Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 229: The Opportunity to Achieve Immortal Body

“If this had remained inside your body undetected, you would have been fine most of the time. But if you were ever exposed to Pure Yang or Pure Yin energy, you might end up like today—your soul forcibly suppressed, leaving you unconscious.”

Lei Jun continued, “After a period of rest, you’ll wake up again, so there’s no lasting harm. But if you keep it inside you, then one day, when you attempt to cross the Heavenly Chasm Tribulation, it will interfere with your breakthrough. There will be no chance of success.”

Hearing this, Meng Shaojie paled slightly, lingering fear in his expression.

Lei Jun shook his head with a reassuring smile. “For now, there’s nothing to worry about. Earlier, the real issue was that you unknowingly absorbed this treasure into your body. Because your cultivation was insufficient, what should have been a great opportunity instead became a disaster.

But now that the truth is clear, when you return to the capital, you can ask a trustworthy master from the Imperial Academy to oversee the process and assist you in refining it. Though it will take some time, as long as you use the correct method, it won’t pose any further danger.

This is an extremely rare spiritual artifact—if refined properly, it will be an invaluable aid to your cultivation. It is, without a doubt, a great opportunity.”

This Balance of Motion and Stillness was different from the Heavenly Book’s Shadow that had troubled Zhang Yuan before.

The Heavenly Book’s Shadow wasn’t an evil entity, but unlike Lei Jun, Zhang Yuan had neither a Heavenly Book nor a Tianshi Seal to keep it in check. For him, holding onto it would have brought nothing but harm. While the Shadow itself had no intention of harming others, its mere presence was a potential disaster.

The Balance of Motion and Stillness, however, was an extraordinary spiritual treasure—it simply required the right refinement method.

Meng Shaojie stared at it, lost in thought, not responding immediately.

Lei Jun observed quietly.

It wasn’t hesitation out of concern for Lei Jun.

The young scholar’s gaze was neither confused nor conflicted—it carried a hint of relief and sorrow.

Seeing this, Lei Jun remained silent and simply sat beside him.

After a moment, the young scholar seemed to snap out of his daze and quickly apologized, “Elder Lei, I’m sorry, I was rude just now.”

Lei Jun shook his head calmly.

Meng Shaojie let out a long breath and then said, “If not for Elder Lei’s guidance today, this Balance of Motion and Stillness would not have been a blessing to me—it would have been a disaster.

Now that this item has entered and left my body, it has effectively changed hands. Its future disposition should be left in your care, Elder Lei.”

He smiled bitterly. “I have neither the ability nor the audacity to play games in front of you, Elder Lei. You saved me today, and I have nothing to repay your kindness with. I can only offer this treasure as a gesture of gratitude—I hope you won’t take offense.”

It was clear that the young scholar wasn’t trying to be cunning—he was genuinely grateful.

Today’s encounter had been a stroke of fortune.

Had Lei Jun not been there, someone else might have eventually noticed this artifact inside Meng Shaojie—it wasn’t certain that he would have remained ignorant all the way until his tribulation.

But the problem was, if someone else had discovered it…

That person might not have been as kind as Lei Jun.

They might have simply taken the treasure for themselves, not caring if Meng Shaojie lived or died.

Although Meng Shaojie was young and lacked experience, he wasn’t naive. He had at least heard stories of how the world worked.

Seeing such a rare treasure in front of him, of course, he was tempted—he was even thrilled.

That is, if he hadn’t already suffered for it.

But his decision to give it up wasn’t because he was afraid of taking another hit.

It was partly out of gratitude for Lei Jun.

And partly… because he felt powerless.

“A treasure may be precious,” Meng Shaojie murmured, “but if you’re not strong enough to hold onto it, it will never truly belong to you.”

His emotions were far more complex than what he showed on the surface.

Perhaps that was why, even in front of Lei Jun—who was still just an acquaintance—his thoughts spilled out in a moment of vulnerability.

“How can an opportunity truly be called fate if one cannot grasp it?”

Lei Jun did not interrupt.

He simply listened.

He could understand Meng Shaojie’s thoughts.

