https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-281-The-Thunder-Monk-Bestows-an-Opportunity-Leaving-a-Fragrant-Memory-Part-2-/12587176/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-282-281-Is-the-Heavenly-Master-s-Robe-Here-Part-2-/12587180/
Chapter 282: 281. Is the Heavenly Master's Robe Here? (Part 1)
Chapter 282: 281. Is the Heavenly Master's Robe Here? (Part 1)
Wei Ancheng had a voracious appetite and was not picky about his food, especially when it came to opportunities. If there was a chance to benefit himself, he would take it without hesitation, as long as it didn't put him in immediate danger.
After all, he was unfazed by numerous challenges, be it the figurative lice or the metaphorical debts.
His journey to this point, filled with relentless battles, was not solely attributed to his innate talent, diligent cultivation, and boldness. His greed and ruthlessness played a significant part as well.
To be precise, most Blood River cultivators throughout history shared this similar audacious demeanor.
However, it wasn't just Wei Ancheng's audacity that led to his latest exploit; it was also a matter of good timing.
Together with the Four-Eyed Python Emperor, they formed an ominous fortune slip, originally called the "Consecutive Calamities."
These two powerful individuals did not plan to collaborate and set up an ambush in the Chaos Jiang Valley, waiting for their prey.
On the contrary, if they had truly encountered each other, they might have first engaged in a fierce battle.
The actual sequence of events was that the Four-Eyed Python Emperor resided in the Chaos Jiang Valley, and Sangjie Shangren accidentally stumbled into its lair.
Sangjie Shangren was not weak, and he proceeded with caution, slowly approaching the valley while remaining vigilant. If he had only faced the Four-Eyed Python Emperor, it might not have been a guaranteed escape, but his chances of survival would not have been nonexistent either. It was a situation that could have gone either way.
Jiasheng Shangren was already on his way to the Southern Wasteland.
If Sangjie Shangren could have fled and endured for a little longer, he might have survived with the help of Jiasheng Shangren.
Unfortunately, it was during his escape that Wei Ancheng suddenly intercepted and took his life.
However, why was Wei Ancheng in the vicinity of the Chaos Jiang Valley? Given his past behavior, he was most likely not there specifically for the Four-Eyed Python Emperor hiding in the area.
In fact, he might not have even known about the python's presence beforehand.
It was purely coincidental that he happened to stumble upon the Four-Eyed Python Emperor chasing Sangjie Shangren, and Wei Ancheng, being in the right place at the right time, took advantage of the situation and eliminated Sangjie Shangren.
After all, killing one person was the same as killing another...
But he shouldn't have known that Sangjie Shangren would come to him so conveniently.
Therefore, Wei Ancheng's presence in the area must have been prompted by another original target.
Lei Jun speculated that it could be Future Maitreya or Shangguan Yunbo.
About ten years ago, during the great battle in the Southern Wasteland, Future Maitreya betrayed his allies and joined forces with Shangguan Yunbo and others to injure Wei Ancheng, causing him to flee and shattering his ambition to unify the Wu Sect.
However, their collaboration at that time was both unexpected and temporary.
For Shangguan Yunbo, the White Lotus Sect members were equally rebellious, and when enemies met on a narrow road, there would be no courtesy.
Regardless of the outcome of their battle, Wei Ancheng would be delighted to see them fight, and he would also try to seize the opportunity to benefit himself, just like a fisherman gaining from the quarrel of fishermen.
But Future Maitreya's true strength exceeded the expectations of not only Lei Jun, Yuan Mobai, Shangguan Yunbo, and Longjia Shangren but also Wei Ancheng. He broke through the siege and disappeared without a trace.
As a result, Sangjie Shangren had to suffer the consequences.
After all, he was a cultivator at the Eighth Tier, and a monk at that...
However, by killing Sangjie Shangren, Wei Ancheng had also created another formidable enemy for himself and the Blood River Sect.
