Chapter 424: 423. The Descent of the Witch King, Incarnation

Chapter 424: 423. The Descent of the Witch King, Incarnation

Lei Jun, incarnated as Wang Xu, did not linger on the outskirts of Suzhou and continued his pursuit of the Great Empty Temple's abbot, Jue Xiang, and the Great Witch of Kongsang, Ou Hongcheng.

The two fled in different directions.

In terms of speed, neither was particularly exceptional.

However, with other Great Han cultivators on the outskirts, Lei Jun did not simultaneously unfold his two Great Dao Scenes to capture them.

By converting Confucian moral power into Confucian grand righteousness through the use of the Grand Darkness Mysterious Jade, his Great Dao Scene still resembled a half-open academic grand scholar of the nation and the world, chasing after Ou Hongcheng.

It was a rare opportunity to encounter the Great Witch of Kongsang, so Lei Jun was more inclined to capture this target.

Ou Hongcheng was seized by the "Nation and the World," blocking his path.

Unfortunately, Lei Jun was unable to capture him alive.

In the final moment, the Great Witch of Kongsang suddenly howled, and his body automatically split into four pieces.

Amidst the blood-soaked sky, there was also a large amount of eerie black qi.

Lei Jun carefully and cautiously responded to prevent the opponent from infecting him with the "Nation and the World" from within.

Seeing that Ou Hongcheng was also involuntary, Lei Jun knew that there was another stronger opponent in Kongsang who had already set up a witch technique restriction within Ou Hongcheng's body.

Such a method would likely be insufficient even for a Nine Heavens Great Witch to accomplish.

It was most probably the existence above the Nine Heavens that had caused the Witch King's descent upon Wang Xu of Dongyang Mountain.

The method was quite vicious, but it was unclear if the Great Empty Temple's abbot, Jue Xiang, was in a similar situation.

However, this trip confirmed that the Great Empty Temple was connected to the Great Witch of Kongsang.

The various strange changes in the Great Han world were all plotted by the Great Witch of Kongsang.

Furthermore, if Lei Jun was not mistaken, Ou Hongcheng's witch technique lineage should be the Kongsang Tianjing lineage.

As Lei Jun pondered quietly, he continued to walk without stopping.

What made the Ye, Li, and Wang clans feel complicated was that he did not return to the land of Su and Yang but headed directly north.

Ouyang Jingyuan and Fang Junmei were allowed to accompany him.

On the battlefield of Jiangnan, Jue Xiang was injured and fled, and the battle situation immediately reversed. The Great Han cultivators began their counterattack, and the Great Empty Temple monks also started to retreat, leaving only some fierce and stubborn demons who were unwilling to leave but could only fight and retreat.

The Great Han cultivators began to reclaim the lost territory south of the Yangtze River on a large scale.

Lei Jun, in the form of "Wang Xu," headed straight for the capital of the Great Han Dynasty, Chang'an.

However, the first place he went was not Chang'an City but Huayin, which was still some distance away from the capital.

Here, there was a palace.

The nominal Son of Heaven of the Great Han Dynasty, Xiang Chengyuan, was currently residing here.

As the representative of the East Palace, Ouyang Jingyuan quietly waited outside the palace.

Fang Junmei, on the other hand, led the way and invited the "Master Dongyang" to enter the palace for an audience.

The palace was luxurious, but "Wang Xu" paid it no mind.

In the garden, a group of musicians and performers were putting on a play, but they quickly retreated when "Wang Xu" arrived.

"Wang Xu" scanned them with his gaze, finally landing on a middle-aged man sitting in the pavilion.

The man was dressed casually, with a lazy expression, but the dragon aura of the nation's fortune made it clear that he was the current Han Emperor.

"Your Majesty," Fang Junmei said with a bow. "Master Dongyang has arrived."

Emperor Han Xiang Chengyuan waved his hand casually. "Minister Fang, you may withdraw first."

Fang Junmei withdrew as instructed.

"Wang Xu" stood with his hands behind his back.

Emperor Han Xiang Chengyuan locked eyes with him for a moment before asking, "I heard from Minister Fang that you have not set foot in the mortal world for many years because you were recuperating your body, and it is still not fully recovered?"

