Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 165: A real man never looks back at an explosion

Apart from Liang Chen, there were four others.

Lei Jun recognized three of them as Li Clan disciples, and the fourth was Liang Chen’s direct disciple.

Among the three Li Clan members, one was a Tianshi Mansion disciple named Li Zhusheng, who wore a deep red Daoist robe and had already been conferred his talisman. Lei Jun recalled him as a personal disciple of Fourth Martial Uncle Yao Yuan and a member of the Li Clan’s collateral branch.

Observing their search-like behavior, Lei Jun immediately thought of the "Tianluo."

“This area is so desolate. Where could Tang Xiaotang possibly be hiding?” Li Zhusheng frowned, gazing at the surrounding mountains.

Liang Chen focused on the incense stick in his hand.

The incense burned steadily, sending a stream of green smoke into the air, though it swayed and wavered unpredictably.

“She shouldn’t be far. Let’s keep searching,” Liang Chen suggested. “My master mentioned that this area might contain a grotto infused with pure Yang energy. If it exists, we’re on the right track—we just need to pinpoint its exact location.”

Li Zhusheng glanced at the incense stick’s dwindling length. “But it’s already burned halfway...”

The Tianluo itself was a treasure emitting a unique fragrance. However, for it to function as a search tool, it required specially prepared incense.

Each person in the group held such an incense stick, scattering to weave a “Tianluo net” across the region while maintaining contact.

These incense sticks were difficult to craft; Li Song and others had worked tirelessly to produce just a handful.

As the incense burned, it also consumed the Tianluo’s fragrance. When the incense was fully consumed, the Tianluo’s efficacy would fade entirely.

“That’s why we must hurry,” Liang Chen urged, surveying the surrounding mountains. “If we detect anything, Master will immediately locate the exact spot through the Tianluo and arrive in no time.”

The fact that Supreme Elder Li Song himself had ventured out was striking to Lei Jun, who remained hidden nearby.

It seemed Tang Xiaotang’s seclusion had significantly unsettled the Li Clan.

Their intentions extended beyond merely disrupting her cultivation.

It was clear they were prepared to take action—physically eliminate this potential and formidable threat if necessary.

Even if it risked future retaliation from Xu Yuanzhen, they deemed it worthwhile.

If successful, they would only have to deal with Xu Yuanzhen in the future.

If unsuccessful or inactive, they would eventually face both Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang simultaneously.

Given the stakes, it was only logical that a high-ranking elder like Li Song personally led the effort.

Tang Xiaotang wasn’t just extraordinarily talented; her combat strength was also formidable.

A direct confrontation could easily go either way.

With Li Hongyu in seclusion and Li Zhengxuan searching for the Tianshi Sword, only Li Song and Li Ziyang remained among the Li Clan’s high-ranking elders.

Li Ziyang’s chances of success depended on wielding the Tianshi Robe, which the Li Clan had been cautious not to let leave Mount Longhu’s ancestral grounds lightly.

Thus, the burden fell squarely on Li Song’s shoulders.

Lei Jun ensured his presence remained undetected.

An Eighth-Heaven elder like Li Song was in the vicinity, though his exact location was uncertain.

For now, the distance provided some safety. However, any significant commotion could draw Li Song’s attention.

Among the current group, while Li Zhusheng and the others were less concerning, Liang Chen was a different matter.

As one of Li Song’s prized disciples, Liang Chen was considered a cornerstone figure within Tianshi Mansion, boasting a cultivation level of the Sixth-Heaven Dao Seal stage in the Talismanic Branch.

Of course, Liang Chen and the others were also cautious.

Tang Xiaotang, after all, was a cultivator in the Upper Heavens realm.

“Do not panic. If we find her, observe the situation first,” Liang Chen instructed. “If she’s fully engrossed in her seclusion, all the better—we’ll notify Master.

If she notices us, act naturally. Say it’s a chance encounter. Keep your mind clear and don’t overthink!”

Li Zhusheng and the others nodded gravely.

While the details weren’t entirely clear to them, they had heard rumors.

Tang Xiaotang was known for her uncanny sensitivity to people’s intentions.

With her personality and behavior, it was surprising she hadn’t been betrayed countless times by now.

“As long as we locate her, Master will handle the rest. We don’t need to worry about anything else,” Liang Chen emphasized.

Li Zhusheng pursed his lips and nodded slightly.

Some things Liang Chen left unsaid were nonetheless understood.

With the Tianluo network, Li Song was acutely aware of their situation.

If they revealed their true intentions to Tang Xiaotang and provoked her wrath, leading to their deaths, Li Song would know instantly.

Even so, once they were dead, revenge would be of little consolation.

They all had to take care of their own lives—carelessness wasn’t an option.

