https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-335-A-Battle-that-Shook-the-World-Part-2-/12590638/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-336-The-Head-of-the-Great-Tang-Daoist-Sect-Part-2-/12590640/
Chapter 336: The Head of the Great Tang Daoist Sect (Part 1)
Chapter 336: The Head of the Great Tang Daoist Sect (Part 1)
Zhao Wang Zhang Teng stared at Luo Yuan's abode, his eyes fixed and unblinking, lost in his own thoughts. Only he knew what was going through his mind at that moment.
Not only was Ye Yan observing him, but Princess Zhang Ying of Shanyang was also keenly watching him. Her gaze swept not only over Zhao Wang Zhang Teng but also across to Ye Yan, the head of the Ye Clan of Qingzhou. There was an inherent connection between him and Crown Prince Zhang Hui....There was nothing wrong with that. Like a double-edged sword, it wasn't entirely a threat.
The ways of the world were ever-changing and often unpredictable. For the Zhang Tang Imperial Family, ensuring the stability of their reign was an ever-present challenge, testing the capabilities of those in power. The Earth Sea, Tian Li, Huang Quan, the mysterious Luo Yuan before them, and the so-called Lone Eagle Khan and the Great Ming Dynasty—all posed potential threats beyond the borders of the Great Tang.
Within the Great Tang realm, there was also unrest, a combination of internal and external crises. Aside from the entrenched Confucian aristocratic families, the heretical White Lotus Sect, the rebellious Great Empty Temple, and the southern wilderness Wu Sect, there were two new formidable powers that had emerged within the Great Tang borders in recent decades.
The Celestial Master's Mansion now housed two Grand Masters of the Ninth Heaven Realm. These masters could even defeat Huang Xuanpu, a cultivator at the pinnacle of the Ninth Heaven Realm. Following Xu and Tang, Lei Jun had also risen to prominence. Such a powerful Daoist sect of talismans and seals had never been seen since the establishment of the Great Tang Dynasty.
Princess Zhang Ying acknowledged that even she felt a sense of unease deep within her heart. Unless something unforeseen happened, it was foreseeable that Lei Jun would soon attain the Grand Mastery of the Ninth Heaven Realm in the Daoist tradition. This truly touched upon the fundamental security concerns of the royal family.
With three Grand Masters, the Celestial Master's Mansion loomed large in the south of the Yangtze. At that time, would the Great Tang realm south of the Yangtze still be under the rule of the Zhang family? The Celestial Master's Mansion itself might not overstep its bounds, but unless it remained stagnant, its influence would inevitably expand.
A simple question arose: When the people of the Yangtze River encountered troubles, would their first instinct be to report to the official government, or would they seek refuge in the sacred Daoist site of Longhu Mountain, home to three Grand Masters? The dynastic fortune, the dragon veins of the land, were not only tied to the geographical terrain but also to the hearts and minds of the people.
That would be a very tangible influence. Undoubtedly, the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion had acquired a grand destiny. However, just how far could this destiny extend? Where would it ultimately lead?
One of the reasons Princess Zhang Ying could remain calm at the moment was the resolute battles between the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion and the Worldly Daoist Country. Furthermore, current indications suggested that there were other Worldly Daoist Countries beyond the Great Tang Dynasty. There were also Worldly Daoists in other worlds, such as the one known as the Ming Dynasty. Additionally, there was the west.
At that very moment, Princess Zhang Ying was comforting Master Jia Sheng of the Sumeru Vajra Department. Although she was wholeheartedly concerned and her words sincere, Princess Zhang Ying, as the Grand Princess of the Great Tang, was well aware that the Sumeru Vajra Department was not one to be taken lightly. While they had always expressed their allegiance and submission to the Great Tang, Princess Zhang Ying still had her doubts about the enigmatic Sumeru.
Empress Zhang Wantong was inscrutable. However, Princess Zhang Ying believed that she also intended to maintain a certain distance from the Sumeru Vajra Department. Thinking of Her Majesty, Princess Zhang Ying's mood became somewhat complicated.
Since the Empress's ascension, most of the newly emerged nobles had been from humble backgrounds. The power base of the Zhang Tang imperial family and the original upper echelons, such as the Shangguan clan, had gradually weakened. While this might have been a pragmatic strategy given the current environment, if it continued, it could lead to an irreversible situation...
