Lei Jun held no particular fondness for emperors and generals.

But the current situation in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm was special.

"A stable world is ultimately better than a chaotic one." He nodded slightly.

Mu Chunyang performed a Taoist salute to Lei Jun before taking his leave.

Lei Jun remained at Mount Longhu's Celestial Master Mansion, overseeing affairs while recuperating from his injuries.

Once everything was properly arranged and running smoothly, matters became much easier.

With the Time Blade Soul in hand, Lei Jun could save himself considerable time.

Time passed quietly within the mountains, unnoticed like the changing seasons.

After summer arrived, Lei Jun celebrated his ninety-first birthday.

Though he usually stayed in the mountains, external news continuously gathered at his fingertips, allowing him to remain aware of events across all realms without leaving Mount Longhu or the Tang Dynasty's domain.

Tang Emperor Zhang Wantong had largely cleansed Sumeru.

Though unafraid of the Ming Dynasty's rulers, she chose to first seal the void portal connecting Sumeru to the Ming realm.

However, due to figures like Xiao Chunhui, Meng Shaojie, and Yuan Qingci, substantial information still flowed back from the Ming side.

With Zhang Wantong actively sealing Sumeru's portal, though the Ming rulers remained wary, their focus gradually shifted back to internal matters—the White Lotus rebellion and northern border conflicts with Buddhism's Karma Department.

Buddhist monks had previously widely publicized the Tang cultivators' forceful expansion into Sumeru. Before fully sealing Sumeru's portal, Tang cultivators likewise exposed the other side's past actions.

As long as Buddhism's Karma Department existed, Venerable Shanzhihui and Kongsang could descend upon the Ming realm at any moment.

With the Tang threat becoming less immediate, both the Ming Emperor and Chief Minister Zhou Mingzhe found their minds returning to that day when Ming officials suffered crushing defeat before Venerable Shanzhihui.

The Tang threat was indeed frightening.

But Venerable Shanzhihui and Western Region Buddhism inflicted more direct pain upon the Ming Dynasty.

The northern border once again became the Ming Dynasty's primary defensive focus.

Voices advocating the eradication of Buddhism's Karma Department to prevent Kongsang's descent grew louder in court.

"Master, though the entire Ming realm's attention is currently focused north..."

Yuan Mobai extracted a message and handed it to Lei Jun: "There's news from their southern wilderness. Though unconfirmed, it shouldn't be ignored."

After reading it, Lei Jun pondered: "Strange Buddhist monks appearing in the Ming's southern regions... Master suspects they're descendants of Saha's Thunderclap Temple?"

Yuan Mobai nodded slightly.

The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm and Ming realm once had connecting passages, later sealed.

Whether new changes had occurred remained unclear.

Venerable Puguang had decisively withdrawn from Saha earlier.

When he left, he took with him Thunderclap Temple's direct lineage, especially its senior cultivators.

The Ming realm currently had relatively little contact with the Tang.

It remained uncertain whether only scattered Thunderclap Temple members had entered the Ming realm or if its core leadership had migrated entirely.

With Confucian philosophy dominant in the Ming realm, Thunderclap Temple's sudden appearance would inevitably attract attention. Their current low profile made sense.

"Current information is too limited for judgment." Lei Jun set down the message: "But I agree with Master's concern. We should monitor this and request Ming realm allies to investigate further."

Yuan Mobai: "Having lost Saha, will Venerable Puguang now rest dormant in the void like Golden Khan Ongqinfu did?"

"Senior Brother mentioned that Venerable Puguang's three incompletenesses prevent him from independently maintaining three Buddha lands without Saha as anchor. Thus, losing Saha leaves him in the same situation as Ongqinfu."

Lei Jun recalled details from the Saha battle: "However, that alms bowl of his is somewhat peculiar."

It should be impossible for Venerable Puguang to move freely beyond the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—otherwise he wouldn't have been so restrained about entering the human realm earlier.

