Chapter 535: 534. The Heavenly Sovereign's Aura (Part 1)

Chapter 535: 534. The Heavenly Sovereign's Aura (Part 1)





After a moment of quiet contemplation on the Primordial Purple Energy, Lei Jun put it away and focused on the matters at hand.

Having aided the local Confucian cultivators in eliminating and driving back numerous powerful demons, causing the demon hordes to retreat back to the Earthly Realm and no longer wreaking havoc on the mortal world, Lei Jun momentarily paused his journey to prioritize the situation at the Time Abyss, as well as the developments with Xu Yuanzhen and Zhang Wantu.

Tang Xiaotang, who had joined him, said, "The demons have sealed the entrance to the Earthly Realm themselves, so there shouldn't be any major issues here. Since we're not going in, let's wait for news somewhere else."

She, too, couldn't stop thinking about the situation at Luofu Mountain.

"Alright," Lei Jun agreed, and after informing Xu Yuanzhen, he and Tang Xiaotang headed south towards Luofu Mountain.

This place was quite far from the middle reaches of the river where the Time Abyss was located and the battlefield of Yuzhou, so the impact here was relatively minor.

However, the Luofu Mountain cultivators had not been idle in recent days.

With demons wreaking havoc in the south, Luofu Mountain's cultivators, led by their sect leader Long Qiu Dao Ren, had been fighting against the surrounding demon infestations.

As the dust settled in Yuzhou and at the Time Abyss, and with Yan Aoyun's ascension to the Sage Master shocking the world, most of the demonic tribes retreated back to the Earthly Realm. The pressure on the cultivators and common folk in the south had finally lessened.

Long Qiu Dao Ren himself was injured and returned to the Luofu Mountain's ancestral sect to recuperate.

At the same time, he actively gathered information from the outside world, particularly about the northern regions.

For the Luofu sect, located on the outskirts, the events unfolding in the north were crucial in determining the fate of their world.

The news they gathered was earth-shattering, causing the Luofu sect leaders, secluded in the south, to tremble with shock: The Time Abyss had undergone a shocking transformation, attracting the arrival of the Great Annihilation Bodhisattva and the Hundred Eyes Demon Tree, both with strengths surpassing the third level of the Immortal Realm, to the Scholar Forest World.

Yan Aoyun successfully ascended to the Sage Master.

Wu Hailin, the Le Yuan Scholar, and Zheng Baiyu, the Beichen Scholar, were currently unaccounted for.

The Confucian New Learning's Lian Feng had also gone missing, and Jiao Feiyang was severely injured.

The situation was even worse for the Confucian Old Learning's prestigious families, as many of their top experts, led by Zheng Yan and Qiu Li, had been confirmed dead.

Even without Yan Aoyun's ascension to the Sage Master, the Confucian Old Learning would have struggled to continue.

The Scholar Forest World was on the brink of a major upheaval.

What surprised the Luofu sect leaders, including Long Qiu Dao Ren, was the presence of outsiders in this series of events that directly altered the future of their world, unlike in the past.

These outsiders were from the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion, a fellow Taoist sect.

The Luofu sect leaders had long admired the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion.

Although the Taoist sects in the Scholar Forest World had already declined, there were still ancient records about Dragon Tiger Mountain and the Pure Yang Palace.

In recent years, due to the presence of Zhang Wantu, Zheng Baiyu, Gao Tian Sui, and Xiao Chun Hui, a few people in the Scholar Forest World had started paying attention to the Taoist Talisman Sect's sacred heritage in another world.

As a Taoist sect, the Luofu sect was naturally very interested.

Long Qiu Dao Ren even secretly sent people north to seek an audience with Zhang Wantu and Xiao Chun Hui to gather information, but he had to be discreet to avoid drawing attention.

However, neither Long Qiu Dao Ren nor the other Luofu sect leaders could have predicted that the first official appearance of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion in the Scholar Forest World would cause such a stir.

Due to limited information channels, they couldn't yet obtain detailed information, and many of the rumors were difficult to discern. Still, what they had heard was already enough to make them tense up:

The Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion had directly influenced the ascensions of Wu Hailin and Yan Aoyun to the Sage Master realm.

Another Confucian Sage King, Qiu Li, the head of the prestigious Qi Lu Qiu family, had fallen due to the actions of the Taoist cultivators.

After that, they even helped pacify demon disturbances in various regions.

The Luofu Mountain leaders looked at each other, feeling as if they were in a dream.

...When had the Taoist cultivators ever had such a strong presence in this world? This was the first time since the ancient calamity.

