https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-311-310-The-Master-Disciple-Lineage-Across-Generations/12588640/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-312-Tribute-from-All-Sides-for-Xuan-Xiaozi-Part-2-/12588642/
Chapter 312: Tribute from All Sides for Xuan Xiaozi (Part 1)
Chapter 312: Tribute from All Sides for Xuan Xiaozi (Part 1)
The peaks of the Xiaoding Mountains were layered with lush greenery, piercing the clouds and perpetually enveloped in a dreamy haze of mist and colors, akin to a celestial paradise.
This was Lei Jun's first visit to the ancestral mountain gate of the Shu Mountain Sect, revealing his true self.
However, this earthly paradise had undergone significant changes and was no longer the same as it used to be.
A civil war years ago had brought war to Xiaoding, and the lofty heights of Gaomiao were no more.
The schism between Fu Dongsen and others and the Shu Mountain Sect in recent years had caused a catastrophe not seen in many years.
The loss of the Qingxiaofu, a treasure that was once synonymous with the mountain gate, which had sunk into the earth's veins, was a devastating blow.
The Taoyi Xiantian Tower, which had stood atop Xiaoding for ages, had also gone missing.
The upheaval above and below had nearly caused the entire Xiaoding to collapse and sink into the depths.
It was only due to the tireless efforts of Xu Duan, Zhang Taegang, and others that the ancestral mountain gate was stabilized and prevented from total destruction.
After a few years of recuperation, the earth veins beneath Xiaoding had settled down, showing some stability compared to the initial turmoil.
However, the once lush and vibrant paradise now seemed significantly diminished in its ethereal beauty.
It would require the continued and persistent efforts of Zhang Taegang and his companions to restore the spiritual energy of this place to its former glory.
Moreover, the absence of the legendary Taoyi Xiantian Tower, with its treasure light shining through the clouds, was a source of heartache for the Shu Mountain cultivators who remained.
Lei Jun had visited Xiaoding once before, disguised as Chen Donglou.
Although the ethereal beauty of the place had faded, the flow of spiritual energy was more stable and peaceful than before, which was a small consolation.
Following behind him was a certain fluffy creature, upright and well-behaved, with impeccable manners and strict adherence to etiquette.
Only its small eyes, rolling curiously and full of life, gave away its playful nature.
Lei Jun and his disciple arrived at the foot of Shu Mountain's Xiaoding, accompanied by Zhang Dongyuan and the others.
As they approached, Lei Jun maintained a nonchalant expression, but his mind was filled with questions.
The surface of Shu Mountain appeared calm and peaceful.
However, the underground spirit veins had undergone significant changes.
It was evident that the Shu Mountain cultivators were doing their best to seal and stabilize the situation, but it seemed that as time passed, the disturbances in the earth veins would only grow more intense.
Fortunately, it seemed that there wouldn't be any major issues in the short term… Lei Jun mused to himself.
Upon reaching the mountain gate, they were greeted by two others who had been waiting—He Dongxing and Ji Chuan, master and disciple.
After exchanging greetings, Zhang Dongyuan smiled and said, "I'm afraid I must attend to the preparations for the ceremony. I'll leave our guest, Lei Daoyou from the Tianshi Mansion, in your capable hands, He Shixiong."
"Rest assured, Zhang Shidi. I'll take care of it," He Dongxing assured him.
Zhang Dongyuan bid farewell to Lei Jun and then departed.
He Dongxing and Ji Chuan escorted Lei Jun and his disciple to the guest quarters to rest.
With just the four of them, the atmosphere became more relaxed compared to before.
Despite his advanced years, He Dongxing had a carefree demeanor. He stroked his beard with a smile, his eyes shifting between Lei Jun and his disciple.
"Xuan Xiaozi, it seems that you and our Shu region are destined to cross paths!" the old Daoist said with a laugh.
"Purely coincidental, purely coincidental," Lei Jun replied with a smile.
Ji Chuan turned his face away, his shoulders shaking slightly as he suppressed a laugh.
A certain fluffy little bear remained remarkably calm.
Although he rarely ventured down the mountain, he had heard some rumors about the outside world and Dragon Tiger Mountain.
There was no doubt that Xuan Xiaozi, the master of the Tianshi Mansion, was one of the most influential figures in the current Great Tang realm.
Aside from his astonishing talent, formidable cultivation, and genius, there were also tales of his unique background.
