Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 187: Fourth-Grade Expandable Opportunity Related to the Heavenly Book

A new Supreme Good Omen?

Lei Jun’s spirits lifted immediately.

However, upon seeing that this destiny pointed towards the position of Steward’s Hall Elder on Duty, Lei Jun was slightly surprised.

After all, the Steward’s Hall was unlike the Treasure Pavilion, which guarded a trove of valuables with resources flowing back and forth.

How could a fourth-grade opportunity arise here?

The position of Steward’s Hall Elder on Duty was a mixed bag.

It had its merits, but it also came with its own set of issues, which were quite apparent. The role involved an enormous amount of daily administrative work. The Steward’s Hall handled the most affairs within the sect—bar none.

While the position held significant authority, if one didn’t plan on leveraging it for personal gain, it would mostly serve as a burden.

For cultivators like Lei Jun, who focused on their own progression, taking on this role would inevitably eat into their cultivation time.

That said, there were certain advantages to this position. Beyond the aforementioned power—both explicit and implicit—the Steward’s Hall served as a rigorous training ground for cultivating one’s ability to manage sect affairs. It also offered an opportunity to network extensively and forge broad connections.

Thus, it was regarded as a critical stepping stone for nurturing key successors in the sect.

Elders or disciples who performed well in the Steward’s Hall typically went on to become pivotal figures within the mansion.

Some even became High Elders in charge of major responsibilities.

Historically, nearly every Tianshi (Celestial Master) had a stint as an Elder on Duty in the Steward’s Hall as part of their training prior to assuming leadership. The Steward’s Hall was like a microcosm of the cultivation world.

Successfully completing a term here would naturally make one more adept at managing the entire Tianshi Mansion in the future.

As for the fourth-grade opportunity?

Lei Jun surmised that it was more likely tied to people rather than material resources within the Steward’s Hall.

The detailed description of this Supreme Good Omen also caught Lei Jun’s attention:

The opportunity is expandable. Before expansion, it is free of risks and repercussions.

Lei Jun had encountered similar opportunities in the past. The implication was that the opportunity could be readily seized without any immediate danger or future consequences. However, it might present a secondary choice down the line.

That future choice could transform the nature of the opportunity, potentially introducing risks or complications. At that point, Lei Jun could either embrace the evolving opportunity or abandon it, keeping only the original benefits. For now, he could safely accept and secure it as it was.

In contrast, the Lower-Moderate Omen mentioned for the Patrolling Elder position shared a similar function to the Steward’s Hall Elder on Duty.

A Patrolling Elder’s duty was to inspect various branch mansions and academies across Mount Longhu and other Talismanic Branch sects. Strictly speaking, it was a lucrative position—not in the sense of corruption, but because it allowed one to establish an extensive network and reputation.

The positions of Patrolling Elder and Steward’s Hall Elder on Duty were complementary—one external, one internal.

Together, they represented the two most connected roles for Middle-Heaven Elders within the mansion.

Thus, they were an essential part of the Tianshi Mansion’s training process for future leaders.

Even so, Lei Jun found the role of Patrolling Elder even less appealing.

Traveling and sightseeing did interest him, but not at this stage of his life. He wanted to solidify his fifth Dao Palace and break through to the Sixth Heaven Realm first.

Moreover, the dangers implied by the Lower-Moderate Omen were something Lei Jun could guess.

He was already on the radar of various external factions, including some hostile to the Tianshi Mansion.

As long as Lei Jun moved discreetly, it wouldn’t be easy for enemies to target him.

But as a Patrolling Elder, openly visiting one branch mansion after another, he’d likely give his enemies the opportunity they sought.

This was unlike his earlier encounter at Xianliu Mountain’s Immortal Palace. Back then, he and his master, Yuan Mobai, had deliberately set a trap for the Lin Clan’s experts. Yuan Mobai had even been nearby, waiting for the moment to play the hunter after the prey had acted.

Now, however, the Tianshi Mansion was short on personnel. Neither the new Tianshi, Tang Xiaotang, nor senior figures like Yuan Mobai or other High Elders, would easily leave the mountain.

Were Lei Jun to flaunt himself as Patrolling Elder, it would be akin to shouting, “Come and get me!”

“Master, this disciple wishes to gain some experience in the Steward’s Hall,” Lei Jun replied calmly, pulling his thoughts back from their wandering.

