https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-36-36-Yang-Mountain-Manor-Xuanyang-Dongtian/12586158/
Chapter 37: 37. The Traitors Who Have Established Their Own Sects
Chapter 37: 37. The Traitors Who Have Established Their Own Sects
The entrance to Xuanyang Dongtian resembled that of Yunhai Xianchi, an ethereal portal floating in mid-air, shimmering with radiant light. However, unlike the latter, which resembled a vertically standing "gate," the entrance to Xuanyang Dongtian was more akin to a "tunnel" laid horizontally in the sky.
Legend has it that within the Dongtian lies a subterranean palace. Deep within this palace is a mysterious cavern filled with scorching geothermal flames. In times of peril, seeking refuge in Xuanyang Dongtian promises a thrilling yet safe journey...
Lei Jun silently read his fortune slip. The key takeaway from this exceptionally lucky draw was not merely a visit to Yangshan Bie Fu but the instruction to enter Xuanyang Dongtian during a subsequent crisis. Otherwise, it would be a journey of mere surprises without a fortunate turn of events.
He shifted his gaze from the entrance of the Dongtian. There was no need to rush things at the moment; intruding into the Dongtian would be too eye-catching. It was better to bide his time and wait for the right opportunity.
Outside the Dongtian, everyone quietly bathed in the abundant yang energy, either cultivating on their own or communicating with their fellow sect members.
Lei Jun glanced around and noticed that among the disciples who had passed the transmission of degrees in the same year as him, the more outstanding ones, such as Li Ying and a few others, had already reached the middle stage of foundation establishment. Moreover, going by their appearances, most of them seemed likely to advance to the late stage of foundation establishment within the next year.
Without the aid of Qingshimomo, their progress wasn't as swift as Lei Jun's. However, under the arrangements of their elders and sect members, they had each gained their own opportunities, especially Li Ying, the youngest daughter of Elder Ziyang, who was the most remarkable of them all.
However, Li Ying, Shangguan Hong, Guo Yan, and the others had previously chosen the Golden Lock Talisman as their lifebound talisman art. Due to the emergence of the Golden Lock Breaking Talisman, they had been forced to collectively retrain in the Golden Lock Talisman, hindering their focused cultivation...
Hmm?
Lei Jun's heart stirred, and the keen senses honed through his Night Wind Stone training alerted him to something amiss. As he observed others, he sensed that someone from the Celestial Master's Mansion was secretly keeping an eye on him.
Lei Jun didn't turn around and remained calm and collected.
From a distance, Qu Yong quietly sized up Lei Jun. He recalled Lee Hsuan's instructions before they had set off for Yangshan Bie Fu.
"On this trip, keep an eye on Lei, the disciple of Master Yuan."
Lee Hsuan, usually stoic with a perpetually stern face, wore a rare smile as he expressed his concern:
"Lei has limited experience in venturing out for training. Moreover, he has spent a considerable amount of time in the Qingshimomo mine and has only recently emerged. You must pay constant attention and be mindful of him."
Qu Yong understood his senior's intentions perfectly.
Lee Hsuan wanted him to observe Lei Jun's condition discreetly. If Lei Jun had indeed spent an extended period associated with Qingshimomo, his current rate of improvement in cultivation would undoubtedly far exceed expectations.
However, it would also mean that his physical body would be left with hidden injuries, resulting in weak qi and blood.
It seemed that Lee Hsuan wanted to secretly verify this.
Qu Yong felt honored to be entrusted with such a private task, and he was determined to seize this opportunity to impress Elder Ziyang and Lee Hsuan.
Although Lei Jun hadn't engaged in any sparring or competitions but had only meditated and cultivated on his own, Qu Yong still managed to discern a few clues.
This Lei seemed to have already reached the late stage of foundation establishment.
Qu Yong wasn't entirely sure, but he had a vague suspicion. After all, he himself had attained the late stage of foundation establishment.
However, Qu Yong hoped that he was mistaken.
How could someone like Lei Jun, who had only joined the sect a few years ago and formally entered the Mansion through the transmission of degrees, have progressed so quickly? He had only arrived at Longhu Mountain four years ago and officially joined through the transmission of degrees a little over two years ago.
Qu Yong couldn't help but sigh at the talent within the Celestial Master's Mansion. Some people's progress would put others to shame. He had passed the transmission of degrees a year earlier than Lei Jun, Chen Yi, and the others, which meant he had a three-year head start. Now, after formally becoming a true disciple of the Mansion for over five years, he had cultivated to the late stage of foundation establishment, which was considered a decent achievement.
Yet, Lei Jun, who was three years his junior, had already caught up with him in terms of cultivation. How could Qu Yong not feel emotional about this?
The only consolation for Qu Yong was that Lei Jun's rapid progress might be attributed to the influence of Qingshimomo. If that were the case, it would be incredibly challenging for Lei Jun to overcome the tribulations of the Triple Heaven and break through to the altar realm. He might even face the constant risk of death and the dissipation of his soul.
