https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-40-An-Opportunity-to-Enhance-Enlightenment/12586162/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-42-Tang-Xiaotang-s-Resolve-Shattered/12586164/
Chapter 41: The Celestial Master Emerges
Chapter 41: The Celestial Master Emerges
The Fire Marrow Sunfish existed between fantasy and reality, and in addition to nourishing Lei Jun's foundation and physical body, it also influenced his divine soul.
If there truly existed a Yin Fish to complement it, and the two were to merge in harmony, would it be possible to enhance a cultivator's enlightenment?
Lei Jun's interest was piqued. Although he had no leads for now, he wasn't anxious. With the help of the Fire Marrow Sunfish and the green stone ink, he continued to steadily cultivate and improve himself.
Until one day, something from the outside world disturbed his peace.
And it wasn't just Lei Jun who was disturbed.
The entire Celestial Master's Mansion was in an uproar.
After all, the current Celestial Master, who had been in seclusion for many years, had finally emerged.
That day, the sky was clear and cloudless.
Yet, around Dragon and Tiger Mountain, thunder rumbled loudly.
A massive pillar of lightning rose straight up from the peak, piercing the clouds and illuminating the four directions.
Lei Jun and his fellow disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion heard the sounds of dragons' roars and tigers' howls intertwining in their ears.
Soon after, the thunder gradually subsided, but the lightning above the peak remained for a long time.
"The Celestial Master has finally emerged from seclusion," someone said.
Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan, the two brothers, looked towards the peak together.
Yuan Mobai's gentle voice sounded from beside them, "Follow me to the Celestial Master's Hall."
The two brothers immediately followed their master and set off.
When they arrived, they saw a group of elders leading the way, and all the core disciples of the Celestial Master's Mansion who were still at the mountain gate had gathered.
Yuan Mobai nodded to his two disciples and stepped forward alone.
He stood at the front of the team with several other elders dressed in purple robes.
The current Celestial Master, Uncle Li Song.
The younger sister of the current Celestial Master, Lei Jun, and their second master, Li Hongyu.
The younger brother of the current Celestial Master, their third master, Li Ziyang.
The fourth master, Yao Yuan.
The fifth master, Shangguan Ning.
Along with Yuan Mobai and the Young Celestial Master, Li Zhengxian, a total of seven people.
Except for the eldest sister, Xu Yuanzhen, who was traveling far away and not on the mountain, all the core leaders of the current Celestial Master's Mansion were present.
These seven, dressed in purple robes, were known as High-Achieving Monks or High-Achieving Elders, and their cultivation and status surpassed that of the other elders.
Behind the seven High-Achieving Monks stood the Conferring Masters in deep red Taoist robes and Lei Jun in apricot-yellow Taoist robes, each leading their respective teams.
Soon after, the current Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, clad in a nine-colored ritual robe, ascended the altar and appeared before everyone.
"I was so immersed in my cultivation that I lost track of time. Thank you, Uncle and fellow disciples, for your hard work," the Celestial Master said with a smile, his voice clear and bright.
After everyone paid their respects, the eldest elder, Li Song, spoke first, "Congratulations, Master, on your successful cultivation and emergence from seclusion."
Elder Hongyu, after the initial greeting, remained silent and stood quietly to the side.
Elder Ziyang bowed his head and said, "These years, we have been walking on thin ice, fearing that we would fail to live up to the expectations of our Master and bring shame to our sect. Fortunately, despite the ups and downs, we have managed to avoid any major disasters. Now that our Master has successfully completed his cultivation and emerged from seclusion, our sect can once again move forward steadily and flourish even more."
"The surge of heavenly energy is a sign of a prosperous age for cultivation. The young people are destined to surpass their predecessors. The future of the Glorious Taoist Sect and the Celestial Master's Mansion lies in the hands of the younger generation," the Celestial Master said, looking at the disciples on the altar with a smile.
Elder Ziyang smiled, "While Master was in seclusion, our sect indeed welcomed many talented newcomers."
He turned and nodded to the young disciples, including Lei Jun, who stepped forward and stood in line.
The Celestial Master had been in seclusion for over a decade, and during that time, four Initiation Ceremonies had been held.
These four batches of "newcomers" who were still on the mountain lined up and bowed to the current Celestial Master.
