Facing Wang Guiyuan's accusation, Lei Jun instead extended both hands and solemnly clasped the other's hands: "Senior Brother, I believe in you."

Wang Guiyuan looked at his own clasped hands with a mix of amusement and exasperation, seemingly hesitating whether to pull them free:

"Really, there's not much left. If I had more, I wouldn't wait for you to ask—I'd have prepared it for you already."

"Senior Brother's care has always been deeply engraved in my heart."

Lei Jun noted how Wang Guiyuan's focus remained characteristically skewed: "So, there is still some? I must trouble Senior Brother to support me further."

Wang Guiyuan: "...Wait a moment."

Helpless, he bid Lei Jun farewell and left the Saha World for elsewhere.

After some time, Wang Guiyuan returned to the Saha World.

This time, he came back cautiously, not carrying the items in a miniature pouch or spatial treasure but instead manifesting various Buddhist powers through the form of Dharma Master Faqing, using his own Buddhist light to bring back three precious bottles.

Wang Guiyuan explained: "The materials used by Elder Gongsun and Sect Master Shen of the Southern Jin Shushan Sect to refine the Ethereal Jade Qing are indeed hard to find.

What I have here are only some Dharma artifacts I previously refined, embodying the Buddhist concept of emptiness. Since they are of void nature, you can freely adapt them as you wish."

Before Lei Jun could speak, he preemptively added: "Don't even think about six—there are only these three. Otherwise, why would I say my reserves are insufficient?

Though they were refined by me earlier, I can't produce more now. Like the Ethereal Jade Qing, even the cleverest housewife can't cook without rice."

Lei Jun took the bottles, examining them as he said: "What a pity indeed."

He carefully stored them away: "I'll refine them further and deploy them separately."

Lei Jun envisioned leveraging his Heaven-Earth Penetration Talisman and Heaven-Earth Observation Talisman, combined with Wang Guiyuan's bottles and inspired by Gongsun Daoqi's Ethereal Jade Qing, to ultimately create a network capable of covering vast regions directly.

This network could then be expanded further.

The corresponding artifacts could later be discussed with Nie Fang of the Mysterious Mechanism Observatory and Shushan Sect cultivators for mass refinement and widespread deployment.

This model was already well-established in the Tang Dynasty's cultivation world.

Given that only three bottles were available besides the Ethereal Jade Qing, priorities had to be set.

Among the six human realms—Great Tang, Former Song, Present Han, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, Great Ming, and Two Jin—the Two Jin realm already had Shen Xi, Gongsun Daoqi, and the Ethereal Jade Qing as its core foundation.

Of the remaining three realms, Lei Jun paid the closest attention to the future movements of the Great Ming realm, where local forces had the deepest roots.

Fortunately, Lei Jun would carefully adjust the network to operate discreetly, keeping everything hidden.

Moreover, capable allies were already overseeing matters there.

The Tang Dynasty's future Maitreya, Monk Huiyin of the Ninth Heavenly Layer Dharmakaya realm, was currently in the Great Ming realm—the perfect candidate to assist.

In the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm, while Daoist influence was replacing Buddhist dominance, Buddhism's deep-rooted presence meant Venerables Baoneng and Duming could still operate covertly.

Though their cover had been blown due to Shen Xi, they might return. Thus, this realm also needed coverage.

As for Great Tang itself, while the three Buddhist holy sites—Bodhi Temple, Tianlong Temple, and Xuanyuan Temple—had grown distant from the Tang court and Daoist holy sites due to White Lotus Sage Jingjiu, Lei Jun's Starry River Heavenly Net already provided similar functionality.

The last slot had to be chosen between the Present Han and Former Song realms.

The Present Han realm was relatively stable now, though the threat of Kongsang's return lingered.

The Former Song realm, however, was directly connected to Kongsang.

After the Venerable Shanzhihui led the Five Divisions of the Vajra Realm to occupy Kongsang, they had kept a low profile.

Tang Emperor Zhang Wantong had also not sealed the void gateway between Sumeru and the Song realm.

After consideration, Lei Jun leaned toward the Former Song realm.

"First, we must refine the treasures and artifacts properly. Otherwise, everything is just a castle in the air."

Lei Jun settled his mind and began deducing and experimenting with his envisioned new network.

In the Saha World, all was tranquil.

Fang Jian, the High Merit Elder of the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu, and Ling Hui, a high-ranking Tang official, led capable teams to pacify the people living under the Saha World's heavens and earth, erasing the influence left by the Thunderclap Monastery.

In contrast, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm was engulfed in flames of war.

