Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 259: The Hidden Influence of the Tianshi Mansion

As Lei Jun traversed the vast mountains and rivers of Zhongzhou, he constantly recalled the texts he had studied.

Back when he first heard Xu Yuanzhen mention Zhongzhou in that otherworldly realm beyond the "gateway" of the Great Black Mountains, Lei Jun had taken it to heart. Upon returning to Mount Longhu, he delved into extensive research, poring over various records and documents.

Now that he had set foot in Zhongzhou, he was conducting firsthand verification.

The overall terrain and topography bore a striking resemblance to what he had read, with only minor differences—nothing beyond reason.

After all, in this world, mountains and rivers could shift naturally over time, and battles between high-level cultivators could reshape the landscape entirely.

However, when it came to the flow of the earth's spiritual energy, the differences were far more pronounced.

It was as if two places shared identical appearances on the surface, yet their inner structures were vastly different.

For a moment, Lei Jun couldn’t help but recall various settings from the novels he had read in the past, leading his mind to wander with numerous speculations.

After a long while, he took a deep breath, reined in his drifting thoughts, and turned to leave.

He continued his journey south, crossing the Great River and heading toward Mount Kuanglu.

Several secret realms and blessed grotto-heavens within Mount Kuanglu had once been the private domains of the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou. Now, they were under the control of the Tianshi Mansion.

Resources from these sacred lands were continuously transported to the ancestral grounds of Mount Longhu, while disciples of the Tianshi Mansion were stationed there to oversee operations.

Due to the great calamities that had befallen them in recent years, the Tianshi Mansion was still in the process of recovering its strength, but its numbers remained thin.

At present, nearly all Initiate Disciples had been assigned tasks of varying importance.

At Lan Yue Blessed Land, Lei Jun was greeted by a familiar face—an esteemed successor of the Tianshi Mansion who was responsible for overseeing the area.

A young Daoist clad in deep red robes stood at the forefront, accompanied by several Initiate Disciples in apricot-yellow robes, along with a group of grey-robed apprentices and attendants. They all respectfully welcomed Lei Jun, who was dressed in a purple robe.

“Senior Brother Luo,” Lei Jun greeted with a smile.

The red-robed Daoist before him was none other than Luo Haoran.

“Elder Lei, this way, please.”

In the presence of fellow sect members and juniors, Luo Haoran maintained proper etiquette.

Only when they were alone did he speak more casually. “So, what brings you to Lan Yue Blessed Land this time?”

As a High Priest Elder, Lei Jun had unrestricted access to most sect resources, requiring permission only for a select few items that needed approval from the Tianshi.

Under normal circumstances, if Lei Jun required anything from Lan Yue Blessed Land, he could simply return to the Tianshi Mansion, draft a request, and send a talisman over. Luo Haoran would then fulfill the request accordingly.

“I need to occupy Lingxing Spring for a while,” Lei Jun inquired. “Would that be convenient?”

Luo Haoran replied, “Let me first extract a portion of the spring water and send it back to Mount Longhu to settle this month’s records in advance. After that, you can stay as long as you like.”

He then grinned, “With you here, I can take a break from the blessed land and go for a walk along the riverbanks of the Great River.”

Lei Jun remarked, “This summer, the river’s current seems relatively calm.”

Luo Haoran nodded. “Indeed, much calmer than in previous years. But we’ll have to wait until July or August to be sure. If there’s a flood, I may need your help.”

Lei Jun replied, “Of course, that’s no problem.”

“I’m just giving you a heads-up, just in case,” Luo Haoran said, sighing. “The river’s current has been calming down over the past few years, but this year it’s especially noticeable. No floods are good news—less suffering for the common folk.”

Lei Jun silently nodded.

He wasn’t the only one who had noticed these changes in the Great River’s water levels.

Both he and Luo Haoran had their own theories.

Over the past few years, the flow of spiritual energy through the mountains and rivers had undergone significant shifts.

At first glance, things didn’t seem drastically different.

But in key locations, chaos had erupted time and time again.

First, the Xiao Clan of Longxi and Bodhi Monastery suffered devastating blows.

