And every Abbot from generations past, regardless of their ultimate cultivation limit, would at least see rapid progress in their cultivation in the early and middle stages, far surpassing their peers and igniting endless speculation from the outside world.

Some years had passed since the previous Abbot of the Vajra Temple had entered nirvana.

Recently, there were sudden rumors that a new Abbot would be selected, and a large number of experts from within the Vajra Temple had emerged to greet them.

After Lei Jun finished stating his requests, most people, including Mu Yao and YueYao, shook their heads.

But after everyone had dispersed, someone came to have a "private chat" with Lei Jun.

It was Mu Yao.

"What exactly do you wish to know about the Xiao Clan from Longwai?" the other party asked.

Lei Jun replied, "I want to know about the relationships and backgrounds of the new generation of the Xiao Clan's three prodigies: Xiao Hang, Xiao Chunhui, and Xiao Xueting. The more detailed, the better."

Mu Yao pondered. "As far as I know, the three siblings of the Xiao Family are indeed born of the same father. However, the mothers of Xiao Chunhui and Xiao Xueting are extremely mysterious and are not from the Central Earth Great Tang."

Lei Jun said, "I have also heard of this."

Mu Yao continued, "However, although Xiao Hang has a different mother from the other two, their relationship is said to be quite close. It's because of Xiao Hang that Xiao Chunhui and Xiao Xueting returned to acknowledge their ancestors and join the Xiao Clan. Before that, the Xiao Clan was quite hostile towards them... including their father."

Lei Jun listened quietly.

Considering the current three Xiao siblings, there are about three generations of direct blood relatives in the Xiao Clan from Longwai. Their grandfather, habitually referred to as Old Mr. Xiao within the clan, was the previous Clan Chief. Their father, the eldest son of Old Mr. Xiao, is customarily called the Eldest Master within the clan. Yet, he missed the position of Clan Chief. Old Mr. Xiao passed the position of Clan Chief to the second uncle of Xiao Hang and his siblings, referred to within the clan either simply as the Clan Chief or as Mr. Xiao. Although it's not clear why the Eldest Master missed the chance to become Clan Chief, if it was related to Xiao Chunhui and Xiao Xueting, it wouldn't be entirely surprising. Their maternal family might indeed have their own story to tell. If I were to speculate, I would guess that they came from Foreign Tribes beyond the Central Plains, perhaps even from Demon Spirits or Immortal Spirits...

Mu Yao continued, "The Xiao Clan from Longwai has been quite restless lately. The few remaining Elders are quite dissatisfied with the three siblings: Xiao Hang, Xiao Chunhui, and Xiao Xueting. Xiao Hang stays in the ancestral land of Longwai alone, under increasing pressure every day."

Lei Jun nodded slightly. This was within his expectations.

The Empress established the Scholarly Mansion, with Xiao Chunhui directly in charge of its difficult founding. Xiao Hang's stance clearly supported this step. This fact alone, without the instigation of the other families from the Five Clans and Seven Families, was enough to cause chaos among the remaining people of the Xiao Clan.

The Xiao Clan had previously suffered devastating casualties. These included Old Mr. Xiao, the Clan Chief from two generations prior; Mr. Xiao, the previous Clan Chief; and the father of Xiao Hang and his siblings, the Eldest Master. As a result, almost all their Elders and top experts were wiped out. Consequently, Xiao Hang managed to keep the situation under control.

However, if members of the other Four Clans and Six Families were to secretly stir up trouble and lend support now, the Xiao Clan might descend into chaos again.

Regarding the Empress's newly founded Scholarly Mansion, the major Noble Clans and Renowned Families would hardly remain unresponsive. Although there was no outright conflict, the undercurrents hidden beneath the surface were undeniably more turbulent. The Xiao Clan from Longwai was where they were concentrating their efforts.

"Thank you for the information," Lei Jun said. "But is that all?"

Mu Yao replied, "The information I have about the Xiao Clan from Longwai is indeed only this much."

Lei Jun stated, "Regarding the search for the new Abbot of the Vajra Temple, my information can be narrowed down to within a hundred li radius. I believe it carries substantial weight."

Mu Yao was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Has Benefactor Lei already understood my background?"

After the transaction involving the remnant recipe of the Purifying Pill, he no longer hid much from Lei Jun. This news about welcoming the new Abbot of the Vajra Temple was also indeed very important to him.

"The White Lotus Sect, or perhaps a successor of the Great Void Temple," Lei Jun replied.

Had the news spread without incident, it would have been fine. But once something happened, it was almost certain that these two were involved. The relationship between the other Sacred Lands of the Buddhist Sect and the Vajra Temple was subtle. However, after the great calamity at the Bodhi Temple, the Buddhist Sect was currently in a situation of mutual dependence and would not drag down the Vajra Temple. The Tang Imperial Court likely felt the same. Although the noble families excluded the Buddhist Sect and Taoist Sect Sacred Lands, even if they were to target someone, the distant Vajra Temple in the Western Regions would be among the last choices. With the Xiao Clan from Longwai and the Celestial Master Mansion in the line of fire, the time had not yet come for the Vajra Temple. If there was an urgent need to intervene, it would be heretical sects like the White Lotus Sect and the Great Void Temple. Of course, Mu Yao did not necessarily have to take action himself; he could spread the news, and the other party would not hesitate.

"Benefactor Lei's speculation is correct," Mu Yao acknowledged. "The matter of the Vajra Temple cannot be ignored by me, so there is no need to continue hiding."

Although Mu Yao spoke as such, he did not elaborate further but simply stated, "Benefactor Lei's information does indeed carry more weight than mine. To be fair, I will add a little something to the exchange."

What he offered as a token was nothing less than the incomplete recipes for three remarkable spiritual elixirs. Besides the Heavenly Primordial Qingjing Pill's incomplete recipe from the Taoist Talisman Sect, there was also the incomplete recipe for the Cold Light Pill from the External Alchemy School's Sacred Land at Mount Shu, as well as the lost secret medicine Heavenly Net Powder's incomplete recipe from a Martial Tao medical family.

Without needing Lei Jun to choose, Mu Yao presented all of them, seemingly indicating his sincerity by not excessively probing into Lei Jun's background. As for what Mu Yao truly thought, only he himself knew. He likely has some suspicions about me as well, Lei Jun considered.

But Lei Jun didn't point it out, nor did he stand on ceremony, responding as usual, "In that case, thank you."

After taking all three incomplete recipes, Lei Jun conveyed the location information obtained from his master, Yuan Mobai, to Mu Yao.

Mu Yao thanked him and said no more, thereafter "disconnecting."

Lei Jun too "disconnected," and later briefly recounted the matter to Yuan Mobai.

After hearing it, Yuan Mobai smiled and nodded. "As long as they are not currently our enemies, that's good enough. Compared to that, the Great Void Temple is a bit more dangerous."

「Soon, news came back.」

Experts from the White Lotus Sect and the Great Void Temple launched a sudden attack on a location in the Western Regions, unleashing a fierce battle with the high monks of the Vajra Temple.

However, as far as the Celestial Master Mansion was concerned, they only needed to quietly observe.

After Lei Jun handed over the incomplete recipe of the Heavenly Primordial Qingjing Pill to the first level of the True One Altar, he temporarily set the matter aside. He then focused on his own cultivation.

The fifth Tao Palace, which was also the last one, was finally completed.

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