Normally, the Talisman-bestowed Ceremony at Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion in this world was not held frequently; the intervals were much longer than the triennial Transcension Ritual.

...Of course, it wasn't so infrequent as in the past, when it was once delayed for over ten years.

As long as the Celestial Master hadn't entered seclusion, or there wasn't a severe drought in eligible candidates, typically the Ceremony was held every six years.

But during the special period when there was a vacancy in the position of Celestial Master, the elders at the High Merit Pavilion found it convenient to make exceptions.

The number of promising candidates stuck from last time really was excessive.

Some of those people had already been delayed for years; now, they couldn't be delayed for another six years.

Thus, only a year and a half after the previous Talisman-bestowed Ceremony in which Lei Jun participated, the mansion made an exception and held the event again on January 15 after the New Year.

This time, the roster was much more typical.

The late Celestial Master's four direct disciples, led by Fang Jian, followed by Xia Qing, Li Zhenchang, Chu Andong, Luo Haoran, and the others—all present.

It could be described as dazzling; an all-star lineup, the best Transcension disciples of Celestial Master Mansion in the past decade or so, gathered together.

This Talisman-bestowed Ceremony felt like a sign that the Celestial Master Mansion had finally returned to the right track.

Even the guests who came to observe this year, their status far surpassed that of the previous occasion.

Although the world at large was in turmoil, the top noble sects and sacred lands all sent heavyweight representatives.

Last time, the Celestial Master Mansion had just suffered a catastrophe; if experts with too much power had come, it would have unsettled the hosts, so all the honored guests acted with restraint.

This time, with Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion largely back on track, those misgivings were much reduced.

The most important guest was an elder from Pure Yang Palace, another sacred Taoist land.

"This Lü Jinduan, Elder Lü, is an old Taoist senior of the same generation as our Grandmaster, Senior Master, and Master Song,"

Wang Guiyuan, who had finally come out of seclusion around the New Year, introduced, "Elder Huang of Pure Yang Palace has always relied on him."

Lei Jun and Chu Kun, his two fellow disciples, listened attentively.

Compared to Elder Lv, another name was even more familiar to them, almost legendary.

Elder Huang was now the sect leader of Pure Yang Palace, the head of the Dan Ding Sect within the Taoist school, a contemporary of Lü Jinduan and Li Song—another venerable Taoist senior.

There were things Wang Guiyuan could not say directly.

But Lei Jun and Chu Kun already knew.

The old sect leader of Pure Yang Palace had been renowned for years as the foremost Taoist master in the land.

*If anyone claimed that this elder was the number one among all the sacred lands and sects, it wouldn't be an exaggeration.*

During his tenure at Pure Yang Palace, the sect continued to expand; the Dan Ding Sect flourished in the northern Great Tang accordingly.

In contrast, Celestial Master Mansion had suffered two consecutive internal strifes, with many elders and experts lost, so its influence had waned in recent years.

However, under Elder Huang's moderation, the Dan Ding Sect rarely ventured into southern Great Tang, or the Bashu and Hubei regions, where the Daoist Artifact Refining Sect was active.

The three main Taoist lineages had complex relationships, but overall got along peacefully, not least because of Elder Huang's mediation.

That's why, in Dragon Tiger Mountain and Mount Shu, this old master's reputation was also high.

Of course, it didn't mean Elder Huang had transcended worldly matters or become fully detached.

Compared to fellow Taoist lineages at Mount Shu and Dragon Tiger Mountain, Pure Yang Palace during his leadership maintained much colder relations with the major noble clans of the Confucian school and the big sacred lands of the Buddhist sect.

Although Elder Huang wasn't personally attending Dragon Tiger Mountain, the visit from Pure Yang Palace's Elder Lv was treated with great formality by Celestial Master Mansion.

The only one capable of standing as an equal was Supreme Elder Li Song, who was responsible for taking the lead at this event.

The two elders were old friends; upon meeting, there was understandably a touch of nostalgia.

Li Song's feelings were especially complicated.

Although only Lü Jinduan came from the other side, Pure Yang Palace's Dan Ding Sect had other elders besides him and Elder Huang—they just hadn't come to Dragon Tiger Mountain this time.

As for the Talisman Scriptures lineage in Taoism, it was now down to just Li Song as the sole elder.

Even his old rival Yu Qingling of Yellow Sky Sect had perished in the war two years ago.

Li Song, the lone survivor, couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

*Still, nothing showed on his face; he chatted and laughed with Lü Jinduan as if nothing was wrong.*

Yuan Mobai, currently head of the Altar of Wanfa Sect, was still responsible for presiding over this Talisman-bestowed Ceremony.

Disciples like Lei Jun also weren't idle, each with their own duties, entertaining the young disciples who came with Lü Jinduan from Pure Yang Palace.

The most striking among them was a young Taoist who looked about twenty years old.

Yue Xiling, direct disciple of Elder Huang of Pure Yang Palace, had already attained Upper Three Heavens Cultivation at a young age, and was renowned alongside Xu Yuanzhen, Li Zhengxuan, and Tang Xiaotang of Celestial Master Mansion—leaders of the Taoist youth generation.

As Pure Yang Palace's youngest High Merit Elder, he had come with Lü Jinduan to congratulate Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Counting from Elder Huang's generation, he'd be of the same rank as Yuan Mobai, Li Ziyang, Li Hongyu, etc.

But since they belonged to different lineages, there wasn't always strict adherence to sect seniority; still, with Pure Yang Palace's formal visit, Celestial Master Mansion also responded in official kind, appointing Li Ziyang to greet Yue Xiling.

