Lei Jun’sTianxing Talisman'sYin Movement Techniqueexerted its full effect at this moment, pushing his concealment to the extreme. With the assistance of theIllusory Mirror, his figure blended seamlessly into the void.

Even so, Lei Jun remained cautious as he moved forward.

Daoist cultivators from theDaoist Alchemical Sectwere known for their acute spiritual perception—especially if they had reached the level ofYang Spirit Projection. At that stage, their ability to sense and perceive their surroundings would be further enhanced.

Lei Jun silently infiltrated the hidden cave. Before he even saw the master of this place, he felt a slight shift in his own mind.

HisYin-Yang Sacred Physiqueseemed to have been triggered by some unknown presence.

Aside from his physique, both theBalance of Motion and StillnessandHeavenly Book·Three, which explained the changes of theTwo Elements of Creation, were also stirred.

Lei Jun remained composed. The surface of hisIllusory Mirrorflipped, alternating between light and shadow in an instant.

At the same time, hisCelestial Ground-Through Talismanactivated.

Even though he was in a sealed cave, the general layout of the space soon became clear in his mind.

As Lei Jun approached, he was surprised to find Kang Ming restrained, unable to move freely.

The deep-red Daoist robe Kang Ming wore glowed with a radiance that did not originate from him.

Numerous talismans shimmered on his robe, forming a suppressive force that sealed his cultivation and controlled his movements.

Kang Ming cursed his misfortune.

He had never imagined that theHuangtian Secthad been secretly infiltrated by defectors from thePure Yang Palace—to the extent that some members had already been possessed and taken over.

What should have been an inspiring tale of a young prodigy traveling to an overseas sect for secluded cultivation and a breakthrough into a higher realm had suddenly turned into a horror story filled with tragedy.

And as forDaoist Kang, he had walked straight into a trap.

In truth, Zhou Peng and the others hadn’t planned to act against him immediately.

They had intended to continue nurturing Kang Ming, waiting until he reached theSeventh Heavenbefore making their move.

If a cultivator merely possessed another’s body temporarily, they could eventually return to their original form. That was one thing.

But if they were to live the rest of their life in a stolen body, their future progress in cultivation would become exceedingly difficult due to theUnchanging Form Principle.

Moreover, thePossession Techniqueitself would erode the cultivator’s soul, making repeated use dangerous.

Back when Lei Jun had destroyed the body ofZhao Sen, the heir of theYinshan Grottoin theSouthern Wasteland’s Witch Sect, Zhao Sen had opted to sustain himself throughGu insectsrather than hastily possessing a new body. The reason was precisely because of these drawbacks.

Thus, while Kang Ming's breakthrough into theSeventh Heavenwould grant him immense power, Zhou Peng and the others still wished to let him develop further. They were confident that when the time came, they could still control him.

Unfortunately, Kang Ming was both alert and perceptive—he quickly noticed that something was off.

Though he had tried to feign ignorance and maintain a composed demeanor, Zhou Peng and his group had been secretly observing him the entire time.

Once they realized their cover had been blown, they didn’t hesitate any longer.

They subdued Kang Ming immediately.

The core area ofZhubo Cavewas shrouded in mist, suffused with spiritual energy, resembling an ethereal paradise.

Yet the events unfolding within were far fromDaoist serenity.

Kang Ming lay immobilized on the ground, while the surroundings were arranged like a miniature Daoist altar.

At the front of the altar, a toweringthree-tiered platformstood—its design slightly different from the traditionalTalismanic Branchstyle.

Atop the altar, there was no person to be seen—only a massive, goldenDan Pill, more than a meter in diameter, radiating dim light.

Upon closer inspection, faint cracks marred its surface, and it reflected images like a mirror.

Within that mirrored surface, a middle-aged Daoist’s reflection appeared.

The Daoist had an elegant appearance and a composed expression, but he seemed slightly weak.

Standing beside Kang Ming, however, was ayoung Daoist dressed in white and black robes.