Jiasheng Shangren's personal arrival in the Southern Wasteland was somewhat unexpected.
At the same time, other Buddhist disciples from the Western Regions came together and immediately coordinated with the Tang soldiers to launch a cleanup operation in the Southern Wasteland.
While others were unaware, Longjia Shangren had informed Jiasheng Shangren about Sangjie Shangren's previous trip to the Chaos Jiang Valley in search of the Ultimate Betrayal Treasure. With this information, it was easy for the two sides to make some connections.
The Elder of the Yinshan Grotto, a sacred site of the Nanman Witchcraft Sect in the Southern Wasteland, who was possibly related to the Ultimate Betrayal Treasure, was none other than Tian Linlong, who had connections with Wei Ancheng and Yang Yuqi.
Jiasheng Shangren had not been in Sumeru for long, but with the presence of local powerhouses like Longjia Shangren and Kongjiang Temple, he had quickly learned about the relationships between the various forces in and out of the Tang Dynasty.
Now, with this new information, it was hard for him not to suspect that Tian Linlong had intentionally led Sangjie Shangren to Wei Ancheng's blade.
Could it be that the Blood River Sect had been targeting the Western Regions Buddhists from the very beginning?
But why?
The Western Regions Buddhists were filled with doubts, and they became even more determined to find the answers. They searched for the Blood River cultivators and Tian Linlong with increased vigilance.
To achieve this, they did not hesitate to contact the Western Regions for additional support.
However, the Southern Wasteland never failed to deliver surprises.
Yuan Mobai and Longjia Shangren had left Yuning Lake.
Soon after, a startling change occurred at Yuning Lake.
"The Jiuli Black Fog has enveloped the area... Has a Jiuli Grand Witch of the Ninth Tier appeared?"
Upon hearing his master, Yuan Mobai, mention this, Lei Jun secretly thought that the lower fortune slip pointing towards Yuning Lake must be referring to this danger.
The people of the Jiuli tribe were accustomed to calling the people of the current world under the sun the "Xuan Yuan tribe."
According to legends, the ancient battle ultimately ended with the Jiuli tribe retreating into the underground sea. However, their strength was still not to be underestimated.
Especially after being isolated from humans for many years, no one knew the current situation in the Underground Sea.
Although the expansion of the Jiuli Black Fog was not exceptionally rapid, both the Tang Dynasty and external forces treated it with caution, and no one took it lightly.
However, there was still some distance between Yuning Lake and the entrance to the Jiuli Secret Realm.
The sudden spread of the black fog from Yuning Lake, sweeping across the land, was somewhat unexpected.
This was because it was equivalent to a sudden, abrupt change occurring just outside the Jiuli Secret Realm, no longer a simple expansion of the black fog from within the secret realm outwards.
"It has something to do with the earth veins of the Southern Wasteland."
Lei Jun quickly realized, "These Jiuli people are also up to something with the earth vein spiritual energy."
"That's very possible," Yuan Mobai said, pausing briefly before adding, "And there's something even more surprising. The Jiuli Grand Witch who appeared seemed to have encountered someone wielding the North Ming Divine Spear—none other than Fu Dongsen."
Lei Jun's eyebrows shot up at this news, and he was indeed surprised.
Unlike the bloodthirsty sharks of the Blood River Sect, the Human Dao Nation currently kept a low profile and rarely made any moves.
Especially the former head of Shu Mountain, Fu Dongsen, who had gone missing after the great battle at Shu Mountain.
His sudden appearance now was indeed unusual and must have been driven by a specific purpose.
Although Fu Dongsen collided with the Jiuli Grand Witch due to the sudden incident at Yuning Lake, he did not linger and quickly retreated.
The Human Dao Nation had no plans to rise in rebellion at the moment and was still in the accumulation stage. With the Tang imperial family and the three major sacred sites of the Daoist sect as their enemies, they would not actively provoke the Jiuli people and add another adversary to their list.
