Chapter 1036 - 368: The Foremost in the Southern Lands

Chapter 1036: Chapter 368: The Foremost in the Southern Lands

After the situation calmed down, the lineage of Gepo Mountain looked back at past events. With the opening of the Earth Sea portal, regarding the incident of the former Holy Master of Gepo Mountain, Sang Lu’s demise, both within and outside misunderstood Li Tianqing to some extent.

However, Li Tianqing is now in hiding with the Blood River Sect after taking over as the sect leader along with Xing Feng, making it difficult to trace past events.

As Chu Kun knows, in recent years, Gepo Mountain has already begun to downplay the order to pursue Li Tianqing from back then.

Now that Wen Xi has taken over the lineage of Gepo Mountain, it essentially signifies that everything is stepping into a new phase.

Yet Gepo Mountain has ultimately lost what could have been the most outstanding successor in nearly a millennium.

"Gepo Mountain has sent an invitation over, Brother, you are currently publicly claiming to recuperate, so why not let me head south this time."

Chu Kun said: "I rarely go to the Southern Wilderness, so this time I might as well visit, try my luck, see if there’s any gain, or maybe I can find the Earth Surge Sky Star that I’m looking for."

The Celestial Master Mansion on Dragon Tiger Mountain holds a significant position today in the southern Great Tang, North of the Southern Wilderness. Anything happening southwards cannot bypass here.

And previously, the preliminary exchanges between both sides could still count as pleasant.

This grand event in Gepo Mountain will naturally invite guests from the Celestial Master Mansion to observe the ceremony.

Compared to the Celestial Master Mansion and other Taoist Sect sacred lands, this is extremely rare for the sacred land of the Southern Wilderness Witchcraft Sect throughout ancient and modern times.

Not to mention inviting Han people outside the Southern Wilderness Witchcraft Sect, even among other inheritors of Witchcraft Sect, it’s rare to attend a celebration of a particular sacred land.

For the various factions of the Southern Wilderness Witchcraft Sect, for most of history, they have been enemies with each other.

The past few years have been rare moments of overall peace in the Southern Wilderness.

Gepo Mountain, due to its new Holy Master’s succession, has made another step forward, openly inviting all sects under the Witchcraft Sect to observe the ceremony.

Even, inviting guests from the Celestial Master Mansion in the north to come and observe the ceremony.

From the Tang Imperial Court’s perspective, although Gepo Mountain has not openly invited guests for the ceremony, according to what the Celestial Master Mansion knows, both sides are also privately communicating.

"Hmm, since you wish to go, it’ll be a bit of a labor for you this time, Junior Brother."

Lei Jun laughed and said: "You are a person of great fortune, also keep an eye out for me if there’s anything like the Thousand Facet Mirror Jade."

Chu Kun: "Alright, I will keep an eye out."

After some preparations, Chu Kun, as the High Merit Elder of the Celestial Master Mansion, took some talisman-bestowed inheritors from the mansion and headed south to the Southern Wilderness.

As the openly invited representative of the Celestial Master Mansion for the ceremony, as soon as Chu Kun arrived in the Southern Wilderness, an elder from Gepo Mountain came to greet them, guiding the people of Celestial Master Mansion to today’s sacred land of Gepo Mountain.

The former location of the mountain gate of Gepo Mountain’s sacred land was very close to the Earth Sea portal in the Southern Wilderness.

Although the Earth Sea portal has been sealed now, the Gepo Mountain lineage chose a new site to open their mountain gate again, ultimately not returning to the ancestral site that had been cultivated for many years.

Now with the Earth Sea portal active again, it seems to prove their initial choice was correct.

Opening a new mountain gate and reestablishing a foundation is an enormous challenge naturally.

The relatively peaceful larger environment in the Southern Wilderness in recent years, with reduced fighting among various factions, is undoubtedly what the Gepo Mountain lineage needs.

To have such a scene, it wouldn’t be possible without the current consistent stance of the contemporary Celestial Master and Dragon Tiger Mountain over the years, preventing the Tang Imperial Court from penetrating further into the Southern Wilderness from the north, while allowing each branch of Witchcraft Sect from the south to remain restrained, reducing internal conflict.

The lineage of Gepo Mountain is grateful for this in their hearts.

Although the Celestial Master is recuperating due to a battle with the Western Regions Buddhist Sect, his cross-generational long-term friendly Junior Brother Elder Chu still came to observe the ceremony, warmly welcomed by the whole of Gepo Mountain.

...This kind of interaction between both sides also sends out a signal to the outside to a certain extent, indicating closer exchanges between the two major sacred lands of Taoist and Witchcraft Sects.

For the current lineage of Gepo Mountain, the benefits undoubtedly outweigh the disadvantages.

Chu Kun understood this well and did not resist.

He had talked with Lei Jun before coming, that among the major lineages of the Southern Wilderness Witchcraft Sect, the Divine Dance Lineage has always been relatively the most peaceful and stable, and their ability to re-stabilize their footing is beneficial and harmless to the Southern Wilderness.

