Chapter 257 - 145: The Old Affair of Chen and Yang, an Improper Stance

Chapter 257: Chapter 145: The Old Affair of Chen and Yang, an Improper Stance

The moment Xuzhuang activated the seal of the Master of the Jade Cauldron Hall, it resonated with the hall itself. News of the Hall Master’s ascension was immediately known within the hall, spreading instantly among the elders.

Regardless of their authority or jurisdiction, the various halls did not seem particularly vast from the outside. Once inside, however, it was another world entirely. Apart from the main council chamber, there were over a dozen separate spaces for the elders to manage their respective affairs.

Inside a spacious, private chamber, Yun Hengshi, the Vice Hall Master of the Jade Cauldron Hall, was attending to his duties. Suddenly, he saw a green light flash across the seal on his desk. Yun Hengshi’s brow furrowed slightly. He waved a hand over the seal, and it returned to its normal appearance.

Yun Hengshi had served in the Upper Affairs Hall for over three hundred years, so his information network was naturally extensive. In fact, he had already learned of the decree from the Upper Truth Hall even before Xuzhuang arrived at the Upper Affairs Hall to take up his post.

The position of Master of the Jade Cauldron Hall had been vacant for over a decade, and it was naturally reserved for a True Disciple. Yun Hengshi had understood this long ago. However, the identity of the person appointed still came as a bit of a surprise to him.

Yun Hengshi leaned back in his chair, an inscrutable expression on his face. He pondered for a moment, then suddenly picked up an unopened letter from his desk and casually opened it. The letter contained only a single short line of small characters: Do not do anything foolish.

This was the reply he had received after sending a letter to his family upon hearing the news earlier that day. The sender was none other than the current Patriarch of the Yun Family, Yun Hengce.

This True Inheritor Daoist, the last of the twelfth generation, had always been someone the Yun Family had gone to great lengths to befriend. Therefore, even though Yun Hengshi had only just opened the letter, he was not surprised by its contents.

Placing the letter back on his desk, Yun Hengshi just shook his head and smiled, murmuring to himself, "Chengxuan has descended upon the world. A millennium of immortal grace."

Yun Hengshi suddenly pressed his hand on the seal, sending a message. He then rose to his feet, straightened his robes and crown, and strode out of the chamber.

At the same time, several other elders from the Jade Cauldron Hall also arrived in the main hall. Yun Hengshi swept his gaze over them; they were all his trusted subordinates, but they constituted less than half of the total number of elders serving in the Jade Cauldron Hall.

Yun Hengshi gave the crowd an imperceptible nod and led the way out of the main hall. As expected, the other elders had not waited for Yun Hengshi’s command and were already outside waiting for the Hall Master. However, upon seeing Yun Hengshi emerge, they still made way for him.

Xuzhuang and Han Wang arrived, guided by a golden bridge. They saw a middle-aged Daoist with salt-and-pepper hair and an extraordinary bearing, wearing a Pearl Cloud Magpie Tail Crown, part the crowd and walk forward. He raised his eyes and met Xuzhuang’s gaze.

Han Wang’s heart stirred, and he sent a voice transmission to Xuzhuang: "This is the Vice Hall Master of the Jade Cauldron Hall."

In truth, Xuzhuang didn’t need Han Wang’s reminder; he had already figured it out. But before he could respond, Yun Hengshi suddenly raised his hands in a bow and said formally, "Yun Hengshi, humbly serving as Vice Hall Master of the Jade Cauldron Hall, greets the Hall Master."

"Oh?" Xuzhuang’s eyebrow twitched slightly. His mind raced for a moment before he raised his hands to return the bow, replying, "Junior Martial Uncle Yun, you are too kind."

Seeing the two of them exchange bows, the remaining elders of the Jade Cauldron Hall all bowed in unison.

Xuzhuang nodded slightly and said to all present, "Everyone, at ease."

Although Yun Hengshi’s expression was blank, his actions were quite respectful. He stepped aside, gesturing and saying, "Hall Master, please enter."

Xuzhuang nodded slightly and walked toward the hall with Han Wang. Yun Hengshi naturally fell into step on his other side and asked, "Since the Hall Master has just arrived, would you like to convene a meeting with the hall’s elders?"

Before Xuzhuang could answer, Yun Hengshi explained, "Several of the hall’s elders are currently attending to matters in the Daoist Soldier Hall and the Warrior Hall. They are not usually in the Jade Cauldron Hall."

Xuzhuang smiled and replied, "In that case, there’s no need to mobilize everyone. There will be opportunities in the future."

Yun Hengshi nodded and asked again, "Does the Hall Master have any orders for us then?"

Hearing this, Xuzhuang’s interest was piqued. He glanced at Yun Hengshi but couldn’t read his expression. He mused for a moment before saying, "I have only just arrived. All affairs in the hall may proceed as usual."

Upon hearing this, the tension in Yun Hengshi’s face seemed to ease, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared. "Excellent," he replied.

In the space of a few words, the group had arrived inside the main hall. Yun Hengshi gestured toward the rear of the hall and said, "This is the Hall Master’s office. It has been vacant for some time, but the Daoist Children of the hall have tended to it daily. If there are any shortcomings, I hope the Hall Master will not take offense."

Xuzhuang nodded and acknowledged with an "Excellent," then said, "You may all return to your duties. If there are any matters in the hall that I am unclear about, I will seek your guidance."

Hearing this, Yun Hengshi replied, "In that case, we shall not disturb the Hall Master any longer." The others echoed their agreement, bowed once more, and then took their leave.

Xuzhuang and Han Wang stepped into the Hall Master’s inner office. They passed a landscape screen and crossed an antechamber to reach the main office area. In it stood a large Cangyun Wood desk. Judging by the color and grain of the wood, it was likely over a thousand years old. Because the position of Hall Master had been vacant for over a decade, the desk was completely bare.

Beyond that was a quiet chamber for the Hall Master to rest. Han Wang explained, "The Hall Master’s quiet chamber has a spiritual nexus for cultivation that is in no way inferior to a Superior Spirit Vein. That is why many of the Three Hall Elders live and cultivate within their respective halls."

Xuzhuang nodded slightly. The two of them did not go inside, but instead returned to the antechamber and sat down. They had yet to exchange more than a few words when they heard the sound of a ringing bell from outside.

Hearing the sound, Xuzhuang called out, "Come in."

An elder they had just met moments before entered the inner chamber and bowed. "Yun Fengsheng greets the Hall Master."

Xuzhuang acknowledged him and asked, "Elder Yun, what is the matter?"

Yun Fengsheng said, "By order of the Vice Hall Master, I am to deliver these records of the hall’s affairs to the Hall Master." He then took several bamboo slips from his robes and added, "Among them is an urgent matter that the Vice Hall Master could not decide on. He requests that the Hall Master review it."