Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 206: We conducted a less than perfect infiltration

"Daoist Lei, has your sect received any news about Fairy Xu recently?" As they walked along the road, Xiao Xueting casually asked, "Ever since the battle at Poyang Great Marsh, Fairy Xu went missing. It's been quite some time now."

Lei Jun replied, "Indeed, our sect hasn’t heard from Senior Sister in a while, but I believe she’s blessed with good fortune and will be fine."

Hearing this, Xiao Xueting immediately understood—since Xu Yuanzhen’s name on the Talismanic Canon of the Ten Thousand Methods Sect was still intact, it meant she was safe.

Still, her prolonged absence made everyone at Mount Longhu uneasy. They hoped she would return soon.

Shen Qubing, who had been listening from the side, suddenly asked curiously, "Daoist Lei, between your sect’s new Tianshi, Tang Xiaotang, and Fairy Xu, who is the strongest among the Talismanic Branch now?"

Ever since the previous Tianshi, Li Qingfeng, and the Yellow Heaven Sect’s former elder, Yu Qingling, perished in battle, the strongest known Eighth Heaven experts of the Talismanic Branch had been Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, Li Song, Li Hongyu, and the Yellow Heaven Sect’s sect master, Taoist Taiping.

Among them, Li Song and Li Hongyu were both defeated by Tang Xiaotang—Li Song, in fact, had been personally slain by her. Meanwhile, Taoist Taiping had long been bested by Xu Yuanzhen.

As for other Daoist lineages, that was another matter. But within the Talismanic Branch, the new generation had already surpassed the old—those who came before had been left in the dust, some quite literally buried beneath it.

"I can’t say for sure who’s stronger between two Upper Heaven experts," Lei Jun replied with a shake of his head and a smile.

Though no one knew when, a duel between Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang was inevitable. Even though Xu Yuanzhen was the person Tang Xiaotang was closest to in the entire mansion, she had been holding back for that day.

Shen Qubing was intrigued. "I’m just curious. Tang Tianshi is already exceptionally talented—was Fairy Xu also born with a Celestial Physique and Clear Tranquility Comprehension?"

Xiao Xueting cracked open a pine nut and laughed. "The Daoist standing right in front of you, Lei Daozhang, is also an unparalleled talent."

Lei Jun waved his hands. "I wouldn’t dare claim that. I’ve put in my fair share of effort in cultivation, but I can’t compare to Senior Sister or Sect Master. Nor can I be mentioned alongside the two generals here."

He remained composed, skillfully sidestepping the topic.

Xu Yuanzhen’s talent had always been somewhat of a mystery.

Unlike Tang Xiaotang, whose brilliance was now known throughout the world, Xu Yuanzhen had always been elusive—her actions were hard to predict, and so was her cultivation path.

Lei Jun had only occasionally heard others mention that her progress had not been as explosive as Tang Xiaotang’s.

Especially in her early years, she had even seemed… somewhat "mediocre." Of course, "mediocre" here was only in comparison to the absolute prodigies—not that she wasn’t impressive.

But the longer she cultivated, the more her potential seemed endless. Without anyone realizing it, she had left her peers far behind and even surpassed countless senior disciples in the mansion.

The nickname "Second Tianshi," which she had gained at a young age, was partly due to external gossip and provocation, but also because her strength and status in the Tianshi Mansion were unmatched among her peers.

Many speculated that if she had been deliberately hiding her talent from the start, it would have been impossible to deceive everyone. The more likely explanation was that she had encountered a great Opportunity that enhanced her bone structure and comprehension as she grew.

Such occurrences were exceedingly rare, however, and there was little evidence to support them. Even within Mount Longhu, few truly understood Xu Yuanzhen’s background, and outsiders could only guess.

Lei Jun also avoided discussing such topics—many saw him in a similar light.

And they weren’t wrong. He had indeed improved his bone structure and comprehension through a fortuitous Opportunity. But that was something to quietly enjoy—definitely not something to advertise.

"Not far ahead should be Xinglong Abyss," Xiao Xueting said casually, still nibbling on pine nuts. "Let’s sneak in and take a look."

She turned to Lei Jun and Shen Qubing. "What’s your take on this operation?"

Shen Qubing grinned. "Let’s get inside first and figure things out as we go. If we run into anyone along the way, even better—we can capture them and interrogate them for information."

Lei Jun listened silently.

So… if we just kill everyone who sees us, then there’ll be no one left to sound the alarm, and we’ll have a ‘perfect infiltration’—is that the plan?

Well, technically, it wasn’t necessarily wrong. In theory, it could work. The only problem was the, uh, minor logistical challenge of executing it.

