Wei Anchang had no qualms about what he killed, whether human or beast. As long as it didn’t put him in imdiate danger, he would take whatever he could.
After all, when you have too many lice, you stop itching; when you owe too much debt, you stop worrying.
Beyond his natural talent and cultivation efforts, his audacity, greed, and ruthless decisiveness were key reasons he had fought his way to his current level.
To be precise, this was how most Blood River Sect cultivators had operated throughout history.
That said, while Wei Anchang had the guts to act, he also had a knack for seizing the right opportunities.
His Lower-Bad On alongside the Four-Eyed Python Emperor was originally described as a “chain of disasters.”
But the two hadn’t coordinated an ambush at Dunjian Valley, waiting together for prey to arrive.
On the contrary, had they actually encountered each other, they might have fought first.
What really happened was that the Four-Eyed Python Emperor had been residing in Dunjian Valley, and Sangjie Shangren happened to walk right into its maw.
Sangjie Shangren was not weak. He had approached cautiously, alert at every step. If he had only faced the Four-Eyed Python Emperor alone, his survival was uncertain but not impossible—it could have gone either way.
At that ti, Jiasheng Shangren was already en route to the Southern Wasteland.
If Sangjie Shangren could have held out longer while fleeing, he might have survived with Jiasheng Shangren’s aid.
However, it was when he was escaping that Wei Anchang suddenly intercepted him—leading to his death.
The question was: why had Wei Anchang co to Dunjian Valley in the first place?
Given his usual ways, he likely wasn’t there specifically for the Four-Eyed Python Emperor.
He might not have even known the python was there.
It was sheer coincidence that he arrived just as the python was chasing Sangjie Shangren. With timing that perfect, he simply took the kill for himself.
Who he killed didn't matter—killing was killing.
Yet, Wei Anchang shouldn’t have known in advance that Sangjie Shangren would be there.
Which ant he must have co to this area with a different target in mind.
Was it Future Maitreya? Or Shangguan Yunbo?
Lei Jun pondered.
Roughly ten years ago, during the great war in the Southern Wasteland, it was Future Maitreya who had betrayed his allies and joined forces with Shangguan Yunbo, injuring Wei Anchang and forcing him to flee—shattering his ambition of unifying the Witch Sect.
That alliance, however, had been both unexpected and temporary.
To Shangguan Yunbo, the White Lotus Sect were rebels all the sa. When they t again, there would be no courtesy.
Regardless of who won their battle, Wei Anchang was happy to watch from the sidelines while seeking an opportunity to reap the benefits.
But Future Maitreya’s true strength had exceeded the expectations of Lei Jun, Yuan Mobai, Shangguan Yunbo, and Longjia Shangren alike—and even Wei Anchang himself.
Future Maitreya had managed to break through and escape, vanishing without a trace.
Which left only Sangjie Shangren to suffer.
After all, he was also a monk.
That said, by acting as he did, Wei Anchang had made an enemy of the Western Buddhist sects.
Jiasheng Shangren, unexpectedly, had personally arrived in the Southern Wasteland.
And he wasn’t alone—he had brought other Western Buddhist disciples to aid the Tang forces in a sweeping purge.
Others might not know, but Longjia Shangren had inford Jiasheng Shangren that Sangjie Shangren had gone to Dunjian Valley in search of the Avīci Treasure.
Comparing notes, it was easy to draw certain conclusions.
The Southern Wasteland’s Yin Mountain Grotto, a stronghold of the Witch Sect’s Gu Masters, had an elder—Tian Linlong—who had previously been connected to both Wei Anchang and Yang Yuqi.
Jiasheng Shangren hadn’t been in the Southern Wasteland long since arriving from Mount Suru, but with Longjia Shangren and Vajra Monastery as his local guides, he had already gained a clear picture of the ongoing power struggles between the Tang forces and various factions.
Connecting the dots, it wasn’t hard to suspect that Tian Linlong had deliberately led Sangjie Shangren into Wei Anchang’s hands.
Had the Blood River Sect been targeting the Western Buddhist sects from the very start?
But if so… why?
With that question in mind, the Buddhist forces intensified their search for Blood River Sect mbers and Tian Linlong.
They even reached out to the Western Region for reinforcents.
Of course, the Southern Wasteland never failed to deliver the unexpected.
Yuan Mobai and Longjia Shangren had been far from Youning Lake…
Yet Youning Lake itself had undergone a sudden and shocking change.
“The Nine Li’s black mist is spreading… has a Nine Heavens-level Great Shaman finally erged?”
