Chapter 313: 312. The Scattered Sanctuary

Chapter 313: 312. The Scattered Sanctuary

The Bai Lu Peak of the Jian Ge region, located in the northern lands of Shu, was a place of towering mountains and desolate wilderness.

If the Huangquan Wangchuan truly surged, it might not have harmed people at the time, but it could have flooded unnoticed by the outside world.

In recent years, the land of Ba-Shu has experienced intense seismic changes, far more violent than before, which has also triggered unprecedented transformations... Lei Jun's thoughts lingered on this.

The departure of the Taiyi Xiantian Tower and the Qingxiaofu must have had an inseparable connection to these events.

The Taiyi Xiantian Tower had, to some extent, left Xiading before.

As for the Qingxiaofu, it had been buried beneath the Shu Mountains ever since its refinement thousands of years ago.

Their departure one morning had far-reaching consequences.

The changes they brought about must have taken even Huang Xuanpu, Fu Dongsen, and Hong Jie by surprise.

Otherwise, they would have made arrangements and plans centered around Huangquan long ago.

For the current Shu Mountain Sect, the sudden appearance of Huangquan might be an opportunity, but it was more likely a danger.

With their current strength, they would need to be extra cautious.

Fortunately, the new Zhang Taegang, as well as Xu Duan, Zhang Dongyuan, and Ye Dongming, all seemed to favor a cautious approach...

Lei Jun's mind raced with these thoughts, but his expression remained unchanged.

Looking at Ji Chuan before him, he subtly reminded, "My disciple and I can travel north on our own. Brother Ji, you don't need to worry about us.

However, the spiritual energy of the heavens and the earth in the Bashu region has been changing drastically lately, and the earth veins often fluctuate. Your sect will need all hands on deck to frequently suppress the disasters in the Shu lands.

These past few days, Brother Ji, you have accompanied us on our journey through Bashu, and it must have taken up a lot of your time and energy. I feel quite guilty about it."

"You're too kind," Ji Chuan smiled, and then sighed, "But indeed, the simultaneous loss of the Taiyi Xiantian Tower and the Qingxiaofu has greatly impacted the earth veins of Shu Mountain. The spiritual energy of the heavens and the earth is in turmoil, giving rise to numerous unforeseen events, and even the number of rampaging demons has increased compared to previous years."

Lei Jun said, "Although I really don't want to talk about it, our sect has faced similar situations in the past. In times like these, it is all the more important for everyone to unite as one, remain calm and peaceful, and slowly recuperate. We must not act in haste."

Upon hearing this, Ji Chuan smiled and said, "Borrowing your auspicious words, let our two sects strive together."

Since Lei Jun had brought it up, Ji Chuan did not press the matter further.

When the time came for Lei Jun and his disciple to depart northward, Ji Chuan saw them off for a while before they parted ways.

Ji Chuan returned to the Xiading mountain gate of the Shu Mountain Sect, while Lei Jun and his disciple continued on their journey.

Lei Jun entrusted the Yin Yue Han Quan water vein to Guo Yan, who was returning to Longhu Mountain, to deliver it to Yuan Mo Bai.

With ample time, Lei Jun did not rush their journey but continued to tour the sights of northern Shu.

Compared to the Bashu Basin, this region had more treacherous peaks that were rarely visited by humans.

However, the spiritual energy here was not as abundant as in the Bashu Basin.

The surrounding mountainous areas of Jian Ge were especially steep and rugged, with strange peaks rising abruptly and soaring into the clouds.

"Master, is this where the Ziwei and Qingming swords were refined?" Zhuo Bao Jie asked curiously, gazing up at the towering peaks.

"Indeed," Lei Jun replied. "The Ziqing twin swords are the most ancient and renowned treasures of the Shu Mountain Sect. They were not forged on Xiading but right here in the Jian Ge mountains of northern Shu."

Zhuo Bao Jie asked curiously, "I heard they were refined by the founding ancestor of the Shu Mountain Sect?"