The Xiao Clan fared slightly better—though they had endured heavy losses, their literary heritage remained intact.

But Bodhi Monastery had been utterly reduced to ruins, forcing its surviving disciples to establish a new Southern Sect elsewhere.

Then, last winter saw an even more shocking upheaval.

The ancestral lands of both the Northern Lin Clan and Southern Lin Clan were wiped out simultaneously.

The immediate impact had seemed localized at first.

But as time passed, its effects continued to ripple across the landscape, altering the flow of spiritual energy in the mountains and rivers.

Though the Tang Imperial Family still held dominion over the dragon vein’s fortune, they too had to adapt accordingly.

Years ago, they had even relocated the capital for similar reasons.

In the past two years, the shifts in the earth’s spiritual veins and water veins had become increasingly dramatic.

This was why the Great River’s current appeared calmer than usual.

And this summer, more upheavals loomed on the horizon.

The Gao Clan of Zezhou was one thing.

But the Pure Yang Palace had suffered an attack that breached its mountain gates, and the ancestral lands of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou had been obliterated even more thoroughly than the Lin Clan’s territories before them.

These events would inevitably reshape the earth’s spiritual flow.

The exact consequences, however, would take time to fully manifest.

Luo Haoran was pleased to see the Great River no longer flooding.

But such changes were unpredictable.

There was no way to foresee exactly which events would trigger which shifts in the spiritual veins.

Sometimes, the results could even be the opposite of what one hoped for—with a significant likelihood of disaster.

This was the nature of true natural calamities—mankind could only endure or resist them, never fully control them.

After reminiscing for a while, the two senior brothers wrapped up their conversation, and Luo Haoran left to make arrangements.

The next day, he accompanied Lei Jun to the depths of Lan Yue Blessed Land, where Lingxing Spring was located.

The spring’s waters shimmered with stardust-like light, brimming with spiritual essence.

After Luo Haoran departed, Lei Jun stepped into the spring.

The waters instinctively parted around him.

Raising a hand, he traced symbols in the air.

At that moment, the spring water transformed into a floating scroll, unfurling into the air.

Lei Jun remained motionless, seated in meditation.

Within the scroll-like water, points of light intertwined, forming words.

In the depths of Lei Jun’s eyes, the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman radiated brilliantly.

One by one, words appeared, etched onto the liquid scroll as though carved into the surface.

Each character was imbued with Daoist mystical power, interwoven with the Ye Clan’s literary essence from Jinzhou.

This was something entirely new—different from traditional Daoist talismans, yet merging the profound wisdom of both Daoist and Confucian traditions.

As Lei Jun continued writing, the text expanded, filling more and more of the watery scroll.

Eventually, it compiled into thick volumes, stacked before him.

Under the radiance of his Celestial Ground-Through Talisman, the books slowly compressed—until they condensed into a single sheet of paper.

The paper transformed into a streak of flowing light, merging into the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman in Lei Jun’s left eye.

“This is starting to take shape,” Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction. “Still needs refinement, though.”

He glanced at Lingxing Spring before him and shook his head slightly.

His prolonged and intense use of mystical power had completely drained the once-brimming spring dry.

Fortunately, the Lingxing Spring had not been completely exhausted. Water continued to emerge, its flow gradually accelerating.

With time, the spring would naturally restore itself to its former state.

Lei Jun stood up from his seated meditation and offered a Daoist salute to the spring before him.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly halted.

Focusing his gaze, he noticed something unusual—now that the spring had temporarily dried up, inked characters were appearing on the exposed rocks beneath the water.

“Oh? Someone left behind writings here?” Lei Jun’s interest was piqued.

The handwriting did not belong to a Daoist; rather, it was the work of a Confucian scholar.

From the calligraphy alone, it was evident that the writer was a cultivator of remarkable skill and deep cultivation.

However, since the text had been inscribed within the spring, it had remained hidden—both by the spiritual energy of the water and by some kind of self-concealing technique.

It was only now, with the water drawn away by Lei Jun’s actions, that the writing had resurfaced.

