Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 175: Please sign for me today.

Amidst the purple lightning, dazzling radiance illuminated numerous talismanic patterns.

Within it, a Daoist sword shimmered brightly, vibrating with bursts of thunderclaps that echoed like sword cries. This was none other than the Tianshi Sword, one of the Three Treasures of the Tianshi!

This peerless treasure possessed sentience. Influenced by the great battle on Mount Longhu, the Tianshi Sword, much like the Tianshi Seal before it, had returned to the vicinity of Mount Longhu. However, unlike the time of the Tianshi Seal, Lei Jun had no clues or spiritual tools related to the Tianshi Sword, so he had been unable to sense its presence earlier, leaving him to rely on conjecture.

Tang Xiaotang, holding a crucial lead and merely a step away from success, had clearly sensed the sword’s return to the mountain gate earlier. Now, she had successfully summoned it back!

"Searching high and low for something in vain, only to obtain it effortlessly—what luck!" Tang Xiaotang laughed heartily. "Alright, let's settle this today!"

With a flash of lightning above her palm, it seemed as if a connection was forged between her and the sword.

Outside the mountain, a Chu Clan scholar attempted to intervene. However, as soon as he approached, streaks of purple lightning transformed into sword radiance, sweeping in all directions. While the Chu scholar’s sword qi shielded him from harm, the intense sword energy surged like a boundless ocean, blocking the lightning's advance.

Forced to halt, he could only watch as the Tianshi Sword soared towards the skies above Mount Longhu.

But at that moment, another figure appeared in the distance, drawing closer to Mount Longhu.

The massive altar that enveloped the peaks didn’t seem to react strongly to this newcomer. With a raise of his hand, the figure hurled a massive boulder—a mountaintop seemingly cleaved off and carried here.

The boulder bore a sword scar from which purple lightning leaped, crackling and dancing in the air.

This interference caused the Tianshi Sword's ascent to slow noticeably.

Tang Xiaotang's eyes widened. "How did you lose the Tianshi Sword back then? And now you have the gall to swoop in for the prize?"

The new arrival was none other than Li Zhengxuan, who had been away from the mountain for a long time.

"Where I fell is where I must rise again," Li Zhengxuan replied calmly. "Indeed, it was I who lost the Tianshi Sword back then. It is now my duty to retrieve it to honor the ancestors of generations past."

Ignoring Tang Xiaotang, he rushed toward the Tianshi Sword.

Li Hongyu cast a complicated glance at the Tianshi Sword before quickly looking away and stepping in to block Tang Xiaotang. Previously, she had been injured due to an exchange where she fell behind. Fortunately, the Tianshi Robe now bolstered her, stabilizing her condition.

The dazzling nine-colored radiance of the robe aided her in resisting Tang Xiaotang’s continued assaults.

Surrounded by golden flames and entwined with dragon and tiger shadows, Tang Xiaotang’s entire being radiated the ferocity of a blazing sun crashing into the earth as she slammed into Li Hongyu.

Li Hongyu endured the impact under the protection of the Tianshi Robe.

Golden light erupted violently, scattering like countless golden needles shooting outward.

Even the Chu scholar found it difficult to block all the golden radiance with his sword qi alone. His expression grew more serious as he unleashed his sword in earnest, sending waves of sword qi crashing like tsunamis to contain the golden light.

When the radiance and sword qi collided, they transformed into chains of golden lightning and flames that exploded continuously.

To have such strength right after reaching the Eighth Heaven... The Chu scholar frowned inwardly.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Hongyu, also newly ascended to the Eighth Heaven, had already mastered the Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor Apparition. Her mastery of Mount Longhu's Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike gave her a significant edge, allowing her to surpass Li Song as the Li Clan's top expert.

Yet, even with such a reputation, she had been defeated by Tang Xiaotang.

This battle was bound to further solidify Tang Xiaotang’s fame as a prodigy. Though formidable, Li Hongyu’s possession of the Tianshi Robe allowed her to gradually turn the tide and attempt to regain the upper hand.

More importantly, Li Zhengxuan had now reached the Tianshi Sword.

utcome of this battle remained uncertain!

Li Song and the others temporarily disregarded the Universal Daoist Altar, focusing all their attention on Yuan Mobai. After a brief moment to recover his mana, Yao Yuan rejoined the fray.

The battlefield, initially in the skies, had now shifted to the ancestral grounds of the mountain gate. The intensity of the conflict reached a fever pitch, and prior restraints were gradually abandoned.

From a distance, Lei Jun gazed at the summit of Mount Longhu. The situation was not yet fully clear. While it wasn’t catastrophic, it was also premature to declare victory. In the grand scheme of things, every cause had its effect.

Had Li Song not been injured while attempting to locate Tang Xiaotang’s retreat and failed to recover, the current situation might have been even more precarious. From Tang Xiaotang’s perspective, if she had bided her time after reaching the Eighth Heaven, waiting for Xu Yuanzhen to return before making her move, the outcome would have been more secure.

But if that were the case, she wouldn’t be Tang Xiaotang. Moreover, if such a scenario had occurred, the Li Clan might not have chosen to fight so desperately without retreating as they were now.

