Free Web NovelChapter 916: Chapter 341: Celestial Master, Lei Jun
This time, the new Celestial Master Lei Jun took the lead, followed by Tang Xiaotang, who had changed into a purple robe.
The crowd outside the altar exclaimed in unison, "Disciples pay respects to the Celestial Master, wishing for boundless blessings and longevity."
At Dragon Tiger Mountain, in a solitary courtyard.
A petite female crown in a purple Taoist robe, draped with a black cloak, stood alone in the courtyard.
As in the past, she never participated in such ceremonies, and today was no exception.
In her leisure, her interest was in painting and smudging.
At this moment, the canvas was covered in black.
As if dense clouds were deeply locked, with thunder hidden within.
Halfway through the painting, the woman in the black cloak paused her brushwork, turned her gaze towards the main mansion of the mountain, and looked toward where the Altar of Wanfa Sect was located.
Seeing the spiritual light there receding, she raised her eyebrows slightly, withdrew her gaze, and resumed smudging the painting.
Outside the Altar of Wanfa Sect, after Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang emerged, they led the crowd to pay respects at the altar before heading to the Rear Mountain Ancestral Tomb.
This time, only Lei Jun entered alone to burn incense in respect of the ancestors.
In the Taoist Temple, Lei Jun reverently burned incense:
"To the ancestors of all generations above, disciple Lei Chongyun today takes on great responsibility, sincerely apprehensive and diligent, shall care for fellow sect members, uphold the lineage, hoping to establish new prospects for our sect, continuing the past and forging the future."
Regarding the ambitions of Huang Xuanpu to restore the inheritance of the Ancient Talisman Sect, Lei Jun did not agree.
To the seniors and wise predecessors, he paid respect for their past contributions with a grateful and respectful heart.
But as Lei Jun had once told Huang Xuanpu.
In his view, the mortal world no longer needed the Heavenly Court nor rulers like Emperors.
Lei Jun had a certain interest in the position of Celestial Master.
Now ascending to the position, some of his own ideas could be put into practice.
But it ended there.
He had no desire to cling to this position.
When there were outstanding younger generations in the sect, he would not hesitate to guide and pass the position to them.
As for whether his ideas would be abandoned by successors after his absence, Lei Jun would not be concerned.
If my ideas are discarded later, it does not matter.
Whatever is gained or whatever harm arises, is entirely yours.
Each generation takes responsibility for its own affairs.
During my term, I will diligently do well in my positions.
For the rest, let nature take its course.
Before the spirits of the ancestors, Lei Jun did not conceal his thoughts, speaking frankly.
He carried the Celestial Master’s Three Treasures with him, flashing a faint glow.
The memorial tablets of the past Celestial Masters inside the Taoist Temple also seemed to flicker with faint, illusory light.
After silently standing within the Rear Mountain Ancestral Tomb for one day, Lei Jun reemerged, reunited with the others who had been waiting outside the mountain, and then proceeded to the Celestial Master Hall.
By this time, the date was January 15.
The day of the grand ceremony had arrived.
This time, the new Celestial Master Lei Jun offered a petition, respectfully notifying all the heavens.
Towards the end of the ceremony, those standing behind Lei Jun were no longer Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, and other High Merit Elders.
But Lin Shan took the lead, followed by Fang Jian, Luo Haoran, and others, submitting petitions and reciting invocation texts.
After Lin Shan achieved the Seventh Layer of Heaven Realm, he did not immediately receive a talisman to become a High Merit Elder changing into a purple robe.
He personally expressed his wish to have Lei Jun consecrate him with a talisman after ascending, becoming the first officially ordained High Merit Elder during Lei Jun’s tenure.
As for Fang Jian, Luo Haoran, and others, they would also be granted positions as elders of the Celestial Master Mansion, becoming the first batch of elders during Lei Jun’s tenure.
Among those ordained as elders alongside Fang Jian and Luo Haoran was Lei Jun’s direct disciple, Zhuo Baojie.
After everyone offered their petitions to the heavens, the representative from the Tang Imperial Family, Chu Yu, accompanied by the High Merit Elder Tang Xiaotang and Yuan Mobai, arrived at the Celestial Master Hall.