For example, it was said that the three peerless geniuses of the younger generation in the Tianshi Mansion, including Lei Jun and the contemporary Tian Shi, Tang Xiaotang, were all introduced to the Dao by the older Xu Yuanzhen.
The intricate web of fate connecting them inspired awe and envy in countless people, and it seemed that the Tian Shi Mansion's fortunes had reached an extreme of good luck in recent years.
Generally, whether it was the Talisman Sect, the Artificer Sect, or the Pill Cauldron Sect of the Pure Yang Palace, the master who introduced a new disciple to the Dao would become their guiding master.
Therefore, under normal circumstances, Lei Jun should have been Xu Yuanzhen's formal disciple.
However, due to Xu Yuanzhen's personal circumstances, Lei Jun ultimately became a disciple of Yuan Mobai.
Yes, his master was a panda that had already attained the Dao.
And then...
Zhuo Baojie stood quietly beside Lei Jun at that moment.
As Lei Jun's only formal disciple, he, too, was a panda.
This master-disciple pair couldn't help but invite speculation and gossip from outsiders, wondering if Lei Daochang was also...
Ahem, stop right there. One must respect one's master and uphold the Dao... A certain fluffy creature maintained a serious expression, its demeanor proper and respectful, but its eyes, full of human-like emotions, curved into a mischievous smile.
"After attending Chapter Dao brother's inauguration ceremony, my master and I intend to travel and explore the Bashu region," Lei Jun said, turning to his disciple and gently patting his head. A rare hint of warmth and affection softened his usually detached and calm features as he continued, "My little disciple was born here, but after following me to Dragon Tiger Mountain to cultivate the Dao, he has not returned to his homeland. This trip will be a wonderful opportunity for him to explore his roots, and I hope the Shu Mountain Sect will accommodate us."
"Of course, you are most welcome here," He Dongxing said with a smile.
Ji Chuan also smiled and added, "If you need a companion, I can accompany you."
"In that case, I'll have to trouble Ji Dao brother again. Recalling the past, it was Ji Dao brother who served as my guide during my travels in Bashu. To relive those memories brings me great joy," Lei Jun said gratefully.
The three of them chatted amicably.
However, a certain little bear, looking at his master, had a very bad feeling about this.
Lei Jun and his disciple settled down on Xiaoding, awaiting the arrival of the summer solstice.
Before the grand ceremony, in addition to He Dongxing and Ji Chuan, who were specifically assigned to attend to him, and Zhang Dongyuan, who had greeted him earlier, Lei Jun also met several other high-achieving elders of the Shu Mountain Sect.
Among them was Zhang Taegang, the soon-to-be new leader of the Shu Mountain Sect, and Xu Duan, the most senior elder of the sect.
"Congratulations, Zhang Dao brother," Lei Jun offered his congratulations to Zhang Taegang.
This young man, the best of the new generation of the Shu Mountain Sect, appeared to be only in his twenties or thirties, with a clear and handsome face that exuded a subtle scholarly aura.
Despite wearing a Daoist robe, his bearing gave him the air of a Confucian scholar.
However, he was indeed an exceptional cultivator, having attained the Eighth Heaven of the Immortal Journey Realm in the Artificer Sect.
Although he was not a sword cultivator, his signature treasure, the Emei Golden Seal, was renowned for its effectiveness in combat, combining both offense and defense seamlessly.
In his interactions with others, Zhang Taegang was polite and courteous, his demeanor devoid of any sharp edges.
However, Lei Jun's personal interactions with him revealed a calm demeanor that belied an inherent prudence and meticulousness.
Speaking of which, according to Lei Jun's knowledge, Zhang Taegang's personal interests, aside from his innate magic treasure, the Emei Golden Seal, included seal carving.
"It is with a heavy heart that I take on the responsibility of upholding the legacy of my ancestors and the expectations of my fellow sect members," Zhang Taegang said, sitting opposite Lei Jun with a solemn expression. "In the face of adversity, I can only strive to do my best, hoping that I will not disgrace the generations of ancestors and the trust placed in me by my sect."
Lei Jun nodded in agreement, his expression equally grave. "Your dedication to your sect is admirable, and we share the same aspirations in ensuring unity and mutual support among our sects."
He glanced towards the side, where in addition to Ji Chuan, a female disciple in a deep red Daoist robe, Guo Shimei, was also present. "Although Guo Shimei will be returning to Dragon Tiger Mountain later, we will have another fellow sect member take her place here. I hope that both of you will continue to extend your support and guidance to our disciple."
