Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 211: Unity and friendship give allies "opportunities"

Inside the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven, Lei Jun quietly listened to the conversation between Shangguan Peng and the other man. His expression remained calm, showing no emotional fluctuations—only a slight raise of his brow.

From the Thousand-Mile Transmission Talisman, the voice of the middle-aged officer continued, “Given the temperament of the new Tianshi, this is indeed a possibility. Even if she doesn’t bring the Tianshi Sword down the mountain, she herself surely won’t be able to hold back. It’s just that…”

He hesitated, while Shangguan Peng spoke calmly, “Naturally, it must be the remnants of the previous dynasty or members of the Blood River Sect who make the first move. We must not get involved directly, or it would backfire. However, in this world, there are always… coincidences.”

The middle-aged officer immediately understood. “Just like how Xiong Gang of the Blood River Sect ‘coincidentally’ appeared at Lunan Valley, deepening the enmity between the Shushan Sect and them.”

Despite his words, the officer—who also hailed from the Shangguan family—still seemed somewhat uneasy. “General, protecting Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion and allowing it to recuperate was originally His Majesty’s decree. Now that there have been no new imperial orders, will what we’re doing…?”

Shangguan Peng responded, “That was then; this is now. When His Majesty sheltered Mount Longhu back then, the remnants of the previous dynasty were not as rampant as they are today, attempting to establish a new kingdom in the Southern Wastelands and seize the nation’s fortune. Nor had Wei Anchang of the Blood River Sect reached the Nine Heavens.

“But now, with the situation changing drastically, we must adapt. Of course, His Majesty’s word is law, and it is not appropriate to change course so easily. We must interpret His intentions and share His burdens.

“As long as our actions are meticulous, none of this will be tied to us. Even if things do come to light one day, taking the blame for His Majesty is simply part of our duty.”

Oh? That certainly sounds reasonable… but is it really so? Lei Jun continued listening calmly, deep in thought.

“The general is right…” the middle-aged officer murmured.

He exhaled deeply. “These past years, both the Divine Strategy Army and our Shangguan family have suffered heavy losses for the Tang Dynasty. Meanwhile, those Buddhist and Daoist factions, after receiving so much support, have been content to stay in the background.

“Isn’t it about time they started contributing more to the empire?”

Why should the Shangguan family keep bleeding and sweating while the Buddhist and Daoist sects hide behind and recuperate?

If anyone deserves a break, it’s us! Now is the time for them to step up.

Otherwise, what was the point of supporting them in the first place?

Lei Jun understood. This sentiment was likely widespread within the Shangguan family and the aristocracy, not just a passing thought from a few individuals.

As for whether they were truly sharing the emperor’s burdens, as Shangguan Peng claimed, that was debatable. It wasn’t clear who was really covering for whom.

Not that the Empress was necessarily inclined to favor the Buddhist and Daoist factions either—she simply had her own unusual way of doing things.

By establishing a new Imperial Academy, she had shaken the foundation of the aristocratic families while also unsettling the newly rising noble houses that had been the backbone of the Tang Dynasty’s ruling class.

Especially after the continuous wars of late, even the aristocratic clans, including the Shangguan family, had suffered heavy losses.

Their loyalty to the Tang Dynasty remained unwavering, but on smaller matters? They were bound to have their own ideas.

“Mount Longhu may have suffered a great calamity,” Shangguan Peng said indifferently, “but the entire world is in chaos. Who isn’t struggling in the storm?

“A thousand days of training for a single battle—now is the time for everyone to stand together and overcome the hardship.”

The middle-aged officer nodded. “Yes.”

He hesitated before speaking again. “But there’s still no trace of Lei Jun, and Yuan Mobai remains a High Priest. According to rumors, his strength even surpasses He Dongxing of Shushan…”

Shangguan Peng replied, “Accidents happen. But if we act according to logic, there will be no accidents. The key is to gather enough precise information…

“When a person desires something, they become vulnerable.”

Inside the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven, Lei Jun lay on his side, propping his head up with one hand, nodding slightly.

Though their positions differed, he could mostly agree with that sentiment.

The middle-aged officer asked, “General, what are our next steps?”

Shangguan Peng instructed, “Prepare for matters concerning the Tianshi Mansion. But we mustn’t overlook the remnants of the previous dynasty. According to the latest intelligence, there’s a hidden stronghold of theirs at Empty Flow Mountain. You should head there.

“For now, stay away from Silver Flute Rock.”

The officer was startled. “General…”

Shangguan Peng said, “Yes, there’s also a stronghold of the previous dynasty’s remnants at Silver Flute Rock. However… though I can’t be completely certain yet, I’ve received word that Xiong Gang of the Blood River Sect likely headed there after leaving Lunan Valley.”

Xiong Gang was an Eight-Heaven elder of the Blood River Sect—far beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. The middle-aged officer immediately grew alert. “Understood, General. I will keep this confidential and ensure the others remain cautious.”

Suddenly, a thought struck him. “If Shushan is sending people, then what about Xiong Gang…?”

