Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 193: Someone dug a hole to bury himself

“‘Mount Great Southern, is it?’”

Lei Jun asked slowly, “Master, as far as I know, Mount Great Southern is one of the largest mountain ranges in the Southern Wasteland, stretching across multiple regions and filled with treacherous peaks. If the information about the Tianshi Robe only points to Mount Great Southern, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Do we have any more specific clues?”

Yuan Mobai responded, “Roughly, it’s around the western section of Mount Great Southern, near the main peak, Lone Fortress Ridge.”

Hearing this, Lei Jun fell into deep thought.

Lone Fortress Ridge was associated with a Lower-Moderate Omen destiny. It was quite dangerous since the situation indicated that Lei Jun wouldn’t be going there alone, but with his master, Yuan Mobai. The fact that the outcome still pointed to a perilous and unpredictable fate in life and death situations demonstrated the grave risks involved.

Given that Yuan Mobai’s information pointed there, Lei Jun suspected this might be a trap. The Tianshi Mansion’s search for the lost Tianshi Seal and Tianshi Robe was no secret. If an enemy had intentions, they might use this as bait to set an ambush.

With Xu Yuanzhen missing and Tang Xiaotang, now wielding the Tianshi Sword and overseeing the Ten Thousand Methods Sect Altar, unable to leave the mountain easily, the most likely targets would be Yuan Mobai, Yao Yuan, and Shangguan Ning, the three Elder Masters. If someone were to go, it would likely be one of them. This scenario could present an opportunity for the enemy.

However, since the omen was Lower-Moderate, there was room for maneuver. Furthermore, the omen was specific to Lei Jun, not Yuan Mobai, meaning Yuan Mobai’s situation might be somewhat easier. Even so, taking unnecessary risks wasn’t advisable. The omen suggested danger without any real opportunities, implying the trap might not even have a genuine lure—it was just a cruel setup. Lei Jun frowned at the thought.

“Chongyun?” Yuan Mobai looked at the silent Lei Jun. “Did you hear something?”

Lei Jun nodded, “Master, Lone Fortress Ridge is a no-go—it’s very likely a trap! Recently, during the astral gathering in the book world, I exchanged information with someone who mentioned Lone Fortress Ridge. While their words were vague, I believe we must proceed with caution.”

Yuan Mobai maintained his relaxed demeanor, his smile unwavering. “If it’s a trap, do you know who’s behind it?”

Whether Lei Jun’s information was accurate or not, Yuan Mobai would treat it seriously. This wasn’t about confidence but about caution. After the setbacks the Tianshi Mansion had endured, its recovery wasn’t easy. Care must be taken to avoid further blows. While the Tianshi Robe was important, Yuan Mobai’s previous information about Lone Fortress Ridge was unverified rumors at best.

“The specifics weren’t clear,” Lei Jun quickly fabricated a reasonable excuse, “but I heard of multiple Upper Heaven cultivators appearing around Lone Fortress Ridge recently. Among them were members of the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect and possibly Confucian scholars from the Great Tang.”

The omen suggested a trap set using the Tianshi Robe, though Lei Jun couldn’t be sure who was responsible. He had suspicions, however. The current enemies of the Tianshi Mansion could be grouped into three main factions:

1. Huangtian Dao, their archenemy.
2. The Southern Wasteland Witch Sect and its ghostly branch, based in Golden Fortress Stronghold, which had longstanding grievances with the Tianshi Mansion.
3. The aristocratic families of the Great Tang, a vague but powerful group.

Among the aristocratic families, the situation in the capital and Longxi’s Shangguan Clan was reportedly at a boiling point. However, one couldn’t dismiss the possibility of a feint. Lei Jun harbored particular caution toward the Ye Clan of Jinzhou, which had once meddled in the Tianshi Mansion’s internal strife.

Since the information was speculative, Lei Jun pointed fingers at the Confucian families, adding the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect as a probable suspect without explicitly naming Golden Fortress Stronghold.

“Upper Heaven Confucian scholars and great witches?” Yuan Mobai mused.

Lei Jun continued, “Although we can’t confirm it yet, given the timing of your mentioning the Tianshi Robe and Lone Fortress Ridge, I believe we should be on guard.”

Yuan Mobai nodded slightly. “That’s reasonable.”

Lei Jun suddenly had a thought as he reread the omens. A question arose in his mind.

If the omen of Lone Fortress Ridge, pointing to Lower-Moderate Fortune, indicated a trap, then what about Morning Sun Peak, the eastern counterpart with a Lower-Bad Omen?

According to the omen, Morning Sun Peak was even more dangerous than Lone Fortress Ridge. Yet Yuan Mobai’s information about the Tianshi Robe pointed to the latter, not the former.

If it were the same group dividing forces to set up a two-pronged ambush, it seemed overly elaborate. The Mount Great Southern range was vast, with thousands of miles separating the western Lone Fortress Ridge and the eastern Morning Sun Peak. Starting a battle in one area would be out of reach for reinforcements in the other.

