https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-353-352-Grand-Master-of-the-Tang-Dynasty/12598633/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-355-The-Grand-Preceptor-s-Personal-Vendetta/12598635/
Chapter 354: The Court Guru's Talent, the Grand Master's Insight (Part 1)
Chapter 354: The Court Guru's Talent, the Grand Master's Insight (Part 1)
Upon hearing the Empress' words, which held no intention of compensating or appeasing the Sumeru Vajra Sect, Tang Xiatang's mood greatly improved.
Lei Jun, on the other hand, felt a sense of confirmation.
One couldn't help but wonder how the Vajra Sect would react to this.
Although the leader of the Iron Head Sect, Gala Tao, seemed calm, the sect had shown great reverence to the Tang Dynasty in recent years.
However, given their proactive approach to spreading the Dharma teachings, Lei Jun doubted that the Diamond Sect would quietly accept this turn of events.
No wonder Tang Xiatang had joined hands with Her Majesty on this grand endeavor.
Hearing Tang Xiatang's immediate agreement, the Empress finally put down her fishing rod, stood up, and turned around.
This woman, who embodied the beauty and splendor of the empire, shifted her gaze between Lei Jun and Tang Xiatang before finally settling on Tang Xiatang, nodding slightly, "Thank you for your hard work, both of you."
After Lei Jun and his companion left, Empress Zhang Wantong also departed from the lakeside pavilion, with Chu Yu by her side and the others following behind.
"Your Majesty, just now..." Chu Yu began tentatively.
The Empress, understanding her unspoken question, replied, "You're right, Shu Yin. Tang Xiatang is eager to test her skills against me and gauge my strength."
Although her earlier vague suspicions were confirmed, Chu Yu couldn't help but feel bemused, and after a moment, she chuckled, "Oh, her!"
The Empress continued walking at a leisurely pace, "It's not unexpected."
Chu Yu smiled, "I heard that she has always wanted to compete with Xu Zhenren. I wonder if she has gotten her wish. Now that both of them have attained the Ninth Heaven cultivation, they may have already had a formal match."
When Tang Xiatang mentioned "sparring" and "assessment," she meant it literally, without any hidden implications.
She was competitive and had high standards, and only a select few at a certain level of cultivation could spark her interest.
In such situations, she often didn't bear any ill will.
"At least for now, Tang is not as skilled as Xu." The Empress stated calmly.
Chu Yu laughed softly, "Xu Zhenren is very good at taking advantage of familiarity. If you lose to her the first time, it becomes increasingly difficult to win against her in subsequent matches."
She turned to the Empress, "In that regard, you're quite similar to Her Majesty."
The Empress replied, "The results may be similar, but the underlying reasons are different."
Chu Yu smiled and nodded.
She then recalled something and asked softly, "Your Majesty, what about Grand Master Lei?"
The Empress replied, "A calm surface hides a heart of thunder... While it's hard to discern what lies beneath the surface, not everything floating on the water is a disguise. One can still glimpse fragments of his true nature."
Chu Yu fell into thoughtful silence, "So, he truly isn't pushing Tang Zhenren to the forefront as a puppet, nor is he yielding out of consideration for their relationship. It's simply that he himself has no desire for the position of Court Guru."
The Empress continued, "He and Yuanzhen have many differences, but there are also some similarities."
Chu Yu nodded gently.
.................................................
The arrival of the various holy land leaders in the imperial capital of Luoyang to pay their respects to the Emperor sparked widespread attention.
Not only were the Buddhist and Taoist sects concerned, but the imperial officials and local government officials were also paying close attention.
Shu You, the Right Assistant Secretary, was visiting Fang Hezhou.
Similarly, Shangguan Qing, the Grand Chancellor, received a guest at his residence.
Lu Zhen, a high-ranking general of the Divine Strategy Army.
"It's Tang Zhenren, not Grand Master Lei," Lu Zhen sighed.
Shangguan Qing said, "Actually, it's not entirely unexpected."