This young scholar had yet to achieve true calm in the face of adversity, but considering his age and background, his composure was already impressive.

Being selected as a study companion to the Crown Prince was both an opportunity and an enormous pressure.

Everyone else in the group had distinguished backgrounds—only Meng Shaojie came from a humble family.

If he had outstanding talent, it would have been fine.

But compared to the others, he was the most ordinary in both talent and cultivation.

No wonder people gossiped, speculating that Meng Shaojie was nothing more than a pawn placed in the Eastern Palace by the Empress—another step in her efforts to elevate the status of commoners.

Fortunately, Crown Prince Zhang Hui was approachable and got along well with him.

But Meng Shaojie was still a young man, not even twenty.

At this age, he was full of ambition—he wanted to rise above his circumstances, prove himself, and achieve something great.

In the past, he had dreamed of a grand stroke of fate—of a miraculous opportunity that would change everything.

Yet now that fate had truly given him something extraordinary…

It didn’t feel the way he had imagined.

“Since that’s how you feel,” Lei Jun finally said, “then I will accept this treasure.”

He took the Balance of Motion and Stillness without hesitation.

“Let this be a good bond between us.”

Meng Shaojie immediately bowed. “I wouldn’t dare… Elder Lei, I’ve already troubled you enough.”

Lei Jun responded, “You are a Confucian cultivator. Though you may feel discouraged now, do not lose heart. If you remain steadfast, there is always the chance for a breakthrough in the future.”

Each cultivation path had its own unwritten rules.

Given the vast history of cultivation, there were always exceptions—people who defied expectations.

In terms of progression, Confucian and Buddhist cultivators were known for unpredictable breakthroughs.

Confucian scholars often had moments of sudden enlightenment, while Buddhist cultivators experienced great awakenings from their vows.

Some scholars remained stuck at one level for years, yet as their literary and scholarly aura accumulated, they would one day suddenly advance—making up for lost time with astonishing progress.

Of course, lifespan was still a limitation.

If one delayed too long, there would be no “late blooming genius”, only regret.

While Confucian scholars had a slightly higher chance of late breakthroughs, it was still rare.

No one could rely on this possibility—deliberately delaying advancement in hopes of an eventual surge was nothing but self-deception.

Meng Shaojie was still young.

Lei Jun couldn’t see any exceptional talent in him yet, but he wasn’t interested in making that judgment right now.

For now, he simply encouraged him:

“Her Majesty and Academy Chancellor Master Xiao are both insightful individuals. Since they chose you as a companion to the Crown Prince, they must have their reasons.”

Meng Shaojie took a deep breath and nodded. “Thank you for your guidance, Elder Lei.”

Then, they both left the meditation chamber.

Zhao Zongjie had reached the peak of his personal power within the sect.

However, the prolonged silence from Taoist Master Taiping inevitably reminded people of the previous generation’s Tianshi, Li Qingfeng, who had also remained in seclusion on Mount Longhu for an extended period.

"Junior Brother Zhao…"

The elderly Daoist hesitated for a long time before finally speaking again, his voice barely audible. "…How much longer can the Ancestral Altar hold?"

In truth, over the years, the Huangtian Ancestral Altar had already begun to show signs of decline, and the deterioration was only accelerating.

The reason was bitter to acknowledge.

The very foundation of the Huangtian Ancestral Altar had been built upon the ultimate sacrifice of one of the sect’s founding elders, who had transformed himself into the altar.

The altar had supported Huangtian Dao ever since, but because it was originally a person, it inevitably faced the same fundamental limitation as any living being—lifespan.

The Huangtian Ancestral Altar also had a lifespan.

Since the founding of Huangtian Dao, nearly two centuries had passed.

For a cultivator of the Upper Heavens Realm, this was already a significant portion of their life expectancy—nearly a quarter of their lifespan.

Moreover, factoring in the original age of the Huangtian elder who had become the altar, it was inevitable that, with time, the altar would weaken and decay.

Under normal circumstances, this decline was irreversible and would only intensify.

Now, Taoist Master Taiping had been in seclusion within the altar for an extended period, healing his injuries. Inevitably, he was also drawing upon the altar’s power, likely shortening its remaining lifespan.

