Chapter 343: The Weighty Influence (Part 1)

Chapter 343: The Weighty Influence (Part 1)



Facing the young Celestial Master, who stood tall and imposing, like a tranquil mountain, the elder of the Jingxiang Fang clan, Fang Du, was momentarily speechless.

He soon collected himself and lowered his voice, "He is the people's choice, not only because of his own reputation but also because he bears the reputations of Xu Yuanzhen and Yuan Mobai."

Xu Yuanzhen, currently absent from the grand ceremony, was the cultivator with the highest realm in the Celestial Master's Mansion and all of humanity in the Tang dynasty.

Among Xu, Tang, and Lei, she was the eldest and the first to gain fame.

However, due to various reasons, she had repeatedly missed the opportunity to become the Celestial Master over the years.

But regardless of whether it was in the human realm of the Tang dynasty or within the Celestial Master's Mansion, her presence was so strong that no one dared to overlook her.

Xu Yuanzhen had no direct disciples.

And in fact, according to the age-old tradition of the Daoist sect in taking on disciples, the former two Celestial Masters, Tang Xiaotang and Lei Jun, should have been her direct disciples.

Xu Yuanzhen herself passed by the Celestial Master's Hall without entering.

Her reputation and influence, to a certain extent, were shouldered by Tang Xiaotang and Lei Jun successively.

And while Lei Jun's formal teacher, Yuan Mobai, rarely made waves, he was equally highly regarded within and outside the Celestial Master's Mansion.

Especially during the great battle between Li Wai, it was publicly acknowledged that Yuan Mobai was an acceptable candidate for the position of the Celestial Master by both sides.

When the appointment of the Celestial Master was long pending, Yuan Mobai even temporarily presided over the Wanfa Zongtan.

However, due to his unique background, he, like Xu Yuanzhen, missed the chance to become the Celestial Master.

But because of the subsequent actions and leadership style of the Tang Celestial Master, the daily affairs of the Mansion were mostly handled by Yuan Mobai.

It was only in recent years that these responsibilities were gradually transferred to Lei Jun.

Consequently, Yuan Mobai's longstanding reputation and influence were also imparted to Lei Jun.

Apart from his own reputation, Lei Jun bore several additional haloes.

Furthermore, due to the actions of a former Celestial Master, the current one, Lei Jun, who appeared more competent and steady, inspired even greater expectations.

Although many decisions during Tang Xiaotang's reign were not entirely her own, now that a more reliable person had formally taken charge, it positively influenced the future decisions of the Celestial Master's Mansion, representing the people's aspirations.

After enduring countless trials and tribulations, the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion was on the verge of a flourishing revival, and the people's expectations were higher than ever, collectively creating the most anticipated new Celestial Master in recent centuries.

Chu Peng, the elder of the Suzhou Chu clan, agreed with Fang Du's view but added, "With such high expectations, this Celestial Master, Lei Jun, will most likely be able to withstand and live up to them."

Upon hearing this, Fang Du fell silent before gently nodding.

After Chu Peng spoke, he, too, remained quiet.

The two elders of the prestigious clans, witnessing the solemn grand ceremony, fell silent for a moment.

"In the end, he's still better than Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang; he's not as reckless and unrestrained." Fang Du spoke softly, "I hope he can give us more time."

"Nine Heavens, Primordial Mystery, Dou Mu Exploring the Void, Xuan Xiao Pervading Change, Communing with Heaven, Protecting Law, True Man," Fang Du said aloud.

The various Jingxiang Fang clan disciples beside him, their expressions varied, straightened their postures, and followed Fang Du in paying respects.

"Nine Heavens, Primordial Mystery, Dou Mu Exploring the Void, Xuan Xiao Pervading Change, Communing with Heaven, Protecting Law, True Man," echoed Chu Peng.

The Suzhou Chu clan disciples made the same movements.

In the distance, Chu Yu maintained a calm demeanor, his gaze unwavering.

Among the purple-robed elders of the Celestial Master's Mansion, Chu Kun glanced back before withdrawing his gaze.

