Chapter 963 - 354: The State Preceptor’s Personal Vendetta (Part 3)

Yet, the Celestial Master Mansion showed considerable restraint.

Apart from newly setting up the Dragon Tiger Temple in the Imperial Capital Luoyang and dispatching High Merit Elder to lead and reside there, Lei Jun and the Celestial Master Mansion had no grand ambitions or actions for expansion.

Time flew by, half a year had quickly passed, and it was already summer.

Lei Jun, as usual, focused on cultivating in the mountain gate and presiding over sect affairs.

Until recently, a report came from the Imperial Capital Luoyang.

The newly appointed National Master, Tang Xiaotang, was about to embark on a journey away from the capital.

Having been in Luoyang diligently for half a year, serving as a mascot, National Master Tang finally couldn’t sit still.

As the Grand Tang National Master, although most of the time there was a need to attend the Emperor, there was also a duty to travel the world.

Tang Xiaotang took this opportunity to leave the capital openly.

After leaving Luoyang, her first stop, unsurprisingly, was returning to her own Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion.

As for her second stop, Lei Jun could even guess it with his knees.

Xumi Vajra Division.

Ever since she ascended to the position of National Master, she had been waiting for this day.

This summer, Grand Tang National Master Tang Xiaotang personally went to the Western Regions, first to the Vajra Temple, to promote a great situation of unity and development between Taoism and Buddhism.

There was nothing unusual about the temple.

Apparently, there had been preparations in advance.

But Tang Xiaotang’s subsequent actions made everyone in the Xumi Vajra Division’s face turn blue-green.

This summer, National Master Tang went door to door, traveling all around the Western Regions, conducting inspections in all directions.

She focused on places Lei Jun had mentioned, where there might be rampant serfdom and where temples and monastic incense were flourishing.

On one hand, she was concerned about the local people’s situation.

On the other hand, she was looking for the previously escaped master of the Solitary Eagle Khanate, Bomo Ge.

Unfortunately, there were no results in this regard.

But the Xumi Vajra Division was still overwhelmed.

As winter approached and the new year arrived, as the current National Master, Tang Xiaotang had to temporarily leave the Western Regions, making her way back to the Central Plains and returning to the Imperial Capital Luoyang.

As for Lei Jun, with Little Master Sister Tang Xiaotang outside, he no longer had to worry about many matters like ceremonies.

Of course, Tang Xiaotang wasn’t too worried either.

Mainly, it was the Dragon Tiger Mountain faction representing, usually Lin Shan handling these tasks.

Lei Jun continued his peaceful cultivation.

And come winter, there would be a new Transcension Ritual at the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion.

"There is a young person with Clear Insight level comprehension at the Tao Boy’s Four Separate Colleges, officially entering the mansion through the Transcension Ritual today." Yuan Mobai spoke to Lei Jun about this Transcension Ritual.

Lei Jun: "Is it the young person brought back to the mountain by Master Liu after his trip to the Northern Lands?"

Yuan Mobai nodded slightly: "After being quiet for so long, Senior Brother Liu was moved to take action, truly acting according to fate."

The Northern Land of Youzhou had always been left to the Youzhou Forest Clan, with most traffic needing to go through them.

The influence of the Celestial Master Mansion hardly extended there.

Even though Xu Yuanzhen had broken through the ancestral land of the Youzhou Forest Clan militarily, unlike Jinzhou or Jiangzhou in the past, they couldn’t uproot the Lin Clan completely, so the local people still lived as if the Youzhou Forest Clan were a country within a country.

However, with Prince Zhao’s Mansion opening the door, it became easier for the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion to unearth talent from there.

Several talisman-bestowed Taoists from the mansion were gradually heading north, trying their luck.

Elder Liu Xiao was among them, and he actually brought back a disciple with remarkable aptitude.

Yuan Mobai was familiar with him and had previously borrowed Wang Guiyuan’s assistance to help the person refine Talisman Ink.