"No need to be that obvious," Xiao Xueting remarked. "If we waste time on small fry, we might scare off the big fish."

She put away her pine nuts and turned to Lei Jun. "What do you think, Daoist Lei?"

If Lei Jun were really given the final say, his suggestion would be for the two Middle Heaven cultivators to wait outside and keep watch, while the Upper Heaven Xiao General scouted ahead.

However, that would be out of character for him in front of outsiders. Moreover, based on the Supreme Good Omen they had drawn, their journey should be relatively smooth.

So he simply said, "Let’s keep a low profile and scout the area first before deciding on our next move."

He glanced at Shen Qubing. "It’s a shame that, according to General Shen’s report, he was already seen at Jiushan Lake. Otherwise, he might have been able to pose as one of them and help us gather information."

Alright, fine—that was just an offhand remark.

Even if Shen Qubing were an unfamiliar face, his personality made it impossible for him to pull off such a scheme.

As for Lei Jun and Xiao Xueting, their portraits were already known across the land. The people of the Southern Wasteland would definitely recognize them.

"Daoist Lei is here to assist us—we shouldn’t put you at risk. You can stay behind to support us while Shen and I go in."

Xiao Xueting stroked her chin thoughtfully.

"Shen, you’ll be out in the open, pushing forward. I’ll stay in the shadows to cover you. That way, we won’t startle the big fish."

Lei Jun subtly leaned back and studied her from head to toe.

The first half of her statement had sounded quite considerate. But the more he heard, the more… off it felt.

Sending a Middle Heaven cultivator to charge in headfirst while an Upper Heaven expert lurked in the shadows?

Girl, how can you say such chilling words with such a warm smile?

You have such an innocent face—who knew your mind was so devious?

All this time, you seemed normal. But now I see it—your strategy is basically identical to what I was thinking.

To be fair, Xiao Xueting’s plan wasn’t about using Shen Qubing as cannon fodder. There was a logical reason behind it.

Martial cultivators integrated their essence, energy, and spirit into their physical bodies. This made them incredibly perceptive to external threats and killing intent—sometimes even more so than those specialized in soul cultivation.

However, active reconnaissance was not their forte.

This was why Xiao Xueting made the suggestion.

Conversely, martial cultivators, when deliberately restraining their energy, were also difficult to detect by cultivators of other lineages.

With a serious expression, she continued discussing their strategy with Lei Jun and Shen Qubing. "Shen, stay alert. If anything happens, you’ll need to react quickly."

Shen Qubing, for his part, was eager to go. "Got it, Third Sister Xiao! Just watch me!"

Lei Jun said, "Since we are in this together, I will go down as well. I’ll be counting on you two generals to look out for me."

Xinglong Abyss was a vast chasm shrouded in a hazy mist, with specks of light flickering within, resembling a sky full of stars in motion.

The terrain below varied in depth and complexity—there were mountain streams, flat and dried-up riverbeds, waterfalls cascading into deep pools, and jagged rock formations crisscrossing the valley. A dense fog wove through the entire area.

Such landscapes were common in the Southern Wastelands, each with its own mysteries.

According to Xiao Xueting’s prior knowledge, this place had once been an immense lake, its depths unfathomable. Over time, the waters gradually receded, leaving behind the current chasm.

The three of them descended into the abyss, moving carefully through the thick mist.

Shen Qubing led the way at the front.

Having grown up in the military, he had received formal scout training. At the moment, he was moving with practiced stealth—his techniques precise and disciplined, making him look quite the professional.

However, knowing his temperament, Lei Jun was already mentally prepared—at any moment, Shen Qubing might suddenly abandon stealth and go in guns blazing.

Xiao Xueting, on the other hand, seemed to blend into the mist with ease, appearing and disappearing in just a few turns. Before long, even Lei Jun struggled to pinpoint her location.

He felt a slight chill in his heart—General Xiao was indeed a master of infiltration.

Though there was a difference in their cultivation realms, the fact that she had vanished so quickly meant she was no amateur.

Lei Jun immediately recalled the battle that had made her famous. Back then, she had vanished from the Eastern Sea battlefield without a trace, only to reappear thousands of miles away in Wuyue, where she ambushed and killed the defeated Prince Wu before he could escape.

Suddenly, a voice rang out ahead.

"Daoist Wang… this way, please…"

Lei Jun immediately suppressed his presence and took out his Spirit Sight Mirror to observe.

In his field of vision, a middle-aged scholar was leading a Daoist dressed in white robes and a black outer robe through the valley.

The Daoist’s attire was unmistakably that of the True Disciple uniform from the Pure Yang Palace, a sacred land of the Daoist Alchemical Sect.

