Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 120: The best of times, the worst of times

For the Li Family, the situation within the Tianshi Mansion was currently quite delicate.

In terms of strength, since the passing of the previous Tianshi, Li Qingfeng, the title of "Second Tianshi" for Xu Yuanzhen could be dropped.

The term "Second Tianshi" was often a half-joking, half-provocative label used by external factions of Mount Longhu, but most people privately acknowledged that Xu Yuanzhen had been the second-strongest figure in Tianshi Mansion after Li Qingfeng for quite some time.

In the last major battle, Xu Yuanzhen first intercepted the mysterious master who ambushed them, creating an opening for Tianshi Li Qingfeng to take down the Lin Clan leader in a mutual demise.

She then drove off that mysterious master, preventing further interference in the battle.

Finally, Xu Yuanzhen returned to Mount Longhu and defeated Taoist Master Taiping, the head of the Yellow Heaven Sect, decisively concluding the battle.

Detailing the battle, aside from the unique circumstances of the fallen Tianshi Li Qingfeng, Xu Yuanzhen undeniably earned the top merit.

Even the Li Family experts agreed on this point.

Overall, while the Li Family was under great pressure, it remained manageable.

Their grand-uncle Li Song and Xu Yuanzhen, both experts in the Talismanic Branch at the Eighth Heaven, were aging but hadn’t yet shown signs of decline.

Though Li Song's cultivation was inferior to Xu Yuanzhen's, he could still hold his own.

Second Elder Li Hongyu was exceptionally talented and a formidable fighter among those of the same realm.

Had she not been so gifted, how could she have rivaled Tianshi Li Qingfeng in their youth?

It was only after Li Qingfeng ascended to the position of Tianshi that the gap between them widened.

Even now, Li Hongyu remained unconvinced of her elder brother's superiority.

This Second Elder of Tianshi Mansion wielded the Tianshi Robe and had once fought the Yellow Heaven Sect leader, Taoist Master Taiping, who was at the Eighth Heaven, while she was only at the Seventh Heaven, and successfully drove him out of Mount Longhu.

She and Supreme Elder Li Song held the line for the Li Family, maintaining their psychological safety net.

Although Li Zhengxuan was currently in seclusion at the ancestral tomb for his punishment, his strength was firmly within the Upper Heavens.

He was younger than Ye Cheng of Qingzhou and Lin Zhen of Jiangzhou, with plenty of potential left.

Additionally, with Elder Li Ziyang, also of the Upper Heavens, the Li Family remained a formidable force as long as they stayed united.

The surge in spiritual energy benefited their cultivation greatly.

But they couldn’t ignore the fact that some were advancing even faster.

Tang Xiaotang.

She was now the youngest cultivator at the Upper Heavens on Mount Longhu.

This year, she hadn’t even reached her twenty-fifth birthday.

Yet, she had already attained the Seventh Heaven several years prior, a feat that inspired both envy and awe.

No one knew when she might ascend to the Eighth Heaven.

Crossing into a new major realm was fraught with tribulations and risks. Many cultivators were stuck for years or even a lifetime.

However, in this era of surging spiritual energy, Tang Xiaotang seemed the most likely to lead the way.

Once she broke through to the Eighth Heaven, it would shatter the psychological safety net for many others…

The situation in Tianshi Mansion could change dramatically at any moment.

The mere thought of this unsettled many hearts.

Everyone needed a new opportunity to prevent their circumstances from slipping into a dire state.

“Especially since Little Senior Sister is also searching for the Tianshi Sword,” Lei Jun remarked.

Wang Guiyuan sighed. “Indeed, Tang Junior Sister is incredibly talented, but she’s too impulsive. She needs to be careful, especially in this environment…”

He shook his head and turned to Lei Jun with a serious expression. “Junior Brother, while it’s true that spiritual energy is surging and opportunities are increasing, so are the dangers.”

Lei Jun’s mind stirred, recalling ancient texts he had read. “You mean… monstrous entities?”

He wasn’t referring to the so-called heretical cultivators but actual monsters.

In this world, alongside spiritual energy existed wild and brutal energies known as demonic energy or malevolent aura.

Most human cultivators cultivated spiritual energy.

