Chapter 383: Startling the World Within and Without (Part 1)

Chapter 383: Startling the World Within and Without (Part 1)



"The Heavenly Master has ascended to the Great Vehicle realm, surpassing the Blood River Sect's achievement of summoning gods, and his might is even greater than their slaughter," whispered Official Qing.

Zhang Ying, Lu Zhen, and the others at his side started at his words, then bitter smiles curved their lips.

In the Daoist tradition, achieving the Ninth Heaven realm is called "Great Vehicle."

For the Wu, it is known as "Summoning Gods."

The Blood River Sect has always valued slaughter and bloodshed.

When the former leader of the Blood River Sect, Wei Ancheng, advanced from the Eighth to the Ninth Heaven, he happened to encounter the Ye Clan of Cangzhou and the Jin Cheng Zhai of South Desolation.

As a result, Ye Lingxi of the Seventh Heaven and Jin Cheng Zhai's Cao Chu perished on the spot. Ye Han of the Cangzhou and Jin Cheng Zhai's Gao Pu, both of the Eighth Heaven, were left severely injured.

Subsequently, Wei Ancheng initiated the South Desolation War, first conquering Jin Cheng Zhai, then marching towards Yinshan Dong, with the intent to unify the Wu clans of South Desolation.

However, looking back now, compared to the Heavenly Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, he was merely a petty sorcerer.

Wei Ancheng himself became the first achievement of Tang Country Master, Tang Xiaotang, upon her ascension to the Ninth Heaven.

When Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang first reached the Ninth Heaven, setting aside their strength, the spectacle was not as awe-inspiring and wrathful as the Heavenly Master's, as if heaven's punishment.

Timing and fate, such opportunities led to Heavenly Master's most stunning first appearance in thousands of years.

Her Majesty the Empress and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince yielded the stage, but the original plan was to yield it to the entire Heavenly Master's Mansion.

With the reopening of the portals to Tianli and Dihai, they intended to contact Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, and Lei Jun, requesting their return to aid the Tang Imperial Family and fulfill Empress Zhang Wantong's expectations.

In the end, the Heavenly Master alone accomplished all of this.

"When did the Heavenly Master recover from his injuries, and when did he break through to the Ninth Heaven?" someone suddenly asked in a low voice.

Silence befell the crowd, and no one responded.

The speaker fell silent as well, refraining from further words.

In most people's minds, they acknowledged that Heavenly Master Lei Jun's calm exterior hid a tempest within.

But now, everyone once again realized that they had seemingly underestimated the Heavenly Master.

Despite the prior consensus to estimate his strength generously, it still seemed insufficient...

Lu Zhen's gaze swept across the members of the Zhang-Tang Imperial Family and the officials of the Shangguan Clan.

Suddenly, four words popped into Lu Zhen's mind:

"A suspended sword in mid-air."

Without the involvement of Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun's battle stabilized the Great Tang and turned the tide.

At this moment, with the contrast of the waning influence of the Tang Imperial Family, the prestige of Lei Jun and the Heavenly Master's Mansion was at its peak. They were, without a doubt, the most powerful force in the Great Tang.

Fortunately, whether it was Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, or Tang Xiaotang, they were all different from the likes of Huang Xuanpu and Fu Dongsen.

It was precisely because of this that the Empress acted as she did.

After startling the world, Lei Jun seemed to have returned to his tranquil state.

His presence was strong, but he himself made no moves to capitalize on his fame.

However, regardless of his future modesty, both he and the Heavenly Master's Mansion would, for a long time, be the pillars supporting the Great Tang Dynasty and its realm.

To those outside the Great Tang, Lei Jun and the Heavenly Master's Mansion were the most indispensable pillars of this realm.

But in return, without a doubt, since Lei Jun had agreed to the Empress' and Crown Prince's plan, his might would also deter the Zhang-Tang royals and other denizens of the Great Tang from harboring thoughts of pursuing imperial ambitions.

Like a suspended sword hanging overhead.

Considering the current ages of Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, Zhang Wantong, and Zhang Hui, at the very least, the contemporaries of the Zhang-Tang royals would have to abandon such thoughts...

Lu Zhen gathered his thoughts and asked, "Previously, we hoped that the Heavenly Master would enter Tianli and advise Xu Zhenren and Tang Guoshi. Now?"

The small court of Tianli was currently under attack by the Great Ming Dynasty and was struggling to maintain its independence.

In such a situation, if Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang added fuel to the fire, the small court of Tianli would truly face the possibility of annihilation.