Zhou Pu, the new helmsman of the Later Han Dynasty, led his armies north to campaign against Northern Liang.

The two Ninth Heavenly Layer Martial Saints—the Northern Liang King and the Later Han King—clashed fiercely.

The Zhenwu Temple lineage of Later Han joined the war, helping the Later Han Dynasty purge Northern Liang's remaining Buddhist forces.

The Zhenwu Temple Master, Mu Chunyang, remained in Later Han to oversee defenses and did not directly participate.

Yet Zhou Pu displayed the vigor and strength of a new generation surpassing the old.

His opponent, also a Ninth Heavenly Layer Martial Saint, moved like lightning.

Normally, such experts could escape even if defeated.

Had the Northern Liang King fled, his dynasty would have collapsed, but his personal prowess would have posed a lasting threat to Later Han's territories.

But in this battle, Zhou Pu shook the realm once more.

Through careful planning, he successfully trapped and killed the Northern Liang King, eliminating any chance of future trouble.

Though Zhou Pu himself was wounded in the process, such a decisive victory stunned all.

His fame spread throughout Later Han, boosting morale and elevating his prestige above even the previous king, Zhou Wei.

This battle also revealed a secret Zhou Pu had guarded carefully:

The Martial Immortal Eye.

This very treasure had sealed the Northern Liang King's fate.

For a time, Zhou Pu seemed destined by heaven. The subsequent conquest of Northern Liang and its aftermath proceeded smoothly.

After pacifying Northern Liang, the wounded Zhou Pu returned to the capital to recuperate.

But Later Han did not halt its momentum.

Though Zhou Pu rested, his armies turned toward their next target:

Southern Chu.

Earlier, Southern Chu's ruler Li Weilie had ventured recklessly into the Great Square and perished, leaving Southern Chu leaderless.

Now, even without Zhou Pu personally leading the charge, his forces achieved significant victories in Southern Chu.

Following Li Weilie's death and the Buddhist losses of Venerable Duci and Abbot Zhiquan, the Witch Sect had also pressed into Southern Chu, making considerable gains.

Thus, in recent years, the Southern Chu royal family—once supported by Buddhism—had teetered on the brink as Buddhism and the Witch Sect clashed fiercely along the middle reaches of the great river.

With Buddhism weakened and Later Han invading, the Witch Sect's involvement further complicated Southern Chu's situation.

The Buddhist Western Paradise no longer existed, but numerous great witches from Mount Ling now roamed the world.

Yet against the Daoist forces overseen by Mu Chunyang, the witches performed disappointingly.

The core reason was that Jia Xianting, the Witch Zhen who had long overseen Mount Ling's affairs in the human realm, had been absent for years.

When Zhou Pu campaigned against Northern Liang while Mu Chunyang remained in Later Han, some had speculated whether the Witch Zhen would strike again, as he had when cursing Zhou Wei to death.

Even with Zhou Pu wounded in battle against the Northern Liang King, the Witch Zhen never appeared.

The Mount Ling Witch Sect had grown far more subdued in the human realm.

Though Zhou Pu no longer led campaigns personally, the rulers of other realms grew uneasy.

"Later Han needs time to digest Northern Liang and parts of Southern Chu, and Zhou Pu must recover. There won't be major moves soon, but once Later Han consolidates its gains—without interference from the Mount Ling Witch Sect or the Thunderclap Monastery—its momentum to swallow the world will gradually solidify," Lei Jun remarked in the Saha World.

Wang Guiyuan: "As you said earlier, order ultimately prevails over chaos."

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

He would not interfere further in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm, focusing instead on his own cultivation and artifact refinement.

Time passed unnoticed in the mountains.

Soon, Celestial Master Lei celebrated his ninety-fourth birthday.

That winter, he remained in the Great Tang realm.

The Tianshi Mansion's ordination ceremony, held every six years, was approaching.

While Lei Jun wouldn't shirk such duties, his presence wasn't strictly necessary.

He presided this time because it involved the Daoist canon revision of the Han Dynasty's Mount Longhu lineage.

Not just Lei Jun—Tang Xiaotang also returned from the Great Square specifically for this.

Since the Han Mount Longhu's canon revision began, this was the second ordination ceremony.

Last time, all Talismanic Lineage disciples from both Han and Tang attended at the ancestral temple in Great Tang's Mount Longhu.

This time, with the Han Mount Longhu's revision achieving success, Han Talismanic Lineage disciples could now receive ordination through the Dragon-Tiger Ancestral Altar at Han Mount Longhu.

Tang Xiaotang traveled to the Present Han realm specifically for this purpose.

