Chapter 757: 309. Elder Lei Inspects the World_4

On one hand, when he reached a critical moment in his cultivation, Lei Jun could guide and instruct him anytime.

On the other hand, ever since Zhuo Baojie entered the sect, he had rarely descended the mountain, and even less often traveled far.

This journey would serve as a way for him to broaden his horizons and gain experience, accompanying Lei Jun out into the world.

Lei Jun kept things simple, bringing along only his direct disciple, no other Tao Boys or young ones joined the journey.

After bidding farewell to Yuan Mobai, Wang Guiyuan, Chu Kun, and the others, he set out from the mountain gate, taking Zhuo Baojie with him.

This time, Lei Jun made no attempt to hide his movements as he departed openly.

Beneath his feet, a thunder cloud formed, spanning several acres, lifting the master and disciple together as they soared into the sky.

Lei Jun’s thunder cloud looked much like Xu Yuanzhen’s, also black in color.

However, it did not possess the same depth and weight as Xu Yuanzhen’s, which resembled a suspended glacier.

Lei Jun’s pitch-black thunder cloud was far more ethereal and vast, with flashes of violet light.

The purple light thunder cloud carried the master and disciple away in an instant, vanishing over the horizon.

Once outside Dragon Tiger Mountain’s main range, the purple light thunder cloud flew north.

The route Lei Jun took was from near to far.

So, when visiting the various branches of the Talisman Sect, his first stop was at the Yunxiao Mountain Range, which lay closer to Dragon Tiger Mountain Ancestral Court.

The Purple Cloud Sect was located there.

Many years ago, Lei Jun had come here with Yuan Mobai, even staying for a time beneath the Qingxiao Temple, which was a subsidiary of the Purple Cloud Sect.

Thinking back now, around thirty years had passed.

Upon arriving at the Purple Cloud Sect on Yunxiao Mountain’s peak, even though he was still far from the mountain gate, members of the sect came out to greet him.

Lei Jun wasn’t exactly the warm presence that Yuan Mobai was, yet his etiquette was impeccable, and he treated others with kindness, which made the people of the Purple Cloud Sect privately agree that Elder Lei was indeed approachable.

The only thing that seemed slightly out of place was the furry disciple beside him.

Still, after so many years, the whole Great Tang cultivation world knew that Elder Lei’s direct disciple was a Mountain Pi. People gradually grew used to it.

Moreover, Zhuo Baojie’s steady composure and dignified bearing already gave the impression that he would one day make his mark, earning respect and quietly convincing others that Elder Lei’s teachings were exceptional.

Being one of Dragon Tiger Mountain’s most important branches, the Purple Cloud Sect always maintained close ties with the mountain.

Thus, Lei Jun’s visit felt more like that of an honored guest.

Aside from the sect leader, he also met an old acquaintance.

He truly was an old acquaintance.

He had dealt with him before, and even worked together for some time—the former temple master of Qingxiao Temple, Lu Zhaoqing.

However, Lu Zhaoqing had long since relinquished his position as temple master of Qingxiao Temple.

He had reached an advanced age.

Back when Lei Jun first met Master Lu alongside Yuan Mobai, the man was already over one hundred and fifty years old.

For a Third Heavenly Layer cultivator, whose lifespan capped at two hundred, Lu Zhaoqing was already stepping into his twilight years.

Now, thirty years rushed by in a flash.

Lu Zhaoqing’s life was nearing its end.

Because of old injuries accumulated in his youth, it seemed unlikely he would reach the two-hundred-year lifespan before departing this mortal world.

At this moment, Lu Zhaoqing still retained some traces of his former immortal demeanor, but compared to the past, he was already very frail.

After stepping down as temple master, he returned to the Purple Cloud Sect’s mountain, spending his remaining years there, waiting for the end to come.

"Master Lu, would you like to visit Dragon Tiger Mountain?" Lei Jun looked at the elderly Taoist in front of him and spoke softly.

In his younger days, Lu Zhaoqing had been an official true inheritor of Celestial Master Mansion, but later left the ancestral court, spending more time with the Purple Cloud Sect.

He smiled, "Elder Yuan invited me back years ago, but after all this time, I’ve always lived here with the Purple Cloud Sect, so I may as well return to dust and earth where I am."

Lei Jun looked at those eyes, now beginning to cloud, yet still gentle and kind, "Master Lu, your open-mindedness is admirable."

Lu Zhaoqing smiled faintly, "In the past, I had Ziyang’s guidance, so there are things I don’t speak lightly of, but the outcome of the Li Wai conflict was perhaps for the best."

