Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 254: A slap broke it

When relaying information to the imperial court, Lei Jun didn’t take any special channels. He simply passed the relevant news to his master, Yuan Mobai.

From there, Mount Longhu’s side would naturally have Yuan Mobai, Shangguan Ning, and Zhang Jingzhen deliberate on the matter before reporting it to the Tang Imperial Court.

At Xuanyan Temple, the Tang imperial family had also been keeping a close watch.

After all, Jinzhou, the focal point of the conflict, was located right next to Xuanyan Temple.

Rumors suggested that the Ye Clan of Jinzhou had long been infiltrating Xuanyan Temple in a subtle, non-confrontational manner.

Meanwhile, Xuanyan Temple itself was notoriously conservative and reclusive, rarely taking aggressive action.

Over the years, it was said that the Ye Clan’s efforts had yielded considerable success.

In response, the Tang imperial family had been countering with their own covert infiltration tactics.

Thus, beneath the tranquil surface of this seemingly peaceful Buddhist sanctuary, an invisible war had been waged for years.

As for Zezhou, home to the Gao Family, it was located south of Jinzhou.

For generations, the Gao Family had been staunch allies of the Ye Clan, rising to prominence in Great Tang as a second-tier aristocratic family thanks to the Ye Clan’s support.

Historical records Lei Jun had read indicated that the Gao Family had originally risen to power by marrying into the Ye Clan.

The current Patriarch of the Gao Family, Gao Xian, was one of the few Confucian Grand Scholars at the Upper Three Heavens realm outside of the Tang imperial family and the Five Great Surnames and Seven Prominent Clans.

His wife, unsurprisingly, was from a branch of the Ye Clan.

It was also said that Gao Xian had spent most of his youth and early adulthood studying in Jinzhou.

Now that the Ye Clan of Jinzhou was facing its first major crisis in a century, its hidden forces were beginning to stir.

Lei Jun concealed his presence and moved quietly into Zezhou’s territory.

After scouting the area and confirming no unusual movements elsewhere, he headed toward the Gao Clan’s ancestral grounds.

---

Zezhou - The Gao Clan’s Ancestral Grounds

Amid the peak of summer, sprawling manor estates stretched across the land, blending seamlessly with the distant mountains and rivers.

Though the scale wasn’t as vast as the ancestral lands of the Northern and Southern Lin Clans, it was still an impressive fortress-like domain.

This was the Gao Clan’s ancestral grounds in Zezhou.

At this moment, an emaciated monk with a youthful appearance arrived at the city’s outskirts.

He was a True Disciple of Xuanyan Temple, known by his Dharma name: Yongxiang.

“Both my grandfather and father are currently unwell and unable to receive guests. Please forgive us, Master,” said the Gao Clan disciple who had come to meet him, his tone unreadable.

Yongxiang pressed his palms together. “Then, I wish to see Senior Brother Jingxiang. Please inform him.”

The Gao Clan disciple’s face remained calm. “No esteemed monks from your temple have ever visited here.”

Yongxiang was unfazed. “I ask for your assistance.”

“I truly do not understand what the Master is saying.”

“Then please pass a message to Senior Brother Jingxiang—I will be waiting for him outside.”

With that, the monk took a few steps back, sitting beneath a towering ancient tree just outside the Gao Clan’s ancestral residence.

No matter how much the Gao Clan disciples tried to persuade him, Yongxiang simply ignored them, silently reciting sutras.

A faint glassy Buddha light transformed into lotus blossoms, surrounding Yongxiang and lending him an aura of sacred dignity.

Seeing this, the Gao Clan disciples found themselves helpless.

Xuanyan Temple’s teachings were unparalleled in both defense and endurance—perhaps the strongest in the world in this regard.

Yongxiang was already at the Middle Three Heavens realm.

Even the elders of the Gao Clan at the same cultivation level could do nothing to him.

He wouldn’t harm them, and they, in turn, couldn’t harm him—nor could they force him to leave.

To resolve the situation, either the Gao Clan Patriarch, Gao Xian, had to intervene personally, or the one he sought had to appear.

Inside the Gao Clan’s ancestral residence, Gao Xian stood atop a pavilion, frowning as he looked toward the distant monk beneath the tree.

Beside him stood two individuals—one of whom was also dressed as an ascetic monk.

The monk pressed his palms together. “Letting this drag on isn’t wise. The longer we delay, the greater the risk. Allow me to go and persuade Junior Brother Yongxiang.”

He left the ancestral residence and walked toward the tree.

The previously expressionless, bitter-faced Yongxiang finally showed a flicker of emotion when he saw the man. He let out a soft sigh.