"The Great Square is quite fascinating—no wonder Senior Sister lingers there," Tang Xiaotang remarked to Lei Jun. "That Abyss of Time seems connected to ancient eras. It's still unstable, and no one knows where it truly leads."

Lei Jun: "After ascending to immortality, traversing there might become easier."

Tang Xiaotang: "That's precisely what troubles me now."

Lei Jun: "How so? With your talent, the Azure Spiritual Nine Qi has long been fully accumulated. Only the final step remains.

Senior Sister intends to delay her ascension, so you might surpass her directly.

Are you also considering the inconvenience of walking the mortal realm after ascension?"

Tang Xiaotang: "Confidence I have, and the inconvenience is one reason. But I also have other considerations."

Lei Jun, curious: "Oh?"

Tang Xiaotang: "Regarding the Three Celestial Master Treasures—or rather, my first immortal art after ascension."

Lei Jun pondered: "I see. That indeed requires more accumulation."

Tang Xiaotang: "But the Abyss of Time also greatly interests me."

Though she had long relinquished the Celestial Master title, she often carried the Three Treasures.

Yet the Abyss of Time's uncertainty made her hesitate to bring them there.

Still, her worries faded quickly as she eagerly rubbed her hands:

"First, let's see how the Dragon-Tiger Ancestral Altar differs from the Ten Thousand Laws Ancestral Altar for ordination!"

This was the first ordination using the revised canon at the Dragon-Tiger Ancestral Altar.

Though Celestial Master Lei didn't preside personally, former Celestial Master Tang Xiaotang's presence made the event extraordinarily grand.

Not only did Talismanic Lineage disciples gather, but representatives from the Han imperial family and other top factions also attended.

Lei Jun expected Tang Xiaotang to linger and show off, but she fled back to Great Tang immediately after the ceremony.

She didn't explain, but Lei Jun understood after reviewing the guest list.

The Tang court's representative was the Great Scholar Chu Yu, accompanied by special guests—not from Present Han or directly connected realms, but from the Former Song realm.

They had visited Sumeru first before proceeding to Present Han.

Chu Yu, tasked by Emperor Zhang Wantong to host them, brought them to observe the ordination ceremony and later sought assistance from Mount Longhu figures like Tang Xiaotang, Fu Yuzhou, and Ma Zongxiang to reach Kunlun—which lacked stable void gateways.

These Former Song visitors sought to meet Kunwu Sect's True Lord Zhao Chanyang in the Qingwei Heaven.

Their cultivation was limited, with the highest only at the Eighth Heavenly Layer.

The reason Tang Xiaotang avoided them?

They were cultivators from the Song Dynasty's Chunyang Palace.

Since the Kongsang battle, Tang Xiaotang hadn't returned to the Former Song realm.

"Elder Zheng Chen," the Chunyang Palace's Grand Elder, had naturally resumed seclusion.

Now that his juniors had come calling, Tang Xiaotang—uncharacteristically—felt awkward and made a quick escape.

The others, including Chu Yu, couldn't guess why.

Fortunately, the group secured passage to Kunlun after the ceremony—though, unsurprisingly, they didn't meet Zhao Chanyang.

Kunwu Sect's leader, Zhang Haipeng, received them instead.

The Chunyang Palace disciples were disappointed but not surprised—previous delegations from Han, Tang, Ming, and Northern Jin had all been turned away.

Chu Yu remained composed. Her mission didn't require meeting Zhao Chanyang—speaking with Zhang Haipeng sufficed.

"Master Zhang, I bring a message from Her Majesty and seek verification from True Lord Zhao and yourself," she said.

Zhang Haipeng replied: "We appreciate Her Majesty's guidance. What does she wish to convey?"

Chu Yu: "With all respect, is it true your sect isn't an orthodox branch of Chunyang Palace?"

Zhang Haipeng smiled: "Indeed. Our founder studied at Chunyang Palace but never formally joined."

Chu Yu lowered her voice: "Are you aware of a True Lord Ge Xuanzhi in Chunyang Palace's history?"

Zhang Haipeng's expression turned grave: "I've heard of him."

Chu Yu nodded and continued:

"Her Majesty has learned that True Lord Ge may still live... within the Azure Heaven. When the Azure Heaven reopens, he may return."

Zhang Haipeng bowed: "We are deeply grateful for Her Majesty's warning."

After seeing them off, Zhang Haipeng visited Zhao Chanyang in seclusion.

Zhao Chanyang, now a True Lord of the Elixir Cauldron Lineage, had cultivated quietly for decades.