However, the Southern Wasteland was indeed lively these days... Lei Jun mused.
The Jiuli tribe, the White Lotus Sect, the Blood River Sect, and the Human Dao Nation—it was a gathering of the elite and a meeting of rebels.
Traitors were everywhere, and one could only wonder how General Shangguan and Prince Xiang were faring.
For now, the Western Regions Buddhists and Yuan Mobai had been entrusted to temporarily remain and join forces to deal with the situation.
Simultaneously, Shangguan Yunbo and Prince Xiang, Zhang Luo, rushed to report the incident in Chang'an.
Due to the changes in Yuning Lake, Shangguan Yunbo could not continue his pursuit of Future Maitreya at this time and was forced to return and reunite with Zhang Luo and the others.
The other sects of the Nanman Witchcraft Sect were equally shaken.
Lei Jun continued to act alone, working in tandem with Yuan Mobai, each in their own way.
He arrived on the outskirts of Yuning Lake but did not approach it.
His target was the place where Fu Dongsen had appeared before.
Compared to the Jiuli lands, Lei Jun was temporarily more curious about the developments in the Human Dao Nation.
Fu Dongsen had a brief confrontation with the Grand Witch, coming and going in a hurry.
In such a situation, he inevitably left behind some traces.
Lei Jun collected them and distanced himself, seeking a relatively safe and hidden place before entering the True One Law Altar Cave Heaven.
Inside the True One Law Altar, Lei Jun needed no further action; with a thought, countless flickering spirit lights of the Tian Tong Di Che Law Lues appeared.
Numerous Law Lues converged and flickered in the air, resembling a star chart.
Lei Jun sat cross-legged, carefully pondering over them.
After a long while, he waved his hand, and the numerous talismans did not disperse but flew out in all directions.
Leaving the Law Altar and the Cave Heaven, Lei Jun remained calm and patient, waiting.
After an unknown period, the light of the Law Lues flashed in the depths of his eyes.
He, too, left the Cave Heaven, following the scattered talismans in search of his target.
Suddenly, Lei Jun slowed down.
The talismans in the distance scattered decisively, turning into pure heavenly and earthly qi.
Above Lei Jun's head, the Xuan Xu Mirror rotated, and under the cover of its dim light, the Tian Xing Lue Yin Xing variation further concealed his figure.
Soon, a faint yet bright mirror light, vague and ethereal, shone from afar.
Although the mirror light seemed illusory, it possessed an extraordinary ability to discern and observe.
Lei Jun's eyes flickered, and he immediately thought of a treasure that originally belonged to the Shushan Sect—the Bright Mirror.
It was said to have belonged to Shushan because it was the natal treasure of Gao Yuyang, a former elder of the sect.
Gao Yuyang had left Shushan Xiading with Fu Dongsen, Hong Jie, and others and was now one of the esteemed elders of the Human Dao Nation.
His generation was the same as Xu Duan and Wei Qi Yue, and he was senior to Fu Dongsen, Zheng Dongying, and others.
However, his cultivation level was the same as Zheng Dongying, He Dongxing, Ji Dongquan, and the others, currently at the seventh level of the Daoist Sect's Refinement Realm.
He was not a sword cultivator, and his natal treasure was this Bright Mirror.
While it may not be as sharp as a flying sword in battle, it had other wonderful uses.
Combined with Gao Yuyang's powerful soul, a product of his seventh-level Refinement Realm cultivation, his control over the Bright Mirror granted him exceptional insight.
Even Lei Jun had to be cautious, employing various concealment techniques to evade detection.
Gao Yuyang did not sense Lei Jun, and Lei Jun did not make a move immediately.
As the distance between them shortened, Lei Jun noticed that in addition to Gao Yuyang, there were several young Daoists accompanying him.
Gao Yuyang himself could not detect Lei Jun, so there was no need to mention the others, who were only at the middle-level of the Refinement Realm.
