Chapter 355: The Grand Preceptor's Personal Vendetta

Chapter 355: The Grand Preceptor's Personal Vendetta

After searching Huang Xuanpu's former place of seclusion, Xu Yuanzhen made another discovery. With the refinement and contemplation over this period, he gradually gained some confidence.

Thus, after the grand ceremony where Tang Xiatang was officially appointed as the Grand Preceptor, Xu Yuanzhen bade farewell and set off alone to seek Penglai in the distant seas.

Tang Xiatang was also intrigued by Penglai.

On one hand, she was curious about one of the legendary Nine Heavens. On the other hand, there was the Western White Emperor from the mortal realm of the Great Ming.

During their great battle at sea, the enemy had fled, and Tang Xiatang regretted not being able to capture them.

If not for the successful killing of Kang Andaoren in the battle between Bashu and Nanzhao, and if she hadn't made a mockery of the Diamond King, Garoa Thera, she would have been even more fixated on the escaped Western White Emperor.

Now, with the possibility of finding Penglai, which was related to both Huang Xuanpu and the Western White Emperor, Tang Xiatang was naturally intrigued.

However, as the newly appointed Grand Preceptor, she had responsibilities and couldn't just leave immediately. Moreover, she was also quite eager to experience the days that followed her appointment.

Xu Yuanzhen, of course, would not wait for her.

The Grand Preceptor Tang could only sigh helplessly.

In the imperial capital of Luoyang, Lei Jun remained at the ceremony, ending his conversation with his senior martial sister, Xu Yuanzhen, via the Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman. He then nodded slightly.

Usually, it wouldn't be a problem, but at this moment, with the Empress of the Great Tang activating and turning the luck of the nation, the mountains, and the rivers, the entire capital was enveloped by a colorful canopy, affecting the interaction with the spiritual energy of others.

Even Lei Jun's Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission was not as convenient as before.

Fortunately, both he and Xu Yuanzhen were exceptionally gifted, and they were able to communicate smoothly after some minor adjustments.

Lei Jun felt no annoyance but was instead pleased to have such a testing environment, as similar situations were rarely encountered.

After concluding his conversation with Xu Yuanzhen, Lei Jun gazed into the distance at Tang Xiatang, clad in a purple-golden Daoist robe, as she received the Imperial Golden Seal from the officiating female official.

From this day forth, in addition to the Heavenly Master's Seal, the Heavenly Master's Mansion would also have the Grand Preceptor's Seal.

Beside Lei Jun, the Heavenly Masters of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain, such as Lin Shan, watched the ceremony with surging emotions.

With the Grand Preceptor's Seal, bestowed by the Empress, and connected to the luck of the nation, the mountains, and the rivers, Tang Xiatang would henceforth benefit from this connection and even subtly influence the entire Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Guided by the spiritual energy, the ancestral court of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain would occupy an even more important position in the territory of the Great Tang, and in the flow of earth veins and spiritual energy, Dragon and Tiger Mountain might even become the most important node south of the Yangtze River, at least one of them, comparable to ancient capitals like Jianye.

Recalling the state of the Heavenly Masters' Mansion before and after the Battle of Liwai, the complex emotions of the Heavenly Masters who had lived through that era were evident.

Lin Shan, in particular, had once witnessed Tang Xiatang's entry into the sect.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't even an official entry, just admission into the Daoist academy at the mountain's foot, and she had never undergone the formal initiation ritual.

And now, she had become the Heavenly Master and the Grand Preceptor.

In a daze, it felt like less than a full cycle of sixty years had passed.

Recalling the past, due to his relationship with his teacher, Official Shangguan, Lin Shan had always been quite close to the imperial court of the Tang Dynasty.

However, he had never imagined that one day, Tang Xiatang would become the Grand Preceptor of the Great Tang.

Tang Xiatang had undergone tremendous changes, and so had the Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Compared to the other Heavenly Masters, Lin Shan had a deeper and more profound understanding of this transformation.

