Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 169: Fate plays tricks on people, and people play tricks on fate

The conditions for entering the Upper Qing Thunder Altar Grotto-Heaven were stringent, but after controlling this realm for so many years, the Tianshi Mansion was well-versed in its dynamics. Any unexpected changes were usually due to external influences causing temporary fluctuations. For instance, when Lei Jun last visited, the rare blooming of the True Yang Treasure Tree was an unusual event caused by a prior battle near Mount Longhu that had disturbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, subtly affecting the grotto-heaven.

Currently, any new changes within the grotto-heaven might likely stem from the Supreme Elder Li Song’s use of its energy for healing. Lei Jun thought, Much appreciation for the elder’s hard work. His tone remained calm.

Now, Lei Jun faced a dilemma: choosing between two Upper-Moderate Omens. Both were unquestionably good but carried different grades of opportunity. A Fourth-Grade Opportunity was naturally superior to a Fifth-Grade Opportunity, yet neither posed any risks or negative repercussions. The question was which would better suit his current needs.

Both omens referred to events occurring at midnight, suggesting that only one could be pursued. With ample time before midnight, Lei Jun decided to scout both locations mentioned in the omens: the Solitary Swan Peak and the Sacred Wave Pool.

First, Lei Jun headed to the Solitary Swan Peak, located in a less prominent area amidst the grotto-heaven’s mountains. Though rich in spiritual energy, it was notably inferior to renowned places like the Immortal Bamboo Grove. Lei Jun had visited this location on his first entry into the grotto-heaven but had found nothing remarkable at that time.

This time, the area showed subtle changes, likely due to Supreme Elder Li Song’s healing process. The mountain ridges were enveloped in wispy white clouds, ethereal yet unremarkable. However, Lei Jun felt a faint reaction deep within his soul—his Tianshi Seal and True-One Altar stirred slightly. In the first layer of his altar, the Azure Nine Abyss Earth Fire flickered with unusual vigor, hinting that the Fourth-Grade Opportunity here might benefit him.

Without rushing to conclusions, Lei Jun feigned indifference and left for the Sacred Wave Pool. Despite its name, the “pool” was an expansive water body akin to a lake. Its tranquil surface rippled with natural patterns, emanating an abundant spiritual energy. Compared to Solitary Swan Peak, the Sacred Wave Pool appeared more vibrant. However, Lei Jun's Tianshi Seal, True-One Altar, and remaining Five-Element Creation Qi showed no particular reaction here.

Leisurely stepping on the water's surface, Lei Jun divided the pool with his mana and descended to its depths for further exploration. Finding nothing additional, he concluded his investigation. The lack of alignment between the Sacred Wave Pool’s opportunity and his spiritual resonance tipped the balance in favor of Solitary Swan Peak’s Fourth-Grade Opportunity. Still, he considered the Fifth-Grade Opportunity at Sacred Wave Pool too valuable to waste.

Reflecting on his companions, Lei Jun devised a plan. One of his closer allies, Luo Haoran, had a habit of frequenting water-related areas within the grotto-heaven. Lei Jun returned to the Sacred Wave Pool and cast a silent Yin Thunder of Gui Water into the lake. The black energy merged with the water, creating disturbances that caused increasingly violent ripples. With this setup in place, Lei Jun left the area, indifferent to the outcome.

By now, Luo Haoran was near the Xianming Spring, captivated by the heavenly sound emanating from it. However, a distant rumbling caught his attention, drawing his curiosity toward the Sacred Wave Pool. Meanwhile, Zhang Jingzhen, another visitor, observed Luo Haoran leaving and decided to revisit Xianming Spring for her own purposes.

As midnight approached, Lei Jun settled at Solitary Swan Peak. A tremor shook the mountain ridge and reverberated throughout the skyborne grotto-heaven, as though the entire realm was experiencing a minor earthquake.

Lei Jun remained composed as the Yin Thunder of Ji Earth spread outward, stabilizing the surrounding area. Suddenly, his gaze shifted to a faint glimmer in the distance, where a faint spiritual light began to radiate.