The only regret is that Elder Chu’s luck was somewhat average this time.

However, although he gained some new items, the Earth Surge Sky Star he sought and the Thousand Facet Mirror Jade Lei Jun was looking for were not among them, causing Elder Chu to sigh internally.

But he maintained a good attitude, grateful for what he gained, accepting what he missed as fate, displaying no unusual expression, staying as a guest at Gepo Mountain for now, planning to wander around after the ceremony.

The soon-to-be new Holy Master of Gepo Mountain, Wen Xi, seemed quite busy, unseen before the grand ceremony.

......

The abandoned ancestral site ruins of Gepo Mountain.

The presumably extremely busy Wen Xi appeared here.

He walked alone in the mountains, feeling the void around once more becoming agitated.

In the distance, a young-looking Southern Wilderness man, slender in build, was likewise focusing on the void.

Wen Xi arrived at his side.

"The Void Gateway may reopen at any time." The young man didn’t turn around and said casually, "It’s a pity, even our Sacrificial Formation isn’t suitable for reinforcing in advance, otherwise there wouldn’t be such repercussions."

Wen Xi: "Yes."

After pausing slightly, he spoke again: "Li, brother..."

"I can’t come to witness, so I wish you well in taking over Gepo Mountain portal here."

Li Tianqing, the former heir of Gepo Mountain, now the Guest Elder of the Blood River Sect, smiled: "No need for gifts, you know I’ve always been a poor man, and quite stingy."

Wen Xi also laughed at his words: "I know it too well; I’ve never expected a gift from you; it’s always us several guys supporting you."

He sighed lightly: "It’s great that you could come."

"My master passed away early; later my cultivation benefited from the Holy Master’s guidance and nurturing."

Li Tianqing looked at the old ground of Gepo Mountain before him, where Gepo Mountain’s previous generation Holy Master Sang Lu fell, but after gathering, it was interred at the new mountain gate.

He calmly said: "When the Holy Master was attacked and fell, the scene was chaotic. I was quite confused at the time, others reacted more intensely. I don’t blame them, but I won’t return to Gepo Mountain."

Wen Xi was silent at his words.

Li Tianqing looked at him and smiled: "You taking over Gepo Mountain portal is great; I think, if the Holy Master knew, she would be very happy.

By the way, I recently found some clues about Yuan Shanji’s whereabouts, will investigate later."

Wen Xi: "Brother Li, if you need anything, feel free to contact me. For the whole Gepo Mountain, Yuan Shanji is a rebel that must be eradicated."

Li Tianqing waved his hand: "Alright, well, with others coming near, I must leave."

With that, he vanished from the spot.

Wen Xi watched him leave, sighing with a sense of longing.

......

Everywhere across north and south.

Although there are rumors of Great Demons appearing and Void Gateway disturbances in the Southern Wilderness currently, it’s been all thunder and no rain, never truly causing chaos.

Opposite to it, something truly happened at the Northern Border.

Great Demon Lord Black Mountain appeared.

After Long Sky Gray Wolf and Snow Country Bear King successively perished, space for ascension was freed for Northern Sea Whale King and Lord Black Mountain.

Originally at Eighth Heavenly Layer perfection, Great Demon Lord Black Mountain successfully broke through to the level equivalent to Ninth Heavenly Layer among the Human Race.

Rather than choosing to directly head south and invade the northern border of the Great Tang first.

It targeted the Northern Border.

Here, there are newly established ranches and forestry by the Tang Imperial Dynasty for taming exotic beasts.

Many exotic beasts were already restless, became even more wild when attacked and frightened.

Inspecting round the area, State Preceptor Tang Xiaotang rolled up his sleeves, ready to go north and fight the beasts.

As a result, Prince Zhao Zhang Teng, being closer, took advantage of the situation and went to the Northern Border ranch first to confront Lord Black Mountain, leaving State Preceptor Tang watching helplessly.

In Dragon Tiger Mountain, Lei Jun sat opposite his master Yuan Mobai.

Yuan Mobai said: "Prince Zhao can’t let it go."

Lei Jun: "Yes, that’s right."

He handed a report to his master: "Little senior sister shouldn’t be disappointed; there are plenty of troubles to clear up for her."

Yuan Mobai took the report and read:

The overlord of East Sea, Great Demon King Sea Chrysanthemum, reappeared near the coast with a tendency to land.

"Troubles arise, national fortune declines... Indeed, His Majesty is injured, and the injury isn’t light." Yuan Mobai’s usual gentle smile faded quite significantly.

Lei Jun: "It won’t be chaotic for now, the key is what follows."

Yuan Mobai gently nodded.

Outside, it was chaotic.

Lei Jun continued to live peacefully in the mountain.

In the altar of Wanfa Sect, Biliu Pearl seemed to turn into flowing water, and Nine Springs Ascending Spirit Jue turned into duo-color radiance.

The two gradually reached the balance Lei Jun expected, starting to intertwine and merge as one.