“I wonder how things are going in the northern and western regions,” someone murmured.

“Focus on our area,” Liang Chen replied.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

In his hidden position, Lei Jun also nodded.

The Tianluo network had spread far and wide.

It seemed that apart from the group in the south, two other teams had been dispatched to the north and west.

Given this, Li Song was likely stationed in the eastern Yuxiu Mountain Range.

This led Lei Jun to recall his earlier omen—one of the lower-moderate fortunes.

Encountering Li Song in that area might lead to complications, though it wasn’t an entirely hopeless scenario.

Li Song’s primary target was Tang Xiaotang, not Lei Jun.

Still, where did the three bad omens come into play?

Lei Jun’s mind raced with possibilities.

The Li Clan didn’t seem aware of additional dangers closing in on them.

However, Liang Chen and his group seemed fortunate to have chosen the relatively safe southern region, a path corresponding to an upper-moderate fortune.

Even so, Lei Jun regarded Liang Chen’s group with disdain.

Unaware of the looming complexities, Lei Jun swiftly prepared himself.

“Is that called Dengfeng Ridge?” Liang Chen scanned the surroundings before gazing southward. “Let’s check over there.”

As he spoke, he abruptly fell silent, concentrating on his senses.

Li Zhusheng and the others checked their incense sticks, noting the steady ascent of the green smoke without significant deviation.

“A faint trace of pure Yang energy… and something familiar. Could it be…” Liang Chen murmured, his gaze shifting northward.

Then, glancing south toward Dengfeng Ridge, he turned back to the north. “Is it over there?”

Li Zhusheng hesitated. “North of here is the Longqing River, isn’t it? Seems unlikely, right?”

“Not necessarily,” Liang Chen countered thoughtfully. “There could be a hidden grotto beneath the river.”

Should they stick to the southern plan, entrusting the north to their peers, or veer northward themselves?

Liang Chen wasn’t concerned about stealing credit, but the Tianluo worked better when its nodes were close. Confirming the area and assisting their peers would tighten the net and enhance their chances.

Realizing the urgency, Liang Chen made his decision. “Let’s take a look.”

He held up the incense stick and began heading north, with Li Zhusheng and the others following.

After a brief search, Liang Chen’s expression shifted, first relaxing, then tightening again.

“It is pure Yang energy, and the familiar trace is from the Nine Abyss Earth Fire! But both are so faint…”

Tang Xiaotang’s cultivation involved fiery Daoist scriptures, making the aura highly suggestive.

Yet the faintness left Liang Chen uncertain whether she was present or had merely passed by.

“Inform Master and let him decide,” Liang Chen instructed.

The group of five paused their search in the area.

Lei Jun, meanwhile, was carefully maneuvering toward Dengfeng Ridge. He had lingered slightly longer than planned but hoped he was still on time to avoid unnecessary risks.

As for the clues Liang Chen had uncovered…

The pure Yang energy stemmed from Lei Jun’s own cultivation, his Yin-Yang Sacred Physique allowing him to subtly tilt toward one polarity.

He had also infused a hint of the Heavenly Book’s power to produce a faint trace of genuine pure Yang energy.

The Nine Abyss Earth Fire aura, meanwhile, originated from the first layer of the True-One Altar—an imitation rather than the real thing.

Actual Nine Abyss Earth Fire might draw Li Song himself, jeopardizing Lei Jun’s ability to retreat.

For now, attracting only Liang Chen’s group sufficed.

Whatever fate awaited them, Lei Jun was indifferent.

Even if they doubled back southward, it wouldn’t affect his plans.

However, judging by their current trajectory, they seemed firmly committed to heading north.

“That works,” Lei Jun thought. “There’s a Sixth-Grade Opportunity waiting up there.”

As always, Daoist Lei Chongyun generously shared opportunities with his peers.

If that opportunity came with some unexpected encounters, Lei Jun bore no responsibility.

Even if Li Song noticed in time, he wouldn’t gain anything.

Everyone would see that Daoist Lei had not laid a finger on Liang Chen or the others.

The fabricated traces of the Nine Abyss Earth Fire and pure Yang energy would soon dissipate, leaving no lasting evidence.

Lei Jun hadn’t been here.

Whatever happened afterward was beyond his knowledge.

“Boom!!”

As Lei Jun crossed Dengfeng Ridge, a tremendous explosion erupted to the north.

The mountains trembled violently, but Lei Jun remained calm, without so much as a glance back.

Descending from Dengfeng Ridge, he continued southward, unbothered.

Behind him, the tremors intensified, cascading like ripples. The chaos spread from Longqing River in the north to Yuxiu Mountain in the east, from Lusi Inlet in the west to Dengfeng Ridge in the south, turning the region into a scene of upheaval.