But Lei Jun faintly sensed that alms bowl might have special properties.

"After Senior Brother personally investigates Saha, we may learn more." Lei Jun said.

The Han Dynasty realm entered a new era.

New Crown Prince Xiang Sheng ascended the throne as the new Han Emperor.

Currently at the eighth heavenly layer's fourth level completion, imperial blessings could help him break through to the ninth heavenly layer and achieve Martial Saint status within years.

Despite his coronation, Emperor Xiang Sheng faced numerous challenges.

Domestically, prominent Han Dynasty families underwent critical transformations.

The Fang Clan of Jingxiang, Langya Wang Clan, and Suzhou Li Clan actively adapted.

Meanwhile, the Northern and Southern Lin Clans, Eastern and Western Ye Clans, Longxi Xiao Clan and other families struggled.

After repeated turmoil, the Han Dynasty desperately needed recovery while handling internal issues.

Externally, whether Xiang Sheng, Wang Yan, Chen Lingfeng, Deng Lai or others, all kept watchful eyes on Kongsang.

During the previous Kongsang chaos, the Han realm didn't attempt to directly open void portals.

Current communications were severed.

But this didn't guarantee Kongsang couldn't descend again.

Though Kongsang had new rulers, the Han Dynasty remained vigilant.

Another concern for Xiang Sheng, Chen Lingfeng, Deng Lai, Wang Yan, Wang Bujiu and Li Feiyang was the Kongsang Dudu lineage.

After the Kongsang battle, Ke Lang, Chen Xiao and other Kongsang Dudu grand shamans regained footing.

Through these controversial shamans emerged old questions:

They needed careful handling of relations between the Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty and Mount Longhu's Celestial Master Mansion.

Fortunately, apart from Kongsang's potential descent, the Han Dynasty's situation remained relatively stable.

The situation in the former Song Dynasty realm was far more intense.

From recent news, conflicts seemed to have erupted between the Gray Wolf Khanate and Golden Khanate in that realm's northern border—details and outcomes remained unclear.

Meanwhile, Gray Wolf Khan Zholigetu didn't occupy the central plains or the Golden Khanate's former capital.

His royal entourage remained stationed on northern grasslands.

Under Zholigetu's control, the Gray Wolf Khanate didn't advance southward en masse.

Yet life remained difficult for former Song refugees in the southern central plains.

The portal connecting Kongsang and the former Song realm was in the south.

Not only were there remnants like Haritana from the Golden Khanate, but also Buddhist monks who withdrew from Sumeru—numerous experts gathered in the south near the Kongsang portal.

These foreign experts and Buddhist monks showed no intention of sweeping conquests.

They too guarded against Di Hai and Yellow Springs suddenly reappearing in the former Song realm.

Or Tang experts emerging from Sumeru.

Minor clashes continued between factions, but overall restraint maintained a standoff.

"The Golden Khanate's division seems deliberate. Such反常的举动, combined with their fierce northern battles with the Gray Wolf Khanate..." Yuan Mobai mused while reading reports.

Lei Jun nodded slightly nearby: "Normally, the Golden Khanate wouldn't split north-south. Even if internal strife followed Ongqinfu's death, external threats make this no time for division. This seems intentional—the northern faction likely heads for the Great Wastelands."

Yuan Mobai: "The Great Wastelands may be too desolate for Golden Khan Ongqinfu himself, but for cultivators below immortal realm, it offers potential refuge."

Lei Jun: "With Tang Emperor in Sumeru, Venerable Shanzhihui in Kongsang, and Guixu, Di Hai, Yellow Springs possibly opening portals anytime, even the Gray Wolf Khanate considers their old homeland as backup refuge. Later reports may reveal whether Golden or Gray Wolf prevails."

After Shen Xi and Murong Minghui returned to the Two Jin realms, unrest continued there.

