https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-407-A-Calamity-With-Endless-Repercussions-Part-1-/12600388/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-408-A-Single-Hair-Move-That-Affects-the-Whole-Body-Part-1-/12600391/
Chapter 407: A Calamity With Endless Repercussions (Part 2)
Chapter 407: A Calamity With Endless Repercussions (Part 2)
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Back in Guicang, Zhang Hui, having received replies from his aunt Zhang Wantong and his master, Tian Shi Lei Jun, turned to Meng Shaoji and said, "My aunt and Master have no objections, and Xiao Sanjie has already arrived in Guicang to take my place. We can set off now."
"Please, Brother Jingting," said Meng Shaoji.
Zhang Hui picked up a brush and began to draw in the air in front of him, as if using the very atmosphere as his canvas.
The portal remained illusory, but with a flash of light, it seemed to materialize from a flat painting into a real gateway between realms.
Meng Shaoji watched with admiration, nodding repeatedly.
Ordinarily, even a cultivator of the Nine Heavens would find it challenging to casually open such a portal between realms.
Yet, this was a personal ability of Zhang Hui.
To be precise, he relied on his own literary talent and artistic skill to recreate a portal he had witnessed in the past, one that had existed before.
Such paintings were like snowflakes—each one unique and challenging to replicate anew.
However, at this moment, as long as there was no top-notch expert obstructing him, he could effortlessly reopen the portal connecting Guicang to the mortal realm of the Great Ming.
This technique was something that Meng Shaoji, a cultivator specializing in historical studies, might be able to grasp once his future realm improved. However, being more inclined towards the written word, he would not be as adept as Zhang Hui, who excelled in brush and ink.
Zhang Hui's brush danced without pause, conjuring billowing clouds.
After he and Meng Shaoji stepped through the portal, it remained open but was obscured by the clouds, hidden within the celestial realm of Guicang.
The situation in the mortal realm of the Great Ming was still unclear, so Zhang Hui and his companion chose to keep a low profile.
On the other side of the portal, Zhang Hui and Meng Shaoji materialized amidst verdant mountains and flowing waters.
There, two figures awaited them.
One was a scholarly youth in blue robes, and the other was a Daoist clad in purple.
They were none other than Xiao Chunhui and Chu Kun.
"Mister Xiao, Elder Chu," Zhang Hui and Meng Shaoji greeted the pair with respectful bows.
Xiao Chunhui glanced around and smiled, "We shall catch up at a later time."
Zhang Hui nodded slightly.
He could already sense that there were Great Ming cultivators stationed in the distance, observing this mountain range.
While Mu Chunyang, Liu Chong, and other top-notch experts had withdrawn, the Great Ming still maintained a presence in this area.
However, the cultivators left behind naturally couldn't compare to the likes of Mu Chunyang and Liu Chong.
Moreover, Xiao Chunhui and Chu Kun were here to coordinate their efforts from within.
A delicate yet unfamiliar current enveloped the mountain range, obscuring the perception and senses of the distant Great Ming cultivators.
"This seems to be the handiwork of a Confucian cultivator... Mister Xiao, perhaps?" Meng Shaoji wondered inwardly.
Chu Kun, standing by his side, also sensed that Xiao Chunhui's cultivation had changed from when they last met in the mortal realm of the Great Tang. If he hadn't already confirmed Xiao Chunhui's identity, he wouldn't have been sure that this was indeed his handiwork.
However, Xiao Chunhui could only maintain this illusion for a temporary duration.
Zhang Hui once again wielded his brush with masterful strokes, and the portal connecting to Guicang seemed to vanish into nothingness, hidden from sight by his ink and paint.
The verdant mountains and flowing waters returned to their former tranquility, as if the portal had never existed.
Only a top-notch expert could hope to perceive what lay hidden here.
Even if they were to see through the illusion, it wouldn't matter as Xiao Xueting had already reached Guicang, and no harm would come of it.
Chu Kun, Zhang Hui, and the others departed from the mountain range, leaving the distant observers from the Great Ming to gaze upon unchanged scenery.
"Congratulations, Mister Xiao, on attaining a higher realm and reaching the Eighth Heaven," Meng Shaoji offered his congratulations once they reached a peaceful locale.
Zhang Hui, on the other hand, was filled with curiosity: "Mister, it seems the scholarship you're currently pursuing differs from the ancestral learning of the Xiao Clan from beyond the passes?"
Xiao Chunhui smiled, "I've only grasped a fraction of it so far, and it's still quite rudimentary. We can discuss it later."
Zhang Hui and Meng Shaoji exchanged a glance, and Meng Shaoji asked, "Going by what you said, we have plenty of time, so does that mean... the Great Ming Empire is about to..."
"Indeed, it's mostly likely to be the Northern Tribes and the Western Regions' Sumeru Gamara Sect," Xiao Chunhui stated.
Zhang Hui inquired, "Does the Emperor intend to wage war in the north, and is the Wu faction aiming to suppress the Qin faction by leveraging this opportunity?"
