https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-417-The-Heavenly-Master-Takes-Control-of-Penglai-Part-1-/12602004/
Chapter 417: The Heavenly Master Takes Control of Penglai (Part 2)
Chapter 417: The Heavenly Master Takes Control of Penglai (Part 2)
Now, the Kunwu Great Witch had interrupted her, and although the Great Witch suffered heavy losses, Tang Xiaotang had also lost track of Li Yuanheng.
Out of frustration, she decided to cultivate the Sparkling Spirit Seven Qi to enhance her cultivation and further improve the effectiveness of the Tianxin Dongming Fa Lu, killing two birds with one stone.
"Previously, your cultivation progress was slower to stabilize your foundation. Now that you've reached the Upper Three Heavens, you can be more at ease," Lei Jun continued to instruct his disciple. "You need to carefully observe the changes within yourself."
"Yes, Master," Zhuo Bao Jie replied.
The disciples of Tian Shi Fu began to organize Penglai on a large scale, and their harvest was abundant.
Here, they discovered many heavenly treasures that were scarce or even extinct in the mortal realm.
Some of these items could even be utilized by Lei Jun.
For example, the Thousand-Faceted Mirror Jade.
The last time he refined the Star River Heaven Net, Lei Jun had exhausted all the Thousand-Faceted Mirror Jade he had obtained in the past.
It was only now that he acquired a small amount again. Although the quantity was not as much as before, Lei Jun could still attempt new creations with similar treasures.
However, later on, Yuan Qingci, the head of the Shu Mountain Sect in the Great Ming Dynasty, sent a secretive message that even Li Miaozhen and the other Shu Mountain elders knew nothing about.
After reading the message, Lei Jun's eyebrows rose slightly.
He pondered for a moment before replying to Yuan Qingci through the Talismans and Decrees he had secretly offered to the previous recipient.
Later, a mysterious guest quietly arrived in Penglai.
On an island where the mist had cleared, the guest revealed his true identity to Lei Jun.
It was none other than Mu Chunyang, the foremost Taoist of the Great Ming Dynasty and the former master of the True Warrior Temple.
"Previously, I assisted the Ming Dynasty's cabinet academician in attempting to open the void portal connecting the mortal realm of the Great Ming Dynasty to the Hidden Edge. I was compelled to do so out of desperation. However, this time, I have come to first seek the forgiveness of the Heavenly Master and the Great Tang Dynasty," Mu Chunyang said.
"These are some small gifts as a token of my apologies. Please forgive me for any offenses," he added, presenting some items to Lei Jun.
"Wood observer, you're too serious," Lei Jun said.
He noticed that Mu Chunyang was not just a Yuan Ying Yang Shen but also possessed a genuine physical body.
Their souls were integrated, and they didn't seem to have been body-snatched.
Yuan Qingci's mention of Mu Chunyang not being transformed by Mount Sumeru also seemed to be true.
Noticing Lei Jun's gaze, Mu Chunyang smiled, "I possess a naturally created immortal body, and I had made some preparations in advance. Thankfully, I managed to escape this calamity."
There were also quite a few rumors and speculations about Lei Jun in the mortal realm of the Great Tang Dynasty, and these reached the ears of the Taoist people in the mortal realm of the Great Ming Dynasty.
The prevailing belief was that this Heavenly Master of the Great Tang Dynasty might have enhanced his aptitude after becoming an immortal.
At present, his aptitude was likely at the immortal body level, coupled with a clear understanding.
There were still many questions about the type of immortal body he possessed.
But now that the news of him owning two great Taoist vehicles had spread, people gradually began to suspect that he was the legendary Two-Yi Immortal Body.
Mu Chunyang had also heard about this recently.
There may be a hint of competition between the Tai Yi celestial body and the Zao Hua celestial body, and he was also well aware of this.
However, at this moment, the two of them were face-to-face, and Mu Chunyang remained peaceful and calm.