"I heard that the current Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain... was personally invited by his Taoist peers from another world to serve as the contemporary head of the sect, Lei Zhen Jun, and he has arrived here," said Elder He Yao Yan of Luofu Mountain.

The sect leader, Long Qiu Dao Ren, nodded lightly.

He gazed out the window and said, "Yes, Lei... Zhen Jun has personally come. Otherwise, the situation wouldn't have escalated to this extent."

Long Qiu Dao Ren spoke slowly at first, but his tone became more resolute as he continued.

He turned his gaze from the window to his fellow sect members, "Our sect should send a representative to seek an audience with Zhen Jun."

He Yao and the others agreed, "Yes, Sect Leader."

Long Qiu Dao Ren continued, "I should have gone myself to meet Zhen Jun, but the information is chaotic, and we still don't know where Zhen Jun is. For now, He Yao, you will go north on my behalf.

You will meet with Mr. Xiao, who is from the same world as the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion, and currently in Jiangdong. Ask Mr. Xiao to convey our request for an audience.

I will follow you shortly and head north to meet you in Jiangdong, awaiting the opportunity to be summoned by Zhen Jun."

It wasn't a matter of showing off; he had to send others ahead because he needed time to suppress and stabilize his injuries.

"Yes, Sect Leader," He Yao agreed and asked, "Should we invite Tian Bin to come along? He has met Mr. Xiao before when he went to Jiangdong."

Long Qiu Dao Ren sighed, "Tian Bin is also injured, and his condition is more severe than mine. He is currently recuperating in his own mountain retreat."

He Yao said, "I just returned to the mountain and wasn't aware of this. In that case, it's not appropriate to trouble Tian Bin. Since this matter is so important, I will set out immediately. I will visit Tian Bin after returning later."

"Long Qiu Dao Ren, it's best to handle official matters first, then personal ones. You may go now."

Heeding this, He Yao immediately selected a few companions to accompany him as he departed the mountain, heading north.

At this moment, neither Long Qiu Dao Ren nor his companions were aware that the true Lord Lei, the head of the sect, whom they had been thinking about, was currently at Mount Luofu.

High above the clouds, Lei Jun overlooked Mount Luofu and spoke to Tang Xiaotang beside him, "At first glance, there doesn't seem to be any issue. It's easy to overlook, but upon closer inspection, one can notice some peculiarities."

Tang Xiaotang replied, "I was thinking the same."

In Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang's line of sight, some of the disciples on Mount Luofu exhibited peculiarities in their cultivation.

Externally, they appeared no different from other Luofu Mountain cultivators.

However, upon closer inspection, one could sense that their Golden Core cultivation and even their Nascent Soul achievement seemed impure.

It was as if, in addition to their Daoist cultivation, they also carried traces of shamanic energy.

According to Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, this was somewhat similar to the Heavenly Demon from another realm.

But it was far more concealed and restrained.

Only a Daoist immortal of their caliber could barely discern some clues.

Otherwise, even a Confucian Sage in the Immortal Realm would struggle to discern the issue under the concealment of the Golden Core and Nascent Soul.

Perhaps only someone like Yan Aoyun or Wu Hailin, with their profound existence, could uncover the problem through close and careful observation.

And indeed, the Luofu Mountain disciples, regardless of their cultivation level, were undoubtedly making efforts to avoid such a situation.

Even now, they were doing the same...

"Is Elder Tian Bin like this?" Lei Jun asked Tang Xiaotang.

Tang Xiaotang nor Lei Jun were aware that the true Lord Lei, the head of the sect, whom they had been thinking about, was currently at Mount Luofu.

High above the clouds, Lei Jun overlooked Mount Luofu and spoke to Tang Xiaotang beside him, "At first glance, there doesn't seem to be any issue. It's easy to overlook, but upon closer inspection, one can notice some peculiarities."

Tang Xiaotang replied, "I was thinking the same."

In Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang's line of sight, some of the disciples on Mount Luofu exhibited peculiarities in their cultivation.

Externally, they appeared no different from other Luofu Mountain cultivators.

However, upon closer inspection, one could sense that their Golden Core cultivation and even their Nascent Soul achievement seemed impure.

It was as if, in addition to their Daoist cultivation, they also carried traces of shamanic energy.

According to Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, this was somewhat similar to the Heavenly Demon from another realm.

But it was far more concealed and restrained.

Only a Daoist immortal of their caliber could barely discern some clues.

Otherwise, even a Confucian Sage in the Immortal Realm would struggle to discern the issue under the concealment of the Golden Core and Nascent Soul.

