Lei Jun gazed at the existence that seemed both like light and mist, his heart filled with doubt.

The nameShengqiong Liuhuahad only appeared in ancient texts he had read. According to records, it had not been seen for many years.

The Xiaoxue Peak area, though scenic with its mountains and waters, was not an especially superiorBlessed Land Grotto-Heaven.

For such a phenomenon to appear here without reason was anything but ordinary.

Yet, there were no other spiritual anomalies or related changes in the surroundings.

The origin of this treasure was questionable. It was unlikely to have naturally formed here; it had most likely been brought in by someone.

At first glance, it seemed to have been left behind by chance, but as Lei Jun observed closely, he suspected there was more to it.

The function ofShengqiong Liuhuawas to significantly strengthen a cultivator’s connection with the natural world, helping them comprehend and integrate the principles of heaven and earth.

It was also highly valuable for refiningDaoist artifactsandritual vessels, aiding cultivators in forging high-grademagical treasuresandDaoist tools.

Evenmartial cultivatorslooking to refine divine weapons would find it immensely helpful in the forging process.

Its range of use was vast, and its effects were remarkably powerful—if only it weren’t so exceedingly rare. Even historical records mentioned it only briefly.

While gathering the light-mist, Lei Jun carefully contemplated the situation.

The circumstances at Xiaoxue Peak suggested that someone had previously usedShengqiong Liuhuato assist in refining tools or artifacts.

However, there were no clear traces left behind.

The Heaven-Penetrating Earth-Piercing Talismanic Canon in Lei Jun’s eyes gleamed faintly, and his Illusory Mirror also turned brighter.

Yet, no further discoveries were made.

Why had the person who used it not retrieved the remainingShengqiong Liuhua?

Had they simply not cared? Or was there a deeper reason?

Lei Jun pondered.

Given the omen he had drawn earlier, as well as the location whereLuo Haoranhad foundQin Caiwei, this matter likely had something to do with the newly admitted girl at theDaoist Children’s Academy.

However, the exact connection remained unclear.

For Lei Jun personally,Shengqiong Liuhuawas undoubtedly one of the most valuable spiritual materials he could obtain at this time.

If theEight Sceneries Windwas a distant hope, crucial for crossing theHeavenly Chasm Tribulationbetween the Seventh and Eighth Heavens,

ThenShengqiong Liuhuawas the immediate relief.

Rather than using it to refine artifacts or treasures, Lei Jun would directly absorb its energy into hiscultivation, accelerating his progress and completing the Seventh Heaven’s accumulation in record time—laying the foundation for his breakthrough into the Eighth Heaven.

It was truly an invaluable resource.

Yet, its mysterious origin made Lei Jun uneasy.

Although theSupreme Good Omenhe had drawn indicated great fortune, with neither immediate dangers nor future worries, he remained cautious.

Instead of hastily using it, he first collected all theShengqiong Liuhuabefore noon—before it dissipated into the air—and sealed it away for the time being.

Then, he carefully examined the surroundings once more, monitoring the area for a while.

Only after confirming there were no further anomalies did he return to thesect’s ancestral grounds.

Seated inside hisgrotto, Lei Jun’s pupils gleamed with the light of the Heaven-Penetrating Earth-Piercing Talismanic Canon.

Through it, he observed the happenings within theDaoist Children's Academy.

At this moment, the girl surnamed Qin had already changed into the academy’s standard gray Daoist robe, guided around the academy byLuo Haoran.

According to protocol, she would formally take her vows to theThree Treasuresduring morning lecture tomorrow, officially joining the academy’s training.

The girl seemed curious, frequently glancing around. However, she had a steady demeanor, listened more than she spoke, and did not wander about recklessly.

From all appearances, she was simply a bright yet ordinary adolescent.

After watching for a moment, Lei Jun withdrew his gaze.

Theomen-readingfrom earlier had resulted in only a Supreme Good Omen and a neutral fortune—neither foretelling immediate threats nor warning of future troubles.

Lei Jun was mildly concerned but, with no leads to pursue, chose not to dwell on it.

Time passed.