Shen Xi, firmly the Two Jin realms' strongest local expert, remained quiet while reestablishing Southern Jin's Shu Mountains Sect in Ba-Shu region.

But after Murong Minghui returned to Northern Jin, turmoil quickly erupted in the Northern Jin court—targeting aristocratic families.

Whether local Two Jin families or those who migrated from the Han realm, Northern Jin's aristocratic power was comparatively stronger.

Had Tang cultivators occupying Sumeru and Saha shown hostility toward aristocratic families, great Confucian scholars like Xiao Chan and Lin Xiaoyi would have become Northern Jin's pillars against Southern Jin.

Instead, Northern Jin made the opposite choice.

Northern Jin alone struggled against aristocratic forces brought successively by Xiao Jing and Lin Xiaoyi.

The Northern Jin Empress and Murong Minghui provoked conflicts between local Northern Jin families and immigrant Han families.

Xiao Chan and Xiao Jing recognized this tactic.

But the Tang imperial house in Saha also pressured them enormously.

Under such pressure, tensions needed only a spark to ignite.

Current reports indicated Northern Jin's internal situation had virtually become a free-for-all.

The Northern Jin Empress' drastic self-weakening measures appeared self-destructive.

Yet in this situation, Southern Jin dared not invade northward, lest Saha's Tang forces misinterpret it as aiding Xiao Jing and Lin Xiaoyi.

Of course, the Northern Jin Empress walked a tightrope.

If Northern Jin couldn't suppress the aristocratic chaos themselves, they could request Tang experts from Saha—but feared inviting gods that wouldn't leave.

Yet they had no choice but to proceed.

Reading these reports, Lei Jun noted Murong Minghui and Northern Jin's Chunyang Palace currently enjoyed imperial favor.

Alternatively, this reflected the Northern Jin court's stance.

Southern Jin's court likewise clung tightly to their Shu Mountains Sect.

But compared to Murong Minghui, Shen Xi remained more detached and casual.

With northern and southern Buddhism suppressed, Shen Xi grew even more neutral and transcendent.

His current focus was prolonging his teacher Gongsun Daoqi's life.

The former jade scepter, combined with recent Mount Longhu talismans, renewed his hope.

As time passed, aided by the Time Blade Soul, Lei Jun's injuries gradually healed.

After removing Golden Khan Ongqinfu's martial will from his body, Lei Jun's flesh wounds healed easily—vitality rapidly condensed amid flowing nine-colored brilliance.

One day after emerging from seclusion, junior brother Chu Kun visited: "Elder Sun from the Witch Sect's Reincarnation Abyss sent word. Master went to meet him and will return shortly."

Lei Jun: "Did Elder Sun return from Mount Ling?"

"So I've heard." Chu Kun nodded: "Also, Senior Sister recently sent back a treasure from Saha—Heavenly Phenomenon Rain Dew."

Lei Jun examined the jade bottle containing the rain dew with interest: "Senior Sister's fortune truly shines. Now all conditions for Hua Yuan's breakthrough to Senluo Immortal Body are complete."

Chu Kun: "Indeed. Nephew Hua Yuan is currently in closed-door meditation, attempting to overcome the sixth-to-seventh heavenly layer chasm."

Lei Jun: "Though slightly delayed, no matter—achieving Senluo Immortal Body after reaching the upper three heavenly layers is also acceptable."

Currently, Xin Beiyuan was Mount Longhu's closest to upper three heavenly layers in the Tang ancestral sect.

Since the year's start, he'd been in seclusion preparing to break through to the seventh heavenly layer's Tongtian realm in Taoist talisman tradition.

With innate All Phenomena Sacred Body and enlightened comprehension, his rapid progress reflected both talent and diligence.

Though his Mount Longhu discipleship was nominal since returning from Huang Tian, regular guidance from Lei Jun and others ensured his cultivation progressed smoothly.

Now he might upgrade his foundation from All Phenomena Sacred Body to Senluo Immortal Body.