It hadn't been long since the Grand Master passed on his position, and Lei Jun had just become the new Grand Master of Longhu Mountain, leading the Taoist Fulu sect.
Becoming the Court Guru would mean devoting most of his energy to the court, spending a significant portion of the year in the imperial capital, accompanying the Emperor, and also finding time to tour the various regions.
Tang Xiatang, on the other hand, having already stepped down as Grand Master, didn't have such constraints.
However, given her temperament, it was uncertain if she could remain in Luoyang for long.
"After all, Grand Master Lei is still at the Eighth Heaven cultivation level, while Tang Zhenren has attained the Ninth Heaven and is a Great Vehicle Golden Immortal."
Shangguan Qing said, "In terms of personal achievements, Tang Zhenren is well-deserving of the position."
Lu Zhen spoke slowly, "Yes... There's the Butterfly King of Chiba, Wei Ancheng, Kang Andao, and Chang Tian Canglang. If we don't count them, there are still four others."
This didn't even include those at the Eighth Heaven and below.
If not for the absence of Huang Xuanpu, the most valuable candidate, Tang Xiatang's achievements would be indisputably the first.
Aside from the period during the founding of the Great Tang Dynasty, there hadn't been such an impressive track record in the peaceful years that followed.
She truly lived up to the title of 'Shenxiao Dangmo Guardian Immortal'.
With such achievements, this Golden Immortal of the Taoist Great Vehicle being appointed as the Court Guru was unquestionable in terms of merit.
Any potential controversy would likely stem more from this former Grand Master's personality and approach to interpersonal relations...
Recalling the events after the Guanzhong supernatural creature uprising, when this Tang Immortal had struck down the Sangjie Leader, with whom he had just joined forces to repel the supernatural creatures, one couldn't help but break into a sweat upon hearing the news of her appointment as the Court Supreme Guru, who would lead the Buddhist and Taoist schools and manage the various sects of the Great Tang.
"We can only hope that Grand Master Lei, Yuan Zhenren, and the others will assist and advise Tang Zhenren," Shangguan Qing said.
Lu Zhen sighed, "If Grand Master Lei could always be by her side to assist, then perhaps the Court Guru wouldn't need to..."
He paused before continuing, "But this arrangement is not without its benefits."
Shangguan Qing nodded, "Indeed, with the Court Guru based at Longhu Mountain, the Taoist Fulu sect will surely prosper. However, the specifics will depend on what happens next."
Whether it was Tang Xiatang, Lei Jun, or Xu Yuanzhen who became the Court Guru of the Great Tang, it meant that the Longhu Mountain Heavenly Master's Mansion would gain further recognition and support from the Tang imperial family.
Depending on the situation, the Taoist Fulu sect might even become the state religion.
Even if it didn't come to that, it was certain that the influence of Longhu Mountain Heavenly Master's Mansion would expand and deepen.
From this perspective, there were many controversies within the imperial court regarding this matter.
While it was true that the Longhu Mountain Heavenly Master's Mansion had made great contributions to the country, they had also been steadily expanding their power.
And now, the Tang imperial family was giving them a further push...
"From now on, we must pay closer attention to the Sumeru Iron Fist Sect," Shangguan Qing said.
Lu Zhen assured, "Rest assured, the General is in Guanzhong, and I have also arranged for others to go to the Northwest."
Shangguan Qing nodded slightly.
After a brief hesitation, Lu Zhen asked, "What should we do about the signs of strong branches and weak trunks?"
Shangguan Qing remained silent upon hearing this.
The Zhang and Tang royal families, along with the military aristocratic families of Shangguan, Lu, and others who surrounded the imperial family, formed the foundation of the Tang imperial family.
Everyone spoke of the five aristocratic clans and the seven prestigious families.
However, if one were to single out a single surname, the Zhang-Tang imperial family was undoubtedly the strongest clan in the Great Tang Dynasty.
Even during these turbulent times, the imperial family still boasted the most experts who had reached the Upper Three Heavens.