Within the Great Ming Dynasty, the Qin faction held significant influence as one of the major powers, closely tied to the Three Qins and the Nine Frontiers.
They frequently clashed with the Northern Tribes, but there were also instances of cooperation and exchange, with underlying intricacies that ran deep.
However, in recent years, with the Northern Tribes merging forces with the Western Regions' Buddhist Sect, their incursions into the Great Ming's northwestern territories had intensified.
The current Emperor and the Wu faction were poised to slash through the northwest with their decisive actions.
The Wu faction already held substantial influence, and with the Emperor's support and the backing of the people, they were in high spirits, leaving the Qin faction struggling to keep up.
Meng Shaoji pondered and asked, "With the news spreading so widely, do you think the Great Ming Court might be feigning to attack in the east while secretly planning to strike in the west?"
Xiao Chunhui replied, "Various voices echo within the Great Ming Court, and it's already a feat for Chancellor Chen to have them cooperate without stepping on each other's toes. To expect everyone to follow orders without question and keep secrets is asking too much. However, to be safe, we should indeed observe and gather more information."
…………………
In the capital of the Great Ming.
In the residence of the leader of the Wu faction and the Chancellor of the Great Ming, Chen Yu.
"Teacher," said Zhao Feng as he paid respects to the elderly man seated in the main hall.
The elderly man beheld his most outstanding student with a smile, "There's no need for such formality. Please take a seat."
Zhao Feng, however, remained meticulous and followed the rituals precisely.
He was the youngest Grand Secretary in the current Great Ming Cabinet.
While his experience might have been lacking, his position in the cabinet already elevated him to a different realm.
In the Great Ming Dynasty, only upon reaching this step could one hope to attain the Nine Heavens Perfection Realm.
Zhao Feng was aware that he still had a long way to go with his qualifications.
However, he now had a grasp on the opportunity, and it was partly in his hands...
No, it should be said that a portion of it was in his hands.
The current situation was a result of both the Emperor's favor and his teacher's nurturing. One without the other would not have sufficed.
Chancellor Chen of the Great Ming smiled as he regarded his disciple, Zhao Feng.
Zhao Feng's entry into the cabinet meant that the Wu faction now held a majority of three out of five Grand Secretaries.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't that his qualifications were insufficient, but rather that he lacked a competitive edge due to the multitude of talented individuals vying for the same positions.
However, Zhao Feng possessed the Emperor's favor, and with the support of his teacher, Chancellor Chen, he ultimately stood out and secured his place.
In this matter, he was in line with the new emperor's intentions.
Going to war with the Northern Tribes and the Western Regions' Buddhist Sect was even more in line with the will of the Emperor.
Moreover, with the dominant position of the Wu Party in the court, Chen Yu felt that after serving as an official for many years, he could finally stretch his wings and accomplish something.
Suppressing and even disbanding the Qin Party was, of course, necessary.
Dealing with the border troubles caused by the Northwestern Hu barbarians and the heretical Western Regions' Buddhist Sect was equally essential.
By safeguarding the Great Ming Empire's rivers and mountains and establishing remarkable achievements, one could have their name recorded in history, thus achieving the legend of a capable minister, with glory lasting for eternity, and be revered by generations to come.
However, this time, too many concessions were made to the Emperor, especially allowing some of the evil eunuchs in the palace to regain their power.
This move had no small amount of hidden dangers, and follow-up measures should be taken to curb their influence and maintain a balance.
Chen Yu earnestly instructed Chao Feng, who promised, "Please rest assured, teacher. I will advise His Majesty more often and prevent him from being too indulgent of the eunuchs."
"Mhm," Chen Yu nodded slightly.
Noticing that Chao Feng wanted to say something but hesitated, Chen Yu calmly said, "Mi-nian, speak your mind. There's nothing we can't discuss between teacher and student."
Chao Feng said, "Everyone in the court is now discussing the war in the Northwest, and the Northwest should also be on guard by now."
Chen Yu, the Prime Minister, first nodded slightly and then shook his head. "Mi-nian's concerns are not unfounded. However, the art of war is to win by righteous means and to achieve victory with extraordinary strategies. When the overall situation is in our favor, there is no need for extraordinary measures."
After a slight pause, he continued, "A new secret report has come in, stating that a Buddhist master from the Sumeru sect, who has cultivated the Vajra Body, has fallen into the Ruins."
"The Vajra Body? That would mean a monk from the Buddhist sect who has mastered the nine-layered heavenly handprint, wouldn't it?"
Chao Feng was astonished upon hearing this. "I also heard that the head of the Karmapa Sect went to the Northern Grasslands..."
He suddenly realized, "It's not the head of the Karmapa Sect, but... one of the other four sects of the Sumeru Vajra World, isn't it?"
Chen Yu nodded. "Indeed. It is said that his Vajra Body manifested a reddish color. According to the scriptures of the Sumeru Buddhist Sect, this indicates the Lotus Sect."
