Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 279: Western monks, our Central Plains is a country of etiquette

"Chain of Calamities…"

Lei Jun carefully studied the words on the omen slip, deep in thought.

It seemed to correspond with the initial phrase revealed by the light sphere—"A Dance of Chaos and Misfortune."

Aside from that, there was also the mention of "Compassion’s Hidden Treasure, Fortune and Misfortune Self-Determined," which made Lei Jun think of Buddhist connections, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was referring to.

Based on the omen slip, three key locations were noted—Yutian Grotto, Youning Lake, and Dunjiang Valley.

Lei Jun recalled the information he had gathered upon arriving in the Southern Wastelands and visualized a rough map of the vast region in his mind.

While information on Yutian Grotto and Dunjiang Valley was relatively scarce, Youning Lake, among these places, seemed to be closer to the Jiuli Secret Realm…

A Lower-Moderate Omen mentioned Youning Lake—could this mean that the real problem lay with the Jiuli people returning to the mortal world?

Lei Jun's mind was filled with various speculations.

However, speculation was just that. Regardless of whether the Lower-Moderate Omen referenced Youning Lake or the Lower-Bad Omen pointed to Dunjiang Valley, Daoist Lei had no intention of actively seeking out bad luck.

Instead, he turned his attention to the two Moderate-Moderate Omens.

The first one was straightforward—avoid Yutian Grotto, Youning Lake, and Dunjiang Valley. While there would be no gains, there would also be no losses. As the saying goes, the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; if you do nothing, you make no mistakes. Though uneventful, it ensured true peace and stability.

The second Moderate-Moderate Omen referenced Yutian Grotto. The reason it was a neutral omen was that while there could be an opportunity, there was also turbulence, and both seemed to be roughly balanced.

According to the omen’s description, there was some risk, but nothing fatal.

A Fifth-Grade Opportunity—not too high, not too low. Lei Jun was interested, but it wasn't something he had to pursue.

Considering he still needed to warn his master, Yuan Mobai, about potential dangers, Lei Jun suppressed his curiosity about Yutian Grotto.

With the current volatile situation in the Southern Wastelands, it was best to keep a low profile and observe things further.

With this in mind, Lei Jun reached out to Yuan Mobai again.

He mentioned that he had obtained information through the Seven Luminaries, warning that the situation near Gaowei Mountain might have changed—complex and unpredictable. In particular, Youning Lake and Dunjiang Valley seemed to harbor greater dangers.

"In that case, we can simply meet elsewhere," Yuan Mobai replied.

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

While the omen slip mentioned three relevant places, it was actually four—including their original meeting point, Gaowei Mountain.

However, Gaowei Mountain was merely a chosen rendezvous, not because it held any particular significance.

Although reaching Gaowei Mountain didn’t necessarily require passing through Yutian Grotto, Youning Lake, or Dunjiang Valley, at the same time, they weren’t bound to meet there either.

Since that was the case, they could simply choose another meeting place.

That said, changing the rendezvous point didn't mean they would let their guard down.

The world was unpredictable—especially in the Southern Wastelands, where danger and uncertainty lurked everywhere. Avoiding one trouble spot could sometimes lead them closer to another.

Such things happened often, so even after choosing a different meeting place, both master and disciple remained cautious on their journey.

As expected, a while later, Lei Jun received another transmission from Yuan Mobai.

He had encountered an unexpected situation on the road.

Fortunately, he had emerged unscathed.

A Jiuli Black Mist had suddenly spread outward, and Yuan Mobai happened to run into it.

This led to a direct confrontation with the Jiuli people who emerged from the mist.

The incident was sudden, and the other side had been caught off guard as well.

A brief but fierce battle broke out, after which Yuan Mobai withdrew from the fight, avoiding the Black Mist, and sent Lei Jun a warning.

"As the ancient texts describe, the Jiuli people differ greatly from those of the mortal world."

