https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-251-The-Auspicious-Lot-of-the-Upper-Realm-of-the-Thunder-Pavilion-in-the-Upper-Qing-Part-2/12587082/
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Chapter 252: 251. A Three-Star Opportunity, Ancient Relics (Part 1)
Chapter 252: 251. A Three-Star Opportunity, Ancient Relics (Part 1)
The pure Yang true fire transformed into a fierce tiger by Tang Xiaotang reached into the peak of Biyu Immortal Mountain, but it did not cause any damage to the mountain as a whole.
At this moment, the golden flames seemed to transform from extreme yang to extreme yin, seeping into the rocks.
While Grand Master Tang usually fought with bold and grandiose displays of power, it did not mean that her divine powers lacked subtlety.
Whether she was bold or subtle depended entirely on her personal preference.
Currently, the giant tiger formed from the golden flames extended its claws into the rocks like flowing water.
Later, the huge fire tiger began to retract its claws, its movements relatively gentle compared to when it had reached in.
However, it was very efficient, and as it withdrew its claws from the rocks of Biyu Immortal Mountain, it brought with it a flickering shadow.
When the fire tiger spread its claws open, a round object could be seen resting in the center of its palm. It looked like a round mirror, with intricate ancient patterns on the frame surrounding the mirror's surface.
Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang immediately felt a sense of familiarity when they saw these patterns.
They bore a strong resemblance to the Taoist talismans and registers passed down through the generations in Longhu Mountain, yet there were also noticeable differences.
Although they shared a common origin, their structures were entirely different.
"This treasure... is very ancient," Lei Jun mused, recalling the numerous ancient books he had browsed in the Edict Tower. "Although it also originates from our sect's lineage, it's likely from the time before..."
Tang Xiaotang glanced at the ancient mirror resting in the claws of her Yang fire tiger and said with interest, "Indeed, the Taoist talismans and registers are very different from what we use now. Could this be a treasure that was created before the first schism in the Taoist Talisman Sect, as Little Master Uncle mentioned?"
In recent years, Longhu Mountain's Celestial Master's Mansion had been plagued by internal strife, resulting in countless deaths and a severe blow to its vitality.
However, prior to this, there had also been a fierce internal conflict in the lineage of Longhu Mountain's Celestial Master's Mansion, but it was a distant event in history.
That intense conflict, which had led to civil war and schism, originated from the Taoist Talisman Sect's revision of its doctrine and the reunification of its orthodoxy.
Because this event was so distant in the past, few people mentioned it nowadays.
The Taoist scriptures and talismans from before the revision were also extremely difficult to find nowadays.
Fortunately, both Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang had high cultivation levels and keen insights.
So, after observing and pondering the ancient mirror, they immediately recalled the historical events of that time.
If this mirror truly predated the revision of the Taoist Talisman Sect's doctrine, then this treasure had already existed for several thousand years.
"The dispersal of the Three Treasures of the Celestial Master is a more recent event, occurring only in the last hundred years or so. Before that, when all three treasures were still present, no one had retrieved any hidden treasures from Biyu Immortal Mountain."
Tang Xiaotang smiled and said, "Is the situation we're facing now a result of the recent changes in the celestial spirit veins connected to Longhu Mountain, which affected the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Immortal Domain?"
Intrigued, she dispersed the golden flames and carefully examined the treasure.
Lei Jun also stepped forward to study the ancient mirror.
He recalled the words that had appeared when the time light sphere emerged during the lot drawing—"time immemorial, inheriting the legacy of the past." These words had caught his attention.
Now, as he examined the ancient mirror, a name surfaced in his mind:
Mystic Void Mirror
Lei Jun contemplated this for a moment, deep in thought.
Tang Xiaotang, on the other hand, quickly lost interest. "I don't like the function of this treasure."
"Well... it's not bad," Lei Jun replied.
"It's yours then. Do as you please." Tang Xiaotang waved her hand dismissively.
Lei Jun beckoned, and the treasure, resembling an ancient mirror, floated over to him.
As the mirror turned, it revealed that it had two sides.
One side was dim and obscure.
The other side was bright and luminous.
The dim side could help cultivators conceal their figures.
The bright side, on the other hand, served the opposite function, aiding in the investigation and inquiry of matters.
The name "Mystic Void" alluded to both the user's ability to shroud themselves in mystery and their capacity to unveil the mysteries of the world.
Apart from the Three Treasures of the Celestial Master that symbolized his identity, Tang Xiaotang rarely used treasures or artifacts.
The concept and function of the Mystic Void Mirror did not appeal to her at all.
However, Lei Jun rather liked this treasure.
Whether it was for reconnaissance or concealment, its quality was quite exceptional.
After Lei Jun's cultivation level reached the Upper Trifecta stage, his original Wind-Thunder Talisman, "Night Wind," underwent a transformation and evolved into the "Shadow Walker" variation of the Heavenly Conduct Register.
As for the Serpentine Bone he had used before, it now felt inadequate.
For cultivators at the Upper Trifecta stage, the Serpentine Bone's ability to conceal their figures would be extremely limited unless they were very far away from their targets.
