Lei Jun was also contemplating the Shenxiao Refined Gold sent by the Tang Imperial Court. However, he had not used it yet. This Spiritual Object, originating from the Nine Heavens and born amidst the thunderous movements of Shenxiao, contained an extremely abundant force of thunder and the essence of Refined Metal. The violent Lei Gang energy was sealed within the Refined Metal, restlessly churning and surging. When the Tang Imperial Court had previously sent it, special Ritual Instruments were set up to suppress and seal this treasure, lest its power spread and wreak havoc.

Lei Jun, however, did not need to seal it specially. The powers of both the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder and the Xuanxiao Immortal Thunder coexisted within him, harmoniously blending Yin and Yang. When the Shenxiao Refined Gold came into Lei Jun’s hands, it felt like a wanderer returning home, completely at ease. Lei Jun used his Thunder Law Heavenly Scripture Talismans and the Xuánxiāo Five Thunder Talisman—a Yin-Yang pair—to securely store the Shenxiao Refined Gold within the Taiji Diagram of Dual Polarity.

Lei Jun had some ideas regarding this Spiritual Treasure, but he still needed to deliberate further.

「In the following days」

Lei Jun spent his time refining several Magical Treasures and Magic Artifacts while continuing to practice and contemplate Supernatural Spells.

The reconstruction of the Celestial Master Mansion was gradually completed, and the situation within Dragon Tiger Mountain finally stabilized. During this period, successors from various branches outside the Ancestral Court came to Dragon Tiger Mountain in succession to pay their respects. These visitors were either Sect Leaders themselves or important representatives sent by them.

The Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion, as the ancestral court of the Taoist Talisman Sects worldwide, had long held sway over the Taoist Sects of the South. Having branched out extensively, the Talisman Sect had many major orthodox lineages. Sects like the Purple Cloud Sect and the Tianxu Sect, which Lei Jun had previously visited, were among them.

Over the years, Dragon Tiger Mountain had endured numerous tribulations, causing the fate of the entire Taoist Talisman Sect to fluctuate as well. Especially after successive events such as the Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s assault, the Yellow Sky Sect’s attack on the mountain, and the great battle with Li Wai, the power of the Celestial Master Mansion had fallen to its lowest point in recent years. The entire Taoist Talisman Sect likewise felt suppressed, forced to maintain a low profile and silently accumulate strength to recover.

It was only after the Celestial Master Mansion swept through the Jiangzhou Lin Clan that everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief. In the years that followed, the various Talisman Sects began to show signs of resurgence. As these branches and lineages grew stronger, they helped re-establish a solid foundation for Dragon Tiger Mountain and the Taoist Talisman Sect, expanding their base of power. While their influence grew, a continuous stream of resources from various enterprises was channeled to Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Everything had been progressing smoothly in recent years, until the invasion by the Mortal Tao Country presented a new, significant hurdle. Fortunately, the Celestial Master Mansion managed to overcome it. Although the sect’s foundations had experienced considerable turbulence, they were now restabilizing.

Branch sects like the Tianxu Sect and Purple Cloud Sect dispatched Disciples on pilgrimages to celebrate their Ancestral Courtyard of the Sect for upholding righteous law and defeating the nefarious forces of the Mortal Tao Country.

As for High Merit Master Yao Yuan of the mansion, true to his word, once the mansion regained stability, he took over his duties from Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai. Without lingering, he then returned to the restricted area of the Rear Mountain Ancestral Tomb. Since this had long been agreed upon, Lei Jun and his disciple felt it improper to insist he stay.

"Counting the days, the situation in the Northwest must be reaching its most critical moment," one of them remarked.

Currently, the only High Merit Elders stationed in the mansion were Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai. One particular Celestial Master, however, did not shirk her duties this time. When her responsibilities aligned with her interests, she always displayed immense enthusiasm. The task of receiving representatives from the various branch sects and lineages currently fell to Celestial Master Tang, and although it seemed demanding, she thoroughly enjoyed it.

Lei Jun and his disciple, however, focused their attention on the reports sent back by Zhang Jingzhen from the Northwest.

「In the Northwest」

The Tang Imperial Court had mobilized troops from various routes, engaging in a series of major battles with the Solitary Eagle Khanate in areas like Lingzhou and Yuanzhou. Overall, Great Tang had gained the upper hand. Most of the territories in Lingzhou and Yuanzhou had been reclaimed. The invading force of the Solitary Eagle Khanate had been cut in two. One contingent had crossed the Grand River, fleeing far into the Northern Desert. The other was trapped between the Greater and Little Guan Mountains in Yuanzhou, which was also where they had first emerged into this world.

The enemy forces that fled to the Northern Desert were difficult to encircle and eliminate due to the terrain and environment. For the time being, the Tang Imperial Court concentrated its forces south of the Grand River, launching an all-out campaign to annihilate the remaining enemy trapped in the Guan Mountains. The immediate objective was to seal the Void Gateway there. Whether it could be completely destroyed remained uncertain and would require careful study and research after securing the area.

"Overall, this is naturally good news," Yuan Mobai said. "However, various signs and gathered intelligence indicate that this is merely a flanking detachment of the Solitary Eagle Khanate. Their main force hasn’t come to the Great Tang Realm but is... in their own Mortal World."

This was considered one of the Tang Imperial Court’s highest secrets at present, with only a limited number of individuals and factions being informed. In a previous battle, the Tang Army had managed, with great difficulty, to capture some wounded soldiers alive from the Solitary Eagle Khanate. Through interrogation, the Tang Imperial Court gained a deeper understanding of this suddenly appearing new adversary.

This enemy did not originate from any of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. They also believed that their own realm was the true Mortal World. The Khanate’s armies campaigned far and wide, constantly waging war against those in their Mortal World who refused to submit. Currently, they were engaged in a fierce war with an Ancient Western Desert Kingdom, attempting to conquer it. The war raged intensely. Those who had entered the Great Tang Realm were merely a flanking force of the Solitary Eagle Khan. They had unintentionally discovered the Void Gateway there, never expecting that crossing it would lead to another, unfamiliar world.

Therefore, despite achieving victory this time, the entire Tang Court regarded the so-called Solitary Eagle Khanate with extreme seriousness.

"Indeed, more than one Mortal World exists, but..." Lei Jun frowned slightly. "There are many suspicious points."

The course of the battle in the Northwest indicated that the people of the Solitary Eagle Khanate were very familiar with the terrain of the Great Tang Realm. The fact that the contingent fleeing north could use the desert to evade pursuit was one reason for this.