Lei Jun recalled what his master, Yuan Mobai, had ntioned about this.
He now understood—the Lower-Moderate On pointing toward Youning Lake ant that this was where the danger lay.
The Nine Li Clan traditionally referred to those living under the sun in the mortal world as Xuanyuan People.
According to ancient legends, though the Nine Li had been forced to retreat to the Deep Sea after their defeat, their strength had never truly waned.
Especially since the Deep Sea had remained sealed off from the mortal world for countless years—who knew what had beco of it?
Though the black mist’s expansion wasn’t yet overwhelming, the Tang forces both inside and outside the empire treated it with the utmost caution.
Still, Youning Lake was so distance from the entrance to the Nine Li Secret Realm.
The sudden surge of black mist here had caught many by surprise.
Instead of spreading outward from the secret realm’s core, this change had happened abruptly outside its usual boundaries—a leap rather than a gradual expansion.
“It must be related to the land’s spiritual veins.”
Lei Jun quickly realized.
“These Nine Li people are manipulating the earth’s spiritual energy as well.”
Yuan Mobai nodded. “That’s very likely.”
After a brief pause, he added, “But there’s sothing even more shocking—the Great Shaman that erged was intercepted by none other than Fu Dongsen, wielding the Northern Abyss Divine Spear.”
Lei Jun raised an eyebrow at the news, indeed feeling a bit surprised.
Unlike the Blood River Sect, which was as bloodthirsty as a school of sharks, the Mortal Dao Nation had been relatively low-key in its movents, rarely making an appearance.
Especially Fu Dongsen, the forr sect leader of Shushan Sect, who had been missing ever since the great battle at Shushan.
Now, his sudden appearance was highly unusual—he was clearly here for a reason.
Although Fu Dongsen had clashed briefly with the Jiuli Grand Shaman due to the sudden events at Youning Lake, he did not linger and quickly retreated.
The Mortal Dao Nation was still in its accumulation phase. Already enemies of both the Tang Imperial Court and the Three Great Daoist Holy Lands, they wouldn't be foolish enough to provoke the Jiuli people and add another adversary to the list.
But at this point, the Southern Wastelands were getting rather crowded… Lei Jun mused.
JiuliWhite Lotus SectBlood River SectMortal Dao Nation
A true gathering of rogues—a rebel convention.
With rebels everywhere, Lei Jun wondered if General Shangguan and Prince Xiang were starting to feel overwheld.
Regardless, both the Western Region Buddhists and Yuan Mobai had been entrusted to remain and help deal with the situation.
At the sa ti, Shangguan Yunbo and Prince Xiang, Zhang Luo, imdiately sent an urgent report to Chang’an.
Due to the upheaval at Youning Lake, Shangguan Yunbo could no longer continue pursuing the Future Maitreya and was forced to return to regroup with Zhang Luo and the others.
Other Southern Wasteland Witch Sect factions were also shaken.
Lei Jun continued to act alone, working in tandem with Yuan Mobai, one in the light and one in the shadows.
He arrived at the outskirts of Youning Lake but did not go near.
His target was where Fu Dongsen had appeared earlier.
For now, he was more curious about the Mortal Dao Nation than the Jiuli lands.
Fu Dongsen had briefly fought the Grand Shaman before quickly leaving.
In such a scenario, it was inevitable that he had left so traces behind.
Lei Jun collected the traces, then withdrew to a safer, more concealed location, entering the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven.
Inside the True-One Altar, he didn’t need to move—just a thought, and countless Heavenly Ground-Through Talismans flickered into existence.
The talismans gathered and pulsed in midair, forming sothing like a celestial star map.
Lei Jun sat cross-legged, carefully analyzing the information.
After a long ti, he waved his hand.
The talismans did not disappear, but instead scattered in all directions, flying beyond the altar and out of the grotto-heaven.
Lei Jun remained calm and patient as he waited.
It was unclear how much ti had passed, but suddenly, his pupils flickered with talismanic light.
He exited the grotto-heaven, following the trail of his scattered talismans.
Then, his movent slowed down.
Far ahead, so of the talismans suddenly dispersed, dissolving back into pure spiritual energy.
Above Lei Jun’s head, the Mysterious Mirror rotated, casting a dim glow that further enhanced his concealnt under the Yin Concealnt Shift of his Heavenly Travel Talisman.
A mont later, he detected a faint but piercing light scanning the area from afar.
The light was ethereal yet sharp, possessing extraordinary insight and observational abilities.
Lei Jun’s gaze sharpened—his first thought was of a Shushan Sect artifact: the Minghua Mirror.
