Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Chapter 904: Chapter 340: Xuanxiao Zi, Chosen by All

In the forbidden grounds of the Ancestral Tomb at the back of Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion.

Two purple-robed Taoists sit facing each other.

One looks like a youth, his face always adorned with a gentle smile, making others feel as if bathed in spring breeze.

The other appears middle-aged, with a calm demeanor.

"Is the Sect Leader determined to step down voluntarily?" the middle-aged Taoist asked softly.

The young purple-robed Taoist opposite nodded: "The Sect Leader’s mind is made up."

"Chongyun will take over the mantle?"

The young purple-robed Taoist was Yuan Mobai.

His smile faded slightly, his expression becoming more serious: "Chongyun is capable of great responsibilities."

The middle-aged purple-robed Taoist opposite revealed a slight smile: "I deeply feel the same."

He paused, lost in thought: "Huang Xuanpu was killed by Chongyun?"

Yuan Mobai: "Yuan Zhen first heavily wounded him, Huang Xuanpu’s Nascent Soul fled, and subsequently Chongyun slew his Nascent Soul."

The middle-aged purple-robed Taoist exhaled a long breath: "Thus, the matter has finally come to an end."

Yuan Mobai: "Does Yao have any intention of coming out of seclusion?"

Opposite, Yao Yuan, also a High Merit Elder of the Celestial Master Mansion, gently shook his head: "It’s not necessary now, it is now a world of young people."

Yuan Mobai seemed poised to speak but hesitated.

Yao Yuan continued: "If the sect needs me, I will accept my orders, but ordinarily it’s unnecessary. These years in the back mountain, reflecting on the past, I’ve thought about many things; living like this is not bad for me."

He smiled: "Thanks to Yuan Zhen, Chongyun, and you, Yuan. With Huang Xuanpu vanquished, our sect is thriving, and the troubles in my heart have been relieved, allowing me to pursue other things freely."

Yuan Mobai congratulated him: "Are you intending to cross the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the seventh and eighth layers, to build the Divine Court?"

Yao Yuan: "For us cultivators, the opportunity to advance is always tempting. Although my lifelong path is already mostly visible."

This step tumbles, there’s nothing more to say; if succeeded, I will remain at the back mountain, and consider it adding subtle depth to our sect’s foundation."

He was well past the two hundred-year rapid growth stage of Upper Three Heavens cultivation, having reached a plateau period, yet not quite four hundred.

Opportunities to ascend persist but are not as great as before two hundred years old, with potential nearly visible at the bottom.

Now, with mental barriers cleared, there’s hope to breach the eighth layer successfully.

Particularly now, with the surge of heavenly and earthly spiritual qi, favorable for cultivator progress.

Yet, unless a major surprise occurs, this will likely be his last fight for major realm advancement.

After this, even if there are advances, the hope of further breakthrough to the ninth layer is slim.

Of course, compared to many cultivators stuck at the seventh layer, compared to prior circumstances trapped by his mental state, Yao Yuan does not seek more now.

With things before, as long as Huang Xuanpu lived, if Yao dared to breach the gap from the seventh to eighth layer, he would face only fall at the Heavenly Moat Tribulation.

If Huang Xuanpu endured until Yao reached four hundred before dying, then Yao’s eighth layer attainment would have been virtually out of reach.

"I wish you swift success, brother," Yuan Mobai said.

"Thank you for your kind words."

Yao Yuan smiled: "No rush right now, after the New Year ceremony, after the handover of the Sect Leader position, I’ll start secluded cultivation. Ultimately, it’s a grand event for our sect, and as a disciple of Dragon Tiger Mountain, I wouldn’t want to miss it."

Yuan Mobai: "I invite you then, to visit the front mountain."

Yao did not reject politely: "You’re thoughtful."

......

After collecting, purging the Yellow Sky Sect disciples, and handling their final matters, Shangguan Ning, Chu Kun, Fang Jian, Ke Sicheng, and other Celestial Master Mansion elders returned to the mountain successively.

Upon returning to the mansion, Shangguan Ning awaited good news.

"Welcome back, Master."

Several disciples from Shangguan Ning gathered to greet.

The leader was a Taoist appearing in his thirties or forties, wearing a deep red Taoist robe.

Despite still wearing the deep red robe, Shangguan Ning smiled upon seeing him: "Chongshan exited seclusion? Wonderful, wonderful, our sect has gained another high merit elder with Upper Three Heavens cultivation."

The Taoist, resembling a talisman-bestowed elder, was Shangguan Ning’s direct disciple, Lin Shan.

Having withdrawn and quietly meditated, Lin Shan recently succeeded in crossing the threshold from the sixth to seventh layer, achieving the Taoist Talisman Sect’s Seventh Layer Heaven Realm, becoming the Celestial Master Mansion’s newest Upper Three Heavens cultivator.

Because he had just come out of seclusion, he had not yet received the talisman or changed to the purple robe, so he came to see Master Shangguan Ning upon her return to the mansion.

"Much credit to the cultivation of the sect and Master’s guidance," he saluted Shangguan Ning.

Shangguan Ning smiled, sat down, looking at Lin Shan, Shangguan Hong, and all the disciples: "Yuan always says, Master leads you to the door, cultivation rests on the individual. Chongshan, your achievements largely rely on yourself. I hope you continue to cultivate diligently and set a good example for your peers."

She smiled further: "I wonder who can advance after Chongshan to become our sect’s tenth Upper Three Heavens high merit practitioner?"

Reflecting on the aftermath of the Li Wai battle, Shangguan Ning was filled with emotion.

At that time, the Celestial Master Mansion had declined to a historically low point; throughout the sect, merely Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, Yao Yuan, and Shangguan Ning, along with the then-missing Xu Yuanzhen due to the Poyang Lake battle, had Upper Three Heavens cultivation totaling only five in number.

In subsequent years, at least Lei Jun, Zhang Jingzhen, Chu Kun, and now Lin Shan have successively reached Upper Three Heavens.

Though the number remains less than ten, the Celestial Master Mansion has emerged from its nadir, regaining the grandeur of a top Sacred Land.

Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang have subsequently attained the realm of Nine Layers Heaven Daoist Great Vehicle High Truth.