https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-288-Lei-Jun-s-First-Grand-Initiation-Ceremony-Part-1-/12587185/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-289-Elder-Lei-s-Taoist-Name-Part-1-/12587187/
Chapter 288: Lei Jun's First Grand Initiation Ceremony (Part 2)
Chapter 288: Lei Jun's First Grand Initiation Ceremony (Part 2)
In the shattered void where the portal of Wenhua Peak in Great Black Mountain leads to, civilization was trampled by the wilderness.
The very essence of Wenhua Qi differed significantly from the current Confucian legacy of the Great Tang.
Compared to the meaning of the text provided by Saturday, it was more similar but not entirely identical.
The text provided by Saturday, or perhaps the Confucian legacy of Tianli, was more advanced than the Wenhua ambience trampled by the barbarians.
It was more solid and also harder.
Saturday: "Indeed."
He bluntly said, "I don't like this style, but I think we should investigate and understand it clearly."
Lei Jun: "Then what about Lian Shan?"
Saturday: "It only flashed by in an instant, and I'm not very clear about the current situation."
He paused slightly before continuing, "The following is just my guess, and it may not be accurate, but I feel that the Wenhua Qi of Lian Shan seems rather faint..."
Lei Jun: "As you said, Lian Shan and... Tianli have not yet reconnected with the human realm?"
Saturday: "I've tried to find out more, but I haven't discovered anything further."
Although he said this, with the surging spiritual energy and the return of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, nothing could be certain.
Perhaps it would happen today, or in the next moment.
Or perhaps it wouldn't come for many years.
Lei Jun pondered this, chatted with Saturday a little longer, and then arranged a time and place to hand over the Refining Rock.
For Lei Jun, a Daoist Talisman sect cultivator, the primary value of the Refining Rock lay in its use for refining magical artifacts.
It would be even more useful in the hands of a Confucian cultivator.
After leaving the Heavenly Tome universe, Lei Jun headed to the Chishu Pavilion to browse through the collection of books.
There were limited records about Lian Shan and Gui Cang, now renamed Tianli, in the Taoist scriptures.
Lei Jun carefully read through each entry, searching with a calm mind.
Soon after, he contacted his master, Yuan Mobai, to inquire about any new developments regarding the Buddhist sect in the Western Regions.
"After the people from the Immortal Countries disappeared in the South Wild, there haven't been any major movements from the people of the Sumeru Vajra Division."
Yuan Mobai spoke, "However, there's something worth noting in the Western Regions. Recently, someone from Sumeru has come to the mortal realm, and their cultivation strength is unclear, but they are not to be underestimated."
Lei Jun's eyes glinted at his words, "The Buddhist Handprint sect's legacy is flourishing with the support of Sumeru!"
However, their pace seemed rather conservative, making it difficult to gauge their true level.
But if they were to consider their enemies generously, the strength of the Buddhist sect in the Western Regions exceeded their previous estimates.
"We must be cautious." Yuan Mobai advised.
Lei Jun: "Yes, Master."
He shared with Yuan Mobai his other plans, to which Yuan Mobai did not object. Thus, Lei Jun's spiritual soul once again immersed itself in the Heavenly Tome universe.
This time, he sought a private chat with Sunday.
Although he had his suspicions about her identity, Lei Jun maintained a nonchalant demeanor.
"What do you want?" Sunday asked first.
Lei Jun slowly said, "Do you have a Dipei Yanhuo?"
Sunday: "I have one."
Lei Jun: "Then I'll trade for it."
He informed Sunday about the possibility of another powerful expert from the Buddhist sect in the Western Regions, as he had heard from Yuan Mobai.
Sunday did not respond immediately after hearing this.
After a moment, she spoke again, "Then the Dipei Yanhuo is yours. Let's set a time and place for the exchange."
Lei Jun remained calm, "Thank you."
Sunday didn't play any tricks.
Lei Jun successfully obtained the spiritual object he desired.
Dipei Yanhuo is born from the molten lava beneath the nine earth layers. It originally belonged to the Yang Yan family, but as the saying goes, 'extremes give birth to extremes', and so its core contains yin properties.
This treasure has a wide range of uses, and many cultivators can benefit from it.
For Lei Jun, its function was similar to the Chentai Stardust that his junior disciple, Chu Kun, had given him.
The Heavenly Stardust had helped him quickly cultivate the Subduing Mother Star Divine Method in a short period.
As for the Earth Fiery Flame, it could help him cultivate the Nine Origins Flame Ancestor Technique in a short period.
Of course, not now.
Being able to cultivate the Grand Tomb Star Divine Method, the Nine Heavens Thunderclaw Method, and the Mysterious Void Thunderclaw Method simultaneously while in the Seven Heavens realm was already a stretch, and he couldn't push for more.
Lei Jun prepared the Dipei Yanhuo for when his cultivation level would advance to the Eight Heavens realm in the future.
