Chapter 352: The Great Challenge Created by Lei, the Grand Master of Thunder (Part 2)

Chapter 352: The Great Challenge Created by Lei, the Grand Master of Thunder (Part 2)



Upon hearing Fang Hezhou's words, Chu Lin nodded silently.

Fang Hezhou turned to look at Chu Lin and asked, "As for Qingzhou, Ji Feng in the northwest, the messages sent back should also be reported to the Eastern Palace. We will send a message there as well, and the two can be summarized together."

Chu Fu, who had not seen the specifics of Fang Zhu's message, was still greatly alarmed by the brief exchange between his father, Chu Lin, and Fang Hezhou.

At this moment, he calmed his mind and respectfully took the letter before taking his leave.

Chu Lin then turned to Fang Hezhou and asked, "What about Senior Guo?"

Fang Hezhou slowly nodded, "I will invite him over to the mansion for a chat."

He wrote a letter and sent someone to deliver it to the residence of Guo Yuan, the Right Assistant Secretary of the Shangshu.

Guo Yuan was the son-in-law of the Xiao Clan from beyond Longwai in previous years. He was cultivated by the Xiao Clan and sent to the capital as their representative in the court, eventually becoming the Right Assistant Secretary of the Shangshu, the second most powerful figure in the Tang court after Fang Hezhou.

After the Xiao Clan from Longwai suffered a catastrophe, as Guo Yuan grew distant from Xiao Hang and his sister, the influence of the Xiao Clan on him gradually diminished.

On the other hand, he had formed a connection with the Lin Clan of Youzhou through marriage alliances.

Over the years, as the Empress established the Political Affairs Hall of the Menxia Province, eroding the power of the Zhongshu and Shangshu provinces, both Fang Hezhou, the chief minister, and Guo Yuan, the deputy minister, were affected.

However, on the surface, both men maintained their composure and appeared unperturbed.

In the past, the two had minimal interactions and often disagreed.

However, the northwestern war this time had far-reaching implications and widespread consequences.

Fang Hezhou had the support of the three clans from Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang, while Guo Yuan had the backing of the two clans from Youzhou and Cangzhou.

It was necessary for the two most powerful ministers of the Tang court to coordinate their actions, and the same was true for the several prominent clans backing them.

…………………

At the Eastern Palace.

When Chu Fu arrived, he indeed saw Ye Song from Qingzhou also seeking an audience with Crown Prince Zhang Hui.

Both men wore solemn expressions, and their eyes reflected uncertainty and surprise.

They glanced at each other and silently nodded, proceeding to meet with Crown Prince Zhang Hui together.

After being announced, the two entered and saw the Crown Prince holding another report, which he was reading.

He looked up, his expression unchanged, and invited Chu Fu and Ye Song to take a seat, "News from the northwestern front?"

Chu Fu and Ye Song presented the reports, "Indeed, please have a look, Your Highness."

Zhang Hui took the reports and flipped through them one by one before asking, "What are your thoughts on this?"

Ye Song said, "It's beyond our expectations. This Lei, the Grand Master of Thunder, must have cultivated the outer scene of the Divine Court to the level of the inner scene. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to accommodate four experts at the same time, right?"

For a Daoist master of the Fulu sect to unfold their divine court universe and trap multiple opponents, even leaving them with no escape route, was indeed plausible.

However, the problem lay in the fact that the experts from the Lonely Eagle Khanate, including Mi Han, were also at the Eighth Heaven realm.

It would be relatively easy for them to break free if they were all confined within a single divine court universe.

Unless, just like when the Human Path Country attacked Dragon-Tiger Mountain, Tang Xiaotang's Pure Yang Law Domain accommodated Chiba Die Wang, Rong Guangchen, and Wei Qiuyue, with additional support from Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai.

"Lei, the Grand Master of Thunder, did not deploy his divine court universe in this battle."

Crown Prince Zhang Hui shook his head and gently waved the report in his hand, "He relied almost entirely on his physical might and martial arts to overwhelm and kill three martial arts experts and a Daoist alchemy expert from the foreign tribes."