"It will hold for another hundred years without issue," Zhao Zongjie stated calmly.

The elderly Daoist spoke softly, "But we must prepare in advance…."

Zhao Zongjie did not respond.

Yet, he did not show anger or reprimand the elder.

He understood perfectly well that the old Daoist was not referring to Taoist Master Taiping as the one who should make a sacrifice.

As the sole Eighth Heaven cultivator of Huangtian Dao, if someone had to be sacrificed, it would certainly not be Taoist Master Taiping.

The one the elder had in mind was Qi Shuo, their sect’s greatest rival.

"Preparation is necessary, but unless we truly reach the point of utter desperation, do not entertain such thoughts," Zhao Zongjie said indifferently. "No matter the internal struggles within our sect, our primary enemy still lies outside our gates."

The elderly Daoist lowered his head. "I have spoken out of turn."

After saluting Zhao Zongjie, he quietly withdrew.

Now alone, Zhao Zongjie’s expression grew dark and complex.

He turned, gazing out at the endless deep ocean, his sight drifting toward the distant mainland.

Both he and Qi Shuo knew full well that they had each accepted aid from external forces.

This aid had helped Huangtian Dao survive its recent crises.

But there was no such thing as a free lunch.

Both Qi Shuo and himself would eventually have to repay the price.

And that price made the future of Huangtian Dao all the more uncertain.

---

Meanwhile, outside Mount Longhu, the spies lurking in the shadows were swiftly purged by Shangguan Ning, leading a squad of Tianshi Mansion’s True Disciples.

However, due to the incident, the Crown Prince’s tour of Mount Longhu had to be abruptly halted.

Despite this, the Eastern Palace entourage still held complete trust in Tianshi Mansion. Crown Prince Zhang Hui remained stationed at Mount Longhu, though he was advised against moving around freely, with all activities simplified for security reasons. Xunan Prince Zhang Mu stayed by his side at all times.

As long as Tianshi Mansion itself remained secure, there was no safer place in all of Xinzou.

After all, having a Tianshi personally overseeing matters was a far greater guarantee than any other form of protection.

News of the incident was immediately reported back to the capital.

Even though this was only a minor disturbance, the imperial court still took the matter very seriously, and immediately dispatched reinforcements.

The one sent was none other than Chu Yu, one of the Empress’ most trusted aides.

The last time Chu Yu had visited Mount Longhu was to congratulate the new Tianshi on her succession. Afterward, she had journeyed to the Southwest and the Southern Wasteland, investigating rumors of former Sui Dynasty remnants. Upon finding results, she had returned to the capital and entered seclusion for cultivation.

Because of her retreat, Chu Yu had not participated in the recent Southern Wasteland upheaval.

It was only during the Great Chaos at Vast Void Temple in Jiangnan that rumors surfaced of her reappearance.

However, given the sudden rise of Prince Zhao’s heir, she had no need to personally intervene in Jiangnan and had instead returned to Suzhou.

Now, with Huangtian Dao rebels suspected of plotting against the Crown Prince, regardless of the severity of the incident, the implications were dire.

Thus, upon receiving the report, Chu Yu immediately departed the capital and rushed to Mount Longhu.

"Your Highness, I apologize for the disturbance," Chu Yu said, greeting both Xunan Prince Zhang Mu and Crown Prince Zhang Hui.

Zhang Hui remained composed, his tone steady. "It was my insistence on leaving the capital that led to these disturbances. You've worked hard, Secretary Chu."

"Your Highness is too polite. This is simply my duty," Chu Yu replied.

She then exchanged formal greetings with the members of Tianshi Mansion.

At that moment, a certain rather unrestrained new Tianshi stared at Chu Yu with bright eyes, scrutinizing her up and down for a long moment, before suddenly remarking:

"Your recent seclusion… looks like it bore fruit. You've reached the Eighth Heaven Realm, haven't you?"

Chu Yu simply smiled. "The surge in the world’s spiritual energy has benefited all cultivators."

Standing off to the side, Xunan Prince Zhang Mu couldn't help but sigh as he looked at Tang Xiaotang and Chu Yu, who both shone radiantly, their presence even more dazzling than before.

