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Chapter 61: The Celestial Master's Scheme
Chapter 61: The Celestial Master's Scheme
Rumors were spreading about the Celestial Master, whispers of an old injury that had plagued him for years. It was said that despite his seclusion, aimed at suppressing this affliction, the wound had never truly healed and had now worsened.
What was even more concerning was that this detrimental change not only affected the Celestial Master himself but had also entangled his closest disciples.
Aside from Xu Yuanzhen, who was currently traveling abroad and whose situation was unknown, all the other direct disciples of the Celestial Master residing in the mountains had been affected, including his own son, Li Zhengxuan.
"How could this have happened?"
The people of Tianxu Sect were shocked.
"It's said to be a hex or poison from the Nanman Witch Clan," someone whispered. "Like bone-eating maggots, it's not only vicious but also peculiarly insidious. Through the connection of qi, it has affected not only the Celestial Master but also his direct disciples who have a master-disciple relationship with him, and even..."
The rumor spread that those who had wanted to become the Celestial Master's disciples over the years but were unsuccessful were also afflicted, although their symptoms were not as severe as those of the direct disciples. It was eerie and terrifying, shrouded in mystery.
"How could the Celestial Master, with his high cultivation, fall victim to the hex of the Nanman Clan?"
"People are affected even without direct contact? Could it be achieved solely through the connection of qi? That's incredibly powerful!"
"I heard that the lineage of hexes in the Nanman Witch Clan is extremely formidable, with a reputation for relentless reincarnation through generations."
Even though they were not at Longhushan, the news had unnerved everyone in the Tianxu Sect.
Lei Jun listened quietly from the side.
If the current Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, had indeed fallen victim to a hex, the source likely traced back to the internal strife between their father-son duo and Li Cangting years ago.
While Li Cangting and his wife had indeed perished together, the Nanman Witch Clan had also suffered heavy losses.
In this mutual destruction, their side had not fared well either. Not only had they lost the previous generation's Celestial Master and most of the elders in the mansion, but even the current Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, had been left with a lingering injury.
The detrimental and far-reaching impact of this incident was no less severe than the previous great internal strife that had given birth to the Yellow Heaven Dao.
Now, they could only hope that the current Celestial Master had some sort of backup plan.
After all, if he had absolutely no preparations, he probably wouldn't have emerged from seclusion so nonchalantly.
Had he remained in seclusion, others would still be unaware of his true condition.
But by coming out, he had left no room for doubt, and his true state would be revealed.
As for the Celestial Master implicating his disciples, it probably didn't mean that anyone who harbored the thought of becoming his disciple would fall victim.
Instead, it referred to those who had been officially recommended by their masters and had submitted their names during the initiation ceremony.
For example, during Lei Jun's initiation, Chen Yi, Li Ying, and Shangguan Hong, as well as Tang Xiaotang, who had always been eager about this matter, were included.
In this world, there seemed to be a heavenly will at play, connecting people through the strands of qi. One had to be careful even when casually swearing, let alone during the initiation ceremony at the Celestial Master's mansion when formally submitting a prayer to heaven.
Lei Jun couldn't help but recall the fortune he had received before his formal initiation, which hinted at his luck:
"Medium-low fortune. Aim high and seize the opportunity to rise above. However, it's like a mirage, and the path is full of obstacles. Omen of danger."
However, it was precisely because of this that Lei Jun believed that the Celestial Master was well aware of his situation.
That was why he had been suppressing Tang Xiaotang's request to become his disciple.
Unlike Li Ying and Shangguan Hong, Tang Xiaotang was unaffected this time.
Rumor had it that she had been quite active during this incident.
This was probably related to her innate talent, foundation, or current strength, which far surpassed that of Li Ying and Shangguan Hong.
But if she had also formally become a direct disciple of the Celestial Master, like Li Zhengxuan, Zhang Jingzhen, and Fang Jian, it would be hard to say whether she would have been affected by the Celestial Master's plight.