Hence, a voice from the Great Tang's realm suggested refraining from joining the Great Ming in their assault on Tianli, lest they hasten its downfall.

To a certain extent, they could even attempt to aid the small court of Tianli in stabilizing its footing, preventing its utter destruction by the Great Ming Dynasty.

The Great Tang Dynasty had just endured successive trials, from the invasion of the Lone Eagle Khanate to the battles of Chang'an and Luoyang.

The process of pacifying the Four Surnames and Five Families, as well as reorganizing Yu, Qing, Cang, Su, and Jingxiang regions, would be a lengthy one.

During this period, the Great Tang Dynasty required a relatively relaxed and stable environment.

Undoubtedly, the Great Ming Dynasty appeared stronger than the small court of Tianli.

Having the small court of Tianli as a buffer between the Great Ming and the Great Tang would be more advantageous for the current Great Tang.

Even if they were to merely maintain the status quo for now, it would still be beneficial.

However, Xu Yuanzhen had always been one to act unpredictably.

As for Tang Xiaotang, after returning from Dihai, she immediately immersed herself in Tianli, truly causing one to break into a cold sweat.

It was a nervous time for the small court of Tianli.

But if the small court of Tianli were to perish, the Great Tang's realm would have to directly face the Great Ming Dynasty.

The latest news indicated that they shared a similar stance with the small court of Tianli, referring to the Great Tang Dynasty as the "Fake Tang."

Originally, Heavenly Master Lei Jun was the most suitable candidate to visit Tianli and advise Tang Guoshi and Xu Zhenren.

However, after witnessing the battle of Luoyang and the sight of bones strewn across the streets of the illusory imperial capital, Official Qing and Lu Zhen were filled with uncertainty.

It was often said that this Heavenly Master was indifferent and aloof. As they spoke, some only recalled his detached demeanor.

But the battle of Luoyang exposed everyone to the Heavenly Master's cold and ruthless side.

He was not quick to act, but when he did, he showed no mercy.

After leaving Cangzhou, he did not head towards Tianli. Instead, he journeyed southwest towards Jingxiang.

This led Lu Zhen and Official Qing to speculate that the Heavenly Master tacitly approved of Tang Guoshi and Xu Zhenren's actions in Tianli.

Thus, no one dared to broach the topic of advising Tang Guoshi and Xu Zhenren with the Heavenly Master again.

Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang watched this scene quietly, then sighed softly.

Due to various aspects of Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang's personalities and styles, their influence was often attributed not to themselves but to the Heavenly Master's Mansion as a whole.

Conversely, the influence of the Heavenly Master's Mansion as a whole was, for various reasons, largely vested in Heavenly Master Lei Jun at this point.

To a certain extent, Lei Jun could represent the Heavenly Master's Mansion and even Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang.

This allowed him to not only shake the situation in the Great Tang but also to wield an even more profound and far-reaching influence.

Such influence had gradually begun to change the perceptions of the world.

Take Lu Zhen, Shangguan Qing, and the others present for example.

Rather than communicating directly with the Heavenly Master's Mansion, they were now more inclined to speculate about Heavenly Master Lei Jun's thoughts on the matter.

This was beginning to take on the flavor of the might of Heaven, difficult to fathom.

The Heaven of the Heavenly Master.

…………………

In Suzhou,

Elder Miaoyi stood beside Elder Miaokong, "Has Faqing left again?"

Elder Miaokong: "Yes..."

Elder Miaoyi sighed softly, "In the end, he still doesn't want to stay in Suzhou?"

Elder Miaokong remained silent.

Elder Miaoyi: "Has more detailed news come back from Luoyang?"

Elder Miaokong nodded, "Yes."

After giving a brief overview of the situation, he added, "After Heavenly Master Lei Jun left Luoyang, he went to Cangzhou and at Nanyuan, he basically wiped out the upper-level cultivators from the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Lin Clan who intended to escape and flee. From Ye Moquan down, Ye Wei, Kong Jian the Monk, Lin Yi, Ye Mocheng, Ye Qingquan, and the others, none escaped their fate."

Elder Miaoyi took a deep breath, "When the Heavenly Master takes action, he sure doesn't hold back..."

Elder Miaokong nodded silently.

Beside him, Elder Miaohui, who had been silent until now, spoke up, "In the coming centuries, the fate of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master's Mansion is sealed, unless an unprecedented upheaval occurs, none of the other factions, be it Buddhist or Taoist, will be able to shake their position."

