No one could tell whether it was Heaven's mercy, but after the calamity upon the Xiao Clan from outside Long, there were new stars rising one after another.

Mr. Xiao and Third Lady, who had joined the Empress on her journey to the East Sea, both shone brilliantly.

In reward, the Empress had promoted them beyond all protocol, making them her trusted aides.

*It was almost enough to make people wonder if they had been close all along.*

And then, together with the Chu Clan's number one talent, Chu Yu—who had also fought for the Empress in the Land of Wu and Yue—the essential core of the Empress's newly established staff gradually began to take shape.

Given the special circumstances of the Xiao Clan from outside Long, it was doubtful anyone thought the Empress had changed her policy from her two predecessors and started making peace with the noble families.

*It seemed more like she was digging away at the foundations of the Five Clans and Seven Families…*

The noble families had uprooted the Bodhi Temple, sending the Empress a grand gift for her enthronement.

The Empress had sent a return gift as well.

The Xiao Clan from outside Long was, of course, now a shadow of its former self.

But this opened the door.

Who would be next?

*…Next, would she continue to recruit, or switch to some other tactic and outcome?*

Taking the Xiao Clan into her command was certainly a response to the destruction of Bodhi Temple, but her response might not stop there.

*With the whole world plunged into chaos, everything was just beginning…* Lü Jinduan's mind was heavy as he looked out toward the main peak of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

......

Lei Jun, using the Divine Eye Mirror Stone, still could not see the specific details of the main peak at this moment.

However, since Yuan Mobai was still able to hold up the Mountain Defense Array, keeping the Chu Clan's Great Scholar and other outsiders from drawing close, it showed that their side was at least not losing ground.

Lei Jun was pondering when, suddenly, a ball of light flashed in his mind, words appearing before him,

["Dragons clash and tigers fight, a mantis stalks the cicada, lethal intent lurks, fortune follows the wind."]

And with that, four threads of lot fortune appeared.

Lei Jun looked closely, holding his breath for a moment,

["Moderately good lot, after shocking change at the main peak of Dragon Tiger Mountain, at the foot of Nine Stars Ridge, a Fourth-Rank Opportunity can be obtained, though future complications may arise—act with caution, auspicious."]

["Perfectly neutral lot, after shocking change at the main peak of Dragon Tiger Mountain, find shelter outside Nine Stars Ridge, Cloud Brocade Mountain's slopes, or Chongling Gorge, keep a low profile, with no danger nor gain nor loss, average."]

["Perfectly neutral lot, after shocking change at the main peak of Dragon Tiger Mountain, at the upper reaches of Golden Palace Creek, Cloud Brocade Mountain's slopes, there's a chance to obtain a Sixth-Rank Opportunity, but possible danger—act with caution, average."]

["The worst lot, after shocking change at the main peak of Dragon Tiger Mountain, enter Chongling Gorge, a chance for a Sixth-Rank Opportunity, but deadly peril—certain death, calamitous!"]

*The worst lot I'd been waiting for, finally!*

Lei Jun slowly let out the breath he'd been holding.

*Though it meant a fatal doom, at this moment, Lei Jun was rarely excited, almost wanting to get down on his knees and slide across the ground in celebration.*

He quickly composed himself and cooled down, turning to look into the distance.

Chongling Gorge, part of the mountains surrounding Dragon Tiger Mountain, stood across from the main peak in the distance.

At the moment, it appeared tranquil and peaceful.

But that place might well contain enormous danger.

*For something to threaten Lei Jun, who had the Sheltering Spirit Veil, Breathing Soil Banner, and Teng Snake Bone on him, it had to be extraordinary.*

Lei Jun himself naturally had no intention to try.

He chose, of course, the moderately good lot at Nine Stars Ridge.

Still, heading for Nine Stars Ridge, Lei Jun wondered how he might get someone else to harvest that Sixth-Rank Opportunity at Chongling Gorge?

Granted, Nine Stars Ridge, the moderately good lot, was not far from Chongling Gorge, the worst lot.

After the shocking change at the main peak of Dragon Tiger Mountain…

Lei Jun arrived at the foot of Nine Stars Ridge, turning back to look at his own sect's ancestral courtyard.

*Just what would this shocking "change" be?*

On Dragon Tiger Mountain, indeed, it had come down to the final moment of decision.

Tang Xiaotang was now bathed in purple Nine Heavens Divine Thunder and golden Pure Yang True Fire, her artistic conception of pure masculine power on full display, wielding the Celestial Master's Sword, utterly suppressing Li Hongyu in her Celestial Master Robe.

Seeing this, the other three Li Clan High Merit Masters grew anxious.

"Third Uncle, Zhengxuan, we have no choice left!" Li Ziyang shouted.

Li Song raised his head and sighed to the heavens, "Ancestor Masters through the ages, forgive this disciple's insolence."

Li Zhengxuan remained silent.

He and Li Ziyang both pressed their hands together before their chests, forming a spell seal.

Purple light flickered, Nine Heavens Divine Thunder covered the air, a gigantic Divine Faculty Talisman the size of nearly an acre floated high above their heads.

With the Divine Faculty Talisman as the center, thunderclouds clustered, thunder light burst forth, and a massive Thunder Dragon stretched its head out.

Li Song also retreated, repeating the same move.

Three manifestations of the Ninth Heaven Thunder Ancestor.

Three Yang Thunder Dragons.

At this moment, they all appeared together atop Dragon Tiger Mountain, right above the Altar of Wanfa Sect.

All three dragons howled at once, then swooped into the Altar of Wanfa Sect towards Yuan Mobai and Yao Yuan!

The land-shaking Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, now seemingly divine punishment, poured down from the sky in a vast torrent.

Facing the assault of all three Yang Thunder Dragons, Yao Yuan's Green Flame Giant Tiger was instantly torn apart and obliterated by the raging thunder!

Yuan Mobai, however, stayed calm.

He pressed both palms together in a spell seal before his chest.

Inside the Altar of Wanfa Sect, brilliant lights converged into talisman scriptures, surging forth in that instant.

They formed a gigantic three-tiered Dharma Altar that enveloped the Mountain Defense Array, which now contracted.

Not dazzling but exquisitely beautiful Tao Containment radiance gathered within the Wanfa Ancestral Temple, blocking the combined charge of the three Yang Thunder Dragons.

"As a disciple in this life, I only wish such a moment never appears again at Dragon Tiger Mountain, alas, it was not to be."

Yuan Mobai said quietly, "I pray the ancestor masters forgive my sins."

Radiance concentrated, clashing with the purple thunder in the sky, not letting it strike the Altar of Wanfa Sect.

But as Yuan Mobai drew back the defensive restrictions of the Mountain Defense Array, the light mist shrouding the mountain's gate finally dispersed.

Immediately, the Chu Clan's Great Scholar, who had long been waiting outside the mountain, took up his sword and descended upon the skies above the main peak of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

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