Chapter 1062 - 373: Celestial Master Returns to the World (Double-Length - )_4

Chapter 1062: Chapter 373: Celestial Master Returns to the World (Double-Length Chapter)_4

That place was the absolute key among all keys.

If there was no opening from Chang’an, then all else was moot.

His gaze shifted, turning toward the north.

Over there were some people entertaining designs similar to theirs.

Prince Zhao and his elder brothers could not fail to recognize their own disadvantages, so how would they compensate for them?

His gaze turned back again to the East Sea before him, back to the Penglai Portal.

Here, there might be some variables.

And then...

Ye Yan’s gaze turned once more toward the south.

Over there, there might also be some variables.

Here at the East Sea, he could still make some preparations, but to the south his whip could not reach.

That place was likewise crucial...

.........

In the Southern Wildernes region.

Lei Jun, Zhang Mu, and their party headed south, leaving the Great Tang’s territory and stepping into the domain of the Southern Wildernes.

Yet upon just arriving in the Southern Wildernes, the latest news they received made everyone look at one another in astonishment:

Someone had put a stop to the rampage of the Nine-winged Golden Centipede.

Someone who was slightly beyond what some had expected.

Once the favored son of heaven of the Witchcraft Sect Divine Dance Lineage’s Sacred Land Gepo Mountain in the Southern Wildernes, now a guest Elder of the Blood River Lineage’s Blood River Sect.

Li Tianqing.

The Nine-winged Golden Centipede was not only halted in its tracks by him, but was even forced to flee south.

A Great Demon whose level was equivalent to a Ninth Heavenly Layer expert of the Human Race had, this time, ended up with thunder loud but little rain.

"This Elder Li of the Blood River Sect... has successfully reached the Ninth Heavenly Layer of the Witchcraft Sect Divine Dance Lineage."

Already in the Southern Wildernes, Chu Kun, who had rushed over to join Lei Jun and the others, explained the details:

"Judging by the situation, he should have just broken through; his own life-bound Third Divine Faculty has not yet taken shape, still in the state of cultivation, but his strength is truly formidable. Under the shroud of the sacrificial formation, the Nine-winged Golden Centipede almost couldn’t even manage to escape."

Lei Jun’s expression remained unruffled: "No surprise. Back when he was at the Eighth Heavenly Layer, he could already withstand the former Gepo Mountain Elder Yuan Shanji, whose minor realm was higher than his."

"Afterward, joining forces with Blood River Sect’s Xing Feng, they even left Ninth Heavenly Layer Wei Ancheng without an advantage to gain."

"The two of them not only possessed outstanding talent in cultivation, their actual combat spellcasting far surpassed their peers, not something ordinary people could compare to."

Lei Jun had only heard of Blood River Sect’s Xing Feng by reputation.

Li Tianqing, however, he had personally witnessed take action.

Since their first meeting in the Southern Wildernes in earlier years, around thirty years had passed.

At that time, the man was not yet fifty, yet had already cultivated to the Eighth Heavenly Layer of the Witchcraft Sect Divine Dance Lineage, and apart from Tang Xiaotang, was the most eye-catching young-generation expert of the same era in the Great Tang Mortal World.

Only, Li Tianqing would never have imagined that his life afterward would undergo such an earth-shaking change.

Yet true gold fears no fire; after all kinds of twists and turns, today, thirty years later, he had ultimately succeeded in reaching the Ninth Heavenly Layer, becoming, in the Southern Wildernes Witchcraft Sect, the second publicly acknowledged Witchcraft expert after Wei Ancheng to attain such a realm in recent years, still a distance from a hundred years of age.

He fulfilled the expectations once held for him within and without the Southern Wildernes and at Gepo Mountain, surpassing former Holy Master Sang Lu of Gepo Mountain, and becoming the new foremost expert of the Divine Dance Lineage.

Only, for him, the phrase "things are no longer what they were" was the most fitting.

"Because of the matter of the Jiuli bloodline, he left Gepo Mountain, but it’s clear he still bears a bond of incense and lineage toward Gepo Mountain."

Chu Kun said, "This time it was precisely Gepo Mountain that suffered an assault from the Nine-winged Golden Centipede, and it was thanks to this Elder Li of the Blood River Sect that the creature was driven off."

"It’s apparent that Gepo Mountain’s current Holy Master, Wen Xi Wen Dao, had already been in contact with him earlier, but even he seemed quite surprised at Li’s attainment of the Ninth Heavenly Layer."

Lei Jun considered it: "If your guess is correct, that he is newly broken through the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Eighth and Ninth Heavenly Layer, then within this year, by timing, it would likely be after Mr. Wen took charge of the Gepo Mountain Portal that this Mr. Li went to cross his tribulation."

Chu Kun appeared to understand: "So, a heart free of entanglements... Viewed this way, he indeed has bonds of incense with Gepo Mountain and with Mr. Wen, matching what he is now doing."

After driving away the Nine-winged Golden Centipede, Li Tianqing did not simply stop there, but pursued all the way, leaving that Great Demon exhausted and fleeing for its life.

