https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-292-Target-Dragon-and-Tiger-Mountain-s-Wanfa-Zongtan-Part-1-/12587193/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-293-Lei-Jun-Wields-His-Sword-Cardinal-Gods-Xiao-Yin-and-Yang-Part-1-/12587195/
Chapter 292: Target, Dragon and Tiger Mountain's Wanfa Zongtan! (Part 2)
Chapter 292: Target, Dragon and Tiger Mountain's Wanfa Zongtan! (Part 2)
The most notable characteristic of the Confucian cultivators from the Heavenly Principles was the sense of unity and consistency in their actions. There was a clear hierarchy, with higher-realm Confucians exerting significant suppression over their lower-realm counterparts.
When facing opponents, their brushwork would first establish a ritualistic framework. If a Great Tang cultivator failed to resist and destroy it initially, they would find it increasingly difficult to counter and would gradually fall behind.
Especially when faced with a high-realm Confucian employing brushwork to establish righteousness, their opponents would be punished and weakened if they went against the established ritual, almost as if the ritual took precedence over reality in their battles.
Secondly, the Heavenly Principles were most likely the renamed version of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands' "Archive of Return to the Origin." However, the origins and identities of those currently residing within remained somewhat mysterious and vague.
What had happened in the past between the Archive of Return to the Origin and the current Heavenly Principles was still unknown.
Thirdly, it had been confirmed that the Confucian teachings within the Heavenly Principles were similar to the cultural essence that Xu Yuanzhen and Lin Zhe had encountered before, but in some ways, they could also be considered completely different.
The Confucian cultivators from the Heavenly Principles were not as easily suppressed by the wild and unruly martial true intent that trampled and shattered the cultural essence of the heavens and the earth. To some extent, they even performed better than the Confucians of the Great Tang.
Of course, this comparison was specifically in reference to the initial encounters with the "barbarians" by the North and South Lin clans.
Although the Ye clan of Jinzhou had their ancestral land destroyed, it was not directly trampled by the "barbarians." Ye Moquan had quickly found countermeasures, largely avoiding targeted attacks by the "barbarians."
Whether it was Ye Moquan, Ye Yan, Chu Xiuyuan, or Fang Jingsheng, they were all renowned Confucian scholars of the Great Tang. If they had been caught off guard and faced the "barbarians" directly, they might have suffered significant losses.
However, after a period of research and preparation, even if they couldn't turn the tables on the "barbarians," they would at least not be crushed in the same way again.
According to the feedback from the court's personnel at the front lines, the situation in the Heavenly Principles was similar, and perhaps even more favorable. It was possible that, by learning from their experiences with the void portals near Great Black Mountain and Long United Island, they had become more resistant and even capable of counterattacks.
Lastly, the fourth point mentioned in the detailed report was that while the Great Tang cultivators were engaged in a fierce battle with the newcomers in the outer sea near Mingzhou, a powerful expert, suspected to be the high-achieving elder of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, Xu Yuanzhen, had attempted to enter the Heavenly Principles.
As a result, a massive battle erupted at the void portal, causing the void realm to distort and affecting the surrounding seas, even reaching the land. A huge cavity formed in the sea near Mingzhou, and within the void portal, there seemed to be an intense battle raging.
The Tang Imperial Family responded swiftly, immediately dispatching a large number of people, led by Chu Yu and others, to aid Mingzhou and Yuhang.
Fang Yue, who was in Jianye, had already rushed there ahead of time.
With the situation unclear, everyone initially intended to observe and proceed with caution, just as they had done when the Nine Li of the Southern Wilderness reappeared before.
However, Xu Yuanzhen's decisive move made everyone else hesitate, and most of them chose to act without hesitation.
Thus, a situation was formed where the Great Tang side took the initiative to counter the Heavenly Principles.
"...I guess it's not impossible," Lei Jun and the others looked at each other in dismay.
For now, they could only hope that Xu Yuanzhen would remain safe.
The Heavenly Master's Mansion was also short on manpower at the moment.
