Chapter 344: A New Celestial Master, A New Beginning

Chapter 344: A New Celestial Master, A New Beginning

(Second update, 6k chapter)



The head of the Shushan School, Zhang Taigang, swept his gaze across the crowd. Absent were the Pure Yang Palace cultivators, but Sun Mingjing and his disciple, Yu Cheng, were present.

Combining the unique traits of the Shushan School's Taoist Refinement Sect and the Celestial Master's Taoist Talisman Sect, Zhang Taigang guessed that Lei Jun had invited them to discuss matters related to pill and elixir refinement.

The Taoist Talisman Sect was adept not only in talisman crafting but also in artifact refinement and elixir preparation.

The Taoist Refinement Sect, also known as the External Elixir Sect, focused on external elixirs, including not just artifact refinement but also pill refinement.

Alternatively, the Taoist Pill Cauldron Sect stressed internal refinement, seldom manufacturing external elixirs.

Sun Mingjing was renowned as the foremost master of medicine and martial arts in the Great Tang.

Aside from the Zen Martial Arts of the Buddhist Sect, which was still recovering from its decline, the representatives of the various factions skilled in pill and elixir refinement were all gathered here.

With officials from the imperial court, Xiao Chunhui and Zhang Mu, in attendance, it was clear that this matter held far-reaching implications.

The presence of Ni Fang from Mysterious Abbey caught Zhang Taigang's attention.

Xuanji Abbey has been around for a considerable time, and its origins are no longer confidential.

Zhang Taigang had some understanding of this lineage from the so-called Daming Realm, a Taoist Teacher Sect, and he found it fascinating.

However, their presence here today, invited by Lei Jun, surely had a purpose beyond mere introductions.

"Our Tang Shimei previously returned from the Bashu and Nanzhao regions, and she spoke of the devastation wreaked upon the southwestern lands of the Great Tang by the Yellow Springs' evil cultivators," Lei Jun, seated at the head of the hall, spoke in a measured tone. "Though the common folk abducted by their bone ships have been rescued, their bodies have largely been affected adversely."

Xiao Chunhui and Zhang Taigang both nodded in agreement.

The Shushan School cultivators, dwelling within the Yellow Springs, had their cultivation and personal development steeped in extreme yin and death energies.

Lower-level cultivators were wary of such influences, let alone ordinary mortals.

The great battle inevitably wreaked havoc on the local environment.

Post-battle, the imperial family of the Tang Dynasty and the Shushan School cultivators had worked tirelessly to purge the residual baleful influences of death and yin energies from the lands of Bashu and even Nanzhao.

However, some death and yin energies had fused with the earth veins, proving stubborn and deeply rooted like a festering bone infection. Their thorough eradication would require an extensive amount of time.

During this period, the survival of the local populace remained at risk.

Additionally, countless commoners had been deceived and abducted by the Shushan School cultivators, eventually ending up within the White Bone Divine Ship, which housed a small pocket dimension.

Initially, the Shushan School cultivators had some restraint in their treatment of the abducted populace within the White Bone Divine Ship.

However, when Kong'an Daoist was backed into a corner, he prepared to use the people within the pocket dimension as living sacrifices.

Though Tang Xiaotang had managed to stop him in time with the Celestial Master Seal, the people within the pocket dimension had already been exposed to yin and death energies, which could have detrimental effects on ordinary mortals.

"This matter weighs heavily on our Tang Shimei's mind, and I, too, am concerned," Lei Jun continued. "Hence, I have invited all of you here today to discuss a matter that will hopefully bring benefit to the mortal realm."

The matter at hand was relatively straightforward—to combine everyone's efforts to gather spiritual herbs and plants, then refine new pills and elixirs, and finally, disseminate them on a large scale to aid those affected by the Yellow Springs' evil cultivators.

Sun Mingjing had no objections.

Prior to attending the ceremony at Dragon and Tiger Mountain, he had been in the Bashu region providing medical aid.

Sun Mingjing had been traveling far and wide, offering his medical services, and in recent years, with the turmoil within and beyond the Great Tang, the affected regions were not limited to just Bashu.

Years ago, he had also proactively reached out to the Celestial Master's Mansion, the Shushan School, and the Bodhi Temple to discuss this very matter.