Yuan Mobai explained the situation:

"In general, the Jiuli people’s practices are similar to the Southern Wasteland’s Witch Sect, but there are also key differences."

It was somewhat like the contrast between the ancient Talismanic Branch and the modern Daoist Talismanic Branch—there were clear connections between them, with some identical aspects, but also vast differences.

According to Yuan Mobai, the most obvious distinction was that the Jiuli people possessed incredibly strong physical bodies.

This was not a trait commonly found among the Five Branches of the Southern Wasteland’s Witch Sect.

In the Five Branches:

• The Gu Mastery Branch and Ghost Dao Branch focused on soul cultivation.
• The Divine Dance Branch and Cursing Branch also emphasized spirit refinement, though to a lesser degree.
• The Blood River Branch did have methods involving blood and flesh transformations, granting powerful offensive and regenerative abilities, but they did not emphasize physical toughness.

If there was any tradition within the Witch Sect that specialized in brute-force combat, it would be the Ghost Dao Branch’s sacred stronghold—Golden Castle, known for its refined corpse puppets.

However, Ghost Dao cultivators themselves were not physically strong.

The Jiuli people, on the other hand, excelled in both soul and body cultivation, making them exceptionally formidable and well-rounded.

"But," Yuan Mobai added, "perhaps due to living in the eternal darkness of the Land of the Deep Sea, these Jiuli people, while longing for the surface world, fear the light. Exposure to sunlight causes them pain and burns both their souls and bodies."

"Because of this, they rarely leave the Black Mist and do not act outside of it recklessly."

The Jiuli Black Mist, which had expanded from the Jiuli Secret Realm, remained dense and refused to dissipate.

At first, it was confined to a limited area, but recently, it had begun spreading further.

"Rest assured, Master, I will stay alert," Lei Jun replied.

After ending his communication with Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun continued his journey.

Instead of meeting at Gaowei Mountain, they decided on a new rendezvous—Qingguo Grotto.

As always, Lei Jun employed his typical stealth techniques, using the Yin Concealment Shift of his Heavenly Travel Talisman and the Illusory Light of the Mysterious Mirror to blend into the landscape and move at high speed.

While traveling, his deep pupils flickered—his Celestial Ground-Through Talisman glowed with a faint, eerie light.

Lei Jun immediately slowed down.

His Breath-Taking Flag emerged, casting a dull yellow glow that merged with the surrounding terrain, making him appear as part of the mountains.

Meanwhile, the Mysterious Mirror hovered, alternating between shadow and light, helping him remain hidden while scanning his surroundings.

He sensed the presence of another Upper Three Heavens cultivator nearby.

Upon careful inspection, he found his answer.

His first sight was of tiny Gu insects.

These insects were not meant for attack or direct surveillance, but instead served as an early warning system.

If anyone approached, the concealed Gu insects would detect them and alert their master.

The Witch Sect’s Gu Mastery techniques, much like the Daoist Artifact Refining branch, emphasized soul cultivation, making them particularly adept at external detection.

But Lei Jun had superior techniques.

Using his Celestial Ground-Through Talisman and Mysterious Mirror, he managed to locate the enemy first.

Beyond the hidden sentry Gu, the infiltrator had also used Stealth Shadow Gu to conceal themselves.

Yet, Lei Jun’s insight was keener.

As the elder’s figure became clear, Lei Jun smirked.

What a coincidence.

This man was someone he was quite familiar with—Tian Linlong, an elder of Yin Mountain Grotto, the stronghold of the Witch Sect’s Gu Mastery Branch.

After the great battle in the Southern Wasteland triggered by Wei Anchang and Yang Yuqi, Tian Linlong seemed to have a weak presence, and Yin Mountain Grotto even joined forces with Reincarnation Abyss and Gepo Mountain to resist the Blood River Sect. However, in truth, Tian Linlong had been secretly in contact with the former Sui imperial scion, Yang Yuqi.

