https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-259-Elder-Ye-Moquan-s-Unspeakable-Secret-Part-2-/12587103/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-260-The-Hidden-Power-of-the-Celestial-Masters-Mansion-Part-2-/12587105/
Chapter 260: The Hidden Power of the Celestial Masters' Mansion (Part 1)
Chapter 260: The Hidden Power of the Celestial Masters' Mansion (Part 1)
As Lei Jun wandered through the vast mountains and rivers of Zhongzhou, he couldn't help but recall the related classics he had studied.
Ever since he heard Xu Yuanzhen mention Zhongzhou in that exotic realm beyond the "gateway" on Dahei Mountain, Lei Jun had taken a keen interest in this place. After returning to Longhu Mountain, he extensively researched and studied the relevant literature.
Now, he had finally arrived in Zhongzhou and was conducting an on-site investigation to verify his knowledge.
The terrain and topography of the two places were generally similar, with only minor differences that were understandable.
After all, in this world, not only did the mountains and rivers change over time, but they could also be drastically altered by the battles between high-realm cultivators.
However, there was a significant difference in the flow of spiritual qi through the earth veins.
It was as if they were two worlds with identical exteriors but completely different interiors.
Lei Jun couldn't help but think of the various settings he had encountered in some of the novels he had read, and his mind was filled with speculations.
After a long while, gazing at the magnificent rivers and mountains before him, Lei Jun gently exhaled, reining in his wandering thoughts, and turned to leave.
He traveled south, crossing the mighty river, and headed towards Konglu Mountain.
Hidden within Konglu Mountain were several secret realms and blessed lands that used to be the exclusive preserves of the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou. Now, they were under the control of the Celestial Masters' Mansion.
The produce from these blessed lands was being transported in large quantities back to the ancestral court at Longhu Mountain.
There were also disciples of the Celestial Masters' Mansion stationed here.
Due to the successive great calamities that had befallen the Celestial Masters' Mansion in recent times, although they were gradually recovering their strength, their numbers were still sparse.
Nowadays, most of the ordained disciples had various tasks to attend to, no matter how big or small.
At the Lanyue blessed land on Konglu Mountain, Lei Jun was greeted by a familiar figure—a disciple of the Celestial Masters' Mansion named Luo Haoran.
"Brother Luo," Lei Jun smiled and returned the greeting.
The red-robed Daoist priest before him was indeed Luo Haoran.
"Please come this way, Elder Lei," Luo Haoran said, being more mindful of formalities in front of his fellow disciples and juniors.
When they were finally alone, Luo Haoran relaxed a little and asked, "What brings you to the Lanyue blessed land? Is there anything you need?"
As a high-achieving elder of the sect, Lei Jun had free access to most of the sect's resources, except for a select few that required reporting to the Celestial Master himself.
Usually, if there was any produce from the Lanyue blessed land, Luo Haoran would simply send a list to Lei Jun, who would then send a talisman, and Luo Haoran would gather the requested items.
"I need to occupy the Lingxing Spring for a while," Lei Jun said. "Is it convenient at the moment?"
"Let me first take some of the spring water and send it back to Longhu Mountain to clear this month's account. After that, you're welcome to stay as long as you like," Luo Haoran replied.
He smiled and added, "With you here, I can leave the blessed land and take a walk along the river embankment."
"The waters of the Great River seem rather calm this summer," Lei Jun remarked.
"Indeed, it's calmer than previous years," Luo Haoran agreed. "But we'll have to wait and see what happens in July and August. If there's a flood, I may need your help."
"Of course, I'll be glad to assist," Lei Jun assured him.
"I'm just giving you a heads-up, just in case," Luo Haoran said with a sigh. "In fact, the waters of the Great River have been calmer for the past few years, and it's especially noticeable this year. It's a blessing for the common folk to be spared from such disasters."
Lei Jun nodded silently.
Luo Haoran wasn't the only one who had noticed the change in the river's behavior.
Both of them had their suspicions about the underlying cause.
Over the past few years, there had been significant changes in the flow of the mountains and rivers.
While it seemed that not much had changed overall, several critical nodes had been in turmoil.
First, the Xiao Clan outside Long Province and the Putuo Temple had suffered heavy losses.