AsNew Year’sapproached, it was once again time for the Grand Annual Ceremony.

Unlike the past,Tang Tianshihad lost interest in presiding over the ceremony in recent years. However, by protocol, as long as he was not in seclusion, he would still attend.

During an idle moment, Lei Jun casually askedTang Xiaotang, “Senior Sister, have any of the new apprentices caught your eye?”

Tang Xiaotang had held theTianshiposition for over a decade now.

Yet, she had never taken on adirect disciple.

Given her age and personality, no one pressured her. Occasionally, a few promising candidates would be recommended to her as a gamble, but she had never accepted anyone.

Tang Xiaotang casually replied, “Haven’t noticed anyone, but it doesn’t really matter. If I ever go out traveling, I’ll pick one myself.”

Lei Jun smirked, “If you’re looking for someone with the same talent as you, then yeah… that won’t be easy.”

In reality,Qin Caiwei’sinnate aptitude wasn’t just high—it was exceptionally high.

Among the talented disciples ofTianshi Mansion, onlyZhuo Huajie, Lei Jun’s own disciple, andXu Rui, who was formally underLi Zhengxuanbut trained byFang Jian, could compare to her.

Luo Haoran had stumbled upon an unpolished gem. With just a little refinement, she would shine brilliantly.

FromTang Xiaotang’sreaction, Lei Jun had gotten the answer he was looking for.

As long asQin Caiweidid not harbor malicious intent, the matter could be set aside for now.

Of course, that did not mean it was completely resolved.

Lei Jun would not lose sleep over it, but he would keep an eye on her in the future.

Meanwhile,Qin Caiweiseemed to be enjoying her time atMount Longhu.

Gazing up at the sky filled with dense purple lightning, she murmured in awe, “It’s just like an immortal’s paradise…”

Resting her chin on her palm, she pondered, “Is Kunlun like this too?”

After a moment, she stretched lazily, full of energy.

“Well, whatever! I’m a Daoist now! EvenDaoist apprenticescount as disciples of the Dao, right?”

In the garden, three figures sat together—two men and one woman.

An elderly man,Ye Moquan, former patriarch of the Cangzhou Ye Clan, now residing here.

A middle-aged man, his eldest sonYe Wei, who had formally inherited the patriarch seat of the Cangzhou Ye Clan.

And the woman,Lin Huan, the current patriarch of the Youzhou Lin Clan.

Ye Wei had traveled fromCangzhoutoYouzhouto meet his father.

Since he was here, he naturally had to visitZhao Prince Zhang TengandLin Huanas well.

However,Zhao Prince Zhang Tengwas currently inseclusionand did not meet with guests. His estate showed Ye Wei proper courtesy, but Zhang Teng himself did not appear.

Ye Wei was not surprised.

He knew thatZhang Tengwas undergoing intense closed-door cultivation.

In fact, one of the reasons for his visit was closely related to the prince’s seclusion.

Softly, he asked, “So, His HighnessZhao Princeis finally attempting to take that last step?”

NeitherYe MoquannorLin Huanspoke, but both nodded slowly.

Ye Wei continued, “His Highness… at his age…”

As the most senior member of theTang imperial clan,Zhao Prince Zhang Tengwas over four hundred years old.

By conventional wisdom, he had entered the decline period ofUpper Three Heavencultivators.

At this stage, just maintaining his current realm without deterioration would be considered remarkable.

To attempt a further breakthrough at such a time… the greatest likelihood was to perish in the Heavenly Chasm Tribulation between great realms.

Yet,Zhang Tenghad aspecial opportunity.

Moreover, this was closely tied to theCangzhou Ye Clan.

After the fall of theJinzhou Ancestral Land, despite suffering a tremendous loss,Ye Moquanmanaged to survive through adversity. His fierce and unyielding spirit could aidmartial cultivatorsin their training.

This, in turn, could helpZhao Prince Zhang Teng, giving him a greater chance of success.

Even so, no one dared to guarantee that he could overcome the finalHeavenly Chasm Tribulation.

“I do feel, however, that His Highness seems rather confident,”Lin Huansaid slowly, though her tone carried some hesitation.