Elder Liu hadn’t taken a disciple before, and now having a successor, Yuan Mobai was genuinely happy for him.

"Does the Sect Leader have doubts about Prince Zhao?"

As in the past when confronting Tang Xiaotang, when facing anyone once they became a Celestial Master, Yuan Mobai would address them as Sect Leader, even if the current one was his own disciple.

Lei Jun had discussed this with his master a few times, but Yuan Mobai insisted on this, so Lei Jun couldn’t force him.

So everyone stuck to their own ideas.

"Master’s insight is sharp as ever; indeed, I have some doubts about Prince Zhao," Lei Jun replied.

Yuan Mobai quietly awaited further explanation.

He could see that Lei Jun’s concerns were not due to Prince Zhao Zhang Teng’s recent close relations with the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Forest Clan but seemed to stem from other reasons.

"Recently, I intercepted some communications mentioning seeing the words as if seeing the person from the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Forest Clan. There were mentions that Zhao King’s cultivation and breakthroughs in recent years seemed unusual, with changes in his martial arts sword intent," Lei Jun explained.

Yuan Mobai pondered: "No more details?"

Lei Jun: "Hmm, still pending further confirmation."

Yuan Mobai nodded gently: "The world is ever-changing, and so are people’s hearts."

Lei Jun: "Continuously improving oneself is never wrong."

The master and disciple exchanged smiles.

After Lei Jun, Yuan Mobai managed to refine the Vermilion Spirit Barren Bone, further advancing his cultivation to the Eightfold Heaven Fourth Layer Divine Court Upper Scenery Realm, making the Celestial Barrier of his Divine Court Cosmos more solid and refined.

"Next, it’s time for slow and careful honing." Yuan Mobai shook his head with a smile: "I’ll need to borrow the Sect Leader’s Qi of Transforming Heaven and Earth for a bit."

Lei Jun: "Rest assured, Master, I’ve already prepared it."

When first breaking the Yellow Sky Path’s Main Altar, Lei Jun had refined most of the Qi of Transforming Heaven and Earth and had carefully nurtured the remaining part until now.

With its spiritual nature, it perfectly suited Yuan Mobai to contemplate the upcoming path.

Strictly speaking, this treasure originally came from Huang Xuanpu, considered part of Huang Xuanpu’s friendly assistance.

The master and disciple chatted for a few more moments before Yuan Mobai bid farewell.

Lei Jun’s gaze shifted westward.

The Western Region Buddhism had suffered from Tang Xiaotang’s troublesome visit. Despite their headache, they remained tolerant without further actions.

This instead made Lei Jun wary, wondering what they might be plotting.

...

In the Western Regions, at the Xumi Vajra Division.

Inside the Vajra Temple.

Jiasheng Upper Master stood before Vajra Sect Leader Garuda: "Master, regarding the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao?"

The Vajra Sect Leader calmly stated: "Keep in touch, but don’t place high hopes."

Jiasheng Upper Master: "For both?"

The Vajra Sect Leader nodded: "They are all waiting for changes in the situation and unwilling to be proactive in breaking the stalemate. As it stands, neither is capable of breaking it."

Jiasheng Upper Master nodded silently: "In that case, we’re truly unable to find suitable candidates here."

He asked softly: "So, the timing?"

Vajra Sect Leader: "Better early than late; I hope to get this underway soon. I’ll personally make a trip and set out now."

Jiasheng Upper Master: "Master, what about the Lotus Division?"

Vajra Sect Leader: "No matter the starting point, the end lays in different facets of the mortal world, not overstepping our bounds."

Jiasheng Upper Master: "Yes, Master."

Vajra Sect Leader: "Go fetch the Biliu Pearl and other treasures from Sumi, and prepare for what needs to be done."

Jiasheng Upper Master complied and then said: "Tang Xiaotang is aggressive and seems unwilling to let go easily."

Vajra Sect Leader Garuda stated: "Be patient for now. Once I return from Sumi, everything will be resolved."