This would maintain his rapid advancement into upper heavenly layers.

"Senior Brother gains another competitor." Chu Kun smiled.

Lei Jun chuckled: "No matter."

Like Lei Jun's Two Forms Immortal Body and Mu Chunyang's Creation Immortal Body, Xin Beiyuan's Senluo Immortal Body also pointed toward Taiji Dao Body.

But Lei Jun didn't mind nor suppress junior disciples for this.

When Yuan Mobai returned and heard the news, he expressed satisfaction: "Abundant talented young disciples—the sect's fortune."

Lei Jun and Chu Kun agreed.

"Master, did Elder Sun's visit concern changes at Mount Ling?" Lei Jun asked softly.

Yuan Mobai shook his head and explained: "Not so. Elder Sun acquired something at Mount Ling beneficial to my cultivation and brought it.

As for Mount Ling, the Witch King remains calm. Though concerned about Qiangming Linlang, she shows no impatience.

With Venerable Puguang's rituals discontinued and Qiangming Linlang temporarily secured though inseparable, she's set aside one worry."

Yuan Mobai paused slightly before continuing: "However, Elder Sun mentioned another—Witch Zhen Jia Xianting... Not for any special actions, but precisely the opposite—Elder Sun found him unusually quiet."

In the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm, situations could change drastically every month, even daily.

If Northern Jin's recent aristocratic conflicts resembled a chaotic free-for-all, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm had long existed in such times.

Previously, deaths of Glazed Temple's Abbot Zhiquan and Little Western Paradise's Master Duci (both ninth heavenly layer Buddhist monks) at Daju, plus the pro-Buddhist Southern Chu ruler's death and Later Han ruler Zhou Wei's assassination, left Buddhism disadvantaged against the Witch Sect.

The four Buddhist-supported regimes—Later Han, Southern Wu, Southern Chu and Northern Liang—faced varying crises.

After Saha changed hands, the situation shifted again.

New Later Han ruler Zhou Pu first sought Taoist help—resisting Witch Sect encroachment while cleansing Buddhist remnants within his domain.

After Mu Chunyang openly supported Later Han and established Zhenwu Temple there, Zhou Pu solidified his position.

After initial hesitation, Southern Chu, Southern Wu and Northern Liang courts also sent envoys to Saha, converting from Buddhism to Taoism.

The previously aggressive Witch Sect's momentum halted abruptly.

Later Shu, Southern Han and Southern Yue sought help from Mount Ling's grand shamans.

Though the Witch Sect acted, Witch Zhen Jia Xianting never appeared.

This grand shaman overseeing Mount Ling's human realm activities was notoriously overbearing.

His current silence was exceptionally unusual.

Thus, Mount Ling's influence in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm further declined.

"If following the Witch King's orders, that's possible—but from what I know, Elder Jia is quite independent."

Lei Jun remarked: "No wonder Elder Sun noticed."

Yuan Mobai shook his head: "Let's hope no complications arise."

Their conversation turned to Xin Beiyuan's matter when Chu Kun suddenly recalled something:

"By the way, Senior Brother, with the Han Dynasty's new emperor enthroned, what of the Huang Tian Sect there?"

Lei Jun replied: "The Han Emperor ordered Huang Tian Sect's eradication, but their focus remains on stabilizing borders and guarding against Kongsang.

However, Huang Tian Sect internally brought some surprises."

"Oh?" Yuan Mobai and Chu Kun looked over.

Lei Jun: "Kang Ming and others made progress regarding the Huang Tian Sect Altar's relocation."

Yuan Mobai's gentle smile remained, but his eyes brightened noticeably.

Chu Kun lightly tapped his chair's armrest: "Can they truly move the Huang Tian Sect Altar now?"

Lei Jun: "Only preliminary progress—still far from success—but I believe they're on the right path."

Chu Kun glanced at him: "Senior Brother, as master of the Dark Volume of the Heavenly Book, you've helped them considerably?"

