Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 252: Master Lei Caught a Big Fish

Just like Meng Shaojie when he first entered this realm, Kang Ming also refrained from making any rash moves, choosing instead to quietly observe this strange cosmic void.

While he observed his surroundings, Lei Jun was also observing him.

Sure enough, through Kang Ming, Lei Jun further confirmed his current speculation.

Those who could interact with the shadow separated from the dark side of the Heavenly Book all possessed unusually distinct souls.

With just a rough scan, Lei Jun could tell that Kang Ming’s soul was also unique.

Although different from Meng Shaojie, Kang Ming’s bone structure and aptitude were similarly unremarkable on the surface.

Rather than his physical body, his extraordinary talent was more evident in his soul.

However, not everyone with a special soul could merge with the shadow from the dark side of the Heavenly Book.

Even within this small group, only a rare few had the potential.

Lei Jun continued observing Kang Ming while recalling his earlier encounter with Meng Shaojie, analyzing their common traits.

After staying in this pale universe for a while, Kang Ming’s soul instinctively detached and left.

However, after some time, he returned once again.

Coming and going, it seemed he was testing various aspects of this place, even probing its boundaries.

Due to his past experiences, he was generally more cautious than Meng Shaojie.

But in certain situations, he was also more daring.

Once Kang Ming had conducted several rounds of testing, Lei Jun smiled and activated Jidu, the pitch-black shadowy moon.

After a long moment, a ring of silver radiance flickered on Jidu.

On his journey back to the capital, Meng Shaojie suddenly sensed something unusual with the shadow.

After much hesitation, he finally chose to focus his mind and enter the pale universe.

Noticing the silver glow appearing on Jidu’s surface, the dark Rahu where Kang Ming resided suddenly fell silent.

However, the ring of golden light around it, akin to a solar eclipse, remained—indicating that Kang Ming had not left.

Both men, bewildered and uncertain, watched as light manifested before them.

The radiance condensed into words in front of them, forming readable text.

The golden and silver glows on Rahu and Jidu flickered slightly.

At that moment, both Kang Ming and Meng Shaojie felt their minds tremble.

Yet, compared to the actual content of the words, they were more shocked by their own circumstances.

Lei Jun, however, was fully prepared for this reaction.

If it were up to him, whether emotionally or rationally, he would have preferred the approach of the Solar Luminary in the starry cosmos of the official Heavenly Book—hiding his authority and simply enjoying his time as an equal among companions.

Lei Jun had no desire to be a ruler or a controller, and he rarely issued orders to others.

Of course, he also disliked being ruled or controlled himself.

Becoming an ordinary member of the group, engaging with others as equals, would also make it easier to avoid resistance and suspicion.

But in the case of Kang Ming and Meng Shaojie, Lei Jun had certain considerations—especially regarding the former.

His intention was not to command Kang Ming but rather to help him advance as quickly as possible.

Kang Ming’s progress would be of great benefit to Daoist Lei.

For that, Daoist Lei did not mind making an early investment.

"This is... the Daoist Talismanic Branch’s Canon?"

Kang Ming carefully observed his surroundings, but no one else appeared.

After a brief hesitation, he chose not to leave Rahu.

Reading the glowing text before him, his surprise deepened.

Though it differed somewhat from the teachings of Huangtian Dao, it held profound mysteries, showing no signs of distortion or fallacy.

As Kang Ming examined the text, he immediately felt a sense of enlightenment, drawing parallels to his existing knowledge.

He was a rising talent carefully nurtured by Huangtian Dao. Although his mentor had passed away early, he had received guidance from other Huangtian Dao masters, granting him sharp insight and extensive experience.

Thus, after closely studying the talismanic texts for a while, Kang Ming had a realization:

"This could be a classic from the Daoist Talismanic Branch before or after its restructuring in ancient times."

However, the texts were incomplete.

Seeing only the upper half without the lower portion left Kang Ming itching with curiosity.