Chu Yu, on behalf of the Tang Emperor, announced the titles of the four Great True Men of the Celestial Master Mansion and various commendations.
Afterward, as the succession ceremony drew to a close, the new Celestial Master Lei Jun was the first to exit the Celestial Master Hall.
Among the guests witnessing the ceremony, the Sect Leader of Mount Shu Sect, Zhang Taigang, stood up, performing a Taoist bow:
"Nine Heavens Responding to Origin, Nine Abyss Returning to Truth, Doumu Canxu, Xuanxiao Puhua, Three Caves Three Heavens Master Dragon Tiger True Man."
He Dongxing, Ji Chuan, Xie Yiling, and other Shu Mountain Sect practitioners were not surprised by their Sect Leader’s actions, and all stood up together, performing the salute alongside Zhang Taigang.
Yu Yichen and other Pure Yang Palace cultivators then looked towards Lü Jinduan.
Lü Jinduan, with an unchanged expression, stood up calmly and made a Taoist bow to Lei Jun:
"Nine Heavens Responding to Origin, Nine Abyss Returning to Truth, Doumu Canxu, Xuanxiao Puhua, Three Caves Three Heavens Master Dragon Tiger True Man."
The Pure Yang Palace members followed suit when they saw this.
Among other observers, some were surprised while others understood clearly.
Among the imperial representatives, Xiao Chunhui and Chu Yu both smiled faintly.
Shen Qubing looked around curiously.
Meng Shaojie did not speak, but quietly saluted Lei Jun, drawing attention from many nearby guests.
Prince Xun’an Zhang Mu and Shangguan Sheng, showed contemplative expressions.
"Nine Heavens Responding to Origin, Nine Abyss Returning to Truth, Doumu Canxu, Xuanxiao Puhua, Heaven-connecting Primordial Guarding Law Master." Chu Yu first spoke, with a Confucian salutation, paying remote respect to Lei Jun.
Xiao Chunhui made the same gesture.
Seeing this, Shen Qubing immediately imitated them.
Prince Xun’an Zhang Mu and Shangguan Sheng returned to a calm demeanor, also paying a remote salute to Lei Jun.
Representing the Eastern Palace and Prince Zhao’s Mansion, Shangguan Zhengqing and Jiang Yuan, after a brief contemplation, almost simultaneously began:
"Nine Heavens Responding to Origin, Nine Abyss Returning to Truth, Doumu Canxu, Xuanxiao Puhua, Heaven-connecting Primordial Guarding Law Master."
Elder Miaokong of Tianlong Temple was initially a bit surprised but soon returned to calmness, placing his palms together in salutation:
"Buddha be compassionate, the Heaven-connecting Primordial Guarding Law Master before me, disciple Miaokong of the monastery sends his respects."
Master Faming and other disciples of the Tianlong Temple followed suit.
Monk Ruyuan, a guest from Southern Bodhi, initially hesitated but after seeing Elder Miaokong’s gesture, thought for a moment and also placed his palms together:
"Buddha be compassionate, the Heaven-connecting Primordial Guarding Law Master before me, disciple Ruyuan of the monastery sends his respects."
Nie Fang, Tu Guangyu, Zhao Xuan, Mu Ning, and other sect leaders from branches of the Taoist Talisman Sect, without any hesitation, offered their salutes:
"Nine Heavens Responding to Origin, Nine Abyss Returning to Truth, Doumu Canxu, Xuanxiao Puhua, Three Caves Three Heavens Master Dragon Tiger True Man."
Watching from a distance, the elders of the Jingxiang Fang Clan, Fang Du, and the Suzhou Chu Clan, Chu Peng, exchanged glances.
No wonder even the recently succeeded Tang Xiaotang was surprised.
How many generations of Celestial Masters’ starting from Li Qingfeng, Li Bai, and Li Yang, had it been since such a scene occurred during a succession ceremony, even dating back to the time of the first Celestial Master Li Zhiyuan? Such scenes were yet beyond them.