Perhaps only someone like Yan Aoyun or Wu Hailin, with their profound existence, could uncover the problem through close and careful observation.

And indeed, the Luofu Mountain disciples, regardless of their cultivation level, were undoubtedly making efforts to avoid such a situation.

Even now, they were doing the same...

"Is Elder Tian Bin like this?" Lei Jun asked Tang Xiaotang.

Tang Xiaotang pouted, "Not bad. He's the one with the highest cultivation strength among them, having reached the Eighth Heaven Realm. In the Luofu Sect, he's the top among the younger generation, and even in the entire Mount Luofu, he's quite renowned."

But at this moment, to avoid Lei Jun and the others, Elder Tian Bin had secluded himself to recover from his injuries.

He had a separate residence outside the mountain, which was well-hidden, nestled in a picturesque landscape. Even fellow disciples from Mount Luofu rarely knew of its existence.

However, Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang were not fooled.

They quickly located Tian Bin.

After a brief examination, Lei Jun spoke, "The injuries are indeed severe."

He turned to Tang Xiaotang.

Tang Xiaotang shook her head, "I don't sense any ill intentions towards us."

Lei Jun seemed deep in thought, "It's not a feigned injury, nor did he intentionally harm himself."

But he was indeed injured, avoiding direct confrontation with them.

Lei Jun didn't consider this a coincidence.

There seemed to be an invisible hand manipulating Tian Bin, causing him to fall without his knowledge or awareness.

Tian Bin's appearance didn't suggest possession or temporary control of his thoughts.

However, this invisible hand's owner, or the mastermind behind Tian Bin and the others, possessed an incredibly high level of cultivation.

But they were likely not in the Scholar Forest World, as Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang's presence had gone unnoticed.

"Given this, I think it's best to hold off on any hasty actions for now," Lei Jun said.

Tang Xiaotang asked, "Are we just going to leave it like this? As Elder Tian's cultivation and status increase, he's starting to interfere with the Daoist teachings of Mount Luofu. If more people like him emerge, the entire Daoist tradition of Mount Luofu might change from its roots. It won't be a gradual infiltration anymore."

Lei Jun replied, "Later on, we can inform Yan Zi about this. With his attention, even if we leave this world, they won't be able to make any significant moves. Stopping their infiltration for now is a good start."

Tang Xiaotang asked, "I wonder if my senior sister will be able to find the lair of the Heavenly Demon from another realm on this trip."

Lei Jun said, "It might be in another world beyond the Nine Heavens Ten Earths, the Scholar Forest, or the Demon World."

He slightly tilted his head upwards, "I'm more curious about three things..."

Why didn't they come to this Scholar Forest World themselves?

Why did they only appear in this world, and not in other worlds?

What was their ultimate goal?

Tang Xiaotang speculated, "Could it be that they only came to this world because, for various reasons, the Heavenly Realm no longer exists here?"

Lei Jun agreed, "We can wait and observe to verify this."

Yan Aoyun ascended as the Confucian Sage Master, rectifying the Time Abyss and the World's Wound, while the old Confucian learning declined, and the literary lineages, rituals, and regulations across the lands disintegrated. The world's appearance would gradually revert to its pre-literary lineage era.

After undoing these changes, the previously altered Heavenly Realm in this world might reappear.

At that time, they could observe how the Heavenly Demon from another realm would react.

"However, there might be another variable in this," Lei Jun said.

Indeed, after Xu Yuanzhen informed Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang about Mount Luofu, he added, "Zheng Baiyu is that variable. Even if the Heavenly Realm reappears in this world, the Heavenly Demon might find another way."

But as long as Yan Aoyun was present, they wouldn't be able to make any significant moves.

Zheng Baiyu shared the same judgment.

Currently, he was in the Demon Capital.

Beside him, a shadowy figure floated, its outline resembling a human but with a distorted, eerie feel.

"It seems we can only get this far for now," Zheng Baiyu said with a slight shake of his head.

This trip had cost him dearly, and more importantly, it would be challenging to make up for it in the future.

But at this moment, Zheng Baiyu's mind was calm, and his expression showed no signs of defeat or disappointment.

He turned to the shadowy figure beside him, "Thank you for your assistance."

The shadowy figure spoke in a human voice, "We are also acting under the Heavenly Sovereign's orders."

Zheng Baiyu asked, "May I seek an audience with the Heavenly Sovereign?"

The figure replied, "I will convey your request, but there's no guarantee of a response."

Zheng Baiyu said, "That's fine, I'll await your news."

Other shadowy figures drifted nearby but didn't approach.

(End)

Zheng Baiyu traversed the Demon Capital.