Even without counting those who had entered the sacred grounds of the Saint Lands, such as Zhang Dongyuan and Zhang Jingzhen, the number of experts in the literary and military arts at the Eighth Heaven in the Zhang-Tang imperial family was still the absolute best in the world.
The problem lay in the higher realm of the Ninth Heaven.
With the surge of spiritual qi in the heavens and the earth, and the return of the Nine Heavens and Ten Realms to the mortal realm, coupled with the discovery of other worlds beyond the Great Tang, there were more Ninth Heaven experts emerging than ever before.
In this situation, the central power of the Tang court lacked a Ninth Heaven giant besides the Emperor due to various reasons.
Finally, Zhao Wang Zhang Teng had successfully broken through, attaining the esteemed status of Martial Saint. However, his intentions were difficult to discern.
Perhaps this was the inevitable fate of those born into the royal family.
Regardless of the reasons, the current imperial court lacked a heavyweight figure who could stand alone and was beyond question in terms of loyalty.
After all, the Empress' identity was unique, and she shouldn't be involved in trivial matters.
"We are not talented enough to share the worries of the court." Lu Zhen sighed. "The rise of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master's Mansion and the attempts of the Sumeru Vajra Sect to seek advancement are ultimately rooted in this issue."
He looked at Shangguan Qing, "General, have you considered secluding yourself for closed-door cultivation in recent years?"
Shangguan Qing shook his head, "It will be difficult in the next few years."
Lu Zhen sighed again.
He himself was in a similar situation as Shangguan Yunbo and the current Shangguan Qing.
They had all missed the optimal window of opportunity before the age of two hundred and entered the platform stage.
While it wasn't impossible to continue breaking through, it was far less smooth than it would have been for younger cultivators.
Especially when it came to the tribulations between the great realms, one wrong step could lead to death and the dissipation of the soul.
What left Lu Zhen and Shangguan Qing speechless was that the Zhang-Tang imperial family and the Shangguan clan had lost their best chance to ride the wave of spiritual energy and break through to the Ninth Heaven in the past few decades. The person with the most potential had perished during the Western Regions Demon Uprising.
That battle had been the most devastating loss for the central power of the Tang court in the past few hundred years.
Besides the serious injury to the previous Emperor, Zhang Qilong, the former head of the Shangguan clan had also perished.
Several other experts of the Tang court had also fallen.
Among them was a rising star of the Shangguan clan, a leader of the younger generation whose strength surpassed even Shangguan Yunbo. Unfortunately, he had died in the Western Regions as well.
If he had lived, there was a high chance that he would have attained the Ninth Heaven Martial Saint realm in three to four decades.
As for Empress Zhang Wantong, her talent and intelligence were remarkable. Even without the support of the Imperial Way, she could have achieved the Ninth Heaven realm of the Confucian path and brought peace to the world, albeit a little later.
In that case, the number of top experts in the imperial family would have been quite impressive.
With a strong central power, Zhao Wang Zhang Teng would still be the loyal and ancient king guarding the northern border of the dynasty.
Shangguan Yunbo wouldn't have had to travel everywhere, constantly suffering minor and major injuries. If he had been able to rest and recuperate, his situation would likely have been much better than it was now.
Alas, life was unpredictable.
A thin line separated the past from the present, and decades later, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Among the experts at the Eighth Heaven realm whose strength was on the rise, there were a few names worth mentioning: Xiao Xueling, Chu Yu, and Shen Qubing.
None of them were of imperial descent or came from noble families.
While Xiao Xueling and Chu Yu had impressive backgrounds, they were still far from being considered true powerhouses.
"The late Emperor..." Lu Zhen shook his head slightly.
Looking back, the late Emperor Zhang Qilong had been too anxious and impulsive in his actions, lacking the necessary caution.
"If the late Emperor had personally gone to the lands beyond Long Province, the outcome of the Western Regions Campaign might have been different."
Shangguan Qing remained calm, "But the various events that occurred in the following decades might have changed as well, and who knows what the world would look like now. Perhaps it would be better, or perhaps worse. No one can predict such things."