Among the guests, a man who appeared younger than the man beside him, Yu Cheng, smiled as he beheld the scene.

He stood up and proclaimed, "Nine Heavens, Primordial Mystery, Dou Mu Exploring the Void, Xuan Xiao Pervading Change, Communing with Heaven, Protecting Law, True Man."

As he spoke, the surrounding guests couldn't help but turn their gazes toward him.

Sun Mingjing.

The most renowned divine physician and king of medicine in the current martial arts and medical lineage of the human realm in the Tang dynasty.

His actions and stance moved the hearts of many.

Sun Mingjing's expression remained unchanged.

Beside him, his disciple, Yu Cheng, was equally composed. They both stood up and paid respects along with Sun Mingjing.

The newly appointed Celestial Master, Lei Jun, stood before the Celestial Master's Hall, returning the greetings to those who congratulated him.

The following day, on the 16th of the first month.

Lei Jun once again made his way to the Wanfa Zongtan, accompanied by Lin Shan.

During this grand ceremony, Lei Jun personally presided over the bestowal of the divine talisman for Lin Shan.

Upon reaching the 'Communicating with Heaven' realm, the seventh level of the Daoist sect, Lin Shan underwent his fourth bestowal, receiving the 'Scriptures of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Three Caverns', and was bestowed with a second-rank official position. He donned the purple robe, becoming the new high-achieving elder of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion.

After bestowing the divine talisman upon Lin Shan, another ceremony, merged with this succession ceremony, officially commenced.

This was the Celestial Master's Mansion's Transmission Ceremony, held once every three years, and it had arrived once more.

This was the first Transmission Ceremony presided over by Lei Jun after taking up the position of the Celestial Master.

This Transmission Ceremony was also unique and far-reaching.

Because during this ceremony, the Yellow Heavens Dao, which had previously left the Dragon Tiger Mountain to establish itself independently, would officially return and reunify.

The current disciples of the Yellow Heavens Dao were mostly young.

At first glance, they might seem a little lacking in substance.

But with the successive destruction of the Yellow Heavens Dao's overseas and Chuanxi's two great congregations, even if there were die-hard members still wandering abroad, they were no longer a force to be reckoned with.

The Yellow Heavens Dao would indeed become history in the human realm of the Tang dynasty.

Thus, no one would think that the current actions of the Celestial Master's Mansion were self-indulgent or self-deceptive.

On the contrary, this presented an opportunity for those young disciples of the Yellow Heavens Dao.

Xin Beiyuan and other disciples who originally belonged to the Yellow Heavens Dao stood alongside the Dragon Tiger Mountain's compliant Taoist novices, all donning gray robes, appearing indistinguishable.

After officially entering the Mansion through the Transmission Ceremony, they were all true disciples of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion from that day forward.

And within the Mansion, no arrangements were made for them to seek teachings from other masters.

Most of Xin Beiyuan and the others had their own sect inheritances within the Yellow Heavens Dao.

However, with the Yellow Heavens Dao in a state of flux, most of their elders were no longer around.

But the Yellow Heavens Dao originally stemmed from the Celestial Master's Mansion.

When traced back through the generations, they naturally had their own inheritances.

Thus, the Celestial Master's Mansion informed Xin Beiyuan and the others, respectfully notifying the early predecessors and ancestors, to continue the lineage.

In the past, Celestial Master Tang had handled her own inheritance in this manner.

Now, they were following the same approach.

Xin Beiyuan and the others did not change their inheritances, but they also didn't need to worry about having no one to teach them.

Since they were considered disciples of the previous generation's ancestors, naturally, there would be someone to guide them in their daily lives.

Celestial Master Lei personally oversaw this matter, and the other elders in the Mansion coordinated to arrange for the transmission of teachings to Xin Beiyuan and the rest.

Just like how Fang Jian would usually guide and teach Xu Rui.

With the completion of this transmission, the grand ceremony that had lasted for many days finally came to a formal close.

The guests who had witnessed the ceremony began to depart one after another.

After descending from Dragon Tiger Mountain, Ru Yuan, the monk from Nan Putuo, bid farewell and traveled some distance before pausing to look back.

