Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 150: Heavenly Book Opportunity, Expansion

The smile on Xu Yuanzhen's face flashed and disappeared.

She waved her hand as she passed by Lei Jun and headed toward the High Priests’ Hall. Her movements seemed casual, but as Lei Jun watched her back recede, he knew that this Senior Sister wasn’t joking.

Once she sorted out the leads related to the Tianshi Sword, she would likely make a trip to Jiangzhou.

Xu Yuanzhen's intentions were straightforward.

If the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou had set up an ambush to kill the disciples of her sect and failed, that was because they lacked skill. If their people suffered heavy casualties, that was because her sect had the upper hand. But that didn’t mean the Lin Clan had fully paid for their attempt at an ambush.

The price for an ambush should be that her sect would also ambush and kill their people.

As for who would survive in the end, that would depend on everyone’s abilities.

Although the recent confrontation at Poyang Swamp caused quite a stir, it felt more like a mutual understanding of making a lot of noise but causing little damage.

However, now that Xu Yuanzhen had returned and stepped into the fray, things might take a different turn… Lei Jun thought to himself.

Then again, as centuries-old rivals, neither Tianshi Mansion nor the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou were strangers to such conflicts.

Lei Jun shook his head lightly. While Xu Yuanzhen’s attention was still on the Tianshi Sword, the situation should remain peaceful for a while longer.

He refocused on his own cultivation and studies.

With his Yin-Yang Sacred Physique and the assistance of the Heavenly Book, Lei Jun didn’t need to seek out the Northern Polar Magnetic Treasures; Southern Arctic Cold Iron sufficed for his current needs.

The second spell he was developing had successfully begun to take shape.

However, upgrading and refining his Talisman Brush required more research and experimentation. He had already used up several Black-Tipped and Green-Tipped Brushes during practice and trials, and he would likely use many more.

Still, his efforts were not in vain.

In his private residence, Lei Jun set up an altar for his ritual. Atop the three-tiered altar, he circled the center, performing the ritual.

In the center of the altar stood a phantom palace — the Central Three Purities Palace, condensed from his essence, energy, and spirit.

As Lei Jun circled the Three Purities Palace, tiny specks of light dust hovered like the Milky Way, enveloping the altar.

With the aid of Star-Stepping Techniques, his mana and thoughts were enhanced, drawing upon the power of the stars.

Above the Three Purities Palace, a Green-Tipped Brush hovered in mid-air.

As he walked around the palace, Lei Jun chanted under his breath, holding a hand seal in front of his chest while his other hand pointed continuously in the air.

Every time he pointed, a thread of green light flickered at his fingertip, resembling a green flame — the Nine Abyss Earth Fire of the Tianshi Mansion’s True Legacy.

Though the flames were phantasmal, transformed from his mana rather than the true Nine Abyss Earth Fire, the essence was there.

As the green flames flickered, his mana formed talisman inscriptions, embedding into the Green-Tipped Brush.

Fine and intricate light patterns appeared on the brush's surface.

Lei Jun focused intently.

Deep within his soul, in the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven, the ritual grounds glowed brightly, with banners fluttering.

In the first tier of the altar, faint points of green flame turned into specks of light dust, drifting outward and swirling above the ritual grounds.

The lights floated like green smoke, passing through the bridges and swirling in the air above.

The flames of the Four-Nine Lamps in the ritual grounds also seemed to take on a hint of the Nine Abyss Earth Fire's green hue.

Drawing upon the essence of the Nine Abyss Earth Fire, Lei Jun meticulously refined the Talisman Brush.

As time passed, the light patterns on the brush's surface gradually diminished. The mana inscriptions fused with the brush, reconstructing it from within.

The moment the surface light patterns disappeared completely, Lei Jun stopped walking.

He formed a hand seal with both hands in front of his chest.

His mana condensed into a shimmering phantom talisman.

Then, he pushed his hands forward, and the talisman at his fingertips seemed to dissolve into the air.

The Green-Tipped Brush flashed once more.

The starlight dissipated, and Lei Jun exhaled deeply, a satisfied smile on his face.

His proficiency in refining artifacts had officially improved, reaching a new level.

Although the brush wasn’t exceptionally refined due to its base material, it had improved significantly.

After resting briefly and restoring his mana, Lei Jun summarized his recent experience.

The next day, he visited the Treasure Pavilion to gather more basic materials.

Using the Green-Tipped Brush as a blueprint, he attempted another refinement.

This time, he incorporated new materials to improve the quality further.

It failed…

Lei Jun remained calm and switched to another standard Green-Tipped Brush, continuing his practice.

After consuming more brushes and materials, he finally succeeded in refining an upgraded version that satisfied him.

With the aid of the Nine Abyss True Fire, the brush was almost comparable to Yuan Mobai’s Vermilion-Tipped Brush. The only difference lay in the quality of the original material.

For Lei Jun, this was a significant milestone.

He refined the process further and, once confident, prepared to refine the Vermilion-Tipped Brush for real.

Before he began, a sudden thought struck him.

From the perspective of spiritual energy compatibility, the Vermilion-Tipped Brush was balanced, neither leaning towards yin nor yang. The Nine Abyss Earth Fire, however, was yin-oriented.

To balance it, he prepared some yang materials to harmonize the two energies.

Recalling his experience with Southern Arctic Cold Iron, Lei Jun wondered if he could leverage the Heavenly Book for assistance.

He felt it was possible.

Unexpectedly, the Light Sphere in his mind flickered, displaying text:

"Within the book lies a new world; within the book lies karmic entanglement. Enter or exit as you choose."

His first thought was of the Supreme Good Omen he received when he obtained the Heavenly Book:

"Gain a Third-Grade Opportunity, with no risk or harm before expansion."

So far, he had occasionally studied the book without issue. Even before he acquired the Yin-Yang Sacred Physique, it had helped him grasp its principles.

But now, things were changing.

“…Is it because I’m about to involve the Tianshi Seal and the True-One Altar?” Lei Jun mused.

Because of the omen, he had been cautious, never pushing too far.

Now, he faced a choice:

1. Upper-Moderate Omen: Combine the True-One Altar with the Heavenly Book to gain a Third-Grade Opportunity, with potential karmic entanglement. Proceed cautiously, but Good Luck.

2. Moderate Omen: Use the True-One Altar alone, with no extra gains or losses. Neutral.

“Well, it’s an Upper-Moderate Omen. Not bad.” Lei Jun nodded slightly.

After contemplation, he chose the Upper-Moderate Omen path.

The Heavenly Book flew into the air, shimmering.

He resumed refining the Vermilion-Tipped Brush, which now floated within the Three Purities Palace.

As his ritual continued, the Heavenly Book glowed with profound patterns.

After an unknown amount of time, the Three Purities Palace shone brightly.

A black-and-white brush emerged — the Yin-Yang Brush.

Lei Jun smiled. He had succeeded.

With this brush, he could now craft High-Grade Spirit Talismans, something usually reserved for those at the Sixth Heaven.

“Next… the price?” Lei Jun wondered.

The Heavenly Book shimmered strangely.

A voice echoed, cryptic and eerie:

“The third, and the fourth?”

It seemed there were others with similar books.

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow but stayed vigilant.

In the void before him, seven stars shone brightly, representing the Seven Celestial Lights.

He realized he was now standing on the Venus Star — or rather, he was the Venus Star in this illusory cosmos.