Yet, more than curiosity, he felt a sense of caution.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Especially for those in Huangtian Dao, who had been relentlessly hunted by the imperial court and the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu for years.

They had encountered countless ambushes and entrapments.

So, Kang Ming forced himself to stop reading the talismanic texts.

However, below the talismanic writings, another line of text appeared.

"Seek out more classics or spiritual artifacts that contain similar Daoist essence?"

Kang Ming was once again taken aback.

Was this... a mission?

If he completed the task, would he not only obtain Daoist Talismanic classics but possibly other rewards as well?

Kang Ming was astonished.

Was this a trap or a scheme?

Why were they specifically targeting ancient Daoist Talismanic archives or spiritual artifacts?

His mind was flooded with doubt.

Yet, the text before him remained cold and emotionless, offering no further response.

On the other side, Meng Shaojie faced a nearly identical situation.

The mission was the same.

But the advance rewards were different.

"You try to grow flowers, yet they don’t bloom. You plant willows unintentionally, and they flourish…"

Meng Shaojie was momentarily dazed.

He had already learned the first half of that saying through experience.

For years, he had struggled to measure up to Shangguan Zhengqing, Ye Song, and Zhang Ziye.

At times, he even questioned whether he should stop forcing himself to compete with them—whether he should accept himself as he was instead of relentlessly chasing after their achievements.

Sometimes, taking a step back truly does open a wider world.

Yet, as someone barely in his early twenties, he still harbored some unwillingness, some fantasies, some ambition.

And so, he gritted his teeth and refused to give up.

But where was his "unintentional willow planting" that would eventually flourish?

"Seek out ancient Daoist Talismanic texts or spiritual artifacts... but where would I even begin?"

Unknowingly, Meng Shaojie started contemplating.

In the black-and-white world, Rahu shimmered with a faint golden glow, while Jidu flickered with a soft silver radiance—adding the only traces of color to this monotone space.

Silence stretched between them.

In Jidu, Meng Shaojie eventually regained his focus.

He hesitated for a moment, looking toward Rahu’s golden glow but ultimately chose not to make contact with its occupant.

Instead, he decided to leave.

"Excuse me, friend?"

However, from within Rahu, Kang Ming broke the silence.

Under Lei Jun’s control, his voice was altered beyond recognition.

Meng Shaojie hesitated for a long moment before finally responding:

"Please, go ahead."

His voice, like Kang Ming’s, was completely unrecognizable.

As if ensuring that their identities remained secret.

This realization allowed both of them to relax slightly.

Kang Ming took the initiative to start a conversation.

Lei Jun, suppressing his presence, merely played the role of a silent, mechanical task-giver, calmly listening to their exchange.

It was much like when he first arrived in the adjacent starry cosmos of the official Heavenly Book.

With mutual wariness, Kang Ming and Meng Shaojie’s first conversation remained shallow.

Yet, despite their caution, they still exchanged a fair amount of information.

So far, this bizarre cosmic void didn’t seem to pose a direct threat.

But neither Kang Ming nor Meng Shaojie lowered their guard.

Later, they both "logged out."

At the edge of the Eastern Sea, near a small hidden estate—

Kang Ming stepped out of his secluded residence.

His hair was tied in a Daoist topknot, but he wore casual clothing, dressed as a layman practicing at home, making him look like an ordinary person.

The sun hung high in the sky as Kang Ming lifted his head.

Squinting slightly—not because of the sunlight, but because his mind drifted back to that eerie, pitch-black sun.

Rahu…

Kang Ming silently mouthed the word.

It could still be a trap.

If it wasn’t, and this truly existed…

Had the Daoist Talismanic Branch’s ancient teachings persisted beyond the great restructuring, now resurfacing with a peerless master?

Such a figure would at least be a cultivator of the Upper Three Heavens.

But he had never heard of them before.

Could they have once lived beyond the Tang Dynasty’s mortal realm, only recently returning?

And if so—why?