His tone held no hint of discontent or resentment, it was as if he was merely stating a universally acknowledged fact with a calm and detached air.

Elder Miaoyi looked at Elder Miaohui, who had held a different opinion before, "Elder Miaohui..."

Elder Miaohui: "Previously, you and the Abbot had a more accurate view of the situation."

Elder Miaokong: "The affairs of the world are difficult to predict, and we mortals are but adrift in a sea of suffering."

Elder Miaohui nodded gently, "On this return to the mountain, I will have a detailed discussion with my master."

Meeting Elder Miaokong's gaze, he said, "Elder brother, do not worry. Although my master and I have been searching for Suopo day and night, we have not made any substantial progress. As for the related scriptures and artifacts, after I return to the temple later, I will present them all to the Abbot."

"It's admirable how you can let go with such openness, Elder brother."

Elder Miaokong brought his palms together in a gesture of respect.

Elder Miaoyi spoke softly, "Elder Miaohui, what is the current situation with Suopo?"

Suopo, like Sumeru, was one of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

According to rumors, it was under the control of Buddhist cultivators.

However, thousands of years ago, Suopo, like the other Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, had cut off all contact with the mortal realm.

And until now, there had been no news of them.

With the return of Sumeru, the Buddhist cultivators in the Great Tang had seen a glimmer of hope.

But as of yet, there had been no accurate and reliable information in the public domain.

"Although my master and I have been searching for Suopo, our progress has been limited, and we do not know when Suopo will have the opportunity to descend upon this world, we have not found the key to accessing it." Elder Miaohui replied, "As far as we know, Suopo is different from Sumeru in that it is not the Handprint lineage that rules there, but the Zen lineage of our Buddhist sect. However, we do not know the specifics yet."

Elder Miaoyi nodded gently, "I see."

Elder Miaokong: "For now, let's assist the court in dealing with the remaining matters regarding the Chu Clan."

Elder Miaoyi: "While the elder of the Suzhou Chu Clan was on his way to Luoyang, he arranged for a branch of the clan to set sail. Their current whereabouts are unknown."

"I've heard that there have been people setting sail from Cangzhou and Qingzhou as well." Elder Miaohui added.

For the Suzhou Chu Clan, the Qingzhou Ye Clan, and the others, the initiation of the Luoyang Battle, regardless of its outcome, was a reason to make further preparations, a backup plan in case things went awry.

But now, that backup plan had become their only hope.

And it was the worst-case scenario.

"It's not surprising that the Chu Clan made such arrangements."

Elder Miaokong looked into the distance, "The world changes with the tide, and we, adrift in it, can only adapt and go with the flow. It's a vast and turbulent sea, difficult to go against..."

………………

The Seven Abyss of the Earthly Sea trembled.

Aside from the Nine Li people who lived there year-round, all cultivators from the Great Tang were expelled by the Earthly Sea.

Tang Xiaotang changed her course and headed north towards the Eastern Sea entrance of the Heavenly Way.

The aftermath and various matters were left to Chu Yu, Zhang Mu, Chu Kun, and the others, as well as the various factions of the South Wilderness Shamanic Gate.

After leaving the Earthly Sea, Hu Hengyuan, the Holy Master of Gu Technique from Yinshan Cave, and Feng Gui, the Holy Master of Curse Celebration from Reincarnation Abyss, were surprised to find that the Great Tang had undergone earth-shattering changes.

"The Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master has ascended to the Taoist Nine Heavens Great Vehicle Realm." Hu Hengyuan murmured, "Three Great Vehicle cultivators in the Heavenly Master's Mansion..."

Feng Gui: "The way that Heavenly Master achieved the Nine Heavens is completely different from others."

Hu Hengyuan remained silent.

Zhang Teng, Fang Jingsheng, Chu Xiuyuan, Ye Yan, and Ye Moquan, all possessed formidable cultivations and were renowned figures that moved the world.

Yet they had all fallen to a single person.

Such an outcome was truly startling and chilling.

If it had been due to the tactics employed by Empress Zhang Wantong in Yunzhou, or if the Heavenly Master's Mansion had sent their elite cultivators, this outcome wouldn't have been surprising.

But for it to be just Heavenly Master Lei Jun alone?

"Will the Heavenly Master's Mansion take over the Great Tang and replace it?" Hu Hengyuan stared north.

