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Chapter 312: Tribute from All Sides for Xuan Xiaozi (Part 2)
Chapter 312: Tribute from All Sides for Xuan Xiaozi (Part 2)
Even the Jingxiang Fang Clan, which had improved its relationship with the imperial family of the Tang Dynasty and the Shu Mountain Sect in recent years, sent a representative.
The clan's second-in-command, Fang Huansheng, arrived in person.
"Our ninth brother has been in seclusion since last winter and is unable to come and offer his congratulations in person. I hope you will all forgive him," said Fang Huansheng.
Zhang Taegang said, "You're too kind, Senior Fang. Our Shu Mountain Sect owes the Jingxiang Fang Clan a great deal, and we are already extremely grateful."
In the past, during the great war that directly caused the major split within the Shu Mountain Sect, the clan leader of the Jingxiang Fang Clan, Fang Jingsheng, had fought alongside Xu Duan, Chu Yu, Zhang Dongyuan, and others, forcing Fu Dongsen, Hong Jie, and Wei Qiuyue to retreat under the orders of the Empress.
The Shu Mountain Sect was truly grateful for the favor, and they naturally did not forget the Empress's role in it.
However, as Fang Huansheng had come to offer his congratulations, Zhang Taegang and the others naturally reciprocated with courtesy.
They invited Fang Huansheng and the others from the Fang Clan to take their seats.
Fang Huansheng noticed that the representative of the imperial court was Zhang Luo, the Prince of Xiang, who had returned from the Southern Wilderness a couple of years ago.
As the Jingxiang and Xiang regions were quite close to each other, the two parties were no strangers and often interacted.
Upon seeing each other, they exchanged greetings.
After a while, both of them simultaneously noticed that their gazes kept drifting towards the same person.
There, a tall and slender young Taoist priest in a purple robe had already taken his seat.
Sensing their gazes, the young Taoist priest in purple turned his head towards them.
Prince Xiang, Zhang Luo, smiled and nodded, "It's been a while since we last met in the Southern Wilderness. I hope you've been well, Taoist Lei."
Fang Huansheng also nodded, "Taoist Lei, Fang Huansheng of Jingxiang greets you."
Lei Jun returned the greeting, "Your Highness, Senior Fang."
With the arrival of guests from all sides, in addition to the Shu Mountain Sect and Tian Shi Mansion, representatives from the Pure Yang Palace, another one of the three sacred sites of Taoism, also arrived.
It was Jiang Yu.
Currently, the Pure Yang Palace was even more short-staffed than the Shu Mountain Sect. Lu Jinduan and Wang Xuan were both occupied with other matters.
Although Jiang Yu was young, her position in the Pure Yang Palace was already quite important.
Yue Xiling didn't need to seclude himself anymore, but to avoid suspicion, he chose not to take up any official positions within the Pure Yang Palace. Instead, he went to Chang'an and served as the representative of the Pure Yang Palace directly under the Empress's watchful eye, demonstrating his innocence.
After experiencing a severe internal strife, the Pure Yang Palace now only had a handful of talented young disciples left, with Jiang Yu being one of the few remaining geniuses.
Lu Jinduan and Wang Xuan hoped that she would focus on her cultivation, but they also understood the importance of giving her some experience.
Fortunately, Jiang Yu, despite her relatively cold temperament, adapted to her role quickly.
"Greetings, Daoist Xuan Xiao." After exchanging greetings with the Shu Mountain Sect, Jiang Yu turned to Lei Jun and bowed in the Taoist style.
Lei Jun returned the greeting and said, "Greetings, Daoist Jiang. Our sect is holding a grand ceremony for the initiation of new disciples this year, and we sincerely invite your sect to witness this occasion. The invitation has already been sent to Dragon Tiger Mountain. It is a coincidence that I met you here today. Please forgive me for being forward, but would you be interested in visiting Zhongnan Mountain as a guest?"
In the Taoist tradition, the Talisman Sect had the "Transmitting Degrees" and "Conferring Talismans" ceremonies, while the Dan Ding Sect had the "Crowning" and "Transmitting Precepts" ceremonies.
The former involved receiving talismans from the Sect Master, symbolizing one's name being registered in the heavens.
The latter involved receiving a Taoist name and undergoing a grand initiation ceremony, receiving the Three Platforms and the Great Precepts.
