Chapter 389: 388. The Great Han Longhu Mountain

Chapter 389: 388. The Great Han Longhu Mountain

"If the Great Union lacks understanding of the current emperor, considering the way of balancing imperial hearts and minds, the Great Union aristocratic families may see this as an opportunity."

Chu Kun came back to his senses: "However, with the reputation you established earlier, Brother, your presence alone should be enough to deter many opponents from acting recklessly.

If the Great Union also knows of Senior Sister and Tang's reputation, even if they fully believe your message, they will still have many concerns, right?

And I recall you mentioning before that we want to take the initiative this trip. After stabilizing the situation in the Great Tang human realm, we will proactively go to the Great Union?"

Lei Jun: "Yes, so I didn't expect to lure the enemy out by sending that message back.

On the one hand, it's a summary and experimentation of previous gains.

On the other hand, I don't expect them to come to the Great Tang. I just need them to stay put and not retreat elsewhere."

Chu Kun understood: "Brother, as expected of you."

Lei Jun: "It's just a convenient and effortless move. Usually, we should focus on ourselves."

He asked Chu Kun, "How do you feel about your newly achieved Cosmic Body?"

"It's indescribably wonderful."

Chu Kun laughed, "There are many principles that can be verified with my daily practices."

Lei Jun asked, "So, what do you plan to choose as your second innate divine ability?"

In this regard, Chu Kun's Cosmic Body was similar to the Universal Body, Celestial Body, and Void Body. The key to actual combat lay mainly in the transformation of one's own learned divine abilities and spells.

Unlike the Yin-Yang Body, Pure Energy Body, and Thunder Body, there was a possibility that a cultivator would gain a completely new innate divine ability dependent on their body at a certain realm.

Each had its advantages and disadvantages.

People with the same type of body may also have different developments depending on their other conditions and the techniques they cultivate.

Chu Kun, who had achieved the Cosmic Body, already had his plans: "Brother is right. I want to ask for your guidance on my second innate divine ability."

Lei Jun asked, "The Primordial Flame, the Celestial Fire Ancestor's Manifestation?"

Chu Kun replied, "Yes, I have some ideas for myself."

Lei Jun smiled, "I look forward to it."

As he spoke, scarlet flames appeared out of thin air and condensed into a profound talisman.

The talisman in mid-air was surrounded by scarlet fire tongues, resembling the edges of a great sun or star, emitting immense heat and grandeur.

"Compared to Little Sister's Pure Energy Talisman, my Celestial Fire Talisman still lacks smoothness. Not to mention comparing it to our sect's authentic Fire Law Talisman."

Lei Jun said, "It's fine to use it in battles against enemies, but younger disciples should be careful when observing it. Fortunately, you've already cultivated your Inner Sanctum, so you can nurture it well."

Chu Kun thanked Lei Jun and accommodated the Primordial Flame that Lei Jun had condensed with his own initially established Inner Sanctum inner landscape.

In his Inner Sanctum inner landscape, within his internal universe, there were countless stars, brilliant like a galaxy.

When cultivators reached the Eighth Layer of the Inner Sanctum realm, they created their own internal universes by emulating the natural heavens and universe. Thus, they mostly presented a deep, quiet, and dark universe image.

However, everyone's Inner Sanctum universe had sparse stars that looked incredibly distant, silently adhering to their own orbits and laws, quietly rotating.

In Chu Kun's Inner Sanctum universe, the stars were far superior to others in terms of scale, number, and brilliance.

However, with the Primordial Flame, it resembled a nearby great sun among the stars, still appearing the most massive and dazzling.

As the scarlet fire tongues flickered, they continuously reached out to the deep void, spreading light and heat.

"Figure it out yourself first. If you have any questions, ask Master or come to me directly." Lei Jun said casually.

After thanking his senior brother, Chu Kun bid farewell and left.

Lei Jun then went to visit his junior sister, Tang Xiaotang, who had also been in seclusion and meditation earlier.

This seclusion had lasted a bit longer than expected.

Nothing unexpected had happened to Tang Xiaotang, though.

She had just been constantly pondering her new innate divine ability.

"I'm going to make something big," Tang Xiaotang said as she got up from the top of Biyu Xian Mountain.

"Too bad not many people can see the grandeur of my move," she added with a hint of disappointment, apparently unsatisfied with the special effects.