Because after achieving the Seventh Heaven, he had cultivated the Thunderclap Heaven Technique, one of the most powerful techniques of the sect.

The Thunder Dragon!

In those days, this was a grand technique that only the elders of the Li family could cultivate.

Back then, even his teacher Official Shangguan, along with Yao Yuan, Yuan Mobai, Xu Yuanzhen, and even Tang Xiatang, none of them had received the transmission of the Thunderclap Heaven Technique when they reached the Seventh Heaven.

Although some of them might have indeed been more suited to cultivate other grand techniques like the Fire Earth Technique or the Life Creation Technique, there was no doubt that choosing the most suitable technique and being limited to a specific technique were two completely different matters.

Fortunately, all of that was now in the past.

Nowadays, the heirs of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain could choose the grand technique they aspired to cultivate as they reached the critical moment of breaking through to the Seventh Heaven.

Lin Shan had his heart set on the Thunderclap Heaven Technique, so he cultivated the Yang Thunder Dragon.

And similarly, if Chu Kun favored the Life Creation Technique, he could also receive its transmission.

Moreover, with the concerted efforts of the previous and current Heavenly Masters, Tang and Lei, new grand techniques might soon be passed down in the Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Thinking of this, Lin Shan's gaze shifted from the distant figure of Tang Xiatang to the figure by his side, Lei Jun.

Aside from some sighs, Lin Shan's mind was at peace.

Compared to his enthusiasm for networking within the central imperial court in the past, he now preferred to stay within the ancestral court of his sect.

Times changed, and Lin Shan was also affected by these shifts.

Now, as he returned to the imperial capital of Luoyang, establishing the Dragon and Tiger View, assisting the Grand Preceptor in her role, and expanding the influence of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain within the central government, Lin Shan devoted himself without much thought for his future.

He came because he was qualified in various aspects to fulfill the duties, living up to the expectations of his sect and aiding the newly appointed Grand Preceptor, Tang Xiatang.

Lin Shan wouldn't have minded if the sect had sent someone else, and he wouldn't have competed or argued over it either.

However, as Zhang Jingzhen and Official Shangguan had no intentions, Lin Shan, being the elder with the most familiar face in the imperial capital, took on this responsibility.

The world was ever-changing, and no one could predict the future of the Great Tang or the Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

However, at this moment, Lin Shan calmly made his own choices and decisions, choosing to assist Tang Xiatang in the imperial capital.

"Elder Lin, has the Dragon and Tiger View been completed?" Lei Jun asked Lin Shan beside him during a pause in the ceremony.

Lin Shan nodded, "The overall construction of the palace is finished, only some interior decorations remain to be completed within these few days."

The Dragon and Tiger View was a project allocated land and funds by the imperial court of the Tang Dynasty, with Lin Shan and other elders and disciples of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain assisting in its construction.

"The overall layout of the palace is satisfactory, and the location is excellent. Master, please rest assured."

However, Lin Shan didn't know that his sect master was actually contemplating how much time the Grand Preceptor would ultimately spend in this Dragon and Tiger View.

"However, the court has been practicing frugality in recent years, so while the palace is grand and the materials exquisite, the interior decorations are relatively simple."

Lin Shan continued, "I've already instructed my disciples to bring some things over from the ancestral court at the mountain gate."

Snaping back to attention, Lei Jun asked, "Frugality?"

"Yes, with consecutive years of warfare and disasters, the court's treasury is being rapidly depleted as well."

Having spent many years in the imperial capital of Luoyang, interacting with numerous individuals, Lin Shan had a rough idea of the financial situation of the Tang Dynasty court.

Lei Jun nodded slightly, deep in thought.

Previously, he had also speculated that the Tang Dynasty court was facing enormous expenditures.

But now, he was beginning to have his doubts.

"Master, are there truly four Khanates?" Lin Shan asked in a lowered voice, using a volume that only the two of them could hear.

If this news were to spread, the consequences could be significant.

Currently, only a few high-ranking elders within the Heavenly Master's Mansion were aware of this information.

