Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 192: Sixth Heaven, Dao Seal! 5

Wang Guiyuan was momentarily stunned by Lei Jun's question before laughing lightly, "Where is your mind wandering? That’s the Upper Qing Thunder Altar Grotto-Heaven. Who wouldn’t want to enter?"

Hearing this, Lei Jun leaned back slightly, scrutinizing his senior brother from head to toe.

Wang Guiyuan held a teacup in his hand, smiling as he said, "Though my cultivation realm is sufficient, my potential has mostly been exhausted. I'm far inferior to you and Junior Brother Chu, which is why I still haven’t received the Talismanic Initiation. But there's no need to worry about me. Everyone has their own fate; forcing it is futile. We cultivators should follow the natural course of things."

"I see…" Lei Jun replied impassively, "But can Senior Brother hide from the Upper Qing Thunder Altar Grotto-Heaven?"

Wang Guiyuan, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly spat it out.

He looked up at Lei Jun, half-amused and half-annoyed. "Junior Brother, you’re getting more and more ridiculous!"

Lei Jun spread his hands. "I just think it’s a pity that Senior Brother can’t cultivate higher Daoist scriptures. You’re not like our Little Senior Sister, after all."

This was something Master Yuan Mobai had casually mentioned before.

"Everyone has their own fate, so it’s not a pity," Wang Guiyuan said with a smile. After a brief pause, he considered his words carefully and added, "If everything goes smoothly, I might consider striving for the next Talismanic Initiation Ceremony six years from now."

Although the Wu King was already defeated, the initial fame he brought to Wang Guiyuan had left a lasting impression.

Hearing Wang Guiyuan’s explanation, Lei Jun said no more. As his senior brother had said, everyone has their own fate.

The Talismanic Initiation Ceremony proceeded smoothly from start to finish. Aside from Lei Jun's fellow senior and junior brothers drawing attention, another disciple undergoing initiation sparked considerable discussion.

Xu Rui, a disciple of Li Zhengxuan.

He had been accepted as the first disciple of the Young Tianshi due to his exceptional bone structure and aptitude. It had been eleven years since his formal initiation into the Mansion. By all standards, he was qualified to participate in this year’s Talismanic Initiation.

However, following the recent internal conflict within the Tianshi Mansion, his status had become precarious and controversial.

Xu Rui himself, however, maintained a calm and steady demeanor, focusing diligently on cultivation with an attitude of adapting to circumstances.

Before finalizing the list for the Talismanic Initiation, there had been suggestions to defer Xu Rui for at least one more session to allow further observation. Ultimately, Tang Xiaotang and several senior elders approved Xu Rui's participation.

As with his initial initiation into the Mansion as Li Zhengxuan's disciple, Xu Rui's successful initiation again became a hot topic. Although Li Zhengxuan had passed away, his name remained in the Mansion’s official records, so Xu Rui was still considered his disciple. According to tradition, another of Li Zhengxuan's peers would take over as Xu Rui’s teacher.

With Xu Yuanzhen away from the mountain and Zhang Jingzhen focused on advancing to the Seventh Heaven, the responsibility fell to Fang Jian. Fang Jian's background stirred further private speculation.

However, as this arrangement came directly from Tang Xiaotang, no public objections arose within the Mansion, and any external discussions were postponed for future observation.

For a Tianshi Mansion weakened and in need of recovery, the outside world’s attention centered on whether Mount Longhu could quickly produce more cultivators of the Upper Three Heavens.

After the Talismanic Initiation Ceremony concluded, Lei Jun resumed his duties at the Steward's Hall while continuing to study alchemy under Yuan Mobai and advancing his own cultivation. Through careful nurturing, Lei Jun felt his energy, spirit, and vitality gradually reaching their peak.

One day in early summer, Lei Jun informed Yuan Mobai of his plans. Yuan Mobai assigned someone to temporarily take over Lei Jun’s duties at the Steward's Hall, allowing Lei Jun to enter seclusion.

Following regulations, Lei Jun, now an elder, could establish a private residence outside his Mansion dwelling. Yet, finding no particular desire for a change, he remained in his usual courtyard. Only now, for this seclusion, did he finally create a private residence within the mountain.

Leaving Rolling Panda to guard the courtyard, Lei Jun entered his newly established private residence.

Within his cave dwelling, a three-tiered altar stood tall, its lamps eternally lit and incense gently wafting. Above the altar, countless intricate Spirit Talismans glittered like a starry sky, filling the space with a radiant light.

Lei Jun began his ritual. Stepping the Big Dipper Formation with steady movements, he held a decree in hand, chanting aloud. From soul to body, he became one with the world, merging seamlessly with nature.