Feng Gui: "Given Heavenly Master Lei Jun's previous interactions with the human kingdoms and his opposition to Huang Xuanpu's faction, I don't think he intends for the Heavenly Master's Mansion to completely dominate the Divine Land."

Hu Hengyuan: "Lei Jun might not have such intentions, but in the future, if there's a conflict between the edicts of the Imperial Court and the Heavenly Master's Mansion, who will the people of the Great Tang listen to?"

Feng Gui: "Let's wait and see."

Hu Hengyuan nodded quietly.

Southland, currently outside the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

However, the next move of the Celestial Master's Mansion on Dragon-Tiger Mountain will also affect the Southland...

"I just received news, Li Tianqing, slayed the Nine-Winged Golden Cockroach." Feng Guiyan said.

With Lei Jun's glorious achievements, Li Tianqing's slaying of the Nine-Heavens Demon seemed less impressive.

However, for Hu Hengyuan, this matter was still closely related to him, as he was also located in the Southland.

Li Tianqing had also just stepped into the Ninth Heaven realm.

And he had faced and defeated a Demon of equal stature to a Ninth Heaven Human cultivator.

Such an achievement would be considered dazzling at any other time.

Especially since the Nine-Winged Golden Cockroach was adept at flying and escaping, and was cunning and cruel by nature.

To be precise, Li Tianqing had trapped and killed his opponent.

His talent and attainment in the divine dance of the Shaman Gate were already rare in ancient and modern times.

"He took the first step, and I wonder who will be next? Will it be Xing Feng from the Blood River Sect, or..." Feng Guiyan trailed off, glancing at Sun Sidi.

At the mention of Sun Sidi, Hu Hengyuan turned to look at Feng Gui.

Xing Feng was known as a genius of the Shaman Gate, just like Li Tianqing, and his style of conduct was completely different from that of most Blood River cultivators throughout history. Not only did he refrain from killing, but he also rarely participated in or approached situations involving slaughter.

Despite this, he had still risen to his current height, and his progress was even faster than that of Wei Ancheng in his time.

This time, due to Yuan Shanji's appearance, Li Tianqing was absent, and Xing Feng entered the Underground Sea, ultimately killing numerous members of the Jiuli tribe and ruthlessly slaying Yuan Shanji.

In addition, the intense battle in the Underground Sea had an impact on Xing Feng that was difficult to estimate.

However, compared to Xing Feng, there was another person who might be even more concerning to Feng Gui, the Holy Master of the Reincarnation Abyss.

His junior fellow disciple, Sun Sidi.

Sun Sidi's actions were unpredictable, and his whereabouts were a mystery, even to Feng Gui.

And now, his strength had surpassed that of Feng Gui, despite them both being at the Eighth Heaven realm.

Even though they were at the same level, the position of the first expert of the Reincarnation Abyss had already changed hands.

Apart from the relative stability of Songpo Mountain, similar situations in the past often indicated that a storm was about to hit the Shaman Gate in the Southland.

What would Sun Sidi do?

Feng Gui remained silent, and Hu Hengyuan did not ask.

Suddenly, Hu Hengyuan recalled a saying from the Han people in the north:

"The back waves of the Yangtze River push forward the front waves."

Wei Ancheng and Sang Lu had perished one after the other, and Zong Han had disappeared like a stray dog.

In contrast, Sun Sidi, Xing Feng, and Li Tianqing had risen successively.

Who would be the next to be engulfed by the waves... Hu Hengyuan remained silent for a long time.

…………………

Li Tianqing was currently at the former site of the Ge Po Mountain ancestral land, which was located at the entrance of the Underground Sea and served as its seal.

He was still secular, performing the sacrificial dance to commemorate Sang Lu, the former Holy Master of Ge Po Mountain.

After the sacrificial dance, Li Tianqing turned to Xing Feng, who was standing nearby, and said, "Thank you!"

The two of them had known each other for many years and often helped each other.

However, it was rare to see Li Tianqing being so solemn and earnest in expressing his gratitude.

Xing Feng shook his head slightly and said, "You weren't there, but if you had been, capturing Yuan Shanji would have been even easier."

He smiled and said, "I haven't congratulated you yet. You've just reached the Ninth Heaven realm, and you've already killed a great demon like the Nine-Winged Golden Cockroach. That's much more impressive than killing Yuan Shanji."

Li Tianqing shook his head and said, "For me, it was indeed challenging, but compared to the Celestial Master Lei in the north, it's nothing."

"Oh? How so?" asked Xing Feng.