Lei Jun couldn't help but chuckle at her complaint.

Shaking his head, he said, "Little Master Sister, you shouldn't worry about it. Just because the lights and sounds are intense doesn't mean the move is necessarily powerful. The true measure of its might lies in whom it strikes and the effect it has on them."

"Of course, I understand that," Tang Xiaotang replied. "But it would be even better if I could have both."

"There's still time for that," Lei Jun assured her.

The two sat facing each other and began to discuss their cultivation and the insights they had gained in their practice of Taoism and spiritual powers.

Unlike their previous meeting in the East China Sea, this exchange was more of an intellectual discussion.

Both Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang possessed exceptional cultivation and comprehension abilities, and even their casual conversation, filled with various cultivation secrets, would have left others reeling with awe.

After exchanging insights on their Taoist practices, Lei Jun shared with Tang Xiaotang some of the messages he had recently received from various sources.

Most of the news was uneventful, but when it came to Zhang Hui successfully cultivating the Confucian Nine Heavens to achieve the 'Pacifying the World' realm, Tang Xiaotang couldn't help but twist her mouth in disdain.

"I remember he should be fifty-three this year, right?" she asked.

"Yes, eighteen years younger than me and sixteen years younger than you," Lei Jun replied. He knew Tang Xiaotang well and could guess her thoughts just from her expression and tone.

Zhang Hui had achieved the Nine Heavens at an even younger age than Tang Xiaotang.

And he possessed top-notch innate bones and comprehension.

Compared to Lei Jun and Chu Kun, who had improved their bone age and comprehension through external means, Tang Xiaotang paid more attention to cultivators who, like her, had outstanding innate conditions from the start.

However, as Tang Xiaotang's own bone age and qualifications had improved even further, her interest in this matter had diminished somewhat.

"How is Senior Master Sister doing in the Ming Dynasty human realm?" Tang Xiaotang suddenly remembered something.

"Senior Master Sister will be returning soon. She's not in the Ming Dynasty human realm at the moment," Lei Jun replied.

"With the achievement of the Universe Immortal Body, there aren't many places she can't go now," Tang Xiaotang commented with a smile.

Lei Jun nodded. "Yes, she broke through the boundary between the Ming Dynasty human realm and the other human realm. It's the one in the Southern Wasteland of the Ming Dynasty where a portal to the void was opened, and there was a brief battle with the Ming Dynasty Empire."

"Oh? What's the background of that world?" Tang Xiaotang asked, intrigued.

"According to Senior Master Sister, their historical era is about six hundred years ahead of ours. There is no unified human empire, only numerous small countries constantly waging wars and replacing each other. The situation is quite chaotic and bloody," Lei Jun explained, then paused briefly before adding, "It's quite similar to the situation with the Southern Wasteland Witch Gate before, but on a larger scale."

How should he describe it?

It felt oddly familiar.

Like the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period...

Tang Xiaotang's curiosity was piqued. "I heard that world is dominated by martial artists?"

"Martial artists hold sway, and Buddhists and Witches are common. Confucianism and Taoism aren't prominent there, at least not currently," Lei Jun replied.

Tang Xiaotang recalled something. "If their history is about six hundred years ahead of ours, and Confucianism isn't prominent, then what about the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Houses?"

"After more than a hundred years of bloody slaughter and turmoil in that human realm, the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Houses have already become a thing of the past," Lei Jun answered.

He felt a bit conflicted at the moment.

The fourth dark star, the Purple Qi Star, hidden in the dark side of his heavenly book, was a source of both amusement and frustration.

Following the earth's veins, the Purple Qi Star had flowed from the Tang Dynasty's mountains and rivers into the former Heavenly Principle, now known as the Repository.

However, before the portal between the Repository and the Ming Dynasty human realm was completely closed, the Purple Qi Star, guided by the flow of spiritual energy, entered the Ming Dynasty human realm.

Well, it hadn't found peace there either and failed to find a suitable owner.

And now, following the portal opened by Xu Yuanzhen, it had entered the world of warring nations.

One could only wonder whose hands it would eventually fall into.

As for why Xu Yuanzhen had left the Ming Dynasty human realm and headed for another human realm, it was because the 'show' she had been watching in the Ming Dynasty human realm had mostly come to an end.