Lei Jun said, "To be precise, he should be referred to as the first generation sect leader of the Shu Mountain Sect."

Among the Three Great Sacred Lands of the Daoist School, the Shu Mountain Sect of the External Elixir Sect was unlike the Tian Shi Fu of the Talisman Sect and the Chun Yang Palace of the Pill and Cauldron Sect, both of which had clear founding ancestors.

In the early days, Shu Mountain was a gathering of like-minded cultivators from various places in Bashu who came together to validate their cultivation. They initially formed the Shu Mountain Alliance, which gradually evolved into the Shu Mountain Sect.

Therefore, it should be said that when tracing back to the founding of the Shu Mountain Sect, it was established by multiple founding ancestors working together.

And among them, the most outstanding great sword cultivator became the first generation sect leader.

Because his cultivation, strength, talent, and literary prowess shocked the world and echoed through the ages, people, over time, came to refer to this first generation sect leader of Shu Mountain as the founding ancestor, also known as the White Eyebrow Ancestor.

The treasures he left behind for the Shu Mountain Sect were the Ziwei and Qingming twin swords.

To this day, they remain the strongest and most famous flying sword treasures in the Daoist School of Pill Refinement.

At the same time, these purple and green twin swords are also the most ancient treasures passed down in the Shu Mountain Sect.

The eras of the Taiyi Xiantian Tower and the Qingxiaofu came later.

According to Lei Jun's knowledge, the successful refinement of the Ziqing twin swords might have even predated the formal establishment of the Shu Mountain Sect. They were treasures refined by the White Eyebrow Daoist when he was still a wandering cultivator.

Back then, the Xiading mountain gate of the Shu Mountain Sect did not yet exist.

Zhuo Bao Jie listened to his master recount the related tales while gazing at the strange peaks before them, which rose like twin swords. He couldn't help but admire the prowess of their predecessors and feel a sense of yearning.

Lei Jun, on the other hand, looked back in the direction of the Xiading mountain gate of the Shu Mountain Sect.

His thoughts turned to another aspect.

According to rumors, although the first generation sect leader of Shu Mountain, the White Eyebrow Daoist, had a strong presence in the sect's history, his tenure as the sect leader was not long. He passed on the position quite early.

The White Eyebrow Daoist did not remain in Shu Mountain to continue his secluded cultivation. In those days, the connection between the mortal world and the immortal realm had not yet been severed, and including the Shu Mountain Sect's own records, most mentions of the White Eyebrow Daoist stated that he ascended to immortality.

Due to the historical circumstances surrounding the creation of the Shu Mountain Sect, the sect ended up with numerous factions within.

After the White Eyebrow Daoist stepped down as the sect leader, the issue of factionalism within the sect persisted, continuing up to the present day without resolution.

Even after the split of the Kingdom of the Earthly Dao, those who remained in Xiaoding still belonged to different factions in terms of their lineage and heritage.

However, the current situation of the Shu Mountain Sect forced everyone to band together, making them appear more united than before.

In this regard, they were at least better off than the Ming Court on the side of Heaven's Principles.

The legitimate Great Ming Dynasty had driven them into exile in Tianli, but that did not stop the Wu, Gan, and Chu factions within this small exiled court from continuing to bicker and hinder each other.

To some extent, it could even be considered a unique spectacle...

Lei Jun recalled the related maps provided by Ji Chuan as he manipulated the Grand Cyclic Heaven-Earth Mirror high in the sky, invisible to the naked eye, to locate their destination.

Gradually, he locked onto the location of Bailu Peak.

With time to spare, Lei Jun was not in a hurry. He took his disciple around the nearby areas, enjoying the scenery while also using the Grand Cyclic Heaven-Earth Mirror to observe their surroundings and ensure there were no other people present.

After a thorough inspection, he found that the place was indeed rarely visited.

Although it was the place where the White Eyebrow Daoist had refined his sword in the past, the scarcity of spiritual energy and the treacherous terrain kept most cultivators away. The dangerous mountain paths also deterred ordinary mortals from venturing close by.