"Wang Xu" replied calmly, "Because of the people of the Kongsang Witch Clan."

Emperor Han Xiang Chengyuan fell silent for a moment, his body slightly floating as he rose to give a silent salute to "Wang Xu."

"Wang Xu" did not seem surprised. "Your Majesty is also troubled by the Kongsang Witch Clan."

Emperor Han Xiang Chengyuan remained silent, neither nodding nor shaking his head. However, his gaze at "Wang Xu" held not only gratitude but also a hint of admiration and envy.

"Wang Xu" spoke, "Your Majesty, there is no need for courtesy. By chance, I, Wang, never expected the people of Kongsang to plot so deeply."

By now, he had already understood why the once wise and renowned Han Emperor Xiang Chengyuan had suddenly become muddled and withdrawn.

The change in the Emperor's behavior occurred around the same time that Wang Xu of Dongyang Mountain suddenly withdrew from the world and cut off all communication.

Most likely, the Emperor had fallen into a trap set by the Kongsang Witch Clan.

Through a twist of fate, Wang Xu of Dongyang Mountain had inadvertently ruined their plans, but he had also died prematurely as a result.

With Wang Xu's help, Emperor Xiang Chengyuan had escaped a calamity.

But he had not been able to completely avoid it.

His subsequent passive behavior was a result of the aftermath of the Kongsang Witch Clan's curse, which he struggled against alone and in silence.

Due to the bizarre and overpowering nature of the witch clan's curses, he had to bear the bitter fruit alone and could not share his burden with others.

It was for his own sake, as well as for the sake of the listener.

Even now, facing the equally afflicted "Wang Xu," Emperor Xiang Chengyuan had to choose his words carefully.

Towards "Wang Xu," the Emperor felt not only gratitude for his past assistance but also admiration and envy for his freedom from lingering troubles and his ability to speak openly about the Kongsang threat.

...Of course, in reality, he need not be envious.

The real Wang Xu of Dongyang Mountain had also failed to completely solve this problem.

Only an existence above the Nine Heavens in the Kongsang Witch Clan could have caused such a loss to experts like Xiang Chengyuan and Wang Xu.

Furthermore, it was likely not a recent ascension to the Nine Heavens but rather an extremely powerful being, like the Wisdom Venerable of Mount Sumeru.

However, due to the Great Heavenly Tribulation and other reasons, the opponent had suffered setbacks after retaliating against Wang Xu of Dongyang Mountain, which was why they had only returned after so many years.

In addition...

"Your Majesty, have you been to Dragon-Tiger Mountain in recent years?"

"Wang Xu" asked, looking directly at the Han Emperor.

Emperor Han Xiang Chengyuan nodded, "I have been there, but the old ancestor of Dragon-Tiger Mountain seems to be unwell too. Although he planned to suppress the curse for me, he ultimately failed to eradicate it completely."

"Previously, the Daoist lineage of the Grand Master's Mansion swept through Datong and entered our Great Han again. Dragon-Tiger Mountain as a whole hid in the Taiqing Degree People's Paradise to avoid us. I believe it's for the same reason."

He invited "Wang Xu" to take a seat and continued, "Although there are Buddhist venerables in Mount Sumeru, it still makes me somewhat apprehensive, so I haven't sought their help."

Xiang Chengyuan's gaze fell on "Wang Xu", and "Wang Xu" remained unfazed, slightly shaking his head, "It's difficult for a doctor to heal himself; the same is true the other way around. Although I, Wang Xu, was able to see the light of day again, it was partly due to fortuitous circumstances, and I'm afraid I can't be of much help to Your Majesty."

Xiang Chengyuan sighed softly, "I understand, Your Majesty."

"Wang Xu", however, changed the subject, "To untie the bell, one must find the bell ringer. Your Majesty has already figured this out, haven't you?"

Among the musicians and performers present earlier, quite a few had cultivation, and some were even highly cultivated.

And they were all members of the Witch Clan.

Xiang Chengyuan's calm expression didn't change as "Wang Xu" pointed this out, and he nodded slightly before clapping his hands.

A woman walked in, first bowing to the Han Emperor before turning to "Wang Xu", "Dust Noise, a disciple of Kongsang, greets Master Dongyang."