Although he had also emerged from the Underground Sea, due to the special circumstances of the Blood River Sect, Xing Feng himself rarely engaged in killing. However, he still found it difficult to communicate normally with other human cultivators, so they had parted ways immediately after leaving the Underground Sea. Therefore, Xing Feng was not aware of the situation in the north.

On the other hand, Li Tianqing had stayed in the human realm until recently and had been in contact with Wen Xi, the new Holy Master of Ge Po Mountain, so he had heard some rumors.

Li Tianqing held out his palm and spread his five fingers, saying, "I only killed one Nine-Winged Golden Cockroach, and even then, I almost let that demon escape. The Celestial Master Lei in the north has also just reached the Ninth Heaven Golden Core realm, and in one day, he killed five Ninth Heaven cultivators in Zhongzhou and Cangzhou!"

"Oh?"

Xing Feng was surprised, "Five?"

Li Tianqing said, "In Luoyang, Zhongzhou, he slew Zhang Teng, Fang Jingcheng, Chu Xiuyuan, and Ye Yan. Then, in Cangzhou, he killed Ye Mokuan."

"Did he face four opponents at once in Luoyang, Zhongzhou?" asked Xing Feng.

"It was a series of battles, not a simultaneous four-on-one fight," Li Tianqing shook his head repeatedly, "Even so, it's still awe-inspiring!"

Li Tianqing himself had just faced a Ninth Heaven Demon, the Nine-Winged Golden Cockroach.

Although he had killed the demon with the help of the Ghost God Sacrifice Array, Li Tianqing knew better than anyone how much strength he had left after the battle.

As for the Celestial Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, even though the battles in Luoyang and Cangzhou were separate, he had still consecutively slain four great experts in Luoyang.

Li Tianqing thought about it for a long time, considering how he would handle the same situation.

But he couldn't come up with an answer.

Xing Feng in front of him also seemed to be lost in thought.

Xing Feng was currently at the peak of the Eighth Heaven realm, not yet at the Ninth Heaven.

However, he could imagine himself facing four opponents of the same level.

Considering that Chu Xiuyuan and Fang Jingcheng's minor realms were slightly higher than Lei Jun's, Xing Feng would have to raise his own standards.

After a long contemplation, he let out a long breath and smiled, "Amazing, I'm impressed!"

Xing Feng looked at Li Tianqing and said, "However, considering his achievements at the peak of the Eighth Heaven, this doesn't seem so surprising."

Li Tianqing nodded and then looked at Xing Feng, "Are you alright?"

He was asking if Xing Feng's state of mind would be affected, impacting his future cultivation.

After the battle in the Underground Sea, even without considering the slaughter and death energy, the intense battle of blood and fire had brought Xing Feng to a point where he needed to push forward.

The tribulation and difficulty of advancing from the Eighth Heaven to the Ninth Heaven.

"Stop worrying unnecessarily. If I were to be affected, I would have been affected when you advanced before me. Why would I need to wait until now?" Xing Feng smiled and scolded.

Li Tianqing also smiled, "Then let's go. I'll help you with your seclusion and protection."

…………………

Zhang Hui was in the imperial capital of Luoyang, hiding in the shadows and assisting Zhang Ying and Shangguan Qing with the post-battle arrangements.

After everything was settled, he secretly left Luoyang and headed to meet his cousin, Zhang Wantong, who had returned to the Central Plains.

Here, he met Meng Shaoji, who had returned from his travels abroad. Meng was in the process of sharing his various discoveries from his journeys with Zhang Wantong.

"Your Highness," Meng said, as he noticed Zhang Hui's arrival and quickly greeted him respectfully. "I'm relieved to see that you're safe and sound."

Zhang Hui smiled and replied, "I'm fine, but the title of 'Your Highness' no longer applies to me."

Meng, influenced by Zhang's demeanor, also smiled and sighed.

Even though he had been traveling, he had heard about the significant events that had taken place in the capital and had hurried back as soon as possible.

However, the development of events far exceeded his expectations.

With Zhang Hui's guidance, he no longer returned to the capital but came here to reunite with them.

"Your Highness, I never expected things to turn out this way," Meng sighed.

Zhang Hui shook his head with a smile. "Qingyan, please forgive me. There were some matters that I truly couldn't disclose beforehand. However, you and I have a deep friendship, and I have never lied to you."

Meng's expression turned solemn as he said, "Your Highness, I thank you for your understanding."

After a brief pause, he asked, "What about Your Highness from now on...?"

