Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 235: Becoming a Master

“There are still many aspects that need more thought. It would be good to discuss them together,” Yuan Mobai said with a smile.

Tang Xiaotang sprang to her feet. “Follow me!”

For cultivators at their level, there were generally two suitable places within the mountain gates to practice their Daoist arts.

One was within the Upper Qing Thunder Altar Grotto-Heaven, specifically at Biyou Immortal Mountain.

The other was inside the Ten Thousand Methods Sect Altar.

Tang Xiaotang opened the sect altar and led the way. After paying respects to the past Daoist patriarchs and deities, Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun, and the others followed her inside and sat down.

Yuan Mobai also sat cross-legged. In an instant, dazzling starlight ignited around him, forming a brilliant river of stars.

Within this celestial river, countless talismans flickered like constellations, moving in intricate orbits and patterns as they revolved around him.

Amidst the gathering starlight, Yuan Mobai seemed almost divine, radiant with celestial brilliance.

This was the supreme Daoist art of the Tianshi Mansion’s True Dao Legacy—the Doumu Star God Apparition, also known as the Destined Star Avatar.

It was the most powerful mystical ability in the Tianshi Mansion’s True Dao Legacy, seamlessly blending martial and Daoist arts.

The swirling talismans surrounding the cultivator could either gather to enhance their own power or scatter outward to strike opponents. The technique excelled in both offense and defense.

At first glance, the talismans seemed to be scattered like stars, but in reality, they formed a cohesive cosmic flow, an unbroken celestial river.

What made this ability even more terrifying was that, over time, the number of these star talismans wouldn’t decrease but instead multiply, making the cultivator stronger the longer they fought.

The Destined Star Avatar was the first life-bound mystical ability Yuan Mobai had mastered when he reached the Seventh Heaven of the Daoist Talismanic Sect’s Tongtian Realm.

There was a fundamental difference between mystical abilities and Daoist spells.

Cultivators in the Middle and Lower Heavens could learn many spells beyond their life-bound ones, but those additional spells wouldn’t be as intuitive to use. Furthermore, as they advanced in their cultivation, these secondary spells wouldn’t grow as effectively as their life-bound ones.

Once cultivators reached the Upper Heavens, they pursued powerful mystical abilities, which were far more intricate and transformative than the spells of the Middle and Lower Heavens.

The transition from the Sixth to the Seventh Heaven required cultivators to refine and consolidate all the techniques they had learned.

Mystical abilities cultivated in the Upper Heavens could start from simplicity and evolve into great complexity, branching out into infinite variations.

For this reason, Upper Heaven cultivators typically devoted themselves to only one mystical ability per major realm—what they called their first life-bound mystical ability.

While it wasn’t impossible to cultivate multiple mystical abilities, doing so would divide their focus, weaken their foundation, and hinder further breakthroughs.

Very few people, like Tang Xiaotang, successfully created and cultivated multiple mystical abilities at the Seventh Heaven. In her case, she had initially mastered the Yin Fire Tiger but later created its counterpart, the Yang Fire Tiger, refining both to great heights.

Yuan Mobai had always followed the most orthodox approach in both his own cultivation and in teaching Lei Jun and the other disciples.

Of course, he had considered other paths before, but after his recent experience in the Nine Li Secret Realm, his ideas had become more refined.

However, before all that, when Yuan Mobai was at the Seventh Heaven, he had only focused on perfecting the Destined Star Avatar.

“This isn’t exactly a new technique,” Yuan Mobai explained. “I’m just incorporating certain elements that align with my nature into our sect’s existing Destined Star Avatar.”

As he spoke, the celestial river surrounding him began to shift.

The countless star talismans started merging, rapidly reducing in number.

Lei Jun focused his gaze and saw that as the stars fused together, they transformed into blades, spears, swords, and halberds—though their luminous forms made their outlines indistinct.

But the aura they emanated—one of relentless slaughter and battlefield carnage—was unmistakable.

Tang Xiaotang, already at the Eighth Heaven, remained unaffected.

However, Lei Jun, still in the Middle Heavens, immediately felt the pressure. The Tianshi Seal within his soul flashed with jade light, dispelling the overwhelming aura.

Chukun, standing nearby at an even lower cultivation level, instinctively activated his spiritual energy in a full defensive stance.

Fortunately, Yuan Mobai quickly retracted his aura—he had merely revealed a fraction of it to let the others observe and comprehend.

“Master, my cultivation is too weak—I can’t handle your jokes,” Wang Guiyuan wiped imaginary sweat from his brow.

Yuan Mobai smiled. “Once in a while doesn’t hurt.”

“The Nine Li War Armaments… I always thought they were just legends. Seeing them in person today, they’re truly remarkable,” Tang Xiaotang nodded, her interest piqued.

Lei Jun counted the light spheres hovering around Yuan Mobai. There were eighty-one in total, each taking the form of a different weapon. Their outlines were still somewhat indistinct, suggesting further refinement was possible.

“Master, are you considering making this your second life-bound mystical ability?” Lei Jun asked.