The inked words carried no offensive intent. With a simple gesture, Lei Jun gathered them using his Daoist arts.

After reading through them, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

The writings automatically assembled into a book scroll.

The title read: "Miscellaneous Notes of the Nine Streams Scholar."

The Nine Streams Scholar was the courtesy title of Lin Jian, an elder of the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou.

By lineage, Lin Jian was the grand-uncle of Lin Che and Lin Yuwei.

For Lin Zhen, Lin Lang, and Lin Qing, he was their great-grand-uncle.

A Confucian grand scholar of the Eighth Heaven Realm, Lin Jian had secluded himself in his later years, retreating from the world due to age.

He was a contemporary of the First Tianshi, Li Zhiyuan, the founder of the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu.

Alongside Lin Jian, three Seventh Heaven Lin Clan Elders had also gone into seclusion, as well as another Eighth Heaven Lin Clan scholar, Lin Zhan, who was the seventeenth uncle of Lin Che and Lin Yuwei.

However, when the Battle of Jiangzhou erupted, only the three Seventh Heaven Elders emerged. Lin Jian and Lin Zhan never appeared.

After the fall of the Lin Clan’s ancestral land, rumors spread from the surviving members of the Southern Lin Clan—they claimed that both Lin Jian and Lin Zhan had mysteriously disappeared long before the Jiangzhou conflict, their whereabouts unknown.

This had since become an unsolved mystery among the Southern Lin Clan, made all the more painful now that their ancestral grounds had been destroyed.

While Lin Zhan’s fate remained uncertain, Lei Jun had now uncovered a clue regarding Lin Jian.

The writings indicated that Lin Jian, in his later years, had sought ways to heal old injuries that had diminished his lifespan, preventing him from reaching the full eight hundred years expected of an Eighth Heaven scholar.

Longevity itself was beyond his expectations. He simply wished to restore his natural lifespan by curing the injuries that had shortened it.

Thus, he embarked on a prolonged investigation, conducting extensive research.

However, something had gone wrong.

His journal abruptly ended midway.

This could very well explain why he vanished without a trace, unable to leave behind any message for his kin.

By analyzing the early entries in Lin Jian’s notes—and cross-referencing them with the spiritual resonance imbued within the text—Lei Jun deduced two potential directions related to Lin Jian’s path.

“One path leads east, the other west. The eastward path seems to head out toward the open sea, while the westward path leads into the mountains of Yuanzhou, further beyond Yuzhang...”

With his Clear Tranquility Perception, Lei Jun could glimpse subtleties invisible to ordinary people, deriving these insights. However, the information remained hazy and incomplete.

At that moment, the Light Sphere within his mind suddenly flickered, revealing a set of prophetic texts:

【There is a sacred mountain where jade waters flow, and an isolated island where the heavens stir. Fortune and misfortune intertwine, determined by a single thought.】

Upper-Moderate Omen: Traveling to Longxi in Yuanzhou offers the chance to obtain a Third-Grade Opportunity. No immediate danger, but future karmic entanglements may arise. Good fortune.

Moderate-Moderate Omen: Avoiding Longxi and Changjie Island leads to neither gain nor loss. Neutral outcome.

Lower-Moderate Omen: Heading to Changjie Island in the Eastern Sea yields nothing of value, while grave dangers and lingering consequences await. Extremely inauspicious.

Seeing this, Lei Jun’s brows lifted slightly.

The Southern Lin Clan had barely managed to establish themselves north of Lake Tai.

At first, things were relatively stable.

After all, with the destruction of their ancestral land in Jiangzhou and heavy losses to their numbers, they couldn’t afford to be too ambitious.

But now, Lin Yuwei and the remaining Lin Clan elders found themselves in an awkward position.

With the details of the Battle of Jinzhou now public knowledge, their situation had worsened.

It had been exposed that Ye Moquan had secretly commissioned the Southern Lin Clan to forge the Danxin Fragment Ritual Artifact—an artifact that ultimately failed spectacularly.

While the artifact itself was not flawed, intelligence regarding it had clearly leaked.

