Chapter 446: The Framework of the Taiji Dao Body (Part 2)

Chapter 446: The Framework of the Taiji Dao Body (Part 2)

The more details that emerged, the more shocked Vimalasara, Vamdatta, and Jnana became.

As for the Wu Clan, Cloud Sang, their Grand Priestess, Yun Qingyan, was an extremely powerful cultivator at the fifth layer of the Nine Heavy Heavens. However, she did not possess an exceptionally strong means of revival, and in the end, she could not withstand the continuous onslaught and perished.

What was even more surprising was the death of Xiang Jing, a master at the ninth layer of the Nine Heavy Heavens. During the battle, his power had been so overwhelming that even Lei Jun had struggled to defeat him. Yet, in the end, Xiang Jing had still perished.

The one who had dealt the fatal blow to Xiang Jing was none other than Lei Jun. His strength and capabilities were truly remarkable.

"Indeed, the emergence of Lei Jun, also known as Xuan Xiaozi, has taken everyone by surprise." Vamdatta remarked. "Previously, he had ventured into the Great Tang mortal realm twice, and on his latest intrusion, he attempted to submerge Mount Longhu using the waters from the Luo Spring. However, the outcome of that pursuit was the emergence of the Empty Island and its conflict with Luo Yan."

For Lei Jun, it was currently best to monopolize Mount Sumeru.

Mount Sumeru's collaboration with the former Song Dynasty and the Golden Khanate had already laid a solid foundation.

Whether out of a sense of reciprocity or the need for stable allies, Mount Sumeru had been looking for opportunities for Angqinfu of the Golden Khanate to reenter the mortal realm over the years.

After the great battle in the Han Dynasty, the Kunlun Daoist Sect and the Kongsang Wu Clan had both suffered heavy losses.

One couldn't say that the current opportunity was ideal, but there was room for maneuvering.

However, as Angqinfu of the Golden Khanate was currently asleep in the void, the Golden Khanate in the former Song Dynasty couldn't guarantee an immediate response, so advance notice was necessary.

"Venerable One, in the Great Tang Dynasty, the Tang Emperor is also on the verge of ascending to the Immortal Realm." Vimalasara, the master of the Buddha Department, said.

Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen's attempt to defy the Immortal Realm had shocked the world.

But Vimalasara and the others hadn't forgotten that Zhang Wantong, who had long been revered as the number one expert in the Great Tang, was also rumored to be secluded, striving to break through to the realm beyond the Ninth Heaven, aiming to become a saint.

It was also because of this reason that Luo Yan, the Great Demon of Ro, had dared to invade the Great Tang mortal realm twice before.

After achieving sainthood, the Tang Emperor Zhang Wantong would have plenty of places to go.

Even if she didn't consider places obviously occupied by the Daoist Sect, such as Penglai and the special case of Di Hai, she still had options like Datong and Guicang.

However, the problem was, who could guarantee that she would be satisfied with those choices? With Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen's unexpected strength, if Zhang Wantong, upon achieving sainthood, decided to get involved, the impact would be even more significant.

Even if Mount Sumeru didn't consider Kunlun, there would still be variables later on regarding Kongsang.

"It's already too late to stop the Tang Emperor."

Venerable Good Wisdom spoke calmly, "Her achievement of sainthood can be advantageous and disadvantageous to Mount Sumeru, and it's not necessarily a bad thing."

Vimalasara, Vamdatta, and Jnanira exchanged glances, all showing surprise at his words.

Venerable Good Wisdom continued, "She cast an intricate ritual over the Great Tang mortal realm during her seclusion. There seems to be a profound mystery to it, and it may be related to the former members of the Celestial Palace."

Vamdatta asked softly, "Do you mean, Venerable One, that the Tang Emperor has other opponents?"

Venerable Good Wisdom's eyes shone with Buddhist light, "It's too early to say for sure, but I have a vague feeling that it might be... an old acquaintance."

During the great calamity in the Han Dynasty, Venerable Good Wisdom, like Bai Mei, had mostly stayed out of the matter.

Bai Mei was genuinely uninterested and only reacted when she was involuntarily dragged into it.

As for Venerable Good Wisdom, he neither participated nor tried to stop it, quietly observing from the sidelines.

The calamity swept across the land, and whether intentional or not, it was hard for anyone to truly remain uninvolved.

Venerable Good Wisdom also had his gains and losses during that time.

Gain, taking control of Mount Sumeru and suppressing the Pi Xiu demon beast.

