Chapter 398: Dragon-Tiger Mountain's Outcast

Chapter 398: Dragon-Tiger Mountain's Outcast

Shen Quibi and Jin Daowu rushed to the scene.

In addition to Tang Xiatang, there were other Daoists present.

Leading them was a young Daoist clad in a purple robe, none other than the High Elder, Lin Shan, of the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

Lin Shan stood with a group of disciples from the Mansion, ready to heed Tang Xiatang's commands. By his side were Qin Baisheng and other Shushan sect disciples.

Qin Baisheng and the others were working together with Nie Fang of the Xuanji Temple to deploy a large number of artifacts around the distorted void.

These artifacts appeared uniform and almost identical, resembling small pill furnaces.

Instead of containing the usual raw materials for pill refining, these furnaces ignited on their own upon contact with the black mist from the Earthly Sea's rift.

Jin Daowu curiously eyed the seemingly standardized and numerous pill furnaces. "General, what are these?"

Shen Quibi, equally intrigued, explained, "I heard these were crafted under the guidance of Lei Tianshi. The Heavenly Master's Mansion, Shushan Sect, and Xuanji Temple, inspired by his ideas, specifically created these to counter the black miasma of the Earthly Sea."

He gestured to Jin Daowu, "They are still being crafted in large numbers, and according to Lei Tianshi, these are called 'components'. The components are assembled into more pill furnaces here in Gui Cang, before being transported into the Earthly Sea. I had only heard about this before, but now I've witnessed it myself."

Upon hearing this, Jin Daowu noticed that the seemingly monolithic pill furnaces were, in fact, composed of seven to eight tiny, distinct components, mass-produced and transported separately.

Lin Shan, Nie Fang, and Qin Baisheng directed their respective disciples to assemble these components into countless small pill furnaces.

Strictly speaking, from the perspective of an Upper Three Heavens cultivator, the individual effectiveness of these pill furnaces was limited.

Moreover, their function was relatively singular, specifically designed to counter the black mist.

However, when a vast number of these furnaces were assembled, their uniform appearance transformed them into an array, akin to scattered soldiers forming a battle formation. The resonance among the numerous pill furnaces amplified their effectiveness beyond a simple sum.

Thus, the resulting spectacle was awe-inspiring.

In this area of Gui Cang, the void twisted and the rift to the Earthly Sea had already formed.

However, instead of spreading, the black mist was eradicated by the hundreds and thousands of pill furnaces arrayed in a formation.

Eventually, only a crimson rift remained, with barely any trace of the black mist.

Although Jin Daowu was a Martial Arts cultivator, his Upper Three Heavens cultivation granted him keen eyesight.

What particularly caught his attention was that manipulating such a vast number of artifacts required only a few days' worth of effort from the disciples of the Daoist sects, who were merely Upper or Lower Three Heavens cultivators.

Not to mention Tang Xiatang, even Lin Shan, Nie Fang, and the others merely coordinated and oversaw the process, without directly involving themselves.

Thus, while a considerable number of artifacts and cultivators were required, a certain number of Upper and Lower Three Heavens cultivators could effectively utilize these artifacts to counter the black mist.

At least at this moment, a large number of low-realm cultivators could achieve what was traditionally believed to be possible only for high-realm cultivators.

Having served in the military, Jin Daowu was acutely sensitive to this change.

Admittedly, the current situation was different from direct confrontations, and these artifact pill furnaces did not possess the ability to directly slay enemies.

But what about the future?

Jin Daowu's heart pounded faster as his thoughts raced.

From his observations, the greatest constraint in crafting these numerous artifacts seemed to lie in the procurement of various raw materials.

With sufficient raw materials, the scale could be further expanded.

It was often said that with a vast abundance of heavenly resources, even a pig could soar to the heavens.

However, this was ultimately an exaggerated statement.

To truly attain the pinnacle of cultivation, one's innate talent and aptitude remained crucial.

Nonetheless, the Daoist sects' approach to artifact crafting, when combined with a vast investment of heavenly resources, would undoubtedly yield corresponding outputs and returns.

If the threshold for refining and utilizing these artifacts could be further lowered, the outcome, relative to the vast population base, might be revolutionary...

Jin Daowu didn't have the time to delve deeper into these thoughts. Merely conceiving these possibilities left him feeling awe-struck.

He shook his head, and his gaze finally landed on Tang Xiatang, Lin Shan, and the other Heavenly Master's Mansion cultivators, reminding him of the new Heavenly Master who had replaced Tang Xiatang.

Why would the new Heavenly Master, Lei Tianshi, come up with such ideas?