Guo Shimei, the female disciple in the red robe, bowed respectfully to Zhang Taegang and Ji Chuan. "I am deeply grateful for the assistance and kindness that both of you have shown me over the years."
Zhang Taegang and Ji Chuan quickly voiced their modesty, downplaying their contributions.
The red-robed female disciple, Guo Yan, was one of the Tian Shi Mansion disciples who had undergone the same initiation ceremony as Lei Jun years ago.
In the face of the threat posed by the Human Realm Daoist Country, the Tian Shi Mansion, Shu Mountain Sect, and Pure Yang Palace had each sent representatives to stay in the other two sects. This arrangement facilitated quicker communication and mutual aid in the event of an attack by the Human Realm Daoist Country.
During the battle at Dragon Tiger Mountain four to five years ago, the representatives of the Shu Mountain Sect and Pure Yang Palace stationed in Xinzhou at the time, Ji Chuan and Long Tao, had simultaneously contacted their respective sects for assistance.
Due to the turmoil in the northwest, which was closer to the Pure Yang Palace, they were unable to spare any resources to aid the Tian Shi Mansion.
However, the Shu Mountain Sect had dispatched Zhang Dongyuan, who personally brought along the Qingming Sword, to Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Despite their crushing defeat, the key figures of the Human Realm Daoist Country, including Huang Xuanpu, Fu Dongsen, Hong Jie, and Gu Han, had managed to escape and go into hiding.
Although they had lain low to lick their wounds, their threat could not be underestimated.
As a result, the three sacred sites of the Daoist tradition maintained their previous arrangement, continuing to station representatives in each other's sects.
For the Shu Mountain Sect, Ji Chuan had been their representative stationed at Dragon Tiger Mountain.
However, due to personal cultivation reasons, Ji Chuan had returned to Shu Mountain two years ago, and the sect had sent another disciple to take his place as their representative.
Similarly, the Tian Shi Mansion's previous representative stationed at Shu Mountain had been Guo Yan.
But due to her own cultivation reasons, Guo Yan would also be returning to Dragon Tiger Mountain later, and another disciple from the Tian Shi Mansion would take over her role.
As Zhang Taegang had preparations to make for the upcoming succession ceremony, he bid farewell to Lei Jun after a brief conversation, apologizing for his early departure.
As the potential successors of their respective sects, the two of them did not need to delve into lengthy discussions. A general alignment of their visions and the establishment of a cordial relationship were sufficient for the time being.
Later, Lei Jun met with another newly advanced Elder who had attained the Eighth Heaven of the Immortal Journey Realm, Ye Dongming, a member of the Ye Clan from Jinzhou.
"How is Fellow Daoist Yuan doing?" Ye Dongming inquired with a smile.
"My master is doing well, and he sends his regards to Elder Ye," Lei Jun replied politely.
"Please convey my greetings to him as well," Ye Dongming said.
Although Ye Dongming had not interacted much with Yuan Mobai, he was quite familiar with He Dongxing and Ji Dongquan.
However, both parties held each other in high regard.
Lei Jun recalled his master's early assessment of Ye Dongming as an extraordinary individual.
Now, it seemed that this evaluation was not only based on his talent, cultivation level, and depth but also on his unique stance regarding the Shu Mountain Sect and the Ye Clan of Jinzhou.
This was undoubtedly a blessing for the Shu Mountain Sect, which had been plagued by consecutive upheavals and was in dire need of recovery.
They simply could not afford another round of internal strife.
"Xuan Xiaozi, I have a matter to discuss with you," Ye Dongming said as the conversation between the two deepened. "Have you heard any news of Chen Shixiong in recent years?"
"Your sect's Elder Chen has been out of sight for a long time, and we have not received any further information," Lei Jun replied calmly, his expression unchanged.
It was not that the Shu Mountain Sect suspected him, but during the battle at Dragon Tiger Mountain, Chen Donglou had not appeared, and the Shu Mountain Sect had asked the Tian Shi Mansion to help keep an eye out for him since then.
"Our sect leader and senior sister have been traveling far and wide in search of the remnants of the Human Realm Daoist Country, but they have not encountered your sect's Elder Chen," Lei Jun continued.
Ye Dongming nodded. "Thank you for your efforts, Tian Shi and Xu Shishu."