For example, the Xiao Ming Court had been completely destroyed and had become a thing of history.

Tang Xiaotang asked, "How is the situation in Datong now?"

Lei Jun replied, "The textual messages that pass through the void between the human realm and Datong are intermittent and fragmented."

The relatively valuable information was that both the Han Empire and the Han Longhu Mountain had sent people to Datong to meet with the clan leaders of the four major families.

"And the Dongyang Mountain people's branch compound seems to have been subtly affected," Lei Jun added.

"I presume they must have sensed that the reason for the brief connection between the Tang human realm and the Han human realm was due to the Dongyang Mountain people's relic," he speculated.

If they could connect the Han human realm directly to the Tang human realm without going through Datong, then the major powers in Datong could simply observe the developments without taking action.

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaotang's eyebrows rose slightly. "Didn't you say you wanted to research going to Datong ourselves? How's that going?"

"I've made some progress. We'll set off together when Senior Master Sister returns," Lei Jun replied.

Xu Yuanzhen's interest in Datong was actually not that strong.

What truly piqued her interest was the Han Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion.

In the land of Datong, there was a peaceful-faced woman.

"I will pay a visit to the Han dynasty's mortal realm and meet with the Crown Prince. Take care of things here, dear brother-in-law." The woman, Xiao Jing, was the clan leader of the Xiao tribe.

Standing before her was a middle-aged scholar, Han Tian, the current clan leader of the Han tribe, one of the five prominent clans of Datong.

Among the five clans, there was frequent interaction and intermarriage between the Han and Xiao clans. They also often stood united on matters of great importance.

Under the current special circumstances, the five great clans maintained a rare cooperative stance while also keeping their guard against each other. Nonetheless, there were still varying degrees of closeness and distance among them.

"The mortal realm of the Han dynasty is also not peaceful at the moment," Han Tian said slowly.

"I will be careful," Xiao Jing replied.

She departed from Datong, heading towards the Han dynasty's mortal realm.

Accompanying her was a Taoist named Zhao Huai, who hailed from the Heavenly Master's Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain in the Han dynasty.

After spending a considerable amount of time in Datong, he was now returning to the mortal realm.

The mortal realms of the Han and Tang dynasties differed in some aspects of their terrain, yet they shared a largely similar overall environment, particularly with the presence of grand rivers flowing across both lands.

Upon his return to Xin state, Zhao Huai had arrived back at Dragon Tiger Mountain in this mortal realm.

The mountain was a sacred place of ethereal beauty, glowing with spiritual energy when viewed from afar.

The most significant difference between this Dragon Tiger Mountain and the one in the Tang dynasty was the absence of the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace above its peak.

Looking up, Zhao Huai saw pillars of cloud and rainbow shooting straight up into the sky above Dragon Tiger Mountain in the Han dynasty.

The sky canopy was devoid of clouds, illuminated only by the everlasting radiance of the rainbow, as if connected to some unseen mystical entity above.

Without reporting to anyone, Zhao Huai proceeded directly to the Heavenly Master's Hall on the mountain to meet with his sect leader.

The current leader of the Heavenly Master's Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain in the Han dynasty was named Ji Daocheng, recognized as the top practitioner in the Han dynasty and held in high regard even by the Han Emperor and Crown Prince.

One could say that the Heavenly Master's Mansion stood unwavering through the rise and fall of dynasties. Their influence and power remained untouched, for they had backing from higher beings… or so it should have been.

With a solemn expression, Zhao Huai bowed to Ji Daocheng and another elder Taoist dressed in purple, addressing them with respect, "Disciple Zhao Huai pays respect to Sect Leader Shishu and Master Mashizong."

Wearing a nine-colored rainbow sash, Ji Daocheng signaled for him to rise, "What is the situation?"

"There were some exaggerations and untruths in the words of the people from Datong, but a large portion of it is true. There indeed exists another mortal realm, and that realm possesses the Three Treasures of the Heavenly Master and the Ultimate Law Altar." Zhao Huai reported.

Hearing this, his master, Ma Zongxiang, frowned deeply beside them.

"You may rest now," Ji Daocheng calmly instructed.

Zhao Huai took his leave.

Ji Daocheng turned to the high-achieving elder of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, Ma Zongxiang, and spoke, "Brother Mashizong, after that furnace of good pills is ready, please go to Datong on my behalf."

