, it had given both sides time and opportunity to communicate...

They were also waiting.

Waiting for the Sea King Chrysanthemum and other great demons of the East China Sea to recover their strength.

How many demons equivalent to human Nine Heavens cultivators would join this expedition?

………………

When Lei Jun arrived at Tianle Mountain, he did not approach immediately but instead chose to observe from a distance.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end