“Senior Brother… you really are here.”

Despite also wearing the robes of an ascetic monk, Jingxiang carried a faint, serene smile.

“Patriarch Gao is an old friend of mine. I heard he’s been unwell lately, so I came to visit.”

“There’s nothing wrong with visiting a friend,” Yongxiang acknowledged. “But in these troubled times, the temple is uneasy. After your visit, come back to the temple with me.”

Jingxiang remained composed. “Has something happened at the temple?”

Yongxiang sighed. “Master and Uncle Kongjian have been arguing fiercely.”

Master Kongjian, like Master Kongjing, was one of the senior monks of Xuanyan Temple.

However, it was worth noting that Kongjian’s secular surname before he became a monk was Ye.

“What has the Abbot said?” Jingxiang asked.

Yongxiang fell silent for a moment.

Jingxiang’s smile deepened. “The Abbot hasn’t said anything, has he? That silence is his stance.”

Yongxiang shook his head. “The Abbot’s intention is the same as mine—this battle in Jinzhou is inevitable, but at the very least, we must not fan the flames. If this escalates further, it will spiral beyond control, affecting even greater realms.”

Jingxiang’s tone remained tranquil. “Fate governs all. The world is an ocean of suffering—the more karma one accumulates, the deeper the suffering. Surely, Junior Brother Yongxiang, you understand this.”

Yongxiang sighed. “Of course.”

Jingxiang smiled. “Then you must know that neither Xuanyan Temple, nor Zezhou, nor even Jinzhou are the ones stirring this conflict.”

Yongxiang fell silent.

“If Xuanyan Temple had remained as detached as it always has, this war would not have happened.” Jingxiang looked to the sky.

“But the world is not like our temple—not even Mount Longhu, nor any other sect, is a pure land like ours.”

Yongxiang didn’t respond.

“Do you believe I speak this way because I was once of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou?” Jingxiang shook his head.

“No. Since the moment I entered the monastic path, my past was left behind.

“It is precisely because I have practiced Xuanyan Temple’s Dharma that I say this.”

Yongxiang replied calmly, “I do not oppose your reasoning. But the world is as it is—we monks should seek to mediate, not become entangled ourselves.”

Jingxiang nodded. “To end this conflict swiftly is the true way to lessen the suffering of the people.”

“If sin must be borne, let it be upon our shoulders. If I do not enter hell, who will?”

But Yongxiang did not waver. “We should be trying to dissolve hatred, not deepen it. At the very least, we must not be the ones fanning the flames. Come back to the temple with me.”

“It seems neither of us will persuade the other.” Jingxiang sighed.

“Then we must walk separate paths.”

As he spoke, a glazed Buddha light began to radiate from him.

Yongxiang’s face grew even more bitter.

Jingxiang’s voice remained peaceful yet resolute.

“This must remain a secret. I apologize, Junior Brother.”

And then—he attacked.

The balance between being and non-being was disrupted upon encountering Monk Yongxiang’s Buddhist teachings.

The Spirit Flower now truly embodied the essence of non-being.

At the same time, Monk Yongxiang’s sacred vow of precepts was also broken.

Breaking a vow was not without consequence.

Not only did his Buddhist divine light vanish, but he also suffered repercussions himself.

The mystic artifact that Monk Jingxiang had specially prepared to counter his fellow disciple carried an undeniable killing intent.

However, there was no need for him to act personally anymore.

Arrows rained down from behind him, soaring into the sky before pouring down in torrents.

Without the Glazed Buddha Light to protect him, Monk Yongxiang was struck by multiple arrows, his body riddled with wounds, blood flowing freely.

With his vow shattered, he had lost not only his divine protection, but even his once resilient and indestructible flesh had begun to wither and decay.

---

Meanwhile, Lei Jun crossed the mountains and arrived outside the Gao Clan’s ancestral land.

"Hmm?" His gaze sharpened.

Surrounding the Gao Clan’s ancestral grounds, aside from the usual scholarly aura, there was a distinct presence of military force stirring.

The fierce killing intent didn’t surge into the sky but was instead constrained and regimented, forming a structured, square-like field—an independent world that isolated the inside from the outside.

And right in front of him, he saw a bloodied figure resembling a gourd, bristling with arrows like a human pincushion.

Upon closer inspection, he realized he knew this person—though barely.

It was Monk Yongxiang, a True Disciple of Xuanyan Temple.

Lei Jun had encountered him before.

Back then, Monk Yongxiang had collaborated with the Tang Divine Strategy Army, hunting down White Lotus Sect disciples and meddling in other affairs—once even trying to rescue members of the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou from Tianshi Mansion disciples.