Loss, his own condition was far from ideal, and even to this day, he hadn't fully recovered. Moreover, with the ritual interrupted and the Pi Xiu escaping, his situation worsened.

Now, with changes in the mortal realm and the entanglement of cause and effect, Venerable Good Wisdom couldn't claim to grasp all the variables.

At the moment, in addition to instructing Vimalasara, Vamdatta, and Jnanira to continue monitoring Kunlun and the Great Tang mortal realm, he was also personally following up on the clues sent back by Vamdatta and Master Nuobu regarding Kongsang.

However, in the end, he gave Vimalasara, the master of the Buddha Department, an additional instruction, "Pay close attention to the changes in the spiritual energy of the Two Jin Dynasties' mortal realm."

Vimalasara bowed respectfully and said, "Yes, I will keep the Venerable One's instructions in mind."

Among all the mortal realms that the five departments of Mount Sumeru had come into contact with, only the Two Jin Dynasties' mortal realm had yet to experience the surge of spiritual energy.

It was possible that there were other similar mortal realms, but in the current known situation, this was one of the places that needed the most attention.

If all mortal realms experienced a surge of spiritual energy, it was possible that multiple mortal realms would merge, recreating the pre-calamity world.

At that time, in addition to the clashes and mergers between different mortal realms, the most significant impact would be that immortals could permanently stay in the mortal realm and move about freely.

"Regarding the Venerable One's previous instructions, we have already started making arrangements in the Northern Jin Dynasty."

Vimalasara reported, "There also seem to be similar actions in the Little Western Paradise..."

There were no signs of spiritual energy surges in the Two Jin Dynasties' mortal realm.

Naturally, if it didn't happen on its own, humans would consider artificial means to induce it.

It didn't necessarily have to be implemented immediately, but they needed to start making preparations, even if it never came to fruition.

If the Buddhist Sect of Mount Suomi had plans, Mount Sumeru would also try to sabotage them.

The mortal realm was vast, and the heavens were boundless.

Even for Venerable Good Wisdom and Venerable Universal Light, who had already condensed their Buddhist bodies, it was easy to cause destruction in the mortal realm, but influencing the overall spiritual energy surge of a mortal realm was no simple task.

However, that was precisely why they needed to plan ahead.

Regarding Venerable Universal Light's similar intentions, Venerable Good Wisdom was not surprised and nodded slightly, "Very well, continue."

Vimalasara, the master of the Buddha Department, replied, "Yes, Venerable One."

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

In the Longhu Mountain of the Han Dynasty, the brilliance of the Sect Altar shone endlessly.

The Daoist Law Reform in this mortal realm was now on the right track.

Not only were the direct disciples of the mountain gate ancestral hall affected, but the various branches of the Fulu School of Daoism scattered throughout the Great Han Empire were also influenced.

Once the situation stabilized, Lei Jun entrusted the relevant matters to Chu Kun, Ma Zongxiang, and Fu Yuzhou, the elders of the mountain gate.

He himself returned to the Great Tang mortal realm.

There were other matters there that required his attention.

His senior sister, Xu Yuanzhen, stayed in Kunlun, so he didn't have to worry about any major mishaps in the Han Dynasty.

As long as she didn't provoke others, they should be grateful.

Upon returning to the Great Tang, Lei Jun headed south.

Along the way, he first stopped at the imperial capital of Luoyang.

The Tang Emperor Zhang Wantong was still in seclusion, and her whereabouts were unknown.

Zhang Hui, Chu Yu, Xiao Xuelin, and other members of the Tang imperial family were equally astonished by Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen's achievements in the Han Dynasty.

In addition to congratulating the Tian Shi Fu on the unification of the Han and Tang branches, they were also curious about Jing Jiu, the White Lotus Saint of the Great Tang, or rather, curious about Wang Guiyuan.

However, they didn't delve further into the matter.

Especially Zhang Hui.

He had a certain connection and tacit understanding with the future Maitreya, Hui Yin.

For the current White Lotus Sect of the Great Tang, the Tang imperial family still publicly condemns them as rebels, but in private, they are actually downplaying their status as traitors.

As long as Jing Jiu and Hui Yin, the future Maitreya, are alive, the White Lotus Sect of the Great Tang shouldn't have any major movements.

Lei Jun remained calm about this.

The other party didn't ask further, and he didn't elaborate either, merely reiterating Master Yuan Mobai's previous statement on behalf of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion.

Although the Daoist Sect held overwhelming power in the Great Tang human realm, both Wang Guiyuan and Lei Jun chose to act low-key, leaving room for compromise.

