Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 172: The third level can expand opportunities

The area around the altar had already been meticulously prepared, with the Eight Gates and Nine Regions, as well as ritual lanterns and Daoist banners, all present in their designated places. Within the incense burner, a stick of incense burned continuously, its smoke concealed by the domain created by spiritual talismans, ensuring it had not been exposed earlier.

On the altar, flashes of light intertwined, forming an illusory three-tiered altar suspended mid-air. From afar, the tiers appeared as three gateways, seemingly leading to three distinct realms, interconnected yet distinct.

Lei Jun, hidden to the side, observed silently for a moment before a realization dawned upon him. The structure of the three-tiered altar seemed to faintly echo the profound truths of the Three Realms and Three Caves Canon, a sacred text passed down through the Tianshi Mansion's true legacy. It embodied the mysteries of the Cave of Divinity, Cave of Profundity, and Cave of Truth, connecting the essences of heaven, earth, and humanity. Yet, there was a subtle but significant difference—a primal, wild aura pervaded the space, evoking the ancient chaos of impending tribulations.

If the Daoist cultivation of the Talismanic Branch was a careful construction of a refined civilization, then this altar embodied a primordial savagery poised to obliterate that same civilization. Perceiving this stark contrast, Lei Jun furrowed his brows and surveyed the individuals around the altar.

He fixed his gaze on three Daoists clad in dark red robes, standing shoulder-to-shoulder at the forefront of the ceremonial ground. The group comprised a young man and two middle-aged figures—a man and a woman, both bearing the solemn demeanor of talisman-bearing Daoists.

"The time has come. The Three-Cave Wild God Tribulation is ready. Let us commence the final ritual," the middle-aged man said calmly.

The middle-aged Daoist woman nodded. "Senior Brother Qi has sent word—Yuan Mobai is already suspicious. We cannot delay any further."

The three of them saluted the altar in unison before stepping onto the flying bridge.

The young Daoist asked, "Martial Uncle Jiang, Martial Uncle Gu, once the tribulation is initiated, should we focus on Li Song or Li Ziyang?"

The middle-aged male Daoist responded, "Under the Three-Cave Wild God Tribulation, the spiritual energy of Mount Longhu's earth veins will be reversed, impacting anyone cultivating the Tianshi Mansion's legacy. Those with lower cultivation will perish instantly, while those with higher cultivation will be gravely injured. We will wait for the right moment to approach—better to sever one finger than to wound ten. Once they're weakened, we strike the most vulnerable target for a decisive kill."

The young Daoist seemed slightly surprised. "Not prioritizing the Li family?"

The elder Daoist's tone grew cold. "Who do you think caused the deaths of your grandmaster and your master?"

The young Daoist's expression hardened. "My grandmaster fell to Xu Yuanzhen and Li Hongyu, and my master to Shangguan Ning."

The young man’s grandmaster had been Elder Yu Qingling, a prominent figure of the Yellow Heaven Sect's previous generation.

The middle-aged Daoist nodded solemnly. "My master, who is also your grand-uncle, perished at the hands of a non-Li elder in the Tianshi Mansion. A senior brother of mine fell to Li Qingfeng's sword while saving me. However, one of my disciples—you may recall—was killed by Tang Xiaotang."

He cast a glance at the female Daoist. "Junior Sister Gu's master also fell to the Li family, but the one who killed her husband was Yuan Mobai, her most prized disciple. That same disciple met an untimely end at the hands of Xu Yuanzhen. As for Senior Brother Qi's beloved disciple, he was slain by Li Zhengxuan, while his cherished grand-disciple died six years ago during a battle with Shangguan Ning's disciple, Lin Shan."

"In this age, the Li family dominates Mount Longhu, and their followers are but their lackeys," the female Daoist said icily. "We, the so-called outsiders, are the true outsiders."

The middle-aged man’s tone was steady yet indifferent. "If rebellion against the Li family was truly their intent, they should have stood with our grandmasters back then. Instead, they chose to side with the Li family and oppose us. Now, they suddenly remember to revolt? Too late. Mount Longhu is embroiled in a feud of remnants, a conflict between traitors that we must purge. If they can be eradicated together, so much the better."

The young Daoist nodded but added, "I only believe that such a rare opportunity should prioritize eliminating the Li family, ensuring no one escapes."

Crossing the flying bridge, the young Daoist gazed at the altar ahead. "After all, the Three-Cave Wild God Tribulation is nearly impossible to execute. The materials have always been too difficult to gather. If not for that, six years ago, our grandmaster and sect leader wouldn't have fallen short of their ambitions."

Hearing this, Daoist Jiang nodded slightly. "That’s precisely why this is our one and only chance. We must succeed."

Daoist Gu suddenly asked, "Senior Brother Jiang, through what means did Senior Brother Qi suddenly gather all the necessary materials for the tribulation?"

Jiang’s expression remained calm. "Junior Sister Gu, I know what you're thinking. As far as I know, your suspicions are correct."

Daoist Gu squinted her eyes. "I'm not opposed to Senior Brother Qi receiving external support. I only worry that their ambitions may be too great..."

"Senior Brother Qi shares your concerns, but if we wish to reclaim the ancestral grounds of Mount Longhu and purge the sect, we must take this step," Jiang replied.

Gu nodded but pressed further. "I understand the reasoning, but the mystery of our benefactor troubles me. Is it truly just a personal grudge that caused this individual to severely injure Li Qingfeng during that incident on the Great River?"

Jiang shook his head. "I doubt it's that simple. But regardless of their intent, we need the Three-Cave Wild God Tribulation."