Though he was dressed as a properPure Yang PalaceDaoist, his appearance was far too youthful—he looked no older than ten. Rather than a Daoist, he resembled a mereyoung Daoist apprentice.

Yet, his eyes held an ancient wisdom, and his demeanor was mature beyond his years.

The contrast between his aged soul and childlike body made him appear even more eerie.

Moreover, his form was somewhathazy and insubstantial, as if he weren’t truly physical.

His facial features bore a striking resemblance to the middle-aged Daoist reflected on theDan Pillabove the altar.

As if… this middle-aged Daoist had been reborn into a younger version of himself.

“…Wen Zhaoqian!” Kang Ming glared fiercely at the middle-aged Daoist.

As the sub-sect leader ofHuangtian Sect, Kang Ming had always kept a low profile, frequently relocating to evade detection. However, his awareness of the outside world had never faltered.

The middle-aged Daoist reflected on theGolden Dan Pillwas unmistakably aSeventh Heaven Nascent Soul Elderof thePure Yang Palace, namedWen Zhaoqian.

The problem was—according to all intelligence gathered by Kang Ming andHuangtian Sect—this veryNascent Soul Elder, Wen Zhaoqian, had supposedly perished four years ago during theGreat Northern Demon Warwhile defending his sect.

Who could have predicted that Wen Zhaoqian had not only survived but was now attempting topossess Kang Ming’s body?

There was no sign of Wen Zhaoqian’s original body—only the crackedGolden Dan Pillremained.

HisNascent Soulwas previously sealed within that Dan Pill.

Whether Wen Zhaoqian had truly fought against theGreat Northern Demonsor deliberately faked his death to escape, the battle had left his physical body severely damaged.

Only hisNascent Souland a remnant of hisGolden Danhad survived.

His Nascent Soul, however, remained formidable.

Though his current appearance was that of a youth, this was due to theDaoist Alchemical Sect’sunique practice—when a cultivator combined theirYang Spiritwith theirDao Embryoto form aNascent Soul, its initial form resembled that of an infant.

Wen Zhaoqian’s current adolescent form indicated that he had cultivated hisNascent Soulfor many years, steadily growing its power.

Ordinarily,Daoist Alchemical Sectcultivators reached a stage where their physical body, mind, and soul became one, making possession almost impossible.

But due to his injuries, Wen Zhaoqian’s body and soul had become separated. Now, he had no physical form—only a damagedGolden Dan.

Even though hisNascent Soulcould persist, remaining in this state for too long would undoubtedly shorten his lifespan and weaken him.

At this moment, Wen Zhaoqian’sNascent Soultransformed into a streak of light and shot toward Kang Ming’s forehead.

A long sigh echoed through the air:

“…A shame. There’s no better choice for now, so it must be you. Fortunately, I haveSupreme Spiritual Essenceto stabilize the process. Your bone structure and soul are unique—perhaps they will grant me a sliver of hope for the future.”

Wen Zhaoqian’sNascent Soulburrowed into Kang Ming’s spirit, seeking to replace him entirely.

ANascent Soulcultivator’sYang Spiritwas far more resilient than that of aTalismanic Branchcultivator.

The difference in power between them was too vast—Kang Ming stood no chance.

…Under normal circumstances.

But suddenly, Kang Ming’s eyes flickered.

Deep within his soul, adark staremerged.

The moment Wen Zhaoqian’sNascent Soulmade contact, his mind wavered. His spiritual consciousness was thrown into turmoil.

Without warning, he had crashed into theDark Aspect of the Heavenly Book.

Lei Jun opted for a direct and forceful approach—hissoul left his bodyas well, plunging headfirst into thespiritual battlefor the ownership of Kang Ming’s body, mind, and soul.

Wen Zhaoqian’sNascent Soulattempted to retreat, seeking an escape route, but Lei Jun immediately blocked it inside Kang Ming’s body.