After obtaining the Dipei Yanhuo, Lei Jun continued at his own pace, cultivating diligently and building his stairway to heaven.
Thus, time in the mountains passed without notice, and his cultivation progressed without him realizing it.
Two years went by in the blink of an eye.
Lei Jun's stairway to heaven gradually reached its final stage.
Yuan Mobai, who had been in the South Wild for a long time, finally returned to the mountain.
Lei Jun and Chu Kun, the senior and junior brothers, welcomed him.
The three of them returned to the mountain together.
"Have you been in seclusion again?" Yuan Mobai asked with a smile.
Lei Jun nodded, "Senior Brother mentioned that he had a breakthrough in his cultivation and has reached a critical stage, so he has been in seclusion more often lately."
The master and disciples chatted and caught up on the current situation in the South Wild, and they couldn't help but sigh.
Lei Jun and Chu Kun, the senior and junior brothers, cultivated quietly on Dragon and Tiger Mountain.
However, outside the mountain, things were not peaceful.
The world changed, unaffected by any individual.
The once stable South Wild that Lei Jun had left behind underwent drastic changes in these two years.
One of the sacred sites of the Witch Gate, Gebo Mountain, was destroyed.
As a sacred site of the Shen Wu lineage, Gebo Mountain had dominated the South Wild for many years and was the most stable among the Witch Gate mountain sects. But this time, it was conquered by the Jiuli experts.
Gebo Mountain was surrounded by the Jiuli Secret Realm, You Ning Lake, and Zuo Qing Mountain.
Subsequently, a fourth area shrouded in Jiuli black mist emerged.
It quickly spread, covering the mountains and ridges between the four points, including Gebo Mountain.
Lei Jun had previously received news on the mountain that in addition to the Nine Heavens realm's Jiuli Great Witch, Li Yan, another Nine Heavens realm expert from the Jiuli tribe had appeared, leading other tribal elites in an attack.
The black mist hindered Gebo Mountain's Ghost God Sacrifice Array, and with a large number of Jiuli elites besieging them, Gebo Mountain was in grave danger.
Dajiang Army General Shangguan Yunbo, Prince of Xiang Zhang Luo, and Ye Moro, another important general of the Dajiang Army, did not sit idly by.
They quickly gathered their forces and charged into the black mist, rushing to aid Gebo Mountain, hoping to form an internal and external attack.
Facing a common enemy, the Tang imperial family and the Witch Gate's holy land in the South Wilderness had frequent interactions during this period, gradually easing past grudges and suspicions, and joining forces to a limited extent.
The other two major holy sites of the Witch Gate, Yanshan Cave and Reincarnation Abyss, also sent experts to assist Gebo Mountain.
With the sky obscured by black mist and the enemy's overwhelming force, the only hope for Gebo Mountain was to hold their ground with the protection of their mountain gate grand formation.
Unfortunately, Gebo Mountain was eventually breached.
"Master, Li Tianqing, is he really a traitor?" Lei Jun asked. "Is he truly a descendant of the Jiuli people?"
Yuan Mobai replied, "Li Tianqing of Gebo Mountain is indeed a descendant of the Jiuli people, and he can be considered a chosen one, or perhaps, a child of fate. Unlike the other Jiuli people who dwell in the darkness of the underground sea, he is able to walk under the sun on the earth's surface.
However, as for whether he is a traitor of Gebo Mountain, I remain cautious. Based on my personal observations, he seems unaware of his true origins."
Lei Jun blinked.
Unconsciously, he recalled some of the novels he had read before crossing over into this world.
There was a saying that went, 'Those who are not of our kind must have different intentions.' When one's identity is suddenly exposed, they become an outsider, not belonging to either world... or perhaps, not considered human by either side.
This was the situation that Li Tianqing, the new top expert of Gebo Mountain, now found himself in.
Over the years, due to the injuries inflicted on Sang Lu, the previous Holy Master of Gebo Mountain, by Wei Ancheng, the Sect Master of Blood River, during the South Wilderness War, Sang Lu had been recuperating for an extended period. As a result, most of the affairs of Gebo Mountain had been handed over to Li Tianqing, the designated successor.
In a sense, Li Tianqing had been acting as the new Holy Master of Gebo Mountain for the past decade or so.
He possessed extraordinary talent and cultivation, as well as a relatively straightforward and kind personality. He was respected by the inner disciples and had a wide network of connections outside.
Shangguan Yunbo had privately spoken highly of Li Tianqing to Yuan Mobai, Zhang Luo, and others.
Who would have thought that it would end up like this?
Amidst the chaos of the sudden turn of events, Gebo Mountain was breached, and Sang Lu, an eightfold heaven-peak expert of the Shen Wu lineage, perished.
Fortunately, there were many experts from the human world who responded in time and successfully dispelled the black mist, preventing the four sides from joining forces. Eventually, the black mist retreated in all four directions.
