Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 232: Tongtian Foundation Stone, Yin Yang Five Thunder Five Elements Talisman Array

Lei Jun was surprised by the omen this time.

His attention first landed on the eight words: "The safety of loved ones hinges on a single thought."

Lei Jun pondered the meaning, speculating that this omen not only pertained to his own fortune and misfortune but also directly influenced the safety of his junior brother, Chu Kun.

Based on the omen, no matter what choice Lei Jun made, he himself was not in danger.

One of the outcomes was classified as a Lower-Moderate Omen, not because of any great disaster, but because it would yield no benefits whatsoever and instead bring negative consequences—an outright loss. That was why this particular path was considered Lower-Moderate.

However, for Chu Kun, the line between safety and danger might depend entirely on Lei Jun’s decision.

What Lei Jun didn’t expect was that giving Chu Kun a stronger Upper-Grade or Supreme-Grade Spirit Talisman might actually lead to disaster.

Meanwhile, giving him a Mid-Grade High-Level Spirit Talisman, which was weaker in power, instead pointed to a Upper-Moderate Omen.

In fact, giving him a higher-grade talisman might be worse than not giving him one at all.

Lei Jun was genuinely curious this time.

He wasn’t one to pry into others’ secrets, but this time, he might just have to "shortchange" his junior brother a little.

"You got into trouble with someone and need to settle the score?" Lei Jun’s thoughts moved swiftly, but his expression remained calm as he casually asked.

Chu Kun shook his head. "Our sect is currently focused on recovery. How could I afford to make unnecessary enemies?"

"It’s just that, while traveling outside, I wanted to find a suitable location to explore earth veins and broaden my knowledge. Sometimes, that means clearing a path through mountains."

Having known each other for a long time, Chu Kun understood Lei Jun wasn’t the type to pry into others’ affairs or covet what they had, so he spoke freely.

While he had no intention of revealing the true secret behind that gateway, he was forthright about borrowing an Upper-Grade High-Level Spirit Talisman for his exploration, making it easier for Lei Jun to decide what to give him.

In the world beyond the gateway, Chu Kun planned to explore a spiritual mountain.

It wasn’t particularly dangerous, but its spiritual rock formations were sealed, and after extensive research, he had determined the precise location. Now, he just needed to break through the barrier.

“Exploring earth veins, huh?”

"Broadening your knowledge is good, but be careful."

Lei Jun gave a few casual warnings before pausing to think.

"I have spirit talismans, but given the turbulent times, disturbing the earth veins might draw attention from multiple parties…"

Following Chu Kun’s train of thought, Lei Jun continued,

"If someone comes to investigate and realizes it's our sect’s talisman at work, it could cause some misunderstandings… Hmm, I got it."

While speaking, he raised his hand and began drawing in midair.

As light flickered, the surrounding spiritual energy surged and quickly condensed into a spirit talisman.

Chu Kun watched curiously.

Given Lei Jun’s current cultivation, he could freely create spirit talismans on the spot.

However, such impromptu talismans were usually basic-level or below Upper-Grade.

To create Upper-Grade and Supreme-Grade talismans, Lei Jun would need to set up an altar and perform a ritual.

Knowing Lei Jun’s personality and cultivation, Chu Kun had no complaints—just curiosity.

Soon, a glowing spirit talisman took shape, and Lei Jun took out a Talisman Paper, imprinting the design onto it.

It was a derived talisman from his own Life-Bound Third Spell, the Yin Five Thunder True Talisman, specifically an 癸水阴雷符 (Gui Water Yin Thunder Talisman).

Without stopping, Lei Jun proceeded to create another one—a 丁火阴雷符 (Ding Fire Yin Thunder Talisman).

Then, he made a third talisman—己土阴雷符 (Ji Earth Yin Thunder Talisman), an all-around offense and defense talisman that could also serve as protection.

He handed all three Mid-Grade High-Level Spirit Talismans to Chu Kun.

