Chapter 96: The Heavenly Master's Position

Chapter 96: The Heavenly Master's Position

For Lei Jun, the return of the Grand Master, Xu Yuanzhen, to the mountain was good news.

However, for some others, this news complicated their feelings.

Winter had already arrived.

In the courtyard of a large mansion within the estate, the cold wind was biting.

In the center of the courtyard stood a square stone table, around which four people were gathered, three seated and one standing. Aside from them, there was no one else present.

"Third Uncle, Second Sister, for now, we need to come up with a plan together," Li Ziyang, the one who had invited the other three to this place, spoke slowly.

Today was supposed to be a family banquet, but it didn't turn out as planned.

His identity was not as a high-ranking elder of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, but as an elder of the Li family of Longhushan in Xinzhou.

"Unless we can immediately retrieve the Heavenly Master's Sword, everything else is useless," Li Hongyu said coldly.

The only one who remained standing among the four, Li Zhengxuan, bowed his head and said, "The responsibility for this matter lies solely with me. I have failed our ancestors and the patriarchs of our sect."

The elderly-looking Li Song sighed, "It's not just Zhengxuan's fault. I, too, underestimated Yu Qingling."

Li Ziyang gently shook his head, "Third Uncle, regarding the Heavenly Master's Sword, Zhengxuan must bear the responsibility alone. Otherwise, even the Heavenly Master's Robe will be taken from us."

At these words, Li Song fell silent.

Li Zhengxuan took a step back and knelt silently before his elders.

"If we lose it, then so be it. If I don't have the ability to keep it, who can I blame?"

Li Hongyu hummed in agreement, "The position of Heavenly Master should go to the most capable. In the past, our grandfather, granduncle, and father, not to mention Li Cangting, were all outstanding among their peers. The outsiders wouldn't have been able to win against them without ganging up. Now it's our turn to face someone more skilled. With the Heavenly Master's Robe in my hands, I am not afraid of Xu Yuanzhen. But what good does that do? By relying on the robe, I have already lost."

Li Ziyang sighed softly, "Second Sister, what you say is true, but we Li's cannot afford to lose."

Li Hongyu closed her eyes and took a deep breath, but she did not refute.

For now, let's set aside the matter with Huang Tiandao. At present, the situation within the Heavenly Master's Mansion is delicate.

The Li family still has four high-ranking elders.

Even if they truly give up the position of Heavenly Master, as long as they remain united, they will still be the largest force within the Mansion, and outsiders will not dare to harbor thoughts of retaliation and cleansing.

However, what's crucial is the unity of hearts.

Will the Li family temporarily lie low and bide their time for a comeback?

Will the outsiders be wary of the Li family's potential retaliation and thus strike first?

Will the Li family be vigilant against the outsiders' attempts to divide and eliminate them?

Once these suspicions take root, even if they don't immediately cause a stir or take root for a long time, they will still leave people feeling uneasy.

In the end, who will bear the consequences for starting these troubles?

Some things should never be contemplated from the beginning.

Once the thought takes root, there's a chance it will transform into reality.

Especially nowadays, the younger generation of disciples within the Heavenly Master's Mansion shows signs of the Li family's declining power.

Among the middle-level disciples who received the jade slip, there are still strong members like Li Xuan and Li Kong.

But among the lower-level disciples who received the oral transmission, their momentum has started to wane.

Li Ming, Li Ying, Li Zhenchang, and others, including those with marriage ties to the Li family like Xia Qing, are all outstanding talents. However, they cannot compete with the outsiders.

Among the four high-ranking elders of the Li family, Li Song is aging, and Li Hongyu and Li Ziyang's ages are also above those of Yao Yuan, Shangguan Ning, and Yuan Mobai.

Not to mention comparing their lifespans to Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang...

Li Hongyu readily admitted that she was not as capable as Xu Yuanzhen and that she lacked skill.