This allowed Xu Yuanzhen to anticipate the scheme and prepare an even more devastating "counter-gift," catching Ye Moquan completely off guard.

The Southern Lin Clan had now found themselves in an impossible predicament—whether guilty or not, their involvement was undeniable.

The Jinzhou Ye Clan had chosen to remain silent and lay low.

But the Southern Lin Clan had relocated right next to the Suzhou Chu Clan, with the Qingzhou Ye Clan further north.

If the Southern Lin Clan openly sided with the Tang Imperial Court, the Chu Clan and the Qingzhou Ye Clan would never tolerate it.

As Lin Yuwei and the remaining elders grappled with their dilemma, a messenger suddenly arrived with startling news:

"There is word of our Great-Uncle Lin Jian!"

The elders immediately perked up.

Regardless of anything else, an Eighth Heaven grand scholar like Lin Jian was a crucial pillar of strength—even if it meant diluting Lin Yuwei’s authority, they needed him now more than ever.

Unfortunately, the news was not a direct message from Lin Jian himself.

Instead, one of his old ink paintings had mysteriously changed, revealing new information.

"It points to the Eastern Sea…" The remaining Upper Heaven Elders of the Lin Clan exchanged glances.

They attempted to contact Lin Jian, but there was still no response.

After a long, heavy silence, Lin Yuwei made a decisive call.

“Jin Song and I will set out to sea. The rest of you must handle matters on land.”

Beside him, the Seventh Heaven Lin Clan scholar Lin Jin Song maintained a solemn expression and nodded.

In truth, Lin Jin Song favored aligning with the Tang Imperial Court.

Although it meant sacrificing their ancestral foundation, it was the only viable way to survive the present crisis before planning for the future.

But with the Chu Clan and Ye Clan watching them closely, and internal divisions within the Lin Clan, he chose to withhold his thoughts for now.

The others hesitated but, in the end, reluctantly agreed with Lin Yuwei’s decision.

In the grand Tang Imperial Palace, Empress Zhang Wantong sat upon her throne as four ministers entered the hall to pay homage.

"Take your seats," the Empress ordered calmly.

The four figures comprised one from each of the great clans—Zhang, Shangguan, Xiao, and Lu.

After they offered their thanks and took their seats, Empress Zhang Wantong spoke:

"I will be traveling to Guanzhong. During my absence, Luoyang shall be left in your care. Prince Mo Feng'er shall act as regent, with the ministers assisting him. Minor affairs are to be handled autonomously; major matters shall be reported to me in Guanzhong."

The Chancellor of the Chancellery, Shangguan Qing, spoke softly:

"Your Majesty, I once again implore you to reconsider. Unless absolutely necessary, you should not remain away from Zhongzhou for long."

The Empress remained composed.

"Guanzhong is a journey I must take. As for how long I will stay, we shall see."

Shangguan Qing bowed his head.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Lu Clan was also among the founding nobility of the Great Tang, and to this day, it remained the most prominent military aristocratic family. Though not as influential as the Shangguan Clan, its standing was still significant.

Especially with the Zhang and Shangguan Clans being closely tied, the Shangguan family was often regarded as half-imperial. In a certain sense, the Lu Clan was even more representative of the Tang Court’s aristocratic power outside of the imperial family.

“Your Majesty, a message from the Grand General. Seven bases of Vast Void Temple have been confirmed, among which Yuanmie and Jixiang, two of the rebellious leaders, have been identified as currently stationed.” Lu Zhen rose and reported.

At present, Grand General Shangguan Yunbo was not in the imperial capital.

Even before the Battle of Jinzhou, he had already set out.

However, he had not gone to Jinzhou, but westward.

Bringing elite warriors from the Divine Strategy Army, he moved in secrecy with his sights set on one of the Tang Court’s officially designated traitorous factions—Vast Void Temple.

On one hand, Vast Void Temple had long been anti-Tang.

On the other, it was connected both internally to prominent noble families and externally to great demons, making it a crucial hidden power.