As Princess Zhang Ying conversed with Master Jia Sheng, her gaze once again swept over Zhao Wang Zhang Teng and Ye Yan, the head of the Ye Clan of Qingzhou. Zhang Teng's eyes remained fixed on the void-sealing portal below, as if his focus was solely on Luo Yuan. External developments seemed to have no effect on him.
......
Zhao Wang Zhang Teng seemed oblivious to the events unfolding around him. In the imperial capital of Luoyang, the news brought back by Shangguan Yunbo and Huayang King Zhang Rui from the South China Sea caused quite a stir. Although the Worldly Daoist Country had not caused a significant upheaval among the common folk of the Great Tang Dynasty, it remained a weighty concern for the high-ranking officials and the upper echelons of the cultivation world.
Even after the successive deaths of Feng Yi, Zhou Peng, Wang Dongchu, Rong Guangchen, Wei Qiyue, Fu Dongsen, and others, with the Worldly Daoist Country suffering repeated losses, no one dared to underestimate them. The reason was none other than the leader of the Worldly Daoist Country, Huang Xuanpu, a Grand Master of the Daoist tradition at the fourth layer of the Ninth Heaven Realm, who had been hailed as the foremost figure of the Great Tang Daoist Sect for many years.
Recently, there had been rumors that he might have successfully broken through to the fifth layer of the Ninth Heaven Realm, attaining the pinnacle of the Daoist Dan sect's Ninth Heaven Realm—the Five Qi Embracing the Origin. The progression from the fourth layer to the fifth layer of the Ninth Heaven Realm was significantly more profound than advancing from the first to the second layer or from the second to the third layer, and so on.
Even if everyone else in the Worldly Daoist Country perished, as long as Huang Xuanpu remained, his threat and deterrence would be enough to make others wary. And now, this leader of the Worldly Daoist Country had been slain! The massive boulder that had been hanging over everyone's heads could finally be laid to rest.
At the residence of Shangguan Qing, a high-ranking official and the Minister of the Ministry of Works, he was hosting Lu Zhen, a prominent general of the Divine Strategy Army: "General Lu, you've read the detailed report about the battle from General Lu, haven't you?"
Lu Zhen: "Yes, I have."
"In another world, there is another Worldly Daoist Country, another so-called Emperor, who, even if he hasn't reached the pinnacle of the Ninth Heaven Realm, is a Grand Master of the Daoist Refinement sect at the fourth layer of the Ninth Heaven Realm."
Shangguan Qing slowly enumerated: "Then there's Huang Xuanpu himself, along with the Northern White Whale of the North Sea, who is already equivalent to a Ninth Heaven Realm cultivator among our human race..."
Lu Zhen nodded gently: "Although all signs indicate that Huang Xuanpu and the Grand Master of the Refinement sect are not truly allies, this person has nonetheless entangled the Longhu Mountain Tang Celestial Master. Moreover, the Northern White Whale explicitly assisted Huang Xuanpu.
In such a situation, one would normally expect that regardless of the outcome of the battle, Huang Xuanpu would at least have the opportunity to escape and evade our encirclement. Even if we couldn't capture him, eliminating his followers would still be considered a success.
But who would have thought that not only would Huang Xuanpu suffer a crushing defeat, but he, who had already cultivated to the pinnacle of the Ninth Heaven Realm, would actually perish?"
As Lu Zhen spoke, he let out a long sigh: "Now, we finally understand why the Butterfly King of a Thousand Leaves, along with Rong Guangchen and Wei Qiyue, those two demons, were defeated so quickly that day on Longhu Mountain..."
Shangguan Qing nodded: "The Elder Xu of the Celestial Master's Mansion must be regarded as a Grand Master at the pinnacle of the Ninth Heaven Realm.
"The Celestial Master's Mansion has truly obtained a grand destiny."
At the same time, in Chunyang Palace on Mount Zhongnan, a middle-aged Taoist priest echoed similar sentiments.
This priest was none other than Wang Xuan, a high-ranking elder of the palace. Seated across from him was the palace's most senior and accomplished elder, Elder Lu Jinduan.
However, Elder Lu's mind seemed to be elsewhere as he muttered, "Brother Huang... Huang Xuanpu has perished."