"Wang Xu" remained silent, simply staring at her.

Dust Noise replied, "Due to the curse, there are some things I cannot say clearly, please forgive me, Master Dongyang.

What I can say is that there are currently two lineages in Kongsang. One is called Tianjing, and they have been actively plotting.

If they succeed, then we disciples of the Earthly Branch will inevitably face enslavement or death. That is why we have been assisting Your Majesty in alleviating it."

"Wang Xu" nodded slightly.

He looked at Emperor Han Xiang Chengyuan and suddenly asked, "If Your Majesty were to remove the support of the Imperial Emperor Technique, where would your cultivation of the Ninth Heaven rank stand in terms of my Confucian teachings or the Witch Clan's arts?"

Emperor Han fell silent for a moment before sighing, "I am unaccomplished in both literary and martial arts, leading to today's calamity."

He raised his head to look at "Wang Xu" and spoke, "Please keep this matter confidential, Master Dongyang, to prevent rumors from stirring and unsettling the empire."

"Of course."

"Wang Xu" agreed first before asking, "Does the Crown Prince know about this?"

"Xiang Jing knows a little, but with his intelligence, he should be able to guess most of it."

"Wang Xu" nodded, "I will also be heading to the palace in Chang'an later."

"Where will you be staying, Master Dongyang?" the Han Emperor asked.

"Wang Xu" replied, and his answer was the same as the one he gave the Han Emperor earlier, "I don't feel like returning there for now. I'll take my time to breathe the fresh air and enjoy the beautiful landscape of our land. I will also take this opportunity to further investigate matters related to the Witch Clan. Your Majesty need not trouble yourself with finding me, Wang Xu; I will keep an eye on the Kongsang situation."

After saying this, he bid farewell to the Han Emperor.

Fang Junmei entered as per the Han Emperor's orders and accompanied Master Dongyang out.

The Han Emperor's face revealed his undeniable fatigue as he leaned back in his chair.

Dust Noise spoke softly by his side, "He is very suspicious and doesn't fully trust Your Majesty's words."

Emperor Han didn't respond; instead, he closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, already emitting soft snores.

…………………

After leaving the Huaying Palace, Lei Jun's next destination was the Great Han's capital, Chang'an.

Ouyang Jingyuan had already sent word ahead.

Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing hosted a banquet to entertain 'Wang Xu', Lei Jun's incarnation.

The banquet proceeded as usual.

After the late-night banquet, Han Crown Prince dismissed his attendants and bowed to 'Wang Xu' first, "Thank you, Master Wang, for helping my father in the past. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

"Wang Xu" asked calmly, "What does Your Highness know about the Kongsang matter?"

Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing shook his head, "Most of it is fragmented rumors, and little has been verified."

"Wang Xu" spoke, "They already intend to make a comeback, but their specific plans are still unclear. Although I meant to capture the Grand Witch of Kongsang, she took her own life, leaving no concrete clues behind."

"The arts of the Witch Clan are notoriously bizarre and domineering. Master Wang, you mustn't dwell on it," Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing assured.

He sought 'Wang Xu's' validation, "I've received some news that the Grand Witch of Kongsang has also split into two lineages, named Tianjing and Ditu. What are your thoughts on this, Master Wang?"

"Wang Xu" shook his head, "Clues are still scarce, and it's unwise to jump to conclusions about who's an ally or an enemy. It's even possible that the two lineages are secretly working together."

Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing frowned and pondered, "What you say is reasonable, Master Wang. But if that's the case, then..."

He looked up at "Wang Xu", "Where will you be staying next, Master Wang?"

"Wang Xu" gave the same answer as before.

Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but when it came to figures like 'Wang Xu', no one could force them to stay. All he could do was see him off and hope that he would frequently return to Guanzhong.

Xiang Jing himself would soon be heading north to intimidate the restless barbarian chieftains.

After leaving Chang'an, 'Wang Xu', with his straw hat and cloak, disappeared into the misty rain.

Ouyang Jingyuan and Fang Junmei, who had come from Huaying Palace, saw him off, exchanging glances and falling silent, at a loss for words.