Upon hearing this, Ye Song and Chu Fu were once again astonished.

Zhang Hui added, "He utilized the Grand Master's Seal and Robe, but there was no sign of the Grand Master's Sword."

Chu Fu took a deep breath.

Ye Song was stunned for a moment. It took him a while to regain his senses, and he nearly blurted out the word "impossible" in front of the Crown Prince.

He moved his lips, and after a moment, he said, "Lei... Xuantiaozi, has he already attained the Ninth Heaven realm and become a Grand Daoist Master?"

Zhang Hui said, "To be honest, when I first read the report, I also had the same thought as you, but after gathering information from various sources, it seems that Lei, the Grand Master of Thunder, has not yet attained the Ninth Heaven realm and become a Grand Daoist Master."

Chu Fu exhaled slowly, "With the Grand Master's Seal and Robe empowering him, it's not entirely unexpected for him to defeat four opponents of the Eighth Heaven realm without using the Grand Master's Sword or deploying his divine court universe. However, how did he manage to stop all four of them from escaping, especially when those barbarians from the foreign tribes seemed determined to fight to the death? Is there some unknown reason for their insistence?"

Zhang Hui said, "From what we can gather, it doesn't seem like they were determined to fight to the death. Instead, they were caught off guard and unable to retreat in time."

Ye Song calmed his mind and said in a deep voice, "This new Grand Master of Thunder is a disciple of Master Yuyizi. He has always been known for his prowess in physical might and martial arts. Even when he was at the Eighth Heaven realm, he had cultivated the Four Great Dharma Images and mastered the Dragon-Tiger Combo of the Grand Master's Mansion. His strength is undoubtedly formidable. But if those barbarians had scattered and tried to escape, would he still be able to intercept and kill all four of them?"

Zhang Hui said, "At the very least, this new Grand Master of Thunder's movement techniques and evasive abilities are not inferior to those of martial arts experts of the same realm.

Based on this, even without the Grand Master's Sword, his combat prowess is still exceptionally powerful.

Caught off guard, those foreign experts were quickly inflicted with severe injuries during the initial close combat, eliminating any chance of subsequent escape."

Upon hearing this, Chu Fu and Ye Song fell into deep thought.

They were both somewhat familiar with martial arts experts.

When martial arts experts were in good health and their bodies were intact, not only were their movement speeds unparalleled, but their offensive and defensive capabilities were also top-notch.

However, once their defenses were breached and they suffered injuries, especially blood loss, their physical resilience and movement speed would be greatly affected.

It seemed that Mi Han and the other foreign experts had suffered a disadvantage due to a lack of information.

...When had they ever encountered a Daoist master of the Fulu sect whose movement speed, physical strength, and the lethality of their punches and kicks were so astonishing?

Well, to be honest, Ye Song and Chu Fu hadn't encountered such a person either...

In this situation, when Mi Han and the others suddenly faced an anomaly like Lei Jun, they were quickly injured in a short period, which significantly impacted their movement speed. By the time they wanted to escape, it was already too late.

This situation might even be worse than facing a Ninth Heaven realm expert.

At least in that case, they wouldn't have misjudged the situation and could have fled immediately.

"In fact, it would also be difficult if Xuantiaozi were at the Ninth Heaven realm. Then, he would have cultivated the Grand Daoist Scene.

Ye Song sighed in awe.

Lowering his gaze to the report in his hands, Chu Fu muttered, "Others are hard to say, but an Eighth Heaven martial artist, especially those who have reached the peak of the Eighth Heaven realm, can escape the capture of a Grand Daoist's divine court with their full strength."

"However," Ye Song interjected, "if Xuan Tianzi truly cultivates the Ninth Heaven, his abilities will be even more unfathomable."

"At the Eighth Heaven realm, he is already such a monster..."

"If he specializes in cultivating his physical body and possesses combat skills that rival or even surpass most martial artists at the same level, then he is indeed an anomaly, leading one to wonder if he has a unique background like his master."