According to what Jin Daowu had heard, although it had never been explicitly confirmed, Lei Tianshi might have enhanced his innate talent and aptitude through some means.

Undoubtedly, Lei Tianshi was one of the few outstanding cultivation geniuses of the Great Tang Dynasty.

Yet, he had such unexpected inspirations...

In the distance, Zhang Hui and Meng Shaoji watched Tang Xiatang's group from afar.

"Qing Yan, mark my words, when you return to the Great Tang in the future, you must pay a visit to the Heavenly Master's Mansion, Xuanji Temple, and Shushan Sect. They are ever-changing, unlike what you saw during your travels," Zhang Hui said enthusiastically, gesturing as he spoke.

Meng Shaoji nodded in agreement. "I share the same thought."

Zhang Hui continued, "I wonder what it will be like in a few years?"

Meng Shaoji asked, "Is Brother Zhang not going to meet the Tang Nation's Master?"

Zhang Hui replied, "Tang Xiatang knows I'm here, but as for meeting... I'm afraid there isn't enough time..."

Before he could finish, a dazzling golden light flashed across the heavens, piercing through the earth.

Tang Xiatang was enveloped in golden Pure Yang True Fire as he further widened the rift to the Earthly Sea.

The void twisted in a mesmerizing fashion, defying one's predictions.

A brand new void portal to the Earthly Sea emerged between Gui Cang and the Earthly Sea.

Shen Quibi called out to the Great Tang soldiers under his command, and Jin Daowu and the others immediately refocused their attention to the present.

Following Tang Xiatang, Shen Quibi and the rest charged into the Earthly Sea.

Lin Shan nodded to Nie Fang and Qin Baisheng, "I entrust this place to you two."

Nie Fang and Qin Baisheng reassured, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist."

Thus, Lin Shan led a group and followed Tang Xiatang, Shen Quibi, and the others into the void portal to the Earthly Sea.

Upon entering the Earthly Sea, they were enveloped by swirling black mist, an ominous atmosphere permeating the area.

Lin Shan and the others remained calm and proceeded to deploy the pill furnaces according to the predetermined locations and patterns.

As countless pill furnaces were laid out in a wide array, the surrounding black mist gradually dissipated, revealing a vast expanse.

Upon seeing this, Lian Shan nodded repeatedly and instructed his disciples to notify Nie Fang and Qin Baicheng, who were outside, as well as other places in the Great Tang, such as Longhu Mountain and Shushan Sect, that they could continue to proceed with their plans.

At this moment, Tang Xiaotang was leading the way, having already ventured deep into the Earthly Sea.

Compared to before, the already desolate Earthly Sea had become even more treacherous.

Five years ago, the Nine Li tribes caused a widespread surge in the Earthly Sea, pushing Tang Xiaotang and the other Great Tang cultivators back to the human realm.

This move was also a catastrophe for the people of the Nine Li tribes, as the entire Earthly Sea was turned upside down.

Even to this day, the adverse effects have not been completely eliminated.

The Seven Abyssal Ravines of the Earthly Sea were still surging and undulating relentlessly.

Tang Xiaotang paid no heed to this.

The blazing golden flames tore through the dim heavens and earth, as if a great sun had appeared in the perpetually shadowed Earthly Sea.

Tang Xiaotang's eyes were clear and focused.

Above her head seemed to hang a pair of illusory eyes, like clear mirrors illuminating the four directions.

With the empowerment of the Eye of Heaven's Heart, Tang Xiaotang's goal was clear.

Back then, the Greedy Li Clan's Chief, Li Yuanheng, had suddenly changed his mind and joined hands with the Literary Li Clan's Chief, Li Zhongding. Their combined efforts had caused an unimaginable massive surge in the Earthly Sea, pushing Tang Xiaotang and the other Great Tang cultivators out.

Now, Tang Xiaotang was specifically targeting those two.

She was not just looking for Li Zhongding, who had fought her before.

Li Yuanheng was also on Tang Xiaotang's radar.

It seemed like her luck had taken a turn for the better.

The two targets she sought, Li Yuanheng and Li Zhongding, were currently in the same area.

There, Li Zhongding of the Nine Li God Dance lineage had unleashed his Ghost God Sacrifice Array.

However, the array was unstable and kept fluctuating.

Aside from Li Yuanheng and Li Zhongding, there were other Great Witches of the Nine Li present.

Tang Xiaotang did not pay much attention to the others at first.

But as she drew closer, she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

One side of the current confrontation was Li Yuanheng, arguably the top expert in the Earthly Sea, but hampered by old injuries.