It’s here, he thought, immediately flying down to shield the area with his power. Upon closer inspection, the source of the light was a small cauldron, half-buried in the earth, now rising slowly as if pushed upward by some invisible force. Strands of lightning flickered within it, spilling outward as the cauldron emerged.

However, just as the cauldron fully surfaced, a bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking it directly. While the cauldron itself remained unharmed, its spiritual essence was abruptly sealed, and it began sinking back into the ground.

No wonder it had to be precisely at midnight—any earlier or later wouldn’t work, Lei Jun mused, understanding the timing required for the opportunity. He unfurled the Breath-Taking Flag, a pale yellow spiritual light stabilizing the earth and stone, and smoothly extracted the black-and-purple cauldron from its place. The cauldron showed no resistance, settling firmly in Lei Jun’s hands.

The name “Thunderheart Cauldron” appeared in his mind. This must have been left behind by a senior of the sect long ago. Lei Jun, having studied alchemical traditions under Yuan Mobai, recognized that the sect’s alchemy often balanced water and fire, embodying the interplay of yin and yang, dragon and tiger. A cauldron focused on lightning, however, was extremely rare in the sect’s history.

He recalled a grandmaster from centuries ago who had dabbled in such methods before their untimely passing. This cauldron was likely their creation, buried and forgotten until now, when changes in the grotto-heaven brought it back to light.

Opportunities like this are fleeting, Lei Jun thought, recalling the Unaccomplished Cauldron he had found in the Grand Alchemy Hall. Resolute, he lit incense and performed a ritual of gratitude before securing the cauldron for later study. For now, his priority was to investigate the Sacred Wave Pool, where he had sensed a disturbance coinciding with the cauldron’s emergence.

Upon arrival, Lei Jun saw several fellow disciples of the Tianshi Mansion already gathered around the now-tranquil pool. Its surface was as smooth as a mirror, with no trace of the earlier chaos. In the center, Luo Haoran sat cross-legged, one hand forming a seal while the other held a glowing orb that shimmered with a gentle radiance.

Relieved to see Luo unharmed, Lei Jun smiled inwardly. The mid-grade opportunity, harmless to himself, had also proven kind to his friend. Luo, however, seemed bewildered.

“I only intended to quell the turbulence here,” Luo admitted, glancing at the orb. “I didn’t expect to find this treasure.”

The onlookers murmured in awe, marveling at the orb’s unique properties. Among them, Zhang Jingzhen maintained a calm exterior but couldn’t hide her internal frustration. The orb was exactly the item she needed to solve her ongoing research at Xianming Spring, but fate had let it slip through her fingers.

Nevertheless, she congratulated Luo with polite detachment, resolving to approach him for a temporary loan later.

Lei Jun approached Luo with a casual smile, inspecting the orb. This must be the “Wave-Stilling Orb” from the second Upper-Moderate Omen, he concluded, returning it to Luo. “It seems this treasure suits you perfectly, Brother Luo.”

Luo laughed. “Indeed. It’s much more useful than my old Water-Repelling Golden Eyes.”

Later, the two conversed briefly about their respective gains. Lei Jun subtly deflected questions about the orb’s origins, attributing it to the natural resonance between the grotto-heaven and the sect’s ancestral grounds. Their banter eventually shifted to Luo’s ambitions of quelling the world’s water disasters, with Lei Jun teasing him for sounding like their master.

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That evening, Lei Jun finally returned to his residence to study the Thunderheart Cauldron. Although some aspects puzzled him, he decided to consult his master Yuan Mobai upon their return. Meanwhile, he received a message from his celestial allies.

At their gathering, Sun Luminary posed the first question: “Does anyone have news of Wei Ancheng, the Blood River Sect leader?”

Moon Luminary replied, “There are rumors of Blood River Sect activity south of the Great River, possibly linked to the Tianshi Mansion or the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou, but nothing specific about Wei Ancheng himself.”

Lei Jun and Wood Luminary echoed similar sentiments. Sun Luminary fell silent, their gaze distant.

Breaking the tension, Lei Jun offered, “I have a partial alchemical recipe from the Buddhist sect. Anyone interested can contact me now or later.”