Chapter 543: The Immortal Realm's Threefold Mystery, Profound Dao's Return to Truth (Part 2)

Chapter 543: The Immortal Realm's Threefold Mystery, Profound Dao's Return to Truth (Part 2)

Lei Jun observed him calmly.

Wang Zhoupu quickly composed himself and resisted the urge to touch his artificial eye. "This Martial Immortal Eye actually..."

"Although it's a willing sacrifice, it has helped you a lot before this," Lei Jun said.

Wang Zhoupu took a deep breath.

It had helped him a lot?

Over the years, he had risen to his current position with the appreciation of his adoptive father and his own efforts, but opportunities played a crucial role.

Among these opportunities, the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book and this Martial Immortal Eye had been the most beneficial.

He had once worried that there might be hidden dangers within the Martial Immortal Eye.

But after all these years, there had been no further developments.

It was only now, after being pointed out by Lei Jun, that he understood the truth.

"There's no immediate danger, and I can remove it for you now. You've reached a high level of cultivation, and this object no longer poses a threat to you," Lei Jun said.

After calming down, Wang Zhoupu did not rush to ask for Lei Jun's help. Instead, he fell into deep thought.

After a while, he spoke softly, "If we don't alert anyone for now, will it be more beneficial in the future?"

"That's not certain," Lei Jun replied. "However, I can ensure your personal safety no matter what happens."

Wang Zhoupu respectfully bowed to Lei Jun. "Thank you, Grand Master Lei, for your guidance and protection."

After Wang Zhoupu left, Lei Jun continued to meet with others in the Sanqing Sanbao Fairy Land.

Finally, Tang Xiaotang appeared, adorned in a purple-gold Daoist robe, looking somewhat displeased at Lei Jun, who now wore a yellow brocade robe and a ten-colored crane canopy on his head.

Tang Xiaotang, who was usually lively, had returned to Dragon and Tiger Mountain during the succession ceremony but had not publicly appeared. Instead, she stayed in her own residence, just like Xu Yuanzhen used to do.

Tang Xiaotang couldn't help but feel envious when she thought about the upcoming scene where the new Celestial Master Zhuo Baojie would visit the other Daoist leaders to pay respects to Lei Jun, the leader of the leaders.

"I shouldn't have come back," Tang Xiaotang muttered.

She regretted being swayed by her senior sister's words, but she was also curious...

Clearing her throat, she said, "The succession ceremony has concluded successfully. I'll be returning to the Scholar Forest World. My cultivation has reached its peak, and this time, I'll completely defeat that old chaos. Otherwise, he might think I'm really running away."

Rajun spoke, "If time permits, Junior Sister, let's not rush. We can discuss and exchange insights on some immortal techniques and Daoist methods."

Tang Xiaotang's curiosity piqued, and she asked, "How so?"

Rajun sat motionless, but behind his body, a gigantic Profound Yellow Taiji Diagram appeared, standing upright.

As the Taiji Diagram rotated, a brilliant light burst forth.

Rajun was not using the Profound Yellow Divine Mirror to attack anyone; instead, he was enveloping himself with it.

Tang Xiaotang placed her hands behind her back and marveled, circling Rajun several times under the Profound Yellow Divine Mirror with great interest.

As she circled, a wondrous Primordial Qi began to flow and transform around her body, becoming intangible and elusive.

But under Tang Xiaotang's control, this Primordial Qi suddenly ignited into a dazzling flame.

Tang Xiaotang took a step forward, but her speed did not increase, and the brilliant flame remained concentrated around her body without dispersing.

After circling a few times, she returned to face Rajun and sat opposite him again.

Both of them contemplated each other's immortal essence and changes in spiritual power, gaining their own insights.

Behind the two of them, two grand Daoist landscapes appeared, both belonging to the Great Dipper Constellation, resonating together.

"Are you preparing a new immortal technique for the Third Level of the Immortal Realm?" Tang Xiaotang asked.

She glanced at the Ten-Colored Crane Pavilion above Rajun's head and then pouted again.

