Although Xu Duan had not gone to the Southern Wilderness that year, by that time, a disciple from Mount Shu stationed in the Southern Wilderness had already relayed news back to the sect.

"The Celestial Master Mansion truly has an abundance of talent emerging in this generation." Xu Duan’s gaze continued to shift, eventually settling in another direction.

There, Tang Xiaotang, the current Celestial Master, was watching the ceremony with great interest.

Celestial Master Tang was gradually losing interest in presiding over the Transcension Ritual.

However, watching Lei Jun, this novice, take up his post for the first time struck her as quite interesting.

Her cultivation strength was not inferior to Lu Fang’s.

As Xu Duan’s gaze moved over, Tang Xiaotang immediately looked back.

The Supreme Elder from Mount Shu nodded in greeting. Tang Xiaotang also nodded politely in return before turning her gaze back to Lei Jun and the others in the Jiao Chang.

"Although it hasn’t been publicly proclaimed, this Lei is highly likely to share the same Immortal Root Bone as Celestial Master Tang," said Xu Duan.

Lü Jinduan agreed with his assessment.

Without needing Xu Duan to ask, Lü Jinduan preemptively shook his head. "Lei’s Immortal Body might also follow the path of Shadow Movement, but it’s not the Pure Yin Immortal Body."

His Pure Yang Palace had an authentic Pure Yin Immortal Body—Jiang Yu—so he was quite confident in his judgment in this regard.

Upon hearing this, Xu Duan nodded. "To be able to create an entirely new Dharma indicates that Lei’s comprehension and innate talent must also be high."

Lü Jinduan remarked, "Now, it’s a matter of when he can achieve the Eightfold Heaven Realm."

Xu Duan replied, "Unless he stagnates for too long at the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Seventh and Eighth Heavenly Layers, he should be able to achieve it within ten years."

Lü Jinduan sighed lightly. "Ten years is not so far off. By then, his Yin Thunder Dragon will likely be even more perfected, won’t it?"

"Yes," Xu Duan nodded. "Regardless, our Taoist Sect is abundant with emerging talent. The so-called Mortal Tao Country cannot defy Heaven’s will."

Lü Jinduan responded, "You speak truly, Taoist Brother."

On the other side, Lu Fang was also paying attention to Lei Jun.

Sitting beside him, also representing the Tang Court to observe the ceremony, was Shangguan Sheng.

"Master Lei’s status within the Celestial Master Mansion has become even more significant," Lu Fang said quietly.

Shangguan Sheng nodded slightly. "At the very least, like his master, Taoist Yuan, the only uncertainty now is how long Celestial Master Tang will remain in this position."

Lu Fang spoke even more softly, "Their ages are too close; will they compete because of this?"

Shangguan Sheng replied, "From the current look of things, no."

Lu Fang said, "That’s good. Given the current overall situation, it’s best for the Celestial Master Mansion to maintain stability."

This generation of Dragon Tiger Mountain cultivators is exceptionally brilliant. Besides Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun and Chu Kun are also rising rapidly.

In the long run, even the Tang Imperial Court will have to pay close attention to their development.

However, aside from the great families, the situation both inside and outside the Great Tang is extremely complex at present.

In such a scenario, the Tang Imperial Court—including martial nobility like the Shangguan and Lu Clans—now fervently hopes for the Celestial Master Mansion to maintain its current stability, regardless of their past views.

The three Sacred Lands of the Taoist Sect are showing signs of forming alliances.

The Tang Imperial Court has been keeping an eye on this.

To be accurate, Xu Duan, Lü Jinduan, and the others had no intention of concealing it from the Imperial Court.

The reaction of the Tang Imperial Family has been to turn a blind eye.

Had it been in earlier years, this might not have been the case.

However, as the Tang Imperial Court’s attitude towards even the great families seems to have softened, this was even more true for the Taoist Sect.

Even if the three great Taoist Sacred Lands were to band together now, their primary target would be the Mortal Tao Country.

Besides, there is also the Western Region Buddhism, which has been scheming for years to expand its influence into the Central Earth Great Tang.

On the surface, relations between them and the Taoist Sacred Lands appear harmonious, but the internal reality might be quite different.

Therefore, Shangguan Sheng and Lu Fang calmly watched Xu Duan and Lü Jinduan personally make their way to Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Their current attention remained fixed on Lei Jun, who was presiding over the grand ceremony.

"’Mysterious Sky Thunder Ancestral Law Portrait, Yin Thunder Dragon...’" Shangguan Sheng recalled the Mysterious Thunder he had once seen over the East Sea, murmuring to himself, "Back then, I should have realized it. Yet, in the end, I still underestimated Master Lei."

He suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Perhaps, at the time, I was simply reluctant to believe that Master Lei was not only stronger than expected but stronger by that much."

Lu Fang said, "Lin Chi, Qi Shuo, and Tao Zhun are all exceptional masters, each excelling in their respective cultivation practices. Yet, none of them could defeat Master Lei. With such strength, few among all the Seventh Heavenly Layer cultivators in the world can compare to him."

Shangguan Sheng suddenly sighed.

Lu Fang was surprised. "What is it?"

Shangguan Sheng sighed lightly. "It’s a pity that Master Lei currently has no intention of marrying."

Lu Fang nodded slightly.

He had heard that the Tang Imperial Court once intended to marry a noble daughter into Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Regardless of whether Lei Jun takes over the position of Celestial Master in the future, he has become a target worth investing in, more so than Li Zhengxuan was in the past.

It’s a pity that those considerations ultimately came to nothing.

"There’s nothing to be done about such things. Besides Master Lei, aren’t Taoist Xu and Celestial Master Tang also unattached?" Lu Fang remarked.

Shangguan Sheng said, "Yes, it’s just a pity."

Lu Fang’s gaze finally shifted from Lei Jun. "Speaking of which, among the new disciples from the Celestial Master Mansion participating in this Transcension Ritual, are there any outstanding prospects?"

Shangguan Sheng replied, "There is one."

He gestured towards the Jiao Chang, indicating a young girl performing the ritual of ’dividing the ring and breaking the token’ with Luo Haoran. "That one."

"What’s so special about her?" Lu Fang asked, glancing over.

Shangguan Sheng replied, "As far as I know, it has only been about two years since she was brought to Dragon Tiger Mountain to enter the Tao."