Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 166: You are free to do whatever you want, I am omnipotent

Lei Jun continued to conceal his presence and suppress his aura. Though he had crossed the Peak Ascent Ridge, the commotion behind him was cataclysmic. Naturally, he aimed to stay as far away as possible.

Currently, the attention of the Upper Heaven realm experts was focused on one another. Though their environmental awareness remained formidable, it wasn’t as meticulous as before.

Lei Jun carefully masked his presence and unobtrusively proceeded southward. He could only hope Tang Xiaotang’s secluded cultivation site lay to the south and not in the north, where the battle had physically transformed the region into chaos.

Privately, Lei Jun felt a twinge of unease.

It seemed the Li family members were equally unaware of how dangerous this area had become. How had such a convergence of crises occurred near Tang Xiaotang’s retreat?

From what Lei Jun knew, despite her carefree nature, Tang Xiaotang wouldn’t have indiscriminately disclosed her retreat’s location.

As Lei Jun passed through the dense forest, the rocky ground beneath his feet trembled, an echo of the distant battles affecting the area.

The spiritual energy within the surrounding mountains was turbulent, reflecting the intensity of the conflicts. Such upheaval wasn’t caused by just one or two Upper Heaven experts but by a chaotic melee involving several.

“Hm?”

In this chaotic environment, Lei Jun suddenly sensed faint disturbances ahead.

The aura was purely Yang, fiery and pristine.

Ever since Lei Jun had elevated his bone structure to the Yin-Yang Sacred Physique, he had become particularly sensitive to such energies. Without hesitation, he approached the source.

Heading further south, he crossed another mountain ridge, and the Pure Yang aura became more pronounced.

Peering ahead, Lei Jun saw faint golden radiance shimmering like a mist in a mountain ravine.

Indeed, it was Pure Yang energy. It seemed Tang Xiaotang was cultivating here after all. Lei Jun understood.

Master Yuan Mobai’s choice of location was reliable. However, Li Song possessed an exceedingly rare Heaven’s Net artifact. After a long search, he had finally traced it to this vicinity. Though he was close, the concealment of the Pure Yang aura within the grotto made it impossible to pinpoint the exact location immediately.

The aura’s faint leakage had only occurred due to the spiritual energy turbulence caused by the battles of multiple experts.

Lei Jun frowned at the sight but moved cautiously closer.

However, he soon halted.

He realized there were others nearby, approaching from the south.

The northern battles had intimidated these individuals, causing them to pause and observe before daring to venture further north.

Lei Jun unfurled the Breath-Taking Flag, hiding himself nearby to watch.

The newcomers were a group of seven, their attire suggesting they were not from the Tang Empire but from the Southern Wastelands.

Each had a hardened appearance, with cold, ruthless expressions exuding palpable killing intent. They carried a faintly metallic smell of blood that spread oppressively around them.

The surrounding vegetation withered upon contact, as if drained of life.

Lei Jun speculated: Are they from the Blood River Sect?

The two leaders—a man and a woman—radiated chilling auras.

“We were supposed to meet Master by Longqing River, but we didn’t expect this to happen,” the woman said coldly.

The man in Southern Wasteland attire gazed northward. “Let’s observe the situation first.”

As they spoke, a deafening roar erupted from the distance, shaking the heavens and the earth. The overwhelming demonic aura surged skyward, chilling both the Blood River Sect members and Lei Jun to the bone.

A great demon had appeared.

The roar was soon accompanied by rolling thunder. Purple lightning flashed in the direction of the Rainy Veil Mountain Range, illuminating half the sky.

With the thunder came a bellowing sound that was part dragon’s roar, part thunderclap.

Lei Jun gazed at the horizon and saw a colossal purple lightning dragon emerge from the clouds, dominating the heavens.

It was the Yang Lightning Dragon, one of the supreme mystical arts of Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion.

Opposing it was a dazzling display of vibrant colors, silently painting the other half of the sky.

An Upper Heaven Gu Master from the Southern Wasteland? Lei Jun speculated.

Such power could only belong to an elder from the Yin Mountain stronghold of the Gu Holy Land.

Sure enough, the Blood River Sect disciples recognized the vibrant display and whispered:

“It’s Old Man Tian from Yin Mountain!”