But when Lei Jun saw the Daoist’s face, his eyes narrowed slightly.

The man appeared to be in his forties, with an air of immortality, a jade-like complexion, and keen, intelligent eyes.

Lei Jun had seen his portrait before.

His name was Wang Jingfang—a former cultivator of Pure Yang Palace.

Emphasis on "former."

Years ago, he had been expelled from Pure Yang Palace and declared a traitor. The sect had issued a public warrant for his capture, but he had fled to the Southern Wastelands, vanishing without a trace.

Lei Jun hadn’t expected to find him here, involved with remnants of the previous dynasty.

He put away his Spirit Sight Mirror, ceasing his observation.

As if sensing an unseen gaze, Wang Jingfang’s expression shifted. His eyes scanned his surroundings but failed to pinpoint the source of his unease.

The middle-aged scholar beside him asked, "Daoist Wang?"

Wang Jingfang frowned. "Do you have sentries stationed nearby? I just had the distinct feeling that I was being watched…"

The scholar nodded. "There are indeed some sentries. These are troubled times—we are in the process of relocating to another site. If there has been any lapse in security, we ask for your understanding, Daoist Wang."

Wang Jingfang nodded slightly. "That explains it."

The scholar smiled. "Daoist Wang’s cultivation is truly remarkable—your sensitivity is impressive."

Privately, he mused that after years of isolation in the Southern Wastelands, he and his people had far too little interaction with the outside world.

He had long heard that cultivators of the Daoist Alchemical Sect refined not only their Golden Cores to a state of perfection but also cultivated their Yang Spirits and Nascent Souls, making their divine senses incredibly sharp.

Now that he had seen it for himself, he could confirm the rumors were true.

Though Wang Jingfang was a traitor to Pure Yang Palace, there was no doubt he had mastered its teachings.

The two figures soon disappeared into the mist, but they had inadvertently pointed Lei Jun and his group in the right direction.

Moving stealthily, Lei Jun proceeded forward, soon discovering several hidden sentries stationed along the path.

He did not disturb them and instead continued following the direction Wang Jingfang and the scholar had taken, delving deeper into Xinglong Abyss.

After a while, Lei Jun suddenly felt a faint reaction from the Supreme Qing Golden Bamboo in his possession.

Taking out the bamboo stalk, which resembled a thick-stemmed bamboo shoot, he saw that its surface was now shimmering with a faint golden light.

Upon closer inspection, the golden light was forming illusory branches and leaves—tender new shoots sprouting from the bamboo.

Well, now that’s interesting.

Could this Opportunity be connected to my bamboo shoot? Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.

If so… much appreciated. I’ve been wanting to refine my personal style.

He carefully stored away the Supreme Qing Golden Bamboo and continued forward.

After a while, he came to a stop.

There was an invisible barrier blocking the path ahead.

Not just Lei Jun—Shen Qubing, further in the distance, also paused, showing remarkable patience as he waited.

After some time, the barrier rippled like water and then parted on its own.

Lei Jun and Shen Qubing peered inside and saw a group of people emerging, carrying large amounts of supplies.

It was clear they were in the midst of a relocation.

So they’re abandoning this place and moving elsewhere…

A thought flashed through Lei Jun’s mind.

No wonder the new Supreme Good Omen mentioned a "three-day limit." If they arrived too late, the former dynasty’s remnants might not have fully vacated the area, but the related Opportunity could already be lost.

As Lei Jun was contemplating his next move, he suddenly saw a shadowy figure dart forward, slipping through the opening just as the remnants were coming in and out.

Shen Qubing.

Decisive as ever.

To be fair, his timing was impeccable. But there was no doubt—stealth had just gone out the window.

Shouts and alarmed cries erupted at once.

Lei Jun almost laughed but had to admit—the young man was formidable.

In mere moments, he had already sent several guards flying, knocking them to the ground in a chaotic mess.

The camp had been running like a well-oiled machine, with strict security. But now, the situation was spiraling out of control as more and more emergency alerts were sent out, forcing them to constantly reassign manpower.

Lei Jun watched as the battlefield in front of him transformed into an open path, free of obstacles.

Well, well.

He shook his head, smiling wryly as he effortlessly passed through the barrier and entered the former dynasty’s stronghold within Xinglong Abyss.

Climbing onto a rocky ledge, he took in the scene.

The entire valley was in turmoil, people running left and right, while a lone figure weaved through the chaos like a dragon, striking with fluid precision.

Wang Jingfang, who had just arrived, stepped out of a reception hall with the middle-aged scholar. The scholar’s face was dark with anger, while Wang Jingfang narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Shen Qubing in the distance.

"I told you," he muttered, "someone was following us."