Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 204: The understanding reaches a higher level, a level of tranquility!

"General Shen, I've heard much about you."

Lei Jun remained calm and performed a Daoist greeting.

Shen Qubing clasped his fists in return and, unable to contain himself, asked eagerly, "Elder Lei, are you here to break the seal on the Jiuli Domain?"

Lei Jun replied, "I have come in search of my master. I heard that he is here, so I made a special trip to find him."

Shen Qubing's eyes flickered. "Elder Yuan from your sect is here too?"

Lei Jun nodded and stepped onto the smooth, mirror-like lake surface, lowering his gaze to carefully observe. After a moment, he had a rough idea.

The gateway to this mysterious domain of Jiushan Lake contained profound, even ancient, sorcery-related mysteries. The knowledge involved spanned a vast range, making it nearly impossible for even modern cultivators of the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect to decipher, as their heritage had long been scattered.

Both Lei Jun and Shen Qubing were immensely powerful, rarely matched among cultivators of the Sixth Heaven Realm. Yet even together, they were not strong enough to forcefully break through the lake's surface.

To open this place from the outside, a massive amount of Zhenwu Stones or Reverse Flow Essence would be required.

A different approach might be better—going with the flow rather than against it.

Lei Jun placed a palm on the surface of Jiushan Lake, the contact sending a chill through his hand.

As his thoughts shifted, a shadowy darkness seeped from his palm. This was not the Dark Shadow associated with the Heavenly Book but a peculiar energy remnant—one that had entangled with the Tianshi Seal, forcing it into dormancy.

When Lei Jun had reawakened the Tianshi Seal, he had siphoned off a portion of this power for future study. Now, it finally had a use.

As the shadow spread, it gradually transformed into a massive, ancient character—profound and inscrutable. An aura of primordial desolation radiated from it, evoking the essence of an ancient civilization rather than any sinister intent.

Lei Jun barely grasped the underlying principles of this energy; even calling his understanding "half-baked" would be generous.

Yet, as it seeped into the lake’s surface, the previously frozen, motionless waters began to ripple.

Shen Qubing watched from the side, clicking his tongue in amazement.

However, Lei Jun's control over this force was still not enough to fully open the passage to the secret realm. He had only managed to destabilize the entrance.

Fortunately, with him creating an opening on the outside, those inside who had been trying to escape could now coordinate with him.

Before long, tiny pinpricks of starlight flickered beneath Jiushan Lake, like constellations reflected in the water.

As the lights ascended, they finally pierced the surface. Lei Jun and Shen Qubing swiftly moved aside as lake water surged skyward, shooting straight into the air.

Lei Jun looked up and immediately spotted a young Daoist in a purple robe. Seeing that he was unharmed, Lei Jun's heart, which had been half-suspended in worry, finally settled.

The purple-robed Daoist remained as composed as ever, his expression gentle. However, his eyes burned with vigilance, clearly still on guard after breaking free from the secret realm.

Yet upon seeing that only his disciple, Lei Jun, and another young martial artist were present, Yuan Mobai's gaze softened further.

"Xiao Sanjie!" Shen Qubing grinned and called out.

Accompanying Yuan Mobai were two others: a young woman dressed in martial attire rather than armor, like Shen Qubing, and an elderly Daoist clad in the coarse hemp robes characteristic of the Shushan Sect.

Lei Jun recognized them both—Xiao Xueting, a trusted confidante of the Empress from the Xiao Clan, and He Dongxing, a senior elder of Shushan Sect.

Both wielded swords.

Yet even without drawing them, their styles were starkly different.

Xiao Xueting remained alert, yet her sword remained sheathed, held in a reverse grip behind her arm. Like Yuan Mobai, her keen eyes scanned the surroundings with caution.

He Dongxing, in contrast, had already unleashed his flying sword. The blade hovered in the air, its radiance pulsing as it circled restlessly.

Seeing no other enemies present, the three who had emerged from the secret realm finally relaxed.