…………………

In the ancestral land of the Wang Clan of Langya, Wang Yan and the others had complicated emotions swirling in their hearts.

Dongyang Mountain's Wang Xu had first appeared on the northern shore of Poyang Lake, slaying the Flame Island Turtle Emperor, a Ninth Heaven great demon.

Then, outside the ancestral land of the Suzhou Li clan, he truly shocked the world, single-handedly repelling the Abbot of Dakuang Temple, the fearsome monk, and sweeping aside numerous demons and evil monks.

His formidable might caused all of Great Han to take notice.

The rising generation of cultivators could now fully appreciate the grandeur of Dong Yang Shan, as described by their elders.

Just like how he titled himself Dong Yang, he truly resembled the mighty sun hanging high in the sky, illuminating all four directions.

The Langya Wang clan also rose to prominence along with him.

Prior to this, due to Wang Xu's long absence and the dwindling number of Langya Wang clan members, many had begun to question their status as a noble clan.

Now that Wang Xu has reappeared and fought a renowned battle, the Langya Wang clan has risen along with him.

While the Wang clan members felt honored, Wang Jian and Wang Bu Jiu brought back news that left them at a loss.

Although they knew that Wang Xu was not close to the clan, the attitude he displayed would directly shake the foundations of the Langya Wang clan.

Moreover, his opinion could not be ignored.

In the past, the Langya Wang clan had borrowed Wang Xu's reputation, and he had turned a blind eye.

Now that Wang Xu has clearly expressed his stance, they could no longer feign ignorance.

Unless the Langya Wang clan proactively distanced themselves from Dong Yang Shan's Wang Xu.

Given Wang Xu's temperament, he would not be angered to bring calamity upon them.

However, it would be impossible to continue borrowing his influence.

But if they were to follow Wang Bu Jiu's suggestion, the Langya Wang clan as a whole would change, and whether or not they could borrow Wang Xu's influence would become a different matter entirely.

There was no need to speak of the clan members' inner turmoil.

"The tide of the times is such, and Sixth Brother sees it clearly,"

Clan Head Wang Yan finally spoke: "How are we any different? We also have more attachments that are hard to let go of, so we hold on to a glimmer of hope."

He turned to the elder beside him.

He was Wang Yan's father, the previous generation's Clan Head, Wang Qing Bai.

Wang Bu Jiu and the others also looked towards their grandfather.

Wang Qing Bai remained silent.

"Sometimes, it's better to face short-term pain than to prolong the agony. Since we can't go against the tide, we might as well prepare early," Wang Yan continued upon seeing his father's expression.

The expressions of the Wang clan members varied.

The major noble clans of Great Han were often interrelated through marriages.

The internal dispute within the Langya Wang clan had already reached the ears of the other noble clans.

Now that they heard of Dong Yang Shan's Wang Xu's stance, even the other prominent clans were shaken.

Some were wavering, while others were dissatisfied.

The entire Great Han Empire was affected.

Qingzhou Ye Clan's Ancestral Land

In the ancestral land of the Qingzhou Ye Clan, one of the elders, Ye Yong, gazed out the window, deep in thought.

Beside him, a clan member urged, "Has Big Brother returned from the Jiangnan yet? We must ask him back to decide on our course of action!"

The 'Big Brother' he referred to was Ye Zhao, the current head of the Qingzhou Ye Clan.

Previously in the battle of Suzhou, Dong Yang Shan's Wang Xu, with his injury of the Abbot of Dakuang Temple, the Absolute Monk, and his slaying of the Mysterious Grand Witch, had aided Ye Zhao in injuring the Grand Turtle Demon of the Ninth Heaven.

Although the Dakuang Temple and the demons had lost, the Absolute Monk still lived.

With Wang Xu present, Ye Zhao was maintaining the situation in the Jiangnan lost lands of Great Han.

If he were to return north to Qingzhou now, it would, to some extent, mean letting the Dakuang Temple off the hook.

At least, the losses of the Dakuang Temple would be much smaller than expected.

With external threats looming, the Great Han Empire, whether the imperial family or the various noble clans, would have to restrain their actions and could not act too wantonly.

What Ye Yong and the others truly feared was that if the noble clans fell into disarray and tore themselves apart, the imperial court would happily take advantage of the situation.

