Chapter 750: 308. Second Layer of the Eighth Heavenly Layer, Divine Court Intermediate Scene (Three-in-One Chapter)_4

Furthermore, with Wang Xuan’s physical and mental condition still unsatisfactory, Pure Yang Palace was virtually left with only Elder Lü Jinduan of the Eighth Heavenly Layer as its main pillar, leaving Elder Lü beyond tears. As for cultivators at the Seventh Heavenly Layer, only a handful remained, such as Jiang Yu and a few others. Pure Yang Palace had sunk to a nadir unseen in over a thousand years.

Worse still was the public’s current perception of them. Who knew if, among those who remained, agents of the Mortal Tao Country still lurked? Even if there truly were none, this still served as a perfect pretext for some to suppress Pure Yang Palace. The difficulty Pure Yang Palace faced in surviving this current trough was plain to see.

"Yue Xiling’s involvement was likely minimal; otherwise, the outcome of the Mount Shu Sect’s division would have been different," Xu Yuanzhen casually remarked.

While escorting Liao Jie back to Mount Shu from the Southern Wilderness, and before rendezvousing with Zhang Dongyuan, Chu Yu had traveled with Wei Qiyue and Yue Xiling. If Yue Xiling had been compromised like Wei Qiyue, they could have intercepted Liao Jie then and there. Even if Chu Yu had managed to escape, Mount Shu likely wouldn’t have split at that time. However, exposing Wei Qiyue and Yue Xiling might have allowed Fu Dongsen and Hong Jie to remain concealed.

"Speaking of which, His Majesty hasn’t personally intervened in nearly twenty years," Yuan Mobai recalled. "The last time was during the demon unrest in the East Sea."

When demon unrest erupted again in Guanlong, the Empress had personally gone to the Old Capital Chang’an to oversee the situation, but she did not act herself.

"One Guan Jing alone isn’t enough to gauge her true capabilities," Xu Yuanzhen commented offhandedly.

Lei Jun asked, "Senior Sister, what exactly is the situation with the Great Ming Dynasty and Heavenly Principle?"

Xu Yuanzhen briefly summarized, "The Ming Dynasty supplanted the Qian Dynasty. When the Founding Emperor passed on the throne, he did not choose his son but instead designated his imperial grandson as successor. After the Young Emperor ascended the throne, he weakened the various princes, causing instability throughout the land. This incited some vassal kings to rebel under the pretext of ’pacifying the disorder,’ ultimately succeeding in overthrowing the young ruler. The ministers loyal to the Young Emperor rallied around his descendants, seeking refuge in Guicang—now known as Heavenly Principle. They sealed the Void Gateway that connected to the Ming Mortal World and have been precariously surviving in Heavenly Principle to this day. It was remarkable that they, relying on Neo-Confucianism and its principles of monarch-minister relations, managed to sustain and even evolve the destiny of their nation and lands within Heavenly Principle. However, compared to the true Mortal World, this is ultimately mere self-consolation. Nor do they show any capability of launching a counterattack to reclaim the Ming Mortal World. However, although I couldn’t enter this time, from my contact with them, I sense that the national fortune of the Ming Mortal World is also steeped in decline."

Tang Xiaotang asked curiously, "In that Mortal World, during that historical period, had the Celestial Master Mansion truly perished?"

Xu Yuanzhen affirmed, "Yes, the entire lineage of the Taoist Talisman Sect was practically severed. I heard that the Alchemy Cauldron Sect and the Refinement Sect still have some surviving traditions. However, the predominant orthodox scholarship in that Ming Mortal World is the so-called Neo-Confucianism."

Tang Xiaotang pouted. "I heard about that school of thought from Lei Jun. I really dislike that Taoist heritage."

Xu Yuanzhen stood up. "I’ll deal with it later. Right now, the priority is Huang Xuanpu. I need to make another trip to Zhongnan Mountain to check on things."

Suddenly, Tang Xiaotang asked, "Senior Sister, your cultivation isn’t merely at the First Layer of the Ninth Heavenly Layer, is it?"

As Xu Yuanzhen walked past her, she replied, "That’s right. You still have a long way to go."

Tang Xiaotang declared, "Just you wait! I’ll definitely break through to the Ninth Heavenly Layer realm in less time than it took you!"

As far as Lei Jun knew, it had taken Xu Yuanzhen about twenty-five years to advance from the First Layer of the Eighth Heavenly Layer to the First Layer of the Ninth Heavenly Layer.

From Tang Xiaotang’s breakthrough to the Eighth Heavenly Layer until now, roughly eighteen years had passed. She had indeed successfully reached the Perfected Realm of the Fourth Layer of the Eighth Heavenly Layer. However, the Divine Court Superior Vista still required Warming and Nurturing, and the Heavenly Moat Tribulation barred the path from the Eighth Heavenly Layer to the Ninth Heavenly Layer.

Moreover, the time it took both Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang to advance from the Seventh Heavenly Layer to the Eighth Heavenly Layer was approximately twelve years. There might have been slight variations, but Tang Xiaotang was clearly not content with a mere difference of days or months. By that calculation, the timing still held some suspense. Of course, it wasn’t entirely hopeless.

For Tang Xiaotang, advancing from the Divine Court Inner Scene of the First Layer of the Eighth Heavenly Layer to the Divine Court Intermediate Scene of the Second Layer had taken a little over nine years. This was because she had focused more on reverse-engineering her self-created talismans to pioneer a new cultivation path for the Celestial Master Mansion. Throughout this process, she continuously reviewed and consolidated her knowledge. Thereafter, her progress was smooth. She advanced from the Divine Court Intermediate Scene of the Second Layer of the Eighth Heavenly Layer to the External Scenery of the Divine Court of the Third Layer, and then from there to the Divine Court Superior Vista of the Fourth Layer, all within about four years. This was considerably faster than her initial progress from the Divine Court Inner Scene to the Divine Court Intermediate Scene.

At this stage, stabilizing and accumulating for the Divine Court Superior Vista did not require much effort on her part. The greater uncertainty lay in when she would accumulate sufficient foundation and preparation to challenge the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Eighth and Ninth Heavenly Layers. That was the stumbling block that had thwarted countless masters throughout the ages.

Celestial Master Tang was brimming with fighting spirit, but Xu Yuanzhen seemed unconcerned. As she walked out of the room without stopping or turning back, she remarked, "That’s fine. For you, having a goal is more conducive to progress, as long as you don’t let impatience destabilize your state of mind."

Tang Xiaotang puffed out her cheeks and said nothing. Xu Yuanzhen’s nonchalant attitude frustrated her even more.

Witnessing this, Lei Jun and the others couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Xu Yuanzhen did not stay long on Dragon Tiger Mountain. After bidding farewell to Lei Jun and the others, she promptly descended the mountain and departed.

***

Deep within the North Sea, a pagoda bobbed with the waves. Inside the pagoda, Huang Xuanpu stood tall in his black and white Taoist robe, his demeanor serene and his aura tranquil. Before him stood two individuals, both dressed in simple cloth garments and straw sandals, appearing as Mount Shu Sect Taoists. One of them was Fu Dongsen, the former Sect Leader of the Mount Shu Sect.