Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 181: The Glorious Tradition of Yuan Mobai’s Disciples

"His Majesty's arrival brings glory to Mount Longhu."

Upon hearing the news, Yuan Mobai and Yao Yuan both nodded slightly. "However, the mountain has just gone through a major upheaval. We fear that our reception may be lacking, and we might lose decorum before the imperial presence."

The recently ended civil strife had both sides fighting with full force.

At the height of battle, no one could afford to hold back, and damage to the spiritual landscapes of the mountain was inevitable.

Just like the two great battles that had occurred on Mount Longhu in the past, the conflict had once again left the Daoist Holy Land scarred.

Back then, sacred sites like the Lingzhi Platform had been destroyed.

Now, the situation was not much different.

The once lush and verdant Daoist mountain was now riddled with cracks, charred forests, and even barren wastelands.

Even the Upper Qing Thunder Altar Grotto-Heaven, nestled within the clouds above the mountain peaks, had been affected.

After the war, a multitude of urgent matters demanded Yuan Mobai and the others' attention.

Rebuilding the mountain gate was naturally on the agenda, but it would not be a task completed overnight.

"The eastern coastline has suffered devastating losses. His Majesty has just left from there."

Shangguan Ning added, "Since His Majesty has decided to visit our sect, she must already be prepared for what she will see. We do not need to make unnecessary efforts to conceal anything—it shouldn't be considered a failure in decorum."

Yao Yuan asked, "Do we know how many are in the imperial entourage? If we have an estimate, we can prepare the most suitable welcome."

Shangguan Ning replied, "From what I've heard, it's a small, lightly equipped retinue."

She was not merely being courteous.

The Empress had not left the capital for a leisurely tour.

With the Eastern Sea Demon Uprising and the rebellion in Wuyue finally quelled, most members of the Tang Imperial Family were returning to the capital instead of traveling further south with the Empress.

The capital was the empire’s core, and after having been left vulnerable for some time, it could not afford to remain unattended any longer.

However, "small retinue" did not mean a disguised or secret visit.

No matter how simplified, an imperial procession was still an imperial procession.

For Mount Longhu, this visit was of great significance.

Following the internal strife, Tianshi Mansion had fallen into a period of decline. A better external environment was crucial for it to recover and navigate through the current crisis.

Whether the Tang Imperial Family had always intended this visit or simply had no time to interfere in the Li Clan’s internal conflict, Shangguan Ning’s prior neutral stance—where she neither supported nor opposed the Li Clan, merely offering a few lukewarm words of persuasion—had already hinted at her position.

With this in mind, Yuan Mobai and the others naturally would not let this opportunity slip away now that the Empress had decided to visit.

Once Tang Xiaotang arrived, Shangguan Ning acted as a mediator to coordinate with the Tang Imperial Court, confirming the exact time of the visit.

After taking his leave, Lei Jun exited the High Priests’ Hall, only to encounter two familiar faces: Zhang Jingzhen and Lin Shan, Shangguan Ning’s senior disciple.

The three exchanged greetings, all sharing a moment of surreal nostalgia.

However, both Zhang Jingzhen and Lin Shan were composed individuals who quickly steadied their emotions.

Their conversation inevitably turned to the Li Clan and the recent battle.

"Will the Li Clan’s disciples all be expelled from the sect?" Zhang Jingzhen asked softly.

Lei Jun replied, "We’ll have to wait for my master, our senior uncles, and Senior Sister Tang to finalize the plan first."

Lin Shan then asked, "Junior Brother Lei, have you seen Li… Xuan?"

In front of them, Lei Jun naturally answered differently than he would have before Yuan Mobai. "No, I haven’t. I only heard from other disciples that Li Fenghe is dead. It seems to be related to Chen Yi from back then?"

Lin Shan nodded. "Yes, it was indeed Chen Yi who killed him. I pursued Chen Yi afterward, but unfortunately, he managed to escape. Later, I heard that Li Xuan also ventured into the deep valley to search for him, but neither of them has been seen since."

Lei Jun’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly observed Lin Shan.

According to the information Li Xuan had relayed to his fellow Li Clan disciples through a Thousand-Mile Transmission Talisman, they had actually planned to take advantage of the chaos in the deep valley to eliminate Lin Shan.

Of course, at the top of their traitor-hunting list among Middle-Heaven Realm cultivators was none other than Lei himself…

Zhang Jingzhen remarked, "I searched for them earlier as well but found nothing. I will continue to monitor any news of Li Xuan and Chen Yi."

Lei Jun glanced at Zhang Jingzhen, seemingly unintentionally, before shifting his gaze away.

It was unclear whether Zhang Jingzhen herself had noticed, but her words seemed to emphasize Chen Yi more than Li Xuan.

That was fine, though—after all, Li Xuan no longer needed her attention.

Lin Shan sighed, "Finding Li Xuan and Chen Yi is difficult, but even harder… is recovering the Tianshi Seal and the Tianshi Robe!"

