In Lei Jun’s eyes, the brilliance of the Heaven-Earth Communion Talisman shimmered and flowed.

As the scene before him shifted, he and Chu Kun were already standing inside another Dao Palace.

Though he sensed they had arrived in an entirely different world, the talisman still received transmitted messages from Xu Yuanzhen, prompting Lei Jun to nod slightly in acknowledgment.

Chu Kun withdrew his hands from lightly touching their foreheads.

While glancing around, Lei Jun said, “The stone blade in Senior Sister’s hands has stirred. We’ve arrived in Daju.”

Chu Kun nodded subtly, a knowing expression surfacing. “So that’s it. This is Daju.”

The stone blade held by Xu Yuanzhen originated from the Northern Liang, a breakaway kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Such stone blades weren’t unique—many royal households from the fractured kingdoms, including the Later Han, Zhou Wei, Zhou Pu, and Southern Yue, possessed similar ones.

These blades all pointed vaguely toward the legendary realm known as Daju—one of the Ten Lands.

Now that Lei Jun had entered Daju with Chu Kun, the experience was vastly different from when Chu Kun had once traveled here alone.

This shift triggered even more pronounced reactions from Daju, which Chu Kun had mentioned had been changing in recent years.

“I’ve visited our sect’s Edict Archive before,” Chu Kun explained, “even checked ancient records at the Suzhou Chu Clan, but the state of this world doesn’t match the characteristics of Daju recorded in the texts at all.”

The two of them left the quiet chamber of the Dao Palace and looked up at the sky.

This world was unlike the mundane realm. The heavens above glowed a deep crimson.

Lei Jun roughly gauged it to be morning, yet the sky resembled a sunset bathed in brilliant hues.

Compared to the legends about Daju, however, this place was relatively lacking in spiritual energy.

It wasn’t just lesser than the lush spiritual lands among the Ten Heavens and Ten Lands—even compared to Guizang, which had its spiritual energy consumed heavily by the Tianli Mingting, Daju was worse off.

At the moment, though, the crimson sky above was in violent flux.

Before Lei Jun could ask, Chu Kun volunteered, “It’s been like this for a few years since I first came alone. But now that I’ve entered with you, things are clearly far more intense.”

He gazed into the distance. “This realm is strange—thin in spiritual energy, not ideal for cultivation, yet it produces many spiritual resources. Some of these treasures are extinct in the human realm.”

The spiritual treasures he’d cultivated with and brought back for Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai all came from this realm.

Lei Jun looked skyward. “What’s it like above the clouds?”

Chu Kun answered, “I’ve explored upward before. It’s vast, but not real cosmic void. There’s a boundary—twisted like an abyssal gorge. The space-time inside felt strange, so I didn’t venture too deep.”

Lei Jun said, “That may be the root of Daju’s transformation. Let’s check it out together.”

Lei Jun’s cultivation far surpassed Chu Kun’s, so what was dangerous for one might not be for the other.

Chu Kun had hoped his senior brother would investigate, so he readily followed Lei Jun up toward the crimson heavens.

As they ascended, Lei Jun looked down to see that the Dao Palace, though modest, was surrounded by numerous estates spread out in all directions, like stars encircling a moon.

These estates appeared to belong to different owners, built in varied styles and spaced far apart.

Though surrounding Chu Kun’s palace, they clearly kept to themselves—almost in quiet confrontation.

Noticing Lei Jun’s gaze, Chu Kun explained, “Daju is full of minor kingdoms. I first landed in Liuyan Kingdom’s territory. I’ve since stayed neutral, mediating disputes when I can to reduce bloodshed. Back when I first arrived, wars were constant—it reminded me of what you and Senior Sister said about that martial-ruled human realm.”

Lei Jun nodded.

Due to some reason, Daju was thin in spiritual energy and lacked high-level cultivators.

It had native inhabitants and rare spiritual resources, but lacked common goods and strong cultivation legacies.

Chu Kun’s growth didn’t rely solely on this place, but on combining resources from Daju and the Tang realm.

As his strength grew, so too did his influence in Daju.

Yet he had no intention of ruling as king or unifying the land. His free-spirited nature showed through—cautiously staying low-key to guard against this strange realm’s shifts.

They flew higher, reaching the vast crimson sky.

Beyond it lay darkness—not a starry cosmos, but something like a deep abyss.

Chaotic currents surged—spiritual energy, demonic aura, and twisted space-time mingling into a storm.

It was clear now why Daju’s spiritual energy was so lacking—it was constantly leaking into this abyss.

“I was just here yesterday,” Chu Kun said, voice low. “And it’s already much more chaotic than it was then.”

Lei Jun observed the area. “This still looks like surface-level change. The real issue likely runs much deeper.”

Chu Kun clapped. “So you feel the same. That confirms my theory—this isn’t the whole of Daju, just one part!”

Lei Jun nodded. “Agreed.”

The martial traditions of the fractured kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms had subtle commonalities, even when they weren’t in contact.

This stemmed from a shared origin, influenced over time by Daju—just like how the Great Wilderness impacted the Four Great Khanates of the other races.

Yet Lei Jun now found no trace of that martial intent here.

With Xu Yuanzhen’s stone blade reacting, they knew this was indeed Daju.

The most likely explanation: Daju had split into separate regions—divided, perhaps, by this crimson sky and the dark abyss.

This abyss could be the rift—the boundary.

