It should have been a more concrete clue or piece of information to draw them to Star Dragon Abyss... Yuan Mobai focused intently, pondering.*
"It is indeed an important ssage, but we can’t afford to abandon Qihong Mountain either."
"Ti was tight for all of us, the sooner we could set out, the better. Fortunately, General Xiao and her group were also very likely heading toward Star Dragon Abyss next. In that case, we would split up. Chongyun, you would soon travel with General Xiao and the others, while I would go on ahead to Qihong Mountain."
*Lei Jun, hearing this, found it hard to protest any further. Thankfully, that perfectly neutral lot for Qihong Mountain didn’t promise gains, but also didn’t hint at any major turmoil.*
"Yes, Master." He agreed, then asked, "General Xiao and her team are going to Star Dragon Abyss for what reason?"
Yuan Mobai slowly replied, "They wish to further investigate whether the claims about Sheng Kang’s descendants are true or not, especially regarding the connection between Wei Ancheng, Blood River Sect Leader, and those descendants of Sheng Kang."
*Lei Jun raised his brows, sensing a deeper implication in his master’s words.*
"Wei Ancheng was surely a blood descendant of the previous dynasty’s royal family."
Yuan Mobai said, "But... he likely was not from the direct core line, since the Sheng Kang Crown Prince had other direct blood descendants."
Lei Jun understood, "Now the branches were strong, but the main trunk was weak."
Yuan Mobai said, "We still could not say for certain at this point. The crucial point General Xiao and her team would be checking was right here."
Lei Jun said, "Speaking of which, Master, about the starry sky inside the Celestial Book, your disciple made a new discovery lately."
He gave a rough account of his interactions with Shen Qubing. After listening, Yuan Mobai couldn’t help chuckling, "That Little General Shen really was open and straightforward."
Lei Jun said, "That person was extrely talented and could be called a prodigy among prodigies."
*Shen Qubing was probably even younger than him, but had already reached the Sixth Heavenly Realm of Martial Tao.*
*Lei Jun had started cultivating rather late, and at first his talent, root bone, and comprehension had not been outstanding. But along his journey, repeated strokes of fortune and opportunity helped him catch up quite a bit of ti lost.*
*anwhile, Shen Qubing’s situation was likely similar to other top-tier talents like Fang Yue—raised since childhood by a major power, and even if his natural gifts weren’t on par with Tang Xiaotang, he was still one in hundreds of millions, rare as a phoenix feather.*
*Xiao Xueting had ntioned that Shen Qubing grew up in the army, likely attracting attention from a very early age.*
"Of course, that General Xiao needs no further elaboration." Lei Jun added.
Yuan Mobai looked up in thought for a mont, then began, "Regarding Riyao, you suspected she is the present Sovereign, and as for Fire Yao, we could already confirm it was Little General Shen. Chongyun, you are Jinyao..."
Lei Jun asked, "Is Master suspecting sothing?"
Yuan Mobai shook his head lightly, "At first, I had so doubts... Whether this so-called Celestial Book could be a trap laid by the present sovereign to secretly select and cultivate outstanding young talents for later use by the Imperial Court,
but after reconsidering, it did not seem quite right. That Mu Yao, according to your account, highly likely ca from the White Lotus Sect. The White Lotus Sect was different from other factions—their spies should remain hidden, not appear openly to others."
"Moreover, Little General Shen was already her hand-picked rising star of the Divine Strategy Army; there was no need to specifically send him into the world of the Celestial Book, and to have his identity exposed so soon."
Lei Jun said, "I too once harbored similar suspicions, but there were contradictions that could not be explained, so for now I put those thoughts aside."
Yuan Mobai said, "Whatever the case, that place had been quite helpful for you. As long as its principles of sincerity and fairness were truly upheld, it was not a bad place at all."
He waved his hand, dispersing the starlight talismans that enveloped the area. Master and disciple walked out together, "Let us focus on our own affairs for now. I hope the Celestial Master Robe could return to Dragon Tiger Mountain sooner rather than later."
On the other side, Xiao Xueting had already finished her ditation and was now sitting quietly in the mountains and woods.
She was not wearing her armor at the mont, and with no other Tang Court people by her side, she appeared especially relaxed and at ease, making everyone think this was her true, usual self.
Amusingly enough, this girl was presently sitting with little regard for image, happily clutching a handful of lychees and feasting away.
Seeing Lei Jun and his master approach, she waved her lychees at them, "Taoist Yuan, Taoist Lei, want so?"
Yuan Mobai smiled, "Thank you then, General Xiao."