"Big Brother has replied," Ye Yong said softly.

Seeing his expression, the hearts of the other Ye Clan members sank.

Ye Yong spoke, "Big Brother's intention is to make preparations on two fronts. Aside from the Great Han Empire... aside from the other human powers in this world, we must also put effort into finding the offspring of humans in other worlds. Looking only at this world, we are but a solitary tree facing the mighty waves."

He looked at the others and sighed, "Initially, our rivalry and internal strife with the Datong Clan were truly regrettable, and the same could be said of the Datang Clan. It is a pity that we realized this too late."

The Ye Clan members silently nodded.

Currently, in the human powers of the Great Han world, excluding the two-faced Wang Xu, the top cultivator was... the Fourth Layer of the Ninth Heaven, Xiao Clan's new head, Xiao Jing.

To be precise, she was not of the Great Han's Longwai Xiao Clan, but from Datong.

However, the previous head of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Xuan, had willingly stepped down, and there were no objections from within the Longwai Xiao Clan or from outsiders.

If Xiao Xuan, Li Feiyang of the Suzhou Li Clan, and Lin Xiao Yi of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan were to successfully reach the Ninth Heaven, the human powers of Great Han would possess a total of six cultivators at the pinnacle.

Such a force would undoubtedly be extraordinary.

But it was also possible for the Abbot of Xuantian Temple, Xin Guan, Dragon-Tiger Mountain's Pan Hai Lin, and Shu Mountain's Sect Master, Chen Ling Feng, to take that step.

Not to mention the three top cultivators of Great Han, who were undoubtedly the Han Emperor, Xiang Cheng Yuan, the Han Crown Prince, Xiang Jing, and Wang Xu.

For the Qingzhou Ye Clan and the other noble clans, the situation remained grim.

If the Five Masters of Datong were still around, the scenario would undoubtedly be much better.

If they could unite the cultivators of the Datang world, and further unite with cultivators from other worlds, acting early like the Sumeru Buddhist Kingdom, it would be an entirely different story.

Among them, Datong was the most suitable to act as the intermediary, connecting the four directions.

However, it was a pity that such discussions were too late now.

In the other human realms, the rumors were mostly pessimistic.

Now, even if they wanted to rectify their mistakes, they might not have the opportunity to do so.

If not for this, their clan leader, Ye Zhao, wouldn't have given such disheartening instructions to "prepare for the worst."

But for Ye Yong and the others, they could only face this bleak situation head-on.

"Big brother's speculation may also be related to the attitude of the Suzhou Li family," said a Ye clan elder softly.

Ye Yong and the others nodded slightly, their hearts growing heavier.

Ye Zhao was in Jiangnan, fighting side by side with the Suzhou Li family for a long time. Having dealt with them frequently, he had some understanding of their internal affairs.

The Suzhou Li family owed Wang Xu a huge debt of gratitude for saving their ancestral land. This was undoubtedly a great favor.

However, when it came to the crucial moment concerning the fate of the entire Li family, personal gratitude was only one aspect.

The more critical factor was the Li family's own plans.

The person with the most influence was not the current clan head but rather the rising star of the younger generation, Li Feiyang, who was already in line to be the next clan head.

In the entire Great Han realm, he was one of the most promising cultivators expected to break through to the Ninth Heaven in the coming years.

If he shared the same idea as Wang Bu of the Langya Wang clan, then the future path of the Suzhou Li clan would truly be uncertain.

Although Ye Zhao didn't explicitly say it, his observations led him to fear that the situation was indeed pessimistic...

"Follow big brother's instructions and make the necessary preparations quickly," Ye Yong finally said. "Keep a close eye on the movements of the other families."

Everyone agreed.

…………………

The "Dongyang Mountain Man," who had everyone in the Great Han realm worried, did not stay there for long.

After leaving Chang'an, Lei Jun returned directly to the Great Tang realm and then made his way back to Penglai.

By now, even more disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion had been arranged to enter Penglai, where they continued to develop the myriad of immortal islands on the vast Azure Sea under Chu Kun's guidance.

