Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 2: Path Choices: Seeking Good Luck and Avoiding Bad Luck

It was here, but once again, there was no supreme good omen... Lei Jun read his fortune.

Although all three fortune descriptions were somewhat vague, Lei Jun calmly chose the path of a moderately good omen.

This was the third time he had experienced such a situation.

Drawing lots—blessings and disasters intertwined, the fortunes of good and bad were clear.

The first draw occurred when Lei Jun had just transmigrated. A light sphere presented four fortunes: upper-moderate, moderate-moderate, lower-moderate, and lower-bad.

Upper-moderate, no danger, leading to a second-grade opportunity, good.

Moderate-moderate, escaping current difficulties but possibly leaving future troubles, with no other gain, neutral.

Lower-moderate, obtaining a fifth-grade opportunity amidst peril, life and death beyond one’s control, bad.

Lower-bad, a path seeking death, certain doom, extremely bad!

Lei Jun chose to act according to the upper-moderate omen, successfully securing a second-grade opportunity. Not only did he overcome the difficulties faced upon transmigration, but he also arrived at the Daoist Holy Land, Mount Longhu's Tianshi Mansion.

Reflecting afterward, following the path of the lower-bad omen would indeed have led to Lei Jun’s immediate death upon arrival.

The lower-moderate omen could have been lethal too.

The second draw was after Lei Jun had entered the Daoist Children's Academy within Tianshi Mansion.

That time, the light sphere only offered two fortunes: moderate-moderate and lower-moderate.

Strictly speaking, neither was particularly favorable.

However, by following the moderate-moderate omen, Lei Jun successfully avoided the pitfalls of the lower-moderate omen.

Today was the third draw.

The descriptions of fortunes had always been somewhat ambiguous, but Lei Jun had begun to piece things together through analysis.

The lower-bad omen, extremely bad, needed no further explanation—it basically meant a certain death, with no chance to enjoy any potential benefits.

The lower-moderate omen, bad, implied that the drawbacks far outweighed the benefits, or that there were only drawbacks and no benefits at all; it was dangerous or difficult but not as utterly hopeless as the lower-bad omen.

The moderate-moderate omen, neutral, could mean a mix of good and bad or a safe but uneventful path with neither fortune nor disaster.

The upper-moderate omen, good, suggested the potential for a significant opportunity with some risk and possible repercussions. Overall, the gains would outweigh the losses, or it could mean a safe path with moderate rewards.

As for the supreme good omen, which Lei Jun had never encountered, it was likely a path of great fortune with stars aligned in his favor, reaping immense gains without risk.

This time, Lei Jun still had the option of choosing the upper-moderate omen, so he did.

He would not participate in Elder Du's selection.

As Lei Jun read his fortune, other young Daoist apprentices around him had already started rushing out.

“Brother Lei?” Someone paused and turned back upon seeing Lei Jun unmoving.

Lei Jun responded, “There are still tasks in this building that I haven't completed. It's proper to finish what I start. I’ll complete today's quota first.”

“Opportunities are rare, go for the selection first! If it doesn't work out, you can come back to cut the talisman paper later,” a few apprentices advised.

Lei Jun thought for a moment and offered a reminder, “Our elders often observe our progress and test our temperament. Finishing what we start, unaffected by sudden changes, might be something they value.”

“You make a good point, but let’s go try at Elder Du’s first,” the group waved and ran off toward the front yard.

Lei Jun watched them leave before resuming his work.

Once he completed his tasks at the Paper Talisman Hall, he left.

Lei Jun glanced at the sky and leisurely gathered information about Elder Du’s selection.

Elder Du’s selection was not limited to the Sixth Academy of apprentices but included all the Daoist academies.

The selection site was located in an independent cave dwelling in the mountains, a private estate established by Elder Du.

Could it be that following the lower-moderate omen to seek favor at Elder Du’s selection concealed hidden dangers?

Was Elder Du planning some kind of dangerous experiment involving the disciples of Tianshi Mansion?

Lei Jun strolled toward the estate.

Halfway there, he noticed a flash in the mountains, followed by a loud explosion.

The ground trembled violently, shaking Lei Jun to his core.

He looked up to see flames and lightning rising over Elder Du’s estate.

Above the Tianshi Mansion, talismans of light converged into formations, quelling the explosive lightning.

