But strangely, few people in the mansion actually cared.
On one hand, over the recent years, the Celestial Master Mansion had drawn very close to the Tang Imperial Court.
Strictly by battle achievents, if one ignored the Shangguan Clan, it was actually fair to call the Celestial Master Mansion the Tang Emperor’s top "double-red-stick" lately...
After the great battle with Li Wai, at the weakest point in the Celestial Master Mansion’s history, the Tang Emperor personally visited Dragon Tiger Mountain to show support and intimidate outside forces.
Not many years later, the Celestial Master Mansion smashed the Jiangzhou Lin Clan and gravely wounded the Youzhou Forest Clan, wielding two waterlon blades and carving a path from the South all the way to the Northern Lands.
Compared to the earlier days when the Li Clan cozied up to the Tang Court, calling this current phase a honeymoon between the Celestial Master Mansion and the imperial family felt more appropriate.
On the other hand, putting aside the older generation, and looking only at the young ones, Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, and Lei Jun had an overwhelming presence.
Zhang Jingzhen’s special origins had beco less noticeable by contrast.
"In earlier years, internal Li-to-Li rivalry and conflicts with Li Wai overlapped, making things complex within the mansion, and Master Shangguan and Zhang especially took on more of the royal family’s colors,"
Chu Kun said with a sigh, "Now that the waters’ve cleared, everything’s more easygoing, but we still need to thank Big Sister Zhang, the Sect Leader, and our master—and you too, Brother."
"Everyone’s got their own thoughts," Lei Jun replied, "As long as we’re pointed in the sa direction, just seek common ground while reserving differences."
While the brothers spoke, above them on the summit of Dragon Tiger Mountain, thunderclouds rumbled and flickering brilliance flashed.
Chu Kun looked up, "Is that the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven?"
"Mm..." By now, Lei Jun had beco a High rit Elder, able to glimpse the activities within the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven, "Zhang just headed in."
Chu Kun said, "Zhang always was one to cultivate with endless diligence."
Lei Jun raised his brow, gazing at the wild, dancing purple lightning above, *lost deep in thought.*
......
Clad in her purple robe, Zhang Jingzhen re-entered the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven.
At the mont, she was the only one here.
Zhang Jingzhen’s gaze swept across this violet world, and for a mont, she felt a surge of emotions.
She headed first for the Xianming Spring.
She had already reached the Seventh Layer of Heaven Realm, so this ti she didn’t need any water-repelling spiritual objects—her own Nine Abyss Fla Ancestral Dharma let her dive beneath Xianming Spring with ease.
But, sadly, she couldn’t find what she sought.
"If that’s the case, it ans the catalogue in the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven truly only has one half; the other half must be... is it really with Chen Yi?" Zhang had prepared herself ntally, so she didn’t feel much disappointnt now—more a confirmation of her guesses.
*But how did Chen Yi get half of the catalogue?*
*Was there an even deeper secret, another thread to the ancient Talisman Sect hidden behind his half of the catalogue?*
*Looks like I’ll need to hunt him down again...* Zhang Jingzhen gathered her thoughts and looked around once more.
She didn’t rush to leave, but kept searching and double-checking throughout the cave heaven.
After reaching Seventh Layer of Heaven Realm, Zhang Jingzhen had also visited Biyou Immortal Mountain.
She opened her hand, and radiant light appeared on her palm.
The light unfurled, revealing half a catalogue sheet, inscribed with intricate Tao Containnt runes that kept streaming forth.
Yet after long, painstaking ritual refinent, she still hadn’t gained any greater harvest.
"So there’s nothing..." Zhang Jingzhen breathed a soft sigh.
......
Lei Jun gazed at the sky above the mountain peak, at the cluster of purple lightning where the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven lay; *his thoughts lingered on how his best lot had made a specific ntion of ti.*
Normally, when a lot listed a specific ti condition, it basically ant it would wait for no one after that deadline.
If he and Tang Xiaotang hadn’t drawn out that Mysterious Void Mirror from Biyou Immortal Mountain in ti, it would likely an they’d never get another chance.
Given both the situation with the Mysterious Void Mirror and the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven, Lei Jun felt pretty sure it didn’t an the mirror would shatter or vanish just because the ti passed.
More likely, the magical treasure would end up in soone else’s hands—or sothing unexpected would happen.
Considering he spent several days channeling the Mixed Cavern Nine Lights through the Celestial Master Robe, Lei Jun counted over the dates and saw that, if he’d delayed, it would’ve lined up perfectly with Zhang Jingzhen’s ergence.
Furthermore, once Zhang Jingzhen had erged, she finished a few basic formalities and then headed straight for the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven...
*Was she after that Mysterious Void Mirror too?*
But that left a small problem.
Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang, with the Celestial Master’s Three Treasures almost fully assembled, had lured out the Mysterious Void Mirror.
Zhang Jingzhen might’ve reached Seventh Layer of Heaven Realm too, but her cultivation and prowess couldn’t match the pair; so how did she hope to seek out treasure?
"Maybe she already’s mastered so ancient relic, and relied on it to summon similar treasures?" Lei Jun guessed in his heart.
He rembered, the first ti he entered the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven, he’d had to choose between two moderately good lots.
The other moderately good lot pointed directly to Xianming Spring.
And back then, Zhang Jingzhen had already shown up there.
"Ah... so this ti I managed to beat her to it?" Lei Jun gave a wry smile.
*Still, he had no interest in digging into anyone else’s secrets.*
After Zhang Jingzhen left the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven, she seed just as normal as ever—never ntioning anything related to the matter.
Seeing that, Lei Jun kept quiet too.
He summoned his disciple Zhuo Baojie and quizzed him on his studies for a while.
Afterward, Lei Jun handed him a tender shoot from the Immortal Bamboo Forest in the Supre Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven.
Lei Jun had picked the tip especially, and these shoots were rare in the Immortal Bamboo Forest—Zhuo Baojie only got to sate his craving on special occasions.
The mont he got the bamboo shoot, the usually steadfast Zhuo Baojie dropped the act and lit up, grinning from ear to ear as he accepted it.
Those beady eyes spun around and around, shifting between his own master and the bamboo, as if searching for more hidden prizes.
"Got more," Lei Jun said bluntly, "but depends on how you do."
Xiaoxiong instantly straightened up, squeezing his little legs together and standing ramrod straight, his face the picture of earnestness, "Master, this disciple wouldn’t dare slack off for even a mont!"
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