Shangguan Sheng’s gaze swept between Liao Jie and Lei Jun.
To be fair, Liao Jie’s reputation was not insignificant. At a young age, he had already stepped into the Upper Three Heavens Realm, and across the entire Tang Empire, he was considered a Daoist genius with boundless potential.
However, in recent years, he had been in seclusion, rarely leaving Shushan Sect, which had caused his reputation to fade sowhat. But now, with his successful breakthrough to the Seventh Heaven’s Dan Solution Realm of the Daoist Alchemical Sect, his na was once again resounding across the empire.
That said, reputation often depends on comparison. Even at his peak, Liao Jie’s fa never reached the current level of Lei Jun.
In just over twenty years, Lei Jun had not only reached the Seventh Heaven Realm but had also slain Lin Chi of Jiangzhou and exterminated Qi Shuo of the Yellow Heaven Sect, all solid battle achievents that left no room for doubt.
As rising stars of the Daoist sects, Liao Jie would at least have to defeat an opponent of the Upper Three Heavens Realm to even be considered in the sa league.
And even then, it would rely qualify him for comparison—if he truly wanted to be ntioned in the sa breath as Lei Jun, he still had a long way to go.
Moreover, within Shushan Sect, among his peers, he still had a towering figure looming over him—Zhang Taigang.
As for his actual combat prowess, Liao Jie was indeed not particularly dominant.
However, cultivators of the Daoist Alchemical Sect focus all their cultivation and expertise on Life-bound Artifacts and Magical Treasures. Liao Jie had only recently reached the Seventh Heaven, leaving seclusion before he had the chance to enhance his Life-bound Artifacts from the Lower Three Heavens and Middle Three Heavens.
Instead, all his effort had been poured into crafting his very first Life-bound Magical Treasure—the Southern Luminous Furnace.
Though the treasure was complete, it still needed ti for nurturing. It remained raw and lacked the sharpness of refinent.
His opponents, however, were formidable martial experts like Shen Qubing and Shangguan Sheng, especially Shen Qubing, whose speed was overwhelming.
Before the Southern Luminous Fire of his Southern Luminous Furnace could fully manifest, Shen Qubing had already closed in, giving Liao Jie no room to deploy his techniques.
Unfortunately, Liao Jie no longer had the opportunity to prove himself.
Shangguan Sheng glanced at Lei Jun again.
Compared to Liao Jie, Lei Daozhang was not only advancing rapidly in cultivation but also an absolute force in battle.
A figure like this, in reality, might be even more formidable than his already formidable reputation suggested.
In the past, he had sowhat underestimated Lei Jun.
Fortunately, realizing his mistake now was not too late… Shangguan Sheng pondered.
Lei Jun, anwhile, remained composed.
Walking side by side with Zhang Jingzhen, he could faintly sense that she carried the Lower Scroll of the Heavenly Palace Tablet.
Under normal circumstances, Zhang Jingzhen would likewise be able to sense that the Upper Scroll of the Heavenly Palace Tablet was right beside her, in Lei Jun’s possession.
However, Lei Jun had concealed the Upper Scroll using the Illusory Mirror, completely suppressing its aura.
Unlike Chen Yi, who was always at a cultivation disadvantage against Zhang Jingzhen, Lei Jun was on equal footing with her in cultivation, and even stronger in combat.
With deliberate restraint, he ensured that Zhang Jingzhen remained completely unaware.
She intended to present the Lower Scroll of the Heavenly Palace Tablet to the Tang Imperial Family, and Lei Jun had no objections.
Since he held the Upper Scroll, ultimately, all roads led back to Mount Longhu.
However, this Heavenly Palace Tablet was no ordinary object.
What kind of karma would it entangle in the future?
Lei Jun silently kept it in mind.
At that mont, Shen Qubing spoke sowhat sheepishly:
“Lei Elder, the Thousand-Mile Transmission Talismans that your Tianshi Mansion has been producing in recent years are far superior to before. Would it be possible to spare two more?”
Lei Jun nodded. “Of course.”
He handed Shen Qubing two Thousand-Mile Transmission Talismans and added,
“However, you must be mindful. These are not always guaranteed to work without disruption. Just earlier, in the Southern Zhao Stone Forest, it was only due to a powerful collision that temporarily dissipated the illusions there that I was able to use a Spirit Talisman to contact you and General Shangguan in ti.”
Shen Qubing accepted the talismans. “Understood. Many thanks, Lei Elder.”
As they spoke, a ssage arrived from Chu Yu via Letters as a Face.
