Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 237: Master Tang’s magical power is already unbearable

Judging from the situation at Dragon Bone Ridge, it was a sudden ambush—there had been no prior warning or signs.

This suggested that the enemy had come straight for Dragon Bone Ridge and that their strength was formidable.

Over at Great Black Mountain, the few members of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan who were aware of the matter exchanged glances, their expressions and eyes carrying a hint of complexity.

The first thought that crossed everyone’s mind was, naturally, the suspicion that someone had leaked information.

The clan leader, Lin Che, steadied his mind. Though surprised, he remained composed, showing no change in expression. Instead, he turned to the person beside him. “Fifth Brother, come with me to check the situation.”

Standing next to him was a tall and imposing middle-aged man, whose physique resembled that of a martial artist more than a Confucian scholar. He nodded steadily. “I shall follow in Third Brother’s footsteps.”

This man was none other than Lin Yuwei, a top expert from the Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s collateral branch who had risen to prominence in recent years.

His cultivation had already reached the Eighth Heaven Realm—at his level, distinctions between the main lineage and collateral branches hardly mattered. He was considered a core member of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan and was strong enough to establish his own faction if he wished.

However, over the past decade, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan had been in turmoil, with internal power struggles and shifting undercurrents. The situation was too complex, so Lin Yuwei remained in Jiangzhou.

Because of this, many distant relatives of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan had gathered around Lin Yuwei, with additional support from outside Jiangzhou. Over time, they had become an influential force within the clan, further complicating the internal power dynamics.

Seven years ago, when Lin Che and the main lineage elder, Lin Feng, went missing, this only intensified the situation.

Later, Lin Yuwei’s reputation soared when he personally killed Li Zhengxuan from Tianshi Mansion, under the pretense of avenging Lin Zhen and the Battle of Poyang Great Marsh.

However, after Lin Che's sudden return, the turmoil gradually subsided.

Since Lin Che’s return to Jiangzhou two years ago, he had treated Lin Yuwei and his faction quite generously, prompting Lin Yuwei to become less high-profile.

Now, with Lin Che secretly heading to the Northern Frontier, whether he brought Lin Yuwei along out of trust or distrust was something only they themselves knew.

Lin Yuwei and his collateral branch disciples had only been preparing at Great Black Mountain alongside Lin Che and were unaware of Dragon Bone Ridge’s situation.

This meant they could not be blamed for the suspected information leak.

Yet, this very fact only deepened the confusion among those in the know—so much so that they began to suspect each other.

Lin Che, however, acted decisively.

Aside from immediately ordering Lin Yuwei and his group to rush to Dragon Bone Ridge, he also turned to an elderly man and said:

“The situation has changed, and it may not proceed as smoothly as we expected. If something unexpected happens, I’ll have to trouble you, Uncle Likong.”

The old man replied, “No need for such formalities, Chengming. This matter does not only concern Jiangzhou. Since it is happening in the Northern Frontier, we will not sit idly by.”

He, too, was dressed as a Confucian scholar, though his attire differed slightly from that of Lin Che, Lin Yuwei, and the Jiangzhou Lin Clan members.

The elder’s surname was also Lin—Lin Likong—but he was not from the Jiangzhou Lin Clan.

He was a true Northern Frontier powerhouse, a senior elder of the Youzhou Lin Clan.

As he had said, the Youzhou Lin Clan would never ignore events unfolding within their own territory.

When Lin Che led the Jiangzhou Lin Clan north, settling at Great Black Mountain and Dragon Bone Ridge, they had already informed the Youzhou Lin Clan.

Lin Likong, as a senior elder, had personally brought a contingent of Youzhou Lin disciples to join Lin Che’s group.

For one, they were more familiar with the local geography and the flow of spiritual energy within the region.

Secondly, if necessary, they could provide direct assistance to Lin Che’s side.

The two Lin Clans—Jiangzhou and Youzhou—had always been at odds, ranking among the most antagonistic elite clans in the world. Clashes between them were common, and mutual accusations of being an illegitimate branch were a frequent occurrence.

However, throughout history, they had also cooperated on occasion.

Years ago, the Youzhou Lin Clan had supported the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, which played a crucial role in performing the ancient ritual during the Battle of Poyang Great Marsh—a move that had completely caught Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu off guard.

Had it been any other Eighth Heaven cultivator, they likely would have been suppressed on the spot.