However, Lei Jun had outmatched him, killing those Lin Clan members right in front of him.

Since then, it had been years since they last met.

He hadn’t expected to run into him here, of all places.

Only, this time, Monk Yongxiang collapsed violently onto the ground.

Another monk, also appearing to be a True Disciple of Xuanyan Temple, stepped forward from behind, pressing his palms together.

"Amitabha, may Buddha show mercy. Junior Brother, your sacrifice has helped pacify this calamity—you should have no regrets."

After speaking, he waved his hand, summoning a glazed lotus flower that enveloped Monk Yongxiang’s body before turning and re-entering the Gao Clan’s ancestral land.

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.

An internal conflict among the Xuanyan Temple disciples—right here in Zezhou’s Gao Clan?

He withdrew his gaze, scanning the surroundings once more.

In his eyes, mystical Daoist talismans took shape, and a faint glow emerged from the center of his forehead as he observed the flow of spiritual energy in the area.

A vast martial aura of iron and blood was concentrated here—so immense that Lei Jun could almost physically see the spears and halberds, layered in an orderly formation.

These martial energies were continuously regulated by an even more profound force, ensuring they remained organized and ready for battle.

It resembled an invisible yet enormous military camp, where troops had undergone extensive drilling and discipline, awaiting deployment.

Military Ritual.

A realization struck Lei Jun.

The Confucian path’s core essence was ritual.

In the Tang Dynasty’s scholarly cultivation system, this had evolved into the Five Rites:

1. Auspicious Rites (吉礼)
2. Funeral Rites (凶礼)
3. Military Rites (军礼)
4. Guest Rites (宾礼)
5. Celebratory Rites (嘉礼)

Military Rites governed all matters of warfare and military affairs.

It perfectly aligned with the impending battle between Ye Moquan and Xu Yuanzhen.

Even though this was the Gao Clan’s ancestral land, the scale and complexity of the military ritual exceeded their capabilities—it had to be the work of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou.

Lei Jun recalled his fortune slip, which had mentioned four locations:

• Xuanyan Temple
• Zezhou’s Gao Clan
• The ruins of Bodhi Monastery
• The Ye Clan of Jinzhou

Now, drawing upon his deep understanding of Confucian traditions, everything clicked into place.

Ye Moquan had meticulously prepared an elaborate setup to confront Xu Yuanzhen.

In the Four Seasons of Military Ritual, the phases were:

• Spring: Troop Deployment (振旅)
• Summer: Barracks Establishment (拔舍)
• Autumn: Troop Drilling (治兵)
• Winter: Grand Review (大阅)

This ritual arrangement was spread across four remote locations, yet seamlessly connected across the northern mountains and rivers.

Once the Military Ritual was activated, it would harness the vast spiritual energy of the land, shaking the four corners of the battlefield and manifesting an endless killing force.

If the "barbarian" couldn't break this terrain advantage, then the advantage would become tangible and overwhelming—possibly even greater than expected.

"But… this is making things inconvenient for me."

Above Lei Jun’s head, his Two-Element Celestial Talisman flickered briefly.

His original plan had been to use the talisman’s power to generate a massive field of magnetic force, severing communication between this place and the outside world.

However, the Military Ritual had already taken shape.

Activating his Two-Element Celestial Talisman here would disrupt the formation, alerting the Gao Clan’s ancestral land to an intruder’s presence.

Although the martial aura had begun retracting after Monk Yongxiang was dealt with, that was merely on the surface.

Lei Jun wasn’t entirely certain what other precautions the Ye Clan had placed here.

His fortune slip indicated an Upper-Moderate Omen, meaning no danger, but it also warned of possible disturbances.

After some thought, Lei Jun silently advanced forward.

His Life-Bound Talisman—Celestial Path Talisman had an Yin-Walking Transformation, which he pushed to its limits, while a dim glow from the Xuanyin Mirror flickered and vanished.

His entire presence became nearly imperceptible.

Even within the dense military aura, Lei Jun moved like a shadow, slipping through undetected.

Whenever he encountered areas of particularly dense killing intent, he would pause briefly, using his Breath-Taking Banner to further conceal himself.

Feels like sneaking through a military camp with patrolling guards… Lei Jun muttered internally but kept his movements precise and silent.

Step by step, he navigated toward the inner core of the Gao Clan’s ancestral residence.

---

Inside the loft, the Gao Clan’s Patriarch, Gao Xian, stood beside a tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man.

The man spoke, "Ignore the distractions. We must remain focused on our preparations."