With this knowledge, Lei Jun waited patiently for the thirtieth of June, then took his disciple on a route that passed through Bailu Peak.

As noon approached, Lei Jun remained vigilant, keeping a close eye on their surroundings.

Suddenly, his eyes flickered, and the Heavenly Connection and Earthly Penetration Spell appeared deep within his eyes, emitting a radiant glow.

The Grand Cyclic Heaven-Earth Mirror, high in the sky, began to rotate, and its ethereal, nearly invisible light fell upon the forest at the foot of Bailu Peak.

Lei Jun raised his eyes, and with the Heavenly Connection and Earthly Penetration Spell in motion, he concentrated his perception in that direction.

As expected, he faintly sensed something amiss beneath the mountain rocks, deep within the earth.

"Follow me and do not act on your own," Lei Jun instructed, then headed in that direction.

Zhuo Bao Jie was both surprised and obedient, following closely behind his master.

Lei Jun arrived at the forest.

There were no changes to the mountain rocks before them.

But after a moment, the rocks and soil began to tremble.

Then, they started to collapse.

The collapse occurred silently, and before anyone could react, a section of the mountain below Bailu Peak caved in, revealing a dark hole.

Due to the lack of sound, it was difficult to judge what was happening.

However, just by looking at it with the naked eye, the cave seemed to descend endlessly.

Through Lei Jun's perception, he could sense that the space within the cave was distorted and was currently cracking open.

A void portal was quietly forming.

"Master?" Zhuo Bao Jie asked, filled with doubt. He glanced at the cave below and then looked around. "I feel... a bit cold, not physically, but it seems to be coming from my soul..."

"You're right, your spiritual sense is sharp, and you've been diligent in your cultivation," Lei Jun praised.

He looked down at the cave and said, "The legendary Underworld, the realm of life and death, lies beneath us."

Zhuo Bao Jie had heard his master and other senior members of the sect discuss matters related to the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands before. "The Underworld... Master, does this lead to the Yellow Springs, the Buddhist Hell, or the Wu Clan's Abyssal Pit?"

"It is quiet and still, cold and lifeless, deeply intertwined with our Daoist traditions—it is indeed the Yellow Springs," Lei Jun replied.

The little bear, with its vibrant vital energy, had some resistance to similar auras, but it also tended to attract them. Affected by the unseen deathly aura from below, he felt extremely uncomfortable and shrank his neck. "The River of Forgetfulness, the Three Paths... Penglai, Huangquan... Master, now that Huangquan is connected to the mortal realm, what should we do?"

"We'll just have to plug it up," Lei Jun said calmly, soothing his disciple's anxious mind.

He looked around again. "Fortunately, we just happened to pass by. Otherwise, with the flooding of Huangquan, although there are few living beings nearby, the spread of its influence would undoubtedly turn this place into a land of death. I wonder if there are other such places?"

There were, indeed, other such places.

Underneath the mountain gate of the Shu Mountain Sect's ancestral hall in Xiaoding, the waters of Huangquan and the River of Forgetfulness were flooding the area.

Fortunately, the Shu Mountain Sect had been diligently suppressing the abnormal movements of the earth veins and had prepared for the possibility of Huangquan surging towards the mortal realm.

Zhang Taegang, Xu Duan, Zhang Dongyuan, Ye Dongming, He Dongxing, Ji Dongquan, Gao Dongyan, and others were all on the mountain, and with their combined efforts, they quickly sealed the void portal that had just opened.

At Bailu Peak in the Jian Ge region, Lei Jun was alone, but he had prepared for this moment and was confident in his plan.

He did not act immediately but instead lowered his head to observe the void portal and the surging Yellow Springs aura that was flowing upwards.

This was an accidental leak, not a man-made occurrence, resulting from the combination of the surging spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the changes in the mountain veins... Lei Jun nodded slightly.

