Chapter 771: 313. As if the Celestial Master Himself Has Come (Chapter Merged into One)

"Her Majesty’s original decree was to summon the Sect Leader to the capital for a meeting. However, as the Sect Leader is currently absent, the task has been delegated to a High Merit Elder of the Celestial Master Mansion."

Yuan Mobai continued smoothly, "However, Her Majesty’s subsequent decree directly entrusted the matter to you, Chongyun."

Lei Jun said, "Although the current Empress is quite fond of stirring things up, it is rare for an imperial edict to be issued directly summoning the Celestial Master of Our Sect for an audience. This time, it must be for some special matter requiring a face-to-face discussion."

Yuan Mobai said, "This will be a burden for you, Chongyun, but you may represent the Celestial Master Mansion with full authority."

Lei Jun replied, "Please rest assured, Master. Your disciple will be cautious in word and deed."

The Empress decreed a summons for an audience, setting a rather flexible date in the autumn.

Therefore, Lei Jun was not in a hurry to depart immediately. He chose instead to remain at Pure Yang Palace and await the conclusion of the Taoist Dan Ding Sect’s Precept Transmission Ceremony before proceeding to the capital.

The histories of the Taoist Dan Ding Sect and Pure Yang Palace are more ancient than those of the Refinement Sect and the Mount Shu Sect, though not as old as those of the Talisman Sect and the Celestial Master Mansion.

The importance of its Precept Transmission Ceremony is comparable to the Celestial Master Mansion’s Talisman-bestowed Ceremony.

According to tradition, the ancestral teachings of the Alchemy Cauldron Sect were originally transmitted orally from master to disciple, not meant for many ears and not lightly imparted, with an emphasis on self-cultivation.

In the course of its transmission, these teachings gradually incorporated and assimilated relevant principles from the Confucian Sect and the Buddhist Family, slowly forming the current Precept Transmission Ceremony.

The generally complete process includes numerous ceremonial procedures. These begin with raising banners and posting notices, followed by establishing the altar, drawing water, and purifying defilements. Then comes welcoming the master, inviting the saints, offering blessings, and performing rites. Subsequent steps involve inspecting precepts, examining verses, reciting scriptures and performing repentance rites, and presenting memorials. The ceremony continues with preaching precepts, conferring the dharma robe and bowl, distributing precept certificates, presenting memorials to thank the deities, making grand dedications, and finally, lowering banners and escorting away the saints.

Take this year, for instance. During the Lantern Festival at Pure Yang Palace, the banner-raising ceremony was conducted, announcing to Heaven and Earth the upcoming establishment of the altar for precept transmission.

Next was the notice-posting procedure. Pure Yang Palace issued a public announcement for precept seekers, disseminating it widely. Aside from Pure Yang Palace’s own Direct Disciples who had already undergone the head-covering ceremony, Taoist precept-seeking disciples from all branches and offshoots of the Alchemy Cauldron Sect throughout the land could come to lodge and register for the precepts. This process was termed ’lodging and registration’.

First, they would register at the registration office, then arrange lodging at the guest hall.

By the time of this year’s Ghost Festival, Pure Yang Palace began accepting these applications. Subsequent procedures included the initial ’plea for precepts’ and the formal acceptance of supplicants as disciples.

Honored guests like Lei Jun would only enter the venue when the grand ceremony officially began with the establishment of the altar.

Then, everyone watched as the entire Taoist assembly of Pure Yang Palace, along with the precept candidates attending the altar, jointly welcomed the presiding master.

The Precept Transmission Ceremony of the Taoist Dan Ding Sect is usually presided over by the Sect Leader of Pure Yang Palace in person. In special circumstances, a highly respected High Merit Elder may be asked to officiate. Because this individual explains the precepts and transmits the methods of the precepts, the one presiding over the ceremony is also known as the Precept Master.

This year’s Precept Transmission Ceremony was particularly significant, being the first since the chaos caused by Huang Xuanpu and Guan Jing. Its importance was self-evident.

As Pure Yang Palace currently lacks a Sect Leader, the role of presiding Precept Master fell to Lü Jinduan, who possessed both high seniority and considerable strength within the sect.