It was "forrly" a Shushan treasure because it had once belonged to Gao Yuyang, an elder of Shushan, who had forged it as his life-bound artifact.
However, Gao Yuyang had left Shushan Sect alongside Fu Dongsen, Hong Jie, and others, becoming one of the High Elders of the Mortal Dao Nation.
He was of the sa generation as Xu Duan and Wei Qiyue, even ranking above figures like Fu Dongsen and Zheng Dongying.
But in terms of cultivation, Gao Yuyang, Zheng Dongying, He Dongxing, and Ji Dongquan were all at the Seventh Heaven of the Daoist Artifact Refining Branch.
Not being a sword cultivator, Gao Yuyang's life-bound artifact was the Minghua Mirror.
While not as deadly as a flying sword, it had unique advantages—especially in insight and detection.
With his Seventh Heaven Artifact Refining mastery, Gao Yuyang could maximize the mirror’s observational power, making it incredibly difficult to hide from.
Lei Jun, however, was a step ahead, using multiple concealnt thods to successfully evade detection.
Gao Yuyang failed to notice Lei Jun, and Lei Jun, in turn, did not attack imdiately.
As he closed the distance, Lei Jun noticed that Gao Yuyang wasn’t alone—several younger Daoists accompanied him.
If Gao Yuyang hadn’t detected Lei Jun, these Middle Three Heavens cultivators certainly wouldn’t either.
But seeing them sparked so thoughts in Lei Jun’s mind.
According to Yuan Mobai’s earlier intel, the Western Region Buddhists had also deployed several Upper Three Heavens Red-Robed Masters, who had split up, each leading disciples on separate missions.
Despite their nominal cooperation with the Tang Imperial Court, the Buddhists were not eager to engage in direct conflict with the Mortal Dao Nation—at least, not unless absolutely necessary.
They already had two major enemies—White Lotus Sect and Blood River Sect.
Figures like Long Jia Shangren had no interest in making more foes.
If they encountered Gao Yuyang’s group without outside witnesses, they would likely turn a blind eye or even let them go.
The Mortal Dao Nation, in turn, had no reason to provoke the Buddhists either.
If anything, Gao Yuyang, with his superior scouting abilities, would be the one avoiding the Buddhists.
Though the two factions were philosophical adversaries, an open conflict wasn’t in the cards—at least not now.
Unless…
Sothing attracted both of them at the sa ti.
The Boundless Abyss Treasure, due to Sangjie Shangren’s involvent, had already pushed the Buddhists to their limits.
If one wrong move led them to mobilize in full force, it could restrict Lei Jun’s maneuverability—and fail to bait Gao Yuyang’s group.
So…
Was there sothing else that could entice both sides?
Lei Jun pondered for a mont before contacting Yuan Mobai to get an update on the Western Region Buddhists' movents.
Then, he took action.
A serene, green river appeared before him.
The Southern Wastelands were filled with rivers and streams, much like Zhaojiang, Zhu’an River, and many others.
The Yujiang River, where Lei Jun now stood, was one such waterway.
He stepped into the river and took a deep breath.
A dragon’s roar and tiger’s growl echoed—the true forms of Dragon and Tiger erged, forming a Yin-Yang Taiji that radiated countless mysteries.
This was the Dragon-Tiger Talisman.
As the talisman flashed, nine colored vestnts draped over Lei Jun's body, forming a Chaotic Nine-Light Illusion.
Nine-colored radiance rose above the river, and an illusory Dragon-Tiger Talisman reflected in midair.
Soon, a beam of mirror light shone from afar.
Gao Yuyang. The Minghua Mirror.
As a reserved and calculated elder, Gao Yuyang rarely acted impulsively.
He had left Shushan with Fu Dongsen to seek relics connected to the ancient Celestial Palace.
But now, his mirror light revealed sothing shocking—
The Tianshi Robe.
It was unmistakable. A true Chaotic Nine-Light vestnt, woven with the Dragon-Tiger Talisman.
This could not be forged or imitated.
The Tianshi Robe was here.
But that was not a mystical ability from the Buddhist Mudra Techniques Lineage.
Rather, it bore so resemblance to a Daoist technique…
Gao Yuyang sensed the presence of an unknown force manipulating events from behind the scenes. However, before he could react, his soul fused with the Bright Mirror trembled violently.
Another heavy blow struck him—his already fractured Bright Mirror shattered on the spot!
Gao Yuyang’s immortal soul spilled out from the fragnts, becoming incredibly fragile and faint.
Before he could make another move, the swirling vortex of spiritual energy intensified, turning into a grinding storm that shredded his soul to pieces, erasing him completely.