Above his head, five Dao Palaces floated in their respective directions:

• The Southern Dragon-Tiger Palace emanated solar energy.
• The Northern Abyssal Palace generated lunar energy.
• The Western Spirit Palace emitted lesser yin energy.
• The Eastern Mystic Palace radiated lesser yang energy.
• The Central Three Purities Palace balanced yin and yang.

Streams of spiritual energy fused with Lei Jun’s Daoist power, forming a translucent and perfect Dao Seal above his head. He completed his final step and stood still. At that moment, his soul left his body, merging with the Dao Seal above.

In an instant, Lei Jun’s consciousness wavered as an illusory gate appeared before him, inviting him to step through to the Sixth Heaven of the Daoist Talismanic Sect.

Confident in his preparation, Lei Jun didn’t immediately step forward. Instead, he calmly observed, his mind clear. Gradually, more identical gates appeared, presenting the challenge of distinguishing truth from illusion.

Without hesitation, Lei Jun stepped into one of the gates, his choice proving correct. From an external view, the shimmering Dao Seal above his head grew denser, yet his tribulation was far from over.

The transition from the Fifth to the Sixth Heaven required overcoming internal obstacles. Lei Jun's trial was deeply tied to his foundation—his five Dao Palaces. Each palace gave rise to unique distractions:

• The Southern Palace bred reliance on shortcuts.
• The Eastern Palace encouraged dependence on external treasures.
• The Western Palace incited recklessness through power.
• The Northern Palace fostered laziness and indulgence.
• The Central Palace promoted arrogance and complacency.

By dispelling these distractions, Lei Jun gained clarity. His five Dao Palaces vanished, leaving a single, pristine Dao Seal above him—serene and unblemished, a fusion of his own Daoist insights.

After a month in seclusion, Lei Jun successfully advanced to the Sixth Heaven, refining his Dao Seal into a bridge linking him more deeply with the universe. Returning to daily life, Lei Jun resumed his duties, impressing peers and inspiring disciples. Over the following year, he maintained his steady progress, ultimately transitioning to a more research-focused role, further preparing for the challenges ahead.

As time passed, the Tianshi Mansion entered a rare period of peace, using the calm to restore its vitality. A year later, Lei Jun's three-year term as Steward's Hall Resident Elder came to an end, and he transitioned to his next position: Resident Elder of the Talisman Archives.

This role, previously held by Zhang Jingzhen, was less demanding, allowing Lei Jun more time to focus on his cultivation. Zhang Jingzhen, meanwhile, prepared for her retreat to advance to the Seventh Heaven.

The decision to assign Lei Jun this position reflected the high expectations the Tianshi Mansion leadership held for his continued growth. Yuan Mobai informed Lei Jun of his own plans:

"With the mountain’s situation stabilized, I’ve decided to go down the mountain."

Yuan Mobai explained, "On one hand, I’ll visit various branches and sects to strengthen our connections. On the other, the matter of the missing Tianshi Robe remains unresolved. It’s a lingering concern."

Lei Jun asked, "Does that mean you’ve uncovered further leads regarding the robe?"

"Some clues point to the southern wastelands near Great Southern Mountain," Yuan Mobai replied. "Nothing concrete yet—I’ll go check it out, though it’s still a gamble."

Recalling past experiences searching for the Tianshi Seal, Yuan Mobai seemed unfazed. Lei Jun considered whether he should accompany his master or use his new, relatively free position to investigate the robe himself. However, the southern wastelands were notoriously dangerous, and the risks were significant.

Just as he was pondering, a light sphere suddenly flashed in his mind, accompanied by an inscription:

"The treasure's trail leads south, where peril looms in all directions. Awaken and avoid catastrophe."

The sphere then revealed four distinct fates as divination results:

1. Moderate-Moderate Omen: Remain at the mountain gate, focus on cultivation. No gains, no losses, no risks, no aftermath. Neutral.

2. Moderate-Moderate Omen: Travel to the southern wastelands, avoid both peaks of Great Southern Mountain. While turbulent, the journey would pass without major incident. Neutral.

3. Lower-Moderate Omen: Journey to Great Southern Mountain’s western peak, Lonely City Ridge. Expect ambushes and hazards, fraught with mortal danger. Caution is critical. Ominous.

4. Lower-Bad Omen: Journey to Great Southern Mountain’s eastern peak, Sunrise Peak. Encounter severe peril with no chance of escape. Extremely Ominous.

Lei Jun read through the four fates, raising his eyebrows slightly.

Two ominous predictions? It seemed less like natural disasters and more like man-made schemes.