Initially, Lei Jun had planned to take on a brief stint as the Chief Instructor of the Daoist Children’s Academy, but he now decided to prioritize the Steward’s Hall instead. He was curious about the expandable fourth-grade opportunity tied to this role.

Yuan Mobai smiled and nodded. “Very well. I’ll discuss it with the Sect Leader, Elder Yao, and Senior Sister Shangguan later.”

The youthful Tianshi, Tang Xiaotang, would likely hold her position for a long time unless she voluntarily stepped down, outliving many of her contemporaries. The next generation would probably take up the mantle after her.

Although the position of Steward’s Hall Elder on Duty carried significant authority, its heavy responsibilities made it less desirable.

Lei Jun’s willingness to take on the role meant no one would compete with him for it.

Thus, Lei Jun was officially appointed the Steward’s Hall Elder on Duty, set to hold the position for three years unless unexpected changes arose.

Meanwhile, the Chief Instructor of the Daoist Children’s Academy position was given to Lin Shan, and the Patrolling Elder role went to Ke Sicheng, a disciple of Elder Yao, reportedly secured through Elder Yao’s efforts.

Lei Jun issued a brief reminder to Ke Sicheng but wasn’t concerned about suspicion. The risks of being a Patrolling Elder were evident to everyone in the current environment. Yuan Mobai, Elder Yao, and Shangguan Ning also advised Ke Sicheng to exercise caution.

The recently recovered Elder Ke might avoid the spotlight compared to Lei Jun, making him a less attractive target.

Meanwhile, another newly appointed elder, Zhang Jingzhen, was assigned to guard the Decree Library.

The Decree Library, comparable to a scripture repository, held a vast collection of books. While the core texts, like the True Canon of the Dao of Righteousness and Talismanic Scriptures, were stored separately, the Decree Library still offered a treasure trove of resources.

Lei Jun frequently visited the library to explore its collection, particularly its historical records and local accounts. The Tianshi Mansion, as a sacred Daoist site of the Talismanic Branch, boasted a wealth of rare and comprehensive literature, including unique manuscripts.

Zhang Jingzhen’s assignment there was no surprise. She was at a critical juncture in her cultivation, with the best chance among the Middle-Heaven disciples to break through to the Seventh Heaven Realm, potentially becoming a High Elder in the Upper Heavens.

In recent years, Lei Jun’s meteoric rise had garnered much attention. Among his peers, only Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang were comparable to his prominence.

From an objective standpoint, Lei Jun’s current focus was advancing to the Sixth Heaven Dao Seal Realm.

Zhang Jingzhen, however, had long been seen as the most promising candidate for breaking into the Upper Heavens. With the Tianshi Mansion facing a shortage of personnel after the recent internal strife, everyone hoped Zhang Jingzhen could make that leap as soon as possible.

Thus, Lei Jun, Lin Shan, and Ke Sicheng were being nurtured as the backbone of the Middle-Heaven cultivators of the new generation. Alongside their daily cultivation, they also took on management responsibilities, while Zhang Jingzhen was assigned more time to focus on cultivation and prepare for breaking through from the Sixth Heaven to the Seventh Heaven Realm—at least for now.

Lei Jun had no complaints about this arrangement.

When Lei Jun began his tenure as the Steward’s Hall Elder on Duty, the overwhelming workload initially left him feeling stretched thin. But after a brief adjustment period, he gradually adapted and became proficient at handling the responsibilities.

Lei Jun maintained a relaxed mindset throughout. In a way, he treated this as another form of self-tempering. This experience honed his inner composure, making his mindset increasingly calm and serene.

From the perspective of cultivation, while it seemed like the role occupied a significant amount of his time, his practice during quieter moments became more effective. His mind was unburdened, allowing him to concentrate more easily. It felt like sharpening a blade before cutting wood—taking time for preparation led to greater efficiency.

Yuan Mobai, observing this change in Lei Jun, couldn’t help but nod in approval.

Lei Jun’s past decade of cultivation had instilled in him a habit of making the most of every moment. After overcoming the initial period of adjustment, he became adept at his duties in the Steward’s Hall and found time to resume his personal endeavors.

In addition to striving to construct his fifth Dao Palace, Lei Jun focused his remaining energy on refining his artifacts.

He gradually exhausted his stock of South Pole Cold Iron and Entwining Dragon Hemp. By combining them with other materials, such as Broad Law Clouds and the Thousand-Mile Transmission Talisman, he successfully refined twelve Magnetic Entwining Dragon Flags.