And across from him was not his old rival, Li Zhongding of the Literary Li Clan, but instead, Li Bin of the Giant Li Clan.

Although Li Zhongding had unleashed the God Dance Sacrifice Array, he appeared dazed and lacked his former splendor.

With a sweeping glance, Tang Xiaotang detected more than one peculiar aura emanating from him.

"Parasitic insects, soul-stealing... What's with all this nonsense?"

Tang Xiaotang was curious but not particularly concerned. "Either way, it seems everyone's here!"

She laughed heartily.

The golden light expanded in the air.

The sun that hung in the sky transformed into a dazzling sea of pure yang, composed entirely of thunderfire, obscuring the heavens and covering the earth.

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

Great Tang, human realm.

Longhu Mountain, the abode of the Celestial Masters.

The current Celestial Master, Lei Jun, was receiving guests.

"Friend Wen, you've worked hard," Lei Jun said, looking at the young man dressed in the traditional attire of South Wilderness.

The man was Wen Xi, the current Saint Master of Gepobushan, a sacred site of the God Dance lineage in the South Wilderness.

"Celestial Master, you flatter me," Wen Xi said. "I am honored to be able to play a part, and on a personal level, I am delighted."

Lei Jun said, "Then please contact our new guest, and I will welcome him at any time."

"Please wait a moment, Celestial Master," Wen Xi said, standing up and leaving the abode.

Lei Jun waited calmly.

Under the illumination of the Jade Clarity Circumnavigating the Heavens Dharma Mirror, the scenery both inside and outside Longhu Mountain was within his sight.

He had already seen that someone had arrived at Longhu Mountain but was waiting quietly at a distance, not daring to approach rashly.

Now that Wen Xi had made contact, the visitor was on his way to the mountain gate of the Celestial Master's abode, but he was still being discreet and cautious.

Later, he arrived with Wen Xi and met the current Celestial Master.

It was none other than Lei Tianqing, the former senior martial brother of Gepobushan and now the Elder of the Blood River Sect.

"I pay my respects to the Celestial Master," Lei Tianqing said calmly.

Lei Jun returned the greeting with composure. "Brother Lei, please don't stand on ceremony."

Wen Xi watched Lei Tianqing's figure and listened to his self-introduction. Although he had expected this, he still felt a sense of emotion.

Lei Tianqing, however, remained unperturbed.

Lei Jun said, "Our sect's Tang Shijie has successfully opened a portal to the Earthly Sea, and a great battle is currently raging there."

Lei Tianqing's expression remained steady. "I intend to open another portal from the South Wilderness in the human realm of the Great Tang and enter the Earthly Sea to assist Tang Guoshi."

Previously, the Earthly Sea had been completely sealed, which was why Tang Xiaotang and the other Great Tang cultivators had spent a long time trying to gain access.

But now that Tang Xiaotang had successfully created an opening, the sealed Earthly Sea found an outlet.

The portals in the Earthly Sea that led to other realms became clear once again.

The cultivators of the Great Tang human realm had been operating in the South Wilderness for a long time, so reopening the original portal to the Earthly Sea was much simpler this time.

Although it would reconnect the Great Tang human realm to the Earthly Sea, the current situation was well within their control.

Lei Tianqing's plan to open another portal and coordinate with Tang Xiaotang would create a pincer attack, both inside and out, shaking the defensive restrictions of the Nine Li tribes' ancestral lands, led by Li Yuanheng and Li Zhongding.

Tang Xiaotang herself did not pay much attention to this.

For Lei Jun, the more effortless the better.

Although Xing Feng had not shown himself, Lei Tianqing's appearance on behalf of the Blood River Sect implied that the Blood River lineage would begin to reemerge in the human realm.

Over the years, the Blood River lineage had become relatively calmer due to Xing Feng's restraint.

However, due to past grievances, the Blood River lineage still maintained a low profile.

The reopening of the Earthly Sea provided a viable entry point.

However, for Lei Tianqing, the underlying causes and complexities were just as entangled.

"Brother Lei is from the Lu Li Clan?" Lei Jun asked casually.

Upon hearing this, Wen Xi's heart skipped a beat.

Lei Tianqing remained calm. "As far as I know, yes, but my understanding of the specifics is also very limited."

He had ended up in the human realm by accident when he was still an infant.

If not for that, his background wouldn't have been hidden for so long.

And as far as the information Lei Jun and Lei Tianqing currently had about the Nine Li tribes, there was no tale of a vengeful prince.