However, he wondered about the current state of Huangquan. Was it like the Buddhist Hell, now devoid of any inhabitants, a natural disaster devoid of human influence? Or was it like Dihai, Tianli, and Sumeru, where there were still people within?

...If there were, could they still be called human?

Lei Jun observed for a moment, and through his perception, he noticed that within the void portal, transparent and colorless but icy water was beginning to gather and surge.

It was like a spring gushing forth from the earth, but this spring water was lifeless, as if it could wash away all vitality.

The waters of the River of Forgetfulness.

Lei Jun felt a sense of discomfort in his soul just by perceiving the icy yet clear flowing water with his spiritual sense.

For Lei Jun, who had been steadily advancing in his cultivation, such a situation was rarely encountered.

However, as the waters of the River of Forgetfulness surged upwards, they suddenly paused for a moment.

Then, the river waters stirred, remaining silent but constantly churning, and strands of smoke that were almost transparent and colorless yet had distinct shapes and outlines emerged from the water and began to condense before rising.

Lei Jun's heart stirred slightly.

His spiritual power condensed into black Xuanlei, also silent, transforming into a vast expanse of dark black thunder that enveloped the colorless smoke.

[Wangchuan Yanlan]



Enlightenment struck, and a name automatically popped into Lei Jun's mind.

But soon, he felt his Xuanxiao Xianlei go numb and unresponsive, as if it were being corrupted by the colorless smoke.

This Wangchuan Yanlan seemed to have the power to dissolve and purify other things. Its nature was similar to the dark side of the heavenly book, but it was vastly different on the inside, and it was more akin to the Blood River Sect's Blood River, but more restrained and domineering at the same time.

Lei Jun remained calm in the face of adversity. The Xuanxiao Wuleifa Lu and Chenyang Zhongtian Fa Lu appeared together.

The crimson golden Fire Tiger immediately aided the black Thunder Dragon.

As yin and yang interacted, they formed a huge yin-yang taiji diagram.

Yin and yang harmonized and complemented each other, constantly growing and merging into one, effectively suppressing the silent domineering nature of the Wangchuan Yanlan and making it even more restrained before sealing it within the yin-yang taiji diagram.

At the same time, Lei Jun waved his hand.

A white jade seal emitting purple, golden, and cyan light flashed into existence.

The Celestial Master Seal descended and formed a three-tiered altar, which then entered the cave and pressed down on the rising waters of the River of Forgetfulness.

The true strength of the Yellow Springs and Wangchuan far exceeded the imagination of mortals.

However, the small opening between the human world and the Yellow Springs at Bailu Peak only allowed a small amount of the River of Forgetfulness to surge upwards.

With the Celestial Master Seal in hand, Lei Jun successfully pushed the rising waters back.

As he sealed away the Wangchuan Yanlan with the yin thunder and yang fire, another set of thunder and fire divine scriptures appeared beside Lei Jun.

The purple Thunder Dragon and the green Fire Tiger intertwined, forming another yin-yang taiji diagram composed of yang thunder and yin fire.

This yin-yang taiji diagram accompanied the Celestial Master Seal into the underground, and as yin and yang interacted, it sealed the remaining void portal after the River of Forgetfulness had receded.

Lei Jun retrieved the Celestial Master Seal and extended his hand, palm facing downward.

The dark side of the heavenly book formed a shadow, which also silently fell into the underground cave to make the final disposition.

If it were a void portal in the East China Sea or beyond the Great Guan Mountains in the northwest, which had stabilized after a long period of maintenance, it would be equally challenging for Lei Jun to handle it alone, and it would be difficult to completely eradicate it.

But now, the shadow cast by the dark side of the heavenly book assisted in clearing away the last traces of the void portal without damaging the sealing power of the yin-yang taiji diagram.

Lei Jun retracted his outstretched hand.

As he did so, the rift at the base of Bailu Peak, which seemed to lead to the netherworld, trembled and closed, erasing all traces of the chilling aura of death.

