Chapter 379: The Ninth Heaven, the Great Sage! (Part 2)

Chapter 379: The Ninth Heaven, the Great Sage! (Part 2)

Only the white jade seal, glowing with purple, golden, and azure lights, shone within the small world of the Black Lotus.

In the True One Law Forum Cave Heaven, Lei Jun now sat atop the True One Law Forum.

"The righteous way is undivided, and the spirit explores the mysteries," Lei Jun intoned melodically.

With Lei Jun's utterance, the turbulent True One Law Forum Cave Heaven and the Celestial Master Seal calmed.

In his consciousness, the river of time had vanished.

What replaced it was an entire, separate world, as if it existed independently from the rest of the universe.

In the distant reaches of this new realm, a bridge faintly appeared, as if it were connecting two realms.

To Lei Jun, it felt both strangely close and yet out of reach.

The Bridge to Enlightenment.

Or perhaps, it could be called the Bridge to Ascension.

From the Mortal Realm to the Realm of Immortals.

For thousands of years, no one had reached this realm.

The Cultivators of the Great Vehicle Realm of the Nine Heavens at the fifth layer could attain the Five Elements Returning to the Origin.

Refiners in the Great Vehicle Realm of the Nine Heavens at the fifth layer could attain the body of a Scattered Immortal, also known as Minor Carefree.

And the Talisman Cultivators in the Great Vehicle Realm of the Nine Heavens with the Five Elements Returning to the Profound attainments could achieve the Bridge to Enlightenment.

A bridge to even higher cultivation.

Lei Jun smiled.

Just as the senior disciple sister said.

The path of cultivation is long, and we are but travelers on this road, with countless paths, sights, wonders, and dangers awaiting us.

It is precisely because of this that cultivation is so captivating.

With Lei Jun at its center, a unique, independent universe unfolded.

Within this universe, the Primordial Energy surged.

Then, it transformed into dust.

This is called the Profound Dark Dust, capable of refining the Underworld.

This was the most renowned mystery of the Grand Transcendent at the first layer of the Nine Heavens.

Lei Jun sat quietly at the heart of this universe, a smile on his face.

Nine Heavens, the Great Vehicle Realm.

Today, I've finally achieved it!

In addition to the Profound Dark Dust, something else emerged within this universe.

Moreover, it was intimately connected to the Profound Dark Dust, existing in a state of mutual correspondence.

The former resided below.

Above it, the glow of the Azure Firmament seemed to flicker.

The light lasted only an instant before disappearing without a trace.

But like a great sound that resonates silently, there seemed to be a rumble of thunder.

The thunder didn't sound outwardly but arose from the depths of one's heart.

The Heart Thunder of the Nine Heavens... Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Compared to the Profound Dark Dust, this wasn't a mystery that the Grand Transcendent cultivators universally possessed.

Instead, it originated from his personal cultivation, building upon the foundation of his Celestial Body, further achieving the descent of the Azure and the ascent of the Yellow Springs, and thus gaining natural enlightenment, after which he attained this mystery.

The Profound Dark Dust corresponds to the Yellow Springs.

The Heart Thunder of the Nine Heavens corresponds to the Azure Firmament.

Using the Profound Dark Dust as a catalyst, combined with Lei Jun's various insights into the laws of cultivation and his own root bone and enlightenment, the Heart Thunder of the Nine Heavens was finally born, corresponding to the Profound Dark Dust.

Just like how the Yellow Springs and the Azure Firmament correspond to each other.

"Although I had a vague premonition before the Tribulation, it still feels pretty good to have truly achieved something." Lei Jun smiled.

The Profound Dark Dust and the Heart Thunder of the Nine Heavens floated quietly in his Great Vehicle landscape.

Lei Jun, within this landscape, strolled with his hands behind his back, quietly contemplating.

The Spirit Official Talisman, the Heavenly Movement Talisman, the Profound Firmament Five Thunder Talisman, the Revolving Stars and Dipper, the Yin-Yang Heavenly Origin Talisman, the Heaven-Penetrating Earth-Piercing Talisman, the Life-Creating Humanity Talisman, the Fire Law Earth Talisman, the Thunder Law Heaven Talisman, and the True Yang Central Heaven Talisman.