The Mortal Dao Nation cultivators on the shore of the lake were stunned with horror.
Though their hearts were filled with fury, witnessing the sudden death of Elder Gao, who was at the Upper Three Heavens level, made them realize the dire situation.
Even if they were unwilling to accept it, their only choice at this mont was to retreat from the lake as fast as possible.
The chaotic spiritual energy of the water severely disrupted their perception.
On the shore, Western Buddhist disciples also struggled to sense what was happening beneath the surface.
However, they all clearly witnessed the giant mudra imprint on the Bright Mirror and the death of Gao Yuyang.
At this mont, they abandoned all hesitation and pursued the escaping Mortal Dao Nation cultivators.
Yet, after taking only two steps, a voice echoed from within the lake.
“Hold!”
It was Longjia Shangren.
Seeing Gao Yuyang perish so mysteriously, an overwhelming sense of unease flooded his heart.
He even stopped reaching for the Tianshi Robe.
Longjia Shangren defended himself cautiously, scanning his surroundings.
Following Gao Yuyang’s death, a vague silhouette appeared at the edge of the lake.
Only Longjia Shangren barely caught a glimpse of it.
Even the Western Buddhist cultivators at the Middle Three Heavens level could not perceive anything.
Suddenly, a brilliant sword light tore through the air like a bolt from the heavens, piercing into the lake.
Longjia Shangren’s hair stood on end, and he tried to evade, but he was instantly locked in place by an imnse, invisible force of primordial magnetism.
Panic surged through him as he activated his full strength.
The lake waters around him violently rippled, shimring with faint Buddhist radiance that warped in a bizarre manner.
But it was too late.
The sword light struck—blood splattered.
Although Longjia Shangren had barely managed to shift his vital points, he was still wounded by the sword’s razor-sharp edge.
A second sword light followed, this ti—he had no escape.
With a single clean slash, his head was severed.
The situation had suddenly turned into a complete disaster.
The Western Buddhist disciples, who had been so full of righteous fervor just monts ago, were now frozen in shock.
Then, in the distance, a figure erged, slowly approaching.
A terrifying realization dawned upon them—was it a swordmaster from the Mortal Dao Nation who had co to aid their comrades?
Faced with such an overwhelmingly powerful opponent, the Western Buddhist disciples abandoned all thoughts of resistance.
Even though Longjia Shangren had just died, they had no choice but to flee at once.
Reporting what had transpired here to their sect elders was now their top priority.
Thankfully, their unknown foe did not pursue them.
One of the bolder disciples paused and turned to glance back.
Far off, over the lake, a chaotic vortex of nine-colored light rose and then slowly receded.
It seed that the reason the enemy had not chased them was because they were preoccupied with obtaining the Tianshi Robe.
Buddha’s rcy… but alas, Longjia Shishu…
The Western Buddhist disciples dared not linger a mont longer and imdiately fled.
Once they had distanced themselves from the Yujing River region and found a sowhat safer spot, they hurriedly contacted their elder, Jiasheng Shangren, reporting the incident and Longjia Shangren’s death.
On the other side, the fleeing Mortal Dao Nation cultivators also looked back in despair.
Under the nine-colored glow of the chaotic vortex, a faint radiance from the Tianshi Robe could be seen within it.
Their hearts bled.
The Tianshi Robe, a treasure of such significance, had fallen into the hands of the Western Buddhist monks…
Elder Gao was also dead.
This matter could not simply be left as it was!
“Quick! Send a flying sword ssage to inform the Sect Master!”
The Mortal Dao Nation was currently being suppressed from multiple fronts by forces under the Tang Imperial Court and could not launch any major counteroffensive for now.
Still, they needed to make preparations.
anwhile, Jiasheng Shangren, the Western Buddhist representative in the Southern Wasteland, was now truly furious.
For strategic reasons, the Xumi Vajra Division had always maintained a low profile in the mortal world, minimizing hostilities and advancing their goals gradually.
Previously, Sangjie Shangren had been humiliated by Tang Xiaotang, and the Western Buddhists had chosen to endure it.
Then, Sangjie Shangren was slain by Wei Anchang.
And now, Longjia Shangren had also been killed—by the Mortal Dao Nation.
What next? Would everyone treat Western Buddhism as easy prey?!
Jiasheng Shangren, despite being a Nine-Heavens Buddhist Master with years of deep spiritual cultivation, felt anger rising in his heart.
However, he quickly cald himself.
That did not an he would remain passive.