“So he’s still in this area. No wonder Master went looking for him.”

“What’s Old Man Tian doing here?”

“No idea. Maybe he got some intel.”

“Over there is the Yang Lightning Dragon of the Li family from Mount Longhu. But what about the great demon’s origins?”

“Don’t get involved. No matter how tempting, we can’t approach this battle. Let’s wait for Master’s instructions.”

While listening to their discussion, Lei Jun also noticed a ferocious scarlet light rising to the north.

The aura was as savage as the great demon.

The Southern Wasteland’s Blood River lineage was a rare Daoist tradition that incorporated demonic energies. Although primarily focused on spiritual energy, they also refined demonic and malevolent auras.

The Blood River Sect, in particular, epitomized this practice. Although they often clashed with the demon race, their methods were indiscriminately bloodthirsty, targeting both humans and demons.

This newly appeared Blood River Sect elder didn’t seem allied with the great demon.

To the east, in the Rainy Veil Mountains, was Li Song, the Supreme Elder of Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion.

To the north, near Longqing River, was the Blood River Sect elder.

And in the mountainous area Lei Jun had just passed, the great demon had erupted from the ground.

Finally, to the west, was the Yin Mountain elder surnamed Tian.

Lei Jun recalled information about the Yin Mountain stronghold. Among the Upper Heaven realm masters, Elder Tian Linlong was likely the one present.

Six years ago, during the battle where the previous Tianshi, Li Qingfeng, fell, a Gu Master from the Southern Wasteland had taken advantage of the chaos to trouble Tang Xiaotang.

The leader of that group had been Tian Linlong.

Tang Xiaotang had defeated him then, costing him several disciples.

Now, Tian Linlong had returned, secretly heading north to this area.

If he was also here for Tang Xiaotang, how did he know her general location?

Lei Jun had a guess.

Tian Linlong might have been lured here by Li Song or Li Ziyang.

Li Ziyang was the more likely suspect. Bringing Tian Linlong served two purposes: finding someone to handle Tang Xiaotang and having a scapegoat afterward.

However, the appearance of the Blood River Sect seemed unplanned.

Tian Linlong’s covert journey north had caught the attention of the Blood River Sect elder, who had then brought disciples to shadow him.

Meanwhile, the great demon’s emergence appeared entirely coincidental, throwing the Li family’s plans into disarray.

The Supreme Elder, Li Song, was both furious and shocked as the giant serpent, with the bloodline of the ancient ferocious beast Ba Snake, erupted from the ground, consuming Li Zhusheng and others. Only Liang Chen survived the serpent’s jaws—and barely so.

Liang Chen lay collapsed amid the rubble, gravely injured, his lower half gone and blood pooling beneath him.

As Li Song struck the serpent with lightning, a blood-red light flashed, obliterating Liang Chen’s remaining body.

“Waste not,” came a sinister laugh from the north, where the blood-red light soared skyward.

Simultaneously, a vast sea of blood surged from the northern sky, enveloping the heavens and rushing toward Li Song.

The Blood River Sect elder, though curious about Tian Linlong’s presence, saw an opportunity to hunt an Eighth Heaven powerhouse like Li Song. For him, it was an enticing prospect with no downside.

Li Song’s Yang Lightning Dragon charged at the serpent while his body radiated starlight. Each point of light represented a talisman shining brightly, coalescing into a colossal humanoid talisman.

This was Destined Star Avatar, another of Mount Longhu’s supreme mystical arts.

Li Song’s frail body now appeared towering and radiant as he plunged into the blood sea, forcing it to part with sheer power.

Meanwhile, Tian Linlong, who had initially intended to bide his time, was forced to act when the serpent’s tail lashed out during its battle with the Yang Lightning Dragon. The tail's impact caused an earthquake, revealing Tian Linlong's position and forcing him to defend himself.

Now, the four powerful entities clashed chaotically—man and monster locked in a devastating melee.

The Supreme Elder Li Song had yet to locate Tang Xiaotang, but he had already lost several disciples and was in a precarious position himself, seething with rage.

Despite being an Eighth Heaven Daoist of the Talismanic Branch, Li Song faced formidable opponents.

