Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 127: Respect everyone's destiny

After carefully reading his fortune, Lei Jun let out a sigh of relief.

He could pass today’s trial safely.

But he also sighed inwardly.

The fortunes drawn this time were, at best, mediocre. The best he got were two moderate fortunes.

Still, avoiding the two pitfalls of lower-moderate fortunes was already a blessing.

As for the specific choice...

Staying put in the current area of Cangbo Mountain posed no risks.

Heading west was also a moderate omen, but it would be a hassle and might involve some turbulence along the way.

Comparing the two options, it was clearly safer to stay put.

However, a thought suddenly struck him.

After surveying the surroundings, Lei Jun cast his life-bound Wind Thunder Talisman, blending into the night breeze and vanishing from sight.

He then took out his Divine Eye Mirror Stone and observed the direction where the Shu Mountain disciples were.

Under the collapsing terrain, Ji Chuan, Zhao Gang, and Lin Xinran were doing their best to dodge falling rocks and the pervasive demon aura in the air.

Lei Jun turned his gaze upwards.

One man and two demons were locked in a fierce battle. Elder He, despite his high cultivation, was fully occupied fighting two Nine-Clawed Stone Lions. He was too focused to pay attention elsewhere.

Even the streaks of sword light falling from the sky were unpredictable, forcing Lei Jun, Ji Chuan, and the others to dodge them carefully to avoid being injured by their elder’s attacks.

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Without making a sound, he slipped away from Cangbo Mountain, approaching the Shu Mountain disciples.

At this moment, the Shu Mountain group was also deciding their escape route.

“How do we move? North and south are blocked; we can only go east or west!” Zhao Gang said urgently.

Lin Xinran remained calm. “Let’s go west. Uncle Ji might have sensed the situation here and could come to assist us. We should meet up with him quickly.”

“Alright, west it is,” Ji Chuan agreed. He glanced back toward Cangbo Mountain. “I don’t see that Daoist Lei anywhere.”

Zhao Gang snorted. “Who knows where he ran off to!”

“Let’s take him with us,” Ji Chuan took a deep breath. “He’s new to Shu lands and unfamiliar with the terrain. If he goes alone, he might be in danger.”

Zhao Gang’s eyes widened. “It’s enough that we’re not giving him trouble; why should we save him?!”

Ji Chuan replied, “Just look for him. Today’s chaos has made him an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.”

Zhao Gang refused to budge. “If you want to go, go! I’m staying here!”

Lin Xinran mediated, “Leaving someone here is a good idea. If Daoist Lei comes looking, Zhao will be here to guide him west.”

“Alright,” Ji Chuan nodded. “Time is short. Let’s move quickly!”

Ji Chuan and Lin Xinran split up to search for Lei Jun.

Ji Chuan headed towards Cangbo Mountain, while Lin Xinran lingered nearby. After making a loop, he quietly returned to the western area.

Carefully avoiding the falling demon-infused rocks and stray sword lights, Lin Xinran ensured that Elder He was still too preoccupied to notice them.

He hadn’t planned anything drastic.

But something had to be done.

This was a rare opportunity.

If they missed today, who knew when another chance would come?

Lei Jun.

The rising star of the Tianshi Mansion at Mount Longhu in recent years.

If the last decade’s representative of the younger generation was Tang Xiaotang, then Lei Jun was the brightest star of this decade.

If Lei Jun died in Shu lands due to Shu Mountain disciples, tensions between the Tianshi Mansion and Shu Mountain Sect would be inevitable.

Of course, Lin Xinran couldn’t do it personally.

Nor could it be an unsolvable mystery.

It wasn’t about personal strength.

It was because he belonged to the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou.

If Lei Jun died without a clear culprit, suspicion would naturally fall on him.

A scapegoat was necessary.

Zhao Gang or Ji Chuan would do.

If either of them died at Lei Jun’s hands, that outcome was acceptable too.

Ji Chuan was preferable, but Zhao Gang would work as well.

In any case, if a Shu Mountain disciple killed a Tianshi Mansion disciple, or vice versa, it was a win-win.

Even if Lei Jun simply died due to a natural disaster, that was acceptable.

As long as Lin Xinran’s identity as a Lin Clan member remained untainted.

Achieving this wasn’t easy.

But today, fate offered a golden opportunity.

Elder He was preoccupied.

The unstable terrain made sabotage easy.

Lin Xinran slipped past Zhao Gang and reached the western area, examining the landscape.

The ongoing battle in the sky forced them to consider the mountain’s terrain carefully.

Though the western slope seemed stable, the shaking ground made some areas risky.

Lin Xinran, familiar with Shu’s geography, identified a mountain pass and a valley as the safest routes.

The rest of the terrain was too unstable, risking collapse and deadly winds that could tear even mid-level cultivators apart.

Lin Xinran raised his jade flute, his life-bound artifact, and sent it flying.

He played a silent tune, invisible sound waves striking the pass, subtly destabilizing it.

It wouldn’t collapse immediately, but later, it would crack and unleash fierce winds.

Turning to the valley, Lin Xinran changed his tune.

Sound waves filled the valley, creating an illusion of imminent collapse.

Satisfied, Lin Xinran slipped away.

But moments after he left, a fissure opened nearby.

When the dust cleared, Lei Jun emerged.

He calmly watched Lin Xinran’s retreating figure, quickly deducing his plan.

A troublemaker indeed. Lei Jun nodded slightly.

He said nothing, leaving quietly.

Back at Cangbo Mountain, Lei Jun encountered Ji Chuan searching for him.

“Daoist Lei!” Ji Chuan called out. “Come with me; we’re escaping west!”

“Alright!” Lei Jun agreed.

They hurried to the western slope, where Zhao Gang waited impatiently.

“Where’s Lin?” Ji Chuan asked.

Zhao Gang shook his head. “Haven’t seen him.”

He glanced at Lei Jun but said nothing. “Leave a message for Lin. He’ll follow us west.”

With the ground shaking violently, Ji Chuan nodded. “Let’s go.”

Lei Jun followed silently.

Meanwhile, from a hidden vantage point, Lin Xinran smiled coldly.

If Lei Jun died in the collapsing pass, perfect.

If he survived, suspicion would fall on Ji Chuan or Zhao Gang.

Either outcome suited him.

If nothing happened, he lost nothing.

As they reached the pass, Lei Jun spoke up. “Hold on. Let’s be careful.”

Ignoring Zhao Gang’s annoyance, Lei Jun threw a basic Warding Talisman into the pass.

The moment the talisman landed, the pass shook violently.

Zhao Gang and Ji Chuan gaped.

The pass crumbled, winds roaring through.

Lei Jun hurled a high-level Thunderous Might Talisman, redirecting the winds.

The adjacent valley, already unstable, collapsed too.

Lin Xinran, watching from a distance, was stunned.

His trap had failed, and now his escape route was gone.

Lin Xinran clenched his teeth, trying to stay calm.

Whether by luck or intent, Lei Jun had thwarted him.

Ji Chuan and Zhao Gang agreed. “We’ll head east.”

Lei Jun nodded, following them.

Back at Cangbo Mountain, Lei Jun feigned injury, sitting to meditate.

Ji Chuan paused to check on him.

Zhao Gang stormed ahead without a glance back.