Rajun had already comprehended the Profound Dao of the Great Dipper Constellation, reaching the Second Level of the Immortal Realm, and with the additional support of the Ten-Colored Crane Pavilion, his ascension to the Three Days of Ascension to Truehood would come even earlier.

At this moment, as their Great Dipper Constellations resonated, Tang Xiaotang could clearly sense that Rajun's Daoist landscape had already accumulated to a profound level at the Second Level of the Immortal Realm, laying the foundation for his advancement to the Third Level.

"I should be able to make it in time before the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths reunite," Rajun said calmly.

Tang Xiaotang nodded, "Yes, I can feel it. The tremors in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths are becoming more apparent, and the moment of reunification is drawing near."

Rajun continued, "I've instructed our fellow sect members and other fellow Daoists and friends to prepare for the reunification of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths."

Previously, when the six human realms merged, the mountains and rivers overlapped, causing a significant impact on the human world.

If not for Rajun's advance preparations and the assistance of numerous powerful cultivators, it would have been a devastating catastrophe for the mortal world and its inhabitants.

Many beings were protected by cultivators, some finding refuge in Cavern Heavens and Blessed Lands, while others directly sought shelter in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, narrowly escaping the disaster and returning to the human realm once the dust settled.

Due to these efforts, the reunification did not result in a calamity for the mortal world, and the human realm quickly recovered its vitality.

Learning from the previous reunification, Rajun and his companions are now preparing for the upcoming reunification of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, taking a different approach.

There are many places in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, such as Datong, Sea and Earth, Spirit Mountain, and Celestial Sphere, where numerous beings reside.

They will be arranged to temporarily seek refuge in the human realm, and once everything settles down, further arrangements will be made.

The situation in the Celestial and Earthly Realms is unique compared to the human realm.

After their split, they formed vast and separate heavens and earths, resembling miniature human realms.

When the Celestial and Earthly Realms reunite, they may not be suitable for ordinary beings to live in.

The Earthly Realm, and even the Celestial Realm, despite its abundant spiritual energy, may not be the ideal paradise for all beings due to the presence of fierce winds and thunder.

Therefore, much of the post-reunification management will require coordination from various human realm factions.

Especially since this involves the Returning Abyss, Linked Mountains, and Distant Abyss.

"Once everything settles down, there will be no issues, but during the reunification of the Celestial and Earthly Realms, you won't be able to draw upon the power of the Three Realms to support the Three Caverns and Three Heavens Supreme Dragon and Tiger Immortal Formation like before, right?" Tang Xiaotang's insight and vision allowed her to see the problem.

Rajun nodded calmly, "Of course, even if I had achieved the Three Days of Ascension to Truehood by then, it would be inconvenient to deploy the grand formation during the reestablishment of the Three Realms in the Great Thousand World."

It wasn't just him; even the Ten Directions Golden Palace Supreme Haotian Immortal Formation of Gao Tian Sui or the top-tier formations of others would face difficulties in exerting their full power.

"But this distortion of the Great Thousand World provides us with an opportunity to fish for dragons," Rajun said.

Tang Xiaotang chuckled, "That's one way to look at it."

As the two of them chatted, their Great Dipper Constellations resonated, seemingly merging into one.

Inspired by Tang Xiaotang's burning Primordial Qi, the light of the Profound Yellow Divine Mirror fell upon Rajun, and he too seemed to be engulfed in flames.

Tang Xiaotang temporarily set aside the group of demons from the Scholar Forest World.

Within the Sanqing Sanbao Fairy Land, Tang Xiaotang and Rajun engaged in continuous discussions and exchanges about Daoist methods and immortal techniques.

Their inspirations, born from the collision and fusion of their natural and natural-level insights, sparked countless dazzling sparks.

Not only did Rajun benefit from this, but Tang Xiaotang also gained much insight for her future cultivation.

Eventually, they even had to prioritize which sparks of inspiration to focus on and which ones to set aside for the time being...

Time passed by unnoticed during their cultivation in the mountains.

As Rajun and his companions cultivated in the Dragon and Tiger Mountain, good news kept arriving from the outside world over the next few years.

Xiao Xueting and Xing Feng successively broke through to the Immortal Realm.

