Chapter 419: The World's Greatest Thunder Master (Part 2)

Chapter 419: The World's Greatest Thunder Master (Part 2)

Empress Zhang Wantong had not returned from the Tang Dynasty's mortal realm.

Zhang Hui, despite his indifference towards governance, remained in the Tang Dynasty's mortal realm during these times.

Meng Shaoji, on the other hand, was in the Great Ming Dynasty's mortal realm, hiding his traces while witnessing the joys and sorrows of the world.

His original intention in entering this mortal realm was to experience their ways and customs, as well as to uncover historical artifacts and records.

However, the Great Ming Dynasty was currently undergoing a grand transformation.

Being able to personally witness and be a part of this process was of great benefit to Meng Shaoji, who had already reached the Eighth Heaven, aiding his progress significantly.

In the process of being aided by Xiao Chunhui to conceal his traces, Meng Shaoji also got to know Xiao's acquaintances in the Great Ming Dynasty's mortal realm.

The Great Ming Dynasty's Bodhi Temple's Elder, Guang Deng, a venerable elder of the Eighth Heaven, who was one of the few remaining elders of the Great Ming Dynasty beneath the Ninth Heaven.

Elder Guangdeng had been stuck at the peak of the Eighth Heaven for quite some time.

Although he didn't say anything, both Xiao Chunhui and Meng Shaoje made similar judgments - that his reluctance to face the heavenly tribulation between the Eighth and Ninth Heavens was not due to a lack of courage, but an inability to do so.

However, one must say that Abbot Guangshu narrowly escaped disaster during the previous expedition to battle the Northern Border's Sumeru Realm.

But just as one wave calmed, another rose; with the White Lotus Cult uprising, he had no choice but to rush to the Qingzhou front, be it for public or private reasons.

On the face of it, the Bodhi Temple lineage had no opposition to the Great Ming's Confucian principles. But in private, Elder Guangdeng's interactions with Xiao Chunhui were enough to raise suspicions.

Although Xiao Chunhui had never met Abbot Guangshu in person, he could assert that their secret dealings with the Great Tang cultivators were not done on Elder Guangdeng's personal initiative.

Elder Guangdeng had already sensed the impending changes to the Great Ming's Confucian doctrines.

For now, only warriors were implicated.

But the Daoist and Buddhist sects also felt a chill in their bones.

As time went on, the experiments of Confucian scholars like Zhou Mingzhe in various battlefields yielded increasing results.

Inevitably, news began to spread, gradually taking on a life of its own.

A handful of martial cultivators began to stir.

Then, the court swiftly and secretly quelled them.

Seated within the Penglai, Lei Jun surveyed the situation within his field of vision, taking in everything with the Yuqing Zhoutian Fajing.

Suddenly, the light of the Yuqing Zhoutian Fajing flickered.

Lei Jun's vision turned white, obscuring his view.

But it soon returned to normal.

As he continued to observe with the Yuqing Zhoutian Fajing, everything seemed unchanged.

But Lei Jun realized that something or someone had temporarily blocked the Yuqing Zhoutian Fajing's gaze.

Perhaps they hadn't been able to discern the origins and depths of the Yuqing Zhoutian Fajing, but they had likely sensed that someone was observing them from above the heavens.

Such keen insight was, in itself, extraordinary.

Lei Jun's eyebrows rose slightly.

Currently, the Yuqing Zhoutian Fajing wasn't in the Great Ming's mortal realm, but in Penglai, channeling the ancient array of the Celestial Palace.

Undoubtedly, this made it even more covert; even a cultivator at the peak of the Ninth Heaven would find it hard to sense the light of the mirror across the void.

But now, it seemed as though they had been discovered.

Lei Jun did not concentrate the mirror's light further to scrutinize, but instead continued to observe a broad area.

Here, too, was a battlefield.

The Ming army had just been active here, quelling a civil uprising.

Among the Ming generals who had fought here, many had temporarily been granted elevated cultivation levels through military orders.