Meanwhile, former Celestial Master's true disciple Zhang Jingzhen and several outstanding young disciples accompanied him.

Lei Jun was among them.

His reputation already made, Celestial Master Mansion and Yuan Mobai saw no need to hide him, happily letting Lei Jun step into the limelight.

...Normally, since Xu Yuanzhen wasn't good at socializing, the most suitable reception for Yue Xiling would have been Li Zhengxuan.

In the past, it had always been him and Yue Xiling who handled their sects' interactions.

But, sadly, the former Young Celestial Master was still meditating in the forbidden area of the Rear Mountain Ancestral Tomb.

So, with Li Ziyang and Zhang Jingzhen in the lead, Celestial Master Mansion still lived up to proper etiquette.

"My master wished to visit Dragon Tiger Mountain personally, to meet with your Taoist elders,"

Yue Xiling said apologetically, "But circumstances in Longwai remain unstable. My master resolved to go in person, and, before we left, instructed me and Master Lv to personally convey his apologies to your sect."

Li Ziyang said, "Elder Huang mustn't say that. The visit of Master Lv and Taoist Friend Yue is already a cause of great joy for our sect."

Yue Xiling modestly responded again.

Zhang Jingzhen quietly asked, "Daoist Brother Yue, what's the situation in Longwai now?"

Yue Xiling's expression grew grave, "It's more difficult than expected. The present Emperor and the Xiao Clan Chief have temporarily set aside their differences and joined forces to subdue the demons."

The crowd from Dragon Tiger Mountain listened, their faces growing solemn too.

*Lord of Heaven must have been playing a cruel joke.*

The Tang Emperor left the capital, heading north, then west, and finally arrived in Longwai.

The Xiao Clan in Longwai, together with the other Five Clans and Seven Families, now united against the current Emperor.

Yet the surge in Global Spiritual Qi brought a rise in Demonic Qi and Evil Aura, with more great demons reappearing than had been seen in ages.

Longwai, at the far west of Great Tang, lay at the crossroads of spiritual and demonic forces, where their collision was frequent.

This autumn and winter, the Western Regions of Great Tang erupted into demon chaos, which quickly swept the lands like a tidal wave.

The Emperor, then at Longwai, had no choice but to stand as the Son of Heaven guarding the realm's gate.

The Xiao Clan Chief had to immediately turn his sword and fight side by side with the Tang Emperor against invading demons from beyond the domain.

Yet, the situation seemed even more dire than most imagined.

The Tang Emperor was still stranded at Longwai, his inspection tour now a personal campaign.

Even Elder Huang, the top Taoist master, was heading there to assist.

Lü Jinduan and Yue Xiling's trip to Dragon Tiger Mountain served, on one hand, to congratulate the mansion for hosting another Talisman-bestowed Ceremony.

On the other, they wanted to consult with the Celestial Master Mansion's leaders about the demon chaos in Longwai.

Though the demon chaos was currently isolated in Longwai, it had clearly captured the attention of the entire Great Tang.

The situation across the land had changed again.

What the top factions did next, where they were headed, was obviously crucial.

"Besides Longwai, the other regions must also be on guard,"

Yue Xiling said, "From what I know, across the East Sea and the northern border, more great demons have appeared, and strong foes gather everywhere—it's not to be taken lightly."

Li Ziyang said, "I've heard some news too. Taoist Friend Yue speaks the truth."

Lei Jun listened quietly from the side, remembering the moderately unlucky lot he drew before.

*If he'd insisted on traveling to the icy lake beyond the northern border mentioned in his lot, would the risk have been all the great demons out there?*

*Looking back now, not charging in recklessly really had saved him from disaster.*

Meanwhile, Li Ziyang was feeling pretty complicated.

*In fact, he already knew much of what Yue Xiling said.*

*His son, Li Xuan, was now in the Suppressing Demon Guards under the Tang Emperor, stationed in Longwai.*

Though communication hadn't been cut off, things were far from peaceful.

*The Li Family had gone all in, sending a key member to serve under the Tang Emperor, only for a massive upheaval to break out soon after. Anyone would have mixed feelings...*

Far away in Longwai, there was another person with complicated emotions.

Under swirling yellow sands and a biting northwest wind at the frontier, a young man braved the frost to kill a demon beast with a Spirit Talisman.

His once delicate features had grown rugged.

The youth was none other than Chen Yi.

He hadn't expected that after joining the Suppressing Demon Guards, he would have little contact with people, spending more time fighting these demon beasts.

Watching the Guards rising like a morning sun—only to be sent to Longwai and buried in sand—made it all seem surreal.

The Emperor had seized the initiative against the noble families, but his scheme was abruptly interrupted.

While things weren't quite disastrous yet, the previously rising momentum had clearly stalled.

Strictly speaking, while the current situation was dangerous, Chen Yi could still bear it.

*Like a sword honed by trial, or plum blossoms enduring winter cold, he shone even brighter amidst hardship.*

Except…

*Recalling the Celestial Master Mansion's past troubles, Chen Yi now couldn't help but doubt himself—maybe something was wrong with this world?*

*How come wherever he went, that place started showing signs of decline?*

......

The situation in the north was tense.

Although Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion in the south was affected, overall things remained relaxed outwardly but tight within.

It didn't stop Lei Jun and the others from focusing on their cultivation.

By comparison, it was news from the East Sea that most shook the nerves of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Rumor had it, the Celestial Master's Sword had appeared again above the East Sea Ocean!

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