Cultivation: Fortune by Lots-Chapter 578 - 271. With a bamboo in hand, all treasures bow down! (Two-in-one Chapter)

Chapter 578: 271. With a bamboo in hand, all treasures bow down! (Two-in-one Chapter)

Shangguan Sheng’s gaze circled between Liao Jie and Lei Jun.

Fairly speaking, Liao Jie was not without fame. He had achieved the Upper Three Heavens realm at a young age; wherever one looked in the Great Tang, his future was considered boundless.

However, in recent years he had been in secluded Cultivation and seldom left Mount Shu, so his renown was not as resounding as before.

But with his recent success in reaching the Pill Resolution realm of the Seventh Heavenly Layer of the Daoist Artifact Refining Sect, he had once again become well-known throughout the Great Tang.

Yet, the magnitude of fame sometimes depends on comparison. Even at Liao Jie’s peak, his renown was still not as great as Lei Jun’s at present.

In just over twenty years, not only had Lei Jun achieved the Seventh Heavenly Layer realm, but he had also beheaded Lin Chi in Jiangzhou and executed Qi Shuo of the Yellow Sky Sect—both were tangible military exploits.

As a rising star of the Taoist Sect, Liao Jie would need to defeat at least one opponent also in the Upper Three Heavens to even be considered for comparison.

But even that would only just make him eligible. To be truly considered on par with Lei Jun, he still had a long way to go.

Moreover, within the Mount Shu Sect itself, amongst his peers, a metaphorical mountain named Zhang Taigang still loomed above him.

As for Actual Combat Spellcasting, Liao Jie was indeed not dominant.

However, the entire Cultivation and expertise of a Daoist Artifact Refining Sect Cultivator revolved around their Lifebound Magical Artifacts and Magical Treasures.

Not long after achieving the Seventh Layer of Heaven Realm, Liao Jie had emerged from seclusion. He had not even had time to enhance the Lifebound Magical Artifacts from his time in the Lower Three Heavens and Middle Three Heavens. His efforts were entirely focused on forging his first Lifebound Magic Treasure, the Southern Ming Furnace. Although the treasure was completed, it still required a period of careful Warming and Nurturing. Currently, it was still unrefined and inevitably lacked sharpness.

On top of that, his opponents were martial experts like Shen Qubing and Shangguan Sheng. Shen Qubing was especially fast. The South Bright Separation Fire released by the Southern Ming Furnace had only just begun to manifest its scale when Shen Qubing had already closed in, leaving Liao Jie no room to utilize it.

Unfortunately, Liao Jie no longer had the chance to prove himself.

Shangguan Sheng glanced at Lei Jun again.

Compared to Liao Jie, this Master Lei’s Cultivation was rising rapidly, and his Actual Combat Spellcasting was equally fierce.

Such a person’s true level might actually exceed his external fame. In the early years, I somewhat underestimated him, Shangguan Sheng thought. Fortunately, now that I take him seriously, it is not too late...

Lei Jun maintained his composure at the side.

Walking side by side with Zhang Jingzhen, he could faintly sense the Heavenly Palace Charter Lower Decree on her person.

Under normal circumstances, Zhang Jingzhen would also sense it, realizing that the Heavenly Palace Charter Upper Decree was right beside her, in Lei Jun’s possession.

But Lei Jun used the Mysterious Void Mirror to conceal the Heavenly Palace Charter Upper Decree, allowing very little of its aura to leak out.

Unlike Chen Yi, who always had a Cultivation Realm gap with Zhang Jingzhen, Lei Jun’s Cultivation level was closely matched to hers, and his strength was even superior. With his deliberate concealment, Zhang Jingzhen was completely unaware.

Zhang Jingzhen intended to present the Heavenly Palace Charter Lower Decree to the Tang Imperial Court, and Lei Jun agreed.

Since the Heavenly Palace Charter Upper Decree was in his possession, the matter would ultimately not bypass Dragon Tiger Mountain. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

However, the Heavenly Palace Chapter Tablet itself was no ordinary object. Lei Jun wondered what kind of karma it might involve in the future, causing him to pay close attention secretly.

"Elder Lei, the Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talismans that your Celestial Master Mansion has released in the past few years are of much higher quality than before. I wonder if you could spare me two more?" Shen Qubing said to Lei Jun at this moment, somewhat sheepishly.

Lei Jun replied, "Of course, that is possible."

He gave two Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talismans to Shen Qubing, saying, "However, you need to be mindful that they are not always unimpeded. Just earlier in the Stone Forest of Nanzhao, it was due to a collision that temporarily dispelled many of the illusions there, enabling me to contact General Shen and Shangguan General in time with the Spirit Talisman."

Shen Qubing received them. "I understand; my thanks, Elder Lei."

While they were conversing, a message came from Chu Yu through the Seeing the Words as if Seeing the Person Technique.

Shangguan Yunbo had arrived at Snow Dragon Mountain in time with the Expelling Invaders Halberd, successfully repelling the enemy’s ambush.

Whether predictable or not, among the ambushers, besides Gu Han, the former Black Tortoise Elder from Pure Yang Palace, the other person, though wielding the Seven-Star Sword, was not the long-missing Chen Donglou.

It was another Eighth Heavenly Layer Elder from the Mount Shu Sect, impersonating Chen Donglou.

His name was Wang Dongchu.

"If I remember correctly..." Lei Jun looked towards Liao Jie. "He is the Direct Disciple of Wang Dongchu, isn’t he?"

Zhang Jingzhen, now calm again, similarly looked at Liao Jie. "Yes, that’s correct."

Liao Jie, who had initially been clenching his teeth, feigning ignorance, and accusing Lei Jun, Shangguan Sheng, and Shen Qubing of conspiring to frame him, visibly faltered upon hearing that his mentor Wang Dongchu’s impersonation of Chen Donglou and ambush of Chu Yu had failed. His body trembled slightly, and a look of utter defeat washed over his face.

Shangguan Sheng said, "At this point, further denials are futile. Confess everything honestly."

Although Liao Jie looked defeated, he remained silent.

Shen Qubing spoke, "The Alchemy Cauldron Sect’s Gu Han and the Refinement Sect’s Wang Dongchu are fleeing separately. The Great General is currently in pursuit of Wang Dongchu. Chu Sheren and Elder Wei of the Mount Shu Sect are pursuing Gu Han, but they have currently lost his trail and are now en route to join us."

Shangguan Sheng nodded, looking at Liao Jie, who appeared resigned to his fate, and Mo Chen nearby. "For now, we’ll take these two captives back to the Great Tang."

The wild frontier of the Southwest was no longer within the territory of the Tang Imperial Dynasty. The environment was complex, and long-distance communication was difficult.

After Chu Yu and Wei Qiyue converged with Lei Jun and the others, they tried to reach Shangguan Yunbo, but there was no response in the short term.

This could be due to the great distance between them. It was also possible that Shangguan Yunbo was currently in an area of chaotic Spiritual Energy or embroiled in a fierce battle with enemies.

"I volunteer to head south again, to serve under the Great General," said Shangguan Sheng solemnly.