The lives here seemed illusory, yet the solid architectural structures exuded grandeur and ancient charm.

Zheng Baiyu resided in a majestic and spacious stone hall, which was vast and unique, but he was the sole occupant.

Unbothered, he calmly tended to his injuries.

Although the Outer Demons only appeared in the Scholar Forest World, they were not entirely unfamiliar to Zheng Baiyu.

His current injuries were mainly caused by the Hundred Eyes Demon Tree.

Now, within the Demon Capital, Zheng Baiyu's heart felt at ease:

In the Demon World, the Demon Dragon Imperial Lord and the Great Annihilation Bodhisattva aside, the Thousand-Handed Thousand-Eyed Great Sage transforming into the Hundred Eyes Demon Tree was related to the Divine Sovereign worshipped by the Outer Demons here.

Starting from the Hundred Eyes Demon Tree, most of the Buddhist disciples in the Demon World's human realm fell into demonic ways, leading the Pure Land of Buddhism to enter the Age of Dharma Decline.

This Divine Sovereign had indeed caused quite a stir... Zheng Baiyu thought to himself.

However, it was clear that the Divine Sovereign had other matters to attend to.

Although Zheng Baiyu was curious, he would not act rashly.

As for the Scholar Forest World, unless the Great Annihilation Bodhisattva returned and the Divine Sovereign on the other side made a move, after Yan Aoyun ascended to the Sage Master, Zheng Baiyu would also need to lay low in this world.

Regarding the Nine Heavens Ten Earths World, although the opportunity still existed, grasping it was no longer as easy as before.

Zheng Baiyu furrowed his brows slightly.

On this trip, he hadn't encountered anyone from the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion, but all the information he gathered indicated that the current strength of the Taoist cultivators could not be underestimated.

Lei, Xu, and Tang, any one of them was an astonishing talent, and all three had reached the second level of the Immortal Realm. After cultivating the Supreme Purity Eight Scenery Treasure Cape, their combined strength exceeded the effect of one plus one plus one.

It could be said that although there was no precedent, it wasn't entirely unexpected?

The number "three" held special significance for the Taoist cultivators.

Zheng Baiyu shook his head slightly.

Zhao Chanyang of the Kunwu Sect was also a top-notch talent among the new generation of Taoist cultivators.

However, replacing any one of the trio with Zhao Chanyang would significantly diminish the effect, and Wu Hailin would not suffer a major setback.

If there was something that hadn't been done, it would have been to eliminate one of the three when their cultivation was still low. Now, with one side of the triangle gone, the overall strength was compromised.

Just then, a book appeared before Zheng Baiyu.

As the book flipped through its pages, a large amount of writing appeared on it.

Separated by the Time Abyss, communication between the two worlds was difficult. At the moment, Zheng Baiyu couldn't easily have a real-time conversation with the Nine Heavens Ten Earths World, so he decided to send a message back first.

...

In the Nine Heavens Ten Earths World, one of the Ten Earths, within the Vast Void.

The Martial Immortal Ren Caomu watched the book in front of him flip, and the words seemed to come to life.

After reading the book, he summoned the other inhabitants of the Vast Void to convey the orders of the Emperor of the Vast Void.

However, after everyone left, Ren Caomu remained alone in the lightless world, his face hidden in the darkness.

Usually devoid of expression, his cold and formidable face now revealed a look of concern.

The opportunity for the human world to merge had passed, as Zheng Baiyu had stayed in the Scholar Forest World.

With the impending unification of the Nine Heavens Ten Earths World, the time was drawing near.

Could they seize this opportunity? Compared to before the human world's merger, the current Nine Heavens Ten Earths World had changed too much, and so had their opponents.

Zheng Baiyu should have felt this on his trip to the Scholar Forest World, right? Ren Caomu slowly exhaled, his expression returning to its cold demeanor.

Across the vast darkness that swallowed the light in the Vast Void, his eyes remained sharp and piercing.

...

In the South China Sea of the human world, a middle-aged Taoist cultivator in a nine-colored robe sat quietly.

Gao Tian Sui opened his eyes, "News from the Scholar Forest World?"

The Witch King, Ruan Qiao, nodded slightly, "The Master of the North Peak may have encountered a difficult situation, but the current specifics are unclear."

After Lei Jun's voice reached the Tai Yi Emperor, Gao Tian Sui proactively severed his connection with Lian Feng.

Whether Lei Jun went to the Scholar Forest World or not, with the Tai Yi Emperor's presence, Gao Tian Sui had no chance to communicate with the Scholar Forest World.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end