Judging by its current state, Lei Jun estimated he could withstand it—but didn’t rush in.

He signaled Chu Kun to return to the ground. First, preparations.

“I’ll gather what you need,” Chu Kun offered.

Lei Jun handed over a list. Chu Kun nodded after reviewing it.

Without a word, the Daoist temple’s young acolytes streamed out to greet them. “Greetings, Immortal Master!”

Chu Kun, now looking every bit the refined Daoist immortal, calmly ordered, “Gather the listed spiritual treasures. For items we lack, contact the local monarchs.”

The boys and girls responded promptly.

Some searched the temple for inventory, while others posted edicts beyond the gates.

As the commands were issued, beams of jade light flared.

Surrounding estates quickly responded. Envoys arrived, wary but non-confrontational.

They all knelt after reading the decree. “We obey the will of Immortal Master Chongguang!”

Messengers raced off—hawk messengers, pigeons, couriers on horseback:

“Order from Chongguang Immortal Palace! Notify your monarch immediately!”

Lei Jun looked up at the gate—simple characters: Chongguang Temple.

Chu Kun laughed awkwardly. “Bit flashy, huh, Senior Brother?”

Lei Jun glanced at the elegant young attendants and clapped Chu Kun’s shoulder with a heavy tone:

“Junior Brother, you’ve gone corrupt.”

Chu Kun gave a wry smile. “They’re mostly nobles’ children. Only started taking them in recently. Figured I’d give something back.”

“I get it,” Lei Jun patted him again. “After decades of hard training in the Tang realm, you come here to relax a little. Makes sense.”

Chu Kun rolled his eyes. “If you say so, shouldn’t I treat you well while you’re here?”

Lei Jun: “Why? I bossed you around back in the Tang realm all the time.”

Chu Kun: “…”

After sharing a laugh, Lei Jun steered the topic back. “Some of them seem promising?”

Chu Kun nodded. “I teach them some basic Qi-guiding techniques. No true Daoist teachings. Haven’t taken any as disciples.”

Lei Jun: “Once Daju shifts further, who knows? We’ll see what fate brings.”

Chu Kun: “Yes, Senior Brother.”

Lei Jun asked, “You visited the Great Ming Dynasty earlier—what happened?”

Chu Kun replied, “Usually, I return directly to the Tang realm. But once, I ended up in the Ming realm instead. Later, I found I could move between Ming and Daju too. Eventually, I restored the Tang-Daju connection.”

Lei Jun: “Can you freely travel between them now? Only one at a time?”

Chu Kun nodded. “Yes. If I swap to Ming, I’ll need time to switch back to Tang. Given Daju’s instability, I haven’t tried again lately.”

Lei Jun: “Even being able to do that is impressive.”

As time passed, kingdoms began delivering spiritual treasures per the list.

Though Chu Kun began in Liuyan, Chongguang Temple now stood on the border between several nations—forming a neutral zone for cultivation.

Among the deliveries, three monarchs arrived in person.

“I’ll handle them. You keep working,” Chu Kun said, heading to the front hall.

He didn’t rule this realm—but with their reverence came responsibilities.

Lei Jun stayed behind, refining the materials.

His Eight Views of Supreme Purity Cloak unfurled like dragons across the temple.

He embedded new temporary changes, finishing the preparations before silently ascending the crimson heavens again.

Through the turbulent sky, he reached the abyss.

The cloak’s tassels extended like flying dragons, red mist enveloping the abyss.

The twisted space devoured everything—but the red mist resisted, solidifying into a kind of soil.

The entire realm began to tremble—not violently, but subtly and uniformly across Daju.

Chu Kun remained calm as he reassured the monarchs: “Worry not. I’ll investigate.”

He joined Lei Jun at the abyss.

The red mist froze the chasm like a crystalline glacier—still on the surface, turbulent within.

“Senior Brother…” Chu Kun stared at the crystal's depths—countless overlapping visions, scattered fragments of worlds and time.

“Daju didn’t just crack now. It broke long ago.”

Lei Jun watched the scenes—worlds and histories flashing by.

“It’s even more far-reaching than we imagined. No wonder His Majesty said Daju and Bilu were once roots of the Heavenly Palace.”

Chu Kun asked, “Your technique—how long can you hold it?”

Lei Jun nodded. “Not long. This is the limit for now.”

He pointed. “If Daju split, you’re on one side. The other half’s over there.”

As the red mist crystallized, Chu Kun could glimpse the opposite shore—like another world.

Lei Jun’s eyes lit with the glow of the Heaven-Earth Communion Talisman.

“Just as I thought. Senior Sister sent word—the martial-ruled realm is forming unstable passages to Daju. Some people can enter using the stone blades.”

Chu Kun asked, “They’re entering from the other side?”

Lei Jun: “Exactly. Let’s go see what the other half holds.”

He didn’t remove his cloak. Instead, he activated the Grand Dao Universe of Xuanhuang.

A massive black celestial sphere appeared over the crimson sky.

Another identical sphere emerged on the far side of the abyss.

The two spheres mirrored each other, one on each side of the rift.

The brothers crossed the abyss calmly, entering the other half of Daju.

Unlike Chu Kun’s region, this side was barren and lifeless.

But chaotic spiritual energy and powerful martial intent filled the air.

Lei Jun looked around. His eyes glowed with the talisman’s light:

“Someone from the Immortal Realm lies buried here.”