He sighed, "The pseudo-Ming and pseudo-Song dynasties may have existed in different worlds, perhaps due to different choices made during the turbulent times of the Han dynasty."
Lu Zhen took a deep breath, "You're right, I'm too fixated on the past."
He looked up at Shangguan Qing, "We should focus on the present. The trend of strong branches and weak trunks has already formed. Although His Majesty is still in his prime, he has been on the throne for many years, and the foundation of our Great Tang..."
As Shangguan Qing listened, his gaze shifted towards the direction of the Eastern Palace, even though they were indoors.
.................................................
The Crown Prince of the Great Tang was not currently in the Eastern Palace.
Usually, this would be a significant matter.
However, it also depended on where he had gone.
At the moment, the Crown Prince, Zhang Hui, was visiting the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master.
During the Heavenly Master's succession ceremony, the Crown Prince had been unable to leave the capital due to various reasons, and he had always regretted not being able to witness the event in person.
Now that the Heavenly Master had come to the imperial capital of Luoyang, it was only natural for him to pay a visit.
Lei Jun was not staying at the White Cloud Viewing this time, but along with Zhang Taegang and the Abbot Miaoxin, they were all accommodated in the court-arranged residences.
At this moment, a melody resonated from the residence where Lei Jun stayed, the sound of a zither lingering in the air.
Lei Jun sat in the main seat, calmly watching as Crown Prince Zhang Hui played the zither.
When the Crown Prince stopped playing, Lei Jun finally spoke, "Your Highness's proficiency in music surpasses even the masters of Suzhou. It is truly admirable."
There were no attendants present, and Zhang Hui put away the zither himself, smiling, "I am but a dabbler, and I fear I have embarrassed myself in front of the Heavenly Master."
Compared to his skills in calligraphy and painting, his musical talent was indeed only average.
However, that was only because his paintings were exceptionally outstanding.
Even among the Ye clan of Qingzhou, renowned for their artistic talents, there were few who could surpass him.
The other two listeners applauded, "Your Highness is too humble."
Zhang Hui smiled, "Qing Yan might be able to comfort me, but I would take Mr. Yongshan's praise seriously."
Yongshan Fang, who was sitting across from him, said calmly but sincerely, "Your Highness has indeed achieved a remarkable level in the art of music."
Meng Shaoji, who was sitting next to him, smiled, "Your Highness, my student also speaks from the heart."
Zhang Hui smiled, "With the Heavenly Master here, Mr. Yongshan, a true master, is too kind. Qing Yan, please don't flatter me anymore."
Fang Yue said, "We dare not call ourselves masters. However, during the succession ceremony on Dragon and Tiger Mountain, I was unable to attend due to some matters. Now that I have had the honor of meeting the Heavenly Master, please allow me to play a tune as well, as a token of my respect."
Lei Jun: "You're too kind, Fellow Fang. I dare not take all the credit. Today, I indulged in the pleasure of listening to your music."
Fang Yue: "How could I dare?"
As he spoke, he took out an ordinary-looking bamboo flute.
Crown Prince Zhang Hui clapped his hands and smiled, "I threw a brick to invite a jade-like response. It worked!"
Fang Yue nodded to Lei Jun, Zhang Hui, and Meng Shaoji. He then played the bamboo flute.
He was a Confucian scholar from the Yingsong lineage, who had reached the Exalted Realm.
Without deliberately invoking the surrounding spiritual energy, he created a wonderful realm, transforming the surroundings, and immersing everyone in a world of lush green mountains and clear waters.
When Fang Yue stopped playing, the lingering sound seemed to linger endlessly, and the literal meaning of 'lingering in the rafters' came to life, with the evolving landscapes lasting long after the music had stopped. It was as if they had entered a fairyland.
"It's been a while since I last played, but thankfully, I haven't lost my touch, so I won't embarrass myself." Fang Yue put away his flute.
He had been busy with the affairs of the Academies in recent years, so he hadn't played much.
"With the increasing number of Academies across the land, it's impressive how you've managed to juggle everything single-handedly, Fellow Fang.
(End of Chapter)
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