Though there had been some progress, their efforts fell short.

Now, with Lei Jun's proposal, it was evident that the collaboration was set to deepen further.

Zhang Taigang from the Shushan School also voiced no opposition.

One significant challenge with such endeavors was maintaining consistency over time.

Moreover, some of Lei Jun's ideas and suggestions emphasized centralization while delineating more clearly defined roles.

When applied to specific individuals or tasks, it inevitably led to a repetitive and monotonous cycle.

The physical and mental fortitude of ordinary mortals would be tested, and even cultivators would find their daily practice affected.

However...

Zhang Taigang's gaze shifted to Nie Fang.

For the disciples of the Xuanji Abbey, the process of researching and controlling mechanical dolls was already an integral part of their daily cultivation.

It was not necessary for them to engage in duels constantly to sharpen their skills in mechanical puppets.

In return, disciples of Xuanji Temple would not only receive additional chances for training but also obtain scarce and valuable resources for building mechanical puppets, leading to a growth in their numbers in the future.

Though the abbey currently lacked top-notch experts, with this rare opportunity to expand their disciple base, there would be a foundation for more top-notch individuals to emerge in the future.

The head of Elixir Temple, Nie Fang himself, would also gain infinite advantages.

The Shushan School, too, would gain advantages.

Setting aside the fact that Bashu was the Shushan School's stronghold, just the collaboration between the various factions in the process of pill and elixir refinement would likely spark new insights and yield previously unseen results, given the convergence of various resources and the exchange of inspirations.

Furthermore, with the Shushan School forging closer ties with the imperial family of the Tang Dynasty, the Celestial Master's Mansion, and the Martial Medicinal Arts lineage, their influence within the cultivation world of the Great Tang would undoubtedly increase.

This would undoubtedly help the Shushan School overcome their current slump.

"Ji Shidi, get in touch with Ji Shushu and ask him to come out of seclusion and join us at Dragon and Tiger Mountain to witness this grand event." Zhang Taigang instructed Ji Chuan.

Ji Chuan replied, "Yes, Master Brother."

His father, Ji Dongquan, a high-achieving elder of the Shushan School, was the foremost pill concocting master of the sect.

By inviting him to Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Zhang Taigang had made up his mind to fully support this endeavor.

As for the Heavenly Master's Mansion of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Lei Jun himself took the initiative to facilitate this matter. However, as the newly appointed Heavenly Master with numerous responsibilities, he wouldn't be able to oversee the specifics of the implementation later on.

The person in charge at that time would be his master, Yuan Mobai, but as the grand ceremony had just concluded and the guests had not yet dispersed, Yuan Mobai was currently attending to other guests.

Being the foremost pill concocting master of Dragon and Tiger Mountain himself, Yuan Mobai would surely not refuse such a proposal.

"This is a benevolent and compassionate act that will benefit the people, and we should lend our full support."

Xiao Chunhui smiled and said, "Xiao will immediately report this matter to His Majesty and seek his approval."

Prince Zhangmu of Xun'an nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful.

That evening, Shangguan Sheng heard about this matter from Xiao Chunhui and Zhang Mu, and after some thought, he spoke up softly, "If this is only a temporary measure, it's fine, but if it's maintained for a long time, the influence it will have on the common folk in the future is not to be underestimated..."

Zhang Mu said, "This new Heavenly Master is not impulsive. The Daoist sects and the Hall of Rejuvenation will only focus on pill concoction and medicine preparation, and they won't interfere in the distribution and disaster relief efforts, which will be under the jurisdiction of the court."

Shangguan Sheng nodded, "In that case, while there will undoubtedly be many difficulties and complexities, the Daoist sects won't have to worry about the consequences of having too much influence."

Zhang Mu continued, "Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Shushan School, and even the Hall of Rejuvenation are already quite influential. This collaboration is more about contributing their strength rather than seeking profits. If anyone has the opportunity to make a substantial gain from this, it would be the Xuanji Abbey lineage."

By "substantial gain," he didn't mean personal enrichment but rather a huge opportunity for exponential growth.

"Xuanji Abbey... that's indeed not a bad idea, at least for now."