Were they merely searching for relics of the past, or seeking like-minded individuals to restore the ancient Daoist Talismanic Branch’s legacy?

Countless thoughts raced through Kang Ming’s mind.

Should he inform the others in Huangtian Dao?

Should he tell the Sect Master?

Or the senior elders like Qi Shuo and Zhao Zongjie?

At this moment—he hesitated.

Was this a trap, or an opportunity?

A trap—there was no need to elaborate.

As for an opportunity...

Kang Ming lowered his head slightly, no longer looking up at the sky.

The current situation for Huangtian Dao was extremely tight in every aspect.

Even with multiple factions secretly supporting them, they were barely managing to sustain themselves.

But compared to the openly recognized Tianshi Mansion, Huangtian Dao was always lacking in resources and conditions.

Because of this, their supply allocation had to be prioritized.

Kang Ming wasn’t lacking in talent.

However, within Huangtian Dao, there were other young geniuses, and competition was fierce.

Chen Ziyang and Han Wuyou—both had entered the sect, cultivated, and made names for themselves long before him.

Kang Ming’s biggest disadvantage was that all the senior members of his lineage had already perished.

His mentor had fallen during the heavenly chasm tribulation between the Sixth and Seventh Heaven.

Meanwhile, Chen Ziyang was the direct disciple of Sect Leader Taoist Taiping.

Han Wuyou was the personal disciple of Elder Qi Shuo, a high-ranking master.

Kang Ming had previously aligned himself with another high-ranking elder, Zhao Zongjie.

But in recent years, Zhao Zongjie had taken in a new personal disciple—one who was progressing at an alarming pace…

"The Huangtian Ancestral Altar will soon open, but only one person can go this time."

Kang Ming took a deep breath.

Unlike the Wanfa Sect Altar at Mount Longhu’s ancestral grounds, which had safeguarded the sect’s fortunes for nearly ten thousand years, the Huangtian Ancestral Altar was more like a living being—with a limited lifespan.

It was no secret, inside and outside Huangtian Dao, that the altar had begun entering its "old age."

Furthermore, the altar had to be guarded carefully to prevent external forces from sabotaging it.

For reasons of cost-effectiveness and security, Huangtian Dao had decided to select only one top-tier young disciple at the Sixth Heaven realm to undergo secluded cultivation at the altar.

For everyone else, falling behind on this step could mean falling behind every step afterward.

Pressure weighed heavily on Kang Ming’s heart.

Due to their harsh environment and precarious circumstances, every disciple of Huangtian Dao constantly walked a tightrope between enemy traps and fleeting opportunities.

When fortune presented itself, if one didn't seize it with everything they had, the gap between fates could be astronomical.

Kang Ming had come this far through sheer struggle.

And now, before him lay another potential opportunity—one that could very well be a trap.

What should he choose?

Kang Ming raised his head once more, staring straight at the rising sun.

Meanwhile, atop Mount Longhu, Lei Jun withdrew his consciousness from the dark side of the Heavenly Book.

Gazing at the tranquil and unchanging surface of the book’s shadowed realm, he shook his head slightly.

The shadow entity he had split off was currently beyond his full control—its exact movements remained elusive, which was a mild regret.

However, even Riyao probably wouldn’t be able to locate the scattered pages of the Heavenly Book using only half of the book’s main chapter.

As for other methods...

Lei Jun’s eyes slowly opened and closed.

Deep within his pupils, radiant symbols flickered like talisman inscriptions, glowing and dimming in succession.

A faint gleam seeped from the center of his brows.

At the same time, delicate talisman patterns shimmered across his earlobes, pulsating with a soft light.

Meng Shaojie wasn’t a concern.

But if Lei Jun could obtain a Thousand-Mile Transmission Talisman personally crafted by Kang Ming, then within a vast range, he could locate Kang Ming’s position at will—perhaps even eavesdrop on him.

This was something to keep in mind for later.