He deliberately spread news that the Tianshi Robe had fallen into the hands of the Mortal Dao Nation, shifting the bla onto them.
At the sa ti, he urgently contacted the Tang Imperial Court and Tianshi Mansion’s representative in the Southern Wasteland—Yuan Mobai— to discuss the matter.
Jiasheng Shangren rushed to the Yujing River region, but by then, the place was completely desolate.
Even Longjia Shangren’s body had vanished.
Lei Jun had long since left.
Finding a secure and hidden location, Lei Jun contacted his master, Yuan Mobai.
Yuan Mobai, naturally acting as if he knew nothing, expressed great interest upon hearing about the Tianshi Robe and imdiately headed for the Yujing River.
Both he and Jiasheng Shangren found nothing.
For the mont, it seed that both sides were united in their opposition to the Mortal Dao Nation.
However, soon after, a different rumor began spreading throughout the Southern Wasteland:
"The Western Buddhists are crying thief while being the real thieves! They stole the Tianshi Robe and frad the Mortal Dao Nation."
"Forr Shushan Elder Gao Yuyang was slain because of this."
"And Longjia Shangren? He's not dead—he’s just hiding!"
Although these rumors lacked the amplification power of the Western Buddhist influence, they still managed to muddy the waters.
And from this point on, whenever Jiasheng Shangren and his group encountered Yuan Mobai, they couldn’t shake the feeling that his gaze had changed.
Yet, looking closer, the young Daoist in purple still seed warm and polite.
"I, of course, do not believe the words of these traitors to the Daoist path," Yuan Mobai said earnestly, even with a hint of sincerity.
"If you great masters should locate the Tianshi Robe while dealing with the heretics of the Mortal Dao Nation, I would be imnsely grateful."
Jiasheng Shangren: "..."
After so hesitation, he responded, "Elder Yuan speaks too gravely. The heretics of the Mortal Dao Nation have seized a Daoist treasure, and it will only bring them misfortune. We, too, shall do our utmost to recover it."
Yuan Mobai: "And about Master Longjia…?"
Jiasheng Shangren: "…He perished at the hands of the heretics."
Yuan Mobai sighed. "Yes, truly regrettable."
The Vajra Division masters across from Yuan Mobai felt an unusual sense of frustration.
If Longjia Shangren had actually brought back the Tianshi Robe, everything would have been straightforward.
Jiasheng Shangren was patient enough to engage in wordplay and maneuver diplomatically.
But the real issue was this:
They had no robe.
Their fellow disciple was dead.
And now, they were the ones being frad!
Damn Fu Dongsen, Wei Qiyue, Hong Jie, Rong Guangchen, Gu Han, and all the others!
The Mortal Dao Nation seriously needed to be dealt with!
At this point, Shangguan Yunbo and Prince Xiang, Zhang Luo, stepped in to diate between Tianshi Mansion and Western Buddhism.
For now, both sides were temporarily directing their grievances toward the Mortal Dao Nation.
Yuan Mobai, as always, maintained an amiable deanor, never showing any signs of urgency or anger.
Everyone was secretly relieved that the Tianshi Mansion representative in the Southern Wasteland was him, rather than Xu Yuanzhen or Tang Xiaotang…
But even Shangguan Yunbo and Zhang Luo could tell that, deep down, Yuan Mobai was suspicious of Western Buddhism.
He had not fully let go of his doubts.
All they could do was continue smoothing things over publicly while inwardly sighing.
Truthfully, even Shangguan Yunbo and Zhang Luo weren’t entirely convinced whether the Tianshi Robe was actually in the hands of the Mortal Dao Nation or Western Buddhism.
But at this mont, it was more important to maintain stability.
Outwardly, Yuan Mobai played the role of a reasonable diator, but privately, his thoughts were as composed as ever.
When he later contacted Lei Jun, his first words were a warning:
“That was a bit too risky.”
Lei Jun acknowledged the reprimand without argunt.
“Master is right.”
Fortunately, he had the Light Sphere in his mind—if it ever issued a true warning, he would imdiately change course without hesitation.
Aside from their original plans concerning the White Lotus Sect, their attention was now also drawn to the Blood River Sect and the Mortal Dao Nation.
As for the Nine Li’s resurgence, there was no suitable opportunity for action yet…
Lei Jun chuckled to himself.
It seed he was getting quite good at squeezing the most out of a single target.
But could he be blad?
After all, he held such deep affection for them.
Even if Western Buddhism were to make an enemy of the entire world, he would still stand by them.
…
Huh?
They weren’t intending to make an enemy of the whole world?
That’s fine.
That’s what I’m here for.
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