Shangguan Yunbo, wielding the Dangkou Golden Halberd, had arrived in ti and successfully repelled the ambush at Snow Dragon Mountain.
Just as expected, one of the ambushers was Gu Han, forr Black Tortoise Elder of Pure Yang Palace.
The other, though wielding the Seven-Star Sword, was not the long-missing Chen Donglou.
Rather, it was another Shushan Sect Eighth Heaven Elder impersonating him—
Wang Dongchu.
Lei Jun’s eyes flickered as he turned to Liao Jie:
“If I rember correctly… he was your master, wasn’t he?”
Zhang Jingzhen, having regained her composure, also looked at Liao Jie. “Yes, that’s correct.”
Liao Jie had been stubbornly clenching his teeth, refusing to confess and insisting that Lei Jun, Shangguan Sheng, and Shen Qubing were conspiring to fra him.
But upon hearing that his master, Wang Dongchu, had been exposed while attempting to ambush Chu Yu, his body wavered slightly, and his face turned pale with despair.
Shangguan Sheng said indifferently,
“There’s no need to keep up the act. Just confess.”
Liao Jie’s expression darkened, but he remained silent.
Shen Qubing continued,
“Dan Alchemy Sect’s Gu Han and Alchemical Sect’s Wang Dongchu have split up to escape.
The Grand General is currently in pursuit of Wang Dongchu.
Chu She Ren and Shushan Sect Elder Wei Qiyue are chasing after Gu Han, but they’ve lost his trail and are now en route to join us.”
Shangguan Sheng nodded, glancing at the silent Liao Jie and the nearby Mo Chen.
“For now, we’ll take these two prisoners back to Tang territory.”
The Southwestern Wildlands were beyond the Tang Empire’s jurisdiction, making long-range communication difficult.
After regrouping, Chu Yu and Wei Qiyue attempted to contact Shangguan Yunbo, but received no response.
The distance might be too great, or Shangguan Yunbo could be caught in a spiritually chaotic region.
Or he could be locked in battle.
“I request permission to head south again and assist the Grand General,” Shangguan Sheng said solemnly.
Shen Qubing added, “I will go as well.”
Lei Jun had remained silent, but suddenly, the Light Sphere in his mind flashed, revealing a ssage:
[Shushan upheaval, stormy skies. In the southern wilds, a spirit sword finds its grave. Only fortune and misfortune remain in one’s own hands.]
Lei Jun’s face remained neutral, but he carefully examined the three ons that followed:
[Upper-Moderate On]: Head south to Ancient Wood Mountain, beneath the Ancient Divine Tree, where there is a chance to obtain both a Third-Grade Opportunity and a Fourth-Grade Opportunity. However, risks exist—handle them with caution. The resulting karma will be complex. Auspicious.
[Moderate On]: Go elsewhere, avoiding Ancient Wood Mountain and Shushan Sect’s Summit. No gains, but no losses either. Neutral.
[Lower-Moderate On]: Head north to Shushan Sect’s Summit. No benefits, but great turbulence awaits. Ominous.
Lei Jun pondered for a mont before calmly stating,
“I will accompany you south and assist the Grand General.”
Wang Dongchu himself was also seriously injured, his immortal soul nearly cleaved in half by the Dangkou Golden Halberd.
Fortunately, he had managed to retreat to a place he had anticipated.
anwhile, Lei Jun and the others were approaching the northern foothills of Ancient Wood Mountain, spreading out to form an encirclent to assist Shangguan Yunbo. Just then, the mountain ridge below suddenly began to tremble.
Lei Jun lowered his gaze and saw sword light soaring into the sky from within the forest, arranged in the formation of the Big Dipper.
It was none other than Chen Donglou’s Seven Star Sword, which had been scattered and placed here by Wang Dongchu.
Rather than using it to block the tribulation, Wang Dongchu had instead risked damaging his life-bound artifact and magical treasures. Was it because the Seven Star Sword had another purpose?
As the sword light illuminated the sky, the towering ancient trees on the mountain began to ignite spontaneously.
There were no visible flas, only an imnse amount of smoke billowing outward.
The smoke spread rapidly, immune even to the force of the astral winds.
A dense fog of illusions quickly expanded, covering hundreds of miles of mountain terrain, and it continued to grow.
Before being engulfed, Lei Jun and his group caught one last clear glimpse—Shangguan Yunbo, completely undeterred, unleashed a ferocious strike, slashing once more at the He Guang Sword!
The He Guang Sword let out a mournful wail, plumting into the dense fog below.