His various life-bound talismans appeared one after another in his Great Vehicle landscape.

Then, an uncountable number of other talismans and techniques appeared.

The countless talismans flowed like a starry river, and as his spiritual power and might grew, they were further refined by the Profound Dark Dust and the Heart Thunder of the Nine Heavens.

When everything was ready, Lei Jun's Great Vehicle landscape faded, with him at its center.

But he remained seated cross-legged on the True One Law Altar, not immediately getting up.

Lei Jun spread out his palms, and a speck of light, like dust, appeared, floating above his palm.

The speck of light trembled slightly.

Then, in front of Lei Jun, it split into two.

The two specks of light, like dust, continued to swirl in front of Lei Jun.

Lei Jun thought that the other party must have some backup plan.

As it turned out, they had orchestrated such a grand scheme?

"General Xiao Xuting, to rescue the emperor, rushed into the old palace in Chang'an and followed His Majesty into Luoyuan."

Yuan Mobai's voice was rarely serious, "Xiao Hang Jiushi was injured and saved by General Shangguan. There is no immediate danger, but the General has suspicions about Zhao Wang's actions..."

The battle of Chang'an had a tragic outcome.

The only winner, for now, seemed to be Zhao Wang Zhang Teng.

Although it could be considered disrespectful to the current emperor, Zhao Wang had ultimately succeeded in reversing the tide, rescuing the Great Tang from crisis, repelling the Luoyuan monster, and preventing the waters of the Underworld Sea from flooding the real Chang'an city and endangering the people.

As a result, his influence surged.

To the outside world, he would never admit that he had donated the current saint but would portray the female emperor as someone who, despite her severe injuries, was willing to sacrifice herself to save the country and entrusted the Great Tang to her uncle, Zhao Wang, before her demise.

With the Great Tang in peril on all four fronts, the old prince had no choice but to shoulder the heavy responsibility of upholding the country.

As for the dragon vein of fortune that he had attracted, it would naturally not disperse.

The Great Tang seemed to be welcoming a new ruler.

..................

Youzhou Lin Clan's ancestral land.

The current clan head, Lin Xuan, spoke to the elderly Lin Yi, "I will be leaving with Fifth Uncle and the others. This time, I will be bringing the Northern Wind Sword. Please take care of the ancestral land, Second Uncle and Grand Uncles."

Standing behind her were Lin Bang, Lin Lishan, Lin Liyu, Lin Xuan, and other top experts from the Youzhou Lin Clan.

Lin Yi, the Lin Clan elder in charge of guarding the ancestral land, returned the salute, "I wish you success."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and turned to instruct Lin Lishan, "As for Datong, Big Brother, be prepared. I will send you a letter."

Lin Lishan: "Yes."

..................

Cangzhou Ye Clan's ancestral land.

With Ye Moken absent, the current clan head, Ye Wei, was seeing off Ye Moke, Ye Mo, Ye Chen, and other clan members.

"This time, thank you for your hard work, Aunt." Ye Wei said.

Ye Moke, a clan elder of the same generation as Ye Moken and Ye Morong, shook her head slightly,

"We're fine since we're with Big Brother. It's you here who have a heavier burden, with the responsibility falling solely on your and Qingquan's shoulders."

Standing next to Ye Wei was a young woman named Ye Qingquan, the niece of Ye Moke. She was the young generation expert that the Cangzhou Ye Clan had cultivated after the deaths of Ye Feishan and Ye Lingxi.

With rapid progress, the Cangzhou Ye Clan had decided to groom her as the next clan head after Ye Wei. Hence, she stayed to guard the ancestral land this time.

"Hide your whereabouts, Ninth Brother. Wait for my message." Ye Wei continued, addressing Ye Chen, a clan elder of the same generation, "Once the Youzhou side informs me of the location, I will notify you immediately."

Ye Chen: "Big Brother, rest assured. I will keep a lookout."

..................

Qingzhou Ye Clan's ancestral land.