Gazing at Dragon Tiger Mountain, which had successfully risen from the depths of the valley, Ru Yuan brought his palms together and bowed reverently.

He hoped that his Bodhi Temple could, like Dragon Tiger Mountain, rise anew.

Elder Miaokuang and Faming, from Tianlong Temple, also bade farewell and departed.

Lei Jun saw them off as they descended the mountain, his gaze inevitably turning towards his senior martial brother, Wang Guiyuan.

Wang Guiyuan maintained his usual expression, appearing unaffected and oblivious in front of Elder Miaokuang and the other elders of Tianlong Temple.

On the other hand, the former Celestial Master, Tang Xiaotang, recalled Jia Sheng, a fellow Buddhist practitioner, who had left before the ceremony even began, and asked Lei Jun, "I forgot to ask earlier, what did you say to him?"

"After dealing with Zongcuo and those two Ming Dynasty monks overseas, I was mainly focused on examining their belongings. It was only recently that I had the time to inspect the items carried by that monk from the Western Regions, which provided me with a better understanding of the situation there." Lei Jun replied.

"However, my understanding isn't thorough, so I didn't discuss it in depth with him this time. I only briefly mentioned it in front of Chu Guishi and Prince Xun'an."

With this new knowledge, Lei Jun's impression of them worsened.

"Zhuo Daoist, some of the guests wish to stay longer and have expressed their desire to speak with you in detail." said Zhuo Bao Jie as he stepped forward.

"That's fine, guests are always welcome." Lei Jun replied.

Shangguan Zhengqing, an official of the East Palace, was sent by Crown Prince Zhang Hui to invite Lei Jun, hoping that the Celestial Master would visit the East Palace again when he next came to the imperial capital.

Lei Jun agreed calmly.

Although Lei Jun and the Celestial Master's Mansion did not take the initiative to invite the Crown Prince to visit Dragon Tiger Mountain, it was enough that Lei Jun did not show a completely resistant or indifferent attitude towards the East Palace.

Nowadays, both inside and outside the Great Tang Dynasty, the Celestial Master's Mansion held significant influence.

At this point in time, their existence made the Tang imperial family consider the Mansion's stance more carefully whenever they made decisions.

For the East Palace, gaining Celestial Master Lei's support would be ideal.

At the very least, they couldn't afford to have him as an opponent.

After Shangguan Zhengqing took his leave, he happened to encounter Jiang Yuan, a general from the Northern Zhao Wang Palace.

When the two met, their eyes flickered with recognition.

Shangguan Zhengqing maintained a peaceful expression, smiling politely, and greeted Jiang Yuan with courtesy. "General."

Jiang Yuan returned the greeting.

Neither spoke further and soon went their separate ways.

Shangguan Zhengqing's relaxed demeanor made Jiang Yuan feel less optimistic about the outcome of his trip.

He steadied his mind and proceeded to meet the new Celestial Master, Lei Jun.

The changes in the Northern Zhao Wang Palace over the years had been noticeable.

Although there were no overt actions, some had begun to speculate about the intentions of the old Zhao Wang.

Now, he faced a similar problem as the East Palace.

The Celestial Master's Mansion was in close contact with the Tang imperial family, or more accurately, with the current Empress.

In this regard, Zhao Wang Zhang Teng and Crown Prince Zhang Hui were falling behind.

In the current situation, they didn't expect Celestial Master Lei and the Mansion to suddenly change their stance, but at the very least, they needed them to remain as neutral as possible.

The Celestial Master's Mansion protecting and supporting the Great Tang was already commendable.

If they could also stay out of the internal struggles within the royal family, that would be even better.

Of course, given the current situation, this would be very difficult.

A slight variable lay in the change of the Celestial Master's position.

Compared to the previous Celestial Master, Tang Xiaotang, who was impulsive and flamboyant, the new Celestial Master, Lei Jun, leaned towards detachment and tranquility.

Aside from matters concerning the Celestial Master's Mansion and the existence of the Human Daoist Nation, he rarely intervened in external affairs over the years, preferring to focus on his cultivation or manage the daily affairs of the Mansion.

