Chapter 746: 307. Return to the Mountain to Cultivate (Two-in-One Chapter)_4

Hearing Chu Yu mention this, Lei Jun was also pleasantly surprised. If the Cangming Treasure Tree could be revitalized, the young disciples of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion would benefit for a long time to come.

"We have discovered some Cangqing Crystals, but they are quite scattered and need to be collected. I have already reported to His Majesty, and by His Majesty’s command, they will be sent to your sect at Dragon Tiger Mountain once they are organized," said Chu Yu.

Cangqing Crystals had not appeared in the Great Tang Realm for many years. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Lei Jun made a Taoist Sect gesture of respect. "We thank His Majesty."

The two of them then took the opportunity to discuss the situation in the Northwest. According to the latest information Chu Yu had received, efforts in the Northwest to seal the Void Gateway were also underway. However, the people of the Solitary Eagle Khanate were more valiant and tenacious than the Heavenly Order Cultivators, leading to a fiercer and more drawn-out contest for control over the Portal. Fortunately, the Great Tang had also established a dominant position and was merely waiting for the final success of "closing the door."

"The storms of the East Sea are finally calming, but pardon my boldness, I would like to ask Elder Lei to stay a few more days," Chu Yu said cautiously.

Lei Jun replied, "That is certainly possible. May I ask the reason?"

He had a guess in his heart. Now that they had successfully repelled the Heavenly Principle and temporarily neutralized the external threats from the East Sea, the Great Tang needed to internally address the public disputes involving Fang Yue and Ye Ming.

Fang Yue was an upright man, true, but not one to suffer indignity in silence. Being ambushed and nearly assassinated by Ye Ming did not unsettle Fang Yue’s composure; he continued to prioritize the overall situation. But once the broader situation stabilized, he would naturally report the matter to the Imperial Court. And the Tang Imperial Court would certainly not ignore it.

However, the Qingzhou Ye Clan had not been idle either. Ye Ming’s whereabouts were unknown, his life or death uncertain. But it seemed likely that his chances of survival were slim. Once the Qingzhou Ye Clan understood the general situation, they immediately counter-accused Fang Yue of colluding with the Heavenly Order Cultivators. In this, they also contacted Chu Taoyuan of the Suzhou Chu Clan, who had similarly suffered.

Chu Xiuyuan personally investigated. He confirmed that his clan brother Chu Taoyuan had died because of the Great Void Temple. However, both the Qingzhou Ye Clan and Suzhou Chu Clan soon ascertained that Abbot Miaoxin of Tianlong Temple had been pursuing the Heavenly Order Cultivator Jiang Zhiming when he was attacked by Abbot Yuanmie of the Great Void Temple. By linking Jiang Zhiming to the Great Void Temple, they then connected this to Ye Ming’s death and accused Fang Yue of colluding with both the Great Void Temple and the Heavenly Order Cultivators.

Lei Jun and Master Faming managed to capture Jiang Zhiming alive. They failed to extract any information from him regarding his connection to the Great Void Temple; Jiang Zhiming himself seemed oblivious to the Great Void Temple’s existence. It seemed Yuanmie had made other arrangements previously, thereby misleading Abbot Miaoxin and attempting to lure him into the trap of the Reversed Round Mirror Wisdom Array. However, Abbot Miaoxin did not fall for it; instead, Master Yangchao, Chu Taoyuan, stumbled right into the trap. After evading Abbot Miaoxin and the other monks from Tianlong Temple, Yuanmie’s current whereabouts became unknown.

Although Fang Yue possessed Ye Ming’s fragmented Vast Sea Map, he had no other leads. This was especially true since Ye Ming was missing, neither seen alive nor his body found. The Qingzhou Ye Clan completely denied everything, insisting that Fang Yue had conspired with others to assassinate Ye Ming. Thus, the two sides were at a deadlock.

Chu Yu had invited Lei Jun to stay a few more days precisely because of this public dispute.

Lei Jun calmly agreed. "Master Shangguan set out to sea previously and has not yet returned. My martial brothers and I can stay for a few more days to wait for her."

Chu Yu said, "We appreciate your help, Elder Lei."

On the surface, Lei Jun was not involved in this matter, nor was he aware of all the intricacies and who was in the right or wrong. Neither Chu Yu nor Fang Yue expected him to make an explicit statement of support. As a core high-ranking member of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion, Lei Jun’s mere presence, even in silence, represented to some extent the stance of the Celestial Master Mansion. He now wielded such influence.