Indeed, the Shu Mountain Sect was in a precarious state at the moment.
If Chen Donglou were to return, he might be able to assume the position of sect leader that he had once coveted.
Even Zhang Taegang himself would be more than willing to step aside for Chen Donglou.
After all, with Chen Donglou's prolonged absence, Zhang Taegang had no choice but to take on the responsibility.
However, given Chen Donglou's temperament, even if he were still alive, it was uncertain if he would return to Shu Mountain, let alone accept the position of sect leader under these circumstances.
Lei Jun certainly had no intention of impersonating Chen Donglou to claim the position of sect leader.
Aside from the risk of his true identity being exposed, he had only assumed Chen Donglou's identity temporarily to facilitate the handling of the threat posed by the Human Realm Daoist Country.
He would not use Chen Donglou's identity to openly appear and deal with matters unrelated to the Human Realm Daoist Country, lest he bring trouble to the Shu Mountain Sect.
Thus, aside from offering his congratulations to Zhang Taegang, Lei Jun had no other intentions.
"I hope Chen Shixiong will return soon," Ye Dongming sighed softly.
"I will also keep an eye out for any clues or news during my travels," Lei Jun assured him.
"In that case, I thank you in advance," Ye Dongming said gratefully.
After chatting for a while longer, Ye Dongming took his leave.
Instead of returning to his own residence, he made his way to another cave abode on the summit of Xiaoding.
The grand elder of the Shu Mountain Sect, Xu Duan, welcomed him inside.
Ye Dongming shook his head. "There is still no news of Chen Shixiong."
Xu Duan nodded. "Chen Shidi has been out of contact for many years. Let us put our minds at ease for now and focus on stabilizing our sect and quietly recuperating."
"Yes," Ye Dongming agreed, although their expressions remained somber.
In secret, the threat of the Human Realm Daoist Country had not been completely eliminated.
Openly, although the Jingxiang Fang Clan had been relatively inactive recently, the Xumi Jingang Department, located in the Western Regions, was a formidable force that the Shu Mountain Sect could not afford to ignore.
In recent years, the Xumi Jingang Department had been even more low-key in the Great Tang region, appearing harmless.
However, located in the western frontier, the Shu Mountain Sect had heard rumors that the Xumi Jingang Department was showing signs of advancing into the Snowy Plateau.
As the Western Sichuan Snow Mountains connected to the Snowy Plateau, the Shu Mountain Sect was naturally sensitive to any such developments.
Unfortunately, with their current depleted strength, they were unable to take any responsive action. They could only watch and wait while striving to accumulate their strength and recover.
But how easy was that? At least in the short term, it seemed incredibly difficult.
The world and times were ever-changing, and it would be a blessing if the rare peace of the past two years could be sustained.
"Senior Uncle, the fluctuations in the earth veins beneath Xiaoding seem to have become more frequent than before." Ye Dongming said in a low voice.
Xu Duan frowned, "Yes, I feel it too."
He sighed deeply.
The departure of the Taoyi Xiantian Tower and the Qingxiaofu from Xiaoding had caused tremendous disturbances to the earth veins.
It was true that the Taoyi Xiantian Tower and the Qingxiaofu had not been present since the establishment of the Shu Mountain Sect.
However, after being tempered for so many years, they had become attuned to the earth veins of Shu Mountain, and their sudden absence naturally had a significant impact.
Moreover, the impact seemed even greater than initially anticipated.
It had also brought about many unexpected changes.
"Senior Uncle..." Ye Dongming's expression became more solemn. "Is that... the aura of the Yellow Springs?"
Xu Duan's expression turned solemn. "I believe so."
Ye Dongming bowed his head slightly and looked downwards. "In that case, I think it's better to seal it."
Xu Duan did not respond immediately. Instead, he gazed out of the window.
After a long while, he said, "Yes, our sect urgently needs an opportunity to recover its strength. However, the Yellow Springs is different from Kunlun and Penglai. It may harbor unforeseen dangers. With our sect's current foundation, we cannot afford to take the risk of failure. This is also the intention of the Sect Leader."
Ye Dongming nodded silently.
............................
Beneath Shu Mountain, hidden currents stirred.
On Shu Mountain, as the summer solstice approached, more guests arrived.
The inauguration ceremony for the new leader of the Shu Mountain Sect was about to begin.
This event was of great importance, and representatives from various factions, including the imperial court, were present to offer their congratulations.
(End of Chapter)
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