However, the mountain gate of Gebo Mountain had been destroyed.
Li Tianqing tried to defend himself, but in such a situation, his words fell on deaf ears, and he had no choice but to flee.
Along the way, Wei Ancheng and the Blood River sect experts appeared again, attempting to take advantage of the chaos.
Meanwhile, Jia Sheng Shangren, who had been focusing on causing trouble for the Human Path Country, made an unexpected appearance.
Although the people of the Human Path Country had gone into hiding, the members of the Western Regions' Buddhist sect were not willing to let the matter rest.
However, they had not forgotten about Wei Ancheng, who had killed Sangje Shangren.
This time, the Western Regions' Buddhist sect experts sought to avenge Sangje Shangren. While they were unable to capture Wei Ancheng himself, they managed to inflict damage on him and his Blood River sect disciples.
After failing to expand the area covered by the black mist and pull out the thorn that was Gebo Mountain, the Jiuli experts, led by Li Yan, a Nine Heavens realm Great Witch of the Jiuli tribe, decided to cut their losses and retreat.
After the new battle, Gebo Mountain suffered the most severe losses.
During the previous South Wilderness War, there was already a traitor, Yuan Shanji, who had fled.
Now, with the loss of both the previous and current Holy Masters, Sang Lu and Li Tianqing, and the destruction of their mountain gate, the remaining Gebo Mountain disciples would face immense challenges in reestablishing their foothold in the chaotic and bloody South Wilderness.
"However, after that battle, there were no new major moves from the Jiuli people, which can be considered a blessing in disguise," Yuan Mobai said.
Lei Jun and Chu Kun, the senior and junior brothers, exchanged glances, and Chu Kun hesitantly said, "Although there are two Ninefold Heaven experts, the Jiuli people's performance... doesn't seem that formidable?"
The Underground Sea is indeed dangerous.
However, it also harbors numerous heavenly treasures and earthbound treasures, as well as wonderful opportunities, that are not found in the outside world.
If the Jiuli people, who have multiplied and thrived for many years, only possess such strength, then the Great Tang should be plotting to push them back into the Underground Sea or even considering how to invade the Underground Sea.
"Perhaps there is something else at play," Lei Jun said. "I hope that General Shangguan and Prince Xiang won't be too careless."
Yuan Mobai nodded. "That is true."
As they spoke, Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai's expressions changed simultaneously.
Lei Jun looked at his master and smiled. "Big Brother is out of seclusion."
Yuan Mobai smiled and nodded. "What a coincidence."
When Wang Guiyuan saw that Yuan Mobai had returned, his face lit up with joy, and he quickly pulled his master aside to catch up and inquire about his well-being.
However, in the end, he said solemnly to Yuan Mobai, "Master, I have gained some insights in my cultivation, and I wish to go out and travel to broaden my horizons and gain more knowledge..."
He looked at the two disciples beside him with a helpless expression. "...What are those expressions for?"
Chu Kun said, "Er... Although it has been over ten years since Big Brother last went out, hearing you say this now still feels very uncomfortable."
Lei Jun was even more straightforward. "Does Big Brother have something to do? Is there anything I can help with?"
Wang Guiyuan glanced at the smiling Yuan Mobai beside him, then raised his hand to his forehead and looked at Lei Jun and Chu Kun again. "You two stop teasing me. Thank you for your concern!"
Lei Jun and Chu Kun said in unison, "Big Brother is too polite."
Wang Guiyuan shook his head with a bitter smile.
After packing up his belongings, he bid farewell to Yuan Mobai once again and slowly left the mountain gate.
Lei Jun turned to look at Yuan Mobai.
Yuan Mobai's expression was as calm as ever, his smile unchanged, and he shook his head slightly.
Lei Jun felt relieved.
He changed the subject and asked, "Master, the next Grand Initiation Ceremony is coming up soon. Will it be presided over by you or Senior Uncle Shangguan?"
Ever since the Tang Celestial Master ascended to the position, she had grown tired of presiding over the Grand Initiation Ceremonies after experiencing several of them.
Therefore, the recent and upcoming Grand Initiation Ceremonies were all hosted by the high-achieving elders within the mansion.
Although this might invite some gossip, there was no issue with it in terms of the rules.
"How about you, Chongyun?" Yuan Mobai asked in return.
"I hadn't thought about it before," Lei Jun replied frankly. "If it's entrusted to me, I will do my best. However, please give me some time to familiarize myself with the procedures and rituals to avoid any embarrassment during the ceremony."
Lei Jun neither competed nor evaded such tasks.
Hearing this, Yuan Mobai smiled and said, "Then prepare well. This will be your first Grand Initiation Ceremony."
PS1: 7k2 chapters
PS2: Wishing everyone a happy new year and good luck in the Year of the Dragon!
(End of Chapter)
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