Shangguan Sheng's eyes lit up as he thought of something, and he suddenly laughed, "If Xuanji Abbey truly rises to prominence, their sharp edge will likely be directed at the Tianli fake Ming Dynasty first!"

More or less, the court had heard about Nie Fang's background and origins.

"Although Heavenly Master Lei hasn't yet reached the Ninth Heaven Great Vehicle Immortal realm in his cultivation, he already has the bearing of a leader of the Daoist sects." Zhang Mu spoke slowly.

Xiao Chunhui smiled upon hearing this and said, "In that case, we might as well treat him as a Ninth Heaven Great Vehicle Immortal from now on. That would be more appropriate."

Zhang Mu and Shangguan Sheng both nodded, "That makes sense."

Xiao Chunhui looked out the window at the winter mountain, where the spiritual trees were covered in a layer of frost.

If today's discussion bore fruit, then the court's disaster relief channels would further expand, and the impact wouldn't just be limited to Bashu and Nanzhao.

It could spread to all parts of the world.

This would shake the foundations of local prominent families and powerful clans.

According to folklore, medicine and martial arts were inseparable.

However, due to various reasons in their development and evolution, the Confucian lineage also had very close ties with the martial and medical traditions.

In fact, many eminent medical practitioners had intricate connections with the major Confucian aristocratic families.

Although Pill Saint Sun Mingjing came from humble beginnings, so did his outstanding disciple, Yu Cheng.

But among Sun Mingjing's other disciples, or perhaps among Yu Cheng's disciples, there were those who hailed from extraordinary backgrounds and prestigious families.

The intricate connections between these medical masters and the local prominent families had gradually become deeply rooted, and they were also a manifestation of the power of the aristocratic families, who ruled like kingdoms within the empire.

Now, there was a possibility that this power structure could be shaken as well.

...............................................

Once Yuan Mobai had some free time, he, along with Xiao Chunhui, Zhang Mu, Sun Mingjing, Yu Cheng, Nie Fang, and Ji Dongquan, who had rushed over from Shushan, further discussed the details of the proposal.

After presenting the general idea and direction, Lei Jun didn't say much more.

Having officially taken over the leadership of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, he had to personally oversee all the important matters of the sect.

Lei Jun didn't like to hoard power or abuse his authority, but at the same time, he also didn't like to shirk his responsibilities like Tang Xiaotang often did.

This was especially true now that the position of the sect leader had just been passed on to him.

However, later in the evening, after handling the sect's affairs, Heavenly Master Lei secretly left the mountain.

He didn't go far and arrived at a secluded cave in the outer mountains near the main peak of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

There, several people were already waiting for him, all of them dressed in the traditional attire of the Southern Wasteland. They were all descendants of the Witch Clan.

Elder Yang Haolong of the Witch Clan's Curse-Chanting lineage, whose sacred site was the Cycle of Reincarnation Mountain.

Elder Wen Xi of the Witch Clan's Divine Dance lineage, whose sacred site was the Song Mountain.

Elder Tian Cheng of the Witch Clan's Poisonous Gu lineage, whose sacred site was the Yin Mountain Gorge.

The person accompanying these three great witches from the Southern Wasteland was Chu Yu, who represented the imperial family of the Tang Court.

"It's rude of me to have kept you waiting, fellow daoists. Please forgive me." Lei Jun arrived at the cave.

Elder Tian Cheng, Elder Yang Haolong, and Elder Wen Xi all expressed their humility and bowed to Lei Jun, saying, "Nine Heavens in response to the primordial yin, nine abysses returning to truth, Dou Mu participating in the void, Xuanxiao universal transformation, three caves and three heavens, Dragon and Tiger Zhenren."

Hearing their address, Chu Yu's expression remained unchanged, and he continued to smile.

"We intended to pay our respects to the sacred mountain but were concerned about disturbing the tranquility of the immortal mountain. We hope you can forgive any impoliteness. We have brought a small gift to celebrate the grand ceremony, but it's insignificant, so please laugh at it, Heavenly Master."

Chu Yu and the others presented their gifts, and then Zuo Bao Jie, Lei Jun's personal disciple, came forward to receive them and exited the cave.