Representatives from the Tianlong Temple, Xuantian Temple, and Bodhi Temple had all visited Longhu Mountain, but at present, they had already been courteously sent off the mountain by Master Yuan Mobai.

"Master, where is Senior Brother right now?" Lei Jun asked after paying his respects to Master Yuan Mobai.

"He's recuperating in a separate residence outside the mountain." Master Yuan Mobai sighed softly. "Zhong Li has always refused to stay on the mountain."

Although Wang Guiyuan bore the blame on the surface, the explanation given by the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion to the Tang court and the Buddhist holy sites of Tianlong Temple, Xuantian Temple, and Bodhi Temple was that they were also unaware of his identity.

However, Vimalasara wasn't taking this revelation lightly. "He exposed his identity to protect the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion, just like how he revealed himself as Monk Faqing during the previous attack on Longhu Mountain by the Great Tang human realm. This indicates that his connection with the Celestial Master's Mansion is extraordinary and not merely a temporary refuge."

Master Vamdatta and Jnana, the master of the Vinaya Department, both slowly nodded in agreement with Vimalasara's judgment.

If so, then when considering the threat posed by Longhu Mountain, they must include Wang Guiyuan in their calculations.

"We seem to have underestimated them before." Jnana, the master of the Vinaya Department, commented.

Indeed, and the same could be said of Wang Guiyuan, Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, and Tang Xiaotang.

Previously, they had consecutively lost two of their departments, the Diamond Division and the Lotus Division. Now, with the emergence of the White Lotus Sect and the revelation of Wang Guiyuan's identity, the threat posed by Longhu Mountain had become even more evident.

"Moreover, Tang Xiaotang has gone to the Wu Clan." Jnana added.

And among them, there were two cultivators at the fifth and sixth layers of the Nine Heavy Heavens, the peak of their power.

Yet, in the end, it was still a defeat, with the death of Ji Dao Cheng and Xiang Jing, one after another.

The more details that emerged, the more shocked Vimalasara, Vamdatta, and Jnana became.

As for the Wu Clan, Cloud Sang, their Grand Priestess, Yun Qingyan, was an extremely powerful cultivator at the fifth layer of the Nine Heavy Heavens. However, she did not possess an exceptionally strong means of revival, and in the end, she could not withstand the continuous onslaught and perished.

What was even more surprising was the death of Xiang Jing, a master at the ninth layer of the Nine Heavy Heavens. During the battle, his power had been so overwhelming that even Lei Jun had struggled to defeat him. Yet, in the end, Xiang Jing had still perished.

The one who had dealt the fatal blow to Xiang Jing was none other than Lei Jun. His strength and capabilities were truly remarkable.

"Indeed, the emergence of Lei Jun, also known as Xuan Xiaozi, has taken everyone by surprise." Vamdatta remarked. "Previously, he had ventured into the Great Tang mortal realm twice, and on his latest intrusion, he attempted to submerge Mount Longhu using the waters from the Luo Spring. However, the outcome of that pursuit was the emergence of the Empty Island and its conflict with Luo Yan."

Lei Jun's mind was calm as he carefully inspected the Pure Golden Hall, ensuring there were no issues. He stored the Celestial Master Seal and the Upper Clarity Jade Celestial Bamboo within his soul before allowing his soul to make contact with the hall.

Fortunately, the Empress's ritual was powerful enough to keep the hall pure.

Upon connecting with Lei Jun's soul, the grand hall, which was initially solid, transformed into a luminous golden light, as if it were about to merge with his soul.

However, Lei Jun stopped it from doing so.

The hall turned into a beam of golden light, swirling around Lei Jun's body.

With his superior cultivation and vision, Lei Jun was able to understand the function and some of the underlying principles of the Pure Golden Hall just by observing it.

The hall indeed originated from the ancient Celestial Palace and was once a part of the celestial architectural complex.

If Lei Jun's deduction was correct, this hall was initially from the Treasury of the Celestial Palace, used for collecting, storing, and keeping treasures.

Therefore, after merging with Chen Yi's soul, it gained a certain exploratory function, able to detect and guide him towards important spiritual treasures in the vicinity.

Lei Jun recalled the experiences he and Chen Yi had shared at Longhu Mountain, and everything seemed to fall into place.

Chen Yi's sensitivity to spiritual objects and opportunities in the area was remarkably sharp.

However, these opportunities might involve risks and future complications that he couldn't foresee.

