Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 207: Danding School and Fulu School

Wang Jingfang initially appeared relaxed, but after glancing at the commotion caused by Shen Qubing in the distance, his expression grew more serious. “Such a fierce martial cultivator—truly a rare talent!”

Beside him, the descendant of the former dynasty also looked uneasy. “Daoist Wang, please sit for a moment. I’ll go take a look.”

Wang Jingfang replied, “Let’s go together.”

The former dynasty descendant stepped forward, his expression dark as he fixed his gaze on the young martial artist moving through the crowd like a swimming dragon. “Summon the divine archers!”

As he spoke, he drew a massive bow as tall as a person, nocked an arrow, and aimed it at Shen Qubing.

All around, several Confucian archers positioned themselves, seeking the perfect opportunity to strike.

Though the Great Sui Dynasty had lost its empire, some imperial descendants and their loyal retainers had gone into hiding, taking with them remnants of both literary and martial traditions. However, limited resources and harsh circumstances had caused their talents to dwindle over time.

Fortunately, Xinglong Abyss served as an important base for the Sui imperial heirs, gathering many skilled individuals—including some Confucian divine archers at the Middle Three Heavens level.

They employed a classic tactic used against martial cultivators: force them to bleed.

Martial cultivators, especially those focused on body refinement, shared similarities with Buddhist martial monks in battle. They possessed extraordinarily strong bodies and unshakable willpower, making them resilient opponents who were difficult to defeat mentally.

However, the core principles of the two were entirely different.

Buddhist martial monks cultivated from within, merging Zen and martial arts to achieve an indestructible body.

Martial cultivators, on the other hand, worked from the outside in—nurturing their bodies and spirits with blood and qi until they reached complete harmony.

That was why, as Lei Jun had previously witnessed, when the Gu Master Zhao Sen fought against the Southern Bodhi monk Ru Yuan, he aimed to provoke Ru Yuan’s emotions, causing a lapse in his mental state before breaking through his Buddhist defenses.

Now, the Sui imperial descendants attacking Shen Qubing weren’t aiming to defeat him in a few moves. Their goal was simply to wound him.

Martial cultivators relied on their qi and blood being in perfect harmony. A wound wouldn’t significantly affect their speed or strength, but it would weaken their defenses.

Moreover, martial cultivators primarily fought in close combat, where injuries were inevitable—one of their greatest vulnerabilities.

However, while Shen Qubing might appear reckless in everyday situations, he was incredibly sharp in battle. His fighting style was both aggressive and adaptive, as if he had an innate sense for the best response in any given moment. This forced his opponents to be constantly on the backfoot.

He darted nimbly between the crowd and the rocky cliffs of the abyss, making it nearly impossible for the Confucian archers to land a shot.

Had it not been for the Middle Three Heavens archers using their specialized aiming techniques, they might have even ended up hitting their own allies.

From afar, Lei Jun observed for a moment, nodded to himself, and looked away.

Shen Qubing was in no immediate danger and had actually drawn a lot of attention.

With Xinglong Abyss in chaos, Lei Jun slipped in deeper.

The disturbance caused by Shen Qubing had thrown the spiritual energy of the entire abyss into disorder. Many people were coming and going, and from the shadows, Lei Jun overheard someone giving orders:

“There’s been a change of plans! Move the ritual artifacts now—we don’t have time for a careful evacuation!”

Lei Jun coldly observed the scene. The one speaking was a young man in luxurious robes, his strength formidable, his gaze sharp. Yet, beneath his brow lingered a mix of frustration and ruthless ambition.

The people around him treated him with great respect, addressing him as ‘Second Young Master.’

Under his command, numerous ritual artifacts were being retrieved from the abyss. With just a quick glance, Lei Jun recognized several ceremonial vessels—fu, gui, bian, dou, deng, and jue among them.

As these artifacts were moved, the entire abyss seemed to tremble.

This wasn’t due to the battle raging within the valley—it came from the deeper currents of the land’s spiritual energy.

So that’s how it is... These descendants of the Shengkang Imperial line have truly established themselves. Even in this remote Southern Wasteland, they’re attempting to redirect the spiritual veins of the mountains and rivers, forging a new national destiny to rival the Tang Dynasty and reclaim their lost empire...

Lei Jun understood immediately.

However, the difficulty of such a feat was immense. Though the Sui descendants had made some progress, they were still far from achieving their goal.

With the arrival of Xiao Xueting, Shen Qubing, Shangguan Peng, and others, the pressure on the Sui remnants increased dramatically.

They had no choice but to abandon Xinglong Abyss and relocate their plans elsewhere.

That was why, when Wang Jingfang had arrived earlier, they had mentioned they were already in the process of moving.

However, forcibly removing the buried artifacts could cause major disruptions to the land’s spiritual energy—too great a risk under normal circumstances.

But now that Xinglong Abyss had been exposed and the Tang forces were closing in, the Sui remnants had no reason to hesitate. Their priority was to escape with their people and artifacts as quickly as possible.

“Second Young Master, the Ye Clan of Jinzhou is still waiting,” a middle-aged scholar whispered to the robed youth.