During the previous battle at Lunan Valley, it was Xiong Gang who had killed Jiang Dongyu, the elder from Shushan.

Shangguan Peng said, “There’s no need to inform them of Xiong Gang’s whereabouts just yet.”

The officer acknowledged, “Yes, General.”

Though it was left unsaid, it was clear that Shangguan Peng intended to wait and see how things unfolded at the Tianshi Mansion first.

Pinning both the Tianshi Mansion’s and Shushan’s “accidents” on Xiong Gang alone might be somewhat excessive, but tracking the movements of an Eight-Heaven expert wasn’t easy.

For now, Shangguan Peng could only extract as much value as possible.

“Yuan Mobai’s cultivation is in the Upper Three Heavens. Xiong Gang won’t be able to guarantee taking him down. The main target remains Lei Jun,” Shangguan Peng said.

“Spread the word—continue gathering intelligence on Yuan Mobai and Lei Jun. Since they’ve come to the Southern Wastelands, they must have a reason. They won’t leave so easily. If anything comes up, report to me immediately.”

He himself planned to head to the vicinity of Silver Flute Rock to make further preparations.

“Understood, General.” The middle-aged officer followed orders.

Inside the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven, Lei Jun listened as the transmission gradually faded before finally sitting up.

He crossed his legs, resting his hands on his knees, a faint smile playing on his lips.

So that’s how it is…

The second Moderate-Moderate Omen had mentioned that Silver Flute Rock held both an opportunity and a danger. It seemed that the danger was none other than Xiong Gang, the Blood River Sect’s Eight-Heaven elder.

Good thing the Tianshi Seal had already revived—otherwise, facing an Eight-Heaven expert wouldn’t just be a Moderate-Moderate Omen.

However, since the omen still warned of danger, it meant that even hiding in the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven wasn’t entirely safe. There was still a risk of being detected, dragged out, or ambushed.

But…

Shangguan Peng, it seems you don’t fully understand the situation at Zhaojiang.

Lei Jun left the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven and headed toward the Zhaojiang River Basin.

Though he was curious about the Fourth-Grade Opportunity at Empty Flow Mountain, for now, he set his sights on Zhaojiang first.

Of course, he had no intention of heading straight to the river’s upper or lower reaches. Instead, he would begin at the midstream section.

Silver Flute Rock might have a Fifth-Grade Opportunity, but there were also Sixth-Grade Opportunities at both the upstream and downstream sections of Zhaojiang.

Since fate had arranged it this way, it would be a shame to waste it.

After all, we’re all on the same side, aren’t we?

And since Shangguan Peng was an official of the empire, and Lei Jun was a law-abiding citizen devoted to serving the dynasty, he certainly wouldn’t harm an imperial general or cause unnecessary infighting.

Just as Shangguan Peng had “prepared” a Fifth-Grade Opportunity for him at Silver Flute Rock, Lei Jun would return the favor with a Sixth-Grade Opportunity.

Call it reciprocity. A friendly gesture.

Now, there was only one technical challenge left—how to deliver this opportunity to Shangguan Peng?

The entire Heavenly Master Mansion naturally had its own desires—this was common knowledge.

Not to mention that Mount Longhu was far from truly detached from worldly affairs, even if it were, they would still seek to reclaim their sect’s lost treasures.

In the eyes of the world, these treasures referred to the Heavenly Master Seal and the Heavenly Master Robe.

Lei Jun and his master had ventured into the Southern Wastelands precisely for this purpose.

Their subsequent entanglement in the turmoil caused by the remnants of the previous dynasty in the Jiuli Secret Realm, Star Dragon Abyss, and White Spring Mountain was merely incidental—more of a coincidence than a deliberate involvement.

If they happened to hear any news regarding the Heavenly Master Robe along the way, they would certainly pay attention.

Lei Jun and his master never denied this.

This was the very thing they desired, the reason they couldn't claim to be free of worldly attachments.

Approaching them from this angle might just lure them into a trap.

Now, the real question was:

General Shangguan, you have your own desires as well.

I seek information regarding the Heavenly Master Robe.

You, on the other hand, seek to set me up.

In order to do so, what I seek must also become what you seek—you must obtain what I desire before I do, so you can orchestrate your scheme.

And so…

Lei Jun moved silently, arriving at the middle reaches of the Zhao River without drawing attention.

He didn’t reveal himself immediately but patiently observed and gathered intelligence.

The power of the Southern Wasteland’s major witchcraft sects was intertwined like interlocking teeth. Lei Jun spent some time confirming that this particular area fell under the influence of Yin Mountain Grotto, a holy land for witchcraft and gu techniques.

Though Yin Mountain Grotto was currently at war with the Blood River Sect, as Lei Jun had previously learned, the grotto itself was not united.

The Red Cloud Grotto, which controlled the middle reaches of the Zhao River, practiced gu techniques but was not closely aligned with the main faction of Yin Mountain Grotto. Their stance toward Wei Ancheng and the Blood River Sect was similarly ambiguous.

