Seeking Fortune And Avoiding Calamity, Starting From The Heavenly Master's Mansion Chapter 429: The True Opponent (Part 1) - Novel Cool

Chapter 429: The True Opponent (Part 1)

Chapter 429: The True Opponent (Part 1)

The Nation of the Human Path had become a thing of history.

However, this did not affect the task that Lei Jun had entrusted to Kang Ming and the others: to investigate people and matters related to the ancient Fulu School.

For the other three, this task might prove challenging.

But for Kang Ming, who was currently in the Han Dynasty's version of the human realm, it was a stroke of serendipity.

As it turned out, the Dragon and Tiger Mountain sect of this human realm was directly descended from the ancient Fulu School.

Although the Dragon and Tiger Mountain sect of the Han Dynasty had largely gone into hiding, Kang Ming could collect and organize all sorts of historical information and related artifacts about the sect that were circulating in this human realm.

Just as the Heavenly Master's Mansion in the Great Tang was the holy land of the Fulu School in the Great Tang's human realm, with its various branches spreading far and wide, so too was the Dragon and Tiger Mountain sect a revered presence.

Having once been the foremost sacred site of the right path in the Han Dynasty, the Dragon and Tiger Mountain sect was naturally flourishing in the current Han Dynasty's human realm, with numerous branches scattered across the land.

While the main mountain gate and ancestral court of Dragon and Tiger Mountain had retreated into the Taiqing Duting Cave Heaven, they couldn't very well take all their scattered branches and disciples with them.

Kang Ming, of course, could secretly seek them out.

As it happened, the disappearance of the sacred site and ancestral court had greatly impacted the other Fulu School branches in this human realm.

Many would likely be stuck at the stage of being bestowed the Fulu talismans.

Nearly a decade had passed since the Dragon and Tiger Mountain sect went into hiding.

If this situation persisted, the Fulu School would undoubtedly decline in this human realm.

Discussions were rampant within the various branches and offshoot sects.

Pan Hailin's reappearance in the human realm and his attainment of the Great Vehicle Realm of the Ninth Layer of the Nine Heavens had given them hope.

The Huangtian Path was also taking advantage of the situation to expand its influence in secret.

The Dan Ding School and the Refiners' School, who had previously been weaker than the Fulu School, were also seizing this opportunity to rise further.

The entire Han Dynasty was in a state of chaos.

Lei Jun calmly perused the various messages conveyed by Kang Ming.

After contemplating in silence, he added new requirements for Kang Ming, Meng Shaojie, Nie Fang, and Zhou Pu.

In addition to information about the ancient Fulu School, he asked them to look out for any news or individuals related to the former associates of the Celestial Palace.

Lei Jun withdrew his mind from the dark side of the heavenly book and sat in the Heavenly Master's Hall, his eyes calm as he continued to gather his thoughts.

Later, Yuan Mobai arrived in the hall. After discussing some routine matters of the mansion with Lei Jun, Lei Jun briefed his master on the latest developments in the current Han Dynasty's human realm.

"The Han Dynasty will not create any unnecessary troubles for the Sumeru Treasure Realm for the time being. However, most people, especially the Han Emperor and the Han Crown Prince, will not truly trust the Sumeru Treasure Realm. They will mostly keep their distance and remain on guard."

Yuan Mobai pondered this, "It seems the Sky-Hollow Sect and the Grand Emptiness Temple have gained a respite due to this."

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Yuan Mobai asked, "How is the Grand Emptiness Monk's injury?"

The Grand Emptiness Monk's injury had been inflicted by none other than Lei Jun, who sat before him.

Lei Jun replied, "The previous pursuit by the Han Dynasty further exacerbated his injuries. While he has been given a chance to recuperate, his recovery won't be so simple. Normally, this would directly impact his progress in his upcoming attempt to break through to the perfect stage of the fifth layer of the Nine Heavens."

The Grand Emptiness Monk was also exceptionally talented and powerful, having made rapid progress up until now.

This setback might disrupt his momentum, and the consequences could be significant.