"Only minor suggestions." Lei Jun shook his head, a little wistful. "It was mostly their own work—hence why I called it a surprise."

Yuan Mobai gazed toward another direction—where the mansion's Myriad Methods Sect Altar stood.

Without looking back, he asked softly: "What of our sect's Myriad Methods Sect Altar... and the Han Dynasty's Dragon-Tiger Sect Altar?"

Lei Jun: "I intend similar attempts. Though Huang Tian Sect Altar offers inspiration, much remains lacking."

Compared to Huang Tian Sect Altar, the Han Dynasty's Dragon-Tiger Sect Altar was colossal.

The Tang ancestral sect's Myriad Methods Sect Altar was even grander and more profound.

The same methods couldn't apply universally—even as reference, extensive adjustments were needed.

But Lei Jun's cultivation, strength and comprehension all surpassed Kang Ming's.

This was at least a good beginning.

Some time later, Xin Beiyuan emerged from seclusion.

He successfully overcame the heavenly chasm, achieving seventh heavenly layer cultivation.

Though rarely mentioned, at this special moment, news spread that he was the first former Huang Tian disciple to reach upper three heavenly layers since returning to the fold.

Most people weren’t thinking about Huang Tian’s past, but about the Celestial Master Mansion of Mount Longhu—now at its lowest point, torn apart by Huang Tian’s split, plagued by internal strife and beset by external threats.

Now, after Tang Xiaotang and Lei Jun's successive leadership, Mount Longhu had overcome adversity.

The stark contrast left observers both inside and outside the mountain sighing with emotion.

Xin Beiyuan himself didn't dwell on this.

He hadn't forgotten Kang Ming.

To this day, he remained grateful for Kang Ming's past guidance.

But as Kang Ming once said, since returning to Mount Longhu's Celestial Master Mansion, he was its disciple.

His diligent cultivation and faithful service stemmed from this.

Thus he maintained steady composure.

Only when Lei Jun, while conferring higher rank and confirming all materials were ready for his Senluo Immortal Body upgrade, did Xin Beiyuan show slight surprise.

Composing himself, he took a deep breath and bowed deeply: "Gratitude for the sect's generosity, and to Master Uncle Lei."

Lei Jun: "Maintain calm focus."

Xin Beiyuan: "Understood, Master Uncle."

However, the Tang cultivation world's most notable recent news wasn't Xin Beiyuan's breakthrough.

Rather, Tang Academy Chancellor Fang Yue achieved the ninth heavenly layer's Pacify World realm—a new Great Confucian of recitation tradition for Tang's cultivation world.

Lei Jun sent chief disciple Zhuo Baojie with congratulations.

After guiding Xin Beiyuan's seventh heavenly layer cultivation and assisting his Senluo Immortal Body transformation, Lei Jun proceeded to the Yellow Springs.

The Taishang Eight Scenes Treasure Raincoat and Jiutian Xiandu Treasure Talisman required re-refining after damage.

The Yellow Springs' Nine Abysses offered ideal conditions.

The Celestial Master lineage's Nine Abyss True Fire excelled at refining magical instruments—here it could reach full potential.

Additionally, although Lei Jun couldn’t fully unleash the power of the Five Decays Grand Dao Bell, he was able to channel a portion of his spiritual energy through the Two Forms Immortal Body to draw vitality from the reversed decay force, using it to repair both treasures.

After completion, the Five Decays Grand Dao Bell should return to Shu Mountains.

Details of the Yellow Springs battle remained unknown externally, but news of Golden Khan Ongqinfu's death there gradually spread from former Song and Ming realms back to Tang.

Lei Jun had kept the bell to conceal their Yellow Springs access.

Now that Ongqinfu was buried there and news leaked, Lei Jun wouldn't withhold the bell further.

"So..."

Some time later, Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen left Saha and also came to the Yellow Springs: "You'll return it to which Shu Mountains Sect?"