Ye Weiwas slightly surprised by her words.

Ye Moquanthen added, “His Highness has his own convictions and strategies. It’s not impossible.”

Ye Weinodded.

Zhao Prince Zhang Tengwould not reveal everything to theYouzhou Lin ClanandCangzhou Ye Clan.

Since he had set his sights on the throne, he must have had his own reliance.

TheCangzhou Ye Clan’ssupport was more likely an additional safeguard for his current attempt to break through to theNinth Heaven Realm, helping him make his final decision.

But what exactly was his plan?

“Elder Ye, regarding theSouthern Wasteland…”Lin Huanturned toYe Moquan.

Ye Moquanreplied, “I have left it to my fourth brother to handle in full. He knows what to do.”

Ye Lianghad perished at the hands of aNine Li expert.

For both political and personal reasons, theCangzhou Ye Clanhad to respond.

However,Ye MoquanandYe Morongwould never willingly throw themselves into a full-scale war with theNine Li, though they were now in a difficult position.

Aside from managing theTang Imperial Court, they also needed to stabilize their own clan members.

Still,Ye Morongwould not escalate matters unnecessarily, ensuring that theCangzhou Ye Clandid not sink deeper into this conflict.

One day, when the time was right, theYe Clanwould have its revenge on theNine Li.

“TheNine Liand our world are ultimately enemies, far more savage than theSouthern Wasteland barbarians. Even basic communication is difficult,”Lin Huanremarked. “In that case, sendingGeneral Yeto investigate is a good move. Understanding the enemy is key.”

Ye Moquannodded, “TheNine Lihave been isolated from the world for a long time. Even their language is vastly different from ours, which is why my fourth brother has had limited success so far.

“But through persistent efforts, we’ve finally made some progress.”

TheNine Li expertwho had slainYe Liangwas namedLi Yan, aBlood River Lineagecultivator at the First Layer of the Ninth Heaven Realm—ruthless and bloodthirsty.

However, aside from venturing into theDark Mists of the Land Sea,Li Yanrarely left his own territory.

Meanwhile, theTang Imperial CourtandYe Moronghad spent the past months investigating theDark Mists of the Land Seafurther.

“Your fourth uncle’s reports will be copied and sent toYouzhouas well,”Ye MoquaninstructedYe Wei.

Ye Weiacknowledged the order, whileLin Huanexpressed her thanks.

After some more discussion,Lin Huanexcused herself, leaving onlyYe MoquanandYe Wei.

After a moment of silence,Ye Weispoke again, “Father, regarding our fifteenth brother… it seems beyond recovery.”

“So be it,”Ye Moquansaid slowly. “In the end, this may not be a bad thing—at least the family continues to grow.”

“Yes, Father,”Ye Weiresponded.

Ye Moquanthen shifted the topic. “And Feishan?”

“He has begun closed-door training, preparing for his breakthrough to theEighth Heaven Realm,”Ye Weireplied. “He has been building up his foundation for a long time and is quite confident. There shouldn’t be any major problems.”

“That is good,”Ye Moquannodded.

After a bit more conversation,Ye Weialso took his leave.

Left alone,Ye Moquanstood up and returned to his chambers.

Once inside, he raised a hand to rub his brow, visibly exhausted.

He sighed softly, then waved his hand.

Pen and paper materialized before him.

Immediately, ink began appearing on the paper, automatically recording the key points of his recent discussion.

Once the ink dried,Ye Moquandid not put it away immediately.

Instead, he gazed at the document for a long time before finally storing it.

It joined several other sheets—each one meticulously documenting prior important conversations and information.

This was the only wayYe Moquancould ensure he would not forget anything.

Yet, as he looked at those records, his expression grew complicated.

For a long time, he remained silent.

Not far from the estate, theZhao Prince’s Manorwas deathly quiet.

Servants moved about carefully, their voices hushed.

The prince was inseclusion, and no one in the manor dared disturb him.

Inside his private chamber,Zhao Prince Zhang Tengdid not meditate in complete isolation likeDaoist cultivators, nor did he immerse himself in scholarly study likeConfucian scholars.

Instead, he was pacing.