Even though it had been almost a decade since Huang Xuanpu left Chunyang Palace, Elder Lu still couldn't quite believe the news of his demise.
Wang Xuan could understand his master's feelings. It was due to his own imprisonment during the crisis of the Human Daoist Country that he was able to recover his composure more quickly. Even so, when he had first heard the news about Huang Xuanpu, he had been stunned as well.
After a moment, Elder Lu snapped back to reality and asked, "Was it the Celestial Master's Mansion's Daoist Xuan Xiaozi who ultimately killed Huang Xuanpu?"
Wang Xuan nodded. "According to the rumors, although he escaped from Elder Xu's Li Heng spear and used the ancient talismans of the School of Talismans to temporarily halt Elder Xu's pursuit, his whereabouts were completely exposed. Elder Xu could easily track and determine his location.
He fled all the way to western Sichuan, where the Yellow Sky Dao's new sect had been hidden in the Snowy Mountains. In the end, Elder Lei, following Elder Xu's directions, chased him to western Sichuan and completely annihilated his Nascent Soul and Spirit."
At the moment, Chunyang Palace was short on manpower. Among their core leaders, Elder Jiang Yu was in seclusion for closed-door cultivation, and Elder Yue Xiling had departed with the army to the south, heading towards Bashu to face the Bashu Mountain cultivators.
The palace needed high-level cultivators to preside over it, which was why both Wang Xuan and Elder Lu remained. Neither of them had gone to the overseas battle.
The news they received came from the Tang imperial family.
Upon hearing Wang Xuan's words, Elder Lu fell silent once more. After a long while, he spoke again, "The ways of the world are ever-changing and unpredictable."
Wang Xuan remained calm. "At least for now, the Celestial Master's Mansion will lead the Daoist sects of the Great Tang."
Elder Lu fell silent again and then gently nodded.
Who could have predicted that the situation would turn out like this fifty years ago? Back then, the Celestial Master's Mansion was in a low point, having experienced consecutive internal strife.
On the other hand, Chunyang Palace had been renowned as the foremost sacred land of the Daoist sects.
At that time, among the three sacred lands of the Great Tang Daoist sects, even though the School of Talismans' Celestial Master's Mansion and the School of Artifact Casting's Shushan Sect didn't explicitly state it, the Daoist sects of the Great Tang, both within and without, tacitly acknowledged that the School of Pills and Cauldrons' sacred land, Chunyang Palace, held the reins of the Great Tang Daoist sects.
However, at present, both Shushan Sect and Chunyang Palace had suffered heavy blows, and their plight was even more dire than the Celestial Master's Mansion during its consecutive internal strife.
On the other hand, the Celestial Master's Mansion seemed to be emerging from its low point.
If Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang's astonishing cultivation, despite their personal circumstances, still left people feeling that the Celestial Master's Mansion was somewhat unstable, then the newly emerged Xuan Xiaozi, Lei Jun, who showed signs of succeeding Tang Xiaotang as the Celestial Master, erased people's final doubts and made them optimistic about the Mansion's future.
In the unseen forces of destiny, it seemed as if a grand destiny truly existed.
The previous generation's foremost Daoist, Huang Xuanpu, did not perish under Xu Yuanzhen's Li Heng spear but was utterly annihilated by Lei Jun.
In that moment, it was as if a torch had been passed.
And this passing of the torch was accompanied by the destruction of the Yellow Sky Dao's new sect in western Sichuan.
Perhaps there were still some members of the Yellow Sky Dao who would stubbornly resist, but neither Elder Lu nor Wang Xuan held out much hope for them.
The hearts of the Yellow Sky Dao's members were destined to scatter and fall apart.
The next step would depend on how the Celestial Master's Mansion chose to deal with them.
Whether this offshoot of the School of Talismans that had split from the Celestial Master's Mansion would be reintegrated or completely eradicated, their story in this world would come to an end.
In this context, it seemed to herald a new beginning for the Celestial Master's Mansion, representing the School of Talismans as the foremost Daoist sect in this world.
"We should focus on our own path."
Elder Lu let out a long breath and said, "Our sect may still have the opportunity to be reborn."
Wang Xuan nodded. "Yes, Master."