Next, Lei Jun began researching ways to arrange these twelve flags into a formation, aiming for broader applications.

"Speaking of which, I need suitable materials to further improve the Spirit Sight Mirror," Lei Jun mused. While he was busy refining artifacts and studying formations, he also considered upgrading the mirror.

The flag formation had versatile uses and wasn’t limited to pairing with Magnetic Sword Pellets. However, when used alongside the pellets, it was somewhat passive—mainly suited for ambushes rather than proactive attacks or sudden encounters.

If the Spirit Sight Mirror could be enhanced to extend its detection range and improve its observational capabilities, it would greatly complement the sword pellets, enabling more proactive strategies.

“Well, it depends on luck and opportunities ahead,” Lei Jun thought, unhurried.

With many of his ideas coming to fruition, Lei Jun felt content and was in no rush to achieve everything at once.

Still, the fourth-grade opportunity mentioned in his Supreme Good Omen remained elusive. Despite his curiosity, life continued as usual in the Steward’s Hall.

Unexpectedly, instead of the opportunity, news arrived of the new Patrolling Elder, Ke Sicheng.

It seemed Elder Ke had been injured again.

This time, he was carried back to the mansion with severe injuries—fortunately not life-threatening.

“…”

Ke Sicheng himself was on the verge of tears. His mentor, Elder Yao, sighed deeply, comforted him briefly, and personally tended to his recovery.

“It wasn’t the Yellow Heaven Sect, the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou, or even the Li Family.”

Ke Sicheng wasn’t wounded by enemies but had the misfortune of encountering a great demon.

The demon posed a significant threat, but luckily, two demons were fighting each other at the time, so Ke Sicheng wasn’t their primary focus.

This stroke of luck allowed him to escape with his life and return to the mountain, albeit seriously injured.

Having left the mountain with high hopes and ambitions, Ke Sicheng returned battered and discouraged—a casualty of collateral damage. Compared to his physical wounds, the emotional toll on him was likely even greater.

When Lei Jun heard the news, he couldn’t help but sigh.

If he had been the Patrolling Elder, the calamities he faced might have been different.

The dangers Ke Sicheng had encountered might have led to even worse outcomes in his case.

With the mansion already short on personnel, finding a temporary replacement for Ke Sicheng’s role was challenging.

Thus, the position of Patrolling Elder remained vacant for the time being.

Time passed swiftly as the seasons turned. Summer gave way to autumn, and autumn to winter. The new year approached.

As the end of the year drew near, the Tianshi Mansion on Mount Longhu prepared for the Initiation Ceremony.

This event, originally scheduled for early in the year as part of the triennial cycle, had been delayed by a year due to post-war recovery and the new Tianshi’s succession.

In the six months since Tang Xiaotang’s formal inauguration on July 15, the sect had yet to fully recover its vitality. Nevertheless, the ancestral halls and mountain gates had achieved stability and calm.

Thus, the delayed Initiation Ceremony was about to take place.

Leaders from branch mansions, academies, and subordinate sects across the region began arriving at Mount Longhu.

The Patrolling Elder role could remain vacant for now, but with so many visitors arriving, the Steward’s Hall, under Lei Jun’s management, became busier than ever.

Fortunately, Lei Jun was now fully capable of handling the workload.

That was until one day in December when Lei Jun, while attending to his duties in the Steward’s Hall, felt a faint stirring deep in his soul.

This sensation arose from within his True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven.

Lei Jun was mildly surprised and observed the floating Heavenly Book above the altar in his grotto-heaven moving as if stirred by an invisible wind.

At that moment, an intuitive realization struck him.

Could it be that the fourth-grade opportunity was finally arriving?

What kind of event would require the Steward’s Hall Elder on Duty to be present while others might miss it?

Curious, Lei Jun stepped out of his private study and made his way to the main hall of the Steward’s Hall.

Inside the grand hall, he spotted several disciples of the Tianshi Mansion standing in small groups.

Scanning the room, Lei Jun’s gaze landed on a young Daoist.

After a moment of recognition, Lei Jun’s expression turned subtly strange.

It was an acquaintance—Zhang Yuan.

Lei Jun had known Zhang Yuan since their days in the Daoist Children’s Academy. Zhang Yuan had entered the Tianshi Mansion a year after Lei Jun’s initiation. Now, after ten years as an official disciple, Zhang Yuan was around thirty years old and much more composed than in his early years.