Prior to this, there was also the "Crowning" ceremony, also known as the "Small Initiation," which was similar to the "Transmitting Degrees" ceremony of the Talisman Sect.
Unlike the Transmitting Degrees ceremony of the Tian Shi Mansion, which was normally held every three years, the Crowning ceremony of the Pure Yang Palace did not have a fixed schedule or a grand ceremony.
Anyone who wished to embark on the Taoist path would first be introduced to the Tao and become a Taoist acolyte, beginning their most basic training. When they turned eighteen, if they met the relevant standards, they would undergo the Crowning ceremony and officially become a Taoist disciple of the Pure Yang Sect, also known as a "Crowned Taoist."
Those who failed to meet the standards would be assigned alternative paths.
As for the Transmitting Precepts ceremony, similar to the Conferring Talismans ceremony of the Tian Shi Mansion, it was held once every six years.
Those who met the relevant standards would be eligible to participate in the Transmitting Precepts ceremony.
However, the timing of the Transmitting Precepts ceremony at the Pure Yang Palace was not entirely fixed.
It could be held on any of the Three Yuan Festivals of Taoism, but it had to be on two consecutive festivals.
"It is a great honor to be invited to your esteemed sect's ceremony." said Ye Dongming with a sincere expression. "If given the opportunity, I would be delighted to participate in your sect's grand event."
Lei Jun replied, "However, please allow me to communicate with my sect first before giving a response to Fellow Daoist Jiang."
"Of course, take your time," Jiang Yu replied politely.
Later, she also extended an invitation to the Shu Mountain Sect.
As Zhang Taegang had just assumed the position of the new leader of the Shu Mountain Sect, he was occupied with various matters and naturally couldn't attend. Xu Duan, being of advanced age, was also excused from the journey.
However, they had decided to send an elder of the Eighth Heaven of the Immortal Journey Realm to represent them at Zhongnan Mountain. It remained to be seen whether it would be Zhang Dongyuan or Ye Dongming.
As a matter of etiquette, Zhang Luo, Prince of Xiang, and Fang Huansheng, the second-in-command of the Jingxiang Fang Clan, who had improved their relationship with the Shu Mountain Sect in recent years, also received invitations from the Pure Yang Palace and gave positive responses.
On the other hand, the one who responded positively to the invitation from the Shu Mountain Sect was the young abbot of the Adamantine Temple from the Western Regions, Sou Yong.
The power of the Xumi Vajra Division made the Shu Mountain Sect wary, but fortunately, there had been no direct conflicts between the two sides so far.
Regardless of whether it was out of courtesy or other considerations, the Shu Mountain Sect would invite them to attend the ceremony.
Perhaps to avoid giving the outside world the impression that the Xumi Jingang Department was becoming more powerful, the representative sent by the Western Buddhist sect this time was Sou Yong, a cultivator at the Seventh Heaven of the Immortal Journey Realm. His cultivation was not too eye-catching, but as the abbot of the temple, his status was sufficient.
When dealing with the representatives of the Shu Mountain Sect, who were high-ranking members of the Taoist community, such as Zhang Taegang and Jiang Yu, Sou Yong felt no pressure at all.
However, he did have a nagging worry.
And that worry was none other than Lei Jun from the Tian Shi Mansion.
Lei Jun, on the other hand, maintained a calm demeanor, his expression unchanged, as he addressed Sou Yong:
"Venerable Sou, if the monks of the Adamantine Temple come across our sect's Heavenly Master's Robe, we would greatly appreciate it if you could retrieve it for us. Our sect would be forever grateful and would certainly offer a generous reward."
Sou Yong had heard this request many times from the Tian Shi Mansion, and even the imperial court had mediated on their behalf.
But hearing it from Lei Jun himself, even with his calm and gentle tone, Sou Yong felt a sense of suffocation that he had never experienced before.
That oppressive feeling was something that an ordinary person could never replicate.
However, how could Sou Yong possibly produce a Heavenly Master's Robe for the Tian Shi Mansion?
At this moment, he wished he could avoid Lei Jun and the other Taoist priests from the Tian Shi Mansion.
Nevertheless, Sou Yong maintained his composure and replied with a solemn expression, "Rest assured, Daoist Xuan Xiao. Our sect will do our best to search for Hong Jie's whereabouts and assist your sect in retrieving the Heavenly Master's Robe."