For the time being, Lei Jun decided to set the Serpentine Bone aside and refine it slowly in the future, hoping to enhance it and improve its effectiveness.
Currently, he needed to find other suitable means to continue perfecting his stealth techniques, so that even cultivators at the Eightfold Heaven stage would find it difficult to detect his movements.
The Mystic Void Mirror was perfect for this purpose.
"However, it seems a bit worn out," Lei Jun remarked as he examined the illusory treasure mirror. "Even after being nurtured in the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Immortal Domain for so long, it still seems insufficient."
"I suppose we'll need to find some unique heavenly materials and earthly treasures to repair it," Tang Xiaotang said casually.
Lei Jun nodded.
He began to try nurturing the treasure with his spiritual power.
However, as his spiritual power made contact, he sensed that the ancient Taoist essence within the Mystic Void Mirror was showing signs of transforming on its own.
Properly handling this would ensure no future troubles... Lei Jun suddenly recalled the words from the supreme lot.
While this was indeed a supreme lot, according to the literal meaning of the words, he still needed to remain vigilant to achieve the ultimate blessing of having neither current risks nor future troubles.
The exact nature of the "future troubles" Lei Jun mentioned remained uncertain to him.
However, he speculated that it might be related to the ancient conflict between the Taoist Talisman Sect and the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain, which had led to a change in the Taoist doctrine and the reunification of orthodoxy. There could still be lingering consequences from that event buried deep in history.
Lei Jun's mind was filled with questions and speculations, but his hands didn't slow down.
As the Celestial Master Seal appeared, its purple, gold, and cyan radiance flickered, forming an illusory three-layered altar that encased the Mystic Void Mirror.
The mirror landed on the first layer of the altar, surrounded by the Nine Abyss True Fire.
Lei Jun himself sat above the third layer of the altar, silently cultivating his profound energy, breathing calmly, and focusing his spirit.
The previously unstable nature of the mirror's Taoist essence immediately stabilized.
The Taoist teachings within originated from ancient times and, although sharing a common source with the current orthodoxy of the Celestial Master's Mansion, had already diverged significantly.
Lei Jun didn't alter the original nature of the mirror's Taoist essence; he only stabilized it and brought it under his control.
By preserving the ancient Taoist teachings of the Talisman Sect, he could refer to them in the future if needed.
However, he also ensured that no one from the outside could invoke this treasure again.
After completing this task, Lei Jun put away the Celestial Master Seal.
After bidding farewell to Tang Xiaotang, who was still meditating cross-legged on the summit of Biyu Immortal Mountain, Lei Jun left the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Immortal Domain.
Upon his departure, he received some good news.
Zhang Jingzhen had finally emerged from seclusion.
Moreover, she had successfully cultivated to the Seventh Heaven of the Taoist Talisman Sect, the 'Communing with Heaven' realm.
From this day forward, the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain would have one more high-achieving elder at the Upper Three Heavens level.
"Congratulations, Senior Apprentice Sister Zhang!" Lei Jun greeted Zhang Jingzhen with congratulations.
Yuan Mobai and Shangguan Ning, standing beside him, also smiled and nodded in agreement.
Zhang Jingzhen returned their greetings, "Congratulations to you as well, Junior Apprentice Brother Lei."
Just as Lin Shan, Shangguan Hong, and many others had guessed, Zhang Jingzhen's emergence from seclusion after several years felt like an event from another lifetime.
The return of the First Senior Apprentice Sister, Xu Yuanzhen, and her breakthrough to the Ninth Heaven realm had shaken the Celestial Master's Mansion to its core.
The Lin Clan of Jiangzhou, the sworn enemy of the Celestial Master's Mansion, had been dealt a devastating blow and could no longer maintain their presence near Longhu Mountain.
Even the Lin Clan of Youzhou had suffered a similar fate.
Later, Xu Yuanzhen would once again face off against the old clan head of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou, Ye Moqiu.
These events and more left people reeling, feeling the winds of change blowing both within and beyond the Great Tang.
However, overall, while these events were connected to the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain and Zhang Jingzhen herself, their impact on her was not particularly strong.
What truly surprised and troubled her was the fact that Lei Jun had reached the Seventh Heaven realm before her.
Back then, when Lei Jun had first arrived at Longhu Mountain and became a Daoist acolyte at the foothill acolyte institute, she had already been at the Sixth Heaven realm as a personal disciple of the Celestial Master...
Now, after more than two decades of bitter cultivation, Zhang Jingzhen had finally reached the Upper Three Heavens level. Although she was still quite far from being a centenarian, she could be considered one of the most outstanding talents among the younger generation.
But compared to Lei Jun, it was an entirely different story.
There were very few cultivators under fifty years old who had reached the Seventh Heaven... Zhang Jingzhen, who had gradually calmed her mind and accepted reality, sighed as she laid eyes on Lei Jun, clad in his purple robe.
Having met the First Senior Apprentice Sister, Xu Yuanzhen, and the new Celestial Master, Tang Xiaotang, Zhang Jingzhen quickly adjusted her mindset.
With Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, she could now add Lei Jun's name to the list of peers.