The clan elders, Ye Zhuo and Ye Cheng, who was the heir apparent, saw off Ye Haizhou, Ye Wei, Ye Yao, and other top experts from the Qingzhou Ye Clan.

"Has there been any correspondence with Her Majesty, the Queen?" Ye Zhuo asked a palace-dressed woman.

The woman, Ye Min, was the second daughter of Clan Head Ye Yan.

Her older sister, Ye Ke, was the empress of the previous emperor, Zhang Qilong, and the mother of the current crown prince, Zhang Hui.

"Her Majesty has replied and has already met with Crown Prince Zhang Hui," Ye Min answered.

Ye Zhuo: "Good, be careful on your journey, and go meet with Big Brother."

Ye Wei, a clan elder, nodded: "Please bring out the River Map from the ancestral hall."

With the joint worship of the Ye clan elders, the literary talent of the Qingzhou Ye Clan soared into the sky.

Along with the Chess Star Seal of the Cangzhou Ye Clan, the River Map was one of the two treasured heirlooms of the Qingzhou Ye Clan. Now, it was leaving Qingzhou and heading towards Luoyang.

..................

At the same time, the Suzhou Chu Clan and the Jingxiang Fang Clan were also undergoing similar scenes.

At this critical juncture, where the fate of the Great Tang hung in the balance, the several great aristocratic families finally stopped holding back and began to act with their full strength.

After accumulating power for many years and avoiding war, numerous experts emerged from seclusion.

Ye Yan, Ye Moken, and Chu Xiuyuan, who had been entangled with the monsters before, finally returned to the Central Plains.

On the Northern Solitary Cloud Plain, Jingxiang Fang Clan's clan head, Fang Jingsheng, successfully sealed the void portal connecting the human world of the Great Tang to the other side.

In the imperial capital of Luoyang, Crown Prince Zhang Hui, who was overseeing the country, issued an edict condemning Zhao Wang Zhang Teng, stating that he had stolen the national fortune and committed regicide, a heinous crime of treason.

Zhao Wang Zhang Teng, in turn, accused Crown Prince Zhang Hui of employing deceitful means in the imperial capital of Luoyang, affecting the battle situation in Chang'an and leading to the female emperor's death.

He was heading east from Chang'an to Luoyang, sweeping through the dragon vein's earth energy, and intended to eliminate the traitors, including Zhang Hui, in Luoyang.

However, Crown Prince Zhang Hui, the Qingzhou Ye Clan, the Suzhou Chu Clan, and the Jingxiang Fang Clan were all well-prepared.

With Luoyang as the center, they drew upon the literary energy of Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang, and then channeled it to various parties, performing rituals.

Under their interwoven influence, more than half of the Great Tang Dynasty's territory was in turmoil.

The national fortune dragon vein began to converge in Luoyang, even peeling away from Zhao Wang Zhang Teng.

Luoyang already had the first treasure of the Tang imperial family, the Sheji Ding. With the full support of the three clans' ancestral lands, it now had the might to shake the mountains and rivers.

Although Zhao Wang had the support of the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Lin Clan, the two clans were at a disadvantage due to their northern location and the fact that their ancestral lands had been rebuilt after a catastrophe, lacking the deep roots of the other three clans.

Thus, even with the first move, Zhao Wang still faced the possibility of being overturned.

However, since Zhao Wang dared to make a move, he must have had preparations.

The elder of the Cangzhou Ye Clan, Ye Moken, who had been in seclusion for nearly thirty years, took action.

After years of planning, the hidden pieces he had planted began to bear fruit.

All of this was prepared specifically for the Zhang Tang royal family.

At this moment, it was being used to help one member of the royal family suppress another.

Even with various disadvantages, Zhao Wang had one significant advantage—he had already attained the Nine Heavens realm.

Crown Prince Zhang Hui was still at the Eight Heavens realm.

Without the assistance of the literary energy from the three clans' ancestral lands, Zhang Hui, even with the Sheji Ding, could not compete with Zhao Wang Zhang Teng, who possessed the Town World Knife.

And now, Zhang Teng had arrived in Luoyang.

As long as he obtained the Sheji Ding, the outcome would be decided.