Setting aside the report, Chu Fu continued, "But how has he managed to cultivate his physical body to such prowess while also mastering the Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire? This is truly baffling."

"I, too, am very curious as to how this Thunder Master has achieved all of this,"

At this moment, Crown Prince Zhang Hui spoke up, "However, it is undeniable that this Thunder Master possesses extraordinary talent and has kept a low profile."

Chu Fu and Ye Song fell silent, contemplating the implications.

A single report could be erroneous, or someone might even fabricate the information.

But when combined with Lei Jun's past achievements, it was almost certain that he truly possessed such remarkable abilities.

"It's better that those barbarians from foreign tribes first experience his might," Ye Song remarked.

After a moment of contemplation, Chu Fu sighed softly, "Even with prior knowledge of his capabilities, it would still be extremely challenging to face such a formidable opponent..."

Ye Song nodded gently in agreement.

He turned his gaze towards Crown Prince Zhang Hui, awaiting further discussion.

…………………

At the border between Cangzhou and Qingzhou, within an inconspicuous pavilion nestled among the mountains, two figures stood side by side, gazing into the distance.

"How has your health been lately, Elder Brother Ye?" inquired Ye Yan, the clan leader of the Ye family of Qingzhou, addressing the elder man beside him.

The elderly man was none other than Ye Moquan, the leader of the Ye family of Cangzhou. It was common knowledge that after the surprise attack on the Ye family estate in Cangzhou by the Nine Li experts, Ye Moquan's health had been affected, and he might not have fully recovered yet.

Ye Moquan did not deny this but also refrained from elaborating further, "I'm doing better than before, thanks to your concern. At my age, I'm finally realizing the importance of taking care of my health."

Ye Yan: "The world is ever-changing, with its share of fortunes and misfortunes. Elder Brother, please take care."

Ye Moquan smiled gently, "Indeed, the world now belongs to the younger generation. The swift defeat of the Lonely Eagle Khanate's second invasion is a testament to that."

Ye Yan nodded slightly.

Just as Fang Hezhou had invited Guo Yuan, the leaders of the Ye families of Cangzhou and Qingzhou, the two prominent clans, finally met again after hearing the detailed reports from the northwestern front.

"Lei Jun, the Grand Master of Thunder... He truly lives up to his name, a thunderous presence veiled in deep clouds," Ye Yan acknowledged.

Ye Yan admitted that when he first received the reports from the northwestern front, he was as shocked as Ye Cheng and Ye Song.

While Tang Xiaotang's achievement of slaying the Great Demon, the Nine-Headed Wolf, was impressive, it was still somewhat within their expectations.

However, Lei Jun's victory against four opponents, including Mi Han, without relying on his Grand Master's Sword or deploying his divine court, was beyond what they had imagined.

But now, the reports left them utterly bewildered.

"Previously, due to Xu Yuanzhen's involvement, I might have underestimated Lei Jun's role in the demise of Huang Xuanpu," Ye Yan mused.

Ye Moquan nodded gently, "In the battle in the northwest, facing four opponents alone, he has already surpassed Li Yang, Li Bai, and Li Qingfeng. With his rapid progress in cultivation, surpassing Li Zhiyuan is only a matter of time."

Turning to face Ye Yan, he inquired, "Do you recall the incident where Lei Jun was trapped for a prolonged period by the ritual during the pseudo-Ming invasion?"

"Indeed, we have been studying that incident in Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang in recent years," Ye Yan replied.

As Lei Jun's cultivation and abilities continued to grow stronger over time, they had little hope that he would be restrained by a similar ritual again.

The Grand Masters of Confucianism in Qingzhou and other regions had been working tirelessly to enhance the power of their rituals and create new ones, hoping to counter the increasingly powerful Lei Jun.

They had made notable progress, but without actually testing it against Lei Jun, they couldn't be certain of its effectiveness.

"If possible, I and the elders of Yu Jing would also like to lend our assistance," Ye Moquan offered.

Ye Yan's eyes lit up at the prospect, "Elder Brother's help would be most welcome."