However, Xu Yuanzhen’s profound mastery of Daoist arts had exceeded even the Lin Clan’s expectations, preventing the ritual from achieving its intended effect. Instead, it cost the Jiangzhou Lin Clan the life of their Eighth Heaven elder, Lin Feng.

Lin Che himself had also been trapped in the void beyond this realm for years, suffering severe injuries. It had taken him over two years to recover after returning to Jiangzhou.

During this time, the political landscape of the Great Tang had shifted dramatically—a new emperor had ascended the throne, showing unmistakable hostility toward the great noble clans.

While the noble clans often schemed against one another, the current circumstances forced them to unite for the time being.

The two Lin Clans were no exception.

Although they supported different factions regarding the next Tang Emperor, that was a matter for the future.

For now, they shared a common enemy.

Empress Zhang Wantong.

And her subordinates—her claws and wings.

Among them, the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu.

“The Eastern Sea guests are nearby,” Lin Likong suddenly lowered his voice so that only he and Lin Che could hear.

Lin Che’s eyes flashed. He gave a small nod. “I’ll trouble you, Uncle Likong.”

The so-called Eastern Sea guests were, in the noble clans' language, referring to the external Buddhist sect—Vast Void Temple.

Vast Void Temple had long fled overseas but had recently made a strong comeback.

Whether it was their recuperation abroad or their resurgence on the mainland, it had all been backed by certain noble clans supplying them with resources and intelligence.

The Jiangzhou Lin Clan had relatively little contact with them—this was primarily the doing of the Youzhou Lin Clan, Qingzhou Ye Clan, and Suzhou Chu Clan.

It wasn’t that these noble clans fully endorsed Vast Void Temple’s ideology of destruction and rebirth. After all, if Vast Void Temple ever rose to power, the noble clans would be among the first to be eradicated.

But that outcome was too distant to be of concern.

For now, they were simply using each other.

Vast Void Temple was a dangerous blade.

And even the handle of that blade wasn’t fully in the noble clans’ grasp.

Since its return, Vast Void Temple had primarily targeted orthodox Buddhist sects like Bodhi Monastery, Vajra Monastery, and Tianlong Monastery.

They were hostile to Daoism as well, but in their list of enemies, orthodox Buddhism came first.

That they had now come to the Northern Frontier to cooperate with the two Lin Clans was an exceptional case.

For such an exception to occur, the noble clans had clearly paid a hefty price.

But Lin Che was willing to pay it.

And the Youzhou Lin Clan, as allies of the Jinzhou Ye Clan, was also willing to contribute.

“It looks like… golden lightning…” Lin Likong gazed toward Dragon Bone Ridge.

Though the distance was too great, even with his Upper Heaven cultivation, he couldn’t see clearly.

But in the stormy daylight sky, golden lightning flashed brilliantly, unmistakably standing out.

As far as the world knew, there was only one kind of lightning like this.

Pure Yang Celestial Thunder.

The new Tianshi of Mount Longhu—Tang Xiaotang!

“So she really came in person…” Lin Likong muttered. “Then… that means Yuan Mobai, the new Talismanic Daoist of Tianshi Mansion, must be staying behind?”

Lin Che nodded. “Spread the word. It’s a pity that Huangtian Sect may not be reliable.”

Lin Likong said, “Send word anyway.”

Two Daoists dressed in purple robes, their attire nearly identical to those from the ancestral court of Mount Longhu, sat facing each other.

Qi Shuo.

Zhao Zongjie.

They were the last remaining High Priest Elders of the Yellow Heaven Sect.

Both of them wore calm expressions.

The reason for their gathering was a critical piece of news.

The new Tianshi of Mount Longhu, unrecognized by them but acknowledged by most of the world, had left the mountain and traveled far to the frozen lands of the Northern Frontier.

Although they had spent most of these years in the shadows, licking their wounds, the Yellow Heaven Sect had never ceased to monitor every move—big or small—coming from the ancestral court of Mount Longhu.

Zhao Zongjie broke the silence:

"Yuan Mobai has broken through to the Eighth Heaven Divine Court Realm at Mount Longhu’s ancestral court."

He continued, "With the Ten Thousand Methods Sect Altar supporting them, we alone cannot shake them. Has the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou or any other noble family made a move?"

Qi Shuo shook his head. "Nothing so far."

Zhao Zongjie: "Then we shouldn’t act rashly. We might as well observe the developments in the Northern Frontier."

Qi Shuo: "Tang Xiaotang… it seems she left the mountain without taking the Tianshi Sword."

Zhao Zongjie nodded slightly. "That has its pros and cons."