Once everyone was seated, Lei Jun asked, "How are Wind Palm Sect and Hu Zongmen doing?"

Yang Haolong of Cycle of Reincarnation Mountain and Tian Cheng of Yin Mountain Gorge, both elders of the Witch Clan's Curse-Chanting lineage, replied, "The Saintess is well. Before I left the mountain, she asked me to convey her greetings to the Celestial Master."

Song Mountain, the sacred site of the Witch Clan's Divine Dance lineage, had been quietly recuperating and restoring its vitality after suffering a devastating blow from the people of the Nine Li tribe.

Losing both their Saintess, Sang Lu, and their intended successor, Li Tianqing, as well as their ancestral land being destroyed, were severe losses that couldn't be described simply as setbacks; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they had lost half their lives.

To this day, the Witch Clan had yet to choose a new Saintess.

However, the clan was no longer in its previous state of chaos.

Wen Xi, a young rising star among the new generation of the Witch Clan, had been gaining fame in the Southern Wasteland in recent years.

"This time, under the pretext of congratulating Celestial Master Lei, we invited the three of you to discuss a matter of great importance. It's wonderful that you could all make it," Chu Yu said with a smile.

However, her smile soon faded, and her expression turned solemn. "The calamity brought by the Nine Li tribe has far-reaching consequences. As long as they are not eliminated, the people of the Great Tang, both in the north and the south, will never be able to live in peace. His Majesty has ordered that arrangements be made to send people south to seal the portal connecting the Earth Sea to the mortal realm."

She continued, "We humbly request that Celestial Master Lei and the esteemed guests from the Southern Wasteland lend your strength and help restore peace to the mortal realm."

Due to some unique and mysterious characteristics of the Earth Sea, the portal had never been completely sealed.

The imperial family of the Tang Court and the South Wilderness Wu Sect could only send their best warriors to guard and monitor the portal.

As time passed and more research was conducted on the Earth Sea, the imperial family began to devise ways to address the issue.

However, putting these plans into action was not going to be simple.

The South Wilderness Wu Sect expressed their rejection of this initiative.

Even the Song Mountain sect, which had suffered greatly at the hands of the Nine Li tribe, had a subtle attitude towards this proposal.

The reason was simple: after years of turmoil, the South Wilderness Wu Sect was currently weak.

If the Earth Sea portal was completely sealed, temporarily eliminating the threat of the Nine Li tribe, the future changes in the South Wilderness would be unpredictable.

The Tang Dynasty had already exerted a large-scale influence over the South Wilderness by leveraging their efforts to counter the Nine Li tribe of the Earth Sea.

If they continued, would they shift their target of attack?

The major factions of the Wu Sect were all vigilant about this possibility.

"The Nine Li tribe is cruel and ruthless, and the Earth Sea is full of dangers that threaten the lives of mortals. To put an end to this calamity, we must act quickly to seal the portal connecting the Earth Sea to the mortal realm," Lei Jun said calmly. "The South Wilderness has suffered repeated devastation at the hands of the Nine Li tribe, and its naturally rugged terrain and abundant waterways make it even more difficult for the common people to live peacefully. Going forward, the focus should be on recuperation and stability, and we should avoid any further unrest. I sincerely hope that the South Wilderness can leave behind its bloody and chaotic past and embrace the dawn of a new civilization. Only then will our efforts to seal the Earth Sea portal be truly worthwhile."

The three great witches of the South Wilderness exchanged glances.

Later that day, Elder Wen Xi of Song Mountain took the lead and said, "Celestial Master, your compassion and righteousness are admirable. Song Mountain has no objections."

Elder Tian Cheng of Yin Mountain Gorge, also known as Tian Cheng, was once one of the proud daughters of heaven in the South Wilderness, renowned alongside Xing Feng of the Blood River Sect and Li Tianqing of Song Mountain. However, she had suffered severe injuries during the Great Battle of Weian City, which set back her cultivation. As a result, she couldn't keep up with her peers in terms of progress.

But after recovering from her injuries and dedicating herself to cultivation in recent years, she had reached the Eighth Heaven realm.

She paused for a moment before speaking, "Celestial Master, your compassion and righteousness are admirable. I, Tian Cheng, am deeply moved, and I will convey your words to our Saintess. I hope that we can ultimately make this collaboration a reality."