It wouldn't be difficult for her to withdraw from the situation unscathed.

But she couldn't guarantee that the Li family's descendants wouldn't face a bottomless abyss after this retreat.

"Things haven't reached the worst-case scenario yet," Li Hongyu said slowly, "It's hard to say about Shangguan, but Yuan still has a chance."

She didn't mention Yao Yuan, who had always supported her.

Not because she was worried that Yao Yuan would turn against the Li family.

But because Yao Yuan was in a rather awkward situation himself.

With Chen Yi's defection and his branding as a spy for the Blood River Sect, his master, Yao Yuan, was also implicated.

As a high-ranking member of the Mansion, Yao Yuan wouldn't suffer any serious consequences or be suspected of being a spy himself.

But at the very least, he would be blamed for not knowing his disciple well enough.

Currently, Elder Yao has not been punished or confined, but his influence has undoubtedly diminished, and he refrains from expressing his opinions on matters.

Unless there's another major internal conflict within the Heavenly Master's Mansion that leads to physical confrontations, Yao Yuan is unlikely to re-emerge and take a stand.

And if it does come to an all-out physical conflict, it would be difficult to predict which side Yao Yuan would support, which is not a favorable situation for the Li family...

"We should prepare for various possibilities," Li Ziyang said softly, "The most important thing right now is for us to remain united."

Li Song spoke, "Zhengxuan will go to the back mountain to guard the tomb and reflect on his mistakes. In addition, aside from Yuan, Ziyang, you should talk to Fang Jian, and Hongyu, please meet with Shangguan. As for me, I will send a letter to the Chu family in Suzhou."

Li Ziyang nodded, feeling the weight of the situation.

At this moment, the support of the Tang imperial family, the Fang family, and the Chu family was extremely important.

Li Song scanned the other three and remained silent for a moment.

This elder, who held the highest seniority within the Heavenly Master's Mansion, rarely hesitated.

After a long while, he finally spoke again, "If things really come to a point where there's no other option..."

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

Within Longhushan, the atmosphere was tense, with a storm brewing beneath the surface.

On the other hand, outside Longhushan, there were signs of the dust finally settling.

Huang Tiandao, the Blood River Sect, and Yanshan Cave had all been defeated and forced to retreat.

Led by their elders, the disciples of the Heavenly Master's Mansion began to clean up and deal with the aftermath of the battle, which had affected many areas.

In the midst of the green mountains, several disciples of the Mansion hurried past.

Soon after, another person appeared in the mountain forest.

It was a youth with a delicate appearance, his gaze compelling despite his plain clothing.

It was none other than Chen Yi, who had defected from the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

He had undone his topknot and discarded his robe, disguising himself as he traveled away from Longhushan by day and continuing his journey at night.

To avoid exposing his whereabouts, Chen Yi would steer clear of disciples from the Heavenly Master's Mansion whenever he could.

However, a sense of resentment was building up within him.

"The Thunder Grotto-Heaven of the Upper Clarity, I ultimately failed to enter it..."

Chen Yi turned back to look in the direction of Longhushan, but the celestial paradise of thunderclouds atop the mountain was no longer in sight.

"If I had known this would happen, I might as well have taken the risk and forced my way in."

Initially, he thought that as long as he successfully received the Register of Disciples, he would eventually have a legitimate opportunity to enter the Thunder Grotto-Heaven of the Upper Clarity. Thus, although he was anxious, he forcibly endured it.

Now, the opportunity had likely passed.

But...

"One day, I will be back!" Chen Yi gritted out eight words through clenched teeth.

After taking one last look in the direction of Longhushan, he turned and left resolutely.

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

The world is vast, encompassing more than just the rivers and mountains of the great riverlands.

Heading north, it is now a season of swirling snowflakes.

Jinzhou, located directly north of the Great Tang, is known for something unique.

The most effective commands in this region do not come from the Emperor.