Upon hearing Lin Shan's question, Lei Jun's expression remained unchanged as he replied, "From what we've seen so far, it seems to be true. Although the Lone Eagle Khanate has invaded twice, those were merely two detached branches, or perhaps two separate clans, and not the main force of the Lone Eagle Khanate."

"How were these foreign tribes able to gain such momentum?" Lin Shan inquired.

"At the moment, we can't be certain," Lei Jun replied. "But based on my personal speculation, the most likely scenario is that they once occupied one of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. During the period when the mortal realm's spiritual energy was low, they leveraged the richer spiritual energy and resources of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands to establish their initial foundation. Then, as the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands returned, they furthered their development and rapidly expanded their power by taking advantage of the population in the Great Song Dynasty, quickly achieving their current formidable state within a short span of time. Of course, they must have also encountered numerous fortuitous events along the way, with helpful factors outweighing the hindrances, thus leading to their current prosperity and dominance."

Lin Shan's eyes narrowed as he considered this, "Like the existence of the Great Wilderness?"

The unique wild and domineering power of the martial artists from the Golden Khanate and the Lone Eagle Khanate easily reminded Lin Shan of the legendary Great Wilderness, one of the Ten Lands.

"We can't confirm this at the present time," Lei Jun admitted. "There are still many ambiguities and unanswered queries. For instance, according to the ancient records of theGreat Ming Dynasty as described by Nie Xiaoyou from the Xuanji Institute, there was once a foreign tribe that founded the Great Qian Dynasty in the mortal realm of the Great Ming. Even though we have not had direct contact with them, based on the descriptions, it is plausible that they belong to the same tribe as theGolden Khanate and theLone Eagle Khanate of the Great Song."

Lin Shan took a deep breath, "The Great Qian Dynasty in the mortal realm of the Great Ming has already perished, but let's put that aside for now. Looking at the Lone Eagle Khanate and the other foreign tribes in the Great Song Dynasty, they seem to be reaching their peak of power and influence."

Lei Jun gave a slight nod, choosing not to continue the conversation.

He was, in fact, thinking about something else:

The Sumeru Vajra Realm, or perhaps other Buddhist practitioners from the west... Did they have any connection with the Lone Eagle Khanate?

Seeing these two parties, he couldn't help but be reminded of some of the texts he had read on Earth in his previous life.

Of course, these were two different worlds, but the sense of familiarity still caught his attention.

However, there was no solid evidence to support this.

The captives interrogated by the Tang Dynasty court didn't have any remarkable impressions of Sumeru.

It was unclear if other Khanates had interactions with Sumeru without the knowledge of the Lone Eagle Khanate, or if Sumeru truly had no connections with the mortal realm of the Great Song.

If it were only the latter, Lei Jun would have dismissed his own thoughts as mere overthinking.

But on the contrary, the reactions from the Vajra Realm of Sumeru were somewhat peculiar.

In terms of geographical proximity, they were quite likely to encounter the Lone Eagle Khanate.

However, over the years, compared to their proactive engagement against the heretics from Huangquan and the Shu Mountain, the Vajra Realm of Sumeru seemed to be intentionally avoiding the Lone Eagle Khanate.

During the first invasion of the Lone Eagle Khanate, Master Jia Sheng and the other Buddhist practitioners from the west were all in the South Wilderness, far away from the action.

Master Renzhu had hidden her traces, avoiding being discovered by others, but she ended up appearing within the earth veins close to Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

This time, although Suo Yang had informed the Vajra Realm of Sumeru, their reinforcements arrived late, once again missing the opportunity to engage the Lone Eagle Khanate.

It didn't seem like they were afraid or apprehensive, but rather... they were avoiding an awkward situation.

From this perspective, Lei Jun inclined to believe that at least the high-ranking officials of the Lone Eagle Khanate must have heard of the Buddhist practitioners from the west, even if they hadn't directly interacted with them.