The Second Young Master remained composed. “Tell Master Ye to head to Baiquan Mountain first. We haven’t been the best hosts lately—I’ll apologize once we arrive.”

The scholar hesitated. “Second Young Master, the Blood River Sect also knows about Baiquan Mountain’s location. Could that be a problem…?”

The robed youth smiled faintly. “No need to worry. My father will personally go there later.”

The scholar’s expression changed. “His Highness the Crown Prince is actually—”

The young master gave him a sharp look. The scholar immediately bowed his head. “I understand.”

“Make sure Master Ye is well taken care of,” the young master added.

The scholar quickly nodded but then hesitated again before speaking. “Second Young Master, Master Ye seems to have a strong interest in the Tianshi Seal and Tianshi Robe from the Daoist Talismanic Branch.”

The young master’s eyes flickered. “Both the Tianshi Seal and the Tianshi Robe are Daoist treasures, yet they’ve been lost. If we could obtain them, it would be ideal. But if the Ye Clan is this eager, their motives likely extend beyond just acquiring the artifacts—they might be interested in Tianshi Mansion itself.”

The scholar nodded. “I heard that the First Young Master recently came across some clues about the Tianshi Robe, but the details remain unclear…”

The young master chuckled. “I’m sure my brother has his own plans. If I were him, I wouldn’t hand over such information to the Ye Clan so easily. If we truly find the Tianshi Robe, we should negotiate directly with Tianshi Mansion ourselves.”

Lei Jun remained concealed, merging into the surrounding rock with the Wind-Thunder Talisman and Serpent Bone, further hidden by the Breath-Taking Flag.

His gaze lingered on the robed youth.

Judging by his words and actions, this man was likely a direct descendant of the Shengkang Crown Prince.

And as expected, there was some hidden agenda between them and the Blood River Sect—or rather, between them and Wei Anchang.

Though their grand ambitions were still far from fruition, the internal distrust within their ranks was already apparent.

Jinzhou’s Ye Clan had indeed spread its influence far and wide, having established ties with the Sui remnants long ago.

This explained how they were so well-informed about the relationship between Wei Anchang and the Sui descendants.

It also suggested that the Ye Clan was backing the Sui remnants in their efforts to revive their empire in the Southern Wasteland.

And after what had happened with Ye Han and Ye Lingxi, their involvement was even more evident.

Now that Lei Jun recalled Wei Anchang’s violent rampage when he left seclusion, he began to wonder—was that massacre truly necessary, or had Wei Anchang used it as an excuse to further his own agenda?

Of course, the Sui remnants and the Ye Clan each had their own schemes.

And then there was the matter of the Tianshi Robe.

That piqued Lei Jun’s interest the most.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of pressure.

Xinglong Abyss’s spiritual energy stirred violently.

The robed youth and the scholar’s expressions brightened. “Master Jiang has arrived!”

A refined, scholarly aura filled the air as a white-robed scholar stepped into Xinglong Abyss. He first approached the robed youth. “Second Young Master.”

Lei Jun glanced at his Breath-Taking Flag, which fluttered slightly despite the lack of wind, and frowned.

This new arrival was a Confucian cultivator at the Seventh Heaven realm. If they were far apart and the scholar wasn’t paying attention, it wouldn’t be an issue. But at such close range, he might see through Lei Jun’s concealment.

However, Lei Jun quickly smirked.

With a single thought, he grasped the Breath-Taking Flag, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from Xinglong Abyss entirely.

Inside the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven, Lei Jun reappeared as if he had never been in Xinglong Abyss at all.

Just as the Supreme Good Omen had foretold, this trip carried no real danger.

Or rather, the minor obstacles along the way were not enough to threaten Lei Jun, who had already awakened the Tianshi Seal.

At the same time, in Xinglong Abyss, the white-robed scholar Jiang Tiankuo descended to the valley floor.

He did not immediately engage in battle but first approached the Second Young Master of the Sui remnants.

“Second Young Master, please leave first. Leave this place to me.”

The Second Young Master nodded. “Thank you for your efforts, Master Jiang.”

Jiang Tiankuo’s family had served the Great Sui Imperial Court since the reign of its founding emperor. His grandfather had once been an official in the Eastern Palace, following Crown Prince Shengkang when they fled the capital.

For generations, the Jiang family had upheld their loyalty, serving the exiled Sui Imperial Line to this day.

Now, clad in pristine white Confucian robes, Jiang Tiankuo first ensured the Second Young Master and the ritual artifacts were safely evacuated before turning his attention to Shen Qubing.

The moment he acted, sword qi surged like an unrelenting tide.

It engulfed the entire abyss, closing in on Shen Qubing from all directions, cutting off every possible escape route.

Yet, instead of fear, Shen Qubing’s expression became even more intense—his eyes steadier, his spirit burning even brighter.

A blinding radiance exploded around him, revealing a power far beyond his previous display.

Pure, absolute force. Unyielding and domineering.

The abyss, once dark and shadowed, was now illuminated by a dazzling white glow.

Such overwhelming radiance, so fierce and unrelenting, caused surrounding cliffs and boulders to weather and crumble into dust.