"Take these three with you. While you're at it, help me test them out and record the results. Return them to me later."

Chu Kun’s eyes lit up. "These are your self-created talismans, right, Senior Brother?"

Lei Jun nodded. "That’s right. There’s still room for improvement, so I need to keep gathering experience and refining them."

"Hmm… Since these are your self-created talismans, not many people even in our sect know about them, let alone outsiders. Even if they leave traces, it’s hard for others to link them back to our sect’s legacy."

Chu Kun understood.

Not that he had any intention of using them in the outside world anyway, so there was no risk of exposure.

Lei Jun, however, had another theory based on the omen.

The key to blessing or disaster likely lay in the power level of the talisman itself.

Thus, when crafting the talismans, he deliberately controlled their power.

1. Being a Life-Bound Third Spell, its power already surpassed ordinary talismans.
2. With his mastery of Yin-Yang Twin Fiends and Celestial-Yin Dual Qi, his spell strength exceeded most cultivators.
3. Even though he made Mid-Grade talismans, their power was naturally greater than others of the same grade.

To avoid surpassing the Upper-Moderate Omen’s threshold, he had purposefully held back on the talismans’ power.

Chu Kun’s intended use case conveniently saved Lei Jun from making excuses.

"Earth veins can be unpredictable. Sometimes, they stay dormant; other times, a single disturbance causes massive upheaval," Lei Jun cautioned.

"It’s best to be cautious."

"If you use an Upper-Grade or Supreme-Grade Spirit Talisman, you might end up collapsing the entire spiritual mountain, which would be dangerous for you as well."

"That’s why I gave you Mid-Grade ones."

"But don't worry about the power. Start with the Ding Fire Yin Thunder Talisman to make an opening, then use the Gui Water Yin Thunder Talisman to soften the structure. It won’t be as explosive, but if you take your time, the results should be just as effective.

You’ll be my test subject for this experiment."

Chu Kun wasn’t too concerned about his safety—he had protective treasures.

But hearing Lei Jun’s thoughtful advice, he appreciated the consideration.

"Got it, Senior Brother. I’ll be sure to record my observations carefully.

Either way, thanks in advance!"

While he wasn’t certain whether two Mid-Grade High-Level Spirit Talismans combined would be strong enough for his needs, he was now quite intrigued by Lei Jun’s self-created talismans.

"Better safe than sorry—take this too."

Lei Jun retrieved a spirit flag and handed it to Chu Kun.

Chu Kun sensed the vast, powerful, and endlessly flowing Earth-aligned spiritual energy within the flag and was surprised.

"Senior Brother, this is…?"

Lei Jun replied, "This treasure is called 息壤旗 (Breath-Nourishing Flag). I came across it by chance, and it has many uses.

With your current cultivation, you can’t unleash its full potential, but you can still use it for protection and concealing your presence.

Since you’re going underground, take it with you for safety."

Based on the Upper-Moderate Omen, Lei Jun deduced that Chu Kun should return unscathed.

He also suspected that the Fourth-Grade Opportunity mentioned in the omen was meant for Chu Kun.

Still, unknown dangers were the most concerning, so Lei Jun decided to lend him the Breath-Nourishing Flag.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Chu Kun accepted the flag with a more solemn expression and bowed in gratitude.

After bidding farewell, he reported to the Steward’s Hall, then descended from Mount Longhu.

Wearing his deep-red Daoist robe, a symbol of his status as a Tianshi Mansion Initiate Disciple, he moved freely and unimpeded.

But instead of continuing his journey, he found a secluded spot near the mountain gate.

"I’ll use location Bing-Si today."

Chu Kun nodded to himself.

He had prepared many such locations in advance.

Ensuring he was alone, he tapped his forehead lightly—

And then… he vanished from this world.

Under Lei Jun’s control, two Talisman Arrays—one representing his own Yin Five Thunder True Talisman and the other embodying the orthodox Five Thunder True Talisman—merged together, their principles aligned yet distinct in many ways.