However, looking at these people, Lei Jun had some thoughts.
According to what Yuan Mobai had told him earlier, the Western Regions Buddhists were also divided into several groups, each led by a Red Robed Master, accompanied by their disciples.
However, despite the Western Regions Buddhists nominally cooperating with the Tang imperial family, they would not initiate conflict with the Human Dao Nation unless absolutely necessary.
Currently, they already had two adversaries in the White Lotus Sect and the Blood River Sect.
Longjia Shangren, who had no intention of making more enemies, would most likely turn a blind eye or even tacitly allow Gao Yuyang and his group to pass if they happened to meet without any outsiders present.
Likewise, the Human Dao Nation would not actively seek conflict with the Western Regions Buddhists.
Gao Yuyang, with his strong reconnaissance abilities, would likely avoid encounters with the Western Regions Buddhists.
Although they were actually the most formidable rivals in terms of intentions, it was not the right time—at least not yet.
Unless there was something that attracted the attention of both parties.
The No Intervals Treasure, due to Sangjie Shangren, had the Western Regions Buddhists on high alert.
One wrong move, and they might mobilize their forces, which would, in turn, limit Lei Jun's ability to move through space.
Moreover, it would not attract the attention of Gao Yuyang and the others from the Human Dao Nation.
So, was there something that both parties might be interested in? After some thought, Lei Jun contacted his master, Yuan Mobai, to gain a general understanding of the situation on the Western Regions Buddhists' side.
Then, he quietly took action.
A river of bluish-green water appeared before Lei Jun.
In the Nanman lands, landscapes of mountains and rivers were interconnected, similar to the Zhaojiang and Zhuanjiang rivers.
The Yujiang River before him was one of them.
Lei Jun entered the river.
Then, he gently exhaled.
The sound of dragon roars and tiger roars resonated, and true dragon and tiger forms appeared, merging into a yin-yang taiji pattern, with dragons and tigers intersecting and demonstrating profound mysteries.
It was the Dragon and Tiger Law Lue.
As the Dragon and Tiger Law Lue flickered, nine rainbow-colored veils descended upon Lei Jun, manifesting the Nine Lights of the Cavernous Abyss.
The colorful radiance floated directly above the river, and illusory Dragon and Tiger Law Lues reflected in the air.
Soon, a mirror light turned towards him from afar.
Gao Yuyang, Bright Mirror.
This Shushan Sect elder was relatively prudent and would not easily change his original intention.
He had left Shushan with Fu Dongsen to search for spirit objects related to the Ancient Celestial Palace.
However, when he swept the area with his Bright Mirror, he was stunned.
The Heavenly Master's Robe? It looked like the genuine Nine Lights of the Cavernous Abyss.
It also condensed the Dragon and Tiger Law Lues.
This could not be faked.
So, the Heavenly Master's Robe was here all along? Following the river, one would be influenced by the earth vein spiritual energy.
Could it be that with the return of the Jiuli to the mortal realm and the changes in the earth vein spiritual energy, the Heavenly Master's Robe has reappeared? Although he was a Refinement Realm cultivator, the Heavenly Master's Robe was still a treasure that attracted Gao Yuyang's attention.
Moreover, as a talismanic treasure, it held immense value for the Human Dao Nation.
Gao Yuyang, who had previously lacked any clues, felt a surge of excitement.
Today, he had unintentionally stumbled upon this opportunity.
The Nine Lights of the Cavernous Abyss rose and fell with the river, sometimes hidden and sometimes visible.
Fortunately, Gao Yuyang's natal treasure, the Bright Mirror, could perceive the relevant direction, and he immediately gave chase.
Lei Jun's choice of the Yujiang River and his current destination were well-thought-out.
As he went downstream, he not only entered the middle reaches of the Yujiang River but also drew closer to a small group of Western Regions Buddhists.
The leader of this group was a familiar face—Longjia Shangren.
(End of Chapter)
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