As fate would have it, this particular branch of gu masters had ties to Lei Jun and the Heavenly Master Mansion—they were disciples of Elder Tian Linlong from Yin Mountain Grotto.

Lei Jun waited for some time. When he saw gu masters emerging from their village, he seized the moment and discreetly waved his Soil Resting Banner.

A stream of nine-colored radiance flickered into existence and plunged into the rushing waters of the Zhao River.

This was the nine-colored glow Lei Jun had that was connected to the Heavenly Master Robe.

The glow drifted along the current, swiftly carried downstream.

However, its immense spiritual presence immediately caught the attention of the gu masters, who instinctively pursued it.

At that moment, Lei Jun struck first in secret, intercepting the nine-colored radiance before it could get too far.

Only then did he step forward, directly confronting the gu masters.

Among them was one particularly unusual gu master—his cultivation was not high, but he carried a finely crafted ceramic jar that radiated considerable spiritual energy.

Upon spotting the jar, Lei Jun couldn’t help but laugh.

"Is this my lucky day, or is it just your bad luck?"

A rolling thunderstorm swept across the area, reducing the young gu master and his ceramic jar to ashes.

From within the jar, however, a swarm of gu insects burst forth.

One beetle-like insect instantly grew in size, glowing with spiritual light as it formed a defensive shield to protect the other gu insects.

The rest of the swarm hovered in midair, forming a massive and eerie human face.

Its mouth and nose moved, speaking in a human voice:

"Lei, you damn Daoist! You again?!"

The face was unmistakably that of Zhao Sen, Tian Linlong’s direct disciple.

Back in the eastern section of the Great Southern Mountains, Zhao Sen had fought a fierce battle against the Southern Bodhi Temple monk, Ruyuan, only to be smashed into a pile of bloody mush by Lei Jun’s staff.

For gu masters, the physical body was not paramount.

Zhao Sen had reached a level where he could survive even if his body was destroyed.

However, he had yet to attain the Three Heavens Realm, and Lei Jun’s strike had left him in a dire state—his cultivation stalled, his progress uncertain.

With the aid of his master, Tian Linlong, he barely managed to stabilize his condition by anchoring his soul within a gu insect, retreating to Red Cloud Grotto to cultivate in secret.

Since then, young disciples had carried his ceramic gu jar wherever they went.

But never in his worst nightmares did he expect to cross paths with Lei Jun again today.

Lei Jun wasted no time. He immediately unleashed a flurry of talismans.

Back then, Lei Jun had spared Zhao Sen to spread word of his presence in the Great Southern Mountains.

Now, appearing in the Zhao River Basin, his goal was the same—to make sure news of his presence spread.

Since other gu masters from Red Cloud Grotto were here, there was no need to let Zhao Sen live this time.

This was a perfect opportunity to tie up loose ends.

Whenever Lei Jun needed to keep someone alive, he refrained from using his personal, self-created techniques, relying instead on the orthodox methods of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Since Zhao Sen no longer had a physical body, he attempted to scatter into numerous gu insects to escape, knowing that Lei Jun couldn’t simply smash them one by one.

However, Daoist talisman cultivators were renowned for their versatility—adjusting their techniques to any given situation.

Lei Jun didn’t use his usual Yin Water Thunder or Earth Thunder, both of which had wide-area effects.

Instead, he deployed the Heavenly Master Mansion’s famed talismans:

• Five Thunders True Talisman
• Thunderclap Annihilation Talisman
• Boundless Sea of Fire Talisman

These holy talismans blanketed the area, unleashing a storm of divine thunder and fire.

Lei Jun had spent great effort refining the Yin-Yang Dual Slaughter Talismans at the Primordial Talisman and Dao Palace realms.

Thus, even when using standard sect talismans, his power far exceeded that of his peers.

When Lei Jun cast the Five Thunders True Talisman and the Thunderclap Annihilation Talisman, their power rivaled other cultivators’ lifebound talismans.

Zhao Sen struggled in vain.

Lei Jun’s relentless assault shattered him completely, his soul dispersed by thunder and flames.

The battlefield was turned into a fiery hellscape, leaving no survivors among the gu masters present.

In the distance, the remaining disciples of Red Cloud Grotto watched in horror, huddled together, shivering.

Lei Jun seemed to ignore them.

After eliminating Zhao Sen and the others, he continued downstream along the Zhao River, seemingly in pursuit of the drifting nine-colored radiance.

Of course, he had no intention of actually following it.

Now that he had revealed himself, he once again vanished into hiding, distancing himself from the Zhao River Basin.

Before long, rumors spread—both the nine-colored radiance and Lei Jun had appeared at the Zhao River.

As expected, General Shangguan, with his keen instincts and swift action, soon arrived.

And just as swiftly, Lei Jun left.

Whether General Shangguan would chase the glow downstream, or whether he’d be able to obtain the sixth-grade fortune Lei Jun had prepared for him—none of that concerned Lei Jun.

After all, it was General Shangguan who had chosen to come here.

No one had forced him.