The most powerful voices do not belong to the Zhang family of the Tang imperial clan.

Here, it is as if there exists a country within a country.

A domain belonging to the Ye family.

Among the Five Surnames and Seven Families, the Ye family of Jinzhou, also known as the Jinzhou Ye Clan, is one of the two Ye families.

In the midst of the swirling snow, the ancestral land of the Ye Clan remains warm and spring-like, evergreen throughout the seasons.

Inside the main residence, an elderly man silently reads a letter.

In front of him stand several people, silent and awaiting his instructions.

The old man reads slowly, and it is only after a long while that he speaks, "The Heavenly Master's Sword has gone missing."

Among those standing before him, the leading middle-aged man, resembling a well-learned scholar, respectfully answers with his hands clasped, "Yes, Father."

The old man sets down the letter and sighs softly, "With Li Qingfeng's death, the Heavenly Master's Seal is not returned, and now the Heavenly Master's Sword is lost as well. The Li family has reached a critical juncture."

He looks at the people before him, "What are your thoughts on this matter?"

Although the clan's rules are strict, since the elder has asked, the middle-aged man respectfully answers first:

"Most of the Li family will likely not retreat; there is reluctance, but also fear.

If the Li family does not retreat, there is a possibility of another internal conflict within the Heavenly Master's Mansion, or even a complete split.

As for the eventual outcome... I still believe the Li family will prevail. Although Xu Yuanzhen is strong, she cannot stand alone.

Yuan Mobai and Yao Yuan are more likely to remain neutral, and Shangguan Ning will probably assist the Li family, following the Emperor's orders.

Regardless of how the Li family fares within the Heavenly Master's Mansion, their loyalty to the Tang court remains intact.

Thus, it is a two-against-five situation with Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang on one side.

However, if a battle truly breaks out, the Heavenly Master's Mansion will become even weaker, and they will likely face even more troubles."

The elder neither agrees nor disagrees, his gaze sweeping over the others.

In fact, most of the Ye family does not see anything wrong with this outcome.

Strictly speaking, although they are distant, the Jinzhou Ye Clan is one of the Five Surnames and Seven Families with a relatively good relationship with the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

The elder in the room, the current head of the Jinzhou Ye Clan, was once acquainted with the second and third Li Heavenly Masters, and they could be considered old friends.

It was with this elder's assistance that the Li family of Xinzhou rose to prominence.

The Tang court supports various sects and sacred sites to counter the influence of the Confucian scholarly families.

Having stood for many years, these scholarly families naturally have their countermeasures. Some choose more aggressive means, while others opt for a softer approach.

For this elder, if he had to choose between having one more ally or one more sacred site, he would choose the former.

The Li family of Xinzhou surpasses the sacred site of Longhushan.

Because the latter can continuously produce more members of the Li family...

Now, the Li family has reached a critical juncture, and the Heavenly Master's Mansion is facing a similar turning point.

"From today onwards, increase the frequency of reports on the situation in Longhushan." The elder finally does not say much more, merely giving this instruction.

Those present quickly acknowledge his order.

The elder takes the letter in his hand and holds it to the candle flame, burning it. He then changes the subject, "Are there any other messages from other places?"

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

Lei Jun waits at Yuan Mobai's residence, accompanied by Wang Guiyuan.

Before long, Tang Xiaotang arrives as well.

"Where's Senior Sister? Didn't she come to Master Yuan's place?" Tang Xiaotang asks curiously.

Both Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan shake their heads.

Tang Xiaotang sits down and sizes up Lei Jun, a smile on her face, "Not bad, not bad, you've reached the third layer of the Dharma platform?"

Lei Jun: "Yes, just in the past few days."

Tang Xiaotang: "Then get ready for the tribulation that lies between the third and fourth layers of heaven. The Primordial Calm Jade I gave you will be helpful, but it's not a guarantee. It can only assist you from the side; the main thing still depends on you."