"Master." Lei Jun stepped forward and bowed to Yuan Mobai and the others. "Senior He, General Xiao."

Yuan Mobai smiled. "Chongyun, you're here."

Xiao Xueting also smiled. "Daoist Lei, it's been a while."

She turned to Shen Qubing. "Xiao Shen, you're alone?"

Shen Qubing nodded. "I took a separate route from General Shangguan and the others."

Hearing this, Xiao Xueting nodded slightly, refraining from further questions. Instead, she introduced Shen Qubing to the three Daoists beside her. "Xiao Shen, full name Shen Qubing, grew up in the imperial army and has had little interaction with the outside world. If he happens to be rude, I hope you three Daoists will forgive him."

Lei Jun, Yuan Mobai, and He Dongxing all responded politely, "No problem, no problem."

He Dongxing stroked his beard, chuckling. "A world full of talents—youngsters these days are truly formidable!"

Xiao Xueting was curious. "How did you manage to trigger the secret realm's entrance from the outside?"

Shen Qubing shook his head. "It wasn’t me. It was his idea."

Lei Jun's expression remained neutral. "While searching for my master, I came across a few suspicious figures from the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect. After capturing and interrogating them, I obtained some fragmented information along with various strange objects of unknown use. I tried one of them on a whim, thinking it might be connected to this place. Fortunately, it worked."

He chose not to mention the battle between Shangguan Peng and Tu Dong for now.

From just a few words, it was easy to discern that Shen Qubing didn’t get along well with the Shangguan Clan's members—just as their opinion of him had suggested.

There were advantages and disadvantages to merging their groups. Lei Jun preferred not to stir up further complications for the time being.

"Xiao Sanjie, what kind of place was beneath the lake?" Shen Qubing asked curiously.

Xiao Xueting replied, "The secret realm itself isn’t very large. At this point, it’s essentially abandoned—there’s little of value left, and it's incredibly dangerous. Cultivators below the Upper Three Heavens who enter are in grave peril."

If it weren’t so treacherous, she, Yuan Mobai, and He Dongxing wouldn’t have been trapped for so long.

"The reason why the Shengkang Sect and some remnants of the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect still value this place is not just for training their Daoist arts," she continued. "More importantly, this secret realm might connect to other locations beyond Jiushan Lake."

Shen Qubing was intrigued. "Jiuli? I’ve heard some people mention that name."

Xiao Xueting nodded. "Possibly. But not necessarily. Unfortunately, the current time, terrain, and manpower are all against us conducting a thorough exploration here."

She turned to Yuan Mobai and He Dongxing. "I propose we destroy this place entirely. Would the two of you be willing to assist?"

She didn’t mean destroying the secret realm itself—having been inside, she knew its structure was too formidable.

Rather, she intended to obliterate the entrance at Jiushan Lake, severing access to the secret realm from this world.

Since the Tang Imperial Court had no plans for large-scale involvement in the chaos of the Southern Wasteland, they couldn’t afford to dispatch more personnel to investigate the Jiuli Secret Realm.

Even if she contacted Shangguan Peng and the others, it wouldn’t be feasible to maintain a constant guard over Jiushan Lake.

If this place truly held significance, destroying it would inflict a loss upon their enemies—without necessarily benefiting themselves. This was Xiao Xueting’s logic.

"I am willing to aid General Xiao," Yuan Mobai said with a smile.

He Dongxing nodded. "This old Daoist agrees as well."

Lei Jun and Shen Qubing immediately withdrew from the surrounding mountains. Soon, three Upper Three Heavens experts would unleash their full strength upon Jiushan Lake.

Blinding sword light tore through the daylight, crashing down like a falling rainbow.

Then came a violent upheaval.

Golden talismans illuminated a towering figure in the sky—like a Titan Spirit—as it followed the sword light into Jiushan Lake.

As the ground trembled, it was clear that Xiao Xueting had also joined the assault.