HisTwo Elements Celestial Talismancreated amagnetic field, isolating the cave from the outside world, while theFive Thunder Talisman of the Mysterious Firmamentconjured even moreblack Yin Lightning, forming dense thunderclouds that surrounded Wen Zhaoqian’sNascent Soul, launching relentless waves of attacks.

At this moment, Wen Zhaoqian deeply regretted not having any guardians to protect him. He was puzzled as to how Lei Jun had managed to infiltrate this secret cave, but there was no time for regret. His only option now was to fight with everything he had.

What worried him even more was the possibility of Lei Jundestroying his remaining Golden Core.

"If I die today, I’ll make sure you go down with me!" Wen Zhaoqian’sNascent Soultrembled violently, triggering another transformation.

Theblack ice seahe had conjured vanished in an instant, replaced by a swirlingpale golden gale.

Thewind howled with a murderous force, carrying a terrifyingly sharp energy capable of slicing through both heaven and earth.

A tiger’s roar erupted from the golden storm.

Within the fierce winds, theform of a pure white tigercoalesced.

This wasthe True Transmission of Pure Yang Palace—Monitor of War’s Punishment and Annihilation, the White Tiger Manifestation!

Among the various secret techniques ofPure Yang Palace, theMonitor of War God—White Tiger Lineagehad always been the most ferocious in attack. Whether in Daoist martial arts or soul-based techniques, this lineage specialized in sheer offensive power.

Wen Zhaoqian had unleashed this art to settle things once and for all with Lei Jun.

Battles ofspiritual techniquesleft no visible signs on the physical plane.

In reality, everything remained eerily still—Lei Jun and Kang Ming’s bodies stood in quiet confrontation, as did Wen Zhaoqian’sGolden Coreon the altar.

Yet, within their souls, the battle was far deadlier than any physical clash—one wrong move could mean total annihilation.

Wen Zhaoqian’s desperate attack bore down on Lei Jun.

This was where theDaoist Alchemical Sectcultivators excelled—spiritual combat. Even though Lei Jun’s own soul was extraordinarily resilient, he had no absolute certainty of victory in a direct confrontation.

Yet, he remained completely calm.

Because…

Purple, gold, and green light intertwined in a dazzling flash.

A massiveDaoist Sealrose from the depths of Lei Jun’s soul.

The three-colored glow condensed midair, manifesting into athree-tiered altar, instantly suppressing the ferociousWhite Tiger Gale.

And then—a massiveWhite Jade Sealslammed directly onto Wen Zhaoqian’s soul!

The once-dignifiedElder WenofPure Yang Palace, who had always maintained a composed facade, found himself on the verge of cursing—only to be forcefully silenced as theTianshi Sealcrushed his unspoken words right back down his throat.

HisNascent Soul, which had been soaring upward in an attempt to break free from Kang Ming’s body, suddenly cracked like fragile porcelain. Countless fissures spread across its surface, barely holding it together.

"The fish may die, but the net will remain intact."

Lei Jun withdrew theTianshi Sealand casually waved his hand.

"Just like howyouwill die, andwewill remain unharmed."

Theblack lightningsurged forth again, drowning the severely woundedNascent Soulof Wen Zhaoqian.

Daoist Nascent Soulsoften appeared small and fragile, but they had already reached an advanced stage of existence—renowned for their spiritual resilience.

However, Wen Zhaoqian’sNascent Soulhad already beendamaged and incomplete, drastically weakening its original strength.

Now, under the continuous assault ofYin Lightning, which specifically targetedYang Spirits, the once-youthfulNascent Soulrapidly withered and aged, transforming into a decrepit, frail form.

Lei Jun considered capturing Wen Zhaoqian’sNascent Soulalive, much like he had done withWang Jingfang, to interrogate him later.

But Wen Zhaoqian refused to give him the chance.

In a final act of resistance, he struggled desperately—before ultimately fading into nothingness, hisNascent Soulcompletely disintegrating within the very soul ofKang Ming, the body he had tried to claim.