Although he appeared indifferent to the point of coldness, this was still preferable to the Zhao Wang than having a Celestial Master passionate about court affairs.

The ideal scenario for Zhao Wang was for Celestial Master Lei and the Mansion to remain neutral and not involve themselves in the struggle for imperial power.

"Zhuo Daoist already has the bearing of a master, and under your guidance, your disciples have achieved greatness." Jiang Yuan praised.

"A teacher can only guide at the door, but it is up to the individual to cultivate diligently," Lei Jun replied modestly.

"Celestial Master is too humble. Regardless of the present or the future, this will always be a commendable story," Jiang Yuan said. "Speaking of which, although the land of Youzhou in the Northern Regions is bitter and cold, some excellent talents suitable for cultivating the Daoist tradition have recently emerged.

The land of Youzhou lacks a prominent Daoist sect, and if they remain there, they may be buried and forgotten. After learning of this, Zhao Wang intended to sponsor their journey south to Dragon Tiger Mountain to seek the Dao.

But before that, we naturally wanted to ask for your opinion, Celestial Master."

Lei Jun understood the underlying message, which pertained to whether he, as the new Celestial Master, intended to take on personal disciples.

Over the years, Zhao Wang Zhang Teng wasn't the only one concerned about this issue.

Prince Xun'an Zhang Mu, Shangguan Sheng of the Shangguan clan, and others were also interested in this matter.

Especially today, as Lei Jun took over the ancestral hall of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

In the past, some may have still been curious about Lei Jun's marital status, but as his age and cultivation progressed, no one dared to inquire about such matters anymore.

Those with ulterior motives began to set their sights on the position of Lei Jun's personal disciples.

Being the personal disciple of the current Celestial Master was an extraordinary honor and privilege.

Just like how during the tenure of the previous Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, his choice of disciples often attracted attention.

Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang never took on personal disciples.

Lei Jun, on the other hand, had at least Zhuo Bao Jie.

Since the precedent had been set, everyone was keen on the idea.

"In our sect, the most important factor when accepting new disciples is their connection to the Dao. We never force anything."

Facing Jiang Yuan, Lei Jun calmly said, "If there are talented individuals who actively seek the Dao on Dragon Tiger Mountain, it is also a matter of connection and fate, and thus, it is acceptable. Your Highness Zhao Wang has good intentions."

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Unlike during Li Qingfeng's time, family background would not play a role in becoming Lei Jun's personal disciple. The individual had to capture Lei Jun's attention with their talent.

However, Lei Jun was not opposed to people from the northern lands of Youzhou coming to Dragon Tiger Mountain to seek the Dao.

At the very least, he did not show any obvious dislike towards Your Highness Zhao Wang.

With this, Jiang Yuan's worries were largely assuaged.

After all, Your Highness Zhao Wang had been frequently interacting with the Lin Clan of Youzhou and the Ye Clan of Cangzhou, and these two families had once been at odds with the Celestial Master's Mansion.

Fortunately, Celestial Master Lei was indifferent and calm, unlike Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, who were sharp-tongued...

After exchanging a few more words with Lei Jun, Jiang Yuan took his leave as he did not want to overstay his welcome.

As he exited, he saw two scholars in conversation from a distance.

One of them was Shangguan Zhengqing, who had left before him.

The other was Meng Shaoji, who had also been a companion reader to the Crown Prince like Shangguan Zhengqing.

However, as far as Jiang Yuan knew, Meng Shaoji had left the East Palace a long time ago.

"It's been a while since we last met, and now you've soared to new heights. Your progress is truly astonishing and commendable," Shangguan Zhengqing exclaimed as he greeted Meng Shaoji.

The two scholars were surprised to find that they were already at the sixth level of cultivation.

Back then, Meng Shaoji had the lowest cultivation progress among the Crown Prince's companion readers, and his improvement was slow. He struggled to keep up and was soon left far behind by Shangguan Zhengqing and the others.

Unexpectedly, Meng Shaoji had caught up, and his current cultivation level was already on par with Shangguan Zhengqing's.