Whether it was being practical or having a conscience, the fact was that the Celestial Master had indeed deliberately stood Tang Xiaotang up multiple times, but his intention was to avoid dragging her down...
Lei Jun's thoughts wandered.
The disciples of the Tianxu Sect were in an uproar, their hearts filled with worry.
It was only when the sect leader, Tu Guangyu, emerged with a stern face to address them that the turmoil was barely quelled.
Tu Guangyu maintained a calm demeanor, reassuring everyone, but his heart was even more anxious than his disciples.
Compared to everyone's speculations, Tu Guangyu knew more concrete information.
Most of the rumors were true, and the actual situation was even worse.
Including the current Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, most of the people from the Celestial Master's mansion had already retreated back to Longhushan.
The Lin Clan of Jiangzhou, having gained the upper hand, showed no mercy. The clan leader personally arrived in Xinzhou and was said to have made preparations to ascend the mountain.
The Celestial Master's mansion was facing a tremendous crisis.
Due to the majority of their forces retreating, they had no choice but to strategically abandon the outer areas.
The entire Daoist Talisman Sect was concerned about the outcome at Longhushan in Xinzhou.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't just the Daoist Talisman Sect and the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou that were paying attention.
............
In the watery towns of Jiangnan, autumn was deepening.
In a pavilion, a beautiful woman stood by the window, gazing at the lake view.
A maid came to report, "Mistress, Mr. Yongshan from the Jingxiang Fang Clan is here. He's waiting downstairs."
Downstairs, there stood a man named Fang Yue, with the courtesy name of Dufeng and the pseudonym of Yongshan. He was waiting respectfully.
Seeing the lady of the house arrive, he rose and greeted her, "I apologize for the abrupt visit and for disturbing you, Aunt."
The woman was none other than Chu Yu.
Although Fang Yue's mother's clan was not the Chu Clan, he and Fang Jian were close cousins, hence his way of addressing Chu Yu.
However, with his appearance resembling that of a man in his thirties or forties, he made Chu Yu seem even younger and of a higher generation in comparison.
"Please, take a seat."
Chu Yu looked at her distant younger relative with a keen interest, noting his mature and aged appearance. "How are your father and uncle doing?"
Fang Yue replied, "They are both well. Before I left, they asked me to convey their greetings and well wishes to you."
As a maid served tea, Chu Yu gently ran her fingers over the teacup. "Your family is very thoughtful. We need not stand on ceremony. I assume your father and uncle sent you here regarding the situation at Longhushan?"
"Yes, Aunt. What are the intentions of the Chu Clan?" Fang Yue inquired.
Chu Yu responded, "The Lin Clan of Jiangzhou is taking advantage of their vulnerability and pushing aggressively. My father has instructed us to maintain the harmonious relationship our clan has always had with the Celestial Master's Mansion at Longhushan. We intend to assist in mediating this matter, and my brother has already set out for Xinzhou."
Fang Yue nodded. "My uncle has also gone there." The person he referred to was none other than Fang Jian's father, a direct disciple of the Celestial Master.
Chu Yu gazed at Fang Yue and suddenly smiled. "Yongshan, if the situation continues to escalate, what do you think should be done?"
Fang Yue answered, "Ideally, the best mediator would be someone appointed by the court, with our two clans assisting from the sidelines to negotiate a peace."
"That's a good suggestion," Chu Yu said calmly. "But there's another possibility."
Her expression turned pensive as she continued, "You know what I'm about to say, but you don't agree with it."
Fang Yue fell silent.
Chu Yu explained, "The strategy of befriending distant states while attacking neighboring ones. The Lin Clan of Jiangzhou, my Suzhou Chu Clan, and your Jingxiang Fang Clan are respectively located in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the mighty Yangtze River. The rise of the Celestial Master's Mansion at Longhushan, situated behind Jiangzhou, is most beneficial to our clans. Otherwise, why would we have been interacting so frequently over the years? Moreover, although the Celestial Master's Mansion is a part of the Taoist sect, it has been undergoing a transformation in recent years, setting it apart from Chunyang Palace and Shushan."