For the Tang Imperial Court and the Witchcraft Sect of the Southern Wildernes, this could be considered good news for the moment.

Only for Celestial Master Lei, the news seemed to have come somewhat late.

"Since Mr. Li is thus, then... what of the others in Blood River Sect?" Lei Jun, seemingly having made the trip for nothing, spoke in a calm tone.

Chu Kun: "For the time being, the whereabouts of Xing Feng and the other Blood River Sect members are uncertain."

Since Xing Feng took over the Blood River Sect Portal, the sect’s cultivators had become much more low-key, no longer roaming about everywhere like bloodthirsty sharks as before.

Lei Jun: "Any latest news from within the Earth Sea?"

Chu Kun: "The four clans of Tanli, Wu Li, Guangli, and Fuli are temporarily holding on, but of their four clan chiefs, two are dead and two injured, unable to counterattack."

"Li Yan and Li De have led the Poli and Bili clans to join forces with the Wenli, JulLi, and Luli clans in one place. Tang is seeking trouble with Li Yan, but for the moment has yet to gain the upper hand."

Chu Kun’s expression grew a shade more solemn: "There are quite a few experts among the Five Tribes Alliance Army, especially the Wenli clan’s chief, Li Zhongding—his strength is extremely formidable."

"In earlier years, he was defeated by Tanli clan chief Li Yuanheng, losing the position of Earth Sea Lord. At the time, most among the Jiuli believed he had fallen."

"Unexpectedly, not only did he return in force this time, his strength had even advanced further. While Li Yuanheng was locked in a decisive battle with the Great Demon Luo Yuan, he suddenly struck from the shadows and gravely wounded Li Yuanheng."

"If Tang had not cut her way into the Earth Sea this time, the Lord of the Earth Sea would likely have changed hands."

"Since we are already here, we should naturally lend Senior Sister a hand."

Lei Jun spoke to Xun’an Prince Zhang Mu: "Everyone, please follow this poor Daoist."

Zhang Mu and the others all assented without exception.

In the area around the Earth Sea Portal in the Southern Wildernes, Lei Jun set up several Ritual Instruments, handing them over to Chu Kun, Zhang Mu, and the others to respectively maintain.

Although he, unlike Tang Xiaotang, could not directly contact and circulate portions of Earth Vein Dragon Qi, his comprehension was outstanding, and he was well-versed in the earth veins. The Ritual Instruments he laid down echoed one another, further helping the Southern Wildernes stabilize its terrain and suppress the Earth Sea Portal’s absorption of Spiritual Energy from the Mortal World.

Lei Jun next also intended to enter the Earth Sea for a look around. Though there was some leeway in timing, with the Great Void Bindi Lotus not yet in bloom and Tang Xiaotang’s Celestial Master’s Sword in her hand, playing quite merrily within the Earth Sea, since he had already arrived, he would not delay overmuch.

"I’ll enter the Earth Sea to seek out Little Senior Sister and the others. Junior Brother, you stay in the Mortal World and remain on your guard."

Lei Jun instructed Chu Kun: "If matters go awry, protecting yourself comes first. If need be, just slip away directly. I have other arrangements; you need not cling to guarding the rear."

Chu Kun: "I greatly enjoy hearing you say that, Senior Brother, but these are troubled times and the situation hard to predict. You and Little Senior Sister still need to be extra cautious."

Lei Jun took leave of Chu Kun, Zhang Mu, and the others.

However, just as he was preparing to enter the Earth Sea, the light sphere in his consciousness suddenly began to flicker:

[Waves rise in the Earth Sea, a black lotus blooms in the Mortal World.]

Then, two lots of fortune flew out from within the light sphere:

[Moderately good lot: Before entering the Earth Sea, first go to Canglang Rock on the South Sea Shore; there is a chance to obtain one third-grade opportunity, with some ripples but no major danger at present. There may be karmic entanglements to follow; handle them with prudence to dissolve them. Auspicious.]

[Perfectly neutral lot: Enter the Earth Sea directly, with no additional gains. After entering, extra waves will arise, but no major danger. Neutral.]

Seeing this, Lei Jun was somewhat surprised.

A black lotus blooming in the Mortal World?

So, people from the Great Void Temple?

Lei Jun raised his brows slightly.

Back then, after Li Yan of the Poli Clan and the others caused a great disturbance in northern Cangzhou, they received aid from a Great Demon upon the sea, thereby shaking off their pursuers and successfully retreating to the Southern Wildernes, retreating to the Earth Sea.

The reason that Great Demon helped them was precisely because the Great Void Temple had acted as intermediary.

Yuanmie Monk had, because of this, parted ways with the Cangzhou Ye Clan and other renowned aristocratic families.

Now that the Earth Sea Portal had reopened, he and the Great Void Temple also wanted to stick a foot in?

Judging from the perfectly neutral lot, the other side might stir up some trouble, yet would not affect me... Lei Jun mused inwardly.

However, this time, I’ll choose the moderately good lot.

Calmly bypassing the Earth Sea Portal, Lei Jun first headed for Canglang Rock on the South Sea Shore.