Lei Jun smiled as he took two or three lychees, "Where’s Senior He and General Shen?"
Xiao Xueting paused with the lychee halfway to her mouth, "Little Shen volunteered to stand guard, he’s up on that mountain. Elder He from Mount Shu is contacting his fellow sect mbers."
Then, she finally popped the peeled, snowy-white lychee into her mouth.
"Later, I intend to head elsewhere, so I might not be able to go to Star Dragon Abyss with General Xiao and Taoist He," Yuan Mobai said apologetically.
Xiao Xueting said, "Since Taoist Yuan ca to the Southern Wildernes, you must have serious business here. I can’t detain you, but I truly wish you’ll lend another helping hand if you have free ti in the future."
Yuan Mobai said, "Naturally, that is what I wish as well."
He turned to Lei Jun, "Therefore, my disciple Chongyun will go with you, General Xiao, to Star Dragon Abyss."
Xiao Xueting laughed, "It’s exactly what I hope for, I wouldn’t dare even ask for it."
Just then, He Dongxing returned, his expression a bit worried, "I need to make a trip to Nangu Valley Plain and can’t travel to Star Dragon Abyss with you, General Xiao. I will have to catch up with you later."
"Do your sect’s Taoists need any assistance?" Xiao Xueting asked.
He Dongxing replied, "My sect’s Jiang and her disciple ran into so trouble. They’re fine for now, but Jiang is rather badly injured, so I have to hurry and tend to her until others from our sect arrive. Only then will I feel at ease."
Xiao Xueting said, "Too bad Nangu Valley Plain is in the complete opposite direction from Star Dragon Abyss. Otherwise, we could have taken them along."
He Dongxing said, "Indeed, but the matter can’t be delayed. I’ll have to ask General Xiao to go on ahead—I will catch up as soon as I can."
Xiao Xueting said, "No ti to lose, Taoist Jiang and the others are still waiting. Taoist He, you had better set out right away."
Yuan Mobai said from the side, "Take care, Taoist Brother He."
Lei Jun added, "With the entrance to the Jiuli secret realm destroyed, this could be no small matter. It’s hard to predict how the remaining Sheng Kang remnants and the Blood River Sect will respond. Please be extra careful, Senior He."
*Nangu Valley Plain corresponded to a perfectly neutral lot as well. It shouldn’t be especially dangerous, and He Dongxing, as a Shushan Sword Cultivator of the Upper Three Heavens, should be treading on level ground.*
*It was just that Lei Jun had only recently awakened the Celestial Master Seal, and so he hadn’t yet gauged his own risk resistance properly. He also didn’t know exactly what ’may encounter so risks’ in a perfectly neutral lot ant in terms of specific danger.*
*He Dongxing himself might be fine, but Jiang Dongyu with her serious injuries, and Yang Chengjun who was only at the Lower Three Heavens, were another matter.*
*Lei Jun got along well with He Dongxing and Ji Chuan’s master-disciple duo, so he couldn’t help but offer one extra reminder now.*
The old Taoist He Dongxing gave an embarrassed "Pardon " to the group, then soared up, sword light shooting into the sky, rging with his sword as he hurriedly rushed off.
Xiao Xueting summoned back Shen Qubing, Yuan Mobai clasped hands in a Taoist salute, then also took his leave, heading off to try his luck at Qihong Mountain.
"We should get going too," Xiao Xueting said, taking out a small brocade box she always carried. She cleaned up all the lychee skins and pits piled beside her, leaving the area spotless, and then beckoned to Lei Jun and Shen Qubing.
*Well now, at least she was civilized and didn’t litter everywhere.*
*But... using a precious Confucianism Box just for fruit peels and trash—no matter how he looked at it, Lei Jun thought it was rather odd...* He glanced sideways at her.
Once they actually hit the road together, Lei Jun realized he’d underestimated the Third Miss Xiao.
She carried on her person three Confucianism Boxes, one Daoist Miniature Bag, and one Buddhist Mustard Seed Bag.
And two of those Confucianism Boxes were reserved for eating and drinking.
One held snacks.
The other was for fruit skins and pits.
Lei Jun watched as she took out a big handful of pine nuts from the first box, waving at him and Shen Qubing, "Want so? These are a treasured batch I brought from up north. The pine nuts in the Southern Wildernes can’t compare."
While talking, she cracked open a big pine nut and tossed it into her mouth.
She tossed the pine nut shell straight into the other Confucianism Box for trash.
And so the three of them strolled along, snacking as they went.
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