Wang Guiyuan remarks with emotion, "Brother Lei's cultivation improvement is truly remarkable, it's admirable."

A few days ago, when he heard about the matter of the Heavenly Master's Seal from Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai, he was unusually flustered, his eyes almost popping out.

However, when he came back to his senses, the first thing he said was, "Brother, you must not be careless. This thing is indeed a treasure, but it could also be a huge trouble!"

Lei Jun patted his shoulder, "Now, Brother Wang, you're also an insider. You can share this trouble with me."

Wang Guiyuan: "What did you say just now? I forgot already! I'm getting old, my memory isn't good... No, it's my ears that aren't working well. I didn't hear you clearly just now!"

Lei Jun pays no heed to whether he heard or not.

Instead, he is more concerned about what will happen next with Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen's return to the mountain.

Tang Xiaotang is also quite interested in this matter.

After waiting for a while, two people return together.

They are Xu Yuanzhen and Yuan Mobai.

Xu Yuanzhen is clad in a black cloak, tightly wrapping her slender figure, revealing only a pale, almost bloodless, small face. Her expression, as always, is indifferent, bordering on coldness.

Yuan Mobai, as usual, wears a smile that makes one feel like they are in spring.

Two people, two seasons, walked into the main hall together.

"Senior Sister, you just got back. Where did you go?" Tang Xiaotang asked with a smile.

Xu Yuanzhen replied, "Chatting with Uncle Song and a few others about who the new Celestial Master should be."

Tang Xiaotang widened her eyes in surprise. "Who?!'

Xu Yuanzhen asked, "Want to take a guess?"

Without letting Tang Xiaotang guess further, Yuan Mobai directly announced the answer:

"The position of Celestial Master will remain vacant for now. The final decision is to follow the old precedent set by the late acting head of the sect. A High Achievement Cabinet will be formed, comprising several Elder Masters. In the event of major issues, a voting system will be employed to make decisions."

Tang Xiaotang was stunned. "So, you're just going to leave the position of Celestial Master empty?"

Yuan Mobai gave a bitter smile as he glanced at Xu Yuanzhen. "If the Li family produces another Celestial Master, the clan will likely be plunged into another internal conflict. Our sect simply cannot afford to lose face and deplete our vitality again."

"Little Uncle, if you're willing to mediate, why don't you take up this position?" Xu Yuanzhen suggested. "I don't mind."

Yuan Mobai shook his head. "Master Niece Xu, you're joking. Among all the disciples who have reached the Upper Realm, I should be at the very bottom of the list. Xiaotang, you should be ranked ahead of me as well."

Lei Jun was surprised at this statement. From Yuan Mobai's tone, it didn't sound like he was being modest to avoid suspicion, but rather, he was stating an objective fact.

In terms of age, although he was much younger than Li Song and Li Hongyu, his seniority within the sect was still higher.

Regarding cultivation, Lei Jun had never seen his master go all out, but he instinctively felt that he wouldn't be at the bottom among the Elder Masters.

Considering his temperament and abilities, even if he were from the Li family, Lei Jun believed that, at the very least, Yuan Mobai would ensure that the Li family wouldn't be targeted for retribution during his tenure as Celestial Master.

As for a comparison between Tang Xiaotang and him, well, that was another story.

But if they had to choose between the two of them for the position of Celestial Master, the entire sect would undoubtedly vote for Yuan Mobai without hesitation.

If he wasn't being modest, then Lei Jun could only guess that his master had some hidden concerns.

"I don't see a problem with it," Xu Yuanzhen said nonchalantly. "I think you'd be quite suitable, Little Uncle."

Yuan Mobai shook his head, not continuing the topic. He then turned to Tang Xiaotang, who was about to speak, and said, "Xiaotang, you're not suitable either, at least not for now."

Xu Yuanzhen remained calm. "As long as the person doesn't have the surname Li, it's fine."

"Master Niece..."