The two arrays complemented each other, mirroring one another in perfect symmetry.

Then, nine-colored radiance began to emerge from Lei Jun’s body—

The Chaotic Void Nine Lights drawn from the Tianshi Robe.

As the radiance enveloped him, a mysterious yet familiar talisman materialized in front of him—

The Dragon-Tiger Talismanic Canon.

While studying the Dragon-Tiger Talismanic Canon, Lei Jun simultaneously refined and fused the two Five-Thunder-Five-Element arrays, intertwining their opposing forces.

Though both talismans were second nature to him, the flashing thunder and lightning from the arrays didn’t lead to violent conflict; at most, they remained temporarily incompatible.

But as time passed, the flickering light of the two arrays gradually stabilized, no longer fluctuating wildly.

Instead, a deep, reverberating thunderclap rumbled in the distance, echoing in all directions.

Lei Jun sat cross-legged in meditation, his expression tranquil, eyes closed.

He seemed almost asleep.

Above him, the fusion of the two talisman arrays progressed steadily.

The Dao Seal suspended in midair radiated with a dazzling glow.

With his mind immersed in cultivation, Lei Jun lost track of time.

At his current cultivation level, he no longer required normal sleep—his breath control and meditation naturally restored both mind and body.

Time Passes, the World Shifts

During the following days, Lei Jun spent his mornings on duty at the Decree Pavilion, while dedicating the rest of his time to his cultivation.

Meanwhile, news from the outside world trickled in:

1. The chaos in the Southern Wasteland had finally settled—at least for now.
2. The Black Mountain region in the Northern Frontier remained quiet.
3. The Jiangzhou Lin Clan had also returned to a state of relative calm after Lin Che's return.

Lin Che’s homecoming hadn’t caused an immediate upheaval.

Standing atop Mount Longhu, Lei Jun gazed toward the northwest, where Jiangzhou lay, lost in thought.

Jiangzhou Lin Clan—Tension Beneath the Surface

At the Lin Clan’s ancestral estate, the atmosphere seemed relaxed on the surface but was tense within.

The clan leader, Lin Che, had returned.

The once-dominant Lin Yuwei had now gone quiet.

However, Lin Che hadn’t retaliated against Lin Yuwei or the branch families that supported him. Instead, he offered reassurances, even rewarding Lin Yuwei for slaying Li Zhengxuan on the Great River.

Despite this, Lin Yuwei had kept a low profile, rarely appearing in public.

While there were no immediate internal conflicts, many in the clan remained on edge.

Some speculated that Lin Che might consolidate power by rallying the clan against an external enemy.

But since his return, Lin Che had made no further moves.

This prolonged silence only fueled restlessness within Jiangzhou, leaving the situation tense and uncertain.

Inside the Lin Clan’s Main Residence

Within his private study, Lin Che stood before a desk, swiftly writing with his brush.

The characters on the paper were small yet densely packed, but despite their compactness, they remained neat and well-ordered.

After a while, Lin Che set his brush down and looked up.

At that moment, a young scholar arrived at the doorway.

Seeing Lin Che’s gaze upon him, the young man immediately bowed.

“Father.”

It was Lin Che’s son—Lin Lang.

Softly, Lin Lang reported, “Father, someone from Qingzhou has arrived.”

“Ye Hongzhen?” Lin Che asked.

“Yes.”

Lin Che nodded. “Take him to the back hall.”

Then, he let out a few coughs.

Lin Lang’s face showed concern. “Father, your health…”

Lin Che shook his head. “Much better than before.”

Hearing this, Lin Lang let out a small breath of relief.

He knew his father was not one to put on a facade.

When Lin Che first returned, his condition had been far worse—

Though he seemed unscathed externally, his internal body had been ravaged by a destructive force.

Now, after a period of recuperation, he had managed to refine and dispel much of the lingering damage.

However, the final remnants of the injury were the hardest to eliminate.

Lin Che coughed lightly again and muttered, “Disgraceful… utterly disgraceful.”

