Chapter 781: 314. Elder Lei’s Imperial Capital Dragon Tour (10,000-Character Grand Chapter)_6

Lei Jun said, "It was merely a little trick born of a sudden whim, still rather crude. I hope Master Yu won’t laugh at me."

Yu Cheng shook his head, his gaze uncommonly animated, "Master Lei was far too modest, this is quite commendable, how could it be called a little trick?"

The two grew absorbed in their conversation, not even noticing how time flew by, and soon it was nearly noon.

Yu Cheng came to himself, apologized to Lei Jun, and instructed someone to prepare a meal.

Lei Jun showed no change in expression.

But as the hour mentioned by the lot drew near, he started to pay close attention to his surroundings.

If the Empress hadn’t returned to Luoyang, Lei Jun could have swaggered about, turning the Great Celestial Mirror wherever he pleased to inspect the Imperial Capital inside and out.

But with the Empress back and Luoyang as the capital of Great Tang, Lei Jun thought it prudent not to wield the Great Celestial Mirror openly, lest the Empress perceive his actions.

Even so, with his own Heaven-piercing Earth-penetrating Taliscript and Heaven’s Sight Earth’s Hearing Talisman, he could still oversee the vicinity of Hui Tian Hall and check on his eldest disciple, Zhuo Baojie.

Zhuo Baojie had gone to the White Horse Mountain Ritual Conference with Lin Shan.

Lei Jun himself hadn’t attended, to the regret of many participants, though none dared ask for more. The group carried on as usual.

A certain Xiaoxiong, Lei Jun’s disciple, kept his eyes downcast, observing silence and restraint, listening more than speaking.

The morning passed without issue.

Until noon.

Suddenly, the ritual conference fell into chaos.

Someone noticed signs that evil forces had infiltrated White Horse Mountain.

The ritual conference erupted into disorder at once.

Lei Jun wasn’t worried about his disciple and fellow sect member, Lin Shan.

Though the gathering was in turmoil, there were no Upper Three Heavens enemies posing a threat, and Lin Shan had traveled the world for years, so nothing serious would befall her.

Yet when he tried looking for his disciple Zhuo Baojie, there was no sign of him—or rather, no sign of the bear.

Lei Jun used Heaven’s Sight Earth’s Hearing Talisman and found where his disciple was.

*Well, with all the commotion, this little bear seized the moment while no one was paying attention, donned the Taiqing Eight Scenic Treasures Raincoat, and then unfurled the Breathing Soil Banner.*

He had intended to alert fellow Master Lin Shan, but the confusion separated them.

Zhuo Baojie had no choice but to roam the chaos, bearing the Taiqing Eight Scenic Treasures Raincoat and the Breathing Soil Banner, all the while searching for Lin Shan.

His Middle Three Heavens cultivation couldn’t unlock the full power of those magical treasures.

But as nearly all present were Middle Three Heavens cultivators, none could decipher Zhuo Baojie’s movements either.

Lei Jun saw this and his concerns eased, knowing there was nothing amiss.

As for whether Zhuo Baojie could obtain the Fifth Grade Opportunity referenced by the lot, that would depend on fortune.

*If fate favored us, all the better; if not, it was a matter of destiny. There was no need to fret over it.*

For now, Lei Jun’s attention shifted to movements around Hui Tian Hall.

As noon arrived, flashes of light from the Heaven-piercing Earth-penetrating Taliscript glimmered in his eyes, and he sensed unrest outside, *So, it’s begun.*

Even then, Lei Jun did not act, but remained calmly seated.

Soon, a disciple of Hui Tian Hall arrived and whispered a few words in Yu Cheng’s ear. After hearing them, Yu Cheng apologized to Lei Jun, "Please wait a moment, Master Lei, some trouble has arisen outside. I’ll go handle it—please, take your meal."

Lei Jun said, "Please, Master Yu."

Yu Cheng departed.

Lei Jun didn’t touch his chopsticks, quietly waiting for the host to return.

Before long, tremors and commotion could be heard outside.

Yu Cheng did not return for some time, and the noise outdoors only grew.

Inside, a Hui Tian Hall disciple standing nearby wore a worried expression.

Lei Jun calmly inquired, "What has happened outside?"

The disciple hesitated briefly, then answered honestly, "Reporting to Elder Lei, rumor has it that people from Prince Zhao’s Mansion have colluded with the White Lotus Sect, prompting the Divine Strategy Army to make arrests. But the men at Prince Zhao’s Mansion refuse to surrender, so..."

Lei Jun understood.

King Zhang Teng had recently made headlines in the Northern Lands and Youzhou.

Though he’d never spoken openly, his true intentions had prompted speculation throughout Great Tang.

Yet it would make little sense for him to openly cooperate with the White Lotus Sect.

The White Lotus Sect was officially denounced as traitors by the royal house.