"Much of the credit goes to Master Xiao and Dean Fang. Of course, I must also thank Celestial Master Lei for his guidance," Meng Shaoji said modestly.

A smile appeared on his face as he continued, "This trip to Dragon Tiger Mountain is twofold. Firstly, I wish to congratulate Celestial Master Lei. Secondly, I have some questions regarding my cultivation, and I seek his guidance."

Meng Shaoji's encounter with Lei Jun, where he had fainted on Dragon Tiger Mountain and was later rescued by Lei Jun, was known to Shangguan Zhengqing, as he had also been present on the mountain at that time.

Furthermore, Shangguan Zhengqing had heard about Meng Shaoji's visit to Lei Jun during his travels to the imperial capital of Luoyang.

However, the familiarity between Meng Shaoji and the new Celestial Master, Lei Jun, still exceeded Shangguan Zhengqing's expectations.

Shangguan Zhengqing's expression remained unchanged as various thoughts flashed through his mind:

Some people had only focused on those related to the new Celestial Master, Lei Jun, and the Celestial Master's Mansion, neglecting those outside with connections to Lei Jun.

Fortunately, Meng Shaoji was also close to Xiao Chunhui and Crown Prince Zhang Hui, so it wouldn't give the East Palace another advantage in winning over Lei Jun.

The two scholars chatted for a while before Meng Shaoji took his leave. Shangguan Zhengqing watched as Meng Shaoji's figure disappeared into the distance.

The smile on Shangguan Zhengqing's face faded as he turned away.

The current situation was ever-changing, and the influence of the new Celestial Master, Lei Jun, and the Celestial Master's Mansion was becoming increasingly significant. Every action and decision related to them could not be overlooked... Shangguan Zhengqing thought to himself.

Upon returning to his residence, Shangguan Zhengqing encountered his uncle, Shangguan Sheng, who was already waiting for him.

"Uncle," Shangguan Zhengqing greeted his uncle with a bow.

Shangguan Sheng looked at his nephew calmly, "Have you made your decision? Are you placing your bets on Crown Prince Zhang Hui?"

Shangguan Zhengqing sighed, "Uncle, we don't have many options left.

Her Majesty's actions... are even more unpredictable than those of the previous Celestial Master, Tang Xiaotang.

She pays too much attention to the common folk.

While it's acceptable for the Celestial Master's Mansion to be a holy ground for the Dao, the Godly Strategy Army is becoming a joke.

Shangguan Zhengqing furrowed his brows, "General Shen has reached the eighth level of cultivation. Another monk named Jin Dao Wu, who has been rapidly promoted within the Godly Strategy Army by Her Majesty's decree, has reached the seventh level.

If this continues, the consequences will be dire.

However, our clan and the Lu family, who are among the founding nobles of the dynasty, have suffered significant losses in the successive wars. If this persists, the outcome will be unimaginable."

Shangguan Sheng said, "The Emperor will not heed your concerns."

Shangguan Zhengqing replied, "The Emperor and the Crown Prince share the same surname."

Shangguan Sheng left after that, saying, "You should be careful. Some thoughts can be entertained, but they must not be spoken aloud, let alone acted upon. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to punish traitors."

"Caution is indeed necessary. Division and preparation are key," Shangguan Zhengqing agreed.

During the confrontation between his uncle and nephew, Lei Jun met with Jiang Yuan, offering him a few words of guidance.

Later in the day, Meng Shaoji sparred with Lei Jun's personal disciple, Zhuo Bao Jie.

Lei Jun himself went to the Grand Dan Hall within the mansion.

There, he invited four groups of guests.

The first was Sun Mingjing, the King of Medicine, along with his disciple, Yu Cheng.

The second group consisted of Xiao Chunhui and Zhang Mu, the Prince of Xun'an, who were representatives of the Tang imperial family.

The third group was from the Shu Mountain Sect, including Zhang Taigan and Ji Chuan.

The final group hailed from the Celestial Master's Mansion's own division, the Xuanji Observatory, and their leader was Nie Fang.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end