Lei Jun's musings didn’t last long.
Just like back when he had been initiated into the Mansion, and Wang Guiyuan helped him settle into his new residence and procure various supplies, now it was his turn to guide Chu Kun.
Chu Kun was delighted at the opportunity to interact with this Senior Brother Lei. He donned the signature apricot-yellow Daoist robe of an initiate disciple and followed behind Lei Jun, who now wore a deep-red Daoist robe. Yet, there was an unspoken curiosity in his heart.
This curiosity stemd from his two senior brothers. Second Senior Brother Lei Jun had already received the talismanic rank and changed into the deep-red robe, which made sense. What puzzled him was that Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan still wore the sa apricot-yellow Daoist robe as Chu Kun.
Rather than looking down on Wang Guiyuan for this, Chu Kun simply found it strange. His cousin Chu Yu had ntioned before that both Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan were far from ordinary. He had already begun to understand how extraordinary Lei Jun was. But what about Wang Guiyuan?
His master Yuan Mobai had only ever accepted these two disciples. Surely his judgnt of talent couldn't be that different?
Well, maybe. I’m pretty ordinary myself, Chu Kun thought, smiling self-deprecatingly.
In terms of innate talent, he wasn’t lacking. Compared to the average, he was certainly a cut above. But growing up in the Chu family, surrounded by prodigies, he had a clear idea of his own capabilities.
Fortunately…
The young Daoist shook his head and kept closely behind Lei Jun. This little mont of curiosity would soon pass. His primary focus would be on learning the Dao from Yuan Mobai and aiming to achieve Foundation Establishnt as soon as possible.
anwhile, after the Initiation Ceremony, Lei Jun planned to head north across the Great River with Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen.
“The Shadow Hare doesn’t align well with your True Yang Mystic Flower. If you want to enhance your bone structure, you’ll need to seek other opportunities elsewhere,” Yuan Mobai told Lei Jun before his departure, smiling gently. “The northern borders are far, and the Bamboo Sea of Southern Shu is uncertain in timing. You’ll have to judge for yourself.”
Lei Jun replied, “Although I wish to improve my bone structure, opportunities like that depend on fate. I can’t force it, nor should I let it disrupt my cultivation. On this trip, I’ll accompany Senior Sister to Youpeng Mountain. If we can find the Burning Heart Chi, that would be ideal. Later, I’ll head to the Chiyuan Grotto-Heaven to refine the Nine Nether Yin Wind Fiend. After stabilizing my cultivation back on the mountain, I’ll make further plans. Everything has to be done step by step.”
Chiyuan Grotto-Heaven was one of the most significant Blessed Land Grotto-Heavens associated with Tianshi Mansion, located outside Mount Longhu. It was well-developed and rich in resources. During the previous war, the Yellow Heaven Sect had even feigned an attack on Chiyuan Grotto-Heaven to mislead and divert Tianshi Mansion’s attention.
Besides various spiritual items, Chiyuan Grotto-Heaven produced an Upper-Grade Earthly Fiend known as Nine Nether Yin Wind Fiend. Since the Earth Core Yin Fire Fiend on the mountain was depleting, Lei Jun needed another yin-type fiend to balance his Azure Firmant Divine Thunder Fiend. The Nine Nether Yin Wind Fiend was a perfect match.
“You’re thodical and asured, in harmony with nature and people. I have no concerns,” Yuan Mobai said, smiling.
Although he said this, since Lei Jun would be traveling during these turbulent tis, Yuan Mobai gifted him an advanced talisman. Given Lei Jun’s current abilities, he could create Supre-Grade Golden Barrier Talismans on his own. Hence, Yuan Mobai gave him a higher-level talisman this ti: the Supre-Grade Five Thunder Righteous Talisman.
The Yang Five Thunder Righteous Law complented Lei Jun’s own Yin Five Thunder Righteous Talisman.
“Junior Uncle, we’re leaving,” Xu Yuanzhen, who had been quietly seated nearby, now stood up.
Yuan Mobai said, “Yuanzhen, your strength is beyond question, but you’ve been traveling for years. Stay vigilant. These days, the Tang Dynasty isn’t as peaceful.”