Elder Yang Haolong of Cycle of Reincarnation Mountain expressed his agreement as well.

"Celestial Master, your compassion and righteousness are truly admirable. Chu will promptly report this matter to His Majesty," Chu Yu said with a nod and a smile.

Located in the southern lands, the Celestial Master's Mansion had been facing off against the South Wilderness Wu Sect for many years, forming a complex relationship filled with moments of unity and enmity.

Now that the Celestial Master's Mansion had risen from the depths of despair to reclaim its former glory, the South Wilderness Wu Sect was the first to feel the pressure of this resurgence.

With Celestial Master Lei expressing his support for the Tang Court's initiative to seal the Earth Sea portal and cut off any potential for the Nine Li tribe to invade the mortal realm, this plan would undoubtedly move forward.

On the other hand, if Lei Jun had opposed it, coupled with the South Wilderness Wu Sect's firm stance, the Tang Dynasty would have had no choice but to reconsider and delay their original plan.

What brought relief to Chu Yu, Tian Cheng, Yang Haolong, and Wen Xi was that Lei Jun didn't oppose the sealing of the Earth Sea portal, but he also didn't want to see further turmoil and bloodshed in the South Wilderness.

The Tang Dynasty didn't necessarily have to bring prosperity to the people of the South Wilderness.

However, the South Wilderness Wu Sect also needed to change their ways.

The core principle was to put an end to the bloody and chaotic state of the region.

The sealing of the Earth Sea portal was driven by the same motivation.

Lei Jun's stance was relatively moderate, but given the current situation, it helped alleviate the underlying tensions and concerns between the Tang Dynasty and the South Wilderness.

Everyone could continue to join forces against the Nine Li tribe of the Earth Sea.

Chu Yu glanced at Lei Jun and then at Tian Cheng, Yang Haolong, and Wen Xi, the three great witches of the South Wilderness, her eyes reflecting her thoughts.

Now, with the weight that the Celestial Master's words carried, even the court would have to give them careful consideration.

Fortunately, compared to the carefree and casual Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun was clearly more restrained and polite.

He was like a majestic mountain, quietly standing tall, never initiating a collapse to crush others, but everything around the mountain was inevitably influenced by its presence.

However, Chu Yu vaguely felt that beneath the silent mountain was an even more surging power...

To the west was a similar mountain.

Chu Yu recalled the scene when Jia Sheng Shangren visited and Lei Jun received him.

..................................

In the Western Regions, Jin Gang Temple.

Jia Sheng Shangren had returned and was preparing to meet with Jin Gang Buzhu Gala Tuo.

At this moment, he was also recalling the previous visit to Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Compared to the previous Celestial Master, Tang Xiaotang, who had always been unfriendly to the Western Regions Buddhist monks, the current Celestial Master, Lei Jun, was relatively easier to deal with.

But...

"The Evil Cultivators of the Yellow Springs have hurt numerous lives, andour Benevolence Pearl Senior Brother was also killed by them."

At that time, on Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Jia Sheng Shangren looked at Lei Jun: "Now that the evil demons have temporarily retreated, they will surely seek to rise again. Our sect sincerely hopes to join hands with your esteemed sect to eradicate these evil cultivators."

Lei Jun replied, "What you said is not unreasonable."

Jia Sheng Shangren continued, "The location of the Yellow Springs surging into the mortal realm is difficult to predict, but considering the previous events, I believe that we should establish many Buddhist temples and Taoist abbeys in the Bashu, Chuanxi, and Nanzhao regions, forming a network to monitor any movements. When one side is in danger, aid will come from all directions, and we will be able to keep abreast of the Yellow Springs evil cultivators' activities."

Chu Yu and Xun'an Wang Zhang Mu, who were listening, remained silent and expressionless.

The imperial court of the Tang Dynasty had already decided to reward the Merit Sect for their efforts.

The Merit Sect did not enter the core regions of Guanlong and the Central Plains but chose to operate in the borderlands of the Western Regions. This time, the court would not interfere or stop them.

However, they would also not explicitly express their support.

It would depend on what the Merit Sect could achieve through negotiations with other local powers.