The former was the legendary Golden Ang Qin from the past, and the latter was a martial immortal expert born after the Han Dynasty's great tribulation.

Xing Feng's journey also marked the emergence of a new Immortal Realm Witch King from the Blood River lineage after the Han Dynasty's great tribulation, opening a new path for the Witch Sect.

Although it wasn't as revolutionary as the Daoist Talisman Sect's Yuan Dynasty reform, it still attracted the attention of the world.

In recent decades, this human realm has witnessed an abundance of Immortal Realm experts, continuously emerging in large numbers.

Under the surging celestial energy, numerous outstanding individuals have begun to fulfill their potential, creating a veritable explosion of talent.

...

In the Demon World, within the Celestial Realm.

The Demon Dragon Emperor, resembling the Purple Micro Emperor Star commanding the stars, occupied the center of the celestial dome.

One day, he summoned the Dark Profound Demon Saint, who appeared before him with the form of a giant turtle, carrying the Big Dipper on his back.

"Paying respects to the Emperor," the Dark Profound Demon Saint spoke.

The Demon Dragon Emperor instructed, "Outside the Imperial Furnace, set up another place and install a ritual instrument."

A few specks of starlight flew from his body, landing on the Dark Profound Demon Saint's back.

"Yes, Emperor," the Dark Profound Demon Saint replied.

But as he carefully examined the intricacies within those specks of starlight, he couldn't help but speak up, "Emperor, this ritual instrument might have some adverse effects on your Imperial Furnace..."

The Demon Dragon Emperor gazed into the distance.

The Demon Saint of Profound Darkness was perplexed by the Demon Emperor's words, "It's too quiet."

"Do you mean that the young Taoist from the Cauldron Dao Sect, who possesses the Taiji Dao Body, has been too quiet these past years?" The Demon Emperor's gaze drifted into the distance, neither moving nor speaking.

Zhao Chanyang had indeed been too quiet.

While his silence was a good thing, the Demon Emperor had been using him to fuel the Imperial Furnace for treasure refinement, and things had been going smoothly. The process was nearing completion.

However, Zhao Chanyang's silence seemed unusual. Despite his current Second Immortal Realm cultivation, there was still a significant gap between him and the Demon Emperor. Yet, the Demon Emperor did not underestimate him.

Giving Zhao Chanyang time to grow was not a small matter. With his rare and exceptional innate talent, the time needed for his growth might not be as long as one would expect.

Due to the current disparity in their cultivation levels, the Demon Emperor was confident that Zhao Chanyang would not notice any anomalies. By the time Zhao Chanyang's cultivation level rose further and he might detect something amiss, the treasure refinement in the Imperial Furnace would likely be complete.

But all of this was under normal circumstances.

Unexpectedly, something unusual happened. The Great Annihilation Bodhisattva came to the Demon World to cause trouble and test the Demon Emperor.

Although the Bodhisattva soon left, the Demon Emperor felt that he had, to some extent, revealed his weakness to Zhao Chanyang.

Yet, in the following years, nothing changed. It seemed that Zhao Chanyang had not grasped the opportunity presented at that time.

Could it be that with Zhao Chanyang's talent and strength, he truly noticed nothing? The Demon Emperor couldn't help but doubt.

Unfortunately, due to the presence of the Great Annihilation Bodhisattva and the Hundred Eyes Demon Tree, the Demon Emperor, who was currently focusing on the Imperial Furnace, could not go to the opposite side of the Time Abyss to investigate the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths World.

Perhaps Zhao Chanyang truly hadn't discovered anything. But with a cautious mindset, the Demon Emperor still decided to take preventive measures.

As the Demon Saint of Profound Darkness had said, the additional arrangements would slow down the treasure refinement in the Imperial Furnace. However, to prevent all previous efforts from being in vain, the Demon Emperor decided to add another layer of precautions, even if it meant drawing a snake and adding feet.

"Go." The Demon Emperor instructed.

The Demon Saint of Profound Darkness quickly acknowledged and acted accordingly, "Yes, I will follow the Demon Emperor's will."

His massive body entered the Demon Wind-filled Heavenly River.

