Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 253: The War Begins

Comparing his thoughts and projections, Lei Jun acknowledged that his Heaven-Piercing and Earth-Penetrating Talismanic Canon was still in its infancy.

Moving forward, he would need to continuously refine and perfect the technique, while his growing cultivation would naturally enhance its capabilities.

“Hmm, a good rough draft,” Xu Yuanzhen remarked.

Lei Jun responded, “I believe, for secrecy’s sake, Jinzhou secretly contacted the remnants of the Southern Lin Clan to craft the ritual artifacts for them.

But I doubt Ye Moquan stopped at just this preparation—he likely has more tricks up his sleeve.”

“Stop.” Xu Yuanzhen cut him off. “You're making me look forward to this even more.”

Lei Jun grinned. “I’m more excited to see your methods, Senior Sister.”

Xu Yuanzhen smirked. “Oh, I’ve prepared a few gifts for that old fox as well.”

Lei Jun asked bluntly, “Can we take him out?”

“It’ll be difficult and will require some sacrifice, but it’s not impossible.” Xu Yuanzhen’s answer carried her usual style. “That said, for now, that’s not my primary objective.”

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow. “Then what is your main objective?”

Xu Yuanzhen replied, “Haven’t decided completely yet. Once the fight starts, I’ll see how much that old fox values his life.”

Hearing her words, Lei Jun wasn’t particularly surprised.

His Senior Sister possessed unparalleled talent, but her way of thinking was… not exactly conventional.

While many benefited from her strength, they also had to brace themselves for whatever chaos she might stir up.

Although Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen had different views on these matters, he didn’t argue. He simply said, “On another note, this situation might not just be about Ye Moquan.”

“That wouldn’t be surprising,” Xu Yuanzhen said as she continued organizing something. “Since the date is near, I’ll head directly to Jinzhou.”

Lei Jun nodded. “Junior Uncle has already gone ahead.”

Ending his telepathic communication with Xu Yuanzhen, Lei Jun also began preparing to leave the Taihu Great Marsh region.

For now, neither he nor Xu Yuanzhen planned to make a move against the Northern remnants of the Southern Lin Clan, nor did they intend to prevent the completion and delivery of the ritual artifacts to Jinzhou.

Since Xu Yuanzhen was aware of their actions, it would be difficult for them to catch her off guard.

On the contrary, she had prepared a counter-gift in secret.

When the time came, who would be caught off guard was another matter entirely.

“Speaking of which, Senior Sister and Zhang Rui’s current location in that secret realm… it seems to match that Upper-Moderate Omen I drew.”

Lei Jun pondered. “I still don’t know exactly what the Fifth-Grade Opportunity and potential hidden dangers mentioned in the divination refer to.”

According to Xu Yuanzhen, the secret realm might not be just an isolated space but could lead to another world entirely.

Would it be similar to the foreign realm entered through the Great Black Mountains?

‘Time flows on, carrying the legacy of the past, observing the barriers of the universe.’

Upon further reflection, this phrase seemed less like a reference to two separate matters—the Xuanxu Mirror in the first half and the secret realm in the latter.

Instead, it felt as if both the ancient mirror within the Upper Clarity Thunder Altar Grotto-Heaven and the mysterious secret realm were being described simultaneously.

So, this secret realm—or the world it connects to—might also hold some mystery related to time and history?

As Lei Jun traveled, countless thoughts raced through his mind.

---

Jinzhou - Ye Clan Ancestral Grounds

Within the vast mansion, an elderly man sat quietly in a chair, gazing out the window at the lush summer forest.

A while later, his eldest son, Ye Wei, approached the entrance.

“Come in,” the old man said.

“Father.” Ye Wei entered the room and stood respectfully. “The Southern Lin Clan remnants have completed the task, and the item is about to be delivered.”

Hearing this, Ye Moquan, the Clan Leader of the Ye Clan in Jinzhou, gave a slight nod. “Once this final piece is in place, you should make your final preparations as well.”

“Yes, Father,” Ye Wei responded.

Yet, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he remained standing in silence.

Ye Moquan did not urge him to speak but simply sat there calmly.

After a long pause, Ye Wei finally said, “Father, the risk you’re taking this time… it’s too great.”

Ye Moquan smiled. “Being in this position, there are some things I cannot avoid. And I have no intention of avoiding them.”

While he was not one to engage in direct confrontation, it didn’t mean he couldn’t make such a move when necessary.

“Although Qingzhou, Suzhou, and other regions have expressed their readiness…” Ye Wei hesitated.