The Abbot of Vast Void Temple, Yuanmie, had previously tested the waters with Vajra Monastery, but had been rebuffed—a seemingly opportune moment for the Tang Court.

However, Vajra Monastery’s sudden and extraordinary transformation had made it clear that it could no longer be regarded as a simple Buddhist holy land aligned with the Tang Court.

At the same time, the demon crisis in Guanzhong had erupted, and Pure Yang Palace’s unexpected and swift downfall became another shocking turn of events.

In this situation, Shangguan Yunbo and his forces decided against making any reckless moves. Instead, they focused on ensuring they did not lose track of Yuanmie, Jixiang Dharma King, and their associates.

Besides the Fang Clan of Jingxiang and Shushan Sect mobilizing northward to support Guanzhong, Guan Jing and Lü Jinduan quickly returned to Guanzhong, while Tang Xiaotang and Chu Yu also arrived one after another, preventing the situation in Guanzhong and Longxi from deteriorating further.

With this, Shangguan Yunbo chose to bide his time rather than act impulsively.

“Since I will personally travel to Guanzhong, the demon crisis and Vajra Monastery are no longer his concern. He may focus entirely on Vast Void Temple.” The Empress stated, “**Xueting departed earlier beyond the Pass. Now that he has been bestowed with the Mountain River Sword, he will join Yunbo.”

The Mountain River Sword was one of the Tang Imperial Family’s divine martial treasures, renowned alongside the Tianshi Sword of the Daoist Sect and the Northwind Sword of Confucianism, collectively recognized as part of the Seven Great Swords of the Tang Dynasty.

“According to the Grand General’s report, after Vajra Monastery repelled Vast Void Temple, they did not pursue further. However, the Vajra Realm has expanded tremendously.”

Shangguan Qing added, “From the latest intelligence, a new faction of Buddhist experts has emerged, calling themselves the Vajra Division. Their origin traces back to Mount Sumeru, one of the legendary Nine Heavens.”

For many years, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths had severed contact with the mortal world.

Though several secret realms had shown signs that, with the resurgence of spiritual energy, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths might reappear, no definitive gateway had been reopened—until now.

Typically, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were considered transcendent realms, surpassing even the most exalted blessed lands and grotto-heavens of the mortal world.

However, precisely because of this long separation, the potential transformations that had occurred over thousands of years led the Tang Court to respond with caution rather than mere excitement.

The Empress’s personal journey to Guanzhong was not solely for quelling the demon crisis—it was equally focused on investigating the reappearance of Mount Sumeru.

Though the other side had yet to take any further actions, vigilance was necessary.

“The affairs of the Three Jin Provinces shall be left to Uncle Changshan, for now,” the Empress continued, “You all shall provide support as needed.”

After the Battle of Jinzhou, Chu Yu had shifted his focus to Guanzhong, while Prince Changshan, Zhang Junhai, remained in Jinzhou.

One of his responsibilities was to assist Xuanyan Temple in stabilizing its internal turmoil.

Another was to oversee the transition, as the Ye Clan could no longer maintain its foothold in Jinzhou—this was the perfect opportunity for the Tang Imperial Court to expand its influence over the Three Jin Provinces.

“Your Majesty, the forces displayed by **Tianshi Mansion in this battle were beyond expectations, concealing many unknowns…”

Among the four ministers, the only woman—Princess Chang of Shanyang, Zhang Ying—spoke up.

As the daughter of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Zhang Ying was the paternal aunt of Zhang Qilong and Empress Zhang Wantong. Not only was she of noble status, but she was also the most powerful female cultivator in the Tang Imperial Family, second only to the Empress herself.

Her focus was not merely on Xu Yuanzhen’s individual strength, but on Tianshi Mansion as a whole.

More precisely, not just the top-tier cultivators of Tianshi Mansion, but its hidden influence and soft power.

“Setting aside other locations, Zezhou, Tianle Mountain, and the ruins of Bodhi Monastery are all significant sites. Yet Tianshi Mansion detected them first. Then, there was also the matter of Zhang Rui.”