Nevertheless, it had undoubtedly helped Chen Yi tremendously.

The higher Chen Yi's cultivation base became, the stronger the hall's ability to search and gather spiritual treasures from the surroundings.

Even after he left Longhu Mountain, his cultivation continued to progress, and the hall even helped him embark on a brand-new path.

Without a doubt, as time passed and various opportunities presented themselves, Chen Yi's root bone and innate talent improved, far surpassing what he had when he first joined the sect.

With the help of this hall, he was able to create a brand-new cultivation method, integrating the strengths of the Shamanic Blood River and the Daoist Talisman traditions, a feat that was also attributed to his enhanced wisdom and talent after his spiritual awakening.

The spiritual nature of the hall, inherited from the ancient Celestial Palace, had helped Chen Yi through the most challenging initial stages of his cultivation.

The cost was not insignificant, as the hall's spiritual nature had weakened slightly.

But the rewards were immense.

If not for this new path, he would have had to restart his cultivation or remain forever in the Triple Heaven realm, his spiritual talisman sealed by the Wanfa Zongtan.

Moreover, with the help of this hall, Chen Yi's communication with the heavens and the earth was strengthened, whether during cultivation or battles against enemies.

This was also the reason why he, as a solitary practitioner, could maintain an extremely fast cultivation progress, even surpassing many renowned and well-supported disciples of sacred sites.

"Indeed, it's a valuable item, worthy of being a second-grade opportunity." Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Although this trip had been hectic, the harvest was abundant.

In addition to the White Day Moon and the Pure Golden Hall, both of which were clearly second-grade opportunities, the Taiqing Duren Dongtian, if quantified, could also be considered a second-grade opportunity. There were also the Guiyuan Bottle and the Wu Jin Knife, both of which were excellent treasures.

The Three Caves and the Twelve Upper True Treasures were no exception.

With the complete set of twelve talismans, the Daoist Law Reform could proceed smoothly.

As for the Inverse Origin Heart Fruit, the Dark Purple Crystal, and other treasures, there was no need to elaborate further.

If there was one loss, it was that the senior brother, Wang Guiyuan, had revealed his true identity.

... Well, although it wasn't appropriate to say so, Lei Jun felt a little surprised and a little pleased to finally see Wang Guiyuan's true face.

Not much, just a little.

You old onion, your core is finally exposed...

Lei Jun reined in his wandering thoughts and, with the beam of golden light, left the Upper Clarity Lei Palace Cave Heaven.

He arrived at the forbidden area of the ancestral tombs in the back mountains.

The Fourth Shibo, Yao Yuan, was there.

Upon seeing Lei Jun, he bowed and said, "Palace Master."

Lei Jun returned the greeting, "Shibo."

Yao Yuan looked at Lei Jun as he offered incense to pay respects to the ancestors, and said with emotion, "Our sect's integration of the Han and Tang branches, making it even more prosperous, is indeed a great joy that surpasses the return of Huang Tian to our sect in recent years."

Lei Jun said, "Currently, it's just the beginning, and it's not easy to mobilize everyone. In the future, we will need a long process, and after the grand plan is finalized, we can hold a formal ceremony to comfort the ancestors."

Yao Yuan said, "Palace Master's considerations are very thoughtful."

The beam of golden light surrounding Lei Jun paused.

Yao Yuan looked at the light and said, "Although I didn't go to the Upper Clarity Lei Palace Cave Heaven, I heard from Yuan Shidi about what happened."

Lei Jun reached out and the beam of light transformed into a giant Pure Golden Hall illusion.

Yao Yuan's eyes were filled with emotion as he gazed at the hall, "This was Chen Yi's biggest secret back then. I had some speculations, but I didn't know the details."

He looked at Lei Jun and said, "When Zhang Shidi was in danger, it was only right for you and Yuan Shidi to save him. There's no need to feel guilty."

Lei Jun said, "The incident of him being expelled from the sect back then was a misunderstanding, but after that, things developed in a way that left no room for turning back. Time has passed, and it's a pity that the relationship between you and your disciple has changed."

Yao Yuan looked at the shimmering hall illusion and sighed after a while, "Looking back, I wonder if it was this hall that created the opportunity for me to guide him into the Dao, and I wonder how much he sees me as his master in his heart."

Yao Yuan shook his head lightly, "I'm fine, Palace Master, you don't have to worry."

The hall illusion transformed back into a beam of golden light, swirling around Lei Jun, who then bid farewell to Yao Yuan and left the forbidden area of the ancestral tombs.