After the war, with Wei Anchang and Yang Yuqi in defeat and on the run, Tian Linlong, despite being an elder of Yin Mountain Grotto, dared not act too ostentatiously. In the years since, he had been living in hiding, constantly on the move, minimizing his presence as much as possible.

Lei Jun hadn’t expected to encounter Elder Tian again here of all places.

Observing him from a distance, Lei Jun noticed that Tian Linlong appeared somewhat fatigued, his expression dark and heavy as he hurried along his path.

From the direction he was coming from, it seemed he had just left the area where Yuan Mobai had mentioned running into people from the Nine Li Clan.

This made Lei Jun pay extra attention.

Tian Linlong continued forward, but suddenly came to an abrupt halt.

He hadn’t noticed Lei Jun.

Instead, the ground before him began to shift as the soil churned, and from underground, a small insect emerged.

Tian Linlong extended his palm, allowing the insect to land on it.

The Gu worm trembled slightly, and from within, a human voice emerged:

"What happened?"

Lei Jun, using his Celestial Ground-Through Talisman, could faintly hear the conversation despite the distance.

Tian Linlong responded, "I happened to run into the expansion of the Nine Li's black mist, along with a battle between Upper Three Heavens cultivators, which destroyed one of my hideouts. I was forced to relocate."

The voice from the Gu worm inquired, "What exactly happened?"

Tian Linlong replied, "To avoid drawing attention, I didn’t get too close, but from a distance, it seemed to be a fight between a Daoist Talismanic Sect cultivator and a Nine Li expert. That Talismanic Sect cultivator’s Divine Manifestation appeared to be Destined Star Avatar."

"And what of the situation at Yutian Grotto?" The voice asked again.

Lei Jun found the voice familiar.

Carefully distinguishing and recalling, he realized it sounded a lot like Yang Yuqi, the crown prince of Shengkang from the former Sui Dynasty.

Tian Linlong replied, "There were people from the Tang Court clashing with the White Lotus Sect’s Future Maitreya."

Yang Yuqi responded, "Thank you for your efforts, Elder Tian. Please continue to keep an eye on similar matters."

Tian Linlong agreed, and after a few more exchanges, their conversation ended. The Gu worm in Tian Linlong’s palm disintegrated into ash instead of burrowing back into the ground.

Tian Linlong remained where he was, hesitating for a moment instead of immediately continuing his journey.

With his Shadow Concealment Gu, he was confident that his movements remained undetected.

Lei Jun, observing from the shadows, had some thoughts of his own.

Based on the timing and the directions, it was likely that the Talismanic Sect cultivator Tian Linlong encountered earlier was Yuan Mobai.

And earlier, Tian Linlong had gone to the area mentioned in his Moderate-Moderate Omen, Yutian Grotto, before returning to his hidden cave.

Yuan Mobai, instead of heading to Gaowei Mountain, had changed course toward Qingguo Grotto, where he happened to run into a Nine Li expert. Their battle ended up disturbing Tian Linlong’s hiding place, forcing him to flee.

Ironically, after evading Yuan Mobai, he now ran straight into Lei Jun.

Such a twist of fate made Lei Jun sigh inwardly.

Since that was the case… there was no need for a next time.

Lei Jun calmly raised his hand. Two Two-Element Celestial Talismans spun above his head, rapidly gathering magnetic force.

Then, a Profound Gold Sword Pellet shot out like a beam of sword light, vanishing in an instant.

It reappeared right in front of Tian Linlong, as if distance no longer mattered.

The Shadow Concealment Gu was utterly useless, instantly shattered by the sword light.

The attack was too fast—Tian Linlong barely sensed a terrifying surge of power from the distance before his body violently trembled!

Boom!

Thunder and flames erupted together, completely obliterating Tian Linlong’s fragile body on the spot.

Yet, as his body disintegrated into a bloody mist, a dazzling explosion of colors burst forth—countless Gu worms scattered in all directions.