Zhang Ying continued, “And what’s more, they were able to mobilize sufficient forces in a short time to swiftly take these locations—moving in and out like the wind. We cannot even determine their exact identities or predict their next actions.”

Following the Battle of Jiangzhou, the Tang Imperial Family had launched secret investigations.

At the very least, it was confirmed that those who had aided Tang Xiaotang and Lei Jun in assaulting the Lin Clan’s ancestral land were not from the Confucian Divine Archers on their side.

Nor were they from Shushan Sect—or rather, not officially affiliated with Shushan Sect.

Now, after the Battle of Jinzhou, this suspicion had been further confirmed.

It was now highly likely that a hidden faction was operating within or around Tianshi Mansion, and its power could not be underestimated.

In fact, Tianshi Mansion had practically resolved the Battle of Jinzhou on its own, rendering some of the Tang Imperial Court’s planned interventions unnecessary.

Zhang Ying and the high-ranking Tang Imperial Family members had begun to reevaluate Tianshi Mansion.

They had indeed supported Tianshi Mansion to counterbalance the noble families.

But now, Tianshi Mansion itself was becoming increasingly enigmatic…

“Back during the Shushan Sect’s internal strife, there was already a high probability that certain individuals faked their deaths to vanish into hiding.”

Lu Zhen said slowly, “It is possible that these individuals have now resurfaced. As for their connection to Tianshi Mansion… what their intentions are remains uncertain. I believe that this issue extends beyond Tianshi Mansion—there are undercurrents stirring beneath the entire Daoist sect.”

The Empress responded, “There’s no need to rush to conclusions. If there are undercurrents, then Jiangzhou and Jinzhou should not have surfaced this soon. Let’s observe further and continue gathering intelligence.”

Zhang Ying and the other three ministers replied in unison, “As Your Majesty commands.”

The Empress then turned to the youngest among them.

“Minister Xiao, what have you uncovered regarding Pure Yang Palace?”

The young man replied, “Your Majesty, there are leads, but we have yet to apprehend the target.”

He was Xiao Chunhui of the Xiao Clan of Longxi, currently serving as Chancellor of the Academy.

Tall and elegant, with a refined demeanor, he exuded a scholarly air, though his physique was somewhat frail.

“From the latest intelligence, there may be another traitor within Pure Yang Palace, apart from Elder Vermilion Bird, Wang Xuan—or rather, Wang Xuan is not the only one.”

“Oh?”

Shangguan Qing, Zhang Ying, and Lu Zhen all turned to look.

Xiao Chunhui continued, “Another individual, who is officially considered dead, also warrants attention—Elder Black Tortoise, Gu Han.”

The Empress narrowed her eyes.

“Gu Han is still alive?”

Xiao Chunhui: "We haven't found him yet, but there are many doubts. Gu Han may not be dead."

Shangguan Qing frowned. "Nascent Soul possession?"

In this world of cultivation, there exist methods of possession or spirit attachment.

Generally speaking, these are more commonly found within the Southern Witch Sect.

In particular, both the Gu Mastery and Cursing lineages have related secret techniques.

The Blood River Sect's nearly impossible-to-master divine ability, Blood God Child, also has a similar method, though its conditions are far more stringent.

Strictly speaking, among the Witch Sect's lineages, only the Divine Dance lineage of Gepo Mountain lacks such techniques.

As for the Ghost Dao lineage, the sacred land Jincheng Fortress possesses techniques, but instead of Ghost Dao cultivators themselves possessing or attaching to external hosts, it is the refined spirit remnants they control that may achieve such a feat. In some cases, Ghost Dao cultivators may merge their souls into their own corpse puppets.

Such techniques are typically last resorts for cultivators whose physical bodies have been destroyed.

If one attempts to use them to assume another’s identity, high-level cultivators can easily see through the deception. The drawbacks are numerous, and in severe cases, it could hinder one's path to higher cultivation.

Within the Tang Dynasty, the number of lineages possessing possession or spirit attachment techniques is extremely limited.

Generally speaking, only one sect is known to have them—the Daoist Alchemical Sect.