Lei Jun also intended to further refine and enhance his Heaven-Piercing Earth-Penetrating Talisman.

Settling into a meditative pose, he activated his cultivation.

Various Daoist talismans began to manifest around his body.

First came the Mysterious Firmament Five Thunder Talisman.

Dark thunder gathered in midair, forming a formation where five distinct colors of lightning crackled and intertwined.

Above this black thunder formation, another formation appeared—its five-colored lightning originating from the orthodox Five Thunder Law of the Tianshi Mansion.

These Yin-Yang dual formations emerged once more, facing each other in opposition.

Unlike before, Lei Jun deliberately held them apart, allowing them to repel and clash rather than merge.

Simultaneously, two identical Two-Element Celestial Talismans descended, positioning themselves above and below the formations.

Thus, four talismans unfolded in layers in the air.

The interplay of Yin and Yang within the talismans began generating an even stronger magnetic force.

This force, in turn, fed back into the two Five Elements & Five Thunders Formations, causing them to alternate between mutual reinforcement and opposition, shifting ceaselessly.

Lei Jun lightly flicked his finger.

A Heaven-Piercing Earth-Penetrating Talisman shot into the midst of the formations, stretching and compressing under the immense Yin-Yang magnetic field pressure.

Lei Jun was completely immersed in this realm of Daoist arts, enjoying every moment of exploration.

However…

The duel between Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen and Jinzhou’s Ye Moquan was drawing near.

A battle between two Ninth-Heaven cultivators carried significant weight, and the entire Tianshi Mansion was taking it extremely seriously.

That is—except for one person…

With the Summer Solstice fast approaching, Xu Yuanzhen still hadn’t returned to Mount Longhu.

Even the Tang Imperial Court in the capital was anxiously monitoring the situation.

At this point, people were starting to wonder—was their current No. 1 powerhouse about to pull a disappearing act like she had after the Poyang Great Marsh Battle?

Fortunately, she was still in contact.

Lei Jun continued refining the Heaven-Piercing Earth-Penetrating Talisman and the Thousand-Mile Transmission Talisman, both yielding promising results.

Xu Yuanzhen, however, sighed in disappointment.

"That secret realm itself wasn’t valuable, but... it might lead to another place."

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

Xu Yuanzhen replied, "I might as well stay here a while longer. I’ll head straight to Jinzhou before the Summer Solstice."

Lei Jun nodded. "That’s up to you, Senior Sister."

At this point, a certain Tianshi jumped in with:

"I’m going to Jinzhou too!"

Tang Xiaotang was already itching for action.

Yuan Mobai and the others all turned to look at her.

Tang Xiaotang, looking completely justified, declared:

"I’m not going to gang up on Senior Sister’s opponent! But who knows if those old scholars might try a group ambush? I’m there to spectate—and to support her presence!"

Her reasoning wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

But when paired with her barely-contained excitement, it was painfully obvious—

She wasn’t just going to spectate.

She was going for the drama.

Perhaps even hoping for more chaos.

Lei Jun waited for a moment.

No golden light orb flashed in his mind—no divination trigger.

It seemed fate required more specific circumstances to activate.

Thus, after arranging his disciple Zhuo Baojie’s daily lessons, Lei Jun quietly left the mountain.

It was time for a field test of his Daoist arts.

His conquest of Jiangzhou had yielded treasures like Starfall Frost, and he had obtained various Confucian communication artifacts from the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, deepening his understanding of their "Letters as Face" technique.

Lei Jun himself didn’t practice Confucian Daoism, but that didn’t stop him from deciphering and adapting their techniques using Daoist transmission talismans.

Unlike other fields, where he would freely explore, his research on Letters as Face was targeted—designed for specific results.

Most of his materials came from the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, though he had a few pieces related to the Youzhou Lin Clan.

While the technique was universal among Confucian scholars, noble families had unique refinements of their own.

Regrettably, he lacked resources on the Jinzhou Ye Clan…

Lei Jun shook his head and set off.