However, the raging thunderfire storm incinerated the vast majority of them.

The ground collapsed, blackened by the scorching blast.

Though the Profound Gold Sword Pellet lacked the sheer penetrative force of a true magical weapon like the Seven-Star Sword, Lei Jun had not even used the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book in this attack.

The combined force of magnetism and thunderfire swept through the area, burning up the remnants of Tian Linlong’s Gu worms.

However, his Shadow Sentinels, which he had stationed at a distance, survived due to being farther away.

Sensing their master’s death, these Shadow Sentinels scattered in all directions, escaping chaotically.

Lei Jun’s eyes flickered with the light of the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman, and at the same time, the Illusory Mirror hovering above his head cast a bright beam, pinpointing one of the escaping Shadow Sentinels.

"Companion Gu…" Lei Jun murmured, vanishing in a flash.

Switching his Heavenly Travel Talisman from the Hidden Path Technique to the Yang Path Technique, he accelerated, instantly catching up with the escaping Shadow Sentinel Gu.

Lei Jun was well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of his magnetic sword technique.

Rather than sword control, it was more like a cannon—once launched, it was difficult to adjust mid-flight, but it had absurd range and destructive power.

If it hit, most cultivators of his level wouldn’t survive even one strike.

However, it consumed a tremendous amount of mana, and its firing rate was not particularly fast, making it ineffective for wide-area attacks.

This made it ideal for single-target assassinations, but against a Gu Master like Tian Linlong, it could leave an opening for survival.

One of Tian Linlong’s life-bound Gu, the Companion Gu, allowed him to disperse his essence among his Gu worms, creating multiple escape routes.

As an Upper Three Heavens level Grand Gu Master, his Companion Gu had evolved to grant him regeneration and escape abilities far surpassing his disciple, Zhao Sen, who was merely Middle Three Heavens level.

But Lei Jun’s initial strike had already wiped out most of his Gu worms, nearly sealing Tian Linlong’s fate.

And Lei Jun was prepared—he had immediately locked onto the key target.

Some of the Gu worms gathered in midair, reforming into Tian Linlong’s spirit form.

Realizing Lei Jun had caught up, Tian Linlong’s spirit surged, making a desperate attempt to counterattack.

His spirit suddenly radiated a burst of dazzling colors, infecting the surrounding landscape.

Nearby mountains, rivers, and vegetation instantly turned into a vibrant mosaic, rapidly spreading outward to engulf Lei Jun.

This was Tian Linlong’s life-bound divine ability—Purity-Corruption Gu.

A poison Gu infamous among the Yin Mountain Grotto lineage.

It could convert all poisons into a part of Tian Linlong’s strength, bolstering his power.

Conversely, it could corrupt all things, turning even mountains and rivers into deadly toxins, endlessly spreading destruction.

Yet, when faced with Lei Jun’s Profound Thunder, the poison dissolved soundlessly.

Tian Linlong’s shock and fury turned into pure terror.

He knew Lei Jun was strong, but facing him firsthand, he realized—the rumors vastly underestimated him.

And he was ruthless!

You damn Daoist! You’re worse than the Witch Sect!

Tian Linlong, standing atop his moral high ground, felt a surge of righteous indignation.

But indignation would not save him.

He tried to flee.

But Lei Jun raised a seven-section green bamboo staff.

A single strike.

Tian Linlong was dead.

The young monk’s gaze swept around, immediately noticing that besides Shangguan Yunbo, other generals from the Tang Dynasty’s Divine Strategy Army had also appeared, surrounding them from different directions.

Near Qingguo Grotto, two red-robed monks from the Western Region stood among the mountains, gazing into the distance.

The elderly-looking Long Jia Shangren said, “The Tang martial artists are following the White Lotus Sect’s people. Their target seems quite important.”

Sangjie Shangren, who appeared younger, remained focused on the far horizon.

