Cultivation: Fortune by Lots-Chapter 432 - 238. Master Lei Borrowing Buddha Offering Flowers_3

Chapter 432: 238. Master Lei Borrowing Buddha Offering Flowers_3

The former Clan Chief Lin Qun, the subsequent Clan Chief Lin Che, along with two clan elders Lin Feng and Lin Chou—four Great Scholars of the Eighth Heavenly Layer in total.

With former Clan Chief Lin Qun’s fall, the strength of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan was further affected.

After the decisive battle at Poyang Lake, the new Clan Chief Lin Che and clan elder Lin Feng went missing together, plunging the Jiangzhou Lin Clan into a nadir not seen in many years.

It was only in recent years that Lin Yuwei made a breakthrough to the Eightfold Heaven Realm and Lin Che returned, allowing Jiangzhou to catch its breath.

But the deaths of Lin Qun and Lin Feng were still a devastating blow, as if losing half their life force.

The possibility of an old monster hidden within the Jiangzhou Lin Clan Ancestral Land isn’t high, but we must remain vigilant, Lei Jun contemplated.

The old monsters in this world are not the same concept as the old monsters Lei Jun read about in novels on Blue Star before his transmigration.

Due to the longevity and aging periods of this world, it is uncommon to find Elders from Sacred Lands or esteemed families who grow stronger with seniority.

The so-called old monsters mainly refer to the older generation of Cultivators who have passed their platform period, begun to decline, but have not yet reached the steep drop of their twilight years.

It is highly unlikely for Cultivators at this stage to make further breakthroughs. Their hopes are exceedingly slim. Those who manage to rise against the tide under such conditions are recorded in history, a rarity throughout the ages.

They typically live in seclusion. More often than not, it’s not to make further progress but to... avoid decline. More accurately, the trend towards decline is inevitable. However, by meditating deeply and connecting with the world, one can try to curb and slow this trend. At the very least, they try to avoid accelerating the decline.

It is very easy for Cultivators at this stage to sustain foundational injuries during conflicts with others.

Once the foundation is damaged, it often marks the beginning of accelerated decline and decay for aging Cultivators.

If there is no hope for extending their lifespan, a considerable number of such Cultivators will choose to retire and undertake quiet cultivation.

The more prominent their origin from top forces, the more likely this is the case, as they can be supported by their Sect or clan, without needing to strive or worry about protectors and other matters on their own.

For the Elders from the Upper Three Heavens, delaying the decline to some extent to preserve their strength also counts as leaving some trump cards for the Sacred Land or prestigious family of their origin.

The so-called foundations of Sacred Lands and prestigious families also include such elements.

However, the situation with the Jiangzhou Lin Clan is somewhat unique.

After being pushed to the bottom of the Five Clans and Seven Families by the Celestial Master Mansion, they were "looked after" long-term by the neighboring Fang and Chu clans. Whenever there was any upheaval in the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, it was time for members of the Fang and Chu clans to "visit" them.

This was no exception after Lin Qun’s death on the Grand River and the subsequent battle at Poyang Lake.

It was only in recent years, when the Empress newly opened the Scholarly Mansion, that the Fang and Chu clans began to relax their oppression of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan.

After Lin Qun’s death and Lin Che’s disappearance, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan was headless and chaotic, with no significant old monster stepping forward to stabilize the situation.

After the decisive battle at Poyang Lake, with Lin Che and Lin Feng either dead or missing, only Lin Chou was left to lead the remaining clan members back to the Jiangzhou Lin Clan Ancestral Land in a sorry state. The Jiangzhou Lin Clan was forced to contract its influence.

Even Ye Ming of the Qingzhou Ye Clan resided in Jiangzhou for several years, helping the Jiangzhou Lin Clan save face.

Unless absolutely necessary, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan would not have been weakened to such an almost bottomless extent.

Unfortunately, after Xu Yuanzhen also went missing, the Celestial Master Mansion ceased hostilities and did not press further into Jiangzhou. Otherwise, they might have truly uncovered some of the Lin Clan’s hidden depths.

As for whether the Celestial Master Mansion has such deep foundations or such hidden old monsters?

The answer, of course, is they have... had.

Lei Jun shook his head lightly.

Let’s not talk about this issue; we’re all still friends.

In the face of successive internal strife and external threats, the Celestial Master Mansion’s Elders from earlier generations were completely depleted.

Never mind the Celestial Master Mansion; even the Yellow Sky Sect across the way no longer has any Elders left from the generation above.

There was originally one last old sapling, Li Song. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

He, too, was expended in the recent Li Wai dispute...

Hmm?

Lei Jun’s gaze suddenly sharpened as his eyes shifted to the group of monks in black robes in the distance.

The leader among them was carefully taking something out.

From a distance, it looked like a pouch.

I remember that the successors of the Great Void Temple who practice the Cultivation of the True Intent of Annihilation do not craft Buddhist Sect Magic Artifacts... Seeing this, Lei Jun moved closer.

He saw the black-robed monk handling the pouch with extreme caution as he opened it.

Adding a touch of black humor, several of his fellow disciples, standing to the side and behind, each took out a piece of Talisman Paper—unmistakably Spirit Talismans from the Taoist Talisman Sect.

Wind-rolling Clouds Talisman, the calligraphy style of the Yellow Sky Sect... Lei Jun recognized it with a single glance.

Lei Jun couldn’t see clearly what was hidden inside the pouch opened by the leading black-robed monk at that moment.

But even from a distance, he could feel a sharp Demonic Qi Evil Miasma emanating from it, though currently, it wasn’t intense enough to be detected by the combatants in the distance.

Nevertheless, the Demonic Qi Evil Miasma was quite pure, not resembling the mixed Taoist Heritage of sects like the Great Void Temple or the Blood River Sect, but more akin to that from a pure-blooded Demon Race member.

Looking at the direction in which those black-robed monks held their Wind-rolling Clouds Talismans, poised to unleash them, they were aimed right at Dragon Bone Ridge.

They intend to blow whatever is in the pouch towards Dragon Bone Ridge... Lei Jun’s thoughts raced, but his actions didn’t pause. Under the concealment of the Wind-Thunder Talisman and Teng Snake Bone, he discreetly approached the group of Great Void Temple disciples.

"All of you, be mindful. You must utilize the power of these Spirit Talismans to their full potential. Take care not to damage them," the leading black-robed monk said gravely. "Once the King Sea Chrysanthemum’s avatar awakens, it will unfurl in an instant. The wind must be strong enough, and its direction precisely controlled. If it lands too close, we will be the ones to die—there won’t even be time to run!"