Chapter 762: 311. The Four Directions Pay Respect to Xuanxiao Zi (Combined Chapter)

The Summit was a verdant tapestry of overlapping peaks, piercing straight into the heavens. It was perpetually shrouded in rosy clouds and mist, as beautiful as an Immortal Realm.

This time, Lei Jun came to the Ancestral Courtyard of the Mount Shu Sect in his own true appearance for the first time.

However, this Immortal Realm in the Mortal World was actually vastly different from before.

An internal war in earlier years had subjected the Summit to the ravages of warfare, and its lofty remoteness was gone.

Furthermore, when Fu Dongsen and others broke away from the Mount Shu Sect a few years ago, it triggered a catastrophe unseen for many years.

The Qingxiao Manor, which was almost one with the Sect Summit, detached and escaped into the earth’s veins.

The Taiyi Primordial Tower, which had always stood above the Summit, also disappeared.

The upheaval from these events nearly caused the entire Summit to collapse and sink into the ground.

Those who remained, such as Xu Duan and Zhang Taigang, devoted all their efforts to steady the Ancestral Courtyard of the Sect and prevent its complete collapse.

After several years of recuperation, the earth’s veins beneath the Summit had stabilized somewhat compared to before.

But the once abundant Global Spiritual Qi of this Immortal Realm in the Mortal World was now clearly much diminished.

This required Zhang Taigang and others to continue persevering over a long period to slowly restore the Global Spiritual Qi here.

The fact that the legendary, radiant splendor of the Taiyi Primordial Tower could no longer be seen atop the Summit pained the hearts of the remaining Shu Mountain Cultivators even more.

Lei Jun had once visited the Summit disguised as Chen Donglou.

Now he saw that although the Summit was not as spiritually vibrant as in the past, the flow of Spiritual Energy was at least more stable and peaceful than before. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The Gungun following behind him maintained a perfectly proper and strictly courteous human-like demeanor, though his two tiny, extremely agile eyes darted about ceaselessly.

Lei Jun and his disciple followed Zhang Dongyuan and others to the foot of the Sect Summit.

As they approached, Lei Jun’s face was nonchalant, but his heart was filled with doubts.

The ground of Mount Shu was now stable.

But the deep underground Qi veins had changed significantly.

It was clear the Mount Shu Sect was doing its utmost to seal these changes, but it seemed the disturbances in the earth’s veins would only grow more significant over time.

Fortunately, there should be no major issues in the short term... Lei Jun reasoned internally.

Upon reaching the sect gate, two people were waiting there.

It was He Dongxing and his disciple Ji Chuan.

After everyone exchanged greetings, Zhang Dongyuan smiled. "The preparations for the ceremony are hectic, and I need to see Elder Xu. Senior Brother He, I’ll leave Lei from the Celestial Master Mansion in your care."

He Dongxing replied, "Junior Brother Zhang, rest assured, I’ve got this covered."

Zhang Dongyuan bid farewell to Lei Jun and left.

He Dongxing and his disciple Ji Chuan then led Lei Jun and his disciple to rest at the guest house.

With just a few of them, the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.

Although He Dongxing was advanced in years, he had a free-spirited nature. At this moment, he stroked his beard with a beaming smile, his gaze shifting between Lei Jun and his disciple.

"Xuanxiao Zi truly has an affinity with our Shu region!" I said, laughing.

Lei Jun replied, "Coincidence, mere coincidence."

Ji Chuan turned his face away, his shoulders shaking slightly.

A certain fluffy little bear was the picture of composure.

He had seldom left the mountain before but had heard some rumors from the outside world concerning Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Undoubtedly, Xuanxiao Zi of the Celestial Master Mansion was one of the most prominent figures in the Great Tang Realm today.

Apart from his exceptional talent and formidable Cultivation, some other stories were also circulating about him.

For instance, of the three peerless geniuses of the younger generation who astounded the entire Great Tang, Lei Jun and the Current Celestial Master Tang Xiaotang were both initiated into the Taoist path by the elder Xu Yuanzhen.

Their intricate karmic ties made countless outsiders sigh, wondering if the recent fortunes of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion truly signified a turn from extreme adversity to great prosperity.

Generally, within the Taoist Sect—be it the Talisman Sect, the Refinement Sect, or even the Alchemy Cauldron Sect of the Pure Yang Palace—it was customary that whoever guided a new disciple onto the path would be their Du Shi.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, Lei Jun should have been Xu Yuanzhen’s direct disciple.

But due to Xu Yuanzhen’s personal reasons, Lei Jun ended up under the tutelage of Yuan Mobai.

Yes, his master was a panda who had attained the Tao. And then, there was his own disciple. Zhuo Baojie now stood quietly just behind Lei Jun.

As his master’s sole direct disciple, he too was a panda.

With a panda master and a panda disciple, it was hard for outsiders not to secretly wonder if Master Lei himself might also be...

Ahem, stop, that’s enough. I shouldn’t dwell on this. One must respect the master and uphold the Tao... Despite these thoughts, the Gungun maintained a stern and proper demeanor, dignified and courteous, though his eyes curved in a very human-like smile.

"After attending Senior Brother Zhang’s succession ceremony, my disciple and I intend to travel around the Land of Bashu," Lei Jun said.

Lei Jun turned to his disciple, gently patting the young panda’s head. A rare tenderness flickered across his usually calm and detached face as he said, "My disciple was born here, but since following me to Dragon Tiger Mountain to embark on the Taoist path, he hasn’t returned to the Shu region. This trip will be a good opportunity for him to visit his homeland. We hope the Mount Shu Sect will be understanding."

He Dongxing laughed, "Of course, you’re most welcome here."

Ji Chuan also smiled, "If needed, I could accompany you."

Lei Jun said, "Then I’ll have to trouble Brother Jidao once more. I recall that it was Brother Jidao who guided me through Bashu back then. To relive that experience now fills me with immense joy."

The three of them chatted happily together.

Only Zhuo Baojie, looking at his master, felt a deeply ominous premonition.

Lei Jun and his disciple settled down on the Sect Summit, quietly awaiting the arrival of the summer solstice.

Before the grand ceremony, besides He Dongxing and Ji Chuan who were specifically in charge of receiving him, and Zhang Dongyuan who had welcomed them earlier, he also met several High Merit Elders of Mount Shu one after another.

Among them were Zhang Taigang, who was about to assume the role of new Sect Leader of Mount Shu, and Xu Duan, currently the most senior Elder.