From a distance, Lei Jun and Shen Qubing watched as the mountains surrounding Jiushan Lake began to collapse and crumble.

Above the lake’s surface, dark mist surged skyward.

This black energy was not sinister; rather, it bore similarities to the profound intent of the ancient Witch Sect character Lei Jun had previously summoned.

The turbulent black mist quickly dispersed, marking the complete sealing of this portal to the Jiuli Secret Realm.

As the dust and rubble settled, the once vast and pristine lake was no more—Yuan Mobai, Xiao Xueting, and He Dongxing had entirely filled it in. The surrounding mountains had also vanished.

"Let’s go. Time to leave." The towering, radiant figure wreathed in starlight faded away, revealing the purple-robed Daoist, who called out to Lei Jun and Shen Qubing.

With that, the five of them departed from the area.

Only after traveling a considerable distance did they finally stop.

Yuan Mobai, Xiao Xueting, and He Dongxing immediately began meditating to recover their strength.

Inside the secret realm, they had endured constant danger, struggling against the harsh environment while attempting to break the seal. Upon escaping, they had immediately turned to destroying the entrance, pushing themselves even further.

Though each possessed extraordinary cultivation, even they needed time to restore themselves to peak condition in preparation for any future threats.

Lei Jun and Shen Qubing, however, were mostly unharmed.

Then, as if suddenly recalling something, Shen Qubing jolted upright.

Later that evening, Lei Jun felt a slight tremor from his Heavenly Book.

Upon checking, he found a new message from Huoyao (the Fire Luminary):

"The Jiuli Secret Realm matter is resolved. Apologies for the earlier disturbance!"

Even a simple follow-up like this still risked leaking information... Lei Jun pressed his fingers to his forehead in exasperation.

Most likely, Riyao, Yueyao, Muyao, Shuiyao, and Tuyao (the Sun, Moon, Wood, Water, and Earth Luminaries) had also received similar double-layered "private messages."

The real question was—had anyone previously contacted Shen Qubing?

Wait a moment...

If Riyao really was Empress Zhang Wantong, did she know that Huoyao was actually an up-and-coming talent within her own military?

Lei Jun shook his head slightly and made his way into the forested mountains.

There, numerous Spirit Talismans floated and shimmered like a resplendent river of stars. Though dazzling in appearance, their spiritual energy was deeply restrained, making them nearly undetectable to outsiders. Only those who ventured close would notice the star-like radiance filtering through the leaves.

Encircled by this starry veil, a grand three-tiered altar—formed entirely of starlight—shone brilliantly.

At its summit sat Yuan Mobai, cross-legged in meditation. When he noticed Lei Jun approaching, he smiled gently.

"Earlier, I thought I might have accidentally led you into danger, but it turns out not only are you unharmed, you’ve also restored the Tianshi Seal to its former glory."

Lei Jun respectfully bowed. "It was all thanks to Master’s guidance. By a stroke of fate, I was finally able to rekindle the Tianshi Seal’s brilliance. However, for now, the seal remains bound to my soul and cannot be separated."

Yuan Mobai’s smile remained unchanged. "No matter. Since fate has arranged it so, we should follow the flow."

Lei Jun continued, "Though we still haven’t found the Tianshi Robe, with the Tianshi Seal restored, the Three Realms True Canon has finally returned to our sect’s lineage."

Yuan Mobai’s smile faded slightly, his gaze tinged with nostalgia. "The world is ever-changing..."

"Master..." Lei Jun studied him carefully, sensing something different about him. "Are you truly alright?"

Yuan Mobai shook his head. "I’m fine. I just feel a bit sentimental. But if anything, this journey has been immensely rewarding."

After a brief pause, he added, "There is still a lead regarding the Tianshi Robe here in the Southern Wasteland that I need to verify. If all goes well, once I return to the mountain, I plan to enter seclusion for a time."

Lei Jun immediately understood—his master was preparing for a breakthrough to the Eighth Heaven Realm.