Lei Jun also did not inquire further about the other party's Zao Hua celestial body, nor about how he escaped from Sumeru.
After exchanging greetings, he simply asked a few questions about some news regarding the Good Wisdom Sage from Sumeru.
"That Buddhist sage's condition is definitely not ideal. The powerful demon that was previously suppressed and tempered by him has also escaped and is in a similar state."
Mu Chunyang spoke, "However, Good Wisdom Sage is not as simple as a newly formed Buddhist golden body. His cultivation is usually unfathomable, and even though he remains in Sumeru and does not set foot in the mortal realm, he cannot be taken lightly."
Lei Jun nodded, "Thank you, Master Mu, for the information."
He looked at Mu Chunyang, "What is the current situation in the Great Ming Empire?"
Mu Chunyang replied, "First in Sumeru, then in Penglai, the Great Ming has suffered consecutive setbacks. The empire is now in a state of turmoil and instability.
Many powerful cultivators in the Great Ming court have perished, and it will take time to recover their vitality.
Because of this, the country's fortune is currently unstable, with rampant uprisings by demons on the borders and within its domains."
Lei Jun was not surprised.
Even though the Ming Emperor still reigned, the Great Ming Empire was unique in that it relied on both the emperor and scholar-officials to shoulder the burden of governing the land.
The deaths of top Confucian scholars like Chen Yu, Liu Chong, Gao Ming, and Xi Zhichang would undoubtedly affect the empire's fortune.
It was similar to when the Female Emperor was injured, and the country's fortune fluctuated greatly.
The good news was that the framework of Confucian principles remained stable, and any disturbances would soon be stabilized.
There was no need for Chen Yu and the others to be resurrected; as long as Zhou Mingzhe and the others could step up in time, they would be able to weather the initial transitional phase, and recover within a short period.
However, for the Great Ming Empire, the bad news was twofold: first, they had suffered consecutive losses in Sumeru and Penglai, and second, other forces within and outside the empire were taking advantage of the situation.
There was no need to elaborate on the rampant movements of the four great demons.
The instability of the void portals connecting to the Guixu and Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realms was also a concern.
What worried the Ming court even more was the uprisings across the land, with shadows of the White Lotus Cult lurking in the background.
As far as Lei Jun knew, the White Lotus Cult in the Great Ming was even more influential than its counterpart in the Great Tang.
If it weren't so, they wouldn't have been taken seriously by the powerful officials in the Great Ming court.
On the other hand, the Great Ming court had just lost the 'Wen Mo Xing Dao', a Confucian punishment blade that had been refined over the years specifically to counter the White Lotus Cult.
Now, the Great Ming Empire was in a dire situation, with internal unrest and external demon incursions.
The boiling populace and the turbulent lands would, in turn, affect the country's dragon veins and fortune.
It was only natural for the Ming court to be gravely concerned.
"What are your thoughts on this, Master Mu?" Lei Jun asked calmly.
Mu Chunyang did not answer immediately. Instead, he pondered for a moment before asking Lei Jun, "Does Master not intend to enter the Great Ming realm at this time?"
Even though it was rumored that Emperor Zhang of the Great Tang was currently absent, if Lei Jun were to lead a team personally, the Great Tang's entry into the Great Ming realm through the Guicang realm would be a significant move for the Ming Empire.
Lei Jun replied candidly, "I do not favor the Confucian legacy of this world. However, since Chen Ming and Liu Chong are already deceased, and times have changed, I do not plan to involve myself in the matters of the Great Ming for the time being."
"Master Lei, your magnanimity is admirable," Mu Chunyang praised.
Lei Jun looked at him and asked bluntly, "Will the True Warrior Sect act against the Great Ming Empire?"
Mu Chunyang shook his head lightly, "Any actions taken at this time will inevitably be taken advantage of by the great demons."
He bowed to Lei Jun in the Daoist fashion, "I have come here with an unfortunate request. I hope that Master will permit some of our sect's disciples to go to the Great Tang realm and establish a branch of our sect there."