Ye Moquan remained composed. “This time, don’t concern yourself with whether they will do more—just make sure they don’t do less. If we need to be wary, it should be in that regard.”

“As of now, there’s no sign of deviation,” Ye Wei reported.

“That will suffice,” Ye Moquan nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the window.

Ye Wei bowed and quietly exited the room.

---

Longxi - Near the Western Regions

The scorching summer sun baked the vast desert, turning the golden sands into an inferno.

Dotted across the landscape were several small black-clad figures—monks, their expressions solemn and austere.

Despite their dignified appearance, they exuded an eerie presence that suppressed both the blazing heat of summer and the bone-chilling cold of winter within their surroundings.

These black-robed monks were disciples of the Vast Void Temple.

At their lead stood a tall young monk, draped in a dark-gold kasaya, his face adorned with a rare, faint smile.

Among the solemn monks of the Vast Void Temple, he was an anomaly.

Despite appearing to be only in his early twenties, in truth, he was not yet fifty years old.

Yet his rise to prominence had been meteoric.

It was during his ascent that the Vast Void Temple had returned to the mainland.

His Dharma name was Yuanmie.

Formerly the Buddha Child of the Vast Void Temple, he was now its newly appointed Abbot.

His master was none other than the temple’s former abbot, Dharmaraja Jixiang.

Jixiang was not dead. He now stood behind Yuanmie, having voluntarily ceded the abbot’s position to him and taking on the title of Dharmaraja.

Jixiang was certain that Yuanmie was a more fitting leader for the Vast Void Temple—one who would bring about its era of true Dharma supremacy.

And indeed, across the Tang Empire, Yuanmie’s name had already eclipsed that of his master.

Though, mostly for his notoriety.

Years ago, when the Vast Void Temple first returned to the mainland, it was Yuanmie who led the charge in breaking through the gates of Bodhi Monastery, one of the Four Great Buddhist Holy Lands.

Later, he led an army across thousands of miles, ambushing the Vajra Monastery’s escort for their new abbot, leaving many wounded and dead.

By the time he attacked Tianlong Monastery, Yuanmie had fully taken over as the Vast Void Temple’s leader.

His reputation grew, but so did the bloodstains on his hands.

A cultivator who reached the Seventh Heaven before turning one hundred was universally acknowledged as a genius, with vast untapped potential for further advancement.

A Seventh Heaven cultivator under fifty was a prodigy among prodigies, a monstrous talent.

But Yuanmie…

He was an Eighth Heaven cultivator of the Vast Void Temple—under fifty years old.

Among his generation, only a handful of people could stand on equal footing with him:

The former Empress Zhang Wantong, the Tianshi Mansion’s Xu Yuanzhen, the current Tianshi Tang Xiaotang, the White Lotus Sect’s Future Maitreya, and Li Tianqing of Songpo Mountain in the Southern Wasteland.

Furthermore, there were only four leaders of major factions under the age of one hundred:

• The Tang Emperor, Zhang Wantong.
• The current Tianshi, Tang Xiaotang.
• The Patriarch of the Xiao Clan in Longxi, Xiao Hang.
• And finally, the Abbot of the Vast Void Temple, Yuanmie.

The Vajra Monastery currently appeared weak and secluded, but no one truly knew what was happening inside.

This time, Yuanmie's visit was different from when he had stormed the Bodhi Monastery’s gates—his intent was not outright extermination from the start.

His purpose in approaching the Vajra Monastery now was more about testing and confirming.

Of course, if the Vajra Monastery failed to put up a decent show of strength, the outcome would be very different.

"Master, I'll leave the rest to you. If there's a major shift in Jinzhou, notify me immediately." Yuanmie retracted the floating light sphere in his palm and instructed Dharma King Jixiang.

---

Meanwhile, Lei Jun headed north from Taihu Great Marsh.

As he traveled, he maintained contact with Tang Xiaotang, who had already arrived in Jinzhou ahead of time.

"A lot of people have already gathered, but most are staying in the outer areas for now," Tang Xiaotang said casually.

In high-level duels between top-tier experts, it was common for the combatants to forbid spectators.

However, this time, Xu Yuanzhen and Ye Moquan had no intention of clearing the field.

Most of the guests remained on the periphery only because the main contenders had yet to arrive.

"From Jingxiang, it's Fang Du. From Suzhou, Chu Peng. From Qingzhou, Ye Zhuo. From Youzhou, Lin Lishan…"

Tang Xiaotang listed several names—each one a core leader from various prestigious families.