Xu Yuanzhen nodded indifferently.
After saying their goodbyes to Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen exited the courtyard.
Wang Guiyuan and Chu Kun were waiting outside to see them off. Xu Yuanzhen didn’t need any preparations; she wasn’t one to carry many belongings. Wang Guiyuan, however, had prepared Lei Jun’s supplies ticulously.
…A little too ticulously.
“As the saying goes, better safe than sorry,” Wang Guiyuan sighed. “Last ti, when you went to the Yunxiao Mountain Range, I underestimated the risks because it was nearby and within our territory. I still regret it. This ti, don’t worry—I’ve prepared extra.”
“…”
Lei Jun looked at the small mountain of supplies in front of him, neatly organized into several batches. Without Wang Guiyuan explaining, he could already distinguish them:
Primary supplies.
Spare supplies.
Spare supplies for the spare supplies.
And so on…
He counted at least five identical sets.
Senior Brother, I know I have the family’s Geographical Compass Box, and the Mansion gave a special Daoist Shrinking Bag after my initiation. But this feels like moving house… Chu Kun watched in stunned silence.
Wang Guiyuan shook Lei Jun’s hand firmly. “Lei, the world isn’t safe. Be careful out there!”
“...Yes, Senior Brother.”
He’s not going on a perilous mission, just a normal trip… Chu Kun looked down, unable to watch any longer.
Wang Guiyuan released his hand and glanced at the supplies. “Maybe I should pack one more set?”
“…”
Senior Brother, are you planning to sell these at a market once you get there?
“Take care, Senior Brother. You too, Chu,” Lei Jun said.
He thanked Wang Guiyuan, used the Geographical Compass Box to pack up four sets of supplies, and then the Shrinking Bag for the last set.
After saying farewell, he left Yuan Mobai’s courtyard.
Xu Yuanzhen was already waiting by the mountain gate. Seeing Lei Jun, she said nothing and turned to leave.
The black thundercloud appeared, carrying them both into the sky as they headed north.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Senior Sister.”
“This is why I dislike dealing with people,” Xu Yuanzhen replied.
Lei Jun smiled. “It depends on the person.”
“Wang Guiyuan is a good guy, but I still dislike dealing with him. Not a contradiction.”
“Fair enough,” Lei Jun chuckled.
He looked down at the black thundercloud beneath them. His first flight had been on this very cloud, back when Xu Yuanzhen brought him to the mountain. Though he could now fly on his own, that mory of watching the world speed past below had sparked his desire to cultivate, easing his adjustnt to this new world.
Shaking off his thoughts, he recalled a conversation. “Didn’t Junior Sister Xiaotang say she wanted to create a new Thunder Law?”
Xu Yuanzhen replied, “It’s difficult, but not impossible.”
“What about you, Senior Sister?”
“Not interested.”
Lei Jun raised an eyebrow. “But you said you weren’t keen on the Thunder Law Talismanic Canon either.”
“I’m curious about it, but I’m more interested in forcing the Mansion to teach it to .”
She glanced at him. “Whatever I learn, I’m still . Our Martial Uncles and Young Tianshi study the canon too. None of them can beat .”
Lei Jun smiled. So, not learning the Mansion’s arts but still dominating others, huh?
Lei Jun understood why Xu Yuanzhen singled out the previous Tianshi, Li Qingfeng.
Li Qingfeng was the only one who had cultivated both the Thunder Law Talismanic Canon and the Fire Law Talismanic Canon. He possessed the dual manifestations of the Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor and the Nine Abyss Fla Ancestor, known respectively as the Yang Thunder Dragon and the Yin Fire Tiger.
Because of this, he had mastered the most powerful mystical abilities of the Mount Longhu Tianshi Mansion—a devastating technique called the Fusion of Yin and Yang, the Union of Dragon and Tiger.
This combination was feared by other sects, as it unleashed strength greater than the sum of its parts. Two Upper Heavens cultivators, one wielding the Yang Thunder Dragon and the other the Yin Fire Tiger, could perform this technique together. But Li Qingfeng, with his mastery of both paths, could do it alone, making him the unmatched peak of the Daoist Talismanic Branch.