Ye Yan, the clan head of the Qingzhou Ye Clan, and Fang Jingsheng, the clan head of the Jingxiang Fang Clan, both arrived in Luoyang to face Zhao Wang Zhang Teng alongside Crown Prince Zhang Hui.

The elder of the Suzhou Chu Clan, Chu Xiuyuan, was absent.

Outside Luoyang, he found an old acquaintance, Ye Moken.

Regarding Ye Moken's assistance to Zhao Wang Zhang Teng, the two elders, who knew each other well, engaged in a short but intense battle.

..................

Imperial Capital Luoyang.

The battle for the throne had erupted.

Numerous members of the Zhang Tang royal family gathered.

Among them were those who had originally been in Luoyang, those who had returned from Chang'an with Zhao Wang Zhang Teng, and those who had rushed to the imperial capital from various parts of the Great Tang.

Princess Zhang Qingrong of Dongping exclaimed, "The Crown Prince is the heir apparent and has been commanded to oversee the nation in the Emperor's stead. He has always been gracious and noble. What is there to deliberate?"

Grand Councilor Shangguan Qing, and Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang remained pensive.

Huaixi King Zhang Zhicong, who had just arrived in the imperial capital, looked around and asked, "Is it truly so... that His Majesty... that the Great Emperor is no more?"

Princess Zhang Juan of Yuzhou and her husband, Shangguan Zhe, exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

Prince Zhang Luo asked, "What is the Great General's take on this?"

Chen Shan King Zhang Yang replied slowly, "Yunbo is currently searching for His Majesty alongside Junhai."

He scanned the crowd and continued, "Although he has not expressed his stance, he evidently harbors suspicions about the outcome of the Battle of Changan."

Huaixi King Zhang Zhicong suddenly asked, "I heard that the Heavenly Master's Mansion's Yuan Zhenren has also gone to Guanzhong. What are the thoughts of the Heavenly Master's Mansion on this matter?"

Chen Shan King Zhang Yang answered slowly, "Yuan Zhenren is currently acting alongside the Great General."

The crowd nodded slightly.

Indeed, Zhao Wang Zhang Teng was somewhat anxious...

"However, some have returned with Zhang Teng," Han Wang Zhang Chuyue spoke up.

A slight silence fell upon the room.

Among those present were Zhang Tang's royal family members: Lu Ning Wang Zhang Xiaohao, Zhao Ping Wang Zhang Ji, and Mu Cheng Wang Zhang Ming, all of whom were skilled cultivators.

Furthermore, everyone present sensed the presence of other royal family members standing with Zhao Wang.

The Zhang Tang royal family was inevitably headed towards an internal conflict.

Noble families from the Lu and Shen clans exchanged glances, their faces grave.

…………………

Lei Jun traveled north through the southern wilderness, collecting information as he made his way from the South Sea.

The Battle of Luoyang raged on with constant twists and turns.

After a fierce struggle over the dragon's energy, the two sides engaged in close combat.

Ye Yan, carrying the River Map, and Fang Jingsheng, wielding the Spring and Autumn Brush, aided Crown Prince Zhang Hui in stabilizing the situation.

Later, Crown Prince Zhang Hui struck a crucial blow by revealing ironclad evidence of Zhao Wang Zhang Teng's past actions. He exposed how Zhang Teng had sheltered a foreign warrior, Bo Muge, and secretly invited the foreign tribe to invade on a large scale once more. He also accused Zhang Teng of practicing the foreign tribe's martial arts.

This revelation caused an uproar both inside and outside Luoyang.

In other matters, the truth might eventually come to light.

However, in the competition for dynastic succession, public opinion and the support of the people were equally crucial factors.

With prior preparation, the news spread like wildfire.

Zhao Wang Zhang Teng, who had gained the favor of the people by defending the northern frontier against foreign tribes and saving Changan from the beast, suddenly lost ground.

The tide in Luoyang began to turn significantly.

Lei Jun gradually approached the Central Plains.

From afar, a radiant light shone at the edge of the sky, floating above.

Just like Changan, due to the dragon's power and the gathering of national fortune, a majestic city appeared above the true Luoyang, shimmering with grandeur.