Yuan Mobai replied, “Years ago, I had two possible mystical abilities in mind. This was one of them. After my experience in the Nine Li Secret Realm, it finally took shape.

“The other ability came from studying the sect’s Yang Thunder and Yin Fire principles. Seeing the sect leader’s Yin Fire Tiger and Yang Fire Tiger together gave me some inspiration, but there are still bottlenecks I need to overcome.

“So for now, I’ll first refine this ability into my second life-bound mystical ability. As for the other technique, I’ll continue pondering it and only develop it once I have fully grasped its essence.”

Tang Xiaotang and Lei Jun exchanged a glance and nearly spoke in unison: “Yin-Yang harmony, the fusion of water and fire.”

The Tianshi Mansion’s legacy had always emphasized the balance of Yin and Yang—the harmony of water and fire, the unity of the dragon and tiger.

For instance, Tang Xiaotang’s unique cultivation had allowed her to reverse the Yin Fire Tiger into the Yang Fire Tiger, creating a perfect Yin-Yang fusion. She later developed Pure Yang Celestial Thunder, which could merge with both Pure Yang True Fire and Nine Abyss Earth Fire.

Yuan Mobai’s path, on the other hand, leaned toward integrating water and fire—a concept deeply tied to his origins.

His panda-like beast race, known as the Iron-Eating Beasts, possessed a rare innate ability: the power to naturally harmonize Yin and Yang, refining both water and fire.

However, traditional water-fire cultivation methods viewed fire as Yang and water as Yin.

Yet, the Nine Abyss Earth Fire, cultivated through the Talismanic Canon of Fire, was actually a Yin-attribute fire.

Thus, how Yuan Mobai would refine this ability remained an open question.

For now, he had gained a breakthrough in his Nine Li War Armaments, so he would focus on that. The water-fire fusion technique could wait.

As the saying went: If the east is dark, look to the west.

---

Yuan Mobai taught Lei Jun and the others to adapt to opportunities rather than force rigid paths, and he followed the same principle himself.

“I’ll condense a Heavenly Radiance Pure Yang Talisman for you, Junior Uncle, as a reference,” Tang Xiaotang offered. “Whether you use Yang Fire or Yin Fire can be decided later.”

The Heavenly Radiance Pure Yang Talisman was a mystical talisman Tang Xiaotang had created based on her Pure Yang True Fire, forming a powerful mystical apparition.

It corresponded to the Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor Apparition, a core technique of the Tianshi Mansion.

Tang Xiaotang had developed her own version, called the Pure Yang Flame Ancestor Apparition, also known as the Yang Fire Tiger.

Later, after she mastered Pure Yang Celestial Thunder, she created another mystical apparition—the Divine Firmament Pure Yang Apparition, also known as the Yang Thunder Dragon or Pure Yang Thunder Dragon.

After years of refinement, both the Yang Fire Tiger and the Yang Thunder Dragon had become powerful techniques.

Like Lei Jun’s self-created mystical techniques, these abilities still needed time to mature and evolve, but their potential and overwhelming power were undeniable.

The only drawback was that they relied on Tang Xiaotang’s unique Pure Yang Celestial Physique.

For cultivators without this special physique, even if they learned the techniques, they wouldn’t be able to unleash their full potential.

Tang Xiaotang, despite her pride, had no intention of hoarding her knowledge. She had been actively working to refine and improve her techniques so that, one day, they could be widely practiced within the sect.

Her goal was to incorporate them into the Tianshi Mansion’s legacy, enriching its collection of Daoist arts.

However, this was easier said than done.

In many cases, it was even harder to make a technique universally accessible than it was to invent it in the first place.

Throughout history, many geniuses had created groundbreaking techniques, only for those arts to fade into legend after their deaths.

Not because they wanted to keep their secrets, but because various complex factors prevented their teachings from being passed down.

Tang Xiaotang’s situation was no exception.

But the Tianshi of the Mansion refused to accept defeat and was determined to break tradition.

For now, though, the Heavenly Radiance Pure Yang Talisman wasn’t yet complete enough for others to cultivate the Yang Fire Tiger.

She handed it to Yuan Mobai as a reference rather than an immediate solution.

Returning from the Ten Thousand Methods Sect Altar

On the way back, Lei Jun said, “Master, as you always teach us, we can sharpen our skills using outside knowledge. I think you might find this useful.”

The master and disciple sat facing each other.

Lei Jun summoned two celestial texts—one was the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book, the other was Heavenly Book: Three, which explained the Daoist principles of Yin-Yang transformations.

This theory closely aligned with Yuan Mobai’s water-fire fusion concept.

However, Yuan Mobai only glanced through the text briefly before returning it to Lei Jun.

“One step at a time,” Yuan Mobai said. “Since I’ve already gained insights from the Nine Li War Master’s inheritance, my second life-bound mystical ability will be based on that.

“As for the water-fire fusion, I’ll consider it later.”

Lei Jun sighed, “I often get distracted and impatient, always wanting to learn too much at once. Today, Master, you’ve given me another important lesson.”

Yuan Mobai chuckled. “Everyone has their own path. Forcing uniformity is like cutting a foot to fit a shoe.