Cultivators of the Alchemical Sect practice Dual Cultivation of Essence and Spirit, relying on nothing external. While forging an extremely strong and resilient body, they also refine a spirit that is both solid and agile.

They can send their spirits to travel beyond their bodies.

This also grants them the ability to possess and attach to others, particularly once they reach the Nascent Soul stage at the Seventh Heaven Realm, at which point this ability grows even stronger.

However, such actions have long been explicitly forbidden by Pure Yang Palace, making them rare.

But this prohibition is a matter of self-discipline, not incapability.

"The supposedly dead Gu Han may not actually be dead." Shangguan Qing slowly asked, "Then what about Wang Xuan, who was supposedly missing?"

Previous reports stated that Wang Xuan had betrayed and sold out Pure Yang Palace, conspiring with Great Demons from within and without to breach its defenses.

Yet, after Pure Yang Palace fell, Wang Xuan was never seen again.

If he had been framed and forced to take the blame, then his current situation must be...

Xiao Chunhui: "Our people discovered Wang Xuan’s destroyed body, but we are still uncertain whether his Nascent Soul managed to escape. Further confirmation is needed."

Shangguan Qing, Lu Zhen, and Zhang Ying all fell into deep thought.

The Empress commanded, "Investigate Wang Xuan and Gu Han. Aside from that, thoroughly examine all individuals related to the fall of Pure Yang Palace, whether living or dead. The rest shall be discussed when I reach Guanzhong and meet with Master Huang."

Xiao Chunhui: "I obey."

After further discussion, the four ministers withdrew.

Later, however, another individual appeared before the Empress.

"Your Majesty, the Elder of the Silent Pavilion is currently residing at Prince Zhao’s mansion. Besides their previous connections, there may be additional hidden motives," Xiao Chunhui reported.

The Elder of the Silent Pavilion was the former patriarch of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou, Ye Moquan.

After the Battle of Jinzhou, Ye Moquan fled to Youzhou, seeking refuge at Prince Zhao’s mansion, to evade Wei Anchang and Tang Xiaotang.

To some extent, this was equivalent to publicly revealing their alliance.

Regardless of the internal truth, Prince Zhao Zhang Teng had previously maintained an outward distance from aristocratic families like the Ye Clan of Jinzhou and the Lin Clan of Youzhou.

Now, however, he had openly taken a stance.

To the general public, Prince Zhao remained a highly respected elder of the Tang Dynasty.

The Ye Clan of Jinzhou and the Lin Clan of Youzhou were still esteemed noble families under the Tang Dynasty, pillars of the nation.

But to those who paid attention, the implications were vastly different.

Prince Zhao was now stepping into the political spotlight.

Even though the northwest was once again falling into chaos, it was difficult to say whether this was the right time, yet he still made his move.

Beyond simply protecting Ye Moquan out of shared interest, the Imperial Court suspected that Prince Zhao had gained something from this maneuver.

"Keep watching. Handle small matters on your own, and report major ones to Chang’an," the Empress instructed.

Xiao Chunhui: "I obey."

The Empress asked, "What do you think of Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu this time?"

Xiao Chunhui: "Master Xu’s talent, intelligence, and strength are indeed as extraordinary as rumored. Even if she stopped progressing now, she would still be the strongest cultivator in Tianshi Mansion in over a thousand years."

And given Xu Yuanzhen’s demonstrated talent, expecting her to not continue advancing was clearly unrealistic.

"The only one who can compare to her, for now, is Tianshi Tang, should he one day reach the Great Ascension Realm."

Xiao Chunhui pondered for a moment. "And then there is Lei Jun, Daoist Lei. I also have high expectations for his future, but he has taken fewer actions. From what we have seen so far, he is not as dominant as Xu or Tang."

"However, in this regard, my thoughts align with Her Highness the Grand Princess—compared to the individual strength of Tianshi Mansion’s Daoists, it is their hidden influence that is truly surprising."

"By all logic, after the previous Battle of Liwai, everything should have been fully revealed. Yet now, it appears there are still many unknowns."

This battle had essentially forced the Ye Clan of Jinzhou to reveal all their trump cards.

