Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 174: The Heavenly Master Sword Reappears

The activation of the Myriad Methods Altar sent waves of resplendent light soaring skyward. Simultaneously, the Mountain Guarding Formation of Tianshi Mansion at Mount Longhu sprang to life. The altar, serving as its core, became the linchpin of the operation.

As the formation unfolded, countless intricate lights intertwined, forming layers upon layers of profound patterns. These patterns coalesced into a massive, triple-tiered altar that stretched from earth to the heavens, enveloping the entirety of Mount Longhu and severing it from the outside world.

Within the Upper Qing Thunder Altar Grotto-Heaven, bolts of purple Nine Heavens Divine Thunder descended, merging seamlessly with the colossal altar. The altar radiated with shimmering lightning, its offensive and defensive capabilities united in a single, impenetrable structure.

The last time this grand formation was fully activated was six years ago, during the tenure of the late Tianshi, Li Qingfeng. Since his demise, the formation had remained dormant—until today.

The emergence of the triple-tiered altar immediately isolated the Chu Clan scholar outside its bounds. Despite the overwhelming surge of his sword qi, it was utterly neutralized, unable to penetrate even the outermost defenses of Mount Longhu. Confronted by the altar’s divine lightning, the scholar had no choice but to pause, his gaze fixed on the shrouded mountain.

Within the mountain, Elder Li Song remained composed, his expression calm as he donned the Tianshi Robe. The robe emanated nine-colored brilliance, casting light in all directions. This brilliance seeped into the Mountain Guarding Formation, causing its movements to stutter. Using the Tianshi Robe, a priceless treasure, Li Song vied with Yuan Mobai for control over the Myriad Methods Altar and the formation.

Though he could not fully wrest control, his interference was enough to disrupt the formation’s smooth operation.

Meanwhile, Yuan Mobai sat cross-legged within the Myriad Methods Altar, his hands forming incantations against his chest. His demeanor remained tranquil, his expression unchanged.

In the skies above the mountain, a violet thunder dragon clashed fiercely with a green fire tiger. Li Ziyang, while suppressing Elder Yao Yuan, turned to Yuan Mobai and sighed heavily. “Junior Brother Yuan, why must you do this? Both my father and elder brother had the utmost faith in you and treated you with great care.”

Yuan Mobai offered a gentle smile. “Master was kind to me, but some of his choices were misguided, detrimental to Tianshi Mansion and the Li Clan alike.”

Li Ziyang frowned. “If it were any outsider, I could understand, but you? I always believed we could work together harmoniously, creating a brighter future for our sect.”

“I believed that once too,” Yuan Mobai replied, “but this path no longer serves the Daoist legacy of our sect.”

“And this current chaos,” Li Ziyang asked, gesturing around them, “is this truly what you desire?”

“It was you who first crossed the line,” Yuan Mobai answered calmly.

Li Ziyang exhaled deeply, a tinge of frustration in his voice. “Step by step, the pressure mounts. How can we continue like this?”

With his sigh, his power surged further. The colossal Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Apparition descended in full force, bearing down on Yao Yuan’s Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor Apparition.

Yuan Mobai, his smile fading, maintained his composure. Silent and unwavering, he continued his efforts within the altar.

Outside the altar, Li Song, draped in the Tianshi Robe, mirrored Yuan Mobai’s actions, though his face was pale from exhaustion. His earlier battle with Tang Xiaotang had aggravated his unhealed injuries. Unable to face Tang Xiaotang directly in combat, he had relied on the Yang Thunder Dragon to evade her attacks. Only after Li Hongyu replaced him did he get a brief respite.

Even now, his soul and body felt weak and torn with pain. Yet, at this critical juncture, Li Song suppressed his discomfort, continuing his duel with Yuan Mobai for control of the Mountain Guarding Formation.

While their confrontation remained subdued, the most intense battle raged above. High in the skies, a golden fire tiger and a purple thunder dragon clashed with ferocity, their struggle spilling beyond the formation’s bounds and into the space above the altar.

The Chu Clan scholar stood with his sword at the ready, his aura brimming with sword qi. Yet, he hesitated, unsure of where to strike amidst the chaos.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened. Alongside the golden and purple lights, a new color emerged—green.

A surge of Nine Abyss Earth Fire manifested in the skies, forming a massive green fire tiger. The beast roared ferociously, standing beside the purple thunder dragon, their combined presence evoking an aura of dominance.

“Dragon coiled, tiger crouched,” someone murmured in awe.

The green fire tiger belonged to Li Hongyu. Having recently ascended to the Eighth Heaven, she had mastered the Fire Law Talismanic Canon, forging her Yin Fire Tiger. Together with her Yang Thunder Dragon, Li Hongyu now wielded both major Daoist apparitions of Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire.

Since the passing of Tianshi Li Qingfeng, Tianshi Mansion finally had another practitioner capable of mastering both divine manifestations. This milestone marked a turning point for the sect, heralding the return of its former glory.

And it foreshadowed the unleashing of the true Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike.

"Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike!"

From a distance, Lei Jun watched the skies above Mount Longhu, taking a deep breath.

As expected, the purple Nine Heavens Divine Thunder merged with the green Nine Abyss Earth Fire, forming an immense purple-green Taiji Yin-Yang Fish. It hung high in the heavens, radiant like the sun itself. The yin-yang energy intertwined, symbolizing the union of dragon and tiger—a technique known as the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike.

“Haha!” A sudden burst of laughter shattered the awe-stricken silence.