Without hesitation, Shangguan Yunbo pursued it relentlessly.
The fog spread at an astonishing speed, and soon, Lei Jun and his two companions were swallowed by it.
Within the haze, a cultivator’s sensory perception was greatly diminished.
Despite stepping into the fog, Lei Jun remained calm. Deep within his pupils, the glow of the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman flickered dimly, while a thin thread of spiritual radiance extended from the center of his brow.
After roughly determining his direction, he moved toward the southern foothills of Ancient Wood Mountain.
The fog was vast, covering both the northern and southern slopes of the mountain range.
However, in the south, the forest still stood. Amidst the spiritual energy storm, the trees swayed violently.
Among them, the tallest and oldest was Lei Jun’s target—the Ancient Divine Tree.
When he arrived beneath it, he noticed a faint glimr of light flickering at the point where the roots sank into the rocky soil.
It was as if a seed was gestating.
The seed was violet in color, flickering like starlight, and from within, a sharp sword aura emanated.
Lei Jun observed it for a mont before extending a finger toward the violet seed.
As his mana made contact, the immortal seed instantly unfolded, transforming midair into an illusory streak of purple light.
Sword light.
Amidst the purple glow, countless stars seed to revolve, while the purple radiance itself remained steadfast in the central position, unwavering, standing above all.
Feeling the profound intent contained within, Lei Jun imdiately understood—
One of Shushan’s Six Great Treasures—the Purple Star Sword.
However, this was not the Purple Star Sword itself.
It was rely a sword mark left behind by the Purple Star Sword.
It resembled the scratch that the Tianshi Sword had inadvertently left when it was lost, serving as a clue for Tang Xiaotang, Li Zhengxuan, and the others to follow.
But this Purple Star Sword Mark was clearly the result of deliberate refinent.
Was this the Fourth-Grade Opportunity ntioned in the Upper-Moderate On, or was it a Third-Grade Opportunity?
Based on past experiences with the Tianshi Seal and the Tianshi Robe, a lead toward finding the Purple Star Sword was most likely a Fourth-Grade Opportunity.
But what did a Third-Grade Opportunity look like...? Lei Jun pondered.
He watched as the immortal seed sprouted and grew, focusing intently as if witnessing the flow of ti and the passage of ages.
Normally, his habit was to secure the item first and examine it later when he had the leisure to do so.
But he sensed that this violet radiance was sohow linked to the fog illusion.
If he were to take it imdiately, the fog illusion would likely dissipate quickly.
After a brief mont of thought, Lei Jun refrained from collecting the purple light right away. Instead, he activated the Illusory Mirror, shrouding himself in its dim radiance to conceal his presence while remaining vigilant of his surroundings.
Since he had to wait for now, he took the ti to closely examine the violet glow.
It felt as though he had stepped onto a path—a path soone else had walked before.
By following the path, he could witness that person’s journey.
Chen Donglou’s journey.
Lei Jun gazed at the silhouette of the man ahead.
Like other Shushan cultivators, the man wore plain robes and straw sandals, his hair hanging loose. Even though it was only his back, his bold and unrestrained spirit was unmistakable.
Before him appeared the image of Nanzhao Stone Forest.
So Chen Donglou had indeed been there first.
It was within the Nanzhao Stone Forest that he had discovered the Purple Star Sword Mark.
From there, he had refined it while continuing his search for the Purple Star Sword, ultimately arriving at Ancient Wood Mountain.
“Oh?”
Lei Jun narrowed his eyes.
According to the visions within the violet glow, a spatial distortion had ford here in Ancient Wood Mountain—a gateway to the void.
So the Purple Star Sword’s disappearance and its inability to be found... was related to a foreign void realm?
Chen Donglou had evidently co to the sa conclusion.
With a mind set on exploration, he stepped into the void.
The world beyond was a vast dark expanse, resembling an underground realm where only faint bioluminescent lights flickered—barren and desolate.
After exploring for a ti, Chen Donglou encountered the native inhabitants of this place.
“…The people of Jiuli?”
Lei Jun, upon seeing their appearance and clothing, imdiately recalled descriptions from ancient texts.
So this void gateway in Ancient Wood Mountain actually led directly to the Land of the Deep Sea, one of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?
This revelation was beyond Lei Jun’s expectations.
However, what did not surprise him was the inevitable battle between Chen Donglou and the Jiuli people.
The battle was cataclysmic, drawing out a Jiuli powerhouse of the Ninth Heaven Realm.