If there were any surviving stragglers who made it back and conveyed the relevant information to the high-ranking officials of the Lone Eagle Khanate, there could be potential hidden dangers.

In the mortal realm of the Great Song, which of the five divisions of the Vajra Realm of Sumeru was it located in?

Lei Jun's mind raced with countless thoughts, but soon enough, everything returned to calm.

Although the court was practicing frugality, this was still a momentous occasion filled with enthusiasm. The Tang Dynasty court had made ample preparations, offering a grand feast to welcome their guests.

Later in the evening, the newly appointed Grand Preceptor, Tang Xiatang, officially moved into the Dragon and Tiger View.

Lin Shan and the other disciples of the Heavenly Master's Mansion did the same.

As the Heavenly Master, Lei Jun stayed for a brief period before returning to his own Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

The position of the Grand Preceptor went to the Heavenly Master's Mansion, and the female emperor, Zhang Wantong, did not hold back as she officially appointed Tang Xiatang while also allowing her to benefit from the nation's luck and earth veins.

The entire Dragon and Tiger Mountain, including the Heavenly Master's Mansion, benefited from this connection.

However, Lin Shan was unaware that his sect master was actually contemplating how much time the Grand Preceptor would ultimately spend in this Dragon and Tiger View.

This summer, Grand Preceptor Tang Xiaotang of the Great Tang set out for the Western Regions to promote harmony and unity between the Taoist and Buddhist sects. Her first stop was Vajra Temple in the Sumeru Vajra Realm...

There was nothing out of the ordinary at the temple.

Obviously, they were prepared.

However, Tang Xiaotang's next move caused everyone in the Sumeru Vajra Realm to turn green with envy.

This summer, Grand Preceptor Tang went from door to door, traveling far and wide across the Western Regions, inspecting the four directions.

She paid close attention to the places that Lei Jun had mentioned, where there was a possible proliferation of serfs, and the monasteries and temples that thrived.

On the one hand, she was concerned about the well-being of the local people.

On the other hand, she was also looking for Berugo, the formidable fighter from the Solitary Eagle Kingdom who had fled before.

Unfortunately, there were no leads in that regard.

However, the Sumeru Vajra Realm was still in a state of turmoil. With the approach of winter and the new year, Grand Preceptor Tang had no choice but to temporarily leave the Western Regions and return to the Central Plains, heading back to the imperial capital of Luoyang.

As for Lei Jun, with his senior martial sister, Tang Xiaotang, away on her endeavors, he didn't have to worry about ceremonies and other such matters.

Of course, Tang Xiaotang wasn't too concerned about them either.

Most of the time, representatives from the Dragon and Tiger Mountain took care of such matters, and among them, Lin Shan was usually the one.

Lei Jun, on the other hand, continued to cultivate in peace and tranquility.

However, with the arrival of winter, Dragon and Tiger Mountain was about to hold its new transmission ceremony.

"There's a young man with an exceptional understanding of the Tongming Layer of Enlightenment, who will officially join the Four Divisions of Daoist Apprentices today," Yuan Mobai said to Lei Jun, bringing up the topic of the upcoming transmission.

"Is he the young man that Elder Liu brought back from the Northern Lands?" Lei Jun asked.

Yuan Mobai nodded slightly. "Indeed. Elder Liu has finally made a move after his period of quiet contemplation, and his actions are in line with the concept of 'going with the flow'."

The Northern Lands of Youzhou had always been the exclusive domain of the Lin Clan, with all external interactions going through them.

The influence of Dragon and Tiger Mountain rarely reached those parts.

Even though Xu Yuanzhen had broken the Lin Clan's ancestral land with his martial might, he hadn't uprooted them like he did with the Jin and Jiang Clans. As a result, when it came to the common people, the Lin Clan still held sway, ruling over their lives like a kingdom within a kingdom.

However, with the facilitation of Zhao Wangfu, it had become much easier for Dragon and Tiger Mountain to discover and recruit talents from those regions.

One after another, the elders of Dragon and Tiger Mountain embarked on journeys to the north, hoping to strike gold.