The sound of clashing rocks resumed in Zhuo Bao Jie's ears.

He widened his eyes and saw that apart from some fresh cracks in the rocks below Bailu Peak, there was no longer any sign of the Yellow Springs.

It was as if the previous scene of the River of Forgetfulness gushing into the mortal realm had been an illusion.

Even if one were to dig at the spot where the mountain rocks had split open and excavate all the way down to the depths, the void portal would not reappear.

"Master?" Zhuo Bao Jie turned to Lei Jun.

Lei Jun said, "It's settled. Even if the earth veins' spiritual energy undergoes another drastic change and the Yellow Springs reappear, it's unlikely to happen here again."

As he spoke, he put away the first yin-yang taiji diagram that had sealed away the Wangchuan Yanlan.

"Let's go. We can study it along the way," Lei Jun said as he set off with his disciple.

Wangchuan Yanlan was also very rare in the Yellow Springs and would not appear in every place where the Yellow Springs connected to the mortal realm.

Lei Jun's encounter with it today was a stroke of luck.

The third-grade opportunity mentioned in the previous upper draw was most likely referring to this treasure.

Lei Jun's insight and perception were now extraordinary.

Upon his first encounter with Wangchuan Yanlan, he had already grasped its characteristics.

For many people in the mortal realm, including some cultivators with intermediate to high cultivation levels, the Wangchuan Yanlan, one of the ten disasters, posed an extreme danger.

One wrong step, and their souls could be corrupted by the Wangchuan Yanlan, turning them into empty shells devoid of thought and sensation.

To turn this danger into an opportunity, one needed not only effective means but also a strong cultivation base.

For Lei Jun, a cultivator of the Daoist Talisman Sect, the Wangchuan Yanlan's primary effect was to help temper his soul.

Cultivators of the Daoist Talisman Sect refined both their physical bodies and their souls.

However, specifically regarding the soul, the Daoist Talisman Sect cultivators' trait was their agile minds and keen perception.

This allowed them to more smoothly and naturally sense the heavens and draw upon the power of nature.

When it came to soul resilience, Daoist Talisman Sect cultivators were not as adept as Daoist Dan Sect cultivators who cultivated the Yang God Nascent Soul, nor those of the Martial Arts Sect who, despite being unable to separate their souls from their bodies, had mental fortitude that was nearly maxed out. They also paled in comparison to the major Buddhist sects, which had always focused on spiritual cultivation.

Lei Jun's lack of setbacks in this area was due to the Celestial Master Seal being housed within his spirit soul for many years.

However, firstly, the Celestial Master Seal might not always accompany him.

Secondly, as Lei Jun's cultivation strength gradually increased and his horizons broadened, the turmoil in the world was also intensifying. The opponents he would face in the future would become increasingly formidable.

Relying solely on the Celestial Master Seal would not be enough to ensure Lei Daoist Master's peace of mind.

Improving himself in every aspect was essential.

The resilience of his spirit soul was one such aspect.

This Wangchuan Yanlan, when controlled properly, could be used to temper and refine his spirit soul, much like a whetstone.

However, Lei Jun soon discovered another problem.

While his spirit soul would become more resilient from being honed by the Wangchuan Yanlan, the agility and sharpness of his spiritual thoughts might become dull and sluggish.

For Lei Jun, a cultivator of the Daoist Talisman Sect, this was tantamount to sacrificing the greater for the lesser, and he could not accept it.

"It's not entirely insoluble..." Lei Jun thought to himself.

With his extraordinary insight and agile mind, he quickly thought of several strategies to complement the Wangchuan Yanlan, extracting its essence while mitigating or even negating its side effects.

However, the items required for these strategies were relatively rare, and neither Lei Jun nor Longhu Mountain currently possessed them. He would need to acquire them at a later time.

Lei Jun did not dwell on this and decided to leave it to fate.

If there was anything he regretted, it was that the amount of Wangchuan Yanlan was indeed scant.