Chu Yu's tone remained level as she added, "However, the world is ever-changing, and one must adapt rather than cling to outdated strategies. So, what would be the most suitable course of action for our clans? On the surface, we support Longhushan, but internally, we remain impartial and observe the changing situation before making our next move. We can either take this opportunity to change our allegiance, join forces with the Lin Clan, and eradicate the Taoist Talisman Sect, putting an end to the inclusion of outsiders in the Taoist path. The peak is narrow, and the fewer competitors, the better. Alternatively, we can continue our alliance with the Li Clan to counter the Lin Clan, allowing your clan to maintain its dominance in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and mine to prosper in the lower reaches, connecting us to all four directions."
Fang Yue finally spoke up, "I am aware of these possibilities, but I cannot agree with them."
Chu Yu gently blew on her tea to cool it. "Many people like to think this way, and there are quite a lot of them."
"Aunt..." Fang Yue lifted his head to look directly at Chu Yu for the first time. "Then, what about you?"
Chu Yu met his gaze with a calm and unruffled composure and smiled gently. "I just sent Chu Kun to pack his bags and head to Dragon Tiger Mountain to become a Taoist initiate."
Fang Yue was taken aback.
They had met once before in the Yunxiao Mountains, so he knew about Chu Kun's intention to become a disciple of the Celestial Master.
But now, at this critical juncture...
One's true character is revealed in times of crisis.
Aunt, your actions go beyond mere support.
But why? Fang Yue wouldn't hesitate to do the same, but he was perplexed by Chu Yu's decision.
"Let's rest for now." Chu Yu set down her teacup and smiled. "It's been a long time since you last visited the Jiangnan region. Stay a few more days this time."
............
In Xinzhou, the Celestial Master's Mansion at Longhushan was under siege by the formidable Lin Clan of Jiangzhou, who had brought a large number of experts to their doorstep.
Although the outer branches of the Talisman Sect were on edge, nothing had happened to them yet.
Except...
"The mountain gate of the Purple Cloud Sect has been surrounded, and the Yunxiao Mountains have been struck by the Lin Clan's lightning raid, incurring significant losses and casualties."
Tu Guangyu, the leader of the Tianxu Sect, delivered this news with a solemn expression.
Upon hearing this, Lei Jun shook his head inwardly.
Yet another sign of bad luck had come to pass.
Indeed, fortune was favoring one side and then the other in the Yunxiao Mountains.
Fortunately, he had left the Yunxiao Mountains ahead of time.
Otherwise, as one of the young talents of the Celestial Master's Mansion who had stood out during the battle at Qingxia Lake, Lei Jun would likely have become a primary target for the opposing side.
Thankfully, as long as he stayed vigilant and acted quickly, danger wouldn't catch up with him... Lei Jun thought to himself, feeling a bit self-deprecating.
While he didn't have many interactions with others, he hoped that Lu Zhaoqing, the old observer of the Purple Cloud Sect, would be able to weather this storm.
The siege of the Purple Cloud Sect had a profound impact on the other branches of Longhushan, including the Tianxu Sect.
Everyone heightened their alertness in response.
It wasn't just about guarding against the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou.
With Longhushan in peril, their old adversaries might also take this opportunity to strike.
Putting aside the others, their mortal enemy, the Yellow Heaven Dao, would surely not let this chance slip by.
As Longhushan was under siege, it wasn't Lei Jun's responsibility as a junior disciple to return to aid his sect. Instead, he temporarily followed the arrangements of the Tianxu Sect, patrolling the mountains with their disciples and keeping a watchful eye on the situation.
He had no objections to this and even used this opportunity to visit Jiuzhou Ridge every few days.
A third-grade opportunity was incredibly rare.
The last time Lei Jun obtained such an opportunity was when he used it to enhance his root bone, elevating it to the level of a Hidden Dragon Spiritual Body.
Fortune favors the bold.
Although the difference was subtle, Lei Jun truly felt that Jiuzhou Ridge was undergoing some changes over time.
(End of Chapter)
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