Zhang Hui turned to look at Zhang Wantong and smiled. "Thanks to my aunt's generosity, I'm now free to do as I please. There will no longer be a 'Crown Prince Zhang Hui'."

Zhang Wantong remained calm as she flipped through the numerous rubbing copies of inscriptions that Meng had brought back, without uttering a word.

Zhang Hui's gaze returned to Meng Shaoji.

Meng hesitated for a moment before greeting him again respectfully. "Then... I humbly request your continued guidance in my studies, Jingting."

Zhang Hui returned the greeting. "Qingyan, you're too polite."

Meng sighed, "The Emperor's actions this time are truly unprecedented."

Zhang Hui's tone was gentle, but his words were not lighthearted. "The beginning of all things is always difficult. Now, we have just taken the first steps, and the road ahead is already treacherous. But since my aunt has such intentions, how can I not accompany her?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wantong glanced at him.

It seemed she was implying that Zhang Hui was being ungrateful after getting what he wanted.

Zhang Hui cleared his throat. "Although I really want to travel the world with Mr. Xiao, I won't rush it. I'll stay in the capital for a few more years and then go out to see the world. If the kingdom needs me, I'll rush back at the first notice."

Meng said, "I've also been to quite a few places in recent years, so I can be your guide when the time comes."

"Consider it a promise!" Zhang Hui affirmed.

Meng asked, "But what about your spiritual cultivation, Brother Jingting?"

Zhang Hui smiled. "It won't be much slower."

With the abolition of the Imperial Art, the people most affected at this point in time were undoubtedly the reigning monarch, Emperor Zhang Wantong, and the former crown prince, Zhang Hui.

Zhang Hui possessed innate talent, and with the boost from the national fortune and spiritual energy of the Imperial Art, combined with the literary and cultural talents accumulated over the years, his progress at the High Heaven realm was astonishing. He progressed at a pace that made him stand proudly above his peers, reaching a new level almost every year.

At the age of forty-seven, he overcame the tribulation between the Seventh and Eighth Heavens.

Now, approaching his fiftieth birthday, he had already attained the third layer of the Eighth Heaven.

According to his previous pace and expectations, he would reach the fourth layer of the Eighth Heaven and perfection next year. After that, he would prepare to break through to the Ninth Heaven.

Furthermore, he was highly confident that he could ascend to the Ninth Heaven in a short period.

The nearly four decades of cultivating his spiritual energy at the Eighth Heaven realm would finally propel him to even greater heights.

But now, without the boost from the Imperial Art, he undoubtedly lacked an important advantage.

However...

"For people like us, a broad mind and accumulation will benefit us in the long run," Zhang Hui said with a smile. "Once I break free, I will soar."

Regardless of what the future held, during his cultivation in the Eighth Heaven realm, it was as if he had gained an extra boost.

Even before Shangguan Yunbo and the others arrived, the ancestral land of the Fang Clan had already suffered a devastating blow.

In the end, not only was the ancestral land destroyed, but the experts of the Fang Clan, including Fang Huansheng and Fang Zhu, were also severely injured as their auras were dragged along.

When Shangguan Yunbo and the others arrived, they found only a defenseless group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people left.

The outcome, of course, went without saying.

Xu Duan and the others simply guarded the periphery.

"Master Uncle, Xueyu Tianying has retreated, and the Sect Leader is currently returning from Western Sichuan with the North Dark Divine Spear." Ji Chuan reported to Xu Duan.

Xu Duan nodded slightly and was about to say something when he suddenly sensed something and turned his head towards the northeast.

The newcomers did not bother to conceal their approach.

Soon, a pitch-black thundercloud flashing with purple light appeared on the horizon and quickly drew near.

"It's Thunder Master Lei!" blurted out Qin Baisheng, the third elder of the Shushan Sect.

Xu Duan waited for the thundercloud to descend before performing the Taoist salute:

"Nine Heavens Respond to Primordial, Nine Abyss Return to Truth, Heavenly Stars Manifest Righteousness, Mysterious Sky Universal Transformation, Dou Mu Participates in the Void, Assist Mystery Embodies the Dao, Help the People Protect the Law, Three Caves Three Heavens, Fa Shi Dragon and Tiger True Man."

Qin Baisheng and the others from Shushan calmed their minds, straightened their clothes, and followed the high-achieving elder Ji Chuan, mimicking Xu Duan's actions and paying respect to the pitch-black thundercloud flashing with purple light.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end