Now that the battle was over, the orders had been rescinded, and the army had returned to camp, these martial cultivators' cultivation levels had reverted.

At first glance, there seemed to be no special circumstances.

"Could it be attached to someone here...?" Lei Jun wondered silently. "If it's not related to a person, but exists directly in the mortal realm, that would be unprecedented."

From its cautious behavior, it seemed unlikely to be the latter.

That is to say, it was related to one of these Ming generals.

If it was someone chosen by the Confucian scholars to bear their literary talents, what changes would it bring about?

Seated within the Penglai, Lei Jun smiled faintly without probing further, shifting the Yuqing Zhoutian Fajing's light away to observe elsewhere.

As long as there might be corresponding changes here, rather than stagnant waters passively accepting their fate, Lei Jun looked forward to it.

…………………

In the Great Ming's mortal realm.

The Ming army returned to camp.

On the second day, as they rested, a mounted general found himself alone.

His expression was normal as he surveyed his surroundings.

On his chest, over his heart, there was a faint burning sensation.

There was a tattoo there.

The tattoo depicted a beast's head.

In General Luo Hai's mind, a colossal beastly figure appeared.

The beast resembled a tiger or leopard, with a dragon-like tail and head, shoulders bearing folded wings that couldn't unfold, and a single horn tilting back.

It looked very much like a legendary Pixiu.

But according to Luo Hai's knowledge, the Pixiu was a auspicious beast.

In the various accounts he had heard, this beast was referred to as a spiritual beast.

Spiritual beasts, like humans, cultivated the heavenly and earthly energies to nurture themselves.

But the Pixiu that Luo Hai now sensed was shrouded in demonic aura and evil miasma, evidently an evil beast of terrifying power.

This discovery left Luo Hai on edge.

Luo Hai didn't know what level of cultivator this evil beast was, but it was clearly extraordinary.

But now, this evil beast had affixed itself to him, its form merging with his own.

In a sense, Luo Hai had been lucky.

Because of this Pixiu, he had been able to bear the literary talents of the Confucian scholars, and although some of it had been returned, a tenuous link remained.

From then on, he could draw on its cultivation in his daily life.

Although the Pixiu was a Confucian cultivator and he a martial cultivator, Luo Hai would keep a low profile considering the need for secrecy.

But what if there were more like him?

The prospect of multiple Confucian scholars serving one person was enticing, but it also invited worrying complications.

Of course, the greatest concern was the evil Pixiu before him.

The Pixiu didn't feel violent, but its gaze was cold and serene.

Luo Hai: "...Senior, was there something amiss yesterday?"

The Pixiu spoke in a calm, peaceful tone: "Yesterday, I erred and acted out of turn, which may have exposed my whereabouts."

It seemed peaceful, but Luo Hai's heart palpitated as if he stood before an active volcano.

But now, he had no choice but to communicate with it.

The ability to communicate was, in itself, a good thing.

But such abnormal circumstances left one ill at ease.

Luo Hai: "Did anyone discover you?"

Pixiu: "Not the people of this mortal realm's court.

Upon hearing this, Luohai felt somewhat relieved.

"Just continue as usual," Pixiu instructed.

Luohai acknowledged the order, but his mind remained troubled.

His mysterious ally had neither given him specific tasks nor demanded anything from him. It seemed that they were content with maintaining the status quo.

However, the more this was the case, the more Luohai's heart was unsettled.

He knew nothing about this person's background, intentions, or what plans they had for him.

Looking toward the distant military camp, Luohai shook his head slightly.

Even with his military rank, the future remained uncertain.

The world was like a blazing furnace, with some standing outside, fueling the fire, while others could only become fuel themselves.

Such was the way of life. Could one truly be content with this?

…………………

"Senior Brother, Master Guangdeng of the Great Dali Bodhi Temple has received permission from Abbot Guangshu to interact with the cultivators of Datang. Should we inform Abbot Ruyuan and the others in Datang about this?" Chu Kun casually inquired within the confines of Penglai.