Xu Yuanzhen and Li Song, the other two cultivators of the Upper Heavens Realm, had not yet perfected their realms. Xu Yuanzhen cultivated the Fire Law Talismanic Canon and the Human Path Talismanic Canon, while Li Song focused on the Thunder Law Talismanic Canon and the Human Path Talismanic Canon. Moreover, Li Song was aging, and his strength was no longer at its peak.
Because of this, both inside and outside the Mansion, it was accepted that no one could challenge Li Qingfeng’s position as the strongest.
Even when Tang Xiaotang brought this up in Xu Yuanzhen’s presence, Xu Yuanzhen didn’t disagree. Like Tang Xiaotang, she didn’t know the aning of humility in these matters.
However, her tone now suggested a shift.
Sothing had changed.
And from her words, it was clear her confidence still lay in the Earth and Human Path Talismans. She hadn’t gone to learn techniques from other sects like Chen Yi.
This piqued Lei Jun’s interest.
Still, any speculation was aningless now.
Li Qingfeng was gone.
Not that Xu Yuanzhen planned to challenge her master, Yuan Mobai, for dominance. Even if she wanted to, there was no longer a need.
They spoke a few more words, the black thundercloud carrying them swiftly across the vast landscape.
Suddenly, the roar of imnse waters reached Lei Jun’s ears.
Looking ahead, he saw a colossal river stretching across the horizon like an endless sea. It divided the land into two worlds, its origin and end lost to sight.
This river is far larger than anything back on Blue Star... Lei Jun marveled at the scene. The river’s grandeur was breathtaking, especially in the cold winter. Though the waters surged fiercely, they were calm compared to what they could beco.
When the river raged, it could destroy everything in its path. Even higher-level cultivators caught in the flood risked being dragged under, their bodies lost to the depths.
This was more than just water—it was a force of nature, intertwined with the spiritual energy of mountains, earth veins, and water veins.
People called it a Heavenly Chasm.
In ancient tis, this term described the river itself. Later, cultivators used it to symbolize the peril of crossing between major realms.
Xu Yuanzhen maintained a steady expression as she rode the black thundercloud over the river.
Lei Jun sensed a strange pull from the swirling currents below, as if the river itself wanted to drag them down.
But the black thundercloud remained steady, unaffected by the pull, carrying them smoothly across.
Just as they were nearing the northern bank, Xu Yuanzhen’s eyes flashed.
She looked down, her expression cold.
Lei Jun followed her gaze and saw a large cloud vessel hovering above the riverbank.
The vessel was surrounded by white clouds, forming a small cloud sea. Within the clouds, the faint outline of a flood dragon could be seen.
A voice called out from the vessel:
“Is that Fairy Xu of Mount Longhu? I am Ye Cheng of Qingzhou. May I have a mont of your ti? I have information about your sect’s Fairy Tang that may be of interest to you.”
Lei Jun thought for a mont. Ye Cheng... Ye Jifeng...
He rembered now.
Ye Cheng, courtesy na Jifeng, was the eldest grandson of the Qingzhou Ye Clan. He was one of the most outstanding young scholars of the Confucian Sect. If nothing unexpected happened, he would one day lead the Qingzhou Ye family.
Among the Five Great Surnas and Seven Prominent Clans, the two Ye families and the two Lin families were the most powerful.
The Qingzhou Ye Clan and the Jinzhou Ye Clan both traced their lineage to the sa ancestor. The Jinzhou Ye Clan had branched off from the Qingzhou Ye Clan long ago.
In the present era, the Qingzhou Ye Clan was thriving. The current empress was a direct descendant of the Qingzhou Ye family.
Yet…
The black thundercloud didn’t slow down.
Xu Yuanzhen glanced below, then looked away as if she hadn’t heard Ye Cheng at all.
The people on the vessel didn’t seem surprised.
Ye Cheng’s voice remained steady. “I have so news about your sect’s Fairy Tang that I believe you should hear.”
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