Chapter 695: 296. The second Fundamental Daoist Magical Treasure, Taiqing Eight Scenic Treasures Raincoat (Chapter combining two into one)_3

It was precisely because of this that he increasingly felt the seemingly unremarkable and refined gentleman before him possessed depth unfathomable as the sea.

"Sir, last time you mentioned Guicang in the East Sea, or rather, Heavenly Principle. Are the scholars there also studying a new discipline?" Meng Shaojie, recalling something, inquired curiously.

Xiao Chunhui nodded. "Indeed, though some of the details still need confirmation, it undoubtedly belongs to the fourth branch of the Confucian Sect’s scholarship."

Meng Shaojie listened with a sense of longing.

He did not long for the new scholarship of Heavenly Principle.

Rather, he yearned for their scholarship to have truly distinguished itself, charting a new course for Confucianism.

Unlike his side where, although things were starting to take shape, much remained immature.

Hence, Xiao Chunhui referred to the new scholarship of Heavenly Principle as a fourth Taoist Heritage, one that broke new ground apart from Scriptures Studies, Divine Archery, and Chanting, whereas Meng Shaojie’s side still had much work to do.

"Don’t dwell on it. Who knows how many years and generations it has taken to perfect and accumulate the new studies on the Heavenly Principle’s side," Xiao Chunhui said with a smile. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Meng Shaojie straightened his expression. "Yes, sir. I have learned my lesson."

Then, he suddenly remembered another matter. "Sir, has the Celestial Master Mansion repelled the invasion of the Mortal Tao Country?"

Xiao Chunhui replied, "To be precise, it wasn’t just repelled; the Mortal Tao Country was shattered."

He had already seen the related reports and now roughly recounted them to Meng Shaojie.

"Master Lei truly possesses extraordinary strength!" Meng Shaojie was full of admiration upon hearing this.

Xiao Chunhui also smiled slightly. "Everyone underestimated Master Lei. I must admit, I was no exception. Now that I’ve finally witnessed such remarkable talent, I can’t help but admire him."

One might say, the entire Celestial Master Mansion was quite unexpected this time.

They quietly retrieved the Celestial Master Seal. Then, Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, and Lei Jun successfully slew the Thousand Leaves Butterfly King, Rong Guangchen, and Wei Qiyue—one demon and two humans.

Even with the element of surprise from the Celestial Master Seal, the outcome was still astonishing.

Xiao Chunhui’s sister, Xiao Xueting, had told him in detail what she had witnessed.

Xiao Xueting had not personally witnessed the events within the Pure Yang Realm.

But she did see that Dragon Tiger Mountain unexpectedly possessed two treasures: a horsetail whisk and an ancient mirror.

Although they were consumable treasures, their ingenious uses were boundless.

It was speculated that the complete demise of the Thousand Leaves Butterfly King was related to that horsetail whisk.

Xiao Xueting inquired afterward and learned it was left by Xu Yuanzhen.

From this perspective, while everyone knew Xu Yuanzhen to be stunning, they might have underestimated her as well.

Of course, the one who presented the starkest contrast was still Master Lei Jun... Xiao Chunhui mused.

"I truly didn’t expect that Elder Huang... Huang Xuanpu of the Pure Yang Palace, would turn out to be the Emperor of the Mortal Tao Country."

Meng Shaojie suddenly remembered something. "Sir, you mentioned that on the Ji Du side..."

In the Celestial Book’s Dark Universe, they showed interest in the inheritance of the Ancient Talisman Sect.

It was truly unclear what specific ties it had with the Mortal Tao Country, whether it was friend or foe.

Now that the vitality of the Mortal Tao Country had been severely damaged, some truths were gradually surfacing.

Nevertheless, the situation in the Celestial Book’s Dark Universe seemed to remain unresolved.

Meng Shaojie, in his latest incarnation as Ji Du, had gone there and received instructions to continue the search for matters related to the Ancient Talisman Sect.

"Qingyan should proceed as usual," Xiao Chunhui said thoughtfully. "We shall observe how things unfold."

Meng Shaojie quickly responded, "Yes, sir."

***

「On Dragon Tiger Mountain, within the Celestial Master Mansion.」

At this moment, Lei Jun was also studying his own Celestial Book’s Dark Universe.

For in that Pale Universe, within the starry sky dotted like ink spots, a new colossal "ink blot" had emerged: a third dark luminary, aside from Luo Hou and Ji Du.

This was a new development that had manifested in the Celestial Book’s Dark Universe after Lei Jun himself advanced to the Eightfold Heaven Realm.

Recalling when he had just cultivated the Seventh Heavenly Layer, and Ji Du had newly appeared in addition to Luo Hou, it seemed very likely that this new dark luminary had emerged only because his cultivation had reached a major realm higher.

"Hmm, let’s call it Moon Borealis," Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Then, he separated a shadow of Moon Borealis and quietly sent it into the ley lines to circulate.

As for whose hands it would eventually fall into, Lei Jun did not intervene.

His principle remained the same: to quietly await the one chosen by fate.

Having dispatched Moon Borealis, Lei Jun returned to the mountain as if nothing had happened.

In the Mansion, Master Si, Yao Yuan, was entertaining a guest.

Lei Jun had interacted with the visitor before.

It was Elder Miaoyi from Tianlong Temple in Suzhou.

Because of the situation in the East Sea regarding Heavenly Principle, Tianlong Temple also had many experts joining the fray; even Abbot Master Miaoxin had left the temple for the East Sea.

Nevertheless, Elder Miaoyi had headed west, rushing all the way to Dragon Tiger Mountain.

His purpose, naturally, was to inquire about Monk Faqing.

"For specific details, you would have to ask Yuan." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Yao Yuan also didn’t know the specifics of Monk Faqing’s situation, so he instructed a disciple to fetch Yuan Mobai.

Lei Jun arrived first, and Elder Miaoyi congratulated him once more, praising the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion for shattering the Mortal Tao Country.

Afterward, without much ceremony, he directly sought information about Faqing.

"To be honest, the matter of Master Faqing took me quite by surprise too," Lei Jun said earnestly. "Master Faqing assisted Our Sect, and everyone here is grateful. But before this, I didn’t know that Master Faqing was still alive.

My teacher and Master Faqing were old friends; he often lamented Master Faqing’s untimely passing, feeling heartbroken each time. This was equally unexpected for him.

Initially, my master and we disciples thought that Master Faqing had been in deep seclusion, cultivating arduously within your temple all this time, and had come on behalf of your temple to aid us.

However, Master Faqing came hastily and left just as abruptly. No one in Our Sect knows his whereabouts; we too are completely in the dark about it now."

Since Faqing... no, scratch that. Since Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan himself wants to keep it a secret, then I certainly won’t expose him.