The Xiao Clan fared slightly better, as their lineage had not been completely severed despite their heavy losses.
As for the Putuo Temple, it had been reduced to ruins, forcing the remaining disciples to establish a southern sect in another location.
And then, last winter, there had been even more dramatic events.
The ancestral lands of the two great Lin families, one in the north and the other in the south, had been wiped out simultaneously.
At the time, the chain reaction seemed to be limited to that one area.
However, as time passed, it continued to influence the flow of the mountains and rivers.
Although the Tang imperial family still held sway over the dragon vein's fortune, they too had to adapt to the changing times.
The relocation of the capital had been a direct result of these shifts.
In the past two years, the changes in the earth veins and water veins had become even more pronounced.
Hence, the relatively calmer waters of the Great River this summer.
And this year, one change had led to another.
There was no need to mention places like Gaojia in Zezhou.
The Pure Yang Palace had been breached, and the Ye Clan's ancestral land in Jinzhou had been obliterated even more thoroughly than the Lin families' lands.
These events would undoubtedly impact the flow of the earth veins.
As for the specific changes, they would only become apparent later.
Luo Haoran was glad to see that the Great River was no longer flooding and causing havoc.
But such occurrences were beyond their control.
It was difficult to predict how certain events would affect the earth veins.
Things could just as easily go awry, and the probability of that happening was not insignificant.
This was a true natural disaster, and all they could do was resist or endure it; it was beyond human control.
After catching up for a while, the two fellow disciples parted ways, and Luo Haoran left to make the necessary arrangements.
The next day, Lei Jun followed Luo Haoran to the Lingxing Spring deep within the Lanyue blessed land.
The spring water shimmered with light, resembling countless stars, and was filled with spiritual essence.
After Luo Haoran left, Lei Jun stepped into the spring.
The water of the Lingxing Spring automatically parted around his body.
Lei Jun's fingers danced in the air, directing the spring water.
In that moment, the spring water seemed to transform into paper scrolls, flying upwards and unfurling in the air.
Lei Jun sat cross-legged in the air, motionless.
On the scrolls made of water, lights intertwined to form words.
From the depths of Lei Jun's eyes, the brilliance of the Heavenly Connection and Earth Penetration techniques shone brightly.
Words continued to appear as if engraved on the paper made of water, fusing with the ink he had obtained from the Ye Clan in Jinzhou and his own Daoist magic power. They were different from the usual Daoist talismans, incorporating the exquisite intricacies of both the Daoist and Confucian traditions.
As Lei Jun continued to write, the paper transformed by the spring water expanded further.
Eventually, the pages accumulated and assembled into book form.
When everything was finished, several thick volumes were stacked in front of Lei Jun.
Under the illumination of Lei Jun's Heavenly Connection and Earth Penetration techniques, these books gradually compressed and condensed.
Until they merged into a single sheet of paper.
This paper transformed into a stream of light and flew into the Heavenly Connection technique in Lei Jun's left eye.
"It's starting to take shape, I've made some progress." Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction. "But I still need to continue refining and perfecting it."
He looked at the Lingxing Spring before him and shook his head slightly.
Due to the excessive and prolonged use of his spiritual power, the spring had been drained dry over time.
Fortunately, the spring was not truly depleted, and the water was slowly regenerating, its flow gradually increasing.
With some time to recuperate, the Lingxing Spring would restore itself to its former state.
Lei Jun, who had been sitting cross-legged, stood up and bowed to the spring in the traditional Daoist manner.
Then, as he was about to leave, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He peered closely and noticed that after the pool had temporarily dried up, words began to appear on the rocks at the bottom.
"Oh? Someone left a message here before?" Lei Jun's interest was piqued.
The handwriting belonged not to a Daoist but to a Confucian cultivator.
It was evident that the writer possessed an extraordinary cultivation base.
However, the message was hidden within the spring water, concealed by the person's own seclusion and the spiritual energy of the spring, thus remaining unknown until now.
It was only today, due to the special circumstances of Lei Jun temporarily draining the spring, that the words finally resurfaced.
The ink held no offensive power, and Lei Jun effortlessly collected it with his spiritual power.
After reading the message, he raised his eyebrows slightly.
The text automatically rearranged itself into a book.
Its title: "Random Notes of a Recluse from Jiuxi."