Lei Jun replied, "There's no need for now. I assume that Layman Xiaochunhui is also observing the situation."

Chu Kun asked, "What about the Buddha World?"

Lei Jun explained, "For the Buddhist cultivators in the Central Plains of Great Dali, they currently only know of the Buddha World by name but cannot access it. However, the void passage from the southern border of the mortal world of Great Dali to the mortal world of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms still exists, so they're not completely cut off. Of course, the Great Dali court will likely be monitoring that area as well."

After the incident in Penglai, the Great Dali Dynasty had encountered the Buddha World for the second time, unexpectedly coming face-to-face with a Buddha World Honored One in the form of "Yan Keju."

As a result of the ensuing battle, "Yan Keju" was unable to enter Penglai again and had to retreat back to the Buddha World.

Once more, the Great Dali Dynasty suffered losses and casualties.

What's more, they had confirmed something even more disturbing.

The Buddha World was occupied by powerful Buddhist cultivators, and there was already a Buddha Honored One who had attained the Golden Body.

The relationship between the Buddha World and Mount Sumeru was not necessarily amicable.

At this time, the appearance of a Buddha Honored One from the Buddha World, in contrast with the Benevolent Wisdom Honored One from Mount Sumeru, might not be a bad thing.

However, for the Great Dali Dynasty, it was an entirely different matter.

Aside from the fact that they had just clashed with the Buddha World, the mere news of this development, if it reached the mortal world of Great Dali, could cause the Buddhist cultivators in the Bodhi Temple and other sects to stir.

Although they worked to block the information, as time passed, the news began to leak out.

Fortunately, Abbot Guangshu was currently preoccupied with the White Lotus Sect in Qingzhou.

However, the elders in the imperial court couldn't help but feel apprehensive about this turn of events.

No matter how much they wanted to intervene, with the Great Dali Dynasty's strength severely diminished and facing both internal and external crises, they could only prioritize stability for now.

The Great Dali Bodhi Temple also maintained a low profile.

"However, Senior Brother, the way the Confucian cultivators of the Great Dali Dynasty are acting... is it a bit extreme..."

Chu Kun asked curiously, "According to their current promotion of the Confucian system of rituals and norms, their ultimate goal seems to be monopolizing power, not just in the martial path but also aiming to suppress the Buddhist, Taoist, and Shamanic traditions so that there are no more cultivators who can ascend to the upper realms.

When needed, they can temporarily borrow and boost their cultivations. But now, with the surge of spiritual energy in the heavens and the earth, and the return of the Nine Heavens and Ten Realms, the world is in flux, and it's a time of great change.

If the Great Dali Dynasty insists on remaining stagnant, that's one thing, but both the Ruins of Antiquity and Mount Sumeru have already seen the reappearance of existences beyond the Ninth Heaven stage.

Let's not even mention the powerful beings from the Ruins of Antiquity; the Buddhist tradition already has two Honored Ones. How can the chief grand secretary continue with his so-called reforms?"

Suppressing the other traditions while favoring Buddhism would undoubtedly fail to achieve Zhou Mingzhe's ideal of a prosperous age and would instead drive more people toward Buddhism.

Lei Jun replied, "I don't know his specific plans, but if I were to guess, in the long run, he may be considering replacing the ancient talismanic tradition."

"The Celestial Palace?" Chu Kun asked.

Lei Jun explained, "If we were to say that Zhou Mingzhe and the others have rebellious intentions toward the Great Dali Dynasty, it's unlikely. But with the changing times and the rise of new dynasties, as long as the Confucian system of rituals and norms can continue, it would satisfy their minimum demands.

If they could replace the ancient talismanic tradition and bring about unity between the celestial and mortal realms, I believe they would consider it even better. With the current existence of Ninth Heaven stage beings like the Benevolent Wisdom Honored One, who are either staying away from the mortal realm due to internal or external reasons, it presents them with an opportunity.