While their objectives and interests conflicted in many aspects and even led to irreconcilable differences, the current situation called for a united front from the prominent clans.

It was reminiscent of when they first encountered the "barbarian" martial arts concept, which had become their common enemy.

If they failed to address the issue promptly, Ye Cheng, Fang Zhiku, and others would have no choice but to retreat.

Now, they faced a similar challenge.

"While we have made some headway, this Thunder Grand Master is not one to remain stagnant," Ye Yan stated gravely.

Indeed, the rate of progress of the Grand Master of Thunder was astonishing, leaving Ye Yan with a sense of urgency as he felt the gap between them narrowing.

"He who stands still shall fall behind. The current situation is like cutting flesh with a dull blade or roasting oneself over a gentle flame," Ye Moquan analogized.

"The more time passes, the narrower our options become," Ye Yan concurred.

Ye Yan turned his head to the south, his gaze drifting towards the Jiangnan region.

Having patiently awaited the opportune moment for years, they had also made significant preparations.

However, during this period, they had also witnessed the rise of Tang Xiaotang, who ascended to the Ninth Heaven alongside Xu Yuanzhen, and the emergence of Lei Jun as a formidable force.

Indeed, they couldn't afford to wait any longer.

"If we wait until Lei Jun also reaches the Ninth Heaven, then we will be falling behind," Ye Yan acknowledged the urgency.

This Thunder Master was presenting them with an enormous challenge.

Or perhaps, it was more accurate to say that Lei Jun himself was the challenge.

Adding Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang to the equation further complicated matters.

It was no longer a matter that could be resolved by a single person, family, or clan.

A united effort from multiple prominent clans was imperative.

The balance of power in the world must change.

The Earth-Sea Nine Li, the Lone Eagle Khanate, the Heavenly Principle False Ming, and the Yellow Springs Evil Cultivation have now been curbed one by one.

Where should we focus our attention?

Ye Yan seemed deep in thought, his gaze turning towards the west.

At the same time, Ye Moquan, standing beside him, mirrored his actions, his eyes also looking westward.

…………………

At Mount Zhongnan, within the Pure Yang Palace.

Lei Jun was temporarily residing here.

The northwestern battle had largely entered its final stage, and others were responsible for overseeing it. Lei Tianshi didn't interfere much, choosing to stay here and maintain stability.

Hence, he spent his days communicating with his sect, the Dragon-Tiger Mountain, and cultivating in seclusion.

Recently, he had obtained the Thought Refining Spirit Stone, which he was slowly refining.

The Spirit Stone had seven orifices, resembling a seven-aperture pure heart.

There was a faint stream of light flowing between the orifices, connecting them in a seamless network, with a pure and uninterrupted flow.

Lei Jun quietly infused his spiritual power into the Thought Refining Spirit Stone, integrating it with his own power.

Thus, a seven-colored stream of light entered Lei Jun's body and circulated within his divine universe.

The light stream was pure, and as a result, it was difficult for other spiritual powers to refine it.

However, as a massive Yin-Yang Taiji diagram appeared and rotated within Lei Jun's divine universe, the seven-colored radiance finally dissipated, transforming into black and white hues.

The spiritual power within began to blend harmoniously with Lei Jun's own power.

After further refining it for a period, Lei Jun finally achieved a complete fusion.

Next, with a shift in his thoughts, his spiritual power and techniques underwent a noticeable improvement.

He entered the True One Law Altar, a divine realm derived from the Heaven Master's Seal.

Within his own divine realm, Lei Jun didn't need to hold back. The Heaven Master's Thunder and Lightning Scripture and the Mysterious Sky Five Thunder Scripture immediately appeared above his head.

The purple Yang Thunder and the black Yin Thunder intertwined, erupting with dazzling brilliance.

The radiance passed through a red crystal within the Youluo Rainbow Crystal, transforming into a condensed red beam that swept across the space.

The beam was blocked by the Taiji diagram manifested by Lei Jun's spiritual power, preventing it from damaging the True One Law Altar.