The Demon Emperor quietly watched as his figure disappeared.

…………………………

In the Scholar Forest World, within the Demon Capital that seemed both close and distant.

Zheng Baiyu sat calmly, pen in hand, quietly sketching on paper.

A large pile of books had accumulated in front of him, all written by him.

Zheng Baiyu's eyes flickered, and he paused his writing.

He waved his hand, and the pen, ink, and the numerous books all disappeared.

At that moment, in front of Zheng Baiyu, a book with a different style appeared in mid-air. He flipped through it, and the words and ink seemed to weave together like light and shadows, demonstrating the unique ability of the Confucian scholars to see words as if they were faces.

After reading, Zheng Baiyu nodded slightly, "There's progress? It seems not bad."

He smiled slightly, "It's somewhat useful."

The book, composed of light and shadows, quickly scattered.

Zheng Baiyu's smile quickly faded.

Gao Tiansui hadn't shown any movement recently. What was he busy with?

Was he still in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths World?

The reunification of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths was a significant event, and he shouldn't miss it.

For Zheng Baiyu, this was also an opportunity to achieve the Daoist Cavern's true path.

If Gao Tiansui appeared, he could divert more attention from Lei Jun, Zhang Wantong, and others.

Otherwise, with just Zheng Baiyu alone, the risk would be somewhat high.

Even during the reunification of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, it would be inconvenient for Lei Jun to set up a grand formation. The battle in the Scholar World had already shown the power of Zheng Baiyu, Yuan Yuanzhen, and Tang Xiaotang working together.

Moreover, even if the three of them weren't together, as far as Zheng Baiyu knew, Zhang Wantong had already successfully ascended to the third level of the Confucian Saint Realm.

Her achievement of the third level of the Confucian Saint Realm was different from that of Zheng Yan, Qiu Li, Lian Feng, and Jao Feiyang.

Zheng Baiyu waved his hand, and the pen, ink, and the numerous books reappeared.

Regardless, he would prepare on his side first and act according to the situation.

He picked up the pen and started sketching on the paper again.

But instead of writing, he was drawing a diagram.

The diagram depicted weapons and lacked the elegance and grandeur of culture, exuding a sharp and solemn killing intent.

…………………………

In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths World, in the eastern deep sea.

Recently, a new Confucian Saint had been born in this human realm, but due to various reasons, it was unknown to the outside world.

This was because this Confucian Saint came from the Confucian Rationalism lineage.

Dressed in ordinary clothes and with a dignified and elegant appearance, the former Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng Mingzhe, stood amidst the surging waves of the vast ocean, as if standing on solid ground.

After an unknown amount of time, a trusted subordinate arrived from afar, "Reporting, Master Yuan, the island in the north has sent word that they will be in seclusion for reading in the near future."

Chapter: The Rising Stars of Dragon and Tiger Mountain

In the secluded northern island, the residence of another renowned scholar from the Confucian school of thought, belonged to the former Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty, Chao Feng, the leader of the Chao Party.

Chao Feng, also known as Mingzhe, sought seclusion for his cultivation, aiming to reach a higher realm.

The news spread, and the comparison between the Chao Party and the Wu Party inevitably arose.

Mingzhe, the former Grand Secretary, had already achieved the saintly realm, a rare feat in the history of Confucianism. He was the first to attain the Confucian Saint realm, setting a precedent for his lineage.

How could this not stir emotions among those around him? Yet, Mingzhe himself remained calm.

Chao Feng was also a genius, and after overcoming numerous challenges, he found a new path to progress. It came as no surprise to Mingzhe that he had the opportunity to strive for higher realms.

However, it was uncertain if Chao Feng could achieve the Great Supreme Realm of the Ninth Heaven before the upcoming years of turmoil... Mingzhe contemplated, gazing at the distant, undulating sea.

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

The outside world was in constant turmoil.

Within the mountains, Lei Jun quietly cultivated, following his usual routine.

In the blink of an eye, several years passed.

Lei Jun, maintaining his customary pace, cultivated in tranquility while instructing his disciples.

