Chapter 960 - 353: The State Preceptor’s Root Bone, the Celestial Master’s Comprehension (Double-Length - )_5

Just as he was halfway through his speech, he noticed Tang Xiaotang’s eyes wandering vacantly.

Lei Jun, as if oblivious, continued: "Although our sect does not insist on expansion, in supporting our junior sister to oversee the sects from all directions, there must be corresponding measures. My idea is to establish a branch in the Imperial Capital Luoyang, specifically assigning suitable personnel to assist junior sister. I suggest directly appointing a High Merit Elder to lead; does junior sister have any suitable candidates in mind?"

"That’s a good idea!"

Tang Xiaotang’s eyes lit up: "As for candidates? I’m not particularly concerned about who specifically."

As long as they can handle the court well during her time away from the capital.

Lei Jun: "In that case, since Lin Shixiong and Zhang are more familiar with people in Luoyang, let’s first ask their opinion."

In comparison, Lin Shan’s attitude was slightly more enthusiastic than Zhang Jingzhen’s.

He had previously taught at the Scholarly Mansion and lived in the Imperial Capital Luoyang for many years.

Afterwards, he returned to the mountain to meditate and make a breakthrough in Upper Three Heavens cultivation.

Now, having achieved Taoist High Merit, he presents a different demeanor.

Thus, in the end, the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion decided that Lin Shan would accompany Tang Xiaotang to the capital, assisting her in handling various matters as the State Preceptor in the Imperial Capital Luoyang.

Apart from Lin Shan, Dragon Tiger Mountain will also send other Talisman-bestowed Elders and Talisman-instructed Disciples to accompany Tang Xiaotang, helping to establish the foundation for the state-protecting Mage’s position.

"Senior sister, hold the title of State Preceptor, overseeing the sects of the world. It is not the responsibility of one family, surname, sect, or faction alone."

Lei Jun instructed Lin Shan: "Apart from the disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion, personnel from all the major Sacred Lands in the world will also be deployed to assist, thus ensuring the tranquility of the world."

During his time in Luoyang, he engaged in many exchanges and communications regarding this matter with leaders from various great Sacred Lands who were also traveling to the capital, essentially reaching a consensus.

Not only the Pure Yang sects and Mount Shu, but also several major Sacred Lands of the Buddhist Sect, were included in these communications, and each faction would send personnel over.

Lin Shan: "The Sect Leader’s considerations are thorough."

After the others left, Wang Guiyuan sat beside Lei Jun, pondering and asking: "Has the Xumi Vajra Sect been spoken to as well?"

Lei Jun: "Yes, with Garuda himself."

That Vajra Sect Leader appeared with a dignified demeanor and spoke amicably, seemingly having met Lei Tianshi as if it was hate to meet late.

In his words, he expressed blessings for the State Preceptor position falling to the Celestial Master Mansion and anticipated more exchanges between the parties.

However, during that meeting between the Buddha and the Tao, it was more formalities without deep discussions.

Vajra Sect Leader Garuda seemed more to make a statement, as if representing the Xumi Vajra Sect in bowing to the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion.

Wang Guiyuan: "Back then when he traveled from the Western Regions to Bashu, passing through the snow mountains of Western Sichuan, it seemed coincidental, but I feel he was aiming for you even then."

Lei Jun: "It may not be that he intended to convert me at that time, as there were still matters concerning the Inner Mount Shu Sect ahead. He might have wanted to probe my background to decide on his next move."

It was just that the battles in Bashu and Nanzhao did not go as the Vajra Sect expected, so nothing further happened.

During this time, with the Great Tang appointing a State Preceptor, the Vajra Sect behaved extremely humbly and peacefully.

But Lei Jun does not believe the other party is truly so calm.

Their current calm facade might suggest other plans in mind.

Lei Jun remains calm, while being vigilant and focusing on the Western Region Buddhism’s movements, while also concentrating on improving himself and his Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion, and preparing for the enthronement ceremony after the New Year.

Time passes, Lei Jun celebrates his sixty-fifth birthday, summer gives way to autumn, and then quickly winter arrives.

The Dragon Tiger Mountain is all prepared for the upcoming ceremony.

"For the time being, there are no new movements from the Western Regions."

Yuan Mobai stated: "In the Imperial Capital Luoyang, however, there is a piece of good news recently."

The Crown Prince of Great Tang, Crown Prince Zhang Hui, successfully advanced to the Eightfold Heaven Realm after this year’s arrival of winter.

"Thinking about the timing, it’s about right."

Both Yuan Mobai and Lei Jun were not surprised by this.

During Zhang Hui’s second tour, he was embroiled in the internal strife of the White Lotus Sect at Tiangu Ridge.

The true core target of that battle was not Zhang Hui.

Yet, he revealed some of his background through this incident.

With the Divine Brush, one of the most fitting talents for Confucian cultivation, equivalent to the Immortal Body for Taoist cultivators.

This secret being revealed, Zhang Hui’s slow progress in cultivation becomes indefensible.

Just as the Crown Prince, after coming of age, grew concerned over the myriad affairs of the Great Tang and began focusing intently on his studies, it makes sense that his cultivation would also advance more quickly thereafter.

He is forty-seven years old this year and has stepped into the Eighth Heavenly Layer, a rare feat in this era.