Whether it was through the power of the Grand Emptiness Temple itself or some other means by the Grand Sorcerer of Sky-Hollow, if the Grand Emptiness Monk could quickly heal and regain his momentum, then the situation would be salvageable.

However, if his upward trajectory was truly disrupted, then a big question mark would hang over when he could cultivate to the perfect stage of the fifth layer of the Nine Heavens Great Extinction Realm.

A positive example was that of Shen Quibing, who had been injured in the Earthly Sea but was cared for by Empress Zhang Wantong. Although his recovery took some time, he still managed to break through to the Eighth Heaven realm soon after.

Empress Zhang Wantong had also been injured in the battle at Yunzhou, but her recovery did not hinder her from soon regaining her momentum to strive for the Ninth Heaven realm and beyond. It was only due to her personal wishes that she remained in the human realm.

Otherwise, she would have ascended to immortality even earlier than Huang Anqin.

In the Nation of the Human Path, Huang Xuanpu, the Black Emperor of the North, had also faced setbacks but managed to regroup and make further progress. He advanced from the Four Qi Morning Yuan to the perfect stage of the Five Qi Morning Yuan.

On the other hand, there was also a negative example in the Nation of the Human Path.

Han Qingtao, the White Emperor of the West, had his upward trajectory repeatedly disrupted.

First, he failed to obtain the Taiyi Precelestial Pagoda and the Heavenly Master's Seal in the Great Tang's human realm, and his life artifact was damaged by Tang Xiaotang.

Subsequently, his identity was exposed by Xu Yuanzhen, causing Han Qingtao to fall into a precarious situation in the Great Ming's human realm, where everyone turned against him.

Though Han Qingtao remained undaunted, his foundation had not been severely damaged, but his cultivation progress was undoubtedly affected, causing him to linger at the fourth layer of the Nine Heavens realm.

The Southern Red Emperor, Li Hang, found himself in a similar predicament. At that moment, his primary adversary was the Golden Khan Kingdom.

"The Kunlun Sect has been preparing for a long time," Yuan Mobai remarked. "Now that they've included the Grand Sky Temple in their plans, they're unlikely to idly stand by and watch the temple and the Absolute Monk decline."

"I concur, Master," came the reply.

Lei Jun added, "Speaking of which, there might be someone else with a better chance of breaking through to the fifth layer of the Nine Heavens..."

Yuan Mobai's eyes flickered, and he asked, "Ji Dao Cheng?"

Lei Jun gently nodded. "Yes. Although the Dahang Dragon-Tiger Mountain lineage's retreat to the Taqing Duting Heaven might seem like a setback, it could also be viewed as a strategic choice. Given Ji Dao Cheng's dedication to his cultivation, there is a possibility that he might achieve success."

Yuan Mobai suggested, "Let's wait and observe if there are any further developments regarding the portal connecting Datang to Dahang."

"It only appears to be closed," Lei Jun noted.

Master and disciple shared a knowing smile.

Lei Jun held out his palm, and a jade pendant materialized in his hand—a relic from the former Dongyang Mountain Master.

In the Dahang Dynasty, the reason why the Wang Clan of the Lantang courtyard, known as the Langya Wang Clan, could not be found was that Lei Jun had made special arrangements to create an additional barrier.

However, going against the flow could also forge new pathways.

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

In the current Dahang Dynasty, the sentiment among the ruling class remained inclined towards a vigorous crackdown on the Grand Sky Temple's demon monks who had retreated to the southern wilderness, as well as any members of the Witch Clan suspected of colluding with them.

However, due to the previous abnormalities in Xumi and Datang, people were making bold statements in public while their actual actions were subdued.

A wait-and-see approach had been adopted by most, who quietly strengthened their positions in the meantime.

During the deep autumn of this year, joyous news emanated from the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou in the Dahang Dynasty:

"The clan head, Lin Xiaoyin, has successfully advanced further in his cultivation of the Confucian teachings, attaining the Nine Heavens realm!"

The Dahang Dynasty had produced yet another scholar capable of pacifying the world.

Congratulations poured in from the court and far beyond.