They need to achieve some results, establish a stable framework, and then they can attract potential supporters in the future, right?

Or perhaps, Zhou Mingzhe has already made contact with the so-called old associates of the Celestial Palace."

Chu Kun glanced at Lei Jun's Jade Pure Heaven Revolving Mirror and asked, "Could it be the powerful presence you sensed before, Senior Brother?"

"I can't be sure at the moment," Lei Jun replied, "but my intuition tells me it's unlikely. That presence is more likely to be an indirect variable introduced by the Great Dali Dynasty."

He waved his hand, and the Jade Pure Heaven Revolving Mirror returned to his sleeve. Then, he said to Chu Kun, "For now, let's just wait and see what happens in Great Dali. The situation in Penglai has stabilized, and I plan to go to the mortal world of Han to take a look. Would you like to join me?"

Chu Kun replied, "I'll stay in Penglai for a while longer. Since you won't be going in your original form, I can help cover for you."

"Alright," Lei Jun agreed.

He took out the Hao Ran Xuan Gui that he had refined long ago.

The overflowing literary aura from the Hao Ran Xuan Gui instantly transformed Lei Jun's Taoist cultivation into the aura of a Confucian scholar.

With the Hao Ran Xuan Gui at his waist, Lei Jun produced a large bow that emanated a radiant light.

At first, the light was like the dawn, but it quickly grew brighter, resembling the rising sun.

As time passed, the light became more and more dazzling, like the sun at noon, hanging high in the sky.

From within this brilliant light, a figure emerged.

Chu Kun saw that it was a middle-aged scholar who appeared to be in his forties. His face was as beautiful as jade, and his eyes shone like stars. As he moved, a natural elegance exuded from him.

This person was about two inches shorter than Lei Jun, but he stood tall and graceful.

The massive bow that had been present earlier was now nowhere to be seen.

"Senior brother, is this Senior Wang Xu from Dongyang Mountain?" Chu Kun asked.

The figure that was Lei Jun's incarnation as "Wang Xu" nodded, "Although he is from the Langya branch of the Wang Clan of Han, according to the early teachings of the Wang Clan, being from Dongyang Mountain is not considered a prestigious origin. It was only because of his exceptional talent and achievement that the status of the Langya Wang Clan and the other major emerging clans were elevated to be on par with them, eventually earning them a place among the Twelve Prestigious Houses of Han, alongside the original Four Surnames and Six Nobles."

As Lei Jun's cultivation base continued to improve, he found it much easier to decipher the remnants left in the Dongyang Estate and the clues from the Rising Sun Bow, allowing him to uncover more information.

Moreover, with the additional intelligence gathered from Han over the years, he had managed to piece together a substantial portion of Dongyang Man's life story.

"However, due to both his early experiences and personal inclinations, Dongyang Man kept his distance from the Langya Wang Clan. He not only refrained from residing in Langya, but also rarely participated in ancestral rituals. Instead, he preferred to roam the lands, forging friendships, indulging in poetry and wine, and even in his final moments, he chose not to return to Langya but instead opted for a self-imposed burial in the estate." Lei Jun explained.

Chu Kun pondered for a moment, "He seems somewhat similar to our previous Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty."

A hint of solemnity appeared on Lei Jun's face as he said, "There is one matter that has caught my attention. This Senior Wang, he passed away prematurely, not of old age. However, from the fragments of his thoughts and intentions that I could discern, it is unclear what exactly led to his demise.

The people of Han had been perplexed about his whereabouts as well, including those from the Langya Wang Clan. They were all unaware that Senior Wang had already passed away.

I do not wish to disturb his resting place, but I will verify my suspicions through other means in due time."

Chu Kun added, "There may be considerable risks involved, so please be cautious, Senior Brother."

Lei Jun nodded, "Senior Wang returned to the estate and made all the necessary arrangements before his passing. Although there might be hidden circumstances, it does not seem like he was in a dire situation. It is unlikely that his adversaries back then could confirm his fate."

