"Zi Zi Ziyue?"
Chen Qing was quite surprised to receive the invitation. He had been paying close attention to the situation in Data City these past few days. By dividing Data City, he could confidently use a large number of Federation personnel to supplement the quality of the military and Scientific Research Institute, which would be of great significance in the future.
After things settled down over there, Chen Qing has been busy these past few days planning the big battle in the spring with everyone.
As a result, after only a few days of preparation, this unexpected incident occurred, leaving Chen Qing and the others completely stunned.
The Shen Family, who hadn't yet left, were also shocked by the invitation; their expressions were one of shock and bewilderment.
Chen Qing looked at the Shen Family curiously. "I rarely see you with such expressions. I've often heard of the Celestial Master Mansion, but what exactly is it?"
The Shen Family family members came to their senses, and finally, the Shen Lao'er explained to Chen Qing, "My lord, the Cloud Capital Celestial Master lineage has a long history. It is said to be the legacy of the Grand Preceptor of the ancient Warlock Dynasty dynasty. After the collapse of the Warlock Dynasty, all sorcerer families in the world revered this lineage. Before the establishment of the Great Jin, the orders issued by the Celestial Master Mansion were no different from imperial edicts to sorcerer families."
"That's exaggerated?" Chen Qing was taken aback, then looked puzzled, because he really hadn't felt anything.
Since he started his own rebellion, he has dealt with quite a few important figures, including the powerful Duke of Qin of Qin, the Duke of Song, the number one sorcerer in the Great Jin, and later Princess Xiao Mingyue. They were all the most powerful and influential figures of their time. Although he had heard of the Celestial Master Mansion, it seemed to be just a side project when so many major events happened, and he hadn't paid much attention to it.
"Actually, we also heard..." Shen Lao'er rarely showed a slightly embarrassed smile, " The Celestial Master Mansion hasn't issued any orders to the outside world for three hundred years. The only ones who know about this are the older generation of sorcerers. It seems that the previous ancestor was given an order. Our current Shen Family head, including my eldest brother, has not received any orders from the Celestial Master Mansion."
"Why is that?" Chen Qing was taken aback.
"It seems to be related to the secrets of the previous dynasty." Shen Laosan continued, "Although the Great Jin has only been established for twenty years, the previous dynasty collapsed and the world was in chaos for almost four hundred years. Back then, the last emperor of the previous dynasty died suddenly, the War of the Eight Princes broke out, and Heavenly Capital was sealed off. The last generation of the Celestial Master Mansion protected the peace of Heavenly Capital. For four hundred years, there was warlord chaos, but the flames of war did not reach Heavenly Capital. During that time, some forces did try to test the waters, but they all met tragic ends."
"After the Great Jin, Heavenly Capital has never explicitly acknowledged the current court. Even though our Shen Family was granted amnesty back then, the Celestial Master Mansion has remained silent. And even the Xiao Household has not dared to take action against Heavenly Capital to this day."
"That sounds pretty mysterious." Chen Qing stroked his chin. "And what's this Celestial Master selection all about?"
"That's even more mysterious." Shen Laosan said solemnly, "It is said that the Grand Preceptor of the Warlock Dynasty is recommended by various forces, screened by the emperor, and finally selected by the Celestial Master Assembly to determine the new generation of Celestial Master. It is said that in the Warlock Dynasty, the selection of the Celestial Master is even more important than the selection of the emperor in previous dynasties."
"However, the previous generation of Celestial Masters was said to have been chosen by the last emperor of the Warlock Dynasty. His surname was Zhang, and because the Zhang Family was the last generation of Celestial Masters, their status in the sorcerer world was particularly high. After that, the previous dynasty won over the Zhang Family and established a new dynasty. The Zhang Family has always been the de facto family of Celestial Masters. This has been the case for a thousand years. What I didn't expect was that after so long, when many families had begun to forget this tradition, the Heavenly Capital actually started selecting new Celestial Masters again."
"Huh?" Chen Qing immediately understood what was going on. "You mean, this is the first Celestial Master selection since the Warlock Dynasty?"