Chao Feng took a deep breath and calmed himself. "One of the five sects of the Sumeru Vajra World has fallen!"
Chen Yu said, "Not just one. According to the news from Tianli, the Sumeru Vajra Sect in the human realm of the pseudo-Tang Dynasty has also suffered a major setback. In less than ten years, they won't have time to recover."
Chao Feng said, "Teacher, I was wondering why you were acting so urgently, but now I understand that there are other reasons. You plan meticulously before taking action, and I cannot compare to you."
"In fact, we've also been preparing for a long time," Chen Yu sighed lightly.
Chao Feng knew that his teacher and the Wu Party had indeed been plotting for a long time.
In addition to dividing the Qin Party, they had also joined forces with the Chu Party.
Opportunity favors the prepared mind, and now that the opportunity has come, it should be seized.
"I may have been too harsh on Master Mu Chunyang," Chao Feng said apologetically.
All along, the Chu Party in the court had close ties with the True Warrior View, the first holy land of the Great Ming's Daoist sect.
Chen Yu said, "No, it's just right. As the saying goes, 'raise it high and put it down lightly.'"
Chao Feng asked, "What about Abbot Guang Shu?"
Chen Yu replied, "Both the Bodhi Temple and the True Warrior View will send a large number of disciples to join the northern expedition. Master Mu and Abbot Guang Shu will both participate in the battle personally."
He looked at his student and said, "Before that, stability is the main priority in all other areas."
"Yes, teacher," Chao Feng replied.
…………………
In the human realm of the Great Tang.
At the Celestial Master's Mansion on Dragon and Tiger Mountain.
Lei Jun's eyes, containing the revolving Tian Tong Di Che Fa Lu, communicated with Chu Kun, who was in the human realm of the Great Ming and held the Heaven's Sight and Earth's Hearing Talisman:
"If the Great Ming Dynasty really wants to go to war with the Northern Tribes and the Sumeru Karmapa Sect, then so be it. Let's wish them the best."
The fall of Zongga, the master of the Sumeru Lotus Sect, had set off a chain reaction.
For many people, this incident would bring endless troubles. Lei Tian Shi thought calmly that Master Zongga was really too careless.
Chu Kun naturally had no intention of intervening as well. He said, "Senior Brother, there's another matter. There are more people loitering around the void portal connecting the human realm of the Great Ming to the Ruins, seemingly not monitoring the portal but trying to sneak into the Ruins and avoid the surveillance of the Ming court."
Lei Jun asked, "Can you confirm their origins?"
Chu Kun replied, "They seem to be from the Daoist School of Artifacts. Judging from their cultivation levels, they should be from the Shu Mountain Sect in the human realm of the Great Ming."
Lei Jun fell into deep thought.
Currently, the situation for the Shu Mountain Sect in the Great Ming was extremely unfavorable.
Many of their members, including the former sect master Han Qingtao, had been identified as core members of the Daoist Country, an organization considered treasonous by the Ming court.
The reason why the entire Shu Mountain Sect hadn't been branded as rebels and eradicated was largely due to the tradition of the elders in the court arguing and undermining each other, which inadvertently helped the Shu Mountain Sect.
Even so, one could imagine how harsh the environment was for the remaining members of the Shu Mountain Sect.
According to Chu Kun, some of the Shu Mountain Sect's most valuable treasures had been taken away by Han Qingtao, but fortunately, some remained.
One of these remaining treasures was the Qiankun Riyue Hu, or the Canopy of Day and Night, one of the six founding treasures of the Shu Mountain Sect. It could be said to be the foundation of the Shu Mountain Sect's establishment in the human realm of the Great Ming.
However, at this moment, all the remaining treasures of the Shu Mountain Sect had been confiscated by the Ming court.
To paraphrase some people's jokes, those who chose to stay on Shu Mountain under such circumstances instead of joining Han Qingtao had extremely firm convictions...
But not joining Han Qingtao didn't mean that those who remained in the Shu Mountain Sect were willing to endure passively.
Their intention to "smuggle" themselves into the Ruins at such a time was intriguing.
Was it a personal decision, or a collective one?
"Senior Brother..."
Chu Kun hesitated and said, "Could it be that someone from the Shu Mountain Sect wants to gain access to the Ruins and offer their findings to the Ming court as proof of their loyalty?
Although their martial arts are unparalleled, they still adhere to the orthodox sect. However, under the influence of the Confucian doctrine, everyone's hearts will be subtly influenced.
Among these influences, loyalty to the sovereign is often the foremost virtue..."
Lei Jun remained calm and said, "This matter can be left to the decision of the Shu Mountain Sect in the human realm of the Great Tang. We don't need to interfere."
PS1: 7k chapter.
PS2: There are some missing chapters before this, and I am keeping track of them. I haven't forgotten, but due to health reasons, my writing speed has been slow lately. I will try to make up for the missing parts when my condition allows. In the meantime, please bear with me.
(End of Chapter)
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