At this, both Lei Jun and Zhang Jingzhen sighed in unison.

Lei Jun, despite holding the Tianshi Seal, could not help but feel frustrated at how these three great treasures had been lost one after another. A curse almost escaped his lips.

…He even found himself wondering:

Given the way the Tianshi Seal and Tianshi Sword had resurfaced in the past, did the Tianshi Robe also require another calamity to return?

That thought alone was enough to make him laugh in exasperation.

Looking up, he saw Lin Shan and Zhang Jingzhen both wearing similarly strange expressions.

It seemed they had all arrived at the same unsettling conclusion.

Although Lin Shan and Zhang Jingzhen did not know that the Tianshi Seal had actually returned, they remembered that the last time it appeared was six years ago, when Mount Longhu was under siege.

Now, with the Tianshi Sword following a similar pattern, it was only natural to have suspicions.

The three exchanged silent glances.

A long, heavy silence.

Then, as if by tacit agreement, they all turned their gazes away.

Divine treasures had a will of their own and would react in times of crisis.

But it wasn’t as if they could just stage a battle and "trick" the treasures into returning.

A small skirmish wouldn’t be enough.

As for a large-scale battle… in their current weakened state, Tianshi Mansion could not afford to entertain such thoughts.

After a few more words, Lei Jun took his leave and headed toward the Restricted Area of the Ancestral Tombs.

The guards had changed since six years ago—Elder Xin was no longer in charge, and most of the disciples stationed there were new.

However, there was still some overlap…

"The Li Clan, so blinded by stubbornness…"

Wang Guiyuan sighed. "Not only does it hinder their path of cultivation, but it may also ruin their entire lives."

Lei Jun nodded. "Senior Brother speaks the truth."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon another familiar figure.

Chu Kun touched his own face. "What is it, Second Senior Brother? Is there something on my face?"

Lei Jun patted his shoulder. "A disciple who hasn't guarded the Ancestral Tombs at least once doesn’t count as part of our lineage. Congratulations, you've finally earned the achievement!"

Turning to Wang Guiyuan, he added, "Senior Brother, you have truly led by example."

"Junior Brother Chu is insightful!" Wang Guiyuan beamed with pride.

Chu Kun could only laugh helplessly. "Honestly, my cultivation is still too weak. And now that Elder Yangchao is here, it’s even more awkward for me to show my face."

His words referred to Elder Yangchao, a senior member of the Suzhou Chu Clan, who had once attacked Mount Longhu…

Thus, Chu Kun simply followed Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan’s example—ignoring the wind and rain of the outside world, instead staying in the Ancestral Tombs Restricted Area, keeping vigil over the ancestral tablets of past masters.

"Actually, I've always had a question..." Chu Kun changed the subject.

Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan turned to him.

Lowering his voice, Chu Kun asked, "For figures like Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen and Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang, didn’t the Li Clan ever consider… making a stronger effort to bring them into their fold?"

Although he spoke vaguely, Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan immediately understood his meaning.

Chu Kun hailed from the Suzhou Chu Clan, one of the Five Great Surnames and Seven Prominent Clans, always standing a cut above the rest.

But over the years, it wasn’t as if the Chu Clan only married within their own name.

Marriages between the Five Great Surnames and Seven Prominent Clans were the norm.

However, rare exceptions did exist—specifically, for exceptionally outstanding individuals from lesser families.

Though uncommon, there had been cases of both men and women being absorbed into these prestigious bloodlines.

For outside men, though, this usually meant marrying into the clan.

From the perspective of both the Chu Clan and the Li Clan, Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang were undoubtedly worth making an exception for.

If it were up to Chu Kun, he would say that in recent years, Lei Jun should also be added to that list.

"You’re aware that the Fang Clan of Jingxiang once nearly formed a marriage alliance with the Li Clan, aren’t you?" Wang Guiyuan asked.

Chu Kun nodded. "Yes, between Fang Mingyuan and Li Ying."

Wang Guiyuan continued, "That was actually a compromise. Originally, there had been a proposal for a Fang Clan direct descendant to marry into the Li Clan, but it ultimately fell through."

Chu Kun pondered. "You mean… the former Young Tianshi?"

Wang Guiyuan nodded, then asked, "Take a guess—why was the Young Tianshi's marriage never settled?"

Curious, Chu Kun replied, "But I’ve never heard any rumors about it within the Mansion."

Wang Guiyuan smiled. "Of course, there were no public rumors. Only a handful of people speculated quietly. It was said that they were… waiting for Tang Xiaotang to come around."

Chu Kun was momentarily speechless.

Lei Jun quipped, "If they had been more direct about it, it wouldn’t have been a matter of ‘coming around’—it would have been outright war."

Wang Guiyuan, mimicking Yuan Mobai’s tone, chided, "Junior Brother, the deceased are gone. Show some respect."