"Because of the Jiuli Secret Realm?" Lei Jun asked.

Yuan Mobai nodded. "You could say this has been a blessing in disguise."

Lei Jun inquired, "Will you be focusing on the Thunder Law Heavenly Book Talisman Canon or the Fire Law Earth Book Talisman Canon this time?"

The restoration of the Tianshi Seal provided a tremendous advantage in this regard.

"Neither, for now," Yuan Mobai replied with a smile. "I’ve made other discoveries."

Lei Jun didn’t say anything, but his gaze toward his master subtly changed—as if he were looking at something not quite human anymore...

"Rebellious disciple." Yuan Mobai merely chided him lightly, unbothered by the scrutiny.

Lei Jun smirked. "I’m just happy for Master."

After a few lighthearted exchanges, Lei Jun retrieved a pair of azure gemstones that radiated a cool, mystical glow.

"Now that things have finally settled, I’d like to take a moment for myself. Master, I’ll have to trouble you to stand guard for me."

"Of course. Our sect is about to gain a legendary genius of the Clear Tranquility level—this is a momentous occasion." Yuan Mobai’s smile deepened.

With his master watching over him, Lei Jun had no other pressing concerns. He adjusted his state of mind, took the pair of ancient gems, and set off toward the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven.

His destination: the second tier of the altar.

When he had first obtained the Tianhuang Enlightenment Jades, he realized they had the potential to greatly enhance his comprehension abilities—but only if he used them within the second tier of the True-One Altar. He had been waiting for this moment ever since.

Clear Tranquility-level comprehension.

Throughout the Tianshi Mansion’s nearly ten-thousand-year history, there had been very few disciples who had ever reached this level. Yet each one had left an indelible mark on the sect’s legacy.

Nearly all the major innovations and refinements in Daoist arts and talismanic techniques had originated from individuals of this caliber.

In the current generation, aside from the enigmatic Xu Yuanzhen, the only known Clear Tranquility-level genius was the present-day Tianshi, Tang Xiaotang.

Before her, the last person to reach this level had been the second Li Tianshi, Yuan Mobai’s martial uncle—several centuries ago.

For the Tianshi Mansion, even one such genius appearing every few hundred years was considered remarkable fortune.

Now, Elder Lei had resolved to add one more to the list.

Even if he had lacked the talent at birth, he would compensate for it through sheer will and opportunity.

Bathed in starlight, he sat cross-legged.

The Tianhuang Enlightenment Jades split apart, transforming into two radiant streams of azure light that began revolving around him.

In the next moment, both gemstones shattered simultaneously.

Their released energy intertwined, forming a towering structure of purple, gold, and azure light—resembling both a three-tiered world and a three-tiered pagoda—which enveloped Lei Jun entirely.

A gentle breeze brushed against him.

His spirit detached from his body, rising above, carried by an ancient wind of enlightenment—a wind that had traveled through the long river of time, bridging the gap between primal ignorance and civilization itself.

At this moment, the entire True-One Altar trembled. Its profound history and deep foundation allowed this wind of enlightenment to manifest physically, rather than fade into nothingness.

Lei Jun felt his consciousness shift—not simply being refined, but undergoing a complete metamorphosis from within.

Difficulties that had once puzzled him suddenly became clear.

Ideas he had been refining gained new inspiration.

Projects he had struggled with took new directions.

For instance, the Thousand-Mile Transmission Talisman he had long been obsessed with.

For instance, his ongoing improvements to the Two-Yi Magnetic Talismanic Curse.

For instance, new potential refinements for his Heavenly General, Wind Thunder, and Yin Five Thunder Talismans.

Countless inspirations flooded his mind like never before.

When his spirit returned to his body, the winds of enlightenment coursed through his entire being.

In that instant, his mind became as clear as a mirror, reflecting everything with absolute precision.

He had ascended.

Lei Jun had successfully raised his comprehension to the Clear Tranquility level.