Consequently, the Tang Imperial Court proceeded to exert pressure on the Qingzhou Ye Clan and Suzhou Chu Clan with an even firmer stance. Regardless of whether it was the Royal Family or the Ye and Chu Clans, although there were ongoing power plays, none intended to completely sever ties at this juncture. While the Qingzhou Ye Clan and Suzhou Chu Clan were inclined to maintain a low profile and recuperate, the Tang Imperial Court also hoped they would contribute personnel and effort to guard and seal the Portal connecting the Heavenly Principle and the Great Tang Realm.

Ultimately, Yuanmie of the Great Void Temple and the adherents of the Heavenly Principle shouldered most of the blame. And Ye Ming couldn’t completely clear his own name either.

Ye Yan publicly visited Fang Yue, offering condolences and compensation. Fang Yue’s name once again became renowned throughout the world. However, he himself didn’t care about the related fame. After calmly accepting the Imperial Court’s rewards, he immediately left the East Sea. On one hand, his mind had already returned to the third Scholarly Mansion he was founding in Jianye. On the other, he intended to inspect the specific coastal defenses to prevent the previous great battle in the East Sea from affecting the coastal populace.

Lei Jun and his martial brother, Chu Kun, waited until their Master, Shangguan Ning, returned from her journey across the distant oceans. Shangguan Ning had not found Xu Yuanzhen. After reuniting with Lei Jun and Chu Kun, the three of them left the East Sea together. Chu Kun decided to accompany Fang Yue on his journey to inspect the coastal dikes, also taking the opportunity to check on his relatives who had temporarily evacuated their homes to avoid the earlier conflicts.

Lei Jun and Shangguan Ning then returned to Dragon Tiger Mountain.

"Cangqing Crystals? That is indeed good news—there’s hope for the Cangming Treasure Tree’s revival," Yuan Mobai nodded with a smile.

Lei Jun said, "Later, the Imperial Court will send them to the mountain. Hopefully, the Cangming Treasure Tree can be revived because of them. Besides that, during my time away, I’ve also acquired some other things."

He produced two red gourds, flickering with purple light.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Mobai recalled some ancient records he had read and asked, "Brahman Qi Immortal Gourds?"

Seeing Lei Jun nod, Yuan Mobai smiled. "The affairs of the world are truly unpredictable. Many artifacts that vanished from the Great Tang Realm still exist in another Mortal World."

Lei Jun replied, "The reverse is also true."

Yuan Mobai said, "Since it is your fortuitous encounter, you should decide how to handle it. Besides, this treasure is well-suited for your current cultivation."

Only one Brahman Qi Immortal Gourd is effective for an individual; possessing more is a waste. Besides Lei Jun using one himself, there was another.

For the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion, the current primary task was to re-accumulate resources, solidify its foundation, and expand its base. In the long run, the Primordial Qi of the Taoist Sect Holy Land could be restored. However, this did not mean the Celestial Master Mansion would cease its efforts to continue raising its upper limits. Therefore, ensuring good steel was used on the blade’s edge, this second Brahman Qi Immortal Gourd was reserved by Lei Jun for an Eighth Heavenly Layer cultivator of Our Sect—either his Master Yuan Mobai or Tang Xiaotang. As for his Senior Martial Sister Xu Yuanzhen, there was no need to consider her. For a Ninth Heavenly Layer cultivator, the Brahman Qi Immortal Gourd’s utility was extremely limited, almost a waste.

"I don’t need it," Tang Xiaotang, having left seclusion, stated with a smile.

Hearing her say this and seeing the expression on her face, Lei Jun understood. "Congratulations, Xiaotang, your cultivation has advanced to a new level, achieving Eightfold Heaven Complete and attaining the Divine Court Superior Vista!"

Tang Xiaotang grinned, "Thank you!"

Next, her goal was to assail the Ninth Heavenly Layer realm, just as Xu Yuanzhen had. Having reached the Perfection of the Divine Court Four Sceneries, her energy would primarily be focused on overcoming the Heavenly Moat Tribulation that lay between the Eighth and Ninth Heavenly Layers. Thus, the Brahman Qi Immortal Gourd wasn’t of much use to her.

Lei Jun then looked to his master. "Well, this is quite a coincidence—a perfect fit for each."

Yuan Mobai couldn’t help but smile upon hearing this.

Lei Jun did not delay much after returning to the mountain this time. That night, he sat upright in his own cave mansion. The red gourd, shimmering with purple light, was opened. Streams of clear qi began to rise from it. Lei Jun used his mana to confine the qi within the upper space of the room. The invisible clear qi then gathered into a mass, its periphery seemingly etched with crimson inscriptions.

Lei Jun calmed himself, regulated his breathing, and began to refine this clear qi, which seemed to be engraved with crimson patterns. Consequently, the Divine Court Inner Scene within his body began to change faster than he had anticipated before his journey to the East Sea.