Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 128: A bad fortune can also kill you

Ji Chuan halted his sword light and landed beside Lei Jun.

Lei Jun’s face was pale: “I’m experiencing a mental deviation. I dare not move rashly.”

Ji Chuan felt troubled.

Judging from Lei Jun’s current condition, even if he wanted to carry Lei Jun away, it would be dangerous. Any slight jolt might be more than Lei Jun could handle.

Ji Chuan glanced back at his fellow disciple, Zhao Gang, who had already flown eastward, too far for Ji Chuan to call back.

“Cangbo Mountain is barely safe, but being within my master’s battle area with the great demon is still too risky,” Ji Chuan said urgently.

Lei Jun replied calmly, “Life and death are determined by fate. At this point, I can only trust your master, Elder He.”

Ji Chuan hesitated for a few moments, his expression shifting.

Finally, he seemed to make a decision: “Daoist Lei, sit and meditate, focus on stabilizing your cultivation.”

Saying this, the Shu Mountain disciple immediately flew up on his sword and, to Lei Jun’s surprise, struck Cangbo Mountain with a precise slash.

Of course, Ji Chuan wasn’t trying to bury them alive.

He wielded his sword with perfect control. The sword light cut through the rocky surface without disturbing the underlying earth veins, carving out a shelter within the mountain for them to hide.

Lei Jun watched Ji Chuan’s actions, surprised and a little worried.

The Moderate Omen he drew earlier mentioned staying near Cangbo Mountain for safety, but it didn’t say anything about deliberately altering the terrain.

Ji Chuan’s intentions were good, but if his actions accidentally triggered a seismic shift, they’d both regret it.

Fortunately, Ji Chuan’s judgment was accurate, and his sword was precise.

Cangbo Mountain held firm even after the excavation.

Ji Chuan guided Lei Jun into the newly created cave.

Even in the cave, they weren’t completely safe.

The ground beneath was stable, but the battle above raged on. The clash of the three powerful figures in the sky sent shockwaves that threatened to collapse the mountain at any moment.

Ji Chuan had anticipated this.

He sat beside Lei Jun, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes.

The next moment, spiritual light rose above Ji Chuan’s head.

His soul left his body!

The Shu Mountain disciple’s spirit emerged and merged with his sword, making the sword glow even brighter.

This technique—Spirit-Infused Sword—was the pinnacle of a Daoist artifact cultivator’s combat ability, achievable only from Mid-Heaven cultivation and above.

By abandoning the vulnerability of the flesh and uniting with their life-bound artifact, a cultivator could unleash more potent and agile power.

Ji Chuan didn’t attack. Instead, the brilliant sword light illuminated the cave, holding up the trembling rocks above them.

This protected both his seemingly meditative body and Lei Jun.

Honestly, I didn’t expect this… Lei Jun glanced at Ji Chuan’s still body and the radiant sword floating in mid-air.

His main concern had been Lin Xinran from the Jiangzhou Lin Clan.

He hadn’t given much thought to Ji Chuan or Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang’s actions were predictable.

Ji Chuan’s selfless intervention, however, was unexpected.

Despite complicating his Moderate Omen, Lei Jun didn’t have the luxury to analyze the intricacies of Ji Chuan’s technique.

He took several deep breaths. His pale complexion gradually returned to normal as he stabilized his state.

Then, Lei Jun stood up and activated a Superior Golden Barrier Talisman.

The talisman’s radiant light formed a protective shield, reinforcing Ji Chuan’s efforts to support the cave.

“Daoist Lei, are you alright now?”

Ji Chuan’s spirit returned to his body. He opened his eyes, a bitter smile on his face.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think we can head east now.”

Outside, the battle’s energy surged, extending eastward and blocking their escape route.

To move now would mean dodging attacks from above while avoiding shifts in the earth veins below—far too risky.

Lei Jun repeated, “I trust in Elder He’s abilities.”

Ji Chuan was about to respond when a violent tremor interrupted him.

The quake didn’t originate from Cangbo Mountain but from the distance.

“That’s…”

Ji Chuan identified the direction and froze.

…The east.

Lei Jun finished his thought.

The tremor had come from east of the mountain, fulfilling the danger foretold in another Lower-Moderate Omen.

Lei Jun remained calm, though outwardly he shared Ji Chuan’s shock.

“It doesn’t feel like an earth tremor. It’s more like…”

“…Another great demon!” Ji Chuan’s face was grave.

“It’s a trap!”

