Chapter 751: 308. Second Layer of the Eighth Heavenly Layer, Divine Court Intermediate Scene (Three-in-One Chapter)_5

Another person was the former Mount Shu Sect Elder, Liu Dongzhuo.

Liu Dongzhuo, with a look of shame, performed a Taoist Sect salute. "Dongzhuo is incompetent; I failed to capture Chen Yi. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness."

Huang Xuanpu smiled and shook his head. "Dongzhuo, there’s no need to dwell on it. Go and rest for a while."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liu Dongzhuo bowed again to him and Fu Dongsen separately, then retreated.

Fu Dongsen spoke up, "Your Majesty, perhaps if I were to go..."

Huang Xuanpu said, "Dongsen, although your injuries are gradually healing, there’s no rush. After you have fully recuperated, finding Qingxiao Manor should be your priority."

"Yes," Fu Dongsen answered. "Previously, it was entirely thanks to Your Majesty’s personal intervention; otherwise, I would have struggled to recover the Taiyi Primordial Tower."

Huang Xuanpu smiled and shook his head. "External Alchemy Magical Treasures are not my forte; it was mainly thanks to you."

Fu Dongsen said, "There is still no news from Master Hong and Taoist Brother Gu. I’m afraid they might have already..."

Although he was inside the Taiyi Primordial Tower, deep beneath the sea, Huang Xuanpu’s gaze momentarily traveled westward, as if piercing through myriad waters and mountains to watch over the lands of the Western Regions.

"Sumi... the Vajra Division."

The preliminary news they had received was that after a fierce battle with Zhang Dongyuan and Master Renzhu, Hong Jie had fled with injuries and subsequently vanished without a trace.

If she had been slain by Zhang Dongyuan’s Blue Abyss Sword, Zhang Dongyuan would have no reason to conceal it.

From this, it seemed Master Renzhu of the Xumi Vajra Sect was more likely responsible.

Additionally, Gu Han had also disappeared within the earth veins.

Huang Xuanpu asked, "However... what is the relationship between Faqing of Tianlong Temple and Dragon Tiger Mountain?"

Fu Dongsen was also perplexed. "It’s unclear. To my knowledge, even Tianlong Temple itself was shocked by this matter and has been investigating continuously, but to no avail."

If the sudden appearance of the Celestial Master Seal was somewhat expected, then Faqing of Tianlong Temple’s sudden interference, as well as the horsetail whisk and ancient mirror left by Xu Yuanzhen, were completely beyond the calculations of the Mortal Tao Country.

"One wrong move doesn’t mean the whole game is lost, but we’ve certainly lost half of it."

Huang Xuanpu’s expression, however, remained serene, showing no signs of defeat. "But it’s good to have confirmed the whereabouts of the Celestial Master Seal. It’s much easier to deal with than the Altar of Wanfa Sect. Next, we just wait for an opportunity concerning the Celestial Master Seal."

"Yes," Fu Dongsen replied.

Huang Xuanpu glanced at him. "Dongsen, you seem to have something more to say."

Fu Dongsen fell silent at his words. After a long pause, he said softly, "Your Majesty, we have now shifted from operating openly to covertly."

The underlying meaning of his words was not hard to guess.

Since their target was no longer the Altar of Wanfa Sect or the Dragon Tiger Mountain Ancestral Court, they could presumably act with more impunity.

Among the current Talisman Sect cultivators, how many could withstand Huang Xuanpu’s might?

Would the remaining disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion hide on Dragon Tiger Mountain for the rest of their lives, or would they always closely follow the handful of individuals like Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang?

Even he, Fu Dongsen, had fewer than five people to be wary of.

The mutual restraint among high-realm experts often aims to prevent the slaughter of mid and lower-tier cultivators.

But now, the Mortal Tao Country had fewer such concerns.

Hearing this, Huang Xuanpu smiled. "Dongsen, although you do not cultivate the sword, a Shu Mountain Cultivator’s desire for swift justice and settling scores is no weaker than that of a Sword Cultivator, is it?"

"I was impetuous," Fu Dongsen said.

Huang Xuanpu said, "We suffered a setback in the battle of Dragon Tiger Mountain and incurred heavy losses. Moreover, the morale of the Taoist Sect disciples under us is shaken. Dongsen, wanting to rally their spirits isn’t wrong, but impatience will achieve nothing."

He sighed with a smile. "In truth, we were all too hasty in the battle of Dragon Tiger Mountain. This should serve as a lesson to us all."

"I will heed Your Majesty’s teachings," Fu Dongsen said.

Huang Xuanpu looked calmly at him. "The conflicts to the east and west of the Great Tang may seem to have subsided for now, but this is only the beginning."

Fu Dongsen said, "I’ve heard that the so-called Great Ming Dynasty within the Heavenly Principle is not the true Great Ming Dynasty. It’s said there is another Mortal World, one no less significant than our own."

Huang Xuanpu confirmed, "Indeed. So, there will be more turmoil in the east. And is the west not the same?"

Fu Dongsen looked surprised. "The Solitary Eagle Khanate, you mean...?"

Huang Xuanpu said, "For now, Dongsen, focus on finding Qingxiao Manor. If you find any clues, don’t neglect the Ziwei Sword either."

He mused, "Has there been any recent news about Chen Donglou?"

During the battle of Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Mortal Tao Country, aside from being wary of Xu Yuanzhen, was also on guard against Chen Donglou’s sudden appearance.

Unexpectedly, Chen Donglou did not appear; instead, Faqing from Tianlong Temple showed up.

"Currently, there is no news of him," Fu Dongsen replied.

Huang Xuanpu said, "Remain vigilant while searching for Qingxiao Manor and the Ziwei Sword." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Yes, Your Majesty," Fu Dongsen said.

...

「Jingzhou.」

「The ancestral land of the Jingxiang Fang Clan.」

After the conflict in the Northwest concluded, Fang Jingshen, Clan Chief of the Jingxiang Fang Clan, returned to Jingxiang with his kinsmen, including his nephew Fang Zhu.

Fang Zhu’s father, Fang Huansheng, the eldest master of the Fang Family responsible for guarding the ancestral land, came out to greet them.

"Elder Brother." Fang Jingsheng and Fang Huansheng returned to Jingzhou together, with Fang Zhu and the others following behind.

"The situation in the East Sea has also concluded," Fang Huansheng stated.

Fang Jingsheng nodded. "I’ve heard. Elder Brother, please tell me the details."

Fang Huansheng recounted the events in detail.

The more Fang Jingsheng listened, the deeper his frown became. Only after Fang Huansheng finished speaking did his brow smooth out. "This so-called Neo-Confucianism represents a golden age for all scholars, but not for any single family, clan, or a few individuals. Under such a ritual system, it might also be a golden age for the emperor, but ultimately, it signifies the complete dominance of central authority over local powers."

Fang Huansheng nodded slightly. "Fortune and misfortune are unpredictable. The downfall of a single family or clan could happen in an instant."