"It should be," Shen Laoqi nodded and said, "There are many rumors about the Zhang Family Heavenly Capital. Some say they broke the rules for selecting the Celestial Master, while others say they possessed the secrets of the former Warlock Dynasty and monopolized them. Although no one dares to provoke them, and the Celestial Master Mansion hasn't issued any of the former Celestial Master Decree in recent years, everyone has lived in peace. Not many people care whether the title of Celestial Master is monopolized by the Zhang Family, after all, the Celestial Master Mansion, which once commanded the world, no longer exists."
"But this time is clearly different. After the Warlock Dynasty, the Zhang family had always held the Zhang Family Celestial Master. Yet, at this moment, they announced to the world that they would be re-selecting the Celestial Master. And it just so happens to be at this critical juncture. This is quite interesting."
"Is that so?"
Chen Qing rubbed his fingers together, lost in thought.
He had heard of Cloud Capital long ago. A place that even the Xiao Household emperor and the former King of Qin dared not easily mess with must have many incredible secrets or a power that should not be easily provoked.
Even though this is the Transcendent era, he hasn't seen the emperor take any action there, nor has he heard of the Four Great Guilds taking any action there!
It's important to know that Cloud Capital the capital of the previous dynasty, so it should have a strong human fortune. If we could occupy that place, many forces, like the Mother and Child Ghosts Temple, should be able to spread out quickly, right?
Why is nobody interested in that area?
Was it deliberately forgotten, or is that place now considered untouchable?
Surely not?
Chen Qing felt very puzzled. Was there such a thing as Warlock Dynasty in the history of the game? He remembered that there was, but it didn't seem to be this mysterious.
Warlocks were originally a means he set up for humanity to fight against demons. The Warlock Dynasty was the ultimate application of this method, when warlocks reached their highest status, and a noble dynasty was established with warlocks as the main body. This world has already Samsara three times, and the original history should not be the same every time.
Could it be that this cycle of Samsara Warlock Dynasty is different from the previous ones?
At least he didn't recall any mention of the Celestial Master Mansion in the history of the Warlock Dynasty he had planned.
Furthermore, I don't recall this short-lived human Warlock Dynasty posing any threat to the ancient times.
"By the way, did their invitation to Master Ziyue mean that he is also qualified to become a Master Ziyue?" the young Shen Shiyi asked curiously.
"According to the old rules, it was like this," Shen Lao'er nodded and said, "The new generation of candidates were ultimately nominated and invited by the Celestial Master Mansion. The invitation stated that Master Ziyue was one of the four candidates."
"What criteria were used to select them?" Wei Gongcheng asked curiously, "Was it solely based on the wishes of the Celestial Master Mansion?"
"According to the historical records at the time, it was customary for major families of sorcerers to recommend their own members, and then the emperor would screen them first. Finally, a list would be compiled and the first selection would be conducted at the Celestial Master Mansion. Those who passed the selection would be eligible to participate in the subsequent Celestial Master's Election. However, the Celestial Master Mansion had the privilege of selecting at least four candidates to participate directly. According to the rules at the time, this invitation was not considered a violation."
"Oh?" Chen Qing found it even more intriguing. He wondered if the other party was specifically after Ziyue.
Ziyue rarely mentions the Warlock Dynasty of yesteryear. On the few occasions when the topic came up in conversation, she seemed to deliberately avoid it, and I didn't press her for details. But now it seems someone has come knocking on my door.
Rumor has it that Ziyue was one of the human sorcerers experimented on by the Warlock Dynasty and has been hunted down for a thousand years. Now, she has been nominated as a candidate for Celestial Master. What does this mean?
Could it be that Ziyue possesses something they desperately desire?
Just then, someone outside announced, " Lord Ziyue has returned!"
Everyone immediately looked over.
Chen Qing also looked over. Ziyue had been busy helping the Murong Family's young master stabilize the situation in the Northern Wasteland, barely having time to breathe. Now, having just received the news, she actually returned in person. It seems this matter is likely to be troublesome.
Sure enough, as soon as Ziyue entered, still covered in snow, she said directly to Chen Qing, "There's trouble."