Chapter 697: 296. The second Fundamental Daoist Magical Treasure, Taiqing Eight Scenic Treasures Raincoat (Chapter combining two into one)_5

Apart from the ongoing conflict with the East Sea and the Heavenly Principle, out in the Northwest, a great war had once again erupted between the Great Tang Dynasty and the Solitary Eagle Khanate.

However, the warfare in the Northwest did not affect the Tang Imperial Court’s rewards and consolations for Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Having defeated the Mortal Tao Country, they managed to avert a calamity for the Great Tang in the short term.

Although Huang Xuanpu was still at large, the fact that his identity was clear and publicly known was likewise considered a gain for the Great Tang.

As for the Pure Yang Palace, the Tang Imperial Court was still slowly formulating its plans.

There was no need for further discussion regarding the Celestial Master Mansion. After Xiao Xueting and others returned to report, Prince Xun’an Zhang Mu visited Dragon Tiger Mountain in person to formally express condolences to everyone at the Celestial Master Mansion.

As per precedent, for significant contributions to the state, the Tang Imperial Court also rewarded those from the Taoist Sect.

But there was a small problem.

Among the living, there had heretofore only been one person officially titled by the government as the Pure Yang Manifestation Dharma Protector.

And that person was none other than Huang Xuanpu, the previous Sect Leader of the Pure Yang Palace, who was now missing.

The title of Elder Huang originated from this.

But now, it had pretty much become an awkward piece of history.

Handled discreetly, the titles for Lei Jun and others were also temporarily shelved, quietly dropped, and went unmentioned by anyone.

Lei Jun and the rest didn’t particularly mind this.

To make amends, the Imperial Court’s bestowed treasures were even more generous.

With the spiritual objects previously confiscated from Fu Dongsen, Rong Guangchen, and others, combined with the gifts of condolence from the Tang Imperial Court, there was no issue whatsoever with reconstructing Dragon Tiger Mountain. In fact, they even had resources to spare.

Among the treasures granted by the Tang Court for consolation, four items were most eye-catching:

Heavenly Rotating Immortal Dust.

Nine Suns Divine Wood.

Deep Sea Ghostly Gold.

Shenxiao Refined Gold.

These four great treasures corresponded, in a certain sense, to Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, and Lei Jun respectively.

According to Zhang Mu, the Empress, despite overseeing the war in the Northwest, had personally inquired about and decided on these treasures.

After the members of the Celestial Master Mansion made their polite, customary refusals, Celestial Master Tang immediately and unceremoniously took the Nine Suns Divine Wood for himself.

"It seems Shangguan Grand General and his party gained significantly from their previous venture deep into the Jiuli black fog."

Yuan Mobai looked at the Deep Sea Ghostly Gold and remarked, "Such a rare treasure. Her Majesty is truly considerate."

Wang Guiyuan sighed, "My only fear is that there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world; the court has dug deep into its coffers over the years."

Internal strife and external threats, continuous unrest, continuous deployment of troops.

For a dynasty in this cultivation world, sometimes the battles were fought with ’money’ as well.

Only this ’money’ was not like ordinary money.

Refining magic, alchemy, alchemy, healing, cultivating for improvement, setting up ritual instruments, repairing stronghold formations, and down to subsequent rewards and patronage—everything took ’money.’

The Tang Imperial Court had deep pockets, but especially in recent years, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it spent ’money’ like running water.

"If Master Faqing were willing to show himself, perhaps you, Senior Brother, would also have a share in this," Lei Jun commented.

Wang Guiyuan waved his hand. "There’s no need, really. I can’t handle such a reward."

Lei Jun asked, "But speaking of which, Senior Brother, how did you decide on such a Dharma name?"

Wang Guiyuan replied, "Is there a problem?"

Lei Jun said, "It sounds like... being in heat."

Wang Guiyuan responded, "...Please enunciate more clearly and accurately."

After a few jokes between the senior and junior brothers, they each refocused their efforts on the task of rebuilding the mountain gate.

As time passed, the Celestial Master Mansion’s Ancestral Courtyard finally began to take shape again.

But just as during the previous great battles, some things underwent tremendous changes due to the vibrations and shifts in the Global Spiritual Qi, similar to what had happened with Ganoderma Terrace years ago.

Lei Jun and the others could only make careful adjustments, generally maintaining the undiminished spiritual beauty of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

When the reconstruction of the mountain gate finally reached a stopping point, Lei Jun could devote more time and energy to his own affairs.

Beyond routine cultivation, Lei Jun’s main focus shifted to refining magical treasures.

He first decided to re-refine his Supreme Pure Jade Heavenly Immortal Bamboo.

The green bamboo staff, glinting with violet and golden light, still had seven segments.

But as Lei Jun’s own cultivation realm ascended to the Eighth Heavenly Layer, his Supreme Pure Jade Heavenly Immortal Bamboo once again had an opportunity for enhancement.

He was not like those from the Daoist Artifact Refining Sect, who shared weal and woe with their Lifebound Magical Artifacts. Nevertheless, the staff was still very closely connected to Lei Jun.

Lei Jun then continued to refine the treasure with a combination of Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire.

Over time, the seven-segmented staff finally grew to eight segments.

After warming and nurturing the Supreme Pure Jade Heavenly Immortal Bamboo for a period, Lei Jun turned his attention to studying the second magical treasure he would craft himself.

For raw materials, he proceeded as he had previously planned. He decided to use the Dragon Form Raincoat, Eight Scenic Winds, and the newly acquired Solitary Wood Core from the Thousand Leaves Butterfly King as the main components, combined with other auxiliary substances.

However, Lei Jun did not incorporate the Shenxiao Refined Gold he had just received from the Tang Imperial Court into this mix, considering using it later instead.

Under Lei Jun’s control, the Dragon Form Raincoat transformed into dragon shadows that spiraled and danced in mid-air.

The Eight Scenic Winds, seemingly solid, unfolded once more, yet remained condensed.

The Solitary Wood Core was dissolved by Lei Jun’s mana into a mist-like, ethereal flow of light.

One of the Thousand Leaves Butterfly King’s great natural talents was the ability to expertly conceal its presence and disguise itself, effectively masking its true form and whereabouts.

With great patience, Lei Jun used the Nine Abyss True Fire to aid in merging the Dragon Form Raincoat, the Eight Scenic Winds, and the mist-like ether into a single entity.

Gradually, a raincoat began to form.

This magical treasure was unlike the Supreme Pure Jade Heavenly Immortal Bamboo. Due to the Eight Scenic Winds and certain precious auxiliary Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, it possessed a Tao Containment more aligned with the Taiching tradition.

Lei Jun didn’t mind this; in fact, he became quite intrigued.

He named it the Taiching Eight Scenic Treasures Raincoat.