Every single one of them was an Eighth Heaven Grand Scholar, representing their respective factions in Jinzhou, here to witness a battle between Ninth Heaven experts, a sight unseen for many years.

As for whether they had additional motives or hidden agendas—that was anyone’s guess.

"The Tang Imperial Court sent Prince Changshan, along with that Suzhou fox," Tang Xiaotang added.

Hearing this, Lei Jun immediately understood.

The "Suzhou fox" she mentioned was, of course, Chu Yu.

The other was Prince Changshan, Zhang Junhai, an elite from the imperial Zhang Clan.

For various reasons, the Zhang Clan of the imperial family was technically the first family of the Tang Dynasty, filled with experts, albeit more scattered in influence.

Moreover, their members often had differing loyalties.

The former Prince Wu, now Prince Zhao, and the once duplicitous Prince Huayang, who had played all sides, were examples of this.

And this Prince Changshan? What was his stance?

"The Pure Yang Palace sent Elder Lü and Elder Guan," Tang Xiaotang continued. "Yue Xiling is rumored to be in seclusion, probably trying to break into the Eighth Heaven Realm."

Elder Lü Jinduan of the Pure Yang Palace had frequent dealings with the Tianshi Mansion, making him a familiar face to both Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang.

As for Elder Guan, Lei Jun took a moment to recall—his full name was Guan Jing, an esteemed elder of the Pure Yang Palace.

His cultivation was extremely advanced, even surpassing Lü Jinduan. Having long ago reached the Fourth Perfection Stage of Infant Transformation, he was one of the Pure Yang Palace’s top experts, second only to Grandmaster Huang Xuanpu.

For these two to come together showed the Pure Yang Palace's deep interest in this battle.

However, Lei Jun was more curious about another person.

"Grandmaster Huang didn't come?"

Tang Xiaotang replied, "I heard he specifically left the palace for this fight, but his whereabouts are unclear."

She suddenly snorted. "By the way, that little girl came too. Pure Yang Palace actually let her out—what a surprise."

The statement seemed abrupt and vague.

But Lei Jun instantly understood.

"Jiang Yu came along with Elder Guan and Elder Lü? That’s unexpected."

Jiang Yu was a young disciple who had recently joined Pure Yang Palace.

She possessed the Celestial Yin Physique, an exceptional bone structure, and was said to have talents surpassing even her peers. Her cultivation had been progressing at a terrifying rate.

Since her induction, Pure Yang Palace had kept her profile low, with very few outsiders aware of her existence.

Only in the past two years had word started spreading, and she quickly rose to fame.

Now, she was already renowned across the Tang Dynasty.

Most people believed that after missing out on Tang Xiaotang, Pure Yang Palace had finally lucked out by recruiting Jiang Yu, making up for their earlier loss.

Of course, a certain Tianshi found this comparison highly offensive.

---

"What about the other sects?" Lei Jun shifted the topic.

"Vajra Monastery didn’t send anyone. Xuanyan Temple sent Master Kongjing, and Tianlong Monastery sent Elder Miaokong."

The Vajra Monastery was located in the Western Region and had always remained mysterious.

Though they had recently reinstated a new Abbot, the monastery had suffered heavy losses from the attacks of the White Lotus Sect and Great Void Monastery, forcing them to seal their gates.

Thus, their absence from the Jinzhou battle wasn’t surprising.

Xuanyan Temple, however, was in Yunzhou, close to Jinzhou.

As a holy land of the Buddhist Precepts Sect, it typically maintained a low profile.

But since the upcoming Jinzhou conflict could affect the entire Tang Dynasty, they couldn't afford to remain completely silent.

Master Kongjing had always worked closely with the Tang Imperial Court, serving as an elder aligned with the Xuanyan Temple's pro-court faction.

Lei Jun had actually encountered him once before—though back then, he had been in hiding, observing Kongjing without being noticed.

That said…

Master Kongjing was only a Seventh Heaven expert.

None of the Eighth Heaven elders, including the Sect Leader Ningru, had come.

This suggested that Xuanyan Temple itself was divided on the matter.

Meanwhile, Tianlong Monastery had sent Elder Miaokong, an Eighth Heaven monk.

This monk had deep ties with the Tang Imperial Court.

Previously, when Tianlong Monastery’s disciples in the Imperial Academy were killed by the Great Void Monastery, it was Elder Miaokong who emerged to seek revenge against Abbot Jitong.

However, the current internal state of Tianlong Monastery was equally uncertain.