Among his disciples, two had already reached the Ninth Heaven, and his third disciple, Feng Ting, had attained the Fourth Level of the Eighth Heaven, preparing for the Great Supreme Realm.

"Master and Senior Brother, Senior Sister Zhang Jingzhen has successfully achieved the Great Supreme Realm of the Ninth Heaven," Feng Ting reported to Yuan Mo Bai and Lei Jun.

Lei Jun smiled, "Excellent news! Our sect has gained another Ninth Heaven Supreme True Person."

After the Celestial Master succession ceremony, Zhang Jingzhen, having reached the Eighth Heaven, felt it was time for seclusion. After nearly a decade of effort, she finally emerged from seclusion, having achieved the Great Supreme Realm.

Yuan Mo Bai and Lei Jun were both delighted for her.

Zhang Jingzhen, in her two hundred years of age, had entered the platform phase of the Upper Three Heavens. While she still had the potential for further progress, her cultivation speed would inevitably slow down compared to before.

Thus, whether she could achieve the Fifth Level of the Ninth Heaven, the Five Qi Morning Xuan Realm, was uncertain. Without a major upheaval, becoming an immortal was out of reach.

Similar to Zhang Jingzhen's situation, there were many others within and outside the Celestial Master Mansion who had reached a plateau.

These were the geniuses of their time, stunning the world with their talent.

Only the geniuses among geniuses could leave a lasting impact for thousands, if not tens of thousands of years.

However, individuals like Zhang Jingzhen were crucial pillars for the Celestial Master Mansion, and they would continue to contribute to its growth for the next few hundred years.

"Hua Ting is almost there too," Lei Jun said, looking at Feng Ting with a smile.

In front of Lei Jun and Yuan Mo Bai, Feng Ting spoke without reservation, "It will take some time, but I believe I won't be too far behind Hua Yu and Hua Rui."

After Zhang Jingzhen, Xu Rui, Zhang Fengxiao, and Feng Ting formed the next batch of cultivators striving for the Great Supreme Realm of the Ninth Heaven.

After years of cultivation, the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion was about to reap the fruits of their labor.

"By the way, Xu Hai is rising rapidly, and Xu Wu is also catching up quickly," Feng Ting added with a smile.

Lei Jun asked, "What about your thoughts on finding disciples, Hua Ting?"

Feng Ting replied earnestly, "I'm not picky, but unfortunately, I haven't found anyone with the right affinity. I can only leave it to fate for now."

Lei Jun waved his hand, "It's fine. You decide for yourself."

"I'll follow your instructions, Master," Feng Ting responded.

Feng Ting continued, "By the way, there's news from outside the mountain. The owner of Yue Zhai has recently entered seclusion for cultivation."

Lei Jun and Yuan Mo Bai nodded slightly.

After Xiao Xueling and Xing Feng, Shen Gubing also achieved the Immortal Realm last year, reaching the Wu Xian realm.

Shen Gubing, focusing on physical cultivation, and Xiao Xueling, specializing in martial strikes, both Wu Xian cultivators, brought renewed glory to the martial arts path after the Han Dynasty catastrophe.

Chu Yu, a cultivator of the Confucian Divine Archery lineage, was slightly slower than Shen Gubing, but he was currently in seclusion, preparing to break through the Immortal Realm.

Perhaps it would be soon, or perhaps it would take some time.

But from Lei Jun's understanding, Chu Yu was the type to make his move only when he had a good grasp of the situation. This seclusion would surely yield results.

After Feng Ting's report, he took his leave.

Within the cavern, Lei Jun mentioned to Yuan Mo Bai, "Xiao Chunhui has reached the Fifth Level of the Ninth Heaven in the Scholar Forest World."

Yuan Mo Bai was surprised, "Less than forty years since he reached the Seventh and Eighth Heavens?"

Lei Jun nodded, "Yes, around thirty-five years."

Yuan Mo Bai commented, "Confucianism's approach of accumulating knowledge before making a breakthrough is well-known. I believe he has also benefited from the feedback of heaven and earth."

Lei Jun nodded, "I also think it's the result of his dual cultivation approach."