Lei Jun did not refuse, "This matter, Master Mu, should first be discussed with the Pure Yang Palace sect of my Great Tang lineage. I personally have no objections."
"That is only right, and I thank you, Master Lei," Mu Chunyang said.
After discussing a few more matters, Mu Chunyang temporarily stayed in Penglai and did not leave immediately.
Later, a representative from the Pure Yang Palace would come to meet him.
"He's also someone who keeps a low profile," Lei Jun commented on Mu Chunyang to his senior martial sister, Xu Yuanzhen.
Xu Yuanzhen replied, "I've only heard his name before, but after meeting him in person, he is indeed remarkable. He's above Huang Xuanpu, but probably not as extraordinary as the Dan Ding cultivator that Zhang encountered."
"He's not revolting against the Great Ming Empire, but against the Confucian principles laid down by Confucian cultivators," Lei Jun said, "However, these principles have already taken root in every corner of the mortal realm over the years.
Even if the Ming Empire falls and a new dynasty rises, the subsequent rulers may still follow this path. It won't be easy to change."
Forget about the Great Ming realm, even in Tian Li, the renamed realm, the old rules still persisted at the grassroots level in the mortal realm. It would take much longer to implement gradual changes.
Xu Yuanzhen neither agreed nor disagreed, "You can take your time sorting out Penglai. I'll be off to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm."
In the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm, there was a void portal connecting to the mortal realm of Sappo.
However, based on Lei Jun's understanding of Xu Yuanzhen, she would rather create a new void portal to Sappo herself.
"After all, he's a Buddhist sage, and even if he's not as remarkable as the Good Wisdom Sage, he's still not someone to be taken lightly," Lei Jun said.
"That's truly wonderful," Xu Yuanzhen said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Seeing her off, Lei Jun shook his head slightly.
In the following days, Lei Tian Shi guided the Tian Shi Fu's disciples in organizing Penglai while continuing his own cultivation and treasure refining.
Among the gifts that Mu Chunyang brought, there were a few that particularly pleased Lei Jun.
One of them was the Sands of the Ganges.
It was just a pity that there wasn't much of it, as Mu Chunyang's circumstances when he left Mount Sumeru did not allow him the luxury of thorough preparation, and being able to bring out a small amount of items was already a testament to his superior cultivation.
In Penglai, Lei Jun had also obtained a small amount of Galaxy Star Sand.
Thus, the three most important raw materials for refining the Galaxy Heaven Net—the Galaxy Star Sand, Sands of the Ganges, and the Thousand-Faceted Prism Jade—were once again complete.
Although the quantities were limited, Lei Jun could attempt to refine them once more.
This time, he wanted to try adding something new to the mix.
For instance, he considered incorporating his own Yin-Yang Ultimate Stellar Radiance.
However, this method was not as stable as the established fu talisman method, and while it remained calm and steady within Lei Jun's body, it became restless and agitated once it left his possession.
One wrong move, and it could potentially trigger a crisis.
Using it in Lei Jun's presence posed no problem, but it was clear that he was not satisfied with this limitation.
Lei Tian Shi had several backup plans in mind, and with the newly acquired Penglai and Yellow Springs, he was delighted to experiment with the abundance of materials at his disposal.
Later, his fellow disciple Chu Kun sent a message, announcing the birth of the Supreme Green Crystal after its incubation period.
Although the quantity was limited, it was undoubtedly a significant boost for the Tian Shi Fu.
With a piece of the crystal in his possession, Lei Jun's process of accumulating the Five Spirits and Five Qi would be greatly accelerated, saving him some time in the third layer of the Nine Heavens realm and allowing him to advance to the fourth layer sooner.
Lei Jun manipulated the Jade Clarity Cyclic Heaven Mirror to observe the mortal realm of the Great Ming.
After seeing that Chu Kun had safely arrived at the void portal leading to the Hidden Realm in the Great Ming, Lei Jun nodded slightly and then turned his attention elsewhere.