Lei Tianqing's background in the Lu Li Clan of the Earthly Sea was very ordinary.

It had been a coincidence back then.

If one had to point out something unusual...

"The people of Jiu Li have never seen the sun nor breathed the air of the human realm. To the people of the Underground Sea, this is already an unbearable burden."

"Lei Jun, you have an innate talent in this regard, perhaps it is a layer of fate that can be responded to in the future."

"To be honest, I, Li Tianqing, grew up in the human realm. As far as I remember, all my relatives and peers are humans. Ever since I found out that my biological parents are no longer around, the Jiu Li feel very distant to me.

However, the Lu Li clan had nothing to do with the destruction of Ge Po Mountain and the death of Master Sang Lu back then, so I, Li Tianqing, hold no grudge in my heart.

This time, entering the Underground Sea is mainly to find the Po Li and Bi Li clans."

The Po Li Clan Chief, Li Yan, had already been personally slain by Tang Xiaotang earlier.

The Bi Li Clan Chief, Li De, is still alive.

The Po Li and Bi Li clans are related to the humans who first communicated with the Underground Sea back then, and many of them are still alive."

"The current situation in the Underground Sea has changed significantly." Lei Jun spoke.

Li Tianqing and Wen Xi's gazes shifted simultaneously.

"The chief of the Wen Li clan, Li Zhongding, has perished." Lei Jun's words were calm.

Li Tianqing and Wen Xi listened quietly, neither of them interrupted.

From Lei Jun's tone, it seemed that Li Zhongding's death was not caused by Tang Xiaotang or Shen Quibing, and the others from the human realm.

"Although the time cannot be determined, Li Zhongding might have perished long ago."

Lei Jun continued calmly, "I reckon, perhaps even before his last surprise attack on Li Yuanheng."

Li Tianqing's eyes flashed, "Has his body and soul been refined and controlled by a Ghost Dao cultivator?"

Wen Xi, on the other hand, was quickly recalling in his mind.

As far as he knew, there was only one Ghost Dao cultivator in the Underground Sea who had attained the Ninth Heaven Realm, and that was the Chief of the Fu Li Clan, Li Xun.

But the Fu Li Clan, led by Li Xun, had always been by Li Yuanheng's side through thick and thin.

"Although Li Yuanheng cultivates the Gu (poison) Dao lineage, he is, after all, a Ninth Heaven Realm perfect circle Great Witch of the Jiu Li. He is familiar with the Ghost Dao as well."

Li Tianqing also shared the same confusion, saying, "If it was Li Xun’s Ghost Dao manipulation controlling Li Zhongding's body, such minute details shouldn't have slipped past Li Yuanheng's observation...” He hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Could it be the Ro Valley Demon?"

He suddenly thought of something, "The Corpse Louse Clan? But Li Zhongding was an extraordinary Ninth Heaven Realm cultivator when he was alive, it would take a Eighth Heaven Realm Corpse Louse to control his body, so has a Ninth Heaven Realm Corpse Louse King appeared?"

"When the Nine Li and the Abyssal demons were engaged in a massive battle, the Underground Sea was turned upside down, and beneath the chaos, undercurrents were surging." Lei Jun spoke with a sense of emotion.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe when he first heard the news from Tang Xiaotang and Shen Quibing.

Whether it was the Underground Sea Witches or the Roiling Abyss demons, their methods were undoubtedly more bloodied and peculiar.

The Corpse Louse was a demon from the Abyss, it didn't look impressive, but it could manipulate the corpses of the deceased and use them as its puppets.

When the chasm between Ro-Yuan and the human realm was directly ripped open before, some Corpse Liches had intruded into the human realm and were later exterminated by Xiao Xueting and other human cultivators.

But those Corpse Louses back then had relatively limited power.

Who would have thought that there was a massive one lurking in the Underground Sea, and it had quietly slipped into the Underground Sea back when the two places were at war.

Then, it found the most suitable deceased body and turned it into its puppet.

The former Chief of the Wen Li Clan, Li Zhongding, who had once contended with Li Yuanheng.

"But it won't be that easy to hide from those who were close to Li Zhongding." Wen Xi pondered.

Li Tianqing nodded, "With the help of someone from the Jiu Li, it wouldn't have been that easy for it to quietly infiltrate the Underground Sea and accurately locate Li Zhongding's remains..."

He thought of the other powerful cultivators in the Jiu Li that he had heard of.

"The Chief of the Ju Li Clan, Li Bin." Lei Jun revealed the answer.

Li Tianqing recalled, "Li Bin, a Ninth Heaven Realm Great Witch of the Curse Dao lineage?"

