Chapter 794 - 318. Magnetosword Realm, New Divine Skills Concept (Combined Chapter)

The Crown Prince felt somewhat helpless.

In his early years, the first time he embarked on a journey, he had to return prematurely to the Imperial Capital Luoyang due to suspicions of assassination.

Many years have passed, and now he had finally embarked on a second excursion.

Yet again, he had to turn back halfway.

At least the last time, he was able to visit Pure Yang Palace, Mount Shu Sect, and Celestial Master Mansion one by one.

This time, he had barely set out, not even reaching the first destination, Southern Bodhi Temple, when he had to return home.

With such misfortune, there was truly nowhere to voice his grievances.

Fortunately, Crown Prince Zhang Hui was still emotionally stable. He didn’t insist on going his own way and went with the flow, immediately setting off for home.

Luckily, with Qingzhou Ye Cheng, Master Kong Nian of Xuantian Temple, and other experts to escort him back, there were no more concerns about safety.

People from the Celestial Master Mansion, including Lei Jun, had no intention nor need to turn back to help escort him.

After sending a message to express their concern, Lei Jun and his companions continued south.

The sudden change at Luping Mountain did not affect the mood of Lei Jun and his disciples.

They continued as before, moving at their own pace, stopping here and there to take in the scenic views of mountains and rivers.

After some time, the group of three returned to Dragon Tiger Mountain.

As they walked among the peaks of Dragon Tiger Mountain, still some distance from the main peak, Lei Jun said to Zhuo Baojie and Lin Shan, "Hua Jie, you go back to the mansion with Lin Shixiong first. Your teacher will go to Mystery Observatory for a visit."

"Yes, Master."

His eldest disciple answered first and then asked curiously, "Master, has Nie Dao emerged from seclusion?"

Lei Jun replied, "Indeed."

Mystery Observatory is located on the north side of the Dragon Tiger Mountain range and is some distance from the main peak, where the Celestial Master Mansion is situated, but it can essentially be considered the closest Taoist Temple to the Celestial Master Mansion.

This temple was founded by Nie Fang, who initially came to the Great Tang Realm from Heavenly Principle.

He appointed himself as the Temple Master. However, the temple did not have many disciples, and its lineage, strictly speaking, was not part of the Daoist Talismans sect, but a branch of the Taoist Yanshi Lineage, which was quite obscure in the Great Tang Realm.

Previously, with the permission of Celestial Master Tang Xiaotang, Nie Fang and his Mystery Observatory were considered a separate lineage of the Celestial Master Mansion.

According to the rules, as the new Patrolling Wind Elder, Lei Jun’s duties included visiting the various branches of the Taoist Talisman Sect. The Mystery Observatory was also on that list.

And because of their proximity, under normal circumstances, the first stop on Lei Jun’s itinerary would be to visit the Mystery Observatory.

However, when Elder Lei had emerged from seclusion a few months ago, Nie Fang was in closed-door cultivation and not attending to outside affairs.

Aside from Nie Fang himself, the Mystery Observatory did not have many notable disciples and therefore could not receive the visiting Elder Lei.

Lei Jun, of course, did not insist and simply skipped the visit to the Mystery Observatory, thinking there would be plenty of time later.

But on his way back this time, he realized that Nie Fang had recently ended his seclusion.

Since it was on the way, Lei Jun planned to tour this final point before returning to the mountains.

Zhuo Baojie and Lin Shan returned to the Celestial Master Mansion on the main peak, while Lei Jun, after greeting them, casually headed to the Mystery Observatory.

Nie Fang, the Temple Master of Mystery Observatory, had been notified in advance and came out early to greet Lei Jun.

Compared to when he first arrived from Heavenly Principle to the Great Tang Realm, Nie Fang’s complexion and demeanor were now much more relaxed and content, no longer resembling a trapped animal constantly on guard.

However, the young Taoist’s eyes were always bright and sharp.

He was dressed in the standard blue Taoist robe of a Sect Leader from a separate lineage of the Celestial Master Mansion. He, along with a few people behind him, bowed in salutation to Lei Jun.

Lei Jun returned a half-bow and said, "The Mystery Observatory is already showing impressive signs."

Nie Fang replied, "We still have a long way to go. You’re too kind, Elder Lei. Elder, please come inside."

Lei Jun glanced over Nie Fang’s shoulder at several young Tao Boys in grey robes lined up. Facing the High Merit Elder from the main mansion of the Celestial Master Mansion, dressed in a purple robe, the Tao Boys were excited and invigorated, but mostly nervous.

Luckily, although Lei Jun was not as warm and gentle as his Master Yuan Moba, he also did not show a stern face in front of the young disciples.

His calm and composed demeanor quickly influenced those present, and their hearts calmed.

Inside the Mystery Observatory, Lei Jun and Nie Fang took their seats. After the Tao Boys served tea with perfect etiquette, they retreated in an orderly fashion.

"I was in seclusion before and could not welcome you, Elder, at the earliest opportunity. Please don’t hold it against me," Nie Fang said.

Lei Jun said with interest, "It’s no bother at all. Such things are not uncommon. We are all cultivators, so it’s understandable. What I’m more interested in is your recent seclusion. What were the results?"

Nie Fang replied, "I was hoping to get some guidance from Elder Lei."

He led Lei Jun to the back mountain of the Mystery Observatory.

There, fields had been carved out amidst the mountain, vibrant with Spiritual Energy.

In the fields, it seemed like figures were tilling the land.

But Lei Jun did not need to look closely; his perception alone told him they were not living people.

They were mechanical automatons.

"Wooden, not metal?" Lei Jun inquired.

Nie Fang responded, "Indeed, these are all wooden. It’s not that I’ve given up on metal; rather, I’m still exploring and trying out more suitable materials."

The mechanical automatons working the fields at that moment, though referred to as wooden, were not ordinary wood. They were crafted from various kinds of spiritual wood that Nie Fang had experimented with over two years before settling on the most suitable material.

For the same automaton, different parts might come from different types of spiritual wood, all meticulously chosen and continuously refined by Nie Fang.

Thanks to this, while crafting this batch of automatons, Nie Fang’s own Cultivation Strength was steadily consolidated and enhanced.

Lei Jun took a closer look and saw that the actions of those automatons harvesting the Spirit Grass in the fields were ordered yet agile, displaying a surprising degree of Spiritual Nature.

If Lei Jun’s Cultivation had not far surpassed Nie Fang’s, and if his spiritual perception hadn’t been so acute, anyone else glancing from a distance would have found it difficult to distinguish those figures from real people.

"I plan to harvest this batch of Intelligence Grass later and then deliver it all to the Dragon Tiger Mountain Ancestral Court," Nie Fang said beside him.