Lin Lang remained silent, bowing slightly before withdrawing.

Lin Che’s Hidden Wounds

Lin Che had never openly discussed the full extent of his injuries.

The wounds stemmed from the time he was trapped in chaotic void space and later strayed into a foreign realm.

Xu Yuanzhen from Tianshi Mansion had also fallen into that realm.

Though Lin Che’s wounds had not been inflicted by Xu Yuanzhen directly, they were connected.

It was because of Xu Yuanzhen that Lin Che had suffered injuries from that realm’s bizarre disasters.

Now, Xu Yuanzhen remained in that foreign world, while Lin Che had barely managed to return.

This led Lin Che to suspect that Xu Yuanzhen was deliberately staying there, certain that even if he made it back, he would be too weak to retaliate against the Tianshi Mansion.

Lin Che exhaled slowly, pushing aside all negative thoughts.

Then, he rose and headed for the back hall.

A Meeting Between Jiangzhou and Qingzhou

Not long after, Lin Lang arrived with a middle-aged scholar.

The visitor was Ye Hongzhen, a senior member of the Qingzhou Ye Clan.

Previously, he had spent a long time in Jiangzhou, but after Lin Che’s return, he had departed—only to return today.

After exchanging formalities, the two took their seats while Lin Lang stood by.

"Brother Chengming, I hope I’m not disturbing you."

Ye Hongzhen was polite, addressing Lin Che by his courtesy name.

Lin Che responded calmly, "Brother Hongzhen, don’t say that. If not for you and Qingzhou, my Jiangzhou would have been in far worse trouble."

"For discretion, I’ve arranged for us to meet in the back hall. I hope you don’t mind."

Neither wasted time on pleasantries.

Ye Hongzhen got straight to the point. "Brother Chengming, how do you see the current state of the world?"

Lin Che sighed. "I was gone for years, and the world has changed drastically."

During his time trapped in the foreign realm, the world had witnessed:

• The Battle of Liwai on Mount Longhu
• The near-destruction of Bodhi Monastery
• The Southern Wasteland’s chaos involving the Blood River Sect and former Sui Dynasty remnants

However, what drew Lin Che’s focus the most was:

1. The Empress establishing a new Imperial Academy
2. The complete allegiance of the Longxi Xiao Clan to the Tang Imperial Court

This shift meant that the Five Great Surnames and Seven Noble Clans of the empire were now effectively Four Surnames and Six Clans.

The Divide Between the Ye Clans

Ye Hongzhen revealed: “The elder of the Jinzhou Ye Clan has already made his decision—he personally went to Youzhou to meet Prince Zhao.”

Lin Che remained expressionless.

Standing behind him, Lin Lang lowered his gaze.

The Jinzhou Ye Clan and the Qingzhou Ye Clan had chosen different sides.

The Qingzhou Ye Clan supported the Crown Prince, Zhang Hui.

The Jinzhou Ye Clan allied with Prince Zhao.

Thus, the Jinzhou Ye Clan had begun negotiating with the Youzhou Lin Clan, their old enemies.

Just as the two Ye Clans had parted ways, so had the two Lin Clans.

Jiangzhou would stand with Qingzhou Ye Clan—

Backing the Crown Prince.

As Lin Che contemplated the coming power struggle, his gaze turned northward.

Toward the imperial capital.

Toward a young emperor, freshly ascended.

Toward a newly established academy, open to all, regardless of birth.

A small institution now—but one that could one day uproot the very foundation of the noble clans.

The Winds of Change: Power Struggles in the Empire

As Lin Che contemplated the tides of power, his son Lin Lang hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Father, what about Tianshi Mansion? I heard that the Jinzhou Ye Clan is also keeping a close eye on Mount Longhu.”

Lin Che’s expression remained unreadable.

“For now, Prince Zhao and the Crown Prince are not direct enemies. Which means, for the time being, neither are we and the Jinzhou Ye Clan.”