After considering the situation, Yuan Mobai and Lei Jun, master and disciple, decided to stay on Dragon and Tiger Mountain, while Shangguan Ning represented them by going to Yuhang and Mingzhou to coordinate with the Tang Imperial Family.
At the same time, they contacted Tang Xiaotang, who was also away, and left the decision of their next move to her.
..............................................
Since the appearance of Xumi and the Underground Sea, the Hidden Treasury, or rather, the Heavenly Principles, had reappeared in the mortal realm.
Both inside and outside the Great Tang were paying close attention to this development.
In Youzhou, in the northern lands, Ye Moquan met with Lin Huan, the clan leader of the Lin Clan in Youzhou, once again.
Both parties greeted each other with solemn expressions.
"In these turbulent times, the common people suffer," Ye Moquan said in a calm and steady tone. "But with the ever-changing situation, it may also bring about new opportunities."
Lin Huan nodded slightly.
Some things did not need to be spoken aloud, but those with discerning eyes understood:
With the surge of spiritual energy in the world, it was beneficial for cultivators to improve their skills.
However, in such a situation, it became more difficult for ordinary people to cultivate, and even more so for those with exceptional talent to stand out. As a result, established clans with years of accumulated resources were more likely to solidify their positions.
Currently, although the Tang Dynasty could not be said to be in decline, it faced both internal and external threats, which were more significant than in previous years.
For the time being, let's put aside the Western Regions' Buddhist Sect. The remaining threats, whether it was the Nine Li or the Heavenly Principles, clearly posed a challenge to the stability of the Tang Empire.
In the current situation, the Ye Clan and the Lin Clan needed to consolidate their positions carefully.
"Uncle Ye, what about the Vajra Division and the Human Realm Kingdom?" Lin Huan asked in a soft voice.
Ye Moquan replied, "Because of the dispute over the Heavenly Master's Robe, both sides are unhappy. However, the Ningen-dokoku has gone into hiding, and the Kongo-bu has been searching for them in vain, so their attention has shifted to the Blood River Sect and the Great Demon of the Southern Wilderness."
The death of Sangjie Shangren was due to the Great Demon of the Southern Wilderness, the Four-Eyed Serpent Emperor, and Wei Ancheng of the Blood River Sect.
Jiaseng Shangren had never left the Southern Wilderness and had been searching for Wei Ancheng and the Four-Eyed Serpent Emperor during this time.
"The latest news is that the Kongo-bu seems to have caught a trace of the Four-Eyed Serpent Emperor, so they have sent out their best people to surround and suppress that Great Demon," Ye Moquan said.
Lin Huan fell into deep thought and replied, "In that case, it's for the best."
Ye Moquan continued, "Don't be careless. I believe that the Kongo-bu is hiding their true strength, and it's not as simple as it seems on the surface."
Lin Huan asked, "What Uncle Ye said makes sense. If it's truly as the Buddhist scriptures say, and the Diamond Peak is just one of the five divisions of the Vajra Realm, then..."
Ye Moquan replied, "In that case, Her Majesty's attitude towards them would be completely different."
Lin Huan nodded.
Currently, Empress Zhang Wantong's attitude towards the Western Regions' Buddhist Sect was not particularly favorable, but it couldn't be considered hostile either.
If the Western Regions' Buddhist Sect truly possessed astonishing strength, then a change in her attitude would most likely not be to get closer to them.
Instead, it would be to heighten her vigilance and precautions.
"Yuqing..." Ye Moquan called out to Lin Huan softly.
Lin Huan turned to look at him, but Ye Moquan remained silent, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, his eyes unfocused.
Lin Huan was slightly surprised, wondering what could be so important that it would cause Ye Moquan to look so absorbed.
After a moment, Ye Moquan's gaze seemed to regain its focus.
He cleared his throat and said, "Speaking of the Buddhist Sect, there's another matter concerning the White Lotus Sect."
Lin Huan knew that the Ye Clan of Cangzhou had some influence within the White Lotus Sect, so she asked, "Has something changed? Is it related to that future Maitreya?"