His gaze shifted to the window, looking towards the southeast, where Dragon and Tiger Mountain was located. "Elder Lei may be aloof, but he's not difficult to deal with. With him leading the Celestial Master's Mansion, we need not worry.
Lu Jinduan nodded, "Yes, that's right."
After a slight pause, he continued, "As for the Shu Mountain Sect, I presume they won't have any objections either. Given the current situation, the only person who might pose a slight variable is probably..."
Wang Xuan: "Elder Chen of the Shu Mountain Sect?"
Lu Jinduan nodded gently, "He has some grudges with the Yellow Sky Dao, as well as with the Heavenly Master's Mansion of Dragon and Tiger Mountain from years ago."
Wang Xuan had a very good impression of Chen Donglou.
It was thanks to him that he was able to escape when he was imprisoned by Rong Guangchen.
However, Wang Xuan had heard of the eccentric nature of the Shu Mountain Maniac, and had even witnessed it first-hand that day.
If he truly wanted to cause trouble for the Heavenly Master's Mansion, he wouldn't back down just because they were powerful.
Moreover, when Chen Donglou re-emerged in the mortal world, the Heavenly Master's Mansion wasn't as strong as it is now.
After some thought, Wang Xuan said, "Elder Chen has been back in the mortal realm of the Great Tang for many years, but he has never caused trouble with the Heavenly Master's Mansion of Dragon and Tiger Mountain again because of the Yellow Sky Dao.
I believe there are two reasons for this. Firstly, he helped the Yellow Sky Dao back then mostly due to his personal relationship with Taiping Daoist, and Taiping Daoist's death was actually because of... Huang Xuanpu and Feng Yi.
And secondly, the Li family of Xinzhou is now history, and Elder Chen has no personal grudge against the Heavenly Master's Mansion."
Lu Jinduan nodded, "I share the same thoughts. Although the Human Daoist Country has finally fallen, the Great Tang is currently facing both internal and external crises. I hope that the Daoist sects can put aside their differences and work together to overcome these difficulties."
Wang Xuan: "I completely agree with you, Master."
Lu Jinduan: "Is Xuan Xiaozi still in western Sichuan? I heard that Tang Tianshi also went to Bashu?"
Wang Xuan: "Yes."
Lu Jinduan: "Send a message to Yue Shidi and ask him to cooperate with Tang Tianshi and Lei Daoist as much as possible."
Wang Xuan: "I understand."
............
In the barren land of South Wilderness.
In the desolate mountains and ridges where few people tread, there was a hidden paradise.
Under the towering mountains, in the underground world, dark currents stirred.
Like rivers of blood.
Numerous blood streams eventually converged into a vast and boundless bloody sea.
Here, was a secret blessed land of the Blood River Sect.
A tall and slender young man, dressed in the traditional South Wilderness attire, was walking in the bloody sea.
He looked quite different from the other Blood River Sect cultivators, his skin not as pale and his demeanor not exuding the same cold and bloodthirsty aura.
On the contrary, as he walked in the bloody sea, he seemed to bring a ray of sunshine to the dark underground world.
But instead of clashing with the surrounding gloomy and fierce bloody sea, he blended in perfectly, appearing very harmonious.
In fact, he was like this no matter where he went in nature.
The Blood River Sect cultivators who occasionally appeared in the bloody sea seemed accustomed to the presence of this tall young man.
When he passed by, the surrounding Blood River cultivators would even pause and bow to him first.
Even if they disregarded everything else, they wouldn't dare to be rude to this young man.
Because he was one of the top experts in the Great Tang South Wilderness, acknowledged by all.
He was an Eightfold Heaven Grand Sorcerer from the God-Dance lineage of the South Wilderness Witch Clan, hailing from the sacred mountain of Gepo.
It was commonly believed that his cultivation was no weaker than that of the former Gepo Sacred Master, Sang Lu.
There were even rumors that he had surpassed his predecessor.
The Blood River Sect cultivators present all maintained a basic level of respect for this Eightfold Heaven Grand Sorcerer.
If they didn't respect him as a person, they at least respected his strength.
Moreover, at this point, there was no doubt about the importance and status of Li Tianqing within the Blood River Sect, even though he wasn't a Blood River lineage cultivator himself.
Li Tianqing returned their greetings calmly.
He made his way to the center of the bloody sea.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