And they still lost.

Even if they hadn’t been completely wiped out, their losses were devastating.

At the same time, it had also forced Tianshi Mansion to reveal some of its hidden forces.

But Xiao Chunhui was puzzled—if Tianshi Mansion, or even the entire Daoist sect, had some grand scheme brewing beneath the surface, then why had they surfaced so blatantly in the battles of Jiangzhou and Jinzhou?

It felt like an intentional exposure, which seemed irrational. From the results, it had benefited Tianshi Mansion, but even more so the Tang Imperial Court.

I appear to have ten, but suddenly reveal twelve or thirteen, further gaining the trust of outsiders… when in reality, do I actually possess twenty or thirty, or even more?

Xiao Chunhui could not yet decipher the reasoning behind it.

For now, as the Empress had said, it was best to reserve judgment and continue observing.

Only as the Empress said, it was best not to jump to conclusions and to continue observing.

The Empress asked, "Did the people of Tianshi Mansion notice the Total Annihilation Formation that Ye Moquan set up in Duanlong Ravine?"

Xiao Chunhui: "No one showed up to attack at the time. Later, the Ye Clan members removed the Total Annihilation Formation themselves before retreating. Because of this, it's unclear whether Tianshi Mansion, or those connected to them, were aware of it. However… I personally lean towards them knowing."

It was just that Ye Moquan's formation had been activated using the spiritual energy of the land’s veins, targeting only the Tang Imperial Court, without affecting Tianshi Mansion.

The Tang Imperial Court also took no further action.

With the Ye Clan's ancestral land in Jinzhou having already decided its victor, the Total Annihilation Formation had become a meaningless, discarded move.

Thus, the Tang Court remained still.

For the hidden pieces placed among the noble families, every effort was made to keep them concealed, ensuring their identities remained secret so they could continue to be of use in the future.

"The Elder of the Silent Pavilion has passed down his position as clan leader," Xiao Chunhui said. "The latest information suggests that he intends to go into long-term recuperation, though it is still unclear whether his injuries are truly severe or if he has other plans."

The Empress was unconcerned. "Once we get in touch with Xu Yuanzhen, we’ll just ask her."

Xiao Chunhui: "Your Majesty, I have another matter to report regarding the Southern Lin Clan. Just yesterday, Lin Yuwei and Lin Jinsong gathered a group of their elite members and set out to sea."

The Empress asked, "For what purpose?"

Xiao Chunhui: "It seems to be related to the Nine Streams Scholar, but the exact circumstances remain unclear. I have already ordered further investigation."

The Empress nodded.

As their discussion concluded, the Empress suddenly asked, "How is Meng Shaojie doing?"

Xiao Chunhui: "He has yet to gain enlightenment. His state of mind is somewhat unsettled, but under the current circumstances, that is to be expected. His cultivation has been diligent, and he is able to maintain self-control."

He smiled. "Your Majesty, I believe his preparation has long been sufficient."

The Empress replied, "All are cultivating in the ways of Confucianism, accumulating knowledge and progressing steadily. With his talent, he has plenty of time, but his foundation is still lacking."

His Majesty seeks to nurture him, yet hopes that he will not be loyal to anyone—not even to His Majesty or the Zhang Tang Imperial Clan… Xiao Chunhui sighed inwardly.

This kind of balance was difficult to maintain.

Too close, and one would form attachments. Too distant, and resentment could grow.

But just as His Majesty said, Meng Shaojie was still young.

Not only did he have time to cultivate, but as he aged and gained experience, his state of mind would become more stable, even hardened, making him less susceptible to external influences.

He could only hope that his own field would not end up growing someone else’s crops.

…

Lei Jun would never choose to go to Changjie Island in the Eastern Sea.

That kind of dangerous place—anyone who wanted to go could go.

So, after finishing his matters in Lan Yue Blessed Land, he sent a transmission to Luo Haoran as a courtesy, then departed Mount Kuanglu, heading west.

He arrived in the territory of Yuanzhou.

Then, he began searching for Qingmei Creek.