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The imperial procession did not stay at Dragon Tiger Mountain for long.

Before the New Year, the Empress was set to return to the Capital.

Thus, she remained at Dragon Tiger Mountain for only a day and a night before resuming her journey.

This public visit served more to demonstrate her stance.

The third internal conflict at Dragon Tiger Mountain had, by now, reached its conclusion.

In a certain sense, the Empress's personal presence at Dragon Tiger Mountain acted as the best congratulatory gift for the new Celestial Master's accession.

Nevertheless, official rewards were, of course, not lacking.

The largest share, without a doubt, went to Tang Xiaotang, the newly appointed Celestial Master.

Beneath Tang Xiaotang, all members of Dragon Tiger Mountain received something, some more, some less, but no one was left empty-handed.

After the chaos of the civil strife, the Celestial Master Mansion finally gained a bit of festive spirit.

Aside from Tang Xiaotang and the three High Merit Elders, Lei Jun and other talisman-bestowed Taoists naturally received the most generous rewards.

From Taoist crown, to robe, to shoes, to horsetail whisk and ruyi, a whole new set of apparel went without saying.

Beyond that, there were also plenty of Five Qi Stones and Guanghua Jade, useful for cultivation among the Taoist Talisman Sect of the Middle Three Heavens; two hundred cuts of Purple Smoke Talisman Paper, twenty pellets of Pine Essence Talisman Ink, five Dragon Whisker Talisman Pens…

These items were distributed in matching sets to Lei Jun, Lin Shan, Zhang Jingzhen, Fang Jian, and the rest, with little difference among them.

Where they differed was that each person received a unique spiritual object.

The spiritual object bestowed upon Lei Jun was a spirit plant—the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree, bearing dual blossoms with worlds within, an object of much utility for Taoist Talisman Sect cultivators of the Middle Three Heavens.

But to him personally, it was somewhat tasteless to use, yet a pity to cast aside.

The greatest purpose of the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree was to aid Longhu Mountain Inheritors in cultivating the Dragon-Tiger Dual Spirits method.

Lei Jun had also cultivated the Dragon-Tiger Dual Spirits method, but it was not the focus of his practice, nor did he intend for it to become his life-bound magic art.

With the help of the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree, his Dragon-Tiger Dual Spirits would indeed improve, but if Lei Jun were to answer honestly, he much preferred the Gathering Yuan Ice Soul Lin Shan received.

This treasure offered no specific targeted effect, but it could assist a cultivator's daily practice, proving useful at all times.

Such a distribution of rewards did not seem surprising.

Perhaps it was due to Shangguan Ning's influence, or perhaps it simply aligned with Lin Shan's own intentions.

He was eager for interactions with the Tang Imperial Court.

This time, with the Tang Emperor arriving at Dragon Tiger Mountain, Lin Shan busied himself ceaselessly, investing much effort.

His mentor, Shangguan Ning, also apparently wished to foster him, entrusting many hosting matters to Lin Shan.

None at Dragon Tiger Mountain minded this.

*After suffering one calamity after another, with wounds both literal and figurative, the Celestial Master Mansion was mired in one of its lowest states in recent years; forging closer ties with the Tang Imperial Family was perhaps inevitable.*

Lin Shan was merely a representative of this tendency.

He was young, with deep potential, and his current cultivation had already reached the Sixth Heavenly Realm.

Previously he had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Zhang Jingzhen, Li Kong, Li Xuan, and Xia Xiushan as a rising star of the younger generation, second only—perhaps—a half-step behind Zhang Jingzhen, but never overshadowed by the others.

Were it not so, Li Xuan would not have been tempted to harm Lin Shan after gaining a rare opportunity in Sword Valley.

After the war, from most people's perspectives, Li Xuan had disappeared, and Li Kong had met a certain end.

The siblings Xia Xiushan and Xia Qing, too, had vanished, and nothing had been heard from the Lanshan side either.

Within the younger generation at the Celestial Master Mansion, Lin Shan's stature was now all the greater.

The Tang Imperial Family, naturally, was not stingy with their rewards for Lin Shan.

In comparison, Master Lei, as always, maintained friendly relations with all, but likewise never grew too close to anyone.

The Twin Spirit Treasure Tree he received was, in name, no less than the Gathering Yuan Ice Soul.

Yet it felt just a bit ill-suited for him personally.

*As if reflecting his own less-than-intimate rapport with Her Majesty the Empress.*

Lei Jun's outward composure betrayed nothing unusual; he remained, as ever, amenable to circumstance, calm and tranquil.

*From this perspective, Lin Shixiong's Gathering Yuan Ice Soul was precisely the Sixth-Rank Opportunity mentioned in that perfectly neutral lot of fate.*

*But this Twin Spirit Treasure Tree—no matter how you look at it—hardly seemed like a Fifth Grade Opportunity.*

*Especially for me personally, it simply is not suited to my needs…* Lei Jun silently mused.

But he did not dwell on it, instead putting away the item for now.

Later that night, however, a visitor arrived unannounced.

"Zhang?"

Lei Jun gazed at the suddenly arriving Zhang Jingzhen, *a flicker of emotion stirring in his heart.*

He invited Zhang Jingzhen to sit in the courtyard and served her tea.

After some small talk, Zhang Jingzhen got to the point and said frankly, "Lei, I feel ashamed. My purpose in coming here today is to ask for your assistance."

Lei Jun replied, "Zhang, you're too polite. The elders of our Sect have always taught us to help one another. May I ask if there's anything I can do for you?"

"During this round of imperial rewards," Zhang Jingzhen said, "I noticed you received a new Twin Spirit Treasure Tree. I wonder, would you be willing to part with it? Of course, I have no intention of receiving your spiritual object for nothing. If you would, I think perhaps we can trade—an exchange for mutual benefit."

Lei Jun rarely used his true skills before others, so few knew what his life-bound magic arts actually were.

Moreover, he had only just reached the Fifth Heaven Layer; when he entered the Sixth Heavenly Layer, he would still have another chance to pick a life-bound school of dharma.

Zhang Jingzhen, naturally, had no way of knowing he had never considered practicing the Dragon-Tiger Dual Spirits as his life-bound magic, and so was unaware that the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree was of little value to him.

Lei Jun was just trying to recall which item Zhang Jingzhen had received this time, but saw that Zhang Jingzhen produced another item.

A small bottle.

"You have studied under Master Yuan, Lei; your corporeal life mastery must be formidable."

Zhang Jingzhen explained, "Earlier, I chanced upon this bottle of Blood-Vigorating Heaven Brew. It can further strengthen the body and essence, and I think it's a perfect fit for you. Of course, if there's anything else you need, I can try to arrange it."

"No need, Zhang, you're too courteous."

Lei Jun raised his brow. "This bottle of Blood-Vigorating Heaven Brew will do."

In comparison to the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree, the Blood-Vigorating Heaven Brew was indeed the spiritual object best suited to his cultivation.

*So the Fifth Grade Opportunity lay here after all?*

*If that's the case, I'm now a bit curious about what hidden peril there is in Lin Shan's perfectly neutral lot…* Lei Jun thought to himself.

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