Lei Jun shrugged, dropping the subject before turning to Chu Kun. "So, what exactly is the stance of the Suzhou Chu Clan?"

Chu Kun replied, "Elder Yangchao's visit was his own decision. Chu Guolao has been primarily focused on the Eastern Sea and Wuyue affairs lately."

He paused, then added, "The Mistress of Moon Pavilion also acted independently—it was not at Chu Guolao’s behest."

Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan exchanged a knowing look.

Chu Yu had also made her stance clear by joining the battle.

She had directly sided with the Tang Imperial Court.

The rebellion in Wuyue had been swiftly quelled, thanks in no small part to her efforts.

"The Mistress of Moon Pavilion is a close friend of Her Majesty. I only recently learned this," Chu Kun explained. "Before, I just heard her mention that during her travels in the capital, she met two kindred spirits. At the time, I didn’t realize that one of them was actually the Empress herself."

Back then, she was still the Grand Princess.

Lei Jun mused, "Some flowers refuse to bloom when tended, yet flourish when left alone. The twists of fate are always unpredictable."

Since neither Wang Guiyuan nor Chu Kun had yet to undergo Initiation, their duties remained unchanged.

The former was happy to continue guarding the Ancestral Tombs, while the latter was in no rush to leave either.

After bidding the two farewell, Lei Jun finally concluded his day’s work and returned to his residence.

At his current cultivation level, fetal breathing and energy circulation had almost completely replaced sleep, benefiting his body without any harm.

Lei Jun busied himself during the day, then seized whatever time he could at night to continue his cultivation.

Through silent breathing exercises, meditation, and visualization, he cultivated deep into the night.

By the latter half of the night, he temporarily concluded his practice.

He then used the Breath-Taking Flag to completely seal off his surroundings.

Only then did he take out a shimmering mass of nine-colored light.

The radiance flickered, neither dissipating nor solidifying, resembling something both ethereal and tangible.

Lei Jun examined it closely—it was as delicate as silk.

This was a remnant from the lost Tianshi Robe.

Perhaps, it could serve as a clue to its whereabouts.

However, this time, Lei Jun did not immediately inform Yuan Mobai or Tang Xiaotang.

It wasn’t that he wanted to keep it to himself, but rather that he couldn’t easily explain how he had used this flowing light to trick Li Ziyang into his death.

Back then, Li Ziyang had originally planned to escape through Nine-Star Ridge, but had suddenly changed course towards Chongling Gorge—lured by this very light.

Yuan Mobai had remained on the mountain to defend the gate, but there was no guarantee he hadn’t noticed this nine-colored glow.

If he had, then he might question why Lei Jun had taken the risk of luring Li Ziyang toward Chongling Gorge.

Lei Jun’s secrets were layered.

The deepest of them was the Light Sphere in his mind that allowed him to Seek Fortune and Avoid Calamity.

That was something he had no intention of revealing—at least, not yet.

So, this clue to the Tianshi Robe could wait.

Later, he could claim he had obtained it from elsewhere before discussing it with Yuan Mobai and Tang Xiaotang.

Of course, he could attempt to search for the Tianshi Robe on his own.

But if he could combine the power of Ten Thousand Methods Sect Altar, the Tianshi Sword, and the Tianshi Seal, his chances of success would be much higher.

Even then, it wouldn’t be easy.

After all, if it were simple, the Tianshi Seal wouldn’t have remained lost for so long.

All he could do was give it his best effort—and leave the rest to fate.

Lei Jun contemplated the nine-colored glow for a moment before carefully putting it away.

Then, another thought struck him.

He retrieved the Iron Scroll he had taken from Li Xuan, a record from the Demon Suppression Guard.

Without knowledge of the Guard’s special methods, opening the scroll without damaging it was no easy task.

Using the mysteries of the Nine Abyss Earth Fire within the True-One Altar, Lei Jun carefully unsealed the scroll.

Inside, as expected, were extensive intelligence reports.

Since Li Xuan had compiled them, they naturally reflected his priorities.

The most detailed reports, unsurprisingly, focused on key figures within Tianshi Mansion’s external disciples.

Some information was missing, and there were secrets even Li Xuan hadn’t uncovered.

But what was already recorded was enough to be deeply alarming.

Beyond Tianshi Mansion, the next most detailed reports concerned two other factions:

The Yellow Heaven Sect.

The Xiao Clan of Longxi.

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.

Li Xuan investigating the Yellow Heaven Sect was expected.

But why was he gathering intelligence on the Xiao Clan of Longxi?

It seemed that Li Xuan had been preparing for the worst.

If the Li Clan was forced to retreat from Mount Longhu and Jiangzhou, they would need a new foothold.

And it appeared that Li Xuan had set his sights on the Xiao Clan’s territory.

Three familiar names stood out from the list:

Xiao Hang, new head of the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Chunhui, the second son.

Xiao Xueting, the third daughter.