Jiuxi Recluse was the pseudonym of Lin Jian, an elder of the Lin Clan from Jiangzhou.
In terms of generational order, Lin Jian was the uncle of Lin Che and Lin Yuwei, among others.
In relation to Lin Zhen, Lin Lang, and Lin Qing, he was their grand-uncle.
A Confucian master of the Lin Clan, Lin Jian had reached the Eighth Heaven realm. Due to his advanced age, he had chosen to seclude himself and cultivate in solitude.
In comparison to the Heavenly Masters' Mansion, he was a contemporary of the first Celestial Master, Li Zhiyuan.
Accompanying Lin Jian in his seclusion were three other Lin Clan elders in the Seventh Heaven realm, as well as another Confucian master of the Lin Clan, Lin Zhan, who had also attained the Eighth Heaven realm. He was the seventeenth uncle of Lin Che and Lin Yuwei.
However, during the Battle of Jiangzhou, only three Seventh Heaven elders of the Lin Clan had appeared; Lin Jian and Lin Zhan had never shown themselves.
According to rumors circulating among the surviving members of the Southern Lin Clan, the grand-uncle and the seventeenth uncle had mysteriously left the Lin Clan's ancestral land in Jiangzhou long ago, and their whereabouts were unknown.
This remained an unsolved mystery within the Southern Lin Clan, especially now that their ancestral land had been destroyed, leaving them with a deep sense of resentment.
For now, let us set aside Lin Zhan; Lei Jun had gained some insight into Lin Jian's situation.
This elder of the Lin Clan was not only advanced in age but also suffered from old injuries that affected his lifespan, making it difficult for him to reach the age of eight hundred.
He had given up on prolonging his life but hoped to cure his old ailments and restore his lifespan to eight hundred years.
Thus, Lin Jian had been continuously examining and experimenting.
However, it seemed that something unexpected had occurred during his investigations.
Lin Jian's notes abruptly ended halfway through, as if something had interrupted him, leaving him no opportunity to inform his clan.
Based on the information in the initial pages of Lin Jian's notes and the spiritual nature of the notes themselves, Lei Jun deduced some clues related to the spiritual veins.
"One goes east, the other goes west. The eastern path seems to lead to the overseas regions, while the western path heads towards the mountains and rivers west of Yuzhang, towards Yuanzhou..." Lei Jun possessed a calm and insightful mind, allowing him to perceive mysteries that others could not. However, the information he gleaned remained vague.
Just then, the light sphere in his mind suddenly flashed, and words appeared:
[Within, there is a spiritual mountain and jade water. Beyond the outer sea, an isolated island stirs the sky. Fortune and calamity intertwine, a fine line between them.]
[Upper-middle fortune: Proceed to Longxi in Yuanzhou. There is an opportunity to obtain a third-grade opportunity. There is no present danger, but future entanglements of cause and effect require caution. Auspicious.]
[Middle fortune: Avoid Longxi and Changjie Island. There is no gain or loss, neutral.]
[Lower-middle fortune: Proceed to Changjie Island in the East Sea. There is no additional gain, and there is profound danger and future troubles. Proceed with extreme caution. Inauspicious.]
Lei Jun raised his eyebrows at the sight.
..............................
The Southern Lin Clan barely managed to find a foothold north of Lake Tai.
Initially, the situation seemed favorable.
After the destruction of their ancestral land in Jiangzhou and the heavy loss of their kin, they couldn't ask for more.
But now, Lin Yuwei and the others found themselves in an extremely awkward position.
Many details of the Battle of Jinzhou had been made public.
It was revealed that the Danxin Suiting Ritual, secretly commissioned by Ye Moken from the Southern Lin Clan, had malfunctioned.
While the ritual object itself was not an issue, the information had clearly leaked, causing Xu Yuanzhen to be prepared and even have a "return gift," ultimately backfiring on Ye Moken.
The Southern Lin Clan had stepped into a pile of mud, and it was unclear if they were implicated or not.
The Ye Clan of Jinzhou remained silent, keeping a low profile for the time being.
However, the Southern Lin Clan's current location was right at the doorstep of the Chu Clan in Suzhou.
To the north was the Ye Clan of Qingzhou.
