Chapter 769: 312. Bulk Sacred Land (Two-in-One Chapter)_3

[Lethean Mist]

At a flash of inspiration, a name automatically surfaced in Lei Jun’s mind.

But soon, he felt his Xuānxiāo Immortal Thunder growing numb and sluggish, as if tainted by those colorless wafts of mist.

This Lethean Mist seemed to dissolve and purify the concepts and forces of other things. Though its power appeared similar to the dark side of the Celestial Book on the surface, *there was a profound difference at its core—it was even more like the Blood River of the Blood River Sect, just more restrained and far more ruthless.*

Lei Jun remained unruffled, and summoned both the Xuānxiāo Five Thunder Talisman and the Chenyang Midheaven Talisman together.

The crimson-gold Fire Tiger immediately supported the jet-black Thunder Dragon.

As Yin and Yang swapped and surged between them, they formed a vast Yin Yang Taiji Diagram.

Yin and Yang flowed harmoniously and intermingled, nurturing one another continuously; their union proved effective in suppressing the silent dominating artistic conception of the Lethean Mist, making it withdraw further and sealing it inside the Yin Yang Taiji Diagram.

At the same time, Lei Jun waved his hand.

A White Jade Great Seal, shimmering with violet, gold, and azure light, appeared out of thin air.

The light of the Celestial Master Seal swirled, conjuring a three-tiered altar, which Lei Jun hurled into the cavern, pinning down the once again rising Lethe River water.

The full power of the Yellow Springs Lethe far surpassed mortal imagination.

But here at Egret Peak was just a chance opening between the Great Tang realm and the Underworld, letting a scant amount of Wangchuan River water surge up.

With the Celestial Master Seal in hand, Lei Jun easily suppressed the rising waters.

While he sealed the Lethean Mist with Yin Thunder and Yang Fire, Lei Jun also manifested the Thunder Law Heavenly Scripture Talismans and Fire Dharma Earth Script Talismans around himself.

The violet Thunder Dragon resonated with the verdant Fire Tiger, forming another Yin Yang Taiji diagram comprised of Yang Thunder and Yin Fire.

This Yin Yang Taiji Diagram, together with the Celestial Master Seal, sank beneath the earth, and through the flow of Yin and Yang, *it now sealed off the residual Void Gateway, left behind after the Lethe River water receded.*

Lei Jun withdrew the Celestial Master Seal, stretched out one hand, spreading his fingers, palm facing downward.

The dark side of the Celestial Book formed a shadow, dropping wordlessly into the underground cavern for its final disposal as well.

If it were the Void Gateway above the East Sea or in the northwest at Greater and Little Guan Mountains, maintained for much longer and already relatively stable, *then Lei Jun would have met myriad obstacles attempting to handle it alone—it was nearly impossible to completely eradicate it.*

But now, the shadow shaped by the dark side of the Celestial Book complemented rather than harmed the sealing power of the Yin Yang Taiji Diagram, actually aiding in erasing the last traces of the Void Gateway.

Lei Jun withdrew his open palm.

With that gesture, the fissure beneath Egret Peak, seemingly leading to the nether Underworld, shuddered and closed up again amid the trembling dirt and rocks.

The chill and lifeless aura vanished completely.

The sound of stone grinding together now returned to Zhuo Baojie’s ears.

He stared wide-eyed and saw that beneath Egret Peak, besides marks of freshly shattered earth and stone, not a sign of Yellow Springs could be seen.

As if that earlier sight of Wangchuan’s water flooding into the mortal world had been pure hallucination.

Even if one dug now at the same spot where the rocks had split open and tunneled deep into the earth, *there would never again be a Void Gateway emerging there.*

"Master?" Zhuo Baojie turned to look at Lei Jun.

Lei Jun said, "It’s settled, even if another great commotion of the earth veins’ Spiritual Energy swept across the realm and Yellow Springs returned, it likely wouldn’t be here again."

As he spoke, Lei Jun withdrew the first Yin Yang Taiji Diagram in which the Lethean Mist had been sealed.

"Let’s go, we can study it on the way." Lei Jun took his disciple and set off once more.

This Lethean Mist, even in the Yellow Springs was probably exceedingly rare—it didn’t appear at every intersection of the Underworld and the mortal world.

Lei Jun crossing paths with it today was sheer luck.

The three-rank opportunity mentioned in the moderately good lot earlier surely referred to this treasure.

Lei Jun now possessed perception and insight unmatched by most.

From his first encounter with the Lethean Mist, he had already grasped its essential qualities.

The Ten Lands held many calamities; the Lethean Mist of Wangchuan’s origin posed extreme danger for mortals and even for many cultivators with moderate or advanced cultivation.

A single slip, and one’s Spiritual Soul could be wiped blank by the Lethean Mist, *leaving the person an empty shell without thought or awareness.*

To turn danger into treasure required not only capable methods, but also a cultivator whose own strength was exceptional.

For Lei Jun, who followed the Daoist Talisman Sect path, the foremost use of this Lethean Mist was to help temper his own Spiritual Soul.

Daoist Talisman Sect cultivators shaped both body and soul, balancing corporeal life mastery with spiritual essence.

Yet specifically regarding the Spiritual Soul, their main feature was lively, agile thought and sharp perception.

Only then could they sense the heavens and grasp nature with greater ease and freedom.

Regarding the fortitude of the Spiritual Soul, however, Daoist Talisman Sect cultivators fell short compared to the Taoist Alchemy Cauldron Sect, who forged Yang God Nascent Souls, or compared to martial Tao practitioner cultivators, whose souls were bound but whose mental defense was nearly absolute, or to the chief Buddhist Sects, whose discipline always prioritized mental and spiritual cultivation.

Lei Jun had always fared well in this area because the Celestial Master Seal had long been concealed within his Spiritual Soul.

Yet, first, the Celestial Master Seal might not stay by his side forever.

Second, *as Lei Jun’s cultivation and knowledge kept growing, and as the age itself became more turbulent, the foes he faced would only get stronger in the future.*

Depending on the Celestial Master Seal alone was not enough for Master Lei’s complete peace of mind.

He needed to refine himself in every aspect.

The fortitude of the Spiritual Soul was one such aspect.

This Lethean Mist, as long as properly controlled, was perfect for sharpening and refining one’s soul, much like whetting a blade against stone.

But, Lei Jun soon detected another problem.

Enduring the tempering of this Lethean Mist, the soul indeed grew harder, but its lively thoughts and keen awareness might become duller, slower and more rigid than before.