However, the intense red light was incredibly destructive, and even Lei Jun's Taiji diagram began to show signs of scorching and piercing.

The True One Law Altar reacted, emitting flickering lights of purple, gold, and cyan.

With a thought from Lei Jun, the condensed red beam disappeared.

Then, orange light, yellow light, green light...

The seven-colored lights flashed one by one, as if they could penetrate the void.

The speed was astonishing.

And the power was equally remarkable.

However, the most significant change was the drastically reduced preparation time required before this powerful beam could be unleashed.

"This is more suitable for dynamic combat situations and not just for fixed-point sniping after lengthy preparations," Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction.

The Thought Refining Spirit Stone was indeed a treasure he needed.

It also had a promoting effect on other spiritual powers, but its most significant benefit was perfecting this new spiritual power that initially had a long preparation time.

Today, this new spiritual power finally matured from its initial concept to a completed form, gaining widespread applicability.

Lei Jun named this spiritual power, "Yin-Yang Divine Radiance."

After the Yuan Magnet Flying Sword, the Yin-Thunder Dragon, and the Yang-Fire Tiger, this was another offensive spiritual power he had created.

Of course, it was still in its initial stages and required further refinement and adjustments.

For example, it consumed an enormous amount of spiritual power.

However, Lei Jun would continue to improve it, just like he had done with his other spiritual powers.

"Alright, so the next step is..."

Lei Jun spread out his palm, and seven differently colored Youluo Rainbow Crystals flew into the air.

Then, under Lei Jun's control, these Rainbow Crystals were further refined and eventually merged into his brow like a rainbow haze.

Lei Jun smiled, and his eyes closed.

Between his brows, radiance flowed, as if a third eye had formed.

The light within the eye flickered, sometimes converging into a seven-colored rainbow haze and sometimes shifting into a single color, cycling through the colors of the rainbow.

Finally, the radiance faded, as if the eye had closed.

Lei Jun's brows returned to normal, and he opened his eyes, revealing a calm and profound gaze.

"Oh? Little Martial Sister is back?" Lei Jun sensed something and emerged from the True One Law Altar.

Tang Xiaotang and Shangguan Yunbo returned to the Pure Yang Palace together.

"That scoundrel got away." Former Heaven Master Tang Zhenren was in a foul mood.

She prided herself on the progress of her new spiritual power, and the joy she felt chasing after Chang Tian Canglang had been unparalleled.

Who would have thought that such joy would be short-lived? In her pursuit of Berwood this time, she had lost track of him again, and the frustration was evident.

"Perhaps someone helped him conceal his tracks," Shangguan Yunbo frowned.

Lei Jun first spoke to Tang Xiaotang: "Different opponents have different characteristics, and experience is accumulated gradually, expanding one's repertoire from the simplistic to the diverse."

Then he looked at Shangguan Yunbo: "This matter leaves a hidden danger. I believe it warrants a thorough investigation."

Shangguan Yunbo said, "Rest assured, Heaven Master. I have already reported this to His Majesty, and a thorough investigation will be conducted."

He would remain in the Guanlong region, both to deter any unruly elements and to investigate this matter further. He would also continue to hunt down and eliminate any remnants of the foreign tribes.

On the other hand...

"Lei Tianshi, Tang Zhenren, if you are both free at the moment, I invite you to accompany me to the Imperial Capital."

Shangguan Yunbo said, "His Majesty has summoned the leaders of the various sacred grounds to the capital, and the same invitation has been sent to the Sumeru Vajra Sect, the Hanging Temple, the Bodhi Temple, the Celestial Dragon Temple, the Pure Yang Palace, and the Shu Mountain Sect."

Tang Xiaotang asked, "All of them together?"

Lei Jun said, "The matter of the Grand Preceptor needs to be settled."

...

PS1: 5k for 2 chapters, equivalent to 2 full chapters.

PS2: I'll try my best to catch up and not fall behind by a day, aiming to squeeze out another chapter tonight. It's a tight schedule, but I'll give it my best shot.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end