Lei Jun: "The Tang's Shu Mountains Sect."

Xu Yuanzhen showed no preference: "Acceptable."

Functionally, returning it to whoever could maximize its power made sense.

Apart from Ming Shu Mountains Sect Leader Yuan Qingci (currently secluded attempting ninth heavenly layer breakthrough), two ninth heavenly layer Shu Mountains experts remained.

Southern Jin's Sect Leader Shen Xi had higher minor realm cultivation, but as a swordsman, while Han Sect Leader Chen Lingfeng excelled with non-sword magical instruments.

Lei Jun's choice of Tang Shu Mountains over them might seem based on closeness.

Though outsiders would understand, Lei Jun usually preferred letting Shu Mountains branches decide internally.

This exception stemmed from Tang and former Song realms suffering most from Yellow Springs' Li Shu Mountains.

With no Shu Mountains lineage left in former Song, returning the Yellow Springs-acquired bell to Tang Shu Mountains was appropriate.

"Senior Sister came to further refine Nine Abyss True Fire?" Lei Jun asked curiously while channeling the Yellow Springs' Forgotten River Nine Abysses.

Xu Yuanzhen's cultivation continuously advanced beyond standard Mount Longhu teachings.

Previously, her Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Manifestation opened nine heavens following this approach.

Further refining her Nine Abyss Fire Ancestor Manifestation here made sense.

"Planned earlier, but other matters interested me more."

Xu Yuanzhen indeed entered the Forgotten River Nine Abysses: "Recently contemplating separating Yuqing Miluo Grotto-Heaven, I conceived new Nine Abyss True Fire refinement methods—no time like the present."

Green Yin flames ignited across her body, soon spreading everywhere.

Within the Yellow Springs' Nine Abysses, water and fire's mutual aversion became meaningless as the Forgotten River's surface became a sea of green flames.

Boundless Nine Abyss True Fire appeared—unseen elsewhere.

Silent yet earthshaking tiger roars echoed as if mountainous fire tigers roared from each abyss.

Lei Jun calmly carried the Five Decays Grand Dao Bell, Taishang Eight Scenes Treasure Raincoat and Jiutian Xiandu Treasure Talisman into the fire sea for refinement.

Meanwhile, in the Ming realm's southern mountain ranges...

A dignified Buddhist monk moved stealthily through wilderness, leaving no traces.

Meng Shaojie's earlier reports were accurate.

Thunderclap Temple monks indeed operated here—including former Southern Jin Little Western Paradise Abbot Baoneng.

Traveling eastward while avoiding detection, he eventually reached Min territory and sailed offshore.

After turning northeast in deep waters, he met his contact—a Taoist in purple robes, unmistakably a Mount Longhu high-ranking master.

His aura was genuine Taoist talisman tradition cultivation.

But compared to Baoneng's complete presence, this middle-aged Taoist seemed slightly diminished.

Baoneng knew this was because Cen Ruopu practiced ancient talisman tradition methods, and the immortal who conferred his ranks was currently in poor condition.

"Master Cen, Venerable One asked me to convey greetings to Ancestor Zhou Tian." Baoneng said calmly.

Cen Ruopu, Zhou Tian Daoist's Kunlun disciple, returned courtesy: "My teacher likewise greets Venerable Puguang."

After formalities, he looked aside: "Two other friends approach—allow me to introduce them."

Baoneng had already sensed them.

Two figures approached together.

One was a Western Regions monk—not Baoneng's old acquaintance Vairochana of the Buddha Department, but still recognizable as the Western Regions Buddhism's Ming realm leader, Karma Department's Shedila.

Despite past conflicts, both Shedila and Baoneng exchanged calm greetings.

The other—an unfamiliar black-clothed martial artist—drew Baoneng's greater attention.

He looked to Cen Ruopu.

"Greetings, Master Baoneng. I am Feng Wensu."

The martial artist introduced himself: "From the Dark Expanse."