Cultivation: Fortune by Lots-Chapter 472 - 248. Daoist Foundation Magical Treasure, Supreme Pure Jade Heavenly Immortal Bamboo (Combined Chapters 1 and 2)
Generally, the main focus of external guests observing the triennial Transcension Ceremony at the Ancestral Court of the Talisman Sect at Dragon Tiger Mountain falls on the notable newcomers from the Celestial Master Mansion.
However, this year was somewhat exceptional, as quite a number of guests had their attention on Lei Jun, who was officiating as a master today.
Elder He Dongxing from the Mount Shu Sect and Prince Xun’an of the Great Tang, Zhang Mu, were sitting together.
While watching the ceremony, He Dongxing quietly asked, "Little friend Zhang, you should also be on the verge of taking that final step, right?"
Zhang Mu replied, "To be honest with Elder He, my understanding of the details is limited, but there should be some certainty."
He Dongxing offered his congratulations, "In that case, it is truly a joyous occasion to celebrate."
Zhang Mu said, "I heard that your sect also has a Taoist of the Sixth Heavenly Realm who is just a hair’s breadth from the last step? Allow me to congratulate Mount Shu in advance."
He Dongxing replied, "Still accumulating, it’s not certain, not certain." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
While he said this, his expression was calm and relaxed, which clearly indicated that Mount Shu internally held an optimistic view on this matter.
After congratulating He Dongxing, Zhang Mu’s gaze returned to the ceremony in front of him. A slight shadow crossed his mood.
Although Zhang Jingzhen was of royal pedigree, he had, after all, been studying at Dragon Tiger Mountain all this time and was a talent fostered by Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Even if we do not count the deceased Li Zhengxuan, the younger generation of Longhu Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion is on track to produce four Upper Three Heavens Cultivators.
The Mount Shu Sect seems pale in comparison, but its younger generation is also full of talented individuals.
With the surge of Global Spiritual Qi, young people are rising rapidly, and the advantages of Holy Land Sects are gradually becoming more apparent compared to the Prestigious Families.
No wonder the Five Clans and Seven Families are concerned.
In fact, the Royal Family and noble sectors are also feeling the pressure, aren’t they?
The situation within the Royal Family is slightly better. If one were to find a power in the Great Tang with more young masters than the Celestial Master Mansion, it would only be the unique presence of the Imperial House of Tang Court.
Although the Emperor’s Skill nurtured only two people at a time, with the Great Tang’s national strength at its peak, in terms of resources that one family could gather, the Zhang Tang Royal Family has always been the foremost in the present day, capable of cultivating and supporting even more people.
But as time goes on, it’s hard to say...
Zhang Mu glanced again at the Celestial Master Mansion hosting the grand ceremony and naturally thought of the Li Clan of Xinzhou, which had become a part of history.
There was a time when the Li Clan led the era, drawing the gaze of the whole world.
Before Xu Yuanzhen, the last Ninth Heavenly Layer Great Vehicle High Immortal of the Celestial Master Mansion was the first-generation Celestial Master Li Zhiyuan, known as the foremost master of the Taoist Sect at the time.
It was not until Xu Yuanzhen that the Taoist Talisman Sect again had a Ninth Heavenly Layer master after Li Zhiyuan’s passing.
A single individual could dominate an era, but that was not enough to establish a lasting family legacy.
However, the Li Clan was extraordinarily fortunate back then, as Li Zhiyuan’s three sons all turned out to be successful.
The eldest son, Li Yang, became the second Celestial Master Li.
The second son, Li Bai, was the third Celestial Master Li.
The third son, Li Song, later also achieved the Eightfold Heaven Realm and became one of the few esteemed Elders within the Celestial Master Mansion.
A man with three biological sons, all achieving the Eightfold Heaven Realm, is extremely rare throughout history, even among the long-established Five Clans and Seven Families.
After that, Li Yang’s son, Li Cangting, was the most outstanding talent of his generation within both the Li Clan and the Celestial Master Mansion. He was renowned throughout the Great Tang Dynasty, attracting the attention of other powers within it.
Beyond Li Yang and his son Li Cangting, Li Bai’s children—Li Qingfeng, Li Hongyu, and Li Ziyang—though of different ages, also turned out to be successful when looking back today.
Even though Li Song’s children were relatively mediocre, the third generation of the Li Clan was still extremely valuable in its own right.
Thus, the rise of the Li Clan was inevitable.
In fact, looking back, whether it’s the Five Clans and Seven Families or other historical Noble Clans, even the imperial families of past dynasties, they all experienced a similar surge of talent across several generations in their initial rise, laying the foundation for a legacy to be passed down through the ages.
But this is only a beginning. Whether they can withstand the erosion of time or survive the peaks and troughs will determine how long a family can endure.
The Li Clan of Xinzhou had a burst of talents across three generations—an incredibly rare feat.
However, with rise comes fall. From the fourth generation—with Li Zhengxuan, Li Xuan, Li Kong, and others—the descendants of the Li Clan no longer matched the brilliance of their ancestors.
Li Xuan and the rest were naturally not mediocre. Each had hopes of reaching the Seventh Layer of Heaven Realm before the age of one hundred.
Li Zhengxuan had already reached the Upper Three Heavens Level, becoming a High Merit Master. He also possessed the Saintly Physique Root Bone and Clear Insight Enlightenment. His talent and potential were extraordinary, and he steadily and forcefully followed the path trodden by his ancestors.
But everything pales in comparison.
First, there was Xu Yuanzhen, and then Tang Xiaotang, effectively suffocating the younger generations of the Li Clan.
Today, the Li Clan has become a memory.
If they were still around, the pressure would only be greater.
The newly risen Lei Jun has already surpassed the former Yong Celestial Master Li Zhengxuan in all respects.
If the members of the Li Clan were still mostly alive, facing this situation, what would their expressions be?
At the very least, Zhang Mu knew that many from the Noble Clans and Renowned Families were not looking pleased at the moment.
The glory of Lei Jun’s generation of disciples at Dragon Tiger Mountain is likely something even the Celestial Master Mansion itself would find hard to replicate, at least not consistently in every generation.
But that’s still better than the chances for the major families...
Prince Xun’an, Zhang Mu, was deep in thought when suddenly something caught his eye.
In front of him, at the ceremonial ground, the Transcension Ceremony was advancing to its core stage. The new disciples and their Du Shis stood to the left and right. After the High Merit Master officiating the ceremony recited the Ten Precepts, they proceeded with the ritual of severing the binding ties.
The Du Shis were generally clad in the deep-red Taoist Robes of Talisman-bestowed Taoists, but the sole exception was Lei Jun, dressed in a Purple Robe.
