However, there were many people in the same situation as him, and Qu Yong came to terms with it.
"In addition to the demon chaos at Jiuyuan Lake, people from the Lin Clan have also suffered heavy casualties," Elder Du said. "We too received the news and rushed over. What happened to you on your way through Great Qing Peak?"
Zhou Zihang hurriedly replied, "There were also Lin Clan people who ambushed us at Great Qing Peak. It seems they had planned ambushes on both Great Qing Peak and Jiuyuan Lake!"
It’s just that the Jiangzhou Lin Clan wasn’t very lucky this time.
By Jiuyuan Lake, they directly encountered a Great Demon wreaking havoc.
Although monks from the Buddhist Sect arrived at the scene, the aftermath of a battle between top fighters was not something that Lower Three Heavens Cultivators could endure.
At Great Qing Peak, though there wasn’t as much chaos, they successfully ambushed Zhou Zihang and his companions, but...
"With Lei there to protect us and his early warning, we discovered the ambush beforehand and then led a counterattack, slaying those Jiangzhou villains to the last man!"
As Zhou Zihang spoke, he looked towards Lei Jun beside him with a mix of admiration and relief.
Though the Jiangzhou Lin Clan did not have a Middle Three Heavens Cultivator leading this ambush, they were numerous and ferocious, each one formidable and skilled.
The first round of surprise arrows was especially threatening.
While Zhou Zihang and the others’ counterattack was sharp, they still had to be wary of enemy sneak attacks, and it was hard to say they had a firm grasp on victory.
But with Lei Jun taking action, it was a different story.
"Helping a fellow sect member is trivial, and I too hope that the items from Xianliu Palace can be safely transported back to the Ancestral Courtyard of the Sect," Lei Jun said. "There is another matter, however, that I must report to Elder Du."
He briefly described the intervention of Yongxiang Monk, a disciple of Xuantian Temple, and how it had been fruitless.
"Hmm, well-reasoned and well-handled. You dealt with it properly," Elder Du hummed after listening. "The monks’ precepts constrain their own disciples well enough; do they also presume to constrain the disciples of our Taoist Sect?"
However, he looked at Lei Jun and brought up another matter: "Your discreet departure to escort Zhou and the others is commendable, but Xianliu Palace is inevitably left vulnerable."
Lei Jun replied, "Acting in secret should pose no great issue. Although our paths differ from that of Yongxiang Monk, his manner of conduct suggests he wouldn’t take revenge by spreading rumors. Elder Du, now that you’ve arrived, I will return to Xianliu Palace immediately."
Elder Du nodded, "As long as you have considered everything, that is good."
He couldn’t help feeling sentimental. Of the two people Xu Yuanzhen brought back to the mountain, though Tang Xiaotang was highly talented, like Xu Yuanzhen, she was somewhat unreliable.
This Lei, however, has the makings of a pillar of the sect—not only gifted in his cultivation but also sensible and competent in his dealings.
Ah, it was fortunate that he succeeded Elder Chengyuan’s mantle.
What’s more, his disposition is also as amiable and caring towards his fellow sect members as Elder Yuan.
If only the Celestial Master Mansion had more young people of such talent and virtue!
"What comes next is a critical period. Be vigilant after you return to Xianliu Palace," Elder Du’s expression grew serious as he said to Lei Jun. "Lin Che of Jiangzhou went to Poyang Lake a few days ago."
Lin Che, the newly appointed Clan Chief of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan.
Following the death of the former Clan Chief, Lin Qun, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan was similarly in turmoil for a long time. After years of tug-of-war, negotiation, and compromises, Lin Che finally emerged and ascended to the position, becoming the new master of Jiangzhou.
But the undercurrents within the Lin Clan had yet to settle.
Lin Che’s position as Clan Chief was not entirely secure.
This renewed war with the Celestial Master Mansion served as his first major test, fraught with both risks and opportunities.
It was a struggle not just with the external enemy, the Celestial Master Mansion, but also with others within the Jiangzhou Lin Clan.
Lin Che had always managed to keep his composure until now.
And now he had finally taken matters into his own hands and gone to Poyang Lake.
As Elder Du said, the war had reached a critical moment.
"Thank you for the reminder, Elder Du," Lei Jun thanked the elder and bid farewell to Zhou Zihang and the others.
The people of the Celestial Master Mansion didn’t tarry long, and under Elder Du’s lead, they set off on the return journey to Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Lei Jun turned and headed back toward Xianliu Mountain.
However, as he passed Great Qing Peak again, he slightly slowed his pace and searched around the northern foothills of the peak.
At first, he found nothing.
Lei Jun calmed his mind, his Mana transforming into two streams of air, one black and one white, roaming through the mountains.
Suddenly, he felt a premonition.
The stirring originated from the True One Altar Cave Heaven, derived from the Celestial Master Seal deep within his Spiritual Soul.
In the first level of the True One Altar, there seemed to be a fluttering of the Nine Abyss Earth Fire.
Gusts of wind arose within the Cave Heaven, blowing from the inside out, brushing against Lei Jun’s Spiritual Soul and physical body.
The black and white Mana around Lei Jun swayed accordingly, heading towards the base of a mountain range and finally converging at one point.
He approached, and at first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
But as Lei Jun waved his hand, Ji Earth Yin Thunder overturned the rocks and soil, finally revealing a hint of Spirit Light.
"This Spiritual Nature..." Lei Jun’s expression turned a little strange as he looked at the faint golden light.
He had just dealt with a disciple of the Buddhist Sect and had some understanding of their methods.
The pale golden light before him, though different from the Glazed Buddha Light of Xuantian Temple, clearly possessed the unique Spiritual Nature inherent to the Buddhist Sect’s lineage.
Here lay a hidden Buddhist Treasure.
Lei Jun waved the Breathing Soil Banner, and the energy of the Earth phase formed a dim yellow Spirit Light, enveloping and lifting the pale golden Buddha light.
Upon closer inspection, within the pale golden Buddha light lay a candlestick.
The candlestick was damaged and rust-streaked.
Although pale golden Buddha light flowed from it, its Spiritual Nature was wholly restrained, leaving no trace.
No wonder it had been difficult to detect earlier.
Only after Lei Jun’s Mana stirred it did the candlestick emit faint golden light. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝙣𝙚𝙩
If not for this, it might have remained buried in the ground indefinitely.
...Had Yongxiang Monk appeared in the vicinity of Great Qing Peak earlier seeking this Buddhist Treasure?