Chapter 772: 313. As if the Celestial Master Himself Has Come (Chapter Merged into One)_2

The visitor was also from the Great Tang Imperial Clan, coming as a representative to observe the ceremony.

His name was Zhang Zhen, none other than the Weiyang King of Great Tang.

Before the ceremony, Zhang Dongyuan had introduced Lei Jun and Zhang Zhen to each other; consequently, when the grand ceremony began, the two did not talk much.

At this moment, as all the guests attending the ceremony came out, Weiyang King Zhang Zhen took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Lei Jun.

Zhang Dongyuan excused himself with an apology and left beforehand.

"Master Lei, Zhang Xiongtai is still young, and it is his good fortune to be accepted into your sect. I hope you won’t hesitate to offer him guidance," Zhang Zhen said.

Lei Jun responded calmly, "Your Highness is too kind. Martial Nephew Hua Tai has been accepted as a disciple by Zhang; I believe she will earnestly teach him to become a person of merit. And we, as his mentors, will certainly assist from the side."

Zhang Jingzhen’s previously accepted head disciple, Zhang Xiongtai, like her, was also a descendant of the Great Tang Imperial Clan.

As far as Lei Jun knew, Zhang Xiongtai was indeed from a collateral branch of the Weiyang Mansion.

Moreover, their relations within the clan were not harmonious.

It wasn’t necessarily the fault of Weiyang King Zhang Zhen himself, as Zhang Xiongtai was neither his offspring nor from his direct line of close relations.

Originally, his understanding of Zhang Xiongtai was limited to knowing such a person existed, most likely because of the uniqueness of Zhang Xiongtai’s name.

It wasn’t reported that Prince Weiyang ruled his household with strictness. For matters concerning the younger generation beneath him, Zhang Zhen would not inquire in detail.

However, once Zhang Xiongtai was accepted into the Celestial Master Mansion and became a direct disciple of Zhang Jingzhen, Zhang Zhen couldn’t help but take notice.

If Zhang Xiongtai had been a direct disciple of Lei Jun, Tang Xiaotang, or others of their standing, Zhang Zhen would have been even more concerned.

Regardless of what the Weiyang King thought, his demeanor remained composed. He showed no sign of arrogance, nor was he overly affable, appearing just like an ordinary elder caring for a kinsman.

Besides Zhang Xiongtai himself, King Zhang Zhen of Weiyang was also interested in the views of senior figures in the Celestial Master Mansion, such as Lei Jun and Zhang Jingzhen, on this matter.

In fact, Lei Jun’s opinion was even more critical than that of Zhang Jingzhen, Zhang Xiongtai’s own master.

As a High Merit Elder dispatched for Patrol, Lei Jun’s symbolic significance was clear.

Even if not in the immediate future, Zhang Zhen was optimistic about Lei Jun eventually taking over the position of Celestial Master.

By then, Lei Jun’s attitude would undoubtedly influence the master-disciple duo, Zhang Jingzhen and Zhang Xiongtai.

Lei Jun’s calm and unperturbed tone, along with his even temperament, greatly settled Zhang Zhen’s mind.

Later on, after the Taoist Dan Ding Sect’s grand ordination ceremony officially ended, the Pure Yang Palace once again warmly received guests from all sides.

Afterward, the guests took their leave one after another.

"We have troubled your sect this time," said Lei Jun, bringing his disciple along while bidding farewell to Elder Lü Jinduan of the Pure Yang Palace, who had come to see off the guests.

Lü Jinduan smiled, "Lei, you’re too kind. Our Sect should be thanking you for making the long journey to visit. Please also convey my regards to your esteemed master, Taoist Yuan, and to our other colleagues from your sect, such as Celestial Master Tang and Fellow Taoist Xu, when you return."

Lei Jun replied, "Certainly, certainly."

As Lü Jinduan watched Lei Jun in his Purple Robe, signifying a High Merit Elder of the Celestial Master Mansion, he couldn’t help but feel contemplative. There was a time when the Pure Yang Palace had hoped to pick up a bargain and take Tang Xiaotang away from the Celestial Master Mansion. But fortunes change; now the Celestial Master Mansion was on the rise again from its lows, while their Pure Yang Palace had fallen into the pits. Now, they had to focus on themselves, to start from the bottom and slowly build up their resources... Lü Jinduan sighed inwardly.

Fortunately, for the Pure Yang Palace, the younger generation—including Jiang Yu standing beside him and other young disciples—was promising. Wang Xuan was in his prime and full of vigor, and although Yue Xiling’s situation was somewhat awkward, that would fade with time. For the Pure Yang Palace, what’s past could not be pursued; what mattered was what lay ahead. In previous years, the Pure Yang Palace had vaguely held the grandeur of being the foremost of the three great Sacred Lands of the Taoist Sect. But now, high-ranking members like Lü Jinduan and Wang Xuan, as well as the younger generation of the Alchemy Cauldron Sect, all had to adjust their mindsets and positioning.

Lü Jinduan watched Lei Jun and his disciple Zhuo Baojie depart, thinking to himself that for quite some time to come, the number one Taoist Sacred Land in Great Tang would likely be the Celestial Master Mansion.

Under Lei Jun’s feet, dark thunderclouds flashing with purple light spread out, lifting him and his disciple Zhuo Baojie into the air.

Under Lei Jun’s deliberate control, the thundercloud flew at a leisurely pace.

The master and disciple traveled east, still taking in the scenery along the way.

Only when they were nearing the outskirts of the Imperial Capital Luoyang did Lei Jun lower the thundercloud.

Luoyang, as the new capital of Great Tang, didn’t have as long a history as the Old Capital Chang’an, but after many years of accumulation, it had already become a vast and imposing Bastion Town.

The city outskirts were guarded by sentries.

Lei Jun, without hurry, announced himself, and before long, he gained entry and went directly to the Imperial Palace for an audience.

The Celestial Master Mansion had its own operations in the Capital and regularly dispatched representatives. Lianyun Temple, one of the largest Taoist Temples in Luoyang, was a branch lineage of the Talisman Sect’s Ancestral Court, Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Lei Jun sent his disciple Zhuo Baojie there to stay temporarily, then he followed the appropriate rituals to enter the palace and awaited the audience.

Under normal circumstances, the audience rituals were cumbersome, often taking several days to complete, but the Empress did not keep Lei Jun waiting for long.

Soon Chu Yu appeared before Lei Jun, leading him to the Imperial Garden for a walk by the lake. Dressed in casual attire, Empress Zhang Wantong was fishing in a small pavilion at the center of the lake.

"Find seats for The Lei Ministerial House and Shuyin." The Empress, focused on the water surface, didn’t turn around but instructed the palace maids standing in the pavilion.

After Lei Jun and Chu Yu had greeted the Empress, they took their seats accordingly.

Without need for further orders, the group of palace maids then withdrew one by one, leaving the pavilion in the heart of the lake.

"The Lei Ministerial House, you’ve been to the East Sea and have interacted with the Heavenly Principle’s people. What’s your view on them?" asked the Empress casually, still facing the water, without turning back.

Lei Jun believed that Chu Yu had previously reported back from the East Sea, and all the information, including the fact that the so-called Ming Court within Heavenly Principle was actually a government-in-exile, had been briefed to the Empress.