A few cultivators used demonic energy as a supplement, but their main path remained spiritual energy.

Other beings that cultivated spiritual energy were typically called spirit beasts or immortal spirits.

Those that absorbed demonic energy were referred to as monstrous entities.

In times of peace under the Tang Dynasty, the national destiny suppressed large-scale monster outbreaks.

Beyond the Tang borders, however, humans and monsters often coexisted. In regions where demonic energy was stronger than spiritual energy, powerful monsters frequently appeared.

Monstrous entities could resist spiritual energy, and their demonic energy could suppress human cultivators’ power.

According to ancient records, when spiritual energy surged, demonic energy also rose.

Thus, a flourishing era for human cultivators inevitably brought a rise in monstrous threats.

In recent years, with the surge of spiritual energy, reports of powerful monsters had become more frequent.

“Tang Junior Sister’s recent sea expedition has already encountered powerful monsters multiple times,” Wang Guiyuan said with a wry smile. “So, Junior Brother, we must be vigilant. The world is getting more dangerous!”

Lei Jun nodded. “You’re right, Senior Brother. I’ll stay alert.”

In many ways, it was the best of times and the worst of times.

The two brothers continued chatting as they headed to meet their master, Yuan Mobai.

Yuan Mobai was instructing their Junior Brother Chu Kun.

Seeing that Chu Kun had already reached Foundation Establishment, Lei Jun congratulated him and thought to himself that this Junior Brother was no simple figure.

After all, during his two-month absence, Chu Kun had managed to break through.

If Lei Jun remembered correctly, Chu Kun had been evaluated as having Superior Bone Structure and Superior Comprehension.

Such talent was good, but achieving Foundation Establishment so quickly without a Spirit Physique or Exceptional Comprehension was rare.

Lei Jun himself had relied on the Hidden Dragon Spirit Physique to achieve Foundation Establishment shortly after his initiation.

Among his peers who joined six years ago, those who quickly reached Foundation Establishment were all highly gifted.

Chen Yi had a Spirit Physique, Li Ying had a Spirit Physique, Guo Yan had a Spirit Physique, and Shangguan Hong had Exceptional Comprehension.

None of them were easy to compete with.

“Nurture yourself for a while, Chongyun, and then you can start refining the Azure Lightning Fiend Qi,” Yuan Mobai said with a smile.

“Yes, Master,” Lei Jun replied.

After settling back into his residence, Lei Jun examined his recent acquisitions.

He first took out a stone with green streaks on its pale surface: Purifying Spirit Rock.

He set it aside for now, focusing on the stone mirror.

Divine Eye Mirror Stone.

He had seen Lin Liao of the Lin Clan use this treasure before.

It expanded vision and enhanced detection abilities.

Holding the mirror in the courtyard, Lei Jun infused it with his mana.

A beam of light projected from the mirror.

As his mana flowed, his vision seemed to extend beyond its normal range.

Even with his Fourth Heaven cultivation, his vision now reached further, detecting subtle changes in spiritual energy.

He could even spot hidden individuals despite concealment spells.

Lei Jun adjusted the mirror’s direction, and the beam shifted smoothly.

“This is useful,” he nodded.

Of course, the mirror beam was quite conspicuous.

Using it for reconnaissance could alert others.

He withdrew his mana, and the beam vanished.

Studying the mirror, he pondered potential improvements.

After a moment, he put it away and refocused on his cultivation.

A few days later, Lei Jun went to refine the Azure Lightning Fiend Qi.

Compared to the yin-based Nine Nether Yin Wind Fiend Qi, this yang-based fiend qi was more violent and harder to refine.

But with his foundation laid by the Shadow Bunny and Heartburning Dragon, he succeeded after a month.

With one yin and one yang fiend qi refined, his mana grew more refined and powerful.

He took out the Purifying Spirit Rock.

His mana now flowed in two cycles—one in his Primal Talisman, driven by yin and yang fiend qi, and another through the Purifying Spirit Rock.

Both cycles ran day and night, further purifying his mana.

Time flew by as he trained.

As summer approached, Lei Jun considered his next move.

According to Xu Yuanzhen, the True Yin Stone would appear beneath the cold lake of the northern frontier during the summer.

It was time to set out.

But the northern frontier was a land of monsters.