As hisNascent Soulshattered, teetering on the brink of annihilation, Lei Jun, uncharacteristically, did not rush to finish him off completely.

Instead, he turned his attention to Kang Ming.

Due to the intense spiritual battle, Kang Ming’s soul had suffered heavy damage, leaving him in a deep coma.

Lei Jun withdrew his own soul and returned to his physical body.

"ADual Aspect Sacred Physique, coupled with exceptional comprehension, giving rise to aDual Aspect Soul… It truly is an extremely rare phenomenon." He nodded slightly.

This incident had confirmed that Kang Ming’s talent was indeed extraordinary.

If it had been any otherMiddle Three Heavenscultivator caught in the clash betweenWen Zhaoqian’s White Tiger Punishmentand theTianshi Seal, their soul would have been obliterated on the spot.

Even so, Kang Ming was still unconscious—his soul shattered and fragmented, with pieces of Wen Zhaoqian’sNascent Soulstill lingering within. It required urgent treatment.

Lei Jun hadn't anticipated many of the events that had unfolded at theHuangtian Sect’s Ancestral Altar.

Zhou Peng, Wen Zhaoqian, and others had infiltratedHuangtian Sect, seizing control andpossessing its members.

There were clearly deeper secrets hidden here.

Could there be someone even higher up pulling the strings?

Perhaps the same mysterious figure who had ambushedLi QingfengandLi Hongyu, trying to steal theTianshi Robe?

Even if they had wiped out everyone here, they still might not have all the answers.

It was best to investigate from multiple angles.

Since fate has brought us together, I’ll grant you this chance… but remember, all debts must be repaid.

Lei Jun channeledSpring Thunderto nourish Kang Ming’s vitality, stabilizing his life force.

Then, he turned back toward the altar.

With Wen Zhaoqian dead, the glow of the altar was fading.

Atop the altar, theGolden Corethat had once housed Wen Zhaoqian was now riddled with cracks, just like hisNascent Soulhad been before it shattered.

However, because Lei Jun hadheld back, theGolden Corehadn’t completely crumbled.

Without saying a word, he collected the unconscious Kang Ming and the damagedGolden Core.

Then, he erased thethree-tiered altarfrom existence.

Beneath the altar lay alarge cauldron.

Daoist Alchemical Sectcultivators typically refined themselves rather than relying on external artifacts, so most of their ritual tools served ceremonial purposes.

At first glance, this cauldron seemed unremarkable.

But inside, something stirred.

A swirling energy,a mix of blue-black and earthy yellow hues, shifted and churned within.

It was this energy that had drawn the attention of Lei Jun’sYin-Yang Sacred Physique, hisHeavenly Book, and hisBalance of Motion and Stillness.

[Ever-Shifting Heaven and Earth Qi]

Upon touching the cauldron’s mystical flow, enlightenment struck Lei Jun’s mind, and this name surfaced in his thoughts.

Could this be the Second-Grade Opportunity mentioned in my Supreme Good Omen?

Could this energy be related to forming the legendary Two Elements Celestial Physique?

A surge of excitement rushed through Lei Jun’s heart.

Yet, he quickly steadied himself.

He stowed the cauldron away, swiftly cleaned up the scene, and departed fromZhubo Cave. He would analyze it all later.

Once he had traveled a safe distance, Lei Jun set up aBreath-Taking Flagin the deep sea, isolating himself from external disturbances.

Then, he took out thecracked Golden Core.

This object held little use for Lei Jun—at most, he could study it to better understand theDaoist Alchemical Sect.

But forKang Ming, it was an entirely different story.

With a tap of his finger, Lei Jun shattered theGolden Core, converting it intotwo streams of light—one Yin, one Yang—and guided them into Kang Ming’s body.

At the same time, Kang Ming’sDual Aspect Soulbegan to circulate, restoring itself with the help of the energy.