His movements were slow, almost as if he were warming up.

His hands were held in a fist posture, but he moved them gradually.

At the center of the chamber, rotating aroundZhao Prince Zhang Teng, was a blade—not the legendaryWorld-Suppressing Saber, but a weapon he had personally forged.

As his vital energy surged, the blade’s glow grew sharper and more domineering.

When his blood energy reached its peak, he finally drew the saber.

With a blade in hand, his presence became even more formidable.

However, as hismartial intentmanifested, a transformation occurred.

A savage and domineering aura erupted from him—like an unstoppable cavalry trampling over mountains and rivers!

IfYe MoquanandLin Huanwere present, they would immediately recognize thatZhang Teng’s saber intentwas nearly identical to the “Barbarian” techniques of Xu Yuanzhen’s three disciples.

Though there were slight differences, the source was undoubtedly the same.

Yet,Zhang Tenghad never inquired about these martial arts fromYe Moquan, nor had he sought theTang Imperial Court’sknowledge.

Because he had already possessed it.

He had obtained it through different means.

Now, having absorbed thefierce and unyielding energyleft behind by the fallenJinzhou Ye Clan, hismartial intenthad undergone a full transformation.

This choice had not been made lightly.

As amartial powerhouse,Zhao Prince Zhang Tengunderstood that this saber intent was immensely powerful—but it also had severe flaws.

Yet, he still chose to take this path.

His adversaries were stronger thanYe Moquan,Ye Yan,Chu Xiuyuan, andFang Jingsheng.

To stand a chance, to even participate in this contest, he had no other option.

His expression remained firm—neither joyful nor angry—as he swung his blade over and over again.

His saber intent grew ever stronger.

Lei Jun sat cross-legged, gazing forward.

Before him, solidgale-force windsslowly expanded.

As the wind spread out, it encircled him once again, forming an octagonal wind wall.

The wind walls isolated him from the outside world while converging above and below, forming an airtight chamber.

Lei Jun controlled the expanding wind, maintaining theoctagonal shape.

Then, he retrieved another spiritual item.

A collection ofdragon-shaped reedsfloated in the air, coiling and twisting like swimming dragons.

Under Lei Jun’s command, the reeds resonated with theEight Sceneries Wind, merging into it.

As theEight Sceneries Windcondensed, a crude yet mysteriousstraw raincoattook shape before him.

However, theraincoatwas still incomplete—many crucial principles and insights were missing.

To forge it into a truemagical treasure, Lei Jun needed further refinement and additional key materials.

He waved his hand, and thedragon-shaped reedsandEight Sceneries Windseparated again.

“These two… I should try merging them,” Lei Jun murmured, storing both items. “TheEight Sceneries Windstill has an important use. I only wonder how much of it will remain by then.”

Then, he retrieved his latest treasure—Shengqiong Liuhua.

After some contemplation, he began refining it.

As the radiant mist swirled around him, his cultivation path advanced once more.

As the radiant mist dispersed, influenced by Lei Jun’s mana, it did not scatter but instead gathered around him.

He began refining theShengqiong Liuhua, allowing its essence to merge with his own energy.

Brilliant light swirled around him, forming countlesstalismansthat spiraled through the air.

Thesetalismansdid not dissipate but instead coalesced into a vast Daoist Altar, radiating purple, gold, and green light.

Above the altar, beams of light surged toward the heavens, gradually condensing into aphantom pathway—a bridge of light that only Lei Jun himself could perceive.

The path extended into the sky, yet its end remained unreachable, still falling short of the celestial heights.

Meanwhile, immense spiritual energy from the surrounding heavens and earth continuously gathered toward this towering pillar of light.

As the light column grew taller, the pathway stretched longer.

Lei Jun remained seated within the altar, unmoving.

Above him, on the ascending celestial path, steps began to materialize.

One after another, flickering inscriptions appeared upon each step—Daoist talismans, shifting and evolving.

More and moretalismanswere etched into thePath to the Heavens, each one a manifestation of Lei Jun’s current cultivation and Daoist comprehension.

The more the pathway extended upward, the more Lei Jun’s cultivation advanced.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com