After he came out, his master, Yuan Mobai, and others were waiting outside.

Lei Jun bowed respectfully to Yuan Mobai.

Yuan Mobai returned the bow solemnly.

Soon, his gaze shifted past Lei Jun, towards the back mountains.

Lei Jun said, "Master, rest assured, Shibo Yao is fine."

Yuan Mobai nodded slightly, "It's fate, and it's destiny."

Master and disciple returned to the front mountain, and the beam of golden light began to swirl around Yuan Mobai, "For now, let's keep this treasure in the sect. If necessary, it can be taken out of the mountain, but it shouldn't enter the human realm of the Tang Dynasty."

Yuan Mobai nodded, "I hope that Her Majesty the Empress can successfully overcome the Heavenly Tribulation of the Ninth Heaven and ascend to Sainthood."

The Empress's ascension meant not only that the Tang Dynasty would produce its first high-level cultivator since the Han Dynasty's Great Calamity but also that she could continue the ritual to maintain the presence of the Heaven-Tribulation Gold and other treasures.

Based on the symbols associated with her destiny and her character, Lei Jun conjectured that she had a great probability of successfully making the last stride into Sainthood.

Lei Jun bade farewell to Master Yuan Mobai and left the mountain gate ancestral hall. He sought out his senior martial brother, Wang Guiyuan, at a secluded residence outside the mountain.

Wang Guiyuan, now appearing as a young Taoist priest in deep red robes, greeted Lei Jun with a calm demeanor, his previous turmoil seemingly settled.

Lei Jun scanned him up and down, his expression thoughtful. "Senior Martial Brother, are you feeling better now?"

"Indeed," Wang Guiyuan replied with a faint smile. "Age is just a number, and it holds no power over the bond between master and disciple."

Lei Jun's gaze remained sharp as he continued to scrutinize his senior brother. "You mentioned earlier that there were those with exceptional talent whom you considered taking on as personal disciples. Were you referring to Hui Yin, the future Maitreya?"

Wang Guiyuan nodded, his expression turning solemn. "Yes, Hui Yin's innate wisdom surpasses even mine. However, due to various considerations and the turmoil within the Sect, I ultimately decided against taking him on as my personal disciple. It is indeed a missed opportunity and a source of regret."

Lei Jun's eyes narrowed slightly as he probed further: "So, you've decided to lie low for now and let things settle down before taking any further action regarding the White Lotus Sect?"

"Hmm," Wang Guiyuan murmured, his eyes gleaming with determination. "It's not that I don't want to settle scores with Luo Yan. But given the current circumstances, I think it's best to wait for the right moment and not rush into anything hasty."

Lei Jun's expression turned pensive. "I understand. The situation is indeed delicate, especially with Tang Xiaotang's departure to the Wu Clan and the various powers at play."

A hint of frustration flashed across Wang Guiyuan's face. "Indeed. Despite our best efforts, we still lost two of our departments—the Diamond and the Lotus Divisions. And now, with the emergence of the White Lotus Sect and the revelation of my true identity, the threat posed by Longhu Mountain has become even more evident."

"Moreover," Jnana added, "Tang Xiaotang has ventured into the Wu Clan."

Among them were two cultivators at the fifth and sixth layers of the Nine Heavy Heavens, the peak of their power. Yet, in the end, they had still been defeated, with the deaths of Ji Dao Cheng and Xiang Jing, one after another.

As Vimalasara, Vamdatta, and Jnana listened to the details of the battle, their shock only deepened.

The Grand Priestess of the Wu Clan, Yun Qingyan, was an extremely powerful cultivator at the fifth layer of the Nine Heavy Heavens. However, she lacked a strong means of revival, and in the end, she couldn't withstand the relentless onslaught and perished.

What was even more surprising was the death of Xiang Jing, a master at the ninth layer of the Nine Heavy Heavens. During the battle, his power had been overwhelming, pushing Lei Jun to his limits. Yet, in the end, Xiang Jing had still met his demise.

The one who delivered the fatal blow to Xiang Jing was none other than Lei Jun himself. His strength and capabilities were truly remarkable.

"Indeed," Vamdatta remarked, "The emergence of Lei Jun, also known as Xuan Xiaozi, has taken everyone by surprise. Previously, he ventured into the Great Tang mortal realm twice, and on his latest intrusion, he attempted to submerge Mount Longhu using the waters from the Luo Spring. However, the outcome of that pursuit was the emergence of the Empty Island and its conflict with Luo Yan."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end