But being able to obtain this treasure safely was already a stroke of luck, and Lei Jun did not ask for more.

After traversing the mountains of northern Shu, Lei Jun and his disciple, Zhuo Bao Jie, gradually entered the Guanlong region.

The master and his disciple continued their leisurely journey, taking in the sights and sampling the local cuisine.

As the end of June approached, they finally entered Mount Zhongnan and arrived at the mountain gate of Chun Yang Palace.

Upon receiving the news, the palace's Zhuque Elder, Wang Xuan, personally greeted them.

This elder of the Daoist Dan Sect seemed to be in good health, but Lei Jun could tell that his current appearance was a manifestation of his Nascent Soul.

Wang Xuan had lost his physical body and regained his freedom, but he had not possessed another person, so he only had his Nascent Soul at the moment.

Fortunately, his cultivation was profound, having reached the eighth-level Nascent Soul realm, and he could usually maintain his stability. Additionally, Chun Yang Palace had ample experience in this regard.

After all, as the sacred ground of the Daoist Dan Sect, one of their sect rules forbade them from possessing others. Over the long years, there had been numerous precedents of Nascent Soul cultivators who had lost their physical bodies.

In such cases, how should they proceed? This had been a question that Chun Yang Palace had been exploring and researching for many years, and they had accumulated a wealth of knowledge and methods.

"Welcome, Fellow Daoist Xuan," Wang Xuan greeted Lei Jun.

After exchanging courtesies, Lei Jun, accompanied by Zhuo Bao Jie, returned to Chun Yang Palace with Wang Xuan and the other Daoist Dan Sect cultivators.

From the outside, Chun Yang Palace still looked like a blessed land of immortals.

However, its internal situation was not much better than that of Shu Mountain, and the brothers knew this all too well.

"The palace has a lot to restore and many affairs to manage, so please excuse any inadequacies in our hospitality," Wang Xuan said.

Lei Jun replied, "Elder Wang is too kind. It is we, master and disciple, who are intruding today."

He looked at Wang Xuan and said, "I have long heard of Elder Wang's steadfastness in the face of various threats and inducements from the human world. Your dedication to your sect, both above and below, is truly admirable."

Wang Xuan sighed softly, "It is our sect's misfortune."

Back at Chun Yang Palace, Lu Jin Duan and Jiang Yu were busy attending to other guests.

Yue Xiling was still absent.

He had returned to the imperial capital of Luoyang with the emperor some time ago.

After reigning in the old capital of Changan for over a decade, Empress Zhang Wantong finally returned to the imperial capital this year.

However, according to the latest information obtained by Lei Jun and Tian Shi Fu, the empress's return to the palace did not signify a cessation of hostilities.

Instead, her relocation to Luoyang seemed more like a temporary move.

With the changes in heaven and earth, turmoil engulfed the human world.

The imperial fortune of the Great Tang Dynasty was affected, causing shifts in the dragon veins where earth qi converged.

The once abandoned old capital of Changan now showed signs of resurgence.

Of course, given the significance of such matters, even if the current emperor of the Tang Dynasty made a decision, it would be implemented gradually and not rushed.

Especially now, with the undercurrents stirring within the imperial family.

Yue Xiling accompanied the empress back to Luoyang.

He would not be attending the upcoming initiation ceremony either.

Speaking of which, Lei Jun planned to tour the two capitals of Chang'an and Luoyang after observing the ceremony in Mount Zhongnan.

It had been over thirty years since he embarked on his cultivation journey, and he had never visited the capital of the Great Tang Dynasty.

This trip would be an excellent opportunity to explore the city.

Lei Daoist Master's plan was well-conceived, but it seemed someone else had a similar idea.

A message arrived from his master, Yuan Mobai, at the sect's headquarters: "His Majesty the Empress has decreed that Tian Shi, Xuan Xiaozi, is to go to the capital and present himself at the palace."

PS: This is a 6k chapter, and I apologize for the slower writing today.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end