He wasn’t accusing Lei Jun of scheming but realizing that the Shu Mountain disciples had fallen into a demon’s plot.

Three great demons had converged in this region.

Now, in a three-on-one scenario, they aimed to kill He Dongxing, the Shu Mountain elder.

The hunters had become the hunted.

“Senior Brother Zhao… and Senior Brother Lin…” Ji Chuan’s expression darkened.

Since parting at West Mountain Pass, Ji Chuan hadn’t seen Lin Xinran again.

He didn’t know if Lin had been caught by the violent wind from the earth veins or had also gone east.

Zhao Gang, however, had flown eastward before Ji Chuan’s eyes.

If they encountered the third great demon, they were in mortal danger.

Even top disciples like Ji Chuan, Zhao Gang, and Lin Xinran couldn’t stand against a Top-Heaven demon.

Now Ji Chuan worried for his master, He Dongxing.

Even though He Dongxing was powerful, facing three demons at once was daunting.

Ji Chuan felt helpless.

Lei Jun, on the other hand, remained composed.

Honestly, my only concern is that Ji Chuan might have accidentally disturbed Cangbo Mountain’s earth veins.

Since nothing had gone wrong, the situation was still under control.

As expected, help arrived from the west.

A brilliant light flew in, aiding He Dongxing.

Another Shu Mountain elder had arrived.

With two elders facing three demons, the demons lost their advantage.

Though they failed to eliminate the demons, the Shu Mountain elders stabilized the situation.

Eventually, both sides suffered losses, and the demons retreated, fearing more Shu Mountain reinforcements.

He Dongxing sheathed his sword and shook his head.

“What a disgrace. We hunt demons daily, and today the tables turned.”

He turned his attention below.

“Are there any juniors stranded here? What’s the situation?”

As the dust settled, Lei Jun and Ji Chuan emerged from the cave.

Without their support, Cangbo Mountain collapsed, shrinking by half.

“Master!” Ji Chuan saluted. “Uncle Ji!”

Lei Jun looked at the elder who had come to assist—Ji Dongquan, Ji Chuan’s father and the elder whom Yuan Mobai had once offended.

Ji Dongquan appeared to be in his forties, resembling Ji Chuan.

His actual age was much greater, having cultivated a spiritual flower for sixty years when the incident occurred.

Ji Chuan addressed him formally as Uncle Ji, maintaining the sect’s propriety.

“Is everyone accounted for?” Ji Dongquan asked, his gaze sweeping over the area.

He glanced at Lei Jun but didn’t react.

He Dongxing asked, “Where are Zhao and Lin?”

Ji Chuan recounted the events.

He Dongxing scowled.

“I can’t decide if your luck is incredibly good or incredibly bad!”

Ji Dongquan said, “I came from the west and didn’t see them.”

They exchanged glances, realizing Zhao Gang and Lin Xinran had likely headed east—straight into danger.

“That Thunder Howler demon…” He Dongxing’s face darkened.

“There’s a bloody scent on its breath. It seems it just killed someone!”

He and Ji Dongquan hurried eastward with Lei Jun and Ji Chuan.

They found no trace of Zhao Gang or Lin Xinran—only wreckage.

Two shattered artifacts lay among the debris: a broken jade flute and a splintered halberd.

Lei Jun recognized them as the life-bound artifacts of Lin Xinran and Zhao Gang.

For artifact cultivators, life-bound artifacts were their most cherished and durable possessions.

These fragments told the grim story.

He Dongxing clenched his fists.

“This was my failure. I swear to kill that demon!”

Ji Dongquan sighed.

“The loss of two core disciples pains me, but we can’t predict every threat. This is fate.”

The elders quickly suppressed the chaotic earth energy.

Once the danger passed, Ji Dongquan finally acknowledged Lei Jun.

“So, you’re Yuan Daoist’s disciple?” Ji Dongquan’s gaze was sharp but not hostile.

Lei Jun took out another jade slip and handed it to Ji Chuan.

“Junior Lei Chongyun of Mount Longhu greets Senior Ji. My master sends his regards.”

Ji Dongquan accepted the slip, read it, and nodded.

“Feel free to travel through Bashu. Just be cautious—it’s dangerous here.”

With the elders busy handling the aftermath, Ji Chuan was assigned to guide Lei Jun around Bashu.

Lei Jun said nothing about his true purpose, treating the journey like a sightseeing tour.

Eventually, they visited the Bamboo Sea of Southern Shu.