https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-268-267-The-Three-Great-Dharma-Images-One-Shot-Three-Echoes-Part-1-/12587148/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-269-The-Man-Behind-the-Yellow-Celestial-Dao/12587150/
Chapter 268: 267. The Three Great Dharma Images, One Shot, Three Echoes (Part 2)
Chapter 268: 267. The Three Great Dharma Images, One Shot, Three Echoes (Part 2)
I'll talk about it later. There's something odd about the Wanfa Zongtan," Yuan Mobai said hastily before ending the transmission.
Lei Jun's brows furrowed, but he soon smoothed them out, calming his mind as he patiently waited.
There was no further news from the Mountain Gate or Yuan Mobai.
Lei Jun pondered for a moment before turning his attention to Kang Ming's situation.
"What's going on? Could it be that the Zongtan wasn't destroyed?"
Kang Ming was equally perplexed.
To his surprise, the spirit talisman that had been sealed by him was regaining its vitality.
Previously, as time passed, the suppression from the Wanfa Zongtan had become more apparent, and he couldn't even draw basic spirit talismans, let alone higher-level ones.
But now, as he burned incense and prayed to the heavens, his communication with the natural world was gradually being restored, and there was no longer anyone forcefully blocking him.
Kang Ming tested it out and found that he could indeed redraw the basic spirit talismans.
However, there was still some obstruction when it came to higher-level talismans.
To be precise, his shattered spirit disc was unable to function.
"Do I need to be re-invested with a spirit disc?" Kang Ming wondered, and then gradually realized what was happening.
His original Huangtian Zongtan had indeed been destroyed.
But now, the Huangtian Dao was establishing a new Zongtan!
This new Zongtan would shelter the Huangtian Dao cultivators from the storm and once again isolate them from the influence of the Longhu Mountain's Wanfa Zongtan.
However, Kang Ming would need to go to the new Zongtan and empower his spirit disc to repair it, which was equivalent to being re-invested with a spirit disc to a certain extent.
Only then could he resume drawing higher-level talismans.
Was this a good thing?
Of course, it was!
But...
How did they achieve this? Kang Ming's expression turned gloomy as he thought, "Elder Zhao... Zhao Zongjie."
According to the court's current statement, both Taiping Daoist and Qi Shuo had perished.
If there was anyone left who could re-establish a Zongtan for the Huangtian Dao, it would be the last remaining high-achieving elder, Zhao Zongjie.
However, setting aside the immense difficulty of establishing a new Zongtan and the tremendous amount of heavenly treasures required, Zhao Zongjie himself would have to devote everything he had.
Yet, Zhao Zongjie was willing to do so?
Kang Ming's expression turned gloomy as he pondered.
Previously, there had been a subtle rift within the Huangtian Dao, which only subsided after the return of the leader, Taiping Daoist.
And Kang Ming was a sect master of Zhao Zongjie's faction.
But now, precisely because of this, Kang Ming had deep suspicions about Zhao Zongjie.
He had gone to Qing Shi Island in high spirits, thinking that he could quietly cultivate and strive for a breakthrough to the Seventh Heaven Realm.
However, he had almost been possessed by a Dan Ding Sect expert.
The person most likely to have betrayed him was not Qi Shuo from the opposing faction, but rather, Elder Zhao Zongjie, who had shown him kindness.
But now, as the Huangtian Dao faced adversity, Zhao Zongjie had sacrificed himself to re-establish the Zongtan?
Kang Ming shook his head, casting aside his turbulent emotions.
What he needed to consider now was his next course of action.
……………………
While Kang Ming was filled with doubts, Lei Jun was equally surprised.
Later, Master Yuan Mobai finally sent another message:
"The Huangtian Dao has re-established a new Zongtan, which has triggered a response from the Wanfa Zongtan."
Yuan Mobai's tone was also laced with suspicion as he said, "The court has received similar intelligence, indicating that Zhao Zongjie is behind this."
Lei Jun: "Regardless of whether Zhao Zongjie was himself before, he certainly is now."
Yuan Mobai: "Yes."