Tang Xiaotang’s age hardly needed mentioning.

As for Chu Yu, she was the only daughter of the Suzhou Chu Clan’s patriarch, born in his later years. Though several years older than Tang Xiaotang, she was still quite young—far from reaching her first century of life.

And then there was Xu Yuanzhen of Mount Longhu, who had made her name even earlier than either of them.

Reflecting on the recent Southern Wasteland chaos, Zhang Mu couldn't help but think of the Witch Sect’s rising stars—Li Tianqing, Xing Feng—and the White Lotus Sect’s future leader, who had also caused a great stir.

The young generation…

They were no longer just making a name for themselves.

They were now stepping onto the grand stage, shaping the world itself.

And there were many more like them.

Just like Xiao Xueting, who was often mentioned alongside Chu Yu. Although she was still at the Seventh Heaven realm, she was younger than Chu Yu. In the recent Southern Wasteland battle, she first slew Jiang Tiankuo, who was also at the Seventh Heaven, and then took down Gao Pu, an Eighth Heaven cultivator—her name now echoed throughout Great Tang and beyond.

Her older brother, Xiao Chunhui, might not seem particularly flashy, but Zhang Mu, who had interacted with him many times, knew well that he was not someone to be underestimated either.

Zhang Mu could only describe these young talents as having limitless potential.

With spiritual energy surging across the land, cultivation had entered a golden age.

And the younger and more gifted one was, the more they benefited from it.

A sense of being overtaken by the next generation arose in Zhang Mu’s heart—not with anger, but with resignation.

As for the Empress of the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Mu wasn’t even thinking about her at the moment.

Of course, as some rose to prominence, others fell to obscurity.

Lin Zhen of the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou,

Li Zhengxuan of the Li Clan in Xinzhou,

Ye Lingxi of the Ye Clan in Jinzhou,

Shangguan Peng of the Shangguan Family…

All were once renowned prodigies, but now they had returned to dust.

The golden age of cultivation seemed to be arriving.

But as the tides of heaven and earth surged forward, many would begin to fall behind—both the old and the young alike.

---

“Different realms or not, there’s always a hint of bullying in a fight. But now that everyone’s at the Eighth Heaven, there’s no need to worry about that.” Tang Xiaotang smiled at Chu Yu.

Beside her, Lei Jun and Chu Kun both subtly shifted their gazes away.

Master Senior Sister, please don’t look so eager to fight.

At least, this isn’t the place to be saying such things…

“There will always be opportunities in the future,” Chu Yu said with a smile, “but right now, I have responsibilities. I can’t afford to neglect my duty.”

She was well aware of the Tianshi’s temperament. Before Tang Xiaotang could speak again, she took the initiative:

“The reason I’m here, aside from escorting the Crown Prince safely back to the capital, is to discuss another matter with you, Tianshi.”

Her tone was serious, immediately piquing Tang Xiaotang’s interest.

“Oh? What is it?”

Chu Yu composed herself. “We’ve recently received intelligence from the capital. The Empress ordered me to inform you personally:

The Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s leader, who had previously vanished, has returned to the mortal realm. The first confirmed location of his reappearance was in Beijiang’s Great Black Mountain region.”

Upon hearing this, both Lei Jun and Chu Kun, who had been looking away earlier, simultaneously turned their heads back.

Prince Xun’an, Zhang Mu, also narrowed his eyes. “The Jiangzhou Lin Clan…”

Lin Che, the head of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, had previously been lost in a twisted void. Not long ago, he finally returned to the mortal realm and made his way back to Jiangzhou.

Of course, he hadn’t reappeared directly at the Lin Clan’s ancestral grounds—he had first emerged elsewhere, breaking free from the chaotic void.

Lin Che was back, but Xu Yuanzhen had yet to be seen.

Though it wasn’t certain whether they had fallen into the same void, this was at least a clue.

---

“Beijiang’s Great Black Mountain?” Tang Xiaotang’s interest deepened.

After sending off Chu Yu and Zhang Mu, her eyes flickered with anticipation—now even more eager than before.