Driving them off would be easier than holding them down or pursuing them. Even today, if the Li Clan decided it was truly hopeless and withdrew from Mount Longhu, Tang Xiaotang would likely focus on chasing one target while being cautious of ambushes outside the mountain.

Lei Jun’s expression remained neutral as he shifted his gaze from Mount Longhu to the surrounding mountain ranges.

He took out an item—a translucent, silky veil that was light and delicate like cicada wings, brimming with spiritual energy yet understated. It was the Spirit-Hiding Veil, an artifact he had obtained from Bo Hong and Shui Ying of the Blood River Sect.

Lei Jun looked at the veil and then at Mount Longhu in the distance, remaining silent. With the Spirit-Hiding Veil and the Breath-Taking Flag in his possession, his methods for avoiding danger and preserving his life were already impressive.

With adequate preparation, even a cultivator of the Upper Three Heavens realm would find it difficult to threaten him.

During the ambush by elders of the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect at Golden Fortress Village, many in the Li Clan, including Li Kong, had suffered heavy casualties. But fate had different plans for Lei Jun. His fortunes, marked by mixed omens, had largely shielded him from disaster.

The Spirit-Hiding Veil, however, was a consumable item, usable only once. Lei Jun pondered how to make the most of this opportunity.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Lei Jun hoped the glowing orb in his mind would grant him a Lower-Bad Omen today. Not for himself, but because this unique day called for helping someone else along their way.

That someone, of course, was a special case—sending them off wouldn’t be easy.

"The flowers you nurture don’t bloom, but the wild willows you leave alone thrive." Lei Jun raised his eyebrows. "Same as always—leave it to fate and see where the cards fall."

He descended the mountain, concealing his presence as he moved stealthily toward Mount Longhu, vigilantly scanning his surroundings while keeping an eye on the glowing orb in his mind.

It was hard to say whether it was fortunate or not, but as Lei Jun approached the Jinque Creek at the mountain's base, following the water upstream, the glowing orb began to flash and display text:

"Disaster arises from internal strife; calamity grows from division. Danger lurks within and without, yet misfortune may turn to fortune."

Three fates appeared before him:

1. Upper-Moderate Omen: Cross Jinque Creek’s ferry and head toward Mount Longhu. A Fourth-Grade Opportunity awaits with minimal risk—proceed cautiously, and there will be no consequences. Fortunate.
2. Moderate-Moderate Omen: Follow Jinque Creek downstream discreetly and remain low-key. No gains or losses—neutral outcome. Peaceful.
3. Moderate-Moderate Omen: Follow Jinque Creek upstream for a chance at a Sixth-Grade Opportunity, but be prepared for danger. Exercise caution. Neutral.

Under normal circumstances, an Upper-Moderate Omen and two Moderate Omens would be considered good fortune. However, for Lei Jun, it wasn’t the type of fate he had been hoping for.

Smiling wryly, Lei Jun shook his head. A Fourth-Grade Opportunity was significant, not something to be missed.

Still… "Disaster arises from internal strife; calamity grows from division."

Lei Jun had a hunch. It was either related to the Li Clan or the Yellow Heaven Sect.

His master, Yuan Mobai, had finally revealed his identity on Mount Longhu. Naturally, as Yuan’s disciple, Lei Jun could no longer maintain a neutral facade with the Li Clan. It was even possible they were already looking for him.

Lei Jun remained composed, moving like the night wind as he quietly crossed the Jinque Creek ferry and approached Mount Longhu.

The mountain gate was currently shrouded by a colossal altar formation. Lei Jun searched the surrounding forest cautiously.

Suddenly, his ears twitched—someone was approaching.

Using the Breath-Taking Flag, Lei Jun concealed himself carefully. Shortly after, a group arrived in the area, their movements indicating an effort to remain unnoticed.

If not for Lei Jun’s expertise in such matters, he might have been deceived.

"This is the meeting point," one of them murmured as the group paused and began scanning the surroundings. Their precautions weren’t enough to penetrate Lei Jun’s concealment.

Lei Jun observed them closely. Their attire bore no identifying marks, but their movements suggested they were Confucian cultivators.

Among them, two individuals struck Lei Jun as familiar. He had seen their portraits before—they appeared to be members of the Ye Clan from Jinzhou.

One of them whispered, "Seventh Uncle, isn’t our group too small for this mission?"

A middle-aged man, whom Lei Jun recognized from the portraits, replied, "The northern front has already moved. The clan’s main focus is there for now. That’s why we need to be precise with our targets here."

Another chuckled. "With the Li Clan cooperating as the local faction, it shouldn’t be too difficult."

"But Seventh Uncle," the younger man hesitated, "doesn’t it seem like the Li Clan is struggling?"

The Ye Clan elder answered calmly, "What matters is what we can gain from this. Prepare contingencies. If the Li Clan fails to hold Mount Longhu and retreats, we must adjust accordingly."

As they discussed strategies, Lei Jun’s attention shifted. Among them was Li Xuan, son of Li Ziyang.