The winds of change were beginning to blow outside.
The hearts of the Huangtian Dao followers began to settle.
Previously, the Huangtian Dao was in chaos, and everyone was anxious because they could feel their own talismans being sealed by the Wanfa Zongtan of the Longhu Mountain Ancestral Court, and they knew that their Huangtian Zongtan had been destroyed.
This was the foundation of everything.
On top of this, the news of Taiping Daoist being possessed and Qi Shuo secretly colluding with the Dan Ding Sect spread, causing the Huangtian Dao disciples to completely fall into turmoil and making the various rumors that followed even more damaging.
Otherwise, the Huangtian Dao had endured difficulties for so many years, and those who persisted until now, even if they didn't hold a grudge against the Tian Shi Fu, were people like Kang Ming, with relatively strong and even stubborn wills.
With their Zongtan destroyed and their foundation lost, they were cut off from any possibility of progressing in their cultivation.
It was at this point that the rumors of several high-achieving masters having problems spread, causing the Huangtian Dao disciples to feel desperate.
But now, with Zhao Zongjie sacrificing himself to re-establish the Huangtian Zongtan, everything immediately changed for the better.
Compared to rumors, the fact that their talismans were previously sealed and are now unsealed is tangible.
The minds of the Huangtian Dao disciples settled, and they began to feel hopeful.
Some even began to spread the idea that Qi Shuo was framed and that Taiping Daoist had not been possessed. They claimed that the two of them had actually fought valiantly to protect the overseas Zongtan and died as heroes.
Although this outcome was painful, it added a touch of heroism, causing the remaining Huangtian Dao disciples to develop a sense of martyrdom.
Limited by their strength, it was impossible for them to launch a counterattack and overthrow the Tang court and the Tian Shi Fu.
However, the court's current process of purging the remnants of the Huangtian Dao became much less smooth.
On the one hand, the Huangtian Dao disciples could draw talismans again, and on the other hand, they had hope and were no longer desperate, so they fled and hid with all their might.
The number of surrenders decreased significantly.
These people were determined to hide in the shadows, and it was never easy to root them out one by one.
"Master, I recall that for the establishment of the Huangtian Zongtan, a high-achieving elder has to voluntarily sacrifice themselves, right?" Lei Jun asked.
Yuan Mobai: "That is indeed what confuses me and others."
Most Huangtian Dao disciples were unaware, but Lei Jun and his master were all too clear about the situation.
Taiping Daoist had indeed been possessed.
And Qi Shuo had indeed secretly helped Gu Han, Feng Yi, and Zhou Peng.
If they wanted to target someone like Kang Ming, who was already a core member of the Huangtian Dao's inner circle, or even a high-ranking member, they couldn't do it without Zhao Zongjie's knowledge.
Regardless of whether Zhao Zongjie was like Taiping Daoist or Qi Shuo, he definitely wouldn't be completely unaware.
Now, Zhao Zongjie had sacrificed himself? Even if Zhao Zongjie was still Zhao Zongjie, and even if he was willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of the Huangtian Dao, wouldn't he worry that after his sacrifice, the Huangtiang Dao would not have any Upper Three Heavens cultivators, making it easy for the Dan Ding Sect to manipulate them?
It was true that Feng Yi and Zhou Peng had perished, but on the other side, there was still Gu Han, a cultivator at the Eighth Heaven Realm.
Or did Zhao Zongjie only know about Feng Yi and Zhou Peng and not about anyone else? Lei Jun felt that the possibility of this was still small... He shook his head slightly.
"Even if Zhao Zongjie volunteered, it's not something that can be done on a whim," Yuan Mobai shared the same doubt.
When the Huangtian Dao's founding elder sacrificed himself to establish the Zongtan in the early years, he was assisted by a large number of heavenly treasures, emptying most of the Huangtian Dao's wealth that had been brought out when they left the Tian Shi Fu.
"It seems they were prepared," Lei Jun said. "The Huangtian Zongtan was indeed aging, but it should have taken a few more years for it to completely wither away. They prepared so early, it seems that Gu Han and Zhou Peng also played a part."