This city was both the battleground and the focal point of the conflict.

High above Lei Jun's head, a mystical mirror hung in the sky, its light revolving.

The ancient art of Heaven-Earth Communication revolved in his pupils, combining with the perspective granted by the mystical mirror to reveal myriad scenes.

As his abilities improved, the combination of the ancient art and the mystical mirror granted him a broader and more precise vision.

Although he was still far from Luoyang, the majestic city above the city had already manifested in Lei Jun's eyes.

The four sacred animals—the dragon, phoenix, qilin, and turtle—guarded the four directions of the city.

Apart from the aura of imperial majesty, a profusion of literary and cultural energy circulated within, exuding a majestic and flourishing atmosphere.

However, within the city, the fierce and violent energy of battle surged and ebbed.

Lei Jun halted his steps, not proceeding forward but instead fixing his gaze upon the city, deep in thought.

Suddenly, an external stimulus interrupted his train of thought.

Lei Jun gathered his senses, and the ancient art of Heaven-Earth Communication in his pupils directly emitted a radiant light, projecting it onto the space before him.

In the radiant light, dark spots appeared, resembling ink blots.

The difference lies in the fact that a third-grade opportunity can be created here in Weaving Golden Ridge.

Lei Jun looked towards Luoyang once more.

The battle over there was intensifying, but it was still too close to call.

Lei Jun nodded slightly, changing his direction to head west towards Shangzhou.

With his current cultivation, even without the Taiching Eight Treasures by his side, few in this world would be able to detect his presence and movements.

Lei Jun seemed to become one with nature as he made his way to Shangzhou and the Weaving Golden Ridge area.

The others were also hidden very discreetly.

But with Lei Jun's Great Ultimate Law Mirror and the Heaven-Earth Penetrating Law circulating, he soon discovered his targets.

There were two great Confucian families, each setting up a different type of ritual in this place.

On one side was the Jingxiang Fang Clan, led by an elder that Lei Jun recognized as Fang Sehan, a contemporary of Fang Hezhou.

The other side was the Suzhou Chu Clan, headed by an elder of the same generation as Chu Xiuyuan and Chu Taoyuan—Chu Fengyuan.

Lei Jun was naturally insightful and saw through all things.

The Fang Clan was preparing a ritual to connect to another realm, opening a portal to link their world with the Tang realm.

On the other hand, the Chu Clan was preparing a ritual that served the opposite purpose.

However, Chu Fengyuan's group was not targeting the nearby Fang Sehan and his companions. Instead, they were utilizing the unstable earth veins to transmit their ritual's effects over a long distance, aiming at a faraway location.

...So, they were targeting the ritual in Jade Barrier Mountain?

Lei Jun pondered.

In the mountain pass, Fang Sehan asked, "How is your preparation coming along, Brother Chu?"

Chu Fengyuan replied, "Everything is ready on my end, but we need to act in unison with your side."

Fang Sehan nodded lightly. "My side is ready whenever you are."

He looked towards the east, in the direction of Ji Province. "Zhao Wang Zhang Teng has already lost all face. Will the Youzhou Lin Clan still persist for his sake?"

"It's better to be safe than sorry," Chu Fengyuan said.

Fang Sehan's gaze shifted further north, towards Youzhou. "The Lin Clan has really made a name for themselves in Datong. They've become a force to be reckoned with."

"The Jingxiang Fang Clan is no less impressive," Chu Fengyuan acknowledged.

But Fang Sehan shook his head slightly. "Over there, the Lin Clan and the Xiao Clan have intermarried. They are of one mind and cannot be underestimated."

He sighed. "Those who entered Datong back then were all minor sects. Now they've all become major powers. It's hard to predict what will happen once they return."

Chu Fengyuan nodded but did not continue the conversation.

The problem of minor sects merging with major ones was on everyone's mind.

If it weren't for this concern, Youzhou and Jingxiang would never have joined forces to secretly obstruct Datong's return.

However, with the situation having progressed to this point, they knew that they had to make a choice even if they were fully aware that the choice was akin to drinking poison.