About three to four years ago, the future Maitreya had astonished the world with his battle in the Southern Wilderness, showcasing his profound Buddhist teachings and establishing himself as the foremost Buddhist genius, even surpassing Fangzhang Yuanmie of Daikong Temple.
As a result, the future Maitreya's prestige within the White Lotus Sect had also risen.
And as far as Lin Huan knew, there were some issues within the White Lotus Sect.
To be precise, the elderly man beside her had played a part in creating those issues over the past few years...
"The conflict between Jing Shan, the heretic monk, and the future Maitreya has become more and more irreconcilable, and the White Lotus Sect was already showing signs of splitting into factions," Ye Moquan said.
Lin Huan nodded.
Due to the White Lotus Saint Master's seclusion and infrequent appearances in recent years, most of the White Lotus Sect's affairs were handled by other elders.
Among them, the most outstanding and influential one was Jing Shan, the so-called second-best master of the White Lotus Sect and the White Lotus Saint Master's junior.
However, with the rise of the future Maitreya over the past three decades, different voices had emerged within the White Lotus Sect.
After more than a hundred years of management, Jing Shan had gained numerous supporters within the sect, and his prestige was almost on par with that of the White Lotus Saint Master.
Few people outside the sect knew that Ye Moquan had his sources of information, and initially, the future Maitreya had a relatively small number of supporters within the White Lotus Sect.
The Huai Mountain Rebellion, in which the White Lotus Sect had rebelled, was actually a result of the internal conflicts within the sect.
The future Maitreya's first major act after entering the secular world was to personally persuade the rebellious disciples of the White Lotus Sect to return.
With the support of the White Lotus Saint Master, the future Maitreya was able to rival Jing Shan within the sect.
In recent years, another young genius of the White Lotus Sect, Hui Zhen, had cultivated the Upper Three Heavens, even shaking the future Maitreya's position to some extent.
"Huitian is indeed an up-and-coming genius cultivated by Jing Shan the Monk."
With Huitian's rise, Ye Moquan's confidence grew even stronger.
But just then, the future Maitreya's battle in the Southern Wilderness shocked the world, revealing his true prowess.
While it humiliated the orthodox Buddhist sects, it also overshadowed Huitian, leaving him with no glory.
The situation within the White Lotus Sect seemed to be turning in favor of the future Maitreya.
Jing Shan the Monk showed signs of taking a risky move.
There was even a possibility of a schism within the White Lotus Sect.
"But just a couple of years ago, Jing Jiu came out of seclusion." Ye Moquan spoke slowly.
Jing Jiu was the Dharma name of the current Saint Master of the White Lotus Sect.
As he had been in seclusion for most of the time, many questioned whether he was still alive or not.
However, not only did he come out of seclusion, but he also suppressed and calmed the potential unrest caused by Jing Shan.
"He has attained the Ninth Heaven of Buddhism."
Ye Moquan continued, "Although he didn't take any action, there should be no doubt about this."
Lin Huan asked, "Jing Jiu used to be known as a genius, but then he disappeared for reasons unknown, leading to various speculations. Now, he has proven himself."
Ye Moquan nodded slightly.
He was about to say something when his expression changed slightly, and he turned his head to look in another direction.
Lin Huan followed his gaze.
In that direction was the direction of the Zhao Wang Palace.
At that moment, in the inner quarters of the palace, Zhao Wang Zhang Teng was sheathing his long sword.
This middle-aged-looking old prince now appeared older than before.
However, his aura was more domineering and overpowering than ever before.
But...
"Crack!"
Zhao Wang Zhang Teng stared at the sword he had forged himself as the blade suddenly cracked.
There was no anger on Zhang Teng's face, only an expression of acceptance.
"Order the people stationed in the Great Guan Mountains and the Small Guan Mountains in the Northwest to report any movements immediately," Zhang Teng instructed his attendants.
They hurriedly complied.
After they left, Zhang Teng gazed towards the west, deep in thought.
Even Ye Moquan and Lin Huan were unaware of his thoughts.