Yuan Mobai: "Their goal was to gain control of the Huangtian Dao, not to treat all Huangtian Dao disciples as vessels for possession."
So, they considered a long-term plan. If the original Huangtian Zongtan aged, they would need to establish a new one.
The question was, who would be willing to sacrifice themselves?
"Zhao Zongjie... He may have been controlled by them and prepared early on as one of the 'materials' for the new Zongtan."
Lei Jun exhaled slowly. "But even if Zhao Zongjie volunteered, it's not something that can be decided by the Dan Ding Sect's Nascent Soul cultivator on his behalf, right?"
Yuan Mobai: "As far as I know, unless that Nascent Soul cultivator from the Dan Ding Sect is willing to sacrifice his Nascent Soul as well, he wouldn't be able to make such a decision.
However, there are endless wonders in the world, and I can't make absolute statements. Perhaps there are some unknown methods or special cases that we are unaware of."
Lei Jun: "Then there should also be many restrictive conditions."
Otherwise, the more likely scenario would be someone targeting a high-achieving elder of the Tian Shi Fu, and in a calculated move, seeking to possess them and then use them as a 'material'.
Even that would be extremely difficult.
Now it seems that Zhao Zongjie was chosen because he himself was special and could be an exception.
Unfortunately, Lei Jun and his master had no way of knowing the truth of the matter at present.
What they could be certain of was that although Zhao Zongjie had died, he could be deified within the Huangtian Dao, comparable to their founding ancestor.
Regardless of whether it was voluntary or involuntary, in this instant, his reputation surpassed that of Qing Ling and Taiping Daoist, and he could be said to have turned the tide.
As expected, news soon arrived.
Zhao Zongjie's closed disciple, Yu Shao, inherited his master's legacy, including his reputation, and more importantly, the new Huangtian Zongtan. Although he did not become the new leader of the Huangtian Dao, his influence rose sharply, surpassing that of Kang Ming, Chen Ziyang, and Han Wuyou within the Huangtian Dao.
Upon receiving the latest intelligence from the captured Huangtian Dao disciples, it was revealed that due to the current tense situation, Yu Shao had temporarily refrained from inaugurating the new Zongtan. However, he would find a way to confer new talismans to qualified Huangtian Dao disciples at a later time.
Due to historical and environmental reasons, the Huangtian Zongtan could bestow talismans remotely, a well-established means for them.
With this news, the Huangtian Dao was able to rally their disciples' morale once more.
And with the new Zongtan, Yu Shao, Chen Ziyang, and Han Wuyou would have the opportunity to advance to the Upper Three Heavens and challenge the Tian Shi Fu.
Having weathered this crisis, the Huangtian Dao still held hopes for a resurgence.
"Kang Ming, will you go to see Yu Shao?"
As Master and disciple discussed this matter, Yuan Mobai asked, "Given his unique situation, what will he do?"
Although Lei Jun and the others were unaware of Chen Ziyang and Han Wuyou's circumstances, they knew that Kang Ming had endured a trial by fire due to Lei Jun's involvement.
Because of Lei Jun, Kang Ming had narrowly escaped a calamity, and one could say that he had turned misfortune into good fortune.
However, at present, Yu Shao and the new Huangtian Zongtan might still be connected to Gu Han and his cohorts.
If Kang Ming were to go to them, it would be akin to walking into a trap.
No one knew that Lei Jun had saved Kang Ming.
If Kang Ming had inherited all of Wen Zhaoqian's memories, he could have masqueraded as Wen Zhaoqian and infiltrated them without raising suspicions.
But Kang Ming had only inherited a portion of Wen Zhaoqian's memories, and if he rashly immersed himself in their midst, he risked exposing himself at any moment.
Nevertheless, if he chose not to go, Kang Ming would have to either surrender to the Tian Shi Fu or forsake any chance of progressing in his cultivation within the Talisman Sect.
Of course, he now had the Dan Ding Sect's legacy as a fallback option.