Due to the Emperor’s Skill that gathers the nation’s fortune, he may not be as outstanding as his aunt Zhang Wantong, but he still can be considered extraordinary.

In recent years, the reputation of the Crown Prince has increasingly manifested throughout the Great Tang territory.

Especially in places like Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang.

"A turbulent time indeed." Yuan Mobai’s smile remained unchanged.

Lei Jun also smiled and said, "We simply act according to Heaven’s will and the people’s needs."

In December, representatives from the Tang Imperial Family arrived at Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Then, Celestial Master Lei Jun personally conducted the ceremony at the Altar of Wanfa Sect for Tang Xiaotang, marking the start of her imperial appointment.

Tang Xiaotang entered the Altar of Wanfa Sect and the forbidden grounds of the Rear Mountain Ancestral Tomb one after another, praying to Heaven and Earth and the ancestors of past generations before departing with the imperial representatives for the Imperial Capital Luoyang.

Celestial Master Lei Jun entrusted his own master, Yuan Mobai, to preside over the upcoming New Year ceremony at Dragon Tiger Mountain, and after making all the necessary arrangements, accompanied Tang Xiaotang, along with Lin Shan and others, leaving the mountain to spend this New Year in the Imperial Capital Luoyang.

The group traveled at a leisurely pace, paying homage to the mountains and rivers of the Great Tang as they proceeded calmly and steadily to Luoyang.

The announcement of the State Preceptor’s appointment had already been issued to all under heaven.

This New Year, both inside and outside the Imperial Capital Luoyang, was more festive than in previous years.

Emperor Tang, Zhang Wantong, personally presided over the ceremony, celebrating with the people.

On New Year’s Day, during the latter half of the ceremony, Tang Xiaotang arrived in the capital, received her appointment, and completed the final part of the celebration.

After the New Year, she will follow the planned itinerary, traveling across the realms and offering sacrifices, before officially returning to Luoyang for a long-term stay.

During the latter half, Lei Jun no longer needed to accompany her, and after the grand ceremony in Luoyang, he planned to return to the Ancestral Court of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

At the grand ceremony in Luoyang, besides Lei Jun, Lin Shan, and the fellow disciples from Dragon Tiger Mountain attending, representatives from Mount Shu Sect, Pure Yang Palace, and even holy places of Buddhist and Taoist Sects such as Tianlong Temple and Bodhi Temple were also present to extend their congratulations.

The representative from the Mount Shu Sect was the newly advanced High Merit Elder, Xie Yiling, who had previously sought teachings on the Pure Yang Skill from Tang Xiaotang.

The representative from Pure Yang Palace was an elder of the Seventh Heavenly Layer known for his stability and maturity.

The representative from Tianlong Temple was Master Faming, whom Lei Jun had interacted with before.

Master Kongjing represented Xuantian Temple, an elder himself, and due to an internal strife within this Buddhist sanctuary, the new generation of experts was seriously lacking.

The emissary from Vajra Temple was a monk from the Seventh Heavenly Layer, though a new face.

The Bodhi Temple was represented by the only Middle Three Heavens Cultivator, which was understandable as besides the new abbot Ruyuan, they currently had no other Upper Three Heavens Cultivators, although there were rumors of other new faces emerging from the Bodhi Temple linage.

Representatives from the Sect’s Sacred Lands gathered outside Luoyang City and then accompanied Tang Xiaotang into Luoyang. Later, these representatives would reside long-term in Luoyang, cooperating with the Tang Imperial Family and Tang Xiaotang.

On the day of the grand ceremony, within and outside Luoyang, brilliant hues soared to the skies, as if Heaven and Earth resonated together without instilling fear among the people but instead merging with the celebratory atmosphere, celebrating for Great Tang.

This phenomenon was caused by the convergence of the nation’s fortune...Lei Jun understood in his heart.

From afar, besides the Empress seemingly concentrating the heavens’ spirituality and gathering the brilliance from all directions, the newly appointed State Preceptor Tang Xiaotang also seemed to have gained an extra air of auspiciousness.

Tang Xiaotang still wore a purple Taoist robe, but this time it was specially crafted, featuring gold-threaded patterns on top of the high merit Taoist robes from the Celestial Master’s Mansion, with twin collars and sleeves adorned with pine cranes, and the back depicting dragon and phoenix in harmony embracing the Yin Yang Taiji Diagram, resembling a brocade Taoist robe from afar.

Covered in the splendid hues of the earth’s energy, her tall figure appeared even more otherworldly.

Amidst the recent years of internal and external turmoil of the Great Tang Dynasty, at this moment, at least in Luoyang City, radiant streamers soared to the heavens, manifesting an image of a flourishing age.

Far off in the distant sky outside Luoyang City, however, hovered a mass of dark thunderclouds, resembling the frozen Xuantian Glacier.

Xu Yuanzhen, clad in a purple Taoist robe and draped in a black cloak, gazed indifferently towards distant Luoyang City:

"Vanity."

Lei Jun was not present but his voice echoed in the air: "Has Senior Sister already prepared to embark?"

Xu Yuanzhen: "The ceremony is complete, Xiaotang has already secured the position she desired, there’s no need to watch the subsequent trivial matters."

Lei Jun: "I wish Senior Sister a successful journey to find Penglai."

Xu Yuanzhen acknowledged with a murmur.

As if frozen at heaven’s dome, the thundercloud began to move, carrying Xu Yuanzhen eastward, far across the sea.