After the battle of Poyang Lake, the Lin Clan suffered heavy losses. Although not to the extent of the Xiao Clan from Longwai, it was still a deeply painful blow, from which they struggled to recover their primordial qi for a long time.

The direct lineage of the Lin Clan, in particular, lost many powerful members, including Lin Zhen, the most outstanding of the younger generation. This not only directly created a talent gap but also had a negative impact that could not be quickly remedied.

Under these circumstances, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan's biggest problem was that its branch lineages were growing stronger while the main lineage grew weaker. The main lineage had suffered heavy casualties, resulting in a talent gap that would not be filled quickly. Meanwhile, exceptional individuals continued to emerge from the branch lineages.

Notably, about four years ago, Lin Yuwei, leader of a branch lineage, killed Li Zhengxuan—a former Yong Celestial Master of the Celestial Master Mansion—on the Grand River. This event greatly boosted Lin Yuwei's fame and rapidly increased his prestige in Jiangzhou.

The internal power struggle within the Li Family of Dragon Tiger Mountain was fierce. However, regardless of perspective, of the four High Merit Masters in the Li Family, the Celestial Master Mansion had only openly expelled Li Song and Li Ziyang from its ranks, not dealing with Li Zhengxuan and Li Hongyu in a high-profile manner.

Li Zhengxuan was still considered a High Merit Elder of the Celestial Master Mansion and was the only son of the previous Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng.

The previous Lin Clan Chief, Lin Qun, had perished on the Grand River alongside Li Qingfeng. Lin Qun's son, Lin Zhen, was killed by Xu Yuanzhen, a direct disciple of Li Qingfeng. Xu Yuanzhen was now missing, his fate unknown, but the Lin Clan had suffered even greater losses.

Thus, it could be said that the Jiangzhou Lin Clan had never managed to regain its standing in this matter.

Now, with Lin Yuwei having killed Li Zhengxuan, although the internal circumstances were complex, Jiangzhou nominally had a significant account to offer to all parties involved.

However, this subsequently created a new power vacuum within the Lin Clan, as previous and subsequent Clan Chiefs had either perished or gone missing, sparking a fresh round of contention.

Previously, Mr. Hongzhen Ye Ming from the Qingzhou Ye Clan had mediated. But as the Qingzhou Ye Clan shifted more of its attention towards the Capital Imperial Academy and the Xiao Clan from Longwai, the situation within the Jiangzhou Lin Clan descended further into chaos.

The current Empress was indeed someone who didn't take losses lightly.

Lin Shan of the Celestial Master Mansion and Monk Fashan of Tianlong Temple were attacked successively; one was injured, and one was killed.

Besides ordering the eradication of the Yellow Sky Sect and Great Void Temple rebels, the Tang Imperial Court also announced it would recruit new instructors for the Scholarly Mansion to ensure enrollment and teaching remained unaffected. In addition to requesting that the Celestial Master Mansion and Tianlong Temple coordinate and provide more suitable personnel, the Scholarly Mansion also recruited from other sources.

Setting other matters aside, their new recruit for Confucian Studies caused a significant stir.

Him? Lei Jun thought, looking at the portrait sent back from his fellow sect members in the Capital's Celestial Master Mansion. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

The man in the painting appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with a somewhat mature face. As for his actual age, Lei Jun estimated it to be indeed around thirty-something. The issue was, when Lei Jun had seen him over ten years ago, he already had that appearance.

So now, can I say that his real age has finally caught up with his appearance? Lei Jun mused.

Chu Kun, beside him, was exasperated. "Senior Brother, that's clearly not the crucial point here."

Lei Jun looked at the portrait. "Alright then..."

The man in the portrait possessed a mature, gentle, and scholarly demeanor, yet even on paper, his gaze appeared sharp and spirited. It was Fang Yue, a scion of the Jingxiang Fang Clan, with whom Lei Jun had some dealings before.

As Chu Kun had said, the man's appearance was not the important part. What mattered was that Fang Yue had actually joined the Tang Imperial Court's newly established Scholarly Mansion.

Fang Yue looked mature, but he was actually a few years younger than Lei Jun. Due to his overflowing talent and remarkable strength, he had been renowned as the Qilin Son of the Fang Family for over a decade. Among the younger generation of the Fang Family, he was one of the select few who received the most attention and was meticulously nurtured. To put it bluntly, Fang Jian of the Celestial Master Mansion, who was cultivating the Taoist Sect's heritage, could not compare to Fang Yue in terms of either personal talent or the importance placed upon him by his clan.

"Regarding this Curator Fang's cultivation," Lei Jun shifted his gaze from the portrait to Chu Kun beside him, "I recall rumors that he had already reached the Sixth Heavenly Realm?"

It was common for Prestigious Families to intermarry. The Jingxiang Fang Clan and the Suzhou Chu Clan had a complex relationship, yet there were numerous marriage alliances between them.

Chu Kun nodded. "Indeed, that has been the case for some years. Jingxiang holds Mr. Yongshan in very high regard, expecting him to become the newest Great Scholar of the Upper Three Heavens."

Lei Jun then looked back at the portrait. "So, what this means is..."

Chu Kun frowned. "I haven't heard that the Jingxiang Fang Clan has entirely changed its stance to support the Tang Imperial Court."

This was especially so given that the Empress established a new Scholarly Mansion, gained the allegiance of the Xiao Clan from Longwai, and invited Han Family's Offspring to publicly teach the Confucian classics—actions tantamount to brazenly undermining the foundations of these Prestigious Families. That these Prestigious Families hadn't openly revolted was already a considerably restrained response.

So, like that Moon Chamber Master from Suzhou, was this a personal decision? Lei Jun pondered.

Chu Kun was also curious. "I'm not sure. However... based on what I've previously heard about Mr. Yongshan's words and actions, it doesn't seem entirely out of the question."

Lei Jun said, "It's still too early to tell. Let's observe for a little longer."

The Jingxiang Fang Clan didn't take long to provide Lei Jun and the world with an answer. They did not officially announce Fang Yue's expulsion from the clan. However, soon after, masters from the Fang Clan arrived in the Capital. According to rumors, a major battle erupted at the Scholarly Mansion, where Fang Clan masters attempted to take Fang Yue back to Jingxiang. But ultimately, they did not succeed. Within the Scholarly Mansion, in addition to the Xiao Clan's family teachings being taught, some classics from the Fang Clan were now also available.

However, before people could fully grasp or lament how the Empress had once again successfully chipped away at the foundation of a major Prestigious Family, even more astonishing news arrived from the south.

An internal conflict within the Southern Witch Sect, seemingly unrelated to many, gave rise to a startling rumor: Wei Ancheng, the Sect Leader of the Blood River Sect, who was currently unleashing a bloody storm in his bid to unify the Southern Wilderness, was reportedly a descendant of the former Shengkang King!

On Dragon Tiger Mountain, while others hearing this news might have thought little of it, a spark ignited in Lei Jun's mind. Memories of certain past events related to the Celestial Book's starry expanse suddenly surfaced in his mind.

The brilliance of Taiyang Riyao flickered, and from it, a voice devoid of any discernible emotion resonated: "My question is, does anyone know the precise whereabouts of Blood River Sect Leader Wei Ancheng?"

Is this a coincidence?

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