Although they could not see the battlefield where Future Maitreya was fighting Shangguan Yunbo, the clash still held their full attention.

After a moment, Sangjie Shangren withdrew his gaze. “It’s not necessarily a bad thing for the two sides to fight.”

He paused slightly, then his expression turned serious. “Any further news on the Buddhist artifact that appeared earlier in Yutian Grotto?”

Since even Future Maitreya had taken a personal interest in the treasure and traveled to the Southern Wasteland to find it, it was undoubtedly extraordinary, which naturally piqued Sangjie Shangren’s curiosity.

“There’s no further information for now,” Long Jia Shangren replied. “All we know is that it was taken by someone from the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect.”

Sangjie Shangren nodded. “Keep a close watch.”

Long Jia Shangren agreed, then asked, “I had hoped to observe the Tang Dynasty’s dealings with the Nine Li people to test their strength, but right now, they’re focused on the White Lotus Sect instead. In that case, what about the Nine Li?”

Unless absolutely necessary, they preferred to avoid direct conflict with the Nine Li.

Even though the two sides would inevitably become enemies in the future, there was no need for hostilities at the moment.

In fact, it would be best if the Mortal Dao Nation or other factions clashed with the Nine Li first.

Unfortunately, most forces shared the same idea.

“What do you think of Yuan Mobai from the Tianshi Mansion?” Sangjie Shangren asked.

Long Jia Shangren replied, “He is a man of gentle humility, but not to be underestimated.”

He looked at Sangjie Shangren. “Luring him to the Youning Lake area? Yuan Mobai is a transformed mountain panther. He has past karmic ties with the Nine Li.”

And those ties might not lead to anything good.

Despite having been wounded by Tang Xiaotang earlier, Sangjie Shangren showed no sign of resentment. His tone remained calm as he asked, “Is there an opportunity?”

Long Jia Shangren replied, “The matter was settled at the time, but the Tianshi Mansion likely still harbors reservations against our monastery. Drawing him to Youning Lake won’t be easy. However, as long as our intentions remain hidden, Yuan Mobai wouldn’t openly refuse us.”

“I heard the Tianshi Mansion is searching for a lost treasure?” Sangjie Shangren asked.

“We can use that as bait, reverse the trail, and suggest that someone from the Mortal Dao Nation or even the Huangtian Sect’s main altar has been spotted, inviting him to investigate,” Long Jia Shangren suggested.

Sangjie Shangren nodded. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Senior Brother. I won’t show myself—he’ll be less guarded that way. I’ll be in the shadows to assist you later.”

The elder monk formed a hand seal over his chest and solemnly agreed.

Lei Jun arrived near Qingguo Grotto, only to receive a transmission from his master, Yuan Mobai, mentioning an encounter with Long Jia Shangren of Vajra Monastery.

There had been some awkward competition between them over the Tianshi Seal in the past.

However, Sangjie Shangren had already taken a beating from Tang Xiaotang.

With the Tang imperial family mediating, the matter had been temporarily put to rest.

Long Jia Shangren was extremely courteous, repeatedly offering apologies.

Yet, discussions soon turned to the Mortal Dao Nation, the Nine Li people, and the hidden movements of prestigious clans like the Ye Clan of Cangzhou. The turbulent situation within the Tang Dynasty remained complex and ever-changing.

Since they had no intention of outright breaking with the Western Region’s Buddhist sects for now, Yuan Mobai treated Long Jia Shangren with equal courtesy, appearing as if he bore no grudges. His demeanor was warm and reassuring, as if bathed in the spring breeze.

But when Long Jia Shangren mentioned leads on the Mortal Dao Nation and the Huangtian Sect, Yuan Mobai remained outwardly calm while growing suspicious internally.

Others might not know, but he knew very well.

His disciple, Lei Jun, had long since scouted out the location of the Huangtian Sect’s new main altar in western Sichuan.

That place—Lei Jun had gone in and out countless times.