Xiao Chunhui had lingered in the Seventh and Eighth Heavens for a long time, which led to many of his former juniors, who even considered him their teacher, surpassing him later on.

However, Xiao Chunhui remained unmoved, focusing solely on his studies.

His innate talent for cultivation was astonishing, and once he made initial progress in his studies, he advanced rapidly, like a dragon entering the vast sea.

Of course, having just achieved the Ninth Heaven, Xiao Chunhui still needed to accumulate more before continuing his ascent.

Although he was destined to fall behind Xiao Xueling, Shen Gubing, and Chu Yu, his rapid progress in just thirty years allowed him to surpass his older brother, Xiao Hang, and catch up with Fang Yue and Meng Shaojie.

The Ancient Cataclysm, a time of chaos and separation, marked the beginning of the Three Realms: Heaven, Earth, and the Human World. It was an era when the most powerful Primordial Deities coexisted with mortal beings, creating a tumultuous and blurred history. As the most eminent Primordial Deities gradually transcended, the rules and boundaries of the Three Realms became more defined, and the once-obscure historical records began to clarify.

Amidst this era of transformation, Lei Jun found himself riding the waves of creation and evolution, neither resisting nor avoiding the tides of change. He became a vast Taiji diagram, embracing the ebb and flow of the cosmos.

Initially, Lei Jun was like a fish swimming with the current, effortlessly gliding through the vast universe. Then, like a river's surging waves, he burst forth, only to quickly subside back into the water.

In the end, Lei Jun became one with the ever-changing cosmos, unaffected by its forces. He was the embodiment of the era's transformation and evolution.

A cosmic tsunami swept through the universe, transforming the Great Dipper Constellation into the Purple Dipper Constellation. The central, unmoving stars of the Purple Dipper Constellation governed the entire cosmic firmament.

When Lei Jun's Heavenly Market Constellation transformed into the Great Dipper Constellation, all Taoist Talisman Sect cultivators who had attained the Eighth Heaven Divine Court Realm experienced a resonance.

At this moment, Lei Jun seemed to manifest three Celestial Court Realms.

One was the Heavenly Market Constellation.

One was the Great Dipper Constellation.

One was the Purple Dipper Constellation.

In an instant, Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, who were not in the Great Thousand World, also felt a resonance.

The vibration was not just in their Celestial Court Realms but in their entire bodies.

In the vast starry sea beyond the realms, Gao Tiansui, dressed in a Nine-Colored Lotus Robe, glanced at Ran Qiao and Wang Dengchen.

Gao Tiansui spoke calmly, "Lei Jun, you have ascended to the Three Days Ascension to Truehood."

After the Han End Cataclysm, Lei Jun was the first to reach the Third Level Immortal Realm and achieve the Three Days Ascension to Truehood in the Taoist Talisman Sect.

A new Taoist Heavenly Lord! Wang Dengchen's expression changed as he quietly asked, "Heavenly Lord, my perception of time is not bad. From the time of the Human World's convergence until now, it has been fifty years. He reached the Second Level Immortal Realm on the eve of the Human World's convergence, and now he has reached the Third Level Immortal Realm..."

Gao Tiansui nodded slightly, "Not bad, fifty years from the Second Level Immortal Realm to the Third Level Immortal Realm. Since ancient times, no one has achieved this."

Zhang Wantong and Zheng Baiyu's situations were special, half of their cultivation was restoration, so they couldn't be counted.

Others, regardless of their cultivation before or after the Han End Cataclysm, did not have such speed.

Gao Tiansui could guess that this was due to the other party obtaining the legendary Ten-Colored Lotus Robe's assistance.

But that was no longer important.

Lei Jun had already completed a historic feat.

"Unfortunately, different paths lead to different destinies," Gao Tiansui said quietly.

In the Great Thousand World, Lei Jun calmly returned to the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion.

Yuan Bai, Chu Kun, Zhuo Baojie, and others welcomed him, "Congratulations, Heavenly Lord, on your ascension to the Three Days Ascension to Truehood!"

Lei Jun returned the greeting and then quietly observed the chaotic and unstable world before him. He spoke calmly, "The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths will reunite as one, and the era will be renewed."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end