Lei Jun speculated that the dangers at the two locations might stem from two separate groups, possibly unaware of each other.

“Master, allow me to reenter the book world’s starry gathering to investigate further,” Lei Jun suggested.

“Very well,” Yuan Mobai agreed.

Lei Jun had no intention of verifying with the other six in the starry gathering. Without confirmed identities, revealing his own information would be unwise. He was merely posturing to explain himself to Yuan Mobai later.

“This Lone Fortress Ridge likely does harbor an enemy trap using the Tianshi Robe as bait,” Lei Jun explained. “As for Morning Sun Peak, I’ve heard rumors of a ferocious great demon appearing there, though the news is unconfirmed.”

The Lower-Bad Omen for Morning Sun Peak hinted at a fatal outcome should Lei Jun go there. Even with Yuan Mobai by his side, it would be a dead end.

After some deliberation, Lei Jun proposed a bold plan.

“Master, I have an idea…”

Yuan Mobai’s usual smile disappeared, replaced by a solemn expression. “You’re thinking of pitting the east against the west?”

Lei Jun nodded lightly.

“That’s very risky,” Yuan Mobai remarked.

Lei Jun countered, “The conflicts between aristocratic families and sect legacies like ours grow sharper by the day. The Tianshi Mansion has faced constant scheming from the likes of the Jinzhou Ye Clan and the Suzhou Chu Clan. We’re always reacting, running ourselves ragged. To break free, we must divert their focus.

“Our sect is currently in a weakened state and must avoid direct confrontation. Borrowing a knife to kill our enemies has always been a favored tactic of the Jinzhou Ye and Youzhou Lin Clans. Why not turn their methods against them?”

Yuan Mobai didn’t reject Lei Jun’s suggestion outright. Instead, he asked, “How can you be sure that the person who provided you with information isn’t one of our enemies?”

Lei Jun replied, “I can’t be completely sure, but I suspect they’re from the Tang Imperial Family.”

The Tang Imperial Family sought to use sect holy lands to balance the power of the aristocratic families. However, the Tianshi Mansion wasn’t ready to cooperate. If they were, the Empress wouldn’t have visited Mount Longhu in the first place to support the sect publicly.

“In any case, you’re not going. I’ll go alone,” Yuan Mobai said firmly.

Lei Jun objected, “Master, I’ll accompany you.”

Comparing the omens, as long as they avoided Lone Fortress Ridge and Morning Sun Peak, the journey through Mount Great Southern, even into the Southern Wasteland, seemed relatively safe.

After further discussion, the pair began making preparations. They informed no one else, not even Tang Xiaotang, who was eager to join but was ultimately persuaded to remain.

After reporting their plans, Yuan Mobai and Lei Jun set out from Mount Longhu. They didn’t head south immediately but first visited affiliated branches like the Zixiao Sect and Tianxu Sect, traveling seemingly at random to confuse any trackers. Then, one day, they vanished entirely, their whereabouts unknown.

Back at the Tianshi Mansion, there was no panic. It seemed everyone expected Yuan Mobai and Lei Jun had their own plans.

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Meanwhile, in the Southern Wasteland mountains:

“Mother, Yuan Mobai and Lei Jun have been missing for some time now,” said Ye Lingxi, a direct descendant of the Jinzhou Ye Clan, standing behind her mother, Ye Han. “If they truly came to Mount Great Southern, they should’ve arrived by now.”

Ye Han replied calmly, “Patience. Let’s wait for further news. If we miss them, so be it.”

“Yes, Mother,” Ye Lingxi lowered her head respectfully.

Ye Han added, “Maintain contact with Golden Fortress Stronghold, but remain vigilant.”

“Understood.”

For the Jinzhou Ye Clan and the ghostly branch of the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect at Golden Fortress Stronghold, a common enemy in the Tianshi Mansion didn’t mean close friendship. Caution was always necessary when dealing with the ghostly sect’s holy land.

They weren’t the only ones waiting. At Lone Fortress Ridge, the Witch Sect’s ambush lay in place, bolstered by the Ye Clan.

Days passed before a clue surfaced. Reports suggested Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai were sighted in the middle region of Mount Great Southern.

“They’re testing the waters,” Ye Lingxi murmured.

Ye Han remained cautious, waiting for further confirmation.

Later, reports confirmed that Yuan Mobai was in the western mountains, searching for something, while Lei Jun was heading east toward Morning Sun Peak.

“Focus on Yuan Mobai at Lone Fortress Ridge,” Ye Han instructed. “Track Lei Jun in case he returns north.”

Unbeknownst to their hunters, Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai had other plans. News spread of their activities, feeding deliberate misinformation to their enemies. As the hunters waited, rumors emerged from the eastern mountains of a nine-colored glow, resembling the Tianshi Robe, illuminating Morning Sun Peak.

Ye Han and Ye Lingxi exchanged stunned looks.

Their bait in the west was fake, but could the eastern mountains truly hold the Tianshi Robe?