Yuan Mobai and Shangguan Ning both nodded. "That's very kind of you, General Xiao."

Thereafter, Yuan Mobai mostly accompanied them, leaving Shangguan Ning to lead the conversation.

At Dragon Tiger Mountain, Shangguan Ning had always been primarily responsible for such matters.

After discussing official matters, Xiao Xueting asked with concern, "Elder Shangguan, how is your health now?"

Shangguan Ning smiled. "Xue Ting, rest assured. Though I still need to recuperate, I'm no longer in serious danger. I'll be fine as long as I don't engage in combat."

Between questions and answers, the atmosphere grew even more relaxed.

Xiao Xueting said, "Dragon Tiger Mountain has experienced such great turmoil. I hope everything will clear up now that the storm has passed."

Shangguan Ning nodded. "Indeed."

Xiao Xueting then said, "Forgive my boldness for asking, but regarding the future of Dragon Tiger Mountain..."

Her question was also, in effect, on behalf of the Empress.

Although Shangguan Ning had previously served as a bridge for communication, some matters still needed to be confirmed in person.

After exchanging glances with Yuan Mobai, Shangguan Ning slowly said, "Our Sect will offer sacrifices to the ancestral masters and expel the members of the Li Clan, led by Li Song and Li Ziyang, from our ranks."

Xiao Xueting listened quietly.

In other words, this decision did not involve Li Hongyu and Li Zhengxuan.

Although all four High Merit Elders of the Li Clan had perished, the Celestial Master Mansion still treated them differently.

"I plan to visit Lanshan a little later," Yuan Mobai said at this point.

Lei Jun and the others listened in silence nearby.

Lanshan is one of the branch lineages that stemmed from the Dragon Tiger Mountain Ancestral Court. It was traditionally managed by the Li Clan and could almost be considered a separate household of the Li Clan outside Dragon Tiger Mountain and Xinzhou.

But now, adjustments were inevitably forthcoming.

Previously, the Celestial Master Mansion's vitality had been severely damaged. To ensure stability, Yuan Mobai and the others had remained at the Dragon Tiger Mountain Ancestral Court.

Once the situation stabilized, it was natural to contact and deal with matters related to the various branches and offshoots of the Talisman Sect.

Lanshan was the first stop.

Yuan Mobai was not going there to carry out a massacre, but rather to clearly state the position of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion.

As for the remaining members of the Li Clan, even if they were to flee upon hearing the news, their future would not be easy.

The Li Clan themselves were well aware of this.

Compared to the Celestial Master Mansion, they currently faced an even greater threat: the Yellow Sky Sect.

Li Hongyu, Li Song, Li Ziyang, and Li Zhengxuan—the four High Merit Elders—had all unexpectedly perished, contrary to many people's expectations.

The Celestial Master Mansion would still carry out actions to cleanse its ranks.

Even if the Celestial Master Mansion did nothing, the Yellow Sky Sect would not spare the remaining members of the Li Clan.

Although it seemed that the Yellow Sky Sect currently had internal factional strife, neither Qi Shuo's faction nor Zhao Zongjie's faction would miss the opportunity to kick someone while they were down.

"Is there any possibility of Taoist Scriptures being leaked?" Xiao Xueting asked softly.

Shangguan Ning replied, "The final two volumes of the True Formula of the Great Way Scripture cannot be recorded on paper. The Talisman Scriptures have already been remotely sealed via the Altar of Wanfa Sect. The only remaining concern is the missing Celestial Master Robe..."

The Celestial Master Mansion's fundamental Taoist Scripture, the True Formula of the Great Way Scripture, comprises seven volumes in total.

Under normal circumstances, disciples undergoing the Transcension Ritual are taught the first and second volumes.

Only those who are Talisman-bestowed are permitted to learn the third volume.

Those cultivators at the Fifth Heaven Layer who receive an enhanced Talisman-bestowal can be taught the fourth volume.

Cultivators at the Sixth Heavenly Layer who receive a further Talisman-bestowal can be taught the fifth volume.

Only cultivators at the Seventh Heavenly Layer who receive an advanced Talisman-bestowal are permitted to learn the sixth volume.

The transmitted Taoist Scriptures are sealed within Jade Slips, which are single-use items intended for one person's use only once.

Although they can be orally explained, much of the Tao Containment within them may be lost or diminished during such transmission.

Furthermore, the sixth and seventh volumes cannot be recorded on paper at all.

With Li Song, Li Ziyang, and others like them all deceased, the remaining members of the Li Clan now lack the means to obtain the final two volumes of the Taoist Scriptures.

Unless they can find the Celestial Master Robe.

Even now on Dragon Tiger Mountain, although there are several High Merit Elders who can provide guidance, if a new Seventh Heavenly Layer cultivator emerges, the standard procedure is for them to enter the Altar of Wanfa Sect to inherit the profundities of the sixth volume of the Taoist Scripture.

Apart from this, only the Celestial Master Robe offers such a path.

Even the Celestial Master Seal only contains the Tao Containment of the Three Caverns and Three Realms Scripture, not that of the True Formula of the Great Way Scripture.

As for outsiders attempting to deduce the final two volumes from the first five volumes of the True Formula of the Great Way Scripture possessed by the Li Clan's descendants, this is virtually impossible.

To put it bluntly, if that were possible, similar situations would have already arisen when the Yellow Sky Sect broke away years ago.

Naturally, it is improper for the True Formula to be transmitted externally, which is why the Celestial Master Mansion will still proceed with cleansing its ranks once stability is restored.

Fortunately, be it the Talisman Scripture for Basic Spirit Talismans or High-grade Spirit Talismans, the Celestial Master Mansion can remotely seal them through the Altar of Wanfa Sect.

Although the members of the Li Clan are also cultivators of the Taoist Talisman Sect, from this point forward, they can essentially bid farewell to Talisman Crafting.

They are not like the Yellow Sky Sect.

The Yellow Sky Sect was able to establish itself independently because, at the time of its schism, it had more than one High Merit Elder from the Taoist Talisman Sect among its founders.

At that time, an esteemed Elder who had defected from the Celestial Master Mansion and participated in founding the Yellow Sky Sect sacrificed himself. Aided by numerous secret treasures he had taken when leaving Dragon Tiger Mountain, he was able to transform his own body into an Ancestral Altar, thereby establishing a new sect separate from the Ancestral Courtyard of the Sect.

Only by doing so could they resist the remote suppression from the Celestial Master's Three Treasures and the Altar of Wanfa Sect, laying the foundation for the Yellow Sky Sect's independence for many years.

Despite this, the Yellow Sky Sect still faces long-term worries.

Besides constantly maintaining sacrificial rites to prevent assimilation by the Altar of Wanfa Sect, the Altar formed from a human body also seems to possess a life and lifespan of its own.

That founding Elder of the Yellow Sky Sect was in his prime back then.

However, as time slowly progresses, if he were still alive, he would inevitably be on a path toward decline and old age.

And so, the Yellow Sky Altar, which his body became, will also, in time, face aging and eventual dissolution.

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