Lei Jun had never met the current Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, in person before and had only seen his portrait.
At this moment, Li Qingfeng looked exactly the same as he did in the portrait, and the years of seclusion had left no mark on his appearance.
The Celestial Master appeared unchanged from before his seclusion, looking to be in his forties with three long beard strands, a refined appearance, and an air of ethereal elegance.
His warm words of encouragement left the group of young disciples feeling inspired and motivated.
Afterward, Lei Jun and the other disciples who had undergone the initiation ceremony were asked to leave, leaving only the seven High-Achieving Monks and a group of Conferring Masters.
"Haven't seen Little Shijie (Senior Martial Sister)?"
Lei Jun asked Wang Guiyuan after they exited.
Wang Guiyuan replied, "Tang Shimai (Senior Martial Sister Tang) may be a bit erratic in her daily life, but when it comes to cultivation, she can truly focus. Especially when she's wholeheartedly in seclusion, she's completely devoted to it.
Of course, the fact that Shifu (Master) made such a grand exit from his seclusion without waking her up might also mean that she's currently at a critical stage in her closed-door training."
He turned back to add, "Rest assured, not only Shifu, but the other elders and Senior Martial Brother will also report Shimai Tang's situation to Shifu as soon as possible."
Lei Jun nodded.
Tang Xiaotang had already been given many exceptions by the Celestial Master's Mansion.
Given her circumstances, it seemed likely that the Celestial Master wouldn't mind making another exception and directly accepting her as a disciple without adhering to the fixed initiation dates.
However...
"Shixiong (Senior Martial Brother) means that there's no rush. Fortunately, the next initiation ceremony will be held on the 15th of next month. As Xiaotang Shidi (Junior Martial Brother) is currently in seclusion, we'll arrange for him to join the official ceremony then," Yuan Mobai explained, surprising both Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan.
"Although it's just a formality, and there's not much difference in substance right now, but..." Lei Jun didn't know much about the personality and style of the current Celestial Master, so he refrained from commenting further. Instead, he asked, "What about Little Shijie?"
Yuan Mobai replied, "Since Shifu has made arrangements, and Xiaotang Shidi's cultivation is at a critical stage, let's just go with the flow and not disturb her for now."
Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan nodded in agreement.
The Celestial Master's emergence from seclusion did not bring about any drastic changes.
For Lei Jun and the other young disciples, life in the mansion seemed to continue as usual.
If there was any change, it was that the eldest senior martial sister, Xu Yuanzhen, who had been traveling far and wide, finally returned to the mountain upon receiving the news of the Celestial Master's emergence.
"Dashi Jie (Eldest Senior Martial Sister), Shifu has emerged from seclusion, but you don't seem... very happy about it?" Lei Jun observed the pale-skinned girl before him.
Xu Yuanzhen didn't answer and left directly to meet the Celestial Master.
When she returned, she sat quietly for a moment before suddenly speaking up, "It's normal for Shifu to want to seclude himself for as long as he likes. But over two years ago, he set a date for his emergence and then postponed it. That's very unusual."
Lei Jun turned to look at his master, Yuan Mobai.
Yuan Mobai maintained his gentle smile and replied, "Shifu probably has his own plans."
Xu Yuanzhen shook her head, "I'm worried that Shifu is overthinking things."
She turned her gaze back to Lei Jun and changed the subject, "You seem to have made some progress since the last time I saw you."
Xu Yuanzhen was obviously not referring to Lei Jun's improvement in cultivation level during her absence.
Lei Jun nodded, "Thanks to Shifu, I obtained a Fire Marrow Sunfish, which I'm currently keeping in the Dao Foundation Altar. It nourishes my spiritual power while also tempering my divine soul."
"What does Shishu (Martial Uncle) think?" Xu Yuanzhen turned to Yuan Mobai.
Yuan Mobai replied, "There's still room for further improvement, but it depends on opportunity and chance."
Xu Yuanzhen nodded and looked back at Lei Jun, "Throughout history, enhancing one's enlightenment has always been more difficult and rarer than improving one's root bone.
If you want to make use of that Fire Marrow Sunfish, you'll need at least a Water Marrow Moonfish to complement it, along with a spiritual object that can harmonize yin and yang. Only then will there be a chance for success by combining the three."
(End of Chapter)
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