"I hope to receive good news as soon as possible," Lei Jun said quietly, fixing his gaze on Sou Yong for a moment before continuing.
Sou Yong sighed inwardly but kept a dignified expression on his face, pressing his palms together and bowing to Lei Jun, "Our sect also hopes to work together with yours."
"I share the same hope," Lei Jun replied.
The grand ceremony of the Shu Mountain Sect proceeded as planned.
Lei Jun and his disciple settled in to observe the event.
To be honest, there were some flaws in this ceremony where Zhang Taegang assumed the position of the new leader of the Shu Mountain Sect.
It was common knowledge that the Shu Mountain Sect possessed six great treasures that were renowned throughout the Great Tang realm.
However, usually, these six treasures were not solely controlled by the leader of the Shu Mountain Sect.
The two treasures that were most often under the direct control of the leader were the Supreme Unity Primordial Tower and the Clear Dawn Mansion.
The former was considered the number one treasure of the Shu Mountain Sect, and the latter was almost synonymous with the foundation of the sect.
These two treasures were not necessarily symbols of the leader's status, but most of the time, possessing these treasures meant possessing the authority of the leader.
What was rather embarrassing was that these two major treasures were currently not in the possession of the Shu Mountain Sect.
Fortunately, the ancestral mausoleum of the Shu Mountain Sect was still located on the mountain and had not disappeared along with the Qingxiaofu. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to determine who was the legitimate successor of the sect.
However, according to Lei Jun's knowledge, even without these two treasures, the Shu Mountain Sect was determined to appoint a new leader.
As expected, the Shu Mountain Sect expressed their intention to retrieve the two treasures, hoping to boost the morale of their disciples.
During the ceremony, Fang Huansheng's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Sou Yong.
Sou Yong was talented and powerful, but he did not represent the true pinnacle of the younger generation of the Xumi Jingang Department.
Although he had quickly advanced to the Seventh Heaven of the Immortal Journey Realm due to the Supreme Unity Infusion Secret Art, his progress had slowed down since then, and his future progress would depend on his own efforts.
On the other hand, Lei Jun, Zhang Taegang, and Jiang Yu were exceptional individuals.
Among them, Lei Jun, also known as Xuan Xiaozi, stood out even more.
Even if Jiang Yu were the same age as Lei Jun, she would still be outshone by him.
The same could be said for Yue Xiling; compared to Lei Jun, he also fell short.
As for Zhang Taegang, there was no doubt that he was a genius of the Shu Mountain Sect, having become the leader of the sect at such a young age. He was indeed the pride of heaven.
However, in Fang Huansheng's opinion, Zhang Taegang still couldn't compare to Lei Jun.
He believed that he was not the only one who held this view.
Fortunately, due to the threat posed by the Human Realm Daoist Country, the three sacred sites of Taoism, including the Shu Mountain Sect, the Tian Shi Mansion, and the Pure Yang Palace, had formed a closer bond. Lei Jun's presence at the ceremony was more of a show of support and solidarity.
Otherwise, if it were a peaceful year, Zhang Taegang's inauguration ceremony would have been overshadowed by Lei Jun's presence, making the host seem less important than the guest.
Once again, it was a testament to the resurgence of the Tian Shi Mansion that they had produced such young and powerful geniuses like Lei Jun, and there were two more like him... Fang Huansheng's expression remained unchanged, but he sighed inwardly.
At present, the Jingxiang Fang Clan had improved their relationship with the imperial family of the Tang Dynasty and the Shu Mountain Sect, but they found themselves sandwiched between the two powerful sects of Shu Mountain and Dragon Tiger Mountain.
As Fang Huansheng thought about this, his gaze shifted to the few young disciples of the Fang Clan who had accompanied him.
He had brought them along to broaden their horizons and gain valuable experience.
However, instead of learning from the ceremony, these young disciples seemed to have formed completely different ideas.
As they departed from the ceremony, the Fang Clan disciples were punished by their elder, Fang Huansheng, for their lack of respect towards Zhuo Baojie, also known as Little Bear. They were made to copy lines as a form of discipline. During this time, Lei Jun and his disciple, Zhuo Baojie, bid farewell to Xiaoding and set out on a journey to explore the Bashu region. Ji Chuan once again acted as their guide.