Qu Yong wondered if Lei, the disciple, had already suffered damage to his physical body and qi due to the influence of Qingshimomo...
Without any discernible clues from a naked eye inspection, Qu Yong retracted his gaze and contemplated other methods to assess Lei Jun.
As Qu Yong averted his eyes, Lei Jun glanced in his direction, offering a slight shake of his head, neither confirming nor denying anything.
For the following days, Lei Jun set aside all distractions and dedicated himself solely to his cultivation.
Then, one afternoon...
"Boom!"
The sky above Yangshan Bie Fu suddenly erupted with a startling peal of thunder.
In the valley behind the mountain, Lei Jun and the others, who had been cultivating in their thatched huts, rushed out.
Looking up, they saw thunderclouds filling the sky, with lightning flashing across the horizon.
The thunder and lightning struck directly at Yangshan Bie Fu!
Brilliant lights automatically illuminated the interior and exterior of Yangshan Bie Fu, intertwining to form illusory talismans that were overwhelmingly massive, protecting the Daoist palace beneath.
But the next moment, a vast amount of greenish-blue flames surged forth, engulfing the protective formations of Yangshan Bie Fu!
The virulent green flames were terrifying. They actually tore open a rift in the defensive restrictions of Yangshan Bie Fu, and through this rift, several figures infiltrated the Daoist palace.
However, some of them were immediately reduced to ashes by the thunder and lightning!
"It's the heretical demons of Huangtian Yaodao!"
The voice of the TianShi Fu elder in charge of Yangshan Bie Fu boomed like thunder, echoing throughout every corner of the mountain: "Disciples, follow me to slay the demons and eliminate the evil!"
Including Lei Jun and the others, all the true disciples of TianShi Fu accepted the order without hesitation.
The Huangtian Dao...
Lei Jun took out his short stick-like Upper Clarity Golden Bamboo and held it in his hand, realizing why even the secluded paradise of TianShi Fu would face such a crisis.
This time, their opponent was one of TianShi Fu's arch-nemeses.
Lei Jun had also dealt with Huangtian Dao indirectly in the past.
The truth behind the theft incident at Da Tong Yuan had been a TianShi Fu elder who sympathized with Huangtian Dao, causing trouble behind the scenes.
It was after a famous internal strife in TianShi Fu's history that the rebels broke away and established their own sect, known as Huangtian Dao.
Thus, to TianShi Fu, they were absolute heretics and traitors, a mortal enemy they had always wanted to eradicate.
Huangtian Dao operated clandestinely, developing their power in secret. While TianShi Fu launched campaigns to suppress them, Huangtian Dao persistently opposed and countered the sect.
It was Huangtian Dao that had created the Breaking Golden Talisman, which could break the ancestral Golden Pass Talisman of TianShi Fu!
Fortunately, the high-level experts within TianShi Fu, such as Xu Yuanzhen, had responded swiftly, improving and patching the original loopholes in the Golden Pass Talisman, thus resolving the issue posed by the Breaking Golden Talisman.
After that incident, TianShi Fu cracked down on Huangtian Dao relentlessly, forcing them to retreat into deeper layers of secrecy.
However, their low profile was only temporary, like a venomous snake biding its time and gathering strength.
Now, Huangtian Dao had launched another assault, this time targeting Yangshan Bie Fu.
The offensive was fierce, and numerous disciples of Huangtian Dao broke into the Daoist palace.
Even the valley behind the mountain had intruders.
In an instant, thunder and fire raged, figures clashed, and the sky was filled with various spiritual talismans and magical artifacts.
Lei Jun temporarily remained with the crowd, keeping a low profile and not drawing attention to himself.
Under the influence of the external battle, the newly established secluded paradise became unstable, and underground molten flames erupted. Regardless of friend or foe, anyone who ventured too close suffered injuries.
After the initial eruption, the flames surged like tides, only to be drawn back again, creating a significant suction force.
Lei Jun, who had already subtly adjusted his position, seized this opportunity to quietly move a few steps, pretending to be caught off guard and sucked into the secluded paradise.
Qu Yong was also diligent in his task, keeping an eye on Lei Jun even in the midst of this chaotic situation, while also fending off enemy attacks.
Caught unprepared, he, too, was swept up by the suction force at the entrance of the paradise, his face paling in shock as he found himself unable to break free.
Upon entering the Xuanyang Dongtian, the first thing that caught Lei Jun's eyes was the vast expanse of golden-red within the rudimentary underground palace.
Lei Jun then turned his attention to the entrance of the Dongtian.
The violent underground flames had temporarily sealed off the entrance, isolating the inside from the outside.
Along with him, only Qu Yong and two disciples of Huangtian Dao had been sucked in.
Surrounded by the rolling underground flames, the four of them stared at each other warily.
(End of Chapter)
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