Shen Qubing’s speed surged to an entirely new level—evading Jiang Tiankuo’s sword qi and streaking away like a bolt of light, attempting to escape the entrapment.

Jiang Tiankuo’s brows furrowed. His sword qi suddenly tightened and expanded, unleashing a downpour of swords from the heavens.

The collision between white radiance and sword rain sent violent shockwaves rippling through the abyss.

Even though the radiant explosion temporarily shattered some of the incoming sword energy, Shen Qubing still managed to slip past the barrage.

Only at this moment did the thunderous roar of the attack reach everyone’s ears, shaking the entire valley.

Jiang Tiankuo’s expression darkened.

“Tai-Ting Celestial Physique?! You possess a Celestial Physique?”

His voice carried a rare tone of disbelief. “No wonder someone so young has already reached such a high cultivation realm!”

Shen Qubing said nothing, but his fighting spirit flared even brighter.

Jiang Tiankuo’s initial admiration vanished in an instant, replaced by a grim, icy determination.

This man was an enemy.

Not just an enemy, but a soldier of Tang’s Divine Strategy Army, a direct obstacle to the Sui Restoration.

If he were to break through to the Upper Three Heavens, he would become even harder to suppress!

Jiang Tiankuo lowered his blade slightly, allowing his sword qi to expand outward.

He knew that someone like Shen Qubing couldn’t be dealt with through brute force. The key was to slow him down, to restrict his movement, until he was finally overwhelmed.

He prepared for a long, drawn-out fight.

Yet in that instant—

A sword light silently appeared from the shadows, flashing toward Jiang Tiankuo’s lower back.

It was so quiet, so unassuming, so ordinary.

Compared to the mighty, earth-shattering sword aura of Jiang Tiankuo, it seemed like nothing.

But this strike was precise. Deadly.

It went undetected until the very last moment.

Jiang Tiankuo only realized the threat as the blade was about to pierce his flesh.

His instincts roared to life, and his sword qi surged backward to protect himself.

But the attacker was even faster.

Jiang Tiankuo staggered forward.

Blood sprayed violently from his waist.

Standing behind him was a graceful, stunning woman—her movements effortless, her expression serene.

Xiao Xueting.

“Third Sister Xiao! If you had delayed even a moment longer, I’d be skewered like a porcupine!” Shen Qubing finally shouted.

Xiao Xueting responded lightly, “Relax. The timing was perfect.”

Even as she spoke, she struck again—this time, aiming directly at Jiang Tiankuo’s vitals.

Unlike Jiang Tiankuo’s expansive, all-encompassing sword qi, her style was lightning-fast and utterly precise.

Every strike landed cleanly. Every attack left a wound.

Jiang Tiankuo tried to counterattack, unleashing a meteor-like sword strike to retaliate.

Yet Xiao Xueting never fought him head-on.

Instead, she sidestepped smoothly, causing Jiang Tiankuo’s full-power attack to miss completely—an utterly infuriating experience.

But Jiang Tiankuo had no time to dwell on it. He had already been severely wounded.

He gritted his teeth and turned to flee.

But Xiao Xueting was relentless, staying on his heels. Every time he tried to create distance, her sword was already striking at his back.

If Jiang Tiankuo wasn’t so injured, he would have cursed her outright.

"How can someone so elegant be this… despicable and shameless?!"

Desperate, he took another grievous hit but managed to escape into the distance.

Xiao Xueting didn’t hold back. She pursued him immediately, her sword gleaming with deadly intent.

Shen Qubing also gave chase, eager to finish off their biggest target.

With their strongest warrior fleeing for his life, the remaining Sui forces were left stunned.

One moment, Jiang Tiankuo had been dominating the battle—the next, he was fleeing in disgrace.

The realization struck them hard.

But they had no time to hesitate.

The only choice left was to abandon the battlefield.

One after another, the Sui remnants frantically packed up their supplies and fled.

Wang Jingfang, however, was not among them.

Instead, he stood apart from the chaos, contemplating.

The situation for the Sui remnants was worse than expected.

But his own objectives had already been achieved.

He lifted a small porcelain bottle in his hand, weighing it thoughtfully.

Just as he did, his expression changed—he sensed something amiss.

Almost at the same moment, a perfectly spherical, translucent golden sphere appeared around him, absorbing a powerful impact from behind.

The force of the attack sent shockwaves rippling through the barrier, leaving Wang Jingfang momentarily disoriented.

Turning sharply, he locked eyes with a tall, broad-shouldered young Daoist in deep red robes.

Lei Jun.

Lei Jun observed him with mild curiosity, unshaken by the failed strike.

“So this is the Daoist Alchemical Sect’s Golden Core Projection?” he mused aloud.

Wang Jingfang’s head pounded from the impact. His anger surged as he recognized Lei Jun’s attire.

“A True Disciple of Tianshi Mansion?”

His voice carried a sneer. “Good! The so-called Tianshi Mansion is working alongside the Tang Dynasty’s Divine Strategy Army? Have you become nothing more than the court’s lackeys?”

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.

Then, with an amused smirk, he replied:

“Not as much as you, who serves a ‘former’ court.”