Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Regarding the current situation of the Xu Mi Vajra Department, Lei Jun did not conceal anything and detailed it thoroughly.

However, most of the publicized achievements were mainly to emphasize the Tang Master.

Celestial Master Lei did not care much about such matters.

Tang Xiaotang looked at Lei Jun somewhat irritably.

She doesn’t deny she enjoys fame, but she prefers the fame she earns herself.

Lei Jun’s modesty was not her wish.

But as it involved many secrets of Lei Jun and the Celestial Master Mansion, some blame and some accomplishments had to be shouldered entirely by the Tang Master.

"Elder Cisong..." Lu Zhen and Lü Jinduan exchanged glances.

Xiao Hang: "Aksobhya Buddha, Mother Diagram... the strength of the Xu Mi Vajra Department is stronger than anticipated, this battle truly owes much to the Tang Master and Celestial Master Lei."

Lei Jun: "Either it was overestimated, or conservatively underestimated, this time the Xu Mi Vajra Department’s own judgment was inaccurate, otherwise, the outcome would have been uncertain."

The Mother Diagram was tolerable.

If Elder Cisong had brought the Aksobhya Buddha to the Great Tang realm to join forces with the Vajra Sect Leader, the difficulty of this battle would have skyrocketed.

The challenge wasn’t in Elder Cisong mastering the Aksobhya Buddha, nor was it in the Vajra Sect Leader wielding the Five-Cobalt Vajra Scepter.

The real challenge lay in if the Vajra Sect Leader himself wielded both the Five-Cobalt Vajra Scepter and the Aksobhya Buddha, the effect would be greater than the sum of its parts.

Within the Sumi, among the five Vajra Sects, the Vajra Division focused most on the true intent of the Vajra, excelling in both offense and defense, imperishable and capable of severing all.

If Vajra Sect Leader Garuda combined with the power of the Aksobhya Buddha, the defense would nearly match the Taoist Dan Ding Five Qi Towards Primordial.

At that point, given the disparity in both realms, even with Lei Jun commanding the Dual Yin-Yang Final Law Immortal Formation and the Black Bodhi Seed, there was no guarantee of breaking through the opponent’s defense.

It might not necessarily reverse the outcome, but the difficulty would increase exponentially, potentially affecting the final result.

"However it may be, today’s Celestial Master Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain has triumphed over the Xu Mi Vajra Department." Lu Zhen praised.

"General Lu is too kind."

Lei Jun then inquired about another matter: "I heard moments ago, has Prince Huayang passed away?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhen slowly replied: "Prince Huayang has unfortunately perished for the sake of the country."

Tang Xiaotang snorted lightly upon hearing this.

Lei Jun nodded gently: "From the perspective of resisting foreign insult, it’s regrettable and heartbreaking."

Lu Zhen sighed silently.

Prince Huayang Zhang Rui was one of the trusted experts of the Zhang Tang imperial family after the empress ascended to the throne.

But earlier, around the time the Celestial Master Mansion’s Xu Yuanzhen was about to duel with the Jinzhou Ye Clan’s old patriarch Ye Moquan, secrets emerged of Prince Huayang Zhang Rui’s clandestine dealings with the Ye Clan.

Since then, Prince Huayang’s faction has kept a much lower profile.

In this recent northbound battle, the Yin Mountain defenses were unexpectedly breached early, forcing the Great Tang cultivators to retreat.

During the retreat, the enemies pursued closely, causing some casualties among the Great Tang cultivators.

The highest among them in mastery was Prince Huayang Zhang Rui.

Recalling past events, it evoked lamentation over the unpredictability of affairs.

Now that the overall situation is settled, there are still numerous cumbersome post-battle procedures required.

The Vajra Temple has become history, and the Xu Mi Vajra Department no longer exists, with the Buddhist Hand Seal lineage temporarily severed in the Sacred Land of the Great Tang.

However, there remain many Buddhist temples and monastic institutions that were branches of the former Vajra Temple and Xu Mi Vajra Department.

On the part of the Tang Imperial Dynasty, aside from exterminating the remaining main forces of the adversary, it also had to gradually cleanse the remaining branches of the Buddhist Hand Seal lineage.

Though not fully incorporating the Western Regions into the Great Tang’s territory, as the Tang Imperial Court works to clear the influence of the Buddhist Sect in the Western Regions, its own marks are also being left behind.

Lu Zhen and Princess Shanyang Zhang Ying, among others, were specifically left in charge of this matter.

The Celestial Master Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain did not leave any strong personnel stationed there.

In contrast, Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang sanctioned the Pure Yang Palace to assist the Tang Imperial Court in its cleansing of the Western Regions.

This made the elders of Pure Yang Palace such as Lü Jinduan sigh in their hearts.

Lei Jun, Tang Xiaotang, and the Celestial Master Mansion, ultimately aren’t Huang Xuanpu, Fu Dongsen, and the Mortal Tao Country...

Nevertheless, the people active in the Western Regions are currently tasked with monitoring the Vajra Temple ruins, always on guard for the reopening of the Void Gateway, and the re-emergence of Sumi into the mortal realm.

Lei Jun, Tang Xiaotang, and the disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion, including Chu Kun, returned from the Western Regions to the Central Plains.

According to protocol, passing through the old capital Chang’an, they requested an audience with the current Emperor residing in Chang’an.

The Empress Zhang Wantong received the reigning National Master and the contemporary Celestial Master in Chang’an.

"May Your Majesty be well." Lei Jun greeted.

In their presence, the Empress candidly said: "For some time hereafter, this body will recuperate in Chang’an, and I need the assistance of both ministers to share the worries."

Standing aside, Chu Yu smiled as he looked at Tang Xiaotang: "I ask the National Master to oversee the realm on behalf of Her Majesty, to stabilize the four directions."

The Empress resided in Chang’an for convalescence.

Celestial Master Lei Jun would similarly return to Dragon Tiger Mountain for recuperation.

The Profound Heaven Extensive Mystery Guarding Master Xu Yuanzhen currently remained in the East Sea, yet to return.

The Tang Imperial Dynasty was in a rare state of vulnerability, indeed in need of a Sea-Calming Divine Needle to deter external threats.

The Tang Master was undoubtedly the best candidate.

However, she herself pursed her lips: "I wanted to head to the East Sea."

In the depths of the vast East Sea, Xu Yuanzhen was still enjoying life in Penglai.

Now that the situation in the west with Sumi was resolved, the Tang Master wanted to return to the East Sea’s Penglai.

Yet, she eventually did not oppose Chu Yu’s proposal.

Acting as regent to oversee the realm was more than just taking a mere stroll.

It meant gaining further support from the Tang Emperor, starting to receive more blessings from the earth vein dragon energy, aiding in one’s own cultivation.

To Tang Xiaotang, this was just a minor detail, for even without these, the Tang Master had confidence her cultivation would advance rapidly.

What concerned her was another matter brought up by Chu Yu.

The latest news from the Southern Wilds indicated instability in the earth veins.

Previously suppressed by the Tang Imperial Court, there were frequent signs of void distortion around the land and sea portals.