One bolt of lightning veered and scattered across the sky.

One of those bolts struck another location among the mountains.

It caused a vast swath of golden light to burst into the sky, spreading like fireworks.

“First Elder Du’s estate, and now Lingzhi Platform?” Lei Jun identified the direction.

Lingzhi Platform, mentioned in the moderate-moderate omen, was a spiritual vein that had been nurtured since the Tianshi Mansion's founding. Its spiritual energy occasionally produced the rare Glowing Lingzhi.

Refining pills with Lingzhi or consuming it could aid cultivation immensely.

Years ago, disruptions led to Lingzhi Platform's partial ruin.

However, the current era saw an increase in spiritual energy, bringing cultivation into a golden age.

Although Lingzhi Platform's damage was unfortunate, Tianshi Mansion, as a Daoist sanctuary, remained strong, continuing to develop and secure new spiritual grounds.

The Platform, now largely forgotten, rarely saw visitors.

Was there a sixth-grade opportunity tied to Lingzhi Platform after Elder Du’s altar exploded?

Lei Jun pondered as he kept moving toward Elder Du’s estate.

Outside, the place was in disarray, scorched black.

Many grey-robed young apprentices lay unconscious on the ground.

Those on the periphery were in slightly better shape but still covered in soot, trembling with fear.

“What happened?” Lei Jun grabbed a familiar apprentice from the Sixth Academy.

Upon seeing Lei Jun, the apprentice immediately vented, “Brother Lei? Oh, don’t even ask—Elder Du’s altar blew up!”

The apprentice looked back at the destroyed cave, still shaken.

“I heard there were deaths—some from the Second and Fifth Academies, and even more injuries.

Brother Zhang from our Sixth Academy was at the front and got hurt the worst, with a few others injured too.

They were just taken for treatment. No idea how they’re faring now…”

The apprentice shuddered.

Others gathered, staring at the ruined estate in growing panic.

“No crowding here,” someone called out.

Everyone turned to see a yellow-robed youth approaching from afar.

Unlike the grey-robed apprentices, this youth wore a light-yellow Daoist robe and a headscarf—an initiated disciple of Tianshi Mansion, a true Daoist, not an apprentice.

More yellow-robed Daoists soon arrived.

“Today’s incident was an accident, unrelated to anyone here. No need to worry. First, help tend to the injured; there will be follow-up care later,” said the youth, his voice calm.

The apprentices responded immediately, “Yes, Daoist.”

In the academy, apprentices used "brother" and "sister" as courtesy titles, attending lectures together.

But this youth, though of similar age, had a formal master and ranking; the apprentices dared not address him casually.

No matter his age, a Daoist's orders were to be obeyed.

Lei Jun and the unhurt apprentices set to work aiding the wounded.

They cleared the area closest to the cave, expanding outward to check if anyone had been thrown by the blast.

Lei Jun searched for a while, finding and helping two injured apprentices before bringing them back to safety and continuing to search.

After some time, though he found no more people, he spotted faint light behind a boulder.

Intrigued, Lei Jun approached.

The glow was a mix of purple-gold and green, the latter seeming to be lightning, sustained by its intertwining with the purple-gold light.

As the lightning's energy waned, only the purple-gold glow remained, with dense spiritual energy beginning to emanate.

Lei Jun reached out.

The glow coalesced into an illusory Lingzhi in mid-air.

In the next moment, the Lingzhi's image merged into Lei Jun’s body.

Only a faint fragrance and rich spiritual energy were left in the air, bringing a sense of tranquility.

Without needing special absorption or refinement, Lei Jun felt his meridians clear, and his dantian surged with more active True Energy.

He calmed himself and left the area.

With true disciples present to oversee, the situation gradually settled.

As long as they weren't injured, apprentices still attended the evening lecture as usual.

Of course, private discussions continued.

Lei Jun remained composed, returning to his residence after the lecture.

Tianshi Mansion, unlike other places, did not encourage disciples to seek comfort but did not skimp on spiritual retreat spaces.

Even apprentices had private single residences; living with family or servants was not permitted.

In his quiet room, Lei Jun sat cross-legged, practicing breathing techniques.

Inspecting himself inwardly, he found strands of golden light emerging from his limbs and bones.

As he continued, these scattered lights gathered again in his dantian.

A purple-gold Lingzhi's shadow reappeared.