Indeed, the mortal realm of the Great Ming was currently engulfed in war.
The previous campaign against Mount Sumeru had not only severely damaged the Confucian scholars' vitality but also inflicted heavy casualties on the Great Ming's warriors.
As a result, the Ming armies that were now pacifying the four directions appeared to be of varying quality, with a generally lower average level of martial arts cultivation.
Lei Jun noticed that some disciples from the Bodhi Temple, True Warrior Pavilion, and Shushan Sect had been conscripted to help maintain order.
In the central plains, disciples of the White Lotus Sect were secretly instigating a rebellion, and the Ming armies were responding swiftly to suppress it.
One particular Ming army caught Lei Jun's attention.
Inside and outside the city, a large amount of literary energy was converging and empowering the defenses.
The army stationed in the city was now setting out on a campaign.
Among them were numerous martial arts cultivators, as well as Buddhist and Taoist practitioners, Confucian divine archers, and a small number of mid-to-low-level Confucian scholarly cultivators.
The commander-in-chief was a Confucian scholar of high rank, and as the person with the highest cultivation level in that place, he did not accompany the army but remained in the city.
"Splitting the troops into two groups, or..." Lei Jun mused.
Due to the unique nature of cultivators' abilities, regardless of the Confucian officials' belief in the governance of the people through intellectual labor, when it came to battle, those with cultivation abilities would invariably find themselves on the front lines.
They could not rely on other Daoist cultivators, whose average level was lower and who were suppressed by their own power, to directly confront high-realm external enemies.
Although they made convenient scapegoats when things went awry in battle.
But if one was seeking merit and glory rather than merely plotting against political rivals, no one intentionally aimed to lose from the outset.
This meant that one had to bring their true abilities to the fore.
Otherwise, people like Chen Yu, Liu Chong, Gao Ming, Xi Zhichang, and Zeng Kui would not have ended up dead or injured.
At this moment, an unexpected group appeared.
The general who directly led the troops received the military order from the Confucian scholar, knelt to receive it, and then departed. Soon after, he assembled the troops and officially set out.
Lei Jun's Jade Clarity Cyclic Heaven Mirror followed their movement, observing them closely.
He suddenly discovered that the general who had received the military order and was now leading the troops had undergone a change in his cultivation level in a very short time.
This person had jumped from the Seventh Heaven realm to the Eighth Heaven realm, and among Eighth Heaven martial artists, his realm and strength were both quite remarkable.
Unless he had been hiding his strength before... Lei Jun's gaze sharpened.
With his cultivation, insight, and perception far surpassing that of ordinary people, it was easy for him to discern that the fundamental reason for the warrior's increase in cultivation was the military order he had received.
And it wasn't just him; the cultivation levels of some of the mid-level officers in the army had also changed, seemingly elevated to a higher level.
Lei Jun silently manipulated the mirror's light, turning it back to observe the city.
On the training ground, a group of people remained, seemingly reluctant to disperse.
Their leader had a refined and cultured appearance, and the official flag identified him as a provincial governor. He had a capable demeanor and a focused gaze.
At this moment, he, too, was paying close attention to the departing army, continuously receiving reports.
Lei Jun made a rough assessment and estimated the man's cultivation to be around the third layer of the Eighth Heaven in the Confucian scholarly path.
However, his state seemed slightly amiss, as his scholarly aura appeared somewhat diminished.
"Hmm, the third layer of the Eighth Heaven... That's about the same realm as the warrior who just experienced a boost in cultivation," Lei Jun murmured, gradually piecing things together.
PS1: 8k chapter
PS2: This chapter should have been updated yesterday, but I was writing it slowly. I will try my best to write another chapter today, so as not to delay it day after day. However, due to my health condition, I can't make any promises, so please don't stay up late waiting for it. If I'm unsuccessful, I won't post a single chapter to disrupt your reading experience, and I'll continue writing tomorrow morning instead. In any case, I will do my best to write more.
(End of Chapter)
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