Just like those novels I used to read on Blue Star—where a failed possession results in the protagonist absorbing the invader’s soul fragments and memories while remaining unchanged in will and identity…

Lei Jun smirked.

Except this time, it had all beenorchestrated by him.

With the loss ofHuangtian Sect’s Ancestral Altar, the only combat-effective forcesHuangtian Secthad left were its remainingUpper Three Heavenscultivators.

Everyone else would besuppressed remotelyby theTen Thousand Methods Sect AltarofMount Longhu’s Ancestral Grounds.

At this moment, Qi Shuorode atop his Yin Fire Tiger, shaking the sea with towering waves, shielding thetwo surviving Huangtian Sect eldersas they retreated.

The surroundingTang Dynasty Divine Strategy Armytroops only possessedMiddle Three Heavenscultivation levels. Against Qi Shuo’sUpper Three Heavens-level assault, they could onlystall for time.

Qi Shuo had no intention of lingering—his sole focus was onbreaking through quicklybefore stronger reinforcements arrived.

Unfortunately, the very thing he fearedcame to pass.

Opposite theYin Fire Tiger, a toweringDestined Star Avatar, like a divine entity descending from the heavens, strode across the waves.

Lei Jun had arrived!

With each step he took, the sea itselfpartedbefore his overwhelmingaura and power.

His momentum surged, growing ever stronger with each stride.

TheCelestial Star-Arrayed Steps, anadvanced formofStepping the Big Dipper, continuouslyamplifiedhis speed and power.

Before him, vastemerald flamesburned around theYin Fire Tiger, but Lei Juncharged straight through them without hesitation.

Anygreen firethat attempted to engulf him was intercepted by thecountless talismansswirling around hisDestined Star Avatarlike orbiting stars.

Some talismans wereincineratedin the process, but for every one that burned away, evenmorematerialized, forming an increasinglydense talismanic barrier.

Lei Jun wasted no words.

He led with a punch—aimed straight at the colossal green Yin Fire Tiger!

But at that exact moment,starry lightflickered around theYin Fire Tiger.

Qi Shuo’sCelestial Star-Arrayed Steps—one of histhree life-bound artsfrom hisMiddle Three Heavenscultivation—had now evolved in hisUpper Three Heavensstage as well.

Under this technique’senhancement, the massive greenfire tiger’sspeed and strength surged dramatically.

And thatwasn’t all.

Beneath thegiant fire tiger’s four paws, golden-red hurricanes erupted—fire and wind fused into one.

Now as fast as it wasmassive, theYin Fire Tigernarrowly dodgedLei Jun’s attack!

It swiftlycircled behindtheDestined Star Avatarand let out athunderous roar.

Lei Jun, his avatar wrapped ina spiraling galaxy of star-like light, moved just as swiftly, dodging the attack.

But as heflashed sideways, he suddenly sensed somethingoff.

Dragons and tigers—formed entirely of crimson flames—had been lurking nearby, waiting to ambush him!

These fiery beasts were beingpersonally controlledby Qi Shuo!

TheTwin Dragon-Tiger Spiritswerecore inheritance artsofMount Longhu, widely favored byTalismanic Branch cultivators.

Qi Shuo hadrefined them as his life-bound spells.

Now, in hisUpper Three Heavensstage, he had furtherevolved them into the Twin Blazing Dragon-Tiger Talisman!

Lei Jun’sDestined Star Avatarswept his arm, shattering the incoming fire dragon and tiger.

But in that brief moment of delay, theYin Fire Tigerlunged at him once more.

Lei Jun showed no fear—he met the attack head-on.

Fist against claw. Power against power.

TheDestined Star Avatarexcelled inclose combat, yet Qi Shuo’sYin Fire Tigerbarely suffered any damage.

Surrounding itscolossal framewere not onlyorbiting starsandgolden-red hurricanesbut also a towering golden fortress, shielding it from harm.

Within just a few exchanges, Lei Jun had already analyzed Qi Shuo’s entire battle strategy.