Along the way, Zhuo Baojie finally understood why his master had been so affectionate towards him on Xiaoding. Whether on the mountain or off, in front of Ji Chuan, Lei Jun never missed an opportunity to praise his disciple, calling him mature beyond his years, diligent, and disciplined. The result was that Zhuo Baojie, unable to contain his excitement at the sight of the bamboo forest in southern Shu, was barely holding back his drool.
However, his master did not give him any opportunity to indulge his appetite. To be fair, most of the time, Zhuo Baojie lived up to his master's praise. Except when it came to his gluttony.
And so, as they traveled through Bashu, the little panda had to make do with plain tea and simple meals, causing him to nearly reach the point of breaking his Daoist heart.
"Do you know what you did wrong?" Lei Jun asked, playfully tugging on his disciple's furry head.
"Because Master is petty..." Zhuo Baojie began, only to quickly correct himself. "Because I have violated the way of being a disciple, disrespecting my teacher. Please punish me, Master."
Lei Jun smiled and said, "Recognizing your mistake is a great improvement. Go find your own food now. If you're seen by Ji Dao brother, it will be your own fault. We still need to maintain our image."
"Yes, Master!" Zhuo Baojie exclaimed joyfully.
Without another word, he scampered into the bamboo forest.
He didn't care about returning home in glory; he just wanted a taste of home.
Lei Jun watched with amusement as his plump disciple, with a nearly perfect fish-dive movement, plunged into the bamboo forest.
"Where's Little Hua?" Ji Chuan asked curiously as he approached from another direction.
Lei Jun nonchalantly replied, "He's feeling sentimental about returning to his hometown. I've asked him to meditate in the bamboo forest to absorb the essence of the heavens and the earth."
Ji Chuan turned to glance at the bamboo forest in the distance.
Lei Jun continued, "Later, my disciple and I plan to leave Bashu and head north. We've caused you quite some trouble during our stay."
"Not at all," Ji Chuan assured him. "It's our pleasure to have you here. Are you heading to Zhongnan Mountain as the representative of your sect?"
Lei Jun nodded. "Yes."
Earlier, he had discussed with Yuan Mobai and others, and they asked about his plans now that his cultivation had improved. Lei Jun's original goal was to travel the world and experience the various cultivation methods and sights. Now that he had ventured out, it was time to start making those plans a reality.
Since he was already out and about, and with the timing being just right, he decided to make a trip to Pure Yang Palace as well.
"When do you plan to depart?" Ji Chuan asked. "I'll see you off from Shu."
"You're too kind," Lei Jun said with a smile. "There's no need to go to such trouble."
As for the date...
Lei Jun was just about to answer when a light bulb flashed in his mind, and words appeared:
[The earth shakes and the heavens move, the waves of the River of Forgetfulness surge, dragons and snakes rise from the land, dancing together in the north and south.]
Along with this came three fortunes:
[Upper-middle fortune: At noon on the tenth day of June, head to White Egret Peak north of Jiange from Xiaoding. There is an opportunity to obtain a third-grade opportunity, with some turbulence. Be cautious and you can overcome it. There may be subsequent entanglements of cause and effect, so be cautious. Auspicious.]
[Middle fortune: At noon on the tenth day of June, head to the main peak of Xiaoding. There is an opportunity to obtain a fifth-grade opportunity, with some turbulence. Be cautious and you can overcome it. There may be subsequent entanglements of cause and effect, so be cautious. Neutral.]
[Middle fortune: At noon on the tenth day of June, go to a place other than Xiaoding and White Egret Peak. There will be no additional gains or losses. Neutral.]
Lei Jun first paid attention to the phrase "the waves of the River of Forgetfulness surge."
The Yellow Springs of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths? He wondered silently.
No wonder he had felt something strange about the underground spirit veins when he was on Xiaoding before. Because of the continuous sealing and suppression by the Shu Mountain Sect's high-level cultivators, he hadn't specifically looked into it, so he hadn't understood the situation at the time.
Now, with the fortune telling, it seemed that the issue lay there.
Fortunately, according to the fortune, combined with the fact that the Shu Mountain Sect currently had three or four Eighth Heaven cultivators and the three great treasures of the North Dark God Spear, the South Bright Cinnabar Cauldron, and the Green Dark Sword, the situation should be manageable for the sect.
As for the other side, White Egret Peak in Jiange... Lei Jun tried to recall the map.
Would the waves of the Yellow Springs and the River of Forgetfulness surge at the same time in two different places?
PS: 9k chapter
(End of Chapter)
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