If there was a chance to seize the Tianshi Sword, that would be ideal.

Unfortunately, Tang Xiaotang wasn’t giving them that opportunity.

On the other hand, without the Tianshi Sword by her side, her personal deterrence was significantly weakened.

Qi Shuo asked, "I’ll stay near Mount Longhu. You’re heading to the Northern Frontier?"

Zhao Zongjie glanced at him. "Fine…"

Before his words could fully land, both men’s expressions suddenly changed.

They turned toward the sect altar in unison.

At that moment, a radiant glow shot up from the Yellow Heaven Sect Altar.

For secrecy, the sect had long set up restrictive formations, ensuring the fluctuating radiance remained contained within a limited area.

Above the sect altar, the dazzling glow transformed into a celestial river, constantly shifting, forming an array of revolving stars.

The altar trembled slightly as vast Daoist energy condensed into profound talismanic runes, swirling around the sect altar like a nebula of light and mist.

Qi Shuo, Zhao Zongjie, and the core members of the Yellow Heaven Sect stationed on the island all stepped forward, bowing toward the altar:

"Welcome, Sect Master, upon your return from seclusion."

A Daoist draped in a purple-gold robe of mist and light stepped out from the altar.

It was none other than the long-absent Sect Master of the Yellow Heaven Sect—Daoist Taiping.

Since being wounded in battle by Xu Yuanzhen and Li Hongyu, Daoist Taiping had remained in seclusion, healing in isolation, completely detached from sect affairs.

In his absence, Qi Shuo and Zhao Zongjie had handled everything, both minor and significant.

Neither had expected Daoist Taiping to suddenly emerge today.

"No need for formalities." Daoist Taiping spoke as he stepped forward slowly. "I have been in seclusion for many years. You have all worked hard."

The gathered disciples stepped up to offer their congratulations.

After listening to Qi Shuo and Zhao Zongjie summarize the general situation over the past years, Daoist Taiping nodded repeatedly:

"The Li Clan is gone. At last, a heavy burden in our hearts has been lifted."

His gaze swept over Qi Shuo and the others:

"But this is only the first step."

"Indeed," the others agreed in unison.

They had always considered themselves the rightful Tianshi Mansion orthodoxy—their ultimate goal was to reclaim Mount Longhu’s ancestral court.

That ambition had never wavered.

"Do not announce my return just yet," Daoist Taiping instructed calmly.

Qi Shuo nodded but then added, "Sect Master, there is an urgent matter at hand…"

When Qi Shuo and Zhao Zongjie relayed the news of Tang Xiaotang’s departure from the mountain, Daoist Taiping remained indifferent:

"Let’s observe the situation for now. We’ll act accordingly later."

Zhao Zongjie: "Are you saying… a major upheaval is coming?"

Daoist Taiping: "Based on the information you provided, the key figure here is not Tang Xiaotang, but Xu Yuanzhen. So, the real turning point has yet to arrive. The Jiangzhou Lin Clan and other noble families will certainly make bigger moves."

Zhao Zongjie: "Senior Brother Qi and I had no intention of acting recklessly. We didn’t want to be used as mere stepping stones for others. However, we were concerned about being caught off guard, so we planned to return to the mainland to make some preparations. Now that you’ve returned, we have no such worries—we can wait patiently."

Daoist Taiping: "Though I have returned, I will still need you both to manage daily affairs."

Zhao Zongjie and Qi Shuo both agreed.

Daoist Taiping then asked: "Has our sect produced any promising new talents in recent years?"

The Yellow Heaven Sect, constantly suppressed by both the Tianshi Mansion and the Great Tang Dynasty, had spent most of its time operating in the shadows, struggling to survive.

Material resources could still be obtained through clandestine aid from other forces.

But recruiting new disciples had become an enormous challenge.

Before the fall of the Li Clan, the sect had secretly attracted some disillusioned non-Li disciples from the Tianshi Mansion, which for a time had been their primary method of expansion.

However, they had to remain constantly vigilant against spies planted by Tianshi Mansion and the Tang Imperial Family.

Ever since the Li Clan was exterminated, even that recruitment channel had dried up, making it even more difficult for the Yellow Heaven Sect to acquire new blood.

In recent years, they had reluctantly turned their recruitment efforts toward the vast Eastern Seas.

But the population there was far smaller than inland regions, and they also had to compete with Vast Void Temple.

That was why Daoist Taiping had inquired about the matter so soon after leaving seclusion.