The first power the Merit Sect would have to face was the increasingly influential Dragon and Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master's Mansion.

Although the Heavenly Master's Mansion did not operate in the borderlands of the Western Regions, the Shu Mountain Sect was there.

Compared to the Merit Sect, the Shu Mountain Sect's influence and strength were undoubtedly much weaker.

Which one would be a more reliable ally? The choice seemed obvious.

Despite some past disagreements and controversies, the Heavenly Master's Mansion was currently in a strong position. Regardless of what the Merit Sect thought of them, it would not be an easy task to openly oppose them.

Therefore, it would be better to improve relations and ease tensions in order to deal with other powers in the Tang Dynasty.

Coincidentally, the leadership of the Heavenly Master's Mansion was about to change hands.

Although Lei Jun's cultivation was temporarily lower than Tang Xiaotang's, his ascension to the position of Celestial Master meant that he would now represent the stance of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Compared to Tang Xiaotang, who had a strong personal dislike for the Western Regions Buddhist monks, Lei Jun's rise to power presented an opportunity to improve relations.

Under the rule of the Tang Dynasty, the Merit Sect also needed a strong opponent to exist.

Only then would the Tang Emperor be at ease.

"Regarding the Yellow Springs, our sect has gathered some clues over the years, but since they are related to the Daoist traditions, our progress has been limited. If your sect's experts could participate in the investigation, it might yield great benefits." Jia Sheng Shangren continued slowly.

His implication seemed to suggest the existence of a significant and substantial treasure of the Daoist traditions.

The Merit Sect was indeed prepared to invest heavily this time.

But...

Lei Jun's tone remained calm and unhurried: "Since it concerns the Bashu, Chuanxi, and Nanzhao regions, we should invite the Shu Mountain Sect to discuss this matter together."

Jia Sheng Shangren observed Lei Jun's reaction.

Lei Jun's expression was peaceful, and his eyes were deep and calm, like an unfathomable abyss.

However, beneath the calm surface, there seemed to be a hidden thunderous power that made others dare not stare directly at him.

If the Merit Sect were to establish temples and spread their teachings in the Chuanxi, Bashu, and Nanzhao regions, they would inevitably encroach on the territories of local powers.

But Lei Jun's words clearly indicated his support for the Shu Mountain Sect and his refusal to allow the Merit Sect to expand.

He chose to side with the Shu Mountain Sect, a fellow Daoist sect that was seemingly weaker.

Was he considering the views of the imperial court and trying to avoid forming an alliance between Buddhism and Daoism? Jia Sheng Shangren wondered.

At least, not for now.

Both the Heavenly Master's Mansion and the Merit Sect were currently in strong positions, but the Tang court could still accommodate them.

Even without considering the original Confucian aristocratic families of the Tang Dynasty, compared to the Heavenly Master's Mansion and the Merit Sect, the Yellow Springs Shu Mountain Sect, the Earth Sea Nine Li, and the Tianli fake Ming Dynasty were more likely to become threats.

"In the Western Regions, your sect's leader is injured and recuperating, and you, Master Jia Sheng, have been overseas for some time, so you may have overlooked some matters close at hand."

Lei Jun continued, "There may be some unruly behavior among the people of your sect, which requires your attention and correction."

Jia Sheng Shangren was taken aback.

Lei Jun spoke calmly, "The Western Regions and the Snow Plains are vast and sparsely populated, but there are still local commoners living and reproducing. However, the local custom of keeping agricultural slaves has been prevalent for nearly a thousand years.

Although the Merit Sect has made efforts to regulate and improve this practice in recent years, which is commendable, the trend of local nobles keeping and mistreating agricultural slaves has been on the rise..."

He looked directly at Jia Sheng Shangren: "This is something you cannot ignore."

In that moment, Jia Sheng Shangren, a Buddhist master with the Ninth Heaven realm cultivation, felt as if he was no longer facing a calm abyss but a towering mountain that rose abruptly, piercing the clouds.

PS1: 6k chapter

PS2: Combined, it's equivalent to two updates totaling 11,000 characters. Unfortunately, I didn't write smoothly yesterday, so I wasn't able to update everything at once. I'll take a nap in the afternoon and continue writing afterward.

(End of Chapter)

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