Upon hearing Zhang Wantong's message, he finally spoke:

"Master, Ge Xuanzhi... was he the one who barred our founder from Zhongnan Mountain?"

Zhang Haipeng nodded solemnly: "Yes. They also clashed over Kunlun.

Though our sect eventually settled in Qingwei Heaven, our founder exhausted himself and perished before the Han Dynasty's great calamity.

We only knew he was among the Heavenly Court's remnants, but his fate remained unknown.

Now, we have an answer.

Regarding Emperor Zhang, Celestial Master Lei once hinted at her reliability."

Zhao Chanyang's voice remained soft but firm: "Years of entanglement... time for resolution."

Meanwhile, the Chunyang Palace group didn't return to the Former Song realm but visited various sects in Present Han before proceeding to Great Tang.

Mount Longhu's ancestral temple was their key destination.

Chu Yu didn't return to Great Tang—the Tang court and Tianshi Mansion had their own channels.

Lei Jun received Kunwu Sect's news earlier.

"Pre-Han calamity records about Kunwu Sect are scarce, and post-calamity divergence made it worse," Tang Xiaotang remarked. "How does Emperor Zhang know so much?"

Lei Jun: "Her past life as Tianrui the Confucian Sage knew Ge Xuanzhi from sealing the Azure Heaven but likely not his connection to Kunwu Sect—otherwise, she'd have mentioned it earlier.

Apparently, she's made new discoveries. Tianrui was a classical Confucian sage, while Emperor Zhang only began studying history in this life. As her cultivation grows, so does her historical mastery."

Tang Xiaotang changed the subject: "What of the Former Song realm?"

Lei Jun: "The Blue Wolf Khanate is contacting Kongsang's Buddhists. Their war with the Golden Horde was clearly over competing for the Great Barren.

Though the Golden Horde still controls it, some have withdrawn and tried sealing its gates.

The Blue Wolf Khanate remains cautious—though Angqinfu is dead, Khan Zholigetu's whereabouts remain elusive."

Currently, conflict in the Former Song realm centered on the Blue Wolf Khanate and Golden Horde.

The Song remnants in the south kept a low profile.

With Buddhists occupying Kongsang but inactive, and the Earth Sea and Yellow Springs gates still closed, the Song remnants debated whether to stay or migrate west toward Sumeru's gate.

Tang Xiaotang asked: "Have you decided whether to reopen the Earth Sea gate? If not, I can pose as Elder Zheng and persuade them to migrate."

Lei Jun: "I'll visit the Earth Sea soon and may reopen the gate to observe."

Tang Xiaotang waved: "Then I leave it to you."

...

While Celestial Master Lei went to the Earth Sea, Fang Yue—the Tang Dynasty's Academy Chancellor expanding schools to counties—abruptly halted his work.

Seeking privacy, he took out writing materials.

Ink began flowing onto paper without his touch, forming patterns resembling both text and formations.

The usually composed Fang Yue momentarily showed surprise but quickly steadied himself to study the writings.

...

In the Two Jin realm's Northern Jin territory, the royal family's war with noble clans had escalated.

Specifically, the Northern Jin court clashed with some clans, like the Xiao Clan of Longxi, over ties to the Present Han realm's nobility.

Casualties mounted, including Lin Yunfu, patriarch of the Youzhou Lin Clan.

Now, Northern Jin's Ye Clan matriarch Ye Ying met with Present Han's Ye Clan patriarchs Ye Zhao and Ye Chunyue, alongside Jiangzhou Lin Clan patriarch Lin Xiaoyi.

Ye Ying asked: "Xiao Jing of Datong has ascended?"

Lin Xiaoyi nodded: "Yes."

Xiao Jing, once a Fourth Layer Great Scholar of the Datong realm, had endured hardship but persevered in cultivation. Now, she had reached the pinnacle of Confucian scholarship—the Ascending Clouds realm.

Yet she remained low-key in the Two Jin realm, avoiding direct conflict with the Northern Jin court to prevent Tang intervention.

Lin Xiaoyi and others agreed—defeating Northern Jin wasn't true victory.

Their only hope lay in Lian Mountain.

Years of effort by the three Ye Clans finally bore fruit as they gathered for the final push.

Lin Xiaoyi assisted, while Xiao Jing emerged to shield them from Northern Jin's Empress and the Xiao Clan's patriarch.

At the same time, in the Great Ming realm, Feng Wensu of the Abyssal Border watched as the "Phoenix Cry Collection" moved on its own, its characters forming ritual patterns.

The ritual had progressed suddenly.

"...Others are also trying to summon Lian Mountain's return. From Great Ming?" Feng Wensu observed silently without interference.