At his words, Qi Shuo and Zhao Zongjie both let out quiet sighs.

Zhao Zongjie answered, "Sect Master, our most outstanding disciples right now are Chen Ziyang, Han Wuyou, and Kang Ming."

After speaking, both he and Qi Shuo looked helpless.

These three… were already disciples before Daoist Taiping went into seclusion.

"Teach them well," Daoist Taiping instructed calmly.

Qi Shuo added, "By our original plans, they should have come to the sect altar for training by now…"

The location of the Yellow Heaven Sect Altar was an absolute secret, known only to a select few.

But for top disciples, training could not be delayed.

However, over time, due to various reasons, the sect altar had gradually weakened.

"No need to rush," Daoist Taiping said. "I will first return to the mainland."

"As you command, Sect Master." The Yellow Heaven Sect disciples bowed in unison.

---

Northern Frontier – Longtian Lake

After collecting the Mother-and-Child Essence Pearl, Lei Jun concealed himself once more.

Observing the aftermath of Longtian Lake’s upheaval, he saw no other figures appear. Satisfied, he left the area.

From a lottery perspective, he had drawn a favorable outcome—one of two Upper-Moderate Omens, and the one with less karmic entanglement.

The Essence Pearl had only manifested due to the shocking disturbance at Dragon Bone Ridge.

Though the scene had been intense at the time, the situation had now settled.

Unlike Dragon Bone Ridge, which was in utter chaos…

Lei Jun glanced toward Dragon Bone Ridge, where golden lightning still flashed across the sky.

From a storytelling perspective, his Junior Sister, Tang Xiaotang, had drawn the true grand prize.

It looked like she had caught some of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s loose ends.

After being cooped up on the mountain for years, the Tianshi of Tang Clan was having the time of her life, clearly eager for more action.

Suddenly—

Tang Xiaotang’s excited voice echoed through their communication talismans:

"Forget talking—there’s a big fish incoming!"

And with that, their connection was cut off.

Lei Jun turned his gaze back toward Dragon Bone Ridge, where golden radiance surged into the sky.

Descending upon it were streaks of glowing arrows, like a meteor shower falling from the heavens.

"A Confucian Divine Archer… Lin Yuwei?"

A storm was about to unfold.

Lei Jun watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes.

Among the Jiangzhou Lin Clan’s Eighth Heaven realm cultivators, only one was known to follow the Confucian Divine Archer lineage—Lin Yuwei, the newly ascended top talent from one of the branch families.

The Five Great Surnames and Seven Noble Clans had all built their legacies on Confucian traditions, standing strong for centuries. Though their foundation was in classical scriptures, they had long cultivated additional lineages—such as chanting and divine archery.

Over time, each noble house had developed distinct styles.

The Jiangzhou Lin Clan, for example, incorporated the endless flow of a great river and the majestic rise of towering mountains into its techniques. Whether in scripture, chanting, or divine archery, their methods were always grand and unstoppable, like a ceaseless tide.

And now, before him—

Arrows rained down in a continuous barrage, overwhelming and dense—a classic Jiangzhou Lin Clan assault.

However…

After observing for a moment, Lei Jun frowned slightly.

Because among the Lin Clan forces, he saw Lin Yuwei, the Divine Archer—but not Lin Che, the clan's master of Confucian scriptures and Jiangzhou’s current strongest cultivator.

Given that this entire situation revolved around the “portal” Lin Che had once used to return from the void, it seemed unlikely that he wouldn’t make an appearance.

Lei Jun’s caution heightened.

If Lin Che wasn’t here, then where was he?

As he hoped Tang Xiaotang was also staying vigilant, Lei Jun slowed his approach toward Dragon Bone Ridge.

He summoned two items simultaneously—

One, the Heaven’s Eye Mirror, which briefly flashed in the sky as a phantasmal, massive eye, allowing him to discreetly observe the area.

Two, the Heaven-Seer and Earth-Listener Talisman, which heightened his awareness of all surrounding movements.

Not just the sounds in the frozen landscape, but also any hidden communication signals nearby.

“…Hm?”

Something caught his attention.

Lei Jun’s expression shifted slightly as he slipped into a dense forest, concealing his presence.

His gaze turned toward the outer perimeter, where several figures were stealthily approaching.

But they weren’t Confucian disciples.

Instead, they were…

Monks.

Their robes unmistakably marked them as Buddhist cultivators—but notably, they didn’t belong to any of the Four Great Holy Lands of Buddhism.

Vast Void Temple monks?