But... why couldn't it be me? Having left the imperial clan and chosen a different path of cultivation, striving for improvement in every aspect, why was the outcome still one of falling short when compared to others?
"After the Celestial Master returns from the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Immortal Domain, he will personally perform the talisman-bestowing ritual for Junior Apprentice Sister Jingzhen." Yuan Mobai smiled and said, "For now, let's keep things simple. During this year's Spirit Classics Festival on the fifteenth day of July, we will hold a grand ceremony. What are your thoughts on this, Junior Apprentice Sister Jingzhen?"
Zhang Jingzhen's mood had already stabilized, and her expression remained as serene and dignified as always, "I have no objections. I will follow the standard rituals of the Mansion."
Later, when Tang Xiaotang took a break from her cultivation and emerged from the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Immortal Domain, she performed the talisman-bestowing ritual for Zhang Jingzhen for the fourth time, bestowing upon her the "Upper Clarity Three Caverns Scripture and Talisman."
Zhang Jingzhen officially donned the purple robe, becoming another high-achieving elder of Longhu Mountain.
This news invigorated everyone in the Mansion, including the Daoist acolytes in the foothill acolyte institute.
Seven years ago, Longhu Mountain had undergone another internal strife, culminating in the final battle between the Li Clan and the outsiders. In the aftermath, all four high-achieving elders of the Li Clan had perished, and although the outsiders had emerged victorious, only Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, Yao Yuan, and Shangguan Ning remained at the Upper Three Heavens level.
The Celestial Master's Sword had returned to the mountain, but the Celestial Master's Robe had been lost.
Throughout the history of the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain, this period could be considered one of its weakest moments.
It was inevitable that the morale within the Mansion would be low, and their reputation outside would decline.
Back then, no one could have anticipated that the situation would completely turn around in just seven years.
With Xu Yuanzhen's return and the breakthroughs of Lei Jun and Zhang Jingzhen to the Seventh Heaven realm, the Celestial Master's Mansion finally regained its vitality.
"Speaking of which, you becoming a high-achieving elder before Senior Apprentice Sister Zhang also has some side effects." Chu Kun smiled as he sat in Lei Jun's small courtyard.
Lei Jun understood what he meant and smiled without saying a word.
It wasn't just Zhang Jingzhen; even Shangguan Ning could be counted among those from aristocratic backgrounds.
In the past, when there were more high-achieving elders in Longhu Mountain, only Shangguan Ning represented the imperial clan of the Tang Dynasty.
Now that there were fewer high-achieving elders, there were two representatives of the imperial court: Shangguan Ning and Zhang Jingzhen.
Within the Heavenly Masters Mansion, this ratio was actually quite exaggerated.
However, the Mansion seemed to pay little mind to it.
On one hand, in recent years, the Heavenly Masters Mansion had become very close to the Tang imperial family.
In terms of results, if one didn't consider the Shangguan clan, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Heavenly Masters Mansion was the top double-flowered red club under the Tang Emperor in recent years...
After the Li external war, when the Heavenly Masters Mansion was at its weakest, the Tang Emperor personally visited Longhu Mountain to show his support and deter outsiders.
A few years later, the Mansion not only defeated the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou but also severely damaged the Lin Clan of Youzhou. With their two swords, they slashed their way from the south of the Yangtze River all the way to the north.
Compared to the early years when the Li family leaned towards the Tang court, it would be more appropriate to say that the current relationship between the Heavenly Masters Mansion and the Tang imperial family was in a honeymoon phase.
On the other hand, if one didn't consider the older generation and only looked at the younger generation, the presence of Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, and Lei Jun was too strong.
With their backgrounds, Zhang Jingzhen's unique origins didn't stand out as much.
"In the past, when the internal strife within the Li family and the external strife with the Li Clan were intertwined, the situation within the Mansion was complex. At that time, Uncle Shangguan and Senior Apprentice Sister Zhang's imperial lineage was more prominent."
Chu Kun sighed, "Now that the clouds have cleared and the waters have calmed, everything seems to have faded. Nonetheless, we should still thank Master Aunt, the Sect Master, as well as Master and Senior Brother for your presence."
"Everyone has their own thoughts. As long as we are aligned in the general direction, we can set aside our differences," Lei Jun said.
As the two disciples spoke, thunder rumbled and light flickered above them, on the summit of Longhu Mountain.
Chu Kun looked up, "Is that the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Immortal Domain?"
"Mhm..." Lei Jun, now a high-achieving elder, could clearly see the movements within the Immortal Domain, "Senior Apprentice Sister Zhang has entered it."
Chu Kun asked, "Senior Apprentice Sister Zhang has always been diligent in her cultivation."
Lei Jun raised his eyebrows slightly, gazing at the purple lightning that wandered restlessly above, deep in thought.
......
Zhang Jingzhen, clad in a purple robe, re-entered the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Immortal Domain.
She was currently the only person within this purple realm.
Zhang Jingzhen's gaze swept across this purple world, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.
She first headed towards the Immortal-Echoing Spring.
Having reached the Seventh Heaven realm, she no longer needed to rely on other water-avoiding spiritual objects.
(End of Chapter)
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