Lei Jun nodded gently.

"Could he be plotting something huge, using the Curse Head technique to control the Corpse Louse King, and then using the Corpse Louse King to make Li Zhongding his puppet?" Wen Xi asked softly.

"I believe he has such intentions, but the Corpse Louse King is not easy to manipulate, and it would likely be vigilant about this.

The world is ever-changing, and Li Bin has finally found an opportunity.

In the past few years, the Underground Sea has been sealed off from the outside, and within, the Jiu Li continued their great war. The Corpse Louse King is already under their control, and the two sides vying for control over it and Li Zhongding's remains are none other than Li Yuanheng of the Tan Li Clan and Li Bin of the Ju Li Clan."

Li Tianqing and Wen Xi both realized, "So that's why Li Yuanheng suddenly joined forces with 'Li Zhongding' and caused a massive upheaval in the Underground Sea, expelling all human cultivators."

Five years ago, in that battle, the Tan Li, Wu Li, Guang Li, and Fu Li clans led by Li Yuanheng, suffered heavy casualties in their surprise attack by the Wen Li-led Five Clans Alliance.

Fortunately, Tang Xiaotang and the other human cultivators arrived in time to relieve the pressure on Li Yuanheng's side.

But later, Li Yuanheng joined forces with "Li Zhongding" and triggered the largest scale of Underground Sea upheaval, expelling Tang Xiaotang and the other human cultivators.

Yes, they were not true allies.

The human cultivators were also on guard against Li Yuanheng.

It was not surprising for him to discard them after using them.

But the timing was beyond the expectations of almost everyone, including Lei Jun.

Back then, everyone wondered, "After crossing the river, will he discard us before we even reach the other shore?"

Now, looking back, it seemed that Li Yuanheng had already sensed the secret of the Corpse Louse King and "Li Zhongding" back then.

Even in his injured state, Li Yuanheng, a Ninth Heaven Realm perfect circle Great Witch of the Gu Dao lineage, still had numerous bizarre methods up his sleeve.

In that state, he might not be able to deal with the real Li Zhongding.

But the situation of the Corpse Louse King controlling Li Zhongding's body might present an opportunity for Li Yuanheng.

He wanted to turn the remains of his old rival and the demon into his own assets.

On the other hand, the Chief of the Ju Li Clan, Li Bin, had his eyes on the Corpse Louse King and Li Zhongding's remains early on.

In terms of cultivation realm, he was not as advanced as Li Yuanheng, so he couldn't do anything to the Corpse Louse King in the early stages.

"Although Li Yuanheng was injured, he had the upper hand earlier."

"By the time our Tang Xiaotang sister arrived, Li Yuanheng was already close to success." Lei Jun spoke, "

The changes that had taken place were somewhat unexpected.

"This change was somewhat unexpected." Ray Joon said to Officers Shangguan and Liu. "If necessary, I will go to assist her. When that happens, I ask that you, my senior brothers, take charge of the situation in the mansion."

Yuan Mobai was in seclusion, but Wang Guyuan was still on the mountain. With Empress Zhang and Xiao Xuelin in the Tang Dynasty, the ancestral court of Dragon and Tiger Mountain was still stable. Although the head of the Blood River Sect, Xing Feng, was missing, as far as Ray Joon knew, the low-key Sun Li was still in the Tang Dynasty.

In the Underground Sea, Tang Xiaotang was chasing Lay Yuanheng to the land of the Khanates. Lei Tianqing was busy fighting Lei Bin, who was trying to control the Corpse Flea King. With Luo Yuan reopened, the situation in the Underground Sea was becoming more and more complex.

Before leaving the mountain, Ray Joon continued to sort through the information from various parties. Suddenly, a name that he hadn't heard in a long time caught his eye: Chen Yi.

To the Heavenly Master's Mansion of the Tang Dynasty's Dragon and Tiger Mountain, he was a renegade disciple who had been expelled but never truly brought to justice. Due to various reasons, the Dragon and Tiger Mountain faction had never truly exerted their efforts to purge him. Chen Yi had also spent many years drifting outside and rarely interacted with the disciples of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

The last news they had heard of him was that he had entered Luo Yuan. This time, it was the Shence Army soldiers of the Tang Dynasty who discovered his traces when Luo Yuan's entrance to the Underground Sea was opened. For some unknown reason, Chen Yi had left Luo Yuan and entered the Underground Sea.

Thinking of Chen Yi's identity, the Shence Army soldiers immediately reported back, and the Tang Dynasty passed the message on to the Heavenly Master's Mansion of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end