Taoist Taiping: "Ye Moquan has confirmed that he will face off against Xu Yuanzhen?"

Qi Shuo: "Just as you foresaw, Sect Leader, the crucial factor for the Tianshi Mansion this time lies in Xu Yuanzhen.

However, at this point, too many forces have become entangled. This is no longer just a battle between Xu Yuanzhen and Ye Moquan."

Taoist Taiping nodded slightly. "When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits—it may seem like an opportunity for us, but with unrest within our own ranks, reckless action could bring disaster instead."

Qi Shuo was startled. He lifted his head to look at Taoist Taiping.

"Sect Leader... the Heavenly Desolation Enlightenment Jade is rare. Without it, the Three Caves Desolation God Tribulation cannot be performed. Everything I have done has been for our sect, with no selfish motives whatsoever. It is only unfortunate that the Three Caves Desolation God Tribulation ultimately failed."

Taoist Taiping: "These past few years, all of you have worked hard. Without outside assistance, our sect would not have been able to hold on—I understand that well."

Qi Shuo bowed his head. "Thank you, Sect Leader."

Taoist Taiping: "And what about the people Taoist Zhao has been in contact with?"

Qi Shuo: "That matter remains highly secretive. Even after years of investigation, I haven’t been able to uncover anything."

Taoist Taiping stood up. "That is precisely why internal instability guarantees failure. This is not the time for us to play the role of the fisherman—it is time to purge the internal threats."

He issued an order: "Summon Taoist Zhao to see me."

Qi Shuo: "Understood, Sect Leader."

Jinzhou, Ye Clan’s Ancestral Grounds

Ye Wei arrived at the grand estate to meet his father—the old clan leader, Ye Moquan.

"Father, everything in Jinzhou is ready," Ye Wei said in a quiet voice.

The elder replied, "Good. Proceed as planned."

Ye Wei continued, "The Southern Lin Clan has received the literary insights transmitted from that secret realm and has already crafted a majority of the ceremonial artifacts."

Ye Moquan nodded slightly.

Ye Wei hesitated before speaking again:

"Father, they lack a grand scholar of the Statecraft Realm."

The current Southern Lin Clan had only one Eighth Heaven cultivator—Lin Yuwei.

But Lin Yuwei was from the Confucian Divine Archer lineage, having achieved Eighth Heaven’s Expansion Realm, not the Statecraft Realm of Confucian classical studies.

"No matter," the elder gazed out the window. "As long as they have a Seventh Heaven cultivator well-versed in the classics, that will suffice. The key is secrecy—no leaks."

Back in the Battle of Youzhou, Ye Moquan had briefly clashed with Xu Yuanzhen.

He knew that against this opponent, the only way for any scheme to succeed was if the first move caught her completely off guard.

Otherwise, the plan’s effectiveness would be severely diminished.

"That is why they maintain direct contact with the secret realm and bypass other factions entirely," Ye Wei explained.

The old clan leader nodded slowly.

After a moment, he suddenly asked, "What about the Daoist external alchemy cultivator who aided the Tianshi Mansion in Jiangzhou?"

Ye Wei: "We’ve confirmed that during the Shushan Sect’s internal conflict, some faked their deaths and went into hiding. We’ve narrowed down the most likely candidates, but we have yet to confirm their identities or motives."

Ye Moquan nodded silently and stood up.

His previously hunched frame slowly straightened.

Meanwhile, Lei Jun

Lei Jun spread out a large sheet of yellow talisman paper, preparing brush and ink.

Then, every few days, his energy would naturally guide the brush, causing it to dance across the Daoist yellow paper, forming elegant and powerful strokes.

At the same time, these written characters also appeared on the scrolls of Confucian scholars through their "Letters as Face" technique.

What no one knew was that, elsewhere, another piece of Daoist yellow paper was continuously writing on its own.

After finishing, Lei Jun picked up a sheet for inspection.