Lei Jun would not impose any demands on him in this regard.
The decision was entirely up to Kang Ming.
And Kang Ming's choice was...
To find a way to contact Yu Shao! His cautious nature, coupled with a tendency to take bold risks at crucial junctures, influenced his decision about his future path.
He was unwilling to leave the Huangtian Dao, a sect he had been a part of for decades, and even more reluctant to see it fall into the hands of those Dan Ding Sect cultivators.
He had ambitions for power and a strong belief in his sect's legacy.
Without a Zongtan, he lacked the influence to compete with Yu Shao for the hearts of their disciples.
For the time being, he could only bow to Yu Shao's authority.
As for the future, that would depend on subsequent developments.
Kang Ming eventually succeeded in establishing contact with Yu Shao.
Yu Shao's words were quite reasonable, and he expressed great respect for Kang Ming. However, he mentioned that the current environment was unfavorable and asked Kang Ming to be patient for the time being. He promised to invite Kang Ming to the Zongtan later, after the storm had passed, and by then, with Kang Ming's advancement to the Upper Three Heavens, their sect would have a new high-achieving master.
Since Kang Ming had made his decision, he felt more at peace and was naturally more patient.
However, after concluding his conversation with Yu Shao, he fell into deep thought.
He first glanced at the shadow of the Celestial Book's dark side, then at the silent and colorless universe.
Then, Kang Ming turned his gaze inward, examining the Golden Core within him, now fully integrated with his being.
Even though he couldn't continue progressing in his Talisman Sect cultivation for the time being, Kang Ming didn't let this stop his personal growth, refusing to let time pass by idly.
Every day during this period of seclusion, he persevered in his cultivation.
The fragments of Wen Zhaoqian's Nascent Soul and Golden Core had perfectly fused with Kang Ming, allowing him to accomplish what others couldn't—to attain the essence of Wen Zhaoqian's lifelong cultivation.
This also enabled him to progress in the Daoist Dan Ding Sect's path.
Kang Ming closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate quietly.
At this moment, he didn't change his spirit into an image like a Talisman Sect cultivator.
Instead, his soul exited his body, manifesting a Yang spirit outside of his physical form.
……………………
Lei Jun was currently outside the place where Kang Ming was hiding.
After learning about the establishment of the new Huangtian Zongtan from his master, Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun set off without delay to join Kang Ming.
As Kang Ming sought a way to contact Yu Shao, Lei Jun quietly observed from the sidelines.
Kang Ming could only communicate with Yu Shao through a thousand-mile sound-transmitting talisman, unable to pinpoint Yu Shao's exact location.
Yu Shao didn't want to meet him, so Kang Ming patiently waited.
But Lei Jun was different.
As a Talisman Sect cultivator, his abilities in this area surpassed Kang Ming's.
And if the environment wasn't particularly complex, then as long as he could communicate with someone, he would know where that person was located, at least within a general area.
So...
"Sichuan's Western Region?" Lei Jun's eyes shone with the mysterious Tian Tong Di Che Fa Lu, radiant with flowing light.
A faint line of light appeared between his eyes, on his brow, and it extended towards the distance.
Lei Jun raised his hand, and this line of light fell onto his Xuan Xu Mirror.
Instead of reflecting or refracting, the faint light penetrated the illusory mirror and continued towards the distance.
Lei Jun nodded slightly and immediately set off towards the western region of Sichuan.
Located west of Bashu and bordering the Snow Region Plateau, the western region of Sichuan was a land of undulating mountains and numerous snow-capped peaks, thus sparsely populated, unlike the densely populated eastern region of Sichuan.
To some extent, it served as a buffer zone between humans and demons.
In recent years, the great demons from the Snow Region Plateau had rarely approached the western region of Sichuan, instead focusing their attention on clashes with the southern wilderness demons, staying away from human territories.
The Shu Mountain Sect occasionally sent cultivators to patrol this area, but not as frequently as in Bashu.
Upon arriving, Lei Jun searched the area and soon fixed his gaze on a range of snow-capped mountains.
PS: 8k Chapter
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