Qi Shuo’s life-bound spells consisted of the following:

His combat style revolved around the Yin Fire Tiger, with thefire dragon and fire tigerflanking for support.

The Golden Fortress Talismanprovided absolute defense,The Blazing Wheel Talismanensured high-speed movement, andCelestial Star-Arrayed Stepsenhanced everything at once.

Qi Shuo was aveteran warrior—his combat experience was vast.

In the past, he had fought against Li Ziyang’s Yang Thunder Dragon using his Yin Fire Tiger.

Yet today, facing someone half his age, Qi Shuo felt evengreaterpressure.

Meanwhile, the twoHuangtian Sectelders—no longer under Qi Shuo’s protection—were quicklyoverwhelmedby theDivine Strategy Armytroops.

Qi Shuo’sYin Fire Tigerlet out a low growl before suddenlyopening its mouth.

Inside was a giant fan—burning with green flames!

It was none other thanQi Shuo’s personal artifact—Nine Abyss Pill Fire Fan!

As theNine Abyss Pill Fire FanandYin Fire Tigeractivated together, a monstrous wave of emerald fire erupted forth!

From a distance, a rapidly approaching figure was seen—none other than Divine Strategy Army’s General, Shangguan Sheng.

Seeing that Lei Jun had stalled Qi Shuo, Shangguan Shengimmediately rushed forward to assist.

Upon spottingQi Shuo’s Nine Abyss Pill Fire Fan, his expression turnedgrim.

Lei Jun, however, simply glanced at the artifact and, with hisDestined Star Avatar,spoke aloud:

"You haven’t been possessed?"

Qi Shuo ignored him.

Instead, he expanded thesea of emerald flames, forming a massive barrier between himself and Lei Jun.

Lei Jun clenched his fist.

"Back then, you refused to let Cao Chu of Golden Castle take Li Ziyang’s corpse."

"And now, you haven’t been possessed—yet you aid Zhou Peng in possessing other Huangtian Sect members?"

Qi Shuo finally responded, his voice cold.

"Zhou Peng and the others shouldn’t celebrate too soon. Sometimes, things must first be broken before they can be rebuilt. In the end, we are all just corpses along the path."

Lei Jun nodded.

"Yes—garbage."

Suddenly, a storm of black lightning surged around him.

Above his head, theFive Thunder Talisman of the Mysterious Firmamenthovered silently.

No dazzling radiance. No thunderous noise.

Yet, when theblack lightningtouched theNine Abyss Pill Fire Fan, it immediately darkened the fan’s radiance.

"…Mysterious Thunder?!" Qi Shuo’s eyes widened.

Even Shangguan Sheng, mid-charge, instinctively slowed his pace.

Lei Jun, however, movedfaster than ever!

Not only did hisDestined Star Avataractivate at full power, but now heunleashedhisCelestial March Talisman’s Yang Movement Art!

No longer concerned with stealth—he pushed his speed to the absolute limit!

Even thoughQi Shuo possessed the Blazing Wheel Talisman, he could no longer keep up.

Shangguan Sheng was shocked.

Lei Jun’s current speed was beyond even what amartial arts cultivatorlike himself could achieve withoutburning through his ultimate techniques.

Withunstoppable force, Lei Jun’s gigantic fist struck the Yin Fire Tiger head-on, slamming it downward!

Thecolossal green tigeralmost collapsed into the sea under the impact.

Qi Shuo’sfire dragon and fire tigerlunged at Lei Jun’s sides—only to be instantly torn apart by a pair of devastating punches!

Qi Shuo tried to counterattack, but suddenly—

A massive five-element talisman array activated above and below him, trapping him in place.

A cage. Abeast arena.

"I don’t need my Tianshi Seal today."

"I’ll break you apart withmy bare hands!"

With a meteor storm of fists, Lei Jun shattered Qi Shuo’s so-called ‘impregnable’ Golden Fortress Talisman—

And pummeled him straight into the ocean!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com