Lei Jun raised his hand at this moment. "I have a question."

Xu Yuanzhen looked at him.

Lei Jun asked, "What if there's an exceptionally talented member of the Li family who is even more outstanding than you, Master Niece, and can lead the Celestial Master's Mansion to further prosperity? Would you support him as the new Celestial Master?"

"No," came the firm reply.

Xu Yuanzhen explained, "Selecting the most capable person is a good idea, but the Li family of Xinzhou already has a precedent. It's time for them to repay their debts."

As for the assumption that she might not be a match for such a hypothetical candidate, Xu Yuanzhen didn't even bother to respond.

Wang Guiyuan, curious, asked, "Master Niece, many people believe that you are interested in the position of Celestial Master yourself."

"I like taking things that belong to others." Xu Yuanzhen smiled. "The key point is taking from others, not the things themselves."

In the current context, it was clear whom she was referring to when she said "others."

Lei Jun asked an important question, "What about the Celestial Master's Robe and the Altar of Myriad Laws?"

Yuan Mobai replied, "One will be held by Li Song, and the other by me. We will exchange them after a period of time."

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow. "Then what about the Thunder Law of the Celestial Master's Manual..."

"The Celestial Master's Robe will continue to be held by Second Master Sister for now. We will make the exchange when the time comes," Yuan Mobai explained.

Lei Jun directly commented, "A delaying tactic."

Yuan Mobai smiled faintly. "A gradual approach."

Wang Guiyuan asked softly, "Master, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

"If Master Niece Xu respects Qingfeng, then I only need to give your Master Ancestor an explanation. However, he has already passed away. What I care about is the orthodoxy of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion," Yuan Mobai replied, his tone still gentle. "The most important thing is the survival and continuation of Dragon and Tiger Mountain. At this moment, division will only make us weaker, and internal strife will accelerate our downfall, making us vulnerable to external enemies. No matter what the plan is, as long as we avoid another internal conflict, I will support it."

Tang Xiaotang puffed out her cheeks. "I'm not discussing this with you guys anymore. I'm going to find the Celestial Master's Sword!"

Wang Guiyuan called out, "Tang Xiaotang, although things are not completely settled yet, no matter the outcome, your initiation and ordination can now be officially carried out!"

Without turning back, Tang Xiaotang said, "No need. I've already made up my mind. I will definitely become the Celestial Master, and I will be the first one to ascend directly from a Daoist disciple to the position! My cultivation and strength may not be enough to overwhelm the entire sect yet, but I will achieve that soon!"

With that, she strode out of the hall.

Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of this development.

Xu Yuanzhen acted as if she hadn't heard a thing.

Lei Jun turned to her and asked, "Master Niece, what about the Thunder Law of the Celestial Master's Manual..."

Xu Yuanzhen smiled. "It's the same as the position of Celestial Master. They've been trying their best to withhold it from me and not appoint me as the next Celestial Master. It's quite entertaining to watch."

Lei Jun observed the Master Niece as she spoke, and he couldn't help but feel that her smile held a hint of malice.

Xu Yuanzhen continued, "My pursuit of the Celestial Master's Seal has always been a casual endeavor, driven by whim, rather than a desire for the seal itself or the Thunder Law it contains.

I have no interest in secretly learning it. If I'm going to learn it, they should teach it to me openly and honestly.

To be precise, I'm not that interested in the Thunder Law itself, but I enjoy breaking their traditions and persistence."

Lei Jun nodded in understanding.

He wasn't surprised by her words; instead, he felt that it was only natural.

"Well, Master Niece," Lei Jun said softly, "the Celestial Master's Seal is currently with me."

For once, Xu Yuanzhen was taken aback, and she scrutinized Lei Jun from head to toe.

However, the first thing she said was, "When I first met you, the Celestial Master's Seal was indeed there? You had already come into contact with it back then. I found you agreeable because of that? Hmm, how humiliating."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end