Despite being at a disadvantage in cultivation, this arrogant and untad sword cultivator showed no fear, choosing to fight to the death.
Other than finding a way to send the Purple Star Sword Mark back to Ancient Wood Mountain, he did not retreat an inch.
The Seven Star Sword blazed through the sky, flashing between the bright human realm and the dark Land of the Deep Sea.
After a brutal battle, both sides were left heavily wounded, and the void gateway was destroyed, once again sealing off the connection between the two realms.
The Jiuli powerhouse suffered grievous injuries, their survival uncertain.
As for Chen Donglou, he was utterly spent, his wounds beyond healing.
Lei Jun silently observed the Shushan sword cultivator within the river of ti.
At this point, Chen Donglou could no longer even sit cross-legged; instead, he lay sprawled on the ground in exhaustion, on the verge of death.
A satisfied smile graced his face, though his gaze carried a hint of regret as he looked toward the Purple Star Sword Mark.
He had no fear of death or defeat.
His only regret was that he had failed to retrieve the Purple Star Sword.
Still, he had lived as he wished—no regrets...
Lei Jun watched as Chen Donglou’s immortal soul gradually dissipated, montarily speechless.
Looking at it like this, his journey seed glorious and grand.
But upon delving deeper into the causes and consequences, his fall seed senseless and even absurd.
Yet, this was exactly the fate shaped by his character and choices.
He had little regret, yet perhaps so regrets. But in the end, he had lived true to himself.
Was that worth it?
Only the one who lived it would know.
Lei Jun sighed softly.
This sword, strictly speaking, should be classified as a magical treasure.
However, for a magical treasure, its power is imnse. The Seven-Star Sword radiates sword light in all directions, its aura overwhelming. Because of this, even though Chen Donglou has perished, his legend remains, and the world regards the Seven-Star Sword more as a set of magical treasures rather than a single one.
This stems from the fact that after Chen Donglou reached the Eighth Heaven Immortal Roaming Realm, he did not refine a second life-bound magical treasure. Instead, he fused his six previous life-bound artifacts with his first life-bound magical treasure from the Seventh Heaven, rging all seven into one, ultimately refining what is now known as the Seven-Star Sword.
When the seven stars streak across the sky, they resonate with each other, forming a seamless unity, as if seven flying swords were attacking together.
Lei Jun, possessing exceptional comprehension, understood the essence after only a few glances.
This magical treasure—or rather, this set of magical treasures—still has room for improvent.
The most crucial position, the Polaris Star, is currently missing.
Previously, Chen Donglou himself occupied the Polaris position.
If he had truly retrieved the Purple Star Sword, then using it to command the Seven-Star Sword, their power would have further increased, mutually amplifying each other.
Unfortunately, all of this remains a re possibility.
Chen Donglou has already fallen.
And his Seven-Star Sword is now being used by others to stain his na.
The seven streaks of sword light approached the Purple Light Immortal Seed but did not imdiately collect it. Instead, they hovered, carefully observing and studying it.
Lei Jun remained hidden nearby.
In the Daoist Artifact Refining Sect, cultivators at the Eighth Heaven Immortal Roaming Realm primarily refine their divine souls, making their senses incredibly sharp.
A martial arts expert like Shangguan Yunbo primarily perceives killing intent and attacks directed at himself, whereas a Shushan Sect elder of Wang Dongchu’s level could actively sense a vast surrounding area.
Even though the area was veiled by mist and illusions, the two sides were now very close to each other.
However, Wang Dongchu was severely injured.
Even though he remained vigilant, he might detect Shen Qubing and Shangguan Sheng, but he would struggle to perceive Lei Jun’s presence.
Lei Jun carefully observed the seven sword lights.
Connecting them to what he had seen and heard before, an idea suddenly ford in his mind.
After a brief consideration, he made his decision.
Lei Jun did not opt for a sneak attack using the Magnetic Sword Pellet from behind.
Instead, as he watched the sword lights, he raised his hand.
Then, with a light downward motion—
A silent, soundless black lightning appeared, spreading forward in an instant, transforming into a vast black “ocean” that engulfed the seven sword lights.
Wang Dongchu, as one of the pillars of Shushan’s middle generation, was far superior in both adaptability and composure compared to his disciple, Liao Jie.
Caught off guard, he was surprised but remained unshaken. With a re thought, the seven sword lights began weaving through the air, slashing through layers of profound lightning in an attempt to break free.
However, Lei Jun’s profound lightning was uniquely intricate, especially effective against other magical artifacts and treasures.