---

"Shushan Sect sent Elder Wei, Elder Ji, and Gao Dongyan," Tang Xiaotang concluded.

Wei Qiyue, an esteemed elder of Shushan Sect, had seniority comparable to Xu Duan and wielded significant influence.

Ji Dongquan, on the other hand, was Ji Chuan’s father.

Gao Dongyan was another Shushan elder from the same generation as Ji Dongquan and He Dongxing.

However, he had always been close to the noble families, advocating for less conflict and more cooperation between Shushan Sect and the aristocracy.

His personal disciple, Lin Xinran, was a member of the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou—though he later perished at the hands of a Great Demon.

Whenever Lei Jun recalled this "old acquaintance", he couldn't help but feel some regret.

"But I have a bad feeling about Shushan Sect's arrival," Tang Xiaotang muttered. "I don’t know what they’re up to."

Hearing this, Lei Jun pondered for a moment—he could more or less guess their intentions.

---

At this moment, in Jinzhou, after greeting Tang Xiaotang, the Shushan elders turned their attention elsewhere.

They scanned the surrounding mountains and rivers.

During the Battle of Jiangzhou, someone had secretly aided the Tianshi Mansion.

Was it really Confucian Divine Archers?

Or was it actually Daoist External Alchemy flying swords or artifacts?

The entire Shushan Sect had been left speechless by this theory.

Now, Wei Qiyue narrowed her gaze, carefully observing her surroundings.

She was desperate to uncover the true identity of those hidden External Alchemy masters.

---

Suddenly, in the distant skies, a dark thundercloud swiftly gathered over the Ye Clan’s ancestral land in Jinzhou.

Seated atop the black storm, clad in purple robes with a black cloak, was a pale-faced woman with delicate features.

It was Xu Yuanzhen.

"Senior Sister!" Tang Xiaotang called out, but she didn't step forward.

This was a battle agreement that Xu Yuanzhen had arranged with someone else.

Although Tang Xiaotang was usually unpredictable, when it came to such matters, she had a clear sense of boundaries. Unless something truly unexpected happened, she would not interfere in Xu Yuanzhen’s battle.

That said, unexpected incidents were more likely than not…

Above the dark thunderclouds, Xu Yuanzhen turned her head and nodded slightly toward Tang Xiaotang in acknowledgment.

Then, she lowered her gaze again to look at the ancestral land of the Ye Clan in Jinzhou.

At that moment, a vast radiance suddenly erupted within the ancestral land. Centered around the Scholarly Treasure Light that shot straight into the sky, various lights intertwined and amplified its brilliance.

Much like the Lin Clan’s ancestral land in Jiangzhou earlier, the Ye Clan’s ancestral land in Jinzhou covered an expansive area, almost comparable to a fortified city.

As the radiance expanded and intensified, it soon enveloped the entire city perimeter.

Faint sounds of ceremonial drums and music resonated, solemn and majestic.

At the heart of the ancestral land, in the central courtyard of the grand Ye estate, the main gates slowly opened one after another—without a single breeze stirring.

With the utmost formality, the Ye Clan’s grand residence welcomed its guests for the day.

However, from a distance, Tang Xiaotang, Chu Yu, and the others observed keenly and quickly noticed something strange.

Despite the Ye Clan’s thorough adherence to proper etiquette—

At this moment, in the vast ancestral land, there was not a single member of the Ye Clan in sight.

The entire ancestral ground was empty.

Save for one person.

The other party in today’s scheduled battle.

The former patriarch of the Ye Clan in Jinzhou, Ye Moquan.

The elderly man spoke first.

“Is it not delightful to have friends come from afar? A pity that we are not friends, but foes.”

Xu Yuanzhen remained composed.

“This works just fine.”

Stepping down from the thunderclouds, she passed through the main gates of the Ye estate and walked straight to Ye Moquan.

Two cultivators of the Ninth Heaven Realm now sat facing each other.

Xu Yuanzhen spoke first.

“Years ago, my Grandmaster and Martial Granduncle both received your support.”

Ye Moquan replied calmly.

“Even without my aid, with the talents of those Daoists from the Li Clan, the outcome would not have been much different.”

Xu Yuanzhen responded, her tone even.

“A delay, a shift in mindset, a change in circumstances—such things influence not only them but those around them as well.

Besides, your actions extend far beyond just that.”

Ye Moquan cast his gaze southward—toward the distant Tianshi Mansion.

After a moment, he retracted his gaze and sighed with a quiet smile.

“No matter how cautious one is, the more things one does, the more traces one inevitably leaves behind.