He was likely more familiar with it than even Fu Dongsen and Rong Guangchen…

Already wary of the Western Region’s Buddhist sects, Yuan Mobai grew even more cautious upon hearing Long Jia Shangren’s words.

Yet he showed no sign of it, agreeing without hesitation.

Privately, he contacted Lei Jun.

At the mere mention of Youning Lake, Lei Jun nodded slightly.

He didn’t know exactly what Long Jia Shangren was plotting, how much he knew about Youning Lake, or even the lake’s specific secrets.

But what he did know was that Youning Lake corresponded to a Lower-Moderate Omen—a place filled with immense danger.

And the Western Region’s Buddhist sects and the Tianshi Mansion had never been on good terms.

As for the whereabouts of other figures from the Mortal Dao Nation, Lei Jun had no idea.

But the location of the Huangtian Sect’s main altar?

He knew it all too well.

So…

“It’s trouble,” Lei Jun said calmly.

And the trouble wasn’t just Long Jia Shangren alone.

It was the entire Western Region’s Buddhist sects.

Dealing with Long Jia Shangren alone wouldn’t be much more complicated than dealing with Tian Linlong.

But if he had come alone, he wouldn’t be so bold as to target Yuan Mobai, whose cultivation was superior to his.

There had to be other monks from the Western Region’s Buddhist sects working in the shadows.

As Yuan Mobai had considered, a full-scale conflict between the Tianshi Mansion and the Western Region’s Buddhist sects would ultimately benefit the Tang imperial family, the major Confucian aristocratic clans, and even the Mortal Dao Nation.

Why should they take the fall for others?

As for the present moment, the solution was simple.

Since they were offering his master a Sixth-Grade Opportunity from Youning Lake…

He would return the favor with a Fifth-Grade Opportunity from Dunjiang Valley.

This was, after all, a land of courtesy—an exchange of gifts between gentlemen.

A few esteemed monks should accept with a smile.

With Yuan Mobai already on guard, Lei Jun was reassured.

He calmly took out a string of secret prayer beads.

Though he did not practice Buddhist techniques, the profound principles and insights contained within these beads were enough for him to recognize their significance.

The beads themselves were extraordinary, but more importantly, their origins were remarkable.

They were a Dharma artifact from the orthodox Kṣitigarbha lineage.

The Great Vow Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva had no direct successor in the mortal world.

While the Tianlong Monastery in Suzhou was a sacred site of the Vow Lineage and had ties to the Bodhisattva, it was not a true direct inheritance.

However, a true Kṣitigarbha artifact was directly connected to the legendary Avīci in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

If members of the White Lotus Sect had appeared in Yutian Grotto, they were most likely drawn to this artifact.

As for why the monks of the Western Region had come, Lei Jun wasn’t certain.

But whether they were interested in this Avīci relic…

That was something he could now test.

On the surface, Yuan Mobai seemed indifferent to Youning Lake, yet subtle details betrayed his interest.

However, he was exceedingly cautious, making Long Jia Shangren feel pleased with himself while also restraining his eagerness, accompanying Yuan Mobai at a slow and steady pace.

Meanwhile, Sangjie Shangren suddenly sensed a development regarding the Buddhist artifact that had piqued his interest earlier.

The Avīci Relic!

Because of their connection to Mount Sumeru, they were particularly attuned to Saha and Avīci.

Seeing Yuan Mobai’s caution, Sangjie Shangren didn’t rush matters.

Instead, he instructed Long Jia Shangren to be equally patient and gradually lower Yuan Mobai’s guard.

He, however, would first seek out the Avīci relic himself.

With the White Lotus Sect currently entangled with the Tang imperial family, they had no time to spare.

For Sangjie, this was the perfect opportunity.

Carefully tracing his leads, he found subtle clues indicating that the relic was in the hands of the Southern Wasteland’s Gu masters.

Nodding to himself, he cautiously followed the trail—toward Dunjiang Valley.