Chapter 658: 290. Renowned Far and Wide Lei Chongyun (Two-in-One Chapter)_2

Long Tao nodded. "Our sect has made preparations and will deliver them in a few days."

As fellow High Merit Masters of the Taoist Sect, an Eighth Heavenly Layer cultivation base is incomparable to that of the Seventh Heavenly Layer.

Previously, when Yue Xiling of Pure Yang Palace attained the Alchemy Cauldron Sect’s Eighth Heavenly Layer Nascent Soul Transformation, and when Zhang Taigang of the Mount Shu Sect achieved the Refinement Sect’s Eighth Heavenly Layer Immortal Travel Realm, the Celestial Master Mansion had, out of courtesy, prepared congratulatory gifts for both.

Therefore, Lei Jun did not feign modesty by declining and simply accepted. "In that case, thank you both, and thank you to my fellow Daoists from the Mount Shu Sect and Pure Yang Palace."

After some more conversation, the host and guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Ji Chuan and Long Tao then took their leave.

Lei Jun resumed his life and cultivation as usual.

However, the Tang Imperial Court moved faster than both the Mount Shu Sect and Pure Yang Palace. Soon, some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were sent to Dragon Tiger Mountain as gifts.

Lei Jun calmly accepted them, thanking Shangguan Ning and Zhang Jingzhen for acting as intermediaries.

However, a rather unexpected "gift" later arrived for Elder Lei.

It originated from the Celestial Book’s Dark Universe.

It originated from Luo Hou.

It was Kang Ming from the Yellow Sky Sect.

Or rather, the one known as "Wen Zhaoqian" in the Mortal Tao Country.

Lei Jun looked at the text displayed by the Dark Side of the Celestial Book and fell into contemplation.

"An Emperor... huh?"

Kang Ming’s information this time was quite limited; he only mentioned that someone among the high echelons of the Mortal Tao Country had spoken of such an Emperor.

As for the details, Kang Ming was unaware.

Yet, this title alone was enough to provoke the imagination.

Lei Jun looked up at the sky. After pondering for a moment, he informed his master, Yuan Mobai, and his senior sister, Xu Yuanzhen, about the message.

Then, he made a brief trip down the mountain to arrange Kang Ming’s reward.

It was the Prime Heaven Crystal that Chu Kun had given him earlier.

With this treasure, Kang Ming could first attempt a breakthrough in his Alchemy Cauldron Sect cultivation to reach the Upper Three Heavens. Later, he could gradually work towards the Talisman Sect’s Yellow Sky Altar.

Once the item was given, Lei Jun inquired no further. He returned to his mountain, leaving Kang Ming to fend for himself.

With the treasure in hand, Kang Ming fell into thought.

After a short while, his gaze became resolute. He cherishedly stored the Prime Heaven Crystal away, preparing for his upcoming Tribulation Crossing.

「...」

In the northern East Sea, near the frigid waters of the North Sea, the Mount Shu Sect’s two great treasures, the Taiyi Primordial Tower and Qingxiao Manor, were currently combined, one above the other, resting on the ocean floor.

Qingxiao Manor was buried deep within the seabed rocks, with only the Taiyi Primordial Tower remaining visible.

Combined, the two treasures were barely sufficient to sustain the foundation of a Sacred Land.

Currently, however, the Mortal Tao Country maintained an extremely low profile, with few of its members venturing out.

Their intelligence network, however, was far from obstructed; on the contrary, it was exceptionally effective.

Just then, the members of the Mortal Tao Country within Qingxiao Manor received some rather unwelcome news.

"An Eighth Heavenly Layer cultivator under fifty years old... Truly young. Neither Zhang Taigang nor Liao Jie can compare," lamented Hong Jie, the former Supreme Elder of Mount Shu.

Nearby, a Taoist with the white hair of a crane yet a youthful complexion remarked slowly, "Regardless of his youth, the Celestial Master Mansion now has another Eighth Heavenly Layer cultivator. This means yet another obstacle for us."

Beside him, Fu Dongsen, the former Sect Leader of Mount Shu, stated, "Lei Jun—Lei Chongyun—cannot be viewed as an ordinary cultivator of the Celestial Master Mansion at the first layer of the Divine Court.

Not long after he attained the Seventh Heavenly Layer, he killed Lin Chi of Jiangzhou, who was at the same realm.

If Lin Chi’s defeat that day could be attributed to various external factors, then Qi Shuo’s loss in the subsequent Battle of the East Sea was utterly without excuse.

Once or twice might be a coincidence. But afterward, in the Southern Wilderness, he also took down Tao Zhun of the Witchcraft Sect’s Blood River Lineage, another Seventh Heavenly Layer cultivator.

For this to happen repeatedly is no mere chance.

This is a heaven-gifted prodigy whose cultivation advances with startling speed, and he is exceptionally formidable in duels of magic!"

Hong Jie stated slowly, "Indeed. Those who reach the Eighth Heavenly Layer all demonstrated remarkable prowess at the Seventh. However, in my opinion, we must pay even greater attention to Lei Chongyun of the Celestial Master Mansion.

Even at the first layer of the Divine Court, his strength among Eighth Heavenly Layer cultivators may still outstrip his peers."

Rong Guangchen, the man with crane-white hair and a youthful face, nodded slightly. "Just like Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, also from the Celestial Master Mansion."

Fu Dongsen added, "Correct. We must, at the very least, consider Lei Jun to be on par with a cultivator at the second layer of the Divine Court."

Even among Eighth Heavenly Layer cultivators, there can be significant differences in cultivation strength.

They all hail from Sacred Lands or renowned heritages. Ignoring foundational aspects for a moment, each sect internally divides the Eighth Heavenly Layer into four tiers.

And in most cases, in terms of actual combat prowess, a distinct dividing line often exists among these four tiers of the Eighth Heavenly Layer.

For instance, though all were at the Eighth Heavenly Layer, Ye Han of Jinzhou and Gao Pu of Golden City Stronghold could only flee for their lives when facing Wei Ancheng of the Ninth Heavenly Layer. Whether they could escape depended partly on luck.

However, Sang Lu, the Holy Master of Gepo Mountain, and Feng Gui, the Holy Master of Samsara Abyss, despite also facing Wei Ancheng and being at a disadvantage, were not immediately overwhelmed by perils.

Besides the varying combat advantages and disadvantages of the different sects’ practices, their strength also differed from that of Ye Han and Gao Pu.

Furthermore, because each sect’s heritage is different, the specific location of this dividing line may also vary.

Taking the Taoist Talisman Sect as an example, this dividing line lies between achieving the Divine Court Intermediate Scene and manifesting the External Scenery of the Divine Court.

Whether a Talisman Sect cultivator can manifest the External Scenery of the Divine Court, thereby projecting an external universe, significantly impacts their combat performance.

If the External Scenery of the Divine Court—the third tier of the Eighth Heavenly Layer—were not so uniquely significant, Fu Dongsen would even be inclined to rate Lei Jun’s current capabilities a tier higher.

Reflecting on past experiences, they realized that although they believed they had already given this young member of the Celestial Master Mansion considerable importance, subsequent events consistently proved that their supposed high regard had still been an underestimation.