*Whatever schemes went on out of sight were another matter.*

The more King Zhang Teng coveted the Dragon Throne in the palace, the less likely he would be to publicly tangle with groups like White Lotus Sect, Great Void Temple, or the Mortal Tao Country.

*The sudden emergence of this incident—the reasons must be difficult to explain.*

*It seemed unlikely the Divine Strategy Army would act rashly or provoke Prince Zhao’s Mansion so readily.*

*This clash between the two sides was rather unexpected.*

At any other time, Lei Jun would simply watch the spectacle.

But now that both parties were coming to blows right outside Hui Tian Hall, and the fighting threatened to drag Hui Tian Hall into the fray...

The two Upper Three Heavens martial arts experts in battle, their destructive power wasn’t unfathomable, and the impact did not spread far.

Yet their fierce energy blasted in all directions. For a time, any who strayed close would die, and the slightest contact meant injury.

The devastation was overwhelming—large sections of housing had already collapsed.

Half of Hui Tian Hall’s building had fallen in, too.

*Even if I couldn’t say for certain what the Third-Rank Opportunity was, the lot probably pointed right here. If I hadn’t arrived by noon, Hui Tian Hall’s main building could have been destroyed by this battle...* thought Lei Jun.

With the Heaven-piercing Earth-penetrating Taliscript, the combatants’ images came easily into view.

Both were Weapon Strike martial arts masters.

One wielded a great spear, none other than Dong An, a commanding officer of Great Tang’s Divine Strategy Army.

The other held a long spear, the major general under Prince Zhao, Jiang Yuan.

At this moment Jiang Yuan’s face was ashen, fighting without restraint, unconcerned about the consequences of taking on the Divine Strategy Army commander.

Both experts in Weapon Strike, they battled with similar speed and ferocity, moving like lightning.

But a difference could still be seen in their particular Martial Tao True Meanings.

Dong An attacked fiercely and swiftly, moving as if split into thousands, his spear raining down from all directions on Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan chose stillness over movement, shifting pace suddenly, his long spear deflecting Dong An’s attacks repeatedly. Though only striking back once or twice in ten rounds, his blows were so quick and vicious that they drove Dong An back again and again.

Yu Cheng wanted to split up the combatants, but though he was a healer, and a Seventh Heavenly Layer cultivator, he wasn’t suited to head-on fighting or magic duels.

Dong An and Jiang Yuan would typically grant Yu Cheng face, but now their tempers truly blazed.

If Yu Cheng dared approach recklessly, the only result would be his own death or injury beneath the great spear and long spear.

Apart from the main combatants, Dong An’s Divine Strategy Army officers began to encircle Jiang Yuan’s men, and the conflict threatened to widen.

Yu Cheng, in the midst of his anxiety, suddenly heard a voice at his ear, "The Imperial Capital is a sacred place, what sort of disgraceful behavior is this?"

He turned and saw that Lei Jun had come out.

Lei Jun took stock of the damaged Hui Tian Hall, his frown deepening.

Yet he did not take immediate action, instead addressing the host, Yu Cheng, "Master Yu?"

Yu Cheng forced a wry smile, "Master Lei, forgive me—yet, as you say, what is this disorder? I am powerless to stop it and can only ask that Master Lei intervene."

"Master Yu, you give me too much credit. I am not inclined to battle, but to prevent things from turning catastrophic, I must at least attempt to separate the parties."

Lei Jun said, "If I overstep my bounds, Master Yu, I beg you to forgive me."

With that, he nodded to Yu Cheng, then vanished from the spot.

When he reappeared, he was right between Dong An of the Divine Strategy Army and Jiang Yuan of Prince Zhao’s Mansion.

Their great spear and long spear, which had cut through rock and split rivers, now struck at Lei Jun at once.

Both Upper Three Heavens martial arts experts were taken aback.

Then their vision blurred together.

Starlight swirled—like a god draped in the Star River, walking forth between them.

The Celestial Master Mansion’s direct heir, Doumu Star God Dharma!

Lei Jun’s incarnation, the Doumu Star God Dharma, neither dodged nor blocked, hands held calmly behind the back.

Yet the talismans swirling around him like a Star River diverted the attacks, so both the great spear and long spear were pushed aside, unable to do harm.

At the same time, thunder reverberated.

The purple Yang Thunder Dragon and black Yin Thunder Dragon both appeared, circling Lei Jun.

The Yang Thunder Dragon reached out a claw, seizing Dong An and his great spear in its grip at once.

The Yin Thunder Dragon mimicked the motion, pinning Jiang Yuan beneath its talon on the other side.

In an instant, the two martial arts masters were completely immobilized.

Thunder light crackled everywhere, frightening the onlookers into hurried retreat.

Those who dared remain were paralyzed on the spot.

No one was killed or injured.

Only Lei Jun, restored to his original form after the starlight faded, stood quietly, watching Dong An and Jiang Yuan trapped by the two Thunder Dragons,

"Generals, calm yourselves."