After the gift-giving ceremony, some guests remained and did not depart immediately.

Lin Xiaoyin personally entertained these guests.

Then, the real business of their meeting began.

"My apologies for the inadequate hospitality," Lin Xiaoyin said as he personally attended to his two guests in a quiet room.

"Not at all, Clan Head Lin," the guests politely replied.

The three men exchanged pleasantries, their expressions grave and solemn.

"Although the portal to Datang has been closed," Lin Xiaoyin said softly, "we must not be overly optimistic about the future. The threat from the Datang world has temporarily subsided, but in the long run, we cannot afford to be complacent."

Ye Zhao and Ye Chunyu both gently nodded, sharing his concerns.

"As spiritual energy surges, beings from the immortal realm reappear in our world," Ye Chunyu, dressed in an elegant palace gown, remarked. "Although it seems rare for immortals to descend upon us at present, I foresee that this trend will only intensify."

Lin Xiaoyin added, "It appears that the ancient immortals of the Witch, Taoist, and Buddhist clans might still be alive. In the martial world, someone has already transcended beyond the Nine Heavens, yet among our scholarly families, we have yet to encounter a true Confucian sage."

At this, Ye Zhao and Ye Chunyu fell silent.

While Lin Xiaoyin had just attained the 'Pacifying the World' realm, and Ye Zhao had been renowned for a long time, neither had achieved the perfect 'Pacifying the World' realm, mastering all five classics of Confucian teachings.

To be precise, none among the scholarly families of the Dahang Dynasty had cultivated all five classics to perfection, attaining the 'Pacifying the World' realm.

The closest had been the former head of the Lin Clan from Datong, Lin Zheng.

However, aside from the fact that he had long passed away, even if Lin Zheng were still alive, his progress would still have a long way to go before truly reaching the pinnacle.

If one were to speak of scholars in the Dahang Dynasty with the promise to break through to the Nine Heavens in a short span of time, the only candidates would be Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing and the Dongyang Mountain Master, Wang Xu.

However, Wang Xu claimed that he had not fully recovered from his injuries, and the true extent of his condition remained unknown.

Moreover, Ye Zhao, Lin Xiaoyin, and the others found it difficult to truly consider Wang Xu as one of their own.

Although Han Crown Prince Xiang Jing was more enlightened than Han Emperor Xiang Chengyuan, his attainment of the Nine Heavens realm would not bode well for the prominent scholarly families of the Dahang Dynasty.

"If there were a Confucian sage who had survived from the ancient times before the Great Tribulation..." Lin Xiaoyin trailed off, then continued, "Datong is out of the question, and according to news from the Datang world, there's no hope in Guicang either, so our only option left is..."

He looked up at Ye Zhao and Ye Chunyu.

According to folklore, before the split, the Ye Clan had once held dominion over the Lianshan Mountains.

However, subsequent information revealed that the Ye Clan had ultimately relinquished their control over Lianshan.

But only the Ye Clan knew the true story...

"Our clan did indeed once preside over Lianshan, but we were forced to give up that role.

Ye Zhao shook his head gently. "At least, as far as I know, that is the case."

Ye Chunyu, standing beside him, nodded slowly as well.

Meeting Lin Xiaoyi's gaze, she said, "We have no intention of deceiving you. We, more than anyone else in this world, hope that there are still ancestors of our tribe in Lianshan."

Lin Xiaoyi spoke softly, "I trust the words of the two of you. However, given the current situation, even if there is a glimmer of hope, the priority lies in Lianshan first and foremost."

Ye Zhao: "We have also been searching for Lianshan these years, but unfortunately, we have not found any clues so far."

Lin Xiaoyi: "I understand your concerns. Indeed, we must be cautious at this juncture to avoid benefiting others unintentionally."

After a brief moment of contemplation, he continued, "Today, I have specifically asked the two of you to stay because, aside from the matter of Lianshan, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you."

Ye Zhao and Ye Chunyu exchanged glances.

Lin Xiaoyi's voice sounded slightly ethereal as he said, "Our tribe recently discovered a few clues regarding... another branch of our lineage in another realm of the human world."