The old saying is true: ‘If you wish to keep something secret, the only way is never to do it in the first place.’”

Xu Yuanzhen’s voice was firm.

“Let’s begin.”

It was not a suggestion—it was a statement.

And with that, the Battle of Jinzhou officially began.

---

Meanwhile, Lei Jun had momentarily halted his journey to Jinzhou.

Fresh intelligence had just arrived from the imperial court—two significant pieces of information.

First: The patriarch of the Ye Clan in Qingzhou, Ye Yan, had left the clan’s ancestral grounds. His whereabouts were currently unknown.

Second: The former patriarch of the Chu Clan in Suzhou, Chu Xiuyuan, had also left the Suzhou ancestral grounds. His whereabouts were likewise unknown.

Would two Ninth Heaven Grand Scholars like them also set their sights on Jinzhou? On Xu Yuanzhen?

How would the Empress and the Tang imperial court react?

More intelligence reports continued arriving, and Lei Jun swiftly skimmed through them.

Despite Ye Yan and Chu Xiuyuan’s departures, the Qingzhou Ye Clan and Suzhou Chu Clan still had Eighth Heaven cultivators at full mastery guarding their ancestral grounds.

At the same time, both clans’ most treasured heirlooms remained within their territories.

At the very least, this ensured that they could hold their ground and await reinforcements, denying external threats any opportunity to exploit their absence.

Judging from their willingness to hold their positions, it seemed that the Four Great Clans had found a way to counter or resist the so-called “Barbarians.”

Or at the very least, they had some level of confidence in their strategy.

So then, what exactly was happening in Jinzhou’s Ye Clan ancestral land right now?

As Lei Jun pondered, he continued his journey.

But just then—

A Light Sphere suddenly flickered in his mind, and words appeared within it:

[Across the rivers and mountains, the Fourfold Ritual is complete, momentum gathers, moving against the flow of time.]

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.

This time, four Omen Draws emerged from the Light Sphere.

He read through them one by one:

[Upper-Moderate Omen]: Travel to the Gao Clan Ancestral Land in Zezhou—there is a chance to obtain a Fourth-Grade Opportunity. Some turbulence will arise but can be resolved. Good fortune.

[Moderate-Moderate Omen]: Travel to Xuanyan Temple in Yunzhou—there is a chance to obtain a Fifth-Grade Opportunity, but certain risks exist. Proceed with caution. Neutral.

[Moderate-Moderate Omen]: Travel to the former site of Bodhi Monastery in Zhongzhou—no additional gains, some disturbances but quickly settled. Neutral.

[Lower-Moderate Omen]: Travel to Jinzhou to witness the battle—no additional gains, imminent danger from conflict, high risk. Ominous.

Given his increased cultivation strength and the Tianshi Seal in his possession, Lei Jun’s ability to withstand risks had significantly improved.

Yet, for the Omen Draw to still indicate a substantial risk—

It meant that the danger posed by this battle, whether from a person or an event, was truly formidable.

Looking at the Lower-Moderate Omen, Lei Jun could now infer—

The Battle of Jinzhou was unlikely to end with just Xu Yuanzhen and Ye Moquan.

Other powerful figures would inevitably intervene.

Shifting his focus to the remaining draws—one Upper-Moderate Omen and two Moderate-Moderate Omens—one entry caught his attention.

The Xuanyan Temple in Yunzhou—one of the Four Great Buddhist Holy Lands—was likely on the verge of a major upheaval.

"The best way to handle something like this… is to report it to the authorities."

Lei Jun remained unbothered.

As for the cryptic phrase about the Fourfold Ritual, it suggested that the four locations mentioned in the draws were somehow interconnected.

Could this be Ye Moquan’s scheme?

If so—then there was no need to risk entering the Jinzhou battlefield.

By disrupting just one of these sites, the entire framework could be altered—or even dismantled.

With that in mind, Lei Jun naturally chose the Upper-Moderate Omen option.

The Gao Clan of Zezhou—staunch supporters of the Ye Clan in Jinzhou.

For generations, the Gao Clan’s leaders had sought to marry into the Ye family. In many ways, they were almost an offshoot of the Ye Clan.

Lei Jun recalled how, years ago in Qiluo Valley, he had been ambushed by members of the Gao family.

One of them had ties to Xuanyan Temple, bearing the Dharma name: De Xiang.

In the end, Lei Jun had sent the whole group off to the afterlife.

Now, it was time to formally visit the Gao Clan.

With a slight nod, Lei Jun altered his course—

Heading toward Zezhou.