“I teach you this way to lay a strong foundation, but ultimately, a master can only show the way—true cultivation is up to you.”

Lei Jun grinned, “Master, you’re enlightening me again.”

Yuan Mobai shook his head, laughing. “You...”

A New Master in the Making

Their conversation stemmed from an upcoming milestone—the next Initiation Ceremony on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

For Yuan Mobai, this ceremony held little personal significance.

At most, he might be invited to preside over the event as a High Priest, or serve as a Sponsor Master or Overseer Master for the new disciples.

But for Lei Jun, it was a big deal.

Because this time, Lei Jun would officially become a master.

Not as a Sponsor Master or Overseer Master, but as a true Daoist teacher—a Master in his own right.

One of the most notorious rising stars in the Daoist Children’s Academy, the panda known as "Gungun," would formally join the Tianshi Mansion—and be placed under Lei Jun’s guidance.

Yuan Mobai was both pleased and sentimental.

Time had passed so quickly.

Not only had he become a teacher, but he was now about to become a grandmaster.

Though his lineage was small, every disciple was a true prodigy—worthy of being pillars of the sect.

That alone filled Yuan Mobai’s heart with pride.

After chatting a while longer, Lei Jun bid farewell.

Just then, Yuan Mobai suddenly remembered something.

“By the way, Chongyun,” he said. “Back in the Southern Wastelands, you mentioned a Buddhist Dharma Aura. Do you still have it?”

Lei Jun replied, “I handed it over to the White Lotus Sect, so it dissipated. But I still retain a complete imprint of it in my mind. Although it’s weaker than the original, it’s still intact.”

Yuan Mobai nodded. “That’s enough.”

Lei Jun didn’t ask why his master needed the Buddhist aura, nor did he inquire about his master’s connections to Buddhist figures.

Without hesitation, Lei Jun took out a spiritual talisman, used his Dao Seal to imprint the Buddhist Dharma Aura onto it, and handed it to Yuan Mobai.

His master was out of seclusion, and Lei Jun now had another powerful mentor to seek guidance from.

Yuan Mobai’s Breakthrough

In the following days, Lei Jun continued to steadily advance his cultivation.

Meanwhile, word of Yuan Mobai’s successful breakthrough to the Eighth Heaven quickly spread across the Tianshi Mansion and beyond.

The news was not kept secret—on the contrary, it was deliberately made public.

• Internally, it boosted morale among the sect disciples.
• Externally, it intimidated rival factions and reaffirmed the Tianshi Mansion’s authority.

Due to the recent crises, both Mount Longhu and the entire Daoist Talismanic Sect had suffered declining influence in the surrounding regions.

Now, as the mansion slowly recovered, it needed to reverse this downward trend.

Gaining another Eighth Heaven cultivator was undoubtedly a powerful statement.

The news shook both the sect’s inner circle and the outside world.

Among the younger generation, the disciples felt an immense sense of pride and renewed confidence.

Oddly enough, the happiest person about this development wasn’t Lei Jun or his fellow disciples—but the Tianshi herself, Tang Xiaotang.

Because with another Eighth Heaven master in the mansion, she finally didn’t have to be the one guarding the sect at all times.

After much persuasion from Lei Jun and his fellow disciples, and with the current stability of the world, Tang Xiaotang finally calmed down—at least for now.

“Hmm… that’s right. The New Year is approaching.”

“And after that, there’s the Initiation Ceremony. I’ll wait until after that to think about leaving.”

A Shift in the Northern Territories

As the seasons turned, deep autumn gradually gave way to winter.

By November, the air had grown crisp, and the Tianshi Mansion was bustling with preparations for the upcoming New Year and the Initiation Ceremony.

One day, Lei Jun suddenly received a message—not from the outside world, but from within the Celestial Starry Universe of the Heavenly Book.

The Lunar Luminary had sent a warning:

"There’s unusual activity in the Northern Frontier."

Specifically, within the domain of the Youzhou Lin Clan, an unexpected appearance of Jiangzhou Lin Clan members had been detected.

What was most intriguing was their location—even farther north, in the Great Black Mountains.

Hearing this, Lei Jun’s expression changed.

Yet, what caught his attention even more was the reaction from the mysterious Light Sphere in his mind.

The glowing orb flashed, revealing words:

[A battle of realms beyond this world. The truth interwoven with illusion. Deception hidden in plain sight.]

Immediately after, four omen readings appeared:

1. Upper-Moderate Omen – On November 30th at noon, traveling to Dragon Bone Ridge could yield a Fourth-Grade Opportunity, with only minor disturbances. Good.
2. Upper-Moderate Omen – On November 30th at noon, traveling to Longtian Lake could yield a Fourth-Grade Opportunity, with minor disturbances. Good.
3. Moderate Omen – Remaining in the sect to focus on cultivation would result in neither gains nor losses. Neutral.
4. Lower-Moderate Omen – Traveling to the Great Black Mountains before December could yield a Fifth-Grade Opportunity, but would come with great danger. Caution is advised. Bad.