Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Whether he heard clearly or not, Lei Jun didn't care.

Compared to that, Lei Jun was more concerned about what would happen after Xu Yuanzhen returned to the mountain.

Tang Xiaotang obviously showed a great deal of interest as well.

After a short wait, two people returned together. It was Xu Yuanzhen and Yuan Mobai.

Xu Yuanzhen was dressed in a pitch-black cloak that tightly wrapped her slender body, leaving only her pale little face visible, her expression as indifferent and almost as cold as ever.

Yuan Mobai, as usual, wore a smile that made people feel like they were bathed in the warmth of spring.

The two, like two different seasons, walked into the hall together.

"Sister, where did you run off to as soon as you got back?" Tang Xiaotang asked with a smile.

Xu Yuanzhen replied, "I was chatting with Master Song and a few others about who the New Heavenly Master should be."

Tang Xiaotang's eyes widened. "Who?!"

Xu Yuanzhen said, "Guess?"

Yuan Mobai didn't let Tang Xiaotang struggle and directly revealed the answer. "The position of Celestial Master remains vacant," he explained. "The final decision is to temporarily follow the old precedent set during our Sect Leader's retreat before he passed away. A High Merit Pavilion, composed of several High Merit Elders, will be formed to decide major matters by vote."

Tang Xiaotang was flabbergasted. "So the position of Celestial Master will remain vacant indefinitely?"

Yuan Mobai looked at Xu Yuanzhen with a bitter smile. "If another Celestial Master emerges from the Li Clan, I'm afraid it would spark another internal strife within the Celestial Master Mansion. Our Sect really cannot afford another such loss of Primordial Qi."

"Master, if you're willing to mediate, why don't you take the position?" Xu Yuanzhen asked. "I don't mind."

Yuan Mobai replied, "Yuan Zhen is joking. Counting all the descendants of Our Sect in the Upper Three Heavens, I should rank at the very bottom. Xiaotang should also be placed before me."

Lei Jun was surprised to hear this. Because from Yuan Mobai's tone, it didn't seem like he was being modest or avoiding suspicion, but rather stating an objective fact. By age, he was certainly much younger than Li Song, Li Hongyu, and others, but his seniority was there nonetheless. By cultivation, I've never seen my master go all out, but I feel it's unlikely he would rank at the very end among all High Merit Elders. By temperament and capability, even members of the Li Family could trust that under Yuan Mobai's rule as Celestial Master, the Li Family wouldn't be purged. As for whether Tang Xiaotang's cultivation and strength were stronger than his, that's debatable. But if one of these two were to be chosen as the Celestial Master, Yuan Mobai would surely win the full support of the entire Celestial Master Mansion in a vote. If it wasn't out of modesty or self-effacement, then my master must have some unspeakable secret.

"I don't think so," Xu Yuanzhen said nonchalantly. "I think Master would be quite suitable."

Yuan Mobai shook his head and didn't continue on the topic. Then he looked toward Tang Xiaotang, who wanted to speak. "Xiaotang is not suitable either, at least not for now."

Xu Yuanzhen calmly stated, "As long as they're not named Li, it's fine."

"Senior Sister..." Lei Jun began.

At this moment, Lei Jun raised his hand to signal. "I have a question."

Xu Yuanzhen looked over.

Lei Jun asked, "Suppose there's a Li Clan prodigy who exceeds you in excellence and could lead the Celestial Master Mansion to even greater heights, would you support him as the New Heavenly Master?"

"No," Xu Yuanzhen replied.

She continued, "Choosing the wise and capable is good, but since Xin Zhou's Li Clan already has a bad record, it's time for them to pay back their debts."

As for the hypothetical idea that she might be inferior to the other party, Xu Yuanzhen didn't even deign to reply.

Wang Guiyuan asked out of curiosity, "Senior Sister, many think you aspire to the Celestial Master position yourself."

"I like to take things from others," Xu Yuanzhen said.

She added, "The key point is taking from others, not the thing itself."

In the current context, it was obvious who she meant by "others."

Lei Jun asked an important question, "What about the ownership of the Celestial Master Robe and the Altar of Wanfa Sect?"

Yuan Mobai explained, "Li Wai each hold one of them, and they will swap after a certain period of time."

Lei Jun lifted an eyebrow. "What about the Thunder Law Heavenly Scripture Talismans..."

Yuan Mobai stated, "The Celestial Master Robe, for now, continues to be held by the Second Senior Sister, until the time comes for the exchange."

Lei Jun straightforwardly commented, "It's a delaying tactic."

Yuan Mobai smiled faintly. "A gradual approach."

Wang Guiyuan asked softly, "Master, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

Yuan Mobai's tone remained gentle. "Yuan Zhen respects Senior Brother Qingfeng. As her teacher, I only needed to answer to your Grandmaster, but he has long since passed away. What concerns me now is the Taoist Heritage of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion."

He continued, "What's essential is the survival and continuation of Dragon Tiger Mountain. Currently, division means weakness. Internal strife will only hasten our demise, making us prey to external threats. Whatever the plan, as long as it doesn't spark another internal conflict, I will support it."

Tang Xiaotang puffed up her cheeks. "I'm not going to talk to you guys anymore; I'm going to look for the Celestial Master's Sword!"

Wang Guiyuan called out, "Tang, although things haven't been settled yet, whatever the outcome, you can formally proceed with your Transcension Ritual and Talisman Bestowment!"

Tang Xiaotang didn't look back. "There's no need for that. I've decided that I definitely want to be the Celestial Master and become the first one to rise to the position directly from being a Tao Boy! Right now, I might not have the Cultivation Strength to overpower the whole Celestial Master Mansion by myself, but soon I will!"

With that, she walked out the door.

Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan exchanged glances.

Xu Yuanzhen appeared indifferent.

Lei Jun then turned to her. "Senior Sister, about the Thunder Law Heavenly Scripture Talismans..."

Xu Yuanzhen chuckled. "Like the Celestial Master position, watching them come up with ways to withhold the Thunder Method from me and prevent me from becoming the next Celestial Master is quite an amusing affair."

Lei Jun watched his Senior Sister beside him. Somehow, her smile seems somewhat malicious.

Xu Yuanzhen spoke with a smile, "I've sought the Celestial Master Seal on a whim, not for the seal itself or the Thunder Law Heavenly Scripture Talismans hidden within. I'm not interested in learning them secretly. If I am to learn, they must give them to me openly and honorably. To be precise, my interest in the Thunder Law Heavenly Scripture Talismans themselves is also moderate, but I enjoy shattering their traditions and their stubborn adherence to them."

Lei Jun nodded. Just as I thought.

"So, um, Senior Sister," Lei Jun said softly, "about the Celestial Master Seal... it's currently with me."

Xu Yuanzhen was visibly startled for a rare moment, examining Lei Jun up and down for quite a while.

However, the first thing she said was, "When I first met you, was the Celestial Master Seal really there? Had you already come into contact with it back then? Is that why I found you agreeable? Tsk, that's truly shameful."