Other High Merit Elders, such as Wang Xuan and Jiang Yu, were all in attendance, participating as the Eight Assisting Masters who supported the Precept Master in conducting the ceremony.

The Eight Assisting Masters for the Alchemy Cauldron Sect’s Precept Transmission Ceremony are, respectively: the Master of the Covenant, the Master of Discipline Supervision, the Endorsement Master, the Master of Ceremony Demonstration, the Master of Ritual Correction, the Master of Examination Administration, the Registering Master, and the Inviting Master.

For a long time, the Eight Assisting Masters at Pure Yang Palace’s Precept Transmission Ceremony had comfortably been a full contingent of High Merit Elders, with enough depth for rotation.

However, this year, with Yue Xiling absent and after excluding Lü Jinduan who was serving as the presiding Precept Master, Pure Yang Palace shockingly could not gather eight High Merit Elders to serve as the Assisting Masters.

Upon witnessing this, Lei Jun and the visiting Mount Shu Sect Elder, Zhang Dongyuan, expressed no mockery. Instead, they both sighed repeatedly.

Their shared poignant feelings were not mere superficial consolation; they stemmed from a genuine understanding, as both the Celestial Master Mansion and the Mount Shu Sect had truly experienced similar situations.

Fortunately, years of accumulation had left Pure Yang Palace and the Alchemy Cauldron Sect with some remaining foundation.

The quality of the precept candidates at this transmission ceremony seemed quite remarkable, allowing everyone to hold some anticipation for Pure Yang Palace’s future.

During the subsequent ceremony, Wang Xuan, as the Master of the Covenant, lectured and resolved doubts for the precept candidates. Meanwhile, Jiang Yu, as the Master of Ceremony Demonstration, demonstrated the proper rules and etiquette to all the precept candidates.

Then, Lü Jinduan, as the chief Precept Master, personally faced the precept candidates. Following the established rites, Lü Jinduan administered oaths and, in their presence, questioned them item by item on the rules of the precepts. This procedure is known as ’Inspecting the Precepts.’

Afterward, the ’Examination of Verses’ took place. Test questions were set to assess the precept candidates once more, further determining each individual’s talents and disposition.

Subsequent rituals involved reciting scriptures and performing repentance rites, followed by presenting memorials to inform Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral masters.

At this point, the Taoist Dan Ding Sect of this world had completed the first half of its Precept Transmission Ceremony, pausing for an interlude.

External observing guests like Lei Jun began to depart from the venue one after another.

Although the ’Preaching of Precepts’ ceremony—the most crucial part of the entire Precept Transmission Ceremony—was scheduled for later, that segment was an internal Pure Yang Palace affair, not open to outsiders. It involved the Precept Master further elucidating the Dharma from the altar, explaining the precepts, and also teaching the principles of the scriptures to the precept candidates.

This would be followed by the concluding stages: conferring the dharma robe and bowl, presenting memorials to thank the deities, and the lowering of banners to escort away the saints.

In fact, as far as Lei Jun knew, if the strict ceremonial procedures were followed, Pure Yang Palace’s entire precept transmission process was meant to continue for another nine years.

The first three-year period is known as the Initial True Precepts.

The next three-year period is called the Middle Pole Precepts.

The final three-year period is referred to as the Heavenly Immortal Precepts.

These are collectively known as Pure Yang’s Three Altar Great Precepts. Only by upholding all of them completely can one attain true realization.

"However, there is a rumor that Pure Yang Palace might shorten the precept period this time, completing one stage of precepts per year and finishing the transmission in three years," Zhang Dongyuan said softly as they descended from the observation platform overlooking the ritual altar.

Lei Jun replied, "During special times, if that is indeed the case, it would be understandable."

Zhang Dongyuan nodded slightly. "Indeed..."

Meanwhile, a dignified man in luxurious clothing, appearing to be in his fifties, approached them. "Taoist Priest Zhang, Master Lei."

Lei Jun and Zhang Dongyuan both nodded and returned the greeting, "Your Highness."