"Oh?" Ye Zhao and Ye Chunyu were immediately intrigued upon hearing this.

The experiences of the Five Surnames and Seven Families in the Great Tang human world were well-known.

Through the various messages that had come from the Great Tang human world, it was clear that the Confucian noble families in the human worlds of the Former Song and Great Ming had also declined and faded into historical dust.

Ye Zhao and Ye Chunyu from the Great Han Dynasty often felt isolated and helpless, as if they could already foresee their own future.

However, upon suddenly hearing Lin Xiaoyi mention the possibility of the existence of a branch of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan in another human world, the two clan leaders of the East and West Ye Clans felt a surge of excitement.

Although the presence of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan did not guarantee the existence of the East and West Ye Clans in that human world, it still gave Ye Zhao and Ye Chunyu a glimmer of hope.

"The information we have at the moment is very limited," Lin Xiaoyi said. "All we know is that the name of the human dynasty in that realm is Jin."

Ye Zhao nodded slightly. "It is a realm of humanity that I have not heard of before."

Ye Chunyu looked at Lin Xiaoyi, hesitant to speak.

However, Lin Xiaoyi seemed to know what she was worried about. "Rest assured, I will treat this matter as the most important task at hand and strengthen communication and liaison. Even if there is a possibility of a minor sect merging with a major sect, we will not hesitate to move forward."

Ye Chunyu sighed with emotion upon hearing this. "The current situation will only be more treacherous than we anticipated.

We must heed the lessons of the Great Tang human world and the Great Unity. We must not take this lightly!"

Lin Xiaoyi and Ye Zhao nodded gently.

Through the messages that had come from the Great Tang and from Xiao Jing and the others from the Great Unity, they were well aware that the prestigious families of the Great Tang and the influential families of the Five Hopes in the Great Unity had once had an opportunity to establish contact early on.

However, due to various concerns, that opportunity had been missed.

If the Five Hopes of the Great Unity had entered the Great Tang human world earlier, it might not have changed the ultimate outcome, but the development of many events could have been vastly different.

In fact, just before the Battle of Luoyang in the Great Tang, the two sides had begun to make contact.

But it was too late.

They had been defeated individually by the forces of the Great Tang court and the sect.

If the Five Surnames and Seven Families of the multiple human worlds had united as one, the result might have been different.

However, not only the prestigious families and influential clans of the Great Tang and the Great Unity but even the noble families of the Great Han Dynasty had been wary and hesitant when it came to contacting the Great Unity.

The rapid development of the times, however, forced them to make changes.

Lin Xiaoyi and the others couldn't help but suspect that the changes they were making now might be too late.

But rather than waiting for death, they would rather give it their all.

At this moment, they had to seize any opportunity, no matter how slim.

Even if they couldn't change the ultimate course of the times, they might be able to alter the fate of specific individuals.

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

Kunlun.

In the Immortal Realm's Dao Palace, a man who appeared to be in his middle years, Zhou Tian Lao Zu, lay on his side next to a pill furnace.

A young-looking Taoist, named Mu Wei Zi, entered the Dao Palace and bowed to Zhou Tian Lao Zu. "Master."

Mu Wei Zi was not a descendant of the Great Han Dragon and Tiger Mountain, but a personal disciple whom Zhou Tian Lao Zu had accepted in Kunlun a few years ago. He was still young.

"Congratulations, Master. With the closure of the Great Unity and the temporary sealing of the Great Tang and Great Han human worlds, there will be fewer distractions when the Great Han human world rises up," Mu Wei Zi said.

Zhou Tian Lao Zu sat up and looked at the pill furnace. "It still depends on the actions of the people of the Kongsang Witch Clan."

He, too, was seeking a way to descend upon the human world.

The actions of the Kongsang Witch King presented an opportunity.

An opportunity to substitute one for the other.

The Kongsang Witch King was his true opponent in the plans he was about to make.

The fewer distractions there were, the better.

If he could freely enter and exit the human world, he would be able to reunify the various factions of the Fu Lu School.

(End of Chapter)

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