As he stepped toward the altar, his body tensed, a warning coursing through his soul. Sensing imminent danger, Jiang spun around swiftly, only to see Daoist Gu doing the same.

Their instincts proved correct. A shadow had materialized behind the young Daoist, and before he could react, a shining staff struck his head with devastating force. Blood splattered as his body crumpled.

From there, chaos erupted. Lei Jun, cloaked in radiant power, had made his move.

Lei Jun didn’t hesitate after his opening strike. Covered in dazzling light, he charged forward, taking full advantage of the chaos. The young Daoist’s bloodied body collapsed to the ground, lifeless. Although Daoist practitioners of the Talismanic Branch boasted robust life force and sturdy physiques, their defenses paled compared to those of body cultivators, Buddhist martial adepts, or Daoist alchemists. Without adequate talismanic protection, they were vulnerable to surprise attacks, and Lei Jun had exploited this to its fullest.

The remaining two Daoists—Jiang and Gu—reacted with remarkable composure. Despite witnessing the death of their companion, their emotions didn’t waver, a testament to their battle-hardened experience. Daoist Gu growled, her petite frame abruptly swelling as she activated her Yellow-Turban Strongman Talisman, a life-bound talisman. She transformed into a towering figure over two meters tall, radiating a golden light. With a colossal command flag resembling a massive wooden plank, she swung it down at Lei Jun with ferocious momentum.

Unfazed, Lei Jun’s form expanded as well, his Heavenly General Talisman activating in response. He grew even larger than Daoist Gu, his imposing figure wrapped in golden radiance that resembled a celestial warrior descended from the heavens. Unarmed, he reached out with his bare hands to grab the massive flag mid-swing, stopping it in its tracks.

Daoist Jiang moved to assist, slapping a Mountain-Cleaving Talisman onto Daoist Gu to enhance her strength. But before the talisman could take effect, Lei Jun struck with overwhelming force. He sent Daoist Gu flying with a single blow, her massive form colliding with Jiang and knocking them both into the altar.

Lei Jun surged forward, relentless in his assault, but was met with resistance. Jiang, though momentarily disoriented, had activated his protective whisk, surrounding himself in a cocoon of white light. Even as Daoist Gu’s Yellow-Turban Strongman form disintegrated, leaving her severely injured and weaponless, Jiang managed to unleash a Five Thunder Righteous Talisman. Thunderous lightning surged from the altar, forming a formation of five massive talismanic seals that loomed above Lei Jun, ready to strike.

Lei Jun, however, remained calm. Raising his hand, he summoned an identical Five Thunder Righteous Talisman. The two formations clashed, lightning cascading chaotically, but Lei Jun used the chaos to his advantage. Seizing the giant flag he had taken from Daoist Gu, he hurled it at Jiang’s dragon-shaped aura, shattering it instantly. He followed up with a crushing strike from his radiant staff, destroying the tiger aura in a single blow.

Amidst the destruction, Daoist Jiang, ever resourceful, performed the Big Dipper Step, conjuring a miniature Dao Palace Talisman Array around himself. Stars glimmered as talismans encircled him and Daoist Gu, reinforcing their defenses and granting them temporary control over the battlefield.

Yet Lei Jun, already adept at the same techniques, mirrored the move perfectly. His Dao Palace Talisman Array clashed with Jiang’s, the two arrays grinding against each other until both shattered. Lei Jun, moving with precise footwork, closed the distance and struck Jiang’s defensive light with a thunderous blow, shattering his whisk and leaving him vulnerable.

Meanwhile, Daoist Gu, though gravely injured, managed to unleash a Flying Lightning Arrow Talisman, a high-tier spiritual talisman capable of breaking through defenses with deadly precision. However, just as the electric arrow was about to release, black Yin-Thunder Water seeped into her body, disrupting her flow of energy. She screamed as the corrosive water consumed her, ending her attempt and her life in an instant.

Lei Jun turned his attention back to Jiang, who, despite the dire situation, unleashed a final desperate move. Producing a top-tier talisman, Jiang roared, "By decree of Heaven!" An endless surge of lightning descended, obliterating the altar and everything in its path. The unleashed power was catastrophic, and even the surrounding mountains trembled.

Lei Jun, however, remained steady. With his Breath-Taking Flag, he conjured a barrier of earth-elemental spiritual energy, weathering the initial storm. As the lightning weakened, he switched to his Earth-Tethered Yin Thunder Talisman, forming a secondary shield that allowed him to endure the onslaught unscathed.

The aftermath left the altar in ruins. Lei Jun emerged from the rubble, stepping over the crumbling remains of Jiang’s defenses. With one final swing of his staff, he struck Jiang down, his blood splattering the ruined ground.

Breathing deeply, Lei Jun scanned the battlefield. Daoist Gu and the young Daoist lay dead beneath the collapsed altar, and Jiang’s lifeless body sprawled at his feet. He whispered, "If I were born two hundred years earlier, I might have stood with you against the Tianshi Mansion. But now... there’s no point in these what-ifs. I cannot let the Three-Cave Wild God Tribulation devastate Mount Longhu indiscriminately."

As he composed himself, Lei Jun began clearing the area. The altar, the tribulation materials, and the ritual instruments had mostly been destroyed in the battle. However, amidst the debris, he unearthed a pair of faintly glowing blue jade stones, radiating a primal aura.

"So, this is the Third-Grade Opportunity foretold by the Supreme Omen…" Lei Jun mused, carefully pocketing the treasures before vanishing into the shadows.