He wasn’t a Gao Clan member.

He was a veteran elder of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou—Ye Zhenxing.

"Everything is ready. We await the Clan Leader’s command," Gao Xian replied.

Ye Zhenxing nodded. "Good."

"What about the Capital?" Gao Xian asked softly.

Zezhou was in northern Central Province, still quite a distance from the Imperial Capital, but vigilance was necessary.

Ye Zhenxing answered, "The court is stable—there have been no major changes."

Gao Xian exhaled in relief. "Good. Even His Majesty cannot act too recklessly."

After a pause, he lowered his voice.

"There are rumors in the Capital that His Majesty intends to establish a new Political Affairs Hall within the Chancellery…?"

At that moment, Monk Jingxiang approached from behind them.

"Seventeenth Uncle, Uncle-in-law."

The middle-aged man nodded.

"Handled?"

Monk Jingxiang replied, "That was my mistake. I let him catch wind of my presence. Fortunately, I took care of it—there shouldn't be anyone else. However, I worry that the longer we wait, the greater the risk of complications."

"As long as we ensure peace for this short window of time, that will suffice," Ye Zhenxing said. "Uncle should be making his move soon."

Gao Xian let out a long breath.

"That wretched Daoist witch from Tianshi Mansion… She’ll walk in, but she won’t be walking out!"

Monk Jingxiang seemed about to say something when he suddenly noticed the expressions on Ye Zhenxing and Gao Xian’s faces shift dramatically.

"Who’s there?!"

At first, Monk Jingxiang was bewildered, but he quickly sensed something was wrong—

The martial ceremonial aura accumulating in the Gao Clan’s ancestral land had suddenly… dispersed!

Gao Xian felt a chill shoot through his gut.

The three-story pavilion they stood in—

They were on the top floor.

Many of their clan’s most elite members guarded the first floor.

And the most critical ceremonial artifact was stored securely on the second floor, where no one should have been able to approach.

Yet now—

The ritual formation had been disrupted?!

Ye Zhenxing and Gao Xian rushed downstairs—

Only to see a tall young Daoist in a purple robe standing at the center of the second floor.

All around him, ceremonial weapons and ritual artifacts were meticulously arranged, forming a segment of the Four Seasons Military Rites.

And at the very core of this elaborate ritual—

A single ancient sword.

The sword’s surface was engraved with profound inscriptions—different from Daoist talismans, yet infused with a deep connection to the laws of nature.

But now—

The ancient sword had been snapped in two!

Lei Jun stood calmly in the center of the pavilion's second floor.

Using the power of the Heavenly Book’s Dark Side, he had combined his mana with the flow of energy, delivering a single palm strike that shattered the ancient sword.

And the best part?

Even far away in Jinzhou, Ye Moquan would never know who was responsible.

Lei Jun looked at the broken sword.

The dissolution of the martial ceremonial aura surrounding the ancestral land pleased him immensely.

Then, two talismans—a pair of Yin-Yang Celestial Origin Talismans—materialized and floated into the air.

A vast surge of geomagnetic force erupted, sealing the entire Gao Clan ancestral land and cutting it off from the outside world.

This force was invisible and formless, so Ye Zhenxing and Gao Xian did not detect it at first.

Right now, they were more shocked by one thing—

How had this young Daoist managed to sneak in, right under their noses, and ruin everything?!

The ancient sword was in two pieces—

Could it even be repaired?!

But Gao Xian had no time to dwell on it.

Without hesitation, he drew his sword and lunged forward, aiming to force Lei Jun back and reclaim the broken artifact.

Lei Jun did not move.

Around his body, countless talismanic symbols spun like a river of stars.

Under this starlit talismanic glow, his figure suddenly expanded—

Transforming into a towering celestial figure, as if a deity had descended upon the mortal world.

"Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven."

"Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows Nature."

Head above the heavens, feet rooted in the earth—Lei Jun stood at the center of all things.

This was the manifestation of the Destiny-Manifesting Human Talisman Scripture.

A towering apparition of the Doumu Star God emerged—

And in the next instant, it burst from within, shattering the entire three-story pavilion!

Gao Xian said no more.

Without hesitation, he unleashed his sword energy, which roared like a mighty river, surging toward Lei Jun.

But Lei Jun’s Destined Star Avatar simply raised a hand—

And with a single punch, he shattered the river of sword energy into nothing.

Yet Gao Xian did not falter.

His sword energy ignited the Gao Clan ancestral land, setting the entire territory into motion.

From the ancestral temple, waves of scholarly energy erupted, surging skyward before pouring directly into Gao Xian’s body—

His sword energy intensified exponentially!