The giant serpent, with its Ba Snake bloodline, was as powerful as any Eighth Heaven human cultivator.

The Blood River Sect elder, presumed to be at the Seventh Heaven realm, had grown significantly stronger, likely due to the sect’s hidden accumulations during the chaotic wars of recent years.

Though Tian Linlong was the weakest of the group at the Seventh Heaven realm, his Southern Wasteland Gu techniques were unpredictable, requiring constant vigilance from the others. Moreover, Li Song sensed that Tian Linlong had additional tricks up his sleeve.

Meanwhile, Lei Jun watched from a distance as the battle raged, shattering the mountains and earth, leaving him and others awestruck.

“Something doesn’t feel right,” the Southern Wasteland woman, Shui Ying, remarked as she glanced around. Her eyes glowed blood-red as she focused on the Pure Yang aura leaking from a concealed location. “No wonder this place feels so unsettling.”

The Pure Yang energy, while a source of discomfort to Blood River Sect cultivators accustomed to cold and demonic energies, piqued their interest.

“Could there be a Pure Yang treasure hidden here, drawing all these experts?” speculated one disciple.

Shui Ying scoffed, “What a nuisance!”

Their leader, Bo Hong, considered and said, “Even if we can’t use it, we can trade it. Let’s extract it and decide later with Master.”

Shui Ying hesitated but agreed. “Fine.”

She waved her hand, signaling the five other disciples, who began searching the area meticulously. Soon, they found the source of the Pure Yang aura within the mountains.

Bo Hong turned to Shui Ying. “You’re better at breaking seals. Handle it carefully.”

Shui Ying handed him the Spirit-Hiding Veil, a treasured artifact used for concealment, and approached the site to break the seal.

Meanwhile, Bo Hong kept watch.

The ongoing battles remained intense, but Bo Hong’s keen senses detected a faint trace of blood in the wind.

Someone in the Upper Heaven battle had been injured.

For any Blood River Sect cultivator, the blood of such powerful individuals was incredibly alluring. Bo Hong trembled slightly with excitement but quickly suppressed his impulses, remaining alert.

Suddenly, he felt a subtle warning of danger, faint yet close.

Before he could react, a short staff, narrow at one end and wide at the other, struck him from behind.

Lei Jun had appeared silently, wielding the Upper Qing Golden Bamboo. The blow caved in Bo Hong’s skull, sending him crashing forward.

Shui Ying turned just in time to see Lei Jun deliver a second blow to the fallen Bo Hong. Despite his injuries, Bo Hong rolled aside, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike, though his shoulder was shattered.

Shui Ying unleashed several blood arrows to shield Bo Hong as Lei Jun observed with interest.

The resilience of Bo Hong’s body, despite the damage, impressed Lei Jun. The Blood River Sect cultivator's flesh and bones, though heavily injured, showed faint signs of recovery.

Still, Bo Hong, kneeling and bloodied, glared at Lei Jun like a wounded beast. His recovery, albeit slow, highlighted the remarkable vitality cultivated by the Blood River Sect.

“Water Shadow!” Bo Hong bellowed as he drew his blood-imbued blade.

Activating the Blood Battle Art, he charged at Lei Jun with reckless ferocity, his strength enhanced by his injuries. Meanwhile, Shui Ying invoked a sea of blood to engulf Lei Jun.

Unperturbed, Lei Jun’s body shone brightly as he activated the Five-Ding Mountain-Cleaving Talisman. His figure grew taller, armored by radiant light, resembling a divine general.

With his staff extended into a long rod of golden light, Lei Jun swung it powerfully.

A deafening explosion shattered the blood sea, reducing Bo Hong’s blood sword to fragments and sending him flying into the mountains, where he perished.

Shui Ying was stunned, barely managing to react. She slashed her arms to summon more blood to form a second sea, hoping to slow Lei Jun as she fled.

However, a black sea of lightning emerged, mingling with the blood sea and trapping Shui Ying.

The corrosive interaction between the two seas created a sizzling sound.

“What kind of thunder art is this?” Shui Ying murmured, aghast, realizing her opponent’s overwhelming power.

Lei Jun, his black lightning cleansing his weapon of blood filth, approached Shui Ying with calm determination.