Elder Liu was one of them, and he had indeed returned with a promising disciple.

Yuan Mobai was acquainted with Elder Liu, and he had even assisted him in the past by lending the power of Wang Guiyuan for his talisman crafting.

Elder Liu had never taken on a disciple before, and now that he had found his heir, Yuan Mobai was genuinely happy for him.

"Elder Lin, do you suspect something about Zhao Wang?" Yuan Mobai asked, addressing Lei Jun as "Elder" just as he had addressed Tang Xiaotang as "Master" after she became the Grand Preceptor, despite being his disciple. He intended to respect their positions and didn't force the issue.

Lei Jun had discussed this matter with his master a few times, but Yuan Mobai insisted on his perspective, and Lei Jun didn't want to push him too hard.

So, they each held their ground.

"I do have some suspicions about Zhao Wang," Lei Jun replied.

Yuan Mobai waited for him to continue.

He could tell that Lei Jun's suspicions weren't directed at the fact that Zhao Wang Zhang Teng had been growing closer to the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Lin Clan in recent years. Instead, it seemed to stem from another reason.

"Recently, I intercepted some correspondence between the Cangzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Lin Clan, and from the content, it seems that Zhao Wang's cultivation has made unusual progress, and his martial blade intent has changed," Lei Jun explained.

"Are there any more details?" Yuan Mobai inquired.

"Yes, but further confirmation is needed," Lei Jun replied.

"The world is ever-changing, and so are the hearts of people," Yuan Mobai commented.

"Self-improvement is never wrong," Lei Jun agreed.

The master and disciple shared a smile, understanding each other's thoughts.

Following Lei Jun's breakthrough, Yuan Mobai had also successfully refined the Scarlet Spirit Bone, advancing his cultivation further. He had reached the Fourth Layer of the Eighth Heaven, and his divine court universe within the Godhead had become even more solid and intricate.

"Now, it's time to slowly polish it," Yuan Mobai said with a shake of his head. "I'll have to trouble you for some of that special Primordial Qi, Master."

"Don't worry, I've already made the necessary preparations," Lei Jun assured him.

The first time they broke the altar of the Huang Tian Dao Zong, they had obtained the special Primordial Qi. Lei Jun had refined most of it himself, but he had carefully preserved a portion of it, nurturing it over time.

Strictly speaking, this treasure had also come from Huang Xuanpu, as a token of his goodwill.

Yuan Mobai bid farewell and left after a few more exchanges with his disciple.

Lei Jun's gaze turned to the west.

The Western Regions' Buddhist sects had been put in a difficult spot by Grand Preceptor Tang's visit, but they had gritted their teeth and endured it. However, this made Lei Jun wary, and he wondered what they might be plotting.

…………………

In the Western Regions, within the Sumeru Vajra Realm...

In Vajra Temple...

Jia Sheng stood before the leader of the Vajra Realm, Garoa Thera.

"Your Holiness, what should we do about the Crown Prince and Zhao Wang?" Jia Sheng inquired.

The leader of the Vajra Realm remained calm and collected. "Continue to maintain contact, but don't hold high hopes."

"Are they both the same?" Jia Sheng asked.

"At the moment, they are waiting for the right opportunity, and neither of them is capable of making a bold move," Garoa Thera explained.

Jia Sheng nodded quietly. "Then, we truly have no choice but to wait and see."

"Your Holiness, what about the Lotus Department?"

"Regardless of the starting point, the endpoint is in a different world, so it doesn't count as overstepping our bounds," Garoa Thera replied.

"Yes, Your Holiness," Jia Sheng acknowledged.

"It's time to retrieve the treasures like the Falling Jade Pearl and bring them out from Sumeru," Garoa Thera instructed. "Make the necessary arrangements."

"Grand Preceptor Tang is relentless in her pursuit," Jia Sheng commented. "It seems she won't let this matter rest."

"For now, we shall tolerate it. Once I return from Sumeru, everything will be decided," Garoa Thera stated.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end