For now, it would be best if they could just stop the Lin Clan from inviting Datong back. But if they couldn't, they would have no choice but to follow suit.

"If it really comes to that, Brother Fang will make the decision early on," Chu Fengyuan finally said.

"Rest assured, Brother Chu. Everything is prepared. We'll have you take the lead shortly," Fang Sehan assured him.

"Don't mention it," Chu Fengyuan said with a smile.

"No problem," came another voice at that moment.

Fang Sehan, Chu Fengyuan, and the other two clan elders present all had their expressions shift upon hearing this voice.

But they couldn't see the person who had spoken. All they perceived was a dark, boundless expanse, like the universe and starry sky, that had emerged and enveloped the mountain pass, capturing everyone present within it.

In the vast starry sky, a tall young Daoist donned in nine-colored robes, with the Yuan Shi crown on his head and the White Jade Seal hanging from his waist, stood tall in the center of the stars.

"To be honest, I felt somewhat disappointed about the situation with Huang Quan before. I always wondered if things could have been prevented if I had captured Zong Han earlier," the young Daoist, Lei Jun, said as he looked at Fang Sehan and Chu Fengyuan, nodding slightly. "This time, not bad."

Soon, the darkness dissipated.

Under the Weaving Golden Ridge, only Lei Jun remained.

The two rituals were left untouched.

Lei Jun examined the ritual prepared by Chu Fengyuan and made some adjustments.

Then, he activated it.

Far away in Ji Province, in Jade Barrier Mountain, there were also two clan elders setting up Confucian rituals with opposing purposes, but they were interacting with each other.

The Lin Clan elder, Lin Lishan, signaled to the Ye Clan elder, Ye Chen, to begin.

The two Confucian rituals activated simultaneously.

Lin Lishan's expression was solemn.

Zhao Wang Zhang Teng had been a disappointment.

But they had reached a point of no return, and they could only take a risky path forward.

Abandoning their ancestral land in Youzhou now seemed like a viable option.

For now, they could only set aside the issue of minor sects merging with major ones...

Lin Lishan's thoughts were interrupted as he suddenly sensed something amiss with the ritual.

He didn't panic. "This is the doing of the Jingxiang side."

Everyone realized the same.

Apart from the ritual to open the portal, there was also another ritual aimed at disrupting and preventing the other side's ritual.

Ye Chen was already prepared and stood by Lin Lishan's side, ready to respond.

But the changes that occurred far exceeded their expectations.

Jade Barrier Mountain shook violently, as if the heavens were collapsing and the earth was sinking.

The two rituals in this place were completely eradicated, and the ritual instruments that had taken years of preparation were destroyed in an instant.

Lin Lishan and Ye Chen, who had higher cultivations, were shaken to the point of coughing up blood, their souls exiting their bodies, and nearly dispersing.

The lower-level cultivators from their clans were not so lucky; they were all instantly buried alive by the landslide.

How could the Suzhou and Qingzhou clans possess such power?! Even with the assistance of the Youzhou Lin Clan and Xiao Clan, how could the Jingxiang Fang Clan achieve something like this?!

Lin Lishan lay among the shattered mountains, his eyes filled with despair.

They had prepared for years for this day.

Now that it was ruined, would they have another few years to start over?

And what would become of Youzhou from here on?

…………………

Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction under the Weaving Golden Ridge and proceeded to clean up the traces of the two rituals.

He temporarily preserved the method to potentially open the portal to Datong by using his own magical powers to derive a Tai Chi diagram and seal it away.

For now, he had cut off their hopes.

Once everything was stable in the Tang realm, whether he would choose to recuperate or take the initiative to enter Datong would depend on the situation.

After sorting out the rituals, Lei Jun also understood what the upper sign's mention of a third-grade opportunity was about.

It was the spiritual object he had been searching for—the Thousand-faceted Prism Jade.

These influential clans indeed had abundant resources.

Not only was the quantity impressive, but the quality was also exceptional.

Well, in that case...

Thank you.

And then...

Lei Jun's gaze shifted towards the northeast as he took a step forward, returning in the direction of Luoyang.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end