Lei Jun: “Little Senior Sister?”

Tang Xiaotang: “Relax. I may be impatient, but I’ll at least wait until Little Martial Uncle finishes his seclusion before making a move.”

Master Senior Sister… should I say you’re being cautious, or not cautious at all?

Chu Kun sat quietly, keeping his expression neutral.

Lei Jun: “Senior Sister may not approve of this.”

Tang Xiaotang waved a hand dismissively. “That doesn’t matter.”

Right. Understood.

You’re concerned about Senior Sister, sure—but more importantly, you’re the one who can’t sit still anymore.

Chu Kun stared at the tips of his shoes.

She was never one to stay put.

Lei Jun and his master had gone off to the Southern Wasteland, enjoying their adventure, and someone had secretly been jealous beyond words.

To be fair, there was never a rule stating that the Tianshi had to remain at Mount Longhu at all times.

But with Tianshi Mansion in a weakened state, and with Xu Yuanzhen missing, Tang Xiaotang had been forced to stay behind—as the strongest person on Mount Longhu.

For someone so used to freedom, the fact that she had stayed this long already exceeded Lei Jun’s expectations.

If Yuan Mobai successfully emerged from seclusion, achieving Eighth Heaven perfection, then Tianshi Tang would truly be unable to sit still any longer.

Not that she’d mind leaving the Thousand Methods Sect Altar and Tianshi Sword in Yuan Mobai’s hands while she was away.

As for Great Black Mountain in Beijiang… Lei Jun remained deep in thought.

---

With the assassination incident concluded, the Crown Prince’s journey was temporarily over.

Escorted by Chu Yu and Zhang Mu, the Eastern Palace entourage left Mount Longhu, heading northward back to the capital.

Tianshi Mansion returned to peace once more.

For now, Lei Jun set aside other concerns, focusing on his own cultivation.

Aside from guarding the Decree Pavilion, he spent his time practicing spells and deepening his studies.

Together with Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun studied the Balance of Motion and Stillness, which he had obtained from Meng Shaojie.

With her higher cultivation realm, Tang Xiaotang grasped its nature at a glance.

“It’s not just about yin and yang—its real brilliance lies in the balance and transformation between two opposing forces. It can reach the tiniest nuances, making it truly profound.”

Lei Jun nodded.

After studying the Balance of Motion and Stillness, he arrived at a similar conclusion.

Motion is yang. Stillness is yin.

All dualities in the world could, in some way, be interpreted through yin and yang—motion and stillness were no different.

Yet the Dao is both simple and boundless, capable of being further subdivided into countless intricate principles.

For example, Lei Jun’s Yin-Yang Sacred Physique embodied the transformation between yin and yang, capable of shifting towards pure yang or pure yin—though not to the same extreme as Tang Xiaotang or that Pure Yin Maiden.

However, the Balance of Motion and Stillness focused on a different concept:

Change.

The transformation between two states.

Conceptually, it aligned with Lei Jun’s Yin-Yang Sacred Physique—yet also complemented and enhanced it.

Through his research, Lei Jun made another discovery.

Although the Balance of Motion and Stillness could shift between material and immaterial states, flowing between a person’s flesh and soul, it leaned towards the physical.

Under normal circumstances, it resided in Meng Shaojie’s blood and body.

Only when externally stimulated would it retreat into his soul.

This had happened when the imperial physician examined him.

And again when Tang Xiaotang’s thunder startled him.

Lei Jun had a theory, and he sought out Tang Xiaotang to confirm it.

---

“A Celestial Physique similar to your Yin-Yang Sacred Physique?” Tang Xiaotang looked him up and down. “Doesn’t sound impossible…”

Lei Jun: “According to ancient texts, a similar physique once existed—the Two Elements Celestial Physique.”

Tang Xiaotang nodded. “Well, you really are lucky as hell—this Balance of Motion and Stillness might actually be useful to you.”

She quickly shook her head. “But relying on just this and your Yin-Yang Sacred Physique won’t be enough.”

Lei Jun nodded. “I know. But at least now, I have a starting point.”

A chance for a third transformation in his physique.

A chance to achieve a Celestial Physique.