On certain matters, their interests did not align with the Ye Clan of Jinzhou.
But if it was perceived that the Southern Lin Clan was siding with the Tang imperial court, then Qingzhou and Suzhou would surely be intolerant of their presence.
Just as Lin Yuwei and the others were in a difficult situation, a clan member suddenly reported, "We have news of the grand-uncle!"
Lin Yuwei and the others immediately became spirited.
Regardless of the circumstances, Lin Jian's cultivation base in the Eighth Heaven realm was of utmost importance to the Southern Lin Clan at this critical juncture, even if it meant dividing Lin Yuwei's influence. For now, unity was their priority.
Unfortunately, the news did not come directly from Lin Jian.
Instead, a piece of calligraphy he had left behind suddenly changed for unknown reasons.
"Pointing towards the East Sea..." The remaining elders of the Lin Clan, who had reached the Ninth Heaven, looked at each other in silence.
They tried to contact Lin Jian, but there was still no response.
Lin Yuwei remained silent as a statue, and after a long while, he said decisively, "Jin Song and I will go out to sea together. You all take care on land."
Standing beside him was Lin Jin Song, who also came from a branch of the Southern Lin Clan and was a Great Confucian of the Seventh Heaven. He nodded solemnly in agreement.
In fact, he was more inclined to defect to the Tang imperial court.
Although the clan had lost its foundation for countless generations, they first had to get through the current difficulties before considering the long-term future.
However, with Qingzhou and Suzhou waiting to pounce, the clan members had different ideas, and Lin Jin Song had his own plans, which he did not intend to reveal just yet.
The other Lin Clan members had their doubts, but at this moment, they could only agree with Lin Yuwei's judgment.
..............................................
In Zhongzhou Luoyang, within the grand palace of the Tang Empire, Empress Zhang Wantong sat upon her throne as four subjects entered to pay their respects.
"Be seated," the Empress calmly instructed.
The four visitors were Zhang, Shangguan, Xiao, and Lu.
After expressing their gratitude, the Empress spoke, "I will be departing for Guanzhong soon, so I leave Luoyang in your care. Mo Feng'er will oversee the country, and all of you will assist him. Handle routine matters as you see fit, and report any major issues to Guanzhong."
Mo Feng'er was the milk name of her nephew and heir apparent, Zhang Hui.
Shangguan Qing, the current Grand Master of Ceremonies, spoke softly, "Your Majesty, I still implore you to reconsider. If it is not absolutely necessary, please do not stay away from Zhongzhou for an extended period."
The Empress remained composed as she replied, "I will be going to Guanzhong, and the duration of my stay there will be discussed at a later time."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Shangguan Qing bowed his head in acknowledgment.
Despite his tall stature, this Grand Master of Ceremonies had a relatively slender build and exuded a refined aura. He was one of the few members of the Shangguan clan who practiced Confucian methods and had achieved success.
Standing next to Shangguan was another middle-aged man. Although he was not wearing armor due to the audience, his aura was unmistakably that of a powerful warrior.
This man was Lu Zhen, a veteran general of the Shence Army and currently the second-in-command under General Shangguan Yunbo.
The Lu clan was also among the noble families who had made great contributions during the founding of the Tang Dynasty, and they remained one of the largest military families, second only to the Shangguan clan in influence.
Especially with the Zhang and Shangguan clans united as one, the Shangguan clan could be considered half-royal, and in a certain sense, the Lu clan better represented the interests of non-royal noble families.
"Your Majesty, the General has sent word that seven bases of the Dakkong Temple have been identified, including the current locations of the rebels Yuanmie and Jixiang," Lu Zhen reported as he rose from his seat.
General Shangguan Yunbo was not currently in the imperial capital.
Even before the Battle of Jinzhou, he had already left.
However, instead of going to Jinzhou, he headed west.
He led a group of Shence Army elites and operated in secret, targeting the Dakkong Temple, one of the officially recognized rebels against the Tang Dynasty.
On one hand, the Dakkong Temple was openly opposing the Tang Dynasty.
On the other hand, the temple had connections with secular aristocratic families and was directly colluding with powerful demons, making it an important hub.
When the Dakkong Temple's abbot, Yuanmie, tested the waters with the Vajra Temple, he was rebuffed.
(End of Chapter)
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