Today, however, he seemed to have regressed.

His entire demeanor was dazed, his eyes lifeless, and his speech incoherent.

This unusual state naturally drew the attention of his peers in the mansion, prompting someone to call for the Steward’s Hall Elder on Duty.

Lei Jun kept a calm demeanor as he returned to his private study. After listening to the Tianshi Mansion disciple's report, he went to the main hall to check on Zhang Yuan's condition.

He instructed everyone to carry on with their duties and not gather unnecessarily. Then, he took Zhang Yuan alone back to his study.

After examining Zhang Yuan’s state, Lei Jun found anomalies in both his soul and physical vitality—both were in a chaotic state.

Using his own mana, Lei Jun conjured Yimu Yin Lightning, a technique with restorative and healing properties. This lightning embodied the essence of spring thunder, which revitalizes all living things.

Under the effect of Lei Jun’s lightning, Zhang Yuan’s physical condition stabilized. In his muddled and confused state, Zhang Yuan fell into a deep sleep on the spot.

While sleeping, his soul and body gradually recovered, his disordered thoughts and chaotic vitality resolving themselves into harmony.

However, as the lightning worked its magic, a peculiar shadow emerged from Zhang Yuan’s body.

The shadow, which had been clinging to Zhang Yuan, began moving along the verdant lightning glow of the Yimu Yin Lightning, drawing closer to Lei Jun.

Lei Jun remained composed and observed the shadow carefully.

First, it wasn’t the work of any malicious entity.

Second, it wasn’t some external enemy using evil methods to infiltrate Mount Longhu by attaching themselves to Zhang Yuan.

Third, it wasn’t due to any abnormal change within Zhang Yuan himself.

Finally, the shadow didn’t seem sentient or purposeful in any way.

No wonder neither the Ten Thousand Methods Sect Altar nor the Mountain Guarding Formation had reacted to it.

Upon close examination, Lei Jun detected no malicious aura, demonic energy, or evil intent within the shadow.

The shadow was entirely neutral—neither good nor evil, neither righteous nor corrupt.

However, its influence caused complete disruption in a person, from their soul to their body. Zhang Yuan was a clear example of this.

Lei Jun touched the shadow with his own mana. Initially, he felt nothing, but over time, the same symptoms began to manifest in him—disordered vitality and chaotic thoughts.

Realizing this, Lei Jun immediately circulated his profound techniques to suppress the disturbance in his mind and body. The Tianshi Seal embedded in his soul reacted promptly, restoring his clarity of thought.

However, the greatest reaction came not from the Tianshi Seal or the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven, but from the Heavenly Book within the grotto-heaven.

The Heavenly Book didn’t display hostility. On the contrary, it seemed to exude a sense of intimacy.

Drawn by the Heavenly Book’s influence, the shadow underwent a significant transformation, forming into faint black lines before being absorbed into Lei Jun’s soul and subsequently pulled into the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven.

Lei Jun didn’t resist but instead calmly observed.

Once inside the grotto-heaven, the black lines reverted to their shadowy form and approached the Heavenly Book.

The shadow didn’t merge with the Heavenly Book but formed a tight connection with it—like the shadow of the book itself.

Lei Jun watched this unfold, intrigued.

Once the shadow attached to the Heavenly Book, its disruptive effects on the body and soul vanished entirely, sparing Lei Jun the need to maintain his guard.

Lei Jun observed a while longer. Confirming that the shadow was now inert, he let it remain quietly attached to the Heavenly Book.

At this moment, Zhang Yuan finally stirred and woke up.

“I’ve examined you. Your body seems fine now. How do you feel?” Lei Jun asked.

By now, Lei Jun was almost certain that this shadow was the fourth-grade opportunity mentioned in his Supreme Good Omen.

While it was an opportunity for him, for Zhang Yuan—or anyone without sufficient cultivation or the Heavenly Book—it would likely have been a disaster.

Zhang Yuan raised a hand to rub his head, his eyes still dazed. After a long pause, he regained his senses. “...Greetings, Elder Lei. I think I’m fine now, but earlier, it felt like a nightmare, as though something was suppressing my soul.”

Lei Jun, intending to study the shadow in detail later, comforted Zhang Yuan with a few words before asking, “Do you remember where you encountered this?”