Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Lei Jun: "Elder Ye overestimates me."

Ye Cheng sat beside Ye Dongming, with a calm expression.

In the past, there were the Jinzhou Ye and the Qingzhou Ye, and though there were often disagreements or even disputes, there remained an understanding and connection on certain matters.

But now, everything has changed.

Not only has Jinzhou Ye Clan been transformed to Qingzhou Ye Clan, but it’s also because of Ye Dongming himself.

Ye Cheng had heard of some matters concerning him.

Compared to the Taoist experts from Ye Clan, it seemed more appropriate to directly address him as Elder Dongming from the Mount Shu Sect.

However, Ye Cheng did not wish to elaborate on this, merely offering a bow to Lei Jun: "Elder Ye’s words are very true. The second invasion by the foreign tribe has been swiftly quelled, and both the Celestial Master and Shenxiao Demon Cleansing Guarding Master deserve credit."

Lei Jun: "In war, soldiers face peril. Many fellow Daoists and Great Tang warriors have perished, and I dare not claim credit."

Due to the power of Bomo Ge, Mi Han, Zhuo Le, Mu Dujie, along with the Three Springs Palace Elder Guo Licheng, in various battles on behalf of Great Tang, except for the injuries suffered by masters Jiang Yu, Zhang Zhen, Ye Dongming, and Ye Cheng, two Seventh Layer of Heaven Realm cultivators fell to the foreign tribe, and casualties among the Middle Three Heavens cultivators were even greater.

Vajra Temple’s abbot Suoyang spoke at this time: "Without Celestial Master Lei and Master Tang’s timely arrival to turn the tide, the casualties might have been heavier. The two masters were indeed the pillars of this battle."

His tone was calm, echoing the sentiments of others.

Yet, even until this moment, he was still somewhat confounded.

Tang Xiaotang, a Ninth Heavenly Layer expert, had been in constant pursuit of Long Sky Gray Wolf, who was also wounded.

Under such circumstances, while the Great Demon eventually met its demise, it was less surprising and shocking.

But on the other side...

Facing four opponents, including an eightfold heaven complete Mi Han.

Winning this battle was remarkable, and the ultimate outcome was that all four were executed on the spot.

Even though Lei Jun, the Celestial Master, had the Celestial Master’s Three Treasures with him, Mu Dujie and Zhuo Le couldn’t escape; this result surprised many.

Moreover, it’s said he didn’t even wield the Celestial Master’s Sword...

Suoyang looked at Lei Jun.

Even after listening to Jiang Yu and Zhang Zhen’s recount of the battle, Suoyang pondered for a long time and struggled to imagine the actual events.

......

Imperial Capital Luoyang.

Fang Residence.

The de facto Prime Minister of Great Tang, Zuo Pushe Fang Hezhou, was receiving guests.

From another of Great Tang’s three departments, the Department of Central Secretariat’s Prefect of the Central Secretariat, Chu Lin, visited alongside his son Chu Pu, to meet with Elder Fang.

Though Fang Hezhou was not as old as the Suzhou Chu Clan’s old Clan Chief Chu Xiuyuan, Chu Lin and Chu Pu privately treated him with the respect reserved for elders.

"Uncle Shi, in the Northwest, will His Majesty dispatch General Ye and his troops to aid?" Chu Lin asked softly.

With the death of Ye Moquan in Earth Sea, despite his revered posthumous acknowledgment, it severely affected the influence of Cangzhou Ye Clan in the Great Tang Shenji Army.

Though Cangzhou Ye Clan was reinvesting, it was challenging to restore its former status quickly.

The Five Clans and Seven Families currently have only Qingzhou Ye Clan’s Elder Ye Jiong representing them in the Great Tang Shenji Army.

During the Solitary Eagle Khanate’s first invasion, Ye Jiong already led forces to the Northwest Greater and Little Guan Mountains to fight.

Fang Hezhou, his hair tinged with white, appeared neither youthful nor excessively aged, with a lean face and bright eyes, embodying the Tang Prime Minister’s demeanor.

"There’s no final decision yet; His Majesty is likely waiting for reports from the Northwest." Fang Hezhou replied.

Chu Lin: "It coincides with the inauguration of the new Sect Leader of Pure Yang Palace, drawing guests from all around. The Northwest doesn’t lack experts temporarily."

Fang Hezhou: "According to previous reports, besides the current Celestial Master Lei Jun, the former Celestial Master Tang Xiaotang is also in the Northern Border, though her current whereabouts are uncertain."

"Uncle Shi, what do you think, what scale will the Northwest invasion reach this time, and how long will it last?" Chu Lin pondered aloud.

Fang Hezhou: "It depends on how many foreign tribe nomads have invaded, and also when the former Celestial Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain, indeed arrives there..."

As they conversed, a servant came to report.

Fang Hezhou, after hearing, did not hide it from Chu Lin and his son: "Mingyan has sent word from the Northwest."

By "Mingyan," he referred to Fang Zhu, the leader among the younger generation of the Jingxiang Fang Clan.

Both the Tang Imperial Court and Jingxiang Fang Clan, Suzhou Chu Clan, etc., have multiple channels for information.

But Fang Zhu, in terms of status and cultivation, is already part of Jingxiang Fang Clan’s inner leadership.

He was stationed on the Northwest front, holding valuable firsthand information.

The same goes for Qingzhou Ye Clan’s Ye Cheng.

Fang Hezhou read Fang Zhu’s message, his gaze suddenly freezing.

His white beard gently swayed.

Chu Pu looked at his father, Chu Lin.

Elder Fang’s reaction was indeed rare.

Chu Lin remained calm, not speaking or questioning, quietly seated.

Fang Hezhou, staring at the message, suddenly spoke: "The Northwest matter is almost concluded."

Chu Pu couldn’t help but be astonished.

Chu Lin then asked deeply: "Uncle Shi, what happened?"

Fang Hezhou, laying down the message, calmly explained: "The Void Gateway has been sealed, and based on this, one Ninth Heavenly Layer Martial Saint from the foreign tribe was wounded and escaped, four Eightfold Heaven martial artists, and one Eightfold Heaven Alchemy Cauldron Sect Daoist have already been executed, moreover, the Northern Border Great Demon Long Sky Gray Wolf has also perished."

As he spoke, he directly handed the message to Chu Lin.

Chu Lin accepted with gratitude and read attentively.

Halfway through reading, he suddenly looked up at Fang Hezhou.

Fang Hezhou gently nodded: "The five Eightfold Heavenly Realm cultivators, among them four fell in a single battle, four against one, and all four were killed."

Chu Lin lowered his head to reread the message: "Even if the current Celestial Master Xuanxiao Zi carries the Celestial Master’s Three Treasures, wouldn’t there still be some survivors on their side?"

Just as Bomo Ge engaged in a fierce battle with Shangguan Yunbo and others.

Bomo Ge was dominant, yet he couldn’t eliminate everyone present.

Either focus solely on Shangguan Yunbo, pursuing him to death.

Or deal with Ye Dongming, Ye Cheng, and others, but Shangguan Yunbo alone could escape.

Logically, Lei Jun should face similar issues.

But this outcome...

Having finished reading the message, Chu Lin looked again at Fang Hezhou.

Fang Hezhou gazed out the window, after a moment, seemingly speaking to himself:

"The position of State Preceptor will likely be bestowed upon the Celestial Master Mansion; the difference lies only in the surname."