Ma Zongxiang nodded, "I will obey the Sect Leader's command."

He paused briefly before asking in a soft tone, "Sect Leader, aside from the news from Datong about another mortal realm, there also seem to be some disturbances within the borders of the Han dynasty recently."

"I am aware," Ji Daocheng nodded gently. "There are indeed practitioners from another mortal realm, possibly the one from the Tang dynasty, who have come over. The Han dynasty's realm is being secretly aided or sheltered by someone."

"Sect Leader, what do we do now?" Ma Zongxiang inquired.

"Soon, I will once again offer prayers to Heaven and report the matters of this mortal realm to our ancestor," Ji Daocheng replied. "May the ancestor bestow his holy presence."

The Heavenly Master's Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain stood unwavering for countless years.

Through the rise and fall of dynasties, no imperial house dared to act rashly towards them.

However, in recent years, there had been those who dared to challenge their authority.

The Great Empty Temple in the Han dynasty's mortal realm.

Since its rise, the Great Empty Temple had repeatedly clashed and competed for influence with the Heavenly Master's Mansion, which held sway over the Dao and Buddhist sects in the Han dynasty.

Overall, the Heavenly Master's Mansion still held the upper hand, and its reputation as the foremost sacred land in the Han dynasty remained untarnished.

Yet, as time passed, whispers and doubts started to spread.

The legendary ancestors of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, said to dwell in the highest heavens, had not shown their holy presence to subdue the violent and bloodthirsty heretics of the Great Empty Temple.

Their rivalry and entanglement had persisted for quite some time.

This had inevitably sown seeds of doubt in the hearts of onlookers across the Han dynasty.

Ji Daocheng entered the Dragon Tiger Altar.

Moments later, brilliant radiance burst forth from the altar, soaring upwards towards the heavens.

Within the radiance, myriad talismans converged, seemingly forming a chapter that vanished into the vast and ethereal blue sky.

Ji Daocheng, the leader of Dragon Tiger Mountain, knelt quietly within the Dragon Tiger Altar.

Currently, there were eleven orbs of light floating within the altar, surrounding the silent Ji Daocheng at its center.

After a short while, the sky above erupted into a dazzling display of light, brighter than before.

Shortly after, a handful of talismans descended from the heavens.

"Disciple Ji Daocheng respectfully receives the command of the ancestor," he proclaimed.

…………………

From a distant place, one could still see the radiant light of Dragon Tiger Mountain's peak piercing through the skies. Even in broad daylight, the heavenly light remained dazzling and captivating.

Several figures dressed in black monastic robes and cassocks gazed towards the direction of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

"Those braggarts are at it again."

A monk hummed in response.

The one at the center of the crowd was a middle-aged monk in his thirties or forties. With a plump and wealthy appearance, he always had a smile on his face.

However, he was none other than the most infamous villain in the Great Han Dynasty—the current abbot of Dakuang Temple, Jue Xiang.

Abbot Jue Xiang smiled and said, "We must not be complacent, or we might find ourselves weeping after a moment of joy."

His tone was calm and measured, making him seem more cautious and out of place compared to most of the Dakuang Temple disciples.

However, including Elder Buhui, all the experts of Dakuang Temple respected this young abbot.

"With our help, the branch of our temple in Datang hasn't been in contact for a long time." Elder Buhui maintained a neutral expression, his tone indifferent. "Perhaps that lineage has been extinguished."

Abbot Jue Xiang nodded. "I had a feeling something was amiss back then, but I didn't know who was responsible."

Elder Buhui continued, "According to the news from Datong, the timing coincides with when the Tian Shi Manor of the Fulu School rose to prominence in the human realm of Datang. It's quite a coincidence in terms of timing, but shouldn't they have been focusing on causing trouble for the Confucian scholars of Datang at that time?"

Abbot Jue Xiang chuckled. "It's not a bad thing. As long as the Tian Shi Manor in Datang is a branch of the Fulu School of Daoism from ancient times, I've heard that they even possess all three treasures of the ancient Celestial Masters?"

"Yes, that's what I've heard as well," Elder Buhui affirmed.

Abbot Jue Xiang retracted his gaze from the distant Dragon-Tiger Mountain Tian Shi Manor in the Great Han Dynasty and exclaimed, "Wonderful! Wonderful!"