Chu Kun continued, "For someone of Senior Wang's stature to meet his end, the circumstances must be significant. In the news from Han, it is said that Dongyang Man, during his youth, was renowned as the 'Literary Cover of the World'. Rumors suggest that he shared similarities with our Pan Hailin of the Daoist faith and the future Maitreya of our Tang Dynasty..."

"Certainly," Lei Jun concurred, "Senior Wang was endowed with the Left- Right Body, analogous to the Daoist's 'Mixed Primordial Spirit Body'. Despite his modesty, it is plausible that he mastered the 'Golden Essence' technique of the Confucian tradition, a skill akin to the understanding of the 'Tranquility' stage of the Daoist path."

Pan Hailin, blessed with the Mixed Primordial Immortal Physique, theoretically possessed the potential to cultivate several Dao lineages concurrently.

However, the actual height he could attain still depended on his other innate talents, opportunities, and personal efforts.

Based on our latest information, Pan Hailin has dedicated himself entirely to the teachings of the Fulu Sect, refraining from exploring other sects' methods. Thus, it remains to be seen whether he can fully actualize the mixed primal Sage Body's capabilities.

As an exceptional body root bone practitioner, cultivating the Mixed Primal Body had its inherent benefits, eventually resulting in the youngest ninth-stage expert within the new generation of cultivators in Han, ranking just below the crown prince of Han, Xiang Jing.

And if Pan Hailin was potentially capable of breaking the limits of body techniques, achieving mastery in multiple schools, then the future Maitreya of the Tang Dynasty had already actualized this potential.

However, before him, someone else in Han had achieved this feat.

Dongyang Man, Wang Xu.

Rumors depicted that in his youth, Wang Xu desired to study literature and rituals but was unable to do so. Eventually, he began his path with the Confucian school of archery, achieving great success.

Subsequently, he embarked on the study of Confucian classics, ultimately attaining the 'Pacifying the World' realm in both schools.

After that, he indulged in the pleasures of the mortal world, often exchanging poems and literary works with his friends.

In the end, even his cultivation in the Confucian school of recitation reached the 'Pacifying the World' realm.

With simultaneous mastery in the Confucian schools of archery, classics, and recitation, all at the 'Pacifying the World' realm, he rightfully earned the title of 'Literary Cover of the World'.

He was like the Great Sun hanging high in the sky, his presence so strong that even the Han Emperor could not ignore him. Yet, he was also like a shooting star, shining brightly and disappearing quickly, leaving behind a legend in Han that evoked endless admiration.

"However, Senior Brother, regarding the Langya Wang Clan, how do you plan to handle your impersonation of Senior Wang for this trip to Han?"

Chu Kun asked cautiously, "Although there are rumors in Han that after Senior Wang achieved mastery, he returned to Langya and caused quite a stir among the Wang Clan, leading to their embarrassment and reduced interactions with him afterward, they have still been putting in efforts to locate the Dongyang Estate over the years, evidently still holding on to hope.

Since you are assuming Senior Wang's identity, how do you intend to address the situation with the Wang Clan?"

"Since I am borrowing Senior Wang's name, I will handle it appropriately," Lei Jun replied, "As for the Wang Clan, I will not rush into any decisions. Let's observe their actions and how they conduct themselves first."

He draped the Taqing Bajing Treasure Robe over himself.

Under the influence of the Hao Ran Mystic Scepter, the aura emanating from this Daoist treasure seemed to transform into an atmosphere of literary sophistication, as if it were a Confucius treasure.

And the Taqing Bajing Treasure Robe itself remained functional, providing its usual protections.

Chu Kun watched as the figure of "Wang Xu", Lei Jun's incarnation, gradually faded from view, heading towards the mortal realm of the Tang Dynasty and then on to Han.

"Wang Xu" seemed to merge with the heavens and the earth, becoming one with nature, and thus, he departed unnoticed by others.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end