Lei Jun’s gaze darted toward the golden fire tiger. Beside it, another colossal figure—a green-flamed fire tiger as large as a mountain—appeared, standing proudly amidst the clouds. Both fire tigers roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Then, the roars began to change. Intertwined with the tiger’s cries came the unmistakable sound of dragon roars.

Lei Jun’s eyes widened with excitement, while the Chu Clan scholar’s pupils shrank in shock. Everyone around Mount Longhu turned their gazes skyward, mesmerized.

The golden fire tiger gradually transformed, its body elongating and reshaping until it became a massive golden dragon. As it evolved, fiery explosions erupted from its glowing body, golden lightning snakes slithering through the air. Though not fully transformed into a golden thunder dragon, its explosive and overwhelming power shone through.

The golden dragon began to merge with the green fire tiger. Together, they formed a giant golden-green Taiji Yin-Yang Fish, another embodiment of the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike. This one, however, was the creation of Tang Xiaotang.

The energy of the golden-green diagram was far more volatile than the stable purple-green counterpart, but its raw ferocity was unmatched. The two Taiji diagrams clashed relentlessly, their power rippling through the heavens, distorting the sky itself as if it were being torn apart.

“…Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike?!” Li Song murmured in disbelief as he gazed at the chaotic spectacle. But his words weren’t directed at Li Hongyu’s technique.

Outside Mount Longhu, Lei Jun chuckled softly.

He recalled a past conversation with Tang Xiaotang about the Thunder Law Talismanic Canon. Back then, she had boldly claimed she would create her own thunder law. It wasn’t an idle boast.

Tang Xiaotang’s golden-green Taiji technique, though still immature, was a testament to her audacity and brilliance. Its potential was extraordinary, a new thunder law born from her unparalleled talent.

Tang Xiaotang’s celestial physique and rare bone structure were well known. However, her exceptional comprehension—surpassing the clarity of many Daoist prodigies—was what truly set her apart.

“What does it mean to be struck by pure talent?” Lei Jun mused. “This is it.”

His eyes fixated on the golden-green Taiji, a sense of longing stirring within him. If he could use the Heavenly Desolation Enlightenment Stone to enhance his aptitude, reaching the realm of clarity like Tang Xiaotang, his own cultivation path might transform in unimaginable ways.

The clash between the Taiji diagrams intensified. The purple-green diagram, more stable and enduring, began suppressing the golden-green one, whose instability caused it to waver.

But just as the golden-green diagram seemed on the verge of collapse, the green flames suddenly vanished. What remained was pure, radiant golden light. Golden thunder and flames erupted in a second, more ferocious wave, slamming into the purple-green diagram.

The already strained purple-green diagram shattered under the assault, fragments of purple and green light scattering like a celestial rain across the sky.

A deafening roar followed, echoing for miles. The shockwave shook the earth, reverberating even in the souls of distant onlookers. Lei Jun and others outside Mount Longhu felt their ears ring, their minds momentarily dazed.

In the heavens, a figure descended amidst the shower of light. It was Li Hongyu. She managed to stabilize herself mid-air, her expression dazed as she looked upward.

Above her, a tall figure bathed in golden light floated majestically, her entire being exuding radiance. Tang Xiaotang’s hair and brows had turned a shimmering gold, and her laughter rang out uninhibited.

“Haha! So what if you wouldn’t teach me the Thunder Law Talismanic Canon? I created my own!”

Li Hongyu stared at her in disbelief, a flicker of nostalgia crossing her face. She remembered a time when she, too, was filled with such unshakable confidence. But the weight of her elder brother Li Qingfeng’s shadow, and now her defeat by a younger, more brilliant opponent, weighed heavily on her.

“…It’s me who lost, not the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike,” she murmured, her voice carrying the bitterness of acceptance.

Tang Xiaotang smiled but did not refute her. “That’s right. My version of the Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike is still unstable. It took me two moves to counter your one. But I could make two moves, and you couldn’t. That’s why I win.”

Li Hongyu exhaled sharply, a fire of determination reigniting within her. “I know your grudge lies with my uncle and younger brother. But the Li Clan stands as one—our rise and fall are shared. I may leave alone, but what of the others? I cannot retreat.”

With a wave of her hand, the Tianshi Robe, glowing with nine-colored brilliance, flew to her and draped itself over her shoulders.

Li Song, still pale and injured, made no attempt to stop her. Instead, he slowly walked into the Myriad Methods Altar, where Yuan Mobai stood waiting. The two locked eyes, their intentions unspoken but clear.

Outside the mountain, Tang Xiaotang raised her hand, drawing streams of purple lightning toward her palm. The sharp glint of metal appeared amidst the lightning.

“They say, ‘Sharpening the axe doesn’t delay the work.’ I never cared much for that saying,” she mused with a grin. “But today, it feels appropriate.”

Her quest for the Tianshi Sword had been riddled with frustrations, near misses that left her simmering. Yet her efforts had not been in vain. She now possessed tangible clues that aligned with her newfound strength at the Eighth Heaven.

“During the last battle, the Tianshi Seal surfaced. Now, with another battle raging, could the Tianshi Sword—” Lei Jun’s thoughts trailed off, his eyes gleaming with hope.

“BOOM!!!”

A deafening explosion interrupted his musings, not from the skies, but from the earth below.

The ground outside Mount Longhu trembled as though an earth dragon were awakening. A deep fissure split open, and a surge of purple lightning erupted skyward, as if piercing through the heavens.

The Tianshi Sword was awakening.