The Seven-Star Sword had already endured a prolonged battle and had been used to manipulate the illusionary formations of Ancient Wood Mountain. It had lost its previous sharpness. Now entangled by Lei Jun’s profound lightning, it imdiately found itself trapped.
Had Wang Dongchu been uninjured, he might have attempted to suppress Lei Jun with sheer cultivation. But in his current state, he had to find another way.
Suddenly, one of the sword lights flickered and astonishingly split into two. The twin sword lights intertwined, alternating between brightness and shadow. Together, they managed to carve open a breach in the black lightning ocean.
Lei Jun’s eyes glead with excitent instead of anger.
“Kaixiang Sword, the Twin Stars of Light and Shadow?”
The twin sword lights intertwined and were the first to break through the black lightning ocean.
The remaining six sword lights imdiately followed.
Together, they still maintained the formation of the Big Dipper, moving in unison as if they were a single entity—elegant, profound, and unstoppable.
“To take you down as planned… it won’t be easy,” Lei Jun remarked, though his hands did not slow in the slightest as he faced the spinning sword lights.
“Fortunately, I’ve refined a magical treasure of my own.”
As he spoke, he flicked his right hand, and an object suddenly appeared in his grasp.
A seven-section green bamboo staff, its entire body a rich jade hue, flickering with intertwining purple and golden light.
The nurous sword lights before him trembled in unison, as if they were agitated.
Before they could evade, Lei Jun had already swung his bamboo staff, striking directly at the twin Kaixiang Sword lights!
The twin lights quivered and imdiately fused back into one.
Lei Jun’s stance was effortless, his green bamboo staff seemingly waved at random. However, the intertwining purple and golden light had already enveloped the surroundings.
At that mont, it was as if a law-bound altar woven from purple, gold, and green hues materialized in the space.
The seven sword lights slashed about in all directions, causing the altar to sway as if it might collapse at any mont—but none of them managed to break through in the first instant.
anwhile, Lei Jun moved at a leisurely pace, as if taking a spring stroll. His bamboo staff in hand gently rose and fell.
In the air, it seed as if thunder rumbled.
A bolt of lightning illuminated the mist for a fleeting mont.
Simultaneously, a soft snap resounded.
The Kaixiang Sword, which had already been struck once, suddenly stiffened. It was as if all its spiritual essence and magical energy had been forcibly cut off, suspending it in midair.
With the Kaixiang Sword immobilized, the entire Big Dipper formation faltered.
Yet Wang Dongchu reacted swiftly. Realizing he could not imdiately escape, he drove the remaining six swords directly toward Lei Jun in a desperate offensive.
Even while gravely wounded, wielding the Seven-Star Sword, Wang Dongchu’s swordsmanship remained formidable—Shushan sword cultivators were indeed fad for their ruthless lethality.
But Lei Jun remained composed.
If it had been another type of attack, such as the righteous sword qi of a Confucian scholar, he might have considered using a different defensive thod.
However, in this mont, Lei Jun stood unmoving.
Above him, two Two-Elent Celestial Talismans spun rapidly.
An imnse force of magnetism spread out, forming an invisible barrier around Lei Jun.
The six sword lights charged forward but suddenly felt as if they had plunged into thick mud—their speed drastically slowed.
Though the flying swords continued moving toward Lei Jun, their montum had weakened significantly.
Lei Jun’s bamboo staff, on the other hand, continued to rise and fall effortlessly.
And then—
Snap!
The Tiankui Sword was frozen in place.
Snap!
The Tianxuan Sword was immobilized.
Snap!
The Tianji Sword trembled in midair.
From within it, a distorted light projection floated outward.
A muffled groan echoed—it was none other than Wang Dongchu’s immortal soul!
His own life-bound treasure, the Hegu Sword, had already been destroyed by Shangguan Yunbo’s long halberd, leaving his immortal soul heavily wounded. He had no choice but to anchor his spirit within one of the Seven-Star Swords.
But now, Lei Jun had struck him with a single blow—forcefully extracting his soul!
Lei Jun’s first self-refined magical treasure—
The Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo!
Wang Dongchu’s soul writhed and convulsed from the impact. His already grievously injured spirit nearly shattered on the spot.
He wanted to summon the remaining Tianquan, Yuheng, and Yaoguang Swords to defend himself.
But after being struck by the Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo, even his thoughts and willpower seed to have been severed.
Before he could recover, Lei Jun swung his bamboo staff once more!
A dignified elder of Shushan—
His immortal soul shattered in an instant, like an egg smashed against a rock—splintering into countless fragnts.
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