"…Lei Jun!"

Ye Zhenxing recognized him and immediately withdrew—

But he was not running away.

As he moved back, a massive bow appeared in his hands.

With a single pull of the bowstring, a streak of light formed into an arrow, its razor-sharp tip aimed straight at Lei Jun.

As for Monk Jingxiang—

He had no intention of facing Lei Jun head-on.

Like Ye Zhenxing, he also withdrew, quickly seeking reinforcements.

Lei Jun was young and had only recently entered the Seventh Heaven Realm—

But he had already killed Lin Chi, the Grand Scholar of the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou, who was in the same realm.

Even if Ye Zhenxing and Gao Xian worked together, they could not guarantee that they could take Lei Jun down.

But—

If they could bury this Tianshi Mansion prodigy here…

It would at least make up for the loss of the military ritual!

Just as Monk Jingxiang thought this—

A crackling sound suddenly rang in his ears.

Zzzt! Zzzt!

Lei Jun ignored Ye Zhenxing’s retreat.

Instead, he raised a hand and gestured at Monk Jingxiang.

Two massive formations—one black, one purple—appeared.

Both glowed with the radiance of the Five Elements and thundered with the power of the Five Thunders.

But—they were completely opposite in nature.

One Yin, one Yang—

The twin formations encircled Monk Jingxiang, locking him within.

Then—

They began to grind against each other, spinning in opposite directions.

Monk Jingxiang immediately began chanting sutras—

A luminous lotus of glazed Buddha light bloomed to shield his body.

As a disciple of Xuanyan Temple at the Sixth Heaven Realm, his defensive Buddhist light was strong enough that even some Seventh Heaven cultivators would struggle to break through.

But now—

The grinding motion of the Yin-Yang Five Elements and Five Thunders Formation pressed down like an enormous millstone—

CRACK!

The protective Buddhist light was shattered instantly.

A horrifying scream echoed as Monk Jingxiang’s torso was crushed—obliterated!

Meanwhile, Ye Zhenxing let out a shout—

His arrow flew from the bowstring.

In mid-air, it split into a rain of countless arrows, streaking toward Lei Jun.

Yet, as the arrows closed in—

Lei Jun’s twin Celestial Origin Talismans spun faster, generating a powerful geomagnetic force.

The arrow rain slowed as if sinking into a swamp, their momentum almost entirely lost.

And those that did make it through—

Lei Jun’s spinning star talismans blocked them one by one.

Then—Lei Jun raised his hand.

A massive metal rail materialized, extending into the air.

As geomagnetic energy surged, a Profound Gold Sword Pellet shot forth—

The sword light vanished instantly—

And reappeared right in front of Ye Zhenxing.

SNAP!

His precious bow split in two.

His protective jade amulet shattered into dust.

And then—the second strike came.

A sword light pierced through Ye Zhenxing’s chest—

A gaping hole of charred flesh was left behind.

And before he could react—

The third sword light flashed—

His head flew skyward.

Lei Jun lunged forward!

The power from Ye Zhenxing’s arrow storm had only fueled his celestial talismans, making his Destined Star Avatar even stronger. His speed surged—

Faster than ever before.

With the Heavenly Motion Talisman’s extreme speed enhancement, Lei Jun closed the distance to Gao Xian in an instant!

Gao Xian gritted his teeth.

Using the ancestral land’s power as a buffer, he unleashed a relentless flurry of sword strikes to force Lei Jun back.

Though he wasn’t born into the Ye Clan, he had studied under Ye Moquan and the clan’s elite masters, making him half a disciple of the Jinzhou Ye Clan.

And here, within the Gao Clan’s sacred grounds, the ancestral ritual boosted his strength to its peak!

At this moment, he was stronger than Lin Chi had been back in Jiangzhou.

But—

Lei Jun had also grown.

With each battle, he had been refining his Daoist arts and techniques, pushing himself beyond his limits.

At this moment, he didn’t even rely on his Chaos Nine Lights Protection—

Instead, he relied purely on raw strength and technique!

Destined Star Avatar.
Heavenly Motion Talisman.
Spirit Officer Talisman.

His mastery of Treading the Dipper Steps had evolved into the Ring of Stars and Columns of Constellations Formation, granting him endless energy—

Lei Jun was no longer burning himself out.

The longer the fight dragged on, the stronger he became.

Even as Gao Xian rained down continuous sword strikes, Lei Jun’s fists shattered them one by one.

He broke through Gao Xian’s sword aura.

He shattered Gao Xian’s defensive artifacts.

And finally—

He broke Gao Xian himself!