"Senior brother, your swift and decisive actions have drastically changed the situation in the Great Han realm," Chu Kun remarked with emotion after hearing Lei Jun's brief description of his journey.

Lei Jun: "It's too early to say anything definitive at this point."

Chu Kun thought for a moment: "So, for now, we can be certain that the Kongsang Witch Clan has been making moves in the Great Han realm for many years, and it's someone from the Ninth Heaven and above who is personally taking action."

Lei Jun: "Indeed, if not for that, Master Dongyang would not have died prematurely."

Chu Kun: "If what the Han Emperor said is true, and the Tianjing branch obeys the Witch King, while the Didu branch tries to stop the Witch King's descent, then the Great Han Longhu Mountain is likely a hindrance to Tianjing. If there really is a master from the Fulu School in Kunlun..."

"Because of our sect's senior sister, the Great Han Longhu Mountain has gone into hiding, which is equivalent to helping Kongsang Tianjing and the Witch King restrain one of their opponents? So, the Didu branch considered us enemies and therefore attacked Senior Sister Tang in the alien khanate's realm?"

"It's not necessarily the case..." Lei Jun said.

"For Kongsang Didu, the existence of the Great Han Longhu Mountain is crucial. However, we don't necessarily have to be enemies, and we may even be obstacles to Kongsang Tianjing and the Witch King. Therefore, we shouldn't jump to conclusions about the Didu branch's attack on Junior Sister."

Chu Kun contemplated curiously, "Based on the Witch King's actions, it appears that entities residing in the highest echelons of existence find it challenging to directly descended into the mortal realm. This applies to figures such as the Sage of the Sarva realm, the Patriarch of the Great Han Longhu Mountain, and the Venerable One of Buddhism. While they can exist perpetually in the Ninth Heaven, direct descent into the mortal realm seems impossible for them?"

Lei Jun: "Each person's situation may also be different. Otherwise, the Buddhist Venerable from Sarva could have personally visited Penglai, which is also one of the Ninth Heavens."

Chu Kun: "Then what about the Golden Khan of the Golden Khanate and our Great Tang Empress? If they successfully ascend and become saints, won't they be the same?"

Lei Jun: "It's hard to say about the Golden Khan. I believe we'll have our answers once our Empress returns from her distant journey. For now, let's focus on our cultivation and observe the developments."

Chu Kun: "Yes, senior brother."

After staying in Penglai for some time, Lei Jun reappeared and returned to the Great Tang realm, heading back to the ancestral court of his sect.

Upon returning to Longhu Mountain, Lei Jun devoted himself to instructing his disciples and continuing his cultivation at his own pace.

From the Xuanling Qi to the Danling San Qi and then to the Wuling Wu Qi, he cultivated quietly, constantly accumulating his power.

During his cultivation, Lei Jun further refined his knowledge.

This trip to the Great Han realm, where he impersonated a great Confucian scholar using the Hao Ran Xuan Gui, was a unique experience for Lei Jun.

The changes he underwent allowed him to further refine and improve his divine abilities, down to the smallest details.

For example, he modified the Yin-Yang Shenxiao Aurora, which he had imitated from the Confucian divine archer, the Yin-Yang Wuji Xinghuang, which he had copied from the Confucian poet who sang of the sun, and the Great Vehicle Dao Scene, which he had emulated from the Confucian scholar who interpreted the nation and the world.

He also transformed the Nine Heavens Heart Thunder into the shape of tangible arrows.

All of these were valuable gains.

As time passed, some of the fellow disciples of the Great Tang Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion, who had been cultivating in seclusion, began to emerge with achievements.

First was Ke Sicheng, who had been cultivating in seclusion to break through the heavenly tribulation between the Sixth and Seventh Heavens. He finally succeeded, becoming the Great Tang Celestial Master's Mansion's newest elder of the Upper Three Heavens.

By this time, he was nearly a hundred years old.

Looking back on the past, he felt endless sighs.

Compared to those who perished early or died due to the heavenly tribulation, Ke Sicheng felt fortunate, and his emotions were like the warmth and cold of drinking water, known only to himself.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Ke," Lei Jun said as the Celestial Master, bestowing a blessing upon him.

Ke Sicheng replied respectfully, "Thank you, Sect Master."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end