In the depths of his pupils, talismanic symbols flickered brilliantly.

A faint glimmer of light shone from the center of his brows.

"Letters as Face" is a Confucian technique, requiring at least a Middle Three Heavens cultivator to practice it.

However, the Southern Lin Clan had suffered heavy losses in recent times, leaving their numbers thin—especially among their Middle Three Heavens cultivators.

Lei Jun had found this unfortunate.

There simply weren’t enough "test subjects" for his studies.

That was until one day—

He intercepted a Letters as Face communication from one of the few remaining Upper Three Heavens cultivators of the Southern Lin Clan.

"A big fish..." Lei Jun read the letter unusually slowly.

The letter mentioned that a large shipment of supplies from the north had successfully reached the Southern Lin Clan.

But these materials weren’t for rebuilding their scholarly lineage or establishing a foothold.

They were meant to play a role in the upcoming battle between Xu Yuanzhen and Ye Moquan.

Lei Jun didn’t alert anyone right away.

Instead, he focused on gathering more intelligence.

The more he uncovered, the clearer the picture became.

The Southern Lin Clan had received aid from various noble families, but in exchange, they had taken on certain tasks—including crafting ceremonial artifacts that would be critical for the Summer Solstice battle.

Because the world’s attention was largely focused on Xu Yuanzhen vs. Ye Moquan, the half-crippled Southern Lin Clan had remained relatively unnoticed, making it easier for them to operate in secrecy.

Sometimes, secrecy was the best protection.

...At least, that should have been the case.

But with Lei Jun unexpectedly watching them from the shadows, everything was about to change.

The information was valuable.

However, as Lei Jun pieced more together, he noticed something unusual.

"Senior Sister, the court noble who explored that secret realm with you—was it Prince Huayang, Zhang Rui?" Lei Jun contacted Xu Yuanzhen.

Xu Yuanzhen: "That’s correct."

Lei Jun: "He might be a problem."

Xu Yuanzhen and Zhang Rui had kept their findings from the capital, intending to report back in person after their return.

However, the ceremonial artifacts being crafted by the Southern Lin Clan were connected to the secret realm they had explored.

Xu Yuanzhen herself wouldn’t have leaked anything.

Which meant—Prince Huayang, Zhang Rui, was not as loyal to the Empress as he appeared.

It wasn’t that he had outright defected to the aristocratic families.

Rather, he was playing both sides—navigating between the imperial court and the noble factions for his own advantage.

Lei Jun wasn’t particularly surprised.

After all, the Tang Imperial Court wasn’t perfectly united.

And on the other side, the noble clans likely had similarly high-ranking traitors among their ranks.

Back during the Great Black Mountain Battle in the Northern Frontier, the Empress had acted with remarkable decisiveness.

As the Four Great Surnames and Six Prominent Clans secretly banded together, she had boldly gone all-in, forcing them into a stalemate.

Looking back, it was likely that her "decisiveness" had actually been carefully planned in advance—she had been waiting for that precise moment.

Someone must have fed her intel.

In the winter and spring that followed, rumors spread that major noble families were conducting extensive internal purges.

It wasn’t baseless.

Likewise, the Tang Imperial Court itself wasn’t entirely stable either.

Few would have suspected that back during the Youzhou battle, when Chu Yu and Zhang Rui had traveled north together, Zhang Rui had already harbored ulterior motives.

Now, looking back, things took on an entirely different meaning.

Even during this secret realm expedition, Zhang Rui had been making moves.

Xu Yuanzhen (chuckling): "Let’s leave him be for now—later, we’ll let Zhang Wantong handle him herself. For now, just let them play their game."

Lei Jun: "The Summer Solstice is almost here."

Xu Yuanzhen, casually: "Mhm, I’ll be in Jinzhou in two days."

She seemed more interested in Lei Jun’s self-created technique.

Xu Yuanzhen: "Your method is interesting."

Lei Jun: "Still rough around the edges—just a prototype for now."