Before Yuan Zhen returned from Great Black Mountain, this Prince Zhao Wang had already come into contact with the 'barbarians' and the martial true intent they symbolized.
However, it was not in Youzhou, but in the Northwest Original State.
There, Zhang Teng gained a new opportunity for advancement.
Then, with the help of the fierce and vigorous energy that Ye Moquan provided, which came from the destruction of the Ye Clan's ancestral land in Jinzhou, Zhang Teng was able to take this step successfully.
But what was the cost?
It was not just his own cost.
It might also have triggered some changes in the Original State.
He might have opened a door to unknown fortunes and misfortunes.
Zhao Wang Zhang Teng had hesitated because of this.
But in the end, he took that step.
Zhang Teng stood in the courtyard, facing west, and after a moment, he closed his eyes.
..............................................
The Original State is located in the northwest of the Great Tang, bordering the frontier.
The Great Guan Mountains and the Small Guan Mountains stand on either side.
But on this day, both the Great Guan Mountains and the Small Guan Mountains suddenly shook.
As the void realm distorted, a 'door' gradually appeared.
Initially, there was no movement.
The local officials detected it and, as usual, kept surveillance while quickly reporting it to the court.
However, before the imperial envoy arrived, a few days later, a group of outsiders entered the mortal realm through the void portal.
There were many of them.
Soon, they covered the sky like a dark cloud.
A few days later, news of this reached Chang'an, and the entire capital was in shock!
An urgent report from the Northwest stated that a large number of unknown martial artists had invaded, riding on giant beasts and trampling over the Great Guan Mountains.
In a short period, the Original State changed hands.
No one knew the origin of these invaders.
Only a heart-stirring, majestic banner fluttered in the wind, seemingly capable of dividing the earth and ruling over the land.
On top of the banner was an engraving of a solitary eagle, spreading its wings as if about to take flight.
..............................................
When the news reached Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Lei Jun and the others were surprised.
There had been some signs of the Heavenly Principles' descent into the mortal realm.
But the change in the Original State was extremely sudden.
Currently, the entire Guanlong region was in shock.
The aggressiveness and invasiveness of these intruders from the Original State were far greater than that of the Nine Li, the Western Regions' Buddhist Sect, and the Heavenly Principles.
The stream of invaders seemed endless, and for a moment, the western frontier of the Great Tang felt as if the mountains and rivers had changed color.
If not for the Empress's presence in Guanzhong, the western frontier of the Great Tang would have been in complete chaos.
After several clashes, there were casualties on both sides of the Great Tang and the intruders.
It was confirmed that the intruders practiced the martial arts path, and the wild and domineering intent they exuded was the same as the one that trampled and shattered the mountains and rivers of the two worlds.
Some intelligence was gradually uncovered.
"The Solitary Eagle Khanate..." Lei Jun frowned upon hearing this name.
He looked at his master, Yuan Moxuan, whose face had lost its usual smile and turned serious. "With His Majesty in Chang'an, the sudden change in the Northwest is indeed alarming. The problem is..."
The problem was that the East China Sea and the Northwest were both in turmoil at the same time.
Shangguan Yunbo and the others were still in the Southern Wilderness.
The Tang imperial family's energy was being stretched thin, dealing with three fronts, and even if they could manage, there wouldn't be much strength left to spare for other places.
Moreover, Xu Yuanzhen from the Heavenly Master's Mansion was currently in the East China Sea, dealing with the Heavenly Principles.
As for the Western Regions' Buddhist Sect, let's not even mention them. Would the Human Realm Country make a move next?
..............................................
In the Qingxiao Palace at the bottom of the North Sea, Fu Dongsen and the others exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of how to proceed.
This sudden happiness caught them off guard as well.
No, they weren't caught off guard.
They had been preparing and waiting for this moment.
But the opportunity came so suddenly that they felt a sense of disbelief and wariness.
Until...
"By the decree of the Emperor," Rong Guangchen said slowly, "Target, Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Wanfa Zongtan!"
PS: 8k1 chapter
(End of Chapter)
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