…………………

In the human realm of Datang, Lei Jun resided within Dragon-Tiger Mountain.

At present, both inside and outside the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Tian Shi Manor, there was a rare sense of peace and tranquility.

Lei Jun himself was calm and unhurried, quietly cultivating his Taoist methods and supernatural powers. In his free time, he either guided his disciples in their cultivation or continued to refine spiritual treasures.

With the joint sacrifice of the Nine Abyss Real Fire and the Heavenly True Fire, a treasure mirror had taken shape.

The mirror looked almost invisible and transparent, its reflection so subtle that it was inconspicuous.

However, as Lei Jun's eyes turned with the heavenly and earthly penetrative Fulu, they connected with the round mirror, and his vision reached farther than ever before with unparalleled clarity.

More importantly, the mirror was more agile and changeable compared to the previous Great Cycle Heaven Mirror.

After infusing it with the Star Light of Du Yu and the Miro Ten-Pattern Jade, this treasure's mirror light now possessed the mystical ability to traverse some of the void realms.

From now on, even if Lei Jun entered a place like the underground sea, he could still use the mirror high in the sky to reflect the details of things in other places, with its light penetrating through layers of void.

Lei Jun sat with his legs crossed.

Floating in front of him were three orbs of light.

Each orb represented one of the three spiritual treasures he had achieved by combining his own insights into various Taoist methods after cultivating to the Upper Three Heavens realm: the Upper Clarity Jade Canopy Immortal Bamboo, the Grand Clarity Eight Scenic Treasures, and the current Jade Clarity Cycle Heaven Mirror.

Lei Jun carefully nurtured these three spiritual treasures.

Later, he gently waved his hand, and the Upper Clarity Jade Canopy Immortal Bamboo and the Grand Clarity Eight Scenic Treasures were retracted into his sleeves.

Only the Jade Clarity Cycle Heaven Mirror floated upward and transformed into a ethereal speck.

Not only was it difficult for ordinary people to see, but most of the Nine Heavens cultivators in the world would also find it hard to detect the presence of the Jade Clarity Cycle Heaven Mirror.

Along with the Jade Clarity Cycle Heaven Mirror, hundreds of starlight specks also rose into the sky.

These starlight specks were countless treasure mirrors that made up Lei Jun's Starry Heaven Net.

The surfaces of the mirrors were connected by illusory light lines.

A layer of silver glow flowed on the surface of these light lines.

The Starry Heaven Net surrounded the Great Cycle Heaven Mirror as they ascended together.

After reaching a high altitude, the starlight specks scattered in all directions, expanding toward the distant horizon.

From a distance, they looked like scattered stardust.

Although the starlight specks had scattered, they remained interconnected.

The total coverage distance exceeded tens of thousands of miles.

Even though this world was far more vast than any Lei Jun had known before, the current expansion of the Starry Heaven Net under the leadership of the Jade Clarity Cycle Heaven Mirror still covered an area that far exceeded the expectations of countless people in this world.

The starlight specks hid in the high heavens.

Lei Jun quietly tested and adjusted the net within the Tian Shi Manor, further refining it.

With the starlight specks scattered, each speck of starlight and each treasure mirror connected to the Heaven Viewing and Earth Listening Talismans and the Thousand Miles Sound Transmission Talismans of the true lineage of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Tian Shi Manor within a vast region.

Thus, the net expanded even further.

Lei Jun made some technical adjustments and temporarily achieved his current expectations before waving his hand again.

The starlight net in the sky disappeared, and the light faded away, leaving only silence.

Only the Jade Clarity Cycle Heaven Mirror remained, still traversing the sky.

"If it was a bit ingenious before, then today it has truly become a formidable array." A crisp and rapid voice, like raindrops on a jade plate, announced the arrival of a small-statured woman wrapped from head to toe in a black cloak.

Lei Jun smiled and said, "Big Sister Xu is back."

Xu Yuanzhen said, "Listening to the news from Datong and the Fulu School in that human realm of the Great Han Dynasty, well, mainly the Fulu School over there, it's quite interesting."

PS: 6k for 2 chapters. Today, I'm finding my rhythm, so the word count is a bit shorter as I prepare to kick off the next plotline.

(End of Chapter)

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