He looked at Lei Jun before him, *an endless wave of emotion filling his heart.*

*So young!*

*A Seventh Heavenly Layer cultivator under forty.*

*An Eighth Heavenly Layer cultivator under fifty.*

*Truly, a child blessed by heaven.*

*When he first dealt with this young Elder Lei back then, Lu Zhaoqing recognized his extraordinary nature, yet he truly hadn’t foreseen Lei Jun would achieve so much.*

*With such talents rising one after another, it’s no wonder the Li Clan was defeated and that, even after another Li Wai conflict, Celestial Master Mansion was able to quickly restore its primordial qi.*

Lu Zhaoqing cast a serene smile Lei Jun’s way.

His cultivation lay in the Lower Three Heavens, but he had presided over more than one Taoist temple, amassing rich experience in day-to-day affairs.

If Lei Jun truly ascended to the position of Celestial Master, Lu Zhaoqing believed Dragon Tiger Mountain would flourish yet again.

Although Lu Zhaoqing himself probably wouldn’t live to see that day. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

*But having watched Lei Jun change from a young Taoist to Elder Lei, Lu Zhaoqing felt as though he could already see that vision unfold before his very eyes.*

*Yet he was an old man now. No need to cling to a few extra, languishing days at Dragon Tiger Mountain.*

*His cultivation strength fell short, and he’d never succeeded in breaking through to the Third Heavenly Layer.*

*After leaving Dragon Tiger Mountain, he could only reside as a guest with the Purple Cloud Sect.*

*The deeds he accomplished over the years may seem insignificant, but he did what he could.*

*To pass away among the hills where he’d left his mark was just right.*

Lei Jun understood what was in Lu Zhaoqing’s heart, so he did not insist further.

After visiting his old friend and staying for a time at the Purple Cloud Sect, he said his goodbyes and departed with his disciple, Zhuo Baojie.

The next stop, Lei Jun originally planned to visit Mount Tianxu.

He had also once stayed there.

But, just then, a ball of light flashed in his mind, and words appeared,

[Underground chill, yin springs flowing, moonlit ice brimming, striking harm north and south.]

This time, two lots followed,

[Moderately good lot, midnight on the tenth day of the second month, arrive at the northern bank of the Jade River at the foot of Qingyu Mountain—earn one Sixth-Rank Opportunity, no risks or complications, auspicious.]

[Perfectly neutral lot, visit other places on the northern bank of the Jade River except Qingyu Mountain—gain nothing extra, lose nothing either, peace.]

The opportunity may not have been of high rank, but at least it came with no drawbacks.

After reading the details from the light sphere closely, Lei Jun thought for a while, then instructed his eldest disciple, "Let’s go, Baobao, our next stop is the Yuhang School."

"Master, I believe that, when outsiders are around, you can always formally address me as Hua Jie," the eldest disciple said seriously and solemnly.

But Lei Jun immediately reached out, ruffling the furry head twice, "All right, Baobao."

The eldest disciple let out a very human sigh, resigned to his fate.

Lei Jun took his seat upon the purple light thunder cloud and flew north.

His route had always been arranged close to the destination before notifying the locals, so changing his plans didn’t mean he would stand up Mount Tianxu’s Tianxu Sect.

The Yuhang School lay north of the Grand River.

Lei Jun and his disciple rode the purple light thunder cloud, flying over the great barrier of the Grand River.

In recent years, with earth veins shifting, the Grand River had become less treacherous,

But lately, it showed signs of swelling once more.

Thankfully, in the early spring, its waters were still low.

The purple light thunder cloud sped swiftly onward, crossing the Grand River and continuing north.

Only now did Lei Jun notify the Yuhang School.

Following the Jade River’s branch, Lei Jun neared the mountain gate of another branch of the Taoist Talisman Sect—the Yuhang School.

Just like with the Purple Cloud Sect, the Yuhang School’s sect leader and elders came out from the mountain gate to greet him.

Banners fluttered, and even in daylight, the Forty-Nine Lamps burned as bright as stars.

The group set up a ritual altar above the Jade River, bowing as one to the heavens.

The sky, once bright and clear, suddenly darkened at the edges and thunder rumbled in the distance.

A massive black cloud appeared on the horizon, threaded with violet light.

The purple light thunder cloud approached at lightning speed, and as it neared the Yuhang School’s group, slowed its pace. The black thunder cloud gradually dispersed.

The violet glow converged, finally seeming to merge with a single figure—a tall, handsome young Taoist wearing a purple robe.

The members of the Yuhang School bowed respectfully in the manner of Taoists, "Greetings, Elder Lei."